bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From psychological to digital disengagement: exploring the link between ageism and the ‘grey digital divide’
Authors: Lagacé Martine , Charmarkeh Houssein , Zaky Radamis , Firzly Najat
Published: June 2016

The need for digital literacy is apparent in today’s workplace, driven by strong pressures for constant technological innovation. Previous studies have shown that although older workers make up (and will make up) a great proportion of the workforce, there persists an age-based digital divide in the workplace; and the outcome of such divide is quite negative: at the individual level, older workers feel they’re being marginalized and as such, become dissatisfied and disengage from their workplace; at the organizational level, a pool of skills and expertise is lost as a result of the older worker’s disengagement, putting at risk effective knowledge transfer and mentoring process. Hence, the importance of a deeper understanding of the contextual factors that may feed the ‘grey digital divide’ in the workplace. The goal of this paper is to address such factors moving beyond the ageist claim that a worker’s chronological age is the driving force behind the ‘grey digital divide’.
The Invisible Women: Gender and Caregiving in Francophone Newspapers
Authors: Marier Patrik , Van Pevenage Isabelle
Published: June 2016

This contribution analyses the importance given to gender in articles related to caregiving for older adults in five francophone newspapers (Le Soir, Le Devoir, Figaro, Libération and La Presse) across three countries (Belgium, France and Canada). Out of the 254 articles in our sample, less than a fifth (49) made any mention of gender. A closer analysis of the gender related contributions reveal that only 18 articles devote more than a line to the interaction between gender and caregiving activities and its multiple socio-economic consequences. This is highly surprising since women provide the bulk of caregiving efforts and are the ones facing difficulties due to the lack of governmental actions to assist with these functions. These consequences are well documented in the scientific literature and feature caregiving burnout, loss of employment and economic insecurity. This contribution features an analysis and some extracts from the 18 articles in question.
Humor, Loneliness and Interpersonal Communication: A Quantitative Study of Romanian Older Adults
Authors: Schiau Ioana
Published: June 2016

This quantitative study examines the correlations between humor, loneliness, gender and aging by presenting the results from a sample of eighty-three older Romanian adults, aged sixty and above. The first section of the paper is a comprehensive review of the social-psychological literature on aging, gender and humor. The second section assesses the findings generated from a study that uses the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale (Thorson & Powell, 1993) and the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults – short version, (diTomaso, Brannen & Best, 2004). Building on Robert Weiss’s (1973) reflections on the differences between feelings of loneliness because of social isolation or emotional isolation, the research findings nuance –and in some cases challenge several assumptions on gender, age, and emotional and social loneliness. The findings also point to the correlation between feelings of social loneliness and the use of humor in interpersonal communications. The data collected suggests that while Romanian men may value the use of humor more than women when self-reporting, that older Romanian women tend to use humor in interpersonal situations and that there is a significant correlation between the use of this type of humor and a reduced sense of social loneliness.
Book review of 'La ruse de la mondialisation. L’assaut contre la puissance américaine' by Paul Dobrescu, Paris : L’Harmattan, 2015, 362 pages
Authors: Ciocea Mălina
Published: June 2016

In a field where analyses can rarely keep pace with the events, a book needs more than factual information to stand the test of time. In this particular case, what has made this book a standard reading in Romanian academic field and is now launched on an international market is neither relevant data (although the book abounds in spectacular facts), nor the impressive list of recent bibliography. It is the particular quality of what over the years has grown into a powerful, unapologetic and balanced perspective over contemporary developments in the field of global economy and politics.
Endoscopic Compared with Open Operative Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Authors: Paryavi Ebrahim , Zimmerman Ryan M. , Means Kenneth R.
Published: June 2016

➢ Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common peripheral nerve compression syndrome.

➢ Treatment options include wrist-neutral bracing, corticosteroid injections, operative release of the transverse carpal ligament, and symptom-relief options.

➢ Endoscopic carpal tunnel release may give patients a faster recovery compared with traditional open release, but there are no ultimate differences in outcome among the various surgical options.
La lexicografía en los planes de estudio de traducción e interpretación en España
Authors: CAMACHO NIÑO Jesús
Published: June 2016

Es un hecho innegable que el diccionario es una herramienta de gran ayuda para el trabajo de traducción e interpretación. De otro lado, tampoco podemos obviar la gran complejidad que actualmente presentan los diccionarios. Esta intrincada red de informaciones lingüísticas, impone un conocimiento de los principios que rigen la construcción y el uso del diccionario. Por ello, para obtener el máximo rendimiento de estas obras, es necesario tener una formación específica en la disciplina lexicográfica. Con estas premisas, a lo largo de las siguientes páginas analizaremos la situación de los estudios lexicográficos dentro de los planes de estudio universitarios de Traducción e interpretación. El análisis de las distintas universidades españolas que ofertan esta formación superior nos muestra que el principal interés que presenta la lexicografía en la formación de traductores se halla en la lexicografía especializada. Es decir, en las asignaturas de terminología. Si bien la principal representación de la lexicografía la encontramos en los módulos de terminología, también podemos hallar presencia de esta en otras asignaturas, aunque de manera mucho más reducida. Nos referimos a materias como lengua española o lingüística ―entre otras―, las cuales también han sido revisadas en nuestro estudio.
Historisitas Doktrin Konflik dan Integrasi Sosial dalam Al-Qur'an
Authors: Fatwa Ach. Fajruddin
Published: June 2016

Academic findings show that there is a clear distinction between Muslims and Orientalists when they learn al-Qur'an on social conflict and integration. Muslims employ legal and theological perspective that results in normative doctrines. As an internal study, it claims superiority and excellence over non-Muslims studies. According to Muslim scholars, conflict and peace is inseparable. Conflict is a price to uplift peaceful agendas. On the contrary, orientalists who make use socio-historic approach expose the dominance of conflict doctrines in Al-Qur'an over its instruction about peace. Islam is a religion that legalizes violence in its spread. This article is an attempt to make a bridge between the two perspectives to uncover socio-theological facts which trigger the doctrine of war in Islam.
Pendidikan Islam di Singapura
Authors: Kosim Mohammad
Published: June 2016

This article describes the development of Islamic education in Singapore, especially Madrasah al-Juneid al-Islamiyah. The problem: how is the development of curriculum in Madrasah al­Juneid? and what are the future challenges this madrasah? To answer this problem, the amount of data collected through obser­vation methods, interviews, and documentation. The data collected were analyzed by descriptive-qualitative. The results showed: first, the curriculum in Madrasah al-Juneid initially uncharged pure religion then expanded by adding a general lesson. In learning, study materials commonly used approach to integration with the teachings of Islam. Second, the madrasahs in Singapore face challenges in the future are not light, namely the world of work demands, the demands of quality, the challenge of Western lifestyles, and the accusations against Islam as a religion of terrorists. All these challenges must be responded by madrasah creative in developing a quality program that graduates could compete with graduate school; can fortify the modern-secular lifestyle, and can coexist peacefully in the midst of Singapore's plural society.
Hukum Islam dalam Pergumulan Politik Hukum Nasional Era Reformasi
Authors: Itmam M. Shohibul
Published: June 2016

Abstract: This paper describes the existence of Islamic Law in the plurality of national law amidst the process of the tug of political struggle of national law in reform era. This discussion is focused on the following; first, the struggle of religion, law and politics in Indonesia; second, the development of Indonesian law and politics of law in reform era; third, the opportunities and challenges of Islamic law in the middle of the plurality of national law in reform era. This paper was as a result of library research using legal normative status, historical, and sociological point of view. The result of this study was that the struggle of religion, law and politics in Indonesia was as a process of symbiosis mutualism. Every religion has the same rights in a democratic frame of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution and the government is as its regulator. The development of law and political law of the reform era indicated that the presence of political sciencetific engineering of Dutch law had resulted in positive law in Indonesia which had not met the legal awareness of the community. In fact, the opportunities and challenges of Islamic law in the middle of the plurality of national law of reform era are formulated in three aspects. Politically, the weak parliamentary support in the National Legislation Program  PROLEGNAS) affects the existence of Islamic law. Philosophically, the internal conflict in the understanding of Islamic law sometimes marginalize Islamic law itself. And sociologically, only few values of Islamic law are absorbed in a national scale.
Suicide Terrorism: Menelusuri Justifikasi Fikih dalam Literatur Jihad Kontemporer
Authors: Rusli Rusli
Published: June 2016

Abstract: This paper deals with the issue of suicide terrorism or suicidal bombing which has been used as a serious tactic by terrorist organizations or radical and puritan religious movements. The motive behind this kind of action varies greatly, ranging from religious, cultural, political, to social issues. In the literatures on jiha>d, there are various points of view regarding the legality and validity of suicidal attack. First, those who allow this act and regard it as a part of the tactic and strategy of jiha>d, such as radical islamist movements (Salafi-jiha>dists). Second, those who allow it on several conditions, such as Salafi-intellectual (salafiyyah ‘ilmiyyah) and Salafi-reformists (salafiyyah is}la>hiyyah). Third, those who prohibit this act absolutely, such as Salafi-wahha>bists (salafiyyah wahha>biyyah), who based their arguments on the assumption that this is regarded as the act that is prohibited in Islam, and there is no legal precedence in the history of Islamic law that allows the attack to civil people (women, children, and old men) and non-military targets.
Aplikasi Imkan al-Ru'yah Perspektif Fiqih dan Astronomi di Indonesia
Authors: Hasan Muhammad
Published: June 2016

Abstract: One moderate method to determine the beginning of the month is imkān ar-ru’yah. On the other hand, there is no agreed imkān ar-ru’yah criteria among Muslims resulting in the claims of syar’i crescent and astronomy crescent. Therefore, Muslim scholars suggest that imkān ar-ru’yah criteria should be developed using a systematic scientific research. In addition, the atmosphere thickness in the equator is not similar to other countries so that the specific imkān ar-ru’yah criteria in Indonesia is possible to be different from other countries which are far from the equator. Based on the background, the writer is interested in to do research on imkān ar-ru’yah in Indonesia in the perspective of fiqh and astronomy. This writing uses “science cum doctrinaire approach”to analyse data . The findings of this research are as follows. First, in the fiqh perspective, there are several variables of imkān ar-ru’yah: calculating, horizon, crescent and testimony, and criteria. The imkān ar-ru’yah criteria in fiqh perspective is altitude >2˚ and elongation >3,6˚. Second, in the astronomy perspective, imkān ar-ru’yah criteria is formulated by altitudes >3,7˚ and elongation >5,5˚. Third, the tendency of the new moon criteria that is acceptable in the astronomy and fiqh perspectives is altitude >2,7˚ and elongation > 5,5˚.
KONFLIK ETNIS DI PESISIR TELUK TOMINI: TINJAUAN SOSIO-EKOLOGI POLITIK
Authors: Obie Muhammad , Soetarto Endriatmo , Sumarti Titik , Saharuddin Saharuddin
Published: June 2016

Conflicts have colored human history and occurred in various places. The ranges of conflict vary, from international, national to local scales. There can be economical, political, territorial and other sorts of conflict. One example of common type of the conflicts in Indonesia is local ethnic conflict between Indonesian local government and Bajo ethnic over marine territory at Tomini bay. This research aims not only to analyze this conflict at Tomini bay area but also to explore its causes, types, and resolution. The research uses critical theory and applies historical sociology and case study. The data is analyzed through qualitative method. The research shows that the ethnic conflict at Tomini bay was stimulated by the local government decision to give a license to a timber company and fishing industry at the bay. This policy has threatened Bajo’s social and economic systems at the bay and triggered authority, economy and knowledge conflicts. Intensive dialogues have been conducted to resolve the conflicts but have not yielded significant resolution. The best solution to terminate the conflict and give legal certainty over the use of the bay area is that the conflicting zones must be mapped justly and all interests are accommodated equally.
Completion Optimization Under Constraints: An Eagle Ford Shale Case Study
Authors: Okeahialam Ikenna , Yang Mei , Shinde Dnyaneshwar B. , Sahai Vivek , Araque-Martinez Aura , Rai Rakesh
Published: June 2016

The Eagle Ford shale (EFS) is the largest single economic development in the history of the state of Texas and ranks as the largest oil and gas development in the world on the basis of capital invested. Between 2008 and the present, the EFS has become one of the most heavily drilled rock units in the US and is the most-active shale play in the world.

This paper presents a completion-optimization framework for unconventional plays. The framework uses well-production performance analysis to estimate the fracture characteristics, and assists in diagnosing potential low-productivity issues. The framework enables precompletion planning, real-time completion operations monitoring, and post-completion evaluation of the design effectiveness, and it optimizes future designs.

The key components of the framework are prospectivity analysis, completions optimization, and well-performance analysis. Prospectivity analysis provides the map of reservoir quality and rock quality across the play. Precompletion planning, a component of completions optimization, is driven by prospectivity analysis with the goal to design the best completion on the basis of the rock-quality data available. During completions monitoring, the designs are updated on the basis of the actual field pump rates and quantities of proppant pumped to estimate actual hydraulic- and propped-fracture characteristics. The effective fracture geometry is determined on the basis of well-production calibration. Wellbore and completion problems could be diagnosed in this analysis, including damage of fractures, fluid behavior, and well interference.

We applied this framework to wells completed in the EFS. The reservoir-quality variability is based on petrophysical evaluation of logs acquired on all study wells. The characteristics of propped fractures were estimated on the basis of geomechanical modeling of actual field pumping measurements. Even though the fractures extended above and below the target interval of the EFS, they were successful in creating the desired half-length from a design point of view. It was also observed that not all the clusters matured, because of the stress-shadow effect. The produced fluids in these wells ranged from black oil to gas condensate. Well interference was observed as a production penalty factor in well-performance analysis. The behavior of current wells was used to design optimal completions for wells that were planned to be completed.

This framework uses common data sets collected by a majority of operators. It provides intelligence for completion optimization of future wells after thorough investigation into fracture design, completion operation, and effective fracture characteristics. It is a systematic approach to optimized single-well design and field development (multiple wells, pad drilling).
Hyper-Reduced-Order Models for Subsurface Flow Simulation
Authors: Yoon Seonkyoo , Alghareeb Zeid M. , Williams John R.
Published: June 2016

Subsurface flow modeling is an indispensable task for reservoir management, but the associated computational cost is burdensome because of model complexity and the fact that many simulation runs are required for its applications such as production optimization, uncertainty quantification, and history matching. To relieve the computational burden in reservoir flow modeling, a reduced-order modeling procedure based on hyper-reduction is presented. The procedure consists of three components: state reduction, constraint reduction, and nonlinearity treatment. State reduction based on proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) is considered, and the impact of state reduction, with different strategies for collecting snapshots, on accuracy and predictability is investigated. Petrov-Galerkin projection is used for constraint reduction, and a hyper-reduction that couples the Petrov-Galerkin projection and a “gappy” reconstruction is applied for the nonlinearity treatment. The hyper-reduction method is a Gauss-Newton framework with approximated tensors (GNAT), and the main contribution of this study is the presentation of a procedure for applying the method to subsurface flow simulation. A fully implicit oil/water two-phase subsurface flow model in 3D space is considered, and the application of the proposed hyper-reduced-order modeling procedure achieves a runtime speedup of more than 300 relative to the full-order method, which cannot be achieved when only constraint reduction is adopted.
Occurrence and fate of endocrine disrupting chemicals in ASP based sewage treatment plant in Hardwar
Authors: Saini Gita , Pant Shalini , Alam Tanveer , Kazmi A. A.
Published: June 2016

The occurrence of emerging contaminants such as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in our water resources is of prime concern. With this context, fate and seasonal variation of six EDCs (testosterone, T; progesterone, P; diethyl phthalate, DEP; dibutyl phthalate, DBP; propyl-paraben, PP and butyl-paraben, BP) were assessed throughout the year, i.e. in rainy, winter, spring and summer seasons in the raw, treated wastewater and activated sludge in an activated sludge process (ASP) based sewage treatment plant (STP) located in Haridwar, India. Qualitative and quantitative measurements were performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Results indicate that in summer, the examined STP could effectively remove 82.9% of T, 86.4% of P, 95.5% of DEP, 92.4% of DBP, 91.5% of PP, and 89.9% of BP from the wastewater. Among the EDCs considered, higher removal efficiencies were achieved for phthalates in the summer season. GC-MS analysis showed that a small fraction of EDCs was sorbed on the solid fraction of activated sludge. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy analysis were also performed to investigate the occurrence of EDCs in biomass samples. Results of this study also demonstrated that removal efficiency, assessed in terms of physicochemical and microbiological parameters, was maximum in summer and reached minimum in rainy season.
Prognostic Implications of Immunohistochemical Biomarkers in Non-muscle-invasive Blad Cancer and Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer
Authors: Boegemann Martin , Krabbe Laura-Maria
Published: June 2016

Urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) is a very heterogeneous disease and divided into
invasive and non-invasive disease. In non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), recurrence after
transurethral resection or instillation-therapy, and progression to invasive disease are issues of concern.
In muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), systemic recurrence after radical treatment is a pressing
problem, as the available therapies in this setting are of limited efficacy. For both entities there are only
few clinicopathological prognostic biomarkers to identify subgroups at risk to aid in decision making
to whom to offer early radical cystectomy in case of NMIBC or neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy in
case of MIBC to improve outcomes. Despite advances in surgery and intravesical therapy, up to 30%
of NMIBC-patients suffer progression to MIBC. After cystectomy around 50% of MIBC patients suffer
local or systemic recurrence and subsequently succumb to the disease. Standard features, like
pathological staging and grading, are not sufficient to identify patients at risk beyond doubt. Recent
advances in molecular diagnostics in combination with standard pathological features could be used to
improve risk stratification of patients, guide treatment plans and ultimately improve outcomes. Immunohistochemical
(IHC) analysis can detect altered regulatory pathway-products. Until now a plethora
of prognostic IHC-biomarkers has been reported on in UCB, but only few have been validated and no
biomarker is in routine use or recommended by guidelines. In this review we discuss the prognostic potential
of the most promising IHC-biomarkers in NMIBC and MIBC with a focus on prognostication of
recurrence and stage progression in NMIBC as well as recurrence-free, cancer-specific and overall survival
in MIBC.
Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma: New Pathophysiological Insights and Emerging Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Johung Tessa B. , Monje Michelle
Published: June 2016

Background: Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) is the leading cause
of brain tumor-related death in children, with median survival of less than one year.
Despite decades of clinical trials, there has been no improvement in prognosis since
the introduction of radiotherapy over thirty years ago.

Objective: To review the clinical features and current treatment challenges of DIPG,
and discuss emerging insights into the unique genomic and epigenomic mechanisms
driving DIPG pathogenesis that present new opportunities for the identification of
therapeutic targets.

Conclusion: In recent years, an increased availability of biopsy and rapid autopsy
tissue samples for preclinical investigation has combined with the advent of new genomic and
epigenomic profiling tools to yield remarkable advancements in our understanding of DIPG disease
mechanisms. As well, a deeper understanding of the developmental context of DIPG is shedding light on
therapeutic targets in the microenvironment of the childhood brain.
Cordycepin Affects Multiple Apoptotic Pathways to Mediate Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Death
Authors: Zhou Yulin , Guo Zhihua , Meng Qingfan , Lu Jiahui , Wang Ning , Liu Hui , Liang Qiming , Quan Yutong , Wang Di , Xie Jing
Published: June 2016

Background: Cordycepin possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-metastatic and anti-tumor properties.

Objective: The present study investigates the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activities of cordycepin in in vitro and in
vivo models.

Method: Cell viability, apoptosis rate, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and mitochondrial membrane
potential (MMP) were determined by 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo(-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide bromide assay,
annexin V/propidium iodide double staining, 2',7'-dichlorfluorescein-diacetate and 5,5’,6,6’-tetrachloro-1,1’,3,3’
tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) staining respectively. The expressions of pro-apoptosis and antiapoptosis
proteins were detected by western blot. A PLC/PRL/5-xenografted nude mouse model was applied to further
confirm the anti-tumor activities of cordycepin.

Results: Cordycepin suppressed cell viability, enhanced apoptotic rate, inhibited cell proliferation and increased
cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) level. Apoptotic alteration on mitochondria and abnormal changes on
b-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and b-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) levels were observed in cordycepin-treated cells.
Furthermore, cordycepin suppressed the activation of extracellular signaling-regulated kinase (ERKs) and mammalian
target of rapamycin (mTOR) in both PLC/PRF/5 and HepG2 cells. Finally, PLC/PRL/5-xengrafted BALB/c athymic
nude mice were performed to confirm cordycepin’s anti-tumor action.

Conclusion: Our finding suggests that the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma properties of cordycepin are related to its
modulation of multiple anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic pathways. Our study provides an experimental evidence for
cordycepin as a rational agent for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.
T Lymphocyte Activation Markers as Predictors of Responsiveness to Rituximab among Patients with FSGS
Authors: Chan Chang-Yien , Liu Isaac Desheng , Resontoc Lourdes Paula , Ng Kar-Hui , Chan Yiong-Huak , Lau Perry Yew-Weng , Than Mya , Jordan Stanley C. , Lam Kong-Peng , Yeo Wee-Song , Yap Hui-Kim
Published: June 2016

Background and objectives

Rituximab is used with variable success in difficult FSGS. Because B cell depletion significantly affects T cell function, we characterized T cell subsets in patients with FSGS to determine if an immunologic signature predictive of favorable response to rituximab could be identified.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

Twenty-two consecutive patients with FSGS (median age =14.4 years old; range =6.2–25.0 years old) and age of onset of nephrotic syndrome 1–18 years old receiving rituximab for clinical indications between October of 2009 and February of 2014 were studied. Indications for rituximab were lack of sustained remission despite calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) and mycophenolate in steroid-resistant patients and lack of steroid-sparing effect with cyclophosphamide and CNI or CNI toxicity in steroid-dependent patients. Exclusion criteria were infantile onset, known genetic mutations, and secondary causes. Rituximab (375 mg/m2) was given fortnightly up to a maximum of four doses. Immunologic subset monitoring was performed at baseline and regular intervals until relapse. Median follow-up duration postrituximab was 26.7 months (range =6.5–66.5 months). Baseline immunologic subsets were examined for association with rituximab response defined as resolution of proteinuria with discontinuation of prednisolone and CNI 3 months postrituximab.

Results

Twelve patients (54.5%) responded to rituximab. Mitogen–stimulated CD154+CD4+CD3+ subset before rituximab was significantly lower in FSGS responders compared with nonresponders (54.9%±28.1% versus 78.9%±16.4%; P=0.03). IFN-γ
+CD3+ and IL-2+CD3+ were similarly decreased in responders compared with nonresponders (0.6%±0.8% versus 7.5%±6.1%; P=0.003 and 0.2%±0.5% versus 4.0%±4.7%; P<0.01, respectively). Recovery of all three activation subsets occurred 6 months postrituximab treatment (CD154+CD4+CD3+, 74.8%±17.2%; IFN-γ
+CD3+, 7.1%±7.7%; and IL-2+CD3+, 7.9%±10.9%; P<0.01). Receiver–operating characteristic analysis using optimal cutoff values showed that activated CD154+CD4+CD3+ <83.3% (area under the curve [AUC], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.61 to 1.00), IFN-γ
+CD3+<2.5% (AUC, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.75 to 1.00), and IL-2+CD3+<0.3% (AUC, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.98) were good predictors of rituximab response.

Conclusions

We have identified prognostic markers that define a subset of patients with FSGS bearing an immunologic signature representing hyporesponsiveness to T cell stimulation and therefore, who respond better to rituximab.
The Italian way to financial accumulation. Personal networks and informal practices of the Italian economic elites
Authors: Dagnes Joselle , Salento Angelo
Published: June 2016

This paper challenges the belief that Italian capitalism is a static and
unchanging one. Italian capitalism has retained some unique characteristics:
an elitist structure, close personal relationships, a high degree of
informality. However, far from being just the characteristics of an
unchanging capitalism, these peculiarities were the resources that Italian
capitalism exploited to change its mode of action. First, we identify the
network of interlocking actors in the Italian stock market and their set of
informal practices, illustrating the paramount role of families and informal
relationships. Second, we show why these characteristics did not prevent
Italian capitalists to enter an era of financial accumulation. Resilience is
the keyword, understood both as adaptation to changing conditions and as
active reaction, a proper transformation. As an example of adaptation, we
analyse how Italian capitalism has faced some institutional changes
preserving its traditional power structure. As an example of transformation,
we show how Italian capitalism adopted patterns of financial accumulation and
maximization of shareholder value. Finally, we argue that informality and the
dissemination of personal relationships are not impediment to change: in the
practical logic of social and economic actors they are rather resources to be
exploited when it comes to make changes without sacrificing the status quo.
On inevitability of political clientelism in contemporary Serbia
Authors: Cvejic Slobodan
Published: June 2016

This paper deals with the problem of political clientelism in Serbia broadly
defined as the selective distribution of benefits (money, jobs, information,
a variety of privileges) to individuals or clearly defined groups in exchange
for political support. The main objective is to explain why political
clientelism is widespread in Serbia and which key factors determine its shape
and intensity. The explanation is based on the analysis of historical factors
of development of clientelism in Serbia, as well as on analysis of data from
a recent research on informal relations between political and economic elites
in Serbia and Kosovo. The paper concludes that clientelism and informality
have represented one of the structuring principles of socioeconomic and
political development of Serbian society under the conditions of weak formal
institutions and socio-historical heritage of late modernization. On the
other hand, since 2000 economic and political sphere in Serbia became more
open and competitive which influenced change in the character of clientelism
in Serbia - the increased rivalry among different clientelistic (sub)networks
heightened the chance of opportunistic defection even at the top level, which
made political power of patrons more tradable and the relation inside the
power network less asymmetric.
The impact of external donors on NGO practice and policy-making
Authors: Webb Jonathan
Published: June 2016

Different views exist regarding the relationship between international aid
donors and recipient organisations. International donors are either seen as
essential actors for democratising societies or as external interventions
that further advance the interests of certain groups. Using Serbia as a case
study, this paper argues that by analysing the structure of donor-recipient
relationships, a more nuanced understanding emerges based on an analysis of
the formal and informal mechanisms that link donors and actors. To reach this
understanding, an initial case study of a donor organisation, the United
Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), is conducted. By undertaking a
network analysis of donorrecipient relationships on UNHCR funded programmes,
the agenda setting power of donor organisations is demonstrated. This initial
analysis demonstrates how financial capital first links these groups. Over
time, financial capital crystallises into social capital that sustains
non-governmental organisation (NGO) ?cliques?. Advancing this initial
analysis, a second stage of network analysis demonstrates how NGO cliques
interact with an organisation capable of influencing government social
inclusion and poverty reduction policy. In reflecting on these actor
networks, it is demonstrated how social capital constituted through both
formal and informal linkage, remains crucial for the UNHCR to implement its
objectives, for NGOs to ensure their continued relevance and for government
actors to obtain policy advice.
Creatinine-modified Child-Turcotte-Pugh score is a good predictor of a short-term survival in patients with bleeding from esophageal varices
Authors: Radisavljevic Mirjana , Bjelakovic Goran , Jovic Jasna , Radovanovic-Dinic Biljana , Benedeto-Stojanov Danijela , Brzacki Vesna , Markovic-Zivkovic Bojana
Published: June 2016

Background/Aim. Bleeding from esophageal varices is a significant factor in mortality of patients with terminal liver cirrhosis. This complication is a major health problem for recipients on the list for liver transplant. In that regard, studying predictors of variceal bleeding episode is very important. Also, it is important to find the best survival predictor among prognostic scores. The aim of the study was to compare validity of prognostic scores in assessment of survival in hospital-treated patients after bleeding from esophageal varices, and to compare validity of baseline Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) and Modul for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores with CTP creatinine modified (CTP-crea) I and II scores in assessment of survival in patients within a long-term follow-up period after the episode of bleeding from esophageal varices. Methods. The study included a total of 126 patients suffering from terminal liver cirrhosis submited to testing CTP score score I and II, MELD score, MELD Na score, integrated MELD score, MELD sodium (MESO) index, United Kingdom Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (UKELD) score and updated MELD score. Results. Patients with bleeding from esophageal varices most often had CTP score rank C (46,9%). CTP score rank B had 37.5% patients, while the smallest percentage of patients had CTP rank A, 15.6% of them. Patients who have values of CTP score higher than 10.50 and bleeding from esophagus, have 3.2 times higher chance for death outcome compared to other patients. Patients who have values of CTP-crea I score higher than 10.50 and bleeding from esophagus, have 3.1 times higher chance for death out-come than other patients. Patients who have values of CTP-crea II score higher than 11.50 and bleeding from esophagus, have 3,7 times higher chance for death outcome compared to other patients. Conclusion. Survival of patients with bleeding from esophageal varices in the short-term follow up can be predicted by following CTP score and creatinine modified CTP scores. Patients with bleeding from esophageal varices who have CTP score and CTP-crea I score higher than 10.5 and CTP-crea II score higher than 11.5, have statistically significantly higher risk from mortality within one-month follow-up compared to patients with bleeding from esophageal varices who have lower numerical values of scores of the CTP group.
Performing humanitarian militarism
Authors: Savell Stephanie
Published: June 2016

This article investigates a case in which the Brazilian military, according
to national press, “invaded” and “occupied” a Rio de Janeiro favela neighborhood
under the auspices of a public security program. Rio’s “pacification” program aims
to replace drug trafficking organizations’ control of favelas with Pacifying Police
Units and counts on the occasional participation of the military. Based on research
with military personnel and favela residents, I investigate the construction and
consequences of the pairing of militarism with humanitarianism. I show how these
logics are not opposed, as they might at first sound, but in practice, deeply aligned.
Among other reasons, both state force and state caregiving are performances to
justify military presence on the streets to audiences in and outside the favela. The
visible spectacle of humanitarian militarism effaces abuses and makes light of the
everyday fears and insecurities suffered by the urban poor.
The angular course of the median nerve in the distal forearm and its anatomical importance in preventing nerve injury in a modern era of carpal tunnel release
Authors: Payne Russell , Nasralah Zeinab , Sieg Emily , Rizk Elias B. , Glantz Michael , Harbaugh Kimberly
Published: June 2016

OBJECTIVE

A thorough understanding of anatomy is critical for successful carpal tunnel release. Several texts depict the median nerve (MN) as taking a course parallel to the long axis of the forearm (LAF). The authors report on their attempt to formally assess the course of the MN as it travels to the carpal tunnel in the distal wrist and discuss its potential clinical significance.

METHODS

The width of the wrist, the distance from the radial wrist to the MN, and the distance from the distal volar wrist crease to the point where the MN emerges between the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) tendon and the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendons were recorded during cadaveric dissection of 76 wrist specimens. The presence or absence of palmaris longus was documented. Finally, the angles between the MN and FCR tendon and between the MN and the LAF were measured using ImageJ.

RESULTS

The relative position of the MN at the distal wrist crease, as determined by the ratio of the distance from the MN to the radial wrist divided by wrist width, revealed a mean value of 0.48, indicating that the nerve was usually located just radial to midline. The mean distance between the distal wrist crease and the MN's emergence was 34.6 mm. The mean angle between the MN and the FCR tendon was 14.1°. The angle between the MN and the LAF had a mean value of 8.8° (range 0.0°–32.2°). The nerve was parallel to the LAF in only 10.7% of the studied wrists. Palmaris longus was absent in 14 (18.4%) of the 76 wrists.

CONCLUSIONS

The MN takes an angular approach to the carpal tunnel in the distal wrist in the vast majority of cases. This newly described finding will be useful to both clinicians and anatomists.
Anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of quinine in human Hep-2 laryngeal cancer and KB oral cancer cell
Authors: Krishnaveni Marimuthu , Suresh Kathiresan , Arunkumar Ramu
Published: June 2016

The present study evaluated the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effect of quinine on oral cancer cells Hep-2 and KB. Cell inhibition, apoptosis and anti-inflammatory effects were explored by nuclear DNA cleavage, condensation, change in  membrane potential of mitochondria. Meanwhile, inflammatory and apoptosis-related mRNA and proteins expressions such as iNOS COX-2, IL-6, Bcl-2, mutant p53, Bax, caspase-3 and NF-κB were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting assays.  Results showed that, quinine treatment significantly inhibited the cell viability and colony formation, inhibited cell proliferation lead to increased generation of reactive oxygen species induction of MMP depolarization, morphological changes and DNA damage in dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, quinine significantly decreased the iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, Bcl-2 and mutant p53 simultaneously up-regulated Bax, caspase-3 expressions through the inhibition of NF-κB suggest that quinine may serve as a potential candidate in the prevention of cell proliferation and enhances apoptosis via inhibiting up-stream signalling.

Video Clip

Programmed cell death assay by dual staining: 17 min 25 sec

 
Elimination of Hepatitis B: A Dream or Reality !
Authors: Rowshon AHM
Published: June 2016

Abstract not availableJ Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2015; 33(4): 187-189
Al-Ṭabarī's Concept of the Qur'an: A Systemic Analysis
Authors: Mårtensson Ulrika
Published: June 2016

This article seeks to define al-Ṭabarī’s concept of the Qur'an by exploring the systemic nature of al-Ṭabarī’s whole scholarly oeuvre, with reference to the political and scholarly context of debates between rationalism and traditionalism, and the development of uṣūl al-fiqh. Drawing on recent research on uṣūl al-fiqh (Vishanoff 2011) and al-Ṭabarī’s own madhhab (Stewart 2004; 2013), it is argued that al-Ṭabarī on the one hand politically agreed with the traditionalist camp regarding the need for written and publicly accessible law, and on the other hand developed his own independent legal methodology and dogma. Because of his basic agreement with traditionalism at the legal-political level, he also aligned with the traditionalist doctrine of the uncreated Qur'an, against the rationalist doctrine of the created Qur'an. Finally, it is demonstrated that al-Ṭabarī defined the uncreated Qur'an's nature in terms of rhetoric, including both grammatical-syntactic and deliberative dimensions. The significance he attributed to rhetoric through the Qur'an is reflected in his legal, exegetical, and ḥadīth methods as well as in his historical writing. Ultimately, al-Ṭabarī’s whole oeuvre was composed to persuade the public about the political need for a written and publicly accessible legal canon.
Control of Wnt Receptor Turnover by R-spondin-ZNRF3/RNF43 Signaling Module and Its Dysregulation in Cancer
Authors: Hao Huai-Xiang , Jiang Xiaomo , Cong Feng
Published: June 2016

Aberrant activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is frequently found in various cancers, often through mutations of downstream components. Inhibiting β-catenin signaling in tumors with downstream pathway mutations remains challenging, due to a lack of favorable targets. On the other hand, targeting upstream components of the Wnt pathway is rather straightforward. However, it is difficult to identify tumors addicted to autocrine or paracrine Wnt signaling. Discovery of the R-spondin-ZNRF3/RNF43 signaling module and its genetic alterations in cancers represents a breakthrough in this area. Membrane E3 ligase ZNRF3 and RNF43 are critical negative feedback regulators of the Wnt pathway, which function through promoting ubiquitination and degradation of Wnt receptors. R-spondin proteins (RSPO1-4) serve as natural antagonists of ZNRF3/RNF43. To maintain strong and sustained Wnt/β-catenin signaling, cancers need to overcome ZNRF3/RNF43-mediated feedback inhibition. Indeed, mutations of RNF43/ZNRF3 and recurrent translocations of RSPO2/RSPO3 have recently been identified in various cancers. Significantly, genetic alterations in RNF43/ZNRF3/RSPO2/RSPO3 have shown promise as predictive biomarkers in pre-clinical models for the efficacy of upstream Wnt inhibitors. In this review, we will discuss the biology of the R-spondin-ZNRF3/RNF43 signaling module, cancer-associated alterations of this signaling module, and their value as biomarkers to identify Wnt-addicted tumors.
Optimization of Nano-Process Deposition Parameters Based on Gravitational Search Algorithm
Authors: Mohd Sabri Norlina , Md Sin Nor , Puteh Mazidah , Mahmood Mohamad
Published: June 2016

This research is focusing on the radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering process, a physical vapor deposition technique which is widely used in thin film production. This process requires the optimized combination of deposition parameters in order to obtain the desirable thin film. The conventional method in the optimization of the deposition parameters had been reported to be costly and time consuming due to its trial and error nature. Thus, gravitational search algorithm (GSA) technique had been proposed to solve this nano-process parameters optimization problem. In this research, the optimized parameter combination was expected to produce the desirable electrical and optical properties of the thin film. The performance of GSA in this research was compared with that of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Genetic Algorithm (GA), Artificial Immune System (AIS) and Ant Colony Optimization (ACO). Based on the overall results, the GSA optimized parameter combination had generated the best electrical and an acceptable optical properties of thin film compared to the others. This computational experiment is expected to overcome the problem of having to conduct repetitive laboratory experiments in obtaining the most optimized parameter combination. Based on this initial experiment, the adaptation of GSA into this problem could offer a more efficient and productive way of depositing quality thin film in the fabrication process.
Extreme Learning Machine for Multi-Label Classification
Authors: Sun Xia , Xu Jingting , Jiang Changmeng , Feng Jun , Chen Su-Shing , He Feijuan
Published: June 2016

Extreme learning machine (ELM) techniques have received considerable attention in the computational intelligence and machine learning communities because of the significantly low computational time required for training new classifiers. ELM provides solutions for regression, clustering, binary classification, multiclass classifications and so on, but not for multi-label learning. Multi-label learning deals with objects having multiple labels simultaneously, which widely exist in real-world applications. Therefore, a thresholding method-based ELM is proposed in this paper to adapt ELM to multi-label classification, called extreme learning machine for multi-label classification (ELM-ML). ELM-ML outperforms other multi-label classification methods in several standard data sets in most cases, especially for applications which only have a small labeled data set.
Effect of Coal Rank on Various Fluid Saturations Creating Mechanical Property Alterations Using Australian Coals
Authors: Perera Mandadige , Ranathunga Ashani , Ranjith Pathegama
Published: June 2016

During CO2 sequestration in deep coal seams, the coal mass may be subjected to various fluid (CO2, N2, etc.) saturations. Therefore, in order to maintain the long-term integrity of the process, it is necessary to identify the mechanical responses of preferable coal seams for various fluid saturations. To date, many studies have focused on the CO2 saturation effect on coal mass strength and less consideration has been given to the influence of other saturation mediums. Hence, this study aims to investigate coal’s mechanical responses to water and N2 saturations compared to CO2 saturation and to determine the effect of coal-rank. A series of unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests was conducted on Australian brown and black coal samples saturated with water and N2 at various saturation pressures. An advanced acoustic emission (AE) system was utilized to identify the changes in crack propagation behaviors under each condition. According to the results, both CO2 and water act similarly with coal by enhancing the ductile properties of the coal mass and this mechanical weakening is greater for high-rank coal. Conversely, N2 saturation slightly enhances coal strength and delays crack propagation in coal and this strength enhancement can be improved by increasing the N2 saturation pressure.