bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
APPLICATION OF THE FLEXIBLE SPECIALIZATION MODEL IN A LOCAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEM
Authors: Miniussi Jalba Terezinha , Csillag João Mário
Published: November 2017

This article presents the empirical results of application of the flexible specialization model, originally proposed by Piore and Sobel (1984) and more recently developed from the theoretical perspective of operations strategy by Nassimbeni (JOM, 2003, 21(2):151-171), in a traditional local footwear manufacturing system that is undergoing profound changes due to competitive pressures affecting the sector. The results, drawn from a multiple case study, provide evidences of a non-uniform evolutionary trajectory among the studied firms, notably regarding the strategic choice of internalizing production tasks. Additionally, the data analysis suggests that leading firms are developing an even higher flexibility and on-time delivery capabilities as a response to the increase of competitive pressures.
Geoeconomic and geopolitical mechanisms of the First World War
Authors: Инюшин Валерий , Inyushin Valeriy , Медоваров Максим , Medovarov Maksim , Черкасов Андрей , Cherkasov Andrey
Published: November 2017

The formation and development of English-Saxon core of world-system of the modern capitalism set the groundwork of the most important geo-historical processes. The exhaustion of economic model of the British Empire and necessity of relaunching of economic growth in the USA confronted to geo-economical competition with Germany and Russia. These and other similar interactions and internal logic of evolution of economic system in many respects defined the greatest geopolitical events of 20 century, particularly the First World War.
Help children to discover how they can measure up
Authors: White Hilary
Published: November 2017

In the EYFS Maths area of learning, ‘measure’ is grouped with ‘shape’ and ‘space’. Although this may seem a little random, there is good reason for underlining the link between these concepts, says Hilary White.
Let there be light!
Authors: Watson Rachel
Published: November 2017

Senior manager Rachel Watson provides a personal account of combatting staff's susceptibility to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and describes one simple solution to lightening mood and morale in her nursery.
Put ideas on the table
Authors: McKeown Sal
Published: November 2017

Sal McKeown discovers how Route2education's computer table has proved to be a popular hot spot in one nursery, and is big enough to provide fun and learning opportunities for a group of children at one time.
Multiple limb salvage attempts for diabetic foot infections
Authors: Hong C. C. , Tan J. H. , Lim S. H. , Nather A.
Published: November 2017

Aims

Limb salvage for diabetic foot infections often require multiple procedures. Some patients will eventually end up with below knee amputation (BKA) when all limb salvage attempts fail. We seek to study the patients’ ability to return to normal life, functional status, prosthesis usage and perspectives on multiple limb salvage procedures that culminated in BKA to review if they would undertake a similar path if their situation was repeated.

Patients and Methods

A total of 41 patients who underwent BKA between July 2011 and June 2013 were reviewed. They were divided into primary and creeping (prior multiple salvage procedures) amputations. The Barthel’s Index (BI) and the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI) were used. A questionnaire was used to identify whether the patient would undergo the same multiple attempts at limb salvage again if faced with the same problem.

Results

All patients had a good mean BI of 14.2 (3 to 20) and RNLI of 73.2 (31 to 100). There was no difference in prosthesis usage, BI and RNLI between both groups. We found that 16 (94.1%) out of 17 patients with creeping amputation would undergo the same multiple salvage procedures if given a similar option. Conversely, only 15 (62.5%) patients with primary amputation would do the same again while the other nine (37.5%) patients choose to do everything possible to save their leg if faced with a similar situation (p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Most patients preferred to undergo multiple procedures to salvage the limb from diabetic foot infection even if it ultimately concluded with a BKA. All the patients had a moderately good functional outcome and ability to return to normal living after BKA. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1502–7.
Outcomes following debridement, antibiotics and implant retention in the management of periprosthetic infections of the hip
Authors: Tsang S-T. J. , Ting J. , Simpson A. H. R. W. , Gaston P.
Published: November 2017

Aims

The aims of the study were to review and analyse the reported series of debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR) in the management of infected total hip arthroplasties (THAs) to establish the overall success and the influencing factors.

Patients and methods

Using a standardised recognised study protocol, meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology guidelines, a comprehensive review and analysis of the literature was performed. The primary outcome measure was the success of treatment. The search strategy and inclusion criteria which involved an assessment of quality yielded 39 articles for analysis, which included 1296 patients.

Results

The proportion of success following DAIR in the management of an infected THA appeared to improve after 2004 with a pooled mean proportion of success of 72.2%. For all reported series, from 1977 onwards, there was improved success with early debridement (< 7 days; 75.7%) and exchange of modular components (77.5%). There was a statistically non-significant improvement if debridement was performed within four weeks of the initial procedure (73.0%).

Conclusion

The reported success following DAIR has improved since 2004. The only determinants of outcome which we found were the timing of debridement after the onset of symptoms of infection and the exchange of modular components. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1488–66.
A positive bacterial culture during re-implantation is associated with a poor outcome in two-stage exchange arthroplasty for deep infection
Authors: Akgün D. , Müller M. , Perka C. , Winkler T.
Published: November 2017

Aims

The aim of this study was to identify the incidence of positive cultures during the second stage of a two-stage revision arthroplasty and to analyse the association between positive cultures and an infection-free outcome.

Patients and Methods

This single-centre retrospective review of prospectively collected data included patients with a periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) of either the hip or the knee between 2013 and 2015, who were treated using a standardised diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm with two-stage exchange. Failure of treatment was assessed according to a definition determined by a Delphi-based consensus. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the predictors of positive culture and risk factors for failure. The mean follow-up was 33 months (24 to 48).

Results

A total of 163 two-stage revision arthroplasties involving 84 total hip arthroplasties (THAs) and 79 total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) were reviewed. In 27 patients (16.6%), ≥ 1 positive culture was identified at re-implantation and eight (29.6%) of these subsequently failed compared with 20 (14.7%) patients who were culture-negative. The same initially infecting organism was isolated at re-implantation in nine of 27 patients (33.3%). The organism causing re-infection in none of the patients was the same as that isolated at re-implantation. The risk of the failure of treatment was significantly higher in patients with a positive culture (odds ratio (OR) 1.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0 to 3.0; p = 0.049) and in patients with a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.6 to 1.8; p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Positive culture at re-implantation was independently associated with subsequent failure. Surgeons need to be aware of this association and should consider the medical optimisation of patients with severe comorbidities both before and during treatment. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1490–5.
Clicky hip alone is not a true risk factor for developmental dysplasia of the hip
Authors: Nie K. , Rymaruk S. , Paton R. W.
Published: November 2017

Aims

A clicky hip is a common referral for clinical and sonographic screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). There is controversy regarding whether it represents a true risk factor for pathological DDH. Therefore a 20-year prospective, longitudinal, observational study was undertaken to assess the relationship between the presence of a neonatal clicky hip and pathological DDH.

Patients and Methods

A total of 362 infants from 1997 to 2016 were referred with clicky hips to our ‘one-stop’ paediatric hip screening clinic. Hips were assessed clinically for instability and by ultrasound imaging using a simplified Graf/Harcke classification. Dislocated or dislocatable hips were classified as Graf Type IV hips.

Results

The mean age at presentation was 13.8 weeks (12.8 to 14.7). In all 351 out of 362 children (97.0%) had Graf Type I hips (normal) that required no treatment. Nine children (2.5%) had Graf Type II hips but all resolved to Graf Type I hips on follow-up scans. One child (0.3%) had Graf Type III hip dysplasia and one child (0.3%) had an irreducible hip dislocation. The two pathological hips were associated with unilateral limited hip abduction. Mean referrals increased from 12.9 to 23.3 each year (p = 0.002) from the first decade of the study to the second, driven by increasing primary care referrals (5.5 versus 16.7 per year, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Most clicky hips required no treatment other than reassurance to parents. Clicky hips with a normal hip examination should be considered a variant of normal childhood and not a risk factor for DDH. However, an abnormal hip examination including unilateral limited hip abduction should prompt urgent further investigations. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1533–6.
RETRACTED: Optical fiber shape sensing of polyimide skin for a flexible morphing wing
Authors: Sun Guangkai , Li Hong , Dong Mingli , Lou Xiaoping , Zhu Lianqing
Published: November 2017

This paper presents the 3D shape sensing of polyimide thin film skin
for a flexible morphing wing using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors.
The calibration curves of the FBG sensors are measured experimentally
to ensure relative accurate conversion between Bragg wavelength shift
(BWS) and bending curvature of the polyimide skin. The reflection
spectra of the FBG sensors are measured at different airfoil profiles,
and the variation tendency of the BWS values with the airfoil profiles
are analyzed. The bending curvatures of the polyimide thin film skin
at different airfoil profiles are calculated using the measured BWS
values of the FBG sensors and the linear interpolation algorithm. The
3D shapes of the polyimide skin at different airfoil profiles are
reconstructed based on the measured bending curvatures and the
interpolation and curve fitting functions. The 3D precise visual
measurements are conducted using a digital photogrammetry system, and
then the correctness of the shape reconstruction results are verified.
The results prove that the maximum error between the 3D visual and FBG
measurements is less than 5%. The FBG sensing method is effective for
the shape sensing of polyimide skin for flexible morphing wing.
Rádio e inclusão: uma análise de experiências de rádio para surdos em portugal
Authors: Bonixe Luís
Published: November 2017

A rádio adquiriu um conjunto de novas ferramentas em virtude da sua migração para as plataformas digitais e, em concreto, para a Internet. Como defendem vários autores, falar hoje de rádio, significa considerar este como um meio multimedia e multiplataforma. A partir deste pressuposto, abrem-se novos caminhos para a rádio, quer no que toca ao acesso, quer em relação à captação de novos públicos que estavam afastados deste meio. A comunidade surda integrava naturalmente esse público incapacitado para escutar mensagens exclusivamente sonoras. Cenário que se alterou com esta “nova rádio”. Em 2005 e 2013 a TSF e a Antena 1, respetivamente, realizaram duas emissões de rádio com tradução para Língua Gestual Portuguesa. O presente artigo procura analisar essas duas experiências e lançar uma reflexão sobre o papel da rádio enquanto meio de inclusão da pessoa com deficiência e em particular dos surdos.
Estratégias para a diversidade na televisão: os casos dos EUA e do Reino Unido
Authors: Lourenço Raquel
Published: November 2017

Neste artigo iremos expor, em síntese, as conclusões de vários estudos sobre a diversidade existente na televisão dos EUA e do Reino Unido. Começamos por explicar o conceito de diversidade nos vários estudos, assim como a importância do tema e o enquadramento legal dos dois países. Em seguida, analisamos o panorama atual ao nível da diversidade, os objetivos a atingir pelas estações de televisão e as várias estratégias propostas pelos investigadores para que seja dada voz às comunidades a que estas se destinam, nomeadamente através da inclusão quer de minorias, quer de mulheres, no conteúdo, no emprego ou na propriedade. Todos os estudos considerados apontam para a necessidade de várias alterações para se conseguir uma diversidade, dentro e fora do ecrã, que seja proporcional à distribuição da população dos dois países.
“Espelho meu, espelho meu, haverá alguém mais belo do que eu?” - Representações mediáticas da ‘raça’
Authors: Marques Sónia
Published: November 2017

Este artigo tem como objetivo refletir sobre o conceito de representação e a sua articulação com o paradigma crítico dos estudos culturais, assim como discutir o papel dos órgãos de comunicação social, na difusão de representações raciais, expressas nas categorias branco-negro. Sugere-se igualmente a promoção da literacia mediática e reflexividade, com vista ao aumento da consciência crítica dos recetores de mensagens veiculadas pelos media.
Espaços alternativos na internet como formas de visibilizar as mulheres no jornalismo brasileiro
Authors: Vecchio-Lima Myrian Del , Alves de Souza Humberto da Cunha
Published: November 2017

Apesar da feminização das redações jornalísticas latino-americanas, o Global Report on the Status of Women in the News Media (2015) aponta que o estatuto profissional superior nestes espaços é ainda masculino, o que ocasiona menos probabilidade de mulheres cobrirem histórias ou serem personagens de reportagens; o mesmo relatório indica que o percentual de mulheres como fonte de informação ainda é baixo. O processo reproduz uma visão patriarcal persistente e é parte da chamada “invisibilidade” da mulher na mídia. Este trabalho pressupõe que também no Brasil, o processo de feminização das redações não é acompanhado de conteúdo que valorize a mulher, embora haja avanços. O texto apresenta cinco experiências brasileiras de jornalismo digital que buscam preencher a lacuna da cobertura tradicional sobre questões femininas, tratando a mulher como sujeito social autônomo. Examinou-se a estrutura destas iniciativas e analisou-se o conteúdo de cinco matérias de cada produto, nos meses de julho/agosto de 2016, para verificar como a mulher aparece como protagonista social. O trabalho permitiu refletir sobre um “novo jornalismo” que supere estereótipos, induzindo à visibilização e ao empoderamento social das mulheres. Conclui-se que as iniciativas analisadas podem ser consideradas pontos de observação para integrar práticas positivas no jornalismo hegemônico, ampliando o uso democrático e igualitário da mídia.
Assessing the readiness of precision medicine interoperabilty: An exploratory study of the National Institutes of Health genetic testing registry
Authors: Ronquillo Jay G , Weng Chunhua , Lester William T
Published: November 2017

Background:  Precision medicine involves three major innovations currently taking place in healthcare:  electronic health records, genomics, and big data.  A major challenge for healthcare providers, however, is understanding the readiness for practical application of initiatives like precision medicine.Objective:  To better understand the current state and challenges of precision medicine interoperability using a national genetic testing registry as a starting point, placed in the context of established interoperability formats.Methods:  We performed an exploratory analysis of the National Institutes of Health Genetic Testing Registry.  Relevant standards included Health Level Seven International Version 3 Implementation Guide for Family History, the Human Genome Organization Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC) database, and Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine – Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT).  We analyzed the distribution of genetic testing laboratories, genetic test characteristics, and standardized genome/clinical code mappings, stratified by laboratory setting.Results: There were a total of 25472 genetic tests from 240 laboratories testing for approximately 3632 distinct genes.  Most tests focused on diagnosis, mutation confirmation, and/or risk assessment of germline mutations that could be passed to offspring.  Genes were successfully mapped to all HGNC identifiers, but less than half of tests mapped to SNOMED CT codes, highlighting significant gaps when linking genetic tests to standardized clinical codes that explain the medical motivations behind test ordering.  Conclusion:  While precision medicine could potentially transform healthcare, successful practical and clinical application will first require the comprehensive and responsible adoption of interoperable standards, terminologies, and formats across all aspects of the precision medicine pipeline.
The critical role of assumptions in population projections : The case of Belgium
Authors: Vandresse Marie
Published: November 2017

Population projections serve as a decision-making tool or as a tool to help contribute to discussions on the future of our societies. These projections are based on a series of choices made by the modeller about the projection methodology and the future trends in the population growth components (fertility, mortality and migration). To use these projections wisely, users should be aware of the impact of these choices on the results of a population projection. This article highlights the crucial role of the assumptions made on the future trends of the population growth components on the projection results, using population projections for Belgium published by national and international institutions.
A longitudinal study of early math skills, reading comprehension and mathematical problem solving
Authors: Özcan Zeynep Çiğdem , Doğan Handan
Published: November 2017

Mathematical problem solving is regarded as the one of the important cognitive activities. Children are introduced with mathematical word problems that require reading and understanding in the first grade. Students have trouble with word problems in every level of education. For this reason, it is important to find the reasons for this issue in the first year of primary school. The purpose of this study is to find the relationship between mathematical problem solving with early math skills and reading comprehension. Specifically, the aim of this study is to determine which of these variables are most powerful in predicting mathematical problem solving performance. The panel research method as a type of longitudinal study was used in this study. The sample of this study consists of 185 first grades (66'84 month) students from a public elementary school in Istanbul. The measurement instruments are Bracken Basic Concept Scale: Expressive, reading comprehension questions and mathematics problem-solving questions. The final model implies that early math skills have direct effects on reading comprehension (Î²=.34) and mathematical problem solving (Î²=.45). Reading comprehension has a direct effect on mathematical problem solving (Î²=.27). However, this effect is smaller than the effect of early math skills.
English for sale: Using race to create value in the Korean ELT market
Authors: Jenks Christopher
Published: November 2017

Using Marxist notions of value, this study examines how the commodification of language instruction skews understandings of who is deemed a legitimate teacher of English in South Korea. The study argues that neoliberalism incentivizes the Korean ELT market to create value in race and racialized images. For example, the analysis explores how skin color, nationality, ethnicity, and facial morphology are used to sell an “authentic” and “Western” learning experience, thus creating exchange value in characteristics and features that are not traditionally associated with good language teaching, such as the ability to communicate information effectively. Analyzing interviews, job advertisements, and immigration documents from a critical discourse analytic perspective, the analysis uncovers how a market-driven ELT profession contributes to, and represents, a nexus of racially-motivated ideologies that circulates the discourse that English in South Korea is an indispensable form of upward mobility. The paper ends by contending that scholars and practitioners must do more to understand how constructs central to markets, such as value and commodity, shed light on pressing critical ELT issues.
Numerical Modeling of Optical Fibers Using the Finite Element
Method and an Exact Non-reflecting Boundary Condition
Authors: Dautov Rafail Z. , Karchevskii Evgenii M.
Published: November 2017

The original problem for eigenwaves of weakly guiding
optical fibers formulated on the plane is reduced to a convenient for numerical solution
linear parametric eigenvalue problem posed in a disk. The study of the solvability of
this problem is based on the spectral theory of compact self-adjoint operators.
Properties of dispersion curves are investigated for the new formulation of the problem.
An efficient numerical method based on FEM approximations is developed. Error estimates
for approximate solutions are derived. The rate of convergence for the presented
algorithm is investigated numerically.
Estimator Based Inferential Control of an Ideal Quaternary Endothermic Reactive Distillation with Feed-Forward and Recurrent Neural Networks
Authors: K Mathew Anish , Pavan Kumar M V
Published: November 2017

A feed-forward neural network (FNN) and a layered recurrent neural network (LRNN) based two composition estimators, respectively, are designed for the purpose of tight product purity control for an ideal, quaternary, hypothetical, kinetically controlled, reactive distillation (RD) column. The output variables of the considered control structure i.e. the compositions, are estimated using the chosen tray temperatures as inputs to the estimators. The performances of the estimators in the control of the column for the servo, regulatory, feed impurity disturbances and catalyst deactivation are studied. The estimator based control is found to be effective for the on-spec product purity control. One-to-one relation between the number of tray temperature measurements and their sensitivity to the accuracy of estimation is observed. Overall, the performance of LRNN is found to be superior over the FNN for the throughput manipulations tested for the more number  of inputs to estimator.
Eight Common Fallacies of Elementary Semiotics
Authors: Pearson Charls
Published: November 2017

In this essay, eight fallacies of elementary semiotics are presented, analyzed from an empirical viewpoint, and corrected to the best of my present knowledge. These eight fallacies are called:

The Sign Fallacy

The Fallacy of Interpretation at a Distance

The Fallacy of Instantaneous Interpretation

The One-Way Interpretability Fallacy

The Inference Fallacy

The Fallacy of Things

The Fallacy of Isolation

The Realism Fallacy

By properly sensing and correcting these eight fallacies, we may see more deeply into semiotic structure, allowing us to develop theories more representative of that structure and thus reach a better understanding of the underlying semiotic reality. This advance in depth of understanding is comparable to the difference in depth of understanding of physical reality allowed by Aristotelian physics and that allowed by Newtonian physics. We can be optimistic, however, since we have the Einsteinian revolution in semiotics to look forward to.
Existential Universals
Authors: Tønnessen Morten
Published: November 2017

This paper is divided into five parts. The introduction presents some implications of the relational nature of human beings as well as other living beings, and establishes a connection between biosemiotics and existentialist thinking. The second part indicates key points of a “semiotics of being” as a genuine outlook within semiotics. In “Universals of biosemiosis”, the third part, a number of common features of everything and anyone alive are identified. The fourth part, “On Earth – the natural setting of the human condition”, sets the stage for a few ecologically and astronomically minded reflections in philosophical anthropology. In the fifth and concluding part, “On the alienation of the semiotic animal”, observations are made on some existential implications of the characteristically human form of being. Part of the motivation for the paper is to demonstrate, firstly, that existential semiosis plays a key role in human semiosis, and secondly, that other living beings too live through existential dramas.
Semiosis and Emergence
Authors: Fernández Eliseo
Published: November 2017

Among the different orientations in biosemiotics, those moved by Peircean ideas tend to agree that the organization of non-living parts into organisms cannot be made intelligible without supplementing the traditional resources of the physical sciences with novel kinds of causation. This is particularly true with regard tosemiosis– the influence by which signs mediate the determination of interpretants by their objects.

Consideration of special forms of causation and explanation is important for assessing the place of biosemiotics within biology. In my view the promise of biosemiotics far exceeds its role as a biological sub-discipline governing the semiotic aspects of living processes (cellular signaling, organic codes, etc.). Beyond this, biosemiotic research should include two other important endeavors: first, if semiosis is essential to the constitution of the objects of biological science, biosemiotic ideas must have foundational and integrative roles comparable to those of evolutionary conceptions; and second, these roles should promote a wholesale redefinition of the place of biology within the sciences.

This examination seeks to clarify the relations between semiosis and ordinary physical causation. It also proposes a new perspective on the evolutionary nature of emergence by taking into account the increasing importance of evolutionary explanations in some branches of contemporary physics.
Cherchez la femme: Two Germanic suffixes, one etymology
Authors: Gąsiorowski Piotr
Published: November 2017

The origin of the Germanic suffixes forming occupational titles and agent nouns – masculine *-ārijaz(the ancestor of Modern English -er) and its feminine counterpart reflected in Old English as -estreand in Modern as -ster– is an old problem in Germanic historical morphology. The masculine “agentive” suffix, which occurs in all the subgroups of Germanic, is generally presumed to be of Latin origin, though it occurs mostly with native derivational bases even in the earliest attested Germanic languages; the latter is believed to be native, but has no accepted etymology, and its limited range of occurrence in Germanic remains unexplained. It will be argued that the two suffixes are etymologically connected in a hitherto unsuspected way, that the traditional opinion about the origin of *-ārijazshould be revised, and that both suffixes have interesting Indo-European cognates outside Germanic.
Micro-Structures of Nanodiamonds Grown on Silicon by Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition
Authors: Montes-Gutierrez J.A. , Garcia-Gutierrez R. , Barboza-Flores M. , Meléndrez R. , Cabanillas R. E. , Contreras O. E. , Hirata G. A. , Rangel-Segura R.
Published: November 2017

A method to grow homogeneous micro-sized diamond clusters on silicon by Hot-Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition in a homemade reactor is reported in this work. Thermal decomposition of a CH4:H2 mixture gases was carried out in a horizontal quartz-tube reactor at 2200 °C filament temperature and 1000 °C substrate temperature at relative low pressure around 150 Torr depositing diamonds on silicon wafers. The diamond micro-structures are formed by nano-crystalline diamonds, they have a rounded shape and a narrow particle size distribution around a micrometer. The diamond micro-structures synthesized in this work showed a strong Raman shift signal, a peak at 1330 cm‒1 typical of the diamond and a single optical trap was localized nearby 300 °C by Thermoluminescence analysis indicating that these diamond micro-structures could be a good thermoluminescent dosimeter material. Due to their excellent properties, diamonds obtained by this technique should find application in the biomedical and optoelectronic industry.
Antidiabetic and in vitro antioxidant effects of hydromethanol extract of Paullinia pinnata root bark in alloxan-induced diabetic rat
Authors: Okwudili Onoja Samuel , Chimaobi Nwachukwu Glory , Ikechukwu Ezeja Maxwell , Ndukaku Omeh Yusuf
Published: November 2017

Background

The study evaluated phytochemical composition, antidiabetic, oral glucose tolerance test and in vitro antioxidant activities of hydromethanol extract of Paullinia pinnata root bark.

Methods

Cold maceration method was used in extract preparation and scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals was used to evaluate antioxidant properties of the extract. Diabetes was induced with alloxan at the dose of 160 mg/kg. The antidiabetic activity of the extract was tested at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, and glibenclamide was used as reference drug.

Results

Phytochemical analysis of the extract showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, saponins and terpenes/sterols. The extract produced a significant (p<0.05) time-dependent decrease in the fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels in the treated rats when compared with the distilled water treated rats, but did not produce dose-dependent effects. The extract 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) caused 83.62 %, 60.66 %, 47.77 % and 68.52 % reduction respectively in FBG at 6 h post-treatment while the distilled water (5 mL/kg) produced 8.12 % reduction in FBG at 6 h post treatment. The extract (50 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) produced a significant (p<0.05) oral glucose tolerance effect in both normoglycemic and diabetic rats. The extract produced concentration-dependent increase in antioxidant activity and had its optimum effect at 400 µg/mL concentration.

Conclusions

This study suggests that P. pinnata root bark has potent antidiabetic and antioxidant activities and also validates its use in folkloric medicine in the management of diabetes-related conditions.
Role of caftaric acid in lead-associated nephrotoxicity in rats via antidiuretic, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activities
Authors: Koriem Khaled M. M. , Arbid Mahmoud S.
Published: November 2017

Background

Lead is a toxic metal that is widely distributed in the environment where caftaric acid (CA) is the ester form of caffeic acid where CA is the major dietary polyphenol present in various foods and beverages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CA in lead acetate (LA)-associated nephrotoxicity through antidiuretic, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activities.

Methods

Forty-eight male albino rats divided into six equal groups; group 1 control injected intraperitoneally (ip) with saline (1 mL/kg of bw) over two weeks period, group 2 injected ip with CA (80 mg/kg of bw) over two weeks period, groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 injected ip with 100 μmol/kg of bw LA over two weeks period where groups 4, 5 & 6 co-injected ip with 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (dDAVP) drug (1 mg/kg of bw), CA (40 mg/kg of bw), and CA (80 mg/kg of bw), respectively.

Results

The results obtained revealed that LA induced a significant decrease in kidney weight and serum sodium, potassium and chloride, but caused a significant increase in urinary volume, urinary excretion of sodium, potassium and chloride, serum urea, creatinine and uric acid. The LA also caused a significant decrease in kidney superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and induced a significant decrease in glutathione level while caused an increase in lipid peroxidation level. In addition, LA caused a decrease in p53 expression while induced an increase in bcl-2 expression in the kidney tissues. Co-injection of CA to LA-treated group restored all the above parameters to approach the normal values. The results supported with histopathological examinations.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the effect of CA on LA-related nephrotoxicity was occurred through antidiuretic, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic activities where the effect of CA was dose dependent.
Design of All Optical XOR Gate based on Photonic Crystal Ring Resonator
Authors: Swarnakar Sandip , Rathi Sapna , Kumar Santosh
Published: November 2017

The photonic crystals (PhC) play an important role in building all optical logic devices and also recommended as solution for opto-electronic bottleneck in terms of speed and size. This paper put forward a design of XOR gate using Photonic Crystal Ring Resonator (PCRR). The ring resonator is a device which provides output on the basis of coupling of mode fields from a linear waveguide to circular ring. The proposed work is designed using two-dimensional (2D) square lattice photonic crystals within the dimensions of

37
a
×
37
a

$\left( {37a \times 37a} \right)$

by putting silicon (Si) rods in silica (SiO2). The study of device is carried out using finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) method and verified using MATLAB.
Performance Evaluation of Correlation Properties of Quasi Orthogonal Prime Codes for Optical CDMA Communication
Authors: Kedia Deepak , Rani Ankita
Published: November 2017

Optical code division multiple access (OCDMA) is one of the promising technologies to be implemented using all-optical networks. The performance of OCDMA system is largely dependent on the particular codes used for encoding. A proper choice of code family as well as code dimension is of prime importance due to various transmitter and receiver design considerations. This paper mainly aims at evaluation of desirable characteristics of various spreading codes based on the prime sequences. An extensive effort has been done in this paper to evaluate the correlation characteristics of various types of one-dimensional (1-D), 2-D and 3-D prime codes for OCDMA communication system. The detailed mathematical modelling has also been explained. It is observed that an addition in coding dimension leads to significant improvement in the code characteristics.
Legitimate Expectations in Theory, Practice, and Punishment
Authors: Matravers Matt
Published: November 2017

This paper is concerned with how we ought to think about legitimate expectations in the non-ideal, ‘real’ world. In one (dominant) strand of contemporary theories of justice, justice requires not that each gets what she deserves, but that each gets that to which she is entitled in accordance with what Rawls calls ‘the public rules that specify the scheme of cooperation’. However, that is true only if those public rules are part of a fully just scheme and it is plausibly the case that no such scheme obtains in the real world. Given that, and given the centrality of legitimate expectations to theories of justice, it is vital to think about the status of such expectations in non-ideal circumstances. Having explained the sense in which legitimate expectations have come to play a role often previously associated with desert, a brief argument in favour of an ‘expectations’ view of punishment is considered to show that the system to public rules that generates expectations must itself be (in some sense) just. This argument is illustrated by appeal to just punishment and the relevance of thinking about punishment and not merely distributive justice is defended. In the absence of justice, one possibility would be simply to declare that there are nolegitimateexpectations and so theories of justice provide no guidance as to who should get what in non-ideal conditions. However, this would be to render such theories more-or-less useless in practice. Through discussion of a series of vignettes, the paper offers an account of how we might think about the demands such expectations place on the systems that give rise to them even in cases where the system is unjust.
M(Al,Ni)-TiO2-Based Photoanode for Photoelectrochemical Solar Cells
Authors: Navas Javier , Reyes-Pérez Fran , Alcántara Rodrigo , Fernández-Lorenzo Concha , Bernal Juan Jesús Gallardo , Martín-Calleja Joaquín
Published: November 2017

This study presents the incorporation of Al and Ni cations onto the surface of TiO2 nanoparticles used as photoelectrode in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The incorporation of these cations was performed using the chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique. This process was applied up to three times to evaluate the semiconductors’ properties with respect to the amount of Al and Ni. The M(Al,Ni)-TiO2-based semiconductors were widely characterized using techniques such as X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The presence of (hydr)oxide species of Al(III) and Ni(II) was confirmed and anatase was the predominant crystalline phase obtained. Moreover, for both elements, a decrease in the band gap energy was observed, this being more pronounced after the incorporation of Ni. Furthermore, the use of the M(Al,Ni)-TiO2-based semiconductors as photoelectrodes in DSSCs led to an increase in the open-circuit voltage of up to 22% and 10% for the incorporation of Al and Ni, respectively. This increase can be reasonably explained by the negative shift of the flat band potential of the photoelectrodes. EIS measurements were performed to study the electron transport kinetics in the photoelectrode and the internal resistance in the DSSCs to understand the photocurrent density values obtained.
Aerobic Fitness in Top-Class Soccer Referees
Authors: Castagna Carlo , Bizzini Mario , Araújo Póvoas Susana C. , Schenk Kai , Büsser Gery , D'Ottavio Stefano
Published: November 2017

Castagna, C, Bizzini, M, Araújo Póvoas, SC, Schenk, K, Büsser, G, and D'Ottavio, S. Aerobic fitness in top-class soccer referees. J Strength Cond Res 33(11): 3098–3104, 2019—The aim of this study was to examine the aerobic fitness status of top-class male soccer officials using a cross-sectional design and known population group constructs. Fifty-two field referees (FRs, age 38.4 ± 3.3 years; height 181 ± 5.6 cm; body mass 76.8 ± 6.8 kg; body mass index [BMI] 23.4 ± 1.7 kg·m−2; body fat 20.4 ± 3.6%; and international refereeing experience 5 ± 3.5 years) and 104 assistant referees (ARs, age 37.8 ± 4.1 years; height 176.9 ± 7.5 cm; body mass 72.1 ± 7.4 kg; BMI 23 ± 1.6 kg·m−2; body fat 19.2 ± 3.6%; and international refereeing experience 7 ± 3.8 years) from 53 National Football Associations worldwide, and candidates of the preliminary open-list developed by the FIFA Refereeing Department for the 2014 World Cup Final Tournament, were tested for aerobic fitness in laboratory conditions with a progressive speed treadmill test to exhaustion. Large (+8.54%, d = 0.8) and small (+3.1%, d = 0.3) differences in absolute (L·min−1) and relative (ml·kg−1·min−1) Vo
2max were found between FR and AR, respectively. Trivial differences (d = 0.07) were shown in running economy (RE) (6 minutes at 8 km·h−1) between AR and FR. Using the scaling notation (b = 0.64), medium and significant differences were found between match officials for Vo
2max and RE (FR > AR; d = 0.6 and 0.67, respectively). Using receiver operating characteristic curve statistics, cutoff values of 3.93 L·min−1 and 50.6 ml·kg−1·min−1 were detected in absolute and relative Vo
2max for the FR and the AR (FR > AR), respectively. The FR showed superior aerobic fitness compared with AR. Training prescription should consider intensities at anaerobic threshold speed (14 km·h−1, 91% heart rate max) when aerobic fitness development is the aim in elite officials.
Nondestructive Evaluation of Solid Pharmaceutical Products Using Wavelet Transformations and Multispectral Data
Authors: Tahir Fahima , Fahiem Muhammad Abuzar , Farhan Saima , Tauseef Huma
Published: November 2017

The nondestructive analysis of a solid pharmaceutical product (SPP) is essential to evaluating the quality without destroying the product. This analysis may be performed using various signal processing techniques on multispectral data. Based on this analysis, the SPPs may be classified as defective or nondefective. In this research, we have used multispectral data and applied wavelet transformations in conjunction with various machine learning techniques for the classification. The SPPs (categorized as defective) are exposed to three different environmental factors (humidity, temperature, and moisture) over different time periods, and the variations in multispectral data are analyzed to judge the effects of these factors on the classification of the SPPs. The results show that the spectra extracted from only the ultraviolet (UV) wavelength range are more suitable for the classification of defective and nondefective SPPs. Furthermore, results also describe that the K-nearest neighbors classifier or ensemble of classifiers is a more appropriate classifier.
Materialist Vitalism or Pathetic Fallacy
Authors: Arsić Branka
Published: November 2017

My essay revises the inherited understanding of Ruskin’s theory of pathetic fallacy by positing that his ideas are close to theories that oppose any strict division of phenomena into persons and things. To elaborate this point, the essay investigates Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher,” where inanimate things are rendered animate, claiming that such instances are far from being pathetically fallacious and, also, that Poe’s ontology is in accord with that formulated by Ruskin.
The Hitchcockian Nudge; or, An Aesthetics of Deception
Authors: Chow Rey , Hadjioannou Markos
Published: November 2017

This article considers Alfred Hitchcock’s work in relation to the connotations of “fallacy” within conventional settings of modern Western society. Focusing on two films, Strangers on a Train (1951) and Rear Window (1954), we point to the phenomenon of the incidental push that leads toward an inextricable entanglement of characters, events, and psychic forces in what appear to be logical courses of action. We name this push “the Hitchcockian nudge.”
Fallacy
Authors: Smith D. Vance
Published: November 2017

The precondition of rationality in Aristotelian syllogistic logic is fallacy. Medieval commentaries, in turn, treat fallacy as a nonreferential discourse, developing what is essentially a theorization of fictionality and its practices.
The Destruction of Hood’s Ordnance Train
Authors: Nemerov Alexander
Published: November 2017

How is something that is not there still present in a photograph? What is the importance of seeing a photograph in this way? Looking at George Barnard’s Civil War photograph Destruction of Hood’s Ordnance Train, this essay meditates on the operations of imagination in historical images.
Underreporting trends of occupational illnesses in Mexico
Authors: Moreno-Torres Luis Antonio , Ventura-Alfaro Carmelita Elizabeth
Published: November 2017

Objective

To report trends underreporting levels of occupational illnesses (OI) in Mexico from 2000 to 2015.

Methods

An ecological study was conducted. Data on OI was obtained from the Statistical Memories of the Mexican Institute of Social Security. We used univariate sensitivity analysis to estimate the average value and range.

Results

During the 2000-2015 period, the estimated average OI underreporting in the Mexican population was 89.1%; the minimum was 81.8% in 2015 and the maximum 95% in 2007, with an annual decrement rate of 1% (p<0.05) was observed from 2007 to 2015.

Conclusions

Important changes to improve reporting of OI have taken place since 2007, most likely due to the implementation of new policies in this matter. Even though the OI report in Mexico is higher than what the World Health Organization estimates for Latin America (18% in 2015), activities to address this problem remain insufficient. Furthermore, it is important to evaluate the current process of identification and registration of OI in order to identify those that need reinforcement, to guarantee adherence to regulations, to consolidate training systems, and importantly, to develop the governing capacity of the sanitation and labor authorities to exercise their coordinating and regulatory functions.
Whole body vibration and blood glucose levels in elderly people: a pilot study
Authors: Licurci Maria das Graças Bastos , Fagundes Alessandra De Almeida , Arisawa Emilia Angela Lo Schiavo
Published: November 2017

***Whole body vibration and blood glucose levels in elderly people: a pilot study***AIMS: To evaluate the effect of whole-body vibration therapy on blood glucose levels of elderly people using a vibratory platform.METHODS: The study included volunteers of both genders, aged between 60 and 75 years, without gait disorders or motor disabilities. Individuals with systemic disease, obesity, conflicting treatments, tobacco users, and those who could not understand the maneuvers were excluded. The study consisted of a single session of whole-body vibration. Heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial blood pressure, and blood glucose were obtained for each participant at baseline, immediately before the procedure. Volunteers were then placed in the standing position on the ground of an oscillating platform and treated for 10 min with a frequency of vibration set at 20 Hz (displacement  ±6 mm; orbital vibration). Immediately after the whole-body vibration session, all data were collected again. Comparisons were made between baseline and post-treatment data. Normality was tested by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Data were analyzed using paired Student’s t-test or Wilcoxon test as appropriate. The level of significance was set at p<0.05.RESULTS: Eleven participants (seven men, four women) participated of the study. The mean age was 64.18±4.37 years. The results showed a significant decrease in the glycemic indexes (p=0.016) and an increase in the respiratory rate (p=0.047) after the whole-body vibration session.CONCLUSIONS: Healthy elderly subjected for 10 minutes to whole-body vibration set at 20 Hz presented reduction of blood glucose levels and increasing of respiratory rate.
Impacts of Service Failures Existing in the Travel Chain on the Cognitive, Emotional and Behavioral Responses of Disabled Tourists: From an Embodiment Perspective
Authors:   The Tourism Sciences Society Of Korea, Lee You-Ha , Lee Bong-Koo
Published: November 2017

This study examined the impacts of service failures existing in the travel chain on the cognitive, emotional and behavioral responses of disabled tourists using the principles of affective events theory. It also examined the differences among these impacts from the embodiment perspective. A total of 298 questionnaires were collected from carefully selected samples. After removing 9 incomplete ones, 289 questionnaires were used for the final data analysis. The major findings were as follows: 1) Service failure had a significant positive impact on the cognitive evaluation of disabled tourists according to the degree of their basic unmet needs. 2) Service failure did not have a significant impact on the negative emotions of disabled tourists, but their cognitive evaluation did. 3) The negative emotions of disabled tourists had a significant impact on their complaint behaviors, but had no impact on cognitive evaluation. 4) The group that was divided according to their embodied conditions did not show any significant differences in relationships among service failure and their following responses. The theoretical, practical and future implications of theses results were then discussed. Finally, future directions for further research are suggested.