bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Children's consumption of rabbit meat
Authors: Escribá-Pérez C. , Baviera-Puig A. , Montero-Vicente L. , Buitrago-Vera J.
Published: September 2019

The nutritional and dietary properties of rabbit meat make it an ideal food for children, recommended by the World Health Organisation. However, the presence of children under 18 in the home has been found to decrease the frequency of rabbit meat consumption. If we focus on households with children under 18, 52.5% of minors do not consume rabbit meat. The main reason why children (intended as people under 18 yr old) do not consume rabbit meat is the fact that they do not like it (40.9%) and because it is not bought/eaten at home (30.9%). Faced with this situation, there is a pressing need to seek appropriate strategies to adapt rabbit meat for consumption by the youngest family members. In light of the results, the following strategies are proposed. First, the development of functional foods for babies and children, such as rabbit meat enriched with ω3 and docosahexaenoic acid. Secondly, improving meat tenderness. Third, adapting rabbit meat presentations for children (burgers, nuggets, sausages, marinades …), converting them into convenience products for parents and extending their shelf life. Fourth, adapting the labelling/packaging for children to attract attention of both parents and offspring. Finally, developing communication strategies on the nutritional value of rabbit meat aimed at both children and parents. It is observed that if minors consume rabbit meat, they also eat other types of meat such as lamb and beef more often. Therefore, in this type of households a varied and complete diet is consumed in terms of meat consumption, so it would be necessary to rethink joint communication strategies among the three meat sectors. Promoting rabbit meat consumption among the under 18s has several consequences, as in the future they will be in charge of household purchases or share this responsibility.
Molecular genetic diversity and conservation priorities of Egyptian rabbit breeds
Authors: Badr O.A.M. , El-Shawaf I.I.S. , Khalil M.H.A. , Refaat M.H. , Ramadan S.I.A.
Published: September 2019

The limited rabbit resources in Egypt are threatened by the danger of extinction, whereas genetic diversity studies of native breeds could play a vital role in conservation and improvement of these breeds. In this study, 3 native rabbit breeds: Gabali (G), Baladi Red (BR) and Baladi Black (BB), in addition to New Zealand White (NZW), were genotyped using 12 microsatellite markers. All the typed microsatellites were polymorphic by average number of alleles 5.25 per locus. Observed and expected heterozygosity per locus averaged 0.62 and 0.68, respectively. The average polymorphic information content was 0.71 and the highest polymorphic information content was recorded in locus SOL33 by 0.85. All the studied loci except SAT7 and SAT2 showed deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium with significant level. The inbreeding coefficient of the individuals relative to the total population was 0.07. The within-population heterozygote deficit averaged 0.07 and ranged from 0.141 in BR to 0.015 in BB breeds. The highest pairwise differentiation among the populations was recorded between BB and NZW (0.071), while the lowest value was recorded between BR and both of G (0.038) and BB (0.039). The lowest pairwise Nei’s genetic distance was recorded between BR and BB (0.190), while the highest was recorded between NZW and BB breeds (0.409). BR and G populations were clustered together forming an admixed mosaic cluster. BR recorded the highest contribution in the aggregate genetic diversity based on the three prioritisation methods used.
Update to Assessing Economics Damages in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation: The State of West Virginia
Authors: Barrett George
Published: September 2019

Current changes in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death in the state of West Virginia.
Finance & Development, September 2019
Authors:   International Monetary Fund. Communications Department
Published: September 2019

Finance & Development, September 2019
AGGREGATION IN LAND-COVER DATA GENERALIZATION CONSIDERING SPATIAL STRUCTURE CHARACTERISTICS
Authors: Wu P. D. , Yin Y. , Li C. M. , Liu X. L.
Published: September 2019

Abstract. Aggregation is an important operation for the generalization of land-cover data. However, current research often entails aggregation on a global perspective, which is not conducive to capturing the spatial characteristics of geographic objects with significant spatial structures, i.e., structured geographic objects. Hence this paper proposes an area aggregation method that can maintain the boundary characteristics of the structured geographic objects. First, we identify the structured geographic objects based on the description parameters of the spatial structure. Second, a Miter-type buffer transformation is introduced to extract the boundary of each structured geographic object, and area elements inside the boundary are processed with corresponding aggregation operations. Finally, the boundary of the structured geographic objects and the aggregation result of the area elements are inserted back into the aggregated result of the original land-cover data using the NOT operation. The proposed approach is experimentally validated using geographical condition census data for a city in southern China. The experimental result indicates that the proposed approach not only reasonably identify the typical characteristics of structured geographic objects but also effectively maintains the boundary characteristics of these objects.
Linking drought indices to impacts to support drought risk
assessment in Liaoning province, China
Authors: Wang Yaxu , Lv Juan , Hannaford Jamie , Wang Yicheng , Sun Hongquan , Barker Lucy J. , Ma Miaomiao , Su Zhicheng , Eastman Michael
Published: September 2019

Abstract. Drought is a ubiquitous and reoccurring hazard that has wide ranging impacts on society, agriculture and the environment. Drought indices are vital for characterizing the nature and severity of drought hazards, and there have been extensive efforts to identify the most suitable drought indices for drought monitoring and risk assessments. However, to date, little effort has been made to explore which index(s) best represents drought impacts for various sectors in China. This is a critical knowledge gap, as impacts provide important ‘ground truth’ information. They can be used to demonstrate whether drought indices (used for monitoring or risk assessment) are relevant for identifying impacts, thus highlighting if an area is vulnerable to drought of a given severity. The aim of this study is to explore the link between drought indices and drought impacts, using Liaoning province (northeast China) as a case study due to its history of drought occurrence. To achieve this we use independent, but complementary, methods (correlation and random forest analysis). Using multiple drought indices – Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), Soil Moisture (SoilM) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) – and drought impact data (on crop yield, livestock, rural people and the economy) correlation and random forest analysis were used to identify which indices link best to the recorded drought impacts for cities in Liaoning. The results show that the relationship varies between different categories of drought impacts and between cities. SPEI with a 6-month accumulation (SPEI6) had a strong correlation with all categories of drought impacts, while SPI12 had a weak correlation with drought impacts. Of the impact datasets, drought suffering area and drought impact area had a slightly strong relationship with all drought indices in Liaoning province, while population and number of livestock with difficulty in accessing drinking water had weak correlations with the indices. Based on the linkage, drought vulnerability was analyzed using various vulnerability factors. Crop cultivated area was positively correlated to the drought vulnerability for five out of the eight categories of drought impacts, while the total population had a strong negative relationship with drought vulnerability for half the drought impact categories. This study can support drought planning efforts in the region, and provides a methodology for application for other regions of China (and other countries) in the future, as well as providing context for the indices used in drought monitoring applications, so enabling improved preparedness for drought impacts.
In Search of Meaning: ‘The Hours’ and Meaning Construction
Authors: Calle Rosingana Gonzalo
Published: September 2019

This paper deals with the way in which certain meanings originate from the participation of a multiplicity of cues that emerge from different modalities. The analysis is based on the implementation of specific linguistic and cognitive mechanisms that trigger the generation of the audience’s unconscious construction of meaning. The corpus of the analysis concentrates on an excerpt of David Hare’s script (2002) of the movie The Hours: three women’s lives, by Stephen Daldry, that acts as the backbone of the analysis. The analysis is cross-referenced with parallel modality inputs (Kress 2009), such as specific filmic or visual details, found either in the scene or the rest of the movie. The approach of this qualitative study is mainly cognitive making special emphasis on the three types of underspecification proposed by Radden (2007a). It also draws from Langacker’s (2008) proposals related to attention and perspective to identify figure-ground relations as determinant in the molding of the characters and their ideological standpoints in the scene.
Estudio contrastivo sobre los adverbios de actos de habla en español y sus paralelos en chino: una perspectiva de semántica de eventos
Authors: Chen Chen
Published: September 2019

El presente estudio, basado en la semántica de eventos, profundiza en la diferencia de los recursos lingüísticos utilizados en español y chino para expresar las semánticas conceptuales de eventos de actos de habla con orientación hacia emisor o receptor, y observa la evolución diacrónica de los adverbios de actos de habla española y sus paralelos en chino, con el fin de descubrir la motivación de la diferencia inter-lingüística de las dos lenguas en contraste. El desarrollo diacrónico de los adverbios de actos de habla en español y sus paralelos en chino muestra un patrón de evolución similar, pero las dos expresiones en las dos lenguas, en contraste, se encuentran en diferentes etapas de lexicalización. La razón de la diferencia del grado de lexicalización podría ser, que los dos idiomas son morfológicamente diferentes. El español, rico en aspectos morfológicos, es más capaz de combinar varias semánticas de eventos mediante recursos léxicos; los adverbios se encargan de la proyección de eventos de actos de habla a la estructura superficial, pues, otras constituyentes semánticas conceptuales no necesitan obligatoriamente presentarse, y especialmente, la entidad semántica de los verbos enunciados se puede codificar implícitamente. Mientras el chino, como es una lengua que carece de aspectos morfológicos, tiene que recurrir a los recursos sintácticos para codificar el mismo concepto de evento, las constituyentes semánticas y, sobre todo, los verbos enunciados tienen que ser proyectados explícitamente en la estructura superficial. Nuestro trabajo también pone de manifiesto la viabilidad y la efectividad de la estructura conceptual compartida por las dos lenguas en contraste, que sirve como tertium comparationis en el estudio inter-lingüístico y abre una nueva perspectiva del análisis contrastivo entre los dos idiomas tipológicamente diferentes como el español y el chino.
Relationships as regulators of discourse interaction in Spanish
Authors: Romera Magdalena
Published: September 2019

In this paper we argue that in analyses of discourse interaction the relationship between participants must be considered as a parameter that conditions their linguistic behavior. A relationship is the result of the experiences shared by partners which create a “cultural code” between them. Each relationship brings a set of circumstances into play that regulates how members behave and how they interpret each other’s words and actions. Our proposal stems from observing how Spanish speakers who hold different types of relationships handle opposing points of view in conversation. Our results show that the expression and interpretation of dissent is linked to the interlocutors’ need to maintain the relationship in good terms. In order to protect relationships, the basic principle guiding interaction is to reach consensus. Additionally, the type and strength of the relationship condition the impact of expressions. Strong disagreement is allowed in strong relationships, as the risk for its affecting the relationship is low. Conversely, weak disagreement is preferred in weak relationships, since opposing views may result in higher impact.
The Systematic Review and Conception of Brand Socialization, Engagement and Loyalty Amongst Private Hospital Patrons
Authors: Narayana Nair Malathi Nair , Sheikh Ahmad Fauziah
Published: September 2019

Our study aim is to present the systematic review and conception of the potential research concerning brand socialization and brand engagement and how they find out about the brand loyalty among private hospital patrons. Currently, the health care industry in developing countries is playing a crucial role to cater for consumers’ needs and demands. The private health care industry in Malaysia is also of no exception—it is undeniably facing intense challenges in trying to deliver the best services to their patrons in the most effective and efficient manner. Of late, marketers, practitioners, and researchers are interested in analysing the key secret behind their engagement with their consumers. Moreover, it would be pointless for firms to spend a significant amount of time and money to build their brands with the patrons will be in vain if they fail to generate profits to stay for long in the industry. Thus, the interaction among consumers is boosted by brand socialization to build engagement which further affects the loyalty of the health care industry. However, as far as the conception process is concerned, researchers may have to deal with a lot of information about brand and branding from past literature which requires some systematic reviews that aim to identify, evaluate critically and assimilate the outcomes of connected and considerable studies so that more proper conception of the research framework can be obtained. The practical implications of this study will both enrich and benefit the researchers and marketers in the health care industry to increase the conceptions of appropriate branding constructs.
High Liquidity or Low Liquidity Is Better to Achieve High Profitability? Evidence from Banks in Central and Southern Europa
Authors: Nure Gazmend
Published: September 2019

This work investigated the impact of the bank's liquidity management in the profitability of the bank, considering the fact that different research has found that their relationship is negative in some other positive research. The relationship between these two components depends on the variables used to measure them. In this study are included commercial banks operating in southern and central Europe for the period 2009-2017. Following the study, it was possible to determine which is the optimal level of liquidity that gives us the highest level of profitability, and the results showed that not necessarily the high-level liquidity banks can achieve high-level profitability. The data had non-normal distribution, so as a technique of analysis non-parametric tests were used.
Liberdade de expressão na teoria democrática: conceitos e perspectivas
Authors: Barbabela Eduardo
Published: September 2019

Este artigo é uma revisão de literatura que tem como objetivo explorar a discussão sobre a relação entre liberdade de expressão e democracia, buscando compreender como as diversas conceptualizações desses dois conceitos se relacionam. Nossa pedra fundamental é discutir a diversidade de conceitos e aspectos teóricos e avaliar esse fenômeno considerando como ele é baseado. As avaliações do fenômeno da liberdade de expressão e democracia não serão feitas diretamente, mas através da análise de como teorias concorrentes definem seus conceitos e sustentam suas respectivas concepções.
Material didático do Programa NEJA - tensões entre possibilidades emancipatórias e currículo prescritivo no trabalho docente em História
Authors: Nicodemos Alessandra , Flor Débora Petrillo Grasso
Published: September 2019

Esse artigo problematiza elementos curriculares da política pública para a Educação de Jovens e Adultos (EJA) ofertada pela Secretaria de Estado de Educação do Rio de Janeiro, intitulada NEJA. Como elemento central de análise contrapõe o controle burocrático e pedagógico sobre o trabalho docente e as possibilidades mais autônomas e emancipatórias de uso do material didático de História, por docentes e discentes, em processos de escolarização de jovens e adultos trabalhadores.
Geotechnical hazard representation for seismic risk analysis
Authors: Giovinazzi Sonia
Published: September 2019

Seismic risk analysis, either deterministic or probabilistic, along with the use of a GIS environment to represent the results, are helpful tools to support decision making for planning and prioritizing seismic risk management strategies. This paper focuses on the importance of an appropriate geotechnical hazard representation within a seismic risk analysis process.

An overview of alternative methods for geotechnical zonation available in literature is provided, with a level of refinement appropriate to the information available. It is worth noting that in such methods, the definition of the site effect amplifications does not account for the characteristics of the built environment affecting the soil-structure interaction. Alternative methods able to account for both the soil conditions and the characteristics of the built environment have been recently proposed and are herein discussed.

Within a framework for seismic risk analysis, different formulations would thus derive depending on both the intensity measure and the vulnerability approach adopted. In conclusion, an immediate visualization of the importance of the geotechnical hazard evaluation within a seismic risk analysis is provided in terms of the variation of the expected damage and consequence distribution with reference to a case-study.
Tentative seismic design guidelines for rocking structures
Authors: Kelly Trevor E.
Published: September 2019

Many new and existing buildings have insufficient weight to resist overturning loads due to earthquakes without uplift. Previous versions of the New Zealand loadings code allowed simplified procedures for the design of rocking structures provided the ductility factor was limited to not more than two. The new loadings code, NZS 1170.5, removed this exemption and requires that a special study be performed whenever energy dissipation through rocking occurs. This paper presents a tentative design procedure intended to substitute for the special study required by the code. The resistance function of rocking walls was developed from the principles of engineering mechanics. The results from a series of time history analyses were used to develop a procedure to estimate maximum seismic displacements and empirical equations were derived to estimate the dynamic amplification of inertia forces. A substitute structure approach, using spectral displacements at an effective period calculated from the ductility factor, provided accurate predictions of the displacements from more sophisticated nonlinear analyses. Four example designs were completed and the predicted response compared to time history results. The procedure provided a satisfactory estimate of response for regular structures, but it was less accurate where torsional effects were significant.
Axial shortening of steel columns in buildings subjected to earthquakes
Authors: MacRae Gregory A. , Urmson Christopher R. , Walpole Warren R. , Moss Peter , Hyde Karissa , Clifton Charles
Published: September 2019

Steel members subject to axial compression and inelastic cyclic displacements, such as may occur during earthquake excitation, exhibit axial shortening due to material inelastic deformation irrespective of the occurrence of buckling. This column axial shortening can cause undesirable effects in the building, especially if it occurs to a different extent in different columns of a seismic-resisting system. This paper summarizes experimental and finite element studies to quantify the axial shortening of columns with known axial forces pushed to inelastic cyclic displacements. A flexural hinge model for a frame analysis program is developed and calibrated against that from experimental and analytical studies. Then, to quantify the effect of axial shortening on realistic moment and eccentrically-braced frames during earthquakes, inelastic dynamic time history analyses were conducted. While axial shortening of more than 7% of the column length was obtained during experimental testing, the axial shortening was always less than 1% of the column interstorey height in the steel frames studied. A method to estimate the axial shortening as a function of the expected inelasticity is developed. Finally, several new details are described in order to prevent detrimental effects due to axial shortening.
The Mw 7.6 Dusky Sound earthquake of 2009
Authors: Fry Bill , Bannister Stephen , Beavan John , Bland Lara , Bradley Brendon , Cox Simon , Cousins Jim , Gale Nora , Hancox Graham , Holden Caroline , Jongens Richard , Power William , Prasetya Gegar , Reyners Martin , Ristau John , Robinson Russell , Samsonov Sergey , Wilson Kate , GeoNet team
Published: September 2019

The Mw 7.6 Dusky Sound earthquake of July 15th, 2009, was the largest magnitude earthquake in New Zealand since the devastating 1931 Hawke’s Bay event (Ms 7.8). The earthquake was sufficiently large to generate at least a 2.3 m wave at Passage Point. Despite its large magnitude, this event resulted in relatively minimal damage when compared to worldwide events of a similar size. This can be explained as a fortunate combination of the sparse population of the area and the specific physical characteristics of the earthquake. Centroid Moment Tensor (CMT) solutions define the rupture surface as a low-angle plane and finite fault inversions confirm the slip occurred on the interface between the eastward-subducting Australian plate and overriding Pacific plate, initiating at about 30 km depth and rupturing upward and southwestward to about 15 km depth. The oceanward rupture directivity likely contributed to the lower intensity of measured ground motion than might be expected for such a large, shallow event. The amount of radiated seismic energy from the earthquake was relatively small, and far fewer landslides were triggered from this event than from the 2003 Mw 7.2 Fiordland event.
Seismic actions on acceleration sensitive non-structural components in ductile frames
Authors: Uma S. R. , Zhao John X. , King Andrew B.
Published: September 2019

Earthquake loadings standard NZS 1170.5:2004 has introduced new provisions for the design of building parts and non-structural components. The provisions include factors to define peak floor acceleration up the height of a building, and acceleration response amplifications for components that are quite different from overseas counterparts. In this study, acceleration demands on non-structural components located in ductile frame buildings are analysed under earthquake records from crustal and slab events, for design levels representing ultimate limit state and serviceability limit state.

A floor response spectra approach is used to study the demands on non-structural components. It is noted that the peak floor acceleration demands with respect to that of the ground are not amplified up the height of the building to the extent suggested in NZS provisions. The floor response spectra show peaks near the modal periods of the building indicating higher demands on the components with periods closer to the building period. However, NZS provisions fail to include this effect, since the spectral response amplification is defined independent of building period. Spectral demands exceed the NZS provisions at the fundamental periods of the buildings, more significantly at serviceability conditions, indicating potential failure of non-structural components with periods close to the building periods.

Following the analytical observations from the buildings considered in this study it is clear that the design provisions for non-structural components should be linked to the structural response for specific performance levels rather than the ‘life-safety’ performance level only that is currently adopted in the New Zealand design standard.
Overview of strong-motion data from the Darfield earthquake
Authors: Cousins Jim , McVerry Graeme H.
Published: September 2019

The Darfield earthquake of 3rd September 2010 UT and its aftershocks have yielded New Zealand’s richest set of strong-motion data since recording began in the early 1960s. Main-shock accelerograms were returned by 130 sites, ten of which had peak horizontal accelerations in the range 0.3 to 0.82g. One near-fault record, from Greendale, had a peak vertical acceleration of 1.26g. Eighteen records showed peak ground velocities exceeding 0.5 m/s, with three of them exceeding 1 m/s. The records included some with strong long-period directivity pulses, some with other long-period components that were related to a mixture of source and site effects, and some that exhibited the effects of liquefaction at their sites. There were marked differences between records on the deep alluvium of Christchurch City and the Canterbury Plains, and those on shallow stiff soil sites. The strong-motion records provide the opportunity to assess the effects of the earthquake in terms of the ground motions and their relationship to design motions. They also provide an invaluable set of near-source motions for seismological studies. Our report presents an overview of the records and some preliminary findings derived from them.
The Darfield (Canterbury) earthquake
Authors: Beavan J. , Samsonov S. , Motagh M. , Wallace L. , Ellis S. , Palmer N.
Published: September 2019

High quality GPS and differential InSAR data have been collected for determining the ground deformation associated with the September 2010 Darfield (Canterbury) earthquake. We report preliminary results from a subset of these data and derive a preliminary source model for the earthquake. While the majority of moment release in the earthquake occurred on the strike-slip Greendale Fault a number of other fault segments were active during the earthquake including a steeply southeast-dipping thrust fault coincident with the earthquake hypocentre.
Impact of the Darfield earthquake on the electrical power system infrastructure
Authors: Watson Neville R.
Published: September 2019

This paper gives a brief summary of the performance of the electrical infrastructure in the earthquake that struck Christchurch and surrounding regions on 4th September 2010.
The Essence of the Elementary Charge and the Derivation and Calculation of the Electron Inertial Mass
Authors: Barak Shlomo
Published: September 2019

We consider Electric Charge (Barak, 2019) as merely a space deformation. Positive charge is a contracted zone of space and negative charge - a dilated zone. The field of the electric charge is a smooth continuation from this zone to infinity, of a diminishing contraction or dilation of space. This consideration enables us to derive theoretically, with no phenomenology, the Maxwell theory of electrostatics. Together with the Lorentz Transformation we derive (a known derivation procedure) Maxwell’s theory in its entirety.

Our geometry of deformed zones of space (Barak, 2019), rather than Riemannian geometry of bent manifolds, enables us to attribute positive curvature to a contracted zone of space, i.e., to a positive charge, and negative curvature to a negative charge. This enables us to apply General Relativity (GR) in our derivations, and show that the positive elementary charge can be considered a kind of black hole, whereas the negative elementary charge - a white hole.

Based on the above we construct a model of the Electron (and other elementary particles) and derive and calculate its attributes, including inertial mass and spin. Neither the Standard Model nor String Theory has provided such results.

The equations for these masses contain only the constants G, c, ℏ  and α (the fine structure constant). Our calculated results comply with CODATA 2014.
The Influence of Social Interaction Learning Model, Learning Motivation, Social Attitude on the Student Learning Result of Geographic Subject in Public Senior High Schools in Aceh Province
Authors: Syaeri Muhammad
Published: September 2019

Purpose – The aim of this research is to test the difference of sudents learning outcome of Geographic subject taught with social inquiry learning model, social simulation and students’ social investigation, social behavior, learning motivation of SMA in Aceh Province.

Design/methodology/approach – The research methodology employed in his research was quasi-experimental with the design using a Non-equivalent Control Group Design method. The experimental class and the control of this research are selected randomly. The subject of this research is ninth grade student of public SMA in Aceh Province, Indonesia. Based on the early observation that the researcher conducts, total public SMA in Aceh is 344 schools. This study took 3 (three) study group of every SMA to be managed as a research subject, which was a class taught using a group investigation, social inquiry, and social simulation learning method. Data analysis technique is inferential analysis intended to test the research hypothesis conducted by using varians analysis technique (ANAVA).

Findings – The findings that there are no differences in student learning outcomes of Geography subject taught with social inquiry learning models (A1), social simulation learning models (A2) and group investigative learning models (A3). There are differences in the learning outcome of geography subject and different social attitude, which is a high social attitude (B1) and social attitude (B2). There is an interaction between the learning model (A), social attitudes (B) and learning motivation (C). There is an interaction between learning models (A) and social attitudes (B). There is an interaction between learning model (A) and learning motivation (C). There is an interaction between learning model (A) and learning motivation (C).

Originality/value – The research on the application of social interaction learning model to improve learning motivation, social attitude, and students learning outcome at the geographic subject of SMA in Aceh Province, Indonesia.
Ethyl acetate fraction of Psorospermum febrifugum Spach aqueous extract did not exhibit acute or sub-chronic toxicity. Experimental study on Wistar rats
Authors: Agbogba F , Sènou M , Tchogou AP , Lokonon JE , Sacramento TI , Medoatinsa E , Kanfon RE , Atakpa E , Dougnon TV , Agbangnan DCP , Loko F , Lalèyè A , Atègbo JM , Baba-Moussa SL , Agbonon A , Sèzan A
Published: September 2019

Psorospermum febrifugum Spach (Clusiaceae) was a tropical plant whose root bark was used to treat anemia. This work aimed to evaluate the safety of the ethyl acetate fraction of the aqueous extract of this bark. Methods: The ethyl acetate fraction of the extract was administered to Wistar rats in a single dose of 2000 mg / Kg body weight for acute oral toxicity test or daily doses of 200 mg / Kg of body weight during 28 days for sub-chronic oral toxicity test, as recommended by the OECD. At day 0, then at day 14 for the acute phase and day 28 for the sub-chronic phase, the rats were weighed and their blood collected for tests. The activity of transaminases AST and ALT were measured in the liver function tests, blood urea and creatinine were measured for renal function tests and blood leukocytes were counted for the immune balance. These analyzes were supplemented by the histology of the liver, kidneys and spleen, an immune organ. Results: In acute and sub-chronic oral toxicity tests, rat’s weight, liver, kidney and immune balances as well as these organs histology were not affected, suggesting the safety of the extract fraction. Conclusion: The ethyl acetate fraction of the aqueous extract of the root bark of Psorospermum febrifugum did not reveal any acute or sub-chronic oral toxicity. This effect could be related to its richness in flavonoids which have cytoprotective effects. The study of biological tolerance deserves to be continued by the chronic toxicity test and appropriate clinical trials.
An Empirical Study on Determinants of Business Performance of Korean Non-life Insurance Companies (Focused on ROA)
Authors: Kim Sang Youl , Park Sang-Bum
Published: September 2019

This study examines the total asset profitability, which is an indicator of business performance, using panel data for 10 years from 2005 to 2015 for 10 domestic insurance companies.

We analyze the factors affecting the ROA, compare the differences between before and after the enactment of the Capital Market Act, and assess the level of total assets of domestic insurance companies. Total Asset Margins As a result of analyzing the eight independent variables in order to identify the factors that affect the dependent variable, the factors affecting the total asset margins are (4) investment operating profit, insurance operating profit, business expense, appear. Among them, investment profits were the most influential factors. On the other hand, the factors affecting (-) the total asset profitability were analyzed as total capital, premium, leverage, and loss ratio. In particular, the total amount of capital has the largest negative impact on total assets. As a result of analyzing whether or not the total assets profit rate before and after enforcement of the Capital Market Act is the same, ROA, leverage, and period of operation were found to be the same before and after the Capital Market Act. On the other hand, insurance premiums, insurance operating profits, investment operating profits, business expenses, loss ratios, and total capital were analyzed before and after the implementation of the Capital Market Act. According to the results of the analysis of the total assets profit rate and the amount of the premium insurance, the second group has a 0.4% lower ROA than the first group but the third group is 41.8% lower than the first group. In other words, it can be seen that the ratio of total assets is lower than that of large companies.
Planning, Justice and LGBT Urban Politics in Tel-Aviv: A Queer Dilemma
Authors: Misgav Chen
Published: September 2019

The paper discusses planning policies and urban politics, their relation to LGBT communities in the city, and their potential to promote spatial justice within the local planning policies. The paper briefly reviews the main theoretical issues discussed in the literature regarding the connection between planning and sexuality. It also reviews three theoretical concepts of justice that relate to planning policy and urban politics: distributive Justice, procedural justice and recognition. The case study of the Gay Center at Tel Aviv’s Meir Park is analyzed with reference to these three spatial justice concepts. The main argument is that the center is a clear example of distributive and procedural justice. However, when we analyze this case study in light of the concept of recognition, the findings are somewhat ambiguous. On the one hand, the case of the Gay Center indicates growing recognition of Tel Aviv’s LGBT community. On the other hand, a queer analysis shows that this recognition is partial as it is limited to certain parts of the community and to spaces frequented by LGBTs in Tel-Aviv.
Johnston, Lynda (2019). Transforming gender, sex and place: Gender variant geographies
Authors: Ortiz Guitart Anna
Published: September 2019

Johnston, Lynda (2019)Transforming gender, sex and place: Gender variant geographiesOxon i Nova York: Routledge, 191 p.ISBN 9781472454799
Browne, Kath i Ferreira, Eduarda (2015). Lesbian Geographies: Gender, Place and Power
Authors: Soler Rodríguez Laura
Published: September 2019

Browne, Kath i Ferreira, Eduarda (2015)Lesbian Geographies: Gender, Place and PowerLondres: Routledge, 286 p.ISBN 978-1472443950
Rodó-de-Zárate, Maria; Jorba Grau, Marta; Foradada Villar, Mireia i Batlle Manonelles, Ares (eds.) (2017). Terra de ningú: Perspectives feministes sobre la independència
Authors: Roqueta-Fernàndez Marta
Published: September 2019

Rodó-de-Zárate, Maria; Jorba Grau, Marta; Foradada Villar, Mireia i Batlle Manonelles, Ares (eds.) (2017)Terra de ningú: Perspectives feministes sobre la independènciaBarcelona: Pol·len Edicions, 437 p.ISBN 978-84-16828-22-7
Historical gardens and their potential use for proecological development of urban green space, as illustrated by Felin Manor Park in Lublin, Poland
Authors: Milecka Małgorzata , Kot Natalia , Malawski Seweryn
Published: September 2019

Historical urban parks are particularly valuable in terms of their ecology, as they offer habitats to many valuable flora and fauna. A study was conducted in Felin Manor Park, Lublin, southeastern Poland, dating back to the end of the nineteenth and the first half of twentieth century. The aim of the study was to assess the suitability of this type of urban park for the proecological design of urban green areas that will comply with the legal requirements for historic gardens. The investigation demonstrate that long-living native tree species (e.g., Tilia cordata, Quercus robur, and Fraxinus excelsior) are the best preserved plants in this park. The dendroflora of the park is, however, characterized by a great variety of species flowering between early spring and fall. These reward species ensure continuity of the food base for insects throughout the vegetation season. A floristic inventory facilitated development of a concept for the restoration of the park combining cultural (historical, educational) and ecological functions. Tilia cordata was used for line planting arrangements along the park boundary. It is a component of the alley design along the driveway and is one of the most valuable nectar reward species. The survey allowed the definition of future design guidelines, i.e., the preservation of the historical park structures (formed by long-living native species) and complementation of the park dendroflora with species that are attractive for bees and other insect pollinators. To supplement their food base, it is recommended that a “bee garden” with herbaceous reward plants should be created.
The effect of methyl jasmonate and sodium silicate on the mineral composition of Solanum lycopersicum L. grown under salinity stress
Authors: Zamani Hassan , Arvin Mohammad Javad , Aboutalebi Jahromi Abdolhossein , Abdossi Vahid , Mohammadi Torkashvand Ali
Published: September 2019

Soil and water salinities have become a major problem for agricultural activities as they can negatively affect crop yield in different ways. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and sodium silicate (Si) on the content of selected mineral elements in the leaves of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under salinity stress. A fully randomized block experimental design was used with three factors, including three levels of salinity (0, 4, and 6 dS m−1), Si (0, 4, and 8 mM), and MeJA (0, 5, and 7.5 µM). Main plots were allocated to the three levels of salinity and the subplots were devoted to MeJA and Si levels. An increase in MeJA concentration was related to an 8.5% increase in leaf P content. When MeJA was applied at high salinity levels, the Na, Ca, and Mn concentrations decreased, but Fe increased. The application of 8 mM Si reduced the concentration of Cl by 50% at a salinity level of 4 dS m−1 in plants not treated with MeJA. The triple interaction of the factors was significant for K, Mg, and Cl (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the treatments used did induce significant differences in leaf Zn and N concentrations. The results indicate that MeJA and Si can partially mitigate the adverse impacts of salinity stress and contribute to an increased uptake of nutrients under saline conditions.
Effect of thermal activity on the differentiation of the vegetation of the “Ruda” postmining heap in Zabrze (Poland)
Authors: Hanczaruk Robert , Kompała-Bąba Agnieszka
Published: September 2019

This paper presents the results of a study on the vegetation of the thermally active postmining heap “Ruda” in Zabrze (Poland). The aims of the study were: (i) to show the differentiation of the vegetation that has developed as a result of the thermal activity, and (ii) to determine the effect of thermal activity of the spoil heap on species richness and species diversity of the vegetation. Twelve plant communities were recorded on the heap. Thermal activity has a statistically significant impact on species richness (Z = 2.13, p = 0.03) and species diversity (Z = 2.29, p = 0.02). The species composition of plant communities reflects the habitat conditions, which are conditioned by thermal activity. As the distance from a zone with increased thermal activity increases, the degree of the spontaneous succession of vegetation and the complexity of the vegetation increase. Moreover, the share of annual species and kenophytes decreases in favor of perennial plants and apophytes. The number of plant communities (from four to eight), their species richness (number of species from 15 to 22) and species diversity (Shannon–Wiener diversity index from 1.81 to 2.19) also increase. A DCA analysis showed an increase in the shading, humidity and pH of the substrate, and the thickness of the dead organic matter within the gradient of the thermal activity.
Enhancement of total antioxidants and flavonoid (quercetin) by methyl jasmonate elicitation in tissue cultures of onion (Allium cepa L.)
Authors: Iqbal Mohammed Shariq , Iqbal Zahra , Ansari Mohammad Israil
Published: September 2019

The onion (Allium cepa) is a vegetable used extensively all over the world both for culinary purposes as well as in medicine. Its medicinal values are due to the high levels of biologically-active compounds present within the bulb. There are various phytochemicals of therapeutic importance found in A. cepa. Quercetin, a flavonoid, is one of these phytochemicals and it is a potent antioxidant. Allium cepa is a dietary supplement and is beneficial for diverse ailments, thus justifying its status as a valuable medicinal plant. Due to its medicinal significance, elicitation of total antioxidants and quercetin levels have been attempted to enhance their production in tissue callus cultures. This study reports in vitro enhancement of total antioxidants and quercetin in A. cepa using methyl jasmonate as an elicitor. A reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was used with an isocratic system and a flow rate of 1.0 mL min−1 and a mobile phase of acetonitrile: 1% v/v acetic acid (60%:40% v/v). The detection wavelength was 362 nm and the retention time 8.79 minutes. Total antioxidant and quercetin contents were maximal with 100 µM of methyl jasmonate in leaf tissue callus cultures at 84.61 ±6.03% and 0.81 ±0.03 mg g−1 dry cell weight, respectively. They decreased with further increases of methyl jasmonate at 200 µM. The increase in total antioxidant and quercetin contents were 2.3- and 13.9-fold, respectively. The optimization of methyl jasmonate as an elicitor, as well as the determination of a suitable concentration in A. cepa in callus cultures, will be helpful for enhanced production of various other secondary metabolites of therapeutic significance. This could be beneficial for the pharmaceutical and neutraceutical industries for herbal drug formulations.
Occurrence of Trichocolea tomentella (Ehrh.) Dumort. (Marchantiophyta, Trichocoleaceae) in the Polish Carpathians: distribution, habitat preferences, current threats, and recommendations
Authors: Klama Henryk , Stebel Adam , Salachna Anna , Zubel Robert
Published: September 2019

This paper describes the vertical and horizontal distribution, habitat preferences, threats, and conservation status of Trichocolea tomentella in the Polish Carpathians based on the analyses of 138 localities. The species prefers wetland habitats, mostly within forests, such as areas in the vicinity of springs (34% stands), stream banks (32%), wet parts of the forest floor (20%), and mountain bogs (16%). As a consequence of the decrease in the areas of these habitat types, localities of T. tomentella are threatened with extinction. Therefore, according to the IUCN standards, this species should be placed in the near threatened (NT) category in the Polish Carpathians.
Laserocarpum, a new genus of Apiaceae endemic to Greece
Authors: Spalik Krzysztof , Wojewódzka Aneta , Constantinidis Theophanis , Downie Stephen R. , Gierek Michał , Banasiak Łukasz
Published: September 2019

Laserpitium pseudomeum is an endemic umbellifer of Greece occurring in the mountains of Sterea Ellas and northern Peloponnese. Molecular data indicate that it is not related to its putative congeners, but instead constitutes an isolated lineage. The nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS tree places it as a weakly supported sister group to Portenschlagiella ramosissima, the sole species in its genus, whereas the tree inferred from three noncoding cpDNA loci does not confirm this relationship. Portenschlagiella ramosissima is sometimes placed in Athamanta, an affinity supported neither by molecular data nor by fruit morphology. Laserpitium pseudomeum notably differs from P. ramosissima in vegetative, flower, and fruit characteristics, and no obvious morphological synapomorphies indicate their close relationship. Therefore, we place L. pseudomeum in the newly described genus Laserocarpum and lectotypify the species with the specimen Orphanides 2019 (G00766460) at G-Boiss.
Zentren – im Krankhausbereich immer wieder Anlass für Konflikte
Authors: Malzahn Jürgen , Nentwig Thomas
Published: September 2019

Zentren sind im Krankenhausrecht rechtlich nicht näher definiert - gleichwohl wird eine gesonderte Finanzierung über Zuschläge gesetzlich geregelt. Patienten, Bund und Länder, aber auch die Krankenkassen haben unterschiedliche Erwartungen an die Ausgestaltung von Zentren und an Inhalt und Finanzierung von Zentrumsstrukturen. Der Beitrag stellt die unterschiedlichen Motive sowie den Umgang mit Zentren und deren Finanzierung in Gesetzen und Urteilen dar. Stellt man Patienteninteressen in den Mittelpunkt der Betrachtung, gab es mit der Einbeziehung des G-BA zwar einen großen Schritt in die richtige Richtung - es bleiben aber weitere Herausforderungen.
Sektorenübergreifende Sicherstellung – Revolution oder Chimäre?
Authors: von Stillfried Dominik , Czihal Thomas
Published: September 2019

Die Abstimmung zwischen den Beteiligten in der Akut- und Notfallversorgung kann und muss verbessert werden. Dies ist notwendig, um diese effizient sicherstellen zu können - und auch ein Testfall für die sektorenübergreifende Sicherstellung insgesamt. Neue Institutionen mit eigenem Leistungserbringerstatus sind aber nicht Teil der Lösung, sondern schaffen nur zusätzliche Probleme.
Innovationsfonds – Anschub für neue Versorgungsformen und -strukturen?
Authors: Hecken Josef
Published: September 2019

Die im GKV-VSG vorgesehene Laufzeit des Innova- tionsfonds von vier Jahren nähert sich dem Ende. Entsprechend den Vereinbarungen im Koalitionsvertrag sieht der am 10. Juli 2019 beschlossene Kabinettsentwurf des Digitale-Versorgung-Gesetz - DVG eine Fortführung des Innovationsfonds bis zum Jahr 2024 mit einer jährlichen Fördersumme von 200 Millionen Euro vor. Die folgende Zwischenbilanz zeigt auf, welche Impulse der Innovationsfonds für neue Versorgungsformen und -strukturen gesetzt hat und welche Voraussetzungen notwendig sind, damit diese in den kommenden Jahren verstetigt werden können.