bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perioperative Retinal Artery Occlusion: Incidence and Risk Factors in Spinal Fusion Surgery From the US National Inpatient Sample 1998–2013
Authors: Calway Tyler , Rubin Daniel S. , Moss Heather E. , Joslin Charlotte E. , Mehta Ankit I. , Roth Steven
Published: June 2017

Background:

Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a rare but devastating complication of spinal fusion surgery. We aimed to determine its incidence and associated risk factors.

Methods:

Hospitalizations involving spinal fusion surgery were identified by searching the National Inpatient Sample, a database of hospital discharges, from 1998 to 2013. RAO cases were identified using ICD-9-CM codes. Using the STROBE guidelines, postulated risk factors were chosen based on literature review and identified using ICD-9-CM codes. Multivariate logistic models with RAO as outcome, and risk factors, race, age, admission, and surgery type evaluated associations.

Results:

Of an estimated 4,784,275 spine fusions in the United States from 1998 to 2013, there were 363 (CI: 291–460) instances of RAO (0.76/10,000 spine fusions, CI: 0.61–0.96). Incidence ranged from 0.35/10,000 (CI: 0.11–1.73) in 2001–2002 to 1.29 (CI: 0.85–2.08) in 2012–2013, with no significant trend over time (P = 0.39). Most strongly associated with RAO were stroke, unidentified type (odds ratio, OR: 14.33, CI: 4.54–45.28, P < 0.001), diabetic retinopathy (DR) (OR: 7.00, CI: 1.18–41.66, P = 0.032), carotid stenosis (OR: 4.94, CI: 1.22–19.94, P = 0.025), aging (OR for age 71–80 years vs 41–50 years referent: 4.07, CI: 1.69–10.84, P = 0.002), and hyperlipidemia (OR: 2.96, CI: 1.85–4.73, P < 0.001). There was an association between RAO and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (OR: 2.95, CI: 1.29–6.75, P = 0.010). RAO was more likely to occur with spinal surgery performed urgently or emergently compared with being done electively (OR: 0.40, CI: 0.23–0.68, P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Patient-specific associations with RAO in spinal fusion include aging, carotid stenosis, DR, hyperlipidemia, stroke, and specific types of surgery. DR may serve as an observable biomarker of heightened risk of RAO in patients undergoing spine fusion.
Linking internal marketing orientation to balanced scorecard outcomes in small businesses: the case of travel agencies
Authors: Khazaei Pool Javad , Khodadadi Masood , Amirbakzadeh Kalati Ezat
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how internal marketing orientation affects balanced scorecard outcomes (financial performance, customer, internal process, learning and growth) in a small service businesses context.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from the small businesses, the relationship between internal marketing orientation and performance is hypothesized and tested. A structural equation modeling (SEM) test with maximum likelihood estimation was performed to test the relationship between the research variables.

Findings

The results obtained from the SEM analyzes revealed that internal marketing orientation positively impacts the levels of financial and non-financial performance. The results also indicate that non-financial performance measures (that is, customer, internal process, learning and growth) directly affect financial performance.

Originality/value

This study unpacks the mechanism between internal marketing orientation and balanced scorecard outcomes and contributes to the academic research of internal marketing orientation in the context of small businesses.
Integration of Taguchi and Shainin DOE for Six Sigma improvement: an Indian case
Authors: Prashar Anupama
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the application of Six Sigma/design of experiments (DOE) hybrid framework for improving damping force (DF) generation process in a shock absorber assembly unit.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a case study research method with single case (holistic) design. This research design was found to be appropriate for testing the projected framework for integrating DOE approaches within Six Sigma define-measure-analyze-improve-control (DMAIC) cycle. In the proposed framework, Shainin’s component search technique (CST) was deployed at the “analysis” phase of DMAIC for the first stage filtering of process parameters, followed by the use of Taguchi orthogonal arrays (OA) at the “improve” phase for identifying the optimal setting of the parameters.

Findings

The application of Shanin CST facilitated in ascertaining that assembly component (piston with rebound stopper) was causing the variation and not the assembly process. Further, the use of Taguchi OA at the improve phase allowed the collection of necessary data to determine the significant piston parameters with minimum experimentation (eight experimental runs in this case as opposed to the expected 64) and analysis of variance on the collected data facilitated the selection of parameter settings to optimize the “critical to quality”, i.e. rebound DF.

Originality/value

This study provided a stimulus for wider application of integrated DOE approaches by the engineering community in the problem solving and the identification of parameters responsible for poor performance of the process.
Islamic religiosity and portfolio allocation: the Malaysian context
Authors: Mahdzan Nurul Shahnaz , Zainudin Rozaimah , Che Hashim Rosmawani , Sulaiman Noor Adwa
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the association between Muslim individuals’ portfolio allocation choice and Islamic religiosity (levels and dimensions), controlling for risk tolerance and sociodemographic factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses primary data collected via survey questionnaires from a sample of 751 Muslim working individuals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Owing to the ordinal nature of the dependent variable, which reflects the levels of proportions of risky assets in portfolios, the data were analyzed using an ordered probit regression model.

Findings

The findings reveal that Islamic religiosity levels in general were insignificantly related to portfolio allocation, but that two dimensions of religiosity (virtue and obligation) significantly impact the allocations of risky assets in the portfolio. The higher the level of virtue, the lower the propensity to allocate risky assets into the portfolio. On the contrary, the higher the level of obligation, the higher the propensity to allocate risky assets in the portfolio. Meanwhile, individuals with higher risk tolerance, income and education levels show greater propensity to allocate risky assets in the portfolio.

Research limitations/implications

The sample is restricted to Muslims in Kuala Lumpur; hence, the findings are not easily generalized to Muslim investors in general. Findings may differ between Muslims across the world, so future research needs to expand from a country specific to an international analysis. In addition, future studies could include other determinants of portfolio allocation, such as financial literacy.

Practical implications

The findings of this study may assist financial planners and policymakers to better understand the drivers of portfolio allocation among their Muslim clients.

Originality/value

While other studies have tended to focus on the impact of religiosity on the holdings of specific financial assets, such as Islamic bank accounts or Takaful, the present study explores the effect of Islamic religiosity dimensions on the allocations of risky assets in the portfolio. The study also develops an ordinal measure of portfolio allocation and makes a methodological contribution by using an ordered probit regression analysis.
Regulation, competition, and economic growth
Authors: Friske Wesley , Zachary Miles A.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of government regulation on economic value creation through the lens of Resource-Advantage Theory. This study intends to shed more light on how industry-government relationships affect the entrepreneurial activities that drive economic growth.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a test of joint significance (MacKinnon et al., 2002) in a generalized linear model to examine how competition mediates the relationship between government regulation and jobs and wages. The research context is the US brewing industry for the year 2012.

Findings

High excise taxes and certain sales restrictions negatively impact competition, which ultimately affects economic value creation. State regulators may effectively balance the need to bring in tax revenues on the one hand and promote healthy competition on the other by turning to small business tax credits and exemptions. The results of a post hoc analysis indicate excise taxes have the most pronounced effect at the manufacturing level of the supply chain as opposed to the wholesale and retail levels.

Originality/value

The predictive validity of this study suggests that Resource-Advantage Theory is a useful and appropriate framework for understanding how industry–government relations impact the competitive processes that lead to economic value creation. From a practical standpoint, the study also has several implications for public policy, which are detailed in the latter stages of the paper.
Framework foresight for exploring emerging student needs
Authors: Hines Andy
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the approach used by the research team to explore the topic of future student needs. It described the specific method, Framework Foresight, and how it was adapted to meet the circumstances of topic and client.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper focuses on the approach that guided the original research study on which this special issue is based. It describes the use of the Framework Foresight method developed by the Houston Foresight program and how it was adapted for the project.

Findings

The paper demonstrates how the Framework Foresight method can be effectively used to explore the future of a topic, in this case future student needs. It points out how it can be adapted or customized to suit particular topic or client needs.

Research limitations/implications

The research focused on the student perspective and identified implications of those findings for higher education institutions and their stakeholders. It did not explicitly focus on how to “fix” higher education or its institutions.

Practical implications

The Framework Foresight method is presented as an effective way to way to explore the future of a topic, in this case future student needs. The paper makes the case that the method develops a solid foundation for developing interesting and useful findings and recommendation for action.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to explicitly identify and describe the application of the Framework Foresight and how it can be customized to explore the future of a topic.
The future of student life: playing
Authors: Schlehuber Laura
Published: June 2017

Purpose

A research project exploring emerging student needs explored six aspects of student life: living, learning, working, playing, connecting and participating. Playing is explored here, considering changes in student approaches to leisure, recreation and having fun and investigates how playing in general is changing. The purpose of this paper summarizes two scenarios about the playing domain from the Student Needs 2025+ project and highlights implications for the future of higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

A modified version of the University of Houston’s “Framework Foresight” method was used to explore the future of six aspects of future student life.

Findings

Play has gotten serious. It is increasingly scheduled, supervised and often includes some larger objective, such as learning. This purposeful play is spreading into virtual space as well, which will increasingly be the setting for play. In the longer term, play – in the form or gamification – is likely to integrate into more and more of student life. Games and play will be used for teaching in the classroom (real and virtual), at work for training, to make exercise “fun”, and even in civic life for encouraging greater participation in governance.

Research limitations/implications

In terms of research limitations, the paper is focused on the needs of students and does not purport to be an exhaustive analysis of all the issues influencing higher education. It views the future of higher education through the lens of students and their emerging needs.

Practical implications

The paper is intended for educators, researchers and administrators to provide insight on how the needs of students, their key customers, are evolving.

Originality/value

This research explores student life in its totality as way to more accurately identify student needs in the future.
Readers Theatre: effects on word recognition automaticity and reading prosody
Authors: Young Chase , Rasinski Timothy
Published: June 2017

In this quasi‐experimental study, the researchers examined the effects of implementing Readers Theatre in a second grade classroom, comprised of seven and eight‐year‐old students. The 70 subjects were chosen as a non‐probability sample from two different classes and served as the treatment (n = 29) and comparison (n = 41) groups. A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed statistically significant interaction and time effects. The post hoc analysis of simple effects indicated that the Readers Theatre treatment yielded larger effects on word recognition automaticity and prosody. Practical implications of this study suggest that consistent implementation of Readers Theatre in grade two classrooms can have a large impact on students' reading fluency.
The GH receptor exon 3 deletion is a marker of male-specific exceptional longevity associated with increased GH sensitivity and taller stature
Authors: Ben-Avraham Danny , Govindaraju Diddahally R. , Budagov Temuri , Fradin Delphine , Durda Peter , Liu Bing , Ott Sandy , Gutman Danielle , Sharvit Lital , Kaplan Robert , Bougnères Pierre , Reiner Alex , Shuldiner Alan R. , Cohen Pinchas , Barzilai Nir , Atzmon Gil
Published: June 2017

The
d3-GHR
genetic variant polymorphism modulates GH responsiveness throughout life span and positively affects male longevity.
The progress of telestroke in China
Authors: Zhao Gang , Huang Huan , Yang Fang
Published: June 2017

Stroke remains the leading cause of death in China. The disparity of distribution in specialists and hospitals affects access to timely stroke care. Telestroke, the use of telemedicine for stroke, may be the solution to access to stroke care. Telestroke can improve the rate of successful intravenous thrombolysis and shorten the time to treatment. Here we review the progress of telestroke in China.
A Novel Segment-Based Data Transfer Scheme for Low-Power CMOS Surveillance Image Sensors
Authors: Habibi Mehdi , Akbari Khatereh , Mokhtari Marzieh , Moallem Peyman
Published: June 2017

Smart image sensors with low data rate output are well fitted for security and surveillance tasks, since at lower data rates, power consumption is reduced and the image sensor can be operated with limited energy resources such as solar panels. In this paper, a new data transfer scheme is presented to reduce the data rate of the pixels which have undergone value change. Although different pixel difference detecting architectures have been previously reported but it is shown that the given method is more effective in terms of power dissipation and data transfer rate reduction. The proposed architecture is evaluated as a [Formula: see text]-pixel sensor in a standard CMOS technology and comparison with other data transfer approaches is performed in the same process and configuration.
Optimizing FPGA Performance, Power, and Dependability with Linear Programming
Authors: Wulf Nicholas , George Alan D. , Gordon-Ross Ann
Published: June 2017

Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) are an increasingly attractive alternative to traditional microprocessor-based computing architectures in extreme-computing domains, such as aerospace and supercomputing. FPGAs offer several resource types that offer different tradeoffs between speed, power, and area, which make FPGAs highly flexible for varying application computational requirements. However, since an application’s computational operations can map to different resource types, a major challenge in leveraging resource-diverse FPGAs is determining the optimal distribution of these operations across the device’s available resources for varying FPGA devices, resulting in an extremely large design space. In order to facilitate fast design-space exploration, this article presents a method based on linear programming (LP) that determines the optimal operation distribution for a particular device and application with respect to performance, power, or dependability metrics. Our LP method is an effective tool for exploring early designs by quickly analyzing thousands of FPGAs to determine the best FPGA devices and operation distributions, which significantly reduces design time. We demonstrate our LP method’s effectiveness with two case studies involving dot-product and distance-calculation kernels on a range of Virtex-5 FPGAs. Results show that our LP method selects optimal distributions of operations to within an average of 4% of actual values.
Editorial Statement
Authors: Calvary Gaelle , Nichols Jeffrey , Campos José Creissac , Nunes Nuno , Campos Pedro
Published: June 2017

The Proceedings of the ACM (PACM) was initiated by ACM in 2015 as overarching framework for publishing high quality computer science research. The goal for these new journals is to provide an alternate journal publication model for rigorous research papers that have traditionally been presented at major ACM conferences. PACM titles cross multiple intellectual communities, and each separate PACM is designed to represent a broad, but consistent, reach area. This is the first issue of the Proceedings of the ACM on Human Computer Interaction (PACMHCI), which represents the varied topics and communities that compose the broader study of Human Computer Interaction (HCI). The rich heterogeneity of this field can be expressed as deep ethnographies of information use in context, to experiments showing the effectiveness of interface designs, to the production of new technologies that push the limits of how we interact with computers, and much more.

The production of PACMHCI will focus on content associated with major research communities that are supported by the ACM Special Interest Group on Human-Computer Interaction (SIGCHI). Individual issues will be largely associated with separate research communities, who may then also select papers from the issue for presentation at their major conferences. These research communities provide the volunteers and editors necessary to provide the rigorous review and editorial process that will define this journal. Those editors will serve on the overall board for ACMHCI, to help bridge our diverse communities. Leveraging our research communities allows us to provide high-quality reviewing while maintaining the quick processing of work that is important in this quickly moving field.

This inaugural issue of PACMHCI represents work from the Engineering Interactive Computing Systems (EICS) community. EICS gathers researchers that aim to improve the ways we build interactive systems. Building interactive systems is a multi-faceted and challenging activity, involving a plethora of different actors and roles. This is particularly true in the domain of HCI, where we continuously push the edge of what is possible, where there is a crucial need for adequate processes, tools and methods to build reliable, useful and usable systems that help people cope with the ever-increasing complexity of work and life. The primary goal of the EICS research community is to create novel and high quality contributions in this direction.

Although there are only three articles in this first issue, our pipeline for future issues is promising. In the first submission cycle, 41 papers were submitted and, of those, 22 were asked for major revisions. We expect a good number of those 22 papers to be ultimately accepted over the coming months. We are grateful to our newly-formed Editorial Board consisting of more than 70 experts for lending their support and knowledge to the new journal.

More information about PACMHCI can be found at http://pacmhci.acm.org/.
Pure Testicular Seminoma with Non-Pathologic Elevation of Alpha Fetoprotein: A Case Series
Authors: Dieckmann Klaus-Peter , Anheuser Petra , Simonsen Hanna , Höflmayer Doris
Published: June 2017

Background: Pure testicular seminoma does not express alpha fetoprotein (AFP). However, seminoma patients with mildly elevated serum AFP levels are increasingly reported. As this finding may prompt unwarranted treatment measures, we reviewed our experience with AFP levels in seminoma. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively registered AFP levels in 254 consecutive seminoma patients, and in 196 male controls with non-malignant diseases. In those with elevated AFP levels, we re-examined the orchiectomy specimens histologically. We reviewed the clinical course and looked for hepatic disorders. Results: Elevated AFP levels were found in 5 patients (1.97%, 95% CI 0.19-3.68) and in 4 controls (2.04%, 95% CI 0.06-4.02). The elevations were modest and kept elevated throughout the clinical course. No hepatic disorders were recorded. Histologically, pure seminoma was confirmed. Conclusion: Unspecific AFP elevations occur in about 2% of seminoma patients. Care-givers should be aware of this particular subgroup of seminoma patients to avoid unwarranted treatment burden.
‘Carving the Complete Edition’: Self-commentary, Poetry, and Illustration in the Early-Qing Erotic Novel Romance of an Embroidered Screen (1670)
Authors: Li Mengjun
Published: June 2017

Scholars of late imperial Chinese fiction have demonstrated that Ming ‘literati novels’ possessed both intellectual sophistication and aesthetic seriousness. Nonetheless, the large corpus of mid-length fictional narratives of the Qing remains mired in problematic assumptions about its ostensibly popular nature. The self-commentaried edition ofEmbroidered screen(Xiuping yuan) presents a salient example for reassessing the nature of Qing novels and the reading of fiction in the seventeenth century. First circulated in manuscript copies, extensive auto-commentary was added when the novel was committed to print. The commented edition incorporates different genres—poetry, examination essay, and anecdotal accounts—as well as visual elements, all intended to appeal to elite literati tastes among Qing readers. Its literary, visual, and formal heteroglossia also contributed to its popularity in eighteenth-century Japan, which in turn secured its preservation and eventual modern rediscovery, even while it fell into obscurity in Qing China, most likely due to political censorship.
Morphological description and DNA barcoding of Hydrobaenus golovinensis sp. nov. (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae) from the Russian Far East
Authors: MAKARCHENKO EUGENYI A. , MAKARCHENKO MARINA A. , SEMENCHENKO ALEXANDER A. , VELIAEV OLEG A.
Published: June 2017

Illustrated descriptions of adult male, pupa and fourth instar larva, as well as DNA barcoding results of Hydrobaenus golovinensis sp. nov. in comparison with closely related species H. majus Makarchenko et Makarchenko and H. sikhotealinensis Makarchenko et Makarchenko from the Russian Far East are provided. Partial mitochondrial COI gene (DNA barcoding) of the new species has been sequenced and uploaded to GenBank. Comparisons with corresponding regions of COI between H. golovinensis and other species in the genus produce K2P genetic distances of 10.3–14.3%, the values well above those associated with intraspecific variation. In contrast, genetic distances among 18 specimens are all within the range of 0–3.5%. The ML tree is also constructed using DNA barcodes obtained in the present study and those of other species of Hydrobaenus Fries from GenBank.
Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir in the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C
Authors: Childs-Kean Lindsey M , Jourjy Jacqueline
Published: June 2017

Chronic hepatitis C is a common cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir is a combination of 2 direct-acting antiviral agents that has been approved for use in patients with genotype 1, 4, 5, or 6. This approval is based on multiple phase 3 studies in which the rate of sustained virologic response exceeded 90% for 12 or 24 weeks of treatment, depending on the patient population. For some patients, the addition of ribavirin is required. Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir is well tolerated, with the most commonly reported adverse events being fatigue and headaches.
Viewing Health Equity through a Legal Lens: Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act
Authors: Rosenbaum Sara , Schmucker Sara
Published: June 2017

Enacted as part of the watershed Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VI prohibits discrimination by federally assisted entities on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Indeed, the law is as broad as federal funding across the full range of programs and services that affect health. Over the years, governmental enforcement efforts have waxed and waned, and private litigants have confronted barriers to directly invoking its protections. But Title VI endures as the formal mechanism by which the nation rejects discrimination within federally funded programs and services. Enforcement efforts confront problems of proof, remedies whose effectiveness may be blunted by underlying residential segregation patterns, and a judiciary closed to legal challenges focusing on discriminatory impact rather than intentional discrimination. But Title VI enforcement has experienced a resurgence, with strategies that seek to use the law as a basic compliance tool across the range of federally assisted programs. This resurgence reflects an enduring commitment to more equitable outcomes in federally funded programs that bear directly on community health, and it stands as a testament to the vital importance of a legal framework designed to move the nation toward greater health equity.
Pneumoperitônio idiopático em idoso – Relato de Caso
Authors: Amaral Renato Nogueira do , Valadares Luciana Cavalcanti , Antunes Renato Vilasboas , Matos Bárbara Pessoa de , Alquimim Andréia Farias , Mazon Gustavo
Published: June 2017

Introdução: O pneumoperitônio frequentemente é causado por perfurações de vísceras ocas, mas, quando não se identifica uma etiologia, é dito idiopático. Relato de caso: Paciente com 80 anos, admitido com quadro de dor abdominal, em pontada, contínua, especialmente em quadrante inferior esquerdo e parada de eliminação de gases e fezes há seis dias. Apresentava-se sudorético, taquicárdico, normotenso, ausculta cardiopulmonar inocente. Passado de colecistectomia e apendicectomia. Exames laboratoriais inalterados. Radiografia e tomografia computadorizada de abdome evidenciaram pneumoperitônio em região subfrênica direita. Paciente foi submetido à laparotomia exploradora e não foram evidenciados sinais de perfuração de víscera oca pós-busca minuciosa da etiologia. Conclusão: Trata-se realmente de causa idiopática, tendo evoluído bem após o procedimento. Entretanto, não há consenso em relação ao melhor tipo de intervenção.
СОЦИОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ АНАЛИЗ ДИНАМИКИ КОЭФФИЦИЕНТА ДЕТОРОЖДЕНИЙ В АЛТАЙСКОМ КРАЕ НА ОСНОВЕ МЕТОДА НЕЧЕТКОЙ ЛИНЕЙНОЙ РЕГРЕССИИ
Authors: Varaksin Sergei Vladimirovich , Varaksina Natalya Vladimirovna
Published: June 2017

Цель. Построение математической модели динамики изменения рождаемости в Алтайском крае в 2000–2016 годах, анализ динамики изменения коэффициентов рождаемости для нескольких возрастных категорий женщин детородного возраста.Методы и методология проведения работы. Вспомогательным элементом анализа служит построение линейных математических моделей динамики коэффициентов рождаемости с помощью метода нечеткой линейной регрессии на основе нечетких чисел. Нечеткая линейная регрессия рассматривается как альтернатива стандартной статистической линейной регрессии в случае коротких временных рядов и неизвестного закона распределения. Определены параметры нечеткой линейной и стандартной статистической регрессий для временных рядов коэффициентов рождаемости, используя построенный алгоритм на языке системы MatLab. Метод нечеткой линейной регрессии пока не используется в социологических исследованиях.Результаты. Делается вывод о социально-демографических изменениях в обществе, о высокой эффективности демографической политики руководства региона и страны и применимости метода нечеткой линейной регрессии для социологического анализа.
СРАВНИТЕЛЬНЫЙ АНАЛИЗ СОЦИАЛЬНОГО САМОЧУВСТВИЯ НАСЕЛЕНИЯ В МОНОПРОФИЛЬНОМ ГОРОДЕ АРКТИЧЕСКОГО РЕГИОНА (ПО РЕЗУЛЬТАТАМ СОЦИОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙ В Г. НОВОДВИНСК)
Authors: Kashkina Larisa Vladimirovna
Published: June 2017

Актуальность статьи состоит в теоретическом осмыслении современных социальных процессов, происходящих в монопрофильном городе Арктической зоны, и их влиянии на социальное самочувствие населения. В статье представлен теоретический анализ понятия «социального самочувствие» и «монопрофильный город», а также краткий обзор ситуации в современных моногородах. Монопрофильный город, характеризующийся наличием градообразующего предприятия и самобытной социальной средой, формирует особое социальное пространство, которое оказывает влияние на социальное самочувствие населения при сравнении с классическим городом. Объект исследования: социальное самочувствие населения монопрофильного города. Предмет исследования: влияние социального пространства монопрофильного города на социальное самочувствие населения.Цель исследования: представить особенности влияния социального пространства монопрофильного города в современном обществе на социальное самочувствие различных социальных групп населения монопрофильного города, а также выявить динамику изменений социального самочувствия населения в г. Новодвинске за 35 лет. В статье анализируются результаты социологического исследования социального самочувствия населения в монопрофильном городе Арктического региона на примере г. Новодвинска. Основными методами, используемыми в исследовании стали исторический, системный, социопсихологический, стратификационный, позволяющие выявить специфику социального самочувствия населения. Эмпирическое исследование проводилось с помощью анкетного опроса, массового исследования, анализа фокус-групп, контент-анализа печатных СМИ, архивных документов Массовое исследование, относящееся к количественным методам, применяется для опроса большого числа респондентов. Метод фокус-групп является качественным методом сбора информации в группе респондентов от 8 до 10 человек. Суть метода состоит в том, что внимание участников фокусируется на исследуемой проблеме. Это позволяет получить так называемую глубинную информацию в небольшой группе респондентов.В заключении представлен сравнительный анализ результатов исследования социального самочувствия в г. Новодвинске за период с 1980 по 2015 год. На основании вышеизложенного сделаны выводы о социально-экономической ситуации в современном моногороде с учетом, полученных результатов социологических исследований.
A health visiting legacy
Authors: Oldman Crystal
Published: June 2017

Recognising academic excellence is an important part of supporting high standards and aspirations within the professions of nursing and health visiting, says Crystal Oldman.
Immortalizing idealism: Recognizing the nation
Authors: Yi Wei Chew
Published: June 2017

Idealism, as it was experienced in Singapore by the Chinese youths in the 1950s and 1960s, is seen by the ruling People’s Action Party to be dangerous and disruptive to the postcolonial project of nation-building. This article therefore argues that Sandcastle (Boo Junfeng, 2010) recognizes idealism by immortalizing it in order to recreate renewed knowledge structures of the nation’s histories. The film executes this through the politics of visibility qua the interaction between film and photography. Ultimately, Sandcastle reinforces and recognizes the multi-dimensionality of a nation’s memory by mediating the uneven interfaces of image and conflicting historical narratives.
Sequential determination of 99Tc and 126Sn in radioactive concentrate
Authors: Silliková Veronika , Dulanská Silvia
Published: June 2017

This paper describes a new sequential method using anion exchange resin, which is commercially available from Eichrom Technologies, Inc., for the determination of 99Tc and 126Sn in nuclear waste samples. For the determination of non-actinide radionuclides in radioactive wastes, several methods have been recently introduced. This method is suitable for the separation of radionuclides 99Tc and 126Sn from acidic solutions. Samples after digestion were directly loaded in 2 mol·dm-3 HCl acid on a cation exchange resin and then on an anion exchange. They were eluted with HNO3. After elution, the eluted fractions were measured either by gamma spectrometry on an HPGe detector or liquid scintillation counter with high chemical recoveries for a short period of time. Activity concentrations of 126Sn were below minimum detectable activity (MDA) for each experiment. A new radioanalytical method for the sequential determination of 99Tc and 126Sn in radioactive concentrates has been developed and successfully applied. The main advantage of the method was the time required for the separation of radionuclides, which was only five hours, and single column separation for the determination of these radionuclides, which makes the method very effective and cheap.
An unusual case of rapidly forming severe oral lesions involving bacterial infection in a dog
Authors: Ravnik Verbič Urška , Plavec Tanja , Zdovc Irena , Juntes Polona , Nemec Ana
Published: June 2017

The term oronasal fistula refers to an acquired communication between the oral and nasal cavities, and can result from several conditions. However, oronasal fistula formation has not yet been described to be associated with bacterial infections. We have described in this case report for the first time a rapidly forming oronasal fistula and severe lingual lesions in a dog, involving an infection withStreptococcus canis. The patient was a 9-year-old male intact Golden Retriever with a nonspecific history of depression, mild pyrexia, anorexia and retching lasting for two days. Within four days he developed an extensive oronasal fistula, several pseudomembranous erosions, ulcerations and necrotic areas of the tongue and bronchopneumonia. Histopathology of the tongue revealed severe multifocal necrotizing and suppurative subchronic inflammation.Streptococcus canis, Pasteurella multocida,andStaphylococcus pseudintermediuswere isolated from the bronchoalveolar lavage and the oronasal fistula. Despite the treatment, the dog developed necrotizing fasciitis and the owners elected euthanasia.
Application of the New Self-dynamisable Internal Fixator in the Treatment of Femoral Shaft Fractures
Authors: Mitković Milan , Milenković Saša , Micić Ivan , Stojiljković Predrag , Kostić Igor , Milenković Slobodan , Jelača Dražen , Mitković Milorad
Published: June 2017

The aim of this study was to present the results of one original method application in internal fixation of long bones.

The series of 27 patients with unilateral fractures of femoral shaft was analyzed. According to AO classification, 21 fractures were classified as 32A, five as 32B, and one as 32C type. Original diaphyseal self-dynamisable internal fixator (model 1) was used as a fixation implant, consisting of three components: specially designed extramedullary bar, clamps and screws. The main feature of this implant is a possibility to become dynamic in the axial direction spontaneously if there is no sufficient fracture healing. Because of that, this implant is known as an „intelligent implant“. Surgical method included a standard surgical approach and minimally invasive surgical approach.

Minimally invasive technique of application required less blood transfusion and shorter surgery time when compared to the standard surgical approach. The duration of used intraoperative fluoroscopy control was 7(3-18) seconds. The average healing time was 4.3 (3.5-9.5) months. There were neither intra operative nor postoperative complications.

In comparison to intramedullary nails, self-dynamisable internal fixator provides a similar treatment results, while in comparison to plates it provides fewer mechanical complications. Self-dynamisable internal fixator method preserves periosteal and intramedullary blood circulation, and it is the first fixation implant with a possibility of spontaneous axial dynamising activation when needed.

This implant has been proven as suitable for routine use in the treatment of femoral shaft fractures.
Large Country Screening to Discover all Domestic Animal Herds Affected by Selected Zoonoses
Authors: Kouba Václav
Published: June 2017

Effective country-wide preventive, control and eradication programmes require full knowledge of specific epizootiological situation. A description is given of a three-year international programme aimed at control of animal glanders, tuberculosis and brucellosis that was carried out simultaneously in all 16 Mongolian provinces by expeditions of veterinary staff of five countries. The objective was to discover all domestic animal herds affected by these infections transmissible to humans and to initiate particular control programmes. A total of 37, 608, 253 specific tests were carried out. Ratios of the investigations to population average (I/P) were as follows: tests for glanders in horses 2.43 and in camels 0.53; tests for brucellosis in cattle 1.42, in camels 0.69, in sheep 1.53, and in goats 1.37; tests for tuberculosis in cattle 1.53. The following results of testing were obtained: for glanders, from 5,046,070 allergic tests in horses 241,157 were positive, i.e. 4.78 %; from 332,684 allergic tests in camels 380 were positive, i.e. 0.11 %; from 126,960 serological tests in horses 24,760 were positive, i.e. 19.50 %. Results of serological testing for brucellosis, from 2,892,658 tests in cattle 192,601 were positive, i.e. 6.66 %, from 432,919 tests in camels 9,987 were positive, i.e. 2.31 %, from 19,533,637 tests in sheep 320,709 were positive, i.e. 1.64 % and from 5,834,450 tests in goats 136,222 were positive, i.e. 2.33 %. From 677,402 allergic tests for tuberculosis in cattle in two provinces 427 were positive, i.e. 0.06 %. This programme required an estimated 120,000 expedition person-working days and about twice as many assisting person-working days. Apart from local effects during these expeditions, the results created a basis for national long-term follow-up and preventive, control and eradication measures for these diseases.
Effect of Centrifugation on Motility, Sperm Capacitation and Acrosome Reaction in Soy Bean and Avocado Seed Milk Extenders of Cryopreserved Goat Spermatozoa
Authors: Daramola James Ola
Published: June 2017

Removal of seminal plasma by centrifugation (0 centrifugation, 1 centrifugation, 2 centrifugations, 3 centrifugations) and preservation in two different tris-extenders viz., avocado seed milk (ASM) and soy bean milk (SBM) based extenders were studied for their ability to support motility,in vitrocapacitation and acrosome reaction of spermatozoa obtained from West African Dwarf (WAD) goat bucks during cryopreservation. Semen samples collected with the aid of artificial vagina were centrifuged for one, two and three times. The centrifuged samples were diluted with the two tris-extenders each containing 20 mL of avocado seed milk and soybean milk and cryopreserved for 30 days. The results showed higher (P< 0.05) sperm motility (P< 0.05) with increased centrifugation times. Spermatozoa that were centrifuged had higher (P< 0.05) percentage of acrosome reaction and capacitation with increased centrifugation times compared to the control. Optimal improvement in these parameters was obtained with increased centrifugation times. The findings revealed that removal of seminal plasma by centrifugation improved sperm quality of WAD goat bucks during cryopreservation and optimum improvement was achieved consistently with 3 centrifugations.
Stability of nonlinear Volterra equations
Authors: Ngoc P. H. A. , Hieu L. T.
Published: June 2017

Using a novel approach, we present some new explicit criteria for global exponential stability of the zero solution of general nonlinear time-varying Volterra difference equations. Furthermore, an explicit stability bound for equations subject to nonlinear time-varying perturbations is given. Finally, the obtained results are used to study uniform attraction of equilibrium of discrete-time bidirectional associative memory (BAM) neural networks. Some illustrative examples are given.
An Improved Neuron Segmentation Model for Crack Detection – Image Segmentation Model
Authors: Hao Ming , Lu Caifeng , Wang Guoqing , Wang Wei
Published: June 2017

It is still very challenging to establish a unified and robust framework to perform accurate and complete crack extraction from images with cluttered background, various morphological differences and even with shadow influence. In this paper, an improved neuron segmentation model with two stages is proposed for crack segmentation. Firstly, a robust crack indicator function is designed based on local directional filtering; it makes up for the traditional function based on hessian matrix, which is resulting in problem of local structure discontinuities. After obtaining the indicator function, the crack detection is performed in an integrated mode; it is incorporating the automated directional region growing without manual intervention by adopting level sets; then efficient and complete crack segmentation is realized by iterative contour evolution. The performance of the proposed model is demonstrated by experiments on three kinds of grouped crack sample images and the quantitative evaluation. We also argue that the proposed model is applicable for biomedical image segmentation.
Performance Prediction for Students: A Multi-Strategy Approach
Authors: Tran Thi-Oanh , Dang Hai-Trieu , Dinh Viet-Thuong , Truong Thi-Minh-Ngoc , Vuong Thi-Phuong-Thao , Phan Xuan-Hieu
Published: June 2017

This paper presents a study on Predicting Student Performance (PSP) in academic systems. In order to solve the task, we have proposed and investigated different strategies. Specifically, we consider this task as a regression problem and a rating prediction problem in recommender systems. To improve the performance of the former, we proposed the use of additional features based on course-related skills. Moreover, to effectively utilize the outputs of these two strategies, we also proposed a combination of the two methods to enhance the prediction performance. We evaluated the proposed methods on a dataset which was built using the mark data of students in information technology at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU). The experimental results have demonstrated that unlike the PSP in e-Learning systems, the regression-based approach should give better performance than the recommender system-based approach. The integration of the proposed features also helps to enhance the performance of the regression-based systems. Overall, the proposed hybrid method achieved the best RMSE score of 1.668. These promising results are expected to provide students early feedbacks about their (predicted) performance on their future courses, and therefore saving times of students and their tutors in determining which courses are appropriate for students’ ability.
Policies Supporting Innovation In The European Union In The Context Of The Lisbon Strategy And The Europe 2020 Strategy
Authors: Gajewski Marek
Published: June 2017

In the context of increasing globalization, global competition and rapid change the EU sees innovation and its commercialization as an effective way to build long-term global competitive advantage. Innovation policy is a link between research and technological development policy and industrial policy and makes it possible to create conditions conducive to bringing ideas to the market. It is also closely linked to other EU policies regarding e.g. employment, competitiveness, environment, industry and energy. This paper presents the evolution, conditions and objectives of the innovation policy of the European, and describes the main assumptions of the Lisbon and Europe 2020 strategies. Additionally it indicates possible ways of assessing the measures undertaken within the above-mentioned policies and of determining the tools necessary to implement the strategies.
Is it ‘more normal’ to enhance than to restore our nature?
Authors: Hähnel Martin
Published: June 2017

In this paper I give a short overview about the general implications of issues of human nature within the field of human enhancement. The first section of my contribution deals with a certain intertwining of human enhancement and the intrinsic claims of human nature, showing that a non-statistical concept of human nature can play a crucial role in the debate on human enhancement. After that, my aim is to validate that particular enhancements (e.g. neuro-enhancement) fall under the same normative criteria as “normal enhancement”, only requiring a special contextual awareness to co-exist with it ethically. Methodically, my intention is to draw on quasi-naturalist approaches, which argue that our nature as humans is not a “mixed bag”, but seems to be wholly constituted by its species-related characteristics. As a result, we can state that our evaluations of living beings or life forms, which are also evaluations of our methods of medical treatments and of our ethical attitudes, depend on our picture of human nature.
Against charity: Some preliminary considerations
Authors: Brecher Bob
Published: June 2017

Charity is often viewed as a paradigm of morality. I suggest, however, that charitable action is morally problematic – even morally wrong. Following a brief characterisation of charity, it will be suggested that it wrongly puts recipients in a position of dependency and dispensers in a self-congratulatory position of political quietism.
Functional control of polypeptide GalNAc-transferase 3 through an acetylation site in the C-terminal lectin domain
Authors: Lorenz Virginia , Cejas Romina B. , Bennett Eric P. , Nores Gustavo A. , Irazoqui Fernando J.
Published: June 2017

O-GalNAc glycans are important structures in cellular homeostasis. Their biosynthesis is initiated by members of the polypeptide GalNAc-transferase (ppGalNAc-T) enzyme family. Mutations in ppGalNAc-T3 isoform cause diseases (congenital disorders of glycosylation) in humans. The K626 residue located in the C-terminal β-trefoil fold of ppGalNAc-T3 was predicted to be a site with high likelihood of acetylation by CBP/p300 acetyltransferase. We used a site-directed mutagenesis approach to evaluate the role of this acetylation site in biological properties of the enzyme. Two K626 mutants of ppGalNAc-T3 (T3K626Qand T3K626A) had GalNAc-T activities lower than that of wild-type enzyme. Direct and competitive interaction assays revealed that GalNAc recognition by the lectin domain was altered in the mutants. The presence of GlcNAc glycosides affected the interaction of the three enzymes with mucin-derived peptides. In GalNAc-T activity assays, the presence of GlcNAc glycosides significantly inhibited activity of the mutant (T3K626Q) that mimicked acetylation. Our findings, taken together, reveal the crucial role of the K626 residue in the C-terminal β-trefoil fold in biological properties of human ppGalNAc-T3. We propose that acetylated residues on ppGalNAc-T3 function as control points for enzyme activity, and high level of GlcNAc glycosides promote a synergistic regulatory mechanism, leading to a metabolically disordered state.