bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phenotype Development in Adolescents With Tourette Syndrome: A Large Clinical Longitudinal Study
Authors: Groth Camilla , Debes Nanette Mol , Skov Liselotte
Published: October 2017

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by frequent comorbidities and a wide spectrum of phenotype presentations. This study aimed to describe the development of phenotypes in TS and tic-related impairment in a large longitudinal study of 226 children and adolescents followed up after 6 years. The participants were clinically examined to assess tic severity and impairment, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The development in phenotypes changed toward less comorbidity with 40% TS-only (no OCD or ADHD) (TS without OCD or ADHD) at baseline and 55% at follow-up.Tic-related impairment was expected to improve with an age-related tic decline, but surprisingly the impairment score did not reflect the tic decline. Sex, vocal and motor tics, and OCD and ADHD severity were highly significantly correlated to the impairment score. Knowledge of TS phenotype development is used in clinical settings to guide patients and for genetic, etiological, and clinical research purposes.
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Authors: Carr Anna E. , Grand Ann , Sullivan Miriam
Published: October 2017

To engage effectively, it is important to understand audiences’ values, attitudes, and background knowledge. Given that researchers are increasingly expected to be responsible for public engagement, we conducted a small study into their perceptions of publics’ scientific knowledge. Our data show researchers feel public engagement is important and their particular field is not difficult to understand. However, our participants appeared to rely on guesswork when estimating public knowledge and to underestimate positive public attitudes toward science. We suggest if researchers develop a more accurate sense of audiences’ knowledge and attitudes they will be able to engage more effectively and efficiently.
Speaking About Birth: Visible and Silenced Narratives in Online Discussions of Childbirth
Authors: Das Ranjana
Published: October 2017

In this article, I present an analysis of 1930 posts from 12 discussion threads from an online parenting forum, drawing upon a broader project on the mediation of childbirth. I present three themes in analysis: the multi-pronged functions of writing birth narratives, the discursive and perceived silencing of difficult stories, and the overt individualization and self-management evident in women’s accounts. I locate these as outcomes of the individualization of maternity in contemporary society and pendulum swings in cultural and policy-level conceptualizations of how births “should be.” I argue for greater attention to be paid to the mediation of parenting and networked maternal subjectivities.
Geological features and geochemical characteristics of Late Devonian–Early Carboniferous K-bentonites from northwestern Turkey
Authors: Göncüoğlu M.C. , Günal-Türkmenoğlu A. , Bozkaya Ö. , Ünlüce-Yücel Ö. , Okuyucu C. , Yilmaz İ.Ö.
Published: October 2017

Newly discovered K-bentonite beds, interstratified with limestones/dolomitic limestones of the Upper Devonian–Lower Carboniferous Yılanlı Formation, are exposed in the northwestern Black Sea region of Turkey, around Zonguldak and Bartın. K-bentonite samples collected from four different locations: the Gavurpınarı and Yılanlı Burnu quarries from the Bartın area, the Çimşir Çukurları quarry from the Şapça area, and the Güdüllü and Gökgöl highway tunnel section near Zonguldak city were investigated using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in order to reveal their mineralogical and geochemical characteristics and understand their origin and evolution. The K-bentonites occur at different levels in the Yılanlı Formation as 2–40 cm-thick, greenish to yellowish beds cropping out several hundred metres along strike. Preliminary biostratigraphic data suggest that the protoliths of the Bartın (Gavurpınarı and Yılanlı Burnu) and Güdüllü K-bentonites were deposited at around the boundary between the Frasnian and Famennian, whereas those in the Şapça and Gökgöl sections are slightly younger (Devonian–Carboniferous boundary interval). The lithofacies types of the host carbonate rocks suggest an ‘epeiric’ shallow carbonate platform environment. Illite and mixed-layer illite-smectite were the major clay minerals in the K-bentonites. The K-bentonites from the Bartın area display a high degree of illitization and consist mainly of illite indicating high-grade diagenesis, whereas illite-smectite-rich samples from the Şapca and Gökgöl tunnel locations reflect relatively lower diagenetic conditions. According to their geochemical compositions, two groups of K-bentonites were distinguished, one with alkali basalt (Bartın area and Güdüllü locations) and one with trachyte affinities (Gökgöl tunnel and Şapça locations). Geochemical fingerprinting of K-bentonites by trace and rare earth element (REE) data suggest that tephras with alkali basalt composition have been derived by a source formed in a ‘continental back-arc’ setting, whereas the source of K-bentonites with trachytic precursors is related to ‘continental within-plate rifting’. An evaluation of the global Late Devonian and Devonian–Carboniferous volcanism suggests that the bentonite precursors may be related to late-Variscan magmatism in Laurussia.
Experimental pressure and sealing plug as part of the European DOPAS project – deep geological repository plug demonstration
Authors: Hanusová Irena , Svoboda Jiří , Večerník Petr
Published: October 2017

The objective of the DOPAS international project is to design a sealing-plug system for deep geological repository (DGR) use, to provide detailed plans for the design of such plugs, to test the characteristics of the materials to be used and the construction technology and to install four experimental in situ plugs. The Czech experimental pressure and sealing-plug (EPSP) experiment is being conducted in a rock environment consisting of granitoids at the Josef Regional Underground Research Centre. The concept of the experiment is based primarily on the use of materials and technology available in the Czech Republic and the principal aim is to demonstrate the technical viability and functioning of a pressure-resistant plug located in a future DGR. The completion of the EPSP experiment will contribute towards both the demonstration of how sealing-plug systems behave under real underground conditions and the long-term safety of a future DGR in the Czech Republic.
High-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopic (HAADF-STEM) study of Fe-rich 7 Å–14 Å interstratified minerals from a hydrothermal deposit
Authors: Inoué Sayako , Kogure Toshihiro
Published: October 2017

The distribution of octahedral cations in the two component layers of a 7 Å–14 Å interstratified mineral with a bulk chemical composition (Fe4.122+Mg0.07Mn0.01Al1.69□0.11)(Si2.56Al1.44) O10(OH)8was investigated using high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) in combination with the image simulations. In the 14 Å component layers, comparison between the observed and simulated images revealed that the M4 sites of the interlayer sheets were occupied preferentially by Al together with a small amount of Fe; the other M1, M2 and M3 sites were occupied by dominant Fe and residual Al in equal proportions. Two types of octahedral sheets with disordered and ordered cation distributions were recognized in the 7 Å component layers. The two types of sheets were similar to the octahedral sheet of the 2:1 layer and the interlayer sheet in the 14 Å layer above, respectively. Irregular vertical stacking and lateral contact of the different component layers in structure and chemistry characterized the interstratification, which may be caused by rapid precipitation and accretion of the component layers in hydrothermal environments.
Deciphering temperature, pressure and oxygen-activity conditions of chlorite formation
Authors: Vidal Olivier , Lanari Pierre , Munoz Manuel , Bourdelle Franck , De Andrade Vincent
Published: October 2017

The advantages and limits of empirical, semi-empirical and thermodynamic methods devoted to the estimation of chlorite-formation temperature are discussed briefly. The results of semiempirical and thermodynamic approaches with different assumptions regarding the redox state of iron in chlorite are compared for a large set of natural data covering a range of pressure conditions from a few hundred bars to 18 kbar and temperature from 100 to 500°C. The T-XFe3+ evolution estimated using the thermodynamic approach of Vidal et al. (2005) shows a systematic increase in XFe3+ with decreasing temperature, which is compatible with the decrease in aO2 buffered by magnetite- or hematite-chlorite equilibrium. This trend as well as the observed increase in vacancies in chlorite with decreasing temperature is interpreted as the incorporation of Fe3+-sudoite. The standard-state properties of this endmember have been derived to reproduce the observed T-aO2-XFe3+ evolutions. It can be used to estimate T-aO2-XFe3 values with a Chl-Qtz-H2O multi-equilibrium approach. When combining our results with those of other studies published recently, it appears that thermodynamic approaches and mapping techniques developed for metamorphic rocks can be used to discuss the conditions of formation of very low-grade rocks where kinetics is much more sluggish than in metamorphic rocks. This requires use of appropriate analytical tools and techniques with a spatial resolution of a few hundred nanometres.
Comments on the characterization of untreated and ground kaolin from Ranong, Thailand
Authors: Goodman Bernard A. , Worasith Niramon
Published: October 2017

Aung et al. (2014, 2015) described the activation of kaolin samples to remove coloured pigments from rice-bran oil, the effects of various treatments on their decolourization capacity, and the characterization of these kaolin samples by physical methods. This research used a kaolin sample from Ranong in southern Thailand, and investigated the effects of grinding and heat treatment prior to acid activation of the mineral. The various activated mineral phases were then characterized by a combination of X-ray diffraction, Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence. This work represented an extension of research reported previously by Worasith et al. (2011a), in which various samples of the same Ranong kaolin were characterized after grinding and acid activation, and their capacities to decolourize rice-bran oil evaluated (Worasith et al., 2011b). However, despite the similarities in the experiments, there are some important differences in the results presented in these two sets of publications, which raise questions concerning the conduct of this type of research and the generality of any conclusions derived.
Seismic dispersion and attenuation in saturated porous rocks with aligned fractures of finite thickness: Theory and numerical simulations — Part 1: P-wave perpendicular to the fracture plane
Authors: Guo Junxin , Germán Rubino J. , Barbosa Nicolás D. , Glubokovskikh Stanislav , Gurevich Boris
Published: October 2017

When a seismic wave travels through a fluid-saturated porous reservoir containing aligned fractures, it induces oscillatory fluid flow between the fractures and the embedding background medium. Although there are numerous theoretical models for quantifying the associated seismic attenuation and velocity dispersion, they rely on certain assumptions, such as infinitesimal fracture thickness and dilute fracture concentration, which rarely hold in real reservoirs. The objective of this work is to overcome some of these limitations and, therefore, improve the applicability of the available theoretical models. To do so, we extend existing models to the finite fracture thickness case for P-waves propagating perpendicular to the fracture plane using the so-called branching function approach. We consider three types of fractures, namely, periodically and randomly spaced planar fractures, as well as penny-shaped cracks. The extended unified model is then tested by comparing with corresponding numerical simulations based on Biot’s theory of poroelasticity. We consider two cases of 2D rock samples with aligned elliptical fractures, one with low fracture density and the other with high fracture density. The results indicate that the influence of the finite fracture thickness on seismic dispersion and attenuation is small at low frequencies when the fluid pressure has enough time to equilibrate between the fractures and background medium. However, this effect is significant at high frequencies when there is not sufficient time for the fluid pressure equilibration. In addition, the theoretical predictions of the penny-shaped crack model are found to match the numerical simulation results very well, even under relatively high fracture density. Analyses of stress distributions suggest that the small discrepancies found between theoretical predictions and numerical simulations are probably due to fracture interactions. In a companion paper, we will extend the analysis for considering the full stiffness matrix and anisotropic properties of such rocks.
Estimation of modified fluid factor and dry fracture weaknesses using azimuthal elastic impedance
Authors: Chen Huaizhen , Ji Yuxin , Innanen Kristopher A.
Published: October 2017

We consider the problem of fluid identification and fracture detection in unconventional reservoir (tight gas sand and shale gas) characterization. We begin with a simplification of the stiffness parameters and the derivation of a linearized reflection coefficient and azimuthal elastic impedance (EI). The accuracy of the simplification is confirmed in application to gas-bearing fractured rocks with low porosity and small fracture density. We have developed a modified fluid factor that is more sensitive to fluid type and less influenced by porosity. A two-step inversion workflow is evaluated based on the derived linearized reflection coefficient and azimuthal EI, including (1) a damped least-squares inversion for azimuthal EI, constrained by an initial model, and (2) a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo inversion for the modified fluid factor and dry fracture weaknesses. Stability and accuracy are examined with synthetic data, from which we conclude that the modified fluid factor and dry fracture weaknesses can be stably determined in the presence of moderate data error/noise. The stability of our approach is further confirmed on a fractured tight gas sand field data set, within which we observe that geologically reasonable parameters (Lamé constants, the modified fluid factor, and dry fracture weaknesses) are determined. We conclude that our inversion workflow and its underlying assumptions form realistic predictions/discriminations of reservoir fracture and fluid parameters.
Effect of brine-CO2 fracture flow on velocity and electrical resistivity of naturally fractured tight sandstones
Authors: Nooraiepour Mohammad , Bohloli Bahman , Park Joonsang , Sauvin Guillaume , Skurtveit Elin , Mondol Nazmul Haque
Published: October 2017

Fracture networks inside geologic [Formula: see text] storage reservoirs can serve as the primary fluid flow conduit, particularly in low-permeability formations. Although some experiments focus on the geophysical properties of brine- and [Formula: see text]-saturated rocks during matrix flow, geophysical monitoring of fracture flow when [Formula: see text] displaces brine inside the fracture seems to be overlooked. We have conducted laboratory geophysical monitoring of fluid flow in a naturally fractured tight sandstone during brine and liquid [Formula: see text] injection. For the experiment, the low-porosity, low-permeability, naturally fractured core sample from the Triassic De Geerdalen Formation was acquired from the Longyearbyen [Formula: see text] storage pilot at Svalbard, Norway. Stress dependence, hysteresis, and the influence of fluid-rock interactions on fracture permeability were investigated. The results suggest that in addition to stress level and pore pressure, mobility and fluid type can affect fracture permeability during loading and unloading cycles. Moreover, the fluid-rock interaction may impact volumetric strain and consequently fracture permeability through swelling and dry out during water and [Formula: see text] injection, respectively. Acoustic velocity and electrical resistivity were measured continuously in the axial direction and three radial levels. Geophysical monitoring of fracture flow revealed that the axial P-wave velocity and axial electrical resistivity are more sensitive to saturation change than the axial S-wave, radial P-wave, and radial resistivity measurements when [Formula: see text] was displacing brine, and the matrix flow was negligible. The marginal decreases of acoustic velocity (maximum 1.6% for axial [Formula: see text]) compared with the 11% increase in axial electrical resistivity suggest that in the case of dominant fracture flow within the fractured tight reservoirs, the use of electrical resistivity methods have a clear advantage compared with seismic methods to monitor [Formula: see text] plume. The knowledge learned from such experiments can be useful for monitoring geologic [Formula: see text] storage in which the primary fluid flow conduit is the fracture network.
Bone permittivity and its effect on using ground-penetrating radar
Authors: Schneider Blair B. , Tsoflias Georgios , Steeples Don W. , Mandel Rolfe , Hofman Jack
Published: October 2017

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a powerful tool that is still being developed for archaeological investigations. We investigated the dielectric properties of mammoth bone and bone from modern bison, cow, deer, and elk as a proxy for applying GPR for detecting prehistoric animal remains. Sample dielectric properties (relative permittivity, loss factor, and loss-tangent values) were measured with an impedance analyzer over frequencies ranging from 10 MHz to 1 GHz. Bone-sample porosity, bulk density, water saturation, and volumetric water content of the specimens were also measured. The measured sample-relative permittivity values were then compared with modeled relative permittivity values using common dielectric-mixing models to determine which parameters control the best-fit predictions of relative permittivity of animal bone. We observe statistically significant dielectric-property differences among different animal fauna, as well as variation as a function of frequency. In addition, we determine that the relative permittivity values of 8–9 for similar minerals, such as apatite, are not suitable as a proxy for predicting animal bone properties. We estimate new relative permittivity values of 3–5 for dry animal bone minerals in the frequency range of 100–1000 MHz using these common dielectric-mixing models. We postulate that differences in bone microstructure contribute to dielectric-property variability.
Gravity anomalies of arbitrary 3D polyhedral bodies with horizontal and vertical mass contrasts up to cubic order
Authors: Ren Zhengyong , Zhong Yiyuan , Chen Chaojian , Tang Jingtian , Pan Kejia
Published: October 2017

A new singularity-free analytical formula has been developed for the gravity field of arbitrary 3D polyhedral mass bodies with horizontally and vertically varying density contrast using third-order polynomial functions. First, the observation sites are moved to the origin of the coordinate system. Then, the volume and surface integral theorems are invoked successively to transform the volume integrals into surface integrals over polygonal faces and into line integrals over the edges of the polyhedral mass bodies. Furthermore, singularity-free closed-form solutions are derived for these line integrals over the edges. Thus, the observation sites can be located inside, on, or outside the 3D distributions. A synthetic prismatic mass body is adopted to verify the accuracy and singularity-free property of our newly developed analytical expressions. Excellent agreements are obtained between our solutions and other published closed-form solutions with relative errors in the order of [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text]. In addition, an octahedral model and a near-Earth asteroid model are used to verify the accuracy of the presented method for complicated target structures by comparing the results with those from a high-order Gaussian quadrature approach.
Associations between residual depressive symptoms, cognition, and functioning in patients with euthymic bipolar disorder: results from the FACE-BD cohort
Authors: Roux Paul , Raust Aurélie , Cannavo Anne-Sophie , Aubin Valérie , Aouizerate Bruno , Azorin Jean-Michel , Bellivier Frank , Belzeaux Raoul , Bougerol Thierry , Cussac Iréna , Courtet Philippe , Etain Bruno , Gard Sébastien , Job Sophie , Kahn Jean-Pierre , Leboyer Marion , Olié Emilie ,   the Fonda Mental Advanced Centers of Expertise in Bipolar Disorders (FACE-BD) Collaborators, Henry Chantal , Passerieux Christine
Published: October 2017

Background

The relationship between residual depressive symptoms, cognition and functioning in patients with euthymic bipolar disorder is a subject of debate.

Aims

To assess whether cognition mediates the association between residual depressive symptoms and functioning in patients with bipolar disorder who were euthymic.

Method

We included 241 adults with euthymic bipolar disorder in a multicentre cross-sectional study. We used a battery of tests to assess six cognition domains. A path analysis was then used to perform a mediation analysis of the relationship between residual depressive symptoms, cognitive components and functioning.

Results

Only verbal and working memory were significantly associated with better functioning. Residual depressive symptoms were associated with poorer functioning. No significant relationship was found between residual depressive symptoms and any cognitive component.

Conclusions

Cognition and residual depressive symptoms appear to be two independent sources of variation in the functioning of people with euthymic bipolar disorder.
Physiology and Role of Intraocular Pressure in Contemporary Anesthesia
Authors: Kelly Dermot J. , Farrell Sinéad M.
Published: October 2017

More than 26 million Americans suffer with cataracts, and with 3.6 million cataract extractions performed annually in the United States, it is the most common surgical procedure. The integrity of the delicate structures of the eye that mediate vision is dependent on the intraocular pressure (IOP). Yet, IOP acts to compress the vessels within the globe—akin to a Starling resistor—and is a key component that determines the ocular perfusion pressure, defined as the difference between arterial pressure and IOP. The retina is one of the most metabolically active tissues in the body, and its functional integrity is dependent on an adequate blood supply, with retinal function linearly related to the ocular perfusion pressure. Retinal cell death has been demonstrated at low perfusion pressures (below 50 mm Hg). Modern ophthalmic surgery involves globe irrigation, manipulation, and instrumentation, resulting in dynamic pressure fluxes within the eye. Marked elevations of IOP (up to 4–5 times the normal value) with consequent borderline retinal and optic disk perfusion pressures occur for prolonged periods during many ophthalmic procedures. General surgeries, including laparoscopic, spinal, and cardiac procedures, especially, with their demand for steep Trendelenburg or prolonged prone positioning and/or hypotensive anesthesia, can induce IOP changes and ocular perfusion imbalance. These rapid fluctuations in IOP, and so in perfusion, play a role in the pathogenesis of the visual field defects and associated ocular morbidity that frequently complicate otherwise uneventful surgeries. The exact etiology of such outcomes is multifactorial, but ocular hypoperfusion plays a significant and frequently avoidable role. Those with preexisting compromised ocular blood flow are especially vulnerable to intraoperative ischemia, including those with hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, or glaucoma. However, overly aggressive management of arterial pressure and IOP may not be possible given a patient’s comorbidity status, and it potentially exposes the patient to risk of catastrophic choroidal hemorrhage. Anesthetic management significantly influences the pressure changes in the eye throughout the perioperative period. Strategies to safeguard retinal perfusion, reduce the ischemic risk, and minimize the potential for expulsive bleeding must be central to the anesthetic techniques selected. This review outlines: important physiological principles; ophthalmic and general procedures most likely to develop damaging IOP levels and their causative factors; the effect of anesthetic agents and techniques on IOP; recent scientific evidence highlighting the significance of perfusion changes during surgery; and key aspects of postoperative visual loss and management approaches for high-risk patients presenting for surgery.
English Bibles and Their Readers, 1400–1700
Authors: Fulton Thomas
Published: October 2017

Bibles were among the most circulated books in medieval and early modern England, the most studied and most read, and as such they provide a profoundly valuable archive for the history of reading. Because the biblical text underwent intense and often contentious hermeneutic scrutiny during the period, a material history of reading intersects with a less material history of interpretation. Evidence from early bibles and their users of all sorts—known biblical scholars, literary figures, or anonymous readers—sheds light on how readers confronted the changing problems of interpretation, translation, and textual format, and how they reworked these in literary and cultural production. Working with Latin and vernacular translations, contributors to this volume rethink the cultural role of the Bible using a wide range of material evidence, including manuscript notes, defacement, graffiti, printed annotations and paratextual devices, forms of textual circulation, and the nature of literary allusion and cultural reuse.
ANALYSIS OF THE PROFESSIONAL SATISFACTION OF PHARMACISTS IN BRATISLAVA
Authors: KobliĹˇkovĂˇ Zuzana , HaramiovĂˇ Zuzana , TesaĹ™ TomĂˇĹˇ
Published: October 2017

: A pharmacist is an expert on medications. At the same time as the most accessible health care provider, the pharmacist fulfills an important social mission. For a pharmacist, work satisfaction plays an important role in several aspects of his practice in a pharmacy. Our primary goal was to conduct a local analysis with the purpose of testing the proposed questionnaire evaluating various dimensions of the professional satisfaction of pharmacists. Our secondary goals were as follows: to analyze individual dimensions of pharmacistsâ€™ professional satisfaction, to assess the quality of life in the context of the pharmacistsâ€™ professional satisfaction and to analyze the impact of selected characteristics (age, location of the pharmacy) on the pharmacistsâ€™ quality of life. The study is based on a questionnaire survey among pharmacists in Bratislava from July to September 2016. Data were collected in person. Respondents were randomly selected from community pharmacies., Equal number of respondents were selected from three different types of pharmacies: a) public pharmacy or its branch in a medical facility or a health centre b) public pharmacy or its branch in a shopping centre c) public pharmacy or its branch in a residential housing development. The results of the study show that the professional satisfaction of pharmacists in Bratislava is evaluated positively. Out of all 27 questions of the questionnaire, only three were evaluated negatively. The analysis points out that pharmacists are dissatisfied with the conditions in the workplace, regulation and legal responsibilities stemming from the profession of a pharmacist, healthcare system, and health insurance companies. The majority of the pharmacists characterized their state of mind on the job as concentrated. Older respondents were more tired and less energized. With regards to the location of a pharmacy, respondents that work in pharmacies located in residential housing developments feel the most concentrated. The knowledge of needs and problems of the profession is the essential precondition for its continued successful development, and its position in current as well as future European and Slovak healthcare systems. Until now, the quality of the professional life of pharmacists has not become a subject of systematic research and evaluation in Slovakia. Our study showed that the professional satisfaction of pharmacists in Bratislava is evaluated positively.
ART MANAGEMENT: A NEW DISCIPLINE ENTERING THE CULTURAL AND ACADEMIC LIFE IN PLOVDIV
Authors: Kolev Vasil , Ivanova Asya
Published: October 2017

This paper presents the conditions of economic and political changes within the 90s in Bulgaria and the necessity of a new way of thinking at managing cultural institutions in the conditions of the market economy. As a response to that problem it was created the first of its kind in Bulgaria masterâ€™s degree program â€žArt management.â€śFor that purpose a brief overview of the formal models of funding the arts worldwide are presented along with the characteristics at regional levels which led to the creation of the new educational programme.The main disciplines studied in the educational module aiming to develop a new set of skills among artists are listed with a brief introduction of their scope. A local survey conducted at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts â€“ Plovdiv, analyzing the interest of the first of its kind in Bulgaria masterâ€™s degree program â€žArt managementâ€ś is presented. The initial result of the evolution of the educational programme based on the number of students enrolled per year are the motivation for the start of a lager research project â€śĂ„RTâ€ť funded by the SRF, Ministry of Education and Science.
FROM CREATIVE THINKING TECHNIQUES TO INNOVATIVE DESIGN SOLUTIONS â€“ THE EDUCATORSâ€™ PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Kowalewska Joanna Maria , SoĹ‚tysik Maria Jolanta
Published: October 2017

For every designer, it is crucial to be creative. But generating new, innovative ideas tends to be a difficult task. Nevertheless, some technique can be used to improve the quality of the designing process. Getting knowledge about such tools can be of much value for all future architects and engineers. This article presents an original academic course, which was inaugurated in 2015 at the Faculty of Architecture in GdaĹ„sk University of Technology and organized for the first year students of Spatial Planning. The course was repeated in 2016 and is being currently led in 2017. The title of the course was â€Garden Cities and the Gardens in the Cities. A Course with Elements of Training Creativityâ€™. The aim of the course was to encourage the participants to develop their creativity by introducing creative thinking techniques and thus to facilitate their projects. Among the recommended creative thinking techniques were mainly the ones presented in the â€Odyssey of the Mindâ€™ educational program, including such techniques as the â€Mind Map,â€™ the â€Brainstormâ€™ and the â€Superheroes.â€™ Moreover, during the study, participants had a chance to improve their team working skills. The practical usage of the introduced innovative methods was to be tested on issues concerning green environmental projects in urban areas. At the end of the course, most of the participants declared, in the final studentsâ€™ questionnaires, to use the recommended techniques in future, and that they strongly appreciated all that they had learned during the study.
SOCIAL ANXIETY AND SELF-REPORTED TIME SPENT ONLINE IN A SAMPLE OF ALBANIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Authors: Melonashi Erika
Published: October 2017

Online activity serves different purposes, one of them being communication and social interaction. Studies have demonstrated that individuals tend to display online behavioral patterns that are similar to their social groups; also there is some evidence that individuals who have interaction difficulties in real life (e.g., social anxiety) might engage more in online behavior. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between self-reported time spent online, descriptive social norms, and social anxiety symptoms in a sample of 356 Albanian University students. Participants were recruited online. Results showed a significant predictive model for self-reported time spent online, F (7,342)=48.99, p<.001, R2=.50. Age, gender, and the four social anxiety components were not significant predictors; only descriptive norms had a significant effect, Î˛=.70, p<.001. Results are in line with the social normative approach to internet use and have several implications which are discussed in the paper.
CURRENT CONCEPTUAL APPROACHES FOR ASSESSMENT OF THE PROCESS OF AGEING AND OLD AGE
Authors: Mihaylova Vanina , Shopov Dimitar , Bivolarski Iliya , Alakidi Adolf , Kilova Kristina
Published: October 2017

: Ageing should be considered not only as an increase in the number of elderly and old people in their absolute and relative numbers, but also as a unity of the transformations of the lifecycle, with an emphasis on: later retirement, prolonged period of goodâ€‘quality life, an active approach towards the process of retirement and differentiation of the category of â€śfourth ageâ€ť. The general preparation for old age has earned a new appeal in the contemporary societies. Motivation of the old people for activity â€“ both physical and intellectual â€“ is of great importance for the better survival of the old age and long life in good health, supported by realized well-being and feeling of joy from life. In this aspect the study of both risk and protective factors for human health (in a salutogenetic perspective) becomes increasingly fundamental. The issue of population at an advanced age has definitely been considered as an independent subject since the beginning of the 21st century. Moreover, the society perceives it as an essential basis for further progress and flourishing of the mankind. In this sense the demographic strategies treating the problem need to address it in a new positive way, with different and positive attitude, accepting the population-related failures and anxiety and turning them into challenges and advantages.
SAFETY MANAGEMENT AS A SUPPORT ACTIVITY IN THE LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT
Authors: MiĹˇĂ­k JĂˇn , KubĂˇs Jozef
Published: October 2017

A prerequisite for performance of self-government and its integral components is the governmentâ€™s ability to adequately execute self-governance, which is essential for its efficiency and thus, the meaning of its existence. In villages, in addition to the main activities, a number of supporting activities are carried out to ensure smooth functioning of the core business. Among the supporting activities for municipalities is safety management. The current management guidelines and processes of many municipalities cover components of safety management, but not in a systematic approach. The adoption of an â€officialâ€™ process of safety management realizes the need for a critical review of their existing practices and its process in the field of security. This contribution deals with the issue of safety management and the responsible roles for creating a safety management system of a village. The purpose of such a system is to ensure the safety of all operations involved in achieving village objectives and to prevent security threats to life, property, and the environment. This contribution mainly focuses on the safety sector of municipalities, which forms the core of the safety management system of a village.
COURSE OF "COMPUTER GEOMETRY" IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS OF THE UNIVERSITY
Authors: Mubarakov Akan , Kultan Jaroslav , Davletova Ainash , Rakhimzhanova Mira
Published: October 2017

When considering the various areas of computer mathematics, especially geometry sticks out, where the problem analysis clearly and fully illustrates the computer. The discipline called "Computer Geometry" (F.Preparato, M.Sheymos) worthily appreciated by modern scientists. However, the practice of training in the higher education institutions (especially training of future teachers), does not provide studying of the Computer Geometry as an academic subject. Perspectives and methodology of Computer Geometry are developed by detailed study of specific problems, and the selection of the content of such course should be conducted on the basis of certain principles, all of which in total have to reflect the prospects of formation of the identity of the trainee as the subject of education adequately.
ETHICAL CONCERNS REGARDING MALE CIRCUMCISION CULTURE: A SELECTED ETHNICAL GROUP
Authors: Ngwane Cabangile N.
Published: October 2017

: Traditional cultural practices reflect values and beliefs of members of a community. Culture is an umbrella term, which explains common things people share such as language, customs, beliefs and the way of life. This paper seeks to look at male circumcision culture of a certain indigenous group in South Africa. Male circumcision is associated with ethnic marks, virility, masculinity, rite of passage to manhood however, there are many ethical concerns centering on male circumcision. Hence, this paper seeks to explore the ethical concerns surrounding male circumcision culture of a selected ethnical group in order to contribute to ethical execution of the practice. Little has been done on ethical issues surrounding male circumcision. The fallacy surrounding this phenomenon needs further investigation. The paper intends to contribute to the debate on male circumcision as a way of mitigating HIV/AIDS infections. The Social Norm Theory has been used to explain the phenomenon under study. The constructivist research paradigm enabled the interviewing of participants from the target population, as the study is inductive in nature. The key finding was that they do male circumcision mostly in an unethical way that it also affects women and children. They also do it based on the misconception and the fallacy that they will not get HIV/AIDS.
ETHICAL SUPERVISION AND MENTORING OF STUDENTS DURING THE WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING PROGRAMME
Authors: Ngwane Cabangile N.
Published: October 2017

: The study investigates ethical supervision and mentoring during work-integrated learning (WIL) placement as WIL has emerged as a new venture in higher education. Work-integrated learning has emerged as a higher education endeavour that has created a new role for senior leadership and management. The study aims to investigate the ethical supervision and mentoring of students during the work-integrated learning programme in order to contribute to the effectiveness of the programme and improve student employability. More work has been done on work-integrated learning however, little has been done on the ethical supervision and mentoring of students during WIL. The study contributes to the debate of WIL implementation. The study revealed that there is a lack of adequate training for supervisors, which sometimes results in students running errands. The positivist research paradigm underpinning the study led to the use of a survey research design and questionnaires. During the research process, research ethical rules had been adhered to in order to ensure reliability of findings. A socio-cultural theory has been employed.
QUALITY OF THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICE â€“PERCEPTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE TEACHERS IN HIGH SCHOOLS FROM SUCEAVA COUNTY, ROMANIA
Authors: Pintilie Laura Mirela
Published: October 2017

The goal of this study was to determine the main variables that are part of the management strategies for quality assurance in higher education. The study was conducted in 2016 on a representative sample of secondary schools in Suceava County, Romania. The research methodology has mixed quantitative analysis of collected data using a questionnaire applied to teachers from seven schools in the Suceava County (268 respondents) and qualitative analysis of public documents referring to performances in the secondary education system. To achieve the questionnaire, an adaptation of the SERVQUAL method was used, specific for the services domain. It was aimed at establishing the differences between perceptions and expectations of teachers on human and material resources necessary to ensure the quality of services in education. The results were correlated with data on studentsâ€™ performances in high school and / or professional school.Changing the mentality of the teachers, self-assessment and objective assessment of the work performed and working conditions can lead to increased quality of educational services with direct effects in improving school performance of direct beneficiaries of education, the students.
EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND TOOLS FOR IMPROVING PROFESSIONALSâ€™ AND USERSâ€™ COMMUNICATION IN DISABILITY SETTINGS
Authors: Pinazo EncarnaciĂłn Postigo
Published: October 2017

Communication with individuals who suffer from a severe intellectual disability is a challenging task for professionals. Technological aids have often been put forward as useful tools. However, most well-known programs are usually designed for disabled people who can perform a certain number of tasks and have some skills for communication. Subjects with severe intellectual disability are seldom the target of research and the training of professionals working with them is hardly properly matched. To fill this gap a group of researchers of the ongoing European project EC+ gather to created friendly communication tools with scientific information and multimodal resources to offer professionals and future professionals (university students) tools, materials, and strategies to communicate with users by means of mobile applications using agile technologies, which will improve communication and hence the quality of staff performance and will reduce stressful situations for both groups, the disabled and workers. The tools were assessed by trainees and professionals in the field of healthcare, education, and community interpreting. The present article focuses on the first and second stages of the EC+ project, which aims to engage professionals and students in seminars, online courses and the completion of questionnaires based on their experience, suggestions, and needs. Research shows that the object of the project is really substantial and hence suggests a further improvement for the work of professionals and therefore is extremely beneficial for the intellectual disabled community. Precise scientific training in several syndromes that hinder communication skills, multimodal tools and the provision of friendly agile technologies draws a promising scenario in this particular field. The results of the questionnaires sent by trainees after the following courses show that they have considerably improved their professional skills and gained self-confidence.
A STUDY OF PROPER PRONUNCIATION AS A FACTOR OF SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION
Authors: Prodanovska-Poposka Vesna
Published: October 2017

Speaking as a productive skill is one of the very first obstacles that foreign language users face when using the language. Knowledge of a language does not refer to the correct and proper pronunciation however, being able to produce sounds, words or utterances in their proper way does not refer to proficiency of a language nor can it assess the overall level of the user of that particular language. The aim of this study is to present the components of speaking as a productive skill emphasizing the role of acquiring proper pronunciation as a factor for effective communication. The study also presents the most significant "common core" of English pronunciation as a lingua franca, details of the requested phonological competence as knowledge set by the Common European Framework of Languages: Learning, Teaching and Assessment and viewpoints of EFL teachers and authors. Additionally, the study includes data from EFL self- assessments from University students in Macedonia regarding their speaking and pronunciation skills and overall evaluation from their assessor â€“an English language instructor.
PAUL EVDOKIMOV, AN APOSTLE OF THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD
Authors: ČšuČ›uianu Iulia
Published: October 2017

Paul Evdokimov endeavored to bring into a secularized and desecrated world the solution of the Russian mystics as a means for transfiguring the bland and gray â€realityâ€™ of a world focused only on material values in which everything ends now and here without referral to the transcendent. In this mindset, only a different approach will resound in the soul and consciousness of the contemporary person and the old approaches, which appealed to fear and terror, have long lost any power of persuasion. Evdokimov believed that only a God of love could speak to the contemporary world. This paper aims to reveal the details of Paul Evdokimovâ€™s vision and solution for the moral crisis of contemporary society.
INFLUENCE OF THE EU INSTRUMENTS ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND SCIENCE IN BULGARIA
Authors: Vutsova Albena
Published: October 2017

The European instruments have started acting adequately in Bulgaria since 1991, when the country was accepted as a member of a number of initiatives and pre-accession instruments were introduced. At a later stage commenced the action of the principal European instruments: the framework programs (1998) and structural funds (2003).They intervened the research and education area as real tools in the late 1990 and are acting up to now, being either options from new programing period of Structural funds functioning or as initiatives of new generation Framework programs (Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+, etc.)This article considers the positive effects of these instruments in three directions consecutively: Financially, as a source of additional resources; Science Metrics-wise, as a volume of scientific production, created with their financial support, and evaluation of this production by the world scientific community; Other benefits.The effect of realizations of this instruments has been explored and achieved results have been analyzed as a fundament for further improvement of their effective absorption and bettering the system of research and education.
A RARE COMPLICATION OF BCG IMMUNOTHERAPY
Authors: Kolovani Entela , RamosaĂ§o Ergys , Byku Rovena , Ă‡omo Najada , Xhani Rezart , Rrapushi Ervin , Kraja Dhimiter
Published: October 2017

Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-GuĂ©rin immunotherapy is an effective agent for superficial bladder carcinoma. The main adverse effect of this treatment is cystitis. Arthralgia and migratory arthritis occur only in 0.5% of patients. Reiter syndrome is a very rare complication that can occur after intravesical apply of Bacillus Calmette-GuĂ©rin Immunotherapy. We report the first Albanian patient who developed Reiterâ€™s syndrome, following intravesical Bacillus Calmette-GuĂ©rin. Diagnose of Reiterâ€™s Syndrome was clinically based, excluding every other reason that could have caused it. Treatment was made with non-steroid and steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, followed by a full recovery result. Even though Reiter's Syndrome is a rare, but significant complication of BCG immunotherapy, itâ€™s important to identify it in time, in order we to offer an adequate treatment.