bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction of degree of crystallinity for the LTA zeolite using artificial neural networks
Authors: Ghanbari Shahram , Vaferi Behzad
Published: September 2017

Zeolites are microporous aluminosilicate/silicate crystalline materials with three-dimensional tetrahedral configuration. In this study, the degree of crystallinity of the synthesized Linde Type A (LTA) zeolite, which is the main indicator of its quality/purity is tried to be modeled. Effect of crystallization time, temperature, molar ratio of the synthesis gel on the relative crystallinity of the LTA zeolites is investigated using artificial neural networks. Our experimental observations and some data collected from literature have been used for adjusting the parameters of the proposed model and evaluating its performance. It has been observed that two-layer perceptron network with eight hidden neurons is the most accurate approach for the considered task. The designed model predicts the experimental datasets with a mean square error of 3.99 × 10-6, absolute average relative deviation of 8.69 %, and regression coefficient of 0.9596. The proposed model can decrease the required time and number of experiments to evaluate the extent of crystallinity of the LTA zeolites.
Economic Evaluation of Cookie made from blend of Brewers′ Spent Grain (BSG), Groundnut cake and Sorghum Flour
Authors: Olawoye Babatunde , Adeniyi Damilola Mercy , Oyekunle Abimbola Olamide , Kadiri Oseni , Fawale Samson Olumide
Published: September 2017

Bakery and pastry products such as cookies are usually produced from wheat flour and as such contribute to high foreign exchange for tropical countries where such cereal is not cultivated. In view of this, we evaluated the engineering economics for the utilization of dried brewers′ spent grain, groundnut cake and sorghum flour in the industrial production of cookies. The production was based on the assumption that the cash flow was uniform over the plant life (i.e. 10 years) with no salvage value. The equipment required for the production process was identified and estimates obtained from equipment manufactures. The production of the cookies was based on constant mass flow rate of 90 packets/min. The effects of uncertainties on cookie production were evaluated by varying the operation days (330, 300 and 250 days) and also by varying the price of some key variables required for the production processes. The results indicate that the capital cost (fixed and working capital) and the annual production cost (APC) were US$1.39×106 and US$10.08×106/year, respectively. The after tax annual revenue was US$1.63×106/yr. The return on investment (ROI), single payback period (SPBP), discounted payback period, gross margin and internal rate of return (IRR) of the plant were 63%, 1.58 years, 2.08 years, 23% and 77.52%, respectively. The result also showed that the production plant is feasible and could be operated for 330, 300 and 250 days. The difference between operation times lies in the profitability, which decreases as the number of days reduces. Based on the result of this analysis, brewers’ spent grain, groundnut cake, and sorghum flour can be utilized in industrial production of cookies with guaranteed profitability.
Ecological Factors Preventing Restoration of Degraded Short Tussock Landscapes in New Zealand’s Dryland Zone
Authors: Rodrigues Anna P. , Moltchanova Elena , Norton David A. , Turnbull Matthew
Published: September 2017

Biotic factors such as the presence of invasive animal and/or plant species are well known as major causes of ecological degradation and as limiting either natural or assisted (human-induced) ecological restoration. However, abiotic aspects of the landscape, such as water availability and soil physical/chemical conditions can also potentially limit restoration and should be considered. Dryland ecosystems are amongst the world’s most threatened and least protected. New Zealand’s drylands have been drastically changed, initially through burning, agricultural and grazing practices and the impacts of introduced herbivores and plants. This research aimed at identifying some of the key environmental factors preventing the reestablishment of native woody species in a New Zealand dryland ecosystem. The experiments involved a combination of shading, irrigation and grazing exclusion. The results showed that supplemental water was not beneficial for the survival and growth of the native seedlings, unless combined with shade. Fencing proved important for establishment, even though the species used are regarded in the literature as unpalatable to herbivores. The results indicated that the presence of shade was fundamental for the establishment and growth of the native seedlings likely due to improvements in the microclimate, soil aeration, and water availability to seedlings.
Participatory Variety Selection: A Tool to Understand Farmers′ Potato Variety Selection Criteria
Authors: Kolech Semagn Asredie , De Jong Walter , Perry Keith , Halseth Donald , Mengistu Fentahun
Published: September 2017

Although the Ethiopian potato program has released more than 30 new varieties, selected primarily for yield potential and late blight tolerance, the majority of farmers still choose to grow older ‘local varieties’. Cognizant of this, the current study aimed to identify traits that farmers consider most important when deciding which varieties to grow. The study was conducted at two sites in northwest Ethiopia, representing two major agroecological zones, in two distinct growing seasons, using a participatory variety selection approach. Diseasefree seed tubers of nine local and three new varieties were planted. Twenty-three traits were found to influence the varieties that farmers selected and seven of them differed between agroecological zones. Gender differences were also observed for three of the 23 traits at Laigaint (submoist cool agroecology). Of the 23 traits, 12 were considered very important in one or both of the agroecological zones as well as in at least one growing season. At present eight of these 12 traits are not given high priority by the Ethiopian potato variety selection program. The results show that farmers′ selection criteria are very diverse, that no variety possesses all desirable characteristics, and that there is a need for selecting varieties adapted to different agroecologies and growing seasons. This study further suggests that taking farmer interests into account is important for a highly heterozygous, clonally-propagated crop like potato to be accepted by farmers.
Yield, nutritional quality and stability of orangefleshed sweetpotato cultivars successively later harvesting periods in Mozambique
Authors: Alvaro Abilio , Andrade Maria I. , Makunde Godwill S. , Dango Fishua , Idowu Omowumi , Grüneberg Wolfgang
Published: September 2017

Long-term storage of sweetpotato roots is a great challenge for smallholder farmers in Mozambique. Piecemeal harvesting allows several months supply of roots for household consumption provided weevil infestation is avoided. The objectives of the present studies were to determine yield and changes in key macro- and micronutrients associated with early or late harvesting of orange-fleshed sweetpotato cultivars in Mozambique. Four trials representing harvesting periods of 3, 4, 5 or 6 months after planting were established at Gurue in 2015. The randomized complete block design with three replications was laid in each trial. Yield measurements were done in the field and samples were selected and scanned for dry matter, beta-carotene, iron, zinc and carbohydrate using Near Infrared Spectrometry. Collected data were statistically analysed (SAS 1997 software). Yield, dry matter, starch, iron and beta-carotene increased linearly in some cultivars as time to harvest was prolonged. Iron was not affected by harvesting period. Stability of micronutrients such as iron, zinc and beta-carotene is essential when piecemeal harvesting. The study allowed accurate grouping of the cultivars tested into maturity groups for the first time.
Fast and reliable DNA extraction protocol for identification of species in raw and processed meat products sold on the commercial market
Authors: Alvarado Pavel Espinoza , Barrios Ramón Miguel Molina , Xóchihua Javier Arturo Munguía , Hernández Juan Francisco Chávez
Published: September 2017

In this work a protocol for the extraction of DNA from the meat of different animals (beef, pork, and horse) was established. The protocol utilized TE lysis buffer with varying concentrations of phenol and chloroform as a base reagent. Reactions were carried out for verying time periods and under differing temperatures. All samples analyzed were obtained from commercial grade meat sourced from the local region. 12 samples were used for methodological optimization with 30 repetitions per sample. Once optimized, purity results for the three species were 1.7 with a concentration (determined spectrophotometrically at 260 nm) of 100 μl/ml of DNA. The protocol was tested using 465 different meat samples from different animal species. All meat used was fresh and processed. Results showed a purity of 1.35 ± 0.076 and a DNA concentration of 70 ± 0.31 μl for a time duration of 1.5 hours. These results were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as reported by several authors. The extracts were tested using different PCR reactions using specific primers for horses. Results suggest that there was 39 positive samples. The proposed methodology provides an efficient way to detect DNA concentration and purity, suitable for amplification with PCR.
Improving Research Impact Through the Use of Media
Authors: Czaran Eva , Wolski Malcolm , Richardson Joanna
Published: September 2017

Increasingly researchers and academic research institutions are being asked to demonstrate the quality and impact of their research. Traditionally researchers have used text-based outputs to achieve these objectives. This paper discusses the introduction and subsequent review of a new service at a major Australian university, designed to encourage researchers to use media, particularly visual formats, in promoting their research. Findings from the review have highlighted the importance of researchers working in partnership with in-house media professionals to produce short, relatable, digestible, and engaging visual products. As a result of these findings, the authors have presented a four-phase media development model to assist researchers to tell their research story. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications for the institution as a whole and, more specifically, libraries.
Perspectives on Language Sustainability in a Performance Era: Discourses, Policies, and Practices in a Digital and Social Media Campaign to Revitalise Irish
Authors: Kelly-Holmes Helen , Atkinson David
Published: September 2017

The poststructuralist turn has been widely acknowledged in contemporary applied and sociolinguistics (Rampton 2006, Blommaert 2010). While for many this paradigmatic shift has been a welcome challenge to segregationalist approaches (Mühlhäusler 1996, Makoni and Pennycook 2007) and deficit discourses in relation to multilingualism (Jacquemet 2005, Jaffe 2007), it is not an unproblematic concept for minority language media and language sustainability. For those committed to activism and engagement with policy makers, the current paradigmatic shift, which has been described in terms of a performance era for minority language media (Pietikäinen and Kelly-Holmes 2011), presents particular challenges which have the potential to undermine gains made in previous eras in relation to media rights for minority language speakers. Using the example of a recent multi-media campaign to revitalise Irish, the Bród Club, this paper explores the opportunities and problems presented by the contemporary performance era for minority language media.
Language revitalization, modernity, and the Csángó mode of speaking
Authors: Bodó Csanád , Fazakas Noémi , Heltai János Imre
Published: September 2017

This study points out that language revitalization is closely connected to the discourse of language endangerment that objectifies languages considering them countable, regarding them separable from both the speaker and their use while speaking. It argues that this “modernist” approach of language defines the nature and, implicitly, the results of language revitalization actions. Using the example of the Moldavian Csángó Hungarian Educational Programme in North-East Romania, the article shows that while this language teaching movement unfolded within the framework of modernity, it came into conflict with the local ideologies surrounding language and speaking. Although the latter were not created by the discourses of the nation state, they are not independent notions as late modern changes had a significant impact on them. The authors analyse language ideologies prior to modernity and the way they have changed as a result of more recent developments, particularly in the context of the standardization of the Moldavian Csángó mode of speaking.
Analytic Theology as Sapiential Theology: Reflections on a Concern Raised by Kevin J. Vanhoozer
Authors: Wessling Jordan
Published: September 2017

In a recent essay, the prolific and influential evangelical theologian, Kevin J. Vanhoozer, claims that analytic theology “is one of the major developments of our time, boasting annual conferences, a manifesto, and an online journal.” Vanhoozer mentions the rise of analytic theology not to celebrate its success but to offer a cautionary note to those who are inclined to practice theology in an analytic key. One of the concerns that Vanhoozer raises is that the analytic method falls short of what we might call “sapiential theology”-roughly, theology that facilitates the acquisition of wisdom. In this paper, I examine this concern and explore a few ways in which analytic theology might be sapiential.
Religion and the Appresentative Mindset
Authors: Barber Michael D.
Published: September 2017

Following Alfred Schutz’s “On Multiple Realities,” the religious province of meaning, like the provinces of phantasy, dreaming, and theoretical contemplation, differs from the “world of working,” everyday life’s form of spontaneity, because its tension of consciousness is more relaxed. The relative passivity characterizing the religious province, which depends on a benevolent transcendent accompanying everyday projects and overcoming the distance between the believer and itself, appears also in religion’s release of subliminal processes (e.g., in religious dreams) and in its reliance on passive syntheses. Such syntheses occur in appresentative pairing and apperceptual transfers among diverse symbols and between symbols and the transcendent. Consequently, the religious province becomes a very important site for the “appresentative mindset.” In addition, the peculiar epoché of the province is symbolically induced when the very symbol (e.g. temple or ritual) that serves as the gateway into the province and separates it from the “profane” world of everyday life also appresents the transcendent. The unrestrained reliance on appresentative pairing within the religious province overflows its boundaries as the mundane events of everyday life come to appresent the transcendent. The release of subliminal processes and unreflective, passive synthesizing, however, requires critique through theory, Levinasian ethics, and legal and social restraints.
Zen-Christian Dual Belonging and the Practice of Apophasis: Strategies of Meeting Rose Drew’s Theological Challenge
Authors: Braak André van der
Published: September 2017

An important subset of the phenomenon of multiple religious belonging is that of Buddhist- Christian belonging: people who claim to belong to, owe allegiance to or believe in both the Buddhist and Christian faiths. This phenomenon has not yet been the subject of much normative theological investigation, as opposed to descriptive and empirically-oriented social scientific study. Recently, however, two theological studies have appeared on dual Buddhist-Christian belonging: Rose Drew’s Buddhist and Christian? and the collection of essays Buddhist-Christian Dual Belonging. From a theological point of view, is it possible to be authentically both Buddhist and Christian? Rose Drew has formulated two demands that can be applied in investigating such a theological question. In this article, I will first critically assess several possible strategies for dealing with those two demands, and then explore an approach to Zen-Christian dual belonging that focuses on the practice of apophasis.
Injection in temporomandibular joint of rats. Description of technical protocol
Authors: Fuentes R. , Veuthey C. , Arias A. , Saravia D. , Ottone N.E.
Published: September 2017

The development of animal models for research has been very diffused. Osteoarthritis is a joint degenerative pathology that induces cartilage erosion, chondrocyte proliferation and osteophyte formation. The aim of this paper is to present a technical procedure to perform the injection of monosodium iodine acetate in the temporomandibular joints of rats to generate osteoarthritis and to contribute to future research analysis related to pathology progression and proper treatment performance. The use of rat models may be a complex process because of their size, but they can be compared to the human temporomandibular joint due to the similar characteristics and the possibility of performing diagnosis and treatment protocols in order to detect this pathology.
Clinical efficacy of nutraceutical diet for cats with clinical signs of cutaneus adverse food reaction (CAFR)
Authors: Mazzeranghi F. , Zanotti C. , Di Cerbo A. , Verstegen J.P. , Cocco R. , Guidetti G. , Canello S.
Published: September 2017

Food allergies and food intolerances are clinically difficult to discriminate. Most often, along with cutaneous adverse food reactions or CAFR, they are classified as adverse food reactions, whose causes are numerous, including toxic compounds.

Eighteen indoor-housed domestic cats with evident clinical symptoms related to CAFR (drooling, back and neck intense itching, neck eczema, chronic conjunctivitis and stomatitis) involving skin lesions were studied. Cytological evaluations of ear, skin and gingival swabs revealed an increased turnover of keratinocytes while the oxytetracycline ELISA determination showed an unexpected high amount of oxytetracycline in all cats at the first visit. All cats were then randomly assigned to receive a standard (SD group) or a nutraceutical diet (ND group) for 60 days.

In the ND group a significant reduction of the mean serum concentration of oxytetracycline, pruritus intensity and skin lesion severity (**p<0.01, ***p<0.001, and ***p<0.001, respectively) was observed after 60 days, and associated with a significant improvement in the clinical picture.

Although a direct correlation between oxytetracycline presence within cat sera and CAFR-related symptoms has never been described, this study highlights the benefit of a specific nutraceutical diet supplementation in improving clinical symptoms and skin lesions in cats with CARF.
Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method based on Streptococcus agalactiae rSip-Pgk-FbsA fusion protein for detection of bovine mastitis
Authors: Bu Ri-E , Wang Jin-Liang , Wu Jin-Hua , Xilin Gao-Wa , Chen Jin-Long , Wang Hua
Published: September 2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish a rapid and accurate method for the detection of the Streptococcus agalactiae antibody (SA-Ab) to determine the presence of the bovine mastitis (BM)-causative pathogen.

Methods: The multi-subunit fusion protein rSip-Pgk-FbsA was prokaryotically expressed and purified. The triple activities of the membrane surface-associated proteins Sip, phosphoglycerate kinase (Pgk), and fibronectin (FbsA) were used as the diagnostic antigens to establish an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method for the detection of SA-Ab in BM.

Results: The optimal antigen coating concentration was 2 μg/mL, the optimal serum dilution was 1:160, and the optimal dilution of the enzyme-labeled secondary antibody was 1:6000. The sensitivity, specificity, and repeatability tests showed that the method established in this study had no cross-reaction with antibodies to Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis in the sera. The results of the sensitivity test showed that a positive result could be obtained even if the serum dilution reached 1:12,800, indicating the high sensitivity and good repeatability of the method. The positive coincidence rate of this method was 98.6%, which is higher than that of previous tests established with the Sip or Pgk mono-antigen fusion protein, respectively, demonstrating the relatively higher sensitivity of this newly established method. The detection rate for 389 clinical samples was 46.53%.

Conclusions: The indirect ELISA method established in this study could provide a more accurate and reliable serological method for the rapid detection of S. agalactiae in cases of BM.
Frequency of iss and irp2 genes by PCR method in Escherichia coli isolated from poultry with colibacillosis in comparison with healthy chicken in poultry farms of Zabol, South East of Iran
Authors: Sadeghi Bonjar M. S. , Salari S. , Jahantigh M. , Rashki A.
Published: September 2017

There is no special trait for differentiation of Avian PathogenicEscherichia colifrom Avian FecalEscherichia coli. This investigation is aimed, as a case control study, to evaluate and compare the frequency ofissandirp2in 43 AFEC strains and also 40 and 56E. colistrains isolated from the liver and kidney of chickens with colibacillosis, respectively, farmed in Zabol, as a border region of Iran, by PCR. 86.9% and 37.2% of isolates collected from chickens with colibacillosis and feces samples obtained from healthy chickens were positive forissgene, respectively (P<0.05). On average, 59.3% ofE. colistrains isolated from colibacillosis haveirp2gene while 27.9% of isolates from the feces of healthy birds were positive (P<0.05). 52.15% of isolates from colibacillosis and 19.62% of isolates from healthy chicken feces were positive for both genes, with statistical significant difference (p<0.05). This marked difference in the distribution ofissandirp2genes makes these two genes good markers to differentiate AFEC and APEC strains especially in Sistan region to improve colibacillosis control measurements.
Coagulology, biochemical profile and muscle pathology in calves diagnosed with nutritional muscular dystrophy
Authors: Żarczyńska K. , Baumgartner W. , Sobiech P.
Published: September 2017

The aim of this study was to explain the correlations between selenium deficiency, hemostatic and biochemical disorders, and the progression of pathological changes in calves diagnosed with nutritional muscular dystrophy (NMD). The study was performed on 20 calves with supplementation of 8 ml selenium and vitamin E preparation and 20 calves with symptoms of NMD. Blood was sampled from calves aged 5, 12 and 19 days. On day 19, samples of the biceps femoris muscle were collected from 6 animals in each group for histopathological analysis. The following blood parameters were determined: PLT, PT, TT, APTT, fibrinogen and D-dimer concentrations, antithrombin III activity, glucose, selenium and vitamin E concentrations, activity of CK, LDH and GSH-Px. Muscle sections were stained with H&E and HBFP. Platelet counts were significantly lower in calves with symptoms of NMD. No significant differences in coagulation parameters were observed between the groups. Sick calves were diagnosed with hyperglycemia and elevation of CK and LDH activity. Selenium and vitamin E concentrations in the blood serum were significantly lower in the experimental group together with significant drop in GSH-Px activity. Changes characteristic of Zenker’s necrosis were observed in a muscle of the sick animals. To our best knowledge this is the first study in which the attempt was made to explain the relationship between selenium deficiency and changes in the coagulation system in ruminants.
Horizontal transfer and functional evaluation of high pathogenicity islands in Avian Escherichia coli
Authors: Tu J. , Qi K. , Song X. , Xue T. , Ji H. , Shao Y. , Liu H. , Zhou X. , Zhu L.
Published: September 2017

High pathogenicity islands (HPIs) inEscherichia coliencode genes that are primarily involved in iron uptake and regulation, and confer virulence and pathogenicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the transfer ofHPIs in avianE. coliand identify the function ofHPIin the acceptor strain. TheHPItransfer strain was obtained under conditions of low temperature and low iron abundance, and the donor and acceptor strains were confirmed.E. coli HPIs are transferred by horizontal gene transfer events, which are likely mediated primarily by homologous recombination inHPI-adjacent sequences. Assays for biological activity and pathogenicity changes in the acceptor strain indicated thatHPIs might not be involved in pathogenesis in avianE. coli, and thus the main function ofHPIs in this strain of bacteria may be to regulate iron nutrition.
Investigation of the bone metabolism in dogs with leishmaniasis
Authors: Ari M. , Bildik A. , Ertug S.
Published: September 2017

The present study was aimed at determining bone metabolism related changes in dogs with visseral leishmaniasis such as vitamin D, calcium, phosphate and ALP levels as compared to healthy ones. A total of 40 serums of male dogs aged between 4 and 6 years that were sent to Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Medicine, Parasitology Laboratory from Kuşadasy and Bodrum districts between the years 2012 and 2013, suspected with leishmaniasis, by the veterinary physicians in accordance with the cold chain rules and 20 of which were evaluated as leishmania seropositive and 20 as leishmania seronegative by the IFA test, were included in this study. There was no any statistically significant difference between the serum 25-OH-D3 levels of Leishmania positive and negative dogs (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the serum ALP (p<0.05), and P levels were observed to be higher in the seropositive dogs than in the seronegative dogs, while Ca level was low (p<0.001).
Identification of Transmissible Viral Proventriculitis (TVP) in broiler chickens in Poland
Authors: Śmiałek M. , Gesek M. , Śmiałek A. , Koncicki A.
Published: September 2017

The aim of the study was to investigate the possibility of Transmissible Viral Proventriculitis (TVP) occurrence in broiler chickens in Poland. In march 2016 proventriculi samples were collected from broiler chickens showing poor uniformity and decreased body weight, accompanied by enlarged proventriculi. Histopathological examination of affected proventriculi revealed typical lesions associated with TVP (vacuolar degeneration and necrosis of glandular epithelium, replacement of glandular epithelium by hyperplastic ductal epithelium and moderate to severe lymphocytic infiltration). To our best knowledge, up to date there is no report indicating the presence of TVP in Poland nor in Central and Eastern Europe.
A “Narrative” of the Individual-Community Relationship through the “Lenses” of Criminal Law: Three Sketches of Mystification
Authors: Visconti Arianna
Published: September 2017

Criminal law can be rightly considered the maximum expression of any society’s ideal image, of its
Resource, Enemy or Refugee? Depiction of the Foreigner and Models of Immigration Criminal Law
Authors: Provera Alessandro
Published: September 2017

In the last twenty years different representations of foreigners have been presented through the law. They have moved from being mainly considered as workforce, in a period of economic growth, to becoming the dangerous illegal stayer of the typical “criminal law of the enemy” perspective. The security – logic has then cyclically been juxtaposed to the “humanitarian” one that inspired the latest measures related to the protection of the so-called refugees. The paper intends to dwell on how these representations of migration, often partial and stereotypical, are deeply affecting the imagination of the Italian community, and how this phenomenon can also determine some normative choices, which though, even at a distance of more than twenty years from the intensification of migratory fluxes to Italy, still do not seem to be able to manage immigration properly, nor to regulate the complex dynamics of multiculturalism.
Walking Tours, Subjective Maps, and Spatial Justice: Urban and Non-Urban Spaces in Contemporary Italian Literature
Authors: Godioli Alberto
Published: September 2017

This article focuses on the representation of urban, suburban, and rural spaces in contemporary Italian literature, by examining a corpus of fifteen titles published between 2004 and 2015. 2004 saw the start of the Laterza series
Analytical Control of Pediatric Chemotherapy Preparations with a UV-Raman Automaton: Results After 18 Months of Implementation and Development of A Suitable Method for Low Volume Preparations
Authors: Chouquet Thibaut , Benoit Guy , Morand Karine
Published: September 2017

Background

In France, control of chemotherapy preparations is highly recommended. Analytical control is a method of choice for identifying and quantifying drugs. Pediatric preparations, which often contain small quantities of drugs and are made in low final volumes were until then not analytically controlled. After the development and validation of a new sampling and assaying method for low volume chemotherapy preparations with an UV/Raman automaton (QCPrep +), the quality control results of the preparations intended for the patients were analyzed over a period of eighteen months

Methods

The results were studied by type of preparation (low and high volume), per molecule, manipulator, and conformity rates dispersion.

Results

Over the period, 7,548 controls were carried out, representing 87.7% of our production. 75.5% of these controls concerned low-volume preparations (<50mL). The overall conformity rate was 94.4%. The lowest conformity rates were found for vinca alkaloids, methotrexate and some rarely manipulated drugs (cisplatin, decitabine, epirubicin). The study of the results dispersion showed non-conformities increasing with low concentrations, specific to pediatrics. These results show the limits of analytical control for pediatric preparations. The low analytical sensitivity encountered for certain concentrations and drugs requires a complementary quality control tool, like camera or video. However this new analytical method allows us to improve the safety of the injectable chemotherapy circuit.

Conclusion

Young patients can benefit from the same level of safety and quality as adult patients. Some critical points could be highlighted: the homogenization of the preparations, the analytical sensitivity of some drugs and human factors. This data allow us to focus our work on staff training, improving our calibration ranges and on the development of complementary control tools.
First allergenic pollen monitoring in Bucharest and results of three years collaboration with European aerobiology specialists
Authors: Leru Polliana Mihaela , Eftimie Ana-Maria , Thibaudon Michel
Published: September 2017

Introduction. Respiratory allergies induced by allergenic plants pollen represent an important public health problem with increasing prevalence and severity. Aerobiologic study of allergenic pollens is performed in many countries on regular basis and correlated with health data from allergists in the frame of national aerobiology networks. Romania has no aerobiology network and pollen measurements have been done between 1999-2012 in West region only. In the frame of COST Action called Sustainable management ofAmbrosia artemisiifoliain Europe (SMARTER FA 1203), three years collaboration with Reseau National de Surveillance Aerobiologique (RNSA) from France and the first pollen monitoring center in Bucharest were established.The aim of this paper is to present results of first pollen monitoring in Bucharest, activities of Romanian SMARTER group and collaboration with European aerobiology specialists.

Material and method. We used a Hirst-type pollen trap placed on the roof of the Research Center from “Colentina” Clinical Hospital and the pollen monitoring method based on European Aeroallergen Network (EAN) standardized requirements. Monthly results during the pollen seasons 2014-2016 were sent to RNSA and EAN and posted on the European pollen information site.

Results. We found high amounts of allergenic pollen, mainly grasses from May to September andAmbrosia artemisiifoliaduring September.

Conlcusions. We concluded that SMARTER offered access to aerobiology training, improved multidisciplinary collaboration and perspectives to further develop national and international projects. More coordinated efforts to develop national aerobiology network and to recuperate the gap comparing to other European countries in the field of aerobiology and respiratory allergology are needed.
Distributive Justice, Public Policies and the Comparison of Legal Rules: Quantify the “Price of Equity”
Authors: Fabbri Marco , GC Britto Diogo
Published: September 2017

This paper proposes a quantitative approach to study two methodological problems arising when a costly redistribution of resources is implemented through public policies or legal rules: (a) aggregating individual into social preferences and (b) choosing the object of maximization. We consider a redistribution intervention that reduces inequality but diminishes total wealth and we specify a set of social welfare functions combining different preferences aggregation methods and maximands. For each social welfare function, we calculate its “price of equity”, defined as the maximum fraction of total wealth that a society is willing to sacrifice in order to implement the redistribution. Comparing the prices for equity across different social welfare function specifications, we identify systematic relationships and we rank them according to the efficiency-equity orientation. Results show that social welfare functions characterized by aggregation methods conventionally considered equity-oriented may reject redistribution interventions that are evaluated as welfare-improving by social welfare functions using efficiency-oriented aggregation methods. Similarly, social welfare functions considered equity-oriented because using utility as object of maximization may reject distributive policies that are evaluated as welfare-improving by social welfare functions using wealth as maximand. We argue that the quantitative approach proposed, by expounding the trade-off between equity and efficiency connected to different social welfare functions, may prove useful in areas of public law where policy-makers have to engage in the choice of a normative criterion for the evaluation of social welfare. Additionally, our results may inform rule-makers interested in comparing the distributive effects of alternative legal rules in special circumstances where private remedies can efficiently achieve redistribution goals.
Names, Varieties and Ideologies in Revived Cornish
Authors: Davies-Deacon Merryn
Published: September 2017

The attribution of names is a significant process that often highlights concerns over identity, ideology and ownership. Within the fields of minority languages and Celtic Studies, such concerns are especially pertinent given that the identities in question are frequently perceived as under threat from dominant cultures. The effect of concerns caused by this can be examined with reference to revived Cornish, which became divided into three major varieties in the later twentieth century; by examining the names of these varieties, we can draw conclusions about how they are perceived, or we are invited to perceive them. The motivations of those involved in the Cornish language revival are equally reflected in the names of the organisations and bodies they have formed, which equally contribute to the legitimation of revived Cornish. This paper examines both these categories of name, as well as the phenomenon of Kernowisation, a term coined by Harasta (2013) to refer to the adoption of Cornish personal names, and here extended to the use of Cornish names in otherwise English-language contexts. Examining the names that have been implemented during the Cornish language revival, and the ways in which they are used or indeed refused by those involved, gives us an insight into the various ideologies that steer the revival process. Within the context of the precarious nature of Cornish and Celtic identity, we can identify the concerns of those involved in the Cornish revival movement and highlight the role of naming as an activity of legitimation, showing how the diversity of names that occur reflects an equally diverse range of motivations and influences.
Greimas et la perspective des objets : Pour une approche sémiotique en mode mineur
Authors: Effa Didier Tsala
Published: September 2017

Notre article s’interroge sur les conditions qui pour tout objet soulignent son individuation, c’est-à-dire le rendent spécifique, en propre. A partir d’une lecture critique du texte de Greimas, « La soupe au pistou ou la construction d’un objet de valeur » (1986), nous établissons que ces conditions sont le fait de détails souvent marginaux, présents dans tout objet. Il s’agit de détails dont la caractéristique principale est d’être non-pertinents vis-à-vis de sa forme universelle. Notre texte prend appui sur diverses propositions de l’anthropologue Albert Piette (2009), spécialiste de « l’anthropologie existentiale », en faveur d’une structure mineure de la réalité.
Non-Canonical Syntax in South Asian Varieties of English: A Corpus-Based Pilot Study on Fronting
Authors: Götz Sandra
Published: September 2017

In the present paper, I present a pilot study on fronting in six South Asian Varieties of English, i.e. Indian English (IndE), Bangladeshi English (BgE), Sri Lankan English (SLE), Nepali English (NpE) and Pakistani English (PkE) as compared to their historical input variety, i.e. British English (BrE). For each of these varieties, based on the South Asian Varieties of English (SAVE) newspaper corpus and the news section of the British National Corpus, 500 sentences per variety were manually parsed and the sentence-initial elements were annotated for their information status. Methodologically, I apply regression and CART classification tree analysis to test for variety-specific as well as universal features of fronting in SAVEs. The analysis reveals that constituents are mainly likely to be fronted when the information they represent is given (regardless of variety). Within this category, there are also clear variety-specific differences between IndE, PkE, SLE and BdE on the one hand (showing a generally higher frequency of object fronting), and BrE, MdE and NpE on the other (with a higher frequency of fronted adjuncts).
Non-Canonical Speech Acts in the History of English
Authors: Kohnen Thomas
Published: September 2017

From a pragmatic perspective, speech acts can be seen as non-canonical if they reflect perceptions of politeness and face that differ from an accepted norm. This paper traces the canonical or non-canonical status of boasting and apologising in Anglo-Saxon society. The data suggest that boasting developed from a fairly canonical to a more or less non-canonical speech act, depending on the relative influence that Germanic or Christian values had on Anglo-Saxon society. Apologising, on the other hand, was most likely non-canonical in the Anglo-Saxon warrior society since it appears to be incommensurable to the spirit of Germanic heroes. In the context of spreading Christianity, however, acts of penitence (which are here seen as ‘pre-apologies’) are increasingly advocated as canonical behaviour. Thus, (pre)-apologising (or showing penitence) was on its way from a non-canonical to a canonical status. While the exact development of these two speech acts after Old English has still to be traced in more detail, this article shows that it is the underlying set of ideals and values associated with a society (in this case Germanic self-assertion and retribution and Christian humilitas) that shape the canonical and non-canonical status of expressive speech-acts.
Chosen
Authors: Mindt Ilka
Published: September 2017

The adjectival use of the word chosen is in the focus of this study. Based on data taken from the Corpus of Historical American English, the adjectival characteristics of chosen are investigated first. As chosen is a participial adjective, its uses with reference to its participial character are analysed. The third line of investigation outlines the co-occurrence patterns of chosen with nouns. The results from the corpus-linguistic analyses will be related to the theoretically deduced notions ‘canonical’ and ‘non-canonical’. A discussion in how far the notions ‘canonical’ and ‘non-canonical’ can be related to the corpus-linguistic results follows.
Die Kelter als Dreschort in Jdc 6,11
Authors: Schulz Sarah , Schäfer Manuel
Published: September 2017

Die Kelter als Dreschort am Ende von Jdc 6,11bα liefert keinen Hinweis auf einen ungewöhnlichen Vorgang. Entgegen der geläufigen Meinung ist die Angabe בגת somit nicht als Bestandteil der dtr. Redaktion (Berufung Gideons), sondern der alten Überlieferung (Altarätiologie) zu bestimmen.
Local or Not Local: Investigating the Nature of Striatal Theta Oscillations in Behaving Rats
Authors: Lalla Laetitia , Rueda Orozco Pavel E. , Jurado-Parras Maria-Teresa , Brovelli Andrea , Robbe David
Published: September 2017

In the cortex and hippocampus, neuronal oscillations of different frequencies can be observed in local field potentials (LFPs). LFPs oscillations in the theta band (6–10 Hz) have also been observed in the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) of rodents, mostly during locomotion, and have been proposed to mediate behaviorally-relevant interactions between striatum and cortex (or between striatum and hippocampus). However, it is unclear if these theta oscillations are generated in the striatum. To address this issue, we recorded LFPs and spiking activity in the DLS of rats performing a running sequence on a motorized treadmill. We observed an increase in rhythmical activity of the LFP in the theta-band during run compared to rest periods. However, several observations suggest that these oscillations are mainly generated outside of the striatum. First, theta oscillations disappeared when LFPs were rereferenced against a striatal recording electrode and the imaginary coherence between LFPs recorded at different locations within the striatum was null. Second, 8% of the recorded neurons had their spiking activity phase-locked to the theta rhythm. Third, Granger causality analyses between LFPs simultaneously recorded in the cortex and the striatum revealed that the interdependence between these two signals in the theta range was mostly accounted for by a common external source. The most parsimonious interpretation of these results is that theta oscillations observed in striatal LFPs are largely contaminated by volume-conducted signals. We propose that striatal LFPs are not optimal proxies of network dynamics in the striatum and should be interpreted with caution.
Defining an Analytic Framework to Evaluate Quantitative MRI Markers of Traumatic Axonal Injury: Preliminary Results in a Mouse Closed Head Injury Model
Authors: Haber M. , Hutchinson E. B. , Sadeghi N. , Cheng W. H. , Namjoshi D. , Cripton P. , Irfanoglu M. O. , Wellington C. , Diaz-Arrastia R. , Pierpaoli C.
Published: September 2017

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a hallmark of traumatic brain injury (TBI) pathology. Recently, the Closed Head Injury Model of Engineered Rotational Acceleration (CHIMERA) was developed to generate an experimental model of DAI in a mouse. The characterization of DAI using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; diffusion tensor imaging, DTI) may provide a useful set of outcome measures for preclinical and clinical studies. The objective of this study was to identify the complex neurobiological underpinnings of DTI features following DAI using a comprehensive and quantitative evaluation of DTI and histopathology in the CHIMERA mouse model. A consistent neuroanatomical pattern of pathology in specific white matter tracts was identified acrossex vivoDTI maps and photomicrographs of histology. These observations were confirmed by voxelwise and regional analysis of DTI maps, demonstrating reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in distinct regions such as the optic tract. Similar regions were identified by quantitative histology and exhibited axonal damage as well as robust gliosis. Additional analysis using a machine-learning algorithm was performed to identify regions and metrics important for injury classification in a manner free from potential user bias. This analysis found that diffusion metrics were able to identify injured brains almost with the same degree of accuracy as the histology metrics. Good agreement between regions detected as abnormal by histology and MRI was also found. The findings of this work elucidate the complexity of cellular changes that give rise to imaging abnormalities and provide a comprehensive and quantitative evaluation of the relative importance of DTI and histological measures to detect brain injury.
Changes in the clinicopathological characteristics and genetic alterations of follicular thyroid cancer
Authors: Song Young Shin , Lim Jung Ah , Min Hye Sook , Kim Min Joo , Choi Hoon Sung , Cho Sun Wook , Moon Jae Hoon , Yi Ka Hee , Park Do Joon , Cho Bo Youn , Park Young Joo
Published: September 2017

Objective

Changes in the clinicopathological characteristics and genetic alterations of follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) over time have not been reported. Moreover, the prognostic effects ofRASandTERTpromoter mutations in FTC have not been clearly elucidated. We investigated changes in the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with FTC over four decades, as well as the clinical significance of genetic mutations of FTC.

Design and methods

This retrospective study included 690 patients with FTC who underwent thyroidectomy between 1973 and 2015 at the Seoul National University Hospital. In 134 samples, genetic tests forN/H/KRASandTERTpromoter mutations andPAX8/PPARγrearrangement were performed.

Results

The age at diagnosis has increased (P < 0.001) in recent decades and extrathyroidal extension of the tumor has become less common (P = 0.033). Other clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of FTC have not significantly changed. The prevalence ofRASmutations decreased (P = 0.042) over time, whereas that ofTERTpromoter mutations remained stable.RASmutations were associated with distant metastasis and persistent disease, andTERTpromoter mutations were associated with distant metastasis, advanced TNM stage, recurrence and disease-specific mortality. FTC patients with coexistentRASandTERTpromoter mutations showed a higher recurrence risk than those with only one mutation.

Conclusions

The age at diagnosis of FTC and the frequency of extrathyroidal extension have changed over four decades. Moreover, the prevalence ofRASmutations decreased.RASandTERTpromoter mutations may be associated with poor clinical outcomes in FTC, especially when the two mutations coexist.
Modern Human Being: Perspective from Psychiatric Diseases
Authors: Keiser Light
Published: September 2017

Science tells facts using evidence that can be tested or verified with repeatable manners. However, subjective concepts like psychiatric definitions are only from physician’s subjective labeling on patient’s behavioral changes. Is there any robust evidence to these overlapping behaviors of defined psychiatric disorders? When behavior was considered as the evidence of scientific definition, we modern human beings are cheating ourselves through changing the basic concept: evidence is the physical object that can be detected or proved using definitive methods. The de facto situation for us today is how we can face challenging topics like death, life, and our human being ourselves. Even we have substantially developed technologies, and theoretically get advanced on some fields, but we still cannot answer these subjective questions mentioned above, those we intentionally avoid to doing in-depth studies. We need to do reconsideration about these unavoidable topics seriously. Do not have science mask our eyes.