bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Investigation of the Effects of Citation Instruction to Avoid Plagiarism in EFL Academic Writing Assignments
Authors: Fazilatfar Ali M. , Elhambakhsh S. E. , Allami Hamid
Published: April 2018

Plagiarism in ESL and EFL learning contexts has become a topic engaging many researchers in a hot debate in recent years. Comparisons of student-generated texts with their source texts have shown that students rely amply on source texts in their writings, using copying as a major strategy. The students themselves relate these problems to their confusion of how to cite. Nevertheless, little research has been conducted on what constitutes effective citation practices in student writing. The present study aims at measuring the effects of teaching anti-plagiarism strategy of proper citation on 19 postgraduate and 34 graduate students’ use of multiple sources in their writings. The instructional treatment conducted in 30 min per week for seven sessions, aimed at teaching correct quotation rules and different functions of citation (i.e., presenting the literature in the field, comparing the existing views, supporting the writer’s view, etc.), while emphasizing the recognition of these rules at work. The writing samples of the students were three citation tests and source-based writing tasks assigned before, during, and after the treatment. Then the effective citation strategies of the students were analyzed according to their use of standard citation in APA (American Psychological Association) style. The results of the assigned tasks and one survey question demonstrated students’ perceived growing confidence and significant improvements in their citation skills in their source-based writings. The results can yield insightful implications for writing course designers to treat significant problems of the students in their academic writings.
Shariah Risk: Its Origin, Definition, and Application in Islamic Finance
Authors: Mohd Noor Nurul Syazwani , Ismail Abdul Ghafar , Mohd. Shafiai Muhammad Hakimi
Published: April 2018

“Risk” is widely used to explain an event pertaining to the probability of an outcome to occur. This paper provides the review of risk from its origin, where the concept of risk has been a concern for humanity since days of old, without the usage of its proper terminology. The study relies solely on related literature and highlights the application of risk in Islamic finance. Reviews of previous studies normally have its own terminology in research methodology. This section covers the issues of how risk is defined by researchers in various disciplines and therefore, how it is specifically related to Islamic finance through a generic and unique name, that is, Shariah risk. The major issue highlighted is where the sources are, which led to a deviation from the path that creates harmful effects. There are other sources for the risk that still need to be clarified further, but this study revealed the sources that lead to the changes of circumstances which result in having risks, based on the Quranic evidences in Islamic perspective. Hence, this paper aims to fill the gap of the current literature by showing the need to conduct further research on the derivation of Shariah risk and its potential in determining capital requirements in Islamic financial institutions.
Coverage of the Russian Doping Scandal in the New York Times: Intramedia and Intermedia Attribute Agenda-Setting Effects
Authors: Denham Bryan E.
Published: April 2018

When it publishes a major investigative report or exposé, a prominent news organization can transfer the salience of both an issue and its attributes to other news outlets. Major investigations can also affect how reporters in the same outlet think about an issue in the news. The present study examines intramedia and intermedia agenda-setting effects in the context of sport, drawing on allegations of a state-sponsored doping program in Russian athletics. In May 2016, Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, a former doping official in Russia, described the program to reporters at the New York Times, and the ensuing front-page story impacted coverage both internally and externally. The current study considers the implications of these effects for sports journalism and individual athletes.
Sexual Behavior and Daily Affect in Emerging Adulthood
Authors: Vasilenko Sara A. , Lefkowitz Eva S.
Published: April 2018

Although sexual behavior has been linked to mental health and well-being in adolescence and adulthood, relatively little is known about how sexual behavior is associated with well-being in emerging adulthood. This article uses data from college students ( N = 364; Mage = 18.4; range = 16.9–20.8; 57.4% female; 29.1% Hispanic/Latino [HL], 25.0% non-HL European American, 17.3% non-HL Asian American, 17.0% non-HL African American, and 11.5% non-HL multiracial) who reported vaginal intercourse on at least 1 day during six semesters of 14-day data collection ( n = 26,609 total days; n = 2,313 vaginal sex days). Multilevel models showed that students reported higher levels of positive affect on days they had vaginal sex compared to days they did not. Students reported higher levels of negative affect if they had sex with a nondating partner or experienced more negative consequences of sex. Findings suggest that sex is associated with better short-term well-being in emerging adulthood, but this association differs by situational factors.
Incidence of Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Surgery in Collegiate Baseball Players
Authors: Rothermich Marcus A. , Conte Stan A. , Aune Kyle T. , Fleisig Glenn S. , Cain E. Lyle , Dugas Jeffrey R.
Published: April 2018

Background:

Recent reports have highlighted the progressive increase in the incidence of ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries to the elbow in baseball players of all levels. However, knowledge of the incidence and other epidemiological factors regarding UCL injuries, specifically in college baseball players, is currently lacking.

Purpose:

To evaluate, over a period of 1 year, the incidence of UCL injuries requiring surgery in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I baseball programs.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

A total of 155 Division I collegiate baseball programs agreed to participate in the study. Demographics (position, year, background [location of high school]) for all players on these rosters were obtained from public websites. At the conclusion of the 2017 collegiate baseball season, the athletic trainer for each program entered anonymous, detailed information on injured players through an electronic survey into a secured database.

Results:

All 155 teams enrolled in the study completed the electronic survey. Of the 5295 collegiate baseball players on these rosters, 134 underwent surgery for an injured UCL (2.5% of all eligible athletes), resulting in a team surgery rate of 0.86 per program for 1 year. These 134 players came from 88 teams, thus 56.8% of the study teams underwent at least 1 surgery during the year. The surgery rate was 2.5 per 100 player-seasons for all players and was significantly higher among pitchers (4.4/100 player-seasons) than nonpitchers (0.7/100 player-seasons). The surgery rate was also significantly higher in underclassmen (3.1/100 player-seasons among freshmen and sophomores) than upperclassmen (1.9/100 player-seasons among juniors and seniors) (incidence rate ratio, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1-2.4). Players from traditionally warm-weather states did not undergo UCL surgery at a significantly different rate from players from traditionally cold-weather states (2.7/100 player-seasons vs 2.1/100 player-seasons, respectively). Nearly half of surgeries (48.5%) were performed during the baseball season.

Conclusion:

The incidence of UCL surgeries in NCAA Division I collegiate baseball players represents substantial morbidity to this young athletic population. Risk factors for injuries requiring surgery include being a pitcher and an underclassman. Awareness of these factors should be considered in injury prevention programs. Furthermore, this initial study can serve as a foundation for tracking these surgical injuries in future years and then identifying trends over time.
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in Surgical Care
Authors: Sposato Niklas S. , Bjerså Kristofer
Published: April 2018

Background.

A growing trend in surgical care is the investigation and incorporation of multimodal interventions into standardized programs. Additionally, manual therapies such as osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) are being used with patients in surgical care. Yet the scientific dialogue and the use of OMT in surgical care are currently insubstantial.

Objective.

The aim of this study was to present an overview of published research articles within the subject field of OMT in surgical care.

Method.

Summative review of peer-reviewed research articles published in osteopathic journals during the period 1990 to 2017. In total, 10 articles were identified.

Result.

Previous research has been conducted within the areas of abdominal, thoracic, gynecological, and/or orthopedic surgery with measured outcomes such as pain, analgesia consumption, length of hospital stay, and range of motion. Heterogeneity was identified in usage of osteopathic techniques, treatment duration, and occurrence, as well as in the treating osteopath’s experience.

Conclusion.

Despite the small number of research articles within this field, both positive measured effects as well as the absence of such effects were identified. Overall, there was a heterogeneity concerning surgical contexts, diagnoses, signs and symptoms, as well as surgical phases in current interprofessional osteopathic publications. In this era of multimodal surgical care, we argue that there is an urgent need to evaluate OMT in this context of care and with a proper research approach.
A next-generation sequencing–based assay for minimal residual disease assessment in AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutations
Authors: Levis Mark J. , Perl Alexander E. , Altman Jessica K. , Gocke Christopher D. , Bahceci Erkut , Hill Jason , Liu Chaofeng , Xie Zhiyi , Carson Andrew R. , McClain Valerie , Stenzel Timothy T. , Miller Jeffrey E.
Published: April 2018

Key Points

A sensitive and specific assay was developed for detection of MRD in patients with AML who harbor FLT3-ITD mutations. This standardized assay is readily available and may be used to guide therapy decisions in patients with AML.
Semiquantitative 4D seismic interpretation integrated with reservoir simulation: Application to the Norne field
Authors: dos Santos Juliana Maia Carvalho , Davolio Alessandra , Schiozer Denis Jose , MacBeth Colin
Published: April 2018

Time-lapse (or 4D) seismic attributes are extensively used as inputs to history matching workflows. However, this integration can potentially bring problems if performed incorrectly. Some of the uncertainties regarding seismic acquisition, processing, and interpretation can be inadvertently incorporated into the reservoir simulation model yielding an erroneous production forecast. Very often, the information provided by 4D seismic can be noisy or ambiguous. For this reason, it is necessary to estimate the level of confidence on the data prior to its transfer to the simulation model process. The methodology presented in this paper aims to diagnose which information from 4D seismic that we are confident enough to include in the model. Two passes of seismic interpretation are proposed: the first, intended to understand the character and quality of the seismic data and, the second, to compare the simulation-to-seismic synthetic response with the observed seismic signal. The methodology is applied to the Norne field benchmark case in which we find several examples of inconsistencies between the synthetic and real responses and we evaluate whether these are caused by a simulation model inaccuracy or by uncertainties in the actual observed seismic. After a careful qualitative and semiquantitative analysis, the confidence level of the interpretation is determined. Simulation model updates can be suggested according to the outcome from this analysis. The main contribution of this work is to introduce a diagnostic step that classifies the seismic interpretation reliability considering the uncertainties inherent in these data. The results indicate that a medium to high interpretation confidence can be achieved even for poorly repeated data.
Gastric Emptying Impacts the Timing of Meal Glucose Peak in Subjects With Uncomplicated Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Lupoli Roberta , Creanza Annalisa , Griffo Ettore , Nardone Gerardo , Rocco Alba , Bozzetto Lutgarda , Annuzzi Giovanni , Riccardi Gabriele , Capaldo Brunella
Published: April 2018

Context

Diabetes mellitus is associated with gastrointestinal (GI) motility dysfunction, ranging from delayed to accelerated gastric emptying (GE).

Objective

To evaluate GE in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) without chronic complications and to investigate its relation with postprandial glucose and GI hormone responses.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting/Participants

Forty-two patients with T1DM free of chronic complications referred to Federico II University and 31 healthy controls similar for age, sex, and body mass index.

Interventions/Main Outcome Measures

GE was assessed by using the 13C-octanoate breath test with a standardized solid meal. During the meal, plasma glucose, ghrelin, and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) responses were assessed, and GI symptoms were evaluated by a specific questionnaire.

Results

Patients with T1DM showed a significantly slower GE half-emptying time (GE t1/2) (113 ± 34 minutes) than did controls (89 ± 17 minutes; P < 0.001). Thirty-six percent of T1DM showed a delayed GE (t1/2 > 120 minutes), whereas all controls showed a normal GE. When patients with T1DM were stratified according to GE t1/2, postmeal glucose response was significantly different between those with delayed and those with normal GE (P = 0.013). In particular, patients with T1DM and delayed GE showed a significantly longer mean time to peak glucose than did patients with normal GE (P = 0.004). In addition, GE t1/2 was an independent predictor of the time to peak glucose (β = 0.329; P = 0.025). GLP-1 and ghrelin responses to the test meal, as well as the prevalence of GI symptoms, were similar between patients with T1DM and controls and between patients with T1DM with normal GE and those with delayed GE.

Conclusions

Delayed GE time is associated with a longer time to peak glucose. GE evaluation could be useful for individualizing the timing of preprandial insulin bolus in patients with T1DM.
Paradoxes of Visibility
Authors: Wundram Pimentel Alejandra , Leonardo Segura Mónica
Published: April 2018

Identification documents are essential for the recognition of individuals within the nation-state. By denying trans people the right to change the M or the F on these documents, governments perpetuate perceptions of trans people as frauds and of trans bodies as fake. Examining both legal examples and ethnographic data, the article calls attention to the current attempts to formulate a national gender identity law in Guatemala. Doing so, we discuss trans visibility as contentious. Because of the need for social inclusion, including access to services, trans activist organizations work to make trans people visible within the nation-state. At the same time, changing the sex marker on their identification documents could make trans populations more vulnerable to surveillance. Therefore, trans activists seek to ensure that trans individuals' status and history as transgender is rendered invisible in these legal name and sex changes. The article argues that the apparent tension between visibility and invisibility, made evident in the process of drafting the gender identity law, can be understood only in the context of local trans discourses that aim to claim inclusion in normative gender categories through renegotiating the meaning of men and women.
Patterns of mitochondrial membrane remodeling parallel functional adaptations to thermal stress
Authors: Chung Dillon J. , Sparagna Genevieve C. , Chicco Adam J. , Schulte Patricia M.
Published: April 2018

The effect of temperature on mitochondrial performance is thought to be partly due to its effect on mitochondrial membranes. Numerous studies have shown that thermal acclimation and adaptation can alter the amount of inner-mitochondrial membrane (IMM), but little is known about the capacity of organisms to modulate mitochondrial membrane composition. Using northern and southern subspecies of Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) that are locally adapted to different environmental temperatures, we assessed whether thermal acclimation altered liver mitochondrial respiratory capacity or the composition and amount of IMM. We measured changes in phospholipid headgroups and headgroup-specific fatty acid (FA) remodeling, and used respirometry to assess mitochondrial respiratory capacity. Acclimation to 5°C and 33°C altered mitochondrial respiratory capacity in both subspecies. Northern F. heteroclitus exhibited greater mitochondrial respiratory capacity across acclimation temperatures, consistent with previously observed subspecies differences in whole-organism aerobic metabolism. Mitochondrial phospholipids were altered following thermal acclimation, and the direction of these changes was largely consistent between subspecies. These effects were primarily driven by remodeling of specific phospholipid classes and were associated with shifts in metabolic phenotypes. There were also differences in membrane composition between subspecies that were driven largely by differences in phospholipid classes. Changes in respiratory capacity between subspecies and with acclimation were largely but not completely accounted for by alterations in the amount of IMM. Taken together, these results support a role for changes in liver mitochondrial function in the ectothermic response to thermal stress during both acclimation and adaptation, and implicate lipid remodeling as a mechanism contributing to these changes.
Hydrogen peroxide is a neuronal alarmin that triggers specific RNAs, local translation of Annexin A2, and cytoskeletal remodeling in Schwann cells
Authors: Negro Samuele , Stazi Marco , Marchioretto Marta , Tebaldi Toma , Rodella Umberto , Duregotti Elisa , Gerke Volker , Quattrone Alessandro , Montecucco Cesare , Rigoni Michela , Viero Gabriella
Published: April 2018

Schwann cells are key players in neuro-regeneration: They sense “alarm” signals released by degenerating nerve terminals and differentiate toward a proregenerative phenotype, with phagocytosis of nerve debris and nerve guidance. At the murine neuromuscular junction, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a key signal of Schwann cells’ activation in response to a variety of nerve injuries. Here we report that Schwann cells exposed to low doses of H2O2 rewire the expression of several RNAs at both transcriptional and translational levels. Among the genes positively regulated at both levels, we identified an enriched cluster involved in cytoskeleton remodeling and cell migration, with the Annexin (Anxa) proteins being the most represented family. We show that both Annexin A2 (Anxa2) transcript and protein accumulate at the tips of long pseudopods that Schwann cells extend upon H2O2 exposure. Interestingly, Schwann cells reply to this signal and to nerve injury by locally translating Anxa2 in pseudopods, and undergo an extensive cytoskeleton remodeling. Our results show that, similarly to neurons, Schwann cells take advantage of local protein synthesis to change shape and move toward damaged axonal terminals to facilitate axonal regeneration.
Comparison of hs-CRP level between low calorie high protein to standard protein diet in obese individuals with weight cycling - a randomised trial
Authors: Paranoan Adventia Natali , Jutamulia Joan , Prasetya Septian Ika , Mudjihartini Ninik , Witjaksono Fiastuti
Published: April 2018

Background: Obesity is associated with various health problems. Low-grade inflammation is a condition found in obese people and contributes to the development of various diseases. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of calorie restriction diet with high-protein (HP) or standard protein (SP) to inflammation marker (hs-CRP) in obese individuals with weight cycling.

Methods: 61 healthy obese men and women (25 – 49 years old) with a history of weight cycling were recruited and were randomly assigned to one of the intervention groups, HP or SP groups. Both groups were suggested to reduce their daily caloric intake by 1000 kcal with regular physical activity for 56 days. Subjects in HP group were given a daily protein intake of 22-30% from total daily caloric intake, while SP group were prescribed 12-20%. Dietary consultation was conducted through daily reminder by phone and weekly counseling. The measurement of hs-CRP level was performed prior to and at the end of the intervention.

Results: 54 subjects completed the program, yet due to several reasons only 32 of them were measured for hsCRP before and after completing the program, 15 from HP group and 17 from SP group. After completing the 56-day diet program, SP group experienced reduction of hs-CRP by -0.446 + 4.239, while HP underwent increase by 0.135 + 2.389. The mean difference of change in hs-CRP level between the two groups were not statistically significant (P=0.094).

Conclusion: Low calorie diet with either HP or SP for 8 weeks significantly reduced body weight (P<0.001) and BMI (P<0.001) in healthy obese subjects but the difference of change in the hs-CRP level between them were not significant. The protein composition of a low calorie diet may not affect the inflammatory state of obese individuals with weight cycling.

Trial registration number: NCT03374150
Internal transcribed spacer for identification of yeast species isolated from cancer patients at the Isotope and Radiation Center, Khartoum, Sudan: A cross-sectional, case-control study
Authors: Nagla Mohamed M.A. , El Fadil Omer E. , Muzamil Abdel Hamid M. , Hisham Altayeb N. , Bahaeldeen Mohamed B. , El-Nour El-Amin
Published: April 2018

Background:Cancer patients have a high risk of fungal infections, especially by Candida species.Non-C. albicans Candidainfections and less common yeast infections have been increasing in recent years. Identification by conventional methods can be difficult and sometimes inconclusive. This study aimed to detect the prevalence of oral yeast species isolated from cancer patients, from oral swab, sputum and urine, using Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequence analysis, since little is known about this problem in Sudan.

Methods:The study involved 333 cancer patients (168 patients under treatment [study group] and 165 patients before treatment [control group]). Oral swabs were collected from all patients. Urine or sputum specimens were collected from patients under treatment showing clinical features of UTI or lower respiratory tract infection, respectively. ITS1 and ITS2 region of  isolated yeast were amplified by PCR and sequenced. The obtained sequences were compared to reference sequence available in the GenBank database using BLAST.

Results:Culture results showed oral yeastspecies were isolated from 69/168 (41.1%) and 74/165 (44.8%) of patients among study and control groups, respectively (P value > 0.05). 2/9 (22.2%) patients were urine growth positive and 8/14 (57.1%) patients were sputum culture positive. Sequence analysis showed,C. albicanswas the most prevalent organism (93; 52.5%) followed byC. tropicalis(29; 16.4%), andC. glabrata(24; 13.6%). Non-C. albicans Candidaand uncommon rare yeast were found to be associated with oral infections and colonization among the study and control groups, whereasC.albicans was the most common species  (66.7%) associated with oral candidiasis among  the treated patients.         

Conclusion:Cancer patients were highly colonized with different oral yeast species, which indicates that ITS sequence analysis is an accurate method for identification. This will aid effective management to prevent dissemination of disease especially among those who are under chemo and/or radiotherapy treatment.
A novel ultrasound technique to detect early chronic kidney disease
Authors: Hewadikaram Dulitha K. , Bandara Mudhitha , Pattivedana Amal N. , Jayaweera Hiran H. E. , Jayananda Kithsiri M. , Madhavi W. A. Monica , Pallewatte Aruna , Jayasumana Channa , Siribaddana Sisira , Wansapura Janaka P.
Published: April 2018

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) of unknown etiology is recognized as a major public health challenge and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the dry zone in Sri Lanka. CKD is asymptomatic and are diagnosed only in late stages. Evidence points to strong correlation between progression of CKD and kidney fibrosis. Several biochemical markers of renal fibrosis have been associated with progression of CKD. However, no marker is able to predict CKD consistently and accurately before being detected with traditional clinical tests (serum creatinine, and cystatin C, urine albumin or protein, and ultrasound scanning).

In this paper, we hypothesize that fibrosis in the kidney, and therefore the severity of the disease, is reflected in the frequency spectrum of the scattered ultrasound from the kidney. We present a design of a simple ultrasound system, and a set of clinical and laboratory studies to identify spectral characteristics of the scattered ultrasound wave from the kidney that correlates with CKD. We believe that spectral parameters identified in these studies can be used to detect and stratify CKD at an earlier stage than what is possible with current markers of CKD.
Participants’ perspectives and preferences on clinical trial result dissemination: The TRUST Thyroid Trial experience
Authors: Racine Emmy , Hurley Caroline , Cheung Aoife , Sinnott Carol , Matvienko-Sikar Karen , Baumgartner Christine , Rodondi Nicolas , Smithson William H. , Kearney Patricia M.
Published: April 2018

Background: While there is an increasing consensus that clinical trial results should be shared with trial participants, there is a lack of evidence on the most appropriate methods. The aim of this study is to use a patient and public involvement (PPI) approach to identify, develop and evaluate a patient-preferred method of receiving results of the Thyroid Hormone Replacement for Subclinical Hypo-Thyroidism Trial (TRUST).

Methods: This is a mixed methods study with three consecutive phases. Phase 1 iteratively developed a patient-preferred result method using semi-structured focus groups and a consensus-orientated-decision model, a PPI group to refine the method and adult literacy review for plain English assessment. Phase 2 was a single-blind parallel group trial. Irish TRUST participants were randomised to the intervention (patient-preferred method) and control group (standard method developed by lead study site). Phase 3 used a patient understanding questionnaire to compare patient understanding of results between the two methods.

Results: Patients want to receive results of clinical trials, with qualitative findings indicating three key themes including ‘acknowledgement of individual contribution’, ‘contributing for a collective benefit’ and ‘receiving accessible and easy to understand results’. Building on these findings, a patient-preferred method of receiving results was developed as described above. TRUST participants (n=101) were randomised to the intervention. The questionnaire response rate was 74% for the intervention group and 62% for the control group.  There were no differences in patient understanding between the two methods. 

Conclusions: We have demonstrated that it is feasible to conduct PPI with regard to the dissemination of results. The study identified and developed a patient-preferred method of receiving clinical trial results for older adults over 65 years. Although, in this study PPI did not influence patients’ final understanding of results, it provides a record of the process of conducting PPI within the clinical trial setting.
Is there evidence of households making a heat or eat trade off in the UK?
Authors: Snell Carolyn , Lambie-Mumford Hannah , Thomson Harriet
Published: April 2018

This paper explores the popular idea of a ‘heat or eat’ dilemma existing for some households. The mixed-methods research finds that there is a relationship between not being able to heat the home and not being able to eat well. However, it appears that households struggle to do either, and there is considerable nuance in household decisions around energy use. Qualitative data analysis indicates the importance of energy billing periods, household composition and social and familial networks in terms of shaping household experiences and responses. The findings challenge the established idea that food and fuel are elastic household expenditures.
Beratung von Opfern rechter und rassistischer Gewalt
Authors: Köbberling Gesa
Published: April 2018

Wie können Betroffene von rechter und rassistischer Gewalt in Deutschland unterstützt werden? Gesa Köbberling greift Ergebnisse internationaler Hate-Crime-#off("i")on("i")off("i")# politische Praxis versteht. Die Studie knüpft an Diskussionen um Möglichkeiten einer kritischen Praxis Sozialer Arbeit an, die das Politische im Sozialen nicht ausklammert.
Framing Prior Consultation in Brazil
Authors: Schumann Charlotte
Published: April 2018

This book is a rich ethnographic and historic account of the juridification of prior consultation in Brazil. In her case study on the national regulation of ILO Convention 169, Charlotte Schumann critically examines the dynamic conflicts over competence and interpretation of this paramount safeguard mechanism for indigenous self-determination. The administrative center Brasília becomes the stage for a fierce struggle between state actors, social movements and experts over the limits of participation, the reification of cultural difference, and ways to vernacularize international human rights - leading to an intriguing discussion that interweaves law, anthropology and multiculturalist politics.
Der Andere als Herausforderung
Authors: Schriever Carla
Published: April 2018

Besonders in politisch unruhigen Zeiten stellt sich in wiederkehrenden Abständen die Frage nach der Verantwortung für unterschiedliche Geschehnisse. Der französisch-jüdische Phänomenologe Emmanuel Lévinas eröffnet einen alternativen Horizont, welcher Verantwortung von einer neuen Seite beleuchtet. Sein Ausgangspunkt ist der Andere: Ein anderer Mensch, der durch seine Ansprache die subjektive Weltordnung aus den Angeln hebt, der fordert und zur Verantwortung ruft. Ein Ruf, dem auf ethischer Grundlage entsprochen werden muss. Es bleibt ein vergeblicher, der auf dem Mittelmeer verhallt. Die Ethik von Emmanuel Lévinas ist heute so aktuell wie selten zuvor. Erweitert um die Theorien Jacques Derridas und Judith Butlers stellt Carla Schrievers Studie eine spannende Suche nach Anwendungsmöglichkeiten einer Ethik dar, die nicht Subjektivität, sondern Alterität ins Zentrum der Diskussion stellt.
Negative refraction and tiling billiards
Authors: Davis Diana , DiPietro Kelsey , Rustad Jenny , St Laurent Alexander
Published: April 2018

We introduce a new dynamical system that we call tiling billiards, where trajectories refract through planar tilings. This system is motivated by a recent discovery of physical substances with negative indices of refraction. We investigate several special cases where the planar tiling is created by dividing the plane by lines, and we describe the results of computer experiments.
A new genus and species of grass specialist short-winged leafhopper from Chile and Argentina (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Faltalini)
Authors: Campodonico Juan F. , Zahniser James N.
Published: April 2018

Ackbaria vermiformis gen. & sp. nov. (Deltocephalinae: Faltalini) is described from Chile (Bío Bío and Araucanía Regions) and Argentina (La Pampa and Entre Ríos Provinces). It is differentiated from other Faltalini by the following combination of characters: narrow and dorsoventrally compressed body, brachypterous, forewing without reticulate venation, male pygofer with ventroapical tooth and side with 10-15 macrosetae dorsoapically, and female pygofer with many macrosetae. Resumen. Se describe Ackbaria vermiformis gen. & sp. nov. (Deltocephalinae: Faltalini) de Chile (Regiones del Bío Bío y la Araucanía) y Argentina (Provincias de La Pampa y Entre Ríos). El género se diferencia de los otros Faltalini por la siguiente combinación de caracteres: cuerpo angosto y dorsoventralmente comprimido, braquíptero, ala anterior sin venación reticulada, pygofer masculino con diente ventroapical y 10-15 macrosetas por lado, y pygofer femenino con numerosas macrosetas.
Four new species and new records of Canthysellus from Brazil (Coleoptera: Noteridae)
Authors: Guimarães Bruno A. C. , Ferreira Nelson
Published: April 2018

Four new species of Canthysellus Baca & Toledo, 2015, C. kukrutkato sp. nov., C. putkarot sp. nov., C. omawe sp. nov. and C. yawari sp. nov., from the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Pará are described and illustrated. The new species can be recognized from all other members of the genus by their distinct aedeagal features; Canthysellus omawe sp. nov. and C. yawari sp. nov. differ furthermore from all other members of the genus by their distinct dorsal surface punctation and glabrous prosternal process. A geographic distribution map and a key to all known species of Canthysellus are provided. In addition, new records from Brazil are provided for C. buqueti (Laporte, 1835) from the states of Minas Gerais and Pará.
Epistomius, a new genus of African forest litter Trachyphloeini, with descriptions of seven new species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae)
Authors: Borovec Roman , Skuhrovec Jiří
Published: April 2018

A new genus of Trachyphloeini, Epistomius gen. nov. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae) living in forest litter in the eastern part of South Africa is described, illustrated and its position in the subfamily Entiminae is discussed. Seven new species are described: E. bulirschi sp. nov. (KwaZulu-Natal), E. colonnellii sp. nov. (Eastern Cape), E. janaki sp. nov. (KwaZulu-Natal), E. natalensis sp. nov. (KwaZulu-Natal), E. ngomiensis sp. nov. (KwaZulu-Natal), E. niger sp. nov. (KwaZulu-Natal), and E. wanati sp. nov. (Mpumalanga), and included in this new genus. All species are keyed and illustrated.
Making Sense of the Soul’s Numbers. Middle Platonist Readings of Plato’s Divisio Animae
Authors: Petrucci Federico M.
Published: April 2018

The aim of this paper is to show that a new approach to Middle Platonist technical exegesis is both necessary and profitable, for it can shed light on the deep philosophical and methodological background of Middle Platonist exegesis as a whole. Through the exegesis of Plato’s divisio animae, the Middle Platonists wanted to establish specific ways of both demonstrating and conceiving Plato’s authority also in the field of harmonics. In particular, I shall take into account Platonists such as Plutarch, Theon, Nicomachus, and Severus, in order to show that: a) the Middle Platonist exegesis of Plato’s divisio animae is chiefly based on a literalist approach to Plato’s text, which is exploited in such a way as to make good technical sense of Plato’s divisio animae; b) in this way, Middle Platonists sought to establish Plato’s authority in the field of harmonics; c) this conception of authority is however controversial, for some Platonists (e.g., Theon) regarded him as the founder of very specific technical notions, while others (such as Plutarch, Nicomachus, and Severus) considered him the first to have established the general framework of Greek harmonics.
Operator Learning Approach for the Limited View Problem in Photoacoustic Tomography
Authors: Dreier Florian , Pereverzyev Jr Sergiy , Haltmeier Markus
Published: April 2018

In photoacoustic tomography, one is interested to recover the initial pressure distribution inside a tissue from the corresponding
measurements of the induced acoustic wave
on the boundary of a region enclosing the tissue.
In the limited view problem, the wave boundary measurements are given
on the part of the boundary,
whereas in the full view problem, the measurements are known on the whole boundary.
For the full view problem, there exist various fast and robust reconstruction methods. These methods give severe reconstruction
artifacts when they are applied directly to the limited view data.
One approach for reducing such artefacts is trying to extend the limited view data to the
whole region boundary, and then use existing reconstruction methods for the full view data.
In this paper, we propose an operator learning approach for constructing an
operator that gives an approximate extension of the limited view data. We consider the behavior of a reconstruction formula on the extended limited view data that is given
by our proposed approach. Approximation errors of our approach are analyzed.
We also present numerical results with the proposed extension approach supporting our theoretical analysis.
On the reduction property of the number of H-equivalent tuples of states in a discrete Markov chain
Authors: Mikhailov Vladimir G.
Published: April 2018

The phenomenon of reduction of the set of permutations H arising in theorems on the weak convergence of the number of pairs of H-equivalent tuples in a segment of an indecomposable finite Markov chain to discrete distributions of the Poisson type is investigated.
Non-English lingua franca? Mobility, market and ideologies of the Chinese language in Nepal
Authors: Sharma Bal Krishna
Published: April 2018

As China’s economy continues to grow, making it the largest economy in the world, there’s a noticeable boost in its outbound tourism. As a result, the importance of Mandarin Chinese as a lingua franca is growing in many tourism contexts around the world. The number of and need for multilingual tourism workers who can speak Chinese is growing. In this article, I discuss ideologies of the Chinese language in the context of Nepal’s tourism and related businesses. I present findings from interviews with learners and users of Chinese in Nepal who come from multiple domains of language work such as tour guides, hoteliers, vendors, and business people. I complement the analysis with ethnographic observations of public linguistic signage from major tourist destinations in Kathmandu. I organize the findings into three key themes: (1) the commodity value of Chinese for Nepalis in order to achieve economic gains, (2) the increasing symbolic power of the Chinese language as an international lingua franca, and (3) the value of the Chinese language for intercultural understanding between the people of these two countries. While articulating these complex language ideologies, Nepalis portray Chinese as non-English speakers and, by the same token, position themselves as competent speakers of the English language. The findings as a whole highlight the power, prestige and commodity value of Chinese in Nepal, regimenting another lingua franca alongside English in international tourism contexts.
Space quasiconformal mappings and Neumann eigenvalues in fractal type domains
Authors: Gol’dshtein Vladimir , Hurri-Syrjänen Ritva , Ukhlov Alexander
Published: April 2018

We study the variation of Neumann eigenvalues of the p-Laplace operator under quasiconformal perturbations of space domains. This study allows us to obtain the lower estimates of Neumann eigenvalues in fractal type domains. The proposed approach is based on the geometric theory of composition operators in connection with the quasiconformal mapping theory.
Anti-plasmodial activity of sodium acetate in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice
Authors: Abdulkareem Adam O. , Babamale Abdulkareem O. , Owolusi Lucky O. , Busari Simbiat A. , Olatunji Lawrence A.
Published: April 2018

Background

Continuous increase in drug resistance has hindered the control of malaria infection and resulted in multi-drug-resistant parasite strains. This, therefore, intensifies the search for alternative treatments with no or less side effects. Several histone deacetylase inhibitors have been characterised to possess anti-malaria activity; however, their further development as anti-malaria agents has not recorded much success. The present study investigated the anti-plasmodial activity of sodium acetate in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice, aiming at finding a better alternative source of malaria chemotherapy.

Methods

Thirty female Swiss albino mice were randomly distributed into six groups. Groups A (uninfected control) and B (infected control) received only distilled water. Group C (artesunate control) were infected and treated orally with 4 mg/kg artesunate on the first day, and subsequently 2 mg/kg artesunate. Groups D, E and F were infected and orally treated with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg sodium acetate, respectively.

Results

Sodium acetate significantly lowered parasitaemia (p<0.05) after 4 days post-treatment, and the parasite inhibition rate of 68.5% at 50 mg/kg compared favourably with the 73.3% rate of artesunate. Similarly, administration of 50 mg/kg sodium acetate improved serum total cholesterol relatively better than artesunate. Our results also revealed that sodium acetate does not interfere with liver function, as there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in both infected treated and uninfected mice.

Conclusions

This study shows that sodium acetate may be a safe alternative source of anti-malaria drugs. Its effect on the serum total cholesterol also predicts its ability in correcting malaria-induced metabolic syndromes.
Introduction to disoriented knot theory
Authors: Altıntaş İsmet
Published: April 2018

This paper is an introduction to disoriented knot theory, which is a generalization of the oriented knot and link diagrams and an exposition of new ideas and constructions, including the basic definitions and concepts such as disoriented knot, disoriented crossing and Reidemesiter moves for disoriented diagrams, numerical invariants such as the linking number and the complete writhe, the polynomial invariants such as the bracket polynomial, the Jones polynomial for the disoriented knots and links.
Determination of the Sr/Ca ratio of tooth samples by photoactivation analysis in Southern Turkey
Authors: Kavun Yusuf , Boztosun İsmail , Ðapo Haris , Maraş İsmail , Segebade Christian
Published: April 2018

A nuclear analytical technique, namely instrumental photon activation analysis (IPAA), was used to determine Sr and Ca concentrations in human teeth. This work was conducted using the first accelerator facility, an off-shelf clinical linear accelerator (cLINAC), in Turkey. The tooth samples supplied by the Akdeniz University Faculty of Dentistry were analyzed for determination of the Sr/Ca element ratio. The results were obtained to demonstrate the impact of socioeconomic changes on dietary habits. A calibration material (CM; a mixture of calcium and strontium oxides) was required for quantification of the analytical results. The tooth samples, together with the CM, were exposed to 18 MeV end-point energy bremsstrahlung photons from the cLINAC. Thereafter, the γ-ray spectra of the samples and the CM were obtained using high resolution γ spectroscopy. Variations in the Sr/Ca ratio in the teeth of patients fed with beef and fizzy beverages were investigated in this study.
Numerical algorithm based on implicit finite-difference schemes for analysis of dynamic processes in blocky media
Authors: Sadovskii Vladimir M. , Sadovskaya Oxana V.
Published: April 2018

Dynamic processes in block-structured media are described within the framework of a mathematical model where elastic blocks interact with each other through pliable interlayers possessing complex mechanical properties. The case of elastic interaction is considered, the effects of plasticity and viscoelastic shear in block interlayers are taken into account. We use the model of porous fluid-saturated material in interlayers in which pores collapse during sudden or prolonged application of compressive stresses. An implicit difference scheme is constructed for numerical implementation of the model based on principles for construction of Ivanov’s schemes with controlled energy dissipation. Using MPI (Message Passing Interface), we developed parallel software for modelling wave motion in a two-dimensional formulation. The results of numerical analysis are presented for the waves initiated by rotation of blocks, which indicates a strong anisotropy of the blocky medium.
“Mit Deutschem Gruss”
Authors: Rohrbacher Bernhard
Published: April 2018

In the spring of 2016, a private organization installed a sign at a publicly owned park in La Crescenta, California, that read “Willkommen zum Hindenburg Park” (Welcome to Hindenburg Park). Public protests soon drew attention to the fact that during the 1930s and '40s, the park, then owned and operated by the German-American League, was the site of frequent Nazi rallies, during which it was awash in swastika flags. The sign was quickly removed. It has gone unnoticed, however, that the German-American League—which signed its invitation to the opening of the park in 1934 “mit deutschem Gruss” (with German greeting, i.e., the giving of the fascist salute accompanied by the shouting of “Heil Hitler!”)—is still in existence today. In 2005, on the occasion of its one-hundredth anniversary, the German-American League published a booklet that whitewashes its Nazi past by omission and misrepresentation. The purpose of this article is to shed light on that Nazi past, based mainly on documents from the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles, Community Relations Committee Collection, and based as well on film footage of the League's 1936 German Day celebration at the park.
LÍNGUAS ADICIONAIS EM ESCOLAS PÚBLICAS: DISCUSSÃO A PARTIR DE UM CENÁRIO INTERCULTURAL
Authors: Fritzen Maristela Pereira , de Souza Nazaro Ana Carolina
Published: April 2018

RESUMO: O presente artigo tem por objetivo discutir dados parciais de uma pesquisa mais abrangente que buscou analisar a oferta de línguas adicionais na educação básica em um cenário marcado historicamente pela interculturalidade, a Microrregião de Blumenau, Santa Catarina. Estudos anteriores já apontaram a presença de línguas de imigração nessa região, o que justifica a necessidade de se traçar um perfil das línguas oferecidas no currículo escolar dos sistemas públicos de ensino. Os procedimentos metodológicos incluíram um levantamento de dados nos quinze municípios que compõem a referida região, por meio de um questionário. A partir desse levantamento foi possível conhecer a situação de cada município no tocante às línguas oferecidas nas escolas e as recentes políticas linguísticas locais. A análise dos registros indica o pouco investimento nas línguas de imigração ainda presentes na Microrregião, bem como a necessidade de se discutir o papel da escola diante do plurilinguismo na contemporaneidade.
“CIÊNCIA SEM FRONTEIRAS” COMO ACONTECIMENTO DISCURSIVO E DISPOSITIVO DE PODER/SABER
Authors: Merkle Lingnau Carina , Navarro Pedro
Published: April 2018

RESUMO: A ideia de que internacionalizar a educação é tarefa da qual o ensino superior no país não pode escapar mobiliza as discussões realizadas ao longo deste artigo. Assim, a partir da premissa de que o chamado Programa Ciência sem Fronteiras se configura como um dispositivo de poder/saber, refletimos sobre as regularidades discursivas e os efeitos de poder vinculados a um conjunto de enunciados que tem como referencial a internacionalização da educação. Primeiramente, discutimos o programa como acontecimento discursivo e dispositivo de governamentalidade; em seguida, analisamos sequências enunciativas retiradas de um arquivo mais abrangente, composto por documentos e entrevistas feitas a sujeitos que tiveram uma experiência educacional com esse programa. As discussões encontram-se calcadas em levantamento bibliográfico, pesquisa documental e entrevistas narrativas (BAUER & GASKEL, 2002), Também valemo-nos do método arquegenealógico, com base em Foucault (1999, 2008, 2014, 2015), bem como Deleuze (2011), Veyne (2011) e Navarro (2004, 2011, 2015).