bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the Effect of Linguistic Style in an MD&A on Stock Market Reaction
Authors: Tailab Mohamed M. , Burak Marshall J.
Published: March 2018

This article investigates the impact of linguistic style in the Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (hereafter MD&A) section of a company’s annual report on stock market response. It provides a new technique for combining qualitative with quantitative information by applying the partial least squares–structural equation modeling. In this article, we model the influence of verbal tone from the MD&A section on stock market reaction. The quantity predicted is the cumulative abnormal return as a proxy of market return, while the capital assets pricing model and volatility are a proxy of market risk. Furthermore, Future of Return on Assets is a proxy of expected future financial performance. Results show that the model for predicting future performance is considered moderate, while it is considered poor for predicting market reaction. As for the path coefficients, we find no evidence that the linguistic style in an MD&A has a significant effect on market reaction in general. The results reveal an insignificant difference between the effects of the long MD&A and the short MD&A on market reaction. However, based on the disclosure year of an MD&A, there is a significant difference between 2010 and 2012 in terms of impact on expected future performance by net optimism. Nevertheless, descriptive statistics designate that the verbal tone in an MD&A was not adequately consistent with financial performance. Therefore, it can be concluded that management writers create an MD&A as part of an annual routine just to satisfy the shareholders. Due to some limitations, these findings must be interpreted with caution.
Preschool Curricula and Professional Development Features for Getting to High-Quality Implementation at Scale: A Comparative Review Across Five Trials
Authors: Weiland Christina , McCormick Meghan , Mattera Shira , Maier Michelle , Morris Pamela
Published: March 2018

Experts have heralded domain-specific play-based curricula coupled with regular coaching and training as our “strongest hope” for improving instructional quality in large-scale public preschool programs. Yet, details from different evaluations of the strongest hope model are not systematically compiled, making it difficult to identify specific features across studies that distinguish the most successful implementation efforts. We performed a cross-study review across five diverse large-scale evaluations (n = 6,500 children and n = 750 teachers across 19 localities and multiple auspice types) to identify common features that have characterized successful implementations of this model to date. We identified six features in our exploratory review that may help to flesh out the strongest hope model for localities considering it—a significant focus on specific instructional content, inclusion of highly detailed scripts, incorporation of teacher voice, time for planning, use of real-time data, and early childhood training for administrators. These six features provide more specific guidance for practitioners and help meet calls in preschool and K–12 for more synthesis of implementation lessons from large-scale research trials.
Dynamics of chromatin marks and the role of JMJD3 during pancreatic endocrine cell fate commitment
Authors: Yu Xin-Xin , Qiu Wei-Lin , Yang Liu , Li Lin-Chen , Zhang Yu-Wei , Xu Cheng-Ran
Published: March 2018

Pancreatic endocrine lineages are derived from pancreatic progenitors that undergo a cell fate transition requiring a switch from low to high Ngn3 expression. However, the underlying chromatin regulatory mechanisms are unclear. Here, we performed epigenomic analysis of gene regulatory loci featuring histone marks in cells with low or high level of Ngn3 expression. In combination with transcriptomic analysis, we discovered that in Ngn3-high cells, the removal of H3K27me3 was associated with the activation of key transcription factors and the establishment of primed and active enhancers. Deletion of Jmjd3, a histone demethylase for H3K27me3, at the pancreatic progenitor stage impaired the efficiency of endocrine cell fate transition and thereafter islet formation. Curiously, single-cell RNA-seq revealed that the transcriptome and developmental pathway of Ngn3-high cells were not affected by the deletion of Jmjd3. Our study indicates sequential chromatin events and identifies a crucial role for Jmjd3 in regulating the efficiency of the transition from Ngn3-low to Ngn3-high cells.
Are the surface areas of the gills and body involved with changing metabolic scaling with temperature?
Authors: Li Ge , Lv Xiao , Zhou Jing , Shen Cong , Xia Danyang , Xie Hang , Luo Yiping
Published: March 2018

The metabolic-level boundaries (MLB) hypothesis proposes that metabolic level mediates the relative influence of surface area (SA) vs. volume related metabolic processes on the body-mass scaling of metabolic rate in organisms. The variation in the scaling of SA may affect how metabolic level affects the metabolic scaling exponent. This study aimed to determine the influence of increasing metabolic level at a higher temperature on the metabolic scaling exponent of the crucian carp and determine the link between metabolic scaling exponents and SA parameters of both gills and body. The SA of gills and body and the resting metabolic rate (RMR) of the crucian carp were assessed at 15oC and 25oC, and their mass scaling exponents were analyzed. The results showed a significantly higher RMR, with a lower scaling exponent, in the crucian carp at a higher temperature. The gills SA and the total SA of the fish (TSA) are reduced with the increasing temperature. The bRMR tends to be close to that of the TSA at a higher temperature. This suggests that temperature positively affects metabolic level but negatively affects the scaling exponent of RMR (bRMR). The findings support the MLB hypothesis. The lower scaling exponent at a higher temperature can be alternatively explained as that the higher viscosity of cold water impedes respiratory ventilation and oxygen uptake and reduces MR more in smaller individuals than in larger individuals at lower temperature, thus resulting in a negative association between temperature and bRMR.
Cluster headache: new targets and options for treatment
Authors: Doesborg Patty , Haan Joost
Published: March 2018

Cluster headache is a severe headache disorder with considerable impact on quality of life. The pathophysiology of the disease remains poorly understood. With few specific targets for treatment, current guidelines mainly include off-label treatment with medication. However, new targets for possible treatment options are emerging. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-targeted medication could become the first (cluster) headache-specific treatment option. Other exciting new treatment options include invasive and non-invasive neuromodulation techniques. Here, we provide a short overview of new targets and treatment options that are being investigated for cluster headache.
Adolescent girls’ attitudes toward female genital mutilation: a study in seven African countries
Authors: Dalal Koustuv , Kalmatayeva Zhanna , Mandal Sourav , Ussatayeva Gainel , Lee Ming Shinn , Biswas Animesh
Published: March 2018

Background: The study’s aim is to examine adolescent girls’ attitudes toward the continuation or discontinuation of female genital mutilation (FGM) in association with their demographics in seven different countries in Africa.

Methods: Data from the women’s survey of the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted by the respective ministries (of Health and Family Welfare) in Egypt, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Sierra Leone were used. Adolescent girls (15–19 years) were included in the current analysis: Egypt (N=636), Guinea (N=1994), Kenya (N= 1767), Mali (N=2791), Niger (N=1835), Senegal (N=3604), Sierra Leone (N=1237).

Results: Prevalence of supporting the continuation of FGM among adolescent girls was in Egypt 58%, Guinea 63%, Kenya 16%, Mali 72%, Niger 3%, Senegal 23%, and Sierra Leone 52%. Being Muslim and having low economic status were significantly associated with supporting the continuation of FGM in five of the participating countries. Girls having no education or only primary education in Guinea, Kenya, Mali and Sierra Leone exhibited a higher likelihood of supporting FGM than girls with secondary or higher education. In Egypt, Niger and Senegal there was no association between education and supporting FGM. The girls who stated that they had no exposure to media showed the higher likelihood of supporting FGM in Guinea, Kenya, and Senegal than those with exposure to media.

Conclusions: The current study argues that increasing media coverage and education, and reducing poverty are of importance for shifting adolescent girls’ attitudes in favor of discontinuation of FGM.
Adjunctive dexamethasone for the treatment of HIV-infected adults with tuberculous meningitis (ACT HIV): Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Donovan Joseph , Phu Nguyen Hoan , Mai Nguyen Thi Hoang , Dung Le Tien , Imran Darma , Burhan Erlina , Ngoc Lam Hong Bao , Bang Nguyen Duc , Giang Do Chau , Ha Dang Thi Minh , Day Jeremy , Thao Le Thi Phuong , Thuong Nguyen TT , Vien Nguyen Nang , Geskus Ronald B. , Wolbers Marcel , Hamers Raph L , van Crevel Reinout , Nursaya Mugi , Maharani Kartika , Hien Tran Tinh , Baird Kevin , Lan Nguyen Huu , Kestelyn Evelyne , Chau Nguyen Van Vinh , Thwaites Guy E.
Published: March 2018

Background: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of tuberculosis. Co-infection with HIV increases the risk of developing TBM, complicates treatment, and substantially worsens outcome. Whether corticosteroids confer a survival benefit in HIV-infected patients with TBM remains uncertain. Hepatitis is the most common drug-induced serious adverse event associated with anti-tuberculosis treatment, occurring in 20% of HIV-infected patients. The suggested concentration thresholds for stopping anti-tuberculosis drugs are not evidence-based. This study aims to determine whether dexamethasone is a safe and effective addition to the first 6-8 weeks of anti-tuberculosis treatment of TBM in patients with HIV, and investigate alternative management strategies in a subset of patients who develop drug induced liver injury (DILI) that will enable the safe continuation of rifampicin and isoniazid therapy. 

Methods: We will perform a parallel group, randomised (1:1), double blind, placebo-controlled multi-centre Phase III trial, comparing the effect of dexamethasone versus placebo on overall survival in HIV-infected patients with TBM, in addition to standard anti-tuberculosis and antiretroviral treatment. The trial will be set in two hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and two hospitals in Jakarta, Indonesia. The trial will enrol 520 HIV-infected adults. An ancillary study will perform a randomised comparison of three DILI management strategies with the aim of demonstrating which strategy results in the least interruption in rifampicin and isoniazid treatment. An identical ancillary study will also be performed in the linked randomised controlled trial of dexamethasone in HIV-uninfected adults with TBM stratified by LTA4H genotype (LAST ACT). 

Discussion: Whether corticosteroids confer a survival benefit in HIV-infected patients remains uncertain, and the current evidence base for using corticosteroids in this context is limited. Interruptions in anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy is a risk factor for death from TBM. Alternative management strategies in DILI may allow the safe continuation of rifampicin and isoniazid therapy.
Affirmative Action in the Brazilian Higher Education System
Authors: Chojnowska Anna , Siuda-Ambroziak Renata
Published: March 2018

The purpose of this article is to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of affirmative action in the Brazilian system of higher education, which is aimed at benefitting Afro- Brazilians suffering from the legacy of structural racism and economic inequality. The authors will highlight some of the problems linked to the racial quota system, and demonstrate that its implementation is deeply hindered by several factors, such as traditional denial of existing racial prejudice in Brazilian society, a lack of precise, normative definitions of eligibility for programs, failure of pre-university public education to properly prepare students for university-level academics, and – last but not least – a lack of sufficient support from academic institutions. The article will present both quantitative and qualitative data that show the expectations, doubts, and fears of the Brazilian academic environment with regard to the racial quota system. After a review of Brazil’s racial history and an analysis of students’ and professors’ opinions, the authors will argue that, in order for colored citizens to become fully integrated into Brazilian society, they must first be legally enabled to overcome social, educational, and economic obstacles and handicap.
Is the Archipelago a Political Tool?
Authors: Lisińska Magdalena
Published: March 2018

The dispute over sovereignty in the Falkland Islands (called Islas Malvinas in the Spanishspeaking world) between Argentina and Great Britain has lasted for nearly two hundred years. The archipelago has been a British territory since 1833, when the crew of HMS ‘Clio’ forcibly took over the islands, which had previously belonged to Argentina. The Argentine people have never accepted this loss and have since been trying to reclaim the territory, with no further effect. The aim of this paper is to analyse the role of the Falkland Islands dispute in Argentine domestic and foreign policy during the presidencies of Néstor Kirchner (2003-2007) and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (2007-2015). The thesis of this paper is that the Falklands became a crucial factor in shaping Argentine policy during the Kirchner era, not only on the international level, but also within the country.
Warriors of Our Imagination: Native Americans in 20th-Century Polish Literature
Authors: Łaszkiewicz Weronika
Published: March 2018

The following article explores the similarities between Polish Indian novels (written mostly in the second half of the 20th century) and modern fantasy fiction in an effort to argue that the former should not be examined–and then criticized–only in terms of their idealized representations of Native American tribes and life in the wilderness. To demonstrate the parallel between these Indian novels and fantasy fiction, this article will first analyze how the works of Polish writers and fantasy narratives are motivated by similar desires. It will then examine the Indian novels in the context of John H. Timmerman’s study on the six generic traits of fantasy. This perspective will allow us to circumvent the question of authenticity in representation, and instead acknowledge the significance of the Indian novels for the readers and writers of the People’s Republic of Poland.
A mother-centred approach to breastfeeding support
Authors: Whyatt Victoria
Published: March 2018

Victoria Whyatt explains how observing interactions between mother and baby can help health professionals pick up any problems and gives some tips to ensure the baby is feeding properly.
Infant feeding practice on growth velocity in 4-6 month-olds
Authors: Kurniawan Joko , Anggraini Alifah , Julia Madarina
Published: March 2018

Background In developing countries, 5-10% of infants suffer from failure to thrive. Adequate feeding is the most crucial factor for optimal growth in early life.Objective To assess the differences in growth velocity at 4 to 6 months of age, based on the infant feeding practices.Methods This cross-sectional study involving 4 to 6 month-old babies from 6 public health centres in Yogyakarta was performed from August to November 2016. Data on body weight, and growth velocity as they related to weight at birth were collected. Subjects were divided into groups according to their feeding practices.Results Of 173 subjects, 130 (75%) infants were exclusively breastfed, 19 infants (11%) were given breast milk and formula, 14 (8%) infants were given breast milk and complementary food (8%), and 10 (6%) infants were given formula and complementary food. The mean growth velocity z-scores by group were as follows: exclusively breastfed 0.04 (SD 1.15) (95%CI -0.16 to 0.24), breast milk and formula -0.61 (SD 0.84) (95%CI -1.01 to -0.21), breast milk and complementary food -0.69 (SD 1.14) (95%CI -1.35 to -0.04), formula and complementary food 0.23 (SD 1.50) (95%CI: -0.84 to 1.31). The mean difference in growth velocity between the exclusively breastfed vs. breast milk and formula groups was 0.65 (SD 0.28) (95%CI: 0.10 to 1.20; P=0.02); vs. breast milk and complementary food was 0.73 (SD 0.32) (95%CI: 0.10 to 1.37; P=0.02); and vs. formula and complementary food was -0.19 (SD 0.37) (95%CI: -0.93 to 0.55; P=0.61).Conclusion Exclusively breastfed have the most optimal growth velocity compared to infants who experience other feeding practices.
Aproximações entre a história ambiental e a (in)justiça ambiental na abordagem da poluição industrial no Estuário da Lagoa dos Patos, RS, Brasil
Authors: Ferreira Washington Luiz
Published: March 2018

Discutem-se aproximações conceituais e pragmáticas plausíveis entre os domínios da História (História Ambiental) e do Direito (Justiça Ambiental), em relação ao tema específico da poluição industrial, utilizando como estudo de caso a região do Estuário da Lagoa dos Patos (RS, Brasil), com vistas a potencial (re)construção e aplicação da Justiça Social na área de estudo.
Redes sociais e comportamento político violento: uma síntese das ameaças aos direitos humanos no Brasil
Authors: Abreu Jonas Modesto , Melo Danielle Pereira
Published: March 2018

Estamos expostos com muita frequência aos fatores geradores da violência. A violência faz parte do nosso cotidiano. O comportamento político violento, difundido através das redes sociais, é um enfoque que insere a violência no contexto do ciberativismo, termo utilizado para descrever as ações de mobilização política, cultural e socioambiental, que se destacam pela extraordinária velocidade de organizar multidões através das novas mídias. Com base neste enfoque, este artigo procura demonstrar que o comportamento político violento, presente nas redes sociais do Brasil após os protestos públicos de 2013, ajudaram a promover a ascensão política de parlamentares conservadores que, depois de eleitos ou consagrados nas urnas em 2014, passaram a atuar em favor da aprovação de projetos que afrontam quaisquer tipos de igualdade para as minorias sociais e enaltecem o “ódio cabal aos direitos humanos”. São iniciativas parlamentares amplamente nocivas aos direitos humanos e à cultura política democrática derivada da Constituição de 1988.
O poder regulador das agências reguladoras e as garantias democráticas: questões críticas
Authors: Alves Fernando De Brito , Abilio Juan Roque
Published: March 2018

O presente trabalho procura problematizar o papel das agências reguladoras no sistema democrático brasileiro. Assim, ante a inegável intervenção dessas agências na sociedade, indaga-se se há ofensa à democracia, tendo em vista que no exercício da atividade regulamentar invariavelmente elas substituem o parlamento, refletindo-se, ademais, qual a verdadeira função das agências reguladoras no Brasil. Também se busca analisar se o Estado Brasileiro é ou não um Estado Regulador. Além de questões de ordem teórica, traz o presente, questões de ordem prática e procura ser ainda mais audacioso ao cotejar possíveis formas de empoderamento da sociedade na busca de controle das agências, galgando sempre para uma maior participação popular a fim de democratizar as agências reguladoras. O método utilizado foi a pesquisa bibliográfica, além do levantamento de dados sobre a atuação das Agências Reguladoras.
Penyiaran Islam di Daerah Perbatasan "Badau" Indonesia-Malaysia
Authors: Efendi Zakaria
Published: March 2018

Badau is a region in Indonesia located in the Regency of Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan bordering directly with Malaysia. In the Badau District, there is one luxurious border post (PLBN) used by Indonesian and Malaysian citizens to conduct interstate border crossings. Islam is a minority religion in Badau as the native residents living in Badau are the Dayak Iban tribe who are mostly Catholics and some are Protestants, with Islam being a religion embraced by locals of Melayu descent and some converts from the Dayak Iban as well as new comer ethnic groups such as Javanese, Bugis, Batakese, and others. Dakwah (proselytizing of Islam) does not easily reach Badau, due to the fact that there was no interstate dakwah conducted by ulemas from Malaysia. As a region remotely separated from the provincial capital of West Kalimantan, that is Pontianak, the dakwah efforts in Badau were confronted by numerous obstacles such as a time consuming distance of travel by land transport and very difficult terrains. Although Islam is a minority religion there, tolerance is still maintained and a mutual sense of respect among ethnicities, races, and religions has made Badau into a safe border area.[Badau merupakan wilayah di Indonesia yang terletak di Kabupaten Kapuas Hulu, Kalimantan Barat yang berbatasan langsung dengan Malaysia. Di kecamatan Badau terdapat satu PLBN megah yang digunakan oleh warga Indonesia dan Malaysia untuk melakukan penyeberangan lintas Negara. Islam menjadi Agama minoritas di Badau, karena memang penduduk asli yang tinggal di Badau adalah suku Dayak Iban yang beragamakan Katholik, dan sebagian lagi beragamakan Kristen, dan Islam menjadi Agama yang di peluk oleh masyarakat Asli yang bersuku Melayu dan sebagian mualaf dari bangsa Iban suku Dayak, dan suku-suku pendatang seperti Jawa, bugis, Batak dan sebagainya.. Meskipun terletak di perbatasan tidak membuat Dakwah dengan mudah sampai di Badau, hal ini disebabkan tidak adanya dakwah antar Negara yang dilakukan oleh Ulama-ulama dari Malaysia. Wilayah yang jauh dari jangkauan Ibu Kota Kalimantan Barat, Pontianak, menjadikan Penyiaran Islam di Badau mendapat kendala, karena jarak tempuh darat yang memakan waktu cukup lama dan medan yang masih sulit. Meskipun Islam menjadi Agama minoritas, namun toleransi tetap terjaga, sikap saling menghargai antar etnik,suku, dan agama menjadikan daerah Badau adalah daerah perbatasan yang aman.]
Konflik Dan Integrasi Umat Beragama Dalam Budaya Lokal Di Loka Muksa Sri Aji Joyoboyo Menang Pagu Kediri
Authors: Ummatin Khoiro Ummatin
Published: March 2018

The local traditional ritual of 1st of Syura in Loka Muksa Sri Aji Joyoboyo Menang Pagu Kediri in East Java, is a tradition that is held in honor of their ancestors, which is inseparable from the figure of Sri Aji Joyoboyo. This tradition remains as proand contrain the community.Data from this research shows that the implementation of the 1st of Syuraritual in LokaMuksa Sri Aji Joyoboyo with a complete procession of offerings, ritual behavior, and certain preconditions, negative reactions from a number of people who cannot accept the syura local traditions. They are originally from the modern NU group, the Muhammadiyah elite, and the Salafi congregation. They are concurrently establishing legitimate truth to their people, hen the activities concerning the 1st of Syura in Loka Muksa Sri Aji Joyoboyo have the potential to become an open conflict, if they were not managed properly.
Ekoteologitani untuk Kedaulatan Pangan Etos Islam dan Spirit Bertani pada Masyarakat Desa Srimartani, Kecamatan Piyungan, Bantul, Yogyakarta
Authors: Soehadha Moh.
Published: March 2018

This article presents the results of an explorative research that examined the concept of agrarian ecotheology. This issue was raised with the assumption that Islamic teachings can be a part in the restrengthening of agrarian culture i.e. to take part in enhancing food sovereignty and security in Indonesia. This study is established on the perspective of anthropological ecology. The data source for this article is results of research that has been conducted at the Srimartani Village, Piyungan District, Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region Province. Data collection was conducted by using various techniques such as participant observation, focused group discussion (FGD) and interviews through questionnaires. The data collected from the field research was then analyzed using a descriptive-interpretative method.The study results show that Islamic teachings could be employed in restrengthening the agrarian culture, that is as a means to enhance food sovereignty and security. This study also provides critical contribution to the perspective of contemporary Islamic ecotheology so that it does not tend to be anthropocentric, thus becoming exploitative in nature. A new construction of Islamic ecotheology, which accommodates the view that humans, as farmers as well, have a proportional position within their environment, needs to be developed.
Protest und Demokratisierung in Myanmar: Erste Erkenntnisse aus dem „Myanmar Protest Event Dataset“
Authors: Buschmann Andy
Published: March 2018

Myanmar has been perceived to be in a sociopolitical and economic transition since the semi-civilian government under President Thein Sein took office in 2011. Amongst other things, for a representative democracy to function, citizens have to have the freedom to express their opinions and deliberate them with fellow citizens. This requires the secure granting of fundamental civil liberties, as prescribed in the freedom of expression, association, and assembly. Hence, once in the process of democratization, a formerly authoritarian state has to make significant improvements in the granting and protection of these rights too. To empirically test whether Myanmar has made such improvements since 2011 is the goal of a greater research project I am working on. This research note introduces the project and summarizes first findings. By combining knowledge on legal reforms and protest data from the Myanmar Protest Event Dataset, it is suggested that, in Myanmar, the de jure exercisability and de facto exercise of fundamental civil liberties have significantly improved from 2011 to 2015. Informal methods of suppressing the right to protest, such as arbitrary violence, have increasingly descended while methods that are formally in accordance with the rule of law but still lack compliance with international human rights standards have ascended.
How similar are Heimskringla and Egils saga? An application of Burrows’ delta to Icelandic texts
Authors: Þorgeirsson Haukur
Published: March 2018

Recent methodological and technological developments greatly facilitate the use of stylometry for authorship attribution. Burrows’ delta method, proposed in 2002, has been shown to yield good results for a variety of corpora in different languages. The present article demonstrates that this method is highly effective in analysing 19th century Icelandic fiction. The method is then applied to the classical question of the stylistic affinity between two 13th century texts: Heimskringla and Egils saga. Heimskringla proves to be more similar to Egils saga than it is to a variety of contemporary texts, including other kings’ sagas. This supports the theory that the two texts have the same author.
A Bitslice Implementation of Anderson’s Attack on A5/1
Authors: Bulavintsev Vadim , Semenov Alexander , Zaikin Oleg , Kochemazov Stepan
Published: March 2018

The A5/1 keystream generator is a part of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) protocol, employed in cellular networks all over the world. Its cryptographic resistance was extensively analyzed in dozens of papers. However, almost all corresponding methods either employ a specific hardware or require an extensive preprocessing stage and significant amounts of memory. In the present study, a bitslice variant of Anderson’s Attack on A5/1 is implemented. It requires very little computer memory and no preprocessing. Moreover, the attack can be made even more efficient by harnessing the computing power of modern Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). As a result, using commonly available GPUs this method can quite efficiently recover the secret key using only 64 bits of keystream. To test the performance of the implementation, a volunteer computing project was launched. 10 instances of A5/1 cryptanalysis have been successfully solved in this project in a single week.
Novel Two-Dimensional CRLH TL and its Application on Tri-Band Omnidirectional Antenna
Authors: Li Tian-peng , Lei Xue , Dong Huixu , Wen Ke , Gao Jun
Published: March 2018

A new type of two-dimensional composite right/left handed transmission line (2D CRLH TL) is proposed in this letter. Utilizing this structure, an antenna operating on GLONASS and WLAN based on dual zeroth-order resonance (ZOR) mode and first-order resonance (FOR) mode is designed and fabricated. By taking advantage of coaxially center feed and symmetric structure, nearly all omnidirectional radiations in XOY plane at three operating frequencies is obtained. Furthermore, the antenna gain has a high value of −1.27 dB in f1=1.60 GHz, −3.89 dB in f2=2.39 GHz and 0.67 dB in f3=5.12 GHz respectively.
Water Quality, Sediment Characteristics and Benthic Status of the Razim-Sinoie Lagoon System, Romania
Authors: Catianis Irina , Secrieru Dan , Pojar Iulian , Grosu Dumitru , Scrieciu Albert , Pavel Ana Bianca , Vasiliu Dan
Published: March 2018

Razim Lake is the biggest of Romania’s freshwater lakes and along with other basins as Golovita, Zmeica and Sinoie constitutes a system of great ecological significance, playing also an essential role in the supply of water for irrigation, fishery exploitation, farming, flood prevention, recreational navigation and water tourism. Due to their importance, the environmental conditions in the Razim - Sinoie coastal lakes have attracted an increased public attention in contemporary society. To assess the levels, dissemination and potential sources of contamination in the above-mentioned lagoon system, random sampling was used to collect water and sediment samples from every lake and several analytical techniques were performed to investigate their environmental characteristics. The results obtained from this study indicated that, in water, concentrations of various physico-chemical parameters are, mostly, in agreement with correlated environmental standards. Slight variations and/or occasional exceeding of the maximum admissible limits were generally limited to small areas showing levels that would not warrant special concern. In sediments, the mean concentrations of some specific trace metals were below the levels of potential effect. Benthic samples revealed 31 taxa belonging to 16 zoo-benthal subdivisions. The results of this study showed good ecological status despite local several natural and anthropogenic stressors as fishery exploitation, farming, recreational navigation and water tourism.
Analysis of the bacterial communities in the waterlogged wooden cultural relics of the Xiaobaijiao No. 1 shipwreck via high-throughput sequencing technology
Authors: Li Qiuxia , Cao Lixiang , Wang Wenfeng , Tan Hongming , Jin Tao , Wang Guangyuan , Lin Guocong , Xu Runlin
Published: March 2018

The microbial impact on waterlogged wooden cultural relics from Xiaobaijiao No. 1 shipwreck was investigated by means of a high-throughput sequencing technology, while the focus was on the composition of prokaryotic microorganisms in 10 wood samples collected from different parts of the shipwreck. A total of 28 501 different operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained based on 97% sequence similarity. The α-diversity index is for the bacterial diversity, which was the highest and the lowest in the samples SS8 and SS5, respectively. Proteobacteria was the largest category of bacterial abundance (47.3%) followed by Bacteroidetes (10%). α-Proteobacteria was the first largest bacteria class with the maximum abundance (21.0%) followed by γ-Proteobacteria (16.9%). Other groups rich in the following species were found: Bacteroidales (13.3%), Thiotrichales (5.0%), Rhodobacterales (4.2%), Rhizobiales (4.0%), Chromatiales (3.5%), Oceanospirillales (3.3%), Flavobacteriales (2.9%) and Sphingomonadales (2.8%). At the level of the bacterial genus, Marinomonas was the most abundant one. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that there are some differences in the composition of bacterial communities from different wood samples. The species number of bacteria in the relics of this shipwreck was far more than that reported in those found in Europe, and in which species composition was similar to the benthic bacteria in the corresponding sea area. The coexistence of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria is remarkable.
Stress Relaxation Behaviour and Creep Constitutive Equations of SA302Gr.C Low-Alloy Steel
Authors: Shen Wenfei , Zhang Chi , Zhang Liwen , Yang Yang , Zhu Zhi
Published: March 2018

In order to study the stress relaxation behaviour of SA302Gr.C low-alloy steel, the stress relaxation experiments were performed at the temperatures of 400, 500 and 620 °C with the constant strain of 0.5 %. Based on the experimental stress relaxation curves, the relationship between creep strain rate and stress were derived and the creep strain rate–stress curves at different temperatures were obtained. Then, the creep constitutive equations at different conditions were developed and the constants in the equations were determined. In order to verify the developed creep constitutive equations, the finite-element (FE) model of stress relaxation of SA302Gr.C low-alloy steel was established with the FE software MSC.Marc. The comparison results show that the simulated stress relaxation curves agree with the experimental ones, which illustrates that the developed creep constitutive equations are appropriate for the tested steel.
An Efficient Method for the Numerical Solution of a Class of Nonlinear Fractional Fredholm Integro-Differential Equations
Authors: Heydari M. H. , Laeli Dastjerdi H. , Nili Ahmadabadi M.
Published: March 2018

We introduce a mesh-free method, i.e., MLS collocation method for the numerical solution of a kind of nonlinear fractional Fredholm integro-differential equation. An error bound is provided for the proposed method which supports its convergence. Detailed numerical experiments approve its excellency in attaining the desired accuracy for a quite low computational cost. We have also compared linear basis with quadratic basis in terms of CPU time.
Using visualisation software to improve student approaches to HE online assessment
Authors: Smith David , Qayyum M. Aslm , Hard Natascha
Published: March 2018

Studying via the Internet using information tools is a common activity for students in higher education. With students accessing their subject material via the Internet, studies have shown that students have difficulty understanding the complete purpose of an assessment which leads to poor information search practices. The selection of relevant information for particular learning assessments is the topic of this paper as it describes a case study that focuses on the information tool use of a small group of participants and is a continuation of similar research studies. The study and discussed research findings point to the benefit of students use of a visualisation tool to provide relevant learning cues and to transition to improved engagement with online assessment.
Zwischen Bild, Schrift und Film
Authors: Badstübner-Kizik Camilla
Published: March 2018

Der Beitrag befasst sich mit der Beziehung zwischen Multimodalität, Mehrsprachigkeit und dem virtuellen Umfeld von Film als Medium. Filmbezogene multimodale Verbindungen in verschiedenen Sprachen und auf verschiedene Weise zugänglich wie z. B. Filmplakate, Internetadressen oder -Plattformen bzw. Blogs verstärken die wünschenswerte Integration von Aktivitäten im Klassenraum und das Interesse an der Filmindustrie im normalen Leben. Die Verfasserin thematisiert authentische filmische Paraprodukte als wertvolle Ergänzung zu Filmen und schlägt vor, sie als höchst willkommene didaktische Quellen zu nutzen. Da „Film“ für so viele Sprachlernende in der ganzen Welt ein zentrales Thema ist, scheint es sinnvoll, es als solches auch fest im Fremdsprachenunterricht zu verankern damit dem Fremdsprachenlehren und -lernen zusätzliche Schichten von Authentizität und persönlicher Relevanz hinzuzufügen – sowohl für das Lehren und Lernen von Deutsch als Fremdsprache als auch darüber hinaus.
On the generating graphs of symmetric groups
Authors: Erdem Fuat
Published: March 2018

Let

S
n

{S_{n}}

and

A
n

{A_{n}}

be the symmetric and alternating groups of degree n, respectively. Breuer, Guralnick, Lucchini, Maróti and Nagy proved that the generating graphs

Γ
⁢

(

S
n

)

{\Gamma(S_{n})}

and

Γ
⁢

(

A
n

)

{\Gamma(A_{n})}

are Hamiltonian for sufficiently large n. However, their proof provided no information as to how large n needs to be. We prove that the graphs

Γ
⁢

(

S
n

)

{\Gamma(S_{n})}

and

Γ
⁢

(

A
n

)

{\Gamma(A_{n})}

are Hamiltonian provided that

n
≥
107

{n\geq 107}

.
Metasurface holography: from fundamentals to applications
Authors: Huang Lingling , Zhang Shuang , Zentgraf Thomas
Published: March 2018

Holography has emerged as a vital approach to fully engineer the wavefronts of light since its invention dating back to the last century. However, the typically large pixel size, small field of view and limited space-bandwidth impose limitations in the on-demand high-performance applications, especially for three-dimensional displays and large-capacity data storage. Meanwhile, metasurfaces have shown great potential in controlling the propagation of light through the well-tailored scattering behavior of the constituent ultrathin planar elements with a high spatial resolution, making them suitable for holographic beam-shaping elements. Here, we review recent developments in the field of metasurface holography, from the classification of metasurfaces to the design strategies for both free-space and surface waves. By employing the concepts of holographic multiplexing, multiple information channels, such as wavelength, polarization state, spatial position and nonlinear frequency conversion, can be employed using metasurfaces. Meanwhile, the switchable metasurface holography by the integration of functional materials stimulates a gradual transition from passive to active elements. Importantly, the holography principle has become a universal and simple approach to solving inverse engineering problems for electromagnetic waves, thus allowing various related techniques to be achieved.
Civil Society and Nonprofits in the Age of New Public Governance: Current Trends and Their Implications for Theory and Practice
Authors: Almog-Bar Michal
Published: March 2018

Introductory essay to the special issue on: Civil Society and nonprofits in the age of new public governance: Current trends and their implications for theory and practice.
The relationship between neopterin and hepatitis B surface antigen positivity
Authors: Ünüvar Songül Ü , Aslanhan Hamza , Tanrıverdi Zübeyde , Karakuş Fuat
Published: March 2018

Hepatitis B is a life-threatening viral liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. Neopterin is regarded as an immunologic biomarker of several diseases related to activation of the cellular immune system. Hepatitis B infection is associated with increased production of cellular immune system markers. We aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between hepatitis B surface antigen-positivity (HBsAg +) and neopterin to determine the role of neopterin in the early diagnosis of hepatitis B infections. Seventy-two HBsAg (+) patients with normal liver function tests and forty-three controls were included in the study. Neopterin levels were 17.6 ± 0.13 nmol/L in HBsAg (+) patients; and 9.12 ± 0.09 nmol/L in infection-free controls, respectively. Compared to the control group, a statistically significant increase (p < 0.001) in the serum neopterin levels of the patients was observed. No significant relationship was determined between neopterin levels and age/sex (both, p > 0.05). With overstimulation of interferon-gamma, the production of neopterin increases by monocytes/macrophages. Likewise with other diseases associated with an activated cellular immune system, this study shows that neopterin can be a predictive biomarker for persistent carriers of hepatitis B infection.
Adsorption of methyl violet from aqueous solution using brown algae Padina sanctae-crucis
Authors: Mahini Reza , Esmaeili Hossein , Foroutan Rauf
Published: March 2018

Objective

The presence of dyes in the water is toxic and harmful to human body so, it must be removed from the water. In the present study, the removal of methyl violet (MV) from aqueous solutions using brown algae “Padina sanctae-crucis” was investigated.

Materials and methods

The rate of adsorption was investigated under various parameters such as contact time (5–200), pH (2–11), dye concentration (10–60 mg/L), amount of adsorbent (0.25–5 g/L) and temperature (25–45°C).

Results

The maximum adsorption was achieved in 10 mg/L, pH=8 and adsorbent dose 2 g/L and 80 min contact time for removal of MV from aqueous solutions. Kinetic studies showed that the pseudo second-order model describes adsorbent kinetic behavior better. Besides, experimental data have been modeled using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and the results showed that both models are proper to describe adsorption isotherm behavior. In addition, the equilibrium study shows that the adsorption was physical and favorable. Moreover, a thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption process is exothermic and spontaneously in nature. Furthermore, Maximum adsorption capacity using adsorbent was 10.02 mg/g.

Conclusions

It could be concluded that the P. sanctae-crucis biomass is a good adsorbent for removing MV dyes from aqueous solutions.
Ultimate Lateral Resistance of Quadrangle Array Piles Using the Strain Wedge Model on Soil Subgrade
Authors: Kim Jiseong , Kang Gi-Chun
Published: March 2018

This study proposed an ultimate lateral resistance calculation equation for array piles on which lateral loads act using a strain wedge model. The resistance properties were divided into the lateral resistance of earth pressure on a wedge back, shearing resistance on a wedge side, and friction resistance between the pile and the soil. The value of their resultant forces subtracting overlap resistance was expressed as the ultimate lateral resistance of an array pile. This study compared and analyzed the existing research results to verify the validity of the proposed equation. The results showed that the proposed equation was larger at the front-row pile, approximate at the middle-row pile, and smaller at the back-row pile, but the total ultimate lateral resistance turned out to be similar.
Volition and Action in the Human Brain: Processes, Pathologies, and Reasons
Authors: Fried Itzhak , Haggard Patrick , He Biyu J. , Schurger Aaron
Published: March 2018

Humans seem to decide for themselves what to do, and when to do it. This distinctive capacity may emerge from an ability, shared with other animals, to make decisions for action that are related to future goals, or at least free from the constraints of immediate environmental inputs. Studying such volitional acts proves a major challenge for neuroscience. This review highlights key mechanisms in the generation of voluntary, as opposed to stimulus-driven actions, and highlights three issues. The first part focuses on the apparent spontaneity of voluntary action. The second part focuses on one of the most distinctive, but elusive, features of volition, namely, its link to conscious experience, and reviews stimulation and patient studies of the cortical basis of conscious volition down to the single-neuron level. Finally, we consider the goal-directedness of voluntary action, and discuss how internal generation of action can be linked to goals and reasons.
Dampak Revitalisasi Pasar Tradisional Terhadap Pendapatan Pedagang di Pasar Bulu Semarang
Authors: Aprilia Rizka
Published: March 2018

Latar belakang penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat dampak revitalisasi pasar tradisional terhadap pendapatan pedagang di Pasar Bulu Semarang. Jenis penelitian ini adalah kualitatif dan kuantitatif. Data dikumpulkan melalui observasi, wawancara, dan dokumentasi. Teknik analisis data menggunakan model interaktif dan uji t sampel berpasangan. Hasil menunjukan bahwa mayoritas pedagang di Pasar Bulu merupakan penduduk asli Kota Semarang. Revitalisasi tidak mengubah hubungan sosial antar pedagang, maupun pedagang dengan aparat yang selama ini terjalin dengan baik. Setelah revitalisasi kondisi bangunan Pasar Bulu menjadi lebih bersih dan rapi. Revitalisasi berdampak pada penurunan pendapatan pedagang, dibuktikan dengan hasil uji t sampel berpasangan diperoleh hasil t_hitung= 10,116 >  t_tabel= 2,064 dengan probabilitas 0,000 < 0,05. Rata-rata pendapatan pedagang sebelum revitalisasi sebesar Rp 5.280.000, sedangkan sesudah revitalisasi sebesar Rp 3.366.000. Kesimpulan dalam penelitian ini adalah revitalisasi berdampak pada penurunan pendapatan pedagang di Pasar Bulu Semarang.

The basic problem of this study is to show the impact of the traditional market revitalization towards the traders income in Bulu Market Semarang. The type of this study are qualitative and quantitative. The data collected by observation, interview, and documentation. The analysis of data using interactive models and paired samples t test. The result showed that the majority of traders in Bulu Market are the natives of Semarang City. The revitalization did not change the social relations between the traders, and traders with the officers who had been well maintained. After the revitalization, the Bulu Market Building condition become more clean and neart. The revitalization gives an impact towards the decreasing of the traders income, proved by the paired samples t test result which showing t_hitung= 10,116 >  t_tabel= 2,064 with probability 0,000 < 0,05. The average of the traders income before revitalization Rp 5.280.000, meanwhile after the revitalization Rp 3.366.000. the conclusion in this study is  the revitalization gives an impact towards the decreasing of the traders income in Bulu Market Semarang