bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reconstructing social theory and the Anthropocene
Authors: Luke Timothy W
Published: May 2016

This study reassesses the concept of the Anthropocene as a new geological age as it is influencing contemporary debates in social theory. As a unit of geological time whose changes are allegedly caused, directly and indirectly, by human beings, this scientific concept challenges the existing constructions of theoretical binaries, such as nature/culture, environment/society, objectivity/subjectivity or happenstance/design, in social theory. The analysis suggests many understandings of the Anthropocene in social theory are politicized over-interpretations of natural events, and these moves appear to be developing moral rhetorics of, and operational plans for, managing the Anthropocene to create specific outcomes for those who are the managers as well as the managed. The fact that human beings do not, in fact, have this measure of technical control is ignored by advocates of Anthropocenarian politics to advance their policy agendas.
Accelerated Brain DCE-MRI Using Iterative Reconstruction With Total Generalized Variation Penalty for Quantitative Pharmacokinetic Analysis: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Wang Chunhao , Yin Fang-Fang , Kirkpatrick John P. , Chang Zheng
Published: May 2016

Purpose:

To investigate the feasibility of using undersampled k-space data and an iterative image reconstruction method with total generalized variation penalty in the quantitative pharmacokinetic analysis for clinical brain dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods:

Eight brain dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging scans were retrospectively studied. Two k-space sparse sampling strategies were designed to achieve a simulated image acquisition acceleration factor of 4. They are (1) a golden ratio–optimized 32-ray radial sampling profile and (2) a Cartesian-based random sampling profile with spatiotemporal-regularized sampling density constraints. The undersampled data were reconstructed to yield images using the investigated reconstruction technique. In quantitative pharmacokinetic analysis on a voxel-by-voxel basis, the rate constant Ktrans in the extended Tofts model and blood flow FB and blood volume VB from the 2-compartment exchange model were analyzed. Finally, the quantitative pharmacokinetic parameters calculated from the undersampled data were compared with the corresponding calculated values from the fully sampled data. To quantify each parameter’s accuracy calculated using the undersampled data, error in volume mean, total relative error, and cross-correlation were calculated.

Results:

The pharmacokinetic parameter maps generated from the undersampled data appeared comparable to the ones generated from the original full sampling data. Within the region of interest, most derived error in volume mean values in the region of interest was about 5% or lower, and the average error in volume mean of all parameter maps generated through either sampling strategy was about 3.54%. The average total relative error value of all parameter maps in region of interest was about 0.115, and the average cross-correlation of all parameter maps in region of interest was about 0.962. All investigated pharmacokinetic parameters had no significant differences between the result from original data and the reduced sampling data.

Conclusion:

With sparsely sampled k-space data in simulation of accelerated acquisition by a factor of 4, the investigated dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging pharmacokinetic parameters can accurately estimate the total generalized variation-based iterative image reconstruction method for reliable clinical application.
A novel Radio Frequency Identification three-dimensional indoor positioning system based on trilateral positioning algorithm
Authors: Xu He , Ding Ye , Wang Ruchuan , Shen Weiwei , Li Peng
Published: May 2016

GPS have been able to offer a commercially available outdoor positioning services; however, since the quality of satellite signals declines after entering into the indoor environment, the GPS system cannot provide indoor positioning services. With the development of cloud computing and the Internet of Things technology, indoor positioning has become a hot research hotspot. Radio Frequency Identification is a wireless communication technology, and the Radio Frequency Identification reader can communicate wirelessly through electromagnetic waves with the tag. Radio Frequency Identification technology has the following advantages: no contact, recognition from the long distance, long life and fast moving objects identification, etc. Radio Frequency Identification is the key component of Internet of Things, and many fusion application systems combining Radio Frequency Identification and cloud computing are emerging. This article designs and implements the Radio Frequency Identification indoor positioning system based on Received Signal Strength Indicator, which obtains three-dimensional coordinates orientation through multiple trilateral positioning algorithm on location tag. C# and Python are used to complete positioning system, where C# dominates user interface and calculates three-dimensional coordinates. Python is responsible for three-dimensional display. The two programs communicate through a socket.
Bony mallet finger injuries: assessment of stability with extension stress testing
Authors: Giddins G. E.
Published: May 2016

Bony mallet injuries with a large dorsal fracture fragment may sublux giving a poor outcome. The hypothesis that was tested was that subluxation could be predicted by extension stress lateral radiographs. It was anticipated that the main distal fracture fragment would glide and be stable or pivot and be unstable. There were 32 bony mallet injuries with dorsal fracture fragments of >1/3 in 31 patients. There were three patterns shown on lateral extension stress radiographs: gliding, pivoting, and tilting – a combination of the former two. Defining stability as congruence or subluxation ⩽1 mm at final radiographs and instability as subluxation >1 mm, there was a very strong association with pivoting and subluxation, and gliding and congruence ( p < 0.001). Tilting gave mixed results. There was significant difference in the size of the fracture fragment in stable (mean 49%) and unstable injuries (54%) ( p = 0.044). Extension stress testing has a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 100%. Extension stress testing highlights that instability is not just a function of fracture fragment size and is a more reliable method of predicting subluxation than any previously described.

Level of Evidence: V
Arrhythmia
Authors: White James
Published: May 2016

Arrhythmias are disturbances in normal cardiac electrical activity. They occur in structurally normal hearts, but are sometimes indications of underlying congenital or acquired abnormalities. Arrhythmia can be a mild or transient problem; however, the potential exists for severe life-threatening pathology - even death. It is important that primary care practitioners can recognise various arrhythmias and understand their management. The GP’s role in arrhythmia care ranges from primary diagnosis, through initiation of treatment or monitoring to long-term management of some conditions e.g. atrial fibrillation. Patients require advice about driving or employment, and occasionally the GP may act as a critical link in the ‘chain of survival’ when responding to a cardiac arrest. This article highlights the key findings that can be identified from history and examination, and how these can guide subsequent investigation and diagnosis. The features of common, major arrhythmias and their immediate and subsequent treatment are discussed.
Health Care Utilization and Direct Medical Costs of Tennis Elbow
Authors: Sanders Thomas L. , Maradit Kremers Hilal , Bryan Andrew J. , Ransom Jeanine E. , Morrey Bernard F.
Published: May 2016

Background:

Tennis elbow is commonly encountered by physicians, yet little is known about the cost of treating this condition.

Hypothesis:

The largest cost associated with treating tennis elbow is procedural intervention.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Level of Evidence:

Level 4.

Methods:

This retrospective population-based study reviewed patients who were treated for new-onset tennis elbow between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2012. All patients were followed up through their medical and administrative records to identify health care encounters and interventions for tennis elbow. Unit costs for each health service/procedure were adjusted to nationally representative unit costs in 2013 inflation-adjusted dollars.

Results:

In a cohort of 931 patients who had 2 or more clinical encounters for new-onset lateral epicondylosis during a 12-month period after initial diagnosis, 62% received a median of 3 physical therapy sessions (cost, $100/session) and 40% received a median of 1 steroid injection (cost, $82/injection). Only 4% of patients received surgical intervention with mean costs of $4000. The mean (median) total direct medical cost of services related to lateral epicondylosis for the entire cohort was $660 ($402) per patient over the 1-year period after diagnosis. Patients who continued to be treated conservatively between 6 and 12 months after diagnosis incurred relatively low median costs of $168 per patient.

Conclusion:

In this cohort, a second encounter with a physician for tennis elbow was a strong predictor of increased treatment cost due to a higher likelihood of specialist referral, use of physical therapy, or treatment with steroid injection.

Clinical Relevance:

The majority of direct medical spending on tennis elbow occurs within the first 6 months of treatment, and relatively little expense occurs between 6 and 12 months after diagnosis unless a patient undergoes surgical intervention.
Spatial Dimensions of Racial Inequality
Authors: Omori Marisa
Published: May 2016

While scholars have noted that The War on Drugs has disproportionately impacted Black and Latino communities, we have little understanding as to how spatial patterns of prosecution and sentencing drive these inequalities. This article explores the geography of race in drug prosecutions by examining the role of neighborhood racial/ethnic and other demographic characteristics on sentencing outcomes for drug defendants in Sacramento, CA. We examine both the rate and length of sentences by block group. Specifically, we first estimate models for the number of prison, jail, and probation or fine sentences as rates per population and as rates per filing. We find that felony drug defendants in Black neighborhoods are penalized after filing through an increased rate of prison sentences per filing, although they do indicate a higher but not statistically significant rate of sentences per population as well. On the other hand, initial patterns of filing primarily drive sentencing in Latino neighborhoods. While the rate of prison and probation sentences differs based on the racial and ethnic neighborhood composition, it largely does not impact sentence length.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Intra-articular Findings After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Ice Hockey Versus Other Sports
Authors: Kluczynski Melissa A. , Kang Jeansol V. , Marzo John M. , Bisson Leslie J.
Published: May 2016

Background:

The prevalence of comorbid knee pathology has been examined for sports-related anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, but it has not been examined in ice hockey players.

Purpose:

To compare concomitant bone bruising, collateral ligament injuries, and intra-articular injuries in ACL injuries suffered during ice hockey versus other sports.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A total of 20 patients with ACL injuries sustained during ice hockey were identified from a prospective registry, of which 95% were male and 90% had a contact mechanism of injury (MOI). Thirteen cases and 46 controls who sustained ACL injuries from ice hockey and other sports, respectively, were included. Inclusion criteria for cases and controls were male sex, contact MOI, no prior knee surgery, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 6 weeks of injury, and surgery within 3 months of injury. Age, body mass index (BMI), MRI findings (bone bruising, medial and lateral collateral ligament [MCL, LCL] injuries), and arthroscopic findings (meniscus tears, chondral injuries) were compared for cases versus controls using t tests or exact chi-square tests.

Results:

Age (22.9 ± 8.8 vs 23.4 ± 10.4 years, P = .88) and BMI ≥25 kg/m2 (50% vs 65.9%, P = .66) did not differ between cases and controls. Cases had less lateral bone bruising (lateral femoral condyle: 54.6% vs 93%, P = .01; lateral tibial plateau: 72.7% vs 93%, P = .09) and no medial bone bruising (medial femoral condyle: 0% vs 7%, P = .06; medial tibial plateau: 0% vs 32.6%, P = .05) compared with controls. Cases had less frequent lateral meniscus tears than controls (23.1% vs 58.5%, P = .05). There were no significant differences in MCL (40% vs 31.2%, P = .77), LCL (0% vs 3.9%, P > .999), medial meniscus tears (7.7% vs 37%, P = .08), and chondral injuries (10% vs 9.4%, P > .999) for cases versus controls.

Conclusion:

Male ice hockey players with ACL injuries had less lateral femoral condyle and medial tibial plateau bone bruising compared with other sports injuries. They also had fewer lateral meniscus tears, and there was a trend toward fewer medial meniscus tears. These differences may reflect different MOIs, or the ability to dissipate energy, for contact ACL injuries that occur during ice hockey versus other sports.
De novoactin polymerization is required for model Hirano body formation inDictyostelium
Authors: Dong Yun , Shahid-Salles Sonbol , Sherling Dan , Fechheimer Nathan , Iyer Nathan , Wells Lance , Fechheimer Marcus , Furukawa Ruth
Published: May 2016

Hirano bodies are eosinophilic, actin-rich inclusions found in autopsied brains in numerous neurodegenerative diseases. The mechanism of Hirano body formation is unknown. Mass spectrometry analysis was performed to identify proteins from partially purified model Hirano bodies from Dictyostelium. This analysis identified proteins primarily belonging to ribosomes, proteasomes, mitochondria and cytoskeleton. Profilin, Arp/2/3 and WASH identified by mass spectrometry were found to colocalise with model Hirano bodies. Due to their roles in actin regulation, we selected these proteins for further investigation. Inhibition of the Arp2/3 complex by CK666 prevented formation of model Hirano bodies. Since Arp2/3 activation occurs via the WASH or WAVE complex, we next investigated how these proteins affect Hirano body formation. Whereas model Hirano bodies could form in WASH-deficient cells, they failed to form in cells lacking HSPC300, a member of the WAVE complex. We identified other proteins required for Hirano body formation that include profilin and VASP, an actin nucleation factor. In the case of VASP, both its G- and F-actin binding domains were required for model Hirano body formation. Collectively, our results indicate that de novo actin polymerization is required to form model Hirano bodies.
System of Labor Activities with the Use of ICT in Occupational Standards for Teachers (Module �Subject learning. Technology�)
Authors: ���������  , Nekrasova G. , ��������  , Novikova Natalya
Published: May 2016

The article considers relevant issues of the implementation of occupational standards for teachers. It analyses teacher�s activity in the area of information

and communication technologies (ICT). By the example of live pedagogical situations, the article shows that ICT play a signifi cant role in organizing

of education process and fundamentally change the nature of teacher�s professional activity with the development of Information-oriented Society.

Occupational standards for teachers were examined and analyzed for the purpose of detecting the place of labor activities in the area of ICT at the level

of generalized fundamental labor functions. Technology teacher activities went through an in-depth analysis and changes in professional task of technology

teachers in educational information environment were described. For the fi rst time the grounds and the list of labor activities with the use of ICT

in occupational standards for teachers (Module �Subject learning. Technology�) are given.
Book Reviews
Authors: Cox Stacey
Published: May 2016

When I was first asked to review this book I jumped at the chance because it is closely aligned with the skills I require in my current job. I expected to be able to use the book to brush up on the skill sets I require for advising a client whether a veterinary appointment is needed or not. When the book arrived I was pleasantly surprised.
Perolehan Tio2 Dari Iron Ore Mengandung Titanium Melalui Proses Reduksi Karbon Dan Pelarutan Asam
Authors: Rayhana Elda , Manaf Azwar
Published: May 2016

REDUCTION AND LEACHING PROCESSES. Indonesia has a large source of iron ore which is quite tempting for the purposes of exploitation in form of raw materials as well as for the production of pig iron. However, not all sources of iron ore are proved useful since not only because the present of deposit is scattere dinamounts of less significant but also because it contains element of tin oxide compounds with iron like ilmenite or FeTiO3. However,ilmenite can actually be used as a source of titanium metal which is much more valuable than Fe it self. In order to recover the Ti from their respective compound it is required the release of strong bonds between the atoms in the compound. This paper reports the recovery of Ti oxide of ilmenite containing iron ore which was obtained through a combination of carbon reduction and acid leaching processes. Carbon reduction of iron ore was carried out through mechanical milling between iron ore and carbon with a ratio of 1:1. This was successively followed by a sintering at a temperature of 1000 oC employing a heating rate of 10 ° C/min for 0-3 hours. The reduction process has resulted in the formation of 27.83wt% TiO2. In order to improve the recovery level of TiO2, further reduction process was conducted through an HCl leaching. This successive stage produced fine powders in the form of deposits. Based on our quantitative analysis, the recovery of TiO2 increased to a level of 73.73%.
Effect of Annealing Temperature On Iron Doped Titanium Dioxide Thin Films Prepared By Spin Coating Technique
Authors: Effendi Mukhtar , B Bilalodin
Published: May 2016

Iron (Fe) doped titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films have been successfully deposited by using spin coating technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) were employed to characterize the microstructure and crystallite morphology of the films. It was indicated that the rutile crystal orientation appears due to increasing annealing temperature of the thin films. Furthermore, increasing annealing temperature of the thin films yielded an increasing of porosity value which is related to the application on gas sensor films.
Analisa Receiver Function Teleseismic untuk Mendeteksi Moho pada Stasiun Bkb Data Meramex
Authors: Amukti Rian , Suryanto Wiwit
Published: May 2016

It has been done a research to determine internal earth using receiver function teleseismic analysis method. This method have been done by using MERAMEX (MErapi Amphibious Experiment) data from broadband seismometer BKB. Event of teleseismic is chosen from Honshu Japan with radius 30o and magnitude 7.2. This research begun by analysing radial and vertical characteristic of teleseismic event
and using bandpass filter with range 0.003 Hz – 0.5 Hz. Then Iteractive Deconvolution is used to get velocity model. The result of this model shows crustal model that has 4 Km thick upper crust, a 26 Km thick lower crust and 10 Km thick Moho transition zone, with velocity increasing gradually.
Zielklärung und Zielerreichung im Coaching
Authors: Wastian Monika , Poetschki Janina
Published: May 2016

In einer qualitativen Untersuchung wurden Coaching-Prozesse mit Hilfe einer visuell gestützten Interview-Methode mit 43 Coachs bzw. 19 Klienten rekonstruiert, um unter anderem den Prozess der Zielklärung und Zielerreichung zu explorieren. Dabei gingen wir den folgenden Fragen nach: a) Wie erfolgen die Zielklärung sowie die Steuerung der Zielfortschritte im Coaching aus der Sicht von Coaches bzw. Coaching-Klienten und inwieweit werden dabei die Wirkzusammenhänge der Zielsetzungstheorie berücksichtigt? b) Wann im Verlauf des Coachings werden die Ziele zwischen den Beteiligten thematisiert? c) Gibt es typische Muster des Zielklärungs- bzw. Zielerreichungsprozesses?

Wie die Ergebnisse zeigen, werden Coaching-Ziele während des gesamten Coaching-Prozesses und teilweise sogar darüber hinaus im Rahmen von Follow-ups thematisiert, doch werden sie mehrheitlich nicht spezifisch, messbar und terminiert geklärt. Die Sichtweisen von Coachs und Coachees klaffen diesbezüglich deutlich auseinander. Dabei nennen Coachees spezifische und messbare Ziele als wichtigsten Verbesserungswunsch. Als typischste Muster ließen sich die SMARTe Zielklärung zu Beginn des Coachings und die Zielklärung als „Suchlauf“ über den Coaching-Prozess hinweg identifizieren.

Implikationen für die Coaching-Forschung und Praxis werden diskutiert und Handlungsempfehlungen gegeben, wie Coaching-Beteiligte zur Qualität und zum Erfolg ihrer Coachings beitragen können.
Local memories: Conflict and lived experience in the Spanish Civil War
Authors: Sanz Sabido Ruth
Published: May 2016

The winners of any conflict often try to impose their views on the defeated. Through official and unofficial mechanisms, most of which operate under the aegis of the state and other agents that work on its behalf, the voices of the defeated are silenced. One important counter-mechanism that is available, the one that may serve to resist the imposition of the victors’ History, is frequently found in the collection, analysis and publication of oral testimonies, which give expression to, and magnify, silenced and oppressed memories. Orality therefore provides us with a window into past events or, rather, with multiple windows that allow us to see and take account of the myriad histories of which the past is actually composed, according not to the state-imposed version, but to the ways in which people remember it. Through an ethnographic study of local memories in one southern Spanish village, this article examines some of the ways in which the Spanish Civil War is remembered, focusing particularly on the lived experience of repression and hunger, and the memories of ideological clashes, class struggles and conflicts over land ownership.
Creative destruction: Screen production research, theory and affect
Authors: Berkeley Leo , Wood Martin , Glisovic Smiljana
Published: May 2016

The documentary film 600 Mills was explicitly funded and produced as an academic research project, designed to investigate, through cinematic means, the decline of the textile industry in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick. Drawing on the work of Thrift, Deleuze and Guattari, Massumi and others, it is argued that the film production process uses ‘affect’ as a form of sensory knowing that can engage with relevant theory and be used to conceive of film-making as a valid form of academic research. This article discusses the approach taken by three film-maker researchers in making a film that, instead of using the medium to convey information or communicate research findings gathered through other means, seeks to use the creative possibilities of film production to convey knowledge about a complex human, social and historical process.
The spaces between: Children, teachers, researchers, artists
Authors: Thompson Christine Marmé
Published: May 2016

Direct engagement with children, teachers and the curriculum that brings them together in pedagogical relationships figure prominently in my work with beginning teachers and researchers. A dialogical approach to teaching, celebrating the contingencies of each class and each situation, leads to a vital and constantly challenging engagement with the process of educating as reciprocal and open-ended. Grounded in philosophies of reciprocity and relationship, this way of being in the university respects the rhizomatic nature of knowing and becoming, eschewing the overly determined and stratified spaces of pre-ordained and standardized curriculum in favour of the emergent and unpredictable.
The Ameliorating Effect of Exogenous Melatonin on Urinary Bladder Function in Hyperosmolar Bladder Overactivity and its Influence on the Autonomic Nervous System Activity
Authors: Juszczak Kajetan , Ziomber Agata , Machowska Anna , Furgała Agata , Dobrek Łukasz , Wyczółkowski Marek , Thor Piotr J.
Published: May 2016

This study was designed to investigate the effects of melatonin on the bladder hyperactivity in hyperosmolar-induced overactive bladder (OAB) rats. Additionally, the influence of melatonin on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) using heart rate variability (HRV) analysis was assessed. 40 rats were divided into four groups: I – control (n=12), II – rats with hyperosmolar OAB (n=6), III – rats with melatonin pretreatment and hyperosmolar OAB (n=6) and IV – control with melatonin pretreatment (n=6). In group III and IV melatonin in dose of 100 mg/kg was given. HRV measurements in 10 rats, as follow: control (n=2), control after melatonin treatment (n=2), rats with hyperosmolar OAB without (n=3), and after (n=3) melatonin treatment were conducted. This study demonstrates marked influence of melatonin on urinary bladder activity in hyperosmolar-induced OAB rats. These rats showed significantly reduced the detrusor motor overactivity resulting in the improvement of cystometric parameters after melatonin treatment when compared to the control, as follow: a significant increase of intercontraction interval (70 %) and functional bladder capacity (67 %), as well as a decrease of the basal pressure, detrusor overactivity index and motility index of 96 %, 439 % and 40 %, respectively. ANS activity analysis revealed sympathetic overactivity in OAB rats, and parasympathetic superiority in melatonin treated OAB rats. Melatonin treatment in rats with hyperosmolar OAB (group III) caused significant increase of nuHF parameter (from 51.00 ± 25.29 to 76.97 ± 17.43), as well as a decrease of nuLF parameter (from 49.01 ± 25.26 to 23.03 ± 17.43) and LF/HF ratio (from 1.280 ± 0.980 to 0.350 ± 0.330). In conclusion, melatonin suppresses hyperosmolar OAB, and modulates ANS activity by inhibition of the sympathetic drive. Therefore, melatonin may become a useful agent for OAB management.
CASE 2-2011: Cardiac Amyloidosis
Authors: Dušek Jaroslav , Matějková Adéla , Bednářová Jaroslava
Published: May 2016

Article without abstract.
A Delayed Fatal Metastatic Hürthle Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Noordally S. Oaleed , Sohawon Schoeb , Duttmann Ruth , Spinato Linda , Kleynen Pierre , Verougstraete Georges
Published: May 2016

Hürthle (oxyphilic or oncocytic) cell carcinoma is a variant of follicular cell carcinoma of thyroid. Although this entity of thyroid cancer is well known, its occurrence in young patients has scarcely been reported. We report a case of a 26 year-old male patient, at the time of diagnosis, of Turkish origin, who developed a tracheal, pulmonary and mediastinal metastatic Hürthle cell carcinoma with bilateral cervical and mediastinal lymphadenopathies. This case illustrates an aggressive and metastatic cancer at the time of diagnosis and resistant to all treatment options including surgery, chemotherapy and radioactive iodine.
Correlations of Endogenous Testosterone and DHEA-S in Peripheral Arterial Disease
Authors: Nagy Elod , Kun Imre Zoltan , Kelemen Piroska
Published: May 2016

Background: there is an overt bias between cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in male and female patients. Research of the past decades postulated that this difference could be due to the lipid-lowering effect of male sexual-steroids, that show decreased values in cardiovascular disease.

Methods: the aim of our study was to determine total serum testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) on a peripheral arterial disease patient’s cohort (n=35), in comparison with a healthy control group, (n=23) and to establish correlations with other biological risk factors like serum lipids, C-reactive protein, plasma fibrinogen, and the ankle-brachial pressure index.

Results: our results showed that total serum testosterone and DHEA-S were significantly decreased in PAD patients in comparison to the control group. We could not observe any significant correlation with the presence of critical ischemia, the levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein (a), C-reactive protein or plasma fibrinogen.

Conclusion: these results express that low androgen levels could be implicated in the pathogenesis of peripheral arterial disease, but testosterone and DHEA-S are not markers of disease severity. The elucidation of their exact role needs larger, population-based studies.
The Impact of Comorbidities on the Efficacy of Percutaneous Nephrolitotomy (PCNL) in Elderly Patients
Authors: Todea-Moga Ciprian , Boja Radu , Porav-Hodade Daniel , Maier Adrian , Vida Oliver , Mártha Orsolya
Published: May 2016

Introduction: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PCNL as a method of treatment of renal stones in elderly patients.

Material and method: This was a retrospective study conducted over a period of 5 years in the Clinic of Urology, where we analyzed the surgical protocols and case reports of 56 patients who underwent PCNL intervention.

Results: The incidence of urolithiasis was higher in females 69.6% (n = 39) than in males 30.4% (n = 17). Comorbidities included hypertension (48.2%), chronic ischemic cardiopathy (28.6%), chronic cardiac failure (16.1%), type II diabetes (17.9%), obesity (39.3%), chronic renal failure (8.9%), chronic or recurrent urinary tract infections (30.4%), history of kidney stones (21.4%), solitary kidney surgery (1.8%), renal malformation (horseshoe kidney and renal incomplete duplication) (3.6%), urethral stricture (3.6%). Nine patients had a duble “J” catheter inserted on admission. The group of male patients presented prostate hyperplasia in 35.3% of the cases and prostate carcinoma in 5.9% of the cases.

Conclusions: PCNL is an effective and safe treatment of kidney stones in elderly patients, with a stone- free rate increased despite existing comorbidities. The presence of comorbidities requires careful preoperative evaluation. PCNL in elderly patient has similar results to those seen in younger patients.
Teaching Chinese as a foreign language: A classroom study on the timing of grammar around a task
Authors: Baralt Melissa , Bravo Marcela López
Published: May 2016

Contrary to common belief, there is a place for grammar teaching in task-based language teaching (TBLT). It is still an unresolved debate, however, what the most effectivetimingof grammar teaching is around a task. Citing theory, some methodologists argue against grammar in the pre-task phase (e. g., Willis 1996.A framework for task-based learning. Harlow: Longman; Willis and Willis 2007.Doing task-based teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press), while others argue for it (e. g., DeKeyser 1998. Beyond focus on form: Cognitive perspectives on learning and practicing second language grammar. In C. Doughty & J. Williams (eds.),Focus on form in classroom second language acquisition, 42–63. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; Lightbown 1998. What have we here? Some observations on the influence of instruction on L2 learning. In R. Phillipson, E. Kellerman, L. Selinker, M. Sharwood Smith & M. Swain (eds.),Foreign language pedagogy research: A commemorative volume for Claus Faerch, 197–212. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters and Nunan 2004.Task-based language teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press). Still other methodologists have suggested that a pre-task grammar explanation renders TBLT more culturally appropriate in Confucian-heritage teaching contexts (e. g., Carless 2007. The suitability of task-based approaches for secondary schools: Perspectives from Hong Kong. Schools: Perspectives from Hong Kong.System35. 595–608; Luk 2009. Preparing EFL students for communicative task performance: The nature and role of language knowledge.Asian Journal of English Language Teaching19. 67–90). None of these claims have been tested empirically. The present paper attempts to contribute to that gap by reporting on a case study that took place in a Chinese as a foreign language classroom in the United States. We examined how a Chinese teacher’s grammar teaching in the pre- versus post-task phase differentially affected the task outcome, as well as the teacher’s and learners’ beliefs of which was most effective. One Chinese teacher and 12 learners participated in the study. Results showed that the task outcome was comprised of more language production, accuracy, and modified output, as well as 15 times more interactional turns, when the grammar was explained in thepost-task phase. However, the teacher overwhelmingly valued a grammar explanation in thepre-task phase. Learners were equally divided. We discuss how the methodological timing of grammar shaped discourse differently for the pragmatic ends of tasks, and make suggestions for Chinese teachers new to TBLT.
Motivic decomposition of compactifications of certain group varieties
Authors: Karpenko Nikita A. , Merkurjev Alexander S.
Published: May 2016

Let D be a central simple algebra of prime degree over a field
and let E be an

𝐒𝐋
1

⁡

(
D
)

{\operatorname{\mathbf{SL}}_{1}(D)}

-torsor.
We determine the complete motivic decomposition of certain compactifications of E.
We also compute the Chow ring of E.
Serum Progranulin Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Shafaei Azam , Marjani Abdoljalal , Khoshnia Masoud
Published: May 2016

Introduction. The role of progranulin in individuals with metabolic syndrome is not exactly clear.We aimed to assess the serum level of progranulin in type 2 diabetic patients with and without metabolic syndrome and compare them with healthy controls.

Methods. The study included 60 patients with type 2 diabetes and 30 healthy individuals as control groups. Biochemical parameters and progranulin levels were determined.

Results. Subjects with metabolic syndrome showed significantly higher levels of triglyceride, waist circumference, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure than subjects without metabolic syndrome and the control groups, while HDL-cholesterol level was significantly lower in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Fasting blood sugar was significantly higher in type 2 diabetic patients than in the control groups. Serum level of progranulin was slightly increased in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Serum progranulin level had no significant relationship with metabolic syndrome components.

Conclusions. Serum progranulin was also not dependent on cardiometabolic risk factors for subjects with metabolic syndrome, but it could be considered for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Further studies are recommended to explain the effect of progranulin on the pathogenesis of metabolic risk factors.
Die Werturteilsfreiheit als praktisches Postulat der Wissenschaft / The Independence of Judgements as to Value as a Practical Demand of Science
Authors: Meyer Heinz
Published: May 2016

It is discussed, how judgements as to value affect the process of perception: Generally perception seems to be susceptible to guiding prejudices, which bring the process of making hypothesis’ by possible thoughts and falsification as well as confirmation by facts in a special direction. This process is necessary to percept reality. Aims for acting engaged advocated have a tendency, to percept and to discuss only facts, which fit to them. In this way they tend to confirm themselves. Only by relinquishing judgements as to value it seems possible, to confront the field of facts to the hypothesis’ without restrictions, which belong to the results of the investigation. This unrestricted confrontation is necessary, to investigate preliminary opinions, which are made in starting whith theories, questions and methods. In accepting the primateship of sience as the perception of reality - as antithesis to variation of reality - the independence of judgements as to value appears as a practical demand, which certainly also is possible to avail to the variation of reality by preparing true opinions about the reality.
Bedingungen für Widerstandsverhalten in psychologischen Experimenten: Ton der Instruktion sowie Einstellung zum Forschungsgegenstand und Studienfach der Versuchsperson / Factors conditioning reactant behavior in psychological experiments
Authors: Grabitz-Gniech Gisla , Zeisel Birgit
Published: May 2016

According to the Theory of Psychological Reactance from BREHM (1966) people get motivated by freedom restrictions to restore the lost or threatened freedom. Applied to subject behavior in experiments the hypotheses are tested that (1) the emotional sound of an instruction (moral obligating and authoritarian vs. liberal) is able to arouse psychological reactance (the data give partial support); (2) negative attitudes toward psychological experiments cause anticonformity (no support in the data); and additional (3) the field of studies influences students’ behavior in experiments (social scientists show more opposition against authoritarian instructions than economists).
Neuere Literatur zur Methodenlehre der empirischen Sozialforschung / New literature on the methodology of empirical social research
Authors: Schrader Achim
Published: May 2016

This review discusses a number of recent publications in the methodology of empirical social research. With one exception, all publications reviewed are in German and the point of view governing their evaluation is their significance for the teaching of sociology. By this we are referring to, on the one hand, their suitability for integrating instruction in empirical research methods into sociological curricula generally and, on the other side, to the question if the measure of consideration given in them to techniques of learning is sufficient to make them commentable for classroom use.
Leistungsgesellschaft in der Diskussion / Achieving society in discussion
Authors: Széplábi Michael
Published: May 2016

The aim of this article is to do away with the ambigous and arbitrary use of the term of „Leistungsgesellschaft“ (achieving society), in order to obtain a more clarified applicability for sociology, by the means of a differentiating analysis. Three different levels of definition are found by examining the meanings used to date. Each of these levels are based on different types of the principle of achievement, which we call here: 1. the macro-economic principle of maximal economic growth (type A), 2. the socialpsychological principle of achievement motivation (type B), and 3. the microsociological principle as a constitutive element of a distributive system of social status (type C). Both types A and B produce a relatively precise term of the “achieving society”. The main point of discussion, however, is the third level of definition. Here, the problem begins with the terminological construction, which is not able to integrate the premises to a consistent model. Nevertheless, this model, taken as an ideological instrument, fulfils several social functions.
Determinanten der Einstellung von Eltern zum selbständigen Verhalten der Kinder / Determinants of parents’ attitudes towards independent behavior of children
Authors: Weiß Wolfgang W.
Published: May 2016

Education towards independence is considered as an important aspect of political socialization. Presupposing an interrelationship between the „attitudes of parents towards independent behavior of children“ (= „AIB“) and the actual independent behavior of children, the following questions were asked in an empirical research paper: Is it meaningful to distinguish between ‚inner independence‘ (to be able to assert oneself and to decide freely for oneself) and ‚outer independence‘ (to be able to rely upon oneself)? What are the respective attitudes influenced by? In a sample (n=764) of 382 mothers and fathers of firstgraders among whom members of lower class as well as members of rural and big-city environments were underrepresented, the AIB and their determinants were explored by means of a questionnaire, especially designed for this purpose.

The distinction between ‚inner and outer independence‘ proved to be meaningful: Certain groups which did not differ in their AIB when observed in an undifferentiated manner showed highly significant differences when observed in a differentiated manner. Furthermore the age of a child seemed to play a part for the AIB since it becomes relevant for certain situations where independence is demanded. Thus mothers proved significantly more positive in their AIB than fathers, when the situation, where independence was demanded revolved around the ‚inner independence‘ of a child under thirteen years of age. On the other hand, when ‚outer independence‘ was demanded or the child was older than thirteen, fathers proved more positive in their AIB.

Obviously society has an immense influence on the AIB. The higher the social class the more positive the AIB and the more frequently „independence“ is chosen by the members of this group as the most important educational goal. Members of the middle class and lower classes differed significantly in their AIB. - A comparison between results of former research papers showed that the AIB is also definitely dependent upon the „historical background“. About 15 years ago the AIB were significantly more negative than in 1973.
Probleme einer sozialstrukturell orientierten Sozialisationsforschung / Problems of socio-structural socialization research
Authors: Bertram Hans
Published: May 2016

The paper discusses the thesis that the class specific socialization research of the last years suffers from stagnation, though the programme of the research in this field has not yet reached its aim to explain the relations between socio-structural constellations and the development of modal behavior patterns. The causes for this stagnation are sought both in the theoretically and empirically insufficient analysis of the socio-structural conditions, of the intra-familial communication processes, and of the concepts of individual behavior. Criticism is focussed on methodical issues, for neglecting methodical problems is considered as a specific lack of socialization research.
Multivariate Analyse nominalskalierter Daten / Multivariate analyzing of nominal-scaled data
Authors: Küchler Manfred
Published: May 2016

Pointing out difficulties with a substantive interpretation of empirical data when using only traditional methods of data analysis such as crosstabulation of two or at most three variables, two recently suggested models - HARDER’s DO and GOODMAN’s ECTA - are briefly outlined. These two are combined in a new approach that has been developped by the author while analyzing data from two empirical studies. Some practical advice is included to help the average researcher with implementing this way of data analysis at his local computer installation.
Measures of Social Proximity and their Use in Sociometric Research / Maße der sozialen Nähe und ihre Anwendung in der soziometrischen Forschung
Authors: Langeheine Rolf
Published: May 2016

Konzepte sozialer Nähe für Paare von Personen eines Netzwerkes sowie Möglichkeiten zur Quantifizierung von Ähnlichkeit, Interaktion bzw. Kohäsion werden diskutiert. Ein Computerprogramm wird vorgestellt, das die Berechnung einer Vielzahl von ,,Proximitätsmaßen“ gestattet. Diese Maße lassen sich mit Hilfe Nichtmetrischer Multidimensionaler Skalierung in einen 2- bzw. 3-dimensionalen euklidischen Raum eskalieren. Schließlich wird an denselben Daten demonstriert, wie sich durch Einsatz des vorliegenden Programms in Verbindung mit Techniken der Nichtmetrischen Multidimensionalen Skalierung und Clusteranalyse Cliquen innerhalb eines Netzwerkes bestimmen lassen.
Einführung in die konfirmatorische Faktorenanalyse / Introduction to Confirmatory Factor Analysis
Authors: Weede Erich , Jagodzinski Wolfgang
Published: May 2016

This paper is an attempt to discuss the principles of confirmatory factor analysis in a fairly simple way and without recourse to mathematical techniques which are either difficult or not well-known among German social scientists. Merely knowledge of the fundamentals of path analysis as well as of classical or exploratory factor analysis is taken for granted. Beside first-order factors, second-order factors are introduced. Assumptions and characteristics of confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis are compared with each other. The comparison does not focus on mathematical details but on „psychology“ and practice of research as well as on substantial or theoretical utility of both approaches. Use of confirmatory factor analysis is especially recommended, if there are multiple, but defective indicators for each theoretically important variable, firstly in order to test the assumption of merely random or unsystematic measurement error, secondly in order to eleminate the effects of such errors by moving from the indicator to the factor level of analysis in testing substantial propositions.
Societal Reactions and Engendered Deviation: The Case of Offensive Groups / Gesellschaftliche Reaktionen und erzeugte Abweichung: Der Fall der offensiven Gruppen
Authors: Willke Helmut
Published: May 2016

Der Aufsatz befaßt sich mit drei Aspekten der Abweichung von gesellschaftlichen Normen: 1. kollektive Abweichung als Ergebnis struktureller Zwänge, wie sie von Differenzierungsprozessen in hochkomplexen Gesellschaften notwendig hervorgebracht werden; 2. die Entstehung abweichender Gruppen als Strategie der Anpassung an Anomie und 3. die Frage, ob offensive kollektive Abweichung durch gesellschaftliche Reaktionen auf primäre Abweichung erzeugt wird. Im Anschluß an Merton und Dunphy wird gezeigt, daß Form und Folgen der primären Abweichung von Gruppen von den unterschiedlichen Möglichkeiten, Ressourcen und der Kontrollmacht der Gruppe abhängen. Je nach den positiven oder negativen Rückkopplungsprozessen zwischen individuellen, Gruppen- und sekundären Normensystemen können vier Idealtypen von Gruppen unterschieden werden: konforme, abweichende, produktive und regressive Gruppen. Abweichende Gruppen werden durch „defensive Strukturierung“ gekennzeichnet, wenn sie die herrschenden Werte und Normen nur passiv negieren. Sie werden zu offensiven Gruppen, wenn sie den gesellschaftlichen Normen aktiv zuwiderhandeln und wenn ihre Abweichung funktionale Unentbehrlichkeiten berührt. Meine Hypothese ist, daß das Ausmaß und die Intensität staatlicher Kontrolle bei der Entstehung offensiver Gruppen eine wichtige Rolle spielt.