bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Obsidian Distribution of the Northern Patagonian Forest Area and Neighboring Sectors during the Late Holocene (Neuquén Province, Argentina)
Authors: Pérez Alberto E. , Giesso Martin , Glascock Michael D.
Published: April 2019

Analysis of 519 obsidian artifacts (pebbles, debitage, cores and small bifaces) by nondestructive X-ray fluorescence from forests and steppes of southern Lanín National Park in the northern Patagonian Andean region, from Lácar (chemical group QU/AP), Lolog (CP-LL 1), Filo Hua-Hum (FHH), Paillakura (Pk, former unknown 1 group), Meliquina (MQ, former unknown group 2) and Yuco (YC) sources. Neutron activation analysis was applied to 29 of the artifacts. We identified for the first time the presence of obsidian from distant Covunco (PC1) in the center of Neuquén. This paper is the first English language publication of our ongoing, ten-year-long research. In accordance with previous work, but using other analytical techniques, the most frequently used sources during the late Holocene remain CP/LL 1 and Pk, here we add YC, mainly by the incorporation of new sites recently surveyed in the islands and the coast of Lake Lácar, next to its source. Another result consistent with previous work is the absence of obsidian from Mendoza and Chilean sources; therefore, we suggest these obsidians circulate just to the east and northeast, allowing us to discuss issues of human territoriality during the Late Holocene.
Technological prospects of noncatalytic partial oxidation of light alkanes
Authors: Arutyunov Vladimir
Published: April 2019

This review analyzes alternative noncatalytic routes for the conversion of various natural hydrocarbon gases to syngas, oxygenates, olefins, and other chemicals. The possibility of producing a wide assortment of products directly from light gaseous hydrocarbons, including methane, was demonstrated. The advantages and practical implementations of such technologies are discussed.
Reflecting Team as an Evaluation/learning Instrument for Self-reflection of Teachers
Authors: Michling Malgorzata D. , Schmidt Joel
Published: April 2019

The Reflecting Team (RT) is a method derived from systemic therapy in the 1980s by the social psychiatrist Tom Andersen. It is increasingly being used in training and evaluation contexts. The aim of the method is to create a space for the development of diverse perspectives and appropriate ideas and solutions in which the integrity of the students/customers/clients is preserved and the acceptance of proposals is facilitated. To this end, the systems involved (advice seekers, consultants, and observers) enter a common process of alternately directed and non-directed communication. The RT is not only suitable to address communication problems in group work and other educational situations, but it can also help to consider the traditional teaching and learning processes in a reflective way. Reflecting teams can also significantly improve the feedback and quality of teaching and learning. The article deals with the use of RT in the context of the collective exchange of teaching staff with their students. It uses a problem as an evaluation form and learning instrument to reflect on their pedagogical approach and, at the same time, their relationship with students during the lessons. This is to present the RT method for collegial exchange (Process Flow: Advice-seeker, teacher, Interviewer, RT) and their need for teacher reflection as well as the experience of self-efficacy (empowerment and self-sufficiency).
Cognitive Analysis of 9 to 11-Year-Old Children With Intellectual Development Disorders
Authors: Kauliņa Anda
Published: April 2019

Cognitive development significantly influences efficiency and results of child’s understanding and comprehension of the world. Attention and cognition play a significant role to ensure academic achievement and success. Attention is essential for purposeful planning of action and systematic work. Attention is necessary to follow the study material and for physical survival in everyday life. Cognition is significant in decision making and evaluating possible outcomes, being especially important in children with cognitive development disorders. The aim of the present study was to find out the peculiarities of the cognitive processes in 9 to 11-year-old children with cognitive development disorders. Previous literature suggests that children with intellectual development disorders are at increased risk of general cognitive disorders. To test this assumption and establish cognitive abilities in children with intellectual development disorders, the following subtests of the Vienna Test System (VTS) were used: CPM/S2 (Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices), B19 (Double Labyrinth Test) and WAFF (Perception and Attention Functions: Focused Attention). VTS is one of the leading computer-based psychophysiological testing systems in Europe. In addition to testing, behavioural observations were also carried out. Study results reveal that children with a shared diagnosis are not as similar when it comes to cognition and attention. Not all children within the sample group exhibited reduced attention and concentration, although the whole participant sample was diagnosed with intellectual development disorder. Meanwhile, risk factors hindering normal cognitive development were identified.
What is Developing Integrated or Interdisciplinary or Multidisciplinary or Transdisciplinary Education in School?
Authors: Helmane Ineta , Briška Ilze
Published: April 2019

Interdisciplinarity is a vital topicality in contemporary education and science. In general education of Latvia, the concept ‘integrated learning’ is traditionally used. The question is, if interdisciplinary teaching/learning differs from conventional approaches, or it means something completely new in terms of study content organisation and a pupil’s self-regulated learning. In order to find it out, the article analyses the concept of interdisciplinary teaching/learning in comparison with the integrated learning and identifies their common and distinctive features.
PEG10 is associated with treatment-induced neuroendocrine prostate cancer
Authors: Kim Soojin , Thaper Daksh , Bidnur Samir , Toren Paul , Akamatsu Shusuke , Bishop Jennifer L , Colins Colin , Vahid Sepideh , Zoubeidi Amina
Published: April 2019

Neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation of advanced prostate adenocarcinoma following androgen receptor (AR) axis-directed therapy is becoming increasingly recognized. Several models of this transdifferentiation provide insight into its molecular pathogenesis and have highlighted the placental gene PEG10 for further study. Using our unique model of enzalutamide resistance (ENZR) and NE differentiation, we studied PEG10/AR interplay in enzalutamide treatment-resistant cell lines 42DENZR and 42FENZR compared to LNCaP and castration-resistant 16DCRPC cells. ENZR cell lines with positive terminal NE marker status also displayed higher baseline expression of PEG10 compared to LNCaP and 16DCRPC. Antagonism of AR activity increased PEG10 expression followed by an increase in terminal NE markers. Conversely, stimulating AR activity via androgen supplementation reversed PEG10 and NE marker expression in a time and dose-dependent manner. These results were supported by human data showing that PEG10 expression is highest in NEPC and that AR-dependent gene, PSA, is negatively correlated with PEG10 in adenocarcinoma. Further, ChIP assay confirmed binding of activated AR to the PEG10 enhancer, decreasing PEG10 expression. While PEG10 did not drive NEPC, its knockdown reduced NE markers in our cell lines. Moreover, PEG10 knockdown in vitro- and in vivo-attenuated tumor growth. Overall, these observations indicate that PEG10 is an AR-repressed gene which modulates NE markers in ENZR cells and targeting PEG10 in advanced prostate cancer with NE features is a rational and viable option.
Genome-Wide Association Study and Pathway-Level Analysis of Kernel Color in Maize
Authors: Owens Brenda F , Mathew Deepu , Diepenbrock Christine H , Tiede Tyler , Wu Di , Mateos-Hernandez Maria , Gore Michael A , Rocheford Torbert
Published: April 2019

Rapid development and adoption of biofortified, provitamin A-dense orange maize (Zea mays L.) varieties could be facilitated by a greater understanding of the natural variation underlying kernel color, including as it relates to carotenoid biosynthesis and retention in maize grain. Greater abundance of carotenoids in maize kernels is generally accompanied by deeper orange color, useful for distinguishing provitamin A-dense varieties to consumers. While kernel color can be scored and selected with high-throughput, low-cost phenotypic methods within breeding selection programs, it remains to be well established as to what would be the logical genetic loci to target for selection for kernel color. We conducted a genome-wide association study of maize kernel color, as determined by colorimetry, in 1,651 yellow and orange inbreds from the Ames maize inbred panel. Associations were found with y1, encoding the first committed step in carotenoid biosynthesis, and with dxs2, which encodes the enzyme responsible for the first committed step in the biosynthesis of the isoprenoid precursors of carotenoids. These genes logically could contribute to overall carotenoid abundance and thus kernel color. The lcyE and zep1 genes, which can affect carotenoid composition, were also found to be associated with colorimeter values. A pathway-level analysis, focused on genes with a priori evidence of involvement in carotenoid biosynthesis and retention, revealed associations for dxs3 and dmes1, involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis; ps1 and vp5, within the core carotenoid pathway; and vp14, involved in cleavage of carotenoids. Collectively, these identified genes appear relevant to the accumulation of kernel color.
A Rare Tumor of the Mediastinum: Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor
Authors: Arsalane Adil , Fenane Hicham , Azami Amine , Mzouri Simohamed , Zidane Abdelfetah
Published: April 2019

Introduction: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) arising in the mediastinum is rare. Their etiology remains unknown and their diagnosis is often overlooked before the use of surgery which allows the proper diagnosis and adequate treatment.Case report: We report a case of the 56-year-old woman that had a mediastinal mass discovered after a long complaint of chest discomfort. Chest contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed a heterogeneously enhanced mass in the middle mediastinum The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemical study after surgical resection through a thoracotomy   The patient was well and had no recurrence 6 months after surgery.Conclusion: The diagnosis of IMT should be kept in mind and included in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal masses.
Madness and Revolution: The Impact of Radicalism on the Treason Trial of James Hadfield
Authors: Nolen Austin
Published: April 2019

The insanity defense is a doctrine in the criminal law which excuses from punishment defendants who commit crimes as the result of serious mental illness. However, the sorts of mental illness that qualify for the defense, as well as the causal connection required between the illness and the act, have varied widely across Anglo-American legal history. This thesis argues that historians have not sufficiently considered the role that radicalism and social unrest have played in shaping the defense, and explores the 1800 treason trial of James Hadfield for the attempted assassination of King George III, where government fears of the French Revolution and associated English radicals helped to reshape the insanity defense.
Stability of reaction–diffusion systems with stochastic switching
Authors: Pan Lijun , Cao Jinde , Alsaedi Ahmed
Published: April 2019

In this paper, we investigate the stability for reaction systems with stochastic switching. Two types of switched models are considered: (i) Markov switching and (ii) independent and identically distributed switching. By means of the ergodic property of Markov chain, Dynkin formula and Fubini theorem, together with the Lyapunov direct method, some sufficient conditions are obtained to ensure that the zero solution of reaction–diffusion systems with Markov switching is almost surely exponential stable or exponentially stable in the mean square. By using Theorem 7.3 in [R. Durrett, Probability: Theory and Examples, Duxbury Press, Belmont, CA, 2005], we also investigate the stability of reaction–diffusion systems with independent and identically distributed switching. Meanwhile, an example with simulations is provided to certify that the stochastic switching plays an essential role in the stability of systems.
Shifted Jacobi spectral collocation method with convergence analysis for solving integro-differential equations and system of integro-differential equations
Authors: Doha Eid H. H. , Abdelkawy Mohamed A. A. , Amin Ahmed Z.M. Z.M. , Baleanu Dumitru
Published: April 2019

This article addresses the solution of multi-dimensional integro-differential equations (IDEs) by means of the spectral collocation method and taking the advantage of the properties of shifted Jacobi polynomials. The applicability and accuracy of the present technique have been examined by the given numerical examples in this paper. By means of these numerical examples, we ensure that the present technique is simple and very accurate. Furthermore, an error analysis is performed to verify the correctness and feasibility of the proposed method when solving IDE.
On leaderless consensus of fractional-order nonlinear multi-agent systems via event-triggered control
Authors: Wang Fei , Yang Yongqing
Published: April 2019

The consensus problem of fractional-order multi-agent systems is investigated by eventtriggered control in this paper. Based on the graph theory and the Lyapunov functional approach, the conditions for guaranteeing the consensus are derived. Then, according to some basic theories of fractional-order differential equation and some properties of Mittag–Leffler function, the Zeno behavior could be excluded. Finally, a simulation example is given to check the effectiveness of the theoretical result.
Strategies of Legitimisation and Delegitimisation in Selected American Presidential Speeches
Authors: Trajkova Zorica , Neshkovska Silvana
Published: April 2019

[full article and abstract in English]

Politicians invest a lot of time and effort to win elections and present themselves in the best possible manner. They use language strategies to present and legitimise themselves as the right choice. And if they are the right choice, then their opponent is obviously not, so while they are trying to acclaim themselves and their political party, they use strategies to delegitimise and attack their opponents and the policy they represent.

This paper aims to conduct a critical discourse analysis of the speeches of the two main political opponents in the last elections in the USA, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The research gives an insight into the manipulative function of language and covers two aspects: the lexical-semantic and pragmatic aspect and is based on the supposition that the strategies politicians use while talking about themselves and describing their opponents differ. As expected, they use more positive terminology to talk about themselves and their policies, and negative terminology to criticise the opponent’s policy. They also employ different pragmatic strategies, such as intensifiers and inclusive pronouns, to involve the audience into the discourse and convince them in their arguments. Finally, although carried out on a relatively small corpus, the analysis gives an insight into the language techniques employed by politicians to legitimise themselves and delegitimise their opponent and thus win the elections.
Patterns of Ironic Metaphors in Lithuanian Politicized Discourse
Authors: Vengalienė Dovilė
Published: April 2019

[full article and abstract in English]

The present article is an attempt to examine the metaphoric models of ironic assessment employed in politicized public discourse in Lithuania. The examination follows the implications of the Blending theory (Fauconnier & Turner 2002), and discusses the topicality of the dominant metaphoric patterns in online newspaper headlines and commentaries, as well as in a number of posters the political parties of Lithuania prepared for the electoral campaign. The database of 200 newspaper headlines, comments, and posters allowed to identify dominant references to political issues in terms of sport, miracles, family, business and crime. Furthermore, the analysis has shown that attention should be drawn to aspects of social cognition and culture as they appear to be an integral part of the blending structure and are crucial in successful transmission of both the intended message and the evaluative attitude. Metaphors in the mode of irony follow a double-scope conceptual integration network, as the final blend comprises not only the elements of the two input spaces of the employed metaphor but also the elements of our background knowledge.
Tarmiškumo bruožų nomenklatūra: nuo tarminių požymių prie tarmiškumo žymenų
Authors: Mikulėnienė Danguolė
Published: April 2019

[full article and abstract in Lithuanian; abstract in English]

Traditionally it is believed that the dialect first shows the person’s interrelationship with the place, i.e., where the dialect is spoken and from which it probably comes. Rapid changes in traditional dialects and the formation of regional dialects (or regiolects) are gradually changing the concept of dialecticism. It also incorporates a number of sociolinguistic variables, such as gender, age, education, etc. This article examines several fragments of sound-stimulus texts that have been developed during the project Distribution of Regional Variants and Quasistandard Language at the Beginning of the 21st Century: Perceptual Approach (Perceptual Categorisation of Variants), funded by the Commission of the Lithuanian Language (2017–2019, the head Prof Daiva Aliūkaitė).

The aim is to systematically evaluate the more imperceptible dialectal features that are more difficult to identify by users of the language, which, even in the context of traditional (sub)dialects due to convergence, divergence or analogue alignment, remain in consumer language longest. It is they who are often the most important distinctive signs of regiolectity.

In the first decades of the 21st century, when the regiolects and other larger formations were formed, the term of the dialectal features in traditional dialectology gradually replaced with the dialectal marker corresponding to it. They are not synonyms – the dialectal feature is stable, whereas the dialectal marker is a floating element of the local language. Moreover, it is less phonologically marked.

In multimodal dialectology, phonological markers (or more precisely, their complete set) continue being important differential elements, but the value of morphological and derivative markers, in addition to phonological, clearly increases.

Although the dialectal markers show the heterogeneous and multi-layer nature of the Lithuanian language landscape of the 21st century, they cannot be mechanically removed from the territory in which they occur. Thus, the sociogeolinguistic methods are necessary to be applied to conduct a more detailed analysis.
The “Human-animal” Relationship in Psychological Definition Chains
Authors: Hajduk Jan
Published: April 2019

[full article and abstract in English]

The article presents the results of research on definition chains carried out among Polish and German students. Definition chains are systematized hierarchical collections, in which the next lexeme is the superordinate of the previous one, e.g.: Alsatian wolfdog – dog – animal – living creature. The research on definition chains was initiated by R. Martin, French linguist, in the 1970s. Similar analyses were conducted in Poland and Germany 10 years later. The text draws attention to both the inclusive chains, as well as those in which the relation of inclusions does not occur. Non-inclusive definition chains, referred to as psychological chains, indicate the occurrence of the features related to the lexeme of the lowest level, which belong to the linguistic picture of the described word. The relation between “human-animal” and the common top-level domains in both language groups deserve special emphasis.
Modernistiniai Kauno akcentai Florencijoje
Authors: Bankauskaitė Gabija
Published: April 2019

[text in Lithuanian]
ADAPTATION OF "BIOFLOC" AQUATIC SYSTEM FOR POLYCULTURE WITH TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS SP.) AND RIVER PRAWN (MACROBRACHIUM SP.)
Authors: Reinoso Samira , Muñoz Daysi , Cedeño Ricardo , Ortiz Tirado Juan , Bangeppagari Manjunatha , I. Mulla Sikandar
Published: April 2019

Aquaculture is a productive activity in economic growth due to market productivity which supports many Ecuadorian communities. However, exotic species has been the basis of this activity without considering the endemic and mega-diverse component of Ecuador. On the other hand, current aquaculture systems use a lot of water, generating discharge of nitrogen and phosphorus, causing a negative impact on natural watersheds. The present investigation focused on the diversification of aquaculture production and environmental care, through the polyculture of tilapia and river prawn, in a Biofloc system, which allows reducing the use of water, space, and food, taking advantage of all the nutrients of the aquatic environment without generating pollutant residues, from a carbon-nitrogen ratio of 20:1. The research project was developed under laboratory conditions at 2.728 amsl, for 8 weeks in pre-breading stages. Two factors were established in the study: type of culture (monoculture and polyculture) and production systems (traditional and biofloc), with three replicates. In the Biofloc system, the environmental variables such as temperature, pH, and oxygen did not show any significant differences between treatments (p≤0.05), while conductivity and total suspended solids increased during the test, and the nitrification processes stabilized at day 28 with values of 0.06±0.01 and 0.35±0.09 ppm in ammonium and nitrite respectively. The bacterial load was higher in the Biofloc system (113.66x103 CFU/ml) with predominance of Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. The bioflocs showed greater volume in polyculture (17.62 ml/L) and 26% of protein. Under these considerations, the best productive performance was detected in the Biofloc polyculture with a total productivity of 142.86g/m2 (p≤0.05). Therefore, diversification of species, types and culture systems are viable for aquaculture in Ecuador, generating an interaction between the chemical and biological components, allowing productive processes to be sustainable.
IDENTIFY THE NATURAL LEVELS OF MYCOTOXINS IN EGYPTIAN ROASTED PEANUTS AND THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT OF GAMMA RADIATION
Authors: N. Abdel-Rahman Gomaa , Y. Sultan Yousef , H. Salem Salah , M. Amer May
Published: April 2019

A total of 36 roasted peanut samples were collected from 12 regions at 4 Egyptian governorates (Cairo, Giza, Alexandria and El-Faiyum) during 2017. Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2), ochratoxin A and zearalenone were determined in the collected samples using HPLC. Seventy five percent of samples were contaminated with aflatoxins. Aflatoxin B1 was the most dominant type, whereas aflatoxin G2 was found only in two samples at low levels. Samples were completely ochratoxin A and zearalenone-free. Quantitative results revealed that the samples of Al-Manshieh region at Alexandria governorate had the highest averages of aflatoxins B1, B2 and G2 (33.15, 3.66 and 0.22 µgkg-1, respectively), while Al-Ajami samples at the same governorate had the highest average of aflatoxin G1 as 2.83 µgkg-1. Likewise, samples from Dokki at Giza governorate had high levels of total aflatoxins recording 26.33 µgkg-1. Regarding to the effect of gamma radiation on aflatoxin B1, the doses of 5, 10 and 20 kGy were studied. The reduction levels of aflatoxin B1 varied according to the spiking levels and dose of gamma radiation. The dose 5 KGy was ineffective, whereas, a significant reduction in AFB1 was noticed using 10 and 20KGy recording >26.7% reduction notably in samples spiked with 20 µgkg-1 AFB1 and treated with 20 KGy (59% reduction).
CONSTRUCTION OF PLANT TRANSFORMATION VECTOR CONTAINING EXPRESSION CASSETTE OF ARABIDOPSIS GENE At1g54410
Authors: Boszorádová Eva , Zimová MÃ¡ria , Gregorová Zuzana , Bardáčová Monika , Matušíková IldikÃ³ , Moravčíková Jana
Published: April 2019

Dehydrins, one of the Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) proteins, are specialized proteins related to environmental stress tolerance in plants. They are multifunctional proteins that can bind free metal ions, interact with macromolecules and specific membrane regions or participate in reduction of reactive oxygen species. Here, we report preparation of a plant transformation vector containing Arabidopsis dehydrin gene At1g54410 under the control of the strong constitutive double dCAMV 35S promoter and the selectable marker neomycin phosphotransferase gene driven by the nopaline synthase promoter. The gene At1g54410 was isolated from Arabidopsis genomic DNA by PCR approach. The resulting binary vector pND3 was introduced into the Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA 4404 and verified for its stability in agrobacterial cells.
PRODUCTION OF POLLEN CANS BY FERMENTATION OF BEE POLLEN IN MODEL CONDITIONS WITH REGARD TO FILAMENTOUS MICROMYCETES OCCURRENCE
Authors: Mašková Zuzana , Kňazovická VladimÃ­ra , Tančinová Dana , Panáková Silvia
Published: April 2019

Pollen is produced by flowering plants and gathered by bees and it is rich in nutrients and important phytochemicals. Bee collected pollen is used in human nutrition, but the digestibility is limited. The possible solution is the production of fermented pollen cans according to the pattern of bee bread production by bees. The study was devoted to the testing of 3 variants of pollen cans production, from the point of view of filamentous microscopic fungi (FMF) occurrence. Totally 3 types of bee pollen and 3 types of honeys of Slovak origin, water and yoghurt as a starter (in one variant) were used for the production of pollen cans. Raw materials and fermented pollen cans were subjected to mycological analyzes (plate dilution method). Samples of honey and yoghurt were free of FMF. Pollen represents the main potential source of pollen cans contamination. The average count of FMF in pollens was 4.70 log CFU.g-1. The highest number of fungi was found in the late spring bee pollen and Cladosporium spp. occurred with the highest relative density. The counts of FMF were reduced by fermentation and botanical origin of pollen had the greatest impact on their expansion. The greatest diversity of genera was recorded in bee pollen samples, subsequently in pollen cans has declined and after total fermentation was the lowest. Aspergillus spp. were isolated at a low frequency, Alternaria spp. appeared mainly in cans of late spring bee pollen, the highest counts of Penicillium spp. were recorded in cans of early spring bee pollen, in variant with added yoghurt.
Beyond an Obvious Cause of Cholestasis in a Toddler: Compound Heterozygosity for ABCB11 Mutations
Authors: Fotoulaki Maria , Giza Styliani , Jirsa Milan , Grammatikopoulos Tassos , Miquel Rosa , Hytiroglou Prodromos , Tsitouridis Ioannis , Knisely A.S.
Published: April 2019

A 27-month-old girl presented with a short history of jaundice initially attributed to drug-induced liver injury. During the preceding 20 days, she had received a 10-day course of cefprozil and 2 doses of a homeopathic preparation of cantharidin for cystitis. Severe conjugated hyperbilirubinemia was present with normal γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activity. Liver biopsy revealed marked canalicular and hepatocellular cholestasis, with moderate hepatocellular disarray, as well as evidence of chronicity, including moderate portal-tract and perisinusoidal fibrosis. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that bile salt export pump expression was preserved, whereas canalicular γ-glutamyl transpeptidase expression was largely absent. An inherited cholestatic disorder was suspected. The entire coding region of ABCB11, encoding bile salt export pump, was analyzed. The patient was found to be a compound heterozygote for the missense mutation c.3148C>T (p.Arg1050Cys) associated with benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis type 2 in the homozygous state and for the nonsense mutation c.3904G>T (p.Glu1302Ter) associated with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 2. Despite initial improvement with ursodeoxycholic acid, over the course of 5 years the patient developed cirrhosis that required liver transplant. Our report emphasizes the need for molecular studies even in patients with putatively “explained” cholestasis to reveal the entire spectrum of inherited cholestatic disorders.
Pragmatics of Communicative Tonality in the Stylistics of English Educative Converse
Authors: Ilyinova Elena , Tsinkerman Tamara
Published: April 2019

The article is devoted to the study of communicative tonality that is considered a dynamic linguistic-and-pragmatic characteristic of the communication style, which is actualized by the choice of language means and speech techniques, correlated with the strata-tactical and genre-stylistic features of a particular kind of discourse. The corpus of educative parent-child dialogue examples allowed to identify the main goal of this discourse type, that is the child's socialization in the course of communication based on adult status dominance, to determine four styles of educative communication that differ in patterns of functional and syntactic speech models and in language means which are a part of the communicative competence of English-speaking culture. The linguistic-and-pragmatic analysis of adults' speech utterances revealed the specificity of stratagem-tactical intentions in choosing each style of educative communication, made it possible to designate the character of illocution, aimed at explicating the intent to socialize a child through explaining, persuading, reasoning, suggesting, compelling and criticizing behavior. The analysis of pragmatic markers of the communication tonality revealed its hybrid and modulated character, that is shown in a meaningful choice of functional-syntactic models of speech, in direct or indirect forms of empathy types - from democratic, consolidating to moralizing and adversarial. According to the study, the tonality of educative communication varies from strong and soft shades of benevolent, trustful, playful, serious, and indulgent to instructive, mentor, contemptuous, ironically mocking tones, which can be expressed in different combinations of lexical, stylistic and functional-pragmatic means of English.
Analysis of the criteria for calculating non-rigid pavements in conditions of intense traffic flow
Authors: Uglova Evgenia , Shilo Olga
Published: April 2019

Domestic methods of designing and calculating non-rigid pavements were modified in parallel with changes in the load-carrying capacity of vehicles and an increase in the average traffic intensity of cars. With the increase in the level of costs for the construction and repair of road clothes, the level of responsibility for design has increased.

However, more often at the operational stage, early defects of asphalt-concrete layers are detected and premature reduction of the bearing capacity of the structure as a whole. This only indicates that the prediction of the service life in the design of traditional methods is not reliable. The reasons for this may be several: erroneous determination of the number of cycles of the annual loading of the structure, a distorted or ineffective consideration of the climatic conditions of operation of the road-building materials of the layers, an inaccurate technique for determining the maximum permissible and emerging deformations, and also accumulating them during operation.

As a result, the issues of construction of road clothes, requirements for them and the design of highways in general are being revised. Obviously, the traditional method of calculation, as a minimum, can not be considered universal.

The authors presented a new approach to calculating the strength of non-rigid pavements by the criterion of accumulation of fatigue damages of asphalt-concrete layers, which can provide reliable prediction of the pavement life cycle, because it is based on the multifactorial influence of external environmental impact. Modeling such a multifactor process as the life cycle of a design is a complex computational task. Active integration of computer technologies into modern life and construction processes allows solving this task with the help of a computer, by developing application programs.

At the department of «Highways» DSTU developed a software package Pavement Life Cycle, able to make calculations based on a new criterion for calculating non-rigid road clothes. The article is part of the dissertation research of the second author.
Peripheral Blood Markers Identify Risk of Immune-Related Toxicity in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitors
Authors: Pavan Alberto , Calvetti Lorenzo , Dal Maso Alessandro , Attili Ilaria , Del Bianco Paola , Pasello Giulia , Guarneri Valentina , Aprile Giuseppe , Conte PierFranco , Bonanno Laura
Published: April 2019

Background

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are now standard of care for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Unfortunately, many patients experience immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which are usually mild and reversible, but they require timely management and may be life threatening. No predictive markers of irAEs are available.

Materials and Methods

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were evaluated in patients with NSCLC consecutively treated with ICIs. Prespecified cutoff values of NLR and PLR were used and related to outcome and onset of irAEs. A control group of patients with advanced NSCLC not receiving ICIs was included.

Results

The study included 184 patients: 26 (14.1%) received pembrolizumab upfront, and 142 (77%) received ICIs (pembrolizumab, nivolumab or atezolizumab) after one or more lines of chemotherapy. The median number of ICIs cycles was six (range, 1–61). The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 4.8 (95% CI, 3.4–6.3) and 20.6 (95% CI, 14.7–26.5) months, respectively. Sixty patients (32.6%) developed irAEs, mainly grade 1–2 (65.0%), causing ICI interruption in 46 cases (25.0%). Low NLR and low PLR at baseline were significantly associated with the development of irAEs (odds ratio [OR], 2.2; p = .018 and OR, 2.8; p = .003, respectively). Multivariate analyses confirmed PLR as independent predictive marker of irAEs (OR, 2.3; p = .020).

Conclusion

NLR and PLR may predict the appearance of irAEs in non-oncogene-addicted aNSCLC, although this conclusion warrants prospective validation.
Outcome of Patients with Soft-Tissue Sarcomas: An Age-Specific Conditional Survival Analysis
Authors: Bourcier Kevin , Dinart Derek , Le Cesne Axel , Honoré Charles , Meeus Pierre , Blay Jean-Yves , Michot Audrey , Le Loarer François , Italiano Antoine
Published: April 2019

Background

Soft-tissue sarcomas (STSs) are a group of rare cancers that can occur at any age. Prognostic outcomes of patients with STS are usually established at the time of the patient's initial disease presentation. Conditional survival affords a dynamic prediction of prognosis for patients surviving a given period after diagnosis. Estimates of conditional survival can provide crucial prognostic information for patients and caregivers, guide subsequent cancer follow-up schedules, and impact decisions regarding management. This study aims to estimate conditional survival and prognostic factors in patients with STS according to age at diagnosis (≤75 years and ≥75 years).

Subjects, Materials, and Methods

A total of 6,043 patients with nonmetastatic STS at first diagnosis who underwent complete surgical resection (R0 or R1) were assessed. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to establish prognostic factors of conditional metastasis-free survival and overall survival at 1, 2, and 5 years after diagnosis.

Results

Elderly patients have more adverse prognostic features at presentation and tend to receive less aggressive treatment than do younger patients. However, at baseline as well as at each conditional survival time point, the 5-year estimated probability of metastatic relapse decreases in both young and elderly patients and is almost identical in both groups at 2 years and 5 years after initial diagnosis. Prognostic factors for metastatic relapse and death change as patient survival time increases in both young and elderly patients. Grade, the strongest prognostic factor for metastatic relapse and death at baseline, is no longer predictive of metastatic relapse in patients surviving 5 years after initial diagnosis. Leiomyosarcoma is the histological subtype associated with the highest risk of metastatic relapse and death in young patients surviving 5 years after initial diagnosis. The positive impact on the outcome of peri-operative treatments tends to decrease and disappears in patients surviving 5 years after initial diagnosis.

Conclusion

Conditional survival estimates show clinically relevant variations according to time since first diagnosis in both young and elderly patients with STS. These results can help STS survivors adjust their view of the future and STS care providers plan patient follow-up.
Patterns of Care Among Real-World Patients with Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Authors: Klink Andrew J. , Feinberg Bruce , Yu Hsing-Ting , Ray David , Pulgar Sonia , Phan Alexandria , Vinik Aaron
Published: April 2019

Background

Although recent pivotal trials (PROMID, CLARINET) have established somatostatin analogs (SSAs) as first-line agents for neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), their use in clinical practice is largely unknown. We aimed to understand real-world management and treatment of gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) NETs.

Materials and Methods

Patients with metastatic GEP-NETs treated with SSAs, lanreotide depot or octreotide long-acting release (LAR), between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2015, were identified from a U.S. claims database supplemented with chart review for a subset of patients. Descriptive statistics summarized patients’ demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and healthcare resource use. Univariate and multivariate comparisons were made across SSA groups.

Results

Among 548 patients treated with an SSA for metastatic GEP-NET (lanreotide = 108; octreotide = 440), demographic and clinical characteristics were similar across groups, except more patients with pancreatic NETs were treated with lanreotide (38.7% vs. 6.3%, p < .01). More octreotide patients had a diagnosis of carcinoid syndrome compared with lanreotide patients (19.8% vs. 11.1%, p = .02). Approximately 1.1% of patients received lanreotide (>120 mg every 4 weeks [Q4W]) at a dose above label compared with 12.7% of octreotide patients (>30 mg Q4W; p < .01). At 1.5 years after SSA initiation, 85.7% (95% confidence interval, 74.3%–92.3%) were still on index SSA as reported by the physician. Variances between chart review and claims data were significant.

Conclusion

SSAs were common in first-line systemic intervention, but dose escalations and dosing deviations outside of label were noted. Variances between claims and chart review warrant additional research to compare methodologies. With an increasing focus on value-based care in oncology, it is critical to understand the use of, and outcomes with, these agents in community practices.

Implications for Practice

The aim of this study was to enhance understanding of real-world management and treatment of metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), with particular focus on systemic therapy with a somatostatin analog (SSA). As per published guidelines, SSAs are common in first-line systemic intervention, but dose escalations and dosing deviations outside of the label are noted for symptom control. Nevertheless, oncologists must weigh the implications of the use of above-label dosing of SSAs to manage and treat patients with metastatic NET within a value-based care framework.
A catchment partnership approach to delivering natural flood management in the Evenlode, UK
Authors: Old Joanne , McKnight David , Bennett Richard , Grzybek Roland
Published: April 2019

Adapting to climate change and its impacts on water resources is one of the major challenges facing the UK. In the first scheme of its kind in the Thames basin, this paper describes how natural flood management (NFM) is being piloted in the Littlestock Brook tributary of the Evenlode catchment. This 5-year scheme (2016–2021) explores the delivery mechanisms and assesses the effectiveness of NFM measures to reduce flood risk in Milton-under-Wychwood, improve water quality and create habitat. It has secured £640 000 from Environment Agency programmes, the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, other partners and landowners. In 2018, ten field corner bunds were created with a combined storage capacity of 26 000 m3. Woody dams in the brook divert high flows into these flood storage areas. Critical to success is integrated delivery through the Evenlode Catchment Partnership and engagement of the local community. Catchment partnerships deliver a range of environmental, social and economic benefits, and directly support many of the ambitions under the government’s 25-Year Environment Plan and the Water Framework Directive. Collaborative working with Thames Water, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, consultants and academics has enabled the project to utilise existing delivery mechanisms and to model and monitor the effectiveness of NFM.
A case study on geogrid-reinforced and pile-supported widened highway embankment
Authors: Lu W. , Miao L. , Wang F. , Zhang J. , Zhang Y. , Wang H.
Published: April 2019

The objective of this case study is to evaluate the development of soil arching in an embankment being widened. In two test sections, earth pressures at different locations were monitored to reveal the load redistribution mechanism due to soil arching. Tensile forces in uniaxial plastic geogrids were measured to evaluate the performance of geosynthetic reinforcement in the widened embankment. The soil arching effect was quantified in terms of stress concentration ratio, soil arching ratio and geomembrane effect. Several existing methods were selected to compare with the measured results. The results of the field tests indicate that a two-dimensional plane soil arch with some eccentricity affects the fill load distribution on pile caps and subsoil between piles, and a realistic critical arch height of less than 2.0 m with a ratio of 1.4 times the pile clear spacing was identified. Although few existing methods could generate close results comparable to the measured values, most of the methods overestimated the load carried by the geosynthetic layer. The results also suggest that the foundation soil reaction underneath the geosynthetic layer should be taken into account in the load transfer mechanism of geosynthetic-reinforced and pile-supported widened highway embankments.
Dependence of macro mechanical behaviour of gypsum on micro-scale grain-size distribution
Authors: Caselle C. , Bonetto S. , Vagnon F. , Costanzo D.
Published: April 2019

The exploitation of gypsum by both open pit and underground quarries requires a close evaluation of the mechanical features and variability. However, gypsum rock testing often neglects the natural heterogeneity. The result is an inaccurate mechanical characterisation that averages the strength values of different materials leading to an underestimation or overestimation of the stability conditions, without offering a real representation of the mechanical behaviour of the rock. Grain-size, grain-sorting, mineral composition and porosity significantly influence gypsum mechanical behaviour. The individuation of textural and compositional features that primarily influence the variation in mechanical parameters may offer an interpretation key of the phenomenon. In this study, the relation between the features at the microscale and macro-mechanical behaviour of gypsum rock was analysed with a multiscale approach. Relationships between uniaxial compression strength (UCS), grain-size distribution and porosity were analysed and discussed. Microscopic observations on thin sections were performed, developing an image analysis procedure for correlating textural and structural parameters with UCS.
Design and implementation of cryptographic element with low power dissipation in QCA
Authors: Qadri Syed Umira R , Bangi Zubair A , Tariq Banday Mohammad , Mohiuddin Bhat Ghulam
Published: April 2019

Quantum dot cellular automata are a unique technology that helps investigators develop different digital circuits. However, there is a lack of general credence of digital structures. Therefore, designing such digital circuits has become essential in order to ensure the authenticity through different security elements such as a multiplexer, which helps in secure message communication as a cryptographic element in order to reserve a clock cycle or to adapt the channel separation track and has also been used to design many other useful circuits. This paper presents novel and effective structures of 2:1, 4:1 and 8:1 multiplexers without any cross-over in quantum dot cellular automata, which is advantageous in data communication. The three presented multiplexers have been compared with a number of the latest structures in terms of cell count, cell area, speed, latency, complexity and so on, and the results reveal substantial enhancements. Further, simulations using the QCA Designer and QCA Pro software programs indicate that the presented multiplexer structures are entirely robust and viable at high temperature/frequency and can be used as a cryptographic element in secure message communication.
Shear buckling and design strength study of curved girders with corrugated steel webs
Authors: Wang Kangjian , Zhou Man , Hassanein Mostafa Fahmi
Published: April 2019

Owing to the curvature of curved girders with corrugated steel webs, the inner and outer corrugation angles of the webs are different. For the local buckling behaviour of such webs, under the influence of different parameters, cases of panel lengths ratios were analysed in detail. Results showed that the average value of local buckling coefficients of curved corrugated steel webs was higher than straight ones. Based on Lindner's and El-Metwally's interactive theories, interactive buckling formulas for different panel aspect ratios were given. Additionally, considering the difference between elastic and yielding synthetic indices of curved webs, a buckling design formula was proposed by means of unequal synthetic indices. The finite-element values of local and interactive buckling were designed reasonably, and design parameters were determined through a large amount of analytical data. When the slenderness ratio was less than 1·5, the proposed design curve was found to be better than other available curves. Finally, buckling modes of straight corrugated steel webs in previous experiments were effectively separated by the given judgement formulas of different buckling modes. The percentage of local buckling in the experimental data was found to be highest, which formed a degenerated model compared with the proposed design curve.