bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AS-OCT as a Rescue Tool During Difficult Lenticule Extraction in SMILE
Authors: Titiyal Jeewan S. , Rathi Anubha , Kaur Manpreet , Falera Ruchita
Published: May 2017

PURPOSE:

To report a case of lenticule adherent to the anterior cap during small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and its subsequent management aided by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).

METHODS:

Case report.

RESULTS:

A 24-year-old woman presented with high myopia of −8.00 −0.50 @ 180° in the right eye and −8.00 −0.25 @ 180° in the left eye and underwent SMILE. In the right eye, difficulty was experienced in separating the lenticule from adjacent stroma. AS-OCT examination confirmed the presence of the lenticule adherent to the anterior stromal cap with the plane of dissection visible posterior to the lenticule. A Sinskey hook was used to lift off the peripheral edge of the lenticule from the anterior cap and the stripping of the lenticule was continued in a centripetal fashion until a small edge of the lenticule was rolled over. The lenticule was then completely separated from the overlying stromal cap and extracted through the side cut using forceps. Postoperative AS-OCT confirmed complete removal of the lenticule. Postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity was 20/40 on day 1 and 20/20 on day 30 with a clear interface.

CONCLUSIONS:

AS-OCT–guided identification of the retained lenticule followed by Sinskey hook–assisted lenticule extraction aids in completion of the surgical procedure in the same sitting with optimal visual and anatomical outcomes.

[
J Refract Surg.
2017;33(5):352–354.]
Implementation and Validation of a new Strategy of Online Practical Works of Power Electronics for Embedded Systems
Authors: Abdessamad Malaoui , Monji Kherallah , Lila Ghomri , Mustapha Raoufi , Andrieu Guillaume , Fredon Thomas , Barataud Denis
Published: May 2017

This paper presents the implementation and validation of a Remote laboratory for Practical Works (PWs) of power electronics for embedded systems. This work falls within the framework of an international project between several universities of the Maghreb and Europe. This project aims at the creation of a Remote practical laboratory of 3rd year Bachelor degree in Electronics and Optics e-Learning for Embedded Systems (EOLES). This article presents the topologies of the various realized practical manipulations. It also presents the description and architectures of the software and hardware platforms developed for this purpose. The presented results relate to 3 PWs of the power electronics and their discussions were made on two levels. The first is a comparison of the results of electronic measurements with the theory. The second deals with comparison of this Remote system with the same PW performed by the classical method "in-class". An analysis of the Quality Assessment of these PWs was done by L3 students. The results are discussed and show the limits of validity and reveal the strengths and weaknesses of this new educational strategy in the university pedagogical system, and the possibility of its used in other types of training and disciplines.
Gesture Controlled Mouse
Authors: Pallavi Pallavi , Kumar Vinod , Kumar Praveen , Singh Anuragh
Published: May 2017

Gesture controlled mouse is a device in which we can move the mouse by giving the direction from our wrist and turn the direction of mouse through it. After using a accelerometer we can able to move and change the direction of our mouse and by the help of accelerometer we can also change the speed of the mouse. This is a new technology for controlling any device through our wrist movement. After upgrading it we can make many type of other devices which can be very useful for the human being can create a turn in our life. It can be used at many places and also be the part of the future.The gesture will be main part as the movements of our body will play the important role for operations. A stationary point will be taken as the directions will be in x-axis, y-axis and as well as the z-axis. An accelerometer will be used as the direction indicators.
After Auction's Complete
Authors: Chen Lei , Lu Min , Tu Yanbin
Published: May 2017

This study examines the influence of online product review and product knowledge on the attitude towards online shopping, which leads to online purchase behavior. Data are collected from an online questionnaire with the use of Google Forms posted on three popular toy enthusiast websites in Malaysia. Using a self-selected sampling procedure, 263 usable responses are obtained. Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM), using R, is performed to test the research hypotheses. Results show that, in general, respondents perceive online product review as a helpful tool in enabling them to learn more about toy products and in making them feel confident in purchasing toys online. Results also reveal that both perceived helpfulness of online product review and consumers' product knowledge are positively related to attitude towards online shopping. Similarly, a positive attitude towards online shopping leads to actual online purchases of toy products. Attitude is found to mediate the relationship between perceived helpfulness of online product review and online purchase behavior. This study suggests that firms should use online product review as an innovative marketing tool to acquire market intelligence and to establish ongoing rapport with their online customers.
Voter's Intention to Use Electronic Voting Systems
Authors: Anagreh Laila F. , Abu-Shanab Emad A.
Published: May 2017

Although the need for comprehensive assessment of mobile health (mHealth) systems is critical, most existing research focuses solely on these systems' technical merits. The purpose of this study is to prioritize different aspects and indicators of assessing the quality of mHealth services and compare four popular Iranian mHealth systems using this framework. Statistical population of this research included experts who have more than three years of active experience in the field. Using Judgmental sampling method, statistical sample size included 28 persons who responded to questionnaires. Content validity was confirmed by an expert panel, and reliability was confirmed by an inconsistency rate of less than 0.1. The study findings show that results quality is the most important component of quality assessment for mHealth systems. It also shows that indicators of confidentiality, responsiveness and customer orientation are likewise important.
Citizen e-Participation in Urban Planning
Authors: Graziano Teresa
Published: May 2017

In recent years, new smart technologies have given citizens' movements and informal groups unprecedented possibilities of communication that allow them to achieve a wider audience, mobilise new activists and negotiate with local institutional actors. Even in the planning field, an extraordinary range of new strategies and practices of participatory e-democracy has been recently emerging, which has been affecting local planning and city governance. Thus, this paper aims at exploring potentialities and critical aspects of citizen's web based movements claiming for a more participatory and sustainable urban planning, trough a critical examination of selected case studies in a Mediterranean city, Catania (Italy). The inter(net)connections between urban planning and citizen's e-activism, and consequently between the virtual sphere and public urban spaces, are scrutinized through the analysis of their discourses and narratives in the online documentation as well as interviews with activists.
A Low-Cost Wireless Multi-Presentation on Single Screen in Classroom Using Raspberry Pi
Authors: Yulianto Budi , Layona Rita , Dewi Lusiana Citra
Published: May 2017

Smartphone has become a daily necessity in supporting the mobility of users, including teachers and students. The need of users to make multi-presentation via a smartphone wirelessly does not fit with the cost and multiplatform support. This study aims to produce a solution by using Raspberry Pi as a wireless digital media player that will be applied to educational institutions to make multi-presentation wirelessly at efficient cost. The results obtained from this study is a wireless digital media player application that is installed in Raspberry Pi, a credit-card size single board computer, and an Android application whose features of sending image, presentation, splitting screen, and able to give control and access grant. The conclusion is an application can augment user mobility within the presentation in teaching and learning effectively.
Interpreting Experiences of Teachers Using Online Technologies to Interact with Teachers in Blended Tertiary Environments
Authors: Tuapawa Kimberley
Published: May 2017

This research made a phenomenological interpretation of key stakeholders' experiences with educational online technologies (EOT), to determine their present EOT needs and challenges and provide a basis from which to propose methods for effective EOT support. It analysed the EOT experiences of 10 students and 10 teachers from New Zealand and Australia and interpreted the meanings of the phenomena through an abstraction of local and global themes. This paper is the fifth in a series of six publications that presents the local themes. It documents the interpretations of teachers' experiences with other teachers, in reference to their use of two different types of EOTs: learning management systems (Blackboard), and online networking tools (Twitter and Facebook). These interpretations, which include descriptions of teachers' EOT challenges, helped to inform a set of recommendations for effective EOT use, to assist institutes in their efforts to address EOT challenges and meet stakeholders' needs.
Glacial stratigraphy of northern and central Manitoba
Authors: Dredge L A , McMartin I
Published: May 2017

Stratigraphic sections exposed along river banks and road cuts, and in boreholes across northern Manitoba, reveal a record of multiple glaciations and at least two interglaciations. The sections in northeast Manitoba contain the most complete records, whereas
those in the west more commonly relate to late Wisconsin events and ice retreat phases. Evidence exists for separate early Keewatin and Labradorean ice flows that extended father south and west than those of the late Wisconsin glaciation. During the late Wisconsin glaciation, carbonate content in
the upper till suggests an intermingling of Keewatin and Labradorean ice in the area, and a shifting zone of convergence that ultimately lay along the Etawney-Settee moraine. Small amounts of matrix carbonate and limestone clasts in the uppermost till sheet in the Leaf Rapids area are thought to
have been incorporated from underlying tills. There is a record of several readvances of Keewatin and Labradorean ice into Glacial Lake Agassiz, both of which incorporated calcareous glaciolacustrine silt into the upper till unit.
Understanding users' needs and user centered design
Authors:   GeoConnections
Published: May 2017

This guide (2007) is intended to help organizations, specifically managers and developers, in understanding approaches for user-needs assessments and user-centered designs. User-needs assessments engage user communities to identify the content, technology and
policies that will best address issues. User-centered design helps organizations ensure their geomatics products address identified issues through effective design and function.
The development of the ICD-11 chapter on mental disorders
Authors: Volpe Umberto
Published: May 2017

No abstract available.
Bubbling solutions for nonlocal elliptic problems
Authors: Dávila Juan , López Ríos Luis , Sire Yannick
Published: May 2017

We investigate bubbling solutions for the nonlocal equation

A^s_{\Omega} u =u^p,\ u > 0 \quad \text{in } \Omega,

under homogeneous Dirichlet conditions, where

\Omega

is a bounded and smooth domain. The operator

A^s_{\Omega}

stands for two types of nonlocal operators that we treat in a unified way: either the spectral fractional Laplacian or the restricted fractional Laplacian. In both cases

s \in (0,1)

, and the Dirichlet conditions are different: for the spectral fractional Laplacian, we prescribe

u=0

on

\partial \Omega

, and for the restricted fractional Laplacian, we prescribe

u=0

on

\mathbb R^n \backslash \Omega

. We construct solutions when the exponent

p = (n+2s)/(n-2s) \pm \epsilon

is close to the
critical one
, concentrating as

\epsilon \to 0

near critical points of a reduced function involving the Green and Robin functions of the domain.
On multilinear fractional strong maximal operator associated with rectangles and multiple weights
Authors: Cao Mingming , Xue Qingying , Yabuta Kôzô
Published: May 2017

In this paper, we introduce the multilinear fractional strong maximal operator

\mathcal{M}_{\mathcal{R},\alpha}

and the corresponding multiple weights

A_{({\vec{\hskip.5pt p}},q),\mathcal{R}}

associated with rectangles. Under the dyadic reverse doubling condition, a necessary and sufficient condition for two-weight inequalities is given. As consequences, we first obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for one-weight inequalities. Then, we present a new proof for the weighted estimates of multilinear fractional integral operator and fractional maximal operator associated with cubes, which is quite different from and simpler than the proof that has been presented previously.
A comparison principle for the porous medium equation and its consequences
Authors: Avelin Benny , Lukkari Teemu
Published: May 2017

We prove a comparison principle for the porous medium equation in more general open sets in

\mathbb R^{n+1}

than space-time cylinders. We apply this result in two related contexts: we establish a connection between a potential theoretic notion of the obstacle problem and a notion based on a variational inequality. We also prove the basic properties of the PME capacity, in particular that there exists a capacitary extremal which gives the capacity for compact sets.
Sobolev spaces associated to singular and fractional Radon transforms
Authors: Street Brian
Published: May 2017

The purpose of this paper is to study the smoothing properties (in

L^p

Sobolev spaces) of operators of the form

f\mapsto \psi(x) \int f(\gamma_t(x)) K(t)\: dt

, where

\gamma_t(x)

is a

C^\infty

function defined on a neighborhood of the origin in

(t,x)\in \mathbb{R}^N\times \mathbb{R}^n

, satisfying

\gamma_0(x)\equiv x

,

\psi

is a

C^\infty

cut-off function supported on a small neighborhood of

0\in \mathbb{R}^n

, and

K

is a "multi-parameter fractional kernel" supported on a small neighborhood of

0\in \mathbb{R}^N

. When

K

is a Calderón–Zygmund kernel these operators were studied by Christ, Nagel, Stein, and Wainger, and when

K

is a multi-parameter singular kernel they were studied by the author and Stein. In both of these situations, conditions on

\gamma

were given under which the above operator is bounded on

L^p

(

1 < p < \infty

). Under these same conditions, we introduce non-isotropic

L^p

Sobolev spaces associated to

\gamma

. Furthermore, when

K

is a fractional kernel which is smoothing of an order which is close to 0 (i.e., very close to a singular kernel) we prove mapping properties of the above operators on these non-isotropic Sobolev spaces. As a corollary, under the conditions introduced on

\gamma

by Christ, Nagel, Stein, and Wainger, we prove optimal smoothing properties in isotropic

L^p

Sobolev spaces for the above operator when

K

is a fractional kernel which is smoothing of very low order.
Analysis of the Closure Approximation for a Class of Stochastic Differential Equations
Authors: Cai Yunfeng , Li Tiejun , Shao Jiushu , Wang Zhiming
Published: May 2017

Motivated by the numerical study of spin-boson dynamics in quantum open systems, we present a convergence analysis of the closure approximation for a class of stochastic differential equations. We show that the naive Monte Carlo simulation of the system by direct temporal discretization is not feasible through variance analysis and numerical experiments. We also show that the Wiener chaos expansion exhibits very slow convergence and high computational cost. Though efficient and accurate, the rationale of the moment closure approach remains mysterious. We rigorously prove that the low moments in the moment closure approximation of the considered model are of exponential convergence to the exact result. It is further extended to more general nonlinear problems and applied to the original spin-boson model with similar structure.
Runge-Kutta Discontinuous Local Evolution Galerkin Methods for the Shallow Water Equations on the Cubed-Sphere Grid
Authors: Kuang Yangyu , Wu Kailiang , Tang Huazhong
Published: May 2017

The paper develops high order accurate Runge-Kutta discontinuous local evolution Galerkin (RKDLEG) methods on the cubed-sphere grid for the shallow water equations (SWEs). Instead of using the dimensional splitting method or solving one-dimensional Riemann problem in the direction normal to the cell interface, the RKDLEG methods are built on genuinely multi-dimensional approximate local evolution operator of the locally linearized SWEs on a sphere by considering all bicharacteristic directions. Several numerical experiments are conducted to demonstrate the accuracy and performance of our RKDLEG methods, in comparison to the Runge-Kutta discontinuous Galerkin method with Godunov's flux etc.
A Hybrid Spectral Element Method for Fractional Two-Point Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Sheng Changtao , Shen Jie
Published: May 2017

We propose a hybrid spectral element method for fractional two-point boundary value problem (FBVPs) involving both Caputo and Riemann-Liouville (RL) fractional derivatives. We first formulate these FBVPs as a second kind Volterra integral equation (VIEs) with weakly singular kernel, following a similar procedure in [16]. We then design a hybrid spectral element method with generalized Jacobi functions and Legendre polynomials as basis functions. The use of generalized Jacobi functions allow us to deal with the usual singularity of solutions att= 0. We establish the existence and uniqueness of the numerical solution, and derive a hptype error estimates underL2(I)-norm for the transformed VIEs. Numerical results are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Case Report: Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing of Tick Bite Site Samples for the Diagnosis of Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis
Authors: Kim Choon-Mee , Kim Seok Won , Kim Dong-Min , Yoon Na-Ra , Jha Piyush , Jang Sook Jin , Ahn Young-Joon , Lim Donghoon , Lee Seung Hun , Hwang Seon Do , Lee Yeong Seon
Published: May 2017

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is a tick-borne infectious disease caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, an obligate intracellular bacterium. Until now, the utility of tick-bite site samples for HGA diagnosis has not been reported. Using a patient's buffy coat and tick-bite site crust samples, we performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing using Ehrlichia- or Anaplasma-specific primers. PCR with buffy coat and crust samples obtained before doxycycline administration was positive. Six days after doxycycline administration, PCR with the buffy coat sample was negative but PCR with a crust tissue sample from the tick-bite site remained positive. This is the first case to suggest that crust tissue at the tick-bite site may be useful for early HGA diagnosis in patients who have already been treated with antibiotics such as doxycycline.
Hydrogen Environment Assisted Cracking of a Modern Ultra-High Strength Martensitic Stainless Steel
Authors: Pioszak Greger L. , Gangloff Richard P.
Published: May 2017

A modern martensitic stainless steel (Ferrium® PH48S™) resists hydrogen environment assisted cracking (HEAC) in aqueous NaCl at ultra-high yield strengths (1,400 MPa to 1,600 MPa). HEAC is transgranular, because of increased steel purity and La addition, compared to severe intergranular HEAC in Custom® 465-H900 without rare earth elements. Minimum threshold for HEAC (KTH) is low (8 MPa√m to 17 MPa√m) for each steel under substantial cathodic polarization. Transgranular HEAC occurs along martensite packet and {110}α′-block interfaces in PH48S, likely a result of H decohesion enabled by localized plasticity. Martensite transformation produces a large area of coincident site lattice interfaces in the refined microstructure of PH48S. However, a susceptible network of random packet/block interfaces is connected in 3D to limit interface engineering. Nanoscale strengthening precipitates in PH48S reduce effective H diffusivity to the mid-10−10 cm2/s range, because of reversible H trapping with a binding energy of 12 kJ/mol. This diffusivity reduces the Stage II growth rate by 1 to 3 orders of magnitude compared to C465 and carbide strengthened ultra-high strength steels. PH48S and C465 are nearly immune to HEAC when cathodically polarized by 50 mV to 500 mV, attributed to a minimum in occluded-crack tip overpotential for H production. The breadth of this protective-potential window increases with decreasing steel strength. Increased Cr does not degrade HEAC resistance, suggesting that crack passivity dominates cation acidification to reduce H production and/or uptake. A quantitative decohesion model effectively predicts the potential dependence of da/dtII using crack tip H solubility reverse calculated from a KTH model.
Secondary organic aerosol from chlorine-initiated oxidation of isoprene
Authors: Wang Dongyu S. , Hildebrandt Ruiz Lea
Published: May 2017

Abstract. Recent studies have found inland concentrations of reactive chlorine species to be higher than expected, suggesting that atmospheric chlorine chemistry is more extensive than previously thought. Chlorine radicals can interact with HOx radicals and nitrogen oxides (NOx) to alter the oxidative capacity of the atmosphere. They are known to rapidly oxidize a wide range of volatile organic compounds (VOC) found in the atmosphere, yet little is known about secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from chlorine-initiated photo-oxidation and its atmospheric implications. Environmental chamber experiments were carried out under low-NOx conditions with isoprene and chlorine as primary VOC and oxidant sources. Upon complete isoprene consumption, observed SOA yields ranged from 8 % to 36 %, decreasing with extended photo-oxidation and SOA aging. A High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer was used to determine the molecular composition of gas-phase species using iodide-water and hydronium-water ionization. Ions consistent with isoprene-derived epoxydiol (IEPOX) and other common OH-isoprene oxidation products were observed, evident of secondary OH production and resulting chemistry from Cl-initiated reactions.
A glaciochemical study of the 120 m ice core from Mill Island, East Antarctica
Authors: Inoue Mana , Curran Mark A. J. , Moy Andrew D. , van Ommen Tas D. , Fraser Alexander D. , Phillips Helen E. , Goodwin Ian D.
Published: May 2017

Abstract. A 120 m ice core was drilled on Mill Island, East Antarctica (65°30′ S, 100°40′ E) during the 2009/2010 Australian Antarctic field season. Contiguous discrete 5 cm samples were measured for hydrogen peroxide, water stable isotopes, and trace ion chemistry. The ice core was annually dated using a combination of chemical species and water stable isotopes. The Mill Island ice core preserves a climate record covering 97 years from 1913 to 2009 CE, with a mean snow accumulation of 1.35 m (ice-equivalent) per year (mIE yr−1). This northernmost East Antarctic coastal ice core site displays trace ion concentrations that are generally higher than other Antarctic ice core sites (e.g. mean sodium levels were 254 µEq L−1). The trace ion record at Mill Island is characterised by a unique and complex chemistry record with three distinct regimes identified. The trace ion record in regime A displays clear seasonality from 2000 to 2009 CE; regime B displays elevated concentrations with no seasonality from 1934 to 2000 CE; and regime C displays relatively low concentrations with seasonality from 1913 to 1934 CE. Sea salts were compared with instrumental data, including atmospheric models and satellite-derived sea-ice concentration, to investigate influences on the Mill Island ice core record. The mean annual sea salt record does not correlate with wind speed. Instead, sea-ice concentration to the east of Mill Island likely influences the annual mean sea salt record. A mechanism involving formation of frost flowers on sea ice is proposed to explain the extremely high sea salt concentration. The Mill Island ice core records are unexpectedly complex, with strong modulation of the trace chemistry on long timescales.
Frequency Analysis of Extreme Sub-Daily Precipitation under Stationary and Non-Stationary Conditions across Two Contrasting Hydroclimatic Environments
Authors: Demaria Eleonora M. C. , Goodrich David , Keefer Timothy
Published: May 2017

Abstract. Observed sub-daily precipitation intensities from contrasting hydroclimatic environments in the USA are used to evaluate temporal trends and to develop Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves under stationary and non-stationary climatic conditions. Analyses are based on observations from two United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) experimental watersheds located in a semi-arid and a temperate environment. We use an Annual Maximum Series (AMS) and a Partial Duration Series (PDS) approach to identify temporal trends in maximum intensities for durations ranging from 5- to 1440-minutes. A Bayesian approach with Monte Carlo techniques is used to incorporate the effect of non-stationary climatic assumptions in the IDF curves. The results show increasing trends in observed AMS sub-daily intensities in both watersheds whereas trends in the PDS observations are mostly positive in the semi-arid site and a mix of positive and negative in the temperate site. Stationary climate assumptions lead to much lower estimated sub-daily intensities than those under non-stationary assumptions with larger absolute differences found for shorter durations and smaller return periods. The risk of failure (R) of a hydraulic structure is increased for non-stationary effects over those of stationary effects, with absolute differences of 25 % for a 100-year return period (T) and a project life (n) of 100 years. The study highlights the importance of considering non-stationarity, due to natural variability or to climate change, in storm design.
Family Businesses - Problems of Accounting, Financing and Survival
Authors: Dec Pawel , Szczerbak Monika
Published: May 2017

Paper concerns the analysis of the activities of family companies, because they represent the overwhelming majority of small and medium-sized companies in the economy. Very important, if not essential aspect of the functioning of such entities are the requirements and restrictions on their existing accounting rules. For many family businesses already just starting a business is a challenge and a breakthrough, not only in the family, but directly in everyday life. This can be compared to magnify family new baby. Hence, the authors set themselves the goal of a comprehensive approach to the issue of the functioning of family businesses and to highlight and analyze their accounting requirements in force, opportunities and sources of financing their activities, and, finally, what is equally important question of their survival. The bankruptcy of the family business is not only a loss for the economy, but it can also cause damage to individual members of the family. Thesis, which would verify the authors is that which says that these companies should be treated as partners by the government, which should not only encourage the establishment of this type of activity, but should also facilitate (or at least not hinder) doing family business.
Credit Constraint Exports in Countries with Different Degrees of Contract Enforcement
Authors: Guo Zi-Yi , Luo Yangxiaoteng
Published: May 2017

We theoretically consider firms’ export decisions in a heterogeneous firm framework. The paper assumes firms have idiosyncratic productivity levels and are credit-constrained in the export market. Firms in different countries have different degrees of credit constraints. Because of imperfect financial markets, firms might not be able to get the financial support to export even although they are profitable enough from the foreign market. In a country with strong contract enforcement, firms are more likely to export and export to more destinations; while in a country with weak contract enforcement, firms are more likely to be constrained by liquidity and export to fewer destinations. However, for those firms whose productivity is very low or very high, these influences do not exist. Moreover, we consider technology shocks and illustrate that technology shocks will further impede firms’ export decisions.
Financial Performance Analysis of Corn-based Ethanol Enterprises in the U.S.
Authors: Bacho Allan P. , Murova Olga I.
Published: May 2017

The objective of this study is to examine the state of financial conditions of the corn-based ethanol enterprises in the U.S. from 2009 to 2014. Ethanol enterprises are categorized as small, those producing up to 50 million gallons per year (MGY) and large producing between 50 and 100 MGY. Panel data from the annual financial reports submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are used to calculate the financial ratios of profitability, asset turnover, leverage, liquidity and operating margin. Results show that the corn-ethanol enterprise is moving into the direction of positive returns of investment. Associated factors for the profitability are found to be operating margin ratio, liquidity, leverage ratio, and subsidy. Findings of this study have an implication to the development of the cellulosic ethanol enterprise, which suggests the utilization and valuation of its co-products for revenue generation to improve economic financial success.
A constitucionalidade da educação domiciliar no Brasil
Authors: Freitas Ricardo Pacheco Mesquita de
Published: May 2017

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a constitucionalidade da educação domiciliar no Brasil, tendo em vista o princípio da pluralidade de idéias, a liberdade de aprender e ensinar, bem como a autonomia familiar disposta na própria Constituição Federal. Em seguida, argumenta-se a necessidade de que o Supremo Tribunal Federal, no Recurso Extraordinário nº. 888.815, dê aos artigos 55 do Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente e 6º da Lei nº. 9.394/96 interpretação conforme a Constituição Federal, prestigiando a autonomia dos pais na escolha do gênero e método pedagógico apropriado a seus filhos.
Sigilo e persecução penal
Authors: Rosa João Luiz Moraes
Published: May 2017

No âmbito da persecução penal, razões de interesse público podem ser invocadas tanto para afastar quanto para manter o sigilo. Durante a investigação ou no curso da ação penal, ao mesmo tempo em que pode haver o afastamento do sigilo telefônico ou telemático, o sigilo de informações imprescindíveis à segurança da sociedade e do Estado, ao menos por certo período, deve ser mantido. Como, em que circunstâncias, por meio do preenchimento de quais requisitos, em quais prazos o afastamento ou a manutenção do sigilo ocorre? É a respeito disso que o presente artigo pretende tratar, com a advertência de que a linha medular da interpretação da legislação infraconstitucional sobre sigilo são os direitos fundamentais.
Os desafios das autarquias locais no desenvolvimento de Angola
Authors: Ndembe Arlete de Anunciação Domingos
Published: May 2017

A finalidade desta pesquisa é demonstrar os desafios das autarquias locais no desenvolvimento do país. A constituição angolana dá uma atenção particular sobre as autarquias locais, entretanto, várias questões têm sido levantadas sobre o adiamento constante da sua implementação no país. Realidades parecidas com as de Angola, apontam que muitos são os desafios a enfrentar para que tenhamos um processo de implementação das autarquias locais eficientes e capazes de apresentar resultados satisfatórios que visam a contribuir para o desenvolvimento local e global de Angola. Para melhor consolidação democrática no país, torna-se importante dar ao cidadão o direito de escolher mediante eleições autárquicas o seu representante local, exigindo deste prestação clara de contas em quanto durar a sua atuação.
(Des)Igualdade e sustentabilidade social: do patrimônio ambiental todos são herdeiros
Authors: Petermann Vânia , Cruz Paulo Marcio da
Published: May 2017

Em que pese o meio ambiente seja bem difuso e integrante do patrimônio coletivo da humanidade, os danos ambientais não são sentidos de modo homogêneo pela população, tampouco está consolidada a ideia, sobretudo em sociedades estruturalmente desiguais, de que a responsabilidade pela sua preservação é comum a todos. Levando isso em conta, este artigo problematiza as consequências negativas da desigualdade social em dois sentidos: i) os indivíduos menos favorecidos economicamente são os mais atingidos pelos danos ambientais; ii) a desigualdade acaba enfraquecendo o senso de comunidade política e torna mais difíceis ações conjuntas para preservação desse bem. Para alterar esse quadro, aposta-se nos conceitos de sustentabilidade social e transição de governança, a partir da premissa de que as questões social e ambiental estão intimamente conectadas e devem ser enfrentadas por meio de estratégias comuns.
Expediente vol. 31 n. 1 (2017)
Authors: Justiça do Direito Revista
Published: May 2017

Expediente da Revista Justiça do Direito vol. 31, n. 1, 2017
Perfil dos Demitidos da Indústria Metropolitana Durante a Crise de 2008 no Brasil
Authors: Silva Fabio Jose Ferreira da
Published: May 2017

O artigo analisa os efeitos da crise do subprime sobre o mercado de trabalho brasileiro. Através de um modelo de transição, que diferencia os demitidos da crise daqueles não demitidos, investiga características individuais e dos postos de trabalho relacionadas com a probabilidade de demissão. Encontramos que trabalhadores informais, subocupados, com menos tempo de serviço e menor rendimento tiveram maiores chance de demissão. Acerca das características dos indivíduos, as demissões foram maiores nos extremos da escala de idade – jovens e idosos – em comparação aos adultos; menores níveis de escolaridade aumentaram a probabilidade de demissão; mulheres foram mais atingidas que os homens. Os resultados sinalizam que crise acentuou as disparidades no mercado de trabalho.
O Estado de Saúde Individual e as Diferenças Salariais no Brasil em 2003 e 2008
Authors: Xander Russo Letícia , Dias Joilson
Published: May 2017

O artigo investiga as diferenças salariais segundo o estado de saúde individual no Brasil. Para identificar os fatores que mais contribuem para o diferencial salarial o método empregado consiste na decomposição de Blinder-Oaxaca, considerando o procedimento de Heckman. A condição de saúde é mensurada pela autoavaliação dos indivíduos e pela prevalência de doenças crônicas. Os resultados apontam que indivíduos saudáveis são mais bem remunerados, sendo os salários dos indivíduos que não reportaram uma boa saúde em torno de 34% a menos em relação aos que reportaram uma boa saúde, e para indivíduos que indicaram prevalência de doenças crônicas de 38% a menos em relação a aqueles que não indicaram. A escolaridade destaca-se dentre as características ao explicar parte dessa diferença salarial, contribuindo principalmente para o diferencial do grupo que autoavaliou seu estado de saúde. Contudo, fatores não explicados, que correspondem a características não observáveis e a discriminação, são os que mais contribuem para a diferença de salários.
EVIDÊNCIAS DA CURVA J PARA A BALANÇA COMERCIAL DO ESTADO DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL (1999-2014)
Authors: Machado Moraes Bruna Márcia , Amado Tristão Pâmela , Diallo Ibrahima , Bender Filho Reisoli
Published: May 2017

Os efeitos de curto e longo prazo de depreciações cambiais sobre a balança comercial são teoricamente distintos, retração inicial seguida de recuperação, conceituando a proposição da Curva J. Esses efeitos pautaram a discussão proposta no artigo à análise da balança de comércio do estado do Rio Grande do Sul no período 1999-2014. Para isso, fez-se uso da metodologia do Vetor de Correção de Erros. As evidências indicaram a presença de, pelo menos um estágio, da Curva J. Isso porque, após o choque na taxa de câmbio real, ocorreu ligeira queda nos saldos comerciais, em termos totais e por fator agregado, seguida de breve recuperação, a qual não é suficiente para eliminar os efeitos cambiais. Além disso, no curto prazo, a balança de produtos industrializados mostrou maior sensibilidade, enquanto que, no longo prazo, os produtos básicos apresentaram elasticidade duas vezes maior.
A INFLUÊNCIA DOS PREÇOS SOBRE A DEMANDA DOMICILIAR POR FRUTAS E HORTALIÇAS: UMA ANÁLISE POR CLASSES DE RENDA
Authors: Da Costa Silva Maria Micheliana , Bragança Coelho Alexandre
Published: May 2017

Este estudo buscou analisar a demanda por frutas e hortaliças nos domicílios brasileiras usando os microdados da Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF/IBGE) de 2008/2009 para diferentes níveis de renda per capita. Especificamente, procurou-se verificar se reduções no custo de aquisição desses alimentos são eficazes para que os brasileiros consumam as quantidades recomendadas. Para tanto, estimou-se um sistema de demanda para 25 itens dessa categoria, por meio do modelo QUAIDS com a correção dos gastos nulos pelo procedimento de Shonkwiller e Yen. Verificou-se que para incentivar o consumo de frutas e hortaliças, reduções de preço são mais eficazes do que melhorias de renda das famílias. Entretanto, os resultados mostram que para que os domicílios mais pobres consigam elevar a aquisição diária por adulto equivalente ao nível de consumo adequado, a redução de preços deveria ser bem elevada, de cerca de 55%.
Caracterização da oferta de suvenir nos principais atrativos turísticos da cidade de São Paulo (São Paulo, Brasil)
Authors: Santos Daiana Machado dos
Published: May 2017

O suvenir é um componente importante da experiência turística, pois a maioria dos turistas trazem de volta lembranças e recordações como memória de suas experiências. Partindo das inquietações referentes à existência ou não de um suvenir característico da cidade de São Paulo (São Paulo, Brasil), pareceu relevante, tanto do ponto de vista da teoria quanto do ponto de vista do mercado, analisar a oferta de suvenir nos principais atrativos turísticos da cidade. O estudo teve como objetivo específico a caracterização dos produtos oferecidos com relação à tipologia, procedência, referência externa e temática e discutir a relação entre os suvenires oferecidos nos principais atrativos da cidade de São Paulo como destino turístico. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório-descritivo, realizado mediante revisão bibliográfica para a construção do arcabouço teórico e conceitual orientador do trabalho, bem como levantamento in loco da oferta de suvenir nos seis principais atrativos turísticos, selecionados a partir do Guia 4 Rodas Brasil 2014, correspondente a última edição antes da elaboração pesquisa.
A Cultura de Veraneio e a produção do espaço da Região Metropolitana da Baixada Santista (São Paulo, Brasil)
Authors: Cabianca Maria Angela de Abreu , Souza Luis Henrique de
Published: May 2017

Este estudo se propõe a examinar os impactos do fenômeno “Cultura de Veraneio” sobre a configuração territorial do trecho do litoral paulista correspondente à Baixada Santista (São Paulo, Brasil). A área em estudo configura uma região metropolitana que engloba os municípios de Bertioga, Guarujá, Cubatão, Santos, São Vicente, Praia Grande, Mongaguá, Peruíbe e Itanhaém. A “Cultura de Veraneio” é compreendida neste contexto como o costume de passar o verão fora do domicílio habitual. A partir de pesquisa documental e elaboração de mapas, baseados em dados obtidos entre 2010 e 2014, que possibilitaram a comparação entre os imóveis ocupados pela população residente e a população flutuante, foi possível notar um padrão espacial decorrente da reinvenção da praia como espaço de lazer. Com o advento da Cultura de Veraneio, a função do litoral paulista se transformou e novas cidades surgiram ou foram reinventadas, não mais pelos processos econômicos que ali se desempenhavam, mas por vocação turística.
Single penile incision for combined hypospadias and inguinal surgery: A comparative study
Authors: Chua Michael E. , Alqarni Naif , Ming Jessica M. , Alyami Fahad , Dos Santos Joana , Iglesias Lopes Roberto , Farhat Walid A. , Koyle Martin A.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: We sought to compare the surgical outcomes of hypospadias repair with correction of inguinal pathology using a single penile incision vs. conventional approach using two incisions.Methods: This is a retrospective study that reviewed all patients who underwent concurrent surgical repair for both hypospadias and inguinal pathologies between January 2003 and November 2015. Patients were classified into Group A, conventional (inguinal or scrotal and penile incision) approach; or Group B, single penile incision approach. Baseline characteristics, including age, degree of hypospadias, type and laterality of inguinal pathology, operative time, and surgical outcomes, were collected. Between groups, variable comparisons were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U-Test and Fisher-exact test. Statistical significant set at <0.05.Results: Seventy-six patients (Group A: 40; Group B: 36) were eligible for study. Baseline characteristics of both groups were comparable, with no significant statistical difference. Overall meanoperative time for Group A was 139.3 ± 56.2 minutes, while Group B was 107.8 ± 46.7 minutes (Z=2.6; U=470.5; p=0.009). Two patients in Group A and two patients in Group B had testicularascension, all of which also had hypospadias-related complications (p=1.0). Hypospadias-related complications in Group A included seven urethrocutaneous fistulae and two repair dehiscence. Eighturethrocutaneous fistulae, one urethral stricture, and two repair dehiscence occurred in Group B (p=0.448). Surgical outcome appearance in both groups were comparable, with no statisticallysignificant difference (p=0.466).Conclusions: Single penile incision for both hypospadias repair and correction of inguinal pathology is a feasible technique and comparable to the conventional approach, with similar surgical outcomes and shorter overall operative time.
Impact of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio on effects of targeted therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients with extrapulmonary metastasis
Authors: Teishima Jun , Ohara Shinya , Sadahide Kousuke , Fujii Shinsuke , Kitano Hiroyuki , Kobatake Kohei , Shinmei Shunsuke , Hieda Keisuke , Inoue Shogo , Hayashi Tetsutaro , Mita Koji , Matsubara Akio
Published: May 2017

Introduction: The aim of our present study was to investigate the impact of the pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on the antitumour effects of targeted agents in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).Methods: The NLRs in 283 cases of molecular targeted therapy for mRCC were measured before starting the prescription of the molecular targeted agent. The significance of pretreatment NLR on the site of metastatic organs and on progression-free survival (PFS)in each case was analyzed.Results: Metastases other than lung, which is defined as “extrapulmonary metastasis,” were observed in 190 cases (67.1%). The median of pretreated NLR was 2.39 (0.49‒68.7). In 97 of the 283 cases,pretreated NLR was 3.0 or higher. These cases were categorized as the high NLR group and the rest as the low NLR group. When the cases with extrapulmonary metastasis were investigated and classifiedbased on their pretreated NLR, 50% PFS in the high NLR and low NLR groups was 6.7 months and 12 months (p=0.0001), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that high NLR (>3.0) was an independent predictive factor for PFS in the cases with extrapulmonary metastasis (hazard ratio 2.762; p<0.0001), while there was no significant difference between PFS in the high and low NLR groups in cases with no extrapulmonary metastasis (p=0.3457).Conclusions: Our data indicate that the predictive significance of the NLR in mRCC cases involving targeted therapy depends on the metastatic organs. NLR is an independent predictive factor of PFS in cases of mRCC with extrapulmonary metastasis treated with targeted therapy.
Cytoreductive nephrectomy in the modern era: Predictors of use, morbidity, and survival
Authors: Minnillo Brian J. , Tabayoyong William , Francis John J. , Maurice Matthew J. , Zhu Hui , Kim Simon , Abouassaly Robert
Published: May 2017

Introduction: To determine tumour, patient, and provider factors associated with cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) use and to identify those factors that predicted short-term and long-term surgical outcomes.Methods: We performed a retrospective review (1998‒2011) of the National Cancer Database, a U.S. population-based oncology outcomes database. The review included 36 549 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We assessed predictors of CN use, length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission, and 30-day mortality using multivariable logistic regression. The Cox proportional hazards model assessed predictors of overall survival (OS).Results: Overall, 10 809 (29.6%) patients received CN, increasing from 15.2% to 36.1% over time. Private insurance (odds ratio [OR] 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16‒1.37) and academic facilities (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.68‒1.99) were associated with receiving CN (p<0.0001). Charlson score ≥2 and older age group were less likely to undergo surgery (p<0.0001). Median LOS was five days (interquartile range [IQR] 3‒7), while 30-day readmission and 30-day mortality were 5.3% and 3.3%, respectively. Undergoing CN (hazard ratio [HR] 0.48; 95% CI 0.44‒0.52; p<0.0001) and treatment at academic centres (HR 0.88; 95% CI 0.81‒0.95; p=0.001) were independently associated with improved OS. Limitation includes retrospective design with possible selection bias.Conclusions: Increased CN use continues in the modern era, with relatively low surgical morbidity. Further study is required to determine if the finding of lower all-cause mortality in patients treated at academic centres is due to improved care or unmeasured confounders.
Surgical excision of perineal nodular induration: A cyclist’s third testicle
Authors: Awad Mohannad A. , Murphy Gregory P. , Gaither Thomas W. , Osterberg E. Charles , Sanford Thomas A. , Horvai Andrew E. , Breyer Benjamin N.
Published: May 2017

Perineal nodular induration (PNI), or biker’s nodule, is a rare, bothersome, pseudotumour. Herein, we describe the surgical technique used to treat a healthy cyclist who developed an enlarging PNI for five years that grew into a perineal mass. The mass prevented him from cycling due to worsening discomfort and heaviness. The PNI-associated mass was successfully removed by wide surgical excision and a local advancement flap. Subsequently, the patient resumed cycling. Histopathology report demonstrated a benign lesion with abundant ropy collagen with native smooth muscle, vessels, and rare fibroblast-like spindle cells. With the increasing popularity of cycling, PNI may become more common, and health providers should be aware of this rare entity and how it can be safely removed.