bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Rise of Direct Democracy in Croatia: Balancing or Challenging Parliamentary Representation?
Authors: Butković Hrvoje
Published: April 2017

In 2010 the Croatian Constitution was changed to lower the requirements for the implementation of direct democracy at the national level, in order to save the referendum on Croatia’s EU membership from possible failure. Since then, Croatia has witnessed a sharp increase in people’s initiatives that have managed to block a number of the government’s reform proposals. Therefore, the newly discovered appeal of direct democracy in Croatia has created a new environment for the operation of its representative democracy. Starting from theoretical notions, this paper analyses the practice of direct democracy in selected transitional countries, which could be instructive for Croatia. In its central part, the paper explores the obstacles that stand in the way of the efficient implementation of direct democracy in Croatia.
First assessment of age and sex structures of elephants by using dung size analysis in a West African savannah
Authors: Hema Emmanuel M. , Di Vittorio Massimiliano , Petrozzi Fabio , Luiselli Luca , Guenda Wendengoudi
Published: April 2017

1. An age and sex structure study of the West African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana africana) population of the Nazinga Game ranch (Burkina Faso) was carried out using direct sightings of individuals near water points, where they group during hot periods of the day, and droppings circumference measurements of dung pile along line transects, during the dry seasons of 2007 and 2008. The age structure, from direct observation data, was estimated by classifying the individuals into 9 age-class-categories based on body size and eruption (length) of tusks.

2. The frequency distribution of number of individuals into the age-class-categories showed high similarity with the distribution of circumference measurements of dung-piles that the individuals were seen depositing. Fifty dung-piles measured soon after they were deposited (Class A) and after they dried (to class C) showed a significant difference between the circumference measurements in relation to the time elapsed between the measurements.

3. The frequency distribution of dung circumference classes of the observed elephants was similar to that of the dung-piles measured along the transects in 2008. Therefore, dung-piles measurements were used to estimate the Nazinga Game Ranch savanna elephant population’s age and sex structures at the end of dry seasons of 2007 and 2008. We advocated that the Nazinga elephant population consisted mainly of sub-adults.

4. The sex ratio was estimated to be in favour of females (1/2). The age-class-specific sex ratio was uneven for calves and young individuals, while being in favour of females with adults. Individuals of less than 1 year represented 6% of the population during the study period.
A minimum indicator set for assessing fontanili (lowland springs) of the Lombardy Region in Italy
Authors: Fumagalli Natalia , Senes Giulio , Ferrario Paolo Stefano , Toccolini Alessandro
Published: April 2017

This paper reports on the issue of fontanili assessment. A fontanile is a lowland spring, excavated by humans for the use of underground water for irrigation. From the XII century on, fontanili have been dug to extend water availability throughout the year and increase agricultural land use in the lowlands of Northern Italy. Because water of the fontanile stays at temperature without great changes throughout the year (between 8 and 15°C), this environment is host to a vast variety of flora and fauna and has ecological and landscaping value. Because these springs are typical and unique landscape features of Northern Italy, there is not an international background on assessing methods of fontanili functions inside the countryside. The first goal has been to define a set of simple and consolidated indicators to evaluate watering, ecological and recreational function of 1160 fontanili of the Lombardy Region. The second one has been to identify homogenous areas with groups of fontanili in close proximity and with similar indicator values using interpolation tools. This classification can be used by Regional Administration to assign money to recover and maintain fontanili. The most important areas will be protected by regional and local planning instruments.
A Spatial and Temporal analysis of Labour Market Characteristics
Authors: Pośpiech Ewa , Mastalerz-Kodzis Adrianna
Published: April 2017

The use of spatial methods is becoming increasingly common in social and economic research as it emphasizes the relevance of spatiality to the understanding of socio-economic facts. Once embraced, the spatial factor can substantially help explain variations in the properties being examined, thus improving the quality of their description and supporting the development of econometric models. This paper explores some of the characteristics of Poland’s job market, making an inquiry into their spatial dependencies. The study looks at the country’s labour market from a local perspective, examining its properties for spatial autocorrelation (both global and local). Linear econometric models are subsequently built for such variables as the number of persons in employment, the number of women and men in employment. The models are further investigated to assess the applicability of spatial modelling in their development.
Integrated Model of Demand for Telephone Services in Terms of Microeconometrics
Authors: Kaczmarczyk Paweł
Published: April 2017

The paper presents the results of the testing effectiveness of the integrated model in the short-term forecasting of demand for telephone services in 24-hour cycles. The linear regression model with dichotomous (binary) independent variables was integrated with the feed forward neural network. The regression model was used as a filter of modelled variability of the demand. The neural network was used to model residual variability. The research shows that the integrated model has a higher possibility of approximation and prediction in comparison to the non-integrated linear regression model. The research study was based on data provided by the selected telecommunications network operator. The range of empirical material consisted of hourly counted seconds of outgoing calls and generated by network subscribers in various analytical sections.
Immune Cell Subsets Evaluation as a Predictive Tool for Hepatitis B Infection Outcome and Treatment Responsiveness
Authors: Kandilarova Snezhina M. , Georgieva Atanaska I. , Mihaylova Anastasiya P. , Baleva Marta P. , Atanasova Valentina K. , Petrova Diana V. , Popov Georgi T. , Naumova Elissaveta J.
Published: April 2017

Background: The patient’s immune response is one of the major factors influencing HBV eradication or chronification, and it is thought to be responsible for the treatment success.

Aim: Our study aimed to investigate whether cellular defense mechanisms are associated with the course of HBV infection (spontaneous recovery [SR] or chronification [CHB]) and with the therapeutic approach.

Patients and methods: A total of 139 patients (118 with CHB, 21 SR) and 29 healthy individuals (HI) were immunophenotyped by flowcytometry. Fifty-six patients were treatment-naïve, 20 were treated with interferons and 42 with nucleoside/ nucleotide analogues.

Results: Deficiency of T lymphocytes, helper-inducer (CD3+CD4+), suppressorcytotoxic (CD8+CD3+) and cytotoxic (CD8+CD11b-, CD8+CD28+) subsets, activated T cells (CD3+HLA-DR+, CD8+CD38+) and increased CD57+CD8- cells, elevated percentages of B lymphocytes and NKT cells were observed in CHB patients compared with HI. In SR patients, elevated CD8+CD11b+, NKT and activated T cells were found in comparison with controls. The higher values of T cells and their subsets in SR patients than in CHB patients reflect a recovery of cellular immunity in resolved HBV infection individuals. In both groups of treated patients, reduced T lymphocytes, CD3+CD4+ and CD8+CD38+ subsets were found in comparison with HI. Higher proportions of cytotoxic subsets were observed in treated patients compared with treatment-naïve CHB patients, more pronounced in the group with interferon therapy.

Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that cellular immune profiles may be of prognostic value in predicting the clinical course of HBV infection, and the determination of the therapeutic response.
The 5-minute Apgar Score as a Prognostic Factor for Development and Progression of Retinopathy of Prematurity
Authors: Marinov Vasil G. , Koleva-Georgieva Desislava N. , Sivkova Nelly P. , Krasteva Maya B.
Published: April 2017

Background: A low Apgar score at 5 minutes has been shown to be a risk factor for development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Aim: To examine the prognostic value of Apgar score at 5 minutes for development and progression of ROP.

Materials and methods: The study included 132 preterm infants who were screened from 4th week of life onward. Of these, 118 newborns were given Apgar score at 5 minutes. The prognostic significance of this index was studied as an absolute value and as a value ≤ 6. The patients were divided into two groups: group I had no evidence of ROP (n=82) and group II had some signs of ROP (n = 36). Group II was further divided into group IIA - spontaneously regressed cases (n=22), and group IIB with cases which progressed to treatment stages (n=14). We investigated 15 maternal and 20 newborn presumable risk factors for development and progression of ROP. Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 or Fisher’s exact test were used in the statistical analysis. Logistic regression was performed to find significant and independent risk factors for manifestation and progression of ROP.

Results: A low 5-minute Apgar score and an Apgar score of 6 or less at 5 minutes were not statistically significant risk factors of ROP (р=0.191, р=0.191, respectively), but were significant risk factors for the manifested ROP to progress to stages requiring treatment (p=0.046, р=0.036, respectively).

Conclusion: An Apgar score at 5 minutes of 6 or less was a significant and independent risk factor for progression of ROP to stages requiring treatment.
Infectious Bronchitis Virus in Captured Free-Living, Free-Range and Intensively Reared Birds in Southwest Nigeria
Authors: Adebiyi A. I. , Fagbohun A. F.
Published: April 2017

Infectious bronchitis (IB) is an acute infectious viral disease causing severe economic losses in poultry production. In Nigeria, there has only been monitoring of the disease in chickens with little attention given to other bird species. For this study, blood samples were collected from 184 apparently healthy, unvaccinated birds which comprised of 61 captured free-living pigeons, 60 free range indigenous chickens and 63 intensively reared Japanese quails. Sera from these birds were screened for IB virus antibodies (IBV) using a commercial ELISA kit. The birds were from Oyo and Osun States, in southwest Nigeria. Overall, 63 (34.2 %) sera were positive for IBV with 3.3 % (2/61), 95.0 % (57/60) and 6.3 % (4/63) from pigeons, indigenous chickens and Japanese quails, respectively. These findings suggest that they were subclinically infected with either field or vaccine virus and could thus serve as possible reservoirs of this virus to domestic poultry. Thus, there is need for continuous surveillance of the disease in different bird species and their possible role in the spread of IBV in Nigeria.
Thyroid Hormones, Insulin, Body Fat, and Blood Biochemistry Indices in Dairy Cows During the Reproduction/Production Cycle
Authors: Paulíková I. , Seidel H. , Nagy O. , Tóthová Cs. , Konvičná J. , Kadaši M. , Kováč G.
Published: April 2017

This study investigated the changes in: thyroid hormones, amount of subcutaneous fat, and selected indices of blood biochemistry in dairy cows in relation to the reproduction/production cycle. The blood samples were collected bothante- andpost-partumevery two weeks. When evaluating the mean values of the investigated indices, the major changes were recorded in dairy cows 3 to 14 days after calving. During this period, we observed a significant decrease in the mean serum levels of T3(P < 0.05), T4(P < 0.01), and triglycerides (P < 0.01). An opposite trend was observed with a significant increase after calving in the: mean serum levels of β-hydroxybutyrate (P < 0.05), urea (P < 0.01), and mean AST activities (P < 0.05). A significant increase over the normal range was recorded in the average levels of non-esterified fatty acids (P < 0.01) and total bilirubin (P < 0.01). From the next sampling (28 days after calving) onwards we recorded a significant increase in the blood serum levels of cholesterol (P < 0.01), total lipids (P < 0.01), total protein (P < 0.01), as well as a significant decrease in the insulin levels (P < 0.05) and a reduced layer of subcutaneous fat (P < 0.01). The blood serum iodine concentration showed only slight significant changes (P < 0.05) during the observation. Blood serum levels of glucose did not show any significant changes during the whole observation period. Within the whole observation period we found a negative correlation between T3levels and the layer of subcutaneous fat (r = −0.2606; P < 0.05). This correlation was much more marked in cows 3 to 14 days after calving (r = −0.5077; P < 0.05), which may indicate a possible relationships between the thyroid status, body condition, andpost partumnegative energy balance.
Potential Role of Guttural Pouches in Gas Exchange
Authors: Kovalyova I. M. , Melnyk O. P. , Kresakova L. , Vdoviakova K.
Published: April 2017

Despite the obvious existence of guttural pouches in Equidae, the question of their function has not yet been adequately answered. We suggest a working hypothesis that the guttural pouches of horses may be an additional organ of gas exchange. Research on the topographical location of the guttural pouches of horses and on the micro-morphological structures of their walls were carried out. It appears possible that: the dense arrangement of the vascular system of the wall of the guttural pouches near the main cerebral vessels; the constant moistening of the inner surface of the wall of the guttural pouches; and the air circulation in it; strongly suggests that the guttural pouches of horses may serve as an additional organ of gas exchange. The guttural pouches becomes very useful, particularly during prolonged periods of intense physical activity.
Tectonosedimentary framework of Upper Cretaceous –Neogene series in the Gulf of Tunis inferred from subsurface data: implications for petroleum exploration
Authors: Dhraief Wissem , Dhahri Ferid , Chalwati Imen , Boukadi Noureddine
Published: April 2017

The objective and the main contribution of this issue are dedicated to using subsurface data to delineate a basin beneath the Gulf of Tunis and its neighbouring areas, and to investigate the potential of this area in terms of hydrocarbon resources. Available well data provided information about the subsurface geology beneath the Gulf of Tunis. 2D seismic data allowed delineation of the basin shape, strata geometries, and some potential promising subsurface structures in terms of hydrocarbon accumulation. Together with lithostratigraphic data obtained from drilled wells, seismic data permitted the construction of isochron and isobath maps of Upper Cretaceous-Neogene strata. Structural and lithostratigraphic interpretations indicate that the area is tectonically complex, and they highlight the tectonic control of strata deposition during the Cretaceous and Neogene. Tectonic activity related to the geodynamic evolution of the northern African margin appears to have been responsible for several thickness and facies variations, and to have played a significant role in the establishment and evolution of petroleum systems in northeastern Tunisia. As for petroleum systems in the basin, the Cretaceous series of the Bahloul, Mouelha and Fahdene formations are acknowledged to be the main source rocks. In addition, potential reservoirs (Fractured Abiod and Bou Dabbous carbonated formations) sealed by shaly and marly formations (Haria and Souar formations respectively) show favourable geometries of trap structures (anticlines, tilted blocks, unconformities, etc.) which make this area adequate for hydrocarbon accumulations.
Constraints on the depositional age and tectonometamorphic evolution of marbles from the Biharia Nappe System (Apuseni Mountains, Romania)
Authors: Reiser Martin Kaspar , Schuster Ralf , Tropper Peter , Fügenschuh Bernhard
Published: April 2017

Basement rocks from the Biharia Nappe System in the Apuseni Mountains comprise several dolomite and calcite marble sequences or lenses which experienced deformation and metamorphic overprint during the Alpine orogeny. New Sr, O and C-isotope data in combination with considerations from the lithological sequences indicate Middle to Late Triassic deposition of calcite marbles from the Vulturese-Belioara Series (Biharia Nappe s.str.). Ductile deformation and large-scale folding of the siliciclastic and carbonatic lithologies is attributed to NW-directed nappe stacking during late Early Cretaceous times (D2). The studied marble sequences experienced a metamorphic overprint under lower greenschist- facies conditions (316-370 °C based on calcite - dolomite geothermometry) during this tectonic event. Other marble sequences from the Biharia Nappe System (i.e. Vidolm and Baia de Arieș nappes) show similarities in the stratigraphic sequence and their isotope signature, together with a comparable structural position close to nappe contact. However, the dataset is not concise enough to allow for a definitive attribution of a Mesozoic origin to other marble sequences than the Vulturese-Belioara Series.
The Pull-out Capacity of Suction Caissons in Model Investigations
Authors: Sawicki Andrzej , Wachowski Łukasz , Kulczykowski Marek
Published: April 2017

A small-scale model experiment on the pull-out resistance of suction caissons is described. The pull-out force and suction developed within the caisson in the extraction process were recorded during the experiment. A simple breakout model, together with an elementary static formulae, is applied to predict the results obtained experimentally. There is a reasonably good agreement between the experimental results and predictions. An extensive discussion of the approach applied is included. The analysis presented in this paper is original, as it differs from other approaches mentioned in this paper, and leads to acceptable predictions. At the end, the results are also compared with another approach for predicting the capacity of suction caissons.
Smart phone usage and addiction among dental students in Saudi Arabia: a cross sectional study
Authors: Venkatesh Elluru , Jemal Mohammad Yousef Al , Samani Abdullah Saleh Al
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The main aim of this research is to explore measures of smart phone usage, smart phone addiction, and their associations with demographic and health behavior-related variables among dental students in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A Cross sectional study involving sample of 205 dental students from Qaseem Private College were surveyed for smart phone use and addiction using the short version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale for Adolescents (SAS-SV).

Results

Smart phone addiction was seen in 136 (71.9%) of the 189 students. The findings from our study revealed that high stress levels, low physical activity, higher body mass index (BMI), longer duration of smart phone usage, higher frequency of usage, shorter time period until first smart phone use in the morning and social networking sites (SNS) were associated significantly with the smart phone addiction.

Conclusion

The current research gives the information about the extent of smart phone over usage and addiction among the dental students in Saudi Arabia with indication of the predictors of addiction and the need for further research in the area with comprehensible interpretation to spread the awareness of the smart phone addiction.
FPGA Implementation of Multi-scale Pedestrian Detection in Thermal Images
Authors: Kańka Tomasz , Kryjak Tomasz , Gorgon Marek
Published: April 2017

In this paper an embedded vision system for human silhouette detection in thermal images is presented. As the computing platform a reprogrammable device (FPGA – Field Programmable Gate Array) is used. The detection algorithm is based on a sliding window approach, which content is compared with a probabilistic template. Moreover, detection is four scales in supported. On the used test database, the proposed method obtained 97% accuracy, with average one false detection per frame. Due to the used parallelization and pipelining real-time processing for 720 × 480 @ 50 fps and 1280 × 720 @ 50 fps video streams was achieved. The system has been practically verified in a test setup with a thermal camera.
Features Determination from Super-Voxels Obtained with Relative Linear Interactive Clustering
Authors: Bakkari Abdelkhalek , Fabijańska Anna
Published: April 2017

In this paper, the problem of segmentation of 3D Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) brain images is considered. A supervoxel-based segmentation is regarded. In particular, a new approach called Relative Linear Interactive Clustering (RLIC) is introduced. The method, dedicated to image division into super-voxels, is an extension of the Simple Linear Interactive Clustering (SLIC) super-pixels algorithm. During RLIC execution firstly, the cluster centres and the regular grid size are initialized. These are next clustered by Fuzzy C-Means algorithm. Then, the extraction of the super-voxels statistical features is performed. The method contributes with 3D images and serves fully volumetric image segmentation. Five cases are tested demonstrating that our Relative Linear Interactive Clustering (RLIC) is apt to handle huge size of images with a significant accuracy and a low computational cost. The results of applying the suggested method to segmentation of the brain tumour are exposed and discussed.
Review. Approaches for Health Technology Assessment in Europe: Situational Analysis
Authors: Djambazov Slaveyko N. , Vekov Toni Y.
Published: April 2017

Health technology assessment (HTA) isaprocess, which should answer the question“Isagiven health technology/medication worth its price for the value it provides?” In the spirit of the amendments to the Bulgarian Health Insurance Act and institutionalization of HTA, our team prepared this situational evaluation aiming to throw light on the practices and approaches to HTAin European countries. As awhole,we can identify two types of agencies that perform it: those servicing the population of an entire nation oraregion, and those working at the level of hospitals oranetwork of hospitals. All the agencies studied have two common characteristics. First, they were created withanon-profit purpose and second, all of them are financed by public funds inavariety of ways. It also becomes clear from the comparative analysis performed that the ways HTAis conducted in Europe differ from country to country. Irrespective of the variations, the common aspiration is that the value forapatient, to which the approved health technologies contribute, should be greater than the price to be paid for them. Bulgaria is may be the last EUstate to implement HTAin its domestic legislation and this also gives the advantage of having and using the experience of the other countries. Establishing an independent structure, which is appointed to prepare local health technologies assessment would result in transparent decision-making, participation of all concerned parties and optimization of the budget for medicines regarding the effectiveness/benefit ratio, as well as expenses.
The Polish Brethren versus the Hutterites: A Sacred Community?
Authors: Luszczynska Magdalena
Published: April 2017

In the second half of the sixteenth century, the Hutterian Brethren of Moravia were a thriving religious movement, described by numerous visitors as an ideal of a sacred Christian congregation. The Hutterites themselves promoted a similar self-portrait, seeing their community as the embodiment of the apostolic Church described in the Acts of the Apostles, and of the Old Testament’s Chosen People. This image was challenged by another Reform Church, the Polish Brethren, or the Arians. Focusing on the example of those two communities, this essay discusses the process of Radical Reform identity formation. It examines the creation of the Moravian myth of a sacred community and the rebuttal of this myth produced in the milieu of the Polish Brethren. Different social makeup and political context of the Arians shaped their hermeneutics of the same sacred texts that served the Moravians and resulted in construing an alternative myth of a sacred community. The essay concludes that the latter narrative was instrumental for the Polish Brethren to establish their own, separate Christian identity.
Modelling the growth rate ofListeria monocytogenesin cooked ham stored at different temperatures
Authors: Szczawiński Jacek , Szczawińska Małgorzata Ewa , Łobacz Adriana , Tracz Michał , Jackowska-Tracz Agnieszka
Published: April 2017

Introduction:The purpose of the study was to determine and model the growth rates ofL. monocytogenesin cooked cured ham stored at various temperatures.

Material and Methods:Samples of cured ham were artificially contaminated with a mixture of threeL. monocytogenesstrains and stored at 3, 6, 9, 12, or 15°C for 16 days. The number of listeriae was determined after 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, and 16 days. A series of decimal dilutions were prepared from each sample and plated onto ALOA agar, after which the plates were incubated at 37°C for 48 h under aerobic conditions. The bacterial counts were logarithmised and analysed statistically. Five repetitions of the experiment were performed.

Results:Both storage temperature and time were found to significantly influence the growth rate of listeriae (P < 0.01). The test bacteria growth curves were fitted to three primary models: the Gompertz, Baranyi, and logistic. The mean square error (MSE) and Akaike’s information criterion (AIC) were calculated to evaluate the goodness of fit. It transpired that the logistic model fit the experimental data best. The natural logarithms ofL. monocytogenes’mean growth rates from this model were fitted to two secondary models: the square root and polynomial.

Conclusion:Modelling in both secondary types can predict the growth rates ofL. monocytogenesin cooked cured ham stored at each studied temperature, but mathematical validation showed the polynomial model to be more accurate.
Toxinotyping and antimicrobial resistance of Clostridium perfringens isolated from processed chicken meat products
Authors: Hamza Dalia , Dorgham Sohad , Hakim Ashraf
Published: April 2017

Introduction: The toxinotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility of Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from processed chicken meat were determined.

Material and Methods: Two hundred processed chicken meat samples from luncheon meats, nuggets, burgers, and sausages were screened for Clostridium perfringens by multiplex PCR assay for the presence of alpha (cpa), beta (cpb), epsilon (etx), iota (ia), and enterotoxin toxin (cpe) genes. The C. perfringens isolates were examined in vitro against eight antibiotics (streptomycin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, lincomycin, cefotaxime, rifampicin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole)

Results: An overall of 32 C. perfringens strains (16%) were isolated from 200 processed chicken meat samples tested. The prevalence of C. perfringens was significantly dependent on the type of toxin genes detected (P = 0.0), being the highest in sausages (32%), followed by luncheon meats (24%), burgers (6%), and nuggets (2%). C. perfringens type A was the most frequently present toxinotype (24/32; 75%), followed by type D (21.9 %) and type E (3.1%). Of the 32 C. perfringens strains tested, only 9 (28%) were enterotoxin gene carriers, with most representing type A (n = 6). C. perfringens strains differed in their resistance/susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics. Most of the strains tested were sensitive to ampicillin (97%) and amoxicillin (94%), with 100% of the strains being resistant to streptomycin and lincomycin. It is noteworthy that the nine isolates with enterotoxigenic potential had a higher resistance than the non-enterotoxigenic ones.

Conclusion: The considerably high C. perfringens isolation rates from processed chicken meat samples and resistance to some of the commonly used antibiotics indicate a potential public health risk. Recent information about the isolation of enterotoxigenic C. perfringens type E from chicken sausage has been reported.
Quantitative Assessment of the IT Agile Transformation
Authors: Orłowski Cezary , Ziółkowski Artur , Paciorkiewicz Grzegorz
Published: April 2017

The aim of this paper is to present the quantitative perspective of the agile transformation processes in IT organisations. The phenomenon of agile transformation becomes a complex challenge for an IT organisation since it has not been analysed in detail so far. There is no research on the readiness of IT organisations to realise agile transformation processes. Such processes also prove to have uncontrolled character. Therefore, to minimise the risk of failure referring to the realisation of transformation processes, it is necessary to monitor them. It is also necessary to identify and analyse such processes to ensure their continuous character.
Ensuring Competitive Advantage through Innovation Capability and Clustering in the Thai Automotive Parts Molding Industry: A SEM Approach
Authors: Tiengtavaj Sirorath , Phimonsathienand Thepparat , Fongsuwan Wanno
Published: April 2017

Thailand hosts over 50 percent of the world’s top OEM automotive parts suppliers and additionally is home to over 2,400 Tier 1-3 manufacturers and suppliers. Given the significance of these numbers and Thailand’s leading ranking and contribution to the global automotive industry, research was undertaken to determine how manufacturing clusters and innovation capability effect competitive advantage as it relates to automotive production part management. Multiple objectives were established which included the study of the effects and overall influences of the various variables on competitive advantage as well as the development of a structural equation model (SEM) to define how innovation and manufacturing clustering affects the competitive advantage within the Thai automotive parts molding sector. Quantitative methods analysis was conducted on the data from 240 automotive production and components suppliers’ questionnaires collected from industry managers with the research results partially obtained from the analysis by use of (PLS)-graph. Qualitative research was also obtained by use of purposive sampling from in-depth interviews from ten senior managers. The results obtained indicated that clusters and innovation capability has a significant and positive effect on competitive advantage. Thus, the findings from the research illustrate that if an organization focuses on clusters, there will be a knock-on effect within the automotive parts groups leading to the increase in innovation capability, which creates a greater competitive advantage, not only for the enterprises, but also for Thai society as well.
Genotype Stability Index for Root Yield and Tolerance to Sweetpotato Weevil Cylas puncticolis: A Tool for Identifying Climate Smart Varieties
Authors: Chalwe A. , Chiona M. , Sichilima S. , Njovu J. , Chama C. , Ndhlovu D.
Published: April 2017

Despite the ability of sweetpotato to grow in marginal areas, large differential genotypic responses have been reported under varying environmental conditions. Differences in pest and disease pressure contribute significantly to inconsistencies in performance of genotypes in various environments. Using a randomized complete block design, eight sweetpotato genotypes were evaluated in one location successively for five years (seasons) (2010-2015). Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) stability value (ASV) was used to identify best genotypes that combine stability with high resistance to sweetpotato weevil Cylas puncticolis and root yield across the five seasons (years). Stability of genotypes for weevil infestation and damage thereof, and fresh storage root yield were determined for each season. The data on each of these parameters were correlated with rainfall and temperature data for each and across five seasons. Results show variability in the ranking of genotypes’ stability for resistance to weevil infestation and associated damage. Significant negative correlation was recorded between total rainfall and sweetpotato weevil damage. However, AMMI analysis of variance indicates genotype main effects, environmental main effects and the interaction thereof were all significant for root yield and weevil damage. Genotype selection index assisted to identify at least three genotypes namely Kokota, Lunga, and Kalungwishi which combined stability for high root yield and tolerance to weevil damage.
Discovery of Puccinia tiliaefolia (Pucciniales) in Northwestern Himalayas, India
Authors: Gautam Ajay Kumar , Avasthi Shubhi
Published: April 2017

A rust infection was recently observed on Grewia tiliifolia Vahl during an exploration of rust fungi in Himachal Pradesh, India, in October 2015. An examination identified the rust fungus as Puccinia tiliaefolia T. S. Ramakr. & Sundaram. This finding represents a new record for the northwestern Himalayas and the first finding of Puccinia tiliaefolia in India in the last 46 years. A geographical distribution map of P. tiliaefolia is presented.
Case report and literature review. Prenatally Detected Non-Immune Atrioventricular Block and Maternal Arrhythmia - Case Presentation and Literature Review
Authors: Michalak Arkadiusz , Witczak Marta , Kukawczyńska Elżbieta , Niwald Marek , Respondek-Liberska Maria
Published: April 2017

Our clinical report describes a rare finding of a prenatally-detected congenital atrioventricular (AVB) block without associated maternal antibodies, which progressed from 1st/2nd degree AVB to complete heart block during second half of pregnancy. Obstetrical ultrasound at 12th week did not reveal any abnormalities and prenatal echocardiography (due to VSD in afamily member) at the 18th week of gestation detected 1st degree block, then bigeminy and bradycardia. Transplacental treatment with B-2-mimetics was introduced. The delivery was organized in a tertiary center and a pacemaker for the newborn baby was secured and implanted in 15th day of life. Currently the boy`s condition is good and stable. Before therapy with B-2-mimetics the mother underwent echocardiography and ECG which revealed clinically silent structural and conduction heart abnormalities. Literature findings suggest that parents of children with non-immune congenital or childhood AVB are more likely to carry clinically silent conduction abnormalities than general population. Given the corresponding findings in the mother and her son, they should be good candidates for genetic testing.
Physiotherapy in the first three months after allograft face transplantation – case report
Authors: Makles-Kacy Iwona , Zys-Owczarek Ewa , Polak Anna , Maciejewski Adam
Published: April 2017

Objective: The aim of the study was to present physiotherapy procedures of the patient with von Recklinhausen’s disease in the first three months after allograft face transplantation (PT).

Methods: During hospitalization lasting 2.5 months intensive functional rehabilitation was conducted. It ran in two stages: early (up to 30 days after surgery) and recovery (1 to 3 months). In physiotherapy the method with elements of PNF (Prioprioceptywne Neuromuscular Facilitation) was used. During 2 months from PT an electrostimulation of orbicularis oris muscles was included. Physiotherapists did not focus only on rehabilitation of the face transplant, but also paid attention to functional problems caused by von Recklinhausen’s disease. When planning therapy, they took into consideration personal, physical and emotional features. In therapy we used exercises in different starting positions, such as rollers, elastic bands, balls and sensory rings were employed. Lymphatic drainage of the face and neck was performed.

Results: During three months of the rehabilitation an improvement of upper and lower limbs′ muscle strength was achieved; cervical spine range of motion increased, pain and discomfort caused by scar restrictions were reduced. There was also an improvement of the overall functionality of the patient. However, due to short time after PT no improvement in the functioning of facial expressions and sensory feeling was noticed, nevertheless the patient accepted the new face. In our opinion, rehabilitation is an inevitable element after face transplant (PT). The use of an individual and comprehensive program of physiotherapy, and it’s early and systematic implementation allow to achieve an improvement of the patient’s physical function after PT. Continuing rehabilitation is necessary to achieve full facial functionality and maintain physical capacity.
Which Governments Come Out Ahead?
Authors: Myers William M. , Downey Davia Cox
Published: April 2017

Party capability theory assumes that governments, due to their immense resources and status as repeat players, hold a great advantage over individuals and organizations pursuing litigation in courts. Less known is whether all levels of government enjoy this advantage, how they fare against one another and how an institutional arrangement such as federalism complicates such relationships. These questions are investigated using decisions made by the high courts of Australia, Canada, and the United States. The descriptive findings indicate that institutional arrangements, such as federalism, in some ways, confirm and in others confound traditional notions of which governments come out ahead, which yields important implications for party capability theory, specifically, and federalism, generally.
Look before you Authorize: Using Eye-Tracking to Enforce User Attention towards Application Permissions
Authors: Javed Yousra , Shehab Mohamed
Published: April 2017

Habituation is a key factor behind the lack of attention towards permission authorization dialogs during third party application installation. Various solutions have been proposed to combat the problem of achieving attention switch towards permissions. However, users continue to ignore these dialogs, and authorize dangerous permissions, which leads to security and privacy breaches.

We leverage eye-tracking to approach this problem, and propose a mechanism for enforcing user attention towards application permissions before users are able to authorize them. We deactivate the dialog’s decision buttons initially, and use feedback from the eye-tracker to ensure that the user has looked at the permissions. After determining user attention, the buttons are activated. We implemented a prototype of our approach as a Chrome browser extension, and conducted a user study on Facebook’s application authorization dialogs. Using participants’ permission identification, eye-gaze fixations, and authorization decisions, we evaluate participants’ attention towards permissions. The participants who used our approach on authorization dialogs were able to identify the permissions better, compared to the rest of the participants, even after the habituation period. Their average number of eye-gaze fixations on the permission text was significantly higher than the other group participants. However, examining the rate in which participants denied a dangerous and unnecessary permission, the hypothesized increase from the control group to the treatment group was not statistically significant.
On the Privacy and Security of the Ultrasound Ecosystem
Authors: Mavroudis Vasilios , Hao Shuang , Fratantonio Yanick , Maggi Federico , Kruegel Christopher , Vigna Giovanni
Published: April 2017

Nowadays users often possess a variety of electronic devices for communication and entertainment. In particular, smartphones are playing an increasingly central role in users’ lives: Users carry them everywhere they go and often use them to control other devices. This trend provides incentives for the industry to tackle new challenges, such as cross-device authentication, and to develop new monetization schemes. A new technology based on ultrasounds has recently emerged to meet these demands. Ultrasound technology has a number of desirable features: it is easy to deploy, flexible, and inaudible by humans. This technology is already utilized in a number of different real-world applications, such as device pairing, proximity detection, and cross-device tracking.

This paper examines the different facets of ultrasound-based technology. Initially, we discuss how it is already used in the real world, and subsequently examine this emerging technology from the privacy and security perspectives. In particular, we first observe that the lack of OS features results in violations of the principle of least privilege: an app that wants to use this technology currently needs to require full access to the device microphone. We then analyse real-world Android apps and find that tracking techniques based on ultrasounds suffer from a number of vulnerabilities and are susceptible to various attacks. For example, we show that ultrasound cross-device tracking deployments can be abused to perform stealthy deanonymization attacks (e.g., to unmask users who browse the Internet through anonymity networks such as Tor), to inject fake or spoofed audio beacons, and to leak a user’s private information.

Based on our findings, we introduce several defense mechanisms. We first propose and implement immediately deployable defenses that empower practitioners, researchers, and everyday users to protect their privacy. In particular, we introduce a browser extension and an Android permission that enable the user to selectively suppress frequencies falling within the ultrasonic spectrum. We then argue for the standardization of ultrasound beacons, and we envision a flexible OS-level API that addresses both the effortless deployment of ultrasound-enabled applications, and the prevention of existing privacy and security problems.
Paleoenvironments of a proglacial lake in Schirmacher Oasis, East Antarctica: Insights from quartz grain microtextures
Authors: Mazumder Abhijit , Govil Pawan , Kar Ratan , Gayathri Narath Meethal ,   Raghuram
Published: April 2017

Eighteen sediment samples from a 36 cm long sediment core retrieved from a proglacial lake (namely P 11) situated in the Schirmacher Oasis, East Antarctica, were analysed for the study of quartz grain morphology and microtexture, along with sand percentage, to reconstruct the paleoenvironmental changes in the lake during the Holocene. The age of the core ranges from 3.3 ka BP to 13.9 ka BP. The quartz grain morphology and microtexture reveal significant evidences of glacial transport along with some eolian and aqueous activities. On the basis of predominance of these signatures and the zonation from CONISS Cluster Analysis on the percentages of characteristic grain morphology and microtextures, the entire core has been subdivided into three major zones. From the paleoenvironmental perspective, it can be concluded that there is an onset of interglacial period at the advent of Holocene (12.3 ka BP), which reigned until 5.3 ka BP and thereafter, again a glacial environment prevailed until 3.3 ka BP with some variations in-between. The results indicate probable alternative colder and less colder phases in the study area, which are also well supported by the respective sand percentages in the sediments.
Investigation of Opioid Growth Factor Pathway Inhibition on the Histologic Structure of Testicular Tissue and Microscopic Indices of Spermatogenesis in Adult Diabetic Mice
Authors: Razi Davoud Khar , Kianifard Davoud , Khalilzadeh Emad
Published: April 2017

Background and aims: Endogenous opioids function as negative factors affecting the growth has been established. The most influential factor in the growth and differentiation of the proliferating cells is the opioid growth factor (OGF). Recently, some studies have been completed about the effects of opioid growth factor in the pathogenesis of diabetes and the beneficial effects of inhibition of this growth pathway have been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inhibition of opioids growth pathway, in proliferation and growth of testicular germ cells and spermatogenesis following experimental diabetes in adult mice.

Material and methods: Diabetes was induced in adult mice by Streptozotocin. Diabetic animals were treated with Naltrexone 15, 30 and 60 mg/kg for 60 days. At the end of the study, testicular and body weight was recorded, tissue samples were collected and histomorphometrical studies were performed under light microscope.

Results: The results showed that the use of naltrexone has a little effect on preventing diabetic weight loss. Histomorphometric indices such as tubular diameter and germinal epithelium height were improved dose dependently in naltrexone treated diabetic mice. The number of tubular germ cells was increased non-significantly in diabetic animals following administration of naltrexone. Improvement of microscopic indices of spermatogenesis was observed in naltrexone treated diabetic mice.

Conclusions: According to the results of this study and the role of naltrexone as OGF-OGF receptor inhibitor and up-regulating activity of naltrexone which leads to increased DNA synthesis and cell division process, the administration of naltrexone could be effective in reduction of diabetic induced alterations of spermatogenesis.
Adolescents’ Needs Towards School-Based Nutrition Interventions
Authors: Sidor Alexandra , Cherecheș Răzvan M. , Costea Veronica A.
Published: April 2017

Background and Aims:This study aimed to identify adolescents’ knowledge and attitudes towards healthy eating and their needs and preferences towards school-based nutrition interventions, thus investigating the “must have” components on school-based nutrition interventions than can improve adolescents’ dietary patterns.

Material and Methods:To reach the proposed aims, we used a qualitative strategy of inquiry, by conducting semi-structured focus groups. We collected data in two urban schools from Cluj-Napoca, Romania. 32 adolescents aged 11 to 14 years old attended focus group discussions. Focus group discussions were audio-taped, transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results:A viable strategy to deliver effective nutrition interventions for adolescents needs to address adolescents' interests and concerns, use visuals and stories to present nutrition related information, increase adolescents' self-efficacy in choosing healthy foods, train adolescents in having a balanced diet, promote healthy eating as acceptable for peers, and involve parents in nutrition interventions through home-based activities.

Conclusions:Improving adolescents' nutrition related knowledge and behavior and creating supportive environments is not sufficient in improving adolescents' dietary patterns. Practitioners should aim at designing school-based nutrition interventions addressing adolescents' specific needs and rely on the needs assessment process as a major component of the design.