bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management strategies for regional airports: A study applied to -Lleida-Alguaire airport
Authors: Daries-Ramon Natalia , Cristobal-Fransi Eduard
Published: May 2017

Purpose: The main objective of this article is to analyse the current situation at Lleida-Alguaire Airport and propose possible actions to increase its profitability.Design/methodology/approach: This study presents the method as a research tool applied to regional airports, in particular, Lleida-Alguaire Airport.Findings: The study shows the importance of air transport and the current situation of Spanish airports, specifically in Catalonia, exposing the main air traffic imbalances between different airports and their effect on tourism. Finally, it describes and analyses the situation of Lleida-Alguaire Airport.Practical implications: Some actions in relation with aeronautical traffic are presented in order to improve and increase the efficiency of the system.Originality/value: This article is one of the first works to focus on regional airports and it seeks ways to improve their economic and social efficiency.
Primera aproximación a la construcción de una Escala de Adhesión a los Principios del Derecho Penal (EAPDP). Estudio piloto en el Conurbano del Gran Concepción, Chile
Authors: Fuentealba Carrasco Pablo Javier , Barriga Omar A.
Published: May 2017

El artículo presenta las propiedades psicométricas a nivel exploratorio de la “Escala de Adhesión a los Principios del Derecho Penal” de un estudio piloto aplicado a una muestra consecutiva de 369 casos en el conurbano del Gran Concepción, Chile. Se describe la construcción del instrumento y su estructura, centrándose en la exposición de las propiedades de validez de constructo a través del AFE y de validez convergente por medio de una correlación inversa con la escala de Percepción de Inseguridad. Para establecer confiabilidad, se presenta el Alpha de Cronbach para la Escala General y para cada subescala generada. Se concluye con los alcances, limitaciones, proyecciones de la escala, así como las sugerencias para su ampliación y la necesidad de aplicación en otros contextos, puesto que el estudio es una primera aproximación al fenómeno.
The Effect of Sintering Temperature to the Quality of Hydroxyapatite Coating on Cobalt Alloys as the Candidate of Bone Implant Prosthesis
Authors: Aminatun  , Hikmawati Dyah , Yasin M.
Published: May 2017

Total hip replacement (THR) that is widely used today is the cemented type, which its application will lead to aseptic loosening. To avoid the occurrence of aseptic loosening, THR coated with hydroxyapatite (HA) is required because HA is osteoconductive which can stimulate the growth of osteoblasts. This study aims to determine the optimum sinter temperature which produce HA coating suitable as implant material. To achieve these objectives, the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) conducted coating method at concentrations of HA 1,0M, voltage of 100V for 30 minutes and then sintered at temperatures are 550°C, 700°C and 900°C respectively detention for 10 minutes. The results showed that the treatment of sintering after the coating process through the EPD method affect the characteristics of the layer thus formed. Sintering process affects the crystallinity of the HA layer. The higher the sintering temperature the higher its crystallinity. The higher the crystallinity the stronger the HA layer attached to the substrate cobalt alloy. Based on this research, the selected sintering temperature was 900 °C for 10 minutes which produced a layer of HA with the best characteristics that meet the standard of implant prosthesis, the crystallinity of 89.4%, thick layer of 70.80 ± 4.18 μm, adhesion strength of 21.87 ± 0.23 MPa, the corrosion rate of 0.025 mpy and 70.3% cell viability.
Process Development for Hydrogen Production via Water-Gas Shift Reaction Using Aspen HYSYS
Authors: Olateju Idowu Iyabo , Gibson-Dick Crowei , Egede Steve Chidinma Oluwatomi , Giwa Abdulwahab
Published: May 2017

The development of a process for the production of hydrogen through water-gas shift reaction has been developed and simulated in this work using Aspen HYSYS. This was achieved by picking the pieces of process equipment of the plant from the appropriate section of the Aspen HYSYS environment and connecting them together through appropriate streams. In addition, the components involved in the process were selected from the Aspen HYSYS databank. Peng-Robinson Stryjek-Vera (PRSV) was used as the fluid package of the developed process for property estimation during the simulation. The reaction of the process was modelled as an equilibrium type, the equilibrium constant of which was estimated using Gibbs Free Energy. From the results obtained, it has been established that pure hydrogen can be obtained from a plant comprising of a mixer, a reactor (with approximately 80.07% conversion of the reactants), a separator and two heat exchangers based on the fact that the mole fraction, the mass fraction and the volume fraction of hydrogen obtained from the simulation carried out when carbon monoxide and steam were passed into the process plant at room temperature (25 °C) and boiling temperature of water (100 °C), respectively under atmospheric pressure was approximately 1.
Control of a Reactive Distillation Process Using Model Predictive Control Toolbox of MATLAB
Authors: Giwa Abdulwahab , Adeyi Abel Adekanmi , Giwa Saidat Olanipekun
Published: May 2017

This research work has been carried out to investigate the application of the Model Predictive Control Toolbox contained in MATLAB in controlling a reactive distillation process used for the production of a biodiesel, the model of which was obtained from the work of Giwa et al.1. The optimum values of the model predictive control parameters were obtained by running the mfile program written for the implementation of the control simulation varying the model predictive control parameters (control horizon and prediction horizon) and recording the corresponding integral squared error (ISE). Thereafter, using the obtain optimum value of 5 and 15 for control horizon and prediction horizon respectively as well as a manipulated variable rate weight of 0.025 and an output variable rate weight of 1.10, various steps were applied to the setpoint of the controlled variable and the responses plotted. The results given by the simulations carried out by varying the model predictive control parameters (control horizon and prediction horizon) for the control of the system revealed that optimizing the control parameters is better than arbitrary choosing. Also, the simulation of the developed model predictive control system of the process showed that its performance was better than those used to control the same process using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller tuned with Cohen-Coon and Ziegler-Nichols techniques. It has, thus, been discovered that the Model Predictive Control Toolbox of MATLAB can be applied successfully to control a reactive distillation process in order to obtain better performance than that obtained from a PID controller tuned with Cohen-Coon and Ziegler-Nichols methods.
Design and Static Structural Analysis of a 2.5 kW Combined Darrieus-Savonius Wind Turbine
Authors: Ferroudji Fateh , Khelifi Cherif , Meguellati Farouk , Koussa Khaled
Published: May 2017

Modeling and simulation of mechanical structures in development phase are fundamental to optimize and improve the stability and reliability of the final product as well as to reduce the cost of prototyping and testing. Wind turbines are subject to critical loading to the centrifugal force due to wind speed and gravitational force. The present study discusses three-dimensional numerical simulations of combined Darrieus-Savonius wind turbine D-SWT for applications in urban and isolated areas for lighting, pumping water, etc. The Darrieus turbine is used to produce wind power and the Savonius rotor to start the system. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using SolidWorks 2015 is employed to generate the geometry of the structure and SolidWorks Simulation to investigate the stability and reliability static on the structure of the D-WST built by two types of material of the blade Galvanized Steel (GS) and Aluminum alloys 1060-H18 (ALU). Mechanical parameter of the structure are calculated for critical loading conditions, including the gravity and wind pressure loading due to the wind speed of 23m/s. Simulations results indicate no structural failure is predicted for all components of the D-SWT for both materials used according to Von Mises criterion stresses and the factors of safety of the most fragile material are greater than (the unity) 1. The maximum displacements found (3.84 & 6.81mm), occurred at the tip blades (free ends levels). These displacements are accepted relatively to the structure size.
SLC46 Family Transporters Facilitate Cytosolic Innate Immune Recognition of Monomeric Peptidoglycans
Authors: Paik Donggi , Monahan Amanda , Caffrey Daniel R. , Elling Roland , Goldman William E. , Silverman Neal
Published: May 2017

Tracheal cytotoxin (TCT), a monomer of DAP-type peptidoglycan from Bordetella pertussis, causes cytopathology in the respiratory epithelia of mammals and robustly triggers the Drosophila Imd pathway. PGRP-LE, a cytosolic innate immune sensor in Drosophila, directly recognizes TCT and triggers the Imd pathway, yet the mechanisms by which TCT accesses the cytosol are poorly understood. In this study, we report that CG8046, a Drosophila SLC46 family transporter, is a novel transporter facilitating cytosolic recognition of TCT, and plays a crucial role in protecting flies against systemic Escherichia coli infection. In addition, mammalian SLC46A2s promote TCT-triggered NOD1 activation in human epithelial cell lines, indicating that SLC46As is a conserved group of peptidoglycan transporter contributing to cytosolic immune recognition.
Physiologic Thymic Involution Underlies Age-Dependent Accumulation of Senescence-Associated CD4+ T Cells
Authors: Sato Kyosuke , Kato Aiko , Sekai Miho , Hamazaki Yoko , Minato Nagahiro
Published: May 2017

Immune aging may underlie various aging-related disorders, including diminished resistance to infection, chronic inflammatory disorders, and autoimmunity. PD-1+ and CD153+ CD44high CD4+ T cells with features of cellular senescence, termed senescence-associated T (SA-T) cells, increasingly accumulate with age and may play a role in the immune aging phenotype. In this article, we demonstrate that, compared with young mice, the aged mouse environment is highly permissive for spontaneous proliferation of transferred naive CD4+ T cells, and it drives their transition to PD-1+ and CD153+ CD44high CD4+ T cells after extensive cell divisions. CD4+ T cells with essentially the same features as SA-T cells in aged mice are also generated from naive CD4+ T cells after extensive cell divisions under severe T-lymphopenic conditions by gamma irradiation or in developmental T cell defect, often in association with spontaneous germinal centers, as seen in aged mice. The increase in SA-T cells is significantly enhanced after thymectomy at the young adult stage, along with accelerated T cell homeostatic proliferation, whereas embryonic thymus implantation in the late adult stage markedly restricts the homeostatic proliferation of naive CD4+ T cells in the host and delays the increase in SA-T cells. Our results suggest that reduced T cell output due to physiologic thymic involution underlies the age-dependent accumulation of SA-T cells as a result of increasing homeostatic proliferation of naive CD4+ T cells. SA-T cells may provide a suitable biomarker of immune aging, as well as a potential target for controlling aging-related disorders.
Advancing cancer control in the future through developing leaders
Authors: Craighead Peter S.
Published: May 2017

Background: Developing leaders is a critically important activity, especially in cancer services that depend on strong advocates for funding or sustained leadership of organisations. Many global think tanks have warned us about a crisis occurring in leadership. This crisis is not related simply to a lack of leaders, but probably secondary to a lack of competencies in leaders. This distinction allows us to ask whether it would be important to develop skills that will improve the quality of leadership in the future. The author postulates that competencies that will change this perception can be taught.
Aim: To show the distinction between leadership competencies considered important, and a potential mechanism for how organisations can drive succession planning.
Setting: Every cancer organisation needs leaders.
Methods: This article argues that the most important ingredient to impact the pace of change will be the ability to develop and sustain strong leadership. By reviewing current literature it describes what leadership is, and the competencies required to succeed at this. The experience gained by implementing a development unit in Calgary is used to suggest strategies needed by other cancer organisations.
Results: Leadership competencies can be taught. The local development unit has demonstrated that a formative approach can be implemented to engage emerging, mid-career and senior leaders. The article suggests practical strategies that will facilitate development of strong academic leaders.
Conclusion: Unless leaders are developed, it is quite possible that the momentum for healthy growth of cancer services will be stalled.
Уравнения типа Власова и Лиувилля, их микроскопические, энергетические и гидродинамические следствия
Authors: Vedenyapin Victor Valentinovich , Negmatov Malik-Bakhori Abdurashidovich , Fimin Nikolai Nikolaevich
Published: May 2017

В работе описан вывод уравнений Власова-Максвелла и Власова-Пуассона-Пуассона из лагранжианов классической электродинамики. Из них выводятся уравнения электромагнитной гидродинамики (ЭМГД) и электростатики с гравитацией с помощью "гидродинамической" подстановки. Для различных видов уравнения Власова и ЭМГД получаются и сравниваются тождества Лагранжа. Обсуждаются преимущества записи уравнений ЭМГД в дважды дивергентной форме С. К. Годунова. Анализируются стационарные решения уравнения Власова-Пyассона-Пуассона, где получаются нелинейные эллиптические уравнения с различными свойствами и различным поведением траекторий частиц при переходе через критическое значение массы. Показана возможность вывода из уравнения Лиувилля классических уравнений метода Гамильтона-Якоби, а также аналог этой процедуры как для уравнения Власова, так и в негамильтоновом случае.
Библиография: 67 наименований.
Асимптотика и устойчивость решения сингулярно возмущенной эллиптической задачи с трехкратным корнем вырожденного уравнения
Authors: Butuzov Valentin Fedorovich
Published: May 2017

Построено и обосновано асимптотическое разложение решения сингулярно возмущенной эллиптической задачи с краевым условием Дирихле в случае, когда соответствующее вырожденное уравнение имеет трехкратный корень. В отличие от случая однократного корня разложение ведется не по целым, а по дробным степеням малого параметра, погранслойные переменные имеют другой масштаб, а пограничный слой оказывается трехзонным, что приводит к существенному изменению алгоритма построения пограничных функций. Решение эллиптической задачи является стационарным решением соответствующей параболической задачи. Доказана асимптотическая устойчивость этого стационарного решения и найдена его глобальная область притяжения.
Библиография: 7 наименований.
Fatiga por compasión entre profesionales sanitarios de oncología y cuidados paliativos
Authors: Hernández García María del Carmen
Published: May 2017

Objetivo: Conocer la evidencia sobre los factores relacionados con la fatiga por compasión entre profesionales sanitarios de oncología y cuidados paliativos. Metodología: Revisión sistemática. Estrategia de búsqueda en bases de datos: Pubmed, Cuiden, Cinahl y Psycinfo. Resultados: La fatiga por compasión ha sido relacionada con el Síndrome de burnout y correlacionada negativamente con la satisfacción por compasión. El nivel de fatiga por compasión varía entre profesionales siendo mayor en enfermeros y médicos. Factores como el autocuidado, las condiciones laborales y la salud del trabajador repercuten en su desarrollo. Las estrategias de prevención se focalizan en el empoderamiento del profesional sanitario, formación y la oferta de periodos de retiro. Conclusiones: Es necesario fomentar la concienciación en el personal sanitario sobre los problemas psicológicos que pueden experimentarse como consecuencia de la atención a personas en situación paliativa, así como fomentar su prevención y abordaje a través de la implantación de diferentes intervenciones.
The Terror of Time: Pinter's A Kind of Alaska
Authors: Hall Ann C.
Published: May 2017

This article examines theatrical and cinematic time in two works inspired by Oliver Sacks's book Awakenings (1973): Pinter's A Kind of Alaska (1983) and the film Awakenings (1990). In both works, characters are confronted by the passage of time, but as a result of the differences between the theatrical and film media, time is presented very differently, with Pinter's work resisting the continuity presumed in film. The article references the history of time and studies in time and literature.
The Group-based Assessment Approach in Nursing Education: The Perspective of Nursing Students on Group-based Assessment Process at a Namibian University
Authors: Nuuyoma Vistolina
Published: May 2017

Group-based assessments used in the Bachelor of Nursing Science (clinical) Honours programme at a public university in Namibia are usually in the form of assignments and projects. Completing tasks in groups helps students to develop important skills like critical thinking and debating. In addition, it prepares them to work in the health-care environment where collaboration with others is required. That said, nursing students lack cooperation during the process of completing their group assignments or projects. A classroom-based research was conducted using action research as the design. The objectives were to: explore what is causing lack of cooperation during group-based assessment as perceived by nursing students, and to propose, implement and evaluate measures to improve cooperation during group-based assessment task completion.  Themes that emerged as factors contributing to a lack of cooperation are: student motivation, student personal characteristics, lack of planning to approach the allocated task, student learning approaches, communication-related issues, and group composition and allocation procedures. The proposed measures of students to ensure cooperation are: selection of group leaders, determining lecturer roles in facilitating group assessment, improving communication, and involvement of students in the allocation procedures of group members.All suggestions were successfully implemented. Evaluation of measures to ensure cooperation revealed that students appreciated the group-based approach strategy given its very positive impact on their learning.
Speaking in Tongues: Can International Graduate Students Read International Graduate Admissions Materials?
Authors: Taylor Zachary W.
Published: May 2017

A recent Educational Testing Services report (2016) found that international graduate students with a TOEFL score of 80—the minimum average TOEFL score for graduate admission in the United States—usually possess reading subscores of 20, equating to a 12th-grade reading comprehension level. However, one public flagship university’s international graduate student admissions instructions are written at a 17th-grade reading comprehension level, or, a 27-30 band on the reading section of the TOEFL. This study seeks to answer the question, “Do U.S. graduate programs compose admissions materials at unreadable levels compared to these programs’ minimum reading comprehension levels for international graduate student admission?” Findings reveal average public flagship international graduate student admissions materials are written above 15th-grade reading comprehension levels, with select flagships composing these materials at 19th grade reading levels. Implications for practitioners and policymakers, as well as areas of future research, are addressed.
Developing genetic counseling for male BRCA1/2 mutation carriers based on their own experiences
Authors: Kajula Outi , Kuismin Outi , Kääriäinen Maria , Kyngäs Helvi
Published: May 2017

Background: Previous studies of genetic counseling (GC) for male BRCA1/2 mutation carriers have focused on their level of satisfaction with the GC and its content. The aim of this study was to examine the GC experiences of male BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, and their suggestions for improving GC, more broadly.Methods: Data were collected by themed interviews of Finnish male BRCA1/2 mutation carriers (n = 31), and subjected to inductive content analysis.Results: The results indicated that the participants had a mixture of both positive and negative experiences of GC regarding operational conditions at Departments of Clinical Genetics (DCGs) and the ability of the counselors’ (clinical geneticists or genetic nurses) to provide GC. Although the GC was implemented in a professional manner, according to the male participants, more concreate and illustrative information should be provided, and the counselors should receive additional training to provide such information and improve their communication skills.Conclusions: Based on results of the study we make some suggestions for tailored GC for male BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. The results may facilitate development of a tentative model of GC that could be extended to broader categories of people at risk of hereditary cancer syndromes in the future.
The Impact of Teacher Questioning on Creating Interaction in EFL: A Discourse Analysis
Authors: Al-Zahrani Mona Yousef , Al-Bargi Abdullah
Published: May 2017

This study examines the effect of questions on fostering interaction in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms. It also seeks to determine the characteristics of questions that promote increased classroom interaction. Data were collected through video recordings of EFL classrooms which were analyzed using Discourse Analysis techniques. Participants in the study are consisted of a group of intermediate-level English students at the English Language Institute (ELI) of a Saudi Arabian university. First, participating classes were video-recorded and the data gathered was transcribed. The questions asked in each class were then divided into two groups: questions that were deemed to promote classroom interaction and questions that failed to create classroom interaction. Finally, the defining features of each group of questions were determined. Results showed a correlation between the questions’ characteristics and the creation of classroom interaction. In other words, some question types significantly improved classroom interaction while others failed to do so.
Towards Understanding Listening Comprehension in EFL Classroom: The Case of the Saudi Learners
Authors: Bano Farah
Published: May 2017

The present study aimed at making a pedagogical exploration into listening comprehension skills and examining the problems faced by learners in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom situation at Jazan University, Jazan city, Saudi Arabia. To analyze the problems, two very important processes were considered; namely, top-down and bottom-up process. The top-down process worked well because of their previous knowledge of the context to make sense of what is being said in the class. However, the bottom-up also worked as well.
Oral Communicative Competence of Primary School Students
Authors: Mayo Isabel Cantón , Barrioluengo Elena Pérez
Published: May 2017

Oral communicative competence enables speakers of a language to interact effectively with each other. Oral communicative competence includes a wide semantic field since the oral expression is a way of expression for the thought and it provides feedback and develops by means of the linguistic function (Vygotsky, 1992; Piaget, 1983a, 1983b; Pinker, 2003). English communicative competence is based on the use of the language as a tool of communication, both oral and written, of representation, of interpretation and of reality comprehension. This investigation aims to analyse the oral communicative competence in English of students who have finished the stage of Primary Education. It also tries to know if the center where students study, the students’ gender, the attitude towards the English language and attendance to private lessons increase the oral communicative competence. The sample was intentional and stratified (rural-urban and ordinary-bilingual). It is composed by 265 students and the instrument is a questionnaire provided with reliability and validity. The results show high levels of competence, higher than expected, and with light differences that favor the girls and the urban bilingual schools in the acquisition of the oral communicative competence in English.
De herziene Aandeelhoudersrechtenrichtlijn: een eerste reflectie
Authors: Dijkhuizen T.C.A. , Nijland J.
Published: May 2017

De herziene Aandeelhoudersrechtenrichtlijn: een eerste reflectie

In deze bijdrage reflecteren de auteurs op twee kernonderwerpen van de herziene Aandeelhoudersrechtenrichtlijn, namelijk aandeelhoudersbetrokkenheid en say on pay. Zij vragen zich af of de transparantieverplichtingen daadwerkelijk leiden tot een grotere aandeelhoudersbetrokkenheid. De introductie van een say on pay in Nederland lijkt de werking van artikel 2:135 BW te ondergraven.
Het verzetrecht van artikel 2:404 BW
Authors: Notenboom K.
Published: May 2017

Het verzetrecht van artikel 2:404 BW

In het recente arrest inzake SNS/Propertize kwam het verzetrecht tegen het voornemen van de moedermaatschappij om de overblijvende aansprakelijkheid uit hoofde van een 403-verklaring te beëindigen aan de orde. In deze bijdrage bespreekt de auteur enkele knelpunten ten aanzien van het verzetrecht van artikel 2:404 BW: de verzetgerechtigdheid, de betwiste vorderingen en de omvang van de zekerheid of andere waarborg.
AGGREGATES FROM GRANULATED COPPER SLAG AS A COMPONENT FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION MIXTURES
Authors: Duszyński Andrzej , Jasiński Wiktor , Pryga-Szulc Aneta
Published: May 2017

The paper deals with aggregates from granulated copper slags. The purpose of this article is to indicate the various technologies for use in road construction, for both granular slag aggregate and aggregates from copper slag waste abrasives, depending on the essential and specific properties of these aggregates. The presented results confirm the need to use granulated copper slag in soil and aggregate mixtures.
ANTHROPOGENIC CHANGES OF THE “OLD COPPER BASIN” AREA LANDSCAPE (NORTH-SUDETIC SYNCLINORIUM) IN THE LIGHT OF LIDAR-BASED GEOMORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS AND ARCHIVAL DATA
Authors: Kowalski Aleksander , Maciejak Krzysztof , Wojewoda Jurand , Kozłowski Adam , Raczyński Paweł
Published: May 2017

While the history, techniques of exploitation and deposit parameters of the copper ores in the North-Sudetic Synclinorium have been the subject of numerous investigations, the transformations of the terrain in the so-called “Old Copper Basin” (Lower Silesia, SW Poland) have not been analysed in detail before. This paper is intended to complement this gap. The authors present the results of the detailed geomorphometric analysis of the post-mining forms related directly to the copper mining. The LiDAR-based, high-resolution Digital Terrain Models (DTMs), which have been used in the analysis and description of the landforms, are currently considered as the most accurate and precise 3D-spatial data available in the numerical form. The following anthropogenic forms are distinguished in the study area: large- and small-scale ground deformations (depressions and small sinkholes), abandoned quarries, and forms associated with the exploitation and storage of the flotation wastes – post-flotation tailings and dumps. Our investigations have allowed visualization of the spatial distribution of the forms, estimation of their total volume as well as perspectives of their reclamation and protection.
RELIABILITY OF 3D MODELLING OF THE PB AND MAIN METALS CONTENT IN THE SIEROSZOWICE CU-AG ORE DEPOSIT (LUBIN-GŁOGÓW COPPER DISTRICT)
Authors: WASILEWSKA-BŁASZCZYK Monika , KRUK Mateusz , Mucha Jacek
Published: May 2017

The paper attempts to evaluate the possibility of reliable 3D modelling of lead content against the reliability of 3D modelling of Cu and Ag (main metals in the Sieroszowice Cu-Ag deposit) contents. The 3D modelling of the content of these elements was performed using interpolation (ordinary kriging in two variants, and squared inverse distance weighting) and simulation methods (Turning Bands Simulation). The assessment of the accuracy of estimates of metal contents determined from the 3D model, based on both spot samples and a training set, has shown that the estimated contents of Cu and Ag are acceptable for geological and mining applications (medians of estimation errors in the order of 40%), while the reliability of the Pb model is low (medians of estimation errors in the order of 70%). This is due to the unfavourable statistical features of the majority of the accompanying elements and, in particular, the highly asymmetric probability distributions, their high variability, the presence of numerous anomalous values, and the much lower density of the sampling network in the mining excavations when determining accompanying elements other than Cu. In general, the calculated medians of interpolation errors for the four methods do not allow determining the one providing (in each case) higher accuracy when assessing the content of the elements.
Czy smog ma wpływ na częstość występowania zaostrzeń przewlekłego zapalenia krtani? Analiza na przykładzie mieszkańców województwa małopolskiego
Authors: Ziarno Remigiusz , Suska Anna , Kulinowski Wojciech , Grudzień-Ziarno Aleksandra , Kostrzon Magdalena , Paciorek Magdalena , Składzień Jacek
Published: May 2017

Introduction:
Due to dynamic industrialisation smog became a frequent phenomenon in most developing cities. According to the last WHO report from Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution Database, Krakow has been classified in the 11th place among the most polluted cities in Europe. It seems to be an urgent issue because of the influence of air pollution on the condition of upper respiratory tract.
Materials & Methods:
In December 2015 there were 141 patients aged 17-91 years with upper respiratory tract diseases admitted to the phoniatric outpatient clinic in the University Hospital in Cracow. They suffered from cough, hoarseness and periodic aphonia. On the basis of the results of videolaryngostroboscopy 60 patients with exacerbation of the chronic laryngitis were selected into two numerically equal groups: from Cracow and from other places at least 60 km away. The groups were equal to each other also in three categories: sex, age and voice usage. The patients were referred to the Pedagogical University in Cracow for laryngography to evaluate the movement of the vocal folds and to trace a voice profile. Finally, there were two possible types of treatment – conventional pharmacotherapy or subterraneotherapy in the underground Health Resort in the "Wieliczka" Salt Mine.
Results:
Pearson correlation coefficient between the distance from the place of residence to Cracow and the scale of exacerbation of inflammation of upper respiratory tract presenting as vocal fold dysfunction was observed (r= 0,617; p<0,05).
Conclusion:
The place of residence (in or out of the industrial area) and exacerbations of chronic laryngitis are highly correlated. Air pollution seems to be the main factor influencing on the condition of upper respiratory tract. In our local conditions of Lesser Poland Voivodeship subterraneotherapy may be an interesting, non-invasive method preventing from exacerbations of upper respiratory tract diseases.
Maktspill i Khartoum
Authors: Sørensen Claes-Johan L.
Published: May 2017

Våren 1986 ble det holdt frie valg i Sudan. Et nytt, demokratisk regime ble innført etter sytten år under militært diktatur. Men gleden ble kortvarig. Regimet var ustabilt og i juni 1989 grep general Omar al-Bashir makten ved et militærkupp.
Khatamis nederlag
Authors: Shahibzadeh Yadullah , Selvik Kjetil
Published: May 2017

Løftene fra 1997-valget er ikke innfridd. Hvor gikk det galt for den iranske reformpresidenten?
Den intellektuelle balansegangen mellom kalifatet og sultanatet i Midtøstens middelalder
Authors: Nilsen Ahl Vegard
Published: May 2017

Ideen om kalifatet som den ideelle styreformen er, som Den islamske staten viser, en høyst levende idé som finnes hos sunnimuslimer i dag som i middelalderen. Denne artikkelen utforsker hvordan et utvalg tenkere forholdt seg til overgangen fra kalifatet til sultanatet.
Prinsessemakt i Saudi-Arabia
Authors: Stenslie Stig
Published: May 2017

Saudi-Arabias prinsesser øver betydelig politisk innflytelse. Dette til tross for at de ikke besitter noen viktige formelle politiske posisjoner. Enda viktigere er kvinnenes bidrag til å holde samlet kongefamilien, Al Sa‘ud, og dermed sikre dens grep om makten.
Mellom knapphet og overflod
Authors: Claes Dag Harald
Published: May 2017

Midtøsten er ofte i det internasjonale mediebildet knyttet til krig, terror og andre former for voldelig konflikt. Det er imidlertid på det oljeøkonomiske området landene i Midtøsten har størst internasjonal betydning.
Irak - et nytt, sort hull i det internasjonale samfunnet?
Authors: Kvanvig Gisle
Published: May 2017

Irak i dag er et lovløst land hvor kriminalitet og korrupsjon utgjør en integrert del av konfliktdynamikken.
Er religiøs kunnskap en trussel mot det tradisjonelle patriarkatet?
Authors: Solheim Benedicte , Bøe Janne
Published: May 2017

På Vestbredden, som så mange andre steder i den muslimske verden, har det vært en økende “islamiseringsprosess” de siste tiårene. Dette gir seg utslag i at palestinere i større grad blir religiøst bevisste. Flere drar på pilgrimsreise til Mekka, ønsket om å lære mer om islam er økende, og kvinner som pleide å bruke korte skjørt og gå barhodet på 1970-tallet kler seg nå i hijab Hvordan kan denne utviklingen i de palestinske områdene forklares? Hvilken rolle spiller patriarkatet som tradisjonell institusjon i denne utviklingen? Og hvilke konsekvenser har den for palestinske kvinner?
Colonization in Zionist and Israeli History
Authors: Pappé Ilan
Published: May 2017

In this article the Israeli Historian Ilan Pappé discusses the historical and Jewish Israeli contemporary colonisation of Palestine and the resultant ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Pappé is one of the so-called New (Israeli) Historians who questioned the Israeli official Zionist narrative and present alternatives to its presentations of history and of the image of the state of Israel.
Utilização de Técnicas de Processamento de Imagens e Classificação de Padrões no Reconhecimento de Dígitos em Imagens de Medidores de Consumo de Gás Natural
Authors: Gonçalves Julio Cesar , Centeno Tania Mezzadri
Published: May 2017

Este trabalho propõe uma abordagem que emprega técnicas de processamento de imagens e classificação de padrões para o reconhecimento de dígitos apresentados no contador de consumo de medidores de gás natural. Tais imagens são obtidas em campo a partir de condições reais de operação, diferentemente da maioria das abordagens encontradas na literatura que se baseiam em imagens adquiridas em ambientes controlados. Inicialmente, o contador de consumo é segmentado por técnicas de processamento de imagens. A segmentação é realizada com base no espaço de cor HSL da imagem, diferentemente da maioria dos trabalhos apresentados na literatura, que utilizam imagens em tons de cinza. Em seguida, os dígitos são individualmente segmentados e suas características são extraídas de modo a compor uma base de conhecimento. Esta base serve de apoio para realizar a classificação e o reconhecimento dos dígitos. A metodologia mostrou-se promissora neste cenário, chegando a alcançar 95% de taxa de acerto no reconhecimento dos dígitos. Apresentou menos de 5% de falha no processo de segmentação do contador de consumo, considerando-se uma base com 903 imagens de medidores de gás.
Differentiation of natural populations of the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Ukrainian Polissya based on the findings of research into the morphological markers of cones and seeds
Authors: Mazhula Olga , Fuchylo Yaroslav , Gordiyaschenko Alyona
Published: May 2017

Research into variability of morphological markers of the reproductive organs in nine natural populations of the  Scots pine of Ukrainian Polissya (Volyn, Rivne, Zhytomyr, and Kyiv regions) was carried out during which the colour of cones, seeds, winged seeds, and the apophysis of the cones of the trees of native populations of the Scots pine were examined.
The quantity and percentage of different morphological forms of the  cone and seeds of the  trees of investigated populations were defined. Trees with hooked (f. reflexa) apophysis of the cone (turning upwards) were discovered. As shown in the results of investigations, natural populations of the  Scots pine of Ukrainian Polissya are characterized by a  large variability of morphological forms. Altogether, 17 new forms of apophysis were described.
Cluster analysis of a complex of morphological markers was conducted. It showed differentiation of some populations from the Rivne region.
Ouvrir les portes de la prison : plaidoyer en faveur de la psychoéducation en milieu carcéral
Authors: Arseneault Catherine , Plourde Chantal , Marcotte Julie , Alain Marc , Bédard-Nadeau Marie-Eve
Published: May 2017

Cet article vise à situer et à promouvoir la place de l’intervention psychoéducative auprès des personnes adultes délinquantes et criminalisées prises en charge par les systèmes correctionnels québécois et canadien. Malgré la diversité des milieux dans lesquels oeuvrent les psychoéducateurs, leur présence au sein des milieux carcéraux fait encore figure d’exception. Les données les plus récentes obtenues montrent qu’uniquement 0,36 % des psychoéducateurs membres de l’Ordre des psychoéducateurs et psychoéducatrices du Québec oeuvrent dans ces milieux. Cet article présente d’abord un examen des particularités du milieu carcéral, les deux principales philosophies d’intervention correctionnelle ainsi que certaines notions historiques essentielles à la compréhension des pratiques en milieu carcéral. Les meilleures pratiques visant la réduction de la récidive, objectif ultime de toutes interventions correctionnelles, seront ensuite dépeintes. L’intervention en milieu carcéral comportant plusieurs défis, notamment en raison du contexte contraignant d’intervention, certains enjeux qui guettent les psychoéducateurs désirant oeuvrer auprès de cette clientèle seront présentés. Tout au long de l’article, les liens entre l’intervention correctionnelle et l’intervention psychoéducative ayant pu être tracés par l’examen des milieux carcéraux sont présentés sous forme de sept différentes pièces à conviction. Ces pièces à conviction représentent des arguments qui soutiennent le plaidoyer, notre plaidoyer : notre souhait que les psychoéducateurs innovent pour que la psychoéducation soit présente dans les milieux carcéraux et ainsi que ces milieux bénéficient de l’expertise psychoéducative.
Évaluation de la trousse d’intervention A pour Autre©
Authors: St-Laurent Daphnée , Poulin Marie-Hélène
Published: May 2017

Cet article porte sur les résultats obtenus dans le cadre de l’évaluation de la trousse d’intervention A pour Autre©. Il s’agit d’une trousse pédagogique composée de trois outils (guide, DVD, plateforme web interactive) élaborée pour soutenir l’apprentissage des habiletés sociales chez les jeunes présentant un trouble du spectre de l’autisme (TSA) âgés entre 6 et 17 ans. Elle s’adresse aux personnes autistes ainsi qu’à leurs parents et leurs intervenants. Une enquête par questionnaire en ligne et par la poste a été menée entre mars 2015 et février 2016 dans le but d’établir un portrait des utilisateurs ainsi que d’évaluer leur appréciation des divers éléments de la trousse. Cent cinq personnes (N = 105) ont répondu au questionnaire et vingt-huit (n =28) utilisent les outils. De façon globale, elles sont satisfaites de leur expérience (ergonomie du site web et utilité des outils) et considèrent la trousse efficace pour l’enseignement des habiletés sociales. Les répondants souhaitent que d’autres vidéos abordant des thèmes différents soient offertes.
Effet du Projet TRANSITION sur le rendement scolaire des jeunes ayant un trouble déficit de l’attention avec ou sans hyperactivité
Authors: Girard Lapointe Julie , Normandeau Sylvie
Published: May 2017

Le trouble déficit de l’attention avec ou sans hyperactivité (TDAH) est un problème chronique qui affecte plusieurs aspects du fonctionnement des jeunes, dont le rendement scolaire. Ces jeunes sont particulièrement à risque de vivre des difficultés importantes lors de leur passage au secondaire, notamment à cause des difficultés organisationnelles associées au TDAH. Or, peu d’interventions sont disponibles pour ces élèves et leur famille. Le Projet TRANSITION propose des interventions ciblant les stratégies d’études et les habiletés organisationnelles afin de soutenir les élèves ayant un TDAH et leurs parents. La présente étude vise à évaluer l’effet du Projet TRANSITION sur le rendement scolaire. L’échantillon est composé de 47 familles, réparties aléatoirement entre un groupe participant à l’intervention et un groupe contrôle recevant les services habituels de la communauté. À la fin du secondaire 1, les parents dont l’enfant a participé à l’intervention rapportent un meilleur rendement scolaire de leur enfant. Cependant, il n’y a pas de différences significatives entre les groupes pour ce qui est du rendement scolaire selon le bulletin ou du rendement scolaire rapporté par le jeune. Cette étude contribue à enrichir les connaissances sur l’efficacité d’interventions pour un groupe de jeunes sous-représenté dans la littérature.
Sexe, psychanalyse et religion1
Authors: Larivée Serge
Published: May 2017

La publication de l’ouvrage de Patrick Doucet (2016),La vie sexuelle des enfants? Tout ce qu’on aimerait sans doute savoir mais qu’on ne souhaite peut-être pas entendre, a soulevé des controverses dans les médias. Ce texte comprend trois parties, la première est consacrée à la présentation de l’ouvrage de Doucet, la deuxième à ma réaction aux propos de Louis Cornellier concernant la psychanalyse et la troisième, à la dénonciation de Paul-André Deschenes qui accuse les soi-disant spécialistes du sexe de vouloir pervertir les enfants. J’en profiterai alors pour dénoncer l’attitude de l’Église relative aux prêtres pédophiles.
Vision de chercheur, de clinicien ou de forcené de l’autisme? Laurent Mottron crée sa méthode ICI
Authors: Giroux Normand
Published: May 2017

Une première partie de cet article recense le livre récent de Laurent Mottron,L’intervention précoce pour enfants autistes. L’idée porteuse de ce livre est que l’intelligence des autistes les sauve et que l’aide apportée en bas-âge doit se limiter à favoriser l’éclosion de cette intelligence et son déploiement. La recension constate qu’il s’agit non de science, mais de pseudo-science. Une seconde partie de l’article rétablit la bonne perspective : l’autisme est un dérèglement du psychique à géométrie variable qui appelle une intervention directe, formelle, explicite, transformatrice. L’analyse appliquée du comportement demeure la meilleure source pour cette intervention précoce.
Second regard sur le processus d’évaluation par les pairs1
Authors: Larivée Serge , Sénéchal Carole , Blondin-Provost Marc-Olivier , Perreault Claude
Published: May 2017

L’objectif de ce texte est de faire écho à l’éditorial du présent numéro qui porte en partie sur le processus d’évaluation par les pairs propre aux revues scientifiques. Le texte comprend trois parties. Dans la première nous exposons brièvement les précautions prises pour éviter que le contenu d’un article sur les miracles soit complètement irrecevable dans une revue de sciences dite religieuses. Dans la deuxième, nous présentons dans l’ordre les évaluations par les pairs des huit revues qui ont refusé de le publier en les identifiant par A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H. En réaction aux évaluations reçues, la troisième partie fait l’objet de quelques réflexions sur le processus d’évaluation par les pairs utilisé lors de la soumission d’articles scientifiques.
Interactions of 172 plant extracts with human organic anion transporter 1 (SLC22A6) and 3 (SLC22A8): a study on herb-drug interactions
Authors: Lu Hang , Lu Zhiqiang , Li Xue , Li Gentao , Qiao Yilin , Borris Robert P. , Zhang Youcai
Published: May 2017

Background

Herb-drug interactions (HDIs) resulting from concomitant use of herbal products with clinical drugs may cause adverse reactions. Organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) and 3 (OAT3) are highly expressed in the kidney and play a key role in the renal elimination of substrate drugs. So far, little is known about the herbal extracts that could modulate OAT1 and OAT3 activities.

Methods

HEK293 cells stably expressing human OAT1 (HEK-OAT1) and OAT3 (HEK-OAT3) were established and characterized. One hundred seventy-two extracts from 37 medicinal and economic plants were prepared. An initial concentration of 5 µg/ml for each extract was used to evaluate their effects on 6-carboxylfluorescein (6-CF) uptake in HEK-OAT1 and HEK-OAT3 cells. Concentration-dependent inhibition studies were conducted for those extracts with more than 50% inhibition to OAT1 and OAT3. The extract ofJuncus effusus, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, was assessed for its effect on thein vivopharmacokinetic parameters of furosemide, a diuretic drug which is a known substrate of both OAT1 and OAT3.

Results

More than 30% of the plant extracts at the concentration of 5 µg/ml showed strong inhibitory effect on the 6-CF uptake mediated by OAT1 (61 extracts) and OAT3 (55 extracts). Among them, three extracts for OAT1 and fourteen extracts for OAT3 were identified as strong inhibitors with IC50values being <5 µg/ml.Juncus effususshowed a strong inhibition to OAT3in vitro, and markedly altered thein vivopharmacokinetic parameters of furosemide in rats.

Conclusion

The present study identified the potential interactions of medicinal and economic plants with human OAT1 and OAT3, which is helpful to predict and to avoid potential OAT1- and OAT3-mediated HDIs.
The role of kelp crabs as consumers in bull kelp forests—evidence from laboratory feeding trials and field enclosures
Authors: Dobkowski Katie
Published: May 2017

The Northern kelp crab (Pugettia producta) and the graceful kelp crab (Pugettia gracilis) are common primary consumers in bull kelp beds near the San Juan Islands (Salish Sea, NE Pacific). In this system, urchins (often considered the most voracious herbivores exerting top-down control on kelp beds) tend to remain sedentary because of the high availability of detrital macroalgae, but the extent to which kelp crabs consume kelp (and other food options) is largely unknown. I conducted four types of laboratory feeding experiments to evaluate kelp crab feeding patterns: (1) feeding electivity between bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) and seven species of co-occurring local macroalgae; (2) feeding electivity on aged vs. fresh bull kelp; (3) feeding preference between N. luetkeana and small snails (Lacuna sp.); and (4) scaling of feeding rate with body size in P. producta and P. gracilis. In choice experiments, P. producta consumed greater mass of N. luetkeana than of other macroalgal species offered and elected to eat fresh bull kelp over aged. However, P. producta also consumed snails (Lacuna sp.), indicating more generalized feeding than previously suspected. Feeding rates for P. producta exceeded the expected 3∕4 scaling rule of metabolic rates, indicating that larger P. producta may have a disproportionately large impact on bull kelp. A subtidal field experiment, designed to assess the influence of consumers on juvenile bull kelp net tissue gain, found that only fully enclosed (protected) bull kelp increased in wet mass and blade length. Herbivory by kelp crabs, among other consumers, is likely to play a previously unrecognized role in mediating the growth and survival of this annual kelp species within the Salish Sea.