bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scientific appraisal of the Irish grass-based milk production system as a sustainable source of premium quality milk and dairy products
Authors: O’Brien B. , Hennessy D.
Published: December 2017

The Irish dairy industry is critically important to the economy and general well-being of a large section of the Irish population. Its quality, sustainability and maintenance are the key for a vibrant rural society in the future. Two important elements for the future of this industry include (a) the quality, marketing and sale of dairy products on the export market and (b) sustainability from the perspectives of people, planet and profit. This paper provides a short review of current scientific evidence in relation to a number of topics, each of which is important in maintaining and developing dairy product quality and the sustainability of the Irish dairy industry. The topics addressed in the paper are as follows: the parameters of milk composition; milk processing; hygiene quality and safety; farm management practices and the regulations that govern such practices; animal health and welfare; environmental impacts; economic implications for farm families and rural communities; and the overall future sustainability of the family-based dairy farm structure.
A review of laser electrode processing for development and manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Pfleging Wilhelm
Published: December 2017

Laser processes for cutting, annealing, structuring, and printing of battery materials have a great potential in order to minimize the fabrication costs and to increase the electrochemical performance and operational lifetime of lithium-ion cells. Hereby, a broad range of applications can be covered such as micro-batteries, mobile applications, electric vehicles, and stand-alone electric energy storage devices. Cost-efficient nanosecond (ns)-laser cutting of electrodes was one of the first laser technologies which were successfully transferred to industrial high-energy battery production. A defined thermal impact can be useful in electrode manufacturing which was demonstrated by laser annealing of thin-film electrodes for adjusting of battery active crystalline phases or by laser-based drying of composite thick-film electrodes for high-energy batteries. Ultrafast or ns-laser direct structuring or printing of electrode materials is a rather new technical approach in order to realize three-dimensional (3D) electrode architectures. Three-dimensional electrode configurations lead to a better electrochemical performance in comparison to conventional 2D one, due to an increased active surface area, reduced mechanical tensions during electrochemical cycling, and an overall reduced cell impedance. Furthermore, it was shown that for thick-film composite electrodes an increase of electrolyte wetting could be achieved by introducing 3D micro-/nano-structures. Laser structuring can turn electrodes into superwicking. This has a positive impact regarding an increased battery lifetime and a reliable battery production. Finally, laser processes can be up-scaled in order to transfer the 3D battery concept to high-energy and high-power lithium-ion cells.
Surface-enhanced FAST CARS: en route to quantum nano-biophotonics
Authors: Voronine Dmitri V. , Zhang Zhenrong , Sokolov Alexei V. , Scully Marlan O.
Published: December 2017

Quantum nano-biophotonics as the science of nanoscale light-matter interactions in biological systems requires developing new spectroscopic tools for addressing the challenges of detecting and disentangling weak congested optical signals. Nanoscale bio-imaging addresses the challenge of the detection of weak resonant signals from a few target biomolecules in the presence of the nonresonant background from many undesired molecules. In addition, the imaging must be performed rapidly to capture the dynamics of biological processes in living cells and tissues. Label-free non-invasive spectroscopic techniques are required to minimize the external perturbation effects on biological systems. Various approaches were developed to satisfy these requirements by increasing the selectivity and sensitivity of biomolecular detection. Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopies provide many orders of magnitude enhancement of chemically specific Raman signals. Femtosecond adaptive spectroscopic techniques for CARS (FAST CARS) were developed to suppress the nonresonant background and optimize the efficiency of the coherent optical signals. This perspective focuses on the application of these techniques to nanoscale bio-imaging, discussing their advantages and limitations as well as the promising opportunities and challenges of the combined coherence and surface enhancements in surface-enhanced coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (SECARS) and tip-enhanced coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (TECARS) and the corresponding surface-enhanced FAST CARS techniques. Laser pulse shaping of near-field excitations plays an important role in achieving these goals and increasing the signal enhancement.
Crystal structure of bis((1-(((4-(((benzyloxy)imino)methyl)phenyl)imino)methyl)naphthalen-2-yl)oxy-κ2
O,N)copper(II), C52H42CuN4O4
Authors: Li Jing , Yu Bin , Jia Hao-Ran , Sun Yin-Xia
Published: December 2017

C52H42CuN4O4, monoclinic, I12/c1 (no. 15), a = 21.8573(13) Å, b = 5.8605(4) Å, c = 33.683(2) Å, β = 97.428(5)°, Z = 4, V = 4278.4(5) Å3, R
gt(F) = 0.0554, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1255, T = 293(2) K.
What Lies Underneath a Political Speech?: Critical Discourse Analysis of Thai PM’s Political Speeches Aired on the TV Programme Returning Happiness to the People
Authors: Carreon Jonathan Rante , Svetanant Chavalin
Published: December 2017

The main goal of the study is to critically investigate the major elements of the political speeches of the Thai Prime Minister, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha. Informed by van Dijk’s (1997) concept of Political Discourse Analysis, a corpus, composed of 10,672 word types and 325,398 word tokens, was examined for keywords related to the addressor, the addressee, and the political speech itself. The words with the highest relative frequencies were iteratively categorised into themes and a dialogic investigation was conducted on a portion of the original Thai version. The findings reveal that keywords relating to information conveyed by the addressor accounted for 62.86% (N=154) followed by keywords relating to functions of language at 22.04% (N=54). The high frequencies of these words shed light on the justification of the political, economic and social agenda, which were conveyed by the junta government using deontically modalised language. The quantitative and qualitative data analysis also indicate that the English and Thai speeches target different audiences. This discrepancy implicitly reflects an awkward situation where the military government attempts to present a good image to the international community while imposing actual military governance in the country.
The relationship between self-control and altruism in the light of discounting literature
Authors: Osiński Jerzy , Karbowski Adam , Rusek Jan
Published: December 2017

On the basis of literature on delay discounting, potential mechanisms of relations between self-control and altruism are considered. The discussed possibilities are: cause-and-effect relationship (self-control enabling sacrificing immediate benefits caused by selfish behaviour in favor of future benefits associated with altruism, e.g. reciprocation), common mechanism (ability to learn behavioural patterns covering longer time periods), role of intelligence as a factor related both to self-control and altruism, and role of psychological distance (the idea of extended self and construal level theory). Relations between described perspectives are pointed out, and directions for further research are suggested.
Overlapping defaults. The case of intertemporal choices
Authors: Sawicki Przemysław , Białek Michał
Published: December 2017

People make different choices depending on which decision is the default option. In intertemporal choices, the default option is typically imposed externally. For example, people expect more for delaying the gain (default in the present) than are willing to pay for accelerating the future gain over the same period (default in the future). We claim that apart from the external default, people’s choices are also influenced by the internal (natural) default such as the time perspective resulting in the reference point in the present. By manipulating the congruency between the internal and external defaults, we show that incongruence between defaults decreases the strength of discounting of gains, but not of losses.
Explanatory contribution of Social Responsibility and Organizational Justice on Organizational Commitment: An exploratory study in a Higher Public Education institution
Authors: Rafael Graça , Gonçalves Gabriela , Santos Joana , Orgambídez-Ramos Alejandro , Sousa Cátia
Published: December 2017

This study aimed to analyze the explanatory contribution of social responsibility and organizational justice on commitment through the setting up of a theoretical model in order to better understand the relationships that are established between these constructs. The empirical study was developed in a public higher education institution with a sample of 233 employees, professors and staff. The proposed model was estimated using a structural equation model. It was possible to observe a relationship between interactional justice perceptions and social responsibility and there contribute to the explanation of organizational affective commitment. At the same time, it was possible to observe a relationship between distributive justice and social responsibility of employees.
Measurement issues of the social class in social psychology of education: Is it a category mistake?
Authors: Sinha Chetan
Published: December 2017

The present article discusses the measurement of social class in the social psychology of education research. It was evident that social class experiences are conflated with the socioeconomic status (SES) indicators and the subjective measure of the class context was underrepresented. However, this was discussed in Rubin et al (2014) about the intersectional nature of social class taking into account both objective and subjective indicators. The derivation of the social class experience from the objective and subjective measures were critically discussed. An effort was made to understand whether these translations are category mistake or not. Three trajectories will be utilized to address the category mistake, that is, 1) subjectivity and objectivity debate in the measurement of social class in social psychology of education, 2) debates encircling around the position of social psychology and its underutilized concept such as social class as scientifically objective facets in social sciences and 3) operationalism of social class and category mistake.
A simple model of production and trade in an oligopolistic market: back to basics
Authors: Lahiri Somdeb
Published: December 2017

We provide a two good model of oligopolistic production and trade with one good being commodity money. There is the usual demand function of the consumers for the produced good that producer-sellers face. Each seller is a budget constrained preference maximizer and derives utility (or satisfaction) from consuming bundles comprising commodity money and the produced good. We define a competitive equilibrium strategy profile and a Cournotian equilibrium and show that under our assumptions both exist. We further show that at a competitive equilibrium strategy profile, each seller maximizes profits given his own consumption of the produced good and the price of the produced good, the latter being determined by the inverse demand function. Similarly we show that at a Cournotian the sellers are at a Cournot equilibrium given their own consumption of the produced good. Assuming sufficient differentiability of the cost functions we show that at a competitive equilibrium each seller either sets price equal to marginal cost or exhausts his capacity of production; at a Cournotian equilibrium each seller either sets marginal revenue equal to marginal cost or exhausts his capacity of production. We also study the evolution of Cournotian strategies as the sellers and buyers are replicated. As the number of buyers and sellers go to infinity any sequence of interior symmetric Cournotian equilibrium strategies admits a convergent subsequence, which converges to an interior symmetric competitive equilibrium strategy. In a final section we discuss the Bertrand Edgeworth price setting game and show that a Bertrand Edgeworth equilibrium must be a derived from a competitive equilibrium price. Here we show that if at a symmetric competitive equilibrium, the sellers consume positive quantities of the produced good then the competitive equilibrium cannot be a Bertrand Edgeworth equilibrium. Thus, if at all symmetric competitive equilibria the sellers consume positive amounts of the produced good, then a Bertrand Edgeworth equilibrium simply does not exist.
Transparency in Lobbying as Perceived by Organisational Representatives in the Czech Republic
Authors: Vnoučková Lucie , Žák Milan
Published: December 2017

This paper focuses on transparency in lobbying as perceived by in sample organisations in the Czech Republic. The paper’s aim is to study how lobbying and its impact on decision-making practices are perceived by organisational representatives and to empirically assess the perceived transparency of lobbying with a view to the potential introduction of lobbying regulations and their role in Czech democracy. Data for the study was gathered from a sample of business institutions in the Czech Republic. In total, 73 organisations/institutions took part in the survey. One respondent was questioned per organisation/institution. 90 % of respondents perceive that transparent and regulated lobbying has a positive impact on democracy. Moreover, according to the respondents, lobbying facilitates more competent decision-making among politicians, brings more information into the decision-making process and makes the process more efficient. There has been a significant shift in the perception of lobbying over the past ten years in the Czech Republic. Regulations aimed at legitimizing lobbying are seen as having a positive impact on democracy.
Effects of oil shocks on EMU exports: technological level differences
Authors: Hodula Martin , Vahalík Bohdan
Published: December 2017

This article provides some new empirical perspectives on the relationship between oil-market fluctuations and technological structure of EMU export. We rely on a time-varying parameter VAR model to capture the reaction of different technological structures of EMU export to various oil-market innovations in the period 2002-2015. Our results can be summarized as follows: (1) increase in crude oil production is likely to reduce oil prices and therefore increases all EMU exports due to lower production and transportation costs; (2) increase in global demand is more likely to be transmitted to goods with higher added value; (3) high-tech exports decrease in the first months after the global demand shock as a result of a delayed investment decision process; (4) increasing oil prices yield only marginal effect on EMU export.
Orbitocranial penetrating injury by a metallic foreign body. Case report and anatomical considerations
Authors: Turliuc Dana Mihaela , Cucu A.I. , Dumitrescu Gabriela Florenta , Sava Anca , Costea Claudia Florida
Published: December 2017

Orbitocranial penetrating injuries (OPI) represent a rare type of head injuries encountered in clinical practice. These appear after falls or motor vehicle accidents and are more frequent among children. We present the case of a male patient with OPI, associated with large frontal hemorrhagic contusion, with minimal periorbital trauma findings related to brain injury. Knowing and understanding the clinical anatomy of the orbit and the patterns of injuries in OPI are mandatory, since failure in detecting intracranial complications may lead to the increase of the neurological morbidity, visual loss and death.
Angiography procedure and endovascular treatment Retrospective analysis in Neurosurgery Department of “Prof. Dr. N. Oblu” Clinic Emergency Hospital Iasi
Authors: Ion Georgiana , Chiriac A. , Dobrin N. , Poeată I.
Published: December 2017

A retrospective analysis of the cases admitted, investigated and treated in “Prof. Dr. N. Oblu” Clinic Emergency Hospital from the beginning of activity in the angiography laboratory from 2008 to June 2017.
Management of spinal dural arteriovenouse fistula
Authors: Chiriac A. , Ion Georgiana , Dobrin N. , Poeată I.
Published: December 2017

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas are rare vascular lesions whose management is still at high interest between specialists. If microsurgical treatment is still considered as treatment of choice for SDAVFs, endovascular treatment is increasingly grow in interest with the development of endovascular techniques and new embolization materials. In this article we made a short discussion about the spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae on aspects related to anatomy, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment, with some general conclusions.
Incidence, hospital costs and in-hospital mortality rates of surgically treated patients with traumatic cranial epidural hematoma
Authors: Atci Ibrahim Burak , Yilmaz Hakan , Yaman Mehmet , Baran Oguz , Türk Okan , Solmaz Bilgehan , Kocaman Ümit , Ozdemir Nuriye Guzin , Demirel Nail , Kocak Ayhan
Published: December 2017

Background: In this study, the patients who were operated in two clinics due to traumatic cranial epidural hematoma (EDH) were assessed retrospectively and the factors that increase the costs were tried to be revealed through conducting cost analyses. Methods: The patients who were operated between 2010 and 2016 with the diagnosis of EDH were assessed in terms of age, sex, trauma etiology, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) at admission, the period from trauma to hospital arrival, trauma-related injury in other organs, the localization of hematoma, the size of hematoma, length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), length of antibiotherapy administration, number of consultations conducted, total cost of in-hospital treatments of the patients and prognosis. Results: Distribution of GCS were, between 13-15 in 18 (36%) patients, 9-13 in 23 (46%) patients and 3-8 in 9 (18%) patients. The reasons for emergency department admissions were fall from high in 29 (58%) patients, assault in 11 (22%) patients and motor vehicle accident in 10 (20%) patients. The average cost per ICU stay was 2838 $ (range=343-20571 $). The average cost per surgical treatment was 314 $. ICU care was approximately 9 times more expensive than surgical treatment costs. The mortality rate of the study cohort was 14% (7 patients). Conclusion: The prolonged period of stay in the ICU, antibiotherapy and repeat head CTs increase the costs for patients who are surgically treated for EDH.
Unusual cranial trauma caused by pencil in teenager: case report
Authors: Rashid Amer Saeed , Abdelrazaq Saif Saood , Hoz Samer S. , Padilla Huber , Yancarlos Ramos-Villegas , López-Cepeda Daniela , Al-Dhahir Mohammed , Moscote-Salazar Luis Rafael
Published: December 2017

Introduction: Penetrating lesions by pencil in the temporal lobe in children and adolescents are uncommon. We present the case of a teenager with penetrating injury by strange object in the temporal lobe. Case: Twelve years old male patient, with history of trauma while he was playing with his friends, presents alteration of the consciousness state, weakness in right hemibody and dysphasia. Urgent surgery is practiced employing an incision in “C” form with improvement of the consciousness state during post-operative. Discussion: Penetrating lesions in the skull and brain are classified as missiles and non-missiles depending of their impact velocity. The wood is a porous organic material that provide a natural deposit of microbian agents, making it potentially lethal. Pre-operative radiological evaluation allows check the trajectory of the penetrating object and secondary lesions present guiding de neurosurgical approach. The prognostic depends on penetration site, timely handling and complications associated. Conclusion: Penetrating lesions by pencil are uncommon, an appropriate imaging evaluation is fundamental to determine the neurosurgical approach that allows prevent and/or decrease secondary damage.
Importance of Food Selection for Celiac Sprue Disease
Authors: Faměra O. , Hálová I. , Kouřimská L.
Published: December 2017

A questionnaire survey was conducted among people with celiac disease. Questions were focused on dietary foods available and the preference of suitable grain food species. A one-week diet menu was prepared for the participants of the survey. Daily intake of major nutrients and energy was determined. Supermarkets have the largest selection of dietary foods, although in a narrow range. Celiac patients often rely on themselves to make and prepare food. The majority of respondents (57%) considered dietary restrictions as burdening; 43% have adapted to this situation. Food made of rice was the most popular among cereal foods for 50% of respondents, corn for 39%, and buckwheat and millet for only 7% of respondents. Nobody classified amaranth as the most popular food. The model diet for people with celiac disease exceeded the recommended daily intake of protein and undervalued lipid ingestion. This problem was mainly caused by the food composition of the evening meal. Total daily energy intake of 9900 kJ met the women’s needs. There were still 2100 kJ missing for men. The terms ‘gluten-free food or diet’ and ‘gliadin content’, which generally relate to the products of wheat, rye, oats, and triticale, are not accurate.
Mechanical Behaviour of Bulk Seeds of Some Leguminous Crops under Compression Loading
Authors: Akangbe O. L. , Herak D.
Published: December 2017

The behaviours of constrained bulk columns of seeds of 3 important leguminous feed crops under compressive force applied at a uniform rate of 10 mm min-1 up to 100 kN at ≈ 9% moisture content (in dry basis) were studied to establish parameters which are relevant to the design of equipment for achieving product densification. Deformation varied significantly (P < 0.02) with crop type and was the highest in lupine seeds. Feed pea had the highest strain resistance value. Both deformation energy and volume energy requirements varied significantly (P < 0.0001) with crop type. Moduli of deformation of compressed feed pea, lupine, and soybean at an applied force of 100 kN were 269.7, 306.3, and 455.2 MPa, indicating the proportionate resistance of the crop materials to compressive strain. Precisely 4.43, 3.76, and 3.15 MJ m-3 are required to achieve 56.7, 77.0, and 67.7% or 461.7, 539.3, and 500.4 kg m-3 gains in bulk density in feed pea, lupine, and soybean, respectively. Deformation and volume energy demands correlated negatively (r = -0.934 and r = -0.78) with lipid presence. Crops with more oil appeared to deform more easily under compressive force. Higher deformations and lower energy demands may be possible at optimal combinations of force, product moisture, and depth.
Effect of Storage Duration and Atmosphere on the Content and Price of Hop Alpha Bitter Acids
Authors: Rybka A. , Melč J. , Heřmánek P. , Honzík I.
Published: December 2017

The quality of hops is significantly affected by the content of alpha bitter acids. Maintaining it with minimum losses lies within the competence of both the hop grower and processor depending on how they follow the optimum harvest technology, storage conditions, and post-harvest hop processing. That indicator is considerably affected by the hop storage method, i.e. whether the warehouse is air-conditioned or not, as well as the storage duration. The alpha bitter acid content should not be reduced during storage. The objective of this paper is an analysis of the alpha bitter acid content in the Saaz hop variety in a technological sequence of operations starting with drying at the grower and finishing with six-month storing at the processor, with three storage variants: an air-conditioned warehouse, non-conditioned warehouse, and a variant in which the square bale is moved after 60 days from a non-conditioned warehouse into an air-conditioned warehouse. The analysis of samples to identify the alpha bitter acid content was carried out by means of the ASBC Hops-6 and the HPLC EBC 7.7 methods. Practically in all cases the alpha content declines, although if a square bale is placed in an air-conditioned warehouse this decline is the lowest depending on the storage duration. The economic analysis shows a significant profit referring to the price of alpha contained in 1 t of hops stored in an air-conditioned warehouse. At the date of 1/11/2015 this profit was 14 706 CZK, at the date of 4/1/2016 it was 7646 CZK, and at 1/3/2016 the profit was 6587 CZK.
Irish and Polish in a New Context of Diversity in Northern Ireland’s Schools
Authors: Mckendry Eugene
Published: December 2017

While Modern Languages are in decline generally in the United Kingdom’s post-primary schools, including in Northern Ireland (Speak to the Future 2014), the international focus on primary languages has reawakened interest in the curricular area, even after the ending in 2015 of the Northern Ireland Primary Modern Languages Programme which promoted Spanish, Irish and Polish in primary schools. This paper will consider the situation in policy and practice of Modern Languages education, and Irish in particular, in Northern Ireland’s schools. During the years of economic growth in the 1990s Ireland, North and South, changed from being a country of net emigration to be an attractive country to immigrants, only to revert to large-scale emigration with the post-2008 economic downturn. While schools in Great Britain have had a long experience of receiving pupils from diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, firstly from the British Empire and Commonwealth countries, Northern Ireland did not attract many such pupils due to its weaker economic condition and the conflict of the Northern Ireland Troubles. The influx from Poland and other Accession Countries following the expansion of the European Union in 2004 led to a sudden, significant increase in non-English speaking Newcomer pupils (DENI 2017). The discussion in Northern Ireland about a diverse democracy has hitherto concentrated on the historical religious and political divide, where Unionist antipathy led to the Irish Language being dubbed the ‘Green Litmus Test’ of Community Relations (Cultural Traditions Group 1994). Nevertheless, the increasing diversity can hopefully ‘have a leavening effect on a society that has long been frozen in its “two traditions” divide’ (OFMDFM 2005a: 10). This paper will revisit the role and potential of Irish within the curricular areas of Cultural Heritage and Citizenship. An argument will also be made for the importance of language awareness, interculturalism and transferable language learning skills in Northern Ireland’s expanded linguistic environment with a particular focus on Polish.
In Search of Catharsis. Theatre in Serbia in the 1990s
Authors: Šentevska Irena
Published: December 2017

This paper discusses various points about the response of the Serbian theatre to the social crisis of the 1990s. The focus here is on publicly-funded theatres and their role in pacifying or mobilizing theatre audiences either to participate in or revolt against the political projects which accompanied the dissolution of Yugoslavia. The Serbian theatre system in the 1990s entered a clear process of transformation of its models of management, production, financing, public relations and, naturally, the language and forms of expression inherited from the socialist 1980s. The chief interest of this study is the transformation of the theatre system since the end of World War II, theatrical interpretations of the historical and literary past in Serbia, the role of theatre in the identity ‘makeovers’ that followed the demise of Yugoslavia, and stage interpretations of contemporary crises. Consideration is also given to the present state of the theatre in Serbia.
Denying the Unknown. Everyday Narratives about Croatian Involvement in the 1992-1995 Bosnian Conflict
Authors: Sokolić Ivor
Published: December 2017

This article, based on the results of focus-group discussions, dyads, and interviews in Croatia, examines how Croatians construct their narrative of the 1992-1995 conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia’s role in it. Despite judgements at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) concluding that the Croatian state intervened in the Bosnian conflict, respondents in this study claimed to be ignorant of any such intervention. What was discussed worked in concert with the dominant Croatian war narrative of Croatian defence, victimhood, and sacrifice in the face of a larger, Serbian aggressor. By portraying the Bosnian conflict as chaotic and savage, respondents differentiated it from the Croatian one and relativised any illicit actions within a framework of nesting orientalism. Croatian involvement in Bosnia-Herzegovina was generally seen as positive: it was viewed in terms of Croatia welcoming Bosniak refugees and providing military assistance, which enabled moral licensing with regard to the rarely mentioned and marginalised negative aspects of Croatia’s involvement in the conflict.
‘I’m Both a Worker and a Shareholder.’ Workers’ Narratives and Property Transformations in Postsocialist Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia
Authors: Calori Anna , Jurkat Kathrin
Published: December 2017

The authors offer an analysis of the property reforms that accompanied economic transformation in late socialist and postsocialist Yugoslavia, as experienced and narrated by industrial workers in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia today. The property reforms carried out in these two countries between 1990 and the 2000s have profoundly influenced the narratives that workers form around their experience of economic transformation in the workplace. By analysing how industrial workers have developed a feeling of ownership towards their particular workplace, and how they now talk about that experience, the authors provide an explanation for workers’ disillusionment and dissatisfaction towards privatisation reforms in recent years, and show how they have made sense of the seismic shifts in property relations that have accompanied economic reforms since 1989.
Age-Related Changes in Postural Control in Physically Inactive Older Women
Authors: Tavares Juliana Teles , Biasotto-Gonzalez Daniela Aparecida , Boa Sorte Silva Nárlon Cássio , Suzuki Frank Shiguemitsu , Lucareli Paulo Roberto Garcia , Politti Fabiano
Published: December 2017

Background and Purpose:

The maintenance of postural control is influenced by the complexity of a given task. Tasks that require greater attention and cognitive involvement increase the risk of falls among older adults. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the adaptation of the postural control system to different levels of task complexity in physically inactive young and older women.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted with adult women classified as physically inactive based on the results of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The participants were 27 young (20-30 years of age) and 27 older (60-80 years of age) women. Sway velocity of the center of pressure in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions was calculated using a force plate under 6 conditions: standing directly on the force plate or on a foam placed over the force plate, eyes open or closed, and dual-task complexity with and without the foam.

Results and Discussion:

A 2-way analysis of variance revealed that sway velocity increased in both groups when the task conditions were altered. The older women exhibited significantly greater sway velocity compared with the young women on all tasks. However, the patterns of postural control adaptation to the different levels of complexity were similar among all participants.

Conclusions:

In this study, the adaption of the postural control system to different levels of task complexity did not differ between physically inactive young and physically inactive older women. However, the physically inactive older women exhibited greater sway velocity compared with the young women.
Can Drop Set Training Enhance Muscle Growth?
Authors: Schoenfeld Brad , Grgic Jozo
Published: December 2017

SOME RESEARCHERS HAVE POSTULATED THAT TRAINING TO MUSCULAR FAILURE IS OBLIGATORY FOR MAXIMIZING MUSCLE HYPERTROPHY. THIS HAS LED TO THE SPECULATION THAT DROP SET TRAINING MAY BE AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO MORE FULLY FATIGUE THE MUSCULATURE AND, IN TURN, ENHANCE MUSCULAR ADAPTATIONS. IN THIS ARTICLE, WE REVIEW THE EVIDENCE ON THE TOPIC.
Inventario de emisiones de mercurio en Costa Rica en el 2014 utilizando la herramienta del PNUMA en un nivel N2
Authors: Murillo-Hernández Julio César , Herrera-Murillo Jorge
Published: December 2017

El Convenio de Minamata se firmó en octubre del 2013 buscando proteger la salud humana y el medio ambiente de las liberaciones y emisiones antropogénicas tanto de mercurio elemental como de los compuestos que contienen este elemento. Al ratificar Costa Rica este instrumento, se comprometió a elaborar y mantener actualizado un inventario de las emisiones de mercurio. En el presente trabajo, se utilizó la herramienta que propone el PNUMA para generar el primer inventario de mercurio en el nivel N2 del país, que considera las liberaciones de este elemento en las matrices aire, agua, suelo, productos y residuos. Tomando como año de referencia el 2014, la estimación de la emisión de mercurio para Costa Rica fue contabilizada en 5 052 kg, con un intervalo de incertidumbre entre 2 675 kg y 10 525 kg. Los sectores más importantes, en cuanto la emisión total, fueron la extracción de oro con amalgamación (42 %), la quema informal de residuos (15 %) y el uso de amalgamas dentales (10 %). Las matrices más impactadas fueron el aire (29 %), agua (28 %) y suelo (21 %), respectivamente.
¿Pueden los micetozoos ser usados como indicadores de salud del suelo en el contexto agrícola de Costa Rica?
Authors: Sibaja-Matarrita Reiner , Barboza-Chinchilla Luis , Rojas Carlos
Published: December 2017

El estudio de las poblaciones de micetozoos en agroecosistemas con diversas características y grados de disturbio por actividades antropogénicas es un tema con escasa investigación en el nivel mundial. Con el objeto de estudiar esta interacción, nosotros documentamos la incidencia de dos grupos de micetozoos (mixogástridos y dictiostélidos) en dos sistemas agrícolas de caña de azúcar y piña en Costa Rica. Para cada sistema de estudio cuantificamos una serie de variables edáficas, químicas y paisajísticas. Tras el análisis, encontramos que, para ambos grupos, tres variables explicaron el 99 % de la variabilidad de incidencia de estos. Para los dictiostélidos las variables fueron porcentaje de arcilla, pH y Biomasa microbiana. En el caso de los mixogástridos, estas variables fueron el Manganeso, respiración microbiana y pH.  Los resultados anteriores señalan un potencial medio de uso de micetozoos como indicadores ambientales, en tanto el efecto de los sistemas de cultivo sobre la actividad de los microorganismos fue cuantificable. Sin embargo, consideramos que se requiere todavía definir el papel de las diferentes variables medidas sobre la dinámica de ambos grupos de microorganismos para poder establecer una conclusión con potencial aplicación, apoyada por datos empíricos.
Comentários sobre a construção do conceito de desenvolvimento na América Latina e sua contribuição para os processos de integração na região
Authors: Montenegro-Braz Adriana
Published: December 2017

A ideia de desenvolvimento tem sido associada às discussões teóricas sobre se é o Estado ou o mercado que pode responder a problemas de desenvolvimento. Segundo esta abordagem, o objetivo desse trabalho é rever a evolução da ideia sobre o desenvolvimento na América Latina e sua discussão no regionalismo Latino-Americano. Portanto, realiza-se este trabalho partindo de uma revisão que começa com a abordagem estruturalista e a teoria da dependência dos anos 50 e 60. Em seguida, analisa-se as alterações acontecidas na região, nos anos  90, a partir da execução das políticas neoliberais. Finalmente, o interesse é dirigido a analisar as novas tendências de integração na região. Nesse sentido, apesar da heterogeneidade dos atuais processos de integração, o fim da convergência neoliberal permitiu novamente a proposta da ideia de desenvolvimento na região.
La geopolítica contemporánea de Estados Unidos y el fin de Centroamérica
Authors: Herrera-Rodríguez Omar Santiago
Published: December 2017

En el presente trabajo se examinan, en seguimiento a las reflexiones del artículo publicado en el número anterior, una serie de medidas económico-políticas implementadas por Estados Unidos en el marco preparativo y en ejecución de la Guerra Global contra el Terrorismo, con los objetivos de demostrar que Mesoamérica toma el lugar que en décadas anteriores ocupó Centroamérica como foco de interés y atención particularizado de la geopolítica y economía estadounidense. Se propone que esta reconfiguraciónregional se circunscribe a una revolución espacial  planetaria que es consecuencia inmediata de la Guerra Global contra el Terrorismo.
Port catheter complications and thrombosis issues: assessment of 114 patients with port catheter implantation by single surgeon
Authors: Ruchan ANBAR , Deniz AVCI , Ali CETİNKAYA
Published: December 2017

Background: We provided a comparative presentation of complications seen in 114 patients with port catheter implantation. In addition, we addressed whether patients with catheter-related thrombosis have distinctive features by assessing patients who developed thrombosis either at the catheter implant site or vascular bed.

Methods: In this study, we analyzed data from 114 patients who underwent subclavian venous port catheter implantation by a single surgeon at Kayseri Teaching Hospital (Turkey) during 2013 to 2016. Subclavian port catheter was inserted in all cases. The diagnosis of port thrombosis was made by Doppler sonography or thorax CT scan with contrast enhancement in patients presenting with edema at upper extremity, swelling or pain at neck, and/or dysfunctional port.

Results: Seroma was detected in only one case, lymphedema developed in one case (0.8%), and pneumothorax was observed in 3 cases. The subclavian vein was implanted on the right side in all patients with pneumothorax. None of these cases were associated with thrombosis. Port infection was observed in one case (0.8%). There was also one case (0.8%) of skin necrosis. The port was removed in 15 patients due to several reasons, which are indicated in Table 2. Thromboembolic events were observed in 11 of the 114 patients while port thrombosis was observed in 7 patients. The rate of hypertension in the thromboembolism group was 61.1% (11/18 individual) while the rate of hypertension in the group without thromboembolism was 28.1% (27/96 individuals); this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.006).

Conclusion: In this study, based on complications observed in patients with catheter-related thrombosis, factors such as smoking or diabetes mellitus were seen to be linked to thromboembolism and should be taken into consideration. Moreover, it was observed that hypertension had a significant association with thromboembolism.
Matrix solid-phase dispersion method coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography for the simultaneous quantification of selected compounds from freeze dry pomegranate juice
Authors: Kamal Y. T. , Yusufoglu Hasan Soliman , Alam Prawez , Fouda Ahmed Ibrahim
Published: December 2017

In this research, a novel method was developed for the matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) quantification of four marker constituents (vitamin C, gallic acid, rutin, and ellagic acid) in the freeze-dried pomegranate fruit juice. Various MSPD parameters like type of dispersant, sample–dispersant ratio, solvents, its volume, and time of extraction have been optimized after many trials. Furthermore, HPLC method has been developed and optimized for the analysis of all four components. The HPLC separation was achieved using a 250 × 4.6 mm column, particle size of 5 μm, C18 reverse phase column, with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.05% H3PO4, in gradient elution mode with a mobile phase flow rate of 1 mL/min, using ultraviolet (UV)–visible detection at 254 nm. All calibration curves showed good linear regression (r2 ≥ 0.9925) within test ranges. The extraction recoveries of the marker constituents analyzed by MSPD methods were found as ranging from 97.5% to 103.5%. From comparing the chromatograms, validation data and other parameters like time, labor, and feasibility, we found that MSPD technique was most suitable for the analysis as compared to conventional liquid–liquid extraction technique.
Javaslat a hazai méhnyakszűrési eljárásrend korszerűsítésére
Authors: Koiss Róbert , Boncz Imre , Hernádi Zoltán , Szentirmay Zoltán
Published: December 2017

Abstract:

Two main considerations played roles in creation of new cervical screening system. One was the proven fact that high-risk human papilloma virus infection plays a role in the development of cervical cancer and pre-cancerous lesions. The other was the implementation of the HPV infection’s biological behavior in the new screening strategy. The new screening procedure faithfully reflects the cervical carcinogenesis. An organised, population-based and age differentiated screening method could increase attendance of screening and could decrease the possibility of interval cancer rate due to increased sensitivity. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(52): 2062–2067.
A keresztcsonti ízület mobilitásának vizsgálata derékpanaszos betegcsoportban
Authors: Burkus Máté , Márkus István , Niklai Bálint , Tunyogi-Csapó Miklós
Published: December 2017

Abstract:

Introduction: Sagittal alignment of the pelvis is typically characterized using three fundamental parameters. Among these, pelvic incidence is traditionally considered to be anatomically ‘constant’. Aim: We aimed to analyze the pelvic parameters of low back pain patients with suspected sacroiliac joint laxity. Method: Pelvic parameters were assessed in standing and seated EOS 2D/3D radiographs of 48 cases of persistent low back pain, and compared to upper body position using cluster analysis and t-test. Results: Median pelvic incidence did not differ statistically between standing and sitting (47.8°–47.7°). However, in individual analysis 7 cases (15%) exhibited a forward tilt in their upper body with an increased pelvic incidence, and 7 cases (15%) showed a backward upper body tilt. No change was found in 34 cases. Conclusion: Our results indicate the pelvis should not be regarded as a rigid unit, as in some cases significant appreciable sacroiliac joint laxity can occur. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(52): 2079–2085.
OPTIMASI PERTUMBUHAN BAKTERI LAUTSalinicola peritrichatus LBF-1-0025 DALAM SENYAWA ALKANA
Authors: Lingga Ratna Cempaka , Thontowi Ahmad , Yetti Elvi , Budiharjo Anto , Rukmi Isworo , Yopi Yopi
Published: December 2017

Pentana, dekana, pentadekana, dan parafin merupakan jenis kelompok senyawa alkana yang tidak dapat larut dalam air dan sulit terdegradasi. Sifat ini yang menjadikan senyawa alkana dapat mencemari lingkungan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui konsentrasi optimum senyawa alkana bagi pertumbuhan isolat LBF-1-0025 dan mengidentifikasinya secara molekuler berdasarkan gen 16S rDNA. Dari skrining awal diketahui bahwa isolat LBF-1-0025 memiliki potensi tinggi dalam mendegradasi senyawa pentana, dekana, pentadekana, dan parafin. Optimasi pertumbuhan isolat LBF-1-0025 pada beberapa senyawa alkana dilakukan dengan menumbuhkannya dalam medium  Artificial Sea Water(ASW ) yang mengandung beberapa konsentrasi senyawa pentana, dekana, pentadekana, dan paraffin. Isolat LBF-1-0025 mampu tumbuh secara optimal pada pentana 150 ppm, dekana 200 ppm, pentadekana 150 ppm, dan parafin 200 ppm setelah 3 hari inkubasi. Hasil analisis sekuen gen 16S rDNA, bakteri LBF-1-0025 memiliki kemiripan sebesar 97% dengan  Salinicola peritrichatus  DY22.
An improved numerical method for a 2D pollution water model: Direct model
Authors: Phong Nguyen Hong , Ha Tran Thu , Le Dimet F. X. , Hai Duong Ngoc
Published: December 2017

In this paper a 2D pollution water model with an improved numerical method is considered. In order to reduce the approximation errors of the numerical scheme, a new approximation method is introduced to calculate the concentration flux between two cells (j-cell and l-cell) in the direction of the normal vector \(\vec {n}\) orthogonal to their common side. The advantage of this approximation is that the concentration flux \({\partial C}/{\partial \vec {n}}\) from j-cell to l-cell and the other one from l-cell to j-cell are only different by their signs but not by their absolute values. Therefore, the errors of concentration simulated by this scheme are reduced and less than those obtained by a normal differential implicit discretization. This improvement of the scheme will be illustrated by two test cases. In the numerical tests we will display the difference between the exact solution, the classical scheme and the proposed scheme. Numerical results demonstrate the improvement of this approach.
Preparation and characterization of Bi4–xPrxTi3O12 solid solutions
Authors: Klyndyuk A. I. , Chizhova E. A. , Poznyak A. I.
Published: December 2017

The Bi4–xPrxTi3O12 (BPT) solid solutions (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15) with small praseodymium content were prepared by solid-state method. Thermal, electric, and dielectric properties of BPT were studied. It was revealed that BPT titanates crystalize in аn orthorhombic structure and exhibit p-type semiconductivity. Dielectric constant of BPT increased, Curie temperature (TC), electrical conductivity and dielectric losses decreased, but lattice parameters and thermo-EMF coefficient remained practically unchanged with the increase of praseodymium content in layered Bi4–xPrxTi3O12. It was determined that activation energy of direct current (DC) electrical conductivity and linear thermal expansion coefficient (LTEC) of BPT changes at ferroelectric (FE) → paraelectric (PE) phase transition. The activation energy and LTEC changed below and above TC from 1.08–1.56 eV to 0.45–0.86 eV and from (9.10–10.80)×10–6 K–1 to (13.12-14.61)×10–6 K–1, respectively. The AC electrical conductivity studies of BPT illustrated short-range order with ionic translations assisted by small-polaron hopping.
Will There Be Superintelligence and Would It Hate Us?
Authors: Wilks Yorick
Published: December 2017

This article examines Nick Bostrom's notion of superintelligence and argues that, although we should not be sanguine about the future of AI or its potential for harm, superintelligent AI is highly unlikely to come about in the way Bostrom imagines.
There Is No Agency Without Attention
Authors: Bello Paul F. , Bridewell Will
Published: December 2017

Over the decades, the view of agency in artificial intelligence (AI) has narrowed to one that emphasizes acting in a way that maximizes reward. This perspective fails to make contact with the broader academic and legal communities where agency is bound up with personal accountability. To explore this gap in meaning, we introduce a spectrum of control that characterizes standard approaches to constructing agents and points the way toward agents that can be held responsible. The linchpin that enables agents to control their actions in the “right way” is attention. Broadly construed, attention lets an agent that is responsive to its environment consider the relationships among its actions, goals, and norms while also avoiding distraction. This ability enables strategic norm violations and opens the door to artificial, human‐level agency.