bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Its Correlations with Arrhythmia in Patients with Palpitations
Authors: Aşkın Ayhan , Güvendi Ece , Özkan Ayten , Şimşek Ersin Çağrı , Kocabaş Uğur , Tosun Aliye
Published: May 2018

Objective: It is aimed to determine the prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and its correlations with arrhythmia in patients with palpitations. Material and Methods: Sixty-two patients who underwent electrophysiological study (EPS) due to palpitation complaints in Cardiology department and 40 healthy controls were included in the study. The precise diagnosis of arrhythmia was established using EPS. All participants were screened for FMS using American College of Rheumatology 2010 Fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria. Clinical assessments included measurement of severity of pain, fatigue and morning fatigue with visual analog scale (VAS), functional status with Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), and anxiety/depression with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). Results: FMS was diagnosed in 22 of the 62 patients (36%), and 4 of the 40 healthy controls (10%) (p < 0.05). Mean HAD scores of the patients were significantly higher than the controls (p < 0.05). The frequency of FMS was statistically higher in EPS+ and EPS− patients with palpitations than in controls (p < 0.05) (38%, 33%, 10%, respectively), but there was no difference between EPS+ and EPS− groups. There were no statistical differences between the 3 groups, in terms of pain intensity, fatigue level, FIQ and HAD scores (p > 0.05). EPS+ patients with FMS had higher fatigue levels, HAD and FIQ scores than EPS− patients, although statistically insignificant. HV durations were statistically longer in the EPS− subgroup (p < 0.05) but other EPS data were similar. Conclusion: FMS frequency and HAD anxiety scores were found to be higher in patients with palpitation complaints. However, we found no association between arrhythmia, EPS parameters and FMS. In our clinical practice we should keep in mind to carry out assessments in terms of FMS in patients with palpitation.
SGLT-2 Inhibitors: Are They a Promising Treatment Option in T2DM Patients with NAFLD?
Authors: Patoulias Dimitrios
Published: May 2018

Sodium glucose co-transporter type 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2 inhibitors) are a class of antidiabetics, recently approved for the treatment of patients with T2DM. They feature cardioprotective and renoprotective action, while they exert beneficial effects on metabolic parameters. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a frequent co-morbidity in diabetic patients. Its prevalence reaches up to 70%. Since there is no specific treatment approved for NAFLD, both experimental and clinical studies have been recently conducted highlighting the efficacy and safety of SGLT-2 inhibitors mainly in animal models and secondarily in patients with T2DM and NAFLD. This class of antidiabetics seems very attractive, improving both glycemic control and liver function tests, while inhibiting NAFLD progression. However, further investigation is required to establish them as a first-line treatment option in T2DM patients with NAFLD, after thorough assessment of their efficacy and safety in clinical practice.
Heat input and accumulation for ultrashort pulse processing with high average power
Authors: Finger Johannes , Bornschlegel Benedikt , Reininghaus Martin , Dohrn Andreas , Nießen Markus , Gillner Arnold , Poprawe Reinhart
Published: May 2018

Materials processing using ultrashort pulsed laser radiation with pulse durations <10 ps is known to enable very precise processing with negligible thermal load. However, even for the application of picosecond and femtosecond laser radiation, not the full amount of the absorbed energy is converted into ablation products and a distinct fraction of the absorbed energy remains as residual heat in the processed workpiece. For low average power and power densities, this heat is usually not relevant for the processing results and dissipates into the workpiece. In contrast, when higher average powers and repetition rates are applied to increase the throughput and upscale ultrashort pulse processing, this heat input becomes relevant and significantly affects the achieved processing results. In this paper, we outline the relevance of heat input for ultrashort pulse processing, starting with the heat input of a single ultrashort laser pulse. Heat accumulation during ultrashort pulse processing with high repetition rate is discussed as well as heat accumulation for materials processing using pulse bursts. In addition, the relevance of heat accumulation with multiple scanning passes and processing with multiple laser spots is shown.
Analysis of on-surface and in-air movement in handwriting of subjects with Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonism
Authors: Miler Jerkovic Vera , Kojic Vladimir , Dragasevic Miskovic Natasa , Djukic Tijana , Kostic Vladimir S. , Popovic Mirjana B.
Published: May 2018

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the importance of in-air movement besides on-surface movement for handwriting analysis. The proposed method uses a classification of drawing healthy subjects and subjects with Parkinson’s disease, according to their on-surface and in-air handwriting parameters during their writing on a graphical tablet. Experimental results on real data sets demonstrate that the highest accuracy of subject’s classification was obtained by combining both on-surface and in-air kinematic parameters.
A quantitative LC-MS/MS method for insulin-like growth factor 1 in human plasma
Authors: Bronsema Kees J. , Klont Frank , Schalk Frank B. , Bischoff Rainer , Kema Ido P. , van de Merbel Nico C.
Published: May 2018

Background:

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is a biomarker with various applications in medicine and also in doping control.

Methods:

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed that employs 15N-IGF1 as an internal standard. The method features urea-based IGF1/IGFBP-complex dissociation which is directly followed by tryptic digestion. Following solid-phase extraction (SPE) sample clean-up of the digest, IGF1 is detected by means of two signature peptides that enable quantification of total IGF1 as well as discrimination between IGF1 proteoforms with ‘native’ and modified or extended N-terminal sequences.

Results:

Our method is capable of measuring plasma IGF1 concentrations over the clinically relevant range of 10–1000 ng/mL and was validated according to regulatory guidelines. Comparison with the IDS-iSYS IGF1 immunoassay revealed good correlation (R2>0.97) and no proportional bias between both assays was observed after normalizing the results against the WHO reference standard for IGF1 (02/254). Evaluation of several commercially available IGF1 preparations showed varying responses which were due to inconsistencies in purity and absolute amount of IGF1 present in these products.

Conclusions:

Our LC-MS/MS method introduces urea-based dissociation of IGF1/IGFBP-complexes to enable reliable quantification of IGF1 in plasma. Furthermore, the method is able to detect clinically relevant IGF1 levels without an enrichment procedure at the protein-level and thereby minimizes the risk of losing IGF1 proteoforms during sample preparation.
Updated review of postmortem biochemical exploration of hypothermia with a presentation of standard strategy of sampling and analyses
Authors: Rousseau Guillaume , Reynier Pascal , Jousset Nathalie , Rougé-Maillart Clotilde , Palmiere Cristian
Published: May 2018

Hypothermia is defined as a core body temperature below 35°C and can be caused by environmental exposure, drug intoxication, metabolic or nervous system dysfunction. This lethal pathology with medico-legal implications is complex to diagnose because macroscopic and microscopic lesions observed at the autopsy and the histological analysis are suggestive but not pathognomonic. Postmortem biochemical explorations have been progressively developed through the study of several biomarkers to improve the diagnosis decision cluster. Here, we present an updated review with novel biomarkers (such as catecholaminesO-methylated metabolites, thrombomodulin and the cardiac oxyhemoglobin ratio) as well as some propositional interpretative postmortem thresholds and, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time, we present the most adapted strategy of sampling and analyses to identify biomarkers of hypothermia. For our consideration, the most relevant identified biomarkers are urinary catecholamines and theirO-methylated metabolites, urinary free cortisol, blood cortisol, as well as blood, vitreous humor and pericardial fluid for ketone bodies and blood free fatty acids. These biomarkers are increased in response either to cold-mediated stress or to bioenergetics ketogenesis crisis and significantly contribute to the diagnosis by exclusion of death by hypothermia.
Dynamic Change of Secondary Metabolites and spectrum-effect relationship of Malus halliana Koehne flowers during blooming
Authors: Cui Lili , He Nan , Zhang Xiaofeng , Li Shiming , Zhang Yan , Kang Wenyi
Published: May 2018

Malus halliana Koehne flowers have been used as a Chinese traditional medicine to treat metrorrhagia. In this study, the dynamic changes in its secondary metabolites and spectrum-effect relationship of inhibition on α-glucosidase during blooming were investigated. The changes in the contents of three flavonoids (phloretin-4’-O-glycosidase, afzeloside, and 3-hydroxyphloridzin) were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and changes in inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase were evaluated in vitro. Then, spectrum-effect relationship was evaluated by partial least square method. The results indicated that the contents of three flavonoids and inhibition of α-glucosidase activity in vitro showed a fluctuating downward trend, thereinto, the maximum contents of phloretin-4’-O-glycosidase, afzeloside, and 3-hydroxyphloridzin reached 157.43±0.36, 17.27±0.06 and 22.67±0.35 (mg/g), respectively. In spectrum-effect relationship assay, matched 40 mutual peaks, thereinto, P2, P5, P6-P12, P14 (3-hydroxyphloridzin), P16-P19, P20 (phloretin-4’-O-glycosidase), P24, P26, P29, P31, P33, P34, P36, P39 and P40 were positively correlated to inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase in vitro. P1, P3, P4, P13, P15, P21-P23, P27, P28, P30 (afzeloside), P32, P35, P37 and P38 were negatively related to inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase in vitro.
A Good Beginning Makes a Good Ending
Authors: Tarasova Natalia
Published: May 2018

On 28 July 2016, I received the following message from Sir Martyn Poliakoff, Professor at Nottingham University in the UK and a Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who I have known for years. He wrote:
Jamaican Chemists in Early Global Communication
Authors: Lancashire Robert
Published: May 2018

Justus von Liebig (1803-1873) has been described as “one of the founding fathers of organic chemistry and a great teacher who transformed scientific education, medical practice, and agriculture in Great Britain” [1]. His research was generally initially published in German, although in some cases an English translation was released at the same time. William Brock identified a number of people associated with providing English translations. Most of these were former students, such as John Buddle Blyth (1814-1871), John Gardner (1804-1880), William Gregory (1803-1858), Samuel William Johnson (1830-1909), Benjamin Horatio Paul (1827-1917), Lyon Playfair (1818-1898), Thomas Richardson (1816-1867), Warren De La Rue (1815-1889), as well as Edward Turner (1796-1837) and his brother Wilton George Turner (1810-1855). In this article, the emphasis is on Edward Turner, Wilton George Turner, and John Buddle Blyth, who were all born on sugar plantations in Jamaica [2].
Everything Flows: Continuous Micro-Flow for Pharmaceutical Production
Authors: Hessel Volker
Published: May 2018

The pre-Socratic philosophers made the first honest attempt, at least in the western world, to describe natural phenomena in a rudimentary scientific manner and to exploit those for technological application [1]. Pythagoras of Samos (570–495 BC) was an Ionian Greek philosopher and the first to actually call himself a “philosopher”. He was credited with many mathematical and scientific discoveries, including the Pythagorean theorem, Pythagorean tuning, the five regular solids, the theory of proportions, and the sphericity of the Earth. The Pythagorean triple is also well-known. Heraclitus of Ephesus (535–475 BC) was famous for his insistence on ever-present change as the fundamental essence of the universe, as stated in the famous saying

“panta rhei”

—everything flows.
Chemistry and Cultural Heritage*
Authors: Melo Maria J. , Nevin Austin , Baglioni Piero
Published: May 2018

The conservation of works of art makes them accessible, and will ensure the transfer of cultural heritage to future generations,. For long term preservation, the development of effective and sustainable conservation materials is of fundamental importance. Although in the past traditional approaches in restoration have used highly effective natural materials for cleaning, modern research has focused on the systematic design of materials and methodologies. For instance, during the nineteenth century conservators reported the use of materials such as vinegar, wine, lemon juice, and today saliva is still used in cleaning applications. Although it is now recognized that these materials contain components that are effective cleaning agents, until recently there has been a lack of systematic studies regarding the control of their structure and reactivity.
IUPAC Offers an Open Door to Chemists of the World*—A Program Revisited
Authors: Humphris Colin J.
Published: May 2018

At the meeting in São Paulo, Brazil in July 2017, the IUPAC Council approved important recommendations for the revision of the programmes through which individual chemists can be affiliated to IUPAC, either as a paid member (the Affiliate Membership Programme, or AMP) or as a sponsored affiliate (an option for limited numbers of early career chemists from emerging regions).

The proposals were developed through a process during 2016 and early 2017 led by the Treasurer and Executive Director, through discussion at the 99th Executive Meeting, Beijing 8-9 November 2016, and the 99th Bureau meeting 8 April 2017, before consideration at Council in July 2017.
Cultural Heritage Chemistry
Authors: Rabinovich Daniel
Published: May 2018

The tools of analytical chemistry, and the expertise and enthusiasm of many of its practitioners, have had a profound influence in the field of cultural heritage [1, 2]. Analytical techniques, especially those involving non-destructive methods of examination, have played a key role in the characterization, restoration, and preservation of an incredible range of works of art and cultural heritage, including ceramics, textiles, paintings, books, drawings, sculptures, jewelry, and a myriad of artifacts made of glass, wood, or metal. In addition, modern analytical instrumentation has been successfully applied to study the techniques used to produce heritage materials, to verify the authorship or estimate the date of pieces of art, and to detect reproductions and forgeries.
Study on epoxy resin with high elongation-at-break using polyamide and polyether amine as a two-component curing agent
Authors: Su Shunsheng , Wang Haiqing , Zhou Chuanjian , Wang Yanxiang , Liu Jianjun
Published: May 2018

This study aimed to improve the flexibility of E-51 epoxy resin by using polyamide/polyether amine as a two-component curing agent. Through solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR), it was found that the cross-linking density of epoxy resin could be effectively reduced by adding the polyamide and polyether amine curing agent. The tensile tests showed that the elongation-at-break was remarkably improved. It was found by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) that the curing behavior of the polyamide epoxy curing system varied with the addition of different polyether amine. Phase contrast microscope showed that phase separation occurred during the reaction of epoxy resin with the polyamide/polyether amine composite curing agent. In this paper, the modified epoxy resin was endowed with high elongation-at-break (>100%) and appropriate tensile strength (10~20 MPa).
Poly(vinyl amine) as a matrix for a new class of polymers
Authors: Zelinskiy Stanislav N. , Danilovtseva Elena N. , Kandasamy Gayathri , Pal’shin Viktor A. , Shishlyannikova Tatyana A. , Krishnan Uma Maheswari , Annenkov Vadim V.
Published: May 2018

Poly(vinyl amine) was utilized as a matrix for the synthesis of polymers bearing short polyamine chains (1–3 amine groups) grafted to the main macromolecular chain with long (eight atoms) spacers. The new polymers were characterized with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, size exclusion chromatography and potentiometry. Poly(vinyl amine) was applied in the form of narrow molecular mass fractions and the modification proceeded without destruction of the main chain. Condensation of silicic acid in the presence of the polymeric amines gives rise to composite nanoparticles which are stable in aqueous medium. New polymers and composite nanoparticles effectively complex with DNA and RNA oligonucleotides and were found to display good internalization in cancer cells which indicates their promise towards gene delivery applications.
Boron fixation effect of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) on sodium fluoroborate (NaBF4)-treated wood
Authors: Huang Yiheng , Wang Wang , Cao Jinzhen
Published: May 2018

Aiming at a better leaching resistance of borate-treated wood, the quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC) and benzalkonium chloride (BAC) were reacted with sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF4). The anti-fungal properties of the resulting didecyl dimethyl ammonium tetrafluoroborate (DBF) and benzalkonium tetrafluoroborate (BBF) were tested by the Petri dish method. Poplar (Populus tomentosaCarr.) and Southern pine (Pinusspp.) blocks were treated through a two-step method at three molar ratios of NaBF4to the QACs. The retentions of the reactive components were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission (ICP-AE) spectroscopy and the distribution of boron in wood was observed by scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray analyses (SEM-EDXA). Fourteen-day leaching and water absorption tests were also performed. DBF and BBF both exhibited moderate fungicidal activity againstTrametes versicolorandGloeophyllum trabeumin Petri dishes. The boron remaining in samples after leaching increased with increasing QACs concentration in the second step impregnation. SEM-EDXA showed no obvious morphological changes in the wood surface and DBF and BBF were only found in the cell walls. The water absorption of the treated samples were lower than the controls.
Simulating Ion Transport with the NP+LEMC Method. Applications to Ion Channels and Nanopores.
Authors: Fertig Dávid , Mádai Eszter , Valiskó Mónika , Boda Dezső
Published: May 2018

We describe a hybrid simulation technique that uses the Nernst-Planck (NP) transport equation to compute steady-state ionic flux in a non-equilibrium system and uses the Local Equilibrium Monte Carlo (LEMC) simulation technique to establish the statistical mechanical relation between the two crucial functions present in the NP equation: the concentration and the electrochemical potential profiles (Boda, D., Gillespie, D., J. Chem. Theor. Comput., 2012 8(3), 824–829). The LEMC method is an adaptation of the Grand Canonical Monte Carlo method to a non-equilibrium situation. We apply the resulting NP+LEMC method to ionic systems, where two reservoirs of electrolytes are separated by a membrane that allows the diffusion of ions through a nanopore. The nanopore can be natural (as the calcium selective Ryanodine Receptor ion channel) or synthetic (as a rectifying bipolar nanopore). We show results for these two systems and demonstrate the effectiveness of the NP+LEMC technique.
Methyl-Tert-Butyl-Ether Synthesis Reactor Modelling and Optimization Using an Aspen Custom Modeler
Authors: Nawaz Zeeshan
Published: May 2018

A pseudo-homogeneous model of methyl-tert-butyl-ether (MTBE) synthesis in a multi-tubular packed-bed reactor has been developed using an Aspen Custom Modeler (ACM) for selecting optimum operating strategies, for the maximization and enhancement of MTBE production, and isobutylene consumption, respectively. The model accounts for mass, energy and momentum balances; and the effectiveness factor is evaluated in a onedimensional pseudo-homogeneous model. The kinetic investigation contains kinetic rate expressions as given by the effectiveness factor for accounting the resistance of pellets in terms of mass and heat transfer. An activity coefficient can be used in order to systematically obtain a new steady-state solution. The model used literature-based correlations for the estimation of heat transfer coefficients. The value of the coefficient for gascoolant heat transfer can be adjusted by using a tuning coefficient in order to enrich the process data. Reasonable agreement was found between model predictions and data under similar conditions. The studies concerning model sensitivity compute the optimum temperature, pressure, feed flow rate, methanol/isobutylene ratio, heat removal rate, etc. of the reactor and suggest optimum operating conditions of the reactor.
The Effect of Advanced Oxidation Pre-Treatment on the Membrane Filtration Parameters of Dairy Wastewater
Authors: Zakar Mihály , Kovács Ildikó , Muhi Péter , Lakatos Erika Hanczné , Keszthelyi-Szabó Gábor , László Zsuzsanna
Published: May 2018

The dairy industry generates wastewater characterised by high levels of biological and chemical oxygen demands representative of their high degree of organic content; mainly carbohydrates, proteins and fats that originate from milk. Several investigations have been conducted into the reuse of dairy wastewater, e.g. membrane processes are a promising method to treat such wastewater. Earlier works have proven that with membrane filtration an appropriate degree of retention can be achieved and the permeate can be reused. However, membrane fouling is a limiting factor in these processes. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are widely used in the fields of water and wastewater treatments and are known for their capability to mineralise a wide range of organic compounds. AOPs also exhibit some other effects on the filtration process, e.g. the microflocculation effect of ozone may play a significant role in increasing the elimination efficiency and causing a decreased level of irreversible fouling. By comparing ozone and Fenton pre-treatment (FPT) processes it can be shown that the fouling propensity of pre-treated pollutants does not depend on the pre-treatment method, while FPT was proven to be more efficient in improving the level of flux.
Effect of Chain Length and Order of the Alcohol on Enzyme Activity During Enzymatic Esterification in Organic Media
Authors: Márkus Zsófia , Bélafi-Bakó Katalin , Tóth Gábor , Nemestóthy Nándor , Gubicza László
Published: May 2018

Esters of short chain acids and alcohols are found in nature as compounds of flavors. Lately the method for their manufacture has been the enzymatic esterification in non-conventional media. Although several reactions have been studied in various media (organic solvents, ionic liquids, supercritical fluids, solvent-free systems), there has been no systematic investigation to clarify the effects of chain length and order of alcohols on the activity of the enzyme. In this work acetic acid was used as an acyl donor and the roles of the linear and branched chains of C2-C8 primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols on the activity of Novozym 435, the widely used lipase preparation were studied. Both the length of the carbon chain and the order of the alcohol were found to strongly influence the activity of the enzyme using the same operational parameters for the reactions. As a result of this project general conclusions were made with regard to the characters of alcohols affecting the reaction rates, which can be applied to other similar reactions.
Effect of Trailing Intensive Cooling on Residual Stress and Welding Distortion of Friction Stir Welded 2060 Al-Li Alloy
Authors: Ji Shude , Yang Zhanpeng , Wen Quan , Yue Yumei , Zhang Liguo
Published: May 2018

Trailing intensive cooling with liquid nitrogen has successfully applied to friction stir welding of 2 mm thick 2060 Al-Li alloy. Welding temperature, plastic strain, residual stress and distortion of 2060 Al-Li alloy butt-joint are compared and discussed between conventional cooling and trailing intensive cooling using experimental and numerical simulation methods. The results reveal that trailing intensive cooling is beneficial to shrink high temperature area, reduce peak temperature and decrease plastic strain during friction stir welding process. In addition, the reduction degree of plastic strain outside weld is smaller than that inside weld. Welding distortion presents an anti-saddle shape. Compared with conventional cooling, the reductions of welding distortion and longitudinal residual stresses of welding joint under intense cooling reach 47.7 % and 23.8 %, respectively.
Artificial Neural Network-Based Three-dimensional Continuous Response Relationship Construction of 3Cr20Ni10W2 Heat-Resisting Alloy and Its Application in Finite Element Simulation
Authors: Li Le , Wang Li-yong
Published: May 2018

The application of accurate constitutive relationship in finite element simulation would significantly contribute to accurate simulation results, which plays a critical role in process design and optimization. In this investigation, the true stress–strain data of 3Cr20Ni10W2 heat-resisting alloy were obtained from a series of isothermal compression tests conducted in a wide temperature range of 1203–1403 K and strain rate range of 0.01–10 s−1 on a Gleeble 1500 testing machine. Then the constitutive relationship was modeled by an optimally constructed and well-trained back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN). The evaluation of the BP-ANN model revealed that it has admirable performance in characterizing and predicting the flow behaviors of 3Cr20Ni10W2 heat-resisting alloy. Meanwhile, a comparison between improved Arrhenius-type constitutive equation and BP-ANN model shows that the latter has higher accuracy. Consequently, the developed BP-ANN model was used to predict abundant stress–strain data beyond the limited experimental conditions and construct the three-dimensional continuous response relationship for temperature, strain rate, strain, and stress. Finally, the three-dimensional continuous response relationship was applied to the numerical simulation of isothermal compression tests. The results show that such constitutive relationship can significantly promote the accuracy improvement of numerical simulation for hot forming processes.
Orientalismos, canon y archivo en la ciudad letrada latinoamericana
Authors: Ortiz Wallner Alexandra
Published: May 2018

El artículo plantea una serie de precisiones metodológicas necesarias para comprender el fenómeno intelectual, cultural y literario de los orientalismos en las primeras décadas del siglo XX en el marco de las lógicas y dinámicas de funcionamiento de la ciudad letrada latinoamericana. La revisión crítica de la noción de Ángel Rama y su aplicación desde el concepto Sur/South (según Klengel/Ortiz Wallner) para la concepción de una historia intelectual y cultural transareal permite a la autora desarrollar y proponer el uso del concepto ampliado de “ciudad letrada heterodoxa”.
Pragmatics and philosophy: In search of a paradigm
Authors: Jaszczolt Kasia M.
Published: May 2018

There is no doubt that pragmatic theory and philosophy of language are mutually relevant and intrinsically connected. The main question I address in this paper is how exactly they are interconnected in terms of (i) their respective objectives, (ii) explanans – explanandum relation, (iii) methods of enquiry, and (iv) drawing on associated disciplines. In the introductory part I attempt to bring some order into the diversity of use of such labels as philosophical logic, philosophical semantics, philosophical pragmatics, linguistic philosophy, or philosophy of linguistics, among others. In the following sections I focus on philosophical pragmatics as a branch of philosophy of language (pragmaticsPPL) and the trends and theories it gave rise to, discussing them against the background of methodology of science and in particular paradigms and paradigm shifts as identified in natural science. In the main part of the paper I address the following questions:

How is pragmaticsPPL to be delimited?

How do pragmatic solutions to questions about meaning fare vis-à-vis syntactic solutions? Is there a pattern emerging?

and, relatedly,

What are the future prospects for pragmaticsPPL in theories of natural language meaning?

I conclude with a discussion of the relation between pragmaticsPPL and functionalism, observing that contextualism has to play a central role in functionalist pragmatics at the expense of minimalism and sententialism.
Where syntax meets pragmatics: varieties of de se and control structures
Authors: Delfitto Denis , Fiorin Gaetano
Published: May 2018

In this contribution, we offer an original analysis of the relation between control structures, de se readings and Immunity to Error through Misidentification. We propose that control structures are the result of an operation of Thematic Overwriting (TO), which conflates two thematic roles into one and delivers a logical representation whereby two properties are predicated of a unique argument. The account we propose explains a number of facts concerning control structures: (i) The fact that control structures are bound to the expression of de se attitudes; (ii) that fact that some control structures – more precisely, those control structures involving an Experiencer subject – are bound to the expression of implicit de se attitudes, that is, de se propositional attitudes that are immune to error through misidentification; (iii) the contrast between optional and non-optional control; (iv) the contrast between partial and exhaustive control. The account we propose also predicts a diachronic constraint on the emergence of control structures, whereby TO first emerges in the context of implicit de se attitudes and only later is extended to other de se contexts. This prediction is supported by the attested development of control structures from Old English (OE) through early Modern English (ENE) and Middle English (ME) to Modern English.
Cognition and recognition
Authors: Salmon Nathan
Published: May 2018

Expressions are synonymous if they have the same semantic content. Complex expressions are synonymously isomorphic in Alonzo Church’s sense if one is obtainable from the other by a sequence of alphabetic changes of bound variables or replacements of component expressions by syntactically simple synonyms. Synonymous isomorphism provides a very strict criterion for synonymy of sentences. Several eminent philosophers of language hold that synonymous isomorphism is not strict enough. These philosophers hold that ‘Greeks prefer Greeks’ and ‘Greeks prefer Hellenes’ express different propositions even if they are synonymously isomorphic. They hold that the very recurrence (multiple occurrence) of ‘Greeks’ contributes to the proposition expressed something that indicates the very recurrence in question. Kit Fine argues that this thesis, which he labels semantic relationism calls for a radically new conception of semantics. I have argued that the relevant phenomenon is wholly pragmatic, entirely non-semantic. Here I supplement the case with a new argument. No cognition without recognition—or almost none. With this observation, standard Millianism has sufficient resources to confront Frege’s puzzle and related problems without injecting pragmatic phenomena where they do not belong.
Trading Old for New: Econobiology and Econophysics as Explanatory Frameworks of Current Financial System
Authors: Ursu Iuliana Maria , Bilti Raluca Simina
Published: May 2018

The present study aim is to deliver a succinct overview of the existing literature concerning economic systems, and in particular financial systemsfrom the Econobiology, or the “evolutionary economics” perspective, mainly treated within the Adaptive Market Hypothesis, and the Econophysics perspective.In the heterodox frame, both the A.M.H. and the Econophysics are trying to explain the complexity of financial markets from a „bottom up” perspective, hence „macroscopic” properties are viewed as the result of interactions at the level of the ‘microscopic’ constituents (Rickles, 2011, p.531-565). Given the expanded level of information we can access nowadays, we consider that an important attention should be given to the inclusion of both perspectives as explanatory frameworks of the financial markets.
Composite Sequential Modeling for Identifying Fake Reviews
Authors: Bhargava Rupal , Baoni Anushka , Sharma Yashvardhan
Published: May 2018

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis and comparison of various proposed sequential models based on different deep networks such as the convolutional neural network, long short-term memory, and recurrent neural network. The different sequential models are analyzed based on the number of layers, the number of output dimensions, order, and the combination of different deep network architectures. The proposed approach is compared to a baseline model based on traditional machine learning techniques.
Speech Signal Compression Algorithm Based on the JPEG Technique
Authors: Hassan Tariq A. , AL-Hashemy Rageed Hussein , Ajel Rehab I.
Published: May 2018

The main objective of this paper is to explore parameters usually adopted by the JPEG method and use them in speech signal compression. Speech compression is the technique of encoding the speech signal in some way that allows the same speech parameters to represent the whole signal. In other words, it is to eliminate redundant features of speech and keep only the important ones for the next stage of speech reproduction. In this paper, the proposed method is to adopt the JPEG scheme, which is usually used in digital image compression and digital speech signal compression. This will open the door to use some methods that are already designed to fit two-dimensional (2D) signals and use them in a 1D signal world. The method includes many priori steps for preparing the speech signal to make it more comparable with the JPEG technique. In order to examine the quality of the compressed data using the JPEG method, different quantization matrices with different compression levels have been employed within the proposed method. Comparison results between the original signal and the reproduced (decompressed) signal show a huge matching. However, different quantization matrices could reduce the quality of the reproduced signal, but in general, it is still within the range of acceptance.
The Power of Prediction Process in the Tests of Ammunition Elements
Authors: Ampuła Dariusz
Published: May 2018

The author reminds the definition of coefficient determination and the idea of the largest credibility method in the introduction of the article. Firstly, the aspect of new coefficient defined by McFadden as a power of prediction process and called pseudo was characterized. The similar type of coefficients proposed by other known statisticians were described. Moreover, the hierarchic way of building the logistic regress model, through adding next variables to adjust an estimated model to empirical data was introduced. Four kinds of variables were analysed, whose adjustment influence on the estimated logistic regress model was affected by the quantity of inconsistences which appeared in the data result. The calculations of parameter made by the McFadden’s, Nagelkerke’s and Cox-Snell’s formulas were presented. Concise conclusions relating to the estimated logistic regress model on the basis of empirical data from tested MD-8 fuses type were introduced in the end of the article and this model was compared to values of coefficient counted in the article. It was stated, that McFadden’s pseudo parameter is most often used and it defines the power of prediction process.
Model of System Safety Related to Climate-Weather Change Process
Authors: Kołowrocki Krzysztof , Soszyńska-Budny Joanna , Torbicki Mateusz
Published: May 2018

The article is devoted to the climate-weather change impact on the critical infrastructure safety. A general safety analytical model of the technical system related to the climate-weather change process in its operating area is proposed. It is the integrated model of the complex technical system safety, linking its multistate safety model and the model of the climate-weather change process at its operating area. The conditional safety functions at the climate-weather particular states and the unconditional safety function of the complex system at changing in time climate-weather conditions, the mean value and the variance of the system unconditional lifetime and other safety indicators are defined in general for any critical infrastructure.
Protection of a Control System of a Technical Object from Negative Influence of Human Factors by Using Steganographic Methods
Authors: Afanasyeva Olesya
Published: May 2018

It is difficult to avoid influence of human factor on work of complex technical objects, so safety systems of technical objects have to contain tools of analysis and withstanding possible negative influences from the side of service personnel (SP). To withstand negative influence of human factors on work of a complex technical object, this paper proposes to use steganographic methods of hiding certain information. For that, information is hidden from some members of service personnel (SP), for which the corresponding information is negative. Besides, certain information is hidden from some SP members that can block its transfer in the system of controlling the management process. Methods of implementing the steganographic data concealment are to a great degree dependent on the type of a digital environment that is considered to be used. Introducing the information fragments in a graphic digital environment is performed so that they would be invisible in this environment. Thus, it is necessary for values of parameters that characterize the invisibility degree to be consistent with parameters used to describe the environment itself.
Fuzzy Methods in Risk Estimation of the Ship System Failures Based on the Expert Judgments
Authors: Nguyen Hoang
Published: May 2018

The paper presents the fuzzy methods in failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) for estimating the risk of the ship system failures based on the expert judgments. It provides an appropriate representation of the uncertain and ambiguous notions expressed in the natural language. An example of fuzzy intuitionistic FMEA analysis is illustrated in estimating the risk of tanker system failures. The results show that the proposed method in comparison with the traditional FMEA is more effective and useful in estimating the risk of ship system failures based on the expert opinions, available in such cases.
Does initial dosing of levothyroxine in infants with congenital hypothyroidism lead to frequent dose adjustments secondary to iatrogenic hyperthyroidism on follow-up?
Authors: Craven Meghan , Frank Graeme R.
Published: May 2018

Background:

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common preventable cause of intellectual disability. The recommended starting dose of levothyroxine (LT4) is between 10 and 15 μg/kg, an extremely wide range. We hypothesized that a sizable proportion of newborns treated for CH at the higher end of the dosage range become biochemically hyperthyroid at a follow-up visit.

Methods:

This study is a retrospective chart review of infants with CH between 2002 and 2012.

Results:

Of the 104 patients included in this analysis, the average age at diagnosis was 11 days and the average starting dose of LT4 was 12±2.5 μg/kg. At follow-up, 36.5% required a dose reduction because of iatrogenic hyperthyroxinemia, 51% required no dose adjustment and 12.5% required a dose increase due to an elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). The starting doses of LT4 for those requiring a dose reduction, those not requiring an adjustment and those requiring an increase in the dose were 13.2±2.4, 11.5±2.1 and 10.3±2.6 μg/kg/day, respectively (p≤0.0001). Of the 34% of infants treated with an initial dose of >12.5 μg/day, 57.1% required a dose reduction at follow-up, compared to 26.1% of those whose initial starting dose was ≤12.5 μg/kg/day (p=0.007).

Conclusions:

Following the guidelines for initiating therapy for CH, 36.5% of the infants required a dose reduction for iatrogenic hyperthyroxinemia. These infants received a higher dose of LT4 than the infants who either required no adjustment or required an increase in the dose. A narrower range for initial dosing in CH may be appropriate.
Genetic characterization of influenza A(H3N2) viruses from 2014 to 2017 in Yantai, east of China
Authors: Liu Juan , Gong Lian-feng , Sun Zhen-lu , Gao Qiao , Dong Zhao-jing
Published: May 2018

Background:

The genetic variations of influenza viruses pose a real challenge to the vaccine strategies and medical treatment of patients.

Methods:

In this study, the molecular epidemiology and evolution of influenza A(H3N2) strains were analyzed from April 2014 to March 2017 in Yantai area of eastern China.

Results:

The phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin (HA) sequences of influenza A(H3N2) showed that all of the influenza A(H3N2) strains during the study period belonged to the genetic clade 3c with the mutations N145S (epitopeA), V186G (epitopeB), P198S (epitopeB) and F219S (epitopeD). Most strains (12/14) of the 2014/2015 season fell into the subgroup 3C.3a characterized by A138S (epitopeA), R142G (epitopeA), F159S (epitopeB) and T128A (epitopeB), while strains isolated from the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 seasons clustered in 3C.2a shared mutations N144S (epitopeA), F159Y (epitopeB), K160T (epitopeB) and Q311H (epitopeC). The strains isolated from the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons was were genetically and antigenically distinct from the given vaccine strains. The evaluation of vaccine efficacy (VE) against circulating strains estimated using the pepitope model suggested that little or no protection against circulating strains from 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons was afforded by the given vaccine strains. The sequence analysis of the neuraminidase (NA) showed that all of the analyzed strains had no substitution in the catalytic sites or the framework sites or the supporting the catalytic residues or the oseltamivir resistance substitutions.

Conclusions:

The results of the study suggested that the vaccine strains provided suboptimal protection against influenza A(H3N2) strains, especially in the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons and the A(H3N2) strains circulating in the Yantai area were still susceptible to NA inhibitors. Continued systematic antigenic and molecular surveillance of the influenza virus is essential to developing strategies for the prevention and control of influenza.
Biderivations of the higher rank Witt algebra without anti-symmetric condition
Authors: Tang Xiaomin , Yang Yu
Published: May 2018

The Witt algebra 𝔚
d
of rank d(≥ 1) is the derivation algebra of Laurent polynomial algebras in d commuting variables. In this paper, all biderivations of 𝔚
d
without anti-symmetric condition are determined. As an applications, commutative post-Lie algebra structures on 𝔚
d
are obtained. Our conclusions recover and generalize results in the related papers on low rank or anti-symmetric cases.
Peircean Semiotics and Multimodality: Towards a New Synthesis
Authors: Bateman John A.
Published: May 2018

The account of signs, signification and meaning set out by the philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce around the beginning of the twentieth century is a foundation stone of modern semiotics. In Peirce’s conception, semiotics concerned the process of signification at its most general and was intrinsically multimodal. It is then logical that contemporary multimodal research should engage with the Peircean view of semiotics. This in turn makes it particularly important that better understandings of the potential interconnections between Peircean semiotics and multimodality be achieved. Until now, however, such interconnections have been limited not only with respect to what has been drawn from Peirce’s account but also with respect to the areas of multimodality concerned. To deepen and broaden communication among approaches to multimodality and between those approaches and Peircean semiotics, this article sets out a reading of Peirce’s ‘mature’ 1903 position on semiotics aimed specifically at improving the utility of the account for multimodal analysis. The article argues that a lack of methodological precision within semiotics has led to relatively impoverished and empirically unreliable analyses. A new synthesis between Peirce’s account and multimodality is proposed as a stronger metatheoretical framework both for addressing multimodality and for drawing more from Peirce.
Crystal structure of bis{catena-poly[(μ2-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane-κ2
N:N′)silver(I)]} diaqua-bis(5-(4-carboxyphenyl)pyridine-2-carboxylato-κ2
N,O)-(μ2-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane-κ2
N:N′)disilver(I) octahydrate, C31H35Ag2N4O9
Authors: Fan Hui-Tao , Ding Jie , Xie Jing-Peng , Wang Kun
Published: May 2018

C31H35Ag2N4O9, triclinic, P1̄ (No. 2), a = 8.8351(5) Å, b = 13.1492(6) Å, c = 14.7094(8) Å, V = 1618.76(15) Å3, α = 85.491(4) Å, β = 84.285(5) Å, γ = 72.413(4) Å, Z = 2, R
gt(F) = 0.0382, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0796, T = 293(2) K.
Formal and Professional Requirements for the Staff of Hyperbaric Centres. Part 1
Authors: Siermontowski Piotr , Janas Beata , Olszański Romuald
Published: May 2018

This two-part article reviews the current legal situation of specialist staff performing hyperbaric procedures for purposes not related to diving. Numerous discrepancies between the applicable legal acts and the lack of legal regulations concerning procedures not financed from the state budget have been noted. The first significant problem consisted in the lack of a correlation between various Regulations of the Minister of Health concerning hyperbaric oxygenation, as well as inconsistencies with the programmes of medical specialisation effective in Poland. The second problem is the lack of determination requirements of medical personnel other than doctors and nurses in the documents of the Ministry of Health. It was also found that medical hyperbaric centres which do not apply for funding from the budget (National Health Fund), do not even meet the minimum requirements defined as to the qualifications of the staff working there. Moreover, there is a lack of knowledge of the requirements set out in legal acts other than those concerning medicine.
The Investigations on the Impact of the Oxygen Hyperbary on the Immunologic Response of the Organism
Authors: Ulewicz Kazimierz
Published: May 2018

Knowledge of the impact of hyperbaric conditions, especially hyperbaric oxygen, on human and animal organisms, is of great theoretical and practical importance, particularly in reference to the increased application of hyperbaric oxygen for therapeutic purposes. It must be said that unfortunately our knowledge on the impact of hyperbaria, including oxygen hyperbaria, on the immunological response of the animal and human organisms is still not sufficient and is incomplete. The Institute of the Naval Medicine of the Naval Academy in Gdynia has been carrying out tests in this field for some years now. The tests have been carried out on animals (rabbits, guinea pigs) as well as on humans (commercial divers, scuba divers, and candidates to these activities) within immunology investigations. The impact of hyperbaric oxygen at pressures ranging between 2.8 and 3.1 ata, in single or multiple expositions, have been tested as well as the relations between hyperbaria in air and the different conditions of the exposure.The study revealed important shifts in the immunological response of both the animals and humans.