bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intravitreal Ranibizumab for the Treatment of Choroidal Neovascularizations Associated with Pathologic Myopia: A Prospective Study
Authors: Pasyechnikova Nataliya V. , Naumenko Volodymyr O. , Korol Andrii R. , Zadorozhnyy Oleg S. , Kustryn Taras B. , Henrich Paul B.
Published: December 2014

Purpose: It was the aim of this study to determine the efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab as treatment of choroidal neovascularizations associated with pathologic myopia. Materials and Methods: In an uncontrolled, prospective time series cohort study, 65 eyes of 64 consecutive patients with choroidal neovascularization associated with pathologic myopia were treated with intravitreal ranibizumab and observed over 12 months. The change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 6 and 12 months served as primary end point. Safety, central retinal thickness, neovascularization activity on fluorescein angiography and the number of ranibizumab injections were secondary end points. Results: BCVA improved significantly throughout the follow-up (p = 0.001). The mean BCVA was 0.2 at baseline (SD 0.13) and 0.4 at 12 months (SD 0.21). Improvement was strongest within the first 3 months (p = 0.0001). The mean central retinal thickness showed a reduction from 313 μm (SD 82) to 243.5 μm (SD 31; p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Intravitreal ranibizumab offers a safe and effective treatment for choroidal neovascularizations in pathologic myopia.
De Veritate
Authors: Mortimer Sarah
Published: December 2014

Grotius always claimed that De veritate was not a controversial work, but it was not as innocuous nor as straightforward as Grotius would have his reader believe. It was the theological counterpart to his groundbreaking De iure belli ac pacis and it offered a distinctive version of Christianity which could complement his system of natural and international law. Both works were built upon a particular conception of human nature and natural law, one which was not shared by many of Grotius’ contemporaries. In De veritate, Grotius emphasised that human beings could and should embrace Christianity voluntarily, in response to the revelation they found in the Scriptures. In this way, Grotius provided a way of understanding Christianity which did not appeal to any innate notion of God, and which removed the Christian religion from the sphere of nature and from the shared civic life which was built upon natural foundations. His aim was to shield civic life from the potentially destabilising effects of religious controversy and to promote Christian morality, but his ethical reading of Christianity brought with it important political and theological consequences. This article will show both the novelty, and the instability, of Grotius’ conception of Christianity.
Grotius’s De Veritate Religionis Christianae in the Context of Eighteenth-Century Debates about Christian Apologetics and Religious Pluralism
Authors: Bultmann Christoph
Published: December 2014

While there is ample evidence for the popularity and influence up to the mid-eighteenth century of Grotius’s demonstration of the exclusive truth of the Christian religion, a fresh look at the reasons for the discontinuation of this line of apologetics can be attempted. In Germany in the late 1770s, G. E. Lessing claimed that all available arguments of Christian apologetics would ‘evaporate’ when analysed from a critical philosophical perspective. This did not simply refer to the issue of the historicity of biblical narratives. Since rabbinic Judaism as well as Islam belonged to the targets of the apologetic tradition, it turns out that the concept of the plurality of religions which had found its expression in Boccaccio’s work in the ‘parable of the three rings’ only to be rejected, e.g., by Campanella, acquired a new significance in debates about the truth of natural and revealed religion.
On the convex-exponent product of logharmonic mappings
Authors: AbdulHadi Zayid , Alareefi Najla M , Ali Rosihan M
Published: December 2014

Sufficient conditions are obtained on two given logharmonic mappings

f
1

and

f
2

that ensure the product

F
(
z
)
=

f
1
λ

(
z
)

f
2

1
−
λ

(
z
)

,

0
≤
λ
≤
1

, is a univalent starlike logharmonic mapping. Several illustrative examples are constructed from this product.

MSC: 30C35, 30C45, 35Q30.
Pain in chronic venous insufficiency (including venous claudication)
Authors: Dörler M. , Stücker M.
Published: December 2014

Pain in chronic venous insufficiency can indicate an acute complication in the form of superficial thrombosis or deep venous thrombosis of the leg or chronic symptoms associated with venous leg ulcers or venous claudication. Up to 80 % of patients with venous leg ulcers report pain. This pain is a principal cause of the reduced quality of life of such patients. A distinction must be made between the acute pain arising from dressing changes, wound cleaning and debridement and pain occurring between these procedures. The pain should be evaluated systematically using visual analogue scales, as any increase in pain can be a warning sign of wound infections, irritation or allergic reactions to the wound dressings or exacerbation of a vascular disorder (e.g. additional peripheral arterial occlusive disease). Venous claudication occurs in the form of leg pain with a sensation of constriction on physical exertion, which subsides with rest. In the majority of cases, it is a symptom of reduced iliofemoral venous outflow. It occurs in up to 43.6 % of patients after iliofemoral thromboses.
Discovery of functional non-coding conserved regions in the α-synuclein gene locus
Authors: Sterling Lori , Walter Michael , Ting Dennis , Schüle Birgitt
Published: December 2014

Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the Rep-1 microsatellite marker of the α-synuclein (SNCA) gene have consistently been shown to be associated with Parkinson’s disease, but the functional relevance is unclear. Based on these findings we hypothesized that conserved cis-regulatory elements in theSNCAgenomic region regulate expression ofSNCA, and that SNPs in these regions could be functionally modulating the expression ofSNCA, thus contributing to neuronal demise and predisposing to Parkinson’s disease.

In a pair-wise comparison of a 206kb genomic region encompassing theSNCAgene, we revealed 34 evolutionary conserved DNA sequences between human and mouse. All elements were cloned into reporter vectors and assessed for expression modulation in dual luciferase reporter assays.  We found that 12 out of 34 elements exhibited either an enhancement or reduction of the expression of the reporter gene. Three elements upstream of theSNCAgene displayed an approximately 1.5 fold (p<0.009) increase in expression. Of the intronic regions, three showed a 1.5 fold increase and two others indicated a 2 and 2.5 fold increase in expression (p<0.002). Three elements downstream of theSNCAgene showed 1.5 fold and 2.5 fold increase (p<0.0009). One element downstream ofSNCAhad a reduced expression of the reporter gene of 0.35 fold (p<0.0009) of normal activity.

Our results demonstrate that theSNCAgene contains cis-regulatory regions that might regulate the transcription and expression ofSNCA. Further studies in disease-relevant tissue types will be important to understand the functional impact of regulatory regions and specific Parkinson’s disease-associated SNPs and its function in the disease process.
MODEL OF STRATIFIED LUBRICATION OF ELASTICALLY DEFORMED RADIAL BEARING
Authors: Mitrofanov Sergey Vladimirovich , Kopotun Boris Vgenyevich
Published: December 2014

On the basis of the Navier-Stokes equations for the case of a ‘thin layer’, the continuity equation, Lame equations, and Darcy equation, considering the boundary conditions on the pin and bearing face at the layer interface, a method of generating an exact self-similar solution to the problem of calculating the hydrodynamic elastically deformed radial bearing working on a two-layer lubrication and having damping properties is provided. The problem solution is resulted in identifying the velocity and pressure field in the lubricating layer, and in obtaining the analytical expressions for the basic performance of the elastically deformed radial bearing. A numerical analysis of the obtained analytical expressions for the non-dimensional load-carrying capacity of the elastically deformed radial bearing with a porous layer on the pin surface is performed. The effect of the parameter values providing the bearing with an increased load-carrying capacity is assessed.
EXPERT SYSTEM TRAINING TECHNIQUE TO EVALUATE WELDER’S JOB STABILITY
Authors: Lukianov Vitaliy Fedorovich , Kuzmenko Igor Vladimirovich
Published: December 2014

The design and training scheme for the artificial neural network is considered. An expert system of evaluating a craftsman’s motor skills stability while working on the welder simulator is based on this technique. It is assumed that the weld joint quality depends directly on the welding behavior stability. While the stability of the manual arc and mechanized welding depends on the welder’s motor skills. It is proposed to use an expert system to determine the stability criterion of the welding process. A step by step design of the artificial neural network architecture considering the specific weld formation is described. It is shown that the application of artificial neural networks based on the expert system allows evaluating the welder’s job stability. A training technique which shortens the time and reduces the number of experiments without loss of the data adequacy and the expert system training quality is described. When creating a database, the experimental results presented as "Quality domain" that connects the welder’s motor actions and the fillet joints defects are used.
A way to see the world
Authors: Aitken Liz
Published: December 2014

While year 6 is all about consolidating topics already covered, it is important to encourage the use of open-ended tasks and a problem solving approach.
The second life of Tuchomyšl: Local identity of displaced people from a strip-mined village
Authors: Hermová Ivana
Published: December 2014

The 20th century saw the obliteration of 106 towns and villages, and 90,000 people were displaced as a result of brown coal mining in North Bohemia and associated industrial development. Tuchomyšl was one of these villages; its population was resettled in newly built prefabricated housing estates in Ústí nad Labem and Chlumec. Based on an anthropological analysis of biographic interviews with the displaced people of Tuchomyšl, this case study demonstrates how the former residents of Tuchomyšl identify with the physical space of the village which no longer exists, and what they think of their forced eviction. As it turns out, the local identity of these resettled people is influenced by several factors, particularly the location of their new residence, their age at the time of their village's destruction, and their economic standing. These people continue to identify strongly with the social space of the former village, which they keep alive with regular get-togethers even 35 years after the physical destruction of the village.
Strategic Orientation, Foreign Parent Control, and Differentiation Capability Building of International Joint Ventures in an Emerging Market
Authors: Chen Xiaoyun , Chen Alex Xin , Zhou Kevin Zheng
Published: December 2014

This article examines how strategic orientation and foreign parent control jointly affect differentiation capability building of international joint ventures (IJVs) in an emerging market. With a multisource data set of 156 IJVs in China, the authors find that technology and customer orientations have a positive effect on IJV differentiation capability and that such effects are contingent on foreign parent control. Technology orientation leads to stronger differentiation capability when foreign equity control is higher or operational control is greater. In contrast, customer orientation is more beneficial for differentiation capability building when foreign operational control is lower or social control is greater.
Diffusion and Equilibrium Adsorption Coefficients of Aromatic Hydrocarbon Species in Capillary Columns
Authors: Navarro-Tovar Gabriela , Moreira Jesús , Valadés-Pelayo Patricio J. , de Lasa Hugo
Published: December 2014

This study focuses on a mathematical description of elution of aromatic species in a 30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm BPX5 capillary column. Experimental studies involve the detection of chemical species at the capillary column outlet. Using the recorded peaks, statistical moments of different orders are calculated for both toluene and naphthalene. Modeling studies involve a laminar flow model with an equilibrium coefficient (Ks) and a solute diffusion coefficient in the stationary phase (Ds). Model validation is developed by performing experiments at different carrier gas velocities and GC oven temperatures. Under the conditions, neither the first statistical moment (M1) nor the second statistical moment (M2) is affected by the carrier gas velocity. Thus, the interface equilibrium coefficients (Ks) and the diffusion coefficients (Ds) solely depend on the solute and the capillary column polymer coating properties. Furthermore, the statistical moments of different orders show that the proposed interface equilibrium based model in the “narrow bore” 30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm BPX5 capillary column is adequate for aromatic species such as toluene and naphthalene.
Recognition and Ecumenical Recognition – Distinguishing the Idea of Recognition in Modern Ecumenism
Authors: Hietamäki Minna
Published: December 2014

The notion of recognition has been part of the vocabulary of the modern ecumenical movement since its beginning but the idea has not been thoroughly researched within theology. The fields of social and political philosophy have produced a larger body of research on recognition since the early 1990s. The aim of this article is to describe the notion of recognition as it appears in the more recent discourse on political and social philosophy and discuss the possibilities of further developing the idea of recognition as an ecumenical and theological concept in dialogue with scholars from these fields. The article begins by investigating and discerning a working description of the notion of recognition amidst a plethora of various usages. It then continues by identifying yet unexplored ecumenical questions around recognition. Among these are: Why is “recognition” perceived as important or necessary in the first place? How do we perceive the relationship between recognizing persons and recognition of institutions, and how does recognizing beliefs or principles relate to these two? Finally, the article discusses the question of mutuality of recognition.
Three Questions to Guide Study and Practice in the Information Systems Field
Authors: Gou JuanQiong , Tatnall Arthur
Published: December 2014

Gaining an understanding of Information Systems and improving IS education has become a serious issue for the IS discipline. Prior to undertaking Management Information Systems (MIS) in an MBA course, students sometimes cannot clearly explain exactly what information systems are and what they should do in practice. This paper begins by considering the various influences on the MIS curriculum and some of the conventional approaches to curriculum design, selection and organisation of teaching materials. It then offers an alternative approach by presenting a three question framework for understanding and explaining the IS field. From this basis the paper argues that these three questions can be used to guide the study, teaching and practice of MIS.
Implementing ERP Systems Globally: Challenges and Lessons Learned for Asian Countries
Authors: Hawking Paul
Published: December 2014

Improved communication technology has seen growth in a convergence of global corporate activities. In an effort to improve their global operations many companies are implementing global information systems in particular Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Companies are faced with a number of complexities when implementing these systems in a single country and considerable research has been conducted on the critical success factors associated with ERP implementations. However very little research has been conducted on the issues associated with global implementations of ERP systems and in particular implementations within the Asian region. This research utilises industry presentations to identify challenges and best practice for global implementations from the Asian region. The challenges have been classified as either technological or cultural pertaining to particular countries. The identified factors provide a foundation for further investigation.
The Use of Internet Reporting for Small Business
Authors: Heenetigala Kumudini , Armstrong Anona
Published: December 2014

Small business is receiving increasing attention from government because of its potential to drive innovation and economic growth in the wake of the global financial crisis. The lean governance structures in small business mean that decisions are quickly made and implemented. Multiple decisions can modify production processes, produce a new product, apply new marketing methods or tap new markets. These decisions are deeply connected with issues of technological capability and incentives to invest in new innovations. However, many small businesses are likely to have limited access to skills, and lack information about markets and technology. Knowledge about these issues in small businesses is often provided by their accountants. The purpose of this study was to determine how accountants could assist small businesses to make better use of emerging web based technologies to communicate with their accountants. The research was supported by a major grant from the National Institute of Accountants. This paper reports research in which twenty two accountants and their clients were interviewed to determine the potential adoption and use of web based information and communications technology to provide immediate on-going communication between small businesses and their accountants. It is the first article to investigate the support for and barriers to the use of interactive technology to promote small business via the web. The research questions addressed in this paper were: What uses do small businesses currently made of ICT? What are some of the new opportunities offered by ICT to accountants? What are the barriers to the use of new technology? What are the benefits to accountants and their small business clients?
Editorial
Authors: Armstrong Anona
Published: December 2014

This issue of the Journal of Business Systems, Governance and Ethics presents papers from the US, Australia, Indonesia and Africa with an emphasis on the seminal topic of ethics.
Vitalistic Discourses of Violin Pedagogy in the Early Twentieth Century
Authors: Knapik Stefan
Published: December 2014

The pedagogical treatise is generally understood to be a manual of singing or instrumental techniques that is largely practical in approach, yet a critique of violin tutor books dating from the early twentieth century, especially those written by the renowned violinists Joseph Joachim (writing in conjunction with Andreas Moser), Leopold Auer, and Carl Flesch, reveals an extensive engagement with a range of wider ideologies. In a bid to trump the supposedly deadening effects of both a historicism resulting from the availability of earlier treatises, as well as the overly scientific approach taken by contemporaneous treatises, these violinist-authors embrace metaphysical ideals of mind or vitality, and the result is a model of violin playing founded on the concept of “singing tone,” an idea developed out of nineteenth-century notions of song/melody as embodying a vital essence. As did Wagner, in his 1869 essay Über das Dirigiren, writers play with the idea that theoretical and performative categories, such as tempo, phrasing, dynamics, vibrato, and types of bow stroke, both conflict with each other and find a deeper unity in a subjectivist ideal of tone. The approach of these texts is not explorative, however, so much as a rather defensive championing of the idea of mind or vitality: ideologies of self, health, and nationalism ultimately prevail over an engagement with historical evidence in Moser's discussion of ornaments, and Auer's intolerance of any mitigating influence that might qualify the artist's final word on aesthetic matters is reminiscent of a reductive, Nietzschean ideal of vitality. Nevertheless, writers struggle to reconcile it with the messier realities of performing, as an embodied and collaborative activity, and subsequently what speaks louder in their texts are anxieties over affronts to notions of self, expressed using pathological notions common to the era. Whereas at times writers encourage students of the violin to share in their lauding of vitalistic ideals, more often than not they try to impose disciplinary measures as a means of inculcating them.
Evaluation of bio-conjugation methods for obtaining of synthetic positive control for IgM-capture ELISA
Authors: Galkin O. Y. , Gorshunov Y. V.
Published: December 2014

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the most informative and versatile method of serological diagnostics. The possibility of detecting by ELISA specific antibodies of different classes allow to differentiate primary infectious process and its remission, exacerbation and chronic disease (differential diagnosis). This approach is implemented in the methodology for evaluation of patients for the presence of humoral immune response to TORCH-infections pathogens (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex viruses’ infections, and some others). Therefore, testing for presence of specific IgG and IgM antibodies against TORCH-infections pathogens in blood serum is an important element of motherhood and childhood protection. The essential problem in the production of IgM-capture ELISA diagnostic kits is obtaining of positive control. The classic version of positive control is human blood serum (plasma) containing specific antibodies. But specific IgM-positive sera are insignificant raw materials. This fact can seriously restrict the production of diagnostic kits, especially in the event of large-scale production. We have suggested the methodological approach to using of synthetic positive controls in IgM-capture ELISA kits based on conjugate of normal human IgM and monoclonal antibodies against horseradish peroxidase. It is found that this task can be fulfilled by means of NHS ester-maleimide-mediated conjugation (by sulfosuccinimidyl-4-(N-maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxylate), reductive amination-mediated conjugation (by sodium periodate) and glutaraldehyde-mediated conjugation. It was found that conjugates of normal human IgM and monoclonal antibodies against horseradish peroxidase obtained using NHS ester-mediated maleimide conjugation and periodate method were similar by molecular weight, whereas conjugate synthesized by glutaraldehyde method comprised at least three types of biopolymers with close molecular weight. It was found that synthetic positive control obtained by different methods was characterized by higher titer compared to IgM-positive high-titer serum. However, positive control obtained by NHS ester-mediated maleimide conjugation had the best titration profile characteristics.
Peculiarities of death and regeneration of pancreas cells at early stages of alcoholic chronic pancreatitis
Authors: Oshmyanska N. Y. , Galinsky A. A. , Gaidar Y. A.
Published: December 2014

The study has been conducted on 39 white laboratory male rats which formed 5 groups: experimental occlusal pancreatitis caused by ligation of the main pancreatic duct (n = 6), experimental alcoholic pancreatitis caused by oral intake of alcohol (n = 6), against the background of an excess (n = 6) or deficiency (n = 6) of nitric oxide, as well as a control group (n = 15). This study provides the detailed description of the processes of death and regeneration in the islets of Langerhans, typical for early stages of the disease. The expression of the proliferation markers (PCNA and Neurogenin-3) has been analyzed using histological and immunohistochemical methods along with the changes of morphological structure, that led to initiation of the alcoholic chronic pancreatitis against the background of imbalance in NO-ergic regulatory system caused by an excess or deficiency of nitric oxide. It has been found that ligation of the pancreatic duct in the experiment reconstructedthe circumstances of chronic pancreatitis in rats and caused the activation of fibrosis and regeneration of endocrine and exocrine tissue. Compared with occlusion, the effects of ethanol on the pancreas also manifested in the activation of fibrogenesis, but the structural changes were negligible and could unlikely lead to advanced fibrosis and chronic pancreatitis in the future. On the other side, an imbalance of NO-system in alcoholic rats leads to disruption of the zymogens secretion in the acinar cells and dilatation of the capillary network in islets. Uneven distribution of zymogen granules may lead to their intracellular activation as evidenced by the deformation of acini and focal apoptosis without inflammatory response. In this case, violation of the key adaptive responses in the pancreas makes it more vulnerable to the effects of ethanol, its metabolites, and other environmental factors, and may increase the probability of chronic pancreatitis development. At the same time, forementioned process of cell death in the pancreas is considerably more prolonged, and long term course eliminates the activation of proliferation or functional tissue regeneration.
Parque Nacional da Serra do Itajaí (southern Brazil) shrub and herbs flora
Authors: Funez Luís Adriano , De Gasper André Luís
Published: December 2014

This paper aim to characterize the herbaceous and shrub species diversity of Parque Nacional da Serra do Itajaí (PNSI). We identified 643 herbaceous and shrub species distributed in 110 families being the most representative family Asteraceae (62 species), Melastomataceae (49) and Rubiaceae (30), besides a two new records for Santa Catarina (Thelypteris glaziovii T.F. Reed and Pseudelephantopus spiralis Cronquist). We recorded 22 exotic species. Thus, due to the vast diversity of life and the rather large territory, PNSI is one of the most important spots for biodiversity conservation in Santa Catarina.
Ichthyofauna of coastal lakes and the Igaraçu River in Ilha Grande, Delta do Parnaíba, Parnaíba, Piauí State, northeastern Brazil
Authors: Melo Filipe Augusto Gonçalves de , Melo Rennan Do Nascimento , Resende Lucas Borges de
Published: December 2014

This study aims to provide a list of fish species from the Igaraçu River and some lakes of the lower Parnaíba River, Delta do Parnaíba, northeastern state of Piauí, Brazil. Eleven collecting points were sampled in a coastal area, in a wind farm, during the dry season in November 2011. A total of 1,023 individuals of 24 species, 13 families and 6 orders were collected. The most representative families in number of species were Characidae, Cichlidae and Curimatidae, respectively. Astyanax aff. bimaculatus, Serrapinnus piaba and Psellogrammus kennedyi presented the greatest abundance and distribution among the sampling points. Oreochromis niloticus was the only alien species captured. No fishes were captured in five sampling sites. Voucher material is deposited in a new zoological collection, “Coleção Zoológica do Delta do Parnaíba”.
Diversity of scorpions (Chelicerata: Arachnida) in the Atlantic Forest in Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil
Authors: Lira André Felipe de Araujo , Albuquerque Cleide Maria Ribeiro de
Published: December 2014

This study was conducted to measure the biodiversity of scorpion species in the remnants of the Brazilian northeastern Atlantic Forest, an important center of biodiversity and endemism. Collections were performed in twelve forest fragments in Sirinhaém municipality, Pernambuco State, through active searches at night by using UV lamps between 19:00h and 21:00h during the new moon phase in December 2012 and January 2013. A total of 1,125 specimens from two genera and five species were collected: Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893; Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982; Tityus brazilae Eickstedt & Lourenço, 1984; Tityus neglectus Mello-Leitão, 1932; and Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876), all belonging to the family Buthidae C.L. Koch, 1837. The most abundant species was T. pusillus (90.7%), followed by A. mauryi (7.1%). Tityus brazilae, T. neglectus, and T. stigmurus together represented less than 3% of the individuals sampled.
New state record of Lopesia similis Maia (Insecta, Diptera, Cecidomyiidae)
Authors: Da Silva Sharlene Ascendino Horacio , Maia Valéria Cid
Published: December 2014

Lopesia similis Maia, 2004 (Insecta, Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) is recorded for the first time in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. This species induces leaf galls on Protium heptaphyllum March (Burseraceae).
First records of four species of webspinners (Insecta: Embioptera) from Chhattisgarh, India
Authors: Chandra Kailash , Dawn Prosenjit
Published: December 2014

The present paper deals with the first taxonomic account on webspinners (Embioptera) of Chhattisgarh, India. Out of 32 species or subspecies known from India, four species, namely Oligotoma humbertiana (Saussure, 1896), Oligotoma saundersii (Westwood, 1837) and Oligotoma annandalei Kapur & Kripalani, 1957 (family Oligotomidae) and Pseudembia setosa Ross, 1950 (family Embiidae) are reported for the first time from Chhattisgarh.
Enfermedad deformante, degeneración y clima en Colombia, 1880-1920
Authors: Rodas Hilderman Cardona , Valencia María Fernanda Vásquez
Published: December 2014

Este texto pretende unir dos objetos de estudio poco explorados en la historiografía médica colombiana: la enfermedad deformante y el concepto de clima. Busca poner de manifiesto cómo los médicos de finales del siglo XIX y comienzos del siglo XX en Colombia asocian una semiología clínica de las enfermedades deformantes con la influencia de ciertas condiciones climáticas y hereditarias. Caracterizar la enfermedad deformante asociada al clima, implica hacer una revisión de la manera cómo, al finalizar el siglo XIX, el discurso médico construyó explicaciones etiológicas propias del racionalismo aplicado en la época. De este modo, el terreno ideal patológico era tanto el cuerpo del paciente como el territorio habitado.
Some modifications on the text of our paper: Two dominant analytical methods for thermal analysis of convective step fin with variable thermal conductivity, Thermal science, vol. 18, 2014, no. 2, pp. 431-442
Authors: Torabi Mohsen , Yaghoobi Hessameddin
Published: December 2014

As the original manuscript had some similar sentences with some of our
previous publications, we have decided to modify the main text of the
manuscript in the PDF version. The modifications have been applied within the
PDF online version. This printed version is provided for ones who have access
to the printable version of the journal and to avoid any confusion. It should
be noted that the results and mathematical procedure of the original version
are completely correct and this note has nothing to do with the formulations
of the main paper.
Bulk-Fill Resin Composites: Polymerization Contraction, Depth of Cure, and Gap Formation
Authors: Benetti AR , Havndrup-Pedersen C , Honoré D , Pedersen MK , Pallesen U
Published: December 2014

The bulk-filling of deep, wide dental cavities is faster and easier than traditional incremental restoration. However, the extent of cure at the bottom of the restoration should be carefully examined in combination with the polymerization contraction and gap formation that occur during the restorative procedure. The aim of this study, therefore, was to compare the depth of cure, polymerization contraction, and gap formation in bulk-fill resin composites with those of a conventional resin composite. To achieve this, the depth of cure was assessed in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization 4049 standard, and the polymerization contraction was determined using the bonded-disc method. The gap formation was measured at the dentin margin of Class II cavities. Five bulk-fill resin composites were investigated: two high-viscosity (Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill, SonicFill) and three low-viscosity (x-tra base, Venus Bulk Fill, SDR) materials. Compared with the conventional resin composite, the high-viscosity bulk-fill materials exhibited only a small increase (but significant for Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill) in depth of cure and polymerization contraction, whereas the low-viscosity bulk-fill materials produced a significantly larger depth of cure and polymerization contraction. Although most of the bulk-fill materials exhibited a gap formation similar to that of the conventional resin composite, two of the low-viscosity bulk-fill resin composites, x-tra base and Venus Bulk Fill, produced larger gaps.
Benign Cystic Mesothelioma Associated with Ipsilateral Renal Agenesis: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Murro Diana , Harbhajanka Aparna , Mahon Brett , Deziel Daniel
Published: December 2014

Benign Cystic Mesothelioma (BCM) is an uncommon peritoneal lesion that usually occurs in reproductive age females with a history of abdominal surgery. Occasional expression of estrogen and progesterone receptor in these cells may explain female predilection. Reports of BCM in males are rare. We describe a case of BCM associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis in a young male without any surgical history. The cyst lining stained positive for cytokeratin, Wilms Tumor-1, epithelial membrane antigen, CD10, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor, and negative for PAX-8. Only three cases of BCM associated with congenital renal anomalies have been reported. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of BCM associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis in an adult male and the first male case of BCM displaying estrogen and progesterone receptor positivity. Such a case reveals the presence of congenital anomalies should be considered in patients with BCM.
Histopathology of Duodenal Mucosal Lesions in Pediatric Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Statistical Analysis to Identify Distinctive Features
Authors: Hardee Steven , Alper Arik , Pashankar Dinesh S. , Morotti Raffaella A.
Published: December 2014

Histopathologic lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract (UGT) are common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Pediatric patients have a higher incidence of IBD-associated gastritis and duodenitis than do adults. This study aimed to identify histopathologic features of duodenal lesions in the pediatric population that are characteristic of IBD, compared to duodenal pathology of different etiopathogenesis. We performed a retrospective analysis of UGT biopsies from pediatric patients with a histopathologic diagnosis of duodenitis (0–18 years of age) over a 7-year period. We identified 40 cases of duodenitis associated with Crohn's disease (CD) and 10 cases associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) and compared the histopathologic characteristics of the duodenitis with age-matched controls consisting of 40 cases duodenitis associated with celiac disease and 40 non– Helicobacter pylori–associated (NOS) etiology duodenitis cases. The histologic features that were evaluated included presence of granulomas, duodenal cryptitis, erosion, lamina propria eosinophils, villous blunting, increased intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), and crypt hyperplasia, among others. Additionally, we evaluated the presence of associated gastritis in all of these groups. Statistical analysis to identify significant differences was performed using Kruskal-Wallis testing. Cryptitis was the most distinctive feature of IBD-associated duodenitis. Granulomas were exceptionally rare. The severity of villous blunting and presence of IELs was significantly different in the IBD versus the celiac group. There is a significant overlap with duodenal lesions of different etiopathogenesis, including villous blunting and eosinophilia. With the exclusion of granulomas, cryptitis seems the most distinctive feature of the duodenal lesions associated with IBD.
The assessment of muscle strength symmetry in kayakers and canoeists
Authors: Wietrzyński Michał , Mazur-Różycka Joanna , Gajewski Jan , Michalski Radosław , Różycki Sebastian , Buśko Krzysztof
Published: December 2014

Study aim: To determine and compare the muscle strength profile and muscle strength symmetry of kayakers and canoeists.

Material and methods: A total of 36 male participants participated in the study, including 25 kayakers and 9 canoeists. Measurements of maximum muscle torque were taken under static conditions for 10 muscle groups: flexors and extensors of the elbow, shoulder, knee, hip, and trunk. Muscle torque was allometrically scaled by body mass. To determine the muscle strength profiles of athletes in both disciplines, residual analysis was used. Two methods were utilized to assess and compare the muscle strength symmetry between left and right limbs. The first one is known as intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The second one is an asymmetry coefficient proposed by authors.

Results: The study showed that kayakers obtained lower rates of asymmetry indicators than canoeists in most muscle groups. An overall asymmetry coefficient amounted to 0.77 ± 0.20 and 0.99 ± 0.31 (p < 0.05) for kayakers and canoeists, respectively. Moreover, it was observed that the kayakers and canoeists had similar strength profile. The symmetry assessment of maximum muscle torque corresponds to the characteristics of the studied disciplines.

Conclusions: The intraclass correlation coefficient is recommended as a measure of strength symmetry for muscle groups comparisons. The asymmetry coefficient is recommended for comparison of individuals.
Analysis of multi-step algorithms for cognitive maps learning
Authors: Jastriebow A. , Poczęta K.
Published: December 2014

This article is devoted to the analysis of multi-step algorithms for cognitive maps learning. Cognitive maps and multi-step supervised learning based on a gradient method and unsupervised one based on the non-linear Hebbian algorithm were described. Comparative analysis of these methods to one-step algorithms, from the point of view of the speed of convergence of a learning algorithm and the influence on the work of the decision systems was performed. Simulation results were done on prepared software tool ISEMK. Obtained results show that implementation of the multi-step technique gives certain possibilities to get quicker values of target relations values and improve the operation of the learned system.
Joint Time-Frequency And Wavelet Analysis - An Introduction
Authors: Majkowski Andrzej , Kołodziej Marcin , Rak Remigiusz J.
Published: December 2014

A traditional frequency analysis is not appropriate for observation of properties of non-stationary signals. This stems from the fact that the time resolution is not defined in the Fourier spectrum. Thus, there is a need for methods implementing joint time-frequency analysis (t/f) algorithms. Practical aspects of some representative methods of time-frequency analysis, including Short Time Fourier Transform, Gabor Transform, Wigner-Ville Transform and Cone-Shaped Transform are described in this paper. Unfortunately, there is no correlation between the width of the time-frequency window and its frequency content in the t/f analysis. This property is not valid in the case of a wavelet transform. A wavelet is a wave-like oscillation, which forms its own “wavelet window”. Compression of the wavelet narrows the window, and vice versa. Individual wavelet functions are well localized in time and simultaneously in scale (the equivalent of frequency). The wavelet analysis owes its effectiveness to the pyramid algorithm described by Mallat, which enables fast decomposition of a signal into wavelet components.
Electroneurography of the ulnar nerve in dogs
Authors: Hájek Ivo , Schánilec Pavel , Uhríková Ivana , Pyszko Martin , Dufek Jaroslav
Published: December 2014

Electroneurography as one of the electrodiagnostic techniques is used to measure the speed of action potential which is propagated down the nerve after stimulation. It gives information about normal functioning of the peripheral nerves. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of a new electroneurographic technique by performing motor nerve conduction velocity measurements in the ulnar nerve with surface stimulating electrodes in healthy dogs, to correlate the obtained data by age, limb length, rectal temperature, and sex; and to compare these results with published findings utilizing needle stimulating electrodes. The study was performed in 24 clinically healthy dogs without anaesthesia. Rectal temperatures and limb lengths were measured in all individuals. There were significant correlations among several indicators (age, rectal temperature, limb length, conduction velocity, latency and duration of compound muscle action potentials). Limb length was found to have a significant effect on the duration of the compound muscle action potential from both stimulation sites (proximal/distal; r = 0.71, r = 0.68, P < 0.01), but there was no effect on the conduction velocity or amplitude of the action potentials. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the measured indicators between males and females, even though females had a higher mean conduction velocity than males. These results prove that conduction velocity measurements in dogs could be performed non-invasively, without a danger of infection or haematomas or complications with anaesthesia, which is more favourable and time-saving for clinical practice, and more comfortable for patients.
Value Co-Creation in Cloud Services
Authors: Rashid Ammar , Wang William Yu Chung , Tan Felix B
Published: December 2014

In recent years, there has been considerable interest in cloud services in academic literature. Most research in this area has focused on the technical aspects of designing and implementing cloud services, with few studies focusing on understanding the value of cloud services and the processes by which consumer and service providers engage each other to co-create these services. This chapter explains the co-creation processes, and, the role of consumer in the value co-creation process of cloud services. It incorporates extant marketing and information systems literature, industry reports, and practical experience reflections to highlight the significance of cloud services. The drivers of co-creation are explored with the description of co-creation processes and the underlying factors involved in value co-creation of cloud services. The chapter concludes by outlining the opportunities associated with the development of cloud services, noting future research directions and discussing academic and managerial implications.
Designing a Forensic-Enabling Cloud Ecosystem
Authors: Ruan Keyun
Published: December 2014

Cloud computing is a major transition, and it comes at a unique historical and strategic time for applying foundational design thinking to secure the next-generation computing infrastructure and enable waves of business and technological innovation. In this chapter, the researcher summarizes six key research and development areas for designing a forensic-enabling cloud ecosystem, including architecture and matrix, standardization and strategy, evidence segregation, security and forensic integration, legal framework, and privacy.
The University Library Electronic Identities Authentication System (UL-EIDA)
Authors: Mbale Jameson
Published: December 2014

World-wide electronic university libraries, with wide accessibility, are considered to be essential units in both academic and nonacademic information utilization. Within this context, the developed world wasted no time improving and expanding their libraries by applying the technology leverage offered by cloud computing. As institutions from developed countries expanded the use of cloud technology for library applications, it became clear that this technology was highly vulnerable to security threats. Nevertheless, this did not retard advanced nations from proceeding. Undaunted, they forged ahead and now are busy building appropriate cloud computing security infrastructures. Despite progress in this area, very little has been done to expand the university libraries in the sub-Saharan region using cloud computing technologies. Even less has been done in these developing countries to plan and develop the building of library computing security infrastructures. It was in view of this deficit that the University of Namibia's (UNAM) University Library electronic Identities Authentication (UL-eIDA) system was conceived to build a cloud computing security framework model suitable for the sub-Saharan region.
Elastic Application Container System
Authors: He Sijin , Guo Li , Guo Yike
Published: December 2014

Cloud applications have been gaining popularity in recent years for their flexibility in resource provisioning according to Web application demands. The Elastic Application Container (EAC) system is a technology that delivers a lightweight virtual resource unit for better resource efficiency and more scalable Web applications in the Cloud. It allows multiple application providers to concurrently run their Web applications on this technology without worrying the demand change of their Web applications. This is because the EAC system constantly monitors the resource usage of all hosting Web applications and automatically reacts to the resource usage change of Web applications (i.e. it automatically handles resource provisioning of the Web applications, such as scaling of the Web applications according to the demand). In the chapter, the authors firstly describe the architecture, its components of the EAC system, in order to give a brief overview of technologies involved in the system. They then present and explain resource-provisioning algorithms and techniques used in the EAC system for demand-driven Web applications. The resource-provisioning algorithms are presented, discussed, and evaluated so as to give readers a clear picture of resource-provisioning algorithms in the EAC system. Finally, the authors compare this EAC system technology with other Cloud technologies in terms of flexibility and resource efficiency.
The Network Infrastructures for Big Data Analytics
Authors: Raj Pethuru
Published: December 2014

The most delectable factor here is that the stability and maturity of networking and communication technologies enable the seamless and spontaneous interconnectivity of diverse and distributed consumer electronics, electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing devices at ground level and a bevy of services (Web, enterprise, cloud, embedded, analytical, etc.) at cyber level. Any tangible artefact and article gets connected with another to get the right and relevant empowerment, which in turn facilitates more data generation and transmission. Regulated interactions amongst digitalized entities have put a stimulating foundation for hitherto unforeseen and creative new capabilities and competencies. In short, data has grandly acquired the status of an asset not only in business organizations but also in personal lives, and hence, the data gathering, storage, and leverage tasks are fast-growing. With the data explosion happening feverishly, the discipline of big data computing and analytics has become a much-discoursed and deliberated domain of study and research. In this chapter, the authors discuss the emerging and evolving network infrastructures and architectures for big data analytics.