bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Negative regulation of CDC42 expression and cell cycle progression by miR-29a in breast cancer
Authors: Zhang Mingliang , Guo Wei , Qian Jun , Wang Benzhong
Published: June 2016

Objective

The inhibitory role of microRNA-29a (miR-29a) has been assessed in breast cancer cells. Herein, we analyze the underlying mechanisms of its role in cell cycle progression in breast cancer cells.

Methods

We applied real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the expression of miR-29 in breast cancer cell lines. Then one of the cell lines, MDA-MB-453, was transfected with mimics of miR-29a. The cell cycle was analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting after staining the cells with propidium iodide. Real-time PCR, luciferase assay and western blot were used together to verify the regulation of the predicted target, cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) by miR-29a.

Results

MiR-29s were decreased in our selected mammary cell lines, among which miR-29a was the dominant isoform. Overexpression of miR-29a caused cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. We further found that miR-29a could target the expression of CDC42, which is a small GTPase associated with cell cycle progression.

Conclusion

We suggest that miR-29a exerts its tumor suppressor role in breast cancer cells partially by arresting the cell cycle through negative regulation of CDC42.
Blood cells in thyroid cancer patients: a possible influence of apoptosis
Authors: Vrndic Olgica B. , Djurdjevic Predrag M. , Jovanovic Danijela D. , Mijatovic Teodorovic Ljiljana C. , Kostic Irena R. , Jeftic Ilija D. , Zivancevic Simonovic Snezana T.
Published: June 2016

The side effects of radioactive iodine (131-I) treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients include reduction of peripheral blood cell counts. The aim of this study was to analyze some potential changes in blood cell counts of DTC patients after 131-I therapy, especially CD3-positive, CD19-positive, and CD56-positive peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), as well as the possible role of apoptosis in selected lymphocyte populations. The study group included 24 thyroid cancer patients and 24 control subjects. Peripheral blood samples from patients and controls were analyzed using 5-color flow cytometry. Apoptotic cells were detected using an Annexin V-FITC/7-AAD kit. There was a statistically significant decrease of all blood cells after the 131-I therapy. The CD19+ B lymphocyte population was the most affected (5.82 ± 3.21% before therapy vs. 3.93 ± 2.60% after therapy, p = 0.008). This decrease was correlated with the degree of apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes (Spearman’s r = 0.563, p =0.013). We concluded that 131-I therapy of DTC patients led to a decrease of all peripheral blood cells, especially CD19+ B lymphocytes. This directly correlated with apoptosis of PBLs, indicating that radiation damage to B cells leads to subsequent elimination by apoptosis.
Surgical treatment of recidivist lymphedema
Authors: Eretta Costantino , Ferrarese Alessia , Moggia Elisabetta , Francone Elisa , Sagnelli Carlo , Martino Maria Di , Franciscis Stefano de , Amato Bruno , Grande Raffaele , Butrico Lucia , Amato Maurizio , Serra Raffaele , Martino Valter , Berti Stefano
Published: June 2016

Lymphedema is a chronic disease with a progressively ingravescent evolvement and an appearance of recurrent complications of acute lymphangitic type; in nature it is mostly erysipeloid and responsible for a further rapid increase in the volume and consistency of edema. The purpose of this work is to present our experience in the minimally invasive treatment for recurrence of lymphedema; adapting techniques performed in the past which included large fasciotomy with devastating results cosmetically; but these techniques have been proposed again by the use of endoscopic equipment borrowed from the advanced laparoscopy surgery, which allows a monoskin access of about one cm.
Sevoflurane affects evoked electromyography monitoring in cerebral palsy
Authors: Chen Xin , Xu Lufeng , Wang Yuanlin , Xu Feng , Du Yemu , Li Jinyu
Published: June 2016

Background

To explore the effect of sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia on evoked electromyography monitoring of spinal nerve root in children associated with cerebral palsy.

Methodology

Children with cerebral palsy (n=40) were selected and further divided into 1MAC (minimum alveolar concentration) sevoflurane group and 2MAC sevoflurane group. Following the induction of anesthesia, Nicolet Endeavor-CR16 channel electrophysiological monitor was used to implement three times of successive electrical stimulation with interval of 5 sec at 3.50 mA.

Results

Our results suggested a statistical significance of amplitude retention ratio and latency in the sevoflurane inhalation time (P<0.01), with an interaction effect between the sevoflurane inhalation time and concentration for amplitude retention ratio (P<0.01), while there is no interaction effect between the sevoflurane inhalation time and concentration for latency (P>0.05). Compared to 1MAC sevoflurane group, the amplitude retention ratio of 2MAC sevoflurane group decreased remarkably (P<0.01) and the latency of 2MAC sevoflurane group extended at T3 and T4 (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

Conclusions

In evoked electromyography monitoring of spinal nerve root in children with cerebral palsy, with the increasing of concentration and duration of sevoflurane inhalation, evoked electromyogram retention ratio reduces gradually, latency extends and the retention ratio has more changes than the latency.
CT and MR imaging of the thoracic aorta
Authors: Di Cesare Ernesto , Splendiani Alessandra , Barile Antonio , Squillaci Ettore , Di Cesare Annamaria , Brunese Luca , Masciocchi Carlo
Published: June 2016

At present time, both CT and MRI are valuable techniques in the study of the thoracic aorta. Nowadays, CT represents the most widely employed technique for the study of the thoracic aorta. The new generation CTs show sensitivities up to 100% and specificities of 98-99%. Sixteen and wider row detectors provide isotropic pixels, mandatory for the ineludible longitudinal reconstruction. The main limits are related to the X-ray dose expoure and the use of iodinated contrast media. MRI has great potential in the study of the thoracic aorta. Nevertheless, if compared to CT, acquisition times remain longer and movement artifact susceptibility higher. The main MRI disadvantages are claustrophobia, presence of ferromagnetic implants, pacemakers, longer acquisition times with respect to CT, inability to use contrast media in cases of renal insufficiency, lower spatial resolution and less availability than CT. CT is preferred in the acute aortic disease. Nevertheless, since it requires iodinated contrast media and X-ray exposure, it may be adequately replaced by MRI in the follow up of aortic diseases. The main limitation of MRI, however, is related to the scarce visibility of stents and calcifications.
LncRNA TUG1 is upregulated and promotes cell proliferation in osteosarcoma
Authors: Yun-Bo Feng , Xiao-Po Liu , Xiao-Li Li , Guo-Long Cao , Pei Zhang , Fa-Ming Tian
Published: June 2016

Objective: To examine the expression and function of long non-coding RNA taurine up-regulated 1 (TUG1) in human osteosarcoma cells. Methods: Real-time quantitive PCR was used to detect the transcription level of TUG1 in a series of osteosarcoma cell lines. Knockdown of TUG1 in U2OS cells was carried out by transient transfection of siRNAs. MTT assay was performed to access the cell growth rates. Afterwards, RNA and protein of these cells were extracted to analyze the transfection efficient as well as the expression of other molecules. Results: Compared to the normal cell line, TUG1 exhibited a significant upregulation in osteosarcoma cells. Phenotyping analysis showed the growth-promotion activity of TUG1, since knockdown of TUG1 resulted in declined proliferation. We also found that AKT phosphorylation was impaired after TUG1 was inhibited, suggesting that the AKT pathway was involved in the regulation of TUG1 in U2OS cells. Conclusion: Our data provided evidence that TUG1 was upregulated and acted as a possible oncogene via positively regulating cell proliferation in osteosarcoma cells.
Endobronchial amyloidosis mimicking bronchial asthma: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Kang Hyun-Wook , Oh Hyung-Joo , Park Ha Young , Park Cheol-Kyu , Shin Hong-Joon , Lim Jung-Hwan , Kwon Yong-Soo , Oh In-Jae , Choi Yoo-Duk
Published: June 2016

Among two tracheobronchial forms (local and diffuse) and two parenchymal forms (nodular and alveolar septal) that were reported in previous literature, localized endobronchial amyloidosis is an uncommon disease of unknown cause. Bronchial amyloid deposits can occur as focal nodules or multifocal infiltration of the submucosa. We report the case of a 47-year-old man who had complained of dyspnea and wheezing for 1 month and who had been treated for severe asthma at another hospital. Endobronchial amyloidosis was confirmed by histological examination of the bronchial biopsies.
Prenatal diagnosis, 3-D virtual rendering and lung sparing surgery by ligasure device in a baby with “CCAM and intralobar pulmonary sequestration”
Authors: Molinaro Francesco , Angotti Rossella , Garzi Alfredo , Di Crescenzo Vincenzo Giuseppe , Cortese Antonio , Messina Mario
Published: June 2016

Congenital cystic lung lesions are a rare but clinically significant group of anomalies, including congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM), pulmonary sequestration, congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) and bronchogenic cysts. Despite the knowledge of these lesions increasing in the last years, some aspects are still debated and controversial. The diagnosis is certainly one aspect which underwent many changes in the last 15 years due to the improvement of antenatal scan and the introduction of 3-D reconstruction techniques. As it is known, a prompt diagnosis has an essential role in the management of these children. The new imaging studies as 3D Volume rendering system are the focus of this paper. We describe our preliminary experience in a case of hybrid lung lesion, which we approached by thoracoscopy after a preoperative study with 3D VR reconstruction. Our final balance is absolutely positive.
Tamil in the temples – Language and religious maintenance beyond the first generation
Authors: Perera Nirukshi
Published: June 2016

This study builds on research into the influence of religion on migrant language maintenance in Australia. In the case of Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus, previous studies have found that religious devoutness has a positive influence on the maintenance of Tamil in the home domain. In the religious domain, an ideology which links the Tamil language to the Tamil Hindu (Saiva) religion works in favour of maintaining Tamil in temple spaces in Australia. However this language-religion ideology is challenged by observations that, for the second generation Sri Lankan Tamil Hindu migrants growing up in Australia, a shift to English and disengagement from the religion is occurring. Through interviews with the leaders of three Tamil Hindu temples, I investigate the roles of different languages in the temples and ask whether the temples are contributing to Tamil language maintenance in the religious domain for the second generation. This paper highlights some of the issues faced by temples in engaging young generations in their heritage language and religion; as well as ways that temples are adapting, in a Western setting, in order to establish the religion for the long-term.
Highly integrated optical phased arrays: photonic integrated circuits for optical beam shaping and beam steering
Authors: Heck Martijn J.R.
Published: June 2016

Technologies for efficient generation and fast scanning of narrow free-space laser beams find major applications in three-dimensional (3D) imaging and mapping, like Lidar for remote sensing and navigation, and secure free-space optical communications. The ultimate goal for such a system is to reduce its size, weight, and power consumption, so that it can be mounted on, e.g. drones and autonomous cars. Moreover, beam scanning should ideally be done at video frame rates, something that is beyond the capabilities of current opto-mechanical systems. Photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technology holds the promise of achieving low-cost, compact, robust and energy-efficient complex optical systems. PICs integrate, for example, lasers, modulators, detectors, and filters on a single piece of semiconductor, typically silicon or indium phosphide, much like electronic integrated circuits. This technology is maturing fast, driven by high-bandwidth communications applications, and mature fabrication facilities. State-of-the-art commercial PICs integrate hundreds of elements, and the integration of thousands of elements has been shown in the laboratory. Over the last few years, there has been a considerable research effort to integrate beam steering systems on a PIC, and various beam steering demonstrators based on optical phased arrays have been realized. Arrays of up to thousands of coherent emitters, including their phase and amplitude control, have been integrated, and various applications have been explored. In this review paper, I will present an overview of the state of the art of this technology and its opportunities, illustrated by recent breakthroughs.
Big Data for Business Ecosystem Players
Authors: Perko Igor , Ototsky Peter
Published: June 2016

In the provided research, some of the Big Data most prospective usage domains connect with distinguished player groups found in the business ecosystem. Literature analysis is used to identify the state of the art of Big Data related research in the major domains of its use-namely, individual marketing, health treatment, work opportunities, financial services, and security enforcement. System theory was used to identify business ecosystem major player types disrupted by Big Data: individuals, small and mid-sized enterprises, large organizations, information providers, and regulators. Relationships between the domains and players were explained through new Big Data opportunities and threats and by players’ responsive strategies. System dynamics was used to visualize relationships in the provided model.
Testing the Performance of Cubic Splines and Nelson-Siegel Model for Estimating the Zero-coupon Yield Curve
Authors: Lorenčič Eva
Published: June 2016

Understanding the relationship between interest rates and term to maturity of securities is a prerequisite for developing financial theory and evaluating whether it holds up in the real world; therefore, such an understanding lies at the heart of monetary and financial economics. Accurately fitting the term structure of interest rates is the backbone of a smoothly functioning financial market, which is why the testing of various models for estimating and predicting the term structure of interest rates is an important topic in finance that has received considerable attention for many decades. In this paper, we empirically contrast the performance of cubic splines and the Nelson-Siegel model by estimating the zero-coupon yields of Austrian government bonds. The main conclusion that can be drawn from the results of the calculations is that the Nelson-Siegel model outperforms cubic splines at the short end of the yield curve (up to 2 years), whereas for medium-term maturities (2 to 10 years) the fitting performance of both models is comparable.
Population dynamics of the main copepod species in the Gulf of Gdańsk (the southern Baltic Sea): abundance, biomass and production rates
Authors: Musialik-Koszarowska Maja , Dzierzbicka-Głowacka Lidia , Kalarus Marcin , Lemieszek Anna , Maruszak Paweł , Żmijewska Maria I.
Published: June 2016

The aim of this study was to describe the production biomass and abundance dynamics of the major Baltic calanoid copepods (Acartia spp., Temora longicornis and Pseudocalanus sp.) in the Gulf of Gdansk (the southern Baltic Sea) during a three-year period from March 2010 to December 2012. The data were collected at six stations located in the western part of the gulf. Acartia spp. was the most abundant taxon throughout the study period. The observed differences in the weighted mean depth for the investigated species were >2 m between nauplii and adults of Acartia spp., >5 m between nauplii and adults of Temora longicornis and 3 m between nauplii and younger copepodites of Pseudocalanus sp. The highest values of the secondary production rates were determined for Acartia spp. - almost 17.55 mg C m-2 d-1 (summer 2011), while Temora longicornis reached 3.80 mg C m-2 d-1 in spring 2010 and Pseudocalanus sp. had the highest secondary production values in summer 2011 - about 1.28 mg C m-2 d-1.
Distribution of antibiotic resistance and the presence of vancomycin-resistance genes (vanA and vanB) in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from the Sea of Marmara, the Canakkale Strait and the Istanbul Strait, Turkey
Authors: Çardak Mine , Altug Gülçen , Ay Mustafa , Erol Ôzlem
Published: June 2016

We investigated the frequency of antibiotic resistance of Enterobacteriaceae and the presence of vancomycin-resistance genes in samples taken from the Sea of Marmara, and the Istanbul and Canakkale Straits, Turkey. Different colony-forming bacteria were isolated and identified with the VITEK 2 Compact 30 system. The antibiotic resistance of the isolates was determined by the disc diffusion method. The isolates were tested against amoxicillin, ampicillin, aztreonam, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, cefuroxime, ofloxacin, vancomycin, tetracycline, kanamycin and gentamycin. The presence of vancomycin-resistance genes (vanA and vanB) was also investigated. The level of Enterobacteriaceae species was higher in the Sea of Marmara than in the Istanbul Strait and the Canakkale Strait. Isolates showing resistance to the greatest number of antibiotics were identified from E. coli isolates. The resistance of the selected bacterial isolates were as follows: kanamycin (82%), vancomycin (78%) and ampicillin (60%). Some intermediately vancomycin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates had the vanA gene. This study provides evidence of widespread bacterial resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics in marine environments. It also contributes to the knowledge on the distribution of antibiotic resistance among Enterobacteriaceae and indicates the importance of control measures in domestic water treatment.
Characteristics of Cladophora and coexisting filamentous algae in relation to environmental factors in freshwater ecosystems in Poland
Authors: Pikosz Marta , Messyasz Beata
Published: June 2016

Potential factors affecting the occurrence of filamentous algae include the morphometry of water bodies, the type of substrate and physicochemical conditions of the habitat. This study attempts to describe the individual filamentous algae species recorded in Poland, taking into account the trophic and ecological characteristics based on our own research and available literature data. Filamentous algae attached to the substrate as well as those forming free-floating patches (loose or dense mats) and crusts occur in all types of water bodies. Among the representatives of filamentous algae species, Cladophora have the greatest time-spatial range for they grow abundantly in all types of water bodies. In other parts of Poland, Cladophora species are most common in rivers and shallow lakes. In the typical filamentous algae community, Cladophora, Spirogyra and Oedogonium occur with the highest frequency; Zygnema, Mougeotia, Microspora and Rhizoclonium are also present, but with smaller frequency. According to our studies, distribution of filamentous algae species is correlated with the eutrophic index (PO43
-, N-NO3
-, Chl a), chlorides of anthropogenic origin and TDS.
Growth rates of common pelagic ciliates in a highly eutrophic lake measured with a modified dilution method
Authors: Rychert Krzysztof
Published: June 2016

The growth rates of ciliates estimated under natural conditions with the widely used size fractionation method are much lower than those observed in cultures. However, recent studies performed with a modified dilution method demonstrated that the size fractionation method underestimates the ciliate growth, because it does not remove predators of the same size as the organisms studied. Thus, it is still unresolved whether ciliates are food-limited in different systems and whether their growth rates are indeed lower than those in cultures. This study was conducted in highly eutrophic Lake Gardno using a modified dilution method. Each time, two dilution experiments were performed (around noon and around midnight). Four small, common ciliates from the genera Rimostrombidium, Tintinnidium, Cyclidium, and Urotricha were studied. The first three ciliates demonstrated very high mean diel growth rates exceeding 0.1 h-1, which corresponded well to the highest values reported in the literature for the ciliate growth in cultures at similar temperatures. Tintinnidium sp. demonstrated a diel growth rhythm. Urotricha sp. was sensitive to the experimental procedure, and measurements of its growth were unsuccessful. Concentrations of food particles were analyzed to check whether organisms studied were food satiated.
Determination of the oil spill removal area by oil particle tracking in a harbor
Authors: Yang Shu-Yi , You Xue-Yi
Published: June 2016

The removal of oil spill pollution is an important issue of water environment protection. A hydrodynamic model for the determination of oil spill removal area is proposed based on the Euler-Lagrangian particle tracking method. After the results of flow field simulation are validated by the measured data, the trajectory of oil particles is calculated. The optimal location of oil spill removal area is obtained by comparing the oil removal rate of different removal areas. The current method presents a useful way of locating the optimal oil spill removal area to clean the surface waters.
Assessment of biodiversity and environmental quality using macrozoobenthos communities in the seagrass meadow (Gulf of Gdańsk, southern Baltic)
Authors: Dąbrowska Anna H. , Janas Urszula , Kendzierska Halina
Published: June 2016

This study shows the macrozoobenthic biodiversity and the quality status of the Zostera marina meadow in the Gulf of Gdansk. To our knowledge, this is the first study focused on the assessment of environmental quality based on macrofauna occurring on such a small and specific habitat as a seagrass meadow.

The meadow is dominated by Zostera marina, but also Zanichellia palustris and Potamogeton pectinatus are present. Compared to the soft bottom macrofauna in the southern Baltic, the biodiversity of macrozoobenthos is very high, which is reflected in 33 taxa observed during the whole research, while the mean number of taxa was 12. There were also some taxa found only on the bottom overgrown with vegetation, e.g. Idotea balthica or even taxa that are currently rarely observed in the Gulf of Gdansk, e.g. Gammarus locusta or Gammarus ineaquicauda. Nineteen percent of the stations were classified into the very good quality status and 50% into the good quality status, so the environmental status of this meadow based on the BQI index is assessed as good. Given these results, this is probably one of the best preserved meadows in the southern Baltic.
Esterification of chitosan with L-alanine and a study on their effect in removing the heavy metals and total organic carbon (TOC) from wastewater
Authors: Hefni Hassan H. H. , Nagy Mohammed , Azab Mohammed M. , Hussein Mohammed H. M.
Published: June 2016

In this work, chitosan was modified by the esterification with L-alanine in the presence of H2SO4 as a catalyst to increase the number of amino groups with the aim of increasing the adsorption efficiency. Chitosan (CS) and chitosan-O-alanine (CS-Aln) were characterized and investigated by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results obtained from elemental analysis and IR indicated the presence of sulfuric acid after neutralization as a crosslinker between CS-Aln chains. Also CS-Aln is more amorphous than CS due to the ionic bonds of crosslinker. The removal of three heavy metals (Mn2+, Pb2+ and Al3+) and total organic carbon (TOC) from wastewater by CS and CS-Aln in the batch mode has been studied at different adsorbent dosages, temperatures and contact times. The maximum metal ions removal efficiency using CS achieved 99.6%, 99.1% and 98.9%, respectively, while by using CS-Aln 95.3%, 99.3% and 98.9% were achieved. However, the maximum adsorption capacity of TOC by CS achieved 50 mg/g and 89 mg/g by CS-Aln. The total maximum adsorption capacity of CS-Aln is higher than CS.
Sanctions in Russian Political Narrative
Authors: Leichtova Magda B.
Published: June 2016

In this paper, we borrow the dramaturgical analysis from sociologists and use it to analyze how contemporary Russian elites communicate with the public. It is my goal to analyze the performance of the Russian political elite when presenting the changes caused by the worsening Russo-Western relations over the Ukrainian crisis to the domestic audiences, with focus on the impact of sanctions introduced by the Western countries last year. Which strategies, narratives and symbols remain the same and which are adjusted, erased or newly introduced by the political elite when communicating with the public in order to justify the contemporary situation? We will focus especially on two basic components of the narrative: the symbolic level, particularly the use of history, geopolitics and other symbolic topics to frame the current situation; the pragmatic level, especially adjustment of current strategies and introduction of new plans and partners who will help to manage the new situation. As we will clarify later, our analysis will focus on symbolic arguments used by Vladimir Putin as “the national leader” and pragmatic politics introduced by him as “the president”.
The Power of the Capability Constraint: On Russia’s Strength in the Arctic Territorial Dispute
Authors: Valko Irina
Published: June 2016

Based on a geographical-administrative definition of the region, the theoretical assumptions of contemporary French structuralist geopolitics, cross-sectional data for 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010 from the Updated Arctic Regional Attributes Dataset, and the technical capabilities of MS Office Excel 2010, this research (a) reveals and contrasts the Arctic states’ capability constraints deriving from their longitudinal material and virtual power potential (physical potential, socio-economic potential, military potential, and symbolic potential); and (b) analyses the role of this constraint in the process of preference formation in case of one specific Arctic actor, Russia, in the Arctic territorial dispute. This study confirms that Russia’s capability constraint is the lowest in the region and that the latter does not form a stable trend throughout the period studied. It also suggests the preference formation framework for Russia in the Arctic dispute based on the evolution of its polar capability constraint.
Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of the Vegetation of Comoé-Léraba Reserve and its Surrounding Lands (Burkina Faso, West Africa)
Authors: Gnoumou Assan , Rusu Eugen , Basile Adouabou , Thiombiano Adjima
Published: June 2016

In Burkina Faso, vegetation dynamic has been more influenced by human activities. Actually, the interest is focus on protected areas, which are more green areas and the last habitat for biodiversity. Conservation and restoration require a thorough understanding of the dynamic of each protected area and its surrounding zones. This study aim to analyze Comoé-léraba protected area vegetation spatial and temporal changed. For this study, we use satellite images taking account a period of twenty years (1990-2000-2009). Then the diachronic analysis considers globally and separately the land cover situation inside the protected zone and outside in the surrounding zone. As results, the diachronic study of Comoé-Léraba vegetation revealed significant changes. Some plant communities have remained intact; others were restored inside the protected area and against others suffered a severe deterioration. The vegetation degradation occurs, around and close to the protected area. During the twenty years 14.28 % of the natural vegetation has been loss, versus expanding fields and settlements. Beyond the obtained maps, an important data based is available. These results are important scientific stools which can support policy, conservationists and researchers for improving strategies of conservation in Comoé-Léraba zone.
Early Blizzard Phenomena in Southeastern Romania. Case Study: 2–3 November 1980
Authors: Doruţa Ciurlău
Published: June 2016

Extreme weather events are natural phenomena that occur frequently, but their appearance outside their happened season (late spring or early fall) may embarrass the natural cycles of vegetation or some economic activities of society. Blizzard is one of the most complex phenomena of cold season whose production can cause many social and environmental shortcomings of feature during the event, the more its appearance in season further disrupt both the environment and human society. November is seen speaking month of autumn, when the natural cycle of plant vegetation definitely not over yet, so the occurrence of phenomena such as blizzard (a cold season phenomenon), can cause damages especially in agriculture. Based on these considerations, in this paper is climatological analyzed the earliest blizzards in southeastern Romania for a period of 51 years (1961-2012) and a case study carried out during the blizzard of 2 to 3 November 1980. Meteorological data provided by the Database of National Meteorological Administration include the time period of the blizzard progres from 12 meteorological stations located in the reference area. For the case study are used synoptic maps from www.wetter3.de; www.nooa.org.com; www.weather.uwyo.edu; www.meteoromania.ro.
Cycles of Air Temperature According to Lunar Parallax
Authors: Isaia Ion
Published: June 2016

This paper proposes to demonstrate that, on Terra’s surface, there are cycles of air’s temperature (almost perfect), which can be explained just by the lunar parallax’s cycles.

It is known that the lunar parallax represents the angle under which the Earth’s equatorial horizontal radius can be seen from the moon. It is understood that a higher value of the lunar parallax indicates us a shorter distance between Earth and moon, while a smaller value shows us a longer distance between the two celestial bodies. Through the atmospheric tides caused mainly by the moon, the sea tides are occurred, which also cause the Rossby waves, those which impose a certain atmospheric circulation, and that makes the high and low of the temperature evolve.
Built-Up Area Change Analysis in Iasi City Using GIS
Authors: Ursu Adrian , Andrei Marius , Chelaru Dan Adrian , Ichim Pavel
Published: June 2016

The study analyses the spatial and temporal changes occurred in the builtup area of Iași city and its surrounding areas using cartographic materials from different time periods. The paper aims to highlight the areas where the most significant changes took place by identifying the main evolution patterns, generated by certain natural or human-driven factors. The results of the study were achieved by using specific photo-interpretation methods of the available orthophotomaps form 2006 and 2012, mainly using the professional GIS softwares TNT Mips 7.2., ArcGIS 10.2 and Global Mapper 11. The changes have lead on the one hand to the conversion of the former industrial areas and thus, the urban regeneration, but also to the periurbanization phenomenon, with major functional and structural effects.
Contribution of Geographic Information Systems for the Mapping of Flooding Factors in Yaoundé: The Case Study of Mfoundi Upstream Watershed
Authors: Zogning Moffo Maurice Olivier , Tsalefac Maurice , Ursu Adrian , Iatu Corneliu
Published: June 2016

Built on a hilly relief, the city of Yaoundé is exposed to flooding since three decades. They caused human, material and environmental damages. Efficient management of this phenomenon by public authorities should go through a proper control of variables contributing to this hazard. Through various GIS applications based on multi temporal maps and primary data, we developed a detailed mapping of the main natural and human factors responsible for this phenomenon.
Pointed versus singular Boltzmann samplers: a comparative analysis
Authors: Bodini Olivier , Genitrini Antoine , Rolin Nicolas
Published: June 2016

Since the last two decades huge systems (such as giant graphs, big data structures, . . . ) have played a central role in computer science, and with the technology improvements, those large objects are now massively used in practice. In order to handle them we need to analyse some typical properties of models of large objects. One way to study typical behaviours consists in generating random objects to get some experimental results on their properties. A new technique has been introduced ten years ago: the Boltzmann sampling. It has been presented by Duchon et al, and is based on automatic interpretation in terms of samplers of the specification of the combinatorial objects under study.

One of the core problem in Boltzmann sampling lies in the distribution of the object sizes, and the choice of some parameters in order to get the more appropriate size distribution. From this choice depends the efficiency of the sampling. Moreover some additional ideas allows to improve the efficiency, one of them is based on some anticipated rejections, the other one on the combinatorial differentiation of the specification. Anticipated rejection consists during the recursive building of a random object to kill the process as soon as we are sure to exceed the maximum target size, rather than waiting until the natural end of the process. In the original paper, while both approaches have been presented, and used on the same kind of structures, the methods are not compared. We propose in this paper a detailed comparison of both approaches, in order to understand precisely which method is the more efficient.
On hypersemigroups
Authors: Kehayopulu Niovi
Published: June 2016

Two well known results on semigroups, one of them clue to Calais, the other to Lajos, are generalized in case of hypersemigroups in the way indicated in the present paper. We prove that a nonempty subset B of a regular hypersemigroup H is a bi-ideal of H if and only if it is represented in the form B = A * C where A is a right ideal and C a left ideal of H. We also show that an hyper semigroup H is regular if and only if the right and the left ideals of H are idempotent, and for every right ideal A and every left ideal B of H, the product A * B is a quasi-ideal of H.
The meaning of „nasal grunts” in the NECTE corpus. A preliminary perceptual investigation
Authors: Chlébowski Aurélie
Published: June 2016

This paper reports a perceptual evaluation of the meanings conveyed by the acoustic components of “nasal grunts” (Chlebowski and Ballier 2015), i.e., non-lexical conversational sounds realised with a nasal feature (e.g. , , ). This study follows the experimental investigation conducted by Chlebowski and Ballier (2015) on the acoustic components of such sounds in the PVC project (Milroy et al. 1997), which is part of the NECTE corpus (Allen et al. 2007). In accordance with current claims in the literature, they ascribed meanings to these acoustic features, e.g. fall-rises express that the “speaker implies something” (Wells 2006: 27), and verified their validity through an analysis of the context surrounding the “nasal grunts”. Nonetheless, to avoid problems of circularity and ad hoc categories, the present study includes a perceptual evaluation by four participants. To verify the meanings ascribed to the features of “nasal grunts”, three native speakers of American English were recorded in short casual conversations and three perception tests were created using these recordings, with Praat software (Boersma and Weenink 2009). The first two tests aim to check whether different acoustic features: 1) are perceived as different when presented in pairs; 2) can be identified by the participants (as falls or rises) in isolation. The last test aim to determine whether each feature bears the same meaning: 1) in isolation, 2) in a given context, or 3) in scripted conversations likely to trigger the meanings ascribed by Chlebowski and Ballier (2015). Results suggest that acoustic components of “nasal grunts” in Geordie English do convey specific attitudinal meanings, and raise the possibility of a perceptual hierarchy of those components.
L1 vowels of multilinguals: the applicability of SLM in multilingualism
Authors: Sypiańska Jolanta
Published: June 2016

Although L1 has been treated as a rigid system which is more likely to act as a sender than a receiver of CLI in bilinguals and multilinguals, recent studies have provided some evidence of the influence of both L2 and L3 on L1. The study is aimed at shedding further light on how Lns can influence the native language and how these changes can be explained by means of the Speech Learning Model. The first and second formant of L1 Polish vowels of three groups of multilinguals were compared. Evidence of a systemic influence of L2 on L1 was observed in the raising and backing of L1 Polish vowels due to L2 English and lowering and backing or fronting of L1 Polish vowels due to L2 German. No systemic influence of L3 on L1 was observed. The predictions derived from equivalence classification of SLM were tested for the Polish vowel /ɛ/ and the closest vowels from Lns. The majority of predictions regarding the convergence or divergence of the particular diaphone were supported by the data.
Refining the methodology for investigating the relationship between fluency and the use of formulaic language in learner speech
Authors: Guz Ewa
Published: June 2016

This study is a cross-sectional analysis of the relationship between productive fluency and the use of formulaic sequences in the speech of highly proficient L2 learners. Two samples of learner speech were randomly drawn and analysed. Formulaic sequences were identified on the basis of two distinct procedures: a frequency-based, distributional approach which returned a set of recurrent sequences (n-grams) and an intuition and criterion-based, linguistic procedure which returned a set of phrasemes. Formulaic material was then removed from the data. Breakdown and speed fluency measures were obtained for the following types of speech: baseline (pre-removal), formulaic, non-formulaic (postremoval). The results show significant differences between baseline and post-removal fluency scores for both learners. Also, formulaic speech is produced more fluently than non-formulaic speech. However, the comparison of the fluency scores of n-grams and phrasemes returned inconsistent results with significant differences reported only for one of the samples.
Remittance Behaviour of Chinese and Indian Immigrants in Canada
Authors: Chowdhury Murshed , Das Anupam
Published: June 2016

Using the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants in Canada (LSIC) dataset, we explore the differences in remittance behaviour of Chinese and Indian immigrants in Canada in relation to their socio-economic characteristics. We apply logistic regressions on the likelihood to remit, and instrumental variable regressions to estimate the amount remitted. We find that age, income, level of education, and personal investment in the home country are important determinants of the remittance behaviour of Chinese immigrants in Canada. Marital status, having family members, and involvement with ethnic organizations in the host country are the major drivers of remittances sent by Indian immigrants in Canada. By analyzing the remittance behaviour of Canadian immigrants from two major sources, this study sheds light on potential motivations to remit which contribute to policy formulation in both home and host countries.
Net Neutrality and the Incentives (Not) to Exclude Competitors
Authors: Dewenter Ralf , Rösch Jürgen
Published: June 2016

This paper analyses the incentives of a vertical integrated Internet service provider (ISP) to block competitors from content markets. Using a simple model we find that the ISP does not block competing content providers as long as the contents are differentiated sufficiently. Exclusion only takes place when the competitor offers perfect homogeneous content and the ISP has a local monopoly over its Internet access customers or if network effects are strong. In this case, however, the abuse of market power can at least in Europe be prohibited by competition authorities. That is, according to our model there is no need for a regulation of net neutrality.
Bayesian state space models for dynamic genetic network construction across multiple tissues
Authors: Liang Yulan , Kelemen Arpad
Published: June 2016

Construction of gene-gene interaction networks and potential pathways is a challenging and important problem in genomic research for complex diseases while estimating the dynamic changes of the temporal correlations and non-stationarity are the keys in this process. In this paper, we develop dynamic state space models with hierarchical Bayesian settings to tackle this challenge for inferring the dynamic profiles and genetic networks associated with disease treatments. We treat both the stochastic transition matrix and the observation matrix time-variant and include temporal correlation structures in the covariance matrix estimations in the multivariate Bayesian state space models. The unevenly spaced short time courses with unseen time points are treated as hidden state variables. Hierarchical Bayesian approaches with various prior and hyper-prior models with Monte Carlo Markov Chain and Gibbs sampling algorithms are used to estimate the model parameters and the hidden state variables. We apply the proposed Hierarchical Bayesian state space models to multiple tissues (liver, skeletal muscle, and kidney) Affymetrix time course data sets following corticosteroid (CS) drug administration. Both simulation and real data analysis results show that the genomic changes over time and gene-gene interaction in response to CS treatment can be well captured by the proposed models. The proposed dynamic Hierarchical Bayesian state space modeling approaches could be expanded and applied to other large scale genomic data, such as next generation sequence (NGS) combined with real time and time varying electronic health record (EHR) for more comprehensive and robust systematic and network based analysis in order to transform big biomedical data into predictions and diagnostics for precision medicine and personalized healthcare with better decision making and patient outcomes.
Monstrous hermeneutics: Learning from diagrams
Authors: Semetsky Inna
Published: June 2016

This paper addresses a theory/practice nexus represented by a semiotic system of Tarot pictures as iconic signs. Tarot will be analyzed from the perspective of Charles S. Peirce’s and Gilles Deleuze’s philosophies. Tarot functions as a diagram or the included third between “self” and “other,” which are traditionally taken as binary opposites. It thus partakes of the “monster” as a grotesque and ambiguous category that betrays a strict boundary between habitual dualisms, such as mind and world, consciousness and the unconscious, human and divine. While Tarot is usually perceived as irrational and illogical if not altogether “monstrous,” it is the logic of the included middle that enables its functioning. Genuine signs have a triadic structure that includes interpretants crossing over human and non-human natures. The process of reading and interpreting Tarot signs represents specific hermeneutics and constitutes exopedagogy as an alternative form of education partaking of a posthuman dimension. As indices, Tarot pictures refer to the whole gamut of human experiences, and the hermeneutics of Tarot allows us to evaluate experience and to learn from it.
Values, edusemiotics, and intercultural dialogue: From Russia with questions
Authors: Semetsky Inna , Gavrov Sergey
Published: June 2016

Even after the “perestroika” and “glasnostj” in Russia, and increased communication in the interconnected world, the state of contemporary education there remains relatively unknown to Western scholars. This paper aims to ameliorate this problem by examining some of the signs comprising the system of education in Russia against the problematic of the historically American pursuit of happiness. While formal education in the West explicitly focuses on academic disciplines, in Russia there always existed an element of “bringing up” as a sign of the value-dimension infusing, sometimes implicitly, both formal and informal (or cultural) education. The paper intends to demonstrate the ubiquity and the importance of the edusemiotic conception of values-education irreducible to inculcation but oriented to self-formation embedded in human experience. An edusemiotic perspective problematizes the aims of education and emphasizes learning from experience, dialogue, coordination, meaning, and values. Values “reside” in lived experience, and edusemiotics surpasses education reduced to teaching of brute facts. The paper also critically examines education as socialization via social media and affirms spiritual education in contrast to persistent secularization.
Learning to take play seriously: Peirce, Bateson, and Huizinga on the sacrality of play
Authors: Eicher-Catt Deborah
Published: June 2016

This paper contextualizes the topic of play as an essential aspect of homo ludens (Huizinga 1949, Homo ludens: A study of the play-element in culture. Abingdon: Routledge). I explore play as an abductive, semiotic process and phenomenological event according to Peirce’s categories of experience known as Firstness, Secondness, and Thirdness. We find that play is an integral aspect of human learning and, in some of its manifestations, can be linked to the sacred dimension of human existence. My method of analysis is to combine the theoretical insights of Charles S. Peirce (particularly his notion of musement as pure play) and communication theorist Gregory Bateson’s ideas about serious play in social interactions. We learn to take play seriously given that it simultaneously brings us to the threshold of both ineffability and intelligibility. We also learn something new about the sacrality of human learning as a reflection of what Peirce calls the absolute mind (2010 [1892], The law of mind. In The Peirce Edition Project (eds.), Writings of Charles S. Peirce: A chronological edition, volume 8 [1890–1892], 135–157. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press). I advocate that play and learning are thus sacred or integral to human growth and evolution.
Human dignity as a structural feature of functional differentiation – a precondition for modern responsibilization
Authors: Lindemann Gesa
Published: June 2016

This article offers a new sociological understanding of human dignity as a structural feature of modern functionally differentiated society. Durkheim and Luhmann build their analyses of dignity on the notion that functional differentiation and individualization are interconnected. At the same time, both assume implicitly that only living human beings can be bearers of dignity. The philosophical discussion around dignity does not take this for granted, however. Fichte responded to Kant's analysis of dignity by treating as an open question who can be identified as a bearer of dignity and by what criterion. If it is to take this seriously, sociological analysis must combine the theory of functional differentiation with an analysis of the borders of the social world. This paper follows this insight by presenting a new approach to human dignity that provides a systematic sociological answer to the question of how the borders of the social world are connected with the structure of social differentiation. In conclusion, I explore the implications for the concept of responsibility: how can bearers of human dignity be held responsible in a functionally differentiated society?