bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Youth and Privacy in Romeo and Juliet
Authors: Prusko Rachel
Published: June 2016

Passionate, dramatic, secretive, and misunderstood, Romeo and Juliet represent adolescence in ways that strike a familiar chord for audiences today. My essay suggests, however, that these young characters likely appeared to Shakespeare’s original audiences as troubling, unsettling figures, because Romeo and Juliet dismantles extant understandings of young people in Shakespeare’s England. I argue that the play’s staging evokes the guarded interiority of its young protagonists and establishes private spaces in which they constitute themselves as adolescent subjects. Private space, in turn, makes possible a private language: a kind of teen-speak recognizable today but among its earliest manifestations.
‘A Mad-Cap Ruffian and a Swearing Jack’: Braggart Courtship from Miles Gloriosus to The Taming of the Shrew
Authors: Collington Philip D.
Published: June 2016

There is a generic skeleton in Petruchio’s closet. By comparing his outlandish behaviour in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew (ca 1592-94) to that of Pyrgopolinices in Plautus’s Miles Gloriosus (ca 200 BC), as well to that of English variants of the type found in Udall, Lyly, and Peele, I re-situate Petruchio as a braggart soldier. I also reconstruct a largely forgotten comic subgenre, braggart courtship, with distinctive poetic styles, subsidiary characters, narrative events, and thematic functions. Katherina’s marriage to a stranger who boasts of his abilities and bullies social inferiors raises key questions: What were the comic contexts and cultural valences of a match between a braggart and a shrew?
Richard Preiss. Clowning and Authorship in Early Modern Theatre. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014. Pp x, 287.
Authors: Astington John H.
Published: June 2016

This review considers Richard Preiss. Clowning and Authorship in Early Modern Theatre. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014. Pp x, 287.
Philip Butterworth. Staging Conventions in Medieval English Theatre. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014. Pp 272.
Authors: Haddad Tamara
Published: June 2016

This review considers Philip Butterworth. Staging Conventions in Medieval English Theatre. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014. Pp 272.
Lisa Hopkins. Renaissance Drama on the Edge. Farnham: Ashgate, 2015. Pp ii, 191.
Authors: Price Eoin
Published: June 2016

This review considers Lisa Hopkins. Renaissance Drama on the Edge. Farnham: Ashgate, 2015. Pp ii, 191. 
Deanne Williams. Shakespeare and the Performance of Girlhood. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014. Pp xi, 277.
Authors: Sasser M. Tyler
Published: June 2016

This review considers Deanne Williams. Shakespeare and the Performance of Girlhood. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014. Pp xi, 277.
Does the Past Predict the Future? The Case of Delay Announcements in Service Systems
Authors: Ibrahim Rouba , Armony Mor , Bassamboo Achal
Published: June 2016

Motivated by the recent interest in making delay announcements in large service systems, such as call centers, we investigate the accuracy of announcing the waiting time of the last customer to enter service (LES). In practice, customers typically respond to delay announcements by either balking or by becoming more or less impatient, and their response alters system performance. We study the accuracy of the LES announcement in single-class, multiserver Markovian queueing models with announcement-dependent customer behavior. We show that, interestingly, even in this stylized setting, the LES announcement may not always be accurate. This motivates the need to study its accuracy carefully and to determine conditions under which it is accurate. Since the direct analysis of the system with customer response is prohibitively difficult, we focus on many-server, heavy-traffic analysis instead. We consider the quality-and-efficiency-driven and efficiency-driven many-server, heavy-traffic regimes and prove, under both regimes, that the LES prediction is asymptotically accurate if and only if asymptotic fluctuations in the queue length process are small as long as some regulatory conditions apply. This result provides an easy check for the accuracy of LES announcements in practice. We supplement our theoretical results with an extensive simulation study to generate practical managerial insights.

Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2016.2425 .

This paper was accepted by Yossi Aviv, operations management.
Leading change, adding value
Authors:   NHS England
Published: June 2016

In May, NHS England issued an important framework document, outlining the shape of health care in the coming years. This month we publish Part 1 of this framework
Comparative study between biologic porcine dermal meshes: risk factors of postoperative morbidity and recurrence
Authors: Romain B. , Story F. , Meyer N. , Delhorme J.B. , Brigand C. , Rohr S.
Published: June 2016

Objective:

Different types of biologic mesh have been introduced as an alternative to synthetic mesh for use in repairing contaminated ventral hernias because of their biocompatible nature. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent complex ventral hernia repairs with either non cross-linked or cross-linked porcine dermal meshes.

Method:

This was retrospective analysis from a prospectively maintained database from January 2010 to May 2013. Patients undergoing open incisional hernia repair with a biologic mesh in the presence of a clean-contaminated, contaminated or dirty wound were reviewed.

Results:

There were 39 patients who underwent single-staged abdominal wall reconstruction for a contaminated ventral hernia with a biologic mesh. In 15 cases, non cross-linked mesh was used (Strattice, n=8; Protexa, n=1; XenMatrix, n=6); a cross-linked mesh was used in the remaining 24 cases (Permacol n=21; CollaMend n=3). The median follow-up was 11.9 ± 10.6 months. The overall morbidity was 71.8% (n=28), with 15.4% (n=6) for grade I, 23.1% (n=9) for grade II, 23.1% (n=9) for grade III (n=3 grade IIIA, n=6 grade IIIB), 7.7% (n=3) for grade IV and 2.6% (n=1) for grade V. In the cross-linked group, there were six complications directly linked to the biologic mesh, compared with three in the non-cross-linked group. Overall wound morbidity was 41.0% (n=16). There were 13 hernia recurrences (33.3%), and recurrence rate was not significantly different for both groups.

Conclusion:

Despite the high rate of wound morbidity associated with the single-staged reconstruction of contaminated fields, it can be safely performed with biologic mesh reinforcement. Recurrence rate was not significantly different between cross-linked and non cross-linked porcine meshes.

Declaration of interest:

The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Heel pressures with generic and focused rigid heel cast devices while in a static supine and seated position
Authors: Marshall J. , Branthwaithe H. , Chockalingam N.
Published: June 2016

Objective:

To identify if the choice of material used to make focused rigid cast (FRC) and generic heel cups has an effect on heel pressure in healthy individuals during a static supine and seated position.

Method:

A repeated measure design was used to compare the effect of two focused rigidity heel devices made from different materials (3M semi-rigid and Benecast FLEX) and a generic polymer gel heel cup device on barefoot heel pressures. Subjects had heel pressures taken while barefoot and with the three different heel devices while in a supine and seated position using the device.

Results:

We recruited 32 healthy participants (21 females, and 11 males). When comparing Benecast FLEX and 3M semi-rigid focused rigidity casts with barefoot and the generic heel cups significant reductions in pressures were seen in all areas while seated and in the distal area while supine. However, there was no statistical difference between the two FRC devices, or between barefoot and the generic heel cup in either position.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrates that FRC heel devices effectively reduced heel pressures in healthy individuals and therefore could be used in practice when a reduction in pressure is required for the management of heel pressure ulcers in bedbound or chair-bound patients.

Declaration of interest:

Materials were supplied from Benecare Medical (who agreed to supply 20 rolls of Benecast FLEX), and the podiatry department of Kent Community Health NHS Trust (who agreed to supply some of the materials).
End of life care education to care home staff: an evaluation
Authors: Dobie Jan , Plumb Marlis , Shepherd Sarah
Published: June 2016

Care home staff increasingly need to provide end-of-life care (EoLC), but rarely receive training in this. Jan Dobie, Marlis Plumb and Sarah Shepherd designed a study day for care workers to enable them to give residents high-quality, personalised EoLC
Responding to a CQC threat to close down a care home
Authors: Parsons Andrew
Published: June 2016

The CQC has the power to shut down non-compliant care homes. Andrew Parsons offers some timely advice on what to do if you’re faced with the unthinkable
Meeting in the same space: Encountering, making and performing archive in Siobhan Davies Dance Table of Contents
Authors: Krische Rachel
Published: June 2016

This article will reflect on the experience of the collaborative process of making and performing Table Of Contents (2013–2014), produced by Siobhan Davies Dance. It follows Professor Sarah Whatley’s article for this journal, ‘Digital inscriptions and the dancing body: Expanding territories through and with the archive’ (Choreographic Practices, 5:1), and seeks to further examine and expand notions of archive from a position within a research, making and performance project. Running alongside the main text are blocks of questions generated within the research and creation process. The origins of these were collectively expressed in extensive conversations by the artistic team and then further processed and translated into my own working notebooks. The references included in this article have been selected because they often acted as a spur/provocation to the thought processes underpinning many of the creative decisions at the time of making. Later in the article, I will focus on one specific making methodology out of the five that I undertook within the project, in order to offer an example of how I addressed the area of archive within the investigation.
Implementation of Microfluidic Chip Electrophoresis for the Detection of B-cell Clonality
Authors: Vazan M , Kasubova I , Vanochova A , Lukac P , Plank L , Lasabova Z
Published: June 2016

Introduction: A clonal population of B-cells is defined as those cells arising from the mitotic division of a single somatic cell with the same rearrangement of immunoglobulin genes. This gives rise to DNA markers for each individual lymphoid cell and its progenies and enables us to study clonality in different B-cell malignancies using multiplex polymerase chain reaction - PCR. The BIOMED-2 protocol has been implemented for clonality detection in lymphoproliferative diseases and exploits multiplex PCR reaction, subsequently analyzed by heteroduplex analysis (HDA) using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). With the advent of miniaturization and automation of molecular biology methods, lab-on-chip technologies were developed and replace partially the conventional approaches. We tested device for microfluidic chip, which is used for B-cells clonality analysis, using a PCR reaction for three subregions called frameworks (FR) of the immunoglobulin heavy locus (IGH) gene.

Material and Methods: For the implementation and comparison of the two methods we analyzed three unknown B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) samples. As positive control (PK) we used one formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sample from B-CLL lymph node. The DNA was extracted from FFPE sections and multiplex PCR was used to amplify IGH gene segments. After PCR, the HDA was performed, the DNA fragments were evaluated on the PAGE and the microfluidic chip electrophoresis as well, and the results were compared.

Results: Using HDA with subsequent PAGE, we were able to confirm the clonality of the positive control and the tested samples. The same results were obtained by the Bioanalyzer 2100. The microfluidic chip electrophoresis was persuasive in all tested samples.

Conclusion: The implementation of microfluidic chip electrophoresis for detection of B-cell clonality by BIOMED-2 protocol on the device Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer was successful and yielded the same results as the HDA - PAGE. Moreover, chip electrophoresis system is faster for preparation and less laborious than the conventional HDA - PAGE method.
Analysis of Autonomic Nervous System Functional Age and Heart Rate Variability in Mine Workers
Authors: Vasicko T , Prindesova-Busikova J , Osina O
Published: June 2016

Introduction: Heavy working conditions and many unpropitious factors influencing workers health participate in development of various health disorders, among other autonomic cardiovascular regulation malfunction. The aim of this study is to draw a comparison of autonomic nervous system functional age and heart rate variability changes between workers with and without mining occupational exposure.

Material and methods: Short term HRV was measured by DiANS PF8 device in men with and without occupational mining exposure (exposure for 10 years at least) using standard orthoclinostathic protocol (each phase 300 sec or 300 heartbeats if heart rate under 60 bpm), excluding those with severe cardiovascular, metabolic, or psychiatric diseases, nicotine and other drugs abuse, as well as those, who underwent heavy stress situation during last year.

Results: Evaluating 41 HRV records among miners (n=24, age 47.9 ± 6.1 years, exposure 22.5 ± 5 years) and non-miners (n=17, age 48.5 ± 6.9 years) we found significantly increased difference between functional age of ANS and calendar age in miners group (+7.2 ± 7.3 years) over against the non-miners group (−1.6 ± 6.5 years). No correlation was found between exposure duration and functional age of ANS difference. Analysis of HRV parameters show significant reduction in total spectral power, LF, HF and rMSSD in mine workers above 48 years of age.

Discussion and conclusion: Our results show that influence of occupational work factors from mining exposure can clearly take part in worsening the reactivity of ANS, which can be associated with greater risk of developing mostly cardiovascular diseases. It is important to think of non-occupational factors improving or deteriorating ANS reactivity and of individual sensitivity to other external factors.
Application of a new method to control microbial quality of foods based on the detection of oxygen consumption
Authors: Lehotová Veronika , Petruláková Monika , Valík Ľubomír
Published: June 2016

New analytical techniques, the GreenLight™ system for rapid enumeration of total viable counts (TVC) were used to estimate the numbers of bacteria inoculated in different levels in broth nutrient media. The new detection methodology was compared with agar plating EN ISO 4833:2003 method showing excellent correlation. The following coefficients of determination R2 = 0.985 and 0.999 were calculated for aerobic Pseudomonas aeruginosa and facultative anaerobic E. coli, respectively. After calibration, the system based on the principle of quenching of luminescence intensity and lifetime of an oxygen-sensitive dye by sample O2 consumed during microbial growth enables to determine the number of microorganisms within less than 24 hours. The higher microbial load the shorter time for determination of viable count is needed. In case of simple food matrix for example, the results can be reached even within one shift of production.
Influence of Tempering on Mechanical Properties of Induction Bents below 540°C
Authors: Jankejech Peter , Fabian Peter , Broncek Jozef , Shalapko Yuriy
Published: June 2016

The article describes basic principles of induction bending and the change of mechanical properties from as received (straight) pipe made from HSLA steel to induction bend. The main purpose of this article is to experiment with tempering temperatures below 540°C. After tempering at 540°C which is the lowest recommended temperature for post bend heat treatment (PBHT) according to CSA specifications (Canadian Standards Association) the induction bend area in many cases does not achieve the minimum required mechanical properties and therefore it is not accepted for usage. In this article mechanical properties such as tensile, toughness, hardness are evaluated. Also the article contains microstructural analyses and comparison of bended and heat treated samples.
Transient Vibrations of an Elastic Cylinder Inserted in the Elastic Medium
Authors: Sulym Heorgij , Timar Imre , Turchyn Ihor
Published: June 2016

Using method of Laguerre polynomials we have obtained the solution of the dynamic problem of the theory of elasticity for elastic cylinder inserted into massive body modeled as a space. The source of non-stationary processes in composite is high intensity force load of the inner surface of the cylinder. On the surface separation of materials of space and cylinder the conditions of ideal mechanical contact are satisfied. The solution is obtained as series of Laguerre polynomials, which coefficients are found from recurrent relations. The results of numerical analysis of transient stress-strain state in elastic space with cylindrical insertion might be used for the technological process of hydraulic fracturing during shale gas extraction.
Modelling the Meshing of Cycloidal Gears
Authors: Nachimowicz Jerzy , Rafałowski Stanisław
Published: June 2016

Cycloidal drives belong to the group of planetary gear drives. The article presents the process of modelling a cycloidal gear. The full profile of the planetary gear is determined from the following parameters: ratio of the drive, eccentricity value, the equidistant (ring gear roller radius), epicycloid reduction ratio, roller placement diameter in the ring gear. Joong-Ho Shin’s and Soon-Man Kwon’s article (Shin and Know, 2006) was used to determine the profile outline of the cycloidal planetary gear lobes. The result was a scatter chart with smooth lines and markers, presenting the full outline of the cycloidal gear.
Coupled Static and Dynamic Buckling Modelling of Thin-Walled Structures in Elastic Range Review of Selected Problems
Authors: Kołakowski Zbigniew , Teter Andrzej
Published: June 2016

A review of papers that investigate the static and dynamic coupled buckling and post-buckling behaviour of thin-walled structures is carried out. The problem of static coupled buckling is sufficiently well-recognized. The analysis of dynamic interactive buckling is limited in practice to columns, single plates and shells. The applications of finite element method (FEM) or/and analytical-numerical method (ANM) to solve interaction buckling problems are on-going. In Poland, the team of scientists from the Department of Strength of Materials, Lodz University of Technology and co-workers developed the analytical-numerical method. This method allows to determine static buckling stresses, natural frequencies, coefficients of the equation describing the post-buckling equilibrium path and dynamic response of the plate structure subjected to compression load and/or bending moment. Using the dynamic buckling criteria, it is possible to determine the dynamic critical load. They presented a lot of interesting results for problems of the static and dynamic coupled buckling of thin-walled plate structures with complex shapes of cross-sections, including an interaction of component plates. The most important advantage of presented analytical-numerical method is that it enables to describe all buckling modes and the post-buckling behaviours of thin-walled columns made of different materials. Thin isotropic, orthotropic or laminate structures were considered.
Avian Crop Function – A Review
Authors: Kierończyk Bartosz , Rawski Mateusz , Długosz Jakub , Świątkiewicz Sylwester , Józefiak Damian
Published: June 2016

The aim of this review is to present and discuss the anatomy and physiology of crop in different avian species. The avian crop (ingluvies) present in most omnivorous and herbivorous bird species, plays a major role in feed storage and moistening, as well as functional barrier for pathogens through decreasing pH value by microbial fermentation. Moreover, recent data suggest that this gastrointestinal tract segment may play an important role in the regulation of the innate immune system of birds. In some avian species ingluvies secretes “crop milk” which provides high nutrients and energy content for nestlings growth. The crop has a crucial role in enhancing exogenous enzymes efficiency (for instance phytase and microbial amylase, β-glucanase), as well as the activity of bacteriocins. Thus, ingluvies may have a significant impact on bird performance and health status during all stages of rearing. Efficient use of the crop in case of digesta retention time is essential for birds’ growth performance. Thus, a functionality of the crop is dependent on a number of factors, including age, dietary factors, infections as well as flock management. It is important to expand knowledge about the crop functions to use them effectively in poultry production. Furthermore, more scientific data is needed in the scope of immunological function of the crop as well as its microecosystem for a better understanding of the avian immune system and enhancing the health of the birds.
Sicheres und einfaches Data Sharing mit SowiDataNet: dokumentieren – veröffentlichen – nachnutzen
Authors: Droß Patrick J. , Linne Monika
Published: June 2016

SowiDataNet ist eine im Aufbau befindliche Forschungsdateninfrastruktur für die Sozial- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften. Zentraler Baustein ist die Entwicklung eines web-basierten Forschungsdatenrepositoriums, welches es Forscherinnen

Aus Gründen der besseren Lesbarkeit wird im Text abwechselnd die weibliche und die männliche Form verwendet. Gemeint sind stets alle Geschlechter.

erlaubt, ihre Daten sicher und dauerhaft zu dokumentieren, zu publizieren und mit anderen Forschern zu teilen. Die Entwicklung dieses neuen Services orientiert sich am konkreten Bedarf der Fachcommunity, was sich u. a. in der Durchführung einer detaillierten Anforderungsanalyse widerspiegelt. Ein spezieller Fokus liegt zudem auf der flexiblen Einbindung des Repositoriums in die praktischen Workflows des institutionellen Forschungsdatenmanagements.
Publikationskompetenz als neues Tätigkeitsfeld von Bibliotheken
Authors: Keller Alice
Published: June 2016

Der Aufsatz stellt zwei Modelle des wissenschaftlichen Publizierens gegenüber: das traditionelle Dreiecksverhältnis zwischen Wissenschaft, Verlag und Bibliothek und ein neues Modell, das mit verschiedensten Online-Inhaltsanbietern und Publikationsplattformen arbeitet. Das neue Modell des wissenschaftlichen Publizierens verlangt sowohl von den Autoren als auch von den Bibliotheken neue Fähigkeiten, die hier unter dem Begriff Publikationskompetenz zusammengefasst werden. Auf Seite der Autoren bzw. Forscher kann die Publikationskompetenz als (pro-)aktive Form der Informationskompetenz verstanden werden. Bei den Bibliotheken geht es um den Aufbau von publikationsunterstützenden Services. Um diese Angebote professionell betreiben zu können, bedarf es besonderer Fähigkeiten, die sich oft signifikant vom traditionellen bibliothekarischen Aufgabenspektrum unterscheiden. Diese Veränderungen führen zu weitreichenden Konsequenzen für die Bibliotheken, bieten ihnen aber auch neue Chancen, verstärkt mit den Forschenden direkt in Kontakt zu kommen.
Hodge numbers and invariant complex
structures of compact nilmanifolds
Authors: Yamada Takumi
Published: June 2016

In this paper, we consider several invariant complex structures on a compact real nilmanifold, and
we study relations between invariant complex structures and Hodge numbers.
Hospitalization of a child in the Neonatal Intensive Care – parents’ experiences
Authors: Kopeć Agnieszka , Aftyka Anna , Humeniuk Ewa , Rybojad Beata , Rozalska-Walaszek Ilona
Published: June 2016

Introduction. Significant progress in the perinatal and intensive care therapy resulted in a meaningful increase of survival of extremely immature, and burdened with severe diseases neonates. Although infants are the patients of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the needs of their parents should also be noticed and realized. The aim of the study was the analysis of the parents’ experiences of children hospitalized in the NICU.

Material. The research material comprises 39 written contributions of parents of children hospitalized in the NICU.

Method. A qualitative analysis of the text was used. Quotes of parents were classified in three categories: emotions, thoughts and support.

Results. Fear, happiness, joy, uncertainty, stress and shock are the most frequently emotions appearing in the parents’ reports. The most frequently mentioned areas of cognitive reactions of parents include: realization of child’s mortality, realizing problems of the premature birth, search for the guilty, and the reformulation of looking at the world. Parents often described support they received, but also pointed to the areas where support lacked.

Conclusion:

As a result of intense emotions, both positive and negative tint that parents experience at birth of a premature or sick child, multi-disciplinary care is necessary in order to reduce the negative effects of experienced emotions.

Support, including information support for parents of critically ill newborns is a key skill in the practice of doctors taking care of children hospitalized in NICU.

Psychological support is an essential element of the holistic care of the neonate’s family.
Adriamycin - efficacy and possible adverse effects
Authors: Pedrycz Agnieszka , Kramkowska Agnieszka
Published: June 2016

Adriamycin (doxorubicin) is a chemical substance in the anthracycline class with a wide range of applications in oncology and hematology. The mechanism of action of Adriamycin is related to formation of irregular bonds between nucleobases of DNA and inhibition of key enzymes of DNA synthesis - topoisomerase I and II as well as to formation of free radicals damaging DNA.

A major limitation in the drug use is associated with its adverse effects such as cardiotoxicity and hepatotoxicity.

The mechanism of myocardial injury by Adriamycin is linked to an increase in oxidative stress associated with impaired mitochondrial function and structure.

Cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines is classified as: acute, chronic or late (delayed).

Hepatotoxicity of Adriamycin as a damage of the liver is associated with a dysfunction of this organ. Adriamycin studies have shown increased level of transaminase present in 40% of patients treated with Adriamycin. The state was transient and asymptomatic, returning to the initial level even when treatment continued.

Knowledge of cancer diseases contributed to a successive creation of two improved forms of Adriamycin (doxorubicin) – nonpegylated and pegylated formulas of the drug.

The mechanism of anticancer effects of liposomal Adriamycin is similar to the mechanism of conventional Adriamycin, but placement of the molecules of active substance in liposomes has significant influence on the distribution of the drug.

In order to increase the distribution of the drug, a special form of liposomal Adriamycin has been created by covering the surface of the liposomes with a hydrophilic polymer - (MPEG). This process, known as pegylation, decreases the interactions between the lipid bilayer membrane and the plasma components. Pegylated form of the drug is associated with a higher incidence of acute complications.
Do Environmental Education School Coordinators Have a Mission?
Authors: Šimonová Petra , Činčera Jan
Published: June 2016

Teachers who are specialized in environmental education (environmental education school coordinators1) can play an important role in empowering students to shape a sustainable future. In this study, the authors examined a group of Czech environmental education school coordinators. The authors aimed to clarify how they interpret their role at their respective schools, how they perceive their self-efficacy, and what they observe as benefits and barriers to their work as a coordinator. They conducted a qualitative study with focus groups and completed individual in-depth interviews with the coordinators. The results suggest that the coordinators view their work as a mission. The ultimate goal of this mission is to change the children’s behavior to make it more pro-environmental, and, at the same time, to establish this effort as a commitment of the whole school. The authors identified different forms of mission, described development in time and connected them with the perceived self-efficacy of the coordinators.
Interethnic variability of pharmacogenetic biomarkers in Mexican healthy volunteers: a report from the RIBEF (Ibero-American Network of Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics)
Authors: Fricke-Galindo Ingrid , Jung-Cook Helgi , LLerena Adrián , López-López Marisol
Published: June 2016

Mexico presents a complex population diversity integrated by Mexican indigenous (MI) (7% of Mexico’s population) and Mexican mestizos (MMs). This composition highlights the importance of pharmacogenetic studies in Mexican populations. The aims of this study were to analyze the reported frequencies of the most relevant pharmacogenetic biomarkers and metabolic phenotypes in healthy volunteers from Mexican populations and to assess its interethnic variability across MI and MM populations. After a literature search in PubMed, and according to previously defined inclusion criteria, 63 pharmacogenetic studies performed in Mexican healthy volunteers up to date were selected. These reports comprised 56,292 healthy volunteers (71.58% MM). Allele frequencies in 31 pharmacogenetic biomarkers, from 121 searched, are described. Nine of these biomarkers presented variation within MM and MI groups. The frequencies of CYP2D6*3, *4, *5, *10, *17, *35 and *41 alleles in the MM group were different from those reported in the MI group. CYP2C9*2 and *3 alleles were more frequent in MM than in MI populations (χ2 test, p<0.05). CYP2C19*3 allele was not found in the MM or MI populations reported. For UGT1A1*28, only one study was found. HLA-A*31:01 and HLA-B*15:02 were present in some MM and MI populations. Poor metabolizers for CYP2D6 and CYP2C9 were more frequent in MM than in MI groups (χ2 test, p<0.05). Only 26% of the relevant pharmacogenetic biomarkers searched have been studied in Mexican healthy volunteers; therefore, further studies are warranted. The frequency variation of biomarkers in MM and MI populations could be important for the clinical implementation of pharmacogenetics in Mexico.
Economic Crisis and the Nature of Entrepreneurial and Management Activities
Authors: Leković Božidar , Marić Slobodan
Published: June 2016

The essential research intention in this work is oriented toward considering the nature of entrepreneurial activities regarding to the volume of representation, according to some stages of the entrepreneurial process for defined groups of countries, different development degree in crisis conditions. The analysis of research data has drawn some conclusions, which have largely confirmed hypotheses. Obtained results, after the application of adequate statistical procedures, emphasize the existence of negative correlation, degree of economic development and the rate of economic growth. They are partly explained by the place and causes of analysed crisis circumstances, the degree of integrity of financial and economic systems, as well as the heterogeneous economic structure, as the main resistance to negative economic trends. The defined groups of countries of different development degrees show different differences in all the degrees of the entrepreneurial process. There is a positive correlation between the volume of entrepreneurial activities and the rate of economic growth, but on behalf of the countries of the lower development degree. Crisis conditions in the least developed countries generate an additional pressure on entrepreneurial activities; while the relatively stable environment of highly developed countries enables some individuals to find business possibilities outside the entrepreneurial sector.
Application of Multi-Criteria Analysis in the Public Procurement Process Optimization
Authors: Mimović Predrag , Krstić Ana
Published: June 2016

One of the key steps in the implementation of a public procurement process is the criteria selection that are associated with the bidders, which are intended to ensure that bidders will be able to meet the requirements from the contract. Implicitly, the criteria selection includes their evaluation in situations when the criterion of the lowest price is not applied, but instead the criterion of the most economically advantageous tender. The aim of the paper is to show that decision-makers in the public sector can use multi-criteria analysis for the efficient and fair public procurement process implementation and the establishment of objective conditions for the contract awarding in accordance with the general social interests. In this sense, the paper presents a comparative approach to the Analytic Hierarchy Process and Analytic Network Process as the methods of support in decision making, measurement and evaluation criteria for the selection of the best bids in the procurement process. Hierarchical model with five criteria and nine sub-criteria and the network model, which takes into account the mutual influences of criteria, were developed in a hypothetical public procurement selection procedure for the best performers for the construction of the infrastructure facility. Selection of the best bidder, i.e. bids for the realization of the work, is distinctive, multi-criteria problem which includes both qualitative and quantitative factors.
About evaluation of vegetation changes on permanent sample areas in Järvselja protected compartment
Authors: Paal Jaanus , Jürisoo Kristiina , Paal Taimi
Published: June 2016

The changes in tree layer saplings, shrub, field and moss layer in Järvselja Nature Reserve virgin forest compartment (JS226) were analysed on the ground of data collected in 1955, 1985, 1993 and 2012. Four forest stands (sub-compartments) were studied; in every stand one 4 × 4 m sample area was established: area A1 represented Hepatica nobilis and Anemone nemoralis dominanted spruce stand, area A3 – drained transitional mire pine forest, area A4 – Mercurialis perennis-rich spruce stand and area A5 – Hepatica nobilis and Anemone nemoralis dominanted aspen stand. The number of tree layer saplings and shrub layer stems, as well as their species content have changed largely in all sample areas, being a bit more stable only on area A1. In field layer the abundance of initial dominant species changed remarkably in all areas or were replaced by other species in the course of succession. Changes in moss layer were the most striking in drained transition mire forest (area A3), where Pleurozium schreberi, Sphagnum centrale and S. capillifolium dominating in 1955 were replaced by S. centrale in 1993. The experiment planning in the current study is regrettably insufficient: to study forest communities succession using only one 4 × 4 m sample area in every stand does not allow to gather representative data about the vegetation structure and its variation limits. Moreover, in that way it is not possible to separate the time-induced successional trend from the drainage impact that has an obviously prevailing importance in forest compartment JS226 being surrounded by ditches.
Annual growth trends and response to weather of larch trees at Järvselja Training and Experimental Forest Center stands (Estonia)
Authors: Hordo Maris , Kängsepp Vivika , Kannimäe Taavi , Kask Priit
Published: June 2016

Larch is widely used in tree-ring studies, while tree-ring width and signature years provide information on environmental changes with annual resolution. The aim of the study was to build tree-ring (TR), early- (EW) and latewood (LW) width chronologies by larch species (Hybrid, European, Russian, Japanese, Kuril), and to study the response of the radial increment of larches to weather at Järvselja forest stands by using correlation, redundancy analysis, and the pointer year method. The increment cores were collected from 233 trees in Järvselja larch stands during autumn 2014. The increment cores were collected from 24 stands and divided into five groups by larch species. High EPS values (≥ 0.887) for the larch species in all groups indicate that a sufficient number of trees was included in the chronologies to be representable. The results show that different species have a similar sensitivity to various weather variables. Among the factors influencing the size of radial growth of larches were the weather conditions prevailing in the autumn of the previous year and the spring of the current year. An overall RDA revealed that 63.9% of tree growth variation in larch species was explained by the considered weather variables (F = 4.925, p < 0.001). The pointer year analysis distinguished between several common extreme pointer years by larch species; it revealed a significant response to the winter temperature and the temperature in spring. However, these weather characteristics are very complex and the causes that can affect tree growth may vary from year to year.
Effect of sample plot size and shape on estimates of structural indices: A case study in mature silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) dominating stand in Järvselja
Authors: Maleki Kobra , Kiviste Andres
Published: June 2016

Structural indices and characteristics have often been employed for assessing different aspects of forest stands. In order to assess the performance of such measures in forest sample plots of different size and shape, the current study is based on a data set for a relatively large (1 ha) silver birch dominated stand, and five simulated planar point patterns (a Poisson process, two clustered and two regular patterns) with similar intensity of points distributed on an area equal to the silver birch stand as reference stands. The analyses was based on repeated samplings of the stands, with randomly placed circular or square shaped plots of different sizes, with area ranging from 0.007 to 0.636 ha. Similar centre positions were considered for plots of different shapes, but the locations of the plot centres differed with size, so that plots of different sizes were able to cover the maximum possible area of reference stands. Some structural indices accounting for one or four nearest neighbours, and also the Point-pair correlation function was then quantified for each random sample plot. We used standard deviation and the differences of the mean estimates from the expected values to assess the sensitivity of the structural measures to the size and shape of sampling plots. The results indicated the significant effect of plot size and shape on structural indices. The correlation between plot size and estimates precision was positive, and small plots, regardless of their shapes, showed big variation among them while circular plots often provided more accurate estimates. Even though, as expected, expanding the plots increased the precision of the neighbourhood-based indices’ estimates (spatial measures), and also resulted in inaccurate estimates for some reference stands, depending on the arrangement of trees/points within that stand.
Enriching and improving the quality of linked data with GIS
Authors: Iwaniak Adam , Kaczmarek Iwona , Strzelecki Marek , Lukowicz Jaromar , Jankowski Piotr
Published: June 2016

Standardization of methods for data exchange in GIS has along history predating the creation of World Wide Web. The advent of World Wide Web brought the emergence of new solutions for data exchange and sharing including; more recently, standards proposed by the W3C for data exchange involving Semantic Web technologies and linked data. Despite the growing interest in integration, GIS and linked data are still two separate paradigms for describing and publishing spatial data on the Web. At the same time, both paradigms offer complementary ways of representing real world phenomena and means of analysis using different processing functions. The complementarity of linked data and GIS can be leveraged to synergize both paradigms resulting in richer data content and more powerful inferencing. The article presents an approach aimed at integrating linked data with GIS. The approach relies on the use of GIS tools for integration, verification and enrichment of linked data. The GIS tools are employed to enrich linked data by furnishing access to collection of data resources, defining relationship between data resources, and subsequently facilitating GIS data integration with linked data. The proposed approach is demonstrated with examples using data from DBpedia, OSM, and tools developed by the authors for standard GIS software.
Die Ordnung der Römischen Republik
Authors: Meier Christian
Published: June 2016

Die römische Republik kannte kein in rechtlichen Kategorien zu fassendes Institutionengefüge, das sich – unsern Verfassungen entsprechend – aus dem Ganzen ihrer Ordnung herauslösen ließe. Damit ergibt sich die Frage, wie die Ordnung der Republik dann zu begreifen ist; was alles sie ausgemacht hat, wie alles im Endeffekt zusammenwirkte, wie es sich zu einem Ganzen zusammenschloß und wie es funktionierte. Gefragt wird nach den älteren, weichenstellenden Voraussetzungen (Erbe des Königtums; Patriciat; Begründung der Republik; Magistrate; „Ständekämpfe“), ferner nach den Volksversammlungen, nach den Grundbedingungen, die das Arbeiten der Ordnung durchwalteten, sowie nach den Weisen, in denen es sich vollzog; letztlich unter Aufsicht der führenden Senatoren. Es ergibt sich, daß die Organe der Römischen Republik so tief in besondere Eigenarten der Bürgerschaft verwickelt und durch sie bedingt waren, daß diese Bürgerschaft ihre Ordnung nicht eigentlich hatte, sondern sie war – in ihrem quasi ständischen Gefüge, ihren Bindungen, ihren Institutionen sowie in ihren intellektuellen, mentalen und rituellen Ausrichtungen und Dispositionen. Einfachen (oder auch komplizierten) begrifflichen Klassifikationen oder systematischen Rekonstruktionen entzieht sie sich. Sie steckte in denen, die sie lebten. Ohne ein gedeihliches Verhältnis von Freiheit und Verantwortung konnte sie nicht wirken.
Lokale und transnationale Dimensionen sakralisierter Politik. Nationale Bewegung und Zivilgesellschaft im liberalen Italien
Authors: Körner Axel
Published: June 2016

Wie entwickeln Politik und Zivilgesellschaft im 19. Jahrhundert eine der Erfahrung von Moderne und gesellschaftlichem Wandel angemessene Symbolik? Am Beispiel des post-risorgimentalen Italiens untersucht der Aufsatz lokale und transnationale Idiome sakralisierter Politik und stößt dabei auf symbolische Formen, die Bezug auf lokale Traditionen religiöser Praxis nehmen, aber auch internationale Modelle politischen Rituals integrieren. Politische Totenfeiern und die Inszenierung lokaler Identität im neuen, doch noch immer fremd anmutenden Nationalstaat bieten Historikern diesbezüglich ein reiches Forschungsfeld. Interessant ist dabei auch die kritische Auseinandersetzung italienischer Demokraten und Republikaner mit politischen Entwicklungen in den Vereinigten Staaten. Spannungen zwischen lokaler, nationaler und transnationaler Symbolsprache berücksichtigend, zeigt der Aufsatz, wie Inszenierungskontext, Gebrauch und Rezeption symbolischer Formsprache Aufschlüsse auch zu politischen Inhalten geben. Seit den 1860er Jahren fällt in Italien zudem vor allem der munizipale und zivilbürgerliche Rahmen der Sakralisierung von Politik auf, der so zu einer veränderten Inszenierung des Nationalen beiträgt und damit Spannungen zwischen Staat und Nation zunehmend erfolgreich auszugleichen vermag.
Subgroup Isomorphism Problem for units of integral group rings
Authors: Margolis Leo
Published: June 2016

The Subgroup Isomorphism Problem for Integral Group Rings asks for which finite groups U it is true that if U is isomorphic to a subgroup of

V
⁢

(

ℤ
⁢
G

)

${\mathrm{V}(\mathbb{Z}G)}$

, the group of normalized units of the integral group ring of the finite group G, it must be isomorphic to a subgroup of G. The smallest groups known not to satisfy this property are the counterexamples to the Isomorphism Problem constructed by M. Hertweck. However, the only groups known to satisfy it are cyclic groups of prime power order and elementary-abelian p-groups of rank 2. We give a positive solution to the Subgroup Isomorphism Problem for

C
4

×

C
2

${C_{4}\times C_{2}}$

. Moreover, we prove that if the Sylow 2-subgroup of G is a dihedral group, any 2-subgroup of

V
⁢

(

ℤ
⁢
G

)

${\mathrm{V}(\mathbb{Z}G)}$

is isomorphic to a subgroup of G.
Factors Affecting the Adoption of Information and Communication Technologies: Small Hotels and Tour Operators in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Demeke Wegene , Olden Anthony , Nocera Jose Abdelnour
Published: June 2016

In Africa the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) varies considerably from one country to another, for example between Kenya and Tanzania on the one hand and Ethiopia on the other. In Kenya and Tanzania telecommunications systems have been liberalized, while in Ethiopia all ICT infrastructures and services are provided by one single telecommunications operator – one that is owned and run by the government. ICT plays a significant role in poverty reduction and empowerment of the disadvantaged, but this requires that ICT has first to be adopted by them. The main research question is: what are the factors affecting the adoption of ICT in the small hotel and tour operator sector? The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that affect the adoption of ICT in small hotels and tour operators in Ethiopia’s capital city, Addis Ababa. The sector was chosen because, driven by demand from customers, it uses ICT more than many other sectors, and because the government requires hoteliers to use a particular software for tax purposes. During the course of several visits between 2009 and 2013 data were collected from hoteliers and tour operator owners/managers. Sixteen hoteliers who had adopted ICT in their businesses were interviewed. One hundred and twenty-eight hoteliers and 57 tour operators responded to a questionnaire. Analysis of the findings indicates that factors affecting the adoption of ICT in these organizations can be arranged according to three levels: individual, organizational and national. The major factors that affect the adoption arise from the national level factors: the political, socio-economic, technological and legal factors that play a critical role in the adoption or rejection of ICT in this sector. This paper provides insights into the impact a monopolized telecommunications service can have on the adoption of ICT.
Optical and sensing properties of Fe doped ZnO nanocrystalline thin films
Authors: Shukla R.K. , Srivastava Anchal , Kumar Nishant , Pandey Akhilesh , Pandey Mamta
Published: June 2016

Undoped and Fe doped ZnO films of different molarities deposited by spray pyrolysis method using zinc nitrate and ferric chloride as precursors show polycrystalline nature and hexagonal wurtzite structure. Crystallite size decreases with an increase in dopant concentration from 0 at.% to 3 at.%. Doping improves the transmission of the films whereas it reduces the optical band gap of ZnO from 3.28 eV to 3.17 eV. The morphology resembles flake-like structures which collapse when the dopant is introduced. The samples are found to be sensitive to CO2 gas. Undoped ZnO shows maximum sensitivity at 350 °C for higher concentration of CO2. Doped samples show maximum sensitivity at 200 °C for all CO2 concentrations i.e. from 500 ppm to 4000 ppm. Maximum sensitivity is achieved at temperatures 350 °C, 250 °C, 300 °C and 450 °C for the samples prepared using precursor solution of 0.1 M molarity.