bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Visual Form of Estonian Newspapers from 1806 to 1940 and the Appearance Spiral Model
Authors: Kurvits Roosmarii
Published: February 2017

Changes in the visual form of newspapers are considered to be connected to changes in society, technologies, and aesthetic ideals. The present chapter explores the changes in the visual form of Estonia’s major newspapers between 1806 and 1940, and whether Mervola’s model of visual changes, in Finnish newspapers, is applicable to Estonia’s newspapers. Content analysis is used to analyse the data. The analysis shows that Estonian newspapers considerably changed their visual form twice during this period. These changes in visual form were linked to social and economic factors, and three specific influencers were present prior to both instances of change. At first, rapid social changes caused a volume-jump in the newspaper issue (1.5 times in five years), and then competition and journalistic professionalization were needed to trigger the changes in the visual form. Technical evolution did not force newspapers to change, but was instrumental only when social factors demanded changes.
Making Sense of Violent Events in Public Spaces
Authors: Höijer Birgitta , Rasmussen Joel
Published: February 2017

Violence in public spaces gives headlines in the media and is an issue of great concern for the public. It is threatening both on the societal and private level and shakes our belief in the rational and secure social world that was formulated by modernity and the welfare state. The article takes it point of departure in unforeseeable violent events in public spaces that in the media are labelled acts of madness and in which the perpetrators are pointed out as suffering from mental disorders. Results are presented from a study of how citizens attach social and cultural meanings to such events and it is shown how the meanings can be understood in relation to transformations in the emotional-cognitive climate of contemporary society. A culturally conditioned fear and worry, dilemmas and processes of individualization are discussed as crucial dimensions in institutional and public thinking about society and everyday life.
Gender Stereotyping of Political Candidates
Authors: Aalberg Toril , Jenssen Anders Todal
Published: February 2017

Electoral research has demonstrated how men and women sometimes have different political preferences. Men are typically thought to be more concerned about taxation, business policies, etc., while women care more about issues related to the welfare state. Thus, it seems obvious that stereotyping influences candidate evaluation with regard to issue competence. In this article, we investigate whether stereotyping also influences how the electorate views the communication skills of the candidates. We ask whether the gender of politicians affects the way citizens evaluate various aspects of the qualities of a political speech, and thus their support for political parties. The experiment used in this study is based on a pre- and post-stimuli questionnaire. Stimuli are videotapes of genuine political speeches (originally given by party leaders in October 2000) performed for the experiment by one female and one male actor. Our main finding is that the male “politician” was believed to be more knowledgeable, trustworthy and convincing than the female “politician” even though they presented the same speech verbatim. These differences in scores were the result of the male part of the audience consistently rating the female lower and the male higher than did the females in the audience. Among the female audience, the two politicians received almost identical scores on all traits. The candidate’s popularity and the popularity of the candidate’s party were also affected by the gender of the politician who performed the speech.
The Role of Aesthetics in Web Design
Authors: Thorlacius Lisbeth
Published: February 2017

Web sites are rapidly becoming the preferred media choice for information search, company presentation, shopping, entertainment, education, and social contacts. At the same time we live in a period where visual symbols play an increasingly important role in our daily lives. The aim of this article is to present and discuss the four main areas in which aesthetics play an important role in the design of successful Web sites: aesthetics play an important role in supporting the content and the functionality, in appealing to the taste of the target audience, in creating the desired image for the sender, and in addressing the requirements of the Web site genre.
Research on Organizational Communication
Authors: Johansson Catrin
Published: February 2017

Swedish research on organizational communication is characterized by empirical, qualitative research. The tradition of holistic and profound case studies is strong. In this article, a wide definition of organizational communication is employed, including research focusing on both internal and external communication. Research themes and methods are reviewed and discussed. The majority of the studies concern public information, including health communication and crisis communication. Particularly, scholars have studied planning and evaluation of information campaigns concerning health, traffic and environment; and more recently, authority communication during major crises in society. Research focusing on organizations’ internal communication includes topics such as superior-subordinate communication, organizational learning, sensemaking, communication strategies and communication efficiency.

Strengths and weaknesses following from this empirical case study research tradition are highlighted. Finally, the contribution of Swedish research in an international perspective is discussed.
Emotional Responses to Top Politicians in a General Election
Authors: Hansen Flemming , Lundsteen Steen , Christensen Sverre Riis
Published: February 2017

Voting behaviour has been studied as a specific form of individual behaviour and has primarily been seen as the result of reflection and deliberation on behalf of the individual. In general consumer behaviour research, the focus is increasingly on the seemingly unconscious and emotionally controlled processes that seem to shape a large part of consumer responses to brands, services and communication. The objective of this paper is to study the influence that emotional reactions have on voter behaviour in connection with a general election. The opportunity arose to carry out a pre- and a post-evaluation of voters’ emotional responses to 6 major party leaders. The results support the notion that constant or increasing positive emotional reaction does in fact accompany election success, whilst election failure is accompanied by decreasing levels of emotional response. The results and their implications for political marketing in the context of an election are discussed.
Public Opinion, Journalism and the Question of Finland’s Membership of NATO
Authors: Rahkonen Juho
Published: February 2017

The big question behind the research on media and democracy is: do media influence public opinion and the actual policy? The discussion about Finland’s NATO membership is a case in point. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, there has been a continuous public debate about whether Finland should join NATO. In the last 16 years, however, public opinion on NATO membership has not changed much. Despite the changes in world politics, such as NATO enlargement and new weapons technology, Finns still rely on military non-alliance and want to keep their own army strong. During the last ten years, there seems to be no correlation between media coverage and public opinion: pro-NATO media content has not been able to make Finns’ attitudes towards NATO more positive. The information provided by most of the Finnish newspapers is different from the way ordinary people see NATO. In the papers’ view, joining the alliance would be a natural step in Finland’s integration into Western democratic organizations. Ordinary people on the contrary consider NATO more as a (U.S. led) military alliance which is not something Finland should be a part of. Historical experiences also discourage military alignment. In the light of data drawn from newspaper articles and opinion polls, the article suggests that journalism has had only a slight effect on public opinion about Finland’s NATO membership. The NATO issue does not count for much in any measurements that have been made regarding the preferences of Finnish voters. As the NATO issue is not considered to be important, most people do not have enough motivation to learn about NATO. Thus, the journalistic interpretation of NATO has not reached the general public, leaving the impact of the media limited.
The Rhetorical State of Alert before the Iraq War 2003
Authors: Mral Brigitte
Published: February 2017

Initiating an attack on another country is always a questionable venture, whether one chooses to call it war or prefers euphemisms such as conflict, incident, action or peacecreating measures. This study examines how the arguments were developed prior to the military actions in Iraq 2003. The events have been presented in vague and often distorted value terms and metaphors where war becomes peace, attacks becomes ‘pre-emptive defence’, military invasion becomes ‘change of regime’, occupation becomes ‘humanitarian intervention’.This study provides a diachronic survey of the chain of events from rhetorical perspectives, as well as a synchronic analysis of recurring rhetorical themes - especially of vague concepts and metaphors.

Manipulation and lies has of course always been a basic ingredient of warfare. The question is what approach democratic societies should take in relation to self-evidently deceptive influencing of public opinion; to manipulative rhetoric and destructive propaganda.
Analysing Inference
Authors: Roksvold Thore
Published: February 2017

In the article “Analyse inference - and ethos-implicature in particular” I discuss and define the notions of inference, presuppositions, premises and implicature as notions of what sort of information texts carry between the lines, i.e. beneath the surface level. Through this discussion I hope and think it may be possible to use the notions more precisely. By way of clarifying the concept I find it appropriate to distinguish between statistical, semantic, logical and pragmatic inference. I especially focus how inferred information contributes to the constitution of the author’s ethos. As an example, I analyse (and criticise) ethos-implicature in a commentary article in a Norwegian newspaper. Tools for the analysis are both from argumentation theory and stylistics.
Interpreting and Explaining Historical Texts – Is it Possible?
Authors: Vagle Wenche
Published: February 2017

With reference to particular problems of interpretations that radio listeners of today are likely to encounter when listening to a Norwegian radio reportage from the 1930s, this article discusses the question of whether it is possible for present-day readers/viewers/ listeners or text analysts to understand texts from the past in the way that they were originally meant to be understood. It is argued that we need to gain some kind of access to the contexts that once engendered the texts if we are to arrive at historically acceptable interpretations and explanations of them. The article suggests a solution to the problem of historical text analysis, namely historical context reconstruction. This solution is concretised in terms of a specific methodology, which has here been used for research on the formation and first development of the genre system of Norwegian radio. This methodology involves the application of three different text-context models for discourse-analytical purposes:

1. Halliday’s structural correlation model

2. The multistratal realisation model developed within social semiotics

3. Goffman’s frame model.
Evaluation of Quality in Computer Games
Authors: Sandvik Kjetil
Published: February 2017

Computer games play an important role in the cultural daily life of children, teenagers and adults. This has led to arguments both in the EU and the Nordic countries that computer games should be included in the culture political strategies for financial funding as well as the development of talents for the game industry. Still this has yet to result in culture political efforts and progressive strategies on a larger scale. On the contrary the political initiatives tend to result in restrictions more than efforts being made to encourage and develop the game industry. This article draws a picture of the current culture political situation and criticizes the media skeptical debate for making a poor starting point for formulating a progressive political strategy. It would be more fruitful to have a closer look at the specific characteristics of computer games and how computer games are being played and the role they are playing in the social life of different groups of player. The article outlines ananalytical apparatus for evaluation of quality in computer games.
Community Photographs
Authors: Seppänen Janne
Published: February 2017

The research subject of this article is formed by a project with the title Two Pictures of My Town. The project was carried out during spring 2002 in the town of Tampere, Finland, when town district or suburb communities, and in one case a sixth-form class, were asked to ‘get to the bare essentials’ of their town district and present them in two photographs with short captions.

The following research questions were asked:

What kinds of visual orders can be found in the paired photographs? What kind of politics of representation is included in these orders? What kind of identity work is expressed by the photographs’ visual orders and politics of representation? The photographs were interpreted through a theoretical researcher reading.

Photographs in which the local identity was constructed on the basis of familiar and safe visual orders offered a relatively solid and legitimate basis for local identities. These photographs repeated the visual orders of traditional tourist photographs and nature photography. If the two photographs commented the changes in the look of the neighbourhood, for example the differences between old and new architecture, they offered a more discontinuous basis for local identity construction. On the other hand, they provided alternative surface of identification for those who do not accept prevailing visual orders of the neighbourhood.
Winner Takes It All
Authors: Gynnild Astrid
Published: February 2017

Journalist empowerment or journalist depowerment? Both tendencies are increasing in the new global communication market. News competition is most obvious among extreme risk taking journalists. The more risky the task, the fewer competitors and the easier a winnertakes- it-all-position is obtained. In this article commercial aspects of freelance journalism as both a drawback and a necessary condition for this development is explored. Competence in fields of great demand, skills in cross media work and strategies for personal branding are fundamental for professionals taking part in the race. Dilemmas with free lance journalism are approached and discussed through a case study of the private enterprise of freelance war reporter Åsne Seierstad. At the age of 33, Seierstad has never had a permanent employment in her life, yet she has become an attractive journalistic brand both nationally and internationally.
Defining Objectivity within Journalism
Authors: Wien Charlotte
Published: February 2017

The article seeks the roots of the journalistic concept of objectivity in various theoretical schools. It argues that the concept of objectivity in journalism originates in the positivistic tradition and, furthermore, that it is strongly related to tan earlier theoretical school within historiography. Journalism has made several attempts have been made by journalism to break free of the positivistic objectivity paradigm, none of them very successful, however. The paper discusses each of these attempts. Finally, using the concept of objectivity as a prism, the paper sketches out what might be termed a landscape of journalism theory.
The Accumulation Effect
Authors: Palmaru Raivo
Published: February 2017

Although numerous studies over the past 20 years have revealed a clear connection between content analysis statistics and the results of public opinion surveys, the media’s “minimal effects” hypothesis still remains the overwhelmingly prevailing view. Among other things, it is not clear which of the two influences the other: Do people’s political preferences influence the media or do the media influence people’s preferences? In order to test this, the results of the 1999 and 2003 general elections and the 2002 local elections in Estonia, as well as the results of current public opinion surveys, were compared to the coverage given to the campaigning parties in the largest Estonian newspapers. The analysis showed that the coverage of political parties in the print media, as determined by the frequency of valuative notations, described the election results to a great extent. It is noteworthy that a change in media content was followed by a change in public opinion. At the same time, an accumulation effect became obvious: The voters’ preferences for political parties accumulated diachronically during the course of several weeks based on the information that was available to them.
Phenology of Passerine bird migration in the Danube Delta, Romania
Authors: Droz Boris , Joye Sabrina , de Titta Alexandre , Schneider Fabian , Antoniazza Sylvain
Published: February 2017

The Palearctic-African bird migration system has fascinated ornithologists for decades and is one of the most well-known. However, there is strong spatial variation in the level of knowledge, and the South-Eastern European Flyway (which passes through the Balkan Peninsula) has been studied far less than the Western European Flyway (which passes through the Iberian Peninsula and Italy). In this study, we describe the phenology of 16 common woodland species, with a detailed analysis of the pre-migration period as well as an age-specific analysis of the timing of migration. As a general trend for species wintering in sub-Saharan Africa, adult birds migrated before first-year birds, in contrast with short-distance Mediterranean wintering species, in which we observed no difference. We also provide information comparing the timing of the migration of birds with characters of subspecies of Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus and Chiffchaff Phyloscopus collybita, which have not previously been reported.
Anthropogenic or ecological trap: what is causing the population decline of the Lapwing Vanellus vanellus in Western Ukraine?
Authors: Shydlovskyy Ihor , Kuzyo Hanna
Published: February 2017

Ecological and anthropogenic traps exist and exert a negative effect on Lapwing populations. We believe that an anthropogenic trap is a partial or delayed manifestation of an ecological trap. In recent decades Lapwing communities have shown higher affiliation with urban landscapes, which negatively influences breeding success and the overall density of the species. It appears that the Lapwing has fallen into an anthropogenic trap, which in Ukraine is represented by agricultural landscapes. The decline in the Lapwing population is mainly caused by high intensity of agriculture, overgrazing, desolation of agricultural lands, changes in the water regime of rivers and lakes, global forestation, increasing disturbance by recreational activity and tourism, and an increase in the distribution and number of predatory mammals. Controlled burns of dead vegetation performed in late spring, household waste disposal, and construction work all contribute to the loss of breeding grounds. As a result the majority of local Lapwing populations declined during last decade, and some populations have gone completely extinct.
Mortality in South African Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis from 1951 to 1987
Authors: Kopij Grzegorz
Published: February 2017

Of 46,160 birds ringed in South African heronries from 1951 through 1987, 481 were subsequently recovered (recovery rate: 1.04%). Most of these birds were ringed in the Western Cape (N = 173), KwaZulu-Natal (N = 142) and Gauteng (N = 106). The age of the recovered birds ranged from 0 to 23 years. Almost two thirds were 0-2 years old, and only 1.2% were 15 years or older. The average age of the recovered birds was 4.9 years (N = 465). The mortality rate was highest in their first and second year (31-36%). Nearly one third of the birds recovered (N = 134) were sick or injured, and 30.6% had been shot. Relatively low mortality, a long life span and relatively low predation pressure may contribute to the great success of the Cattle Egret in colonising various parts of the world. The paper presents the initial state for the likely future evolution of the distribution of the species.
‘Reflections from the Margins’ - Working Class White Boys, Educational Underachievement and Uncertain Futures
Authors: Tucker Stanley
Published: February 2017

This article explores the perceptions of a group of working class white boys living in the West Midlands area of the United Kingdom. Using original data generated from a series of in-depth personal interviews matters of educational underachievement, future job prospects and ambitions are explored. In capturing the ‘voice’ of the young people concerned specific attention is given to how a variety of social, economic and class-based factors shape their personal and collective perceptions. It is argued that the dominant social construction of the period of youth, commonly represented through the young people’s views, is underpinned by notions of marginalisation, problematisation, social exclusion and discrimination. The case is made for re-orientating the nature of school relationships and adjusting the curriculum to reflect the needs and experiences of the young people involved.
Torsional Shear Device for Testing the Dynamic Properties of Recycled Material
Authors: Gabryś Katarzyna , Sas Wojciech , Soból Emil , Głuchowski Andrzej
Published: February 2017

From the viewpoint of environmental preservation and effective utilization of resources, it is beneficial and necessary to reuse wastes, for example, concrete, as the recycled aggregates for new materials. In this work, the dynamic behavior of such aggregates under low frequency torsional loading is studied. Results show that the properties of such artificial soils match with those reported in the literature for specific natural soils.
Corrugated Shell Displacements During the Passage of a Vehicle Along a Soil-Steel Structure
Authors: Machelski Czesław , Mumot Marcin
Published: February 2017

Corrugated steel plates are highly rigid and as the constructions can be immersed in soil, they can be used as soil-steel structures. With an increase of cover depth, the effectiveness of operating loads decreases. A substantial reduction of the impacts of vehicles takes place as a road or rail surface with its substructure is crucial. The scope of load’s impact greatly exceeds the span L of a shell. This article presents the analysis of deformations of the upper part of a shell caused by a live load. One of the assumptions used in calculations performed in Plaxis software was the circle-shaped shell and the circumferential segment of the building structure in the 2D model. The influence lines of the components of vertical and horizontal displacements of points located at the highest place on the shell were used as a basis of analysis. These results are helpful in assessing the results of measurements carried out for the railway structure during the passage of two locomotives along the track. This type of load is characterized by a steady pressure onto wheels with a regular wheel base. The results of measurements confirmed the regularity of displacement changes during the passage of this load.
Conditions of Proper Interaction of Low-Pressure Injection Piles (LIP) with Structure and Soil, Carrying Capacity of Pile Anchorage in Foundation
Authors: Pachla Henryk
Published: February 2017

The formation of a pile in the existing foundation and soil creates a new foundation construction which has a structure of foundation-pile-soil. This construction must be able to transfer loads from the foundation to the pile and from the pile to the soil.

The pile structure has to transfer an imposed load. From the point of view of continuum mechanics determination of the capacity of such a system is preceded by the analysis of contact problem of three contact surfaces. Each of these surfaces is determined by different pairs of materials. The pair which creates a pile anchorage is a material from which the foundation is built (structure of stone and grout, brick and grout, concrete or reinforced concrete and grout. The pile structure is formed by grout and steel rebar. The pile formed in soil is created by a pair of grout and soil. What is important is that on contact surfaces the materials adhering to one another are subjected to different deformation types that are controlled by mechanical properties and geometry of these surfaces.

In the paper, additional conditions that should be fulfilled for the foundation-pile-soil system to make load transfer from foundation to soil possible and safe are presented. The results of research done by the author on foundation-pile contact surface are discussed. The tests were targeted at verifying the bearing capacity of anchorage and deformation of piles made of grout and other materials from which foundations are built. The specimens were tested in tension and compression. The experiments were conducted on the amount specimens which is regarded as small sample to enable the statistical analysis of the results.
Stress-Dilatancy for Soils. Part II: Experimental Validation for Triaxial Tests
Authors: Szypcio Zenon
Published: February 2017

Different forms of the stress-dilatancy relations obtained based on the frictional theory for the triaxial condition are presented. The analysed test data show that the shear resistance of many soils is purely frictional. The angle Φ0 represents the resistance of the soil as a combined effect of sliding and particle rolling on the macro-scale during shear at the critical frictional state. The stress-plastic dilatancy relations differ not only for triaxial compression and extension but also for drained and undrained conditions. The experiment investigated shows the correctness of the frictional state theory in the triaxial condition.
Susan Stebbing, Incomplete Symbols and Foundherentist Meta-Ontology
Authors: Janssen-Lauret Frederique
Published: February 2017

Susan Stebbing’s work on incomplete symbols and analysis was instrumental in clarifying, sharpening, and improving the project of logical constructions which was pivotal to early analytic philosophy. She dispelled use-mention confusions by restricting the term ‘incomplete symbol’ to expressions eliminable through analysis, rather than those expressions’ purported referents, and distinguished linguistic analysis from analysis of facts. In this paper I explore Stebbing’s role in analytic philosophy’s development from anti-holism, presupposing that analysis terminates in simples, to the more holist or foundherentist analytic philosophy of the later 20th century. I read Stebbing as a transitional figure who made room for more holist analytic movements, e.g., applications of incomplete symbol theory to Quinean ontological commitment. Stebbing, I argue, is part of a historical narrative which starts with the holism of Bradley, an early influence on her, to which Moore and Russell’s logical analysis was a response. They countered Bradley’s holist reservations about facts with the view that the world is built up out of individually knowable simples. Stebbing, a more subtle and sympathetic reader of the British idealists, defends analysis, but with important refinements and caveats which prepared the way for a return to foundherentism and holism within analytic philosophy.
Pixying Behavior: A Versatile Real-Time andPost HocAutomated Optical Tracking Method for Freely Moving and Head Fixed Animals
Authors: Nashaat Mostafa A. , Oraby Hatem , Peña Laura Blanco , Dominiak Sina , Larkum Matthew E. , Sachdev Robert N. S.
Published: February 2017

Here, we describe an automated optical method for tracking animal behavior in both head-fixed and freely moving animals, in real time and offline. It takes advantage of an off-the-shelf camera system, the Pixy camera, designed as a fast vision sensor for robotics that uses a color-based filtering algorithm at 50 Hz to track objects. Using customized software, we demonstrate the versatility of our approach by first tracking the rostro-caudal motion of individual adjacent row (D1, D2) or arc whiskers (β, γ), or a single whisker and points on the whisker pad, in head-fixed mice performing a tactile task. Next, we acquired high-speed video and Pixy data simultaneously and applied the pixy-based real-time tracking to high-speed video data. With this approach, we expand the temporal resolution of the Pixy camera and track motion (post hoc) at the limit of high-speed video frame rates. Finally, we show that this system is flexible: it can be used to track individual whisker or limb position without any sophisticated object tracking algorithm, it can be used in many lighting conditions including infrared (IR); it can be used to track head rotation and location of multiple animals simultaneously. Our system makes behavioral monitoring possible in virtually any biological setting.
A phase 2 trial of long-acting TransCon growth hormone in adult GH deficiency
Authors: Höybye Charlotte , Pfeiffer Andreas F H , Ferone Diego , Christiansen Jens Sandahl , Gilfoyle David , Christoffersen Eva Dam , Mortensen Eva , Leff Jonathan A , Beckert Michael
Published: February 2017

TransCon growth hormone is a sustained-release human growth hormone prodrug under development in which unmodified growth hormone is transiently linked to a carrier molecule. It is intended as an alternative to daily growth hormone in the treatment of growth hormone deficiency. This was a multi-center, randomized, open-label, active-controlled trial designed to compare the safety (including tolerability and immunogenicity), pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of three doses of weekly TransCon GH to daily growth hormone (Omnitrope). Thirty-seven adult males and females diagnosed with adult growth hormone deficiency and stable on growth hormone replacement therapy for at least 3 months were, following a wash-out period, randomized (regardless of their pre-study dose) to one of three TransCon GH doses (0.02, 0.04 and 0.08 mg GH/kg/week) or Omnitrope 0.04 mg GH/kg/week (divided into 7 equal daily doses) for 4 weeks. Main outcomes evaluated were adverse events, immunogenicity and growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels. TransCon GH was well tolerated; fatigue and headache were the most frequent drug-related adverse events and reported in all groups. No lipoatrophy or nodule formation was reported. No anti-growth hormone-binding antibodies were detected. TransCon GH demonstrated a linear, dose-dependent increase in growth hormone exposure without accumulation. Growth hormone maximum serum concentration and insulin-like growth factor 1 exposure were similar after TransCon GH or Omnitrope administered at comparable doses. The results suggest that long-acting TransCon GH has a profile similar to daily growth hormone but with a more convenient dosing regimen. These findings support further TransCon GH development.
Daptomycin for Complicated Skin Infections: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Bradley John , Glasser Chad , Patino Hernando , Arnold Sandra R. , Arrieta Antonio , Congeni Blaise , Daum Robert S. , Kojaoghlanian Tsoline , Yoon Minjung , Anastasiou Diane , Wolf Dominik J. , Bokesch Paula
Published: February 2017

BACKGROUND:

Complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) are common in children. Due to safety and resistance issues with recommended agents, new treatment options would be advantageous.

METHODS:

Multicenter, evaluator-blinded clinical trial. Patients 1 to 17 years old with cSSSI caused by Gram-positive pathogens were randomized 2:1 to intravenous daptomycin or standard-of-care (SOC) treatment for ≤14 days. Daptomycin was administered once daily with dosing by patient age: 12 to 17 years, 5 mg/kg; 7 to 11 years, 7 mg/kg; 2 to 6 years, 9 mg/kg; 12 to 23 months, 10 mg/kg. The primary objective was to evaluate daptomycin safety. The secondary objective was to assess the efficacy of daptomycin compared with SOC. The intent-to-treat (ITT) population consisted of all randomized patients with any dose of study drug.

RESULTS:

The ITT population comprised 257 daptomycin and 132 SOC patients (primarily clindamycin or vancomycin); 35% had confirmed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The most common adverse events were diarrhea (7% daptomycin, 5% SOC) and increased creatine phosphokinase (6% daptomycin, 5% SOC). The proportions of safety population patients with treatment-related adverse events were similar between the daptomycin (14%) and SOC (17%) groups. Clinical success rates (blinded evaluator–assessed complete/partial resolution of cSSSI signs and symptoms 7–14 days after end-of-treatment) in the ITT population were also similar for the daptomycin (91%) and SOC groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

Once-daily daptomycin was well tolerated, with safety and efficacy comparable to SOC in children/adolescents with cSSSI caused by Gram-positive pathogens, including community-acquired methicillin-resistant S aureus.
Analytical method validation of GC-FID for the simultaneous measurement of hydrocarbons (C2-C4) in their gas mixture
Authors: Zuas Oman , Budiman Harry , Mulyana Muhammad Rizky
Published: February 2017

Se validó una cromatrografía de gases precisa, equipada con un detector de ionización de llama (GC-FID) para el análisis simultáneo de hidrocarburos ligeros (C2-C4) en su mezcla gaseosa. Los parámetros de validación se evaluaron con base en la definición de la ISO/IEC 17025, que incluye selectividad del método, precisión y repetibilidad, exactitud, linealidad, límite de detección (LOD), límite de cuantificación (LOQ) y robustez. Bajo las condiciones analíticas óptimas, el análisis de la mezcla gaseosa mostró que cada analito de interés fue separado adecuadamente con alta selectividad. Se encontró también que el método era preciso y exacto; la linealidad fue alta y con buen coeficiente de correlación lineal (R2 ≥ 0.999) para todos los analitos. Se puede concluir que el método GC-FID es confiable y apropiado para la determinación de hidrocarburos ligeros C2-C4 (incluyendo etileno, propano, propileno, isobutano y n-butano) en una mezcla gaseosa. El método validado ha sido exitosamente aplicado a la valoración de hidrocarburos ligeros C2-C4 en muestras de gas natural, mostrando alta repetibilidad con desviación estándar relativa (RDS) menor al 1% y buena selectividad sin interferencias de otros posibles componentes.
Factorial validity of the Problematic Facebook Use Scale for adolescents and young adults
Authors: Marino Claudia , Vieno Alessio , Altoè Gianmarco , Spada Marcantonio M.
Published: February 2017

Background and aims

Recent research on problematic Facebook use has highlighted the need to develop a specific theory-driven measure to assess this potential behavioral addiction. The aim of the present study was to examine the factorial validity of the Problematic Facebook Use Scale (PFUS) adapted from Caplan’s Generalized Problematic Internet Scale model.

Methods

A total of 1,460 Italian adolescents and young adults (aged 14–29 years) participated in the study. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed in order to assess the factorial validity of the scale.

Results

Results revealed that the factor structure of the PFUS provided a good fit to the data. Furthermore, results of the multiple group analyses supported the invariance of the model across age and gender groups.

Discussion and conclusions

This study provides evidence supporting the factorial validity of the PFUS. This new scale provides a theory-driven tool to assess problematic use of Facebook among male and female adolescents and young adults.
Range expansion of the genus Sicydium (Teleostei: Gobiidae) to coastal mountain streams of southwestern Ecuador and possibly northwestern Peru
Authors: Aguirre Windsor E. , Sánchez-Garcés Gian Carlo , Navarrete Amaya Ronald , Nugra Salazar Fredy , Valdiviezo Rivera Jonathan
Published: February 2017

We report collections of several specimens of Sicydium in 2013 and 2014 from the Jubones and Santa Rosa Rivers in southwestern Ecuador. These collections substantially expand the known range of the genus southward. The specimens are tentatively identified as Sicydium cf. rosenbergii based on their morphology. Small differences in morphology among specimens from the two rivers are noted, as are discrepancies with the type description. A museum database search uncovered two additional records of the genus south of their previously recognized range including one record from northwestern Peru.
An Unexpected Journey
Authors: Ménard Guy
Published: February 2017

Contrary to a widespread assumption, technology is not a neutral reality which can be left to a purely self-referential understanding. Indeed, one cannot seriously grasp technological phenomena without becoming aware of the symbolic matrixes—that is, the wide sets of values, symbols, beliefs and myths—which have encoded technology in given periods of history. This paper examines these major symbolic matrixes from pre-history to the threshold of the present time. Doing so, it attempts to shed light on the deep relationship between technology and religion, explicit and implicit, from the paleolithic silex to the contemporary iPhone.
Ryzyko starości a dodatkowy system emerytalny w Polsce
Authors: Jedynak Tomasz
Published: February 2017

The article examines the use of a supplementary pension scheme in Poland to insure against old-age risk. The following hypothesis was verified: In order to effectively manage the risks that attend aging, the rules governing third pillar instruments in Poland must be changed. To this end, the old-age risk was characterised and the rules governing the third pillar instruments were analysed, as were the current state and use of those instruments. No grounds to reject the research hypothesis were found, though the desirable direction of changes in the functioning of these instruments is indicated. In addition, the importance of education about pension systems is emphasised.
Weryfikacja przydatności modelu CAPM do wyceny instrumentów finansowych. Zastosowanie portfela zero-beta przy szacowaniu stopy wolnej od ryzyka
Authors: Kasolik Michał
Published: February 2017

The article describes the issue of capital asset pricing using Capital Assets Pricing Models (CAPM). The theoretical section presents the assumptions, zero-beta portfolio modification and results of using CAPM. The empirical part focuses on studies of the effectiveness of the CAPM model. Empirical tests are given, providing evidence that both denies and confirms the findings of the CAPM model, while the correlation coefficient is used to verify the model on the Polish capital market. The zero-beta portfolio was created based on futures contracts on WIG20 and units of the Multi Units Luxembourg Lyxor. As indicated by the results, this portfolio may be an appropriate method for estimating the risk-free interest rate. Research on the effectiveness of the valuation was carried out on the basis of two companies: KGHM Polska Miedź SA and Próchnik SA. The results of the study show that in most cases the variability of the companies’ returns is greater than that resulting from the CAPM model.
A Phase I/IIa Study of DHP107, a Novel Oral Paclitaxel Formulation, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors or Gastric Cancer
Authors: Ryu Min-Hee , Ryoo Baek-Yeol , Kim Tae Won , Kim Sung Bae , Lim Hyeong-Seok , Bae Kyun-Seop , Park Sook Ryun , Jo Yeong-Woo , Cho Hyun Ju , Kang Yoon-Koo
Published: February 2017

Lessons Learned

Ideally, patients should have access to an oral formulation of paclitaxel, as well as an intravenous formulation, to allow development of regimens exploring alternate schedules and to avoid reactions to Cremophor EL (BASF Corp., Ludwigshafen, Germany, https://www.basf.com). DHP107 is a novel oral paclitaxel formulation that is a tolerable and feasible regimen for patients with gastric cancer, with data suggesting efficacy similar to that of intravenous paclitaxel.

Background

We evaluated the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of DHP107, a novel oral paclitaxel formulation, and the efficacy and safety of the agent in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Patients and Methods

Phase I study: cohorts of 3–6 patients with advanced solid tumors received escalating DHP107 doses. Phase IIa study: patients with measurable advanced gastric cancer received DHP107, 200 mg/m2 b.i.d., on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks. Pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy were analyzed.

Results

Phase I: 17 patients received a dose-escalating regimen of DHP107, 150–250 mg/m2 b.i.d. Dose-limiting toxicities were neutropenia and febrile neutropenia. The MTD (recommended dose) for phase IIa was 200 mg/m2 b.i.d. Phase IIa: 11 patients with measurable advanced gastric cancer in whom first-line therapy failed received DHP107 (MTD). Three confirmed partial responses were observed. Median progression-free survival of gastric cancer patients (n = 16) treated at the MTD was 2.97 (95% confidence interval, 1.67–5.40) months (Fig. 1). The most frequent grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (35.3%) and leukopenia (17.6%) at the MTD (phase I and IIa combined; n = 17).

Conclusion

DHP107 showed good antitumor efficacy and was tolerable. The MTD (200 mg/m2 b.i.d.) is recommended for use in further studies comparing DHP107 with standard intravenous paclitaxel therapy.
Un caso notable de traducción indirecta: The Last of the Mohicans de Feminore Cooper traducido por Vicente Pagasartundua a través del francés
Authors: García Calderón Ángeles , Martínez Ojeda Beatriz
Published: February 2017

En el mundo de la traducción la figura del traductor se identifica de tal modo con la del autor del texto original, que alcanza a veces un mimetismo absoluto con él. Huelga decir que la relación parece lógica entre el novelista y el traductor, pero es más sorprendente cuando ocurre entre un ‘versionista’ del traductor y el original que traduce; este es el caso del español Pagasartundua, que versiona una novela americana a través de la traducción francesa de Defauconpret. Si Jean-Baptiste Defauconpret es reconocido por la crítica como  el ‘intermediario’ en Francia de Walter Scott y feminore Cooper, Pagasartundua será quien dé a conocer al novelista americano a los lectores españoles, a través del filtro del prestigioso traductor francés.
Management of infected non-unions of long bones using limb reconstruction system (LRS) fixator
Authors: Patra Satya Ranjan , Kisan Dasarath , Madharia Divya , Panigrahi Naresh Kumar , Samant Saswat , Manoj Medini , Shiv Anmol , Das Lalit Kumar
Published: February 2017

Background: Due to increasing number of high-energy traumatic events, the incidence of complex and compound fractures are also in the rise. Such fractures are often exposed to various environmental contaminants, inadequate debridement and sometimes erroneous decision making leading to cases of infected nonunions. Eradication of infection in such cases and achieving union may sometimes pose serious challenge to orthopaedic surgeons. Presence of comminution, bone gap or deformity can seriously complicate the situation. No definite surgical technique has been found to be full proof in dealing with these infected nonunion cases. In this scenario the limb reconstruction system (LRS) fixator is emerging as a useful option for infected nonunions with deformity or gap nonunion.

Methods: Twenty seven cases of infected nonunions involving tibia (n=19), femur (n=7) and humerus (n=1) were treated by LRS fixators after debridement of the infected nonunion site. Flap cover procedure was done as per necessity. Bone gaps and limb length discrepancies were dealt with bone transport or limb lengthening by the LRS instrument. Weight-bearing and removal of fixator was decided according to the radiological evidence of healing.

Results: All the nonunions and the regeneration sites healed uneventfully, although the union time was varied (range, 21-52 weeks). Commonest complication was pin-tract infection and pain. The mean lower extremity functional score (LEFS) was 60.3 out of 80.

Conclusions: LRS fixator is an excellent tool for management of infected nonunions which is easy to apply, comfortable for the patient with minimum complications and predictable as well as reproducible outcomes.
Управление знаниями в вузе как фактор развития академического предпринимательства
Authors: Хегай Елена Валентиновна , Бабак Лариса Николаевна , Филаткина Марина Дмитриевна , Филаткина Ирина Дмитриевна
Published: February 2017

Представлен анализ основных исследований в области академического предпринимательства за период 1993-2016 годов. Цель данного исследования – определить, как влияет управление знаниями в вузе на развитие академического предпринимательства. В результате было выяснено, что внедрение системы управления знаниями в вузе способно значительно повысить количество коммерциализируемых новшеств в случае, если ее внедрение сопровождается созданием корпоративной культуры предпринимательского типа и мотивированием ученых к регулярному взаимодействию друг с другом.
Либеральная модель российской экономики: истина разума или факта?
Authors: Косьмин Анатолий Данилович , Кузнецова Ольга Павловна , Косьмина Елена Анатольевна , Кузнецов Владимир Владимирович
Published: February 2017

Цель представленной работы – показать экономические основания и ограничения ареала «деятельности» либеральной модели российской экономики.
По результатам проведенного исследования предлагается осуществить резкий «разворот» от популярной в прошлом веке политики дерегулирования, приватизации, сокращения государственного присутствия в экономики к самому широкому использованию механизмов государственного регулирования, формирующего институциональную среду ведения бизнеса на ряду с более традиционными фискальной и монетарной политиками для повышения конкурентоспособности и инклюзивного роста. Трезво оценить сложившуюся ситуацию и взять на себя бремя преобразования страны по законам естественной и социальной гармонии способно только государство со своим «гораздо просвещённым» сословием.
Развитие пищевой промышленности России в условиях импортозамещения
Authors: Садекова Найля Халиловна
Published: February 2017

В статье проанализировано текущее состояние отечественной пищевой промышленности после объявления Россией продовольственного эмбарго. На основе проведенного анализа статистических данных выявлены первоочередные направления развития агропромышленного сектора страны. Определены перспективы импортозамещения в пищевой промышленности как одного из ключевых факторов обеспечения продовольственной безопасности России в среднесрочной перспективе.
Обзор монографий, пособий и рекомендаций в области развития и применения механизма государственно-частного партнерства
Authors: Завьялова Елена Борисовна , Шаманина Эллина Алексеевна
Published: February 2017

В статье представлен обзор литературы, в частности учебных пособий, монографий, книг, практических руководств с рекомендациями, исследований, выпущенных за последние годы, как российскими, так и иностранными авторами, которые посвящены развитию государственно-частного партнерства (ГЧП). Издания, рассматриваемые в статье, могут быть полезны студентам, изучающим данную тему, специалистам и практикам сферы ГЧП, а также лицам, заинтересованным в вопросах, касающихся процессов взаимодействия государства и частого сектора.