bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deradikalisasi Islam dalam perspektif pendidikan agama
Authors: Qodir Zuly
Published: January 2015

Physical or non physical terrorism is a form of radicalization that is considered the most extreme for applying new methods of relative in radicalization religion. The ideological war which is considered as the most advanced form of radicalization is a continuation of the religious world and the radicalization of form since 2000 in Indonesia. To reduce the various forms of religious radicalisation, the formal education is developed in Indonesia. The religious radicalization is a variant of the extreme movement that could be detrimental to Muslim in Indonesia based on data of literature, media studies and field observations.
Postmodernisme dan filsafat pendidikan Islam
Authors: Mukalam Mukalam
Published: January 2015

Philosophy of Islamic education is a field of study that has not been touched very much by the idea of postmodernism. When it is interpreted and constructed, the project of postmodernism is a critical metanarrative, the critic of knowledge objectivity and the critic of autonomy subject, that provides insight and new perspectives for the study of Islamic philosophy. Philosophy of Islamic education is developed to appreciate the small narrative and local knowledge; examine the relation of knowledge and power, and posture the subject instability.Filsafat pendidikan Islam merupakan bidang kajian yang belum banyak tersentuh ide postmodernisme. Bila diinterpretasikan dan dikonstruksi, proyek postmodernisme adalah kritik metanarasi, kritik obyektivitas pengetahuan dan kritik otonomi subyek, yang memberikan wawasan dan perspektif baru bagi filsafat pendidikan Islam. Filsafat pendidikan Islam dikembangkan untuk menghargai narasi kecil dan pengetahuan lokal; mencermati relasi pengetahuan dan kuasa; dan menyikapi instabilitas subyek.
Filsafat pendidikan Islam; Studi filosofis atas tujuan dan metode pendidikan Islam
Authors: Rohinah Rohinah
Published: January 2015

Islamic view of human beings and life are formed by harmomy principle and thecombination of senses , mind , and hearts of the faithful. The third harmony is the most fundamental epistemological base in Islamic philosophy .Thinking with full comprehension is intended as an instrument or tool in conducting research based on the epistemological framework. Thinking activity is regarded as a sacred duty in Islam, and thinking is a tool to deliver a progressive life, which is formed by absorbing the values of reality. The Islamic education should be a process that is able to produce “insan kamil” to maximize his full potential . The methods of education should commonly reflect the condition of integrative – interconnective that is capable to stimulate the development of maximum potencyPandangan Islam tentang manusia dan kehidupan terbentuk dengan asas harmoni dan gabungan antara indera, akal, dan hati yang beriman. Harmoni ketiganya itu merupakan pangkal epistimologis paling fundamental dalam filsafat Islam. Permikiran dengan penghayatan dimanfaatkan sebagai instrumen atau alat dalam melakukan riset berdasar kerangka epistimologis tersebut. Aktifitas berpikir dianggap sebagai sebuah tugas suci dalam Islam, dan berpikir adalah alat untuk melahirkan hidup yang progresif, yang terbentuk dengan cara menyerap nilai-nilai dari realitas. Pendidikan Islam harus menjadi proses mencetak “insan kamil” yang
Sekolah Islam terpadu; Filsafat, ideologi, dan tren baru pendidikan Islam di Indonesia
Authors: Suyatno Suyatno
Published: January 2015

Toward the 21st century, there is an interesting change in the trend of education (read Islamic education) in Indonesia . The dominance of educational institutions that consists of “Pesantren”,“Madrasah”, and Schools become different. It is based on the phenomenon that there is Integrated Islamic Schools in this country. The educational institutions,whicht have been spread to all parts of Indonesia, were established by some mosque activists at the ITB and UI campuses. The very rapid development of this school indicates that the Integrated Islamic School becomes the new trend of Islamic education in Indonesia. In this school, it is emphasized on the education of religious moral values and the excellent modern education nowadays. This kind of Integrated Islamic School has also proved a new style of the middle reislamization class of Indonesian Muslims. Menjelang abad 21, ada perubahan yang menarik mengenai tren pendidikan (baca pendidikan Islam) di Indonesia. Dominasi lembaga pendidikan yang terdiri dari Pesantren, Madrasah, dan Sekolah mulai bergeser. Hal ini ditengarai oleh fenomena munculnya Sekolah Islam Terpadu di negeri ini. Lembaga pendidikan yang telah tersebar ke seluruh wilayah Indonesia ini didirikan oleh para aktivis Masjid Kampus ITB dan UI. Persebaran sekolah yang demikian pesat menunjukkan bahwa Sekolah Islam Terpadu menjadi tren baru pendidikan Islam di Indonesia. Pada Sekolah ini ditekankan pada pendidikan nilai-nilai moral keagamaan dan pendidikan modern yang excellent saat ini. Sekolah ini juga memberikan corak baru mengenaireislamisasi kelas menengah Muslim Indonesia.
Pendidikan Islam dalam konsep prophetic intelligence
Authors: Hayat Hayat
Published: January 2015

Intelligence has connectivity to the educational process as a concrete step in the development of human character as caliph in the world to think of all God ‘s creation. Islamic education teaches a life of meaning to the concept of “amar ma’ruf nahi mungkar”. It is really clear that various concepts in Islamic education are not adjusted enough with the development period that is increasingly sophisticated and globalized. Islamic civilization has been built since the Prophet Muhammad SAW, and other thinkers in teaching a sense of knowledge that is based on Al- Quran and Al - Hadits as the main guideline.Prophetic Intelligence provides illustration that in transforming education through the concrete steps for being “insan Kamil” that is “rahmatan lil alamin”. Intelligence Prophetic provides illustration that in transforming education through the concrete steps for being ‘Insan Kamil’ that is ‘rahmatan lil alamin’. Kecerdasan mempunyai konektifitas dengan proses pendidikan sebagai langkahkonkrit dalam pembinaan karakter manusia sebagai kholifah ‘fil ardl’ untukmemikirkan segala ciptaan Allah SWT. Pendidikan Islam mengajarkan sebuahmakna kehidupan dengan konsep “amar ma’ruf nahi mungkar”.Tampak jelas bahwa berbagai konsep dalam pendidikan Islam kurang disesuaikan dengan perkembangan zaman yang semakin canggih dan mengglobal. Peradaban Islam sudah dibangun sejak Rasulullah SAW, dan para pemikir mengajar sebuah makna pengetahuan yang berdasarkan pada Al-Quran dan Al-Hadis sebagai pedoman utama.Prophetic Intelligence memberikan gambaran bahwa dalam mentransformasikan pendidikan melalui langkah-langkah konkrit untuk menjadi ‘insan Kamil’ yang ‘rahmatan lil alamin’.
More counterexamples to regularity for minimizers of the average-distance problem
Authors: Lu Xin Yang
Published: January 2015

The average-distance problem, in the penalized formulation, involves minimizing
(1) E
μ
λ(Σ) := ∫ℝ
d

d(x,Σ)dμ(x) + λℋ
1
(Σ),
among path-wise connected, closed sets Σ with finite ℋ
1
-measure, where
d ≥ 2, μ is a given measure, λ is a given parameter and
d(x,Σ) := inf
y∈Σ|x - y|.
The average-distance problem can be also considered among compact, convex sets with perimeter and/or
volume penalization, i.e. minimizing
(2) ℰ(μ,λ1,λ2)(·):=∫ℝ
d

d(x,·)dμ(x) + λ1Per(·)
+ λ2Vol(·),
where μ is a given measure,
λ1,λ2 ≥ 0 are given parameters with
λ1 + λ2 > 0,
and the unknown varies among compact, convex sets. Very little
is known about the regularity of minimizers of (2). In particular it is unclear
if minimizers of (2) are in general C
1 regular.
The aim of this paper is twofold: first, we provide in ℝ2
a second approach in constructing minimizers
of (1) which are not C
1 regular; then, using the same technique,
we provide an example of minimizer of (2)
whose border is not C
1 regular, under perimeter penalization only.
A Comment on “The Institutional Transformation of China’s Stock Exchanges: A Comparative Perspective” by Kay Lyu (AEL: A CONVIVIUM, 2015)
Authors: Ortiz Horacio
Published: January 2015

This note offers two short comments on Kai Lyu’s paper published by
Existence of nontrivial solutions to quasilinear polyharmonic equations with critical exponential growth
Authors: Goyal Sarika , Sreenadh Konijeti
Published: January 2015

In this article, we show the existence of a nontrivial solution of the quasilinear polyharmonic equation Δ
Prophylactic bioactive screw fixation as an alternative augmentation for femoroplasty
Authors: Hananouchi Takehito
Published: January 2015

Femoroplasty is theoretically a prophylactic surgical procedure for femoral neck fracture. Although bone cement is generally used for augmentation, its distribution cannot be easily controlled. This study investigated whether a bioactive screw is feasible for femoroplasty as an alternative augmentation material. A mechanical test was done to compare the strength of four types of augmentation bioactive screw (Superfixsorb), two bioinert cements, or no intervention in a composite femoral bone. The peak load to fracture under simulated falling was compared among the four groups. The mean peak load to failure in the bioactive screw group (2667 N) was significantly higher than that in the intact group (2391 N) (p=0.028), comparable to that in the Simplex P cement group (2864 N) (p=0.11), and significantly lower than that of the cranioplastic cement group (3022 N) (p=0.006). The strength of a composite femur with the bioactive screw was higher than that of an intact bone and comparable to one cement augmentation. Thus, this bioactive screw can be potentially used as augmentation material for femoroplasty.
Recent advances in biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease focusing on biochemicals, omics and neuroimaging
Authors: Ren Rutong , Sun Yi , Zhao Xin , Pu Xiaoping
Published: January 2015

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, involving progressive loss of the nigro-striatal dopaminergic neurons. Cardinal symptoms including tremors, muscle rigidity, drooping posture, drooping, walking difficulty, and autonomic symptoms appear when a significant number of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons have already been destroyed. Hence, reliable biomarkers are needed for early and accurate diagnosis to measure disease progression and response to therapy. We review the current status of protein and small molecule biomarkers involved in oxidative stress, protein aggregation and inflammation etc. which are present in cerebrospinal fluid, human blood, urine or saliva. In recent years, advances in genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and functional brain imaging techniques have led to new insights into the pathoetiology of PD. Further studies in the novel discovery of PD biomarkers will provide avenues to treat PD patients more effectively with few or no side effects.
Emerging biomarkers in the detection and prognosis of prostate cancer
Authors: Filella Xavier , Foj Laura
Published: January 2015

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is currently the most used tumor marker in the early detection of the prostate cancer (PCa), despite its low specificity and low negative predictive value. New biomarkers, including urine prostate cancer gene 3 (
Economic evaluation of procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy in acute respiratory infections: a US health system perspective
Authors: Schuetz Philipp , Balk Robert , Briel Matthias , Kutz Alexander , Christ-Crain Mirjam , Stolz Daiana , Bouadma Lila , Wolff Michel , Kristoffersen Kristina B. , Wei Long , Burkhardt Olaf , Welte Tobias , Schroeder Stefan , Nobre Vandack , Tamm Michael , Bhatnagar Neera , Bucher Heiner C. , Luyt Charles-Edouard , Chastre Jean , Tubach Florence , Mueller Beat , Lacey Michael J. , Ohsfeldt Robert L. , Scheibling Cara M. , Schneider John E.
Published: January 2015

Whether or not antibiotic stewardship protocols based on procalcitonin levels results in cost savings remains unclear. Herein, our objective was to assess the economic impact of adopting procalcitonin testing among patients with suspected acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) from the perspective of a typical US integrated delivery network (IDN) with a 1,000,000 member catchment area or enrollment.

To conduct an economic evaluation of procalcitonin testing versus usual care we built a cost-impact model based on patient-level meta-analysis data of randomized trials. The meta-analytic data was adapted to the US setting by applying the meta-analytic results to US lengths of stay, costs, and practice patterns. We estimated the annual ARI visit rate for the one million member cohort, by setting (inpatient, ICU, outpatient) and ARI diagnosis.

In the inpatient setting, the costs of procalcitonin-guided compared to usual care for the one million member cohort was $2,083,545, compared to $2,780,322, resulting in net savings of nearly $700,000 to the IDN for 2014. In the ICU and outpatient settings, savings were $73,326 and $5,329,824, respectively, summing up to overall net savings of $6,099,927 for the cohort. Results were robust for all ARI diagnoses. For the whole US insured population, procalcitonin-guided care would result in $1.6 billion in savings annually.

Our results show substantial savings associated with procalcitonin protocols of ARI across common US treatment settings mainly by direct reduction in unnecessary antibiotic utilization. These results are robust to changes in key parameters, and the savings can be achieved without any negative impact on treatment outcomes.
Enzymatic control of cysteinyl thiol switches in proteins
Authors: Deponte Marcel , Horst Lillig Christopher
Published: January 2015

The spatiotemporal modification of specific cysteinyl residues in proteins has emerged as a novel concept in signal transduction. Such modifications alter the redox state of the cysteinyl thiol group, with implications for the structure and biological function of the protein. Regulatory cysteines are therefore classified as ‘thiol switches’. In this review we emphasize the relevance of enzymes for specific and efficient redox sensing, evaluate prerequisites and general properties of redox switches, and highlight mechanistic principles for toggling thiol switches. Moreover, we provide an overview of potential mechanisms for the initial formation of regulatory disulfide bonds. In brief, we address the three basic questions (i) what defines a thiol switch, (ii) which parameters confer signal specificity, and (iii) how are thiol switches oxidized?
Cytosolic thiol switches regulating basic cellular functions: GAPDH as an information hub?
Authors: Hildebrandt Thomas , Knuesting Johannes , Berndt Carsten , Morgan Bruce , Scheibe Renate
Published: January 2015

Cytosolic glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH, E.C. 1.2.1.12) is present in all organisms and catalyzes the oxidation of triose phosphate during glycolysis. GAPDH is one of the most prominent cellular targets of oxidative modifications when reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are formed during metabolism and under stress conditions. GAPDH harbors a strictly conserved catalytic cysteine, which is susceptible to a variety of thiol modifications, including S-sulfenylation, S-glutathionylation, S-nitrosylation, and S-sulfhydration. Upon reversible oxidative thiol modification of GAPDH, glycolysis is inhibited leading to a diversion of metabolic flux through the pentose-phosphate cycle to increase NADPH production. Furthermore, oxidized GAPDH may adopt new functions in different cellular compartments including the nucleus, as well as in new microcompartments associated with the cytoskeleton, mitochondria and plasma membrane. This review focuses on the recently discovered mechanism underlying the eminent reactivity between GAPDH and hydrogen peroxide and the subsequent redox-dependent moonlighting functions discriminating between the induction either of adaptive responses and adjustment of metabolism or of cell death in yeast, plants, and mammals. In light of the summarized results, cytosolic GAPDH might function as a sensor for redox signals and an information hub to transduce these signals for appropriate responses.
Saving One’s Soul in an Age of Crises
Authors: Lehmann Hartmut
Published: January 2015

This article discusses the religious consequences of the ‘Little Ice Age’: first, renewed interest in devotional literature; second, witch-hunting; third, speculations about the Second Coming. Special attention is paid to notions such as Memento Mori and Vanitas.
Paradoxes of Christian Solitude in the Seventeenth Century
Authors: Quantin Jean-Louis
Published: January 2015

In seventeenth-century religious discourse, the status of solitude was deeply ambivalent: on the one hand, solitude was valued as a setting and preparation for self-knowledge and meditation; on the other hand, it had negative associations with singularity, pride and even schism. The ambiguity of solitude reflected a crucial tension between the temptation to withdraw from contemporary society, as hopelessly corrupt, and endeavours to reform it. Ecclesiastical movements which stood at the margins of confessional orthodoxies, such as Jansenism (especially in its moral dimension of Rigorism), Puritanism and Pietism, targeted individual conscience but also worked at controlling and disciplining popular behaviour. They may be understood as attempts to pursue simultaneously withdrawal and engagement.
Withdrawal and Engagement in the Long Seventeenth Century: Four Case Studies
Authors: Bruun Mette Birkedal , Havsteen Sven Rune , Mejrup Kristian , Nagelsmit Eelco , Nørgaard Lars
Published: January 2015

The Cistercian monastery La Trappe, Mme de Maintenon’s school for girls at St Cyr, the schools at A. H. Francke’s foundations at Halle and the community established within these foundations bring to the fore the dynamic between withdrawal and engagement and the medial expressions of this dynamic. But each case demonstrates a particular employment of architecture, texts, music and images in the service of withdrawal and engagement respectively. At La Trappe the liturgical life and the furnishing of the abbey church made manifest the appropriation of desert asceticism as well as the Cistercian origin. Meanwhile the ethos of isolation and devotional self-surrender was conveyed beyond the walls by means of treatises, letters, images and the reception of visitors. At St Cyr noble girls were taught to renounce the world. This aim went hand in hand with the disciplinary and educational profile of the school and the royal founders’ ambition of to educate the wives and mothers of French noble households. Three paintings produced for the royal institution embody this aspiration in a particularly illuminating way. In the two cases related to Halle, the juxtaposition of theological texts and concepts such as Gelassenheit, musico-poetical culture as well as material and visual expressions of the Pietist reform movement and the employment of the eagle motif contributes to a multi-faceted understanding of the dynamic between withdrawal and engagement and the relation between the withdrawn locus and the society in which it was set.
A Multi-core Shared Tree Algorithm Based on Network Coding for Multi-point Optical Multicast
Authors: Liu Huanlin , Yang Yuming , Li Yuan , Chen Yong , Huang Sheng
Published: January 2015

With the growth of multi-point to multi-point multicast applications, the optical network bandwidth resource consumption is increasing rapidly. It attracted more and more researchers to improve the limited wavelength bandwidth utilization for multicast applications in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) networks. In the paper, a multi-core shared multicast tree algorithm based on network coding is proposed to minimize the fiber link stress. The proposed algorithm includes three processes: searching the core node candidate set excluding core node loop path, selecting the core nodes from the convergence matrix based on heuristic algorithm, and constructing the multi-core nodes shared trees. The convergence matrix based on the heuristic method is constructed for selecting the core nodes from candidate core node set. To improve the limited wavelength utilization, we introduce network coding into the shared tree to compress the transmitting information. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm’s performance is better than the existing algorithms’ performance in terms of link stress and balance degree.
The use of pamidronate for acute vitamin D intoxication, clinical experience with three cases
Authors: Sagsak Elif , Savas-Erdeve Senay , Keskin Meliksah , Cetinkaya Semra , Aycan Zehra
Published: January 2015

Vitamin D intoxication in infancy has serious consequences attributable to acute hypercalcemia and subsequent hypercalcuria or nephrocalcinosis. Traditonal treatment methods is inadequate in some patients with severe hypercalcemia due to vitamin D intoxication. Our experience suggests that bisphosphonates may be an effective and reliable drug in the treatment of severe and persistant hypercalcemia.
Managing Foreign Investment in Agricultural Land in Africa: The Role of Bilateral Investment Treaties and International Investment Contracts
Authors: Ewelukwa Ofodile Uche
Published: January 2015

This paper seeks answers to three questions. What are the trends in terms of the role of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and land contracts in addressing complex environmental, social and governance issues implicated in foreign direct investment in agricultural land (agro-FDI)? Are countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) effectively using these two policy instruments to maximize the benefits of agro-FDI and to minimize associated risks and dangers? Do countries in SSA appreciate and are they effectively managing the complex interactions between international investment law, as encapsulated in BITs, and other regimes of international law, particularly the international human rights regime?
Status and population structure of a hunted population of Marco Polo Argali Ovis ammon polii (Cetartiodactyla, Bovidae) in Southeastern Tajikistan
Authors: Valdez Raul , Michel Stefan , Subbotin Andrey , Klich Daniel
Published: January 2015

Marco Polo sheep (
Adsorption behavior of samarium(III) from aqueous solutions onto PAN@SDS core-shell polymeric adsorbent
Authors: Mahmoud Mamdoh R. , Soliman Mohamed A. , Allan Karam F.
Published: January 2015

Adsorption behavior of samarium(III) radionuclides from aqueous
solutions onto a novel polyacrylonitrile coated with sodium dodecyl
sulfate (PAN@SDS), prepared by gamma radiation-induced polymerization,
was studied in this work. The developed polymeric adsorbent was
characterized by FT-IR, X-ray diffraction and N2
adsorption-desorption. The influence of some experimental parameters
such as pH, initial samarium(III) concentration, SDS concentration,
temperature, ionic strength and contact time on the adsorption
efficiency of samarium(III) was evaluated. Results showed that
adsorption efficiency of about 97% was attained for
samarium(III) in the pH range 3.8–7.5. The kinetic study showed that
samarium(III) was efficiently removed within 10 min and
equilibrium was attained at around 30 min. Six isotherm
models; Freundlich, Langmuir, Generalized, Redlich–Peterson, Toth and
Sips, were used to fit the adsorption equilibrium data, and the
best-fit three-parameter isotherms suggest that adsorption capacity of
PAN@SDS for samarium(III) to be 97.73 mg g
–1, which is
a markedly high value compared to most of the other adsorbents
reported for other metal ions. Using the
Dubinin–Kaganer–Radushkevich (DKR) model, the mean free energy E
was calculated as 1.569 kJ mol-1, which suggested that
adsorption of samarium(III) was dominated by physisorption. Results of
the thermodynamic parameters, ΔGo, ΔSo and ΔHo, showed that
adsorption of samarium(III) onto PAN@SDS was feasible, spontaneous and
exothermic in nature. Of the various studied kinetic models, the
experimental kinetic data were best fitted to the modified multiplex
model, and the adsorption process was mainly controlled by particle
diffusion. Desorption studies showed that 95% of
samarium(III) loaded on PAN@SDS were recovered using
2 mol L
–1 HCl.
Improving model performance with the integrated wavelet denoising method
Authors: Chen Yi-Ting , Sun Edward W. , Yu Min-Teh
Published: January 2015

Intelligent pattern recognition imposes new challenges in high-frequency financial data mining due to its irregularities and roughness. Based on the wavelet transform for decomposing systematic patterns and noise, in this paper we propose a new integrated wavelet denoising method, named smoothness-oriented wavelet denoising algorithm (SOWDA), that optimally determines the wavelet function, maximal level of decomposition, and the threshold rule by using a smoothness score function that simultaneously detects the global and local extrema. We discuss the properties of our method and propose a new evaluation procedure to show its robustness. In addition, we apply this method both in simulation and empirical investigation. Both the simulation results based on three typical stylized features of financial data and the empirical results in analyzing high-frequency financial data from Frankfurt Stock Exchange confirm that SOWDA significantly (based on the RMSE comparison) improves the performance of classical econometric models after denoising the data with the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and maximal overlap discrete wavelet transform (MODWT) methods.
First record of the rain frog Pristimantis myersi (Goin & Cochran, 1963) (Anura, Craugastoridae) for Ecuador
Authors: Rojas-Runjaic Fernando J. M. , Guayasamin Juan M.
Published: January 2015

Pristimantis myersi is a small Andean frog that inhabits paramos, sub-paramos and upper Andean forests at elevations between 2,900–3,275 m. It is known from about a dozen localities in the southern end of the Cordillera Central of the Colombian Andes. Herein, we report for the first time the presence of this species in Ecuador, based on ten specimens from three localities in the provinces of Imbabura and Sucumbíos. The species’ range is extended and a distribution map with the Ecuadorian records is provided.
Elagolix, a Novel, Orally Bioavailable GnRH Antagonist under Investigation for the Treatment of Endometriosis-Related Pain
Authors: Ezzati Mohammad , Carr Bruce R
Published: January 2015

Suppression of estrogen production and reduction of menstrual blood flow are the mainstays of medical treatment of endometriosis-related pain and have been traditionally achieved by methods such as combined hormonal contraception, progestins and GnRH analogs, all with comparable efficacies, though different side-effect profiles. Elagolix is the frontrunner among an emerging class of GnRH antagonists, which unlike their peptide predecessors has a nonpeptide structure resulting in its oral bioavailability. Phase I and II clinical trials have demonstrated safety of elagolix and its efficacy in partial and reversible suppression of ovarian estrogen production resulting in improvements in endometriosis-related pain. Phase III clinical trials are currently underway and elagolix may become a valuable addition to the armamentarium of pharmacological agents to treat endometriosis-related pain.
Doppler ultrasound study of portal hemodynamics in patients with Gaucher disease
Authors: Sarenac-Kovac Radmila , Perisic Mirjana , Tomic Dragan , Dimitrijevic Sladjana , Jurisic Vladimir
Published: January 2015

Gaucher disease is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of the
enzyme glucocerebrosidase and characterized by the presence of pathological
macrophages laden with glucosylceramide. Hepatosplenomegaly is a common
manifestation of Gaucher disease, but symptomatic portal hypertension is
rarely seen. The study included 20 untreated adult patients with Gaucher
disease (non-neuronopathic type 1) diagnosed with the presence of Gaucher
cells in the bone marrow, and 20 healthy subjects as controls. The
examination of patients included color Doppler ultrasonography (pulsed
Doppler mode), resistive index (RI) and Doppler perfusion index (DPI) using a
Toshiba Xario ultrasound machine and a convex array probe PVT-375AX (1.9-6
MHz) with the objective of analyzing portal hemodynamics. Results showed that
all patients had enlarged liver and spleen, and their average sizes were
significantly larger than those in the healthy controls (liver: 17.04
vs.14.02 cm; spleen: 22.2 vs. 10.74 cm). DPI values were significantly
different between patients and controls (0.15 vs. 0.21). Considering DPI
<0.15 indicates arterial liver hypoperfusion and hypoxia, it can be concluded
that a number of patients had a problem with liver oxygenation, which may be
linked to the high angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels obtained in the
patients (339.42 U/L), 10 times greater than in control subjects. Since ACE
is a potent vasoconstrictor produced by spleen macrophages in Gaucher
disease, we can suppose that elevated ACE is associated with effects on the
blood vessels of the liver and spleen.
Response Due to Concentrated Force in Micropolar Elastic Solid with Voids
Authors: Singh R. , Singh K.
Published: January 2015

The eigen value approach, following Laplace and Fourier transforms has been employed to find the general solution of the field equation in a micropolar elastic solid with voids for the plane strain problem. An application of an infinite space with impulsive force has been taken to illustrate the utility of the approach. The integral transformations have been inverted by using a numerical inversion technique to get result in physical domain. The result in the form of normal displacement, volume fraction, normal force stress, tangential force stress and tangential couple stress components has been obtained numerically and illustrated graphically to depict the effect of micropolarity and voids.
Preliminary Contamination Risk Assessment of Mining Waste Using Spatial Analysis and Geochemical Characterization of Rock Formations. Case Study in Hungary
Authors: Abdelaal Ahmed
Published: January 2015

The Mine Waste Directive (2006/21/EC) requires the risk-based inventory of all mine waste sites in Europe. The geochemical documentation concerning inert classification and ranking of the mine wastes requires specific field study and laboratory testing and analyses of waste material to assess the Acid Mine Drainage potential and toxic element mobility. The procedure applied in this study used a multi-level decision support scheme for the inert classification of waste rock material including: 1) expert judgment, 2) data review, 3) representative field sampling and laboratory analysis and testing of rock formations listed in the National Inert Mining Waste List, and 4) requesting available laboratory analysis data from selected operating mines. Based on a preliminary expert judgment, the listed formations were classified into three categories. A: inert B: probably inert, but has to be checked, C: probably not inert, has to be examined. This paper discusses the heavy metal contamination risk assessment (RA) in the Hungarian quarrymine waste sites. In total 30 waste sites (including both abandoned mines and active quarries) were selected for scientific testing using the EU Pre-selection Protocol. Altogether 93 field samples were collected from the waste sites including andesite, rhyolite, coal (lignite and black coals), peat, alginite, bauxite, clay and limestone. Laboratory analyses of the total toxic element content (aqua regia extraction), the mobile toxic element content (deionized water leaching) carried out according to the Hungarian GKM Decree No. 14/2008. (IV.3) concerning mining waste management. A detailed geochemical study together with spatial analysis and GIS were performed to derive a geochemically sound contamination RA of the mine waste sites. Key parameters such as heavy metals, in addition to the landscape metric parameter such as the distance to the nearest surface and ground water bodies, or to sensitive receptors such as settlements and protected areas calculated and statistically evaluated in order to calibrate the RA methods. Results show that some of the waste rock materials, assumed to be inert, were found non-inert. Thus, regional RA needs more spatial and petrological examination with special care to rock and mineral deposit genetics.
Mapping Freshwater Carbonate Deposits by Using Ground-Penetrating Radar at Lake Kolon, Hungary
Authors: Pécsi Eszter , Katona Orsolya , Barta Károly , Sipos György , Biró Csaba
Published: January 2015

Freshwater carbonate deposit, as a special phenomenon in the Danube-Tisza Interfluve, located in the centre of Hungary, is a significant geological heritage in the Carpathian Basin. At present there is not any applicable method to investigate the presence of carbonate layers in an undisturbed way, as neither vegetation nor morphological characteristics indicate unambiguously these formations. Ground-penetrating radar technology is widely used in various earth science related researches, and the number of applications is steadily increasing. The aim of the study was to determine the spatial extension of freshwater limestone using geophysical methods near Lake Kolon, Hungary. The lake, which is now a protected wetland area with opened water surfaces, was formed in the paleo-channel of the River Danube. Measurements were performed with the help of ground-penetrating radar, the results were calibrated by high spatial resolution drillings. Investigations have been made since 2012, and freshwater limestone was detected at several locations determining the more exact extension of the formation. Ground-penetrating radar proved to be an appropriate method to detect the compact and fragmented freshwater limestone layers in such an environment. However, based on the results the method can be best applied under dry soil or sediment conditions while the uncertainty of the results increases significantly as a matter of higher soil moisture. Further control measurements are necessary verified by several drillings in order to give an exact method to determine freshwater limestone.
The Role of Habitat Types and Soil Physicochemical Properties in the Spread of a Non Native Shrub Lantana Camara in the Doon Valley, Western Himalaya, India
Authors: Mandal Gautam , Joshi Shambhu Prasad
Published: January 2015

Invasive alien species colonize very aggressively and forcefully, menacing native biodiversity. The success of invasive alien plants is due to their opportunistic exploitation of anthropogenic disturbances, the absence of natural enemies, free from herbivory and frequently their allelopathic competition. Invasive species can have a significant impact on development, affecting sustainability of livelihood, food security and essential ecosystem services and dynamics. Lantana camara is a documented weed of worldwide significance; it is indigestible due to its toxic chemicals and highly competitive. In this study physicochemical properties of soil were analysed from different high and low Lantana infested areas. Significant site effect was frequently observed than effect due to invasion status. The present study tested the impact of soil properties in the measured and calculated attributes of Lantana by randomly sampling soil from the highly invaded and less invaded sites in different habitats using the Modified Whittaker plot design. Results indicated that edaphic factors such as soil pH, total nitrogen, soil organic carbon, phosphorus and potassium content positively influenced the growth of Lantana and helped in its own further invasion process. These factors were also positively influencing the measured and calculated attributes of Lantana such as canopy coverage, average crown diameter, shrub canopy area, phytovolume and biomass from all sites. However some attributes like shrub height and stem diameter were negatively influenced by these soil factors. The present results show that Lantana invasion can significantly improve the soil nutrient level but also positively increasing the chances of its further invasion with more copious plant attributes.
Interaction Between A Permeable Crack And Piezoelectric Screw Dislocations, Line Forces And Line Charges In A Finite Piezoelectric Cylinder
Authors: Song H. P. , Gao C. F.
Published: January 2015

The problem of a piezoelectric screw dislocation, line force and line charge around a permeable crack in a finite piezoelectric cylinder is dealt with in this paper. Utilizing the complex function and conformal mapping methods, the closed form solutions of the stress fields and the electric displacement fields are derived. The stress intensity factor and the image force are discussed in detail. The results show that the stress fields are in direct proportion to the line force, but independent of the line charge. The shielding effect produced by the dislocation increases with the increasing of the radius of the piezoelectric cylinder. Moreover, the unstable equilibrium point and the image force are also severely affected by the radius of the piezoelectric cylinder.
Assessment of DDT, HCH and PCB pollution of lake sediments in Poland
Authors: Bojakowska Izabela , Stasiuk Marzena , Wołkowicz Wojciech
Published: January 2015

In the years 2010-2013, 528 samples of surface sediments were collected from lake depths in the area of Poland. The content of 7 PCB congeners, HCH isomers and p,p’-DDT, p,p’-DDE and p,p’-DDD was determined using the GC-ECD method. The studies showed the common occurrence of organochlorine compounds in lake sediments in Poland. The presence of HCHs, at a concentration above the determination limit, was detected in 83.71% of samples, that of DDTs in 98.86% of samples, and of PCBs in 98.86% of samples. The maximum HCH concentration was 60.7 ng g-1, that of DDTs 602.9 ng g-1, and of PCBs 50.7 ng g-1, while the averages were 6.3 ng g-1, 19.2 ng g-1 and 2.8 ng g-1, respectively. High levels of DDTs are found in sediments of those lakes upon which major towns are located, whereas the highest HCH concentrations are observed in sediments of the lakes upon which holiday centres and agrotourism facilities have developed. The ratio of concentrations of total DDT metabolites to p,p’-DDT was above 2 in almost all samples, and the value was most frequently from several to tens (average 28.3). Sediments of some lakes contain higher concentrations of γ-HCH and DDT metabolites than their PEC values, the content of γ-HCH was higher in 1.89% of the analysed samples, the content of p,p’-DDE in 3.78% of the samples, and the content of p,p’-DDD in 7.38% of the samples. Concentrations of p,p’-DDT and PCB in excess of the PEC value were not found in any of the samples tested.
Factors affecting the distribution patterns of aquatic macrophytes
Authors: Dar Naseer Ahmad , Pandit Ashok Kumar , Ganai Bashir Ahmad
Published: January 2015

Aquatic macrophytes constitute important components of many freshwater ecosystems. The manifold role of aquatic macrophytes in freshwater habitats is closely linked to their distribution, which in turn depends on a myriad of factors. Foremost, among these are light, water temperature, water quality changes and nutrient enrichment, sediment composition and fluctuations in water levels. Light and temperature are of paramount importance in determining the distribution (with depth, season and latitude), thereby influencing productivity and species composition as well. Sediment compositions markedly affect the growth rates of macrophytes which in turn have a profound influence on the distribution of aquatic macrophytes. Water quality changes and nutrient enrichment can cause considerable variations in the species richness, composition, and density of aquatic vegetation. The reduction in water levels could bring drastic changes in the species composition and distribution of macrophytes. Factors associated with competition, herbivory, land use and land cover changes etc. also play an important role in shaping macrophyte distribution and community structure. In this review we examine both biotic and abiotic factors that influence the structural attributes like species composition, distribution, abundance and diversity of aquatic macrophytes.
Anthropogenic change in water bodies in the southern part of the Silesian Upland
Authors: Machowski Robert , Noculak Marek
Published: January 2015

The paper analyses the anthropogenic change in water bodies in the southern part of the Silesian Upland as exemplified by the town of Knurów. The assessment was based on topographic maps from the years 1827-1828, 1928-1936, 1960 and 1993, and on a 2011 orthophotomap. The cartographic materials used were processed as required for analysis purposes. Maps were calibrated in the Quantum GIS program on the basis of map corner coordinates and using the common points method. In Knurów, four main types of water bodies were distinguished with respect to their origins: reservoirs impounded by dams, flooded mineral workings, industrial water bodies and water bodies in subsidence basins and hollows. Historically, the first water bodies to appear were reservoirs impounded by dams, which dominated until the 1930s. They later fell into disuse and were completely dismantled. Water bodies in mineral workings formed in the early 20th century and were associated with the excavation of raw materials for producing bricks. The period of their greatest significance were the 1960s, when they constituted slightly more than 46% of water bodies in total and accounted for nearly 40% of overall surface area. At the end of the 19th and at the beginning of the 20th century, industrial reservoirs began to appear. Within the town of Knurów, those were sedimentation tanks that held mine water, washery effluent, backfill and cooling water, fire-fighting water pools and tanks, tanks at sewage treatment plants, industrial water tanks and others. Presently, these account for 41.4% (29) of the total number of water bodies and have a total surface area of 32.0 ha (25,2%). Within the study area, water bodies in subsidence basins and hollows only began to form in the second half of the 20th century. In 2011, such water bodies numbered 38 (54.3%) and occupied an area of 90.4 ha (71.2%).
The Intuitive Manager and the Concept of Strategic Leadership
Authors: Malewska Kamila , Sajdak Maja
Published: January 2015

The aim of this paper is to show the consistency of an intuitive manager’s traits and skills and a strategic leader’s attributes. The paper consists of three main parts. The first one presents the nature and evolution of the concept of leadership and contrasts the role of strategic leaders with the operational requirements of modern organizations. In the second part, we attempt to define the concept of intuition and characterize an intuitive manager. In the last section of the paper, a strategic leader’s attributes and an intuitive manager’s skills and characteristics are analyzed in order to show how these two categories converge
Reallocation of organic functions on the example of domestic subsidiary - a case study
Authors: Sobotkiewicz Dariusz
Published: January 2015

This elaboration discusses organic functions problem with respect to changes of their distribution based on an example of a domestic subsidiary that is a part of a holding. The theoretical part shows that the evolution of organizational structure and the change in the perception of the role of subsidiaries in the entire holding affect the reallocation of organic functions. The empirical part looks closely at the attempt to identify the changes that took place in organic functions placement at the level of a subsidiary as well as recognition how the changes affected organizational structure transformation. The elaboration ends with a summary in which the main findings of research are presented
Packaging waste in Poland - current status and perspective
Authors: Zarębska Joanna
Published: January 2015

The article presents the results of research, whose aim was to answer the question of how changing consumer trends affect the implementation of the requirements of the Waste Act and the Act on packaging and packaging waste. The new EU directive enacted in July 2014 tightens the requirements towards waste management in the EU, and this is especially evident in the increased levels of recovery and recycling of packaging waste. Surveys performed among students showed a high correlation between ignorance in the recovery and recycling of packaging waste and increasing level of efficiency in waste management. Surveys conducted among students and analysis of literature data show the relationship between environmental awareness of respondents and the level of effectiveness in the management of packaging waste
Political rents in the European Union’s agriculture
Authors: Czyżewski Bazyli , Brelik Agnieszka
Published: January 2015

Occurrence of land rents in modern agriculture of the EU is confirmed by the long-lasting upward trend in agricultural land prices. However, a question arises whether these rents are differential ones, linked with a different productivity of agricultural land, absolute ones in the classical sense, or political rents in the meaning of the public choice theory? The objectives of the article are mainly theoretical. The authors made an attempt at verifying the concept of land rent formulated on the basis of studies carried out in Poland. This time, the scope of research includes a cross-section of all agricultural structures of the EU. According to the above-mentioned concept, the source of a modern land rent is higher expected productivity of capital in agriculture than in its market environment. This phenomenon is often justified by paying political rents within the CAP. Is it really the case? The conducted research answers i.a. the question: in which countries and agricultural structures the possible difference of the abovementioned capital productivity is the biggest and to what extent it results from political rents or other factors?
ASIF in Poland in the light of national budget expenditure since 1991. Justification functioning system separateness among the EU countries
Authors: Czyżewski Andrzej , Matuszczak Anna
Published: January 2015

The purpose of this article was to show that the existence of ASIF, as an important element of the social insurance system for farmers in Poland is not unique on a European scale. There were shown relationships ASIF with the budget and the characteristics of social insurance of farmers in selected countries of the European Network of Agricultural Social Protection Systems (ENASP)
Processing of 3D Weather Radar Data with Application for Assimilation in the NWP Model
Authors: Ośródka Katarzyna , Szturc Jan , Jakubiak Bogumił , Jurczyk Anna
Published: January 2015

The paper is focused on the processing of 3D weather radar data to minimize the impact of a number of errors from different sources, both meteorological and non-meteorological. The data is also quantitatively characterized in terms of its quality. A set of dedicated algorithms based on analysis of the reflectivity field pattern is described. All the developed algorithms were tested on data from the Polish radar network POLRAD. Quality control plays a key role in avoiding the introduction of incorrect information into applications using radar data. One of the quality control methods is radar data assimilation in numerical weather prediction models to estimate initial conditions of the atmosphere. The study shows an experiment with quality controlled radar data assimilation in the COAMPS model using the ensemble Kalman filter technique. The analysis proved the potential of radar data for such applications; however, further investigations will be indispensable.