bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tools for the strategic management of stakeholders in civil construction
Authors: Marques Vânia De Lourdes , Filho Cid Alledi , Pereira Fernando Neves
Published: December 2018

Highlights: Stakeholder management is an uncommon practice among construction companies in Brazil. There is little availability of appropriate models, guidelines and systematics. The creation of a stakeholder management model for civil construction is important in the current context.

Goal: Contribute to fill the gap of empirical research that generate applicable models in the practices of stakeholder management in the civil construction sector.

Design / Methodology / Approach: Systematic review of the literature was carried out involving the keywords of the research and, using the approach suggested by international standards guidelines, a management model for the management of stakeholders in the construction sector was constructed.

Results: Two products resulted: a) Proposal of a conceptual framework for the management of stakeholders in civil construction, including a strategic and governance level and another with the ventures; b) Systematization of actions for stakeholder management, where the bibliographic content was distributed in stages based on the stakeholder management system proposed by the Standard AA1000SES.

Limitations of the investigation: Difficulties in finding available literature on stakeholder management specifically in the civil construction sector, considering the strategic and governance level.

Practical implications: Provides an innovative system for the strategic and tactical-operational management of stakeholders for the construction sector.

Originality / Value: The research brings important contribution: in the academic area, for the few studies on the subject, especially in Brazil; for companies, it provides an innovative system with the following characteristics: ability to integrate stakeholder management practices between the corporate and project areas; ability to incorporate the experience and learning generated in both environments; applicable to any size of company.
Efficient and Fair Bandwidth Scheduling in Cloud Environments
Authors: Khaleel Mustafa , Zhu Mengxia
Published: December 2018

Hundreds of thousands of servers from data centers are operated to provide users with pay-as-yougo infrastructure as a service, platform as a service, and software as a service. Many different types of virtual machine (VM) instances hosted on these servers oftentimes need to efficiently communicate with data movement under current bandwidth capacity. This motivates providers to seek for a bandwidth scheduler to satisfy objectives, namely assuring the minimum bandwidth per VM for the guaranteed deadline and eliminating network congestion as much as possible. Based on some rigorous mathematical models, we formulated a cloud-based bandwidth scheduling algorithm which enables dynamic and fair bandwidth management by categorizing the total bandwidth into several categories and adjusting the allocated bandwidth limit per VM for both upstream and downstream traffics in real time. The simulation showed that paradigm was able to utilize the total assigned bandwidth more efficiently compared to algorithms such as bandwidth efficiency persistence proportional sharing (PPS), PPS, and PS at the network level.
Surgical treatment of severe congenital kyphosis in an adult patient: rare clinical observation and a brief literature review
Authors: Novikov V. V. , Sergunin A. Yu. , Belozerov V. V. , Lebedeva M. N. , Vasyura A. S. , Mikhaylovskiy M. V.
Published: December 2018

The paper presents a clinical case of surgical treatment of an adult patient with severe rigid congenital kyphosis developed due to multiple anomalies in the thoracolumbar spine. Surgical intervention included vertebral column resection (VCR) and the deformity correction using segmental third-generation instrumentation with transpedicular fixation. The VCR made it possible to correct the relationship between vertebrae in the anomaly zone, to improve the shape of the spinal canal and increase its volume, and to achieve apparent mobility of the spine at the apex of the kyphosis. Preservation of the anterosuperior portion of the body of the resected vertebra allowed avoiding anterior mesh cage use to support and reconstruct the anterior supporting column of the resected segment. This enabled performing necessary correction of severe kyphotic deformity, reduced the risk of neurological complications, and favored the formation of solid bone block in the long-term period after surgery.
Historical aspects of transpedicular fixation of the spine: literature review
Authors: Makarevich S. V.
Published: December 2018

The main historical aspects of the evolution of transpedicular fixation of the spine were analyzed according to the literature. The main historical stages in the development of transpedicular fixation of the spine were identified: vertebral screw fixation (King, 1944), pedicle screw plate system (Roy-Camille, 1970), external transpedicular fixation – Fixateur Externe (Magerl, 1977), internal transpedicular fixation – Fixateur Interne (Dick, 1982), transpedicular titanium implants (1987). They played a significant role in the formation of modern surgical technologies for posterior metallic osteosynthesis and the creation of multifunctional transpedicular fixation devices, which are now considered to be the gold standard of posterior fixation for various pathologies of the thoracic, lumbar and lumbosacral spine.
Lelaki Tua dan Laut Karya Ernest Hemingway (Sebuah Ulasan)
Authors: Nimpuno Mirya Anggrahini
Published: December 2018

Novel Lelaki Tuadan Laut by Ernest Hemingway contains many of the themes that preoccupied Hemingway as a writer and as a man. The routines of life in a Cuban fishing village are evoked in the opening pages with a characteristic economy of language. The stripped-down  existence of the fisherman Santiago is crafted in a spare, elemental style that is as eloquently dismissive as a shrug of the old man’s powerful shoulders.Hemingway was famously fascinated with ideas of men proving their worth by facing and overcoming the challenges nature. Through his struggle, Santiago demonstrated the ability of the human spirit to endure hardship and suffering in order to win. It is also his deep love and knowledge of the sea, in its impassive cruelty and beneficence, that allows him to prevail. The essential physicality of the story – the smells of tar and salt and fish blood, the cramp and nausea and blind exhaustion of the old man, the terrifying death spasm of the great fish – is set against he ethereal qualities of dazzling light and water, isolation, and the swelling motion of the sea. And through it all narrative is constantly tugging, unreeling a little more, and then pulling again, all in tandem with the old man’s struggle.Structural analysis aims to describe (1) elements, characters, settings, and perspectives in the novel Old Man and The Sea, (2) the interrelationships between intrinsic elements in the form of themes, plot, background, character, characterization and perpective in the novel Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway.
Phospholipase D activation mediates growth and migration of colon cancer cells interacting with cancer-associated fibroblasts
Authors: Majdop Salem , Skornick Yehuda , Avital Shmuel , Berkovich Liron
Published: December 2018

Cancer-associated fibroblasts of the stroma play a major role in tumor promoting processes. In this study we evaluated the significance of Phospholipase D (PLD) enzyme activity in promoting human colon cancer malignant potency when interacting with proximal colonic fibroblasts. Human colon cancer cell lines SW480 and HCT116, and colonic fibroblasts CCD-18Co were used as an in vitro model. PLD's activity was measured in resting cancer cells and after culturing with fibroblasts and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) conditioned medium. The viability and migration level of the cancer cells alone and after co-culturing with fibroblast or CAFs conditioned medium were evaluated, with and without adding a PLD inhibitor. Exposure of colon cancer cells to CAFs conditioned medium significantly increased the level of PLD activity in the cancer cells (p<0.0001). Exposure of colon cancer to resting and activated fibroblast conditioned medium significantly enhanced the number of viable cancer cells as well as its migration level measured following 24 and 48 hours. Adding a PLD inhibitor significantly reduced the elevation of cell viability and migration of the colon cancer cells exposed to fibroblasts conditioned medium (p<0.005). In this in vitro model, inhibition of PLD significantly decreased proliferation and migration levels of colon cancer cells generated by stromal fibroblasts. This provides evidence that the PLD signaling pathway is directly involved in stroma-cancer interactions in the colon, thereby promoting cancer progression. Further research is needed in order to evaluate PLD as a target in colon cancer prevention or therapy.
The COX2 genetic variants in oral squamous cell carcinoma in Turkish population
Authors: Cacina Canan , Kaşarci Göksu , Bektaş Kivanç , Unur Meral , Cakmakoglu Bedia
Published: December 2018

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common type of cancer that genetic and environmental factors also lifestyle habits, infections play important roles in the pathogenesis of disease. Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) is the inducible isoform of enzyme which convert arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. It was known that alterations in COX2 gene functions contribute to the inflammation process thus induce cancer progression, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion, invasion and metastasis. A total of 114 cases 165 healthy individuals were included in present study. We aimed to evaluate possible association between the COX2; -765, -1195 polymorphisms and the risk of OSCC. The genotypes were determined by using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. In our study group the carriers of COX2 -765 C allele were statistically higher in patients compared with controls and individuals who had CC genotype had a 3,4 fold high risk for OSCC (p <0,05). We also observed the COX2 -1195 AA genotype frequency was higher in cases that of healthy group and individuals who had AA genotype showed a 1,7 fold increased risk for OSCC (p < 0,05). Haplotype analysis confirmed our result and revealed that the frequencies of COX2 -765C, -1195A haplotype frequencies were significantly higher in patients as compared with those of controls. In conclusion we suggest that COX2, -765, -1195 polymorphisms appear to be an important predictive factor and may be a prognostic biomarker for risk of OSCC. Further investigations with larger study groups are needed to fully elucidate the role of COX2 -765, -1195 variations in the development of OSCC.
Therapeutic and maintenance regimens of vitamin D3 supplementation in healthy adults: A systematic review
Authors: Hassan Adla Bakri , Hozayen Reham Fathi , Alotaibi Raed Aqshan , Tayem Yasin Ibrahim
Published: December 2018

Studies carried out assessing the effect of different doses of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) on correcting serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in healthy adults are limited and review studies are lacking. Moreover, the maintenance dose and its duration offered by these few studies are inconsistent. We performed a systematic review of randomized clinical controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the effect of different doses of vitamin D3 on serum 25(OH)D in healthy adults. PubMed database was searched from 2010 to 2018 using the following search terms: "vitamin D deficiency”, "Cholecalciferol”, "vitamin D3 dose”, "vitamin D supplement”, "vitamin D therapy”. RCTs and original articles that evaluated different doses of vitamin D3 were identified. A total of sixteen (out of 3016) acceptable studies fulfilling our inclusion criteria were included in the current systematic review. Our results revealed that supplementation with vitamin D3 had a significant positive effect in raising serum 25(OH) D concentrations. Our findings indicated that the best regimen of vitamin D3 supplement consisted of an initial large bolus dose either IM injection of 600.000 IU monthly or oral dose of 200.000 IU monthly or 50.000 IU weekly for 8 weeks, followed by a maintenance dose of 50.000 IU monthly or bimonthly. A large bolus therapeutic dose of vitamin D3, frequently or infrequently for 8 weeks, followed by long-term oral maintenance dose of 50.000 IU monthly or bimonthly optimiz and manitain vitamin D serum levels year round.
Scalar Curvature via Local Extent
Authors: Veronelli Giona
Published: December 2018

We give a metric characterization of the scalar curvature of a smooth Riemannian manifold, analyzing the maximal distance between (n + 1) points in infinitesimally small neighborhoods of a point. Since this characterization is purely in terms of the distance function, it could be used to approach the problem of defining the scalar curvature on a non-smooth metric space. In the second part we will discuss this issue, focusing in particular on Alexandrov spaces and surfaces with bounded integral curvature.
IM 160096 : un charme pour calmer un bébé qui pleure
Authors: Murad Ali , Cavigneaux Antoine
Published: December 2018

This paper presents a new Akkadian text from the Iraq Museum with a magico-poetic formula to calm a crying baby.
Searching for Hattian-Hittite ‘Quasi-Bilingual’ Texts: New Tools for the Continued Research of Hattian
Authors: Steitler Charles W.
Published: December 2018

This paper addresses the possibilities for further philological and linguistic studies of the Hattian text sources that will be feasible within the next few years. A digital searchable corpus of Hattian texts, in combination with a digital corpus of the Hittite texts, would open up new venues of research. These corpora will facilitate lexical, morphological and phonological studies as well as the reconstruction of text compositions with Hattian passages and of the tablets on which they were inscribed. It is hoped that the digital corpora will also aid in the potential identification of hitherto unrecognized correspondences between Hattian and Hittite texts.
Zentralanatolische Toponyme auf °šna und ein hattisches Suffix: Zum ursprünglichen Verbreitungsgebiet des Hattischen
Authors: Simon Zsolt
Published: December 2018

This paper provides a linguistic re-analysis of the toponyms ending in °šna in Anatolian cuneiform texts. It argues that due to phonological reasons not all of them can be explained with a Hittite suffix as it is usually done and a similar Hattian suffix fits better. The toponyms with the Hattian suffix provide the first evidence that Hattian was once spoken south of the Kızılırmak river. As a by-product, new etymologies for some Hittite words and toponyms as well as an extended Palaic speaking territory are suggested.
Comets of the Marsden and Kracht groups
Authors: Kalinicheva Olga V.
Published: December 2018

Perihelion distances of Marsden and Kracht group comets fall into the range 6RS < q < 12RS (the Meyer group comets also share the same perihelion interval). It is by several folds larger than the perihelion distance of the Kreutz group comets (q < 2RS). Average circulation period for comets of the Marsden group is P = 5.5 years and for the Kracht group is P =5.3 years. The Marsden and Kracht group comets share the same origin; as well as 96P (Machholz), object 196256 (2003 EH1), meteor showers the Daytime Arietids, Northern and Southern δ Aquariids, Quandrantids forming the Machholz interplanetary complex. This work offers computational movement simulation for comet-progenitor fragments. It is shown that the orbits of the representatives of the complex can be explained if the decay of the cometprogenitor for objects 96P and 196256 occurred ~9500 years ago. The following evolution direction has been demonstrated for the complex objects: progenitor comet - comet 96P - the Marsden group comets - the Kracht group comets - the Southern δ Aquariids. However, not all the complex objects will necessarily pass through every stage of the above as it can be preceded by the total disintegration of the object.
Wearables: Ein Blick aus ärztlicher Perspektive über Möglichkeiten, Herausforderungen und Risiken im Gesundheitswesen
Authors: Mutke Markus R. , Eckstein Jens
Published: December 2018

Durch die dynamische Entwicklung von mobilen Sensoren bieten sich Medizinern ständig neue, potentiell kosteneffektive Wege für Diagnostik, Monitoring und Screening. Angetrieben durch den wachsenden Erfolg auf dem Konsumentenmarkt streben immer mehr Wearables & Co in den Gesundheitsmarkt. Weltweit beschäftigen sich Forschungsgruppen seit Jahren mit den Auswirkungen dieser mobilen Technologien auf unser Gesundheitswesen. In der Menge der zahlreichen Möglichkeiten und in Anbetracht der rapiden Entwicklung sollte jedoch bedacht werden, dass für einen erfolgreichen Einsatz am Patienten einige Herausforderungen und Risiken berücksichtigt werden müssen. Der Artikel bietet einen Einstieg in das breite Themenfeld rund um die Einführung von Wearables in die klinische Routine und berichtet über eine Auswahl an realisierten und potentiellen Einsatzmöglichkeiten.
Mass spectrometry based analytical quality assessment of serum and plasma specimens with patterns of endo- and exogenous peptides
Authors: Findeisen Peter , Hemanna Shruthi , Maharjan Romi Singh , Mindt Sonani , Costina Victor , Hofheinz Ralf , Neumaier Michael
Published: December 2018

Background

Inappropriate preanalytical sample handling is a major threat for any biomarker discovery approach. Blood specimens have a genuine proteolytic activity that leads to a time dependent decay of peptidic quality control markers (QCMs). The aim of this study was to identify QCMs for direct assessment of sample quality (DASQ) of serum and plasma specimens.

Methods

Serum and plasma specimens of healthy volunteers and tumor patients were spiked with two synthetic reporter peptides (exogenous QCMs) and aged under controlled conditions for up to 24 h. The proteolytic fragments of endogenous and exogenous QCMs were monitored for each time point by mass spectrometry (MS). The decay pattern of peptides was used for supervised classification of samples according to their respective preanalytical quality.

Results

The classification accuracy for fresh specimens (1 h) was 96% and 99% for serum and plasma specimens, respectively, when endo- and exogenous QCMs were used for the calculations. However, classification of older specimens was more difficult and overall classification accuracy decreased to 79%.

Conclusions

MALDI-TOF MS is a simple and robust method that can be used for DASQ of serum and plasma specimens in a high throughput manner. We propose DASQ as a fast and simple step that can be included in multicentric large-scale projects to ensure the homogeneity of sample quality.
Influence of Synthetic Approach of SiO2-ZrO2 Materials
Authors: Kumar Amit , Singhal Shailey , Aggarwal Shilpi , Badoni Rajendra Prasad , Sharma Amit Kumar
Published: December 2018

In the present manuscript, the effect of the synthetic route on the properties of SiO2-ZrO2 has been evaluated. Co-precipitation, sol-gel and microwave methods were adopted for synthesizing the structured oxide. The properties of the final products such as surface morphology, crystallinity, surface area, pore volume and size, particle size and total acidity were examined using standard instrumentation like Fe-SEM, XRD, BET and TPD. The results revealed that the mixed oxides were mesoporous in nature with a high BET surface area (315- 435m2/g). Among various methods, the microwave route achieved the highest surface area (433m2/g), pore volume (0.70cc/g) and pore size (6.50nm). The total acidity of the sample synthesized by the microwave reactor was also higher (0.296mmol/g) than that resulting from other methods. Results conclude that microwave method is a suitable choice for synthesizing the structured oxides with desirable properties.
Model-based learning about structures and properties of chemical elements and compounds via the use of augmented realities
Authors: Chiu Mei-Hung , Chou Chin-Cheng , Chen Yi-Hung , Hung TaMin , Tang Wei-Tian , Hsu Jin-Wei , Liaw Hongming Leonard , Tsai Ming-Kang
Published: December 2018

Scientific models play a vital role in science learning, representing major characteristics of scientific phenomena. A useful visualization of models that matches target concepts to source objects can facilitate students’ learning of abstract and complex structures of chemical elements and compounds. This report will show the importance of visualization and innovative technology (such as augmented reality), which has the potential of supporting students’ learning of stereochemistry and interactions among molecules. Examples (including organic compounds, chemical elements of 1A and 7A in the periodic table, water polarity, and carbon nanotube) are drawn to illustrate the potential use of augmented reality in chemistry instruction.
“Vaporwave Is (Not) a Critique of Capitalism”: Genre Work in An Online Music Scene
Authors: Nowak Raphaël , Whelan Andrew
Published: December 2018

Vaporwave, first emerging in the early 2010s, is a genre of music characterised by extensive sampling of earlier “elevator music,” such as smooth jazz, MoR, easy listening, and muzak. Audio and visual markers of the 1980s and 1990s, white-collar workspaces, media technology, and advertising are prominent features of the aesthetic. The (academic, vernacular, and press) writing about vaporwave commonly positions the genre as an ironic or ambivalent critique of contemporary capitalism, exploring the implications of vaporwave for understandings of temporality, memory and technology. The interpretive and discursive labour of producing, discussing and contesting this positioning, described here as “genre work,” serves to constitute and sediment the intelligibility and coherence of the genre. This paper explores how the narrative of vaporwave as an aesthetic critique of late capitalism has been developed, articulated, and disputed through this genre work. We attend specifically to the limits around how this narrative functions as a pedagogical or sensitising device, instructing readers and listeners in how to understand and discuss musical affect, the nature and function of descriptions of music, and perhaps most importantly, the nature of critique, and of capitalism as something meriting such critique.
Development and application of a PCR-HRM molecular diagnostic method of SNPs linked with TNF inhibitor efficacy
Authors: Yang Mei-juan , Hou Yan-long , Yang Xiao-lan , Wang Chun-xia , Zhi Li-xia , You Chong-ge
Published: December 2018

Background

Clinical evidence indicates that genetic variations may interfere with the mechanism of drug action. Recently, it has been reported that the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of STAT4, PTPN2, PSORS1C1 and TRAF3IP2RA genes are associated with the clinical efficacy of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Therefore, the detection of the SNPs linked with TNF inhibitor efficacy may provide an important basis for the treatment of RA. This study intended to establish molecular diagnostic methods for genotyping the linked SNPs based on high resolution melting (HRM) curve analysis.

Methods

The polymerase chain reaction-HRM (PCR-HRM) curve analysis detecting systems were established by designing the primers of the four SNPs, rs7574865G>T, rs7234029A>G, rs2233945C>A and rs33980500C>T, and the performance and clinical applicability of which were evaluated by using the Sanger sequencing method and genotyping test for 208 clinical samples.

Results

The self-developed molecular diagnostic methods of PCR-HRM were confirmed to be able to correctly genotype the four SNPs, the sensitivity and specificity of which were 100% in this study. The repeatability and reproducibility tests showed that there is little variable in intra-assay and inter-assay (the coefficient of variation ranged from 0.01% to 0.07%). The slight changes of DNA template and primer concentrations, PCR cycle number and reaction system volume had no significant effect on the genotyping performance of the method. The PCR-HRM assays were also applied to other PCR thermocyclers with HRM function and use different saturation fluorescent dyes.

Conclusions

The PCR-HRM genotyping method established in this study can be applied to the routine molecular diagnosis of rs7574865, rs7234029, rs2233945 and rs33980500.
Case reports of diagnostic error: liposarcoma mistaken for hematoma in an obese female with concurrent ipsilateral thrombosis on rivaroxaban
Authors: Lake Julia C.W. , Tsui Edison , Wu Jennifer , Baker Michael , Kieffer Kelly
Published: December 2018

We report the case of a morbidly obese 49-year-old female found to have a 16×14×10 cm high grade myxoid liposarcoma of the thigh initially diagnosed as a hematoma. Recent initiation of rivaroxaban for a coincident ipsilateral popliteal vein thrombosis placed hematoma high in the differential diagnosis. Despite its large size, the mass was not directly appreciable on physical exam due to excess adjacent adipose tissue. Diagnostic success was achieved only after anchoring bias was abandoned and adaptive expertise was applied.
A New Feature Selection Method for Sentiment Analysis in Short Text
Authors: Kumar H. M. Keerthi , Harish B. S.
Published: December 2018

In recent internet era, micro-blogging sites produce enormous amount of short textual information, which appears in the form of opinions or sentiments of users. Sentiment analysis is a challenging task in short text, due to use of formal language, misspellings, and shortened forms of words, which leads to high dimensionality and sparsity. In order to deal with these challenges, this paper proposes a novel, simple, and yet effective feature selection method, to select frequently distributed features related to each class. In this paper, the feature selection method is based on class-wise information, to identify the relevant feature related to each class. We evaluate the proposed feature selection method by comparing with existing feature selection methods like chi-square ( χ
2), entropy, information gain, and mutual information. The performances are evaluated using classification accuracy obtained from support vector machine, K nearest neighbors, and random forest classifiers on two publically available datasets viz., Stanford Twitter dataset and Ravikiran Janardhana dataset. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed feature selection method, we conducted extensive experimentation by selecting different feature sets. The proposed feature selection method outperforms the existing feature selection methods in terms of classification accuracy on the Stanford Twitter dataset. Similarly, the proposed method performs competently equally in terms of classification accuracy compared to other feature selection methods in most of the feature subsets on Ravikiran Janardhana dataset.
Der Tod Jesu Christi, Zeit und Ewigkeit
Authors: Gallus Petr
Published: December 2018

Ausgehend vom klassischen augustinisch-boëthianischen Ewigkeitsbegriff und seiner theologischen Kritik im 20. Jahrhundert versucht dieser Artikel, eine konsequent trinitätstheologische Lösung der Frage nach der Beziehung von Zeitlichkeit und Ewigkeit zu bringen. Das Konzept wird christologisch in der Auferstehung verankert, auf einem dynamischen Gottesbegriff gegründet, der Gott als den sich akkommodierenden Gott auffasst, und trinitarisch ausgeführt. So bleibt der Vater durch den Geist der Herr der Zeitlichkeit, die in Jesus Christus zu seiner eigenen Zeitlichkeit und diese zum Bestandteil des Lebens Gottes geworden ist. Kreuz und Auferstehung Christi bilden deshalb die Mitte sowohl der Zeit als auch der Ewigkeit.
Safer electrolyte components for rechargeable batteries
Authors: Appetecchi Giovanni Battista
Published: December 2018

Among the electrochemical energy storage systems, rechargeable lithium batteries are considered very promising candidates for the next generation power sources because of their high gravimetric and volumetric energy density with respect to other cell chemistries. The lithium-ion battery technology is based on the use of electrode materials able to reversibly intercalate lithium cations, which are continuously transferred between two host structures (negative and positive electrodes) during the charge and discharge processes. Commercial lithium-ion batteries commonly use liquid electrolytes based on suitable lithium salts (solute) and organic compounds (solvents). The latter, volatile and flammable, represent serious concerns for the safety of the electrochemical devices, this so far preventing their large diffusion in applications as automotive, storage from renewable sources, smart grids.

One of the most appealing approaches is the partial or total replacement of the organic solvents with safer, less hazardous, electrolyte components. Here, a concise survey of ones of the most investigated types of alternative electrolyte components, proposed for safer and more reliable rechargeable lithium batteries, is reported.

Graphical Abstract:
Chromatographic Study on Traditional Natural Preservatives Used for Palm Leaf Manuscripts in India
Authors: Sharma Deepakshi , Singh Manager Rajdeo , Dighe Bhushan
Published: December 2018

Extracts from plants have been used traditionally for the preservation of palm leaf manuscripts in India. Although these methods are slowly being replaced by modern chemicals, art conservators still prefer herbal plant extracts as fungicides and insecticides. In this study, several traditional herbal extracts from the state of Odisha were studied using GC-MS and their long-term impact on palm leaf manuscripts was substantiated by visual observation. GC-MS results showed the presence of different herbal plant extracts from walnut fruit, Artemisia oil, cinnamon oil, equisetum stem, circium roots, Rhizophora leaf, tobacco leaf, and beggar-tick plant oil in palm leaf manuscripts. Illustrated manuscripts were also studied using FTIR spectroscopy which showed the presence of starch paste and pectin as binding media mixed in the pigments and writing inks for palm leaf manuscripts.
Analysis on Online Purchase of Clothing in Romania
Authors: Marcu Laura , Stana Larisa
Published: December 2018

Clothing is the second important category of products sold in Romania through the Internet. The number of online buyers is increasing although not up to values registered in other European countries. This raises the question of the reasons for reluctance or poor use of online purchases and of the behaviour of those who still buy clothes online. The article focuses on presenting the results of a study conducted in one of Romania counties in 2016. Data is supplemented with information obtained from secondary sources, namely a national study conducted in 2014. We identified characteristics of Dambovita residents regarding the factors of influence, brakes on purchase and the actual online purchase behaviour.
Improving Communication and Relationship with Customers using Models to Measure their Value
Authors: Florea Nicoleta Valentina , Duica Anisoara
Published: December 2018

If we could know what is in the mind of consumers, we would know what to offer them with a minimum consumption of resources and maximum profitability; but because we do not know these aspects, related to the clients’ desires, their needs, which are changing continuously, then organizations can implement certain models that can help organizations to measure value, the value required to invest in this relationship and to know which are the most valuable and loyal consumers. This is necessary to provide them with information, in order to offer discounts, deals and new products and services, in order to attract new clients and retain existing ones. Thus, in our article we intend to analyze the clients’ typology, to analyze the process of communication and relationship with them in order to determine their value. At the same time, we aim to present the importance of certain models used by specialists in order to attract, retain and develop these relationships with current and prospective clients.
Measurement and Assessment of Effectiveness of Auxiliary Processes of Production in Management of the Cement Industry Companies
Authors: Łegowik-Małolepsza Małgorzata
Published: December 2018

In the paper, there has been discussed the problem of measurement and assessment of effectiveness of auxiliary processes [Kaplan: 2001, Porter: 1985] of production in the enterprise of the cement industry operating in international markets. The applied research method is literature studies and the case study, which will allow for the accomplishment of the objective of the paper which is the parameterization and assessment of costs of ancillary activities of production in the area of maintenance.

The paper is important and up-to-date since auxiliary processes of production generate high costs, therefore, they should be within the area of interest of managerial staff of these companies.
Study Regarding the Process of Identifying and Evaluating Risks in a Public Entity
Authors: Tănase Loredana Cristina , State Violeta
Published: December 2018

In any field of economic, political or social activities, the issue of risk emerges, which implies consequences that cannot be always anticipated or predicted. Lack of knowledge of the risks that may affect the achievement of public entity objectives, of causality factors, and of action measures to materialize them may lead to negative consequences for the entire economic activity.

In this context, identifying and assessing risks (probability of occurrence and impact on activity) are mandatory and determinant actions in the process of knowing the mechanism of action of each risk and implementing appropriate protection strategies. Based on the documentary research, fieldwork and applicable legislation, and empirical research conducted within a public entity, we have concluded that risk management within the public entity is a process that leads to improved performance and governance, even if it is an additional process to existing ones.
Corporate Communication Management. A Management Approach
Authors: Mihai Roxana-Lucia
Published: December 2018

Managerial communication assumes the analyses of the managers’ communicational behaviour, which has as aim fulfilling of tasks and organizational objectives, by working with people. A major objective is: to develop and share the necessary knowledge for growing managerial efficiency - (Smeltzer, 1996). As some of the specialists have noticed, (Smeltzer 1983), The management sees communication as tool for achieving the aim, something that is needs to be used in relation with the objectives organization has, taking in consideration the issues related with the analysis of costs and benefits. Various studies have searched to look into this domain within the frames of social responsibility, which does not ignore the responsibility to have respect for the people as well as for the planet. Managers are people which have responsibilities for taking decisions, for the organization as well as for their subsidiaries (Hill, 2003). Those people are spending a large part of their time interacting with various types of public, with the structuring of the problems which appear on the various processes, as well as with the establishing of the strategic and main financial decisions and company objectives. The company success assumes the development, motivation and in the very end keeping close well performing employees. It is also necessary that managers are keeping themselves extremely connected to the informational sources in order to be able to react as soon as possible and eventually adjust the objectives and the strategy (Suchan 2006).
Artificial Conditions in Managing Agriculture European Funds
Authors: Parjoleanu Raluca
Published: December 2018

The European Commission, through the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development has found that investment projects is the main way of undermining the EU’s financial interests regarding Rural Development, where three types of fraud can be found: 1. Ordinary Fraud (using funding for purposes other than those for which it was granted); 2. Rigged Procurement Procedures (e.g.: acquisition of second-hand equipment instead of new/complacency offers/manufactured/falsified and inflated offers); 3. Creation of artificial conditions for obtaining financing. Identifying and punishing them has become a priority for the Payment Authorities of the Member States of the European Union.
The Demobilization of Class Politics in Denmark: The Social Democratic Party’s Group-Based Appeals 1961–2004
Authors: Thau Mads
Published: December 2018

In Denmark, as in other Western European countries, the working class does not vote for social democratic parties to the same extent as before. Yet, what role did the social democratic parties themselves play in the demobilization of class politics? Building on core ideas from public opinion literature, this article differs from the focus on party policy positions in previous work and, instead, focuses on the group-based appeals of the Social Democratic Party in Denmark. Based on a quantitative content analysis of party programs between 1961 and 2004, I find that, at the general level, class-related appeals have been replaced by appeals targeting non-economic groups. At the specific level, the class-related appeals that remain have increasingly been targeting businesses at the expense of traditional left-wing groups such as wage earners, tenants and pensioners. These findings support a widespread hypothesis that party strategy was crucial in the decline of class politics, but also suggests that future work on class mobilization should adopt a group-centered perspective.
Die Stiftung als Familiengesellschaft (?)
Authors: Rawert Peter
Published: December 2018

Die Kautelarpraxis hat ihre Liebe zur Familienstiftung entdeckt. Einst verschrien als Relikt der Feudalzeit und Sinnbild der „toten Hand“, gilt sie neuerdings als das „Königsinstrument“ der Nachlassplanung – vor allem bei der Unternehmensnachfolge. Erblasser, die von der Vorstellung beseelt sind, ihre Nachkommen dauerhaft an ihren Willen zu binden, können sich mit Hilfe solcher Stiftungen Erbrechtsordnungen schaffen, die das gesetzliche Normalstatut weitgehend eliminieren, und das mit tatkräftiger Unterstützung des Erbschaftsteuerrechts. Tatsächlich ist es möglich, den Typus der Familiengesellschaft mit Stiftungskonstruktionen nachzubilden, d. h. gleichsam zu virtualisieren. Das Stiftungsrecht setzt zwar dogmatische Grenzen. Die verbleibende Gestaltungsfreiheit ist gleichwohl frappierend. Wer sie nutzt, sollte wissen, was er tut.
Minimalinvasive Maximallösung für pseudo-englische Kapitalgesellschaften
Authors: Zwirlein Susanne
Published: December 2018

Die vorliegende Untersuchung befasst sich mit dem Entwurf eines Vierten Gesetzes zur Änderung des Umwandlungsgesetzes, der in Vorbereitung auf den Brexit konzipiert wurde: Ausgehend von den nach bisheriger Rechtslage bestehenden Handlungsoptionen für pseudo-englische Gesellschaften im Vorfeld des Brexit werden der Gesetzesentwurf und die durch ihn neu geschaffenen Möglichkeiten für pseudo-englische Kapitalgesellschaften beleuchtet. Dabei stellt sich der Entwurf als „minimalinvasive Maximallösung“ dar, durch welche die nach deutschem Recht bestehenden Handlungsspielräume für Erleichterungen mit Blick auf pseudo-englische Kapitalgesellschaften so weit ausgeschöpft werden, wie dies ohne Abrücken von zentralen kollisionsrechtlichen und gesellschaftsrechtlichen Prämissen möglich ist.
Synthesis and Structural Investigations of Metal-Containing Nanocomposites Based on Polyethylene
Authors: Umarov A. V. , Abdurakhmanov U. , Khamzayev H. E. , Kattaev N. T. , Tozhiboev A. G.
Published: December 2018

Copper-containing nanoparticles in a high-pressure polyethylene matrix were prepared by thermal decomposition of copper acetate. An electron microscopic study of the morphology and an X-ray diffraction analysis of the phase composition of a nanocomposite were carried out. It was shown that the dispersed phase essentially consisted of metallic copper nanoparticles with a size of 33.94 nm.
Facile Synthesis of Unique Bismuth Vanadate Nano-Knitted Hollow Cage and its Application in Environmental Remediation
Authors: Hassan M. Shamshi
Published: December 2018

Hierarchical bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) nano-knitted hollow cages have been synthesized by simple hydrothermal method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometer, Fourier transform infrared, UV-Vis, and Raman. The photodegradation efficiency of BiVO4 nanocage for universally used methylene blue dye. The BiVO4 hollow nanostructure demonstrated better photocatalytic competence in dye degradation as compared to the commercial TiO2 powders (P25). The excellent dye degradation can be certified to the high crystallisation of monoclinic BiVO4 and hollow nanostructure, which leads to high surface area and small bandgap energy of 2.44 eV.
Statistical Modeling, Optimization and Kinetics of Mn2+ Adsorption in Aqueous Solution Using a Biosorbent
Authors: Tajari Elaheh , Langeroodi Narges Samadani , Khalafi Mahnaz
Published: December 2018

This paper describes the adsorption of Mn2+ ions from water with a mixture of wheat bran and Japanese medlar core shell (weight ratio of 30–70 wheat bran to Japanese medlar core shell) as low-cost adsorbent. Scanning Electron Microscope was used to characterize the adsorbent. The response surface methodology (RSM) that is usually approximated by a second-order regression model was employed to evaluate the effects of solution pH, initial Mn2+ concentration, adsorbent weight and contact time on the removal ratio of the Mn2+ ions. In this regard, the significant variables initial Mn2+ ions concentration, pH, adsorbent weight and square pH were found based on the small P-value for the model coefficients. The predicted optimal conditions were also performed. In the process optimization, maximal value of the removal ratio of Mn2+ was achieved as 96.91%. Additionally, this paper discusses the kinetic of adsorption in optimal conditions.
Promoting diversity through developing a sense of community
Authors: Moys Jeanne-Louise
Published: December 2018

This case study explores how a students-as-partners approach is helping students in the Graphic Communication programme at the University of Reading gain experience of community through a curriculum design project. The “I am, we are … different by design” project began as a partnership initiative aimed at identifying strategies to extend students’ experience of diversity in the curriculum. Drawing on a mid-project evaluation, the case study presented here explores student partners’ perceptions of achievements and challenges, including developing a sense of community and the impact on career development. It also highlights how supporting opportunities for visibility and recognition throughout a project may contribute to sustaining a culture of reciprocity in partnership.
Students as partners in action: Evaluating a university-wide initiative
Authors: Coombe Leanne , Huang Jasmine , Russell Stuart , Sheppard Karen , Khosravi Hassan
Published: December 2018

This case study was designed as one of many pilot projects to inform the scaling-up of Students as Partners (SaP) as a whole-of-institution strategy to enhance the student learning experience. It sought to evaluate the other pilots in order to understand the phenomena of partnerships and how students and staff perceive the experience of working in partnership. It also sought to explore the extent of benefits and challenges experienced by staff and students throughout the process and identify potential implications for future implementation.
The Effect of Aging and Burnishing Treatment on Parts Joined by Friction Stir Welding
Authors: Sonmez Fikret , Basak Hudayim , Gural Ahmet , Taskesen Ahmet
Published: December 2018

In this study, the AA7075 aluminum alloy plates were joined by a friction stir–welding (FSW) method. Then, the effects of aging and burnishing treatments on the mechanical and microstructural properties of the joints were examined. First, the Al-7075 parts were joined with this method, and then only burnishing, only aging, and aging-plus-burnishing treatments were applied to the FSW specimens. The tensile and bending strengths were examined for all test specimens. Moreover, microhardness measurements and microstructural analyses were performed after all processes. It was seen that the aging and burnishing processes each had an improving effect on the mechanical properties of the stir-welded zone. The results also showed that the combined application of these two methods (aging plus burnishing) had an adverse effect on the parts joined with FSW. Furthermore, according to X-ray diffraction analyses, precipitates, such as magnesium silicide (Mg2Si), magnesium-aluminum-copper, and copper dialuminide (Al2Cu) as well as aluminum oxide formations, were observed at the weld region. Among these precipitates, while bending strength improved because of the Mg2Si formation, formation of Al2Cu precipitates adversely affected both tensile and bending strengths.
Targeted Gene Sequencing in Children with Crohn’s Disease and Their Parents: Implications for Missing Heritability
Authors: Chen Jiun-Sheng , Hu Fulan , Kugathasan Subra , Jorde Lynn B , Nix David , Rutherford Ann , Denson Lee , Watkins W Scott , Prahalad Sampath , Huff Chad , Guthery Stephen L
Published: December 2018

Crohn’s disease is a complex genetic trait characterized by chronic relapsing intestinal inflammation. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 170 loci associated with the disease, accounting for ∼14% of the disease variance. We hypothesized that rare genetic variation in GWAS positional candidates also contribute to disease pathogenesis. We performed targeted, massively-parallel sequencing of 101 genes in 205 children with Crohn’s disease, including 179 parent-child trios and 200 controls, both of European ancestry. We used the gene burden test implemented in VAAST and estimated effect sizes using logistic regression and meta-analyses. We identified three genes with nominally significant p-values: NOD2, RTKN2, and MGAT3. Only NOD2 was significant after correcting for multiple comparisons. We identified eight novel rare variants in NOD2 that are likely disease-associated. Incorporation of rare variation and compound heterozygosity nominally increased the proportion of variance explained from 0.074 to 0.089. We estimated the population attributable risk and total heritability of variation in NOD2 to be 32.9% and 3.4%, respectively, with 3.7% and 0.25% accounted for by rare putatively functional variants. Sequencing probands (as opposed to genotyping) to identify rare variants and incorporating phase by sequencing parents can recover a portion of the missing heritability of Crohn’s disease.