bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fabrication of random and aligned-oriented cellulose acetate nanofibers containing betamethasone sodium phosphate: structural and cell biocompatibility evaluations
Authors: Saifoori Saba , Fallah-Darrehchi Mahshid , Zahedi Payam , Bayandori Moghaddam Abdolmajid
Published: March 2017

The objective of this work was to prepare electrospun cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibers containing betamethasone sodium phosphate (BSP). Two different morphologies including random and aligned orientations were rationally designed to improve the performance of samples in in vitro experiments. By comparing the CA nanofibrous samples with randomly and aligned-oriented morphologies, the scanning electron microscopy images showed that the neat aligned-oriented nanofibers with an average diameter of 180±15 nm could be obtained using a high-speed rotating collector. Subsequently, the tensile test confirmed that the aligned CA nanofibers had higher mechanical properties than that of the randomly oriented ones. Moreover, the BSP release profile obtained by UV-vis spectrophotometry depicted that the aligned samples had an initial burst release of BSP followed by a slow penetration of the drug with a gentle slope during 72 h. Furthermore, the ultimate amounts of BSP released from the random and aligned CA nanofibers into the phosphate buffer solution were 63% and 53%, respectively. Finally, human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were seeded on both aligned and random electrospun CA nanofibrous samples containing BSP. The thiazolyl blue and hematoxylin and eosin staining results showed that the BSP-loaded nanofibers with the aligned morphology provided the most suitable environment for the cells’ growth, viability, and proliferation.
Effect of the particulate morphology of resin on the gelation process of PVC plastisols
Authors: Ji Yubi , Yang Zhao , Shi Min , Tan Hong
Published: March 2017

The gelation process of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plastisol is very important to ensure the quality of the product and is affected by the type of resins, plasticizers, and other additives. In this study, the gelation process of the as-prepared PVC plastisol was characterized by measuring the evolution of vibrational viscosity with temperature or time using a vibrational viscometer. Furthermore, the effect of some commercial resins with different particulate morphologies on the gelation process was investigated by synchronously combining scanning election microscopy and laser particle size analyses. The results of this study proved that the particle size distribution and the aggregation degree of the secondary particles of a resin are the key factors affecting the gelation process. For the resin with bimodal particle size distribution, the closer the aggregation of the secondary particles, the slower the gel speed; however, an opposite behavior was observed for the resins with unimodal particle size distribution.
Carbon Nanomembranes
Authors: Angelova Polina , Gölzhäuser Armin
Published: March 2017

This chapter describes the formation and properties of one nanometer thick carbon nanomembranes (CNMs), made by electron induced cross-linking of aromatic self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The cross-linked SAMs are robust enough to be released from the surface and placed on solid support or over holes as free-standing membranes. Annealing at ~1000K transforms CNMs into graphene accompanied by a change of mechanical stiffness and electrical resistance. The developed fabrication approach is scalable and provides molecular level control over thickness and homogeneity of the produced CNMs. The mechanisms of electron-induced cross-linking process are discussed in details. A variety of polyaromatic thiols: oligophenyls as well as small and extended condensed polycyclic hydrocarbons have been successfully employed, demonstrating that the structural and functional properties of the resulting nanomembranes are strongly determined by the structure of molecular monolayers. The mechanical properties of CNMs (Young’s modulus, tensile strength and prestress) are characterized by bulge testing. The interpretation of the bulge test data relates the Young’s modulus to the properties of single molecules and to the structure of the pristine SAMs. The gas transport through the CNM is measured onto polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) - thin film composite membrane. The established relationship of permeance and molecular size determines the molecular sieving mechanism of permeation through this ultrathin sheet.
Crowdsourcing-Based Geoinformation, Disadvantaged Urbanisation Challenges, Subsaharan Africa: Theoretical Perspectives and Notes
Authors: Ingwe Richard
Published: March 2017

Scholars and practitioners concerned with geoinformation, cyber-cartography, development studies, and other subjects increasingly explore crowdsourcing and its huge advantages for development. Some have advocated it for adoption/promotion by government as a means of citizen engagement. The objective of this article is to increase the appreciation of the contribution that crowdsourcing can make towards resolving challenges associated with disadvantaged urbanisation in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We review urban challenges of SSA and three practices of crowdsourcing: volunteered geographic information (VGI), Citizen Science (CS), and Participatory Mapping (PM). Then we examine problems associated with the advocacy for government adoption of those practices in SSA. We argue that civil society collaboration with an international governmental organisation (IGO) instead of government promises a better way of adopting and promoting them. This suggestion is based on the fact that work related to this strategy is carried out by a global coalition of civil society, the UN-NGLS. This strategy promises a more rapid way of taking advantage of fast-tracking public engagement in the economic region, SSA.
Quaternary ammonium based task specific ionic liquid for the efficient and selective extraction of neptunium
Authors: Gupta Nishesh Kumar , Sengupta Arijit , Biswas Sujoy
Published: March 2017

Liquid–liquid extraction of neptunium from aqueous acidic solution using quaternary ammonium based task specific ionic liquid (TSIL) was investigated. The extraction of Np was predominated by the ‘cation exchange’ mechanism via [NpO2·Hpth]+ species for NpO2
2+, while NpO2
+ was extracted in ionic liquid as [NpO2·H·Hpth]+. The extraction process was thermodynamically spontaneous while kinetically slower. Na2CO3 as strippant showed quantitative back extraction of neptunium ions from TSIL. TSIL showed excellent radiolytic stability upto 500 kGy gamma exposure. Finally, the TSIL was employed for the processing of simulated high level waste solutions revealing high selectivity of TSIL towards neptunium.
Number 13 / Part I. Music. 2. Systematical Approacho of Integrality of Musical Didactical Activity Through The Dramaturgy at Musical Education Lesson
Authors: Caliga Marina
Published: March 2017

The integrality of musical-didactical activities at the lesson as a systematical aproach of the musical education process is the problem that we search for. In this way, dramaturgy at the lesson is searched as one of the principles of this integrity. The words “project”, “diagram”, “scenario”, “libretto” of the lesson are described in this study through two aspects: emotional dramaturgy and reasonable dramaturgy. These are the most important purpose of the personal attitude and activity. Through what mechanisms the dramaturgy is obtained at the lesson? How the emotional tones lead to the culmination? How are integrated the words dramaturgy and systematization? All these questions are studied in this article. In this way, dramaturgy at the lesson is the mechanism that integrates the system.
Number 13 / Part I. Music. 5. Transdisciplinary Dimensions of Music Education: Terminological and Conceptual Approaches
Authors: Crisciuc Viorica , Cosumov Marina
Published: March 2017

Complex and integrated nature of issues such as globalization, migration, interculturalism, environmental protection, information explosion, claims a transdisciplinary approach to education and music education. To cope with changes characteristic of the contemporary world, students need as generic skills: the ability to learn how to learn, ability and problem-solving assessment. Transdisciplinarity - involves such issues often highly complex, using tools and rules specific to certain science investigations using concepts of these sciences, but in other contexts. Students are interested in concrete problems faced in everyday life and looking for more of these explanations and practical solutions. To identify issues related to cross-disciplinary dimension of music education concepts will investigate disciplinary, multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary are four arrows of a single bow: knowledge.
Number 13 / Part I. Music. 7. Grounds of Absolute Pitch Development in Yamaha Music School
Authors: Iușcă Dorina
Published: March 2017

Absolute pitch is defined as the ability to identify the pitch class of a certain given sound without the aid of an external reference pitch (Takeuchi & Hulse, 1993; Deutsch, 2002). The incidence of absolute pitch is extremely rare among the general population, respectively 1 in 10.000 people and it depends on testing conditions such as the number of identified sounds, pitch Chroma, pitch height, timbre, register or requested reaction time, and also on subjects musical training commencing and Eastern-Asian origins. The way absolute pitch develops is described by three models: the tone language theory, the early training theory and the genetic theory. The early training theory states that absolute pitch appears due to the beginning of musical lessons during a critical development period situated before the age of 6. The educational implications of this theory are revealed in the principles and activities of Yamaha Music School which employs didactic strategies that naturally develop absolute pitch. Yamaha Music School is the largest private music education system from Japan, established by Torakusu Yamaha in 1954. Up to this day it has extended in 40 countries from Europe, Asia and the American continents, as it has about 710 million students and 30.000 teachers. The present study aims to illustrate a detailed analysis of the way the learning experiences offered by Yamaha School lead to the development of absolute pitch.
Number 13 / Part I. Music. 10. Communicational Entropy in The Present’s Crisis – Mediation and Community Action through Music Management
Authors: Balan Oana
Published: March 2017

Present day art phenomena that surround us from all media channels compel us, who have been educated as professional musicians, to find justifications for the sonic abuse that contemporary society is subjected to and to resuscitate, within this vitiated context, the art music meant to re-educate our people, restoring them to the conscience and value of their identity. Educating the public and bringing them closer to contemporary art is a task meant to be fulfilled by music institutions as well, since they should seek to investigate efficient methods of generating connecting bridges to the large masses by transforming music into a shared cultural commodity.
Part II. Drama / Choreography2. Medea. A Mother – Creation Laboratory
Authors: Condurache Dumitriana , Ciofu Anca Mihaela
Published: March 2017

One of the challenges which an arts‟ professor faces in the XXIth century is “the need to refresh”. Therefore, it is essential to find out efficient teaching-learning methods which imply the creative involvement of the students, in order to get an organic learning as a result, but also in order to provoke a superior degree of responsibility towards the process itself and, last but not least, towards their future profession. That‟s why we chose to work with a group of students based on the theatre-laboratory system, they getting involved in every step, from the choice of the text to the improvisation, until the making of the final show.
2. Empathy and Communication through Art
Authors: Rusu Marinela
Published: March 2017

Art is one of the finest means of shaping the personality, of access to aesthetic and moral values of society. The paper presents some of the elements of communication through art, in the double sense of this process, from the artwork (creator) to the viewer, but also from the viewer to the work of art and creator. The key-element of this dual process is the empathy, the ability to feel the emotional states of others. It develops within a set of personality traits, including: emotional intelligence, emotional feelings diversity, cognitive skills, along with motivation and personal ideals. Art is a medium of communication but also an element of developing a general receptivity to the world and its authentic values.
3. Proposals Regarding the Work Strategies in Plastic Visual Activities. The Professor as a Visual Art Mediator
Authors: Aprotosoaie-Iftimi Ana-Maria
Published: March 2017

Starting from the cultural mediator model, the teacher, in his turn, can be positioned from the perspective of the assumed positioned of art mediator. Thus, his role would be to make art accessible to a public under training (students). Approaching activities in an upward direction - from the uninitiated (students) towards the professionals (artists), the designed activities will thus start from the developmental needs of the students. Finding ways of connecting youth and art by introducing art into everyday life and identifying examples where elements, skills and knowledge about art can be applied in everyday life and the permanent concentration of the mediator professor on the public/youth/students and not on the works of art and, thus placing young people at the heart of artistic mediation are several ways of opening, awakening and training the interest of the new art public.
4. Knowledge and Valorisation of the Plastic Language and of the Folk Decorative Motifs in the Artistic Education Study Process
Authors: Arbuz-Spatari Olimpiada
Published: March 2017

The framework and the reference objectives of the ‘Textile art’ course signal priority of the student’s initiation in the fine arts language theory. It is essential to discover new possibilities to study and apply of fine arts language elements for the purposes of triggering students’ creativity. For this purpose, at the course of “Textile art”, we will examine the necessity of studying fine arts language, synthesis of creative forms when essentially determining the contents in the process of development of artistic creativity to fine arts education students. In the process of development of artistic creativity in students it is important to study the language elements by selecting and processing artistic elements of nature. The study of the elements of fine arts language contributes to educating and informing the creative personality while choosing and processing the reality in the context of a methodical creative thinking - along with compositional regularities of scale, rhythm, movement and fine arts forms.
5. The Basic Principles of The Working Process From Nature and the Role of Composition in Creating Landscape in Terms of Plein-Air
Authors: Savițkaia-Baraghin Iarîna
Published: March 2017

Principles of possession of the landscape painting, applied by masters of the past, as well as theoretical elaborations of scientists in the field of chromatics, psychology and pedagogy of arts, become important components in improving training methods of artists in plein-air in contemporary conditions. The skills and knowledge gained in the process of pleinair studies form professional skills and improve the properties of painting and composition within the workshop. This studying outlines the stringency of training and development methods of creative individuality, especially in plein-air, where the principal teacher is the nature. The plein-air enriches color perception of the real world, located in the air, and mutual relationship of landscape with architecture and space determines knowledge of the issues of proportionality and subordination in compositions, educates sense of proportion and artistic taste. Improving visual mastery into the natural environment contributes to the formation to painters of the necessity to create outside the workshop, which is a necessary condition for the development of individuality and professional skills of the painter.
8. Industrial Design: The Roles and Factors of Aesthetics, Modeling, Styling, Product Brand and Branding in Design/Design Education
Authors: Efer Obasuyi Osa-Francis
Published: March 2017

This paper examined the roles and factors of Aesthetics viz-a-viz those of modeling, styling and the product Brand (Branding) as viewed against their fundamental relevance as core ingredients for the actualization of any Design initiative and creative endeavour. These roles, influences and place of Aesthetics (and its allied components, makes up the very soul, content and essence of what the product is all about. Its Form, Shape, Morphological / physical attributes and characteristics. The paper established that the aesthetic components of beauty, colour, shape, (form) fonts, (lettering or typography) and all other general Aesthetic Ambience gives the given product the desired quality/beauty that it exudes to help determine its marketability / profitability as a Brand. The paper also reviewed the aspects /implications of these roles and influences on Design Education alongside highlighting the potentials of the Design Educator - learner experience, while exploiting the Teachers ability to effectively harmonise the various approaches and practices of a functional Design-led Educational programme viz-a-viz piloting such talents/skills achieved to practicable and useful ends as professionals in Design and Technology. The paper also seeks to establish that the roles and factors of modeling styling and Branding of the product which is best exemplified through the adaptation of Design inputs and features such as ornamentation, edge delineation, texture movement/flow of linear form, symmetry or Assymetry of shapes, colour, granularity (of matter/particles large or small) or coarseness, play of light (sunlight) and shade, transcendence (state of being or existence of a product beyond the limits of material experience) and that of total harmony. The paper recommends that for any product Brand to succeed it must incorporate all of the above components together with the inclusion of the other qualities that makes up the intangible content of the Brand such as, Brand Name, Logo, Tagline (catchphrase) the Graphics (elements of Design) Brand Shape, Brand colour, culminating in the establishment of what the Brand mission statement is about, its function, role or job it is intended to perform.
9. The Importance of the Drawing in the Artistic Creation Process
Authors: Ştefănescu Mircea
Published: March 2017

In this academic paper I want to highlight the importance of the drawing and its purpose in the visual artist's creative effort which is in full artistic activity. I will illustrate what I have said previously with the drawings by artists such as Dürer Alfred, Alberto Giacometti, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Andeea Paladio and others artists who have created numerous drawings to study, or as the remarkable artworks. So, during the artistic process the sculptors, the painters or the architects draw to study, to remember or to clarify their own ideas. Many drawings are straightforward, with a single-purpose and spontaneous, but often are an intuitive response to an experience or an idea which must be necessarily put on paper. These studies are often the means by which the artists develop passages which is meant to be incorporated in a detailed and complex art composition.
1. Emotional Development through Art Expressions
Authors: Rusu Marinela
Published: March 2017

Aesthetic education forms and develops a mental quality of the individual, namely, general receptivity to the world and life. It can be said, however, that aesthetic education includes a multiplicity of meanings, formative and educative in relation to personality. All this has a profound echo in the whole personality, whether at the emotional or behavioral level. Art touches and contributes to creating prints from which the later emotional pleasure, taste, artistic judgment and discernment on human values will develop. Emotion refers not only to the aesthetics but involves more often, ethics, behavioral preferences in choosing one or another conduct. Emotions enrich the register of artistic self-expression and complements the temperamental and the character profile of a person. Here we analyze these relevant issues in an experiment conducted at the “Elena Cuza” Primary School of Iasi, Romania. We also present the conclusions of Art Intervention in school for these students. Art intervention in school can become an affective-emotional aim in educator-student relationship and may have important, long term evolutionary consequences, referring to the achievement of personal ideals and efficiency of educational activity.
2. The Concept of “Modelarium” and its Impact on Creativity And Artistic Education
Authors: Bajçinovci Bujar , Jerliu Florina
Published: March 2017

Students and Teachers are an epic symbiosis in process of direct learning and academic advancement. Nowadays, this interaction is more bonded and interdependent with technology and equipment‟s, which in a whole system expands learning horizons. The digital era has introduced in the education system new modes of learning, a new way of life and style in schooling. This phenomenon changed the methods of teaching in universities, where lectures were accompanied with concrete explanations of works in modeling, in structural and conceptual sense. The relationship between a student of architecture and teachers broadened with introduction of computer aided modeling and simulation tools to construct those ideas into the reality. The study presented in this paper investigates conceptual methods in art, architecture, creativity and innovation in academic education, focusing on interactive teaching issues, and methods. The research methods consist of empirical observation carried out during 25 years of experience in academia, and direct observation of teaching methods. The purpose of this paper is to examine the evolutive process in teaching relations between architectural students and teachers, with the focus in educational competencies and communication skills. Findings indicate that through artistic concepts of “Modelarium” as an unconventional learning space, a tool and space that enables the partnership. An informal meeting place for artistic interaction, but, concurrently it is a formal part of the educational system in architectural studies, a strategy by which we can bring more: time, conceptual awareness of space and interactive teaching in architecture, which bonds multidimensional threads between students and teachers; thus, fostering a powerful sense of partnership, avoiding boredom and passive learning, while facing the challenges, associated with the development of technology, life style, real issues and global world trends. Research suggests that uniform and/or partially new strategy, cannot respond to all specific issues faced by students in day to day basis. Therefore, new teaching strategies must involve new partnerships, a brand new and a redefined role as a holistic symbiosis, as an response to a less functional and/or conventional academic system. Partnership, a new working symbiosis between students and teachers is an answer to the needs of working together simultaneously towards continuous improvement of academia processes.
6. Strategies for Modelling the Educational Process from the Perspective of Internal Resources Stimulation of the Child
Authors: Zolotariov Elena , Foca Eugenia
Published: March 2017

The article reflects an attempt to rethink the methodology of organizing the pedagogical process, oriented towards the development of “the humane in the person”, shifting its focus onto stimulating children’s inner resources. The emphasis is shifted from the teaching, learning and assessment processes, focused on research of the surrounding reality towards the exploitation of the child's innate potentials, the ability to know his inner world.

Maintaining the innate resources of each learner will require from teacher of post-modern school the application of techniques to create the necessary social and psychological conditions, to provide a path for learners’ individual development. Thus, each child will have the chance to realize their potential talent, including sensitive dimension of their spiritual and moral world, this representing the authors’ research subject.
Biomonitoring of Danish school children and mothers including biomarkers of PBDE and glyphosate
Authors: Knudsen Lisbeth E. , Hansen Pernille Winton , Mizrak Seher , Hansen Heidi K. , Mørck Thit A. , Nielsen Flemming , Siersma Volkert , Mathiesen Line
Published: March 2017

Background:

The Danish part of the large European Human biomonitoring pilot project Demonstration of a study to Coordinate and Perform Human biomonitoring on a European Scale (DEMOCOPHES) investigated the urine, hair and blood concentrations of 66 different environmental chemicals in a group of 145 Danish school children aged 6–11 years and their mothers from rural and urban areas in autumn 2011. Some – but not all – results were published; however, the concurrence of the chemicals has not been assessed.

Methods:

The measured concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and glyphosate is assessed to complete the investigation of all 66 chemicals in DEMOCOPHES. The concentrations of PBDEs were measured in plasma samples of 143 mothers and 116 children. Glyphosate was measured in a subsample of 27 urine samples. Previously assessed chemicals were polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) analyzed in blood samples, mercury analyzed in hair, and phthalate metabolites, parabens, phenols, cadmium, paracetamol and cotinine analyzed in urine samples. Differences in concentrations between mothers and children were assessed, and the associations between the concentrations of the different environmental chemicals. investigated by correlation analysis.

Results:

PBDE47 was found in relatively high levels compared with previous Danish results in both mothers and children, with a significantly higher level in the children compared to their mothers. Glyphosate in concentrations around 1 ng/mL was detected in all 27 samples. The analyzed environmental exposures seem to follow a pattern where chemicals within the same classes are strongly correlated and where children and mothers are exposed to the same chemicals.

Conclusion:

The correlations between the measured environmental chemicals indicate that a specific exposure pattern may exist, where people who are highly exposed to one class of environmental chemicals also may be highly exposed to certain other classes. As some of the compounds were measured in higher levels in children compared to mothers, increased focus also on the exposure in young children is recommended. For more detailed investigation of specific exposure sources more studies with increased power and detailed questionnaires should be developed.
Peripheral levels of BDNF and opiate-use disorder: literature review and update
Authors: Palma-Álvarez Raul Felipe , Ros-Cucurull Elena , Amaro-Hosey Kristopher , Rodriguez-Cintas Laia , Grau-López Lara , Corominas-Roso Margarida , Sánchez-Mora Cristina , Roncero Carlos
Published: March 2017

Several neurobiological factors are related to opiate-use disorder (OUD), and among them, neurotrophins have a relevant role. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a central neurotrophin involved in many neuronal processes, and it has been related to several psychiatric diseases and addictive disorders. BDNF can be measured in plasma and serum; its levels may reflect BDNF concentrations in the central nervous system (CNS) and, indirectly, CNS processes. Hence, peripheral BDNF could be a biomarker in clinical practice. This manuscript explores the findings about peripheral BDNF and OUD in humans. Opiates induce neurotoxicity in the CNS, which may be correlated with modifications in BDNF expression. Thus, basal levels of peripheral BDNF in OUD patients may be altered, which could be modified with abstinence. Also, opiates may modify epigenetic processes that may be associated with peripheral concentrations of BDNF, and in this line, withdrawal could reflect recovering processes in the CNS. Additionally, treatment modifies the peripheral concentrations of BDNF, but the clinical implications of those changes are yet not elucidated. No specific conclusion can be performed and more investigation in this area is necessary to elucidate the real potential of peripheral BDNF as a biomarker.
Informational Worldview. Scientific Foundations, and Philosophical Perspectives
Authors: Stacewicz Paweł
Published: March 2017

In the text, I synthetically discuss the cultural background, computer science basis, and philosophical potential of an informational worldview, which I treat as an indirect link between awareness of the significance of contemporary achievements of computer science (its theories and applications) and the philosophy of future (informatism) based on the concept of information. Within the philosophical and cognitive science thread of this work, I focus on informationally-driven questions about the mind (its informational content and computational strategies of modelling) and the complexity of the world (which is directly related to the complexity of problems in which the mind is involved).
Computing as Empirical Science – Evolution of a Concept
Authors: Polak Paweł
Published: March 2017

This article presents the evolution of philosophical and methodological considerations concerning empiricism in computer/computing science. In this study, we trace the most important current events in the history of reflection on computing. The forerunners of Artificial Intelligence H.A. Simon and A. Newell in their paper Computer Science As Empirical Inquiry (1975) started these considerations. Later the concept of empirical computer science was developed by S.S. Shapiro, P. Wegner, A.H. Eden and P.J. Denning. They showed various empirical aspects of computing. This led to a view of the science of computing (or science of information processing) - the science of general scope. Some interesting contemporary ways towards a generalized perspective on computations were also shown (e.g. natural computing).
Artificial Intelligence as a Means to Moral Enhancement
Authors: Klincewicz Michał
Published: March 2017

This paper critically assesses the possibility of moral enhancement with ambient intelligence technologies and artificial intelligence presented in Savulescu and Maslen (2015). The main problem with their proposal is that it is not robust enough to play a normative role in users’ behavior. A more promising approach, and the one presented in the paper, relies on an artificial moral reasoning engine, which is designed to present its users with moral arguments grounded in first-order normative theories, such as Kantianism or utilitarianism, that reason-responsive people can be persuaded by. This proposal can play a normative role and it is also a more promising avenue towards moral enhancement. It is more promising because such a system can be designed to take advantage of the sometimes undue trust that people put in automated technologies. We could therefore expect a well-designed moral reasoner system to be able to persuade people that may not be persuaded by similar arguments from other people. So, all things considered, there is hope in artificial intelligence for moral enhancement, but not in artificial intelligence that relies solely on ambient intelligence technologies.
The Problem of Self-Knowledge Built on Self-Consciousness in the Light of Externalism
Authors: Pacholik-Żuromska Anita
Published: March 2017

This article will put forward the thesis that self-knowledge should not be seen as a higher level of self-consciousness but rather as separate and independent from the act of self-consciousness. Only in such an account may self-knowledge avoid the problem of errors in self-identification emerging from all sorts of bodily illusions such as BSI, RHI, and FBI, as well as mental ones, based on a misidentification of propositional attitudes. In the light of the considered conception arguments against resting self-knowledge on self-consciousness will be discussed, leading to the depiction of self-knowledge as compatible with externalism and appealing to the distinction between self-others, although this will not be a distinction referring to bodily self-consciousness but rather ascribing beliefs to others.
Characterization and expression of dax1 during embryonic and gonad development in the carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Authors: Jia Yong-fang , Xia Xiao-hua , Zhang Wan-wan , Ji Xiao-lin , Chen Jian-jun , Li Li , Ping Nan , Du Qi-yan , Chang Zhong-jie
Published: March 2017

Objective

The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of dax1, which causes adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC) with associated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) and dosage-sensitive sex reversal (DSS) during carp embryogenesis and gonadal development.

Methods

The dax1 gene was cloned from ovaries of adult carp using homologous cloning and RACE methods. Expression patterns during embryogenesis and various adult tissues were analyzed using RT-PCR (QRT-PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH).

Results

Expression of dax1 was detected at beginning of the blastula stage and peaked at 80 days post hatching (dph), while expression in the ovary was stable. Expression of dax1 was detected in males and females, and showed sexually dimorphic pattern with high level expression in juvenile male liver and gonad. Adimorphic expression was observed in adult male gonad and heart, but was higher in liver of adult females. Whole-mount in situ hybridization revealed dax1 expression in the developing diencephalon at hatching. Later, at approximately 5 dph, a novel expression of dax1 was observed in the developing hindbrain of carp larvae.

Conclusion

These preliminary findings suggest that dax1 is conserved during vertebrate evolution and involved in a wide range of developmental processes including neurogenesis and sex differentiation in vertebrates.
Possible mechanisms of transmissible cancers in Tasmanian devils
Authors: Nuray Ulusu Nuriye
Published: March 2017

Physical transfer of viable tumor cells from one organism to another is known as transmissible cancer, which is observed in dogs, Tasmanian devils, Syrian hamsters, and some soft-shell clams. Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease is transmitted like an infectious disease between individuals through biting and other close contact. This extinction type is quite different from the other extinction types such as ecological factors. Transmissible cancers’ cellular metabolism is also different from the both normal cellular metabolism and other types of cancers’ metabolism. The lack of an immune response against the Tasmanian devil facial tumor cells is the one of the key points in the transmission of the cancerous cells. The differentiated cellular metabolism and absence of immune reaction may be due to the organisms’ enzymes. Cells may have altered surface proteins by altering enzymatic activities that cannot be recognized by both the innate and adaptive responses. The promiscuity of the key enzymes may be associated with unwanted side effects, such as cannot recognize molecular patterns on the transmitted cell or hypomethylation of DNA by altering catalytic properties enzymes or altered matrix metalloproteinases or cathelicidins.
Complex cubic metallides AM
~6 (A=Ca, Sr; M=Zn, Cd, Hg). Synthesis, crystal chemistry and chemical bonding
Authors: Schwarz Michael , Wendorff Marco , Röhr Caroline
Published: March 2017

In a systematic synthetic, crystallographic and bond theoretical study, the stability ranges as well as the distribution of the isoelectronic late d-block elements Zn, Cd and Hg (M) in the polyanions of the YCd6-type phases (Ca/Sr)Cd6 have been investigated. Starting from Ca(Cd/Hg)6, 12−30% of the M atoms can be substituted by Zn, which gradually occupies the center of the empty cubes. In all ternary compounds, smaller/less electronegative Zn/Cd atoms occupy the disordered tetrahedra explaining the lack of the YCd6-type for pure mercurides. Along the section SrCd6-SrHg6, the ordered Eu4Cd25-type is formed (Sr4Cd16.1Hg8.9: cF1392, Fd3̅, a=3191.93(5) pm, R1=0.0404). Besides, two new complex cubic Ca phases appear at increased Zn proportion: Ca2Zn5.1Cd5.8, which exhibits a nearly complete site preference of Zn and Cd, crystallizes in the rare cubic Mg2Zn11-type structure (cP39−δ, Pm3̅, a=918.1(1) pm, R1=0.0349). In the Ca–Hg system, an increased Zn proportion yielded the new compound CaZn1.31Hg3.69 (cF480, F4̅3m, a=2145.43(9) pm, R1=0.0572), with a complex cubic structure closely related to Ba20Hg103. All structures, which are commonly described using nested polyhedra around high-symmetric sites, are alternatively described in accordance with the calculated electron densities and charge distribution: building blocks are face-sharing [M
4] tetrahedra (star polyhedra such as TS, IS, OS), each with a cage-critical point in its center, and [M
8] cubes (deformed TS), which are either empty, distorted or filled. The M element distribution in the anion is determined by size criteria and the difference in electronegativity, which induces a preferred formation of heteroatomic polar bonds.
Potential Systems and Nonlocal Conservation Laws of Prandtl Boundary Layer Equations on the Surface of a Sphere
Authors: Naz R.
Published: March 2017

The potential systems and nonlocal conservation laws of Prandtl boundary layer equations on the surface of a sphere have been investigated. The multiplier approach yields two local conservation laws for the Prandtl boundary layer equations on the surface of a sphere. Two potential variables ψ and ϕ are introduced corresponding to first and second conservation law. Moreover, another potential variable p is introduced by considering the linear combination of both conservation laws. Two level one potential systems involving a single nonlocal variable ψ or ϕ are constructed. One level two potential system involving both nonlocal variables ψ and ϕ is established. The nonlocal variable p is utilised to derive a spectral potential system. The nonlocal conservation laws of Prandtl boundary layer equations on the surface of a sphere are derived by computing the local conservation laws of its potential systems. The nonlocal conservation laws are utilised to derive the further nonlocally related systems.
On the Mechanisms of Chemical Intercalation of Lithium in Electrode Materials
Authors: Schwarzburger Nele Isabell , Behrens Harald , Horn Ingo , Binnewies Michael
Published: March 2017

Reaction with n-butyl lithium (BuLi) is commonly used to study the kinetics of intercalation of lithium in electrode materials for batteries. We performed lithium isotope exchange experiments on TiS2 single crystals as model system to determine the irreversible step in the intercalation process. Single crystals of TiS2 were prepared by chemical vapor transport and intercalated by lithium with natural isotopic signature (7% 6Li 93% 7Li) using a 2.5 molar solution of BuLi in hexane. Crystals were homogenized at 313 K in a dry argon atmosphere for 1–2 months and then exposed for several days to ~1 molar BuLi solution enriched in the light lithium isotope (95% 6Li, 5% 7Li). After the isotopic exchange experiments concentration profiles of the isotopes were measured parallel to the a/b-plane of the crystal using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Profiles show that already intercalated lithium isotopes can be completely exchanged without significant increase in total lithium content. This observation implies that, after adsorption of BuLi at the crystal surface, the butyl radical can freely jump from one lithium atom to a neighbouring one. The jump sequence is either finished by desorption of a BuLi molecule or by combination of two adjacent butyl radicals forming an octane molecule or other kinds of deactivation of butyl radicals. The latter step is irreversible. Self diffusion coefficients determined by fitting of the lithium isotope profiles are in good agreement with chemical diffusivities determined by lithium intercalation experiments.
Quantitation and Adsorption of Glyphosate Using Various Treated Clay
Authors: Mattos Rodrigo , Khan Sabir , Hussain Sajjad , de Alencar Simoni José
Published: March 2017

The objective of this work is to develop a low-cost, alternative UV-visible Spectrophotometer method using ninhydrin to the current chromatography techniques (GC and HPLC), which is usually use for the quantitation of glyphosate. The physico-chemical characterization, such as adsorption capacities, effect of time and temperature has been studied. The reaction between the ninhydrin and compounds that present NH2group, which leading to the formation of a solution of blue coloration, has been analyzed by spectrophotometrically at 570 nm. The experimental data demonstrate equilibrium statistics, were well fitted to Langmuir isotherm. Adsorption kinetics of glyphosate on the adsorbent has been also analyzed by pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. The adsorption process is favored by acidic pH and followed the second-order kinetics. It was found that adsorption as a function of temperature, increase the temperature, decreases the adsorption. The isotherms shows the adsorption tendency like Arg-Na<Arg-Ca<Arg-Zn<Arg-Al, Arg-Cu with the variation of pH, it was found that at pH 6.5 has greater adsorption than pH 3.0. The important information which has been obtained from this work is to perform adsorption isotherms of glyphosate in clay soils with different metals such as Sodium, Calcium, Zinc, Copper (II) and Aluminum (Na+, Ca2+, Zn2+,Cu2+and Al3+) in terms of models under different conditions of pH and temperature. It is noted that the rates of adsorption initially are fast and reached to maximum capacity up to 24 h in clay soil with sodium.
«Exigeant(e) et convivial(e). Doté d’un leadership affirmé»: Herausforderungen der geschlechtergerechten Formulierung von Stellenanzeigen
Authors: Lobin Antje
Published: March 2017

Based on a corpus comprising 109 French job advertisements of leadership positions, the article focusses on the questions of whether and to what extent the gender sensitive language has been implemented. The findings that have emerged from this corpus-based investigation can be summarised as follows: Regarding the mere job title, women are co-addressed more or less explicitly in 98,2 % of cases. Frequently, however, women are solely addressed by the marker
venir vergüenza: cambios históricos en las colocaciones con venir
Authors: Alba-Salas Josep
Published: March 2017

This article examines the historical evolution of certain collocations with
La cantiga 343: un caso di indemoniato loquace
Authors: Negri Manuel
Published: March 2017

In the Galician-Portuguese
La Raccolta di voci affatto sconosciute o mal note di Enrico Zaccaria e la lessicografia storica
Authors: Schweickard Wolfgang
Published: March 2017

The
Contribution of Resting Conductance, GABAA-Receptor Mediated Miniature Synaptic Currents and Neurosteroid to Chloride Homeostasis in Central Neurons
Authors: Yelhekar Tushar D. , Druzin Michael , Johansson Staffan
Published: March 2017

Maintenance of a low intraneuronal Cl–concentration, [Cl–]i, is critical for inhibition in the CNS. Here, the contribution of passive, conductive Cl–flux to recovery of [Cl–]iafter a high load was analyzed in mature central neurons from rat. A novel method for quantifying the resting Cl–conductance, important for [Cl–]irecovery, was developed and the possible contribution of GABAAand glycine receptors and of ClC-2 channels to this conductance was analyzed. The hypothesis that spontaneous, action potential-independent release of GABA is important for [Cl–]irecovery was tested. [Cl–]iwas examined by gramicidin-perforated patch recordings in medial preoptic neurons. Cells were loaded with Cl–by combining GABA or glycine application with a depolarized voltage, and the time course of [Cl–]iwas followed by measurements of the Cl–equilibrium potential,as obtained from the current recorded during voltage ramps combined with GABA or glycine application. The results show that passive Cl–flux contributes significantly, in the same order of magnitude as does K+-Cl–cotransporter 2 (KCC2), to [Cl–]irecovery and that Cl–conductance accounts for ∼ 6% of the total resting conductance. A major fraction of this resting Cl–conductance is picrotoxin (PTX)-sensitive and likely due to open GABAAreceptors, but ClC-2 channels do not contribute. The results also show that when the decay of GABAAreceptor-mediated miniature postsynaptic currents (minis) is slowed by the neurosteroid allopregnanolone, such minis may significantly quicken [Cl–]irecovery, suggesting a possible steroid-regulated role for minis in the control of Cl–homeostasis.
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Interaction with the Arcuate Nucleus; Essential for Organizing Physiological Rhythms
Authors: Buijs Frederik N. , Guzmán-Ruiz Mara , León-Mercado Luis , Basualdo Mari Carmen , Escobar Carolina , Kalsbeek Andries , Buijs Ruud M.
Published: March 2017

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is generally considered the master clock, independently driving all circadian rhythms. We recently demonstrated the SCN receives metabolic and cardiovascular feedback adeptly altering its neuronal activity. In the present study, we show that microcuts effectively removing SCN-arcuate nucleus (ARC) interconnectivity in Wistar rats result in a loss of rhythmicity in locomotor activity, corticosterone levels, and body temperature in constant dark (DD) conditions. Elimination of these reciprocal connections did not affect SCN clock gene rhythmicity but did cause the ARC to desynchronize. Moreover, unilateral SCN lesions with contralateral retrochiasmatic microcuts resulted in identical arrhythmicity, proving that for the expression of physiological rhythms this reciprocal SCN-ARC interaction is essential. The unaltered SCN c-Fos expression following glucose administration in disconnected animals as compared to a significant decrease in controls demonstrates the importance of the ARC as metabolic modulator of SCN neuronal activity. Together, these results indicate that the SCN is more than an autonomous clock, and forms an essential component of a larger network controlling homeostasis. The present novel findings illustrate how an imbalance between SCN and ARC communication through circadian disruption could be involved in the etiology of metabolic disorders.
Secondary Ammonium Agonists Make Dual Cation-π Interactions in α4β2 Nicotinic Receptors
Authors: Post Michael R. , Tender Gabrielle S. , Lester Henry A. , Dougherty Dennis A.
Published: March 2017

A cation-π interaction between the ammonium group of an agonist and a conserved tryptophan termed TrpB is a near universal feature of agonist binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). TrpB is one of five residues that form the aromatic box of the agonist binding site, and for the prototype agonists ACh and nicotine, only TrpB makes a functional cation-π interaction. We report that, in addition to TrpB, a significant cation-π interaction is made to a second aromatic, TyrC2, by the agonists metanicotine, TC299423, varenicline, and nornicotine. A common structural feature of these agonists, and a distinction from ACh and nicotine, is a protonated secondary amine that provides the cation for the cation-π interaction. These results indicate a distinction in binding modes between agonists with subtly different structures that may provide guidance for the development of subtype-selective agonists of nAChRs.