bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kanuns in Albania and Bloodfeud According to Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini
Authors: Shkurtaj Gelanda
Published: February 2020

In societies where it has been known and applied, bloodfeud is described as a possibly outdated and uncivilized mechanism, but often effective to limit violence. Indeed, both in form and substance the phenomenon itself is hard to be perceived and understood by the modern citizen of every country of the world, including Albania, where it is still active in some regions in respect of “Kanun”. In fact, the Albanian term 'Kanun' describes the body of traditional norms/standards and rules governing society in the field of criminal, civil and procedural laws. Its application or merely its existence in moral and legal standards makes a society safer, certainly referring to a society where the power of central authority, namely of the state, either did not exist or lacked. The greatest anthropological dilemma is just there, why does Kanun work in a modern state? In societies where blood feud has been present as a regulatory element of social conflicts it is accepted that its abolition or decline occurred only when another subject (the state), took over to intervene in these conflicting relationships, and to provide the resolution and regulation of social and economic relations through enforcement of rule of law, or the public order. And the question arises by itself: why the Albanian state did not take over the blood feud solution by use of public order? The Kanun does not recognize the state or the state does not recognize the Kanun? Why? It is not easy to get into such historic and social dilemmas, but a modest effort should be made. The answer to this fact should be found by the history of Albania. As a questioning remark, the reason for the long life of Kanun, rather called as self-regulatory law of the society, is due to the historic absence of a state on the side and interests of its citizens.

Keywords: Kanun, Legal and Religious norms, Mechanic solidarity, Bloodfeud, Survival, State, Coexistence
Evaluation of Nanomaterials for Building Production within the Context of Sustainability
Authors: Aljenbaz Ahmad Zeyad , Çağnan Çiğdem
Published: February 2020

Nanotechnology is a new technology created by manipulating small particles in the material in order to obtain different and unique properties. It brings new solutions in economic, ecologic and social ways to participate in achieving sustainability. Nanomaterials, which are the products of this new technology, are used in building construction field with the aim of reducing the harm to the environment. The aim of this paper is to determine the effects of nanomaterials in this field. To reach the aim of the study, the topic was examined in the following sequence. Firstly, the general definition of nanotechnology and dimensional classification of nanomaterials were made. Nanotechnology, nanomaterial and nanoarchitecture applications in building production were examined together with examples. The effects of different applications were analyzed in conjunction with environmental-social and economic sustainability issues. Finally, the nanomaterials were evaluated within a test and evaluation matrix according to the environmental-social-economical sustainability criteria. Evaluation was made through the percentages of effects where (+) has positive effect, (-) has negative effect and (o) has no/unknown effect. The test results were explained in a test evaluation report. The findings of the research from the test results point out that, the use of nanomaterials in building production can help to achieve sustainability but the effects on human health have not been fully determined yet and this is the most important disadvantage of using these new tech materials.

Keywords: Sustainability; nanotechnology; nanoarchitecture; nanomaterials; building production; test evaluation matrix
Integration of Information Systems for Predictive Workforce Analytics: Models, Synergy, Security of Entrepreneurship
Authors: Chornous Galyna O. , Gura Viktoriya L.
Published: February 2020

The era of information economy leads to redesigning not only business models of organizations but also to rethinking the human resources paradigm to harness the power of state-of-the-art technology for Human Capital Management (HCM) optimization. Predictive analytics and computational intelligence will bring transformative change to HCM. This paper deals with issues of HCM optimization based on the models of predictive workforce analytics (WFA) and Business Intelligence (BI). The main trends in the implementation of predictive WFA in the world and in Ukraine, as well as the need to protect business data for security of entrepreneurship and the tasks of predictive analysis in the context of proactive HCM were examined. Some models of effective integration of information systems for predictive WFA were proposed, their advantages and disadvantages were analyzed. These models combine ERP, HCM, BI, Predictive Analytics, and security systems. As an example, integration of HCM system, the analytics platform (IBM SPSS Modeler), BI system (IBM Planning Analytics), and security platform (IBM QRadar Security Intelligence Platform) for predicting the employee attrition was shown. This integration provides a cycle ‘prediction – planning – performance review – causal analysis’ to support protected data-driven decision making in proactive HCM The results of the research support ensuring the effective management of all spectrum of risks associated with the collection, storage and use of data.  

Keywords: Workforce Analytics (WFA), Human Capital Management (HCM), Predictive Analytics, Proactive Management, BI, Information Systems (IS), Integration, Security of Entrepreneurship
Evaluating Criteria of Ecological Politics Effectiveness as a Necessary Determinant of Legal Bases of its Realization: Example of Ukrainian Realities
Authors: Vlasenko Yuliia , Shokha Tetiana , Sharaievska Tetiana
Published: February 2020

The present paper seeks to discuss key challenges academics and practitioners face in their attempts to evaluate effectiveness of ecological policies. It summarizes and describes existing effectiveness criteria attributed to a certain policy itself, as well as suggests some external casual factors that are likely to moderate its effectiveness overtime. It further analysis major ecological policies in Ukraine and evaluation of its effectiveness. Finally, it suggests future changes that should be made in Ukrainian legislative acts to enable their effective implementation and pivotal shift in the mindset of its society.

Keywords: Ecological politics, policy effectiveness, effectiveness criteria, evaluation methodology
On the Achievements and Limits of Rorty’s Understanding of Solidarity
Authors: Durmuş Sevde
Published: February 2020

This paper deals with Richard Rorty’s notion of solidarity and its limits. I contend that although Rorty makes an earnest attempt to expand on what is to be understood from being part of a “we-group,” he still perceives solidarity as a phenomenon confined principally within national borders. After presenting the theoretical shortcomings of Rorty’s idea of “national pride” in the aforementioned context, I critically investigate the possibility of a broader sense of solidarity without disregarding Rorty’s mostly cogent criticism of traditional philosophy.
Pioneering Women in Indiana Optometry
Authors: King Kyle W.
Published: February 2020

This memoir is a summary of an oral interview conducted by Kyle W. King, O.D. with fellow Indiana-based optometrist Miriam Boyd, O.D. about her career in optometry and the career of her mother, Virlee Metzger, O.D. Dr. David Goss performed historical research to supplement Dr. Boyd's memoir. Taken together, the Metzger and Boyd's careers spanned 80 years (1933-2015) and represent an impressive professional legacy that endured changes both in society and in the scope and nature of optometric practice.
Sex and Socialism
Authors: Snitow Ann , Stansell Christine , Thompson Sharon
Published: February 2020

While later generations of Marxian scientific socialists saw sex as secondary, derivative of the real relationships of production, many of the earliest socialist theorists and movements took sexual matters very seriously. Thus, in many ways, the advent of Marxian socialism represented something of a step backward in the development of a radical sexual politics. However, in the twentieth century, old divisions on the sex question within the left soon reappeared.
The Life of José Carlos Mariátegui
Authors: Becker Marc
Published: February 2020

Mike Gonzalez's new biography of José Carlos Mariátegui is an important attempt to introduce the Peruvian socialist to an English-speaking audience. It constitutes not so much a rediscovery of Mariátegui, but is itself part of a slow but steady embrace of a novel and innovative thinker broadly credited with the creation of a Latin American Marxism.
Deficyty emocjonalne młodych dorosłych wychowanków rodzin zastępczych
Authors: Jasielska Aleksandra , Buchnat Marzena Marzena
Published: February 2020

The study was aimed to determine the role of attachment bond in emotional functioning in alexithy-mia and emotional processing in foster care alumni. The participants with experience of personal rejection – adult foster care alumni during the transition from foster care to adulthood (N = 29) and persons without such experience (N = 32) took part in the study. The Experiences in Close Relation-ships Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale and Emotional Processing Scale were used. Results present that insecure pattern of attachment occurs with alexithymia in ineffective emotional processing. We confront the results with the construct of emotion representations as the key to comprehend observed deficits in emotional functioning.
Optimistic Approach Towards Life as a Protective Factor for Adolescents with LD and ADHD
Authors: Wizman-Man Dikla
Published: February 2020

The objective of this study is to examine the influenceof life-stories narrative intervention programs on the optimistic approach towards life of adolescents with learning disabilities (LD) and attention deficitdisorders (ADHD). Changes in the optimistic approach towards life of adolescents with LD and ADHD who took part in an intervention program were compared pre-and post-program and to ordinary high school graduates who did not participate in the program. The findingsindicate a significantimprovement in the level of optimism pre- and post- intervention program. In addition, higher levels of optimistic approach towards life in the general index and relating to graduates’ level of optimism in situations of uncertainties were reported among graduates with LD and ADHD, compared with regular high school graduates. No differences were found in other aspects of the questionnaires. Results call for further research on additional protective variables, and on the effectiveness of the intervention program in both special education and regular high schools.
VERİLEN PROJE SÜRESİ İÇİNDE DÜZGÜN KAPASİTE İHTİYAÇ DAĞILIMINI AMAÇLAYAN BİR TAMSAYILI PROGRAMLAMA MODELİ ÖNERİSİ ve BUNA YÖNELİK UYGULAMA
Authors: TOP Aykut
Published: February 2020

Die Kapazitaets plannng befasst sich damit, die beschraenkt verfügbaren Einsatzmittel Optimal auf die einzelnen Vorgaenge des Projektes zu verteilen. Gegenstand des vorliegenden Beitrages ist es, eine gleichmaessige Kapazitaetsauslastung bei vorgegebener Projektdauer mit Hilfe einem ganzzahligen Optimierungsmodell zu erzielen. Gleichmaessige Kapazitaetsauslastung bedeutet minimale Kapazitaetsverwendung und deswegen minimale Kost in einer vorgegebenen Projektdauer. Die Einsatzmittelarten wie Arbeitskraefte oder Maschinen, haben verschiedene Prioritaeten für jedes Unternehmen. Beim Einführen der Gewichtungsfaktoren in. das Zielfunktion des vorliegenden Modells werden die unterschiedliche Gewichtungen der Einsatzmittelarten bewertet. Nach der Formulierung des Modells wird es an einem Beispiel angewendet und die Lösungen für verschiedene Gewichtungen der Kapazitaetsarten erhalten. Der Nachteil des Madells, dass die Anzahl der Variablen zu hoch ist, kann durch die schnelle Entwicklung in der Computertechnologie beseitigt werden.
HİSSE SENEDİ FİYATLARININ MODELLENMESİ ve OPSİYONLARIN FİYATLANDIRILMASI: BİNOMİAL YAKLAŞIM
Authors: ÖNALAN Ömer
Published: February 2020

In this study, we explain to the pricing hedging of derivatives infinite markets models. In this setting we work out of the key financial and mathematical ideas underlying modern derivatives. Asset analysis without having to deal with the technicalities stochastic calculus. We explain the notation of dynamic edging and introduce the concept of an equivalent martingale - measure. We discuss the fundamental theorem of asset pricing and derive the Risk- Neutral pricing principle. To illustrate these concepts we briefly discuss the Binomial model of Cox, Ross and Rubinstein (1979).
SİGORTA PAZARLAMASI ve SAĞLIK SİGORTALARI
Authors: YALÇIN F. Asuman , UYDACI Mert
Published: February 2020

Humans exposed to many serious perils: such as property loses from fire and windstorm, and personal losses from disability and death; For this, reason, the thought of taking measures against these dangerous perils that may cause all kinds of harm to man and society, has created the insurance concept and the insurance business. The function of insurance is to safeguard against such misfortunes by having the loses of the unfortunate few paid by contributions of the many who are exposed. Insurance and insuring people should be considered as a service. Services have certain characteristics that distinguish them from tangible products and therefore when creating a marketing mix, these special characteristics must be kept in mind. As is known, social security is a type of, insurance that is implemented by the government as a monopoly for insuring a part of or the whole of society against the risks that threaten them. One of the most important types of social security is the health insurance and it is a type that is heavily used in our country. In this study insurance marketing, private health insurance and health insurance in social security is discussed.
ORTAK GİRİŞİM STRATEJİSİ İLE GLOBAL PAZARLARA GİRİŞ
Authors: DENİZ Recep Baki
Published: February 2020

There is no denying that international markets present a challenging and steadily growing opportunity for global expansion of the business base. One of the most significant developments in business practice in recent years has been the raped growth of international activities. The major considerations associated with entry into foreign locations are: direct exporting, indirect exporting, Licence, franchising, joint ventures and direct investment. This paper covers joint venture strategy with its advantages and disadvantages, in addition to emphasizing the factors for making a joint venture successful.
SÜRÜCÜ STRESİ BOYUTLARININ BELİRLENMESİ
Authors: YÜKSEL İhsan , KURT Mustafa
Published: February 2020

During the conduct of this study, it has been tried to reveal the behaviors of drivers and also determine the level of stress imposed on the drivers. The sample of this study consists of 63 drivers who are being employed by a company, which is involved in the business of transporting the students. In this study, a questionnaire consisting of 64 articles covered in the scope of two sections was used. The first section of this questionnaire contained 40 articles pertaining to the identifying parameters as well as the parameters serving to explain the behaviors of drivers. On the other hand, the second section contained 24 articles, which are developed with a view to determine the levels of stress imposed on the drivers. According to the results of factor analysis, the 24 parameters of stress suffered by the drivers, are gathered under 8 factors (dimensions) whose eigen values are over 1 (one). Such determined factors, served to explain a portion, which is equal to the 67.55% of total variance.
ÖRGÜTSEL KÜÇÜLME STRATEJİSİNİN TÜRKİYE’DEKİ BÜYÜK İŞLETMELERDE ÇALIŞANLARIN TUTUM ve DAVRANIŞLARINA ETKİLERİ ÜZERİNE BİR ARAŞTIRMA
Authors: ZEHİR Cemal , CEYLAN Adnan
Published: February 2020

The strategy of organizational downsizing is one of the most applied strategies since the beginning of the 1990 ’s. Layouts occurred due to the implementation of this strategy. These developments impose some negative effects on the employees who remain in the organization and who leave the organization. In this paper, a strategic model has been formed in order to manage the effects of organizational downsizing on the employees remaining in the organization. In this study conducted at the 60 private industrial Turkish firms that implemented downsizing. Effects of downsizing on employees’ attitudes and behaviors are investigated.
ÇATIŞMA YÖNETİMİNİN ÖNEMİ ve ÇEVİK KUVVET PERSONELİNİN ÇATIŞMA KAYNAKLARININ TEŞHİSİ ve ORTADAN KALDIRILMASINA İLİŞKİN NİĞDE İLİNDE BİR ARAŞTIRMA
Authors: TÜRK Murat , DOĞAN Selen
Published: February 2020

In traditional approach, organizational conflict was very simple and optimistic. In this approach, management solve their conflict problems by relying on formal authority and classical organizational restructuring. The new assumptions, however, suggest that conflict is inevitable, integral to the nature of the change, determined by structural factors such as physical shape of a building, the design of career structure or the nature of a class system and a minimal level of the conflict is optimal. The present day experts, therefore, emphasize the importance of making a cost benefit analysis of the conflict situation at any level. Organizations consist of various groups and interactive behaviors within groups as well as between groups and people are inevitable. Interactive behavior that occurs in organizations at the individual, interpersonal, group or organizational levels, results in conflict and consequently stress at all levels of organizations. In this study, the sources and the results of conflict are examined by conducting a questionnaire survey on police force in Niğde Police Station. The founding of this study tend to suggest the existance of the modern approach on conflict in Police Force sampled in this study.
İŞLETMELERDE YÖNETİME KATILMA ARACI OLARAK ÖNERİ SİSTEMLERİNİN ÖNEMİ
Authors: ACUNER Taner
Published: February 2020

Unchanged phenomenon in business administration is to maintain company’s existence from today to future. In today’s contemporary world, this phenomenon is related to getting competitive factors, which gained speed with the procedures of globalization and communication technologies and continuous changing skills. In organizations, some cultural values are needed in order to catch changing environment. From this point of view, management teams of organizations, which have to adopt to change, have recognized the importance of human resources managing day by day. Acquiring required productivity of human resources depends on using a proposal mechanism in order to reveal personnel’s creativeness. In this study, it will be discussed the values of organizational culture which are required to generate an effective proposal mechanism.
Network cooperatives and the reduction of opportunism in the agribusiness segment: a systematic bibliographic review
Authors: Aguiar Leandro Guedes , Pigatto Giuliana Santini , Bernardo Cristiane Hengler , Morales Angélica Gois
Published: February 2020

The Brazilian citrus industry has been receiving in-depth scientific research in this 21st century, mainly due to the peculiarities in the coordination of this agroindustrial system, where the cooperatives performance and their network format is highlighted, in order to represent an alternative to the well-known process of reduction of small citrus producers, as well as support in mitigating opportunism in transactions. In this context, the objective of this article is to carry out a systematic review of the literature on the topic of cooperatives in a network format and the reduction of opportunism applied to the agribusiness segment, in Brazil and in the world. As a result, the importance of the network relationship in agroindustrial cooperatives to reduce opportunism in economic transactions is attested in all the researched articles, as well as the lack of empirical studies coming from the academy in order to enrich and make the researched literature more robust.
Critical accommodation information for travel opinion leader
Authors: Yeh Chien Mu
Published: February 2020

Potential tourists search for accommodation information once they decide to travel. Travel opinion leaders are critical accommodation information providers for potential tourists. However, we know little about travel opinion leaders’ perceived importance of accommodation information. The current study examined the relationship between travel opinion leadership and perceived importance of accommodation information. Results showed that there were significant differences in the perception of important accommodation information between the high and low travel opinion leadership groups. These results make theoretical and practical implications for tourism research and accommodation managers.
Factors affecting employee satisfaction: the case of land plot sales staffs
Authors: Le-Hoang Phuong Viet , Ho Vi Truc , Phan Nhan Trong
Published: February 2020

The purpose of this research is to explore the scale and identify factors affecting employee satisfaction in a particular business; namely, land sales staff in Ho Chi Minh City area. To conduct the research, the authors do group discussions and expert discussion and then analyzed 201 observations with six factors: The nature of work, promotion and training, leadership, co-worker, income and working environment. The results of Exploratory Factor Analysis(EFA) show that there are five factors: Work nature, promotion and training, co-worker, income and working environment that has a positive impact on employee satisfaction; besides, the interesting result from the research is that the leading factor negatively affects the satisfaction of land sales staffs in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The contribution of this study is that the authors confirm the theory of Herzberg (1966), Ludy (2005), Nunnally and Bernstein, Spector (1997), Smith et al (1969) and Vroom (1964) in the context of the land plot sales staffs. Also, from qualitative studies and relevant studies, the author has adjusted the scale and analyzed data in a new context. Based on that, the research recommends the necessary management solutions to increase employee satisfaction and open a new field for further research.
Editorial Volume 11, Issue 1
Authors: Rodrigues Paulo Cesar Chagas
Published: February 2020

Another year begins and another new edition is being released.New challenges for the year 2020 are being created. In 2019 we had eight editions, 3 special editions and 5 normal editions.By 2020 we plan to have at least 3 special editions and 6 normal editions.But none of this would be possible if it were not for the colleagues who make up our journal, as we are currently present in more than 200 countries.
Consumer empowerment on online purchasing
Authors: Simanjuntak Megawati
Published: February 2020

This research investigates the influence of social, demographic, and economic characteristics toward consumer empowerment on online purchasing in Asia, using a cross-sectional study through an online survey of 100 samples who experienced online purchasing. Multiple linear regression is performed for data analysis. The result showed that early adult males withhigh education, Javanese ethnic, lived in an urban area and were an employee with more than one million incomes per month was the most empowered group. Regression analyses resultreveals that gender, ethnic, and income significantly negatively influenced consumer empowerment. Meanwhile, a male with non-Sundanese ethnic and low income would increase the consumer empowerment index.
The influence of brand awareness, brand association, and perceived quality toward consumers' purchase intention: a case of richeese factory, Jakarta
Authors: Susilowati Etty , Novita Sari Agatha
Published: February 2020

This study investigates the relationship between brand awareness, brand association, perceived quality, brand loyalty and brand purchasing intention. A total of 99 students from Budi Luhur University was used as respondents in this study based on the convenience sampling method. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and SmartPLS 3.0 software. The analysis specifies that there is a significant positive relationship among brand awareness, brand association and perceived quality towards brand loyalty and brand purchasing intention. However, there is not a significant relationship between brand loyalty and brand purchasing intention. It indicates that consumers who are satisfied with Richeese Factory products and services do not always end up making purchases. The ability of managers to understand the factors which shape consumer brand behavior is required to develop and to maintain their brand position in high competitive fast food brand competition.
Executive Pay and Labor’s Shares: Unions and Corporate Governance from Enron to Dodd-Frank
Authors: Jacoby Sanford M.
Published: February 2020

This article is an historical analysis of the U.S. labor movement’s shareholder activism during the 2000s, which was based on their pension-plan assets. During the previous decade, corporate governance had tilted to give shareholders greater voice in corporate decisions. The protagonists were public pension plans such as CalPERS. Come the 2000s, they were replaced by unions and union-influenced pension plans. Their agendas overlapped but union investors were distinctive in their use of shareholder activism to make companies more public-minded, raise labor’s organizing power, and challenge executive power by reliance not only on shareholder activism but also political activities. Labor’s signature issue was executive pay, which was a topic that that shareholder activists during the 1990s had avoided other than to push for stock-based pay. But three waves of corporate scandals during the following decade caused other shareholders to become skeptical of executive pay-setting methods. Union investors zeroed in on expensing and backdating of stock options, and fought for say on pay, the issue where they had the greatest impact. An interaction between private orderings and regulation now developed, whereby shareholder pay reforms found their way into law. With inequality a major social concern, unions repeatedly contrasted lofty executive pay to stagnant wages. Yet little was said about lofty payouts to shareholders, which may have been a more important driver of inequality than executive pay. The article ties corporate governance to larger social and political developments in the U.S., and to the labor movement, embedding corporate governance in historical context.
The Wage Response to a Reduction in Income Tax Rates: The Israeli Tax Reform
Authors: Frish Roni , Zussman Noam , Igdalov Sophia
Published: February 2020

This study examines the effect of an income tax reform on wages. An Israeli reform implemented in 2003–2009 reduced individuals’ marginal income tax rate by 7–17 percentage points. We utilized the differential and non-monotonic marginal tax rate reduction, and used Israel Tax Authority panel data of wage earners, merged with Labor Force Surveys. We found that in the business sector, the elasticity of reported gross wages relative to the net-of-tax rate is about 0.1. The wage earners in the lowest wage quintile were not affected by the tax reform, those in the second and third quintiles did not respond to the tax cut, but elasticity increased with wage, reaching about 0.4 in the upper decile. We did not find statistically significant differences in elasticity by gender, ethnicity, or education.
Sharing Competition: An Agent-Based Model for the Short-Term Accommodations Market
Authors: Bruno Bruna , Faggini Marisa
Published: February 2020

This paper presents an agent-based model for the sharing economy, in the short-term accommodations market, where peers participating as suppliers and customers follow simple decision rules about sharing market participation, according to their heterogeneous characteristics. Simulations results show that, in the competition between the sharing economy and the traditional industry, low substitutability occurs between goods if consumers are differentiated in preferences. The main determinant for market performance in both sectors is the demand level, with minor influence of price setting and competition within and between markets.
Managerial Delegation of Competing Vertical Chains with Vertical Externality
Authors: Choi Kangsik , Lee Ki-Dong , Lim Seonyoung
Published: February 2020

We examine that the bilateral supplier affects the incentive contracts that owners of retailers offer their managers, assuming that the manufacturer sets the input price after observing the terms of the incentive contracts offered to management in the downstream market. Thus, we compare the two models: (1) decentralized bargaining between manufacturers and retailers including two-part tariff contract (2) linear input pricing without bargaining. Contrast to previous studies, we find that in equilibrium, the owners of retailers offer delegation contracts to managers for outputrestrictionregardless of competition modes when offering linear input pricing, which implies that owners do not face a prisoners’ dilemma situation and Pareto superior profit is obtained for retailer. Thus, managerial delegation of retailer is not socially desirable due to the output restriction. Furthermore, decentralized bargaining allows to equalize all the equilibrium outcomes in the different delegation structure under both Bertrand and Cournot competition and leads no delegation for the endogenous delegation problem.
Does Corporate Tax Burden Affect Growth? Evidences from OECD Countries
Authors: Dima Bogdan , Dima Ştefana Maria
Published: February 2020

This paper explores the tax burden - economic growth nexus. It advances an explanatory framework for the existence of such nexus. First, we argue that tax burden reduces the income remaining at the disposal of the private sector. Second, we empirically test for the existence of a non-linear impact of corporate tax burden on growth for a dataset of 21 OECD countries, for the period 1975 - 2012. We mostly involve mixed effects models with three levels of nested random effects. Our main empirical result consists in the evidences of a non-linear relation between corporate tax burden and economic growth.
Effects of extracorporeal magnetic stimulation in fecal incontinence
Authors: Brusciano Luigi , Gambardella Claudio , Gualtieri Giorgia , Terracciano Gianmattia , Tolone Salvatore , Schiano di Visconte Michele , Grossi Ugo , Genio Gianmattia del , Docimo Ludovico
Published: February 2020

Background

Fecal incontinence (FI) is a common condition that has devastating consequences for patients’ QOL. In some patients, the conventional functional pelvic floor electrical stimulation has been effective but is an invasive and embarrassing treatment. The object of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of functional extracorporeal magnetic stimulation (FMS) in strengthening the pelvic floor muscles without an anal plug and the embarrassment of undressing.

Materials and Methods

Thirty patients (26 female and 4 males) with FI were enrolled. All patients were assessed during a specialized coloproctology evaluation followed by endoanal ultrasonography and anorectal manometry. All patients underwent an FMS treatment once weekly for 8 weeks. Patients’ outcome was assessed by the Cleveland Clinic Fecal Incontinence Score (CCFIS) and by the fecal incontinence QOL questionnaire (FIQL).

Results

After 8 weeks, the number of solid and liquid stool leakage per week was significantly reduced (p<0.05) with a significant improvement of the CCFIS and of the FIQL (p<0.05). Moreover, the authors recorded a missed recruitment of the agonist and antagonists’ defecation muscles.

Conclusion

FMS is a safe, non-invasive and painless treatment for FI. It could be recommended for selected patients with non-surgical FI to ensure a rapid clinical improvement.
The crystal structure of the first ether solvate of hexaphenyldistannane [(Ph3Sn)2• 2 THF]
Authors: Bauer Jonathan O.
Published: February 2020

Structural investigations of molecular crystal solvates can provide important information for the targeted crystallization of particular inclusion compounds. Here, the crystal structure of the first ether solvate of hexaphenyldistannane [(Ph3Sn)2• 2 THF] is reported. Structural features in terms of host-guest interactions and in the context of the previously reported polymorphs and solvates of (Ph3Sn)2are discussed.
A comparative study of an anaerobic-oxic (AO) system and a sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) in coating wastewater treatment and their microbial communities
Authors: Cai Fangrui , Lei Lirong , Li Youming
Published: February 2020

Coating wastewater from paper mills has been characterized by a high chemical oxygen demand (COD), high total suspended solids (TSS) and a high degree of color. In this paper, a sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) and an anaerobic-oxic (AO) system that consisted of a hydrolytic acidification reactor and an activated sludge reactor (HAASR) were implemented to treat coagulated coating wastewater from a paper mill. The COD, color and TSS removal efficiencies of the SBBR were 87.7 %, 33.5 %, and 41.4 %, and those of the HAASR were 85.3 %, 22.5 % and 19.4 %, respectively. It is proposed that more recalcitrant compounds were removed by the SBBR than by the HAASR. The microbial communities of the SBBR sludge and the HAASR sludge were evaluated and indicated that the SBBR sludge had lower microbial richness and diversity than the HAASR sludge. Moreover, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the dominant bacteria in both the HAASR and SBBR sludges.
Effect of turbulence generator structures to the performance of medium-consistency pump at high rotation speed excesses 2000 rpm
Authors: Kuang Yishan , Li Zhi , Zhang Xi , Song Tao , Li Jun , Xu Jun , Mo Lihuan , Chen Kefu
Published: February 2020

The medium-consistency (MC) pump is the key unit in modern pulp and paper industry, especially in medium-consistency bleaching plant. Use of MC pump improves the efficiency of bleaching sequences and reduces the pollution load of bleaching effluents. In this work, the component of MC pump, e. g. turbulence generators with three typical structures were studied to evaluate the effects of turbulence generator structure on the performance of MC pump. An automatic control system was built to control operation condition and to collect data online. Head and efficiency were calculated to evaluate the differences among three turbulence generators. The results showed that the linear-type, twist-type and screw-type turbulence generators exhibited similar performance (pump head and efficiency) of MC pump at high rotation speed (2000 rpm to 2900 rpm) compared to the well-known performance of MC pump at rotation speed lower than 2000 rpm which are significant different for the three turbulence generators.
Mechanical properties of low-density paper
Authors: Park Na Young , Ko Young Chan , Melani Lili , Kim Hyoung Jin
Published: February 2020

For the mechanical properties of paper, tensile testing has been widely used. Among the tensile properties, the tensile stiffness has been used to determine the softness of low-density paper. The lower tensile stiffness, the greater softness of paper. Because the elastic region may not be clearly defined in a load-elongation curve, it is suggested to use the tensile modulus which is defined as the slope between the two points in the curve. The two points which provide the best correlation with subjective softness evaluation should be selected. Low-density paper has a much lower tensile strength, but much larger elongation at the break. It undergoes a continuous structural change during mechanical testing. The degree of the structural change should depend on tensile conditions such as the sample size, the gauge length, and the rate of elongation. For low-density paper, the tensile modulus and the tensile strength should be independent of each other. The structure efficiency factor (SEF) is defined as a ratio of the tensile strength to the tensile modulus and it may be used a guideline in developing superior low-density paper products.
On the development of a continuous methodology to fractionate microfibriallated cellulose
Authors: Shanb Ghazani M. , Martinez D. M. , Al-Shibl M. , Madani A. , Olson J. , DeMuner B. , Kadla J.
Published: February 2020

The focus of this study is the development of a methodology to mechanically separate or fractionate micro-fibrillated fibre suspensions (MFC) into different size classes. We extend the principle outlined by Madani et al. (2010) and create a continuous separation in an annular gap undergoing spiral Poiseuille flow (solid body rotation superimposed on pressure driven flow). Achieving hydrodynamic stability of this flow was the main scientific challenge for scale-up. This work is presented in two different studies. In the first study, we perform a series of batch-wise centrifugation tests to develop the criteria for motion of the individual classes of particles which compose a Eucalyptus MFC suspension. Here, we suspend the MFC in a weak gel and demonstrate a linear reduction in average particle size with increasing centrifugal force; motion is initiated in heavier particles before the lighter ones. In the second study, we use this batch-wise data to design a continuous prototype and we successfully demonstrate a continuous separation with performance similar to that achieved in the batch-wise tests.
Impregnation of paper with cellulose nanofibrils and polyvinyl alcohol to enhance durability
Authors: Park Hyeonji , Park Shin Young , Yook Simyub , Kim Tae-Young , Youn Hye Jung
Published: February 2020

Durable papers should exhibit high mechanical strength and good soiling resistance. In this study, cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) was investigated as an additive to the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) impregnation solution to improve the durability of paper. The impregnation suspensions were prepared by adding CNF to PVA solution in various ratios, and were used to impregnate a base paper. The PVA-CNF suspensions exhibited good dispersion stability; however, the low shear viscosity increased as its CNF content increased. The pickup weights of the papers impregnated with the PVA-CNF suspensions were found to be lower than those of the control sample, which were impregnated with the pure PVA solution only. Although the strength of the paper was not significantly improved by the addition of CNF, when the paper was impregnated with a PVA-CNF suspension containing 5 % CNF content, the product exhibited similar strength to the papers impregnated with only a 3 % PVA solution despite its lower pickup weight. The mechanical strength of the impregnated paper was affected by the pickup weight and penetration of the impregnating agent. The addition of a wet strengthening agent to the mixed suspensions was seen to enhance the wet soiling resistance of the papers.
Modelling of equatorial ionospheric anomaly in the INM RAS coupled thermosphere-ionosphere model
Authors: Kulyamin Dmitry V. , Ostanin Pavel A.
Published: February 2020

The paper deals with the problem of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) modelling and its representation in the global dynamical models of Earth’s ionosphere and thermosphere. A new version of the coupled thermosphere-ionosphere global dynamical model which reproduce the equatorial anomaly considerably well is presented. Key processes responsible for the EIA formation are outlined and their representation in the model is indicated. It was shown that the developed coupled thermosphere-ionosphere model with additional accounting of vertical electromagnetic drift at the equator realistically represents the EIA characteristics.
Unterwegs zum Facharzt für Spirituelle Medizin? Entwurf eines medizinisch-therapeutischen Spiritual Care-Modells zwischen Professionalisierung und Deprofessionalisierung
Authors: Frick Eckhard
Published: February 2020

Nach Balboni & Balboni fördert die säkulare Medizin mit ihrer Spiritualität der Immanenz das einflussreiche und weitgehend unbewusste Modell einer apersonalen und technokratischen Heilkunde, welche die spirituelle Suche von Patienten und Gesundheitsberufen vernachlässigt. Die Gegenüberstellung differierender Systemlogiken von Seelsorge (Ss) und Spiritual Care (SC) hilft einerseits, diese internen Gegensätze und Verkürzungen der gegenwärtigen Medizin klarzustellen. Andererseits wird „Spiritual Care“ weithin als Oberbegriff verwendet, der Seelsorgende undSCAnbietende aus allen Berufen umfasst. Insgesamt fördert die Diskussion des Risikos eines medikalisiertenSCund der inter-systemischen Differenzen ein entstehendes Spiritual Care-Modell für die Medizin und andere helfende Berufe.
Spiritual Care: Grundgestalten, Leitmodelle und Entwicklungsperspektiven
Authors: Peng-Keller Simon
Published: February 2020

In kritischer Auseinandersetzung mit Michael und Tracy Balbonis Buch Hostility to Hospitality vermittelt der Beitrag einen Überblick über das Forschungs-, Praxis- und Ausbildungsgebiet ‚Spiritual Care‘ und diskutiert mögliche Entwicklungsperspektiven. Die Darstellung geht von einer doppelten Unterscheidung aus. Sie differenziert zum einen zwischen seelsorglicher und gesundheitsberuflicher Spiritual Care, zum anderen zwischen klinischen, sozialen und holistischen Modellen. Vor diesem Hintergrund werden zwei Leitgedanken entwickelt. Erstens wird aufgezeigt, dass auch eine professionelle Spiritual Care von einem transprofessionellen Moment zehrt und sich in einem bewussten Umgang mit diesem Moment bewährt. Zweitens wird argumentiert, dass die Professionalisierung seelsorglicher Spiritual Care nicht deren säkulare Neutralisierung bedeutet, sondern vielmehr zu einer internen Differenzierung der professionellen Rolle nötigt. In säkularen Kontexten repräsentieren Klinikseelsorgende einerseits konkrete Glaubensgemeinschaften und bringen eine damit verbundene Expertise ein. Andererseits fungieren sie als personale Zugangspunkte für all das, was Menschen mit dem Thema Spiritualität und Religion verbinden.
Evaluation of Strengthening Steel Beams Using the Technique of Carbon Fiber Confinement by a Steel Plate (CFCSP)
Authors: Al-Ridha Ahmed S. D. , Hameed Qusai Kh. , Atshan Ali F. , Abbood Ali A. , Dheyab Layth Sahib
Published: February 2020

This research concentrates on evaluating the effect of using two new techniques for strengthening steel beams with carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips on the structural behavior of these beams at service and ultimate load stages by using a confining steel plate in two different configurations. Five steel beams with lengths of 1,500 mm were tested under a single concentrated load at midspan: the first (nonstrengthened) beam was used as a reference beam, the second beam was strengthened by only a CFRP strip located at the bottom flange (tension face), and the third beam was strengthened by only a steel plate, which is also located at the bottom flange. The first technique is represented in the fourth beam, which was strengthened by a CFRP strip confined by a steel plate welded at its ends, whereas the second technique is obtained by an amendment done on the first technique and is represented by the fifth beam, which was strengthened by a CFRP strip with the confining steel plate (welded at its ends) and glued with the CFRP strip by a suitable epoxy adhesive. Test results have shown that the first technique has led to less deflection, less tensile strain, and a higher yield load at the service load stage (i.e., elastic region), whereas the second modified technique has led to a further decrease in deflection and tensile strain and an additional increase in yield and ultimate loads, and both of those outcomes were higher than the algebraic sum of the increases resulting from beams strengthened by a “steel plate” and “CFRP strip” individually.
The Role of pkc-3 and Genetic Suppressors in Caenorhabditis elegans Epithelial Cell Junction Formation
Authors: Montoyo-Rosario José G , Armenti Stephen T , Zilberman Yuliya , Nance Jeremy
Published: February 2020

Epithelial cells form intercellular junctions to strengthen cell–cell adhesion and limit diffusion, allowing epithelia to function as dynamic tissues and barriers separating internal and external environments. Junctions form as epithelial cells differentiate; clusters of junction proteins first concentrate apically, then mature into continuous junctional belts that encircle and connect each cell. In mammals and Drosophila, atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) is required for junction maturation, although how it contributes to this process is poorly understood. A role for the Caenorhabditis elegans aPKC homolog PKC-3 in junction formation has not been described previously. Here, we show that PKC-3 is essential for junction maturation as epithelia first differentiate. Using a temperature-sensitive allele of pkc-3 that causes junction breaks in the spermatheca and leads to sterility, we identify intragenic and extragenic suppressors that render pkc-3 mutants fertile. Intragenic suppressors include an unanticipated stop-to-stop mutation in the pkc-3 gene, providing evidence for the importance of stop codon identity in gene activity. One extragenic pkc-3 suppressor is a loss-of-function allele of the lethal(2) giant larvae homolog lgl-1, which antagonizes aPKC within epithelia of Drosophila and mammals, but was not known previously to function in C. elegans epithelia. Finally, two extragenic suppressors are loss-of-function alleles of sups-1—a previously uncharacterized gene. We show that SUPS-1 is an apical extracellular matrix protein expressed in epidermal cells, suggesting that it nonautonomously regulates junction formation in the spermatheca. These findings establish a foundation for dissecting the role of PKC-3 and interacting genes in epithelial junction maturation.