bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Perforated Ceiling on Floor Impact Sound Insulation in Reinforced Concrete Buildings
Authors: Kim Inho , Ryu Jongkwan , Lee Sungchan
Published: July 2019

In this study, the influence of a perforated ceiling on the floor impact sound was investigated. The floor impact sound measurements were conducted both with and without suspended ceiling including the perforated and nonperforated panel, using heavy and light weight impact sources in
a reinforced concrete test building. The results indicated that the perforated ceiling with and without absorption sheet greatly reduced the resonance of floor impact sound by the non-perforated ceiling. However, the perforated ceiling without an absorption sheet did not improve the single
number quantity (SNQ, rubber ball: L′iA,Fmax,V.T and tapping machine: L′n,w) for the floor impact sound insulation. The perforated ceiling with attached absorption sheet produced SNQs of 2 dB lower and higher than that produced by the non-perforated
ceiling for heavy and light weight impact sources, respectively. It was also found that the improvement in the floor impact sound insulation after the installation of the perforated ceiling was related to the mass-spring-mass system, rather than the absorption area of the receiving room.
Preformulation Study of Pugun Tano (Curanga fel-terrae [Lour.] Merr) Ethanolic Extract Granule Mass in Capsule as Hepatoprotective Drug
Authors: Harahap Urip , Marianne Marianne , Yuandani Yuandani , Laila Lia
Published: July 2019

BACKGROUND: Pugun tano extract had been studied for its effect as hepatoprotector. However, the usage of the plant in the form of extract has a limitation, especially if the extract is consumed by the people due to the unpleasant taste and odour. Then, the extract needs to be transformed into a particular dosage form, such as a capsule. But before the capsule can be produced, a preformulation study of pugun tano extract into a granule mass in capsule need to be evaluated.
AIM: The study aimed to formulate the ethanolic extract of pugun tano (Curanga fel-terrae (Lour.) Merr) as granule mass in the capsule dosage form.
METHODS: The pugun tano ethanolic extract was formulated in several steps included preparation of dry extract using coating method with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and granule mass production. The excipients used for the granule mass were lactose granules (made with tapioca starch using wet granulation), corn starch (made with 3 concentrations of 5% (F1), 7.5% (F2) and 10% (F3)), talcum, magnesium stearate, methylparaben, and propylparaben. The granule mass was evaluated for the bulk density, tapped density, inter-particle porosity, Carr’s index, Hausner ratio, angle of repose, and flowability.
RESULTS: The results showed that all of the formulae passed the requirement of the preformulation test. The bulk density of the granule mass was 0.79 – 0.86 g/ml; the tapped density was 0.88 – 0.90 g/ml; the inter-particle porosity was 0.03 – 0.14; the Carr’s index was 2.71 – 11.94%; the Hausner ratio was 1.09-1.12; the angle of repose was 26.10 – 28.90°; and the flowing time was 5.97 – 6.63 seconds. All of the formulae showed good flowability and free-flowing properties.
CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the obtained formula
The Vascular Endothelium in Patients with Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever
Authors: Mutiara  , Koh Stephen C. L. , Bachtiar Adang , Hariman Herman
Published: July 2019

BACKGROUND: Dengue fever is the most serious consequence of mosquito-borne infection worldwide. The pathophysiology of DHF in human is complex, which involve endothelial cell activation and impaired endothelial barrier leading to plasma leakage triggering the activation of the haemostatic system. The increased vascular permeability may lead to hypovolemia, hypotension and shock, which is life-threatening.
AIM: The objective of the study was to determine the effects of dengue haemorrhagic fever on the vascular endothelium.
METHODS: Fifty patients (males 34, females 16), were recruited, Grade 1 (n = 41), Grade 2 (n = 6), Grade 3 (n = 2) and Grade 4 (n = 1) DHF. Blood sampling was performed at the febrile, defervescence and convalescent phases for the determination of haemoglobin, haematocrit, platelets, prothrombin fragment F1 + 2, Von Willebrand Factor (VWF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and D-dimer levels. Fifteen normal subjects were recruited to serve as normal controls.
RESULTS: The patients aged between 4 and 54 years old. Grades 1 & 2 DHF showed no significant differences in the parameters studied. However, thrombocytopenia, elevated F1 + 2, VWF, VEGF and D-dimer levels were evident in febrile, defervescence and convalescent phases suggesting endothelial activation and plasma leakage. Pleural effusion was observed only in severe DHF. The three patients with Grades 3 and 4 DHF had similar study results. No mortality was recorded in the study.
CONCLUSION: In dengue haemorrhagic fever, the vascular endothelium is activated, causing plasma leakage triggering the activation of the haemostatic system creating a hypercoagulable and enhanced fibrinolytic state evident by marked fibrinolysis.
Developing Plot Level Database on Land Accretion: A Case Study on Sandwip Island of Bangladesh
Authors: Nabila Irtifa Alam
Published: July 2019

Erosion and accretion are continuously changing the shape, size and configuration of Sandwip Island of Bangladesh. Plot level database are very significant in order to document these changes from micro levels. For this purpose, an attempt has been made to develop plot level database about land accretion of the Island since 1913 through overlapping Mauza maps using GIS (Geographic Information System) data. Here a case study named Thak Kuchiamora mauza, experiencing alluvion located in the eastern side of the Sandwip Island has been presented from micro level. Both primary and secondary data have been used for this study. CS (Cadastral Survey) and RS (Revisional Settlement) mauza maps available from DLRS (Directorate of land records and Surveys) office has been collected and overlaid on satellite images (2016) so that the accretion context and circumstances can be detected. Plot level information has been extracted from collected mauza maps and integrating with present land cover features changing scenario has been analysed. During cadastral survey 172 plots have been recorded and in the Revisional settlement operation it increased into 502 plots due to land fragmentation. From 1970 to 2000 period the area accreted about 220 m from southwest to northeast direction. Analyzing accreted database over different period it has been concluded that from Revisional settlement operation (1970) to 2016 it has been recorded that the mauza has increased about 1185 m from west to east. The newly formed landmass of the area hasn’t stable enough for permanent land use yet.
Management Strategies for Improving the Functionality of Tertiary Education in Nigeria
Authors: Asiyai Romina Ifeoma , Okoro Patience
Published: July 2019

This study investigates management strategies for improving the functionality of tertiary education in Nigeria. One research question was asked and answered and three hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 alpha level. The sample of the study comprised 900 respondents selected through the simple random sampling technique from six tertiary institutions in Delta and Edo States of Nigeria. The questionnaire was the instrument for collection of data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics in the forms of mean and standard deviation were used to answer the only research question. The three hypotheses were tested using one way analysis of variance. The results obtained showed that improved funding, monitoring and adoption of best practice in service delivery would help to improve the functionality of tertiary education in Delta and Edo States. Staffs of University, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education did not differ significantly in their mean perception scores for any of the identified management strategy for improving the functionality of tertiary education. The study recommended that governments of Delta and Edo States should give adequate priority to tertiary education by ensuring that enough fund is allocated and disbursed to the institutions for proper management of affairs and improved functionality.
Early Incorporation of Entrepreneurship Mindset in An Engineering Curriculum
Authors: Andalibi Mehran
Published: July 2019

In the study herein aimed at incorporating the entrepreneurship mindset early on in the engineering curriculum of undergraduate students via a final project of an introductory programming course with MATLAB. Students were asked to find a need on campus, in the society, or in the market with a business potential and write a standalone application to solve that problem. Prior to the start of project, students were required to study an online module developed by KEEN on generating new ideas in which they learned the definitions and differences between an idea and an opportunity, and different methods of recognizing business opportunities, followed by online quizzes. The study found that students were interested in learning about entrepreneurship and using the technical skills learned in class to solve a real-world problem with potential business opportunities; they enjoyed the course material more and it reinforced their learning of previous topics; and more importantly, it attracted students’ attentions toward self-employment. Pre- and post-assessment of creative thinking using standard AACU rubrics also showed a significant increase in the levels of students’ creative thinking skills due to participation in this project
Sportsmanship Orientations of University Students Receiving Education in Sports
Authors: Yanik Mehmet
Published: July 2019

The aim of this study was to examine the sportsmanship orientations possessed by university students who were receiving training in the field of sports education with regard to certain variables. The study was designed in the survey model. The “Sportsmanship Orientation Scale” was applied to a total of 566 students, selected with the random sampling method, studying at Balıkesir University.

The research findings revealed that the mean sportsmanship orientation level of the participants was 3.45±0.63. A significant difference in favour of female participants was observed for the scale as a whole and in the subdimensions. With regard to the variable of department attended, it was determined that students studying in the sport management department had higher levels of sportsmanship. According to the class level variable, it was determined that students in the third grade had the lowest levels of sportsmanship orientations. In the “respect for opponents” subdimension, it was determined that participants who played team sports had higher levels of sportsmanship orientations.

In conclusion, with the aim of increasing sportsmanship orientation levels of university students receiving training in the field of sports sciences, it is recommended that more attention should be given to the subjects of sports ethics and values education in course curricula.
Twin-screw Extrusion Processing of Plant-Based Blends Using Graded Levels of High Protein Fermented Soybean Meal (FSBM)
Authors: Fallahi Parisa , Rosentrater Kurt A. , Muthukumarappan K.
Published: July 2019

Fast-paced growth in global aquaculture has elevated concerns about the high costs of fish farming production and potential water pollution. Thus, finding eco-friendly and more sustainable alternative protein sources for fish diets is of vital importance to the industry. A twin-screw extrusion processing study was performed using three ingredient blends formulated with graded levels of high protein fermented soybean meal (FSBM) (0, 80% and 100% db fishmeal replacement) along with calculated amounts of other ingredients to meet the rainbow trout diets’ requirements. Increasing the FSBM content from 0% to 100% resulted in a substantial increase in brightness, greenness, and yellowness, and a decrease in bulk density, water absorption index, and unit density (UD) values of the extrudates by 12.5%, 73%, 30%, 7.3%, 27.5%, and 10%, respectively. Compared to the control diet (100% fishmeal-based), extrudate moisture contents increased by 15.2% and 22% for the diets containing 80 and 100% FSBM, respectively; although no change was observed by increasing FSBM from 80 to 100%. The highest water solubility index (WSI) was obtained for 80% FSBM; however, further increasing FSBM did not influence the WSI significantly. All extrudates exhibited low water activity and high pellet durability values (less than 0.5 and more than 99.5%, respectively). The most buoyant extrudates were obtained using total FSBM inclusion, with UD and expansion ratio values of nearly 660 kg/m3 and 1.3, respectively. Overall, results indicated that FSBM could be a promising alternative protein in vegetable-based blends.
Agricultural Land Use Change under Migration Context: An Evidence from a Vietnamese Village
Authors: Nguyen Thi Minh Khue , Nguyen Thi Dien , Lebailly Philippe
Published: July 2019

Migration has no doubt been a crucial factor in contribution to national economic growth and development in rural areas. However, it impacts on agriculture and agricultural land keeps debate. Unlike the prediction of land abandon and de-agrarianization, evidence from a Vietnamese village shows that majority of rural households keep their paddy field and continue their agricultural production rather than converted it into other purposes. While none households in the village absolutely leave their farming land fallowed, there were some households partially abandon their land.  Possessing to land is more for investment than agricultural production. Agricultural land and farm work are always a stable resource, a guarantee of subsistence or a safety net for rural people which would boosting their own autonomy.
Coordination and Hyperrationality
Authors: Weirich Paul ,   ProtoSociology Project
Published: July 2019

Margaret Gilbert (1990) argues that although the rationality of the agents in a standard coordination problem does not suffice for their coordination, a social convention of coordination, understood as the agents’ joint acceptance of a principle requiring their coordination, does the job. Gilbert’s argument targets agents rational in the game-theoretic sense, which following Sobel (1994: Chap. 14), I call hyperrational agents. I agree that hyperrational agents may fail to coordinate in some cases despite the obvious benefits of coordination. However, I add that fully rational agents, who rationally exercise rationality’s permissions, may coordinate in these cases without jointly accepting a principle of coordination. I make this point using a model that adopts common simplifying assumptions about agents and their coordination problems.
The Bounds of Morality
Authors: Helmreich Jeffrey S. ,   ProtoSociology Project
Published: July 2019

Margaret Gilbert’s ‘Three Dogmas about Promising’ is a paradigm-shifting contribution to the literature, not only for its account of promissory obligation based on joint commitment, but for its equally important focus on two properties of such obligation, which her account uniquely and elegantly captures: first, that the duty to keep a promise is necessary—the obligation stands regardless of the content or morality of the promise—and, second, that it is directed, with the promisee having unique standing to demand performance. A related point, implied by Gilbert’s argument, is that moral requirements, alone, can never have those properties. Here I challenge that point, arguing that moral requirements, under the right circumstances, can give rise to necessary and directed obligations, after all, and I propose one such moral obligation of which the duty to keep a promise may well be an instance. Nevertheless, I conclude, it may not provide as plausible a basis of promissory obligation as joint commitment.
From Multiple Modernities to Multiple Globalizations
Authors: Ben-Rafael Eliezer ,   ProtoSociology Project
Published: July 2019

We draw from Eisenstadt’s (2002) conceptualization of multiple modernities which he pro­posed to analyze processes marking modernity and their different versions in contemporary societies. These processes do not delete all pre-existing orientations, value affinities and social arrangements, and while modernity is recognizable everywhere, modern societies also differ at other respects. We formulate a similar contention for globalization. We point to three interacting and intermingling movers of social reality—globalization, multiculturalism and the national principle—which concretize everywhere, and according to contexts and a priori features, specific models qualifying for the notion of multiple globalizations. Beyond the variety of multiple globalizations, this notion underlines the newness of our time and hints the “next society”.
The Meaning(s) of Structural Rationality
Authors: Gutwald Rebecca , Zuber Niina ,   ProtoSociology Project
Published: July 2019

Julian Nida-Rümelin’s philosophical approach to rationality is radical: It transcends the reductive narrowness of instrumental rationality without denying its practical impact. Actions exist which are carried out in accordance to utility maximizing or even self-interest maximizing. Yet not all actions are to be understood in these terms. Actions that are oriented around social roles, for example, cannot count as irrational just because no underlying maximizing heuristics are found. The concept of bounded rationality tries to embed instrumental rationality into a form of life to highlight limits of our cognitive capabilities and selective perceptions. However, the agent is still situated within the realm of cost-benefit reasoning. The idea of social preferences (e.g. Rabin, Fehr and Schmidt) or meta-preferences (Sen) is insufficient to reflect the plurality of human actions. According to Nida-Rümelin, those concepts ignore the plurality of reasons which drive agency. Hence, they try to fit agency into a theory which undermines humanity. His theory of structural rationality acknowledges daily patterns of interaction and meaning.
Steps to a Naturalistic Account of Human Deontology
Authors: Carassa Antonella , Colombetti Marco ,   ProtoSociology Project
Published: July 2019

In this paper we outline a theory of human deontology from a naturalistic perspective. In doing so we aim to explain how human beings deal with deontic relations (like obligations and rights) thanks to a specialised psychological infrastructure, which evolved to support human cooperation. This infrastructure includes a repertoire of emotions that play a crucial role in evaluating the conformity of actions relative to a deontic relation, in displaying an agent’s attitude toward their own actions or those of their deontic partners, and in motivating suitable behavioural responses. Finally we discuss the special case of interpersonal deontology, analysing its properties and relating it to Gilbert’s concept of joint commitment.
Joint Commitment Model of Collective Beliefs
Authors: Bouvier Alban ,   ProtoSociology Project
Published: July 2019

For almost three decades, Margaret Gilbert has introduced a new account of social facts taking “joint commitments”, not only explicit but also implicit, as the cement of sociality properly understood. Gilbert has used this original account of collective phenomena to clarify a variety of issues, both in the philosophy of rights and in the philosophy of the social sciences. This paper focuses on the latter domain; it argues that although Durkheim and Mauss are central references in her pioneering work, On Social Facts, Gilbert’s model has been underestimated in the fields of sociology and anthropology. This may come from the fact that Gilbert provides the reader with only imaginary examples. To overcome this difficulty, Bouvier investigates several historical examples in two related domains:, the political and the religious. Another reason for this relative lack of interest may come from Gilbert’s very unconventional interpretation of the Durkheimian explanation of social beliefs. Although, on the one hand, her “contractualist” (or Rousseauist) interpretation permits a sharp illumination of certain social facts, it may, on the other hand, impede the recognition of the specificity of other kinds of beliefs, which sociologists and anthropologists—including Durkheim—usually consider as collective beliefs. Bouvier, by contrast, introduces alternative models, illustrating them with similar, although ultimately distinct from previous, historical examples.
Remarks on Conversation and Negotiated Collective Belief
Authors: Schmitt Frederick F. ,   ProtoSociology Project
Published: July 2019

Gilbert (1989) and Gilbert and Priest (2013) have argued that paradigmatic conversations involve a collectivity of the conversers who participate in the conversation, in the sense that the conversers put forth and negotiate proposals of propositions to be collectively believed by them. Here I explore the plausibility of this Negotiated Collective Belief (NCB) thesis. I begin by supporting a more basic claim, that the nature of conversation itself entails that a conversation always involves a collectivity of the conversers. I then endorse and supplement Gilbert and Priest’s argument for the NCB thesis. I trace resistance to the thesis to the view that collective belief plays no important role in two primary social ends of conversation, exchanging information and making personal connections. I concede that this is so, but I endorse the view (with roots in Taylor 1985) that collective belief does play an important role in a different primary social end of conversation, the creation of a public space of thought. Thus, the NCB thesis is supported by argument and contributes to an explanation of how conversation fulfills one of its primary social ends.
Telling and Mutual Obligations in Communicative Action
Authors: Jankovic Marija ,   ProtoSociology Project
Published: July 2019

In telling the utterer enters into a relationship with an addressee. This relationship appears to be a normative one, i.e., it entails that an utterer has certain obligations to the addressee. But how can an act of telling create such obligations? In this paper, I propose what I call a collectivist account of telling. On this account, the core notion of telling is that of an utterer’s contribution to a joint action. Margaret Gilbert’s rich work on joint action emphasizes the obligations agents of joint action have to one another. This normatively robust view of joint action, coupled with the conception of core telling as a participatory act, points toward the possibility of explaining the obligations speakers have to their addressees as, at least in some cases, the sort of obligations participants in joint action quite generally have to each other to act in a way appropriate to the joint activity.
Social Complexes and Aspects
Authors: Baxter Donald L. M. ,   ProtoSociology Project
Published: July 2019

Is a social complex identical to many united people or is it a group entity in addition to the people? For specificity, I will assume that a social complex is a plural subject in Margaret Gilbert’s sense. By appeal to my theory of Aspects, according to which there can be qualitative difference without numerical difference, I give an answer that is a middle way between metaphysical individualism and metaphysical holism. This answer will enable answers to two additional metaphysical questions: (i) how can two social complexes have all the same members and (ii) how can there be a social complex of social complexes?
Harm to Self or Others
Authors: Pedersen Viki Møller Lyngby ,   Department of Philosophy, Florida State University
Published: July 2019

Opponents of paternalism have sought to formulate non-paternalistic arguments for some seemingly reasonable but apparently paternalistic policies. This article addresses two such non-paternalistic arguments—the public charge argument and the psychic harm argument. The gist of both arguments is that a person’s imprudent or risky behavior often affects the interests of others adversely, and that this justifies restricting his or her behavior in various ways. The article shows that both arguments face important problems. It thus throws serious doubt on the prospect of holding on to apparently sound and well-founded policies whilst at the same time avoiding paternalism.
Editorial
Authors: Weber Mary Beth
Published: July 2019

You may likely be aware that ALCTS, LITA, and LLAMA have been discussing the possibility of a merger. A question that I have frequently received (and for which I myself do not have an answer) after this information was shared with members is about the future of LRTS. Although my term as editor ends in June 2020, the future of LRTS is also very important to me. It is one of our division’s flagship publications and respected within our profession.
Using the WorldCat API to Develop Data-Driven Decision-Making for Gifts-in-Kind
Authors: Swanson Juleah , White Philip B.
Published: July 2019

In practice, evaluation and acceptance of books donated to a library (gifts-in-kind) often lack the same data-driven decision-making that libraries apply to purchased materials. Factors of “specialness” or “uniqueness” that are important components of why libraries still seek donations are not necessarily data-driven. This practice may be especially true for items located within a library’s general collection, rather than special collections or archives. The research presented here develops new methods that support data-driven decision-making in evaluating gifts-in-kind, particularly for items for the general collection. The authors focus on the concept of rarity and geographic scarcity using OCLC holdings, the WorldCat API, and geospatial methods. They retroactively examined monographs added to the general collection as gifts over a ten-year period at the University of Colorado Boulder (UCB) that are an initial dataset of sixteen thousand or more books. The majority of items are neither unique or rare in holdings, nor are they geographically scarce. However, some are, and the shared characteristics of many of these rare or geographically scarce items may be relevant to Area Studies faculty, students, and researchers. While the results of this study are localized in scope, the methods developed could be easily replicated by libraries seeking to evaluate uniqueness and proximity of current or future gifts-in-kind with high efficiency and objectivity.
Book Review: Digital Preservation in Libraries: Preparing for a Sustainable Future (An ALCTS Monograph)
Authors: Goslen Anna
Published: July 2019

Digital preservation is an area that presents unique challenges due to the field’s relative youth and its rapid evolution. This book will inform institutions and professionals hoping to implement or improve their digital preservation programs by sharing insights gained by those engaged with digital preservation projects, tools, and strategies in recent years.
Lithuanian nationhood theatre through post-colonial gaze
Authors: Vasinauskaitė Rasa
Published: July 2019

In the development of Lithuanian theatre, we find a number of facts and phenomena that can only be understood from a post-colonial perspective. Especially during the first independence, Soviet and even early post-Soviet periods, the discourse of theatre history and criticism felt a constant friction between “alien” and “own” aesthetic and ideological doctrines, between cosmopolitan and national [theatre] narratives. In this article, the origins of the national theatre are associated with the movement of national liberation from the Russian Empire at the end of the 19th century and the movement of amateur theatre (the Lithuanian evenings) as a process of ethnic, linguistic and cultural decolonization. Amateur theatre movement united cultural and secular intelligentsia and strengthened its role in shaping the idea of historical, cultural and linguistic identity, later realized in the national theatre model. However, the National/State Theatre, established in 1920/1922 as a representative institution of the statehood and cultural identity of independent Lithuania, seemed to be “stuck” from different cultural influences, schools, aesthetic currents and spoke badly Lithuanian. Sporadically created by amateurs and more or less professional artists who left Russian theatrical schools, the national Lithuanian theatre has formed from the beginning as a complex body combining imperial and popular models. Imperial – because with the experience and impressions of such theatre and with such understanding of its social and artistic value, its future directors returned to Lithuania from Moscow and St. Petersburg, and popular, democratic – because intended for various social and ethnic groups, but speaking Lithuanian, it had to develop both aesthetic and patriotic feelings of its audience. The politicization of the State Theatre as a representative institution (especially after the introduction of the authoritarian Antanas Smetona power in 1926 and the influence of the Nationalist Party in all areas of culture) influenced the “crucial collision” of these two models in both the performances and their public/ critical reception. At the same time, these two models and their friction can be understood as one of the specific features of the young Lithuanian national/nationhood theatre: the stage reflected a long, but unrealized, acculturation and assimilation of the nation, while the often infertile search for national scenic expression reflected not only an attempt to liberate from the colonial/imperial past, but also the complexity and contradiction of this process.
Contemporary theatre for children as the specific form of performing arts
Authors: Balevičiūtė Ramunė
Published: July 2019

While theatre for children and young audiences is still fighting for equal rights in the art and research communities, this article seeks to present contemporary children’s theatre as a separate and equal form of performing arts. It aims to show that the particularities are determined by the choice of topics and means of expression aimed at cognitive abilities of different age groups and that adult support is necessary for the children to experience and process the presentation and topics shown. Seeking to introduce examples of best practices, the essay analyses performances presented at the KITOKS international festival for children and youth, organized in Lithuania since 2011, as well as dance performances for babies created by the choreographer Birutė Banevičiūtė. The article demonstrates that performances for babies and older children are uniquely different and their creation requires specific knowledge and abilities. The variety of performance forms shows the inadequacy of the “family performance” designation still popular in Lithuania.
Interactyvity in theatre: a feature of performance structure or an outcome of communication process?
Authors: Meilutytė Monika
Published: July 2019

Nowadays, interactivity often serves as a way to make cultural products more attractive for the audience. Due to the growing popularity of immersive theatre and theatre makers’ interest in digital technologies, interactivity became again a relevant issue in theatre context. However, there is a need to revise the definition of it. Therefore, this article, at first, discusses the boundaries of the term relying on the previous research, later it presents a common perspective on interactivity in theatre as a feature of performance structure and, finally, suggests a new approach to interactivity as an outcome of communication process. According to the latter perspective, creators of performances become only initiators of interactivity and theatre audience are real determiners.
Intermedial deconstruction of gender and representation of transgender in Lithuanian theatre: case study of the performance “Trans Trans Trance”
Authors: Tumanovičiūtė Ieva
Published: July 2019

This paper analyses the intermedial representation of transgender and gender deconstruction in the performance “Trans Trans Trance” (2017), created by Lithuanian director Kamilė Gudmonaitė and actresses Dovilė Kundrotaitė, Jovita Jankelaitytė and Adelė Šuminskaitė. The performance has features of the feminist theatre and not only explores the gender of woman and transgender identity but also interconnects different arts and media. Several approaches – feminist criticism, transgender studies, queer theory and the concept of intermediality – have been applied to study this performance. The research results reveal that the fragmentary performance narrative is composed of different episodes and is based on intermedial strategies. They allow to reflect gender of woman and gender roles, that are implied by society norms and could limit individual choices. Also, they highlight a complicated interaction between specific body, gender and identity. Moreover, the hybrid transgender image, created by various media, avoids stereotypization of transgender representation. It also emphasizes that part of the society think about transgender people like about dangerous others while they just want to be themselves and participate in the society.
Character as a pose
Authors: Renevytė Rimgailė
Published: July 2019

The article discusses the transformation of actor-character relationship in “Lokis” (LNDT, 2017, dir. Łukasz Twarkowski). Within the digital reality produced and reproduced on the scene, the character is no longer created by the interaction between the actor and dramaturgy but between various theatrical and virtual means of mediation. It is claimed that in this performance, the actor’s personality and individuality are no longer as significant as his external and physical or mechanical functions. The actor himself becomes a virtual media broadcaster. It is attempted to show that digital media excessively used in the performance multiplies and magnifies actor’s image on such a scale that the “original” living and real person himself becomes virtual and fictitious. In other words, the actor himself becomes a character which is already re-produced. Since the actor-character relationship is established as a mediated relationship in the first place, virtuality as such in Lokis becomes the basis and possibility of actor-character co-presence on the scene.
Role of nuclear actin filaments in DNA repair dynamics
Authors: Caridi Christopher P , Plessner Matthias , Grosse Robert , Chiolo Irene
Published: July 2019

Actin filaments (F-actin) have well-known functions in the cytoplasm, including generating forces for cell movement and enabling myosin-driven dynamics of vesicles and mRNAs. In addition, the recent development of innovative tools for F-actin detection have revealed dynamic and transient filaments in the nuclei, which form in response to specific stimuli. Here we provide an overview of the functions of F-actin and myosins in nuclei, with a focus on their role in DNA repair and genome stability. We emphasize recent discoveries of nuclear F-actin driving the relocalization of heterochromatic repair sites to the nuclear periphery for ‘safe' homologous recombination (HR) repair of double-strand breaks (DSBs). F-actin also promotes repair focus clustering and DSB resection in euchromatin, facilitating HR progression. We highlight regulatory mechanisms specialized for actin polymerization during DNA replication and repair, and emphasize recent studies revealing alternative motors for the directional movement of repair sites. Together, these discoveries challenge previous models that actin is substantially monomeric in the nucleus and that DSBs move via Brownian motion, revealing a complex network of dynamic filaments, motors and regulators, coordinating chromatin dynamics with repair progression.
Honey Bee Products Marketing Practices: Challenges and Opportunities in and around Maksegnit Town, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Chanie Demissie , Melese Getnet , Ayalew Habtamu
Published: July 2019

The study was conducted in Amhara region Maksegnit town north Gondar Ethiopia with the objective of investigating honey bee products marketing practice; opportunities and constraints. The data was collected from 40 households from four PAs by using pretested semi structure questionnaire. The collected data revealed that the major products of honey bee are honey (67.5%) and the rest (32.5%) colony itself. The major reason of keeping bees in the study area is for income source. The value obtained by ranking index revealed that middlemen, tej (a mead or honey wine) houses and retailer are the three major honey buyers with the index values of 0.30, 0.24 and 0.21, respectively. The price of honey is majorly governed by quality and color of the honey with index values of 0.4 and 0.3, respectively. The highest and the lowest price of honey in the study area was found to be 133.50 ± 6.222 and 69.25 ± 12.483 Ethiopian birr (ETB) for white and black honey, respectively. Lack of road, lack of materials for measuring the quantity of honey and the variation in the color of the honey were found to be the three major constraints of honey marketing with the index value of 0.16 of 0.143 and 0.141, respectively. The major challenge for marketing of bee colony is unavailability of organized marketing place. The Increment in number of unemployed youth, increment in price of honey and colony and the high demand of honey and colony in the area are the three major opportunities available to be engaged in beekeeping sector in the study area. To alleviate challenges of bee product and colony marketing, the government should provide important inputs and awareness should be created for the farmers.
Review of Bayesian Analysis in Additive Hazards Model
Authors: Ernesto Alvarez, Enrique , Luis Riddick, Maximiliano
Published: July 2019

In Survival Analysis, the focus of interest is a time T* until the occurrence of some event. A set of explanatory variables (denoted by a vector Z) is considered to analyze if there is a relationship between any of them and T*. Accordingly, the ``hazard function'' is defined: \[ \lambda(t,z) := \lim_{\Delta \downarrow 0} \frac{P[T\leq t+ \Delta \vert T >t,Z=z]}{\Delta} .\] Several models are defined based on this, as is the case of the additive model (among others). Bayesian techniques allow to incorporate previous knowledge or presumption information about the parameters into the model. This area grows extensively since the computationally techniques increase, giving rise to powerful Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods, which allow to generate random samples from the desired distributions. The purpose of this article is to offer a summary of the research developed in Bayesian techniques to approach the additive hazard models.
Comparing Zero-inflated Poisson, Zero-inflated Negative Binomial and Zero-inflated Geometric in Count Data with Excess Zero
Authors: Adarabioyo M. I. , Ipinyomi R. A.
Published: July 2019

Count data often violate the assumptions of a normal distribution due to the fact that they are bounded by their lowest value which is zero. The Poison distribution is sometimes suggested but when the assumption of equal mean and variance is violated due to over-dispersion and presence of zeros we tend to look in the direction of other models. Zero-inflated data falls in this category. The zero-inflated and hurdle models have been found to fit this scenario. The proportions of zero in the data often affect the choice of the models. Our study used the Monte Carlo design to sample 1000 cases from positively skewed distribution with 1.25 as mean vector and 0.10 as zero-inflation parameter. The data was analysed using the method of the maximum likelihood estimation. The Zero-Inflated Poisson, Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial and Zero-Inflated Geometric were fitted; the standard error and Akaike Information Criterion were obtained as measures of model validation with ZIP outperformed ZINB and ZIG.
Antimicrobial Proteins: Key Components of Innate Immunity
Authors: Prasad Bishun Deo , Sahni Sangita , Ranjan Tushar , Kumari Diksha
Published: July 2019

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are the small ubiquitous self-defence products which are extensively distributed in plants. They can be classified into several groups, including thionins, defensins, snakins, lipid transfer proteins, glycine-rich proteins, cyclotides,  and hevein-type proteins. AMPs are important mediators of an innate host defence system, with antimicrobial activities against a broad spectrum of microorganisms. AMPs can be extracted and isolated from different plants and plant organs such as stems, roots, seeds, flowers and leaves. They perform various physiological defensive mechanisms to eliminate viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, and so could be used as therapeutic and preservative agents.
Risk Assessment of Specific Strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus Used as "Other Substances"
Authors: Yazdankhah Siamak , Grahek-Ogden Danica , Eckner Karl , Kapperud Georg , Lassen Jørgen , Narvhus Judith , Nesbakken Truls , Robertson Lucy , Rosnes Jan Thomas , Skjerdal Olaug Taran , Skjerve Eystein , Vold Line , Wasteson Yngvild
Published: July 2019

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM) has, at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet; NFSA), assessed the risk of "other substances" in food supplements sold in Norway. These risk assessments will provide NFSA with the scientific basis for regulation of the addition of “other substances” to food supplements and other foods.

"Other substances" are described in the food supplement directive 2002/46/EC as substances other than vitamins or minerals that have a nutritional and/or physiological effect. It is added mainly to food supplements, but also to other foods. VKM has not in this series of risk assessments of "other substances" evaluated any claimed beneficial effects from these substances, only possible adverse effects.

The present report is a risk assessment of Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11 ND, Lactobacillus rhamnosus W71, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lr-329 based on previous risk assessments and also publications retrieved from literature search.

The risk of the Lactobacillus strains listed above was assessed for the general population. However, in previous assessments of probiotics published by VKM, concerns have been identified for specific groups. Therefore, the risk was assessed for the age group with immature gastro-intestinal microbiota (age group 0-36 months), population with mature gastro-intestinal microbiota (>3 years) and vulnerable groups with mature gastro-intestinal tract. VKM has also assessed the risk of L. rhamnosus Rosell-11 ND, L. rhamnosus W71, L. rhamnosus GG and L. rhamnosus Lr-329 in food supplements and other foods independent of the dose and have assessed exposure in general terms.

VKM concludes that it is unlikely that L. rhamnosus Rosell-11 ND, L. rhamnosus W71, L. rhamnosus GG and L. rhamnosus Lr-329 would cause adverse health effects in the general healthy population with mature gastro-intestinal tract.

However, no data on long-term adverse effects on infants and young children were identified. As evidence is accruing that the early microbial composition of the neonatal gut is important for the development of the gut microbiota and the immune system of the growing child, it is not possible to exclude that a daily supply of a single particular bacterial strain over a prolonged period of time to an immature gastro-intestinal tract may have long-term, although still unknown, adverse effects on that development.
Risk Assessment of the Metabolite M44 of Bixafen, One of the Active Substancesin Aviator Xpro EC225
Authors: Lyche Jan Ludvig , Dirven Hubert , Låg Marit , Nilsen Asbjørn Magne , Borgå Katrine , Eklo Ole Martin , Grung Merete , Sverdrup Line Emilie , Källqvist Torsten
Published: July 2019

Aviator Xpro EC 225 containing the active substance bixafen was assessed by VKM in spring 2013, and it was concluded that the metabolite M44 has potential for groundwater contamination. Furthermore, VKM assessed in late 2013 the relevance of this metabolite in accordance with the EU guidance document on metabolites in groundwater, and concluded that the malformations observed in rabbits exposed to the metabolite should be considered treatment related. VKM also concluded that the data presented to evaluate the possible genotoxic properties of the metabolite was insufficient to reach a conclusion. Based on this, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority rejected the approval of Aviator Xpro EC 225.

The applicant has now submitted results from an in vivo study to strengthen the basis for assessment of genotoxic properties, and also submitted new historical controls in relation to the experimental studies on foetal developmental effects in rabbits. The VKM Panel on Plant Protection Products has discussed the questions raised by The Norwegian Food Safety Authority on the basis of the new data, and has the following opinion:

On the assessment of genotoxic properties of the M44 metabolite of bixafen, one of the active ingredients of Aviator Xpro EC 225.

It is the view of VKM Panel on Plant Protection Products that the new in vivo mouse micronucleus study, supplemented together with a separate study demonstrating bioavailability, overrides the results of the in vitro clastogenicity studies. Taken together, it is the opinion of VKM that under the conditions studied, M44 should be considered as non-genotoxic.

On the assessment of the relevance of the foetal malformations in M44 exposed animals.

VKMs Panel on Plant Protection products has assessed the arguments and new historical control data presented by the applicant, intended to show that metabolite M44 is not teratogenic. It is however the opinion of the Panel that the arguments and the new historical data provided by the applicant do not alter the panel’s previous conclusion; that the malformations observed in rabbits exposed to the metabolite M44 should be considered treatment related.
Effect of Anti-tuberculosis Drugs on Patients with Multi-drug Resistance Tuberculosis in Mainland Hospital Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Okoroiwu Gideon I. A. , Onokpise Gloria I.
Published: July 2019

Introduction: The occurrence of multi-drug resistance tuberculosis among tuberculosis patients has raised global public health concern, especially in Nigeria. The increase in the number of cases of resistance tuberculosis despite the effort and need to curb the menace in Nigeria led to this study.   

Aim of the Study: The aim was to investigate the effect of anti-Tuberculosis drugs on patients with multi-drug resistance Tuberculosis in Mainland Hospital Yaba, Lagos.

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of the already confirmed multi-drug resistance tuberculosis patients at the Mainland Hospital Yaba, Lagos .One hundred self-structured interview questionnaires were randomly administered among already confirmed mult-drug resistance tuberculosis patients at the hospital to collect bio-data information, and thereafter, received second- line anti-Tuberculosis drugs in phases for 22 months.

Results and Discussion: The patients received the following regimen of treatments based on their weights and ages, the selected regimens administered for 22 months comprised of two phases; first, 8 months of intensive phase of Kanamycin, levofloxacin, cycloserine, prothionamide,and pyrazinamide and second, 12 months of Levofloxacin, cycloserine, prothionamide and pyrazinamide. Post laboratory analysis was used to monitor the effectiveness of the second-line anti-Tuberculosis drugs used. Out of the 92 patients that received the drugs, 89(96.7%) were confirmed negative to multi-drug resistance tuberculosis, while 3(3.3%) were still positive.

Conclusion: The anti-Tuberculosis drugs in the order used is highly recommended for the reduction if not total eradication of multi-drug resistance tuberculosis in Nigeria. Effort should be geared towards making sure that the multi-drug resistance tuberculosis patients are confined, proper regimen administered and monitored in order to reduce the rate of spread.