bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project (PlioMIP2) simulations using the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate (MIROC4m)
Authors: Chan Wing-Le , Abe-Ouchi Ayako
Published: August 2020

Abstract. The second phase of the Pliocene Model Intercomparison
Project (PlioMIP2) has attracted many climate modelling groups in its
continuing efforts to better understand the climate of the mid-Piacenzian
warm period (mPWP) when atmospheric CO2 was last closest to present-day levels. Like the first phase, PlioMIP1, it is an internationally coordinated
initiative that allows for a systematic comparison of various models in a
similar manner to the Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project (PMIP).
Model intercomparison and model–data comparison now focus specifically on
the interglacial at marine isotope stage KM5c (3.205 Ma), and experimental
design is not only based on new boundary conditions but includes various
sensitivity experiments. In this study, we present results from long-term
model integrations using the MIROC4m (Model for
Interdisciplinary Research on Climate) atmosphere–ocean coupled general
circulation model, developed at the institutes CCSR, NIES and FRCGC in Japan. The
core experiment, with CO2 levels set to 400 ppm, shows a warming of 3.1 ∘C compared to the pre-industrial period, with two-thirds of the
warming being attributed to the increase in CO2. Although this level of warming is less than that in the equivalent PlioMIP1 experiment, there is slightly better agreement with proxy sea surface temperature (SST) data at PRISM3 (PRISM – Pliocene Research
Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping) locations, especially in the northern North Atlantic where there were large model–data discrepancies in PlioMIP1. Similar spatial changes in precipitation and sea ice are seen and the Arctic remains ice-free in the summer in the core experiments of both phases. Comparisons with both the proxy SST data and proxy surface air temperature data from paleobotanical sites indicate a weaker polar amplification in model results. Unlike PlioMIP1, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is now stronger than that of the pre-industrial period, even though increasing CO2 tends to weaken it. This stronger AMOC is a consequence of a closed Bering Strait in the PlioMIP2 paleogeography. Also, when present-day boundary conditions are replaced by those of the Pliocene, the dependency of the AMOC strength on CO2 is significantly weakened. Sensitivity tests show that lower values of CO2 give a global SST which is overall more consistent with the PRISM3 SST field presented in PlioMIP1, while SSTs at many of the PRISM4 sites are still too high to be reconciled with any of the model results. On the other hand, tropical Pacific SST in the core experiment agrees well with more recent proxy data, which suggested that PRISM3 SST there was overestimated. Future availability of climate reconstructions from proxy data will continue to help evaluate model results. The inclusion of dynamical vegetation and the effects of all possible extreme orbital configurations outside KM5c should be considered in future experiments using MIROC4m for the mPWP.
IntelliO3-ts v1.0: A neural network approach to predict
near-surface ozone concentrations in Germany
Authors: Kleinert Felix , Leufen Lukas H. , Schultz Martin G.
Published: August 2020

Abstract. The prediction of near-surface ozone concentrations is important to support regulatory procedures for the protection of humans from high exposure to air pollution. In this study, we introduce a data-driven forecasting model named IntelliO3-ts, which consists of multiple convolutional neural layers (CNN), grouped together as inception blocks. The model is trained with measured multi-year ozone and nitrogen oxides concentrations of more than 300 German measurement stations in rural environments, and six meteorological variables from the meteorological COSMO reanalysis. This is by far the most extensive dataset used for time series predictions based on neural networks so far. IntelliO3-ts allows predicting daily maximum 8-hour average (dma8eu) ozone concentrations for a lead time of up to four days, and we show that the model outperforms standard reference models like persistence. Moreover, we demonstrate that IntelliO3-ts outperforms climatological reference models for the first two days, while it does not add any genuine value for longer lead times. We attribute this to the limited deterministic information that is contained in the single station time series training data. We applied a bootstrapping technique to analyse the influence of different input variables and found, that the previous day ozone concentrations are of major importance, followed by 2 m temperature. As we did not use any geographic information to train IntelliO3-ts in its current version and included no relation between stations, the influence of the horizontal wind components on the model performance is minimal. We expect that the inclusion of advection-diffusion terms in the model could improve results in future versions of our model.
An Analysis of Conflict and Cooperation Dynamics over Water Events in the
Lancang-Mekong River Basin
Authors: Wei Jing , Wei Yongping , Tian Fuqiang , Nott Natalie , de Witt Claire , Guo Liying , Lu You
Published: August 2020

Abstract. Riparian countries have their respective values and priorities for water management, and their values of shared water often has possible impacts for their propensity to involve in cooperative management and adhere to treaties/agreements. Improving transboundary water management therefore firstly requires nuance understanding of the changing values and interests of each riparian country to better understand factors that encourage and discourage changes toward cooperation or conflict. This paper provides understanding of the evolution of conflict and cooperation dynamics in Lancang-Mekong River Basin with in-depth analysis of the perspectives of multiple countries. Newspaper articles were used as a key data source as it provides insights into events reported on by the media that are representative of each country/sector they are published within. The results depict a continual trend of cooperative sentiments towards water events occurring within the region. The six riparian states have had a greater average sentiment score for cooperation than international countries for the majority of the study period showing that the region perceived transboundary water management more positively than global audiences. Except for few outliers, the trend also shows that countries further downstream showed lower cooperative sentiments. Dam infrastructure was often negatively reported, thus, it is likely a major contributor to conflict for the Lancang-Mekong River Basin, while events that are positively reported are those that aid in connecting leaders and project developers between riparian countries including meetings, bilateral and multilateral cooperation and development projects. These findings provide the basis for further revealing the mechanism of cooperation and conflicts through understanding these inherent and diverse perspectives of each riparian country, we can gain an insight into the underlying interests that create conflictive or cooperative environments and ultimately predict and manage cooperation/conflict in transboundary rivers.
Timescales of emergence of chronic nuisance flooding in the major economic centre of Guadeloupe
Authors: Le Cozannet Gonéri , Idier Déborah , de Michele Marcello , Legendre Yoann , Moisan Manuel , Pedreros Rodrigo , Thiéblemont Rémi , Spada Giorgio , Raucoules Daniel , de la Torre Ywenn
Published: August 2020

Abstract. Chronic flooding, occurring at high tides under calm weather conditions, is occasionally taking place today in the low-lying areas of the Petit-Cul-de-sac marin (Guadeloupe, West Indies, French Antilles). This area includes critical industrial, harbor and major economic infrastructures for the island. As sea level rises, concerns are growing regarding the possibility for repeated chronic flooding events, which would alter the operations at these critical coastal infrastructures without appropriate adaptation. Here, we use information on past and future sea levels, vertical ground motion and tides to assess times of emergence of chronic flooding in the Petit-Cul-de-sac marin. For RCP8.5 (i.e., continued growth of greenhouse gas emissions), the number of flood days is projected to increase rapidly after the emergence of the process, so that coastal sites will be flooded every two days within 2 decades after the onset of chronic flooding. For coastal locations with the smallest altitude, we show that the reconstructed number of floods are consistent with observations known from a previous survey. One key uncertainty of our result is the actual rate of subsidence of the island. However, our satellite interferometric synthetic-aperture radar results show that the local variability of this subsidence is smaller than the uncertainties of the technique, which we estimate between 1 (standard deviation of measurements) and 5 mm/yr (upper theoretical bound). Our results imply that adaptation pathways considering a rapid increase of recurrent chronic flooding are required in the critical port, industrial and commercial center of Guadeloupe, as well as presumably in many low-elevation coastal zones of other tropical islands.
Combining colour parameters and geochemical tracers to improve sediment source discrimination in a mining catchment (New Caledonia, South Pacific Islands)
Authors: Sellier Virginie , Navratil Oldrich , Laceby John Patrick , Legout Cédric , Allenbach Michel , Lefèvre Irène , Evrard Olivier
Published: August 2020

Abstract. Over the last century, human activities have induced significant land-cover changes that have accelerated soil erosion processes around the world. In New Caledonia, a French island located in the south-west Pacific Ocean, open-cast nickel mining has raised many concerns regarding its impact on riverine systems (i.e. hyper-sedimentation, overburden) and the island's ecosystems (i.e. flooding, lagoon siltation, water pollution). A sediment tracing study has been conducted to quantify the contribution of mining versus non-mining sub-catchments in one of the first areas exploited for nickel mining, the Thio River catchment (397 km2). Sediment deposited during two cyclonic events (i.e. 2015 and 2017) was collected following a tributary design approach. Source (n = 24) and river sediment (n = 19) samples were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence and spectroscopy in the visible spectra (i.e. 365–735 nm). Four fingerprinting approaches based on (1) colour parameters, (2) geochemical properties, (3) colour parameters coupled with geochemical properties and (4) the entire visible spectrum were tested to estimate sediment source contributions. The results demonstrated that the individual sediment tracing methods based on spectroscopy measurements (i.e. (1) and (4)) did not provide sufficient discrimination between sources. However, the inclusion of colour properties in addition to geochemical parameters (3) provided the highest discrimination between sources (i.e. 92.6 % of source variance explained). Although with a slightly lower discrimination potential (i.e. 83.1 % of variance explained in sources), the geochemical approach (2) provided similar results to those obtained with the colour coupled with geochemical approach (3). In addition, mixed linear models associated with these two approaches have been experimentally validated with artificial mixture samples. The results obtained with model (3) showed that mining source contributions strongly dominated the sediments inputs with a mean contribution of 68 % (SD 25 %) for the 2015 flood event and 88 % (SD 8 %) for the 2017 flood event. These results suggest that catchment management should focus on the contributions of mining tributaries to reduce sediment inputs in the river systems. Therefore, the use of these approaches based on geochemical properties individually (2) and coupled to colour parameters (3) could be extended to other mining catchments of New Caledonia but also to other similar nickel mining catchments around the world (e.g. Australia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Cuba) to estimate sediment source apportionment.
A surrogate model approach for associating wind farm load variations with turbine failures
Authors: Schröder Laura , Dimitrov Nikolay Krasimirov , Verelst David Robert
Published: August 2020

Abstract. In order to ensure structural reliability, wind turbine design is typically based on the assumption of gradual degradation of material properties (fatigue loading). Nevertheless, the relation between the wake-induced load exposure of turbines and the reliability of their major components has not been sufficiently well defined and demonstrated. This study suggests a methodology that makes it possible to correlate loads with reliability of turbines in wind farms in a computationally efficient way by combining physical modeling with machine learning. It can be used for estimating the current health state of a turbine and enables a more precise prediction of the “load budget”, i.e., the effect of load-induced degradation and faults on the operating costs of wind farms. The suggested approach is demonstrated on an offshore wind farm for comparing performance, loads and lifetime estimations against recorded main bearing failures from maintenance reports. The validation of the estimated power against the 10 min supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) power signals shows that the surrogate model is able to capture the power performance relatively well with a 1.5 % average error in the prediction of the annual energy production (AEP). It is found that turbines positioned at the border of the wind farm with a higher expected AEP are estimated to experience earlier main bearing failures. However, a clear connection between the load estimations and failure observations could not be confirmed in this study. Finally, the analysis stresses that more failure data are required in future work to enable statistically significant associations of the observed main bearing lifetimes with load exposures across the wind farm and to validate and generalize the suggested approach and its associated findings.
Guest Editorial—“Green Open Access is ‘Just’ Publishing”
Authors: Condon David M.
Published: August 2020

A shared experience among many graduate students is the dawning realization that the vaunted privilege of having one's scholarly work accepted for publication is also a fleecing. The exact terms of this fleecing depend on a number of different factors – so many, in fact, that it can get a bit confusing – but it's quite common for researchers to pay several thousand dollars to make their work available for others to read. And these are not the expenses incurred to complete their scholarly work. It's merely the cost of having one's work posted on the website of an academic publisher!
State Reluctance towards Inclusive Policies in Post-Civil War Sri Lanka
Authors: Fazil Mansoor Mohamed , Fowsar Mohamed Anifa Mohamed , Sakki Mohamed Bazeer Safna , Sajeetha Thaharadeen Fathima , Kamalasiri Vimalasiri
Published: August 2020

This study aims to identify the factors preventing the state from responding in a manner that will avoid future conflict in post-civil war Sri Lanka. After the government ended the separatist struggle of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by bringing the civil war to an end in May 2009, the protracted and destructive 30-year war presented an opportunity for both state and society to learn many useful lessons from the long war. These lessons could have enabled the government to reconstitute the state as an inclusive institution, one in which minorities could also participate to ensure just and equitable development for all Sri Lankans. This study uses a qualitative research approach that involves analysis of critical categories. Findings of this study offer some crucial insights about Sri Lanka’s ethnic politics, particularly, the various factors have influenced the state to avoid inclusive policies. The key factor is the dilemma of post-independent political culture or traditions amongst ruling elites resulted in the avoidance of inclusive policies. This study also reveals some other factors that contestations between different social forces within society, within the state, and between the state and society still prevail in Sri Lanka, hampering the institution of inclusive policies. Further, the paper highlights the failure of India and the International Community to pressurize the state of Sri Lanka to introduce inclusive mechanisms due to international power balance (China factor).
Partisans’ and Civil Elites’ Role in Supporting Military Coups: The Case of the Egyptian Elites
Authors: Salameh Mohammed T. Bani , Banisalameh Mohammad Abdelrahman , Shdouh Emad
Published: August 2020

The study reported in the article below tried to examine partisans’ and civil elites’ role in military interventions and coups. The 2013 Egyptian coup d'état that took place on 3 July 2013 was used as a model of analysis. Concisely, this study sought to identify the defining characteristics of the partisans and civil elites who supported that military coup in Egypt, including their social origins, their level of education, their views of democracy and constitutional legitimacy as well as the nature of their allegied tie-up with the armed forces. In order to do just this, the study used Samuel Huntington's hypothesis as a theoretical framework of analysis. Accordingly, elites’ support for military coups underlies weakness (and therefore ineffectiveness) of the country’s civil institutions as well as absence of institutional political channels that regulate competition and conflict between parties with differing interests and resources. An immediate outcome of such a state of affairs was that partisans and civil elites had demonstrated their superiority over the army as they possessed the means of power that enabled them to impose their control. The findings of the study showed that those partisans and civil elites, formed by mechanisms based on mutual interests and wealth, are only theoretically oriented in the sense that they only accept the principles of democracy and constitutional legitimacy in the event that they lead to their arrival to power. However, if that legitimacy comes from other political currents, (e.g. The Muslim Brotherhood), they soon turn against it.
The Impact of the Domestic Environment in the Change of Foreign Policy- The Case of Russian Policy towards the European Union after the End of the Cold War
Authors: Moshref Hossam Nabil Salaheldin
Published: August 2020

Purpose – This paper aims to study the impact of the domestic environment’s components in changing foreign policy. Therefore, the paper focuses on analyzing Russia’s strategies, in the International arena, that has been structured by the domestic factors (leadership, military, security, economics, and identity).

Design/methodology/approach – The paper follows three theories of studying the impact of domestic components into foreign policy in international relations; First it focuses on Foreign Policy Analysis as a traditional analysis in international relations; depending on “Determinants” influencing the foreign policy and the “Instruments/Tools” used to achieve the goals of foreign policy. Second, Neo-Classical Realism Theory, as it tried to explain the importance of internal factors in the foreign policy. Third, Constructivism Theory in International Relations as it concerns Non-state actors and refused the traditional viewing of main concepts in international relations.

Findings – The domestic environment is the background context on which foreign policy is drawn. In general, the domestic environment is within the framework of society; according to it the decision-makers make decisions and include domestic policies (public opinion, geographical location, nature of the political system, main values of society, parties, lobbies…etc.); national expertise can be added in dealing with international political issues.

Originality/Value – This paper proves that there are new forms for foreign policy variables related to the domestic environment and reflects the Economic capabilities, Military Power, Identity, and Leadership into the state's foreign policy.
Understanding Political Psychology and Its Importance to the Malaysian Politics
Authors: Mohamad Khairul Azmi , Othman Nooraini , Ali Mazlan
Published: August 2020

This paper intends to describe political psychology and the importance of the subject matter to the Malaysian politics. Political studies in Malaysia are largely based on political science, political sociology and socio-political analysis. It is a high time that political environment and issues in Malaysia to be looked upon from a psychological perspective. It is important because the discipline will allow the understanding of why political leaders think and behave in a certain manner. It will also allow the appreciation of voters’ behaviour. These perspectives will enrich our ability to understand politics from different roots. In the context of Malaysia, studying political psychology will help to enhance the understanding of many variables related to the practice of politics in this country. The interactions between politics and psychology particularly the impact of psychology to politics would be an interesting study. As far as Malaysia is concerned, a deeper understanding on political psychology will help leaders to appreciate the nerves and needs of the people and they should put every effort to fulfil their aspirations. Political psychology should help to unfold the minds of the political actors as well as the voters.
A Wavelength Tunable CW Orange-red Laser Source Based on Magnesium Oxide-doped Periodically-poled LiNbO3 in an Intracavity Sum-frequency Generation
Authors: BAI Yang , LI Jianlin , LEI Guangzhi , HOU Lei , ZHA Rongwei , WANG Yi , CHEN Haowei
Published: August 2020

A watt-level continuous wave (CW) orange-red laser with wavelength tunable properties is experimentally implemented based on sum-frequency generation (SFG) in a composite cavity. The cavity is composed of an 880 nm laser diode (LD) side-pumped Nd: GdVO4 p-polarized 1062.9 nm cavity and a single-resonant optical parametric oscillator (SRO) of signal light using a magnesium oxide-doped periodically-poled LiNbO3 (MgO: PPLN) crystal with a poling period of 29.1 μm. In the overlap region of the two cavities, orange-red laser is generated by using a type-II critical phase-matched potassium titanyl phosphate crystal (KTP) crystal. In the temperature tuning range of the MgO: PPLN crystal (from 30 °C to 200 °C), the CW orange-red laser beams are generated in a tunable waveband from 612.24 nm to 620.72 nm (Δλ = 8.48 nm), corresponding to the mid-infrared idler light is also obtained with tunable wavelength from 4027.5 nm to 3708.2 nm (Δλ = 319.3 nm). At the lowest tuning temperature of 30 °C, the maximum CW output power of the orange-red laser at 612.24 nm and the idler light at 4027.5 nm are obtained, which are 1.145 W and 2.83 W, respectively.
Facile and Green Route to Silver Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Plant Extract, and their Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Studies
Authors: ELEMIKE Elias Emenka , ONWUDIWE Damian Cinedu , SAIYED Tanzim , EKENNIA Anthony Chinonso , AZEEZ Mayowa Akeem
Published: August 2020

Silver nanoparticles were prepared through an environmental friendly and cost-effective plant-mediated technique, using crude extracts of Welsh onion plant. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV-vis spectrophotometer, powdered X-ray diffractometer (p-XRD), Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectrophotometer, and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Silver nanoparticles of different sizes and morphologies were obtained by varying some synthesis parameters such as concentrations of AgNO3 (1, 2 and 5 mM) and ratio of the volume of the plant extract to AgNO3 (1:5 and 1:10) at constant reaction temperature of 80 °C. The difference in the reaction conditions showed significant effects on silver nanoparticles obtained. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) varied with change in concentration of AgNO3 and the ratio of the AgNO3 to the plant extracts. The lowest SPR appeared around 412 nm (2 mM; 1:10), while the largest was achieved around 427 nm (5 mM; 1:10). FTIR results revealed the presence of different characteristic functional groups responsible for the bioreduction of silver ions in Welsh onion extract. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the lowest average particle size of the silver nanoparticles was 3.74 nm (2 mM; 1:10), while the highest was 15.72 nm (1 mM; 1:5). Monodispersed spherical shaped nanoparticles were obtained from the 2 mM concentration of the AgNO3, while particles with some degree of agglomeration were obtained from 1 and 5 mM concentration. The p-XRD studies revealed face centred cubic structures. The nanoparticles obtained from 1 and 5 mM (1:5) gave moderate photo-catalytic potentials in the degradation of methyl red dye. However, the photocatalytic property increased with increase in the concentration of the precursor salt (AgNO3) from 1 to 5 mM. Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus and Gram negative Klebsiela pneumonia and Escherichia coli bacteria strains were susceptible to the silver nanoparticles (2 mM). The nanoparticles were most active against E. coli with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) below 0.05 mg/mL. The silver nanoparticles could become potential compounds in the future antibiotic research.
Tribo-fatigue Behavior of Austempered Ductile Iron MoNiCa as New Structural Material for Rail-wheel System
Authors: BENDIKIENE Regita , BAHDANOVICH Aliaksandr , CESNAVICIUS Ramunas , CIUPLYS Antanas , GRIGAS Vytautas , JUTAS Audrius , MARMYSH Dzianis , NASAN Aleh , SHEMET Liudmila , SHERBAKOV Sergei , SOSNOVSKIY Leonid
Published: August 2020

This research presents the results of tribo-fatigue behavior of austempered ductile cast iron MoNiCa and gives a comparison with standard grades of steel and cast iron. Due to the possibility to combine the castability of cast iron and toughness of steel in one material, new structural material MoNiCa attracted attention of industry and science because of economic benefits and high performance at the different application areas. After successful former experiments the main directions of further development of research for solving relevant practical wear and fatigue problems in rail-wheel system were framed. The complex experimental studies have demonstrated that MoNiCa is consistent with heat treated steels including the rail steels: required tensile strength of rail steel ranges from 1180 MPa to 1280 MPa when rolling surface hardness have to be from 38 HRC to 44 HRC whereas new structural material showed higher tensile strength up to 1400 MPa and slightly higher hardness up to 50 HRC. Herewith the workability of frictional couple cast iron MoNiCa/steel 20MnCr5G exceeds work performance of steel/steel system by 14 %.
Innovative Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy Intervention for Adolescent Addiction Treatment: A Pilot Study
Authors: Atherton William Leigh , Meola Cheryl C , Pritchard Kenneth S
Published: August 2020

Background: Adolescent substance use continues to rise in the United States, and innovative interventions are needed to increase treatment outcomes. The need for innovative, complementary approaches to adolescent addiction treatment is felt. Equine facilitated psychotherapy (EFP) has demonstrated to be an innovative intervention. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the impact of an innovative EFP intervention on psychosocial and behavioral outcomes of adolescents with addiction. Patients and Methods: Ten adolescents diagnosed with substance use disorder referred from local providers participated in a six-session EFP group intervention. The study utilized a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design. The study used the Adolescent Behavior survey, Patient Health questionnaire 9, and generalized anxiety disorder 7 scales that were completed by the participants at baseline and upon completion of the six sessions. Paired t-tests were conducted to compare the pretest and posttest scores. Results: The results demonstrated a significant increase in adolescent behaviors associated with Glasser’s connecting habits, including listening, trusting, supporting, encouraging, respecting and accepting, and negotiating differences. The results also demonstrated a significant reduction in depressive and anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated the potential efficacy of the innovative EFP intervention integrated into a choice theory-driven treatment strategy for improving psychosocial and behavioral concerns related to adolescent addiction. Future studies should consider research design alterations to increase the generalizability and interpretation of results. Further, future studies should include a qualitative or mixed-method design to elucidate the participants’ perception of the role of the equine as part of the intervention process.
Evaluation of Umbilical Vein Catheter Position in Neonates by Thoraco-Abdominal Radiography Versus Echocardiography
Authors: Yazdani Negar , Badfar Gholamreza , Pourarian Shahnaz
Published: August 2020

Background: Umbilical vein catheterization is usually conducted for preterm neonates in neonatal intensive care units to administer medication, fluid and nutrition, and blood transfusion. However, catheter tip malposition can cause complications. Objectives: There are different methods to detect the accuracy of catheter’s position; hence, this study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of radiography vs echocardiography to determine the accurate tip position of umbilical vein catheter. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on all 104 neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care units of hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from March 2017 to January 2018. At first, the length of the catheter was estimated based on Dunn method. After catheterization, thoraco-abdominal radiography and echocardiography were performed by a pediatric radiologist who was blinded to the study objectives, and the data were recorded in two forms. Finally, data were analyzed by McNemar’s test, using SPSS 17 software. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value by radiography and echocardiography for the catheter tip position in the inferior vena cava-right atrium junction was calculated 100%. Moreover, catheters were located in the ductus venous, inferior vena cava, inferior vena cava-right atrium junction, right and left atrium in echocardiography were in the radiograph equal to thoracic vertebrae of T9-T11, T9, T6-T10, T5-T8, and T4-T6, respectively. Conclusions: Our study suggests that even though echocardiography is as reliable as radiography for early detection of the catheter tip position, it can also avoid complications of catheter malposition quicker than radiography.
The Impact of Interleukin-28B rs12979860 Polymorphism on Peginterferon-alpha and Ribavirin Combination Therapy in Iranian Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1 Infection
Authors: Hajiabdolbaghi Mahboubeh , Shahsiah Reza , Motavaf Mahsa , Zavari Tabasom
Published: August 2020

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem. Most cases of HCV infection do not resolve spontaneously. Combination therapy with pegylated interferon-α (PegIFN-alpha) and ribavirin (RBV) is the standard treatment for patients with HCV infection. The success of treatment is affected by several host, viral, and treatment factors. Available works have demonstrated significant role of interleukin 28B (IL28B) polymorphisms in predicting HCV infection treatment outcomes. This suggests the possibility of tailored therapy in HCV infected patients. HCV is one of the most common causes of liver disease worldwide. If untreated, this infection can develop chronic hepatitis in 50%-85% of patients. The aim of current study is to determine the association of interleukin-28B (IL-28B) rs-12979860 polymorphism in response to peginterferon-alpha (PegIFN-alpha) and ribavirin combination therapy in Iranian patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 70 Iranian patients with chronic hepatitis C infection (genotype 1) receiving PegIFN-alpha and ribavirin. DNA was extracted from blood samples. Specific primers were used to amplify targeted polymorphisms. Results: In this study, 71.4% of patients reached sustained virological response (SVR). The prevalence of CC, CT and TT genotypes were 38.6%, 42.8% and 18.6% respectively. The rate of SVR was 96.3 for CC genotype, whereas this rate was 66.7 for CT and 30.8 for TT genotypes. We found an association between end of treatment response (ETR) and IL-28B genotypes as 100% of patients bearing CC genotype reached ETR, but ETR rate was 45.85% in CT group and 10.2% in TT group. Six months follow-up showed that there was a significant difference between response to treatment in patients IL-28B-CC and TT (P < 0.001). Data regression analysis showed that CC genotype was an independent predicting factor, significantly associated with higher SVR (P = 0.005 (OR=36.1; 95% CI = 3 - 434.2)). In contrast, absence of C allele (TT genotype) was significantly correlated with the failure of response (P = 0.005 (OR = 36.1; 95% CI = 3 - 434.2)). Conclusions: The results showed that IL-28B rs12979860 was an important predictor of HCV treatment response.
Investigating the Association of rs1617640 Polymorphism in Patients with Diabetes Type II and Its Complications
Authors: Roshanian Mehdi , Javidi Mohammad Amin , Jafarian Negin , Sheikhha Mohammad Hasan
Published: August 2020

: The prevalence of diabetes – especially diabetes type II- is increasing steadily; according to WHO reports it will increase to 366 million people by the year 2030. Microvascular complications including Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and end stage renal disease (ESRD) are increased in patients with diabetes mellitus. Case-control association studies have demonstrated that rs1617640 SNP in the promoter of erythropoietin (EPO) gene is significantly associated with PDR and ESRD. In the mentioned SNP, TT genotype is considered as risk genotype which means that EPO concentration in human vitreous body in these people shall be higher. People with TT genotype are much more at risk of retinopathies. In this study we investigated the existence of rs1617640 EPO gene polymorphism among 150 healthy subjects and 150 subjects with diabetes type II who referred to Yazd central laboratory. Then the association of rs1617640 SNP with complications among diabetic patients were examined by ARMS-PCR method. The results were analyzed using GraphPad software (version 5.00). Prevalence of genotype GG was 8% in patients and 1.3% in the control group. GT was 51.3% in patients, and 86.7% in the control group, and finally TT was observed in 40.7% in patients, and 12% of control group. The TT genotype was 37.6% in patients with retinopathy and 42.6% in non-retinopathy patients. Our study demonstrates that the prevalence of rs1617640 SNP has significant difference between diabetic patients and control group; whereas there was not any significant relationship between this polymorphism and the complications of diabetes in patients. Together our study reveals that rs1617640 SNP may be associated with susceptibility to diabetes type II; however it seems that this polymorphism is not significantly related to the diabetic complications in Yazd.
Clinical Staff Attitude Toward the Computerized Physician Order Entry System in Cardiac Care Unit Based on a Model by the Name of “Technology Acceptance Model in Health Care Centers of Iran”
Authors: Ghaznavi Fatemeh , Farhadi Payam , Sharifian Roxana
Published: August 2020

Background: Currently, many physicians use the computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system, and the adoption of this system is increasing worldwide. The technology acceptance model has been implemented and evaluated. It has become one of the most recognized empirical models. Besides, recent studies showed that this model well anticipates users’ behavioral tendencies in accepting technology in healthcare centers. The use of the technology acceptance model in the implementation of health care systems such as CPOE, which is effective in reducing medical errors, is necessary. Objectives: This applied research has used a descriptive-analytical approach. In the current study the technology acceptance model in Iranian health care centers, which was proposed by Safdari and colleagues aimed to investigate the attitudes of clinical staff toward the computerized physician orders entry system, was used in the Cardiac Care Unit of Alzahra’s Heart Hospital in Shiraz to determine the importance and effectiveness of each dimension on attitudes toward using CPOE by 140 of physicians and nurses. Methods: Three main dimensions, including human, monitoring-management, and organizational strategies factors, were evaluated using a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 25 using the descriptive and analytical statistics (i.e., Pearson correlation test and t-test). Results: The results showed that organizational strategies dimension with an average of 3.85 (out of 5) had the highest users’ attention, followed by monitoring-management and human dimensions. The overall average of all dimensions was 3.78. All dimensions had a positive and direct effect on the attitudes toward using the CPOE. Demographic characteristics did not have a meaningful relationship with any dimensions. Conclusions: Finally, the average above 3 in the mean of the total dimensions, as well as each dimension, shows views of the users are appropriate to using the CPOE., the views of the users are appropriated toward using CPOE. It should be noted that the difference in the dimension means is a small amount. The centered focus on organizational strategies with the highest average should not cause to neglect other dimensions.
La gobernanza económica de la Unión Europea y sus implicaciones jurídicas e institucionales: veinticinco años de adaptaciones
Authors: González Fernández Sara , Ferrer Martín de Vidales Covadonga
Published: August 2020

La crisis económica y financiera de 2007 ha obligado a adoptar toda una serie de medidas para reformar las reglas y funcionamiento de la UEM y reforzar la gobernanza económica de la UE. Medidas que suponen una creciente cesión de autonomía y que afectan profundamente a la soberanía de los Estados miembros, que han visto cómo su capacidad de decisión en materia económica, presupuestaria y fiscal se ha visto seriamente limitada. Limitación que, en concreto, queda reflejada claramente con la supervisión y control que de las políticas de los Estados miembros en los mencionados ámbitos se lleva a cabo a través del Semestre Europeo. El presente trabajo analiza este proceso incesante de creación de instituciones y mecanismos para reforzar la gobernanza económica de la UE llevado a cabo en la última década que ha dado lugar a una construcción poco armonizada y respecto de la que puede criticarse, principalmente, el método decisorio empleado —con la utilización de nuevos métodos de trabajo y mecanismos al margen de los Tratados que son poco transparentes—, así como el ínfimo papel asignado al Parlamento Europeo y la ausencia de mecanismos de control y responsabilidad.
Reflexión teórica para la orientación psicopedagógica en los acogimientos de familia extensa
Authors: García-Bermejo Tania
Published: August 2020

RESUMENEl acogimiento en familia extensa es la medida de protección de menores más formalizada en España, pero paradójicamente también es una de las menos estudiadas. El objetivo de este artículo es analizar los factores de riesgo y los de protección que presentan estos acogimientos y proponer líneas para la práctica de la orientación psicopedagógica. Para ello, se realiza un análisis bibliográfico y hermenéutico de trabajos sobre este ámbito y sobre otras medidas de protección infantiles. Entre los factores de protección destacan el mantenimiento de los lazos afectivos, la reducción del etiquetaje o la elaboración de la historia vital de los menores. No obstante, debido a sus características especiales, el acogimiento en familia extensa presenta factores de riesgo como la diferencia intergeneracional entre acogedores-acogidos, los sentimientos de fracaso de los cuidadores por la educación que dieron a sus hijos, la sobreprotección hacia los menores o las relaciones conflictivas con los progenitores. Por ello, se proponen líneas para la orientación psicopedagógica que refuercen la incondicionalidad, mejoren el establecimiento de las normas y disminuyan el sentimiento de culpa de progenitores y acogedores. ABSTRACTKinship foster care is the most common child protection measure in Spain, but paradoxically it has received scant attention by educational researchers. The aim of this article is to analyse risk and protection factors of this measure in order to propose some lines for pyschopedagogical orientation. The method will be a bibliographical and hermeneutic analysis of previous research and others children protection measures. Among the main protection factors are the affective links with relatives, the reduction of social stigma or the elaboration of children life story. Nevertheless, due to the special characteristics of kinship foster care, it presents some risk factors as the age difference between caregivers and children, feelings of failure of caregivers –because of the education that they provided to their own children–, overprotection of children, or conflictive relationships with parents. Therefore, some lines of psychopedagogical orientation are proposed to reinforce unconditional links, improve the stablishing of norms for children and reduce guilt feelings of parents and caregivers.
Género y currículum en disputa. Reflexiones sobre prácticas y saberes universitarios
Authors: Bolla Luisina , Rocha Milagros María
Published: August 2020

El presente artículo reflexiona sobre tres ejes: el primero alude al currículum universitario en tanto artefacto de género (SILVA, 1998) o tecnología de género (DE LAURETIS, 2000). A partir del análisis de programas correspondientes al Profesorado en Historia de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) mostramos cómo los contenidos relacionados a género y mujeres, en las materias obligatorias de la carrera, comienzan a visibilizarse con mayor vigor en 2016 (ROCHA, 2019). No obstante, si bien estos contenidos encuentran por donde “filtrarse”, notamos que esto ocurre en espacios curriculares optativos, de manera sistemática a partir de 2005. El segundo eje analiza lo que denominamos el currículum en disputa a partir del análisis de ciertos porcentajes, por cierto, mínimos, que referencian a las mujeres como autoras de la bibliografía que se lee en los primeros años de las carreras de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (UNLP). Para ello, realizamos un análisis exploratorio de asignaturas introductorias de la carrera de Filosofía que muestran la dialéctica presencia/ausencia de mujeres en los programas. Tercero y último, retomamos aportes de las epistemologías feministas para problematizar las formas en que se incluyen y se enseñan los contenidos vinculados al género y los feminismos en la Universidad. Palabras clave: Feminismos. Género. Ciencia. Currículum. Universidad.
Impact of Average Speed Enforcement Systems on Traffic Safety: Evidence from the Roads of Lithuania
Authors: Gavėnienė Laura , Jateikienė Laura , Čygas Donatas , Kasperavičienė Aistė
Published: August 2020

Average speed enforcement systems have been used on the roads of foreign countries for many years already, and give a positive effect on reducing accident number. The article presents good practices in the use of average speed enforcement systems in various countries and their impact on improving traffic safety. The article analyses the experience of system installation on the roads of Lithuania and the first results. The article also proposes methodologies for the selection of road sections to be enforced, the equipment used, and distribution of road sections in the road network of Lithuania. A detail analysis is given of the effect of average speed enforcement systems after their installation in three different periods on 25 road sections. The analysed data is differentiated between main and national roads. Conclusions and recommendations are given at the end of the paper for a future development of average speed enforcement systems.
Road Design on Low Bearing Capacity Soils
Authors: Virsis Endijs , Paeglitis Ainars , Zarins Atis
Published: August 2020

Soil with weak bearing capacity, like peat and organic grounds, is widespread in Latvia. During the geotechnical investigation for road reconstruction projects, in many cases the discovered soils with low physical-mechanical properties are located below the existing road structure. It is a challenge for a road design engineer to find a way how to ensure road loadbearing capacity and prevent the occurrence of various deformations. Various methods and technologies for ground structure reinforcement and stabilization are being developed worldwide. During design of road structures, it is important to analyse the geotechnical situation and to identify the main reasons why deformations could occur in the ground layers under the road structure. Each of the developed technologies for weak and unstable soil reinforcement, stabilization is designed to solve a specific problem. Inaccurately and carelessly identifying the causes of problems, road deformations can affect the performance of the recently designed road and even make the existing problem worse. The aim of this paper is to show the soil strengthening methods used in Latvia and to analyse the benefits and disadvantages of these methods.
Traffic Reorganisation in Large Roundabouts of Vilnius and its Influence on Traffic Safety
Authors: Grigonis Vytautas , Stanevičiūtė Iveta , Dumbliauskas Vytautas
Published: August 2020

Historically, there are several large roundabouts in Vilnius with traffic organisation and safety problems. Vilnius City Administration initiated changes on these large roundabouts in 2016, by introducing new traffic organisation schemes and using relatively simple measures such as the line markings, safety measures and road signs. The aim of the research is to analyse the number of traffic accidents on the roundabouts before and after such traffic reorganisation. The article is based on accident maps in roundabouts created by the authors. Based on the comparison of accident maps, the safety trends were analysed and summarised.
The Typical Traffic Accident in Lithuania In Comparison with Sweden
Authors: Ušpalytė-Vitkūnienė Rasa , Laureshyn Aliaksei
Published: August 2020

Every day we strive to improve the environment and make it as comfortable as possible, creating new products and new technologies that are literally changing people’s lives. Transport is one of the most important engines of development in the world and, unfortunately, it is one of the most painful taking into account how many people’s lives we are losing in it. Ensuring safe traffic, stabilizing a number of accidents, reducing accidents on motor roads and streets are the most important tasks in the field of transport in Lithuania and the EU today. Lithuania could not be left behind when the EU countries pursued an important goal of halving the number of fatalities by the end of 2010 compared to 2001. Substantial road accident rates are recorded in cities with the highest concentration of road users. The aim of this article is to identify the typical accidents for Lithuanian cities and to compare them with the case of Sweden, which is one of the leading countries in the field of traffic safety. The five largest cities in Lithuania been selected for the analysis, where typical traffic accidents are identified. The analysis will help develop recommendations for changes in traffic infrastructure to ensure safe traffic.