bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perpetrators’ strategic communication: Framing and identity building on ethno-nationalist terrorists’ websites
Authors: Rothenberger Liane , An Yulia , Mejía Natalia Angulo , Arizi Arlinda , Villalobos María Martín
Published: April 2018

The study explores communication strategies of ethno-nationalist terrorists with respect to their
framing and identity building. Strategies of eight ethno-nationalist terrorist groups were analyzed using
70 articles published on the groups’ websites. Three cluster-analytic procedures and a correlational
analysis were applied to (1) strategies of problem definition, (2) cause and responsibility attribution,
(3) treatment recommendations, and (4) identity building. The analysis revealed various dimensions
on which terrorists frame their content. No group-specific strategies of framing and identity building
have been found yet, suggesting that the strategies were universal across terrorist groups, and they
were applied on a case-by-case basis. Knowledge about these strategies should advance counter-terrorism
efforts, and assist in development of alternative identities among ethnic groups at risk of conflict.
In memory of Professor Jan Mazurkiewicz in the 70th anniversary of his death
Authors: Perzyńska-Starkiewicz Aneta
Published: April 2018

This article reminisces about the life and career of Jan Mazurkiewicz, one of the most outstanding Polish psychiatrists – the author of Psychophysiological Theory, an original conception of mental disease based on the theory of evolution and dissolution of the nervous system developed by the Englishneurologist John Hughlings Jackson. Professor Jan Mazurkiewicz was an active organizer of psychiatric care. He was co-founder and director of hospitals in Kochanówka and Kobierzyn. He held the rank of Associate Professor at the John Casimir University in Lviv and the position of Professor at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow. From 1919 until his death in 1947, Professor Jan Mazurkiewicz was the head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Warsaw. For twenty three years, starting from 1924, he was the president of the Polish Psychiatric Association. The Mazurkiewicz's Psychopathological Theory provides a natural model of development of the highest psychic functions. Damage to a higher evolutionary level of the nervous system leads to the activation of the previously suppressed lower levels, transformed by the pathogen into psychopathological symptoms. Mazurkiewicz's scientific thought was adopted and developed by his student andthen, collaborator, Professor Mieczysław Kaczyński, who was later to become the head of the Department of Psychiatry in Lublin. This work discusses the research conducted at Lublin's Department of Psychiatry which expands on Mazurkiewicz's theory
Treatment-refractory and super refractory schizophrenia - a case study
Authors: Soroka Ewelina , Lesiczka Inga-Ujma , Tracz Magdalena , Bereza Bernarda , Olajossy Marcin
Published: April 2018

Refractoriness affects about 25% of patients treated with antipsychotics, and it is a very big challenge for clinicians. The most commonly accepted definition of refractoriness is: lack of satisfactory clinical response to treatment with at least two antipsychotic drugs, from different groups, carried out at therapeutic doses and for a sufficiently long period.

Aim : The aim of the study is to analyze the case of a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Methods: Analysis of medical records, available literature from recent years on treatment-refractory and super-refractory schizophrenia.

Results: A 53-year-old patient, a bachelor, suffering from paranoid schizophrenia with an extremely severe, non-remission course with drug resistance features. The patient's father and sister also suffer from severe paranoid schizophrenia. The patient became ill at the age of 22. Despite the high doses of clozapine, in a sufficiently long period of time, the patient maintained positive and negative symptoms, cognitive deficits and behavioral disorders. The patient was 14 times psychiatrically hospitalized, twice treated with electro-convulsive therapy, which did not bring results despite the combination of electroconvulsive therapywith psycho pharmacotherapy. In addition, the patient was addicted to benzodiazepines, administered during anxiety and anxiety attacks by the mother, during the described hospitalization, gradually discontinued. Patient after several attempts of committing suicide, with a tendency to self-destructive behavior. The illustrated case meets the criteria of super-refractory schizophrenia (SRS).

Conclusions: 1. The category of refractory schizophrenia encountered in the literature is not a separate diagnostic category - it does not exist in classification systems, therefore we consider the phenomenon / symptom of drug resistance - variously defined. 2. Social relations have a big impact on the functioning of the patient as well as the course of the disease and prognosis (the role of the family). 3. There are numerous methods for the potentiating of clozapine treatment, of which combining clozapine with EC therapy is effective and safe. The strategy for combining clozapine with EC is effective, but not in all patients.
Depression and anxiety disorders in people with diabetes
Authors: Araszkiewicz Aleksander , Mirlak Izabela
Published: April 2018

Introduction: As the global number of diabetes and the burden of depression together with other mental disorders increases, there is a need for better understanding of the connection between these diseases. In patients with diabetes, mental disorders are more common than in the general population, especially anxiety disorders and depression, which are often difficult to detect by health professionals.

Material and methods: Using the keywords searched in the international bibliographic databases: Embase, Medline, Science Direct, Web of Science. We analyzed clinical trials published in English and international journals

Results: Patients with diabetes are exposed to serious physical and mental complications. The occurence of depression and psychiatric disorders among people with diabetes was twice as frequent as in the general population. There are also studies showing a higher risk of suicide among people with diabetes. In addition, patients with both diseases, diabetes and depression, had an increased risk of cardiovascular complications and increased mortality and higher costs of health care. Diabetic patients have increased incidence of anxiety disorders in relation to non-diabetic patients by 20%.

Conclusion: Further researches and integration of medical and psychological treatment are needed. Cooperation between psychiatrists and diabetologists can reduce mental and physical harm in patients with diabetes.
The Liberal Soliloquy: The Elite Expression of Shared Loneliness in Modern European Nationalism and Supranationalism
Authors: Tesler-Mabé Hernan
Published: April 2018

Abstract: In this article, I explore the problem of identity at the national and European levels historically and sociologically, exposing the liberal thread that runs through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Looking to key historical and artistic figures, I argue for the continuity between early nationalist and European integrationist impulses, maintaining that-despite their seemingly contradictory essence-the two are bound together by a liberalism (viz. the pursuit of the natural rights of man) they hold in common. I contend that this connection illustrates that the initial efforts to construct the nation in the early nineteenth century and a supranational Europe more than a century later can be understood asidealistic liberal projects that have failed due to the populist turn upon which their success depends, leaving the cultural elites behind both projects in a shared loneliness.
Characterization of Triboelectric Charge Generation between PTFE and Nylon after Repeated Contacts
Authors: Kleyman Gleb , Kang Tong , Twiefel Jens , Voit Walter
Published: April 2018

The charge generation between PTFE and Nylon 6,6 has been analyzed under different settings of temperature, humidity and mechanical load. It is found that the charging characteristics of the sample materials in terms of the parameters investigated in this study (e.g. temperature, relative humidity and applied force) are linear. Furthermore, the experimental results show that the proportionality factor between applied load and maximum achievable surface charge is affected by the sample temperature. As we show this fact is most likely attributed to the strongly temperature-dependent elastic properties of polymeric materials. The discoveries lead us to a mathematical formulation for the surface charge density which allows the investigation of maximum charge density for every single operating point within the parameter variation limits. The model parameter for two different structured material pairs are obtained from measurements and applied to the mathematical formulation. The theoretical data demonstrates that the proportionality factor between sample temperature and surface charge is strongly affected by relative humidity.
Science de l’entrelacement des formes, science suprême, science des hommes libres : la dialectique dans leSophiste253b-254b
Authors: Zaks Nicolas
Published: April 2018

Despite intensive exegetical work, Plato’s description of dialectic in theSophiststill raises many questions. Through a close reading of this passage that contextualizes it in the general organisation of theSophist, this paper provides answers to these questions. After presenting the difficult text, I contend that the “vowel-kinds” are necessary (but not individually sufficient) conditions for the blending of kinds. Then, I interpret the “cause of divisions” mentioned by the Stranger as the kinds responsible of the dichotomous division in the first half of the dialogue. In the next part, I show that 235d5-e2 does not describe a procedure of “meta-divison” as some commentators have it, but that it describes the method of division itself. Finally, I connect the difficulty and the obscurity of the passage to the fact that dialectic is the supreme science and I explain why dialectic is the science of free men.
Cloud manufacturing: a service-oriented manufacturing paradigm. A review paper
Authors: Siderska Julia , Jadaan Khair S.
Published: April 2018

This paper introduces cloud manufacturing (CMfg) as a new manufacturing paradigm that joins the emerging technologies – such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and service-oriented technologies – for solving complex problems in manufacturing applications and performing large-scale collaborative manufacturing. Using scientific publications indexed in Scopus database during the period 2012–2017, the concept and fundamentals of CMfg are presented and discussed given the results of the most recent research. While focusing on the current state of the art, the recent research trends within CMfg concept were also identified. The review involved the methods of bibliometric analysis and network analysis. A prototype of CMfg and the existing related work conducted by various researchers are presented, and the map of co-occurrence is introduced to indicate the most commonly occurring issues related to the “cloud manufacturing” term. The VOSviewer software was used for this purpose. Finally, cloud-based manufacturing areas for further research are identified.
Binge drinking in relation to services – bibliometric analysis of scientific research directions
Authors: Glińska Ewa , Siemieniako Dariusz
Published: April 2018

The article aims to identify scientific research areas within which the subject matter of binge drinking in relation to services is addressed, based on bibliometric data analysis characterising scientific publications indexed by the Scopus database. To achieve the aim, authors use different techniques of the bibliometric analysis with the support of the VOSviewer software. Results of the literature review on binge drinking show that harmful binge drinking behaviour is a subject of intervention services, which are undertaken by governmental and non-governmental institutions. As a theoretical contribution of the research part of the paper, it was proposed to qualify five categories containing the issue of binge drinking in relation to services, such as binge drinking consequences, the culture of alcohol consumption, alcohol versus risky sexual behaviours, alcohol intoxication and binge drinking, and the use of other substance among young people.
European Union Litigation
Authors: Hacker Philipp , Schäfer Marie-Sophie
Published: April 2018

This article provides an overview of cases decided by the Court of Justice of the European Union concerning contract law. The present issue covers the period between July 2017 and the beginning of January 2018.
A literature review of research exploring the experiences of overseas nurses in the United Kingdom (2002–2017)
Authors: Lin Yi-Qing , Ding Yun , Li Jiong-Yan
Published: April 2018

Objectives

The goals of this work were to critically explore the challenges faced by overseas nurses during their working careers in the UK, to critically explore the available support for overseas nurses, and to make recommendations on how to minimize the effects of these challenges, as well as how to provide more support for overseas nurses during their working careers in the UK.

Methods

A systematic and comprehensive literature review was conducted to explore the said objectives. A search was conducted in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scopus, and Academic Search Complete databases for relevant research. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to select the included articles. A total of 8 studies including 6 qualitative studies, 1 quantitative study, and 1 mixed-method study were selected for literature review. The validity and reliability of these 8 studies were analyzed by using 2 appraisal tools.

Results

This review reveals 4 challenges, which overseas nurses experience in the past 15 years, including cultural differences, communication issues, unequal opportunities, and de-skilling. These challenges have a negative impact on overseas nurses’ emotions and career development. The formal and informal supports are revealed in this review. Various supports can help overseas nurses to work better.

Conclusions

This review reveals 4 challenges faced by overseas nurses, including cultural differences, communication issues, and unequal opportunities and de-skilling. These challenges naturally have a profound negative impact on the emotions and career development of overseas nurses. Additionally, the formal and informal support systems available to these nurses are reviewed. Various support systems can help overseas nurses work more effectively.
Effects of traditional Chinese medicine nursing combined with conventional nursing in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a meta-analysis
Authors: Li Chen-Yang , Liu Yan-Hui , Ji Yu-Nan , Xie Ling-Li , Hou Zhen-Hua
Published: April 2018

Objective

This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) nursing combined with conventional nursing in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods

Data were collected from the databases of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang Data (WF) and VIP Database, including literature regarding the effects of TCM nursing combined with conventional nursing in patients with COPD published before January 2017. The Jadad scale was used to assess the quality of the eligible literature. The weighted mean differences and odds ratios were used to analyze St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores, pulmonary function, hospital stay, and clinical efficacy.

Results

Twenty-three randomized controlled trials comprising 3116 cases (TCM nursing combined with the conventional nursing group: 1559; conventional nursing group: 1557) met the inclusion criteria. TCM nursing combined with conventional nursing was associated with a lower SGRQ score, higher forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) value, higher FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) value, higher FEV1% value, higher FEV1 predicted value, shorter hospital stay, and preferable clinical efficacy.

Conclusions

TCM nursing combined with conventional nursing emphasized that dialectical nursing can be performed preferably in patients with COPD.
Joining Patterns Across Party Factions in the US Congress
Authors: Thomsen Danielle M.
Published: April 2018

How does the influence of party factions change over time? This article only begins to tackle this question by looking at which party caucuses newly elected members join. I focus on joining patterns in the current 115th Congress to shed light on which factions are more or less influential in Congress today. I show, first, that almost all incoming members joined an ideological faction when they entered office. Furthermore, the Republican Study Committee attracted the most incoming Republicans; the New Democratic Coalition and the Congressional Progressive Caucus attracted the most incoming Democrats. The moderate factions lagged behind the more conservative and liberal factions in the Republican and Democratic parties, respectively. These joining patterns of newly elected members have important implications for the current and future influence that factions can expect to have in the party and chamber.
Hardy operators on Musielak–Orlicz spaces
Authors: Karaman Turhan
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we study the boundedness of the Hardy operators on Musielak–Orlicz spaces.
Studying Photonics Crystal Cavities by Design and Simulation of a 1 to 8 Optical Demultiplexer
Authors: Abolhaasani-Kaleibar Abolfazl , Andalib Alireza
Published: April 2018

In this paper we are going to design and simulating a 1 to 8 demultiplexer based on Photonic Crystal (PhC) that where in wavelengths was guided to her coupled cavity and after that our Intended output. This structure is good Selection to communication operations that their wavelengths are around 1550nm. High Q factor, high transmission speed and low crosstalk between wavelengths are the advantages of this structure. The area of this structure is
$560\,{\rm{ \mu }}{{\rm{m}}^{\rm{2}}}$. The wavelengths was selected to this work are 1602.1 nm, 1598.3 nm, 1595.2 nm, 1591.8 nm, 1588.6 nm, 1585.4 nm, 1582.4 nm, 1579.6 nm. In this paper we are going to prepare the crosstalk between outputs and our main goal is giving low crosstalk between outputs.
Neural Based Lumped Element Model of Capacitive RF MEMS Switches
Authors: Ćirić Tomislav , Dhuri Rohan , Marinković Zlatica , Pronić-Rančić Olivera , Marković Vera , Vietzorreck Larissa
Published: April 2018

In this paper a lumped element model of RF MEMS capacitive switches which is scalable with the lateral dimensions of the bridge is proposed. The dependence of the elements of the model on the bridge dimensions is introduced by using one or more artificial neural networks to model the relationship between the bridge dimensions and the inductive and resistive elements of the lumped element model. The achieved results show that the developed models have a good accuracy over the whole considered range of the bridge dimension values.
The word problem of ℤ n is a multiple context-free language
Authors: Ho Meng-Che
Published: April 2018

The word problem of a group

{G=\langle\Sigma\rangle}

can be defined as the set of formal words in

{\Sigma^{*}}

that represent the identity in G. When viewed as formal languages, this gives a strong connection between classes of groups and classes of formal languages. For example, Anīsīmov showed that a group is finite if and only if its word problem is a regular language, and Muller and Schupp showed that a group is virtually-free if and only if its word problem is a context-free language. Recently, Salvati showed that the word problem of

{\mathbb{Z}^{2}}

is a multiple context-free language, giving the first example of a natural word problem that is multiple context-free, but not context-free. We generalize Salvati’s result to show that the word problem of

{\mathbb{Z}^{n}}

is a multiple context-free language for any n.
Fishing Downstream Revisited: A Multi-country Analysis of Antidumping Patterns
Authors: Andersen Maxwell T. , Feinberg Robert M.
Published: April 2018

A long-held view in international trade policy analysis is that import protection flows downstream. The descriptive analysis of Feinberg and Kaplan 1993, looking at trends in upstream and downstream antidumping and countervailing-duty cases since the US Trade Agreements Act of 1979. It covers the period from 1980 to 2015 for the five leading users of temporary trade barriers (TTBs): Argentina, Brazil, the European Union, India, and the United States. We examine evidence for two broad sectors which have dominated the use of TTBs: metals and chemicals. Both via descriptive trend analysis and simple statistical estimation, we find suggestive evidence in support of cascading trade protection, though more so for the developing countries studied.
Business Cycle Synchronization and Vertical Trade Integration: A Case Study of the Eurozone and East Asia
Authors: Saiki Ayako
Published: April 2018

Business cycle synchronization is one of the crucial conditions for a currency union to be successful. Frankel and Rose (1998) argued that increased trade after euro adoption would increase business cycle synchronization ex-ante. However, the fallout of the Eurozone forcefully demonstrated that their optimistic prediction did not turn out to be true. One thing Frankel and Rose (1998) did not examine is how different types of trade (inter vs. intra, vertical vs. horizontal, etc.) intensify/dampens business cycle synchronization. In this light, this paper empirically examines how different types of trade affect business cycle synchronization in what way. This study takes two major economic blocs that have been going under rapid economic integrations: The original Eurozone members and East Asia – integration of former mainly developing by European government initiative and the latter naturally forming by the global supply chain and associated product segmentation. Comparing these two very different economic blocs with very different factor endowment structures would give us a more convincing answer to how different types of trade can influence business cycle synchronization differently. Our key finding is that, on the contrary to Frankel and Rose (1998) , the impact of increased trade intensity on business cycle co-movement is ambiguous. The impact of trade on business cycle synchronization depends on types of trade. Intra-industry trade, especially vertical intra-industry trade which is rapidly growing in East Asia, has a strong positive effect on business cycle synchronization while inter-industry trade does not.
Optically stimulated luminescence techniques applied to the dating of the fall of meteorites in Morasko
Authors: Moska Piotr , Stankowski Wojciech , Poręba Grzegorz
Published: April 2018

Geological materials used for luminescence dating and associated with the fall of meteorites on the Earth’s surface are extremely rare. The Morasko region has gained fame over the past 100 years because of a cosmic catastrophe which took place there. After thousands of years, the remains of a large metal meteorite which fell in this area have been found. In this article, we would like to state whether it is possible, using luminescence methods, to determine the moment when the iron meteorite fell on the surface of the Earth. The material which was analysed consisted of meteorite crust layers – melt/fusion and “semi melt/fusion”, including sintered ones, along with the sediments surrounding the meteorite. The final results are connected with four objects of different sizes (large ones and small shrapnel – 261 kg, 34 kg, 970 g and 690 g). The obtained results show a large discrepancy, which is most likely associated with the problem of resetting the luminescence signal of the tested materials.
New subclasses of analytic functions defined by convolution involving the hypergeometric function and the Owa–Srivastava operator
Authors: Noor Khalida Inayat , Murtaza Rashid , Sokół Janusz
Published: April 2018

In the present paper we introduce a new convolution operator on the class of all normalized analytic functions in

|
z
|

<
1

{|z|<1}

, by using the hypergeometric function and the Owa–Srivastava operator

Ω
α

{\Omega^{\alpha}}

defined in [S. Owa and H. M. Srivastava,
Univalent and starlike generalized hypergeometric functions,
Canad. J. Math. 39 1987, 5, 1057–1077].
This operator is a generalization of the operators defined in [S. K. Lee and K. M. Khairnar,
A new subclass of analytic functions defined by convolution,
Korean J. Math. 19 2011, 4, 351–365] and [K. I. Noor,
Integral operators defined by convolution with hypergeometric functions,
Appl. Math. Comput. 182 2006, 2, 1872–1881].
Also we introduce some new subclasses of analytic functions using this operator and we discuss some interesting results, such as inclusion results and convolution properties.
Our results generalize the results of [S. K. Lee and K. M. Khairnar,
A new subclass of analytic functions defined by convolution,
Korean J. Math. 19 2011, 4, 351–365].
On the Cauchy problem for a generalized nonlinear heat equation
Authors: Baaske Franka , Schmeißer Hans-Jürgen
Published: April 2018

The paper is concerned with the Cauchy problem for a nonlinear generalized heat equation which is related to the generalized Gauss–Weierstrass semigroup via Duhamel’s principle. For the initial data we assume that they belong to some fractional Sobolev spaces. We study the existence and uniqueness of mild and strong solutions which are local in time. Moreover, they are smooth functions and belong to Lebesgue spaces with respect to the space variable. We use both fixed point arguments and mapping properties of the generalized Gauss–Weierstrass semigroup. Finally, we study the well-posedness of the problem.
Species identification and population structure analysis inGeraniumsubg.Geranium(Geraniaceae)
Authors: Esfandani-Bozchaloyi Somayeh , Sheidai Masoud , Keshavarzi Maryam , Noormohammadi Zahra
Published: April 2018

Species identification is fundamentally important within the fields of biology, biogeography, ecology and conservation. The genusGeraniumL. (Geraniaceae) comprises about 430 species distributed throughout most parts of the world. According to the most recent treatments, subg.Geraniumis the largest subgenus with over 370 species classified in ten sections. The subg.Geraniumis represented in Iran by 13 species. These species are grouped 3 sections. In spite vast distribution of manyGeraniumspecies that grow in Iran, there are not any available report on their genetic diversity, mode of divergence and patterns of dispersal.

Therefore, we performed molecular (ISSR markers) and morphological studies of 102 accessions from 13 species ofGeranium(subg.Geranium) that were collected from different habitats in Iran. The aims of present study are: 1) can ISSR markers identifyGeraniumspecies, 2) what is the genetic structure of these taxa in Iran, and 3) to investigate the species inter-relationship? The present study revealed that combination of morphological and ISSR data can identify the species.
Grazing, abandonment and frequent mowing influence the persistence of the steppe marmot, Marmota bobak
Authors: Savchenko Galina , Ronkin Vladimir
Published: April 2018

The goals of the study were to illustrate how parameters of steppe marmot settlements change after abandonment of livestock grazing, to evaluate differences in vegetation characteristics between grazed and abandoned habitats, to find the links between these characteristics and the persistence of marmot settlements and to establish whether it is possible to maintain the food base of marmots by applying frequently repeated mowing. Data were collected in 1991-2016 in the steppe marmot (Marmota bobak) settlement in the Regional Landscape Park “The Velykyi Burluk-Steppe” (Kharkiv Region, Northeastern Ukraine). We found that grazing prolongs the period of active plant growth and supports a regrowth during periods of intensive feeding of all age groups of marmots. In abandoned habitats the vegetation period ended before the end of active feeding of reproductive females and juveniles. This resulted in lower reproductive success, which determines a decrease in the population and may in the future result in a larger decline of settlements. Frequently repeated mowing by a lawnmower at a cutting height of 6-9 cm prolongs the vegetation period and maintains a water content in the plants similar to that of grazed habitats throughout the active season of steppe marmots.
Biodiversity of herbaceous vegetation in abandoned and managed sites under protection regime: a case study in the Central Forest Reserve, NW Russia
Authors: Cherednichenko Oxana , Borodulina Valentina
Published: April 2018

The aim of the study is to characterise herbaceous vegetation (meadows and ruderal communities) remaining after several decades of protection and compare it to the vegetation of currently managed local sites in the Central Forest Reserve, Tver Oblast, Russia. Cluster analysis of the communities was based on 209 relevés, while their ecological features were analysed using phytoindication assessment. The analyses revealed four types of herbaceous communities: managed mesic meadows, abandoned mesic meadows, tall-herb meadowsweet communities and ruderal tall-herb communities. These four types differ in management, floristic composition and ecological conditions as well as in coenotic and functional group shares (including forbs, graminoids and woody species). The occurrence of these species groups determines the current state of the herbaceous communities. Our study revealed that mesic meadows have retained all the key meadow features for more than 25 years without any management, although their area has shrunk and shares of coenotic and functional groups have changed. The observed herbaceous communities encompass around 40% of the reserve flora including four red list species and 16 alien species.
The woodlouse (Isopoda: Oniscidea) fauna of steppe habitats in the Kostanay region of Kazakhstan
Authors: Bragina Tatyana М. , Khisametdinova Dilyara D.
Published: April 2018

This paper presents first materials on the fauna and distribution of the terrestrial isopods - woodlice (Oniscidea) inhabiting the central and southern parts of Kostanay Region (Kazakhstan, Northern and Southern Turgai), located in the steppe zone. Most of the specimens of woodlice were collected in the territory of the National Nature Reserve “Altyn Dala”, a new protected area (established in 2012) and in the area of the Naurzum National Nature Reserve (established in 1931, World Heritage Site of UNESCO), on the Stipa lessingiana dry steppe. The list of woodlice includes six species (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea), belonging to five genera and three families in the study area. Four species are recorded for the first time in Kazakhstan - Desertoniscus subterraneus Verhoeff, 1930, Parcylisticus dentifrons (Budde-Lund 1885), Porcellio scaber Latreille, 1804, and Protracheoniscus major (Dollfus 1903). Distribution characteristics are provided for all of those species recorded in the study area. For the territory of Kazakhstan, according to a literature data, currently 16 species of terrestrial isopods have been recorded.
Vegetation units of wetland and terrestrial habitats: the case study of Spercheios River and Maliakos Gulf (Sterea Ellas, Greece), a Natura 2000 Site
Authors: Sarika Maria A. , Christopoulou Anastasia N. , Zervou Sevasti D. , Zikos Andreas C.
Published: April 2018

The vegetation of the European Natura 2000 protected area of Spercheios river and Maliakos gulf, that includes Mediterranean sclerophyllous shrublands, as well as riverine and coastal habitats, was studied during 2000 and 2014–2015. The vegetation was analysed following the Braun-Blanquet method. Twenty six plant communities were recorded, one of which (Pistacio terebinthi-Quercetum cocciferae) described for the first time. The communities belong to fifteen alliances, fourteen orders and eleven phytosociological classes. The distinguished vegetation units are described, presented in phytosociological tables and compared with similar communities from other Mediterranean countries. Eleven different habitat types were identified. Two of them (“Quercus coccifera woods” and “Reed beds”) are Greek habitat types, while the rest are included in Annex I of the Directive 92/43/EEC. Three of the latter (1420, 2110, 3170) have a scattered presence in the Natura 2000 network in Greece, while one (3170) is a priority habitat type.
The challenge of abandonment for the sustainable management of Palaearctic natural and semi-natural grasslands
Authors: Valkó Orsolya , Venn Stephen , Żmihorski Michał , Biurrun Idoia , Labadessa Rocco , Loos Jacqueline
Published: April 2018

Disturbance by biomass removal is a crucial mechanism maintaining the diversity of Palaearctic grasslands, which are unique biodiversity hotspots. The century-long traditional land use of mowing, grazing and burning, has been fundamentally changed in many parts of the Palaearctic. Due to socio-economic changes, large areas of former pastures and meadows have been abandoned, leading to a succession towards secondary scrublands or forest and the encroachment of competitor grass species, all leading to a decrease in biodiversity. Here we report the causes and consequences of the cessation of traditional grassland management regimes, provide strategies for reducing the impact of abandonment and consider these from the perspective of sustainability. We consider the possibilities for initiating sustainable management regimes in the contemporary socio-economic environment, and discuss the prospects and limitation of alternative management regimes in the conservation of grassland biodiversity. These themes are also the core topics of this Special Feature, edited by the EDGG. We hope that this Special Feature will encourage steps towards more sustainable strategies for the conservation of Palaearctic grasslands and the integration of the sustainability perspective into their conservation.
Rare plant species of salt marshes of the Croatian coast
Authors: Dítě Daniel , Dítětová Zuzana , Eliáš Pavol , Šuvada Róbert
Published: April 2018

Between 2011 and 2016 we surveyed 42 sites of coastal salt marshes of Croatia. We confirmed the occurrence of several rare and endangered plant species. Ten of them are included in the Red List of Croatia; critically endangered (CR) Eleocharis uniglumis, Triglochin barrelieri and T. maritima, endangered (EN) Carex divisa and C. extensa, vulnerable (VU) Parapholis incurva, Salsola soda and Suaeda maritima and category data deficient (DD) Limonium virgatum and Puccinellia festuciformis. We also report localities of other rare taxa of salt marshes like Allium telmatum, Tripolium pannonicum subsp. tripolium, Juncus gerardii, Parapholis filiformis, Plantago cornuti, Samolus valerandi and Scorzonera parviflora. Several plant species are endangered. Their habitats, salt marshes were converted into fields or destructed by construction for developing tourist infrastructure. Today only a part of the remained areas are under protection.
Baker’s yeast catalyzed one-pot synthesis of bioactive 2-[benzylidene(or pyrazol-4-ylmethylene)hydrazono]-1,3-thiazolidin-4-one-5-yl-acetic acids
Authors: Chavan Anusaya S. , Kharat Arun S. , Bhosle Manisha R. , Mane Ramrao A.
Published: April 2018

An efficient and simple one-pot protocol has been developed for synthesis of substituted derivatives of 2-hydrazono-4-thiazolidinone-5-acetic acids 4a–j and 6a–g by cyclocondensation of aryl/pyrazolyl aldehyde, thiosemicarbazide and maleic anhydride in acetonitrile in the presence of readily available whole cell biocatalyst, baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The reaction is enhanced by ultrasonication.
Nondestructive assessment and imaging methods for internal inspection of timber. A review.
Authors: Vössing Konrad J. , Niederleithinger Ernst
Published: April 2018

This paper reviews state-of-the-art in nondestructive testing (NDT) and semidestructive testing (SDT) methods applicable for imaging the condition of structural timber. Both NDT and SDT imaging reveal defects, damages, and decay, while the extent of wood decay can also be quantified. Combined with an appropriate data interpretation concerning the internal defects, the mechanical properties of the material can also be assessed. The possibilities and limitations of the most relevant individual NDT and SDT methods, also in combination with each other, are outlined and compared. To facilitate comparison, many observations are reported based on the same test specimen.
A positive urine pregnancy test (UPT) with adnexal mass; ectopic pregnancy is not the ultimate diagnosis
Authors: Ahmad Mohd Faizal , Abu Muhammad Azrai , Chew Kah Teik , Sheng Kun Leng , Zakaria Mohd Asyraf
Published: April 2018

A positive urine pregnancy test (UPT) with adnexal mass in ectopic pregnancy is not the ultimate diagnosis. The incidence of ectopic pregnancy is about 27 per 1000 pregnancies [1]. On average, about 6–16% will present to an emergency department with first-trimester bleeding and abdominal pain [2]. On presenting with these symptoms with the simultaneous presence of an adnexal mass and an empty uterus, a UPT is of paramount importance to determine whether the symptoms are pregnancy related or not. When the UPT is positive, an ectopic pregnancy is not the only diagnosis as the rare entity of non-gestational ovarian choriocarcinoma (NGOC) should be considered. Here we present two case reports of NGOC, which were initially diagnosed as ectopic pregnancy. The first case is a 16-year-old girl, with vaginal bleeding and an adnexal mass due to an ovarian choriocarcinoma, She underwent unilateral oophorectomy and received multiple courses of chemotherapy. She is disease free without evidence of recurrence or metastasis after 12 months of follow-up. The second patient is also 16 years old and presented with an acute abdomen. She was diagnosed as a ruptured luteal cyst and underwent partial oophorectomy. When the pathologist diagnosed a choriocarcinoma she received multiple courses of chemotherapy, but thereafter an advanced disease was diagnosed with evidence of distant metastasis.
The association between irisin levels, element distribution and oxidative stress markers in adolescent swimmers
Authors: Belviranli Muaz , Okudan Nilsel , Karakuyu Nuran
Published: April 2018

The objective of this investigation was to compare irisin concentration and its relation with oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzymes and element levels in both male adolescent swimmers and sedentary controls. Twelve male swimmers aged between 11 and 18 years, who performed regular swimming training for at least 2 years and 12 age- and gender-matched sedentary controls participated in this study. After anthropometric measurements were performed, fasting venous blood samples were taken at rest. Irisin, malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of oxidative stress, superoxide dismutase (SOD) as a marker of antioxidant enzyme and elements (Zn, Cu, Se, Cr, Ni, Al, Fe) were analyzed in these samples. MDA levels were lower but Zn levels and Zn/Cu ratio were higher in the swimmers than in sedentary controls (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the irisin levels and SOD activities between the groups (p > 0.05). The results of the current study suggested that exercise training has antioxidant effects and may reduce oxidative damage. Exercise training has also limited effects on irisin levels in the adolescents.
Elevated serum CA 19-9 with adnexal mass: is it always an ovarian malignancy?
Authors: Chew Kah Teik , Zakaria Izyan Atiqah , Abu Muhammad Azrai , Ahmad Mohd Faizal , Hing Erica Yee , Abdul Ghani Nur Azurah
Published: April 2018

Endometriotic cysts a common benign gynaecological disease in women of reproductive age. We report an unusual case of ruptured endometrioma associated with increased CA 19-9. A 27-year-old woman presented with an acute abdomenal adnexal mass and elevated CA 19-9. The initial diagnosis of ovarian malignancy turned out to be a ruptured endometrioma, confirmed during surgery and in the histopathological report.
Kallikrein-related peptidase 14 is the second KLK protease targeted by the serpin vaspin
Authors: Ulbricht David , Tindall Catherine A. , Oertwig Kathrin , Hanke Stefanie , Sträter Norbert , Heiker John T.
Published: April 2018

Kallikrein-related peptidases KLK5, KLK7 and KLK14 are important proteases in skin desquamation and aberrant KLK activity is associated with inflammatory skin diseases such as Netherton syndrome but also with various serious forms of cancer. Previously, we have identified KLK7 as the first protease target of vaspin (Serpin A12). Here, we report KLK14 as a second KLK protease to be inhibited by vaspin. In conclusion, vaspin represents a multi-specific serpin targeting the kallikrein proteases KLK7 and KLK14, with distinct exosites regulating recognition of these target proteases and opposing effects of heparin binding on the inhibition reaction.
Numerical Simulation of the Electron Beam Welding and Post Welding Heat Treatment Coupling Process
Authors: Hong Zhang , Zhengxing Men , Jiukai Li , Yongjie Liu , Qingyuan Wang
Published: April 2018

In this article, the electron beam welding and post welding heat treatment (PWHT) coupling process of nickel alloy GH80A is carried out using ABAQUS software. The thermo-mechanical coupling (TMC) model is considered in the simulation. The simulation results obtained from finite element method (FEM) including thermal history, heat source sharp, residual stress and stress relaxation. The simulation objectives are analysis of thermal field and heat source sharp which is compared with experimental results. These results also can determine the heat affected zone and residual stress during welding and stress relaxation which is produced by the post welding heat treatment process.
A Yield Stress Model for a Solution-Treated Ni-Based Superalloy during Plastic Deformation
Authors: Liu Yan-Xing , Lin Y.C
Published: April 2018

Up to now, there are few reports on the yield behavior of Ni-based superalloy during plastic deformation. However, an accurate yield stress model is significant for simulating the plastic forming process by cellular automaton or finite element methods. Therefore, the yield behavior of a solution-treated Ni-based superalloy is studied by hot compression tests. In order to evaluate yield stresses from the measured flow stress curves, the yield process is analyzed in terms of dislocation theory. Then, yield stresses at different deformation temperatures and strain rates are clearly determined. The experimental results show that the yield stresses are highly sensitive to deformation temperature and strain rate. The determined yield stress almost linearly increases with the increase of the logarithm of strain rate or the reciprocal of deformation temperature. A yield stress model is developed to correlate the yield behavior of the studied solution-treated Ni-based superalloy with deformation temperature, strain rate, and strengthening effect of alloying elements. The developed model can well describe the yield behavior of the studied solution-treated Ni-based superalloy.
Training the sense of humor with the 7 Humor Habits Program and satisfaction with life
Authors: Ruch Willibald F. , Hofmann Jennifer , Rusch Sandra , Stolz Heidi
Published: April 2018

The current study tested the 7 Humor Habits Program after McGhee (1996, Health, healing, and the amuse system (2. edition): Humor as survival training. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing; 2010, Humor as survival training for a stressed-out world: The 7 Humor Habits Program. Bloomington, IN: Author House) in two groups receiving the eight-week training (group sessions; one group additionally completing “Home Play” exercises and one group without Home Play) compared to two control groups (a placebo humor group and a waiting control group). The total sample of 110 adults completed measures on the sense of humor, the temperamental basis of the sense of humor, and life satisfaction at three time points: directly before and after the training time, as well as at a two-month follow up. Additionally, peer-ratings on the sense of humor were collected. At each session, the humor-related mood (state cheerfulness, seriousness, and bad mood) was assessed before and after the session. Results show that the sense of humor is malleable, noticeable to the trained individuals as well as to peers (but not in the placebo humor group). The sessions increased cheerful mood and decreased seriousness. Life satisfaction generally increased from the pre-training phase to the post-training phase. To conclude, humor can be trained but more work on consolidation strategies are needed in future studies and intervention designs.
Revisiting the ENL-ESL-EFL continuum: A multifactorial approach to grammatical aspect in spoken Englishes
Authors: Rautionaho Paula , Deshors Sandra C. , Meriläinen Lea
Published: April 2018

This study focuses on the progressive vs. non-progressive alternation to revisit the debate on the ENL-ESL-EFL continuum (i.e. whether native (ENL) and nonnative (ESL/EFL) Englishes are dichotomous types of English or form a gradient continuum). While progressive marking is traditionally studied independently of its unmarked counterpart, we examine (i) how the grammatical contexts of both constructions systematically affect speakers’ constructional choices in ENL (American, British), ESL (Indian, Nigerian and Singaporean) and EFL (Finnish, French and Polish learner Englishes) and (ii) what light speakers’ varying constructional choices bring to the continuum debate. Methodologically, we use a clustering technique to group together individual varieties of English (i.e. to identify similarities and differences between those varieties) based on linguistic contextual features such as AKTIONSART, ANIMACY, SEMANTIC DOMAIN (of aspect-bearing lexical verb), TENSE, MODALITY and VOICE to assess the validity of the ENL-ESL-EFL classification for our data. Then, we conduct a logistic regression analysis (based on lemmas observed in both progressive and non-progressive constructions) to explore how grammatical contexts influence speakers’ constructional choices differently across English types. While, overall, our cluster analysis supports the ENL-ESL-EFL classification as a useful theoretical framework to explore cross-variety variation, the regression shows that, when we start digging into the specific linguistic contexts of (non-)progressive constructions, this classification does not systematically transpire in the data in a uniform manner. Ultimately, by including more than one statistical technique into their exploration of the continuum, scholars could avoid potential methodological biases.
Charting orthographical reliability in a corpus of English historical letters
Authors: Sairio Anni , Kaislaniemi Samuli , Merikallio Anna , Nevalainen Terttu
Published: April 2018

Research into orthography in the history of English is not a simple venture. The history of English spelling is primarily based on printed texts, which fail to capture the range of variation inherent in the language; many manuscript phenomena are simply not found in printed texts. Manuscript-based corpora would be the ideal research data, but as this is resource-intensive, linguists use editions that have been produced by non-linguists. Many editions claim to retain original spellings, but in practice text is always normalized at the graph level and possibly more so. This does not preclude using such a corpus for orthographical research, but there has been no systematic way to determine the philological reliability of an edited text. In this paper we present a typological methodology we are developing for the evaluation of orthographical quality of edition-based corpora, with the aim of making the best use of bad data in the context of editions and manuscript practices. As a case study, we apply this methodology to the Early Modern and Late Modern English sections of the Corpus of Early English Correspondence.