bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Multimodal Nature of High-Intensity Functional Training: Potential Applications to Improve Sport Performance
Authors: Falk Neto Joao , Kennedy Michael
Published: January 2019

Training for sports performance requires the development of multiple fitness components within the same program. In this context, training strategies that have the potential to concomitantly enhance metabolic and musculoskeletal fitness are of great value for athletes and coaches. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the current studies on high-intensity functional training (HIFT) and to assess how HIFT could be utilized in order to improve sport-specific performance. Studies on untrained and recreationally-active participants have led to positive results on aerobic power and anaerobic capacity, and muscular endurance, while results on muscular strength and power are less clear. Still, HIFT sessions can elicit high levels of metabolic stress and resistance training exercises are prescribed with parameters that can lead to improvements in muscular endurance, hypertrophy, strength, and power. As similar training interventions have been shown to be effective in the athletic population, it is possible that HIFT could be a time-efficient training intervention that can positively impact athletes’ performances. While the potential for improvements in fitness and performance with HIFT is promising, there is a clear need for controlled studies that employ this training strategy in athletes in order to assess its effectiveness in this population.
Reclaimed Polymers as Asphalt Binder Modifiers for More Sustainable Roads: A Review
Authors: Brasileiro Luzana , Moreno-Navarro Fernando , Tauste-Martínez Raúl , Matos Jose , Rubio-Gámez Maria del Carmen
Published: January 2019

The use of polymer-modified binders in asphalt mixtures has become more widespread due to their reduced thermal susceptibility and improved rutting and fatigue resistance. Nevertheless, their high cost limits their application, thus making the use of reclaimed polymers (RP) an interesting alternative for both reducing price and extending the service life of pavements. This paper; therefore, presents a comparative review of the recycled polymers most commonly studied as bitumen modifiers: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), and ground tire rubber (GTR), in order to facilitate their selection and extend the use of the bitumen. The differences in terms of melting point, mixing conditions, and maximum quantity of added polymer are analyzed. Moreover, their effect on the mechanical behavior of the asphalt binders and their stability with and without the use of additives is presented. According to the literature revision, the performance of the new binder is more influenced by the kind of polymer that was incorporated and the mixing conditions than by the base bitumen that was chosen, although rheological evaluation is needed to fully understand the modification mechanisms of the modified binder. In general terms, plastomers have a stronger effect in terms of increasing the stiffness of the bitumen in comparison with crumb rubber (elastomers), thus providing an improved rutting resistance. The joint use of polyethylene (plastomer) and crumb rubber (elastomer) can be an interesting option for its recycling potential and mechanical performance, although further study is needed to achieve stable bitumen across the entire range of temperatures; additives, such as maleic anhydride (MA), are commonly employed to improve the stability of the binder and enhance its characteristics, but their use could limit the economic benefits of using recycled materials.
Land-Use/Land-Cover Change from Socio-Economic Drivers and Their Impact on Biodiversity in Nan Province, Thailand
Authors: Trisurat Yongyut , Shirakawa Hiroaki , Johnston John M.
Published: January 2019

The rate of deforestation declined steadily in Thailand since the year 2000 due to economic transformation away from forestry. However, these changes did not occur in Nan Province located in northern Thailand. Deforestation is expected to continue due to high demand for forest products and increased agribusiness. The objectives of this paper are (1) to predict land-use change in the province based on trends, market-based and conservation scenarios, (2) to quantify biodiversity, and (3) to identify biodiversity hotspots at greatest risk for future deforestation. This study used a dynamic land-use change model (Dyna-CLUE) to allocate aggregated land demand for three scenarios and employed FRAGSTATS to determine the spatial pattern of land-use change. In addition, the InVEST Global Biodiversity Assessment Model framework was used to estimate biodiversity expressed as the remaining mean species abundance (MSA) relative to their abundance in the pristine reference condition. Risk of deforestation and the MSA values were combined to determine biodiversity hotspots across the landscape at greatest risk. The results revealed that most of the forest cover in 2030 would remain in the west and east of the province, which are rugged and not easily accessible, as well as in protected areas. MSA values are predicted to decrease from 0.41 in 2009 to 0.29, 0.35, and 0.40, respectively, under the trends, market-based and conservation scenarios in 2030. In addition, the low, medium, and high biodiversity zones cover 46, 49 and 6% of Nan Province. Protected areas substantially contribute to maintaining forest cover and greater biodiversity. Important measures to protect remaining cover and maintain biodiversity include patrolling at-risk deforestation areas, reduction of road expansion in pristine forest areas, and promotion of incentive schemes for farmers to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems.
Linking Social Perception and Provision of Ecosystem Services in a Sprawling Urban Landscape: A Case Study of Multan, Pakistan
Authors: Manzoor Syed Amir , Malik Aisha , Zubair Muhammad , Griffiths Geoffrey , Lukac Martin
Published: January 2019

Urban sprawl causes changes in land use and a decline in many ecosystem services. Understanding the spatial patterns of sprawl and exploration of citizens’ perception towards the sporadic urban expansion and its impacts on an ecosystem to deliver services can help to guide land use planning and the conservation of the urban ecosystem. Here, we spatially examined land use changes in Multan, Pakistan, and investigated public perception about urban sprawl and its impacts on the quality and provision of ecosystem services, using a survey instrument. The spatial analysis of the historical land cover of Multan indicated an exponential expansion of the city in the last decade. Large areas of natural vegetation and agricultural land were converted to urban settlements in the past two decades. The citizens of Multan believe that the quality and provision of ecosystem services have declined in the recent past and strongly correlate the deteriorating ecosystem services with urban sprawl. Education and income levels of the respondents are the strongest predictors of urban ecosystem health literacy. Citizens associated with laborious outdoor jobs are more sensitive to the changes in ecosystem services. We concluded that the rapidly expanding cities, especially in the tropical arid zones, need to be prioritized for an increase in vegetation cover, and economically vulnerable settlements in these cities should be emphasized in climate change mitigation campaigns.
Infrastructure Operation Efficiency and Influential Factors in Developing Countries: Evidence from China
Authors: Wei Xiao , Xu Haicheng , Zhang Beiqi , Li Jianlong
Published: January 2019

The development of sustainable infrastructure has been identified as one of the seventeen sustainable development goals by the United Nations. Keeping the operation of infrastructure sustainable in terms of economy becomes a major challenge in developing countries. The objective of this research is to evaluate the operation efficiency of the expressway and explore the key influential factors. This research took expressway mileage as the physical output and evaluated the operation efficiency of the expressway companies based on the super-efficiency Slacks-Based Measure (SBM) model; additionally, we analyzed the influential factors on the basis of the fixed-effects regression model. The results showed the following: (1) The average value of operation efficiency of China’s expressway companies from 2007 to 2017 was 0.904. In general, the operation of expressways was efficient. However, the differences in operation efficiency among the eleven expressway companies were significant, and some companies were seriously inefficient. (2) The asset–liability ratio, the scale, and the structure of property rights in the companies were shown to be the main factors affecting the operation efficiency. These results indicate that the development of innovative financing modes and optimization of the scale of each company are the key directions for infrastructure reform, which could eventually narrow the differences in operation efficiency and allow the development of sustainable infrastructure.
Is Sustainability Reporting a Business Strategy for Firm’s Growth? Empirical Study on the Romanian Capital Market
Authors: Carp Mihai , Păvăloaia Leontina , Afrăsinei Mihai-Bogdan , Georgescu Iuliana Eugenia
Published: January 2019

This study analyzed the impact of sustainability reporting on firms’ growth as a result of adopting an environmentally and socially responsible behavior. The information published by companies listed on the main section of the Bucharest Stock Exchange during a period spanning six financial years (2012–2017) was used to assess the influence exerted by the conduct of activities related to sustainability; the integrated reporting of economic, social and environmental protection information; and the quality of published reports on certain indicators relevant to appreciating a firm’s growth (price-to-book ratio, sales growth and cost of capital). The results obtained indicate a low influence of sustainable reporting on a firm’s growth indicators. Current and potential investors, lenders and business partners interpret sustainability reporting as insufficiently documented and as having a low capacity for integration within the decision-making process. However, significant dependency relationships were identified, and particularized on various connections without following a correlation pattern between a firm’s growth directions and the indicators of sustainability reporting. The results remain robust even after the introduction of certain control variables, such as sustainability sensitive industry sectors, company size and age, or increase of investments. Our paper sets out to contribute to expanding the specialty literature by highlighting the involvement of sustainable reporting as a factor in optimizing firms’ growth strategies and, at a methodological level, by using a quantile regression.
Uncertainty Study and Parameter Optimization of Carbon Footprint Analysis for Fermentation Cylinder
Authors: Zheng Hui , Xing Meng , Cao Ting , Zhang Junxia
Published: January 2019

With the rapid development of industry, problems for the ecological environment are increasing day by day, among which carbon pollution is particularly serious. Product carbon emission accounting is the core of sustainable green design. In this paper, the beer fermentation cylinder is taken as an example for low carbon design to get the best combination of design parameters when the carbon emission is the smallest. The life cycle assessment method is used to calculate the carbon footprint of products. In order to analyse the uncertainty and sensitivity of the method, an uncertainty analysis method using data quality characteristics as input of Monte Carlo is proposed. Sensitivity analysis is carried out by multivariate statistical regression and Extended Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test (EFAST). The system boundary of fermentation cylinder is determined and the carbon emissions of life cycle are calculated. The quality characteristics of life cycle inventory data (LCI) data are analysed and Monte Carlo simulation is carried out to quantify the uncertainty of LCI. EFAST is used to calculate the sensitivity of LCI and the results are compared with those of multivariate statistical regression to verify the feasibility of the method. Finally, response surface methodology (RSM) is used to optimize the design of parameters. It provides guidance for the establishment of product carbon emission model and low carbon design.
Social Security and Sustainable Economic Growth: Based on the Perspective of Human Capital
Authors: Zhang Ming , Zou Xiaorong , Sha Long
Published: January 2019

China’s social security expenditure has rapidly grown during the past decade, and concerns about the impact of social security on productivity and sustained economic growth have attracted attention. Based on Chinese provincial panel data over the period 2007–2016, a threshold model analysis found that the impact of social security on productivity has a “double threshold” on human capital. Using dynamic panel data models and system General Moment Method estimators also found the existence of this threshold effect: When the human capital level is low or high, social security is favorable for sustained economic growth. However, if the human capital level is at the intermediate level, the function of social security is weak. The main conclusions were still valid after we examined the robustness of our results with several methods.
Urban Structure, Subway Systemand Housing Price: Evidence from Beijing and Hangzhou, China
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqi , Zheng Yanqiao , Sun Lei , Dai Qiwen
Published: January 2019

Using housing market data of Beijing and Hangzhou, China, we conduct a case study to detect how the difference of urban structure can affect the relationship between the subway system and housing prices. To quantify the characteristics of urban structure, we propose a constrained clustering method, which can not only reveal the spatial heterogeneity of the housing market, but also provides a link between heterogeneity and the underlying urban structure. Applying constrained clustering to Beijing and Hangzhou, we find that the relationship between accessibility to metro stations and housing prices is weak and vulnerable, while the improvement of commuting efficiency, measured by a key variable, the metro index, does have a robust connection to metro premium on housing units. In particular, only a large metro index can be associated with a positive metro premium. Structural features, such as the size of urban core and the existence of multiple sub-centers, influence the metro premium by affecting the value and spatial distribution of the metro index. The evidence from Beijing and Hangzhou supports that in a mono-centric city, the size of the urban core is positively associated with the metro index and the metro premium, while in a poly-centric city with a small urban core, the metro index tends to be lower in the core region and higher in the satellite regions, which enforces the metro premium to be negative in the core while positive outside of the core.
Urban Land Intensive Use Evaluation Study Based on Nighttime Light—A Case Study of the Yangtze River Economic Belt
Authors: Cheng Xin , Shao Hua , Li Yang , Shen Chao , Liang Peipei
Published: January 2019

Urban land intensive use meets the requirements for the sustainable development of urban land and is an important part of urban sustainable development. The Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) spans the three major regions of China, which are the most active areas of China’s economy. The contradiction between humans and land is becoming more acute. There are also regional differences in land use patterns affecting the coordinated development of the YREB and the construction of an ecological civilization. Therefore, the scientific evaluation of urban land intensive use is a key area in the current research field of urban sustainable development. In this study, the YREB is chosen as the research object, and urban land intensive use is studied using nighttime light data and statistical data on the urban built-up area. An evaluation model based on urban nighttime light intensity and land urbanization is constructed with an allometric growth model. Considering that the impact of land urbanization on urban nighttime light has a possible lag effect, an evaluation model of land intensive use that considers the lag effect between urban nighttime light and the land urbanization level is proposed. Using urban agglomerations and some typical cities in the study area as research samples, the characteristics of urban nighttime light and land urbanization are analyzed to reveal the spatial and temporal characteristics of land development in the YREB. The results show that nighttime light remote-sensing data can better reflect the level of urban land use, the allometric growth model can better fit the intensity of urban light and the land urbanization level, and the allometric growth characteristics can reflect the land use characteristics of different cities and urban agglomerations. In regional experiments with typical cities and with urban agglomerations, compared to the original allometric growth model, the goodness of fit of the allometric growth model with the lag effect improves, on average, by 3.2% and 2%, respectively, with the highest increases being by 9.9% and 4.9%, respectively. The level of intensive land use in the YREB gradually decreases from east to west, and there are great differences among different cities in the provinces and urban agglomerations. The lower reaches of the Yangtze River have high land intensive use on the whole. In the middle reaches, multicenter cities have a greater efficiency of land use than the surrounding cities. In the upper reaches, only Chengdu and Chongqing have clear advantages in urban land intensive use. The results of this study can be helpful in providing an important reference for the sustainable development of land in the YREB and can provide a basis for future urban land optimization and sustainable development. Realizing the coordination and linkage between key cities and major cities is the key to enhancing the overall sustainable development ability of the core cities in the YREB.
Green Premium Evidence from Climatic Areas: A Case in Southern Europe, Alicante (Spain)
Authors: Taltavull de La Paz Paloma , Perez-Sanchez V. , Mora-Garcia Raul-Tomas , Perez-Sanchez Juan-Carlos
Published: January 2019

The existence of a green premium in house (asking) prices in Alicante province, Spain, are analyzed using circa 9000 property observations. In developing the sample, information from energy efficiency certificates was matched with two other databases. The model tests for green premium by climatic zones using pool Ordinary Least Squares (pool-OLS) and Instrumental Variables (IV) hedonic models, adds new knowledge concerning the existence of green premiums from Southern Europe, explores differences in their estimation by climatic zone, debates the nature of the estimated green parameters, and explains the role of endogeneity in hedonic green premium models. The empirical evidence assesses the sensitivity of asking price to either energy consumption (KWh) or carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) with an apparent premium of 3%, and captures an association with efficiency rating from G to F of 1.8% and from F to E of 1.1%. Significantly, the results relating to price responses show a distinct variation between the coast and the cooler climatic zone of the interior. The paper shows that energy efficiency incentive policies should discriminate by climatic areas, and provides a price reference by which to assess the amount of incentives needed to achieve European Union (EU) objectives.
Urban Resilience in Action: the Resilient Melbourne Strategy as Transformative Urban Innovation Policy?
Authors: Fastenrath Sebastian , Coenen Lars , Davidson Kathryn
Published: January 2019

More and more cities are developing strategies and implementing actions to increase their resilience to a diversity of environmental, social and economic challenges. International networks such as 100 Resilient Cities, established by the Rockefeller Foundation, are supporting cities to find and implement solutions to ‘shocks and stresses.’ This new approach to urban governance, often initiated by philanthropic organizations, is debated. On the one hand, these initiatives are celebrated as catalysts for transformational change through ‘collaboration’ and ‘co-design’ in contexts such as mobility, energy, green space or housing. On the other hand, urban resilience initiatives have been criticized for prioritizing private sector agendas and top-down approaches and hollowing out public sector tasks and democratic participation. However, little is known how urban resilience strategies are actually implemented in practice. Embedded action research on the implementation of the Resilient Melbourne strategy provides the opportunity to have a closer look at this highly contested topic. This paper provides first insights into the research project Urban Resilience in Action, using the Resilient Melbourne strategy to assess the implementation of selected actions. It shows that a reconceptualization and new analytical dimensions are needed to understand urban resilience as an urban innovation strategy.
Date Seeds (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Valorization for Boilers in the Mediterranean Climate
Authors: de la Cruz-Lovera Carmen , Manzano-Agugliaro Francisco , Salmerón-Manzano Esther , de la Cruz-Fernández José-Luis , Perea-Moreno Alberto-Jesus
Published: January 2019

: Energy saving is a global priority, as it is helping both energy and environmental sustainability by reducing CO2 emissions. The search for new energy solutions is therefore necessary. In the Mediterranean climate, resources are generally scarce, and all energy sources need to be explored, including biomass from agricultural or industrial waste. There is a clear upward trend in date worldwide production, having doubled its world production in the last 10 years, and this trend is particularly relevant for Mediterranean climate countries, especially in North Africa and nearby countries. This study analyzes the properties associated with the date seed (Phoenix dactylifera L.) to evaluate its suitability and viability as a new biofuel. Specifically, the viability of replacing the existing gas boiler in a university building in the south of Spain with a system of biomass boilers using this biomass was analyzed as a case study. The results reveal that this biomass has HHV values very similar to those of other biomass sources, 19.121 MJ/kg. With the replacement of the gas boiler by a biomass that uses the date seed, a reduction of 95 tons of CO2 per year is obtained and an economic saving of more than 66% is achieved. In short, this work opens new perspectives for the use of this biomass of date seed in boilers and it is an efficient solution for large public buildings such as the buildings of Mediterranean climate universities.
Deformed

N

= 8 Supersymmetric Mechanics
Authors: Ivanov Evgeny , Lechtenfeld Olaf , Sidorov Stepan
Published: January 2019

We give a brief review of deformed N = 8 supersymmetric mechanics as a generalization of SU(2|1) mechanics. It is based on the worldline realizations of the supergroups SU(2|2) and SU(4|1) in the appropriate N = 8 , d = 1 superspaces. The corresponding models are deformations of the standard N = 8 mechanics models by a mass parameter m.
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease John M Goldsmid Award 2018
Authors:   TropicalMed Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

For many years, The Australasian College of Tropical Medicine (ACTM) has awarded the John M Goldsmid Award for the best paper published in its official journal, the Annals of the ACTM, in the previous year [...]
Persistent Burkholderia pseudomallei Bacteremia in A Filipino Immigrant to the United States: A Case Report
Authors: Meraj Sumbul , Rodenberg Brandy , Thannum Stephanie , Sheley Jared , Foreman Jena
Published: January 2019

Melioidosis is rare in the United States and endemic to Southeast Asia and Australia. Treatment includes an initial intensive phase of intravenous ceftazidime or meropenem monotherapy depending on severity. The following report describes a case of persistent bacteremia with ceftazidime failure and prolonged meropenem therapy on a ceftazidime-susceptible strain of Burkholderia pseudomallei.
A Call for Systems Epidemiology to Tackle the Complexity of Schistosomiasis, Its Control, and Its Elimination
Authors: Krauth Stefanie J. , Balen Julie , Gobert Geoffrey N. , Lamberton Poppy H. L.
Published: January 2019

Ever since the first known written report of schistosomiasis in the mid-19th century, researchers have aimed to increase knowledge of the parasites, their hosts, and the mechanisms contributing to infection and disease. This knowledge generation has been paramount for the development of improved intervention strategies. Yet, despite a broad knowledge base of direct risk factors for schistosomiasis, there remains a paucity of information related to more complex, interconnected, and often hidden drivers of transmission that hamper intervention successes and sustainability. Such complex, multidirectional, non-linear, and synergistic interdependencies are best understood by looking at the integrated system as a whole. A research approach able to address this complexity and find previously neglected causal mechanisms for transmission, which include a wide variety of influencing factors, is needed. Systems epidemiology, as a holistic research approach, can integrate knowledge from classical epidemiology, with that of biology, ecology, social sciences, and other disciplines, and link this with informal, tacit knowledge from experts and affected populations. It can help to uncover wider-reaching but difficult-to-identify processes that directly or indirectly influence exposure, infection, transmission, and disease development, as well as how these interrelate and impact one another. Drawing on systems epidemiology to address persisting disease hotspots, failed intervention programmes, and systematically neglected population groups in mass drug administration programmes and research studies, can help overcome barriers in the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination. Generating a comprehensive view of the schistosomiasis system as a whole should thus be a priority research agenda towards the strategic goal of morbidity control and transmission elimination.
Piscine Orthoreovirus 3 Is Not the Causative Pathogen of Proliferative Darkening Syndrome (PDS) of Brown Trout (Salmo trutta fario)
Authors: Fux Robert , Arndt Daniela , Langenmayer Martin C. , Schwaiger Julia , Ferling Hermann , Fischer Nicole , Indenbirken Daniela , Grundhoff Adam , Dölken Lars , Adamek Mikolaj , Steinhagen Dieter , Sutter Gerd
Published: January 2019

The proliferative darkening syndrome (PDS) is a lethal disease of brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) which occurs in several alpine Bavarian limestone rivers. Because mortality can reach 100%, PDS is a serious threat for affected fish populations. Recently, Kuehn and colleagues reported that a high throughput RNA sequencing approach identified a piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) as a causative agent of PDS. We investigated samples from PDS-affected fish obtained from two exposure experiments performed at the river Iller in 2008 and 2009. Using a RT-qPCR and a well-established next-generation RNA sequencing pipeline for pathogen detection, PRV-specific RNA was not detectable in PDS fish from 2009. In contrast, PRV RNA was readily detectable in several organs from diseased fish in 2008. However, similar virus loads were detectable in the control fish which were not exposed to Iller water and did not show any signs of the disease. Therefore, we conclude that PRV is not the causative agent of PDS of brown trout in the rhithral region of alpine Bavarian limestone rivers. The abovementioned study by Kuehn used only samples from the exposure experiment from 2008 and detected a subclinical PRV bystander infection. Work is ongoing to identify the causative agent of PDS.
Next-Generation Sequencing and CRISPR/Cas13 Editing in Viroid Research and Molecular Diagnostics
Authors: Hadidi Ahmed
Published: January 2019

Viroid discovery as well as the economic significance of viroids and biological properties are presented. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies combined with informatics have been applied to viroid research and diagnostics for almost a decade. NGS provides highly efficient, rapid, low-cost high-throughput sequencing of viroid genomes and of the 21–24 nt vd-sRNAs generated by the RNA silencing defense of the host. NGS has been utilized in various viroid studies which are presented. The discovery during the last few years that prokaryotes have heritable adaptive immunity mediated through clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated Cas proteins, have led to transformative advances in molecular biology, notably genome engineering and most recently molecular diagnostics. The potential application of the CRISPR-Cas13a system for engineering viroid interference in plants is suggested by targeting specific motifs of three economically important viroids. The CRISPR-Cas13 system has been utilized recently for the accurate detection of human RNA viruses by visual read out in 90 min or less and by paper-based assay. Multitarget RNA tests by this technology have a good potential for application as a rapid and accurate diagnostic assay for known viroids. The CRISPR/Cas system will work only for known viroids in contrast to NGS, but it should be much faster.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Vision in 2018
Authors:   Vision Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Understanding compassion in family medicine: a qualitative study
Authors: Uygur Jane , Brown Judith Belle , Herbert Carol
Published: January 2019

Background

Patients and physicians have traditionally valued compassion; however, there is concern that physician compassion has declined with the increasing emphasis on science and technology in medicine. Although the literature on compassion is growing, very little is known about how family physicians experience compassion in their work.

Aim

To explore family physicians’ capacity for and experiences of compassion in practice.

Design and setting

This was a qualitative study designed using a phenomenological approach in rural and urban Ontario, Canada.

Method

In-depth interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim, followed by independent and team coding. An iterative and interpretive analysis was conducted using immersion and crystallisation techniques. Purposive sampling recruited 22 participants (nine males and 13 females aged 26–64 years) that included family medicine residents from Western University (n= 6), and family physicians practising <5 years (n= 7) or >10 years (n= 9) in Ontario, Canada.

Results

From the data, the authors derived the Compassion Trichotomy as a theoretical model to describe three interrelated areas that determine the evolution or devolution of compassion experienced by family physicians: motivation (core values), capacity (energy), and connection (relationship).

Conclusion

The Compassion Trichotomy highlights the importance and interdependence in physician compassion of motivation (personal reflection and values), capacity (awareness and regulation of energy, emotion, and cognition), and connection (sustained patient–physician relationship). This model may assist practising family physicians, educators, and researchers to explore how compassion development might enhance physician effectiveness and satisfaction.
Visual Methods in Event Studies
Authors: Pernecky Tomas , Rakić Tijana
Published: January 2019

Following the early articulation of event studies and the recent calls for philosophical and conceptual broadening of this emerging field, it is timely to engage with, and promote, a range of methodological approaches. Visual methods not only enable a richer and deeper understanding
of events phenomena, the visuals collected or created as a part of a research project can facilitate the dissemination of findings to wider audiences. Whereas the overall aim of the special issue is to provide an overview of visual methods and inspire thinking in this area, this introductory
article focuses mainly on wider conceptual and theoretical matters. It offers critical concepts and probing questions aimed at stimulating visual inquiry, along with a framework designed to capture the complexity and scope of visual inquiry in events.
Visualizing the Future of Event Studies
Authors: Rakić Tijana , Pernecky Tomas
Published: January 2019

In our hope to "visualize the future of event studies," this article offers practical pointers for event scholars who are interested in visual methods within their research and pedagogic practice. Prior to exploring the reasons for using visual methods as legitimate tools, this article
provides an initial overview of both the history and the range of visual methods used across the social sciences, which in turn serves to contextualize visual event studies within the broader tradition of visual studies. The practicalities of designing and conducting visual research projects
as well as the possible ethical dilemmas and the potential to reach wider audiences are also discussed.
ESTIMATION OF CHANGE DYNAMICS OF MILK CONTAMINATION WITH 90SR AND 137CS IN LITHUANIA IN 1965–2003
Authors: Ladygiene Rima , Butkus Donatas , Kleiza Jonas
Published: January 2019

The paper describes the trends of concentrations of 90Sr and 137Cs in milk in Lithuania in 1965–2003. Sampling of milk was performed in five regions of the biggest cities of Lithuania, and since 1976 ‐ also in the region of possible impact of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Data of production and consumption of milk are taken from Lithuanian statistical yearbooks. Activity concentrations of radionuclides were measured at Radiation Protection Centre. Daily diet products are connected with different components of the environment ‐ soil, air and water. For this reason food contamination reflects pollution of the environment. This paper describes estimation of trends of activity concentrations of 90Sr and 137Cs in one of the food products ‐ in milk. Comparison applies to two periods ‐ the so‐called before Chernobyl period (1965–1985) and that after the accident in Chernobyl NPP up to now (1986–2003). Contamination of milk was analysed using correlation tests. Though the trend of average annual activity concentrations is complicated, during the two periods plenty of high enough correlation ratio values were calculated (0,63–0,74). Regression curves using 3–6 degree of polynoms show the decrease of 90Sr and 137Cs activity concentrations during the periods analysed. Factors of influence on the value of an average annual effective dose for an inhabitant of Lithuania based on activity concentrations of 90Sr and 137Cs in milk were evaluated. Estimation shows that accuracy of calculating an average annual effective dose due to 90Sr and 137Cs in milk does not exceed 60%.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NITRATE AMOUNT IN GROUNDWATER AND NATURAL FACTORS
Authors: Pociene Alma , Pocius Skirmantas
Published: January 2019

In Lithuania almost the whole drinking water is derived from groundwater sources. The concept of ground@water vulnerability is based on an assumption that a physical environment may provide some degree of protection to groundwater against human impact.The earth materials may act as natural filters to screen out some contaminants. Groundwater vulnerability depends on the natural characteristics of a site and relates to the pathways and rate of downward movement of pollutants. Pollutant migration through the soil zone depends just on the depth of waterlogging, texture, organic matter content, quantity of precipitation.. Pollutants accumulating in shallow groundwater in the Lithuanian area are, first of all, nitrates and organic matter. Regularities of groundwater chemistry can be determined only after investigation into the processes of their formation. That is why we need to find out the main factors of nitrate concentrations in groundwater. Investigation took place in Karkiškes object of Educational Farm of Lithuanian University of Agriculture in 1997–2002. Also, the data from publications were used. The regime of groundwater level and the quantity of nitrates in it was an object of the investigation. The objective of the thesis is to estimate correlation between nitrate concentrations in groundwater and natural factors, such as textural composition of the soil, the quantity of clay and humus particles in the soil, the depth up to the groundwater level, the depth of a restrictive layer and annual precipitation amount. The correlation analysis was used to determine relationship among these factors. The investigation shows that the concentration of nitrogen in groundwater and nitrate leaching are under the influence of humus and clay particles in the soil. It also shows that, when the content of clay particles in the soil increases, nitrogen leaching decreases. Relationship between nitrate content in groundwater and its level from the soil surface, precipitation amount were identified by the investigation. The obtained relationship is close enough, and the correlation coefficients are high (0,86–0,98).
MINIMIZATION OF ATMOSPHERE POLLUTION BY UTILIZING CELLULOSE WASTE
Authors: Kazragis Algimantas
Published: January 2019

The greenhouse effect is our planet's ability to pass the Sun's incoming radiation and to reflect the re‐radiated long wavelengths from the Earth's surface, so increasing our planet's surface and atmosphere lower‐layer temperature. As a result, the melting of glaciers and snow cover intensifies, and the water level of seas and oceans increases, flooding islands and coast lines. Increase in temperature intensifies water evaporation, increases the possibility of downpour and cyclone formation in seaside regions, while on continents ‐ droughts, heat‐waves and forest fires. So lowering of the greenhouse effect is one of the main global problems today.

The main greenhouse effect “agents” are carbon dioxide CO2 (53 %), freon, ozone, methane CH4 and other substances. CO2 is formed during breathing of live organisms, activity of microbes in the soil, also during the combustion of various organic substances. CH4 and CO2 are formed when cellulosic matter ‐ wood, peat moss, agricultural production waste, vegetation ‐ decay at treatment places, by tillage also in landfills processes take place. From all the mentioned processes mankind controls only the cellulose mater combustion and decay processes which it should decrease as much as possible to weaken the green‐house effect. However, at present it is unrealistic to lower the amount of CO2 formed by burning fossil fuel in industrial enterprises and heating systems.

Cellulose‐containing waste can be reprocessed without emitting CO2 or CH4 by manufacturing building materials, thermal as well as acoustic insulating composites. Wooden waste has been used for these purposes for a long time. At present it is recommended to use other cellulose raw materials ‐ straw, reeds, boon, peat moss and other materials. The utilization of straws given composites, containing straws, Portland cement (in some cases ‐ construction gypsum and sand and polymeric additives ‐ vinyl acetate (e g polyvinyl acetate PVA) or cellulosic materials (e g carboxymethylcellulose CMC) dispersions. The utilization of reeds gives composites containing reeds, Portland cement and PVA or CMC. The utilization of boon or chaff gives composites containing boons or chaffs, anhydrite or aliuminate cements and PVA or CMC. Optimal composition composites distinguish themselves by good physico‐mechanical as well as thermal and acoustic properties and can find applications as building materials as well as thermal and acoustic insulating materials.
MODELLING AND FORECASTING OF COUNTRY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN LITHUANIA
Authors: Burinskiene Marija , Rudzkiene Vitalija
Published: January 2019

Development trends of the European Union society show that tourism has the highest increase rate. Tourism is an important branch of every country's economy, because tourism consumption spreads over a large number of goods and services. In the last years development of country tourism in Lithuania has had a strong support from the government as well as the EU funds. The effect of economic variables on forecasting accuracy of guest numbers in Auk?taitija National Park is examined using ARMA models. The empirical results show that country tourism has a positive linear trend and the consumer price index can be used as an explanatory variable forecasting country guest number.
137CS CONTAMINATION AND ITS VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION IN THE CURONIAN SPIT SOIL
Authors: Morkūniene Rasa , Valuntaite Vaida , Girgždys Aloyzas , Astrauskiene Nijole
Published: January 2019

In 2003–2004 soil depthprofile sampling was carried out at Juodkrantein the Curonian Spit. The activity concentrations of anthropogenic radionuclide 137Cs in soil samples from the terrestrial and coastal environment of the Curonian Spit were determined and a study of their distribution was performed. The range of activity concentrations of accumulated deposits of 137Cs in a 0–30 cm soil layer is 0,2–370,9 Bq·kg−1 and 2,2–11,2 Bq˙kg−1in samples of the forest soil and beach sand, respectively. Soil depth profiles display higher activity concentration levels in their upper layer of the forest soil and insignificant variations of lower activity concentrations in the surf zone‐the dune ecosystem.
EFFICIENCY INVESTIGATION OF SOLAR COLLECTORS MADE OF RECYCLING MATERIALS
Authors: Matijošius Jonas , Jakštas Arūnas
Published: January 2019

Recycling materials for construction of solar collectors are considered in this paper. In this way it is possible to reduce pollution of the environment littered up with industrial and building waste and scrap. The collectors become cheaper and cheaper. In order to tackle the problem a testing prototype was made ‐ a metal tank of 100 1 volume ‐ and glass wool and sawdust were used for heat insulation. Experimental tests were conducted, the estimates of resistance to sudden variations of temperature and efficiency under different meteorological conditions were established during testing. The test results showed that sollar collectors made of recycling materials possessed good exploitation properties.
EVALUATION OF ECOLOGICAL AND ENERGETIC INDICATORS IN POWER PRODUCTION
Authors: Kugelevičius Jonas Algirdas , Kuprys Algirdas , Kugelevičius Jonas
Published: January 2019

The technical, economic and ecological perspective parameters of power plants in Lithuania are presented. The chemical structure and ecological characteristics of future types of fuel ‐ orimulsion and asfalten ‐ are analysed. The technical, economic and ecological characteristics of traditional (natural gas, heavy fuel oil) and new kinds of fuel are summarized. The influence of ecological taxes and external costs on power production cost is analysed. The predictions of power cost are presented considering ecological taxes.
Catalog of High Protostellar Surface Density Regions in Nearby Embedded Clusters
Authors: Li Juan , Myers Philip C. , Kirk Helen , Gutermuth Robert A. , Dunham Michael M. , Pokhrel Riwaj
Published: January 2019

We analyze high-quality stellar catalogs for 24 young and nearby (within 1 kpc) embedded clusters and present a catalog of 32 groups which have a high concentration of protostars. The median effective radius of these groups is 0.17 pc. The median protostellar and pre-main-sequence star surface densities are 46 M
⊙ pc−2 and 11 M
⊙ pc−2, respectively. We estimate the age of these groups using a model of constant birthrate and random accretion stopping and find a median value of 0.25 Myr. Some groups in Aquila, Serpens, Corona Australia, and Ophichus L1688 show high protostellar surface density and high molecular gas surface density, and seem to be undergoing vigorous star formation. These groups provide an excellent opportunity to study the initial conditions of clustered star formation. Comparisons of protostellar and pre-main-sequence stellar surface densities reveal continuous low-mass star formation of these groups over several Myr in some clouds. For groups with typical protostellar separations of less than 0.4 pc, we find that these separations agree well with the thermal Jeans fragmentation scale. On the other hand, for groups with typical protostellar separations larger than 0.4 pc, these separations are always larger than the associated Jeans length.
Efficacy of Surgical Excision for Nevus Sebaceous - Vietnamese Experience
Authors: Van Thuong Nguyen , Thanh Hien Le , Manh Tan Nguyen , Thi Minh Phuong Pham , Cao Kiem Pham , Hong SÆ¡n Nguyen , Huu Nghi Dinh , Cam Van Tran , Huyen My Le , Hau Khang Tran , Gandolfi Marco , Satolli Francesca , Feliciani Claudio , Tirant Michael , Vojvodic Aleksandra , Lotti Torello
Published: January 2019

BACKGROUND: Nevus Sebaceous (NS) is hamartoma predominantly composed of sebaceous glands and is classified as a type of epidermal nevus. In most case, clinical manifestation of NS is typical, so histopathology examination is important only in atypical lesions for its risk of malignancy. Clinical symptoms are plaques or papules (100%), appearing in the head area (100%) with smooth surface (65.8%), usually with hair loss (60.7%). The histopathology is mostly characterized by the image of sebaceous gland hyperplasia (100%), no hair follicles (60.7%) or immature follicles (14.3%).
AIM: The aim of our study is describing clinical and histopathological manifestation, make diagnosis and evaluate the best therapy.
METHODS: Our study recruited 38 patients with NS, 3 patients (7.9%) with atypical aspects. All patients were treated by surgical excision.
RESULTS: Complications as hair loss and infections were reported in 36.8% patients. No patients had recurrence after one year of treatment.
CONCLUSION: Based upon our experience, surgery is cheap, simple, associated with high aesthetics effectiveness and low recurrence rate, proposing as the first choice for treatment of NS.
Early Treatment with Imiquimod 5% Cream of Periungual Warts in Vietnam: The Poorer, the Better
Authors: Thi Minh Phuong Pham , Pham Thi Loan , Tran Lan Anh , Nguyen Van Thuong , Le Van Hung , Cam Van Tran , Gandolfi Marco , Feliciani Claudio , Satolli Francesca , Michael Tirant Michael , Vojvodic Aleksandra , Lotti Torello
Published: January 2019

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of imiquimod 5% in periungual wart treatment.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 40 patients were recruited to apply imiquimod 5 % cream once daily for 5 consecutive days per week in 8 weeks. They were classified into 3 levels: Mild (the total lesion area â‰¤ 25 mm2), moderate (25 mm2  50 mm2). The outcome was evaluated at the 4th and the 8th week. The result was graded as excellent (complete clearance), good (â‰¥ 50% clearance) and poor (< 50% clearance).
RESULTS: The total area of the wart lesion got decreased significantly from the beginning to the 4th and the 8th week (36.7 mm2 vs 16.8 mm2, p = 0.0001 and 16.8 mm2 vs 8.8 mm2, p = 0.01). The complete clearance rate at the 4th week was lower than that at the 8th week significantly (22.5% vs 72.5%, p = 0.04). The clearance rate of patients suffering severe warts was lower significantly than that of mild/ moderate patients (82.8% vs 45.5%, p = 0.03). The duration of the disease in people who responded completely to imiquimod was shorter than that of patients partially responded (10.2 Â± 14.1 months vs 22.3 Â± 14.3 months, p = 0.02). Adverse effects were not common, mild and local only. Recurrence rate after 6 months of follow up was 3.5%.
CONCLUSION: In conclusion, Imiquimod 5% cream is a safe and effective drug in the treatment of periungual warts.