bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Euthanasia in South Africa: Philosophical and theological considerations
Authors: Koenane Mojalefa L.J.
Published: February 2017

Debates on euthanasia (or �mercy killing�) have been a concern in moral, philosophical, legal, theological, cultural and sociological discourse for centuries. The topic of euthanasia inspires a variety of strong views of which the �slippery slope� argument is one. The latter warns that the principle(s) underlying any ethical issue (including euthanasia) may be distorted. Scholars� views on euthanasia are influenced mainly by cultural, personal, political and religious convictions. In South Africa, the issue of euthanasia has arisen from time to time, but the question of whether it should be legalised was not seriously considered until it recently attracted attention because of a particular case, that of Cape Town advocate Robin StranshamFord. Although euthanasia is still illegal (this is because the Stransham-Ford ruling is confined to this particular case only), as stated in the ratio decidendi by Judge Hans Fabricius of the High Court in Pretoria, the Court granted leave to appeal its April 2015 judgement regarding euthanasia in the application lodged by Stransham-Ford. In considering the contentious nature of the issue of euthanasia, this article adopts a multidisciplinary approach which includes historical, legal, theological, philosophical, theoretical and analytic frameworks, discussing euthanasia from philosophical and theological perspectives, in particular. We conclude by recommending that the subject of applied ethics, which helps to educate citizens about contemporary moral problems such as euthanasia, be introduced at school level. Exposing young people to the debates around thorny issues such as this would familiarise them with the discourse, encourage them to engage with it and empower them as mature citizens to make informed, reasonable decisions, obviating confusion and conflict which might otherwise arise. The problems surrounding the issue of euthanasia are multidimensional and have the capacity to polarise the nation and destroy families.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The article challenges government tendencies to decide on its own to make policy decisions on which society does not have input; thus against the Batho Pele principle of participation. We suggest that applied ethics be introduced earlier at the school level and be carried onto tertiary education to ensure effective citizen participation.
Combination 11 Conductors and 4 Pairs ECBS Cable
Authors:   Truck and Bus Electrical Systems Committee
Published: February 2017

This SAE standard establishes the minimum construction and performance requirements for a combination cable consisting of 11 conductors and 4 twisted pairs for use on trucks, trailers, and dollies in conjunction with SAEJ2691. (15 pole connectors.) The cable includes both power and unjacketed SAE J1939-15 paired signal circuits along with dual ground wires to accommodate grounding requirements within the constraints of the SAE J2691 terminal capacity.
Graphics - Based Service Information
Authors:   Graphics Based Service Information Committee
Published: February 2017

This document establishes standard graphical symbols and color conventions for use in either still (static) or animated graphics used for communicating service information. This document’s purpose is to communicate conventions for using those symbols and colors to accurately and consistently communicate intended information via graphics-based documentation. These practices are intended for use in service procedures, assembly instructions, training materials, and similar applications when trying to minimize the amount of human natural language text used within the document. The still and animated graphical conventions referenced should support effective communication via paper and “traditional” electronic media. The conventions can also extend to documenting via additional electronic delivery paradigms such as Augmented Reality (AR).

This document is intended for organizations interested in using graphics-based documentation to record and communicate assembly, adjustment, maintenance, and other service procedures.

Adoption of this document’s recommendations involves a series of business decisions. An organization choosing to follow this recommended practice is able to decide to implement the entire set of recommendations or to selectively adopt only those recommendations it determines are appropriate for their unique needs and situation. Short and long-term retention of an organization’s legacy symbols and conventions are options to consider. Implementation may be partial or progress through multiple stages towards the full set of recommendations. In all situations, realizing this document’s maximum, long-term benefits for all companies, organizations, and people requires that the symbols, colors, and conventions recommended be widely taught and applied.
Graphics - Based Service Information
Authors:   Graphics Based Service Information Committee
Published: February 2017

This Digital Annex (DA) contains the current, full-PDF version
of J2892,
Graphic-Based Service Information, and all of the 130
referenced graphical symbols. Each of the symbols is presented in
two file formats, Adobe Illustrator (vector art) and Portable
Network Graphic (raster image), and can be used by purchasers
according to the terms of the included license agreement.
Determination of the Effective Projected Luminous Lens Area (EPLLA) by Design Analysis
Authors:   Test Methods and Equipment Stds Committee
Published: February 2017

This SAE Standard provides a method for determining the Effective Projected Luminous Lens Area (EPLLA) of a lamp function using design analysis. This standard was created to clarify and address how to determine EPLLA with traditional and new technologies. Lamps can be evaluated using the method described in SAE J3333; however, no lamp is subjected to both methods.
Hydraulic Flanged Tube, Pipe, and Hose Connections, 4-Screw Flange Connection Part 2: 42 MPa (Code 62)
Authors:   Hydraulic Hose and Hose Fittings Committee
Published: February 2017

This SAE Standard covers general and dimensional specifications for the Code 62 metric (type 1) and inch (type 2) flanged heads, flange clamps (FC and FCM), and split flange clamps (FCS & FCSM) applicable to four-screw flange type tube, pipe, and hose connections. Also included are the recommended port dimensions and port design considerations. Type 2 (inch) flange clamps and split flanges are not for new design.

The flange heads specified are incorporated into fittings having suitable means for attachment of tubes, pipes, or hoses to provide connection ends. These connections are intended for application in hydraulic systems, on industrial and commercial products, where it is desired to avoid the use of threaded connections.

The rated working pressure of an assembly shall not exceed the least of all the component working pressure rated values.

The following general specifications supplement the dimensional data contained in the tables with respect to all unspecified detail. Parts manufactured to this standard are interchangeable with ISO 6162-2 and connectors to either standard can be supplied.
Dimensional and Performance Specification for After-Market Gasoline Engine Oil Filters
Authors:   USCAR
Published: February 2017

This specification defines the dimensional and performance requirements for aftermarket spin-on oil filters intended for use on gasoline engines. Filters meeting this specification may also be suitable for use on some diesel applications.

Filters meeting these dimensional limits are intended to meet the oil filter fit and package requirements for engine and vehicle designs.

Filters meeting the performance requirements are intended to maintain sufficient durability to support many of the OEM's recommended oil change intervals. Some OEM engines may require special filters for which this specification would not support.
Sources of Particulate Matter in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region: Investigation through a Comparison of Trace Element Measurement Methodologies
Authors: Phillips-Smith Catherine , Jeong Cheol-Heon , Healy Robert M. , Dabek-Zlotorzynska Ewa , Celo Valbona , Brook Jeffrey R. , Evans Greg
Published: February 2017

Abstract. The province of Alberta, Canada is home to three oil sands regions which, combined, contain the third largest deposit of oil in the world. Of these, the Athabasca Oil Sands Region is the largest. As part of Environment and Climate Change Canada's program in support of the Joint Canada-Alberta Implementation Plan for Oil Sands Monitoring program, concentrations of trace metals in PM2.5 were measured through two campaigns that involved different methodologies: a long-term filter campaign and a short term intensive campaign. In the long-term campaign, 24-hr filter samples were collected one-in-six days over a two-year period (Dec. 2010–Nov. 2012) at three air monitoring stations in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. For the intensive campaign (Aug. 2013), hourly measurements were made with an on-line instrument at one air monitoring station; daily filter samples were also collected. The hourly and 24-h filter data were analysed individually using positive matrix factorization. Seven emission sources of PM2.5 were thereby identified: two types of Upgrader Emissions, Soil, Haul Road Dust, Biomass Burning, and two sources of mixed origin. The Upgrader Emissions, Soil, and Haul Road Dust sources were identified through both the methodologies and both methodologies identified a mixed source, but these exhibited more differences than similarities. The second Upgrader Emissions and Biomass Burning sources were only resolved by the hourly and filter methodologies, respectively. The similarity of the receptor modeling results from the two methodologies provided reassurance as to the identity of the sources. Overall much of the PM2.5 related metal was found to be anthropogenic, or at least to be aerosolized through anthropogenic activities. These emissions may in part explain the previously reported higher levels of metals in snow, water, and biota samples collected near the oil sands operations.
A Parameterization of Heterogeneous Hydrolysis of N2O5 for 3-D Atmospheric Modelling: Improvement of Particulate Nitrate Prediction
Authors: Chen Ying , Wolke Ralf , Ran Liang , Birmili Wolfram , Spindler Gerald , Schröder Wolfram , Su Hang , Cheng Yafang , Tegen Ina , Wiedensohler Alfred
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Heterogeneous hydrolysis of N2O5 on the surface of deliquescent aerosol particles leads to HNO3 formation and acts as a major sink of NOx in the atmosphere during nighttime. The reaction constant of this heterogeneous hydrolysis is determined by temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), aerosol particle composition as well as the surface area concentration (S). However, its parameterization in previous 3-D modelling studies did not comprehensively consider these parameters. In this investigation, we propose a sophisticated parameterization of the heterogeneous hydrolysis of N2O5 with respect to T, RH, aerosol particle compositions and S, based on laboratory experiments. This new parameterization was incorporated into a 3-D fully online coupled model: COSMO-MUSCAT. As case study, we used the data from the HOPE-Melpitz campaign (10–25 September 2013). Here, we investigated the improvement of nitrate prediction over the western and central Europe. The modelled particulate nitrate mass concentrations ([NO3−]) were validated by filter measurements over Germany (Neuglobsow, Schmücke, Zingst, and Melpitz). The modelled [NO3−] were significantly overestimated for this period by a factor of 5–19, with the corrected NH3 emissions (reduced by 50 %) and the original parameterization of N2O5 heterogeneous hydrolysis. The proposed new parameterization significantly reduces the overestimation of [NO3−] by ~ 35 %. Particularly, the overestimation factor was reduced to approximately 1.4 within our case study period (September 12, 17–18 and 25, 2013), when [NO3−] was dominated by local chemical formations. Furthermore, the organic coating effect on a suppression of the N2O5 reaction probability may have been also significantly overestimated in previous modelling studies, due to a strong overestimation of the N2O5 reaction probability on coatings. Based on the original parameterization, previous studies reported a decrease of modelled [NO3−] up to 90 %, where both secondary organic aerosol (SOA) and N2O5 were built-up over western and central Europe. For this case study, the suppression of organic coating was negligible over western and central Europe, with influence on [NO3−] less than 2 % on average and 20 % at the most significant moment. As for a significant impact of the organic coating effect, N2O5, SOA and NH3 need to be present when RH is high and T is low. However, those conditions were rarely fulfilled simultaneously over western and central Europe. Hence, the organic coating effect on reaction probability of N2O5 over Europe may not be as important as expected in previous studies.
Seasonal provenance changes of present-day Saharan dust collected on- and offshore Mauritania
Authors: Friese Carmen A. , van Hateren Hans , Vogt Christoph , Fischer Gerhard , Stuut Jan-Berend W.
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Saharan dust has a crucial influence on the earth climate system and its emission, transport, and deposition are intimately related to environmental parameters. The alteration in the physical and chemical properties of Saharan dust due to changes in environmental parameters is often used to reconstruct the climate of the past. However, to better interpret possible climate changes the dust source regions need to be known. By analysing the mineralogical composition of transported or deposited dust, potential dust source areas can be inferred. Summer dust transport offshore Northwest Africa occurs in the Saharan air layer (SAL). In contrast, dust transport in continental dust source areas occurs predominantly with the trade winds. Hence, the source regions and related mineralogical tracers differ with season and sampling location. To test this, dust collected in traps onshore and in oceanic sediment traps offshore Mauritania during 2013 to 2015 was analysed. Meteorological data, particle-size distributions, back-trajectory and mineralogical analyses were compared to derive the dust provenance and dispersal. For the onshore dust samples, the source regions varied according to the seasonal changes in trade-wind direction. Gibbsite and dolomite indicated a Western Saharan and local source during summer, while chlorite, serpentine and rutile indicated a source in Mauritania and Mali during winter. In contrast, for the samples that were collected offshore, dust sources varied according to the seasonal change in the dust transporting air layer. In summer, dust was transported in the SAL from Mauritania, Mali and Libya as indicated by ferryglaucophane and zeolite. In winter, dust was transported with the Trades from the Western Sahara as indicated by e.g. sepiolite and fluellite.
Modelling past, present and future peatland carbon accumulation
across the pan-Arctic
Authors: Chaudhary Nitin , Miller Paul A. , Smith Benjamin
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Most northern peatlands developed during the Holocene, sequestering large amounts of carbon in terrestrial ecosystems. However, recent syntheses have highlighted the gaps in our understanding of peatland carbon accumulation. Assessments of the long-term carbon accumulation rate and possible warming driven changes in these accumulation rates can therefore benefit from process-based modelling studies. We employed an individual- and patch-based dynamic global ecosystem model with dynamic peatland and permafrost functionality and vegetation dynamics to quantify long-term carbon accumulation rates and to assess the effects of historical and projected climate change on peatland carbon balances across the pan-Arctic. Our results are broadly consistent with published regional and global carbon accumulation estimates. A majority of modelled peatland sites in Scandinavia, Europe, Russia and Central and eastern Canada change from carbon sinks through the Holocene to potential carbon sources in the coming century. In contrast, the carbon sink capacity of modelled sites in Siberia, Far East Russia, Alaska and western and northern Canada was predicted to increase in the coming century. The greatest changes were evident in eastern Siberia, northwest Canada and in Alaska, where peat production, from being hampered by permafrost and low productivity due the cold climate in these regions in the past, was simulated to increase greatly due to warming, wetter climate and greater CO2 levels by the year 2100. In contrast, our model predicts that sites that are expected to experience reduced precipitation rates and are currently permafrost free will lose more carbon in the future.
Comparison of performance of tile drainage routines in SWAT 2009
and 2012 in an extensively tile-drained watershed in the Midwest
Authors: Guo Tian , Gitau Margaret , Merwade Venkatesh , Arnold Jeffrey , Srinivasan Raghavan , Hirschi Michael , Engel Bernard
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Subsurface tile drainage systems are widely used in agricultural watersheds in the Midwestern U.S. Tile drainage systems enable the Midwest area to become highly productive agricultural lands, but can also create environmental problems, for example nitrate-N contamination associated with drainage waters. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) has been used to model watersheds with tile drainage. SWAT2012 revisions 615 and 645 provide new tile drainage routines. However, few studies have used these revisions to study tile drainage impacts at both field and watershed scales. Moreover, SWAT2012 revision 645 improved the soil moisture based curve number calculation method, which has not been fully tested. This study used long-term (1991–2003) field site and river station data from the Little Vermilion River (LVR) watershed to evaluate performance of tile drainage routines in SWAT2009 revision 528 (the old routine) and SWAT2012 revisions 615 and 645 (the new routine). Both routines provided reasonable but unsatisfactory uncalibrated flow and nitrate loss results. Calibrated monthly tile flow, surface flow, nitrate-N in tile and surface flow, sediment and annual corn and soybean yield results from SWAT with the old and new tile drainage routines were compared with observed values. Generally, the new routine provided acceptable simulated tile flow (NSE = 0.50–0.68) and nitrate in tile flow (NSE = 0.50–0.77) for both field sites with random pattern tile and constant tile spacing, while the old routine simulated tile flow and nitrate in tile flow results for the field site with constant tile spacing were unacceptable (NSE = −0.77– −0.20 and −0.99–0.21 respectively). The new modified curve number calculation method in revision 645 (NSE = 0.56–0.82) better simulated surface runoff than revision 615 (NSE = −5.95 ~ 0.5). Calibration provided reasonable parameter sets for the old and new routines in LVR watershed, and the validation results showed that the new routine has the potential to accurately simulate hydrologic processes in mildly-sloped watersheds.
Water yield following forest–grass–forest transitions
Authors: Elliott Katherine J. , Caldwell Peter V. , Brantley Steven T. , Miniat Chelcy F. , Vose James M. , Swank Wayne T.
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Many currently forested areas in the southern Appalachians were harvested in the early 1900s and cleared for agriculture or pasture, but have since been abandoned and reverted to forest (old-field succession). Land-use and land-cover changes such as these may have altered the timing and quantity of water yield (Q). We examined 80 years of streamflow and vegetation data in an experimental watershed that underwent forest–grass–forest conversion (i.e., old-field succession treatment). We hypothesized that changes in forest species composition and water use would largely explain long-term changes in Q. Aboveground biomass was comparable among watersheds before the treatment (208.3 Mg ha−1), and again after 45 years of forest regeneration (217.9 Mg ha−1). However, management practices in the treatment watershed altered resulting species composition compared to the reference watershed. Evapotranspiration (ET) and Q in the treatment watershed recovered to pretreatment levels after 9 years of abandonment, then Q became less (averaging 5.4 % less) and ET more (averaging 4.5 % more) than expected after the 10th year up to the present day. We demonstrate that the decline in Q and corresponding increase in ET could be explained by the shift in major forest species from predominantly Quercus and Carya before treatment to predominantly Liriodendron and Acer through old-field succession. The annual change in Q can be attributed to changes in seasonal Q. The greatest management effect on monthly Q occurred during the wettest (i.e., above median Q) growing-season months, when Q was significantly lower than expected. In the dormant season, monthly Q was higher than expected during the wettest months.
The Effect of Using Hypermedia Web Browsers on EFL Students' Achievement in Writing Academic Essays
Authors: Al-Sha'r Awatif Abu
Published: February 2017

This study assesses the effect of using hypermedia web browsers including hypertext links on EFL university students' achievement in writing academic essays in English compared to using other two writing approaches ( The product writing approach and the process writing approach). The participants of the study (108 undergraduates enrolled in Writing II Course at Al-al-Bayt University) were assigned to 3 groups: group A (36) used the product writing approach; group B (35) used the process writing approach; whereas group C (37), which was assigned as the experimental group used the hypermedia web browsers approach. Every participant in the three groups produced four essays on topics chosen from current oriented events under the required conditions of each approach. Twelve weeks later, the participants were asked to write the same three essays after implementing the experiment. Two English language instructors from the English Language Department were asked to follow the procedures and instructions of teaching this writing course. One has taught groups A and B in the classrooms using the product writing and the process writing approaches while the other taught the experimental group (group C) via using hypermedia web browsers approach in the computer lab. Means, standard deviations and ANCOVA were used for statistical analysis. Three categories of assessing the writing essays (organization, content, style and mechanics) were considered in correcting the participants' written essays. The experiment lasted for three months during the first semester of 2015/2016. The findings indicated that there were statistically significant differences in the mean scores of the post-written essays of group C due to browsing the web for relevant information on current events. Recommendations were included for pedagogical purposes in the writing courses in English for EFL students at the university level.
Acciones para elevar el conocimiento de la educación ambiental en la comunidad Natividad del Municipio La Sierpe
Authors: Valdivia Valdés Maité Felicia , Calderón Leiva Julio César
Published: February 2017

Este trabajo ha constituido una revisión crítica sobre temas relacionados con el medio ambiente y el deterioro del mismo, tanto en el mundo como en Cuba y la necesidad de elevar este conocimiento en los habitantes de la comunidad Natividad del municipio de la Sierpe en la provincia Sancti-Spíritus, Cuba. Se realizó un diagnóstico de las principales problemáticas existentes en la comunidad y así seguir modelos que conduzcan al desarrollo sostenible. El trabajo ha propuesto acciones directas que desarrollen los individuos en su medio para mejorar su calidad de vida.
Vesicoureteral reflux: From prophylaxis to surgery
Authors: Blais Anne-Sophie , Bolduc Stéphane , Moore Katherine
Published: February 2017

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is one of the most common pathologies encountered in pediatric urology. Better understanding of the evolution of VUR and new endoscopic surgical techniques in the last decades have led to major changes in the management of this pathology. However, the treatment algorithm remains complex and is composed of a wide variety of options, from active surveillance to surgical treatment. Herein, we propose to review treatment options for VUR in order to help clinicians make the right treatment decision for the right patient.
Research on Enhancing the Actual Effects of Multimedia Teaching in Colleges and Universities
Authors: Yu Xiaomei
Published: February 2017

Multimedia teaching is a basic means of teaching. It is an indispensable means to improve teaching quality and effect, to arouse the enthusiasm of students, and to enhance the learning atmosphere of classroom teaching. However, some multimedia practitioners have shortcomings and a one-sided understanding of multimedia teaching. This can reduce the practical benefits of multimedia teaching in colleges and universities.This paper analyzes the problems and practical effects of multimedia teaching. It seeks to describe the current practices of multimedia teaching in colleges and universities, and puts forward some basic strategies to enhance its effectiveness for the information of multimedia users.
The Civil-Military Integration and the Development of Education System in Defense Institutions: Indonesia’s Case
Authors: Muradi Muradi
Published: February 2017

There are demands for defense educational institution to contribute in general knowledge, not only in the substance of war and defense science. It is also related to current threat against a country that is no longer just conventional, but also non-conventional threats that cover dynamics in civil society. This paper will discuss civil-military integration (CMI) in the development of education in military and defense institutions in Indonesia. It will also offer five levels of CMI in education. Each level has different CMI weights in education. In addition, this paper argues that CMI as part of Civil-Military Relations (CMR) provides a perspective that the development of education in military and defense institution can not simply adopt the general education system and pattern in civil institutions, but require the integration of mutually reinforcing and confirms the characteristics and patterns of education in professional military institution without losing the distinctiveness of education in the defense institution.
Analysis of the Low-Income Housing in Isfahan Metropolis
Authors: Samsam Shariat Sayyed Jamaleddin , Zarrabi Asghar , Taghvaei Masoud
Published: February 2017

Despite the importance of housing in human life, the provision of adequate and affordable housing for all people is one of the current problems of the human society because almost half of the world’s population lives in poverty and about 600 to 800 million people reside in substandard housing conditions. The present study, therefore, has been conducted in order to identify the needy groups and, too, housing the low-income groups in Isfahan City. The study is a fundamental-applied research adopting a descriptive-analytical methodology. Variables of the research are the income deciles, housing quantity developments, land and housing prices, the system of housing finance, housing status in the expenditure basket of the low-income households, the Gini coefficient of housing costs, the effective demand for housing in the income deciles considering the area of infrastructure and the access to housing index. The findings reveal that the year 2008 had the highest increase in the housing prices with an increase as 20.4% and the lowest one refers to the year 2010 with an increase as 8.6%. The Gini coefficient of housing cost for urban households shows a downtrend until 2005 and from 2006 onward, the gap has started to increase. Regarding access to the housing index, the results show that in 2003 the low income decile could afford one square meter of housing by saving the total household income for 75 days; whereas in 2011, this degree raised to 206 days. What is noteworthy here is the deep gap between the high-income and low-income deciles in the saving days for one square meter, which differs 10.5 times between the first decile and the tenth decile.
The Factors that Affecting on the Consumers' Continuing to Use Internet Services in the Banking Industry: Empirical Evidence from Abu Dhabi, UAE
Authors: Al-Qudah Anas Ali
Published: February 2017

The aim of the current study is to discover and examine the factors that affecting consumer’s and dealers' in banking services to continue using internet banking (electronic services) in United Arab Emirates. one of the most important goal in the banking sectors is a new customer acquisition, but actually the measures of continued the new customer with the bank is more important, that called in the marketing science 'retaining customers'. And one of the most effective methods to do that is make the electronic services more attractive to customers and accorded more attention to the internet banking, to make it understandable and enforceable by any customer. The current study is a natural reaction to a gap in the current references and researches which needed the produce of more unified theoretical analysis and the determination of factors that affect the continuing using of internet banking in the regard of importance to consumers, customers, and banking dealers.The researcher trying through this study to offer a many concepts depend on theoretical models regarding to the assenting of technology that used in banking industry and circulate of creative theories in this field. The Virtual model of this study includes some variables were created by the main factors from the researcher point eye view depend on some literature was taken in consideration, these factors: Technology, channel and social factors, which effect on the customers through continuing using of internet banking. And in the regarding of Data collection, it was collected using a questionnaire was contributed in Marina mall in Abu Dhabi mall (http://www.marinamall.ae/). A sample of this study includes 292 internet banking users. After run regression for this Data by some types analysis methods the researcher used the result of Likert scale, factor clarification and hierarchical multiple analysis, the main result of this study that the factors chosen in the model have a significantly impact on continuing using of internet banking.
An Investigation into Methodology and Metrics Employed to Evaluate the (Speech-to-Speech) Way in Translation Systems
Authors: Dashtaki Parnyan Bahrami
Published: February 2017

Speech-to-speech translation is a challenging problem, due to poor sentence planning typically associated with spontaneous speech, as well as errors caused by automatic speech recognition. Based upon a statistically trained speech translation system, in this study, we try to investigate methodologies and metrics employed to assess the (speech-to-speech) way in translation systems. The speech translation is performed incrementally based on generation of partial hypotheses from speech recognition. Speech-input translation can be properly approached as a pattern recognition problem by means of statistical alignment models and stochastic finite-state transducers. Under this general framework, some specific models are presented. One of the features of such models is their capability of automatically learning from training examples. The speech translation system consists of three modules: automatic speech recognition, machine translation and text to speech synthesis. Many procedures for incorporation of speech recognition and machine translation have been projected. In this research, we want explore methodologies and metrics employed to assess the (speech-to-speech) way in translation systems.
Development of Commercial Law in the Slovak Republic - Outline of problems
Authors: Mamojka Mojmír , Dworzecki Jacek
Published: February 2017

The article concerns the issue of trade law in the context of its evolution and the current realities of its being in force in Republic of Slovakia. In the paper the authors present an historical view of the creation of legal regulations about trade from ancient times to present days. In the first part of the paper the political system and its components are discussed. The reader will be able to acquaint themselves with the functioning of the apparatus of executive power (the government and ministries), legislative power (the parliament consisting of 150 members) and judiciary (independent courts and prosecutors) in the Republic of Slovakia. Moreover, this part of the article provides information about practical aspects of the creation of selected components of the constitutional legal order (e.g. parliamentary elections). In the second part, the paper covers the evolution of trade law over the centuries, approaches to regulations in Mesopotamia, based on, inter alia, the Code of Hammurabi, and also in ancient Egypt and Greece. Tracing the development of trade law over the centuries, the authors also present the evolution of legal regulations in this field in the XIX century, with particular reference to France, Germany and Austria-Hungary (especially the territory which today forms the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic). In the last part of the article, the forming of regulations of trade law in Czechoslovakia from 1918 and during subsequent periods which created the history of that country, to the overthrow communism and the peaceful division of the state in 1993 into two separate, independent state organisms – the Czech Republic and Slovakia - is approached.
Unemployment as a threat to society – an analysis of the situation in Poland and selected countries of the European Union
Authors: Łachacz Tomasz , Zagulski Sylwester
Published: February 2017

Unemployment is classified today as one of the main threats to society. The phenomenon affects the lives of individuals, the functioning of families and society and development of the state. It is often the source of other social problems such as poverty, violence, or social pathologies. The article presents the scale and nature of unemployment occurring after 1989 in Poland and in selected European Union countries, i.e. the Netherlands, Spain, Slovakia and Latvia. It attempts to show the characteristic trends of the phenomenon over a period of more than two decades. Examples from the European countries analysed show that the situation in the labour market and the approach to employment are radically different. Individual countries are characterised by very different unemployment rates, which reflect their different size, economic and demographic potential, or are associated with the tradition of employment. The existence of differences seems to be normal, but their scale may give rise to concern.
A characteristic feature of unemployment in the period analysed is its regional diversity, both in Poland and in the whole of the European community. Important factors that determine the level of unemployment are age, sex, education and people’s qualifications. The effects of long-term unemployment are very painful for the whole of society. Such a situation can lead to, amongst others, poverty, societal antagonism, violence and migration. The latter is an issue that the whole of Europe is currently struggling with. The uncontrolled influx of immigrants, including those migrating for economic reasons, causes fear of losing their job among Europeans, which in turn translates into the radicalisation of society. A role of the state and the EU institutions is to create an effective mechanism for the protection and support of the unemployed. This is a prerequisite for Europeans to continue the project which is a common united Europe.
In Silico Comparison of Disulfide-Bearing and Disulfide-Free Phytases among Microorganisms
Authors: Ebrahimi Shirin , Jamei Rashid , Ghasemian Abdolmajid , Mostafavi Seyyed Khalil Shokouhi
Published: February 2017

Phytases are degrading enzymes that hydrolyze phytate (myo inositol hexa kis phosphate) to release a series of lower phosphate esters of myoinositol and orthophosphate. Phytase successfully used as an animal feed additive to increase the bioavailability of phosphate from phytic acid in the grain-based diets of poultry and swine. In order to investigate structural relationships between disulfide-bearing phytases and disulfide-free phytases, 9 phytases with resolved three-dimensional (3D) structure were retrieved as pdb and FASFA format from Protein Data Bank server and were analyzed using various tools and software. The results showed that 6 out of 9 phytases carry three or more disulfid bonds while the others lack any disulfide bonds. Our results also demonstrated that there is a remarkable correlation between the presence of disulfide bond and the number of amino acid in each phytase which means the larger enzymes contain three or more disulfide bonds whereas the enzymes containing less than 400 amino acids lack any disulfide bond. Additionally, in order to dig out the structure of phytases, some chemical and physical characteristics of phytases such as aliphatic index (AI), isoelectric pH (PI), amino acids percentage, molecular weights (MW) and 3D structure of phytases were analyzed. Results showed that phytases containing disulfide bonds have some identical characteristic including glycine percentage, AI, and 3D structure rather than disulfide-free phytases do. Moreover, evolutionary surveys by means of alignment studies and evaluations were conducted. Evolutionary analysis represented that phytases with disulfide bond most probably exhibited the same evolutionary course.
Dall’Impero del Sol Levante alle terre del Sol Ponente: la (s)fortuna dello haiku in America latina tra esotismi, stereotipizzazioni e lodevoli eccezioni
Authors: Irina Bajini
Published: February 2017

My article discusses the dissemination of the haiku in Hispanic American Literature from Modernism to the present day. It reviews, therefore, the various forms of imitation, recreation, modification, hybridisation and in some cases trivialisation of this Japanese literary form which, from Mexico to Argentina, was rarely understood in its philosophical essence of poetic expression of zen thought.
Editoriale. Il Sol Vagante, in metamorfosi tra identità e alterità
Authors: Tsuchiya Junji
Published: February 2017

Prejudice and stereotypes are so deeply embedded in our everyday thoughts and emotions as well as within all of our minds that it is difficult for us to recognize it in our own actions and judgments. This difficulty can be found in comparative studies in all disciplines, ranging from social psychological research on national character, historical studies, cultural and artistic theory and political sciences. This fact indicates to us conversely that the relationship between stereotyping and prejudice is one of great significance for social inquiries that seek to reveal the nature and characteristics of a particular country as seen in our theme of this issue on Japanese studies (Nipponjinron or Nipponshakai [bunka] ron). In this regard, each of the authors who have contributed to this issue strives to explore and clarify what Japaneseness is, while referring to social theories and thoughts that focus on issues of nationalism and cultural identity in varied fields and perspectives from history, anthropology, filmology, linguistics to the arts and tourism. In fact, there are many ways we could interpret Japaneseness, as it would be the case for any culture or society, and we could capture diversely many angles of this term. The various arguments raised in this issue are exactly what suggests Japan’s diversity constructed collectively through dynamic processes of social interaction.
Comparison of survival time of Hawley and Vacuum-formed retainers in orthhodontic patients– a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Moslemzadeh Seyed Hossein , Sohrabi Aydin , Rafighi Ali , Ghojazadeh Morteza , Rahmanian Somaieh
Published: February 2017

Background: Maintaining the results of orthodontic treatment and keeping the teeth in the corrected position is a great challenge in orthodontics. This study aimed to compare the survival time of three types of retainers including Hawley, 1-mm Vacuum-Formed (VF), and 1.5-mm VF within 6-month period. Methods: In this randomized clinical study, 152 patients were allocated into three groups to receive one type of the retainers. They were visited 1, 3, and 6 months after retainer delivery and checked for breakage, loss, local perforation, and discoloration from the patient's and clinician's point of view as indicators of failure. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used as appropriated. Result: The results revealed that breakage was among the main reasons of failure of retainers within 6 months, which was statistically significantly different between Hawley and VF retainers, as well as between 1-mm and 1.5-mm VF retainers in the three intervals (p<0.05). Concerning the loss of retainer and discoloration from the clinician's point of view, there was no significant difference between the retainers in any interval (p>0.05). Assessing the discoloration from the patient's point of view revealed statistically significant differences between Hawley and VF retainers within the first month; however, the difference was not significant at the third and sixth months (p<0.05). The difference between the two thicknesses of VF retainer was not significant in any interval (p>0.05). By the end of the sixth month, some of the VF retainers had perforation; while, perforation was not observed in Hawley retainers.Conclusion: Considering the higher breakage rate of 1-mm VF, 1.5-mm VF seems the retainer if choice.Key words: survival time; retainer; Hawley retainer; Vacuum-formed retainer;
Demographic study of patients with vertebral column trauma in North-West of Iran trauma center
Authors: Vahdati Samad Shams , Tatli Ozgur , Paknejad Pouya , Parnianfard Neda , Aygun Ali
Published: February 2017

Background: Spinal Traumatic injuries is the major damage which is associated with morbidity and mortality rates. In this study the epidemiological characteristics of trauma, spine and their relationship to outcome were investigated. Methods: In this cross sectional study, patients’ information such as age, sex, type of injury, severity of injury, site of injury trauma who admitted to Imam Reza hospital from 29 march 2012 to 20 march 2014 were included. We used Chi-square tests to compare the types of injuries associated with the injury and regression methods. Results: The spinal trauma was identified in 105 cases, of which 9/61% were male. 1.18% of patients with incomplete injury, 5/10% 4/71% damage and no injuries were full. 6/48% of vehicle accidents, 22 cases (21%) of motorcycle accidents, 14 cases  3/13% due to the fall, the equivalent of 10 5/9% of pedestrian accidents, the equivalent of 5 7/4% injury 3 people with a knife and the rest of 9/2% were due to other causes. 6 people, equivalent to 2/9% were experiencing mortality. Type of injury, site of injury and injury severity was significantly associated with outcome. Conclusion: accidents caused by motor vehicles (cars and motorcycles) are the most common cause of trauma in spines in our country. Three factors as well as stable or unstable trauma, the severity of the initial injury and the injury as factors influencing outcome were obtained. According to the achievement of the emergency department in the early diagnosis, appropriate management such as surgery in preventing complications and improving outcome becomes more clear.Key words: Trauma; Spine;
Association of suction drain tips culture with postoperative infection in benign thyroid surgeries
Authors: Ziaeddin Rasihashemi Seyed , Daghigh Faeze , Ramouz Ali , Niafar Mitra , Movassaghi Gargari Reza
Published: February 2017

Introduction: Wound infection is a rare complication after thyroid surgery. Because of controversy concerning with routine use of the drain by surgeons and its being considered a foreign body material, we aimed to evaluate the clinical significance and relevance of the drain tip culture and wound infection. Materials and methods: From March 2014 to March 2015, 150 consecutive patients undergoing thyroid surgery were studied. Wound infection was defined as occurring within the first 14 days from surgery. While we were suspicious to wound infection, sterile wound sampling was performed and sent to microbiology laboratory. Results: Postoperative infection developed in 4 patients (2.6%) during 2 weeks follow up. The sensitivity and specificity of the drain tip culture were 15% and 82%, respectively with a positive predictive value of 7.6%. Prolonged operative time was an independent risk factor for wound infection. There was no significant relationship between drain tip culture and wound infection. Conclusion: Routine use of the surgical drain can increase the incidence of the wound infection. However, the drain tip culture was not a predictor for wound complications after thyroid surgeries. Key Words: Thyroid; Wound infection; Drain; Culture;
Relationships between radiation, clouds, and convection during DYNAMO
Authors: Ciesielski Paul E. , Johnson Richard H. , Jiang Xianan , Zhang Yunyan , Xie Shaocheng
Published: February 2017

The relationships between radiation, clouds, and convection on an intraseasonal time scale are examined with data taken during the Dynamics of the Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) field campaign. Specifically, column‐net, as well as vertical profiles of radiative heating rates, computed over Gan Island in the central Indian Ocean (IO) are used along with an objective analysis of large‐scale fields to examine three MJO events that occurred during the 3 month period (October to December 2011) over this region. Longwave (LW) and shortwave radiative heating rates exhibit tilted structures, reflecting radiative effects associated with the prevalence of shallow cumulus during the dry, suppressed MJO phase followed by increasing deep convection leading into the active phase. As the convection builds going into the MJO active phase, there are increasingly top‐heavy anomalous radiative heating rates while the column‐net radiative cooling rate  progressively decreases. Temporal fluctuations in the cloud radiative forcing, being quite sensitive to changes in high cloudiness, are dominated by LW effects with an intraseasonal variation of ~0.4–0.6 K/d. While both the water vapor and cloud fields are inextricably linked, it appears that the tilted radiative structures are more related to water vapor effects. The intraseasonal variation of column‐net radiative heating  enhances the convective signal in the mean by ~20% with a minimum in this enhancement ~10 days prior to peak MJO rainfall and maximum ~7 days after. This suggests that as MJO convective envelope weakens over the central IO, cloud‐radiative feedbacks help maintain the mature MJO as it moves eastward.
Syntactic Ergativity
Authors: Polinsky Maria
Published: February 2017

This chapter presents the phenomenon of syntactic ergativity (SE), defined as the grouping of the absolutive subject and absolutive object into a natural class, to the exclusion of the ergative argument, with respect to A′‐movement. Two families of approaches to SE can be distinguished: those which place the explanatory burden on the derivation of the absolutive, and those which invoke the properties of the ergative expression to explain SE. For the first family of approaches, which include explanations based on locality and A′‐movement for case, the exclusion of the ergative from A′‐movement is a side effect of satisfying Case‐licensing needs of the absolutive. In the second type of approach, the restriction on A′‐movement of the ergative follows either from criterial freezing or from the adpositional‐phrase nature of the ergative. The approaches converge on the notion that ergative is an inherent case, assigned either by a verbal head or by an adposition selected by avhead.