bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emerging Challenges in Nigerian Teaching Profession: Way Forward
Authors: Idowu Oke, Tolutope , Olanrewaju Ogundele, Michael , Muhammad Mainoma, Hauwa’u
Published: April 2017

Abstracts

The paper examined the emerging challenges in Nigerian Teaching profession and way forward. The issues relating to the Teaching Professions, Concepts and the features of a Profession as compare to the teaching in Nigeria are also discussed. The Emerging challenges as discussed in this paper are; Poor Teachers’ Salary Structure and Other Remunerations, Deteriorating condition of resources allocation for enhance Teaching-Learning process, Differential Categorization of Teachers, Discriminative Political Interference and Low Degree of Autonomy is Accorded Teaching Profession and solutions were also suggested. It was however concluded that teaching Profession should be accorded high respect through adequate motivation, capacity buildings and ranked similarly with other Professions in Nigeria.
Consumption of Politic Parties, in the Areas Where the Same Party Has Governed (Strongholds)
Authors: Bejko Erindi
Published: April 2017

Political parties in Albania on several occasions during the past two decades have won the election in certain areas over 3 times in a row. While victory and governance of the same area, for sure creates a margin consumption which has affected the dynamics of the bastions at least in the recent national election. Parties are consumed in their strongholds if they decide the same candidates, either as a political force. In the focus of this article, will be the consuming steps of political parties in their stronghold areas, either reflecting the fall results during the election process. Will we have a final rupture in Albania consumption bastions of political parties and how would be the future of dynamic bastion, will be the question of this article scientific research. A fracture would have strongholds in shqipare perfuindimtare the consumption of political parties and how will be the future of dynamics will be bastions of this artikulil question scientific research. Bastion’s consumption occurs mainly from major political forces on the left if either of right on the study will be taken 4 constituencies which voted for the same party in three elections one by one. In our focus will be general elections, not local elections.
Possible Capture of Votes Fraud in 2015 Local Election in Albania
Authors: Bërdufi Dorina
Published: April 2017

The paper concentration is on the number of votes each political party acquired in the 2015 local elections. A constant debate and dispute is performed regarding vote counting manipulating, such as vote steeling, uncounted votes, corruption of vote counters, vote buying etc. Thus, statistical calculation on 2015 national results are subject of first digit Benford’s Law application. The result shows that all first digit number groups of parties′ normal distribution rate of votes do not correlate to the 1BL distribution rate. It is clear that there have been a probable vote fraud/manipulation in this election. Out of three main political parties of Albania, being also parliamentary ones, only one the Socialist Party shows lost vote’s number in the group it belongs. Instead the Socialist Movement for Integration and Democratic Party show an increasing one.
Evolution of the Albanian Constitution
Authors: Jeha Ilda , Cabiri Ylli
Published: April 2017

The history of Albanian Constitutions dates back in April 1914 with the Statute of Albania drafted by a National Committee of that time. The new Albanian Constitution was adopted by the Parliament 18 years ago and confirmed by a Referendum1, becoming the first democratic Constitution following political changes in Albania. After 1991, the stature of Albania changed significantly and the country managed to build new democratic institutions, advanced in establishing a market economy and ensuring human rights, and made important steps towards integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions. In this context, constitutional changes were normal, despite the overall misperception that the Constitution is a document that must not be amended. So, a provisional package of amendments was drafted to avoid obstacles along the way, and a new Constitution was adopted in 1998, later on amended in 2012 and 2016. Analysis of such amendments points out some problems. What should be the procedure for constitutional changes? Parliamentary vote or referendum? In this view, the 2012 constitutional changes - albeit hasty - did not affect the backbone of the document and could be introduced without a referendum, simply with a parliamentary adoption, as was the case. In contrast, the 2016 amendments were adopted unanimously, but they affected the backbone of the Constitution and therefore a referendum should have been called. Should the impact of such amendments be measured? This is another important issue that is not considered actually. But, in our opinion, monitoring any amendments by the Parliament or the President of the Republic is to the benefit of democratic developments and serves any further intentions for constitutional changes. We believe that the Constitution should clearly prescribe the procedure for constitutional changes to save them from becoming a pawn of momentary political interests.
Water Consumption Patterns and Waterborne Diseases in Slums of Karachi
Authors: Rehman Shuja Ur , Baig Saima
Published: April 2017

The prime objective of the present study was to evaluate the water consumption patterns and systems in relation to water borne diseases in slum areas of Karachi. It also aimed to, to highlight the major incidence of water-borne diseases due to unhygienic practices and also investigated the role of Government and Non-Governmental Organizations for the provision of safe drinking water. The field-based exploratory approached and quantitative method of research was operated and has been given weighted in accordance with the primary data collection. A structured interview schedule was used as the tool for the collection of data. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used for the purpose of interpretation of the results. The result of the study indicates and elaborates that the people in slum areas of Karachi face problems related to water shortage, water pollution and water borne diseases. The results also depict that the majority of the population suffered from water related diseases such as Typhoid, Dysentery, Diarrhea, etc. The result of the study clearly highlights the fact that the condition of water supply system is quite unhygienic and poor which is the main cause behind the outbreak of these diseases.
The Reciprocal Relationship between Turkish Cinema and Politics: The Portrayal of ‘Atatürk’ as a Political Leader in Filmic Narrative
Authors: Akter Tutku , Incirlili Serife
Published: April 2017

As is known, various studies on the history and development of cinema have shown the reciprocal relationship between cinema and politics. In this regards, it is possible to assume that Hollywood cinema, is not the only cinema that draws attention. During the study, for the purposes of clarifying the interrelationship between “representation” and “ideology” as a modus operandi of Turkish cinema, the portrayal of Atatürk in “Mustafa” will be investigated. The main reason for analyzing this movie in particular it that it is one of the most widely criticized (ideologically) movies on Atatürk.
The Early Acquisition of Verb Constructions in Albanian: Evidence from Children’s Verb Use in Experimental Contexts
Authors: Cenko Enila
Published: April 2017

One of the wonders of human development is children’s symbolic capacity to generate language that goes beyond the input received. The present study examines this developmental process with special focus on language typological factors. More specifically, it examines 2-and 3-year-old Albanian-speaking children’s ability to acquire transitive and intransitive constructions in an experimental context. Thirty 2- and 3-year old Albanian-speaking children divided into two age cohorts were trained and then tested using an elicited production task based on the novel verb paradigm. Findings reveal that Albanian-speaking children are precocious in their productivity with transitive and intransitive verb constructions. In contrast to much prior research on English-speaking children, results revealed that most Albanian-speaking children were able to productively use familiar and novel verbs in both transitive and intransitive constructions, regardless of age and whether they heard the novel verbs modeled in verb constructions tested. It is argued that languages with explicit markings for agent- patient relations facilitate an earlier onset of productivity than word-order languages like English. Additionally, results suggest that children’s capacity to diversely use familiar verbs affects the developmental process of acquiring new verbs including those used in novel verb experiments. Discussion focuses on the importance of using naturalistic experimental designs to construct a more comprehensive view of the process by which children acquire verb constructions and also considers the implications of the cross-linguistic findings for developmental theories of language acquisition.
Physical Education Teachers′ Action Research on Teaching Games for Understanding
Authors: Aspasia Dania , Chrysoula Naki , Panagiotis Stasinos , Georgios Lykesas
Published: April 2017

The aim of the present article is to report on a study undertaken to inquire two physical education (PE) teachers′ effort to learn and implement the student-centered pedagogy of the Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) approach, by using the Action Research (AR) framework as a research methodology. Two in-service PE teachers, each being responsible for a different class of Grade three and four students, from a primary school in Athens, Greece, participated in the study. During a period of two months, the two teachers used an AR cyclical process of planning, applying, observing and reflecting on the TGfU approach, with the purpose of bringing change in their professional practice and in their students’ learning. Data was generated through the use reflective journals, survey questions, document analyses and non-participant observations. An inductive analysis and a constant comparative method (Denzin & Lincoln 1994) were used for data analysis and three major themes emerged: teaching PE with TGfU, student learning within TGfU, and teacher’s acting and researching on TGfU. From the results, it was found that AR, although initially a difficult undertaking, is an appropriate framework for enhancing PE teachers’ capacity to design non-hierarchical lesson activities that are dedicated to students’ understanding and development, as the ones suggested by the TGfU approach.
Proposed Model for Measuring Customer Satisfaction with Telecommunications Services
Authors: Rendón Claudio Marco Cartagena , Vásquez Andrés , Benjumea-Arias Martha , Valencia-Arias Alejandro
Published: April 2017

The aim of this article is to propose a model for measuring customer satisfaction in users of telecommunications services. The methodological design is quantitative descriptive and explanatory type, using a survey as data collection tool, with a sample of 415 users of telecommunications services (landline telephone, television and Internet services) in the city of Medellin. Among the results, it is found that the service in the Call Centers and timely response to requests, inquiries, or complaints, and an effective service are among the factors that have the most influence in the satisfaction of users of telecommunications services. In addition, it is noted that the perception of a favorable cost-benefit services is influenced by the offered plans and promotions, and the proper settlement of claims and applications in their companies, showing that these are issues that need to be strengthened in telecommunication services companies.
Lexical Borrowings in Our Press and the Possibility of Their Replacement with Albanian Words
Authors: Zeqiri Albulena Lala , Kryeziu Veneranda Xhelili
Published: April 2017

The present paper treats the influence of foreign words in our press and the possibility of their replacement with Albanian words. The Albanian Language used today in our press suffers from a reckless use of excessive borrowings that is significantly distorting its nature. Its natural that languages cooperate with one another through borrowing and loaning words but there must also be specific criteria and responsibilities for such borrowings. It is the duty of all subjects involved to give the right direction to this issue : Purification of Albanian language from foreign words and its enrichment with native words. Therefore, in this paper, we intend to identify non-Albanian words that wander in our language, and invite Albanian language writers how to write the Albanian language in Albanian. The methods implemented in this research are: historical method, the method of comparative analysis, gathering and selection of material (books, foreign language dictionaries and Albanian newspapers), analysis, comparison and description of the material. Results expected from this research are to bring into evidence borrowed words from other languages in our press, their identification and study, comparison of many words used today in our press, possibilities of replacement of such words with relevant Albanian words while using words from our country folk treasure, which is an inexhaustible source of enrichment of Albanian language.
A Post-colonial Study of the Short Story “Araby” (1914) by James Joyce
Authors: Maniee Pedram , Mansouri Shahriyar
Published: April 2017

The short story of “Araby” by James Joyce was published in 1914 in Dubliners which is a collection of fifteen short stories set in the Dublin city of Northern Ireland. “Araby” is one of those short stories in which traces of the colonization of Ireland by the Great Britain in the nineteenth century can be found. Since the context of the short story is set in Dublin, analyzing it in light of post-colonial theory has made it a special case. Because despite the majority of literary works which are analyzed in light of post-colonial theory and in which the contrast between east and west geographically is quite visible, in “Araby” this contrast is not clear-cut and the culture of two neighbor countries are so close and as a consequent so difficult to claim cultural and religious colonization by a neighbor country. This essay investigates the way Joyce has portrayed the cultural, political, economic and social domination of Britain over Ireland, specifically Dublin. The essay also explores the context where Joyce had the motivation to write Dubliners and shows the fundamental principles of post-colonialism such as language, the notion of superior/inferior, cultural polyvalency, Self/Other and the critical tenets of Homi K. Bhabha including mimicry, liminality or hybridity and finds these tenets within this short story. The essay also investigates the way James Joyce has employed symbolism in order to portray his reaction to the domination of Britain over Ireland.
Spatial Inequality of Growth between Morocco Regions
Authors: Sahibi Youness , Hamzaoui Moustapha
Published: April 2017

Although significant progress had been made in Morocco, the inter-regional inequalities persist. The aim of this paper is to analyse this spatial inequality and convergence phenomenon in Morocco, using regional data between 2000 and 2007. Thus, relying on methods of spatial data analysis and taken from theoretical and empirical contributions, this paper analyses the role of the sectorial externalities and spatial spillovers in growth. Next, we tested the existence of a convergence process and the conditions for its improvement. The results showed the existence of a growth convergence process in value added and productivity but not in employment. On the other hand, the variables of human capital and infrastructure can significantly reduce regional inequality. Thus, we conclude that the conventional policies based solely on the infrastructure development or education are not sufficient. A more comprehensive approach that integrates these two axes and encourages business development and knowledge transfer is needed.
Grassroots Participation in Policy Formulation: Gaps and Challenges in the Developing Countries: Case of Malaysia and Zanzibar Grassroots
Authors: Ali Salum S. , Ariffin Aini Suzana
Published: April 2017

The debates are still inconclusive on how best the grassroots can be included in policy formulation, and specifically supporting social development in the developing countries. Numerous policy scholars have uncovered that the issue of the grassroots inclusion in policy detailing is paramount and that participatory procedures are needed for better policy formulation process. Notwithstanding, numerous conclusions demonstrate that the endeavors are just won on principles at any rate as opposed to practices on the ground. Still, there is an extraordinary worry about how grassroots are included in term of procedure, platform, framework, methodology and the participatory component. This paper examines and investigates the major issues concerning the grassroots participation in the policy formulation in the developing countries for supporting social improvement. The paper found that the acts of policy detailing and activities are very described by lamentation and additionally pseudo grassroots participation. The procedure is for the most part appeared to be hampered by the absence of appropriate techniques, methodology and platform for taking part in one hand and extremely frail mindfulness and poor mentality and negative state of mind on the other side. Thus, grassroots are exceptionally poor, assuming any, take an interest to raise their voice and concern amid the policy detailing. In the light of this, the paper think of an integrated framework which will empower the basic and structural changes to enhance wide and different contributions in the policy formulation and grassroots participation. Our examination utilizes the various encounters and setting in these cases to investigate how the current platform neglected to get the policy premium and the substance from the grassroots level. The paper in view of information of two diverse qualitative case studies of contextual investigations directed in Malaysia, Kelantan specifically, and Zanzibar Grassroots respectively. The studies included 14 establishments in Malaysia and 34 in Zanzibar where 20 respondents secured in Malaysia study and 41 in Zanzibar.
The Contestation of Organic and Non-Organic Agricultural Knowledge in Sustainable Agriculture
Authors: Wardah Siti , Salman Darmawan , Agustang Andi , Fahmid Imam Mujahidin
Published: April 2017

This research aims to analyze the contestational process between organic and non-organic agricultural knowledge in the agricultural practices in Bonto Lebang, North Galesong, Takalar regency. This was a qualitative study exploring descriptive data in oral, written and attitudinal forms obtained from farmers and other parties concerned as an agent of sustainable agriculture in Bonto Lebang, Takalar regency. It was a case study focused on hermeneutics. The data used in conducting this research were primary and secondary data. The results of this research show that the contestation between organic and nonorganic agricultural knowledge of seeds-providing, fertilizing or land-managing was given responses from each local of subsystems such as household, government, local communities, and marketing. For the people in Bonto Lebang village Takalar regency in particular, knowledge of organic agriculture was in fact a deconstructed agricultural knowledge resulting from field experiences and some informations from the agricultural consultants that got improved from self-practices. Meanwhile, agricultural parts that mainly changed were the important parts namely maintenance using the vegetable pestiside and fertilization using the organic fertilizer. The novelty of this research is the ontology focused on knowledge or skills in organic agriculture as a social reality by assuming that behind any knowledge and skills there existed a power and authority to transform the knowledge into a social practice and then it gradually turned into social reality.
Role of Tax Havens in the Tax Revenue Development and Its Reflection on the Public Revenues of the Developing Countries: An Empirical Study in Iraq (2004–2014)
Authors: Al-taie Bushra Fadhil Khudhair , Flayyih Hakeem Hammood , Talab Hassnain Raghib , Hussein Noor Abbas
Published: April 2017

The aim of this study is to investigate the role of tax haven on tax revenue development and its reflection on public revenue in Iraq between 2004 and 2014. A review of tax haven literature revealed that there are different types of tax havens, categorizations, characteristics, effects of tax havens, socio-economic consequence and reaction to tax haven that requires analysis. An empirical analysis is done in the public revenue of Iraq from 2004 to 2014. Descriptive statistics and evidentiary are employed as the analysis techniques. It is revealed that the importance of structure analysis of public revenues is connected with tax haven because the basic foundation for the State budget. Also, the growth rates of tax revenue for the period beyond the year 2003 which saw the Iraq regime change and more open to the world and draws from a socialist economy to a market economy, as well as the effect of the tax was havens with the direct tax income withholding tax, as well as the impact of tax revenue in the Public State revenues. Withthe analytical nature of the study reported in this paper, there is still an opportunity for further work on larger populations to confirm the generalizability of the findings.
The Role of Customer Motivation in Mediating Customer Communication and Customer Decision to Use Kartu As of Telkomsel Broadband Services in Kendari of Indonesia
Authors: Tanduklangi Amri , Yusuf Hayat
Published: April 2017

With a growing increase of mobile phone and Internet users through cellular phones, competition among provider companies of mobile broadband services is becoming very tight to win competition among the competitors. This article aims at analyzing the role of customer motivation in mediating the effect of marketing communication on customer decision in using Kartu As of Telkomsel broadband services in Kendari city of Indonesia. The variables used in this study are marketing communication as an independent variable, customer motivation as an intervening variable and customer decision as dependent variable. The data were collected from 100 respondents of Telkomsel mobile broadband customer using Kartu As. Descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling (SEM) analytical tools were used to analyze the items representing each variable. This empirical study shows marketing communication affects customer motivation which in turn it affects customer decision to purchase Kartu As of Telkomsel Services. The results indicated that customer motivation plays an important role in mediating influence of marketing communication on purchase decision in buying prepaid services of Kartu As.
The Rise of “Trade Liberalization”: Bibliometric Analysis of Trade Liberalization Study
Authors: Muhammada Murtala , Ahmed Abubakar , Lola Gold Kafilah , Usman Usman Mikail , Ebrahim Nader Ale
Published: April 2017

The purpose of this research is to assess the universal scientific trends and examine the patterns in the intellectual research published on trade liberalization over a period of 35 years (1980-2015). The data were collected from a leading indexing and abstracting database Thomson Reuters Web of Science. The Kruskal-Walis test, ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation were employed in analyzing the retrieved data. Based on the citation trend of first 100 highly cited published articles with the least number of authors are found to have received the highest number of citations. Our result shows that there is actual statistical significance (p˂ 0.001) between the total citations attracted by articles published by 1 author and those published by 3 and 4 authors. The word trade liberalization has become dominant and consistent in the field of the study. These research trend and interest could provide focus to researchers for future research.
Distribution of Halophyte Plants in Relation to Properties of Salt-Affected Soils of District Thatta
Authors: Sajid Hussain Kaleri  , Allah Wadhayo Gandahi  , Arshad Ali Kaleri  , Mumtaz Ali Gadehi
Published: April 2017

The main objective of this study was to survey and collect some halophyte species capable of growing in highly salt affected soils and their distribution in relation to some soil properties of district Thatta. Sueda fruticosa, Tamarix aphylla, Ceriops candoleana, Cynodon dactylon, and Chenopodum album species were collected form Thatta. Soil samples were collected from the vicinity of each halophyte and were analyzed for pH, organic matter (OM), electrical conductivity (EC), soluble Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3-, Cl-, sodium absorption ratio (SAR), and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP). Halophytes species collected were analyzed for ion (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+and Cl-) contents. Data regarding plant ionic composition showed that contents of Na+ ranged between 3.7-6.9 %, K+0.7-1.9 ,Ca+2 0.4--1.2 %, Mg2+ 0.6-2.2 and Cl- contents between 0.1-0.8 in species collected from Thatta, respectively. Data further revealed that maximum Na+ (6.9 and %) was recorded in Sueda fruticosa and Salsola indica, highest K+(1.9 %) was noted in Chenopodium album species, greatest Ca+2 (1.2 %) was documented in Sueda fruticosaspecies, highest Mg2+ (2.2 %) was observed in Sueda fruticosa whereas, maximum Cl- (0.8 %) was noted in Sueda fruticosa collected from district Thatta, respectively. Data pertaining to soil properties indicated that EC of studied soils ranged between 7.0-18.4dS m-1, pH 7.5-8.0. O.M 0.82-0.94 % , soluble Ca2+ 17.3-33.3 meq L-1, Mg2+ 15.5-24.6 meq L-1, Na+ 43.6-83.4 meq L-1 , Ka+ 3.20-4.50 meq L-1, HCO3? 2.4-5.3 meq L-1, Cl- 55.6-145.4 meq L-1, SAR 10.2-17.1 whereas, ESP ranged between 12.2-19.6 % in soil samples collected from Thatta, respectively. It was concluded that halophyte species Sueda fruticosa, Tamarix aphylla, gallica, Salsola indica, Cyperus irria accumulate significant amounts of salt (Na+ and Cl-)from salt-affected soil and, therefore, may remediate land to the point where native plants could invade and become established, or the site could be returned to agricultural productivity. These halophytes species have an excellent potential for rehabilitation of degraded salt affected soils.
Quels sont les syndromes du DSM-5 les plus associés aux idées suicidaires chez les adolescents ? Analyses selon l’âge et le sexe
Authors: Cournoyer Marilou , Labelle Réal , Berthiaume Claude , Bergeron Lise
Published: April 2017

Cette étude transversale vise à déterminer la force d’association entre cinq catégories de syndromes du DSM-5 et les idées suicidaires en fonction de l’âge et du sexe. Quatre cent soixante-quatre jeunes âgés de 12 à 15 ans en contexte scolaire (237 filles; 227 garçons) et 141 adolescents en milieu clinique (62 filles et 79 garçons) de Montréal participent à l’étude. Chaque adolescent complète le Dominique Interactif pour Adolescents, un instrument d’évaluation de la santé mentale. En contexte scolaire, 8,6 % des adolescents présentent des idées suicidaires et 37,6 % en milieu clinique. Les résultats indiquent une forte association entre les idées suicidaires et la dépression dans les deux échantillons, indépendamment de l’âge et du sexe. Dans l’échantillon scolaire, les adolescents déprimés et les jeunes âgés de 14 et 15 ans sont plus susceptibles de présenter des idées suicidaires. De plus, les garçons avec des comportements perturbateurs et les filles présentant des symptômes de TDAH ont plus de possibilité d’avoir des idées suicidaires. Dans l’échantillon clinique, les syndromes associés aux idées suicidaires sont la dépression et la consommation de substances. La présence de dépression représente un facteur de vulnérabilité important, tant chez les filles que chez les garçons indépendamment de l’échantillon scolaire ou clinique. De plus, la présence de l’une ou l’autre des cinq catégories de syndromes psychiatriques, telle que nous l’avons évaluée, augmente le risque de présenter des idées suicidaires chez les adolescents. Les résultats de cette étude appuient la pertinence d’une identification précoce des syndromes du DSM-5 et l’importance du dépistage précoce chez les jeunes du secondaire.
Modèle théorique hypothétique du perfectionnisme des étudiants universitaires
Authors: Finn Kathleen
Published: April 2017

Les étudiants universitaires consultent de plus en plus les ressources d’aide psychologique de leur université pour divers troubles mentaux qui pourrait bien avoir le perfectionnisme comme facteur commun. Il est donc important d’y apporter une attention particulière. Plusieurs études ont été réalisées sur le perfectionnisme des étudiants universitaires sans offrir une vision globale du phénomène. Le présent article vise à présenter un modèle théorique hypothétique pour combler cette lacune et mieux comprendre l’expérience subjective des étudiants perfectionnistes afin d’en préciser les cibles d’intervention.
Lauren Histology and Lymphatic Permeation are Critical Prognostic Factors in Borrmann Type I Gastric Cancer
Authors: Yamashita Keishi , Katada Natsuya , Hosoda Kei , Mieno Hiroaki , Moriya Hiromitsu , Kikuchi Shiro , Watanabe Masahiko
Published: April 2017

Macroscopic Borrmann type I is relatively rare in advanced gastric cancer, and its detailed prognostic traits are unknown. Among 5172 gastric cancer patients between 1971 and 2013, 114 cases with macroscopic Borrmann type I were identified (2.2%), among which 112 displayed clinicopathologic factors. Univariate prognostic factors with statistical significance were initially selected, which were further applied to the multivariate proportional hazards model. Recently, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was recommended for stage II/III gastric cancer patients. Results were as follows: (1) Five-year overall survival (OS) was 66% in Borrmann type I gastric cancer. Five-year relapse-free survival (RFS) was 100%, 87.1%, and 65.5% in stage IA, stage IB, and stage II/III, respectively. (2) Multivariate proportional hazard model for OS identified lymphatic permeation [hazard ratio (HR) = 4.8–7.5, P = 0.0021] and age (HR = 2.4, P = 0.026), while the multivariate analysis for RFS identified histology (HR = 3.5, P = 0.018) and lymphatic permeation (HR = 3.5–4.7, P = 0.049) as independent prognostic factors. (3) Recurrence was recognized more in liver of the intestinal type histology. Diffuse type histology with robust lymphatic invasion was all attributed to stage II/III, which occurred largely within 1 year and exhibited 49% RFS. Recurrence pattern of Borrmann Type I gastric cancer with intestinal type histology is unique, and patients with high risk for recurrences were enriched in diffuse type histology with robust lymphatic invasion.
An essential role of intestinal cell kinase in lung development is linked to the perinatal lethality of human ECO syndrome
Authors: Tong Yixin , Park So Hyun , Wu Di , Xu Wenhao , Guillot Stacey J. , Jin Li , Li Xudong , Wang Yalin , Lin Chyuan‐Sheng , Fu Zheng
Published: April 2017

Human endocrine‐cerebro‐osteodysplasia (ECO) syndrome, caused by the loss‐of‐function mutation R272Q in the intestinal cell kinase (ICK) gene, is a neonatal‐lethal developmental disorder. To elucidate the molecular basis of ECO syndrome, we constructed an Ick R272Q knock‐in mouse model that recapitulates ECO pathological phenotypes. Newborns bearing Ick R272Q homozygous mutations die at birth due to respiratory distress. Ick mutant lungs exhibit not only impaired branching morphogenesis associated with reduced mesenchymal proliferation but also significant airspace deficiency in primitive alveoli concomitant with abnormal interstitial mesenchymal differentiation. ICK dysfunction induces elongated primary cilia and perturbs ciliary Hedgehog signaling and autophagy during lung sacculation. Our study identifies an essential role for ICK in lung development and advances the mechanistic understanding of ECO syndrome.
Natural H2 in Kansas: Deep or shallow origin?
Authors: Guélard J. , Beaumont V. , Rouchon V. , Guyot F. , Pillot D. , Jézéquel D. , Ader M. , Newell K. D. , Deville E.
Published: April 2017

A geochemical study of gas coming from three wells in northeastern Kansas supplements previous studies from the 1980s and points to a persistent regional phenomenon of H2 production. In 2008, a new well showed, just after drilling, a free gas phase with more than 80 mole % of H2, followed by water production associated with gas. This gas is mainly composed of N2, He, H2, and occasionally CH4, with changing proportions through time. A drastic decrease in H2 at the well was observed since the aquifer is produced, along with occasional recharges in H2 evidenced notably in the early phases of gas sampling. We demonstrate that this evolution of gas composition is closely associated to the well completion story. Accordingly, two distinct origins of H2 are proposed: (1) deep crustal H2: water reduction associated to iron oxidation in the Precambrian basement; (2) reactions occurring in the tubing, primarily attributed to high contents of reduced iron and/or dissolved organic carbon (DOC = 4.1 mg L−1) in the water. The low δD values averaging −760‰ are attributed to a low temperature process, possibly a re‐equilibration with water. Furthermore, the suggested origins are supported by the observed gas associations: (a) deep crustal H2 with radiogenic gases (4He and 40Ar) and metamorphic N2 (δ15N averaging +2.5‰); (b) surficial H2 with methane produced in the sedimentary aquifer and the tubing by methanogenic organisms.
Kinematics of Late Cretaceous subduction initiation in the Neo‐Tethys Ocean reconstructed from ophiolites of Turkey, Cyprus, and Syria
Authors: Maffione Marco , van Hinsbergen Douwe J. J. , de Gelder Giovanni I. N. O. , van der Goes Freek C. , Morris Antony
Published: April 2017

Formation of new subduction zones represents one of the cornerstones of plate tectonics, yet both the kinematics and geodynamics governing this process remain enigmatic. A major subduction initiation event occurred in the Late Cretaceous, within the Neo‐Tethys Ocean between Gondwana and Eurasia. Suprasubduction zone ophiolites (i.e., emerged fragments of ancient oceanic lithosphere formed at suprasubduction spreading centers) were generated during this subduction event and are today distributed in the eastern Mediterranean region along three ~E‐W trending ophiolitic belts. Several models have been proposed to explain the formation of these ophiolites and the evolution of the associated intra‐Neo‐Tethyan subduction zone. Here we present new paleospreading directions from six Upper Cretaceous ophiolites of Turkey, Cyprus, and Syria, calculated by using new and published paleomagnetic data from sheeted dyke complexes. Our results show that ~NNE‐SSW subduction zones were formed within the Neo‐Tethys during the Late Cretaceous, which we propose were part of a major step‐shaped subduction system composed of ~NNE‐SSW and ~WNW‐ESE segments. We infer that this subduction system developed within old (Triassic?) lithosphere, along fracture zones and perpendicular weakness zones, since the Neo‐Tethyan spreading ridge formed during Gondwana fragmentation would have already been subducted at the Pontides subduction zone by the Late Cretaceous. Our new results provide an alternative kinematic model of Cretaceous Neo‐Tethyan subduction initiation and call for future research on the mechanisms of subduction inception within old (and cold) lithosphere and the formation of metamorphic soles below suprasubduction zone ophiolites in the absence of nearby spreading ridges.
Slow‐slip events on the Whillans Ice Plain, Antarctica, described using rate‐and‐state friction as an ice stream sliding law
Authors: Lipovsky Bradley Paul , Dunham Eric M.
Published: April 2017

The Whillans Ice Plain (WIP), Antarctica, experiences twice daily tidally modulated stick‐slip cycles. Slip events last about 30 min, have sliding velocities as high as ∼0.5 mm/s (15 km/yr), and have total slip ∼0.5 m. Slip events tend to occur during falling ocean tide: just after high tide and just before low tide. To reproduce these characteristics, we use rate‐and‐state friction, which is commonly used to simulate tectonic faulting, as an ice stream sliding law. This framework describes the evolving strength of the ice‐bed interface throughout stick‐slip cycles. We present simulations that resolve the cross‐stream dimension using a depth‐integrated treatment of an elastic ice layer loaded by tides and steady ice inflow. Steady sliding with rate‐weakening friction is conditionally stable with steady sliding occurring for sufficiently narrow ice streams relative to a nucleation length. Stick‐slip cycles occur when the ice stream is wider than the nucleation length or, equivalently, when effective pressures exceed a critical value. Ice streams barely wider than the nucleation length experience slow‐slip events, and our simulations suggest that the WIP is in this slow‐slip regime. Slip events on the WIP show a sense of propagation, and we reproduce this behavior by introducing a rate‐strengthening region in the center of the otherwise rate‐weakening ice stream. If pore pressures are raised above a critical value, our simulations predict that the WIP would exhibit quasi‐steady tidally modulated sliding as observed on other ice streams. This study validates rate‐and‐state friction as a sliding law to describe ice stream sliding styles.
The tropical cyclone response to changing wind shear using the method of time‐varying point‐downscaling
Authors: Onderlinde Matthew J. , Nolan David S.
Published: April 2017

Previous studies using idealized numerical simulations to understand the tropical cyclone (TC) response to time‐varying wind shear have applied instantaneous changes in the TC environment. This was typically accomplished by pausing the simulation, constructing a new environmental vertical wind profile, rebalancing the mass field, and then restarting the simulation. A new modeling framework allows for smoothly transitioning environmental wind states: time‐varying point‐downscaling (TVPDS). TVPDS uses large‐scale relaxation to smoothly transition between different vertical profiles of environmental wind (and/or temperature and moisture) while coordinating the point‐downscaling method such that the environment remains in balance. TVPDS simulations of quasi steady state, moderately intense (∼50 m s−1) TCs show that the response to increasing wind shear is a steady reduction in intensity without recovery to the preshear intensity. These results, which are consistent with the typical evolution of real TCs, stand in contrast to some previous studies that found a recovery to prestorm intensity after an initial weakening due to increased shear. TVPDS simulations also show that the rate at which the TC weakens depends on how rapidly the environment transitions to greater shear. Analyses of surface fluxes, regions of convection, and other variables are presented to determine how time‐varying shear affects TCs. Finally, TVPDS simulations of TCs transitioning from environments characterized by high‐shear into low‐shear environments show that a similar but opposite response occurs.
Tangent linear superparameterization of convection in a 10 layer global atmosphere with calibrated climatology
Authors: Kelly Patrick , Mapes Brian , Hu I‐Kuan , Song Siwon , Kuang Zhiming
Published: April 2017

This paper describes a new intermediate global atmosphere model in which synoptic and planetary dynamics including the advection of water vapor are explicit in 10 layers, the time‐mean flow is centered near a realistic state through the use of carefully calibrated time‐independent 3‐D forcings, and temporal anomalies of convective tendencies of heat and moisture in each column are represented as a linear matrix acting on the anomalous temperature and moisture profiles. Currently, this matrix is Kuang's [] linear response function (LRF) of a cyclic convection‐permitting model (CCPM) in equilibrium with specified atmospheric cooling (i.e., without radiation or WISHE interactions, so it conserves column moist static energy exactly). The goal of this effort is to cleanly test the role of convection's free‐tropospheric moisture sensitivity in tropical waves, without incurring large changes of mean climate that confuse the interpretation of experiments with entrainment parameters in the convection schemes of full‐physics GCMs. When the sensitivity to free‐tropospheric moisture is multiplied by a factor ranging from 0 to 2, the model's variability ranges from: (1) moderately strong convectively coupled Kelvin waves with speeds near 20 m s−1; to (0) similar but much weaker waves; to (2) similar but stronger and slightly faster waves as the water vapor field plays an increasingly important role. Longitudinal structure in the model's time‐mean tropical flow is not fully realistic, and does change significantly with matrix‐coupled variability, but further work on editing the anomaly physics matrix and calibrating the mean state could improve this class of models.
The effect of changes in surface winds and ocean stratification on coastal upwelling and sea surface temperatures in the Pliocene
Authors: Miller Madeline D. , Tziperman Eli
Published: April 2017

Sea surface temperature (SST) in subtropical eastern boundary upwelling zones is shown to be affected by three main factors: large‐scale ocean stratification, upwelling‐favorable sea surface wind stress, and the surface concentration (baroclinicity) of the alongshore pressure gradient driving the incoming geostrophic flow which balances the Ekman surface outflow. Pliocene‐aged SST proxies suggest that some combination of differences in upwelling forcing enable the sea surface temperatures in these zones to increase by up to 11°C. We find that large warming in SST in response to the three factors, of up to about 10°C in addition to a mean Pliocene ocean warming of 2–3°C, is concentrated in the direct upwelling zone. In the location of proxy sea surface temperatures, about 120 km away from the coast, and outside the coastal upwelling zone, the SST response to changes in wind and stratification is weaker, only accounting for up to 3.4°C above the mean Pliocene warming. Increased baroclinicity of the alongshore pressure gradient has a smaller effect, accounting for less than 2°C increases at both the coast and proxy site. The SST seaward (westward) of the upwelling zone is primarily determined by ocean‐atmosphere heat exchange and basin‐scale ocean forcing, rather than by changes in upwelling. The spatial pattern of SST change with each of the three forcing factors is similar, and therefore, all could contribute to the Pliocene‐modern difference in coastal SST.
Quantum chemical modeling of the reaction path of chorismate mutase based on the experimental substrate/product complex
Authors: Burschowsky Daniel , Krengel Ute , Uggerud Einar , Balcells David
Published: April 2017

Chorismate mutase is a well‐known model enzyme, catalyzing the Claisen rearrangement of chorismate to prephenate. Recent high‐resolution crystal structures along the reaction coordinate of this enzyme enabled computational analyses at unprecedented detail. Using quantum chemical simulations, we investigated how the catalytic reaction mechanism is affected by electrostatic and hydrogen‐bond interactions. Our calculations showed that the transition state (TS) was mainly stabilized electrostatically, with Arg90 playing the leading role. The effect was augmented by selective hydrogen‐bond formation to the TS in the wild‐type enzyme, facilitated by a small‐scale local induced fit. We further identified a previously underappreciated water molecule, which separates the negative charges during the reaction. The analysis includes the wild‐type enzyme and a non‐natural enzyme variant, where the catalytic arginine was replaced with an isosteric citrulline residue.
Well‐Calibrated Forecasts
Authors: Gross Shulamith T.
Published: April 2017

In meteorology, finance, and economics, predictions for the next period are regularly published for the consumer of such information. In weather prediction of temperature, rain occurrence, or rainfall amount, forecasts are made for the next day based on historical information of actual temperatures, other associated meteorological variables, and predictions already made, up to, and including, the present. Similar predictions are made in financial predictions of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) increase or decrease, or its actual value next month, based on past predictions and historical data available up to the current period. We review the development of the concept of calibration, the long run agreement between a regular repeated prediction and the actual quantity, in the prediction of probabilities of future events and in the prediction of entire distributions of future continuous random variables. Finally, the issue of combining several forecasts, or forecasting model predictions, in both event probability and continuous distribution, is reviewed, and the use of transformations of the weighted average prediction is described. We also briefly describe more recent results pertaining to the sharpness of well‐calibrated predictions.
Longitudinal Data Analysis
Authors: Molenberghs Geert , Verbeke Geert
Published: April 2017

First, models for continuous longitudinal data are discussed, with emphasis on the linear mixed model. Second, we focus on models for non‐Gaussian longitudinal outcomes, where we place emphasis on generalized linear mixed models and generalized estimating equations. Issues when comparing hierarchically and marginally formulated models are discussed. In addition, we briefly touch upon a number of issues: multivariate longitudinal data, pairwise modeling techniques, issues with large data sets, joint modeling of longitudinal and time‐to‐event outcomes, the use of longitudinal data in surrogate marker evaluation, incomplete data, and the use of Bayesian methods. Available software is discussed.
Composite Salt in Porous Metal‐Organic Frameworks for Adsorption Heat Transformation
Authors: Garzón‐Tovar Luis , Pérez‐Carvajal Javier , Imaz Inhar , Maspoch Daniel
Published: April 2017

Adsorptive heat transformation systems such as adsorption thermal batteries and chillers can provide space heating and cooling in a more environmental friendly way. However, their use is still hindered by their relatively poor performances and large sizes due to the limited properties of solid adsorbents. Here, the spray‐drying continuous‐flow synthesis of a new type of solid adsorbents that results from combining metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), such as UiO‐66, and hygroscopic salts, such as CaCl2 has been reported. These adsorbents, commonly named as composite salt in porous matrix (CSPM) materials, allow improving the water uptake capabilities of MOFs while preventing their dissolution in the water adsorbed; a common characteristic of these salts due to the deliquescence effect. It is anticipated that MOF‐based CSPMs, in which the percentage of salt can be tuned, are promising candidates for thermal batteries and chillers. In these applications, it is showed that a CSPM made of UiO‐66 and CaCl2 (38% w/w) exhibits a heat storage capacity of 367 kJ kg−1 , whereas a second CSPM made of UiO‐66 and CaCl2 (53% w/w) shows a specific cooling power of 631 W kg−1 and a coefficient of performance of 0.83, comparable to the best solid adsorbents reported so far.