bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Agranulocytosis Associated with Enalapril
Authors: Elis Avishay , Lishner Michael , Lang Ruth , Ravid Mordchai
Published: June 2017

An 83-year-old patient developed agranulocytosis following six months of enalapril 10 mg/d. The patient also had received verapamil for three years. Upon discontinuation of both drugs the white blood cell count was rapidly restored. Cases of agranulocytosis due to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, mainly captopril, have been previously described. We could, however, find no single case associated with verapamil. This, and the very long exposure of the patient to verapamil, support the assumption that this life-threatening complication might have been caused by enalapril.
Attitude of the Public toward Technical Package Inserts for Medication Information in Belgium
Authors: Vander Stichele Robert H. , Van Haecht Chris H. , Braem Marc D. , Bogaert Marc G.
Published: June 2017

We designed an 84-item questionnaire to determine the attitude of the Belgian public toward package inserts (PI) for medication information, written in technical language and intended for health professionals, within an original drug-dispensing distribution system. There were 398 respondents to this general public survey, based on a 0.05 percent selection from election registers of the districts of Gent and Liège. Eighty-nine percent of the respondents read the PI, focusing their attention principally on adverse effects (88 percent), dosage and dosing guidelines (85 percent), contraindications (82 percent), indications (79 percent), and medication shelf-life (76 percent). Compliance (83 percent), reassurance (57 percent), increased knowledge about the medication (50 percent), and decision to take the medicine (31 percent) were among the respondents' motives for reading the PI. Most respondents considered the PI information useful and complete, but difficult to remember and understand. Readers further criticized its legibility and poor graphic illustration. The PI was seen as a supplementary source of information, instrumental to the physician-pharmacist-patient relationship, without the power to overrule the physician's or pharmacist's instructions. Some respondents reported that the PI made them afraid to use the medication. Expectations for the ideal PI were contradictory and can only be met with a never-optimal compromise between comprehensiveness and conciseness.
Toxicity of Colistin in Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Authors: Bosso John A. , Liptak Carolyn A. , Seilheimer Dan K. , Harrison Gunyon M.
Published: June 2017

Pulmonary exacerbations of cystic fibrosis associated with strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that are resistant to multiple antibiotics are becoming increasingly common. The search for treatment alternatives continues and may include the reexamination of older antibiotics. Colistin sulfate is a polypeptide antibiotic with good activity against P. aeruginosa. Although its use was largely discontinued in the early 1970s because of reports of frequent renal and neurologic toxicity, intravenous colistin is often prescribed at our institution for patients with P. aeruginosa resistant to multiple-drug therapy. We prospectively monitored 19 patients during 21 courses of colistin therapy to identify the character and incidence of this agent's toxicity. Only one case of renal toxicity occurred. Six cases of neurotoxicity occurred, which were characterized by perioral paresthesia, ataxia, or both. The rate of intolerable renal adverse effects secondary to colistin therapy was appreciably lower among these patients than that reported previously for other patients. It appears that intravenous colistin can be considered for cystic fibrosis patients with strains of P. aeruginosa that are resistant to more commonly used antibiotics.
Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Critical Review
Authors: Brown Candace S.
Published: June 2017

This review evaluates the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Current evidence supports the belief that stimulants are the most effective and least toxic of the drugs used in the treatment of hyperactivity. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), however, are preferable in subpopulations with concomitant anxiety or depressive disorders. Studies comparing stimulants with TCAs are evaluated and studies that have examined other antidepressants are summarized. In addition, TCAs and stimulants are compared according to adverse-effect profiles, pharmacokinetic properties, and subgroup responses. Based on these data and the recently reported sudden deaths in children receiving desipramine, treatment recommendations are made.
Charge and Reimbursement Analysis for Intensive Care Unit Patients in a Large Tertiary Teaching Hospital
Authors: Dasta Joseph F. , Gundlach Catherine A. , Faulkner Thomas P.
Published: June 2017

Hospital charge and reimbursement data were analyzed for 115 patients admitted to the surgical intensive care and burn-trauma units at Brigham and Women's Hospital over a two-month study period. A skewed distribution of hospital charges resulted in mean and median charges of $43 068 and $29 081, respectively. Major differences were observed in total charges among major diagnostic groups. The median charge was highest in orthopedic trauma and neurosurgery patients. The median charge across major diagnostic groups correlated with the length of stay in the unit and in the hospital, and the number of drugs used. The median percent reimbursement from private providers, Medicaid, Medicare, and health maintenance organizations was 93, 55, 40, and 30 percent, respectively, and 55 percent overall. Reimbursement was high from private providers regardless of major diagnostic group. Medicare reimbursement through the diagnostic reference group system was considerably higher in cardiothoracic patients (77 percent) than in other major diagnostic groups. The discrepancy between charge and Medicare reimbursement in these patients was consistent with that reported for intensive care units in other hospitals, thereby underscoring the need for cost containment and more realistic reimbursement methods.
One Nation, Many Cultures
Authors: Cohen Aaron
Published: June 2017

This study examines the relationship between commitment forms (organizational commitment, occupational commitment, job involvement, work involvement, and group commitment), personal cultural values (individualism— collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity— femininity), and in-role performance and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB). Five groups of Israeli teachers who were assumed to represent different cultural groups (secular Jews, orthodox Jews, kibbutz teachers, Druze, and Arabs) were examined. The findings showed substantial differences among the five groups in the four cultural values. Both membership in a cultural group, measured as a dummy variable, and cultural values were associated with OCB and in-role performance in addition to the effect of multiple commitments. The results also showed that organizational commitment and group commitment were related to forms of OCB more than to the other commitment foci. The findings and their implications for the continuation of research on commitment and culture are discussed.
Moving on From Representativeness: Testing the Utility of the Global Drug Survey
Authors: Barratt Monica J , Ferris Jason A , Zahnow Renee , Palamar Joseph J , Maier Larissa J , Winstock Adam R
Published: June 2017

A decline in response rates in traditional household surveys, combined with increased internet coverage and decreased research budgets, has resulted in increased attractiveness of web survey research designs based on purposive and voluntary opt-in sampling strategies. In the study of hidden or stigmatised behaviours, such as cannabis use, web survey methods are increasingly common. However, opt-in web surveys are often heavily criticised due to their lack of sampling frame and unknown representativeness. In this article, we outline the current state of the debate about the relevance of pursuing representativeness, the state of probability sampling methods, and the utility of non-probability, web survey methods especially for accessing hidden or minority populations. Our article has two aims: (1) to present a comprehensive description of the methodology we use at Global Drug Survey (GDS), an annual cross-sectional web survey and (2) to compare the age and sex distributions of cannabis users who voluntarily completed (a) a household survey or (b) a large web-based purposive survey (GDS), across three countries: Australia, the United States, and Switzerland. We find that within each set of country comparisons, the demographic distributions among recent cannabis users are broadly similar, demonstrating that the age and sex distributions of those who volunteer to be surveyed are not vastly different between these non-probability and probability methods. We conclude that opt-in web surveys of hard-to-reach populations are an efficient way of gaining in-depth understanding of stigmatised behaviours and are appropriate, as long as they are not used to estimate drug use prevalence of the general population.
Determinants of Mall Image in the Indian Context: Focus on Environment
Authors: Singh Harvinder , Dash Prakash Chandra
Published: June 2017

Multitude of options available before the consumer has made the environment competitive for the shopping malls and they need to differentiate themselves from the competition. Shopping mall image is a useful instrument to do so as it is strongly associated with vital parameters of mall success. Different studies conducted in the past have identified different dimensions of mall image. Present study proposes and validates a four-factor model of mall image for the Indian context. Results are based on a sample of 216 respondents collected from different malls. The model is analysed and authenticated using second-degree confirmatory factor analysis using Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS). Results indicate that the four dimensions constituting mall image are accessibility, atmospherics, tenant-mix and facilities. The research reveals that atmospherics is the strongest determinant of mall image in the Indian context, whereas accessibility is the least potent. The article ends with a discussion on strategies that Indian mall developers and managers may use to improve mall image in the minds of consumers.
The Effects of National Culture on Changes in Management Accounting Systems
Authors: Chanegrih Tarek
Published: June 2017

This study utilises Hofstede’s (1980, 1991) framework to investigate the influence of national culture on the volume of management accounting control systems (MACS) changes, and their location, nature and perceived success. We collect data on French manufacturing companies which are comparable with those collected in Canada (Libby & Waterhouse, 1996), Singapore (Williams & Seaman, 2001) and Malaysia (Sulaiman & Mitchell, 2005). We find dramatic differences in MACS changes attributable to cultural differences. A high degree of uncertainty avoidance is reflected in more changes to controlling systems, and individualism and power distance reinforce this result. A high degree of Confucian dynamism is reflected in more changes to planning systems. However, the effect of culture on changes to bonuses is limited. Individualism explains differences in the nature and perceived success of changes. Belonging to a collectivistic culture limits elimination of MACS, while belonging to an individualistic culture increases the likelihood of addition of MACS. Managers in individualistic cultures rate the success of changes more highly than managers in collectivistic cultures. More specifically, managers in individualistic cultures consider they have been most successful in introductions of new techniques while managers in collectivist cultures think they have been most successful in modifications. Other differences are explained by macroeconomic factors and similar results are observed in the location and nature of change. This study also enhances examination of the heterogeneous nature of change.
The Impact of Working Relationship Quality on Job Satisfaction and Sales Person Performance: An Adaptive Selling Behaviour
Authors: Raza M. Yousaf , Rafique Tariq , Hussain M. Manshoor , Ali Hakim , Mohsin Muhammad , Shah Touqeer Sultan
Published: June 2017

Working relationships have been the main area of substantial devotion in practice and research comparable over the previous period of time. Although, there have some work in this area in the Pakistani context. Increasing a superior tolerant of the directorial society in which an excellence development method is implemented that can present imminent into what approaches association valour commence to recover willingness for completion. Motivation of working relationships creates personal responsibility and person’s management skills foremost to greater coolness. This increases attitude of organisation and consequence on working interactions. The previous concepts of uncertain relationships are now replaced with the increased working relationships between salespersons and the customer. This study will evaluate the impacts of working relationships on the job contentment of the workers of these organisations.

Objective of the Study:

The objective of this article is to show the association between job satisfaction and sales person performance with adaptive selling behaviour of Organisations. In this study, we explored the effects of the organisational environment on the employee’s performance.

Research Questions:

RQ 1: What is the impact of organisational effectiveness on employee’s performance? RQ 2: Is the quality can change the sales performance? RQ 3: How we can understand the adaptive selling behaviour of new employees?

Research methodology:

Data were collected from the employees of PIZZA huts in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The survey was completed by 105 employees, 98 per cent response was observed. Results were made using Correlation, regression and ANOVA with the available data.

Findings:

We gathered data from sellers, customer and retailers to examine the impact of sales behaviour. Analysis reveals that there is strong +ve association of sales person performance and job satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications:

The survey was conducted in the randomly selected PIZZA organisations of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Significance of the study:

This article shows the working relationship quality on job satisfaction and sales person performance. This study is helpful for private organisations of Pakistan to manage the selling behaviour and engagement of employees. Organisations can arrange training programmes to modify employee’s empowerment for getting positive results.
Separations, Sorting, and Cyclical Unemployment
Authors: Mueller Andreas I.
Published: June 2017

This paper establishes a new fact about the compositional changes in the pool of unemployed over the US business cycle. Using microdata from the Current Population Survey for the years 1962–2012, it documents that in recessions the pool of unemployed shifts toward workers with high wages in their previous job and that these shifts are driven by the high cyclicality of separations for high-wage workers. The paper finds that standard theories of wage setting and unemployment have difficulty in explaining these patterns and evaluates a number of alternative theories that do better in accounting for the new fact. (JEL E24, E32, J31, J63, J64)
ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕ ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНО ОРИЕНТИРОВАННЫХ ЗАДАЧ МАТЕМАТИЧЕСКОГО МОДЕЛИРОВАНИЯ ПРИ ОБУЧЕНИИ СТУДЕНТОВ ИНЖЕНЕРНОГО НАПРАВЛЕНИЯ
Authors: Gorbunova Natal’ya Yur’evna
Published: June 2017

Описаны некоторые аспекты организации исследовательской деятельности студентов, а также решения некоторых задач математического моделирования: профессионально ориентированных, многоступенчатых и других. Подчеркнута важность их экономического содержания. Приведены примеры использования таких задач в процессе обучения математике в сельскохозяйственном вузе. Описан ряд вопросов, связанных с подбором информационного материала и особенности использования исследовательских задач.Цель. Автор ставит целью показать возможность и необходимость использования профессионально ориентированных задач математического моделирования при обучении математике в сельскохозяйственном вузе. Предметом анализа является включение таких задач в образовательный процесс.Методы и методология проведения работы. Основным методом исследования является диалектический метод познания подходов к отбору, составлению и использованию в образовательном процессе задач математического моделирования и профессионально ориентированных задач, а методологией – учение об этих методах познания.Результаты. В результате анализа литературы, опросов студентов, наблюдением за их деятельностью и, с учетом собственного опыта преподавания, можно сделать вывод о целесообразности использования задач математического моделирования, так как оно дает возможность систематизировать теоретические знания, осуществить их применение, повысить у обучающихся познавательную мотивацию в инженерной сфере.Область применения результатов. Результаты исследования могут представлять интерес для преподавателей математики при подготовке бакалавров и магистров инженерного направления сельскохозяйственного вуза как для теоретических исследований, так и при модернизации учебных курсов.
СОЦИАЛЬНОЕ ИЗМЕРЕНИЕ ЗДОРОВЬЯ МОЛОДЕЖИ: ПРОЕКТИРОВАНИЕ ПОКАЗАТЕЛЕЙ КОМПЛЕКСНОГО СОЦИОЛОГИЧЕСКОГО ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ
Authors: Kulish Vitalii Valeriyevich , Matveeva Natalia Aleksandrovna
Published: June 2017

Цель. Статья посвящена решению проблемы социального измерения здоровья современной молодежи. Предметом анализа выступают содержание понятия, характеристики и показатели социального здоровья молодежи, позволяющие методами социологического исследования измерить данное состояние молодого поколения в современном российском обществе. Целью настоящей работы является определение теоретико-методологических основ социологического анализа социального здоровья молодежи и обоснование его основных показателей в инструментарии комплексного социологического исследования.Методология исследования. Основу исследования составляет системный подход, комплексный подход, логико-понятийный метод и общенаучные методы исследования: сопоставительный анализ, системный анализ, построение социальных показателей, моделирование.Результаты. Социальное здоровье молодежи определено через категорию «состояние» и рассматривается как интегрированный показатель социального качества молодого поколения. Обосновано, что социальное здоровье молодежи – такое состояние социально-демографической общности, при котором она способна не только адаптироваться к изменяющимся условиям социальной среды, но и готова активно преобразовывать окружающую действительность, имея потенциал к сопротивлению деструктивным общественным явлениям и процессам. Представлены основные показатели, позволяющие измерить социальное здоровье молодежи социологическими методами: адаптивность в социальной среде, социальная активность во всех сферах общественной жизни, социальная направленность и значимость деятельности, регулятивность поведения социальными нормами и общечеловеческими ценностями, креативность мышления и поведения, готовность к социальной интеграции и саморазвитию. Разработана система социальных показателей и индикаторов для проведения социологического исследования социального здоровья в исторической памяти, ценностных ориентациях и повседневных практиках молодежи.Область применения результатов. Результаты исследования могут быть применены в области развития методологии и методики социологических исследований проблем молодежи, в практике реализации образовательной и молодежной политики, направленной на формирование и сохранение социального здоровья молодежи.
The influence of connective tissue growth factor on rabbit ligament injury repair
Authors: Sun X. , Liu W. , Cheng G. , Qu X. , Bi H. , Cao Z. , Yu Q.
Published: June 2017

Objectives

The injured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is thought to exhibit an impaired healing response, and attempts at surgical repair have not been successful. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is reported to be associated with wound healing, probably through transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1).

Methods

A rabbit ACL injury model was used to study the effect of CTGF on ligament recovery. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed for detection of changes in RNA levels of TGF-β1, type 1 collagen (COL1), type 2 collagen (COL2), SRY-related high mobility group-box gene9 (SOX9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and matrix metallopeptidase 13 (MMP-13). Expression of related proteins was detected by Western blotting.

Results

The current study showed that CTGF could promote the recovery of an injured anterior cruciate ligament. It can upregulate mRNA and expression of TGF-β1, COL1, COL2, SOX9, and tissue inhibitor of TIMP-1, and downregulate mRNA and expression of MMP-13, suggesting that the curative effect of CTGF on injured rabbit ligaments is through regulation of these cellular factors.

Conclusions

This finding revealed the healing role of CTGF in injured tissues and provides new possibilities of treating injured tissues and wound healing by using CTGF. Cite this article: X. Sun, W. Liu, G. Cheng, X. Qu, H. Bi, Z. Cao, Q. Yu. The influence of connective tissue growth factor on rabbit ligament injury repair. Bone Joint Res 2017;6:399–404. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.67.BJR.2016-0255.R1.
The electrophoretic pattern of serum proteins in dairy cows with inflammatory diseases
Authors: Tóthová Csilla , Mudroň Pavol , Nagy Oskar
Published: June 2017

The objective of the study was to evaluate the electrophoretic pattern of serum proteins in dairy cows suffering from various inflammatory diseases, and to study the influence of these diseases on the concentrations of protein fractions. Fourty dairy cows with clinical signs of various inflammatory diseases were used in the study, including cows withpost-partummetritis (n=10), mastitis (n=7), and hoof diseases (n=23). The cows were of a black pied Holstein-Friesian breed, Slovak spotted breed and their crossbreeds at the age of 3.5 to 8 years. Fourteen clinically healthy dairy cows were taken as the control group. The cows were blood sampled for the determination of total serum proteins and serum protein fractions. The protein fractions were divided into albumin, α1-, α2-, β1-, β2-, and γ-globulins. In cows withpost-partummetritis we found significantly lower concentrations of albumin (P<0.001) and significantly higher values of α1-globulins (P<0.01) compared with healthy animals. Significantly higher concentrations of β1-globulins were observed in cows with mastitis (P<0.001), while the γ-globulin fraction was non-significantly higher. In cows with hoof diseases we recorded significantly lower values of albumin (P<0.001), significantly higher concentrations of α1- and β1-globulins (P<0.001), and non-significantly higher β2- and γ-globulins. Moreover, in the electrophoretic pattern of serum proteins we found β-γ bridging in thirteen cows with hoof diseases. Presented data suggest marked influence of inflammatory diseases on the concentrations of serum protein fractions in dairy cows. However, further investigations are needed to establish the diagnostic utility of serum protein electrophoresis in bovine clinical practice in relation to inflammatory diseases.
Mycobacterium cell wall fraction immunostimulant (AMPLIMUNE™) efficacy in the reduction of the severity of ETEC induced diarrhea in neonatal calves
Authors: Romanowski Radoslaw , Culbert Rick , Alkemade Stan , Medellin-Peña Maira J. , Bugarski Dejan , Milovanovic Aleksandar , Nesic Sladjan , Masic Aleksandar
Published: June 2017

Calf diarrhea is a common disease in young animals and the primary cause of productivity and economic losses to cattle producers worldwide. According to the report from the National Animal Health Monitoring System for U.S. dairy, more than fifty percent of the deaths of un-weaned calves is attributed to severe diarrhea. EnterotoxigenicEscherichia coli(ETEC) strain K99+remains the most common pathogen isolated from calves which are younger than three days of age. Dam vaccination and the use of antimicrobials remain the most used prophylactic and treatment options for calf diarrhea. The rise in antibiotic resistance around the world has been a major concern and new alternative therapies have been explored. Mycobacterium Cell Wall Fraction (MCWF) is a biological immunomodulator that has a potential in multiple veterinary health services such as the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases and anticancer therapy in both small and large animals. The efficacy of the MCWF in reducing the severity of neonatal calf diarrhea and its associated mortality, following challenge with ETEC K99+was evaluated. Twenty-three calves were placed into two experimental groups. Eleven calves received a single 1 mL dose of MCWF intravenously (IV) at the onset of clinical signs of disease following challenge. Twelve non-treated, challenged calves were retained as controls. The severity and duration of diarrhea was significantly reduced in the MCWF treated group compared to untreated controls. In addition, the mortality rate in the MCWF treated group was significantly reduced to 10% while the observed mortality in the control group reached 58%. Data from the current study suggest that MCWF could be used as an alternative treatment to reduce the severity, duration and mortality of ETEC induced diarrhea in neonatal calves.
Impact of Friction on the Uniaxial Soil Sample Compression Process
Authors: Błażejczak Dariusz , Nowowiejski Rafał , Dawidowski Jan B.
Published: June 2017

The objective of the research was to determine the impact of the friction force between the cylinder wall and soil on the soil compaction resistance in relation to the sample height and diameter of the compaction plate. Samples with the diameter of (D) 100 mm and heights (H) of 30, 50 or 100 mm made of of soil material collected from subsoil of the selected plastic soils were used. The soil material wasidentified by the following properties: the granulation type, density of the solid phase, humus and calcium carbonate content, reaction, plastic and liquid limit. Properties of the samples were described with moisture, dry density of solid particles, porosity of aeration, plastic degree and saturation. The samples were loaded with plates of varied diameters (d
A: 20; 30; 50; 70; 80; 90 and 98 mm) measuring at the same time forces on the main plate (F
A) and the bottom one (F
B) with the fixed diameter (d
B=98 mm). The registered relationships between the forces F
A and F
B and plate sinkage (samples deformation) were used for determination of the impact of external friction forces (between the cylinder wall and soil) on the compression resistance of soils. It was found out that the participation of the friction force in relation to the height of samples and plate diameter varied from 0 to ca. 70%. It was proved that one may avoid the impact of the plate diameter d
A on the measurement of force F
A, when the relation d
A
/D, for samples with the heights of H30 and H50, is respectively within 0.5 ≤ d
A
/D < 0.8 and 0.5 ≤ d
A
/D < 0.7.
Technological Preconditions in Dairy Farms
Authors: Borusiewicz Andrzej
Published: June 2017

The paper presents the impact of the applied technologies on milk yield of cows in dairy farms. The scope of the research covered technical equipment used in the dairy cattle breeding and milking in 50 farms on the area of Grajewo Province in Podlaskie Voivodeship. The studies were carried out in 2016 with the diagnostic survey method based on the interview questionnaire developed for this purpose. The studies proved that 68% of the respondents from Grajewo Province maintain cattle in a stanchion-tide stable system and the remaining 32% in a free stall system. The group (48%) of the surveyed farmers maintain animals on a deep litter and 34% of them use shallow litter. In case of 18% of the investigated farms, animals are maintained on a slatted floor. In case of 68% of the investigated farms their owners feed cattle in the TMR system while the remaining 32% do it traditionally. The analysed farms in milk production use mainly pipeline milking machines (38%) and bucket milking machines (36%). 22% of the investigated farms have a milking parlour and 4% own a milking robot. A statistical analysis proved a significant correlation between the maintenance system of animals, number of lairs in a cow shed, TMR feeding of cattle, manner of obtaining milk and milk yield of cows.
Acquiring EU Funds for the Development of Research Potential of Enterprises as a Method for Developing Smart Specialisations
Authors: Biały Witold , Žarnovský Jozef
Published: June 2017

Smart specialisations, a new branch of economy/science constituting a new, prospective economical specialisation. It mainly consists in utilising the unique natural resources of a region, connecting various branches, using innovative technological solutions. To successfully increase their research and development potential, enterprises employ funds from the European Union. This article presents a way of successfully utilising EU funds to increase the research and development potential of an enterprise with the example of an automotive company. The authors argue that smart specializations and research and development are important factors of the success of agricultural enterprises as well. The article makes an attempt at analysing the factors which affect the growth of research and development capital of a company and the way in which goals can be achieved. For production companies providing highly processed products (and such companies are also from the agricultural sector) innovation is closely linked to research and development activities. This research and development activity is directed mainly for innovative products, processes, technologies.
Tensile Damage Mechanism of 3-D Angle-Interlock Woven Composite using Acoustic Emission Events Monitoring
Authors: Ma Qian , Wang Ke , Wang Shu-Dong , Liu Hua , Jin Bo-Cheng , Jin Li-Min , Ma Pibo
Published: June 2017

The quasi-static tensile damage behavior of one type of layer-to-layer 3-Dimensional Angle-interlock Woven Composite (3DAWC) was tested and analyzed in this paper. Incorporated with the acoustic emission (AE) events monitoring, the mechanical behavior of the 3DAWC under tensile loading condition was characterized. The Load-Extension curve, Load/AE events-Time curves occurred during the entire testing process and tensile damage modes were recorded to characterize and summarize the mechanical properties and damage mechanism of the 3DAWC subjected to tensile loading. It was found that the tensile damage of the 3DAWC could be summarized into 3 steps. And each step has a distinct primary damage mode. Moreover, the resin cracks, resin-yarn interface debonding and yarn breakages were the main damage modes for the 3DAWC.
On controllability and observability of fractional continuous-time linear systems with regular pencils
Authors: Younus A. , Javaid I. , Zehra A.
Published: June 2017

In this paper necessary and sufficient conditions of controllability and observability for solutions of the state equations of fractional continuous time linear systems with regular pencils are proposed. The derivations of the conditions are based on the construction of Gramian matrices.
Decomposition of multi-output functions oriented to configurability of logic blocks
Authors: Kubica M. , Kania D.
Published: June 2017

The main goal of the paper is to present a logic synthesis strategy dedicated to an LUT-based FPGA. New elements of the proposed synthesis strategy include: an original method of function decomposition, non-disjoint decomposition, and technology mapping dedicated to configurability of logic blocks. The aim of all of the proposed synthesis approaches is the sharing of appropriately configured logic blocks. Innovation of the methods is based on the way of searching decomposition, which relies on multiple cutting of an MTBDD diagram describing a multi-output function. The essence of the proposed algorithms rests on the method of unicoding dedicated to sharing resources, searching non-disjoint decomposition on the basis of the partition of root tables, and choosing the levels of diagram cutting that will guarantee the best mapping to complex logic blocks. The methods mentioned above were implemented in the MultiDec tool. The efficiency of the analyzed methods was experimentally confirmed by comparing the synthesis results with both academic and commercial tools.
An Approach to Self-Configuration of M2M Services
Authors: Pencheva Evelina
Published: June 2017

The increased number of connected devices and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) applications becomes business and technical challenge for network operators. The complexity of connectivity challenge yields for appropriate connectivity management solutions. The explosion of M2M services may result in undesired service interaction. Despite of the considerable progress in service interaction management, there is a lack of knowledge on the kind of interaction in real M2M communication systems. In this paper, a method for service orchestration between M2M applications which add value to basic device connectivity management is proposed. The automatic resolving of service interaction using policies allows service self-configuration and provisioning of adaptive service continuity to end users.
Level Based Routing Using Dynamic Programming for 2D Mesh
Authors: Punhani Akash , Kumar Pardeep , Nitin Nitin
Published: June 2017

The performance of the interconnection network doesn’t only depend on the topology, but it also depends on the Routing algorithm used. The simplest Routing algorithm for the mesh topology in networks on chip is the XY Routing algorithm. The level based Routing algorithm has been proved to be more efficient than the XY Routing algorithm. In this paper, level based Routing algorithm using the dynamic programming has been proposed. The proposed Routing algorithm proves to be more efficient in the terms of the computation. The proposed Routing algorithm has achieved up to two times bigger speed.
Analysis of Thermal Comfort in an Intelligent Building
Authors: Majewski Grzegorz , Telejko Marek , Orman Łukasz J.
Published: June 2017

Analysis of thermal comfort in the ENERGIS Building, an intelligent building in the campus of the Kielce University of Technology, Poland is the focus of this paper. For this purpose, air temperature, air relative humidity, air flow rate and carbon dioxide concentration were measured and the mean radiant temperature was determined. Thermal sensations of the students occupying the rooms of the building were evaluated with the use of a questionnaire. The students used a seven-point scale of thermal comfort. The microclimate measurement results were used to determine the Predicted Mean Vote and the Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied indices.
Do Callable Convertibles Support The Investment Process Of A Company? An Analysis Of The World Market Of Hybrid Debt
Authors: Kaźmierczak Damian
Published: June 2017

Using a sample of 1,705 convertible bonds issued by manufacturing and service companies from the United States (1,138 issues); Europe (270); and Asia (297) between 2004 and 2014 this paper investigates the role of callable convertibles in the corporate investment process. This research shows first that callable convertibles are used to finance investment projects particularly by American firms which may exercise new investment options to improve poor financial performance. Secondly, the same strategy may be followed by European companies, but they seem not to carry out investments on as large a scale as American firms. Thirdly, the research results do not provide evidence that Asian enterprises use callable convertibles for investment purposes: they likely use these instruments for different reasons.
Distribution of the extreme values of the number of ones in Boolean analogues of the Pascal triangle
Authors: Malyshev Fedor M.
Published: June 2017

The paper is concerned with estimating the number ξ of ones in triangular arrays consisting of elements of the field GF(2) which are defined by the bottom row of s elements. The elements of each higher row are obtained (as in Pascal triangles) by the summation of pairs of elements from the corresponding lower row. It is shown that there exists a monotone unbounded sequence 0 = k
0 < k
1 < k
2 < ... of rational numbers such that, for any k > 0, for sufficiently large s the admissible values of ξ which are smaller than ks or larger than s(s + 1)/3 − sk/3 are concentrated in neighbourhoods of points kis and s(s + 1)/3 − ski
/3, i ⩾ 0. The resulting estimates of the neighbourhoods are functions of i for each i ⩾ 0 and do not depend on s. The distributions of the numbers of triangles with values ξ in these neighbourhoods depend only on the residues of s with respect to moduli that depend on i ⩾ 0.
The Evaluation of Financial Standing of Medical Institutions in Poland
Authors: Mioduchowska-Jaroszewicz Edyta
Published: June 2017

The aim of the article is to identify the criteria and methods for the evaluation of medical institutions. The article uses economic analysis, comparative analysis, and methods of descriptive statistics. The analysis of existing regulations, source materials, and the specific business character of health care entities indicates the need to evaluate these units with particular regard to the criteria such as costs, quality of assets (level of consumption, i.e., wear and tear and modernness), employment, financial liquidity or the level of debt. The results of the study are the basis for the evaluation of the healthcare sector. The value of the article is in showing the direction taken by the evaluation of the financial standing of entities. The ability to use specific criteria and methods of evaluation for health care entities in business practice.
Using Tools of Strategic Management in Medical Facilities of Lublin Region
Authors: Jaworzynska Magdalena
Published: June 2017

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the use of tools of strategic management in hospitals in Lublin region. The study was conducted among 14 medical entities from the area of Lublin Voivodeship. The survey was addressed to economic directors or chief accountants of health care facilities and sent by post. The questionnaire was also helpful in conducting an in-depth interview as it provided a required structure. As part of the interviews with managers of health care facilities, information beyond the questionnaire was acquired, e.g. about the mission. According to studies, most health care facilities develop strategic plans (71.4%). For 21.4% of the studied facilities, the strategic plan is known mainly to management. In contrast, 28.6% of entities do not have a strategic plan. The presented results of the research can increase the effectiveness of activities in each area of the health care facility, continuous process improvement and rapid response to changes in the environment.
Coagulation in Treatment of Swine Slaughterhouse Wastewater
Authors: Ha Bui Manh , Huong Duong Thi Giang
Published: June 2017

In this study, wastewater taken from the Nam Phong swine slaughterhouse, Ho Chi Minh City, was used to evaluate the treatment efficiency of common coagulants, including Alum (Aluminum Sulfate - Al2(SO4)3.18H2O), Poly-Aluminum Chloride (PAC), and Ferrous Sulfate (FeSO4.7H2O), using a jar-test system. The experiments were conducted using the one-factor-at-a-time method to examine three variables which are pH, stirring speed, and coagulant dosage. The results showed that both Alum and PAC perform over 90% removal of colour, turbidity, COD, and total phosphorus (TP) from slaughterhouse wastewater at pH 7 with a stirring speed of 75 revolutions per minute (RPM) and average coagulant dosages of 450 mg/L for Alum and 550 mg/L for PAC. Meanwhile, under the appropriate conditions of pH equal to 10 and 75 RPM with a chemical dosage of 350 mg/L, COD and TP removal efficiencies by Ferrous Sulfate exceed 87%, but those of turbidity and colour only reach 25%. This finding could be a promising coagulation method as a pre-treatment for the swine slaughterhouse wastewater.
A Pilot Study of the Effect of Outsole Hardness on Lower Limb Kinematics and Kinetics during Soccer Related Movements
Authors: Sun Dong , Mei Qichang , Baker Julien S , Jia Xuewen , Gu Yaodong
Published: June 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different outsole hardness of turf cleats shoes on the lower limb kinematics and kinetics of soccer players playing on artificial turf. The participants were required to complete tasks of straight running and 45° left sidestep cutting movements, respectively, at the speed of 4.5 ± 0.2 m/s on artificial turf. They were asked to randomly select turf cleats shoes with a soft outsole (SO), medium hardness outsole (MO) and hard outsole (HO). During the stance phase of straight running, peak pressure and force-time integral in medial forefoot (MFF) of players wearing cleats shoes with MO were significantly higher than those wearing cleats shoes with SO. During the stance phase of a 45° cutting maneuver, players wearing cleats shoes with SO showed significantly higher peak knee flexion and abduction angles than the HO group. Players wearing cleats shoes with SO also showed higher ankle dorsiflexion and inversion angles compared with those wearing cleats shoes with HO. The vertical average loading rate (VALR) as well as peak pressure and force-time integral in the heel (H) and lateral forefoot (LFF) regions of players wearing cleats shoes with HO were significantly higher than those wearing shoes with SO. On the contrary, peak pressure and force-time integral of players wearing shoes with SO were significantly higher than those wearing shoes with HO in MFF. A higher vertical loading rate and plantar pressure of some areas may increase the potential risk of metatarsal stress fractures and plantar fasciitis. Therefore, this finding about turf cleats shoes could give some theoretic support for the design of turf cleats shoes and material optimization in the future.
Personal and Social Responsibility Among Athletes: the Role of Self-Determination, Achievement Goals and Engagement
Authors: Martins Paulo , Rosado António , Ferreira Vítor , Biscaia Rui
Published: June 2017

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between motivation, engagement and personal and social responsibility among athletes. Based on the literature, a survey was conducted including measures of motivation, considering task orientation and ego orientation, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and amotivation. We also measured the components of engagement (dedication, confidence, vigor and enthusiasm) and the components of personal and social responsibility. A total of 517 athletes from different types of sports participated in the study. The results gathered through a structural equation model revealed that task orientation had the strongest relationship with personal responsibility and social responsibility, followed by engagement. Self-determination levels were not associated with personal and social responsibility. These results suggest that monitoring of task orientation and engagement levels should be performed by coaches as a strategy to develop personal and social responsibility among their athletes. Moreover, findings from this study provide scholars with a tool to aid them in managing athletes’ levels of personal and social responsibility.
Differences in Anthropometry, Biological Age and Physical Fitness Between Young Elite Kayakers and Canoeists
Authors: López-Plaza Daniel , Alacid Fernando , Muyor José María , López-Miñarro Pedro Ángel
Published: June 2017

The aim of this study was to determine the anthropometric and physical characteristics of youth elite paddlers and to identify the differences between kayakers and canoeists. A total of 171 male paddlers (eighty-nine kayakers and eighty-two canoeists), aged 13.69 ± 0.57 years (mean ± SD) volunteered to participate in this study. The participants completed basic anthropometric assessments (body mass, stretch stature, sitting height, body mass index, maturity level, sum of 6 skinfolds and fat mass percentage) as well as a battery of physical fitness tests (overhead medicine ball throw, counter movement jump, sit-and-reach and 20 m multi-stage shuttle run tests). The anthropometric results revealed a significantly larger body size (stretch stature and sitting height) and body mass in the kayakers (p < 0.01) as well as a more mature biological status (p = 0.003). The physical fitness level exhibited by the kayakers was likewise significantly greater than that of the canoeists, both in the counter movement jump and estimated VO2max (p < 0.05), as well as in the overhead medicine ball throw and sit-and-reach test (p < 0.01). These findings confirm the more robust and mature profile of youth kayakers that might be associated with the superior fitness level observed and the specific requirements of this sport discipline.
The report and analysis of the First U21 European Deaf Football Championship Men, Wroclaw, Poland 2016
Authors: Szulc Adam Michał
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The First U21 European Deaf Football Championship Men was played in August 2016 in Wroclaw, Poland. No studies have documented or analysed sporting events for deaf players at the elite level. The aim of the study was to bring deaf football closer to the reader and analyse selected offensive actions recorded during the U21 Championship.

Methods

Analyses were performed on the basis of video recordings from the stadium. Eight national teams participated in the Championship. Sixteen matches were analysed with reference to the number of goals, shots on target, shots missed, crosses, and corners.

Results

The mean number of goals scored per match during the U21 Championship was 1.81 ± 1.53. The number of shots on target was 246, with 194 shots missed and 191 corners. The shooting efficiency of the four best teams was: 14.81% for Poland, 14.29% for Turkey, 13.89% for Sweden, and 13.25% for Russia. The highest efficiency of crosses for the best four equalled: 34.57% for Poland, 28.00% for Sweden, 26.22% for Turkey, and 23% for Russia.

Conclusions

The winner of the tournament was the team with the highest shooting efficiency and highest efficiency of crosses in all matches. Overall, 15.25% of goals were scored after shooting from outside of the penalty area, 55.17% of goals were scored from outside of the goal area but from the penalty area, whereas 29.58% were scored from the goal area. The analyses of the U21 Championship can be useful for the organization of coaching and preparation of teams for championships.