bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tecnociencia y Derecho. Análisis de la regulación penal del control de riesgos
Authors: Solari Merlo Mariana Noelia
Published: March 2019

Uno de los problemas fundamentales a los que se enfrentanlas sociedades actuales es el relativo al control de los riesgosque su propio funcionamiento genera. La expansión de las actividadestecnocientíficas a cada resquicio de la vida del ser humano nosólo conlleva bienestar y progreso sino también peligros inherentes asu utilización.Desde la incorporación del principio administrativo de precauciónal Derecho penal, el legislador nacional ha seguido un modelode regulación que ha venido transformando y ampliando los límitesal ius puniendi, adelantando las barreras punitivas mediante la proliferaciónde leyes penales en blanco, delitos de peligro y el castigo dela imprudencia. La última reforma de 2015 no viene sino a incidir enesta metodología.Este adelantamiento no sólo colisiona con los principios liberales;sirve también para evitar pronunciarse sobre cuestiones máscomplejas como pueden ser las relativas a la determinación de lacausalidad entre algunas actividades científicas y su resultado lesivo.En el presente trabajo se analizarán estas cuestiones y se ofreceránlas soluciones que se estiman más adecuadas partiendo deuna reconsideración del papel que el Derecho —penal— está llamadoa desempeñar en la sociedad y dotándolo de su autonomíaperdida.One of the fundamental problems faced by current societiesis the control of the risks that their own operation generates.The expansion of techno-scientific activities to every corner of humanlife not only entails well-being and progress but also inherentdangers in their use.Since the incorporation of the administrative precautionaryprinciple into criminal law, the national legislator has followed aregulatory model that has been transforming and extending thelimits to ius puniendi, advancing punitive barriers through the proliferationof blank criminal laws, crimes of danger and the punishmentof imprudence. The latest reform of 2015 falls on this methodology.This advance not only collides with liberal principles; it also allowsto avoid pronouncing about more complex issues such as thoserelated to the determination of causality between some scientific activitiesand their harmful outcome.In the present work these issues will be analyzed and the mostappropriate solutions will be offered starting from a reconsiderationof the role that the Law —criminal— is called to perform in societyand giving it its lost autonomy.
¿Mujer, pluralismo religioso e igualdad de género?: desafío jurídico en el siglo XXI en España
Authors: Parejo Guzmán María José
Published: March 2019

Resultando evidentes las desigualdades por razónde sexo existentes en el ámbito del fenómeno religioso dentro yfuera de nuestras fronteras, se antoja sobradamente interesanteafrontar el desafío jurídico de estudiar, en el contexto de la diversidadreligiosa, el papel de la mujer y su posible discriminación o noen dicho ámbito en nuestra España del siglo xxi. Dentro de la inmensadimensión que abarca el referido fenómeno, nos centraremosen los conflictos en los que sean parte los intereses de la mujercuando se desarrollen en el ámbito de las principales confesionescon arraigo en nuestro país. El objetivo principal de este estudioha sido describir los más importantes conflictos acaecidos y en losque se observa discriminación de la mujer en el ámbito religioso, asaber, principalmente el debate suscitado en torno al porte del veloislámico, pero también otras posibles discriminaciones en el ámbitoreligioso: los delitos de odio por razón de género en el ámbitoreligioso, el acceso a los puestos de autoridad eclesiástica por partede las mujeres en las distintas confesiones religiosas, la mutilacióngenital femenina…, dejando palpable la necesaria exigencia deigualdad de género que consideramos debería existir en el ámbitode la diversidad religiosa. Finalmente, vamos a plantear en este estudioaquello que, a nuestro entender, puede ser exigible a los Estados,y más concretamente al Estado español, para garantizar launiversalidad de los derechos de las mujeres en el marco de las religiones.Being evident the inequalities by reason of sex existingin the scope of the religious phenomenon inside and outsideour borders, it seems very interesting to face the legal challenge ofstudying, in the context of religious diversity, the role of womenand their possible discrimination or not in this area in our Spain ofthe xxi Century. Within the immense dimension encompassed bythis phenomenon, we will focus on the conflicts in which the interestsof women are part when they develop within the scope of themain confessions rooted in our country. The main objective of thisstudy has been to describe the most important conflicts that haveoccurred and in which there is discrimination against women inthe religious sphere, namely, mainly the debate about the wearingof the Islamic headscarf, but also other possible discriminations inthe religious sphere: hate crimes on the grounds of gender in thereligious sphere, access to positions of ecclesiastical authority bywomen in different religious confessions, female genital mutilation..., leaving palpable the necessary requirement of equality of genderthat we believe should exist in the area of religious diversity. Finally,we will propose in this study that which, in our opinion, maybe required from the States, and more specifically from the SpanishState, to guarantee the universality of women’s rights withinthe framework of religions.
Constitución económica, ordoliberalismo y Unión Europea. De un derecho económico nacional a uno europeo
Authors: Gordillo Pérez Luis Ignacio
Published: March 2019

Este trabajo realiza una revisión crítica del conceptode constitución económica, acuñado por la doctrina alemana, analizandosu contenido, alcance y su aplicación al marco económico de laUnión Europea. En este sentido, se planteará la relación entre economíay Constitución, el papel de la regulación económica en el marcode la UE, su relación con las previsiones constitucionales nacionalesy, en último término, se centrará en los elementos de la constitucióneconómica de esta entidad supranacional sin perder de vista el marconacional y los desafíos que ello plantea. Para describir el contenidode la constitución económica de la UE se recuperará parcialmenteel viejo símil del templo griego de los tres pilares, adaptándolo a estacompleja materia. Finalmente, se concluye que la constitución económicade la UE constituye un modelo único que se inspira en los valoresordoliberales y que contiene elementos intervencionistas y persigue,en última instancia, desarrollar un auténtico contenido social.This paper performs a critical review of the concept ofeconomic constitution, coined by the German doctrine, analyzing itscontent, scope and its application to the economic framework of theEuropean Union. In this regard, the relationship between the economyand the Constitution, the role of economic regulation withinthe framework of the EU, its relationship with national constitutionalprovisions and, ultimately, will focus on the elements of theeconomic constitution of this supranational entity without losingsight of the national framework and the challenges that this poses.To describe the content of the economic constitution of the EU, theold simile of the Greek temple of the three pillars will be partially recovered,adapting it to this complex matter. Finally, it is concludedthat the economic constitution of the EU constitutes a unique modelthat is inspired by ordoliberal values and that contains interventionistelements and seeks, in the last instance, to develop an authenticsocial content.
Reseña de: Cuadros Aguilera, P., La donación de sangre. Historia y crítica de su regulación, Civitas, Pamplona, 2018
Authors: Puig Hernández M. A.
Published: March 2019

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Assessment of Anaemia in Adolescent Girls Aged between 10-19 Years Old Attending St Therese Clinic
Authors: Icyishatse Console , Onyambu Peris , Niyibizi Jean Baptiste
Published: March 2019

Anaemia is one of the major public health problems worldwide and is associated with morbidity and mortality. Anaemic adolescent girls are at high risk of having physical and cognitive functional disorders. According to the WHO global database, anaemia affects 46% of school children globally. Because of health and socioeconomic problems, the prevalence of anaemia is higher in developing countries than in developed ones with 50% in Africa where children, adolescent girls and pregnant women are the most vulnerable groups to anaemia. In Rwanda, there is little national data on anaemia and its likely causes amongst adolescent girls. This study aimed to assess the extent of anaemia and associated risk factors among adolescent girls aged between 10-19 years old attending St Therese Clinic located in Eastern province of Rwanda. A cross sectional study design was conducted at St Therese Clinic and included 231 adolescent girls aged between 10-19 years old who were conveniently selected from the consented participants. The hemocue apparatus which uses a modified azide-methaemoglobin reaction was used to measure Haemoglobin (Hb) level in the whole blood. Pre-tested structured questionnaires were used to collect data on anticipated risk factors. The prevalence of anaemia was found to be 29% among adolescents girls. Among 67 anaemic girls (29%), 45 girls (19.47%) had mild anaemia while 18 girls (7.79%) had moderate anaemia and 4 grils (1.73%) had severe anaemia. It was found that malaria, menarche, educational status of their parents and meal intake frequency are significantly associated with anaemia, p value <0.05. Anaemia is highly prevalent in adolescent girls. Thus, policy makers has to prevent and control anaemia in this particular vulnerable group through but not limited to Iron/folic acid supplement, malaria eradication and promoting nutrition education programme targeting adolescent girls and their mothers, heads of primary and secondary schools mainly on the utilisation of easily available and affordable iron rich diet.
Ginning Efficiency and Fiber Quality Properties of Cotton as Affected by Roller Gin Stand Feeding Methods and Seed Cotton Grade
Authors: El-Banna Aly A. A.
Published: March 2019

Aims: Attaining the highest ginning efficiency process and fiber quality properties of Egyptian cotton cultivar ̔ Giza 88᾿during feeding methods of roller gin stand is the ultimate objective of the community of cotton field industry for local uses, but the productivity of the three feeding methods of conventional roller gin stand used in ginning process still limited.

Therefore, the aim of this investigation is to overcome this obstacle.

Study Design: This investigation was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replicates and analyzed as a factorial experiment.

Place and Duration of Study: Plant Production Department, the Faculty of Agriculture (Saba Basha), Alexandria University, Egypt during 2017.

Methods: Four seed cotton grades; namely, Good to Fully Good (G/FG), Good + ¼ (G + ¼), Good (G) and Good -¼ (G - ¼) belonging to ̔ Giza 88᾿ cotton cultivar were used in this work. The extra-long staple Egyptian cotton variety with the pedigree and origin of cotton Giza 88 (Giza 77 x Giza 45 B) was used. This work was carried out in 2017. About half cantar (1 cantar = 157.5 kg) of each seed cotton grade as a bulk sample was thoroughly mixed and checked and  reclassified by a committee of three expert classers belong to the Cotton Arbitration for Testing General Organization (CATGO), in the gin plan.

Results: The obtained results indicated that the gin stand's hand feeding method (control treatment); results in significant increases the highest mean values of the gin stand capacity (0.97 kg lint/inch/h), Lint % (36.59%) and lint grade code (27.33) and the lowest mean value of the ginning time (1.42 h/cantar). Meanwhile, the Belt (2 row) as a mechanical feeding method; gave rise to the lowest mean value of gin stand capacity (0.89 kg lint/inch/h). The differences in fiber length parameters (Upper half mean length and short fiber index), fiber elongation %, micronaire reading, yellowness degree (+b) were not significantly affected. The highest seed cotton grade (Good / Fully Good) gave the better lint cotton grade and the best fiber properties tested by HVI instrument of ̔ Giza 88᾿ cotton cultivar.

Conclusion: The hand feeding method of seed cotton to the gin stand surpassed all studied feeding methods in gin stand productivity, lint percentage and the most HVI fiber properties are better classer grade. Though, this method is recommended to be used specially with the high levels of the extra-long cottons.

Cylinder feeding method ranked first in order among studied mechanical method and it could be recommended for ginning medium and low seed cotton level.

Belt (2 rows) is the preferred feeding method regardless of gin stand productivity.
Composition and Physical Properties of the Natural Gas Supplied for Domestic Use through the Distribution Network
Authors: C. Fernández-Feal M. , Sánchez-Fernández B. , R. Sánchez-Fernández L. , R. Pérez-Prado J.
Published: March 2019

Aims: To assess the composition of the Natural Gas (NG) supplied for domestic consumption through the distribution network to correlate the physical properties linked to it were to be determined in order to investigate their fluctuations.

Study Design:  The samples were analyzed in accordance with the method described in the ISO 6974‑4 standard, “Natural Gas. Determination of Composition with Defined Uncertainty by Gas Chromatography”.

Place and Duration of Study: Center of Technology Research, Fuels Laboratory, between January and December 2016.

Methodology: Over the course of the year, a total of eighty-four samples of natural gas for domestic use were analyzed.  These were collected at a rate of one per month in seven cities in the geographical zone under study (Galicia_Spain), in which the number of users is significant.

Results and Conclusion: The protocols for technical management of the Gas System have a section on quality specifications for Natural Gas at entry points to the system.  This sets limits for only three of the physical properties of natural gas: Wobbe index, superior calorific value and relative density.

The figures obtained for Wobbe index, superior calorific value and relative density from the eighty-four samples studied showed that the quality of the Natural Gas distributed remained steadily within the acceptable limits throughout the whole year. The values for standard deviations bore witness to the fact that any variations did not significantly alter the quality of the Natural Gas supplied.

The concentrations of the odorant, THT, were always above the recommended value of 18.0 mg/Nm3, the fluctuations noted over the course of the year were such as to make it possible to see them as excessive. In some instances, a high concentration of odorant may lead users to erroneous impressions, so that they come to think that there are leaks from the gas-pipes or even that the gas is not burning properly.
Small Hydro Power Viability Assessment of Elemi River in Ekiti State of Nigeria
Authors: O. Fagbohun Olumuyiwa , Omotoso Toyin Omotoso
Published: March 2019

A stable, reliable and uninterrupted power supply is one of the basic requirement for economic, social and industrial growth of any nation. Electricity generation capacity in Nigeria is grossly insufficient for the growing demand and there is a need to incorporate small hydropower (SHP) schemes which can be installed in some of the available rivers and streams that are scattered around the country to complement the energy shortage and deficiency. This paper investigated the viability of Elemi river, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria for a small hydropower scheme as a possible source of off-grid electricity generation to solve the incessant power outages in the three major higher institutions within its catchment. The power demand of the three higher institutions was estimated using questionnaires. The hydrological data for the study area for 11 years spanning 2005 to 2015 were collected and analyzed to determine the flow duration curve (FDC). The mean average velocity of the stream was calculated as 1.21m/s, with average annual flow discharge of 45.9 m3/s, and an average minimal flow of 9.1 m3/s. The average mean estimated hydro power potential obtainable using a diversion scheme is 2.21MW. It was discovered that the yield capacity of Elemi river for power generation with a diversion scheme could not provide the power requirement for any of the 3 higher institutions within its course due to its relatively flat terrain with the maximum derivable head of 8 m. A recommendation for the construction of a dam for an impounded scheme with a minimum gross head of 20 m, which adequately serve the needs, of at least one of the Institutions is made.
Production, Characterization and Glycerine Analysis of Soybean Oil and Its Biodiesel
Authors: I. Ogedengbe I. , I. Bello E.
Published: March 2019

Aims: To examine the viability of Soybean Oil as a feedstock for Biodiesel production by carrying out its characterization and examining its thermodynamic properties to see if they are within ASTM limits.

Study Design: Place and Duration of Study-The production was conducted in the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University while the characterization of the Biodiesel was conducted at the Postgraduate Research Laboratory.

Samples of Glycine ma (L.) merril were obtained from a local market in the Akure town of Ondo State, Nigeria in October of 2014.

 Methodology: Oil Extraction-The oil was extracted using soxhlet extractor, but before extraction the soybeans were crushed in a blender to increase the area exposed to the petroleum ether solvent. The extraction flask was dried in an oven at 105°C and the weight was measured after cooling. 2.5 g of soybean was poured into the flask and leached for 5 hours after which extraction flask was removed from the mantle heater after all the petroleum ether was removed with rotary evaporator and the oil was oven dried at 105°C for one hour to remove any water present. The flask was finally cooled to room temperature in a desiccators and the weight of the flask and dried oil was again measured.

Transesterification and Glycerine Analysis Process: 50 mg of the extracted oil was esterified 5 times at 95°C with 3.5 ml of the 0.5 M KOH of dried methanol. The mixture was neutralized using 0.7M HCL. 3 ml of 14% boron triflouride in methanol was added and the mixture was heated for 5 minutes at 90°C to achieve completed methylation process. The fatty acid methyl esters were thrice extracted from the mixture with redistilled methanol. The content was concentrated to 1mL for gas chromatography analysis and 1 µL was injected into the port of the Gas Chromatograph analyzer.

Results: most of the pertinent parameters for the determination of validity were found to be within ASTM limits, namely: Flash Point (135°c / 130°c min); Kinematic Viscosity (4.80 / between 1.9 - 6); Cetane number (55 / 47 min); Copper Strip Corrosion (1 / 3 max); %Carbon Residue (0.12 / 0.050); %Sulphated Ash (0.044 / 0.020).

Conclusion: Given the obviously good numbers associated with the study relative to ASTM standards, Soybean is a viable source of Biodiesel. However, further study could explore the use of Soybean chaff and other waste matter obtainable from it rather than the entire crop.
Statistical Quality Control Analysis of Wind Energy Potential for Power Generation in Benin
Authors: O. Ogbeide O. , Akpala B. , O. Igbinomwanhia N. , O. Azi S.
Published: March 2019

Energy has been and will continue to be the driver of economy of a nation. In sharp contrast, our country Nigeria is being faced with energy poverty. This may accrue to, in fact, over reliance on conventional energy sources such as hydro power, fuels and gas etc. So, there is need to take into consideration the renewable energy as potential alternative for power generation. This work seeks to assess the wind energy potential of Edo state using a statistical method: statistical quality control technique. The detailed knowledge of the wind characteristics at a site is very crucial to install and estimate the performance of a wind energy project. The monthly and yearly highest mean wind speeds were 3.28 and 2.91 m/s respectively. The most probable wind speed and wind speed carrying maximum energy were estimated 2.84 and 4.53 m/s in 2015. Result revealed that the wind speed are statistically in control. That is, the speeds of wind fall in between their respective upper and lower limits for 2015 - 16. The result of the study revealed that the wind energy potential of Edo state is quite low for electricity generation based on the two-year wind data analysed. It is suggested that this research area should be intensified by collecting wind speed data at various locations sufficient to define its potential for power generation.
Oil Price Shocks and Fiscal Spending in Oil Producing Economy: The Role of Asymmetry
Authors: Muse Bernard Olagboyega
Published: March 2019

Given their over reliance on proceeds from the sale of crude oil, fiscal spending in the oil-producing economy are often characterised with some specific challenges mainly due to the uncertainty in the nature of oil price movements in the international crude oil market. Motivated by the historical up – down trends in the international oil prices and their potential implications particularly for oil-producing countries, this paper explores linear and non-linear ARDL frameworks to examine the symmetric and asymmetric impact of oil price shocks on fiscal spending. Using the case of the Nigerian economy, this empirical finding suggests that shocks to international oil prices did matter for fiscal spending in the oil-producing economy. On the direction of the impact of the shocks, the finding of the non-rejection of the null hypothesis of no asymmetry thus implies that fiscal spending in Nigeria reacts indifferently to either a positive or negative oil price shocks.
Modelling and Sensitivity Analysis of Energy Inputs for Rice Production in Nigeria
Authors: S. Kosemani Babajide , Bamgboye A. Isaac
Published: March 2019

The influence of energy inputs and form of energy on the output level for rice production in Nigeria was investigated. The sensitivity of energy inputs was estimated using the marginal physical productivity (MPP) method and partial regression coefficients on rice yield. Energy related data for two (2) growing seasons were collected in nine (9) rice farms. The farms consist of three (3) small, medium and large farms, respectively. Data were obtained through field surveys, direct measurements, interviews with farmers and structured questionnaires. Standard equations were used to evaluate the energy requirement for each defined unit operations. Econometric model evaluation showed that nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer and biological (seed) energy were the most important energy input that influences energy output. The elasticity of nitrogen, phosphorus fertiliser and biological energy on the output were 0.86, 0.44 and 0.13, respectively. While, mechanical, thermal and manual energy were 0.08, 0.050 and 0.026, respectively. The coefficient of indirect energy and direct energy were 0.90 and 0.05, respectively. Sensitivity analysis results indicate that additional use of 1 MJ of phosphorus fertiliser, manual, biological (seeds) and machinery energy would increase rice yield of 6.36, 1.08, 1.05 and 0.82kg, respectively. Energy inputs and patterns of energy consumption in rice production was modelled. The models adequately predicted the energy inputs and output for rice production.
Geothermal Energy Development in East Africa: Barriers and Strategies
Authors: Kombe Emmanuel Yeri , Muguthu Joseph
Published: March 2019

The East African Rift is among the most crucial regions of the world endowed with a remarkable geothermal potential. Using current technologies, East African countries have a geothermal power potential of more than 15,000 MWe. Nevertheless, the zone is still at an early stage of geothermal development with few plants producing a few hundred MWe. Among East African countries that have carried out research on geothermal resources, Kenya is leading in utilising geothermal energy resources for electricity generation. Eritrea, Uganda, Tanzania and Djibouti are at exploration stage while Malawi and Rwanda have so far not gone past geothermal resource potential record work. This study sought to address the challenges and barriers to the adoption of geothermal energy as well as the strategies to implement geothermal energy plans in East Africa.
Fritz and Clara Haber: united in peace – divided in war. Instruction for Multi‐Perspective, Interdisciplinary Lessons About an Outstanding Couple of Chemists at the Beginning of the 20th Century
Authors: Rohrbach‐Lochner Friederike , von Borstel Gregor
Published: March 2019

Nicht immer reicht die Zeit, das für viele Belange bedeutsame Haber‐Bosch‐Verfahren im Chemieunterricht zu behandeln. Ist es da sinnvoll, dass Schülerinnen und Schüler auch 100 Jahre nach der Verleihung des Nobelpreises zusätzlich die handelnden Personen hinter der Entdeckung der Ammoniaksynthese näher kennenlernen und kritisch beurteilen? Wir denken ja! Hier wird eine Unterrichtseinheit vorgestellt, die zu einer multiperspektivischen Betrachtung des Lebens und des Werks von Fritz Haber und seiner Frau Clara Immerwahr anregt. Das Verstehen und Anwenden von Fachinhalten wie dem chemischen Gleichgewicht, dem Prinzip von Le Chatelier, der Wirkung von Katalysatoren oder dem Stickstoffkreislauf geht einher mit der Reflexion über Geschlechterrollen, der Motivation von Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern und den Folgen ihres Handelns. Ausgangspunkt ist dabei die Frage nach der Umbenennung einer Fritz‐Haber‐Straße, die zu einer arbeitsteiligen Auseinandersetzung mit exemplarisch wichtigen Stationen und Entdeckungen im Leben der Akteure führt und in einer bewertenden Podiumsdiskussion mündet.
Metamorphoses of an Experiment – From Hightech UV Immersion Lamp Reactor to Low‐Cost TicTac®‐Cell
Authors: Yurdanur Yasemin , Tausch Michael W.
Published: March 2019

Anknüpfend an A. F Kekulés Definition des Forschungsgegenstands der Chemie werden die Metamorphosen des Modellexperiments Photo‐Blue‐Bottle aufgezeigt, das für die Simulation des Kreislaufs Photosynthese/Atmung entwickelt wurde. Das Experiment wurde auf der Grundlage fachwissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse, sicherheitstechnischer Anforderungen sowie kommerziell verfügbarer Chemikalien und Lichtquellen im Sinne der didaktischen Zielsetzung schrittweise optimiert.
Biogeographic context dependence of trophic cascade strength in bromeliad food webs
Authors: LeCraw Robin M. , Srivastava Diane S.
Published: March 2019

Ecosystem functions and the biomass of lower trophic levels are frequently controlled by predators. The strength of top‐down control in these trophic cascades can be affected by the identity and diversity of predators, prey, and resources, as well as environmental conditions such as temperature, moisture, and nutrient loading, which can all impact interaction strength between trophic levels. Few studies have been able to replicate a complete community over a large geographic area to compare the full trophic cascade in a manipulative experiment. Here, we identify geographic dependency in trophic cascade strength, and the driving factors and specific mechanisms behind it, by combining geographically replicated experiments with a novel approach of community analogues of common garden and transplant experiments. We studied a predator–detritivore–detritus food web in bromeliads in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and Brazil. We found that interaction strengths between resources, consumers, and predators were strongly site‐specific, but the exact mechanism differed between trophic levels. Large bodied predators created strong interaction strengths between predator and consumer trophic levels, reducing consumer abundance regardless of the geographic location, whereas small‐bodied predators created weak interactions with no impact on consumer abundances in any site. In contrast, the interaction strength between consumers and resources varied among sites, depending on the dominant species of leaf detritus. More labile leaf species in Costa Rica created a strong consumer–resource interaction and therefore strong trophic cascade, whereas tougher leaf species in Brazil created a weak consumer–resource interaction, and an overall weaker trophic cascade. Our study highlights the importance of replicating experiments over geographic scales to understand general patterns of ecological processes.
Designing meaningful outcome parameters using mobile technology: a new mobile application for telemonitoring of patients with heart failure
Authors: Werhahn Stefanie Maria , Dathe Henning , Rottmann Thorsten , Franke Thomas , Vahdat Dan , Hasenfuß Gerd , Seidler Tim
Published: March 2019

Aims

Health data captured by commercially available smart devices may represent meaningful patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) in heart failure (HF) patients. The purpose of this study was to test this hypothesis by evaluating the feasibility of a new telemonitoring concept for patients following initial HF hospitalization.

Methods and results

We designed a cardio patient monitoring platform (CPMP) that comprised mobile iOS‐based applications for patients' smartphone/smartwatch and the equivalent application on a physicians' tablet. It allowed for safe and continuous data transmission of self‐measured physiological parameters, activity data, and patient‐reported symptoms. In a prospective feasibility trial with 692 patient days from 10 patients hospitalized for newly diagnosed HF with reduced ejection fraction (mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 26.5 ± 9.8%), we examined the CPMP during the first 2 months following discharge (69 ± 15 observation days per patient). The mean daily step count recorded by the mobile devices emerged as a promising new PROM. Its 14 day average increased over the study period (3612 ± 3311 steps/day at study inclusion and 7069 ± 5006 steps/day at end of study; P < 0.0001). It is unique for continuously reflecting real‐life activity and correlated significantly with traditional surrogate parameters of cardiac performance including LVEF (r = 0.44; 95% CI 0.07–0.71; P = 0.0232), 6 min walk test (r = 0.67; 95% CI 0.38–0.84; P = 0.0002), and scores in health‐related quality of life questionnaires.

Conclusions

We provide the first patient monitoring platform for HF patients that relies on commercially available iOS/watchOS‐based devices. Our study suggests it is ready for implementation as a tool for recording meaningful PROMs in future HF trials and telemonitoring.
Developing an orbitally shaken bioreactor featuring a hollow cylinder vessel wall
Authors: Zhu Likuan , Song Boyan , Wang Zhenlong
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, orbitally shaken bioreactors (OSRs) show promising application in mammalian cell cultivation. Designing a suitable vessel geometry for cell culture is an important issue in the research on bioreactors.

RESULTS

A three‐dimensional computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model was established to evaluate the performance of a hollow OSR we proposed. The CFD model was validated by comparing the simulated and experimental liquid wave heights. The fluid velocity distribution verified that the hollow cylinder wall could improve the mixing efficiency due to the vanishing of central‐low velocity region. Furthermore, the volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (kLa) and shear stress were investigated in the hollow OSR at different values of the inner diameter compared to the outer diameter (di/d).

CONCLUSION

To achieve a high level of mixing, a higher value of di/d is more preferable but too high a value of di/d has a risk of low mixing. To achieve high oxygen transfer rate and low shear stress, the value of di/d should be kept lower. For all the cases studied, the hydrodynamic stress in the hollow OSRs was moderate for mammalian cell cultivation. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Perspectives of US women participating in a candidate PrEP study: adherence, acceptability and future use intentions
Authors: Amico K Rivet , Ramirez Catalina , Caplan Margaret R , Montgomery Brooke EE , Stewart Jennifer , Hodder Sally , Swaminathan Shobha , Wang Jing , Darden‐Tabb Noshima Y , McCauley Marybeth , Mayer Kenneth H , Wilkin Timothy , Landovitz Raphael J , Gulick Roy , Adimora Adaora A ,   HPTN 069/A5305 Study Team and HPTN Women at Risk Committee
Published: March 2019

Introduction

Limited data exist on acceptability of candidate pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) regimens among US women. We evaluated PrEP experiences, attitudes and future use intentions among sexually active women who completed the US‐based HIV Prevention Trials Network 069/AIDS Clinical Trials Group 5305 study.

Methods

Women participated in the study between March 2013 and November 2015. We analysed computer‐assisted self‐interview (CASI) surveys among 130 women and conducted in‐depth interviews among a subset of 26 women from three sites. Interviews were conducted in mid/late‐2015.

Results

Most women (57%) reported very good/excellent PrEP adherence on CASI, although 21% acknowledged over‐reporting adherence at least some of the time. Commitment to preventing HIV infection, a sense of ownership of the study, and keeping pills stored in a visible location facilitated adherence. Adherence barriers included “simply forgetting” and being away from home. Most women interviewed did not intend to use PrEP in the future because of lack of perceived need due to their own (as opposed to their partners’) low‐risk behaviour and concerns about affordability – but not because of side effects or other characteristics of the regimens.

Conclusions

Improving HIV prevention options for US women will require access to affordable PrEP as well as expanding women's understanding of relationship‐ and community‐level factors that increase their risk of acquiring HIV.
Quantitative multivoxel proton MR spectroscopy for the identification of white matter abnormalities in mild traumatic brain injury: Comparison between regional and global analysis
Authors: Davitz Matthew S. , Gonen Oded , Tal Assaf , Babb James S. , Lui Yvonne W. , Kirov Ivan I.
Published: March 2019

Background

3D brain proton MR spectroscopic imaging (1H MRSI) facilitates simultaneous metabolic profiling of multiple loci, at higher, sub‐1 cm3, spatial resolution than single‐voxel 1H MRS with the ability to separate tissue‐type partial volume contribution(s).

Purpose

To determine if: 1) white matter (WM) damage in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is homogeneously diffuse, or if specific regions are more affected; 2) partial‐volume‐corrected, structure‐specific 1H MRSI voxel averaging is sensitive to regional WM metabolic abnormalities.

Study Type

Retrospective cross‐sectional cohort study.

Population

Twenty‐seven subjects: 15 symptomatic mTBI patients, 12 matched controls.

Field Strength/Sequence

3T using 3D 1H MRSI over a 360‐cm3 volume of interest (VOI) centered over the corpus callosum, partitioned into 480 voxels, each 0.75 cm3.

Assessment

N‐acetyl‐aspartate (NAA), creatine, choline, and myo‐inositol concentrations estimated in predominantly WM regions: body, genu, and splenium of the corpus callosum, corona radiata, frontal, and occipital WM.

Statistical Tests

Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to compare patients with controls in terms of regional concentrations. The effect sizes (Cohen's d) of the mean differences were compared across regions and with previously published global data obtained with linear regression of the WM over the entire VOI in the same dataset.

Results

Despite patients' global VOI WM NAA being significantly lower than the controls', no regional differences were observed for any metabolite. Regional NAA comparisons, however, were all unidirectional (patients' NAA concentrations < controls') within a narrow range: 0.3 ≤ Cohen's d ≤ 0.6.

Data Conclusion

Since the patient group was symptomatic and exhibiting global WM NAA deficits, these findings suggest: 1) diffuse axonal mTBI damage; that is 2) below the 1H MRSI detection threshold in small regions. Therefore, larger, ie, more sensitive, single‐voxel 1H MRS, placed anywhere in WM regions, may be well suited for mTBI 1H MRS studies, given that these results are confirmed in other cohorts.

Level of Evidence: 2

Technical Efficacy: Stage 3

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1424–1432.
Crowdfunding industry—History, development, policies, and potential issues
Authors: Zhao Ying , Harris Phil , Lam Wing
Published: March 2019

Crowdfunding has gained a great deal of attention from policy makers, researchers, and practitioners. This paper attempts to provide an overview of the history and development of the industry and discusses different types of crowdfunding and their public policies. It is identified that the operation of peer‐to‐peer lending and equity‐based crowdfunding is regulated by the Financial Authority; the reward‐based crowdfunding (RBC) and donation‐based crowdfunding (DBC) is yet to be regulated, neither in the United Kingdom or United States. The lack of rules and regulations in the latter two models highlights the burning issues such as potential fraud and malpractice. Therefore, we suggest that it is timely to consider regulating the two types of crowdfunding possibly by governance mechanism with reporting requirements to keep track of the fund and to provide timely information. Additionally, it is advisable that practitioners to work on an agreed framework to establish industry standard, so potential investors can compare and assess the quality of projects easily. Finally, the management of crowdfunding platforms especially the RBC and DBC platforms should be improved. The ease of launching campaigns has made it difficult for both initiators and investors to succeed in the crowdfunding process. Further research to develop some form of assessment framework would be useful to both parties.
Translational Assessment of Drug‐Induced Proximal Tubule Injury Using a Kidney Microphysiological System
Authors: Maass Christian , Sorensen Nathan B. , Himmelfarb Jonathan , Kelly Edward J. , Stokes Cynthia L. , Cirit Murat
Published: March 2019

Drug‐induced kidney injury, a major cause of acute kidney injury, results in progressive kidney disease and is linked to increased mortality in hospitalized patients. Primary injury sites of drug‐induced kidney injury are proximal tubules. Clinically, kidney injury molecule‐1, an established tubule‐specific biomarker, is monitored to assess the presence and progression of injury. The ability to accurately predict drug‐related nephrotoxicity preclinically would reduce patient burden and drug attrition rates, yet state‐of‐the‐art in vitro and animal models fail to do so. In this study, we demonstrate the use of kidney injury molecule‐1 measurement in the kidney microphysiological system as a preclinical model for drug toxicity assessment. To show clinical relevance, we use quantitative systems pharmacology computational models for in vitro–in vivo translation of the experimental results and to identify favorable dosing regimens for one of the tested drugs.
Unusual presentation of Castleman's disease mimicking lung cancer
Authors: Chen Ming‐Tsung , Lee Shih‐Chun , Lu Chun‐Chi , Tsai Chen‐Liang
Published: March 2019

Castleman's disease (CD) is an uncommon lymphoproliferative disorder characterized as either unicentric or multicentric presentation based on the involving sites. The most frequent presentation of CD is a solitary mediastinal mass. We reported a patient with a history of heavy smoking with particular image features of CD, which presented as mediastinal lymphadenopathy and peribronchovascular interstitial thickening mimicking lung cancer or sarcoidosis initially.
Level of evidence for promising subgroup findings: The case of trends and multiple subgroups
Authors: Tanniou Julien , Smid Sanne C. , van der Tweel Ingeborg , Teerenstra Steven , Roes Kit C.B.
Published: March 2019

Subgroup analyses are an essential part of fully understanding the complete results from confirmatory clinical trials. However, they come with substantial methodological challenges. In case no statistically significant overall treatment effect is found in a clinical trial, this does not necessarily indicate that no patients will benefit from treatment. Subgroup analyses could be conducted to investigate whether a treatment might still be beneficial for particular subgroups of patients. Assessment of the level of evidence associated with such subgroup findings is primordial as it may form the basis for performing a new clinical trial or even drawing the conclusion that a specific patient group could benefit from a new therapy. Previous research addressed the overall type I error and the power associated with a single subgroup finding for continuous outcomes and suitable replication strategies. The current study aims at investigating two scenarios as part of a nonconfirmatory strategy in a trial with dichotomous outcomes: (a) when a covariate of interest is represented by ordered subgroups, eg, in case of biomarkers, and thus, a trend can be studied that may reflect an underlying mechanism, and (b) when multiple covariates, and thus multiple subgroups, are investigated at the same time. Based on simulation studies, this paper assesses the credibility of subgroup findings in overall nonsignificant trials and provides practical recommendations for evaluating the strength of evidence of subgroup findings in these settings.
An extension of the Bessel–Wright transform in the class of Boehmians
Authors: Berkak Imane , Loualid El Mehdi , Daher Radouan
Published: March 2019

In this paper, we first construct a suitable Boehmian space on which the Bessel–Wright transform can be defined and some desired properties are obtained in the class of Boehmians. Some convergence results are also established.
Creative Destruction of Industries: Yokohama City in the Great Kanto Earthquake, 1923
Authors: Okazaki Tetsuji , Okubo Toshihiro , Strobl Eric
Published: March 2019

The Great Kanto Earthquake occurred on 1 September 1923 and inflicted serious damage on Yokohama City. About 90 percent of the factories in Yokohama City were burnt down or completely destroyed. However, these manufacturing industries appear to have swiftly recovered in the aftermath of the damage. This article investigates the role of creative destruction due to the Great Kanto Earthquake. Using firm-level data on capital (horsepower of motors) before and after the earthquake, we find substantial creative destruction, that is, upgrade of machine technology and/or survival of efficient firms. We find further collaborating evidence of this at the prefecture level.
Simultaneous existence of stochastic and ohmic heating in capacitive discharges
Authors: Tarnev Khristo , Pavlova Rositsa
Published: March 2019

A one-dimensional particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo (PIC/MCC) model of low-pressure capacitive discharges with a large discharge gap is presented in the paper. The results from the model are for the dependence of the plasma parameters on the pressure and on the discharge radius. The study is directed to the heating mechanisms in the discharge. It is shown that the ohmic (Joule) heating in the plasma bulk could act simultaneously with the stochastic heating in the region of the plasma–sheath boundary. In confirmation of the results of the model, experimental results showing qualitatively the same behaviour are presented.
DEGREE-BASED GINI INDEX FOR GRAPHS
Authors: Domicolo Carly , Mahmoud Hosam
Published: March 2019

In Balaji and Mahmoud [1], the authors introduced a distance-based Gini index for rooted trees. In this paper, we introduce a degree-based Gini index (or just simply degree Gini index) for graphs. The latter index is a topological measure on a graph capturing the proximity to regular graphs. When applied across the random members of a class of graphs, we can identify an average measure of regularity for the class. Whence, we can compare the classes of graphs from the vantage point of closeness to regularity.

We develop a simplified computational formula for the degree Gini index and study its extreme values. We show that the degree Gini index falls in the interval [0, 1). The main focus in our study is the degree Gini index for the class of binary trees. Via a left-packing transformation, we show that, for an arbitrary sequence of binary trees, the Gini index has inferior and superior limits in the interval [0, 1/4]. We also show, via the degree Gini index, that uniform rooted binary trees are more regular than binary search trees grown from random permutations.
‘We can't pay’: how Italy dealt with war debts after World War I
Authors: Astore Marianna , Fratianni Michele
Published: March 2019

The article deals with Italian inter-war debts against the background of the contentious international issue of war reparations that many Allied nations wanted to link to war debt repayments. Italy, having first achieved an extremely large haircut by restructuring US and UK debts in 1925-6, defaulted in 1934, after the Lausanne conference of 1932 failed to deliver war debt forgiveness. We construct a new series of Italian foreign debt from 1925 to 1934 that is consistent with the unfolding of relevant historical events. Starting in 1926, our values are much lower than the currently available foreign debt series. The reason is that the current series do not take into account the large haircut that Finance Minister Volpi extracted from the London debt accord of 1926. Then, beginning in 1932, the values of our series exceed the currently available series because we date the formal Italian exit of the US war debt to 1934, whereas the current series dates it to 1932, at Lausanne.
Suppression of Annual Ryegrass in Corn with Nicosulfuron
Authors: Cholette Taïga B. , Soltani Nader , Hooker David C. , Robinson Darren E. , Sikkema Peter H.
Published: March 2019

Field studies were conducted to determine the possible rate and timing of nicosulfuron to suppress annual ryegrass (ARG) seeded as a cover crop at the time of corn planting without affecting corn performance near Ridgetown, ON, Canada, in 2016 and 2017. Nicosulfuron was applied at rates from 0.8 to 50 g ai ha–1when the ARG was at the two- to three- or four- to five-leaf stages, or approximately 3 or 4 wk after emergence of both corn and ARG. There were no differences between the two application timings in grain yield responses or ARG suppression. As the rate of nicosulfuron increased from 0.8 to 50 g ai ha–1, ARG was suppressed 6% to 76% and 5% to 96%, at 1 and 4 wk after application (WAA), respectively. At 4 WAA, ARG biomass decreased from 29 to 1 g m–2as the rate of nicosulfuron increased from 0.8 to 50 g ai ha–1, compared to 36 g m–2in the untreated control. Where nicosulfuron was not applied to ARG, grain corn yield was reduced by 6% compared to the ARG-free control; similar effects on corn yield were observed with nicosulfuron at the lowest rate applied at 0.8 g ai ha–1. Grain corn yield was reduced by 2.5% with the application of nicosulfuron at 25 g ai ha–1(label rate for corn) compared to no ARG control, but this was not statistically significant. This study identified rates of nicosulfuron that suppressed ARG when emerged approximately the same day as corn, but there was evidence that grain corn yields were lowered because of interference, possibly during the critical weed control period. Based on this study, an ARG cover crop should not be seeded at the same time as corn unless one is willing to accept a risk for corn grain yield losses for the sake of the cover crop.