bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The rise of liaison psychiatry: challenges and implications for sustainability
Authors: Udo Itoro , Odeyale Foluke , Gash Amanda , Fossey Matt
Published: September 2016

Liaison or general hospital psychiatry is experiencing unprecedented expansion in the UK. A liaison psychiatry team in a typical general hospital may deliver savings of up to £5 million a year. However, liaison psychiatry faces challenges associated with this pace of change, with consequences for its long-term sustainability.
Contagious mastitis part 2: control
Authors: Breen James
Published: September 2016

In herds with confirmed contagious mastitis infection patterns (e.g. characterised by increased and non-seasonal new infection rates in lactation, persistently infected cows from previous lactations, and poor apparent cure rates across the dry period), disease control involves reducing the prevalence of infection and controlling the onward spread of infection to susceptible cows. The latter is particularly important to focus on given the poor chances of cure if treatment is attempted during lactation, and must involve a thorough review of the milking routine, including application of post-milking teat disinfection, segregation, disinfection, biosecurity and possible vaccination strategies if a high prevalence of S. aureus is demonstrated.
Impact of immunosuppression during the periparturient period in dairy cattle
Authors: Macrae Alastair
Published: September 2016

The majority of sick dairy cows that require treatment by farm staff or veterinary practitioners are seen during early lactation, and are typically labelled as ‘transition cow health problems’. Milk fevers, retained fetal membranes, metritis, displaced abomasum, ketosis and mastitis are all conditions that classically occur at this critical time, and it is widely acknowledged that the transition period (defined as the period from 3 weeks pre-calving to 3 weeks after calving) is a high-risk time in the production cycle of the cow. What happens during this critical period can have long-term implications for cow health, longevity, productivity and future fertility.
SUPPLIER SELECTION FOR A PUMP MANUFACTURING ORGANIZATION BY HYBRID AHP-TOPSIS TECHNIQUE AND ITS IMPACT ON INVENTORY
Authors: Das Ankur , Das Santanu
Published: September 2016

In today’s highly competitive market, organized supply chain management strategy is required by any manufacturing organization to ensure success in both a quantitative and qualitative manner. In order to obtain green manufacturing or a Green Supply Chain Management system, the suppliers should play an important role. Green manufacturing has an impact on inventory also. This paper describes the supplier selection model using a hybrid AHP-TOPSIS technique related to a pump manufacturing industry that intends to enhance Green Purchasing of inventory items. Different criteria that have a good impact on inventory and the environment are considered for supplier selection. First, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to determine the weight of each criterion, and then the TOPSIS algorithm is applied to optimally select the supplier. In this work, the ranking of suppliers has effectively chosen the selection of an appropriate supplier maintaining a green supply chain management (SCM) system.
MULTIATTRIBUTE WAREHOUSE LOCATION SELECTION IN HUMANITARIAN LOGISTICS USING HESITANT FUZZY AHP
Authors: Kahraman Cengiz
Published: September 2016

Deploying warehouses at strategic locations becomes an important issue for humanitarian relief organizations in order to improve their relief aid capability and rescue plan. The delivery of sufficient technical equipment and provision of shelter and reinforcement to victims is a significant event during relief operations. Warehouse location selection in humanitarian logistics (HL) is a challenging process because choosing a non-optimal location may cause additional problems during rescue activities. The conventional decision making tools used for a warehouse location selection problem tend to be less effective in dealing with the imprecise or vague nature of the linguistic assessment. In many situations, the values of the qualitative attributes are often incompletely determined by the decision-makers. The fuzzy set theory can capture this type of uncertainty. In this paper, a recent extension of ordinary fuzzy sets, namely hesitant fuzzy sets, is used for considering the decision makers hesitancy in the evaluation. To solve the HL warehouse location selection problem, we propose a new hesitant fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. We also present a HL warehouse location selection case study for a Turkish humanitarian relief organization by using hesitant fuzzy preference information.
Why Simplify AHP?
Authors: Adams William , Rokou Elena
Published: September 2016

AHP and ANP are very well developed mathematical theories with many practitioners, so why should anyone research methods to simplify the process? We believe there are many reasons to search for simplifications.Our goal is to find ways to make AHP simple and within reach of everybody without any need of specific knowledge by converting AHP from a sophisticated mathematical decision making method to an everyday tool to make quick and informed decisions on almost any subject we can think of. The downside will be loss of precision and accuracy, but we are not usually more precise when deciding without any method at all. That does not mean that for complex problems we will not use the full extent of the method but that in everyday and relatively simple models we do not really need to go to the full method. It seems like using a fighter jet to cross the street when all you need to do is walk (sure it will work, but you will spend the next 6 months in training learning how to fly the thing).
Evaluación de un programa de intervención para promover la salud sexual en adolescentes mexicanos en conflicto con la ley.
Authors: Sánchez Medina Ricardo , Enríquez Negrete David Javier , Robles Montijo Silvia Susana
Published: September 2016

El propósito de la presente investigación fue evaluar la efectividad de un programa de intervención para promover la salud sexual de adolescentes que se encuentran en conflicto con la ley. Se trabajó con 118 adolescentes pertenecientes a una comunidad de diagnóstico. Se utilizó un diseño cuasi experimental con un grupo de intervención y uno control, conformado por tres fases: preevaluación, intervención y postevaluación. La intervención consistió en cinco sesiones de dos horas cada una, y estuvo conformada por los elementos que responden al modelo ecológico en sus tres niveles: microsistema (conocimientos, creencias, actitudes, intención y autoeficacia para usar condón, autoestima, comunicación con pareja, estilos de negociación para usar condón, entre otras); mesosistema (apoyo, supervisión y comunicación con padre y madre, entre otras), y macrosistema (estereotipos de género). Se realizó un análisis de medidas repetidas. Los resultados mostraron cambios entre el grupo control y el experimental, a favor de este último en todas las variables del modelo, excepto en comunicación con la pareja y autoestima. Los hallazgos se discuten en términos de la importancia de diseñar programas con base en el modelo ecológico dirigidos a población que se encuentran en un ambiente privado de la libertad.
La producción científica de acta colombiana de psicología : análisis descriptivo del periodo 2010-2014.
Authors: Ravelo C. Ernesto L. , Mejía Susana , González E. Martha Elizabeth
Published: September 2016

Una de las estrategias para la elaboración de los planes de acción o mejoramiento de las publicaciones científicas parte de la mirada retrospectiva o de estudios de caracterización, con respecto a la evolución de estas. Para ello se tienen en cuenta indicadores que exigen las bases e índices de datos, los cuales permiten evaluar la calidad científica, la calidad editorial, la visibilidad, la periodicidad o estabilidad, así como el impacto. En este sentido, el presente artículo tiene como objetivo realizar un análisis descriptivo de los artículos publicados en la Revista Acta Colombiana de Psicología entre los años 2010 y 2014. Se identificaron las variables por tener en cuenta para este análisis: variables categóricas y variables de tipo cuantitativo. El procesamiento y análisis de datos se realizó mediante el paquete IBM SPSS Statistics versión 23; se analizó cada una de las variables categóricas por medio de frecuencias y porcentajes, y las variables cuantitativas aplicando estadísticos descriptivos. Posteriormente se realizaron los cruces entre algunas variables, tanto categóricas como cuantitativas, mediante el uso de frecuencias, porcentajes, medidas descriptivas y algunos gráficos. Se resalta la información relacionada con el número de artículos publicados por año, procedencia de los artículos, tiempos entre la recepción y aceptación de estos porcentajes de idioma de los artículos, tipo de investigaciones de los cuales se derivan los artículos y tipo de análisis estadístico utilizado, entre otros.
Control del estímulo en programas fijos y variables definidos temporalmente.
Authors: Serrano Mario , Sosa Rodrigo , González Carla
Published: September 2016

Con el objetivo de evaluar el desarrollo del control del estímulo, seis ratas fueron expuestas a un programa de reforzamiento definido temporalmente (T = 60-s, = 0.5) en el que los subciclos tD y t∆ se correlacionaron con diferentes estímulos auditivos y probabilidades de reforzamiento de 1 y 0, respectivamente. Para tres ratas el subciclo tD siempre fue seguido del subciclo t ∆, mientras que para las ratas restantes ambos subciclos se presentaron de manera aleatoria (p = .5) dentro de la sesión. Al final del experimento, las frecuencias de respuesta de presión de la palanca fueron más altas durante tD y en presencia del estímulo que señaló dicho subciclo, que durante t∆ en todas las ratas. Los resultados indican que la disponibilidad limitada de reforzamiento de los programas definidos temporalmente no impide el control del estímulo, así como que dicho control se desarrolla sin patrones conductuales derivados de la regularidad secuencial entre los subciclos. Adicionalmente, los resultados cuestionan el posible desarrollo de una función de reforzador condicionado por parte del estímulo en el subciclo t∆.
Propiedades psicométricas del test de cribado de demencias pesotest en muestras clínica y no clínica de adultos mayores.
Authors: Cantor Nieto Martha Isabel , Avendaño Prieto Bertha Lucía
Published: September 2016

El objetivo de este estudio instrumental fue determinar las propiedades psicométricas del test de cribado de demencias Pesotest en muestras clínica y no clínica de adultos mayores de Bogotá. Los participantes fueron 213 adultos mayores de 65 años. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron el Pesotest, el Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), la Encuesta Sociodemográfica y la Escala de Depresión Geriátrica de Yesavage (GDS). La consistencia interna del Pesotest obtenida con el Alpha de Cronbach fue de 0.86. Se usó el MMSE para establecer la validez convergente y se encontró una correlación significativa de 0.596. Se hallaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las muestras clínica y no clínica. El análisis factorial arrojó cuatro factores: mediante la curva ROC se encontró que la sensibilidad o proporción de personas diagnosticadas con demencia que dieron positivo fue de 0.83; la especificidad o proporción de personas sanas que según la prueba puntúan sin demencia fue de 0.78, y el punto de corte fue 18. El análisis con el modelo de Rasch evidenció que solo un ítem no se ajustó al modelo, y que el ítem con mayor dificultad era el que evaluaba memoria y cálculo, cuya alteración indica evolución a demencia. Con base en los resultados favorables del análisis psicométrico, adecuada consistencia interna, validez convergente, validez de criterio y validez de constructo, se recomienda utilizar el Pesotest en servicios de atención primaria.
El entrenamiento cognitivo en los ancianos y efectos en las funciones ejecutivas.
Authors: Fernandes Lopes Regina Maria , Argimon Irani I. de Lima
Published: September 2016

El envejecimiento se asocia comúnmente con el deterioro cognitivo y la pérdida de otras capacidades, lo cual conlleva la necesidad de investigar elementos que puedan contribuir a las intervenciones preventivas de rehabilitación cognitiva y que tienen como objetivo garantizar la calidad de vida de los ancianos. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar ancianos que se inscribieron en esta intervención, para medir los efectos del entrenamiento cognitivo, con énfasis en las funciones ejecutivas, comparando un grupo experimental con un grupo control. Se trata de una investigación cuantitativa, con un diseño cuasi-experimental; es correlacional y comparativa, con pre y post-test e intervención. La muestra estuvo conformada por 83 ancianos, dividida en un grupo experimental (GE) (45 personas) y un grupo control (GC) (38 personas). Se utilizaron los siguientes instrumentos: entrevista neuropsicológica semiestructurada sobre características sociodemográficas; Examen Mínimo del Estado Mental (Mini Mental State o MMSE, por sus siglas en inglés); Inventario de Ansiedad Beck (BAI, por sus siglas en inglés); Escala de Depresión Geriátrica (GDS, por sus siglas en inglés); subpruebas WAIS-III: prueba de amplitud de dígitos (Digit Span), vocabulario, diseño con bloques, codificación, Secuenciación de Letras y Números (LNS por sus siglas en inglés), y la búsqueda de símbolos; Test de Trazos (TMT por sus siglas en inglés); Figuras Complejas de Rey; Paradigma de Sternberg; tareas de fluidez verbal sobre semántica (animales) y fonemas (F-A-S); Prueba de Aprendizaje Verbal-auditiva de Rey (RVLT por sus siglas en inglés); Prueba de Stroop: colores y palabras; tareas ir/no ir; y Test Wisconsin de Clasificación de Cartas (WCST por sus siglas en inglés). Los resultados de la comparación entre los grupos mostraron que hubo una diferencia significativa en cuanto al número de errores en el Paradigma de Sternberg y las categorías completas del WCST. Las comparaciones intragrupales mostraron que el GE tuvo mejores resultados después de la intervención en las siguientes pruebas: GDS, RAVLT, Figuras Complejas de Rey (memoria), prueba de amplitud de dígitos y vocabulario.
Doing Good in Another Neighborhood: Attributions of CSR Motives Depend on Corporate Nationality and Cultural Orientation
Authors: Choi Jungsil , Chang Young Kyun , Jessica Li Yexin , Jang Myoung Gyun
Published: September 2016

In the past few decades, consumers around the world have placed increasing value on corporate social responsibility (CSR). As a response, companies entering new markets have boosted spending in areas like cause-related marketing to improve their reputation and create goodwill among consumers in the host country. However, these efforts may not be effective for all consumers or in all countries. Drawing upon research on intergroup bias and attribution theory, the present work explores how consumers from individualistic (the United States and Canada) and collectivistic (South Korea and India) cultures form attributions and attitudes about the CSR activities of foreign and domestic firms. Across three studies, we find that collectivistic (but not individualistic) consumers make more altruistic (but not egoistic) attributions about the CSR motives of domestic (vs. foreign) companies, and that altruistic attribution leads to more positive attitudes toward the firm. We also showed that collectivists’ bias against foreign firms is attenuated when level of commitment to the cause (as conveyed by CSR duration) is high.
Influence of Heavy Metals on the Environmental from Tarnita Mining Area
Authors: Jucan Victor , Dumitrescu Mihaela , Iordan Alexandra Raluca , Palamaru Mircea Nicolae
Published: September 2016

This paper presents aspects related to water pollution with heavy metals from the Tarnita mining area before and after the cessation of the mining activity. The impact of heavy metals on waters is important because these metals have a negative impact on both human health and aquatic ecosystems. All research data showed that, even the mining activities from this area were suspended, the sterile still pollutes the soil and water
Relative ∞-capacity and its affinization
Authors: Jiang Renjin , Xiao Jie , Yang Dachun
Published: September 2016

In this paper, the so-called relative

∞

{\infty}

-capacity is introduced and investigated in a close connection to the viscosity solution of the

∞

{\infty}

-Laplace equation. We not only show that the relative

∞

{\infty}

-capacity equals the limit of the p-th root of the relative p-capacity as

p
→
∞

{p\to\infty}

and hence has a simple geometric characterization in terms of the Euclidean distance, but also establish several basic properties for the relative

∞

{\infty}

-capacity. Consequently, we apply the relative

∞

{\infty}

-capacity to the embedding theory of the

∞

{\infty}

-Sobolev space. More geometrically, we affinize the relative

∞

{\infty}

-capacity and its fundamental features as much as possible.
Weighted composition operators between weak spaces of vector-valued analytic functions
Authors: Hassanlou Mostafa , Laitila Jussi , Vaezi Hamid
Published: September 2016

We consider weighted composition operators

W

ψ
,
φ

:

f
↦

ψ
⁢

(

f
∘
φ

)

${W_{\psi,\varphi}\colon f\mapsto\psi(f\circ\varphi)}$

on spaces of analytic functions on the unit disc, which take values in some complex Banach space. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the boundedness and (weak) compactness of

W

ψ
,
φ

${W_{\psi,\varphi}}$

on general function spaces, and in particular on weak vector-valued spaces. As an application, we characterize the weak compactness of

W

ψ
,
φ

${W_{\psi,\varphi}}$

between two different vector-valued Bloch-type spaces. This characterization appears to be new also in the scalar-valued case.
Desiccation tolerance and underlying mechanisms for the recovery of the photosynthetic efficiency in the tropical intertidal seagrasses Halophila ovalis and Thalassia hemprichii
Authors: Wuthirak Tharawit , Kongnual Rapeepan , Buapet Pimchanok
Published: September 2016

The seagrasses Halophila ovalis and Thalassia hemprichii commonly occur in the upper-intertidal zone where they are subjected to prolonged desiccation during low tides. This study investigated their desiccation tolerance and the mechanisms underlying their eventual recovery. Halophila ovalis exhibited a faster decline in photosynthetic efficiency, measured as effective quantum yield of photosystem II (φPSII), during 90 min of desiccation and did not recover when rehydrated. Thalassia hemprichii, however, showed a nearly full recovery. Desiccation also imposed greater membrane damage on H. ovalis as indicated by a higher electrolyte leakage. In a subsequent experiment, seagrasses were desiccated for 60 min before being rehydrated with seawater containing either chloramphenicol (CMP), cycloheximide (CHX), dithiothreitol (DTT) or no metabolic inhibitor (control). Recovery of φPSII of H. ovalis was hindered by CMP and DTT while CHX had little effect. Recovery of φPSII of T. hemprichii, however, was partially affected by both CMP and CHX to a similar extent and not by DTT. The results indicate that H. ovalis relies substantially on the synthesis of chloroplast-encoded proteins and excess energy dissipation by the xanthophyll cycle whereas T. hemprichii requires limited protein synthesis in both chloroplast and cytoplasm to completely recover their photosynthetic function from desiccation stress.
A new genus Phyllophorella gen. nov. (Phyllophoraceae, Rhodophyta) from central Peru, including Phyllophorella peruviana comb. nov., Phyllophorella humboldtiana sp. nov., and Phyllophorella limaensis sp. nov.
Authors: Calderon Martha S. , Boo Sung Min
Published: September 2016

We investigated fresh collections and an isotype of Phyllophora peruviana from central Peru using morphology and sequencing the plastid rbcL gene. In the rbcL phylogenetic tree, P. peruviana consisted of three genetic groups, forming a clade. As this P. peruviana clade was distantly related to Phyllophora including the generitype Phyllophora crispa and also distinct from other genera in the Phyllophoraceae, we describe Phyllophorella peruviana gen. et comb. nov. and two new species, Phyllophorella humboldtiana sp. nov. and Phyllophorella limaensis sp. nov. The genus Phyllophorella is distinguished from Phyllophora by a compressed stipe rather than a terete stipe, and tetrasporangia in nemathecia rather than sori scattered over the thallus surface. Phyllophorella
humboldtiana sp. nov. is characterized by broad blades with slightly lobate margins. Phyllophorella limaensis sp. nov. is recognized by its small, ligulate blades. Phyllophorella peruviana is distinguished by dichotomo-flabellate blades that arise from a short compressed stipe. All three species of Phyllophorella are currently known only from Peru but may be more widely distributed.
The Art of Building Small
Authors: Feringa Ben L.
Published: September 2016

Beginning a fantastic voyage beyond the frontiers of contemporary chemical sciences, the creative power of synthetic chemistry imbues chemists with the confidence needed to enter many unknown molecular worlds. The beauty of Nature’s functional molecular structures offers, of course, a fantastic source of inspiration, yet chemists are not limited by the molecular building blocks selected by evolution to sustain the intricate systems of a living organism. Nature has developed on the principle of the minimal chemistry set—imagine what we can achieve with the whole of chemistry available to us.
The Discovery of Phytochrome
Authors: Poulos James A. , Griesbach Robert J. , Hapeman Cathleen J. , Duke Stephen O. , Armbrust Kevin L.
Published: September 2016

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Beltsville, Maryland, USA was recently designated an American Chemical Society National Historic Chemical Landmark for the seminal work of USDA scientists in the discovery of phytochrome, the ubiquitous plant pigment that controls plant growth and development in response to light. The discovery team was inspired by the work of Harry A. Borthwick and Marion W. Parker in the 1930s, which quantified photoperiodic phenomena and recruited Sterling B. Hendricks into the search for a chemical basis for non-photosynthetic responses of plants to light. Hendricks was a world famous soil chemist and member of the National Academy of Sciences before he became engaged in plant science. He hypothesized the existence of a photoreversible pigment that controls photoperiodism in flowering, seed germination, and many photomorphogenic processes in plants. Karl Norris and Warren Butler created the specialized spectrophotometer that was needed to detect the pigment in vivo. Harold W. (Bill) Siegleman provided the biochemical expertise to isolate the pigment. The scientific stars aligned in one place, as they rarely do, to make the discovery complete.
The functional approach to the teaching of translation: a case study on Beiying and its English translations
Authors: Surong Yuan
Published: September 2016

This paper reports the attempt to apply the functional approach to the translation teaching practice that guides students in their study of Chinese essays and their English translations. The famed modern Chinese essay
Problem-based L2 learning: self-negotiated linguistic cognition
Authors: Xiaowei Ding
Published: September 2016

The existing literature has revealed that Problem-based Learning (PBL) can improve the cognitive competence of learners, but few studies focus on L2 learning from the perspective of students, or on the relationship between PBL and linguistic cognition. Based on students’ reflective journals, the researcher’s observation notes, and interviews with teachers and students, this case study describes the individual and collective self-negotiations during a Problem-Based L2 Learning (PBLL) practice of 157 non-English majors at three universities in Beijing. The current study makes a distinction between surface and deep self-negotiations, and confirms the conception of the self-negotiated L2 cognition of PBLL learners. The research results show (1) that the self-negotiation is a consistent feature of PBLL because the whole PBLL process comprises the cyclic intertwining of individual and collective self-negotiations, (2) that L2 learners manage to achieve individual and collective self-negotiations through cognitive mechanisms of linking, riffling and converging, and (3) that deep self-negotiations in PBLL are more dynamic, interactive, and generative. Pedagogical implications, research limitations, and future directions are also discussed.
Non-word repetition performance in Mandarin-speaking preschool children with and without specific language impairment (SLI)
Authors: Xiaoqing Wang , Jiandan Huang
Published: September 2016

Childhood is a critical period for language development, and it is of great importance to discover normal language development and any specific language impairment (SLI) in child language acquisition and then to give them timely diagnosis and treatment. Also it has been previously shown that the non-word repetition task is an efficient assessment tool to screen out those children suspected with SLI. Based on this premise, the present study examined whether the non-word repetition task can be a suitable screening tool to detect language disorders for preschool children in Mandarin Chinese in China. A non-word repetition task was adapted specifically for this purpose. This study examined differences in non-word repetition performance of Mandarin-speaking preschool children screened by a criterion-referenced diagnostic test of specific language impairment (SLI) (the value of Cronbach Alpha at 0.86). A sample of 282 children were administered the diagnostic test, and a total of 23 SLI suspects were screened out as their language ability measures deviated from the mean by 1.5 SDs. Results indicated that children with SLI made no error with respect to tone in Mandarin, but they showed great difficulty in non-word repetition skills compared to age-matched controls. The findings confirmed that the non-word repetition task is a culturally nonbiased index of language disorders, and that two syllable non-words can be used to identify language disorder.
How teachers’ beliefs are in accordance with major SLA notions
Authors: Chaochang Wang
Published: September 2016

Current SLA theories have delivered important language-learning notions. This paper will report the results of a study into 64 high school English teachers’ beliefs about language learning and their instructional practices, with a focus on two of them. A questionnaire was developed on the basis of major tenets of second language learning and administered to the 64 participants. In addition, classroom observations and interviews were employed to explore the two focal teachers’ beliefs and their actual classroom instruction practices. Results show both consistencies and inconsistencies between the participants’ beliefs and major SLA notions and between the two focal participants’ beliefs and their classroom practices.
The volume of wet and dry atmospheric deposition in the area around Goczałkowice Reservoir between 2011–2013
Authors: Leśniok Mieczysław , Zimnol Jan
Published: September 2016

Research on wet and dry pollution deposition was carried out at two measurement points situated on opposite sides of the Goczałkowice Reservoir. On the east side was a station in Goczałkowice and on the west side was a station in Frelichów. Meteorological monitoring was conducted at four points situated in the vicinity of the reservoir. On the basis of the research carried out between 2011–2013 it was concluded that the size of dry and wet deposition in the area of the Goczałkowice Reservoir is diversified in particular years, seasons and months. Due to high precipitation and biological processes (activity of flora and fauna) the pollutant loads in the form of biogenic compounds (nitrogen and phosphorus) are the highest in the summer season. Whereas pollutant inputs in the form of dry deposition are highest in the winter season (heating season), which in the case of a thick ice and snow cover in the spring time causes their accumulation and increased input into the reservoir water (thawing weather, snow-melt season). In relation to the 1970s the size of the deposition became smaller, but in the case of biogenic compounds it was diversified. A decrease was observed in the case of total nitrogen but an increase in the case of phosphorus. On the basis of a comparison of the received results with the data provided by the Provincial Inspector for Environmental Protection and calculated for the annual area deposition of the Pszczyna district in 2011 it appears that deposition of total nitrogen in the reservoir area slightly exceeded the area value. In the case of total phosphorus in relation to the area data the deposition was over twice as high, which indicates that biogenic compounds are still a significant load of atmospheric deposition in the reservoir area.
Structural composition of organic matter in particle-size fractions of soils along a climo-biosequence in the main range of Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Jafarzadeh-Haghighi Amir Hossein , Shamshuddin Jusop , Hamdan Jol , Zainuddin Norhazlin
Published: September 2016

Information on structural composition of organic matter (OM) in particle-size fractions of soils along a climo-biosequence is sparse. The objective of this study was to examine structural composition and morphological characteristics of OM in particle-size fractions of soils along a climo-biosequence in order to better understand the factors and processes affecting structural composition of soil organic matter. To explore changes in structural composition of OM in soils with different pedogenesis, the A-horizon was considered for further analyses including particle-size fractionation, solid-state13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Due to the increase in the thickness of organic layer with increasing elevation, the A-horizon was situated at greater depth in soils of higher elevation. The relationship between relative abundances of carbon (C) structures and particle-size fractions was examined using principal component analysis (PCA). It was found that alkyl C (20.1-73.4%) and O-alkyl C (16.8-67.7%) dominated particle-size fractions. The proportion of alkyl C increased with increasing elevation, while O-alkyl C showed an opposite trend. Results of PCA confirmed this finding and showed the relative enrichment of alkyl C in soils of higher elevation. Increase in the proportion of alkyl C in 250-2000 μm fraction is linked to selective preservation of aliphatic compounds derived from root litter. SEM results showed an increase in root contribution to the 250-2000 μm fraction with increasing elevation. For the <53 μm fraction, pedogenic process of podzolization is responsible for the relative enrichment of alkyl C. This study demonstrates that changes in structural composition of OM in particle-size fractions of soils along the studied climo-biosequence are attributed to site-specific differences in pedogenesis as a function of climate and vegetation.
Mineralogy and technology of bricks used for the construction of the XII century ducal castle on the island of Ostrów Tumski, Wrocław (SW Poland)
Authors: Bartz W. , Chorowska M.
Published: September 2016

The historic bricks from the ducal castle on Ostrów Tumski (Wrocław), one of the first brickwork structures in the Lower Silesia, which dates back to the XII and XIII century, were studied and characterised by a combination of classical petrographic studies (polarising microscopy), scanning microscopy, thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction. The combined results of these methods suggest that the firing temperature ranges from 950°C, through the most common temperatures of 850–900°C, to the infrequent temperatures below 750°C. Most of the bricks were fired under oxidising conditions, occasionally over a sequence of oxidising and reducing steps, resulting in a sandwich structure. The results indicate, that low-calcareous raw materials were used, presumably Miocene-Pliocene ‘flamy clays’, exploited a few kilometres away from the castle and tempered with locally obtained sand from the Odra river. Only small differences have been recognized in: 1) clay to aplastic material ratio, 2) amount of accessory minerals, 3) grain-size distribution of aplastic materials, but no significant changes in the brick technology were observed. The observed variability corresponds well to the different constructing phases, identified previously on the basis of archaeological work. Thus, our work proves that a detailed mineralogical and petrological study may help to identify different construction phases in historic monuments.
Investigation on drying characteristics of high titanium slag using microwave heating
Authors: Liao Xuefeng , Chen Guo , Liu Qianqian , Chen Jin , Peng Jinhui
Published: September 2016

In the present study, the moisture of high titanium slag was chosen as the research object. Taking advantage of selective heating of microwave and the specific inductive capacity of water, the drying experiment of high titanium slag using microwave heating have been carried out. The results revealed that the presence of moisture in the form of high titanium slag was adsorbed water, and the wet sample possesses excellent wave-adsorbing performance; the bed depth preferred was no larger than 10 mm, with moisture content at around 3%. The microwave drying process was divided into two stages: the constant-stage and the deceleration-stage. The optimum conditions were identified to be microwave power of 700 W, sample mass of 200 g, bed depth of 10 mm and drying time of 50 s. The dehydration extent can reach 90% and moisture content remains at 0.3% under the optimum conditions. The demonstration of microwave drying techniques can be applied effectively and efficiently into the treatment processing of drying of the raw materials of metallurgy and chemical industry with the theoretical and scientific basis.
Statistical analysis and optimization of recovering indium from jarosite residue with vacuum carbothermic reduction by response surface methodology (RSM)
Authors: Ma Hongzhou , Yan Chao , Wang Yaoning , Xie Hongwei
Published: September 2016

Vast jarosite residue was produced from traditional zinc hydrometallurgy process in China. It is necessary to recover valuable metals from the jarosite residue. Indium is the one of them. Recovering indium from jarosite residues with carbon reduction method under the condition of vacuum was investigated. The analysis of variance was used to evaluate the influence of different factors on the volatilizing rate of indium, indicating that the influence of temperature on the volatilizing rate of indium is statistically significant. Other factors have no significant influence. Response surface methodology was used to explore the best combination of four variables and to study the effects of their interactions on the indium volatilizing rate. The results showed that there was an obvious interaction between the percent content of carbon and temperature and between the percent content of carbon and hold time, and the selected optimal conditions were 30% carbon, 13% CaO, 1000°C temperature, and 60 min hold time. Under these conditions, the indium volatilization rate was up to 98.2%.
Emma Nozzi, School Teacher and Provincial Collector (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Authors: Pupio María Alejandra
Published: September 2016

The practice of archaeology in Argentina involved the participation of provincial amateurs who played a relevant role in the search, collection and exhibition of findings until the mid-twentieth century. This paper analyses Emma Nozzi’s practices as a collector and provincial amateur scientist during the decades of the 1940s and 1950s, focusing especially on her gender and the less frequent participation of women in the social network of collectors in the province of Buenos Aires at that time.
Strong pH dependence of coupling efficiency of the Na+ – translocating NADH:quinone oxidoreductase (Na+-NQR) of Vibrio cholerae
Authors: Toulouse Charlotte , Claussen Björn , Muras Valentin , Fritz Günter , Steuber Julia
Published: September 2016

The Na+-translocating NADH:quinone oxidoreductase (NQR) is the entry site for electrons into the respiratory chain of Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera disease. NQR couples the electron transfer from NADH to ubiquinone to the translocation of sodium ions across the membrane. We investigated the pH dependence of electron transfer and generation of a transmembrane voltage (ΔΨ) by NQR reconstituted in liposomes with Na+ or Li+ as coupling cation. ΔΨ formation was followed with the voltage-sensitive dye oxonol. With Na+, ΔΨ was barely influenced by pH (6.5–8.5), while Q reduction activity exhibited a maximum at pH 7.5–8.0. With Li+, ΔΨ was generally lower, and the pH profile of electron transfer activity did not reveal a pronounced maximum. We conclude that the coupling efficiency of NQR is influenced by the nature of the transported cation, and by the concentration of protons. The 3D structure of NQR reveals a transmembrane channel in subunit NqrB. It is proposed that partial uncoupling of the NQR observed with the smaller Li+, or with Na+ at pH 7.5–8.0, is caused by the backflow of the coupling cation through the channel in NqrB.
Biomechanics as a window into the neural control of movement
Authors: Latash Mark L.
Published: September 2016

Biomechanics and motor control are discussed as parts of a more general science, physics of living systems. Major problems of biomechanics deal with exact definition of variables and their experimental measurement. In motor control, major problems are associated with formulating currently unknown laws of nature specific for movements by biological objects. Mechanics-based hypotheses in motor control, such as those originating from notions of a generalized motor program and internal models, are non-physical. The famous problem of motor redundancy is wrongly formulated; it has to be replaced by the principle of abundance, which does not pose computational problems for the central nervous system. Biomechanical methods play a central role in motor control studies. This is illustrated with studies with the reconstruction of hypothetical control variables and those exploring motor synergies within the framework of the uncontrolled manifold hypothesis. Biomechanics and motor control have to merge into physics of living systems, and the earlier this process starts the better.
Spatial control of reflexes, posture and movement in normal conditions and after neurological lesions
Authors: Feldman Anatol G. , Levin Mindy F.
Published: September 2016

Control of reflexes is usually associated with central modulation of their sensitivity (gain) or phase-dependent inhibition and facilitation of their influences on motoneurons (reflex gating). Accumulated empirical findings show that the gain modulation and reflex gating are secondary, emergent properties of central control of spatial thresholds at which reflexes become functional. In this way, the system pre-determines, in a feedforward and task-specific way, where, in a spatial domain or a frame of reference, muscles are allowed to work without directly prescribing EMG activity and forces. This control strategy is illustrated by considering reflex adaptation to repeated muscle stretches in healthy subjects, a process associated with implicit learning and generalization. It has also been shown that spasticity, rigidity, weakness and other neurological motor deficits may have a common source – limitations in the range of spatial threshold control elicited by neural lesions.
Engaging cognitive circuits to promote motor recovery in degenerative disorders. exercise as a learning modality
Authors: Jakowec Michael W. , Wang Zhou , Holschneider Daniel , Beeler Jeff , Petzinger Giselle M.
Published: September 2016

Exercise and physical activity are fundamental components of a lifestyle essential in maintaining a healthy brain. This is primarily due to the fact that the adult brain maintains a high degree of plasticity and activity is essential for homeostasis throughout life. Plasticity is not lost even in the context of a neurodegenerative disorder, but could be maladaptive thus promoting disease onset and progression. A major breakthrough in treating brain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease is to drive neuroplasticity in a direction to improve motor and cognitive dysfunction. The purpose of this short review is to present the evidence from our laboratories that supports neuroplasticity as a potential therapeutic target in treating brain disorders. We consider that the enhancement of motor recovery in both animal models of dopamine depletion and in patients with Parkinson’s disease is optimized when cognitive circuits are engaged; in other words, the brain is engaged in a learning modality. Therefore, we propose that to be effective in treating Parkinson’s disease, physical therapy must employ both skill-based exercise (to drive specific circuits) and aerobic exercise (to drive the expression of molecules required to strengthen synaptic connections) components to select those neuronal circuits, such as the corticostriatal pathway, necessary to restore proper motor and cognitive behaviors. In the wide spectrum of different forms of exercise, learning as the fundamental modality likely links interventions used to treat patients with Parkinson’s disease and may be necessary to drive beneficial neuroplasticity resulting in symptomatic improvement and possible disease modification.
Eye movement abnormalities in essential tremor
Authors: Wójcik-Pędziwiatr Magdalena , Plinta Klaudia , Krzak-Kubica Agnieszka , Zajdel Katarzyna , Falkiewicz Marcel , Dylak Jacek , Ober Jan , Szczudlik Andrzej , Rudzińska Monika
Published: September 2016

Essential tremor (ET) is the most prevalent movement disorder, characterized mainly by an action tremor of the arms. Only a few studies published as yet have assessed oculomotor abnormalities in ET and their results are unequivocal. The aim of this study was to assess the oculomotor abnormalities in ET patients compared with the control group and to find the relationship between oculomotor abnormalities and clinical features of ET patients. We studied 50 ET patients and 42 matched by age and gender healthy controls. Saccadometer Advanced (Ober Consulting, Poland) was used to investigate reflexive, pace-induced and cued saccades and conventional electrooculography for evaluation of smooth pursuit and fixation. The severity of the tremor was assessed by the Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor. Significant differences between ET patients and controls were found for the incidence of reflexive saccades dysmetria and deficit of smooth pursuit. Reflexive saccades dysmetria was more frequent in patients in the second and third phase of ET compared to the first phase. The reflexive saccades latency increase was correlated with severity of the tremor. In conclusion, oculomotor abnormalities were significantly more common in ET patients than in healthy subjects. The most common oculomotor disturbances in ET were reflexive saccades dysmetria and slowing of smooth pursuit. The frequency of reflexive saccades dysmetria increased with progression of ET. The reflexive saccades latency increase was related to the severity of tremor.
A systematic review of the main factors that determine agility in sport using structural equation modeling
Authors: Hojka Vladimir , Stastny Petr , Rehak Tomas , Gołas Artur , Mostowik Aleksandra , Zawart Marek , Musálek Martin
Published: September 2016

While tests of basic motor abilities such as speed, maximum strength or endurance are well recognized, testing of complex motor functions such as agility remains unresolved in current literature. Therefore, the aim of this review was to evaluate which main factor or factor structures quantitatively determine agility. In methodological detail, this review focused on research that explained or described the relationships between latent variables in a factorial model of agility using approaches such as principal component analysis, factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Four research studies met the defined inclusion criteria. No quantitative empirical research was found that tried to verify the quality of the whole suggested model of the main factors determining agility through the use of a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach or a confirmatory factor analysis. From the whole structure of agility, only change of direction speed (CODS) and some of its subtests were appropriately analyzed. The combination of common CODS tests is reliable and useful to estimate performance in sub-elite athletes; however, for elite athletes, CODS tests must be specific to the needs of a particular sport discipline. Sprinting and jumping tests are stronger factors for CODS than explosive strength and maximum strength tests. The authors suggest the need to verify the agility factorial model by a second generation data analysis technique such as SEM.
Accelerometer profile of motion of the pelvic girdle in breaststroke swimming
Authors: Staniak Zbigniew , Buśko Krzysztof , Górski Michał , Pastuszak Anna
Published: September 2016

The aim of the study was to develop a method for measurement and analysis of kinematics of the pelvic girdle movement in breaststroke swimming to support training of technical skills. The measurements were performed in five elite breaststroke swimmers. A recording device for triaxial accelerations and triaxial rotational angular velocity was mounted on the dorsal part of the pelvic girdle of the athlete. The task of the athlete was to swim one length of the 50 m swimming pool with the intensity similar to competition. From the consecutive cycles of swimming motion, we developed individual mean graphical and numerical profiles of the kinematics of the pelvic girdle movement within the average cycle. Mean basic values of the characteristics were compared with the values documented in the literature obtained by means of the video analysis or using the method of measurement of the velocity of the unwound rope. The comparison revealed that the results in the group studied were very similar to the results obtained using other methods and were typical of elite athletes. Analysis of the motion profiles for the pelvic girdle in breaststroke swimmers indicated that the results obtained reflected individual technique of performing individual phases of swimming cycles. The proposed measurement method, presentation and analysis of the profile of the pelvic girdle motion in breaststroke swimming represents a good tool for fast and effective biomechanical evaluation of motion technique components.