bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cytotoxicity and cytochrome P450 inhibitory activities of Clinacanthus nutans
Authors: Quah Suk Yen , Chin Jin Han , Akowuah Gabriel Akyirem , Khalivulla Shaik Ibrahim , Yeong Siew Wei , Sabu Mandumpal Chacko
Published: March 2017

Background:

Clinacanthus nutans Lindau (family: Acanthaceae), also known as “Sabah Snake Grass” or “Belalai Gajah” in Malaysia, has been widely used by Malaysians due to its anticancer property. However, the anticancer activity of C. nutans leaves extract and its safe use need to be further investigated. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of methanol leaves extract of C. nutans in various human cancer cell lines and to evaluate the in vitro effect of C. nutans leaves on the activity of CYP3A4 and CYP2E1 in human liver microsomes.

Methods:

The cytotoxic effects of methanol extract of C. nutans leaves in various cancer cell lines (Hep-G2, A549, HT-29, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and CRL 1739) and normal cells (3T3) were determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell proliferation assay. The activities of CYP3A4 and CYP2E1 were determined using simple spectrophotometric methods.

Results:

Results obtained showed that the methanol extract of C. nutans leaves exhibited the highest cytotoxic effect against Hep-G2 cell lines (liver cancer) (IC50=13.33 μg/mL), followed by breast cancer oestrogen negative (MDA-MB-231) (IC50 of 18.67 μg/mL). Methanol leaves extract of C. nutans showed significant inhibition (p<0.05) in CYP3A4 and CYP2E1 activity in human liver microsomes.

Conclusions:

In conclusion, methanol leaves extract of C. nutans exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity against liver cancer cells (Hep-G2). There is a possibility that herb-drug interaction could occur with C. nutans through inhibitory effects on CYP3A4. Additionally, inhibition of C. nutans on CYP2E1 could show anti-carcinogenesis effects in human liver microsomes.
‘VIPsm’, A Threat to Social Stability in South Africa: From Apartheid Exclusions to Democratized Inequalities
Authors: Rapatsa Mashele
Published: March 2017

The object of this article is to present a critical analysis of the impact of the notion of ‘VIPsm’, a phenomenon through which human beings are socially ‘categorized’ or ‘classed’ according to status or wealth or position being held in society. The article is predicated on South Africa’s discernible constitutional pursuit of attaining social stability and equitable social justice. This work is also considerate of the country’s known unpleasant history of apartheid’s acute race-based social exclusions, and in contrast, the post 1994 persistent social and economic inequalities which thus far proliferates material disadvantage, poverty, social discontent and protests amongst citizens. The article employed ‘Transformational Leadership theory ‘and ‘Power and Influence theories’ as tools of analysis, given that the Constitution, 1996 is transformative in nature and thus require ‘transformational leaders’ in order to achieve its major goal of burying wounds of the past, to build one unified nation that is socially stable. It is asserted that social challenges and superfluous differential treatment of humans besieging contemporary South Africa are suggestive of the presence of leadership that is self-centered, opulence driven, and has little or no regard for the poor and thus, disfavor the solidarity principle.
Special or Inclusive Education in Romania?
Authors: Alexiu Teodor Mircea , Baciu Elena-Loreni , Sandvin Johans Tveit , Birneanu Andreea Georgiana
Published: March 2017

In our paper we will try to explore the process of reforming the “special needs education” ideology of the Romanian school system toward the European target called “inclusive education”. Following the method of inquiry named Institutional Ethnography, our study investigated first the everyday dysfunctional experiences of special needs populations approaching the scholar system, and then the institutional response for these dysfunctionalities, the final target being a better understanding and finding solutions to the problematics encountered.

After the dissolution of the communist regime very few disabled students succeeded to be integrated in the general education and these happy cases happened in the prestige schools with dedicated teachers and mainly because of the huge efforts of the parents. The most part of the disabled students had to address the old special schools (much less organized and financed than they used to be) to get vocational training for the special protected units that disappeared in the meantime.

An inclusive school would be fit for an inclusive society but when the labour market and society as a whole is excluding this category, the segregated education seem the proper approach and illustrate the reproductive efforts of the society through the education in the Bourdieu perspective.

In fact the “inclusive education” European model seems still far for Romania. Even the objective is clear the path is still unclear, due the discriminatory resistance of the society. A learning process is needed but the process seems difficult because “students” refuse to learn it and teachers seem very hard to find.
印尼福建话的语言活力: 以棉兰与泗水为例
Authors: 晓梅 王 , 家丰 祝
Published: March 2017

福建人是印尼最大的方言群，根据 1947 年的人口统计，其人口约占印尼华人人口的 31.6%。关于福建人的语言使用，既有的研究多集中于印尼福建话（闽南话）的描写，而缺乏语言活力的调查；即使是已有的语言使用的研究也多以在华的印尼留学生为调查对象，缺少在地的实际调查；而有限的实证研究又多以华语学习者或教师为研究对象，很难全面反映福建人语言使用的实际状况。有鉴于此，本研究选取福建人较为集中的两个城市进行实地的访问调查，这两个城市分别为苏门答腊岛的棉兰和爪哇岛的泗水。田野调查于 2015 年 7 月 28 日至 8 月 5 日期间展开，主要研究工具为语言活力调查问卷（共 30 个项目），调查主要以面访的形式进行，尽量涵盖不同年龄层与性别的福建人。本研究共收集 64 份问卷（棉兰 32 份，泗水 32 份）。研究结果显示，印尼福建人的语言使用呈现明显的地域差异。棉兰与泗水在多数项目上都有明显差异，尤其是福建话水平与家庭用语。这些特点和差异都与印尼国家与语言政策的演变密切相关。在调查结果的基础上，本文尝试预测印尼福建话的发展前景，并与马来西亚华人的语言状况作出比较。
马来西亚华语概说
Authors: 熙 郭
Published: March 2017

由于国情、生存的社会、历史条件等不同，发展到今天，马来西亚华语既不同于普通话，也不同于新加坡、香港、美国等地的华语变体，研究的意义和价值很大。文章从以下几个方面展开讨论：语言背景和语言政策、马来西亚华人社会和马来西亚华语的发展、华语变体与华人的语言使用、马来西亚华语的特点、马来西亚华语研究。
论汉字再演化
Authors: 有為 史
Published: March 2017

提要

1）汉字统一是汉语与汉族统一与中国统一的支持因素，也是现阶段最重要的汉字战略。2）我们需要从中国看世界，也要从世界看中国。3）简化字存在明显的优点与不足。汉字或繁体汉字并非造成文盲的根本原因。在电脑-数字时代，对汉字再演化提出了新的课题。4）汉字简化将会优化。民间繁简共存、共识、共用是汉字统一最重要的一步。
Study on regeneration of spent activated carbon by using a clean technology
Authors: Ma Aiyuan , Zheng Xuemei , Liu Chenhui , Peng Jinhui , Li Shiwei , Zhang Libo , Liu Chao
Published: March 2017

In this paper, microwave regeneration of spent activated carbon saturated with organic compounds was investigated. It has been observed from the present experiments that the microwave regeneration temperature and time have significant influences on iodine adsorption value and yield of the regenerated activated carbon (RAC). The characteristics of the RAC were examined by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The RAC has a greatly higher surface area (743.6~264.1 m2/g), total pore volume (0.54~0.22 cm3/g), and a relatively smaller average pore width (28.83~33.58 nm) compared to the spent catalyst. The separation mechanism for activated carbon and organic impurities was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS). It was a process in which the organic impurities were aggregated from the pore internal migration to the surface at low temperatures, and the organic impurities were completely decomposed as the temperature increased to 900°C for 40 min. Simultaneously, a hexagonal crystal structure material of ZnO was obtained.
β-NGF and β-NGF receptor upregulation in blood and synovial fluid in osteoarthritis
Authors: Montagnoli Claudia , Tiribuzi Roberto , Crispoltoni Lucia , Pistilli Alessandra , Stabile Anna Maria , Manfreda Francesco , Placella Giacomo , Rende Mario , Cerulli Giuliano G.
Published: March 2017

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is the most common form of non-traumatic joint disease. Previous studies have shown the involvement of β-NGF and its receptors TrKA and p75NTR in OA-related pain, but their role in its pathogenesis is still unclear. The aim of our study was to investigate the amount of β-NGF and the expression levels of its receptors on cells isolated from synovial fluid and blood from OA patients who had undergone total knee arthroplasty, in order to check any possible correlation with the disease staging. Our results show a progressive stage-related increase of β-NGF and its receptors both in serum and synovial fluid. Furthermore, with respect to control subjects, OA patients show an increased amount of inflammatory monocytes along with an increased expression of β-NGF, TrKA and p75NTR. In conclusion, our study suggests a stage-related modulation of β-NGF and its receptors in the inflammatory process of OA.
Structural and functional insight into pan-endopeptidase inhibition by α2-macroglobulins
Authors: Goulas Theodoros , Garcia-Ferrer Irene , Marrero Aniebrys , Marino-Puertas Laura , Duquerroy Stephane , Gomis-Rüth F. Xavier
Published: March 2017

Peptidases must be exquisitely regulated to prevent erroneous cleavage and one control is provided by protein inhibitors. These are usually specific for particular peptidases or families and sterically block the active-site cleft of target enzymes using lock-and-key mechanisms. In contrast, members of the +1400-residue multi-domain α2-macroglobulin inhibitor family (α2Ms) are directed against a broad spectrum of endopeptidases of disparate specificities and catalytic types, and they inhibit their targets without disturbing their active sites. This is achieved by irreversible trap mechanisms resulting from large conformational rearrangement upon cleavage in a promiscuous bait region through the prey endopeptidase. After decades of research, high-resolution structural details of these mechanisms have begun to emerge for tetrameric and monomeric α2Ms, which use ‘Venus-flytrap’ and ‘snap-trap’ mechanisms, respectively. In the former, represented by archetypal human α2M, inhibition is exerted through physical entrapment in a large cage, in which preys are still active against small substrates and inhibitors that can enter the cage through several apertures. In the latter, represented by a bacterial α2M fromEscherichia coli, covalent linkage and steric hindrance of the prey inhibit activity, but only against very large substrates.
The relationship between strength measurements and anthropometric indicators (BMI and skinfold thickness) in Ellisras rural adolescents aged 9–15 years: Ellisras longitudinal study
Authors: Nkwana Mbelege R. , Monyeki Kotsedi D. , Matshipi Moloko , Sekgala Machoene D. , Ramoshaba Nthai E. , Mashiane Tshephang M.J.
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Handgrip strength and arm hang have been recognized as predictors of muscle strength and presented as biomarkers for important health outcomes and overall fitness of an individual. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between arm hang and handgrip strength with BMI and skinfold thickness.

Methods

The total of 769 children (391 boys and 378 girls) aged 9–15 years underwent a series of anthropometric and strength measurements with the use of standard procedures. Linear regression was applied to assess the relationship of arm hang and handgrip strengths with body mass index and skinfold thickness.

Results

The prevalence of undernutrition and low strength measurements was high (1.7–85%) while the prevalence of overweight and obesity was low (1.5–4.2%) in the Ellisras children aged 9–15 years. Boys showed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) mean arm hang (9.6–13.1 kg) than girls (4.0–5.1 kg) aged 11–15 years. There was a significant (p < 0.05) association between low strength and underweight among Ellisras rural children when unadjusted (OR = 0.650; 95% CI = 0.487–0.867) and adjusted (OR = 0.650; 95% CI = 0.489–0.868) for age and gender.

Conclusions

The prevalence of undernutrition and poor strength was high. An association was observed between arm hang and anthropometric indicators while handgrip showed no significant association with anthropometric indicators. Further studies are needed to investigate the association between strength and undernutrition over time.
Blood pressure responses after a session of functional training in young adults and the elderly: a pilot study
Authors: Lima Reinaldo Roberto Correia , Oliveira Caio Victor Coutinho De , Gomes Jorge Luiz De Brito , Silva Cyntia Nislane Pereira Da , Souza Adriene Melo De , Rabay Aline Nóbrega , Silva Thamires Barbosa Da , Santos Marcos Antônio Pereira Dos , Brito Aline De Freitas
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The potential of functional training (FT) to improve health is evident. However, regarding post-exercise hypotension (PEH) in older adults, there are few data. The study aimed to determine the cardiometabolic demand imposed by an FT session and evaluate PEH, comparing it with exercise sessions with aerobic and resistance exercises in physically active practitioners.

Methods

Fourteen young (23.3 ± 2 years) and 15 older (68 ± 4 years) adults underwent a control session and FT session randomly determined. Blood pressure, heart rate, and double product were recorded at rest, during exercise, and in every 10 minutes over 60 minutes of recovery. Additionally, we measured the rate of perceived exertion (RPE).

Results

The FT protocol promoted systolic PEH in both groups in the last half of recovery, reaching a reduction of 10.4 ± 4.9 mm Hg in young and 13.4 ± 3.8 mm Hg in older adults (p < 0.05). No differences were observed between the groups (p > 0.05). There were no differences between the groups with reference to RPE at any time (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

A single FT session is able to promote PEH in normotensive young and borderline hypertensive older adults but without changing the RPE in comparison over the time, owing to a great similarity of FT practices in the groups.
Symptoms and Driving Factors of Contemporary Earth Warming and Projections for the Future
Authors: Wibig Joanna
Published: March 2017

This paper outlines the symptoms of contemporary global warming, reviews its possible driving factors and presents some projections for future. Key among the symptoms are those related to temperature, with the increase in average global temperature since 1880 now reaching a value of 0.85°C. While warming has encompassed almost the whole world, the high latitudes have warmed more than the low, and maximum temperature has increased more than average temperature. Warming has been causing sea level rise, thanks to both the thermal expansion of warming water and the melting of ice on land.

The other consequence of warming is a change in precipitation pattern, manifesting itself in higher precipitation in certain parts of the world (generally at low and high latitudes), but also lower precipitation in other parts (mainly the Tropics); as well as in changes in the intraannual course characterising precipitation (with more falling in winter and less in summer), and in the frequency and intensity of rainfall (more intense heavy-precipitation events and higher variability where the frequency of precipitation is concerned).

Among the possible driving factors, the most important are those related to the increase of CO2 and mixing ratios of other greenhouse gases in the troposphere. Land-use changes and emissions of aerosols to the atmosphere also exert a major impact on temperature. These are mainly anthropogenic factors. While natural drivers also modulate the climate markedly, they tend to warm and cool the globe alternately, stepping up warming when they are in a warming phase, but slowing down or even offsetting warming during a cooling phase.

Projections for the future are entirely dependent on socio-economic scenarios of future development. All the (economically) realistic scenarios point to a continuation of the warming trend, with a further intense sea-level rise and precipitation changes, albeit with the rate of change varying in line with the rate of increase in concentrations of the greenhouse gases. The realistic range of values for average rise in global temperature is between 2 and even 6 degrees Celsius.
The Management of the Globe’s Resources in the Light of Recent Papal Encyclicals
Authors: Gutry-Korycka Małgorzata
Published: March 2017

This paper focuses mainly on human ecology and social-geography related aspects of the Encyclicals issued and published in the course of the three last Pontificates – i.e. those of John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis, as addressed to both the faithful of the Roman Catholic Church and all people of good will.

In his Encyclicals, the late Pope John Paul II is seen to refer to contemporary problems pervading and perplexing the world, drawing particular attention to the further development of civilisation and to social (i.e. social inequality) aspects and changes ongoing. Holy Father John Paul II refers inter alia to a perceived boundary between wellbeing and poverty running within the same societies, be these highly developed or only just embarking on the path of development, and also offers very profound justification for the idea that the fundamental unit of human ecology is the family, as the foundation of both life and development.

Consideration is then given to a 6-part Encyclical issued by Pope Benedict XVI, it being noted how His Holiness’s point of view, and way of looking at the sustainable development of the environment and the Earth is presented in a concrete, synthetic and very concise manner.

For his part, Pope Francis in his Laudato Si Encyclical – is shown to detail profound cause-effect linkage between the present economic situation globally and the huge disparities within and between societies. Also highlighted is His Holiness’s proposal that a so-called integral ecology be introduced.

The paper’s author concludes by recalling other recent (July 2016) events that are also of exceptional relevance to the subject, i.e. the World Youth Days held in Kraków with the participation of Pope Francis. Here, special reference is made to content in which His Holiness addresses current challenges to the several million young people present, and puts forward views regarding a new social and human revolution.
Monitoring of Greenhouse Gases in the Atmosphere – A Polish Perspective
Authors: Różański Kazimierz , Chmura Łukasz , Gałkowski Michał , Nęcki Jarosław , Zimnoch Mirosław , Bartyzel Jakub , O’Doherty Simon
Published: March 2017

An overview of systematic observations of the trace-gas composition of the atmosphere over southern Poland is presented, against the background of data available for other greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring stations in Europe. The results of GHG monitoring for three major greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O) are discussed. Measurements were performed at two locations of contrasting characteristics, i.e. (i) the high-altitude mountain station of Kasprowy Wierch in the High Tatras, representing atmospheric conditions relatively free of local influences, and (ii) an urban station located in the Krakow agglomeration. The GHG data available for the Kasprowy Wierch station were compared with relevant data available for two marine reference stations (Mace Head, Ireland and Terceira Island, Azores), and two continental stations (Hohenpeissenberg, Germany and Pallas-Sammaltunturi, Finland). The growth rates for the CO2 mole fraction recorded at these five stations reveal only small temporal changes that almost coincide, leading to a quasi-linear increase of the CO2 mixing ratio over the European continent over the past 20 years. While N2O observations also reveal a steady increase over this time period, the mole fraction accounted for by CH4 is increasing again, after a period of stagnation in the years 2001–2007. The impact of continental sources of CH4 and N2O is seen clearly in the Kasprowy Wierch records. The mean departure between the CH4 mixing ratios recorded at Kasprowy Wierch and at the marine reference stations in the period 1994–2014 is of 27.3 ppb, and stems from continental emissions of this gas originating mainly from anthropogenic activities (leaking natural-gas distribution networks, landfills and livestock). For N2O, a departure of 1 ppb was observed for the period 2009–2014. Comparison of quasi-continuous measurements of CO2, CH4 and N2O mixing ratios made in the urban atmosphere of Krakow and at the regional reference site Kasprowy Wierch (located approximately 100 km away), allows for a deeper insight into the mechanisms controlling daily variations in atmospheric mixing ratios of these gases at the two sites. The development of a nocturnal inversion layer in the atmosphere above the city leads to local enhancements of CO2, CH4 and N2O mole fractions in the Krakow atmosphere during the night hours, with these exceeding the baseline level significantly.
Bogota – Urban Expansion Social Segregation and Land Degradation
Authors: Czerny Mirosława , Czerny Andrzej
Published: March 2017

Colombia’s capital city Bogota was founded in 1538 by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, a Spanish Conquistador who came down from the north to reach the Sabana de Bogotá, i.e. the intermountain plateau (and “Savannah”) around Bogota. The whole region was already well-developed by then, and inhabited by the Muisca people. Their settlements were dispersed across the plateau, though only rarely did these encompass flat areas suitable for crop-growing. Today’s Bogota is the largest metropolitan area in the country, with more than 8 million residents currently, and occupying a considerable part of the extensive high plateau. Processes which have resulted in Bogota’s present spatial form and its – in some ways – unique functional and spatial structure, are manifold, and highly complex. They include environmental, political, social and economic factors. Nevertheless, among all of these cause-and-effect processes, institutionalized segregation (called estratificación in Colombia) is the reason why rigid spatial structures are maintained, while the spontaneous and uncontrolled movement of groups of people within the city and from one social class to another is restricted.
Perturbation Analysis of the LMI-Based Continuous-time Linear Quadratic Regulator Problem for Descriptor Systems
Authors: Yonchev A.
Published: March 2017

This paper considers an approach to perform perturbation analysis of linear quadratic regulator (LQR) control problem for continuous-time descriptor systems. The investigated control problem is based on solving LMIs (Linear Matrix Inequalities) and applying Lyapunov functions. The paper is concerned with obtaining linear perturbation bounds for the continuous-time LQR control problem for descriptor systems. The computed perturbation bounds can be used to study the effect of perturbations in system and controller on feasibility and performance of the considered control problem. A numerical example is also presented in the paper.
Model Aspects of Quality of Service Management in Machine to Machine Communications
Authors: Atanasov I. , Nikolov A. , Pencheva E.
Published: March 2017

Machine-to-Machine communications (M2M) allow connected devices to exchange data and perform actions without human intervention. Different M2M applications have different quality of service (QoS) requirements. The dynamic QoS control is critical for applications like video surveillance, transportation services, and industrial control. The provided QoS depends on device connectivity. Connectivity management provides centralized management of M2M devices and connections. The paper studies model aspects of QoS management for connected M2M devices by means of connectivity management. Models for connectivity management are suggested, formally described and verified. The capabilities for device connectivity management are used to model the behavior of autonomous agent for dynamic QoS control.
Relation Between Microclimate and Air Quality in the Extensively Reared Turkey House
Authors: Ostović Mario , Menčik Sven , Ravić Ivica , Žužul Slavko , Pavičić Željko , Matković Kristina , Antunović Boris , Tomić Danijela Horvatek , Kabalin Anamaria Ekert
Published: March 2017

Good air quality in poultry houses is crucial for animal health and productivity. In these houses, air is generally contaminated with noxious gases and microorganisms, the concentrations of which depend on numerous factors including microclimate. In this case study, the relation between microclimate and air concentrations of noxious gases and microorganisms was investigated in extensively reared turkey house. The study was carried out at a family household in Dalmatia hinterland, Croatia, with 50.3±3.1 turkeys kept in the house during the study period. Air temperature, relative humidity, airflow rate, concentrations of ammonia, carbon dioxide, bacteria and fungi in indoor air were measured three times per month from September to December, in the morning, prior to releasing turkeys out for grazing. Air temperature ranged from 9.73 to 26.98 °C, relative humidity from 63.29% to 75.08%, and airflow rate from 0.11 to 0.17 m/s. Lowest ammonia and carbon dioxide concentrations were measured in September (2.17 ppm and 550 ppm, respectively) and highest in December (4.50 ppm and 900 ppm, respectively). Bacterial and fungal counts were lowest in December (2.51×105CFU/m3and 3.27×103CFU/m3air, respectively) and highest in September (6.85×105CFU/m3and 1.06x105CFU/m3air, respectively). Air temperature and relative humidity showed negative correlation with concentrations of noxious gases and positive correlation with air microorganisms (P<0.05 all).
Evaluation of Grain Quality and Nutritional Quality of Double Haploid DHP6, An Elite Rice Line in Madagascar
Authors: Rasoazanakolona Voahanginirina , Rabealaina Brunilde Beltoisone , Andrianjaka Alice , Rakotonjanahary Xavier , Sangwan Rajbir S. , Rakotoarisoa Noronirina Victorine
Published: March 2017

Anther/pollen culture technology is being efficiently used for accelerating rice breeding progress and improving grain quality characters. Using pollen culture technique, we obtained elite rice (Oryza sativa L.) line DHP6, which is well adapted to the highlands of Madagascar. Here we show that certain grain, nutritional, and culinary quality characteristics have been significantly improved in line DHP6. Morphometric and physico-chemical analysis demonstrated that physical (colour, transluscency, and chalkiness), chemical (amylose content, alkali spreading value, and gel consistency) and cooking (volume expansion, elongation ratio) features were greatly improved compared to the parental line. Culinary and nutritional quality analyses showed a significant increase in nutritional values and mineral richness. Some desired concentrations of minerals like Mg and Cu were much higher (e.g. three times richer in Cu) than those of its parental line (variety IR58614). Taken together, such ameliorated grain quality traits will promote its wide-scale planting by the farmers and should thus help to improve the nutritional quality of the population of Madagascar.
Genealogical Analysis of the North-American Spring Wheat Varieties with Different Resistance to Pre-harvest Sprouting
Authors: Martynov Sergey , Dobrotvorskaya Tatyana
Published: March 2017

A comparative analysis of genetic diversity of North American spring wheat varieties differing in resistance to pre-harvest sprouting was carried out. For identification of sources of resistance the genealogical profiles of 148 red-grained and 63 white-grained North-American spring wheat varieties with full pedigrees were calculated and estimates were made of pre-harvest sprouting. The cluster structure of the populations of red-grained and white-grained varieties was estimated. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences between the average contributions of landraces in the groups of resistant and susceptible varieties. Distribution of the putative sources of resistance in the clusters indicated that varieties having different genetic basis may have different sources of resistance. For red-grained varieties the genetic sources of resistance to pre-harvest sprouting are landraces Crimean, Hard Red Calcutta, and Iumillo, or Button, Kenya 9M-1A-3, and Kenya-U, or Red Egyptian and Kenya BF4-3B-10V1. Tracking of pedigrees showed these landraces contributed to the pedigrees, respectively, via Thatcher, Kenya-Farmer, and Kenya-58, which were likely donors of resistance for red-grained varieties. For white-grained varieties the sources of resistance were landraces Crimean, Hard Red Calcutta, Ostka Galicyjska, Iumillo, Akakomugi, Turco, Hybrid English, Rough Chaff White and Red King, and putative donors of resistance — Thatcher, RL2265, and Frontana. The genealogical profile of accession RL4137, the most important donor of resistance to pre-harvest sprouting in North American spring wheat breeding programmes, contains almost all identified sources of resistance.
Dynamics and Impacting Factors of Ice Regimes in Latvia Inland and Coastal Waters
Authors: Kļaviņš Māris , Avotniece Zanita , Rodinovs Valērijs
Published: March 2017

The sea ice regime is considered to be a sensitive indicator of climate change. This study investigates long-term changes in the ice regimes of the Gulf of Riga along the coast of Latvia in comparison with those of inland waters. The ice regime of the studied region indicates the impact of climate change related to increasing air and sea water temperatures. Ice cover duration on both the sea and inland waters has decreased during recent decades. In addition, long-term records on ice break in the studied region exhibit a pattern of periodic changes in the intensity of ice regime, while trends of the sea ice regime are not consistent between periods of time. Alternating mild and severe winters also occur. The ice regime was shown to be strongly influenced by large-scale atmospheric circulation processes over the North Atlantic, as indicated by close correlation with the North Atlantic Oscillation index.
Acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry as objective tools for the assessment of nasal patency in nasal septal surgery
Authors: Jakimovska Frodita , Cakar Marina Davceva , Dokic Dejan
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND.Septal deviations are usually diagnosed by a patient’s subjective complaint of nasal stuffiness and a physical examination by the otorhinolaringologist. The decision for surgery is not always based on objective measurements. Acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry are objective tools for assessment of nasal patency but is still a controversial subject. In our populations, there are no general accepted methods for screening patients for septal surgery.

OBJECTIVE.To analyse the effectiveness of acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry in predicting the outcomes of septoplasty and rhinoseptoplasty and their usefulness in preoperative screening of septal deviations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS.69 patients were included in this prospective study. Acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry were performed before and one year after surgery for the investigation of nasal obstruction. Several parameters were analysed before and after decongestion of the nasal mucosa. VAS (visual analogue scale) was also included for evaluation of the subjective symptom score pre- and postoperatively. After surgery, a short questionnaire was applied to investigate patients’ postoperative satisfaction.

RESULTS.The mean subjective scores of nasal patency improved significantly after surgery with 77%. Several parameters of acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry were analysed with binary logistic regression, to evaluate the predictive values on the postoperative satisfaction. The preoperative decongested overall MCA (minimal cross-sectional area) on the deviation side, the decongested bilateral MCA and the decongested Flow ratio had significantly the highest impact on the postoperative satisfaction (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION.Acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry as objective tools can serve as objective evidence for the efficacy of septoplasty and rhinoseptoplasty. The parameters of rhinomanometry and anterior rhinometry are useful in the preoperative screening for septal deviations and in predicting postoperative satisfaction between different degrees of nasal septal deviations.
Symmetry patterning by the causative organism of rhinosporidiosis in culture
Authors: Dhaulakhandi Dhara B. , Ravi Alok K. , Garg Lalit C. , Ahluwalia Karvita B.
Published: March 2017

Rhinosporidiosis is a chronic polypoidal infection of the nose, conjunctiva and other sites, believed to be caused by a fungus, Rhinosporidium Seeberi, with a doubtful taxonomy. Polyps contain histological round bodies and the exact mode of infection is not known. The round bodies are filled up with spherules. In tissue the organism forms spherical round bodies approaching 50-500µ in diameter that contain innumerable single-celled organisms that mature at different rates. Mature organisms are approximately 7-9µ in size and escape through a pore that develops in the wall of the round body. The round body does not exist in nature outside the host.

The organism in rhinosporidiosis was believed to be uncultivable, until we cultured it for the first time in our laboratory. We further modified the culture medium and succeeded in culturing the causative agent of the disease in CBEML (Cell Biology and Electron Microcopy Laboratory) medium. Here we present some of the peculiar conspicuous features of the organism in culture leading to symmetry patterning.
Outcomes of mucociliary clearance and rhinomanometrical changes in nasal pathology
Authors: Neagos Adriana , Cirticioiu Alexandra , Stanciu Alex George , Csiszer Iren
Published: March 2017

OBJECTIVE. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of the nasal pathologies over nasal mucociliary clearance and rhinomanometric parameters.

MATERIAL AND METHODS. This is a retrospective analytical observational clinical study during a period of 6 months, between 2014 and 2015. 123 subjects, 63 of whom had nasal pathology and 60 of whom were healthy controls, were enrolled in this study. The diagnosis of nasal pathology was made based on clinical examination, nasal endoscopy and anterior rhinomanometry. A methylene blue test was used to evaluate the mucociliary clearance.

RESULTS. The subjects with nasal pathology had nasal septum deviation (No=50), chronic rhinitis (No=42), rhinosinusitis (No=15) and nasal polyposis (No=17). The mean total air flow in inspiration in nasal pathology patients group was 546.7 ml/s (millilitre/second), with a median of 594 ml/s, comparing with the control group who had the mean air flow of 865.5 ml/s, with a median of 866.5 ml/s. In expiration, the mean air flow in those with nasal pathology was 603.9 ml/s and a median of 611 ml/s, comparing with the control group who had the mean air flow of 871.1 ml/s and a median around 872 ml/s. The mean time from the application of methylene blue liquid to first seeing it in patients with nasal pathology was 23.41 minutes for the right nostril and 23.32 minutes for the left nostril, comparing with the control group who had the mean of mucociliary clearance of 6.76 minutes for the right nostril and 6.93 minutes for the left one.

CONCLUSION. The results obtained in anterior rhinomanometry and methylene blue liquid test showed that nasal pathology does affect nasal physiology and it is an important factor to evaluate the mucociliary clearance.
Marketing as a Part of Strategic Management of Consulting Companies
Authors: Hanuláková Eva , Bečková Ina Kováčová
Published: March 2017

Consulting companies in order to be successful and to provide services at high professional level inevitably need clear strategy. They must have an established vision, following up on strategy that forms their way of development. Continuously changing area, strong competition, growing demands by the clients for professionally provided services with additional value and new technology represent key features that evoke necessity of use of marketing at the activity of consulting companies. At consulting companies, the marketing system has its particulars that are typical for consulting companies. The mentioned particulars regard mainly marketing mixture and the position of consultant.
Open Your Eyes Alice and Start Following the Economic Cycle Instead of the White Rabbit: Influential Behaviour of the Economic Cycle
Authors: Hudec Martin , Donovalová Alena
Published: March 2017

Economics represents a social science, directly concerning the factors and determinants of commerce, production, distribution, government, management and naturally consumption of goods and services, but unlike the natural sciences, it is unique in the area of hardly finding a broad consensus, whether we talk about rules, methodology, economic processes or basic axioms. Economic cycle would not exist in an economically ideal world where the prices of goods and factors of production are very flexible, people have full information about what is happening in the economy, government and unions do not regulate prices, and so on. Since the real world differs from an economically ideal world, economic cycle presents inevitable reality in every market economy. The aim of our research paper is to analyse essential monetary determinants and the practical aspects of the theory of the business cycle. Moreover, we focus on the instruments of central banks and their impact on the economic cycle, inextricably affecting the socio-economic development and the state of business environment and commerce.
Export into EFTA and transportation costs
Authors: Khúlová Lucia
Published: March 2017

The Member States of the European Free Trade Association are the considerable opportunity for export, especially for countries of the European Union. The European Economic Area unites the Member States of European Union and Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland (the three EFTA countries) into an Internal Market. The paper deals with comparison the basic data of EFTA Member States such as geography, infrastructure, GDP. Due to Logistics Performance Index, it is possible to compare the level of logistics and transportation conditions in selected countries. The export costs and delivery time from a one Member State of European Union to capital cities of EFTA Member States are identified by using online calculator of chosen integrators.
Supervision at the outline stage: introducing and encountering issues of sustainable development through academic writing assignments
Authors: Eriksson Ann-Marie , Mäkitalo Åsa
Published: March 2017

Universities are responsible for introducing students to disciplinary fields and their knowledge traditions. A common way to cater for processes of this kind is to organize students’ work through the production of text in a genre common in their field. Previous research has pointed to the challenges involved as students appropriate disciplinary ways of reasoning through writing, yet further attention needs to be directed to the communicative challenges involved at the very beginning of the process. Based on 14 video-recorded face-to-face encounters between environmental experts and individual MSc Engineering students, this study focuses on supervision at the outline stage of producing a report, and explores it as a communicative practice. The results from our study show how the students’ outline documents functioned as resources for separating the performing of a study from the crafting of its textual presentation. The results also illuminate, in detail, how access points to disciplinary reasoning and arguing were introduced through verbal discourse.
Member accounts in the assessment of professional competence
Authors: Icbay Mehmet Ali , Koschmann Timothy
Published: March 2017

The process of licensing within the medical profession is built on a practical work of defining what competences constitute the profession, of determining how these competences can be acquired, and of specifying how they can be assessed. In order to obtain a medical license in the United States, medical students are evaluated on the basis of clinical encounters with standardized patients. By demonstrating how medical students’ performances in clinical encounters are assessed, this study illustrates how the assessment of professional competence is practically accomplished. Because it frames the work of assessment as a situated interactional and practical work, the study focuses on how three faculty members in a series of panel meetings carried out the practical work of rating candidates’ performances. The data were taken from a corpus of audio-recorded panel meetings where the physician-raters first watched the video-recorded student performances, rated them individually, and finally reached a consensus collectively for each clinical encounter. In examining how they accomplished coming to an agreement for the examinees’ performances, we see that by using different local strategies, panelists made themselves accountable as both competent physicians and efficient raters. We also notice that panelists made a distinction between being accountable for efficient raters and being accountable for competent physicians when they were supposed to concede their ratings.
SRC family kinases in hamster spermatozoa: evidence for the presence of LCK
Authors: Singh Durgesh Kumar , Deshmukh Rohit Kumar , Narayanan Praveen Kumar , Shivaji Sisinthy , Siva Archana Bharadwaj
Published: March 2017

Sperm capacitation is a prerequisite for successful fertilization. Increase in tyrosine phosphorylation is considered the hallmark of capacitation and attempts to understand its regulation are ongoing. In this regard, we attempted to study the role of SRC family kinases (SFKs) in the hamster sperm functions. Interestingly, we found the presence of the lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase, LCK, in mammalian spermatozoa and further characterized it in terms of its localization and function. LCK was found in spermatozoa of several species, and its transcript was identified in the hamster testis. Autophosphorylation of LCK at the Y394 residue increased as capacitation progressed, indicating an upregulation of LCK activity during capacitation. Inhibition of LCK (and perhaps the other SFKs) with the use of a specific inhibitor showed a significant decrease in protein tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins, implying LCK/SFKs as key tyrosine kinase(s) regulating tyrosine phosphorylation during hamster sperm capacitation. Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase was identified as a substrate for LCK/SFK. LCK/SFKs inhibition significantly reduced the percentage fertilization (in vitro) but had no effect on sperm motility, hyperactivation and acrosome reaction. In summary, this is the first report on the presence of LCK, an SFK of hematopoietic lineage in spermatozoa besides being the first study on the role of SFKs in the spermatozoa of Syrian hamsters.
ВПРОВАДЖЕННЯ ПОЗИТИВНОЇ ПСИХОТЕРАПІЇ У ПРОГРАМУ АКТИВІЗАЦІЇ СОЦІАЛЬНОГО КАПІТАЛУ ОСІБ ІЗ НИЗЬКИМ ЕКОНОМІЧНИМ СТАТУСОМ
Authors: Ніздрань Олександра
Published: March 2017

У статті показано  можливості активізації соціального капіталу осіб із низьким економічним статусом щодо підтримання їхнього психологічного здоров’я в умовах дефіцитарності інших ресурсів. Обґрунтовується соціально-психологічний вектор впровадження позитивної психотерапії як ресурсно-орієнтованого методу  у програму, спрямовану на створення умов для  підтримання психологічного здоров’я осіб із низьким економічним статусом шляхом активізації ресурсів соціального капіталу. Запропоновано два  варіанти програм активізації на основі авторської моделі соціального капіталу як чинника підтримання психологічного здоров’я осіб із низьким економічним статусом, напрацьованої у ході попереднього емпіричного дослідження. Представляються результати успішної апробації програм активізації соціального капіталу з урахуванням їх доступності до ресурсів приватної і публічної сфер, що проявилося в показниках особистісного зростання, позитивних стосунків з іншими, управління середовищем, цілей у житті, психологічного благополуччя, автономії.

This article provides a view on the possibilities of social capital activation for persons with low economic status as to maintaining their psychological health in conditions of other resources deficiency. Social-psychological vector of implementing positive psychotherapy, as a resource-oriented method, into the programme, aimed at creating the conditions for maintaining psychological health of persons with low economic status by means of social capital resources activation, is substantiated. Two variants of activation programmes based on authorial model of social capital as a factor of maintaining psychological health of persons with low economic status, developed in the course of preliminary empirical investigation, is suggested. Successful approbation results of social capital activation programmes taking into consideration their accessibility to the resources of private and public spheres, that revealed itself in the markers of personal growth, positive relationships with others, environment management, life goals, psychological well-being, autonomy are presented.
ЗАКОНОМІРНОСТІ ПЕРЦЕПТИВНОГО РОЗВИТКУ У РАННЬОМУ ОНТОГЕНЕЗІ: НА МЕЖІ НОРМАТИВІВ
Authors: Когутяк Надія
Published: March 2017

Перцептивний розвиток вже у ранньому онтогенезі слідує певним закономірностям, відхилення від яких призводить до психічного патогенезу. Здатність до синтезу сенсорної інформації і у вітчизняній, і у зарубіжній психології визнається провідним чинником когнітивних та соціально-перцептивних здібностей. Теоретико-дедуктивним методом визначаються ключові закономірності розвитку перцептивних моделей. Зокрема: пластичність у детермінації перцепції від генетично заданого до інтеріоризованого; інтеграція та диференціація перцептивних моделей у процесі перцептивного навчання; розвиток перцепції від сенсомоторних до абстрактних моделей; від дискретності до системності і цілісності перцептивних репрезентацій. Обґрунтовується практичне значення конкретизації нормативних показників розвитку перцептивних закономірностей у ранньому онтогенезі. Визначаються перспективні напрямки розробки вказаної науково-практичної проблеми.

Perceptual development at an early ontogenesis follows certain regularities, deviation from which leads to mental pathogenesis. The ability to synthesize sensory information and in domestic and foreign psychology recognizes the leading factor in cognitive and social-perceptual abilities. Theoretical and deductive method identifies key patterns of perceptual models. In particular: flexibility in the determination of perception given from genetically specified to internalization; integration and differentiation of perceptual patterns during perceptual learning; development of sensorimotor perception to abstract models; from discrete to the consistency and integrity of perceptual representations. Substantiated practical value specification standard indicators of perceptual patterns in early ontogeny. Identify promising areas of development of the specified scientific and practical problems.