bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“I have to provide for another life emotionally, physically and financially”: Understanding pregnancy, motherhood and the future aspirations of adolescent mothers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Govender Desiree , Naidoo Saloshni , Taylor Myra
Published: August 2019

Background

Adolescent pregnancy and adolescent parenting have been controversial and much disputed subjects in the field of public health. There are increasing concerns that the psychosocial challenges that adolescent mothers face may remain in the background because research in this field has mainly focused on the medical complications of early childbearing.

Aim

The aim of this qualitative study was to explore adolescent pregnancy and motherhood in order to understand this phenomenon from the perspective of adolescent mothers and to gain insight into their future aspirations.

Methods

This descriptive qualitative study utilised data that were generated from focus group discussions with adolescent mothers who utilised healthcare services at a hospital in the Ugu district in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Adolescent mothers reported a range of positive and negative experiences. Some adolescent mothers’ partners were in denial and rejected them and the child, while others’ partners were happy and supported them during their pregnancy. Families’ reactions to the pregnancies ranged between anger and disappointment to abandonment, the “silent treatment”, and acceptance and forgiveness. The psychological issues experienced by some of the adolescent mothers included suicidal ideation, guilt, loneliness, anxiety, and stress. They also experienced financial constraints, difficulty in returning to school, and stigmatisation by society. The participants envisioned completing their education, focusing on their dream careers, and contributing positively to society.

Conclusion

Experiences of adolescent pregnancy and parenting are multifaceted and the healthcare needs of pregnant and parenting adolescents extend beyond information and knowledge. A multidisciplinary approach is required in the care of adolescent mothers. A key policy priority should encompass the collaboration of different professionals from various healthcare sectors to assist adolescent mothers in achieving better health and psychosocial and socio-economic outcomes as steps to securing a better future for themselves and their children.
The impact of obstetric interventions and complications on women’s satisfaction with childbirth - a population based cohort study including 16 000 women
Authors: Falk Maja , Nelson Marie , Blomberg Marie
Published: August 2019

Background: As a quality marker and a tool for benchmarking between units, a visual analogue scale (VAS) (ranging from 1 to 10) to estimate woman’s satisfaction with childbirth was introduced in 2014. This study aimed to assess how obstetric interventions and complications affected women’s satisfaction with childbirth.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study including 16,775 women with an available VAS score who gave birth between January 2016 and December 2017. VAS score, maternal and obstetric characteristics were obtained from electronic medical records and crude and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were calculated.

Results: The total prevalence of dissatisfaction with childbirth (VAS 1-3) was 5.7%. The main risk factors for dissatisfaction with childbirth were emergency cesarean section, aOR 3.98 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.27-4.86, postpartum hemorrhage ≥2000 ml, aOR 1.85 95%CI 1.24-2.76 and Apgar score <7 at five minutes, aOR 2.95 95%CI 1.95-4.47. The amount of postpartum hemorrhage showed a dose-response relation to dissatisfaction with childbirth. Moreover, labor induction, instrumental vaginal delivery, and obstetric anal sphincter injury were significantly associated with women´s dissatisfaction with childbirth. 21% of women giving birth during the study period (4429/21,204) had missing values on VAS. A comparison of characteristics between women with and without a recorded VAS score was performed without any significant differences.
Conclusions: Obstetric interventions and complications, including emergency cesareans section and postpartum hemorrhage, were significantly related to dissatisfaction with childbirth.
Maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes among Chinese women with infertility undergoing assisted reproductive technology: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: wang jingxue , liu qiwei , Deng Boer , chen fang , liu xiaowei , cheng jiumei
Published: August 2019

Background: To examine differences in maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes among Chinese women with infertility due to various reasons who underwent assisted reproductive technology(ART).
Methods: This retrospective cohort study included women who used ART for various reasons. Demographics, medical history, laboratory tests, and delivery data were reviewed.
Results: The ART treatment group was divided into 5 subgroups according to reason for infertility: ovulation disorder, tubal disease, male factor, endometriosis, multiple infertility-related diagnoses. Compared with spontaneous pregnancies, significant increases in the following were observed with ART: rates of gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM), preeclampsia, preterm premature rupture of membranes, postpartum hemorrhage, and chorioamnionitis in ovulation disorder; GDM, placenta previa and postpartum hemorrhage in tubal disease; placenta previa in endometriosis and male factor; and GDM, placenta previa and chorioamnionitis in multiple infertility-related diagnoses. Preterm birth, low birthweight, and small for gestational age were increased in all ART groups. Macrosomia and neonatal intensive care unit admission were increased in maternal factors with ART.
Conclusions: During the perinatal period, women with different reasons for undergoing ART have different maternal characteristics and infant outcomes when compared with women not using ART, perinatal morbidities are higher in women undergoing ART for most reasons. The worst and best prognoses for infertility were found for that caused by ovulation disorder and male factor, respectively.
Predicting peripartum blood transfusion: focusing on pre-pregnancy characteristics
Authors: Ouh Yung-Taek , Lee Kyu-Min , Ahn Ki Hoon , Hong Soon-Cheol , Oh Min-Jeong , Kim Hai-Joong , Han Sung Won , Cho Geum Joon
Published: August 2019

Backgroud

Obstetric hemorrhage is one of the most common causes of obstetrical morbidity and mortality, and transfusion is the most important management for hemorrhage. The aim of our study was to investigate the pre-pregnancy and pregnancy risk factors for peripartum transfusion.

Methods

Women who delivered a baby from 2010 to 2014 and participated in the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children were included. To analyze pre-pregnant risk factors for peripartum transfusion, an additional analysis was done for women who underwent a National Health Screening Examination within one year before pregnancy, including maternal waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, laboratory tests and history of smoking.

Results

Of the total 1,980,126 women who met the inclusion criteria, 36,868 (1.86%) were transfused at peripartum. In a multivariable regression model, the pregnancy risk factors for peripartum transfusion included maternal age above 35 years [odds ratio (OR): 1.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32–1.50], preterm birth (OR: 2.39; 95% CI: 2.15–2.65), and maternal hypertension (OR: 2.49; 95% CI: 2.24–2.77). Pre-pregnancy risk factors including fasting glucose level of more than 126 mg/dL (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.02–1.20), current-smoker status (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.06–1.37), and waist-circumference less than 80 cm (OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.06–1.30) were independently associated with peripartum blood transfusion.

Conclusions

Several pre-pregnancy and pregnancy risk factors were associated with peripartum blood transfusion. Some identified factors are modifiable before conception, and our study validated peripartum blood transfusion as a form of triage.
The Relationship Between Dental Caries and YKL-40 Levels in Saliva
Authors: Duruk Gülsüm , Laloglu Esra
Published: August 2019

Objective : YKL-40, a new biomarker of localized inflammation, is secreted by macrophages and regulates inflammation and immune responses. The aim of this study was to investigate YKL-40 levels in saliva and compare the level of this mediator in oral cavity.

Methods: 85 children (46 girls, 39 boys), aged 6-15 (mean±SD: 9.15±2.16) were included in this study. The children were divided into three groups: Group-I (control, n=25, DMFT/dmft=0), Group-II (n=30, exist of localized dental caries) and Group-III (n=30, exist of localized advanced dental caries). Gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), DMFT/dmft, DMFS/dmfs, and the number of advanced dental caries according to the ICDAS II and PUFA/pufa index were recorded. Saliva was collected and YKL-40 concentrations were measured. One-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc , Kruskal-Wallis, multiple regression analysis, and Sperman’s correlation tests were used for statistical analysis.
Results: The highest level of YKL-40 was obtained in group III , followed by groups II and I , respectively (p<0.01). In Group II, DMFT/dmft scores and the number of caries (DT/dt) were higher than in group III (p<0.01). In group III, there was a statistically significant correlation between YKL-40 levels in saliva and the number of advanced dental caries. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference, with respect to age and gender (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Advanced dental caries, rather than DMFT/dmft score, may play an important role in the increasing levels of YKL-40 in saliva.
Factors associated with job satisfaction among graduate nursing faculties in Nepal
Authors: Sapkota Abja , Paudel Usha Kiran , Pokhrel Jyotsana , Ghimire Pratima , Sedhain Arun , Bhattarai Gandhi R , Thapa Binu , KC Tulza
Published: August 2019

Background: Job satisfaction among nursing faculties is critical to improve quality of nursing education for producing future nurses whose action will be directly related to the health condition of the patients at local and national level. This study explores the factors associated with job satisfaction among graduate nursing faculties in different Universities of Nepal.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the nursing faculties with Masters’ level and higher qualification and completed at least one year of teaching in their respective institutions. A 36-question job satisfaction questionnaire with 6-point Likert type responses was administered online. The survey instrument was pre-tested with 30 faculties pooled from multiple institutions. Link to final survey was sent via e-mail to 327 nursing faculties working in 39 nursing colleges. Respondents were followed through email or phone, once a week for one month after survey was opened. Data analysis was carried out with SAS University Edition software. Chi-Square test and t-test were used for simple descriptive analysis.

Results: The response rate was 54.4%. After retrospective cleaning of data, usable response rate was 52.3% (n=171). The average age of the nursing faculties was 36.8±7.0 years. Based on the overall job satisfaction score, 36.8% nursing faculties were satisfied with their current job. The coefficient for Cronbach’s alpha was 0.895 suggesting very good reliability of the overall measure. The significant factors associated with job satisfaction were the involvement of the faculties in decision making process related to the department (OR=4.83) and adequate access to reference materials (OR=2.90). Top three domain specific job satisfaction scores were coworkers (µ=18.3), communication (µ=17.3) and nature of work (µ=17.1). Lowest satisfaction scores were for promotion (µ=12.0), operating condition (µ=12.9) and contingency rewards (µ=13.1) and pay (µ=13.8)

Conclusions: This study suggests that nursing faculties have positive attitude towards their job but are dissatisfied with the benefits offered to them as well as the operating condition of the institution they work for. A participatory approach in management and decision making within different level of the organization would boost their morale. Expanding teaching learning resources would be helpful in improving the quality of nursing education in Nepal.
Factors affecting interictal unilateral and bilateral discharges and ictal diffusion patterns of scalp electroencephalogram in temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Ma Weining , Li Han , Chen Pengyu , Li Miaomiao , Liu Liping , Cong Lin , Li Chun , Li Shaoyi
Published: August 2019

Purpose

To evaluate preoperative factors influencing unilateral and bilateral interictal discharges in TLE, and ictal diffusion patterns in scalp EEG during onset of the seizure.Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of 129 patients with TLE who had undergone surgery; cases were classified into two groups of unilateral and bilateral discharge groups according to interictal discharge patterns in the EEG. In this study, unilateral interictal discharges meaned that the discharge was confined to one hemisphere, while bilateral interictal discharges meaned that the discharge involved both hemispheres. Differences between the two groups in age, gender, duration of disease, frequency of seizures, MRI findings, origin of TLE, antiepileptic drug administration, and ictal diffusion patterns during seizures were statistically analyzed. In addition, the differences in ictal diffusion patterns between left and right TLE were statistically analyzed.Results

There were a total of 74 cases of unilateral discharges, including unilateral discharges in the temporal region, anterior head including both temporal and frontal regions, and unilateral hemispheric discharges, and there were another 55 cases of bilateral discharges, including bilateral temporal area, bilateral anterior heads, and bilateral hemispheric multi-brain areas. There were 60 cases of left TLE and 69 cases of right TLE. There were no statistically significant differences in gender, duration of disease, frequency of seizures, MRI manifestations, administration of antiepileptic drugs, and ictal diffusion patterns between interictal unilateral and bilateral discharge groups, but, there were statistically significant differences in age and side of origin of the TLE. Scalp EEG recorded 11 different ictal diffusion pattern types, and the difference in terms of whether the EEG recorded the diffusion pattern to be confined to the same hemisphere or spread to both hemispheres was statistically significant between the left and right temporal lobes.Conclusion

Age and side of origin of TLE affects the TLE interictal discharge patterns. Older patients are more prone to bilateral discharges. Bilateral discharges are more common in right TLE, and the onset of EEG more likely to bilateral diffusion in right TLE.
Reduced serum levels of pro-inflammatory chemokines in Fragile X Syndrome
Authors: Dijck Anke Van , Barbosa Susana , Bermudez-Martin Patricia , Khalfallah Olfa , Gilet Cyprien , Elinck Ellen , Kooy R Frank , Glaichenhaus Nicolas , Davidovic Laetitia
Published: August 2019

Background: Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most frequent cause of inherited intellectual disability and the most commonly identified monogenic cause of autism. Recent studies have shown that long-term pathological consequences of FXS are not solely confined to the central nervous system (CNS) but rather extend to other physiological dysfunctions in peripheral organs. To gain insights into possible immune dysfunctions in FXS, we profiled a large panel of immune-related biomarkers in the serum of FXS patients and healthy controls.
Methods: We have used a sensitive and robust ElectroChemiLuminescence (ECL)-based immunoassay to measure the levels of 52 cytokines in the serum of n=25 FXS patients and n=29 healthy controls. We then used univariate statistics and multivariate analysis, as well as an advanced unsupervised clustering method, to identify combinations of immune-related biomarkers that could discriminate FXS patients from healthy individuals.
Results: While the majority of the tested cytokines were present at similar levels in FXS patients and healthy individuals, nine chemokines, CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL11, CCL13, CCL17, CCL22, CCL26 and CXCL10, were present at much lower levels in FXS patients. Applying the K-sparse unsupervised clustering method to the biomarker dataset allowed for the identification of two subsets of individuals, which essentially matched the FXS and healthy control categories.
Conclusions: Our data suggest that FXS patients exhibit reduced serum levels of several chemokines and may therefore exhibit impaired immune responses. The present study also highlights the power of unsupervised clustering methods to identify combinations of biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis in medicine.
CRISPR-cas system in the acquisition of virulence genes in the dental-root canal and hospital-acquired isolates of Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: Gholizadeh Pourya , Aghazadeh Mohammad , Ghotaslou Reza , Rezaee Mohammad Ahangarzadeh , Pirzadeh Tahereh , Lanotte Philippe , Ganbarov Khudaverdi , Bastami Milad , Yousefi Mehdi , Kafil Hossein Samadi
Published: August 2019

Introduction: Enterococcus faecalis is one of the important causative agents of nosocomial and life-threatening infections in human. Several studies demonstrated that the presence of CRISPR-cas is associated with the antibiotic susceptibility and lack of virulence traits. In this study, we aimed to assess the relation between the phenotypic and genotypic virulence determinants of E. faecalis with the CRISPR elements in the dental-root canal and hospital-acquired isolates.Methods and materials: Eighty-eight hospital-acquired and 73 dental-root canal isolates of E. faecalis were subjected for study. The phenotype tests including biofilm formation, gelatinase and hemolysis activity were performed and the genotype characteristics including efaA, esp, cylA, hyl, gelE, ace, ebpR, and asa1 were performed by PCR methods. Presences of different types of CRISPR-cas system were determined by PCR.Results: Biofilm formation, gelatinase and hemolysis activity were detected in 93.8%, 29.2% and 19.2% of the isolates, respectively. The most gene encoding virulence traits were ace, followed by efaA and the lowest was cylA. The presence of CRISPR1-cas, orphan CRISPR2 and CRISPR3-cas were determined in 13%, 55.3%, and 17.4% of isolates, respectively, which were present in proportionally more in the dental-root canal. Inverse correlation were found significantly between CRISPR-cas loci, esp and gelE, and direct correlations were found in cylA, hyl, gelE (between some CRISPR-loci), asa1, ace, biofilm formation, gelatinase and hemolysis activitiesConclusion: Findings indicates that CRISPR-cas might prevent the acquisition of some respective pathogenicity factors in some isolates not all, and could not be selective forces to influence pathogenic traits.
PhoglyStruct: Prediction of phosphoglycerylated lysine residues using structural properties of amino acids
Authors: Chandra Abel , Sharma Alok
Published: August 2019

The biological process known as post-translational modification \(PTM) contributes to diversifying the proteome hence affecting many aspects of normal cell biology and pathogenesis. There have been many recently reported PTMs, but lysine phosphoglycerylation has emerged as the most recent subject of interest. Despite a large number of proteins being sequenced, the experimental method for detection of phosphoglycerylated residues remains an expensive, time-consuming and inefficient endeavor in the post-genomic era. Instead, the computational methods are being proposed for accurately predicting phosphoglycerylated lysines. Though a number of predictors are available, performance in detecting phosphoglycerylated lysine residues is still limited. In this paper, we propose a new predictor called PhoglyStruct that utilizes structural information of amino acids alongside a multilayer perceptron classifier for predicting phosphoglycerylated and non-phosphoglycerylated lysine residues. For the experiment, we located phosphoglycerylated and non-phosphoglycerylated lysines in our employed benchmark. We then derived and integrated properties such as accessible surface area, backbone torsion angles, and local structure conformations. PhoglyStruct showed significant improvement in the ability to detect phosphoglycerylated residues from non-phosphoglycerylated ones when compared to previous predictors. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, Mathews correlation coefficient and AUC were 0.8542, 0.7597, 0.7834, 0.5468 and 0.8077, respectively. The data and Matlab/Octave software packages are available at https://github.com/abelavit/PhoglyStruct.
Characterizing the Critical Zone Using Borehole and Surface Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Authors: Flinchum Brady A. , Holbrook W. Steven , Parsekian Andrew D. , Carr Bradley J.
Published: August 2019

Core Ideas

Unsaturated saprolite, saturated saprolite, and fractured rock have unique NMR responses.

Surface NMR signals will be dominated by water in saturated saprolite.

The heterogeneous nature of fractured rock results in low‐amplitude surface NMR signals.

Understanding critical zone (CZ) structure below the first few meters of Earth's surface is challenging and yet important to understand hydrologic and surface processes that influence life on Earth. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an emerging geophysical tool that can quantify the volume of groundwater and pore‐scale properties. Nuclear magnetic resonance has potential to aid in CZ studies, but it can be difficult to collect high‐quality NMR data in weathered and fractured rock. We present data from seven surface NMR soundings and six borehole NMR profiles collected on a weathered and fractured granite in the Laramie Range, Wyoming. First, we show that it is possible to collect high‐quality surface NMR data in a fractured rock. Second, we use the NMR data to delineate the weathering profile into three distinct zones—unsaturated saprolite, saturated saprolite, and fractured rock—and show that the surface NMR signal is dominated by saturated saprolite. Third, we show that lateral heterogeneity significantly reduces the surface NMR signal magnitude, which suggests that the boundary dividing saprolite and fractured rock is laterally heterogeneous. The NMR measurements, when combined with previously collected seismic refraction data, provide a unique opportunity to define the lateral heterogeneity of the boundary dividing saprolite and weathered bedrock in an eroding landscape underlain by crystalline rock.
A Dual‐Permeability Approach for Modeling Soil Water Flow and Heat Transport during Freezing and Thawing
Authors: Larsbo Mats , Holten Roger , Stenrød Marianne , Eklo Ole Martin , Jarvis Nicholas
Published: August 2019

Core Ideas

Macropore flow may be enhanced in partly frozen soil.

We developed a dual‐permeability modeling approach for frozen soils.

Four test cases of increasing complexity were evaluated.

Modeling results are in agreement with current process understanding.

Measured data are lacking for a more quantitative evaluation of the model.

Preferential flow may become significant in partially frozen soils because infiltration can occur through large, initially air‐filled pores surrounded by a soil matrix with limited infiltration capacity. The objectives of this study were to develop and evaluate a dual‐permeability approach for simulating water flow and heat transport in macroporous soils undergoing freezing and thawing. This was achieved by introducing physically based equations for soil freezing and thawing into the dual‐permeability model MACRO. Richards' equation and the heat flow equation were loosely coupled using the generalized Clapeyron equation for the soil micropore domain. Freezing and thawing of macropore water is governed by a first‐order equation for energy transfer between the micropore and macropore domains. We assumed that macropore water was unaffected by capillary forces, so that water in macropores freezes at 0°C. The performance of the model was evaluated for four test cases: (i) redistribution of water in the micropore domain during freezing, (ii) a comparison between the first‐order energy transfer approach and the heat conduction equation, (iii) infiltration and water flow in frozen soil with an initially air‐filled macropore domain, and (iv) thawing from the soil surface during constant‐rate rainfall. Results show that the model behaves in accordance with the current understanding of water flow and heat transport in frozen macroporous soil. To improve modeling of water and heat flow in frozen soils, attention should now be focused on providing experimental data suitable for evaluating models that account for macropore flow.
Crystallographic and fluid compositional effects on the halogen (Cl, F, Br, I) incorporation in pyromorphite-group minerals
Authors: Epp Tatjana , Marks Michael A.W. , Ludwig Thomas , Kendrick Mark A. , Eby Nelson , Neidhardt Harald , Oelmann Yvonne , Markl Gregor
Published: August 2019

Pyromorphite-group minerals (PyGM), mainly pyromorphite [Pb5(PO4)3Cl], mimetite [Pb5(AsO4)3Cl], and vanadinite [Pb5(VO4)3Cl], are common phases that form by supergene weathering of galena. Their formation is strongly influenced by processes at the Earth's surface and in the soil overlying a lead deposit, and they incorporate high amounts of halogens, mostly Cl and, in some cases, F. The abundance of Br and I in natural PyGM and their potential as process tracers during surface and sub-surface fluid-rock interaction processes has not been investigated in detail due to analytical difficulties. We, therefore, developed methods for the simultaneous determination of Cl, F, Br, and I in PyGM for (1) powdered bulk samples via combustion ion chromatography (CIC) and (2) compositionally zoned crystals by means of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS).

Our study is based on well-characterized samples of pyromorphite (N = 38), mimetite (N = 16), and vanadinite (N = 2) from Schwarzwald (Germany). Natural pyromorphite incorporates more I (up to 26 μg/g) than mimetite (up to 2 μg/g) and vanadinite (up to 1 μg/g), while Br contents are higher in mimetite (up to 20 μg/g) and vanadinite (up to 13 μg/g) compared to pyromorphite (less than 4 μg/g). These results are unexpected, as mimetite and vanadinite have longer As/V-O bonds giving them larger unit cells and larger polyhedral volumes for the Cl site in the Pb26 octahedron than pyromorphite. Accordingly, pyromorphite was expected to preferentially incorporate Br rather than I, but the opposite is observed. Hence, halogen chemistry of PyGM is probably not governed by a crystal-chemical control (alone) but by fluid composition. However, the exact reasons remain enigmatic. This idea is corroborated by spatially resolved SIMS analyses that show that many pyromorphite-group minerals are strongly zoned with respect to their halogen mass ratios (e.g., Br/Cl, Br/I mass ratios). Furthermore, variations in halogen abundance ratios do not correlate with Ca/Pb, P/As, or P/V ratios and therefore may record alternating and season-dependent environmental parameters including biological activity, vegetation density, physico-chemical soil properties, and rainfall rate. We suggest that the zonation reflects multiple single fluid flow episodes and, hence, records surface processes. However, further experiments concerning the fractionation of halogens between fluid and PyGM are needed before halogen ratios in pyromorphite-group minerals can be used as reliable monitors of fluid-driven processes.
Formulación de imputación ¿un «acto de mera comunicación»? aproximación jurisprudencial a la institución jurídico-procesal
Authors: Osorio Vásquez Camilo
Published: August 2019

En el texto se aborda la institución jurídico-procesal de la Formulación de imputación, la cual ha generado diversas discusiones frente a su papel dentro del sistema procesal con tendencia acusatoria de la Ley 906 de 2004, por lo que se aborda a partir del método hermenéutico. Inicialmente se proponen unas nociones esenciales sobre la audiencia preliminar a la que se hace referencia, para luego tratar los requisitos del acto de atribución que realiza la Fiscalía General de la Nación, y posteriormente plantear de forma concisa, sin pretensiones exhaustividad, las tensiones existentes en la jurisprudencia sobre el ejercicio del derecho de defensa y del derecho de contradicción en la imputación de cargos y en la etapa de indagación preliminar del proceso penal.
El reconocimiento del acoso laboral frente a las decisiones jurisprudenciales en Colombia
Authors: Morales Vargas Edna Milena
Published: August 2019

En Colombia mediante la Ley 1010 de 2006, se buscó regular de manera preventiva, correctiva y sancionatoria la práctica del acoso laboral, sin embargo, en la realidad no ha sido sencillo encontrar herramientas o medios probatorios idóneos, que permitan su demostración al operador judicial, por lo cual, a través de este artículo se analizó la acción de tutela como mecanismo protector y garantista, el cual podría ser un camino adecuado para el reconocimiento del acoso laboral, para ello se ha elaborado una línea jurisprudencial con los pronunciamientos de la Corte Constitucional, buscando resolver dos problemas jurídicos. Cuándo se está frente a una práctica de acoso laboral ¿se puede acudir a la acción de tutela? Y Cuando en una demanda el acoso laboral se solicita como una pretensión subsidiaria ¿se reconoce la práctica del acoso?
Descentralización político-administrativa: ¿mito o realidad? Reflexiones a propósito de los 25 años de la Constitución Política de Colombia
Authors: Morales Chitiva Daniel Fernando , Gutiérrez Lizcano Luis Alberto
Published: August 2019

Desde la consolidación del Estado como una república, el modelo de gobierno centralista se ha mantenido como el foco imperante en el desarrollo político-administrativo del país, reafirmando su posición en la Constitución de 1886 por un periodo de 105 años, hasta la nueva proclama constitucional de 1991; proclama que surge en un escenario político convulso, en el cual se buscaba alcanzar la paz con grupos insurgentes, reafirmar y recuperar la legitimidad del Estado, y por último alcanzar una descentralización que permitiera aliviar las tensiones políticas no deseadas resolviendo de este modo las necesidades de las comunidades dentro del territorio nacional. A pesar de dichos avances en materia legislativa, la realidad –25 años después de la entrada en vigor de la constitución– es otra
Expansión territorial nicaragüense, futuro problema ambiental
Authors: Barreto Patiño Carlos Andrés , Jiménez Castañeda Daniel Alejandro
Published: August 2019

Luego de un análisis riguroso, es posible demostrar que Nicaragua a lo largo de los años ha ido obteniendo territorio por medio de litigios internacionales, que, sagazmente ha salido triunfante, aumentando de a poco, pero constantemente su extensión territorial; hoy en día esa búsqueda exasperada por mayor territorio está en función de la construcción de un Canal Interoceánico patrocinado por China, cosa que pondría en riesgol a soberanía de los vecinos del país centroamericano, entre ellos Colombia, pero, sobre todo, pondría en riesgo irreparable al medio ambiente.
Economic and environmental convergence of transformation economy: the case of China
Authors: Rui Li , Sineviciene Lina , Melnyk Leonid , Kubatko Oleksandr , Karintseva Oleksandra , Lyulyov Oleksii
Published: August 2019

Rapid economic reforms and proper GDP growth in China has affected the regional development of Chinese provinces. This study aims to estimate the degree of economic and environmental disparities within Chinese provinces for developing policy recommendations of regional transformation. The reduced log-linear specification of endogenous growth model is used for the estimation of convergence rates within Chinese provinces. The empirical results prove that an increase of 1% in GDP per capita basic year reduces the economic growth rate by 0.1% in the reference year. Thus, the ratio of the average per capita income in the wealthiest group to poorest provinces accounted for the factor 9.6 in 1995 and factor 4.1 in the year 2015, which means a reduction of disproportionate development. Environmental convergence trends were also found and less polluted provinces eventually increase emissions at higher rates than the initially polluted ones. With the pass of time, all provinces do move to the same steady state in environmental parameters. The speed of the economic and environmental convergence in China provinces is rather slow, and the economic growth was achieved by great sacrifices of an environment, since all provinces are striving to the same steady state in terms of pollution increase. The industrialized regions due to the presence of significant financial resources should pay more attention to the protection of the environment using all the available economic potential. At the same time, both initially poor provinces and rich have to develop more profoundly agriculture, tourism, recreation, and other environmentally friendly industries to improve economic performance.
Kelime Temsil Yöntemleri ile Kelime Benzerliklerinin İncelenmesi
Authors: AYDOĞAN Murat , KARCI Ali
Published: August 2019

Günümüzde büyük veri alanında meydana gelen gelişmelerle birlikte günlük işlenebilir durumda olan veri miktarı oldukça büyük boyutlara ulaşmıştır. Bu verilerin çok büyük bir kısmının metin (text) verilerinden oluşması, metin işleme alanında yapılan çalışmaları oldukça önemli ve popüler bir hale getirmiştir. Ancak bu alanda yapılan çalışmalar incelendiğinde başta İngilizce olmak üzere birçok dünya diline yönelik çeşitli çalışmalar yapılırken, Türkçeye özgü yapılan çalışmaların istenilen sayıda olmadığı görülmüştür. Bu nedenle bu çalışma için, python ortamı kütüphanelerinden biri olan Beautiful Soup kütüphanesi kullanılarak Türkçe metinlerden oluşan büyük bir derlem oluşturulmuştur. Bu çalışmada, kelimeleri vektör uzayında her bir kelimenin bir vektörle temsil edildiği yeni bir yaklaşım olan Word2Vec modeli algoritmalarından CBOW ve Skip-Gram algoritmaları ile Glove modeli kullanılmıştır. Oluşturulan derlem üzerinde Word2Vec yöntemi ile Türkçe kelimelerden oluşan ve bu kelimeler arasındaki anlamsal ilişkileri tespit etmeye çalışan bir model geliştirilmiş ve diğer modeller ile başarımı ve eğitim süreleri kıyaslanmıştır. Ayrıca çalışmanın bir diğer katkısı ise modelin performansını artırmak için Türkçe için etkisiz kelimeler listesi oluşturulmasıdır. Geliştirilen bu model ile özellikle Türkçe metin sınıflandırma problemlerinde daha yüksek bir sınıflandırma başarımının yakalanması hedeflenmektedir. Bu çalışma kapsamında oluşturulan model analiz edilip yakın anlamlı kelimeler incelendiğinde oldukça başarılı performans gösterdiği tespit edilmiştir. Veriseti ve kelime vektörleri Türkçe çalışmalara katkı sağlamak için erişime açık olarak paylaşılacaktır.  
Katı Nem Alıcı Bir Rotorun Farklı Çalışma Şartları için Modellenmesi
Authors: ÇERÇİ Kamil Neyfel , HÜRDOĞAN Ertaç , KARA Osman
Published: August 2019

İklimlendirme sistemleri, yaz ve kış şartlarında mahaller içerisinde istenilen konfor şartlarının elde edilebilmesi için havanın nemini, sıcaklığını ve hava kalitesini kontrol edebilen sistemlerdir. İklimlendirme sistemlerinde ve son zamanlarda kurutma sistemlerinde, havanın neminin alınabilmesi için katı nem alıcı rotorun kullanımı gün geçtikçe yaygınlaşmaktadır. Bu sebeple çoğu araştırmacı nem alıcı rotorların tasarımı, modellenmesi ve optimizasyonu üzerine farklı çalışmalar gerçekleştirmişlerdir. Katı nem alıcı rotorda, ısı ve kütle transferi birlikte gerçekleştiğinden prosesi matematiksel olarak modellemek çok zor bir işlemdir. Bu zorluğun giderilmesi üzerine Jurinak [8] basit bir model geliştirmiş ve bu model çoğu araştırmacı tarafından kullanılmaktadır. Fakat bu model sınırlı çalışma koşulları (özellikle yüksek hava debisi) için kullanılabilecek bir yapıya sahiptir. Bu çalışmada, Jurinak’ın modeli baz alınarak, düşük hava ihtiyacının olduğu uygulamalarda, farklı çalışma şartları altında kullanılabilecek katı nem alıcı bir rotor için bir model geliştirilmiş ve elde edilen sonuçlar ile üretici verileri kıyaslanarak modelin kullanılabilirliği test edilmiştir. Çalışma sonunda,  geliştirilen model ile elde edilen sonuçların, üretici verileri ile iyi bir uyum içinde olduğu ve modelin farklı çalışma şartları için kullanımının uygun olduğu görülmüştür.   
Enteric viruses in municipal wastewater effluent before and after disinfection with chlorine and ultraviolet light
Authors: Simhon Albert , Pileggi Vince , Flemming Cecily A. , Bicudo José R. , Lai George , Manoharan Mano
Published: August 2019

In Ontario, Canada, information is lacking on chlorine and ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection performance against enteric viruses in wastewater. We enumerated enteroviruses and noroviruses, coliphages, and Escherichia coli per USEPA methods 1615, 1602, and membrane filtration, respectively, in pre- and post-disinfection effluent at five wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), with full-year monthly sampling, and calculated log10 reductions (LRs) while WWTPs complied with their monthly geometric mean limit of 200 E. coli/100 mL. Modeling of densities by left-censored estimation and Bayesian inference gave very similar results. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-detected enteroviruses and noroviruses were abundant in post-disinfection effluent (mean concentrations of 2.1 × 10+4–7.2 × 10+5 and 2.7 × 10+4–3.6 × 10+5 gene copies (GC)/L, respectively). Chlorine or UV disinfection produced modest LRs for culture- (0.3–0.9) and PCR-detected enteroviruses (0.3–1.3), as well as noroviruses GI + GII (0.5–0.8). Coliphages and E. coli were more susceptible, with LRs of 0.8–3.0 and 2.5, respectively. Sand-filtered effluent produced significantly higher enteric virus LRs (except cultured enteroviruses). Coliphage and human enteric virus densities gave significantly positive correlations using Kendall's Tau test. Enteric viruses are abundant in wastewater effluent following routine chlorine or UV disinfection processes that target E. coli. Coliphages appear to be good indicators for evaluating wastewater disinfection of enteric viruses.
Subscriber and inter-satellite paths in LEO communications networks
Authors: Pichugin S. B.
Published: August 2019

The purpose of the study is to propose and substantiate technical solutions for inter-satellite and subscriber paths of loworbit communication networks. There is a prospect of commercial use of such networks; therefore, the current stage of low-orbit satellite communications development is characterized by an increase in efforts to put the projects into practice. As part of the study, solutions for inter-satellite paths (ISP) in low-orbit communication systems and solutions that increase the capacity of their subscriber paths are considered. It is noted that ISPs can be built on the basis of radio and optical bands equipment. In this regard, the advantages and disadvantages of each case are considered. The expediency of constructing subscriber paths based on radio band equipment and the preference of constructing ISP based on optical band equipment are substantiated. The relationship between the feasibility of increasing the capacity of subscriber paths and the capabilities of ISP in terms of reliability and bandwidth is established.
Public Opinions on Using Social Media Content to Identify Users With Depression and Target Mental Health Care Advertising: Mixed Methods Survey
Authors: Ford Elizabeth , Curlewis Keegan , Wongkoblap Akkapon , Curcin Vasa
Published: August 2019

Background

Depression is a common disorder that still remains underdiagnosed and undertreated in the UK National Health Service. Charities and voluntary organizations offer mental health services, but they are still struggling to promote these services to the individuals who need them. By analyzing social media (SM) content using machine learning techniques, it may be possible to identify which SM users are currently experiencing low mood, thus enabling the targeted advertising of mental health services to the individuals who would benefit from them.

Objective

This study aimed to understand SM users’ opinions of analysis of SM content for depression and targeted advertising on SM for mental health services.

Methods

A Web-based, mixed methods, cross-sectional survey was administered to SM users aged 16 years or older within the United Kingdom. It asked participants about their demographics, their usage of SM, and their history of depression and presented structured and open-ended questions on views of SM content being analyzed for depression and views on receiving targeted advertising for mental health services.

Results

A total of 183 participants completed the survey, and 114 (62.3%) of them had previously experienced depression. Participants indicated that they posted less during low moods, and they believed that their SM content would not reflect their depression. They could see the possible benefits of identifying depression from SM content but did not believe that the risks to privacy outweighed these benefits. A majority of the participants would not provide consent for such analysis to be conducted on their data and considered it to be intrusive and exposing.

Conclusions

In a climate of distrust of SM platforms’ usage of personal data, participants in this survey did not perceive that the benefits of targeting advertisements for mental health services to individuals analyzed as having depression would outweigh the risks to privacy. Future work in this area should proceed with caution and should engage stakeholders at all stages to maximize the transparency and trustworthiness of such research endeavors.
Assessing Whether Meditation Improves Quality of Life for Adolescent Girls With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Hewawasam Erandi , Brennan Leah , Giles Lynne , Hull Mary Louise , Short Asha , Norman Robert , Peña Alexia S
Published: August 2019

Background

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine condition characterized by irregular periods, hirsutism, acne, or hyperandrogenemia. Adolescents with PCOS have impaired quality of life (QOL) and increased psychological distress. Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a well-established self-management strategy that has been used to improve stress and well-being. A meta-analysis of TM trials has shown beneficial effects on stress and blood pressure in adults. Recent data are suggesting that another self-management strategy called a mindfulness stress management program has a role in improving QOL in women with PCOS, but there are no studies in adolescents.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the effect of TM on QOL and psychological distress in adolescent girls with PCOS.

Methods

This study is a randomized controlled trial that will be conducted over eight weeks at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide, South Australia, to determine the effect of TM on QOL and psychological distress in adolescent girls (aged 12-20 years) with PCOS. A total of 40 girls will be randomized into either the TM (n=20) or control group (n=20). The TM group will be asked to practice TM in a comfortable sitting position with the eyes closed, for 15 minutes twice daily over eight weeks. The control group will be asked to sit quietly for 15 minutes twice daily for eight weeks. The primary outcomes are any effects on improving QOL and psychological distress, and the secondary outcomes are any effects on lowering blood pressure and salivary cortisol levels.

Results

The recruitment of study participants began in May 2019 and is expected to be completed by June 2020. It is expected that the adolescent girls with PCOS practicing TM over eight weeks will have a significant improvement in QOL and psychological distress compared to adolescents in the control group. Also, it is expected that adolescent girls in the TM group will have lower salivary cortisol levels and lower blood pressure.

Conclusions

This study will be the first to evaluate the effect of TM on QOL in adolescent girls with PCOS. The study will provide valuable information on a potential self-management strategy to improve QOL and well-being in adolescent girls with PCOS.

Trial Registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN1261900019010; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=376657&isReview=true
Literatura e Diversidade Cultural na Escola
Authors: Caiel Alex , De Oliveira Rejane Pivetta
Published: August 2019

A diversidade cultural, tema corrente na agenda acadêmica, é também uma questão política com largos efeitos na vida social, exigindo de instituições como a escola que repense suas práticas e os aparatos teórico-metodológicos que sustentam seus planos de ensino. Analisamos neste artigo, com base em contribuições teóricas dos estudos culturais (WILLIAMS, 1992; HALL, 2003; BHABHA, 2007), de que modo o tópico da diversidade cultural é abordado no livro didático de língua portuguesa, com atenção aos textos literários e exercícios de retomada. A partir dos resultados, refletimos sobre o ensino da literatura na perspectiva cultural.
Caleidoscópio estético: o nacional-popular e a antropofagia tropicalista
Authors: Scheeren Andréia
Published: August 2019

No início dos anos 60, a canção liga-se ao campo político, pois se envolve com idéias socialistas, defendendo os interesses dos desvalidos e esquecidos pelo governo desenvolvimentista. Após 1964, transforma-se em um veículo de combate à ditadura e estabelece, nas letras, as características da brasilidade. Em 1967, suas estruturas são abaladas pelo Tropicalismo que rompe com a idéia-função de Música Popular Brasileira então vigente. Neste ensaio, mostraremos a relevância da discussão dos estudos da canção popular no âmbito da literatura brasileira, e abordaremos características da representação da nação em um movimento musical, político e cultural, como foi o Tropicalismo. A partir da análise de algumas letras do disco Tropicália ou Panis et Circencis, mostraremos como o Tropicalismo realizou um corte crítico no discurso nacional-popular de sua época.

Palavras-chave: tropicalismo; discurso nacional-popular; canção.
Formalismo e perda da dimensão humana em A Metamorfose de Franz Kafka
Authors: José Coutinho Márcio
Published: August 2019

Este trabalho tem o objetivo de analisar o modo como a transformação do personagem Gregor Samsa em barata pode simbolizar a perda da dimensão humana. Para tanto, parte-se da hipótese de que esse aspecto reflete um elemento de premonição em relação ao horror causado pela guerra, elemento este que está associado ao engajamento do autor com a situação política e social de sua época.

Palavras-chave: Autoritarismo; Perda da dimensão humana; Engajamento.
Formas de contar: "Os gafanhotos" e A costa dos murmúrios
Authors: Oliveira Raquel Trentin
Published: August 2019

O presente artigo analisa um uso do conto para o romance. A Costa dos Murmúrios (1988) de Lídia Jorge divide-se em duas narrativas, uma de abertura, intitulada “Os gafanhotos”, que pode ser considerada, pela sua estrutura, um conto, e o romance propriamente dito, dividido em nove capítulos que não recebem títulos. Com essa forma, a narrativa “contrasta duas ficções à procura da verdade” (JORGE, 1993) alimentadas por acontecimentos vividos durante a Guerra Colonial, entre Portugueses e Moçambicanos. Nossa atenção recai sobre o primeiro relato, notando a forma que permite considerá-lo como um conto, além de verificar a organização da sua história e do seu discurso, em que se observa o uso da ironia e da metáfora, contribuindo para o efeito inquietante da narrativa.

Palavras-chave: “Os gafanhotos”; estrutura do conto; metáfora; ironia.