bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Military Service, Exposure to Trauma, and Health in Older Adulthood: An Analysis of Northern Vietnamese Survivors of the Vietnam War
Authors: Korinek Kim , Teerawichitchainan Bussarawan
Published: June 2014

Objectives. We sought to better understand the association between early life exposure to war and trauma and older adult health status in a developing setting.

Methods. We analyzed data of 405 Vietnamese men and women in 1 northern Vietnam commune who entered early adulthood during the Vietnam War and who are now entering late adulthood (i.e., ages 55 years and older in 2010).

Results. The toll of war’s trauma in the aging northern Vietnamese population was perceptible in the association between exposure to war trauma and various measures of physical health, including negative self-reported health and somatic symptoms. Killing another person and being exposed to toxic substances in warfare was especially detrimental to health in older adulthood. War traumas were likely implicated more strongly as determinants of late adulthood health in men than in women. The weak association between trauma exposure and reported depressive symptoms raised questions about measuring mental health.

Conclusions. Military service and war trauma were important determinants of older adult health beyond the US context, given the widespread waging of war and concentration of recent armed conflicts within developing societies.
The Component Model of Infrastructure: A Practical Approach to Understanding Public Health Program Infrastructure
Authors: Lavinghouze S. René , Snyder Kimberly , Rieker Patricia P.
Published: June 2014

Functioning program infrastructure is necessary for achieving public health outcomes. It is what supports program capacity, implementation, and sustainability. The public health program infrastructure model presented in this article is grounded in data from a broader evaluation of 18 state tobacco control programs and previous work. The newly developed Component Model of Infrastructure (CMI) addresses the limitations of a previous model and contains 5 core components (multilevel leadership, managed resources, engaged data, responsive plans and planning, networked partnerships) and 3 supporting components (strategic understanding, operations, contextual influences). The CMI is a practical, implementation-focused model applicable across public health programs, enabling linkages to capacity, sustainability, and outcome measurement.
Mortality From Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Reproductive-Aged Women: United States, 1999–2010
Authors: McElligott Kara A.
Published: June 2014

Objectives. I estimated the sexually transmitted disease–related mortality among US reproductive-aged women from 1999 to 2010.

Methods. I estimated mortality from National Center for Health Statistics’ Multiple Cause of Death data. I defined reproductive age as 15 to 44 years. For diseases partially caused by sexual transmission, I estimated the proportion attributable to sexual transmission from the literature. To calculate mortality rates, I estimated number of deaths from each disease and Census Bureau population for reproductive-aged women for 1999 to 2010.

Results. From 1999 to 2010, the cumulative sexually transmitted disease–related mortality rate decreased by 49%, from 5.3 to 2.7 deaths per 100 000. The primary contributors were HIV and human papilloma virus infections. Mortality from sexually transmitted HIV infection decreased by 62%, from 3.4 to 1.3 deaths per 100 000. Mortality from human papilloma virus–associated gynecologic cancers decreased by 19%, from 1.6 deaths per 100 000 in 1999 to 1.3 deaths per 100 000 in 2010.

Conclusions. Screening and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases may reduce mortality. Research is needed to determine whether sexually transmitted disease–related morbidity among reproductive-aged women has decreased over the past decade.
Improving the Accuracy and Reliability of MWD/Magnetic-Wellbore-Directional Surveying in the Barents Sea
Authors: Edvardsen I.. , Nyrnes E.. , Johnsen M.G.. G. , Hansen T.L.. L. , Løvhaug U.P.. P. , Matzka J..
Published: June 2014

The years ahead will see increased petroleum-related activity in the Barents Sea, with operations far off the coast of Norway.

The region is at high geomagnetic latitude in the auroral zone, and therefore, directional drilling by use of magnetic reference will experience enlarged azimuth uncertainty compared with operations in the Norwegian and North Seas. Two main contributors to azimuth uncertainty are magnetic disturbances from electric currents in the ionosphere and axial magnetic interference from the drillstring. The former is more frequent in the Barents Sea than farther south, and the effect of the latter is increased because of diminished value of the magnetic horizontal component. Wellbore directional surveying for operations on the continental shelf in the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea rely on well-established procedures for near-real-time magnetic monitoring by use of onshore magnetic-reference stations. The different land and sea configuration, distant offshore oil and gas fields, higher geomagnetic latitude, and different behavior of the magnetic field require the procedures to be reassessed before being applied to the Barents Sea. To reduce drilling delays, procedures must be implemented to enable efficient management of magnetic disturbances. In some areas of the Barents Sea, the management requires new equipment to be developed and tested before drilling, such as seabed magnetometer stations. One simple way to reduce drillstring interference is increasing the amount of nonmagnetic steel in the bottomhole assembly (BHA). To maintain azimuth uncertainty at an acceptable level in northern areas, it is crucial that wellbore-directional-surveying requirements are given high priority and considered early during well planning. During the development phase of an oil and gas field, the planned wells must be assigned adequate positional-uncertainty models and, if possible, be designed in a direction that minimizes the wellbore directional uncertainty.
Intelligent Energy: The Past, the Present, and the Future
Authors: Gilman Helen , Nordtvedt Jan-Erik
Published: June 2014

The first 10 years of intelligent energy (IE) have been interesting and rewarding. The oil and gas industry has seen many successful IE implementations with significant value delivered. We have established improved communication and collaboration, and seen changes enabled by real-time data and new technologies such as predictive analytics.

However, we have not yet delivered the level and scale of transformation that were envisioned at the start. Our industry has moved more slowly at the same time that the "outside" world— our own homes and other industries—has moved much more quickly. As individuals, we consume information and communicate very differently from 10 years ago (e.g., through online booking, social media, and the use of map-based solutions). There is an ease of connecting across the world and "things talk"—but not in the oil patch to any large degree. [See Chui et al. (2010) for a broader discussion of the "Internet of Things."]

In this paper, and on the basis of more than 10 years of experience working exclusively with IE and with more than a dozen of the key industry actors, we present an analysis of the IE domain, lessons learned, and suggestions for where we should go from here. We consider the reasons for our current state, attempting to answer why it might be more difficult to transform in the oil and gas industry than elsewhere. Why have some of the barriers been much bigger than we expected? The business case is as strong as it was 10 years ago, the technology is more robust, and we have more young people in the industry as well as a higher level of acceptance of technology and change in our personal lives. Thus, we should find it easier to make more-rapid progress now than in the past. What must change to achieve that progress?
Creeping Bentgrass Field Response to Pigment‐Containing Products
Authors: McCarty Lambert B. , Gann James R. , Wells Christina E. , Gerard Patrick D.
Published: June 2014

Reducing summer stress on creeping bentgrass [Agrostis stolonifera L. var. palustris (Huds.)] putting greens is a major goal of many turf managers. Use of colorants and pigment‐containing products has been proposed as a means of protecting the plant from environmental stress, especially on bentgrass putting greens grown in heat‐stressed environments. The objective of this research was to investigate the physiological effects of four pigment‐containing products–a combination of zinc oxide (ZnO), green pigment, and titanium dioxide (TiO2) (TurfScreen); Cu‐based pigments (PAR and Foursome); and a Cu‐pigmented paint designed to provide green color to dormant turfgrass in winter months–have on creeping bentgrass under stressful field conditions. Products were applied weekly for 10 wk to two separate studies repeated in time. TurfScreen, PAR, Foursome, and paint all lowered carbon dioxide exchange rate (CER), reduced normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and raised canopy temperature relative to nontreated controls. Only paint lowered visual quality and percent turf cover compared to the untreated controls. TurfScreen reduced evapotranspiration (ET) in one of two studies. Root mass was unaffected by any treatment. Zinc (∼800 mg kg−1) and Cu (>155 mg kg−1) concentrations in leaf tissue and soil increased dramatically after TurfScreen and paint application, respectively, and potential toxicity should be considered during long‐term use of these products. The products tested failed to enhance physiological processes normally associated with improved turf health and quality.
Chlorine requirement for biologically stable drinking water after nanofiltration
Authors: Ohkouchi Y. , Yata Y. , Bun R. , Itoh S.
Published: June 2014

There is considerable interest in minimizing the chlorine residual in Japan's tap water because of increasing consumer complaints about the chlorinous odor of drinking water. However, minimization of the chlorine residual requires stricter control of biodegradable organics in finished water to ensure biological stability during water distribution. In this context, we investigated the improvement of biological stability of drinking water by nanofiltration (NF). The removal of assimilable organic carbon (AOC) was 52% on average, but showed large seasonal variation. It was found to be difficult to maintain the acceptable AOC level for biologically stable water by NF. In addition, significant bacterial regrowth in NF permeates was still observed without chlorination, although 52% AOC was removed. Then, the chlorine concentration required to prevent bacterial regrowth during distribution of nanofiltrated water was determined using continuous-flow reactor systems. The heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) densities in biofilm were monitored at different chlorine conditions. The results indicated that the NF process could significantly reduce the chlorine requirement of the finished water. The relationship between free chlorine residual and HPC in biofilm formed from 1 μgC AOC showed that a trace level of chlorine residual, <0.1 mg/L, could inactivate heterotrophic bacteria and prevent biofilm formation.
Characteristics of ozone decomposition inside ceramic membrane pores as nano-reactors
Authors: Fan X. J. , Zhang X. H.
Published: June 2014

The characteristics of ozone decomposition inside the nano-pores of ceramic membranes were identified according to nano-reactor configuration. Three types of ceramic membranes with a pore size of 50 nm were tested with compositions of Al2O3, MnO2/Al2O3 (4%) and CeO2/Al2O3 (4%) respectively. The results showed that the specific decomposition rate of ozone inside membrane pores was 428 times higher than that in pure water outside the pores. The influences of pH values or H2O2 dosages on ozone decomposition in bulk water can be explained on the basis of chain reactions or hydroxyl-radical mechanism; however, these did not work for the behaviours inside the nano-pores of membranes. The extents of the influences of NO3−, SO42− and Ca2+ were even opposite inside to outside the nano-pores of membranes. A unique configuration of nano-reactors within the ceramic membranes tested was proposed based on zeta potentials and water molecule-clusters. Inner charge layer and highly ordered water clusters might play critical roles for the reaction processes inside the nano-reactors.
Pyrophyllite clay for bacteriophage MS2 removal in the presence of fluoride
Authors: Park Jeong-Ann , Kim Jae-Hyun , Lee Chang-Gu , Kim Song-Bae
Published: June 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the removal of the bacteriophage MS2 from aqueous solution using pyrophyllite. Batch experiments were conducted to examine MS2 sorption to pyrophyllite. The influence of fluoride, a groundwater contaminant, on the removal of MS2 was also observed. Column experiments were performed with pyrophyllite to examine MS2 removal in the absence and presence of fluoride. Batch results demonstrated that pyrophyllite was effective in MS2 removal. The percentage removal of MS2 increased from 5.26% to 99.99% (4.0 log removal) with increasing pyrophyllite concentrations from 0.2 to 20 g/L. At fluoride concentrations of 5 and 10 mg/L, the log removals of MS2 by pyrophyllite were 3.05 and 2.54, respectively, which were lower than that with no fluoride present. The results suggested that the removal of MS2 by pyrophyllite was influenced by fluoride ions because fluoride ions could compete with MS2 for sorption sites on the pyrophyllite surfaces. Column results showed that pyrophyllite was effective in MS2 removal under flow-through conditions, with a removal capacity of 8.17 × 106pfu/g with no fluoride present and 4.70 × 106pfu/g with 5 mg/L fluoride present.
Experiences with stakeholder involvement in strategic sanitation planning: a case study of the city of Darkhan, Mongolia
Authors: Sigel K. , Stäudel J. , Londong J.
Published: June 2014

Stakeholder involvement is a prerequisite in urban strategic sanitation planning, particularly in low-income countries. This paper investigates the experiences and lessons learnt in terms of effective stakeholder involvement gained from a case study on strategic sanitation planning in a peri-urban sub-district in the city of Darkhan, Mongolia. Conceptually the Darkhan case study builds on a participatory sanitation planning approach known in the literature as community-led urban environmental sanitation (CLUES) planning. Firstly, a brief introduction to the CLUES approach, its basic principles for effective stakeholder involvement and its adaptation to the Darkhan case study is given. Secondly, two relevant planning steps including the building and testing of pilot facilities are described and assessed in terms of effective stakeholder involvement. It is shown that even if not all basic principles could be fulfilled adequately, the participatory planning framework helped to improve the scientific outputs of the project – mainly the technological research and development – and to smooth the way for further actions towards the sustainable implementation of measures on a larger scale.
Preparation of PBI/H3PO4-PTFE Composite Membranes for High Temperature Fuel Cells
Authors: Yu Tzyy-Lung Leon , Lin Hsiu-Li
Published: June 2014

The poly(benzimidazole) (PBI)/ poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) composite membrane was prepared by
impregnating a porous PTFE thin film in a PBI solution N,N’-dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) solution mixed with LiCl.
LiCl was used as a stabilizer to avoid aggregations of PBI molecules in the DMAc solutions. In this paper, we report a 2
mg/ml PBI/ DMAc/ LiCl solution with a [LiCl]/[BI] molar ratio of ~8.0 (i.e. the LiCl/PBI is ~ 1.1 in wt ratio, where [BI]
is the concentration of benzimidazole repeat unit in the solution) has a lowest PBI polymer aggregations and thus a lowest
solutions viscosity. The PBI membrane and PBI/PTFE composite membrane prepared from the PBI/DMAc/LiCl solution
with a [LiCl]/[BI] molar ratio of ~8.0 were used to dop H3PO4 and prepare membrane electrode assemblies (MEA). The
unit cell performances of these MEAs were carried out at 150oC. Owing to the high mechanical strength of porous PTFE,
the thickness of PBI/H3PO4-PTFE composite membrane is allowed to be lower than that of a PBI/H3PO4 membrane. The
lower thickness of PBI/H3PO4-PTFE membrane than that of PBI/H3PO4 membrane results in a lower resistance of
PBI/H3PO4-PTFE than PBI/H3PO4. Thus the MEA prepared from PBI/H3PO4-PTFE has a better fuel cell performance
than that prepared from PBI.
Development of a Household Water Defluoridation Process Using Aluminium Hydroxide Based Adsorbent
Authors: Mulugeta Eyobel , Zewge Feleke , Chandravanshi Bhagwan Singh
Published: June 2014

In this study, the removal of fluoride from water using aluminium hydroxide based adsorbent has been investigated in continuous operation. The effect of fluoride influent concentration, feed flowrate, and adsorbent bed height onto the breakthrough characteristics of the adsorption system were examined. The fixed‐bed adsorption system was found to perform better with lower influent fluoride concentration, lower flowrate, and higher bed depth. Thermodynamic evaluation using the bed depth service time model indicated that the fluoride adsorption capacity was 25.8 mg F−/g of adsorbent, which is high compared to commercially available activated alumina (1.8 to 1.9 mg/g). Kinetic studies showed that the rate of adsorption in continuous studies was in the range of 6.12 × 10−3 to 39.3 × 10−3 L/mg.h under different operating conditions. The household defluoridation unit (HDU) was tested at an up‐flow mode and it was determined that the HDU packed with 0.9 kg of adsorbent with 28.3 cm of bed depth resulted in a specific safe water yield of 823.79 L. Regeneration of the exhaust media using 1% NaOH and 0.1 M HCl showed that the adsorbent could be reused. The estimated running cost of the unit was 2.0 U.S. dollar/m3 of treated water, with the potential to minimize further. Hence, it was concluded that the proposed method is simple and exhibits superior performance for the treatment of fluoride‐contaminated water with the potential for household application.
An analysis of female entrepreneurship and innovation in Serbia in the context of EU competitiveness
Authors: Popovic-Pantic Sanja
Published: June 2014

In economies that are led by innovation, innovativeness and competitiveness
are interdependent. If an enterprise and/or economy is competitive in the
market it will likely have a high level of innovation management, harmonized
with EU standards. A variety of different methodologies is used to assess the
innovation capacities of small and medium sized companies, but IMP?rove
methodology is widespread in EU countries. It is a benchmarking process which
gives, as the final output, a comprehensive report on how to improve and
leverage innovation management for profitable growth, which includes a)
identification of the gaps hampering growth and b) the direction in which and
how the company should be developed and grown. For the purpose of this paper,
IMP?rove methodology was adjusted and simplified to assess the innovation
capacity of a single company without benchmarking. The focus of the paper is
22 Serbian companies owned and managed by women, which were included in
innovation scanning according to the IMP?rove methodology in 2010. All
companies included in the sample employ more than 10 employees. The resulting
analysis aims to provide insight into the holistic innovation capacity of the
selected companies through four dimensions of the so-called ?House of
Innovation?1. They are: innovation strategy, innovation organization and
culture, innovation process (life cycle management), and enabling factors
supporting the development of the company?s innovation management. This
analysis provides an overview of the innovation management platform necessary
to enhance small and medium enterprises? (SME) business performance and
competitiveness in the EU market. The analysis also presents the results of
research on the gender aspects of the institutions and programmes that
support innovativeness and competitiveness in SMEs.
Real options methodology in public-private partnership projects valuation
Authors: Rakic Biljana , Radjenovic Tamara
Published: June 2014

PPP offers numerous benefits to both public and private partners in delivery
of infrastructure projects. However this partnership also involves great
risks which have to be adequately managed and mitigated. Private partners are
especially sensitive to revenue risk, since they are mostly interested in the
financial viability of the project. Thus they often expect public partners to
provide some kind of risk-sharing mechanism in the form of Minimum Revenue
Guarantees or abandonment options. The objective of this paper is to
investigate whether the real option of abandoning the project increases its
value. Therefore the binominal option pricing model and risk-neutral
probability approach have been implemented to price the European and American
abandonment options for the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) toll road
investment. The obtained results suggest that the project value with the
American abandonment option is greater than with the European abandonment
option, hence implying that American options offer greater flexibility and
are more valuable for private partners.
Performance of non-profit organizations: Empirical contrasts between privately and publicly funded Croatian humanitarian organizations
Authors: Alfirevic Niksa , Pavicic Jurica , Najev-Cacija Liljana
Published: June 2014

In this paper we contrast different aspects of non-profit organizations?
performance from the perspective of their funding sources. Based on previous
empirical results indicating that sources of funding influence fundraising
performance, we extend the existing research to the analysis of overall
non-profit organizational performance. We use the social constructivist
approach to non-profit performance to discuss contrasts between privately and
publicly funded humanitarian organizations in Croatia. Some differences in
growth- and development-oriented measures of nonprofit performance for these
groups are identified and discussed in the context of future regional
research.
Endomorphisms of Implication Algebras
Authors: Gaitán H.
Published: June 2014

In this note we prove that if two implication algebras have isomorphic monoids of endomorphisms then they are isomorphic.
Generalized Elliptic-Type Integrals and Generating Functions
Authors: Chaurasia V. B. L. , Singh Yudhveer
Published: June 2014

On account of analytical importance or application in certain problems in radiation physics and nuclear technology, several interesting families of elliptic-type integrals were recently studied by many authors. The aim and objective of present paper is to obtain certain new theorems on generating functions. The results obtained in this paper are of manifold generality and basic in nature. In addition, to deriving known and various new elliptic-type integrals and their generalizations, these theorems can be used to evaluate various Euler-type integrals involving a number of generating functions.
On A System of Rational Difference Equation
Authors: Din Qamar
Published: June 2014

In this paper, we study local asymptotic stability, global character and periodic nature of solutions of the system of rational difference equations given by xn+1=

, yn=

, n=0, 1,…, where the parameters a; b; c; d; e; f ∊ (0; ∞), and with initial conditions x0; y0 ∊ (0; ∞). Some numerical examples are given to illustrate our results.
Weak Convergence for Nonself Nearly Asymptotically Nonexpansive Mappings by Iterations
Authors: Khan Safeer Hussain
Published: June 2014

In this paper, we obtain a couple of weak convergence results for nonself nearly asymptotically nonexpansive mappings. Our first result is for the Banach spaces satisfying Opial condition and the second for those whose dual satisfies the Kadec-Klee property.
Remarks on Smooth Real-Compactness for Sikorski Spaces
Authors: Cukrowski Michał J. , Stronkowski Michał M.
Published: June 2014

It is known that every Sikorski space with the countably generated differential structure is smoothly real-compact. It means that every homomorphism from its differential structure, which forms a ring of smooth real-valued functions into the ring of real numbers, is an evaluation. This result is sharp: there is a non-smoothly real-compact Sikorski space with the differential structure which is not countably generated. We provide an easy example demonstrating this. By modifying this example we are able to show a certain shortcoming of the generator embedding, comparing to the canonical embedding, for Sikorski spaces. Finally, we note that a homomorphism from the ring of smooth functions of a Sikorski space into the ring of real numbers is an evaluation if and only if it is continuous.
An Iterative Method for Symmetric Positive Semidefinite Linear System of Equations
Authors: Salkuyeh Davod Khojasteh
Published: June 2014

In this paper, a new two-step iterative method for solving symmetric positive semidefinite linear system of equations is presented. A sufficient condition for the semiconvergence of the method is also given. Some numerical experiments are presented to show the efficiency of the proposed method.
The usefulness of Mehlich 3 and 1 M HCl extractant to assess copper deficiency in soil for environmental monitoring purpose / Przydatność ekstrahentów Mehlich 3 i 1 M HCl do oceny niedoborów miedzi w glebie pod kątem monitoringu środowiska
Authors: Kantek Katarzyna , Korzeniowska Jolanta
Published: June 2014

The aim of this study was to compare two soil tests, 1 M HCl and Mehlich 3, to extract phytoavailable Cu forms from the soil. The evaluation of tests was performed on the basis of the correlation between soil Cu extracted by the studied extractants, and plant Cu or yield of a test plant. Data for the calculation originated from the microplot experiment with winter wheat. The experiment included three soils that differed in texture, pH level and copper content. Each of the soil was fertilized with five doses of Cu: 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 kg • ha−1 against two pH levels. The results showed a strong correlation between the two soil tests and their similar usefulness for the extraction of copper available to plants. On the basis of Pearson correlation coefficients and equation of simple regression, it was found that Mehlich 3 was slightly more useful for heavier soils with higher pH, whereas 1 M HCl was better suitable for acid sandy soil.
Thrips (Thysanoptera, Insecta) of the Asteraceae family plants occurring in areas with different levels of anthropopressure in Lublin (Eastern Poland) / Wciornastki (Thysanoptera, Insecta) zebrane z miejsc o różnym stopniu antropopresji w Lublinie na roślinach z rodziny Asteraceae
Authors: Czepiel-Mil Katarzyna , Kowalczyk-Pecka Danuta
Published: June 2014

In the years 2001-2003, a study on thrips (Thysanoptera) was conducted in Lublin (south-eastern Poland). The aim of the research was to determine the species composition of the insects on selected plants from the Asteraceae family collected at sights of varying anthropopressures in Lublin. Fifteen designated sites, classified as semi-natural and anthropogenic, were located in different parts of the city. As a result of the study, the occurrence of 36 thrips species was recorded. The species dominating in the whole material were: Thrips physapus, Thrips trehernei, Thrips validus and Frankliniella intonsa. The greatest thrips species variety was characteristic of the following plant species: Hieracium umbellatum, Matricaria perforata, Taraxacum officinale, Erigeron strigosus. The research conducted shows that urban environment is quite rich in terms of thrips species diversity. The number of species caught indicates their tolerance to moderately adverse conditions in the city. The most important factor affecting the number of collected species is plant diversity. The sites of different levels of athropopressure varied both in their species composition and in the number of thrips found.
Effect of iron deficiency and excess on biometric and biochemical parameters indicated in the radish sprouts (Raphanus sativus L. Subvar. radicula pers.) / Wpływ niedoboru i nadmiaru żelaza na parametry biometryczne i biochemiczne oznaczone w kiełkach rzodkiewki (Raphanus sativus L. Subvar. radicula pers.)
Authors: Smolik Beata , Cichocka Joanna , Materny Anna , Śnioszek Martyna , Zakrzewska Helena
Published: June 2014

The aim of this study was to assess the changes of biometric and biochemical parameters in the radish sprouts (Raphanus sativus L. subvar. radicula Pers.), depending on the content of ions FeIII+ in the hydroponic culture. Seedlings were grown in Hoagland’s complete hydroponic culture without FeIII+ ions or with the addition of FeIII+ ions in an amount of 30 and 300 mg/l. During the experiment, the plants were illuminated by a sodium vapor lamp Son-T-Agro-400 W Philips (40 μE • m2/s PAR at the medium level). After 7 days, some biometric and biochemical measurements were made: shoot and embryonic root length (cm), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX) activity and antioxidant capacity. It was observed that FeIII+ added to hydroponic culture caused changes in the activity of enzymes and biometric parameters in radish sprouts (Raphanus sativus L. subvar. radicula Pers.).
Public Health in Different Political Systems of the State
Authors: Pawłucki Andrzej
Published: June 2014

The goal of this paper is to explain the dependence between the political system of the state: collectivist, conservative, and liberal in a postmodern society, and public health-related practice. In the consideration of different systems of physical culture, including the system of health culture known as public health, Niklas Luhmann’s theory of social systems has been used. The social system of health culture, hitherto known as the system of public health, is acknowledged as a variety of social systems of physical culture, whereas the health gymnasion is one of many possible centers of habilitation, recreation, and rehabilitation of the body. It is argued that an educating society can only persist successfully if the state does not lose control in the struggle against the ideologues of neoliberal forces hostile to the solidarity-based and welfare state.
Growth and morphological studies of NiO/CuO/ZnO based nanostructured thin films for photovoltaic applications
Authors: Joshi Siddharth , Mudigere Mrunmaya , Krishnamurthy L. , Shekar G.
Published: June 2014

At present, inorganic semiconducting materials are the most economical and viable source for the renewable energy industry. The present work deals with the morphological and optical characterization of copper oxide (CuO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films fabricated by layer by layer deposition on nickel oxide (NiO) coated indium tin oxide (ITO) glass by solution processing methods, mainly chemical bath deposition (CBD) and hydrothermal deposition (HTD) processes at room temperature. As a whole, the above inorganic composite materials (NiO/CuO/ZnO) can be applied in photovoltaic cells. An attempt has been made to study structural, morphological and absorption characteristics of NiO/CuO/ZnO heterojunction using state of the art techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV spectroscopy. The energy band gaps of CuO and ZnO have also been calculated and discussed based on the UV spectroscopy measurements.
Partial oxidation of high-boiling hydrocarbon mixtures in the pilot unit
Authors: Hanika Jiří , Lederer Jaromír , Nečesaný František , Poslední Walter , Tukač Vratislav , Veselý Václav
Published: June 2014

The reason for this investigation into the partial oxidation (POX) of high-boiling hydrocarbons with oxygen in the presence of water vapour was to ensure increased demand on hydrogen, which is essential for the deeper hydrorefining of petroleum oils to ensure better quality of motor fuels. The tests demonstrated the good performance of the pilot plant unit and also the reproducibility of the experiment. The investigation detected a significant impact of water vapour on the selectivity of the partial oxidation of high boiling-point hydrocarbons with regard to the composition of the exhaust gas. In addition, it was noted that the hydrogen content in the reaction product of the partial oxidation of the mixture of visbreaking distillate and residue diluted with pyrolysis fuel oil, achieved 50 %. The content of components in the gaseous product accorded well with a synthesis gas composition produced by the plant unit of the UNIPETROL RPA Co., designed and built under licence from the Shell Petroleum Co.
Chemical characterisation of biosludge from a wastewater treatment plant in a neutral sulphite semi-chemical pulp mill by single and sequential extraction of heavy metals and micro-/macronutrients — a case study
Authors: Pöykiö Risto , Manskinen Kati , Oksanen Juha , Nurmesniemi Hannu , Dahl Olli
Published: June 2014

The main impetus for utilising the biosludge from the neutral sulphite semi-chemical pulping process is the Finnish legislation which from 1st January 2016 prohibits the deposition of this residue in landfills in Finland. The dry matter content of the biosludge in this case study was low (12.1 mass %), meaning that incineration of this residue is uneconomical. The biosludge was rich in P (6260 mg kg−1). This, together with the high total organic carbon value of 459 g kg−1 and the metal concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg) lower than the Finnish permissible limits for land application, supports wide and various end-uses for this residue. Except for S (27600 mg kg−1) and Cd (1.4 mg kg−1), the other heavy metal concentrations in the biosludge were lower than the maximum values for heavy metal concentrations in a non-contaminated soil referred to the literature. From the utilisation perspective, and in view of the high levels of S and Na, this residue could efficiently be used, for example, to landscape landfills.
Comparison of 905 nm and 1550 nm semiconductor laser rangefinders’ performance deterioration due to adverse environmental conditions
Authors: Wojtanowski J. , Zygmunt M. , Kaszczuk M. , Mierczyk Z. , Muzal M.
Published: June 2014

Laser rangefinder performance (i.e., maximum range) is strongly affected by environment due to visibility-dependent laser attenuation in the atmosphere and target reflectivity variations induced by surface condition changes (dry vs. wet). Both factors have their unique spectral features which means that rangefinders operating at different wavelengths are affected by specific environmental changes in a different way. Current state of the art TOF (time of flight) semiconductor laser rangefinders are based mainly on two wavelengths: 905 nm and 1550 nm, which results from atmospheric transmission windows and availability of high power pulsed sources. The paper discusses the scope of maximum range degradation of hypothetical 0.9 μm and 1.5 μm rangefinders due to selected water-related environmental effects. Atmospheric extinction spectra were adapted from Standard Atmosphere Model and reflectance fingerprints of various materials have been measured. It is not the aim of the paper to determine in general which wavelength is superior for laser range finding, since a number of criteria could be considered, but to verify their susceptibility to adverse environmental conditions.
Ultra-wide bandwidth wavelength selective couplers based on the all solid multi-core Ge-doped fibre
Authors: Li X. , Sun B. , Yu Y.
Published: June 2014

A novel wavelength selective coupler based on the all solid nine-core Ge-doped fibre has been proposed. The wavelength selective coupler is based on the phenomenon of a multi-core coupling. All the cores are made of Ge-doped silica and the index of central core is larger than the outer core. At the fixed fibre length, the different wavelength can be selected. The performances of coupling and propagation characteristics have been numerically investigated by using a full beam propagation method (BPM). Simulation results show that the all solid nine-core Ge-doped fibre can achieve simultaneous shorter coupler length and wideband filtering characteristics. The 0.763 mm and 0.745 mm wavelength selective coupler are proposed to achieve different wavelength division and the bandwidth is up to the 400 nm, and 300 nm, respectively.
Evidence-Based Practices in a Changing World
Authors: Lemons Christopher J. , Fuchs Douglas , Gilbert Jennifer K. , Fuchs Lynn S.
Published: June 2014

Experimental and quasi-experimental designs are used in educational research to establish causality and develop effective practices. These research designs rely on a counterfactual model that, in simple form, calls for a comparison between a treatment group and a control group. Developers of educational practices often assume that the population from which control groups are drawn is unchanging in its behavior or performance. This is not always the case. Populations and study samples can change over time—sometimes dramatically so. We illustrate this important point by presenting data from 5 randomized control trials of the efficacy of Kindergarten Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies, a supplemental, peer-mediated reading program. The studies were conducted across 9 years and involved 2,591 students. Findings demonstrate a dramatic increase in the performance of control students over time, and suggest the need for a more nuanced understanding of the counterfactual model and its role in establishing evidence-based practices.
Introduction
Authors: Wiesner Claudia , Björk Anna
Published: June 2014

The concept of citizenship in Europe after World War II faces two major challenges: migration and European integration. This introduction precedes a group of articles examining debates and law-making processes related to the concept of citizenship in Europe after World War II. The introduction sketches the historical development of citizenship in European representative democracies, taking into account four basic dimensions (access to citizenship, citizenship rights, citizenship duties, and the active content of citizenship) for analyzing changes in the concept of citizenship.
Vessel perforation during withdrawal of Trevo ProVue stent retriever during mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Leishangthem Lakshmi , Satti Sudhakar R.
Published: June 2014

The authors report a case of an intracranial extravasation during the withdrawal of a Trevo ProVue stent retriever device in a patient being treated for acute ischemic stroke. An 82-year-old woman developed sudden left hemiparesis and aphasia during an urgent cardiac catheterization procedure for a non–ST elevation myocardial infarction. She had a baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of at least 10 and no improvement with intravenous administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Cerebral angiography was performed with conscious sedation, confirming an occlusion of the superior division of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA). Using standard technique, a Trevo thrombectomy device was deployed across the clot. Post-thrombectomy control angiography demonstrated complete revascularization of the right MCA. The device was then gently withdrawn without difficulty. Immediately afterward the patient's blood pressure showed a sudden and significant elevation. Immediate posttreatment angiography demonstrated active extravasation from the posterior wall of the communicating segment of the right internal carotid artery. Rapid cessation of bleeding was achieved with intravenous administration of protamine and induced hypotension. Immediate neurological assessment was performed, which showed motor improvement. An immediate postintervention CT scan confirmed a moderate-sized subarachnoid hemorrhage and contrast in the prepontine cistern. The patient was discharged home on postoperative Day 3 with an NIHSS score of zero. At 6-month follow-up in the neurointerventional clinic, her NIHSS and modified Rankin Scale scores were both zero.

Endovascular stent retriever devices are increasingly being used as first-line thrombectomy devices in acute embolic strokes. A unique and previously undescribed complication is vessel perforation during withdrawal of a stent retriever. Conservative treatment options and reversal of anticoagulation should be the first line of treatment for such complications. In the authors' case, performing the procedure without anesthesia was helpful in assessing the patient's neurological status.
Safety and efficacy of pedicle screw placement using intraoperative computed tomography: consecutive series of 1148 pedicle screws
Authors: Bydon Mohamad , Xu Risheng , Amin Anubhav G. , Macki Mohamed , Kaloostian Paul , Sciubba Daniel M. , Wolinsky Jean-Paul , Bydon Ali , Gokaslan Ziya L. , Witham Timothy F.
Published: June 2014

Object

A number of imaging techniques have been introduced to minimize the risk of pedicle screw placement. Intraoperative CT has been recently introduced to assist in spinal instrumentation. The aim of this study was to study the effectiveness of intraoperative CT in enhancing the safety and accuracy of pedicle screw placement.

Methods

The authors included all cases from December 2009 through July 2012 in which intraoperative CT scanning was used to confirm pedicle screw placement.

Results

A total of 203 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of 1148 screws, 103 screws (8.97%) were revised intraoperatively in 72 patients (35.5%): 14 (18.42%) were revised in the cervical spine (C-2 or C-7), 25 (7.25%) in the thoracic spine, and 64 (8.80%) in the lumbar spine. Compared with screws in the thoracic and lumbar regions, pedicle screws placed in the cervical region were statistically more likely to be revised (p = 0.0061). Two patients (0.99%) required reoperations due to undetected misplacement of pedicle screws.

Conclusions

The authors describe one of the first North American experiences using intraoperative CT scanning to confirm the placement of pedicle screws. Compared with a similar cohort of patients from their institution who had pedicle screws inserted via the free-hand technique with postoperative CT, the authors found that the intraoperative CT lowers the threshold for pedicle screw revision, resulting in a statistically higher rate of screw revision in the thoracic and lumbar spine (p < 0.0001). During their 2.5-year experience with the intraoperative CT, the authors did not find a reduction in rates of reoperation for misplaced pedicle screws.
'Geometric' Motifs in Khoe-San Rock Art: Depictions of Designs, Decorations and Ornaments in the Gestoptefontein-Driekuil Complex, South Africa
Authors: Hollmann Jeremy C.
Published: June 2014

‘Geometric’ motifs in rock art — so-called because they superficially resemble certain mathematical shapes — are globally widespread and likely have different meanings. Southern African researchers have described these motifs variously as ‘abstract’, ‘non-representational’, or ‘entoptic phenomena’. Research at the Gestoptefontein-Driekuil Complex (GDC), a cluster of rock art sites in South Africa’s North West Province, suggests, however, that certain ‘geometric’ motifs depict recognisable, tangible and significant objects. I use Leonard Schultze’s term Khoe-San (originally Khoi-San) to refer to the speakers of languages in the Khoe- Kwadi, Ju|’hoasi and Tuu language families whose ethnographic accounts and objects I study. I identify motifs that have been scratched and hammered into the rock as designs, patterns, and items of personal adornment, including headbands and hair attachments. These occur on the same rock surfaces as motifs of clothing (especially aprons) and anthropomorphic and zoomorphic depictions. The images of designs, decorations and ornaments can be associated with initiation-related ceremonies that may have been performed at the GDC. Although I do not claim that all geometric-looking motifs depict some ‘thing’, the interpretation of certain geometric motifs as depictions of material objects and designs made on these can fruitfully be extended to many other rock engraving sites in southern Africa.
Animals, Ghosts, and the Husserlian Legacy
Authors: Maratti Paola
Published: June 2014

‘For Derrida it is from the perspective of what we share with other animals, from the experience we cannot fail to have of powerlessness and vulnerability rather than from its violent denial that we should attempt to think the multiple differences between human and non-human animals as well as an ethics and politics less hostile to the “animal other” (outside and inside ourselves).’
I Think, I Am Mad. Derrida, Gaslight and the Irony of the Cogito
Authors: Setton Dirk
Published: June 2014

At the climax of George Cukor's Gaslight, a film melodrama from 1944, the female protagonist utters the phrase ‘I am mad’ which Stanley Cavell takes to reveal her Cogito. As such, the formula seems to be a perfect exemplification of Derrida's central point in Cogito and the History of Madness, namely that there is ‘a value and a meaning of the Cogito’, detectable in Descartes's Mediations, which welcomes madness as its genuine and necessary possibility. But how can we conceive of the ‘I think’—the supreme principle of transcendental philosophy constituting the objectivity of cognition and experience—as embracing unreason as its own condition? This article attempts to highlight a quasi-transcendental interpretation of Derrida's answer to this question: deconstruction reveals a certain irony at the core of the primary text of transcendental philosophy. I argue that the formula ‘I am mad’ contains the decisive key to the argument: the irony of the Cogito consists in the fact of its double transcendental functioning—a transcendental function in the ‘middle’ form and a transcendental function in the active form.
Quality of Water and Antibiotic Resistance of Escherichia coli from Water Sources of Hilly Tribal Villages with and without Integrated Watershed Management—A One Year Prospective Study
Authors: Nerkar Sandeep , Tamhankar Ashok , Khedkar Smita , Lundborg Cecilia
Published: June 2014

In many hilly tribal areas of the world, water scarcity is a major problem and diarrhoea is common. Poor quality of water also affects the environment. An integrated watershed management programme (IWMP) aims to increase availability of water and to improve life conditions. Globally, there is a lack of information on water contamination, occurrence of diarrhoea and antibiotic resistance, a serious global concern, in relation to IWMP in hilly tribal areas. Therefore, a prospective observational study was conducted during 2011–2012 in six villages in a hilly tribal belt of India, three with and three without implementation of an IWMP, to explore quality of water, diarrhoeal cases in the community and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli from water sources. The results showed that physico-chemical quality of water was within limits of safe consumption in all samples. The odds of coliform contamination in water samples was 2.3 times higher in non-watershed management villages (NWMV) compared to integrated watershed management villages (IWMV) (95% CI 0.8–6.45, p = 0.081). The number of diarrhoeal cases (18/663 vs. 42/639, p < 0.05) was lower in IWMV as compared to NWMV. Overall E. coli isolates showed high susceptibility to antibiotics. Resistance to a wider range of antibiotics was observed in NWMV.