bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts on cloud radiative effects induced by coexisting aerosols converted from international shipping and maritime DMS emissions
Authors: Jin Qinjian , Grandey Benjamin S. , Rothenberg Daniel , Avramov Alexander , Wang Chien
Published: June 2018

Abstract. International shipping emissions (ISE), particularly sulfur dioxide, can influence the global radiation budget by interacting with clouds and radiation after being oxidized into sulfate aerosols. A better understanding of the uncertainties in estimating the cloud radiative effect (CRE) of ISE is of great importance in climate science. Many international shipping tracks cover oceans with substantial natural dimethyl sulfide (DMS) emissions. The interplay between these two major aerosol sources on cloud radiative effects over vast oceanic regions with relatively low aerosol concentration is an intriguing yet poorly addressed issue confounding estimation of the cloud radiative effects of ISE. Using an Earth system model including two aerosol modules with different aerosol mixing configurations, we derive a significant global net CRE of ISE (−0.153 W m−2 with p = 0.01 and standard error of 0.004 W m−2) when using emissions consistent with current ship emission regulations. This global net CRE would become much weaker and actually insignificant (−0.001 W m−2 with p = 0.98 and standard error of 0.007 W m−2) if a more stringent regulation were adopted. We then reveal that the ISE-induced CRE would achieve a significant enhancement when lower DMS emission is prescribed in the simulations, owing to the sub-linear relationship between aerosol concentration and cloud response. In addition, this study also demonstrates that the representation of certain aerosol processes, such as mixing states, can influence the magnitude and pattern of the ISE-induced CRE. These findings suggest a re-evaluation of the ISE-induced CRE with consideration of DMS variability.
Seasonal evaluation of tropospheric CO2 over the Asia-Pacific region observed by the CONTRAIL commercial airliner measurements
Authors: Umezawa Taku , Matsueda Hidekazu , Sawa Yousuke , Niwa Yosuke , Machida Toshinobu , Zhou Lingxi
Published: June 2018

Abstract. We present climatological carbon dioxide (CO2) distributions over the Asia-Pacific region obtained from the CONTRAIL (Comprehensive Observation Network for Trace gases by Airliner) measurements. The high-frequency in-flight CO2 measurements over 10 years reveal a clear seasonal variation of CO2 in the upper troposphere (UT), with a maximum occurring in April–May and a minimum in August–September. The CO2 mole fraction in the UT north of 40° N is low and highly variable in June–August due to the arrival of air parcels with seasonally low CO2 caused by the summertime biospheric uptake in boreal Eurasia. For August–September in particular, the UT CO2 is noticeably low within the Asian summer monsoon anticyclone associated with the convective transport of strong biospheric CO2 uptake signal over South Asia. During September as the anticyclone decays, a spreading of this low CO2 area in the UT is observed in the vertical profiles of CO2 over the Pacific Rim of the continental East Asia. Simulation results identify the influence of anthropogenic and biospheric CO2 fluxes in the seasonal evolution of the spatial CO2 distribution over the Asia-Pacific region. It is found, for example, that a substantial contribution to the UT CO2 over the northwestern Pacific comes from the continental East Asian emissions in the spring, but switches to South Asian and/or Southeast Asian air masses affected dominantly by the biospheric CO2 uptake in the summer monsoon season. The CONTRAIL CO2 data provide useful constraints to model estimates of surface fluxes and to the evaluation of the satellite observations, in particular for the Asia-Pacific region.
Sporadic Aurora near Geomagnetic Equator: In the Philippines, on
27 October 1856
Authors: Hayakawa Hisashi , Vaquero José M. , Ebihara Yusuke
Published: June 2018

Abstract. While low latitude auroral displays are normally considered to be a manifestation of magnetic storms of considerable size, Silverman (2003, JGR, 108, A4) reported numerous sporadic auroras which appear locally at relatively low magnetic latitudes during times of just moderate magnetic activity. Here, a case study is presented of an aurora near the geomagnetic equator based on a report from the Philippine Islands on 27 October 1856. An analysis of this report shows it to be consistent with the known cases of sporadic aurorae except for its considerably low magnetic latitude. The record also suggests that extremely low-latitude aurora is not always accompanied with large magnetic storms. The description of its brief appearance leads to a possible physical explanation based on an ephemeral magnetospheric disturbance provoking this sporadic aurora.
Development of an automatic delineation of cliff top and toe on very irregular planform coastlines (CliffMetrics v1.0)
Authors: Payo Andres , Jigena Antelo Bismarck , Hurst Martin , Palaseanu-Lovejoy Monica , Williams Chris , Jenkins Gareth , Lee Kathryn , Favis-Mortlock David , Barkwidth Andrew , Ellis Michael A.
Published: June 2018

Abstract. We describe a new algorithm that automatically delineates the cliff top and toe of a cliffed coastline from a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The algorithm builds upon existing methods but is specifically designed to resolve very irregular planform coastlines with many bays and capes, such as parts of the coastline of Great Britain. The algorithm automatically and sequentially delineates and smooth shoreline vectors, generates orthogonal transects and elevation profiles with a minimum spacing equal to the DEM resolution, and extracts the position and elevation of the cliff top and toe. Outputs include the non-smoothed-raster and smoothed-vector coastline, normals to the coastline- (as vector shapefiles), xyz profiles (as comma-separated-value files), and the cliff top and toe (as point shape files). The algorithm also automatically assesses the quality of the profile and omits low-quality profiles (i.e. extraction of cliff top and toe is not possible). The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with an existing method, which was not specifically designed for very irregular coastlines, and to hand-digitized boundaries by numerous professionals. Also we assess the reproducibility of the results using different DEM resolutions (5 m, 10 m and 50 m), different user defined parameter-sets related to the degree of coastline smoothing, and the threshold used to identify the cliff top and toe. The model output sensitivity is found to be smaller than hand-digitized uncertainty. Code and a manual are publicly available on a github repository.
Study on Mechanical Properties and Dissipation Capacity of Ring Net in Passive Rockfall Barriers
Authors: Liu Chengqing , Tian Shuai , Xu Chengjie , Yang Jingjin
Published: June 2018

Abstract. Passive rockfall barriers are used to mitigate the danger of falling rock and debris on steep slopes. The barriers consist of different flexible components including steel beams, cables, braking elements and wire nets. The engineering design of the net is especially important because it is one of the primary energy consuming components of the system. Nets consisting of interwoven wire rings are widespread but can fail in practice. In this paper we investigate the energy dissipation capacity of a single ring under application of two point, four point and six point tensile loading. The correctness of the theoretical results is verified by experiments. A numerical model of the ring net for application in modelling flexible barriers is then presented. We examine different support boundary conditions and rockfall impact angles on barrier response. We find the release of boundary conditions can increase the overall flexibility of the ring net. As the impact angle increases, the impact energy of the rock on the ring net will experience a gradual decline. The derived energy dissipation formulas provide a theoretical basis for engineering rockfall barriers.
Tidal variability in the Hong Kong region
Authors: Devlin Adam T. , Pan Jiayi , Lin Hui
Published: June 2018

Abstract. Mean sea-level (MSL) is rising worldwide, and correlated changes in ocean tides are also occurring; their combination may influence future total sea-levels (TSL), possibly increasing coastal inundation and nuisance flooding events in sensitive regions. Analyses of a set of tide gauges in Hong Kong and in the South China Sea (SCS) reveal complex tidal behavior. Most prominent in the results are strong correlations of MSL variability to tidal variability which may further increase local flood levels under future MSL rise. We also highlight inter-tidal correlations of diurnal (D1) tides to semidiurnal (D2) tides, positively reinforced through the northern SCS, and the correlations of overtide (OT) fluctuations to D1 and D2, negatively reinforced (i.e., anti-correlated) across the same region, thought to be related to the baroclinic energetics in the Luzon Strait and the Taiwan Strait. The baroclinic signals may be enhanced at the northern shelf of the SCS and can generate PSI interactions that may amplify minor tides such as M3. Additionally, there are anomalous tidal events observed in some enclosed harbor regions of Hong Kong, corresponding to times of rapidly changing MSL as well as rapid coastal development projects. Results support the hypothesis that the observed variability is due to multiple spatial processes, best described as an amplification of the local (Hong Kong) tidal response to the prevailing regional (SCS) tidal patterns, enhanced by local harbor changes. A close analysis of the full-spectrum tidal response suggests that a change in the resonant and frictional response may have occurred.
Second-order Scalar Wave Field Modeling with First-order Perfectly Matched Layer
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Zhang Dong , Chen Qiong , Yang Yan
Published: June 2018

Abstract. The forward modeling of a scalar wave equation plays an important role in the numerical geophysical computations. The finite-difference algorithm in the form of a second-order wave equation is one of the commonly used forward numerical algorithms. This algorithm is simple and is easy to implement based on the conventional-grid. In order to ensure the accuracy of the calculation, absorption layers should be introduced around the computational area to suppress the wave reflection caused by the artificial boundary. For boundary absorption conditions, a perfectly matched layer is one of the most effective algorithms. However, the traditional perfectly matched layer algorithm is calculated using a staggered-grid based on the first-order wave equation, which is difficult to directly integrate into a conventional-grid finite-difference algorithm based on the second-order wave equation. Although a perfectly matched layer algorithm based on the second-order equation can be derived, the formula is rather complex and intermediate variables need to be introduced, which makes it hard to implement. In this paper, we present a simple and efficient algorithm to match the variables at the boundaries between the computational area and the absorbing boundary area. This new boundary matched method can integrate the traditional staggered-grid perfectly matched layer algorithm and the conventional-grid finite-difference algorithm without formula transformations, and it can ensure the accuracy of finite-difference forward modeling in the computational area. In order to verify the validity of our method, we used several models to carry out numerical simulation experiments. The comparison between the simulation results of our new boundary matched algorithm and other boundary absorption algorithms shows that our proposed method suppresses the reflection of the artificial boundaries better and has a higher computational efficiency.
Healthcare System Accessibility in the Face of Increasing Privatisation in Saudi Arabia: Lessons From Australia
Authors: Almutairi Abdullah Ghthaith , Al Shamsi Hilal
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a developing nation with significant resources to improve the nations population health and a planned objective to do so with its Vision 2030 plan. Nonetheless to achieve national strategic goals in health policy and outcomes, the structures and methods necessary to do so must first be elucidated, and outcomes of proposed actions must be appropriately predicted. The primary purpose of this literature review is to compare and critically analyse the structural and policy aspects of the Australian and KSA health systems to offer insights into the potential mechanics of developing further health system accessibility within the KSA. Importantly, this review addresses the issue of accessibility in the context of the recently proposed privatisation of hundreds of services throughout the KSA as a major component of the Vision 2030 plan.METHOD: 43 peer-reviewed articles were identified using the PRISMA approach and systematically analysed to determine the effects of policy changes in the 2030 Vision to the accessibility of healthcare, in particular the effect of privatisation, as observed in other nations such as Australia.FINDINGS & DISCUSSION: the literature review demonstrated that privatisation can, but does not always, lead to productivity and efficiency gains, however privatisation also leads to increasing administrative costs and service cost inflation. Health outcomes or service quality indicators are not significantly affected by privatisation. It is probable that privatising health services will reduce accessibility to health services in some subsets of the population.CONCLUSION: according to the international evidence, the proposed plan to privatise health services in the KSA will probably have a negative effect on the accessibility of health services and downstream improvement in population health outcomes. If inappropriate governance is not implemented, the plan to privatise services also carries the risk of decreasing access to vulnerable populations and threatens health equity and needs-based health care.
An Analysis of Scientific Research Performance in Italy: Evaluation Criteria and Public Funding
Authors: Guida Gennaro
Published: June 2018

In the last ten years, the assessment of scientific research has been useful for two main reasons: first to provide researchers with a shared methodology able to assess scientific productions and second to enable governments to locate investments where they yield the best results. The aim of this article is to investigate the methodology used to assess academic performance in Italy, focusing on the one hand on its application to economic sciences and on the other on the way in which it influences the distribution of the budget and the future performance of an institution. In this regard, an analysis of sample data extracted from the well-known Scopus database raises doubts about the advisability of linking the distribution of funds to the evaluation of the quality of the research.
Research on the Impact of the Price Adjustment of Refined Oil on Air Quality: Taking Hebei Province as an Example
Authors: Zhao Ting
Published: June 2018

With marketization of the refined oil price, the Chinese government still uses price adjustments of refined oil to control air pollution. In this paper, an event study analysis is used to investigate the impact of refined oil price adjustment on air quality of eleven cities in Hebei Province. It is found that the impact of increases in refined oil price is larger than the impact of decreases. This implies an improvement of air quality. And the higher the price increases, the larger the impact is on air quality. Hoverer, refined oil price adjustments are generally not too large, it suggests that suspension of price adjustment of refined oil is not a viable method to improve the air quality. Other policies such as raising vehicle emission standards and fuel quality may be considered.
The Lebanese Kishk: A Traditional Dairy Product in a Changing Local Food System
Authors: Chedid Mabelle , Tawk Salwa , Chalak Ali , Karam Sarah , Hamadeh Shadi
Published: June 2018

This paper focuses on analyzing the production chain of traditional kishk prepared with wheat and milk in two Lebanese regions, the West Bekaa and the Chouf. It aims at assessing kishk processing to analyze the sustainability of this traditional product especially under the impact of changing wheat production and milk availability. A survey was conducted at the level of kishk producers and wheat farmers to identify the different production systems based on their scale and their practices. Results showed that kishk production has been sustained by rural women in the designated areas and was not affected by the changes that have occurred in the wheat sector which included introduction of new wheat varieties; on the contrary, this traditional product has adopted the new varieties. In addition, the versatility of kishk recipe prepared from cow, sheep or goat milk, makes this dairy product resilient to changes in milk availability and sources. However, the authors found that conserving traditional kishk requires substantial efforts in marketing, certification, and quality control.
Platformsturing van zelforganisatie tijdens rampen
Authors: Boersma Kees , Ferguson Julie , Groenewegen Peter , Mulder Femke , Schmidt Arjen , Wolbers Jeroen
Published: June 2018

The role of online platforms in self-organization during disasters

During a disaster or crisis, the response capacity of the government is put under extreme pressure. At the same time, citizens are often resilient in times of crisis and are increasingly capable of organizing themselves. Social media and online platforms have increased the possibilities for self-organization through improved connectivity. In practice, we see that governments struggle to deal with this form of self-organization, while it also offers a unique opportunity to increase the response capacity. The smart use of citizens’ initiatives offers opportunities and can increase the effectiveness of the government’s action. This article focuses on the following question: what role do online platforms play in smartly guiding the self-organization of citizens during crises and disasters? We answer the question on the basis of two examples: the role of online platforms in the aftermath of the earthquakes in Nepal in 2015, and the coordination of the reception of refugees during the crisis in the Netherlands in the winter of 2015-2016.
Crisis? What crisis?!
Authors: van Dam Mark
Published: June 2018

Crisis? What crisis?! Narrative sense-making of the economic crisis by municipalities and their societal partners

In 2008 a global economic crisis broke out. Now we can look back at the crisis as a clearly ordered sequence of events. But at the time these events were experienced as unexpected, unordered and unpredictable: a shock situation. How did municipalities respond to this shock situation, to this economic crisis? This article describes how two Dutch municipalities, together with their societal partners, made sense of the economic crisis. This concerns the question of how they interpreted the crisis themselves, but also which actions ensued. From a constructivist position, the article considers how the two municipalities together with their partners made sense of the situation and this enabled them to implement measures that could mitigate the consequences of the crisis for their communities. Based on epistemological and methodological assumptions discourse analysis, the author investigates the role of language in this process of sense-making. This approach offers municipalities insight in the role of stories in policymaking and in determining new practical solutions. The article closes with some guidance on how this perspective can help to people and institutions to cope with comparable situations, specifically in the cooperation between municipalities and other organizations.
Spraakmakende lokale bestuurders en grensverleggend lokaal bestuur
Authors: Reussing Rik
Published: June 2018

Pioneering local administrators and groundbreaking local administration

In this essay, the author is looking for pioneering local administrators in the Netherlands who dared to push existing boundaries. However, the story starts in Great Britain where progressive liberals under the label ‘municipal socialism’ proceeded to provide public utilities through municipal governments rather than private enterprises. Their example was adopted by the so-called ‘radicals’ in Amsterdam led by Wim Treub. ‘Aldermen socialism’ with Floor Wibaut in Amsterdam as its most important representative, took it a step further. Their aim for a welfare municipality anticipated the later welfare state. After the Second World War we also saw some strong local administrators who in their own way strived for changes in their municipalities. After 1970 the phenomenon of ‘urban renewal’ led to a new flourishing of ‘aldermen socialism’ in the Netherlands with Jan Schaefer (in Amsterdam) as its most appealing figurehead. Since 2000, we have been in a new era of dualism, citizen participation and devolution that has produced new 'boundary pushers', which generated interest abroad (see the book on mayors by Benjamin Barber). At the end of the article, the author takes a look into the future. Current global problems also confront municipalities and they require local administrators with a good mix of political leadership, new civic leadership, inspiring commissioning and good stewardship. This essay is written for the ‘Across boundaries’ annual conference of the VNG (the Association of Netherlands Municipalities founded in 1912) held in Maastricht (in the far south of the Netherlands) in 2018.
Het ICAP-arrest: With a little help from my friends…
Authors: de Vries Y. , de Kok J.
Published: June 2018

Het ICAP-arrest: With a little help from my friends… Over kartelfacilitatie en het vermoeden van onschuld in settlement procedures

Het ICAP-arrest is om meerdere redenen interessant. In de eerste plaats verduidelijkt het de voorwaarden waaraan moet zijn voldaan om een onderneming als ‘facilitator’ van een inbreuk op artikel 101 lid 1 VWEU aan te merken en geeft het inzicht in de manier waarop en de intensiteit waarmee het Gerecht toetst of aan deze kwalificatie is voldaan. In de tweede plaats gaat het in op de vraag wanneer een zogenoemde hybride schikkingsprocedure ten aanzien van niet-schikkende partijen inbreuk kan maken op het vermoeden van onschuld en welke gevolgen verbonden moeten worden aan een dergelijke inbreuk. Tot slot bevat het interessante overwegingen over het concept van de voortgezette inbreuk en de motiveringsvereisten voor boetes.

Gerecht 10 november 2017, zaak T-180/15, ICAP/Commissie, ECLI:EU:T:2017:795 (hogere voorziening verzocht: C-39/18 P), HvJ 22 oktober 2015, zaak C-194/14 P, AC-Treuhand, ECLI:EU:C:2015:717.
Het verbod op misbruik: een algemeen beginsel van unierecht dat de EU en de lidstaten tegen de burger beschermt
Authors: Blokland W.J.
Published: June 2018

Het verbod op misbruik: een algemeen beginsel van unierecht dat de EU en de lidstaten tegen de burger beschermt

Het Hof van Justitie heeft in het arrest Cussens e.a. eindelijk bevestigd en onderbouwd dat het verbod op misbruik een algemeen beginsel van Unierecht is. Naar de mening van de auteur ligt in het arrest verder besloten dat het verbod op misbruik omgekeerd verticaal kan werken, ten nadele van de burger te kwader trouw. Ten slotte heeft het Hof van Justitie het beoordelingskader voor misbruik nader ingevuld, vooral voor de btw.

HvJ 22 november 2017, zaak C-251/16, Edward Cussens e.a./T.G. Brosman, ECLI:EU:C:2017:881.
Halotolerance (ionic NaCl) and chaotolerance (ionic MgCl2) of the human pathogen Wallemia mellicola isolated, for the first time, from indoor air in Poland
Authors: Chlebicki Andrzej , Spisak Wojciech , Saługa Marta
Published: June 2018

We isolated the human pathogen Wallemia mellicola from the class Wallemiomycetes for the first time in Poland. The fungus was isolated from indoor dust in Cracow. The strain belonged to the genus Wallemia, as confirmed by molecular methods (i.e., ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 nrDNA sequencing). We compared the halotolerance and chaotolerance of W. mellicola to other those of halotolerant fungi (Talaromyces diversus and Aureobasidium pullulans) isolated from an anchialine cave. The W. mellicola strain tolerated up to 20% NaCl and up to 15% MgCl2. As the concentration of NaCl in the culture medium increased, the colony diameter of W. mellicola decreased slightly. Dose–response curves for the two reference fungi T. diversus and A. pullulans revealed much lower tolerance of these fungi to increasing concentrations of NaCl. Our results indicated that W. mellicola is an advanced kosmotrope that is distinctly adapted to saline environments.
Diretrizes para orientar a formulação e implementação de ações de Design na Extensão Universitária
Authors: Silveira André Luis Marques da , Zambenedetti Gabriela Würzius , Ribeiro Vinicius Gadis
Published: June 2018

Este artigo aborda a temática da extensão universitária na educação brasileira. Metodologicamente, este trabalho baseia-se na revisão da bibliografia concernente a temática abordada. Primeiramente, apresenta o conceito de extensão universitária. Após, reflete sobre o valor da ação extensionista no âmbito do design a partir de uma perspectiva dialógica que busca a superação de problemas e o desenvolvimento social. Ao longo do texto, propõe-se um quadro de diretrizes para o auxílio nas práticas extensionistas no campo do design, a saber: Diretrizes gerais para a prática extensionista; Diretrizes para o ensino-aprendizagem na extensão, enquanto espaço formativo para aquisição de conhecimento; Diretrizes para o Design na extensão, envolvendo as abordagens de design mais alinhadas ao contexto da extensão e seus valores.
Testes ABC no contexto da Escola Ipiranga/RS: pressupostos teóricos e cotidiano escolar
Authors: Alves Renata Dos Santos , Thum Carmo
Published: June 2018

O presente escrito objetiva empreender problematizações acerca dos pressupostos teóricos do movimento escolanovista, dos Testes ABC e da aplicabilidade de tal metodologia no contexto da Escola Ipiranga/RS. Para tanto, utilizaram-se como fontes de análise o livro “Testes ABC: para a verificação da maturidade necessária à aprendizagem da leitura e da escrita”, documentos de escrituração escolar e dados relativos a narrativas da professora que atuava na instituição no período analisado. Os testes apontam uma concepção de educação como conjunto de técnicas necessárias para a adaptação às exigências da nação. A incoerência da presença dos Testes ABC na escola em estudo indica resistências a partir de práticas ressignificadas e evidencia a ausência da relação entre pressupostos teóricos e cotidianos da prática escolar, o que ocasionou o engavetamento de todos os testes.
A tríade educação, escola e religião na constituição de sujeitos jovens e infantis
Authors: Prates Daniela Medeiros de Azevedo
Published: June 2018

O estudo assume como escopo de análise a problematização sobre o papel da tríade educação, escola e religião na articulação do projeto moderno de constituição de novos sujeitos. Tal empreendimento ancora-se aos referenciais dos Estudos Culturais em Educação e suas possíveis aproximações às discussões foucaultianas.  A partir do levantamento bibliográfico e análise sobre discursos, infere que a crescente racionalização dos modos de governar tomando como instrumento a educação produz condições para separação das noções de infância e juventude, sobretudo a partir da paulatina separação de classes presentes na escola moderna.  A  busca de constituição dos sujeitos também passava pelo fórum religioso, o qual lançou mão de uma série de estratégias para este fim, e que excetuando especificidades, também estava articulado às concepções que se formavam junto ao Estado Moderno.
A abordagem temática e a educação do campo
Authors: Schneider Tatiani Maria , Muenchen Cristiane
Published: June 2018

No presente trabalho tem-se como objetivo investigar, nas produções da área do Ensino de Física e de Ciências, a articulação entre os pressupostos da Abordagem Temática (AT) e o contexto da Educação do Campo. Analisou-se, a partir da Análise Textual Discursiva, setenta e seis trabalhos oriundos de eventos e periódicos da área do Ensino de Física e cinco trabalhos do Encontro Nacional de Pesquisa em Educação em Ciências. Desta apreciação emergiu a categoria “Articulação entre a perspectiva da Abordagem Temática e a Educação do Campo”. A pesquisa realizada aponta que os trabalhos sobre a Abordagem Temática da área do Ensino de Física não estabelecem relações com a Educação do Campo. Além disso, no Ensino de Ciências também há uma carência de estudos neste viés. Sinaliza-se, assim, a necessidade de ampliar as pesquisas sobre a articulação entre a perspectiva da AT e a Educação do Campo, tendo em vista que esta pode contribuir na construção dos currículos das escolas do campo
Strokovna stališča Slovenskega združenja za gastroenterologijo in hepatologijo o obravnavi bolnikov, okuženih z bakterijo Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Tepeš Bojan , Štabuc Borut
Published: June 2018

The article presents a position statement of the Slovenian Association for Gastroenterology and Hepatology on the management of patients infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Position statement was presented and adopted at the 64th SAGH meetting on 11 November 2016 in Portorož.Every patient infected with H. pylori needs treatment. Recommended first-line regimen is a 14-day treatment with esomeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin. The success of treatment must be monitored by non-invasive tests (urea breath test) one month or more after completing the treatment. When the first-line treatment fails, we recommend that patient is referred to a gastroenterologist. The recommended second-line therapy consists of a 14-day treatment with levofloxacin (esomeprazole, amoxicillin, levofloxacin), or 14 per day treatment with colloidal bismuth (esomeprazole, colloidal bismuth, oxytetracycline / amoxicillin, metronidazole). All third-line treatments should be based on the results of antibiotic susceptibility testing.H. pylori is grade I carcinogen and is responsible for 89 % of all cancers of the stomach, with the exception of cancer of the cardia. Therefore, the SAGH recommends that we should start with a national screening programme for H. pylori infection in asymptomatic Slovenian population aged between 20 and 30 years. All H. pylori infected patients should be treated with a 14-day quadruple regimen (esomeprazole, colloidal bismuth, oxytetracycline / amoxicillin, metronidazole). The program must be organised and supervised along the lines of the SVIT programme.Position statement is also given for secondary gastric cancer prevention in older patients with chronic H. pylori infection and diffuse preneoplastic gastric mucosa changes (atrophy and intestinal metaplasia).
Slovenska priporočila za obravnavo kronične mieloične levkemije
Authors: Preložnik Zupan Irena , Rener Karla , Podgornik Helena , Sever Matjaž , Fink Martina , Grat Mateja , Pajič Tadej
Published: June 2018

The paper presents recommendations for the management of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia. Clinical manifestations, diagnostics, treatment and monitoring of treatment are presented.
Food for Thought: How Food and Economics Intersect in Rural Ecuador
Authors: Stone Lindsay
Published: June 2018

Dietary trends can have large implications on public health. there is a strong physiological connection between food consumption and one’s well-being. Thus nutrition is an important factor in a nation’s overall health. many factors contribute to how and why an individual eats certain foods. In ecuador, historical, socioeconomic, cultural, behavioral, and environmental factors influence the different diets, and thereby, the nutritional conditions, of different ethnic, and regional geographic populations. discrepancies among these groups are particularly noticeable in sierra, Ecuador’s the highland region. This paper examines the prevalence of malnutrition across Ecuador. Specifically, it considers how the Ecuadorian diet took shape, and how different sub-cuisines contribute to malnutrition. While all regions are considered, a focus is placed primarily on the Sierra, given that levels of malnutrition are noticeably higher in this region, and that this highland area is home to large rural and indigenous communities who are most significantly impacted by the area’s nutritional conditions.
University Autonomy and Accountability in Russian Higher Education
Authors: Volkov Andrei , Melnyk Dara
Published: June 2018

Historically, the Russian State has had a tumultuous relationship with institutional independence. For the country to become again an academic superpower, it is necessary to expand university autonomy to enable independent strategic thinking on the leadership’s part and ensure that universities are accountable to their stakeholders. This article considers the broad issues of university autonomy and accountability in Russia from historical and contemporary perspectives.
Quality Assurance in Ghana: Accomplishments and Challenges
Authors: Swanzy Patrick , Langa Patricio V. , Ansah Francis
Published: June 2018

This article examines Ghana’s efforts to revitalize its higher education system using quality assurance (QA). Specifically, we discuss the accomplishments and challenges of the QA system. Ghana has one of the oldest QA systems in Africa, so lessons learned there are worth sharing with scholars and practitioners.
An Agenda in Motion: Women’s Issues in Latin American Higher Education
Authors: Maldonado-Maldonado Alma , Acosta Felicitas
Published: June 2018

Women in Latin America have experienced physical and psychological violence; discrimination; lack of equal opportunities; less recognition for their work, abilities, and capacities. The #MeToo and Time's Up movements (2017) are dealing with the issue of women's role in present-day society and highlight cases of male power towards women. This article offers a reflection on this discussion at universities in the region.
Pathway Colleges: A New Institutional Form in Canada
Authors: McCartney Dale M. , Scott Metcalfe Amy
Published: June 2018

Canada’s public universities seeking to increase their international student recruitment are building pathways that allow students who lack the academic or language credentials needed for direct entry to the university to upgrade their skills and eventually matriculate to the larger institution. These pathway collegesare a new institutional form in Canada, but as yet they have received almost no attention from scholars. This paper offers a brief typology of these emerging institutions and offers some suggestions for future research.
Realizing the Benefits of Massification
Authors: Rizvi Fazal
Published: June 2018

This article suggests that the rapid growth in gross enrollment ratios within many systems of higher education has mostly failed to deliver the expected benefits of massification, due largely to inadequate planning with respect to issues of purpose, capacity, and quality.
Cyclic electron transfer around Photosystem I mediated by 2,3‐dichloro‐1,4‐naphtoquinone and ascorbate
Authors: Petrova Anastasia A. , Trubitsin Boris V. , Boskhomdzhieva Baina K. , Semenov Alexey Yu. , Tikhonov Alexander N.
Published: June 2018

In this work, we investigated electron transport around the photosynthetic pigment–protein complex of Photosystem I (PS I) mediated by external high‐potential electron carrier 2,3‐dichloro‐1,4‐naphtoquinone (Cl2NQ) and ascorbate. It has been demonstrated that the oxidized species of Cl2NQ and ascorbate serve as intermediates capable of accepting electrons from the iron–sulfur cluster FX of PS I. Reduced species of Cl2NQ and ascorbate are oxidized by photooxidized PS I primary donor and/or by molecular oxygen. We have found the synergistic effect of Cl2NQ and ascorbate on the rate of reduction. Accelerated electron flow to , observed in the presence of both Cl2NQ and ascorbate, is explained by an increase in the reduced species of Cl2NQ due to electron transfer from ascorbate.
Probing substrate recognition of bacterial lipoprotein signal peptidase using FRET reporters
Authors: Kitamura Seiya , Wolan Dennis W.
Published: June 2018

Lipoprotein signal peptidase (Lsp) is a transmembrane aspartic acid protease with a pivotal role in the bacterial lipoprotein maturation pathway. Despite the universal use of Lsp across the Bacterial Kingdom and its potential as an antibiotic target, the substrate recognition patterns of Lsp are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the substrate recognition and biochemical properties of Lsp from Gram− (Escherichia coli) and Gram+ (Streptococcus pyogenes) bacteria, using synthetic peptide‐based FRET reporters. Didecanoyl glycerol was found to be an optimal lipid length, and Lsp demonstrated exclusive enantio‐selectivity for the (R)‐form of the diacylglycerol. Our study will facilitate the iterative optimization of in vitro Lsp assays, as well as provide the first chemical interrogation into the substrate scope of Lsp.
“I Was Really Pleasantly Surprised”: Firsthand Experience and Shifts in Physical Therapist Perceptions of Telephone‐Delivered Exercise Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis–A Qualitative Study
Authors: Lawford Belinda J. , Delany Clare , Bennell Kim L. , Hinman Rana S.
Published: June 2018

Objective

To explore physiotherapists’ perceptions before and after delivering exercise advice via telephone to patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

We performed a descriptive qualitative study (based on interpretivist methodology) embedded within a randomized controlled trial. Before and after providing exercise therapy to patients with knee OA, all 8 physiotherapists who were involved in the trial participated in semi‐structured interviews via telephone. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed.

Results

Prior to delivering the intervention, physiotherapists thought that the telephone should be used only for follow‐up rather than as the primary mode of providing care. They believed that telephone‐delivered care would be convenient and cost‐saving for patients, would provide increased opportunity for patient education, and also increase access to services, but that the lack of visual and physical contact with patients would be problematic. After delivering the intervention, physiotherapists reflected that telephone‐delivered care exceeded their expectations, noting positive patient outcomes including improved pain, function, and confidence. The focus on communication allowed more personal conversations with patients and shifted patient expectations of care away from manual therapies and toward self‐management. Numerous implementation considerations were identified, including the need for clinician training in communication skills, written resources for patients to supplement telephone calls, and careful deliberation of how to schedule telephone consultations during the usual in‐person consultations in the clinic.

Conclusion

Although physiotherapists were initially skeptical about the effectiveness of telephone‐delivered service models to patients with knee OA, perceptions shifted once they experienced delivery of care via this nontraditional method. Our findings suggest that firsthand experience may be necessary for physiotherapists to embrace new models of service delivery.
Tandem Condensation/Rearrangement Reaction of 2‐Aminohetarene N‐Oxides for the Synthesis of Hetaryl Carbamates
Authors: Bystrov Dmitry M. , Zhilin Egor S. , Fershtat Leonid L. , Romanova Anna A. , Ananyev Ivan V. , Makhova Nina N.
Published: June 2018

A new approach to hetaryl carbamates through a tandem condensation/rearrangement reaction of 2‐aminohetarene N‐oxides was developed. The developed reaction is suitable for both five‐ and six‐membered heterocycles and proceeds through the condensation of 2‐aminohetarene N‐oxide with trimethyl orthoformate followed by intramolecular N‐oxide oxygen transfer. For five‐membered hetarene N‐oxides (furoxans), the intramolecular rearrangement is catalyzed by a cyanide anion, while for six‐membered hetarene N‐oxides (azines), Lewis acid catalysis is sufficient. The developed protocol is characterized by operational simplicity and high efficiency, resulting in carbamoyl derivatives in good and high yields.

magnified image
Shifting landscape of hemophilia therapy: Implications for current clinical laboratory coagulation assays
Authors: Al‐Samkari Hanny , Croteau Stacy E.
Published: June 2018

Clinical coagulation assays are an integral part of diagnosing and managing patients with hemophilia; however, in this new era of bioengineered factor products and nonfactor therapeutics, problems have arisen with use of traditional coagulation tests for the quantification of several of these new products. Discussion over the use of one‐stage clotting assays versus chromogenic substrate assays for clinical decision making and potency labeling has been ongoing for many years. Emerging factor concentrates have heightened concern over assay selection and availability. Emicizumab interferes with all aPTT based assays, rendering them unreliable and potentially falsely reassuring to the unaware provider. This review explores considerations for coagulation assays in the clinical setting and highlights how awareness of institutional coagulation assays and potential limitations have never been more critical for providers caring for patients with bleeding disorders.
MicroRNA‐Directed Intracellular Self‐Assembly of Chiral Nanorod Dimers
Authors: Xu Liguang , Gao Yifan , Kuang Hua , Liz‐Marzán Luis M. , Xu Chuanlai
Published: June 2018

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a kind of single‐stranded small RNA molecules, play a crucial role in physiological and pathological processes in human beings. We describe here the detection of miRNA, by side‐by‐side self‐assembly of plasmonic nanorod dimers in living cells, which gives rise to a distinct intense chiroplasmonic response and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The dynamic assembly of chiral nanorods was confirmed by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), also in living cells. Our study provides insights into in situ self‐assembly of plasmonic probes for the real‐time measurement of biomarkers in living cells. This could improve the current understanding of cellular RNA–protein complexes, pharmaco‐genomics, and genetic diagnosis and therapies.
Serious Hypoglycemia and Use of Warfarin in Combination With Sulfonylureas or Metformin
Authors: Nam Young Hee , Brensinger Colleen M. , Bilker Warren B. , Leonard Charles E. , Han Xu , Hennessy Sean
Published: June 2018

Prior research suggests that warfarin, when given concomitantly with some sulfonylureas, may increase the risk of serious hypoglycemia. However, the clinical significance remains unclear. We examined rate ratios (RRs) for the association between serious hypoglycemia and concomitant use of warfarin with either sulfonylureas or metformin using a self‐controlled case series design and US Medicaid claims (supplemented with Medicare claims) from 1999 to 2011. Across all risk windows combined, warfarin was associated with an elevated rate of serious hypoglycemia when given concomitantly with glimepiride (RR, 1.47; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07–2.02) and metformin (RR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.38–2.16). Particularly in the late risk window (>120 days since beginning concomitancy), most of the RRs for warfarin were elevated: glipizide (RR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.29–2.29), glyburide (RR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.15–2.15), metformin (RR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.67–3.05), and glimepiride (RR, 1.56; 95% CI, 0.97–2.50). These results are consistent with a previously hypothesized hypoglycemic effect of warfarin in patients with type 2 diabetes through inhibition of the carboxylation of osteocalcin.
A pain in the skin. Regenerating nerve sprouts are distinctly associated with ongoing burning pain in patients with diabetes
Authors: Galosi E. , La Cesa S. , Di Stefano G. , Karlsson P. , Fasolino A. , Leone C. , Biasiotta A. , Cruccu G. , Truini A.
Published: June 2018

Backgrounds

Patients with diabetic polyneuropathy commonly suffer from ongoing burning pain and dynamic mechanical allodynia. In this clinical and skin biopsy study, we aimed at assessing how intraepidermal regenerating nerve sprouts are associated with these two types of pain.

Methods

We consecutively enrolled 85 patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. All patients underwent skin biopsy at the distal leg. Intraepidermal nerve fibres were immunostained with the anti‐protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) to quantify all intraepidermal nerve fibres, and the growth‐associated protein 43 (GAP43) to quantify regenerating nerve sprouts.

Results

We found that the GAP43‐stained intraepidermal nerve fibre density and the ratio GAP43/PGP9.5 were significantly higher in patients with ongoing burning pain than in those without. The area of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the ratio GAP43/PGP9.5 was 0.74 and yielded a sensitivity and specificity for identifying ongoing burning pain of 72% and 71%, respectively. Conversely, although the density of PGP9.5 and GAP43 intraepidermal nerve fibre was higher in patients with dynamic mechanical allodynia than in those without, this difference was statistically weak and the ROC curve analysis of skin biopsy variables for this type of pain failed to reach the statistical significance.

Conclusion

Our clinical and skin biopsy study showed that ongoing burning pain was strongly associated with regenerating sprouts, as assessed with GAP43 immunostaining. This finding improves our understanding on the mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy and suggests that the GAP43/PGP 9.5 ratio might be used as an objective marker for ongoing burning pain due to regenerating sprouts.

Significance

Our skin biopsy study showing that regenerating sprouts, as assessed with GAP43‐staining, were strongly associated with ongoing burning pain, improves our knowledge on the mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain in patients with diabetes
Mind over motor mapping: Driver response to changing vehicle dynamics
Authors: Bruno Jennifer L. , Baker Joseph M. , Gundran Andrew , Harbott Lene K. , Stuart Zachary , Piccirilli Aaron M. , Hosseini S. M. Hadi , Gerdes J. Christian , Reiss Allan L.
Published: June 2018

Improvements in vehicle safety require understanding of the neural systems that support the complex, dynamic task of real‐world driving. We used functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and pupilometry to quantify cortical and physiological responses during a realistic, simulated driving task in which vehicle dynamics were manipulated. Our results elucidate compensatory changes in driver behavior in response to changes in vehicle handling. We also describe associated neural and physiological responses under different levels of mental workload. The increased cortical activation we observed during the late phase of the experiment may indicate motor learning in prefrontal–parietal networks. Finally, relationships among cortical activation, steering control, and individual personality traits suggest that individual brain states and traits may be useful in predicting a driver's response to changes in vehicle dynamics. Results such as these will be useful for informing the design of automated safety systems that facilitate safe and supportive driver–car communication.