bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Language in Armenian American communities: Western Armenian and efforts for preservation
Authors: Chahinian Talar , Bakalian Anny
Published: January 2016

This article examines the state of Western Armenian language instruction in Armenian day schools within the United States to evaluate the state of language transmission and acquisition through the specific structure of private schools. In analyzing methodologies and modes of instruction, content development, resources, teacher training and student demographics, we aim to identify patterns that can pose a challenge to or serve as models for Armenian language instruction and, ultimately, the maintenance of Western Armenian, which UNESCO classified as an endangered language in 2010. To begin with, we offer an overview of the standardization of modern Western Armenian, first, in the late 1800s in Constantinople and subsequently, in the Middle East after World War II. Then, we examine Armenian immigration to the United States to understand the impact of language use as well as the establishment of educational and other institutions necessary for its prolonged existence. The move to establish Armenian day schools in the United States dates back to the 1960s. We trace the development of this movement and study the current state of language instruction, as well as current trends in student demographics, to ask how successful these institutions are in heritage language maintenance.
“It is the hardest to keep”: Kurdish as a heritage language in the United States
Authors: Sheyholislami Jaffer , Sharifi Amir
Published: January 2016

This article situates the Kurdish language within the diasporic context of the United States, and explores the roles that the language plays for the community. This is investigated through a mixed method encompassing literature and media reviews, interviews with community members and leaders, and a survey conducted among the Kurds in Southern California. The findings show that both first and second generation Kurds see their language not only as a symbol of their cultural identity and survival but a means of building and maintaining relations with each other, with other Kurds in the US, with relatives in the homeland, and also with their heritage. Nevertheless, members of the second generation think that language constitutes one of the most challenging cultural heritage elements to keep for many linguistic, socio-economic, cultural, and political reasons. The article concludes that there are no easy ways of maintaining minority languages like Kurdish much less transmitting them to future generations. The prospect for a promising future seems highly unlikely as long as heritage languages in the US are perceived as personal choices only, and the state does not assume responsibility for their maintenance let alone their transmission to future generations of newer immigrants.
The Persian Paradox: Language use and maintenance among Iranian Americans
Authors: Bozorgmehr Mehdi , Meybodi Maryam Moeini
Published: January 2016

As a relatively new, highly educated, professional and entrepreneurial immigrant group, Iranian Americans display complex linguistic patterns. In this article, we analyze data from the American Community Survey (ACS) on English language proficiency and languages spoken at home for the first- and second-generation Iranian Americans. These quantitative data are supplemented by in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of Iranian American families in the northeastern United States on their behavior and attitudes toward learning and preserving their native language (Persian). Although ACS data show high English language proficiency among first-generation Iranian immigrants, they also show a relatively high usage of Persian language among this ethnic group. Findings show that parents and children had positive behavior and attitudes toward the preservation of Persian. As transnational families, parents have created a “tool kit” to ensure that Persian will persist at least through the second generation. Maintaining transnational ties, attending weekly cultural and religious events, providing Persian instruction, and controlling children’s language use at home were among the most important mechanisms of ethnic language maintenance.
‘Man the hunter’: a critical reading of hunt-based conceptual metaphors of love and sexual desire
Authors: López Maestre María D.
Published: January 2016

Within the cognitive linguistics literature, many publications have dealt with conceptual metaphors about love and sexual desire (Lakoff 1987; Kövecses 2003; Barcelona 1992, 1995; Emanatian 1995, 1996.) However, a source domain that has not received the attention it merits is that of the hunt. This source domain deserves to be studied not only because of the interest in the conceptual metaphors it generates, but primarily because of the ideology and cultural values behind it. For this reason, applying a combined methodology based on cognitive linguistics and critical discourse analysis (Charteris-Black 2004; Goatly 2007), this article explores the use of the source domain of the hunt for the expression of love and sexual desire in metaphorical linguistic expressions with male hunters and female prey, paying critical attention to discourse and the ideologies about gender that are conveyed.
Optomechatronic System For Automated Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection
Authors: Shulev Assen , Tiankov Tihomir , Ignatova Detelina , Kostadinov Kostadin , Roussev Ilia , Trifonov Dimitar , Penchev Valentin
Published: January 2016

This paper presents a complex optomechatronic system for In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), offering almost complete automation of the Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) procedure. The compound parts and sub-systems, as well as some of the computer vision algorithms, are described below. System capabilities for ICSI have been demonstrated on infertile oocyte cells.
Koroze konstrukčních materiálů působením kyseliny borité
Authors: Kobzová A. , Kárník D. , Skoumalová Z. , Marcinský P.
Published: January 2016

V provozních podmínkách primárního okruhu jaderných elektráren nelze vyloučit kontakt primárního média s obsahem kyseliny borité s konstrukčními kovovými materiály. Obsahem experimentální práce bylo simulovat vybrané varianty expozice konstrukčních materiálů primárnímu médiu a kvantifikovat jeho korozní účinky. Základními faktory ovlivňujícími korozi byly teplota povrchu materiálu, koncentrace kyseliny borité a možnost odvodu vodní páry od povrchu. Vrstva páry se tvoří při vysoké teplotě a chrání povrch před kontaktem s kyselinou boritou a brání koroznímu poškození. Odpařování kyseliny borité závisí také na množství vody (koncentraci kyseliny borité). Přebytek vody umožňuje destilaci kyseliny borité a přebytek kyseliny borité má za následek vznik neškodné sklovité vrstvy z taveniny kyseliny borité.
Auswertung Interner Qualitätskontrollen: Vergleich zwischen der Rili-BÄK und den 1:2s und 1:3s-Westgard Regeln
Authors: Petersmann Astrid , Nauck Matthias , Fuentes-Arderiu Xavier , Kallner Anders
Published: January 2016

Einleitung: Die Leistungsfähigkeit von Messverfahren in medizinischen Laboratorien wird im Allgemeinen überwacht durch das regelmäßige Messen von einem oder mehreren Qualitätskontrollmaterialien, sogenannten internen Qualitätskontrollen. Die Bewertung des Messergebnisses der Qualitätskontrolle führt zur Annahme oder zur Sperrung von Patientenmessergebnissen und erfolgt gemäß anerkannten Regeln und gesetzlicher Vorgaben.

Methoden: Varianzen von Qualitätskontrollmessungen sowie die Zielwerte für die Westgardauswertung wurden während einer ersten Phase (Vorperiode) ermittelt. In der darauf folgenden zweiten Phase (Messphase) wurden die Qualitätskontrollergebnisse gemäß der deutschen Rili-BÄK und gemäß den Westgard 1:2s und 1:3s Regeln für vier beispielhaft ausgewählte Messverfahren verglichen, die folgende Charakteristika aufwiesen: Geringe Unpräzision und geringe Unrichtigkeit (Glukose im Plasma), große Unpräzision und geringe Unrichtigkeit (Phenobarbital im Serum), geringe Unpräzision und große Unrichtigkeit (Natrium im Urin) sowie große Unpräzision und große Unrichtigkeit (Magnesium im Plasma).

Ergebnisse: Das Ergebnis der Bewertung gemäß der Westgard-Regeln (1:2s und 1:3s) ist stark abhängig von der Vorperiode, wohingegen die Bewertung durch die Rili-BAEÄK auf den einheitlich vorgegebenen Grenzen und den bindenden Zielwerten beruht. Die Anzahl der Grenzverletzungen, die von der Rili-BÄK bzw. den Westgard 1:2s und 1:3s Regeln erkannt wurden, unterscheiden sich zum Teil deutlich. Die Rili-BÄK Grenzen für die Plasma-Glukose erscheinen großzügig vor dem Hintergrund der Leistungsfähigkeit des verwendeten Messverfahrens.

Schlussfolgerung: Durch die definierten Zielwerte und Bewertungsgrenzen hat die Rili-BÄK das Potential, die Harmonisierung von Patientenergebnissen klinisch-chemischer Untersuchungen, die in unterschiedlichen Laboratorien erstellt werden, zu verbessern. Laboratorien, die gemäß der Westgard-Regeln eine Bewertung der internen Qualitätskontrolle durchführen und Zielwerte und Bewertungsgrenzen demzufolge intern und unabhängig von anderen Laboratorien ermitteln, müssen sich für die Harmonisierung von Patientenergebnissen auf die externe Qualitätskontrolle verlassen.
Synthesis of Core/Shell CuO-Zno Nanoparticles and Their Second-Harmonic Generation Performance / Kodols/Čaula Cuo-Zno Nanodaļiņu Sintēze Un To Spēja Ģenerēt Otrās Harmonikas Signālu
Authors: Tamanis E. , Sledevskis E. , Ogurcovs A. , Gerbreders V. , Paskevics V.
Published: January 2016

The present paper presents the method for obtaining core/shell CuO-ZnO nanoparticles and nanocoatings by using a commercially available vacuum coating system. Initially generated Cu-Zn core/shell nanoparticles have been oxidised with a highly reactive atomic oxygen beam. Second-harmonic generation has been observed in the obtained samples. The dependence of second- harmonic intensity on the wavelength of the exciting radiation is shown in the paper.
Reduction of Electric Breakdown Voltage in LC Switching Shutters / Elektriskās Caursites Sprieguma Samazināšana Šķidro Kristālu Šūnās
Authors: Mozolevskis G. , Ozols A. , Nitiss E. , Linina E. , Tokmakov A. , Rutkis M.
Published: January 2016

Liquid crystal display (LCD) industry is among the most rapidly growing and innovating industries in the world. Here continuously much effort is devoted towards developing and implementing new types of LCDs for various applications. Some types of LCDs require relatively high voltages for their operation. For example, bistable displays, in which an altering field at different frequencies is used for switching from clear to scattering states and vice versa, require electric fields at around 10 V/μm for operation. When operated at such high voltages an electrical breakdown is very likely to occur in the liquid crystal (LC) cell. This has been one of the limiting factors for such displays to reach market.

In the present paper, we will report on the results of electrical breakdown investigations in high-voltage LC cells. An electrical breakdown in the cell is observed when current in the liquid crystal layer is above a specific threshold value. The threshold current is determined by conductivity of the liquid crystal as well as point defects, such as dust particles in LC layer, pinholes in coatings and electrode hillocks. In order to reduce the currents flowing through the liquid crystal layer several approaches, such as electrode patterning and adding of various buffer layers in the series with LC layer, have been tested. We demonstrate that the breakdown voltages can be significantly improved by means of adding insulating thin films.
Superdiffusion of Carbon by Vacancies Irradiated with Soft X-Rays in CZ Silicon / Superdifūzija Ar Vakancēm Iestarota Ar Mīkstajiem Rentgenstariem CZ Silīcijā
Authors: Janavičius A. J. , Mekys A. , Purlys R. , Norgėla Ž. , Daugėla S. , Rinkūnas R.
Published: January 2016

The soft X-ray photons absorbed in the inner K, L, M shells of Si atoms produce photoelectrons and Auger electrons, thus generating vacancies, interstitials and metastable oxygen complexes. The samples of Czochralski silicon crystals covered with 0.1 μm thickness layer of carbon have been irradiated by X-rays using different voltages of Cu anode of the Russian diffractometer DRON-3M. The influence of X-rays on the formation of point defects and vacancy complexes, and their dynamics in Cz-Si crystals have been studied by infrared absorption. We have measured and calculated dynamics of concentration of carbon and interstitial oxygen using FTIR spectroscopy at room temperature after irradiation by soft X-rays. Using transmittance measurements and nonlinear diffusion theory we have calculated densities increasing for substitutional carbon and interstitial oxygen by reactions and very fast diffusion. The superdiffusion coefficients of carbon in silicon at room temperature generated by X-rays are about hundred thousand times greater than diffusion coefficients obtained for thermodiffusion.
Some identities of degenerate special polynomials
Authors: Kim Dae San , Kim Taekyun
Published: January 2016

In this paper, by considering higher-order degenerate Bernoulli and Euler polynomials which were
introduced by Carlitz, we investigate some properties of mixed-type of those polynomials. In particular, we give
some identities of mixed-type degenerate special polynomials which are derived from the fermionic integrals on Zp
and the bosonic integrals on Zp.
Existence, decay and blow up of solutions for the extensible beam equation with nonlinear damping and source terms
Authors: Pişkin Erhan
Published: January 2016

We consider the existence, both locally and globally in time, the decay and the blow up of the solution for
the extensible beam equation with nonlinear damping and source terms. We prove the existence of the solution by
Banach contraction mapping principle. The decay estimates of the solution are proved by using Nakao’s inequality.
Moreover, under suitable conditions on the initial datum, we prove that the solution blow up in finite time.
Laws of large numbers for ratios of uniform random variables
Authors: Adler André
Published: January 2016

Let {Xnn n ≥ 1} and {Yn, n ≥ 1} be two sequences of uniform random variables. We obtain various strong and weak laws of large numbers for the ratio of these two sequences. Even though these are uniform and naturally bounded random variables the ratios are not bounded and have an unusual behaviour creating Exact Strong Laws.
Results for Mild solution of fractional coupled
hybrid boundary value problems
Authors: Baleanu Dumitru , Jafari Hossein , Khan Hasib , Johnston Sarah Jane
Published: January 2016

The study of coupled system of hybrid fractional differential equations (HFDEs) needs the attention of
scientists for the exploration of its different important aspects. Our aim in this paper is to study the existence and
uniqueness of mild solution (EUMS) of a coupled system of HFDEs. The novelty of this work is the study of a
coupled system of fractional order hybrid boundary value problems (HBVP) with n initial and boundary hybrid
conditions. For this purpose, we are utilizing some classical results, Leray–Schauder Alternative (LSA) and Banach
Contraction Principle (BCP). Some examples are given for the illustration of applications of our results.
Linear relations between modular forms for Г0
+(p)
Authors: Choi SoYoung , Kim Chang Heon
Published: January 2016

We find linear relations among the Fourier coefficients of modular forms for the group Г0
+(p) of genus
zero. As an application of these linear relations, we derive congruence relations satisfied by the Fourier coefficients
of normalized Hecke eigenforms.
Boundedness of Toeplitz type operators
associated to Riesz potential operator
with general kernel on Orlicz space
Authors: Chen Dazhao
Published: January 2016

In this paper, the boundedness properties for some Toeplitz type operators associated to the Riesz
potential and general integral operators from Lebesgue spaces to Orlicz spaces are proved. The general integral
operators include singular integral operator with general kernel, Littlewood-Paley operator, Marcinkiewicz operator
and Bochner-Riesz operator.
Inequalities of harmonic univalent
functions with connections
of hypergeometric functions
Authors: Sokół Janusz , Ibrahim Rabha W. , Ahmad M. Z. , Al-Janaby Hiba F.
Published: January 2016

Let SH be the class of functions f = h+g that are harmonic univalent and sense-preserving in the open
unit disk U = { z : |z| < 1} for which f (0) = f'(0)-1=0. In this paper, we introduce and study a subclass
H( α, β) of the class SH and the subclass NH( α, β) with negative coefficients. We obtain basic results involving
sufficient coefficient conditions for a function in the subclass H( α, β) and we show that these conditions are also
necessary for negative coefficients, distortion bounds, extreme points, convolution and convex combinations. In this
paper an attempt has also been made to discuss some results that uncover some of the connections of hypergeometric
functions with a subclass of harmonic univalent functions.
The general solution for impulsive differential
equations with Riemann-Liouville
fractional-order q ∈ (1,2)
Authors: Zhang Xianmin , Agarwal Praveen , Liu Zuohua , Peng Hui
Published: January 2016

In this paper we consider the generalized impulsive system with Riemann-Liouville fractional-order
q ∈ (1,2) and obtained the error of the approximate solution for this impulsive system by analyzing of the limit
case (as impulses approach zero), as well as find the formula for a general solution. Furthermore, an example is
given to illustrate the importance of our results.
New properties of conformable derivative
Authors: Atangana Abdon , Baleanu Dumitru , Alsaedi Ahmed
Published: January 2016

Recently, the conformable derivative and its properties have been introduced. In this work we have
investigated in more detail some new properties of this derivative and we have proved some useful related theorems.
Also, some new definitions have been introduced.
Coupled fixed point theorems for (α, φ)g-contractive type mappings
in partially ordered G-metric spaces
Authors: Chen Jianhua , Huang Xianjiu
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we introduce a new concept of (α, φ)g-contractive type mappings and establish coupled
coincidence and coupled common fixed point theorems for such mappings in partially ordered G-metric spaces. The
results on fixed point theorems are generalizations of some existing results.We also give some examples to illustrate
the usability of the obtained results.
Parabolic variational inequalities
with generalized reflecting directions
Authors: Rotenstein Eduard
Published: January 2016

We study, in a Hilbert framework, some abstract parabolic variational inequalities, governed by reflecting
subgradients with multiplicative perturbation, of the following type:

y´(t)+ Ay(t)+0.t Θ(t,y(t)) ∂φ(y(t))∋f(t,y(t)),y(0) = y0,t ∈[0,T]

where A is a linear self-adjoint operator, ∂φ is the subdifferential operator of a proper lower semicontinuous convex function φ defined on a suitable Hilbert space, and Θ is the perturbing term which acts on the set of reflecting directions, destroying the maximal monotony of the multivalued term. We provide the existence of a solution for the above Cauchy problem. Our evolution equation is accompanied by examples which aim to (systems of) PDEs with perturbed reflection.
Automatic Laser Interferometer And Vision Measurement System For Stripe Rod Calibration
Authors: Zhao Min , Huang Qiu-Hong , Zhu Ling-Jian , Qiu Zong-Ming
Published: January 2016

In order to calibrate the stripe precision of a leveling rod, an automatic laser interferometer and a vision measurement system were designed by Xi’an University of Technology in China. The rod was driven by a closed-loop control and the data were collected at the stop state to ensure precision. The laser interferometer provided not only the long distance data but also a position feedback signal in the automatic control loop. CCD camera and a vision measurement method were used to inspect the stripe edge position and defect. A pixel-equivalent self-calibration method was designed to improve precision. ROI (regions of interest) method and an outline tracing method were designed to quickly extract multiple stripe edges. A combination of the image data with the interferometer data reduces control difficulty and ensures the measurement accuracy. The vision measurement method reached sub-pixel precision and the defective edges were reported. The system can automatically calibrate a stripe leveling rod with a high degree of efficiency and precision.
Application Of Bias Randomization In Evaluation Of Measuring Instrument Capability
Authors: Fotowicz Paweł
Published: January 2016

The paper deals with the problem of bias randomization in evaluation of the measuring instrument capability. The bias plays a significant role in assessment of the measuring instrument quality. Because the measurement uncertainty is a comfortable parameter for evaluation in metrology, the bias may be treated as a component of the uncertainty associated with the measuring instrument. The basic method for calculation of the uncertainty in modern metrology is propagation of distributions. Any component of the uncertainty budget should be expressed as a distribution. Usually, in the case of a systematic effect being a bias, the rectangular distribution is assumed. In the paper an alternative randomization method using the Flatten-Gaussian distribution is proposed.
The Influence Of Propagation Environment On The Accuracy Of Emission Source Bearing
Authors: Ziółkowski Cezary , Kelner Jan Marcin
Published: January 2016

This paper focuses on the radio direction finding (DF) in multipath environments. Based on the measurement results presented in the open literature, the authors analyse the influence of environment transmission properties on the spread of the signal reception angle. Parameters that define these properties are rms delay and angle spreads. For these parameters, the mutual relationship is determined. This relationship is the basis for assessment of the required number of bearings that minimize the influence of the environment on the accuracy of DF procedure. In the presented analysis, the statistical properties of the signal reception angle are approximated by the normal distribution. The number of bearings versus the rms delay spread is presented as the main objective of this paper. In addition, a methodology of the bearings’ spatial averaging that provides better estimation of the reception angle is shown.
Experimental Observation Of Nonlinear Vibrations Using A Closed-Loop Vibration System
Authors: de Barros Everaldo , d’Andrade Souto Carlos , Mathias Mauro Hugo
Published: January 2016

This paper presents experimental observation of nonlinear vibrations in the response of a flexible cantilever beam to transverse harmonic base excitations around its flexural mode frequencies. In the experimental setup, instead of manual control of the signal excitation frequency and amplitude, a closed-loop vibration system is used to keep the excitation amplitude constant during the frequency sweep and to increase confidence in the experimental results. The experimental results show the presence of the third mode in the response when varying the excitation frequency around the fourth mode. The frequency-response curves, response spectrum and Poincaré plots were used for characterization of nonlinear dynamic behaviour of the beam.
Stars’ Centroid Determination Using PSF-Fitting Method
Authors: Suszyński Robert , Wawryn Krzysztof
Published: January 2016

This paper presents an algorithm for restoring telescope images corrupted by turbulence effects and readout noise of a telescope system in order to determine centroid positions of stars, especially the position of a reference star. A computation method employing an accurate centroid estimation algorithm reconstructing apoint spread function(PSF) from the recorded astronomical images has been used. Minimisation of turbulence effects and telescope control system noise in long exposure images acquired and recorded by the ground telescope is proposed. As a solution of the distortion error a minimisation signal is dedicated to GoTo calibration procedures built in control mechanisms of the electromechanical telescope system. The proposed method has been verified in the Matlab environment for real deep sky images recorded by the ground telescope system.
A High Performance Digital Time Interval Spectrometer: An Embedded, FPGA-Based System With Reduced Dead Time Behaviour
Authors: Arkani Mohammad
Published: January 2016

In this work, a fast 32-bit one-million-channel time interval spectrometer is proposed based onfield programmable gate arrays(FPGAs). The time resolution is adjustable down to 3.33 ns (=T, the digitization/discretization period) based on a prototype system hardware. The system is capable to collect billions of time interval data arranged in one million timing channels. This huge number of channels makes it an ideal measuring tool for very short to very long time intervals of nuclear particle detection systems. The data are stored and updated in a built-in SRAM memory during the measuring process, and then transferred to the computer. Twotime-to-digital converters(TDCs) working in parallel are implemented in the design to immune the system against loss of the first short time interval events (namely below 10 ns considering the tests performed on the prototype hardware platform of the system). Additionally, the theory of multiple count loss effect is investigated analytically. Using the Monte Carlo method, losses of counts up to 100million events per second(Meps) are calculated and the effective system dead time is estimated by curve fitting of a non-extendable dead time model to the results (τNE= 2.26 ns). An important dead time effect on a measured random process is the distortion on the time spectrum; using the Monte Carlo method this effect is also studied. The uncertainty of the system is analysed experimentally. The standard deviation of the system is estimated as ± 36.6 ×T(T= 3.33 ns) for a one-second time interval test signal (300 millionTin the time interval).
Surface Topology Reconstruction From The White Light Interferogram By Means Of Prony Analysis
Authors: Khoma Anna , Zygarlicki Jarosław
Published: January 2016

The paper presents a new method of surface topology reconstruction from a white light interferogram. The method is based on interferogram modelling by complex exponents (Prony method). The compatibility of white light interferogram and Prony models has already been proven. Effectiveness of the method was tested by modelling and examining reconstruction of tilted and spherical surfaces, and by estimating the reconstruction accuracy.
Comparison Of Cd And Zn Accumulation In Tissues Of Different Vascular Plants: A Radiometric Study
Authors: Dürešová Zuzana , Šuňovská Anna , Horník Miroslav , Pipíška Martin , Gubišová Marcela , Gubiš Jozef , Lesný Juraj
Published: January 2016

The aim of the present work was to compare the accumulation and translocation of Cd and Zn in plants of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), celery (Apium graveolens L.), maize (Zea mays L.), giant reed (Arundo donax L.), and alpine pennycress (Noccaea caerulescens L.) under conditions of short-term hydroponic experiments using nutrient solutions spiked with radionuclides 109Cd or 65Zn, and direct gamma-spectrometry. It was found that the time-course of metals accumulation in studied plants was not different in terms of target metal, but it was significantly different on the level of plant species. The highest values of Cd accumulation showed plants of giant reed, whereby the accumulation decreased in the order: giant reed > tobacco > alpine pennycress >> maize and celery. On the basis of concentration ratios (CR) [Me]shoot / [Me]root calculation for both metals, it was found that Cd and Zn were in prevailing part accumulated in the root tissues and only partially accumulated in the shoots, where the amount of accumulated Cd and Zn increased from the oldest developed leaves to the youngest developed leaves. The CR values corresponding to these facts were calculated in the range 0.06 – 0.27 for Cd and for Zn 0.06 – 0.48. In terms of plant species, the CR values obtained for Cd decreased in the order: maize > celery > tobacco and giant reed > alpine pennycress. The similarity between studied objects – individual plant species on the basis of the obtained variables defining Cd or Zn accumulation at different conditions of the experiments as well as the relationships between obtained variables and conditions of the experiments were subjected to multivariate analysis method – cluster analysis (CA). According to the findings and this analysis, it can be expected that plants of tobacco and giant reed will dispose with similar characteristics as plants of alpine pennycress, which are classified as Zn/Cd hyperaccumulators, in terms of Cd or Zn accumulation and other positive parameters for their utilization in phytoremediation processes and techniques.
Optimization Of Expression Conditions Of The Acetylesterase CE16 From Hypocrea Jecorina Encoded By A Synthetic Gene And Expressed In Escherichia coli Cells
Authors: Jamrichová Daniela , Godány Andrej , Urbániková Ľubica
Published: January 2016

Acetylesterase CE16 was identified as a part of the enzymatic cocktail secreted by fungus Hypocrea jecorina (anamorph: Trichoderma reesei) during its growth on cellulose. Later it was classified as the first member of a newly organized carbohydrate esterase family CE16. Further studies showed that acetylesterase is crucial for complete deacetylation of naturally acetylated xylans enabling their saccharification by xylanases. To study the relationship between structure and function of acetylesterase, highly purified recombinant enzyme produced by Trichoderma reesei Rut C-30 was prepared. The enzyme was composed of 348 amino acid residues from which the 1 - 19 formed a secretion signal peptide. Determined molecular mass of purified recombinant acetylesterase (Aes1) was 45 kDa which was more than molecular mass calculated from amino acid sequence. As it has been proved later, the difference was caused by the enzyme glycosylation. Glycosylation of proteins increases their stability, but it can also be a source of heterogeneity, which might be a problem during crystallization. To make the future X-ray study of the enzyme easier, recombinant non-glycosylated enzyme needed to be prepared. For these purposes, a synthetic gene optimized for protein expression in Escherichia coli was designed and synthetized. The first nonglycosylated acetylesterase obtained by the expression of its synthetic gene in E. coli cells was mostly insoluble or aggregated. Conditions of cell cultivation, induction of gene expression and cells disruption were necessary to optimize. Presently, after optimization of all mentioned steps, the non-glycosylated recombinant CE16 acetylesterase was prepared in the soluble and active form, ready for further downstream procedures, involving protein purification and crystallization.
The Mediatized Zlatan, Made by Sweden
Authors: Sarrimo Cristine
Published: January 2016

The present article analyses the mediatization of the brand and celebrity Zlatan Ibrahimović using the reception and marketing of the footballer’s life story and autobiography as its main case. It is shown that the construction of a myth such as Ibrahimović transcends the materiality of the book as well as geographical, vernacular and media boundaries, as it is constituted as content in a digital network that produces signification. This ‘Zlatan content’ is framed by national Swedish values and a traditional Western myth of individual masculine excellence. It is also marked by emotions, class and race, telling a tale about the marginalized emotive immigrant becoming both a national icon and part of an imaginary Western ghetto experience and global literary canon formation. It is argued that the performance of excitable speech acts is crucial in the mediatization and branding of mass market literature and celebrities such as Ibrahimović.
Polymedia Distinctions
Authors: Jansson André
Published: January 2016

“Polymedia”, a concept introduced by Madianou and Miller (2012), refers to the everyday conditions of abundant media resources. Whereas such conditions imply that the classificatory processes concerning media as cultural properties become increasingly complex, few studies have tried to produce a general picture of how interpersonal media practices are part of sociocultural reproduction. This study is based on a nationwide survey conducted in Sweden in 2012 and focuses on mediated communication among “polymedia couples” (39 percent of all Swedish couples). The article demonstrates that sociocultural factors are important for explaining media uses, also when media accessibility is more or less unlimited, and pinpoints how preferences for certain modalities of communication are linked to other lifestyle practices as markers of taste. Most notably, email communication attains a higher sociocultural status than online chat functions and social media, testifying to the enduring significance of asynchronous, text-based communication in a longer format as a culturally distinctive mode of intimate communication.
Nordic Openness in Practice
Authors: Vesa Juho
Published: January 2016

Due to the tradition of ‘Nordic openness’, and intensified by international trends, the norm of policy-making transparency is strong in Finland. Inspired by organizational institutionalism, the present article studies what this notion of transparency means in practice. A case study of a social security reform committee is presented. The consensus-building practices typical of Finnish corporatist policy-making significantly constrained the transparency of government communication during the lifetime of the committee. The government communicated actively in public to meet the demand for transparency; but in order to secure effective bargaining, the government communicated issues concerning the committee so vaguely that it did not inspire wide public discussion. Public discussion was instead mainly fuelled by leaks. These findings suggest that a strong norm of transparency can lead to ceremonial transparency, where government public communication is loosely coupled with policy-making practices. These ceremonies might strengthen the notion of Nordic openness.
Popularizing the Internet
Authors: Hetland Per
Published: January 2016

In popular science and technology writing, “boosterism” is prominent. Writers overwhelmingly describe science and technology in enthusiastic terms, thereby promoting the deficit or Public Appreciation of Science and Technology model (PAST). A crucial aspect of the PAST model is its pro-innovation bias: writers enroll chaperones in the texts, such as spokespersons, users, celebrities, witnesses, experts, and authorities, to support their claims. Both “boosterism” and pro-innovation bias constrain the public’s critical understanding of science and technology. This study includes a detailed exploration of pro-innovation bias in the popularization of the Internet in the Norwegian press and how journalists use chaperones to support their claims. The author demonstrates that, in popularizing the Internet, pro-innovation bias manifests several other biases, such as individual-praise, pro-technology, individual-blame, technology-blame, and source biases.
Zipf’s Law and World Military Expenditures
Authors: Arvanitidis Paschalis , Kollias Christos
Published: January 2016

The paper employs Zipf’s law to examine the distribution of military spending across countries in the world over the period 1988–2012. Military spending can cautiously be treated as a crude and distant proxy for military capacity and strength, and hence states’ hard power. The paper finds that the first-in-rank country (the USA) consistently spends more on the production of military capabilities than what is projected by Zipf’s law to correspond to a balanced international structure. This, tentatively interpreted, implies the use of military strength (and the concomitant costs for acquiring it) as a tool of hegemonic status consolidation, perhaps vis-à-vis other rising global players. In turn, the countries at the lower end of the rank, although they have overall increased their military outlays, seem to spend less on defence than this is anticipated by the law. This finding may be pointing to free-riding on the military strength of allies and other major powers.
Numerical solutions of the reaction diffusion system by using
exponential cubic B-spline collocation algorithms
Authors: Ersoy Ozlem , Dag Idris
Published: January 2016

The solutions of the reaction-diffusion system
are given by method of collocation based on the exponential
B-splines. Thus the reaction-diffusion systemturns
into an iterative banded algebraic matrix equation. Solution
of the matrix equation is carried out byway of Thomas
algorithm. The present methods test on both linear and
nonlinear problems. The results are documented to compare
with some earlier studies by use of L∞ and relative
error norm for problems respectively.
Diversity and abundance of isopod fauna associated with holdfasts of the brown alga Himantothallus grandifolius in Admiralty Bay, Antarctic
Authors: Zemko Karol , Pabis Krzysztof , Siciński Jacek , Błażewicz-Paszkowycz Magdalena
Published: January 2016

Fifteen species of isopods, representing 10 families, were recorded on holdfasts of the brown alga Himantothallus grandifolius. Material was collected in the 15–75 m depth range during the austral summer of 1979/80. The isopod community was dominated by Caecognathia antarctica (mean density 12.4 ± 13.1 ind./100 ml) followed by Cymodocella tubicauda (mean density 0.7 ± 2.1 ind./100 ml). Mean total density of isopods reached the value of 16.1 ± 14.0 ind./100 ml. The comparison with the other studies showed that holdfasts are inhabited by a distinctive isopod community that differs from the isopod fauna associated with soft bottom of Admiralty Bay.
A discursive approach to the analysis of politeness data
Authors: van der Bom Isabelle , Mills Sara
Published: January 2016

This paper aims to provide an exemplification of the way that the discursive approach can work in relation to the analysis of data. As such, it argues for the validity of the discursive approach to politeness. Because the discursive approach has been seen as difficult to employ in the analysis of data, in recent years, there has been a proliferation of research returning to Brown and Levinson’s approach. Although discursive approaches to politeness have functioned successfully as a critique of Brown and Levinson’s work, they are not seen as a means of analyzing politeness and impoliteness in their own right. By tracing the development of the discursive approach to politeness, and by addressing the critiques that there have been, we argue that although the critical role of the discursive approach is paramount to the development of the field, discursive approaches are more than just a critique, and should be seen as constituting an approach to the
In search of another understanding of politeness: From the perspective of attentiveness
Authors: Fukushima Saeko
Published: January 2016

While politeness has been researched mainly from the perspectives of face and identity, this conceptual paper explores another understanding of politeness through the consideration of attentiveness, namely, a demonstrator’s pre-emptive responses to a recipient’s verbal or non-verbal cues or situations surrounding a recipient and a demonstrator, which takes the form of offering. In this paper, it is suggested that politeness can be construed in relation to the heart; and that behavioral (non-linguistic) politeness, an understudied area in the field, should be taken into account in politeness research. With the development of interpersonal pragmatics, there has been a growing need to investigate interpersonal relationships, and great importance is placed on evaluation in the discursive approach. As attentiveness is an interpersonal notion, which involves evaluation, the consideration of attentiveness meets these demands. In the present paper, the concept of attentiveness is clarified and it is shown how attentiveness works by presenting the process of demonstration and evaluation of attentiveness.
Jocular mockery in computer-mediated communication: A contrastive study of a Spanish and English Facebook community
Authors: Maíz-Arévalo Carmen
Published: January 2016

Understood as an umbrella term covering different phenomena (e.g., banter, teasing, jocular insults, etc.), mock impoliteness has long attracted the attention of scholars. However, most of this research has concentrated on English while other languages have been neglected. In addition, previous research has mostly analyzed face-to-face interaction, generally ignoring computer-mediated communication. This paper aims to redress this imbalance by analyzing a particular case of mock impoliteness – i.e., jocular mockery – in two Facebook communities (Spanish and English). More specifically, and following Haugh’s (2010) and Haugh and Bousfield’s (2012) three inter-related dimensions, this paper intends to answer three questions: (i) what triggers jocular mockery in each corpus? (ii) How is it “framed”? And (iii) how do interlocutors respond to it? To this end, two balanced datasets were gathered: one in (British) English and one in (Peninsular) Spanish, consisting of 6,215 and 6,193 words respectively. Results show that jocular mockery is pervasive in both datasets and both British and Spanish users resort to it when confronted with bragging. Likewise, both groups borrow framing strategies from face-to-face communication but also employ other means afforded by Facebook itself. They also opt for accepting it good- naturedly as a way to boost group rapport.
Simulation: A Powerful Tool for Training Professional Skills in Cleanrooms
Authors: Denami Maria
Published: January 2016

This study presents the conception of a simulator for training and evaluating workers that are going to enter and operate in a cleanroom. First, this article explains the pedagogical engineering process developed in order to conceive this pedagogical tool. Second, it describes the scientific protocol designed to test the efficiency of the simulator. A comparative study has been done in order to verify the influence of training
Circulation Influence On Cloudiness In Poznań
Authors: Szyga-Pluta Katarzyna
Published: January 2016

The frequency of occurrence of cloud cover was analysed taking into consideration its circulation-related conditioning. The atmospheric circulation types according to Osuchowska-Klein (1978) classification were used. The study was made based on diurnal climatological observations carried out in Poznań-Ławica in years 1966–1998. It was found that the cloudless skies and small cloudiness were associated with anticyclonic types of atmospheric circulation and the east macrotype. Moderate cloudiness occurred equally at cyclonic and anticyclonic circulation types. Larger cloud coverage of the sky was associated with cyclonic circulation, especially with the west macrotype.
Old Melioration Systems: The Influence Onto Functioning Of Geoecosystems Of River Valleys In The Parsęta (NW Poland)
Authors: Szpikowski Józef , Szpikowska Grażyna , Domańska Monika
Published: January 2016

Meliorations and their specific forms – irrigations – are one of the forms of anthropopressure within geoecosystems. The research studies conducted within the Parsęta basin focused on the sub-irrigation (seepage irrigation) systems formed in the 19th century. Query of archive materials and maps, hydrochemical and phytosociological terrain mapping and laboratory testing of water samples collected were used in the studies. In the study area were found the remains of the thirty old irrigation systems, which together occupy 2% of the Parsęta basin area. For many years most of them have not fulfilled their primary economic functions. Still, these systems have an impact on the cycle of waters and have become an important factor in increasing the geo- and biodiversity within the postglacial landscape. By expanding a range of wetland riparian areas, they fulfil relevant functions to protect surface waters against the supply of biogenic components. Some of them could be used to enlarge wetlands and floodplains within river valleys.
How Reliable Are Selected Methods Of Projections Of Future Thermal Conditions? A Case From Poland
Authors: Wibig Joanna , Jędruszkiewicz Joanna
Published: January 2016

The aim of the paper was to assess the robustness of four bias correction techniques: simple bias correction, distribution based bias correction, delta change and distribution based delta change. Data from nine RCM simulations of CORDEX project and 41 Polish weather stations were used. The methods were calibrated in the period 1971–1985 and evaluated in 1991–2005. The improvement in mean, 10th and 90th percentiles was shown, without significant differences among methods. For 1st and 99th percentiles the improvement was generally weaker and simple methods seem to be more robust than the distribution based ones. Strong differences between individual models were found, so the use of model ensemble is recommended.
Cloud-Capped Towers: Capturing Terrain Characteristics Using Topographic Functionals
Authors: Earl Edward , Metzler David
Published: January 2016

We introduce three related mathematical measures of terrain based on a particularly elegant combination of relief and steepness, which we term omnidirectional relief and steepness (ORS). One measure, reduced ORS (RORS), is particularly suited to creating lists of notable features, and another, domain relief and steepness (DRS), measures the ruggedness of a region.
On The Eigenvalue Distribution Of Adjacency Matrices For Connected Planar Graphs
Authors: Griffith Daniel A.
Published: January 2016

This paper describes the previously unknown statistical distribution of adjacency matrix spectra for planar graphs, also known as spatial weights matrices, in terms of the following three readily available eigenvalue properties: extremes, rank orderings, and sums of powers. This distribution is governed by at most six parameters that, once known, allow accurate approximations of eigenvalues to be computed without resorting to numerical matrix methods applied on a case-by-case basis. Parameter estimates for illustrative real-world examples are obtained using nonlinear least squares regression techniques. Three conjectures are proposed, and graphical and trend results are reported for a diverse set of planar graph-based matrices.
Category Theory In Geography?
Authors: Arlinghaus Sandra L. , Kerski Joseph
Published: January 2016

Is mathematical category theory a unifying tool for geography? Here we look at a few basic category theoretical ideas and interpret them in geographic example. We also offer links to indicate how category theory has been used as such in other disciplines. Finally, we announce the direction of our research program on this topic as a way to facilitate the learning, and maintenance of learning, of GIS software – and in the spirit of Quaestiones Geographicae, invite debate, comment, and contribution to this program in spatial mathematics.
Mathematics: What’s Spatial, What’s Not
Authors: Arlinghaus William C.
Published: January 2016

Probably, almost everyone has some idea of what is meant by the words ‘spatial mathematics.’ The problem is that 100 people have 100 different ideas, because the concept is not easy to codify. In this paper we suggest a few ways to illustrate differences between ‘spatial’ and ‘non-spatial’ concepts, and ways to introduce spatial approaches where none was present before.