bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A quick earthquake disaster loss assessment method supported by dasymetric data for emergency response in China
Authors: Xu Jinghai , An Jiwen , Nie Gaozong
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Improving earthquake disaster loss estimation speed and accuracy is one of the key factors in effective earthquake response and rescue. The presentation of exposure data by applying a dasymetric map approach has good potential for addressing this issue. With the support of 30''  ×  30'' areal exposure data (population and building data in China), this paper presents a new earthquake disaster loss estimation method for emergency response situations. This method has two phases: a pre-earthquake phase and a co-earthquake phase. In the pre-earthquake phase, we pre-calculate the earthquake loss related to different seismic intensities and store them in a 30''  ×  30'' grid format, which has several stages: determining the earthquake loss calculation factor, gridding damage probability matrices, calculating building damage and calculating human losses. Then, in the co-earthquake phase, there are two stages of estimating loss: generating a theoretical isoseismal map to depict the spatial distribution of the seismic intensity field; then, using the seismic intensity field to extract statistics of losses from the pre-calculated estimation data. Thus, the final loss estimation results are obtained. The method is validated by four actual earthquakes that occurred in China. The method not only significantly improves the speed and accuracy of loss estimation but also provides the spatial distribution of the losses, which will be effective in aiding earthquake emergency response and rescue. Additionally, related pre-calculated earthquake loss estimation data in China could serve to provide disaster risk analysis before earthquakes occur. Currently, the pre-calculated loss estimation data and the two-phase estimation method are used by the China Earthquake Administration.
Jason continuity of services: continuing the Jason altimeter data records as Copernicus Sentinel-6
Authors: Scharroo Remko , Bonekamp Hans , Ponsard Christelle , Parisot François , von Engeln Axel , Tahtadjiev Milen , de Vriendt Kristiaan , Montagner François
Published: April 2016

Abstract. The Sentinel-6 mission is proposed as a multi-partner programme to continue the Jason satellite altimeter data services beyond the Jason-2 and Jason-3 missions. The Sentinel-6 mission programme consists of two identical satellites flying in sequence to prolong the climate data record of sea level accumulated by the TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, Jason-2, and Jason-3 missions from 2020 to beyond 2030. The Sentinel-6 mission intends to maintain these services in a fully operational manner. A key feature is the simultaneous pulse-limited and synthetic aperture radar processing allowing direct and continuous comparisons of the sea surface height measurements based on these processing methods and providing backward compatibility. The Sentinel-6 mission will also include radio occultation user services.
Compensation between meridional flow components of the Atlantic MOC at 26° N
Authors: Frajka-Williams E. , Meinen C. S. , Johns W. E. , Smeed D. A. , Duchez A. , Lawrence A. J. , Cuthbertson D. A. , McCarthy G. D. , Bryden H. L. , Baringer M. O. , Moat B. I. , Rayner D.
Published: April 2016

Abstract. From ten years of observations of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC) at 26° N (2004–2014), we revisit the question of flow compensation between components of the circulation. Contrasting with early results from the observations, transport variations of the Florida Current (FC) and upper mid-ocean (UMO) transports (top 1000 m east of the Bahamas) are now found to compensate on sub-annual timescales. The observed compensation between the FC and UMO transports is associated with horizontal circulation and means that this part of the correlated variability does not project onto the MOC. A deep baroclinic response to wind-forcing (Ekman transport) is also found in the lower North Atlantic Deep Water (LNADW; 3000–5000 m) transport. In contrast, co-variability between Ekman and the LNADW transports does contribute to overturning. On longer timescales, the southward UMO transport has continued to strengthen, resulting in a continued decline of the MOC. Most of this interannual variability of the MOC can be traced to changes in isopycnal displacements on the western boundary, within the top 1000 m and below 2000 m. Substantial trends are observed in isopycnal displacements in the deep ocean, underscoring the importance of deep boundary measurements to capture the variability of the Atlantic MOC.
Phase Segmentation of X-Ray Computer Tomography Rock Images using Machine Learning Techniques: an Accuracy and Performance Study
Authors: Chauhan Swarup , Rühaak Wolfram , Anbergen Hauke , Kabdenov Alen , Freise Marcus , Wille Thorsten , Sass Ingo
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Performance and accuracy of machine learning techniques to segment rock grains, matrix and pore voxels, from a 3D volume of X-ray tomographic (XCT) grey-scale rock images was evaluated. The segmentation and classification capability of unsupervised (k-means, fuzzy c-means, self-organized maps), supervised (artificial neural networks, least square support vector machines) and ensemble classifiers (bragging and boosting) was tested using XCT images of Andesite volcanic rock, Berea sandstone, Rotliegend sandstone and a synthetic sample. The averaged porosity obtained for Andesite (0.15 ± 0.017), Barea sandstone (0.15 ± 0.02), Rotliegend sandstone (0.14 ± 0.08), synthetic sample (0.50 ± 0.13) is in very good agreement to the respective laboratory measurement data and varies by a factor of 0.2. The k-means algorithm is the fastest of all machine learning algorithms, whereas least square support vector machine is the most computationally expensive. Assessment of accuracy by entropy and purity values for unsupervised techniques; mean squared root error, receiver operational characteristics (to train the classification model) for supervised techniques; and 10-fold cross validation for the ensemble classifiers was performed. In general, the accuracy was found to be largely affected by the feature vector selection scheme. As it is always a trade-off between performance and accuracy, it is difficult to isolate one particular machine learning algorithm which is best suited for the complex phase segmentation problem. Therefore, our investigation provides parameters that can help selecting the appropriate machine learning techniques for phase segmentation.
The Mohr–Coulomb criterion for intact rock strength and friction – a re-evaluation and consideration of failure under polyaxial stresses
Authors: Hackston Abigail , Rutter Ernest
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Darley Dale and Pennant sandstones were tested under conditions of both axisymmetric shortening and extension normal to bedding. These are the two extremes of loading under polyaxial stress conditions. Failure under generalized stress conditions can be predicted from the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion under axisymmetric shortening conditions, provided the best form of polyaxial failure criterion is known. The sandstone data are best reconciled using the Mogi (1967) empirical criterion. Fault plane orientations produced vary greatly with respect to the maximum compressive stress direction in the two loading configurations. The normals to the Mohr–Coulomb failure envelopes do not predict the orientations of the fault planes eventually produced. Frictional sliding on variously inclined saw cuts and failure surfaces produced in intact rock samples was also investigated. Friction coefficient is not affected by fault plane orientation in a given loading configuration, but friction coefficients in extension were systematically lower than in compression for both rock types. Friction data for these and other porous sandstones accord well with the Byerlee (1978) generalization about rock friction being largely independent of rock type. For engineering and geodynamic modelling purposes, the stress-state-dependent friction coefficient should be used for sandstones, but it is not known to what extent this might apply to other rock types.
Connected Vehicle Technology: An All Too Convenient Solution to Roadway Problems in the United States
Authors: Kustra Victor
Published: April 2016

Automobile accidents and roadway infrastructure problems are increasing in the United States.  Specifically, 5.7 million automobile accidents were reported in 2013.  The number of automobile accidents caused by lane drifting has increased over the past fifteen years, given the increased number of drivers on the road.   The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) have developed a cumulative solution to these problems. Connected Vehicle  technology is part of the USDOT’s “Intelligent Transportation Systems” (ITS) initiative.  The ITS initiative targets automobile crash avoidance and better traffic flow through the use of automated technologies.[1] Id. at v.
Table of Contents
Authors: Coury Paul
Published: April 2016

Front Matter
La economía social ante la actual crisis económica en la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco
Authors: Bretos Fernández Ignacio , Morandeira Arca Jon
Published: April 2016

El presente artículo analiza la evolución socio-económica del conjunto de entidades que configuran el sector de la economía social en el País Vasco durante el periodo de crisis comprendido entre 2008 y 2014. Los datos empleados se han obtenido en un marco de colaboración entre universidad, administración pública y sector privado de la economía social. Los resultados sugieren que este tipo de organizaciones han evolucionado mejor, tanto a nivel del número de empresas como de empleo, que la economía general del País Vasco, a pesar de que el contexto de las políticas públicas dirigidas a la economía social se ha visto reducido durante estos años. Sin embargo, en términos económicos (medido a través del Valor Añadido Bruto generado), no han sido capaces de hacer frente a la crisis en iguales condiciones que el conjunto de la economía general. La principal contribución de la investigación presentada reside en que, a diferencia de estudios similares, se analiza la evolución de todas las entidades enmarcadas en la economía social tomando como referencia un amplio periodo temporal de la crisis actual.
Propping up predicates: Adjectival predication in Tłı̨ch​ǫ Yatıì
Authors: Welch Nicholas
Published: April 2016

In Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì (Dene, aka Athapaskan), copulas appear obligatorily with adjectives predicated of animate subjects, but are barred from appearing with adjectives predicated of inanimates. I propose that this asymmetry arises from a requirement to realize grammatical agreement for person, and that animate nouns alone bear a person feature. Unlike verbs, adjectives in this language cannot inflect; hence copulas are inserted in adjectival predicates as a rescue strategy to avoid ungrammaticality.
Addressing the 'two interface' problem: Comparatives and superlatives
Authors: Dunbar Ewan , Wellwood Alexis
Published: April 2016

How much meaning can a morpheme have? Syntactic and morphological analyses generally underdetermine when distinctions in meaning between two forms are due to (i) the presence of an additional syntactic head or to (ii) different information coded on the same head. Surveying patterns across hundreds of languages, Bobaljik (2012) hypothesizes that superlative forms universally consist of a comparative morpheme plus an additional superlative morpheme, e.g., tallest is underlyingly [ SUP [ CMPR [ TALL ] ] ]. Bobaljik’s hypothesis includes, in part, a speculative proposal for a universal limit on the semantic complexity of morphemes. We offer a concrete basis for this proposal, the ‘No Containment Condition’ (NCC). The NCC is a constraint on grammars such that they cannot contain a certain semantic representation for a unitary head, if that representation can be constructed out of the semantic representations of two heads. Illustrating the proposal, we take Bobaljik’s analysis of forms like tallest further, into [ [ [ CMPR SUP ] MUCH ] TALL ]. Based in semantic analysis, our suggestion introduces Bresnan’s (1973) classical analysis of comparatives into the decomposition of superlatives.
Judaism and Social Justice: Five Core Values from the Rabbinic Tradition
Authors: Schwarz Rabbi Sid
Published: April 2016

For Judaism there are two core mandates—justice and holiness. Jews should be fully engaged with the world. There is no other way to bring about justice. Yet holiness requires the Jewish people to establish some separation from the world. This paradox is common to virtually all religions. In this article, Rabbi Sid Schwarz analyzes the five Jewish values that stand at the core of Jewish teachings about social justice: Kavod Habriot (dignity of all creatures), Chesed (lovingkindness), Lo Ta'amod (You Shall Not Stand Idly By), Darchei Shalom (Ways of Peace) and Ahavat Ger (loving the stranger).
Reflections on Justice in the Context of HIV/AIDS
Authors: Bongmba Elias
Published: April 2016

The spread of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in the African context today calls for a critical refl ection on the virtue of justice. The author begins by describing in a broad
manner recent perspectives on justice. He then examines the meaning of justice in the context of HIV AIDS, with a limited focus on religious healthcare, especially the Christian tradition that is a major partner in healthcare delivery in Africa.
The Responsibilities of Implementing Justice: The Role of Muslims in History and Today
Authors: Taylor John
Published: April 2016

John Taylor surveys the political history of Islam from the time of the great Muslim empires to modern days. He argues that the definition of caliphate need not only to be measured in terms of central political power and empire but, as increasing numbers of thinkers and writers had been urging for several centuries, in terms of the responsibility, delegated from God to humanity, for moral authority and good government, for demonstration of spirituality, for resistance to injustice and for promotion of ethical values. There is therefore much more for us to learn from the political history of Islam than the story of the rise and fall of its Empires.
In Search of a Perfect World: The Jewish Quest for Justice
Authors: Jacobs Rabbi Jill
Published: April 2016

The Jewish passion for justice begins with the insistence that a better world is possible. The Jewish Bible (the Tanakh) is bookended by two visions of perfection: the Garden of Eden of the Book of Genesis, and the vision of a rebuilt Jerusalem and the renewal of a divine covenant in the Book of Nehemiah. Much of the rest of the Bible, as well as the legal and narrative tradition that follows, concerns itself with how to go about creating a society reflected of the divine vision of a perfected world. This tradition is encapsulated in precise laws that outline every aspect of how employers and workers should behave toward one another; how to create a fair system of justice; how best to steward our financial resources; and how to protect the most vulnerable.
Social justice and education of the soul in Islam: Al-Ghazālī's approach
Authors: Chouiref Tayeb
Published: April 2016

Prof. Tayeb Chouiref argues that the message of an author as old as Ghazali, who lived in the eleventh and twelfth centuries AD, can still throw a new light on the problems of the contemporary world and particularly those experienced by the predominantly Muslim societies. In this article, the author explores the ethical and political thought of Ghazali, showing how his teaching always remained rooted and informed by his faith and spiritual intuition of the Absolute.
التصور المقدس للعدل؛ كتاب علي بن أبي طالب إلى مالك الأشطر
Authors: Shah-Kazemi Reza
Published: April 2016

يسعى الكاتب في هذه المقالة أن يعرض “التأملات الخاصة بالعدل” من وجهة نظر وحياة الإمام علي من خلال كتابه مالك الأشطر. ويطرق الكاتب إلى “التوافق بين المبدأين: المكاشفة والعمل”. بالإضافة إلى مناقشة أهمية الكتاب من حيث المبادارات التي قدمها من أجل وضع منهجية لدستور “مثالي للحكم الإسلامي” من حيث حقوق وواجبات “المترتبة على الحاكم...وموظفي الدولة”، بالإضافة إلى ذلك يقسم الكاتب المقالة لأهم الأفكار والمواضيع مثل “الدولة والمجتمع، ورحمة العدل”. ويتطرق الكاتب إلى كتابات أفلاطون من أجل الربط بين أفكار العدل المترابطة بينهما. ويضيف الكاتب إلى أن الكتاب لا يخاطب فقط من هم في الحكم ولكنه يخاطب “كل إنسان راغب في الحكم طبق?? للمبادئ العادلة”. ويتوسع الكاتب في مناقشة الصفات التي يمكن أن تؤدي للمرء أن يكون المرء ظالم??، بالإضافة إلى مناقشة كيفية أن تلك الصفات من الممكن أن تؤدي إلى “الفساد الروحي الداخلي”. ولكن في نفس الوقت يشير الكاتب إلى أنه هناك صفات يجب على المرء أن يتصف بها مثل “أن يكون المرء كريم?? لأن الله هو الكريم”. وفي سياق من هم الأحوج للعدل، فيؤكد الكاتب أن الفقراء هم “أحوج الناس إلى العدل” حيث أنهم “يتعففون عن السؤال”. وينتقل الكاتب ليشير إلى أن فعل تلك الأعمال الصالحة يتطلب من الشخص أن يكون مدرك?? أنه “ينوي العدل لا رغبة في ثواب دنيوي...ولكن من أجل العدل ذاته. ومن خلال التطرق للنيات يناقش الكاتب أمر التعبد من دون الإخلاص، حيث أن تلك العبادات تتطلب من المرء أن يكون لديه البعد والعمق من أجل أن يستشعر أهمية وفائدة العبادة. وبذلك فإن الكاتب يستخدم كتاب الإمام علي من أجل أن يتطرق لعدة أمور مثل واجبات الحاكم بالإضافة إلى واجبات الشخص في المجتمع وواجبات المرء لربه.
Mountain cloud forest and grown-shade coffee plantations: A comparison of tree biodiversity in central Veracruz, Mexico
Authors: González-Zamora Alfredo , Esperón-Rodríguez Manuel , Barradas Víctor L.
Published: April 2016

Aim of the study: The objective of this work is to compare tree diversity and richness among one grown-shade coffee plantation (CAE) and two sites of montane cloud forests, one preserved (MCF1) and other perturbed (MCF2). We also develop an analysis of the importance of coffee plantations as a refuge of tree species, holding a potential role for conservation.Area of study: Our study area is the coffee region of Coatepec-Xico, in the state of Veracruz, Mexico.Material and methods: We compiled a list of all tree species in each site to determine tree diversity and floristic similarity (dissimilarity). We used different similarity indices and a cluster analysis to show relations among sites.Main results: 2721 individuals from 154 species were registered in the montane cloud forests as a whole. In the grown-shade coffee plantation we registered 2947 individuals from 64 species. The most similar sites were the perturbed montane cloud forest and the grown-shade coffee plantation and the least similar were the preserved montane cloud forest and the grown-shade coffee plantation. The high biodiversity found in all sites and the differences in tree composition between the two montane cloud forests supports evidence of the ecosystems richness in the region.Research highlight: Diversity differences among sites determine that the grown-shade coffee plantation is not substitute for montane cloud forest. CAE’s are developed under similar environmental conditions than the MCF; therefore, coexistence and recombination (replacement) of species make them particularly complementary. CAE’s in Veracruz have a potential role as refuge for biodiversity.
The influence of sampling unit size and spatial arrangement patterns on neighborhood-based spatial structure analyses of forest stands
Authors: Wang Hongxinag , Zhang Gongqiao , Hui Gangying , Li Yuanfa , Hu Yanbo , Zhao Zhonghua
Published: April 2016

Aim of the study: Neighborhood-based stand spatial structure parameters can quantify and characterize forest spatial structure effectively. How these neighborhood-based structure parameters are influenced by the selection of different numbers of nearest-neighbor trees is unclear, and there is some disagreement in the literature regarding the appropriate number of nearest-neighbor trees to sample around reference trees. Understanding how to efficiently characterize forest structure is critical for forest management.Area of study: Multi-species uneven-aged forests of Northern ChinaMaterial and methods: We simulated stands with different spatial structural characteristics and systematically compared their structure parameters when two to eight neighboring trees were selected.Main results: Results showed that values of uniform angle index calculated in the same stand were different with different sizes of structure unit. When tree species and sizes were completely randomly interspersed, different numbers of neighbors had little influence on mingling and dominance indices. Changes of mingling or dominance indices caused by different numbers of neighbors occurred when the tree species or size classes were not randomly interspersed and their changing characteristics can be detected according to the spatial arrangement patterns of tree species and sizes.Research highlights: The number of neighboring trees selected for analyzing stand spatial structure parameters should be fixed. We proposed that the four-tree structure unit is the best compromise between sampling accuracy and costs for practical forest management.
Optimization of Land Use Pattern Reduces Surface Runoff and Sediment Loss in a Hilly-Gully Watershed at the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Yini Han , Jianzhi Niu , Zhongbao Xin , Wei Zhang , Tielin Zhang , Xilin Wang , Yousong Zhang
Published: April 2016

Aim of study: The aim is to find a way increasing gain yield and lessen area of farmland, and then increasing vegetation cover, improving environment and alleviating soil erosion.Area of study: The Hilly-Gully region at the loess plateau of China.Material and methods: In this study, an adjusted and optimized land use pattern was developed in Luoyugou watershed in the Yellow River valley based on the gradient distribution of land use types, and its effect on water and sediment transport was simulated using the SWAT model and GIS, with remote sensing images, land use maps and hydrologic data.Main results: The results indicate: average simulated runoff and sediment for the period 1986-2000 under conditions of the three land use pattern (2011, 2008 and optimized land use) reduced by 0.002-0.013 m3/s (2.7-17.6%) and 0.66 million tons, respectively. The runoff and sediment data obtained were compared with observed data from 2008, which showed that runoff and sediment production would be reduced by 467625 m3 and 22754 tons, respectively.Research highlights: The adjustment of the land use pattern in comprehensive consideration of vegetation and geography have a positive effect on water and sediment transport which will be important for decision making and water resources management, and provides a reference for future environmental management and ecological construction in the loess plateau Hilly-Gully region.
Stakeholders’ perception of forest management: a Portuguese mountain case study
Authors: Marta-Costa Alexandra , Torres-Manso Filipa , Pinto Rui , Tibério Luís , Carneiro Inês
Published: April 2016

Aim of study: This paper aims to test a participatory methodology to draw parallels and paradoxes as to how some forest sector-related entities and local communities view the Montemuro Mountain forest, namely in terms of its characteristics, the offered opportunities, its problems and the likely solutions for its management as well as the role played by stakeholders, which can be replicated in other case studies and can also facilitate the forest policy making process.Area of study: The Natura 2000 Network “Montemuro Mountain” Site in Portugal.Material and methods: This study combined several consultation and citizen participation techniques.Main results: The perceptions shared by the stakeholders are some similar, others not similar and others still quite paradoxical regarding forest characteristics and the opportunities they offer. The study has shown that it is possible to implement and improve citizen participation methodologies. This can be a viable way towards more effective forest management and fire prevention as this may help blunt conflicts of interest in forest space management. However, for participation to be truly effective and representative, a policy regarding training and awareness of the importance of information is necessary.Research highlights: The stakeholder perceptions on forests and forest management are assessed; forest fires and agrarian abandonment are central for territory’s development; depopulation, old age and absenteeism emphasize degradation of forest areas; Conscious citizen participation benefit policymaking and forest management.Abbreviations used: ZIF: Forest Intervention Zones; GAL: Local Follow-up Group; GTFs: Technical Bureaus of Forestry.
From failure to value: economic valuation for a selected set of products and services from Mediterranean forests
Authors: Masiero Mauro , Pettenella Davide , Secco Laura
Published: April 2016

Aim of study: the paper estimates the economic value of a selected range of forest products and services, i.e. roundwood, non-wood forest products (NWFPs), and carbon-related services.Area of study: the research covers 21 Mediterranean countries, distinguished into four sub-regions.Material and methods: data have been gathered from official statistical sources (e.g. FAOSTAT), scientific literature and technical reports. Different estimation approaches based on market-price have been used for different products/services.Main results: the estimated value ranges between €10,512 and €11,158 million (M). Wood products represent more than 85% of the total value. Within them, industrial timber is the most relevant component (65%). Figures for NWFPs are likely to be underestimated because data are available only for some products and countries. When using alternative estimates for pine nuts, pine resin and cork, figures show a €36.8-572 M increase. In geographical terms, the economic value of Mediterranean forests is highly concentrated: North-West Mediterranean countries account for 70%, and nearly 90% is in just four countries (France, Spain, Turkey and Italy).Research highlights: enhancing the offer of Mediterranean forest products and increasing their role in the rural economy could help to reduce the costs of forest protection: a well-structured forest economy ensuring stable flows of incomes can provide a fundamental set of public non-market services and social values to both local people and the whole community. Understanding the true value of natural resources, then, is an essential step for promoting their protection and sustainable use.Abbreviations: Bln: billion; CUM: cubic meter; EM: East Mediterranean; FAO: Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations; FRA: Forest Resource Assessment; ha: hectare; M: million; NEM: North-East Mediterranean; NWFP: non-wood forest product; NWM: North-West Mediterranean; SM: South Mediterranean.
Perceptions of Patients with Xerostomia about Quality of Life, General and Oral Health: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Ramírez-Sepúlveda Karina , Murillo-Pedrozo Andres , Zuluaga-Villegas Daniela , Vasco-Grajales Kristhel , Posada-Lopez Adriana , Agudelo-Suárez Andrés A.
Published: April 2016

INTRODUCTION: We aim to explore the perceptions about quality of life and its relationship with general and oral health of adults suffering from Xerostomia

METHODS: A qualitative and exploratory study was conducted from an ethnographic perspective. 22 semi-structured in-depth interviews and one focus group were carried out. Patients were contacted through different institutions and by means of snowball sampling. Furthermore, socio-demographic information was collected and a content narrative analysis was conducted identifying significant text fragments and generating codes and categories.

RESULTS: 6 categories from participants’ discourses were identified: 1) Knowledge about general, oral health and Xerostomia; 2) Determinants of access to health services: access barriers are reflected by poor attention and medical opportunity in appointments, misguided diagnosis and treatments, and difficulties obtaining medications; 3) Definitions of quality of life, health and oral health; 4) Social support and relationships: social support is as perceived by families, institutions and social networks enabling them to meet their health goals and the consequences of these; 5) Practice to overcome dry mouth: Several alternative methods were used when medicines are not a satisfactory solution for each individual; 6) Future aspirations: in some cases, a significant number of the participants expressed fear when thinking about the future, and discourses directly relate with their families. In some cases they expressed not to think about the future and “live and enjoy”.

CONCLUSIONS: Xerostomia affects the quality of life not only from individual systemic conditions, but also through determinants from the social context and the health system.
Empowering the Shari’ah Committee towards Strengthening Shari’ah Governance Practices in Islamic Financial Institutions
Authors: Kasim Nawal , Nu Nu Htay Sheila , Ahmed Salman Syed
Published: April 2016

The Islamic finance industry is growing at a rapid rate. Its products and services are widely offered all over the world. The ultimate vision of the emergence of Islamic finance industry is to avoid the prohibited practices of conventional financial institutions such as interest, uncertainty, gambling, and investment in prohibited items. If Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs) manifest by excluding this vision, then they have failed in their mission. Consequently, shari’ah risk, i.e., non-shari’ah compliant risk is the main risk that IFIs must manage to maintain its distinguished status as shari’ah compliant institutions. Shari’ah governance is used as the guideline to mold the operational practices of IFIs to achieve the mission of shari’ah compliance. For this purpose, the shari’ah committee members are the main players for implementing good shari’ah governance practices. However, due to the limited authority of Shari’ah committee members in performing their tasks, IFIs are voluntarily exposed to Shari’ah risk. This paper highlights the current Shari’ah governance problems and proposes that the authority of Shari’ah committee should be enhanced for better Shari’ah governance practices. Problems with current Shari’ah governance practices are mostly due to fatawa variation, non-harmonization of Shari’ah governance practices and products, variance in the four schools of thought, and limited support from IFI management in discharging their full responsibilities such as their involvement in the Shari’ah review process and audit. This paper is set to develop Shari’ah governance guidelines.
2016/3 Supreme Court allows transferee to differentiate between ‘own’ and acquired employees (PL)
Authors: Wujczyk Marcin
Published: April 2016

2016/3 Supreme Court allows transferee to differentiate between ‘own’ and acquired employees (PL)

Paying employees acquired by way of the transfer of an undertaking less than the transferee’s original staff not discriminatory. The Supreme Court recently came to this conclusion based on a rather daring interpretation of a provision of national law aimed at transposing an EU directive. Although Polish law obligates employers to treat employees who perform the same work equally regardless of personal characteristics, the provision at issue should be read more narrowly.
2016/5 Government order to suspend civil servants’ pension payments discriminatory (HU)
Authors: Ratkai Ildiko
Published: April 2016

2016/5 Government order to suspend civil servants’ pension payments discriminatory (HU)

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has recently ruled on a Hungarian law suspending payment of civil servants’ pensions for the period during which they are employed in certain areas of the public sector. The ECtHR found this law to be discriminatory as it breaches Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) read in conjunction with Article 1, Protocol 1. Hungary, as the respondent State, is to pay pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages and procedural costs and expenses to the applicant, Mr Gyula Fábián. The judgment was delivered on 15 December 2015 and, if not appealed to the Grand Chamber, will cease to be appealable on 15 March 2016.
2016/6 An employee’s salary may be above the equal treatment standards if there is a material reason (CZ)
Authors: Randlová Nataša
Published: April 2016

2016/6 An employee’s salary may be above the equal treatment standards if there is a material reason (CZ)

The employer may unilaterally stipulate or agree a salary with an employee that goes beyond the equal treatment standards, to the employee’s benefit if there is a material reason. The reason must either represent a competitive advantage compared to other employees, or the unequal treatment must be a substantial requirement necessary for the particular work.
2016/7 The prohibition against gender-based discrimination applies to self-employed contractors (HU)
Authors: Ormai Gabriella , Bán Péter
Published: April 2016

2016/7 The prohibition against gender-based discrimination applies to self-employed contractors (HU)

In accordance with EU law, the prohibition against gender-based discrimination (in this case: dismissal relating to pregnancy) cannot be limited to employment relationships as defined in national law: it must also apply to other types of legal relationship, where one party provides services to another party for consideration, for an open-ended period of time under the supervision of a principal.
2016/12 ‘Independent contractors’ working in a subordinate relationship may in reality be employees (FR)
Authors: Mathieu Charles
Published: April 2016

An ‘independent contractor’ working for a company in a subordinate relationship should be considered as a de facto employee. In such a situation, the company and its legal representatives can be held liable for ‘concealed work’ and be subject to criminal penalties.
2016/15 Former CEO awarded € 1,250,000 compensation for unfair dismissal (IR)
Authors: O’Leary Orla
Published: April 2016

2016/15 Former CEO awarded € 1,250,000 compensation for unfair dismissal (IR)

Under Irish law, an employee claiming compensation for constructive dismissal bears a high burden of proof. Failure to exhaust the employer’s grievance procedure before bringing such a claim to court is generally a recipe for failure. However, a CEO who brought such a claim without first going through the grievance procedure was recently awarded record compensation of € 1.25 million.
2016/16 ‘Too conspicuous’ hairstyle was no reason for dismissal during parental part-time (AT)
Authors: Hießl Christina
Published: April 2016

2016/16 ‘Too conspicuous’ hairstyle was no reason for dismissal during parental part-time (AT)

Austrian law permits the dismissal of an employee during parental leave only in cases where the employer cannot reasonably be expected to continue the contractual relationship. The colour of a hair ribbon does not justify the termination of a young father’s employment as a bus driver.
2016/17 Court order for reinstatement not satisfied by placing employee on garden leave (LI)
Authors: Klimašauskiené Inga
Published: April 2016

2016/17 Court order for reinstatement not satisfied by placing employee on garden leave (LI)

An employer was ordered to reinstate an employee they had wrongly dismissed. The employer reinstated him, putting him back on the payroll, but simultaneously placed him on involuntary garden leave. The employee sought and got a second court order that this was not real reinstatement. The employer was ordered to allow the employee to return to the office and perform his habitual work there on pain of a penalty of € 100 for each day of non-compliance. The employer challenged this penalty, but without success.
Nazorg ex-gedetineerden – tien jaar na invoering
Authors: van Duijvenbooden Karel
Published: April 2016

The project ‘Follow-up care for former detainees’ – ten years after its introduction: looking back and taking stock

In 2002, the Dutch Ministry of Justice introduced the programme ‘Reducing Recidivism’ to reduce high recidivism rates among ex-prisoners. As part of this programme, a special project called ‘Follow-up care for former detainees’ was launched late 2004. Until then, little attention had been given to this topic and there had not been any organised form of cooperation between municipalities and penal institutions. In many cases the basic conditions for reintegration were not well arranged. The main aim of the project was to establish a connection between prisons and municipalities by which the basic conditions for social reintegration could be settled. First, cooperation at working level practice was established. In 2007, this practice was confirmed at a political administrative level. In doing so, a unique form of cooperation between prison services and municipalities for follow-up care for former detainees has been realised in the Netherlands.
Reversed phase parallel artificial membrane permeation assay for log P measurement
Authors: Song Zihao , Terada Katsuhide , Sugano Kiyohiko
Published: April 2016

A reversed phase parallel artificial membrane permeation assay (RP-PAMPA) was newly invented for log P measurement. An oil/water/oil sandwich was constructed using a conventional PAMPA instrument. 1 % agarose was used to improve the physical stability of the water phase. A linear correlation between log P and the apparent permeability was observed in the -0.24 < log P < 2.85 region (R2 = 0.98). RP-PAMPA was also applied to pKa measurement.
Quantitation of Deltamethrin in Rat Liver and Muscle Homogenates Using Dispersive Solid-Phase Extraction with GC-NCI-MS
Authors: Gullick Darren R , Bruckner James V , White Catherine A , Chen Chen , Cummings Brian S , Bartlett Michael G
Published: April 2016

An improved bioanalytical method to determine pyrethroids from small-volume (300 μL) rat liver and muscle homogenates was developed, validated, and applied to small-animal studies. The method used dispersive SPE (d-SPE) to clean the samples, and GC negative chemical ion MS (GC-NCI-MS) to analyze the samples. High-quality trace analysis of pyrethroids in biological samples was necessary to assess the health risk of environmentally encountered levels. Currently used highly sensitive methods to measure pyrethroids have focused on large-volume samples related to environmental exposure (water, soil, food products) or urine; however, there are no validated methods for quantifying this class of compounds in small-volume rat liver and muscle tissue homogenates. Individual rat tissue homogenate samples (300 μL) were prepared by protein precipitation using hexane-saturated acetonitrile. The samples were mixed on a vortex mixer and decanted into a d-SPE tube containing octadecylsilyl (C18) and primary secondary amine (PSA) sorbents and magnesium sulfate. The samples were centrifuged before evaporation to dryness. Pyrethroids were extracted and reconstituted from the residue using toluene in advance of injection into an Agilent Model 6890N gas chromatograph equipped with a Model 5973 quadrupole mass analyzer. Samples were ionized via electron capture in the negative ion mode using methane as a chemical ionization gas. Six qualifying ions were monitored using selected-ion monitoring for quantitation and verification of the analyte. Cis-permethrin was used as the internal standard. Method linearity was from 1 to 500 ng/mL for muscle and liver homogenates. The inter- and intraday precision and accuracy of the method were better than 20% at the lower LOQ and better than 15% over the remainder of the linear range. The method was used to elucidate tissue time-courses of deltamethrin (DLM) disposition following oral dosing of rats with 1 to 5 mg/kg in corn oil. DLM was monitored in rat tissue samples ≤24 h following dosing. Sample cleanup with d-SPE provided more selective chromatography than previous analytical methods.
Memory, Language, and the Making of Truth
Authors: Cvetković Carmen Angela ,   Instituto Patristico Augustinianum
Published: April 2016

For over a century modern scholars have passionately debated whether Augustine’s conversion narrative from Confessions 8 is an accurate description of what ‘has really happened’ in 386 in a garden in Milan without reaching so far a consensus. However, long before modern scholars disputed the historicity of his conversion account Augustine was already confronted with the mistrust of his contemporaries who doubted the authenticity of his conversion and compelled to deal with their accusations. This article intends to show how in the Confessions Augustine defends the truth of his narrative while admitting to his incredulous readers his inability to offer an exact picture of his past life, by looking at his views on memory, language and cognition, as presented mainly in the last non-narrative books of this work.
High-Throughput Phenotypic Screening of Human Astrocytes to Identify Compounds That Protect Against Oxidative Stress
Authors: Thorne Natasha , Malik Nasir , Shah Sonia , Zhao Jean , Class Bradley , Aguisanda Francis , Southall Noel , Xia Menghang , McKew John C. , Rao Mahendra , Zheng Wei
Published: April 2016

Astrocytes are the predominant cell type in the nervous system and play a significant role in maintaining neuronal health and homeostasis. Recently, astrocyte dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Astrocytes are thus an attractive new target for drug discovery for neurological disorders. Using astrocytes differentiated from human embryonic stem cells, we have developed an assay to identify compounds that protect against oxidative stress, a condition associated with many neurodegenerative diseases. This phenotypic oxidative stress assay has been optimized for high-throughput screening in a 1,536-well plate format. From a screen of approximately 4,100 bioactive tool compounds and approved drugs, we identified a set of 22 that acutely protect human astrocytes from the consequences of hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress. Nine of these compounds were also found to be protective of induced pluripotent stem cell-differentiated astrocytes in a related assay. These compounds are thought to confer protection through hormesis, activating stress-response pathways and preconditioning astrocytes to handle subsequent exposure to hydrogen peroxide. In fact, four of these compounds were found to activate the antioxidant response element/nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 pathway, a protective pathway induced by toxic insults. Our results demonstrate the relevancy and utility of using astrocytes differentiated from human stem cells as a disease model for drug discovery and development.

Significance

Astrocytes play a key role in neurological diseases. Drug discovery efforts that target astrocytes can identify novel therapeutics. Human astrocytes are difficult to obtain and thus are challenging to use for high-throughput screening, which requires large numbers of cells. Using human embryonic stem cell-derived astrocytes and an optimized astrocyte differentiation protocol, it was possible to screen approximately 4,100 compounds in titration to identify 22 that are cytoprotective of astrocytes. This study is the largest-scale high-throughput screen conducted using human astrocytes, with a total of 17,536 data points collected in the primary screen. The results demonstrate the relevancy and utility of using astrocytes differentiated from human stem cells as a disease model for drug discovery and development.
Massive Clonal Selection and Transiently Contributing Clones During Expansion of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Cultures Revealed by Lentiviral RGB-Barcode Technology
Authors: Selich Anton , Daudert Jannik , Hass Ralf , Philipp Friederike , von Kaisenberg Constantin , Paul Gabi , Cornils Kerstin , Fehse Boris , Rittinghausen Susanne , Schambach Axel , Rothe Michael
Published: April 2016

Mesenchymal stem (or stromal) cells (MSCs) have been used in more than 400 clinical trials for the treatment of various diseases. The clinical benefit and reproducibility of results, however, remain extremely variable. During the in vitro expansion phase, which is necessary to achieve clinically relevant cell numbers, MSCs show signs of aging accompanied by different contributions of single clones to the mass culture. Here we used multicolor lentiviral barcode labeling to follow the clonal dynamics during in vitro MSC expansion from whole umbilical cord pieces (UCPs). The clonal composition was analyzed by a combination of flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, and deep sequencing. Starting with highly complex cell populations, we observed a massive reduction in diversity, transiently dominating populations, and a selection of single clones over time. Importantly, the first wave of clonal constriction already occurred in the early passages during MSC expansion. Consecutive MSC cultures from the same UCP implied the existence of more primitive, MSC culture-initiating cells. Our results show that microscopically homogenous MSC mass cultures consist of many subpopulations, which undergo clonal selection and have different capabilities. Among other factors, the clonal composition of the graft might have an impact on the functional properties of MSCs in experimental and clinical settings.

Significance

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can easily be obtained from various adult or embryonal tissues and are frequently used in clinical trials. For their clinical application, MSCs have to be expanded in vitro. This unavoidable step influences the features of MSCs, so that clinical benefit and experimental results are often highly variable. Despite a homogenous appearance under the microscope, MSC cultures undergo massive clonal selection over time. Multicolor fluorescence labeling and deep sequencing were used to demonstrate the dynamic clonal composition of MSC cultures, which might ultimately explain the variable clinical performance of the cells.