bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The relationship between self-esteem and vandalism on high school students
 Lise öğrencilerinin özsaygı ve tahripçi davranışları arasındaki ilişki
Authors: Kalgı Mehmet Emin , Aliyev Ramin
Published: December 2015

This study aims to determine the relationship between self-esteem and vandalism levels of on high school freshmen students. The data of this correlational study was obtained through the Vandalism Scale, Coopersmith Self-Esteem Scale and Personal Information Form developed for his study. The sample of this research consists of 1225 students in public high schools freshmens in the Şanlıurfa province and district centers. Of the whole research group, 587 are female and 638 are male students. The relationship between the vandalism and self-esteem levels of student was investigated with the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficients. In addition, the calculations on the self-esteem of students predicting their vandalism levels were carried out with the simple regression analysis. Analyzing the binary correlation between vandalism and self-esteem, it was found that the relationship was negatively and significantly. In predicting vandalism scores from all the variables in the study, the self-esteem scores of students with the simple regression analysis, self-esteem scores explained the 3% of the total variance in vandalism scores. Negative correlation between these two variables indicates that individuals having high self-esteem have less vandalism tendencies.

 

Özet

Bu araştırmanın amacı, lise birinci sınıf düzeyinde eğitim gören öğrencilerin tahripçilik ve özsaygıları arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesidir. Korelasyonel türden bir çalışma olan bu araştırma verileri Tahripçilik Ölçeği, Coopersmith Özsaygı Ölçeği ve geliştirilen Kişisel Bilgi Formu ile elde edilmiştir. Araştırmanın örneklemi, Şanlıurfa ili ve ilçe merkezlerinin devlet okullarının genel liselerinde okuyan 1225 lise birinci sınıf öğrencileri oluşturmaktadır. Bunların 587’si kız, 638’i ise erkek öğrencilerden oluşturmaktadır. Öğrencilerin özsaygı düzeylerinin tahripçi davranışlarını yordama gücü basit regresyon analizi ile incelenmiştir. Öğrencilerin özsaygı ölçeği puanlarının tahripçilik puanlarındaki varyansın %3'ünü açıkladığı bulunmuştur. Bu iki değişken arasındaki ilişkinin negatif olması özsaygısı yüksek bireylerin tahripçi davranışlarının daha az olduğunu göstermektedir.
The impact of Roman army on trade and production in Lower Moesia (Moesia Inferior)
Authors: Duch Michał
Published: December 2015

The paper presents the Roman army as the factor of change and economic transformation in the province of Lower Moesia. It addresses such issues as construction activities of the Roman army, development of the logistical base in order to meet the provisioning needs of the Roman troops. The main issue is the process of development of the local market of trade and production, as well as role of the Roman army in establishing and developing the fundamental branches of economy.
Karl Christ i Rzym nieprzemijający…
Authors: Mrozewicz Leszek
Published: December 2015

Karl Christ belonged to the most eminent German historians of the ancient Rome of the latter half of the 20th century. He was particularly interested in the Roman Empire and its place in the European history. This was vividly reflected in his “Geschichte der römischen Kaiserzeit”, which had as many as six editions in Germany. The book conveys the conviction that the history of the Roman Empire constitutes a fundament of contemporary Europe, regardless of the assessment it received over the centuries, which was often very negative. Karl Christ believed that in our times, Roman Empire acquires a new meaning in view of the unification of Europe. Naturally enough, this engenders the question whether a similar process had taken place in the past, whether there is a model of unity and if so, whether it has a chance of being successful. It turns out that the Roman Empire, despite its weaknesses and drawbacks, can be the only point of reference, regardless of the ways in which Europe is “unified”. The observation is also applied in a broader perspective which extends beyond Europe. This is associated with the ongoing globalisation, which in its turn provokes questions about a similar phenomenon in the past, and almost automatically evokes the example of the Roman Empire. Therefore Christ decided to provide the reader with a comprehensive compendium of knowledge of the Roman Empire in a structural-dialectic approach, so as to facilitate the understanding of persistence of the ancient realm and its impact on European history, at the same time enabling one to arrive at its spiritual and cultural roots. Christ wished to acquaint the contemporary inhabitant of our continent with the dialectics of development of the Roman world, its structural evolution, internal social and cultural diffusion and finally the development of culture in all its manifestations. The historian believed that only in this fashion, i.e. not only through history of persons and events, based on sensational elements, can one appreciate the place of the Roman Empire in the developmental sequence of the European continent and its significance for the contemporary cultural shape of Europe. This is also reflected in Christ’s studies on the history of historiography, or the image of the history of ancient Rome and the specificity of the Roman Empire that had been created by various authors over the centuries. This is also where he undertook the effort to evaluate the positions assumed by German historians in the Nazi times and during the Communist era, in the German Democratic Republic. Nonetheless, the studies of history of historiography were only a means to an end, which was to promote the awareness of the importance of the Roman world, or Mediterranean civilisation as a whole, for the contemporary European culture as well as highlight its persisting influence. In Christ’s opinion, it is that “dialogue of a historian with history” which demonstrates to the fullest extent the dialectic bond between antiquity and the present day.słowa klucze
Aspekty polityczne i militarne „roku czterech cesarzy” (68-69 r. po Chr.). Część 1: do śmierci Galby
Authors: Kozłowski Jakub , Królczyk Krzysztof
Published: December 2015

The Year of the Four Emperors, as the period of civil wars in Rome after Nero’s death is often called, was the first major shake-up which affected the Roman state since a new system of rule, referred to as the Principate, had been established by Augustus. Following the imperial proclamation of Servius Sulpicius Galba, the governor of Spain (June 8th, 68) and the suicide of Nero (June 9th), the Roman state plunged into a profound political crisis. This was because the new emperor found no support either in the City itself, or among the soldiers of legions stationed on the Empire’s frontiers. On January 2nd, 69, Roman army on the Rhine hailed Aulus Vitellius, their commander, as the emperor. As Tacitus observed, this revealed the “secret of rule” (arcanum imperii) – namely one could become an emperor not only in the capital of the Empire but also on its remote periphery. Vitellius immediately began preparations for an armed contest with Galba. However, on January 15th, 69, the latter was murdered in Rome, and praetorians proclaimed M. Salvius Otho as the emperor.
Nowy ład.
Authors: Ciesielski Mariusz
Published: December 2015

Recenzja książki: Magdalena Mączyńska, Światło z popiołu. Wędrówki ludów w Europie w IV i V wieku, Wydawnictwo Trio, Warszawa 2013, 336 s. z mapami, tablicami i indeksami
Problemy metodologiczne w badaniach nad Celtami i celtyckością
Authors: Faszcza Michał Norbert
Published: December 2015

In the studies devoted to Celts so far, researchers have tried to define “Celticness” based on two criteria: their material culture and language. Another element which tended to be employed was the argument of terminology used by antique authors. At present, we know that the sense of ethnic identification may have been independent of those factors. This led to a genuine “scientific revolution”, which resulted in the exclusion of Ireland and northern Britain from the circle of Celtic culture. Consequently, the question in which cases one can speak of “Celticness” has become relevant yet again. The author is of the opinion that decisive significance should be attributed to self-identification of given tribes, although sources rarely provide information in that respect. Depending on the remaining criteria tends to be greatly unreliable, given that they were are a modern concept and as such are subject to manipulation. A comfortable, though exceedingly rare situation is their joint occurrence. For this reason the author is inclined to give priority to the language criterion, yet only when the faulty terminology relation to the so-called Q-Celtic and P-Celtic languages is abandoned. Despite the fact that Irish civilisation has been demonstrated to have been non-Celtic, the obsolete terminology is still in use, as a result of which the linguistic criterion cannot perform its function effectively.
Conceptual Analysis and the Essence of Space: Kant’s Metaphysical Exposition Revisited
Authors: Messina James
Published: December 2015

I offer here an account of the methodology, historical context, and content of Kant’s so-called “Metaphysical Exposition of the Concept of Space” (MECS). Drawing on Critical and pre-Critical texts, I first argue that the arguments making up the MECS rest on a kind of conceptual analysis, one that yields (analytic) knowledge of the essence of space. Next, I situate Kant’s MECS in what I take to be its proper historical context: the debate between the Wolffians and Crusius about the correct analysis of the concept of space. Finally, I draw on the results of previous sections to provide a reconstruction of Kant’s so-called “first apriority argument.” On my reconstruction, the key premise of the argument is a claim to the effect that space grounds the possibility of the co-existence of whatever things occupy it.
Hobbes and Normative Egoism
Authors: Worsnip Alex
Published: December 2015

Is Hobbes a normative egoist? That is: does Hobbes think that an agent’s normative reasons are all grounded in her own good? A once-dominant tradition of Hobbes scholarship answers ‘yes’. In an important recent work, however, S. A. Lloyd has argued that the answer to the question is ‘no’, and built an alternative non-egoistic interpretation of Hobbes that stresses reciprocity and mutual justifiability. My aim in this paper is to articulate and defend an original ‘middle way’ interpretation of Hobbes that steers a course between an excessively egoistic and what we might call an excessively ‘moralistic’ interpretation. According to the interpretation I defend, our obligations have their source in self-interest in the sense that they are all self-assumed results of covenants, our reasons for making which are solely self-interested. But the obligations that result from such covenants can sometimes require us to act against our self-interest.
Some Remarks on the Duality Method for Integro-Differential Equations with Measure Data
Authors: Petitta Francesco
Published: December 2015

We deal with existence, uniqueness and regularity for solutions of the boundary value problem

{

ℒ
s

⁢
u

=
μ

in
⁢
Ω

,

u
⁢

(
x
)

=
0

on
⁢

ℝ
n

\
Ω

,

$\left\{\begin{aligned} \displaystyle\mathcal{L}^{s}u&\displaystyle=\mu&&% \displaystyle\text{in }\Omega,\\ \displaystyle u(x)&\displaystyle=0&&\displaystyle\text{on }\mathbb{R}^{n}% \backslash\Omega,\end{aligned}\right.$

where Ω is a bounded domain of

ℝ
n

${\mathbb{R}^{n}}$

, μ is a bounded Radon measure on Ω, and

ℒ
s

${\mathcal{L}^{s}}$

is a non-local operator of fractional order s whose kernel K is comparable with the one of the fractional Laplacian.
Biographies and Knowledge Transmission of Mercury Processing in Twentieth Century Tibet
Authors: Gerke Barbara
Published: December 2015

The processing of metallic mercury into the form of a mercury sulphide ash, called tsotel (btso thal), is considered the most refined pharmacological technique known in Tibetan medicine. This ash provides the base material for many of the popular “precious pills” (rin chen ril bu), which are considered essential by Tibetan physicians to treat severe diseases. Making tsotel and precious pills in Tibet’s past were rare and expensive events. The Chinese take-over of Tibet in the 1950s, followed by the successive reforms, including the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), affected the opportunities to transmit the knowledge and practice of making tsotel. In this article, I discuss two Tibetan physicians, Tenzin Chödrak (1924–2001) and Troru Tsenam (1926–2004), both of whom spent many years in Chinese prisons and labour camps, and their role in the transmission of the tsotel practice in a labour camp in 1977, contextualising these events with tsotel practices in Central and South Tibet in preceding decades. Based on two contemporary biographies, their descriptions of making tsotel will be analysed as well as the ways in which the biographies depicted these events. I argue that the ways of writing about these tsotel events in the physicians’ biographies, while silencing certain lines of knowledge transmission, established an authoritative lineage of this practice. Both physicians had a decisive impact on the continuation of the lineage and the manufacturing of tsotel and precious pills from the 1980s onwards in both India and the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Cinnabar, Calomel and the Art of kushtasāzī: Mercurial Preparations in Unani Medicine
Authors: Preckel Claudia
Published: December 2015

This paper examines the role of mercury in “Graeco-Islamic” medicine, which is referred to as Ṭibb-e yūnānī or unani medicine in South Asia. Having its origin in Ancient Greece, unani medicine spread to the Arabic countries and from the fifteenth century onwards to India. With its main roots in the Greek and Latin sources, the most influential works of ‘ilm al-adviya (pharmacology) were translated into Arabic, Persian and Urdu. Mercury (Arabic: zībaq; Persian: sīmāb; Urdu: sīmāb and pāra) played an important role in all Indian traditions of medicine, and had a prominent place in unani medicine. This paper highlights the historical use of mercury in Indian, Persian and Urdu medical literature, the discourses on its efficacy and some of the important mercurial preparations presented in a selection of unani works. Further, the use of mercury as a single and compound drug and its role in the treatment of different diseases will be analysed.
Antisyphilitic Mercury Drugs in Early Modern China and Japan
Authors: Trambaiolo Daniel
Published: December 2015

Toxic mercury chloride compounds, including preparations and mixtures of corrosive sublimate (HgCl2) and calomel (Hg2Cl2), were widely used in early modern Chinese and Japanese medicine. Some of these drugs had been manufactured in East Asia for more than a thousand years, while others were produced using newer recipes developed in East Asia after the arrival of syphilis or introduced through contact with European medical knowledge. This paper traces the history of the uses and methods of production of sublimated mercury chloride drugs in early modern East Asia, showing how the Chinese doctor Chen Sicheng’s invention of the drug shengshengru (J. seiseinyū) 生生乳 in the seventeenth century exerted a strong influence over eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Japanese doctors’ treatment of syphilis. Japanese doctors’ efforts to produce and use seiseinyū provided a foundation of technical knowledge that was important for their later reception of European-style mercury chloride drugs.
Medicinal Mercury in Early Modern Portuguese Records: Recipes and Methods from Eighteenth-Century Medical Guidebooks
Authors: Walker Timothy
Published: December 2015

This chapter will present and explicate rare information regarding circumstances and techniques for the application of medicinal mercury in the Portuguese medical context during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Through the use of Portuguese medical texts (including translated excerpts), the chapter will provide insight into how early modern Portuguese practitioners processed and employed mercury to treat various ailments. Of interest, too, will be that these remedies were developed at several disparate locations throughout the Portuguese imperial world (China, India, Angola, Brazil, and Portugal), and often drew upon, and blended, indigenous medical substances from the region where each remedy originated. Regarding the use of mercury in South Asian medicine, medical scholars have noted that, from the sixteenth century onwards, much of the intra-Asian (and global) mercury trade was conducted through Portuguese merchants and agents. This work asserts that Portuguese merchants and shippers had unique access both to mercury at the commodity’s main sources in Spain and Peru (Almadén and Huancavelica, respectively), but also to established, developed colonial trade routes throughout the eastern hemisphere. Most of the information presented here is excerpted from two little-known eighteenth-century Portuguese primary sources: a Jesuit compilation medical and apothecary guide in manuscript, and a published physician’s treatise regarding fevers and other illnesses encountered during a posting of nearly a decade in Angola.
Prevention of windup caused by saturating sensors
Authors: Hippe Peter
Published: December 2015

Whereas the prevention of windup caused by a saturating actuator can be regarded as a solved problem, there is no agreed
solution to this problem if sensors saturate. A method recently suggested by the author uses a saturation indicator to stabilize
the nonlinear closed loop. It allows a nearly perfect rejection of constant disturbances, but there is no strict proof of
stability for this approach. The solution presented here has about the same disturbance rejecting properties but its stability
can be proven. It is applicable to minimum-phase SISO and MIMO systems and it also works for disturbances modelled by more
complex signal processes. The restriction to disturbance rejection constitutes no loss of generality because reference signals
can always be applied without causing windup effects.
Modeling of lumbar spine equipped with fixator
Authors: Gerke Justyna , Ryniewicz Anna M. , Madej Tomasz
Published: December 2015

Anatomical model of fragment of lumbar spine and rod fixator with screw attachment were made. Numerical analyses (use of finite element method) were executed. Results show that stresses in the analyzed structure depend on the size of the fixator used. Authors suggest further research.
Rough assessment of GPU capabilities for parallel PCC-based biclustering method applied to microarray data sets
Authors: Orzechowski Patryk , Boryczko Krzysztof
Published: December 2015

Parallel computing architectures are proven to significantly shorten computation time for different clustering algorithms. Nonetheless, some characteristics of the architecture limit the application of graphics processing units (GPUs) for biclustering task, whose function is to find focal similarities within the data. This might be one of the reasons why there have not been many biclustering algorithms proposed so far. In this article, we verify if there is any potential for application of complex biclustering calculations (CPU+GPU). We introduce minimax with Pearson correlation – a complex biclustering method. The algorithm utilizes Pearson’s correlation to determine similarity between rows of input matrix. We present two implementations of the algorithm, sequential and parallel, which are dedicated for heterogeneous environments. We verify the weak scaling efficiency to assess if a heterogeneous architecture may successfully shorten heavy biclustering computation time.
REE-bearing minerals in the Rapakavi Grante, Southern Finland
Authors: Al-Ani Thair
Published: December 2015

The studied rock samples belong to the classic1615–1645 Ma Wiborg Rapakivi granite terrane of southeasternFinland. Geochemical studies show that the rapakivigranites and associated rocks form metaluminousto peraluminous A-type granites and plot in the "withinplate granites (WPG)" field on the tectonic discriminate diagramsfrom the Onkamaa, Suomenniemi and Luumäki.The rapakivi granite displays enrichment of light overheavy REE (LREE/HREE = 2-34) and usually negative Euanomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.01 - 1.4). Enrichment in REE in somestudied samples is confined to highly fractionated portionsof the Rapakivi granite. Fractional crystallization ofthe evolving fluorite-rich peraluminous granitic magmawas accompanied, particularly at later stages by fluid fractionation,which plays an important role in the genesis ofthe REE-mineralization.The studied rapakivi granites host REE-minerals includingmonazite-(Ce), allanite (Ce), bastnäsite (Ce), xenotime,thorite and REE-bearing mineral apatite. Monazite and allaniteare the most important REE carriers in the studiedgranites and these minerals are strongly enriched in theLREE.Monazites are hosted in apatite, quartz, plagioclase,K-feldspar, and biotite. Grain size of monazite is variableranging from 50 to >100 μm.Monazite contains 48-68 wt%REE2O3, 24.3-29.3 wt% P2O5 and low Th<1.5 wt%ThO2. TheY, REE, U, Th-bearing minerals are not commonly associatedwith the primary minerals except for Th-bearingminerals, which occur as silicates (e.g. thorite, ThSiO4);and/or replace other elements in the structure of some accessorymineral, especially xenotime, brabantite, zircon,and apatite.Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) provides an indicationof solid solution series between thorite-xenotimezircon,which are related to hydrothermal solutions enrichedin REE, Y, P, U, F, and Zr.
Liquefaction Resistance of a Granular Soil Containing Some Admixtures of Fines
Authors: Sawicki Andrzej , Mierczyński Jacek , Mikos Agata , Sławińska Justyna
Published: December 2015

The paper deals with the mechanics of sand with some admixtures of fines. The basic question is whether such admixtures are liquefiable or not. Experimental results show that admixtures of fines do not essentially influence the liquefaction susceptibility of granular soils. The original experimental investigations support this conclusion.
Atlanto-Axial Instability in People with Down’s Syndrome and its Impact on the Ability to Perform Sports Activities – A Review
Authors: Myśliwiec Andrzej , Posłuszny Adam , Saulicz Edward , Doroniewicz Iwona , Linek Paweł , Wolny Tomasz , Knapik Andrzej , Rottermund Jerzy , Żmijewski Piotr , Cieszczyk Paweł
Published: December 2015

Atlanto-axial instability (AAI) is a developmental anomaly often occurring in persons with Down’s syndrome (DS). According to various reports, AAI affects from 6.8 to 27% of the population with DS. The aim of this review was to illustrate the issue of AAI with regard to the progressively changing state of scientific knowledge. The extended distance between the rear surface of the frontal arcus of the C1 cervical vertebra and the anterior surface of C2 cervical vertebra dens (anterior atlanto-odontoid distance, AAOD) indicates the occurrence of AAI and is detectable through X-ray examination. Hypoplasia of the C2 dens, also detectable through X-ray examination, is another suggested risk factor for AAI. According to current data, the methodology of taking measurements is inconsistent, which leads to errors in interpretation. As research focusing on AAI was progressing, new data emerged from other studies on persons with DS, suggesting that neurological symptoms in persons with DS that indicated the occurrence of spinal cord compression were an important factor in medical imaging detection of AAI. One of the main arguments supporting this thesis is that in isolated cases spinal cord (SC) damage was noted during screening examinations conducted on a large population of subjects. Moreover, cases in which the neurological symptoms indicate spinal cord compression existed long before the occurrence of the actual damage also remain of significant importance. Therefore, it is necessary to promote neurological studies on persons with DS to enable early diagnosis of spinal cord compression and, at the same time, reduce the use of medical imaging in cases of neurological symptoms.
Electromyographic Analysis of the Hip Extension Pattern in Visually Impaired Athletes
Authors: Halski Tomasz , Żmijewski Piotr , Cięszczyk Paweł , Nowak Barbara , Ptaszkowski Kuba , Slupska Lucyna , Dymarek Robert , Taradaj Jakub
Published: December 2015

The objective of the study was to determine the order of muscle recruitment during the active hip joint extension in particular positions in young visually impaired athletes. The average recruitment time (ART) of the gluteus maximus (GM) and the hamstring muscle group (HMG) was assessed by the means of surface electromyography (sEMG). The sequence of muscle recruitment in the female and male group was also taken into consideration. This study followed a prospective, cross – sectional, randomised design, where 76 visually impaired athletes between the age of 18–25 years were enrolled into the research and selected on chosen inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, 64 young subjects (32 men and 32 women) were included in the study (age: 21.1 ± 1.05 years; body mass: 68.4 ± 12.4 kg; body height: 1.74 ± 0.09 m; BMI: 22.20 ± 2.25 kg/m2). All subjects were analysed for the ART of the GM and HMG during the active hip extension performed in two different positions, as well as resting and functional sEMG activity of each muscle. Between gender differences were comprised and the correlations between the ART of the GM and HMG with their functional sEMG activity during hip extension in both positions were shown. No significant differences between the ART of the GM and HMG were found (p>0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant difference of ART among both tested positions, as well in male as female subjects (p>0.05).
Laboratory and Field-Based Evaluation of Short-Term Effort with Maximal Intensity in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Lencse-Mucha Judit , Molik Bartosz , Marszałek Jolanta , Kaźmierska-Kowalewska Kalina , Ogonowska-Słodownik Anna
Published: December 2015

Results of previous studies have not indicated clearly which tests should be used to assess short-term efforts of people with intellectual disabilities. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate laboratory and field-based tests of short-term effort with maximal intensity of subjects with intellectual disabilities. Twenty four people with intellectual disability, who trained soccer, participated in this study. The 30 s Wingate test and additionally an 8 s test with maximum intensity were performed on a bicycle ergometer. The fatigue index, maximal and mean power, relative maximal and relative mean power were measured. Overall, nine field-based tests were conducted: 5, 10 and 20 m sprints, a 20 m shuttle run, a seated medicine ball throw, a bent arm hang test, a standing broad jump, sit-ups and a hand grip test. The reliability of the 30 s and 8 s Wingate tests for subjects with intellectual disability was confirmed. Significant correlation was observed for mean power between the 30 s and 8 s tests on the bicycle ergometer at a moderate level (r >0.4). Moreover, significant correlations were indicated between the results of laboratory tests and field tests, such as the 20 m sprint, the 20 m shuttle run, the standing long jump and the medicine ball throw. The strongest correlation was in the medicine ball throw. The 30 s Wingate test is a reliable test assessing maximal effort in subjects with intellectual disability. The results of this research confirmed that the 8 s test on a bicycle ergometer had a moderate correlation with the 30 s Wingate test in this population, thus, this comparison needs further investigation to examine alternativeness of the 8 s to 30 s Wingate tests. The non-laboratory tests could be used to indirectly assess performance in short-term efforts with maximal intensity.
Hand Grip Strength Vs. Sprint Effectiveness in Amputee Soccer Players
Authors: Wieczorek Marta , Wiliński Wojciech , Struzik Artur , Rokita Andrzej
Published: December 2015

Amputee soccer is one of the types of soccer designed for the disabled, especially those who have undergone amputations, as well as those with extremity dysfunction. The objective of the study was to find the relationship between hand grip strength and sprint time in amputee soccer players. Thirteen field amputee soccer players participated in the study. A SAEHAN hydraulic hand dynamometer manufactured by Jamar was used for hand grip strength measurements. The sprint running test was conducted over a distance of 30 m. The Fusion Smart Speed System was employed for running time measurements. No statistically significant relationships were found between hand grip strength of the left or right hand, and sprint times over 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 m. Analysis of the running velocity curve of the subjects showed an interesting profile characterized by a 15 meter-long acceleration phase and a significant velocity increase over a distance of 20 – 25 m. The study suggests that there is no relationship between hand grip strength and sprint effectiveness in amputee soccer players. The specificity of locomotion with the use of elbow crutches among elite Polish amputee soccer players probably accounts for the profile of the sprint velocity curve. Extension of the acceleration phase in the sprint run and a velocity increase in the subsequent part of the run were observed.
Comparison of Designated Coefficients and their Predictors in Functional Evaluation of Wheelchair Rugby Athletes
Authors: Zwierzchowska Anna , Sadowska-Krępa Ewa , Głowacz Marta , Mostowik Aleksandara , Maszczyk Adam
Published: December 2015

The objectives of the present study were twofold: to determine differences between groups by means of chosen coefficients and to create significant predictors using regression models for athletes in wheelchair rugby who had the same spinal cord injury (tetraplegia) and were classified as low point and high point players. The study sample consisted of 24 subjects, who had sustained cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI). They were divided into low point (n=15) and high point (n=9) groups according to the IWRF Classification System. A one-way ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences in the following coefficients differentiating the groups: AC (η2=0.778), LC (η2=0.687), IC (η2=0.565), SC (η2=0.580). The Tukey’s HSD post-hoc test indicated statistically significant higher values of coefficients in the HP compared to the LP group: AC=0.958 (p=0.022), LC=0.989 (p=0.031), IC=0.971 (p=0.044), SC=0.938 (p=0.039). In the HP group, the most significant predictor was the sum of visceral and trunk fat which was negatively correlated with the SC (what constituted a positive adaptive change in response to training). With regard to the LP group, body height and circumference of the chest appeared to be most significant predictors and were positively correlated with the SC. In the LP group no predictor with respect to the SC was significantly correlated to sports training. Therefore, the functional classification system confirmed lower status of the LP players. The results of the present study indicate that both metabolic and somatic profiles which highly determine potential of wheelchair rugby athletes are significantly different in LP and HP players, what confirms the reliability of the functional classification system.
Prototyping new concepts beyond 4G – The Fraunhofer Open5GCore
Authors: Magedanz Thomas , Carella Giuseppe , Corici Marius , Mueller Julius , Weber Andreas
Published: December 2015

The 5th Generation of mobile networks (5G) is expected to be rolled
out by 2020. New and revolutionary applications are already being
envisioned, real-time control of machines, the Tactile Internet for
wireless, Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things and self-driving cars,
among others.

To make this possible important enhancements and improvements in
today's existing telecommunication technologies form an
end-to-end perspective are required. Early testing and fast
prototyping of new approaches and solutions will help to shape the
evolving technologies. One of the technical enablers for 5G are two
concepts based on the softwarisation and virtualisation of the core
network, known as Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network
Function Virtualisation, NFV. Fraunhofer FOKUS has set up the
Open5GCore testing environment to start shaping, together with its
partners, the nascent 5G technologies by addressing these topics
together with other relevant technological developments. After a short
motivation, the architecture of the open5GCore is presented, followed
by a functional description of supported features.
SDN and NFV in the mobile core: Approaches and challenges
Authors: Jarschel Michael , Basta Arsany , Kellerer Wolfgang , Hoffmann Marco
Published: December 2015

The introduction of Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network
Functions Virtualization (NFV) has transformed the way networks will
be built in the future. This development also applies to mobile
networks and their evolution. How the SDN and NFV concepts will be
integrated exactly is still an open research question with multiple
approaches and techniques in discussion. This article provides an
overview of the current discussion points with regard to development
paths, building blocks, deployment scenarios, and the opportunities
and challenges of the new concepts in the mobile core network
context.
Softwarization of telecommunications
Authors: Manzalini Antonio
Published: December 2015

This paper argues that SDN and NFV principles are going to impact not
only the evolution of current networks, but also the services and
applications platforms. In fact, SDN and NFV, together with Cloud and
Edge Computing, can be seen as facets of a broader systemic innovation
wave (called softwarization) which is transforming the overall
telecommunications and ICT ecosystems. Specifically, the paper
proposes the vision of Software Defined Infrastructures (SDI) as
highly dynamic and pervasive telecommunications and ICT frameworks of
logical resources capable of executing (with a trade-off of
centralisation and distribution) any network and service
functions. Eventually, it is argued that, in this evolution towards
SDI, the border between the networks and the Cloud-Edge Computing
platforms will gradually disappear. On the other side, also the
distinction between the networks and the future “terminals”
(e. g., including machines, smart things, drones, robot) will
blur. This transformation will have profound techno-economic
implications for the telecommunications and ICT ecosystems, paving the
way to the Digital Society and the Digital Economy.
Can open-source projects (re-)shape the SDN/NFV-driven telecommunication market?
Authors: Tavernier Wouter , Naudts Bram , Colle Didier , Pickavet Mario , Verbrugge Sofie
Published: December 2015

Telecom network operators face rapidly changing business needs. Due to their dependence on long product cycles they lack the ability to
quickly respond to changing user demands. To spur innovation and stay
competitive, network operators are investigating technological
solutions with a proven track record in other application domains such
as open source software projects. Open source software enables parties
to learn, use, or contribute to technology from which they were
previously excluded. OSS has reshaped many application areas including
the landscape of operating systems and consumer software. The paradigm
shift in telecommunication systems towards Software-Defined Networking
introduces possibilities to benefit from open source
projects. Implementing the control part of networks in software
enables speedier adaption and innovation, and less dependencies on
legacy protocols or algorithms hard-coded in the control part of
network devices. The recently proposed concept of Network Function
Virtualization pushes the softwarization of telecommunication
functionalities even further down to the data plane. Within the NFV
paradigm, functionality which was previously reserved for dedicated
hardware implementations can now be implemented in software and
deployed on generic Commercial Off-The Shelf (COTS) hardware. This
paper provides an overview of existing open source initiatives for
SDN/NFV-based network architectures, involving infrastructure to
orchestration-related functionality. It situates them in a business
process context and identifies the pros and cons for the market in
general, as well as for individual actors.
Virtualization of residential customer premise
equipment. Lessons learned in Brazil vCPE trial
Authors: Cantó Palancar Rafael , López da Silva Rafael Alejandro , Folgueira Chavarría Jesús Luis , López Diego R. , Elizondo Armengol Antonio J. , Gamero Tinoco Ruth
Published: December 2015

This paper presents Telefónica approach for virtualizing
residential customer premises equipment (vCPE), showing how the
equipment at a customer's home can be simplified and how the
management of resources and services improves as
a result. This use case of virtualization enables the operator to
shift most functions from the residential gateways towards the carrier
own network, by running them on general-purpose servers at the
operator premises. This makes it possible that network functions such
as IP routing, IP address management (DHCP), address translation (NAT), firewall, Set Top Box functionalities (live TV,
VoD, etc.), etc. are maintained and
upgraded from the most efficient location. Because of the expected
high impact onto the economics of the Telco network operations, the
virtualization of the CPE is considered by the authors as one
promising use case of Network Virtualization technologies. The virtual
CPE approach is being tested in Brazil (where Telefónica operates
under the Vivo brand), and represents a great opportunity for learning
lessons on development and deployment of Virtual Network Functions
(VNFs). Some of them are summarized in this
paper.
State-Sponsored Sacrilege: “Godnapping” and Omission in Neo-Assyrian Inscriptions
Authors: Zaia Shana
Published: December 2015

Because of the symbolic and religious importance of cult statues in ancient Mesopotamia, these images were targeted on numerous occasions by invading forces as part of the conquest of a foreign polity. In the case of the Assyrians, triumphant kings would sometimes list cult statues from a newly-conquered city or group as spoils of war, alongside members of the royal family, their subjects, and their precious goods. Such acts of divine deportation are sometimes called “godnapping” in secondary literature. A conspicuous feature in godnapping reports is the paucity of divine names mentioned. Deported cult images are instead simply called “gods” of a foreign king, people, or city. Because godnapping has thus far been studied purely as a political tactic, the omission of names has been ascribed to the Assyrians’ disinterest in or ignorance of non-Assyrian divinities. This study proposes viewing godnapping not through a political lens but rather a religious one, arguing that the Assyrians would certainly have been aware of which cult statues they were deporting, and that they would have considered the non-Assyrian cult images gods in their own right. Focusing upon the religious and inscriptional traditions of the Assyrians, this paper seeks to demonstrate that omitting divine names in deportation accounts may have been purposeful and meant to prevent these gods from seeking retribution. Instead of using the traditional approach of examining the political ramifications for the conquered polity whose gods have been deported, this paper turns instead to the religious and psychological consequences for those who were deporting the gods and exposes the Assyrian perspective of godnapping as presented in their own inscriptions.
Phenotypic variations in osmotic lysis of Sahel goat erythrocytes in non-ionic glucose media
Authors: Igbokwe Nanacha Afifi , Igbokwe Ikechukwu Onyebuchi
Published: December 2015

Background: Erythrocyte osmotic lysis in deionised glucose media is regulated by glucose influx, cation efflux, and changes in cell volume after water diffusion. Transmembrane fluxes may be affected by varied expression of glucose transporter protein and susceptibility of membrane proteins to glucose-induced glycosylation and oxidation in various physiologic states.

Methods: Variations in haemolysis of Sahel goat erythrocytes after incubation in hyposmotic non-ionic glucose media, associated with sex, age, late pregnancy, and lactation, were investigated.

Results: The osmotic fragility curve in glucose media was sigmoidal with erythrocytes from goats in late pregnancy (PRE) or lactation (LAC) or from kid (KGT) or middle-aged (MGT) goats. Non-sigmoidal phenotype occurred in yearlings (YGT) and old (OGT) goats. The composite fragility phenotype for males and non-pregnant dry (NPD) females was non-sigmoidal. Erythrocytes with non-sigmoidal curves were more stable than those with sigmoidal curves because of inflectional shift of the curve to the left. Erythrocytes tended to be more fragile with male than female sex, KGT and MGT than YGT and OGT, and LAC and PRE than NPD. Thus, sex, age, pregnancy, and lactation affected the haemolytic pattern of goat erythrocytes in glucose media.

Conclusions: The physiologic state of the goat affected the in vitro interaction of glucose with erythrocytes, causing variations in osmotic stability with variants of fragility phenotype. Variations in the effect of high extracellular glucose concentrations on the functions of membrane-associated glucose transporter, aquaporins, and the cation cotransporter were presumed to be relevant in regulating the physical properties of goat erythrocytes under osmotic stress.
Synthetic Environments for Investigating Collaborative Information Seeking: An Application in Emergency Restoration of Critical Infrastructures
Authors: Mendonça David , Wallace William A. , Cutler Barbara , Brooks James
Published: December 2015

Large-scale disasters can produce profound disruptions in the fabric of interdependent critical infrastructure systems such as water, telecommunications and electric power. The work of post-disaster infrastructure restoration typically requires information sharing and close collaboration across these sectors; yet – due to a number of factors – the means to investigate decision making phenomena associated with these activities are limited. This paper motivates and describes the design and implementation of a computer-based synthetic environment for investigating collaborative information seeking in the performance of a (simulated) infrastructure restoration task. The main contributions of this work are twofold. First, it develops a set of theoretically grounded measures of collaborative information seeking processes and embeds them within a computer-based system. Second, it suggests how these data may be organized and modeled to yield insights into information seeking processes in the performance of a complex, collaborative task. The paper concludes with a discussion of implications of this work for practice and for future research.
Comparison of the effects of
Al
2
O
3

and CuO nanoparticles on the performance of a solar flat-plate collector
Authors: Munuswamy Dinesh Babu , Madhavan Venkata Ramanan , Mohan Mukunthan
Published: December 2015

To improve the efficiency of solar flat-plate
collectors further, a study had been carried out wherein the conventional
working fluid was replaced by nanofluids. A 25-L/day solar flat-plate water
heater with collector area of 0.5

m
2

$\text{m}^2$

has been designed and
fabricated. The thermosyphon system of the solar water heater was monitored
at 15 locations using T-type thermocouples. Alumina and CuO nanoparticles
were synthesized and characterized using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and X-ray
diffraction techniques and dispersed using ultrasonic mechanism.
To stabilize the system at an optimum level, the collector is operated with
volume fractions of 0.2% and 0.4%
of synthesized Al
2
O
3
and CuO nanoparticles mixed with distilled
water and used in the solar flat-plate collector. The temperature profile
was compared with different volume fractions of the nanoparticles in the
flowing medium. Enhanced heat transfer was observed in the solar flat-plate
collector using nanoparticles, and hence, it is inferred that addition of
nanoparticles improves the efficiency of the solar water heaters.
This paper details the temperature profile observed in the collectors, variation of
insolation over the day, and change in efficiency both on the primary side
(collector) and on the secondary side (storage tank) of the solar water heater.
Using Text Models In Diagnostic Tasks.
Authors: Korostil Yuriy , Korostil Olga
Published: December 2015

This paper contains developing of a method of solving diagnostic tasks for complex technical objects (STO) based on using text models (TMi) to describe the functioning of STO. A TMi model is a text description, in normalized form, of all fragments of STO functioning process. The description of TMi is for med using semantic vocabularies of different types, which are generated on the basis of usage of information about all the aspects of STO construction and functioning. Such interpretation description is a subject area for tasks of STO diagnostics. Detection of malfunction and deviations of a functioning process of STO from an established functioning mode is implemented on the basis of analysis of semantic parameters of text description of the STO functioning process in order to determine semantic anomalies which occur in the descriptions of the STO functioning process, as well as in the descriptions of fragments of its functioning. Semantic anomalies occur in case when values of semantic parameters go beyond their established limits.
Reasons For The Experimental Research Of Gas Outflows Based On The Signals Of Weak Interactions Between The Tested Model Of The Gas Pipeline, And Tested Equalizer
Authors: Rafał Grądzki , Karol Golak , Paweł Lindstedt , Błażej Bartoszewicz
Published: December 2015

This article applies diagnosing issues outflows of gas pipelines using specialized research equipment - equalizers. Variant with only two measuring devices (equalizers), arranged on the inlet and outlet of the pipeline, and the standard pressure transducers and flow rate were considered. The signals from the system and research equipment (equalizers) are the basis for the development of new method to test outflow of gas pipeline, which is based on the quotient of the power spectral density of signals generated by the equalizer (diagnoser) and signals measured using standard pressure transducers and flow rate. Possible use to analysis the signals power will allow go from signal diagnostic for more effective parametric diagnostic.
Reliability And Safety As An Objective Of Intelligent Transport Systems In Urban Areas
Authors: Oskarbski Jacek , Jamroz Kazimierz
Published: December 2015

Technologies that use transport telematics offer tools for strengthening urban transport systems. They rationalise the use of the existing infrastructure and transport management systems, increase their reliability and safety and improve the transport behaviour of residents, while reducing the operating costs of transport. The main reason for using Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) is the need to implement measures to reduce the negative effects of growing motorization and improve the quality of transport services in response to the fluctuating transport demand. The authors present ways to improve the reliability and safety of transport in the street network by using ITS solutions.