bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Declarative recursive computation on an RDBMS
Authors: Jankov Dimitrije , Luo Shangyu , Yuan Binhang , Cai Zhuhua , Zou Jia , Jermaine Chris , Gao Zekai J.
Published: May 2019

A number of popular systems, most notably Google's TensorFlow, have been implemented from the ground up to support machine learning tasks. We consider how to make a very small set of changes to a modern relational database management system (RDBMS) to make it suitable for distributed learning computations. Changes include adding better support for recursion, and optimization and execution of very large compute plans. We also show that there are key advantages to using an RDBMS as a machine learning platform. In particular, learning based on a database management system allows for trivial scaling to large data sets and especially large models, where different computational units operate on different parts of a model that may be too large to fit into RAM.
Legal regulation and trends of audit services: what are the differences (evidence of Ukraine)
Authors: Antoniuk Olena , Chyzhevska Lyudmila , Semenyshena Nataliia
Published: May 2019

The authors conducted a study aimed to identify discrepancies between the practice in providing audit services and the regulatory framework for their implementation in Ukraine. The purpose of article is to answer questions: are there any differences between the practice of development of types of audit services and regulatory documents for their implementation based on the experience of Ukrainian auditors; what are the differences in the practice of auditing firms in classifying and using the auditors terminology in contrast to the standards and requirements of the legal documents.  A hypothesis was formulated, which later on received a confirmation. By carrying out analytical procedures, the theoretical approaches to the classification of audit services were considered. The authors correlate different classification of audit services in normative documents, including documents of the professional organization of auditors. The results of the study of the terminology content, which is used to identify different types of audit services, have shown the differences between scientists' opinions and different interpretations in auditors practice. Current research is aimed at improving the theoretical and practical provisions for the implementation of related and other services of professional audit services, development of concepts for theoretical support and practical implementation for harmonization of legal regulations and practices of auditors (audit firms). The conclusion of this paper helps to identify vectors in the development of a regulatory framework of audit services on the national level.
Logic-statistical information models in control function of accounting
Authors: Khorunzhak Nadiya , Brukhanskyi Ruslan , Ivanyshyn Volodymyr
Published: May 2019

The article deals with theoretical substantiation and development of an approach to the control function implementation on the basis of automation control application process and the use of logicstatistical information models (LSÌM). The basis for development of the approach to the improvement of monitoring over the accounting objects is LSÌM which allows automatically identify deviations from the established norms. In contrast to the existing approaches the proposed here development provides instant formation of signal (signal document) about the critical state of an object. The use of LSÌM in the process of automation control allows quickly correct the imbalances in the state of objects and lead them in compliance with the accepted norms through appropriate management decisions. The result of this application development is holding objects within optimal limits. This will promote the rational use. Originality of the proposed approach lies in the fact that detailed analysis of the accounting object is conducted not for all factors, but only for those that go beyond the optimal zone. This greatly reduces the amount of information and data to be analyzed. In addition, the use of LSÌM allows controlling the volume (size) of the accounting object or each period of time, keeping them in a certain framework and providing the most optimal ratio by making appropriate management decisions. The use of the recommended here approach allows controlling the facility and gaps through the administrative impact on its status.
Development of evaluation the market value of the enterprise in the system of accounting and analytical support
Authors: Kutsyk Petro , Koryagin Maksym , Chik Mariya , Kuskova Svitlana
Published: May 2019

The article explores the process of development the evaluation of market value of the enterprise in the system of accounting and analytical support. The purpose of our research is to determine the methodology for evaluation the enterprise value that provides a reliable and reasonable calculation of indicators enterprise value based on the data of the accounting system. A hypothesis was formulated, which later on received a confirmation. A comparative analysis of the characteristic features the application of different evaluation approaches of the enterprise (income, cost, market) was carried out. The authors determined that the formation of the market value of the enterprise should be carried out in the system of accounting and analytical support of the enterprise and determined by the indicator of net assets, which should be adjusted to the predicted level of profitability taking into account alternative risk-free investments and the risks level of the enterprise. The proposed concept for determining the market value of the enterprise provides a reliable and reasoned calculation of value indicators based on the data of the accounting system for both profitable and unprofitable enterprises.
Ownership concentration, investor protection and economic performance in public agroindustrial companies with the listing on warsaw stock exchange
Authors: Pasko Oleh , Melnychuk Oksana , Bilyk Tetiana
Published: May 2019

The study aimed to identify the presence / absence of ownership concentration in agro-industrial companies in Ukraine and to investigate the possible impact of these processes on the economic performance of companies. We have proven that there is a significant level of ownership concentration among analysed companies in both groups UX and UA. Although there are exceptions, there is a general tendency to hold a large share of equity instruments by the founders or major owners. We describe this phenomenon through a twin agency problem, arguing that such a large share of power concentration serves as a substitute for a weak environment for protecting investor rights. Concentration of property is the bulwark from unwanted interventions from both third parties and from state rulers. The study has found no significant relationship between ownership concentration and several indicators used as proxy for economic performance, namely Net cash flow, EBIDTA, Profit/loss before tax, Tobin’s Q. Our findings indicate that concentration of ownership does not affect the economic performance of analysed companies, regardless of whether we take for the analysis the accounting indicators (Profit) or market-based indicators (Tobin’s Q).
Investigation of the tricycle tractor incline influence on its stability under the conditions of work at the of slope fields
Authors: Sheichenko Viktor , Hailis Gedal , Dudnikov Ihor , Fedirko Pavlo
Published: May 2019

The theoretical calculations carried out by the authors made it possible to establish the stability conditions for a tricycle tractor on the slope of the field. The research methodology was based on a theoretical solution of a static problem and the establishment of stability of a tricycle tractor depending on its layout and the angle of the field to the horizon. The layout of the tricycle tractor, which has one steerable wheel in front and two wheels in the rear, is considered. The conditions of the steady state of the tractor for the selected scheme are determined. The stability of the tractor will be ensured when the vertical line lowered down from its center of gravity crosses the surface inside the supporting quadrilateral. The surface of the supporting quadrilateral is formed as a result of connecting the outer points of the wheels. The dependence of the influence of the rim width and the wheel radius on the maximum angle of inclination of the tractor with one front wheel is established.The scientific problems posed in the work are solved in the developed theoretical bases for determining the stability conditions of a tricycle tractor. The theoretical foundations have been developed taking into account the layout of the tractor and the angle of inclination of the field to the horizon. The dependencies of the maximum angle of inclination of the tractor were theoretically determined, which made it possible to establish the conditions for its safe operation. The scientific background for increasing the safe operating conditions of tricycle tractors has been further developed.
The methods of using interactive technologies during teaching foundations of scientific research at higher educational establishments
Authors: Kantsedal Nataliya , Ponomarenko Oksana , Dorohan’-Pisarenko Lyudmila , Liaska Oksana
Published: May 2019

Unpreparedness and the absence of motivational interest to science from students of educational level «Bachelor» causes the problem of low scientific activeness at the following educational levels and leads to violating the standards of academic etiquette, unconscious using the ways of plagiarism in scientific texts. The aim of the scientific activities of students mastering economic specialties; specifying the lesson model of specialized course, which envisages studying the fundamentals and methodology of scientific research. The research was made by using the methods of testing, questioning, observing, and pedagogical experiment, the participants of which were the students of higher educational levels «Bachelor» (fourth-year students – 43 persons) and «Master» (first-year students – 53 persons, second-year students – 38 persons) of specialty 071 «Accounting and taxation» at State Agrarian and Engineering University in Podilya and Poltava State Agrarian Academy.The scientific novelty of using teaching methods is in adapting the traditional course «Foundations of scientific research» to the corresponding educational program (in this case the field of knowledge 07 «Economics and entrepreneurship», specialty - 071 «Accounting and Taxation», the course «Methodology of scientific research in accounting»).The author’s approach is based on uniting students’ academic work with individual research and envisages the using of interactive training methods, such as discussion; interactive dialogue ‘human-computer»; situation analysis; the method of «incident»; business play. The presented lesson model on the topic «Linking and reviewing the text of the scientific-research task» with using the methods of situation analysis and business play enables to solve the following study aims: developing analytical thinking and skills of self-analysis; consolidating practical skills of work with information; broadening communicative competence; raising the motivation to work and scientific-research activities. The effectiveness of the described pedagogical experiment is confirmed by positive dynamics of structural changes as to disclosing the scientific potential and corresponding growth of the number of actual approbations of the research results obtained by the students at State Agrarian and Engineering University in Podilya and Poltava State Agrarian Academy.
Dialectics versus polemics in Chinese rhetoric: A study of indirection in Chinese and Chinese ESL argumentative writing as compared with English argumentative writing
Authors: Yeung Lorrita
Published: May 2019

This study investigates Chinese indirection in argumentative writing. It examines whether there is a fundamental difference between Chinese and English rhetoric in their preferred method of argument, as suggested by instructional materials on how to argue effectively (Liu, Lu. 2005. Rhetorical education through writing instruction across cultures: A comparative analysis of select online instructional materials on argumentative writing. Journal of Second Language Writing 14. 1–18). A comparative analysis of 90 argumentative essays respectively written by expert Chinese and English writers, and advanced Chinese ESL learners reveals that while the English essays tend to adopt a polemical style that persuades by defeating opposing arguments, a significant proportion of the Chinese essays show a dialectical style which examines opposing positions without taking sides and yet rising above them to resolve conflicting issues. A significant number of Chinese ESL writing follow a similar dialectical pattern although not as frequently as their expert writers. A cultural explanation is attempted to account for the phenomenon. It is also argued that the dialectical model, while subsuming earlier rhetorical models adopted for analyzing Chinese writing, may hold the key to studying Chinese differences from the English in written arguments.
Two models of metaphoricity and three dilemmas of metaphor research
Authors: Sonesson Göran
Published: May 2019

Starting out from classical metaphor theory, I consider two models, the Overlap model and the Tension model — the difference between which may not have been spelled out in that tradition. Although the latter has an Aristotelian pedigree, it may be less generally valid than the Overlap model, at least if the requirement for tension is placed very high. The metaphors distinguished by Lakoff and Johnson, like thecatachresisof classical rhetoric, fulfils the Overlap model, but in a petrified form, as is shown by the fact that both may, in the same way, be awakened from their slumber by some modification or addition to the sentence. What Lakoff and Johnson, later on, call primary metaphors, however, does not really correspond to any of these models. They are quite literally extensions of human embodiments. Thus, they are actually diagrams, in the sense in which Peirce opposes them to metaphors. We go on to discuss similarities and differences between verbal and pictorial metaphors, arguing that some metaphorical configurations are more apt to work in pictures and others in language, although there are also some configurations which are common to both.
STRIPAK, a highly conserved signaling complex, controls multiple eukaryotic cellular and developmental processes and is linked with human diseases
Authors: Kück Ulrich , Radchenko Daria , Teichert Ines
Published: May 2019

The striatin-interacting phosphatases and kinases (STRIPAK) complex is evolutionary highly conserved and has been structurally and functionally described in diverse lower and higher eukaryotes. In recent years, this complex has been biochemically characterized better and further analyses in different model systems have shown that it is also involved in numerous cellular and developmental processes in eukaryotic organisms. Further recent results have shown that the STRIPAK complex functions as a macromolecular assembly communicating through physical interaction with other conserved signaling protein complexes to constitute larger dynamic protein networks. Here, we will provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the architecture, function and regulation of the STRIPAK complex and discuss key issues and future perspectives, linked with human diseases, which may form the basis of further research endeavors in this area. In particular, the investigation of bi-directional interactions between STRIPAK and other signaling pathways should elucidate upstream regulators and downstream targets as fundamental parts of a complex cellular network.
Economic Assessment of Pig Meat Processing and Cutting Production by Simulation
Authors: Plà-Aragonés Lluís M. , Pagès-Bernaus Adela , Nadal-Roig Esteve , Mateo-Fornés Jordi , Tarrafeta Pedro , Mendioroz Daniel , Pérez-Cànovas Lorea , López-Nogales Sandy
Published: May 2019

This paper presents the development and adoption of a discrete event simulation model of a pig meat-packing plant located in Navarre (Spain). The simulation model was developed to represent all the tasks and pig meat cuts production performed in the plant and implemented in ExtendSim™ 9.2. The development was incremental as the whole model was made of different sub-models focused in different products as for example ham, ribbon or sirloin. The main utility of the proposed model was the economic assessment of pig meat processing and cutting production. Pietrain breed presented more homogeneity and a better performance than Large White breed at equal price of the same products. In addition, even the ham is the most important cut, the loin and the bacon showed the best relative economic value with 52–53 % and 44–45 %, respectively, depending on the breed.
A relational account of communication on the basis of slips of the tongue
Authors: Gil José María
Published: May 2019

They are a good deal more than amusing (or embarrassing) errors of speech. The collection and analysis of such errors provides important clues to how speech is organized in the nervous system.

Victoria A. Fromkin (1973: 110)

Also, most current linguistics fails to consider various kinds of anomalous data which actually reveal very important information about the structure of the mental system which underlies our linguistic abilities, including slips of the tongue and unintentional puns.

Sydney M. Lamb (1999: 9)

Abstract

The socio-cognitive approach to pragmatics [SCA] is based on two fundamental hypotheses: (1) speaker and hearer are equal participants in the communicative process, (2) communication is the result of the interplay of intention and attention, as this interplay is motivated by the individuals’ private socio-cultural backgrounds. In this paper, I aim at showing that relational network theory (which has been mainly developed by the American neurolinguist Sydney M. Lamb) allow us to account not only for aspects corresponding to intention or attention, but also for “smooth communication” and “bumpy communication” (being the latter the dimension which includes unintended meanings). Four actual slips of the tongue will be relevant examples thanks to which it can be recognized how cooperation and intention are in a highly complex interaction together with the substantial elements of the individual traits: attention, private experience, egocentrism, and salience. Within this context, the relational account is epistemologically crucial. Firstly, it allows us to represent the neurocognitive structures that enable a person to produce or understand utterances. Secondly, it helps us to suggest that canonical pragmatics (like Speech Acts Theory, Gricean Pragmatics, Relevance Theory) cannot even consider actual and relevant phenomena like slips of the tongue, because they focus on cooperative intention and they neglect (or discard) egocentric attention.
Design and Evaluation of Outlier Detection Based on Semantic Condensed Nearest Neighbor
Authors: Batchanaboyina M. Rao , Devarakonda Nagaraju
Published: May 2019

Social media contain abundant information about the events or news occurring all over the world. Social media growth has a greater impact on various domains like marketing, e-commerce, health care, e-governance, and politics, etc. Currently, Twitter was developed as one of the social media platforms, and now, it is one of the most popular social media platforms. There are 1 billion user’s profiles and millions of active users, who post tweets daily. In this research, buzz detection in social media was carried out by the semantic approach using the condensed nearest neighbor (SACNN). The Twitter and Tom’s Hardware data are stored in the UC Irvine Machine Learning Repository, and this dataset is used in this research for outlier detection. The min–max normalization technique is applied to the social media dataset, and additionally, missing values were replaced by the normalized value. The condensed nearest neighbor (CNN) is used for semantic analysis of the database, and based on the optimized value provided by the proposed method, the threshold is calculated. The threshold value is used to classify buzz and non-buzz discussions in the social media database. The result showed that the SACNN achieved 99% of accuracy, and relative error is less than the existing methods.
Carbonated beverage consumption is associated with lower C-peptide in adolescents
Authors: Ye Shengkai , Chen Haiying , Ren Xia , Wen Jie , Du Ying , Li Xue , Zhang Ru , Yu Li , Zhang Biying , Du Delian , Sun Feifan
Published: May 2019

Background

Too much consumption of carbonated beverages increases the risk of diabetes. Insulin deficiency and the body’s decreased sensitivity to insulin cause diabetes. C-peptide can assess a person’s own insulin secretion. The decrease of C-peptide is closely related to the occurrence of diabetes and its chronic complications. The present study assessed the effect of carbonated beverages on C-peptide in adolescents and analyzed the correlation between C-peptide and the drinking index (DI).

Methods

The subjects investigated including 463 adolescents were divided into a carbonated beverages group, a non-carbonated beverages group and a control group. The general demographic characteristics, beverage consumption status, physical activity and family history of hypertension and diabetes were interviewed with a questionnaire designed by us. All the subjects maintained their original lifestyle and received the oral glucose tolerance test. Various biochemical indicators and C-peptides were detected in these three groups. The data were analyzed by statistical analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the risk factors related to C-peptide.

Results

Blood glucose, blood lipid, liver function and renal function had no statistically significant difference among the three groups. C-peptide levels were lower in the carbonated beverages group and the non-carbonated beverages group than in the control group. Compared to the non-carbonated beverages group, there was a significant decrease in C-peptide levels in the carbonated beverages group. Logistic analysis demonstrated that DI was negatively correlated with C-peptide levels when the physical activity was adjusted. The odds ratio (OR) (OR = 2.540, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.121–5.752) value difference was statistically significant at a stratification level of DI ≥ 6.

Conclusions

The C-peptide of adolescents was affected by the long-term consumption of beverages, and the effect of carbonated beverages was even more obvious. DI ≥ 6 bottle-years was a risk factor for diabetes, and we can constitute prevention and control measures accordingly so as to reduce the incidence of diabetes.
Non-invasive assessment of aortic stiffness and blood pressure in young Turner syndrome patients
Authors: Fox Danya A. , Kang Kristopher T. , Potts James E. , Bradley Timothy J. , Stewart Laura L. , Dionne Janis M. , Sandor George G.S.
Published: May 2019

Background

Females with Turner syndrome (TS) carry an elevated risk of aortic dissection. The objective of the study was to assess the biophysical properties of the aorta and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) in females with TS and compare these findings to those in healthy female age-matched controls.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study including subjects aged 8–25 years. Utilizing two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography and Doppler, proximal aortic dimensions were measured and biophysical properties of the aorta were calculated including pulse wave velocity (PWV), arterial pressure-strain elastic modulus and stiffness index. Resting BP was measured and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed.

Results

Of 23 TS patients and 46 controls (median age 16.3 years), aortic annulus, sinus of Valsalva and sinotubular (ST) junction diameters, as well as left ventricular (LV) mass, were significantly greater in TS patients compared with controls when scaled for height2.7, but not for body surface area (BSA), although ascending aorta diameter was greater when scaled for both. Median PWV was faster in TS patients compared to controls (451 vs. 360 cm/s) while arterial pressure-strain elastic modulus and stiffness index were similar. Resting BP was abnormal in seven out of 22 patients and ABPM was abnormal in 16 out of 21 patients.

Conclusions

Young patients with TS had dilated proximal aortas when scaled for height2.7and stiffer aortas when compared with healthy female age-matched controls. Moreover, resting BP underdiagnosed pre-hypertension and hypertension compared to ABPM. These findings are consistent with the presence of a primary aortopathy in TS.
Utilizing health information technology to improve the recognition and management of life-threatening adrenal crisis in the pediatric emergency department: medical alert identification in the 21st century
Authors: Halpin Kelsee L. , Paprocki Emily L. , McDonough Ryan J.
Published: May 2019

Background

Many barriers exist to the appropriate recognition and management of life-threatening adrenal crisis in the emergency department (ED). Clinical decision support (CDS) is a health information technology (IT) component that provides useful information to providers as healthcare is being delivered. We hypothesized that CDS incorporated into the electronic health record (EHR) could improve the recognition and management of adrenal crisis within the pediatric ED.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the impact of electronic CDS on the management of patients with known adrenal insufficiency (AI) presenting to two pediatric ED locations over a 19-month period with symptoms suggestive of adrenal crisis. Outcome variables assessed included the frequency of hydrocortisone (HC) administration, appropriateness of HC dosing, and timing to HC order placement and administration.

Results

A total of 145 encounters were reviewed. When the electronic CDS was in place at the time of the ED visit, patients were nearly 3 times as likely to receive HC (p = 0.002). Among those patients who received HC, the presence of the CDS increased the likelihood of an appropriate 50-mg/m2dose of HC being given from 20 to 53% (p = 0.02). However, the CDS did not significantly reduce the time from ED arrival to HC order placement (p = 0.36) or administration (p = 0.59).

Conclusions

The use of innovative health IT strategies, such as the electronic CDS, can improve the recognition and management of adrenal crisis among patients with AI presenting to the pediatric ED.
Why Monday is notin front ofTuesday: On the uses of English and Finnish front adpositions in sequence metaphors of time
Authors: Huumo Tuomas
Published: May 2019

I analyze English and Finnishfrontadpositions commonly used insequencemetaphors of time (The days ahead of Christmas are busy). Asequencemetaphor represents the order of temporal entities as their different positions on a path along which they are moving, a temporally earlier entity being ‘ahead of’ a later one, i.e. further advanced in the direction of motion. In English, the motion-relatedfrontprepositionahead ofis conventional insequencemetaphors, as opposed toin front of, which is used only occasionally and often results in ill-formedness (*Monday is in front of Tuesday). In Finnish, the dedicated two-mover adpositionedellä‘ahead of [two-mover]’ is conventional insequencemetaphors, while the generalfrontadpositionedessäis not. Based on an analysis of these adpositions in different scenarios of spatial motion, I argue that the adpositions common insequencemetaphors (ahead of, edellä) evoke a motion frame of reference (motion FoR). In the motion FoR,frontis adjacent to the direction where the moving Ground (the entity designated by the complement of the adposition) is headed. In contrast, adpositions that bear a strong association with the standard (intrinsic or relative) FoRs (in front ofandedessä) are less felicitous insequencemetaphors. Together, the two languages demonstrate how a metaphorical motion scenario in asequencemetaphor is grammatically coded as a stable, unchanging array, where both participants are steadily moving in the same direction.
Radiochlorine: an underutilized halogen tool
Authors: Lapi Suzanne E. , Engle Jonathan W.
Published: May 2019

Halogen radioisotopes have a variety of physical half-lives which are suitable for probing a wide variety of pharmacokinetic processes. Compared with other radiohalogens, relatively little work has been done with radiochlorine. However, high specific activity radioisotopes of chlorine are available from low energy cyclotron production in quantities suitable for positron emission tomography (PET) and fundamental research. In particular, the sole radioisotope of chlorine which may be used for PET imaging, 34mCl, has achieved a state of development that permits imaging in clinical settings though sparse research effort has been focused on this isotope over the last 40 years. Additionally, the other longer-lived radioisotopes of chlorine will likely continue to show utility for more traditional radiotracer studies and chemistry development.
Combining gene expression data and prior knowledge for inferring gene regulatory networks via Bayesian networks using structural restrictions
Authors: de Campos Luis M. , Cano Andrés , Castellano Javier G. , Moral Serafín
Published: May 2019

Gene Regulatory Networks (GRNs) are known as the most adequate instrument to provide a clear insight and understanding of the cellular systems. One of the most successful techniques to reconstruct GRNs using gene expression data is Bayesian networks (BN) which have proven to be an ideal approach for heterogeneous data integration in the learning process. Nevertheless, the incorporation of prior knowledge has been achieved by using prior beliefs or by using networks as a starting point in the search process. In this work, the utilization of different kinds of structural restrictions within algorithms for learning BNs from gene expression data is considered. These restrictions will codify prior knowledge, in such a way that a BN should satisfy them. Therefore, one aim of this work is to make a detailed review on the use of prior knowledge and gene expression data to inferring GRNs from BNs, but the major purpose in this paper is to research whether the structural learning algorithms for BNs from expression data can achieve better outcomes exploiting this prior knowledge with the use of structural restrictions. In the experimental study, it is shown that this new way to incorporate prior knowledge leads us to achieve better reverse-engineered networks.
Testing for cointegration with threshold adjustment in the presence of structural breaks
Authors: Schweikert Karsten
Published: May 2019

In this paper, we develop new threshold cointegration tests with SETAR and MTAR adjustment allowing for the presence of structural breaks in the equilibrium equation. We propose a simple procedure to simultaneously estimate the previously unknown breakpoint and test the null hypothesis of no cointegration. Thereby, we extend the well-known residual-based cointegration test with regime shift introduced by (Gregory, A. W., and B. E. Hansen. 1996a. “Residual-based Tests for Cointegration in Models with Regime Shifts.” Journal of Econometrics 70: 99–126) to include forms of nonlinear adjustment. We derive the asymptotic distribution of the test statistics and demonstrate the finite-sample performance of the tests in a series of Monte Carlo experiments. We find a substantial decrease of power of the conventional threshold cointegration tests caused by a shift in the slope coefficient of the equilibrium equation. The proposed tests perform superior in these situations. An application to the “rockets and feathers” hypothesis of price adjustment in the US gasoline market provides empirical support for this methodology.
Shock Wave Kinematics in a Relaxing Gas with Dust Particles
Authors: Mehla Sonu , Jena J.
Published: May 2019

In this article, we considered the evolutionary behaviour of one-dimensional shock waves propagating through a relaxing gas with dust particles in a duct with spatially varying cross section. We adopted the procedure based on the kinematics of a one-dimensional motion to derive an infinite hierarchy of transport equations, which describe the evolutionary behaviour of shock of arbitrary strength propagating through the medium. The first three truncation approximations are considered, and the results are compared with existing results in the absence of relaxation and dust particles. The effects of dust particles and relaxation are studied using numerical computations. The results are depicted for different values of dust and relaxation parameters.
Laboratory Investigation of Ultra-High–Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Modified with Nanomaterials
Authors: Zeinolabedini Afsaneh , Tanzadeh Javad , Mamodan Mitra Talebi
Published: May 2019

High-performance concrete with fibers and nanomaterials possesses mechanical properties that are significantly different from normal-strength concrete materials. This article presents the laboratory investigation carried out to study the behavior of ultra-high–performance fiber-reinforced concrete modified with nanomaterials. The aim of this study was to use an optimum composite of nanoalumina, nanolime, nanosilica, and polypropylene fibers to improve the mechanical properties of the concrete. The results of compression and flexure tests showed that the addition of nanolime, nanosilica, and nanoalumina with the optimum mixing ratio could be a good alternative to increasing the amount of cement to increase the compressive strength of the concrete. Adding an extra amount of nanolime in compressive strength should be done cautiously, but the effect of nanosilica is far less sensitive. The results showed that using 30-kg/m3 nanosilica, 5-kg/m3 nanolime, and 0.75-kg/m3 fiber produced the best result. In the test of concrete durability in acidic and noncorrosive environments, these amounts showed higher acid resistance. Increasing the amount of nanolime and nanosilica alone increases the flexural strength, while increasing the amount of nanomaterials or fiber will reduce it. The effect of increasing the amount of cement on the increase in flexural strength is much less than increasing the amount of nanomaterials. Also, the relationship between flexural strength and compressive strength was estimated for laboratory tests in fiber-reinforced concrete modified with nanomaterials compared with conventional ones. This study has shown that the American Concrete Institute experimental relationship between compressive strength and flexural strength is not consistent with this type of ultra-high–performance concrete.
SİYAH ÇAY HARMANINDA PARTİKÜL BOYUTU VE DEMLEME SÜRESİNİN DEM ÖZELLİKLERİ ÜZERİNE ETKİSİ
Authors: SALMAN Sinem , AZARABADİ Negin , OZDEMİR Feramuz
Published: May 2019

Satışa sunulan çaylar, genellikle farklı özellikteki çayların
harmanlarıdır. Tüketici talepleri, fiyat, kalite ve volum ağırlığı gibi bazı
zorunluluklar çayların harmanlanması gerektirir. Bazen farklı ülke çayları da
harmanda yer alabilmektedir. Bu çalışmada, Türkiye pazarında yaygın bulunan
siyah çaylardan biri 2mm, 1.4mm, 1mm, 500µm delik çaplarına sahip elek setinde
partikül boyutlarına göre ayrılmış; 15, 20 ve 25 dakika süre ile geleneksel çay
demleme yöntemine göre demlenmiştir. Demin bazı özellikleri üzerine, partikül
boyutunun ve demleme süresinin birlikte ve ayrı ayrı önemli etkisi olmuştur (P
< 0.05, P <0.001). Nitekim, en yüksek ekstrakt verimi, toplam
fenolik madde miktarı ve bulanıklık değerleri 25 dakika süre ile demlenen en
küçük partiküllü çayda belirlenmiştir. Kafein, theaflavin (TF), thearubigin
(TR), toplam renk ve %parlaklık değeri üzerine demleme süresinin etkisi
önemsiz iken, bu değerler üzerine partikül büyüklüğünün önemli (P
<0.001) etkisi olmuştur. Sonuçlar, pazara sunulan çayın farklı kalite
özelliklerine sahip ve muhtemelen farklı menşeli ülke çaylarından
harmanlandığını da göstermiştir.
Crafting a Mysterious Ancient World
Authors: Anderson David S.
Published: May 2019

Esoteric spiritual groups such as the Theosophical Society have had a profound effect on the general public’s understanding of the ancient world and archaeology. This article describes the author’s visit as an outside observer to a conference held by the Theosophical Society in America to examine the ways in which the ancient world was represented. While the beliefs of the Theosophical Society and related groups are not always well known to the general public, it is argued that their beliefs have nevertheless had a broad impact on public audiences through adoption in popular culture and films. This article will examine the appearance of esoteric claims about the ancient world in popular fiction, including the writings of H. P. Lovecraft and the Indiana Jones film franchise. If archaeologists are going to engage with public audiences, they need to understand what the public actually thinks of their work.
The Highest Common Factor
Authors: Whitesides Kevin A.
Published: May 2019

This article differentiates two universalist rhetorical strategies in common use among producers of alternative archaeological narratives: hyperdiffusionism and perennialism. Both strategies seek to account for perceived similarities in archaeological monuments worldwide by tracing them to a single ur-source. However, each takes a distinct epistemic position with respect to the identity of that source. Hyperdiffusionism and perennialism represent shifting ideological trends within the modern cultic milieu, and, therefore, noting the distinction is important in tracing the reception history of archaeological monuments and artifacts.
Religious Aspects of Pseudoarchaeology
Authors: Laycock Joseph
Published: May 2019

While pseudoarchaeology often presents claims in a scientific register, it favors fantastic or romantic theories of the past over the findings of professionalized archaeology. As archaeologists have attempted to interpret pseudoarchaeology, it has been implied that it often resembles religion more than science, both in terms of its epistemology and the types of worldviews it is deployed to legitimate. This article synthesizes the work of the authors in this special issue of Nova Religio to further articulate these “religious” aspects of pseudoarchaeology.
Shaping Generations of Architects
Authors: Winship Sian
Published: May 2019

Two early high school architecture programs—Polytechnic High School in Los Angeles as of 1904 and Kern County High School in Bakersfield as of 1910—trained a cadre of architects that would populate the architectural programs of prestigious universities and would ultimately shape the built environment of Southern California and beyond. The programs’ charismatic founders, both trained in the Beaux-Arts pedagogical tradition and styles, transitioned to practical vocational training and became proponents of modernism. Their programs took steps to diversify the architectural profession in terms of race/ethnicity and gender. The graduates of their programs introduced advances in building codes and designed significant architectural landmarks.
Language, Citizenship, and the “Model Minority Myth”
Authors: Gutfreund Zevi
Published: May 2019

Noting that the image of Japanese Americans as a “model minority” reflected a conservative vision of citizenship that excluded other racial and foreign language minorities from civic participation, this article traces the careers of California’s two most prominent Nisei of the postwar period, Judge John Aiso and Senator S. I. Hayakawa. Both of them established careers based on language arts. Although Aiso had experienced a multiculturalist background and Hayakawa an assimilationist education, both voiced right-wing opposition to bilingual education and racial identity politics by citing the self-achievements of Japanese Americans.
Effects of interleukin-1 antagonism on cortisol levels in individuals with obesity: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Ebrahimi Fahim , Urwyler Sandrine A , Schuetz Philipp , Mueller Beat , Bernasconi Luca , Neyer Peter , Donath Marc Y , Christ-Crain Mirjam
Published: May 2019

Background

Anti-inflammatory treatment with interleukin-1 (IL-1) antagonism decreases both cortisol and adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) levels in individuals with obesity in short term. However, it remains unknown whether these effects persist upon prolonged treatment.

Methods

In this double-blind, parallel-group trial involving patients with features of the metabolic syndrome, 33 patients were randomly assigned to receive 100 mg of anakinra (recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist) subcutaneously twice-daily and 34 patients to receive placebo for 4 weeks. For this analysis, change in cortisol and ACTH levels from baseline to 4 weeks were predefined end points of the trial.

Results

The mean age was 54 years, baseline cortisol levels were 314 nmol/L (IQR 241–385) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were 3.4 mg/L (IQR 1.7–4.8). Treatment with anakinra led to a significant decrease in cortisol levels at day 1 when compared to placebo with an adjusted between-group difference of 28 nmol/L (95% CI, −7 to −43; P = 0.03). After 4 weeks, the cortisol-lowering effect of anakinra was attenuated and overall was statistically not significant (P = 0.72). Injection-site reactions occurred in 21 patients receiving anakinra and were associated with higher CRP and cortisol levels.

Conclusions

IL-1 antagonism decreases cortisol levels in male patients with obesity and chronic low-grade inflammation on the short term. After prolonged treatment, this effect is attenuated, probably due to injection-site reactions (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02672592).
Glycan regulation in cancer, nervous and immune system: A narrative review
Authors: Haider Khan Hamad , Shi Bingyin , Tian Yang , Wang Ting , Hussain Shida , Ullah Khan Faiz , Khan Zakir , Ashfaq Beenish , Ahmad Hussain , Ahmad Tauseef
Published: May 2019

Glycans are carbohydrate components of glycoconjugates, which interact with their receptors; for example, galectins and C-type lectins. The specificity to their receptors makes them the ideal biomarkers that they can be used as a therapeutic target or as a screening tool. We collected and reviewed articles from different databases, which show that glycans play a significant role in several body functions, such as stimulation of the immune system, and can be used in the differentiation among cancer types. They also help in nervous system repair, regeneration, regulation and proliferation. Furthermore, several pathogens like Schistosoma, HIV, Influenza, Candida, and Ebola produce glycoproteins to aid in the invasion via attachment to surface glycoproteins and defend themselves against the host's immune system.
Timing of Palliative Consultation for Children During a Fatal Illness
Authors: Rossfeld Zachary M. , Miller Rebecca , Fosselman David D. , Ketner Adam R. , Tumin Dmitry , Tobias Joseph D. , Humphrey Lisa
Published: May 2019

BACKGROUND:

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends palliative care for children at the diagnosis of serious illness. Yet few children who die receive specialty palliative care consultation, and when it is provided, palliative care consultation tends to occur after >75% of the time from diagnosis until death. Focusing on the timing of palliative consultation in relation to the date of diagnosis, we evaluated factors predicting earlier receipt of pediatric palliative care in a cohort of decedents.

METHODS:

We retrospectively identified patients diagnosed with a life-limiting disease who died at our hospital in 2015–2017 after at least 1 inpatient palliative medicine consultation. Our primary outcome was time from palliative-qualifying diagnosis to earliest receipt of specialty palliative care. A survival analysis was used to describe factors associated with earlier receipt of palliative care.

RESULTS:

The analysis included 180 patients (median age at diagnosis <1 month [interquartile range (IQR): 0–77]). The median time to first palliative consultation was 7 days after diagnosis (IQR: 2–63), compared with a median of 50 days between diagnosis and death (IQR: 7–210). On the multivariable analysis, palliative consultation occurred earlier for patients who had cardiovascular diagnoses, had private insurance, and were of African American race.

CONCLUSIONS:

In a cohort of decedents at our institution, palliative consultation occurred much earlier than has been previously reported. We also identify factors associated with delayed receipt of palliative care among children who are dying that reveal further opportunities to improve access to specialty palliative care.
Study of Delayed Antibiotic in Pediatric Febrile Immunocompromised Patients and Adverse Events
Authors: Fananapazir Nafeh , Dandoy Christopher , Byczkowski Terri , Lane Adam , Nagarajan Rajaram , Hariharan Selena
Published: May 2019

OBJECTIVES:

Bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients or patients receiving chemotherapy for oncologic diagnoses are at risk for sepsis. The association of time to antibiotics (TTA) with outcomes when adjusting for severity of illness has not been evaluated in the pediatric febrile immunocompromised (FI) population. We evaluated the association of TTA with adverse events in a cohort of FI patients presenting to our pediatric emergency department.

METHODS:

We performed a retrospective review of consecutive FI patients presenting over a 6.5-year period. Adverse events were defined as intensive care admission within 72 hours of emergency department arrival, laboratory signs of acute kidney injury, inotropic support subsequent to antibiotics, and all-cause mortality within 30 days. Vital signs and interventions were used to define severity of illness. Adjusting for severity of illness at presentation, age, and timing of an institutional intervention designed to reduce TTA in FI patients, we analyzed the association of TTA with individual adverse events as well as with adverse events in aggregate.

RESULTS:

We analyzed 1489 patient encounters. In oncology patients, TTA was not associated with the aggregate measure of whether any adverse event subsequently occurred nor with other individual adverse events. For the BMT subpopulation, TTA >60 minutes did show increased odds of intensive care admission within 72 hours as well as for aggregate adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although TTA >60 minutes did show increased odds of aggregate adverse events in the small subgroup of BMT patients, overall TTA was not associated with adverse events in oncology patients as a whole.