bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deciphering the “Collagen code” in tumor progression
Authors: Gupta Archana Anshuman , Kheur Supriya , Palaskar Sangeeta J. , Narang Bindiya R.
Published: May 2019

Invasion and metastasis are the fundamental properties of tumor biology and the root causes of cancer death. With the elucidation of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, it has been postulated that cancer is a disease of imbalance. It is not merely a disease of tumor cells but also the body's mismanagement of those tumor cells. Tumor microenvironment plays an important role in tumor progression via the co-evolution of tumor cells and tumor stroma. Hence, exploring the complex mechanisms of tumor progression from perspectives of tumor stroma has become a new frontier. The major component of tumor stroma, the extracellular matrix (ECM), acts as a key regulator of cell and tissue function. Conventionally, the role of ECM was considered primarily as a physical scaffold that binds cells and tissues together. However, recent studies revealed the biochemical and biophysical signaling properties of the ECM as well that affect cell adhesion and migration, tissue morphogenesis and repair, and angiogenesis and cancer. The most abundant constituent of ECM, collagen, accounts for the major function of ECM, which can be associated with increased malignancy. The present review summarizes the dynamic interplay between collagen and tumor cells. It focuses on changes in physicochemical-biological properties of collagen. A new paradigm has been formulated that collagen can no more be considered playing a passive role over which tumor progression and metastasis takes place. Rather, its active role in the promotion of tumor progression and metastasis should be explored.
Neuroendocrine carcinoma of prostate presenting with ascites
Authors: Sagar Nishant , Kushwaha Pritika , Mallya Varuna , Jain Shyama , Khurana Nita , Hadke N.S
Published: May 2019

Prostate cancer is a very common cause of morbidity and mortality in India. The commonest type of prostate carcinoma is adenocarcinoma, most of them are confined to prostate at the time of presentation. Bone is the preferred site for metastasis. The following is a case of neuroendocrine carcinoma of prostate arising in a 36 years old male who presented with ascitis and jaundice to the emergency department. The ascitic tap was positive for malignant cells. CECT done to detect primary showed osteoblastic secondaries in the spine along with lesions in the liver. DRE revealed grade 2 prostatomegaly. A TRUS guided biopsy showed neuroendocrine carcinoma of the prostate. Neuroendocrine carcinoma is a very rare type of prostatic carcinoma, with presentation of the same as ascitis is very uncommon. The following case is presented due to its rarity.
Bronchiolitis Obliterans after Combination Immunotherapy with Pembrolizumab and Ipilimumab
Authors: Balagani Amulya , Arain Muhammad H , Sheshadri Ajay
Published: May 2019

Checkpoint inhibitor therapies are members of a new, groundbreaking class of drugs that reinvigorate the immune system to directly attack tumors. A rare side effect of checkpoint inhibitor therapy is pneumonitis, which typically presents as an interstitial lung disease. In this case report, we present a patient in whom combination therapy with the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab and the CTLA-4 inhibitor ipilimumab induced severe airflow obstruction. This is the first report that shows that checkpoint inhibitors may induce airflow limitation.
Pneumonitis After Precision Oncology Therapies: A Concise Review
Authors: Jain Akash , Shannon Vickie R. , Sheshadri Ajay
Published: May 2019

With greater understanding of the molecular biology of cancer, precision oncology therapies are becoming increasingly prevalent. Adverse events associated with these therapies may cause significant harm to patients if not promptly recognized and treated. In this review, we focus on pneumonitis that occurs as a side effect of treatment with precision oncology agents. We discuss the incidence and time to onset of pneumonitis associated with a broad array of precision oncology agents. We highlight the common patterns of pneumonitis and offer a comprehensive approach to evaluation and treatment with therapy-specific guidelines where available.
On Some Generalized Rapoport–Zink Spaces
Authors: Shen Xu
Published: May 2019

We enlarge the class of Rapoport–Zink spaces of Hodge type by modifying the centers of the associated $p$-adic reductive groups. Such obtained Rapoport–Zink spaces are said to be of abelian type. The class of Rapoport–Zink spaces of abelian type is strictly larger than the class of Rapoport–Zink spaces of Hodge type, but the two type spaces are closely related as having isomorphic connected components. The rigid analytic generic fibers of Rapoport–Zink spaces of abelian type can be viewed as moduli spaces of local $G$-shtukas in mixed characteristic in the sense of Scholze.

We prove that Shimura varieties of abelian type can be uniformized by the associated Rapoport–Zink spaces of abelian type. We construct and study the Ekedahl–Oort stratifications for the special fibers of Rapoport–Zink spaces of abelian type. As an application, we deduce a Rapoport–Zink type uniformization for the supersingular locus of the moduli space of polarized K3 surfaces in mixed characteristic. Moreover, we show that the Artin invariants of supersingular K3 surfaces are related to some purely local invariants.
Associations between genetic variants of the POU1F1 gene and production traits in Saanen goats
Authors: Işık Raziye , Bilgen Güldehen
Published: May 2019

Abstract. This study was conducted to determine the polymorphisms of the
POU1F1 gene and their relationships with milk yield and components,
litter size, birth weight, and weaning weight in goats. For this purpose, a
total of 108 Saanen goats from two different farms (Bornova and Manisa) were
used as animal materials. Polymorphisms at the exon 6 and the 3′ flanking
region of the POU1F1 gene were determined by using PCR-RFLP with
PstI and AluI restriction enzymes and DNA sequencing analyses.
Two alleles and three genotypes were identified by AluI or
PstI digestions of the POU1F1 gene. The genotypes frequencies of TT, TC, and
CC were 64.8 %, 31.5 % and 3.7 % for the PstI
locus; 54.6 %, 31.5 % and 13.9 % for the AluI locus,
respectively. T allele frequencies (0.56 and 0.88 for the AluI locus, 0.80
and 0.81 for the PstI locus, respectively) were predominant in both loci
at the Bornova and Manisa farms. In terms of POU1F1-AluI
and POU1F1-PstI loci, two populations were found to be in
Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. In the POU1F1-AluI locus,
significant associations were found between genotypes and lactation milk
yield and litter size. Similarly, a significant relationship between genotypes and birth weight in the POU1F1-PstI
locus (p<0.05) was determined. The TC and CC genotypes were observed to be higher than the TT
genotype for lactation milk yield and litter size at the
POU1F1-AluI locus. Birth weight was found to be higher in
animals that have the CC genotype at the POU1F1-PstI locus. In
conclusion, the POU1F1 gene can be used as a molecular marker for
economic features like reproduction, growth, milk content and yield in Saanen
goats.
Dynamic and timing properties of new aerosol particle formation and consecutive growth events
Authors: Salma Imre , Németh Zoltán
Published: May 2019

Abstract. Dynamic properties, i.e.
particle formation rate J6 and particle diameter growth rate GR10,
and timing properties, i.e. starting time (t1) and duration time
interval (Δt) of 247 quantifiable atmospheric new aerosol particle formation (NPF) and growth events
identified in the city centre and near-city background of Budapest over 6
full measurement years, together with related gas-phase H2SO4
proxy, condensation sink (CS) of vapours, basic meteorological data and
concentrations of criteria pollutant gases were derived, evaluated, discussed
and interpreted. In the city centre, nucleation ordinarily starts at
09:15 UTC + 1, and it is maintained for approximately 3 h. The NPF and
growth events produce 4.6 aerosol particles with a diameter of 6 nm in
1 cm3 of air in 1 s and cause the particles with a diameter of 10 nm
to grow at a typical rate of 7.3 nm h−1. Nucleation starts
approximately 1 h earlier in the near-city background, and it shows
substantially smaller J6 (with a median of 2.0 cm−3 s−1) and
GR10 values (with a median of 5.0 nm h−1), while the duration of
nucleation is similar to that in the centre. Monthly distributions of the
dynamic properties and daily maximum H2SO4 proxy do not follow
the mean monthly pattern of the event occurrence frequency. The factors that
control the event occurrence and that govern the intensity of particle
formation and growth are not directly linked. New particle formation and
growth processes advance in a different manner in the city and its close
environment. This could likely be related to diversities in atmospheric
composition, chemistry and physics. Monthly distributions and relationships
among the properties mentioned provided indirect evidence that chemical
species other than H2SO4 largely influence the particle growth
and possibly atmospheric NPF process as well. The J6, GR10 and
Δt can be described by a log-normal distribution function. Most extreme
dynamic properties could not be explained by available single or compound
variables. Approximately 40 % of the NPF and growth events exhibited
broad beginning, which can be an urban feature. For doublets, the later onset
frequently shows more intensive particle formation and growth than the first
onset by a typical factor of approximately 1.5. The first event is attributed
to a regional type, while the second event, superimposed on the first, is often
associated with subregional, thus urban NPF and growth processes.
Water-level attenuation in global-scale assessments of exposure to coastal flooding: a sensitivity analysis
Authors: Vafeidis Athanasios T. , Schuerch Mark , Wolff Claudia , Spencer Tom , Merkens Jan L. , Hinkel Jochen , Lincke Daniel , Brown Sally , Nicholls Robert J.
Published: May 2019

Abstract. This study explores the uncertainty introduced in
global assessments of coastal flood exposure and risk when not accounting for
water-level attenuation due to land-surface characteristics. We implement a
range of plausible water-level attenuation values for characteristic
land-cover classes in the flood module of the Dynamic and Integrated
Vulnerability Assessment (DIVA) modelling framework and assess the
sensitivity of flood exposure and flood risk indicators to differences in
attenuation rates. Results show a reduction of up to 44 % in area
exposure and even larger reductions in population exposure and expected flood
damages when considering water-level attenuation. The reductions vary by
country, reflecting the differences in the physical characteristics of the
floodplain as well as in the spatial distribution of people and assets in
coastal regions. We find that uncertainties related to not accounting for
water attenuation in global assessments of flood risk are of similar
magnitude to the uncertainties related to the amount of sea-level rise
expected over the 21st century. Despite using simplified assumptions to
account for the process of water-level attenuation, which depends on numerous
factors and their complex interactions, our results strongly suggest that an
improved understanding and representation of the temporal and spatial
variation of water levels across floodplains is essential for future impact
modelling.
Transformative Welfare Reform in Consensus Democracies
Authors: Hemerijck Anton , van Kersbergen Kees
Published: May 2019

Transformative welfare reform in consensus democracies

This article takes up Lijphart’s claim that consensus democracy is a ‘kinder, gentler’ form of democracy than majoritarian democracy. We zoom in on contemporary welfare state change, particularly the shift towards social investment, and argue that the kinder, gentler hypothesis remains relevant. Consensus democracies stand out in regard to the extent to which their political institutions help to overcome the politically delicate intricacies of governing for the long term. We theorize the features that can help to solve the problem of temporal commitment in democracy through processual mechanisms and illustrate these with short case studies of the contrasting welfare state reform experiences in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Het mededingingsrechtelijke speelveld bij bestuursakkoorden
Authors: van Midden G.J.
Published: May 2019

Het mededingingsrechtelijke speelveld bij bestuursakkoorden

Afspraken die overheden en ondernemingen in bestuursakkoorden maken kunnen in strijd komen met de (Europese) mededingingsregels. Daarbij lopen niet alleen de ondernemingen een risico, ook overheden riskeren het verwijt tot mededingingsbeperkende gedragingen ‘aan te zetten’ en daarmee de nuttige werking van de mededingingsregels in gevaar te brengen. In een recent wetsvoorstel heeft de regering een wettelijk systeem voorgesteld, waarmee duurzaamheidsinitiatieven van de mededingingsregels kunnen worden uitgezonderd. Dit wetsvoorstel lijkt ook interessant voor bestuursakkoorden. Het is echter onzeker of deze wet in lijn is met het Europese recht. Alternatieven, waaronder de leer van de inherente beperkingen, zijn denkbaar. Zekerheid hierover zal echter van de Commissie of het Hof van Justitie moeten komen.
“Eles ficam loucos com nós”: as lógicas de corpo e gênero em adolescentes exploradas sexualmente
Authors: Serpa Monise
Published: May 2019

Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar como as questões de corpo e gênero foram vivenciadas por adolescentes do sexo feminino envolvidas com a exploração sexual nas suas experiências cotidianas. Analisaram-se os processos de erotização do corpo infantojuvenil e os seus efeitos na constituição da feminilidade, assim como as lógicas de valorização e controle da sexualidade das adolescentes estudadas. Participaram três adolescentes do sexo feminino, envolvidas com a exploração sexual e com idades entre 13 e 17 anos. Foram empregadas atividades em grupo com materiais lúdicos e um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturado. Os resultados apontaram que a sensualidade e a virgindade apareceram como uma forma de afirmação da feminilidade das interlocutoras, tanto para o seu empoderamento como para sua vulnerabilidade perante a sociedade. Observa-se a importância de estratégias que permitam às adolescentes estabelecerem comportamentos mais autônomos na manifestação da sua sexualidade, pautados em uma lógica que as considere como sujeitos de direitos.
O perigo da infância: uma armadilha para pegar adultos?
Authors: Rosa Márcia
Published: May 2019

Depois de apresentar as formulações de Michel Foucault em Os Anormais, destacando a presença do monstro judiciário, do pequeno masturbador e da criança indisciplinada na gênese da noção de anormal, e mostrando como a psiquiatria deixa de operar como uma terapêutica para exercer uma função disciplinar, a autora recorre à psicanálise de Freud e Lacan para diferenciar a criança foucaultiana e a criança freudiana, bem como a responsabilização jurídica e a responsabilização subjetiva. Para marcar os pontos de conjunção e disjunção entre Foucault e a psicanálise, o artigo faz uma apresentação e discussão teórica do tema em questão. Finaliza ao concluir que, a ter de escolher entre os dois discursos, fica com os dois, já que Foucault nos é importantíssimo para a discussão da luta antimanicomial e para uma reflexão crítica sobre questões ligadas à saúde mental, enquanto a psicanálise é indispensável como clínica.
A vacinação do HPV e o sintoma: aproximações entre Foucault e a psicanálise
Authors: Fialho Ana Luísa Lana Pinto , Marcos Cristina Moreira
Published: May 2019

O texto tem como objetivo promover uma articulação entre a psicanálise e a biopolítica de Foucault, com base em uma pesquisa de mestrado no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia da PUC Minas. Explora dois eixos norteadores da pesquisa: as políticas públicas de vacinação do HPV no Brasil e a teoria psicanalítica. Três pontos principais direcionam a pesquisa: muitas meninas apresentaram sintomas pós-vacina não esperados: paralisias nas pernas, dificuldades de locomoção, desmaios e desmaios coletivos. Mães criaram comunidades virtuais para se manifestar contra a vacina do HPV, provocando uma reação negativa a esta e levando a uma grande queda na adesão à campanha. O andamento da pesquisa nos levou a questionar, por meio da análise do discurso das mães, dos materiais oficiais e de produções das mães nos grupos virtuais, a eficácia das campanhas, fazendo uma leitura baseada em Foucault e na psicanálise. O sintoma parece produzir uma falha no ideal da biopolítica.
A família contemporânea e seus valores: um olhar para a compreensão parental
Authors: Cacciacarro Mariana Filippini , Macedo Rosa Maria Stefanini de
Published: May 2019

Baseada no referencial sistêmico novo paradigmático proposto por Vasconcellos (2003), esta pesquisa teve como objetivo compreender a perspectiva parental quanto à transmissão de valores aos filhos diante do processo de educá-los. Trata-se de um estudo realizado com base em entrevistas com quatro casais casados, com ao menos um filho de idade entre 4 e 6 anos. As entrevistas ocorreram separadamente, com o intuito de captar possíveis diferenças no relacionamento dos pais com as crianças. A análise qualitativa e interpretativa utilizada visou a compreender os significados atribuídos pelos pais aos valores que orientam e sustentam a tarefa educativa, os quais estão intimamente relacionados à subjetividade e, por conta disso, há grande dificuldade dos pais em nomear, com clareza, aqueles que alicerçam suas atitudes e comportamentos. Os participantes afirmam que amor, responsabilidade, compreensão, criatividade e ética permeiam essa tarefa, realçando que o mais difícil é assumir atitudes não autoritárias e pautadas no diálogo.
Modificações comportamentais entre o pré e o pós-operatório de pacientes bariátricos
Authors: Justino Yara Alves Costa , Tatagiba Tainá Moreira Bolelli , Pogian Línea Picolli , Pimentel Felipe De Carvalho
Published: May 2019

Esta pesquisa buscou conhecer as mudanças no comportamento alimentar do paciente bariátrico, analisando a função desse repertório antes e depois da cirurgia. Investigou-se também o processo de avaliação psicológica pré-operatória, o acompanhamento terapêutico realizado nesse contexto bem como a existência ou não de repertórios alternativos ao comportamento alimentar que auxiliem no manejo do pós-cirúrgico. Os dados foram coletados em entrevistas semiestruturadas com 15 pessoas que realizaram a cirurgia. Os resultados indicaram que, antes do procedimento, o alimentar-se era primordialmente mantido por reforço negativo, mas também por reforço positivo. Contudo o relato do pós-cirúrgico mostrou poucas alterações na função desse comportamento bem como a inexistência de repertórios alternativos, indicando probabilidade aumentada de, em longo prazo, de os sujeitos retornarem ao seu padrão nutricional anterior e viverem a reengorda. Em relação à avaliação psicológica e ao acompanhamento terapêutico, verificaram-se esses processos como pouco efetivos entre os procedimentos pré e pós-operatórios.
O Mundo Ibérico e as origens das relações com a África Negra: a expansão ultramarina portuguesa
Authors: Muniz Luciano Borges
Published: May 2019

Este artigo objetiva apresentar outras possibilidades de análise das relações que se estabeleceram entre povos ibéricos e povos africanos no período em que se desenvolveu a chamada Expansão Marítima. Desvinculando o olhar predominante sobre o viés econômico, como tradicionalmente tem ocorrido, a proposta do texto é considerar aspectos culturais, sociais e, principalmente, religiosos para a compreensão dos contatos ocorridos, sobretudo, entre portugueses e africanos da África Negra.
Do Império à República: escrita poética e biografia em Tobias Barreto (1869-1889)
Authors: Passos Aruanã Antonio dos
Published: May 2019

O trabalho analisa a escrita poética de Tobias Barreto (1839-1889) e os traços biográficos presentes em tal escrita. Para tanto, procuramos perceber as inferências entre a escrita e a expressão de sua sensibilidade poética na trajetória intelectual do sergipano. Traçamos um paralelo entre os temas de sua poesia e as possíveis conexões com sua vida privada. Dessa forma, procuramos desvelar uma dimensão de sua biografia que se expressa em sua vida intelectual onde a escrita determina o sentido e a sensibilidade é construída dialogicamente como relação de alteridade consigo mesma.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
Authors: Mangiameli Stelio
Published: May 2019

A ordem européia tem um método intergovernamental doméstico e é essencial examinar o funcionamento interno da União Européia para entender como as relações intergovernamentais são implementadas. Para esta análise, serão investigados alguns casos que podem ser considerados emblemáticos desta parte da ordem européia.
ROTULAGEM DE ORGÂNICOS, DIREITO À INFORMAÇÃO E SEGURANÇA ALIMENTAR
Authors: Efing Antonio Carlos , Gregorio Carolina Luckmeyer
Published: May 2019

Através da definição de conceitos acerca de termos como rotulagem de orgânicos, rotulagem ambiental, segurança alimentar e segurança de alimentos, busca-se apresentar as definições que conferem credibilidade ao alimento orgânico, em especial aquela oferecida pelos rótulos, e qual a influência destes no consumidor interessado no produto orgânico. Com base na dogmática atualizada do Direito Ambiental e do Direito do Consumidor, mediante a metodologia de revisão bibliográfica e análise de documentos, o presente trabalho traz, em um primeiro momento, questões referentes à segurança alimentar e de alimentos, apontando agrotóxicos e transgênicos como elementos que geram efeitos antagônicos ao defendido por esses conceitos. Após, pretende-se conhecer como a rotulagem correta e verdadeira, conforme objetivam as legislações e regulamentações, interfere na construção da confiança e da credibilidade do consumidor com relação a esses produtos. Conclui-se que a confiabilidade nas informações é elemento essencial na promoção do consumo consciente, e, consequentemente, da saúde e da proteção ao meio-ambiente.
LEGITIMAÇÃO DO DIREITO PENAL POR PRINCÍPIOS RECONHECIDOS E INSERIDOS NAS CONSTITUIÇÕES DOS ESTADOS DEMOCRÁTICOS DE DIREITO
Authors: Minahim Maria Auxiliadora
Published: May 2019

O artigo trata dos princípios garantidores do cidadão e de sua liberdade no âmbito do Direito Penal como recurso que pode permitir sua legitimação. Os fundamentos axiológicos do direito penal têm sede constitucional, sendo deduzidos do meta princípio da dignidade humana. Reconhece-se, entretanto que, apesar de estarem abrigados no topo do ordenamento, tais princípios podem ser frustrados por orientações eficientistas, inclusive na esfera processual. No cumprimento de sua missão, os princípios devem atuar conjuntamente, impedindo possíveis brechas que permitam o arbítrio. Propõe-se, também, que não sejam restringidos por pensamentos substancialistas que realçam a justiça material em detrimento da justiça formal.
O SENTIDO DA PENA E A RACIONALIDADE DE SUA APLICAÇÃO NO ESTADO DEMOCRÁTICO DE DIREITO BRASILEIRO
Authors: Bechara Ana Elisa Liberatore S.
Published: May 2019

A convergência entre o sentido da pena e a racionalidade de sua aplicação corresponde a um dos temas mais controvertidos do Direito Penal, porque diz respeito à sua própria essência. Nesse contexto, o Direito Penal não pode servir como instrumento político de justificação de um poder arbitrário, e sim como ferramenta crítica fundamental a serviço dos cidadãos e de sua liberdade.
AS RELAÇÕES POLIAFETIVAS, OMISSÃO REGULATÓRIA E SEUS REFLEXOS JURÍDICOS NAS QUESTÕES DE DIREITO PREVIDENCIÁRIO
Authors: Nunes Danilo Henrique , Lehfeld Lucas Souza
Published: May 2019

O conceito tradicional de família e os modelos familiares embasados pelo Princípio da Monogamia vem cada vez mais perdendo sua validade jurídica, uma vez que é notório que o Direito deve produzir efeitos que conduzam ao bem-estar dos indivíduos e à preservação dos princípios estabelecidos pelo constituinte. As questões envolvendo as relações familiares passaram recentemente por uma série de discussões e pesquisas acerca da possibilidade de reconhecimento das uniões homoafetivas como entidade familiar passam por uma nova perspectiva: o reconhecimento das uniões poliafetivas como entidade familiar. O presente estudo parte das questões envolvendo o novo conceito de família e das relações poliafetivas, apresentando uma omissão regulatória generalizada acerca de tal tema, que implica em uma série de reflexos acerca dos Direitos e Deveres das pessoas que se encontram em relacionamentos compostos por três pessoas ou mais, dando ênfase para tais reflexos no âmbito previdenciário, a partir do método hipotético-dedutivo. Serão contrapostos achados na doutrina jurídica e na jurisprudência brasileira, bem como em questões encontradas em periódicos relacionadas ao tema, uma vez que o tema em questão vem tão somente recentemente ocupando estudiosos e pesquisadores do tema, sendo necessária a produção de novas conclusões nesse sentido.
REFORMA TRABALHISTA BRASILEIRA E O SUPREMO TRIBUNAL FEDERAL : AS ESCOLHAS TRÁGICAS?
Authors: Coutinho Aldacy Rachid
Published: May 2019

O artigo analisa a reforma trabalhista brasileira de 2017 como uma escolha trágica que testemunha o domínio de uma racionalidade econômica da eficiência nas leis e nas decisões da mais alta Corte. Neste sentido, o Supremo Tribunal Federal vem sustentando a ideia de um novo modelo de Estado que se afasta do Welfare State para adotar uma forma de gestão mais flexível para a administração pública, o que se coaduna com a nova perspectiva regulatória do mercado de trabalho.
Behördliche Öffentlichkeitsarbeit im Recht
Authors: Landwers Anne-Sophie
Published: May 2019

Administrative public relations work is subject to constant change as a result of advances in communication and information media. Additionally, it is continuously growing more diverse and gaining importance in the vast variety of administrative areas where public relations are implemented. The specific prerequisites for the legality of official information work are still unclear and disputed.
This thesis examines the tension that arises from public administration announcements and provides guidelines on how to resolve the conflict of interests between the public’s interest in receiving information, the effectiveness of administration and the fundamental rights of natural persons and legal entities. The aim of this analysis is to study the legal admissibility of administrative informational activity, its possibilities and its restrictions using the examples of Germany’s Federal Trade Commission and Federal Financial Supervisory Authority.
Using Maps to Bridge the Socio-technical Gap: A Practitioner’s Experience Report
Authors: Mauri Paola
Published: May 2019

In my projects, devoted to the implementation of management systems, it is necessary to take into account several social and technical features and link and merge social and technical environments. To bridge the gap between these environments, maps and mapping are a useful support. In this article these topics are presented through a cluster of projects I developed in large sized companies, where exploring the context is difficult and time consuming and the relationships are structured as a complex network. I focus on the maps that describe relationships between organizational structures and IT technologies; and describe in detail two cases: a success and a failure of my socio-technical approach. The lessons learned are presented and proposed as a reflection on the socio-technical perspective.
A BALANCED SCORECARD ANALYSIS OF PERFORMANCE METRICS IN PROFIT ORGANIZATION
Authors: Pravdić Predrag , Kučinar Rada
Published: May 2019

Management processes directed primarily to the user and thus improve theefficiency and effectiveness of operations in exceeding user demands andexpectations. So that organizations realize the benefits on all levels, as compared withexternal partners and business environment, as well as internally within theorganization. But in practice, systems for managing corporate change often point tothe shortcomings and lack of commitment at the level of corporate governance inorder to improve the efficiency of the process. Taking into account the problems theyface at the same company, Balanced Scorecard - BSC stands out as especially suitabletool for the management of corporate change. BSC translates mission and strategy ofthe organization in the comprehensive set of measures that provide a framework forthe implementation of the strategy. But many senior managers recognize that nosingle measurement can provide enough information about the critical areas of thebusiness. Therefore, a balanced set of measurements is needed. Organizations todayuse decentralized business units that focus on intangible knowledge, capabilities, andrelationships created by employees. Some organizations understand that strategy mustbecome a continual and participative process. The change from centralized command,and financial measures that come from past actions can no longer measure theobjectives that need to be addressed. We must measure the strategy and the best toolto do this is balanced scorecard. BSC makes it possible to establish a model in theprofit organization, so that the strategic aspects of the observed set relevant objectivesand include features that will be measured. BSC aims to improve business processesfor a streamlined process can improve product quality to customer satisfaction. Sosatisfied and loyal customer is a guarantee of higher profits. The balanced scorecardcombines an effective measurement system that helps solidify a company’s strategicobjectives with a management system that can help drive change in key areas such asproduct, process, customer, and market development. The measures of the balancedscorecard helps focus a company’s strategic vision, encourages thinking about currentand future success and helps provide a balance between external and internalmeasures. This paper presents BSC modeling of key success factors represented instrategy map of profit organization and how it affects the organization's measurementsystem.
POLOŽAJ DOMAĆINSTAVA U DRUŠVIMA JUŽNO-ISTOČNIH EVROPSKIH ZEMALJA - STRATEGIJA PREŽIVLJAVANJA
Authors: Kumalic Ismet
Published: May 2019

Neuravnotežen ekonomski razvoj nekadašnjih republika, a danas samostalnihdržava, nastalih disoluciom exjugoslavije za posljedicu je imao socijalne tenzije kojesu 1990tih dovele do dramatičnih promjena političkog i ekonomskog sistema.Uslijedio je tranzicijski period i ratni sukobi koji su razorili postojeću ekenomiju, agrađane doveo u težak socio-ekonomski položaj. U nedovršenom tranzicijskomperiodu dolazi do globalne ekonomske krize što usložnjava proces tranzicije iekonomski razvoj. Visoke stope nezaposlenosti, niska socijalna i ekonomska zaštita,siva ekonomija, korupcija i visok nivo stanovništva koji živi ispod linije siromaštva suindikatori o nužnosti iznalaženja novih strategija za preživljavanje pojedinaca idomaćinstava. Provedena istraživanja su pokazala da se ekonomsko stanjedomaćinstava u regionu pogoršalo, a percepcija pogoršanja stanja prelazi jednupetinu. Od posmatranih zemalja u najtežoj situaciji se nalaze domaćinstva u BiH iSrbiji. Na nivou vlada ne postoje razrađene strategije pomoći domaćinstvima uprevazilaženju posljedica ekonomske krize, te su domaćinstva prinuđena da samaiznalaze načine kako da ublaže pad životnog standarda kao posljedicu djelovanjaekonomske krize. Neformalna ekonomija se pojavljuje kao alternativa i strategijapreživljavanja. Koristeći naučne metode deskriptivne statistike i komparativneanalize, analizirani su podaci dobiveni sprovedenom anketom u Sloveniji, Hrvatskoj,Srbiji i BiH. Rezultati analize prezentirani su u ovom radu.
MOGUĆNOSTI PERSPEKTIVNIJEG EKONOMSKOG RAZVOJA REGIONA UNAPREĐENJEM KVALITETA SMEŠTAJNIH KAPACITETA DUNAVSKE BICIKLISTIČKE RUTE
Authors: Vujko Aleksandra , Gajić Tamara , Petrović Marko , Dragosavac Miloš
Published: May 2019

„Dunavska biciklistička ruta“ spaja razičite ljude, različite kulture i tradicije, alimogla bi da pruži i više od toga. Unapređenjem kvaliteta smeštajnih kapaciteta oveRute na deonici Bijelo Brdo (Hrvatska) - Petrovaradin (Srbija), mogla bi se ojačatiprekogranična saradnja između Srbije i Hrvatske koja bi kao posledicu imala direktanuticaj na ekonomiju obe zemlje. To posebno s toga što ovom Rutom prođe hiljadestranih turista-biciklista. Cilj rada je bio da se analizom postojećeg stanja kvalitetaodabranih smeštajnih kapaciteta Rute na pomenutoj relaciji projektuje čitav niz meraza unapređenje ciklo-turizma, a samim tim da se ukažu mogućnosti za produktivnijiekonomski razvoj. Metodologija koja se u radu koristila bili su modigikovaniEuroGites standardi kvaliteta i terensko istraživanje u kome su učestvovali stranituristi-biciklisti iz osam zemalja. Na svom proputovanju Rutom biciklisti su imalizadatak da analiziraju kvalitet smeštajnih kapaciteta Rute na deonici Bijelo Brdo –Petrovaradin, primenom modifikovane EuroGites metode, a potom su se njihoviodgovori koristili za izvođenje zaključaka.
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF MASTITIS THERAPY
Authors: RADINOVIĆ Miodrag , DAVIDOV Ivana , KOVAČEVIĆ Zorana , STOJANOVIĆ Dragica , GALFI Annamaria , ERDELJAN Mihajlo
Published: May 2019

Mastitis is one of the most important health problems in dairy cows. In addition to thehealth aspect and the apparent impact on animal welfare, mastitis is the largest financial cost in dairyfarms due to treatment costs and rejected milk because of the withdrawal period, as well aspermanently reduced milk production or complete lactation interruption in heavy form of mastitis.The procedure and the outcome of the treatment depend on the form of udder inflammation, degreeof tissue alteration, timing of treatment initiation and the application of adequate preparations or theappropriate procedure. The outcome of therapy can be full restitution of parenchyma and its functionor deterioration of the glandular parenchyma and filling with connective tissue. Nowadays, inconditions of intensive milk production, mastitis therapy is only part of a mastitis control programthat puts mastitis prevention at the forefront. In case of clinical mastitis, it is necessary to applytherapy during lactation.
Leptin-a mediates transcription of genes that participate in central endocrine and phosphatidylinositol signaling pathways in 72-hour embryonic zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Tuttle Matthew , Dalman Mark R. , Liu Qin , Londraville Richard L.
Published: May 2019

We analyzed microarray expression data to highlight biological pathways that respond to embryonic zebrafish Leptin-a (lepa) signaling. Microarray expression measures for 26,046 genes were evaluated fromlepamorpholino oligonucleotide “knockdown”, recombinant Leptin-a “rescue”, and uninjected control zebrafish at 72-hours post fertilization. In addition to KEGG pathway enrichment for phosphatidylinositol signaling and neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, Gene Ontology (GO) data fromleparescue zebrafish include JAK/STAT cascade, sensory perception, nervous system processes, and synaptic signaling. In the zebrafishleparescue treatment, we found changes in the expression of homologous genes that align with mammalian leptin signaling cascades including AMPK (prkaa2), ACC (acacb), Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase (camkk2), PI3K (pik3r1), Ser/Thr protein kinase B (akt3), neuropeptides (agrp2,cart1), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and insulin receptor substrate (LOC794738,LOC100537326). Notch signaling pathway and ribosome biogenesis genes respond to knockdown of Leptin-a. Differentially expressed transcription factors inlepaknockdown zebrafish regulate neurogenesis, neural differentiation, and cell fate commitment. This study presents a role for zebrafish Leptin-a in influencing expression of genes that mediate phosphatidylinositol and central endocrine signaling.
Effects of species-dominated patches on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen storage in a degraded grassland in China
Authors: Zhang Yujuan , Tang Shiming , Xie Shu , Liu Kesi , Li Jinsheng , Chen Qian , Huang Ding , Wang Kun
Published: May 2019

Background

Patchy vegetation is a very common phenomenon due to long-term overgrazing in degraded steppe grasslands, which results in substantial uncertainty associated with soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics because of changes in the amount of litter accumulation and nutrition input into soil.

Methods

We investigated soil C and N stocks beneath three types of monodominant species patches according to community dominance. Stipa krylovii patches, Artemisia frigida patches, and Potentilla acaulis patches represent better to worse vegetation conditions in a grassland in northern China.

Results

The results revealed that the soil C stock (0–40 cm) changed significantly, from 84.7 to 95.7 Mg ha−1, and that the soil organic carbon content (0–10 cm) and microbial biomass carbon (0–10 and 10–20 cm) varied remarkably among the different monodominant species communities (P < 0.05). However, soil total nitrogen and microbial biomass nitrogen showed no significant differences among different plant patches in the top 0–20 cm of topsoil. The soil C stocks under the P. acaulis and S. krylovii patches were greater than that under the A. frigida patch. Our study implies that accurate estimates of soil C and N storage in degenerated grassland require integrated analyses of the concurrent effects of differences in plant community composition.
Effect of meteorological factors on influenza-like illness from 2012 to 2015 in Huludao, a northeastern city in China
Authors: Bai Ying-Long , Huang De-Sheng , Liu Jing , Li De-Qiang , Guan Peng
Published: May 2019

Background

This study aims to describe the epidemiological patterns of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Huludao, China and seek scientific evidence on the link of ILI activity with weather factors.

Methods

Surveillance data of ILI cases between January 2012 and December 2015 was collected in Huludao Central Hospital, meteorological data was obtained from the China Meteorological Data Service Center. Generalized additive model (GAM) was used to seek the relationship between the number of ILI cases and the meteorological factors. Multiple Smoothing parameter estimation was made on the basis of Poisson distribution, where the number of weekly ILI cases was treated as response, and the smoothness of weather was treated as covariates. Lag time was determined by the smallest Akaike information criterion (AIC). Smoothing coefficients were estimated for the prediction of the number of ILI cases.

Results

A total of 29, 622 ILI cases were observed during the study period, with children ILI cases constituted 86.77%. The association between ILI activity and meteorological factors varied across different lag periods. The lag time for average air temperature, maximum air temperature, minimum air temperature, vapor pressure and relative humidity were 2, 2, 1, 1 and 0 weeks, respectively. Average air temperature, maximum air temperature, minimum air temperature, vapor pressure and relative humidity could explain 16.5%, 9.5%, 18.0%, 15.9% and 7.7% of the deviance, respectively. Among the temperature indexes, the minimum temperature played the most important role. The number of ILI cases peaked when minimum temperature was around −13 °C in winter and 18 °C in summer. The number of cases peaked when the relative humidity was equal to 43% and then began to decrease with the increase of relative humidity. When the humidity exceeded 76%, the number of ILI cases began to rise.

Conclusions

The present study first analyzed the relationship between meteorological factors and ILI cases with special consideration of the length of lag period in Huludao, China. Low air temperature and low relative humidity (cold and dry weather condition) played a considerable role in the epidemic pattern of ILI cases. The trend of ILI activity could be possibly predicted by the variation of meteorological factors.
Combining UAV-based hyperspectral imagery and machine learning algorithms for soil moisture content monitoring
Authors: Ge Xiangyu , Wang Jingzhe , Ding Jianli , Cao Xiaoyi , Zhang Zipeng , Liu Jie , Li Xiaohang
Published: May 2019

Soil moisture content (SMC) is an important factor that affects agricultural development in arid regions. Compared with the space-borne remote sensing system, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been widely used because of its stronger controllability and higher resolution. It also provides a more convenient method for monitoring SMC than normal measurement methods that includes field sampling and oven-drying techniques. However, research based on UAV hyperspectral data has not yet formed a standard procedure in arid regions. Therefore, a universal processing scheme is required. We hypothesized that combining pretreatments of UAV hyperspectral imagery under optimal indices and a set of field observations within a machine learning framework will yield a highly accurate estimate of SMC. Optimal 2D spectral indices act as indispensable variables and allow us to characterize a model’s SMC performance and spatial distribution. For this purpose, we used hyperspectral imagery and a total of 70 topsoil samples (0–10 cm) from the farmland (2.5 × 104 m2) of Fukang City, Xinjiang Uygur AutonomousRegion, China. The random forest (RF) method and extreme learning machine (ELM) were used to estimate the SMC using six methods of pretreatments combined with four optimal spectral indices. The validation accuracy of the estimated method clearly increased compared with that of linear models. The combination of pretreatments and indices by our assessment effectively eliminated the interference and the noises. Comparing two machine learning algorithms showed that the RF models were superior to the ELM models, and the best model was PIR (R2val = 0.907, RMSEP = 1.477, and RPD = 3.396). The SMC map predicted via the best scheme was highly similar to the SMC map measured. We conclude that combining preprocessed spectral indices and machine learning algorithms allows estimation of SMC with high accuracy (R2val = 0.907) via UAV hyperspectral imagery on a regional scale. Ultimately, our program might improve management and conservation strategies for agroecosystem systems in arid regions.
Do Australians have the willingness to participate in wildlife conservation?
Authors: Fabian Megan C. , Cook Amelia S. , Old Julie M.
Published: May 2019

People's behaviour towards the conservation of Australian wildlife is important, because people's actions are the main causative factor associated with the demise and future recovery of wildlife conservation. We investigated the type and prevalence of behaviour performed by NSW residents towards wildlife conservation, investigate participants’ willingness to perform conservation behaviours in the future, and identify the barriers preventing people from engaging in conservation action. New South Wales (NSW) residents (n=312) participated in an online questionnaire in a cross-sectional study. Overall, participants’ intention to engage, and rates of actual participation, in conservation behaviours was low. The latter was mostly due to lack of time, money, knowledge, and the impact of health and fitness levels. The knowledge gained from this study can be harnessed to inform future policy and management decisions, design interventions to change conservation behaviours, and provides a foundation for further enquiry into the ‘human dimensions of wildlife’. There remains a wildlife conservation ‘attitude-intention-action gap’, where we are limited with our knowledge on how to transform pro-conservation attitudes into conservation action, which warrants further research.
Sleeping, sleeping environments, and human errors in South Korean male train drivers
Authors: Lee Dong-Wook , Kim Seog Ju , Shin Na Young , Lee Won Joon , Lee Dasom , Jang Joon Hwan , Choi Soo-Hee , Kang Do-Hyung
Published: May 2019

Objectives

Reducing human errors caused by daytime sleepiness among train drivers is important to prevent train accidents. Our purpose of the study was to investigate the association among sleep, workplace sleeping environments, and human errors.

Methods

We recruited 144 South Korean train drivers belongs to the Korean Railroad Corporation. This cross-sectional data was analyzed to investigate the association of insomnia (insomnia severity index), sleep quality (Pittsburgh sleep quality index), obstructive sleep apnea (Berlin questionnaire), and daytime sleepiness (Epworth scale) with human error and near-miss experiences. We examined whether human error and near-miss events were associated with various sleeping environments at work and at home after adjusting for the sleep indices.

Results

The experience of human errors was associated with insomnia and daytime sleepiness, and near-miss events were associated with insomnia among South Korean drivers. Sleeping environments including cold temperature and odor were related to both human errors and near-miss events among South Korean train drivers, after adjusted for age, working years, shiftwork, obesity, smoking, binge drinking, regular exercise, caffeine consumption, sleep quality, severity of insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and daytime sleepiness.

Conclusions

The train drivers’ workplace sleeping environment is significantly associated with human error events and near-miss events after adjusting for sleep quality, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and daytime sleepiness. To prevent train accidents caused by human errors, more attention is necessary for improving workplace sleeping environments.
Usnic acid modifies MRSA drug resistance through down‐regulation of proteins involved in peptidoglycan and fatty acid biosynthesis
Authors: Sinha Sneha , Gupta Vivek Kumar , Kumar Parmanand , Kumar Rajiv , Joshi Robin , Pal Anirban , Darokar Mahendra P.
Published: May 2019

Multidrug‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections place a huge burden on the healthcare sector and the wider community. An increasing rate of infections caused by methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has necessitated the development of alternative agents. We previously reported that usnic acid (UA) has activity against MRSA; here, we report the effect of UA in combination with norfloxacin on the drug resistance of MRSA clinical isolates. We observed that the combination of UA–norfloxacin significantly reduces the bacterial burden in mouse models infected with S. aureus, without causing any detectable associated toxicity. Proteomic analysis indicated that UA–norfloxacin induces oxidative stress within cells, which leads to membrane damage and inhibits metabolic activity and biosynthesis of peptidoglycan and fatty acids. Collectively, this study provides evidence that UA in combination with norfloxacin may be a potential candidate for development into a resistance‐modifying agent for the treatment of invasive MRSA infections.
Tuning Long‐Lived Mn(II) Upconversion Luminescence through Alkaline‐Earth Metal Doping and Energy‐Level Tailoring
Authors: Liu Xiaowang , Yi Zhigao , Qin Xian , Liu Hong , Huang Wei , Liu Xiaogang
Published: May 2019

Crystal‐site engineering of hexagonal‐phase NaGdF4:Mn through alkaline‐earth metal (A2+) doping is used to tune the upconversion luminescence of the Mn2+ dopants. Experimental and calculated results show the ability of A2+ doping to alter the occupancy site of Mn2+ ion from Na+ to Gd3+, thus enabling an emission change from green (520 nm) to yellow (583 nm) upon excitation at 980 nm. The yellow emission of Mn2+ shows a long emission lifetime of 65 ms, more than three times longer than the green emission of Mn2+ (20 ms). The combination of tunable long‐lived Mn2+ emission with lanthanide emission at a single‐particle level provides a convenient route to triple transient upconversion color codes upon dynamic excitation, which offers an attractive optical feature particularly suitable for efficient document encoding.