bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Spatial Dimensions of Multi-Criteria Evaluation : Case Study of a Home Buyer’s Spatial Decision Support System
Authors: Rinner Claus , Heppleston Aaron 
Published: May 2021

<p>This paper explores the spatial aspects of GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation. We provide a systematic account of geographically defined decision criteria based on three classes of spatial relations: location, proximity, and direction. We also discuss whether the evaluation score of a decision alternative should be directly influenced by neighbouring scores and outline a methodology for distance-based adjustment of evaluation scores. A home buyer case study is employed to demonstrate how spatial criteria can be included in a spatial decision support system and to investigate the effect of geographically adjusting the evaluation scores of decision alternatives. The case study demonstrates how spatial criteria can be presented to decision-makers and their effects be observed in the decision outcome. Further, the spatial adjustment of evaluation scores using the performance of neighbouring properties smoothes the distribution of scores across the study area and allows decision-makers to consider a location’s environment. Keywords: Multi-Criteria Evaluation, Residential Real-Estate Choice, Spatial Decision Support Systems, Spatial Relations. </p>
Enlargement and Eurozone: Convergence or Divergence
Authors: Koukouritakis Minoas , Michelis Leo 
Published: May 2021

<p>This paper investigates empirically the extent to which the ten new countries of the recent EU enlargement are ready to join the European Monetary Union (EMU). We assess the prospects of successful accession into the EMU using cointegration and commontrends analysis on the nominal convergence criteria specified by the Maastricht Treaty as well as on real exchange rates and real per capita GDPs. The empirical results indicatethat the enlargement countries are partially ready to join the Eurozone, and need further adjustments in their government policies to be fully prepared for joining the EMU. </p>
Le rêve inachevé d’étudier et de socialiser en français en toute sécurité linguistique : les perspectives d’étudiants franco-ontariens
Authors: Jean-Pierre Johanne 
Published: May 2021

<p>Suivant une démarche interprétative, cet article examine les perspectives d’étudiants franco-ontariens rapportées lors d’une étude qualitative exploratoire. Des entretiens semi-structurés séquentiels menés en profondeur ont été effectués à Ottawa et à Toronto entre janvier et juin 2014 auprès de 18 étudiants franco-ontariens. Les résultats indiquent que les participants franco-ontariens qui fréquentent desétablissements postsecondaires à vocation bilingue souhaitent à la fois une amélioration de l’accès aux études en français et de la qualité de la langue d’instruction ainsi que de meilleures possibilités de socialiser en français. Les participants qui fréquentent des établissements à vocation française ont affirmé être satisfaits de leur expérience d’apprentissage, tandis que ceux inscrits dans des établissements à vocation anglaise ont déploré un sentiment d’isolement linguistique. De plus, le manque d’occasions pour socialiser en français et inclure des réalités franco-ontariennes dans les curriculums, ainsi que les incidents d’intimidation linguistique alimentent l’insécurité linguistique. </p>
South Asian Heart Risk Assessment (SAHARA): Randomized Controlled Trial Design and Pilot Study
Authors: Samaan Zainab , Schulze Karleen M , Middleton Catherine A. , Irvine Jane , Joseph Phillip , Mente Andrew , Shah Baiju R , Pare Guillaume , Desai Dipika , Anand Sonia S. 
Published: May 2021

<p><strong>Background: </strong>People of South Asian origin suffer a high burden of premature myocardial infarction (MI). South Asians form a growing proportion of the Canadian population and preventive strategies to mitigate the risk of MI in this group are needed. Prior studies have shown that multimedia interventions are effective and feasible in inducing health behavior changes among the obese, smokers, and among those who are sedentary. </p>
<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Among at-risk South Asians living in Canada, our objectives are to determine: (1) the feasibility of a culturally tailored multimedia intervention to induce positive behavioral changes associated with reduced MI risk factors, and (2) the effectiveness and acceptability of information communicated by individualized MI and genetic risk score (GRS) reports. </p>
<p><strong>Methods:</strong> The South Asian HeArt Risk Assessment (SAHARA) pilot study enrolled 367 individuals of South Asian origin recruited from places of worship and community centers in Ontario, Canada. MI risk factors including the 9p21 genetic variant status were provided to all participants after the baseline visit. Participants were randomly allocated to receive a multimedia intervention or control. The intervention group selected health goals and received personalized health messages to promote adherence to their selected goals. After 6 months, all participants had their MI risk factors repeated. The methods and results of this study are reported based on the CONSORT-EHEALTH guidelines. </p>
<p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age of participants was 53.8 years (SD 11.4), 52.0% (191/367) were women, and 97.5% (358/367) were immigrants to Canada. The mean INTERHEART risk score was 13.0 (SD 5.8) and 73.3% (269/367) had one or two copies of the risk allele for the 9p21 genetic variant. Both the intervention and control groups made some progress in health behavior changes related to diet and physical activity over 6 months. Participants reported that their risk score reports motivated behavioral changes, although half of the participants could not recall their risk scores at the end of study evaluation. Some components of the multimedia intervention were not widely used such as logging onto the website to set new health goals, and participants requested having more personal interactions with the study team.</p>
“Feels like you’ve hit the lottery”: Assessing the implementation of a discovery layer tool at Ryerson University
Authors: Lundrigan Courtney , Manuel Kevin , Yan May 
Published: May 2021

<p>The research study was initiated to evaluate and assess the web-scale discovery (WSD) service Summon to coincide with its launch at Ryerson University Library in September 2011. The project utilized a mixed methods sequential explanatory strategy and applied an inductive analysis. Quantitative data was gathered with two online questionannaires, followed by a series of focus groups with students for the qualitative phase. The quantitative phase of the study collected over 6,200 survey responses (21% of the university population), with over 420 students indicating interest in participating in a qualitative follow-up (6.7% of the respondents). The survey data showed that most undergraduate students rated Summon highly in ease of use; however, there was a lower satisfaction with the large quantity of, and relevance of search results. Additionally, partiticpants indicated that they used Summon in conjunction with other research tools, such as Google Scholar. In the qualitative phase, small focus groups consisted of a total of 13 participants, allowed the students to express their experiences with Summon in depth. The study has given insight into the role of Summon in terms of undergraduate information-seeking behaviour. Participant feedback revealed potential improvements for Summon at Ryerson and will be useful to other institutions either using or considering the use of similar products. Overall, the results from the study will help to infom Ryerson Library practice surrounding future direction in reference, instruction, and service promotion.</p>
Longing for Recognition: The Joys, Complexities, and Contradictions of Practicing Dietetics
Authors: Gingras Jacqui 
Published: May 2021

<p>Longing for Recognition offers a radical new way of understanding nutritional health practices. In contemporary food culture, the work of dietitians has accrued new and urgent meaning, and Longing for Recognition is addressed to that group of practitioners. The author, herself a dietitian, crafts an autoethnographic fiction that presents a critical and thought-provoking argument for a more self-reflexive, relational, and embodied profession. Her compelling narrative draws the reader into its timely call for rethinking what counts as knowledge in dietetic education. Longing for Recognition will be invaluable for dietitians and other health care professionals who wish to enhance their practice as one that considers first and foremost what it means to be human. </p>
<p>[Abstract information retrieved on Nov. 21, 2017 from http://www.ryerson.ca/~jgingras/longingforrecognition.htm]</p>
A Case Study of the Ergonomic Consequences of Engineering Decisions
Authors: Neumann Patrick , Kihlberg S. , Medbo P. , Winkel Jorgen 
Published: May 2021

<p>This paper presents a case study of the ergonomic consequences of engineering change. Within the context of a project to re-design an electronics assembly system a decision was made to automate transportation functions. A manual batch-cart system was changed to a line-system with automatic conveyors. </p>
Setting the stage: wireless broadband networking in North America
Authors: Middleton Catherine A. , Clement Andrew 
Published: May 2021

<p>Community Wireless Infrastructure Research Project Presented at Wireless Cities Summit, Toronto, January 23, 2007 </p>
<p>Objectives: </p>
<ul>
<li>Provide an overview of wireless networking initiatives </li>
<li>Highlight issues to consider as you listen to the case studies presented at the Wireless Cities Summit </li>
<li>Identify desiderata for wireless initiative</li>
</ul><p></p>
Communication technologies in the information society : informing our understanding of Canada's digital economy
Authors: Middleton Catherine A. 
Published: May 2021

<p>Presentation is on people in the information society and how internet and mobile technologies are used on an individual, organizational, infrastructure and policy levels. </p>
<p>Presentation for the Canada Research Chairs 10th Anniversary Panel. Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, Montreal 2010.</p>
Evolution of the Week
Authors: Peng Amy , McKenna Francis 
Published: May 2021

<p>The purpose of this paper is to provide an intuitive explanation of the emergence and evolution of the week based on a historical precedent draw from ancient Egypt. In this paper, we view the week as a coordinating social institution that was created to resolve a fundamental problem of society - coordinating market exchange. Artificial adaptive agents are used to simulate the interactions among farmers going to market. The results show that the length of the week that emerges depends on the chosen cost and benefit specifications and random interactions. </p>
Optimalisasi Pemberdayaan Kader PKK Terhadap Peningkatan Kerajinan Limbah Plastik
Authors: Handayani Estrin , Falyauma Nufikha , Hartini Dhian Dwi , Sari Sulistiyani Purna , Marijanto Seno 
Published: May 2021

Abstract: The activities to optimize the empowerment of PKK cadres include 15 housewives who initially did not have productive activities, now they had skill in making crafts made from plastic waste. The program that has been implemented is the use of plastic waste into handicrafts as a means of entrepreneurial-based creative economy. This program is very helpful in maintaining the balance of the environment in an ecological manner. Preserving the environment is a very important factor today. Many natural disasters are caused due to damaged environment. PKK provides simple counseling so that the environment is not damaged and prevents contamination of water sources, carries out plastic waste management using handicrafts. The method used in this activity is Participatory Rural Appraisal, which is an approach method in the process of empowering and increasing community participation by emphasizing community involvement in all activities carried out. The purpose of this Community Service activity is to reactivate community cadres in managing waste into crafts based on creative economy entrepreneurship. The results of this event were attended by 15 PKK members, and 3 small groups were produced based on the raw materials used with craft management creations.Keywords: Crafts ; Garbage Waste; PKK Cadres; Plastic Waste Abstrak: Kegiatan optimalisasi pemberdayaan kader PKK ini meliputi 15 orang Ibu Rumah Tangga yang awalnya tidak mempunyai kegiatan produktif, sekarang telah terampil dalam membuat kerajinan berbahan baku limbah plastik. Program yang telah dijalankan berupa pemanfaatan limbah plastik menjadi kerajinan tangan sebagai sarana ekonomi kreatif berbasis wirausaha. Program ini sangat membantu dalam menjaga keseimbangan lingkungan secara ekologis. Menjaga kelestarian lingkungan menjadi faktor yang sangat penting dewasa ini. Banyak bencana alam yang disebabkan karena lingkungan yang rusak. PKK memberikan penyuluhan sederhana agar lingkungan tidak dirusak dan mencegah pencemaran sumber air, melaksanakan pengelolaan sampah plastik dengan pemanfaatan kerajinan tangan. Metode yang digunakan dalam kegiatan ini adalah Participatory Rural Appraisal yaitu metode pendekatan dalam proses pemberdayaan dan peningkatan partisipasi masyarakat dengan menekankan pada keterlibatan masyarakat dalam semua kegiatan yang dilaksanakan. Tujuan dilakukan kegiatan Pengabdian ini adalah untuk mengaktifkan kembali pengkaderan masyarakat dalam mengelola limbah sampah menjadi kerajinan yang berbasis wirausaha ekonomi kreatif. Hasil pengadian ini dihadiri oleh 15 anggota PKK Dusun Wonosuko, dan dihasilkan 3 kelompok kecil berdasarkan bahan baku yang digunakan dengan kreasi pengelolaan kerajinan.Kata Kunci: Kader PKK; Kerajinan; Limbah Plastik; Limbah Sampah
Desarrollo de un sistema de información comercial con facturación electrónica para las PYMES del departamento de Puno
Authors: Tipo-Mamani Noe , Gutierrez-Quispe Eder 
Published: May 2021

El presente trabajo de investigación es de tipo cuantitativo experimental, que buscó solucionar el problema de gestión de la información de pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYMES), que resulta dificultoso administrar y procesar de forma manual. Este trabajo compara los tiempos de las actividades comerciales con el sistema de información y sin el sistema de información. La población de estudio fue las operaciones principales de los tipos de negocio más comunes: ferreterías, bodegas, veterinarias, panaderías, venta de ropas y venta de computadoras, el tamaño de muestra total fue de 180 tomado de forma intencional, 30 de cada tipo de negocio, en la recolección de datos se utilizó la captura de tiempos en minutos. Con la indagación se demostró la optimización de tiempo de las actividades comerciales de: crear orden y registro de compras, generar reporte stock de productos, emitir comprobantes de ventas, generar reporte movimiento artículo, generar reporte rentabilidad, búsqueda de garantías, generar reporte avance de ventas y emisión de comprobantes electrónicos de manera significativa, mejorando los procesos de compras y ventas. Por lo tanto, se demuestra indudablemente la importancia de los sistemas de información comercial con facturación electrónica, para brindar soporte y nuevos servicios en la administración de los negocios actuales, de esta forma tener los procesos automatizados, simplificar las obligaciones tributarias, obtener mejores ganancias e incrementar el porcentaje de la taza de éxito a corto o largo plazo.
Monitoring and Forecasting COVID-19: Heuristic Regression, Susceptible-Infected-Removed Model and, Spatial Stochastic
Authors: de Andres P.L. , de Andres-Bragado L. , Hoessly L. 
Published: May 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has had worldwide devastating effects on human lives, highlighting the need for tools to predict its development. The dynamics of such public-health threats can often be efficiently analyzed through simple models that help to make quantitative timely policy decisions. We benchmark a minimal version of a Susceptible-Infected-Removed model for infectious diseases (SIR) coupled with a simple least-squares Statistical Heuristic Regression (SHR) based on a lognormal distribution. We derive the three free parameters for both models in several cases and test them against the amount of data needed to bring accuracy in predictions. The SHR model is ≈±2% accurate about 20 days past the second inflexion point in the daily curve of cases, while the SIR model reaches a similar accuracy a fortnight before. All the analyzed cases assert the utility of SHR and SIR approximants as a valuable tool to forecast the disease’s evolution. Finally, we have studied simulated stochastic individual-based SIR dynamics, which yields a detailed spatial and temporal view of the disease that cannot be given by SIR or SHR methods.
Impact of Syndecan-2-Selected Mesenchymal Stromal Cells on the Early Onset of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy in Diabetic db/db Mice
Authors: Pappritz Kathleen , Dong Fengquan , Miteva Kapka , Kovacs Arpad , El-Shafeey Muhammad , Kerim Bahtiyar , O'Flynn Lisa , Elliman Stephen Joseph , O'Brien Timothy , Hamdani Nazha , Tschöpe Carsten , Van Linthout Sophie 
Published: May 2021

Background: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are an attractive cell type for cell therapy given their immunomodulatory, anti-fibrotic, and endothelial-protective features. The heparin sulfate proteoglycan, syndecan-2/CD362, has been identified as a functional marker for MSC isolation, allowing one to obtain a homogeneous cell product that meets regulatory requirements for clinical use. We previously assessed the impact of wild-type (WT), CD362−, and CD362+ MSCs on local changes in protein distribution in left ventricular (LV) tissue and on LV function in an experimental model of early-onset diabetic cardiomyopathy. The present study aimed to further explore their impact on mechanisms underlying diastolic dysfunction in this model.Materials: For this purpose, 1 × 106 WT, CD362−, or CD362+ MSCs were intravenously (i.v.) injected into 20-week-old diabetic BKS.Cg-m+/+Leprdb/BomTac, i.e., db/db mice. Control animals (db+/db) were injected with the equivalent volume of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) alone. After 4 weeks, mice were sacrificed for further analysis.Results: Treatment with all three MSC populations had no impact on blood glucose levels in db/db mice. WT, CD362−, and CD362+ MSC application restored LV nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in db/db mice, which correlated with a reduction in cardiomyocyte stiffness. Furthermore, all stromal cells were able to increase arteriole density in db/db mice. The effect of CD362+ MSCs on NO and cGMP levels, cardiomyocyte stiffness, and arteriole density was less pronounced than in mice treated with WT or CD362− MSCs. Analysis of collagen I and III protein expression revealed that fibrosis had not yet developed at this stage of experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy. All MSCs reduced the number of cardiac CD3+ and CD68+ cells in db/db mice, whereas only splenocytes from CD362−- and CD362+-db/db mice exhibited a lower pro-fibrotic potential compared to splenocytes from db/db mice.Conclusion: CD362+ MSC application decreased cardiomyocyte stiffness, increased myocardial NO and cGMP levels, and increased arteriole density, although to a lesser extent than WT and CD362− MSCs in an experimental model of early-onset diabetic cardiomyopathy without cardiac fibrosis. These findings suggest that the degree in improvement of cardiomyocyte stiffness following CD362+ MSC application was insufficient to improve diastolic function.
Catheter Ablation vs. Anti-Arrhythmic Drugs as First-Line Treatment in Symptomatic Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Authors: Saglietto Andrea , Gaita Fiorenzo , De Ponti Roberto , De Ferrari Gaetano Maria , Anselmino Matteo 
Published: May 2021

Background: Catheter ablation has become a well-established indication for long-term rhythm control in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients refractory to anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs). Efficacy and safety of AF catheter ablation (AFCA) before AADs failure are, instead, questioned.Objective: The aim of the study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing first-line AFCA with AADs in symptomatic patients with paroxysmal AF.Methods: We performed a random-effects meta-analysis of binary outcome events comparing AFCA with AADs in rhythm control-naïve patients. The primary outcomes, also stratified by the type of ablation energy (radiofrequency or cryoenergy), were (1) recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias and (2) recurrence of symptomatic atrial tachyarrhythmias. The secondary outcomes included adverse events.Results: Six RCTs were included in the analysis. AFCA was associated with lower recurrences of atrial tachyarrhythmias [relative risk (RR) 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46–0.72], consistent across the two types of ablation energy (radiofrequency, RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.28–0.89; cryoenergy, RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.50–0.72; p-value for subgroup differences: 0.55). Similarly, AFCA was related to less symptomatic arrhythmic recurrences (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.27–0.79). Overall, adverse events did not differ. A trend toward increased periprocedural cardiac tamponade or phrenic nerve palsy was observed in the AFCA group, while more atrial flutter episodes with 1:1 atrioventricular conduction and syncopal events were reported in the AAD group.Conclusions: First-line rhythm control therapy with AFCA, independent from the adopted energy source (radiofrequency or cryoenergy), reduces long-term arrhythmic recurrences in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF compared with AADs.
Association of Heart Rate Variability With Silent Brain Infarcts in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Hämmerle Peter , Eick Christian , Poli Sven , Blum Steffen , Schlageter Vincent , Bauer Axel , Rizas Konstantinos D. , Eken Ceylan , Coslovsky Michael , Aeschbacher Stefanie , Krisai Philipp , Meyre Pascal , Wuerfel Jens , Sinnecker Tim , Vesin Jean-Marc , Beer Jürg H. , Moschovitis Giorgio , Bonati Leo H. , Sticherling Christian , Conen David , Osswald Stefan , Kühne Michael , Zuern Christine S. 
Published: May 2021

Purpose: Silent brain infarcts (SBI) are frequently detected in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but it is unknown whether SBI are linked to autonomic dysfunction. We aimed to explore the association of autonomic dysfunction with SBI in AF patients.Methods: 1,358 AF patients without prior stroke or TIA underwent brain MRI and 5-min resting ECG. We divided our cohort into AF patients who presented in sinus rhythm (SR-group, n = 816) or AF (AF-group, n = 542). HRV triangular index (HRVI), standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals, mean heart rate, root mean square root of successive differences of normal-to-normal intervals, 5-min total power and power in the low frequency, high frequency and very low frequency range were calculated. Primary outcome was presence of SBI in the SR group, defined as large non-cortical or cortical infarcts. Secondary outcomes were SBI volumes and topography.Results: Mean age was 72 ± 9 years, 27% were female. SBI were detected in 10.5% of the SR group and in 19.9% of the AF group (p &lt; 0.001). HRVI &lt;15 was the only HRV parameter associated with the presence of SBI after adjustment for clinical covariates in the SR group [odds ratio (OR) 1.67; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–2.70; p = 0.037]. HRVI &lt;15 was associated with larger brain infarct volumes [β (95% CI) −0.47 (−0.84; −0.09), p = 0.016] in the SR group and was more frequently observed in patients with right- than left-hemispheric SBI (p = 0.017).Conclusion: Impaired HRVI is associated with SBI in AF patients. AF patients with autonomic dysfunction might undergo systematic brain MRI screening to initiate intensified medical treatment.Clinical Trials Gov Identifier: NCT02105844.