bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Active Vibration damping of Smart composite beams based on system identification technique
Authors: Bendine Kouider , Satla Zouaoui , Boukhoulda Farouk Benallel , Nouari Mohammed
Published: April 2018

In the present paper, the active vibration control of a composite beam using piezoelectric actuator is investigated. The space state equation is determined using system identification technique based on the structure input output response provided by ANSYS APDL finite element package. The Linear Quadratic (LQG) control law is designed and integrated into ANSYS APDL to perform closed loop simulations. Numerical examples for different types of excitation loads are presented to test the efficiency and the accuracy of the proposed model.
The elastic flow of curves on the sphere
Authors: Dall’Acqua Anna , Laux Tim , Lin  , Pozzi Paola , Spener Adrian
Published: April 2018

We consider closed curves on the sphere moving by the L2-gradient flow of the elastic energy both with and without penalisation of the length and show short-time and long-time existence of the flow. Moreover, when the length is penalised, we prove sub-convergence to critical points.
Visualizing language ideologies and verbalizing perceived linguistic boundaries: The case of Mandarin Chinese in contemporary Taiwan
Authors: Chen Spencer C.
Published: April 2018

As Mandarin gains prominence in the globalizing world, the use of Mandarin not only blurs geopolitical borders, but also the linguistic boundaries drawn between Taiwan and Mainland China. Employing the theoretical framework of language ideologies and the methodological approach of perceptual dialectology, this article investigates how the Taiwanese perform their identities by hand-drawing their perceived linguistic boundaries of Mandarin varieties. The data came from a multi-sited linguistic fieldwork project in Taiwan that engaged with forty-two Taiwanese (age 19–56) on tasks that include drawing dialectological maps of Mandarin and extended ethnographic interviews. The data show that rhoticity has been selectively rationalized and ideologized as boundary of linguistic differentiation between Mandarin varieties across the Taiwan Strait. This article further examines the ways in which the informants, by surpassing the geospatial indexicality of Taiwan Mandarin as a vernacular, rationalize and project the existing stylistic use of Taiwan Mandarin onto their sociopolitical construals, creating a space where Taiwan Mandarin is equivalent to Putonghua in symbolic power. This study demonstrates the ways in which perceived dialectological maps functions as visualized indexical fields that mirror the multiplicity and volatility of participants’ concurrent language ideologies about the complicated relationship between language and the micro- as well as macro-sociopolitical environments they inhabit.
Constructing identities and negotiating ideologies with Chinese popular culture in adult Mandarin learning
Authors: Fang Sumin , Duff Patricia A.
Published: April 2018

Despite the emergence of Chinese as a global language, little research has been done to explore how learners of Chinese as an Additional Language (CAL), and Mandarin specifically, utilize semiotic resources in Chinese popular culture to negotiate their own and others’ language ideologies and identities. This study argues that popular culture is a rich site for ideological and identity work in which four sorts of questions can be explored: (1) Which language(s)? (2) Whose language? (3) Which texts and discourses? (4) What social implications? Employing this framework, this study draws on three focal adult participants’ reported experiences of engaging with Chinese popular culture as a means of improving their Mandarin proficiency. We discuss such themes as gender and heritage learner identity, and political ideologies and dispositions arising from the study. We conclude, briefly, with some implications for Chinese language education and for future research on this topic.
Highly efficient [3+3] cycloaddition reactions of in situ generated aza-oxyallyl cation with nitrones
Authors: Chen Rongxing , Zhao Sen , Fu Yueliuting , Zhang Yiming , Guo Haibing , Wang Gangqiang , Sun Shaofa , Xing Yalan
Published: April 2018

An efficient protocol was developed for the synthesis of 1,2,4-oxadiazinan-5-one derivatives via [3+3] cycloaddition of in situ generated aza-oxyallyl cations with nitrones. This method provides high yields of the heterocyclic products, excellent regioselectivity and broad substrate scope.
Pulmonary infection of cystic fibrosis mice with Staphylococcus aureus requires expression of α-toxin
Authors: Keitsch Simone , Riethmüller Joachim , Soddemann Matthias , Sehl Carolin , Wilker Barbara , Edwards Michael J. , Caldwell Charles C. , Fraunholz Martin , Gulbins Erich , Becker Katrin Anne
Published: April 2018

Pulmonary infections of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) occur very early in the disease. The molecular details that cause infection-susceptibility of CF patients to and mediate infection with S. aureus are poorly characterized. Therefore, we aimed to identify the role of α-toxin, a major S. aureus toxin, for pulmonary infection of CF mice. Infection with S. aureus JE2 resulted in severe pneumonia in CF mice, while wildtype mice were almost unaffected. Deficiency of α-toxin in JE2-Δhla reduced the pathogenicity of S. aureus in CF mice. However, CF mice were still more susceptible to the mutant S. aureus strain than wildtype mice. The S. aureus JE2 induced a marked increase of ceramide and a downregulation of sphingosine and acid ceramidase expression in bronchi of CF mice. Deletion of α-toxin reduced these changes after infection of CF mice. Similar changes were observed in wildtype mice, but at much lower levels. Our data indicate that expression of α-toxin is a major factor causing S. aureus infections in CF mice. Wildtype S. aureus induces a marked increase of ceramide and a reduction of sphingosine and acid ceramidase expression in bronchial epithelial cells of wildtype and CF mice, changes that determine infection susceptibility.
Hepatitis B virus X protein promotes proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by upregulating miR-181b by targeting ING5
Authors: Xie Xuhua , Xu Xiaopei , Sun Changyu , Yu Zujiang
Published: April 2018

Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) played a key role in the development of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Emerging evidence has demonstrated that miR-181b and the inhibitor of growth protein 5 (ING5) participated in the pathophysiological process. However, the regulatory mechanism of HBx remained unknown. The expression of miR-181b and ING5 in HCC tissues and cell lines were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. Cell viability was determined using the MTT method following HCC cell lines transfection. The interaction between miR-181b and ING5 was assessed by luciferase reporter assay. The nude mice tumor model was well established to evaluate the role and biological functions of HBx on the progression of HBV-related HCC in vivo. MiR-181b was upregulated and ING5 was downregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. As suggested by the results from in vitro and in vivo experiments, HBx downregulates the expression of the miR-181b target gene ING5, resulting in the promotion of HCC cell proliferation. HBx accelerates proliferation activity of HCC cells by increasing miR-181b expression via targeting ING5, thereby influencing the progression of HBV-related HCC.
Non-Linear Radiation and Chemical Reaction Impacts on Hydromagnetic Particle Suspension Flow in Non-Newtonian Fluids
Authors: Gnaneswara Reddy M. , Sudha Rani M.V.V.N.L. , Prasannakumara C.
Published: April 2018

A two dimensional (2D) boundary layer two-phase MHD (magneto hydrodynamics) flow of Maxwell and Oldroyd-B fluid over a stretching sheet has been explored. Heat and mass transfer phenomena is inspected through Non-linear radiation, viscous dissipation, joule heating, Soret (thermo-diffusion) and Dufour (diffusion-thermo) Impact. The boundary layer governing differential equations are modelled and transformed to a system of ODE’S with the aid of similarity transformations. The final controlled equations along boundary restrictions are resolved numerically by Runge-Kutta Felhberg method. The graphical analysis has been emphasized for the fluid and dust phase velocity, temperature and concentration fields to the influence of sundry dynamical flow quantities. Furthermore, for authentication of the present computation, the achieved results are distinguished with earlier research works in specific cases and marvellous agreement has been noted. The outcomes conveyed here manifest that velocity and boundary layer thickness escalate with boost up the values of

${K_1}$

. Velocity and boundary layer thickness declines with boost up the values of

$M$

. Opposite trend is seen in temperature and concentration profiles. The specific heat ratio parameter

$\gamma$

enhances the temperature profile declines. Boost up the values of Soret number

$Sr$

temperature profile declines and concentration profile enhances. Skin friction factor declines with increasing values

$\beta _v$

verses

$M$

.
Effects of Pea Protein on the Properties of Potato Starch-Based 3D Printing Materials
Authors: Chuanxing Feng , Qi Wang , Hui Li , Quancheng Zhou , Wang Meng
Published: April 2018

Since materials are the substantial foundation for 3D printing, the lack of theoretical research on 3D printing food materials restricts the development of 3D printing in food field. Based on the principle of 3D starch gelatinization printing, this study revealed the effects of pea protein on the printability of potato starch-based 3D printing materials in granular structure, crystalline structure, chemical structure, textural properties, and thermal properties, through scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transformed infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, and textural method, and developed new food materials for 3D printing. The study indicated the structural properties and physicochemical properties changed regularly with the increase in the content of pea protein, when the content of pea protein was 1%, the printing quality was best. The study provides a new theory for the application of 3D printing in food production and technical support for actual production.
Numerical Methods for the Derivative Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation
Authors: Li Shu-Cun , Li Xiang-Gui , Shi Fang-Yuan
Published: April 2018

In this work, a second-order accuracy in both space and time Crank–Nicolson (C-N)-type scheme, a fourth-order accuracy in space and second-order accuracy in time compact scheme and a sixth-order accuracy in space and second-order accuracy in time compact scheme are proposed for the derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The C-N-type scheme is tested to satisfy the conservation of discrete mass. For the two compact schemes, the iterative algorithm and the Thomas algorithm in block matrix form are adopted to enhance the computational efficiency. Numerical experiment is given to test the mass conservation for the C-N-type scheme as well as the accuracy order of the three schemes. In addition, the numerical simulation of binary collision and the influence on the solitary solution by adding a small random perturbation to the initial condition are also discussed.
Numerical Method for a Class of Nonlinear Singularly Perturbed Delay Differential Equations Using Parametric Cubic Spline
Authors: Ravi Kanth A. S. V. , Murali Mohan Kumar P.
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we study the numerical method for a class of nonlinear singularly perturbed delay differential equations using parametric cubic spline. Quasilinearization process is applied to convert the nonlinear singularly perturbed delay differential equations into a sequence of linear singularly perturbed delay differential equations. When the delay is not sufficiently smaller order of the singular perturbation parameter, the approach of expanding the delay term in Taylor’s series may lead to bad approximation. To handle the delay term, we construct a special type of mesh in such a way that the term containing delay lies on nodal points after discretization. The parametric cubic spline is presented for solving sequence of linear singularly perturbed delay differential equations. The error analysis of the method is presented and shows second-order convergence. The effect of delay parameter on the boundary layer behavior of the solution is discussed with two test examples.
Antidiabetic and renoprotective effect of Anogeissus acuminata leaf extract on experimentally induced diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Navale Archana M. , Paranjape Archana
Published: April 2018

Background

Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and inflammation are some of the mechanisms involved in renal damage. Anogeissus acuminata (AA) is used in India as an antidiabetic agent and has potent antioxidant activity. However, it has never been evaluated for its effect on diabetic nephropathy. Hence, in the present study we aimed to evaluate its effect on streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus and its renal complications.

Methods

Diabetes mellitus was induced by injecting streptozotocin, 50 mg/kg, i.p. in rats fasted for 6 h. Rats with hyperglycemia were treated with extracts of AA for 8 weeks at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg, orally. Human NPH insulin (4 IU/kg, s.c.) was used as standard treatment. Plasma glucose levels (at weeks 1, 2, 4, and 8) and oxidative stress parameters (at weeks 2 and 4) were assessed. Effect on diabetic nephropathy was evaluated by recording the urinary volume, urinary protein excretion, kidney weights, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen levels at week 8.

Results

Methanolic extract of AA leaves produced statistically significant (p<0.05) hypoglycemic and antioxidant effect. It also resulted in improved urinary function, reflected by better urinary volume and reduced protein excretion in urine. AA treatment could prevent the elevation of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen level in a dose-dependent manner. Kidney hypertrophy could be attenuated remarkably, as reflected by the significantly lower kidney weight (KW) per 100 g body weight (p<0.05).

Conclusions

AA leaf extract attenuated the development of diabetic nephropathy and also demonstrated antidiabetic and antioxidant action.
Complementary and alternative medicine usage and its determinant factors among Iranian infertile couples
Authors: Dehghan Mahlagha , Mokhtarabadi Sima , Heidari Fatemeh Ghaedi
Published: April 2018

Background

The aim of this study was to determine the status of utilizing some complementary and alternative medicine techniques in infertile couples.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 250 infertile couples referred to a hospital in Kerman using convenience sampling. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to study the prevalence and user satisfaction of complementary and alternative medicines.

Results

Results indicated that 49.6% of the infertile couples used at least one of the complementary and alternative medicines during the past year. Most individuals used spiritual techniques (71.8% used praying and 70.2% used Nazr) and medicinal plants (54.8%). Safety is the most important factor affecting the satisfaction of infertile couples with complementary treatments (couples think that such treatments are safe (54.8%)).

Discussion

Concerning high prevalence of complementary and alternative treatments in infertile couples, incorporating such treatments into the healthcare education and promoting the awareness of infertile individuals seem crucial.
Fractional-order low-pass filter with electronic tunability of its order and pole frequency
Authors: Langhammer Lukas , Dvorak Jan , Jerabek Jan , Koton Jaroslav , Sotner Roman
Published: April 2018

This paper presents novel solution of a fractional-order low-pass filter (FLPF). The proposed filter operates in the current mode and it is designed using third-order inverse follow-the-leader feedback topology and operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs), adjustable current amplifiers (ACAs), auxiliary multiple-output current follower (MO-CF) as simple active elements. The filter offers the beneficial ability of the electronic control of its order and also the pole frequency thanks to electronically controlled internal parameters of OTAs and ACAs. As an example, five particular values of fractional order of the FLPF were chosen and parameters of the filter were calculated. Similarly, also electronic control of the pole frequency of the filter was studied. The design correctness and proper function of the filter are supported by simulations with CMOS models and also by experimental laboratory measurements. Comparison of the simulation results of the proposed filter for two different approximations of the parameter s

α
is also included.
Model-free adaptive speed control on travelling wave ultrasonic motor
Authors: Di Sisi , Li Huafeng
Published: April 2018

This paper introduced a new data-driven control (DDC) method for the speed control of ultrasonic motor (USM). The model-free adaptive control (MFAC) strategy was presented in terms of its principles, algorithms, and parameter selection. To verify the efficiency of the proposed method, a speed-frequency-time model, which contained all the measurable nonlinearity and uncertainties based on experimental data was established for simulation to mimic the USM operation system. Furthermore, the model was identified using particle swarm optimization (PSO) method. Then, the control of the simulated system using MFAC was evaluated under different expectations in terms of overshoot, rise time and steady-state error. Finally, the MFAC results were compared with that of proportion iteration differentiation (PID) to demonstrate its advantages in controlling general random system.
Optical splitter design for telecommunication access networks with triple-play services
Authors: Agalliu Rajdi , Burtscher Catalina , Lucki Michal , Seyringer Dana
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we present various designs of optical splitters for access networks, such as GPON and XG-PON by ITU-T with triple-play services (ie data, voice and video). The presented designs exhibit a step forward, compared to the solutions recommended by the ITU, in terms of performance in transmission systems using WDM. The quality of performance is represented by the bit error rate and the Q-factor. Besides the standard splitter design, we propose a new length-optimized splitter design with a smaller waveguide core, providing some reduction of non-uniformity of the power split between the output waveguides. The achieved splitting parameters are incorporated in the simulations of passive optical networks. For this purpose, the OptSim tool employing Time Domain Split Step method was used.
Robust PID controller design for nonlinear systems
Authors: Veselý Vojtech , Körösi Ladislav
Published: April 2018

In this paper the new approach to the design of robust PID controller for the case of nonlinear Lipschitz systems is proposed. The proposed method is based on the uncertain gain scheduling plant model and Bellman Lyapunov equation. The designed robust controller ensures parameter dependent quadratic stability and in the frame of H2performance guaranteed cost. Examples show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
ATF3 and EGR2 gene expression levels in sdLDL-treated macrophages of patients with coronary artery stenosis
Authors: Hosseini-Fard Sayed R. , Khosravi Mohsen , Yarnazari Amaneh , Hassanpour Parisa , Amirfarhangi Abdollah , Tajik Nader , Nourabad-Ghahroodi Faezeh , Najafi Mohammad
Published: April 2018

Background:

The metabolism of cholesteryl esters (CEs) is under the control of a gene network in macrophages. Several genes such asATF3andEGR2are related to cholesterol metabolism.

Methods:

In this study, theATF3andEGR2gene expression levels were evaluated in differentiated macrophages of subjects undergoing coronary artery angiography [controls (<5% stenosis), patients (>70% stenosis)] after treatment with small dense low density lipoprotein (sdLDL) particles. Monocytes were isolated using a RosetteSep Kit and were differentiated into macrophages using the M-CSF factor. A modified heparin-MgSO4-PEG method was used for the sdLDL preparation. TheATF3andEGR2gene expression levels were measured by the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) technique.

Results:

In contrast with the control group (p=0.4), theATF3expression level reduced significantly in the differentiated macrophages from all patients [single vessel disease (SVD), fold change 17 times, p=0.02; two vessel disease (2VD), fold change 1.5 times, p=0.05; three vessel disease (3VD), fold change 3.5 times, p=0.04]. Also, theEGR2expression level reduced significantly in all groups (p<0.02). The gene fold changes had no significant differences between the patients (p>0.8).

Conclusions:

We propose that the failure ofATF3gene expression improves the CE synthesis after sdLDL influx. Furthermore, the reducedEGR2gene expression level in the sdLDL-treated groups may be a negative factor in cholesterol homeostasis.
Factors explaining the changes in the rankings of Polish cities’ economic position (1992-2013)
Authors: Łukomska Julita
Published: April 2018

A nation’s economic potential is always concentrated within cities. Polish cities were faced with quite radical changes in the last two decades. During this period, some cities saw losses of more and more citizens and were not ready to develop new economic approaches. Other cities were able to attract both people and businesses. The main objective of the article is to identify the changes in the economic position of Polish cities and the factors which were the driving forces behind them (including, in particular, the role of European integration). Results of the conducted regression analyses confirm that it is easier to identify “losing” factors (e.g. dependency on declining industry) than “winning” ones (as they are more individualized and more difficult to capture in statistical models).The availability of EU funds for local governments has been confirmed to be a significant factor explaining the changes in the economic position of Polish cities.
On the alexander dual of path ideals of cycle posets
Authors: Olteanu Anda , Olteanu Oana
Published: April 2018

We consider the Alexander dual of path ideals of cycle posets, and we compute the Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity. As a consequence, we get the projective dimension of path ideals of cycle posets. Our results are expressed in terms of the combinatorics of the underlying poset.
Generalized multiplicative derivations in 3-prime near rings
Authors: Ashraf Mohammad , Boua Abdelkarim , Siddeeque Mohammad Aslam
Published: April 2018

In the present paper, we introduce the notion of generalized multiplicative derivation in a near-ring N and investigate commutativity of 3-prime near-rings, showing that certain conditions involving generalized multiplicative derivations force N to be a commutative ring. Finally some more results related with the structure of these derivations are also obtained.
Suzuki-type of common fixed point theorems in fuzzy metric spaces
Authors: Sedghi Shaban , Shobkolaei Nabi , Došenović Tatjana , Radenović Stojan
Published: April 2018

In this paper by using of Suzuki-type approach we introduce the new contractive condition in the framework of non-Archimedean fuzzy metric spaces. We prove also the corresponding coincidence fixed point theorem for two mappings in this framework. Finally, two examples are presented to verify the effectiveness and applicability of our main results.
Crystal structure of (η
6-1-isopropyl-4-methyl benzene)-(N-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)-1-(pyridin-2-yl)methanimine-κ2
N,N′)ruthenium(II) perchlorate, C22H22Cl4N2O4Ru
Authors: Gichumbi Joel M. , Omondi Bernard , Friedrich Holger B.
Published: April 2018

C22H22Cl4N2O4Ru, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 15.0181(3) Å, b = 10.3983(2) Å, c = 16.6496(3) Å, β = 112.459(1)°, V = 2402.84(8) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0180, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0474, T = 173(2) K.
Citizens as smart, active sensors for a quiet and just city. The case of the “open source soundscapes” approach to identify, assess and plan “everyday quiet areas” in cities
Authors: Radicchi Antonella , Henckel Dietrich , Memmel Martin
Published: April 2018

Today the so-called “smart city” is connoted by massive implementation of novel, digital technology, which is often considered as the best solution to global issues affecting contemporary cities. Sophisticated and low-cost technological solutions are developed also in the field of noise monitoring and they are expected to play an important role for acousticians, city planners and policy makers. However, the “smart city” paradigm is controversial: it relies on advanced technological solutions, yet it fails to consider the city as a social construct and it often overlooks the role of citizens, in the quest for technological advances and novel methods. This is especially true in the field of smart acoustic solutions addressing the issue of urban quiet areas: main methods and technologies developed so far barely involve citizens and consider their preferences. This contribution tackles this challenge, by illustrating a novel mixed methodology, which combines the soundscape approach, the citizen science paradigm and a novel mobile application - the Hush City app - with the ultimate goal of involving people in identifying, assessing and planning urban quiet areas. Firstly, the theoretical background and the methods applied are described; secondly initial findings are discussed; thirdly potential impact and future work are outlined.
A model for implementing soundscape maps in smart cities
Authors: Kang Jian , Aletta Francesco , Margaritis Efstathios , Yang Ming
Published: April 2018

Smart cities are required to engage with local communities by promoting a user-centred approach to deal with urban life issues and ultimately enhance people’s quality of life. Soundscape promotes a similar approach, based on individuals’ perception of acoustic environments. This paper aims to establish a model to implement soundscape maps for the monitoring and management of the acoustic environment and to demonstrate its feasibility. The final objective of the model is to generate visual maps related to perceptual attributes (e.g. ‘calm’, ‘pleasant’), starting from audio recordings of everyday acoustic environments. The proposed model relies on three main stages: (1) sound sources recognition and profiling, (2) prediction of the soundscape’s perceptual attributes and (3) implementation of soundscape maps. This research particularly explores the two latter phases, for which a set of sub-processes and methods is proposed and discussed. An accuracy analysiswas performed with satisfactory results: the prediction models of the second stage explained up to the 57.5% of the attributes’ variance; the cross-validation errors of the model were close to zero. These findings show that the proposed model is likely to produce representative maps of an individual’s sonic perception in a given environment.
Three phase heat and mass transfer model for unsaturated soil freezing process: Part 1 - model development
Authors: Xu Fei , Zhang Yaning , Jin Guangri , Li Bingxi , Kim Yong-Song , Xie Gongnan , Fu Zhongbin
Published: April 2018

A three-phase model capable of predicting the heat transfer and moisture migration for soil freezing process was developed based on the Shen-Chen model and the mechanisms of heat and mass transfer in unsaturated soil freezing. The pre-melted film was taken into consideration, and the relationship between film thickness and soil temperature was used to calculate the liquid water fraction in both frozen zone and freezing fringe. The force that causes the moisture migration was calculated by the sum of several interactive forces and the suction in the pre-melted film was regarded as an interactive force between ice and water. Two kinds of resistance were regarded as a kind of body force related to the water films between the ice grains and soil grains, and a block force instead of gravity was introduced to keep balance with gravity before soil freezing. Lattice Boltzmann method was used in the simulation, and the input variables for the simulation included the size of computational domain, obstacle fraction, liquid water fraction, air fraction and soil porosity. The model is capable of predicting the water content distribution along soil depth and variations in water content and temperature during soil freezing process.
Therapeutic efficacy of systemic therapy for colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis: surgeon’s perspective
Authors: Franko Jan
Published: April 2018

Treatment choices for colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis/metastases include systemic therapy and increasingly cytoreductive surgery with intraperitoneal chemotherapy delivery. These options are best considered as complementary and not exclusive alternatives. Two prospective randomized trials support use of peritonectomy procedures and intraperitoneal chemotherapy for colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis. This overview examines efficacy, limitations and landscape of systemic therapy focusing on colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis. Observations from literature support notions that (1) systemic therapy provides survival benefit for all prototypical patients with mCRC irrespective of metastatic disease site; (2) the magnitude of this benefit is considerably reduced among patients with peritoneal metastases who consequently experience significantly shorter overall survival; (3) efficacy of systemic therapy improved over time but at a slower pace for those with carcinomatosis; (4) this therapeutic difference has not diminished with introduction of targeted therapy, but perhaps widened; (5) further research of cytoreductive surgery and/or intraperitoneal regional therapies is thus a multidisciplinary responsibility of the entire oncology community; (6) peritonectomy procedures with intraperitoneal regional therapy are not scientifically supported in absence of systemic therapies.
Role of laparoscopy in initial tumour staging in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: a systematic review
Authors: Zeff Natalia
Published: April 2018

Background

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the accuracy of additional staging laparoscopy (SL) in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (AEOC) to predict futile laparotomy (FL).

Methods

Systematic review according to preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement (PRISMA) criteria. Clinical studies investigating the role of SL in selecting women with AEOC for primary debulking surgery (PDS) were included. Index test: SL. Reference test: laparotomy. Target condition: incomplete cytoreduction (CR) with remaining disease<1 cm.

Results

Nine prospective and retrospective studies reporting on eight cohorts totalizing 778 LS were included. Reference test was completed in 76 % cases. PPV for FL was between 0.69 and 1.0. In three studies examining the value of a predictive index value (PIV) for predicting FL, sensitivity of the index test (LS with PIV ≥8) was between 46 % and 70 %, and specificity between 89 % and 100 %. The proportion of patients that received CR during PDS differed widely between studies (from 50 to 91). Using a PIV did not increase the sensitivity and might result in more patients receiving FL. In the only randomized trial, FL occurred in 10 (10 %) of 102 patients in the LS group versus 39 (39 %) of 99 patients in the primary PDS group (relative risk, 0.25; 95 % CI, 0.13–0.47; p<0.001). Port-site recurrences occurred in 2%–6 % patients. Overall costs of with or without SL were comparable.

Conclusions

The evidence available from this systematic review supports the inclusion of an additional LS to the conventional initial diagnostic workup in women with AEOC.
Economic aspects of metals recover
Authors: Wieczorek Daria , Kwaśniewska Dobrawa
Published: April 2018

One of the modern economy models is circular economy in which wastes should be considered as resource and used in an efficient and sustainable way. This also concerns to metals included in scraps. However, the need for metal recovery from waste is not only the result of the latest economic trends but also the result of large and constantly changing demand for metals. Shrinking natural sources of metals, concentrations of ores in small number of countries in the world and resulting from this dependence on import, geopolitical situation, new technologies demands are only a few most important determinants that have been changing the structure of the metal market over years. In this chapter, authors focused on the presentation of economic aspects of metal recovery from various sources. The chapter presents the characteristic of metal market elements (supply, demand and price) and changes that took place over decades, underlining the structure of precious and highly desirable metal market elements. Balance between the demand and supply ensures price stability and rationalizes inflation. However, growing demand on many means that secure supply chains, such as recycling and material recovery, are essential to ensure continuity in the supply chain and guarantee unrestricted technological progress and innovation. The data included in this chapter presents also the concentration of different metals and group of metals in wastes pointing that recycling of waste can become one of the possibilities of acquiring missing and critical metals. Metal-laden wastes include a few groups: waste electrical and electronic equipments, catalysts of different application, introduced on chemical, petrochemical or automotive market, galvanic wastes and wastewaters. The profitability assessment of recycling processes is very complicated. Nevertheless cited data shows that profitability of recovery depends on the metal analyzed and the type of waste.

It must be underline that an optimized management of wastes is of a great importance for the global economy and allow achieving not only economic but also environmental and social benefits.
Steuervermeidung und Corporate social responsibility
Authors: Wagner Franz W.
Published: April 2018

Zahlreiche Großunternehmen dokumentieren im Rahmen ihrer gesellschaftlichen Verantwortung (Corporate social responsibility, CSR) erbrachte Leistungen in CSR-Reports. Wenn eine ausgeprägte CSR-Publizität mit extrem niedrigen Steuerquoten von Unternehmen einhergeht, kann es wie bei Starbucks 2012 in Großbritannien zu Protesten in der politischen Öffentlichkeit kommen: Während Unternehmen bislang Beiträge zum Steueraufkommen nicht zu ihren CSR-Pflichten zählten, erwartet die Öffentlichkeit von ihnen, dass sie freiwillig einen „fairen“ Anteil am Steueraufkommen der Staaten übernehmen, in denen sie ihre Geschäftstätigkeit ausüben; Unternehmen können Reputationsschäden drohen, wenn sie keine „Good corporate citizens“ sind. Franz W. Wagner bezieht deshalb in seinem konzeptionellen Überblick über die umfangreiche CSR-Fachliteratur die Steuerbelastung von Unternehmen mit ein. Er erörtert CSR-Aktivitäten von Unternehmen und steuerfinanzierte Staatstätigkeit als alternative Organisationsformen der Produktion und Finanzierung spezifischer privater und öffentlicher Güter unter Effizienz- und Verteilungskriterien. Im Vergleich zu einer steuerfinanzierten Staatstätigkeit können CSR-Aktivitäten von Unternehmen vor allem wegen ihrer ungünstigeren Verteilungswirkungen nachteilig sein.
Lower limbs anaerobic performance men with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Lencse-Mucha Judit , Molik Bartosz , Petelicki Wojciech , Marszałek Jolanta , Kaźmierska-Kowalewska Kalina
Published: April 2018

Introduction: Persons with intellectual disabilities are faced with many obstacles in performing physical activity. The trigger may be coming from genetics, environmental factors (eg. financial), as well as psychological related, inter alia, the level of motivation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anaerobic performance of the lower limbs of men with intellectual disabilities. Another aim of this study was to compare the anaerobic performance of physically active and inactive men with intellectual disabilities.

Material and methods: The participants of the study were 22 physically active men and 9 physically inactive man with intellectual disability. All participants performed a 30-second Wingate test twice. The following parameters were evaluated the mean power (MP), the relative mean power (rMP), the maximum power (PP), the relative maximum power (rPP) and fatigue index (FI). We compared the results obtained in both tests 30-second to examine the reliability and the values obtained in the test between active and inactive persons .

Results: The results showed significant correlations between all power parameters studied, except for the fatigue index. All parameters of physically active group with intellectual disabilities achieved significantly better results relative then inactive persons.

Conclusions: The reliability of 30-second Wingate test for persons with intellectual disabilities were confirmed. Also confirmed a higher power level inactive men with intellectual disabilities in relation to the untrained men.
Import Determinants and Potential Markets: A Panel Data Gravity Modelling Analysis for Bahrain
Authors: Abbas Shujaat , Waheed Abdul
Published: April 2018

This study investigates macroeconomic determinants of import flow and explores potential import markets for Bahrain using an augmented gravity model on panel data of 42 trading partners, from 2000 to 2016. The result of panel generalized least square estimation technique shows that the core variables support the theory of the basic gravity model. The estimated results of the augmented variables show that the imports of Bahrain are more responsive to income of trading partners, gross domestic product, and export flow; whereas, negatively determined by the relative price. The findings of dummy variables show that there is a significant role of common language and Gulf economic integration on imports of Bahrain. The results of the import potential analysis show that Bahrain has exceeded its import potential from most of its Asian trading partners; however, positive import potential exists in Africa and America and some selected Middle Eastern and European markets.
On “A mutual information estimator with exponentially decaying bias” by Zhang and Zheng
Authors: Zhang Jialin , Chen Chen
Published: April 2018

Zhang, Z. and Zheng, L. (2015): “A mutual information estimator with exponentially decaying bias,” Stat. Appl. Genet. Mol. Biol., 14, 243–252, proposed a nonparametric estimator of mutual information developed in entropic perspective, and demonstrated that it has much smaller bias than the plugin estimator yet with the same asymptotic normality under certain conditions. However it is incorrectly suggested in their article that the asymptotic normality could be used for testing independence between two random elements on a joint alphabet. When two random elements are independent, the asymptotic distribution of

$\sqrt{n}$

n

-normed estimator degenerates and therefore the claimed normality does not hold. This article complements Zhang and Zheng by establishing a new chi-square test using the same entropic statistics for mutual information being zero. The three examples in Zhang and Zheng are re-worked using the new test. The results turn out to be much more sensible and further illustrate the advantage of the entropic perspective in statistical inference on alphabets. More specifically in Example 2, when a positive mutual information is known to exist, the new test detects it but the log likelihood ratio test fails to do so.
Local/import – and foreign currency prices: inflation, uncertainty and pass through endogeneity
Authors: Herwartz Helmut , Roestel Jan
Published: April 2018

We investigate first and second order moment interactions among import prices (IPs), local currency prices (LCPs) and producer currency prices (PCPs) for 20 (mostly) developed economies and a time period of 3 decades. We test various hypotheses on both linear and non-linear effects put forth in the literature on the endogeneity of exchange rate pass through to monetary policy. It turns out that PCP shocks give rise to IP uncertainty in a sizeable manner, while the further propagation of IP uncertainty to LCP inflation uncertainty is moderate. Moreover, LCP inflation uncertainty increases the uncertainty of IP inflation (measured in local currency). In general, both inflation and its uncertainty are diagnosed as core determinants of pass through variation. Thus, a lack of monetary credibility could serve as a catalyst for the import of foreign price pressures and uncertainty to local prices.
Modeling changes in US monetary policy with a time-varying nonlinear Taylor rule
Authors: Nguyen Anh D. M. , Pavlidis Efthymios G. , Peel David A.
Published: April 2018

The monetary economics literature has highlighted four issues that are important in evaluating US monetary policy since the late 1960s: (i) time variation in policy parameters, (ii) asymmetric preferences, (iii) real-time nature of data, and (iv) heteroskedasticity. In this paper, we exploit advances in sequential monte carlo methods to estimate a time-varying nonlinear Taylor rule that addresses these four issues simultaneously. Our findings suggest that US monetary policy has experienced substantial changes in terms of both the response to inflation and to real economic activity, as well as changes in preferences. These changes cannot be captured adequately by a single structural break at the late 1970s, as has been commonly assumed in the literature, and play a non-trivial role in economic performance.
Seelsorge in neuen Kontexten
Authors: Kuhn-Flammensfeld Norbert , Frick Eckhard , Goudinoudis Katja , Labitzke Karoline , Bausewein Claudia
Published: April 2018

Religiöse/spirituelle Begleitung ist Aufgabe des multiprofessionellen Palliativteams. Seelsorgende mit kirchlichem Auftrag gehören in der Regel zu stationären Palliativteams. Die Mitarbeit der Seelsorge im ambulanten Bereich ist hingegen eher sporadisch und zufällig. In der vorgestellten Studie werden bestehende Formen der Mitarbeit kirchlicher Seelsorge in Teams der spezialisierten ambulanten Palliativversorgung (SAPV) im Bundesland Bayern untersucht. Es wurden 34 semistrukturierte Interviews mit Mitgliedern von 12 SAPV Teams (jeweils 6 mit/ohne Seelsorger/-in im Team) in Bayern geführt. Interviewt wurden 12 Ärzte bzw. Ärztinnen, 12 Pflegende, 4 Sozialarbeiter/-innen und 6 kirchliche Seelsorgende. Es zeigte sich, dass Spiritualität im Kontext der SAPV-Versorgung eine relevante Größe darstellt. Die Bereitschaft zu Spiritual Care ist bei Teammitgliedern unterschiedlich ausgeprägt, wobei sich der persönliche Bezug zu spirituellen Fragen förderlich auswirkt. Die Mitarbeit von Seelsorgenden im Team fördert die spirituelle Kompetenz der Teammitglieder und stellt eine Entlastung für das Team dar. Spiritual Care bildet eine Schnittstelle zwischen der „profanen“ naturwissenschaftlich und ökonomisch orientierten Logik des Gesundheitswesens und der religiös geprägten kirchlich verantworteten Seelsorge. Mit der daraus resultierenden Spannung gilt es im Blick auf das gemeinsame Ziel der Versorgung von Patienten und Zugehörigen konstruktiv umzugehen.
Possibilities of the fish pass restoration
Authors: Čubanová Lea
Published: April 2018

According to the new elaborated methodology of the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic: Identification of the appropriate fish pass types according to water body typology (2015) each barrier on the river must be passable. On the barriers or structures without fish passes new ones should be design and built and on some water structures with existed but nonfunctional fish passes must be realized reconstruction or restoration of such objects. Assessment should be done in terms of the existing migratory fish fauna and hydraulic conditions. Fish fauna requirements resulting from the ichthyological research of the river section with barrier. Hydraulic conditions must than fulfil these requirements inside the fish pass body.
Synchronizing the city with human-based spaces
Authors: Gyergyák János
Published: April 2018

The paper is about to summarize the most important development tools to make the urban spaces more human friendly in Denver, Colorado. There are more needs for having more livable and sustainable areas by reducing the use of automobiles and focusing on multimodal street design. The strategies are the basic elements to make our urban spaces better and happier from The United States to Hungary
Bond behavior of self compacting concrete
Authors: Ponmalar S.
Published: April 2018

The success of an optimum design lies in the effective load transfer done by the bond forces at the steel-concrete interface. Self Compacting Concrete, is a new innovative concrete capable of filling intrinsic reinforcement and gets compacted by itself, without the need of external mechanical vibration. For this reason, it is replacing the conventional vibrated concrete in the construction industry. The present paper outlays the materials and methods adopted for attaining the self compacting concrete and describes about the bond behavior of this concrete. The bond stress-slip curve is similar in the bottom bars for both SCC and normal concrete whereas a higher bond stress and stiffness is experienced in the top and middle bars, for SCC compared to normal concrete. Also the interfacial properties revealed that the elastic modulus and micro-strength of interfacial transition zone [ITZ] were better on the both top and bottom side of horizontal steel bar in the SCC mixes than in normal vibrated concrete. The local bond strength of top bars for SCC is about 20% less than that for NC. For the bottom bars, however, the results were almost the same.
Comparison of calculation and simulation of evacuation in real buildings
Authors: Szénay Martin , Lopušniak Martin
Published: April 2018

Each building must meet requirements for safe evacuation in order to prevent casualties. Therefore methods for evaluation of evacuation are used when designing buildings. In the paper, calculation methods were tested on three real buildings. The testing used methods of evacuation time calculation pursuant to Slovak standards and evacuation time calculation using the buildingExodus simulation software. If calculation methods have been suitably selected taking into account the nature of evacuation and at the same time if correct values of parameters were entered, we will be able to obtain almost identical times of evacuation in comparison with real results obtained from simulation. The difference can range from 1% to 27%.
A practical approach to tramway track condition monitoring: vertical track defects detection and identification using time-frequency processing technique
Authors: Bocz Péter , Vinkó Ákos , Posgay Zoltán
Published: April 2018

This paper presents an automatic method for detecting vertical track irregularities on tramway operation using acceleration measurements on trams. For monitoring of tramway tracks, an unconventional measurement setup is developed, which records the data of 3-axes wireless accelerometers mounted on wheel discs. Accelerations are processed to obtain the vertical track irregularities to determine whether the track needs to be repaired. The automatic detection algorithm is based on time–frequency distribution analysis and determines the defect locations. Admissible limits (thresholds) are given for detecting moderate and severe defects using statistical analysis. The method was validated on frequented tram lines in Budapest and accurately detected severe defects with a hit rate of 100%, with no false alarms. The methodology is also sensitive to moderate and small rail surface defects at the low operational speed.