bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimativa da erodibilidade de argissolos de Alagoas
Authors: Damasceno Fabiano  Alcantara , Lima Luanderson Cavalcante , Nascimento Maiane Rodrigues do , Silva Thaís Rayane Gomes da , Pinheiro Thalwanys da Silva , Gomes dos Santos Cícero
Published: April 2023

A resistência de um solo à desagregação e transporte de partículas, é definida como erodibilidade do solo, que consiste no fator responsável pela susceptibilidade do solo à erosão hídrica, sendo condicionada, por atributos mineralógicos, químicos, morfológicos, físicos e biológicos. Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a erodibilidade em argissolos no estado de Alagoas. Utilizando vinte e cinco Argissolos para realizar a estimativa da erodibilidade, nas subordens Amarelo, Vermelho, Vermelho-Amarelo e Acinzentados no recorte territorial do Estado de Alagoas, através dos modelos matemáticos de Lombardi Neto e Bertoni (2010), Lima et al., (1990) e Bouyoucos (1935). Os valores obtidos foram considerados de extremamente alto a alto na equação 3, os valores estimados pelas equações 1 e 2, foram enquadrados em baixo e muito baixo. Em razão da erodibilidade dos solos deve-se adotar medidas que visem um manejo e conservação adequados, principalmente dos que estão em regiões com mais tendencia a fatores erosivos.
Estratégias de resposta a incidentes de poluição marítima por petróleo no litoral do Nordeste
Authors: Oliveira João Paulo Gomes de
Published: April 2023

Em 2019, um derramamento de petróleo na zona costeira do Brasil se tornou a maior tragédia socioambiental envolvendo petróleo no litoral do Nordeste brasileiro. Mais de 5.000 toneladas de petróleo foram retiradas dos ambientes atingidos, e as ações emergenciais de resposta foram implementadas rapidamente. No entanto, a limpeza inicial envolveu riscos socioambientais e de saúde devido à falta de informações, instruções e educação em saúde. Neste artigo, são descritas as principais tecnologias ambientais aplicadas na remoção e destinação dos resíduos de petróleo decorrente desse desastre. A pesquisa foi realizada por meio de revisão de literatura e análise documental. O evento impactou diversos sistemas ecológicos ameaçados, considerados hotspots de biodiversidade, que já sofrem impactos diários por atividades antrópicas. Os resultados descrevem as principais tecnologias ambientais aplicadas na remoção e destinação dos resíduos de petróleo resultantes do desastre, bem como os impactos socioambientais e de saúde causados pela falta de informações, instruções e educação em saúde na limpeza inicial. Alguns dos resíduos foram doados para fábricas de cimento para beneficiamento do material. O estudo conclui que, embora as técnicas utilizadas nos mutirões de limpeza das praias e ambientes atingidos tenham sido eficientes na remoção de grandes manchas, técnicas complementares deveriam ter sido empregadas para remover integralmente o material.
Transient Credit Facility and Returns on Assets and Equity of Corporate Organizations Quoted At the Exchange in Nigeria
Authors: Utuk Kokoete Asuquo
Published: April 2023

Several articles attribute the inefficient financial performance of corporate organizations listed at the Exchange (NSE) in Nigeria to efficient long-term facilities. However, apart from the long-term facilities, most companies spend considerable time in decision-making regarding short-term and transient credit financing. Ineffective credit financing is instrumental to an unproductive operation of a company. Therefore, this study researched the impact of the credits on the returns on assets and equity of manufacturing firms quoted on the Stock Exchange in Nigeria. The study uses scientific materials from Google scholar and Scopus search mechanisms for qualitative framework development and secondary data from published financial statements of firms on the stock exchange. The research also captured the effects of financial leverage and opportunities on the connectivity between productivity and financing decisions of quoted companies, engaging explanatory research design and adopting an aggregate of 11 corporate organizations for evaluation. The study deployed data from online resources and company websites from 2015 and 2022. Recommendations included upgrading the accounts receivable and inventory holding period to a productive limit and keeping a sufficient cash ratio considering growth opportunities. It pointed to the leverage possibilities and the size structure in financing decisions, as credit financing decisions influence organizational performance.
The Art and Government Service of Francesco di Bartolomeo Alfei (c. 1421 - c. 1495)
Authors: Thomas Anabel
Published: April 2023

In 1454 the Sienese painter Francesco di Bartolomeo Alfei faced litigation from the Mercanzia in Siena for defaulting on a contract from one of the leading Franciscan confraternities in the city. Two fellow Sienese artists, Giovanni di Paolo and Sano di Pietro, had recently completed a new altarpiece for the same entity. Anabel Thomas considers how the two commissions were linked and questions why Francesco di Bartolomeo Alfei’s brief to fresco the confraternity chapel remained unfinished.

In a wide ranging analysis of mainly unpublished records, focussing on the artist’s association with key members of Sienese society, fellow artisans and government officials, Thomas concludes that Francesco di Bartolomeo Alfei might have honoured his contract had he not become immersed in the military strategy, diplomacy and visual propaganda of the Republic of Siena.
Workshop Training and Neighbourhood
Networking
Authors: Thomas Anabel
Published: April 2023

This chapter considers Francesco di Bartolomeo Alfei’s family and his
early access to officials in central government through the office of the Biccherna
(chancellery of finance) and his father-in-law Meo di Lorenzo: contrasting the
advantages of this with professional openings available through networking
within his own artistic community, including receiving the commission from
the Fraternita di Santa Maria degli Angeli e Compagnia di San Francesco. The
workshop relationship established between the young artist, Giovanni di Paolo
and Sano di Pietro in the ambit of the Biccherna, the Cathedral Works and the
Franciscan conventual complex is outlined, along with an analysis of two panels
associated with the church of San Francesco in Grosseto, variously attributed to
Sano di Pietro, Francesco di Bartolomeo Alfei and the ‘Maestro dell’Osservanza’.
Arbitrator and Scribe for the Trecerchi
Authors: Thomas Anabel
Published: April 2023

This chapter considers Francesco di Bartolomeo Alfei’s dealings with
the Trecerchi and outlines his role as mediator and scribe for the family in 1465
(alongside Sano di Pietro and others), following embellishment of a Trecerchi
‘palazeto’ by fellow artist Antonio di Simone. It considers a number of Trecerchi
palaces inside the walls of Siena in an attempt to locate the site of the ‘palazeto’.
It analyses the contemporary urban complex, drawing distinctions between the
main thoroughfare of the Via di Città and the Via Pantaneto on the Via Francigena.
Government-Sponsored Work Inside Siena
and Official Postings in Montalcino, the
Val di Chiana and Vergelle
Authors: Thomas Anabel
Published: April 2023

Building on the earlier research of Romagnoli, Milanesi and Bichi
Borghesi and Banchi, this chapter analyses government-sponsored work inside
Siena and postings in Montalcino, the Val di Chiana and Vergelle. That the artist
became scribe of the Tax and Duties Office at Montalcino as early as 1469 confirms
Leonardo Benvoglienti’s claims that he was trustworthy, diligent and a good writer.
But the artist was also apparently anxious to continue the visual propaganda of
his earlier years: requesting permission to paint the symbols of Sienese power on
the main gates at Montalcino in 1469. He made a similar request when assuming a
second posting as scribe there in 1481: a posting that led to his becoming ‘vicario’
of nearby Vergelle and once more ‘establishing the honour’ of the Republic of Siena.
Sicily as a Colonial Possession c. 1600–
1750: Subordination and Resistance
Authors: Nixon Martin
Published: April 2023

This chapter presents some important aspects of the politics
and economics of eighteenth-century Sicily in order to orientate the
reader before moving to the architectural case studies in the chapters
that follow. At the time of the 1693 earthquake, Sicily was ruled from
Iberia for 400 years, but in the subsequent 50 years it passed through
Savoyard, Austrian, and Bourbon rule. The changing foreign dynasties
appointed their own viceroys to rule the island, but the aristocratic
families were the real power at the local level. The aristocrats maintained
their control, but there was always the fear of foreign invasion and of
insurgency resulting from famine. The post-earthquake rebuilding
took place against a background of aristocratic dominance but also of
insecurity and opportunism.
Feminist Futures of Work
Authors: Arora Payal , Raman Usha , König René
Published: April 2023

The future of work is at the centre of debates related to the emerging digital society. Concerns range from the inclusion, equity, and dignity of those at the far end of the value chain, who participate on and off platforms, often in the shadows, invisible to policymakers, designers, and consumers. Precarity and informality characterize this largely female workforce, across sectors ranging from artisanal work to salon services to ride hailing and construction. A feminist reimagining of the futures of work—what we term as “FemWork” —is the need of the day and should manifest in multiple and various forms, placing the worker at the core and drawing on her experiences, aspirations, and realities. This volume offers grounded insights from academic, activist, legal, development and design perspectives that can help us think through these inclusive futures and possibly create digital, social, and governance infrastructures of work that are fairer and more meaningful.
Globalized Creative Economies :
Rethinking Local Craft, Provenance,
and Platform Design
Authors: Herman Laura
Published: April 2023

In this chapter, I examine algorithmic platforms’ misinterpretation of
handmade creative wares that are constructed in the Global South. This
serves as an example of Western creative platforms’ misinterpretation
of local cultural norms. As demonstrated by artisans that are selling
both mass-produced and handmade objects, for instance, I argue that
Western platforms must reconsider their traditional models of the creative
economy. As the primary sites that serve to platform creative wares
for a global consumer base, I call on these technology-enabled services
to carefully consider the types of creativity that they uplift. Without
such considerations, Western technology platforms impose their own
assumptions about creativity on a global user base, thereby inhibiting
local cultures’ creative norms.
Leveraging Platforms to Bridge
the Gender Divide and Drive
Inclusive Growth: Perspectives and
Recommendations from India
Authors: Raman Aishwarya , Banswal Chhavi
Published: April 2023

By affording the flexibility to monetize assets when the worker wants,
platforms are transforming the twenty-first-century workplace, offering
attractive remunerative avenues for women. Even the traditionally maledominated
job of driving is witnessing a heightened participation from
women. Based on a mixed methods study involving 700 women within and
outside the platform economy, and representatives of over forty organizations,
this chapter unpacks the enablers and barriers women experience
while participating in the platform economy in India. The chapter focuses on
the trade-offs between social production and economic participation, and the
access to assets and the opportunity to monetize them, among others. And
concludes with the recommendations for the public sector and industry to
mainstream women’s participation in India by leveraging digital platforms.
Entrepreneurs Craft the Future of
Collective Artisanal Economies in
Bangladesh
Authors: Bhattacharjee Upasana
Published: April 2023

This chapter explores the platformization of crafts and artisanal work
in Bangladesh. As digitization and e-commerce are hailed as modes of
regenerating in an industry caught between automation anxiety and
cultural revival, social entrepreneurship emerges as the agent driving such
transformations. In a country where a limited section of the population
can access the internet, social entrepreneurs and artist entrepreneurs
represent two different agents that can capitalize on changes in the
artisanal sector. But discourses and structural transformations relying
on such individualistic actors, I argue, are not well-suited for the artisanal
sector in Bangladesh. Artisanal work has geographically located histories
that have evolved through collective practices. Narratives centred around
entrepreneurship leave little space and agency for collective actors for whom
cultural revival is not rhetoric for national pride but a question of livelihood.
Teachers in India and EdTech:
A New Part of the Gig Economy?
Authors: Adavi Krishna Akhil Kumar , Surie Aditi
Published: April 2023

This chapter provides insights into the relationship between private
EdTech platforms and the nature of employment they generate from the
perspective of the firm. What does a firm look for in a tutor when they
bring them on to do platform-mediated educational services? In the same
vein, the chapter explores the nature of employment in the educational
sector in India and its overlaps and relationships to precarious work,
wages, expectations, and skilling. These two threads are tied together to
project and predict whether EdTech is building gig economy work like in
food delivery or mobility services.
Why Stories Matter for Representation,
Action, and Collectivization
Authors: de Souza Siddharth Peter , Gupta Siddhi
Published: April 2023

In this essay, we reflect on our storytelling experiences and processes
at FemLab and focus on what storytelling can achieve for a project that
operates within a similar framework. We explore the role of stories as
devices to document concepts, ideas, and experiences, and argue for its
importance to build not just agency, but also present different imaginations
and vocabularies of people’s lived realities. Through an examination of
different project outputs, we reflect upon the method of storytelling,
thinking of it as a process, and a mechanism through which these different
perspectives are documented, while at the same time, reflecting on its
meaning for us as storytellers and translators of stories.
Ethical Consumerism: Gig Economy’s
Road Ahead
Authors: Gupta Brinda
Published: April 2023

This article brings to light the plight of the Indian gig workers in the
ride-hailing economy who are termed as “partners” of the firm. It explains
their distress of dwindling incomes, poor social security, and struggle of
everyday survival once the pandemic hit the country. The focus shifts
towards the labour reforms of 2020 and how it contributes to their upliftment.
Areas of improvement, possible loopholes, and ways to enhance
female driver participation have also been suggested. The chapter, lastly,
talks about the role of stakeholders, especially consumers through ethical
consumerism. It suggests providing optional higher surges and more
personalization to them, while calling for greater coordination and awareness
between stakeholders to improve the livelihood of these workers.
Rethinking a Crippled Society
Authors: Basu Soumita
Published: April 2023

Productivity is directly associated with time: how much is produced in
a given time period. It’s much later that the quality of that product is
examined. Efficiency and productivity are celebrated as core values today,
particularly at work. And it is through our work, at our workplaces, that
we have learnt to recognize our value—and more importantly, to find
our identity. Should something as fundamental as identity be left to the
narrow gauges of productivity? And how should we look at productivity
in today’s workplaces?
Op weg naar een praktische invulling van het ‘in control statement’
Authors: de Groot Jos , Bolt Jeroen , van Hemmen Rob , de Jong Martijn
Published: April 2023

Het ‘in control statement’, een expliciete verantwoording in het bestuursverslag door bestuurders over de adequate opzet en effectieve werking van de risicomanagementsystemen, staat momenteel weer volop in de schijnwerpers van de politiek, wetgevers, bestuurders, commissarissen, aandeelhouders, beleggers en accountants. Een ‘in control statement’ is waardevol voor onder andere de kwaliteit van de financiële verantwoordingsinformatie, het waarborgen van de continuïteit van de onderneming en goed ondernemingsbestuur. Volgens onderzoekers van de Universiteit Leiden kan het ‘in control statement’ een rol spelen in het versterken van de verantwoordingsketen in Nederland (rapport ‘Versterking verantwoordingsketen (2021))’. De Monitoring Commissie Corporate Governance Code vond het onderwerp desondanks te controversieel om in de geactualiseerde Code 2022 een ‘in control statement’ op te nemen (ondanks het verzoek van de minister van Financiën hiertoe), zoals de onderzoekers van de universiteit bedoelden. Dit artikel presenteert een praktisch ontwerp van een in control statement, met de intentie de discussie hierover verder te brengen.
Interview Kwartiermakers Toekomst Accountancysector: Aandacht voor ESG vergroot aantrekkingskracht accountantsberoep
Authors: Majoor Barbara , Oord Annemarie
Published: April 2023

Wat betekenen alle ontwikkelingen rond ESG voor de benodigde kennis van accountants, hun opleiding en die van studenten accountancy? Verandert het businessmodel voor accountants? Wat is de rol van de keten in de waarborging van de betrouwbaarheid van ESG-informatie? We kijken naar een nieuwe ‘tak van sport’, die geënt is op veel meer onderwerpen dan louter de controle van financiële informatie. Barbara Majoor in gesprek met Chris Fonteijn en Marlies de Vries, Kwartiermakers Toekomst Accountancy­sector, over ESG in de opleiding, uitdagingen voor kantoren en opleidingen, en een schets van de gewenste modernisering van het huidige opleidingsmodel.
Wat brengt – en vraagt – ESG-assurance?
Authors: Majoor Barbara , Gold Anna
Published: April 2023

Wij vinden dat de fundamentele rol van de accountant als vertrouwenspersoon van het maatschappelijk verkeer niet is veranderd door de komst van ESG-reporting en ESG assurance. Wel constateren wij dat er aan de fundamenten van de werkzaamheden wordt geschud, waardoor de accountant zich moet heroriënteren op drie belangrijke ankerpunten van zijn assurance-werkzaamheden
CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES TO REMOVE STAINS DUE TO DENTAL FLUOROSIS TYPE IV. IN VITRO STUDY
Authors: Hernández Aguilera Mabel Elizabeth , Hernandez Castillo Juan Alberto , Zamarripa Gonzalez Jimena Patricia , Ley Fong María Teresa , Trejo Tejeda Sergio Eymard , Palomares Rodriguez Mario Alberto
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Type IV dental fluorosis compromises the aesthetic and psychological expectations of patients. The main cause is excessive intake of fluoride during dental development. Conservative treatments for the removal of some pigmentations are microabrasion and combination with tooth whitening. There are new products on the market, such as Antivet®, which is proposed in this study for comparison with other treatments. Materials and methods: 12 dental organs were stored in 0.2% thymol at 37°C, which were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 (OP): (n=3) Opalustre®, group 2 (OP+PH): (n=3) treated with Opalustre® adding Whiteness HP Maxx 35%®, group 3 (ANT) (n=3): treated with Antivet® and group 4 (ANT+PH): (n=3) treated with Antivet® and Whiteness HP Maxx 35%®. Microabrasion was performed with Opalustre® for 60 seconds at 10 intervals for a total of 10 minutes of exposure. The abrasion with Antivet® was carried out for 10 minutes, at the end the neutralizing solution of the same treatment was placed for one minute. Whiteness HP Maxx 35%® was applied seven days after the treatments with Opalustre® and Antivet®, for 15 minutes, making 2 more applications for a total of 45 minutes of exposure. The specimens were taken to SEM/EDS (JEOL FE-SEM JSM-7800F) and color measurements were taken with VITA EasyShade V ® spectrophotometer. Statistical process control: The Kolmogórov-Smirnov test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed with a significance level of .05 in the statistical package IBM SPSS Statistics 23. Results: in the ANT group, SEM images show the loss of the aprismatic layer and an etched surface in which the periphery of the enamel prisms appeard removed. On the ANT+PH group an etched surface was observed around the enamel rods, slight erosion and porosity on the enamels surface. In the mineral content there was a statistically significant difference between the study groups of the minerals C, P, F and Ca (p < 0.05) For the color measurement, there was a statistically significant difference in the ΔE value between the OP group compared to the ANT group with a p-value of 0.031, being the highest value in ANT. Conclusion: The Antivet® treatment showed a more significant favorable color change in the L*, a*, and b* values, as well as an increase in the concentration of Ca and P.
EFFECT OF PH ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANES USED TO MANUFACTURE DENTAL ALIGNERS. IN VITRO STUDY
Authors: Raffta Sánchez Mariana Adelina , Hernández Castillo Juan Alberto , Torres Cornejo Aurora Del Carmen , Turrubiartes Balderas Ives Alberto , Luna Domínguez Jorge Humberto
Published: April 2023

The objective of this study was to evaluate in vitro the effect of pH on the mechanical properties of three different acetates brands used to manufacture dental aligners. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 27 specimens of thermoformed acetates of the brands Zendura A., Dentsply Sirona and Valdi were incubated in artificial saliva at 37°C in a Shel-Lab 1510E incubator and immersed twice a day for 5 minutes in beverages with different pH levels to measure its elastic limit on days 0, 7 and 14. STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL: Data analysis was performed using the KolmorogovSmirnov and Levene tests, and later with analysis of variance (ANOVA), multiple comparisons post -hoc with the Sheffe test and the Friedman statistical test for paired samples; all with a significance level of 0.05 using the IBM SPSS Statistics 26 statistical package. RESULTS: The elastic limit measurements on days 7 and 14 indicate significant differences between the different pHs and are not consistent between the three brands of acetates. The Zendura A brand at neutral pH increased and then recovered to 99%, at acidic pH it decreased to 85% then 64%, and at alkaline pH it increased more than half, then returned to 105% of baseline. The Dentsply Sirona brand in neutral pH had a decrease and then recovered to 96%, in acidic pH it increased progressively to 113% and 118%, and in alkaline pH it decreased to 69% to later recover to 84%. The Valdi brand in all groups increased and at the end was recovered, in neutral pH to 92%, in acidic pH to 87%, and in alkaline pH to 80% with respect to the initial value. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanical properties of the aligners vary and may be affected depending on the pH to which they are subjected, having variability in their elastic limit. The specimens subjected to acidic and alkaline drinks had a greater decrease in their elastic limit when compared to those subjected to neutral pH. In general, it was possible to observe that the specimens increased their elastic limit on day 7 and then approached their initial value on day 14.
Users’ Perception Towards Cloud Computing: A Case of Department Statistic South Africa
Authors: Phasha Mosima Naphtaline , Kgopa Alfred Thaga
Published: April 2023

This study was initiated as a result of the researcher’s concerns regarding computing infrastructure at the Department of statistic South Africa (Stats-SA). The concerns arise from issues observed on the physical infrastructure platform currently deployed within the organisation. It is therefore proposed to investigate the attitude and perceptions of users working in Stats-SA on cloud computing and their willingness to migrate from physical infrastructure to cloud. The issue of user behavior during the transition from traditional IT services to cloud services has been addressed in a lot of studies, but the perceptions of employees at Stats-SA have never been investigated. The study expounds on the technology acceptance model by incorporating factors such as availability, accessibility, security and reliability by investigating the perception of end-users. The investigation took the mixed research approach. A questionnaire was developed using three technology acceptance instruments: perceived ease of use, usefulness and attitude to measure the end-user’s intention to move to the cloud.
VHFRP: Virtual Hexagonal Frame Routing Protocol for Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Jadhav Savita , Jadhav Sangeeta
Published: April 2023

As physical and digital worlds become increasingly intertwined, wireless sensor networks are becoming an indispensable technology. A mobile sink may be required for some applications in the sensor field, where incomplete and/or delayed data delivery can lead to inappropriate conclusions. Therefore, latency and packet delivery ratios must be of high quality. In most existing schemes, mobile sinks are used to extend network lifetimes. By partitioning the sensor field into k equal sized frames, the proposed scheme creates a virtual hexagonal structure. Each frame header (FH) is linked together through the creation of a virtual backbone network. Frame headers are assigned to nodes near the centre of each frame. The virtual backbone network enables data collection from members of the frame and delivers it to the mobile sink. The proposed Virtual Hexagonal Frame Routing Protocol (VHFRP) improves throughput by 25%, energy consumption by 30% and delay by 9% as compared with static sink scenario.
An Efficient Mobile Gateway Selection and Discovery Based-Routing Protocol in Heterogeneous LTE-VANET Networks
Authors: Abada Driss , Adrdor Rachid , Boutkhoum Omar , Bohouch Adil
Published: April 2023

Coupling cellular communication networks with vehicular ad hoc networks (VANET) can be a very interesting way out for providing Internet access to vehicles in the road. However, due to the several specific characteristics of VANETs, making an efficient multi-hop routing from vehicular sources to the Internet gateways through Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology is still challenging. In this paper, an Internet mobile gateway selection scheme is proposed to elect more potential vehicles to behave as gateways to Internet in VANETs. Therefore, the discovery and the selection of route to those mobiles gateways is carried out via an efficient multiple metrics-based relay selection mechanism. The objective is to select the more reliable route to the mobile gateways, by reducing the communication overhead and performing seamless handover. The proposed protocol is compared with one recent protocol based on packet delivery ratio, average end-to-end delay and overhead. The results show that the proposed protocol ameliorates significantly the network performance in the contrast of the other protocol.
A Countermeasure for Double Spending Attacks on Blockchain Technology in Smart Grid
Authors: Sang Lanqin , Hexmoor Henry
Published: April 2023

As a distributed technology, blockchain has been applied in many fields. Much research has been done on its inherent security issues. Among these security issues, double spending is one of the most pernicious. Current countermeasures are not systematic, they either focus on monitoring or detection with no effective strategy to prevent future double spending. These countermeasures also have serious drawbacks, such as high network traffic, high CPU utilization, and heavy management overhead. In this paper, we present a systematic approach to address double spending attack on smart grid. A reputable node is selected, which constantly compares all transactions in current time window with previously validated block and current block. Upon discovering conflicting transactions, a warning message with the conflicting transaction and two penalty transactions are broadcasted to the network to stop the current attack and to prevent future attacks. Our experiment has demonstrated our design is highly effective to detect double spending, with short detection time and low CPU utilizations.
Digital Community Currency Usability From the User’s Eyes: Cases of Sarafu and Maendeleo Trading Credit (MTCR.)
Authors: Sabina Alago , Ogara Solomon , Oloko Michael , Kiaka Richard
Published: April 2023

Day by day, users demand systems that fulfill their expectations. Often, users of a system are dissatisfied because systems do not meet their expectations. Indeed, user expectations vary, including unrealistic expectations –those that are without regard for constraints such as budget, time, manpower and so on. Even so, place of users’ involvement in system development and implementation need to be recognized. Usability is an important aspect in system development and implementation. It is necessary to have an elaborate understanding of usability from the ‘eyes’ of a user. This study adopted the qualitative research design that employed triangulation. Two contemporary DCC cases of interest in this research study are: MTCr. in Kisumu; and the Sarafu in Nairobi. This paper espouses usability definitions and associated attributes. Specifically, this study established the meaning of digital community currency from the lens of the users.
La responsabilidad por daños en los centros de educación superior
Authors: Monterroso Casado Esther
Published: April 2023

El presente trabajo constituye un estudio detallado de los distintos regímenes de responsabilidad que confluyen en los daños ocasionados en el ámbito de la educación superior, analizando los criterios de imputación, condiciones y consecuencias que determinan la existencia de cada responsabilidad, sea esta contractual o extracontractual, objetiva o subjetiva, civil o patrimonial, solidaria o subsidiaria.Para ello, se analiza esta responsabilidad desde dos órbitas distintas, en función de la titularidad de dichos centros, si son públicos o privados, teniendo en cuenta si los daños son causados por los empleados, por los alumnos o por el propio centro, comparando y acotando dichos sistemas de responsabilidad, su imputación y sus resultados.Se pretende dotar al panorama doctrinal de una solución a la problemática jurídica planteada ya que, a pesar de tratarse de una cuestión tan relevante, la responsabilidad de los centros de enseñanza superior no ha suscitado atención por parte de nuestra doctrina, que únicamente viene analizando la responsabilidad de los centros en los que se desarrolla una enseñanza no superior.
Análisis de la regulación legal de la custodia compartida tras la separación y el divorcio: una propuesta de lege ferenda
Authors: Monterroso Casado Esther , Goñi Rodríguez De Almeida María
Published: April 2023

Existe una tendencia cultural y jurisprudencial de establecer la custodia monoparental de los hijos e hijas a las madres, lo que ha provocado nuevos conflictos sociales ya que, con la masiva incorporación de la mujer al mercado laboral, cada vez se ejerce una mayor corresponsabilidad parental, ejerciendo ambos el cuidado de los hijos e hijas. En este contexto, las reivindicaciones sobre custodia compartida en la sociedad actual son un hecho.
Por ello, se analiza en este trabajo el concepto de custodia compartida como un tipo de custodia relativamente novedoso, que, por tanto, se encuadra dentro de los derechos/deberes que forman el contenido de la patria potestad. Para delimitarlo bien, se dedica una especial atención a su fundamento, su regulación legal en Derecho común, autonómico y comparado, así como a la evolución jurisprudencial que han seguido los tribunales a la hora de atribuir este tipo de guarda en sus resoluciones.
En definitiva, el objetivo de esta investigación es analizar las implicaciones de este régimen tomando como punto de referencia, por un lado, las claras ventajas de la custodia compartida y, por otro, las objeciones a la custodia compartida como modelo preferente, tratando de articular, con base en estas premisas, un modelo de regulación legal sobre la misma que aúne todos los intereses implicados.
La refinanciación preconcursal como medida eficaz para la viabilidad empresarial: novedades de la reforma de la Ley Concursal operada por la Ley 38/2011
Authors: González Pila Daniel
Published: April 2023

La Ley 22/2003, de 9 de julio, Concursal (LC), se mostraba como una herramienta eficaz para tratar de garantizar la viabilidad de sociedades insolventes. La experiencia, sin embargo, ha evidenciado lo contrario. Mientras los operadores optaban por reestructurar su deuda mediante acuerdos extrajudiciales, una jurisprudencia vacilante parecía poner en riesgo la formalización de dichos acuerdos. Así, en 2009 y con cierta premura, la LC se modificó a los efectos de regular determinados aspectos de las refinanciaciones preconcursales, anunciándose una futura modificación más meditada de la misma. Recientemente, ha sido objeto de aprobación la Ley 38/2011, de 10 de octubre, de reforma de la LC, mediante la cual se introducen nuevos mecanismos para favorecer dichas refinanciaciones y cuyo análisis es objeto del presente trabajo.
Apuntes sobre el recurso extraordinario de revisión contencioso-administrativo
Authors: González García Julio V.
Published: April 2023

El recurso extraordinario de revisión constituye una modalidad especial dentro de los recursos cuya fundamentación última no es de legalidad sino de justicia; en la medida en que atiende a que los motivos que sustentaron la sentencia inicial no son los adecuados. Por ello, tiene unos motivos tasados de interposición, a los cuales hay que proporcionar una interpretación estricta, con la finalidad de evitar que se transforme en una tercera instancia, que sería contraproducente. Es un recurso, además, subsidiario, en la medida en que solo se puede interponer ante sentencias firmes. Y por todo lo anterior, tiene un procedimiento especial de interposición y plazos en los que es esencialmente de aplicación lo que está recogido en la Ley de Enjuiciamiento Civil. Estas son las líneas generales que se desarrollan en las páginas que a continuación se exponen.
Tratamiento fiscal de las cláusulas de contenido económico en los convenios de separación y divorcio
Authors: García Díez Claudio
Published: April 2023

Los Convenios reguladores de separación y divorcio contienen, entre otras estipulaciones, las relativas a regular y disciplinar las relaciones económicas que surgen a cargo de los excónyuges con motivo de la disolución matrimonial. En este trabajo se analizan las repercusiones fiscales de dichas cláusulas económicas a través del estudio de la normativa tributaria aplicable (en el IRPF, en el ITP y AJD...), conforme a la interpretación dada por la Dirección General de Tributos y la jurisprudencia.
La protección de los derechos fundamentales del artículo 24.1 de la Constitución tras la «objetivación» del recurso de amparo
Authors: González Alonso Alicia
Published: April 2023

Este trabajo ha obtenido el 1.er Premio Estudios Financieros 2012 en la modalidad de DERECHO CONSTITUCIONAL Y ADMINISTRATIVO.
El presente trabajo tiene por objeto analizar si los derechos del artículo 24.1 de la Constitución Española (CE), en la forma en que sean interpretados por el Tribunal Constitucional (TC), deben ser objeto de alguna protección jurisdiccional, ya sea esta ordinaria o constitucional. La reforma operada por el recurso de amparo mediante la Ley Orgánica 6/2007, de 24 de mayo, está suponiendo una pérdida de protagonismo en la tutela de estos derechos por parte del TC, lo que lleva necesariamente a asegurar la garantía de estos derechos por parte de los órganos judiciales ordinarios. Esta conclusión, en el caso español, ha llevado al legislador a ampliar el objeto del incidente de nulidad de actuaciones regulado en la Ley Orgánica del Poder Judicial (LOPJ). El nuevo protagonismo que los órganos judiciales deben adquirir en la garantía de estos derechos se aborda en el presente estudio teniendo en cuenta el ordenamiento alemán y especialmente la importante Sentencia del Tribunal Constitucional Federal alemán de 30 de abril de 2003, en la que el Alto Tribunal insta al legislador para crear cauce de tutela del genérico derecho de audiencia mediante el establecimiento de remedios procesales (Abhilfemöglichkeit).
El «poder discrecional» de la Comisión Europea en los procedimientos de infracción
Authors: Ibáñez García Isaac
Published: April 2023

Amparándose en una añeja jurisprudencia del Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea, la Comisión señala que dispone de una facultad discrecional en cuanto a la incoación del denominado procedimiento de infracción para el control de la aplicación del Derecho comunitario. A juicio del autor, la Comisión ejerce en este ámbito una potestad reglada y el margen de discrecionalidad que pueda ejercer tiene como límites principios fundamentales del Derecho de la Unión Europea, como los de seguridad jurídica y buena administración.
La Comisión Europea no puede tener abierto, sine díe, un procedimiento de infracción. Con base en los referidos principios, debe «herrar, o quitar el banco».
Se olvida que el ordenamiento comunitario confiere derechos a los particulares y que las dilaciones indebidas en el control de la aplicación del Derecho de la Unión Europea pueden causar perjuicios a los mismos, por la tardía depuración de los incumplimientos de los Estados miembros. Es una consecuencia de los principios de buena administración y de seguridad jurídica que el procedimiento de infracción debe ajustarse en su desarrollo a pautas temporales adecuadas, sin dilaciones indebidas. Los principios de economía, celeridad y buena fe, que deben presidir la actuación administrativa (y de la Comisión Europea), son incompatibles con demoras que redundan tanto en perjuicio de los particulares como en perjuicio de la plena vigencia del Derecho de la Unión Europea.
Del isomorfismo organizativo al reconocimiento de una identidad diferenciada: algunas propuestas para desarrollar el potencial de las empresas de la economía social en el mercado de seguros español
Authors: Puyalto Franco María José
Published: April 2023

En este trabajo se identifican algunos aspectos de la vigente norma de control de los seguros privados que resultan inconsistentes con los rasgos identitarios de las entidades aseguradoras de la Economía Social (cooperativas, mutuas y mutualidades de previsión social) y se sugieren algunas líneas de revisión de su estatuto jurídico al hilo de la reforma de la normativa de rango legal y reglamentario sobre ordenación y supervisión de los seguros privados como consecuencia de la transposición de la Directiva 2009/138/CE, del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, de 25 de noviembre de 2009, sobre el seguro de vida, el acceso a la actividad de seguro y de reaseguro y su ejercicio (Solvencia II).
Práctica procesal en el ámbito de la jurisdicción contencioso-administrativa
Authors: Arancón Agudo Ángel
Published: April 2023

No pretendo que el presente trabajo se convierta en una exposición académica del derecho procesal vigente, aunque creo que puede tener alguna utilidad intentar describir el quehacer diario de los juzgados y tribunales encargados de revisar la actuación de la Administración pública española. El texto legal de referencia será la Ley 29/1998, de 13 de julio, reguladora de la Jurisdicción Contencioso-Administrativa, que es la norma procesal común aplicable en todo el país independientemente de cuál sea la Administración demandada. Iré analizando las situaciones que se suelen plantear en la práctica desde que el recurrente se persona hasta que se dicta la sentencia, haciendo hincapié en aquellas instituciones más características de la Ley de la Jurisdicción.
Lo primero que voy a destacar es la figura de la subsanación, debido a que se halla reconocida muy generosamente en la ley hasta el punto de que dictado un auto de archivo por no haberse cumplimentado un requerimiento de esta naturaleza cabe la reapertura de las actuaciones si se subsana en el día que se notifique dicha resolución. A continuación, decir que he intentado arrojar un poco de luz sobre la farragosa regulación de la competencia objetiva, circunstancia solo explicable debido a la compleja estructura de las Administraciones públicas existente en España. Como instituciones más típicamente administrativas analizaré la tramitación preferente y la extensión de efectos de una sentencia, ambas técnicas muy útiles para solucionar litigios masivos. Asimismo, estudiaré las diversas formas de terminación del procedimiento, solo una de las cuales es la sentencia; y entrando ya en fase de ejecución, prestaré atención a ciertos privilegios de que goza la Administración en este ámbito. Por último, he querido destacar las especialidades del procedimiento abreviado, que es el más utilizado por los órganos unipersonales de esta jurisdicción, así como del procedimiento para la protección de los derechos fundamentales, puesto que se han introducido en el mismo recientemente algunas reformas interesantes.
Contratación y competencia: la reforma de las prácticas comerciales como elemento indispensable del buen funcionamiento del mercado
Authors: Avilés García Javier
Published: April 2023

Este trabajo ha obtenido el Accésit Premio Estudios Financieros 2013 en la modalidad de Derecho Civil y Mercantil.
La reforma de la competencia desleal llevada a término en España en el año 2009 merced a la transposición de la Directivas 2005/29/CE y 2006/114/CE, sobre prácticas comerciales desleales y publicidad engañosa y comparativa, ha trastocado algunas de las bases fundamentales sobre las que se sustentan las relaciones jurídicas de empresarios con consumidores y minoristas, lo que constituye la base de un mercado transparente, operativo y eficiente. La regulación de las prácticas comerciales desleales remueve e incide transversalmente en la regulación, aplicación e interpretación de las normas sustantivas sobre la contratación de consumo y del comercio minorista, así como la publicidad e información de empresarios y profesionales. La interconexión y comunicación entre normas competenciales y la normas contractuales a través de la lealtad contractual, el principio de la buena fe, la información, la publicidad y las prácticas no consentidas en su relación con las cláusulas abusivas permiten hablar de un nuevo enfoque general con consecuencias en el funcionamiento de un mercado de bienes y servicios más eficiente y transparente. En el reconocimiento del nuevo e importante papel a usos y prácticas comerciales en la contratación privada en nuestro ordenamiento es imprescindible una adecuada traslación de herramientas extraídas del derecho contractual europeo.
La responsabilidad de los prestadores de servicios de la sociedad de la información en los supuestos de vulneración del derecho al honor en Internet
Authors: Chaparro Matamoros Pedro
Published: April 2023

Este trabajo ha obtenido el Accésit Premio Estudios Financieros 2013 en la modalidad de Derecho Civil y Mercantil.
La Red es un lugar propicio para cometer infracciones contra ciertos derechos (honor, intimidad, propia imagen, propiedad intelectual) particularmente propensos a sufrirlas. Habida cuenta la dificultad para determinar quién es el verdadero autor de las infracciones, la normativa atribuye, en determinados supuestos, la responsabilidad derivada de dichas infracciones a las entidades que almacenan los espacios en que se vierten los comentarios injuriosos. La noción fundamental en esta sede es la de «conocimiento efectivo del ilícito», que, en caso de concurrir, generará la responsabilidad del prestador de servicios de la sociedad de la información. La cuestión en la práctica presenta la dificultad consistente en la ausencia de un criterio estándar para determinar cuándo existe conocimiento efectivo del ilícito.
Corneal topography and higher-order aberrations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Asharlous Amir , Riazi Abbas , Jamali Alireza , Rajabi Sattar , Rahimi Masoud , Akbarzadeh Ali , Khabazkhoob Mehdi , Janani Samira , Naghdi Taghi
Published: April 2023

Background: Changes in blood sugar levels cause alterations in the anterior segment and retina of the eye. This study was aimed at evaluating corneal topography, aberrometry, and corneal asphericity in patients with treatment-naive type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Participants with treatment-naive T2DM were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The inclusion criteria were glycated hemoglobin A1c (Hb A1c) greater than or equal to 7.5% and absence of other ocular or systemic diseases. Patients who refused to participate or had a history of topical or systemic steroid use, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, anemia, prior ocular disorder or surgery, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataract, active ocular inflammatory or infectious disease, or contact lens use were excluded. All participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination. The Pentacam HR Scheimpflug tomography system (Pentacam High Resolution; Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) was used to measure the anterior-segment parameters.

Results: Sixty eyes of 30 patients with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1 were included; the mean (standard deviation [SD]) age and Hb A1c were 51.63 (6.73) years and 8.82% (1.31%), respectively. The mean (SD) values of central corneal thickness, root mean square (RMS) of total aberration, RMS of lower-order aberrations, RMS of higher-order aberrations, spherical aberration, 0° coma, 90° coma, flat anterior keratometry (K), steep anterior K, mean anterior K, anterior topographic astigmatism, flat posterior K, steep posterior K, mean posterior K, posterior topographic astigmatism, anterior corneal asphericity, and posterior corneal asphericity were 540.22 (24.47) µm, 1.72 (0.73) µm, 1.63 (0.73) µm, 0.51 (0.17) µm, + 0.31 (0.09) µm, - 0.06 (0.15) diopters (D), 0.003 (0.21) D, 43.87 (1.49) D, 44.69 (1.50) D, 44.28 (1.44) D, + 0.82 (0.83) D, - 6.25 (0.27) D, - 6.55 (0.31) D, - 6.40 (0.28) D, - 0.30 (0.15) D, - 0.32 (0.12) Q-value, and - 0.47 (0.17) Q-value, respectively.

Conclusions: We presented the mean values of Pentacam parameters for aberrometry, keratometry, and corneal asphericity in patients with treatment-naive T2DM. These values could serve as a baseline for prospective monitoring of the ocular health status of this cohort and for comparison with future cohorts of patients with well-controlled T2DM. Further studies are required to assess the presence and applicability of ocular changes following intensive blood glucose control in T2DM and further understand the related pathophysiology.