bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evidence Suggesting the End of Universal Domestic Asbestos Exposure in Metsovo, NW Greece
Authors: Gogali Athena , Ntzani Evangelia E. , Manda-Stachouli Carmen , Peristeri Sofia , Tzarouchi Loukia , Laiou Elpiniki , Konstantinidis Athanasios , Constantopoulos Stavros H. , Dalavanga Yotanna
Published: October 2017

Background: Inhabitants of Metsovo, NW Greece, had been domestically exposed to asbestos from a gradually abandoned whitewash (“luto”) that resulted in a declining epidemic of malignant mesothelioma. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate whether other sources of asbestos exposure exist following “luto” abandonment. Methods: Chest computed tomography (CT) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were used to evaluate residual asbestos exposure in younger Metsovites through the identification of pleural calcifications and asbestos bodies, respectively. In order to provide a historical universally exposed group for comparison, we used the accumulated chest CTs and chest roentgenograms of our previous studies, performed in Metsovites with confirmed exposure but negative chest roentgenogram. As an additional external comparison group, we also assessed CT scans and chest roentgenograms of Metsovites being older than our target group obtained from the records of the Radiology Department between 2009 and 2011. In order to be able to compare our BAL findings, we sought historical controls among BAL studies performed in Metsovites with known exposure to “luto,” in the 1980s-1990s, mainly to evaluate alveolitis. Those belonging to individuals of the same age range were used for further comparison. Results: Twenty-two Metsovites born between 1960 and 1980 consented to undergo a chest CT scan, while another 14 CTs were retrieved from the records of the Radiology Department (among 86 of all ages), thus increasing the number of individuals studied to 36. Five of the 36 Metsovites studied were former “luto” users for a short period of time. Minimal pleural calcifications were present in 2 of them, while all chest CTs of nonusers were negative. All 8 BAL studies were negative for asbestos bodies. Conclusion: “Luto” use seems to have been the only source of considerable asbestos exposure in Metsovo.
Moderate to Severe Anemia Is Associated with Poor Functional Outcome in Acute Stroke Patients Treated with Mechanical Thrombectomy
Authors: Akpinar Cetin Kursad , Gurkas Erdem , Aytac Emrah
Published: October 2017

Background: Anemia will negatively affect cerebral collaterals and penumbra. Eventually, it may cause worse clinical outcomes and even increase mortality rates in stroke patients. Anemia has recently been suggested to be an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of the presence of anemia on clinical outcomes in ischemic stroke patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. Methods: This was a retrospective study involving the prospectively and consecutively collected data of 90 adult patients between January 2015 and August 2016. Hemoglobin (Hb) cutoff levels were accepted as 12 g/dL for women and 13 g/dL for men. Patients having anemia were further divided into three subgroups as severe anemia (Hb <8 g/dL for both genders), moderate anemia (Hb <10 g/dL for both genders), and mild anemia (Hb <13 g/dL for men and Hb <12 g/dL for women). Results: Forty of the subjects (44.4%) had anemia. Moderate anemia was detected in 14 out of 90 patients (15.5%) and severe anemia was found in only four of them (4.4%). Poor functional outcome (mRS 3-6) was similar in both anemic and non-anemic patients (37.5% vs. 38%, respectively, p = 0.08), but poor functional outcome was found to be statistically significant with severe anemic group (Hb <8 mg/dL) (p = 0.003). In multiple logistic regression analysis, moderate and severe anemia has been found to increase the mortality (p = 0.032). Conclusions: Our study demonstrated a poor functional outcome only in moderate to severe anemic patients. Clinicians should keep in mind the negative effect of moderate to severe anemia in the clinical course of acute stroke patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy.
Is Risk-Standardized In-Hospital Stroke Mortality an Adequate Proxy for Risk-Standardized 30-Day Stroke Mortality Data?
Authors: Reeves Mathew J. , Fonarow Gregg C. , Xu Haolin , Matsouaka Roland A. , Xian Ying , Saver Jeffrey , Schwamm Lee , Smith Eric E.
Published: October 2017

Background—

Hospital profiling is typically undertaken using risk-standardized 30-day mortality, but obtaining these data for hospitals can be difficult. We sought to determine whether risk-standardized in-hospital mortality could serve as an adequate proxy for risk-standardized 30-day mortality data for the purposes of identifying outlier hospitals.

Methods and Results—

Acute ischemic stroke cases entered into GWTG (Get With The Guidelines)–Stroke between 2003 and 2013 were linked to fee-for-service Medicare files to obtain 30-day mortality. Risk-standardized mortality rates (RSMR) for in-hospital and 30-day mortality were generated using previously developed risk score models, and the proportion of hospitals classified as statistical outliers compared. We also assessed the impact of using the combined outcome of in-hospital mortality or discharge to hospice. A total of 535 332 ischemic stroke patients from 1494 GWTG–Stroke hospitals were included; mean age was 80 years, 59% female, and 19% nonwhite. At the hospital level, mean in-hospital RSMRs and 30-day RSMRs were 6.0% and 14.6%, respectively, but the correlation between the 2 was modest (
r
=0.53). Overall agreement in the designation of outlier hospitals between in-hospital and 30-day RSMRs was 78%, but chance-corrected agreement was only fair (κ=0.29). However, when using the combined outcome of in-hospital mortality or discharge to hospice (risk-standardized mean =11.8%), the correlation with 30-day RSMR was much stronger (
r
= 0.83) and outlier agreement improved substantially (κ=0.60).

Conclusions—

When used to identify outlier hospitals with high or low mortality, the agreement between risk-standardized in-hospital mortality and 30-day mortality was modest. However, the combined outcome of in-hospital mortality or discharge to hospice showed much better agreement with 30-day mortality. This composite outcome could serve as a proxy for 30-day mortality when used to identify low- or high-performing hospitals.
Spaces of Violence in South Asian Democracies
Authors: Gerharz Eva , Pfaff-Czarnecka Joanna
Published: October 2017

This introduction discusses the emergence and consolidation of spaces of violence in South Asia’s democracies from both historical and conceptual perspectives. By revealing the varied experiences and experiments across the subcontinent, it invokes a perspective on democracy and democratic governance that refrains from following the assumptions of most of the democracy research to date, which frames such debates in predominantly normative terms. In this vein, we seek to show how democracy can not only be built on a violent past, but also become the very basis for the emergence of violent spaces, which, more often than not, have unfolded in South Asia’s post-colonial societies, and possibly also in other parts of the world.
“Legal” Land Appropriation as Sanctioned by the Vested Property Act(s)
Authors: Feldman Shelley
Published: October 2017

In this chapter, I interrogate the Vested Property Act (VPA) to explore one aspect of the uneven and contradictory project of democratic state formation in Bangladesh. The Act, initially sanctioned by the state of the then-East Pakistan, and continued in independent Bangladesh through various military regimes and democratically-elected governments, paved the way for the displacement of millions of Hindus from both ownership rights and their security as citizens. By drawing attention to the Act’s institutionalisation and struggles over its legitimacy, I show how the promise of democracy, as well as of secularism, reveals the violences that are entailed in actually existing democratic practice, including in the construction of the Hindu citizen as unworthy and a threat to national security. This construction of the minority as “other” and the making of majoritarian rule reveal the violence that attends to a democratic politics that includes everyday inaction and omission, rather than one which focuses solely on acts of force that usually involve physical harm or injury.
“Whither Chinese Agriculture?”: An Introduction (“中国农业往哪里去？”——导论)
Authors: Huang (黄宗智) Philip C. C.
Published: October 2017

This article attempts to provide a broad overview response to the question: Whence and whither Chinese agriculture? The point of departure is a summary and discussion of the ten articles of this symposium, five empirical and theoretical discussions from economic historians, two from scholars doing solid and illuminating research on the “new agriculture,” and finally three that explore the issue of what road Chinese agriculture should adopt for the future. The article places the agricultural and rural history of the People’s Republic into the broad perspective of changes since the eighteenth century. It distinguishes between cooperativization, collectivization, and the people’s communes, and between the open-field “old” grain agriculture and the high-value-added “new agriculture.” It examines the differences between the New World’s “lots of land and few people” and the East Asian “lots of people and little land” agricultures, and the former’s land-and-capital-dual-intensifying and the latter’s labor-and-capital-dual-intensifying paths of modern change. From that perspective, it examines the successes and failures of the people’s communes vs. cooperativization–collectivization, of dragon-head enterprises vs. small peasants, and of the American specialty co-ops vs. the East Asian integrated co-ops.

本文试图对中国的农业从哪里来、到哪里去的问题做一个总体性的讨论。文章从对本专辑的十篇论文的总结和讨论出发。首先是五篇经验和理论探索的经济史论文，而后是两篇扎实和充满阐释性的关于近三十多年来兴起的“新农业”的研究，最后是三篇关于当前的农业与农村发展道路的探索。文章从18世纪以来的社会经济史视角来检视人民共和国农业发展的历史，区别合作化、集体化、人民公社化，以及“旧”大田（谷物）农业与高附加值“新农业”。文章论述地多人少的“新大陆”农业与人多地少的东亚农业，区别前者的土地与资本双密集化和后者的劳动与资本双密集化的不同现代演变道路,据此来检视人民公社VS. 合作化-集体化，“龙头企业”VS.小农经济，以及美国“专业合作社”VS. 东亚综合农协模式的得失。 (This article is in English.)
Industrialization and China’s Agricultural Development, 1949–1985 (工业化与中国农业的发展，1949–1985)
Authors: Gao (高原) Yuan
Published: October 2017

In the 1950s, Chinese agriculture received far too few modern inputs from industry, but in the 1960s–1970s, this situation was significantly improved. The chemical fertilizer industry, crucial for enhancing crop yields, saw substantial development in the later period. More chemical fertilizer was used in agricultural production, and the price of chemical fertilizer relative to agricultural products was falling. The institutional framework in rural China, which underwent frequent changes in the 1950s, was stabilized in the 1960s and 1970s with the consolidation of the three-tiered commune-brigade-team structure and the establishment of the production team as the basic managerial unit. This stabilized framework remained in place until the implementation of the household responsibility system in the early 1980s. Agricultural development in the 1960s–1970s laid the necessary material foundation for the 1979–1984 Rural Reform. Revisiting this history can help us to rethink the interrelationship between institutional change and material factors in a developing economy.

在1950年代，中国农业从工业部门得到的现代化要素为数甚少，而在60–70年代，这一状况则得到显著改善。尤其是对农业增产至关重要的化肥工业，在后一阶段有了长足发展；农业生产的化肥施用量有明显的提升；同时化肥和农产品之间的比价则在持续下降。在1950年代变动频繁的农村经营制度，在1960–70年代则以“三级所有、队为基础”为核心稳定下来，直到家庭承包制实施。1960–70年代的农业发展为1979–1984年的农村改革提供了不可或缺的物质基础。检视这段历史有助于我们重新思考经济系统中制度变迁与物质基础之间的关系。 (This article is in English.)
Attachment and Effortful Control in Toddlerhood Predict Academic Achievement Over a Decade Later
Authors: Dindo Lilian , Brock Rebecca L. , Aksan Nazan , Gamez Wakiza , Kochanska Grazyna , Clark Lee Anna
Published: October 2017

A child’s attachment to his or her caregiver is central to the child’s development. However, current understanding of subtle, indirect, and complex long-term influences of attachment on various areas of functioning remains incomplete. Research has shown that (a) parent-child attachment influences the development of effortful control and that (b) effortful control influences academic success. The entire developmental cascade among these three constructs over many years, however, has rarely been examined. This article reports a multimethod, decade-long study that examined the influence of mother-child attachment and effortful control in toddlerhood on school achievement in early adolescence. Both attachment security and effortful control uniquely predicted academic achievement a decade later. Effortful control mediated the association between early attachment and school achievement during adolescence. This work suggests that attachment security triggers an adaptive cascade by promoting effortful control, a vital set of skills necessary for future academic success.
Single-center mid-term experience with chimney-graft technique for the preservation of flow to the supra-aortic branches
Authors: Shahverdyan Robert , Mylonas Spyridon , Gawenda Michael , Brunkwall Jan
Published: October 2017

Objectives

To investigate the feasibility and the mid-term outcomes of the chimney-graft technique for the revascularization of supra-aortic branches in patients with thoracic aortic pathologies involving the aortic arch.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database between January 2010 and July 2016 was performed. Primary endpoints were 30-day and overall mortality. Secondary endpoints were technical success, target vessel patency, stroke/transitory ischemic attack and type I/III endoleak rate.

Results

A total of 30 patients (80% male, median age 70.0 years) were treated using the chimney-graft technique for the supra-aortic branches. The indication was a degenerative aneurysm in nine patients (32%) and a type B Stanford aortic dissection and a penetrating aortic ulcer in the descending aorta in seven patients (23%), respectively. In six patients (20.0%), the indication was an type Ia endoleak after previous endovascular thoracic repair, whereas a pseudoaneurysm after previous open repair of the descending aorta was the indication in one patient (3%). Twenty-three patients (77%) were treated electively, five (17%) emergently and two (7%) urgently because of free rupture. Technical success was achieved in 90% of patients. The 30-day/in-hospital mortality was 17% (5/30). A retrograde dissection was presented in five patients. Four patients experienced a cerebrovascular event. Eight patients had type Ia endoleak and 10 had type II. During the median follow-up of 16 months (range: 0–56), four further patients died: one in respiratory insufficiency, one due to a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, one in meningitis and the last one for unknown reason. The chimney-graft patency was 100%. According to the Kaplan–Meier curve, the estimated survival at one year was 66 ± 9%.

Conclusions

The chimney-graft technique, despite a technically demanding strategy, is a useful tool as bailout procedure in our armamentarium for high-risk patients, unsuitable for open or hybrid repair.
Quantifying benefits of using health information exchange to support public health STI reporting and treatment in Western New York
Authors: Haque Saira N , Territo Heather , Bailey Robert , Massoudi Barbara , Loomis Ross , Burstein Gale
Published: October 2017

Objective:

To calculate average savings of using health information exchange (HIE) for demographic and treatment requests for chlamydia and gonorrhoea in Western New York, specifically the Erie County Department of Health and its catchment area.

Method:

We conducted a mixed-method case study. Qualitative methods included interviews, document review, and workflow mapping, which were used as the inputs to identify time savings. Case rates, time savings, and salary averages were used to calculate average savings.

Results:

The avoided demographic information requests resulted in time and money savings (range of USD$2312–USD$4624 for chlamydia and USD$809–USD$1512 for gonorrhoea) as did avoided treatment requests (range of USD$671–USD$2803 for chlamydia and USD$981–USD$1635 for gonorrhoea).

Discussion:

HIE supported sexually transmitted infection (STI) treatment by making it easier for public health staff to identify and act upon STI diagnoses. Availability of information online resulted in less reliance on provider offices for demographic and treatment information.

Conclusion:

Results indicated that using HIE to support treatment and management of STIs can save public health staff time spent on obtaining demographic and treatment information. Other public health departments could use HIE for this and other types of disease surveillance activities. Considering public health needs in HIE development and use can improve efficiency of public health services and enhance effectiveness of activities.
In vivo–generated thrombin and plasmin do not activate the complement system in baboons
Authors: Keshari Ravi S. , Silasi Robert , Lupu Cristina , Taylor Fletcher B. , Lupu Florea
Published: October 2017

Key Points

In vivo–generated thrombin and plasmin do not contribute to complement activation in nonhuman primates. Bacteria and lipopolysaccharide are the main drivers of in vivo complement activation in E coli sepsis in baboons.
Funeral laughter as a phenomenon of a folk culture
Authors: Бабаева А. , Babaeva A. , Каравашкина Наталья , Karavashkina Natal'ya
Published: October 2017

This article attempts to summarize the existing interpretations of the phenomenon of the funeral of laughter as an archaic element folk culture. The authors give a critical assessment of the scientific theories of the origin and functioning of the demonstrations of the funeral laughter in the social practices, so in the framework of the topic not only the funeral rituals are considered, but also Slavic holidays (Christmastide, Maslenitsa, etc.), as well as the "game in the deceased", in particular, at the wedding; i.e. a wide range of the phenomena of a peasant culture is covered, where the facts of having a funeral laughter were noticed. In opinion of the authors, the phenomenon is polyfunctional and it is not productive to restrict the interpretation by an adaptively recreational value: the psychological aspect of the review must be correlated with the sacral-mystical and onto-existential incisions of the analysis. The issue of article requires going to the primary (schematic) analysis of such key existential thing as death. The starting thesis in this text it should be recognized the following: the event and the image of death in the folk consciousness that is significantly different from the accumulations in the area of the high culture. In this context the phenomenon of the funeral laughter (in its initial meaning it was not sacrilegious as it might seem today) gives an opportunity to expand significantly the submission about the essence of the Slavs’ conception of the "life-death" cycle.
Protecting students who become involved in gangs
Authors: Lepkowska Dorothy
Published: October 2017

School nurses can help support young people who are at risk of, or have become involved in gangs, Dorothy Lepkowska explains how.
Evaluating the impact of pornography on the lives of children and young people
Authors: Enson Stephanie
Published: October 2017

This article is the second part of a mini-series evaluating the impact of hyper-sexualisation and pornography on the lives of young people (with a particular focus on females) in relation to their values, beliefs and relationships in today’s world.
We can shape a whole new school nursing service
Authors: Wheeler Beverley Ann
Published: October 2017

In these difficult times, Beverley Ann Wheeler shares an empowering message and urges school nurses to actively contribute to the shaping and development of future school nursing services.
Making policy information relevant to citizens: a model of deliberative mini-publics, applied to the Citizens’ Initiative Review
Authors: Richards Robert Charles
Published: October 2017

Research on deliberative mini-publics has neglected two topics: the information on which deliberation is based, and communication techniques by which mini-publics convey their findings to the public. This article sheds light on those two topics, by showing that a criterion for evaluating information – intersubjective relevance – structures information within mini-publics and information that mini-publics share with the wider public. The article explains how information satisfying that criterion can foster intersubjectivity, deliberation and desirable outcomes of deliberation. The article proposes a theoretical model to explain those associations, and presents evidence from the Citizens’ Initiative Review, lending support for the model.
High-Density Lipoprotein Subclasses, Coronary Artery Disease, and Cardiovascular Mortality
Authors: Silbernagel Günther , Pagel Philipp , Pfahlert Volker , Genser Bernd , Scharnagl Hubert , Kleber Marcus E , Delgado Graciela , Ohrui Haruna , Ritsch Andreas , Grammer Tanja B , Koenig Wolfgang , März Winfried
Published: October 2017

BACKGROUND

The inverse relationship between HDL cholesterol and cardiovascular mortality is weakened in coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to investigate the associations of HDL particle concentrations with cardiovascular mortality and the impact of CAD on these associations. We also sought to comparatively evaluate HDL cholesterol and HDL particle concentrations in predicting cardiovascular mortality.

METHODS

Total and subclass HDL particle concentrations were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in 2290 participants of the LUdwigshafen RIsk and Cardiovascular Health study referred for coronary angiography. The participants were prospectively followed over a median (interquartile range) duration of 10.0 (6.1–10.6) years.

RESULTS

The mean (SD) age of the participants (1575 males, 715 females) was 62.9 (10.4) years; body mass index, 27.6 (4.1) kg/m2; HDL cholesterol, 39 (11) mg/dL [1 (0.29) mmol/L]; and total HDL particle concentration, 24.1 (5.8) μmol/L. Of the participants, 434 died from cardiovascular diseases. In multivariate analyses, tertiles of total HDL particle concentrations were inversely related to cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio for third vs first tertile = 0.55, P < 0.001). This association was primarily mediated by small HDL particles (P < 0.001). Adding total or small HDL particle concentrations rather than HDL cholesterol to multivariate prediction models improved performance metrics for cardiovascular mortality. The presence of CAD had no impact on the associations between HDL particle concentrations and cardiovascular mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

High HDL particle concentration is consistently and independently of CAD associated with decreased cardiovascular mortality. Whether the inverse relationship between HDL particle concentration and cardiovascular mortality may be translated into novel therapies is under investigation.
Application of Multi-Parameter Data Visualization by Means of Multidimensional Scaling to Evaluate Possibility of Coal Gasification
Authors: Jamróz Dariusz , Niedoba Tomasz , Surowiak Agnieszka , Tumidajski Tadeusz , Szostek Roman , Gajer Mirosław
Published: October 2017

The application of methods drawing upon multi-parameter visualization of data by transformation of multidimensional space into two-dimensional one allow to show multi-parameter data on computer screen. Thanks to that, it is possible to conduct a qualitative analysis of this data in the most natural way for human being, i.e. by the sense of sight. An example of such method of multi-parameter visualization is multidimensional scaling. This method was used in this paper to present and analyze a set of seven-dimensional data obtained from Janina Mining Plant and Wieczorek Coal Mine. It was decided to examine whether the method of multi-parameter data visualization allows to divide the samples space into areas of various applicability to fluidal gasification process. The “Technological applicability card for coals” was used for this purpose [Sobolewski et al., 2012; 2013], in which the key parameters, important and additional ones affecting the gasification process were described.
Prospectivity Modeling of Karstic Groundwater Using a Sequential Exploration Approach in Tepal Area, Iran
Authors: Sharifi Fereydoun , Arab-Amiri Ali Reza , Kamkar-Rouhani Abolghasem , Yousefi Mahyar , Davoodabadi-Farahani Meysam
Published: October 2017

The purpose of this study is water prospectivity modeling (WPM) for recognizing karstic water-bearing zones by using analyses of geo-exploration data in Kal-Qorno valley, located in Tepal area, north of Iran. For this, a sequential exploration method applied on geo-evidential data to delineate target areas for further exploration. In this regard, two major exploration phases including regional and local scales were performed. In the first phase, indicator geological features, structures and lithological units, were used to model groundwater prospectivity as a regional scale. In this phase, for karstic WPM, fuzzy lithological and structural evidence layers were generated and combined using fuzzy operators. After generating target areas using WPM, in the second phase geophysical surveys including gravimetry and geoelectrical resistivity were carried out on the recognized high potential zones as a local scale exploration. Finally the results of geophysical analyses in the second phase were used to select suitable drilling locations to access and extract karstic groundwater in the study area.
Long Term Analysis of Deformations in Salt Mines: Kłodawa Salt Mine Case Study, Central Poland
Authors: Cała Marek , Tajduś Antoni , Andrusikiewicz Wacław , Kowalski Michał , Kolano Malwina , Stopkowicz Agnieszka , Cyran Katarzyna , Jakóbczyk Joanna
Published: October 2017

Located in central Poland, the Kłodawa salt dome is 26 km long and about 2 km wide. Exploitation of the dome started in 1956, currently rock salt extraction is carried out in 7 mining fields and the 12 mining levels at the depth from 322 to 625 meters below sea level (m.b.s.l.). It is planned to maintain the mining activity till 2052 and extend rock salt extraction to deeper levels. The dome is characterised by complex geological structure resulted from halokinetic and tectonic processes.

Projection of the 3D numerical analysis took into account the following factors: mine working distribution within the Kłodawa mine (about 1000 rooms, 350 km of galleries), complex geological structure of the salt dome, complicated structure and geometry of mine workings and distinction in rocks mechanical properties e.g. rock salt and anhydrite. Analysis of past mine workings deformation and prediction of future rock mass behaviour was divided into four stages: building of the 3D model (state of mine workings in year 2014), model extension of the future mine workings planned for extraction in years 2015-2052, the 3D model calibration and stability analysis of all mine workings.

The 3D numerical model of Kłodawa salt mine included extracted and planned mine workings in 7 mining fields and 14 mining levels (about 2000 mine workings). The dimensions of the model were 4200 m × 4700 m × 1200 m what was simulated by 33 million elements. The 3D model was calibrated on the grounds of convergence measurements and laboratory tests. Stability assessment of mine workings was based on analysis of the strength/stress ratio and vertical stress. The strength/stress ratio analysis enabled to indicate endangered area in mine workings and can be defined as the factor of safety. Mine workings in state close to collapse are indicated by the strength/stress ratio equals 1. Analysis of the vertical stress in mine workings produced the estimation of current state of stress in comparison to initial (pre-mining) conditions.

The long-term deformation analysis of the Kłodawa salt mine for year 2014 revealed that stability conditions were fulfilled. Local disturbances indicated in the numerical analysis were connected with high chambers included in the mining field no 1 and complex geological structure in the vicinity of mine workings located in the mining fields no 2 and 3. Moreover, numerical simulations that projected the future extraction progress (till year 2052) showed positive performance. Local weakness zones in the mining field no 7 are associated with occurrence of carnallite layers and intensive mining which are planned in the mining field no 6 at the end of rock salt extraction.
The Influence of Climate Change on CO2 and CH4 Concentration Near Closed Shaft – Numerical Simulations
Authors: Wrona Paweł
Published: October 2017

Given the scientific consensus pointing to climate change, the more extreme weather events associated with this will lead to deeper pressure drops. As has already been stated, pressure drops are the main cause of gas flow from underground sites to the surface. This article presents the results of numerical simulations of the change in distribution of CO2 and CH4 near a closed mining shaft under the predicted baric tendency. Simulations have been undertaken by means of the FDS software package with the Pyrosim graphical interface – a CFD tool for fire and ventilation analysis. Assumptions have been based on previous results of in-situ measurements. The results (determined for a height of 1m above the ground) were compared to the following levels (later in the text comparison levels): for CO2 0.1%vol. according to Pettenkoffer’s scale and 2.5%vol. for CH4 as the half of Lower Explosive Limit (LEL). The results show that the deeper baric drops anticipated could lead to a wider spread of both greenhouse gases in the vicinity of the shaft, especially along the prevailing wind direction. According to the results obtained, CO2 and CH4 with concentrations above their comparison levels are expected at a distance greater than 50m from the shaft when wind is present for CO2 and at a distance of 4.5m for CH4. Subsequent analysis of the results enabled the determination of functions for describing the concentration of gases along the wind direction line under the projected pressure drop. The results relate to a particular case, although the model could easily be modified to any other example of gas emissions from underground sites.
Production of a high-nutritional-value functional food, the Update1 bread, with the supplementation of the wheat flour with high-protein-content raw food materials
Authors: Csapó J. , Schobert N.
Published: October 2017

During our research, we added extracted soya bean meal, egg-white powder, gluten, wheat sourdough, and bamboo fibre to wheat flour in order to increase the quantity of the essential amino acid and the biological value of the wheat protein, producing such a functional, health-protecting, health-preservative food product which is suitable to satisfy the essential amino acid requirements of humans, assuming normal nutrition. Furthermore, we could produce such a food, which, on the one hand, was suitable to confine or prevent the essential amino acid’s malnutrition symptoms, while, on the other hand, when applied alone, to meet the consumers’ needs. During our work, we determined the protein content and amino acid composition of the wheat flour, of the additives used in bread baking, and in the bread both baked with supplementation (Update1 bread) and without supplementation (normal bread), as well as the quantity of the Maillard reaction products (hydroxymethylfurfural). We calculated the biological value of the protein of different breads and evaluated the sensory characteristics of the produced functional food and the fortified bread, supplemented with high essential-amino-acid-containing additives.
Selenium in soil–plant–food systems
Authors: Garousi F.
Published: October 2017

Humans and animals require a multitude of nutrients in order to have a properly functioning body for purposes of growth, development and metabolism. Plant-based foods have represented one of the most important nutrient sources in human diet since the beginning of mankind. But nowadays the amount of arable land is being reduced and much of the natural resources already in use show signs of degradation. Also, staple crops (i.e. plants that constitute the main food in the diets of people in developing countries, e.g. wheat, rice, maize, and cassava) regrettably contain low amounts of micronutrients, making them insufficient to meet the minimum daily requirements. Shortages in mineral micronutrients, including iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), and iodine (I), are affecting more than half of the world’s population. In this case, it is fundamental to improve strategies that let us make plant foods more efficient and with higher micronutrient amounts and bioavailability concerning their edible textures. In this regard, in this review paper, we tried to summarize selenium availability and its application in the soil, plant and food systems to understand the place of selenium in plant-based foods.
Conversational interaction and the development of conversational competence in additional languages in higher education: Considerations for students, language centres, and language policy developers
Authors: Meyer Stephan , Blondel Valérie , Mall-Grob Beatrice
Published: October 2017

This article addresses the questions: why is the development of conversational competence important within higher education? And how might this goal be pursued? We offer answers that may aid a broad range of stakeholders (language learners, course designers, lecturers, language development managers, and policy makers) in thinking through these issues. Our point of departure is the view that, whilst conversational interaction is significant, prevalent and complex, the development of conversational competence receives insufficient attention. We propose that this indispensable skill can be enhanced through dedicated development in the process of learning additional languages. To illustrate how this could be done, we provide extended examples from three conversation courses that are informed by a broad and normative definition of conversation that is coupled with a didactics of conversation rooted in critical theory and critical discourse analysis. The three courses are: a French conversation class in which conversation serves as mediator of identity and difference in an imagined community; conversations between learners of German who are paired with residents of a retirement home where conversation serves to fortify auto/biographical, intercultural and intergenerational contracts; and an English conversation group in which learners combine topic-oriented conversations with shaping the conversations that in turn shape them. Combined, these courses foreshadow fragments of an explicit curriculum aimed at developing conversational competence.
La vita è bella (Benigni 1997) and its subtitled versions in the teaching of L2 English, Spanish and German
Authors: Buffagni Claudia , Garzelli Beatrice , Ghia Elisa
Published: October 2017

The present contribution focuses on Benigni’s auteur film
Evidencing the passion of language teachers’ research engagement: The case of a University Pedagogy ALMS course module
Authors: Vaattovaara Johanna
Published: October 2017

This paper presents a case example of a University Pedagogy course module carried out in ALMS (Autonomous Learning Modules) format. The participants of the course were mainly in-service language teachers of the University of Helsinki Language Centre, and the author of this report is a module instructor and counsellor. The motivation for the ALMS course module was twofold: (1) to enhance research engagement of language teachers in their professional development and (2) to offer support but freedom (autonomy) in terms of personal goals, the form of the individual project as well as the schedule of the process. This paper presents the course in brief and discusses some of the key elements in fostering critical thinking and research engagement in professional development in the context of Language Centres. The data analyzed consist of pre-course assignments delivered by the participants, their work plans, final reflective learning reports as well as the counsellor’s diary.
Mechanical and thermal properties of polybutylene terephthalate/ethylene-vinyl acetate blends using vane extruder
Authors: Meng Cong , Qu Jin-ping
Published: October 2017

The poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT)/ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) blends with different contents of EVA were prepared by an vane extruder. From the observation of morphologies, impact strength and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), the EVA particles were well dispersed in the PBT matrix and improved the impact strength of PBT. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements demonstrate that there is little diversification in the crystal structure and type. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that as the weight fraction of EVA increases, the thermal stability of composite is enhanced. The rheological analyses indicate that the PBT/EVA blends follow a non-Newtonian behavior and viscosities of the blends are drastically lower than that of pure PBT at higher frequencies. The storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) of the blends monotonously increase as the frequency rises. This work provides a novel method to develop blends with excellent performance.
Frequency Reconfigurable Quasi-Yagi Antenna with a Novel Balun Loading Four PIN Diodes
Authors: Xie Peng , Wang Guang-Ming , Li Hai-Peng , Wen Tong , Kong Xiangxin
Published: October 2017

A novel frequency reconfigurable Quasi-Yagi antenna is proposed. The antenna has two dipoles on different layers of the substrate and they are fed by two coplanar striplines. Four PIN diodes, loading inside the coplanar striplines, are used as the switches. By switching the states of the four diodes, the antenna can work in three modes with different working bands around 3.5 GHz (cover the band of WiMAX), 5.2 GHz (cover the band of WLAN) and 7 GHz respectively. In addition, the working bands can be independently tuned by adjusting several parameters of the antenna. A prototype antenna was fabricated and tested. Good agreement between the simulation and the measurement is achieved. The results prove that the antenna can realize frequency reconfiguration effectively while maintaining the pattern characteristic of Yagi antenna at all frequency.
Water states and migration in Xinjiang poplar and Mongolian Scotch pine monitored by TD-NMR during drying
Authors: Wang Zhe , Wang Xi-Ming , Chen Zhang-Jing
Published: October 2017

The time domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR) technique was applied to observe the water states, water migration and the T
2cutoff of sapwood (sW) and heartwood (hW) of Xinjiang poplar and Mongolian Scotch pine wood during drying. Three components in the T
2 spectrum could be observed for poplar and pine at room temperature, and a large, short time component and a small, long time component of free water was visible at the melting point of water. During drying, the long time T
2 component diminished rapidly above the fiber saturation point (FSP), and almost disappeared close to or below the FSP. The short time components of the T
2 distributions slightly enlarged with decreasing moisture content (MC) above the FSP but rapidly diminished and shifted to the left side below the FSP. The bound water content estimated based on the T
2cutoff is in agreement with previous findings. Free and bound water have been found to be in two primary states both in poplar and pine. The loss of free water was rapid and profound but the bound water slightly increased with decreasing MC above the FSP, and the free water evaporated completely close to the FSP, where the bound water began to disappear significantly.
Reclaiming Citizenship in the Post-Democratic Condition
Authors: Siapera Eugenia
Published: October 2017

This article reviews the central problematique of citizenship, arguing that the challenges imposed by neoliberal globalisation involve the loss of political, social and civil rights. By negating the mediations performed by citizenship between the people and the state, post-democracy renders citizenship meaningless. The article traces two main responses to this, a reactionary and a progressive one, none of which can address the problems of citizenship. The grains of a new response are found in three developments: a new ontology of the citizen, brought into being through digital acts; the existence of dual power, creating new forms of governance and social reproduction from below; and between these, the development of new procedures that directly engage with state power. Taken together, these considerations indicate a new possibility for the radicalisation of citizenship rather than a return to the former state of affairs.
National Identity Formation in Pakistan: Analysis of the Anti-Secular Narrative
Authors: Ahmed Zahid Shahab
Published: October 2017

Soon after its declaration as an Islamic Republic in 1956, Islamists have experienced numerous ups and downs in Pakistan. Islamists not only try to maintain the status quo of the Islamic state but also endeavour to expand the scope ofsharia. Despite insignificant achievements in elections, Islamists have mostly been able to dictate civilian and military governments in matters of national identity. One of the greatest challenges for the promotion of pluralism is the Islamists’ anti-secular narrative, which holds significant backing from both the civil and the military elites. The goal of this paper is to analyse such narrative with reference to Pakistan’s continuous struggle for national identity. ‘The analyses propose that anti-secular voices are occupying centre stage in Pakistan, leaving little room for diverse opinions. Anti-secular groups use violence as a tool to silence any opposition against their ideology for Pakistan, which is evident by regular attacks on not only the religious minorities but also the moderate or liberal Muslim thinkers. The conflict over national identity between extremists and moderates is also one of the main causes of rising violent extremism in Pakistan.
PCI-PSO: Preference-Based Component Identification Using Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Hasheminejad Seyed Mohammad Hossein , Gholamshahi Shabnam
Published: October 2017

Nowadays, component identification is one of the main challenges of software analysis and design. The component identification process aims at clustering classes into components and subcomponents. There are a number of methods to identify components in the literature; however, most of them cannot be customized to software architect’s preferences. To address this limitation, in this paper, we propose a preference-based method by the name of preference-based component identification using particle swarm optimization (PCI-PSO) to identify logical components. PCI-PSO provides a novel method to handle the software architect’s preferences using an interactive (i.e. human in the loop) search. PCI-PSO employs a customized PSO to automatically classify classes into suitable logical components and avoid the problem of identifying the proper number of components. We evaluated the effectiveness of PCI-PSO with four real-world cases. Results revealed that PCI-PSO has an ability to identify more cohesive and independent components with respect to the software architect’s preferences in comparison to the existing component identification methods.
Serum AFU, 5’-NT and AFP as biomarkers for primary hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis
Authors: Junna Zhu , Gongde Chen , Jinying Xu , Xiu Zhou
Published: October 2017

To evaluate the clinical value of serum α-L-fucosidase (AFU), 5’-nucleotidase (5’-NT) and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) as biomarkers for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) diagnosis. Methods: Thirty six primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) patients and 36 healthy controls were recruited in this study from February 2014 to January 2016 in the Second People’s Hospital of Tianjin. The serum level of AFU, 5’-NT and AFP were examined and compared between the two groups. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were calculated by STATA11.0 software. Results: The serum level of AFU, 5’-NT, AFP were 30.87±10.43(U/L), 5.58±3.89(U/L), 233.60±226.60 (μg/L) respectively for primary hepatocellular carcinoma group and 19.96±6.73 (U/L), 1.87±0.84 (U/L), 16.64±14.17 (μg/L) for healthy control groups. The serum level of AFU, 5’-NT and AFP in primary hepatocellular carcinoma group were significant higher than those of healthy control group (P<0.001). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 0.78 (95%CI:l0.61-0.90), 0.64 (95%CI:0.46-0.79) for serum AFU, 0.75(95%CI:0.58-0.88), 0.72(95%CI:0.55- 0.86) for serum 5’-NT and 0.72 (95%CI:0.55-0.86), 0.92 (95%CI:0.78-0.98) for serum AFP respectively. The AUC under the ROC curve were 0.80 (0.69-0.90), 0.80 (0.69-0.91) and 0.87 (0.780-0.96) for serum AFU, 5’-NT and AFP respectively. Positive correlation between AFU and 5’-NT (rpearson=0.63, P<0.05), AFU and AFP (rpearson=0.49, P<0.05), 5’-NT and AFP(rpearson=0.44, P<0.05) were found in the primary hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Conclusion: Serum AFU, 5’-NT and AFP were higher in PHC patients than those of healthy controls. The difference between PHC patients and healthy controls made serum AFU, 5’-NT and AFP potential biomarker for PHC diagnosis.
Cultivation of Agaricus bisporus (button mushroom) and its usages in the biosynthesis of nanoparticles
Authors: Owaid Mustafa Nadhim , Barish Anson , Ali Shariati Mohammad
Published: October 2017

White button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), Higher Basidiomycota, is a very important nutritional and medicinal species which is used for recycling agrowastes including wheat straw, reed plant wastes, waste paper, oat straw, waste tea leaves, some water plants and others. A. bisporus has many usages in human dietary and pharmaceutical fields due to its composition of essential amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, low calories, crude fibers, trace elements and vitamins. Recently synthesized nanoparticles from A. bisporus were used to treat cancer, viral, bacterial and fungal diseases. The goal of this review is to highlight recent data about recycling wastes for Agaricus production and applications of A. bisporus as a reducing agent in the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles. Organically produced foods are currently highly desirable, but it can also be used for ecofriendly biosynthesis of nanoparticles.
Enhancement photocatalytic activity of spinel oxide (Co, Ni)3O4 by combination with carbon nanotubes
Authors: Kahdum Bashaer J. , Lafta Abbas J. , Johdh Amir M.
Published: October 2017

In this study, some types of composites consisting of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and spinel oxide (Co, Ni)3O4 were synthesized by simple evaporation method. These composites were characterized by UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-rays diffraction(XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and specific surface area(SBET). The photocatalytic activity of the prepared composites was investigated by the following removal of Bismarck brown G (BBG) dye from its aqueous solutions. The obtained results showed that using MWCNTs in combination with spinel oxide to produced composites (spinel/MWCNTs) which succeeded in increasing the activity of spinel oxide and exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than spinel oxide alone. Also it was found that, multiwalled carbon nanotubes were successful in increasing the adsorption and improving the activity of photocatalytic degradation of Bismarck brown G dye(BBG). The obtained results showed that spinel/MWCNTs was more active in dye removal in comparison with each of spinel oxide and MWCNTs alone under the same reaction conditions. Also band gap energies for the prepared composites showed lower values in comparison with neat spinel. This point represents a promising observation as these composites can be excited using a lower energy radiation sources.