bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
FUTURE OF OMAN TOURISM PERCEPTION OF THE STUDENTS IN TOURISM STUDIES
Authors: Khan M. Firdouse Rahman , Krishanamurthy Jayashree 
Published: June 2019

Oman’s ‘Vision 2040’ aims at diversifying its economic activities from oil and gas sector to tourism sector. The vision and mission statement aims at developing tourism as a sustainable economic sector. The objective of the study is to analyze the various factors affecting the students’ perceptions towards choosing Tourism studies as their mainstream.
The study was conducted with 223 students of tourism studies who were selected on the basis of random sampling and were contacted through a well-defined questionnaire. The primary data was collected, compiled, and thoroughly analyzed to arrive at conclusions. A critical analysis was carried out using the null hypothesis, chi-square, and ranking tests.
The study reveals that the factors like non-discrimination of gender, promotion opportunities, and physical working conditions play a crucial role in motivating most of the students in choosing tourism studies. Further, this paper critically analyzes the discouraging factors for their aversion towards the tourism industry.
Our empirical results reveal that the high risk of accidents, non-tourism spouse preferences, Omani traditional values discourage the attitude towards choosing tourism as their future job and hence the tourism studies. The study further demonstrates that there is a strong association between the motivating factors and the reasons for students choosing tourism as their studies.
There exists a necessity for the Government and the related sponsoring institutions to look into these factors and encourage our young tourism students who will in return render their full support towards diversifying Oman’s future economy towards tourism.
SETIF AS A CITY BRAND
Authors: Sabah Hacid 
Published: June 2019

Nowadays, cities are engaging in Marketing and City Branding to improve their image internationally in order to become more attractive for: tourists, investors, and students. They are trying to create a city brand to manage their reputation and enhance its local, regional and global awareness and position among the other cities.
But however, before they create a city brand, they must identify their attractiveness and know how the outside eye sees them whether a city is looking to rebuild, enhance or reinvigorate this image, and it must comprehend what a city branding means. In this paper, we aim to identify the meaning of city branding, after that we are going to deal with a case study that concerns Setif city.
A quantitative study has been done to know how this city does appear in order to make propositions for it, to create a city brand and manage its image and reputation, but before that, we try to identify its attractiveness to know if it is compatible with that’s perceived image.
Percutaneous insertion of peritoneal dialysis catheter is a safe and effective technique irrespective of BMI
Authors: Xie Dayang , Zhou Jianhui , Cao Xueying , Zhang Qingtao , Sun Yanli , Tang Li , Huang Jing , Zheng Juanli , Lin Li , Li Zhenzhen , Cai Guangyan , Chen Xiangmei 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Background

A large body mass index (BMI) has been considered as a relative contraindication for percutaneous catheter insertion, although this technique has many advantages. Up to now, there are few studies on peritoneal catheter placement and obesity. The aim of this study was to determine whether patients with large BMI can also choose the percutaneous technique for peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion.

Methods

187 consecutive patients underwent peritoneal catheter insertions in the Chinese PLA General Hospital between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2016, with 178 eligible cases being included in the analysis. Two groups were created based on the catheter insertion techniques, the percutaneous group (group P) and the surgical group (group S). Subgroups were created according to BMI>28 or≤28. The outcomes included catheter related complications and catheter survival.

Results

Total infectious complication rates were significantly lower in group P than in group S. The late peritonitis rates tended to be lower in group P than in group S, although the difference was not significant. There were no significant differences in all other measured complications between the two groups. Though the one-year infection-free catheter survival in group P was 7.5% higher than group S, the difference was not significant. The one-year dysfunction-free catheter survival, one-year dysfunction-and-infection-free catheter survival, and overall catheter survival were similar between the two groups. Subgroup analyses showed a superior one-year infection-free catheter survival of percutaneous technique in patients with BMI>28, which was confirmed by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Conclusions

Despite the challenges that may be encountered with patients who have a large BMI, the percutaneous technique is a safe and effective approach to placing a peritoneal dialysis catheter.
Advantages of dynamic bi-directional applanation tonometry in primary open-angle glaucoma diagnostics
Authors: Zagidullina A. Sh. , Aznabaev B. M. , Lakman I. A. , Islamova R. R. , Sattarova R. R. 
Published: June 2019

Purpose. To study tonometry parameters features, measured by different methods, taking into account individual morphometric eye parameters and biomechanical properties of the corneoscleral shell in patients with the initial and the advanced stages of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).Material and methods. 51 patients (99 eyes) aged 48–82, with the initial (45 eyes) and advanced stages (54 eyes) of POAG were examined. The control group consisted of 31 patients (62 eyes) aged 47–83 without ophthalmic pathology. In addition to standard ophthalmologic examination, tonometry was performed using the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA, Reichert Inc., the USA).Results. The main tonometry parameters of ORA revealed significant differences between POAG patients and the control group. No significant difference in the central corneal thickness (CCT) was found between the POAG and the control group. Patients with I and II stages of glaucoma taken separately showed differences in CCT and tonometry parameters.Conclusion. Dynamic bi-directional applanation tonometry enables to take into account the changes in viscoelastic properties of the corneoscleral eye shell, and definitely has diagnostic advantages in examining patients with various stages of POAG.
Failure iridocapsular fixation of IOL in patients with lens subluxation (preliminary report)
Authors: Ioshin I. E. , Tolchinskaya A. I. , Dubrovskaya S. A. 
Published: June 2019

Purpose. To present the preliminary results of iridocapsular fixation of RSP-3 extracapsular IOL in patients with lens subluxation observed within the first year after surgery.Material and methods. 4 patients with cataracts and initial weakness of Zinn ligament fibers were followed up. YAG laser iridectomy was performed one day before facoemulsifcation surgery, which took account of Zinn ligament fiber weakness: it consisted in anterior continuous circular capsulorhexis with a diameter of about 5 mm, fixation of the capsular bag over the edge of capsulorhexis with four iris-capsular retractors (ICRs), phacoemulsification of the nucleus and aspiration of lens masses. The intracapsular ring and the RSP-3 IOL (the latter in the injector through the main incision) was implanted in such a way as to locate the rear support element in the capsular bag, and the front support element, in front of the pupil. After removing the ICRs, iridectomy was monitored.Results. The early postoperative period was uncomplicated. After 10 days, one patient was found to develop a relative pupillary block with the anterior chamber becoming shallower and IOP increased to reach 28 mm Hg. The reason was that iridectomy initially located in the projection area of the rear support element. An additional iridectomy arrested the situation. Visual acuity varied from 0.3 to 1.0 due to the initial state of the optic nerve and retina. The position of the IOL remained stable throughout the year, the capsular bag was unfolded.Conclusion. The possibility to use the capsular bag of the lens under the conditions that Zinn ligament fibers are weak should be considered as an advantage of the technology presented. An additional front support element serves to prevent dislocation of the IOL and the capsular bag as a whole. The obtained positive results of combined iridocapsular fixation of the IOL justify a more extensive clinical testing of the method in cases of weak Zinn ligament fibers.
Success predictors of selective laser trabeculoplasty in primary angle-closure glaucoma: a long-term follow-up
Authors: Kurysheva N. I. , Lepeshkina L. V. , Shatalova E. O. 
Published: June 2019

Purpose. To evaluate the effectiveness and the factors predictive of long-term failure of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in patients with the initial stage of primary angle-closure (PACG) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).Materials and methods. 65 PACG patients (65 eyes) and 65 POAG patients (65 eyes) were observed for 6 years. SLT was considered to be successful if its hypotensive effect consisted in an IOP decrease ³ 20 % achieved without any additional hypotensive treatment by antiglaucoma drop instillations or any hypotensive intervention (repeated SLT, antiglaucoma surgery, cataract phacoemulsification). The effectiveness was assessed using the Kaplan — Meier survival analysis. To determine the factors predictive of SLT, one-factor Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used. Results. The hypotensive effect of SLT achieved was, for PACG and POAG, respectively, (1) 82 and 84 % one year after surgery; (2) 62 and 68 % two years thereafter, (3) 59 and 63 %, three years thereafter, (4) 34 and 42 %, four years thereafter, (5) 26 and 38 %, five years thereafter, (6) 4 and 8 % thereafter (log rank test, p = 0.234). The predictors of SLT failure were common for both forms of glaucoma in Cox regression analysis, namely: initial IOP > 24 mm Hg (OR = 1.184, p = 0.029 for PACG and OR = 1.156, p = 0.010 for POAG), corneal hysteresis < 9,5 mm Hg (OR = 1.441, р = 0.022 for PACG and OR = 1.486, р = 0.030 for POAG), corneal thickness < 540 μm (OR = 1.586, р=0.021 for PACG and OR =1.648, p =0.030 for POAG), reduced thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer < 90 μm (OR = 1.231, p = 0.014 for PACG and OR =1.194, p = 0.027 for POAG) and age > 68 years (OR = 1.162, p = 0.040 for PACG and OR = 1.167, p = 0.000 for POAG). The additional failure predictors for PACG were the span of exposure to SLT < 180 0 (OR = 1.686, p = 0.004) and lens thickness > 4.86 mm (OR = 4.841, p = 0.001). Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, trabecular pigmentation degree and the type of antiglaucoma drugs taken before SLT were not found to be significant predictors of SLT effectiveness.Conclusion. SLT is an effective method of treating initial POAG and PACG after laser iridotomy. The long-term effect of SLT in both forms of glaucoma is affected by the initial IOP, glaucoma stage, and the patient’s age. The most important role in PACG is played by the span of SLT exposure and the size of the lens..
Differential diagnosis of retinal capillary hemangiomas and vasoproliferative tumors
Authors: Neroev V. V. , Kiseleva T. N. , Novikova A. Yu. , Ryabina M. V. , Ilyukhin P. A. , Ramazanova K. A. 
Published: June 2019

Purpose. To propose the major differential diagnostic criteria of retinal capillary hemangioma (RCH) and vasoproliferative tumor (VPT) aimed at increasing the efficiency of the diagnosis of these diseases.Material and methods. A comprehensive ophthalmologic examination off 19 (26 eyes) patients, aged 19 to 66 (ave. 31.89 ± 11.30 yrs), with vascular neoplasms of peripheral localization included, beside the standard techniques, fundus photoregistration, fluorescent angiography (FAG), optical coherence tomography of the retina and a combined ultrasound testing using B scanning, echographic densitometry, colour Doppler imaging (CDI), and pulse Doppler imaging.Results. Based on the analysis of the clinical picture and the results of the tests performed, the following differential diagnostic criteria were proposed: the age at which RCH and VPT developed, their localization in the eye fundus, and the value of the maximal systolic blood flow velocity in the central vein of the retina.Conclusion. Differential diagnostics of RCH and VPT requires combined approaches and should take into account, in addition to case history and the clinical picture, also the results of instrumental testing techniques: FAG, echography and CDI.
The state and dynamics of the wavefront of the eye in children with different refractions engaged in regular sport activities (badminton)
Authors: Tarutta E. P. , Tarasova N. A. , Markossian G. A. , Khodzhabekyan N. V. , Harutyunyan S. G. , Georgiev S. 
Published: June 2019

The paper isaimedat comparing the level of aberrations, structure of the wavefront, and its response to cycloplegia in children with different refractions before they started practicing badminton regularly and after a year’s duration of this practice.Material and methods.40 children (80 eyes) with refractive errors from +6.63 to -6.75 D (average -1.28 ± 2.28 D) aged 7 to 11 years (average 9.24 ± 1.06 years) were examined before the practice, 6 months after practice start (38 children, 72 eyes) and after 1 year of badminton playing (27 children, 54 eyes). All patients underwent wavefront aberrometry before and after cycloplegia on an OPD-Scan III (Nidek) aberrometer. We analyzed Zernike coefficients up to the 12th order inclusive: vertical and horizontal slope (tilt 1, tilt 2), vertical and horizontal trefoil (trefoil 6, trefoil 9), vertical and horizontal coma (coma 7, coma 8), spherical aberration (SA), mean square deviation from the ideal wavefront (RMS).Results.SA in myopia was found to be negative, in hyperopia positive; tilt 1, tilt 2, trefoil 9, coma 7 in myopia were significantly higher, and coma 8 significantly lower than in hyperopia. The slope of the wavefront (tilt 1, tilt 2) in cycloplegia falls significantly in hyperopic eyes and does not change in myopic ones. The latter fact points to insufficient tension of Zinn ligaments in the myopic eye. Regular badminton practice results in significant changes in wavefront aberrations, indicating a strengthening of the ligaments of the lens and the normalization of the ciliary muscle tone.Conclusions.The structure of the wavefront in children with different refractions shows significant differences. Badminton helps strengthen the ligaments of the lens.
Retinopathy of prematurity: indicators of cellular immunity in patients with various stages of the disease
Authors: Balashova L. M. , Kuznetsova Y. D. , Korobova L. S. , Kantarzhi E. P. , Mukhin V. E. , Cherkashina E. A. , Bykovskaya S. N. 
Published: June 2019

Purpose: to study the role of cellular immunity in the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).Material and methods. 87 children were tested, including 60 with III — V stage ROP and posterior aggressive retinopathy that had gestational age from 25 to 32 weeks at birth, aged 1 month to 1 year (study group) and 27 healthy children of the same age (control group).Results. No statistically significant differences of immunological parameters were revealed within the groups of children aged 1 to 3 months, 3.5 to 6 months, and 6.5 to 12 months. The gestational age at birth had no effect on the parameters studied. With increasing severity of ROP amid reduced indicators of T-regulatory cells, the number of B-cells (CD19 +) grew, T-natural killer cells (CD3 -/CD16 +CD56 +) reduced significantly (p < 0.05), and the number of CD4+ T-cells reduced showing the significance of (p < 0.01–0.05).Conclusion. The obtained data testify to the emergence of autoimmune reactions and a decrease in the level of regulatory T-cells in a premature child, more pronounced in severe stages of ROP.
The prevention and treatment of myopia in schoolchildren from grade 1 to grade 10 by restoring the ocular accommodation function
Authors: Gubarev E. I. 
Published: June 2019

Purpose: to evaluate long term effectiveness of a method of restoring the accommodation function of the eye and preventing the onset and progression of myopia and to propose ways to overcome medical requirements that are difficult to meet.Material and methods. The method consisted in prolonged installations of 1 % tropicamide eye drops and permanent optical correction that corresponded to manifest refraction. 48 schoolchildren aged 7–18 with initial myopia or signs of high risk myopia onset were followed up. The subjects were divided into 2 groups of 24 people each. Group 1 consisted of children who followed medical prescriptions and group 2 consisted of those who did not. The two groups were further subdivided into two subgroups. Subgroup 1A included 12 children with the initial positive cycloplegic refraction up to +1.0 D; subgroup 1B included 12 children with the initial negative cycloplegic refraction from -0.5 D. Subgroup 2A (12 children) had negative cycloplegic refraction who regularly failed to receive treatment (optical correction, eyedrop instillations, medical checkups), and subgroup 2B (12 children) had negative cycloplegic refraction who received practically no treatment for myopia. Regular checkups took place 2–3 times a year for 10 years and included measuring visual acuity, manifest and cycloplegic refraction by skiascopy or subjectively, as well as measuring relative accommodation reserve (RAR) according to the author’s own technique. The treatment envisaged permanent optical correction in accordance with manifest refraction until the age of 18 years, combined with courses of tropicamide 1 % instillations for 1 to 3 months two to three times a year. Results. In group 1A, myopia was prevented in all subjects. In group 1B, the progression stopped after several years of treatment. In subgroup 2A and especially subgroup 2B, myopia progressed, over the 10-year follow-up period reaching the figures of 2.5 and 3.5 D, respectively. Conclusion. The long-term efficiency of the proposed method applied to schoolchildren from grade 1 to grade 10 was confirmed. Ways to overcome the difficulties of following medical requirements were proposed.
Estimation of the gamma-percentile life for the binomial test plan
Authors: Mikhailov V. S. 
Published: June 2019

In today’s industry of highly dependable, unique, complex products, it is a commonplace situation when it is required to obtain an estimate of gamma-percentile storing life (GPSL) or gamma-percentile time to failure (GPTF) (hereinafter referred to as GPL, meaning GPSL or GPTF respectively) based on tests that did not produce any failures. Normally, a test plan is classified as binomial tests or tests with limited time and recovery. GPTF is understood as the operation time during which no failure occurs with the probability γ expressed as percentage. Similarly, GPSL is understood as the total schedule time of product storage during and after which the product is able to perform the required function with the probability γ expressed as percentage. The Aim of this paper is to find such estimate of GPL that would be simple and more efficient as compared to the conventional one and not significantly inferior to the efficient estimate, if such exists, in terms of proximity to the GPL estimate in case a binomial test plan is used. Methods of research. The research of efficient estimates is based on the integrative approach that uses the construction of the choice rule (criterion) of efficient estimate specified on the vertical sum of biases of estimates selected out of a certain set based on the function of the distribution law parameter. Conclusions. The obtained estimate of GPL is simple and more efficient as compared to the conventional one and not significantly inferior to the efficient estimate, if such exists, in terms of proximity to the GPL estimate in case a binomial test plan is used. The obtained estimate of GPL has significant advantages, i.e. the estimate is efficient within a sufficiently wide range of estimates, it allows obtaining a value based on the results of tests that did not produce any failures. The obtained estimate of GPL is recommended for failure-free tests conducted using a binomial plan.
Economic assessment of the accidental risk of natural emergencies for train traffic
Authors: Popov V. G. , Sukhov F. I. , Bolandova Yu. K. 
Published: June 2019

Aim. The paper is dedicated to the evaluation of the risk of transportation accidents caused by natural emergencies affecting train traffic on a specific line. The ever-growing anthropogenic burden on the environment inevitably causes climate change that, in turn, gives rise to higher numbers of extreme weather events. The latter usually cause industrial accidents and disasters. The assessment of the factors of climate-related risk that quantitatively characterize their effect on the railway infrastructure is the starting point of calamity risk management and adaptation of human activities to the ever-changing climate. Methods. The authors propose a method of risk assessment that takes into consideration the effect of various natural emergencies that affect rolling stock in motion. The method is based on elements of the probability theory and mathematical statistics. The developed method enables the assessment of the risk of a transportation accident caused by natural emergencies specific to not only a line, but a route on a railway network. Results. For the Nevinnomysskaya – Tuapse line that includes 6 sections of the North Caucasus Railway, one of which was damaged due to abundant precipitations on October 24 and 25, 2018, the risk of transportation accident caused by the effects of three types of natural emergencies on the sociotechnical system of this line has been calculated: – flood, – hurricane with wind strength of over 22 mps, – heavy rain. The parameters of such emergencies are characterized by the following factors: – frequency as compared to other types of emergencies, – average annual number of natural emergencies, – characteristic spatial scale of the natural emergency, – characteristic duration of the natural emergency. The conditional probabilities of the effects on the railway sociotechnical system of an event that has characteristic spatial scale and duration and has caused a transportation accident involving a train were estimated based on the assumption that a train flow in space follows the normal Erlang distribution of the k-th kind. The risk of transportation accident involving up and down trains travelling along the i-th line of the j-th railway caused by a hazardous effect of a natural emergency of the m-th type is identified subject to the jointness of events. Using the discounting method, an equation was obtained for estimating the mathematical expectation of economic damage by traffic safety disturbances, which allowed estimating the economic component of the risk. Conclusions. As the result, a method is proposed for estimation of the risk of transportation accidents caused by natural emergencies, an example is provided of such risk estimation, including the economic component, for the Nevinnomysskaya – Tuapse line.