bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deriving surface soil moisture from reflected GNSS signal observations from a grassland site in southwestern France
Authors: Zhang Sibo , Calvet Jean-Christophe , Darrozes José , Roussel Nicolas , Frappart Frédéric , Bouhours Gilles
Published: March 2018

Abstract. This work assesses the estimation of surface volumetric soil
moisture (VSM) using the global navigation satellite system interferometric reflectometry (GNSS-IR) technique. Year-round observations were acquired from
a grassland site in southwestern France using an antenna consecutively placed
at two contrasting heights above the ground surface (3.3 and 29.4 m). The VSM
retrievals are compared with two independent reference datasets: in situ
observations of soil moisture, and numerical simulations of soil moisture and
vegetation biomass from the ISBA (Interactions between Soil, Biosphere and
Atmosphere) land surface model. Scaled VSM estimates can be retrieved
throughout the year removing vegetation effects by the separation of growth
and senescence periods and by the filtering of the GNSS-IR observations that
are most affected by vegetation. Antenna height has no significant impact on
the quality of VSM estimates. Comparisons between the VSM GNSS-IR retrievals
and the in situ VSM observations at a depth of 5 cm show good agreement
(R2= 0.86 and RMSE = 0.04 m3 m−3). It is shown that
the signal is sensitive to the grass litter water content and that this
effect triggers differences between VSM retrievals and in situ VSM
observations at depths of 1 and 5 cm, especially during light rainfall
events.
The effect of soil moisture anomalies on maize yield in Germany
Authors: Peichl Michael , Thober Stephan , Meyer Volker , Samaniego Luis
Published: March 2018

Abstract. Crop models routinely use meteorological variations to estimate crop yield. Soil moisture, however, is the primary source of water for plant growth. The aim of this study is to investigate the intraseasonal predictability of soil moisture to estimate silage maize yield in Germany. We also evaluate how approaches considering soil moisture perform compare to those using only meteorological variables. Silage maize is one of the most widely cultivated crops in Germany because it is used as a main biomass supplier for energy production in the course of the German Energiewende (energy transition). Reduced form fixed effect panel models are employed to investigate the relationships in this study. These models are estimated for each month of the growing season to gain insights into the time-varying effects of soil moisture and meteorological variables. Temperature, precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration are used as meteorological variables. Soil moisture is transformed into anomalies which provide a measure for the interannual variation within each month. The main result of this study is that soil moisture anomalies have predictive skills which vary in magnitude and direction depending on the month. For instance, dry soil moisture anomalies in August and September reduce silage maize yield more than 10 %, other factors being equal. In contrast, dry anomalies in May increase crop yield up to 7 % because absolute soil water content is higher in May compared to August due to its seasonality. With respect to the meteorological terms, models using both temperature and precipitation have higher predictability than models using only one meteorological variable. Also, models employing only temperature exhibit elevated effects.
Free-flow wind speed from a blade-mounted flow sensor
Authors: Pedersen Mads Mølgaard , Larsen Torben Juul , Madsen Helge Aagaard , Andersen Søren Juhl
Published: March 2018

Abstract. This paper presents a method for obtaining
the free-inflow velocities
from a 3-D flow sensor mounted on the blade of a wind turbine. From its position on the rotating blade, e.g. one-third from the tip,
a blade-mounted flow sensor (BMFS) is able to provide valuable
information about the turbulent sheared inflow in different regions of
the rotor. At the rotor, however, the inflow is affected by the wind
turbine, and in most cases the wind of interest is the inflow that the
wind turbine is exposed to, i.e. the free-inflow velocities. The current method applies a combination of aerodynamic models and
procedures to estimate the induced velocities, i.e. the disturbance of
the flow field caused by the wind turbine. These velocities are
subtracted from the flow velocities measured by the BMFS to obtain the
free-inflow velocities. Aeroelastic codes, like HAWC2, typically use
a similar approach to calculate the induction, but they use it for the
reversed process, i.e. they add the induction to the free inflow to get
the flow velocities at the blades, which are required to calculate the
resulting aerodynamic forces. The aerodynamic models included in the current method comprise models
based on blade element momentum (BEM) for axial and tangential
induction, a radial induction model and tip loss correction, and
models for skew and dynamic inflow. It is shown that the method is able to calculate the free-inflow
velocities with high accuracy when applied to aeroelastic HAWC2
simulations with a stiff structural model while some deviations are seen
in simulations with a flexible structure. Furthermore, the method is tested on simulations performed by a flexible
structural model coupled with a large-eddy simulation (LES) flow
solver. The results of this higher-fidelity verification confirm the
HAWC2-based conclusion.
Content of endogenous sulfur dioxide in wines
Authors: Kubáň Vlastimil , Fic Vlastimil , Marcinčák Petr , Kráčmar Stanislav , Golian Jozef
Published: March 2018

Content of free and total endogenous sulfur dioxide were evaluated by classical iodometric titration in must, during winemaking processes and in bio-wine. No exogenous sulfur dioxide was added in any technological operations to simplify the evaluations. In addition, the results were corrected on the content of reductons (total content of reducing substances). The results confirmed formation of endogenous sulfur dioxide from sulfur containing substances (sulfur containing amino acids etc.) in both experiments. Microbial sulfur dioxide is preferably bound to carbonyl substances. Only minor part is present in the free (active) form of the sulfur dioxide. In addition, total content of polyphenols (TPC) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined by spectrophotometry at the same time. A procedure OIV-MA-AS323-O4B: R 2009 was used. Contents of "free" and "total" sulfur dioxide (with/without correction on contents of reductons) and total content of reductones were determined after complexing the sulfur dioxide with formaldehyde. A standard spectrophotometric method using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent was applied for determination of total content of polyphenolics (TPC) at 765 nm after 60 min incubation. The results were expressed as tannin equivalents (in mg.L-1). A standard DPPH (2,2´-difenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl dissolved in methanol) spectrophotometric method was applied for determination of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) at 515 nm. Depletion of the color intensity was measured after 60 min incubation against blank (methanol) and absorbance decrease Δ(A) = (A0 - A1)/A0 was calculated and used for construction of calibration curve. The TAC values were expressed as ascorbic acid concentrations (in mg.L-1).
Interaction of polyphenols and wine antioxidants with its sulfur dioxide preservative
Authors: Snopek Lukáš , Mlček Jiří­ , Fic Vlastimil , Hlaváčová Irena , Škrovánková Soňa , Fisera Miroslav , Velichová Helena , Ondrášová Monika
Published: March 2018

Wine is considered to be a significant alcoholic beverage, which is the result of fermentation of grape must or mash. Wine is a must when the substances contained in it play a major role, which are essential inhibiting water, carbohydrates, acids, minerals, nitrates, polyphenols and aromatics. These biochemical components are an important tracking element in wine evaluation in terms of chemical analyzes. An important parameter of monitoring is polyphenolic substances. Polyphenol substances are identified in plant materials as several thousand pieces with a very diverse structure. However, they have a
common feature up to one or more aromatic rings substituted with hydroxyl groups. These substances may be present in plant material in a small or large amount. The total daily intake of polyphenols is estimated at 1 g. This is a higher intake than antioxidant vitamin intakes and it is confirmed that their antioxidant activity is higher than that of antioxidant vitamins. When monitoring the content of all polyphenols (TPC) in selected samples using a spectrophotometric method, a higher TPC content of red wines against white white wines can be observed. Total antioxidant activity is introduced to compare anti
oxidant effects of different mixtures and is based on the ability to eliminate radicals. Antioxidant activity and effects of polyphenols can be inhibited by the addition of preservatives to wine. The preservative is sulfur dioxide (SO 2), which has antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. This compound is not harmless because it is a strong allergen, blocks bacteria in the digestive tract and prevents the conversion of sugars and alcohol derivatives in the liver by blocking vitamin
B. In the normal life, SO2 is consumed under the E 220 mark. The aim of this work is to monitor the change in the total polyphenols content related to free and bound sulfur dioxide (SO2) content using accredited OIV-MA-AS323-O4B: R, 2009 samples in wine samples. Comparison of organic wines and wines produced by classical, it was found that organic wine have a higher content of biologically active substances and have a strong correlation factor TAA - total SO2 (r = 0.77 to 0.91), depending on the wine variety.
Comparison of the content of selected mineral substances in Czech liturgical and common wines
Authors: Mlček Jiří­ , Trágeová Sabina , Adámková Anna , Adámek Martin , Bednářová Martina , Škrovánková Soňa , Sedláčková Eva
Published: March 2018

The article deals with the content of selected mineral substances in Czech liturgical wines and compares them with common wines. Sulphur, phosphorus, boron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, cadmium and lead were selected as evaluated minerals, and they were all found in all the analyzed varieties - Pinot Noir, Red Traminer and Chardonnay. Mineral substances were determined using a quadrupole mass spectrometer in the inductively coupled plasma variant of the Thermo Scientific ICAP Q ICP-MS. Generally, measured results did not show significant differences between the mineral content in liturgical and common wines. Therefore the influence of specific production technologies of liturgical wines on the mineral contents was not proved either. One of the highest mineral concentration was in communion Red Traminer, which, besides beneficial minerals, also contained a high amount of toxic elements. On the contrary, common Red Traminer had one of the lowest concentrations of toxic compounds. The content of permitted lead levels was exceeded in a single case, namely in the Chardonnay kosher sample. For cadmium, no sample exceeded the allowed limit.
Development of resistance to antibiotics in bacteria Staphylococcus spp. Isolated from milk samples in the sheep breedings on east of Slovakia
Authors: Vasiľ Milan , Elečko Juraj , Farkašová Zuzana , Zigo František
Published: March 2018

During the last three years (2015 to 2017), the frequency of occurrence of bacteria Staphylococcus spp. were examined in total 3466 individual and 12 pool milk samples. Experiment was carried out in two herds of breed of sheep Improved Valaska in region of East Slovakia. Were isolated and taxonomically identified 15 species of the genus Staphylococcus spp. (n = 444). From the coagulase positive staphylococci (CPS), S. aureus was isolated during the reporting period, however, most often in the first year (45). The incidence of S. intermedius and S. hyicus has been irregular. From the coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) (n = 288), were isolated S. epidermidis present in 37.5% (108), S. scheiferi 25.69% (74) and S. chromogenes 23.61% (68), while other species occurred only rarely. The bacteria S. aureus (n = 117) showed the highest resistance to novobiocine 14.5%, to erythromycin 12.8%, lincomycin 7.69% and also 7.69% to penicillin. In the framework of the CNS sensitivity we tested 108 strains of S. epidermidis, from which it was 11.1% resistant to novobiocine and 8.3% to erythromycin. Statistical comparison of the incidence of resistance to penicillin and novobiocine in S. aureus and S. epidermidis was performed using Chi square test. There was statistically significant dependence of tracked characters was confirmed on significance level α = 0.05. Also, the incidence of intermediate sensitivity of bacteria in the Staphylococcus spp., indicates the unfavourable development of resistance to the most commonly used antibiotics to treat the inflammation of the udder in sheep. It is therefore recommended to regularly check the resistance to antibiotics and often isolated bacteria CNS.
Motivators for Green Buildings: A Review
Authors: Akreim Mohamed A. S. , Suzer Ozge
Published: March 2018

Motivators can be defined as specific catalysts that drive people to act in a certain way. These motivators are important for promoting green buildings and have a clear impact on decision-makers to adopt and implement the green building concept in architectural practice. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review to identify the important motivators for the adoption of green buildings among the stakeholders of the construction industry, the categorization and efficiency of green building motivators, and also the strategies for green building motivators. By reviewing 32 relevant studies conducted in different countries from 2008 to 2017, a total of 26 factors were identified as the main motivators to promote green buildings. These green building motivators were categorized into environmental, economic, and social motivators. With regard to efficiency, it was found that all green building motivators, whether environmental, economic or social are important for promoting green buildings and to determine a priority among these categories was not possible. The strategies for the adoption of green building motivators were also found. It is notable that the government has the greatest role to motivate stakeholders to adopt and implement the green building concept.The literature review of this study has a wide scope, covering most of the countries in the world, including developed and developing countries from the West to East. Hence, unlike most studies on the main issue of this paper that focus on a specific country or region, this in-depth research led to the development of a list of motivators for green buildings, derived from an extensive range of nations, which vary from environmental, economic, and social aspects.This paper is expected to provide valuable information for decision-makers in the construction industry, namely, governmental authorities, design teams, and owners of projects regarding what motivate people to help further promote green buildings. The findings may also be useful for researchers to pursue further analyses on similar topics.
Managed Retreat: A Rare and Paradoxical Success, but Yielding a Dismal Prognosis
Authors: Braamskamp Arjan , Penning-Rowsell Edmund C.
Published: March 2018

Managed retreat (MR) involves permanent resettlement of existing households and communities away from areas at risk, here coastal flood risk. On post-Sandy Staten Island, New York, where MR has been successful, our research findings from interviews and a focus group of key stakeholders and commentators indicate there are very significant political impediments as well as financial constraints to MR programs being successful without the experience of a disaster and a repetitive sequence of hazardous events. Pre-disaster and long-term plans for reducing risks in such vulnerable areas are easy to advocate but not to implement. Many coastal locations globally will need some form of MR, where current risk is very high as a legacy of past decisions and where many communities will not be defendable against the expected future sea level rise. With leadership and community commitment locally MR agendas can and should be pursued: the optimistic scenario. But success appears likely only in the aftermath of a major disaster. This suggests strongly that we may have to await those inevitable disasters, and then be ready to act, rather than vice versa: a worrying conclusion and a dismal prognosis.
The Effect of a Hydrocolloid Dressing on Second Intention Wound Healing in Cats
Authors: Tsioli Vassiliki , Gouletsou Pagona G. , Galatos Apostolos D. , Psalla Dimitra , Lymperis Antonios , Sideri Aikaterini I. , Papazoglou Lyssimachos G.
Published: March 2018

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a hydrocolloid dressing on second intention wound healing in cats. Two full-thickness skin wounds, measuring 2 × 2 cm, were created on both sides of the dorsal midline of 10 cats; bilaterally, one randomly selected wound was bandaged with a hydrocolloid dressing and the second one (control) with a semiocclusive pad. Subjective clinical evaluation of granulation tissue formation, of the quantity and nature of wound exudate, and planimetry were performed on the right-side wounds, and histological examination on the left. No significant differences in subjective clinical evaluation or in planimetry were observed between the hydrocolloid-treated wounds and controls. Most wounds had serous or absence of exudate (41.25% and 25%, respectively), whereas purulent exudate was observed in 7.5% of wounds. Edema was significantly increased in the hydrocolloid-treated wounds compared with controls on day 7 but no significant differences in the other histological variables were observed.
Preliminary Assessment of a Novel 14-Day Electrocardiographic Adhesive Patch Monitor in Dogs
Authors: Lichtenberger Jonathan , Meurs Kathryn M. , Côté Etienne
Published: March 2018

Cardiac arrhythmias often are transient and might not be detected using conventional electrocardiographic (ECG) techniques. The adhesive patch monitor (APM) is a single-lead, lightweight, up to 14-day continuous ambulatory ECG monitor. This study aimed to prospectively assess its usability in four boxer dogs considered either to be healthy or to have arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Optimal recording was obtained by placing the APM on the left side of the animal’s thorax, at the fifth intercostal space, slightly dorsal to the costochondral junction, and oriented either vertically or parallel to the long axis of the heart. In three dogs, the APM remained attached for 14 days. One dog removed the APM after 59 hr. Skin irritation was documented in all dogs and resolved spontaneously after removal of the APM. The analyzable time was >93% of the total wear time and recordings provided an unambiguous rhythm diagnosis at rest. Walking, running, or playing caused intermittent motion artifact that could impair ECG interpretation. APM results were comparable to those obtained with 24-hr Holter monitoring. Extended continuous ECG monitoring with the APM is feasible in boxer dogs and provides interpretable recordings.
AVALIAÇÃO DO CARDÁPIO DAS DIETAS ESPECIAIS DE UMA UAN HOSPITALAR
Authors: MOLINARI Luana , SCHWARZ Kélin , De MOURA Priscilla Negrão , SILVA Thiecla Katiane Rosales
Published: March 2018

Introdução: A unidade de alimentação e nutrição hospitalar deve oferecer uma alimentação adequada e segura para manter e recuperar o estado nutricional e de saúde dos pacientes. Objetivo: Avaliar o porcionamento, aporte calórico, macronutrientes e fibras oferecidas no almoço para pacientes que necessitam de dietas especiais, em uma UAN Hospitalar. Metodologia: Os dados foram coletados durante sete dias de segunda a sexta-feira. O per capita foi obtido pela pesagem em três repetições, para cada tipo de preparação. A avaliação dos valores nutricionais do aporte calórico, macronutrientes e fibras foram obtidas através do programa Avanutri®. Resultados: O porcionamento apresentou valores semelhantes para cada tipo de preparação, porém sem um padrão específico. As dietas para pacientes com diabetes apresentaram resultados adequados para macronutrientes e fibras, porém um aporte acima do recomendado (44,08%) para calorias. Já a dieta branda apresentou baixo teor de calorias e carboidratos e elevado teor de proteína. Conclusão: É necessária a adequação dos cardápios quanto a calorias e macronutrientes e capacitação dos funcionários para adequado porcionamento das marmitas.
The Analysis of The Effects of Variables Used in the Formation of PISA Scores on Job Index Values for OECD Member States
Authors: Deniz Basar Ozlem , Guneren Genc Elif
Published: March 2018

The quality of an adult’s daily working life comprising the major part of his life, will also increase the quality of his social life. Having a good working life is also associated with having a job that one desires and regards it as suitable for himself. But as will be acknowledged all over the world, the quality of a job that one can have will be affected in direct proportion to the quality of his education and his ability to meet company’s demands. Starting from this point of view, some of the variables used to obtain PISA scores for the year 2015 were identified for the purpose of the examination of qualified education, and that to which extent they influence the job index variable, included in the OECD Better Life index to represent a decent work, was investigated using ordinal logistic regression analysis.
An Eco-Compensation Strategy in the Water Source Area: A Case for Southern Shaanxi in China
Authors: Wang Zelin , Zhang Ruliang
Published: March 2018

The South-to-North Water Transfer Project (SNWTP) in China which is the world’s largest water transfer project completed in 2014 is promoted as a strategy to mitigate water stresses in the northern China by the Chinese government and engineers. However, the ecological compensation of SNWTP in China has been slow and less for the people living in the water source area which was lost their opportunities to earn money; some had even lost their farmland. A key issue for SNWTP is to establish an eco-compensation system, define the compensation scheme, and make an effective economic compensation to the people living in the water source area. In this paper, we take the water source area of the Middle-Route project of SNWTP located in Southern Shaanxi including three cities called Hanzhong, Ankang and Shangluo as the research regions. Six factors are taken into consideration: (1) ecological losses, (2) economic losses and (3) ecological bonus in our eco-compensation strategy, as well as join two dynamic factors accounting in the calculation of ecological damage, (4) water quantity and (5) water quality. Besides, the total amount of compensation is changing over time. (6) Time scale factor is also used to simulate. In the article, we set three-time periods to calculate the different amount of compensation for the water source area. Finally, the Southern Shaanxi, supplied 70% water to Danjiangkou Reservoir, were analyzed by this model. We make full use of the reasonable eco-compensation strategy and try to solve actual problems of water source area and even provide a basis conception for the watershed protection and management.
Inconsistency in Ta’zir Punishments in Islamic Juveniles’ System
Authors: Alotaibi Hajed A.
Published: March 2018

When I was a paralegal in Saudi, I regularly came across many imprecise observations that tended to generalise about gross and severe lashings or jail sentences, ignoring the fact that this topic is very sensitive and highly complex. A great deal of information about juveniles' Ta'zir (i.e. corrective) punishments in Islam, e.g. the types, age group, gender, associates and previous convictions of the punished juveniles, has been obtained through the examination of verdicts. Correlating this data would, in theory, lend statistical and quantitative support to previous findings in past papers. Of particular interest is whether these results prove the inconsistency between three elements: crime, punishment, and the different circumstances of the juvenile offender (e.g. gender, associates, age group, previous convictions). This statistical analysis allows an extension of academic knowledge of the Islamic juveniles' system, beyond individual cases, so as to develop a more comprehensive analytical view about it.
Finding Nutritional Deficiency and Disease Pattern of Rural People Using Fuzzy Logic and Big Data Techniques on Hadoop
Authors: Yeasmin Sadia , Hussain Muhammad Abrar , Sikder Noor Yazdani , Rahman Rashedur M
Published: March 2018

Over the decades there is a high demand of a tool to identify the nutritional needs of the people of Bangladesh since it has an alarming rate of under nutrition among the countries of the world. This analysis has focused on the dissimilarity of diseases caused by malnutrition in different districts of Bangladesh. Among the 64 districts, there is no single one found where people have grown proper nutritional food habit. Low income and less knowledge are the triggering factors and the case is worse in the rural areas. In this research, a distributed enumerating framework for large data set is processed in big data models. Fuzzy logic has the ability to model the nutrition problem, in the way helping people to calculate the suitability between food calories and user’s profile. A Map Reduce-based K-nearest neighbor (mrK-NN) classifier has been applied in this research in order to classify data. We have designed a balanced model applying fuzzy logic and big data analysis on Hadoop concerning food habit, food nutrition and disease, especially for the rural people.
The Effect of Self-Directedness in Learing on Employment Readiness of Undergraduates in South Korea
Authors: Kim Hee Yeong , Kim Gi Un
Published: March 2018

The purpose of this study is to analyze whether self-directedness in learning has positive effects on employment readiness of undergraduates. The subject of this study has little precedent research and we generated a research model. This study shows the following results: First, intrinsic motivation factor of self-directedness in learning has a positive effect on employment readiness directly. Task-solving abilities in self-directedness in learning indirectly have positive effects on employment readiness through the mediating effect of intrinsic motivation. Second, the higher the achievment orientation undergraduates have, the more negatively affected the employment readiness of undergraduates is. It means that higher achievement orientation may encourage them to explore new career paths such as graduate school or youth startup not normal employment of companies. Third, this study has the following significance: We set up and proved the relationship between subordinate variables in self-directedness in learning of undergraduates and subordinate varibles in employment readiness. We proved that the intrinsic motivation of self-directedness in learning is the most important factor to have a positive effect on the employment readiness of undergraduates.
An Examination of Parametric and Nonparametric Dimensionality Assessment Methods with Exploratory and Confirmatory Mode
Authors: Kogar Hakan
Published: March 2018

The aim of the present research study was to compare the findings from the nonparametric MSA, DIMTEST and DETECT and the parametric dimensionality determining methods in various simulation conditions by utilizing exploratory and confirmatory methods. For this purpose, various simulation conditions were established based on number of dimensions, number of items, item discrimination levels, sample size and correlation between dimensions values. The performance of dimensionality determining methods based on MSA and factor analysis are similar, yet MSA is more effective in determining the number of dimensions. However, the method of DETECT has displayed a more powerful performance when compared with the other dimensionality methods. Particularly the confirmatory DETECT method could reveal the true dimensionality in conditions of both low discrimination and high discrimination methods. On the other hand, the exploratory DETECT method was affected by discrimination and, thus, could perform well only with high-discrimination items. In conditions where the exploratory dimensionality reduction methods are used to determine the number of dimensions, it is beneficial to confirm this structure by using confirmatory dimensionality reduction methods. For this purpose, using confirmatory DETECT is particularly recommended.
The role of selected mediators of inflammation in the pathogenesis of cancer
Authors: Marchewka Zofia , Gielniak Monika , Piwowar Agnieszka
Published: March 2018

The role of the immune system, consisting of many different types of cells and proteins, is to recognize and/or reaction to “foreign material”. Disorders of the immune system, among others may lead to inflammatory diseases and cancers. The cytokines, such as IL-1, -2, -4, -6, -8, -10, -13, -15, -17 i IL-18, play an important, and often divergence role in the cancer progression. They can exhibit a different activity, often opposite, depending on their source as well as its activity in environmental. The article focuses in particular on three interleukins: IL-6, IL-8 and IL-18, discussing in detail their contribution to the pathogenesis of cancer. Current views on the role of these interleukins in the cancer pathogenesis in different aspects of this process are presented. Both their pro- and anti-tumor activity, their role in the proliferation, migration, growth and differentiation of cancer cells as well as in the promotion of tumor metastases to organs was described. We discussed their impact on the regulation of angiogenesis, the most important stage of tumor progression, and their role in the weakening of the process of apoptotic cell death. Presented data can be used to create practical guidelines in the cancer fighting (prevention and treatment) by modulating the activity of these cytokines.
Dysphagia as an interdisciplinary problem. Difficulties in the diagnostic process of the vascular anomaly: a right-sided aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery (case report)
Authors: Maciejewska Barbara , Kania Karolina , Kowal Piotr , Wiskirska-Woźnica Bożena
Published: March 2018

Dysphagia is an underestimated health problem. At the same time, it is a potentially life-threatening condition. Dysphagia
in young adults is rare and thus it is rarely discussed in the literature. Vascular anomalies are much less frequent
causes of dysphagia than structural pathologies of the digestive system, iatrogenic lesions or neurological causes.
This paper presents a case of a 21-year-old woman with escalating dysphagia in the course of a congenital vascular
anomaly in the form of a right-sided aortic arch with retroesophageal left subclavian artery (left arteria lusoria) and
compression. The paper highlights delayed symptomatology of the congenital defect, reasons behind the long-lasting
diagnostic process, and the role of the laryngological – phoniatric examination in order to exclude oral and pharyngeal
causes. The differential diagnostics and treatment options are discussed thereinafter.
Comment aborder les obstacles structurels au développement en Acadie?
Authors: Côté Serge
Published: March 2018

La première partie de la présente contribution réexamine l’argumentaire d’un article de 1980 portant sur les obstacles structurels au développement en Acadie afin de déterminer ce qui demeure pertinent pour caractériser la situation contemporaine. Dans une deuxième étape, étant donné les limites de la notion d’obstacles structurels, une critique de l’approche de 1980 s’impose en même temps qu’un examen des fondements de quelques autres types d’obstacles structurels qui n’étaient pas évoqués dans l’article de 1980. En troisième lieu, la proposition de faire une place de choix, dans la recherche sur le développement territorial, à l’analyse des initiatives locales et des stratégies d’acteurs est discutée. Cette perspective rejoint la thématique de la prise en charge. La conclusion tente de marier le point de vue des obstacles structurels avec celui des dynamiques locales d’acteurs. À condition de traiter les obstacles structurels comme des éléments de contexte, il apparaît possible d’articuler les deux points de vue.
La gouvernance des territoires : obstacles et opportunités en Acadie
Authors: Guillemot Julie
Published: March 2018

Ce texte porte sur les obstacles au développement en Acadie, abordés sous l’angle de la gouvernance territoriale et des mobilisations d’acteurs. Considérant que le développement territorial repose sur la capacité qu’ont les acteurs locaux et extralocaux à s’organiser et à se fédérer autour de projets communs, nous traitons, en nous appuyant sur des études de cas, de trois formes d’organisations collectives : les gouvernements locaux, les coopératives et les organisations sans but lucratif (OSBL) à mandat communautaire ou environnemental. Un des aspects le plus frappants des cas étudiés est l’importance des liens entre ces divers organismes. Cependant, plusieurs paramètres de l’aménagement et du développement du territoire échappent aux collectifs locaux. Face aux défis, certains milieux proposent des alternatives. Nous terminons en nous positionnant en faveur d’une plus forte intégration des principes du développement durable dans le cadre des projets territoriaux en Acadie.
La francophonie comme idéologie. Mythes et réalités d’un discours sur la diversité culturelle1
Authors: Klinkenberg Jean-Marie
Published: March 2018

Le présent article montre comment le concept de francophonie a évolué : renvoyant d’abord à un ensemble défini par un passé colonial, il a fini par désigner une sémiosphère ordonnée autour des valeurs que sont le « dialogue des cultures » et la « diversité culturelle ». Le mot defrancophonea lui aussi connu des évolutions, référant tantôt à des compétences langagières tantôt à une identité. L’étude examine ces ambivalences, comme aussi celle qui affecte la notion de diversité culturelle elle-même. L’article évalue les hypothèques qui pèsent sur le français et l’empêchent d’être authentiquement une langue de la diversité. Il trace enfin diverses pistes qui s’ouvrent aux politiques linguistiques pour faire advenir dans la réalité les valeurs auxquelles prétend la francophonie.
Le projet politique francophone. Nouvelle Babel?
Authors: Pannier Arnaud
Published: March 2018

Cette étude s’emploie à analyser l’impact de la notion de frontière dans la mise en oeuvre politique du projet francophone.

L’étude procède en deux temps. Elle observe tout d’abord comment la rhétorique propre au discours prononcé dans l’enceinte officielle de l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie témoigne, à travers les effets d’inclusion et d’exclusion, de conceptions diverses du projet francophone.

L’étude cherche ensuite à démontrer comment l’entreprise francophone se projette dans un espace complexe qui hésite entre respect de la frontière nationale et tentation d’un universalisme fortement imprégné de mythologie. Le mythe de Babel est ici mobilisé pour observer un univers de référence dans lequel se construit l’approche moderne du projet.

L’étude en vient finalement à observer que le statut spécifique de la langue française est porteur de modernité, mais que pour proposer une voie viable, le projet francophone doit explorer de nouveaux territoires, en renonçant aux replis identitaires comme aux visions trop imprégnées d’idéologies.
A switch in transcription and cell fate governs the onset of an epigenetically-deregulated tumor in Drosophila
Authors: Torres Joana , Monti Remo , Moore Ariane L , Seimiya Makiko , Jiang Yanrui , Beerenwinkel Niko , Beisel Christian , Beira Jorge V , Paro Renato
Published: March 2018

Tumor initiation is often linked to a loss of cellular identity. Transcriptional programs determining cellular identity are preserved by epigenetically-acting chromatin factors. Although such regulators are among the most frequently mutated genes in cancer, it is not well understood how an abnormal epigenetic condition contributes to tumor onset. In this work, we investigated the gene signature of tumors caused by disruption of the Drosophila epigenetic regulator, polyhomeotic (ph). In larval tissue ph mutant cells show a shift towards an embryonic-like signature. Using loss- and gain-of-function experiments we uncovered the embryonic transcription factor knirps (kni) as a new oncogene. The oncogenic potential of kni lies in its ability to activate JAK/STAT signaling and block differentiation. Conversely, tumor growth in ph mutant cells can be substantially reduced by overexpressing a differentiation factor. This demonstrates that epigenetically derailed tumor conditions can be reversed when targeting key players in the transcriptional network.
Flatworm-specific transcriptional regulators promote the specification of tegumental progenitors in Schistosoma mansoni
Authors: Wendt George R , Collins Julie NR , Pei Jimin , Pearson Mark S , Bennett Hayley M , Loukas Alex , Berriman Matthew , Grishin Nick V , Collins James J
Published: March 2018

Schistosomes infect more than 200 million people. These parasitic flatworms rely on a syncytial outer coat called the tegument to survive within the vasculature of their host. Although the tegument is pivotal for their survival, little is known about maintenance of this tissue during the decades schistosomes survive in the bloodstream. Here, we demonstrate that the tegument relies on stem cells (neoblasts) to specify fusogenic progenitors that replace tegumental cells lost to turnover. Molecular characterization of neoblasts and tegumental progenitors led to the discovery of two flatworm-specific zinc finger proteins that are essential for tegumental cell specification. These proteins are homologous to a protein essential for neoblast-driven epidermal maintenance in free-living flatworms. Therefore, we speculate that related parasites (i.e., tapeworms and flukes) employ similar strategies to control tegumental maintenance. Since parasitic flatworms infect every vertebrate species, understanding neoblast-driven tegumental maintenance could identify broad-spectrum therapeutics to fight diseases caused by these parasites.
4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 1 quiver gauge theories and the An Bailey lemma
Authors: Brünner Frederic , Spiridonov Vyacheslav P.
Published: March 2018

Abstract

We study the integral Bailey lemma associated with the An-root system and identities for elliptic hypergeometric integrals generated thereby. Interpreting integrals as superconformal indices of four-dimensional

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 1 quiver gauge theories with the gauge groups being products of SU(n + 1), we provide evidence for various new dualities. Further confirmation is achieved by explicitly checking that the ‘t Hooft anomaly matching conditions holds. We discuss a flavour symmetry breaking phenomenon for supersymmetric quantum chromodynamics (SQCD), and by making use of the Bailey lemma we indicate its manifestation in a web of linear quivers dual to SQCD that exhibits full s-confinement.
Classroom dialogue and digital technologies: A scoping review
Authors: Major L. , Warwick P. , Rasmussen I. , Ludvigsen S. , Cook V.
Published: March 2018

This article presents a systematic scoping review of the literature focusing on interactions between classroom dialogue and digital technology. The first review of its type in this area, it both maps extant research and, through a process of thematic synthesis, investigates the role of technology in supporting classroom dialogue. In total, 72 studies (published 2000–2016) are analysed to establish the characteristics of existing evidence and to identify themes. The central intention is to enable researchers and others to access an extensive base of studies, thematically analysed, when developing insights and interpretations in a rapidly changing field of study. The discussion illustrates the interconnectedness of key themes, placing the studies in a methodological and theoretical context and examining challenges for the future.
Searching for extended units of meaning — and what to do when you find them
Authors: Rundell Michael
Published: March 2018

Two of the key outcomes of corpus-linguistic research over the past 30 years have been the development of the idea that meanings are mostly constructed through context (undermining traditional notions of the individual word as an autonomous bearer of meaning); and the discovery that recurrence and regularity—our tendency to employ a limited number of conventionalized ways of expressing ideas—are essential features of the language system. Both fndings have had a major impact on our understanding of how language works, and both have infuenced the content of dictionary entries—contributing, for example, to improved word sense disambiguation, and to a greater emphasis on phraseology and collocation. However, there is still much to do. Ever-larger corpora and more powerful corpus-query tools reveal areas where we can further improve our description of languages, and thus provide better resources for users. In addition, the migration of dictionaries to digital media (removing space constraints) opens up new opportunities for doing this. In a characteristically far sighted paper (Sinclair, Textus 9(1): 75–106, 1996), John Sinclair broadened the search for what he called “units of meaning” by investigating longer strings of words and identifying recurrent, and often quite extended, patterns of usage. Using this as a starting point, I will look at other examples in corpus data of the kinds of patterning Sinclair discussed, and we will see how current corpus-querying systems can help us identify these extended units of meaning. Finally, I will speculate about whether dictionaries should aim to describe these longer units, and if so, how this might work in practice.
Vanishing discount approximations in controlled Markov chains with risk-sensitive average criterion
Authors: Cavazos-Cadena Rolando , Hernández-Hernández Daniel
Published: March 2018

This work concerns Markov decision chains on a finite state space. The decision-maker has a constant and nonnull risk sensitivity coefficient, and the performance of a control policy is measured by two different indices, namely, the discounted and average criteria. Motivated by well-known results for the risk-neutral case, the problem of approximating the optimal risk-sensitive average cost in terms of the optimal risk-sensitive discounted value functions is addressed. Under suitable communication assumptions, it is shown that, as the discount factor increases to 1, appropriate normalizations of the optimal discounted value functions converge to the optimal average cost, and to the functional part of the solution of the risk-sensitive average cost optimality equation.
Degree-dependent threshold-based random sequential adsorption on random trees
Authors: Meyfroyt Thomas M. M.
Published: March 2018

We consider a special version of random sequential adsorption (RSA) with nearest-neighbor interaction on infinite tree graphs. In classical RSA, starting with a graph with initially inactive nodes, each of the nodes of the graph is inspected in a random order and is irreversibly activated if none of its nearest neighbors are active yet. We generalize this nearest-neighbor blocking effect to a degree-dependent threshold-based blocking effect. That is, each node of the graph is assumed to have its own degree-dependent threshold and if, upon inspection of a node, the number of active direct neighbors is less than that node's threshold, the node will become irreversibly active. We analyze the activation probability of nodes on an infinite tree graph, given the degree distribution of the tree and the degree-dependent thresholds. We also show how to calculate the correlation between the activity of nodes as a function of their distance. Finally, we propose an algorithm which can be used to solve the inverse problem of determining how to set the degree-dependent thresholds in infinite tree graphs in order to reach some desired activation probabilities.
Yaglom limits can depend on the starting state
Authors: Foley R. D. , McDonald D. R.
Published: March 2018

We construct a simple example, surely known to Harry Kesten, of anR-transient Markov chain on a countable state spaceS∪ {δ}, where δ is absorbing. The transition matrixKonSis irreducible and strictly substochastic. We determine the Yaglom limit, that is, the limiting conditional behavior given nonabsorption. Each starting statex∈Sresults in a different Yaglom limit. Each Yaglom limit is anR-1-invariant quasi-stationary distribution, whereRis the convergence parameter ofK. Yaglom limits that depend on the starting state are related to a nontrivialR-1-Martin boundary.
Stretch factor in a planar Poisson–Delaunay triangulation with a large intensity
Authors: Chenavier Nicolas , Devillers Olivier
Published: March 2018

LetX:=Xn∪ {(0, 0), (1, 0)}, whereXnis a planar Poisson point process of intensityn. We provide a first nontrivial lower bound for the distance between the expected length of the shortest path between (0, 0) and (1, 0) in the Delaunay triangulation associated withXwhen the intensity ofXngoes to ∞. Simulations indicate that the correct value is about 1.04. We also prove that the expected length of the so-called upper path converges to 35 / 3π2, yielding an upper bound for the expected length of the smallest path.
TEXTUAL ISSUES IN BASIL OF CAESAREA'S HOMILIAE IN HEXAEMERON 4 AND 5
Authors: DeMarco David C.
Published: March 2018

This paper proposes a number of improvements to the text of Basil of Caesarea's Homiliae in hexaemeron 4 and 5. The biblical text poses particular problems for the fourth and the fifth homilies. Therefore, the text form of Genesis from these two homilies is discussed first, and then further individual instances from the fourth and the fifth homilies are examined. The passages are presented in the format of a commentary under the assumption that the reader has the GCS edition at hand.
Testing Rationality
Authors: NEUMANN MICHAEL
Published: March 2018

Amos Tversky, Daniel Kahneman, Dan Ariely and others detect irrationality when decision makers get led astray by how a decision problem is framed. They find that test subjects respond inconsistently when the same decision problem is described differently. But when are two decisions the same? The participants in their experiments are not decision theorists and cannot be counted on to read or approach the problems ‘properly.’ They may find sources of utility where researchers least suspect, and change payoffs that ‘ought’ to remain constant.
Beauty as the Symbol of Morality: A Twofold Duty in Kant’s Theory of Taste
Authors: WANG WEIJIA
Published: March 2018

In the thirdCritique, Kant claims that beauty is the symbol of morality and that the consideration of this relation is a duty. This paper declares Kant’s argument to be twofold: firstly, experience of beauty strengthens our moral feeling. Secondly, in judging the beautiful, we assume some indeterminate purpose underlying nature, based on which we can conceive of nature as cooperative with our practical pursuit. Hence, for the sake of moral cultivation and moral motivation, it is our duty to regard beauty as the special symbol of morality.