bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EFFECT OF α-TOCOPHEROL AND ASCORBIC ACIDS ON PERFORMANCE AND BLOOD IMMUNITY PROFILE OF MALE NATIVE MUSCOVY DUCK
Authors: Tugiyanti E. , Zuprizal Z. , Rusman R. , Yuwanta T. , Ismoyowati I.
Published: September 2016

The purpose of the research was to assess the effect of α-tocopherol and ascobic acids on the performance and immunity blood profile of male native Muscovy duck. The materials used were 84 male Muscovy ducks at 9 weeks old. The research used completely randomized design with 7 treatments. The treatments were E0C0 : basal diet without α-tocopherol and ascobic acids, E400: basal diet+ α-tocopherol 400IU, E600: basal diet+α-tocopherol 600IU, C400: basal diet+ascorbic acid 400mg/kg, C600: basal diet+ascorbic acid 600mg/kg, E200C200: basal diet+α-tocopherol 200IU+ ascorbic acid 200mg/kg, and E300C300: basal diet+α-tocopherol 300IU+ ascorbic acid 300mg/kg. Each treatment was repeated 4 times and each replication consisted of 3 ducks. The observed variables were body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, packed cell volume (PCV), total of plasma protein (TPP), leucocyte count, basophil, heterophil, eosinophil, monocyte, lymphocytes count and heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio of Muscovy duck. The result indicated that E0C0, E400, E600, C400, C600, E200C200 and E300C300 had no significant difference in body weight, feed intake and feed conversion. There were significant effects on PCV, leucocyte count, percentage of heterophil and lymphocytes, but had no significant effect on eosinophil, monocyte and the H/L ratio. The C400 resulted a higher PCV count, percentage of heterophil, and H/L ratio. The C 600 produced the highest leucocyte count. In conclusion, the supplementation of ascorbic acid at 400 - 600 mg/kg feed ascorbic acid could improve theimmune profile, but could not improve the performance of Muscovy duck.
Prototype-driven alternations: The case of German weak nouns
Authors: Schäfer Roland
Published: September 2016

Over the past years, multifactorial corpus-based explorations of alternations in grammar have become an accepted major tool in cognitively oriented corpus linguistics. For example, prototype theory as a theory of similarity-based and inherently probabilistic linguistic categorization has received support from studies showing that alternating constructions and items often occur with probabilities influenced by prototypical formal, semantic or contextual factors. In this paper, I analyze a low-frequency alternation effect in German noun inflection in terms of prototype theory, based on strong hypotheses from the existing literature that I integrate into an established theoretical framework of usage-based probabilistic morphology, which allows us to account for similarity effects even in seemingly regular areas of the grammar. Specifically, the so-calledweakmasculine nouns in German, which follow an unusual pattern of case marking and often have characteristic lexical properties, sporadically occur in forms of the dominantstrongmasculine nouns. Using data from the nine-billion-token DECOW12A web corpus of contemporary German, I demonstrate that the probability of the alternation is influenced by the presence or absence of semantic, phonotactic, and paradigmatic features. Token frequency is also shown to have an effect on the alternation, in line with common assumptions about the relation between frequency and entrenchment. I use a version of prototype theory with weighted features and polycentric categories, but I also discuss the question of whether such corpus data can be taken as strong evidence for or against specific models of cognitive representation (prototypes vs. exemplars).
Improved bounds in Weaver and Feichtinger conjectures
Authors: Bownik Marcin , Casazza Pete , Marcus Adam W. , Speegle Darrin
Published: September 2016

We sharpen the constant in the

KS
2

{\mathrm{KS}_{2}}

Conjecture of Weaver [31] that was given by Marcus, Spielman and Srivastava [28] in their solution of the Kadison–Singer problem.
We then apply this result to prove optimal asymptotic bounds on the size of partitions in the Feichtinger Conjecture.
The Impact of Pharmaceutical Innovation on Cancer Mortality in Belgium, 2004–2012
Authors: Lichtenberg Frank R.
Published: September 2016

Cancer mortality declined in Belgium during the period 2004–2012, but there was considerable variation in the rate of decline across cancer sites (breast, lung, etc.). I analyze the effect that pharmaceutical innovation had on cancer mortality in Belgium, by investigating whether the cancer sites that experienced more pharmaceutical innovation had larger subsequent declines in mortality, controlling for changes in cancer incidence. The measures of mortality analyzed – premature (before ages 75 and 65) mortality rates and mean age at death – are not subject to lead-time bias. Premature cancer mortality rates are significantly inversely related to the cumulative number of drugs registered 15–23 years earlier. Since mean utilization of drugs that have been marketed for less than 10 years is less than one fourth as great as mean utilization of drugs that have been marketed for at least a decade, it is not surprising that premature mortality is strongly inversely related only to the cumulative number of drugs that had been registered at least 10 years earlier. Drugs registered during the period 1987–1995 are estimated to have reduced the premature cancer mortality rate in 2012 by 20%. Mean age at death from cancer increased by 1.17 years between 2004 and 2012. The estimates indicate that drugs registered during the period 1987–1995 increased mean age at death from cancer in 2012 by 1.52 years. The estimates also suggest that drugs (chemical substances) within the same class (chemical subgroup) are not “therapeutically equivalent,” i.e. they do not have essentially the same effect in the treatment of a disease or condition. The estimates imply that the drugs registered during 1987–1995 reduced the number of life-years lost to cancer at all ages in 2012 by 41,207. The estimated cost per-life-year gained in 2012 from cancer drugs registered in Belgium during the period 1987–1995 was €1311. This estimate is well below even the lowest estimates from other studies of the value of a life-year saved. The largest reductions in premature mortality occur 15–23 years after drugs are registered, when their utilization increases significantly. This suggests that, if Belgium is to obtain substantial additional reductions in premature cancer mortality in the future (15 or more years from now) at a modest cost, pharmaceutical innovation (registration of new drugs) is needed today.
Maximal function characterizations of Hardy spaces associated to homogeneous
higher order elliptic operators
Authors: Cao Jun , Mayboroda Svitlana , Yang Dachun
Published: September 2016

Let L be a homogeneous divergence form
higher order elliptic operator with complex bounded measurable coefficients
and

(

p
-

⁢

(
L
)

,

p
+

⁢

(
L
)

)

${(p_{-}(L),p_{+}(L))}$

be the maximal interval of exponents

q
∈

[
1
,
∞
]

${q\in[1,\infty]}$

such that the semigroup

{

e

-

t
⁢
L

}

t
>
0

${\{e^{-tL}\}_{t>0}}$

is bounded on

L
q

⁢

(

ℝ
n

)

${L^{q}(\mathbb{R}^{n})}$

.
In this article, the authors establish the non-tangential
maximal function characterizations of the associated Hardy spaces

H
L
p

⁢

(

ℝ
n

)

${H_{L}^{p}(\mathbb{R}^{n})}$

for all

p
∈

(
0
,

p
+

⁢

(
L
)

)

${p\in(0,p_{+}(L))}$

,
which when

p
=
1

${p=1}$

, answers a question asked
by Deng, Ding and Yao in [21].
Moreover, the authors characterize

H
L
p

⁢

(

ℝ
n

)

${H_{L}^{p}(\mathbb{R}^{n})}$

via various versions
of square functions and Lusin-area functions associated to the operator L.
Long-term outcome of profound hyponatremia: a prospective 12 months follow-up study
Authors: Winzeler Bettina , Jeanloz Nica , Nigro Nicole , Suter-Widmer Isabelle , Schuetz Philipp , Arici Birsen , Bally Martina , Blum Claudine , Bock Andreas , Huber Andreas , Mueller Beat , Christ-Crain Mirjam
Published: September 2016

Background

Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality in hospitalized patients and given its impact on mortality and morbidity, a relevant medical condition. Nevertheless, little is known about factors influencing long-term outcome.

Methods

This is a prospective observational 12-month follow-up study of patients with profound hyponatremia (≤125 mmol/L) admitted to the emergency department of two tertiary care centers between 2011 and 2013. We analyzed the predictive value of clinical and laboratory parameters regarding the following outcomes: 1-year mortality, rehospitalization and recurrent profound hyponatremia.

Results

Median (IQR) initial serum sodium (s-sodium) level of 281 included patients was 120 mmol/L (116–123). During the follow-up period, 58 (20.6%) patients died. The majority (56.2%) were rehospitalized at least once. Recurrent hyponatremia was observed in 42.7%, being profound in 16%. Underlying comorbidities, assessed by the Charlson Comorbidity Index, predicted 1-year mortality (odds ratio (OR) 1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25–1.64, P < 0.001). Furthermore, ‘s-sodium level at admission’ (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01–1.29, P = 0.036) and ‘correction of hyponatremia’ defined as s-sodium ≥135 mmol/L at discharge were associated with mortality (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23–0.94, P = 0.034). Mortality rate fell with decreasing baseline s-sodium levels and was lower in the hyponatremia category ≤120 mmol/L vs >120 mmol/L (14.8% and 27.8%, P < 0.01). Patients with s-sodium level ≤120 mmol/L were more likely to have drug-induced hyponatremia, whereas hypervolemic hyponatremia was more common in patients with s-sodium >120 mmol/L.

Conclusion

Hyponatremia is associated with a substantial 1-year mortality, recurrence and rehospitalization rate. The positive correlation of s-sodium and mortality emphasizes the importance of the underlying disease, which determines the outcome besides hyponatremia itself.
Octreotide and pasireotide (dis)similarly inhibit pituitary tumor cells in vitro
Authors: Ibáñez-Costa Alejandro , Rivero-Cortés Esther , Vázquez-Borrego Mari C , Gahete Manuel D , Jiménez-Reina Luis , Venegas-Moreno Eva , de la Riva Andrés , Arráez Miguel Ángel , González-Molero Inmaculada , Schmid Herbert A , Maraver-Selfa Silvia , Gavilán-Villarejo Inmaculada , García-Arnés Juan Antonio , Japón Miguel A , Soto-Moreno Alfonso , Gálvez María A , Luque Raúl M , Castaño Justo P
Published: September 2016

Somatostatin analogs (SSA) are the mainstay of pharmacological treatment for pituitary adenomas. However, some patients escape from therapy with octreotide, a somatostatin receptor 2 (sst2)-preferring SSA, and pasireotide, a novel multi-sst-preferring SSA, may help to overcome this problem. It has been proposed that correspondence between sst1-sst5 expression pattern and SSA-binding profile could predict patient’s response. To explore the cellular/molecular features associated with octreotide/pasireotide response, we performed a parallel comparison of their in vitro effects, evaluating sst1-sst5 expression, intracellular Ca2+ signaling ([Ca2+]i), hormone secretion and cell viability, in a series of 85 pituitary samples. Somatotropinomas expressed sst5>sst2, yet octreotide reduced [Ca2+]i more efficiently than pasireotide, while both SSA similarly decreased growth hormone release/expression and viability. Corticotropinomas predominantly expressed sst5, but displayed limited response to pasireotide, while octreotide reduced functional endpoints. Non-functioning adenomas preferentially expressed sst3 but, surprisingly, both SSA increased cell viability. Prolactinomas mainly expressed sst1 but were virtually unresponsive to SSA. Finally, both SSA decreased [Ca2+]i in normal pituitaries. In conclusion, both SSA act in vitro on pituitary adenomas exerting both similar and distinct effects; however, no evident correspondence was found with the sst1-sst5 profile. Thus, it seems plausible that additional factors, besides the simple abundance of a given sst, critically influence the SSA response.
A Common Suite of Coagulation Proteins Function inDrosophilaMuscle Attachment
Authors: Green Nicole , Odell Nadia , Zych Molly , Clark Cheryl , Wang Zong-Heng , Biersmith Bridget , Bajzek Clara , Cook Kevin R , Dushay Mitchell S , Geisbrecht Erika R
Published: September 2016

The organization and stability of higher order structures that form in the extracellular matrix (ECM) to mediate the attachment of muscles are poorly understood. We have made the surprising discovery that a subset of clotting factor proteins are also essential for muscle attachment in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. One such coagulation protein, Fondue (Fon), was identified as a novel muscle mutant in a pupal lethal genetic screen. Fon accumulates at muscle attachment sites and removal of this protein results in decreased locomotor behavior and detached larval muscles. A sensitized genetic background assay reveals that fon functions with the known muscle attachment genes Thrombospondin (Tsp) and Tiggrin (Tig). Interestingly, Tig is also a component of the hemolymph clot. We further demonstrate that an additional clotting protein, Larval serum protein 1γ (Lsp1γ), is also required for muscle attachment stability and accumulates where muscles attach to tendons. While the local biomechanical and organizational properties of the ECM vary greatly depending on the tissue microenvironment, we propose that shared extracellular protein–protein interactions influence the strength and elasticity of ECM proteins in both coagulation and muscle attachment.
Heterozygosity Ratio, a Robust Global Genomic Measure of Autozygosity and Its Association with Height and Disease Risk
Authors: Samuels David C , Wang Jing , Ye Fei , He Jing , Levinson Rebecca T , Sheng Quanhu , Zhao Shilin , Capra John A , Shyr Yu , Zheng Wei , Guo Yan
Published: September 2016

Greater genetic variability in an individual is protective against recessive disease. However, existing quantifications of autozygosity, such as runs of homozygosity (ROH), have proved highly sensitive to genotyping density and have yielded inconclusive results about the relationship of diversity and disease risk. Using genotyping data from three data sets with >43,000 subjects, we demonstrated that an alternative approach to quantifying genetic variability, the heterozygosity ratio, is a robust measure of diversity and is positively associated with the nondisease trait height and several disease phenotypes in subjects of European ancestry. The heterozygosity ratio is the number of heterozygous sites in an individual divided by the number of nonreference homozygous sites and is strongly affected by the degree of genetic admixture of the population and varies across human populations. Unlike quantifications of ROH, the heterozygosity ratio is not sensitive to the density of genotyping performed. Our results establish the heterozygosity ratio as a powerful new statistic for exploring the patterns and phenotypic effects of different levels of genetic variation in populations.
Hydroxyurea Induces Cytokinesis Arrest in Cells Expressing a Mutated Sterol-14α-Demethylase in the Ergosterol Biosynthesis Pathway
Authors: Xu Yong-jie , Singh Amanpreet , Alter Gerald M
Published: September 2016

Hydroxyurea (HU) has been used for the treatment of multiple diseases, such as cancer. The therapeutic effect is generally believed to be due to the suppression of ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), which slows DNA polymerase movement at replication forks and induces an S phase cell cycle arrest in proliferating cells. Although aberrant mitosis and DNA damage generated at collapsed forks are the likely causes of cell death in the mutants with defects in replication stress response, the mechanism underlying the cytotoxicity of HU in wild-type cells remains poorly understood. While screening for new fission yeast mutants that are sensitive to replication stress, we identified a novel mutation in the erg11 gene encoding the enzyme sterol-14α-demethylase in the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway that dramatically sensitizes the cells to chronic HU treatment. Surprisingly, HU mainly arrests the erg11 mutant cells in cytokinesis, not in S phase. Unlike the reversible S phase arrest in wild-type cells, the cytokinesis arrest induced by HU is relatively stable and occurs at low doses of the drug, which likely explains the remarkable sensitivity of the mutant to HU. We also show that the mutation causes sterol deficiency, which may predispose the cells to the cytokinesis arrest and lead to cell death. We hypothesize that in addition to the RNR, HU may have a secondary unknown target(s) inside cells. Identification of such a target(s) may greatly improve the chemotherapies that employ HU or help to expand the clinical usage of this drug for additional pathological conditions.
Tarping and Inundation as Potential Control Mechanisms for Seed Banks of Red Sesbania (Sesbania punicea)
Authors: Hunter Robin B. , Callaway John C. , Rayburn Andrew P. , Coffman Gretchen C.
Published: September 2016

The exotic shrub red sesbania is an increasingly problematic weed in riparian and wetland ecosystems of California. Current control methods focus on manual removal, followed by herbicide application. Although this method effectively removes mature stands, the control is temporary because the presence of a large seed bank results in rapid germination and growth of new seedlings. We measured the density of seed banks beneath stands of varying densities and evaluated the potential of tarping and inundation for control of red sesbania seed banks. As expected, the abundance of viable red sesbania seeds in the soil was significantly greater beneath high-density stands than it was beneath low-density stands. Results for inundation and tarping experiments were mixed. Sustained inundation significantly decreased survivorship of germinated seeds compared with the control, as well as causing a statistically significant reduction in germination. Seven months after tarping, during the fall/winter growing season, there was no significant effect on red sesbania seedling abundance, stump resprout abundance, or height. Germination in the laboratory was significantly reduced by extended exposure to temperatures of 60 C, although lower temperatures did not reduce germination. Red sesbania appears to be resilient to tarping as a control method, at least in the settings studied.
Mutual Fund Flows, Monetary Policy and Financial Stability
Authors: Banegas Ayelen , Montes-Rojas Gabriel , Siga Lucas
Published: September 2016

We study the links between monetary policy and mutual fund flows, and the potential risks to financial stability that might arise from such flows, using data over the 2000-14 period. We find that monetary policy can have a direct influence on the allocation decisions of mutual fund investors. In particular, we show that monetary policy shocks explain mutual fund flow dynamics and that the effect of these shocks differs by investment strategy. Results suggest that positive shocks to the path of monetary policy (unexpected tightening) are associated with persistent outflows from bond mutual funds. Conversely, a tighter-than-expected monetary policy path will cause net inflows into equity funds. In an industry that "mutualizes" redemption costs and where many funds may engage in liquidity transformation, our flow-performance analysis provides evidence of the potential existence of a first-mover advantage in less liquid segments of the market.
FDI Inflows in India: A Global Policy Period Analysis
Authors: Ahn Yujin
Published: September 2016

Previous studies most often viewed domestic FDI policy as the major influence on FDI inflows in a developing country. However, FDI needs to be understood in the context of international business because it relocates production internationally. This implies FDI cannot be isolated from international economic circumstances. Liberalisation, Globalisation (WTO), World Recovery and Global financial crisis are treated as different global policy periods in this study that have led to a lot of changes in international trade, investment flows and in the business environment. Hence, this paper attempts to fill the gap in the existing literature by modeling the global policy period wise impact on FDI inflows in India. The paper examines FDI trends in India during 1991-2013, using dummy variables to estimate the exogenous structural breaks, caused by different of global policy periods. It reveals there have been lots of variations in terms of FDI levels and growth rates during different global policy periods. Especially, after the pre-crisis bubble had burst there has been a drastic fall after Global Financial crisis, when for the first time the growth rate has become negative. The best period was liberalisation and world recovery period helped a lot in giving a boost to FDI. While FDI recession puts a premium on maintaining a welcoming investment climate, Indian policy makers should consider global policy keenly along with the improvement of domestic policy towards attracting FDI.
An Analysis of the Performance of Indian Engineering Goods Export
Authors: Illiyan Asheref
Published: September 2016

Engineering Sector has a place of pride in the Indian economy in terms of its contribution to output, employment and export. Engineering exports constitute roughly 20 per cent of total Indian export clocking very close to petroleum product export which is first in terms of overall Indian export. Engineering exports were valued at US $71 billion in 2014-15. There has been a marked shift and change in the composition and destination of Indian engineering export over the years. Engineering sector has made its presence felt in the developed markets like US and European Union implying India's strength and capability to deliver quality products and face international competition. This paper is an attempt to analyse the performance of Indian engineering goods export in recent time during the period 2002-2015. Various dimensions of export such as export growth, destinations, composition, and problems of export and strategies of export are examined in the paper. The impact of the Global financial crisis of 2008 in US on engineering exports has been analysed through a dummy variable regression model.
Learners’ Self-perception of Target Language Study in Overseas Immersion
Authors: Kang Okim , Ghanem Romy
Published: September 2016

Studies have supported the belief that study abroad (SA) is more beneficial than studying domestically in developing oral proficiency (e.g., Freed, Segalowitz, & Dewey, 2004). However, little research has focused on individual learner factors related to promoting learners’ effectiveness in language learning abroad, such as an ideal point in target language (TL) study in SA contexts. The current study investigated the learner-perception of their preferred time in TL study for oversea immersion self-reported by students themselves. Participants (N=125) studying 30 languages in 32 different countries were recruited nation-wide. The results of students’ self-reports revealed that participants preferred intermediate levels of TL proficiency than any other level of proficiency. Findings of this study, even though they are based on the self-reported data, make important contributions to SA research and to the field of international education.
Speaking in the Target Language: Issues and Considerations
Authors: Al-wossabi Sami
Published: September 2016

As English is the most widely used language in the world in various areas such as technology, science, and business, many Arab countries including Saudi Arabia have shifted into more focus on communicative English language instructions. However, there is still a persistent gap between what is intended to be taught and what is expected to be produced by EFL students. The purpose of the present study is, therefore, to highlight the factors that contribute to Saudi EFL students' reluctance to speaking meaningfully and purposefully in the target language. A survey is conducted to find out Saudi EFL students' communicative proficiency at Jazan University. Instructed interviews are also carried out to include the voice of teachers on what hampers their students from producing oral output. The results showed that Saudi EFL students are encountering many challenges that hinder their developmental processes of speaking. Based on the research findings some recommendations were made for both teachers and students.
The Writing Performance of Iranian EFL Learners in the Light of Metadiscourse Awareness
Authors: Farhadi Sima , Aidinloo Nader Asadi , Talebi Zahra
Published: September 2016

In the framework of language teaching, the writing skill requires to be encouraged during the language learners’ course of study. Since metadiscourse markers help transform a tortuous piece of text into a coherent and reader-friendly one, knowledge about the metadiscourse, amongst other things, is used to improve writing skill. The current study aimed to investigate the influence of instruction of metadiscourse markers on intermediate EFL learners’ writing performance by using metadiscoursal taxonomies proposed by Hyland (2005). For this purpose, a pet test was administrated to 60 intermediate students in Iran Language Institute in Urmia. Having being homogenized by Preliminary English Test (PET), they were assigned randomly into two groups. Both the control and the experimental group sat for a pretest of writing test in the form of a cloze test which aimed to measure the learners’ initial knowledge of writing performance. The experimental group was exposed to explicit instruction of metadiscourse markers for seven successive sessions. On the other hand, the control group didn’t receive any instruction.  Eventually,  a post  test  designed to evaluate  their  writing  ability  with the focus of  metadiscourse markers  was  administered to both groups. The findings implied generally that the implementation of metadiscourse markers (via instruction) significantly improves EFL learners’ writing ability.
Applicability of Peer-dynamic Assessment in Crowded Second Language Classes
Authors: Khoshsima Hoshang , Rezaee Afshin
Published: September 2016

One of the criticisms leveled against Dynamic Assessment (DA), with a robust theoretical foundation rooted in Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), has been its applicability in populated L2 classes. The present paper, therefore, aimed to explore the applicability of Peer-Dynamic Assessment (Peer-DA), as a novel approach to DA, to ameliorate this concern. In order to achieve the goal, 15 fourth-grade female Iranian high school students, aged 15-17, were assigned into trios groups. After having been instructed to know how to apply Peer-DA procedures in their groups during three sessions, they worked on ten reading texts during ten one-hour sessions held twice a week. When the participants were trying to comprehend the texts and learn the embedded vocabulary within the texts, their interactions were meticulously audio-recorded. Next, a number of episodes were selected, transcribed, and microgenetically analyzed. Analyzing the obtained revealed that not only does Peer-DA have the capability for diagnosing developing abilities but it also can improve the developing abilities in a much more efficient way. More importantly, it was demonstrated that if the principles and procedures of peer-DA be taught to L2 learners, they can be utilized by learners in large classes to facilitate language learning processes. The implications of the present study were discussed from a sociocultural perspective for both ESL/EFL teachers and learners.
A Study on Iranian Funeral Posters: Speech Acts Analysis
Authors: Hashempour Zahra
Published: September 2016

Different speech acts such as apologies, refusals, invitation, etc., have studied and differences between English and Persian have shown. But there are several speech acts which have not been investigated as extensively as others. One of them is speech act of condolence. The word condolence originates from the Latin word condoler means "to suffer together" (Zunin & Zunin, 2007). It also means informing a loss, expressing sympathy or empathy with someone.  As a matter of fact humans are emotional beings and in everyday communication individuals can see this emotionality (Morady Moghadam, 2012). Thus this study investigated and analyzed types of speech acts of 50 authentic texts of funeral posters in Iran then showed the frequency and percentage of them. Out of five kinds of speech acts, only four types of them are used in the texts. Based on the results, the order of most frequent to the least frequent used is declarative, directive, expressive and representative.
Genre Analysis of Nursing and ELT Academic Written Discourse
Authors: Ghazanfari Mohammad , Mohtasham Neda Hosseini , Amirsheibani Morteza
Published: September 2016

Since Swales’ CARS model (1981, 1990) work on the move structure of research article, studies on genre analysis have been carried out so far among which works on different parts of research article in various disciplines has gained a considerable literature. The present study aims to examine the move structure of research article conclusion sections in two fields of ELT and Nursing based on Yang and Allison’s (2003) model of move structure in conclusion sections. Each corpus of the current study contains 25 research articles related specifically to the field under study. The results of data analysis indicated that both corpora contained the moves proposed in Yang and Allison’s (2003) model and almost no significant differences were observed in the rhetorical structure of the afore-mentioned fields. Therefore, the authors of both ELT and Nursing had a great tendency to apply this model in the conclusion sections of their articles. The obtained findings of the current study can be useful for linguistic researchers in Foreign Language Teaching (FLT) by providing them with a holistic and unitary pattern as an authentic language in use through enriching their understandings and knowledge about the true nature and structure of different disciplines.
A Highlight of Same-sex Ethics in Baldwin’s Novels
Authors: Zhong Jingwei
Published: September 2016

Homosexuality occupies an important place in Baldwin’s novels. The paper interprets the desire, dilemma, frustration and the final fruition in same-sex, especially in male homosexuals. In Baldwin’s eye, love between the homosexuals can also be a way out to solve the race conflicts. He believes that homosexuality is a natural and normal behavior like heterosexuality. His intention is to try to break the existing duality relations that are generally considered to be reasonable, and to rebuild the harmonious sex relations without the differentiation of gender. His writing of the real life of homosexual is rather helpful to demonstrate the development and change of the life and ideas of that special group in that generation.
Methods for digital analysis of human vascular system. Literature review
Authors:   Image Processing Systems Institute of the RAS, Ilyasova N. ,   S.P. Korolyov Samara State Aerospace University (National Research University)
Published: September 2016

A review of key approaches to the digital analysis of the human vascular system images is given. We outline major stages of diagnostic image processing and analyze different approaches to the extraction and quantification of blood vessel morphological features.
Russian traffic sign images dataset
Authors:   NRU Higher School of Economics, Shakhuro V. , Konushin A. ,   NRU Higher School of Economics,   Lomonosov Moscow State University
Published: September 2016

A new public dataset of traffic sign images is presented. The dataset is intended for training and testing the algorithms of traffic sign recognition. We describe the dataset structure and guidelines for working with the dataset, comparing it with the previously published traffic sign datasets. The evaluation of modern detection and classification algorithms conducted using the proposed dataset has shown that existing methods of recognition of a wide class of traffic signs do not achieve the accuracy and completeness required for a number of applications.
Blind radial distortion compensation in a single image using fast Hough transform
Authors:   Institute for Information Transmission Problems RAS, Kunina I. , Gladilin S. ,   Institute for Information Transmission Problems RAS, Nikolaev D. ,   Institute for Information Transmission Problems RAS
Published: September 2016

In this paper, we present an automatic technique for compensation of radial distortion, which is characteristic of wide-angle lenses. The proposed method estimates distortion parameters using a single image from unknown source. No calibration objects are required, but it is assumed that the original scene contains straight lines. The method is based on finding such radial distortion parameters, that maximize total length of linear segments. We employ a fast Hough transform to estimate the overall curvature of lines without selecting any. The proposed algorithm is tested on real images obtained using calibrated camera lenses with different radial distortion. For the formal evaluation of the algorithm, we propose a quality measure for geometric distortion compensation, which works correctly even in the case when the problem of determining the coefficients is ill-conditioned.
To Be Drug or Prodrug: Structure-Property Exploratory Approach Regarding Oral Bioavailability
Authors: Damião Mariana Celestina Frojuello Costa Bernstorff , Pasqualoto Kerly Fernanda Mesquita , Polli Michelle Carneiro , Parise Filho Roberto
Published: September 2016

Purpose. Prodrug design is a strategy that can be used to adjust physicochemical properties of drugs in order to overcome pharmacokinetic problems, such as poor oral bioavailability. However, Lipinski´s and Veber´s rules predict whether compounds will have absorption problems even before the design of prodrugs. In this context, our goal was to evaluate the molecular properties which most influenced the absorption process of prodrugs compared to its precursor through exploratory data analysis approach.  Methods: A variety of prodrugs and respective precursors were randomly selected and classified by its percentage of human intestinal absorption. Subsequently, different molecular properties were calculated and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal components analysis (PCA) were carried out.  Results: According to the findings, antiviral, anti-hypertensive, and antibiotic prodrugs exhibited higher absorption levels than their respective precursors. Also, some relevant descriptors (molecular weight, MW, routable bonds, rot_bonds, hydrogen bond acceptors, HBA_count and polar surface area, PSA), which are included in Lipinski´s and Veber´s rules, influenced the separation process between prodrugs and drugs. Furthermore, other molecular properties, such as polarizability (α) and molar refractivity (MR), were pointed out. Conclusion: Lipinski´s and Veber´s rules proved to be important to design an orally administered drug but other descriptors should be considered by medicinal chemists in the prodrug designing process.
Perfil clínico de neonatos internados em uma UTI do sul catarinense
Authors: Sávio Josiani Mondardo , Santos Cecília Marly Spiazzi dos , Souza Rozilda Lopes de , Tomasi Cristiane Damiani
Published: September 2016

Estudo com objetivo de identificar o Perfil Clínico de Neonatos Internados em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal (UTI-N), pesquisa de abordagem quantitativa, descritiva. O estudo foi desenvolvido em um Hospital de Médio Porte da Região Sul de Santa Catarina no município de Criciúma- SC. A amostra estudada foi através de documentos arquivados no local do estudo, a Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal, a análise dos dados foi realizada a partir da base de dados, através da ordenação, classificação e análise final dos dados pesquisados. Para tanto, foram coletados através de questionários contidos em 18 prontuários o correspondente no período de Outubro a Dezembro de 2014 de recém-nascidos que estiveram internados na UTIN. As analise foram feitas através de estatísticas descritivas, onde esta adotou um índice de significância(p<0,05). Onde a associação entre Insuficiência, sepse e cardiovascular ficou estatisticamente em (p=0,829), o uso de VM (p=0,694), capuz de O² ficou (p=0,993), o uso de sedação ficou (=0,875) e o uso de fototerapia ficou em (p=0,017), concluiu-se que os 18 recém nascidos  pesquisados, submeteram-se a procedimentos invasivos e não invasivos, para tanto a necessidade dos cuidados da UTI neonatal.
Interprofessional Education in Canadian Nursing Programs and Implications for Continuing Education
Authors: Donato Emily , Lightfoot Nancy , Carter Lorraine , MacEwan Leigh
Published: September 2016

In 2010, the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, the accrediting body for nursing programs in Canada, became part of the Accreditation of Interprofessional Health Education initiative. In turn, interprofessional education (IPE) is now a requirement in nursing curricula. Although the requirement is formally in place, how it is achieved varies substantially. This paper explores how IPE has been integrated within Canadian nursing programs. Implications for the continuing education of nurses and other health professionals in order to achieve excellence in interprofessional practice are also considered.
FORMULAÇÃO DE INDICADORES DE IMPACTO PARA MICROFINANÇAS
Authors: Christopoulos Tania P. , Marques Tomás C. A.
Published: September 2016

Durante os últimos anos, têm sido investidos muitos recursos para promoção de políticas de inclusão financeira no Brasil, em especial de grupos marginalizados do sistema bancário tradicional. Torna-se portanto, fundamental, compreender qual é o impacto dessas políticas para o público beneficiado. Para tanto, o presente artigo tem como objetivo discutir e apresentar a aplicação de uma metodologia para desenvolvimento de indicadores e para avaliação do impacto de microfinanças, baseada no enfoque metodológico denominado botton-up. Esse enfoque reflete uma dinâmica participativa e propositiva no sentido de proporcionar o apoderamento dos atores envolvidos em todo o processo de formulação dos indicadores, e contempla, de forma geral, as especificidades existentes nas localidades que se pretende avaliar. A aplicação do estudo se deu através de pesquisa realizada com grupos envolvidos com ações e impactos das atividades de microfinanças e possibilitou a elaboração de um quadro de indicadores relevantes.Palavras-chave: Microfinanças, bancos comunitários, indicadores, participativa, bottom-upTHE DEVELOPMENT OF IMPACT INDICATORS FOR MICROFINANCEAbstract: During the last years, considerable resources have been invested in order to promote policies of financial inclusionin Brazil, especially to include the ones marginalized from the traditional banking system. Therefore, it is relevant to understand how to assess the impact of these policies on the target public benefited. For that, this article aims to discussand present the application of a methodology to develop indicators and assessing the impact on microfinance policies,based on a methodological approach called bottom-up. This approach reflects a participatory and proactive process,empowering the actors involved in the process of formulating indicators, and considers, in a general way, the specificsituation in the localities assessed. The study’s application was conducted with groups involved with actions and impactof microfinance activities, and enabled the development of a framework of relevant indicators.Key words: Microfinance, community banks, indicators, participatory, bottom-up.
ANÁLISE DAS POLÍTICAS DE APOIO A ARRANJOS PRODUTIVOS LOCAIS NOS ESTADOS DO CENTRO-SUL DO BRASIL
Authors: Tatsch Ana Lúcia , Botelho Marisa Dos Reis A.
Published: September 2016

Entre o final dos anos 1990 e o início dos anos 2000, a partir de caminhos próprios ou sob influência das políticas em nível federal, os estados brasileiros dão início às suas políticas de apoio à APLs. A análise de como estas políticas foram implementadas nos estados do Centro-Sul do Brasil é o objetivo principal deste artigo que, analisa, também, os critérios norteadores da seleção dos arranjos focalizados pelas políticas, assim como o escopo, institucionalidade e instrumentos mobilizados para levar a cabo o apoio aos APLs. Ressalta que as principais tipologias para os APLs, cujo foco são os objetivos de política, constituem-se em referencial analítico para avaliar como vem se desenvolvendo o processo de implementação dessas políticas em alguns estados brasileiros. A avaliação empreendida neste trabalho traz, como conclusão principal, uma significativa diversidade nas políticas estaduais de apoio à APLs.Palavras-chave: Arranjos produtivos locais, políticas públicas.ANALYSIS OF SUPPORT LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS PRODUCTIVE POLICIES ON CENTRAL-SOUTH STATES IN BRAZILAbstract: Between the late 1990s and early 2000s, from their own paths or under the influence of central government policies, the Brazilian states initiate their policies to support clusters. The analysis of how these policies were implemented in the states of South-Central Brazil is the main purpose of this paper which also analyzes the guiding criteria of the selection of focused clusters by the policies, as well as the scope, institutionalities and deployed instruments to carry out the support for clusters. The main typologies of clusters, whose focus is on policy objectives, constitute the analytical framework to assess how the policies to support clusters have been developed in some Brazilian states. The assessment undertaken in this work underscores, as main conclusion, a significant diversity in state policies to support clusters. Key words: clusters, public policies
AVALIAÇÃO DA IMPLEMENTAÇÃO DA POLÍTICA DE ASSISTÊNCIA AO ESTUDANTE NO CONTEXTO DO PLANO DE EXPANSÃO DA EDUCAÇÃO PROFISSIONAL E TECNOLÓGICA NO MARANHÃO
Authors: Abreu Edna Maria Coimbra de
Published: September 2016

Este artigo constitui-se parte de uma dissertação de mestrado apresentada ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Políticas Públicas da Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Apresenta alguns aspectos da avaliação da implementação da Política de Assistência ao Estudante no contexto da expansão da Rede Federal de Educação Profissional e Tecnológica. A análise parte da contextualização da Assistência Estudantil nessa rede de ensino, com destaque para uma configuração das ações dessa política no Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Maranhão (IFMA). Busca identificar e analisar as demandas e mudanças relativas à assistência estudantil, decorrentes da mencionada expansão. A análise fundamenta-se também em referências empíricas que resultam de um processo investigativo realizado no IFMA, Campus São Luís Monte Castelo. As reflexões centram-se na análise das condições de acesso e do alcance das ações da Política de Assistência ao Estudante, assim como da própria dinâmica dos serviços oferecidos e em alguns produtos dessas ações.Palavras-chave: Avaliação, política pública, educação profissional, assistência estudantil.EVALUATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF STUDENT ASSISTANCE POLICY IN THE CONTEXT OF EXPANSIONPLAN OF PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN MARANHÃOAbstract: This article constitutes part of a master’s degree dissertation submitted to the Post-Graduation Program inPublic Policies from the Federal University of Maranhão. It presents some evaluation aspects of the implementation ofthe Student Assistance Policy in the context of the expansion of the Federal Network of Vocational and Technological Education. The analysis starts from the Student Assistance contextualization in this school system, highlighting a patternof actions of this policy at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Maranhão (IFMA). It searchesto identify and analyze the demands and changes relating to student assistance, under the aforementioned expansion.The analysis is based also on empirical references resulting from an investigative process carried out at IFMA, CampusSão Luís Monte Castelo. The reflections focus on the analysis of the conditions of access and scope of the actions of theStudent Assistance Policy, as well as the dynamics of its services offered and in some products of these actions.Key words: Evaluation, public policy, professional education, student assistance.
INFRAESTRUTURA PORTUÁRIA, DINÂMICA DAS EXPORTAÇÕES E CRESCIMENTO ECONÔMICO BRASILEIRO: uma análise empírica para o período de 2006 a 2011
Authors: Silva Guilherme Jonas Costa da Silva , Costa Paulo Henrique
Published: September 2016

O trabalho tem por objetivo analisar teórica e empiricamente o papel dos portos no crescimento das exportações e do PIB no Brasil. O setor portuário é estratégico para a competitividade e ampliação do comércio brasileiro no mercado internacional, visando alcançar uma trajetória decrescimento mais sustentada. O trabalho faz um diagnostico da situação da infraestrutura portuária brasileira no período compreendido entre 2006 e 2011 e, na sequencia, avalia empiricamente, através da metodologia de vetores autorregressivos (VAR), os efeitos de choques nas principais variáveis relacionadas à dinâmica das exportações no Brasil (renda mundial, taxa de câmbio e capacidade utilizada dos portos). A análise indicou ainda que as exportações respondem relevantemente ao comportamento da capacidade utilizada dos portos e da taxa de câmbio. Os resultados demonstram que 38% da capacidade utilizada dos portos dependem da renda dos Estados Unidos e da taxa real de câmbio efetiva. Esses resultados reforçam o argumento do governo federal de que a  infraestrutura portuária é um gargalo e mostram a necessidade de ampliação da capacidade de escoamento da produção nacional, tal como elucida a Medida Provisória 595/2012.Palavras-chave: Infraestrutura Portuária; Capacidade Utilizada; Exportações; Brasil; VARPort Infrastructure, Dynamics of exports and Brazilian economic growth: an empirical analysis to the period from 2006 to 2011Abstract: The paper aims to analyze theoretical and empirically the role of ports in export growth and GDP in Brazil. The port sector is strategic for the competitiveness and expansion of Brazilian market in the international market, aiming to achieve a more sustainable growth path. The workmakes a diagnosis of the situation of the port infrastructure in Brazil between 2006 and 2011 and evaluates empirically, through the methodology of vector autoregressive (VAR), the effects of shocksin the main variables related to the dynamics of exports in Brazil (world income, exchange rate and capacity utilization of the ports). The analysis indicated that exports respond significantly to the behavior of the utilized capacity of ports and the exchange rate. The results show that 38% ofthe capacity of the ports used depends on the income of the United States and the real effective exchange rate. These results reinforce the federal government’s argument that the port infrastructure is a bottleneck and show the need to increase the flow capacity of the national production, aselucidates the Provisional Measure 595/2012.Keywords: Port Infrastructure, Exports, Capacity Used, Brazil, VAR Analysis.
RESENHA POCHMANN, Marcio. Desenvolvimento e perspectivas novas para o Brasil
Authors: Cardoso Franci Gomes
Published: September 2016

Marcio Pochmann possui graduação em Economia pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul e doutorado em Ciência Econômicapela Universidade Estadual de Campinas ( UNICAMP). Atualmente é Professor Livre Docente da Universidade Estadual de Campinas.Tem experiência na área de Economia, com ênfase em Politicas Sociais e do Trabalho, atuando principalmente no tema: politicas de trabalho. Autor de mais de 30 livros sobre os temas do desenvolvimento, economia do trabalhoe política social.