bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anticyphon gen. nov., a new genus of Scirtidae (Coleoptera: Scirtoidea) inhabiting high altitude Andean cloud forests and páramo formation
Authors: RUTA RAFAŁ
Published: October 2016

A new genus of Scirtidae is described to accommodate six newly described species distributed in the northern part of the Andes. Three species are described from Ecuador (Anticyphon davidsoni sp. nov., A. ecuadorensis sp. nov., A. paramoensis sp. nov.), two from Peru (A. oyonensis sp. nov., A. peruvianus sp. nov.), and a single one from Colombia (A. santanderensis sp. nov.). Morphological characters are illustrated with focus on hind wings, mouthparts and male genitalia. An identification key to species is provided.
New Leucettidae de Laubenfels, 1936 (Porifera, Calcarea) from Western Australia
Authors: LEOCORNY PEDRO , ALENCAR ALINE , FROMONT JANE , KLAUTAU MICHELLE
Published: October 2016

This paper reports four new Leucettidae (Porifera, Calcarea) from Western Australia, with two representatives of Leucetta and two of Pericharax: L. foliata sp. nov., L. purpurea sp. nov., Pericharax crypta sp. nov., and P. vallii sp. nov. This is the first time tripods have been described within Pericharax. In addition, one species (L. foliata sp. nov.) has an external morphology not previously reported for Leucetta, and for the first time tetractines of the inhalant and exhalant canals have been distinguished. Leucettidae now comprises 28 species, eight of them occur in Western Australia, which means this Australian State has the highest species richness for this family in Australia. The WA coastline has been largely unexplored for Calcarea so it is likely that further collecting will yield additional species. Leucetta microraphis is the most widespread species of Leucettidae in Australia, occurring in all States except the Northern Territory and Tasmania. We highlight the importance of a revision of the Leucettidae using molecular and morphological characters to determine which morphological characters have a phylogenetic signal.
Garra fluviatilis, a new hillstream fish species (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from the Kwai Noi River system, Mae Khlong basin, Thailand
Authors: KANGRANG PUNNATUT , THONI RYAN J. , MAYDEN RICHARD L. , BEAMISH F. WILLIAM H.
Published: October 2016

Garra fluviatilis is a new species described herein from the Kwai Noi, Mae Khlong basin, in the Thong Pha Phum District of Kanchanaburi Province in western Thailand. It is diagnosed by the following combination of morphological characters: well developed upper lip with unculiferous papillae, mottled pigmentation pattern, a pleated papilliferous fold at the junction of the anterolateral lobe and anteromedial fold on the lower lip, 4–5 anal scales, relatively deep body, keeled nape, and a laterally straight anterior margin of the anteromedial fold. Based on shared apomorphic morphological characters, we hypothesize that the new species is most closely related to G. spilota in nearby Myanmar.
Historical considerations and comments on the type series of Cyrtodactylus marmoratus Gray, 1831, with an updated comparative table for the bent-toed geckos of the Sunda Islands and Sulawesi
Authors: MECKE SVEN , KIECKBUSCH MAX , HARTMANN LUKAS , KAISER HINRICH
Published: October 2016

Cyrtodactylus marmoratus Gray, 1831, a species of bent-toed gecko exhibiting a precloacal groove in males, was described on the basis of specimens collected by Heinrich Kuhl and Johan Conrad van Hasselt in Java, Greater Sunda Islands, Indonesia. Kluge (1985) subsequently designated a lectotype for C. marmoratus from a series of these specimens (i.e., syntypes), now housed in the herpetological collection at Naturalis (formerly the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie; RMNH), Leiden, the Netherlands. Our work at Naturalis shows that the type series of C. marmoratus at RMNH actually comprises two sets of specimens, and that examination of specimens from one set or the other by different authors, including Kluge (1985), is responsible for some confusion surrounding the type series of this species. As a consequence, we present relevant morphological data for all 14 specimens constituting the type series of C. marmoratus at RMNH for the first time. The type status of two specimens of C. marmoratus in the collection at the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, remains unresolved at present. Owing to the inconsistent naming and application of terms for some key characters (e.g., groove, sulcus, pit, hollow, depression) used in the diagnoses of Cyrtodactylus species, we here propose a set of novel and useful definitions that are supported by photographs. We also illustrate the sexually dimorphic expression of this character in C. marmoratus. Finally, we present a revised comparative table for the bent-toad geckos of the Sunda Islands and Sulawesi.
Characteristic Raindrop Size Retrievals from Measurements of Differences in Vertical Doppler Velocities at Ka- and W-Band Radar Frequencies
Authors: Matrosov Sergey Y.
Published: October 2016

A Ka-band (~35 GHz) and W-band (~94 GHz) radar approach to retrieve profiles of characteristic raindrop sizes, such as mean mass-weighted drop diameters Dm, from measurements of the difference in the mean vertical Doppler velocities (DDV) is analyzed. This retrieval approach is insensitive to radar calibration errors, vertical air motions, and attenuation effects. The Dm–DDV relations are derived using long-term measurements of drop size distributions (DSDs) from different observational sites and do not assume a functional DSD shape. Unambiguous retrievals using this approach are shown to be available in the Dm range of approximately 0.5–2 mm, with average uncertainties of around 21%. Potential retrieval ambiguities occurring when larger drop populations exist can be avoided by using a Ka-band vertical Doppler velocity threshold. The performance of the retrievals is illustrated using a long predominantly stratiform rain event observed at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains site. An intercomparison of DDV-based estimates of characteristic raindrop sizes with independent estimates available from ground-based disdrometer measurements reveal good agreement, with a correlation coefficient of 0.88, and mean differences between radar and disdrometer-based Dm of approximately 14% for the entire range of unambiguous retrievals. The Ka–W-band DDV method to retrieve mean mass-weighted drop sizes is applicable to measurements from new dual-wavelength ARM cloud radars that are being deployed at a variety of observational facilities. An illustration for the retrievals at the Oliktok Point ARM facility is also given.
Classics and archives
Authors: Butler David R.
Published: October 2016

In 1925, then-Captain AW Stevens of the US Army Air Corps took low-angle, oblique aerial photographs of the spectacular landscape of Glacier National Park, Montana (USA). Two of those photographs, of astonishing clarity, were used in a US Geological Survey Professional Paper published in 1959, but were subsequently assigned to the US National Archives and never utilized again. This paper advocates the usefulness of Stevens’ photographs for documenting landscape change from the early 20th century to the present. Stevens’ photographs illustrate the “state” of numerous Park glaciers in 1925, and are the first known aerial photographs of the Park glaciers. These photographs can be used in comparison to modern photographs to illustrate the extent of glacial recession that has occurred in the Park since 1925.
e-GRASP: an integrated evolutionary and GRASP resource for exploring disease associations
Authors: Karim Sajjad , NourEldin Hend Fakhri , Abusamra Heba , Salem Nada , Alhathli Elham , Dudley Joel , Sanderford Max , Scheinfeldt Laura B. , Kumar Sudhir
Published: October 2016

Background

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have become a mainstay of biological research concerned with discovering genetic variation linked to phenotypic traits and diseases. Both discrete and continuous traits can be analyzed in GWAS to discover associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and traits of interest. Associations are typically determined by estimating the significance of the statistical relationship between genetic loci and the given trait. However, the prioritization of bona fide, reproducible genetic associations from GWAS results remains a central challenge in identifying genomic loci underlying common complex diseases. Evolutionary-aware meta-analysis of the growing GWAS literature is one way to address this challenge and to advance from association to causation in the discovery of genotype-phenotype relationships.

Description

We have created an evolutionary GWAS resource to enable in-depth query and exploration of published GWAS results. This resource uses the publically available GWAS results annotated in the GRASP2 database. The GRASP2 database includes results from 2082 studies, 177 broad phenotype categories, and ~8.87 million SNP-phenotype associations. For each SNP in e-GRASP, we present information from the GRASP2 database for convenience as well as evolutionary information (e.g., rate and timespan). Users can, therefore, identify not only SNPs with highly significant phenotype-association P-values, but also SNPs that are highly replicated and/or occur at evolutionarily conserved sites that are likely to be functionally important. Additionally, we provide an evolutionary-adjusted SNP association ranking (E-rank) that uses cross-species evolutionary conservation scores and population allele frequencies to transform P-values in an effort to enhance the discovery of SNPs with a greater probability of biologically meaningful disease associations.

Conclusion

By adding an evolutionary dimension to the GWAS results available in the GRASP2 database, our e-GRASP resource will enable a more effective exploration of SNPs not only by the statistical significance of trait associations, but also by the number of studies in which associations have been replicated, and the evolutionary context of the associated mutations. Therefore, e-GRASP will be a valuable resource for aiding researchers in the identification of bona fide, reproducible genetic associations from GWAS results. This resource is freely available at http://www.mypeg.info/egrasp.
Hierarchical Porous Carbon from Greening Plant Shell for Electric Double-Layer Capacitor Application
Authors: Shu Yu , Dobashi Ayumi , Li Cong , Shen Yehua , Uyama Hiroshi
Published: October 2016

Amygdalus pedunculata is expected to be a good candidate plant for desert reclamation (“greening”) since it has notable tolerance to cold and drought and can grow in a wide range of area with different soil types and moisture contents. In this study, hierarchical porous activated carbon (AC) with high surface area and large mesoporous volume was developed from Amygdalus pedunculata shell (APS) for an electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) application. The AC activated at 900 °C by K2CO3 possessed a highly developed hierarchical porosity network of a coexistence of micropores and mesopores. The AC with the specific surface area of 2030 m2 g−1 and mesopore percentage of 82% showed superior capacitive performance in 20 wt % H2SO4 electrolyte using a bipolar cell by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge–discharge (GC) measurements. A maximum capacity of 210 F g−1 was achieved at current density of 0.05 A g−1 from the AC prepared from APS and K2CO3 with the mixed weight ratio of 2:3 under the activation conditions of 900 °C and 60 min. The present APS-derived AC is a promising electrode material from green raw materials for EDLCs.
Προσφυγικές/μεταναστευτικές ροές και διαμεσολαβητική χρήση της γλώσσας.
Authors: Batsalia Frideriki , Sella Eleni
Published: October 2016

Οι αυξημένες μεταναστευτικές/προσφυγικές ροές προς τη χώρα μας προκάλεσαν, μεταξύ άλλων, και αυξημένες ανάγκες διευκόλυνσης της επικοινωνίας μεταξύ των ατόμων αυτών και των εκπροσώπων κρατικών, κοινωνικών ή/και μη-κυβερνητικών δομών και φορέων. Η έλλειψη επαρκούς αριθμού επαγγελματιών μεταφραστών και διερμηνέων για την παροχή αυτών των υπηρεσιών, οδήγησε στην αξιοποίηση ατόμων που διαθέτουν γνώση γλώσσας ή γλωσσών που ομιλούν οι μετανάστες/πρόσφυγες. Με αφετηρία τη θεωρητική αναφορά στα διάφορα είδη χρήσης της γλώσσας και τις ποικίλες χρήσεις του όρου ‘γλωσσική διαμεσολάβηση’, διερευνώνται από γλωσσολογική και μεταφρασεολογική σκοπιά οι όροι «γλωσσική διαμεσολάβηση» και «γλωσσικοί διαμεσολαβητές» και αποτυπώνονται οι διαφορές μεταξύ της ανεπίσημης, καθημερινής διαγλωσσικής συναλλαγής (στην οποία, μεταξύ άλλων, αποβλέπει η διδασκαλία ξένης γλώσσας εντός σχολικού περιβάλλοντος), της μετάφρασης και διερμηνείας (η οποία
απαιτεί εξειδικευμένες γνώσεις και δεξιότητες, πέραν της άριστης γλωσσομάθειας) και της διαγλωσσικής δράσης, η οποία επιτελείται κατά την επικοινωνία μεταξύ μεταναστών/προσφύγων και κρατικών ή/και κυβερνητικών δομών και φορέων.
Επικοινωνιακές και θεσμικές παράμετροι μιας χρήσιμης αλλά παραγνωρισμένης υπηρεσίας: μια πρώτη προσέγγιση της κοινοτικής μετάφρασης.
Authors: Vyzas Theodoros
Published: October 2016

Το άρθρο αυτό αποτελεί μια σύντομη βιβλιογραφική επισκόπηση που επιδιώκει να δώσει το γενικότερο στίγμα της κοινοτικής μετάφρασης σε διεθνές επίπεδο. Για τον σκοπό αυτό, θα γίνει προσπάθεια εννοιολογικής οριοθέτησης με έμφαση στα προς μετάφραση κείμενα, τις μεταφράσεις και τους αποδέκτες τους. Στη συνέχεια θα εξεταστεί η σχέση κοινοτικής μετάφρασης και κοινοτικής διερμηνείας, καθώς η δεύτερη έχει ουσιαστικό προβάδισμα έναντι της πρώτης, ενώ θα γίνει αναφορά και στις σχέσεις εξουσίας που διαμορφώνονται μέσα από τη μετάφραση. Κατόπιν θα διερευνηθεί ο βαθμός θεσμοθέτησης, μέσα
από την τυχόν ύπαρξη νομικού πλαισίου και την ενδεχόμενη εφαρμογή του και στο τέλος η προσοχή μας θα στραφεί στις δυνατότητες κατάρτισης των κοινοτικών μεταφραστών. Θα αποδειχθεί ότι η κοινοτική μετάφραση αποτελεί ταυτόχρονα εξειδικευμένη μετάφραση και κοινωνική υπηρεσία που δεν έχει ως τώρα τύχει ανάλογου ενδιαφέροντος.
Understanding covariate shift in model performance
Authors: McGaughey Georgia , Walters W. Patrick , Goldman Brian
Published: October 2016

Three (3) different methods (logistic regression, covariate shift and k-NN) were applied to five (5) internal datasets and one (1) external, publically available dataset where covariate shift existed. In all cases, k-NN’s performance was inferior to either logistic regression or covariate shift. Surprisingly, there was no obvious advantage for using covariate shift to reweight the training data in the examined datasets.
Results of an attempt to reproduce the STAP phenomenon
Authors: Aizawa Shinichi
Published: October 2016

In 2014, Obokata and colleagues reported their observation of a novel cell reprogramming phenomenon they named ‘stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency’ (STAP). The most conclusive evidence for the pluripotency of so-called STAP cells was the purported ability of such cells to contribute to chimera formation. Here, I report the results of an attempt by Haruko Obokata to replicate the phenomenon under the supervision of the Scientific Validity Examination Team of RIKEN. In this follow-up study, putative STAP cells prepared by Haruko Obokata were injected into 1051 embryos, of which 591 were recovered. However, the injected cells made no significant contribution in any of the embryos that developed.
Creating, generating and comparing random network models with Network Randomizer
Authors: Tosadori Gabriele , Bestvina Ivan , Spoto Fausto , Laudanna Carlo , Scardoni Giovanni
Published: October 2016

Biological networks are becoming a fundamental tool for the investigation of high-throughput data in several fields of biology and biotechnology. With the increasing amount of information, network-based models are gaining more and more interest and new techniques are required in order to mine the information and to validate the results. We have developed an app for the Cytoscape platform which allows the creation of randomized networks and the randomization of existing, real networks. Since there is a lack of tools for generating and randomizing networks, our app helps researchers to exploit different, well known random network models which could be used as a benchmark for validating real datasets. We also propose a novel

methodology for creating random weighted networks starting from experimental data. Finally the app provides a statistical tool which compares real versus random attributes, in order to validate all the numerical findings. In summary, our app aims at creating a standardised methodology for the validation of the results in the context of the Cytoscape platform.
Internet marketing complex to promote tourism business
Authors: Остапчук  , Ostapchuk Aleksey
Published: October 2016

The article considers Internet marketing complex for promotion of travel business.

The article gives a review of instruments of marketing communication in Internet

network for touristic enterprises. The author describes the most common ways

for users to interact with the network. The main devices through which users log

on to the Internet are considered. The data on the percentage of use mobile

devices and personal computers in Russia and European countries are given.

The article summarizes the complex of instruments marketing communication

on the Internet for tourist enterprises. The author considers types websites

to promote businesses in travel industry, describes the structure of communication

between organization and customer through various types of websites. The article

presents a complex marketing communications through search engines, briefly

describes search advertising and search optimization, presents the most popular

search system of the Russian Internet segment.
A Sublogarithmic Approximation for Tollbooth Pricing on Trees
Authors: Gamzu Iftah , Segev Danny
Published: October 2016

An instance of the tollbooth problem consists of an undirected network and a collection of single-minded customers, each of which is interested in purchasing a fixed path subject to an individual budget constraint. The objective is to assign a per-unit price to each edge in a way that maximizes the collective revenue obtained from all customers. The revenue generated by any customer is equal to the overall price of the edges in her desired path, when this cost falls within her budget; otherwise, that customer will not purchase any edge.

Our main result is a deterministic algorithm for the tollbooth problem on trees whose approximation ratio is O(log m/log log m), where m denotes the number of edges in the underlying graph. This finding improves on the currently best performance guarantees for trees, and up until recently, also on the best ratio for paths (commonly known as the highway problem). An additional interesting consequence is a computational separation between tollbooth pricing on trees and the original prototype problem of single-minded unlimited supply pricing, under a plausible hardness hypothesis.
Ages and stages
Authors: Chalmers Debbie
Published: October 2016

Support parents' understanding of their child's physical development with this guide to typical progress. Help them to have appropriate expectations about the milestones their child will reach.
Performance of weather parameters in predicting growing season water table depth variations on drained forested peatlands – a case study from southern Finland
Authors: Hökkä Hannu , Uusitalo Jori , Lindeman Harri , Ala-Ilomäki Jari
Published: October 2016

The amount of water in peat soil is one factor affecting its bearing capacity, which is a crucial aspect in planning peatland timber harvesting operations. We studied the influence of weather variables on the variation of drained peatland growing season water conditions, here the ground water table depth (WTD). WTD was manually monitored four times in 2014 and three times in 2015 in 10â30 sample plots located in four drained peatland forests in south-western Finland. For each peatland, precipitation and evapotranspiration were calculated from the records of the nearest Finnish Meteorological Institute field stations covering periods from one day to four weeks preceding the WTD monitoring date. A mixed linear model was constructed to investigate the impact of the weather parameters on WTD. Precipitation of the previous fourâweek period was the most important explanatory variable. The four-week evapotranspiration amount was interacting with the Julian day showing a greater effect in late summer. Other variables influencing WTD were stand volume within the three-metre radius sample plot and distance from nearest ditch. Our results show the potential of weather parameters, specifically that of the previous four-week precipitation and evapotranspiration, for predicting drained peatland water table depth variation and subsequently, the possibility to develop a more general empirical model to assist planning of harvesting operations on drained peatlands.
The effect of corporate performance on the stocks in the companies doing IPO
Authors: Suherman - , Winadi Danni , Ahmad Gatot Nazir
Published: October 2016

This study tries to (1)to examine the difference of corporate social performance (CSP) between the old IPO firms and the new IPO firms, and (2)to investigate the influence of corporate social performance (CSP) on stock return. Corporate social performance (CSP) is measured using NH approach and stock return is measured using cumulative abnormal returns (CAR) and holding-period returns (HPR). The sample covers 75 IPO firms listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange between 2011 and April 2015. Our study employs independent sample test and ordinary least square (OLS) regression to analyze the research models. The results show that 1) there is significant difference in corporate social performance (CSP) between the old IPO firms and the new IPO firms, and 2)CSP has positive and significant effect on stock return, controlling for firm size, firm growth, institutional ownership and managerial ownership. Robustness tests support the results. Investor should pay much more attention on the old IPO firms and corporate social performance (CSP). Firms that are going to sell IPO stocks, specifically for young firms, should concern more on social responsibilities.
The effect of budgetary participation on the performance of officials with locus of control, job satisfaction, and relevant job information as mediating variables: An empirical study at regional work unit (SKPD) in Palu
Authors: Dewi Chaeranti Muldayani , Irianto Gugus , - Rosidi
Published: October 2016

The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of budgetary participation on the performance of the officials of Regional Work Units (SKPD) with locus of control, job satisfaction, and relevant job information as mediating variables. The study was done on SKPD in Palu by survey using questionnaires. The sample consists of 40 people selected by using purposive sampling technique. Data were analyzed using multiple regressions and moderating regression analysis (MRA). The results show that budgetary participation significantly affects the performance of the SKPD in Palu. Locus of control (LoC) as a moderating variable does not strengthen the effect of budgetary participation on the performance of officials. Job satisfaction can mod-erate the effect of budgetary participation on the performance of officials. The results also reveal that relevant job information can moderate the performance of SKPD in Palu. Thus, this study proves that budgetary participation supported by job satisfac-tion and relevant job information can build the performance of SKPD in Palu.
Family involvement at elementary school: A validity and reliabilitiy study
İlkokul ve ortaokullarda aile katılımı: Bir geçerlilik ve güvenirlilik çalışması
Authors: Ahioğlu Lindberg E. Nihal , Oğuz Kevser
Published: October 2016

The aim of the study was to adapt the subscales for parents and students of the Scale for School and Family Involvement in Elementary Schools developed by Sheldon and Epstein and the subscale for teacher developed by Epstein and Salinas. The scales were administered to 353 teachers, 319 parents and 382 students. The reliability of the scales has been determined by calculating the Cronbach Alpha internal consistency coefficient. On the other hand, the structural validity of the scales has been determined by confirmatory factor analysis. Although the scores of GFI is low, the scores of χ2/sd, RMSEA, SRMR and CFI showing a good fit give information about the goodness of the scale validity. In conclusion, the reliability and validity scores show that the scales are suitable to use by Turkish subjects. ÖzetBu çalışmada, İlk ve Ortaokullarda Okul ve Aile Katılımı ölçeğinin, Epstein ve Salinas tarafından geliştirilen anne-baba ve öğrenci ölçekleri ile Sheldon ve Epstein tarafından geliştirilen öğretmen ölçeklerinin Türkçe’ye uyarlanması amaçlanmıştır. Ölçekler, 353 öğretmen, 319 anne-baba ve 382 öğrenciye uygulanmıştır. Ölçeklerin güvenirlilikleri, Cronbach alfa iç tutarlılık katsayısı yoluyla belirlenmiştir. Doğrulayıcı faktör analizi yoluyla da yapı geçerliliklerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Analizler sonunda uyum istatistiklerinden GFI değerlerinin kabul sınırlarının altında olmasına karşın, χ2/sd, RMSEA, SRMR ve CFI değerleri kabul sınırlarında ya da Kabul sınırlarının üstündedir. Sonuç olarak, ölçeğin, çalışma sonunda elde edilen güvenirlilik ve geçerlilik değerlerine göre, ülkemizde kullanımının uygun olduğu belirlenmiştir.
Metodika analýzy aktérů
Authors: Zahradník Martin , Dlouhá Jana
Published: October 2016

The purpose of this methodology is to offer the actor analysis method to users from the area of policy development and enable application of the method in resolving concrete decision-making issues in the public domain. It aims to provide clear, step by step guidance for the analysis procedure, from problem definition and identification of social groups (actors), through a description of their characteristics to the proposal of practical solutions. Actor analysis primarily explores the social aspect of political debate in regional sustainable development. It is a tool for analysing the relationships among involved social actors, their different interests, roles, influence on development in the area of interest and related social capital within the overall networks of cooperation/competition. A clear understanding of the social environment allows the strengthening of desirable relations and reduction of potential conflicts. The presented methodology can thus help facilitate negotiation and governance processes, especially when different viewpoints, approaches, or practical concerns are anticipated, and a solution should be found in a participatory way. It can also be used for teaching purposes. At a practical level, it can serve to support environmental governance at local or regional level, but it is not limited to a specific field of application. Actor analysis is primarily future oriented, so the methodology can be successfully applied in planning and strategic decision making in various fields and social environments.
Jsou děti venku v přírodě ohroženým druhem? (recenze knihy Petra Daniše)
Authors: Dlouhá Jana
Published: October 2016

Book review: Petr Daniš (2016). Children Outside in Nature: Endangered Species?, Tereza: Prague. ISBN 978-80-87905-10-4. Available online http://jdeteven.cz/_files/userfiles/Publikace/Deti_venku_v_prirode_2016_web.pdf
Konference o společenské odpovědnosti vědy a vysokých škol
Authors: Dlouhá Jana
Published: October 2016

The new role of science in society was discussed at the COPERNICUS Alliance conference Sustainability Transformations of Science Systems, held in Vienna, on September 14–15th, 2016. These debates were intense as transformations of science systems will affect the roles and functioning of universities.
Development and validation of HPLC and CE methods for simultaneous determination of amlodipine and atorvastatin in the presence of their acidic degradation products in tablets
Authors: Hassan Said A. , Elzanfaly Eman S. , El-Zeany Salem Badr A. , Salem Maissa Y.
Published: October 2016

Two methods were developed for separation and quantitation of amlodipine (AML) and atorvastatin (ATV) in the presence of their acidic degradation products. The first method was a simple isocratic RP-HPLC method while the second was capillary electrophoresis (CE). Degradation products were obtained by acidic hydrolysis of the two drugs and their structures were elucidated for the first time by IR and MS spectra. Degradation products did not interfere with the determination of either drug and the assays were therefore stability-indicating. The linearity of the proposed methods was established over the ranges 1-50 μg mL-1for AML and ATV in the HPLC method and in the range of 3-50 and 4-50 μg mL-1for AML and ATV, respectively, in the CE method. The proposed methods were validated according to ICH guidelines. The methods were successfully applied to estimation of AML and ATV in combined tablets.
Charge transfer interaction of organic p-acceptors with the anti-hyperuricemic drug allopurinol: Insights from IR, Raman, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopies
Authors: Refat Moamen S. , Saad Hosam A. , Adam Abdel Majid A. , Al-Omar Mohamed A. , Naglah Ahmed M.
Published: October 2016

The topic of charge-transfer (CT) complexation of vital drugs has attracted considerable attention in recent years owing to their significant physical and chemical properties. In this study, CT complexes derived from the reaction of the anti-hyperuricemic drug allopurinol (Allop) with organic p-acceptors [(picric acid (PA), dichlorodicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ) and chloranil (CHL)] were prepared, isolated and characterized by a range of physicochemical methods, such as IR, Raman, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The stoichiometry of the complexes was verified by elemental analysis. The results show that all complexes that were formed were based on a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio. This study suggests that the complexation of Allop with either the DDQ or CHL acceptor leads to a direct p®p* transition, whereas the molecules of Allop and PA are linked by intermolecular hydrogen- bonding interactions.
Preparation and in vivo evaluation of a gel-based nasal delivery system for risperidone
Authors: Gu Fugen , Ma Weina , Meng Gendalai , Wu Chunzhi , Wang Yi
Published: October 2016

The aim of this study was to prepare a nasal gel of risperidone and to investigate the pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability of the drug in rats. Compared with oral dosing, the risperidone nasal gel exhibited very fast absorption and high bioavailability. Maximal plasma concentration (cmax) and the time to reach cmax (tmax) were 15.2 μg mL-1 and 5 min for the nasal gel, 3.6 μg mL-1 and 30 min for the oral drug suspension, respectively. Pharmacokinetic parameters such as tmax′, cmax and AUC of oral and nasal routes were significantly different (p < 0.01). Relative bioavailability of the drug nasal preparation to the oral suspension was up to 1600.0 %. Further, the in vitro effect of the risperidone nasal gel on nasal mucociliary movement was also investigated using a toad palate model. The risperidone nasal formulation showed mild ciliotoxicity, but the adverse effect was temporary and reversible.
Vitamin C pretreatment protects from nickel-induced acute nephrotoxicity in mice
Authors: Kadi Imed-Eddine , Dahdouh Faouzi
Published: October 2016

Nickel is an abundant carcinogenic and nephrotoxic metal whose activity leads to renal impairment. Previous studies have shown a protective effect of simultaneous vitamin C administration on acute and chronic nickel toxicity. However, very little research relating to the effect of vitamin C pretreatment in preventing nickel-induced acute nephrotoxicity is available. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the efficiency of vitamin C (VC) pretreatment in preventing acute renal toxicity of nickel. Mice were pretreated orally with vitamin C (16.6 mg kg-1 body weight, b.w.) for seven consecutive days, prior to intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of nickel chloride at different doses (3, 5, and 10 mg Ni kg-1 b.w.) for an exposure period of 24 hours. Thereafter, animals were killed and kidney tissue and blood samples were taken for histological examination and biochemical marker analyses. Vitamin C pretreatment alone did not alter the levels of serum kidney markers (creatinine, urea, and uric acid). However, treatment with Ni alone showed a significant increase in the levels of serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid with marked necrotic epithelial cells and infiltration by inflammatory cells in kidney sections as compared to the control group. Pretreatment with vitamin C and treatment with Ni at all doses tested for 24 hours showed a significant decrease in the levels of serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid, as well as an improvement in histological changes compared to those previously seen in the group treated with Ni alone. It is concluded that vitamin C pretreatment effectively improved renal function and tissue damage caused by nickel.
Variations in lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury concentrations during honeybee wax processing using casting technology
Authors: Tlak Gajger Ivana , Kosanović Marina , Bilandžić Nina , Sedak Marija , Čalopek Bruno
Published: October 2016

Beeswax foundations are a necessary material in intensive modern beekeeping. Heavy metals can accumulate in these foundations for decades, as it is a common beekeeping practice to recycle wax. Beeswax samples were analysed using GFAAS for As, Cd, Pb, and Hg concentrations during the production of beeswax foundations using casting technology with a prolonged cooling and sedimentation phase. Significant differences were determined in the concentrations of As, Cd, Pb (p<0.01, all), and Hg (p<0.05) between the three levels of wax in a double-walled steel casting container and comb foundations (CF) during the processing stage. Concentrations (mg kg-1) of the examined metals in comb foundations as the final product ranged as follows: As 0.01-0.88; Cd 1.26-3.55; Pb 82.5-171, and Hg 0.29-1.46. All examined element concentrations demonstrated similar distribution and ratio in different layers, ranging from the lowest concentrations in layers from which wax material is used for comb foundations as the final product, to the highest concentrations in sedimented layer, which represents waste. The obtained results suggest that the described method could effectively eliminate a significant amount of heavy metals from the initial material used for the production of new beeswax foundations.
A review of aluminium phosphide poisoning and a flowchart to treat it
Authors: Hashemi-Domeneh Behrooz , Zamani Nasim , Hassanian-Moghaddam Hossein , Rahimi Mitra , Shadnia Shahin , Erfantalab Peyman , Ostadi Ali
Published: October 2016

The use of pesticides such as aluminium phosphide (AlP) has increased in the recent years and improved the quantity and quality of agricultural products in a number of developing countries. The downside is that AlP causes severe chronic and acute health effects that have reached major proportions in countries such as India, Iran, Bangladesh, and Jordan. Nearly 300,000 people die due to pesticide poisoning in the world every year. Poisoning with AlP accounts for many of these deaths. Unfortunately, at the same time, there is no standard treatment for it. The aim of this article is to give a brief review of AlP poisoning and propose a treatment flowchart based on the knowledge gained so far. For this purpose we reviewed all articles on the management of AlP poisoning published from 2000 till now. Using a modified Delphi design, we have designed a handy flowchart that could be used as a guide for AlP poisoning management of patients in emergency centres.
EU Refugee Resettlement: Key Challenges of Expanding the Practice into New Member States
Authors: Jakulevičienė Lyra , Bileišis Mantas
Published: October 2016

Refugee resettlement is not new to EU member states. But the EU only accounts for about 10 percent of resettlements globally. Before the 2015 European Council decisions to relocate about 160,000 persons from Italy and Greece only half of EU Member States participated in resettlement programs. Relocation of refugees has emerged as a new form of resettlement as an EU reaction to the growing refugee influx. It is likely to become a permanent part of Common European Asylum Policy. The refugee emergency has intensified discussions about the application of the solidarity principle to pressure member states not yet engaged in relocation to contribute to the joint efforts of the EU. But this has created serious political controversy in many of the new (eastern) member states.

The article outlines key elements of refugee resettlement and relocation that have recently emerged in the EU and discusses the prerequisites for the sustainable use of this tool in an unfavorable political and unclear legal environment, with particular focus on new member states. The main goal of the article is to identify factors that need to be considered for the design of sustainable resettlement and relocation programs, considering the aspects of political salience, legal conditions, burden-sharing, and member states’ capacity. The case study of Lithuania presented in this article suggests that such programs need to be carefully considered and adequately funded as there are ample pitfalls which can quickly discredit the idea among the citizens.
Context as a Factor in Senior Civil Service Reform: Opinions and Attitudes of Senior Executives in Lithuania
Authors: Civinskas Remigijus , Kaselis Mindaugas , Pivoras Saulius
Published: October 2016

This article analyses the contextual factors and their impact on the planned creation of senior civil service (henceforth, SCS) within the Lithuanian civil service system since 2008. Based on a survey of Lithuanian senior executives’ conducted in 2014 and qualitative semi-structured interviews, the aim of this article is to reveal and explain incentives and obstacles of SCS reform in Lithuania. Empirical research data clarifies attitudes of senior civil servants and their role perceptions. Senior executives’ attitudes towards the establishment of the SCS system were clearly positive. However, the research data reveals that supportive attitudes depend on the perception of the roles of senior executives. Senior civil servants who perceived themselves firstly as actors in policy formation and policy implementers were much more favourable towards the creation of SCS than senior civil servants with other role identities.
Creating virtual environments for phobia
treatment
Authors: Horváthová Dana , Siládi Vladimír
Published: October 2016

In this paper, we try to present the problems of
the modern approach to treating various phobias. Virtual
environments created by virtual reality (VR) tools can help
to make the treatment of certain types of phobias more efficient.
Attention to this form of phobia treatment with the
help of VR is on the rise in the world, so we are also monitoring
its development, as well. Our paper introduces the
necessary hardware and software that has been piloted in
our department, but also methods of creating virtual environments,
models and application designed for medical
therapies of patients. In ourworkwe have searched for and
tested the following methods for creating virtual environments:
A) modelling using computer graphics, B) modelling
animation using animation programs, C) taking pictures
of static objects and scenes, D) filming moving objects
and scenes using classic video or special scanning
techniques to create 360∘ panoramas or E) any combination
of these methods.
Multivariate approach to imposing additional constraints on the Benefit-of-the-Doubt model: The case of QS World University Rankings by Subject
Authors: Maričić Milica , Bulajić Milica , Radojičić Zoran , Jeremić Veljko
Published: October 2016

Composite indexes have become a valuable asset for stakeholders as they provide ranks of entities and information upon which decisions are made. However, certain questions about their development procedure have been raised recently, especially regarding the weighting process. To tackle the observed issue, in this paper we propose a new multivariate approach for defining weights. Namely, the model based on the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), the Benefit-of-the-Doubt (BoD) model, has been used with significant success in the process of composite index development. On the other hand, the Composite I-distance Indicator (CIDI) methodology stands out as an impartial method for assigning weights to indicators. By combining these two approaches, some of the limitations of the original BoD model could be overcome. As a result, new entity-specific weights which maximize the value of the composite index can be proposed. As a case study, we analysed the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject in the field of statistics and operational research. The obtained results, which are based on the data-driven weights, can provide new insights into the nature of the observed ranking. The approach presented here might provoke further research on the topic of composite index weights and on the university rankings by subject.
Approaches to Evaluating Efficiency and Quality of Integrated Health Care: State of the Evidence
Authors: Rudawska Iga
Published: October 2016

This paper investigates the outcomes of integrated health care model in terms of its economic efficiency and quality. The quality refers to subjective assessments of a patient, measured by a satisfaction indicator, as well as to the health benefits to a patient, measured by health status.

A systematic literature review has been applied to study the results of care coordination. The author performed the ordered analysis of existing research evidence, based on peer-reviewed literature available on health science and business databases.

The model of integrated health care delivery seemed to have positive effects on the quality of care. This encompasses mainly the quality of life, functional status, health outcomes, and process outcomes. The equal positive impact of integrated health programmes on economic efficiency has not been revealed. Only 15% of the effects reported in the reviews have been significant.

The work contributes to the worldwide debate dedicated to the impact of integrated health care programmes. The gathered research evidence concerning positive influence on costs remains unclear. It might require further investigations. The work also revealed some significant gaps that are prevalent in the field of standardized instruments of measurement referring to integration outcomes, including quality and efficiency over time at levels of the system, programme, provider, and patient.
Use of Neural Networks in Risk Assessment and Optimization of Insurance Cover in Innovative Enterprises
Authors: Pukała Ryszard
Published: October 2016

The scientific objective of the paper is to present the findings of a study into the use of artificial neural networks in quantifying activity related risks of an innovative enterprise and to optimize its insurance cover in order to minimize the probable financial losses whenever they materialize. The Kohonen network involving the activation of 51 input variables was applied in the study. The outcomes of the stimulation for the given set of variables made it possible to determine the probability of a threat occurring in the classes. The results of the analysis were used to prepare an optimal insurance cover for the activities of the innovative company. The research findings are suitable for use in risk theory as well as in issues relating to entrepreneurship and insurance. The analytical device employed can also be put to practical use as a support tool in corporate risk management.
The Situation of Bank Lending in Ukraine: Current Problems and Prospects of Recovery
Authors: Manzhos Svetlana
Published: October 2016

The article investigates the state of bank lending in Ukraine, identifies the source of the severe banking crisis, that broke out in Ukraine in 2014-2015. Additionally, it suggests recommendations for the enhancement of the role of bank lending in the process of expanded incentives for investments in order to facilitate the exit from the economy crisis towards the economic growth. Using the general scientific methods of empirical and theoretical research, the dynamics of bank lending in Ukraine in 2003- 2014 was analysed and the following periods were distinguished: 2003-2007, which is the period of the rise of a strong banking system and the increase of bank lending; 2008-2009, when the crisis and post-crisis recovery processes have been attempted, and 2014-2015, which is the period of an unprecedented crisis and a wave of bank failures.

The analysis revealed the following main factors constraining the lending to the economy of Ukraine in today’s conditions: a slowdown in the economic growth, increasing economic and political risks of inflation and devaluation expectations, rapid fluctuations of exchange rate, a high cost and the lack of credit because of insufficient domestic resources and the mismatch of terms and conditions of bank loans with the aim to attract resources, a significant credit risk and imperfect methods of management, the lack of clear mechanisms for loan repayment applicable to insolvent borrowers, and inadequate protection of the rights of lenders and borrowers.

The article substantiates that the stimulation of the lending process should be based on the following: the improvement of the investment climate in Ukraine, using stricter lending criteria, ensuring effective mechanisms for provisioning for credit risks, and the improvement of measures for the protection of rights of lenders and borrowers. The state should focus on new projects stimulating - international investments by introducing the European standards on domestic enterprises, including joint investment projects in strategic sectors; the promotion of investment projects in support of small and medium enterprises; and intensified efforts to stimulate foreign banks to open credit lines for small and medium-sized businesses to implement energy efficiency projects under the state guarantee.
Development of a cloud-based system for remote
monitoring of a PVT panel
Authors: Saraiva Luis , Alcaso Adérito , Vieira Paulo , Ramos Carlos Figueiredo , Cardoso Antonio Marques
Published: October 2016

The paper presents a monitoring system developed
for an energy conversion system based on the
sun and known as thermophotovoltaic panel (PVT). The
project was implemented using two embedded microcontrollers
platforms (arduino Leonardo and arduino yún),
wireless transmission systems (WI-FI and XBEE) and net
computing ,commonly known as cloud (Google cloud).
The main objective of the project is to provide remote access
and real-time data monitoring (like: electrical current,
electrical voltage, input fluid temperature, output fluid
temperature, backward fluid temperature, up PV glass
temperature, down PV glass temperature, ambient temperature,
solar radiation, wind speed, wind direction and
fluid mass flow). This project demonstrates the feasibility
of using inexpensive microcontroller’s platforms and free
internet service in theWeb, to support the remote study of
renewable energy systems, eliminating the acquisition of
dedicated systems typically more expensive and limited in
the kind of processing proposed.
Convergence Analysis of Multilayer Feedforward Networks Trained with Penalty Terms: A Review
Authors: Wang Jian , Yang Guoling , Liu Shan , Zurada Jacek M.
Published: October 2016

Gradient descent method is one of the popular methods to train feedforward neural networks. Batch and incremental modes are the two most common methods to practically implement the gradient-based training for such networks. Furthermore, since generalization is an important property and quality criterion of a trained network, pruning algorithms with the addition of regularization terms have been widely used as an efficient way to achieve good generalization. In this paper, we review the convergence property and other performance aspects of recently researched training approaches based on different penalization terms. In addition, we show the smoothing approximation tricks when the penalty term is non-differentiable at origin.