bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of the Interlayer Organization of Water And Ions in Smectite from the Combined Use of Diffraction Experiments and Molecular Simulations. A Review of Methodology, Applications, and Perspectives
Authors: Ferrage Eric
Published: April 2017

Investigation of the organization of interlayer water and cations in smectite is a permanent topic in clay science for environmental science, civil engineering, materials science, and industrial applications. Experimental X-ray (or neutron) diffraction methods and molecular simulations are key techniques to probe the organization of the smectite structure at a similar molecular length scale. The combination of both of these experimental and numerical methods represents a complementary approach to reveal the structural heterogeneity of real samples, design and model a wide range of smectite structures, and validate the simulation results through comparison with experimental data.

This paper first revisits establishment of the original interlayer model as developed in the 1930s for the organization of water and ions in the smectite structure using X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Then, based on a simplified approach, key theoretical tools are provided to calculate XRD pattern 00l reflections for a periodic smectite structure with a wide range of interlayer compositions and organizations using conventional spreadsheet software. In addition to educational purposes, this theoretical description is used to describe the principal parameters governing the positions and intensities of experimental XRD 00l reflections. This calculation toolbox is also used to determine better the layer-to-layer distances considered in molecular simulations and to validate these simulations through a detailed collation procedure using experimental data.

Recent examples of the application of such a procedure to collate experimental diffraction data and molecular simulations are presented for the specific case of deciphering the molecular organization of interlayer water and cations in the different smectite hydrates (mono-, bi-, and tri-hydrated layers). The extension of this approach to the interlayer refinement of organo-clays is also detailed, and perspectives regarding the characterization of other lamellar compounds are discussed.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Anion Exclusion in Clay Interlayer Nanopores
Authors: Tournassat Christophe , Bourg Ian C. , Holmboe Michael , Sposito Garrison , Steefel Carl I.
Published: April 2017

The aqueous chemistry of water films confined between clay mineral surfaces remains an important unknown in predictions of radioelement migration from radioactive waste repositories. This issue is particularly important in the case of long-lived anionic radioisotopes (129I-, 99TcO4-, 36Cl-) which interact with clay minerals primarily by anion exclusion. For example, models of ion migration in clayey media do not agree as to whether anions are completely or partially excluded from clay interlayer nanopores. In the present study, this key issue was addressed for Cl- using MD simulations for a range of nanopore widths (6 to 15 Å) overlapping the range of average pore widths that exists in engineered clay barriers. The MD simulation results were compared with the predictions of a thermodynamic model (Donnan Equilibrium model) and two pore-scale models based on the Poisson-Boltzmann equation under the assumption that interlayer water behaves as bulk liquid water. The simulations confirmed that anion exclusion from clay interlayers is greater than predicted by the pore-scale models, particularly at the smallest pore size examined. This greater anion exclusion stems from Cl- being more weakly solvated in nano-confined water than it is in bulk liquid water. Anion exclusion predictions based on the Poisson-Boltzmann equation were consistent with the MD simulation results, however, if the predictions included an ion closest approach distance to the clay mineral surface on the order of 2.0 ± 0.8 Å. These findings suggest that clay interlayers approach a state of complete anion exclusion (hence, ideal semi-permeable membrane properties) at a pore width of 4.2 ± 1.5 Å.
Structural and Spectroscopic Characterization of Montmorillonite Intercalated with N-Butylammonium Cations (N = 1-4) — Modeling and Experimental Study
Authors: Scholtzová Eva , Madejová Jana , Jankovič L’Uboš , Tunega Daniel
Published: April 2017

A detailed structural characterization of organo-clays is a key in understanding their properties. In this work, mono-, di-, tri-, and tetra-butylammonium (nBA; n = 1–4) cations intercalated in the layered clay mineral montmorillonite (Mnt) have been studied for the first time by combining a theoretical approach based on density functional theory (DFT) and infrared spectroscopy. The DFT calculations revealed the detailed structure and position of nBA cations in the interlayer space. A relation between the basal spacing (d001 parameter) and the cation size and structure was found, and explained with respect to the structure, composition, and size of the organic cations. Hydrogen bonds between -NHx/-CH3/-CH2 groups of the nBA cations and oxygen atoms of the basal planes of the Mnt layers were found to be an important factor for the arrangement and energetic stabilization of cations in the interlayer space. The N-H-O hydrogen bonds are stronger than C-H-O hydrogen bonds and the stabilization decreases with decreased number of bands. Analysis of DFT-calculated vibrational modes helped in understanding a problematic region of the experimental infrared spectra (4000–3000 cm-1), in which assignment of all vibrational modes unambiguously was not possible because of a significant overlap of broad bands.
Molecular Simulation of Cesium Adsorption at the Basal Surface of Phyllosilicate Minerals
Authors: Kerisit Sebastien , Okumura Masahiko , Rosso Kevin M. , Machida Masahiko
Published: April 2017

A better understanding of the thermodynamics of radioactive cesium uptake at the surfaces of phyllosilicate minerals is needed to understand the mechanisms of selective adsorption and help guide the development of practical and inexpensive decontamination techniques. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to determine the thermodynamics of Cs+ adsorption at the basal surface of six 2:1 phyllosilicate minerals, namely pyrophyllite, illite, muscovite, phlogopite, celadonite, and margarite. These minerals were selected to isolate the effects of the magnitude of the permanent layer charge (⩽2), its location (tetrahedral vs. octahedral sheet), and the octahedral sheet structure (dioctahedral vs. trioctahedral). Good agreement was obtained with the experiments in terms of the hydration free energy of Cs+ and the structure and thermodynamics of Cs+ adsorption at the muscovite basal surface, for which published data were available for comparison. With the exception of pyrophyllite, which did not exhibit an inner-sphere free energy minimum, all phyllosilicate minerals showed similar behavior with respect to Cs+ adsorption; notably, Cs+ adsorption was predominantly inner-sphere, whereas outer-sphere adsorption was very weak with the simulations predicting the formation of an extended outer-sphere complex. For a given location of the layer charge, the free energy of adsorption as an inner-sphere complex varied linearly with the magnitude of the layer charge. For a given layer charge location and magnitude, adsorption at phlogopite (trioctahedral sheet structure) was much less favorable than at muscovite (dioctahedral sheet structure) due to electrostatic repulsion between adsorbed Cs+ and the H atom of the OH- ion directly below the six-membered siloxane ring cavity. For a given layer charge magnitude and octahedral sheet structure, adsorption to celadonite (octahedral sheet layer charge) was favored over adsorption to muscovite (tetrahedral sheet layer charge) due to the increased distance to the surface K+ ions and the decreased distance to the O atom of the OH- ion directly below the surface cavity.
Comparative Computational Study of NP(V) and U(VI) Adsorption on (110) Edge Surfaces of Montmorillonite
Authors: Kremleva Alena , Krüger Sven
Published: April 2017

Sorption of U(VI) on clay and related minerals has been inspected experimentally and computationally because of its central role in safety considerations of geological repositories for highly radioactive waste. Np(V), which also has long half-life isotopes, has received considerably less attention. The purpose of the present study was to investigate computationally the adsorption of Np(V) on a clay-mineral surface and to compare it to adsorption of U(VI). As a sample case study, adsorption of Np(V) at the (110) edge surface of the common clay mineral montmorillonite was modeled. The density functional approach and periodic supercell models were applied. Mono- and bidentate adsorption complexes with coordination numbers 4 and 5 were inspected and compared to corresponding U(VI) species. While U(VI) prefers bidentate adsorption complexes with varying coordination numbers, Np(V) is more stable when monodentate-coordinated with a coordination number of four. In line with its smaller hydrolysis constant in aqueous solution, Np(V) shows a lower tendency to form monohydroxides on the mineral surface compared to U(VI). As no experimental geometry parameters are available for Np(V) adsorbed on montmorillonite, the results were compared tentatively to EXAFS data for adsorption at kaolinite and good agreement for the geometry changes due to adsorption was found for the more preferred adsorbed species.
Associations of Child and Adolescent Mastery Motivation and Self-Regulation With Adult Outcomes: A Longitudinal Study of Individuals With Down Syndrome
Authors: Gilmore Linda , Cuskelly Monica
Published: April 2017

This 20-year prospective longitudinal study focuses on the contribution of mastery motivation and self-regulation to adult outcomes for individuals with Down syndrome. In earlier phases of the research, 25 participants completed measures of cognitive ability, mastery motivation and self-regulation in childhood (4 to 6 years) and adolescence (11 to 15 years). In the adult phase reported here, self-determination and adaptive behavior were assessed in 21 of the original participants at age 23 to 26 years. Mastery motivation and self-regulation made unique contributions to adult outcomes, over and above the effects of cognitive ability. The findings provide powerful evidence about the important role of child and adolescent mastery motivation and self-regulation for the adult lives of individuals with Down syndrome.
Correlates of Common Mental Disorders Among Dutch Women Who Have Had an Abortion: A Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: van Ditzhuijzen Jenneke , ten Have Margreet , de Graaf Ron , van Nijnatten Carolus H.C.J. , Vollebergh Wilma A.M.
Published: April 2017

CONTEXT

Credible research has not found any evidence that abortion causes mental disorders. It is not known, however, whether abortion‐specific risk indicators and other variables are associated with the incidence or recurrence of mental disorders after abortion.

METHODS

As part of a prospective cohort study conducted in the Netherlands, 325 women were interviewed between April 2010 and January 2011, between 20 and 40 days after having an abortion; 264 were followed up an average of 2.7 years later. Associations between selected baseline variables and postabortion incident or recurrent mental disorders among the 199 women at risk were investigated using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Thirty‐two percent of women at risk of an incident or recurrent mental disorder experienced one after the abortion. In multivariate analyses, no abortion‐related variables (e.g., history of multiple abortions, second‐trimester abortion, preabortion decision difficulty or uncertainty, and postabortion negative emotions) were associated with experience of any postabortion incident or recurrent mental disorders. The outcome was positively associated with having conceived within an unstable relationship (odds ratio, 3.0), number of negative life events in the past year (1.4) and having a history of mental disorders (2.4).

CONCLUSIONS

Correlates of postabortion mental disorders were variables that have been identified as general risk factors for mental disorders, which supports the idea that abortion does not pose specific risks to future mental health. Future research should investigate in what way unstable relationships, adverse life events and psychiatric history affect postabortion mental health.
Single-Stranded DNA Library Preparation Preferentially Enriches Short Maternal DNA in Maternal Plasma
Authors: Vong Joaquim S L , Tsang Jason C H , Jiang Peiyong , Lee Wing-Shan , Leung Tak Yeung , Chan K C Allen , Chiu Rossa W K , Lo Y M Dennis
Published: April 2017

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have suggested that single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) library preparation can enrich short DNA species from the plasma of healthy individuals, cancer patients, and transplant recipients. Based on previous observations that fetal DNA molecules in the maternal plasma are shorter than maternal DNA molecules, ssDNA library preparation may potentially enrich fetal DNA and provide substantial improvement in noninvasive prenatal testing.

METHODS

We tested this hypothesis by comparing the maternal plasma DNA sequencing results using 2 types of ssDNA library preparation methods and a standard double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) library method using samples from first- and third-trimester pregnancies. We also evaluated the performance of ssDNA and dsDNA library methods in the noninvasive prenatal detection of trisomy 21 from maternal plasma.

RESULTS

Short DNA species were significantly enriched in ssDNA libraries. However, contrary to previous speculation, no significant enrichment was observed in the overall fetal fraction in maternal plasma collected in the first trimester. Our use of an ssDNA library did not reduce the variation in chromosomal representation when compared with a standard dsDNA library in the first-trimester plasma samples. ssDNA libraries also showed inferior performance in the noninvasive prenatal detection of trisomy 21 from maternal plasma. Detailed fetal fraction analysis using size-fractionated Y chromosome sequences and fetal-specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) revealed an unexpected finding that short maternal DNA was preferentially enriched over short fetal DNA in an ssDNA library irrespective of GC content.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings have shown that ssDNA library preparation preferentially enriches short maternally derived DNA in maternal plasma.
Girl Power, transgression and the embodiment of the image: The rise of Enjo-kōsai and hyper-sexual economy in post-bubble Japan
Authors: Reisel Mary
Published: April 2017

Enjo-kōsai, the term attributed to the practice of teenage girls selling dates and sex to older men, became a major controversial issue in Japan in the nineties, followed by political debates and public concerns regarding the nature of the habit and its social and ethical consequences. The article investigates the origin of enjo-kōsai and its development from a trivial subculture game to an actual practice defining sexual conduct and creating rising moral panic all over the country. Drawing on a long ethnographic research including 96 individual interviews and thousands of online surveys, the research explores the ambiguous forms of manipulation and control exercised by the hegemony of the media and fashion magazines in order to promote enjo-kōsai and rebalance the power relations between the teenager girls and their buyers. Based on participants’ testimonies, the study tracks the historical events while following the rise of Girl Power ideologies of empowerment and liberation versus the opposing political pressure that attempted to restore and reinforce traditional images of submissive femininity. It also attempts to contextualize the enjo-kōsai boom within the social changes and economic turbulences that Japan had gone through during the post-bubble decade.
From underground to the palm of your hand: The spatiality and cultural practice of South Korean webtoons
Authors: Bae Keung Yoon ‘Becky’
Published: April 2017

‘Webtoons’ – online comics – have now been a staple of popular culture in Korea for over a decade. Both profitable and accessible, they have long since overtaken print manhwa in popularity and market size, and the cultural role that they occupy is continuing to grow. Yet in viewing webtoons as a new media form, I feel that we are in danger of eliding the important shifts occurring between manhwa and webtoons, both in terms of the content (layout, serialization format, social relevance) and the sociocultural, physical/digital space that they occupy. In my article, while I will be remarking on changes that occur content-wise, I plan to more specifically focus on media space: the physical space in which print manhwa was read, the relation of space to the sociocultural standing that manhwa occupied, and the changes that occurred with the elimination of that physical space. I plan to argue that the dramatic shift in reading space – from manhwa rental stores (which was the primary space where print manhwa was read) to electronic devices (mobile devices in particular) – is not important merely because the digital facilitates access to the comic material, but because this change of space leads to a change in sociocultural connotations attached to the genre. The mediating space that links the consumer/reader to the material is a key factor that has influenced not only how comics are read, but how comics are viewed as a kind of visual media in cultural hierarchy.
Tokyo subcultural street styles: Japanese subcultural street style as a uniform
Authors: Winge Therèsa M.
Published: April 2017

Japanese subcultural groups create safe and inventive spaces for youth to explore new identities, styles and globalization that are not available to them in other areas of their dominant culture. Japanese youth often join subcultures in the process of rejecting their parents’ generational values and the workforce uniforms commonly associated with adulthood and socio-economic failures of past generations. Accordingly, the Japanese subcultural street styles visually communicate a desire for prolonged childhood and deferred responsibilities of adulthood, while drawing significantly from global stimuli. Using ethnographic methods, it is revealed how many of the elements from Japanese subcultural dress are culturally authenticated from western styles and aesthetics, and their public display communicating the subculture member’s understanding of conspicuous consumption of perceived global ideals − wealth, diversity, authenticity and individuality. While these subcultural street styles function as alternatives to the standard Japanese uniforms (e.g., the business suit or occupational uniform), this dress style also communicates a new and modern identity for Japanese youth. Japanese subcultural street styles are so prescribed that they are, in fact, uniforms.
Multi-layered reconciliations in the imagined Diqiucun in Cape No. 7
Authors: Su Huang-Lan
Published: April 2017

This article thematically examines how Cape No. 7 directed by Wei Tesheng in 2008 has culturally reconstructed and imagined the conception of Diqiucun (literally ‘globalized village’) during the ‘global postmodern’ process. Following Stuart Hall’s understanding of the process, I argue that the film focuses on a thematic context that depicts multi-layered psychological and cultural reconciliations among ethnic conflicts and between past regrets and the present coexistence. Situated in the imagined Diqiucun, Cape No. 7 presents how multi-ethnic groups of people in Hengchun have borne a grudge against Japanese and one another in a multilingual community and thus how they are desperate to seek collective reconciliations and individual accommodation since the end of World War II. Retelling the local histories of the postcolonial repatriation to global listeners through the cooperation of completing an opening concert act, on the one hand, makes the localism visible to the global market; on the other hand, it has piggybacked the film onto a phenomenal accomplishment that satisfies both the local and international audiences with an agreeable closure, or compromise, of the unsuccessful past in multifarious ways.
Learning from complementary ways of developing experimental competences
Authors: Lima Natércia Maria , Viegas Maria Clara , García-Peñalvo Francisco José
Published: April 2017

Engineering education has solid needs of experimental competences development. Nowadays theses competences can be developed not only in traditional laboratories (hands on) but also through the use of computer simulations and remote labs. The use of diversified methods in education and the exploration of new resources and techniques in classroom may allow teachers to motivate more students, and capture their attention due to their different learning styles.The main objective of this thesis project is to better understand the effects on the students’ learning outcomes in different contexts, when subject to similar design approaches using an enquiry-based teaching and learning methodology based on simultaneous use of experimental resources (hands on, simulation and remote labs) together with calculus, in class and assessment. To accomplish this goal, several insights must be taken into consideration, including the teachers’ mediation in each case and the didactical implementations adaptations, but also external factors, such as socio-cultural and/or political factors.
Development of Underwear with Integrated 12 Channel ECG for Men and Women
Authors: Trummer Stephanie , Ehrmann Andrea , Büsgen Alexander
Published: April 2017

Cardiovascular diseases are the most frequent cause of death worldwide. Cases of cardiac arrest can often be attributed to undetected cardiac arrhythmia. Detecting rare episodes of arrhythmia necessitates long-term ECG measurements along days or weeks. However, due to the relatively small number of electrodes used for these ECGs, abnormal episodes can still go unrecognized. This article thus describes the development of underwear with ten inbuilt textile ECG electrodes, allowing for the measurement of long-term 12-lead ECG. As against the constructs of other research groups, the position of electrodes offers the same detection directions as the common 12-lead ECG equipment in hospitals or medical practices. Long-term tests have shown the suitability of the sensory underwear variants for men and women to detect reliable ECG signals without disturbing the patients’ comfort.
Umbilical cord as human cell source for mitral valve tissue engineering – venous vs. arterial cells
Authors: Malischewski Axel , Moreira Ricardo , Hurtado Luis , Gesché Valentine , Schmitz-Rode Thomas , Jockenhoevel Stefan , Mela Petra
Published: April 2017

Around 2% of the population in developed nations are affected by mitral valve disease and available valvular replacements are not designed for the atrioventricular position. Recently our group developed the first tissue-engineered heart valve (TEHV) specifically designed for the mitral position – the TexMi valve. The valve recapitulates the main components of the native valve, i.e. annulus, asymmetric leaflets and the crucial chordae tendineae. In the present study, we evaluated the human umbilical cord as a clinically applicable cell source for the TexMi valve. Valves produced with cells isolated from human umbilical cord veins (HUVs) and human umbilical cord arteries (HUAs) were conditioned for 21 days in custom-made bioreactors and evaluated in terms of extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and mechanical properties. In addition, static cell-laden fibrin discs were molded to investigate cell-mediated tissue contraction and differences in ECM production. HUA and HUV cells were able to deliver functional valves with a rich ECM composed mainly of collagen. Particularly noteworthy was the synthesis of elastin, which has been observed rarely in TEHV. The elastin synthesis was significantly higher in TexMi valves produced with HUV cells and therefore the HUV is considered to be the preferred cell source.
Current Issues of the Formation of the Investment Environment and Potential in Georgia
Authors: Gogiashvili Salome
Published: April 2017

The stage of the formation and establishment of a market economy in Georgia raises the necessity for economic science to solve fundamentally different problems concerning the improvement of the investment environment and investment climate in national economy. After the collapse of the former Soviet Union, the replacement with new relationships has been quite difficult and painful in which foreign investments should play a crucial role. Issues to be discussed include the questions that explore some of the categories and the constraints of the investment climate (potential). All this leads to the relevance of the article and, therefore, determines the purpose of the article. The research process uses general dialectical methods of socio-economic research (description, analysis, systematization, abstraction, synthesis) as well as modern methods of research of economic theory (systemic, institutional, evolutionary). The scientific aim of the research is to highlight the current issues of the investment environment and investment climate in economy, to study the transformation processes taking place in Georgia during the last two decades, to conduct analysis using proper methods, to show the current social and political as well as other important processes, to generalize them and to form proper opinions. Findings based on research suggest that it is possible to speed up the process of economic development of Georgia. However, the situation will remain difficult in the region and the factors causing the recession _ instability in oil prices and the weakening of the national currency against the US dollar will still be present. In conclusion, the opinion can be formed that a stable and predictable legislative process is important for the investment environment. Therefore, all the parties that may undergo the changes should be informed and involved in every project planned by the government; At present, it becomes necessary to further extend the deregulation policy, which should include the development of financial and investment sectors and support of the establishment of appropriate infrastructure, promotion of the further development of microfinance institutions, investment companies and funds, designing the system of investment insurance and stimulation, elimination of unnecessary bureaucracy and artificial barriers, etc.
Adsorption and Co-Adsorption of Polyaldehyde Dextran Nanoparticles and Nonionic Surfactant at an Air–Water Interface: Potential Implications for Pulmonary Drug Delivery
Authors: Jabłczyńska Katarzyna , Sosnowski Tomasz R.
Published: April 2017

Measurements of dynamic surface tension were carried out in aqueous systems (water or 0.1 mM Triton X-100) comprising nanoparticles formed from chemically modified polyaldehyde dextran (PAD). The nanostructures, considered as potential drug carriers in aerosol therapy, were obtained from biocompatible polysaccharides by successive oxidation and reactive coiling in an aqueous solution. The dynamic surface tension of the samples was determined by the maximum bubble pressure (MBP) method and by the axisymmetric drop shape analysis (ADSA). Experiments with harmonic area perturbations were also carried out in order to determine surface dilatational viscoelasticity. PAD showed a remarkable surface activity. Ward-Tordai equation was used to determine the equilibrium surface tension and diffusion coefficient of PAD nanoparticles (D = 2.3×10-6 m2/s). In a mixture with Triton X-100, PAD particles showed co-adsorption and synergic effect in surface tension reduction at short times (below 10 s). Tested nanoparticles had impact on surface rheology in a mixed system with nonionic surfactant, suggesting their possible interactions with the lung surfactant system after inhalation. This preliminary investigation sets the methodological approach for further research related to the influence of inhaled PAD nanoparticles on the lung surfactant and mass transfer processes in the respiratory system.
Coal Char Kinetics of Oxidation and Gasification Reactions
Authors: Lewtak Robert , Hercog Jarosław
Published: April 2017

Experimental investigations and numerical simulations have been conducted in this study to derive and test the values of kinetic parameters describing oxidation and gasification reactions between char carbon and O2 and CO2 occurring at standard air and oxy-fuel combustion conditions. Experiments were carried out in an electrically heated drop-tube at heating rates comparable to fullscale pulverized fuel combustion chambers. Values of the kinetic parameters, obtained by minimization of the difference between the experimental and modeled values of char burnout, have been derived and CFD simulations reproducing the experimental conditions of the drop tube furnace confirmed proper agreement between numerical and experimental char burnout.
On 1-stable perfectly balanced Boolean functions
Authors: Smyshlyaev Stanislav V.
Published: April 2017

The paper is concerned with relations between the correlation-immunity (stability) and the perfectly balancedness of Boolean functions. It is shown that an arbitrary perfectly balanced Boolean function fails to satisfy a certain property that is weaker than the 1-stability. This result refutes some assertions by Markus Dichtl. On the other hand, we present new results on barriers of perfectly balanced Boolean functions which show that any perfectly balanced function such that the sum of the lengths of barriers is smaller than the length of variables, is 1-stable.
Representation zeta functions of some nilpotent groups
associated to prehomogeneous vector spaces
Authors: Stasinski Alexander , Voll Christopher
Published: April 2017

We compute the representation zeta functions of some finitely
generated nilpotent groups associated to unipotent group schemes
over rings of integers in number fields. These group schemes are
defined by Lie lattices whose presentations are modelled on certain
prehomogeneous vector spaces. Our method is based on evaluating

𝔭

${\mathfrak{p}}$

-adic integrals associated to certain rank varieties of
matrices of linear forms.
The Most Relevant Labour Market Competencies for Employers and their Assessment by Students
Authors: Varga Erika , Szira Zoltán , Bárdos Kinga Ilona , Hajós László
Published: April 2017

Our paper is aimed at examining what principal business competencies (can) enhance the success and competitiveness of employees according to the employers and we also wish to explore what personality traits have a decisive effect on the decision-making mechanism in taking on new staff. At present employers can make selection from a lot of fresh graduates in economics so for them it is essential to know the competencies by which they are classified and ranked by the employers. However, it is also important to bear in mind from which aspects their opinion meet the employers′ expectations. Based on surveying the employers′ expectations, the required competencies play a vital role in the hiring process and they are mainly acquired in practical trainings. An answer is also sought to the question of how the rank order of competencies have been changed, how their role was appreciated and reevaluated and what skills and abilities are no longer or only to a slight extent necessary for success in the labour market vs. the ones that were not required previously but have become indispensable these days. One of our further objectives was to create and test a competency structure tailored to the current Hungarian labour market situation and specialities on the basis of the professional literature.
The New Responsibility and Challenge of Education: The Current and Prospective Situation of Philosophy for Children
Authors: Karikó Sándor
Published: April 2017

Douglas Martin (an editor) wrote a memoir in New York Times about Matthew Lipman, the founder of philosophy for children, today’s classic thinker. Lipman’s death brought attention again for the philosophy for children’s status among professionals. Later one of the most prestigious international educational periodical review, the Journal of Philosophy of Education published a special edition - on account of Lipman’s death - about the analysis of present and future problems of philosophy for children. Paul Standish, the editor in chief, enhances Lipman’s thought in the Introduction, if the ability to think critically was not established in childhood: it would be unlikely later to flourish. Hence, he hit upon the idea of teaching philosophy to children, and the course that he developed spread, in its original or derivative forms, to more than 4,000 schools in the United States and more than sixty foreign countries, its materials translated into forty languages. The question has to be answered: where is the real place, value, function - within philosophy? What is philosophy for children’s “differentia specifica”? How to make the application of philosophy for children more effective and more convincing in both research and education?
Reasons for Non-appearance on Organized Cervical Screening in Hungary
Authors: Pakai Annamária , Brantmüller Éva , Réka Vajda , Karácsony Ilona , Balázs Péter
Published: April 2017

The occurrence of cervix cancer is outstandingly high in Zala County, which is situated in the Western Transdanubian region of Hungary. The aim of our study was to reveal why women do not take the opportunity offered by the state and what reasons there are for the nonattendance at screenings. A total of 1000 Hungarian women aged 15 to 60 years were included in the sample. The results of our study revealed that 13.8% of women participating in our research program have never been to a gynaecological cancer screening. Concerning this fact, the following groups deserve greater attention: 15-19 years old, those only with basic school qualifications, the unmarried and the unemployed. To improve our national mortality indexes, it is necessary to continue the cancer screenings in a well motivated target population. Achieving this in cervix cancer screening, there are available conception and infrastructure alike provided by the health administration. The weakness of the system is the low participation rate of the population.
Natural silica sand modified by calcium oxide as a new adsorbent for uranyl ions removal from aqueous solutions
Authors: Elhefnawy O. A. , Elabd A. A.
Published: April 2017

Calcium oxide modified El-Zafarana silica sand (CMZS) was prepared as a new adsorbent for U(VI) removal from aqueous solutions in a series of batch experiments. The new adsorbent CMZS was characterized by different analysis techniques SEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR. The influence of many parameters on the removal process like; effect of pH, contact time, U(VI) initial concentration and temperature on U(VI) removal were investigated. Kinetic experiments showed that U(VI) removal on CMZS followed pseudo-second-order kinetics model appropriately and the equilibrium data agreed well with the Langmuir isotherm model. Kinetics and isothermal data reveal the chemisorption process of U(VI) on CMZS. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH°, ΔS°, ΔG°) were evaluated from temperature dependent adsorption data and the U(VI) removal on CMZS was found to be endothermic and spontaneous in nature. U(VI) desorption from CMZS was studied by a simple acid treatment. The results indicate that CMZS is an effective adsorbent for U(VI) from aqueous solutions.
Effect of Different Training Methods on Stride Parameters in Speed Maintenance Phase of 100-m Sprint Running
Authors: Cetin Emel , Hindistan I. Ethem , Ozkaya Y. Gul
Published: April 2017

Cetin, E, Hindistan, IE, Ozkaya, YG. Effect of different training methods on stride parameters in speed maintenance phase of 100-m sprint running. J Strength Cond Res 32(5): 1263–1272, 2018—This study examined the effects of 2 different training methods relevant to sloping surface on stride parameters in speed maintenance phase of 100-m sprint running. Twenty recreationally active students were assigned into one of 3 groups: combined training (Com), horizontal training (H), and control (C) group. Com group performed uphill and downhill training on a sloping surface with an angle of 4°, whereas H group trained on a horizontal surface, 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Speed maintenance and deceleration phases were divided into distances with 10-m intervals, and running time (t), running velocity (RV), step frequency (SF), and step length (SL) were measured at preexercise, and postexercise period. After 8 weeks of training program, t was shortened by 3.97% in Com group, and 2.37% in H group. Running velocity also increased for totally 100 m of running distance by 4.13 and 2.35% in Com, and H groups, respectively. At the speed maintenance phase, although t and maximal RV (RVmax) found to be statistically unaltered during overall phase, t was found to be decreased, and RVmax was preceded by 10 m in distance in both training groups. Step length was increased at 60–70 m, and SF was decreased at 70–80 m in H group. Step length was increased with concomitant decrease in SF at 80–90 m in Com group. Both training groups maintained the RVmax with a great percentage at the speed maintenance phase. In conclusion, although both training methods resulted in an increase in running time and RV, Com training method was more prominently effective method in improving RV, and this improvement was originated from the positive changes in SL during the speed maintaining phase.
Corrosion Behaviors of 10CrNiCu High Strength Steel in Simulated Deep Sea Environment of High Hydrostatic Pressure and Low Dissolved Oxygen
Authors: Han W. , Tong H. , Wei S. , Xu B. , Zhang Y. , Lin Z.
Published: April 2017

This paper investigated 10CrNiCu high strength steel in a simulated deep sea environment of high hydrostatic pressure (HP) and low dissolved oxygen (DO) using microstructures, rust compositions, and electrochemical measurements. The results show that primary form of steel corrosion in this simulated high HP and low DO environment is pitting. Using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and laser Raman spectrum, it is found that HP and DO all accelerate corrosion rates, but they affect corrosion processes in different ways. HP simultaneously accelerates anodic and cathodic reaction rates, whereas DO mainly accelerate cathodic reaction rates. In the environment of high HP and low DO, oxygen concentration cell corrosion has a tendency to form on steel surface, which can accelerate pitting.
Hippocampal TNFα Signaling Contributes to Seizure Generation in an Infection-Induced Mouse Model of Limbic Epilepsy
Authors: Patel Dipan C. , Wallis Glenna , Dahle E. Jill , McElroy Pallavi B. , Thomson Kyle E. , Tesi Raymond J. , Szymkowski David E. , West Peter J. , Smeal Roy M. , Patel Manisha , Fujinami Robert S. , White H. Steve , Wilcox Karen S.
Published: April 2017

Central nervous system infection can induce epilepsy that is often refractory to established antiseizure drugs. Previous studies in the Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV)-induced mouse model of limbic epilepsy have demonstrated the importance of inflammation, especially that mediated by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), in the development of acute seizures. TNFα modulates glutamate receptor trafficking via TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) to cause increased excitatory synaptic transmission. Therefore, we hypothesized that an increase in TNFα signaling after TMEV infection might contribute to acute seizures. We found a significant increase in both mRNA and protein levels of TNFα and the protein expression ratio of TNF receptors (TNFR1:TNFR2) in the hippocampus, a brain region most likely involved in seizure initiation, after TMEV infection, which suggests that TNFα signaling, predominantly through TNFR1, may contribute to limbic hyperexcitability. An increase in hippocampal cell-surface glutamate receptor expression was also observed during acute seizures. Although pharmacological inhibition of TNFR1-mediated signaling had no effect on acute seizures, several lines of genetically modified animals deficient in either TNFα or TNFRs had robust changes in seizure incidence and severity after TMEV infection. TNFR2–/–mice were highly susceptible to developing acute seizures, suggesting that TNFR2-mediated signaling may provide beneficial effects during the acute seizure period. Taken together, the present results suggest that inflammation in the hippocampus, caused predominantly by TNFα signaling, contributes to hyperexcitability and acute seizures after TMEV infection. Pharmacotherapies designed to suppress TNFR1-mediated or augment TNFR2-mediated effects of TNFα may provide antiseizure and disease-modifying effects after central nervous system infection.
Privileged Functional Connectivity between the Visual Word Form Area and the Language System
Authors: Stevens W. Dale , Kravitz Dwight J. , Peng Cynthia S. , Tessler Michael Henry , Martin Alex
Published: April 2017

The visual word form area (VWFA) is a region in the left occipitotemporal sulcus of literate individuals that is purportedly specialized for visual word recognition. However, there is considerable controversy about its functional specificity and connectivity, with some arguing that it serves as a domain-general, rather than word-specific, visual processor. The VWFA is a critical region for testing hypotheses about the nature of cortical organization, because it is known to develop only through experience (i.e., reading acquisition), and widespread literacy is too recent to have influenced genetic determinants of brain organization. Using a combination of advanced fMRI analysis techniques, including individual functional localization, multivoxel pattern analysis, and high-resolution resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) analyses, with data from 33 healthy adult human participants, we demonstrate that (1) the VWFA can discriminate words from nonword letter strings (pseudowords); (2) the VWFA has preferential RSFC with Wernicke's area and other core regions of the language system; and (3) the strength of the RSFC between the VWFA and Wernicke's area predicts performance on a semantic classification task with words but not other categories of visual stimuli. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the VWFA is specialized for lexical processing of real words because of its functional connectivity with Wernicke's area.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe visual word form area (VWFA) is critical for determining the nature of category-related organization of the ventral visual system. However, its functional specificity and connectivity are fiercely debated. Recent work concluded that the VWFA is a domain-general, rather than word-specific, visual processor with no preferential functional connectivity with the language system. Using more advanced techniques, our results stand in stark contrast to these earlier findings. We demonstrate that the VWFA is highly specialized for lexical processing of real words, and that a fundamental factor driving this specialization is its preferential intrinsic functional connectivity with core regions of the language system. Our results support the hypothesis that intrinsic functional connectivity contributes to category-related specialization within the human ventral visual system.
Nicotinic α4β2 Cholinergic Receptor Influences on Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortical Neuronal Firing during a Working Memory Task
Authors: Sun Yongan , Yang Yang , Galvin Veronica C. , Yang Shengtao , Arnsten Amy F. , Wang Min
Published: April 2017

The primate dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) subserves top-down regulation of attention and working memory abilities. Depletion studies show that the neuromodulator acetylcholine (ACh) is essential to dlPFC working memory functions, but the receptor and cellular bases for cholinergic actions are just beginning to be understood. The current study found that nicotinic receptors comprised of α4 and β2 subunits (α4β2-nAChR) enhance the task-related firing of delay and fixation cells in the dlPFC of monkeys performing a working memory task. Iontophoresis of α4β2-nAChR agonists increased the neuronal firing and enhanced the spatial tuning of delay cells, neurons that represent visual space in the absence of sensory stimulation. These enhancing effects were reversed by coapplication of a α4β2-nAChR antagonist, consistent with actions at α4β2-nAChR. Delay cell firing was reduced when distractors were presented during the delay epoch, whereas stimulation of α4β2-nAChR protected delay cells from these deleterious effects. Iontophoresis of α4β2-nAChR agonists also enhanced the firing of fixation cells, neurons that increase firing when the monkey initiates a trial, and maintain firing until the trial is completed. These neurons are thought to contribute to sustained attention and top-down motor control and have never before been the subject of pharmacological inquiry. These findings begin to build a picture of the cellular actions underlying the beneficial effects of ACh on attention and working memory. The data may also help to explain why genetic insults to α4 subunits are associated with working memory and attentional deficits and why α4β2-nAChR agonists may have therapeutic potential.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe acetylcholine (ACh) arousal system in the brain is needed for robust attention and working memory functions, but the receptor and cellular bases for its beneficial effects are poorly understood in the newly evolved primate brain. The current study found that ACh stimulation of nicotinic receptors comprised of α4 and β2 subunits (α4β2-nAChR) enhanced the firing of neurons in the primate prefrontal cortex that subserve top-down attentional control and working memory. α4β2-nAChR stimulation also protected neuronal responding from the detrimental effects of distracters presented during the delay epoch, when information is held in working memory. These results illuminate how ACh strengthens higher cognition and help to explain why genetic insults to the α4 subunit weaken cognitive and attentional abilities.