bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypothesis: stimulation of trained immunity as adjunctive immunotherapy in cancer
Authors: Netea Mihai G , Joosten Leo A B , van der Meer Jos W M
Published: October 2017

Cancer immunotherapy has steadily progressed during the past decades, with checkpoint inhibitor therapy becoming the latest and one of the most promising treatments. Despite the progress, most of the patients do not respond or develop resistance, and novel additional approaches are needed to improve the clinical effectiveness of immunotherapy. Trained immunity (TI) has been described recently as a process of epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming that induces a long-term enhanced function of innate immune cells. TI is considered to have beneficial effects in improving host response to infections and vaccination, and increasing evidence suggests that TI-mediated mechanisms also have useful and potent antitumor effects. We hypothesized that novel and more effective approaches for immunotherapy in cancer may involve induction of TI, alone or in combination with current immunotherapies.
Using Resilience Indicators in the Prediction of Earthquake Recovery
Authors: Despotaki Venetia , Sousa Luis , Burton Christopher G.
Published: October 2017

This paper presents a probabilistic methodology for the prediction of post-earthquake community recovery over time, based on a set of socioeconomic resilience parameters and a post-earthquake damage indicator. Pre-existing socioeconomic conditions are widely associated with the ability of a community to recover following an earthquake and, therefore, should be considered in a recovery prediction model. The city of Napa, California and the monitored recovery from the 2014 South Napa earthquake were used as a case study for the development and validation of the proposed methodology. The documentation of the recovery, which is herein associated with the recovery of the building stock, was accomplished via field surveys over a period of 18 months following the event. In addition to community-level recovery predictions in different areas over time, the methodology allows for the identification of the pre-existing socioeconomic parameters that most significantly affect the recovery trajectory. Thus, emergency managers can identify critical areas that take longer to recover, as well as identify strengths and weaknesses of their communities and respectively promote or address issues that facilitate recovery.
Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of Eu(III) Complexes with Phosphine Oxide Ligands including Metal Ions
Authors: Yamamoto Masanori , Nakanishi Takayuki , Kitagawa Yuichi , Seki Tomohiro , Ito Hajime , Fushimi Koji , Hasegawa Yasuchika
Published: October 2017

Lanthanide (Ln3+) complexes composed of luminescent Eu3+ complex and joint metal blocks (Al3+, Zn2+ and Pd2+ complexes) are reported. The Eu3+ complexes [Eu(hfa)3(dppy)2PdCl2]n (Eu-Pd), [Eu(hfa)3(dppy)2ZnCl2]n (Eu-Zn) and [Eu(hfa)3(dppy)4AlCl3]n (Eu-Al) (hfa: hexafluoroacetylacetonato, dppy: 4-pyridyldiphenylphosphine oxide) were synthesized by the complexation of [Eu(hfa)3(H2O)2] with [MCln(dppy)m] (M = Pd2+, Zn2+ and Al3+). These predicted structures were estimated using single-crystal X-ray structural analyses and DFT calculations. Photophysical properties of these complexes were evaluated based on the emission lifetimes and emission quantum yields. The emission quantum yields are dependent on the moiety of the joint metal blocks. Eu-Al complex shows the largest emission quantum yield (Φff = 72%). In contrast, the emission quantum yield of Eu-Pd is found to be 1.3%. The structures and photophysical properties of Eu3+ complexes linked with joint metal blocks are demonstrated.
Logarithmic distributions prove that intrinsic learning is Hebbian
Authors: Scheler Gabriele
Published: October 2017

In this paper, we present data for the lognormal distributions of spike rates, synaptic weights and intrinsic excitability (gain) for neurons in various brain areas, such as auditory or visual cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, striatum, midbrain nuclei. We find a remarkable consistency of heavy-tailed, specifically lognormal, distributions for rates, weights and gains in all brain areas examined. The difference between strongly recurrent and feed-forward connectivity (cortex vs. striatum and cerebellum), neurotransmitter (GABA (striatum) or glutamate (cortex)) or the level of activation (low in cortex, high in Purkinje cells and midbrain nuclei) turns out to be irrelevant for this feature. Logarithmic scale distribution of weights and gains appears to be a general, functional property in all cases analyzed. We then created a generic neural model to investigate adaptive learning rules that create and maintain lognormal distributions. We conclusively demonstrate that not only weights, but also intrinsic gains, need to have strong Hebbian learning in order to produce and maintain the experimentally attested distributions. This provides a solution to the long-standing question about the type of plasticity exhibited by intrinsic excitability.
Development of pulmonary arterial hypertension and diffuse alveolar damage in 2-month old Holstein dairy calves following an acute episode of bloody scours
Authors: Gonyeau Kerry , Subbiah Seenivasan , Klein David , Church Dee , Neary Joseph M.
Published: October 2017

Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of hypoxia on intestinal permeability and cardiopulmonary physiology in 2-month old calves.

Methods: Calves were exposed to normoxic (975 m altitude; controls) or hypoxic (4,570 m altitude) conditions for 2 weeks. Pulmonary arterial pressures and intestinal permeability to mannitol and lactulose were assessed on Days 0 and 14. Calves were euthanized on Day 15. Two control calves shed occult fecal blood on Day 3; consequently, all calves were treated for coccidiosis.

Results: Control calves tended to have greater mean pulmonary arterial pressure than hypoxic calves at Day 0 (P =0.17), but there was no difference between groups at Day 14 (P =0.47). On average, mean pulmonary arterial pressure increased by 16 ± 2 mm Hg from Day 0 to 14 (P <0.001). Serum lactulose was 0.8 ± 0.4 mg/L greater in the control group than the hypoxic group on Days 0 and 14 (P =0.08). Serum mannitol was 2.0 ± 0.8 mg/L greater in control calves than hypoxic calves on Day 0 (P =0.009) but there was no difference between groups at Day 14 (P =0.61).

Conclusions: Hypoxia did not affect intestinal permeability, but the results were confounded by intestinal disease. Interestingly, the two calves that had bloody scours had the greatest pulmonary arterial pressures and diffuse alveolar damage. The findings of this study provide preliminary evidence that intestinal disease may contribute to the development of pulmonary diseases in cattle.
Production and Capacity Management with Internal Financing
Authors: Ning Jie , Sobel Matthew J.
Published: October 2017

We formulate and analyze a stylized dynamic model of a price-taking firm that manages production and capacity, uses only internal financing, and faces stochastic market environments. The firm has two operationally independent production facilities, each of which makes two products, and a cash reserve that finances all operations and dividend issuance. Each period the firm chooses the amount of dividend to issue, and at each facility it chooses production quantities and amounts of capacity to augment or divest. Relevant market data are exogenous and evolve stochastically. We completely characterize the optimal policy and the endogenous values of the capacities and cash reserve, and show that they invite a real-option interpretation. We find that internal financing creates a spillover between the endogenous values of the two operationally independent facilities, and we specify how this leads to interdependence of their optimal policies. We show that an “invest/stay put/divest” (ISD) policy remains optimal for partially irreversible investments, but internal financing changes the ISD thresholds. If the exogenous data are intertemporally independent, an internally financed firm is less likely to issue dividends or to expand capacity than if it were in a perfect capital market. As the market becomes more volatile, the endogenous values of capacities and cash increase, and the firm becomes more reluctant to issue dividends.

The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2017.0655 .

This paper has been accepted for the Manufacturing & Service Operations Management Special Issue on Interface of Finance, Operations, and Risk Management.
A look at antidepressant use—and cardiovascular risk
Authors: Cowan Helen
Published: October 2017

The World Health Organization predicts that depression will be the leading global cause of disability by 2030 ( BBC, 2009 ); ischaemic heart disease is now the leading cause of death worldwide ( World Health Organization, 2017 ). Depression and heart disease are certainly major causes of morbidity and mortality—but are rarely considered together, instead being considered as separate psychiatric and physiological conditions. In this comment for World Mental Health Day 2017, Helen Cowan examines the potential link between psychiatry, physiology, and pharmacology.
E-health for stroke survivors and their carers
Authors: Lavin Nicole , Hellawell Michael , O'Brien Caroline
Published: October 2017

Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in the UK. Many stroke patients report a feeling of ‘abandonment’ when they are discharged from therapy services. This in turn, leads to readmissions and re-referrals to both hospital and community services. This paper discusses the components of E-health and how E-health could be used to supplement conventional interventions to improve patient engagement, empowerment and decreased reliance on therapy services. In doing so it will consider how such interventions could better involve carers. An integrated E-health approach has the potential to improve outcomes for stroke survivors. A person centred approach needs to be employed through partnerships between stroke survivor, carer and healthcare professional. Remote monitoring could provide specific targeted interventions, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions or re-referrals and reducing cost of care. While the issues are well defined more work is required on what these integrated, patient centred E-health solutions may look like in order to be successful in supporting stroke survivors.
Modifying therapies for the treatment of relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis
Authors: Brimelow Rachel E
Published: October 2017

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory condition, which is believed to be autoimmune in nature. It frequently presents in a relapse-remitting course. Treatment to minimise relapses and prevent progression of the disease are the primary motivating factors for the use of disease modifying therapies. These therapies aim to perturb the patient's inflammatory immune responses and subsequently improve symptomatology and clinical outcomes. In this article, an overview of currently available medications are reviewed, in addition clinically relevant monitoring activities are suggested. Currently there are 11 medications available in the UK under the NHS, of injectable, oral or infusion routes of administration.
Recent publications to make you ‘re-think’
Authors: Koch Hugh
Published: October 2017

Re-thinking conventional professional outlooks on personal distress is discussed in the context of four recent publications on mental illness, suicidal behaviour and motivation, mindfulness and contemporary Buddhism
Not enough ‘safe care’ for maternity service users, warns NHS England
Authors: Quaile Alistair
Published: October 2017

In September this year, the Health and Care Innovation Expo returned to Manchester, welcoming more than 5000 delegates and featuring more than 200 hours of talks. Alistair Quaile reports
A review of midwifery leadership
Authors: Bannon Elizabeth Maria , Alderdice Fiona , McNeills Jennifer
Published: October 2017

Despite frequent reports criticising leadership skills in the profession, midwives have dedicated many years to increasing representation at the highest level. Elizabeth Maria Bannon, Fiona Alderdice and Jennifer McNeill explore the many decades of progress

The ineffectiveness of leadership across maternity services in England has been a recurrent theme over a number of years, with reports continuing to identify the same issues. These reports reflect the concerns previously identified by the Healthcare Commission in its review of maternity services in England, which drew attention to the links between poor morale and ineffective or authoritarian leadership, as well as highlighting the overemphasis on financial pressures, all of which were concluded to be detrimental to the care provided for women. This article will explore the history of midwifery leadership, examining the reasons why midwives in particular have been perceived as failing to have developed the necessary skills to lead and manage maternity services.
Letters
Authors: Leitch Neil , Tanuku Purnima , Boddison Adam
Published: October 2017

MA Education Ltd, St Jude's Church, Dulwich Road, London, SE24 0PB neil.henty@markallengroup.com
Quiet reflection offers peace of body and mind
Authors: Jefferies Tina
Published: October 2017

Children and silence seems like a contradiction in terms. We tend to relate children to noise and excitability, and a setting can be a full-on place, but periods of calm can boost learning and health.
Talking to young children about mental health
Authors: Mainstone-Cotton Sonia
Published: October 2017

In previous articles, we have explored ways of promoting wellbeing, both children's and the staff members whose job it is to care for them. Here, we explore how best to support a child when a family member is ill.
Today, I want to be a…
Authors: Chapman Ailsa
Published: October 2017

We resume our series of articles that look at the possibilities for play and learning inherent in certain popular and common early years resources and materials – this month, we look at role-play scenarios.
The relevance of the coagulation screen before surgery
Authors: Borges Nuno M , Thachil Jecko
Published: October 2017

Coagulation testing has long been part of the routine assessment of the preoperative patient, with the aim of identifying those with a bleeding disorder who might suffer significant perioperative bleeding. Some of the issues surrounding this involve the low prevalence of bleeding disorders in the general population, and the implications of further testing for both the patient and the health-care system. Studies suggest that this practice is not evidence based and is considered to be outdated. Most guidelines now advise against routine coagulation screens before surgery, and instead recommend taking a thorough personal and family history of bleeding in order to determine the need for further investigations. This review analyses current evidence on this topic and provides a comprehensive view of the relevance of preoperative coagulation testing.
Sustainability and transformation plans: translating the perspectives
Authors: Thakrar Sonali V , Bell Diane
Published: October 2017

Each local health economy has been tasked with producing a sustainability and transformation plan. A health economy is a system that controls and contributes to health-care resource and the effects of health services on its population. This includes commissioners, acute providers, primary care providers, community services, public health and the voluntary sector. Sustainability and transformation plans represent a shift in the way health care is planned for in England. The aim of each sustainability and transformation plan is to deliver care within existing resource limits by improving quality of care, developing new models of care and improving efficiency of care provision.

The tight timescales for production of sustainability and transformation plans mean that in most cases there has been limited clinical engagement; as a result many clinicians have limited sight, understanding or ownership of the proposals within sustainability and transformation plans. As sustainability and transformation plans move into the implementation phase, this article explores the role of the clinician in the ongoing design and delivery of the local sustainability and transformation plans. By finding the common ground between the perspectives of the clinician, the commissioner and system leaders, the motivation of clinicians can be aligned with the ambitions of the sustainability and transformation plan. The common goal of a sustainability and transformation plan and the necessary collaboration required to make it successful is discussed. Ultimately, such translation is essential: clinicians are intelligent, adaptive and motivated individuals who must have a lead role in constructing and implementing plans that transform health and social care.
Pre-empting project failure by using a pre-mortem
Authors: Mills Jonathan KA , McKimm Judy
Published: October 2017

In health care, a post-mortem might be required after a patient has died, to try and establish why, and sometimes when and how, the patient died. Many projects are likely to fail, with reasons including the lack of tools to facilitate change, and failure to consider the organizational and environmental situation a change project faces. When projects or initiatives fail, clinicians often carry out a ‘post-mortem’, trying to understand the factors that contributed to the failure, with the aim of learning lessons and not repeating the same mistakes. This article discusses the management technique known as the ‘pre-mortem’, with application of tools and strategies to help mitigate the risks of a change leading to failure.
Comparison of functional exercises on lower limb and trunk muscle activation in people with chronic ankle instability
Authors: Jung Ye-ji , Yi Chung-hwi , Baek Yun-jeong , Son Jae-ik , Lim One-bin
Published: October 2017

Background/Aims:

The aim of this research was to investigate muscle activation in the lower limbs and trunk during five functional exercises: forward lunge, rotational lunge, anterior direction one-legged standing exercise, posteriomedial direction one-legged standing exercise, and posteriolateral one-legged standing exercise in subjects with chronic ankle instability.

Methods:

Twenty-four subjects (10 males and 14 females) with chronic ankle instability participated in this study. Surface electromyography was used to measure the muscle activities of the peroneus longus, lateral head of the gastrocnemius, gluteus medius, and erector spinae. Normalised muscle activities are presented as percentage of MVIC (%MVIC). One-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used at a significance level of p<0.05.

Findings:

The peroneus longus and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle activities significantly higher in anterior direction one-legged standing exercise than in the other exercises (forward lunge: p=0.005; rotational lunge: p=0.006; posteriomedial direction one-legged standing exercise: p=0.007; posteriolateral one-legged standing exercise: p=0.008; forward lunge, rotational lunge, posteriomedial direction one-legged standing exercise, posteriolateral one-legged standing exercise: p<0.001, respectively). The muscle activity of gluteus medius significantly lower in rotational lunge than in the other exercises (forward lunge: p=0.001, one-legged standing: p<0.001). Among the one-legged standing exercises, the muscle activity of the gluteus medius was lowest in the anterior direction one-legged standing exercise. The muscle activity of the erector spinae was significantly lower in the forward lunge and anterior direction one-legged standing exercise than in the other exercises (posteriomedial direction one-legged standing exercise and posteriolateral one-legged standing exercise: p<0.001).

Conclusions:

The anterior direction one-legged standing exercise, which activates the peroneus longus and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle and reduces other muscles' activation proximally, would be an effective exercise to activate ankle muscles in the rehabilitation of people with chronic ankle instability.
Cardiac arrest and the role of transthoracic echocardiography
Authors: Reed Grace
Published: October 2017

The role of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is one of the top five research priorities in prehospital critical care ( Fevang et al, 2011 ). TTE is a non-invasive diagnostic tool in cardiac arrest, using ultrasound images to visualise the real-time activity of the heart ( Hernandez et al, 2008 ). TTE has the potential to reduce the time between the onset of cardiac arrest and appropriate therapy. There are several reversible causes of cardiac arrest that can be identified by TTE in the pre-hospital environment. The method and value of identifying pulmonary emboli (PE), cardiac tamponade and hypovolaemia will be discussed. Equally, TTE can exclude certain reversible causes, indicating that the cardiac arrest is of an irreversible nature and the resuscitation attempt is futile. The application of TTE in this context will be reviewed in depth, from the current literature to the physical practicalities. As such, the aim of the present study is to clarify the role of TTE in patients suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Paramedic attitudes towards DNACPR orders
Authors: Armitage Ewan , Jones Colin
Published: October 2017

Background:

Qualitative research involving paramedics and their involvement in end-of-life (EoL) care has already been published, but there have been no published attitudinal studies specifically relating to do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) orders and paramedics working in the pre-hospital setting in the UK.

Objective:

To gain an understanding of paramedic attitudes towards an increasingly common aspect of paramedic practice, focusing specifically on the pre-hospital environment and identifying any corelation between gender, length of service, and level of educational attainment.

Design:

A paper-based questionnaire was distributed to all paramedic grades, operational out of two ambulance stations of a regional NHS ambulance service in March 2017. The questionnaires were designed using a combination of free-text boxes and Likert scales. A total of 33 questionnaires were issued and 11 completed questionnaires were returned.

Results:

Respondents indicated the importance of communication in relation to DNACPR orders, as well as the role of allied health professionals and family members in the process. Respecting the patient's wishes was considered paramount, as was educational provision surrounding DNACPRs.

Conclusion:

The majority of respondents reported that they were comfortable incorporating DNACPR orders in their clinical practice, although more modest responses were returned regarding the level of education received in this area of paramedicine.
Remnant Cholesterol and Myocardial Infarction in Normal Weight, Overweight, and Obese Individuals from the Copenhagen General Population Study
Authors: Varbo Anette , Freiberg Jacob J , Nordestgaard Børge G
Published: October 2017

BACKGROUND

We tested whether high remnant cholesterol is associated with high myocardial infarction risk, independent of whether an individual is normal weight, overweight, or obese.

METHODS

A total of 106216 individuals from the Copenhagen General Population Study were followed for up to 11 years, during which 1565 experienced a myocardial infarction. Individuals were grouped by clinically meaningful remnant cholesterol concentrations of <0.5 mmol/L (19 mg/dL), 0.5 to 0.99 mmol/L (19–38 mg/dL), 1.0 to 1.49 mmol/L (39–58 mg/dL), and ≥1.5 mmol/L (58 mg/dL), and by body mass index (BMI) of <18.5 kg/m2 (underweight), 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2 (normal weight), 25 to 29.9 kg/m2 (overweight), and ≥30 kg/m2 (obese).

RESULTS

Median calculated remnant cholesterol was 0.40 mmol/L [interquartile range (IQR), 0.30–0.55 mmol/L] [15 mg/dL (12–21 mg/dL)] for underweight, 0.50 mmol/L (IQR, 0.37–0.71 mmol/L) [19 mg/dL (14–27 mg/dL)] for normal weight, 0.70 mmol/L (IQR, 0.49–1.00 mmol/L) [27 mg/dL (19–39 mg/dL)] for overweight, and 0.85 mmol/L (IQR, 0.61–1.20 mmol/L) [(33 mg/dL (24–46 mg/dL)] for obese individuals. On continuous scales, remnant cholesterol was positively correlated with BMI until reaching a plateau of approximately 1 mmol/L (39 mg/dL) at BMI >35 kg/m2. R2 from an unadjusted linear regression for the correlation between calculated remnant cholesterol and BMI was 12%. Stepwise higher remnant cholesterol was associated with stepwise higher myocardial infarction risk in a similar pattern for normal weight, overweight, and obese individuals. When compared with individuals with remnant cholesterol <0.5 mmol/L (19 mg/dL), individuals with remnant cholesterol ≥1.5 mmol/L (58 mg/dL) had hazard ratios for myocardial infarction of 2.0 (95% CI, 1.3–3.2) for normal weight, 1.9 (95% CI, 1.4–2.6) for overweight, and 2.3 (95% CI, 1.4–3.5) for obese individuals. Directly measured remnant cholesterol increased 0.91 mmol/L (95% CI, 0.89–0.94 mmol/L) [35 mg/dL (34–36 mg/dL)] per 1 mmol/L (39 mg/dL) increase in calculated remnant cholesterol.

CONCLUSIONS

Remnant cholesterol and BMI were positively correlated; however, high remnant cholesterol was associated with higher myocardial infarction risk across the examined BMI subcategories, indicating that remnant cholesterol is a risk factor for myocardial infarction independent of overweight and obesity.
La maternidad en parejas de mujeres: reformulando el parentesco heteronormativo y biologicista
Authors: Álvarez-Bernardo Gloria
Published: October 2017

La maternidad en las parejas de mujeres desafía dos de los principios sobre los que se articula la construcción del parentesco occidental: la heteronormatividad y el énfasis de los vínculos biológicos. El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer cómo afrontan la maternidad estas parejas dentro de unos esquemas tan restrictivos y excluyentes. Se desarrolló una investigación cualitativa basada en la realización de entrevistas semi-estructuradas a 28 mujeres que habían sido madres dentro de una relación de pareja del mismo sexo. Se concluye que las parejas que desean acceder a la maternidad deben sortear una serie de barreras asociadas a la construcción heteronormativa y biologicista del parentesco.
A INOVAÇÃO NA PERSPECTIVA DE DIRETORES DE HOTÉIS EM AVEIRO – PORTUGAL
Authors: Aires Jussara Danielle Martins
Published: October 2017

Os estudos sobre inovação em hotéis merecem atenção especial por serem essas empresas consideradas sine qua non para o funcionamento da atividade turística. No entanto, ainda há escassez de pesquisas (sobretudo, qualitativas) contemplando tal temática em destinos, cujo fluxo turístico tem crescido, como é o caso de Aveiro. Assim, este artigo objetiva mostrar a concepção de inovação sob a ótica de diretores hoteleiros nesta cidade, evidenciando mais precisamente o conceito, a importância e a implementação de inovações nos últimos três anos na perspectiva destes profissionais. Utilizou-se um guião de entrevista com questões abertas. A amostra, escolhida por conveniência, foi composta por quatro diretores, indicados pela técnica chamada “bola de neve”. Para apreciar os dados, empregou-se a análise de conteúdo. Percebeu-se que a criação e/ou melhoria de serviços é principalmente resultante de sugestões de colaboradores, parcerias, captação de necessidades obtidas junto a clientes, pressão de autoridades, participação em eventos e são também influenciadas por razões ambientais. As inovações citadas, representadas basicamente por pequenas mudanças (melhorias) e reparos infraestruturais, são consideradas pelos directores algo positivo e há uma preocupação em implementá-las constantemente. A pesquisa permitiu o levantamento de informações importantes a serem consideradas no processo de medição da inovação em hotéis.
PERCEPÇÃO DE GESTORES DE HOSPEDAGENS SOBRE PLATAFORMAS DE ALUGUEL ON-LINE POR TEMPORADA
Authors: Ferreira Karolina Matias , Santos Rodrigo Amado dos , Méxas Mirian Picinini , Meiriño Marcelo Jasmim
Published: October 2017

As plataformas on-line de aluguel por temporada vêm ganhando destaque nos últimos anos por representarem uma inovação na prestação do serviço turístico, bem como por afetarem negativamente os resultados dos meios de hospedagem tradicionais. Dito isso, o presente artigo teve por objetivo investigar a percepção de gestores de meios de hospedagem em cinco municípios do Estado do Rio de Janeiro sobre economia compartilhada, consumo colaborativo e plataformas on-line de aluguel por temporada. De caráter exploratório, a pesquisa qualitativa foi realizada por meio de questionários semiestruturados distribuídos pela SurveyMonkey. Seus resultados indicaram uma necessidade de adaptação por parte dessas empresas a esse novo cenário: serviços de hospedagem distribuídos por plataformas on-line a preços inferiores ao do mercado. Pondera-se, portanto, a necessidade de esses gestores estabelecerem estratégias de segmentação ou de diferenciação mercadológica que lhes agreguem um valor superior aos seus empreendimentos de modo que sejam minimizados os efeitos causados por esse novo nicho de mercado.
Modeling the influence of cloudiness on diffuse horizon-tal irradiation under various sky conditions in Nigeria
Authors: Nwokolo Samuel , Ogbulezie Julie
Published: October 2017

In this study, modeling the influence of cloudiness on diffuse horizontal irradiation (DHI) in six tropical ecological zones in Nigeria (Latitude 4.75-13.067oN and Longitude 3.333-13.16oE) using 22-year data (July 1983- June 2005) was analysed for all sky and clear sky conditions. The result revealed that the absorption of DHI in the global horizontal irradiation (GHI) portion of the solar spectrum is greatly enhanced in the Southern tropical zones as a result of heavy presence of smog, cloudiness, and high water vapour parameters such as relative humidity, dew point temperature and precipitable water thereby increasing the diffuse fraction in the zone. However, in the Northern tropical zones, the absorption of DHI in the GHI portion of the solar spectrum lowered due to presence of low smog, cloudiness and low water vapour parameters thereby reducing the diffuse fraction in the region. The quadratic regression correlation model developed deeming from the model performance test indicates that the proposed model could be used to estimate DHI accurately over the six tropical ecological zones in Nigeria and other locations with comparable sky condition to Nigeria.
Meletius Monachus on individuality: a ninth-century Byzantine medical reading of Porphyry’s Logic
Authors: Erismann Christophe
Published: October 2017

The ninth-century monk and doctor Meletius offers in his treatise De natura hominis a detailed and acute analysis of individuality. Through a set of unusual and well-chosen examples, he offers an explanation of the constitution of individuals based on the solution developed by Porphyry in his Eisagoge. After a discussion of the relevance of discussing individuality in a medical text, this article reconstructs Meletius’s own solution. This article also shows that Meletius’s knowledge of Porphyry comes from a passage of Theodore of Raithu that was integrated into the anonymous Christological florilegium known as the Doctrina Patrum de Incarnatione Verbi.
Again on the Historia Imperatorum – and on the Mantzikert Campaign
Authors: Sakel Dean
Published: October 2017

The article examines the portion of the Byzantine chronicle known as the Historia Imperatorum dealing with the Manzikert campaign of Byzantine emperor Romanus IV Diogenes. Comparison with several Byzantine historical works shows that most of the said account derives from some now lost Byzantine historical text. The indications are that this was a Byzantine chronicle which served as a source throughout the Historia Imperatorum’s length and whose appreciation is central to establishing why the Historia Imperatorum was written at all.
Optical dating of sediments from manas lake in northwestern china: Paleoenvironmental and neotectonic implications
Authors: Tse Yuen-Yeung , Li Sheng-Hua
Published: October 2017

Manas Lake is a closed lake basin in northern Xinjiang Province of China, with its current lake bed at 244 m a.s.l. Sediments from the lake area provide valuable information about the paleoenvironmental changes in the Westerlies-dominated arid region. To obtain a chronological constraint on the past changes, optically stimulated luminescence dating was conducted on sediments from the lake beaches. The results show that lacustrine episodes dated at ~80–73 ka ago were recorded in northwestern side of the lake at 270 m a.s.l., while paleoshoreline to near-shore environments during ~80–90 ka ago were recorded in the opposite side of the lake at 262 m a.s.l. The ~80 ka old sedimentary layers are overlain by paleoshoreline sediments formed within the last ~1 ka, separated by a large age gap. From this study and the results from previous studies, it is concluded that breaks in sedimentary records are common in the lake area at elevation > 260 m a.s.l. When comparing sedimentary environments at different times from different sites in this study and previous studies, it is suggested that a small amount of uplift of the northwestern side of Manas Lake relative to the southeastern side may have occurred in the last 80 ka.
Mid-Holocene horizons of strongly decomposed peat and problems of dating paleohydrological changes in mires in the Racibórz basin, Southern Poland
Authors: Wójcicki Krzysztof J. , Nita Małgorzata
Published: October 2017

During litho-stratigraphic studies of deposits in small mires in the upper basin of the Oder River, mid-Holocene hiatuses identified by the presence of horizons of strongly decomposed peat (HSDP), were identified at four sites. Radiocarbon dating results indicate long (103 years) breaks in peat accumulation and the dates obtained from the underlying layers of deposit are inconsistent with the pollen record. In order to explain these discrepancies, an attempt was made to recreate the conditions of HSDP formation under the influence of endo- and exogenous factors determining peatland productivity. In the light of macrofossil analysis, the development of HSDP during the Atlantic and Subboreal periods, when the humidity of habitats decreased, occurred at an advanced stage of development of swamps with Alnetea glutinosae forest communities. The gradual rise in water levels in the mires that started in the Subboreal period and intensified during the Subatlantic period was recorded as a slow shift in vegetation towards non-forest, sedge-moss communities belonging to the Magnocaricion alliance or the Scheuchzerio-Caricetea nigrae class. One consequence of the mechanism of HSDP formation is the existence of limitations on the dating of the duration of the dry phase owing to the presence of organic matter of different ages in the degraded peat layer. The determination of the age of wet phases offers better prospects. In the light of radiocarbon dating, which is essentially in line with the pollen analysis results, the transition towards positive peatland productivity occurred between ca. 9th century BC and 7th century CE.
Microwave-assisted synthesis of bis(N-substituted thiazol-2-amine) derivatives and their biological activities
Authors: Baba N.H. Kumar , Ashok D. , Rao Boddu Ananda , Sarasija Madderla , Murthy N.Y.S. , Srinivasarao Vankadari , Parthasarathy Tigulla
Published: October 2017

New 4,4′-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3-phenylene)-bis(N-substituted thiazol-2-amine) derivatives 5a–j were synthesized from 1,1′-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3-phenylene)-bis(2-bromoethanone) 3 and substituted thioureas 4a–j under conventional and microwave irradiation conditions. All products were subjected to in vitro antibacterial and anti-TB evaluation. Some of the compounds exhibit good activities against Bacillus subtilis (+ve), Escherichia coli (−ve) strains and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv.
A new imidazoline-containing Bunte salt: synthesis, molecular and electronic structure
Authors: Sączewski Franciszek , Gdaniec Maria , Data Krzysztof
Published: October 2017

S-[(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl]sulfothioate, a new imidazoline-containing Bunte salt 4 was prepared by reacting 2-chloromethylimidazoline 3 with sodium thiosulfate in aqueous solution at room temperature. The mechanism of the concerted SN2 reaction pathway was studied by means of quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G** level of theory. The molecular structure of compound 4 incorporating a formal amidine moiety was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, while its electronic structure was studied using quantum chemical calculations at the MP2/6-311++G** level of theory.
Conceptualizing the Intentional Torts
Authors: Geistfeld Mark A.
Published: October 2017

According to the most recent draft of the Restatement (Third) of Torts: Intentional Torts to Persons, the intentional torts protect the rightholder’s interests differently from negligence-based rules and strict liability, placing them into a distinct substantive category. This conceptualization, however, does not provide courts with adequate guidance on how to formulate the element of intent. Different formulations can protect the rightholder’s interests differently from negligence and strict liability, so something else must determine the appropriate way to formulate the element of intent. The draft Restatement’s reasoning can be easily extended to provide a more useful conceptualization of the intentional torts. The practice of tort law involves the enforcement of behavioral norms, and so the substantive categories of tort law should correspond to normatively distinguishable categories of behavior. For tort purposes, three different paradigmatic forms of social behavior are relevant: aggressive interactions; interactions of mutual advantage; and the remaining nonaggressive, risk-creating interactions that are not motivated by an expectation of mutual benefit. Within this normative framework, the category of intentional torts is defined by aggressive interactions, which involve intentional harms that are normatively different from accidental harms. The intentional torts accordingly protect different interests in a distinctive manner as per the rationale in the draft Restatement. This normative framework straightforwardly explains a number of established rules while also resolving two questions of intent that have vexed courts and commentators. Difficult issues of intent involve hard questions about how the conduct is best categorized for tort purposes. Once the categories have been conceptualized in behavioral terms, the element of intent has a clear substantive purpose: it determines whether or not an interaction is aggressive and properly governed by the intentional torts.
Two new eigenvalue localization sets for tensors and theirs applications
Authors: Zhao Jianxing , Sang Caili
Published: October 2017

A new eigenvalue localization set for tensors is given and proved to be tighter than those presented by Qi (J. Symbolic Comput., 2005, 40, 1302-1324) and Li et al. (Numer. Linear Algebra Appl., 2014, 21, 39-50). As an application, a weaker checkable sufficient condition for the positive (semi-)definiteness of an even-order real symmetric tensor is obtained. Meanwhile, an S-type E-eigenvalue localization set for tensors is given and proved to be tighter than that presented by Wang et al. (Discrete Cont. Dyn.-B, 2017, 22(1), 187-198). As an application, an S-type upper bound for the Z-spectral radius of weakly symmetric nonnegative tensors is obtained. Finally, numerical examples are given to verify the theoretical results.
Biography and (Global) Microhistory
Authors: Gamsa Mark
Published: October 2017

This article has two goals. It reflects on the recent developments and agenda of an approach to historical writing that is now becoming known by the name global microhistory, and it analyses the attention which this approach pays to individual lives. It also explores some of the challenges in writing the biography of a city alongside the life history of a person. The city is Harbin, a former Russian-managed railway hub in Manchuria, today a province capital in Northeast China. The person is Baron Roger Budberg (1867–1926), a physician of Baltic German origin who arrived in Harbin during the Russo-Japanese war and remained there until his death, leaving published works and unpublished correspondence in German and Russian. My forthcoming book about Budberg and Harbin challenges the distinction between writing “biography”, on the one hand, and “history”, on the other, while navigating between the “micro” and “macro” layers of historical enquiry.
Magnetic properties of the germanides RE
3Pt4Ge6 (RE=Y, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd–Dy)
Authors: Eustermann Fabian , Eilers-Rethwisch Matthias , Renner Konstantin , Hoffmann Rolf-Dieter , Pöttgen Rainer , Janka Oliver
Published: October 2017

The germanides RE
3Pt4Ge6 (RE=Y, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd–Dy) have been synthesized by arc-melting of the elements followed by inductive annealing to improve the crystallinity and allow for structural order. The compounds have been studied by powder X-ray diffraction; additionally the structure of Y3Pt4Ge6 has been refined from single-crystal X-ray diffractometer data. It exhibits a (3+1)D modulated structure, indicating isotypism with Ce3Pt4Ge6. The crystal structure can be described as an intergrowth between YIrGe2- and CaBe2Ge2-type slabs along [100]. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements showed Pauli paramagnetism for Y3Pt4Ge6 and Curie-Weiss paramagnetism for Pr3Pt4Ge6 and Nd3Pt4Ge6. Sm3Pt4Ge6 exhibits van Vleck paramagnetism, while antiferromagnetic ordering at T
N=8.1(1) K and T
N=11.0(1) K is observed for Gd3Pt4Ge6 and Tb3Pt4Ge6, respectively.
Effects of Two Different Training Periodization Models on Physical and Physiological Aspects of Elite Female Team Handball Players
Authors: Manchado Carmen , Cortell-Tormo Juan M. , Tortosa-Martínez Juan
Published: October 2017

Manchado, C, Cortell-Tormo, JM, and Tortosa-Martínez, J. Effects of two different training periodization models on physical and physiological aspects of elite female team handball players. J Strength Cond Res 32(1): 280–287, 2018—The aim of this study was to compare training-induced changes in selected physiological and physical team handball performance factors after 2 training periodization models: traditional periodization (TP) vs. block periodization (BP). Eleven female team handball players who played over 2 consecutive seasons for a Spanish first league team were assessed twice per season during a training cycle. On each occasion, participants completed anthropometric, maximal strength, and lower-body power assessments. In addition, incremental tests to determine maximum oxygen uptake (V̇o
2max), sprint- and sport-specific throwing velocity tests were performed. Block periodization group experienced significantly greater improvements than TP on squat jump (5.97%; p < 0.001), countermovement jump (8.76%; p = 0.011), hand-grip strength (8.22%; p = 0.029), bench press 1 repetition maximum (1RM) (5.14%; p = 0.049), 10-m sprint (−6.19%; p < 0.001), and 20-m sprint (2.95%; p = 0.008). Greater changes in BP group (p ≤ 0.05) were also found for the throwing velocities in sport-specific tests compared with the TP group. No significant difference between the groups were detected for the half-squat 1RM (p = 0.15) and the V̇o
2max (p = 0.44). These findings suggest that BP may be more effective than TP for improving important physiological and physical team handball performance factors in high level female handball players.
Strength and Conditioning Habits of Competitive Distance Runners
Authors: Blagrove Richard C. , Brown Nicola , Howatson Glyn , Hayes Philip R.
Published: October 2017

Blagrove, RC, Brown, N, Howatson, G, and Hayes, PR. Strength and conditioning habits of competitive distance runners. J Strength Cond Res 34(5): 1392–1399, 2020—Targeted strength and conditioning (S&C) programs can potentially improve performance and reduce injury risk factors in competitive runners. However, S&C practices of distance runners are unknown. This study aimed to explore S&C practices of competitive middle- and long-distance runners and examined whether reported frequency of injuries was influenced by training behaviors. One thousand eight hundred eighty-three distance runners (≥15 years old) completed an online survey. All runners who raced competitively were included in data analysis (n = 667). Distance runners mainly engaged with S&C activities to lower risk of injury (63.1%) and improve performance (53.8%). The most common activities used were stretching (86.2%) and core stability exercises (70.2%). Resistance training (RT) and plyometric training (PT) were used by 62.5 and 35.1% of runners, respectively. Junior (under-20) runners include PT, running drills, and circuit training more so than masters runners. Significantly more international standard runners engaged in RT, PT, and fundamental movement skills training compared with competitive club runners. Middle-distance (800–3,000 m) specialists were more likely to include RT, PT, running drills, circuit training, and barefoot exercises in their program than longer-distance runners. Injury frequency was associated with typical weekly running volume and run frequency. Strength and conditioning did not seem to confer a protection against the number of injuries the runners experienced. Practitioners working with distance runners should critically evaluate the current S&C practices of their athletes, to ensure that activities prescribed have a sound evidence-based rationale.
Improving Student Learning Through an Interdisciplinary Case Study: Exploring Eutrophication in Lake Erie
Authors: Anderson Laurel J. , Bunnell Sarah L. , Yates Jennifer R.
Published: October 2017

This pedagogical project examined how embedding an interdisciplinary case study in an undergraduate ecology course impacted student learning outcomes. Specifically, we examined learning outcomes following participation in a group-based case study project, which asked students to adopt the role of an expert phycologist, microbiologist, agronomist, or limnologist in order to jointly investigate the problem of eutrophication in Lake Erie. We examined student learning outcomes on exam questions that tested students’ knowledge of eutrophication compared to their performance on exam questions that tested knowledge of course content taught using traditional lecture-based methods. We also examined how students’ recognition of the value of interdisciplinary approaches to solving science problems changed across the semester, as well as changes in students’ views of the ways in which the skills and knowledge of their major could contribute to solving eutrophication problems and the complex problem of climate change. Results indicated significant increases in student understanding of eutrophication through comparisons of pre- and posttest scores, and dramatic twofold increases in student learning on the eutrophication exam questions relative to the content taught using traditional instructional methods. Interestingly, at the end of the course, the non-science majors in the course were more likely to endorse interdisciplinary approaches for solving complex science problems than were the science majors in the course. Implications for educational practices for both major and nonmajor science courses are discussed.