bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Excess Opioid Medication and Variation in Prescribing Patterns Following Common Orthopaedic Procedures
Authors: Sabatino Matthew J. , Kunkel Samuel T. , Ramkumar Dipak B. , Keeney Benjamin J. , Jevsevar David S. 
Published: February 2018

Background:
Postoperative pain management in orthopaedic surgery accounts for a substantial portion of opioid medications prescribed in the United States. Understanding prescribing habits and patient utilization of these medications following a surgical procedure is critical to establishing appropriate prescribing protocols that effectively control pain while minimizing unused opioid distribution. We evaluated prescribing habits and patient utilization following elective orthopaedic surgical procedures to identify ways of improving postoperative opioid-prescribing practices.

Methods:
We performed a review of prescribing data of 1,199 procedures and gathered telephone survey results from 557 patients to determine the number of opioid pills prescribed postoperatively and the number of unused pills. The data were collected from adult patients who underwent 1 of the 5 most common elective orthopaedic procedures at our institution in fiscal year 2015: total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, endoscopic carpal tunnel release, arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, or lumbar decompression. We converted all dosages to opioid equivalents of oxycodone 5 mg and performed analyses of prescribing patterns, patient utilization, and patient disposal of unused opioids.

Results:
Prescribing patterns following the 5 orthopaedic procedures showed wide variation. The median numbers of oxycodone 5-mg equivalent opioid pills prescribed upon discharge were 90 pills (range, 20 to 330 pills) for total hip arthroplasty, 90 pills (range, 10 to 200 pills) for total knee arthroplasty, 20 pills (range, 0 to 168 pills) for endoscopic carpal tunnel release, 80 pills (range, 18 to 100 pills) for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, and 80 pills (range, 10 to 270 pills) for lumbar decompression. Thirty-seven percent of patients overall requested and received at least 1 refill. The mean number of total pills prescribed (and standard deviation) including refills was 113.6 ± 75.7 for total hip arthroplasty, 176.4 ± 108.0 for total knee arthroplasty, 24.3 ± 29.0 for carpal tunnel release, 98.2 ± 59.6 for rotator cuff repair, and 107.4 ± 64.4 for lumbar decompression. Participants reported unused opioid medication in 61% of cases. During the study year, >43,000 unused opioid pills were prescribed. Forty-one percent of patients reported appropriate disposal of unused opioid pills.

Conclusions:
Prescribing patterns vary widely, and a large amount of opioid medications remains unused following elective orthopaedic surgical procedures. Effective prescribing protocols are needed to limit this source of potential abuse and opioid diversion within the community.
Magnetic-Resonance Imaging of High-Pressure Carbon Dioxide Displacement: Fluid/Surface Interaction and Fluid Behavior
Authors: Afrough Armin , Shakerian M.. , Zamiri M. S. , MacMillan Bryce , Marica Florea , Newling Benedict , Romero-Zerón Laura , Balcom Bruce J. 
Published: February 2018

Summary
Magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) provides a wealth of information on petroleum-flooding-displacement mechanisms and in-situ pore-level behavior. This study demonstrates MRI methods that have potential for studying the mechanisms of carbon dioxide (CO2) displacement processes in Berea core plugs during the recovery of decane and heavy oil. The correlation between fluid saturation and transverse relaxation time (T2) revealed the contrast in decane/pore-surface interaction between miscible and immiscible drainage of decane by CO2. T2 profiles demonstrated changes in the composition and viscosity of the heavy oil caused by the extraction of light components by CO2.
K+ Channels of Müller Glial Cells in Retinal Disorders
Authors: Gao Feng , Xu Lin-Jie , Zhao Yuan , Sun Xing-Huai , Wang Zhongfeng 
Published: February 2018

Background & Objective: Müller cell is the major type of glial cell in the vertebrate retina.
Müller cells express various types of K+ channels, such as inwardly rectifying K+ (Kir) channels, big
conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channels, delayed rectifier K+ channels (KDR), and transient
A-type K+ channels. These K+ channels play important roles in maintaining physiological functions of
Müller cells. Under some retinal pathological conditions, the changed expression and functions of K+
channels may contribute to retinal pathogenesis.

Conclusion:
In this article, we reviewed the physiological properties of K+ channels in retinal Müller
cells and the functional changes of these channels in retinal disorders.
The sacred World of the Turkana
Authors: Wymeersch Patrick , Berben Patrick , Bogers Koen 
Published: February 2018

Tlüs article was mostly written by the late Patrick Wymeersch and was meant to be the onset to a broader monographical sketch of the religious world of the Turkana, a nomadic group of north-west Kenya. Attention is drawn to the organisation of the Turkana society and to several rituals which form the basis of the daily life environment. Furthermore the authors looked at the phenomena of the "Ngamoritunga " rocks and the position and the role of "Ang'u".One last word goes to the value of symbols within that society.KEY WORDS: Turkana, religion, rituals, symbols.
Het spaar- en kredietprogramma van de Vredeseilanden / Rafia in Noord-Togo: Een kritische evaluatie.
Authors: Van Damme Patrick , Hatsé Ingrid 
Published: February 2018

Northern Togo has never been over-assisted as some of the other dry and poor areas of West Africa have been. It has never been a priority of national or international development organisations. As a consequence, the area has intermittent food security problems. Islands of Peace (Vredeseilanden), a Flemish NGO for development cooperation, however, has initiated a (successful) savings and credit scheme based on local surpluses which now allows local populations to invest and consolidate their (food security) situation.

KEYWORDS : tontines, informal savings, rural credit, sustained development
Eating out of Calabashes.Was it Reality? Proto-Bantu and the domestication of Cucurbits
Authors: Bulckens Annelies 
Published: February 2018

This paper examines the history of calabashes in the Bantu-world. Due to con- servation problems of floral remains in tropical areas, no material traces of these fruits have been excavated untill now. The historical linguistic approach adopted in this paper, gives an overview of the evolution and history of different words signifying calabash and allows the formulation of some conclusions on agricultural history. KEY WORDS : comparative linguistics, Bantu, calabash, Curubits
From the Spoken Word to Video: Orality, Literacy, Mediated Orality, and the Amazigh (Berber) Cultural Production
Authors: Merolla Daniela 
Published: February 2018

This article presents new directions in Tamazight/Berber artistic productions. The development of theatre, films and videos in Tamazight are set in the framework of the historical and literary background in the Maghreb and in the lands of Amazigh Diaspora. It also includes the interview with the video-maker and director Agouram Salout.Key Words: tamazight, berber, theatre, videos, film, taqbaylit, tarifit, tachelhit, new cultural production, writing, orality
Some aspects of primary healthcare in a rural part of Zaire
Authors: De Schryver Antoon 
Published: February 2018

Primary health care during the period 1980-1982 in the sector of Kasongo-Lunda, Zaire is considered. Health infrastructure and main health problems are discussed. These problems were mainly diarrheas, respiratory infections, malaria, tuberculosis, whooping cough, measles, malnutrition and wormrelated diseases. A vaccination programme against diphteria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, measles and tuberculosis was set up and adapted to W.H.O. recommendations in 1981. The incidence of measles and whooping cough declined dramatically during the period 1978-1982. Diarrhea was treated with oral rehydration. About 16% of the children under five years of age suffered from malnutrition, mostly related to worm diseases ; therefore, a suppressive dose of antihelminthics was given every three months. These results show that local health centers, concerned with everyday health problems of the population, can have a strong positive influence upon the general health situation of a rural population. KEYWORDS : primary health care, expanded programme of immunisation, measles, whooping cough, diarrhea, tuberculosis, malnutrition, wormdiseases
Ethiopia before the United Nations Treaty Monitoring Bodies
Authors: Brems Eva 
Published: February 2018

Among the many human rights conventions adopted by the UN, seven are known — together with their additional protocols — as the core international human rights instruments: - The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;- The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; - The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women;- The Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; - The Convention on the Rights of the Child; - The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. The main international control mechanism under these conventions is what may be considered the standard mechanism in international human rights protection: state reporting before an international committee. An initial report is due usually one year after joining the treaty and afterwards, reports are due periodically (every four or five years). The international committees examine the reports submitted by the state parties. In the course of this examination they include information from other sources, such as the press, other United Nations materials or NGO information. They also hold a meeting with representatives of the state submitting the report. At the end of this process the committee issues 'concluding observations' or 'concluding comments'. This paper focuses on the experience of one state — Ethiopia - with the seven core human rights treaties. This should allow the reader to gain insights both into the human rights situation in Ethiopia and in the functioning of the United Nations human rights protection system.Key Words: United Nations, Human Rights Conventions, State Reporting, Human Rights Situation in Ethiopia
Mechanisms of Constitutional Control: A preliminary observation of the Ethiopian system
Authors: Kassa Getahun 
Published: February 2018

The present mechanism of constitutional adjudication in Ethiopia demonstrates unique features. The mechanism does not belong to any of the constitutional adjudication models operating in other countries. However, a well-developed system of constitutional adjudication is lacking in actual practice. The federal and regional state organs that exercise the power of constitutional control, i.e. the Council of Constitutional Inquiry and the House of Federation at the federal level and the Constitutional Interpretation Commissions, Council of Nationalities and Councils of Constitutional Inquiry at the regional level, are not functioning fully and, moreover, are not moving at equal pace. In some regional states, the institutions competent for constitutional control, though mentioned in the regional constitutions, are not even established yet. In other regions, these institutions have been established, but are not operating in practice. Besides, a challenge of judicial overlap is likely to emerge when the regional organs start to execute their task of constitutional control. Since no mechanism is devised to delimit the respective competences of thefederal and state organs, overlap between federal and state institutions is inevitable. Furthermore, there is no clear guidance with regards to the role of the judiciary on matters that involve determination of constitutionality.Key Words: Constitutional Control, Federal Constitution, Regional Constitutions, Cases, Traditional and Religious Rules and Institutions
Investigating health factors as predictor of early drop-out of first year accounting students at the University of the Free State, South Africa
Authors: Beyers Christa , Joubert Hanli 
Published: February 2018

Introduction: The future of the South African workforce looks bleak given the challenges posed, not only by health factors, including HIV and AIDS, but also the success and throughput rate of rst year university students.
Methodology: The research in this study was conducted in 2013 using a post-positivist approach and applying an interpretive stance using a mixed method approach, which included a quantita- tive non-experimental predictive multivariate design as well as focus group interviews to triangu- late the ndings.
Results: We present ndings that psychosocial background factors, physical health and emotion- al health in uence success and non-completion rates among rst year students at the University of the Free State, South Africa.
Conclusion: We argue that early identi cation of poor psychosocial background, including health factors, can assist in empowering youths helping them to make healthy decisions and deal with stressful situations in a way that will not compromise their academic success.
Editorial
Authors: Verdoolaege Annelies 
Published: February 2018

In this current issue we offer you ve top articles from a wide range of different disciplines. Two articles are located in South Africa, one within health sciences and one in theatre studies. Museums in Cameroon, international legal frameworks linking the UK and Mauritius, and the European slave trade in 17th century Madagascar sum up the content of the remaining three articles. As always, we also publish a number of reports, mostly summaries of PhDs on Africa defended at Ghent University. The objective of these reports is to give you an overview of the Africa research taking place at Ghent University. In addition, we also want to give some visibility to these junior researchers, so please have a look at their topics and do not hesitate to get in touch with them for further questions and comments. Enjoy and... have you had a look already at the results of the presidential elections in Somalia?In this current issue we offer you ve top articles from a wide range of different disciplines. Two articles are located in South Africa, one within health sciences and one in theatre studies. Museums in Cameroon, international legal frameworks linking the UK and Mauritius, and the European slave trade in 17th century Madagascar sum up the content of the remaining three articles. As always, we also publish a number of reports, mostly summaries of PhDs on Africa defended at Ghent University. The objective of these reports is to give you an overview of the Africa research taking place at Ghent University. In addition, we also want to give some visibility to these junior researchers, so please have a look at their topics and do not hesitate to get in touch with them.
Images of Non-Western Cultures. The influence of history textbooks on public opinion in Dutch-speaking Belgium 1945- 1984.
Authors: De Baets Antoon 
Published: February 2018

The This Ph.D. study tries to answer the question "Do history textbooks have an impact on people's ideas about other cultures?", by comparing the contents of a large sample of in- fluential history textbooks and curricula (covering 1945- 1984) with the results of a wide array of public opinion surveys about the Third World and immigrants (covering 1949- 1987). The theoretical part reviews ethnocentrism, cultural relativism and racism as dimensions of cultural images, focuses attention on the phenomenon and mechanism of influence, and assesses the place of the textbook in the complex network of factors acting upon youngsters and adults, inside and outside the school.The methodological part discusses the value of the two sources (relevance, validity and reliability of surveys; availability and use of history textbooks; comparability of both). Univer- ses of both sources are constructed and samples drawn from them. These samples are analysed with mutually attuned question batteries. The double empirical analysis leads to two series of conclusions and trends that are compared with each other. Five parallel trends are found in textbooks and surveys (dominant but decreasing ethnocentrism; decreasing nationalism; absence of racism; poor awareness of other cultures; social-evolutionist thinking). They coincide in time, while, for textbooks to have influence, trends there should precede these in the public. Four other trends only partially coincide, or diverge. In the case of still two other trends, mutual influence could be plausibly postulated.In globo, no firm evidence was found for the thesis that history textbooks autonomously influence the public. It rather is the general climate of opinion that, with years of delay, acts upon the textbook authors. The role of these authors, the immediate influences upon them (editors, curricula planners, academics, inspectors, teachers, parents and pupils), their biographies and their degree of representativeness vis-à-vis public opinion, are largely discussed. As a conclusion, the study argues that, by presenting cultural diversity more accurately, new history textbooks could become master cards in the construction of open and tolerant inter- cultural views and mentalities. KEYWORDS : ethnocentrism, mentalities, surveys
An Outline of the Parliamentarism and the One Party System: the Case of Togo
Authors: Van Rouveroy van Nieuwaal Emile A.B. 
Published: February 2018

Witnessed the last hundred years profound political and constitutional changes. In this respect there are many differences between African States depending on which kind of colonial overlord has been the ruling power. The African State was ajuridical entity in international law, but was it also, at the time of independence, an empirical entity in national fact? In almost all cases the empirical reality as a functioning government was still primarily the presence of European bureaucrats who has embodied the colonial state. Independence therefore opened a gap between the international legitimacy and the internal marginality of many emergent African State. The gap often presented a real political dilemma to the new African rulers: they usually could retain European officials only by compromising their national independence and could dispense with them only at the risk of undermining governmental performance. After adoption of European constitutional law and with, initially, a high degree of similarity between most constitutions in French-speaking Africa, nowadays these constitutions differ widely, contrary to the Commonwealth Africa that has experienced fewer innovations and constitutional breakdowns. Parliamentary systems of government gave way to One Party Systems, introduced in many cases by the national army, as the best equiped, trained, paid and organised power in the country.This has been the political and constitutional development in Togo as well. Since 1969, it has a One Party System, the Rassemblement du Peuple Togolais, founded by the President of the Togolese Republic, Gen. Gnassingbé Eyadéma. But, as everywhere else, doubts are growing about the effectiveness of the One Party System. Are the Togolese perspectives such that Eyadéma is willing to have an open mind and to be all ears for the critics to his own creation? Another intriguing question is to know in which way the African traditional authorities ("chieftancy"), as the core of the concern for the local world and as the embodiment of a moral and political order, could have a new (?) role in the socio-political development of the state in Africa? Will the chiefs' position in the long term be that of a noble élite, an echo from the past, useful as a tourist attraction or as managers of fun parks with safari possibilities. KEY WORDS: chieftancy, constitutions, legal pluralism, one party system, politics, Togo.
The Possibilities to use Euphorbia Tirucalli as an Energy and a Rubber Crop
Authors: Van Damme Patrick 
Published: February 2018

Euphorbia tirucalli has been used as a source for natural rubber at different times in history, especially in southern Africa. The latex resin content is too high to guarantee a good quality product and economic production has never taken off as some had hoped. The fact that the plant is very well adapted to arid and semi arid conditions and can be grown on marginal waste lands makes it a potential energy crop which can be turned into biogas without too much investment in costly technology. The first results obtained in the laboratory and in field conditions (Senegal) are very promising. The latex contains a number of interesting triterpenes which have a very high energy content and could be used in fuel production. Most of these applications have been tested or used in Africa and can offer long-term solutions for old problems, particularly in the case of renewable energy through biomass fermentation.KEY WORDS: rubber, biomass, biogas, triterpenes, energy crop
Parentage-Protection of the Legitimate Biological Family-Adoption
Authors: Van Mensel Alfons 
Published: February 2018

The modern codices which govern the personal and family law of islamic people, stay totally absorbed and influenced, by traditional Islamic law. The main issue in the parentage problem is marriage. Only within marriage, children can legally be procreated The few adaptations brought about, such as the possibility to adopt, the recognition of natural children in Tunisia, do not change the public image in many ways. Large attention is focused at the protection of the legitimate biological family-unit. This does not prevent that a very human treatment, in respect of the parentage of children, has been elaborated. Children are being placed, as much as possible, in the case of a legimitate family through techniques as there exists : recognition by men and women of children with unknown origin, the appointment by children of men and women as their father and mother, ... Belgian judges, confronted with the application of Islamic law, are showing signs of shortsightedness. Too frequently, Islamic law is put aside in favor of international public order. KEY WORDS : adoption, islam, islamic law
Productive Aspects of the Informal Economy. Research into the Indicators for an Answer to the Development in Africa
Authors: Muheme Bagalwa Basemake Gaspard 
Published: February 2018

This article aims at deepening our understanding of the concept informal economy. It is the case that definitions with regard to the reality of this phenomenon vary in function of the author and the countries studied. Indeed, the concept needs to be discussed right across the countries of the West, the East European countries under the old system, i.e. until 1990, and the countries of Africa.With regard to the informal economy in Africa, the characteristics of irrationality and the lack of initiative on the part of economic agents has often been posited. However, this economic phenomenon is neither exclusive to Africa nor is it confined to the present time. Only a comparative approach will enable one to arrive at some precision with regard to the concepts used in the economic literature. Our primary goal is to place this informal economy within the global perspective of African development. This informal economy sets itself up as a creative attempt, often able to give efficient answers, whether in the field of agriculture or in other forms of activity, to the challenges of badly mismanaged societies.KEY WORDS: informal economy, plural activities, integrative economy, petty commodity production and consumption, interdependency of sectors