bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The BeSMART (Best Supportive Management for Adults Referred with Tonsillopharyngitis) multicentre observational study
Authors: Lau AS , Mamais C , McChesney E , Upile NS , Vaughan C , Veitch J , Abbas JR , Markey A , Brown NG , Evans M , Thomas J , Gaines M , Shehata Z , Wilkie MD , Leong SC
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Tonsillopharyngitis is the most common ear, nose and throat emergency admission, with 80,000 episodes recorded in England in 2015–2016. Despite this, there is a paucity of evidence addressing the supportive management of tonsillopharyngitis in inpatients. The aim of this retrospective multicentre observational study was to consider the Best Supportive Management for Adults Referred with Tonsillopharyngitis (BeSMART) in the inpatient setting, and to establish any associations between practice and outcomes.

Methods

Seven hospitals in North West England and North East Scotland participated in the study. Overall, 236 adult patients admitted with tonsillopharyngitis were included. The main outcome measures were interval to return to soft diet, length of stay (LOS), pain scores and readmissions.

Results

Women were more likely to seek professional help before presenting to secondary care (p=0.04). Patients admitted at the weekend were more likely to have a shorter LOS (p=0.03). There was no relationship between day of admission and seniority or specialty of the doctor initially seen. Prescription of corticosteroid, analgesia and a higher initial intravenous fluid infusion rate were not related to a shorter LOS.

Conclusions

This study is the first to yield valuable insights into the inpatient management of tonsillopharyngitis. This work represents part of an ongoing project to establish the evidence for common medical interventions for sore throat. Patient and professional surveys as well as a prospective interventional study are planned for the future.
Rotator cuff surgery in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: clinical outcome comparable to age, sex and tear size matched non-rheumatoid patients
Authors: Lim SJ , Sun J-H , Kekatpure AL , Chun J-M , Jeon I-H
Published: August 2017

Aims

This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of rotator cuff repair in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with those of patients who have no known history of the disease. We hypothesised that the functional outcomes are comparable between patients and without rheumatoid arthritis and may be affected by the level of disease activity, as assessed from C-reactive protein (CRP) level and history of systemic steroid intake.

Patients and methods

We conducted a retrospective review of the institutional surgical database from May 1995 to April 2012. Twenty-nine patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had rotator cuff repair were enrolled as the study group. Age, sex, and tear size matched patients with no disease who were selected as the control group. The mean duration of follow-up was 46 months (range 24–92 months). Clinical outcomes were assessed with the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) questionnaire, Constant score and visual analogue scale (VAS). All data were recorded preoperatively and at regular postoperative follow-up visits. CRP was measured preoperatively as the disease activity marker for rheumatoid arthritis. Medication history was thoroughly reviewed in the study group.

Results

In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, all shoulder functional scores improved after surgery (ASES 56.1–78.1, Constant 50.8–70.5 and VAS 5.2–2.5; P < 0.001). The functional outcome of surgery in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was comparable to that of the control group (difference with control: ASES 78.1 vs. 85.5, P = 0.093; Constant 70.5 vs. 75.9, P = 0.366; VAS 2.5 vs. 1.8, P = 0.108). Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had an elevated CRP level (> 1 mg/dl) showed inferior clinical outcomes than those with normal CRP levels. Patients with a history of systemic steroid intake showed inferior functional outcomes than those who had not taken steroids.

Conclusions

Surgical intervention for rotator cuff tear in patients with rheumatoid arthritis improved the shoulder functional outcome comparable to that in matched patients without rheumatoid arthritis. Elevated preoperative CRP level and history of systemic steroid intake portend inferior functional outcome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Management of choledocholithiasis after previous gastrectomy
Authors: Anwer S , Egan R , Cross N , Guru Naidu S , Somasekar K
Published: August 2017

Common bile duct stones in patients with a previous gastrectomy can be a technical challenge because of the altered anatomy. This paper presents the successful management of two such patients using non-traditional techniques as conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was not possible.
Safety and effectiveness of antireflux surgery in obese patients
Authors: Tandon A , Rao R , Hotouras A , Nunes QM , Hartley M , Gunasekera R , Howes N
Published: August 2017

Introduction

The incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and obesity has increased significantly in recent years. The number of antireflux procedures being carried out on people with a higher body mass index (BMI) has been rising. Evidence is conflicting for outcomes of antireflux surgery in obese patients in terms of its safety and efficacy. Given the contradictory reports, this meta-analysis was undertaken to establish the outcomes of antireflux surgery (ARS) in obese patients and its associated safety.

Methods

A systematic electronic search was conducted using the PubMed, MEDLINE®, Ovid®, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar™ databases to identify studies that analysed the effect of BMI on the outcomes of ARS. A meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model. The intraoperative and postoperative outcomes that were examined included operative time, conversion to an open procedure, mean length of hospital stay, recurrence of acid reflux requiring reoperation and wrap migration.

Results

A total of 3,772 patients were included in 13 studies. There was no significant difference in procedure conversion rate, recurrence of reflux requiring reoperation or wrap migration between obese and non-obese patients. However, both the mean operative time and mean length of stay were longer for obese patients.

Conclusions

ARS in obese patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease is safe and outcomes are comparable with those in patients with a BMI in the normal range. A high BMI should therefore not be a deterrent to considering ARS for appropriate patients.
Learning opportunities in theatre
Authors: Manu Nichola
Published: August 2017

How one trainee discovered a love for surgery.
Operations that shaped me
Authors: Skidmore FD
Published: August 2017

One surgeons recounts in detail the handful of operations that stand out over the course of his career, which include being first on the scene of the 1984 IRA Brighton bombing.
Misalignment of learners’ focus in medical training
Authors: Sharma N
Published: August 2017

A fault of over-standardisation?
Reconstruindo a produção, documentalização e conservação da informação organizacional pré-moderna. Perspetivas teóricas recentes e proposta de percurso de investigação
Authors: De Lurdes Rosa Maria
Published: August 2017

O artigo nasce de uma experiência de investigação e ensino sobre a história dos arquivos e da informação, centrado na sociedade portuguesa de Antigo Regime. Começa por apresenta as bases da sua construção teórica, oriundas de diferentes disciplinas (História, Ciência da Informação/Ciência Arquivística,  Antropologia). Num segundo momento, propõe  um percurso de investigação a aplicar às fontes prémodernas, numa perspetiva de história documental das instituições e de  aprofundamento da relação entre os recursos heurísticos e a escrita da História.
Análise da literacia no Convento dos Cardaes: 1681-1856
Authors: Calvão Borges Leonor
Published: August 2017

Analisa-se a assinatura na sua dupla vertente de sinal de identificação e elemento de validação de documentos e refere-se a evolução historiográfica da literacia através do estudo das assinaturas.Desenvolve-se um estudo de caso através da análise da literacia da comunidade carmelita descalça do Convento dos Cardaes em Lisboa.
Isolated Diffuse Supravalvular Aortic Stenosis with Severe Aortic Narrowing in a 41-Year-Old Man
Authors: Namana Vinod , Siddiqui Sabah , Balasubramanian Ram , Shani Jacob , Sadiq Adnan
Published: August 2017

Isolated supravalvular aortic stenosis in adults is a rare form of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. We describe a case in a 41-year-old man in whom the supravalvular aorta had narrowed to approximately the size of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The patient underwent aortic surgery with replacement of the ascending aorta and repair of supravalvular aortic stenosis with a pantaloon graft. A postoperative echocardiogram showed substantial improvement: the mean gradient across the aorta had fallen from 48 to 8 mmHg. Surgery is the definitive treatment in symptomatic patients with supravalvular aortic stenosis.
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy in an Endurance Athlete Presenting with Ventricular Tachycardia and Normal Right Ventricular Function
Authors: Hedley Jeffrey S. , Al Mheid Ibhar , Alikhani Zoubin , Pernetz Maria A. , Kim Jonathan H.
Published: August 2017

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a genetically inherited disease that results in fibrofatty replacement of normal cardiac myocytes, has been associated with sudden cardiac death in athletes. Long-term participation in endurance exercise hastens the development of both the arrhythmic and structural arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy phenotypes. We describe the unusual case of a 34-year-old, symptomatic, female endurance athlete who had arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in the presence of a structurally normal right ventricle. Clinicians should be aware of this infrequent presentation when evaluating athletic patients who have ventricular arrhythmias and normal findings on cardiac imaging studies.
The Effect of Three Instructional Elements on Achievement in Computer-Based Mathematics Instructions of Senior Secondary School Students in Nigeria
Authors: Omoniyi Tayo , Gbenga Gisanrin
Published: August 2017

This study investigated the effect of three instructional elements on achievement in computer-based mathematics instructions. The subjects were senior secondary school students who used four versions of computer-based instructions developed on compact disc to learn about volume of solid shapes. The four versions of the programme were (1) a full version that had the three instructional elements (2) a version without objective (3) a version without practice (4) a version without examples. Results indicated that the full package, which included objective, practice and examples, had significant effect on students′ achievement in the computer-based mathematics instructions. Furthermore, of the three elements, practice, had the most effect on the learners′ achievement. Implications of the findings on development of computer-based instructions are also discussed.
Effect of Dietary Fish Oil Replacement with Plant Oils on Growth Performance and Gene Expression in Juvenile Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Kutluyer Filiz , Sirkecioğlu Ahmet Necdet , Aksakal Ercüment , Aksakal Feyza İçoğlu , Tunç Abdullah , Günaydin Esra
Published: August 2017

An eight-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of total (100%) replacement of dietary fish oil with alternative lipid sources in juvenile rainbow trout. Six iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic experimental diets were formulated: CO (14%) – cod liver oil; SSO (14%) – safflower seed oil; SBO (14%) – soybean oil; LO (14%) – linseed oil; SBO (7%) + LO (7%) – a blend of soybean oil and linseed oil; and SSO (7%) + LO (7%) – a blend of safflower seed oil and linseed oil. Growth performance [specific growth rate (SGR), weight gain (WG), food conversion ratio (FCR) and survival rate (SR)], growth hormones [growth hormone (GH-I), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II)], immune transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and antioxidant [superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST)] response, and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) mRNA levels were determined in muscle and liver. Our data indicated that final weight, weight gain, FCR and SGR showed significant difference among the six dietary treatments (P<0.05) while there were no significant differences in survival rate between the rainbow trout from supplement fed groups and control group. HSP70 mRNA level expression in muscle was higher in fish fed SSO (P<0.05) while highest level in liver was obtained from fish fed SBO compared to the other treatments (P<0.05). There were no significant differences among treatments for TGF-β mRNA expression level in muscle and liver. In conclusion, growth performance and expression levels of growth hormones, antioxidants, HSP70, except TGF-β were affected by five separate lipid sources. In addition, LO positively increased growth performance of juvenile rainbow trout by means of preventing oxidative stress and HSP70 and, enhanced expression of growth hormone related gene.
Memory-type plate system with nonlinear delay
Authors: Mustafa Muhammad I.
Published: August 2017

In this paper we consider a plate equation with infinite memory in the presence of nonlinear feedbacks with and without delay. Under suitable condition on the weight of the delayed feedback compared with the weight of the non-delayed feedback, we use the energy method to establish an explicit and general decay rate result without imposing restrictive assumptions on the behavior of the relaxation function at infinity.
Macrofungal diversity of the Gireniz Valley (Denizli, Turkey)
Authors: Kaygusuz Oğuzhan , Gezer Kutret
Published: August 2017

This study was conducted to determine the macrofungal diversity of the Gireniz Valley. From 2010 to 2013, 674 samples of macrofungi were collected during field surveys conducted periodically in appropriate ecological conditions. As a result of macroscopic and microscopic studies, a total of 114 macrofungal taxa from the classes Pezizomycetes, Agaricomycetes and Tremellomycetes, distributed in 12 orders and 39 families, were determined. Five families, 10 genera and 20 taxa belonging to one order of Pezizomycetes class, 33 families, 57 genera and 93 taxa belonging to 10 orders of Agaricomycetes class and one family, one genus and one taxon belonging to one order of the class Tremellomycetes were identified. It was determined that among 114 macrofungal taxa identified in the study area, 45 were edible, 60 inedible, and nine were poisonous.
Morphological characters of the seed coat in selected species of the genus Hypericum L. and their taxonomic value
Authors: Szkudlarz Piotr , Celka Zbigniew
Published: August 2017

Eight Hypericum species are native to Poland: H. elegans Stephan ex Willd., H. hirsutum L., H. humifusum L., H. maculatum Crantz, H. montanum L., H. perforatum L., H. pulchrum L., and H. tetrapterum Fr. Only seeds of H. elegans were investigated in detail in Poland before, so here we present results of qualitative and quantitative analyses of seed morphology of the other 7 species, based on characters like seed length, width, and shape, seed coat sculpture, shape of epidermal cells of the testa, and number of epidermal cells along the seed axis. The results show that seeds of the studied species are small, 0.56-1.15 mm long and 0.26-0.49 mm wide. In SEM images, seed coat sculpture is reticulate in 5 species, papillate in H. hirsutum, and cup-shaped in H. pulchrum. The differences are caused by the varied final development of the testa epidermis, which constitutes the outer layer of the seed coat. The mean number of epidermal cells along the seed axis ranges from 22 to 33. Results of cluster analysis, based on the agglomeration method and including also published data on seeds of H. elegans, show that the variation in the investigated characters of seeds is reflected in the taxonomic division of the genus into sections.
Contents of nutrients and arsenic in litterfall and surface humus in mature nudal beech stands subjected to different emission-immission loads
Authors: Gašová Katarína , Kuklová Margita , Kukla Ján
Published: August 2017

The aim of the paper was to compare the litterfall and surface humus (Oo) quality in nudal beech stands with different emission-immission load from the Al smelter Žiar nad Hronom. The study was carried out in the Kremnické vrchy Mts (control stand, 18 km from the emission source) and the Štiavnické vrchy Mts (stressed stand, 1.5 km from the emission source), both in Central Slovakia. The contents of arsenic and nutrients (Cat, Mgt, Kt, Nat), with exception of calcium in the beech litterfall from the stressed stand were markedly higher (by 4.3%, 23.9%, 2.1% and 87.9%, respectively) compared to the samples taken from the control plot. On the contrary, the surface humus samples (with the exception of Na in the necrotic Oon subhorizon) from control plot were richer in nutrients. However, significant differences (p < 0.01) between the plots were observed for Ca content in the litterfall as well as in the surface humus. The concentrations of As in Oo samples from the stressed stand mainly increased with the organic horizon depth (mg kg-1): necrotic Oon 1.10 < fermentation Oof 3.1 < humification Ooh 55.6. The results showed, that As amounts detected in subhorizon Ooh and in beech litterfall from the stressed stand were higher than the limit values, thus indicating that the environment of the Žiar territory is exposed to persistent negative impacts of industrial activities.
Morphological features of Camarosporium pini – the fungus associated to health state degradation in Austrian and Ponderosa pine
Authors: Ivanová Helena
Published: August 2017

The subject of this study is escalated occurrence of the pathogenic fungus Camarosporium pini in the needle tissue of symptomatic trees P. nigra and P. ponderosa var. jeffreyi growing in urbanized settings and parks. C. pini induces severe infections and initiates a blight and premature loss of second-year foliage in pine trees. The fungus was identified microscopically and on base of morphological keys. The affected needles displayed a distinct bluish-grey necrotic band in the centre. On the surface of infected needles, there were formed pycnidia producing brown, oval conidia with three transversal and one or two vertical walls. Disease symptoms, some important characteristics in pure culture, and distinctive morphological features of C. pini associated to the health state degradation in Austrian and Ponderosa pine are described and compared. Cumulative effects of these stressful biotic and various abiotic factors may explain the current situation concerning the decline in the P. nigra and P. ponderosa var. jeffreyi in Slovakia.
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy of Clay Size Fraction of Cretaceous-Tertiary Kaolins in the Douala Sub-Basin, Cameroon
Authors: Bukalo Nenita N. , Ekosse Georges-Ivo E. , Odiyo John O. , Ogola Jason S.
Published: August 2017

The structural order of Cretaceous-Tertiary kaolins of the Douala Sub-Basin in Cameroon was determined in this study. This was achieved using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with attenuated total reflectance (ATR) on the Bomkoul, Dibamba, Ediki, Logbaba, Missole and Yatchika kaolins. Transmittance spectra of 20 samples were recorded in the mid-infrared regions (MIR). Results show that most of the kaolins had the four distinguishable bands in the hydroxyl (OH) stretching region, though the second transmittance band (3670 cm
Doing state policy at preschool: An autoethnographic tale of universal access to ECEC in Australia
Authors: Millei Zsuzsa , Gobby Brad , Gallagher Jannelle
Published: August 2017

In 2009, the Australian states and territories signed an agreement to provide 15 hours per week of universal access to quality early education to all children in Australia in the year before they enter school. Taking on board the international evidence about the importance of early education, the Commonwealth government made a considerable investment to make universal access possible by 2013. We explore the ongoing processes that seek to make universal access a reality in New South Wales by attending to the complex agential relationships between multiple actors. While we describe the state government and policy makers′ actions in devising funding models to drive changes, we prioritise our gaze on the engagement of a preschool and its director with the state government’s initiatives that saw them develop various funding and provision models in response. To offer accounts of their participation in policy making and doing at the preschool, we use the director’s autobiographical notes. We argue that the state’s commitment to ECEC remained a form of political manoeuvring where responsibility for policy making was pushed onto early childhood actors. This manoeuvring helped to silence and further fragment the sector, but these new processes also created spaces where the sector can further struggle for recognition through the very accountability measures that the government has introduced.
Hierarchies of knowledge, incommensurabilities and silences in South African ECD policy: Whose knowledge counts?
Authors: Rudolph Norma
Published: August 2017

Policy for young children in South Africa is now receiving high-level government support through the ANC’s renewed commitment to redress poverty and inequity and creating ‘a better life for all’ as promised before the 1994 election. In this article, I explore the power relations, knowledge hierarchies and discourses of childhood, family and society in National Curriculum Framework (NCF) as it relates to children’s everyday contexts. I throw light on how the curriculum’s discourses relate to the diverse South African settings, child rearing practices and world-views, and how they interact with normative discourses of South African policy and global early childhood frameworks. The NCF acknowledges indigenous and local knowledges and suggests that the content should be adapted to local contexts. I argue that the good intentions of these documents to address inequities are undermined by the uncritical acceptance of global taken-for-granted discourses, such as narrow notions of evidence, western child development, understanding of the child as a return of investment and referencing urban middle class community contexts and values. These global discourses make the poorest children and their families invisible, and silence other visions of childhood and good society, including the notion of ‘convivial society’ set out in the 1955 Freedom Charter.
Bildung, Erziehung [education] and care in German early childhood settings – spotlights on current discourses
Authors: Frindte Annegret , Mierendorff Johanna
Published: August 2017

In German there is a long tradition of institutionalized daycare center-based early education. These institutions are concerned with Bildung, Erziehung und Betreuung - the education and care of children up to six years of age. Education and childrearing as well as care are all important but separate processes in German early childhood settings. Looking back, this theoretical division has a very long tradition. However, the energized public, political and professional discussions about the PISA results at the beginning of the 21st century led to Bildung and ECEC settings becoming increasingly important. Taking into account this complex and difficult historical development it is interesting to have a critical look at the dominant programmatic frames that characterize the German ECEC system nowadays: Bildung and quality of early education. The former double motif of education (Bildung und Erziehung) on the one hand and care (Betreuung) on the other hand remains an important aspect of German ECEC practices. Nevertheless, in the political arena and professional discourses Erziehung and Betreuung have been pushed into the background, to remain in symbolic form. Bildung and quality of early education seem to be in the spotlight. We will show how those programmatic frames have taken shape and are manifested in early childhood programs and projects.
Review paper: A Briefing to Grey Systems Theory
Authors: Li Qiaoxing , Lin Yi
Published: August 2017

Grey systems theory, probability theory, fuzzy systems theory and rough set theory are known as four uncertain systems scientific methodologies. After thirty years of development, grey systems theory has formed its own disciplinary framework, whose content includes grey philosophy, grey mathematics, processing and technology systems of grey information, as well as grey systems engineering. However, as a developing area of scientific activities, a lot of theoretical contents are still imperfect and awaiting further studies. The purpose of this paper is to acquaint the readers with the development history, the main content and the major challenges of grey system theory. It is our hope that this paper could play the role of attracting the attention of the international academic community to the theory so that the development of this theory could be further promoted.
Pricing Strategy and Governments Intervention for Green Supply Chain with Strategic Customer Behavior
Authors: Ma Changsong , Li Tian , Li Cong , He Hua
Published: August 2017

This paper researches the pricing strategy and government intervention mechanism for green supply chain in monopoly market, while considering strategic customer behavior. According to optimization theory, it establishes the target functions of retailer and strategic customers and investigates the interactions between retailer and strategic customers in accordance with Stackelberg’s game theory, so as to confirm the optimal discount level for green products. In addition, it discusses the regulatory effect of government intervention, including the guiding price and fiscal subsides, on the sales of green products. The research shows that the retailer can make the profit maximization by adjusting the discount level; the governments can regulate the sales of products by implementing the guiding price and fiscal subsides to the retailer.
A Real-time Products Management Method in Supply Chain Management based on IOT
Authors: Zhao Xindan , Liu Jihong , Sun Xue
Published: August 2017

Supply chain management is becoming the core competitiveness in enterprise competition, which is an important way to increase the enterprise’s profitability. With the development of the Internet of Things, supply chain management is gradually achieved by information technologies. This paper studies an information-based real-time products management method in supply chain management system through Java language, XML and other information technologies. Firstly, we introduce the supply chain management, then using XML document and B/S structure to realize the electronic management for products during product circulation process. The experimental results show that this system is stable and practicable, and could efficiently collect the product flow information which could provide valuable information for the materials and manufacture enterprises.
Constitution Building as a Panacea to Identity Conflicts in Africa: The Case of Nigeria
Authors: Amaechi Chidi M. , Muoh Obinna U.
Published: August 2017

Africa is rife with sectional discontents which metamorphose into protracted conflicts, civil wars, and terrorism. With forlorn hopes of survival in the system and without a say in the constitution building process, disgruntled groups easily cloak their political and socio-economic dissatisfaction with ethnicity, religious or similar identities in order to arouse group affection. At present, Nigeria is at the brink of disintegration as a result of this problem. The country has witnessed about six constitutional arrangements since independence. Yet, the clamour for a new constitution remains constant and, invariably, influenced the convening of the 2014 National Constitutional Conference in the country. Since constitution building provides a good opportunity for the citizens and groups to enshrine their wishes in the instrument of governance and thereby preventing the degeneration of grievances into conflict, questions have continued to arise. Does the constitution making process in Nigeria involve the people for whom the laws are meant for? Are the leaders mindful of the peace potentials of constitution building? This paper seeks to ascertain the extent to which the citizens were involved in the making of the previous constitutions in Nigeria. It projects the view that the failures of the past attempts and the prevalent identity conflicts in Nigeria are attributable to non-adherence to the basic principles of the indispensable people-oriented process of constitution building.
Start-Up Business: Process and Challenges in Entrepreneurship Education
Authors: Radianto Wirawan E. D. , Santoso Eko Budi
Published: August 2017

This research aims to explore the process of entrepreneurship education and its challenges based on the facilitators′ viewpoints who take parts in the students′ business in entrepreneurship education. This case study determines the respondents purposively, and through in-depth interviews by using validated triangulation of methods, the data obtains. The research findings showed the process of entrepreneurship education starts from the process of incubating the students′ business. During this process, the research gains several important aspects, for instance, changing student’s mindset, bringing up their passion, and formulating target, performance indicators, and business process. This research also discusses the use of non-financial indicator as the indicator mostly used the faciltators to measure the students′ business performance. Furthermore, this research reveals that the facilitators should provide stimuli, give gradual assistance and guidance, and know the business needs of the students. Finally, the challenges identified are the difficulties to change mindset, the distinctiveness of each student’s business, the resources required by the facilitators, and facilitation and time management skills.
Taxation an Effective Tool for Income Re-Distribution in Nigeria
Authors: Obaretin Osasu , Akhor Sadiq Oshoke , Oseghale Osahon Emmanuel
Published: August 2017

This paper focused on taxation as a tool for effective income re-distribution in Nigeria. To achieve this data for the study were gathered from secondary source which include the Office of the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the World Bank Data Bank for the relevant years 1981 to 2014 (34 years) and this period is consider long enough to eliminate any effect of short run fluctuation on the dynamic on taxation and income redistribution in Nigeria. However, the ordinary least square statistical tool was used in analysing the time series data gathered. From the analyses the paper concluded that all tax variants do not exert significant impact on income disparity as observed by GINI at 5% level. The result suggests the taxation as not be able to fulfil its role as a standard tool of income re-distribution in Nigeria. Premised on the conclusion the paper recommended that the there is the need for effective, and equitable utilization of tax revenue and this recommendation suffices because of the insignificant influence of taxes on the level of income inequality as measured Gini-coefficient. Thus, the paper proposes that that there is the need to examine properly the distributional impact of the Nigerian tax system to (or “intending to”) ensuring that taxes create a more income-inclusive society by bridging the income disparity gap between the poor people and the rich.
The Predictive and Incremental Validity of Psychological Empowerment Dimensions on Teachers′ Career Commitment beyond Autonomy, Competence and Relatedness
Authors: Mabekoje Sesan O. , Azeez R. Olugbenga , Bamgbose Abel O. , Okunuga Olusola O.
Published: August 2017

This study examined the predictive and additive effects of psychological empowerment dimensions on teachers′ career commitment over and above the satisfaction of basic work needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness. Two hundred and twelve teachers, selected through a stratified random sampling technique took part in the survey. The Career Commitment Measure, Basic Needs Satisfaction at Work Scale, and Psychological Empowerment Instrument were used to collect data which were analyzed using Moderated Hierarchical Multiple Regression Analysis. Findings indicated that psychological needs satisfaction had predictive effect on teachers′ career commitment (R2= .233; p < .001). Psychological empowerment had both predictive and incremental effects on teachers′ career commitment (R2= .286; ΔR2= .053; p < .001), accounting for a significant add-on effect of 5.3 percent of the variance in teachers′ career commitment over the effect of autonomy, competence and relatedness. Empowering teachers psychologically has both predictive and add-on effects on teachers′ career commitment beyond the contribution of autonomy, competence and relatedness. Recommendations were made for research and practice.
Conflicts by Convergence and Deep Disagreements in European Constitutional Law
Authors: Scarcello Orlando
Published: August 2017

In this essay the question of what kind of conflicts are at stake in the context of European pluralism will be considered, with special focus on the shift from “conflicts by divergence” to “conflicts by convergence” and on attempts to conceptualise these issues by means of the concept of “complex antinomy”. It will be argued that this analysis needs some refinement and the concept of “levels of disagreements” will be introduced as an alternative. A specific focus will be maintained on the impact of different interpretive methodologies: in this way it is possible to underline the structure of “deep” and “superficial” disagreements in the context of European law. In order to illustrate this point, some notes on the recent Taricco saga will be developed. Finally, the relevance for European constitutionalism of deep disagreements on interpretive methodologies will be underlined.
Evaluation of the carcinogenic risks at the influence of POPs
Authors: Nazhmetdinova Aiman , Kassymbayev Adlet , Chalginbayeva Altinay
Published: August 2017

Introduction:

Kazakhstan is included in the list of environmentally vulnerable countries and Kyzylorda oblast in particular. This is due to its geographical, spatial and temporal and socioeconomic features.

Materials and methods:

As part of the program “Integrated approaches in the management of public health in the Aral region”, we have carried out an expertise on many samples of natural environments and products. Samples were selected in accordance with sampling procedures according to regulatory documents by specialists of the Pesticide Toxicology Laboratory. It is accredited by the State Standard of the Republic of Kazakhstan, for compliance with ST RK ISO/IEC 17025-2007 “General requirements for the competence of test and calibration laboratories”. Gas chromatograph was used for the determination of residues of organochlorine pesticides. For the determination of dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyl was conducted on the gas chromatomass spectrometer with quadruple detector produce by Agilent Company, USA. To assess the risk, we carried out the mathematical calculations according to the risk of chemicals polluting (No P 2.1.10.1920-04, Russia). Calculation of the carcinogenic risk was carried out with the use of data on the size of the exposure and meanings of carcinogenic potential factors (slope factor and unit risk).

Results and discussion:

The evaluation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), based on the previous results of the research concerning water, soil and food products, was held in five population settlements in Kyzylorda oblast villages: Ayteke bi, Zhalagash, Zhosaly, Shieli and Aralsk town. Pollution with the POPs in the environmental objects by means of exposition and evaluation of the carcinogenic risk to human health is confirmed by the data of the statistical reporting about some morbidity in Kyzylorda oblast, such as skin diseases and subcutaneous tissue, endocrine system diseases, pregnancy complications etc.

Conclusion:

The received levels of carcinogenic risks, which were first carried out in the Republic of Kazakhstan in the village of Shieli, meet the third-risk range, which is not acceptable to the life of the population that again shows the problem of the Aral Sea, called the zone of ecological disaster.
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND LINGUISTIC MEANS OF FORMING “A SOVIET PERSON” IN THE JOURNAL PERIODICALS OF THE UKRAINIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC
Authors: Kolisnyk Yurij
Published: August 2017

The article deals with the psychological and linguistic methods of establishing a social life and the impact of the magazines on the public consciousness in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Press provided concealed manipulation programming of the citizens’ behaviour. The whole society was imposed with the regulated values, moral imperatives and ideals via indoctrination, pressure and attack. Mass zombing was considerably played by “the new language” which implemented the basic notions of the totalitarian ideology. Transforming of citizens’ consciousness was possible by manipulating with their interests and desires. In this way the run of social processes was regulated. Russification, denationalization and destroying of national memory took place. Having no alternative a person was transformed into a system cog. Thus the aim of the article is to specify the influence of the journal periodicals in 1950- 1980s by psycho-linguistic means on forming the necessary concept of “a Soviet person”. The following methods were used: concrete historical and sociological press analysis, systematic and comparative analysis as well as generalization of contents and subjects of the magazines, analysis of political impact factors on magazines transformation as the mean of forming public consciousness, content analysis for stating the level of ideological partiality in the magazines and the frequency of usage of the ideological words in magazine texts and peculiarity of their combinability. Content analysis indicators are received by calculation on the sectional observation material. The basis of the empirical research is four public-political magazines “Ukrayina” (“Ukraine”), “Vitchyzna” (“Motherland”), “Zhovten’” (“October”), “Radyans’ka Zhinka” (“Soviet Woman”) and two children’s magazines “Barvinok” (“Periwinkle”) and “Malyatko”2 (“Baby”) of the 1950-1980s.
UKRAINE IN THE GERMAN MEDIA IN THE CONTEXT OF POLITICAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE INTERWAR PERIOD (BASED ON THE MATERIALS OF DAILY “DILO”)
Authors: Zhytaryuk Marian , Zhytaryuk Victoria
Published: August 2017

This article presents the analysis of thematic, historical and political spectrums of the “Ukrainian” content in the German newspapers and magazines of the interwar period. As a source base for this scientific work the authors analyze the newspaper and magazine journalism of that time, which allows not only to keep certain historical episodes (konstatives), but also (in some way) to reflect the views, needs, intentions, challenges, promises as well as German political and social factors in terms of disillusionment of Ukrainian patriotic forces (performatives). Nazism and Bolshevism skillfully used propaganda to achieve predatory targets, therefore it should be a lesson for the future generations, also the importance of conceptional media in Ukraine and Poland should increase.
The Peircean order of signification and its encoding system in Chinese landscape painting
Authors: Duan Lian
Published: August 2017

Applying Peirce’s semiotics to the study of art history, this essay explores the order of signification in the Peircean theory and the visual order in Chinese landscape painting. Since the purpose of Chinese landscape painting is not simply to represent the beauty of scenery but to encode and manifest the philosophy of Tao, then, the author argues that the establishment of the encoding mechanism in Chinese landscape painting signifies the origination, development, and establishment of this genre in Chinese art history. In this essay, the Peircean order of signification is described as a T-shaped structure, consisting of a horizontal dimension of signs (icon, index, and symbol) while and a vertical dimension of the signification process (representamen, interpretant, and object). Correspondingly, the visual order in Chinese landscape painting is also described as a T-shaped structure as well: the horizontal dimension at the formal level consists of three signs (mountain path, flowing water, and floating air, the three constitute a compound sign), while the vertical dimension at the ideological level consists of three concepts (the way in nature, the metaphysical Way of nature, and the Tao). The significance of this order is found in re-interpreting the formation of landscape painting in Chinese art history.
The thermogenic effect of nesfatin-1 requires recruitment of the melanocortin system
Authors: Dore Riccardo , Levata Luka , Gachkar Sogol , Jöhren Olaf , Mittag Jens , Lehnert Hendrik , Schulz Carla
Published: August 2017

Nesfatin-1 is a bioactive polypeptide expressed both in the brain and peripheral tissues and involved in the control of energy balance by reducing food intake. Central administration of nesfatin-1 significantly increases energy expenditure, as demonstrated by a higher dry heat loss; yet, the mechanisms underlying the thermogenic effect of central nesfatin-1 remain unknown. Therefore, in this study, we sought to investigate whether the increase in energy expenditure induced by nesfatin-1 is mediated by the central melanocortin pathway, which was previously reported to mediate central nesfatin-1´s effects on feeding and numerous other physiological functions. With the application of direct calorimetry, we found that intracerebroventricular nesfatin-1 (25 pmol) treatment increased dry heat loss and that this effect was fully blocked by simultaneous administration of an equimolar dose of the melanocortin 3/4 receptor antagonist, SHU9119. Interestingly, the nesfatin-1-induced increase in dry heat loss was positively correlated with body weight loss. In addition, as assessed with thermal imaging, intracerebroventricular nesfatin-1 (100 pmol) increased interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT) as well as tail temperature, suggesting increased heat production in the iBAT and heat dissipation over the tail surface. Finally, nesfatin-1 upregulated pro-opiomelanocortin and melanocortin 3 receptor mRNA expression in the hypothalamus, accompanied by a significant increase in iodothyronine deiodinase 2 and by a nonsignificant increase in uncoupling protein 1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha mRNA in the iBAT. Overall, we clearly demonstrate that nesfatin-1 requires the activation of the central melanocortin system to increase iBAT thermogenesis and, in turn, overall energy expenditure.
Embryo biopsy and development: the known and the unknown
Authors: Zacchini Federica , Arena Roberta , Abramik Adam , Ptak Grazyna E
Published: August 2017

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) has been introduced in clinical practice as a tool for selecting ‘healthy’ embryos before their transfer in utero. PGD protocols include biopsy of cleaving embryos (blastomere biopsy (BB)) or blastocysts (trophectoderm biopsy (TB)), followed by genetic analysis to select ‘healthy’ embryos for transfer in utero. Currently, TB is replacing the use of BB in the clinical practice. However, based on the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Consortium reports, BB has been used in >87% of PGD cycles for more than 10 years. An exhaustive evaluation of embryo biopsy (both BB and TB) risks and safety is still missing. The few epidemiological studies available are quite controversial and/or are limited to normalcy at birth or early childhood. On the other hand, studies on animals have shown that BB can be a risk factor for impaired development, during both pre- and postnatal life, while little is known on TB. Thus, there is an urgent need of focused researches on BB, as it has contributed to give birth to children for more than 10 years, and on TB, as its application is significantly growing in clinical practice. In this context, the aim of this review is to provide a complete overview of the current knowledge on the short-, medium- and long-term effects of embryo biopsy in the mouse model.
The economic impacts of constructing an ATV bypass route in the Town of Conception Bay South
Authors: Perry Krista
Published: August 2017

The development and maintenance of trails that permit the use of off-road vehicles present tremendous opportunities for tourism product development. Newfoundland and Labrador is hoping to capitalize from trail users by building a province-wide trail network using the former Canadian National Railway line. Since the section of the trail through the Town of Conception Bay South is non-motorized, the Town hopes to build an ATV Bypass Route in order to draw all-terrain vehicle (ATV) users and create a continuous trail for them. This paper presents information on the economic impact of the ATV industry and case studies from similar jurisdictions in Canada and the United States to support the argument that ATV tourism is a good investment.

Keywords: economic impact, trail development, tourism, recreation, all terrain vehicles, Newfoundland
Você brinca de boneca, mas é menino: sujeitos, gêneros e sexualidades em brincadeiras infantis
Authors: Cardoso Lívia De Rezende , Nascimento Daniela Lima do
Published: August 2017

Analisou-se como as relações de gênero são estabelecidas em atividades lúdicas de um currículo e seus efeitos na subjetividade de meninos e meninas. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em escola de município sergipano, durante três meses, em uma turma composta por crianças com 5 anos. No cenário observado, as relações de gênero têm suas bases firmadas na heterossexualidade. A equipe escolar e os(as) próprios(as) alunos(as) carregam consigo concepções de feminino e de masculino bem definidas. Há, também, intensa vigilância da sexualidade das crianças, na busca de estimular a heterossexualidade como norma a ser seguida e, ao mesmo tempo, contê-la. Porém, nem sempre o currículo analisado conseguiu normatizar os sujeitos, e outras possibilidades puderam ser construídas. O mais significativo foi evidenciar como o currículo escolar exerce fortes marcas na constituição de seus sujeitos.
Formação para a ética em pesquisa: um olhar para os programas de pós-graduação em Educação
Authors: Nunes João Batista Carvalho
Published: August 2017

A atenção dos pesquisadores brasileiros da área de Educação para a necessidade de debates, estudos e pesquisas acerca da ética em pesquisa é algo recente. O objetivo da investigação que dá suporte a este artigo é identificar, no Brasil, quais programas de pós-graduação stricto sensu da área de Educação incluem, nas ementas de suas disciplinas, o tema ética em pesquisa. Empregou-se o método da pesquisa documental, considerando-se como documentos as ementas das disciplinas dos programas de pós-graduação em Educação do Brasil, disponíveis em formato digital, na Plataforma Sucupira. Do conjunto de 8.892 disciplinas analisadas, somente 69 (0,78%) incluem o tema ética em pesquisa em suas ementas. Essas disciplinas estão distribuídas por 37 programas de pós-graduação em Educação, representando 21,64% do total. Esse resultado indica a necessidade urgente de se garantir formação disciplinar e sistemática sobre o tema ética em pesquisa nos programas de pós-graduação em Educação.