bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Going Along or Going Independent? A Dynamic Analysis of Nonprofit Alliances
Authors: Chen Jiawei , Sacks Michael
Published: February 2018

This paper investigates strategic alliances in the nonprofit sector in the form of franchising. Using a dynamic model of local public goods with endogenous affiliation and splitting, we show that local organizations may choose to affiliate with the national organization for faster capital accumulation. Temporary alliance occurs when a local organization strategically affiliates with the national organization only to break away after accumulating enough capital. Alliance is more likely to arise and persist when the local chapter is smaller, when the local chapter’s mission is closer to the national organization’s, when the national organization is more efficient in production, and when the local chapter is more patient. Moreover, regulation that requires the local chapter to be affiliated with the national organization would be welfare reducing when the local chapter is large, when the local and national missions differ substantially, and when production at the national organization is inefficient.
The Securitization of National Minorities in the Baltic States
Authors: Kuczyńska-Zonik Aleksandra
Published: February 2018

The occupation of Crimea and war in Eastern Ukraine brought minority issues to the top of the Baltic security agenda. Although experts estimate that a separatist scenario for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia is not probable, the issue of national minorities has already been included into the security concept as a potential source of danger to stability and national identity. While there is need to analyze political risks in the Baltics, the concept of securitization will be applied to the topic of national minorities. This paper addresses the problem of national minorities’ political integration and loyalty to the state. For the empirical analysis, the paper will use secondary data of surveys conducted in 2014-2017, exposing opinions and beliefs of minorities in the Baltic States referring to their domestic and foreign policies, NATO, Ukrainian crisis and relations with Russia. As a result, the concluding suggestion is made that more attention should be paid to political cohesion and minority policy management: 1) to optimize the minority development; 2) to predict potential risks in the region, and 3) to prevent further threats from Russia.
Quality and Compliance in Short-Cycle Higher Education Programs in the Field of Real Estate Management
Authors: Lūce Intra
Published: February 2018

The article deals with the concept of quality and compliance in the context of the short-cycle professional higher education (SCHE) program in the field of real estate management. The article highlights the role of graduates and employers in assessing the quality and compliance and surveys of students as well. The surveys of students, graduates and employers and the analysis of legislation allow assessing the quality and compliance of SCHE study program in real estate management. Currently, in Latvia, the qualification of a house manager can be obtained at three accredited higher education institutions, studying in a short-cycle professional higher education program, which, in accordance with European Qualifications Framework (EQF), is the first-level professional higher education program. The article will mainly focus on the quality and compliance of the house managers’ professional qualification acquisition in short-cycle higher education programs in Latvia. Data analysis, synthesis and logical construction methods have been used in this article.
Diffuse pulmonary interstitial emphysema in a late preterm neonate without mechanical ventilation
Authors: Li Shuo , Still Gordon G. , Abdelbaki Ahmed , Hegde Rahul , Schwartz Dana
Published: February 2018

Pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PIE) is most commonly seen in the setting of preterm, low birth weight neonates with lung disease. It exists on a spectrum with pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax and is often a transient phenomenon. This condition has been rarely reported in neonates while only on nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) without mechanical ventilation, but only as a localized presentation. We present a case of a late preterm neonate with diffuse PIE complicated by bilateral pneumothoraces, requiring chest tubes, with congenital thyroid aplasia as well.
Upper estimate of a combinatorial sum
Authors: Roldugin Pavel V.
Published: February 2018

We give an upper estimate for the binomial sum

U

d

x

=

∑

r
≥
0

d
−
r
+
1

r

⋅

x

r

$\begin{array}{}
U_{d} \left(x\right)=\sum _{r\ge 0}\binom {d-r+1} r\cdot x^{r}
\end{array} $

with natural d and real nonnegative x. In particular, this estimate implies that

U

d

x

=
O

(

(
0.5
+

x
+
0.25

)

d

)

$\begin{array}{}
U_{d} \left(x\right)=O\bigl((0.5+\sqrt{x+0.25} )^{d} \bigr)
\end{array} $

with fixed x > 0 and d → ∞.
Between the School and Labour Market. Rural Areas and Rural Youth in Poland, Romania and Russia
Authors: Szafraniec Krystyna , Szymborski Paweł , Wasielewski Krzysztof
Published: February 2018

The article analyses the process of rural youth entering the labour market in selected post-communist countries (Poland, Romania and Russia). Based on different types of local (national) and international source data, similarities and differences are discussed between the analysed countries. The article focuses on transition from education to a satisfactory job, nowadays a very complex process that takes up nearly the entire third decade of young people’s life. Although this process is just an external manifestation of general changes occurring in labour markets around the world, the experience of young people from post-communist countries in this area seems to be more traumatic than that of their peers in developed Western countries. Despite significant investments in education, it is difficult to deal with new challenges, particularly for the youth from rural areas. In all the analysed countries, chaotic career paths are typical of this population, and they are often based on temporary jobs, informal forms of employment or self-employment.
Cost Effectiveness of Software Defect Prediction in an Industrial Project
Authors: Hryszko Jaroslaw , Madeyski Lech
Published: February 2018

Software defect prediction is a promising approach aiming to increase software quality and, as a result, development pace. Unfortunately, the cost effectiveness of software defect prediction in industrial settings is not eagerly shared by the pioneering companies. In particular, this is the first attempt to investigate the cost effectiveness of using the DePress open source software measurement framework (jointly developed by Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, and Capgemini software development company) for defect prediction in commercial software projects. We explore whether defect prediction can positively impact an industrial software development project by generating profits. To meet this goal, we conducted a defect prediction and simulated potential quality assurance costs based on the best possible prediction results when using a default, non-tweaked DePress configuration, as well as the proposed Quality Assurance (QA) strategy. Results of our investigation are optimistic: we estimated that quality assurance costs can be reduced by almost 30% when the proposed approach will be used, while estimated DePress usage Return on Investment (ROI) is fully 73 (7300%), and Benefits Cost Ratio (BCR) is 74. Such promising results, being the outcome of the presented research, have caused the acceptance of continued usage of the DePress-based software defect prediction for actual industrial projects run by Volvo Group.
Do Imports and Exports Adjust Nonlinearly? Evidence from 100 Countries
Authors: Arize Augustine C. , Bahmani-Oskooee Mohsen
Published: February 2018

A country is said to live within its international budget constraint if its exports and imports are cointegrated. Previous studies that tried to verify the cointegration between exports and imports used linear models and supported the theory in almost 50% of countries. In this paper, when we use the nonlinear ARDL approach and asymmetry cointegration method, we support the long-run link between imports and exports in 94 out of 100 countries in our sample. This study is not only the most comprehensive study in the literature, but it is also the first to show that, indeed, trade flows adjust in a nonlinear fashion.
Wavelets method for solving nonlinear stochastic Itô–Volterra integral equations
Authors: Heydari Mohammad Hossein , Hooshmandasl Mohammad Reza , Cattani Carlo
Published: February 2018

In this paper, a new computational method based on the Chebyshev wavelets (CWs) is proposed for solving nonlinear stochastic Itô–Volterra integral equations. In this way, a new stochastic operational matrix (SOM) for the CWs is obtained. By using these basis functions and their SOM, such problems can be transformed into nonlinear systems of algebraic equations which can be simply solved. Moreover, a new technique for computation of nonlinear terms in such problems is presented. Further error analysis of the proposed method is also investigated and the efficiency of this method is shown on some concrete examples. The obtained results reveal that the proposed method is very accurate and efficient.
Transcytosis of payloads that are non-covalently complexed to bispecific antibodies across the hCMEC/D3 blood-brain barrier model
Authors: Schmid Daniela , Buntz Annette , Hanh Phan Thi Ngoc , Mayer Klaus , Hoffmann Eike , Thorey Irmgard , Niewöhner Jens , Vasters Katrin , Sircar Ranjan , Mundigl Olaf , Kontermann Roland E. , Brinkmann Ulrich
Published: February 2018

A transcellular shuttle system was generated for the delivery of non-covalently linked payloads across blood-brain barrier (BBB) endothelial cells. Transcytosis-enabling shuttles are composed of bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) that simultaneously bind transferrin receptor (TfR) and haptens such as digoxigenin or biocytinamide. Haptenylated payloads are attached to these vehicles via non-covalent hapten-antibody complexation. This enables targeting to and internalization into human BBB-derived microvascular endothelial hCMEC/D3 cells. In contrast to other shuttles, this system does not require special affinities or formats of their TfR-binding moieties for transcytosis and subsequent release. Non-covalent payload complexation to bsAb is flexible and robust, works for a multitude of payloads and enables separation of payloads from shuttles during transcytosis. Released payloads can enter the brain without connected bsAb entities, minimizing potential interference with distribution or functionality. Intracellular separation of shuttle and payload and recycling to cell surfaces may also enable recharging of the cell-bound BBB shuttle with payload for subsequent (merry-go-round) transport cycles.
What Determines the Elasticity of Industry Demand?
Authors: Pagoulatos Emilio , Sorensen Robert
Published: February 2018

This paper develops estimates of price elasticity of demand for a sample of U.S. food and tobacco manufacturing industries and tests a model explaining differences in interindustry elasticity. The empirical results are consistent with the hypothesis that demand elasticity is in part determined by the competitive behavior of firms in an industry. In particular, high advertising expenditures result in lower elasticities of demand. Other important variables influencing demand elasticity are industry concentration, the stage of production, the existence of protection from domestic and foreign entry, and the extent of new-product introduction in a particular market.

‘What makes monopoly possible is the efficiency of large-scale operation; what makes it worthwhile is the slope of the demand curve’ [Dorfman (1978, p. 153)].
A note on distributionally robust optimization under moment uncertainty
Authors: Liu Qiang , Wu Jia , Xiao Xiantao , Zhang Liwei
Published: February 2018

We considers a distributionally robust optimization problem when the ambiguity set specifies the support as well as the mean and the covariance matrix of the uncertain parameters. After deriving a general deterministic reformulation for the distributionally robust optimization problem, we obtain tractable optimization reformulations when the support set is the whole space and when it is a convex polyhedral set. A hybrid method of Gurobi and a smoothing Newton conjugate gradient method is suggested to solve the tractable optimization problems and numerical results of the hybrid method for solving an illustrative example are reported.
In iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis, steroid therapy today could keep the surgical knife at bay
Authors: Henry Rohan K. , Chaudhari Monika
Published: February 2018

Background:

Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) type 2, characterized as a destructive thyroiditis, is well described in the medical literature; however, iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis (IIT) is not, though the latter has similar features and can be managed similarly.

Case presentation:

We present a 17-year-old female who presented with a history of an intermittent goiter with thyroid function tests (TFTs): thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)<0.015 (0.4–4 μU/mL), free thyroxine (T4)≥6 (0.7–2.1 ng/dL) and total triiodothyronine (T3) 651 (50–200 mg/dL). Thyroid antibodies were all negative. Despite methimazole therapy for 6 weeks, hyperthyroidism proved refractory to medical management. 123I scan uptake was suppressed. With hyperthyroidism being recalcitrant to therapy, a nutritional history revealed consumption of an iodine supplement containing at least 7 times the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for 5 years, contributing to the Jod-Basedow phenomenon. Urinary spot and 24-hour urinary iodine were both elevated. Though a surgical consult was obtained, surgery was cancelled once TFTs improved and then normalized with steroid therapy. The TFTs and urinary iodine levels remained normal post steroid therapy.

Conclusions:

We suggest that in addition to the need for a thorough nutritional history, a trial of corticosteroids should be utilized in the management of IIT which can present with findings similar to AIT type 2 which is recalcitrant to thionamide therapy. If successful, corticosteroids may delay or prevent surgical management thus avoiding possible complications with the latter approach.
Mid-pregnancy cervical length as a risk factor for cesarean section in women with twin pregnancies
Authors: Sung Su Jin , Lee Seung Mi , Oh Sohee , Choi Joo Hee , Park Jee Yoon , Kim Byoung Jae , Lee Joon Ho , Park Chan-Wook , Park Joong Shin , Jun Jong Kwan
Published: February 2018

Objective:

It is well known that a short cervix at mid-pregnancy is a risk factor for spontaneous preterm birth in both singleton and twin gestations. Recent evidence also suggests that a long cervix at mid-pregnancy is a predictor of the risk of cesarean section (C/S) in singleton gestation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a long cervix at mid-pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of C/S in women with twin pregnancies.

Methods:

We enrolled 746 women pregnant with twins whose cervical length was measured by trans-vaginal ultrasonography at a mean of 22 weeks of gestation and who delivered in our institution. Cases with a short cervix [cervical length (CL) <15 mm] were excluded. Cases were divided into four groups according to the quartile of CL.

Results:

The rate of C/S increased according to the quartile of CL (47% in the 1st quartile, 51% in the 2nd quartile, 56% in the 3rd quartile and 62% in the 4th quartile, P<0.005, χ2 for trend). CL was an independent risk factor for C/S even after adjustment for confounding variables. When confining analysis to women who delivered after a trial of labor (n=418), to nulliparous women (n=633) or to those who delivered at late preterm or full term (n=666), the rate of C/S also increased according to the quartile of CL, and the relationship between CL and the risk of C/S remained significant after adjustment in each group.

Conclusion:

In women pregnant with twins, long CL at mid-pregnancy was a risk factor for C/S.
Hermippus FGrH 1026 F84: Dionysius I, the theatre and the cult of the Muses in Syracuse
Authors: Mojsik Tomasz
Published: February 2018

In the current essay, I focus on the issues related to the origins and functions of a cult of the Muses in Syracuse. The research hypothesis may be defined as follows: the cult of the Muses appeared or already existed in Syracuse at the end of the 5thor at the beginning of the 4thcentury at the latest, and it was connected with the theatre. It is also very plausible that there is a connection between a place of cult and the practice of collecting mementos of famous authors. The question is inseparably linked with the interpretation of a passage written by Hermippus of Smyrna, the assessment of the parallel testimony given by Lucian, and the evaluation of the reasons behind the actions of Dionysius I described there. Thus, the present article aims at providing a proper context in which the information recounted by Hermippus might seem probable and Dionysius' motives – understandable.
Trophic state of lobelia lakes subjected to strong anthropogenic pressure located close to the Tricity area (northern Poland)
Authors: Markowski Maciej
Published: February 2018

Intensive and expansive human activity greatly accelerates the natural process of lake evolution. It is assumed that an increase in the rate of lake fertilization (often termed “eutrophication”) is the most common and most serious anthropogenic disturbance occurring in these aquatic geoecosystems. Lobelia lakes, one of the most valuable water bodies, are particularly exposed to this type of pressure. The article presents the trophic state of 13 lobelia lakes, located close to the Tricity area, in the northeastern part of the Kashubian Lakeland, which are not legally protected. These lakes represent different geoecosystems determining the rate of their natural evolution, and are subjected to various forms of anthropopressure (numerous summerhouses, fishing, waterside leisure and recreation). The trophic status of these lakes was assessed on the basis of the Carlson-type indices. The evaluation indicated that six of these lakes were in borderline mesotrophic-eutrophic state, and seven represented a significantly advanced eutrophic state.
Introduction: Current perspectives on positive polarity
Authors: Liu Mingya , Iordăchioaia Gianina
Published: February 2018

Polarity sensitivity has been an established key topic of linguistic research for more than half a century. The study of polarity phenomena can be extremely revealing about the internal structure of a language, as they usually involve an interaction at the interface between syntax, semantics and pragmatics. In the past, most attention was paid to negative polarity items. However, recent years have witnessed a growing interest in positive polarity items. As a continuation of this trend, this issue collects four papers dedicated to positive polarity items, which enrich the empirical domain with novel observations from different languages and appeal to diverse theoretical concepts such as scalarity and presupposition in their modeling of positive polarity. The results show that positive polarity is a distributional phenomenon that has different sources and most likely cannot be modeled in a unifying way, although there may be subsets of positive polarity items that allow unifying accounts.
Crystal structure of (2-(chlorophenyl)-5-methyl-1,3-dioxane-5-carboxylato–κ2
O,O′)(5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-κ4
N,N′,N′′,N′′′)nickel(II) perchlorate monohydrate, Ni(C16H36N4)(C12H12O4Cl)ClO4⋅H2O
Authors: Ou Guang-Chuan , Jia Guo-Kai , Zeng Fei , Tan Ying-zhi , Wang Qiong
Published: February 2018

C28H50Cl2N4NiO9, monoclinic, P21/n, a = 10.333(4) Å, b = 26.305(9) Å, c = 12.640(5) Å, β = 102.421(4)°, V = 3355(2) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0391, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1090, T = 296(2) K.
Crystal structure of (μ2-2,2′-bipyridine-3,3′-dicarboxylato)-bis(5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane)-di-nickel(II) perchlorate N,N′-dimethylformamide solvate, C50H92Cl2N12Ni2O14
Authors: Li Huan-Yong , Lin Wang , Han Feng-Xian , Ou Guang-Chuan
Published: February 2018

C50H92Cl2N12Ni2O14, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 25.731(5) Å, b = 9.940(2) Å, c = 26.574(5) Å, β = 114.825(4)°, V = 6169(2) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0675, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.2209, T = 173(2) K.
Synthesis and crystal structure poly[aqua(μ3-2-(((7-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxy-3-sulfonatophenyl)-4-oxo-4H-chromen-8-yl)methyl)ammonio)acetate-κ4
O,O′:O′′:O′′′) sodium] monohydrate, C18H18NNaO11S
Authors: Chen Hai-Lin , Lai Hong-Fang , Qin Yong-Ling , Guo Yue-Ning , Chen Ting , Huang Xiao-Yuan
Published: February 2018

C18H18NNaO11S, triclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 8.2627(12) Å, b = 8.6490(11) Å, c = 14.1791(17) Å, α = 82.883(10)°, β = 76.954(12)°, γ = 69.729(12)°, V = 924.8(2) Å3, Z = 2, R
gt(F) = 0.0574, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1609, T = 293(2) K.
Flow dynamics study of catalyst powder in catalytic cracking unit for troubleshooting
Authors: Yelgaonkar Vivek , Agrahari Gaurav , Vikrant Dhakar , Prasanna Rao , Pathak B. K.
Published: February 2018

Gamma scanning and radiotracer applications are very effective and inexpensive tools to understand and optimize the process as well as troubleshoot the various types of problems in many chemical, petrochemical industries and refineries. These techniques are non-invasive; hence, the problems can be pinpointed online, which leads to reduce the downtime, schedule the shutdown and maintenance of the plant equipment, rendering huge economic benefits. In a leading refinery of India, the catalytic cracking unit (CCU) was malfunctioning. It was suspected by the refinery engineers that the catalyst powder was being carried over to the fractionator, which could have led to erosion of the fractionator column internals resulting in their rupture, and consequentially, to the fire hazard. To understand the flow behaviour of the catalyst powder and to ensure the mechanical integrity, catalyst accumulation and choking, both radiotracer study and gamma scanning of the CCU reactor was carried out. The reactor consists of a riser, three primary cyclones and three secondary cyclones. Gamma scanning of the reactor was carried out with the help of an automatic gamma scanner using 1.8 GBq of Co-60 sealed source. Results showed that the catalyst powder was accumulated in one of the secondary cyclones and uneven density distribution was observed in another secondary cyclone. The radiotracer study was carried out using the irradiated catalyst powder as a radiotracer, which contains 0.9 GBq of Na-24. The radiotracer was injected in the reactor through the specially fabricated injection system. Radiation measurement was done using the thermally insulated and collimated NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors located at various strategic locations coupled to a multi-detector data acquisition system. The data were mathematically analysed. It was confirmed that the catalyst powder was accumulated in one of the secondary cyclones with no flow downwards. This resulted in excess powder available to travel along with hydrocarbon towards fractionator. Since the quantity of powder released through the hydrocarbon outlet of CCU was higher than the designed value, the catalyst powder was observed in various zones of the fractionator. Mathematical modelling of the radiotracer data obtained at various locations corroborated the scanning results; also, the flow pattern was obtained. Partially blocked secondary cyclone showed plug flow with recirculation; normal working cyclone had plug flow behaviour and the vortex breaker showed parallel flow.
Trinitizing the Universe: Teilhard’s Theogenesis and the Dynamism of Love
Authors: Delio Ilia
Published: February 2018

The God-world relationship bears an ambiguous relationship between God’s immanent life and God’s life in history. The development of the doctrine of the Trinity in the early Church gave rise to a distinction between theologia and oikonomia. Bonaventure’s theology sought to express an economic trinitarianism without compromising the integrity of God’s life, thus maintaining divine immutability and divine impassibility. Twentieth century trinitarian theologies challenge the notion of divine immutability in light of modern science and radical suffering. This paper develops on the heels of twentieth century theology by focusing in particular on the philosophical shifts rendered by modern science and technology. In particular, the insights of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin are explored with regard to Trinity and evolution, precisely because Teilhard intuited that evolution and the new physics evoke a radically new understanding of God. Building on Teilhard’s insights, I suggest that divine creative love is expressed in a fourth mystery which Teilhard called ‟pleromization.” Pleromization is the outflow of divine creative union or, literally, God filling the universe with divine life. Teilhard recapitulates this idea in the evolution of Christ so that theologia and oikonomia are one movement of divine love. My principal thesis is that the Trinity is integrally related to the world; the fullness of divine love includes the personalization of created reality, symbolized by the Christ. To explore this thesis I draw upon the cyborg as the symbol of hybridization and permeable boundaries and interpret Trinitarian life in evolution as cyborg Christogensis. Using the Law of Three, I indicate why a new understanding of Trinitarian life involves complexification and thus a new understanding of Trinity in which the fullness of divine life includes created reality.
Some effects of radiation treatment of biodegradable PCL/PLA blends
Authors: Malinowski Rafał
Published: February 2018

Changes in melt flow rate (MFR), mechanical properties, and morphology occurring upon the electron beam (EB) irradiation of polycaprolactone/polylactide (PCL/PLA) blends were discussed. Reference samples and examined blends were prepared using co-rotating twin screw extruder. The obtained materials were irradiated with high-energy EB. The applied radiation dose was 40 kGy. Studies have shown that EB irradiation affected the properties of PCL/PLA blends in different ways. In the case of pure PLA and blends with a significant content of PLA the degradation process mainly occurred, whereas in pure PCL and blends with a significant content of PCL the degradation process was almost absent. Moreover, it was found that properties of PCL/PLA blends depended mainly on the content of PLA phase that was more susceptible to electron radiation than the PCL one.
Humic substances elemental composition of selected taiga and tundra soils from Russian European North-East
Authors: Lodygin Evgeny , Beznosikov Vasily , Abakumov Evgeny
Published: February 2018

Soils of Russian European North were investigated in terms of stability and quality of organic matter as well as in terms of soils organic matter elemental composi­tion. Therefore, soil humic acids (HAs), extracted from soils of different natural zones of Russian North-East were studied to characterize the degree of soil organic matter stabilization along a zonal gradient. HAs were extracted from soil of different zonal environments of the Komi Republic: south, middle and north taiga as well as south tundra. Data on elemental composition of humic acids and fulvic acids (FAs) extracted from different soil types were obtained to assess humus formation mechanisms in the soils of taiga and tundra of the European North-East of Russia. The specificity of HAs elemental composition are discussed in relation to environmental conditions. The higher moisture degree of taiga soils results in the higher H/C ratio in humic substances. This reflects the reduced microbiologic activity in Albeluvisols sods and subsequent conser­vation of carbohydrate and amino acid fragments in HAs. HAs of tundra soils, shows the H/C values decreasing within the depth of the soils, which reflects increasing of aromatic compounds in HA structure of mineral soil horizons. FAs were more oxidized and contains less carbon while compared with the HAs. Humic acids, extracted from soil of different polar and boreal environments differ in terms of elemental composition winch reflects the climatic and hydrological regimes of humification.
Zinc oxide impregnated resin for preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of uranyl ions in aqueous solutions
Authors: Elhefnawy O. A. , Elabd A. A.
Published: February 2018

The objective of this work is to find a new, efficient and alternate low-cost adsorbent for preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of uranyl ions U(VI) from aqueous solution. For this reason the new impregnated resin (ZnO/7HP) has been prepared by sol-gel technique. Characterization of ZnO/7HP was conducted using scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer and X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy. Several important parameters influencing the U(VI) adsorption such as pH, adsorbent amount, initial U(VI) concentration, contact time and temperature were investigated systematically by batch experiments. The obtained results showed that the equilibrium adsorption data were well fitted to the Langmuir model with a maximum adsorption amount of 24.96 mg/g. While the adsorption kinetics data were described well by the pseudo-second order model. This result indicates that the adsorption process is chemisorption. Thermodynamic results indicate that the U(VI) adsorption process is endothermic nature and favors at high temperature. Hydrochloric acid was used for preconcentration of U(VI) and detected spectrophotometry after the reaction with Arsenazo III. According to the definition of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, the detection limit of this method was 0.12 μg/L. The relative standard deviation under optimum conditions is less than 3.0 % (n=5). The new impregnated resin ZnO/7HP is a promising adsorbent for preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of U(VI) in aqueous solutions.
Statistical analysis of diffusion systems with invariants
Authors: Averina Tatiana A. , Karachanskaya Elena V. , Rybakov Konstantin A.
Published: February 2018

The aim of the paper is the construction and numerical solution of stochastic differential equations whose trajectories are located on a given smooth manifold with probability 1. Second order cylindrical surfaces, i.e., elliptic, hyperbolic, and parabolic cylinders serve as examples of such manifolds for the tree-dimensional space (the phase space is two-dimensional). Classes of stochastic differential equations are constructed for these surfaces and linear equations with multiplicative noise are marked in these classes. The results of modelling were used to estimate the deviations of numerical solutions from the manifold. A comparative analysis of considered examples was carried out for accuracy of eight numerical solution methods for stochastic differential equations.
A block Newton’s method for computing invariant pairs of nonlinear matrix pencils
Authors: Demyanko Kirill V. , Nechepurenko Yuri M.
Published: February 2018

The block inverse iteration and block Newton’s methods proposed by the authors of this paper for computing invariant pairs of regular linear matrix pencils are generalized to the case of regular nonlinear matrix pencils. Numerical properties of the proposed methods are demonstrated with a typical quadratic eigenproblem.
Drainage Adits in Upper Silesia – Industrial Technology Heritage and Important Elements of the Hydrotechnical Infrastructure
Authors: Duży Stanisław , Dyduch Grzegorz , Preidl Wojciech , Stacha Grzegorz
Published: February 2018

Adits played an important role in the hydrotechnical infrastructure for centuries. Initially, they were used mainly to drain wetland and supply water to the population. There were also inherent in the conduct of mining activities. They were used as exploratory, development and supply headings. Their usual function was to drain, ventilate and transport, and after the cessation of mining they became important elements of the hydrotechnical infrastructure in the transformed mining areas. The article presents issues related to the revitalization of the Main Key Hereditary Adit and Friedrich Adit as essential for the areas in which they are located. Both are hydraulic structures with the possibility of adaptation for tourism purposes. The need to consider some technical activities to be undertaken in this type of objects was pointed out, not only including aspects related to their proper protection so that they can continue to safely perform their function, but also to the preservation of their historical values. Due to their age and the method of drilling used in them, those headings are often included in the list of monuments and protected by law.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Novel Approach in Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Kostic Marina
Published: February 2018

The rheumatoid arthritis is chronic disease with progressive course and deteriorations of joints as well as other organs. The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis is characterized with chronic synovitis and inflammation. The main roles in development of rheumatoid arthritis have auto-reactive T cells and inflammatory cytokines, especially tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1 and interleukin 6. The management of rheumatoid arthritis has evolved significantly in the past twenty years, especially with introduction new diagnostic criteria by European League for Rheumatoid Arthritis which are very sensitive for early arthritis. The main goal of treating rheumatoid arthritis is to start with therapy in the phase of the disease when destruction of joints can still be prevented. Therapeutic strategies for rheumatoid arthritis involve wide palette of different drugs which can be divided into conventional and biological Disease Modifying Anthirheumatic Drugs. The use of methotrexate in combination with biological drugs provide targeting not only structural changes in rheumatoid arthritis but also and immunological pathways in development of rheumatoid arthritis. These drugs synergistically provide clinical remission and low activity of rheumatoid arthritis in the majority of patients. The uses of biological drugs are limited due their high costs or safety profile. In order to reduce costs and toxicity in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, new treat- to –target concept is established. The new class of drugs which modulate signal pathways and activity of tyrosine kinase are under investigations in post marketing surveys in patients with rheumatoid arthritis as in efficacy as in safety issues.
Interleukin-32 in Infection, Inflammation and Cancer Biology
Authors: Pavlovic Mladen , Jovanovic Ivan , Arsenijevic Nebojsa
Published: February 2018

Cytokines are small pleiotropic polypeptids secreted dominantly by the cells of the immune system. These polypeptids are main mediators of innate and acquired immunity, responsible for clonal expansion and differentiation of immune cells, initiation of immune response and enhancing of effector functions of leukocytes. Cytokine-related effects are most studied in the fields of inflammation, immunology, and cancer biology. In this review we discuss one of the most intriguing, recently discovered proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin 32.
Models for preterm cortical development using non invasive clinical EEG
Authors: de Camp Nora Vanessa , Hense Florian , Lecher Bernd , Scheu Helmut , Bergeler Jürgen
Published: February 2018

The objective of this study was to evaluate the piglet and the mouse as model systems for preterm cortical development. According to the clinical context, we used non invasive EEG recordings. As a prerequisite, we developed miniaturized Ag/AgCl electrodes for full band EEG recordings in mice and verified that Urethane had no effect on EEG band power. Since mice are born with a “preterm” brain, we evaluated three age groups: P0/P1, P3/P4 and P13/P14. Our aim was to identify EEG patterns in the somatosensory cortex which are distinguishable between developmental stages and represent a physiologic brain development. In mice, we were able to find clear differences between age groups with a simple power analysis of EEG bands and also for phase locking and power spectral density. Interhemispheric coherence between corresponding regions can only be seen in two week old mice. The canolty maps for piglets as well as for mice show a clear PAC (phase amplitude coupling) pattern during development. From our data it can be concluded that analytic tools relying on network activity, as for example PAC (phase amplitude coupling) are best suited to extract basic EEG patterns of cortical development across species.
Rows of corner- and face-sharing Mg4 tetrahedra arranged as hexagonal rod packing in the hexagonal Laves phases REMg2 and the rare earth-rich phases RE
9CoMg4 (RE=Y, Dy-Tm, Lu)
Authors: Stein Sebastian , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: February 2018

Six new rare earth metal-rich intermetallic compounds RE
9CoMg4 with RE=Y, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Lu were synthesized by induction-melting the elements in sealed niobium ampoules followed by annealing in muffle furnaces. The structures of Y9CoMg4 and Tm8.56CoMg4.44 were refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data: P63/mmc, a=965.65(6), c=971.07(5) pm, wR2=0.0599, 614 F
2 values, 20 variables for Y9CoMg4 and a=945.20(4), c=953.11(5) pm, wR2=0.0358, 585 F
2 values, 21 variables for Tm8.56CoMg4.44 (a small homogeneity range results from Tm/Mg mixing). The RE
9CoMg4 phases crystallize with a coloring variant of the aristotype Co2Al5. The striking structural motif is a hexagonal rod packing of rows of corner- and face-sharing tetrahedral Mg4 clusters with Mg–Mg distances ranging from 304 to 317 pm in Y9CoMg4. These rows are similar to the hexagonal Laves phases REMg2. The space between the rows is filled with rows of face-sharing Co@Y6 trigonal prisms (TP) and empty Y6 octahedra (O) in the sequence –TP–O–O–. The many isopointal coloring variants of the aristotype Co2Al5 are briefly discussed.
Equiatomic rare earth rhodium plumbides RERhPb (RE=Y, La–Nd, Sm, Gd–Lu) with ZrNiAl-type structure
Authors: Heletta Lukas , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: February 2018

The equiatomic plumbides RERhPb (RE=Y, La–Nd, Sm, Gd–Lu) were synthesized by induction melting of the elements in sealed niobium ampoules. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, confirming their ZrNiAl-type structure, space group P6̅2m. Four structures were refined from single-crystal X-ray diffractometer data: a=769.42(5), c=415.60(3) pm, wR=0.0415, 343 F
2 values, 15 variables for LaRhPb, a=767.91(6), c=369.37(4) pm, wR=0.0798, 284 F
2 values, 15 variables for ErRhPb, a=767.01(8), c=366.21(4) pm, wR=0.0380, 341 F
2 values, 15 variables for YbRhPb and a=766.9(1), c=363.42(6) pm, wR=0.0699, 290 F
2 values, 15 variables for LuRhPb. The RERhPb plumbides contain two crystallographically independent rhodium atoms, both in tricapped trigonal prismatic coordination: Rh1@Pb3
RE
6 and Rh2@RE
6Pb3. Short Rh–Pb distances (277 and 284 pm in ErRhPb) are indicative of covalent Rh–Pb bonding. The crystal chemical details of the RERhPb series are compared with the silver plumbides REAgPb which show different transition metal-lead coloring. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility data show Pauli paramagnetism for YRhPb, LaRhPb and LuRhPb. An antiferromagnetic ground state below the Néel temperatures of 13.5, 21.0 and 6.9 K was found for PrRhPb, TbRhPb and DyRhPb, respectively. HoRhPb exhibits Curie-Weiss behavior in the observed temperature range.
Flavonoids and triterpenes from Combretum fragrans with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antidiabetic potential
Authors: Dawé Amadou , Mbiantcha Marius , Yakai Fawai , Jabeen Almas , Ali Muhammad Shaiq , Lateef Mehreen , Ngadjui Bonaventure Tchaleu
Published: February 2018

Despite the well-documented benefits of Combretum fragrans in Cameroon, only few scientific works have been done on it. In this study we isolated eight compounds from the leaves extract of C. fragrans: velutin (1), belamcanidin (2), cirsilineol (3), cirsimaritin (4), 3β-acetoxy-20,24-epoxy-11,25-hydroxy-dammarane (5), combretin A (6), combretin B (7) and a mixture of arjunolic acid (8a) and asiatic acid (8b). Compounds 6 and 7 presented potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. Compounds 1, 3, 5 and the mixture of 8a and 8b were significantly active, and compounds 2 and 4 presented moderate activity for reactive oxygen species inhibitory and free-radical scavenging. All compounds were isolated using chromatographic techniques; their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques and their spectroscopic data compared with those of the literature. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated via the oxidative burst assay using a luminol-amplified chemiluminescence technique, antioxidant activity by free-radical scavenging activity (DPPH) and antidiabetic activity via α-glucosidase inhibition. All of the isolated compounds (1–8) were reported to exhibit significant antioxidant activity. Compounds 1, 3, and 5–8 exhibited potent chemiluminescence inhibition effect, and only compounds 6 and 7 inhibited α-glucosidase. Thus, C. fragrans can be used as an effective natural source of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antidiabetic compounds.
Role of Rostral Fastigial Neurons in Encoding a Body-Centered Representation of Translation in Three Dimensions
Authors: Martin Christophe Z. , Brooks Jessica X. , Green Andrea M.
Published: February 2018

Many daily behaviors rely critically on estimates of our body motion. Such estimates must be computed by combining neck proprioceptive signals with vestibular signals that have been transformed from a head- to a body-centered reference frame. Recent studies showed that deep cerebellar neurons in the rostral fastigial nucleus (rFN) reflect these computations, but whether they explicitly encode estimates of body motion remains unclear. A key limitation in addressing this question is that, to date, cell tuning properties have only been characterized for a restricted set of motions across head-re-body orientations in the horizontal plane. Here we examined, for the first time, how 3D spatiotemporal tuning for translational motion varies with head-re-body orientation in both horizontal and vertical planes in the rFN of male macaques. While vestibular coding was profoundly influenced by head-re-body position in both planes, neurons typically reflected at most a partial transformation. However, their tuning shifts were not random but followed the specific spatial trajectories predicted for a 3D transformation. We show that these properties facilitate the linear decoding of fully body-centered motion representations in 3D with a broad range of temporal characteristics from small groups of 5–7 cells. These results demonstrate that the vestibular reference frame transformation required to compute body motion is indeed encoded by cerebellar neurons. We propose that maintaining partially transformed rFN responses with different spatiotemporal properties facilitates the creation of downstream body motion representations with a range of dynamic characteristics, consistent with the functional requirements for tasks such as postural control and reaching.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTEstimates of body motion are essential for many daily activities. Vestibular signals are important contributors to such estimates but must be transformed from a head- to a body-centered reference frame. Here, we provide the first direct demonstration that the cerebellum computes this transformation fully in 3D. We show that the output of these computations is reflected in the tuning properties of deep cerebellar rostral fastigial nucleus neurons in a specific distributed fashion that facilitates the efficient creation of body-centered translation estimates with a broad range of temporal properties (i.e., from acceleration to position). These findings support an important role for the rostral fastigial nucleus as a source of body translation estimates functionally relevant for behaviors ranging from postural control to perception.
The Hundred-Year-Old Question: Can American Cinema Be Saved?
Authors: Schamus James
Published: February 2018

The Art House Convergence conference annually brings together hundreds of independent theater owners and supporters of arthouse cinema during the days preceding the Sundance Film Festival. When the organizers invited James Schamus to deliver the keynote address at their 2016 gathering, it was a commission he did not relish. The expected argument of such speeches is pretty much set in stone these days: cinema, understood primarily as feature films meant initially for theatrical exhibition, is under attack, and the keynote speaker's task is to rally the troops in its defense, soliciting applause for recent victories on the battlefield, and railing against the encroachments of the enemies of film, in particular the digital streaming services whose assaults on the sanctity of the theatrical viewing experience, and thus on the aesthetic object known as the theatrical film, grow ever more ferocious with each passing year. Schamus took on the task of delivering that speech, and then transforming it into this article for FQ. He concludes with a rousing plea to all regarding what he terms, “This vicious spiral of longer movies, higher costs and higher ticket prices,” that can only spell disaster for the supporter of truly independent American cinema. Schamus urges readers to stand with him (and all who love the genuine American film experience), to advocate for vibrant, varied, open-ended, hybrid, serial and ongoing open storytelling and entertainment.
Evaluation of P wave Dispersion and Tissue Doppler Imaging for Predicting Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Hypertension
Authors: Zhang Xiaohui , Zeng Wei , Li Yuanmin , Hou Dapeng , Li Xiuchang , Xu Wenbo
Published: February 2018

Background: There are no previous studies dealing with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) and hypertension using electrocardiogram and tissue doppler imaging (TDI). The aim of this study was to investigate and identify the predictive indicators for paroxysmal AF in hypertensive patients using P wave dispersion (Pd) and TDI.Methods: Patients with hypertension were enrolled. Patients with paroxysmal AF were classified as the PAF group, and patients without a history of paroxysmal AF were classified as the NAF group. The clinical data, P wave indicators and TDI indicators were collected and compared between the two groups.Results: A total of 120 patients were enrolled into the study with 40 cases in the PAF group and 80 cases in the NAF group. Compared with NAF group, Pd, maximum P wave duration (Pmax), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDd) and left atrial dimension (LAD) were significantly longer (P < .05) in the PAF group. PAL, PAI, PAR, LR, LI and IR were significantly longer (P < .05) in the PAF group than in the NAF group. As for ROC analysis, Pd and PAL had the greatest area under the curve. The best diagnostic value of Pd and PAL was 40ms and 78ms, respectively. The combination of Pd ≥40ms with Pmax ≥ 110ms showed higher specificity and positive predictive value but decreased sensitivity and negative predictive value for paroxysmal AF.Conclusions: The PAF group had significantly longer atrial electromechanical time and higher Pd compared with NAF group. The combination of Pd and TDI may be helpful to predict the onset of paroxysmal AF in patients with hypertension.