bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Celebrity Endorsements and Donations: Empirical Investigation of Impact on Philanthropic Giving
Authors: Peterson Nicole , Tripoli Elizabeth , Langenbach Kalie , Devasagayam Raj
Published: April 2018

This study investigates the effects of celebrity endorsers on donations and views of nonprofits. Celebrity endorsers and their relationships with nonprofits evoke a series of emotions that greatly affect how people perceive and donate to nonprofit organizations. Past research demonstrates the tremendous growth in individual philanthropy and the importance of celebrities as influencers on social media. Data was obtained from a random sample of 277 individuals and subjected to statistical analyses. By studying two different celebrities that come from a different race, gender, and background, we found that our findings and significance values changed depending on which celebrity was tested. Our findings indicated that ads that evoke positive emotions are more likely to convert to donations. Demographic characteristics, such as age, gender, and income also affect donations. In some cases, the nonprofit’s cause and advertising message were powerful enough to override the impact of the celebrity. Our findings can help marketers style their ads to evoke certain emotions, by using celebrity endorsers that will help them increase donations. Furthermore, understanding what drives donors will help nonprofits tailor marketing strategies. It is expected that by targeting their donor base effectively, non-profits will then witness an increase in donations.
Histology, vascularity and innervation of the glenoid labrum
Authors: Alashkham Abduelmenem , Alraddadi Abdulrahman , Felts Paul , Soames Roger
Published: April 2018

Background:

Although the glenoid labrum has an important role in shoulder stability, little is known about its composition, vascularity and innervation. The aims of this study were therefore to evaluate the histology, vascularity and innervation of the glenoid labrum.

Materials and methods:

Ten glenoid labrum specimens (three male, two female: mean age 81.2 years, range 76–90 years) were detached at the glenoid neck. Following decalcification, sections were cut through the whole thickness of each specimen perpendicular to the glenoid labrum at 12 radii corresponding to a clock face superimposed on the glenoid fossa. Then they were stained using haematoxylin and eosin, a silver nitrate protocol or subjected to immunohistochemistry using anti-protein gene protein 9.5 to demonstrate neuronal processes.

Results:

The labrum was fibrocartilaginous, being more fibrous in its free margin. There was a variable distribution of blood vessels, being more vascular in its periphery, with many originating from the fibrous capsule and piercing the glenoid labrum. Immunohistochemistry revealed positive staining of nerve fibres within the glenoid labrum.

Conclusion:

The glenoid labrum is fibrocartilaginous, being more fibrous in its periphery, and is vascularized, with the anterosuperior aspect having a rich blood supply. Free sensory nerve fibres were also present; no encapsulated mechanoreceptors were observed. The presence of sensory nerve fibres in the glenoid labrum could explain why tears induce pain. It is postulated that these sensory fibres could play a role in glenohumeral joint proprioception.
Metastatic Paraganglioma and Treatment with Sunitinib: A Case Report
Authors: Cirillo Fernando
Published: April 2018

Sunitinib malate is a small kinase inhibitor with activity against a number of tyrosine kinase receptors. We treated a young man suffering from a metastatic paraganglioma with sunitinib. In this report we discuss a number of related questions including the correct dosage, schedules and timing of administration of the molecule, the main side effects and their treatment, and evaluation of the treatment response by CT scan.

Treatment with sunitinib started at a dose of 50 mg daily for 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks off (4/2). Because of the side effects, the dose was reduced to 25 mg daily (4/2) and then to 25 mg daily (2/1). This resulted in a significant decrease in the plasma chromogranin A value and the radiological size of the metastases, as well as important clinical improvement. After 6 cycles the treatment was stopped because of a rise in plasma NSE values and disease progression. Sunitinib malate can induce marked toxicity, in which case the daily dose should be reduced and a different schedule of administration adopted. Response evaluation by CT scan should take into account tumor necrosis caused by sunitinib. Sunitinib malate is an interesting molecule for targeted therapy also for advanced neuroendocrine tumors. There has been evidence of significant clinical improvement, as in the case reported here. Free full text available at www.tumorionline.it
Durable Complete Response of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Metronomic Capecitabine
Authors: Brandi Giovanni , De Rosa Francesco , Bolondi Luigi , Agostini Valentina , Di Girolamo Stefania , Nobili Elisabetta , Biasco Guido
Published: April 2018

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly vascular tumor which is poorly responsive to standard systemic chemotherapy. Recently, various antiangiogenic targeted agents have shown promising activity at different levels of evidence in patients with advanced HCC, suggesting that such treatments might be effective.

Case report

Since chemotherapy administered with metronomic schedules inhibits angiogenesis, we treated a 64-year-old man with advanced HCC with metronomic capecitabine. After only two months of treatment the HCC nodules disappeared on ultrasonography. This finding was confirmed by a computed tomography scan. After more than three years the patient is still in treatment with minimal toxicity and maintains a complete remission.

Conclusions

Our case report suggests that metronomic capecitabine may be effective in advanced HCC patients while being also well tolerated. This is important, given the frequent comorbidities of HCC patients. Free full text available at www.tumorionline.it
An Unusually Large Pleural Mesothelioma with an Outstanding Clinical Response and Long Lasting Survival: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Zilembo Nicoletta , Vitali Milena , Pietrantonio Filippo , Platania Marco , Del Vecchio Michele , Bajetta Emilio
Published: April 2018

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a neoplasm characterized by an increasing incidence and poor prognosis. When surgical treatment cannot be performed, systemic chemotherapy remains the main therapeutic option. Here we report the case of a 41-year-old female patient with epithelioid malignant pleural mesothelioma who was treated with carboplatin and pemetrexed despite her critical condition. She showed an impressive response to this first-line chemotherapy and, after disease progression, to further chemotherapy with gemcitabine and vinorelbine. She is still alive, with unexpectedly long-lasting survival. Free full text available at www.tumorionline.it
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and mantle cell lymphoma: crossroads of genetic and microenvironment interactions
Authors: Puente Xose S. , Jares Pedro , Campo Elias
Published: April 2018

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) are 2 well-defined entities that diverge in their basic pathogenic mechanisms and clinical evolution but they share epidemiological characteristics, cells of origin, molecular alterations, and clinical features that differ from other lymphoid neoplasms. CLL and MCL are classically considered indolent and aggressive neoplasms, respectively. However, the clinical evolution of both tumors is very heterogeneous, with subsets of patients having stable disease for a long time whereas others require immediate intervention. Both CLL and MCL include 2 major molecular subtypes that seem to derive from antigen-experienced CD5+ B cells that retain a naive or memory-like epigenetic signature and carry a variable load of immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region somatic mutations from truly unmutated to highly mutated, respectively. These 2 subtypes of tumors differ in their molecular pathways, genomic alterations, and clinical behavior, being more aggressive in naive-like than memory-like–derived tumors in both CLL and MCL. The pathogenesis of the 2 entities integrates the relevant influence of B-cell receptor signaling, tumor cell microenvironment interactions, genomic alterations, and epigenome modifications that configure the evolution of the tumors and offer new possibilities for therapeutic intervention. This review will focus on the similarities and differences of these 2 tumors based on recent studies that are enhancing the understanding of their pathogenesis and creating solid bases for new management strategies.
Genetics of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Authors: Pasqualucci Laura , Dalla-Favera Riccardo
Published: April 2018

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most frequent subtype of lymphoid malignancy, remains a significant clinical challenge, as ∼30% of patients are not cured. Over the past decade, remarkable progress has been made in the understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease, spurred by the implementation of powerful genomic technologies that enabled the definition of its genetic and epigenetic landscape. These studies have uncovered a multitude of genomic alterations that contribute to the initiation and maintenance of the tumor clone by disrupting biological functions known to be critical for the normal biology of its cells of origin, germinal center B cells. The identified alterations involve epigenetic remodeling, block of differentiation, escape from immune surveillance, and the constitutive activation of several signal transduction pathways. This wealth of new information offers unique opportunities for the development of improved diagnostic and prognostic tools that could help guide the clinical management of DLBCL patients. Furthermore, a number of the mutated genes identified are potentially actionable targets that are currently being explored for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes current knowledge of the most common genetic alterations associated with DLBCL in relation to their functional impact on the malignant transformation process, and discusses their clinical implications for mechanism-based therapeutics.
Rapid urbanization and changing land values in mega cities: implications for housing development projects in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Jahangir Alam Md.
Published: April 2018

This paper explores changing land values in the process of rapid urbanization in Dhaka, Bangladesh and its implications for urban land management and administration in the megacity. The study reveals that substantial increase in land values have resulted in land speculation among real estate and individual developers. Land values have increased by an average of 22.26% per year between 1990 and 2000, while the period spanning from 2000 to 2010 saw about 74% of yearly increase in Dhaka. The study revealed that due to increasing land values, prospective real estate developers are tempted to build housing in restricted areas defined by Dhaka metropolitan development plan such as flood zones, lakes, canals, ditch and drainage channels etc. The paper proposes a re-look at the causes of increase in land values and land speculations and the resulting environmental damage pointed out in this study as part of a broad urban land and environmental management strategy in rapidly growing megacities.
The Impact of Aerobic Exercise on the Muscle Stem Cell Response
Authors: Joanisse Sophie , Snijders Tim , Nederveen Joshua P. , Parise Gianni
Published: April 2018

Satellite cells are indispensable for skeletal muscle repair and regeneration and are associated with muscle growth in humans. Aerobic exercise training results in improved skeletal muscle health also translating to an increase in satellite cell pool activation. We postulate that aerobic exercise improves satellite cell function in skeletal muscle.
Motor Learning Triggers Neuroplastic Processes While Awake and During Sleep
Authors: Wenderoth Nicole
Published: April 2018

Behavioral changes characteristic for motor learning result from synaptic plasticity within the sensorimotor system. This review summarizes how the central nervous system responds rapidly to motor activity while awake. It then discusses evidence for the hypothesis that sleep is essential for both stabilizing previously acquired motor memories and maintaining the brain’s efficacy to undergo plastic changes to learn new skills.
Recent advances in intravenous anesthesia and anesthetics
Authors: Mahmoud Mohamed , Mason Keira P.
Published: April 2018

Anesthesiology, as a field, has made promising advances in the discovery of novel, safe, effective, and efficient methods to deliver care. This review explores refinement in the technology of soft drug development, unique anesthetic delivery systems, and recent drug and device failures.
Tuberculosis control in postcolonial South India and Southeast Asia: Fractured sovereignties in international health, 1948-1960
Authors: Neelakantan Vivek
Published: April 2018

Between 1948 and 1960, South India (Madras State) and Southeast Asia—with an emphasis on Indonesia, the Philippines, and Burma— emerged as global centres for tuberculosis control. This article attempts to situate tuberculosis control of these two regions within the broader context of transnational health. It investigates the unique ways in which tuberculosis control in South India and Southeast Asia reflected the inner tensions between the notional magic bullet approach, which focuses on specific cures to root out the cause of the disease, and a more holistic approach that relates disease prevention to overall well-being of the population. The implementation of tuberculosis control programs across South India and Southeast Asia shed light on the nature of the postcolonial state sovereignty in public health. Across India, as in Southeast Asia, the state sovereignty appertaining to the implementation of health policy was fractured, as evident in the opposition to the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination. Based on a wide range of archival materials, this article situates tuberculosis control within the context of nationalist discourse and preventive medicine. In doing so, it adds not only to the historiography of tuberculosis in non-Western contexts, which has hitherto focused on India, Sri Lanka, or Africa but also to the relatively new field of Southeast Asian medical history.
Kompetencja komunikacyjna a glottodydaktyka
Authors: Janowska Iwona
Published: April 2018

Communication competence and glottodidactics

The concept of the communication competence originating from the linguistic science is now commonly used in the glottodidactics discourse. Numerous didactic models of the concept have been elaborated to suggest contents, methods and foreign language teaching techniques for several years. Today, a document that sets language teaching standards is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (2001), elaborated by the European Council, which offers a description of the activity-based communication competence. The activity-based teaching implies not only linguistic communication competences but also transversal competences of the language user. The purpose of the paper is to present the evolution of the key concept in the foreign language teaching didactics and the presentation of its interpretation in contemporary glottodidactics.
Zasób leksykalny obcojęzycznych użytkowników polszczyzny w świetle badań ilościowych
Authors: Seretny Anna
Published: April 2018

Assessing lexical resources of Polish language learners using lexical frequency profile

Polish is learnt by two types of learners; namely, heritage language learners (HLLs) and foreign language learners (FLLs). HLLs are of Polish origin and have gained their partial knowledge of language in a natural environment unlike FLLs who learn Polish in a formal institutional setting and have no Polish roots whatsoever. Lexical resources of HLLs and FLLs and their access to mental lexicon language data, even when their overall level of language proficiency is similar, seem to differ. HLLs speak more fluently, particularly when talking about everyday matters, and their production sounds more native like, being more formulaic. FLLs on the other hand, when speaking, “look for words” with more difficulty and sentences they build often sound odd. The aim of the project is to find out whether the lexical resources of HLLs are really, qualitatively and quantitatively, different to that of FLLs and if so, to what extent. In order to estimate the vocabulary size of the two groups samples of HLLs’ and FLLs’ writing at B2 level were analyzed with the use of various indices such as lexical variation, density, sophistication and Lexical Frequency Profile.
Ekspresywizacja nazw własnych we współczesnych mediach polskich
Authors: Idzo Mariana
Published: April 2018

Expressivization of proper names in current Polish media

The paper analyses expressive modifications of proper names in the current media. Based on a survey of the existing literature, it explains terms connected to the process of linguistic expressivization, and based on examples excerpted from the media between 2001 and 2015, it makes an attempt at classifying the various linguistic formal-semantic efforts. The analysis has shown that formal-semantic modification aimed at expressivization of proper names can be implemented using different word- -formational, grammatical, syntactic, and graphical operations.
Liczebniki przysłówkowe w Rozmyślaniu przemyskim – kwantyfikacja zdarzeń
Authors: Słoboda Agnieszka
Published: April 2018

Adverbial numerals in Rozmyślanie przemyskie – a quantification of events

The paper describes adverbial numeral expressions used to quantify events, to indicate their specific number, that can be found in the largest text of Polish Middle Ages, i.e. in Rozmyślanie przemyskie. Based on the traditional division of numerals, the article identifies multiplicative, ordinal, and manifold numerals, and indicates their function in specific contexts. The analyzed text, even though it is a 16th century copy, preserves such shapes of multiplicative numerals as jedną/jednąc or dwojc/dwojcy which were archaic already from the perspective of the Middle Polish period. Likewise, the text conserves adverbial ordinal numerals. The material also proves that, before the popularization of adverbial forms of the dwukrotnie-type, and of compound constructions with the element raz, the stock of numerals used as adverbs was limited primarily to derivatives from numerals of the lower order, related to values between one and four.
Inskrypcja na grocie rozwadowskiej włóczni (KJ35): ik eruls czy ik erlas?
Authors: Garbacz Piotr
Published: April 2018

The Rozwadów spearhead inscription (KJ 35): ik eruls or ik erlas?

The paper discusses two possible interpretations of the (East Germanic?) runic inscription found in Rozwadów, Poland (KJ35), which reads ]krlus. Two alternatives are proposed: (1) [i]k (e)r(u)ls, and (2) [i]k (e)rlas, both with the meaning ‘I belong to the Heruli’. The first alternative assumes that the rune kaunan is a remainder of the first person personal pronoun ik ‘I’ known from Gothic, whereas the preceding rune isaz has been destroyed as the spearhead is broken just before kaunan. Then, the expected rune ehwaz is absent; we can either guess it was destroyed, or never written at all. The last assumption here is a metathesis of uruz and laguz from the intended *eruls to the attested (e)rlus, and the syncope in a-stems. The second alternative is similar but it argues that the last but one rune should be read ansuz, not uruz, and moreover, it assumes neither the metathesis of uruz and laguz, nor the syncope in a-stems. If the inscription ]krlus is to be read [i]k (e)r(u)ls, it would contain the only known Germanic attestation of a continuant of the Proto-Germanic *erulaz, later to yield the Old Norse form *jǫrull. If, on the other hand, it is to be interpreted as [i]k (e)rlas, it would be the only attestation of a continuant of the Proto-Germanic form *erlaz predating Old Norse jarl. Both hypotheses show that the inscription is of great importance for the studies on the (phonetic) development of the word known from Proto-Nordic as erilar.
O etymologicznym słowniku języków romańskich (Dictionnaire Étymologique Roman, DÉRom)
Authors: Dębowiak Przemysław
Published: April 2018

On the etymological dictionary of Romance languages (Dictionnaire Étymologique Roman, DÉRom)

The paper presents to Polish linguists of various specializations the Romance etymological dictionary Dictionnaire Étymologique Roman (DÉRom) which, despite having existed for several years, remains entirely unknown in Poland. Its goal is to reconstruct the Romance protolanguage, protoroman, on as many levels as possible. Its novelty lies in the application of the historical-comparative method to modern Romance forms, and reconstructing Proto-Romance forms based on them. Departure from the traditional Latin-leaning etymology brings qualitatively new results to the field of Romance diachronic linguistics. The paper concludes with examples of two dictionary entries.
teatro mirandês ou a afirmação da identidade de uma minoria como testemunho da vitalidade e resistência de uma cultura submetida
Authors: Kalewska Anna
Published: April 2018

THE MIRANDA THEATRE OR THE IDENTITY AFFIRMATION OF A MINORITY AS TESTIMONY OF THE VITALITY AND RESISTANCE OF A SUPRESSED CULTURE The article refers the socio‑cultural context of theatrical popular representations (religious and profanes) performed in the North‑East of Portugal, with special focus on two sketches: Porcina and Marquês de Mântua, showing their immunity to the processes of socio‑political change in the time of submission of a genuine culture to the folklorization and the commercial verification of pure ritual. The recovery of the literary works which, on behalf of their artistic value, are fundamental in the history of drama of Miranda do Douro has been established as a part of much broader editorial programme which contemplates the defence of Miranda do Douro at almost every level (territorial, social, political and cultural one) and the regeneration of the Miranda do Douro collective conscience. It is also an appeal for the preservation and protection of the Miranda do Douro playwriting, about to expire nowadays, important as and identitarian factor of a people who have never been recognized as State‑nation, functioning today as a mark of a distinctive regionalism sui generis.
eterno retorno – a cultura portuguesa em tempos de crise, numa perspectiva musical
Authors: Nunes de Vilhena Marcos
Published: April 2018

Even in times of crisis, the extraordinary linguistic variety (signaled) in Portugal does not oppose the prevalence of the Portuguese language and a near complete understanding between speakers of different regions, nor does it appear as an element of a conflict from which it may suffer the consequences. In fact, the present context shows that its situation may even benefit from a pattern of cultural return to the “origins” or to what could be called as historic and ethnologic roots. The possibility and motivations of such a return are here at the heart of an analysis specifically focused on the evolution of popular Portuguese music in the 20th century.
Katalońska pamięć historyczna i kryzys hiszpańskiej państwowości: przyczynek
Authors: Sasor Rozalya
Published: April 2018

The Spanish nation’s present identity crisis is focused on the aspiration of Catalan nationalism to create an independent, sovereign Catalan state. In the popular perception, the Catalan separatism is reckoned as reaction to the economic crisis and the unequal distribution of wealth, or even as a kind of civic “treason” committed by supporters of the nationalist position against the State. Whereas the Catalan point of view appeals to the cultural reasons for independence and to the mythologized national identity built on the historical events. This study is an analysis of the way how the Catalan identity is marked by historical memory of such episodes as the Catalan revolt (1640-52) and the fall of Barcelona (11 IX 1714), the proclamation of the Catalan Republic (1931) and the Catalan State within the Iberian Federation (1934).
Como reagir contra os Estados de repressão?
Authors: Hermanns Ute
Published: April 2018

In 1974, Ignácio de Loyola Brandão released to the public his novel Zero in Italy, translated by Antonio Tabucchi. When published in 1976 in Brazil, the novel was submitted to censorship. Zero, a kaleidoscopic picture of the city of São Paulo in the sixties of the twentieth century is inspired by the big urban novels, experimental writing techniques and narrative collages, and develops a particular narrative. The novel reflects a social climate of violence. This article’s purpose is to analize Brandão’s literary proceeding. In his short stories, published shortly after Zero as well as in his book of memories of Berlin, he becomes quite sofisticated in his writing strategy. The novel O verde violentou o muro was started in Germany and concluded in Brazil, and speaks about a city of Berlin living still the tens climate of the Cold War.
Acicatar o Regime: O “Depoimento de uma Angolana”, em O Libertino Passeia por Braga, a Idolátrica, o Seu Esplendor, de Luiz Pacheco
Authors: Santos Sofia
Published: April 2018

ENTICING THE REGIME: “DEPOIMENTO DE UMA ANGOLANA”, IN LUIZ PACHECO’S O LIBERTINO PASSEIA POR BRAGA, A IDOLÁTRICA, O SEU ESPLENDOR

Luiz Pacheco was, possibly, one of the most provocative authors that had published during the Salazar Regime. In parallel to the context that Luiz Pacheco does of “Depoimento de uma Angolana” in “O Libertino Passeia por Braga, a Idolátrica o seu Esplendor”, firstly edited in 1970, by his seal, Contraponto”, we will go through the paragraphs that Maria Alice Veiga Pereira, the author of the text in appreciation, dedicated to the ill‑treatments of the slaves workers, to the “conventional lies imposed by an hateful social regime”, to the racism e all of its retinue of irrational attitudes, to the economical nonsense of the cotton plantation, amongst other experiences that this primary‑school teacher has lived for the 30 years that she co‑habited in that regime. Faces of a polyhedral Violence that will hardly be atoned; a stain not only in the history of Angola, but also in the human history.
Bandoleirismo nas antigas capitanias de Minas Gerais e de Pernambuco
Authors: De Sousa Oliveira Rodrigo Leonardo
Published: April 2018

THE “BANDOLEIRISMO” IN THE OLD CAPTAINCIES OF MINAS GERAIS AND OF PERNAMBUCO (PORTUGUESE AMERICA, 18TH CENTURY)

The objective of this work is to present the main results of our research on the universe of “bandoleirismo” in ancient Portuguese America, mainly in the captaincies of Minas Gerais and Pernambuco in the 18th century. In the end, we will defend the premise that the agglomeration of these bandits in their respective localities was due, among other factors, to the impacts of the famous “Law of Good Reason” (attempt to break with the centralist ideals of the Crown).
(Des)Aparição: Vergílio Ferreira na Polônia
Authors: Borowski Gabriel
Published: April 2018

VERGÍLIO FERREIRA IN THE POLISH PRESS

This paper aims to identify and analyse references to the work by the Portuguese writer Vergílio Ferreira (1916‑1996) in the Polish press. It is the first approach towards the issue of the reception of his ouvre in Poland.
Mudança: a dimensão política da obra de Vergílio Ferreira como estratégia contra o trauma
Authors: Rato Rodrigues Ricardo
Published: April 2018

MUDANÇA: THE POLITICAL DIMENSION IN VERGÍLIO FERREIRA’S WORKS AS A STRATEGY AGAINST TRAUMA

This article aims to explore the importance and significance of the political dimension of the work of Vergílio Ferreira, in particular, his novel Mudança (1991) and his short‑story O Jogo de Deus. The political dimension of the author’s work is a complex theme, not only because of its complex articulation of a political position that rejects teleological ideologies, but also because of the attitude of the main aesthetical discourse of the time, Neo‑Realism, which seemed to reject and ignore Ferreira’s work. However, its importance cannot be overlooked, especially taking into consideration its existentialist vision of liberty and how it can be configured as an answer for the trauma of Salazar’s dictatorship, both on an individual and collective level.
Y is for Yes we definitely can…
Authors: Hammond Paula , Lillie Stephen
Published: April 2018

This month, we continue our series that takes the form of an extended alphabetical adventure around the body, helping children to get to know themselves a little better.
We can talk without speaking
Authors: Garner Lynne
Published: April 2018

When we think about communicating, the first thing we think about is speech, but it is about so much more, especially when you have impaired hearing or limited vocal ability.
Three habits of successful policy entrepreneurs
Authors: Cairney Paul
Published: April 2018

Kingdon’s multiple streams approach is popular because its metaphor and flexible concepts can be applied empirically in most contexts. However, this feature is also its weakness. Most scholars apply MSA superficially, without describing its metaphor’s meaning or connecting concepts to empirical results. This article solves this problem by producing one MSA narrative from a diverse collection of empirical studies. Our hero is the ‘policy entrepreneur’ who knows that the pursuit of ambitious aims such as ‘evidence-based policymaking’ requires framing a problem, having a solution ready, and exploiting the motive and opportunity of policymakers to select it.
The lessons of policy learning: types, triggers, hindrances and pathologies
Authors: Dunlop Claire A , Radaelli Claudio M
Published: April 2018

Policy learning is an attractive proposition, but who learns and for what purposes? Can we learn the wrong lesson? And why do so many attempts to learn what works often fail? In this article, we provide three lessons. First, there are four different modes in which constellations of actors learn. Hence our propositions about learning are conditional on which of the four contexts we refer to. Second, policy learning does not just happen; there are specific hindrances and triggers. Thus, learning can be facilitated by knowing the mechanisms to activate and the likely obstacles. Third, learning itself is a conditional final aim: although the official aspiration of public organisations and politicians is to improve on public policy, policy learning can also be dysfunctional – for an organisation, a policy, a constellation of actors or even democracy.
Narratives as tools for influencing policy change
Authors: Crow Deserai , Jones Michael
Published: April 2018

Narrative has been observed to be central to the policy process – constituting public policy instruments, persuading decision makers and the public, and shaping all stages of the policy process. This article distils useful policy advice, which can be employed by scholars and practitioners alike. We call attention to two potential communication pitfalls to which practitioners are likely to fall prey: (1) the knowledge fallacy, and (2) the empathy fallacy. We then focus our discussion on ‘intervention points’ where narrative can play an important role, drawing attention to recent narrative research, which provides the strongest basis for overcoming communication fallacies. Based on arguments presented here, policy actors can construct better narratives to accomplish their policy goals, while scholars can better understand how narratives are constructed and the intervention points where narratives might be observed and therefore studied.
Sepsis Diagnostics in the Era of “Omics” Technologies
Authors: Průcha Miroslav , Zazula Roman , Russwurm Stefan
Published: April 2018

Sepsis is a multifactorial clinical syndrome with an extremely dynamic clinical course and with high diverse clinical phenotype. Early diagnosis is crucial for the final clinical outcome. Previous studies have not identified a biomarker for the diagnosis of sepsis which would have sufficient sensitivity and specificity. Identification of the infectious agents or the use of molecular biology, next gene sequencing, has not brought significant benefit for the patient in terms of early diagnosis. Therefore, we are currently searching for biomarkers, through “omics” technologies with sufficient diagnostic specificity and sensitivity, able to predict the clinical course of the disease and the patient response to therapy. Current progress in the use of systems biology technologies brings us hope that by using big data from clinical trials such biomarkers will be found.
Comparison of Revised Trauma Score Based on Intracranial Haemorrhage Volume among Head Injury Patients
Authors: Tito Albert , Saragih Sonny G. R. , Natalia Diana
Published: April 2018

Head injury is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity at all ages and may develop into intracranial haemorrhage and increasing intracranial pressure. Pre-assessment must be conducted to head injury patients to decide the treatment plan. The aim of this study was to compare Revised Trauma Score (RTS) based on intracranial haemorrhage volume among head injury patients. This study was an analytic study with cross-sectional design where 31 patients were studied. The admission RTS and patients’ status data were obtained from medical records at Dr. Abdul Aziz General Hospital, Singkawang, Indonesia and intracranial haemorrhage volume data were obtained from the head CT-scan. The data were analysed by Mann-Whitney U-test. The admission Revised Trauma Score rates were significantly different (95% CI, p=0.006) by intracranial haemorrhage volume which the RTS rate of less intracranial haemorrhage volume group was 11.40 ± 0.74 and the RTS rate of greater intracranial haemorrhage volume group was 10.13 ± 1.54. The greater intracranial haemorrhage volume showed the lower RTS value which means the worse physiological condition.
Identification of Etiologic Agents of the Pertussis-like Syndrome in Children by Real-time PCR Method
Authors: Mahmoudi Shima , Banar Maryam , Pourakbari Babak , Alavi Hediyeh Sadat , Eshaghi Hamid , Ahari Alireza Aziz , Mamishi Setareh
Published: April 2018

The aim of this study was to recognize the identity and frequency of etiologic agents of the pertussis-like syndrome in children < 2 years of age. A cross-sectional hospital-based study conducted from August 2014 to August 2015. All children < 2 years of age (n=100) who were suspected as pertussis infected were enrolled in this study and tested for Bordetella pertussis, adenovirus (Adv), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), and influenza virus A (INF-A) by real-time PCR technique. RSV was the most detected pathogen (20%), followed by B. pertussis (18%), Adv (16%), INF-A (11%), and hMPV (10%). Co-infection was observed in 8 patients (11%) and the combinations of RSV/INF-A (n=3, 4%), and AdV/B. pertussis (n=3, 4%) were more frequent. RSV, B. pertussis, and hMPV were more frequent pathogens among infants < 4 months of age. However, Adv and INF-A were more frequent pathogens among children > 6 months of age. In this study, RSV was the most frequent identified pathogen (n=20, 20%), followed by B. pertussis (n=18, 18%) and AdV (n=16, 16%). Pertussis was more frequent in spring (8%) and summer (6%). In addition, clinical symptoms of pertussis were the same as some viral pathogens, which can lead to misdiagnosis of infection. Therefore, diagnosis of pertussis should be established on the bases of both the clinical symptoms and the laboratory methods.
Can banks be owned?
Authors: Butzbach Olivier , Rotondo Gennaro , Desiato Talita
Published: April 2018

A now well-established literature in economics assesses the effect of different forms of bank ownership on various measures of banks’ performance. Such literature has its theoretical roots in a surprisingly narrow framework, broadly identified with property rights theory. However, such theory – or bundle of theories – has been increasingly criticized for its inability to account for the emergence, the existence and the functioning of business firms. Indeed, many works and authors counter mainstream property rights theory, arguing instead that firms are entities that cannot be possessed – and that equity ownership should not be equaled with firm ownership.

Nowhere is perhaps this critique more salient than in the field of banking. As the 2007/08 crisis reminded many observers, banks are not just firms or corporations: they are institutions, endowed with a dual social purpose (the creation of money and the setting of rules for access to credit). If the ownership of firms is difficult to conceive, the ownership of institutions such as banks is obviously harder still to envision. However, over the past twenty to thirty years, regulatory reform in finance has led to the empowerment of ownership, and especially private ownership, in the field of banking. This is apparent, for instance, with the 2007/44 European Directive, which fully liberalized equity ownership (and control) of banks.

Yet, even within the actual legal and regulatory framework, there are many limitations to property rights as applied to banks. This paper thus has two aims: firstly, to develop a theoretical explanation of the heuristic and empirical limitations of “bank ownership”; and, secondly, to analyze, on the basis of an empirical case study of Italian banking law, the nature and extent of the property rights associated with ownership in banks.
The core of a strategic game
Authors: Chander Parkash
Published: April 2018

In this paper, I introduce and study the $\gamma$-core of a general strategic game. I first show that the $\gamma$-core of an arbitrary strategic game is smaller than the conventional $\alpha$- and $\beta$- cores. I then consider the partition function form of a general strategic game and show that a prominent class of partition function games admit nonempty $\gamma$-cores. Finally, I show that each $\gamma$-core payoff vector (a cooperative solution) can be supported as an equilibrium outcome of an intuitive non-cooperative game and the grand coalition is the unique equilibrium outcome if and only if the $\gamma$-core is non-empty.
Cobalt Catalysts Preparation and Characterization over Alumina Support for Fischer Tropsch Synthesis
Authors: Taher Nima Mohammadi , Mahmoudi Maedeh , Sajjadivand Seyyede Shahrzad
Published: April 2018

An investigation was done to develop and characterize the alumina supported cobalt catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis to produce biodiesel from biomass with the aim to produce alumina-supported cobalt catalysts containing 7 to 19 wt.% cobalt content. By using incipient wetness impregnation of γ-Al2O3 supports with cobalt nitrate hexahydrate with ethanol and distilled water solutions; the 14 wt.% cobalt content in catalyst was achieved. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), H2temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), temperature programmed oxidation (TPO) and carbon monoxide chemisorption were used for the characterization of the catalysts to attain an appropriate cobalt catalyst. In order to investigate the effect of the impregnation on the crystalline size, surface area and cobalt content, three different impregnation methods with various durations were investigated. In addition, increasing the impregnation duration increased the cobalt content and its dispersion. Based on results, positive effect of the alumina support and impregnation duration on the crystallite size, surface area, and pore diameter, reducibility of the catalyst and cobalt dispersion were investigated. Thus, cobalt catalyst for using in fixed bed reactor to produce biodiesel from biomass through Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis was prepared and characterized.
National Identities, Personal Crises: Amnesia in Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Buried Giant
Authors: Charlwood Catherine
Published: April 2018

This article considers how Ishiguro’s 2015 novel about mass forgetting in post-Arthurian Britain adds to debates about what it means to be a human living within a society. There are four areas of enquiry linked by their emphasis on the interdependence of remembering and forgetting: ideas of memory in nationhood; the depiction of the British landscape; the cognitive process of recognition; and the emotional aspects of remembering. Interdisciplinary in scope, this article uses evidence from psychological studies of memory alongside detailed close readings of the text, allowing a more precise analysis of the role of the narrator and the effect of Ishiguro’s text on the reader. By keeping his previous corpus in view throughout, it evaluates Ishiguro’s continued use of memory and nationality as themes, while demonstrating the new departures offered by the conjunction of an ancient setting and a contemporary reading audience. One of the first sustained critical efforts on The Buried Giant, this article puts the novel firmly on the agenda of literary, cultural and memory studies respectively.
On Montessus de Ballore’s theorem for simultaneous Padé-Faber approximants
Authors: Bosuwan Nattapong
Published: April 2018

We consider row sequences of vector valued Padé-Faber approximants (simultaneous Padé-Faber approximants) and prove a Montessus de Ballore type theorem. Moreover, we provide a comparison between this new Montessus de Ballore type theorem and the Montessus de Ballore type theorem in Bosuwan (Math. Notes, 2018, 103).
Minimal cluster computation for four planar regions with the same area
Authors: Paolini E. , Tamagnini A.
Published: April 2018

The topology of a minimal cluster of four planar regions with equal areas and smallest possible perimeter was found in [9]. Here we describe the computation used to check that the symmetric cluster with the given topology is indeed the unique minimal cluster.
Asynchronous Method for Frequency Regulation by Dispersed Plug-in Electric Vehicles
Authors: Kuang Yonghong , Li Canbing , Zhou Bin , Cao Yijia , Yang Hanyu , Zeng Long
Published: April 2018

Plug-in electrical vehicles (PEVs) can participate in frequency regulation (FR) in electric power systems under the framework of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. With a growing number of electrical vehicles (EVs), a greater number of distributed electrical vehicle (EV) chargers may change charge or discharge power simultaneously to participate in FR, resulting in over response. In this paper, considering the over-response and equality issues, an asynchronous method for dispersed PEVs participation in FR is proposed. PEVs participate in FR with the same set of parameters. Over-response can be avoided during the process of FR. Equality enables the dispersed PEVs to participate in FR with the same probability. The presented method empowers PEVs to actively participate in FR without a control centre or a communication network. Simulation results demonstrate the validity of the presented method in different operational scenarios.
Real-Time Control of a Rotary Inverted Pendulum using Robust LQR-based ANFIS Controller
Authors: Chawla Ishan , Singla Ashish
Published: April 2018

From the last five decades, inverted pendulum (IP) has been considered as a benchmark problem in the control literature due to its inherit nature of instability, non-linearity and underactuation. Its applicability in wide range of practical systems, demands the need of a robust controller. It is found in the literature that wide range of controllers had been tested on this problem, out of which the most robust being sliding mode controller while the most optimal being linear quadratic regulator (LQR) controller. The former has a problem of discontinuity and chattering, while the latter lacks the property of robustness. To address the robustness issue in LQR controller, this paper proposes a novel robust LQR-based adaptive neural based fuzzy inference system controller, which is a hybrid of LQR and fuzzy inference system. The proposed controller is designed and implemented on rotary inverted pendulum. Further, to validate the robustness of proposed controller to parametric uncertainties, pendulum mass is varied. Simulation and experimental results show that as compared to LQR controller, the proposed controller is robust to variations in pendulum mass and has shown satisfactory performance.
Implying an impolite belief: A case of tikkeh in Persian
Authors: Tayebi Tahmineh
Published: April 2018

The focus of this study is on a particular type of implied impoliteness in Persian commonly known astikkeh. Given the lack of critical attention paid to the notion of implied impoliteness in the literature, the present study seeks to explore this issue further by addressing the following questions: (i) What is implied impoliteness? (ii) What are the properties which make it different from other types of conventionalized impoliteness? (iii) For whom is it offensive? And finally (iv) how does one evaluate an implied meaning as offensive? It will be argued that, in the right context, any utterance can potentially be evaluated as atikkehwhich can convey a negative impolite belief about the ratified and/or unratified hearer(s). In this respect, examples from both dyadic and polylogal interactions are provided. Along the way, the influence of relational histories as well as interpersonal expectations are also discussed.
On the modeling of linear system input stochastic processes with given accuracy and reliability
Authors: Rozora Iryna , Lyzhechko Mariia
Published: April 2018

The paper is devoted to the model construction for input stochastic processes of a time-invariant linear system with a real-valued square-integrable impulse response function.
The processes are considered as Gaussian stochastic processes with discrete spectrum.
The response on the system is supposed to be an output process.
We obtain the conditions under which the constructed model approximates a Gaussian stochastic process with given accuracy and reliability in the Banach space

C
⁢

(

[
0
,
1
]

)

{C([0,1])}

, taking into account the response of the system. For this purpose, the methods and properties of square-Gaussian processes are used.
Synthesis and characterization of the coordination polymer [(THF)K(μ-OPri)2Al(μ-OPri)2]n
Authors: Gopal Ram , Sharma Nikita , Nagar Meena , Chaudhary Archana , Mobin Shaikh M. , Bohra Rakesh
Published: April 2018

Reaction of [Al(OPri)3] with K(OPri), in 1:1 molar ratio in refluxing anhydrous tetrahydrofuran yields a polymeric complex [(THF)K(μ-OPri)2Al(μ-OPri)2]n. The complex is characterized by spectroscopic studies and single crystal X-raydiffraction analysis.
Structural and optical properties of VO2+doped methacrylic acid ethylacrylate (MAA:EA) copolymer films
Authors: Kumar Y. Madhava , Bhyagyasree K. , Gopal N.O. , Ramu Ch.
Published: April 2018

Pure and VO2+doped methacrylic acid ethylacrylate (MAA:EA) copolymer films were prepared by using a solution casting method. Various techniques including X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance were employed for characterization of the samples. XRD patterns showed some degree of crystallinity of the doped polymer films due to interaction of the MAA:EA copolymer with VO2+. FT-IR spectral studies of pure and VO2+doped MAA:EA copolymer films displayed significant structural changes within the doped copolymer film indicating the complexation. The optical absorbance of the pure and VO2+doped films were measured in the 200 nm to 800 nm wavelength range. The values of the absorption edge and indirect band gaps were calculated. The optical band gap decreased with the increase of mol% of VO2+. From the EPR spectra, the spin- Hamiltonian parameters (g and A) were evaluated. The values of the spin-Hamiltonian parameters confirmed that the vanadyl ions were present in MAA:EA copolymer films as VO2+molecular ions in an octahedral site with a tetragonal compression (C4v). The morphology of the copolymer samples was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The enhanced crystalline nature of the doped copolymer was identified from SEM analysis.