bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crystal structure determination of karibibite, an Fe3+arsenite, using electron diffraction tomography
Authors: Colombo Fernando , Mugnaioli Enrico , Vallcorba Oriol , García Alberto , Goñi Alejandro R. , Rius Jordi
Published: September 2017

The crystal structure of karibibite, Fe33+(As3+O2)4(As23+O5)(OH), from the Urucum mine (Minas Gerais, Brazil), was solved and refined from electron diffraction tomography data [R1= 18.8% forF> 4σ(F)] and further confirmed by synchrotron X-ray diffraction and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The mineral is orthorhombic, space groupPnmaand unit-cell parameters (synchrotron X-ray diffraction) area= 7.2558(3),b= 27.992(1),c= 6.5243 (3) Å,V= 1325.10(8) Å3,Z= 4. The crystal structure of karibibbite consists of bands of Fe3+O6octahedra running alongaframed by two chains of AsO3trigonal pyramids at each side, and along c by As2O5dimers above and below. Each band is composed of ribbons of three edge-sharing Fe3+O6octahedra, apex-connected with other ribbons in order to form a kinked band running alonga. The atoms As(2) and As(3), each showing trigonal pyramidal coordination by O, share the O(4) atom to form a dimer. In turn, dimers are connected by the O(3) atoms, defining a zig-zag chain of overall (As3+O2)n-nstoichiometry. Each ribbon of (Fe3+O6) octahedra is flanked on both edges by the (As3+O2)n-nchains. The simultaneous presence of arsenite chains and dimers is previously unknown in compounds with As3+. The lone-electron pairs (4s2) of the As(2) and As(3) atoms project into the interlayer located aty= 0 andy= ½, yielding probable weak interactions with the O atoms of the facing (AsO2) chain.

The DFT calculations show that the Fe atoms have maximum spin polarization, consistent with the Fe3+state.
Use of Regional Anesthesia for Outpatient Surgery Within the United States: A Prevalence Study Using a Nationwide Database
Authors: Gabriel Rodney A. , Ilfeld Brian M.
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND:

Regional anesthesia is of benefit for outpatient surgery given its demonstrated improvement in analgesia and decrease in complications, resulting in shorter average recovery room times and lower hospital readmission rates. Unfortunately, there are few epidemiological studies outlining the overall utilization of peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) in this setting. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to report the overall utilization of several types of PNBs among all candidate cases in the outpatient setting within the United States.

METHODS:

We identified all cases from the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry that were performed as an outpatient surgery. We reported the frequency of various types of PNBs among all candidate cases, defined as cases that potentially could have received a PNB. Changes in prevalence of PNB utilization from 2010 to 2015 were analyzed by using logistic regression.

RESULTS:

Of the 12,911,056 outpatient surgeries in the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry, 3,297,372 (25.5%) were amenable to a PNB. However, the overall PNB frequency was only 3.3% of the possible cases. The overall utilization for PNB of the brachial plexus, sciatic nerve, and femoral nerve were 6.1%, 1.5%, and 1.9%, respectively. The surgical procedures generating the highest volume of PNBs were shoulder arthroscopies and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, in which 41% and 32% received a PNB, respectively. During this time period, there was a significant increase in overall PNB utilization for both single-injection and continuous PNB (P < .0001). However, the proportion of continuous PNB to single-injection PNB did not increase significantly.

CONCLUSIONS:

While the overall frequency of PNB is relatively low, there was a significant increase in its prevalence during the study period. Regional anesthesia offers significant positive impact for perioperative outcomes and hospital efficiency metrics; however, it is not clear what is limiting its widespread use. Future studies are necessary to identify barriers and disparities in care to implement methods to increase regional anesthesia volume nationwide where beneficial and appropriate.
Grazing limits natural biological controls of woody encroachment in Inner Mongolia Steppe
Authors: Guo Hongyu , Guan Linjing , Wang Yinhua , Xie Lina , Prather Chelse M. , Liu Chunguang , Ma Chengcang
Published: September 2017

Woody encroachment in grasslands has become increasingly problematic globally. Grazing by domestic animals can facilitate woody encroachment by reducing competition from herbaceous plants and fire frequency. Herbivorous insects and parasitic plants can each exert forces that result in the natural biological control of encroaching woody plants through reducing seeding of their host woody plants. Whereas, the interplay of grazing and dynamics of herbivorous insects or parasitic plants, and its effects on the potential biological control of woody encroachment in grasslands remain unclear. We investigated the flower and pod damage by herbivorous insects and the infection rates of a parasitic plant on the shrub Caragana microphylla that is currently encroaching in Inner Mongolia Steppe, under different grazing management treatments (33-year non-grazed, 7-year non-grazed, currently grazed). Our results showed that Caragana biomass was the highest at the currently grazed site, and the lowest at the 33-year non-grazed site. Herbaceous plant biomass followed the opposite pattern, suggesting that grazing is indeed facilitating the encroachment of Caragana plants in Inner Mongolia Steppe. Grazing also reduced the abundance of herbivorous insects per Caragana flower, numbers of flowers and pods damaged by insect herbivores, and the infection rates of the parasitic plant on Caragana plants. Our results suggest that grazing may facilitate woody encroachment in grasslands not only through canonical mechanisms (e.g., competitive release via feeding on grasses, reductions in fires, etc.), but also by limiting natural biological controls of woody plants (herbivorous insects and parasitic plants). Thus, management efforts must focus on preventing overgrazing to better protect grassland ecosystems from woody encroachment.
Mitochondrial capacity, oxidative damage and hypoxia gene expression are associated with age-related division of labor in honey bee, Apis mellifera L., workers
Authors: Cervoni Mário S. , Cardoso-Júnior Carlos A. M. , Craveiro Giovana , Souza Anderson de O. , Alberici Luciane C. , Hartfelder Klaus
Published: September 2017

During adult life, honeybee workers undergo a succession of behavioral states. Nurses bees perform tasks inside the nest, and when they are about 2-3 weeks old they initiate foraging. This switch is associated with alterations in diet, and with the levels of juvenile hormone and vitellogenin circulating in hemolymph. Less clear is whether this behavioral maturation involves major changes at the cellular level, such as mitochondrial activity and the redox environment in the head, thorax and abdomen. Using high-resolution respirometry, biochemical assays and RT-qPCR, we evaluated the association of these parameters with this behavioral change. We found that tissues from the head and abdomen of nurses have a higher OXPHOS capacity than those of foragers, while for the thorax we found an opposite situation. Since higher mitochondrial activity tends to generate more H2O2 and H2O2 is known to stabilize HIF-1α, this would be expected to stimulate hypoxia signaling. The positive correlation that we observed between mitochondrial activity and hif-1α gene expression in abdomen and head tissue of nurses would be in line with this hypothesis. Higher expression of antioxidant enzyme genes was observed in foragers, which could explain their low levels of protein carbonylation. No alterations were seen in NO levels, suggesting that NO signaling is unlikely to be involved in behavioral maturation. We conclude that the behavioral change seen in honeybee workers is reflected in differential mitochondrial activities and redox parameters, and we consider that this can provide insights into the underlying aging process.
The typification of two Linnaean plant names based on illustrations published by Leonhard Rauwolf in 1583
Authors: Ghorbani Abdolbaset , de Boer Hugo J. , Maas Paul J.M. , van Andel Tinde
Published: September 2017

Based on an assessment of the illustrations published in the travel account of Leonhard Rauwolf and the correspond‐ing specimens collected by him between 1573 and 1575 in the Near East, lectotypes are designated for the Linnaean names Aristolochia maurorumandRheum ribes , which have not been typified previously.
LIABILITY OF LEGAL PERSONS FOR THE VIOLATION OF COMPETITION RULES: CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AND ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF CONFLICT REGULATION (COMPARATIVE EVALUATION)
Authors: Семыкина Ольга , Semykina Olga
Published: September 2017

In the article there is an analysis of criminal and criminal prosecution mechanism of legal persons’ liability for the violation of competition rules in some post-Soviet countries (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Estonia).
With a glance to a comparative evaluation there are features of national approaches established to regulate criminal law and criminal procedural measures applicable to legal persons who have committed acts in the field contrary to honest practices in industrial or commercial matters covered by the criminal branch of law.
Based on the latest trends in criminalization, the model of criminal liability of legal persons is identified that is known in the world’s practice. Among them there are marked identified model (on the example of Estonia and Kyrgyzstan) and extended identified (based on the legislative approaches of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova) models of corporate criminal liability.
There are accumulated findings about the specifics of criminal prosecution of legal persons who have committed socially dangerous acts in the sphere of competition, and the possibility of using alternative mechanisms for the settlement of criminal law disputes in the stage of criminal prosecution.
The conclusion defined is about direct dependence of realization of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms on the approach of the legislator to the legal entity of the Institute of responsibility of legal persons in criminal law.
THE ROLE OF JUDICIAL PRACTICE IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM: RUSSIAN EXPERIENCE IN THE WORLD CONTEXT
Authors: Момотов Виктор , Momotov Viktor
Published: September 2017

In Russian legal science there is a wide-spread belief according to which legal precedents are not sources of Russian law, because Russian legal system forms a part of continental legal system. Various researchers believe that judicial practice does not contain legal norms and consequently case law is not a component of Russian legal framework.
The present paper contains the theoretical and historical legal research of the place and role of case law in Anglo-American and continental legal systems. It’s shown that for long historical periods legal precedents were recognized as sources of law not only in Great Britain and the USA, but also in major European legal systems, while at the present time differentiation of legal systems with respect to their attitude towards case law is becoming outdated. Furthermore, based on the research of various legal scholars’ traditions (principally of the positivistic and the sociological traditions) this article demonstrates that negative attitude towards case law is largely determined by the formalistic and obsolete understanding of the term ”source of law”, coming from the misinterpretation of positivism.
The paper also presents the current development trends of case law as a source of law. In particular the article outlines the proactive interpretations of new statutory provisions issued by the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, the global uniqueness of such interpretations and the influence of scientific–technological progress and public needs on the highest court’s interpretations. The mutual interference of case law and statutory law is shown.
THEORETIC AND LEGAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH OF THE LEGAL NATURE OF A CORPORATE CONTRACT ON THE LAW OF FRANCE AND THE USA
Authors: Терновая Ольга , Tyernovaya Olga , Соловьева Светлана , Solovyeva Svyetlana
Published: September 2017

This article deals with theoretical and legal approaches and peculiarities of the regulation of corporate contract under the laws of France and USA. One of the factors that promoted the promulgation of the shareholders agreement was the participation of Anglo-American investors in French societies, which were more accustomed to contractual relations then to the use of rigidly fixed forms of joint-stock companies. Despite the fact that one of the aims of such agreements was an attempt to get rid of excessive publicright control, such contracts could never contradict the mandatory requirements of the law and the provisions of the company’s charter. In the United States legislative embodiment of the right of shareholders to enter into various types of agreements is carried out by laws regulating activities, the procedure of the establishment and management of Business Corporations. The content of a shareholders agreement and the right to participate in such agreement is regulated by the legal regime of corporation. The agreement between the members of close corporation de facto may change the provisions of corporation’s charter relating to corporate governance and profit sharing. All types of shareholders agreements, which could be concluded by the members of Business Corporation, are considered in the present article. State law that regulates contractual relations does not apply to shareholders agreements despite the legal doctrine view that corporations are of a contractual nature.
The comparative analysis of the jurisprudence, legal doctrine and provisions of US and French legislation allows us to conclude that in the USA, unlike France, shareholders agreements are regulated by Corporate Law, not by the provisions of the Contract Law as it takes place in France.
LEGAL REGULATION OF NON-TRADITIONAL FAMILY UNIONS IN THE UNITED STATES
Authors: Назарова Анна , Nazarova Anna
Published: September 2017

This article is devoted to analysis of legal regulation of non-traditional family unions in the United States. The purpose of the study is stipulated by the tendency to increase the number of non-traditional family unions which exists in many foreign countries.
In this work the reasons of emergence of non-traditional family formations are studied. The author examines legal regulation of de facto marital unions (cohabitations), registered partnerships, same-sex marriages by the legislation of the States of the USA.
In result of the conducted research the author came to the conclusion that legal recognition of non-traditional family units in the United States is explained by the needs of the family with the changed structure that will allow to adapt to a variety of new economic and social conditions.
At the same time the author believes that the recognition of same-sex marriage is inadvisable because same-sex unions cannot fulfill the main function of family – reproduction (biological appearance of a person), since the main objective of any species is the preservation of the life of this species. Moreover, children brought up by same-sex parents usually follow the example of their parents. In families based on actual marital relations of men and women a reproductive function is fulfilled as it appears from demographic research.
STRATEGIC TRANSFORMATION OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION LEGISLATION IN CHINA
Authors: Лю Хунянь , Lyu Hunyan'
Published: September 2017

Currently China is at the most important since the beginning of the modernization transformation of turning point, and there are a lot of opportunities in anti-corruption. Now China holds a strategic transformation of the state anti-corruption legislation; carries out a scientific assessment of the possibilities of anti-corruption legislation, creates the concept of active fight against corruption. The main feature of this concept is the control over the exercise of power; and it has to occupy the main place in the state system of counteraction of corruption. The dualistic regulatory system and the mechanism of interaction of state law and party rules are creating now in the country, and soon the fundamental law on anti-corruption will be adopted. Also, the existing system is improving step by step — from the formal to the real anti-corruption as the primary function of the anti-corruption legislation in order to overcome the modern crisis of corruption with Chinese characteristics.
LEGAL REGULATION OF FISHERY IN RUSSIA AND FOREIGN STATES: COMMON AND SPECIAL FEATURES
Authors: Сиваков Дмитрий , Sivakov Dmitriy
Published: September 2017

The aim of the article is a comparative analyze of legal regulation of fishery in Russia and foreign states. According to this goal, the task of comparison of fishery legislation of Russia and other CIS countries, Russia and EU State as well as North American countries arises. The author tries to solve one more issue — to consider how current legal regulation correlates with the concept of fishery in Russia.
Legislation in the sphere of fishery is developing dynamically. Despite the different time of appearance and the differences of legal systems, mentioned legislation can be compared in the basic directions of legal regulation.
The article applied the method of comparative legal regulation, the historical method of extrapolating. Also the scientific methods of deduction and induction are applied. The author used the instruments of international soft law and the works of specialists in the mentioned area of the legal regulation.
The article consists of following sections: statement of the question; sources of law; key rules-definitions; principles and key provisions of the legislation; the quota system of catches, licensing and contractual methods of regulation; the payment principle and the nature of the distribution of funds received.
In conclusion the author emphasized the approximation of the legislation of Russia and other CIS countries in the field of fisheries (concerning the concepts, basic provisions, types of fishery and quotas). Also, there are some similarities in a combination of licensing and contractual methods of regulation in Russian and Canadian legislation.
CHALLENGES FOR PHYSICS-BASED MODELS OF A RADIONUCLIDE DISPERSAL DEVICE
Authors: Hummel David William , Ivan Lucian
Published: September 2017

A “dirty bomb” is a type of hypothetical radiological dispersal device (RDD) that has been the subject of significant safety and security concerns given the disruption that would result in a postulated terrorist attack. Reliable and accurate predictions of dispersion of radiological material from an RDD are absolutely necessary for first responders and emergency decision makers to plan effective response strategies. Development of high-fidelity, mechanistic models of a dirty bomb are complicated because dispersion over areas with the greatest risk of contamination is highly sensitive to the source of contaminant particles, and this source term is governed by processes over much smaller temporal and spatial length scales than the dispersion. New work on accelerating high-fidelity models of RDDs has been initiated that looks to incorporate the multiscale aspects of the problem and enhance predictive capabilities that may assist in anti-terrorism activities.
The exploding tumour on breast magnetic resonance imaging: an infected skin comedo
Authors: Tjalma WAA , Huizing MT
Published: September 2017

A 61-year-old woman with a histologically proven invasive lobular carcinoma entered a clinical trial, which involved repeat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The protocol of the repeated MRI described a T4 breast cancer with involvement of the skin (Fig 1). There were only 17 days between the first and second MRI and during this short time it appeared that there had been rapid disease progression.

On the initial MRI, a skin comedo could be seen in the left breast close to the tumour. The patient had squeezed the skin comedo, which had become infected. The second MRI captured the infected skin comedo, which had the appearance of an extensive breast cancer with skin involvement. The patient could be mismanaged if the clinician does not correlate the clinical findings with the radiological findings.
Necrotising fasciitis of the left leg caused by perforated caecal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Pouriki S , Skalistira M , Zoumpouli C , Alexakis N
Published: September 2017

An 82-year-old man presented with abdominal pain and a painful and swollen left thigh. On examination there was oedema, tenderness and crepitus with skin discoloration of the left thigh. Computed tomography showed retroperitoneal perforation of the caecum and necrotising fasciitis of the left thigh. A right hemicolectomy and repeated fasciotomies of the left thigh with debridement of necrotic tissue were performed but the patient died of multi-organ failure. Histology showed a pT4aN2c caecal adenocarcinoma. This is a unique presentation of a retroperitoneal caecal perforation and acts as a reminder that unexplained severe fasciitis of the thigh may be caused by an intra-abdominal pathology.
Accelerated discharge within 72 hours of colorectal cancer resection using simple discharge criteria
Authors: Emmanuel A , Chohda E , Botfield C , Ellul J
Published: September 2017

Introduction

Short hospital stays and accelerated discharge within 72 hours following colorectal cancer resections have not been widely achieved. Series reporting on accelerated discharge involve heterogeneous patient populations and exclude important groups. Strict adherence to some discharge requirements may lead to delays in discharge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of accelerated discharge within 72 hours of all elective colorectal cancer resections using simple discharge criteria.

Methods

Elective colorectal cancer resections performed between August 2009 and December 2015 by a single surgeon were reviewed. Perioperative care was based on an enhanced recovery programme. A set of simplified discharge criteria were used. Outcomes including postoperative complications, readmissions and reoperations were compared between patients discharged within 72 hours and those with a longer postoperative stay.

Results

Overall, 256 colorectal cancer resections (90% laparoscopic) were performed. The mean patient age was 70.8 years. The median length of stay was 3 days. Fifty-eight per cent of all patients and sixty-three per cent of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery were discharged within 72 hours. Accelerated discharge was not associated with adverse outcomes compared with delayed discharge. Patients discharged within 72 hours had significantly fewer postoperative complications, readmissions and reoperations. Open surgery and stoma formation were associated with discharge after 72 hours but not age, co-morbidities, neoadjuvant chemoradiation or surgical procedure.

Conclusions

Accelerated discharge within 72 hours of elective colorectal resection for cancer is safely achievable for the majority of patients without compromising short-term outcomes.
X-Bolt unforeseen placement complication: case report
Authors: Clarke AD , Herron JBT , McVie JL
Published: September 2017

With the introduction of the World Hip Trauma Evaluation Four clinical trial, fixation of pertrochanteric neck of femur fractures is becoming a hot topic. In this trial, the novel X-Bolt expanding bolt implant is being compared with the current gold standard of a sliding hip screw. We present a previously undescribed complication when inserting the bolt into the femoral head, where the expandable wings penetrate the femoral neck due to misplacement of the bone crusher or the X-Bolt prosthesis. This unforeseen complication required the introduction of several additional corrective intraoperative steps.
Perineal Richter’s herniation following proctectomy
Authors: Jayamanne H , Stephenson BM
Published: September 2017

In a Richter’s hernia, only part of the anti-mesenteric border of the bowel is incarcerated within the underlying defect. We report three cases presenting between 18 days and 11 years following proctectomy. As all patients had functioning stomas a high index of suspicion is necessary to avoid a delay in diagnosis.
A small open economic growth model with imported goods, tourism, and terms of trade
Authors: Zhang Wei-Bin
Published: September 2017

This paper constructs an economic growth model of a small open economy with tourism and imported goods in a perfectly competitive economy. The study focuses on the effects of changes in terms of trade, with a preference for imported goods, on the dynamic paths of trade balance and economic growth. The basic framework for modelling a national economy is based on the Solow-Uzawa neoclassical growth model with Zhang’s alternative approach to household behaviour. We build a nonlinear dynamic model with interdependence between economic growth, economic structure, tourism, prices, wealth and income. We provide a computational process to follow the motion of the economic system. Simulation is used to carry out a comparative dynamic analysis of the terms of trade, the propensity to consume imported goods, the rate of interest, the price elasticity of tourism, and the total productivity of the service sector. The comparative dynamic analysis provides some insights into the complexity of the tourism economy.
Contributos para o estudo sobre a feminização do jornalismo português
Authors: Miranda João
Published: September 2017

Com base nos dados da comissão da carteira profissional e nos resultados de um inquérito nacional aos jornalistas, o presente estudo procura oferecer alguns contributos empíricos para um enquadramento da atualidade do processo de feminização das redações portuguesas, fundamentando-se em duas premissas gerais: um trajeto de recomposição sociográfica do jornalismo português, no sentido da contração das disparidades de género – alicerçado em fatores como o rejuvenescimento da profissão e o aumento da formação dos jornalistas –, e um quadro de contradições desse mesmo processo de feminização – onde se destaca a falta de representação das mulheres nos cargos e funções de responsabilidade editorial, e uma desestruturação das condições laborais. A desagregação por género dos resultados do inquérito demonstra que, não obstante uma tendência geral para uma relativa harmonia entre as respostas de homens e mulheres, se evidenciam algumas discrepâncias relativas à situação laboral e ao campo das conceções sobre o exercício da profissão.
Implementação da manufatura enxuta e os comportamentos das lideranças: uma pesquisa exploratória
Authors: Tortorella Guilherme , Fettermann Diego , Anzanello Michel
Published: September 2017

A implementação da Manufatura Enxuta ou Lean Manufacturing (LM) implica mudanças fundamentais nos sistemas gerenciais das empresas. Os líderes desempenham um papel crucial no estabelecimento dessa mudança enxuta, uma vez que são responsáveis por influenciar indivíduos e equipes na execução de objetivos estratégicos. Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar empiricamente a relação entre a orientação comportamental de líderes de diferentes níveis hierárquicos e o estágio do roteiro de implementação de LM, bem como analisar a influência das variáveis contextuais de liderança. O método de pesquisa proposto é composto por aspectos qualitativos e quantitativos, uma vez que combina os resultados de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com especialistas em LM e um levantamento com 225 líderes de diferentes empresas Brasileiras que estão passando por uma implementação de LM. Os resultados indicam que o contexto importa com relação à orientação do estilo de liderança ao longo do roteiro de imeplementação enxuta, embora nem todas as variáveis influenciem na mesma magnitude.
Uniform Pricing and Product Innovation
Authors: Matteucci Giorgio , Reverberi Pierfrancesco
Published: September 2017

We consider the rationale for imposing
Constrained Allocation of Projects to Heterogeneous Workers with Preferences over Peers
Authors: Klijn Flip
Published: September 2017

We study the problem of allocating projects to heterogeneous workers. The simultaneous execution of multiple projects imposes constraints across project teams. Each worker has preferences over the combinations of projects in which he can potentially participate and his team members in any of these projects. We propose a revelation mechanism that is Pareto-efficient and group strategy-proof (Theorem 1). We also identify two preference domains on which the mechanism is strongly group strategy-proof (Theorem 2). Our results subsume results by Monte and Tumennasan (2013) and Kamiyama (2013) .
„Henne ensam lagen fällde“. Zur literarischen Verhandlung der Kindstötung und der Frage nach der (Mit-)Schuld der Väter
Authors: Wennerscheid Sophie
Published: September 2017

This article examines the literary representation of infanticides in Scandinavian literary texts from the 19th and 20th centuries. While most research on infanticide addresses the problematic situation of the mother who has killed her newborn child, the role of the father has suffered unwarranted neglect. It is therefore the purpose of this article to give an overview of central Scandinavian texts treating infanticides and to investigate more deeply how the father’s responsibility or guilt is discussed. Another important question is how law and justice are thematized in the texts. It will be argued that the literary texts take into account the fathers‘ (joint) guilt in the child’s death more often than commonly assumed. The article also shows that the literary texts do not take the androcentric perspective of the governing legislation for granted, but rather call it into question. It can thus be said that the literary texts on infanticide are implicitly critical of social institutions and legal norms for being ignorant of their own shortcomings.
Facile preparation of CeO2 microspheres with high surface area by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis
Authors: Xue Shou-Feng , Wu Wen-Yuan , Bian Xue , Wang Zhen-Feng , Wu Yong-Fu
Published: September 2017

CeCl3solution was used as a precursor to prepare CeO2microspheres by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP). This is a green process that allows the transformation from CeCl3to CeO2without consuming any precipitant. The prepared material was investigated through various analysis technologies, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), N2adsorption-desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The prepared sample was confirmed as high purity CeO2microspheres, and two different microstructures were observed. The microsphere surface area was 86.5 m2/g according to the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. The microsphere diameter ranged from 0.09 μm to 3.86 μm and the microsphere surface was covered by numerous nanoparticles. The observed nanoparticles ranged in size from 19 nm to 200 nm as determined from FESEM and HRTEM images. The concentrations of Ce4+, Ce3+, residual chloride and oxygen vacancy in CeO2were studied by relative sensitivity factors based on the XPS results. Finally, the data suggested the possible formation mechanism of the CeO2microsphere structure.
Simple access to spirooxadiazole compounds containing a quinoxaline moiety using a nitrile imine intermediate generated in situ
Authors: Alizadeh Abdolali , Moafi Leila
Published: September 2017

A convenient method for the synthesis of spiro[indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline-[1,3,4]oxadiazole]s involves a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of nitrile imines generated in situ with indenoquinoxaline derivatives.
Analysis of extractives from Pinus halepensis and Eucalyptus camaldulensis as predominant trees in Algeria
Authors: Benouadah Nacera , Pranovich Andrey , Aliouche Djamel , Hemming Jarl , Smeds Annika , Willför Stefan
Published: September 2017

The lipophilic and hydrophilic extractives in the sapwood (sW) and heartwood (hW) of stems from Pinus halepensis Mill and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh trees grown in the north of Algeria were analyzed. The extraction of dried samples was carried out in an accelerated solvent extractor (ASE). The lipophilic substances were first extracted with n-hexane and then the hydrophilic ones with acetone/water. The extractives were analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID), GC-mass spectroscopy (MS) and high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). The largest amount of lipophilic extractives (≈13.4 mg g−1) was observed in the hW of P. halepensis, while the hW of E. camaldulensis contained the largest amount of hydrophilic extractives (≈116.3 mg g−1). Lipophilic extractives are mainly composed of oleoresins (resin acids, terpenes), fats (fatty acids, glycerides, steryl esters, sterols) and waxes (fatty alcohols). Hydrophilic extractives are composed of polyphenols (stilbenes, flavanols), sugars (monosaccharides) and sugar alcohols (cyclic polyols). The main identified lipophilic extractives are resin acids in pine and glycerides in eucalypt. The main identified hydrophilic extractives are cyclic polyols in pine and flavanols and monosaccharides in eucalypt. The total content of extractives is higher in hW than in sW.
Factors affecting utilization of youth friendly health services in Lagos State, Nigeria
Authors: Femi-Adebayo Toriola Temitope , Kuyinu Yetunde , Adejumo Olusola Adedeji , Goodman Olayinka
Published: September 2017

Background

Youth friendly health services (YFHS) are services that attract, respond to the needs of and retain young people for continuing care. This study was conducted to determine the factors affecting utilization of government (GYFF) and non-governmental youth friendly facilities (NGYFF) in Lagos state, Nigeria.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 543 adolescents aged 15–24 years, between August 1, 2014 and October 31, 2014 were consecutively recruited from 10 (five government and five non-governmental) youth friendly health facilities that had been in operation for at least 6 months prior to the study. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of utilization of youth friendly health facilities.

Results

Overall, the mean age of respondents was 17.9 ± 2.8. However, the mean age of respondents at GYFF (18.5 ± 3.0) was significantly higher than those at NGYFF (17.1 ± 2.5) (p < 0.001). Of the 567 youths enrolled, 196 (34.6%) had good utilization of youth friendly facilities (YFF) (34% from the GYFF and 35.2% from the NGYFF). Marital status, school attendance, having a baby, satisfaction with visit, perception that information shared was kept confidential and accessibility of the youth friendly services were associated with utilization of YFF (p < 0.05). Confidentiality and access to facilities were predictors of utilization of YFF.

Conclusion

There is poor utilization of both government and non-governmental youth friendly services in Lagos, Nigeria. There is a need for both the government and private sector to harmonize resources aimed at encouraging utilization of YFF in Lagos, Nigeria.
The effect of group counseling based on self-awareness skill on sexual risk-taking among girl students in Gorgan, Iran: a randomized trial
Authors: Kabiri Golnoosh , Ziaei Tayebe , aval Masumeh Rezaei , Vakili Mohammad Ali
Published: September 2017

Background

Sexual puberty in adolescents occurs before their mental and emotional maturity and exposes them to high-risk sexual behaviors. Because sexual risk-taking occurs before adolescents become involved in a sexual relationship, this study was conducted to identify the effect of group counseling based on self-awareness skill on sexual risk-taking among female high school students in Gorgan in order to suggest some preventative measures.

Methods

The present parallel study is a randomized field trial conducted on 96 girl students who were studying in grades 10, 11 and 12 of high school with an age range of 14–18 years old. Sampling was done based on a multi-stage process. In the first stage, through the randomized clustering approach, four centers among six health centers were selected. In the second stage, 96 samples were collected through consecutive sampling. Finally, the samples were divided into two intervention and control groups (each one having 48 subjects) through the simple randomized approach. It has to be noted that no blinding was done in the present study. The data were collected using a demographic specifications form and the Iranian Adolescents Risk-Taking Scale (IARS). The consultation sessions based on self-awareness skill were explained to an intervention group through 60-min sessions over 7 weeks. The pretest was conducted for both groups and the posttest was completed 1 week and 1 month after the intervention by the intervention and control groups. Finally, after the loss of follow-up/drop out, a total of 80 subjects remained in the study; 42 subjects in the intervention group and 38 subjects in the control group. Data analyses were done using SPSS v.16 along with the Freidman non-parametric test and the Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests.

Results

The results showed that the sexual risk-taking mean scores in the intervention group (10.54 ± 15.64) were reduced by applying 1-week (8.03 ± 12.82) and 1-month (4.91 ± 10.10) follow-ups after the intervention. This reduction was statistically significant (p = 14%). However, no statistically significant difference was observed in the control group.

Conclusion

Group counseling based on self-awareness skill decreased the sexual risk-taking in girl students of the high school. As prevention is prior to treatment, this method could be proposed as the prevention of high-risk sexual behavior to healthcare centers and educational environments and non-government organizations (NGOs) interacting with adolescents.
Numerical Study of the Discharged Heat Water Effect on the Aquatic Environment from Thermal Power Plant by using Two Water Discharged Pipes
Authors: Issakhov Alibek
Published: September 2017

The paper presents a numerical study of the discharged heat water effect on the aquatic environment from the thermal power plant by using two water discharged pipes. It is solved by the Navier–Stokes and temperature transport equations for an incompressible fluid in a stratified medium. The aim of this study is to improve the existing water discharge system to reduce the heat load on the reservoir-cooler of the thermal power plants operation (Ekibastuz SDPP-1). In this study thermal pollution to the reservoir-cooler using only two water discharged pipes as so using the existing one and building only one additional in the eastern part of the reservoir-cooler is numerically simulated. The numerical method is based on the projection method which was approximated by the finite volume method. The numerical solution of the equation system is divided into four stages. The algorithm is parallelized on a high-performance computer. The obtained numerical results of three-dimensional stratified turbulent flow for two water discharged pipes of the thermal power plant were compared with experimental data and with numerical results for one water discharged pipe. General thermal load in the reservoir-cooler decreases comparing one water discharged pipe and revealed qualitatively and quantitatively approximately the basic laws of hydrothermal processes occurring in the reservoir-cooler can be seen that from numerical simulations where two water discharged pipes were used.
Improved Results on State Estimation for Uncertain Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Stochastic Neural Networks with Time-Varying Delays
Authors: Li Yajun , Deng Feiqi , Li Jingzhao
Published: September 2017

The delay-dependent state estimation problem for Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy stochastic neural networks with time-varying delays is considered in this paper. We aim to design state estimators to estimate the network states such that the dynamics of the estimation error systems are guaranteed to be exponentially stable in the mean square. Both fuzzy-rule-independent and the fuzzy-rule-dependent state estimators are designed. Delay-dependent sufficient conditions are presented to guarantee the existence of the desired state estimators for the fuzzy stochastic neural networks. Finally, two numerical examples demonstrate that the proposed approaches are effective.
Effect of the Nonlinear Parameters on the Propagation in Bi-isotropic Media
Authors: Zinelabiddine Mezache , Fatiha Benabdelaziz
Published: September 2017

This paper is an attempt to compare the nonlinear chiroptical and non-reciprocity effects of bi-isotropic media. The nonlinearity used is of a Kerr type. Following the approach of Mezache–Benabdelaziz, recently new nonlinear effects are characterized in a bi-anisotropic medium, which is due to the magnetization vector under the influence of a strong electric field. We then use these results to present the solution of nonlinear Schrödinger equation in the general case of bi-isotropic (chiral and non-reciprocal). Numerical simulations were carried out, in order to confirm the effect of the nonlinear chiroptical and non-reciprocity on the propagation analysis.
A review of Tunisian medicinal plants with anticancer activity
Authors: Aidi Wannes Wissem , Saidani Tounsi Moufida , Marzouk Brahim
Published: September 2017

Cancer is a major public health problem in the world. The use of the medicinal plants in cancer prevention and management is frequent in Africa, especially in Tunisia, and it is transmitted from generation to generation within cultures. Many previous studies showed that a wide range of Tunisian medicinal plants exerted cytotoxic and anticancer activity. A comprehensive review was conducted to collect information from scientific journal articles, including indigenous knowledge researches, about Tunisian medicinal plants used for the prevention and management of cancer. The aim of this review article is to provide the reader with information concerning the importance of Tunisian medicinal plants in the prevention and management of cancer and to open the door for the health professionals and scientists working in the field of pharmacology and therapeutics to produce new drug formulations to treat different types of cancer.
Interactional management of face-threatening acts in casual ELF conversation: an analysis of third-party complaint sequences
Authors: Konakahara Mayu
Published: September 2017

This paper investigates how English as a lingua franca is used to manage adversarial moments in casual conversation among friends, using conversation analysis and politeness theory. It presents a single case analysis of face negotiation devices utilized in two cases of third-party complaint sequences, in which complaints are made about someone else who is not present. The two cases to be analyzed were extracted from recordings of conversation of international students in British universities. The analysis revealed that the interactants utilize verbal and nonverbal devices, which are sometimes linguistically inexplicit but nonverbally resourceful, in a pragmatically sensitive manner in situ, thereby saving mutual face, intensifying the degree of face-threatening, or expressing disaffiliation in a face-saving way.
Standard language models, variable lingua franca goals: How can ELF-aware teacher education square the circle?
Authors: Blair Andrew
Published: September 2017

Sceptical attitudes towards the relevance of ELF research for language pedagogy and teacher education are prevalent and well-documented. Some of this resistance may result from a misunderstanding of key concepts and arguments, some from practical concerns and context-specific factors such as syllabus and assessment frameworks. A significant difficulty in persuading ELT practitioners to adopt or recognise ELF positions is the apparent conflict between preferences for standard language models and the reality of variable lingua franca goals for learning and use. ELF potentially changes everything, yet is a phenomenon grounded in unchanging social fundamentals of language use. This article reports on part of a continuing study into the impact of ELF perspectives on experienced language teachers, with a focus on their attitudes and levels of awareness in relation to their professional development and contexts. How teachers are enabled and encouraged to overcome potential scepticism, and reconcile the perceived conflict between standard models and lingua franca goals in their practice, is crucial to the spread of a more appropriate, “ELF-aware” form of language teacher education. Responses are mixed, but generally insightful and engaged, even when expressing reservations or doubt. There is also some good news, with clear evidence that attitudes can be influenced, through exposure to ideas, reflection and motivation towards action.
Nurse Scheduling with Opposition-Based Parallel Harmony Search Algorithm
Authors: Cetin Yagmur Ece , Sarucan Ahmet
Published: September 2017

One of the advances made in the management of human resources for the effective implementation of service delivery is the creation of personnel schedules. In this context, especially in terms of the majority of health-care systems, creating nurse schedules comes to the fore. Nurse scheduling problem (NSP) is a complex optimization problem that allows for the preparation of an appropriate schedule for nurses and, in doing so, considers the system constraints such as legal regulations, nurses’ preferences, and hospital policies and requirements. There are many studies in the literature that use exact solution algorithms, heuristics, and meta-heuristics approaches. Especially in large-scale problems, for which deterministic methods may require too much time and cost to reach a solution, heuristics and meta-heuristic approaches come to the fore instead of exact methods. In the first phase of the study, harmony search algorithm (HSA), which has shown progress recently and can be adapted to many problems is applied for a dataset in the literature, and the algorithm’s performance is evaluated by comparing the results with other heuristics which is applied to the same dataset. As a result of the evaluation, the performance of the classical HSA is inadequate when compared to other heuristics. In the second phase of our study, by considering new approaches proposed by the literature for HSA, the effects on the algorithm’s performance of these approaches are investigated and we tried to improve the performance of the algorithm. With the results, it has been determined that the improved algorithm, which is called opposition-based parallel HSA, can be used effectively for NSPs.