bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In-vitro fertilization and spontaneous pregnancies: matching outcomes in Douala, Cameroon
Authors: Egbe Thomas Obinchemti , Sandjon Guy , Ourtchingh Clovis , Simo André , Priso Eugene Belley , Benifla Jean-Louis
Published: January 2016

Background

Couples are considered infertile if they do not conceive over a 12-month period of unprotected intercourse. Studies have shown that female causes accounted for between 25 to 37 percent of infertility worldwide (with larger proportions in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia) and male causes accounted for between 8 to 22 percent. Both male and female causes accounted for between 21 to 38 percent. Although the majority of ART children are normal, there are concerns about the increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. More than 30 % of ART pregnancies are twins or higher-order multiple gestations (triplets or greater) and more than one half of all ART neonates are the products of multifetal gestations, with an attendant increase in prematurity complications. The aim of this study was to evaiuate the outcome of pregnancies conceived by In-vitro fertilisation compared to those conceived naturally in two hospitals in Douala, Cameroon.

Methods

This was a prospective study carried out from October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012. Participants were recruited from two hospitals: the Douala General Hospital (DGH) and the Clinique de l’ Aéroport (CDA), also in Douala. A total of 102 women were recruited for study: 51 who conceived by IVF (cases) and 51 who conceived naturally (controls). Of the 102 women, 52.9 % were between 31 – 39 years of age, while 21.6 % were above 40.

Results

Participants who conceived through IVF-ET were 4.1 times more likely to undergo cesarean delivery than those who conceived naturally [OR 4.10, 95 % CI 1.78–9.42]. Similarly, a higher percentage of patients in the IVF group than those in the control group have never given birth (33.3 % vs 2.0 %) (P < 0.0001). The percentage of multiple pregnancies was 7.5 times higher in the IVF group than in the control group (14.7 % vs.1.96 %) (P = 0.000).

The leading indication for cesarean delivery was advanced maternal age (27.3 %) followed by IVF or precious pregnancy (18.2 %).

Conclusions

Cesarean delivery was more frequent amongst the IVF group than in the control group. The leading indications for cesarean delivery were advanced maternal age and IVF or precious pregnancy.

The long-term neonatal outcomes of IVF babies beyond 5-min Apgar scores should be studied in Cameroon and follow-up beyond 1 year encouraged.
Measuring forces and stressesin situin living tissues
Authors: Sugimura Kaoru , Lenne Pierre-François , Graner François
Published: January 2016

Development, homeostasis and regeneration of tissues result from a complex combination of genetics and mechanics, and progresses in the former have been quicker than in the latter. Measurements of in situ forces and stresses appear to be increasingly important to delineate the role of mechanics in development. We review here several emerging techniques: contact manipulation, manipulation using light, visual sensors, and non-mechanical observation techniques. We compare their fields of applications, their advantages and limitations, and their validations. These techniques complement measurements of deformations and of mechanical properties. We argue that such approaches could have a significant impact on our understanding of the development of living tissues in the near future.
The formation and function of the cardiac conduction system
Authors: van Weerd Jan Hendrik , Christoffels Vincent M.
Published: January 2016

The cardiac conduction system (CCS) consists of distinctive components that initiate and conduct the electrical impulse required for the coordinated contraction of the cardiac chambers. CCS development involves complex regulatory networks that act in stage-, tissue- and dose-dependent manners, and recent findings indicate that the activity of these networks is sensitive to common genetic variants associated with cardiac arrhythmias. Here, we review how these findings have provided novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms and transcriptional networks underlying CCS formation and function.
The transcriptional repressor Blimp-1 acts downstream of BMP signaling to generate primordial germ cells in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus
Authors: Nakamura Taro , Extavour Cassandra G.
Published: January 2016

Segregation of the germ line from the soma is an essential event for transmission of genetic information across generations in all sexually reproducing animals. Although some well-studied systems such as Drosophila and Xenopus use maternally inherited germ determinants to specify germ cells, most animals, including mice, appear to utilize zygotic inductive cell signals to specify germ cells during later embryogenesis. Such inductive germ cell specification is thought to be an ancestral trait of Bilateria, but major questions remain as to the nature of an ancestral mechanism to induce germ cells, and how that mechanism evolved. We previously reported that BMP signaling-based germ cell induction is conserved in both the mouse Mus musculus and the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, which is an emerging model organism for functional studies of induction-based germ cell formation. In order to gain further insight into the functional evolution of germ cell specification, here we examined the Gryllus ortholog of the transcription factor Blimp-1 (also known as Prdm1), which is a widely conserved bilaterian gene known to play a crucial role in the specification of germ cells in mice. Our functional analyses of the Gryllus Blimp-1 ortholog revealed that it is essential for Gryllus primordial germ cell development, and is regulated by upstream input from the BMP signaling pathway. This functional conservation of the epistatic relationship between BMP signaling and Blimp-1 in inductive germ cell specification between mouse and cricket supports the hypothesis that this molecular mechanism regulated primordial germ cell specification in a last common bilaterian ancestor.
Cracking the epitranscriptome
Authors: Schwartz Schraga
Published: January 2016

Over 100 distinct chemical modifications can be catalyzed on RNA post-synthesis, potentially serving as a post-transcriptional regulatory layer of gene expression. This review focuses on recent advances, knowledge gaps, and challenges pertaining to N6-methyladenosine (m6A), an abundant modification of mRNA for which substantial progress has been made in recent years. The discussed aspects are also very relevant for a wide range of additional modifications on mRNA collectively coined the epitranscriptome.
Present verbs and their contexts in bilingual oral narratives
Authors: Tammekänd Liina
Published: January 2016

The paper discusses the use of present verbs in ten Estonian-Võru narrative pairs. The research questions are: which narrative tenses with which roles are used in Estonian and Võru narratives; in which narrative parts can present verbs be found; and which present contexts are used in the Võru narratives when compared to the Estonian narratives. It could be concluded that the deictic past, the deictic present and the conversational historical present are used in eight different contexts. These are the introduction, the conclusion, reporting verbs, the asides (universal truths, descriptions of the present situation caused by past events and comments to the listener without the direct address), addresses to the listener, the future meaning, the conversational historical present switch and the indirect speech. In the Võru narratives, narrative events were conveyed using more preterite verbs when compared to the Estonian narratives, where descriptions of narrative events contained more present verbs.Kokkuvõte. Liina Tammekänd: Olevikuverbid ja nende kontekstid kakskeelsetes suulistes narratiivides. Artiklis käsitletakse olevikuverbide esinemist kümnes eesti-võru narratiivipaaris. Uurimisküsimusteks on: milliseid narratiiviaegu leiab eesti ja võru narratiividest ja millised on nende rollid, millistes narratiiviosades olevikuverbe kasutatakse ja milliseid olevikukontekste võru narratiividest leiab. Ilmnes, et suulistes narratiivides kasutatakse deiktilist minevikku, deiktilist olevikku ja konversatsioonilist ajaloolist olevikku kaheksas kontekstis: sissjuhatus, kokkuvõte, saateverbid, kommentaarid (üldised tõed, hetkeolukorra kirjeldused, otsese pöördumiseta kommentaarid kuulajale), kuulaja poole pöördumised, tulevikuline tähendus, ümberlülitumine oleviku- ja mineviku verbide vahel ja tsitaatkõne. Võru narratiivides esines vähe või ei esinenud üldse kommentaare, kuulaja poole pöördumist ja ümberlülitumist oleviku- ja mineviku verbide vahel. Seega kasutati võru narratiivides narratiivisündmuste kirjeldamiseks võrreldes eesti narratiividega enam minevikuverbe.Märksõnad: kakskeelne suuline narratiiv, narratiiviajad, konversatsiooniline ajalooline olevik, eesti, võru
Ants Oras and the Analysis of Early Modern English Dramatic Verse
Authors: Jackson MacDonald P.
Published: January 2016

Ants Oras’s contribution to the study of early modern English dramatic verse is of enduring value. In 1956 his article on extra monosyllables in Henry VIII gave much needed support to the view that both this play of the Shakespeare First Folio (1623) and The Two Noble Kinsmen (first published in a quarto of 1634) were works in which Shakespeare had collaborated with John Fletcher. Oras’s Pause Patterns in Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama (1960), with its huge amount of quantitative data and readily intelligible graphs, greatly enhanced understanding of how blank verse developed from the 1580s to the closing of the London theatres in 1642. Moreover, use of Oras’s techniques of analysis has continued to throw light on questions of chronology and authorship surrounding Shakespeare and his fellow playwrights. Among plays illuminated in this way have been The Revenger’s Tragedy, Pericles, Thomas of Woodstock, Sir Thomas More, and Arden of Faversham.
Robust Scheduling Practices in the U.S. Airline Industry: Costs, Returns, and Inefficiencies
Authors: Atkinson Scott E. , Ramdas Kamalini , Williams Jonathan W.
Published: January 2016

Airlines use robust scheduling to mitigate the impact of unforeseeable disruptions on profits. We examine how effectively three common practices—flexibility to swap aircraft, flexibility to reassign gates, and scheduled aircraft downtime—accomplish this goal. We first estimate a multiple-input, multiple-outcome production frontier, which defines the attainable set of outcomes from given inputs. We then recover unobserved input costs and calculate how expenditure on inputs affects outcomes and revenues. We find that the per-dollar return from expenditure on gates, or more effective management of existing gate capacity, is three times larger than the per-dollar returns from other inputs. Next, we use the estimated trade-offs faced by carriers along the frontier to measure the value to carriers of reducing delays. Finally, we calculate the improvement in carriers’ outcomes and profits if their operational inefficiencies are eliminated. On average, we estimate that operational inefficiencies cost carriers about $1.7 billion in revenue annually.

This paper was accepted by Serguei Netessine, operations management.
Part 1: A model for evidence-based decision-making in midwifery care
Authors: Ménage Diane
Published: January 2016

This two-part paper proposes a model of evidence-based decision-making for midwifery. In part 1, the nature of the woman–midwife partnership, decision-making theories, and the meaning of evidence are explored with reference to the literature. The impact of risk culture on decision-making and the role of guidelines are discussed. The case is made for a new fit-for-purpose model of decision-making on which to base personalised care in increasingly complex maternity care systems. To do this, the argument is made for a radical, broader definition of evidence that includes information from the woman, the midwife, research findings and other resources. These are set within an environmental context. Part 2 will introduce and explain the new model for evidence-based decision-making in midwifery.
El No Positivismo Incluyente
Authors: Alexy Robert
Published: January 2016

Partiendo de la distinción entre las dos formas de positivismo y las tres de no-positivismo, sostengo que sólo uno de estos cinco conceptos de derecho es defendible: el no-positivismo incluyente. En el centro de mi argumentación está la tesis de la corrección, la cual establece que el derecho necesariamente formula una pretensión de corrección. Esta tesis implica a su vez la tesis de la naturaleza dual, según la cual el derecho comprende tanto una dimensión real o autoritativa como una dimensión ideal o crítica. La idea de la naturaleza dual del derecho es el fundamento de la fórmula de Radbruch. Ésta señala, en su formulación más simple, que la injusticia extrema no es derecho.
Sobre la interpretación evolutiva de la constitución. Notas al margen de una reciente sentencia del Tribunal Constitucional español sobre el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo
Authors: Mastromartino Fabrizio
Published: January 2016

Este texto propone algunas reflexiones críticas sobre el tema de la interpretación evolutiva de las disposiciones constitucionales a partir del examen argumentativo de la sentencia del Tribunal constitucional español sobre el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo. Después de una reconstrucción detallada de los argumentos formulados por los solicitantes, de las razones en que la decisión de la Corte está basada y de las objeciones planteadas por los votos particulares, el análisis se centra en las implicaciones teóricas que la interpretación evolutiva de las disposiciones constitucionales comporta para el concepto de «constitución» y el papel de la justicia constitucional. La tesis aquí sostenida es que para que el recurso a la interpretación evolutiva de las disposiciones constitucionales pueda juzgarse congruentemente con su rigidez normativa, su aplicación debe dirigirse únicamente a extender la clase de los sujetos tutelados en los derechos y/o de los derechos que son el objeto de esta tutela, compatiblemente con las otras normas del sistema constitucional.
De los derechos humanos al derecho al aborto
Authors: Zúñiga Fajuri Alejandra
Published: January 2016

Ninguna otra persona, en ninguna situación, es obligada a realizar el acto supererogatorio que se exige a la mujer embarazada. Aun cuando una adecuada aplicación de la teoría general de los derechos humanos permite reconocer el derecho al aborto durante los dos primeros trimestres del embarazo sobre la base de que los derechos sólo pueden restringirse por mor de los propios derechos. En esa línea, se intenta responder a quienes sostienen que el problema del aborto no puede resolverse pues no existe forma de identificar un momento exacto a lo largo del desarrollo del embrión que permita diferenciar entre un aborto legítimo y uno ilegítimo. Se defiende que existen potentes argumentos morales para definir una postura que reduzca la incertidumbre y permita fundamentar reformas legislativas de despenalización.
La equidad según Ferrajoli y la equidad según Aristóteles: una comparación crítica
Authors: Vega Jesús
Published: January 2016

En este trabajo se hace un análisis crítico de la idea de equidad de Ferrajoli. Para discutir la concepción cognoscitivista de la jurisdicción defendida por el teórico italiano y el lugar que la equidad ocupa en ella (como «poder de connotación», junto a los poderes de «denotación», «comprobación fáctica» y «disposición») se propone una comparación crítica con la teoría clásica de la equidad de Aristóteles. Esta comparación contrasta ese modelo positivista con el modelo pragmático de las reglas y de la deliberación judicial como razonamiento práctico que se deriva de la idea aristotélica de «prudencia» y se encuentra en el trasfondo de la tesis de la epieikeia como «corrección de la ley». A partir de aquí se muestran, por un lado, las insuficiencias del planteamiento ferrajoliano de la jurisdicción basado en una idea de «verdad» deudora de la dicotomía positivista hecho-valor, argumentando que su tesis de la equidad como «connotación de lo que la ley denota» y «comprensión de las circunstancias de hecho del caso» mantiene en el fondo la misma posición del formalismo clásico ilustrado. Por otro lado, se destacan las inconsistencias que tal comprensión supone para el proyecto de constitucionalismo positivista de Ferrajoli, subrayando que la función judicial, y particularmente en el Estado constitucional, es indisociable de la idea de verdad como corrección práctica y de la coherencia como ideal metódico.
The effects of drainage and restoration of pine mires on habitat structure, vegetation and ants
Authors: Punttila Pekka , Autio Olli , Kotiaho Janne , Kotze D. , Loukola Olli , Noreika Norbertas , Vuori Anna , Vepsäläinen Kari
Published: January 2016

Habitat loss and degradation are the main threats to biodiversity worldwide. For example, nearly 80% of peatlands in southern Finland have been drained. There is thus a need to safeguard the remaining pristine mires and to restore degraded ones. Ants play a pivotal role in many ecosystems and like many keystone plant species, shape ecosystem conditions for other biota. The effects of mire restoration and subsequent vegetation succession on ants, however, are poorly understood. We inventoried tree stands, vegetation, water-table level, and ants (with pitfall traps) in nine mires in southern Finland to explore differences in habitats, vegetation and ant assemblages among pristine, drained (30â40 years ago) and recently restored (1â3 years ago) pine mires. We expected that restoring the water-table level by ditch filling and reconstructing sparse tree stands by cuttings will recover mire vegetation and ants. We found predictable responses in habitat structure, floristic composition and ant assemblage structure both to drainage and restoration. However, for mire-specialist ants the results were variable and longer-term monitoring is needed to confirm the success of restoration since these social insects establish perennial colonies with long colony cycles. We conclude that restoring the water-table level and tree stand structure seem to recover the characteristic vegetation and ant assemblages in the short term. This recovery was likely enhanced because drained mires still had both acrotelm and catotelm, and connectedness was still reasonable for mire organisms to recolonize the restored mires either from local refugia or from populations of nearby mires.
Enterprising Migrants in Berlin
Authors: Ülker Baris
Published: January 2016

How has »ethnic entrepreneurship« emerged and developed since the late eighties in Berlin? In his study, Baris Ülker answers this question by relying on the experiences of immigrants from Turkey. Most academic studies on »ethnic entrepreneurship« have focused either on the »most unitary« structure available in the »natural flow of history« or on the pre-given »cultural« characteristics of immigrants. This book instead sets historical ruptures, conditions of possibility and individual practices in context. It analyzes how human beings have been turned into »ethnic entrepreneurs« and explains the ways of governing the self and others in the neoliberal urban context.
Cobertura florestal e qualidade da água na bacia hidrográfica do rio Jucu, estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil
Authors: Gardiman Junior Benvindo Sirtoli , Simoura Lóris Teixeira
Published: January 2016

Os fragmentos florestais remanescentes da mata atlântica influenciam indubitavelmente na qualidade da água dos rios que drenam. Objetivando analisar o percentual de cobertura florestal e os impactos antrópicos sobre os parâmetros de qualidade da água e compará-las em relação à resolução CONAMA no 357/2005, estudaram-se duas sub-bacias: rio Formate e rio Jucu Braço Sul, no qual pertencem a Bacia Hidrográfica do rio Jucu. Para subsidiar a discussão utilizou-se o IQA da CETESB e o Software ArcGIS 9.3 para elaborar a base de dados espaciais. Os resultados expõem que o Rio Jucu (Braço Sul) com 68% de cobertura florestal apresentou água com índice de qualidade “boa” em todos os pontos e o Formate com 41% de cobertura florestal entre “regular” e “ruim”. Destaca-se também que as variáveis que se apresentaram acima do limite estabelecido pela resolução CONAMA 357/2005 foram DBO5, Ptotal, Ntotal e Colifirmes Termotolerantes principalmente na sub-bacia do rio Jucu, que representam poluição antrópica. Por fim, o estudo aponta a influência do ambiente externo sobre a qualidade da água, relevando a importância da cobertura florestal como meio de proteção aos mananciais, e assim priorizar sua segurança hídrica.
Distribuição diamétrica e determinação da altura em plantio de Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze na região central do Rio Grande do Sul
Authors: Hentz Ângela Maria Klein , Pasa Débora Luana , Talgatti Maiara , Ferreira Augusto Da Rosa Casanova , Mello Filho José Américo de
Published: January 2016

O presente trabalho visa determinar matematicamente a curva hipsométrica, assim como a distribuição diamétrica da espécie Araucaria angustifolia, em um plantio localizado na área da FEPAGRO Florestas, Santa Maria – RS. A distribuição diamétrica do povoamento foi modelada a partir de funções de densidade de probabilidade (fdp), e a relação hipsométrica a partir de modelos matemáticos encontrados em outros estudos. Após o ajuste dos modelos pela análise de regressão, verificou-se que os modelos hipsométricos obtiveram valores de coeficiente de determinação múltipla que variam de 0,36 até 0,47, e erro padrão entre 10,58 e 11,64%. Pela análise realizada, pôde-se verificar que o modelo lh h = b0 + b1*ln dap + b2*1/DAP foi o mais apto às condições locais, obtendo R²aj= 0,46 e Sxy% = 10,58%, além da distribuição gráfica dos resíduos sem tendenciosidade. A função SB de Johnson foi a que melhor se ajustou à distribuição diamétrica, apesar de que todas as seis fdp ajustaram-se aos dados, conforme o teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov. Pode-se concluir que as equações hipsométricas podem ser utilizadas para estimar a variável altura da espécie nesta região, com erros aceitáveis, assim como pode ser modelada a distribuição diamétrica da floresta a partir de várias funções. A partir da análise gráfica das equações hipsométricas, percebe-se que o povoamento, com aproximadamente 60 anos, ainda não se encontra em fase de senescência, pois a curva mostra inclinação ascendente.
The Space-to-Product Ratio Effect: How Interstitial Space Influences Product Aesthetic Appeal, Store Perceptions, and Product Preference
Authors: Sevilla Julio , Townsend Claudia
Published: January 2016

The authors identify and examine the effect of space-to-product ratio on consumer response; very generally, consumers perceive products as more valuable when more space is devoted to their display. In both lab and field studies, the authors find that this phenomenon influences total sales, purchase likelihood, and even perceived product experience (taste perceptions). More interstitial space increases perceptions of individual products as more aesthetically pleasing and the store as more prestigious. The authors find these effects across a variety of product categories and rule out a number of competing alternative explanations that are based on perceptions of product popularity, scarcity, assortment search difficulty, and messiness.
Relation between medical sociology and sociology of ageing or later life. A new challenges, social expectations and dilemmas
Authors: Tobiasz-Adamczyk Beata
Published: January 2016

Medical sociology has not paid special attention to observed demographic changes associated with the “greying of societies”. Lack of interest in ageing has resulted in the necessity to develop a new subdiscipline – sociology of aging. The evolution of this subdiscipline has been described in relation to social gerontology. Theories of aging (healthy, successful) have been presented in relation to new changes. Dilemmas and intractable problems focus on prejudices concerning the older persons, gender-related differences in the quality of life in older age, elderly abuse, and quality of life in mentally ill old people as well as other issues.
Unconventional therapists and their patients in Polish traditional folk medicine
Authors: Piątkowski Włodzimierz , Majchrowska Anita
Published: January 2016

Folk medicine is a clearly distinct, comparatively homogeneous and closed system which has arisen from many centuries of isolation and self-sufficiency of the people of the Polish countryside. A feature of this special system involved tradition and relatively consistent illness behaviors, resistant to broader influences of the global society, despite the gradually growing role of modernization factors. An inherent feature of folk culture that impacted behaviors and attitudes of the rural population towards illness was the co-occurrence and overlapping of mystical-magical and religious elements. These applied both to the views on etiology, prevention, diagnosis and therapeutic treatment. Special functions in healing activities in the countryside were performed by the elderly. The matters related to health and illness were the province of the elderly as they were respected and revered for their life’s wisdom and life experience. The purpose of the article is to show the specificity of non-medical treatment in the context of social and cultural determinants, placing special emphasis on the role and importance of the elderly in exercising treatment roles.
Religiousness, well-being and ageing – selected explanations of positive relationships
Authors: Woźniak Barbara
Published: January 2016

According to research that have been conducted in the field of gerontology, sociology and psychology of ageing, there is a relationship between the level of religious involvement and health status/well-being/quality of life in older age. How does religiousness influence aging process and health status? The aim of the article is to review explanations of a positive relationship between religiousness and health that are discussed in the literature. Those explanations may be grouped in three broad categories reflecting three functions of religion that play a role for well-being in older age. Those functions are: (1) religiousness as a source of coherence and the role of religious coping and provision of meaning in dealing with stressful life events (including ageing losses) (2) religiousness as a source of positive self-perception and a sense of personal control, (3) provision of social resources (i.e. social ties and social support) within religious community and emphasis on interpersonal relations (with special focus on forgiveness as a norm in interpersonal relations). Those functions of religion are discussed in the context of their potential role in successful ageing, as determined by – among others – active engagement in life.
Comorbidities in patients over 60 years of age treated at the rehabilitation clinic
Authors: Pietrzyńska Magdalena , Stawińska-Witoszyńska Barbara , Krzyżaniak Alicja , Łańczak-Trzaskowska Magdalena , Nowak Kamila
Published: January 2016

Patients aged above 60 represent a very diversified population group with respect to their health condition. This may result from multimorbidity. In the rehabilitation process of elderly patients it is especially crucial to identify not only the underlying diseases which constituted the grounds for referral to the rehabilitation clinic, but also the comorbidities that have to be taken into consideration while planning their rehabilitation. The aim of the present paper is the assessment of comorbidities in patients of the rehabilitation clinic. The study population included 1616 patients (447 man and 1169 women) treated at the rehabilitation clinic. The factors put through analysis were the age and gender of the patient, the main diagnosed (underlying) illness subject to rehabilitation treatment, as well as comorbidities. All diseases, both the underlying conditions and the comorbidities have been classified according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (10th revised edition). The main reasons for the treatment at the rehabilitation outpatient clinic were arthrosis of the spine, knee and hip joints, polyarthritis, osteoporosis, diseases of the central nervous system diseases and paralytic syndromes as consequences of strokes, hypertension or atherosclerosis, as well as post-traumatic conditions. The most frequent comorbidities occurring in patients of the rehabilitation clinic were cardiovascular diseases (irrespective of the age group and the underlying disease). In the age group of 60–64, the subsequent comorbidities were gastrointestinal and cancers, and in the age of 65–74, neoplasms were the most frequently occurring comorbidities. The performed analysis resulted in the following conclusions: The majority of patients diagnosed and treated at the rehabilitation centre suffered from irregularities in the muscular, articular and skeletal system or the connective tissue (those were mainly the arthrosis of the spine, hip and knee joints as well as osteoporosis). The most frequently observed comorbidities in patients of the rehabilitation clinic were cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as neoplasms.
Patient-performed extraction of faecal calprotectin
Authors: Kristensen Vendel , Lauritzen Trine , Jelsness-Jørgensen Lars-Petter , Frigstad Svein Oskar , Corwin Christian , Moum Bjørn
Published: January 2016

Faecal (f-) calprotectin is a widely used marker for intestinal inflammation. However, extraction procedure is time consuming and cumbersome. The main aim of this study was to evaluate patient-performed extraction of f-calprotectin compared to extraction performed in the laboratory.

A total of 81 adult patients with an established diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease provided two samples from the same bowel movement, one conventional faeces sample and one sample with a patient administered extraction device. A laboratory technician extracted the conventional faeces sample with the same extraction device.

F-calprotectin results from the laboratory-performed extraction and the patient-performed extraction correlated significantly, with a Spearman rank correlation coefficient of 0.92. Method comparison showed a slope of 1.20 (95% confidence interval 1.08–1.36) with intercept of –0.30 (95% confidence interval –9.00 to 4.62). This demonstrates a small proportional difference between the results from the home extracted samples and the results from the laboratory extracted samples, where the home extracted samples are slightly higher. However, six of the 81 patients had made obvious mistakes in the extraction process and their samples were excluded from the study.

Patient administered extraction of f-calprotectin can be a realistic alternative for selected patients. However, instructions must be very precise to avoid mistakes.
Patient identification and tube labelling – a call for harmonisation
Authors: van Dongen-Lases Edmée C. , Cornes Michael P. , Grankvist Kjell , Ibarz Mercedes , Kristensen Gunn B.B. , Lippi Giuseppe , Nybo Mads , Simundic Ana-Maria , on behalf of the Working Group for Preanalytical Phase (WG-P
Published: January 2016

Venous blood sampling (phlebotomy) is the most common invasive procedure performed in patient care. Guidelines on the correct practice of phlebotomy are available, including the H3-A6 guideline issued by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). As the quality of practices and procedures related to venous blood sample collection in European countries was unknown, the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group for the Preanalytical Phase conducted an observational study in 12 European countries. The study demonstrated that the level of compliance of phlebotomy procedures with the CLSI H3-A6 guideline was unacceptably low, and that patient identification and tube labelling are amongst the most critical steps in need of immediate attention and improvement. The process of patient identification and tube labelling is an essential safety barrier to prevent patient identity mix-up. Therefore, the EFLM Working Group aims to encourage and support worldwide harmonisation of patient identification and tube labelling procedures in order to reduce the risk of preanalytical errors and improve patient safety. With this Position paper we wish to raise awareness and provide recommendations for proper patient and sample identification procedures.
Research of foraging and resting behaviour of European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) in conditions of zoological garden as a tool for its restitution back to the wild
Authors: Fraňová Sandra , Baláž Ivan
Published: January 2016

We decided to focus our research on two basic forms of behaviour occurring in colonies of ground squirrels in semi-natural conditions of zoological gardens-foraging and resting behaviour.

Our main goal was to perform an analysis of behaviour of ground squirrels living in captivity and to compare these two categories of behaviour on a set timeline. Our research has been performed throughout the span of years 2011and 2012, during which we were able to observe two separate ground squirrel colonies (A, B). In the analytical part, we described the two main forms of ground squirrels’ behaviour in Zoo Bojnice and we subjected the compiled information to a thorough statistical analysis with the aid of main comparison tools. Based on long-term observation and the analysis of the results, we were able to gather detailed information about the two behaviour categories and their duration within a time frame.

The results from the year 2011 confirmed that ground squirrel’s behaviour, bred in captivity, the display of foraging behaviour is the most frequent during the day, as was also observed in wild ground squirrels recorded by Ambros (Ambros, 1999). Within the year 2011 (without human activity) foraging behaviour reaches two peaks with raised frequencies of display, in the daily time periods, the first from 9 to 11 am and the second from 2.30 to 5 pm. We noted a change in behaviour in 2012, when there was a reconstruction nearby the enclosures. These reconstructive activities influenced the behaviour (significant decrease of activity) of the ground squirrels in the presence of the assigned workers approximately until 3 pm, from which time-also in connection with the lessening of the worker’s presence-the foraging behaviour of ground squirrels began to rise rapidly, which held the peak on until 5 pm. Resting behaviour had only one peak with rising trend during the day in dependence on rising temperature of bedding in the enclosure, on which ground squirrels used to sunbathe. These findings give us valuable information about ground squirrels’ behaviour in captivity as well as behaviour influenced by human presence, what can be used in behavioural research of ground squirrels in the wild.
Preservation of authenticity and determination of identity of landscape ecology as one prerequisite of its future development (selected theoretical and meta-scientific aspects)
Authors: Žigrai Florin
Published: January 2016

Authenticity and identity of landscape ecology is the core and synthesis of inherent conditions determining its development. Bringing into line the development of the theory, methodology and application it is possible to strengthen the social and scientific relevance of landscape ecology as the reflection of its theoretical-applied and educational maturity or development. Preservation of authenticity and determination of identity of landscape ecology depend first of all on the relationship between landscape-ecological research object (what is researched), landscape-ecological research approach (how it is researched) and landscape-ecological research subject (who researches). These three parts of landscape-ecological research are subject to a permanent development and change. The delineated meta-scientific, e.g. universal remarks seem to be applicable in an effort to ensure the preservation of the authenticity and identity as the condition of further development for the science solving the ecological-environmental and socio-economical problems in the landscape.
Ecologically Active Surfaces, Methodological Approach to the Study of Ecological Functions
Authors: Terek Jozef , Dobrovič Ján
Published: January 2016

In studies of individual organisation levels of organisms, the requirement of hollistic expression of structure and function is traditional despite the fact that structural direction prevails in studies. Less attention is paid to the place where function activity occurs in connection with the structure. This place is the surface - the medium where physical, chemical, biological and synergic processes interact. These surfaces are called ecologically active surfaces (EAS). From this standpoint, the surface is a place for energy exchange, which appears as mean studies of function and structural properties of the biological object.

The quantification of these areas taking into account the functional activities - (developed surface, the functional characteristics) to the desktop, or to the volume is the methodological starting point in the assessment of the country, or of its componens after the assessment of the energy potential of the environment. This ratio can be considered as the degree of heterogeneity of the conditions after taking into account the gradient of the environment.

We have achieved partial results related to EAS during the solution of tasks connected with the environmental evaluation of biotic components of a landscape, mainly during the investigation of aquatic biotopes, which are demonstrated on some examples.
Species Structure of Plants in the Báb Forest after Logging
Authors: Pilková Ivana
Published: January 2016

In the submitted paper, we have summarised the results of a research that was realised in the locality of the Báb forest (village Veľky Báb, Nitra loess upland). In the area of Báb forest, we were able to document 134 higher plants on 32 permanent research plots (PRP) during 2013. One hundred and twenty-three taxa were documented in the PRP areas situated on clearcuts, whil only 75 were found in the PRP areas located in forest covers. On PRP of clearcuts, there was the highest cover of herb layer; on the other hand, in the forest cover, there was a higher cover of shrub and tree layer. The highest differences in life-forms between two groups of PRP (clearcuts/forest) were detected by hemicryptophytes and terophytes. On all the 32 areas, the biggest number of species belonged to the indigenous species and apophytes. The biggest differences between forests and clearcuts are shown in a representation of C- strategies. The species composition of the Báb forest has changed mainly due to creation of clearcut areas in November 2006. The logging created suitable conditions for the penetration of heliophilious non-indigenous species from the surrounding (mainly anthropogenic) habitats. That is why there are largely synanthropic and non-indigenous taxa represented on permanent clearcut areas, which are spreading further to the forest cover as well as distant areas of the Báb forest.
Distribution of the Traditional Agricultural Landscape Types Reflecting Geological Substrate and Slope Processes in the Kysuce Region
Authors: Barančoková Mária , Barančok Peter
Published: January 2016

Traditional agricultural landscapes (TAL) are landscapes in which primarily traditional sustainable agricultural practices are currently carried out and where biological diversity is conserved thereby. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the extension of traditional landscape structures and their relationship to geological substrate and slope processes (landslides). The evaluation was concentrated on two types of TAL (extended to Kysuce region): TAL with dispersed settlements (subtype 1a and b) and TAL of arable-land, grasslands and pastures (subtype 4a and b). Localities with typical dispersed settlements of subtype 1a mostly occur on Zlin formation and cover 707.9 ha. On the deluvial formation, this type extends to 531.8 ha and on the Solaň formation, to 403.6 ha. The active landslides are mostly represented in the TAL of subtype 4a (cadastral areas of Čadca and Oščadnica villages), of subtype 4b (cadastral areas of Riečnica and Svrčinovec villages) and of subtype 1a (cadastral area of Svrčinovec village). The largest representation of potential landslides is on the subtype 4a, subtype 1a and subtype 4b.
Territorial Systems of Ecological Stability in Land Consolidation Projects (Example of Proposal for the LSES of Klasov Village, Slovak Republic)
Authors: Moyzeová Milena , Kenderessy Pavol
Published: January 2016

The observation of spatial and functional relations within ecosystems (Forman, Godron, 1993; Michal, 1994; Jongman, 1995 a,b) and Territorial Systems of Ecological Stability and their design have a successful history not only in the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Hungary but also in Slovakia and other countries. The main principle of their design is to create an ecological network in intensively utilised landscape through revitalisation of the existing natural habitats and creation of new ones along with the proposal of their protection and management. The presented contribution represents an example of the proposed spatial framework of ecological stability and management measures in the cadastral area of Klasov. The cadastral area is characterised by prevailing large-block arable parcels and viticultural history. In spite of the agricultural character of the landscape, there are also areas with dispersed non-forest woody vegetation, preserved bank vegetation along streams, wetlands with reed associations, forest growths and mosaics of old abandoned orchards and vineyards as the potential elements of the proposed spatial framework of ecological stability. A functional LTSES framework and implementation of the system of ecostabilizing measures may contribute to increasing diversity of the territory and improvement of its spatial ecological stability. Efforts aimed at the recovery of vine-growing tradition represent a positive feature in terms of increased diversity in the territory.
Land Consolidations in Slovakia, Step Forward, Two Steps Back?
Authors: Muchová Zlatica , Leitmanová Mária , Bažík Jaroslav , Konc Ľubomír , Šinka Karol , Petrovič František
Published: January 2016

This article describes the process of land consolidations in Slovakia. Fundamental goals of land consolidation are defined in the paper. Land ownership is briefly described with emphasis on historical development. Functional reorganisation of the territory is described in detail. The authors state that this objective is in land consolidation designs, often neglected and landscaping is shifted into the background. Preference is given to activities associated with ownership as evidenced by the common tendency to award contracts for simple land consolidation. The numbers of awarded contracts for comprehensive and simple landscape consolidations from 1990 to the present were evaluated. Reasons for the observed stagnation of comprehensive land consolidation projects have been mentioned. Causes have been found and the problem was displayed from various positions. Finally, possible solutions have been found in order to stimulate discussion on the topic: why there is stagnation in designing of land consolidations in Slovakia.
Accumulation of Solar Radiation Depending on Type of Surface in the Urban Environment of the City Nitra
Authors: Bahnová Katarína , Rózová Zdenka
Published: January 2016

The diversity of active surfaces in urban environment is an alarming element of microclimatic conditions at the time of positive energy balance. The accumulation of solar and reflected radiation are forming local climate - microclimate. Vegetation areas in the urban environment have the capability to eliminate extreme demostrations of local climate. The impact of transpiration causes an increase in the relative air humidity, reducing the effect of solar radiation. The result is the elimination of surface temperature in vegetation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potentiality of accumulation of solar radiation depending on the vegetation structure and the type of surface in research areas A1-B1-C1, A2-B2-C2 between intervals 6:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 12:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. The legwork ran in summer period June-August 2013 in residential area Chrenova 1 in the city Nitra.
On the traces of certain classes of permuting mappings in rings
Authors: Ashraf Mohammad , Jamal Malik Rashid , Mozumder Muzibur Rahman
Published: January 2016

Let R be a semiprime ring with center Z and extended centroid C. For a fixed integer n ≥ 2, the trace

δ
:
R
→
R

${\delta \colon R\rightarrow R}$

of a permuting n-additive mapping

D
:

R
n

→
R

${D\colon R^n\rightarrow R}$

is defined as

δ
(
x
)
=
D
(
x
,
...
,
x
)

${\delta (x)=D(x,\ldots ,x)}$

for all x ∈ R.
The notion of permuting n-derivation was introduced by Park
[J. Chungcheong Math. Soc. 22 (2009), no.3, 451–458] as follows:
a permuting n-additive mapping

Δ
:

R
n

→
R

${\Delta \colon R^n\rightarrow R}$

is said to be permuting n-derivation if

Δ

(

x
1

,

x
2

,
⋯
,

x
i

x
i
'

,
⋯
,

x
n

)

=
Δ

(

x
1

,

x
2

,
⋯
,

x
i

,
⋯
,

x
n

)

x
i
'

+

x
i

Δ

(

x
1

,

x
2

,
⋯
,

x
i
'

,
⋯
,

x
n

)

for

all

x
i

,

x
i
'

∈
R
.

$
\Delta (x_1,x_2,\dots , x_ix_i^{\prime },\dots , x_n)=\Delta (x_1,x_2,\dots , x_i,\dots , x_n)x_i^{\prime }+ x_i\Delta (x_1,x_2,\dots , x_i^{\prime },\dots , x_n)\quad \text{for all }x_i ,x_i^{\prime } \in R.
$

A permuting n-additive mapping

Ω
:

R
n

→
R

${\Omega \colon R^n\rightarrow R}$

is known to be
a permuting generalized n-derivation if there exists a permuting n-derivation

Δ
:

R
n

→
R

${\Delta \colon R^n\rightarrow R}$

such that

Ω

(

x
1

,

x
2

,
⋯
,

x
i

x
i
'

,
⋯
,

x
n

)

=
Ω

(

x
1

,

x
2

,
⋯
,

x
i

,
⋯
,

x
n

)

x
i
'

+

x
i

Δ

(

x
1

,

x
2

,
⋯
,

x
i
'

,
⋯
,

x
n

)

for

all

x
i

,

x
i
'

∈
R
.

$
\Omega (x_1,x_2,\dots , x_ix_i^{\prime },\dots , x_n)=\Omega (x_1,x_2,\dots , x_i,\dots , x_n)x_i^{\prime }+ x_i\Delta (x_1,x_2,\dots , x_i^{\prime },\dots , x_n)\quad \text{for all }x_i ,x_i^{\prime } \in R.
$

The main result of this paper states that if I is a nonzero ideal of a semiprime ring R and

Δ
:

R
n

→
R

${\Delta :R^n\rightarrow R}$

is a permuting n-derivation such that

Δ
(
I
,
...
,
I
)
≠
{
0
}

${\Delta (I,\ldots ,I)\ne \lbrace 0\rbrace }$

and

[
δ
(
x
)
,
x
]
=
0

${[\delta (x),x]=0}$

for all x ∈ I, where δ is the trace of Δ, then R contains a nonzero central ideal. Furthermore, some related results are also proven.