bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zalecenia żywieniowe i formy ich upowszechniania
Authors: Pyrzyńska Ewa
Published: November 2014

Due to economic changes, Poland’s food product market is converging with those of its western counterparts. Globalisation and EU common food and health policy are leading to the setting of similar nutritional guidelines in all EU countries. The guidelines are set to decrease the risk of commonly occurring diseases, such as obesity and cancer, which result in part from bad dietary habits. Using case studies from Poland and the U.S., the article presents changes in nutritional guidelines and how they are being popularised.
Giant Cell Tumor of Bone
Authors: Cavanna Luigi , Biasini Claudia , Monfredo Michela , Maniscalco Pietro , Mori Monica
Published: November 2014

The role of enhanced fluorodeoxyglucose F 18 uptake of giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) should be mentioned in an overview such as that reported by van der Heijden et al., with regard not only to the response to denosumab treatment for unresectable GCTB but also to the clinical implications for the diagnosis of this disease.
Enhanced Lattice Boltzmann modelling of axisymmetric flows
Authors: Wang Wei , Zhou Jianguo
Published: November 2014

An enhanced axisymmetric Lattice Boltzmann fluid simulation model developed by the second author involves no calculation for velocity gradients and has the feature that all external force terms can simply be added to the model. In this paper, the model is extended and applied to investigate the characteristics of two complex axisymmetric flows for further assessment of its capability. First of all, Taylor–Couette flow for Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids is considered. The combined effects of the Reynolds number, the radius ratio and the power-law index n on the flow characteristics are analysed for an annular space of finite aspect ratio. Different forced axisymmetric laminar cold-flow jets are then taken into account with different values of forcing amplitudes in the jets. The numerical results are compared with existing numerical results and experimental data reported in the literature to demonstrate the accuracy of the model.
EcoVeg: a new approach to vegetation description and classification
Authors: Faber-Langendoen Don , Keeler-Wolf Todd , Meidinger Del , Tart Dave , Hoagland Bruce , Josse Carmen , Navarro Gonzalo , Ponomarenko Serguei , Saucier Jean-Pierre , Weakley Alan , Comer Patrick
Published: November 2014

A vegetation classification approach is needed that can describe the diversity of terrestrial ecosystems and their transformations over large time frames, span the full range of spatial and geographic scales across the globe, and provide knowledge of reference conditions and current states of ecosystems required to make decisions about conservation and resource management. We summarize the scientific basis for EcoVeg, a physiognomic‐floristic‐ecological classification approach that applies to existing vegetation, both cultural (planted and dominated by human processes) and natural (spontaneously formed and dominated by nonhuman ecological processes). The classification is based on a set of vegetation criteria, including physiognomy (growth forms, structure) and floristics (compositional similarity and characteristic species combinations), in conjunction with ecological characteristics, including site factors, disturbance, bioclimate, and biogeography. For natural vegetation, the rationale for the upper levels (formation types) is based on the relation between global‐scale vegetation patterns and macroclimate, hydrology, and substrate. The rationale for the middle levels is based on scaling from regional formations (divisions) to regional floristic‐physiognomic types (macrogroup and group) that respond to meso‐scale biogeographic, climatic, disturbance, and site factors. Finally, the lower levels (alliance and association) are defined by detailed floristic composition that responds to local to regional topo‐edaphic and disturbance gradients. For cultural vegetation, the rationale is similar, but types are based on distinctive vegetation physiognomy and floristics that reflect human activities. The hierarchy provides a structure that organizes regional/continental vegetation patterns in the context of global patterns. A formal nomenclature is provided, along with a descriptive template that provides the differentiating criteria for each type at all levels of the hierarchy. Formation types have been described for the globe; divisions and macrogroups for North America, Latin America and Africa; groups, alliances and associations for the United States, parts of Canada, Latin America and, in partnership with other classifications that share these levels, many other parts of the globe.
Social learning in an environmental justice context: a case study of integrated regional water management
Authors: Balazs Carolina L. , Lubell Mark
Published: November 2014

California recently implemented a statewide effort to learn how best to outreach to and involve ‘disadvantaged communities’ in integrated regional water management (IRWM) planning. Using the case of the Kings Basin Water Authority's Disadvantaged Community Pilot Project Study, we argue that social learning is a key mechanism through which the procedural and distributive justice goals of environmental justice are integrated into water resources planning. Using interviews, focus groups and survey results, we find that social learning has short- and medium-term effects of increasing access to information, broadening stakeholder participation and developing initial foundations for structural changes to water governance. However, long-term change in the structure of IRWM institutions is, at best, in its early phases. Social learning provides a basis for changing water governance and management outcomes in ways that promote representation of traditionally marginalized groups and the water challenges they face.
Transboundary water justice: a combined reading of literature on critical transboundary water interaction and ‘justice’, for analysis and diplomacy
Authors: Zeitoun Mark , Warner Jeroen , Mirumachi Naho , Matthews Nathanial , McLaughlin Karis , Woodhouse Melvin , Cascão Ana , Allan Tony (J. A.)
Published: November 2014

By reviewing and blending two main bodies of research (critical transboundary water interaction analysis and centuries of thought on social justice) this paper seeks to improve international transboundary water interaction analysis and diplomacy. Various implications for transboundary analysis and diplomacy are grouped under themes of equitability, process/outcomes, and structural concerns. These include shortcomings of analysis and policy based on unfounded assumptions of equality, and options excluded from consideration by the legitimisation of particular concepts of justice over others. As power asymmetry is seen to enable or disable justice claims and conflict resolution efforts, the importance of ensuring equitable outcomes as a pre-condition for cooperation is asserted. Similarly, water conflict resolution is found to be more fair – procedurally – than is conflict management, and may be supported to a limited extent by international water law. A number of analytical tasks are suggested for future research and policy, including a call to scrutinise the source of legitimacy of strands of justice invoked. Given the very many perspectives on justice that exist in the network of relevant actors, potential bias in research and diplomacy could be reduced if all involved openly stated the morals underpinning their understanding of ‘justice’.
An agenda for deliberative water governance arenas in the Mekong
Authors: Dore John
Published: November 2014

Closely related to justice, this article explores how water governance can be fairer and more effective in the Mekong Region where choices are being made about using and sharing waters that might produce more energy; increase or decrease food production; sustain or threaten livelihoods; and maintain or degrade vital ecosystems and their services, upon which societies depend. Debate and discussion aimed at producing reasonable, well-informed opinion have been in short supply. However, deliberative processes, where inserted into political arenas, are making water governance fairer and more effective, by reducing power imbalances among stakeholders and assisting negotiations to be more transparent and informed. This article presents an agenda for a new frontier in the field of deliberative governance: constructive engagement in water governance arenas through the promotion of inclusive, deliberative processes that emphasise different perspectives, critical analysis, learning and institution-building whilst respecting rights, accounting for risks, acknowledging responsibilities and fairly distributing rewards. This agenda is inspired by promising examples, from the Mekong Region and elsewhere, which demonstrate the need for deliberation that is information-rich, flexibly facilitated and actively promotes analysis of different views. The deliberative water governance agenda should be attractive to proponents of fairness, effectiveness and social justice in water governance arenas and their consequent decisions and impacts.
Building Support for Research Data Management: Biographies of Eight Research Universities
Authors: Akers Katherine G. , Sferdean Fe C. , Nicholls Natsuko H. , Green Jennifer A.
Published: November 2014

Academic research libraries are quickly developing support for research data management (RDM), including both new services and infrastructure. Here, we tell the stories of how eight different universities have developed programs of RDM support, focusing on the prominent role of the library in educating and assisting researchers with managing their data throughout the research lifecycle. Based on these stories, we construct timelines for each university depicting key steps in building support for RDM, and we discuss similarities and dissimilarities among universities in motivation to provide RDM support, collaborations among campus units, assessment of needs and services, and changes in staffing.
Altered Visual Sensory Fusion in Children with Reading Difficulties
Authors: González-Castro P. , Rodríguez C. , Núñez J. C. , Vallejo G. , González-Pienda J. A.
Published: November 2014

Reading is a multi-sensory and multi-cognitive task, and its difficulties (e.g., dyslexia) are not a unitary disorder. There are probably a variety of manifestations that relate to the actual site of impairment. A randomized, pre-test/post-test nonequivalent-groups design was conducted over 4 months with three groups aged between 6 and 8 years. One group comprised 76 participants (34 boys, 42 girls) with reading difficulties and altered sensory fusion (RD+ASF), a second group was made up of 123 students (59 boys, 64 girls) with reading difficulties but without altered sensory fusion (RD), and a third group comprised 81 participants (39 boys, 42 girls) who were young readers (RL) without reading delay, paired with the RD group on reading level. The experimental groups received intervention in the skills of control, stimulus recognition, and phonological awareness during a 4-month period. Both pre-test and post-test measures of errors in reading mechanics and reading routes (word and pseudo-word) were obtained. Poorer results in mechanics and reading routes of the RD+ASF group suggest that the effectiveness of the intervention depended on the characteristics of the groups and on the presence of sensory fusion deficits in the RD students.
Functional Analysis of Challenging Behavior in People with Severe Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Delgado-Casas C. , Navarro J. I. , Garcia-Gonzalez-Gordon R. , Marchena E.
Published: November 2014

Challenging behaviors exhibited by individuals with developmental disabilities often hinder the acquisition of academic, social, and life skills. Functional analysis has been useful for assessing challenging behavior in various settings. The purpose of this study was to implement an operant methodology for recognizing the functional properties of challenging behavior in people with intellectual disabilities. Four adults diagnosed with profound intellectual disability received assessment under several experimental conditions using a functional analysis methodology: social attention as positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement such as the termination of demands, positive tangible reinforcements, absence of social contingencies, and escape from noisy stimuli. Results showed that different types of reinforcement or avoiding contingencies affected the rate of aggression, self-injury, disruption, stereotypy, or socially offensive behaviors, and functional analysis may potentially be a viable alternative for identifying challenging behaviors.
Elisa Method For Serum Hepcidin Quantification In Bulgarian Population
Authors: Manolov V. , Atanasova B. , Vasilev V. , Tzatchev K. , Velizarova M.
Published: November 2014

Hepcidin is a 25-aminoacid cysteine-rich iron regulating peptide. Hepcidin quantification in human blood may provide further insights for the pathogenesis of disorders of iron homeostasis and might prove a valuable tool for clinicians for the differential diagnosis of anaemia. This study describes ELISA immunoassay for hepcidin quantification in human serum. We used a sandwich ELISA method from USCN Life Science inc., that consists of ready to use, pre-coated 96-well strip plate with 2 antihepcidin-25 monoclonal antibodies. A recombinant hepcidin in 16 μg/l concentration is used as a standard; it reconstitutes with 1.0 ml standard diluent to prepare a stock solution. We correlated ELISA results of hepcidin-25 measurements in healthy population with hemodialysis patients. The sandwich ELISA was highly specific for hepcidin-25, having a low limit of quantification of 0.020 μg/l. Hepcidin- 25 concentrations were increased in hemodialysis patients (median 33.05 μg/l, range 22.31 -60.98 μg/l, n = 10) compared with healthy individuals (median 12.41 μg/l, range 6.05-18.53 μg/l, n = 40). The use of 2 monoclonal antibodies in a sandwich ELISA format provides a robust, convenient and not very expensive method for measuring concentrations of the active form of hepcidin. It should help to improve our understanding of the role of hepcidin in regulating iron metabolism.
Early Clinical Effectiveness of ER:Yag Laser in Association with the Red Complex of Bacteria in the Initial Treatment of Moderate Chronic Periodontitis
Authors: Yaneva Bl. , Firkova E. , Karaslavova E.
Published: November 2014

Chronic periodontitis is a result of polymicrobial infection and its treatment aims removal of dental calculus and biofi lm from the periodontal pocket. Many hand and power-driven instruments are created for this purpose. In recent years, lasers are widely discussed tools for periodontal therapy. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the early microbiological and clinical effectiveness of the Er:YAG laser in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. 30 patients with moderate chronic periodontitis were enrolled in the study. Using a split-mouth design they were treated either with Er:YAG laser (chisel tip, 100 mJ, 15 Hz, 5-6 water spray)-test group or with Gracey curettes- control group. Probing pocket depth (PPD), gingival recession (GR), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing and plaque presence were evaluated at baseline and one month after the therapy. Microbiological samples were taken from the deepest four pockets of each quadrant from 20 randomly selected patients (n = 80). They were evaluated using real time PCR for periodontal pathogens from the red complex (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia). One month after therapy in the control group PPD decreased from 4.59 mm to 3.36 mm, the CAL gain was 1.09 mm and the reduction of bleeding and plaque - from 87.9% to 33.7% and from 75.9% to 40.9%, respectively. In the test group PPD decreased from 4.58 mm to 3.15 mm, the CAL gain was 1.37mm and the reduction of bleeding and plaque was from 85.6% to 25.9% one month after the treatment. The results were statistically significant in favour of the laser group (p < 0.05). Microbiological analysis revealed that the pathogens from the red complex decreased 3 times in the control and 6 times in the test group. Therefore, the Er:YAG laser demonstrate pronounced early effectiveness in chronic periodontitis treatment and would be appropriate alternative of the conventional periodontal therapy.
Resection of the Tooth Apex with Diode Laser
Authors: Uzunov Tz. , Uzunova P. , Uzunov T. , Grozdanova R.
Published: November 2014

An “in vitro” experimental study has been carried out on 70 extracted teeth. A laser resection of the root apex has been carried out with diode laser beam with a wavelength of - 810 ± 10 nm. Sequentially a radiation with increasing power has been applied, as follows: 1,3 W, 2W, 3W, 4W, 5W, 6W, 7W, in electro surgery mode. Successful resection of the tooth apex has been performed at: 3W; 4W; 5W; 6W and 7W power. It was established that when laser resected the tooth apex carbonizes.
Early Onset Basal Cell Carcinoma: Surgical Approach
Authors: Betekhtin M. , Ananiev J. , Tchernev G. , Zisova L. , Philipov S. , Hristova R.
Published: November 2014

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent non-melanoma skin cancer. Only 5-15% of BCC cases can be found in patients aged 20-40 years (so-called early onset). The early onset BCC is characterized by active and aggressive tumour growth, clinically presenting in most of the cases as a morpheaform, locally infiltrating or recurrent BCC. Despite the advances in the study of the pathogenesis of this tumour, surgery remains the most used, most effective and most suitable treatment modality. We describe a case of a 39-year-old woman who developed an early onset BCC of the nasolabial fold. After the subsequent surgical excision an excellent cosmetic result was achieved.
Subconjunctival Dirofilaria Repens
Authors: Neichev I. , Slaveykov K. , Trifonova K. , Chakarova B.
Published: November 2014

Dirofilariasis is a relatively rare zoonotic disease that affects mainly dogs. The two most common representatives are Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria nochtiella. Studies have documented the spread of the disease across Central and Eastern Europe in recent years due to global changes. In Bulgaria since 2001 there are around 20 cases of dirofilariasis in dogs registered yearly. We report a case of subconjuctival dirofilariasis in a 47-year-old woman living in Southwestern Bulgaria. The infection manifested as a painful, inflamed nodule in the left eye, containing a vital parasite. Morphological analysis aroused suspicion for a filarial worm belonging to the genus Dirofilaria. Subsequent analysis confirmed suspicions and identified the parasite as Dirofilaria repens. After removal, the subconjunctival nodule completely resolved and the patient was successfully cured.
River lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis L., fishery in Latvia – insight into the origin of catch statistics data
Authors: Abersons Kaspar , Birzaks Jānis
Published: November 2014

Most research to date on the status of the river lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis L. in Latvia has been done based on catch statistics data. The aim of this study was to explore the present status of the river lamprey fishery in Latvia to improve the understanding of catch statistics data. Currently, river lamprey fishing in Latvia is carried out at 24 fishing grounds located on 17 rivers. The most popular fishing gear is the lamprey fyke net, but lamprey weirs and lamprey trammel nets are also used. The type and design of the fishing gear depends on the parameters of the fishing ground. The catch size is highly variable and is greatly affected by the number of non-resources related circumstances, such as fishing regulations and meteorological factors determining the intensity of lamprey migration during the fishing season and opportunities for fishing during periods of the most intense migration. The fishing effort and the type of fishing gear have also largely changed since the 1960s and 1970s. Therefore, the fluctuation in both the long- and short-term catch data may not correspond to changes in the actual status of the lamprey population.
Cytological comparison of gill chloride cells and blood serum ion concentrations in kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum) spawners from brackish (Caspian Sea) and fresh water (Khoshkrood River) environments
Authors: Ghahremanzadeh Zahra , Namin Javid Imanpour , Bani Ali , Hallajian Ali
Published: November 2014

The size and number of chloride cells and serum ion concentrations in kutum, Rutillus frisii kutum Nordman, from brackish (Caspian Sea) and fresh water (Khoshkrood River) environments were studied to gain a better understanding of osmoregulation in this species. Twenty mature kutum specimens were collected from the Caspian Sea (Anzali coasts, 8.49 ppt salinity and 12.4°C temperature) and 20 specimens from Khoshkrood River (0.18 ppt salinity and 18°C temperature). Gill samples were analyzed histologically and concentrations of Na+, Cl- , K+, and Mg2+ ions were determined in the blood serum. Concentrations of Na+, Cl- , K+, and Mg2+ ions and osmotic pressure in mature kutum from brackish water were significantly higher than in specimens from fresh water. The average size and number of chloride cells in the fish from seawater were considerably larger than those from fresh water. The mean size of chloride cells was 6.89 ± 1.16 μm in brackish water samples and 5.1 ± 0.81 μm in river samples. The average number of chloride cells in brackish and river water samples were 16.92 and 6.57, respectively. The density and size of chloride cells increased with increases in salinity
Some applications of differential subordination to certain subclass of p-valent meromorphic functions involving convolution
Authors: Seoudy T. M. , Aouf M. K.
Published: November 2014

By using the principle of differential subordination, we introduce subclass of p-valent meromorphic functions involving convolution and investigate various properties for this subclass. We also indicate relevant connections of the various results presented in this paper with those obtained in earlier works.
A particular Galois connection between relations and set functions
Authors: Száz Árpád
Published: November 2014

Motivated by a recent paper of U. Höhle and T. Kubiak on regular sup-preserving maps, we investigate a particular Galois-type connection between relations on one set X to another Y and functions on the power set P(X) to P(Y ) . Since relations can largely be identified with union-preserving set functions, the results obtained can be used to provide some natural generalizations of most of the former results on relations and relators (families of relations). The results on inverses seem to be the only exceptions.
The Significance and Impact of Innovation Networks of Academia and Business with a Special Emphasis on Work-Based Learning
Authors: Hogeforster Max A. , Priedulena Elina
Published: November 2014

The Europe 2020 Strategy puts the quality and relevance of education and training systems at the heart of EU’s efforts to improve innovation and competitiveness and to achieve intelligent, sustainable and inclusive growth. The development of partnerships between vocational schools or higher-education institutions and the business sector must be considered as a critical factor in identifying learning requirements, improving the relevance of education and facilitating access to education and learning. The growing lack of skills is one of the major challenges for companies that rely on more highly qualified personnel. To increase the cooperation between academia and the business world means to integrate small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), since 99.2 per cent of European businesses are SMEs. They are the blood cells of the European economy and are essential for growth, yet a very heterogeneous group that can only be integrated in cooperation networks by intermediate organisations which tackle the needs of this diverse group of businesses. Such a partnership of 17 universities and polytechnics, including the University of Latvia, was founded in 2010 and is shortly introduced as a best practice example.To stay competitive in the globalised world, companies need to be innovative and that requires cooperation with knowledge institutions. A survey conducted in 2013 revealed that one of the major obstacles for SMEs to improve their innovation capabilities is their inability to find qualified personnel. This corresponds to the huge challenges the labour markets face in Europe. Almost all countries report a growing lack of skilled workforce while at the same time youth unemployment is increasing. This gap between the current qualifications and the qualifications demanded by businesses sector can be overcome by a closer cooperation between enterprises and education facilities, on a national but also international level between Western and Eastern countries. The introduction of work-based education plays a crucial role in narrowing this divide.
The EU-Eastern Partnership Countries: Association Agreements and Transdisciplinarity in Studies, Training and Research
Authors: Muravska Tatyana , Berlin Alexandre
Published: November 2014

The European Union (EU) signed Association Agreements on 27 June 2014 with Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine. The Association Agreement (AA) is the EU’s main instrument to bring the countries in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) closer to EU standards and norms. For the citizens of the EaP countries to benefit from these agreements, a more in-depth knowledge of the EU and the EU Member States is required to be reflected in a comparative approach to European Union studies. We examine these implications on the need to expand and adapt, the content and approach to research and teaching European Union studies, with the transdisciplinary approach becoming increasingly dominant, becoming a modern tool for research in social sciences. This contribution aims to offer insight into the implementation of transdisciplinarity in the methodology of education and research as it is determined by current increasing global challenges. This approach should serve as a means of integrating a number of main goals as part of learning, teaching and research processes: strengthening employability of young people and preparing them for citizenship. We discuss the need for modernizing European studies in the EU Member States that could serve as an example for the EU Eastern Partnership countries. We conclude that the theoretical approach to European and related studies of other disciplines and their practical implications should always be transdisciplinary in nature and benefit from direct in-situ exposure and should be fully integrated in university curricula
Software Reliability Estimate with Duplicated Components Based on Connection Structure
Authors: Li Zhen , Tian Junfeng , Zhao Pengyuan
Published: November 2014

Reliability testing of complex software at the system level is impossible due to the environmental constraint or the time limitation, so its reliability estimate is often obtained based on the reliability of subsystems or components. The connection structure was defined and the component-based software reliability was estimated based on it. For the present popular software with duplicated components, an approach to variance estimation of software reliability for complex structure systems was proposed, which has improved the hierarchical decomposition approach of variance estimation just for series-parallel systems. Experimental results indicated that the approach to variance estimation for reliability of software with duplicated components has advantages, such as the simple calculation process, small error result, and suitability for complex structure systems. Finally, the sensitivity analysis, used to identify critical components for resource allocation, could better improve the software reliability
Clustering of Authors’ Texts of English Fiction in the Vector Space of Semantic Fields
Authors: Pavlyshenko Bohdan
Published: November 2014

This paper describes the analysis of possible differentiation of the author’s idiolect in the space of semantic fields; it also analyzes the clustering of text documents in the vector space of semantic fields and in the semantic space with orthogonal basis. The analysis showed that using the vector space model on the basis of semantic fields is efficient in cluster analysis algorithms of author’s texts in English fiction. The study of the distribution of authors' texts in the cluster structure showed the presence of the areas of semantic space that represent the idiolects of individual authors. Such areas are described by the clusters where only one author dominates. The clusters, where the texts of several authors dominate, can be considered as areas of semantic similarity of author’s styles. SVD factorization of the semantic fields matrix makes it possible to reduce significantly the dimension of the semantic space in the cluster analysis of author’s texts. Using the clustering of the semantic field vector space can be efficient in a comparative analysis of author's styles and idiolects. The clusters of some authors' idiolects are semantically invariant and do not depend on any changes in the basis of the semantic space and clustering method.
Control and Diagnostic Model of Brushless Dc Motor
Authors: Abramov Ivan V. , Nikitin Yury R. , Abramov Andrei I. , Sosnovich Ella V. , Božek Pavol
Published: November 2014

A simulation model of brushless DC motor (BLDC) control and diagnostics is considered. The model has been developed using a freeware complex “Modeling in technical devices”. Faults and diagnostic parameters of BLDC are analyzed. A logicallinguistic diagnostic model of BLDC has been developed on basis of fuzzy logic. The calculated rules determine dependence of technical condition on diagnostic parameters, their trends and utilized lifetime of BLDC. Experimental results of BLDC technical condition diagnostics are discussed. It is shown that in the course of BLDC degradation the motor condition change depends on diagnostic parameter values
A Gyro-Free System for Measuring the Parameters of Moving Objects
Authors: Dichev Dimitar , Koev Hristofor , Bakalova Totka , Louda Petr
Published: November 2014

The present paper considers a new measurement concept of modeling measuring instruments for gyro-free determination of the parameters of moving objects. The proposed approach eliminates the disadvantages of the existing measuring instruments since it is based, on one hand, on a considerably simplified mechanical module, and on the other hand, on the advanced achievements in the area of nanotechnologies, microprocessor and computer equipment. A specific measuring system intended for measuring the trim, heel, roll, and pitch of a ship has been developed in compliance with the basic principles of this concept. The high dynamic accuracy of this measuring system is ensured by an additional measurement channel operating in parallel with the main channel. The operating principle of the additional measurement channel is based on an appropriate correction algorithm using signals from linear MEMS accelerometers. The presented results from the tests carried out by means of stand equipment in the form of a hexapod of six degrees of freedom prove the effectiveness of the proposed measurement concept
Influence of expanded graphite (EG) and graphene oxide (GO) on physical properties of PET based nanocomposites
Authors: Paszkiewicz Sandra , Nachman Małgorzata , Szymczyk Anna , Špitalský Zdeno , Mosnáček Jaroslav , Rosłaniec Zbigniew
Published: November 2014

This work is the continuation and refinement of already published communications based on PET/EG nanocomposites prepared by in situ polymerization1, 2. In this study, nanocomposites based on poly(ethylene terephthalate) with expanded graphite were compared to those with functionalized graphite sheets (GO). The results suggest that the degree of dispersion of nanoparticles in the PET matrix has important effect on the structure and physical properties of the nanocomposites. The existence of graphene sheets nanoparticles enhances the crystallization rate of PET. It has been confirmed that in situ polymerization is the effective method for preparation nanocomposites which can avoid the agglomeration of nanoparticles in polymer matrices and improve the interfacial interaction between nanofiller and polymer matrix. The obtained results have shown also that due to the presence of functional groups on GO surface the interactions with PET matrix can be stronger than in the case of exfoliated graphene (EG) and matrix.
English for International Trade Law
Authors: Bilová Štĕpánka
Published: November 2014

The Faculty of Law at Masaryk University in Brno, the Czech Re- public, offers several fields of studies, one of them being the three-year Bachelor’s degree programme of International Trade Law. This programme includes two semesters of English for specific purposes which the students take in their first year of studies. However, as the programme is offered as a part time study, there are only 10 lessons of English taught within two days per semester. Preparing a course which would develop the students’ language abilities and skills in the international trade law environment appears to be rather challenging under such conditions.

In the paper I would like to share the ideas and experience from re- designing the syllabus for this course of English for international trade law. I describe the process from the original syllabus to a new one in which the teaching situation and students’ needs are taken into account. The course in- tends to include both product and process oriented goals and helps to improve general professional needs. In order to cover the field specific vocabulary, language practice and soft skills development within the above mentioned limited time frame, the students need to work both before and after the classes. The course is going to be piloted this year and we expect further modifications after its evaluation.
Performatives in Cypriot, Greek and Polish Texts of Normative Acts. A Comparative Study
Authors: Gortych-Michalak Karolina
Published: November 2014

The theory of speech acts, formulated by Austin and developed by Searle, is widely applied to analyse and classify various speech acts. In this paper it is assumed that legal texts, especially normative acts i.e. constitutions and statutes, are direct speech acts. Normative acts (statutory instruments) are linguistic entities and they do not exist outside the language, thus the theory of speech acts may be applied to examine them. They are also considered to be performative utterances according to Austin’s classification. In this paper the intention is to compare Cypriot, Greek and Polish normative acts on the basis of the so-called classical theory of speech acts and typology of performativity exponents. The author will compare various methods of expressing performativity in reference to the meaning conveyed by them. Furthermore, other exponents of performativity occurring in the analysed texts (the so-called extra textual methods of expressing performativity) shall also be compared. The results obtained while performing the analysis and comparison may be significant for scholars, lawyers and translators
Did introduction of pneumococcal vaccines in the Netherlands decrease the need for respiratory antibiotics in children? Analysis of 2002 to 2013 data
Authors: Gefenaite G , Bijlsma M J , Bos H J , Hak E
Published: November 2014

To estimate the effect of the introduction of the 7- and 10-valentpneumococcal vaccines in 2006 and 2011, respectively in the Netherlands, we assessed respiratory antibiotic use in one to nine year-old children between 2002 and 2013. Seasonal autoregressive integrated moving-average models were applied to estimate the percentage reduction in respiratory antibiotic use. When compared with the pre-vaccination period, the proportion of respiratory antibiotic prescriptions fell by 4.94% (95% CI: 4.63 to 5.26) and 9.02% (95% CI: 2.83 to 14.82) after the introduction of the 7-valent vaccine in children aged three and four years, respectively. After the introduction of the 10-valent vaccine, we observed a reduction of 13.04% (95% CI: 2.76 to 22.23), 20.31% (95% CI: 13.50 to 26.58), 16.92% (95% CI: 3.07 to 28.80), 22.34% (95% CI: 3.73 to 37.35), 23.75% (95% CI: 2.37 to 40.44) in two, three, four, six and seven year-old children, respectively. Thus, our results indicate a reduction in respiratory antibiotic prescriptions in young children after introduction of the pneumococcal vaccines. As only children in our study population aged one and two years born after March 2011 had received the 10-valent vaccine, the effects of the 10-valent vaccine in children aged three to nine years likely reflect the effects of the 7-valent vaccine and herd immunity.
Four-month outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease caused by a rare serogroup B strain, identified through the use of molecular PorA subtyping, England, 2013
Authors: Chatt C , Gajraj R , Hawker J , Neal K , Tahir M , Lawrence M , Gray S J , Lucidarme J , Carr A D , Clark S A , Fowler T
Published: November 2014

Molecular PorA subtyping provides information that increasingly requires the adaptation of standard public health approaches to outbreak management. We report an outbreak of a rare subtype of meningococcal infection not previously identified in the United Kingdom (UK). The outbreak occurred in the Warwickshire area in England between February and June 2013. Molecular subtyping allowed the identification of additional cases, prompting an enhanced public health response that included efforts to identify potential social networks that might benefit from chemoprophylaxis. It also prompted swabbing to define nasopharyngeal carriage in the focal nursery and helped explain the unusual epidemiological pattern. Without subtyping to identify a link, the additional cases would have been managed as sporadic cases in accordance with current UK guidance.
High-level azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae clinical isolate in France, March 2014
Authors: Berçot B , Belkacem A , Goubard A , Mougari F , Sednaoui P , La Ruche G , Cambau E
Published: November 2014

We report the first case in France of a high-level azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)?=?96 mg/L) assigned to MLST7363 (NG-MAST ST6360), also resistant to ciprofloxacin and tetracycline but susceptible to ceftriaxone. The patient was a 51 year-old heterosexual man who returned following 1g azithromycin monotherapy. Mechanisms of azithromycin resistance were a C2599T mutation in the four copies of the rrl gene and a novel mutation in the promoter of the mtrR gene.
OBSERVATION OF SIMULATED ACID RAIN IMPACT ON CHICKPEA PLANT
Authors: Khan Abrar Ahmad , Khan Mustabeen
Published: November 2014

The effect of simulated acid rain (SAR) on plant growth, yield and photosynthetic pigments ofchickpea (Cicer areitinum L.) var.T-3 was studied in glass house condition. Three acidity levels, pH5.0, 4.0 and 3.0 (IN H2S04 and IN HN03) were applied twice in a week on chickpea plants. Symptomslike yellowing, lesions on lamina and marginal necrosis were observed with variations in alltreatments. Plant growth, yield and photosynthetic pigments were reduced in all the treatments beinghighest at pH 3.0. Thus acid rain was found harmful to chickpea crop.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/eco.v20i0.11468ECOPRINT An International Journal of EcologyVol. 20, 2013page: 77-80
PLANT RESOURCE AND UTILIZATION: A CASE STUDY IN KANCHANPUR DISTRICT, FAR-WESTERN TARAI, NEPAL
Authors: Pant Gunanand , Yadav Ram Kailash P.
Published: November 2014

The present study aims to explore and document the plant resources used by different communities ofSuda and Daijee VDC of Kanchanpur district. A total of 151 plant species belonging to 58 familiesand 133 genera have been identified and documented. Most of them have medicinal properties intheir bark, root, and fruits. A large number of these identified species are used for gastro-intestinalproblems, rheumatism, chest infection, cut and wound and in fever. Elderly people and traditionalhealers of the areas have vast knowledge on ethanomedicinal practices along with various rituals incomparison to the young generation. The knowledge transformation system is quite restricted withinfamily. Mostly exploited plant species like Piper longum, Emblica officinalis, Asparagus racemosus,Terminallia chebula, Terminalia bellirica, Acorus calamus, Azadirchta indica, Cordia vestita,Rauvolfia serpentina, Acacia catechu, Cinnamomum tamala, Zinziber officinalis, and Pterocarpusmarsupium are under threat of extinction due to growing human pressure as well as habitatdegradation impacted by anthropogenic activities such as grazing, expansion of agriculture land,forest fire, etc.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/eco.v20i0.11470ECOPRINTAn International Journal of EcologyVol. 20, 2013page: 89-95
Viscosity Analysis of a Polymer-Based Drug Delivery System Using Open-Source CFD Methods and High-Pressure Capillary Rheometry
Authors: Juster H. R. , Distlbacher T. , Steinbichler G.
Published: November 2014

In this study the viscosity behavior of the polymer-based drug delivery system (Soluplus-Fenofibrate) at high shear rates was investigated using (i) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods and (ii) experimental data acquired with a high-pressure capillary rheometer. The barrel and capillary were rebuilt in the virtual domain by means of finite-volume methods and used for fluid dynamic simulations. Our primary focus was on validating the Carreau-Winter and Yasuda material models in the Open Field Operation and Manipulation program (OpenFOAM) and investigating their usefulness in this type of simulation.

First, the models were fitted to experimental data from a well-known system – polystyrene type (145D, BASF). The results showed that the Yasuda model fit must be applied to obtain the correct material properties when simulating a non-Newtonian melt flow in a wide range of shear rates. The Carreau-Winter model was found to be valid only in the zero shear-rate viscosity region. On the basis of these findings, the Soluplus-Fenofibrate system was subsequently characterized and simulated. We observed that Fenofibrate (lipid-regulating agent) acts as a plasticizer in this polymer system and decreases system viscosity at lower shear rates compared to pure the Soluplus (polyvinyl caprolactam-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer) at the same temperatures.

Our results show that the viscosity models can be implemented accurately even for processes with high shear rates, which also involve high temperatures.
Carbon Black Reinforced Thermoplastic Vulcanizates Based on High Impact Polystyrene/Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene Block Copolymer/Styrene-Butadiene Rubber Blends
Authors: Li S. , Wei D.-Y. , Zhao J. , Wang Z.-B.
Published: November 2014

Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) based on high impact polystyrene (HIPS)/styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SBS)/styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) blends were prepared by dynamic vulcanization, with the TPVs being reinforced by carbon black (CB). Experimental results indicated that mechanical properties of dynamically vulcanized HIPS/SBS/SBR blends were enhanced remarkably by the incorporation of CB. The fracture surface morphology of the reinforced HIPS/SBS/SBR/CB TPVs was relatively flat. The Mullins effect could be observed in the stress-strain curves of HIPS/SBS/SBR TPVs and HIPS/SBS/SBR/CB TPVs during the uniaxial loading-unloading cycles. Compared with HIPS/SBS/SBR TPVs, CB-reinforced HIPS/SBS/SBR TPVs had the relatively higher stress, residual strain and internal friction loss.
Processing of Polyetherimide/Cloisite 30B Nanocomposite by Vibration Casting Method
Authors: Dwivedi M. , Gaur K. K. , Alam S. , Bhatnagar N. , Ghosh A. K.
Published: November 2014

Vibration casting method was developed for making polyetherimide (PEI)/Cloisite 30B nanocomposite. Towards this, a vibration casting apparatus was designed and developed. Vibration casting apparatus provided vibrational energy and heat, simultaneously. The processing parameters were established for vibration casting in terms of frequency of vibration, temperature, time and viscosity of casting mixture. Casting mixture of PEI/Cloisite 30B/N,N-dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) was made by dissolving PEI in DMAc and then mixing Cloisite 30B in this solution. The viscosity of PEI/Cloisite 30B/DMAc mixture was optimized for casting by controlling the volume fraction of PEI in DMAc. Morphology of PEI/Cloisite 30B nanocomposite was examined by wide angle X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and contact angle measurement. Mechanical and thermal properties of PEI/Cloisite 30B nanocomposite were also compared with that of neat PEI to ascertain the efficacy of vibration casting method.
Study on the Polymer Melt Flow in a Closely Intermeshing Counter-Rotating Twin Screw Extruder
Authors: Wilczyński K. , Lewandowski A.
Published: November 2014

An extensive study has been presented on the polymer melt flow in a closely intermeshing counter-rotating twin screw extruder. A fully three-dimensional non-Newtonian FEM computations have been performed to design the screw pumping characteristics which may be implemented into the composite model of the process. ANSYS Polyflow software has been applied to model the melt flow in the machine. An analysis has been performed for the flow in the C-chamber, and the leakage flows have been identified over the calender gap, tetrahedron gap, flight gap, and side gap. Screw pumping characteristics have been calculated and modeled for screw elements at various power law indices. It has been observed that a thick flighted element due to the positive displacement effect has got high pumping capacity increasing with an increase of the power law index. A shearing element has got no pumping capacity, and in this case a pressure gradient must be applied to push the material through an element, and the gradient increases with an increase of the power law index. Negative pressure gradient has been observed for thick flighted elements at some simulation data, and a respective reorientation of the velocity flow field has been seen.
Linking Police and Hospital Road Accident Records
Authors: Amorim Marco , Ferreira Sara , Couto António
Published: November 2014

This paper presents the description of various steps to be applied in the linkage of road traffic accident records through a case study from the city of Porto, Portugal. The complexity of this process stems primarily from several issues found in the data sets: mistakes and missing values were frequently detected, and only a few common data fields could be matched by the linkage process. This study used the application of a mixed deterministic and weight-based probabilistic method to link police and hospital records. The tolerance calibration and weights computation were critical for the final linkage rate as well as for the correct matching of the results. The results obtained lay within the range of rates found by other authors. Furthermore, to improve the record linkage results, a validation process based on the emergency ambulance data was performed. Despite missing values, 98% of the matched records were verified as true matches. Finally, a preliminary investigation of bias after data linkage is described; it shows that the variables selected for comparison indicate similar statistical values. The main outcome of this study is a road accident linkage process that can be adapted, developed, and applied in different contexts and that aims to promote development of police, hospital, and emergency ambulance data in Portugal and other countries. Additional development is planned for each step presented in this paper.