bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Do Brokers Broker? Tertius Gaudens, Tertius Iungens, and the Temporality of Structural Holes
Authors: Quintane Eric , Carnabuci Gianluca
Published: November 2016

Organizational network research has demonstrated that multiple benefits accrue to people occupying brokerage positions. However, the extant literature offers scant evidence of the process postulated to drive such benefits (information brokerage) and therefore leaves unaddressed the question of how brokers broker. We address this gap by examining the information-brokerage interactions in which actors engage. We argue that the information-brokerage strategies of brokers differ in three critical ways from those of actors embedded in denser network positions. First, brokers more often broker information via short-term interactions with colleagues outside their network of long-term relationships, a process we label “unembedded brokerage.” Second, when they engage in unembedded brokerage, brokers are more likely than are actors in dense network positions to intermediate the flow of information between the brokered parties, consistent with a tertius gaudens strategy. Conversely, and third, when they broker information via their network of long-term ties (embedded brokerage), brokers are more likely than are densely connected actors to facilitate a direct information exchange between the brokered parties, consistent with a tertius iungens strategy. Using a relational event model, we find support for our arguments in an empirical analysis of email communications among employees in a medium-sized, knowledge-intensive organization, as well as in a replication study. The theory and evidence we present advance a novel, temporal perspective on how brokers broker, which reconciles structural and process views of network brokerage. Our findings substantiate the notion of brokers as a dynamic force driving change in organizational networks, and they help to integrate within a unitary explanatory framework tertius iungens and tertius gaudens views of brokerage.
Effect of forest composition on bird species abundance in tropical dry deciduous forest: A case of Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary, India
Authors: KHAN MOHD SHAHNAWAZ
Published: November 2016

Abstract. Khan MS. 2017. Effect of forest composition on bird species abundance in tropical dry deciduous forest: A case of Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary, India. Biodiversitas 18: 78-85. The tropical dry deciduous forest (TDDF) with 38.2% of total forest cover in India forms the largest forest type of India. TDDF have been managed for centuries in the Indian subcontinent. However, so far it is not clear how different forest compositions and structures inï¬‚uence the abundance and the distribution patterns of faunal species vice versa. To provide further insights in this respect, we analysed how different habitat variables inï¬‚uence the abundance and diversity of forest birds. The difference in relative species abundances and habitat separation between forest specialist and generalist birds was also investigated. Different classes of bird density were discriminated with habitat variables. In general, it was found that higher bird densities were concentrated in the lower tree and shrub densities and diversities, however, high grass density and diversity with low tree density and diversity favoured the overall high bird density. Results further indicate the positive association of relative density of specialist bird species with the high grass density and diversity and low tree density and diversity. Specialists occurred in the lower relative densities (0.75Â±0.68) than that of generalists (0.86Â±0.69) and were found restricted to dense, pristine woody forest patches with high tree diversity.

Keywords: Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary, birds, Forest Composition, India, Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest
Efficient homogeneous illumination and optical sectioning for quantitative single-molecule localization microscopy
Authors: Deschamps Joran , Rowald Andreas , Ries Jonas
Published: November 2016

Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) relies on the switching of fluorescent molecules between a fluorescent and a dark state to achieve super resolution. This process is inherently dependent on the intensity distribution of the laser light used for both activation from the dark state and excitation of the bright state. Typically, laser light is coupled directly or via a single-mode fiber into the microscope, which leads to a Gaussian intensity profile in total internal reflection (TIR) or epi illumination. As a result, switching dynamics and brightness of the fluorescent molecules vary strongly across the field of view, impacting their localization precision and impeding quantitative analysis. Here we present a simple illumination scheme based on the use of a multimode fiber and a laser speckle-reducer, which results in a flat, homogeneous and speckle-free illumination across the entire field of view. In addition, we combined homogeneous multimode excitation of the sample with single-mode based TIR activation to simultaneously obtain the advantages of both approaches: uniform brightness of single fluorophores and TIR-like optical sectioning.
Precocious labrish: The girl-child narrative voice as short story poetics in the works of Marie Lily Cerat, Pamela Mordecai and Jennifer Rahim
Authors: Bailey Carol
Published: November 2016

This article analyses short stories by Pamela Mordecai (Jamaica), Jennifer Rahim (Trinidad) and Marie Lily Cerat (Haiti) to theorize ‘precocious labrish’ as the most significant stylistic trend in short story writing among Caribbean women. Precocious labrish encapsulates the dominant presence of the prepubescent and pubescent girl, as well as the young woman as the narrative voice, critic and commentator, and in some instances consciousness, in her stories. The article harnesses the positive connotation of ‘Precocious’ and recovers the Jamaican vernacular term ‘labrish’, to characterize the loquaciousness of young girls in these works as an affirmative inscription of a decidedly subversive female presence. Always with an interrogative turn, the girl narrators in the stories considered here confront some pressing questions that emerge about Caribbean culture and social imperatives. In that way, the writers extend an established stylistic element of short story writing to tackle fresh questions and offer heightened attention to others initiated earlier, and to extend a poetics of short story writing established by writers such as Olive Senior and Jamaica Kincaid.
Lusotropicalism, ‘girl-butterflies’ and ‘the fact of blackness’: A neo-Fanonian reading of Esmeralda Ribeiro’s ‘À Procura de uma borboleta preta’
Authors: Minto Deonne N.
Published: November 2016

Within the last decade Caribbean theorists have come to acknowledge Brazil as part of what Immanuel Wallerstein refers to as the ‘extended Caribbean’. In placing Brazil in comparative relation to other areas of the Caribbean, such theorists have noted similar patterns of slave economies and convergences of race and class. Yet, not as much attention has been paid to the issue of gender, which plays a crucial role in the Lusotropicalist myth of a Brazilian racial democracy. Engaging Frantz Fanon’s psychoanalytical interpretations of black women and what he terms ‘the fact of blackness’ in relation to the search for recognition from the nation, I analyse Esmeralda Ribeiro’s ‘A Procura de uma borboleta preta’ while considering the following questions about the status of black women in contemporary Brazil: How do black women manoeuver the Lusotropicalist space of Brazil? What are the stakes for them? How do they confirm, oppose and complicate Fanon’s rendering of black women in relation to white men and the larger nation? What psychopathologies become evident in Afro-Brazilian women when the ideals of a racial democracy fail to align themselves with ‘the fact of blackness’? By examining these questions, I seek to enlarge the scope of present approaches to the extended Caribbean, specifically, and to the Americas more broadly.
Sonic monstrosity
Authors: Van Elferen Isabella
Published: November 2016

This article explores the sonic dimension of monstrosity, charting the sounds that monsters make as well as the sounds that announce monsters. Basing on examples from a range of media from literature to cinema, television and video games, the article argues that sound and especially music are capable of reflecting the monster’s most unrepresentable characteristic: its dorsality.
Rewriting the history of computerized media in China, 1990s–today
Authors: Bahroun Allan
Published: November 2016

This article presents a semiological understanding of mediation to trace the mutations in everyday communication in China through the development of computerized media. The guiding line of the history invites to write circles around the idea that computerized media have intensely redistributed the powers of writing and reading. This article offers several entry points into the material reality of computerized media. By ‘rewriting history’ it wishes to establish writing as a new category of interpretation for the study of computerized media. Ultimately, it calls for a renewed analysis of computerized media capitalism to enrich the political economic approach of communication in China and beyond.
Políticas Públicas de Educação Inclusiva: Um breve relato dos Documentos Legais
Authors: Ferreira Orleane Forte , Andrade Maria Helena , Soares Ana Maria Feitosa , Rebouças Geane Maria
Published: November 2016

O presente artigo tem como propósito apresentar e classificar as políticas públicas de Educação Inclusiva presentes em documentos legais nacionais, tais como: Plano Nacional de Educação-PNE, Lei de Diretrizes e Bases da Educação Nacional-LDBEN, Constituição Federal de 1988, Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente-ECA, e no âmbito internacional a Declaração de Salamanca que defende uma educação de qualidade e acessível a todos. O estudo possibilitou caracterizar a política pública e sua contextualização com a política de educação especial na perspectiva da educação inclusiva. Diante disso, observamos quais os interesses, avanços e recuos, as políticas de governo e os direcionamentos estendidos à Educação Básica no tocante a educação inclusiva. Essas políticas de inclusão propõem contemplar alunos com necessidades educacionais especiais na escola, valorizando uma educação de respeito às diferenças e suas habilidades. Evita, de certo modo, a preconceituosa e excludente segregação. Assim, as crianças tem a oportunidade de conviverem num mesmo espaço. Contudo espera-se um real investimento no que diz respeito à estruturação física e de pessoal, e principalmente que sejam regulares, para que não se percam as ideologias de uma educação realmente inclusiva. Podendo, oportunizar discussões a respeito da real necessidade, para que futuramente venham a ser bem sucedidas na sua execução.
Fatores Determinantes das Perdas das Vacinas em Unidades Básicas de Saúde
Authors: Santos Jaqueline Adelaide da Silva , Torres Daiara Barbosa , Melo Rosana Alves de , Fernandes Flávia Emília Cavalcante Valença , Campos Maria Elda Alves de Lacerda
Published: November 2016

Objetivo: descrever os principais fatores determinantes das perdas dos imunobiológicos e o valor total dessas perdas no município de Petrolina no ano de 2013. Método: estudo descritivo, onde foram analisados 48 relatórios das 28 unidades de saúde que apresentaram perdas de imunobiológicos no período estabelecido. Resultados: foram registradas 10.439 doses perdidas totalizando um valor de R$ 72.864,23. A maior parte das perdas ocorreu na zona rural. A falta de energia elétrica correspondeu a 43,75% dos motivos das perdas; 85,40% das vacinas estavam com temperatura acima do preconizado; 70,20% permaneceram mais de 12 horas expostas à temperatura inadequada. Conclusão: O estudo sinaliza a importância de conhecer as causas das perdas dos imunobiológicos, na maioria das vezes evitáveis, o que poderá subsidiar o gerenciamento nas unidades de saúde, garantindo a qualidade das vacinas que são ofertadas nos serviços de saúde.
O Preconceito Linguístico no Brasil
Authors: Oliveira Maria do Carmo Leite de , Beserra Theóphilo Michel Alvares Cabral
Published: November 2016

Este artigo tem por objetivo discutir o preconceito linguístico no Brasil.  Percebe-se que ainda é uma prática dominante no país, onde há uma diversidade cultural muito grande. Pretende-se ainda refletir sobre os aspectos históricos e os mitos descritos por que Bagno, me sua obra intitulada Preconceito Línguístico, tentando um paralelo com a realidade escolar. Os resultados denotam uma língua  não  homogênea, com domíniod de todos os nativos brasileiros e, cujas variantes culturais não dificultam a compreensão das mensagens.
Aulas práticas no ensino de botânica: relato de uma experiência no contexto do PIBID em uma escola da rede estadual em Aracaju, SE.
Authors: Santana Sebastiana Érica Cruz , Santos Tatiane Da Silva , Landim Myrna Friederichs
Published: November 2016

A aprendizagem dos conhecimentos biológicos pode contribuir para um efetivo exercício da cidadania, sendo a utilização de recursos didáticos variados, de forma contextualizada, de grande valor para o sucesso desse processo. Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar e discutir a importância das aulas práticas na abordagem de conteúdos de Botânica no ensino médio, em uma escola da rede estadual de Aracaju, SE, no contexto do PIBID. Foram realizadas duas oficinas, ambas com metodologias didáticas participativas, as quais foram avaliadas quali-quatitativamente. Embora “retraídos”, a princípio, os estudantes apresentaram grande interesse e participação nas atividades propostas, as quais representaram também uma oportunidade de se relacionar os conteúdos científicos com a vida diária dos alunos, revelando a necessidade de implantação de estratégias práticas no processo de ensino-aprendizagem.
Ciências, culturas e educação: reflexões acerca do “eu” e do “outro” em um processo formativo docente
Authors: Brito Maria Camila De Lima , Jesus Yasmin Lima de , Lopes Edinéia Tavares
Published: November 2016

Esta investigação foi desenvolvida junto às ações dos programas PIBID/ PRODOCÊNCIA/CAPES da área de Química/Ciências- UFS do Campus Itabaiana. As ações de ensino, pesquisa e extensão desse subprojeto foram desenvolvidas em seis colégios estaduais sergipanos, durante os anos de 2012 à 2014. O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar, a partir dos contatos e convívio com uma comunidade quilombola, as reflexões de duas bolsistas pibidianas acerca do “eu” e do “outro”.  A perspectiva etnográfica e o relato autobiográfico constituem a metodologia do trabalho. Os métodos de coleta de dados foram o diário de campo e as observações. Assim, este trabalho possibilitou uma reflexão acerca das opiniões e visões das pesquisadoras/bolsistas sobre à cultura afro-brasileira, mais especificamente, das visões acerca de “nós” e dos “outros”, conforme exposto por Candau, buscando uma reflexão acerca da construção, histórica e culturalmente situada, da identidade docente.
Prática de Ensino: reflexões entre Etnomatemática e Educação Ambiental
Authors: Ferrete Anne Alilma Silva Souza , Ferrete Rodrigo Bozi , Araujo Maria Inêz Oliveira
Published: November 2016

O presente estudo tem como objetivo investigar a viabilidade da aplicabilidade da Etnomatemática na perspectiva da Educação Ambiental Crítica, no ensino de Matemática, do Curso Técnico Integrado em Edificações do campus de Aracaju do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciências e Tecnologia de Sergipe (IFS). Para isso, desenvolvemos uma pesquisa qualitativa, para construir a perspectiva da realidade dos alunos do referido Curso e, a partir dela, elaboramos atividades de ensino com o intuito de produzir dados e informações sobre a viabilidade ou não em trabalhar a Etnomatemática na perspectiva da Educação Ambiental Crítica. Os resultados mostram que ao trabalharmos atividades de ensino de Etnomatemática, na perspectiva da Educação Ambiental, conseguimos trabalhar o conteúdo matemático de forma problematizadora, a partir da dialogicidade com os alunos, desenvolvendo um pensamento crítico sobre sua realidade e possibilitando uma melhor compreensão da importância do conhecimento matemático.
Adenophora liliifolia: Condition of its Populations in Central Europe
Authors: Prausová Romana , Marečková Lucie , Kapler Adam , Majeský L’uboš , Farkas Tünde , Indreica Adrian , Šafářová Lenka , Kitner Miloslav
Published: November 2016

This study deals with populations of the European-South-Siberian geoelement Adenophora liliifolia (L.) A. DC. in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Poland, where this species has its European periphery distribution. We studied the population size, genetic variability, site conditions, and vegetation units in which A. liliifolia grows. Recent and historical localities of A. liliifolia were ranked into six vegetation units of both forest and non-forest character. A phytosociological survey showed differences in the species composition among localities. Only a weak pattern of population structure was observed (only 22% of total genetic variation present at the interpopulation level, AMOVA analysis), with moderate values for gene diversity (Hj = 0.141) and polymorphism (P = 27.6%). Neighbor-joining and Bayesian clusterings suggest a similar genetic background for most of the populations from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland, contrary to the populations from Hungary, Romania, as well as two populations from Central and South Slovakia. This might be explained by a relatively recent fragmentation of the A. liliifolia populations in Central Europe. Nevertheless, it seems that several populations in Romania, South Hungary, and Slovakia were isolated for a longer period of time and their genetic differentiation is more evident.
A sharp companion of Ostrowski’s inequality for the Riemann–Stieltjes integral and applications
Authors: Alomari Mohammad W.
Published: November 2016

A sharp companion of Ostrowski’s inequality for the Riemann-Stieltjes integral $\int_a^b {f(t)\;du(t)} $, where f is assumed to be of r-H-Hölder type on [a, b] and u is of bounded variation on [a, b], is proved. Applications to the approximation problem of the Riemann-Stieltjes integral in terms of Riemann-Stieltjes sums are also pointed out.
Coupling de novo protein folding with subunit exchange into pre-formed oligomeric protein complexes: the ‘heritable template’ hypothesis
Authors: McMurray Michael A.
Published: November 2016

Despite remarkable advances in synthetic biology, the fact remains that it takes a living cell to make a new living cell. The information encoded in the genome is necessary to direct assembly of all cellular components, but it may not be sufficient. Some components (e.g. mitochondria) cannot be synthesizedde novo, and instead require pre-existing templates, creating a fundamental continuity of life: if the template information is ever lost, the genomic code cannot suffice to ensure proper biogenesis. One type of information only incompletely encoded in the genome is the structures of macromolecular assemblies, which emerge from the conformations of the constituent molecules coupled with the ways in which these molecules interact. For many, if not most proteins, gene sequence is not the sole determinant of native conformation, particularly in the crowded cellular milieu. A partial solution to this problem lies in the functions of molecular chaperones, encoded by nearly all cellular genomes. Chaperones effectively restrict the ensemble of conformations sampled by polypeptides, promoting the acquisition of native, functional forms, but multiple proteins have evolved ways to achieve chaperone independence, perhaps by coupling folding with higher-order assembly. Here, I propose the existence of another solution: a novel mechanism ofde novofolding in which the folding of specific proteins is templated by pre-folded molecules of a partner protein whose own folding also required similar templating. This hypothesis challenges prevailing paradigms by predicting that, in order to achieve a functional fold, some non-prion proteins require a seed passed down through generations.
Ukraine: Facing Default Under Conditions of Global Uncertainty
Authors: Pavlo Zhuk
Published: November 2016

Ukraine faces a threat of full-fledged default and deep financial and political crisis. The current deep recession is the country's second major economic crisis in ten years. Ukraine was severely affected by the global financial crisis in 2008, with its economy shrinking by 15% in 2009. The economy remained weak in the aftermath, as former government caused the business climate worsening. The lack of reforms limited growth of GDP to just 0.3% in 2012 and remained static in 2013. By the end of 2013, Ukraine was already on the brink of collapse. The conflict in the eastern part of the country has further exacerbated the recession. Today the sources of economic growth in Ukraine have been exhausted, and the country is strongly increasing its debts trying to attract foreign investment. The government’s reform efforts have so far failed to significantly improve the country’s business climate. Ukraine is ranked 83rd out of 189 countries in the latest World Bank's ‘Doing Business’ 2016 index. This score is the second worst in Europe. Ukraine is still considered the most corrupt country in Europe as well (rated at number 142 out of 175 by Transparency International in 2014). The persistent state of war has disrupted industrial production, which is mainly located in the eastern part. The article elucidates recent events in Ukraine as well as gives a brief historical overview. The influence of misleading governance of economic situation is revealed. The positive scenario, in which Ukraine overcomes default, is unlikely to happen unless the firm measures are to be taken.
Atlas of the Baltic Languages: Thematic Groups of Vocabulary
Authors: Stafecka Anna
Published: November 2016

Latvian and Lithuanian share a large number of related lexical items in their standard varieties, but even more so in their dialects. Even though the traditional regional dialects are relatively well-preserved both in Latvia and Lithuania, nowadays they are disappearing. For this reason, a project called Atlas of the Baltic languages was initiated in 2006, with the aim to study both Baltic languages from a geolinguistic point of view. Altogether, five volumes are planned for the Atlas of the Baltic Languages, presenting the dialectal vocabulary in thematic groups: flora-related vocabulary; fauna-related vocabulary; human physical qualities and kinship terminology; housing and settlement; natural phenomena, time, weather, etc. The selection of the lexical items for the Atlas of the Baltic Languages is based not only on words of common origin in Latvian and Lithuanian, but also on related semantics, therefore all volumes will include semantic maps as well.
Secondary Types of Pitch Accents of the Northern Aukštaitian Dialect of Panevėžys of the Lithuanian Language
Authors: Kačiuškienė Genovaitė
Published: November 2016

The Baltic languages remain of special interest for linguists because they contain many archaic features essential for the comparative research of Indo-European languages and reconstruction of the Proto-Indo-European (Mikić 2014: 39). The Lithuanian prosodic system is characterized by free accent and two types of syllable accents (or tones) in the long stressed syllables. The stress is inherited from Indo-European and can fall on any syllable of a word, i. e. last, penultimate, antepenultimate etc. (Stundžia 2014: 12).

In the Northern Aukštaitian dialect of Panevėžys of the Lithuanian Language, four types of syllable accents are possible in the long stressed syllables (more clearly heard in the diphthongs, less in the monophthongs): acute, circumflex, neoacute, neocircumflex (Garšva 1982: 65 ff.). These accents are positional allotones of two types of syllable accents: acute and circumflex. Two more types of accents are possible in strong syllables consisting of two central sounds: typical and atypical. Typical acute and circumflex accents are characteristic of verbs of non-iterative action and of “barytone” denominative words, atypical accents, with an emphasis on the second part of the stressed component, are characteristic of verbs of iterative action and of “oxytonic” denominative words (Kačiuškienė 2009: 34).

The article focuses on results of the auditory and instrumental experiment and demonstrates different auditory and acoustic properties of the secondary types of pitch accents of the Northern Aukštaitian Dialect of Panevėžys of the Lithuanian Language.
India-ASEAN Trade in Intermediates and Final Products: A Study of Selected Sectors
Authors: Mukherjee Deeparghya
Published: November 2016

The architecture of international trade is increasingly changing towards trade in value added from trade in final products. In this light, studying the differential trends of exports and imports of intermediates and final products between trading nations becomes important. This paper attempts to study the pattern of trade between India and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) (a vibrant region trading through value chains), and investigates the effects of India’s functional Free Trade agreements (FTAs) in the region with ASEAN, Singapore and Malaysia- segmented by intermediates and final products. Our analysis is further focused on five sectors which are significant in India’s trade basket and stand out in terms of organising production into value chains spanning across countries, primarily from the ASEAN region. These are: fishing, textiles and wearing apparel, transport equipment, recycling and financial intermediation & business services. We find and present evidence to show increased trade of intermediates between India and ASEAN countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Viet Nam. The trade expansion effects have been far stronger for intermediates trade implying India’s greater participation in the regional value chains. However, India’s exports for final demand are yet to see significant increases.
Ultrasound promoted green synthesis of benzofuran substituted thiazolo[3,2-b][1,2,4]triazoles
Authors: Kumar Surender , Sharma Dinesh Kumar
Published: November 2016

A highly efficient, eco-friendly and one-pot synthesis of benzofuran substituted thiazolo[3,2-b][1,2,4]triazoles was developed involving the reaction of 2-acetyl benzofurans and 5-mercapto-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,2,4triazole in the presence of molecular iodine under ultrasonic conditions to give 5-(benzofuran-2-yl)-acylthio-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,2,4triazoles, which was further cyclised using Eaton’s reagent under microwave conditions to give 5-(benzofuran-2-yl)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)thiazolo[3,2-b][1,2,4]triazoles.
A revised description of Synodontella zambezensis Douëllou et Chishawa, 1995 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) from the gills of Synodontis zambezensis (Siluriformes: Mochokidae) from South Africa
Authors: Raphahlelo M. E. , Přikrylová I. , Matla M. M. , Theron J. , Luus-Powell W. J.
Published: November 2016

This study supplements the original description of Synodontella zambezensis Douëllou et Chishawa, 1995 and represents a new geographical record for this parasite from Synodontis zambezensis from South Africa. The revision is based on morphometric characteristics and molecular data. Characterisation of LSU, partial SSU and ITS1 rDNA represents a first record of DNA sequencing for Synodontella species.
Students’ views on general education: insights gained from the narratives of Chinese students in Hong Kong
Authors: Shek Daniel T.L. , Wu Florence K.Y. , Chai Wen Yu
Published: November 2016

The General University Requirements (GUR) is a component of the new 4-year undergraduate program at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). This study examined students’ views and experiences of the GUR using a qualitative methodology. Written comments of 240 freshmen, sophomores, and senior-year students with reference to open-ended questions on their memorable experiences in the GUR study were collected. The qualitative findings suggested that students generally had positive views on the GUR in terms of its widely adopted active and experiential learning pedagogy, useful and attractive contents, caring teaching staff, and rich learning outcomes. Challenges were also identified for further improvement of the GUR.
Eliciting data on social relationships: The use of hand-drawn network maps in tracing the perception of digitally mediated social ties
Authors: Reyes Cornelia
Published: November 2016

The emergence of online social networking platforms established a new way of identifying ourselves as being related to other individuals. Previous research has looked at the impact these ‘networking’ applications have on individuals’ everyday lives. Nonetheless, obtaining convincing data on how individuals assess the quality of digitally mediated social relationships has often been perceived challenging. Drawing on a methodological framework rooted in a social network analysis approach, this paper traces the suitability of hand-drawn network maps for eliciting data on how individuals give meaning to digitally mediated social relationships by comparing it to traditional tools used in social network analysis. The results show that using hand-drawn network maps in this particular context provides respondents with a more tangible resource to recall data on digitally mediated social relationships. In particular, this methodological approach elicits substantial data on abstract thematic areas that are typically difficult to recall using standardised techniques.
Finanzierungsreform und Risikostrukturausgleich – Was bleibt vom Ausgleichsverfahren? / Health Care Finance Reform in Germany – Effects on the Risk Adjustment Scheme
Authors: Göpffarth Dirk , Henke Klaus-Dirk
Published: November 2016

In Germany, there is an ongoing debate on how to finance the statutory health insurance (SHI). Proposals include a “civic insurance” with a contribution rate drawn on a broader base and capitated payments. This debate will not subside with the recently issued white paper on health care reform, since fundamental issues were left open. This article does not develop a further variant of the discussed models. Instead, the components of which the future finance reform will have to consist are isolated and discussed with regard to their influence on the risk adjustment (RSA) scheme. The discussed topics are the differences between contribution rates and capitated payments, funded vs. pay-as-you-go systems, the question of whom to include in the statutory health insurance and central vs. decentralised collection of payments. This new perspective does not only allow conclusion on how the RSA scheme ought to be constructed in the future, it can also be shown which role the scheme has as framework for competition and for a possibly partially funded health insurance system.
Analyse der Prognoseeigenschaften von ifo-Konjunkturindikatoren unter Echtzeitbedingungen / The Forecasting Performance of ifo-indicators Under Real-time Conditions
Authors: Vogt Gerit
Published: November 2016

In recent years some papers have been published that deal with the forecasting performance of indicators for the German economy. The real-time aspect, however, was largely neglected. This article analyses the information content of some ifo indicators (the business climate index for the manufacturing sector and its components, the current business situation and business expectations) to predict the German index of production. The analysis is based on cross correlations, Granger causality tests and different out-of-sample forecasts, generated by subset VAR models. First, the out-of-sample forecasts are made, as in conventional studies, with the latest available data and fixed model structure. Afterwards, the out-of-sample indicator properties are analysed in real-time, i.e. with real-time data and variable model structure. In general the indicator properties become worse under real-time conditions. The indicator-based VAR models are not able to beat the forecast performance of a pure autoregressive model for forecast horizons of one and three month. But for forecast horizons of six, nine and twelve months, the indicators seem to be useful in predicting the index of production.
Who is the ”Platz-Hirsch“ of the German Economics Profession?
Authors: Ursprung Heinrich W. , Zimmer Markus
Published: November 2016

In this paper, we investigate the informational content of citation-based research evaluations. To illustrate our analysis we refer to the 2005 Handelsblatt ranking of German academic economists. We make extensive use of the recently developed Hirsch-index and relate citation incidence to publication success, career age, and the topicality of the individual researchers’ field of specialization. We arrive at the conclusion that citation-based indicators provide a very incomplete picture of research performance. To obtain acceptable bibliometric research evaluations, citation based indicators need to be complemented with indicators that measure publication success more directly.
Regional Spillovers and Spatial Heterogeneity in Matching Workers and Employers in Germany
Authors: Kosfeld Reinhold
Published: November 2016

When job search takes place across labour markets, the standard flow approach to labour market analysis fails to uncover the effectiveness at which workers are matched to available jobs. A spatially augmented matching function is backed by a spatial search model with endogenous search intensity. Recent studies deal with the issue of spatial externalities by assuming the process of job matching to be homogenous across space. This study shows that this supposition is not valid for the unified Germany. Particularly differences in labour mobility give reason for the existence of West-East regimes of the matching process. Spatial heterogeneity is additionally found on the level of German macroregions. Though matching efficiency is affected by labour market characteristics, its cyclical pattern is closely related to business cycle fluctuations. Variation of regional mismatch over the business cycle can only explain a relatively small fraction of matching efficiency.
A Review on Free Space Optics with Atmospheric and Geometrical Attenuation
Authors: Lath Suruchi , Goyal Rakesh , Kaler Rajinder Singh
Published: November 2016

Free space optics (FSO) communication is a short-distance wireless communication system. It can be used where optical fiber cables cannot be implemented. In FSO, the energy beam is accumulated and transmitted through space instead of guiding through an optical cable. FSO communication provides data at a rate of Gbps; it is highly secure because it uses narrow beam to transmit data from transmitter to receiver, uses license-free operation, has no electromagnetic interference and has quick installation. This paper gives an overview of performance of FSO communication with environmental attenuation.
Performance Analysis of an Inter-Relay Co-operation in FSO Communication System
Authors: Khanna Himanshu , Aggarwal Mona , Ahuja Swaran
Published: November 2016

In this work, we analyze the outage and error performance of a one-way inter-relay assisted free space optical link. The assumption of the absence of direct link between the source and destination node is being made for the analysis, and the feasibility of such system configuration is studied. We consider the influence of path loss, atmospheric turbulence and pointing error impairments, and investigate the effect of these parameters on the system performance. The turbulence-induced fading is modeled by independent but not necessarily identically distributed gamma–gamma fading statistics. The closed-form expressions for outage probability and probability of error are derived and illustrated by numerical plots. It is concluded that the absence of line of sight path between source and destination nodes does not lead to significant performance degradation. Moreover, for the system model under consideration, interconnected relaying provides better error performance than the non-interconnected relaying and dual-hop serial relaying techniques.
Maternal endothelial damage as a disorder shared by early preeclampsia, late preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction
Authors: Kwiatkowski Sebastian , Dołegowska Barbara , Kwiatkowska Ewa , Rzepka Rafał , Marczuk Natalia , Loj Beata , Torbè Andrzej
Published: November 2016

Introduction:

Preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are separate disease entities that have frequently been reported as sharing the same pathogenesis. In both of them, angiogenesis disorders and generalized endothelial damage with an accompanying inflammation are the dominant symptoms. In this study, we attempted to prove that both these processes demonstrate the same profile in early PE, late PE and IUGR patients, while the only difference is in the degree of exacerbation of the lesions.

Patients, materials and methods:

In 167 patients divided into four groups, three of those with early PE, late PE and IUGR and one control group, fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PlGF), high sensitive c-reactive protein (hsCRP) and fibronectin were determined. The behavior of these parameters in each of the groups was studied, and correlations between them were sought for.

Results:

Higher concentrations of sFlt-1, hsCRP and fibronectin and a lower concentration of PlGF were found in the study groups compared to the control group. Significant correlations were observed between the factors concerned.

Conclusions:

The higher values of disordered angiogenesis markers, endothelial damage markers and inflammatory markers both in the PE and the intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) groups suggest the existence of shared disorders in the development of these pathologies. The correlations between disordered angiogenesis markers and endothelial damage markers argue in favor of a mutual relationship between these two processes in the development of pathologies evolving as secondary to placental ischemia. The results obtained confirm that the lesion profiles are the same in both PE and IUGR patients, which can be utilized in developing common diagnostic criteria.
Association of chronic hepatitis B virus infection with preterm birth: our experience and meta-analysis
Authors: Cui Ai-Min , Shao Jian-Guo , Li Hai-Bo , Shen Yi , Chen Zhi-Xian , Zhang Sheng , Bian Zhao-Lian , Qin Gang , Cheng Xiao-Yan
Published: November 2016

Objectives:

To assess the association of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with preterm birth (PTB).

Methods:

A cohort of 20,498 pregnant women (497 HBV carriers with 20,001 non-HBV controls) with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels was selected from the Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital of Nantong University. The clinical parameters and PTB incidence were compared between HBV carriers and non-HBV subjects. For the meta-analysis, we searched the PubMed, Ovid and Cochrane Library databases for studies comparing PTB incidence between individuals with chronic HBV infection and non-HBV subjects.

Results:

HBV carriers were slightly older and had slightly higher ALT levels within normal limits. The body mass index, education and history of pregnancy between HBV carrier and non-HBV groups were comparable. PTB incidence was not associated with HBV carrier status [relative risk (RR) 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71–1.37] in our cohort. However, the meta-analysis involving eight published studies and our study revealed a significant association between chronic HBV infection and PTB incidence (pooled RR 1.26, 95% CI 1.19–1.33).

Conclusion:

While maternal HBV carriers did not have a higher incidence of PTB in our cohort, the meta-analysis indicates that individuals with chronic HBV infection appeared to be at risk of PTB as a whole.
Efficacy and safety of splenectomy in adult autoimmune hemolytic anemia
Authors: Giudice Valentina , Rosamilio Rosa , Ferrara Idalucia , Seneca Elisa , Serio Bianca , Selleri Carmine
Published: November 2016

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare hematologic disease, primarily affecting adults or children with immunodeficiency disease. First-line therapy consists of long course of steroids administration, with an early complete response rate (CRr) of 75-80%, but up to 20-30% of patients requires a second-line therapy. Rituximab is the first choice in refractory old AIHA patients, because of its safety and efficacy (early CRr at 80-90% and at 68% at 2-3 years). For this reason, splenectomy is even less chosen as second-line therapy in elderly, even though laparoscopic technique decreased complication and mortality rates. However, splenectomy can be still considered a good therapeutic option with a CRr of 81% at 35.6 months in patients older than 60 year-old, when rituximab administration cannot be performed.
Idiopathic pleural panniculitis with recurrent pleural effusion not associated with Weber-Christian disease
Authors: Laperuta Paolo , Napolitano Filomena , Di Crescenzo Rosa Maria , Zeppa Pio , Galderisi Antonio , Selleri Carmine , Vatrella Alessandro , Capunzo Mario , Di Crescenzo Vincenzo Giuseppe
Published: November 2016

A 82-year-old patient with dyspnea and a recurrent history of pleural effusion was admitted into our unit. He performed a Chest computed tomography showing right pleural effusion. Video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) exploratory showed parietal pleural thickening of adipose tissue. The surgical procedure consisted, therefore, in the execution of multiple biopsies of the parietal pleura which appeared covered, on the whole surface, by islands of adipose tissue, without macroscopic pathological aspects. After the procedure was performed pleurodesis with talc. The definitive histological examination consisted of normal mesothelial cells surrounded by fatty tissue infiltrated by small lymphocytes in a patient without skin lesions or visceral or systemic signs of inflammatory involvement of the adipose tissue. We reported a rare case of idiopathic pleural panniculitis with recurrent pleural effusion not associated with Weber-Christian disease.
Learning curve for endorectal ultrasound in young and elderly: lights and shades
Authors: Surace Alessandra , Ferrarese Alessia , Gentile Valentina , Bindi Marco , Cumbo Jacopo , Solej Mario , Enrico Stefano , Martino Valter
Published: November 2016

Aim of the study is to highlight difficulties faced by an inexperienced surgeon in approaching endorectal-ultrasound, trying to define when learning curve can be considered complete.

A prospective analysis was conducted on endorectal-ultrasound performed for subperitoneal rectal adenocarcinoma staging in the period from January 2008 to July 2013, reported by a single surgeon of Department of Oncology, Section of General Surgery, “San Luigi Gonzaga” Teaching Hospital, Orbassano (Turin, Italy); the surgeon had no previous experience in endorectal-ultrasound. Fourty-six endorectal-ultrasounds were divided into two groups: early group (composed by 23 endorectal-ultrasounds, made from January 2008 to May 2009) and late group (composed by 23 endorectal-ultrasound, carried out from June 2009 to July 2013).

In our experience, the importance of a learning curve is evident for T staging, but no statystical significance is reached for results deal with N stage.

We can conclude that ultrasound evaluation of anorectal and perirectal tissues is technically challenging and requires a long learning curve. Our learning curve can not be closed down, at least for N parameter.
A sensitive ultraviolet light photodiode based on graphene-on-zinc oxide Schottky junction
Authors: Zhang Teng-Fei , Wu Guo-An , Wang Jiu-Zhen , Yu Yong-Qiang , Zhang Deng-Yue , Wang Dan-Dan , Jiang Jing-Bo , Wang Jia-Mu , Luo Lin-Bao
Published: November 2016

In this study, we present a simple ultraviolet (UV) light photodiode by transferring a layer of graphene film on single-crystal ZnO substrate. The as-fabricated heterojunction exhibited typical rectifying behavior, with a Schottky barrier height of 0.623 eV. Further optoelectronic characterization revealed that the graphene-ZnO Schottky junction photodiode displayed obvious sensitivity to 365-nm light illumination with good reproducibility. The responsivity and photoconductive gain were estimated to be 3×104 A/W and 105, respectively, which were much higher than other ZnO nanostructure-based devices. In addition, it was found that the on/off ratio of the present device can be considerably improved from 2.09 to 12.1, when the device was passivated by a layer of AlOx film. These results suggest that the present simply structured graphene-ZnO UV photodiode may find potential application in future optoelectronic devices.
Advances in Fibre Microendoscopy for Neuronal Imaging
Authors: Mekhail Simon Peter , Arbuthnott Gordon , Chormaic Síle Nic
Published: November 2016

Traditionally, models for neural dynamics in the brain have been formed through research conducted on slices, with electrodes, or by lesions to functional areas. Recent developments in functional dyes and optogenetics has made brain research more accessible through the use of light. However, this improved accessibility does not necessarily apply to deep regions of the brain which are surrounded by scattering tissue. In this article we give an overview of some of the latest methods in development for neural measurement and imaging.We specifically address methods designed to overcome the problem of imaging invivo for regions far beyond the mean free path of photons in brain tissue. These methodswould permit previously restricted neural research.
Is Regional Autonomy a Solution to Ethnic Conflict? Some Lessons from a Dynamic Analysis
Authors: Tranchant Jean-Pierre
Published: November 2016

Does granting regional autonomy to concentrated minorities appease their demand for sovereignty or instead motivate and enable them to engage in secessionist conflicts? To answer this question is difficult as moves towards federalism and decentralization are themselves the results of strategic interactions between the state and the minorities. In this note, I intend to shed some light on this question by looking at how ethnic civil wars and autonomy are dynamically linked. This shows that for locally dominant groups, the risk of war monotonically decreases in the years leading to and following autonomy. For groups that are a minority locally, however, the risk of war sharply increases in the lead-up to autonomy, and quickly falls afterwards, suggesting strategic behavior.
Semi-Analytical Solution of Optimization on Moon-Pool Shaped WEC
Authors: Zhang W.C. , Liu H.X. , Zhang X.W. , Zhang L.
Published: November 2016

In order to effectively extract and maximize the energy from ocean waves, a new kind of oscillating-body WEC (wave energy converter) with moon pool has been put forward. The main emphasis in this paper is placed on inserting the damping into the equation of heaving motion applied for a complex wave energy converter and expressions for velocity potential added mass, damping coefficients associated with exciting forces were derived by using eigenfunction expansion matching method. By using surface-wave hydrodynamics, the exact theoretical conditions were solved to allow the maximum energy to be absorbed from regular waves. To optimize the ability of the wave energy conversion, oscillating system models under different radius-ratios are calculated and comparatively analyzed. Numerical calculations indicated that the capture width reaches the maximum in the vicinity of the natural frequency and the new kind of oscillating-body WEC has a positive ability of wave energy conversion.