bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computational Analysis Of Group 2 Late Embryogenesis Protein (Lea) In Different Cultivar Of Bread Wheat (Triticum Aestivum)
Authors: Rasouli Hassan , Kahrizi Danial , Farshadfar Ezatollah , Yari Khirollach , Moradi Mohammad Taher
Published: May 2018

Late Embryogenesis abundant protein has a crucial role as the cold-acclimation process in the wheat. These proteins encoded by TaWdhn13 gene. This gene is transcriptionally activated and produces the accumulated proteins and metabolites and protection cell structure from freezing damage. The objectives of this study were to isolate the genomic DNA (g-DNA) sequence of TaWdhn13, to analyze structure, conserved domains of the gene, and to found a basis for association analysis of the functional sites associated with computational analysis. We here report on the functional assignment to TaWdhn13 gene by computational analysis. The Three-Dimensional (3D) model of LEA protein drawing by using the phyre 2 server. For identify the conserved domain and motif of these gene sequence we used the Conserved Domain Database and DNA Motif Searching Database, however, the conserved domains and motif has been recognized. The results showed TaWdhn13 conserved domain incudes: Dehydrin superfamily. Also, motifs structure for this gene includes: 2FE2S_FER_1 Motif, INTEGRIN_BETA Motif, VWFC_1 Motif, EGF_1 Motif and DEFENSIN Motif. Our results reveal that group 2 LEA proteins are most likely to function within the cell nucleus. The analysis of protein property showed that the protein had no trans-membrane domains. The isoelectric point of the protein was 3.41, which was charged with 5.34 negative electrons when pH value of the buffer was 7.0.
Politeness Strategies in English Business Letters: a Comparative Study of Native and Non-Native Speakers of English
Authors: Goudarzi Elahe , Ghonsooly Behzad , Taghipour Zahra
Published: May 2018

This study investigated the use of politeness strategies in a corpus of English business letters written by Iranian non-native speakers in comparison with business letters written by English native speakers. The positive and negative politeness strategies proposed by Brown and Levinson’s (1978) theory were employed. A corpus of 46 business letters written by non-native employees of four companies and 46 letters written by native speakers who were in correspondence with these companies were analyzed to examine their use of politeness strategies. Th e results collected from the analysis of letters written by nonnative parties as senders were compared to those written by native speakers as receivers in response. Th e findings showed that although both parties used both types of politeness strategies in their letters, non-native participants employed both types (negative and positive politeness strategies) more than native speakers, especially positive politeness strategies, which were found to be used more frequently than negative ones. Additionally, the results demonstrated that social distance plays an important role in the employment of different strategies, particularly in choosing the type of salutation, which is an act requiring the positive politeness strategy to reduce face threatening act. Th us, more frequent use of positive politeness strategies by non-native speakers could be an effect of this factor.
Individual differences in visual and auditory processing of emotional material
Authors: Zagórska Anna , Fajkowska Małgorzata
Published: May 2018

Presented studies investigated the specificity of visual and auditory modalities in attentional processing of emotion, and its association with temperamental dimensions and trait-like attentional control (AC). During preliminary study 30 participants were presented with the paper-pencil visual search task (Emotional Faces Attentional Test) and emotional prosody detection tasks (Emotional Prosody Test). Results revealed visual happiness superiority and auditory sadness superiority. During the main study, in addition to attentional performance, 51 subjects were administrated two questionnaires: EPQ-R and Attentional Control Scale. Introducing individual differences into analysis limited the general pattern of modality distinctiveness in attentional processing of emotional stimuli obtained in the preliminary study. Findings for all personality traits studied separately showed that Extraversion and low Neuroticism were associated with the visual sadness superiority. Whereas interactional analysis indicated effective visual threat processing in extraverts with good AC and effective friendly prosody detection when Neuroticism and AC remain in inverse relationship. Hence, we have found that processing emotional targets in both modalities is associated with temperament dimensions and their interactions with attentional control. Additionally, findings from both studies suggest that general psychological laws might be challenged by individual differences.
Attachment and alexithymia are related, but mind-mindedness does not mediate this relationship
Authors: Szpak Marta , Białecka-Pikul Marta
Published: May 2018

The main aim of the study was to check: (a) attachment-related differences in alexithymia and (b) the mediating role of mind-mindedness in attachment-alexithymia relationship. Method: Attachment (PAM; Berry et al., 2007), alexithymia (TAS-20; Bagby, Taylor, & Parker, 1994) and mind-mindedness (“describe your friend” method; Meins et al, 2008) were measured in the sample of 128 Polish undergraduates. Results: Positive associations were seen between attachment anxiety and overall alexithymia scores and difficulty identifying emotions. Attachment avoidance was positively associated with overall alexithymia score, difficulty describing feelings and externally oriented thinking. Mind-mindedness was not related to neither attachment or alexithymia. Conclusion: There are attachment-related differences in alexithymia, but mind-mindedness seems not to mediate attachment-alexithymia relationship.
Life Satisfaction: Testing a Structural Equation Model Based on Authenticity and Subjective Happiness
Authors: Sariçam Hakan
Published: May 2018

The aim of this research is to examine the relationships between authenticity, subjective happiness, and life satisfaction. The participants were 347 university students. In this study, the Authenticity Scale, the Subjective Happiness Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale were used. The relationships between authenticity, subjective happiness and life satisfaction were examined using correlation analysis and Structural Equation Model (SEM). In correlation analysis, authentic living was found positively related to subjective happiness. On the other hand, self-alienation, accepting external influence was found negatively correlated to subjective happiness. Besides subjective happiness and life satisfaction have positive relation. Structural Equation Model showed that self-alienation, accepting external influence results in a decrease subjective happiness on life satisfaction whereas rise in authentic living lead to subjective happiness, so subjective happiness also brings life satisfaction. According to standardized beta coefficients (β= -.49), the most significant predictor of subjective happiness was self-alienation. Results were discussed in the light of the related literature.
Mentalization within close relationships: The role of specific attachment style
Authors: Bączkowski Błażej M. , Cierpiałkowska Lidia
Published: May 2018

Mentalization is a form of social cognition that enables to perceive and interpret human behaviour in terms of intentional mental states (Frith & Frith, 2003) and is influenced by social context (e.g., O’Connor and Hirsch, 1999). Hence, we examined mentalization related to specific attachment relationships (Bowlby, 1969; Fraley, 2007). This study involved 115 participants (85% female) who reported their relationship-specific (ECR-RS; Fraley et al., 2011) and global attachment styles (ECR; Brennan, Clark, Shaver, 1998), and perspective-taking tendency towards their attachment figures (IRI-PT subscale; Davis, 1983). Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task-Revised (Baron-Cohen et al., 2001) was used as a proxy for mentalization disregarding relationships. The results showed that perspective-taking was associated with relationship-specific attachment avoidance (rs > -.29; all ps < .01) whereas global characteristics of mentalization were not related to attachment quality. Our findings indicate that the link between attachment quality and mentalization is relationship-specific.
Social support as a mediator for musical achievement
Authors: Nogaj Anna Antonina , Ossowski Roman
Published: May 2018

This article focuses on the issue of social support received by students of music schools in the context of their musical achievements. The theoretical part of this article contains the characteristics of factors related to the musical achievements of students; the support they receive from their environment is essential for their success in the process of musical education and their subsequent artistic career, in addition to their musical abilities and traits of personality. The research part is devoted to detailed analysis of the support level received by music school students and its correlation to their level of musical achievement. Social support is analysed with a view to its structure, distinguishing the following kinds of support: emotional, evaluative, informative and instrumental received from people who are significant to the music school student and indicates the essential presence of support in the process of musical achievement.

Moreover, as part of the presentation of the study, the authors introduce their original tool for measuring social support tailored to the realities of music schools - the Scale of Social Support of the Students of Music Schools (Gluska, 2011). This tool may be applied in the work of educational psychologists and teachers in music schools.
Combined Effects of 50 Hz Electromagnetic Field and SiO2 Nanoparticles on Oxidative Stress in Plant’s Gametic Cells / Zemfrekvences (50 Hz) Elekromagnētiskā Lauka Un SiO2 Nanodaļiņu Kombinētā Ietekme Uz Augu Gametisko Šūnu Oksidatīvo Stresu
Authors: Grauda Dace , Kolodynski Anton , Belogrudova Inta , Bumbure Lada , Rashal Isaak
Published: May 2018

The paper presents the results of combined effects of an extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (50 Hz) (ELF EMF) and SiO2 nanoparticles on fluorescence of plant gametic cells (immature microspores). The data were recorded by a BD FACSJazz® cell sorter after cell irradiation by blue laser (488 nm). A significant difference of fluorescence was observed between gametic cells after 1 hour incubation in suspension of SiO2 nanoparticles and the control gametic cells. It was observed that fluorescence intensity of gametic cell was higher with ELF EMF treatment in comparison to control cells, but it was statistically significant only for cells treated with electromagnetic radiation field with density 100 μT (ρ < 0.01) and 400 μT (ρ < 0.01). A different effect of ELF EMF were observed in cells incubated in SiO2 nanoparticle suspension; interaction of the factors resulted in lower cell fluorescence in comparison to control cells. The present study showed that SiO2 nanoparticles may be a source of oxidative stress, but jointly with 50 Hz electromagnetic field they can serve as an efficient antioxidant
Ecology and Diversity of Urban Pine Forest Soil Invertebrates in Rīga, Latvia / Augsnes Bezmugurkaulnieku Bioloģiskā Daudzveidība Urbānajos Priežu Mežos Rīgā, Latvijā
Authors: Telnov Dmitry , Salmane Ineta
Published: May 2018

A study on ecology and diversity of soil invertebrates of urban pine and mixed pine forests was carried out in seven different sampling plots in Rīga during 2014. Ninety eight soil samples were processed and in total, 40 426 specimens were extracted (of them, 25 237 specimens were identified to species level and 15 189 to order level). Indices (abundance, community similarity etc.) characterising faunal diversity and species communities of Rīga city soil fauna were estimated. The most numerous soil invertebrate groups were Collembola, Oribatida and Mesostigmata, accounting for 95% of all collected animals. There was rather high diversity of soil invertebrates in the disturbed urban forest habitats, but undisturbed soils harbour a greater species richness of mite fauna than disturbed soils.
Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Migraine in Latvia / Klīniski Epidemioloģisks Migrēnas Raksturojums Latvijā
Authors: Muravska Tatjana , Locāne Sintija , Jēgere Daina , Logina Ināra
Published: May 2018

The aim of this study was to explore clinical-epidemiological characteristics of migraine in Latvia and the disability of migraine patients, to determine the optimal options for care of these patients. Patients selected from three headache centres were asked 40 questions by phone. Among 116 patients, the dominant age group was 25-34 (41.4%) and most patients were women (87.9%). 52.6% of patients were highly educated, and 53.4% had a job involving communication with people. In 56.9% of cases headaches started at the age of 15-24. About 25% migraine attacks lasted for 25-48 hours. The diagnosis “Migraine with aura” was confirmed in 50% of the patients. Headaches were quite frequent: 4-8 times a month or more in 22.4% of patients and 2-4 times a month in 29.3%. As medication, 50.9% used selective serotonin 5-HT (5- hydroxytryptamine) receptor agonists for migraine attacks treatment, 35.3% - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and 30.2% - acetaminophen-containing medicines. The average quality of life estimated by migraine disability assessment questionnaire (MIDAS) was 13.0, which equates to moderate disability. According to our study clinical characteristics of migraine in Latvia do not differ significantly from that of other European countries. Most of the patients are educated, working women of childbearing age. Migraine diagnosis and treatment seems to be appropriate, but nevertheless, too many sufferers have frequent and persistent headache attacks that require further investigation.
History of Academic Neurology in Latvia / Akadēmiskās Neiroloģijas Vēsture Latvijā
Authors: Balta Anita , Miglāne Evija , Logina Ināra , Vīksna Arnis , Millers Andrejs
Published: May 2018

Raksts sniedz īsu ieskatu akadēmiskās neiroloģijas attīstībā Latvijā dažādos laika periodos, sākot no tās pirmsākumiem neilgi pēc Latvijas Republikas dibināšanas, līdz pat šim brīdim, kā arī par izcilākajām personībām neiroloģijā, kuru devums attiecīgajā zinātnes jomā ir bijis visievērojamākais.
Coastal Development of Daugavgrîva Island, Located Near the Gulf of Riga / Rîgas Lîèa Piekrastes Krasta Attîstîba Daugavgrîvas Salâ
Authors: Bçrtiòa Laura , Krievâns Mâris , Burlakovs Juris , Lapinskis Jânis
Published: May 2018

Natural as well as anthropogenic processes impact greatly sensitive coastal areas all over the world. The spectrum of natural processes involved can be classified as meteorological, geological, marine, and lithodynamic. The Baltic Sea with its Gulf of Riga is an area in which combined sea erosion and accumulation processes, as well as alluvial processes, play significant roles in the coastal development. Major anthropogenic processes include impacts from ports and coastal protection structures, such as Riga Port hydraulic structures, fairway channels and coastal defence items. During summer also additional pressure of recreational activities has increased the effect on the coastal beach. Levelling data, historical cartographical material and beach sedimentary material granulometric analysis were used to describe natural and anthropogenic effects on development of the coastal beach of Daugavgrîva Island.
Study of Emotional Intelligence Patterns with Teachers Working in Public Education
Authors: Balázs László
Published: May 2018

The data necessary for the empirical research presented it this study were provided by 572 people, from altogether 26 schools. The schools included 18 primary schools, 7 secondary training institutions and 1 primary and secondary school. The major question of the study related to the pedagogues' emotional intelligence, more precisely if the teachers of different institutions showed any individual differences in their emotional intelligence patterns according to the given type of their school's organisational culture. We also examined if the nature of the organizational culture had any influence on the development the individual's emotional intelligence pattern. On the basis of the results we can declare that the teachers of different institutions having their own particular organizational cultures evolve different emotional intelligence patterns. Accordingly, we can come to the conclusion that in the long term the organizational culture affects the evolution of the individual's emotional intelligence pattern and vice versa.
Medical Liability in the Light of New Hungarian Civil Code
Authors: Barzó Tímea
Published: May 2018

The number of medical malpractice lawsuits filed each year in Hungary has considerably increased since the change of regime. The judicial decisions and practices on determining and awarding wrongful damages recoverable for medical malpractices in the Hungarian civil law have been developing for decades.
Compulsory Book Reading at School and Within Leisure
Authors: Pavlović Slavica
Published: May 2018

This paper deals with attitudes of secondary school pupils towards compulsory book reading at school, being the integral part of the subject Croat language and literature teaching subject, and its possible impact on their book (not-)reading in their leisure time. It is based on the research carried out through five-point Likert-type scale in secondary schools in Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina), in the second half of 2014. The research was conducted on the convenience, stratified sample consisted of 260 secondary school pupils, attending the final class of grammar (130) and vocational (130) school. The results obtained could give an insight into the book reading culture of secondary school pupils within their leisure related to their experience of compulsory book reading at school. It results that compulsory book reading has still been an uninteresting school task for both the strata of the research sample. Moreover, it results that compulsory book reading at school has a certain influence on book reading decrease in both sample strata’s leisure time. However, some guidelines how to increase the students’ interest in compulsory book reading at (secondary) school as well as in book culture within their leisure time are given in this paper.
Towards a Methodology to Identify a Talent by Using Psychological Cognitive Prototyping
Authors: Hammer Matthijs H. M.
Published: May 2018

Since education became an important aspect of society, teachers have a prelove for highly talented students. Especially young talented people relish profound attention of universities, firms, music ensembles, sports societies and artist groups. In higher education, students are encouraged to develop their unique strong point, named as talents. Around the globe, universities, institutes of higher and professional education provide students with programs for talent development and exploitation. Practitioners and educators complain on a regular basis that students rarely aware of what their talents are. It is experienced as difficult to identify them. This paper explores the possibility for mechanisms to identify, or recognize, a talent. Scholars and consultants developed many instrument on the development and exploitation of talents. But how can talents be identified? In this paper the fuzzy front end of talent recognition will be fostered. It is advocated that the psychological cognitive prototyping principles can be applied to identify the prototype of a talent.
Long-term bird ringing in Palestine
Authors: Awad Simon I. , Farhoud Michael H. , Abu Saada Riad K. , Busse Przemysław
Published: May 2018

This paper reports the results of mist-netting of birds, mainly passerines, at the Talitha Kumi ringing site by the Environmental Education Center (EEC), supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. Bird catching/ringing has been conducted there since 2000, but the data presented here are limited to ten years of work (2004-2013), mainly for compatibility reasons. During this time 6,810 individuals of 70 species were caught, of which 16 migrants and 8 local species caught most frequently are discussed. Data on seasonal (all year) and long-term (10-year) dynamics are given. The following general conclusions were drawn: (1) Even infrequent sampling of the local population by netting provides important information on seasonal and long-term patterns and trends; (2) the same is true of migrating species, provided that the work is carried out using the same methods over a long time span; (3) in migrants, very differentiated relations are observed between numbers of individuals caught during the spring and autumn migration seasons; (4) during the ten years of the study negative trends in the number of captured birds were observed for 14 species, including significantly negative trends for 4 species, while positive trends were observed for 10, none of which was significant.
The Potential for Development of Russian Youth Social Activity
Authors: Savotina Nataliya
Published: May 2018

The article deals with scientific and applied topicality of studying the problem of children and youth social activity. Spheres of social activity display in European tradition, in particular, the European Charter, Great Britain, have been revealed. Comparative analysis of understanding the essence of such a phenomenon in Western theories and scientific pedagogical thought in Russia has been given. The changes occurred in the context of the analysis of the notion during last decades and connected with the development of volunteering, motivation and forms of youth services have been emphasized. The most important tasks in developing social activity of Russian youth have been stated. Different scientific approaches to studying the notion of “social activity” enriching its characteristics have been analyzed. Based on the analysis of results on the organized events the drawbacks, neglects and causes of poor quality of working on the development of youth social activity have been shown. The experience in choosing activities and technologies demonstrated by teachers and pupils from different regions of Russia has been presented. Theoretical analysis of foreign and domestic experience in education has enabled to offer suggestions for the expansion of pupils and students’ social activity in the frame of different models presenting a wide scope for mastering and developing social competency of children and youth. These models have become the foundation for creating a general algorithm for the expansion of children and youth social activity. Pedagogical conditions and perspective directions for solving the problem of social activity development have been outlined in the article.
Forming of Future Teachers’ ICT-Competence: Canadian Experience
Authors: Demchenko Iryna
Published: May 2018

The article deals with the phenomenon of digital divide in the education in Canada. The domestic and foreign scientific and educational publications have been studied and analyzed. It has been found out that traditional means for training pedagogical specialists are gradually losing their relevance due to lack of educational dialogue between a teacher and a student. Information and communication technologies have entered today’s youth everyday life and become an essential means of communication, receiving and transmitting information. Based on the source study, the essence and reasons of digital divide have been revealed. Canadian researchers consider that it is possible to overcome this problem by revising the approach to teacher training which will focus on the forming of future teachers’ information and communication competence. Various definitions of the terms “information competence”, “ICT competence”, “digital literacy”, “e-literacy” have been described. The model of ICT competence, its structure and the process of its integration into education have been analyzed. The examples of forming future teachers’ ICT competence in universities of Canada have been given. It has been revealed that the problem of effective ICT implementation into educational activities is in the range of many Canadian studies, but in fact the phenomenon of digital divide in education is still topical due to insufficient activity of teachers of pedagogical faculties and students’ ignoring the problem. A number of studies have been examined, the authors of which give practical recommendations aimed at enhancing the role of new technologies in teacher training in Canada.
Diabetes mellitus: in search of an improved classification and treatment algorithm
Authors: Cernea Simona , Cahn Avivit
Published: May 2018

Our current clinical doctrine and practice is based upon a classification of diabetes which relies mainly on some clinical manifestations/criteria, rather than markers of the pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease. An improved classification based on such biological markers (i.e. of insulin resistance, beta cell dysfunction, autoimmunity) may assist in clinical decision and may offer the opportunity of an optimized therapeutic strategy. We address here some important questions that have not yet been clarified, e.g. which markers/indicators best define the main pathogenic mechanisms of the disease in a patient with diabetes and what threshold values are relevant for this purpose.
Decreased serum levels of sex steroids associated with osteoporosis in a group of Romanian male patients
Authors: Popa Florina Ligia , Stanciu Mihaela , Bighea Adrian , Berteanu Mihai , Totoianu Ioan Gheorghe , Rotaru Maria
Published: May 2018

Introduction. With age, sex hormone deficiency leads to reduced bone mineral density (BMD) in men. The aim of our research is to analyze the role of serum sex steroids in assessing BMD in the men included in this study. Materials and methods. This cross-sectional study included 146 men aged 65-85 years old with osteopenia or osteoporosis (study group) and 121 men with normal BMD (control group). Serum levels of total testosterone (Tt) and free testosterone (Tf) were measured by immunoassay, and estradiol (E2) levels were measured by the immunoenzymatic method. Femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD was examined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results. Tf and E2 deficiency was significantly associated with low BMD (p=0.007). No association was found between Tt deficiency and reduced BMD. Tf levels (p<0.001) and E2 levels (p=0.003) were significantly lower in patients with reduced BMD compared to those with normal BMD. Significant more cases with low levels of Tf (p=0.015) and E2 (p<0.001) were found in patients with osteoporosis compared to those with osteopenia. Conclusions. Sex hormones deficiency in men was significantly correlated with the decrease of BMD. Determination of serum Tf and E2 levels is important in assessing the risk of osteoporosis in male subjects.
Sustainability of the Public Water Supply and Sewerage Services Operating System: A Case Study on the Example of the Czech Republic
Authors: Hájek M. , Petružela L.
Published: May 2018

Water services, as a necessity for natural ecosystem functions and a key output from public governance, play a crucial role in forming sustainable relationships between natural, economic, and social factors in the development of society. Primarily, these relationships relate to the natural impacts of weather and climate on the variability of the hydrological cycle. Secondary relationships exist between providers and consumers of the services. Services provided by operators of public water supply and sewerage systems are a specific segment of water services. Their sustainability is controlled on the one hand by public regulation and and on the other by a combination of economic, social, and environmental objectives and the means by which they are achieved. The aim of this paper is, based on the parameters of supply and demand, to quantify the most important aspects of sustainable management of water supply and sanitation enterprises in connection with the current model for state regulation. The methodology is based on an examination of consumer behaviour indicators which can be interpreted from ‘water bills’. The comparison of household expenditure on water services in the Czech Republic shows that some are already approaching, and even exceeding, the limit of what is considered social acceptability.
Openness and Financial Development in Central and Eastern European Countries
Authors: Bayar Yilmaz , Akyuz Fatma , Erem Isil
Published: May 2018

Great numbers of countries have made the limitations loose on the transnational goods, services and capital flows and begun to follow a policy of export-oriented growth. Total value of global financial asset flows exceeded the value of global trade over time and financial markets have experienced considerable expansions in almost every country. This paper investigates the interaction between openness and financial development in 9 Central and Eastern European countries during 1996-2014 period employing cointegration test of Westerlund and Edgerton (2007) and causality test of Dumitrescu and Hurlin (2012). We reached that openness affected financial sector development positively in the long term. Furthermore, there was one-way causality from financial openness to financial sector development.
The Complexity of Risk and Uncertainty Assessment
Authors: Drăghici Dalis Maria
Published: May 2018

Risk reduction means diminishing uncertainties and strengthening the knowledge. There are many ways in which undesirable surprises can be understood and controlled, but the dominating one is the risk approach, on the basis of risk conceptualization, evaluation and risk management. Across time, many progresses have been accomplished in the field of risk, connected not only to the conceptual part, but also to the empirical procedures. Despite this, the premise of this domain is being represented to a substantial extend by theories and practices. This is why it is indispensable to search for trends in the risk framework, to reveal whether further development should be desired and if uncertainties’ consequences are measured properly. The aim of this article is to present an analysis of some fundamental breakthroughs developed in the risk field, with a particular attention on the fundamental concepts. In addition, I also pursued to provide you with new insights on how to assess, perceive, describe and manage the unforeseen situations altogether with analyzing the uncertainty component of risk. To understand the risk has to be in continuous harmony with the acknowledgement element of the same concept.
The occurrence of hot weather in the Lublin-Felin and Czesławice in relation to atmospheric circulation (1966–2010)
Authors: Bartoszek Krzysztof , Węgrzyn Alicja
Published: May 2018

The occurrence of hot weather in the Lublin-Felin and Czesławice in relation to atmospheric circulation (1966−2010). The paper describes the occurrence of hot (tmax 25.1−30.0°C) and very hot days (tmax >30°C) in Lublin-Felin and Czesławice in the years 1966−2010. The analysis covers the long-term variability of such days, and duration of heat waves. Their circulation conditions were also determined, with indication of circulation types during which the probability of occurrence of hot and very hot days was the highest. In the study area, hot days occurred from April to September, and very hot days from May to August, with the highest frequency in July in both cases. In the period from 1991 to 2010, a considerably higher number of cases of very hot days were recorded than in the 1970s and 1980s. Moreover, they occurred in increasingly long sequences, contributing to more frequent occurrence of unfavourable thermal and humid conditions during the growing season of plants. The highest probability of occurrence of hot and very hot days was determined for circulation types with airflow from the southern sector, and the lowest from the northern sector. Should the upward trend in the frequency of very hot days continue, the risk of the effect of such unfavourable thermal conditions on the health and well-being of tourists and patients of the health resort in Nałęczów will also increase
Pachyonychia Congenita - Can a Specific Phenotype be a Clue to a Genetic Defect? - a Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Lalošević Jovan , Gajić-Veljić Mirjana , Stojković-Filipović Jelena , Bosić Martina , Nikolić Miloš
Published: May 2018

Pachyonychia congenita (PC) is a rare inherited disorder of keratinization characterized by hypertrophic nail dystrophy, painful palmoplantar blisters, cysts, follicular hyperkeratosis and oral leukokeratosis. These pathological clinical features are resulting from mutations in keratin proteins including KRT6A, KRT6B, KRT6C, KRT16, and KRT17. We present a 6-year-old girl with hypertrophic nail dystrophy, follicular hyperkeratosis, circumscribed plantar keratoderma and oral leukokeratosis. The features were consistent with the diagnosis of PC. The patient has been registered in the International Pachyonychia Congenita Research Registry (IPCRR) and is waiting for a detailed genetic analysis. The IPCRR has contributed to publication of numerous papers which emphasized the importance of the mutation type affecting various clinical presentations of PC. Based on recent data, a new classification system has been developed for PC, and it is gradually replacing the earlier classifications. It is based almost exclusively on the mutated genes. In this report we have raised the hypothesis that distinctive clinical features may be highly suggestive of a specific keratin mutation.
Public Health and the New Law of Public Health in Republic of Serbia
Authors: Djonovic Nela , Vukomanovic Ivana Simic , Stajic Dalibor
Published: May 2018

The new Law on Public Health was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia No. 15 dated 25 February 2016. Comparing to the previous Law, the biggest changes have been made in the domain of monitoring the indicators of the environment and population health. The responsibility of controlling the quality and safety of food was given back to the Ministry of Health. This paper presents the principal regulations regarding the main functions, principals and organizational features of the public health system in Serbia.
The Dagestani Security Paradigm in the View of Historical Perspective
Authors: Hanuliak Juraj
Published: May 2018

The paper is focused on the largest and ethnically most heterogeneous entity in the North Caucasus – Dagestan. After the consolidation of the security situation in neighboring Chechnya, Dagestan has become a primary security threat as well as a challenge of the North Caucasus region. Because of the ethnic and linguistic heterogeneity, the society based on primarily clan and tribal structures and weak local governments that cannot reasonably control the substantial part of the Dagestani territory, Dagestan has become an ideal base for an expansion of influence of radical Islam in the form of Wahhabism in the North Caucasus. Because of the spread of the Wahhabi ideology in Dagestan, terrorist attacks spread increasingly and the Dagestani society has become fragmented and disrupted. The paper is a case study aiming to describe and analyze the Dagestani security paradigm and its changes in the course of history, with emphasis on the neighboring actors influence.
Extraordinary Measures: Drone Warfare, Securitization, and the “War on Terror”
Authors: Romaniuk Scott Nicholas , Webb Stewart Tristan
Published: May 2018

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles or “drones,” as part of the United States’ (US) targeted killing (TK) program dramatically increased after the War on Terror (WoT) was declared. With the ambiguous nature and parameters of the WoT, and stemming from the postulation of numerous low-level, niche-, and other securitizations producing a monolithic threat, US drone operations now constitute a vital stitch in the extensive fabric of US counterterrorism policy. This article employs the theories of securitization and macrosecuritization as discussed by Buzan (1991, 2006), and Buzan and Wæver (2009) to understand targeted killing, by means of weaponized drones, as an extraordinary measure according to the Copenhagen School’s interpretation. An overarching securitization and the use of the “security” label warrants the emergency action of targeted killing through the use of drones as an extraordinary measure. We argue that the WoT serves as a means of securitizing global terrorism as a threat significant enough to warrant the use of drone warfare as an extraordinary use of force. By accepting the WoT as a securitization process we can reasonably accept that the US’ response(s) against that threat are also securitized and therefore become extraordinary measures.
Factors of Voluntary Mergers of Municipalities: a case study of the Czech Republic
Authors: Musilová Karolína , Heřmánek Jan
Published: May 2018

Territorial fragmentation is considered as one of the most problematic characteristics of the Czech municipal system, however, there are no effective ways how to encourage small units to amalgamate. This paper focuses on cases of voluntary mergers that occured in 2002 and 2003, as the number of amalgamated units had no comparison in last 20 years. Through the analysis of documents, data from statistical office, press and interviews with actors we examine the aspect of those mergers such as main causes, process of the merger itself and actors involved. The analysis reveals the amalgamation was not a result of long-term process but more likely an ad hoc solution of problematic situation caused by administrative, economic and socio-demographic factors.

This paper was supported by PRVOUK Project No. 17 – Vědy o společnosti, politice a médiích ve výzvách doby [Sciences of Society, Politics, and Media under the Challenge of the Times], Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Political Studies.
Mgr. Pavel Maškarinec, Ph.D., Determinants of Women’s Descriptive Representation on the City Boards of the Czech Statutory Cities after the Local Elections of 2014
Authors: Maškarinec Pavel
Published: May 2018

This paper focuses on question why is descriptive (or numerical) representation of women as local political leaders higher in some cities than in others? The paper focuses on the analysis of the determinants of women’s political representation on city boards of the Czech statutory cities after the last local elections of 2014. We test some hypothesis, concerning two groups of factors that can potentially affect the success of women (socioeconomic and demographic, and political contextual), thus aiming to expand theoretical and empirical research which is in the case of determinants of women’s representation at the local level underdeveloped. Overall, the analysis reveals that regression models explaining presence of women on the city boards were not generally too successful, with slightly better performance of the model using socioeconomic and demographic factors. Specifically, Moravia and municipality size proved as very strong predictors of presence of women on the city boards in negative, or positive direction, respectively (although in full model municipality size variable lost its significance), supplementing by the proportion of female councillors in same elections, which increased successfulness of women as well. In contrast, the share of women in local councils and on city boards in the previous electoral term was not proven as statistical significant, similarly as party affiliations’ of city boards.
Selling the Arc of Crisis: Promoting Foreign Policy Change during the Carter Presidency
Authors: da Vinha Luis
Published: May 2018

The Carter Administration came to Office seeking to continue a policy of détente. However, the Administration’s policy vis-à-vis the Soviets became more assertive throughout the Presidency, culminating in the Carter Doctrine. The current paper applies a conceptual framework for “issue selling” to argue that a more assertive foreign policy was being promoted by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and his NSC staff since the early days of the Carter Presidency. By applying an assortment of issue selling strategies, Zbigniew Brzezinski and the NSC staff were able to exploit the communicative interactions amongst the political leadership to continuously promote a more forceful US policy towards the Soviets. By being able to interpret and define the problem representation facing the Administration, the APNSA was able initiate and continuously promote a wholesale policy transformation leading to the development of the Carter Doctrine.
U.S. and the Arctic in the Last Two Decades
Authors: Czarny Roman S.
Published: May 2018

The United States became an Arctic country by virtue of purchasing Alaska from Russia in 1867. For a variety of reasons, discussed in this work, the Arctic used to be a focal point for the US during the Cold War, but later on this country paid much less attention to the region, including somewhat dubious awareness of America actually being an Arctic state. The aim of this article is to present some opportunities and challenges posed by governing the Arctic, and in particular a brief outline of the U.S. approach towards the region through its track record in the span of about last two decades, until the year 2015. It also attempts to present the expectations connected with American chairmanship of the Arctic Council, as well as the reasons for the country’s inability to ratify one of the fundamental international instruments, i.e. the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS.
Differentiation of fen bedrock in the Ełk Lakeland (NE Poland) in relation to late Pleistocene terrain morphogenesis
Authors: Lemkowska Bożena
Published: May 2018

The Ełk Lakeland (NE Poland) with the area of 263 100 ha was formed during Vistulian glaciation. More than 66% of this region was shaped during the Leszno phase, 15% during the Poznań phase, and 19% during the Pomeranian phase. There are 1854 fens which cover the area of 7.3 % of the Ełk Lakeland mesoregion. Fens have an area of 10.3 ha on average. About 82.5% of the studied fens is located on gyttja deposits, which suggests post-lacustrine origin of the wetlands. Primary the lakes had covered 11% of the Ełk Lakeland, and 6.3% was transformed into fens. Most of them (60%) was formed on organic gyttja, 16% on calcareous gyttja, and 6% on clay gyttja. About 17.5% of fens was formed as a result of paludification. The types of bedrock underlying peats differ depending on the phases of glaciation.
Selected properties of organic soils under boreal mire spruce forest in the Romincka Forest, NE Poland
Authors: Bijak Szymon
Published: May 2018

The paper presents selected properties of the organic soils developed in boreal mire spruce forests (Sphagno girensohnii-Piceetum) in the Romincka Forest (NE Poland). Additionally, the relationship between soil fertility and forest stand productivity was investigated. Data from 12 soil profiles, differing in terms of peatland ecological type (raised bog, transitional bog and fen) was used. The significance of the differences in soil properties among peatland types was assessed with the Kruskal-Wallis test. Soil fertility was described using soil trophic index (SIGo), whereas stand productivity according to site index (SI) value. The properties of the analysed soils varied significantly in terms of peatland type. Soils from fens were more fertile (SIGo 25–31), less acidic (pH > 5.7), with lower total potential acidity (36–40 cmol(+)·kg−1), higher base saturation (77–79%), Ca2+ content (116–136 cmol(+)·kg−1) and base exchange capacity (123–145 cmol(+)·kg−1) than soils from transition or raised bogs. No significant effect of soil fertility on the site index of stands growing on analysed soils was observed (r = 0.385, p = 0.216).
Intensity of the Reader’s Voice in the Reading Aloud of Fiction: Effects of the Character’s Gender
Authors: Stolarski Łukasz
Published: May 2018

The speaker’s gender is a crucial factor affecting the acoustic features of the voice. One such feature is voice intensity, also known as sound pressure level (SPL). Previous studies have indicated that the female voice may involve lower values of SPL than the male voice. Moreover, there are suggestions that the variability of voice intensity tends to be lower for women than for men as well.

The major aim of this paper is to examine the effects of literary character’s gender on the reader’s SPL, measured in decibels (dB), and the variability of voice intensity, measured as the standard deviation (SD) of SPL, while reading prose aloud. The secondary aims are to investigate the general shifts of SPL and SD of SPL in dialogues independently of other variables and to consider the possible effects of the reader’s gender and the reader’s dialect. In order to accomplish these tasks, a representative sample of dialogue excerpts with male and female characters was used. Each fragment was located in the corresponding audiobook and analysed in terms of the two acoustic features under discussion. Typical values of SPL and the SD of SPL for different readers were measured in the entire chapters from which fragments were selected and the results were compared with those obtained from the extracts. In this way, it was possible to establish the relative shifts of SPL and the SD of SPL for each of the analysed fragments.

Contrary to what had been expected, a statistical analysis of the results revealed no effects of the character’s gender on any of the response variables. However, conclusions concerning secondary aims were more definitive. A general trend to decrease the SD of SPL in dialogues in comparison to the rest of the text in a novel was observed. This tendency is independent of any of the factors included in the study. It was also observed that male American readers tend to lower their voice intensity when reading dialogues. All these findings may be applied in developing text to speech software.
The Status of Old English Dare Revisited
Authors: Gregersen Sune
Published: May 2018

The development of dare in the history of English has played an important role in the literature on grammatical change and (de)grammaticalization. This paper aims to clarify two issues regarding the syntax and semantics of dare in earlier English: when it is first attested with to-infinitives, and to what extent it can be said to have been semantically ‘bleached’ in a number of Old English attestations. The conclusions are, firstly, that dare is not attested with to-infinitives in Old English (paceTomaszewska 2014), and that a number of Middle English attestations that have been suggested in the literature are not convincing (paceVisser 1963–73; Beths 1999; Molencki 2005). Secondly, it is argued that the co-occurrence of dare and verbs like gedyrstlæcan ‘venture, be bold, presume’ in Old English is not an indication of semantic ‘bleaching’ of dare, and that the verb was not more ‘auxiliarized’ in Old English than it is today.