bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in forest landscape due to agricultural activities and their influence on natural ecosystems: the eastern Galician mountains
Authors: Diaz-Maroto I.J. , Diaz-Maroto M.C.
Published: April 2018

Forest and agricultural landscapes are vital in relation to biodiversity. Protection policies in such areas should include incentives to enable the common landuse practices. Conservation cannot be addressed in the short term because these landscapes have evolved as socio-ecological systems and provide optimal conditions for biodiversity maintenance. They occur in areas where agriculture has not changed significantly as in the eastern Galician mountains. The landscape dynamics has been shaped by human involvement during centuries. We analyzed how the landscape has evolved according to environmental, socioeconomic and historical changes with the aim of proposing actions for its conservation. The study focused on the recovery of natural hardwood forests which have been intensively exploited since ancient times. Over the past few centuries, these forests have been transformed to agricultural land, felled for use in the naval, metallurgical and railway industries, expropriated from the Church, and affected by wildfire; more recently, have been replaced by fast growing species. Today, broadleaved forests cover small areas of rugged land where the topography often precludes other land uses. In conclusion, although the landscape in the study area has undergone a major transformation, now this land is a priority for biodiversity conservation.
Telomere biology and age-related diseases
Authors: Herrmann Markus , Pusceddu Irene , März Winfried , Herrmann Wolfgang
Published: April 2018

Telomeres are the protective end caps of chromosomes and shorten with every cell division. Telomere length has been proposed as a biomarker of biological age and a risk factor for age-related diseases. Epidemiologic studies show an association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and mortality. There is solid evidence that links LTL with cardiovascular disease. Short telomeres promote atherosclerosis and impair the repair of vascular lesions. Alzheimer’s disease patients have also a reduced LTL. Telomeres measured in tumor tissue from breast, colon and prostate are shorter than in healthy tissue from the same organ and the same patient. In healthy tissue directly adjacent to these tumors, telomeres are also shorter than in cells that are more distant from the cancerous lesion. A reduced telomere length in cancer tissue from breast, colon and prostate is associated with an advanced disease state at diagnosis, faster disease progression and poorer survival. By contrast, results regarding LTL and cancer are inconsistent. Furthermore, the majority of studies did not find significant associations between LTL, bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis. The present manuscript gives an overview about our current understanding of telomere biology and reviews existing knowledge regarding the relationship between telomere length and age-related diseases.
Salivary biomarkers and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review
Authors: Gohel Vishal , Jones Judith A. , Wehler Carolyn J.
Published: April 2018

Background:

The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the literature examining associations between salivary biomarkers and cardiovascular disease (CVD) status.

Contents:

An advanced search was conducted using MeSH terms related to salivary biomarkers and CVD, and entered into the PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar search databases. Four hundred and thirty-three records were narrowed to 22 accepted articles. Included titles were assessed for quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale, and ranked into categories of low, moderate, or high.

A total of 40 salivary biomarkers were analyzed among accepted articles. The most studied markers were salivary creatine kinase isoform MB, C-reactive protein (CRP), matrix metalloproteinase-9, troponin I, myeloperoxidase, myoglobin, and brain natriuretic peptide. Salivary CRP provided the most consistent trends. Statistically significant increases of salivary CRP were present with CVD in every study that analyzed it. The remaining six markers demonstrated varying patterns.

Outlook:

Existing studies provide insufficient data to draw definitive conclusions. Current research shows that there is an association between some salivary biomarkers and CVD, but the details of existing studies are conflicting. Despite inconclusive results, the diagnostic potential of saliva shows promise as a non-invasive means of cardiovascular risk assessment.
Assessing matrix, interferences and comparability between the Abbott Diagnostics and the Beckman Coulter high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I assays
Authors: Kavsak Peter A. , Malinowski Paul , Roy Chantele , Clark Lorna , Lamers Shana
Published: April 2018

Background:

Analytical evaluation of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assays, with particular attention to imprecision, interferences and matrix effects, at normal cTn concentrations, is of utmost importance as many different clinical algorithms use concentration cutoffs <10 ng/L for decision-making. The objective for the present analytical study was to compare the new Beckman Coulter hs-cTnI assay (Access hsTnI) to Abbott’s hs-cTnI assay in different matrices and for different interferences, with a focus on concentrations <10 ng/L.

Methods:

The limit of blank (LoB) and the limit of detection (LoD) were determined in different matrices for the Beckman hs-cTnI assay. Passing-Bablok regression and difference plots were determined for 200 matched lithium heparin and EDTA plasma samples for the Beckman assay and 200 lithium heparin samples for the Abbott assay. Both EDTA and heparin plasma samples were also evaluated for stability under refrigerated conditions, for endogenous alkaline phosphatase interference and for hemolysis and icterus.

Results:

The Beckman hs-cTnI assay LoB was 0.5 ng/L with the following range of LoDs=0.8–1.2 ng/L, with EDTA plasma yielding lower concentrations as compared to lithium heparin plasma (mean difference=−14.9%; 95% CI=−16.9 to 12.9). Below 10 ng/L, lithium heparin cTnI results from the Beckman assay were on average 1.1 ng/L (95% CI=0.7 to 1.5) higher than the Abbott results, with no difference between the methods when using EDTA plasma (mean difference =−0.1 ng/L; 95% CI=−0.3 to 0.2). Low cTnI concentrations were less effected by interferences in EDTA plasma.

Conclusions:

The Access hsTnI method can reliably detect normal cTnI concentrations with both lithium heparin and EDTA plasma being suitable matrices.
Exploring the microbiota to better understand gastrointestinal cancers physiology
Authors: Panebianco Concetta , Potenza Adele , Andriulli Angelo , Pazienza Valerio
Published: April 2018

Gastrointestinal cancers account for around 40% of cancer-related deaths worldwide, representing a global health burden. There is a growing body of evidence highlighting the link between microbiota and gastrointestinal tumorigenesis and/or resistance to therapy. In the present manuscript, we reviewed the published studies on the relationship between the microbiota and the different gastrointestinal tumors, namely, gastric, colorectal and esophageal, including also the cancer of accessory organs such as liver and pancreas. There is an emergent interest in the manipulation of gastrointestinal microflora in order to understand the gastrointestinal tumorigenesis’ processes and the establishment of chemoresistance mechanisms.
Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgG subclass reference intervals in children, using Optilite® reagents
Authors: Grunewald Olivier , Lopez Benjamin , Brabant Séverine , Rogeau Stéphanie , Deschildre Antoine , Phrommavanh Vassana , Lefort Marie , Moitrot Emmanuelle , Gyselinckx Dominique , Deleplancque Anne-Sophie , Lefevre Guillaume , Labalette Myriam , Dubucquoi Sylvain
Published: April 2018

Background:

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgG subclass assays are indicated in patients with suspected primary immunodeficiency (PID). Commercially available assays for IgG subclass determination are calibrated against various preparations, and so specific reference values are required for each of them. Using Optilite® reagents from The Binding Site Group Ltd., we sought to determine the pediatric IgG and IgG subclass reference intervals with respect to the ERM-DA470k certified reference material.

Methods:

Levels of IgG and IgG subclasses were analyzed in serum samples collected from a large cohort of PID-free children and adolescents. Reference intervals were calculated for previously published age groups (6–12 months, 12–18 months, 18 months–2 years, 2–3 years, 3–4 years, 4–6 years, 6–9 years, 9–12 years and 12–18 years), according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute’s C28-A3c protocol.

Results:

A total of 456 serum samples were analyzed. The correlation between the total IgG and the sum of the IgG subclasses was good (r2=0.96). No statistically significant gender-specific differences were observed. Our results for the changes over time in IgG and IgG subclass levels are consistent with previous reports. The differences between our lower/upper reference limits and those in the literature are probably due to variations in calibration.

Conclusions:

Our present results provide a reliable basis for the diagnosis of PIDs in childhood and for the accreditation of laboratories using Optilite® immunoturbidimetric reagents for IgG subclass measurement. Laboratory scientists and clinicians should be aware of the need for manufacturer-specific IgG subclass reference intervals.
Serum procalcitonin concentration within 2 days postoperatively accurately predicts outcome after liver resection
Authors: Aoki Yuto , Taniai Nobuhiko , Yoshioka Masato , Kawano Youichi , Shimizu Tetsuya , Kanda Tomohiro , Kondo Ryota , Kaneya Yohei , Furuki Hiroyasu , Uchida Eiji
Published: April 2018

Background:

Relatively high mortality and morbidity rates are reported after liver resection (LR). However, the early predictors of complications after LR are not clear. This study was performed to clarify the usefulness of procalcitonin (PCT) for the early prediction of complications after elective LR.

Methods:

This observational study included 72 consecutive patients who underwent elective LR from December 2015 to March 2017. Patients were categorized into two groups: those with and without postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥II). The values of postoperative inflammatory markers (white blood cell [WBC] count, C-reactive protein [CRP] and PCT) were compared between the two groups.

Results:

CRP and PCT were significantly higher in patients with than without complications; however, the WBC count showed no difference within 5 days postoperatively. The maximum area under the receiver operating characteristic curves within 2 days after LR using the WBC count, CRP and PCT were 0.608, 0.697 and 0.860, respectively, PCT had the best predictive ability in the early postoperative period. The PCT level peaked within 2 days postoperatively in 61 patients (85%). The maximum PCT level within 2 days postoperatively (PCT1−2) was significantly higher in patients with than without complications (0.52 vs. 0.19 ng/mL, p<0.001). A cutoff PCT1−2 level of 0.35 ng/mL achieved 80% sensitivity and 83% specificity. In patients without complications, there was no difference in PCT1−2 even when the surgical procedure differed (p=0.935).

Conclusions:

PCT1−2 is an early predictive marker after LR and can be similarly used regardless of the LR procedure.
Ultrastructural changes in murine liver following HSV infection and stroke
Authors: Motorna Natalia , Rybalko Svetlana , Kvitnitskaya-Ryzhova Tatyana , Starosyla Daria , Strokina Iryna , Kaminsky Rostyslav , Savosko Sergey , Sokurenko Liudmyla , Chaikovsky Yuri
Published: April 2018

The study of herpetic infection is a topical problem. Although the peculiarities and consequences of acute HSV-I infection in the brain are quite well-studied, little is known about the damage to other organs which are not a source of latent HSV-I infection, the liver in particular. The current study is aimed at determining the ultrastructural changes in murine liver following HSV infection and stroke. Liver samples obtained from four groups of animals were studied: 1) intact mice; 2) mice with stroke; 3) mice infected with HSV-I; 4) mice aflicted with HSV-I and subsequently simulated stroke. The study showed the reproduction of the virus in hepatic endotheliocytes, although no virions were detected in the hepatocytes. Therefore, the described changes were considered the consequences of the infectious process. Pathological changes of hepatocytes consisted of deformation and fragmentation of the nuclei, as well as accumulation of osmiophilic granules, lysosomes and lamellary bodies. Latent HSV-I infection may reactivate in liver after the stroke, potentially causing the complications of the underlying disease.
Evaluation of the impact of the proteasome inhibitor on calcium channel expression in cardiomyocytes treated with doxorubicin
Authors: Korga Agnieszka , Soroka Milena , Wicha Karolina , Humeniuk Ewelina , Adamczuk Grzegorz , Iwan Magdalena , Sysa Marcin , Dudka Jaroslaw
Published: April 2018

One of the less known mechanisms of doxorubicin action is the effect on the functioning of the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation system (UPS). So far, the role of impaired proteasome activity in the development of anthracycline cardiomyopathy has not been clarified. It has been shown, however, that doxorubicin decreases the expression of proteins, including the expression of the calcium channel. However, it has not been established whether the observed disturbances are due to the activation of the UPS system by doxorubicin, or due to inhibition of translation or transcription. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the mRNA and protein expression of plasmalemmal (NaCaX, L-type) and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SERCA2, RyR2) channels in rat embryonic cardiomyocytes treated with doxorubicin and the proteasome inhibitor – bortezomib. The study was conducted utilizing the rat cardiomyocyte H9C2 line that was treated with doxorubicin and bortezomib in different concentrations. After 24 hours incubation, mRNA and protein expression analysis followed. The study did not show any universal mechanism of doxorubicin influence on calcium channel expression. With regard to the Na/Ca exchanger, we saw that DOX decreased the protein level in a proteasome activitydependent manner. Moreover, we noted that the SERCA2 protein expression level was regulated by degradation intensity, however at the same time, no significant effect of doxorubicin on the level of this protein was demonstrated.
Apoptosis of rats’ cardiomyocytes after chronic energy drinks consumption
Authors: Slawinski Miroslaw Aleksander , Wawryk-Gawda Ewelina , Zarobkiewicz Michal Konrad , Halczuk Pawel , Jodlowska-Jedrych Barbara
Published: April 2018

Energy drinks (ED) are beverages containing caffeine, taurine, vitamins, herbal extracts, and sugar or sweeteners. They are marketed as capable of improving stamina, athletic performance and concentration, moreover, as serving as a source of energy. Still, there are very few papers describing the impact of ED on cell biology – including cell apoptosis within tissues. Therefore, in our study, we assessed the symptoms of rat cardiomyocytes apoptosis after 8 weeks consumption of ED.

For the research, we used male Wistar rats divided into 2 groups (experimental and control). The experimental animals received ED at a dose average of 0.190 ml per g of body weight per day for a period of 8 weeks. The animals of the control group received just water and food without limitation. After 8 weeks, the rats were decapitated; hearts and other organs were collected. After embedding in paraffin blocks, 5μm thick tissue slides were prepared and stained according to standard hematoxylin and eosine (H&E) staining protocol. Additional slides were stained by immunohistochemistry with antibodies directed against either caspaze-3 or p53 protein.

Our results showed that the expression of caspase 3 and p53 protein varied depending on the group of rats. The expression of caspase 3 observed in cardiomyocytes was much more intense in the experimental group compared to the control group. Furthermore, the immunoprecipitation of p53 protein was observed more frequently in the cardiomyocytes nuclei of the experimental group than in the control group.

Obtained results suggest that chronic use of ED induces intracellular disorders and apoptosis in consumer cardiomyocytes.
Stability indicating HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of dapagliflozin and saxagliptin in bulk and tablet dosage form
Authors: Deepan Thiyagarajan , Dhanaraju Magharla Dasaratha
Published: April 2018

A simple, fast, and highly selective RP-HPLC method was developed for the determination of Dapagliflozin (DAP) and Saxagliptin (SAX) in API and tablet dosage form. The separation was done using a Xterra RP18 (4.6×150 mm, 5 μm particle size) column with Acetonitrile: water (60:40). The isocratic elution mode at a flow rate of 1 mL/min, and the analytes were measured at 248 nm. The retention time for DAP and SAX were about 2.091 and 3.249 min, respectively. Calibration curves were found to be linear in the ranges of 100-500 μg/ml for DAP and 50-250 μg/ml for SAX, with correlation coefficients of 0.9998. The detection and quantification values for DAP was 3.0 and 9.98 μg/ml and SAX was 3.02 and 10 μg/ml respectively.
The Boundary Effect in the Accuracy Estimate for the Grid Solution of the Fractional Differential Equation
Authors: Makarov Volodymyr , Mayko Nataliya
Published: April 2018

A grid method for solving the first boundary value problem for ordinary and partial differential equations with the Riemann–Liouville fractional derivative is justified.
The algorithm is based on using Green’s function, the Fredholm integral equation, and the Lagrange interpolation polynomial.
The impact of the Dirichlet boundary condition on the accuracy of the approximate solution is revealed and quantitatively described through the weight assessment.
All the estimates provide clear evidence that the accuracy order of the grid method is higher near the boundary of the domain than it is in the inner nodes of the mesh set.
Online music recommendation platforms as representations of ontologies of musical taste
Authors: Krämer Benjamin
Published: April 2018

The framework of the ‘social ontology of the internet’ is applied to music recommendation platforms.
Those websites provide individual suggestions of music to users, creating new dynamics of taste that
are no longer based on human-to-human interaction and verbalized judgments. An exemplary analysis
of three platforms shows that different conceptions of musical tastes are represented by technical
systems: situational emotional preferences, a formalist aesthetics, and social proximity based on
tastes. The platforms share certain assumptions about the ontology of musical entities and of course
the constitutive act of recommending. We discuss how this act can be ascribed to technical systems.
Theses on the platforms’ effects on the social structure of musical tastes are developed.
Lying press: Three levels of perceived media bias and their relationship with political preferences
Authors: Eberl Jakob-Moritz
Published: April 2018

In the context of decreasing media trust as well as the rise of populist movements in many Western Democracies, this study sets out to revisit the relationship between political preferences and perceived media bias. It investigates perceived bias of the entire media system, the perceived bias of individual outlets as well as perceived beneficiaries of this favorable coverage. Analyses are based on an online survey in Austria in 2015 (n ~ 1,679) and compare citizens’ perceived biases towards eight newspapers and television outlets. Results show that media system bias in Austria is strongly related to right-wing but not to left-wing extremism. Furthermore, there are not only differences between single outlets but also between media genres, as particularly tabloids are less afflicted by right-wing perceptions of bias. Finally, there is evidence of hostile media perceptions irrespective of actual media exposure.
New service limit state criteria for reinforced concrete in chloride environments
Authors: Castel Arnaud , François Raoul , Santisi d’Avila Maria Paola , Jenkins Doug
Published: April 2018

In chloride environments, reinforcement stress limits, intended to control flexural cracking, are one of the most important requirements for service limit state (SLS) design. However, concrete damage at the steel-concrete interface between bending cracks, so called cover-controlled cracking, is always correlated to areas of severe steel reinforcement corrosion. Based on the assumption that cover-controlled cracking should be limited, a model has been developed to provide alternative reinforcement stress limits in marine exposure conditions such as concrete in sea water, including permanently submerged, spray zone and tidal/splash zone, as well as coastal constructions located within 1 km of the shoreline. In this paper, the new reinforcement stress limitation is compared to the Australian Standards AS3600 concrete building code and AS5100.5 concrete bridge code provisions. Analysis shows that the new model is very sensitive to the reinforcement percentage of the cross-section. As a result, the existing AS3600 and AS5100.5 code provisions are more conservative than the new limitation for lightly to normally reinforced concrete cross-section. In this case, crack width control governs the SLS design. However, for normally to heavily reinforced concrete cross-section, the new model provides more conservative results suggesting that cover-controlled cracking governs the SLS design.
Techniques for investigation of hydrogen embrittlement of advanced high strength steels
Authors: Rudomilova Darya , Prošek Tomáš , Luckeneder Gerald
Published: April 2018

Production volumes of advanced high strength steels (AHSS) are growing rapidly due to material and energy savings they provide in a number of application areas. In order to use their potential fully, it is necessary to minimize any danger of unexpected failures caused by hydrogen embrittlement. It is possible only if deeper understanding of underlying mechanisms is obtained through further research. Besides description of main grades of AHSS and mechanisms of HE, this paper reviews available tools for determination of hydrogen content and susceptibility to HE focusing on atmospheric conditions. Techniques such as slow strain rate testing, constant load testing, electrochemical permeation technique, scanning Kelvin probe and scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy have already been used to study the effect of hydrogen entered under atmospheric exposure conditions. Nanoindentation, hydrogen microprint technique, thermal desorption spectroscopy, Ag decoration or secondary ion mass spectrometry can be also conducted after atmospheric exposure.
Relationship between antipsychotic medication, obesity and cognitive functions
Authors: Łopuszańska Urszula , Makara-Studzińska Marta
Published: April 2018

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine whether the combination of atypical and typical antipsychotic medications is related with metabolism and cognitive functions in the same manner and degree as taking medications of one kind only, i.e. atypical or typical.

Material and methods: The participants of the study comprised of 91 adults with diagnosed mental illness (F-20-F69). The participants were divided into groups on the basis of the kind of administered medications: T+A (typical and atypical medications), A (atypical medications), T (typical medications), P (antidepressants, sedatives, normothymic/antiepileptic drugs). In the study, Short Test of Mental Status (STMS), Verbal Fluency Test (VFT), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) were used for the purpose of examining cognitive functions.

Results: The kind of antipsychotic medications taken by the patients did not differentiate the group in relation to BMI (p<0.13), nor in relation to the level of general cognitive function (p<0.72) or verbal fluency (p<0.34). Both atypical antipsychotic medications and the combination of atypical and typical medications were related to the occurrence of abdominal obesity (p<0.01). An increase in waist circumference decreased an ability of abstract reasoning (p<0.005). When it comes to the body mass index, waist circumference negatively correlated with the delayed memory (p< 0.03, p<0.004).

Discussion: Both the combination of atypical and typical antipsychotic medications and atypical medications are associated with the occurrence of abdominal obesity. The deposition of fat tissue in the abdomen negatively correlated with an ability to learn.

Conclusions: The future studies might explain the interactions between antipsychotic medications, obesity and cognitive function.
Structural and functional changes in the central nervous system in the course of anorexia nervosa
Authors: Hys Michał , Skoczeń Nikodem , Soroka Ewelina , Olajossy Marcin
Published: April 2018

New achievements within structural and functional imaging of central nervous system offer a basis for better understanding of the mechanisms underlying many mental disorders. In everyday clinical practice, we encounter many difficulties in the therapy of eating disorders. They are caused by a complex psychopathological picture, varied grounds of the problems experienced by patients, often poor motivation for active participation in the treatment process, difficulties in communication between patients and therapeutic staff, and various biological conditions of eating disorders. In this paper, the latest reports on new concepts and methods of diagnosis and treatment of anorexia nervosa have been analyzed. The selection of the analyzed publications was based on the criteria taking into account the time of publication, the size of research cohorts, as well as the experience of research teams in the field of nutritional disorders, confirmed by the number of works and their citations. The work aims to spread current information on anorexia nervosa neurobiology that would allow for determining the brain regions involved in the regulation of food intake, and consequently that may be a potential place where neurobiochemical processes responsible for eating disorders occur. In addition, using modern methods of structural imaging, the authors want to show some of the morphometric variations, particularly within white matter, occurring in patients suffering from anorexia nervosa, as well as those evaluated with magnetoencephalography of processes associated with the neuronal processing of information related to food intake. For example as regards anorexia nervosa, it was possible to localize the areas associated with eating disorders and broaden our knowledge about the changes in these areas that cause and accompany the illness. The described in this paper research studies using diffusion MRI fiber tractography showed the presence of changes in the white matter pathways of the brain, especially in the corpus callosum, which indicate a reduced content of myelin. These changes probably reflect malnutrition, and directly represent the effect of lipid deficiency. This leads to a weakening of the structure, and even cell death. In addition, there are more and more reports that show the normal volume of brain cells in patients with long-term remission of anorexia. It was also shown that in patients in remission stage there are functional changes within the amygdala in response to a task not related symptomatologically with anorexia nervosa. The appearing in the scientific literature data stating that in patients with anorexia nervosa there is a reduced density of GFAP + cells of the hippocampus and increased expression of vimentin and nestin, is also worth noting.
“Pulling hair out of the head” - the importance of traumatic family events in the development and maintenance of trichotillomania symptoms - case report
Authors: Siek Aleksandra , Makarewicz Agata , Łobejko Łukasz , Gralewska Anna , Tomaka Joanna , Szymańska-Piekarczyk Justyna , Siembida Jakub , Juchnowicz Hanna Karakuła
Published: April 2018

Introduction: Trichotillomania is a mental disorder characterized by a repetitive and compulsive hair pulling, classified in ICD-10 to a group of habit and impulse disorders, and in the DSM-5 to the group of obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Aim: The aim of the study is to present on the basis of case study:1). the importance of traumatic family experiences in releasing as well as maintaining the symptoms of Trichotillomania, 2). comprehensive medical care, the application of which has resulted in a beneficial therapeutic effect.

Results: In the described case of 16-year-old patient, Trichotillomania was triggered by traumatic events related to lack of support and family stabilization resulting from parental disputes and grandfather’s death, when she was 11 years old. The subsequent years of her life, in spite of the divorce of her parents and their separate residence, abounded in periods of turbulent quarrels between the parents in which she was involved. Each time this type of incident was associated with the recurrence of behavior associated with Trichotil-lomania, the course of which was more severe with the occurrence of self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

Conclusions: 1. In the described case, traumatic events and pathological relations of the immediate family members were not only thetriggering factor, but also maintaining the Trichotillomania symptoms. 2. In accordance with the guidelines of Trichotillomania Learning Center-Scientific Advisory Board (2008), the use of a comprehensive treatment including both the patient - individual psycho-therapy (especially cognitive-behavioral therapy) and pharmacotherapy, as well as her family (family psychotherapy, family mediation, workshops for parents), brought about positive therapeutic effects.
Experiencing of domestic violence during childhood and level of personality trait of anxiety in adults
Authors: Bereza Bernarda , Morylowska-Topolska Justyna , Urbańska Anna , Szymczuk Diana , Karakuła-Juchnowicz Hanna
Published: April 2018

Aim. The aim of the study was looking for correlations between experiencing of various forms of harming in childhood and severity of personal trait of anxiety in victims of domestic violence.

Material and methods. The number of 112 people (49 women and 63 men) who were attending the mental health clinics in the area of Mazovian district were investigated. The sociodemographic questionnaire and Polish adaptation of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (by C.D. Spielberger) were used.

Results. High severity of anxiety as a trait, more often than low severity correlates with experiencing of violence (physical and mental) during childhood. Most often it is mental violence with father as perpetrator (p<0.01). People with the high level of anxiety as a trait have more often still been experiencing violence, living with their perpetrator and using violence towards other people (p<0.05).

Conclusions. Awareness of psychological consequences of using violence towards the youngest permit to hope for optimization of actions preventing spreading of such pathology (for example therapeutic work with learned helplessness and copying of destructive family patterns).
A new proof of the Tikuisis–White–Winter theorem
Authors: Schafhauser Christopher
Published: April 2018

A trace on a

C
*

{\mathrm{C}^{*}}

-algebra is amenable (resp. quasidiagonal) if it admits a net of completely positive, contractive maps into matrix algebras which approximately preserve the trace and are approximately multiplicative in the 2-norm (resp. operator norm). Using that the double commutant of a nuclear

C
*

{\mathrm{C}^{*}}

-algebra is hyperfinite, it is easy to see that traces on nuclear

C
*

{\mathrm{C}^{*}}

-algebras are amenable. A recent result of Tikuisis, White, and Winter shows that faithful traces on separable, nuclear

C
*

{\mathrm{C}^{*}}

-algebras in the UCT class are quasidiagonal. We give a new proof of this result using the extension theory of

C
*

{\mathrm{C}^{*}}

-algebras and, in particular, using a version of the Weyl–von Neumann Theorem due to Elliott and Kucerovsky.
Finite quasi-quantum groups of diagonal type
Authors: Huang Hua-Lin , Liu Gongxiang , Yang Yuping , Ye Yu
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we give a classification of finite-dimensional radically graded elementary quasi-Hopf algebras of diagonal type, or equivalently, finite-dimensional coradically graded pointed Majid algebras of diagonal type. By a Tannaka–Krein type duality, this determines a big class of pointed finite tensor categories. Some efficient methods of construction are also given.
Catalytic quality improvement of waste polyolefin originated fractions
Authors: Tóth O. , Holló A. , Hancsók J.
Published: April 2018

The demand for alternative fuels having low greenhouse gases emission is continuously growing worldwide. Therefore it is preferred to produce new, waste originated components. One option is the recycling of plastic waste with cracking. The produced hydrocarbon fraction is not suitable for fuels thus it is important to improve its quality. The aim of our experimental work was to study the quality improvement of this cracked fraction (PPCGO) and crude oil based middle distillates (different composition) with co-processing. Our goal was to produce high quality diesel fuel blending components. We studied the effect of process parameters on the quality of products. Ni (2.3%) Mo (11.0%) P (2.3%)/Al2O3 catalyst was used. During the experiments we studied the hydrogenation of olefins, saturation of aromatics and desulphurization. The hydrogenation of olefins was practically complete at 300°C. It took place at significantly higher speed than the desulphurization reactions. In case of light gas oil feedstock the products had significantly lower sulphur contents; below 10 mg/kg already at 340°C. We determined that the cracked fraction had beneficial effect on the performance properties of the products. In case of all feedstock combinations, we found process parameters which can be used to produce high-quality diesel fuel blending components on the tested catalyst.
Effect of SLCO1B1 gene polymorphisms and vitamin D on statin-induced myopathy
Authors: Alghalyini Baraa , El Shamieh Said , Salami Ali , Visvikis Siest Sophie , Fakhoury Hana M. , Fakhoury Rajaa
Published: April 2018

Background

Statin therapy used to lower cholesterol levels results in a substantial reduction in cardiovascular complications. Previous observations in different ethnic populations showed that rs2306283A>G, p.Asn130Asp and rs4149056T>C, p.Val174Ala in solute carrier organic anion transporter 1B1 (SLCO1B1) gene encoding the organic transporter protein may be responsible for statin uptake, thus explaining the majority of statin-associated symptoms. In addition to the genetic component, vitamin D (vit D) deficiency is common in Saudi Arabia and worldwide and may cause muscle dysfunction and ache. The aim of the present study was first to reveal an effect of vit D, rs2306283A>G, and rs4149056T>C and related haplotypes on statin-associated myopathy (SAM) and then to investigate a possible interaction between low vit D levels and the above-mentioned variants.

Methods

The genomic DNA obtained from 50 individuals diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia was genotyped using light SNiP hybridization probes.

Results

Low vit D levels were associated with SAM (OR=3.6, p=0.03); however, CK levels, rs2306283A>G, and rs4149056T>C did not show any association. Interestingly, rs4149056T>C was interacting with vit D to influence SAM (p=0.02). Haplotype analysis showed that SLCO1B1 *1B and *15 were more prevalent in individuals with SAM (p=0.05). When stratified according to vit D levels, rs2306283A allele showed an increase in individuals having SAM along with low vit D (p=0.03).

Conclusions

Although preliminary, our results show an involvement of vit D and rs4149056T>C of SLCO1B1 in SAM.
Würde am Ende der Autonomie
Authors: Knell Sebastian
Published: April 2018

With reference to Joel Feinberg and Stephen Darwall, this paper develops a concept of human dignity which considers dignity as a fragile and vulnerable quality that can be lost and violated in specific situations. In contrast to holistic approaches to dignity, it requires the recognition of others as a source for a person’s normative authority about his or her life. Pre-forms of this concept are also relevant in the organisation of dementia care. In order to maintain the normative authority about the lives of dementia patients, care-givers are encouraged to respect their expressive actions and responses. Ignoring these expressions constitutes a violation of the dignity of dementia sufferers.
Who will become dominant? Investigating the roles of individual behaviour, body size, and environmental predictability in brown trout fry hierarchies
Authors: Näslund Joacim , Berger David , Johnsson Jörgen I.
Published: April 2018

This paper presents a study investigating performance of brown trout fry, with different behavioural characteristics, in environments differing in food predictability. Based on previous experimental findings, we hypothesised that more active individuals would be favoured by a predictable environment, as compared to an unpredictable environment, as a consequence of being more aggressive and likely to dominate the best feeding stations. This hypothesis was not supported, as more active individuals instead tended to perform better, in terms of growth and survival, in unpredictable environments. However, this effect may stem from initial size differences, as more active fish also tended to be larger. In predictable environments, no trends between activity (or size) and performance were detected. Dominant individuals could be identified based on lighter body colouration in 9 out of 10 rearing tanks, but dominance appeared not to be related to activity score. The results highlight a potential advantage of more active and/or larger fry in unpredictable environments, while performance in predictable environments is likely depending on other phenotypic characteristics. Our general experimental approach can be useful for further developments in the investigation of performance of different ethotypes of brown trout fry.
Internal marketing and organisational performance of SMEs in the EDV industrial sector
Authors: Sousa João Pedro , Krot Katarzyna , Rodrigues Ricardo G.
Published: April 2018

Focusing on the industrial sector, this research aims to identify conditions for the implementation of internal marketing concepts among employees and its impact on the organisational performance. Only one study was found simultaneously integrating the two constructs. It concerned the cork processing industry alone, yet considered expanding the efforts – namely, using qualitative exploratory research in the form of 10 in-depth interviews based on a script of generally open questions – to the entire industry in the Portuguese region between rivers Douro and Vouga. The unit of analysis was constructed considering distinct features as well as activity criteria and the geographic location, thus ensuring the necessary heterogeneity. The results inform about the awareness of the internal marketing conceptualisation. The research found that all analysed enterprises had more or less structured model frames and worked with the conceptualisation of the guidance for the internal market, a strategic concern, and in some instances, this concept was an organisational desideratum in the sector. In addition to the lapse of the research according to a qualitative paradigm of exploratory nature, the main limitation is the need for objective sustainably of the results obtained through future quantitative studies to promote an integrated triangulation of their outcomes. The research allowed identifying the companies that use organisational models conducive to the individual well-being of employees and facilitating the desired orientation to the market.
What competencies are needed in the production industry? The case of the Podlaskie Region
Authors: Gudanowska Alicja Ewa , Alonso Josune Prieto , Törmänen Annamari
Published: April 2018

The article focuses on indicating a set of competencies required for production branches based on the data regarding the Podlaskie labour market. The data was collected using quantitative surveys (in the form of questionnaires). Then, the Authors used network analysis to visualise the collected data and indicate the most frequently indicated set of competencies. Based on the opinion of respondents, the most popular competencies were professional knowledge and technical skills. These two competencies were also the most popular combination. Communication, self-reliance, thoroughness/reliability, sharing knowledge and experience, and teamwork/collaboration also proved to be important. The entire set of the competencies is strongly linked, with professional knowledge and technical skills forming the foundation. Knowledge of foreign languages has also been identified as significant as well as decision making, which was, however, less frequently connected with the above. Despite the dominance of the two competencies attributed to the professional group, this group of competencies was the least numerous. Based on the example of the Podlaskie Region, the study informs about the set of competencies sought by manufacturing companies. Also, the most important competencies typical for individual branches are noted. This collection of competencies can serve as a basis for further theoretical considerations in the field of competency identification aimed at the production industry. In some cases, competencies indicated for different industries coincide, while in others they are divergent. The set of competencies indicated by the respondents informs job seekers in the area of production as well as institutions such as Voivodship Labour Office in Bialystok, whose task, among others, is to appropriately orientate the development of future employees.
Association Française de Linguistique Appliquée (AFLA)
Authors: Miras Gregory , Boulton Alex , Kübler Natalie , Narcy-Combes Jean-Paul
Published: April 2018

This contribution to the European Journal of Applied Linguistics addresses the contextualized challenges that the Association Française de Linguistique Appliquée is still facing despite the fact that it was created as far back as 1964, at the same time as AILA. The landscape of French research may explain why the tag “Linguistique Appliquée” is not as widespread as its equivalents in some other scientific cultures.
Rational homology and homotopy of high-dimensional string links
Authors: Songhafouo Tsopméné Paul Arnaud , Turchin Victor
Published: April 2018

Arone and the second author showed that when the dimensions are in the stable range, the rational homology and homotopy of the high-dimensional analogues of spaces of long knots can be calculated as the homology of a direct sum of finite graph-complexes that they described explicitly. They also showed that these homology and homotopy groups can be interpreted as the
higher-order Hochschild homology, also called Hochschild–Pirashvili homology.
In this paper, we generalize all these results to high-dimensional analogues of spaces of string links.
The methods of our paper are applicable in the range when the ambient dimension is at least twice the maximal dimension of a
link component plus two, which in particular guarantees that the spaces under study are connected. However, we conjecture that our homotopy graph-complex computes the rational homotopy groups of
link spaces always when the codimension is greater than two, i.e. always when the Goodwillie–Weiss calculus is applicable. Using Haefliger’s approach to calculate the groups of isotopy classes of higher-dimensional links, we confirm our conjecture at the level of

π
0

{\pi_{0}}

.
Triple-band MIMO Dipole Antenna for LTE Access Points
Authors: Lu Jui-Han , Hung Ming-Tsung
Published: April 2018

A MIMO dipole antenna with triple band operation for 4 G LTE femtocell is proposed. This designed dipole antenna with a regulated RL ≥ 10 dB can achieve 128/1007 MHz (18.3/39.2 %) for the LTE 700/2300/2500 MHz operating bands respectively. The measured maximum peak antenna gains and efficiencies approach 4.8/7.4 dBi and 92/88 % across 700/2300/2500 MHz bands, respectively, which cover the required bandwidth for 4 G LTE system, and the compliant unidirectional radiation patterns show in XZ- and XY-plane.
Design of a Compact Balanced Bandpass Filter based on CSRR-loaded Substrate Integrated Waveguide Structure
Authors: Zhang Hao , Kang Wei , Wu Wen
Published: April 2018

A compact balanced bandpass filter (BPF) based on complementary split ring resonator (CSRR) -loaded substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) structure is reported in this paper. Both TE102 and TE201 modes of the SIW cavity can be excited under differential-mode (DM) operation with the proper positions of the balanced feeds. Meanwhile, the CSRR etched on the top layer of the substrate can also be excited by the axial electric excitation. Then, three transmission poles and two transmission zeros (TZs) have been obtained which improve the selectivity of the DM passband. To verify the above design concept, an X-band prototype operating at 8 GHz has been fabricated and measured. A good agreement is observed between the simulations and the measurements.
New results of microfaunal and geochemical investigations in the Permian–Triassic boundary interval from the Jadar Block (NW Serbia)
Authors: Sudar Milan N. , Kolar-Jurkovšek Tea , Nestell Galina P. , Jovanović Divna , Jurkovšek Bogdan , Williams Jeremy , Brookfield Michael , Stebbins Alan
Published: April 2018

Detail results of microfaunal, sedimentological and geochemical investigations are documented from a newly discovered section of the Permian–Triassic boundary (PTB) interval in the area of the town of Valjevo (northwestern Serbia). The presence of various and abundant microfossils (conodonts, foraminifers, and ostracodes) found in the Upper Permian “Bituminous limestone” Formation enabled a determination of the ChanghsingianHindeodus praeparvusconodont Zone. This paper is the first report of latest Permian strata from the region, as well as from all of Serbia, where the PTB interval sediments have been part of a complex/integrated study by means of biostratigraphy and geochemistry.
Who Fears the Big Government? A Coordinated Attemp to Downsize Federal Agencies’ Power in the United States
Authors: Romeo Graziella , Palazzo Nausica
Published: April 2018

While agencies have an important role in the interplay between central government and states, their functioning impacts both separation of powers and cooperative federalism. Unorthodoxy in rule-making process serves as an example for the ways agencies can further exploit their privileged position in the frame of government. A reaction to an expansion of the weight and centrality of agencies’ decisions consisted in introducing pieces of legislation substantially downsizing agencies’ rulemaking, and in reconsidering judicial deference towards agencies’ determinations. The paper central claim is that all the three branches of government are showing to some extent a willingness to crack down on agencies: the judiciary through employing preliminary injunctions and reshaping the deference doctrine, the President and the Congress through reforms reducing the space of agencies’ actions.
New approximate solutions to electrostatic differential equations obtained by using numerical and analytical methods
Authors: Bildik Necdet , Deniz Sinan
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we implement the optimal homotopy asymptotic method to find the approximate solutions of the Poisson–Boltzmann equation.
We also use the results of the conjugate gradient method for comparison with those of the optimal homotopy asymptotic method.
Our study reveals that the optimal homotopy asymptotic method gives more effective results than conjugate gradient algorithms for the considered problems.