bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between genital mycoplasmas, acute chorioamnionitis and fetal pneumonia in spontaneous abortions
Authors: Latino Maria Agnese , Botta Giovanni , Badino Claudia , Maria Daniela De , Petrozziello Annalisa , Sensini Alessandra , Leli Christian
Published: June 2017

Aim:

Ureaplasma parvum, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis are also known as genital mycoplasmas. Acute chorioamnionitis is an inflammation of the placenta associated with miscarriage. We retrospectively evaluated a possible association between genital mycoplasmas detection, acute chorioamnionitis and fetal pneumonia from second and third trimester spontaneous abortions.

Methods:

One hundred and thirty placenta and fetal lung samples were evaluated for histological examination. The placenta samples, along with corresponding fetal tracheo-bronchial aspirates, also underwent bacterial and fungal culture and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of genital mycoplasmas.

Results:

Acute chorioamnionitis and pneumonia were diagnosed in 80/130 (61.5%) and 22/130 (16.9%) samples, respectively. Among samples positive for acute chorioamnionitis, the proportion of samples positive by real-time PCR and/or culture, was significantly higher than that of negative controls [54/80 (67.5%) vs. 26/80 (32.5%); P<0.001]. Ureaplasma parvum detection was significantly associated with acute chorioamnionitis compared to controls [9/11 (81.8%) vs. 2/11 (18.2%); P=0.019], as well as U. urealyticum [6/7 (85.7%) vs. 1/7 (14.3%); P=0.039]. Among tracheo-bronchial aspirates from abortions with pneumonia, the proportion of real-time PCR and/or culture positive samples was significantly higher than that of controls [13/22 (59.1%) vs. 9/22 (40.9%); P=0.029].

Conclusions:

A strong association was found between acute histologic chorioamnionitis and microbial invasion with U. parvum and/or U. urealyticum.
On non-dynamic eventive verbs in Spanish
Authors: Fábregas Antonio , Marín Rafael
Published: June 2017

One of the longstanding problems in linguistic analysis is to identify, describe, and analyze the lexical aspect classes allowed in natural language. Recent developments on this issue have raised two interrelated questions: how many event classes there are and how they are derived from a minimum of primitives. In this article, we identify a class of predicates denoting the maintenance of a situation through which 13 tests can be shown to display mixed properties between states and activities, challenging the existing taxonomies of aspectual classes. We furthermore argue that the existence of this class is expected by any theory that treats aspectual classes as epiphenomena of the combination of a restricted set of primitives, and propose an analysis where they contain a central coincidence preposition selected by an eventive layer.
Epistemicity, social identity and politeness marking: A pragmatic analysis of Bajjika verbal inflections
Authors: Kashyap Abhishek Kumar , Yap Foong Ha
Published: June 2017

This article examines the pragmatic uses of the verbal inflections in Bajjika, a Bihari language within the “eastern” group of the Indo-Aryan family. Previous studies have shown that Bajjika has a very complex system of verb-agreement, which is typical of Bihari languages but atypical of other Indo-Aryan languages. Of particular interest here is that Bajjika allows a maximum of two person-agreement slots in its verbal morphology: the first slot for markers that co-index with nominative participants, and the second slot for those markers that co-index with non-nominative participants as well as third person referents that are outside the discourse context (cf. Kashyap 2012, The pragmatic principles of agreement in Bajjika verbs.Journal of Pragmatics44(13). 1868−1887). Our analysis, based on conversational data of Bajjika, reveals that the person-agreement system in Bajjika also registers the social standing of the interlocutors and third person referents along factors reflecting social hierarchy (e.g., age, rank, profession, and social class). Additionally, the non-nominative person-agreement markers (involving second and third but not first person reference) combine with future tense markers to yield epistemic effects (e.g., pragmatic softening or hedging) that contribute to the negotiation of face-needs among discourse participants and discourse referents. These findings have implications for the relationship between deictic elements (e.g., tense and person-agreement markers) and politeness strategies, and may shed light on the pragmatic uses of verbal inflections in other Bihari languages as well as other languages with verbal morphology that encode deictic information.
There and back again – but how? Motion event encoding in the Chinese translation ofThe Hobbit
Authors: Lester Richard
Published: June 2017

This paper extends Slobin’s (2005, Relating narrative events in translation. In Dorit D. Ravid & Hava B. Shyldkrot (eds.),Perspectives on language and language development: Essays in honor of Ruth A. Berman, 115–129. Dordrecht: Kluwer) examination of 10 satellite- and verb-framed translations of a single English text to Chinese, a language considered variously as a satellite-framed language and an equipollently framed language. The Chinese translation is examined in terms of the patterns of manner and path encoding employed in attempting to reproduce the vividness of manner description and degree of detailed path elaboration of the original source text, and in how these compare to the other languages examined in Slobin. Lexical, morphosyntactic, typological and cultural factors contributing to the overall narrative style of Chinese are examined, and an evaluation offered of the place of Chinese on proposed clines of manner and path salience.
Environmental and Energy Aspects of Construction Industry and Green Buildings
Authors: Kauskale L. , Geipele I. , Zeltins N. , Lecis I.
Published: June 2017

Green building is an important component of sustainable real estate market development, and one of the reasons is that the construction industry consumes a high amount of resources. Energy consumption of construction industry results in greenhouse gas emissions, so green buildings, energy systems, building technologies and other aspects play an important role in sustainable development of real estate market, construction and environmental development. The aim of the research is to analyse environmental aspects of sustainable real estate market development, focusing on importance of green buildings at the industry level and related energy aspects. Literature review, historical, statistical data analysis and logical access methods have been used in the research. The conducted research resulted in high environmental rationale and importance of environment-friendly buildings, and there are many green building benefits during the building life cycle. Future research direction is environmental information process and its models.
Research of Surface Roughness Anisotropy
Authors: Bulaha N. , Rudzitis J. , Lungevics J. , Linins O. , Krizbergs J.
Published: June 2017

The authors of the paper have investigated surfaces with irregular roughness for the purpose of determination of roughness spacing parameters perpendicularly to machining traces – RSm1
and parallel to them – RSm2
, as well as checking the relationship between the surface anisotropy coefficient c and surface aspect ratio Str from the standard LVS EN ISO 25178-2. Surface roughness measurement experiments with 11 surfaces show that measuring equipment values of mean spacing of profile irregularities in the longitudinal direction are not reliable due to the divergence of surface mean plane and roughness profile mean line. After the additional calculations it was stated that parameter Str can be used for determination of parameter RSm2
and roughness anisotropy evaluation for grinded, polished, friction surfaces and other surfaces with similar characteristics.
In-vitro Labelling of Ovine Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (oADMSCs) and Tracking Using MRI Technique
Authors: Gnanadevi Ravi Gnanam , Ramesh Geetha , Kannan Thandavan Arthanari , William Benjamin Justin , Parthiban Manoharan , Sathyan Gnanasigamani
Published: June 2017

To understand the mechanisms standing behind a successful stem cell-based therapy, the monitoring of transplanted cell’s migration, homing as well as the engraftment efficiency and functional capability in-vivo has become a critical issue. The present study was designed to track the labelled oADMSCs in-vitro and its visualization through MRI technique. oADMSCs from passage 4 (P-4) to passage 6 (P-6) were labelled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) conjugated with rhodamine (Molday Ion Rhodamine-B - MIRB) at the concentration of 25μg Fe/ml in DMEM. Internalized MIRB was observed under fluorescent microscope after 72 hrs of incubation. Labelled oADMSCs showed Prussian Blue positive reaction demonstrating the iron uptake of the cells. The viability of the MIRB-labelled oADMSCs ranged between 98-99 per cent and Trypan blue exclusion test showed no significant difference in viability between labelled and unlabelled oADMSCs. MR signal in control group of cells was similar to that of water. MR signals or fluorescence in MIRB-labelled cells decreased with increasing concentrations of iron. The T2 weighted images of MIRB-labelled oADMSCs increased with increasing concentrations of SPIOs. The MIRB was found to be nontoxic, and did not affect proliferation capacity in-vitro.
Seasonal variation of bat-flies (Diptera: Streblidae) in four bat species from a tropical dry forest
Authors: Salinas-Ramos Valeria B. , Zaldívar-Riverón Alejandro , Rebollo-Hernández Andrea , Herrera-M L. Gerardo
Published: June 2017

Seasonality of climate promotes differences in abundance and species composition of parasites, affecting host-parasite interactions. Studies have reported seasonal variation in bat-flies, which are obligate bat ectoparasites. We characterized the bat-fly load of three insectivores [Pteronotus davyi (Gray), Pteronotus parnellii (Gray) and Pteronotus personatus (Wagner)] and one nectarivorous [Leptonycteris yerbabuenae (Martínez and Villa-R.)] bat species in a tropical dry forest to test the existence of seasonality in response to the availability of resources during the wet and dry seasons. We collected 3710 bat-fly specimens belonging to six species and two genera from 497 bats. Most of the ectoparasite load parameters examined (mean abundance, mean intensity, richness, etc.), including comparisons among reproductive conditions and sex of the host, were similar in both seasons. Prevalence was the parameter that varied the most between seasons. The six bat-fly species were found in all bat species except P. personatus. The latter species and L. yerbabuenae had four and five bat-fly species in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. This study provides significant information of ectoparasites ecology in relation to seasonality, contributes to the understanding of host-parasite relationships in tropical dry forests and discusses the relevance of the abiotic and biotic factors that could impact host-parasite interactions.
Grenzenloses Heldentum revisited
Authors: Ganzer Christian
Published: June 2017

Die Kämpfe um die Brester Festung vom 22. bis 29. Juni 1941 gehören zu den weniger bekannten Ereignissen an der Ostfront während des Deutsch-Sowjetischen Krieges. In der Sowjetunion hingegen wurde die »heldenhafte Verteidigung der Brester Festung« als Schlüsselereignis dieses Krieges aufgefasst. Nach der offiziellen Version dauerte sie 32 Tage, gerieten nur wenige Rotarmisten in deutsche Gefangenschaft, alle kämpften bis zur letzten Patrone. Dies war die Grundlage, auf welcher der Festung der Titel »Heldenfestung« verliehen und eine monumentale Gedenkstätte eingerichtet wurde.

In einer dichten Beschreibung zeichnet der Autor den Verlauf der Kampfhandlungen auf der Mikro-Ebene nach. Darüber hinaus wendet er sich kontroversen Fragen wie den Verlustzahlen beider Seiten sowie einigen populäreren Motiven des offiziellen Narrativs zu. Er kommt zu dem Schluss, dass das offizielle Narrativ dem Gewicht der Quellen kaum standzuhalten vermag.1
Aufrüstung, Grenzschließung und Besatzungsstatus der DDR
Authors: Wettig Gerhard
Published: June 2017

Stalins Entscheidung, die DDR in die östliche Aufrüstung einzubeziehen, hatte Folgen: Die Propagierung der deutschen Einheit als Alternative zur Westbindung verlor ihre Grundlage; die Grenze zur Bundesrepublik und zu Westberlin wurde abgeriegelt; die Sowjetisierung wurde rücksichtslos vorangetrieben. Gleichwohl firmierten die militärischen Verbände als »Kasernierte Volkspolizei«; es gab Nötigung, aber keine Wehrpflicht; die Grenze in Berlin blieb entgegen Ulbrichts Drängen offen. Viele entzogen sich dem verschärften Zwangsregime durch Flucht in den Westen. Stalins Nachfolger suchten das Problem durch Entlastung von Druck zu lösen. Der Bevölkerung wurde verschwiegen, dass es um die Konsolidierung des Systems, nicht um seine Veränderung ging. Das führte zum 17. Juni. Der Kreml reagierte mit Stabilisierungsmaßnahmen und bekräftigte die Zweistaatlichkeit durch Aufhebung des Besatzungsregimes in der DDR, nicht aber in Berlin. Zur neuen Leitparole wurde die Forderung nach Ersetzung der NATO durch ein System der kollektiven Sicherheit in Europa.
Unidirectional reflectionless light propagation at exceptional points
Authors: Huang Yin , Shen Yuecheng , Min Changjun , Fan Shanhui , Veronis Georgios
Published: June 2017

In this paper, we provide a comprehensive review of unidirectional reflectionless light propagation in photonic devices at exceptional points (EPs). EPs, which are branch point singularities of the spectrum, associated with the coalescence of both eigenvalues and corresponding eigenstates, lead to interesting phenomena, such as level repulsion and crossing, bifurcation, chaos, and phase transitions in open quantum systems described by non-Hermitian Hamiltonians. Recently, it was shown that judiciously designed photonic synthetic matters could mimic the complex non-Hermitian Hamiltonians in quantum mechanics and realize unidirectional reflection at optical EPs. Unidirectional reflectionlessness is of great interest for optical invisibility. Achieving unidirectional reflectionless light propagation could also be potentially important for developing optical devices, such as optical network analyzers. Here, we discuss unidirectional reflectionlessness at EPs in both parity-time (PT)-symmetric and non-PT-symmetric optical systems. We also provide an outlook on possible future directions in this field.
Crystal structure of tetraaqua-bis(3-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)benzoato-κN)cobalt(II), C18H20CoN6O8
Authors: Wang Jian-Ge
Published: June 2017

C18H20CoN6O8, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 22.012(2) Å, b = 6.8972(12) Å, c = 13.234(2) Å, β = 91.137(11)°, V = 2008.9(5) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0436, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1078, T = 293(2) K.
Crystal structure of ([3,3′-bipyridine]-6,6′-dicarboxylato-κ2
O:O′)-bis(1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane-κ2
N:N′)disilver(I) dihydrate, C37H35Ag2N5O6
Authors: Fan Hui-Tao , Zhong Zhi-Guo , Yang Yu-Han , Zhao Ling
Published: June 2017

C37H35Ag2N5O6, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 25.806(2) Å, b = 9.3041(3) Å, c = 18.0702(17) Å, β = 130.346(15)°, V = 3306.7(4) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0426, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0983, T = 296(2) K.
Crystal structure of poly[1,2-bis(1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)ethane-κ2
N:N′]silver(I) bromate monohydrate]silver(I), C6H10AgBrN6O4
Authors: Cui Yanfeng , Zhang Xiangfei , Dong Yaping , Li Wu
Published: June 2017

C6H10AgBrN6O4, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 11.424(7) Å, b = 16.140(9) Å, c = 6.506(4) Å, β = 97.897(4)°, V =1188.73(12) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0473, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1177, T = 273(2) K.
Crystal structure of (E)-1-(3-((E)-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylene)amino)phenyl)ethanone O-benzyl oxime, C26H22N2O2
Authors: Wang Yan-Bin , Su Qiong
Published: June 2017

C26H22N2O2, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 21.8152(18) Å, b = 4.3629(2) Å, γ = 22.0099(12) Å, β = 106.951(6)°, V = 2003.8(2) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0639, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1555, T = 298(2) K.
Crystal structure of catena-poly[hexakis(μ2-2-acetylphenolato-κ3
O:O,O′)trimanganese(II)], C48H42Mn3O12
Authors: Deng Qian-jun , Chen Dong-chu
Published: June 2017

C48H42Mn3O12, triclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 9.1889(6) Å, b = 9.3226(9) Å, c = 12.8605(11) Å, α = 79.231(8)°, β = 73.223(7)°, γ = 89.228(7)°, V = 1035.26(15) Å3, Z = 1, R
gt(F) = 0.0593, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1664, T = 293 K.
Important impurity of Flupirtine – a single crystal study on ethyl (6-amino-5-((ethoxycarbonyl)amino)pyridin-2-yl)(4-fluorobenzyl)carbamate, C18H21FN4O4
Authors: Wang Kun-Yan , Yang Xiao-Li
Published: June 2017

C18H21FN4O4, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 9.4973(8) Å, b = 12.8420(11) Å, c = 15.3050(15) Å, β = 103.468(4)°, V = 1815.3(3) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0525, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1049, T = 296(2) K.
Crystal structure of ethyl 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxylate, C22H22N2O5
Authors: Zhou Jinhui , Zheng Liangwen , Liu Jing , Guo Yongen , Ding Lin
Published: June 2017

C22H22N2O5, triclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 7.592(2) Å, b = 9.835(3) Å, c = 13.579(4) Å, α = 86.600(3)°, β = 83.755(3)°, γ = 89.549(3)°, V = 1006.1(5) Å3, Z = 2, R
gt(F
2) = 0.0495, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1441, T = 273 K.
Crystal structure of 2,3,9,10-tetramethoxy-5,6-dihydroisoquinolino[2,1-b]isoquinolin-7-ium 5-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxo-4H-chromen-7-olate methanol solvate, C37H35N1O10
Authors: Zhang Yanjie , Lou Benyong , Huang Yali , Zheng Guocai , Lin Qi
Published: June 2017

C37H35N1O10, triclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 12.039(8) Å, b = 12.353(9) Å, c = 12.938(9) Å, α = 102.786(3)°, β = 111.865(6)°, γ = 105.173(7)°, V = 1610.6(19) Å3, Z = 2, R
gt(F) = 0.0567, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1392, T = 293 K.
The crystal structure of (5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)ferrocene, C13H12FeN2O
Authors: Škoch Karel , Císařová Ivana , Štěpnička Petr
Published: June 2017

C13H12FeN2O, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 5.9035(2) Å, b = 20.7111(6) Å, c = 9.1403(3) Å, β = 90.0762(16)°, V = 1117.57(6) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0282, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0656, T = 150(2) K.
Spatial and seasonal variations in the planktonic ciliate community and its relationship with environmental factors in Daya Bay, the South China Sea
Authors: Wu Fengxia , Huang Jianrong , Qi Zhanhui , Huang Honghui
Published: June 2017

Planktonic ciliate composition, abundance and its response to environmental change were investigated during four seasons (winter of 2013, spring, summer and autumn of 2014) in Daya Bay, the South China Sea. A total of 41 species belonging to eight orders were identified, 14 of which were dominant. Planktonic ciliate communities showed a distinct seasonal pattern in ciliate abundance and a clear seasonal shift in the taxonomic composition. The largest number of ciliate species occurred in summer, whereas the highest abundance peaked in spring, mainly due to oligotrichids. In terms of spatial distribution, ciliate species were abundant in the area of artificial reefs, and ciliate abundance was higher in the Dapeng Cove aquaculture area and lower at the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station. Clustering analysis demonstrated that the seasonal variations of the ciliate community structure were more obvious than spatial variations. Multivariate and univariate analyses illustrated that ciliate abundance was significantly correlated with the water nutrient level and chlorophyll-a concentration, temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen. Moreover, the dominant abiotic environmental factors affecting the spatial pattern of ciliate communities varied between seasons.
Biological factor controlling methane production in surface sediment in the Polish part of the Vistula Lagoon
Authors: Reindl Andrzej R. , Bolałek Jerzy
Published: June 2017

Due to the limited water exchange, lagoons are particularly prone to eutrophication. The consumption of oxygen in this process, coupled with simultaneous enrichment of bottom sediments with organic matter, reinforces the occurrence of anaerobic conditions and methanogenic growth. Methanogenic archaea activities cause depolymerization of organic compounds accumulated in sediments. As a result of such ecosystem transformation, methane might be produced and emitted from this basin. Chemical studies conducted in 2010 were focused on methane content in the surface bottom sediments in the Polish part of the Vistula Lagoon. The results showed that the highest methane concentration occurs in the southwestern part of this basin (6.45 mmol dm-3), while the lowest one in the southeastern part (7.1 × 10-3 mmol dm-3). Molecular studies were focused on specific methanogenic archaea gene identification. The comparison of nucleotide sequences of “mcrA gene” clones obtained from genomic DNA isolated from the Vistula Lagoon sediments indicates a similarity to the yet uncultivated archaea, but also to archaea from the Methanosarcinales and Methanomicrobiales orders.
Co-occurrence of Sinanodonta woodiana with native Unionidae in the lower Oder
Authors: Szlauer-Łukaszewska Agnieszka , Andrzejewski Wojciech , Gierszal Henryk , Urbańska Maria
Published: June 2017

The Asiatic bivalve Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834), which is more and more widespread in all parts of Europe, in Poland has been mostly reported from lentic waters, especially fish ponds. In contrast to some other European countries, no data have been published on its presence in rivers of Poland. In 2015, monitoring was carried out in the lower Oder River and in the mouth of the Warta River, as a result of which S. woodiana was recorded there for the first time. This was possible due to prolonged drought, which led to extremely low water levels in most of the inland water bodies and watercourses, so that other research methods could be used. The presented results confirm that the species spreads easily by colonizing waters of various types, which in the future may lead to the formation of large populations.
Implementation of Spatial Information for Monitoring and Analysis of the Area Around the Port Using Laser Scanning Techniques
Authors: Bobkowska Katarzyna , Inglot Adam , Mikusova Miroslava , Tysiąc Paweł
Published: June 2017

Nowadays, maritime infrastructure is heavily exploited, which requires monitoring. The article presents the implementation of spatial information which are point clouds for monitoring and analysis of the area around the port (buildings and wharves). For this study, point clouds coming from terrestrial (TLS) and airborne laser scanning (ALS), each of them having different accuracy, were used. An important part of the analysis was the integration of the two data sources. Through integration, the acquisition of information on areas not covered by the measurement in the presented case, one of the methods was possible for use (e.g. the roofs in case of TLS, or the lack of some of the walls of buildings in case of ALS). Another aspect was to use this data. Measurement of the shape and geometry of objects was executed. Additionally, the planeness analysis of individual elements of port infrastructure has been carried out. An interesting analysis was to determine the water level, based on relation to specific characteristics of the light reflectance.
Using smartphones in the evaluation of spinal curvatures in a sagittal plane
Authors: Waś Jakub , Sitarski Dominik , Ewertowska Paulina , Bloda Justyna , Czaprowski Dariusz
Published: June 2017

Introduction: In physiotherapeutic diagnostic processes, various tools and methods may be used. However, price and availability may limit their daily use in clinical practice. Therefore, the suggestion that smartphones with specific applications may be useful as diagnostic tools can be found in the literature. However, before using them in clinical practice, it is important to verify their reliability. The aim of the study was to evaluate the consistency of measurements of the curvatures in the sagittal plane performed with the Saunders digital inclinometer and a smartphone application.

Materials and methods: The study included 40 subjects aged 22-39 years (23.0 ± 3.7). All subjects had sagittal spinal curvatures (sacral slope - SS, lumbar lordosis - L, thoracic kyphosis - K, upper thoracic kyphosis - K1, lower thoracic kyphosis - K2) measured in both standing and sitting positions with the Saunders digital inclinometer and a smartphone application.

Results: In measurements performed with the use of the Saunders inclinometer and the smartphone, no significant differences were found between the size of the curvatures of the spine in a standing position (SS 19° ±8.2 vs. 17° ±8.4 p=0.3; L 32° ±11.1 vs. 29° ±10.3 p=0.2; K 43° ±8.4 vs. 41° ±8.1 p=0.2; K1 31° ±7.2 vs. 29.0° ±7.3; K2 11o ±7.4 vs. 11.0° ±6.7) and a sitting position (SS 3.75° ±8.9° p=0.8; L 5.8° ±9.06 vs. 5.2° ±8.5 p=0.75; K 40.0° ±8.1 vs. 36.7° ±7.9 p=0.6; K1 25.8° ±7.1 vs. 24.9° ±7.1; K2 14.5° ±9.9 vs. 11.5° ±9.4).

Conclusions: The examination of spinal curvatures in the sagittal plane using Saunders digital inclinometer and a smartphone application allows researchers to obtain reliable results. Therefore, smartphones can be used for an objective evaluation of the musculoskeletal system in daily clinical practice.
Cultural Differences as the Core of the Ecumenical Issue: Relations between Language and Denomination
Authors: Danilovich Yauheniya
Published: June 2017

Language is an essential and defining feature of denomination and also its important medium in many ways. The relationship between language and denomination can be thought of in several categories. In the essay some of these categories are named and explained. Further ecumenical perspectives, which can be developed from the relationship between language and denomination, are demonstrated.
Missio Dei – the contemporary missionary paradigm and its reception in the Eastern Orthodox missionary theology
Authors: Sonea Cristian
Published: June 2017

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the reception of the missio Dei paradigm in the Eastern Orthodox theology of mission. We will start with a short presentation of the genesis of the concept, and we will continue with its reception in the Protestant and Roman Catholic theology, as well as in the Eastern Orthodox thinking. The paper attempts to demonstrate that the contemporary way to understand the missionary theology and practice is in accordance with the Orthodox traditional missionary theology. At the same time, the article emphasizes the fact that the reception of missio Dei is connected with the view that different ecclesiastical bodies have about church itself. The conclusion includes some practical remarks about ways of applying the concept in the contemporary ecumenical missiology and in the field of spiritual missiology.
The Significance of Bond-based Attachments for Ecumenical Approachment
Authors: Oancea Dorin Zosim
Published: June 2017

Cultural differences between Christian denominations, or even among members of one and the same denomination, are able to undermine their ecumenical efforts, to foster differences and tensions, instead of overcoming them. An example in this respect is the hostility with which some of the Orthodox met the Document on Ecumenism of the 2016 Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox in Crete. Why is it so? There are several ways to explain these developments. We try to find an explanation in early bondings, as understood through different attachment theories. We do this by asking three questions: Which is the general importance of bondings? Which is their significance for the Christian understanding of a person? Can they be regarded as an advantage or a disadvantage during the ecumenical becoming of a certain confessional identity?
No counts, no variance: allowing for loss of degrees of freedom when assessing biological variability from RNA-seq data
Authors: Lun Aaron T. L. , Smyth Gordon K.
Published: June 2017

RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) is widely used to study gene expression changes associated with treatments or biological conditions. Many popular methods for detecting differential expression (DE) from RNA-seq data use generalized linear models (GLMs) fitted to the read counts across independent replicate samples for each gene. This article shows that the standard formula for the residual degrees of freedom (d.f.) in a linear model is overstated when the model contains fitted values that are exactly zero. Such fitted values occur whenever all the counts in a treatment group are zero as well as in more complex models such as those involving paired comparisons. This misspecification results in underestimation of the genewise variances and loss of type I error control. This article proposes a formula for the reduced residual d.f. that restores error control in simulated RNA-seq data and improves detection of DE genes in a real data analysis. The new approach is implemented in the quasi-likelihood framework of the edgeR software package. The results of this article also apply to RNA-seq analyses that apply linear models to log-transformed counts, such as those in the limma software package, and more generally to any count-based GLM where exactly zero fitted values are possible.
Angels, warriors, and beacons: Totemic law, territorial coding, and monumental sculpture in post-industrial landscapes
Authors: Lippens Ronnie
Published: June 2017

National or local authorities regularly commission artists to build or construct sculptures and artworks destined for a place in a public space. Some of those sculptures and artworks are monumentally huge. Positioned in the open landscape, they are visible from a considerable distance. This contribution focuses on three such sculptures in the United Kingdom. The first, “Angel of the North,” was completed in 1998 and is standing at Gateshead in the North East of England. The second, “Anglo Saxon Warrior,” has not yet been built to a massive scale – although smaller, life-size versions were – but some debate has taken place in Stoke-on-Trent in North Staffordshire in the West Midlands about the possibility and remote likelihood of its construction. The third, “Golden,” is, however, at the time of writing, in the process of being assembled with an eye on erecting it, in 2014, at the very same location, Stoke-on-Trent. Proposals for all aforementioned artworks emerged against the backdrop of regional de-industrialization and were, at least partly, devised as an answer to economic and social deprivation in both regional localities. In this contribution an effort is made to tease out the symbolic intricacies embedded in all three artworks. Although all include references to what could be called the eternal origins of a mythical common law universe, each suggests, projects, and attempts to encode a moral and legal order in quite distinctly different ways.
Saussure et la science du langage
Authors: Caputo Cosimo
Published: June 2017

Après l’épisode philologique et la découverte de nouveaux manuscrits, la figure et l’œuvre de Ferdinand de Saussure apparaissent beaucoup plus riches et complexes. Le Saussure d’aujourd’hui “se détache,” se retire de ce qu’il lui est arrivé, malgré lui, de devenir: le chef de file d’une linguistique forte, centrée exclusivement sur la langue, ou sur le système. Aujourd’hui son penser revient interroger la sémiolinguistique de même qu’il le fit en son temps avec la linguistique comparée. “Sciencesdu langage”: c’est la définition employée par le linguiste suisse lui-même qui saisit l’esprit scientifique saussurien mieux que “linguistique générale,” cette dernière conduisant plutôt vers un abandon tacite des langues réelles, de leur différence et de leur mobilité. Une critique avant la lettre de la majeure partie du Structuralisme se réclamant précisément de Saussure.
The Efficiency of an Active Generator in the Case of a Deep Foundation Location
Authors: Herbut Aneta
Published: June 2017

This paper presents a concept for vibration-mitigation techniques with the potential to reduce ground vibration amplitudes by applying an additional vibration source. The idea of an additional generator is verified in the case of an impact load for the points located on the ground surface and below it. Equations of motion for the damped transversally isotropic ground model with the absorbing boundary conditions are presented and numerically integrated using FlexPDE software, based on the finite element method. The efficiency of the solution is analyzed in terms of reducing the vertical and horizontal components. Results are presented in the form of a dimensionless amplitude reduction factor. In each case being analyzed, a vibration mitigation effect in a three-story building was achieved.
Stress-Dilatancy for Soils. Part IV: Experimental Validation for Simple Shear Conditions
Authors: Szypcio Zenon
Published: June 2017

This paper validates the frictional state theory using published experimental data from simple, direct and ring shear tests. Simple shear is treated as a special case of plane strain conditions. In order to define complete stress and strain, additional assumptions are made: in the direct shear and ring shear tests, simple shear is assumed to occur in the shear band. For Φo = Φ′cv = Φ′r, the stress-dilatancy relationship obtained from the frictional state theory is similar to the relationships proposed by Taylor and Bolton. Further experiments, especially those that use a hollow cylindrical shear apparatus, are necessary to fully validate the frictional state theory in simple shear conditions.
The grain size distribution of settled sediment within storage reservoir Otmuchów
Authors: Głowski Robert , Kasperek Robert
Published: June 2017

The grain size distribution of settled sediment within storage reservoir Otmuchów. The river Nysa Kłodzka is flowing through the flat-reduction Otmuchów. There are localized two storage reservoirs Otmuchów and Nysa. The first of these reservoirs have been constructed in the period 1928-1933 and the filling was completed in 1934. Reservoir Nysa was completed in 1971. Both reservoirs are located within walking distance of each other, creating since 1971 cascade. Reservoir Otmuchów is located above the Nysa reservoir what cause, that in the bowl of the Otmuchów reservoir, the significant part of transported by Nysa Kłodzka sediments is deposited. When established after the 1997 flood damming levels, summer and winter, the length of the reservoir Otmuchów is suitably from 4.5 to 5 km. At the maximum impoundment level and a maximal capacity of 130.45 million m3 the reservoir length reach approx. 7 km. From the analysis of the satellite image can be seen advancing silting of the reservoir Otmuchów especially in the estuary zone of the Nysa Kłodzka. Obtained archival data about changes of the sediment grain size distribution in the longitudinal reservoir profile cover only the region of the still capacity extending a distance of 3 km from the cross-section of the dam. In this zone the fine particles of the suspended load with characteristic diameters ranging from 0.030 to 0.088 mm were embedded. In 2010, the authors presented the results of preliminary analysis of the silting process of the reservoir Otmuchów. The authors pointed out that there is a lack of the data about the dimension of the particles embedded in the usable capacity and flood capacity reserve (above 3 km from the dam) causing visible on satellite photo silting. This paper presents the results of the sediment grain size distribution in the usable capacity of the reservoir and in the estuary region of the Nysa Kłodzka located in flood capacity reserve, obtained from the sediment samples analysis. Obtained results allowed to supplement the image of the particle size distribution of the sediment being deposited in the reservoir Otmuchów longitudinal profile and an evaluation of the parameters of mobility rubble with fixed diameters.
Roughness parameters as the elements of surface condition and deformation assessment based on the results of TLS scanning
Authors: Kowalska Maria E. , Zaczek-Peplinska Janina
Published: June 2017

Roughness parameters as the elements of surface condition and deformation assessment based on the results of TLS scanning. Roughness is the attribute of a surface that can be defined as a collection of small surface unevennesses that can be identified optically or detected mechanically which do not result from the surface’s shape and their size depends on a material type as well as on undergone processing. The most often utilised roughness parameters are: Ra - mean distance value of the points on the observed profile from the average line on the sampling length, and Rz - difference between arithmetic mean height of the five highest peaks and arithmetic mean depth of the five deepest valleys regarding to the average line on the length of the measured fragment. In practice, roughness parameters are most often defined for surface elements that require relevant manufacturing or processing through grinding, founding or polishing in order to provide the expected surface roughness. To measure those parameters for the produced elements profilometers are used. In this paper the authors present an alternative approach of determining and utilising such parameters. Instead of the utilising methods based on sampling length measurement, roughness parameters are determined on the basis of point clouds, that represent a surface of rough concrete, obtained through terrestrial laser scanning. The authors suggest using the surface roughness parameter data acquired in this way as a supplementary data in the condition assessment (erosion rate) of surfaces being a part of engineering constructions made of concrete.
Conditionals in Interaction
Authors: Trafford James
Published: June 2017

There are several issues with the standard approach to the relationship between conditionals and assertions, particularly when the antecedent of a conditional is (or may be) false. One prominent alternative is to say that conditionals do not express propositions, but rather make conditional assertions that may generate categorical assertions of the consequent in certain circumstances. However, this view has consequences that jar with standard interpretations of the relationship between proofs and assertion. Here, I analyse this relationship, and say that, on at least one understanding of proof, conditional assertions may reflect the dynamics of proving, which (sometimes) generate categorical assertions. In particular, when we think about the relationship between assertion and proof as rooted in a dialogical approach to both, the distinction between conditional and categorical assertions is quite natural.
The role of attitudes to, and the frequency of, domestic violence encounters in the healthcare professionals’ handling of domestic violence cases
Authors: Zorjan Saša , Smrke Urška , Šprah Lilijana
Published: June 2017

Background

Domestic violence is recognized as a public health problem with a high prevalence in the general population. Healthcare professionals play an important role in the recognition and treatment of domestic violence. Hence, conducting research on factors that facilitate or inhibit appropriate actions by healthcare professionals is of the upmost importance. The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between healthcare professionals’ attitudes toward the acceptability of domestic violence and their responses when dealing with victims of domestic violence.

Methods

The sample consisted of 322 healthcare professionals (physicians, dentists, nursing staff and other healthcare workers; 85.2% female), who completed a questionnaire, assessing their attitudes towards domestic violence, experience, behaviour and perceived barriers in recognizing and treating domestic violence in the health care sector. The study was cross-sectional and used availability sampling.

Results

The results showed no significant differences in domestic violence acceptability attitudes when comparing groups of healthcare professionals who reported low or high frequency of domestic violence cases encounters. Furthermore, we found that domestic violence acceptability attitudes were negatively associated with action taking when the frequency of encounters with domestic violence cases was high and medium. However, the attitudes were not associated with action taking when the frequency of encounters with domestic violence cases was low.

Conclusions

The results highlight the important role of attitudes in action taking of healthcare professionals when it comes to domestic violence. This indicates the need for educational interventions that specifically target healthcare professionals’ attitudes towards domestic violence.
Being an Author: Literary Identities of Work in the Contemporary German Literary Field
Authors: Amlinger Carolin
Published: June 2017

This article considers the normative conceptions and images that contemporary German fiction authors associate with their own work. On the basis of twenty narrative interviews, the article examines the extent to which the different self-reflections of authors manifest themselves in subjective interpretations and literary practices, which in turn reflect the economic and social structure of the literary field. This study aims at an empirical reconstruction of typical notions of authorship.
Nikolai Leskov’s national economies: An investigation of work and commerce
Authors: Zink Andrea
Published: June 2017

Economic and national questions often go hand in hand in Leskov’s work, and their combination makes one of the author’s strategies particularly apparent: In the economic actions of his characters, he takes the rivalry of the nations to the point of absurdity. But work and economics, commerce and craftsmanship also permeate Leskov’s texts from within: Writing itself is an economic proposition. The paper presents Leskov’s narrative economies with particular reference to his storiesSkaz o Tul’skom kosom Levshe i o stal’noi blokheandZheleznaia volia. Unlike the majority of his contemporaries, Leskov gives prominence to the Russian “third estate” – craftsmen, merchants and small businessmen – yet he also questions the morality of the market, expresses scepticism regarding the burgeoning industrialisation in Russia, and criticises political interference in economic processes.
Das mythologische Bild des Teufels als Pflüger in der slawischen mündlichen Volksliteratur
Authors: Gábor Ľubomír
Published: June 2017

In the presented paper the motive of the devil in the folk narrative literature of the west Slavic regions will be analysed. The text corpus consists of orally handed down folk tales. In these sources the devil is presented as a contradictory demonic creature, who signs an agreement on the division of spheres of power. This agreement will be confirmed with magical ploughing as a cosmogonic act. In the paper will also be submitted a hypothesis about the functional similarity of the folk tales devil with the old Slavic mythological system based on old Indo-European sources. The paper attempts to prove, that the cosmogonic act of the devil in the folk tales could be connected with aspects of the Indo-European first functional duality of the Gods-Sovereigns Mitra-Varuna based on description and analysis of Georges Dumézil.
The Representativity of Election Polls
Authors: Bethlehem Jelke
Published: June 2017

Election polls are conducted in many countries during election campaigns. Provided such polls are set up and carried out correctly, they can give an accurate indication of the voting intentions of people. However, the last couple of years these polls seem to be less able to predict election results. Examples are the polls for the general election in the UK of 2015, the Brexit referendum in the UK, and the presidential election in the US of 2016. The polls in the UK and the US have all in common that they are either telephone polls or online polls. It is shown in this paper that both type of polls suffer from lack of representativity. The compositions of their samples differ from that of the population. This can have several causes. For telephone polls, problems are mainly caused by increasing nonresponse rates, and lack of proper sampling frames. Most online polls are based on samples from web panels that are recruited by means of self-selection instead of random samples. Such web panels also not representative. The paper analyses the shortcomings of these election polls. The problems are illustrated by describing the polls in the UK and the US in some more detail.
A Demographic Peace? Youth Bulges and Other Population-Related Causes of Domestic Conflict
Authors: Wagschal Uwe , Metz Thomas
Published: June 2017

The following article analyzes violent political conflicts. Starting from theoretical debates on the determinants of violent conflicts, it focuses on intrastate conflicts. The main explanatory factors which are analyzed from different perspectives are demographic factors. Not only the size of the population or the population density is relevant, but also the so-called youth bulge. Youth bulges, i.e. large cohorts of young people, are the main driving forces of war. Especially variants like male youth bulges are highly significant in the empirical analysis. The article uses different data sets for the analysis, like the Global Peace Index and the CONIS data. Various statistical methods are used in the analysis. The article also draws attention to intervening factors, which might intensify or lessen the impact of the youth bulge.
Evaluation of H-800/FUS-100 automatic urine analyzer performance
Authors: Ercan Müjgan , Oğuz Esra Fırat , Kaya Oğuzhan , Yılmaz Fatma Meriç
Published: June 2017

Objective

Automated urine analysis is usually preferred for laboratories with intensive workload. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the automated urine analyser H-800/FUS-100 and detect the error sources.

Materials and methods

One thousand four hundred fifty nine fresh urine samples were analyzed with H-800/FUS-100 automated systems. The urine sediment of the samples with discrepant strip and microscopy results were confirmed by manual microscopy. Precision and carry over studies were performed.

Results

The discrepancy is detected in a ratio of 5.89% between chemical analysis (H-800) and microscopic analysis (FUS-100) of the device. A total of 86 discrepant samples were detected. Fifty six of 86 were erythrocyte discrepancies (65.1%) and 30 of 86 were leukocyte discrepancies (34.9%). The results of carry over analysis for erythrocyte and leukocyte were 21.85% and 13.64%, respectively.

Conclusions

Sixteen (1.09%) of 1459 patients’ results in FUS-100 were discrepant with manual microscopy. Commonly, yeasts and crystals affected erythrocyte counts and calcium oxalate and amorphous crystals affected the leukocyte counts. Images should be reviewed for every sample when automated systems are used for urine analysis. Especially if discrepancy is detected between chemical and microscobic analysis, the results should also be confirmed with manual microscopy.
Measure constructions with relative measures: Towards a syntax of non-conservative construals
Authors: Ahn Dorothy , Sauerland Uli
Published: June 2017

Relative measures such aspercentandthirdsrelate one quantity to another. We observe that, in several languages, determiner phrases containing relative measures can express two distinct construals: (1) The ‘conservative’ construal inThe company hired 75 % of the womenconsiders the ratio of the company’s female hires to all women. (2) The ‘non-conservative construal’ inThe company hired 75 % womenis instead concerned with the ratio of the company’s female hires to all the company’s hires. We show that other languages that distinguish the two construals using morphosyntactic means include German, Korean, Georgian, Greek, French, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Romanian. We argue that the non-conservative construal involves a different constituency of the measure construction. Both construals, however, derive from a structure where the measure structure forms a single DP. Therefore, our analysis of the non-conservative structures makes an argument that the Conservativity Universal may apply at an abstract level of structure rather than at the surface level.