bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Network-Based Point Pattern Analysis of Bicycle Accidents to Improve Cyclist Safety
Authors: Kaygisiz Ömür , Hauger Georg
Published: December 2017

Examining the spatial distribution of bicycle accidents under different conditions and in different periods is an important issue for increasing cyclist safety. A point pattern analysis methodology of 1,437 bicycle accidents that resulted in injury or death in the city center of Vienna, Austria, between 2012 and 2014 is described. Network-based kernel density estimation was used to examine the hot spots of bicycle accidents, and the network-based nearest-neighbor distance was taken into account to check the significance of the hot spots. Moreover, the global cross nearest-neighbor distance was used to test the effect of urban components on the distribution of bicycle accidents. An understanding of the temporal and conditional differences was obtained by analyzing the accident data in terms of four classifications: all accident data and then the accident data classified according to season, light conditions, and precipitation conditions. It was concluded that the bicycle accident hot spots varied in space according to season, light, and precipitation conditions. Also, these detected hot spots were significant for the pattern of accidents, no matter what classification was used. Besides these points, at the .95 confidence level, bicycle accidents tended to cluster by signalized intersections, bus and tram stations, subway stations, and city bike stations. As a result, a systematic framework was proposed for spatiotemporal analysis of bicycle accidents for the built environment. The framework can serve as a guide to determine effective strategies for cyclist safety in urban areas.
Analysis and Validation of Surrogate Safety Measures by Types of Lead and Following Vehicles
Authors: Zhao Peibo , Lee Chris
Published: December 2017

This study analyzed rear-end collision risk in a mixed traffic flow of cars and heavy vehicles on a freeway using two surrogate safety measures: time to collision (TTC) and postencroachment time (PET). The study estimated surrogate safety measures for types of lead and following vehicles (car or heavy vehicle) by using the individual vehicle trajectory data. The vehicle trajectory data were collected from a segment of the US-101 freeway in Los Angeles, California. It was found that the distributions of TTC and PET were significantly different between types of lead and following vehicles. Also, the mean values of TTC and PET were higher for heavy vehicles following cars than for cars following cars and for cars following heavy vehicles. The study also validated TTC by using the simulated traffic data for a few minutes before the time of crashes that occurred on a section of the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was found that TTC reflects higher collision risk in the time intervals closer to the crash time and it reflects higher collision risk for the crash case than for the noncrash case. The findings suggest that the difference in rear-end collision risk between types of vehicle pairs should be considered in safety assessment of mixed traffic flow of cars and heavy vehicles.
Examining Injury Severity of Not-At-Fault Drivers in Two-Vehicle Crashes
Authors: Penmetsa Praveena , Pulugurtha Srinivas S. , Duddu Venkata R.
Published: December 2017

The focus of this paper is to examine the injury severity of not-at-fault drivers in two-vehicle crashes. North Carolina crash data collected from 2009 to 2013 were used for the analysis. Ordered probit model was initially chosen because of the ordinal nature of the dependent variable (injury severity of the driver not at fault). However, the data failed to obey the proportional odds assumption accompanied with the ordered probit model. Therefore, a partial proportional model was fitted for two-vehicle crashes. Compared with the physical condition of at-fault drivers, the physical condition of not-at-fault drivers had a greater effect on the severity of injury to the not-at-fault drivers. Exceeding the speed limit, aggressive or reckless driving, and going the wrong way are the three traffic rule violations of at-fault drivers that are more likely to result in severe injuries to not-at-fault drivers than disregarding traffic signs, signals, and markings. Similarly, a crash involving an at-fault driver with violations of two and three traffic rules is 1.68 and 2.86 times likely to result in severe injuries to not-at-fault drivers compared with a crash involving an at-fault driver with only one traffic rule violation. Motorcyclists are observed to be at highest risk with the odds of severe injury to motorcyclists who are not at fault. Crashes with female at-fault drivers are less likely to result in severe injury to the not-at-fault drivers. Female drivers are also more likely to be severely injured when they are not at fault.
Accounting for Driver Distraction and Socioeconomic Characteristics in a Crash Risk Index: Naturalistic Driving Study
Authors: Ye Mengqiu , Osman Osama A. , Ishak Sherif
Published: December 2017

Distracted driving has long been acknowledged as one of the main contributors to crashes in the United States. According to past studies, driving behavior proved to be influenced by the socioeconomic characteristics of drivers. However, few studies attempted to quantify that influence. This study proposed a crash risk index (CRI) to estimate the crash risk associated with the socioeconomic characteristics of drivers and their tendency to experience distracted driving. The analysis was conducted with data from the SHRP 2 Naturalistic Driving Study. The proposed CRI was developed on a grading system of three measures: the crash risk associated with performing secondary tasks during driving, the effect of socioeconomic attributes (e.g., age) on the likelihood of engagement in secondary tasks, and the effect of specific categories within each socioeconomic attribute (e.g., age older than 60) on the likelihood of engagement in secondary tasks. Logistic regression analysis was performed on the secondary tasks, socioeconomic attributes, and specific socioeconomic characteristics. The results identified the significant secondary tasks with high crash risk and the socioeconomic characteristics with significant effect on determining drivers’ involvement in secondary tasks in each tested parameter. These results were used to quantify the grading system measures and hence estimate the proposed CRI. This index indicates the relative crash risk associated with the socioeconomic characteristics of drivers and considers the possibility of engagement in secondary tasks. The proposed CRI and the associated grading system are plausible methods for estimating auto insurance premiums.
Investigation of the Effect of Super Sharrows on Cyclist and Vehicle Behavior
Authors: Kassim Ali , Ismail Karim , Woo Suzanne
Published: December 2017

This study examined the potential effect of special paintings of shared lane markings (super sharrows) on a number of operational and safety performance parameters for cyclists and motor vehicles. These performance parameters were used to assess pretreatment and posttreatment behavior when cyclists and motor vehicles were near one another. The performance parameters were ( a) rate of lane change maneuvers performed by vehicles in the presence as well as the absence of cyclists and ( b) lateral spacing between cyclists, vehicles, and curb edge. In general, the main objectives of this treatment were ( a) providing cyclists with comfort by allowing them to ride in the middle of the travel lane and ( b) promoting safe passing by motor vehicles. The effect of the super sharrows on cyclists and motor vehicles was analyzed with statistical analysis by comparing pretreatment and posttreatment conditions. The key findings are as follow: ( a) super sharrows had an effect on motor vehicle lane change maneuvers, represented by an increase in the percentage of motor vehicles that changed from the right lane (location of super sharrows) to the left lane with the presence of a cyclist on the right lane; ( b) the number of motor vehicles that changed from right lane to left lane and back to right lane in both full and partial encroachment into the left lane decreased; ( c) the number of the motor vehicle lane change maneuvers from left to right lane decreased; and ( d) cyclists were found to be riding farther from the right curb with the presence of the super sharrows.
Preflight, In-Flight, and Postflight Imaging of the Cervical and Lumbar Spine in Astronauts
Authors: Harrison Michael F. , Garcia Kathleen M. , Sargsyan Ashot E. , Ebert Douglas , Riascos-Castaneda Roy F. , Dulchavsky Scott A.
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND: Back pain is a common complaint during spaceflight that is commonly attributed to intervertebral disc swelling in microgravity. Ultrasound (US) represents the only imaging modality on the International Space Station (ISS) to assess its etiology. The present study
investigated: 1) The agreement and correlation of spinal US assessments as compared to results of pre- and postflight MRI studies; and 2) the trend in intervertebral disc characteristics over the course of spaceflight to ISS.METHODS: Seven ISS astronauts underwent pre- and postflight
US examinations that included anterior disc height and anterior intervertebral angles with comparison to pre- and postflight MRI results. In-flight US images were analyzed for changes in disc height and angle. Statistical analysis included repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc analysis,
Bland-Altman plots, and Pearson correlation.RESULTS: Bland-Altman plots revealed significant disagreement between disc heights and angles for MRI and US measurements while significant Pearson correlations were found in MRI and US measurements for lumbar disc height (r2
= 0.83) and angle (r2 = 0.89), but not for cervical disc height (r2 = 0.26) or angle (r2 = 0.02). Changes in anterior intervertebral disc angle—initially increases followed by decreases—were observed in the lumbar and cervical spine over the course
of the long-duration mission. The cervical spine demonstrated a loss of total disc height during in-flight assessments (∼0.5 cm).DISCUSSION: Significant disagreement but significant correlation was noted between US and MRI measurements of disc height and angle. Consistency in
imaging modality is important for trending measurements and more research related to US technique is required.Harrison MF, Garcia KM, Sargsyan AE, Ebert D, Riascos-Castaneda RF, Dulchavsky SA. Preflight, in-flight, and postflight imaging of the cervical and lumbar spine in astronauts. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2018; 89(1):32–40.
Pilot Mental Health, Negative Life Events, and Improving Safety with Peer Support and a Just Culture
Authors: Mulder Sanne , de Rooy Diederik
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND: In the last 35 yr, 17 commercial aviation accidents and incidents, with 576 fatalities, could likely have been attributed to mental disease of a pilot. Screening tools for mental health risks in airline pilots are needed. There is growing interest in pilot peer-support
programs and how to incorporate them in a just culture, meaning that pilots can report mental health complaints without a risk of job or income loss. We combined findings from aviation accidents and incidents with a search of scientific literature to provide data-based recommendations for
screening, peer-support, and a just culture approach to mental health problems.METHODS: Commercial aviation accidents and incidents in which a mental disorder of a pilot was thought to play a role were reviewed. Subsequently, PubMed and PsychInfo literature searches were performed
on peer-support programs, just culture human resource management, and the risk of negative life events on developing suicidal ideation and behavior in comparable professional groups.RESULTS: Lethal accidents were mostly related to impaired coping with negative life events. Negative
life events are clearly related to suicidal thoughts, attempts, and completed suicide. A protective effect of peer-support programs on mental health problems has not been established, although peer-support programs are generally appreciated by those involved. We did not find relevant literature
on just culture.DISCUSSION: Negative life events are likely a useful screening tool for mental health risks. There is still a lack of evidence on how peer-support groups should be designed and how management of mental health risks can be implemented in a just culture.Mulder
S, de Rooy D. Pilot mental health, negative life events, and improving safety with peer support and a just culture. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2018; 89(1):41–51.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse in a Fighter Pilot with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
Authors: Buckley Kerry , Gann Jami , Barbier Heather , Greer Joy
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND: Few researchers have studied symptomatic younger to middle-aged women with pelvic organ prolapse. The association between highly strenuous activity and prolapse symptoms is largely theoretical. It is also known that a genetic component likely contributes to early-onset
pelvic organ prolapse, but prevention and treatment with respect to this has not been explored. Service restrictions differ for active duty women who are diagnosed with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse.CASE REPORT: We present a case of a 33-yr-old Gravida 1 Para 1 fighter pilot
who developed symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse after a vaginal delivery. Her prolapse symptoms initially prevented her from flying due to exacerbation of pain and pressure. Her exam demonstrated Stage III pelvic organ prolapse. She was treated with a course of physical therapy and ring with
support pessary which allowed the patient to return to flight status after 5 mo. After completing the course of physical therapy, her physical exam improved to Stage II pelvic organ prolapse. A few months later, the patient reported that distracting vaginal pain recurred with the highest G
forces. Coincidently, the patient was also diagnosed with pulmonary sequela of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and disqualified from flight status.DISCUSSION: This case illustrates the capability of decreasing pelvic organ prolapse with conservative measures, even in extreme environments,
but it also identifies a possible association between an elastase activity defect and susceptibility to pelvic organ prolapse.Buckley K, Gann J, Barbier H, Greer J. Pelvic organ prolapse in a fighter pilot with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2018; 89(1):66–69.
Metal-mediated base pairs in parallel-stranded DNA
Authors: Müller Jens
Published: December 2017

In nucleic acid chemistry, metal-mediated base pairs represent a versatile method for the site-specific introduction of metal-based functionality. In metal-mediated base pairs, the hydrogen bonds between complementary nucleobases are replaced by coordinate bonds to one or two transition metal ions located in the helical core. In recent years, the concept of metal-mediated base pairing has found a significant extension by applying it to parallel-stranded DNA duplexes. The antiparallel-stranded orientation of the complementary strands as found in natural B-DNA double helices enforces a cisoid orientation of the glycosidic bonds. To enable the formation of metal-mediated base pairs preferring a transoid orientation of the glycosidic bonds, parallel-stranded duplexes have been investigated. In many cases, such as the well-established cytosine–Ag(I)–cytosine base pair, metal complex formation is more stabilizing in parallel-stranded DNA than in antiparallel-stranded DNA. This review presents an overview of all metal-mediated base pairs reported as yet in parallel-stranded DNA, compares them with their counterparts in regular DNA (where available), and explains the experimental conditions used to stabilize the respective parallel-stranded duplexes.
Accelerated Gillespie Algorithm for Gas–Grain Reaction Network Simulations Using Quasi-steady-state Assumption
Authors: Chang Qiang , Lu Yang , Quan Donghui
Published: December 2017

Although the Gillespie algorithm is accurate in simulating gas–grain reaction networks, so far its computational cost is so expensive that it cannot be used to simulate chemical reaction networks that include molecular hydrogen accretion or the chemical evolution of protoplanetary disks. We present an accelerated Gillespie algorithm that is based on a quasi-steady-state assumption with the further approximation that the population distribution of transient species depends only on the accretion and desorption processes. The new algorithm is tested against a few reaction networks that are simulated by the regular Gillespie algorithm. We found that the less likely it is that transient species are formed and destroyed on grain surfaces, the more accurate the new method is. We also apply the new method to simulate reaction networks that include molecular hydrogen accretion. The results show that surface chemical reactions involving molecular hydrogen are not important for the production of surface species under standard physical conditions of dense molecular clouds.
SDSS-IV MaNGA: Probing the Kinematic Morphology–Density Relation of Early-type Galaxies with MaNGA
Authors: Greene J. E. , Leauthaud A. , Emsellem E. , Goddard D. , Ge J. , Andrews B. H. , Brinkman J. , Brownstein J. R. , Greco J. , Law D. , Lin Y.-T. , Masters K. L. , Merrifield M. , More S. , Okabe N. , Schneider D. P. , Thomas D. , Wake D. A. , Yan R. , Drory N.
Published: December 2017

The “kinematic” morphology–density relation for early-type galaxies posits that those galaxies with low angular momentum are preferentially found in the highest-density regions of the universe. We use a large sample of galaxy groups with halo masses

observed with the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO (MaNGA) survey to examine whether there is a correlation between local environment and rotational support that is independent of stellar mass. We find no compelling evidence for a relationship between the angular momentum content of early-type galaxies and either local overdensity or radial position within the group at fixed stellar mass.
Induction of Immunosuppressive CD8+CD25+FOXP3+ Regulatory T Cells by Suboptimal Stimulation with Staphylococcal Enterotoxin C1
Authors: Lee Juyeun , Park Nogi , Park Joo Youn , Kaplan Barbara L. F. , Pruett Stephen B. , Park Juw Won , Park Yong Ho , Seo Keun Seok
Published: December 2017

Superantigens (SAgs) produced by Staphylococcus aureus at high concentrations induce proliferation of T cells bearing specific TCR Vβ sequences and massive cytokinemia that cause toxic shock syndrome. However, the biological relevance of SAgs produced at very low concentrations during asymptomatic colonization or chronic infections is not understood. In this study, we demonstrate that suboptimal stimulation of human PBMCs with a low concentration (1 ng/ml) of staphylococcal enterotoxin C1, at which half-maximal T cell proliferation was observed, induced CD8+CD25+ T cells expressing markers related to regulatory T cells (Tregs), such as IFN-γ, IL-10, TGF-β, FOXP3, CD28, CTLA4, TNFR2, CD45RO, and HLA-DR. Importantly, these CD8+CD25+ T cells suppressed responder cell proliferation mediated in contact-dependent and soluble factor–dependent manners, involving galectin-1 and granzymes, respectively. In contrast, optimal stimulation of human PBMCs with a high concentration (1 μg/ml) of staphylococcal enterotoxin C1, at which maximal T cell proliferation was observed, also induced similar expression of markers related to Tregs, including FOXP3 in CD8+CD25+ cells, but these T cells were not functionally immunosuppressive. We further demonstrated that SAg-induced TCR Vβ–restricted and MHC class II–restricted expansion of immunosuppressive CD8+CD25+ T cells is independent of CD4+ T cells. Our results suggest that the concentration of SAg strongly affects the functional characteristics of activated T cells, and low concentrations of SAg produced during asymptomatic colonization or chronic S. aureus infection induce immunosuppressive CD8+ Tregs, potentially promoting colonization, propagation, and invasion of S. aureus in the host.
Jump2Health Website™ for Head Start Parents to Promote a Healthy Home Environment: Results from Formative Research
Authors: Gurajada Navya , Reed Debra B. , Taylor Ashlee L.
Published: December 2017

Background

In US, approximately 23% of children between the ages of 2-5 years are overweight or obese. Parents need access to information to create healthy home environments for obesity prevention, yet participation for in-person education programs is challenging. Web-based interventions are promising educational tools due to 24/7 availability. However, information is limited on their development and evaluation.

Design and methods

This study reports on a rigorous development process that included six focus group discussions (FGD) with stakeholders (three FGD each with parents and teachers) to assess education needs and inform the development of the Jump2Health Website™ by a multidisciplinary team. After development, the Website was evaluated by telephone interviews with stakeholders (five parents and six teachers) and reviewed by an expert panel of five Registered Dietitians.

Results

Twenty Head Start parents and 22 Head Start teachers participated in the FGD. To address the needs identified by these stakeholders, the Website was designed to include components that were enabling and motivating, such as descriptions of health benefits by achieving the desired behaviours, short videos on easy meal preparation, and tip sheets on how to achieve healthy behaviours in easy, economical ways. Stakeholder evaluation of the Website indicated that the information was helpful, easy to use, and would be beneficial for parents.

Conclusions

The development of Jump2Health Website™ was strengthened by FGD with stakeholders that assessed educational needs. Interviews with stakeholders and an expert panel review showed that the Website may be an effective educational method to teach parents about healthy behaviours related to obesity prevention.
Self-Esteem, Propensity for Sensation Seeking, and Risk Behaviour among Adults with Tattoos and Piercings
Authors: Hong Bo-Kyung , Lee Hyo Young
Published: December 2017

Background

In recent years, increasing numbers of adults and adolescents have opted to undergo tattoo and piercing procedures. Studies among adolescents with tattoo and piercing have usually explored the relationship between one factor and the decision to have tattoos and/or piercings. The aim of this study was to determine relationships between body cosmetic procedures and selfesteem, propensity for sensation seeking, and risk behaviours among adults. Materials and Methods: The subjects were divided into two groups, i.e., those with (n=429) and those without tattoos/piercings (n=237), and self-esteem, propensity for sensation seeking, and risk behaviour were compared between the two groups using self-report questionnaires. To analyse differences in self-esteem and the propensity for sensation seeking, general characteristics were statistically adjusted. In addition, general characteristics, self-esteem, and propensity for sensation seeking were statistically adjusted to determine differences in the propensity for risk behaviour between the two groups.

Results

Significant differences were observed in age, marital status, income level, occupation, values or sensitivity to fashion, and educational level between the group with and that without tattoos/ piercings. There was no significant difference in self-esteem, whereas there were significant differences in the propensity for sensation seeking and risk behaviour between the two groups.

Conclusions

Continuous attention to, and interest in, the increased incidence of tattooing and piercing are necessary, especially in terms of public interventions for health education and health promotion, as these forms of self-adornment are associated with behaviours that pose a risk to health.
Horseshoe kidney and uretero-pelvic-junction obstruction in a pediatric patient. Laparoscopic vascular hitch: A valid alternative to dismembered pyeloplasty?
Authors: Bleve Cosimo , Bucci Valeria , Conighi Maria Luisa , Battaglino Francesco , Costa Lorenzo , Fasoli Lorella , Zolpi Elisa , Chiarenza Salvatore Fabio
Published: December 2017

Horseshoe kidney (HSK) is a congenital defect of the urinary tract that occurs in 0.25% of the general population. Laparoscopic Vascular Hitch (LVH) according to Hellstrom-Chapman represent an alternative approach in treatment of extrinsic hydronephrosis by crossing vessels (CV) in pediatric age. In our Department from 2006 to 2016, 36 children with extrinsic-Uretero-Pelvic-Junction (UPJ)-Obstruction (UPJO) underwent laparoscopic vessels transposition. Over the last 4years, we have treated three patients with extrinsic hydronephrosis in HSK; two males and one female respectively of 6, 7 and 8years. The side affected was the left in all patients; symptoms of onset: recurrent abdominal pain, vomiting with associated intermittent hydronephrosis at ultrasonography. The preoperative examinations performed were: ultrasound/Doppler scan, MAG3-renogram, functional-magnetic-resonance-urography (fMRU). Mean operative time was 120’; median hospital stay 3- days. Intraoperative diuretic-test (DT) confirmed an extrinsic-UPJO in all patients. No JJ-stents and drain were used and there were no perioperative complications. Clinical and ultrasound follow-up (18 months-4 years) show resolution of symptoms and decrease in hydronephrosis grade in all patients. Our series is the largest in pediatric population by a revision of the literature. We believe that LVH is feasible in patients with symptomatic hydronephrosis by CV in HSK. Intraoperative-DT and the correct selection of patients are crucial to the success of the technique. According to us, this procedure is appropriate in those cases where the UPJ-anatomy is disadvantageous to a resection/re-anastomosis between ureter and renal pelvis. Our initial results are encouraging, although long-term follow- up and a more significant patient sample are required.
Un nouveau document pour l’histoire de la médecine vétérinaire
Authors: Grimpret Jean
Published: December 2017

A new document related to history of veterinary medicine.

A singular document was recently discovered in the Records Office of Indre-et-Loire. It reports how Gil Douté sept up in 1772 as the firts graduate veterinary surgeon approved by the Province of Touraine, after having been educated for seven years at the just founded Royal Veterinary Schools. He called himself a “médecin-maréchal” (literally a physician-shoeing smith).
Évaluation in vitro et in vivo d’une formulation de trois antibiotiques destinée au traitement des mammites cliniques à Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Meissonnier Etienne , Ganière Jean-Pierre
Published: December 2017

Les auteurs envisagent d’abord les modèles d’évaluation pharmacodynamique d’une triple association intramammaire d’antibiotiques Bacitracine-Néomycine-Tétracycline, vis-à-vis de souches de Staphylococcus aureus, issues de lait de mammites. Les critères étudiés sont successivement la détermination des CMI, l’index FIC et la cinétique de bactéricidie. Ensuite, sont analysés les taux de guérison bactériologique conférés par la même association lors de mammites cliniques induites ou spontanées. Outre les effets synergiques de la triple association antibiotique observés en laboratoire, son efficacité est démontrée sur le terrain en terme de guérison bactériologique.
Restauration scolaire et éducation nutritionnelle
Authors: Tonneau Daniel
Published: December 2017

Scolary catering and nutritional education.

In France, there is an increasing gap between the social and family food habits and those of teenagers. Collective catering can cope with our new needs as far as nutritional education is concerned through three main lines. The first line must be inspired by the theory of Maslow’s pyramid. While the pupil is becoming a real guest by means of warm welcome and environment, be gradually gets the feeling that he is "a dominant”. Here the psychological side of the relationship is preponderant.

Another interest of collective catering lies in the increase in the number of partners, the city, the region, and even the State. Thus it will enable higher bids with the technical, psychological and financial potentials.

Finally, the interference of private partners from farm produce industry will aim at educating the guest who is keen on new produces, nutritionally speaking.

On short term, combining these three actions succeeds in altering the pupil’s food habits noticeably and at little cost.
Les animaux ont-ils une conscience ?
Authors: Ferrando Raymond
Published: December 2017

On a défini la conscience “sentiment, intuition plus ou moins précise que l’être humain a de ses états et de ses actes”, ou bien encore “connaissance immédiate de la réalité du monde extérieur”.

Il est erroné d’estimer que ceci s’applique seulement à l’homme. Les animaux ont des sensations analogues, voire même parfois mieux développées dans certaines circonstances, que nous ne ressentons pas. De telles situations générales et particulières sont présentées tout en soulignant qu’il n’est pas logique d’estimer les comportements des animaux toujours identiques à ceux de l’homme. Cet anthropomorphisme fait commettre de graves erreurs. Les exemples d’une conscience animale et d’attitudes parfois originales en résultant et le démontrant sont nombreux. Des recherches et des efforts sont à poursuivre pour achever de prouver la réalité de cette conscience. Mieux connue elle serait susceptible d’améliorer les relations entre les animaux et l’homme pour leur bien réciproque.
L’Encéphalopathie Spongiforme Bovine. Une hypothèse étiologique séduisante : les molécules chaperonnes non repliées
Authors: Constantin André
Published: December 2017

L’étude des maladies dégénératives du système nerveux des Vertébrés a modifié les habitudes des pathologistes.

Le Prion de S. B. Prusiner s’impose progressivement. Reste à en définir le mode d’action.

J. P. Liautard a étayé l’hypothèse des molécules chaperonnes qui, ici, sont devenues auto-chaperonnes et il faut bien constater que ces protéines se comportent comme des agents infectieux.

Le mauvais repliement du Pr Pc doit être considéré comme une modification structurelle qui se propage dans les cellules cibles (les neurones).
Le contrôle de qualité sanitaire du transfert d’embryons bovins : six années d’expérience française
Authors: Thibier Michel , Guérin Bernard
Published: December 2017

Le Contrôle sanitaire du transfert embryonnaire présente de grandes originalités par rapport aux moyens de contrôles vétérinaires classiques. En particulier, le Ministère de l’Agriculture (Direction Générale de l’Alimentation) qui agrée officiellement les équipes de collecte et de transfert s’assure du respect des règles exigées, par un contrôle a posteriori reposant sur un emchantillonnage de divers prélèvements issus de ces manipulations. La France a joué en la matière un rôle de pionnier. Ce contrôle est assuré en France par le Laboratoire de Contrôle des Reproducteurs. Depuis Septembre 1986, date de l’Arrêté Ministériel instituant ce type de mesures, 1 245 collectes ont été l’objet des examens retenus : dénombrement bactérien, recherche de mycoplasmes et de virus (HVB1 et VDVB) à partir de trois types de prélèvements : liquides de collecte, liquides de lavage et embryons non fécondés ou dégénérés. Seules 33 de ces analyses n’ont pas été interprétables pour des raisons matérielles diverses (< 3 %), et 1 040 contrôles se sont révélés favorables (83%). Les contrôles non favorables (14%) résultent ou de contaminations excessives des liquides de lavage (jusqu’à 3 logs d’Unités formant colonies par ml, pour 40 prélèvements) ou de la présence de mycoplasmes (17 collectes). Aucun virus n’a été retrouvé dans les liquides de collecte ou sur les embryons non fécondés ou dégénérés. Ce contrôle a ainsi démontré [1] sa faisabilité et [2] la très grande sécurité sanitaire du processus de transfert d’embryons bovins.
METHODS OF EVALUATION OF THE STATE AND EFFICIENCY OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Patrakeyev I. , Ziborov V. , Lazorenko-Hevel N.
Published: December 2017

Abstract. Today, humanity is experiencing an "urban age", and therefore issues of good management of energy consumption and energy spent on utilization of waste in cities are becoming particularly acute. In this regard, the working group of the World Energy Council proposed a concept of the "energy balance" of the urban environment. This concept was that the energy produced should cover the energy consumed. Metabolism of the urban environment is so hot and so rarely studied by urban planners. This condition is linked first with the fact that metabolism is nothing more than a network of exchange of physical, energy resources and information. This is the real point of meeting the natural, technological, social, economic processes and their transformation into one another. Metabolism is the most important tool for knowing the real mechanics of the movement of resources in such a complex system as the urban environment. The content of the article is an analysis of significant energy and material flows characterizing the metabolism of the urban environment. We considered in the article a new energy paradigm. This paradigm will help in carrying out research in such areas as reducing the burden on the state of the environment, reducing environmental problems and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Methods and models of metabolic processes in the urban environment will allow to implement in practice the concept of sustainable development of the urban environment, which is the development of the teaching V. Vernadsky about the noosphere.
EXTRACTION OF DEMS AND ORTHOIMAGES FROM ARCHIVE AERIAL IMAGERY TO SUPPORT PROJECT PLANNING IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
Authors: Cogliati M. , Tonelli E. , Battaglia D. , Scaioni M.
Published: December 2017

Abstract. Archive aerial photos represent a valuable heritage to provide information about land content and topography in the past years. Today, the availability of low-cost and open-source solutions for photogrammetric processing of close-range and drone images offers the chance to provide outputs such as DEM’s and orthoimages in easy way. This paper is aimed at demonstrating somehow and to which level of accuracy digitized archive aerial photos may be used within a such kind of low-cost software (Agisoft Photoscan Professional®) to generate photogrammetric outputs. Different steps of the photogrammetric processing workflow are presented and discussed. The main conclusion is that this procedure may come to provide some final products, which however do not feature the high accuracy and resolution that may be obtained using high-end photogrammetric software packages specifically designed for aerial survey projects. In the last part a case study is presented about the use of four-epoch archive of aerial images to analyze the area where a tunnel has to be excavated.
A Qualitative Analysis of Mentee Experiences in a Campus-Based Mentoring Program
Authors: Haddock Shelley A. , Zimmerman Toni Schindler , Gile Thomas April , Weiler Lindsey M. , Krafchick Jen , Fredrickson Gereon J.
Published: December 2017

Preventing first-time offending youth from repeating delinquent behavior is of interest to society. Empirical evidence indicates that high-quality mentoring can prevent a wide array of negative outcomes for at-risk youth. This study examines the perspectives of 87 first-time offending youth, ages 10 to 18 years (M = 15), who participated in Campus Connections: Therapeutic Mentoring of At-Risk Youth. Through in-depth individual interviews, youth reported that mentoring helped them: (a) improve school experiences and performance, (b) create healthier relationships, (c) feel better about themselves, (d) think more positively about their future, and (e) decrease engagement in delinquency. The mentees attributed program components as well as the relationship with their mentor as important. These program components can be integrated into other mentoring programs.
Towards the Promotion of Positive Development among Boys in Challenging Contexts: A Mixed-Methods Study of Engagement in the Scoutreach Initiative
Authors: Champine Robey B. , Johnson Sara K.
Published: December 2017

Engagement in youth development programs reflects the quality of young people’s program-related experiences. However, more research is needed that explores cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions of engagement in programs that serve underrepresented youth of color. The present cross-sectional and mixed-methods study assessed potential relations among dimensions of engagement in the Boston-area Scoutreach initiative, character attributes, self-perceived school competence, and intentional self-regulation. We analyzed data from 32 Scouts (Mage = 9.97 years, SD = 2.46, Range = 6 to 14), 32 parents/guardians, and five Scoutreach leaders. Scouts demonstrated that they were cognitively, emotionally, and behaviorally engaged in Scoutreach, and these dimensions were related differentially to indicators of healthy development. Qualitative data elucidated key aspects of Scoutreach (e.g., camping, peer relationships) that were linked to youth engagement. We discuss limitations of the present study and implications for future research and practice.
Melchor de Aguirre, cantero y arquitecto: corpus de portadas y retablos
Authors: Díaz Gómez José Antonio
Published: December 2017

El presente artículo pretende poner de manifiesto el papel decisivo que el cantero y arquitecto Melchor de Aguirre, junto con su taller, jugó en el cambio de modelo de los retablos y las portadas del Barroco tardío andaluz. Con esta premisa, se realiza un estudio que contrasta los hallazgos de trabajos precedentes, así como los resultados propios derivados de las investigaciones desarrolladas sobre este conspicuo alarife como autor del Oratorio de San Felipe Neri de Granada.
'Racialized Beauty': The Ugly Duckling in Toni Morrison's "God Help the Child"
Authors: López Ramírez Manuela
Published: December 2017

In God Help the Child, Toni Morrison’s latest novel, set in our contemporary times, her oeuvre seems to have come full circle when she revisits the main themes she dealt with in The Bluest Eye, child abuse and aesthetics relativism. Like her prime novel, her latest narrative is a modern-day fairy tale, a re-interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen’s story “The Ugly Duckling”. Morrison shows how destructive hegemonic female beauty standards and materialistic values are for black females. Lula Ann, like Pecola, their protagonists, illustrate racialized beauty and how African Americans have been colonized by white cultural definitions of beauty, even when the notion “black is beautiful” is commodified. In God Help the Child, Morrison devaluates the myth of racialized beauty and materialism, stressing the need to find your own definitions and self-worth. Like “The Ugly Duckling”, Morrison’s latest novel is a powerful and inspirational metaphor about transformation and self-discovery. At the end of God Help the Child, the signs of hope in The Bluest Eye become an almost fairy-tale ending in Lula Ann’s cathartic journey, her love story and pregnancy.
Canons in Media Language and Professional Voice
Authors: Hernández-Campoy Juan M. , Cutillas-Espinosa Juan A.
Published: December 2017

Linguistic prescriptivism is an ideology and authority based practice that has traditionally vindicated the use of norms of language as social conventions on correctness, appropriateness, aesthetics and validity, also affecting media language. The aim of this paper is to explore the theoretical underpinnings of the Script Design model, which underlines the need to consider not only responsive and even initiative based performance, but also the script or use of a professional voice, as part of structural constrains, that conditions the individual linguistic behaviour in public occupations. The debate on responsive-initiative motivations in stylistic variation is a central issue of the traditional pendulum-oscillating di-lemma in social theory about the relationship between structure and agency, i.e. between sociolinguistic limitations and creativity, and also between speaker intention and listener understanding. Despite their social or regional background, speakers modify their linguistic production in public depending on the market characteristics and the structural constrains. The spirit of the Script Model, therefore, alludes to the standing debate in both classical and contemporary sociological theory over the primacy of social structure or agency in shaping human behaviour and the meaning of human behaviour itself.
SOLAR ENERGY AND ITS GLOBAL INVESTMENTS
Authors: Toniazzo Fernando , Klajn Felipe Fernandes , Nogueira Carlos Eduardo Camargo , Siqueira Jair Antônio Cruz , Souza Samuel Nelson Melegari de
Published: December 2017

Este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar as pesquisas de energia solar em escala global nos últimos cinco anos a fim de identificar as formas de aplicação dessa fonte de energia e quais países estão participando das pesquisas na área solar. Neste contexto Foram analisadas as publicações sobre energia solar dos últimos cinco anos (2010 – 2015) de revistas científicas voltadas a temática de energias renováveis, sendo adotado o Fator de Impacto (FI) como critério de seleção. Os artigos foram analisados a nível de resumo para um universo amostral de mais de 350 publicações, das quais o índice do FI variou de 3 a 15. Os resultados mostram que os países com maior número de publicações na área de energia solar no mundo foram Índia, China, Espanha, Malásia e Estados Unidos, totalizando mais da metade das pesquisas mundiais. A energia solar térmica teve maior participação nas pesquisas e o ano de 2014 o maior número de publicações em relação a energia solar no mundo.
Determinants and Heterogeneity of Time -to- Recovery from Obstetric Fistula Patients; Comparison of Acceleration Failure Time and Parametric Shared Frailty Models.
Authors: Demissie Million Wesenu
Published: December 2017

Obstetric Fistula is a medical condition that involves an opening or perforation between the vagina and the bladder or the vagina and the rectum. It is a serious, life threatening and often debilitating medical condition that affects thousands of women in developing countries.The study consists of 270 obstetric fistula patients having all required information who were taking treatment at Jimma University Specialized Hospital in south west Ethiopia from January, 2011 to January ,2017. The log-rank and generalized wilcoxon test were used to explore the association between the recovery time and different independent categorical covariates. Then using different baseline distribution parametric models were employed to have an appropriate model for the recovery time/status of the patients based on Akaike information criteria (AIC) of the model. Result of Both log-rank and generalized wilcoxon test showed that there were significant differences among obstetric fistula patients in survival experience of weight , marital status, Residence, Incontinence, Antenatal care, mode of delivery, status of urethra and types of fistula of patients at 5% level of significance. Based on AIC log-normal gamma shared frailty model is an appropriate model and there is heterogeneity between patients with zone. The final model showed that marital status, Residence, Incontinence, Antenatal care, status of urethra and types of fistula were the determinants of recovery status of the patients at 5% level of significance. In Conclusion, the result showed that married women, rural residence, incontinence of urine more than 3 months, hadn’t antenatal care and completely damaged urethra were prolonged time recovery time of patients whereas having recto-vaginal-fistula shorten recovery status than vesico-vaginal fistula group of patients.
The Mozambican Experience in Institutionalizing Agrarian Research
Authors: Come Sérgio Feliciano , De Souza Hadma Milaneze , Ferreira Neto José Ambrósio , Fiúza Ana Louise De Carvalho
Published: December 2017

This work addresses the historical process of institutionalization of agrarian research in Mozambique as well as the main challenges that it faces. The study was based on secondary data that address agrarian research from its genesis to the present. The results indicate that in the period prior to Mozambique’s independence in 1975, the best agrarian research infrastructures were concentrated in the South of the country, the region with the lowest agricultural potential compared to the Centre and the North. With the independence, the Mozambican Agrarian Research Institute (IIAM), the largest national agrarian research institution, expanded the experimental stations to the Centre and North. However, due to the war that hit the country between 1976 and 1992, agrarian research was not very effective in this period. After the end of the civil war, IIAM and some institutions of higher education, especially Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), developed several technologies to increase agricultural productivity. Currently, the challenges of agrarian research are enormous, specially the need to: increase the quantity and quality of researchers, study the impact of climate change on agriculture, increase funding for research by government and other national partners, study the causes of the discontinuation of the use of improved agricultural technologies as well as the inclusion of farmers as priority subjects in agrarian research. Improving the linkage between research and rural extension is crucial for the generation and diffusion of appropriate agricultural technologies to the reality of Mozambican farmers.
Using Expert Knowledge to Understand Biosecurity Adoption Aimed at Reducing Tier 1 Disease Risks in the U.S. Livestock Industry
Authors: Wu Qianrong , Schulz Lee L. , Tonsor Glynn T.
Published: December 2017

Using primary data from a survey of swine, beef cattle, and dairy industry experts in the United States, this study provides insights into adoption of biosecurity measures aimed at reducing Tier 1 disease risks. Experts believe the swine industry would see the highest and the beef cattle industry would see the lowest biosecurity adoption in the first year of a large Tier 1 disease outbreak. Risk reduction has a positive marginal effect on biosecurity adoption, and a firm’s own risk reduction matters as well as their closest neighbor’s risk reduction. Costs have a negative marginal effect on biosecurity adoption. A key reason explaining partial adoption might be that experts believe industry-wide biosecurity investment would likely bring benefits primarily to downstream sectors in the supply chain and producers would bare most of the costs. More educational materials available to explain Tier 1 disease risks and the benefits of risk mitigating biosecurity measures is found to be the least important factor for adoption and implementation of new, additional biosecurity measures. A producer or neighbor having personally experienced a Tier 1 disease on their operation, a producer’s view on their own likelihood of experiencing a Tier 1 disease given their current situation, and a producer’s view on effectiveness in reducing Tier 1 disease risks are found to be the most important factors. Understanding how several factors might impact biosecurity adoption aimed at reducing Tier 1 disease risks is necessary for the development of practices and policies that could reduce the impact of such disease incursions.