bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of Priorities in Apparel Purchasing from Private Sale Websites
Authors: Saricam Canan , Erdumlu Nazan
Published: January 2017

In the fast-changing internet era, private sale websites attracted an enormous interest from the consumers in especially online marketing of apparel goods. The retailers may garner more benefit if the prior issues for the consumers when they are purchasing apparel products online is known. Reviewing the literature, this study presents the factors in three groups in a hierarchical manner considering the multidimensional aspect of online purchasing of apparel products from private sale websites and then determines the prior issues for the consumers by making pairwise comparisons among these factors using analytical hierarchy process on a sample group of 100 Turkish respondents. The findings revealed that “privacy/security” in terms of online shopping criteria, “product information” in terms of apparel products criteria, and “discount ratio” in terms of private shopping criteria took highest scores of importance when the aspects were analyzed individually. Nonetheless, the parameters regarding the online shopping criteria were found to be more important than the criteria regarding the apparel products and private shopping criteria. In the end, it was also observed that these items that were found to have highest importance were actually corresponding to the risks of the situation.
Modification of the inlet to the tertiary air duct in the cement kiln installation
Authors: Borsuk Grzegorz , Wydrych Jacek , Dobrowolski Bolesław
Published: January 2017

Rotary kiln installation forms a very complex system, as it consists of various components which affect cement production. However, some problems with particle settling are encountered during operation of tertiary air installation. This paper reports on the results of a study into gas-particle flow in a tertiary air duct installation. This flow was calculated using Euler method for air motion and Lagrange method for particle motion. The results in this paper demonstrate that study focus on the tertiary air installation is a practical measure without the analysis of other processes in the rotary kiln. A solution to this problem offers several alternatives of modifying the inlet to the tertiary air duct. As a result of numerical calculations, we demonstrate the influence of geometry of a rotary kiln modification on the number of large particles transported in the tertiary air duct. The results indicate that in order to reduce large particles, rotary kiln head geometry needs to be modified, and a particle settler should be installed at its outlet.
Two social exchanges and service personnel’s internal service behavioural intention at international tourism hotels
Authors: Chen Wen-Jung
Published: January 2017

Hospitality is a service industry in which team cooperation and assistance among the co-workers is necessary. Scholars have found that salary or benefits by themselves are not sufficient to motivate employees’ internal service intention and attitude. The norm of reciprocity in which the individuals’ intention results in active behaviour that is driven by the desire to obtain rewards has rarely been applied in the field of hotel internal service. In this study, we used the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to investigate the effects of leader-member exchange (LMX) and co-worker exchange on internal service behavioural intention and its causes, that is, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control. In this study, we chose frontline professional service personnel from 30 international tourist hotels in Taiwan as research subjects and collected 684 valid questionnaires for statistical analysis. The results showed that LMX and co-worker exchange significantly affected the internal service behavioural intention and were significantly correlated with the causes of internal service behaviour intention, that is, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control. The results of this study should provide practical and theoretical assistance guidance for the rapidly growing domestic hospitality industry, in terms of increasing service competitiveness and facilitating the strategic planning of human resource management.
Gathering Information from Transport Systems for
Processing in Supply Chains
Authors: Kodym Oldřich , Unucka Jakub
Published: January 2017

Paper deals with complex system for processing
information from means of transport acting as parts
of train (rail or road). It focuses on automated information
gathering using AutoID technology, information transmission
via Internet of Things networks and information usage
in information systems of logistic firms for support
of selected processes on MES and ERP levels. Different
kinds of gathered information from whole transport chain
are discussed. Compliance with existing standards is mentioned.
Security of information in full life cycle is integral
part of presented system. Design of fully equipped system
based on synthesized functional nodes is presented.
The patent activity of the Czech R&D organizations and its international comparison
Authors: Kučera Zdeněk , Vondrák Tomáš
Published: January 2017

An effective knowledge transfer between research institutions and industry is a significant bottleneck in the national innovation system. CR adopted in recent years a series of systemic measures aimed to stimulate the orientation of the R&D organizations towards the generation of knowledge directly applicable in the innovation process and more generally to improve the collaboration of the R&D establishment with the industry. In the majority of programs supporting the applied research patents and industrial designs and utility models are among the anticipated results. The Methodology of the evaluation of R&D organizations implemented in the second half of the last decade brought financial bonuses for the creation of the results in the category of industrial property. Despite of this stimulus CR lags behind the technologically advanced EU countries in the patent activities. The topic of this article is a comparison of the protection of the industrial property rights in the Czech higher education institutions and governmental R&D institutions with selected EU countries. We make use of a couple of quantitative indicators to assess the quality and the technological and the commercial potential of the produced industrial property. Despite a dynamic growth of the patent applications in the CR the number of patent applications relative to the country size is far below the EU-15 average. The Czech research organizations contribute to a higher extent to the number of patent applications then do the analogous institutions in EU-15 countries where the majority of patent applications come from the industrial sphere. The Czech research organizations mainly limit the patent rights to the Czech Republic whereas in the EU-15 countries the opposite is preponderant and only a small fraction of patent applications remains limited to the national environment. Thus the majority of the Czech patents created by research organizations cannot be commercialized on the international scene nor can contribute to the international competitiveness of the Czech industry. The patent applications submitted by the Czech research organizations are significantly less cited. This indicates that the protected intellectual property is of lesser importance. The Methodology of the evaluation of research organizations which was implemented in the second half of the last decade has visibly stimulated the patent activities of the research organizations but simultaneously an absence of any assessment of a future commercialization promoted a production of intellectual property of a limited commercial usability.
The Use of Multi-Criteria Taxonomy in the Study of Objective Quality of Life in Polish Voivodeships
Authors: Bąk Iwona , Szczecińska Beata
Published: January 2017

The article attempts to compare the living conditions of the population living in rural communities of West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The analysis used data for 159 indicators in the following areas of life: natural environment, demographics, social aspects, municipal infrastructure and housing, economic aspects, education and schooling, culture and tourism, and transport. The application of a multi-criteria taxonomy method allowed the author to take into account all the spheres of life altogether and to differentiate a group of voivodeships that are similar in terms of the examined phenomenon. On the basis of the conducted study it was found that Poland’s regions demonstrate a high degree of differences in terms of the objective quality of life.
Tests for the Presence of Price Convergence on Residential Property Market in Several Districts of Szczecin in 2006–2009
Authors: Gnat Sebastian
Published: January 2017

Neighbouring local property markets are not separate realities. They influence one another and create an interrelated system of supply and demand. Some of these interrelations are convergent, while others result in contradictory trends on the markets. Convergence is a term denoting a process of some phenomena approaching its normative level. Tests for the presence of convergence help to assess if the objects under observation show resemblance in the context of the observed phenomenon, and to find out how long it takes for this resemblance to be complete. In this paper, I propose the application of methods normally used in tests for convergence for the purpose of the analysis of trends of the average residential property prices in some districts in Szczecin over the time range of 2006–2009, that is during the housing bubble on the residential property market. The study will provide information if such a market phase encourages price convergence.
The Influence of the Technical Condition of a Building on the Property’s Market Value
Authors: Ziembicka Beata
Published: January 2017

The housed property’s market value is influenced by a set of characteristic qualities, among which is the technical condition of a building. The aim of this paper is to study the influence of the technical condition of a building on the market price of the dwelling units, depending, among others, on the chosen method and the approach to the assessment of the housing wear degree. The analysis has been performed based on the estimation of the market value of an illustrative dwelling unit located in a building erected with the use of prefabricated large panel technology in selected variants. The study is based on data from the period between January and December 2012, which are related to the sale of rights to dwelling units from the secondary market. The information was obtained from a transactional database based on the Partner Data Exchange system with the Walor software.
Identifying Predictors of Central Sleep Apnea/Cheyne-Stokes Breathing in Chronic Heart Failure: a Pathophysiological Approach
Authors: Draganova Aneliya I. , Terziyski Kiril V. , Kostianev Stefan S.
Published: January 2017

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a major health problem associated with increased mortality, despite modern treatment options. Central sleep apnea (CSA)/Cheyne-Stokes breathing (CSB) is a common and yet largely under-diagnosed co-morbidity, adding significantly to the poor prognosis in CHF because of a number of acute and chronic effects, including intermittent hypoxia, sympathetic overactivation, disturbed sleep architecture and impaired physical tolerance. It is characterized by repetitive periods of crescendo-decrescendo ventilatory pattern, alternating with central apneas and hypopneas. The pathogenesis of CSA/CSB is based on the concept of loop gain, comprising three major components: controller gain, plant gain and feedback gain. Laboratory polysomnography, being the golden standard for diagnosing sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) at present, is a costly and highly specialized procedure unable to meet the vast diagnostic demand. Unlike obstructive sleep apnea, CSA/CSB has a low clinical profile. Therefore, a reliable predictive system is needed for identifying CHF patients who are most likely to suffer from CSA/CSB, optimizing polysomnography use. The candidate predictors should be standardized, easily accessible and low-priced in order to be applied in daily medical routine.

The present review focuses on a pathophysiological approach to the selection of some predictors based on parameters reflecting the etiology, the pathogenesis and the consequences of CSA/CSB in CHF.
Association between Noise Pollution and Prevalent Ischemic Heart Disease
Authors: Dzhambov Angel M. , Dimitrova Donka D.
Published: January 2017

Background:Noise pollution is considered a risk factor for ischemic heart disease (IHD). Both are highly prevalent in Bulgaria, but their association has not been studied sufficiently.

Aim:The aim of the present study was to examine the risk of IHD associated with road traffic (Lden) and lifetime occupational noise exposure (LONE) in a Bulgarian sample.

Materials and methods:A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 513 residents of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. A questionnaire asked about doctor-diagnosed IHD, LONE and confounding factors. Ldenwas derived from official noise map after geocoding participants’ addresses. In log-link Poisson regressions we investigated the relative risks of prevalent IHD. Sensitivity analyses examined subgroup differences.

Results:Lden≥ 65 dB was associated with higher risk (RR=1.84, 95% CI: 0.61, 5.57) of IHD in long-term residents (≥ 20 years). LONE was associated with RR=1.76 (0.82, 3.78) for ever-exposed; and RR=2.35 (1.00, 5.52) for 15 - 47 years exposure.

Conclusions:Exposure to Lden≥65 dB was associated with non-significantly higher risk of IHD. Longer LONE was consistently associated with higher risk. In some subgroups the effect of noise was more pronounced.
A Neural Computational Intelligence Method Based on Legendre Polynomials for Fuzzy Fractional Order Differential Equation
Authors: Khan N. A. , Shaikh A. , Zahoor Raja M. A. , Khan S.
Published: January 2017

In this article, Legendre simulated annealing, neural network (LSANN) is designed for fuzzy fractional order differential equations, which is employed on fractional fuzzy initial value problem (FFIVP) with triangular condition. Here, Legendre polynomials are used to modify the structure of neural networks with a Taylor series approximation of the tangent hyperbolic as activation function while the network adaptive coefficients are trained in the procedure of simulated annealing to optimize the residual error. The computational results are depicted in terms of numerical values to compare them with previous results.
Detection of Myocardial Injury Using miRNAs Expression as Genetic Biomarkers in Acute Cardiac Care
Authors: Rogobete Alexandru Florin , Bedreag Ovidiu Horea , Popovici Sonia Elena , Sas Adriana Mariana , Stan Adrian Tudor , Stoicescu Emil Robert , Sandesc Dorel
Published: January 2017

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death globally. At present, there are many ways to diagnose this pathophysiology. The greatest disadvantages related to current biomarkers are their low specificity, low selectivity and low accuracy. A new method, extensively studied recently, is the expression of miRNAs, used as genetic biomarkers for the early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. This paper presents an update of miRNAs species expression that can serve as early diagnostic biomarkers and for the continuous monitoring of patients with cardiovascular disease.
Assessment of Coronary Plaque Vulnerability in Acute Coronary Syndromes using Optical Coherence Tomography and Intravascular Ultrasound. A Systematic Review
Authors: Benedek Theodora , Mester András , Benedek Annabell , Rat Nora , Opincariu Diana , Chițu Monica
Published: January 2017

The aim of this systematic review was to analyze studies characterizing vulnerable coronary plaques using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), in order to identify the most efficient invasive technique permitting plaque characterization in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Method: A total number of 432 studies were identified, 420 through database searching and 12 through manual searching. Eight duplicate studies were removed, leaving a total number of 424 studies to be screened. Twenty-six studies only available in Abstract-only form were excluded, resulting in 398 studies checked for eligibility. Eleven studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in this systematic analysis. Plaque vulnerability was investigated in plaques with thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) versus those with thick cap fibroatheroma, in ruptured coronary plaques versus non-ruptured coronary plaques, in culprit versus non-culprit lesions and in lipid-rich versus non-lipid-rich plaques.

Results: A total of 1,568 coronary plaques in 1,225 patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) who underwent both IVUS and OCT for analysis of plaque features were included in the final analysis. The review identified the following IVUS-derived features as significantly correlated with plaque vulnerability: plaque burden (p <0.001), remodeling index (p <0.001), external elastic membrane cross-sectional area (p <0.001), and the amount of necrotic core (p <0.001), while OCT-derived features characterizing unstable plaque were TCFA (p <0.001), lipid arch (p <0.001), accumulation of macrophages (p = 0.03), and presence of intracoronary thrombus (p <0.001).

Conclusion: Both IVUS and OCT are invasive imaging techniques able to provide relevant information on the vulnerability of coronary atheromatous plaques, identifying, as they do, various plaque features significantly associated with unstable plaques. Information provided by the two techniques is complementary, and both methods can serve as a useful clinical diagnostic tool, especially in cases of ACS patients undergoing a revascularization procedure.
The Stability of Long-Run Money Demand in Western Balkan Countries: An Empirical Panel Investigation
Authors: Kjosevski Jordan , Petkovski Mihail , Naumovska Elena
Published: January 2017

The goal of this paper is to examine the stability of money demand (M1) in five Western Balkan countries using quarterly data from 2005Q1 to 2014Q4. The dynamic ordinary least squares – DOLS method was used to find the long-run relationships in a money demand model. The empirical results identify the long-run money demand relationship among real M1 nominal interest rate, exchange rate, inflation and a dummy variable for the effect of the European debt crisis. The estimated long-run coefficients are, respectively −0.086, 0.519, 0.002 and 0.030. Our findings imply that real money demand in Western Balkan countries was stable in the analyzed period.
Double Taxation Conventions in Central and Eastern European Countries
Authors: Dumiter Florin , Jimon Ștefania
Published: January 2017

In this article we provide a qualitative overview regarding the panacea of double taxation conventions in Central and Eastern European Countries. Double taxation paradigm highlights some serious problems arising from multiple taxation of the same income or capital. In the European Union these problems suggest that there is a strong need of a “best practice” construction of an optimal fiscal space in order to eliminate or reduce this problem. Central and Eastern European Countries have some special features: on one hand these countries have been influenced by the communist and postcommunism era, and on the other hand there are specific particularities for each country which must be economically and judicially understood and explained. This article highlights the structure, construction and appliance of the double taxation conventions in the Central and Eastern European Countries. The conclusions of this article enact the solutions of the potential problems of double taxation, especially in these former communist countries, with respect to the strengthening of the new fiscal space in the European Union.
Evaluation of Renal Function in Alzheimer’s Disease and Geriatric Patients: Results from a Turkish Two-Center Study
Authors: Erbayraktar Zubeyde , Evlice Ahmet Turan , Yilmaz Gokhan , Yazici Canan , Yener Gorsev , Ulusu Nuriye Nuray
Published: January 2017

Background:Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a severe multifactorial neurodegenerative proteopathy associated with advanced age. Discrepancies in the renal function of these patients compared to geriatric patients with dementia have rarely been reported. In this study, we aimed to disclose the importance of associated renal changes for the pathogenesis of AD.

Methods:Patients with AD (n=107) and geriatric patients with dementia and without dementia (n=124) (231 patients in total) from Dokuz Eylul and Cukurova University Hospitals were enrolled in the study. We measured serum Na, K, Cl, Ca, BUN, creatinine, total protein levels and MDRD [eGFR] in all groups.

Results:From Izmir Center, the first study arm consisted of patients with AD dementia (n=74), and the second arm included geriatric patients with dementia (n=79). From Adana, 78 patients were recruited to the study, of which 33 were with AD and 45 were geriatric patients without dementia. When we analyzed comparatively the AD and geriatric dementia patients study arms, a statistically significant difference was observed both in the median age (p<0.001), as well as in the biochemical parameters from Izmir Center: Na (p<0.001), K (p<0.001), Cl (p<0.05), Ca (p<0.001), BUN (p<0.05), creatinine (p<0.001), total protein (p<0.001) and MDRD [eGFR] (p<0.001). However, these were not significantly different between AD and geriatric patients without dementia in the Adana group.

Conclusions:Our results indicate that renal function is prone to alterations in different age groups of patients with AD. However, there is no conclusive evidence that renal function is one of the risk factors in AD.
Teacher Training Programs for Gifted Education with Focus on Sustainability
Authors: Reid Eva , Horváthová Božena
Published: January 2017

Scholars, psychologists, and teachers from around the world have been dealing with the topic of giftedness for many years. Also in Slovakia, development of giftedness is a highly topical issue and gifted education has earned its place in the current curricular documents issued by the Ministry of Education. The national curriculum specifies education objectives, teaching plans, requirements for personnel, organizational and material-technological requirements for gifted education. However, the personnel requirements are problematic not only in Slovakia, but also in other countries. Most attention is paid to identification and development of gifted children, but very little consideration is given to the training of teachers for gifted children. The lack of justifying teacher training does not guarantee sustainability of gifted education. The aim of this paper is to map and describe gifted education, teacher training programs and qualifications for teachers of intellectually gifted pupils in Slovakia, Austria, Belgium and Finland. These countries were chosen because of very different perceptions of the gifted education and teacher training. These systems are compared and a proposal for sustainable teacher training is offered.
Sediment transport modelling in wadi Chemora during flood flow events
Authors: Berghout Ali , Meddi Mohamed
Published: January 2017

The sediment transport is a complex phenomenon by its intermittent nature, randomness and by its spatiotemporal discontinuity. By reason of its scale, it constitutes a major constraint for development; it decreases storage capacity of dams and degrades state of ancillary structures.

The study consists in modelling the transport of sediments by HEC-RAS software in wadi Chemora (Batna, Algeria). In order to do this, we have used hydrometric data (liquid flows, and solid flows) recorded at level of the four hydrometric stations existing in watershed of wadi Chemora, the MNT of the wadi and lithologic characteristics of the wadi.

In the analyses of results we used the parameters from two different floods (the first one involved the whole watershed and the second – a part of the basin) along of system of wadi Chemora (wadi Chemora and its tributaries): sediment transport capacity, volume of sediments delivered to and leaving the system and areas sensitive to erosion and sedimentation.
Efficiency of some meteorological drought indices in different time scales, case study: wadi Louza basin (NW-Algeria)
Authors: Djellouli Fayçal , Bouanani Abderrazak , Baba-Hamed Kamila
Published: January 2017

Drought is an insidious hazard of nature in many parts of the world. It originates from persistent shortage of precipitation over a specific region for a specific period of time and has a conceptual and operational definition. Drought impact on some activity, group, or environmental sector depends on the extent of water shortage and ground conditions. Algeria and especially the western region has experienced several periods of drought over the last century, since 1975 to the present day. The most recent drought in 1981, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994 and 1999 was characterized by its intensity and spatial extent. Drought is identified using various drought indices (meteorological, hydrological and agricultural). In this research, we focus on the meteorological drought, to assess the reliability of these indices under changing climatic conditions. Data was recorded for the period of 1980–2009 at wadi Louza catchment (NW-Algeria). For describing and monitoring drought severity periods, we calculated the correlation between both meteorological drought indices: Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI) and Effective Drought Index (EDI). The results show that the watershed of wadi Louza has experienced a severe meteorological drought. The correlation between meteorological drought indices was good for all time steps and the best was found for 9-month time step. The obtained results may provide some scientific support for fighting against droughts.
Drought intensity and spatial variability in Gabes Watershed, south-eastern Tunisia
Authors: Jemai Sabrine , Ellouze Manel , Agoubi Belgacem , Abida Habib
Published: January 2017

Chronological series of monthly and annual precipitation data recorded in Gabes Watershed, south-eastern Tunisia, were analyzed. The study is based on the standardized precipitation index (SPI) values, computed for 10 rainfall stations over the period 1987–2012, which corresponds to an observatory period of 25 hydrologic years (from September to August). The results obtained show a great variability in SPI values. The historical evolution of the SPI made it possible to define the periods of excess and deficit, corresponding to wet and dry periods respectively. The wet years were found to be 1989–1990, 1995–1996 and 2006–2007 while the dry years were 1987–1988, 1996–1997, 2000–2001, 2001–2002, 2007–2008, 2008–2009 and 2009–2010. This clearly shows alternating wet and dry periods, but with drought episodes taking prevalence over rainy fronts throughout the study period. Indeed, a high tendency towards a drop in precipitation and important sequences of drought were observed. Spatial variability of drought throughout Gabes Watershed was examined by geostatistical analysis of SPI, as drought and rainfall distribution vary with latitude, longitude, topography and proximity to the Mediterranean Sea. The results obtained showed that, compared to coastal and southern areas, drought was observed to be more important in the West and the North of Gabes Watershed. The SPI showed that moderate droughts are generally more frequent than severe or extreme droughts in most of the Watershed.
Hydrological modelling of wadi Ressoul watershed, Algeria, by HEC-HMS model
Authors: Skhakhfa Imene Diabi , Ouerdachi Lahbaci
Published: January 2017

This study presents a flood estimation model for wadi Ressoul in El Berda watershed, north east of Algeria. To ensure the overall consistency of simulated results, it is necessary to develop a validation process, particularly in regions where data are scarce or limited and unreliable. To this we must calibrate and validate the model over the hydrograph as measured at the output. Calibration and validation processes were carried out using different sets of data (CN, SCS Lag and Muskingum K). Evaluation on the performance of the developed flood model derived using HEC-HMS (hydrologic modelling system) yield a correlation coefficient R2 close to 1 and the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency. We limit ourselves to modelling flood of short duration for which the process of evapotranspiration is negligible. Several events have been tested, including two to calibrate and one to validate the model. So it can be said that using the HEC-HMS model had the highest efficiency in with the values of these parameters calibrated, based on objective functions (percent error in peaks), with 8.8 percent difference between of observed and simulated discharges with R2 value is 0.87 and the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency value is 0.99.
Causal Relationship between Supply Chain Dynamic Capabilities, Technological Innovation, and Operational Performance
Authors: Ju Ki-Jung , Park Byeonghwa , Kim Taikyoo
Published: January 2017

The aim of this study is to empirically examine the impact of supply chain dynamic capabilities on operational performance, and the mediating effect of technological innovation between dynamic capabilities and operational performance. This study is based on empirical data collected from a survey of 206 small- and medium-size firms in Korea. Structural equation modeling is used to test the research questions. The results show that supply chain dynamic capabilities positively influence technological innovation and operational performance of an enterprise. Additionally, structural equation analyses reveal that technological innovation plays a role as a partial mediator of the relationship between supply chain dynamic capabilities and operational performance. In a dynamic and ever-changing environment, the enforcement of dynamic capabilities in a sustainable supply chain is important for the innovation of technology and the improvement of operational performance. Further investigation is required to understand the differences by industries, characteristics of enterprises, and positions in a supply chain.
WNT regulation of embryonic development likely involves pathways independent of nuclear CTNNB1
Authors: Tribulo Paula , Moss James I , Ozawa Manabu , Jiang Zongliang , Tian Xiuchun (Cindy) , Hansen Peter J
Published: January 2017

The bovine was used to examine the potential for WNT signaling to affect the preimplantation embryo. Expression of seven key genes involved in canonical WNT signaling declined to a nadir at the morula or blastocyst stage. Expression of 80 genes associated with WNT signaling in the morula and inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) of the blastocyst was also evaluated. Many genes associated with WNT signaling were characterized by low transcript abundance. Seven genes were different between ICM and TE, and all of them were overexpressed in TE as compared to ICM, including WNT6, FZD1, FZD7, LRP6, PORCN, APC and SFRP1. Immunoreactive CTNNB1 was localized primarily to the plasma membrane at all stages examined from the 2-cell to blastocyst stages of development. Strikingly, neither CTNNB1 nor non-phospho (i.e., active) CTNNB1 was observed in the nucleus of blastomeres at any stage of development even after the addition of WNT activators to culture. In contrast, CTNNB1 associated with the plasma membrane was increased by activators of WNT signaling. The planar cell polarity pathway (PCP) could be activated in the embryo as indicated by an experiment demonstrating an increase in phospho-JNK in the nucleus of blastocysts treated with the non-canonical WNT11. Furthermore, WNT11 improved development to the blastocyst stage. In conclusion, canonical WNT signaling is attenuated in the preimplantation bovine embryo but WNT can activate the PCP component JNK. Thus, regulation of embryonic development by WNT is likely to involve activation of pathways independent of nuclear actions of CTNNB1.
Influencia de las actividades audio-musicales en la adquisición de la lectoescritura en niños y niñas de cinco años
Authors: Magán-Hervás Alexandra , Gértrudix-Barrio Felipe
Published: January 2017

Pre-school education period is the foundation for children development. Teachers must reinforce students’ knowledge in this stage since all the contents covered will impact throughout their lives. Due to its educational value and influence on the different aspects of children development, music should be regarded as an essential resource in these early learning stages. In this regard, this work aims to analyze if the activities including music, hearing, and sound have a positive influence on the unfolding of literacy skills on five-year-old children. To accomplish such objectives, qualitative, quantitative, and triangulation methodologies have been used by taking the content analysis from the literature review related to the topic of this investigation and then after, by using the experimental design technique (pre-test/experiment/post-test) with two design types (experimental and controlled class) from the research-action paradigm. Considering the results of this research, it can be asserted that audio-musical activities significantly influence reading and writing skills acquisition without noteworthy differences between boys and girls.
Can Physical Examination Skills Survive the Era of Modern Diagnostic Tests?
Authors: Elhassan Mohammed
Published: January 2017

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. There is a perception by the internal medicine community that physical examination skills have declined amongst both learners and teachers of medicine. A sense of lack of time and the development of more sensitive and specific diagnostic tests are amongst some of the reasons for this phenomenon. Internists need to be familiar with the clinical usefulness of physical examination maneuvers learned during medical school and residency training so that they know, at the bedside, what to focus on during the patient encounter. Here I would like to highlight some of these easy to perform physical examination signs that some data argues for and support their clinical utility in daily practice in the era of modern diagnostic technology. These are: the third heart sound; maximal tracheal height and Hoover's sign; the "HINTS" examination for patients with vertigo; and simple bedside questions to screen for delirium.
Influence of low-dose chemicals on the early strength of Portland cement: statistical and calorimetric evidence
Authors: Huang Hong , Shen Xiao-dong
Published: January 2017

The effectiveness of 15 chemical admixtures (including alkanolamines, alcohols, chloride/non-corrosive accelerators and retarders) on the early strength development of a P.II 52·5R cement was determined using statistical methods. The results showed that, under low dose conditions (≤ 0·05 wt%), sodium thiocyanate, calcium chloride, sodium hydroxide, triethanolamine and glucose contributed to the 1-d strength enhancement of the cement and that only sodium thiocyanate, triethanolamine, triisopropanolamine and calcium chloride were effective up to 3 d. In addition to the strength test proposed by the statistical model, a calorimeter was used for a supplementary measurement to identify interactions among the chemicals. The calorimetric test results revealed that the interaction between triethanolamine and sodium thiocyanate was more pronounced for the amount of heat released before 72 h due to the accelerating effects on both the C3S and C3A phases. Furthermore, a statistical test showed that even at a higher dose (0·1 wt%), the effect of calcium nitrate was far less efficient than the effect of calcium chloride, which did not significantly improve the overall early strength of cement.
Eco-metropolis planning conditioned by the growth ideology: the case of Greater Copenhagen
Authors: Xue Jin
Published: January 2017

The aim of this study is to analyse and show how the growth ideology conditions the eco-metropolis plans, thus hindering the transformation towards urban sustainability. Despite an unprecedented enthusiasm of cities in pursuing a sustainability agenda, environmental degradation and social inequality of most cities have proved to be worse. The paper first argues that the failure in reversing the trajectory of unsustainability is attributed to a pursuit of urban sustainable development paradigm that is conditioned by the growth ideology. This argument is supported by contrasting the growth ideology with the counter-hegemonic degrowth ideology in terms of how well-being, environmental sustainability and equity are interpreted and approached. Furthermore, in order to provide an insight on how urban development plans are committed to and shaped by the growth ideology the case of Greater Copenhagen is analysed and scrutinised. Drawing on the emerging degrowth debates, the study emphasises the importance of engaging with the ideological reflection by practitioners and briefly discusses how planners can take an active role in advancing a degrowth society.
A arte de escrever relações no ciberespaço
Authors: Gonçalves Helena , Xavier Paulo
Published: January 2017

A revolução tecnológica crescente arrasta consigo uma profunda revolução para o homem e para a sua cultura. É consensual entre as informáticos a importância da representação, da simulação, da comunicação, no desenho dos programas que concebem, cuja capacidade interactiva está para além das relações numéricas das ciências da computação. Os dispositivos de simulação são cada vez mais frequentes e sofisticados, Com expressivo papel na vida pessoal dos seus utilizadores e, consequentemente, nas relações interpessoais e sociais. Compreender a especificidade deste meiode comunicação é o nosso propósito neste artigo.
Unas reflexiones sobre la interdisciplinariedad de la comunicación
Authors: Maicas Manuel Parés I
Published: January 2017

Estoy convencido de que el marco teórico - con sus consiguientes repercusiones práticas - en el que la comunicación tiene su esfera de actuación  es crecientemente mucho más y que desborda ampliamente de la que llamamos comunicación social o de masas...
O discurso de opinião como discurso polémico - aspectos da sua configuração e da interacção social
Authors: Ramos Rui
Published: January 2017

O estudo que estas linhas abrem e apresentam pretende debruçar-se sobre alguns dos aspectos que definem o discurso de opinião enquanto tal, o enquadram e delimitam...
Encontros e desencontros da arte da publicidade
Authors: Galhardo Andreia , Perestrelo Sofia
Published: January 2017

A sessão temática Media e Cultura surge-nos como um espaço ideal para reflectir sobre o tema que aqui nos traz - Os Encontros e desencontros da arte e da publicidade -, uma vez que pensar media e cultura é também pensar publicidade...
Mulher e tecnologia
Authors: Araújo Betânia Maciel de , Sanches Conceição A. , Lopes Tânia
Published: January 2017

A pesquisa é um mapeamento da situação da mulher na era das grandes tecnologias em que se vive. A intenção é mostrar a evoloção da mulher no setor produtivo da sociedade, como ser que saiu da esfera doméstica, para desempenhar um papel distinto do que lhe foi delegado ao longo da história.
O delírio da disformidade. O corpo no imaginário grotesco
Authors: Gonçalves Albertino
Published: January 2017

Universal, o imaginário grotesco anima os subterrâneos, as interstícios e as margens de todas as sociedades humanas. Neste artigo, relevamos alguns dos seus traços genéricos mais marcantes, a começaar pelo papel específico do corpo. Na passada, sondamos diversas manifestações do grotesco na vida contemporânea, principalmente ao nível da linguagem, da comunicação, das artes e dos rituais da vida quotidiana.
A Geologia, os geólogos e o manto da invisibilidade
Authors: Brilha José
Published: January 2017

O distanciamento entre a ciência e a sociedade tem vindo a preocupar os cientistas durante as últimas décadas. Neste trabalho apresentam-se alguns factores que podem, pelo menos em parte, justificar este afastamento, recorrendo ao exemplo da Geologia portuguesa: reduzido número de profissionais, o que conduz a uma dificuldade de protagonismo e intervenção sociais; elevados níveis de iliteracia científica por parte da população; ausência de uma estratégia estatal para os recursos geológicos do país; e um deficiente tratamento das questões científicas por parte dos media.
The economics of public service television and the citizenship rhetoric
Authors: Sousa Helena , Pinto Manuel
Published: January 2017

Facing strong competition and financial hardship, Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) operators are redefining their role and re-inventing new futures. The Portuguese PSB, Radiotelevisão Portuguesa (RTP) is no exception and important changes have recently been introduced in the traditional ‘public service’ model. The centre-right government – in office since 2002 with a qualified majority – perceived the restructuring of RTP as a major political goal and, in an unprecedented move, it has decided to hand out one RTP’s generalist channel to ‘civil society’. This article looks at this political decision and its financial and economic implications. It argues that as far as rhetoric went, citizens had the centre-stage in this new ‘participatory model’ but it is economics rather than citizenry that is at the very heart of this strategy.
A crise existencial do mercado de comunicação
Authors: Rosendo Luís
Published: January 2017

A complexidade do tema escolhido pelo Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade da Universidade do Minho para este Seminário encerra um conjunto de importantes questões cuja ausência de respostas é, na minha opinião, a essência de uma espécie de crise existencial que o mercado vive actualmente...
Gestão da Assistência Farmacêutica: Análise da situação de alguns municípios.
Authors: Vieira Fabiola Sulpino , Zucchi Paola
Published: January 2017

Os objetivos deste trabalho são descrever e analisar a gestão da assistência farmacêutica em alguns municípios, produzindo mais evidências sobre problemas que podem comprometer o acesso a medicamentos no Sistema Único de Saúde – SUS. Realizou-se pesquisa exploratória, transversal, elaborando-se questionário com questões fechadas sobre a gestão da assistência farmacêutica. O tamanho da amostra foi definido em 431 municípios, selecionados por amostragem aleatória estratificada. Dos 431 municípios, apenas 36 responderam o questionário (8,4%). Destes, 44,4% (n = 16) informaram ter a assistência farmacêutica formalizada, das quais 93,4% (n = 15) contam com pelo menos um farmacêutico. Dos 36 municípios, 97% (n = 35) informaram ter lista de medicamentos para dispensação à população. O controle de estoque foi considerado adequado em 26 deles (72,2%). Estão cumprindo determinação judicial para o fornecimento de medicamentos 14 (38,9%) municípios e em 13 deles (36%) todas as Unidades Básicas de Saúde – UBS contam com farmacêutico. Os resultados reforçam a necessidade do SUS de avançar no fortalecimento da gestão da assistência farmacêutica a fim de garantir o acesso a medicamentos e a efetividade das ações de saúde.
Comparação de indicadores antropométricos de obesidade em escolares de 11 a 12 anos: Estudos de 2007 e 2011 na cidade de Caxias do Sul.
Authors: Buffon Carmem Angela Rech , Bernardi Juliana , Rech Ricardo Rodrigo , Halpern Ricardo , Bergmann Mauren Lúcia de Araújo , Constanzi Cristine Boom , Alli Lidiane Requia , Mello Gabrielli Thais , Ricalde Simone Rufatto
Published: January 2017

Introdução: Um dos grandes desafios da saúde pública do século XXI é a obesidade. Estima-se que o sobrepeso e obesidade causem o quinto maior risco de mortes no mundo. Objetivo: O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar as prevalências de sobrepeso e obesidade em escolares da cidade de Caxias do Sul, entre dois estudos transversais realizados nos anos de 2007 e 2011 com escolares de 11 a 12 anos. Metodologia: Foram utilizados os indicadores antropométricos de índice de massa corporal (IMC), circunferência da cintura e somatória das dobras cutâneas do tríceps e da panturrilha. Para análise estatística foi realizado o teste qui quadrado de Pearson e o t de Student. Resultados: Foram avaliados 461 e 1014 escolares nos estudos de 2007 e 2011, respectivamente. As médias de circunferência da cintura e somatório de dobras cutâneas aumentaram no período, enquanto a média de IMC diminuiu. O estado nutricional avaliado pelo IMC apresentou diminuição nas prevalências de sobrepeso e obesidade, enquanto que as prevalências de obesidade abdominal e de gordura corporal em meninos e meninas não apresentaram diferença estatística significante em relação ao desfecho avaliado pelo IMC e pela circunferência da cintura. Também houve aumento do percentual de meninos e meninas com gordura acima do desejado no período. Conclusão: Conclui-se que apesar da diminuição do excesso de peso no período avaliado pelo IMC, os escolares da cidade em questão apresentaram aumento na prevalência de obesidade abdominal e gordura acima do desejado.
Distal [FeS]-Cluster Coordination in [NiFe]-Hydrogenase Facilitates Intermolecular Electron Transfer
Authors: Petrenko Alexander , Stein Matthias
Published: January 2017

Biohydrogen is a versatile energy carrier for the generation of electric energy from renewable sources. Hydrogenases can be used in enzymatic fuel cells to oxidize dihydrogen. The rate of electron transfer (ET) at the anodic side between the [NiFe]-hydrogenase enzyme distal iron–sulfur cluster and the electrode surface can be described by the Marcus equation. All parameters for the Marcus equation are accessible from Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. The distal cubane FeS-cluster has a three-cysteine and one-histidine coordination [Fe4S4](His)(Cys)3 first ligation sphere. The reorganization energy (inner- and outer-sphere) is almost unchanged upon a histidine-to-cysteine substitution. Differences in rates of electron transfer between the wild-type enzyme and an all-cysteine mutant can be rationalized by a diminished electronic coupling between the donor and acceptor molecules in the [Fe4S4](Cys)4 case. The fast and efficient electron transfer from the distal iron–sulfur cluster is realized by a fine-tuned protein environment, which facilitates the flow of electrons. This study enables the design and control of electron transfer rates and pathways by protein engineering.
PENINGKATAN VIABILITAS BENIH JINTAN HITAM (Nigella sativa) DENGAN HIDROPRIMING DAN PEMBERIAN ASAM GIBERELAT
Authors: Herlina NFN , Aziz Sandra Arifin
Published: January 2017

Perkecambahan adalah suatu tahap kritis pada siklus hidup tanaman. Perbaikan toleransi pada tahap perkecambahan dapat meningkatkan stabilitas pertumbuhan dan produksi tanaman. Upaya untuk menekan pengaruh cekaman dapat dilakukan dengan teknik priming dan penambahan asam giberelat (GA). Sebagai tanaman introduksi, jintan hitam akan menghadapi banyak kendala dalam budidaya khususnya dari faktor lingkungan abiotik seperti iklim. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pengaruh perlakuan hidropriming dan penambahan GA3 terhadap viabilitas benih jintan hitam. Penelitian dilaksanakan sejak November sampai Desember 2015 di Laboratorium Seed Storage & Seed Quality Testing, Departemen Agronomi dan Hortikultura, Fakultas Pertanian IPB. Bahan yang digunakan adalah benih jintan hitam aksesi Kuwait dan India. Rancangan penelitian yang digunakan Acak Kelompok Faktorial dengan tiga faktor yakni aksesi (India dan Kuwait), waktu hidropriming (0, 12, dan 24 jam) dan aplikasi GA3 (dengan dan tanpa GA3), tiga ulangan dengan 25 butir benih setiap satuan percobaan. Peubah yang diamati adalah daya berkecambah, indeks vigor, kecepatan tumbuh, panjang kecambah, panjang radikel, bobot basah kecambah. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa aplikasi GA3 akan efektif jika didahului dengan perlakuan hidropriming. Perlakuan hidropriming 12 jam yang diikuti aplikasi GA3 meningkatkan viabilitas benih jintan hitam aksesi Kuwait dan India melalui peningkatan daya berkecambah (27,00 dan 22,80%), panjang radikel (55,50 dan 60,20%), kecepatan tumbuh (36,00 dan 27,60%), dan indeks vigor (27,00 dan 22,80%).