bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What You Don’t Know…Can’t Hurt You? A Natural Field Experiment on Relative Performance Feedback in Higher Education
Authors: Azmat Ghazala , Bagues Manuel , Cabrales Antonio , Iriberri Nagore
Published: May 2019

This paper studies the effect of providing feedback to college students on their position in the grade distribution by using a natural field experiment. This information was updated every six months during a three-year period. We find that greater grades transparency decreases educational performance, as measured by the number of examinations passed and grade point average (GPA). However, self-reported satisfaction, as measured by surveys conducted after feedback is provided but before students take their examinations, increases. We provide a theoretical framework to understand these results, focusing on the role of prior beliefs and using out-of-trial surveys to test the model. In the absence of treatment, a majority of students underestimate their position in the grade distribution, suggesting that the updated information is “good news” for many students. Moreover, the negative effect on performance is driven by those students who underestimate their position in the absence of feedback. Students who overestimate initially their position, if anything, respond positively. The performance effects are short lived—by the time students graduate, they have similar accumulated GPA and graduation rates.

This paper was accepted by John List, behavioral economics.
Branch-and-Price-and-Cut for the Periodic Vehicle Routing Problem with Flexible Schedule Structures
Authors: Rothenbächer Ann-Kathrin
Published: May 2019

This paper addresses the periodic vehicle routing problem with time windows (PVRPTW). Therein, customers require one or several visits during a planning horizon of several periods. The possible visiting patterns (schedules) per customer are limited. In the classical PVRPTW, it is common to assume that each customer requires a specific visit frequency and offers all corresponding schedules with regular intervals between the visits. In this paper, we permit all kinds of schedule structures and the choice of the service frequency. We present an exact branch-and-price-and-cut algorithm for the classical PVRPTW and its variant with flexible schedules. The pricing problems are elementary shortest-path problems with resource constraints. They can be based on one of two new types of networks and solved with a labeling algorithm, which uses several known acceleration techniques, such as the [Formula: see text]-path relaxation and dynamic halfway points within bidirectional labeling. For instances in which schedule sets fulfill a certain symmetry condition, we present specialized improvements of the algorithm, such as constraint aggregation and symmetry breaking. Computational tests on benchmark instances for the PVRPTW show the effectiveness of our algorithm. Furthermore, we analyze the impact of different schedule structures on run times and objective function values.

The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2018.0855 .
Considerations for the management of enterocutaneous fistula
Authors: Metcalf Christine
Published: May 2019

Enterocutaneous fistula is an abnormal connection between the gastrointestinal tract and skin. Management includes early recognition and treatment of sepsis, reducing fluid and electrolyte homeostasis, nutrition support, wound management and a carefully timed surgical procedure. A multidisciplinary approach is required for successful management of these patients with one of the most challenging and resource-demanding aspects being local control of the effluent, requiring the skill and support of the specialist stoma care nurse. The inability to contain the fistula can be a source of morbidity for the patient, as they will experience pain and severe discomfort from the skin when leakages occur. Enterocutaneous fistula can result in intestinal failure, which is often fatal if not managed correctly.
Rare Co-occurrence of Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Type 2B von Willebrand Disease: Implications for Endoscopic Surveillance and Esophageal Dilation
Authors: Corder S. Ryanne , Weston Brent W. , Dellon Evan S.
Published: May 2019

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and type 2B von Willebrand disease (vWD) are both rare diseases, and the co-occurrence is unlikely. Patients with EoE often need recurrent endoscopic dilations and esophageal biopsies, and the safety of these procedures in the setting of bleeding disorders is not well described in the literature. We describe successful management strategies in a patient with co-existing EoE and type 2B vWD who required multiple dilations and biopsies. This approach might be used for patients with other esophageal disorders and type 2B vWD as well.
A STUDY OF FERROFLUID LUBRICATION BASED ROUGH SINE FILM SLIDER BEARING WITH ASSORTED POROUS STRUCTURE
Authors: Munshi Mohmmadraiyan M. , Patel Ashok R. , Deheri Gunamani B.
Published: May 2019

This paper attempts to study a ferrofluid lubrication based rough sine film slider bearing with assorted porous structure using a numerical approach. The fluid flow of the system is regulated by the Neuringer-Rosensweig model. The impact of the transverse surface roughness of the system has been derived using the Christensen and Tonder model. The corresponding Reynolds’ equation has been used to calculate the pressure distribution which, in turn, has been the key to formulate the load carrying capacity equation. A graphical representation is made to demonstrate the calculated value of the load carrying capacity which is a dimensionless unit. The numbers thus derived have been used to prove that ferrofluid lubrication aids the load carrying capacity. The study suggests that the positive impact created by magnetization in the case of negatively skewed roughness helps to partially nullify the negative impact of the transverse roughness. Further investigation implies that when the Kozeny-Carman’s model is used, the overall performance is enhanced. The Kozeny-Carman’s model is a form of an empirical equation used to calculate permeability that is dependent on various parameters like pore shape, turtuosity, specific surface area and porosity. The success of the model can be accredited to its simplicity and efficiency to describe measured permeability values. The obtained equation was used to predict the permeability of fibre mat systems and of vesicular rocks.
New guidelines for the management of patients with Behcet's disease/syndrome (EULAR, 2018)
Authors: Lisitsyna T. A. , Alekberova Z. S. , Goloeva R. G.
Published: May 2019

The article is devoted to the new guidelines of EULAR on the management of patients with Behcet's disease/syndrome (BD), which include 5 principles and 10 specific recommendations for the treatment of various organ lesions. The methodology of their creation, as well as unresolved issues of management of patients with BD, which are planned to be investigated in the future, are considered.
Pregnancy outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Part I. Maternal outcomes
Authors: Kosheleva N. M. , Matyanova E. V. , Fedorova E. V. , Klimenchenko N. I.
Published: May 2019

Improved diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) contribute to the remission of the disease and improve the quality of life of patients. In this regard, more and more women with RA and SLE decide to have pregnancy, which makes it actual to study the features of its course and outcomes in these diseases.

Objective: to evaluate maternal pregnancy outcomes in patients with RA and SLE.

Subjects and methods. 76 cases of pregnancy were traced prospectively in 72 patients: 32 pregnancies in 29 patients with RA and 44 pregnancies in 43 patients with SLE.

Results and discussion. 72 of 76 (94.7%) supervised pregnancies ended in childbirth with the birth of a viable baby. There were three cases of pregnancy loss in the second trimester in SLE patients with concomitant antiphospholipid syndrome (AFS) and one case (3.1%) of perinatal infant death (a boy and a girl, monochorionic diamniotic twins with reverse arterial perfusion syndrome) in a patient with seropositive RA. Compared with the all-Russian population, the supervised RA and SLE patients more often had prematurely birth (37.5‰, 18.7% and 22.7%) and caesarean section (CS; in 236.7‰, 50%, and 56.8% respectively). In the SLE group CS was conducted due to the emergency reasons more frequently than in RA, (respectively 47,7% and 25%, relative risk of 1.9 [1; 3.7]; p=0.04). CS at the first birth was performed more often during RA and SLE than before the onset of the disease (p<0.001). Preeclampsia in patients with RA was diagnosed more often than in the population (9.4% and 15.7 per 1000 births, respectively). There was a reverse correlation between the timing of delivery and disease activity according DAS28-CRP in II (r= 0.5; p=0.01) and III (r= 0.6; p=0.0005) trimesters of pregnancy, and in patients with moderate and high activity of RA in the third trimester (n=12) delivery was earlier than in the control group (n=20), remission or low activity of RA (p<0.01). In patients with SLE who had birth prematurely (22.7%), the duration of the disease (p=0.02) and the duration of oral glucocorticoid therapy (p=0.003) were greater compared with SLE patients having term birth (70.5%); the dose of glucocorticoids at the time of conception and delivery did not affect the timing of delivery.

Conclusion. Planning of pregnancy in patients with RA and SLE, monitoring during pregnancy and timely correction of therapy contribute to uncomplicated course of gestation and improve maternal outcomes.
Influence of biologics on carbohydrate metabolism and risk of diabetes
Authors: Kondratieva L. V. , Popkova T. V. , Nasonov E. L.
Published: May 2019

In the article the analysis of the literature on the impact of biologics of different groups (inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor α, tocilizumab, abatacept, rituximab and interleukin 1 inhibitors) on the production of insulin by the pancreas, insulin resistance and the risk of development of the 2nd type diabetes in patients with rheumatic diseases.
DUALISME HUKUM DI INDONESIA: Kajian Tentang Peraturan Pencatatan Nikah dalam Perundang-Undangan
Authors: Sodiq Muhammad
Published: May 2019

The issue of registration of marriages in national law is the issue unresolved until now. The rule of marriagerecords in Indonesia there is the Law No. 1 1974 Article 2 paragraph (1), Article 2 paragraph (2) and KHI Article5, paragraph (1 and 2). Factors causing legal dualism is due to the dominance of the doctrine of scholars (politicalIslam) in the UUP legislative process, political factors Indonesian law, aspects of language UUP No. 1 of 1974has implications for the multi-interpretation and validity of a marriage dilemma also be recording the status ofmarriage. When UUP and understood inductively connected with the existing provisions, it appears there arediscrepancies, then there is still the possibility that a legitimate marriage records as a condition of marriage.Generally laws and regulations in Indonesia led to what is called the law of duality, this is due to legal pluralismin Indonesia. This paper examines the legal dualism in Indonesia, namely the marriage records in the UUPregulation No. 1 In 1974 and KHI.[Persoalan pencatatan perkawinan dalam hukum nasional adalah persoalan yang belum tuntas sampaisekarang. Peraturan pencatatan nikah di Indonesia ada dua, yaitu pada UU No. 1 Tahun 1974 Pasal2 ayat (1), Pasal 2 ayat (2) dan KHI Pasal 5, ayat (1 dan 2). Faktor penyebab dualisme hukum adalahkarena dominasi doktrin ulama (politik Islam) pada proses legislasi UUP, faktor politik hukumIndonesia, aspek kebahasaan UUP No. 1 Tahun 1974 berimplikasi pada multi-interpretasi keabsahansuatu pernikahan dan juga dilema akan status pencatatan nikah. Ketika UUP dihubungkan dandipahami secara induktif dengan pasal-pasal yang ada, nampak adanya ketidaksesuaian, maka masihada kemungkinan bahwa pencatatan nikah sebagai syarat sah suatu pernikahan. Secara umumperaturan perundang-undangan di Indonesia memunculkan apa yang disebut dualisme hukum, halini disebabkan oleh legal pluralism yang ada di Indonesia. Tulisan ini mengkaji tentang dualismehukum di Indonesia, yaitu adanya peraturan pencatatan nikah dalam UUP No. 1 Tahun 1974 maupunKHI.]
La crítica de la «Lógica» de Hegel en Schopenhauer
Authors: Martínez Herrera Fernando
Published: May 2019

Por paradójico que resulte, la crítica de Schopenhauer a la filosofía de Hegel es tan famosa como desconocida, lo que con seguridad se debe principalmente al harto caótico modo en el que Schopenhauer optó por presentarla al público. Frente a lo que opinan ciertos intérpretes, el presente artículo no sólo muestra la existencia de una crítica propiamente dicha, la cual a veces se ha negado, sino que establece y determina como núcleo de dicha crítica las objeciones de Schopenhauer a la «Lógica» de Hegel; ante todo, las relativas a la Ontología hegeliana y, en segundo plano, las tocantes a la metodología dialéctica, sistematizando los argumentos que Schopenhauer presentó en multitud de pequeños pasajes dispersos. Aunque su crítica es original y heterodoxa en ciertos aspectos, se muestra como mínimo a la altura de la discusión sobre el hegelianismo de mediados del siglo XIX.
Dye-Surfactant Solution of Coomassie Brilliant Blue G250 and Tween 20: Micellar and Interaction Parametric Studies
Authors: Wang Zhaoran , Jing Jilei , Wang Dailian , Tong Junfeng , Wang Nong
Published: May 2019

Coomassie brilliant blue G250 (CBBG250) is used in textile, printing, and biotechnology applications. Fluorescence probe, UV-Vis spectrophotometric, and electrical conductivity methods were used to study the interactions between CBBG250 and the surfactant Tween 20 in aqueous solution. The fluorescence intensity ratio of pyrene ( I3/ I1) in the mixed system showed that I3/ I1 increased significantly when the concentration of Tween 20 was greater than the critical micelle concentration ( cmc, 5.25 x 10−5 mol/L). The micropolarity of the association system decreased as the concentration of CBBG250 in the solution increased. All results show that an interaction between CBBG250 and Tween 20 existed. Thermodynamic parameters were then determined, showing that the association was a spontaneous process that was driven by both enthalpy and entropy.
Anxieties in Irish Theatre
Authors: Pilný Ondřej
Published: May 2019

This article outlines substantial recent transformations in Irish theatre and argues that much contemporary work has been focused on addressing the social and economic turbulences that Ireland has been experiencing by zooming in on the attendant anxieties and fears. It examines this thematic area in conjunction both with theatrical form and with the effect on the spectators, dividing plays and productions into four categories. The first of these includes works that have depicted Ireland and its anxieties by way of allegory; Mark Doherty’s Trad (2004) and Michael West and Corn Exchange’s Freefall (2009) are discussed as examples reflecting different stages of recent Irish history. The second category features works focused on the anxieties of economically marginalised individuals and groups; detailed analysis is provided of ANU Productions’ The Boys of Foley Street (2012) as an instance of radical site-specific theatre that instigates fear in the spectators. Works in the third category centre on gender identity and the anxieties experienced by LGBT individuals; the fictitious docudrama I ♥ Alice ♥ I by Amy Conroy is singled out as an instance of exciting emancipatory theatre. The fourth category is comprised of works dealing with the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland and revolving around the fears and frustrations that concern the future; the recent plays by David Ireland, particularly the dark comedy Cyprus Avenue, are discussed as representative of outlining the indelible effects of nationalism on individual identity and ending on a pessimistic note.
The Science and Politics of Climate Change in Steve Waters’ The Contingency Plan
Authors: Boles William C.
Published: May 2019

Recent movies have relished depicting nature striking back at a human population that has forsaken her. Films like The Day After Tomorrow, 2012, and San Andreas embrace the apocalyptic destruction of cities around the globe by way of sub-zero hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados, and other natural disasters. Surprisingly, the British theatre is equally engaged (albeit less spectacularly) in exploring the same threat. Namely, what happens when the natural world strikes back and begins to encroach against our established homesteads and populated cities. One of the best-known plays on the topic of climate change is Steve Waters’ The Contingency Plan (2009).

Waters delves into the growing crisis of rising water tables to low lying areas of England by exploring the effect it has personally on an aging climate scientist and his wife and politically on their son, also a scientist, who is charged by two newly installed government officials with preparing Britain for the looming watery disaster. Eschewing the bombastic Hollywood nature of disaster films, Waters’ play is intimately crafted, showing the dangerous and fatal disruptions of the changing natural world, and, more specifically, the negotiations that take place between science and politics when it comes to the unpredictability of rising sea levels. My article examines this work in relation to how it approaches the threat of climate change to the British Isles by exploring Waters’ exploration of how politics, science, and family tensions affect the climatic future of the country.
Transcendental idealism and metaphysics: Kant’s commitment to things as they are in themselves
Authors: Allais Lucy
Published: May 2019

One of Kant’s central central claims in the Critique of Pure Reason is that we cannot have knowledge of things as they are in themselves. This claim has been regarded as problematic in a number of ways: whether Kant is entitled to assert both that there are things in themselves and that we cannot have knowledge of them, and, more generally, what Kant’s commitment to things in themselves amounts to. A number of commentators deny that Kant is committed to there actually being an aspect of reality which we cannot cognise; they argue that he is committed merely to the idea that we cannot avoid the concept of things as they are in themselves. I will argue in this paper that while transcendental idealism is partly an epistemological position, it is also partly a metaphysical position, and in specific, that Kant is committed to the claim that the things we cognise have, in addition to the way they appear to us, a nature that is independent of us, which we cannot cognise.
The crystal structure of 3-butyl-1-methyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium catena-poly[tris(μ2-bromido-κ
2
Br:Br)lead(II)], C8H15Br3N2Pb
Authors: Zhang Hui , Yu Shan Shan
Published: May 2019

C8H15Br3N2Pb, orthorhombic, P212121 (no. 19), a = 7.7781(9) Å, b = 9.7129(15) Å, c = 19.158(2) Å, V = 1447.3(3) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0376, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0780, T = 100 K.
An Investigation of Dissimilar Metal Weld Joints: SB166–Alloy 82/182–SA182
Authors: Zamora Rangel L. , Aguilar Torres J. A. , Sandoval A. R. , Arganis Juárez C. R. , Díaz Pérez L. , Zenteno Suárez J. C.
Published: May 2019

The alloys 82 and 182 have been widely used as filler metal to join austenitic stainless steel with alloy 600 by a shielded metal arc welding process in the reactor pressure vessel and pressure vessel nozzles, which are both components in boiling water reactors. These components are affected by interdendritic/intergranular stress corrosion cracking, usually confined to the welding metal of alloys 82 and 182. For better understanding of this effect, the heat-affected zones (HAZ) were studied. Usually, the damages are present in dissimilar metal welds along the fusion lines; this zone is susceptible to cracking. This is an important reason to research the microstructural behavior in the transition regions. For this study, specimens for dissimilar welding SB166–Alloy 82/182–SA182 were prepared; the physical dimensions of the specimens were 2.0 by 1.0 by 0.375 in. (5.08 by 5.54 by 0.95 cm). The welding metals were prepared as multilayer by shielded metal arc welding process using electrodes ERNiCr3 and ENiCrFe3. The microstructural characterization was realized by optical and scanning electron microscopy, including electron backscattering diffraction technique. Additionally, the Vickers microhardness profile was recorded using a Shimadzu Model HMV-G-20DT. The measurements were from the base metal and HAZ as well as the welding. The microscopy analysis shows that austenite phase is present in both base metals. The chemical compositions of different materials indicate that they correspond to the joints of alloy 600 and stainless steel (SS) 304L with alloy 82 and 182. The values of microhardness are interesting results of these joining welding. They show a slight increase in the hardness value as the measurements approached the fusion line, with the exception of the SA182 alloy.
The Effect of Expressive Writing on Symptoms of Depression in College Students: Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Robertson Sarah M. C. , Short Stephen D. , Asper Abigail , Venezia Kelly , Yetman Catherine , Connelly Monica , Trumbull Jacqueline
Published: May 2019

Introduction: The first year of college can be particularly difficult for students, as they typically face a number of emotional, developmental, social, and financial challenges. Expressive writing (EW) is a writing intervention that requires participants to write about their thoughts and feelings related to a particular event over several days.

Methods: Participants in this study included 90 first-year undergraduate students. Participants were assigned to the EW condition (writing about their thoughts and feelings related to their transition to college) or a control condition (writing about any object or event of their choosing). Participants completed 3 consecutive days of writing, and then completed two follow-up visits that occurred one month and six months post-intervention. Participants were divided into two groups based on their initial depression scores (one group with minimal symptoms, and a second group with mild/moderate/severe symptoms).

Results: Among participants in the mild/moderate/severe group, those in the EW condition demonstrated significant decreases in depression symptoms over the six-month study period, while participants in the control condition did not. Among this same subset of participants, those in the EW condition also demonstrated significantly fewer physician visits due to physical illness when compared to the control group. Changes in depression and physical illness visits were not found for participants with minimal symptoms of depression.

Discussion: EW is a low-cost procedure that has been empirically demonstrated to alleviate symptoms of depression six months post-intervention. However, this finding only held for participants who were initially categorized in the group of participants with mild/moderate/severe symptoms of depression (as opposed to those participants initially categorized with minimal symptoms of depression). Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.
Food Insecurity During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding by Low-Income Hispanic Mothers
Authors: Gross Rachel S. , Mendelsohn Alan L. , Arana Mayela M. , Messito Mary Jo
Published: May 2019

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Pregnancy, infancy, and toddlerhood are sensitive times in which families are particularly vulnerable to household food insecurity and when disparities in child obesity emerge. Understanding obesity-promoting infant-feeding beliefs, styles, and practices in the context of food insecurity could better inform both food insecurity and child obesity prevention interventions and policy guidelines.

METHODS:

We performed purposive sampling of low-income Hispanic mothers (n = 100) with infants in the first 2 years of life, all of whom were participants in a randomized controlled trial of an early child obesity prevention intervention called the Starting Early Program. Bilingual English-Spanish interviewers conducted semistructured qualitative interviews, which were audio recorded, transcribed, and translated. By using the constant comparative method, transcripts were coded through an iterative process of textual analysis until thematic saturation was reached.

RESULTS:

Three key themes emerged: (1) contributors to financial strain included difficulty meeting basic needs, job instability, and high vulnerability specific to pregnancy, infancy, and immigration status; (2) effects on infant feeding included decreased breastfeeding due to perceived poor maternal diet, high stress, and limiting of healthy foods; and (3) coping strategies included both home- and community-level strategies.

CONCLUSIONS:

Stakeholders in programs and policies to prevent poverty-related disparities in child obesity should consider and address the broader context by which food insecurity is associated with contributing beliefs, styles, and practices. Potential strategies include addressing misconceptions about maternal diet and breast milk adequacy, stress management, building social support networks, and connecting to supplemental nutrition assistance programs.
«The New York Times»: the experience of editorship formula formation in the ХІХ-th с.
Authors: Pavlenko V. , Nazarenko O.
Published: May 2019

Nowadays, the global newspapers market is considered to be in deep crisis as shown by the decrease in circulations, narrowing of the distribution areas, and the advertising market capacity decrease. At the same time, the quality newspapers that cover social and political issues, (e.g. The New York Times) stay very influential and effective in terms of financial indicators. The determination of factors that allow such newspapers to operate effectively in conditions of market decrease is an important task for both researchers and actors of media space. The paper herein is aimed at discovering of such factors with the use of the studies of The New York Times as the most influential newspaper in the US. The subject is studied with the use of researches on newspaper’s genesis and Adolph Ochs’s influence on setting the factors that have been supporting the newspaper effective operations so far. The biographical and ideographical approaches are used to determine the basics that Adolph Ochs used to reform the newspaper in XIX century. The results herein show that Ochs used the business-oriented approach for the newspaper: he used the popular newspapers optimization methods for the quality press (lowered the retail price, increased the advertising space, increased the size of advertisements, and optimized the delivery methods) but aimed at intellectuals as a main target audience. Ochs showed that the use of appropriate informational and economical politics allows the newspaper to be successful on informational market since US society demanded for the quality journalistic. The understanding of the development strategy of one of the leading newspaper that remains successful in modern conditions of media space transformation is beneficial not only for the building of competition practice but for the modernization of local and national segments of newspaper industry. The paper’s results may be used for adjusting the strategies of existing media and for the comparison of the basics specified herein with the basics of other quality newspapers.
Studying growth characteristics of yeast strains on vegetal fermentation media and with vitamin supplementation
Authors: Molnár J. , Ásványi B.
Published: May 2019

The primary purpose of these researches was to optimize single-cell protein (SCP) production process using Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCAIM Y.00200 and Kluyveromyces marxianus DSM 4908 strain, and then to analyse the changes in yield of single-cell protein final product using vitamin supplementation. To determine these values, the total sugar content of the fermentation medium, and the protein content of the yeast was determined. During our work, a particular attention was paid to the change of sugar content and yeast protein quantity. Besides, yield (Yx/s) values, typical of the whole fermentation, were also measured. Protein yield, as the final product of fermentation, featured the efficiency of our work. The results of our optimized trial settings that were considered as control, using S. cerevisiae NCAIM Y.00200 and K. marxianus DSM 4908 strains, were compared with the results of vitamin-supplemented fermentation processes. On this basis, we can say that during our trials vitamin supplementation did not influence the final product yield of processes. The counted protein yields during fermentation were between 0.4–0.7 g g−1.
Distribution of selected substances in blue varieties of table grapes
Authors: Soural I. , Wendelin S. , Balík J.
Published: May 2019

This study contains data of seven blue cultivars of table grape (Vitis vinifera L. and Vitis labrusca L.): Attika, Early Cardinal, Eszter, Chasselas rosé, Königliche Esther, Muscat bleu, and Nero. The following were determined in intact berries: malic, tartaric, and titratable acids, pH values, sugar content, and antioxidant capacity. Concentrations of the following compounds were determined in the pulp of analysed berries: phenolic acids and catechins. The last analysis focused on skins; in addition to the same phenolic acids and catechins, excluding epicatechin, analysed from pulp; ferulic acid and stilbenes were also studied. Higher contents of procyanidin B2 and gallic acid were found in the pulp as compared to those found in skins. Studies during the ripening stage showed that the higher ratio of procyanidin B2 and gallic acid concentrations in the pulp vs. skins relates to late-ripening cultivars, while for early-ripening cultivars a lower ratio was observed. Contents of phenolic acids, catechin, stilbenes, and anthocyanins were studied by means of LC-DAD; other compounds were measured by FTIR.
Trifecta Outcomes in Open, Laparoscopy or Robotic Partial Nephrectomy: Does the Surgical Approach Matter?
Authors: Mehra Ketan , Manikandan Ramanitharan , Dorairajan Lalgudi Narayanan , Sreerag Sreenivasan , Jain Amit , Bokka Sri Harsha
Published: May 2019

This retrospective study evaluated perioperative outcomes of open partial nephrectomy (OPN), laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN), and robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and identified predictive factors of Trifecta achievement for renal tumors that underwent partial nephrectomy (PN) in a single institutional cohort. The study involved patients who underwent PN from January 2011 to July 2018. Trifecta was defined as absence of perioperative complications, no positive surgical margins, and ischemia time <30 min. Fifty-five PN procedures were reviewed: 28 OPN, 14 LPN, and 13 RAPN. OPN, LPN and RAPN had similar median tumor size (5.75, 5.25, and 5 cm), nephrometry score (7, 6, and 6), and preoperative creatinine (1.09, 1.1, and 1.1 mg/dl, respectively). Blood loss was higher for OPN (550 ml) than for LPN (400 ml) and RAPN (300 ml), P = 0.042. Drain was removed after 6 days in OPN which was higher than LPN and RAPN (4.5 and 4 days, respectively), P = 0.008. OPN, LPN, and RAPN had similar median operative time (190, 180, and 180 min, respectively), P = 0.438. Median postoperative stay for OPN, LPN, and RAPN was 5, 6.5, and 10 days, respectively. Trifecta outcomes of 73.1%, 64.3%, and 61.53% were achieved in OPN, LPN, and RAPN, respectively, P = 0.730. It was concluded that Trifecta outcomes had no significant difference among OPN, LPN, and RAPN. LPN can produce as good results as RAPN. Keeping in mind the cost-effectiveness, LPN holds an important position in developing countries where expenditure by patient is a major factor.
Aspen Plus Simulation Strategies Applied to the Study of Chitin Bioextraction from Shrimp Waste
Authors: Gómez-Ríos David , Navarro Grace , Monsalve Paola , Barrera-Zapata Rolando , Ríos-Estepa Rigoberto
Published: May 2019

Chitin is an aminopolysaccharide of industrial interest commonly obtained from shrimp processing waste through chemical or biotechnological means. Current environmental concerns offer a stimulating perspective for chitin bioextraction with lactic acid bacteria since a considerable reduction in the use of corrosive and pollutant products is possible. Nevertheless, the efficiency of this bioprocess is still a matter of discussion. In this work, the experimental studies of chitin bioextraction from Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) waste with a mixed culture of Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus are used in process simulation using Aspen Plus software for the analysis of the potential application of a bioprocess on plant scale. The experimental results of characterization in shake flasks and 1-litre bioreactor indicated that 50 h of fermentation with the mixed culture of lactic acid bacteria was enough to extract more than 90 % of minerals and proteins from the shrimp waste. The use of experimental parameters in the simulation allowed a reliable representation of the bioprocess yielding normalized root mean square values below 10 %. Simulation was used for the assessment of the impact of the raw material variability on the production costs and gross margin. In this regard, the gross margin of the operation ranged from 42 to 52 % depending on the raw material composition and product yield
UC Davis - Total Cholesterol (TC) Protocol v1
Authors: Havel Peter
Published: May 2019

Summary: Cholesterol esters are enzymatically hydrolysed by cholesterol esterase to cholesterol and free fatty acids. Free cholesterol, including that originally present, is then oxidized by cholesterol oxidase to cholest-4-en-3one and hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide combines with HBA and 4-aminoantipyrine to form a chromophore (quinoneimine dye) which may be quantitated at 500-550nm.
UC Davis - Digestible Energy by Bomb Calorimetry v1
Authors: Knotts Trina
Published: May 2019

Summary: Changes in fecal energy loss can result in differences in net energy balance and feed efficiency, and may result from, e.g., alterations in bile acid production, secretion or re-uptake, and changes in activities of enzymes involved in macronutrient digestion or uptake (e.g., pancreatic lipase). This assay will be coupled to food intake determinations and will involve fecal collection and feces weight measures for 48h, which can be coordinated with the meal pattern studies (catalog item D4003) or indirect calorimetry (catalog item D4007). Diet and fecal energy content will be measured by bomb calorimetry and the following reported: fecal energy density, total fecal energy loss/day, and fecal energy loss as a percent of energy intake. Alternatively, fecal samples and diet samples can be examined without food intake measurements. In this case, only diet and fecal energy density will be reported. Additional tests can be done through proximate analysis (D4005- Digestible Energy by Proximate Analysis) to determine protein or fat absorption.
UC Davis - Dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging v1
Authors: Rutledge John
Published: May 2019

Summary: Dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) is used to assess blood-brain barrier permeability in vivo in rodent models. Post-processing image analysis is done using our in-house matlab script with patlak linearized regression mathematical modeling.
UC Davis - Glutathione Peroxidase v1
Authors: Havel Peter
Published: May 2019

Summary: Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) catalyzes the reduction of hydroperoxides, including hydrogen peroxides, by reduced glutathione and functions to protect the cell from oxidative damage. With the exception of phospholipid-hydroperoxide GPx, a monomer, all of the GPx enzymes are tetramers of four identical subunits. Each subunit contains a selenocysteine in the active site which participates directly in the two-electron reduction of the peroxide substrate. The enzyme uses glutathione as the ultimate electron donor to regenerate the reduced form of the selenocysteine. The Cayman Chemical Glutathione Peroxidase Assay Kit measures GPx activity indirectly by a coupled reaction with glutathione reductase (GR). Oxidized glutathione (GSSG), produced upon reduction of an organic hydroperoxide by GPx, is recycled to its reduced state by GR and NADPH. The oxidation of NADPH to NADP+ is accompanied by a decrease in absorbance at 340 nm. The rate of decrease in the A340 is directly proportional to the GPx activity in the sample. The Cayman GPx Assay Kit can be used to measure all of the glutathione- dependent peroxidases in plasma, erythrocyte lysates, tissue homogenates, and cell lysates.
UC Davis - Glutathione Reductase v1
Authors: Havel Peter
Published: May 2019

Summary: Glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) is a flavoprotein that catalyzes the NADPH- dependent reduction of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) to glutathione (GSH). This enzyme is essential for the GSH redox cycle which maintains adequate levels of reduced cellular GSH. A high GSH/GSSG ratio is essential for protection against oxidative stress. The Cayman Chemical Glutathione Reductase Assay Kit measures GR activity by measuring the rate of NADPH oxidation. The oxidation of NADPH to NADP+ is accompanied by a decrease in absorbance at 340 nm. Since GR is present at rate limiting concentrations, the rate of decrease in the A340 is directly proportional to the GR activity in the sample. The Cayman GR Assay Kit is provided in a convenient 96 well plate format and can be used to measure GR activity inplasma, erythrocyte lysates, tissue homogenates, and cell lysates.
UC Davis - Gut Microbiome Analysis (Illumina-20K reads, 2X300bp) v1
Authors: Knotts Trina
Published: May 2019

Summary: The work of Gordon and colleagues (i.e., Nature. 2006 Dec 21;444(7122):1027-31) has shown that obesity can result in marked shifts in the gut microbiome in mice and other models including humans. While the role of the microbiome remains to be fully elucidated, the gut microbiota can no longer be ignored as a potentially important factor when assessing metabolic phenotype. This service involves 16S gene variable region (V3-V4 using primer pair 515F-806R) pair end sequencing (2x300bp) by Illumina (20,000 avg seq read depth) of feces, cecal, or other GI contents. Sequences can be processed through a bioinformatics pipeline (Qiime) to taxonomically classify them and to assess alpha and beta diversity of the community. In addition, Principal Components Analysis (PCA) or partial least squares- discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) can leverage variances in the relative microbial abundances to better understand how specific microbes contribute to separation by group. Correlational analyses can identify which variables of host metadata associate with specific microbes. The Core’s gut microbiome assay will employ this approach to uncover unique microbiota fingerprints in test mice. One caveat is that with fecal samples, patterns are only a surrogate for actual gut microbiota patterns, and may not exactly reflect the intestinal populations.
UC Davis - IN-VIVO Glucose-stimulates Insulin Secretion Test v1
Authors: G. Haj Fawaz
Published: May 2019

Summary: An in-vivo glucose-stimulates insulin secretion test is designated to determine alterations in insulin secretion by the pancreas upon a bolus IP Glucose injection.
Analysis of Taxation of Property in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Pita Lejla Lazović , Močević Amina
Published: May 2019

The purpose of this paper is fill in the literature gap and to analyse taxation of property in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH). By using IMF and OECD methodology defined under taxes on property, our research tries to compare taxes on property in two BIH entities to the international practice. The results are twofold: firstly, inconsistencies to international classification of taxes on property in BIH are identified and secondly, the taxation of property differs in two BIH entities (RS and FBIH). We find that three different types of property taxes are applied –tax on immovable property in RS and real estate transfer tax and so called tax on property in FBIH. We also find that identified differences have an effect on the size and share of revenues from property taxes in both entities which affect local communities and their revenues. Hence, we focus on property taxes in FBIH since they are under cantonal jurisdiction. The research shows that most revenues from property taxes in FBIH are collected in Sarajevo Canton. In fact, most property tax revenues in Sarajevo Canton come from real estate transfer tax revenues and are collected in four municipalities forming the City of Sarajevo. Bearing in mind lack of reliable long term data in both BIH entities related to taxation of property, we conclude with a few policy recommendations and suggestions for future FBIH property related reforms which should in turn simplify the process of property taxation in FBIH and improve the position of local communities in FBIH.
Can Top Down Participatory Budgeting Work? The Case of Polish Community Fund
Authors: Sześciło Dawid , Wilk Bartosz
Published: May 2019

The article addresses the participatory budgeting (PB), which is one of the most recognised governance innovations of recent decades. This global phenomenon represents in practice a shift towards participatory and collaborative management of public resources at the local level. The purpose of this article is to determine when top down approach to PB might be welcomed, taking into account the characteristics of PB schemes all around the world that they emerged as local initiatives, instigated either by civil society groups or local governments. The analysis is based on the description of the PB example as introduced via country-wide legislation, exhaustively regulating PB procedure. The article examines Polish experience in the field of functioning top down approach to PB. It demonstrates that top down PB can effectively work, if it is accompanied with significant incentives and grants, as well as the extensive autonomy and flexibility of local communities. Polish experience suggests that such an initiative might be relatively successful, yet there is a number of conditions that has to be met in order to ensure the dissemination of legislative model of participatory budgeting. The results have practical implications to central government institutions that consider introduction of some legislative framework for participatory budgeting at the local level. The originality of the research is in the analysis of one of successful stories of the PB introduced via country-wide legislation, and determining when this approach can work, also in other countries.
Multiplication of Negative Scenarios: the Approach Public Administrations Could Use at Drafting General Rules
Authors: Pečarič Mirko
Published: May 2019

This paper addresses problems that emerge when draft laws are created without due regard for the calculus of probability. Although the latter should be sine qua non for future legislation, legislators usually do not use it despite the legislation’s pro future orientation. The paper, based on Hume’s old “is-ought” problem (the impossibility to move from descriptive statements to prescriptive ones) and with the awareness that probability will not be used soon, offers a solution for the future legislation in the multiplication of (negative) scenarios, applied to different life questions. Despite the more and more “popular use” of regulatory impact assessments, smart regulation, probability and risk, public administrations as the major drafters of general legal rules usually do not even use the (much simpler) negative approach to gain better insight into problems, although it is per se the natural way of our thinking. A new view on probability through signs that fit into (unwanted, but known in advance) scenarios can also provide new answers regarding causality. The latter is based on signs, which is what evidence per se really means.
A Comparative Research on Municipal Voluntary Tasks of Three Hungarian and Slovenian Municipalities
Authors: Nagy Marianna , Hoffman István , Papp Dorottya
Published: May 2019

The article summarizes the similarities and differences in voluntary task management of municipalities. For this purpose, we carried out empirical research in three Hungarian and three Slovenian municipalities. Our main objective was to discover which economic and social factors influence the scope of voluntary tasks in Hungary and in Slovenia. We separately analysed six sectors of municipal services, with regard to the different size of the municipalities. Likewise, we only covered the major sectors in which voluntary tasks are most likely to appear and therefore can serve as a basis for comparative analysis. The analysis gradually verified the initial hypothesis of our research that voluntary tasks management is more likely to be present in cities with larger economic powers and is remarkably profounder in municipalities of touristic importance.
Public Accountability through Soft Steering
Authors: S. de Vries Michiel , Sobis Iwona
Published: May 2019

This article argues that present-day procedures on public accountability miss the essence of being accountable. We suggest that alternatives are available in social psychology theory and network theory, which point to the decisive role of peers or experienced organization members. In this view, it is not leadership but middle management that is crucial in the socialization of newcomers in an organization to internalize values and to create a situation in which employers and employees develop mutual expectations about what is expected from one another and create multiplex networks in order to maintain such values.
The System of Management of Regional Development in Poland: New Legal and Administrative Proposals
Authors: Szewczak Marcin
Published: May 2019

This paper describes the new proposal being advanced regarding the legal and administrative aspects of regional development in Poland, presenting a smallscale survey of part of the legal system as it pertains to regional development. It outlines the new legal proposal for implementation with regard to the preparation of solutions necessary for the next programming period (2014–2020). The results of the analysis suggest that the solutions proposed may be effective and may contribute to improving the system.
Pravni vidiki avtonomije državnih univerz in visokih šol
Authors: Brezovar Nejc
Published: May 2019

Avtonomija državnih univerz in visokih šol je ustavno zagotovljena kategorija, temeljna svoboščina, ki zagotavlja državnim univerzam in visokim šolam »obrambo« pred (nedopustnimi) posegi države na področje njihovega delovanja. Pravilno razumevanje avtonomije je v povezavi s področjem njenega delovanja (vsebinska avtonomija), ki ga ne ogrožajo samo »zunanje« sile, temveč je avtonomija ogrožena tudi od lastnih notranjih razmerij. Financiranje iz proračuna ni edina ovira z vidika finančne avtonomije, temveč problem predstavlja tudi vse večja želja po pridobivanju sredstev na trgu, ki omejuje delovanje univerz na način, da so te primorane svoje raziskovanje podrediti željam trga s čimer trg postane njihov »gospodar«. Avtonomija je zagotovljena državnim univerzam (kot celoti in ne posamičnim članicam) in visokim šolam, kjer obstajajo možnosti vplivanja države kot ustanovitelja na njihovo organizacijo in delovanje. Država kot oblast ohrani vpliv na univerze, vendar se mora vzdržati prekomernega poseganja na področje njenega temeljnega delovanja predvsem kot ustanovitelj – odpovedati se mora določenim ustanoviteljskim pravicam. Avtonomija univerz se izraža navzven (nasproti državi kot ustanovitelju) in tudi v notranjih razmerjih, kjer je v razmerju do univerze avtonomen vsak pedagog, raziskovalec, uporabnik storitev. Popolne avtonomije državne univerze in visoke šole ne morejo uživati, saj je tovrstno sklepanje v nasprotju z namenom ustavodajalca in z logiko sistemske ureditve družbe, kjer so univerze le eden izmed medsebojno povezanih podsistemov.