bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Radiographic Assessment of the Quality of Root Canal Treatments Performed by Practitioners with Different Levels of Experience
Authors: Mudaysh Bajawi Abdulrahman , AL-Sagoor Sharafi Abdullah , Abdullah Alhadi Ahmed , Abdullah Alhadi Mohammed , Y. Almasrahi Mahmoud , AL-Ghazali Nabiel , Al-Moaleem Mohammed M.
Published: September 2018

This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to radiographically evaluate the quality of root canal treatment (RCT) performed by practitioners with different levels of experience at the Arar Dental Center, North Region, Saudi Arabia. A total of 170 periapical radiographs of root canal fillings (RCFs) were used to assess the technical quality of 376 root canal performed by the practitioners at Arar Dental Center. The length of each RCF was categorized as acceptable, overfilled, and underfilled on the basis of their relationship to the radiographic apex and surrounding structures. The density and taper of the fillings were evaluated on the basis of the presence of voids and the uniform tapering of the fillings, respectively. Root canal obturation (RCOs) was compared between practitioners. Chi-square analysis was then conducted to determine significant differences between RCF length, density and tapering in different areas of dental arches, different canal positions, and different levels of practitioner experience. Of the total number of canals, 202 (53.7%) were found in males, and 219 (58.2%) were in the maxillary arch. A total of (267; 71%) of the RCFs were located in the posterior reign. All of the parameters of the RCFs significantly differed among various areas of dental arches, canal locations, and practitioners with different levels of experience (P < 0.001) except the RCO density between different arches (P = 0.137). The technical quality of RCFs performed at the Arar Dental Center was acceptable in 63% of all cases. The length of RCFs was acceptable in the majority of cases performed by consultants and specialists, but this parameter was acceptable only in 46.4% cases carried out by general dental practitioners (GDPs). The underfilling rates reported by GDPs (43.6%) were higher than those presented by consultants (13%) and specialists (18.8%). Almost all of the cases were acceptable in terms of density and tapering among all of the practitioners. The poor density and tapering qualities of RCFs were respectively found in 24.2% and 22.3% of the cases performed by GDPs. Evaluating the quality of RCTs delivered by practitioners in any dental service center offers vital information for health service authorities. This evaluation helps improve the trend in RCT services provided by endodontists with the aid of additional new endodontic equipment and materials. This study provides insights into relevant services in terms of the standards of care in endodontic treatment.
The Effect of Mechanical Vibration on Human Sperm Activity in Vitro
Authors: Thabet Saeed Ghassan , A. Al-Azzawi Khalid Suhail , Hassan Al-Wasti Hydar Saadi
Published: September 2018

It is well known that sperm is a unique cell in that it has a function to be done by itself outside the body and this function is essential for species' continuity thus sperm by its power and intact structure has to reach the ova and perform the fertilization and this journey is affected by the chemical and physical factors that might increase or decrease its ability to move or fertilize or even to survive. The aim of this study is to find the effect of vibration that is a vigorous movement with high frequency for 20min on whole seminal fluid samples as an external physical factor. 40 fresh seminal fluid samples were selected. 1ml of each semen samples was placed in the bottom of conical tube; the tube was exposure to vibration waves by using a special shaker designed for this purpose for 20 min. This shaker consist of a M540 DC motor equipped with PWM controller to control the rotational speed from 5-2400 rpm. Semen analysis was done before and after subject vibration. A significant increase (P<0.05) was found in percentage of sperm active directed motility (grade A) with a non-significant increase in sluggish motility and a non-significant decrease in percentage of immotile sperms percentage. No significant changes were founded regarded sperm morphology and count. It was concluded that vibrating seminal sample for 20min increases the overall sperms activity with significant increase in percentage of highly active directed sperms.
Recent Trends in Medical Imaging Modalities and Challenges For Diagnosing Breast Cancer
Authors: Devi R. Ramya , Anandhamala G.S.
Published: September 2018

Breast cancer is the leading deadly cancer and most commonly diagnosed in women. New technologies in supplement to existing imaging modalities improve breast cancer screening. This article contributes to identify the high potential device that suggested high accuracy and reliable tool for breast screening and also to examine new screening modalities. An improved imaging system which ensures early detection, non-invasive and radiation free is expected in diagnosis. Numerous imaging modalities like positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), thermography, electrical impedance tomography and few others with recent developments show great potential for diagnosis. Some of the techniques aim for lesion detection and characterization with increased specificity and accuracy. In this paper, the capabilities of traditional and emerging breast imaging modalities used in breast cancer screening are summarized and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed.
Comparative Evaluation of the Fracture Strength of Monolithic Crowns Fabricated from Different all-ceramic CAD/CAM Materials (an in vitro study)
Authors: M. Jassim Zainab , A. Majeed Manhal
Published: September 2018

The objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate and compare the fracture strength of monolithic crowns fabricated from five different all-ceramic CAD/CAM materials (lithium disilicate, zirconia, reinforced composite, hybrid dental ceramic, and zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate) using single load to failure test. Forty sound human maxillary first premolar teeth extracted for orthodontic purposes were selected for use in this study. Teeth were prepared according to a standard protocol with 1 mm deep chamfer finishing line, 4 mm axial height with planer occlusal reduction and 6º total convergence angle. Teeth were then divided into five groups of eight teeth each according to the material used for the fabrication of the monolithic crowns as follow: Group A: Crowns fabricated from lithium disilicate (IPS e.max CAD, Ivoclar Vivadent), Group B: Crowns fabricated from zirconia (CEREC Zirconia, Dentsply Sirona), Group C: Crowns fabricated from reinforced composite (BRILLIANT Crios, COLTENE), Group D: Crowns fabricated from hybrid dental ceramic (VITA ENAMIC, VITA Zahnfabric), Group E: Crowns fabricated from zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (CELTRA DUO, Dentsply Sirona). Teeth of all groups were then scanned with CEREC Omnicam digital intraoral scanner and the crowns were then designed using CEREC Premium software (version 4.4.4) and milled using CEREC MC XL milling unit. Post-milling, crowns of each group were subjected to either a firing procedure or to a polishing only according to the manufacturer's instructions of each material. The internal surfaces of the crowns of each group were then subjected to surface treatment according to the manufacturer's instructions of each material and the crowns were then cemented on their respective teeth using a universal dual-cured adhesive resin cement (Duo-Link Universal, Bisco Inc.). All teeth with the cemented crowns were then stored in deionized distilled water at room temperature for 24 hours before testing. All samples were then subjected to compressive axial loading until fracture in computer-controlled universal testing machine (Zwick Z010, Ulm, Germany) at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. The data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA test and LSD test at a level of significance of 0.05. The results of this study showed that the highest mean value of fracture strength was recorded by Group B (2337.37), followed by Group C (1880.59), Group E (1404.49), Group A (1085.39) and Group D (767.06), respectively with statistically highly significant differences among the different groups (p<0.01). From the results of this study, it seems that the differences in the chemical composition and microstructure of the tested all-ceramic CAD/CAM materials may be responsible for the differences in the fracture strength of the fabricated crowns.
CCTs and conditionalities: an exploratory analysis of not meeting conditional cash transfer conditionalities in Chile's Families Programme
Authors: Reininger Tal , Villalobos Cristobal , Wyman Ignacio
Published: September 2018

Since the mid-1990s, conditional cash transfer programmes have rapidly proliferated in Latin America, although little research has examined the characteristics of families who do not meet programme conditionalities. In order to contribute to this gap in knowledge, this study sought to identify the individual, family and programme variables associated with not meeting conditionalities of Chile's CCT. The study found that certain variables related to family vulnerability were associated with not meeting conditionalities. These findings uncover an important contradiction in Chile's CCT programme, since while seeking to guarantee social inclusion the programme may in fact be contributing to greater exclusion.
Constant linear velocity spiral scanning for near video rate 4D OCT ophthalmic and surgical imaging with isotropic transverse sampling
Authors: Carrasco-Zevallos Oscar M. , Viehland Christian , Keller Brenton , McNabb Ryan P. , Kuo Anthony N. , Izatt Joseph A.
Published: September 2018

Ultrahigh speed optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems with >100 kHz A-scan rates can generate volumes rapidly with minimal motion artifacts and are well suited for 4D imaging (volumes through time) applications such as intra-operative imaging. In such systems, high OCT data acquisition efficiency (defined as the fraction of usable A-scans generated during the total acquisition time) is desired to maximize the volumetric frame rate and sampling pitch. However, current methods for beam scanning using non-resonant and resonant mirror scanners can result in severe scan distortion and transverse oversampling as well as require acquisition dead times, which limit the acquisition efficiency and performance of ultrahigh speed 4D OCT. We introduce constant linear velocity spiral scanning (CLV-SC) as a novel beam scanning method to maximize the data acquisition efficiency of ultrahigh speed 4D OCT systems. We demonstrate that CLV-SC does not require acquisition dead times and achieves more uniform transverse sampling compared to raster scanning. To assess its clinical utility, we implement CLV-SC with a 400 kHz OCT system and image the anterior eye and retina of healthy adults at up to 10 volumes per second with isotropic transverse sampling, allowing B-scans with equal sampling pitch to be extracted from arbitrary locations within a single volume. The feasibility of CLV-SC for intra-operative imaging is also demonstrated using a 800 kHz OCT system to image simulated retinal surgery at 15 volumes per second with isotropic transverse sampling, resulting in high quality volume renders that enable clear visualization of surgical instruments and manipulation of tissue.
Book Review
Authors: McLaren Graham
Published: September 2018

Global Clay: Themes in World Ceramic Traditions, John A. Burrison (2017) Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 339 pp., 231 illustrations, ISBN: 9780253031884, h/bk, £19.14; ISBN: 9780253031891, ebook, £18.18
The Secret Self: ‘Literary’ women-only short story anthologies and the modernist paradigm
Authors: Tura Vecino Aleix
Published: September 2018

Identity-themed short story anthologies are a technology that has been particularly impactful in the development and transmission of short stories since the 1980s. By associating the short form to critical discourses of identity formation, these often overlooked publications have been, and continue to be, key in granting commercial success and academic consideration to the genre. One of the most fruitful relationships these anthologies have exploited is the one between short stories and female identity, grounded on a theoretical tradition connecting ‘minor’ forms with women writers. This article explores how a certain kind of gender-themed short story anthologies perform this association. Through focus on the exemplary case of Hermione Lee’s three-volume anthology The Secret Self, it argues that so-called ‘literary’ or ‘general’ anthologies typically establish a connection between the notion of ‘woman’ and the short form through the undeclared lens of modernism. Realizing this, it proposes and opens up a space for re-evaluating the cultural role that these texts play in our society.
‘We are cyborgs’: Technology in Hari Kunzru’s short fiction
Authors: Jansen Bettina
Published: September 2018

This article argues that a concern with technology and the social transformations initiated by the cyborgization of contemporary life permeates the semantics and aesthetics of several short stories by Hari Kunzru. Not only do the ‘cyborg stories’ address the increasingly tangled interface between human being and machine as a subject matter, but they also use the flexibility of the short story form to explore the ways in which technology, social media and the Digital Revolution alter human communication and modes of narration. By analyzing Kunzru’s stories through the lens of Donna Haraway’s cyborg theory and deconstructive philosophies of community, I will show that these short stories are ultimately concerned with the construction of community or, as Haraway says, ‘relationality’ in the Cyborg Age.
Intertextuality and intermediality in Janice Galloway’s ‘Scenes from the Life’ (Blood 1991)
Authors: Sacido-Romero Jorge
Published: September 2018

Janice Galloway’s ‘Scenes from the Life’ are a set of five pieces collected in Blood (1991), her first book of stories. As in the case of the rest of her production, these stories are highly experimental texts that convey the author’s criticism of dominant patriarchal ideology by rehearsing different combinations of narrative, intertextual and intermedial elements, which entail different modalities of intratextual witnesses of the action and potential surrogates of the reader. Resorting to Irina O. Rajewsky’s concepts of ‘intertextual reference’ and ‘intermedial reference’ as analytical tools, this article reorders the otherwise random appearance and numbering of the five pieces by establishing a logical line of progression derived from the different proportions of intertextual and intermedial referencing that each of the text contains. Though they remain stories, ‘Scenes from the Life’ are good examples of the author’s poetics of liminality, which, according to recent commentators, the short story comes closer to than any other literary genre.
New horizons in print: A synthesis of primary sources
Authors: Dabback William , Coffman Don D. , Rohwer Debbie
Published: September 2018

Over the past 25 years the New Horizons International Music Association (NHIMA) has grown from its roots as a local programme in Rochester, New York, to an international organization that comprises more than 200 programmes touching thousands of participants in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. The organization’s unique mission and older adult population have offered expanded opportunities for research, but no review has exclusively focused on the literature related to New Horizons music populations. The authors identified 64 articles, book chapters and dissertations that have investigated questions related to participation in these programmes. They categorized the NHIMA-based publications into three overarching strands: (1) research literature from research journals (n=35), dissertations (n=12), book chapters and conference proceedings (n=10), (2) articles for practitioners from periodicals such as the Music Educators Journal and the Instrumentalist (n=7) and (3) semi-annual newsletters published by NHIMA from 2004 to 2016. This review focused on the research articles, dissertations and the newsletters. A consideration of studies offered insights into who has been researched and the programmes in which they participate. Psychosocial constructs have emerged as integral to New Horizons research and comprise the roles and nature of social interaction, identity formation, motivation and perceived musical, social and health benefits. Finally, an analysis of studies that have investigated pedagogical concerns revealed trends, best practices, resources and approaches that New Horizons programmes have utilized over the last quarter of a century.
Teacher, group, self: Music teaching and learning in two New Horizons ensembles
Authors: Tsugawa Samuel
Published: September 2018

This article presents a study investigating music teaching and learning among members of two senior adult music ensembles. This study employed a qualitative multiple case-study design in which members of a New Horizons band and orchestra located in two different cities were observed and interviewed over a period of several months. Video recordings of embedded observations, verbatim interview transcripts of sixteen participants and personal journal entries of two members served as primary data sources. Analysis of the data revealed members’ preferred attributes of effective conductor-teachers, their motivation to participate in group music making and how members engaged in music making and learning as individuals. Findings of this study suggest implications for research and practice that deal with: (1) understanding effective and appropriate strategies on how to teach senior adult musicians; (2) providing increased opportunities for music learning and participation among senior adults; (3) expanding the current music teacher education curriculum to include teaching adult musicians; and (4) the growth and future of the New Horizons movement.
Music in a new key: The sociocultural impact of the New Horizons Band programme and its relationship to Baltes’ Selective Optimization with Compensation Model
Authors: Glen Nancy L.
Published: September 2018

The New Horizons Band programme was developed by Roy Ernst to provide entry or re-entry points for active older adults to play a band instrument in an ensemble of their peers over the age of 50. While a body of research has been completed regarding a variety of aspects of the programme and its members, the research described in this article addresses two additional components. It seeks to determine what members do to remain active players within the group in relation to the Baltes’ Selection, Optimization and Compensation (SOC) Model (1990), and what social benefits and sense of belonging members receive through their participation in the group. These are revealed through two measures, along with band members’ demographic information and responses to a series of questions focused on these ideas. The study group was approximately 60 members of a New Horizons Band in Northern Colorado. Data reveal a picture of older adults who are successfully addressing challenges in playing a musical instrument as they age, through compensatory behaviours. Members offer personal statements, describing a strong sense of belonging, purpose and meaning through their involvement in the group.
An investigation into current practices and participation in New Horizons chamber music
Authors: Talbert Matthew D. , Edelman Philip B.
Published: September 2018

The purpose of this descriptive study was to gather data to ascertain current trends in chamber music participation in older-adult ensembles. Directors (N=61) of ensembles belonging to the New Horizons International Music Association (NHIMA) served as participants in this study. Using an electronic survey instrument to collect responses, the researchers gathered information on chamber music practices within the context of the NHIMA ensemble of which the respondent was the director. Results suggest that less than half of the New Horizons ensembles currently incorporate a chamber music component into their programme. Further analysis revealed the manner in which chamber ensembles were structured, common rehearsal practices and the perceived impediments to the implementation of chamber music into a NHIMA group. The authors use these results to recommend the investigation of different chamber music models within NHIMA contexts to try and identify approaches that work, given the disparate needs of each individual NHIMA organization.
Tilt Brush painting: Chronotopic adventures in a physical-virtual threshold
Authors: Chittenden Tara
Published: September 2018

New forms of technology such as Virtual Reality (VR) bring visible changes to the temporal-spatial structures used to represent information and contribute towards a rethinking of the vocabularies of spatiality and spatial experience in painting practice. The History of Painting encompasses a range of techniques intended to create visual 3D illusions from a 2D plane. Virtual technologies present an opportunity to rethink the conventional structures and materials in the discipline of painting, forcing a reconsideration of paintings in, and as, space to be explored. VR painting app, Tilt Brush, enables users to create 3D imagery via a simple controller that mimics the gestures of painting, materializing a range of brushes, colours and paint effects. Tilt Brush paintings call not only on different making practices but also means of viewing and reading. In this article I draw on Bakhtin’s theory of the chronotope to interrogate how time and space are arranged to constitute the practice of Tilt Brush painting and as a means to understanding the experience of a VR canvas as a space existing both outside and inside a tangible environment. Rethinking notions of time and space in and around VR painting presents the opportunity to disrupt a representational logic and to consider the embodied relationship of painter to painting as a means of producing and probing the threshold between the physical and the virtual in VR painting.
Book reviews
Authors: Janssen E. Das , DeAnda Michael Anthony , Watlington Emily
Published: September 2018

Entering Transmasculinity: The Inevitability of Discourse, Matthew Heinz (2016) Chicago: Intellect, 300 pp., ISBN: 9781783205684, h/bk, $71.66

Queer Game Studies, Bonnie Ruberg and Adrienne Shaw (eds) (2017) Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 336 pp., ISBN: 9781517900366, h/bk, $108.00; ISBN: 9781517900373, p/bk, $27.00

Queering Contemporary Asian American Art, Laura Kina and Jan Christian Bernabe (eds) (2017) Seattle: University of Washington Press, 296 pp., ISBN: 9780295742007, h/bk, $90.00; ISBN: 9780295741376, p/bk, $40.00
Media Review
Authors: Zamantakis Alithia
Published: September 2018

Sense8, created by Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski and J. Michael Straczynski (2015–18, US: Netflix)
‘This Burning Desire is Turning Me to Sin’: The intrapersonal sexual struggles of two Disney singing villains
Authors: McGill Craig M.
Published: September 2018

Using a typological approach to villain characteristics and functions, this article examines two Disney singing villains: Gaston (Beauty and the Beast [Trousdale and Wise, 1991]) and Frollo (The Hunchback of Notre Dame [Trousdale and Wise, 1996]). Both characters face incongruence between private and public identities, hold high social standings in their respective communities and are narcissistic, stopping at nothing to get what they feel is owed to them. Each is framed in a monster/man dichotomy, socially superior, but morally and ethically inferior to the male protagonist of the film. Their songs are used to position them, characterize their inner struggles and provide a gateway into their inner complexities, especially as contrasted to their male protagonist counterparts who sing less than they do.
Locative Media and Sociability: Using Location-Based Social Networks to Coordinate Everyday Life
Authors: Saker Michael , Frith Jordan
Published: September 2018

Foursquare was a mobile social networking application that enabled people to share location with friends in the form of “check-ins.” The visualization of surrounding known social connections as well as unknown others has the potential to impact how people coordinate social encounters and forge new social ties. While many studies have explored mobile phones and sociability, there is a lack of empirical research examining location-based social network’s (LSBNs) from a sociability perspective. Drawing on a dataset of original qualitative research with a range of Foursquare users, the paper examines the application in the context of social coordination and sociability in three ways. First, the paper explores if Foursquare is used to organize certain social encounters, and if so, why. Second, the paper examines the visualization of surrounding social connections and whether this leads to “serendipitous encounters.” Lastly, the paper examines whether the use of Foursquare can produce new social relationships.
Social pedagogy in a human rights context: Lessons from primary schools in Iceland
Authors: Jóhannsdóttir Vilborg , Ingólfsdóttir Jóna G.
Published: September 2018

The profession of social pedagogues (SPs) in Iceland provides services for a diverse group of people, particularly disabled people of all ages within variety of community settings with inclusive and rights-based practices as their primary professional responsibility. Social pedagogues (SPs) in Iceland have been part of the primary school professional community since the 1974 law on compulsory education opened up the schools for disabled children. This article is based on the school part of an ongoing study which focuses on the role, status and professional developmental needs of SPs in Iceland within their diverse work settings in light of the rights-based demands made by the CRPD. The aim of the school part is to explore, describe and interpret the views and understandings of SPs about the social pedagogue as a contributing actor within inclusive primary schools in Iceland. The data is derived from two main sources; the participants provided texts from a half-open questionnaire and focus group interviews. The analysis is performed with the help of the expansive learning theory within the cultural-historical activity theory framework (CHAT). The findings indicate a large mismatch between policy ideals, the SPs’ professional human-rights based values and the reality SPs face within inclusive schools. Thus, we argue that it is important to acknowledge and utilise the SPs professional expertise embedded in the human rights approach and their innovative practices as part of transformative expansive learning culture and collective change effort in accordance with Article 24 in the CRPD.
Pictorial meaning-making in a community project in Helsinki. Freirean interpretations of a dialogical process
Authors: Hannula Aino
Published: September 2018

Participation in public discourse belongs to a democratic citizenship. However, part of the population is excluded from such communal discussion. This paper describes how the photography group Camera Obs., which principally contained unemployed people in Helsinki, created pictorial voices from their own everyday experiences through a dialogical process, rendering them also visible to other people. The research focuses on the group’s activity during the years 2004–6, from the beginning of the project to its first exhibition. As a theoretical background, Paulo Freire’s ideas of dialogue and voice creation, combined with Vygotsky’s and Mezirow’s concept of meaning-making, have been applied. The research is conducted through a participatory action research approach. The material consists of observations, interviews and photos taken by the participants. In describing the advance of the meaning-making, the method of narrative change accounting is used. The paper concludes that the group, through reflective dialogue, created a pictorial voice about the lives and situations of its members. The photo exhibition of Camera Obs. conveyed a powerful message about loneliness and isolation, which reached the spectators of the exhibition. To the participants of the group, the successful work in communal photography, as well as the reciprocity with the audience and the publicity that ensued, gave them the experience and courage to engage in this civic activity.
Information Security of Russia in the Digital Economy: The Economic and Legal Aspects
Authors: FROLOVA Evgenia Evgenevna , POLYAKOVA Tatyana Anatolevna , DUDIN Mihail Nikolaevich , RUSAKOVA Ekaterina Petrovna , KUCHERENKO Petr Aleksandrovich
Published: September 2018

Contemporary realities dictate that technologization, digitalization (transition of the economy and the social sector to digital technologies of functioning and interaction) and the national intellectual capital are the basic competitive advantages of the country that require proper information security. An information security system is a set of corporate rules, standards of work and procedures for ensuring information security formed based on the audit of the company's information system, and the analysis of existing security risks in accordance with requirements of the regulatory documents of the Russian Federation and the provisions of the standards in the field of information security. It is especially important for Russian companies actively interacting with foreign partners. In addressing the problem of information security, the development of the company's unified information security policy occupies a leading place; therefore, this article will be devoted to consideration of these issues.

The authors of the present study proceed from the objective-subjective predetermination of any phenomena and processes of the external world. In this format, the study is based on general scientific methods: systematic analysis and generalization of normative and practical materials; formal and dialectical logic: analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, hypotheses, analogies; and special methods of legal research: comparative-legal and historical-legal, system analysis and interpretation of legal norms.

Based on the analysis, the following conclusions have been made: currently, the most important direction of the national economy development is the protection of vital human and social interests, the key element of which is information security. This study represents the development of a scientific overview of the modern ways to ensure information security in both applied and legal contexts. This article underlines and examines the problems and economic legal features of ensuring information security in Russia. These materials can be used both in preparation of other scientific research and in the development of guidance documents by the power structures.
State Regulation of the Development of the Agro-Industrial Complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Authors: KHADYS Batyrbyek , SIKHIMBAYEVA Dinarа , BOZHKARAULY Altai
Published: September 2018

In the article, we had considered the problems of state regulation of the agro-industrial complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan which include improving the provision of food for the population, maintaining economic parity between agriculture and other branches of the economy, convergence of income levels to agricultural and industrial workers, protecting domestic producers in agro-industrial production, the regulation of the development of the agro-industrial complex is aimed at ensuring food security, the stability of the agro-industrial complex market, the formation of an effective business system, the support of competitive domestic products, and improving the living standards of the rural population through creating conditions for plant management and animal management, processing agricultural raw materials, providing veterinarians and phyto -sanitary safety and technically equip, as well as the development of social and engineering infrastructure. Also the principles and methods of state regulation of the agro-industrial complex are given. The economic and management organizations had proposed measures necessary for state regulation of the agro-industrial complex within the country. The factors that should be taken into account when developing and implementing agrarian policy are indicated.
The Problem of Correlation Between the Criminal Policy Humanization and the Concept of Justice at Imposing Criminal Penalties in the Republic of Kazakhstan
Authors: MASSALIMKYZY Meruyert
Published: September 2018

The article raises the problem of unjustified humanization of criminal legislation and the practice of imposing a punishment. Imposing a punishment as a legal category has been extensively studied in the works of national and foreign scholars specializing in criminal law. However, despite the importance of this institution both for the convict and for the society as a whole, this penal institution remains one of the most problematic ones. The existing conflict between the current criminal policy humanism and the concept of social justice in criminal legislation, the adequacy of a punishment to the social danger of the offense being a part thereof, makes enormous harm to all law enforcement activities. It also causes negative response in the society, thus reasonably attracting a heightened attention of criminologists and experts in criminal law and procedure. The purpose of this work, as the author sees it, is trying to find feasible solutions to one of the most urgent problems of imposing a punishment. Attention is drawn to the fact that the concept of humanism has two aspects and implies, first of all, the protection of interests of law-abiding citizens. The author considers topical issues concerning the observance of the rights of victims through the solution one of the main tasks of criminal law, namely: to restore social justice by imposing a proportionate criminal punishment. Certain provisions of the theory of criminal punishment, as well as the practice of imposing punishment by the court, are studied here. Insufficient development of norms in the current criminal legislation can create problems in law enforcement, which, in turn, can lead to a significant violation of the victims’ rights. The author makes recommendations that can contribute to the improvement of the penal system consistent with the principle of humanism, considering the interests of the victims.
Formation of the Institute of Human Rights in Russia: Historical Aspects and Modernity
Authors: MELNIKOV Viktor Yu. , KOLESNIKOV Yuri A. , KISELEVA Alla V. , DZHAMALOVA Bika B. , NOVITSKAYA Aleksandra I.
Published: September 2018

Without understanding the past can be neither a viable present and no decent future. The appeal of the nation to its history – this is not an attempt to escape from the present and uncertainty about the future. This understanding of who we are, where we came from. Based on our experience, we can confidently move forward. Not happen in the Russian revolution, which way went the history of the world? Can we learn from the past to prevent another disaster? The lessons of history are there – they just need to be able to retrieve. The main lesson we can learn from what happened in 1917 – the need to value human life. Russia of the late XIX – early XX century was an incredible human potential.
Problems and Prospects of Regulation of Water Resources of the Aral Sea Basin
Authors: MUSABEKOV Kambar , NURASHEVA Kulyanda , MERGENBAYEVA Aziza
Published: September 2018

The purpose of the study is to analyze the causes of economic, social and environmental tensions in the development of the Central Asian countries of the Aral Sea basin.

Using the method of economic and geographical research allowed identifying the problems of the region, the causes of depletion of water resources. Although the water-energy and resource potential is sufficient, there is a water deficit due to the irrational use of trans boundary rivers.

As a result of the analysis of global competitiveness and innovation of economies, these countries are classified as the poorest. Measures are proposed for environmental sustainability and biological productivity of the Aral Sea ecosystem.

It is recommended to conduct a full analysis of the legal framework on the Aral Sea basin, inventory of existing legal instruments with a view to eliminating contradictions and discrepancies in the implementation of development programs for the Central Asian region.
Norms of Soft Law as a New Source of Financial Law of Russia
Authors: RUCHKINA Gulnara , EREMIN Sergey G. , ZALYUBOVSKAYA Natalia V. , ROMASHKOVA Irina I. , VENGEROVSKIY Evgeniy L.
Published: September 2018

The goal of this study is the analysis of norms of soft law as a new source of financial law in the Russian Federation. The methodological basis of the research of the problem involves General scientific dialectic method of scientific knowledge, especially legal methods (structural-functional, legal and dogmatic), methods, legal modeling, comparative and historical jurisprudence, as well a generic methods (analysis and synthesis, description, observation, induction and deduction, comparison, generalization, formal logical and systematic). A brief review of research on the topic of ʼsoft lawʼ, a definition of the term ʼsoft lawʼ. Conducted theoretical analysis of the concept of ʼsoft lawʼ. Analyzed the specific use of the norms of soft law as a new source of Finance. The examples and identifies advantages of the use of norms of soft law as a new source of Finance. In General, ʼsoft-lawʼ standards fill in the gaps of legal regulation, both in international and national aspect, complement legal rules by means of references, interpretations or direct reproduction in the official sources of law, and, in some cases, act as a subsidiary regulator of international legal relations. The introduction into the fabric of international financial law, soft law norms, on the one hand, will increase the risks contributing to arbitrarily interpret and apply financial rules, on the other – may cause enough skepticism about the use of norms of soft law as a new source of Finance. However, there is no doubt that relative certainty, is always better than uncertainty. Thus, norms of soft law as a new source of financial law in Russia should be considered as an effective way to reduce the uncertainty in the financial relations system as a real alternative to soft law norms are not so much rules of law, but rather the lack of legal regulation insinuations when the objective need in the settlement.
Kasunanan dan Mangkunegaran di Tengah Pendudukan Jepang
Authors: Hapsari Kris
Published: September 2018

This paper discusses the Kasunanan and Mangkunagaran during the Japanese occupation that was compiled using the historical method using primary sources from ANRI and Mangkunegaran. This article is like a prologue from the story of Kasunanan and Mangkunegaran in 1945-1950, the struggle period of the two Surakarta monarchies which maintained their existence in the midst of the independence revolution. The initial story fragment, a brief description of the situation in Surakarta during the Japanese occupation. This short period considered by the Kasunanan and Mangkunegaran became alignments to Japan. This is one of the reasons why was the anti-self-government group wants Surakarta did not become a special region.
PENGEMBANGAN KAWASAN BUDIDAYA JAGUNG UNTUK PENINGKATAN PEREKONOMIAN KABUPATEN PEMALANG
Authors: Harimurti Eko Fitriono , Munibah Khursatul , Sudadi Untung
Published: September 2018

Pemalang Regency had low economic rate, based on agriculture sector especially food crop sub-sector with Paddy and Maize as main contributor, had a high paddy fields conversion wich decreased the economic rate through Paddy production decreasement. The main objective of this research were to compose the Maize cultivation area development planning for Pemalang Regency economy improvement. The method used in this research were: mapping the Maize cultivation existing area, land suitability and availability evaluation, analysis of economic, marketing and correlation between Maize production with GDP growth and employment absorption. The results showed that there were about 1,804 ha of exsisting Maize cultivation area and 4,276 ha marginally suitable (S3) potential land. The Maize development were be feasible to be continued. Best benifit obtained from the channel that composed by Farmer-Depot-Industry, it gave lowest margin and highest farmer's share. The Maize market in integrated condition. Allocation potential land and 285.66 ha of Perhutani’s area predicted gave 5.94% of agriculture sector increasement and absorb all unemployment in Pemalang Regency.
ANALYZING THE SMOOTH AND STRIATED SPACE IN PASAR CIPUTAT TANGERANG SELATAN
Authors: Permanasari Eka , Tobing Bonardo
Published: September 2018

Striated is seen as a fixed space and carries a sense of border. On the other hand, smooth space is seen as continuous and open interval. However, both terms are always intermingling, at one point smooth can be striated and vice versa. A city can be seen as a striated (border) and as smooth space (urban sprawl). Looking at a strip near Pasar Ciputat, Tangerang Selatan, this paper investigates how space changes function and identity overtime. The strip becomes a good example of analyzing the smooth and striated space practiced in everyday life. This strip is heavily populated by street vendors who has ‘occupying schedule’ and continuously changes the patterns of occupation. They prefer to sell goods on the road instead of in the provided building. By midnight, the road is not accessible as the vendors closed off and sell their goods on the road. In the morning and afternoon, some vendors disappear and their former space has been used by other vendors to sell different goods. Through observation, urban morphological mapping and photographic analysis, this paper uncovers the fluid uses and meaning of the space.
Skuteczne wspieranie Innego – rozważania nad uwarunkowaniami rozwoju zespołów terapeutycznych
Authors: Konieczna Iwona , Smolińska Katarzyna
Published: September 2018

This paper will try to present developmental determinants multi specialist therapeutic teams which support people with disability (multi and trans disciplinary models of therapeutic teams).Developmental analysis of therapeutic teams will include formal, legal, organizational and theoretical aspects (basing on Kwiatkowski professional competences development theory).
Fiscal counter-cyclicality and productive investment: evidence from advanced economies
Authors: Furceri Davide , Jalles João Tovar
Published: September 2018

We use a difference-in-difference approach to 25 industries for 18 advanced economies over the period 1985–2012 to examine the effect of fiscal counter-cyclicality on productive investment: (i) Research and Development (R&D), and (ii) Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The results show that fiscal counter-cyclicality increases R&D expenditure and the share of ICT capital in industries that are more financially constrained. Moreover, the effect is larger during recessions – when financing constraints are more likely to be binding – than during economic expansions. Our statistical method mitigates concerns about omitted variable bias and reverse causality. In addition, the results are robust to different measures of fiscal counter-cyclicality and to the inclusion of several controls.
Evaluating Lean Performance of Indian Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Automotive Sector
Authors: Tiwari Rupesh Kumar , Tiwari Jeetendra Kumar
Published: September 2018

Under new “make in India policy” India has started to become global manufacturing hub and many Indian organizations are looking to implement lean philosophy to gain sustainable strategic benefits over others. Therefore, a need was felt to develop comprehensive lean evaluation system for Indian automotive small & medium sized enterprises in order to measure its present lean status and potential improvements to gain significant strategic advantages. Research started with the identification of various lean factors and associated sub factors through literature survey. Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process was applied to assign weight to various extracted lean factors and sub factors because of its evident merits. Fuzzy comprehensive analysis was applied to assess present status of Indian automotive small and medium sized enterprises, where lean does not practice. Lean performance of Indian automotive small & medium sized enterprises was ascertained as poor. The proposed model could be useful to guiding the Indian automotive small and medium sized enterprises in judicial selection of lean practices to gain significant sustainable strategic advantage over its competitors. Novelty of this research is to emerge from the development of comprehensive lean measurement model for Indian small and medium sized enterprises in automotive sector.
Effects of zinc acetate and cucurbit[6]uril on PP composites: crystallization behavior, foaming performance and mechanical properties
Authors: Zhou Yuhui , He Li , Gong Wei
Published: September 2018

In this study, polypropylene (PP) foams were prepared with 1.0 wt% of cucurbit[6]uril (Q[6]), zinc acetate (Zn(Ac)2), Zn@Q[6] (a supramolecular compound synthesized from Q[6] and Zn(Ac)2), or a mixture of Zn(Ac)2 and Q[6] (weight ratio of 1:1) through injection molding in the presence of a chemical blowing agent, azodicarbonamide. The effect of the additions on the crystallization behavior and foaming performance of PP and the mechanical characterizations of the foaming samples were determined. The results showed that the additions can change the crystallization type from homogeneous to heterogeneous, increase the crystallization rate and shrink the size but increase the density of spherulites. Among the additions, Q[6] most significantly altered the crystallization properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that the PP foaming performance can be improved by Zn(Ac)2 addition at a lower temperature (175°C); however, further increasing the temperature had an undesirable effect. Q[6] exhibited the optimum foaming improvement effect on PP in a wide temperature range (175–195°C). Adding nanoparticles also enhanced the tensile properties, flexural strength and impact strength of foaming PP at low temperatures. However, with increasing temperature, the poor cell structure demonstrated undesirable effects in terms of tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength.
MiR-128/SOX7 alleviates myocardial ischemia injury by regulating IL-33/sST2 in acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Yang Jinhua , Hu Fudong , Fu Xin , Jiang Zhengming , Zhang Wencai , Chen Kui
Published: September 2018

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) induced by ischemia hypoxia severely threatens human life. Cell apoptosis of neurocytes was identified to mediate the pathogenesis, while the potential mechanism was still unclear. Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used to establish the AMI rat model. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot were performed to detect gene expression in mRNA and protein levels, respectively. A TUNEL assay was carried out to determine cell apoptosis. The relationship between SRY-related HMG-box (SOX7) and miR-128 was verified using luciferase reporter assay. The expression of SOX7 was decreased, while miR-128 was increased in AMI rats and ischemia hypoxia (IH) induced H9c2 cells. Hypoxia induction significantly promoted the expression of interleukin (IL)-33 and soluble ST2 (sST2), and also promoted cell apoptosis. MiR-128 targets SOX7 to regulate its expression. Down-regulated miR-128 reversed the effects of IH on expression of SOX7, sST2 and cell apoptosis, while down-regulated sST2 abolished the effects of miR-128 inhibitor. In addition, overexpressed IL-33 abolished the effects of miR-128 inhibitor that induced by IH on the expression of SOX7 and cell apoptosis. In vivo experiments validated the expression of miR-128 on cell apoptosis. The present study indicated that miR-128 modulated cell apoptosis by targeting SOX7, which was mediated by IL-33/sST2 signaling pathway.