bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atividade física e fatores associados em técnico-administrativos de uma universidade pública do sul do Brasil
Authors: Santos Tiago Silva dos , Lopes Samuel Volz , Caputo Eduardo Lucia , Jeronimo Jeferson Santos , Silva Marcelo Cozzensa da
Published: October 2018

O objetivo do estudo foi identificar a prevalência de atividade física (AF) e fatores associados em trabalhadores técnico-administrativos (TA) de uma universidade pública do sul do Brasil. Realizou-se um estudo transversal com TA, selecionado em múltiplos estágios. Foi utilizado um questionário estruturado autopreenchível com variáveis sociodemográficas, nutricional, comportamentais e de trabalho. O IPAQ versão longa foi utilizado para medir a AF, nos domínios de lazer, deslocamento e AF total. A regressão logística multinomial com modelo hierárquico foi utilizada para testar as associações, adotou-se valor de p < 0,05. As prevalências de AF total, no lazer e no deslocamento foram de 61,1%, 56,8% e 26,2%, respectivamente. Homens foram mais ativos que as mulheres no lazer (p = 0,047), no deslocamento (p = 0,033) e na AF total (p = 0,015). Idade mais avançada foi associada a maior AF no deslocamento (p = 0,003). Maior escolaridade foi associada com maior prática de AF total (p = 0,013) e de lazer (p = 0,014). Situação conjugal solteiro demonstrou associação somente com o domínio do deslocamento (p = 0,014). Os adultos eutróficos apresentaram maior prática de AF no lazer (p = 0,027). No mesmo sentido, os TA que a rmaram não fumar estiveram associados com AF no lazer (p = 0,002). Foi possível concluir que TA apresentam comportamentos distintos de acordo com cada domínio de AF, sendo necessárias ações pontuais que promovam a adoção do comportamento sicamente ativo entre os funcionários da instituição.
Eye to eye
Authors: Goddard Charlotte
Published: October 2018

Understanding non-verbal communication will help practitioners get on with parents, finds Charlotte Goddard
We've explored… animation
Authors: Rawstrone Annette
Published: October 2018

The children at one setting created sophisticated animations that were shown at their local cinema. By Annette Rawstrone
Go live!
Authors: Hardie Jackie
Published: October 2018

Being with animals, either in a setting or on a farm, has a plethora of benefits for children, says nursery owner Jackie Hardie
Time to Reflect
Authors: Stephens Zoe , Holt Gill
Published: October 2018

Reflect is an innovative approach to supporting children's emotional development and resilience through working with pre-school practitioners. Zoe Stephens and Gill Holt explain the method and its outcomes
Big brain?
Authors: Howard-Jones Paul
Published: October 2018

How the human brain evolved can teach us a lot about the way it learns and the most effective methods of teaching, says Professor Paul Howard-Jones in this extract from his book
Structural Capital’s Contribution to Teacher’s Job Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Organizational Commitment
Authors: Demir Selcuk
Published: October 2018

This study analyses the relationships between schools’ structural capital, teachers’ organizational commitment and job satisfaction. 32 schools were selected randomly with cluster sampling method from the primary schools at Hatay city in the 2017-2018 academic year. Of the 300 questionnaires that were distributed, 264 were found to be validated and taken into analysis. The final structural equation model suggests that schools’ structural capital perceived by teachers is positively related to teachers’ organizational commitment and job satisfaction. Organizational commitment is a full mediator in the relationship between structural capital and job satisfaction. Teachers working at schools which are perceived to have a high level of structural capital, feel more committed to their school and thereby get satisfied with their job. School administrators are recommended to invest in promoting the level of school’s structural capital, if they want teachers to be more committed and satisfied which are key factors of performance at schools.
Family Attitude, Academic Procrastination and Test Anxiety as Predictors of Academic Achievement
Authors: Borekci Caner , Uyangor Nihat
Published: October 2018

In this study, the relationship between high school students' test anxiety, academic procrastination behaviours, family attitudes and academic achievements were examined; the predicting of test anxiety, academic procrastination and family attitudes on the academic achievement was also investigated. The participants of the study were composed of 496 high school students. The end-of-term grade average of the students was defined as the criterion of their academic achievements. The students' test anxiety was measured by the Revised Test Anxiety Scale and the academic procrastination behaviours by the Academic Procrastination Scale. The family attitudes were measured by determining the frequency of the activities that support the academic achievement of the students. Data were analysed by correlation and regression methods. The findings indicate that there was a negative correlation between “achievement score” and “anxiety”, “test irrelevant thinking” and “academic procrastination” while there was a positive correlation between “achievement score” and “family attitude”. The findings also revealed that “tension”, “bodily symptoms” and “family attitude” significantly predicted the “end-of-term grade average” positively, while “worry”, “test irrelevant thinking” and “academic procrastination” significantly predicted the “achievement score” negatively. The findings were discussed in the light of literature along with the suggestions for further studies.
Fur and sustainability: Oxymoron or key to ‘deeper’ luxury?
Authors: Csaba Fabian Faurholt , Skjold Else
Published: October 2018

This article explores the notion of deeper luxury, which insists that ‘real’ luxury should involve sustainable practices in the production and consumption of luxury goods. It traces historical and recent developments in the field of fur to understand the implications, uncertainties and ambiguities of luxury’s confrontation with sustainability. Considering fur in relation to future standards for luxury products, we raise questions about moral problematization and justification of luxury in terms of sustainability. We first examine the encounter of luxury with sustainability and explain the significance of the notion of ‘deeper luxury’. After taking stock of the impact of sustainability on luxury and various directions in which sustainable luxury is evolving, we discuss concepts of sustainable development in relation to the history of moral problematization of luxury. This leads to the case of fur as material used to establish social distinctions from at least medieval times to the present and subject to moral condemnation and controversy. Our case inquiry reviews recent research projects and industry initiatives that seek to determine whether fur can be seen as sustainable or not. The article discusses whether fur is about to lose or reclaim its legitimacy in an era of sustainable luxury, and concludes with reflections on depth and sustainable luxury.
Secret Agents
Authors: Apprich Clemens
Published: October 2018

“Good Old-Fashioned Artificial Intelligence” (GOFAI), which was based on a symbolic information-processing model of the mind, has been superseded by neural-network models to describe and create intelligence. Rather than a symbolic representation of the world, the idea is to mimic the structure of the brain in electronic form, whereby artificial neurons draw their own connections during a self-learning process. Critiquing such a brain physiological model, the following article takes up the idea of a “psychoanalysis of things” and applies it to artificial intelligence and machine learning. This approach may help to reveal some of the hidden layers within the current A. I. debate and hints towards a central mechanism in the psycho-economy of our socio-technological world: The question of “Who speaks?”, central for the analysis of paranoia, becomes paramount at a time, when algorithms, in the form of artificial neural networks, operate more and more as secret agents.
Voices from the Uncanny Valley
Authors: Männistö-Funk Tiina , Sihvonen Tanja
Published: October 2018

Voice is a powerful tool of agency - for humans and non-humans alike. In this article, we go through the long history of talking heads and statues to publicly displayed robots and fortune-tellers, as well as consumer-oriented products such as the late 19th century talking dolls of Thomas Edison. We also analyse the attempts at making speaking machines commercially successful on various occasions. In the end, we investigate how speech producing devices such as the actual digital assistants that operate our current technological systems fit into this historical context. Our focus is on the gender aspects of the artificial, posthuman voice. On the basis of our study, we conclude that the female voice and other feminine characteristics as well as the figures of exoticized and racialized ‘Others’ have been applied to draw attention away from the uncanniness and other negative effects of these artificial humans and the machinic speech they produce. Technical problems associated with the commercialization of technologically produced speech have been considerable, but cultural issues have played an equally important role.
Educational AI
Authors: Krämer Franz
Published: October 2018

Regarding possible implications for teaching and learning, the article explores the production and productive effects of educational AI from sociology of knowledge/ of technology perspectives from three sides: Firstly, the role of knowledge (re-)construction in the creation of educational AI is investigated. In this context, contrasting engineeringoriented approaches, educational AI systems are conceptualised as agentic entities infused with tacit and explicit knowledge about sociality and education, and as potentially reshaping both educational practices and scientific concepts. Looking at promotional and engineeringoriented AI discourses, the article secondly examines how education and AI are linked and how the knowledge pervasion of educational AI is addressed. Findings indicate that the discursive production of educational AI relates to the interwoven assumptions that education and specifically lifelong learning are obliged and able to remedy large-scale societal challenges and that educational AI can leverage this potential. They also indicate that an educational AI system’s knowledge is deemed a reflection of explicit (expert) knowledge that in the form of rationales can, in turn, be reflected to the systems’ users. Thirdly, regarding arising challenges for the sensitive area of education, educational AI’s role in knowledge gathering practices both in educational research and big educational data analysis is addressed.
Competing Visions for AI
Authors: Schwartz Oscar
Published: October 2018

In this paper, I will investigate how two competing visions of machine intelligence put forward by Alan Turing and J. C. R Licklider - one that emphasized automation and another that emphasized augmentation - have informed experiments in computational creativity, from early attempts at computer-generated art and poetry in the 1960s, up to recent experiments that utilise Machine Learning to generate paintings and music. I argue that while our technological capacities have changed, the foundational conflict between Turing’s vision and Licklider’s vision plays itself out in generations of programmers and artists who explore the computer’s creative potential. Moreover, I will demonstrate that this conflict does not only inform technical/artistic practice, but speaks to a deeper philosophical and ideological divide concerning the narrative of a post-human future. While Turing’s conception of human-equivalent AI informs a transhumanist imaginary of super-intelligent, conscious, anthropomorphic machines, Licklider’s vision of symbiosis underpins formulations of the cyborg as human-machine hybrid, aligning more closely with a critical post-human imaginary in which boundaries between the human and technological become mutable and up for re-negotiation. In this article, I will explore how one of the functions of computational creativity is to highlight, emphasise and sometimes thematise these conflicting post-human imaginaries.
Where the Sun never Shines
Authors: Bruder Johannes
Published: October 2018

In this paper, I elaborate on deliberations of “post-enlightened cognition” between cognitive neuroscience, psychology and artificial intelligence research. I show how the design of machine learning algorithms is entangled with research on creativity and pathology in cognitive neuroscience and psychology through an interest in “episodic memory” and various forms of “spontaneous thought”. The most prominent forms of spontaneous thought - mind wandering and day dreaming - appear when the demands of the environment abate and have for a long time been stigmatized as signs of distraction or regarded as potentially pathological. Recent research in cognitive neuroscience, however, conceptualizes spontaneous thought as serving the purpose of, e. g., creative problem solving and hence invokes older discussions around the links between creativity and pathology. I discuss how attendant attempts at differentiating creative cognition from its pathological forms in contemporary psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and AI puts traditional understandings of rationality into question.
The Business Cycle and Bank Failures
Authors: KAYA Halil Dincer
Published: October 2018

In this study, we examine the relation between the business cycle and bank failures in the US. We first look at the frequency of bank failures across expansionary and recessionary periods. Then, we examine the treatment of the failed banks by the FDIC across expansionary and recessionary periods. Finally, we compare the failed banks’ characteristics like total deposits, total assets, and estimated losses across expansionary and recessionary periods. Our results show that the 2001 recession was not a significant period in terms of bank failures. In fact, in terms of failures, the 2001 recession was not worse than the expansionary periods that come before and after it.

However, our findings indicate that the 2008 recession has been much more severe compared to the 2001 recession and the expansionary periods. Also, the failed banks during the 2008 recession have been much larger firms with significantly higher loss figures when compared to the banks that failed during the 2001 recession and the expansionary periods. Our results also show that the banks that failed during the 2001 recession had similar characteristics to the banks that failed during the expansionary periods.
Synthetic versus Physical Exchange Traded Funds. Spillover and Asymmetric -Volatility Effects
Authors: KOSHOEV Askar
Published: October 2018

Earning popularity synthetic exchange-traded funds which track their benchmarks by taking positions in derivative contracts are subjects of many debates concerning potential negative effects they may cause. At the moment, available empirical results are scarce and ambiguous. This research investigates the impact of synthetic funds on the stock market by comparing them to their physical alternatives. The spillover and asymmetric volatility effects were identified and analyzed by the deployment of the EGARCH-M-ARMA model. Local legislation on the Chinese market caused the creation of several physical and synthetic ETFs which track same benchmarks. This unique conditions can be employed in order to examine the effects of synthetic ETFs on the market. The sample of this study comprises ETFs which track Chinese A-shares but are listed or cross-listing in Hong Kong or New York stock exchanges. This study broadens the knowledge about synthetic ETFs and their relationships with the markets. Spillover and asymmetric-volatility effects are tested for ETFs, their respective benchmark indices, and general markets indices. The results do not reveal clear evidence that Synthetic ETFs have an impact on the stock markets.
Market-Based Finance, Debt and Systemic Risk: A Critique of the EU Capital Markets Union
Authors: Bavoso Vincenzo
Published: October 2018

Modern, globalised financial markets are the offspring of a process of liberalisation of capital that started with the collapse of Bretton Woods in the 1970s and culminated with a number of regulatory changes in the 1980s and 1990s. As a consequence of that process, financial markets have grown dramatically and become increasingly integrated at a global level. Importantly, the growth and innovation that occurred over the past decade has taken place in the realm of capital market finance, and in particular in the context of market-based channels that revolved chiefly around securitisation and repo transactions. As a result, new debt transactions and products have been engineered since the 1980s.

This article contends that, contrary to conventional belief, the excessive development of market-based channels of finance has been one of the catalysts behind the crises and scandals exploded over the past fifteen years. In particular, the employment of innovative debt transactions was instrumental to the creation of excessive levels of risk-taking and leverage. These had catastrophic consequence, both at firm level and at systemic level.

Notwithstanding the regulatory measures that have been enacted over the past fifteen years, the way in which debt transactions in capital markets are designed and entered into remains lightly or indirectly regulated. Moreover, regulators have so far neglected the role that leverage and debt creation have in the economy and the consequence that these phenomena have on the wider social context. On the contrary, recently the EU has promoted the implementation of an old design, namely the Capital Markets Union (CMU). This revolves around market-based forms of financing, which should represent an alternative to the traditionally predominant (in Europe) bank-based financing channels. This article contends that the CMU framework fails to appreciate the dangers associated with capital markets finance and its ensuing debt creation effects. It argues that, despite some regulatory efforts, a suitable architecture for the regulation of market-based channels of finance is still missing.
New Species of Falcaustra (Nematoda: Kathlaniidae) in Batagur trivittata (Testudines: Geoemydidae) from Myanmar
Authors: Bursey Charles R. , Platt Steven G.
Published: October 2018

Falcaustra tintlwini sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Kathlaniidae) from the large intestine of Batagur trivittata (Testudines, Geoemydidae) is described and illustrated. Falcaustra tintlwini represents the 20th Oriental species assigned to the genus and is distinguished from other Oriental species by the distribution pattern of the caudal papillae (6 precloacal, 12 postcloacal, and 1 median), length of spicules (0.43-0.50 mm) and absence of a pseudosucker.
Niglarobia vanelli, a new species of syringophilid quill mite associated with lapwings (Charadriiformes: Charadriidae)
Authors: Zmudzinski Mateusz , Skoracki Maciej , Hromada Martin , Unsoeld Markus
Published: October 2018

A new species of quill mite of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata),Niglarobia vanellisp. nov. collected from eight species of the lapwing genusVanellus(Charadriiformes: Charadriidae), is described:V. vanellus(Linnaeus, 1758) (type host) from Germany,V. gregarius(Pallas, 1771) from Russia,V. senegallus(Linnaeus, 1766),V. albicepsGould, 1834,V. spinosus(Linnaeus, 1758),V. crassirostris(Hartlaub, 1855),V. lugubris(Lesson, 1826), andV. coronatus(Boddaert, 1783) all from Tanzania. This new species resemblesN. cursoriaeSkorackiet al., 2006 and differs by having the following features: in females ofN. vanellisp. nov., each medial branch of the peritremes has 3–4 chambers (vs2 chambers inN. cursoriae); the hysteronotal shield is not fused to the pygidial shield (vsfused); lengths of setaed2ande2are 55–65 and 95–120, respectively (vs115– 140 and 130–160); and setaep’andp”of legs III and IV have 4–6 tines (vs7 tines).
First molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Neospora caninum DNA from naturally infected goats in Northwest Tunisia
Authors: Amdouni Yosra , Amairia Safa , Said Yousra , Awadi Sofia , Gharbi Mohamed
Published: October 2018

Neospora caninum is an intracellular protozoan parasite from the phylum Apicomplexa, mainly associated with abortions and causing enormous economic losses. We aimed, by the present study, to estimate the molecular prevalence and phylogenetic analyses of natural infection with N. caninum in Tunisian goats. A total number of 121 meat samples were collected from slaughtered goats in the regional slaughterhouse of Béja (Northwest Tunisia) and tested from N. caninum ITS1 gene using PCR followed by sequencing of PCR products. Phylogenetic analyses were used to identify this parasite infecting goats in Nortwest Tunisia. The overall molecular prevalence was 19% (23/121). The highest molecular prevalence of N. caninum was observed in goats aged between 2 and 4 years (31.9 ± 13.27%) (P = 0.004). There was no difference in the overall molecular prevalence of N. caninum according to both localities and animal breeds. Comparison of the partial sequences of the ITS1 gene revealed 99–100% similarity with GenBank sequences. A high similarity with all the blasted genotypes was reported for N. caninum sequences. This is the first molecular study and genetic characterisation of N. caninum in North African goats.
Detection of two Microsporidia pathogens of the European honey bee Apis Mellifera (Insecta: Apidae) in Western Siberia
Authors: Tokarev Yuri S. , Zinatullina Zimfira Y. , Ignatieva Anastasiya N. , Zhigileva Oksana N. , Malysh Julia M. , Sokolova Yulia Y.
Published: October 2018

Two species of microsporidia, Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae, occur regularly and cause significant losses in apiculture throughout the world. N. ceranae is thought to be an emerging pathogen of the European honey bee which is replacing N. apis. Microscopic analysis of honey bees collected in Tyumen region, South-Western Siberia, suggested presence of two microsporidial pathogens slightly differing in spore size and shape. PCR detection using species-specific primer sets 312APIS and 218MITOC followed by PCR product sequencing confirmed the diagnosis of N. apis and N. ceranae, respectively. Microsporidia were present in private apiaries through 2008-2010, and among 21 colonies from 7 localities, two colonies were infected with both pathogens, while infections with N. apis only were detected in 8, and with N. ceranae only in 13 colonies. These data suggest that N. ceranae is widely spread in South-Western Siberia alongside with N. apis and is able to persist in the regions with average January temperatures below –18°C.
Evaluation and correlation of oxidative stress and haemato-biochemical observations in horses with natural patent and latent trypanosomosis in Punjab state of India
Authors: Parashar Rahul , Singla Lachhman Das , Gupta Mayank , Sharma Suresh Kumar
Published: October 2018

The haemato-biochemical indices and oxidative stress markers in horses naturally infected withTrypanosoma evansiwere evaluated by analyzing the level of these parameters betweenT. evansiinfected (microscopically positive patent group and PCR positive latent group) and infection free horses. To compare the hemato-biochemical indices and oxidative stress indicators, horses were divided into three categories based on diagnostic test employed and positive results obtained. These included Romanowsky stained slide positive group (Group I; n = 6), PCR positive group (group II; n = 28) and negative control group (group III, n = 30), revealing parasitologically positive patent, molecular positive latent and disease free status of horses. A significant reductions in total erythrocytes count (TEC, P = 0.01), haemoglobin (Hb, P = 0.01) and packed cell volume (PCV, P = 0.04) was noticed both in group I and group II while significant neutrophilia and lymphocytopenia was observed in group I when compared to negative control group. Substantial increase in creatinine (CRTN, P = 0.032) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT, P = 0.012) in group I while significant decrease in glucose (GLU, P = 0.04) and iron (Fe, P = 0.01) were noticed in both group I and group II in comparison to group III. A significant difference in lipid peroxides (LPO, P = 0.01) with highest level in patent group I (15.33 ± 0.53) followed by PCR positive latent group (14.09 ± 1.66) indicates higher lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes and oxidative stress in decreasing order when compared with infection free control horses (9.83 ± 0.97). Catalase (CAT, P = 0.01) was significantly lower in parasitological (0.82 ± 0.14) and molecular positive cases (1.27 ± 0.35) in comparison to control group (3.43 ± 0.96). The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD, P = 0.01), reduced glutathione (GSH, P = 0.01) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP, P = 0.01) were significantly lower in parasito-molecular positive cases as compared to infection free control horses. An inverse correlation of RBC count with LPO and GSH and a direct correlation with catalase, SOD and FRAP was revealed. Overall, the observed substantial decreases in the oxidative parameters like catalase CAT, SOD, GSH and FRAP activities with remarkably elevated levels of LPO indicate high exposure of erythrocytes to oxidative damage inT.evansiinfected horses.
A new species of Aphanoblastella Kritsky, Mendoza-Franco and Scholz, 2000 (Monogenea, Dactylogyridae) parasitic on heptapterid catfish (Siluriformes) in the Neotropical region
Authors: Yamada Fabio H. , Acosta Aline A. , Yamada Priscilla de O. F. , Scholz Tomáš , da Silva Reinaldo J.
Published: October 2018

Aphanoblastella magna n. sp. is described from the gills of the heptapterid catfish Pimelodella avanhandavae Eigenmann, 1917 in southeastern Brazil (Paraná River Basin). This new species most closely resembles Aphanoblastella chagresii Mendoza-Franco, Aguirre-Macedo and Vidal-Martínez, 2007 described from a congeneric fish host in Panama, but can be distinguished by the shape of the accessory piece and shape and size of the ventral and dorsal bars. From the other species of the genus, A. magna n. sp. differs mainly in the shape of the male copulatory organ (MCO), which is sinuous, versus spirally coiled in other species of the genus, except for A. travassosi (Price, 1938), and by the accessory piece which resembles a ‘shoehorn’. Aphanoblastella magna n. sp. is the seventh species of the genus and the first dactylogyrid described from P. avanhandavae. A partial 28S rDNA gene sequence of the new species is also provided; it forms a monophyletic clade with two congeners for which molecular data are available.
First report of molecular characterization and sequence phylogenetic analysis of Linguatula serrata from India
Authors: Sudan Vikrant , Shanker Daya , Jaiswal Amit Kumar
Published: October 2018

Linguatula serrata is a pentastomid which is worldwide in distribution. However, a very few references are reported from India. In the present study, the cox I gene of L. serrata nymphs, originally isolated from mesenteric lymph nodes of buffaloes, was amplified and custom sequenced. Based on sequence analysis, two haplotypes were noticed and were subsequently submitted in NCBI database. The sequences were also compared with the other sequences available in the pubmed and phylogenetic analysis coupled with nucleotide homologies were commutated. The studied Indian isolates were found closer to Bangladesh and Iran isolates. This is the first report of molecular characterization of L. serrata from India.
A new quill mite Torotrogla emberizae sp. nov. (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) from the Chestnut-eared Bunting (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) in Japan (morphology and DNA barcode data)
Authors: Glowska Eliza , Laniecka Izabella , Romanowska Kamila , Dabert Miroslawa
Published: October 2018

A new quill miteTorotrogla emberizaesp. nov. (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) parasitizing the Chestnut-eared BuntingEmberiza fucataPallas, 1776 (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) in Japan is described based on the external morphology and DNA barcode data (mitochondrial cytochromecoxidase subunit I sequences, COI). Females ofT. emberizaesp. nov. differ fromT. volginiSkoracki and Mironov, 2013 by having the short, wide and blunt-ended hypostomal protuberances (vslong, thin and sharp-ended), setaeh1 ca. twice shorter thanf1(vs h1longer thanf1), the fan-like setaep’andp”of legs III–IV provided withca. 10 tines (vs7–8 tines) and lengths of setaevi70–105 (vs55–65),ve105–135 (vs85–90) andh155–60 (vs95–120).
Low rates of Plasmodium falciparum Pfcrt K76T mutation in three sentinel sites of malaria monitoring in Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Konaté Abibatou , Gnagne Paterne Akpa , Bédia-Tanoh Valérie Akoua , Amiah-Droh Mireille , Tano Dominique Konan , Ignace Eby Menan Hervé , Yavo William
Published: October 2018

Despite efforts to eliminate it, malaria remains a major public health concern, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire. Chloroquine (CQ) was one of the first drugs used for its treatment, but was officially withdrawn from the market in 2007 following reports of high levels of chloroquine resistance. The present study was carried out after the withdrawal of CQ and provides an update on the rates of CQ resistance in Côte d’Ivoire. Samples were collected between September 2013 and March 2014 in Abidjan and from January to May 2016 in Abengourou and San Pedro through cross-sectional studies. Parasitemia was assessed by microscopy, and single nucleotide polymorphism in the Pfcrt (codon 76) gene was analyzed by nested PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism. A total of 343 samples were analyzed: 119, 106 and 118 were from Abidjan, Abengourou, and San Pedro, respectively. The sex ratio of patients was 0.92. The mean age of patients enrolled was 9.6 years (SD = 10.8). The geometric mean of parasite density was 21,337 parasites/μL (SD = 49,508; range, 2,000–200,000). Molecular analysis revealed 57 K76T mutants (16.6%): 33, 9, and 15 in Abidjan, Abengourou and in San Pedro, respectively. Most of these were found in patients aged ≤15 years (42/57) who had parasitemia greater than 10,000 parasites/μL (40/57). This is the first study conducted in Côte d’Ivoire reporting a decline in Pfcrt K76T mutation rate. Thus, our results indicate the importance of following up on the observed trend also at a national level.
Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Acanthamoeba isolates in tap water of Beni-Suef, Egypt
Authors: Abd El Wahab Wegdan M. , El-Badry Ayman A. , Hamdy Doaa A.
Published: October 2018

The genus Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba widely distributed in various aquatic environments. It is an etiologic cause of amoebic encephalitis and keratitis particularly for immunocompromised individuals. The purpose of the present study was to investigate Acanthamoeba species prevalence in household and hospital potable water in Beni-Suef governorate, Egypt, and to employ sequencing methods to identify positive Acanthamoeba species isolates and their potential health risks. Sixty tap water samples (30 household and 30 governmental and private hospital settings) collected from Beni-Suef governorate, Egypt were filtered, cultured on non-nutrient agar, identified by morphotyping keys after staining with Giemsa stain and then confirmed by PCR using Acanthamoeba specific primers. Twenty positive samples were successfully genetically characterized and phylogenetically analyzed to identify Acanthamoeba species. The total detection rate for Acanthamoeba was 48/60 (80%); Acanthamoeba contamination in water collected from domestic houses was higher than in hospitals; 27/30 (90%) versus 21/30 (70%) with statistical significant value (P value = 0.05). Sequencing of 20 positive isolates revealed Acanthamoeba T4 in 65% and T2 in 35%. To our knowledge, this is the first research that documents the occurrence and phylogeny of Acanthamoeba species in Beni-Suef, Egypt. The presence of a higher percentage of Acanthamoeba species in tap water, in particular T4, highlights the potential health hazards for immunocompromised individuals and emphasizes the urgent need for the implementation of effective filtration and disinfection measures.
Zum Umgang mit umstrittener Literatur in Bibliotheken aus ethischer Perspektive
Authors: Rösch Hermann
Published: October 2018

Obwohl Bibliotheken in demokratischen Systemen als Garanten der Informationsfreiheit fungieren, im Bestandsaufbau Pluralismus und weltanschaulicher Neutralität verpflichtet sind, stehen sie immer wieder vor der Frage, ob bestimmte Werke brisanten Inhalts der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich gemacht werden sollen oder nicht. Das gilt insbesondere für erotische Darstellungen besonders expliziter Art, für Gewaltdarstellungen und für Positionen des politischen und religiösen Extremismus. Bedingt durch den Aufschwung rechtspopulistischer und rechtsradikaler Bewegungen stehen vor allem Öffentliche Bibliotheken verstärkt vor der Herausforderung zu entscheiden, wie mit Publikationen aus diesem Lager verfahren werden soll. Im Folgenden werden zunächst beispielhaft verschiedene Reaktionen beschrieben und der Stand der Debatte resümiert, ehe Überlegungen zum Umgang mit umstrittenen Werken aus bibliotheksethischer Sicht angestellt werden.
Cliffhanger, Wortsalat, Poesiewolke?!
Authors: Schmidt Tanja
Published: October 2018

Die Stadtbücherei Frankfurt am Main macht Kindern und Jugendlichen literaturpädagogische Angebote, bei denen sie ihr kreatives Potenzial entdecken können. Mit einem klaren pädagogischen Ansatz und entsprechenden didaktischen Methoden werden Kindern und Jugendlichen in den Veranstaltungen Literatur und Sprache spielerisch und über eigenes kreatives Schaffen näher gebracht. Für die jugendliche Zielgruppe eignet sich insbesondere Kreatives Schreiben als Form der Auseinandersetzung, die zum Buch hin und über den literarischen Text hinaus führt. Im Programm der Stadtbücherei Frankfurt am Main stehen daher unterschiedliche Konzepte für kreative Schreibaktionen zur Auswahl.
Serum α-fetoprotein in pediatric oncology: not a children’s tale
Authors: Ferraro Simona , Panzeri Andrea , Braga Federica , Panteghini Mauro
Published: October 2018

Background

Measurement of α-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations in the serum of infants is useful for the management of testicular germ cell tumors, hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, we provide a critical review of the available information about pediatric reference intervals (RI), focusing on their utility in interpreting AFP as an aid for cancer diagnosis.

Content

Evidence sources in the available literature were critically appraised. Out of 3873 retrieved papers, 24 were finally selected and carefully inspected, and six of them overcame exclusion criteria (i.e. methodological limitations in the study design, statistical gaps, drawbacks in traceability of the AFP assay to higher order materials and/or biased reporting of AFP results). Preterm and term infants up to the 3rd month of life exhibited the highest average AFP concentrations, but the attempt of defining RI by data pooling and partitioning for age intervals was impeded by the wide variability of data. The inability of defining robust RI in the first months of life made difficult, if not impossible, using upper reference limits for ruling out malignancies with a single AFP result. Evaluating the behavior of AFP concentrations 5 days from the baseline result, if this exceeds risk thresholds partitioned for age, according to the formula Xt=X0*2−t/HL (where: t=days elapsed for AFP retest; HL=AFP half-life according to age; X0=AFP baseline concentration, and Xt=predicted AFP concentration at day 5), could give a better information.

Novel studies defining AFP RI in infants based on robust methodology are warranted to improve the interpretation of AFP results in pediatric oncology. In the meantime, algorithms based on both serum AFP absolute concentrations and HL may aid in cancer diagnosis.
Comparative study of in vitro antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) collected during different growth stages
Authors: Eruygur Nuraniye , Dincel Burak , Kutuk Dincel Nazire Gulsah , Ucar Esra
Published: October 2018

Medicago sp. are often consumed as vegetable, salad and herbal tea as a form of fresh leaves and herbs. It is also very important in animal feeding, because it contains high percentage of protein and some important phytochemicals. In addition, traditionally, the leaves or other parts of the plant were used for treatment and preventing of kidney disorders, osteoporosis, anemia, diabetes, ulcer, coronary diseases, some cancers, and menopausal symptoms. In previous reports, it has been demonstrated that this plant has scavenging activity of the free radicals, which are involve in the development of the hypertension, Ischemia, neurodegenerative and rheumatoid diseases. In this study, the antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory activities of M. sativa L. collected in two growing period and phenolic substances that may be responsible for these activities were investigated. In this way, the beneficial effects of the plant will be revealed and a scientific work will be provided for the evaluation of the pharmaceutical and food industry.
Magnetic Nano-Sized Solid Acid Catalyst Bearing Sulfonic Acid Groups for Biodiesel Synthesis
Authors: Erdem Sezer , Erdem Beyhan , Öksüzoğlu Ramis Mustafa
Published: October 2018

In our approach for magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles surface modification, the fabrication of an inorganic shell, consisting of silica by the deposition of preformed colloids onto the nanoparticle surface and functionalization of these particles, was realized. The magnetic nanoparticles, non-coated and coated with silica layer by Stöber method, are functionalized with chlorosulfonic acid. The magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), in size of 10-13 nm, could be used as acid catalyst in biodiesel production and show superparamagnetic character. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by different methods including XRD, EDX, FT-IR and VSM. The catalytic activity of the coated and non-coated solid acids was examined in palmitic acid-methanol esterification as an industrial reaction for biodiesel synthesis. Although thin silica layer results in only a minor obstacle with respect to magnetism, it can accelerate the mass transportation due to its relatively porous structure and magnetic core may be more stable in the acidic reaction medium by means of covering process. Accordingly, coating strategy can be efficient way for allowing applications of MNPs in acid catalyzed esterification.
The biological activities of Arabis alpina L. subsp. brevifolia (DC.) Cullen against food pathogens
Authors: Balpinar N.
Published: October 2018

In this study, in vitro biological activities of both methanol and ethanol extracts of Arabis alpina subsp. brevifolia were investigated. Also, the phenolic components of this plant was examined in this study. The extracts were tested against the eight strains of food pathogens for their antimicrobial activities by utilizing minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and disc diffusion assay. The non-enzymatic antioxidant activities were determined according to scavenging of the free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The phenolic compounds were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The main component was ellagic acid for the methanol extract of stem-leaf, rutin for the ethanol extract of stem-leaf, and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid for the methanol and ethanol extracts of fruit-flower. The ethanolic extracts of leaves revealed antibacterial activities against Salmonella Typhimurium (7 mm) while the ethanolic extracts of flowers demonstrated no activity against the test pathogens. The methanolic extracts of leaf-flower showed antibacterial activities against S. Typhimurium (7 mm). No activity was observed against C. albicans. The MIC value for four test bacteria was 13000 μg/mL. The ethanol extracts of A. alpina subsp. brevifolia exhibited the highest DPPH inhibition (76%). This study showed that A. alpina subsp. brevifolia possesses antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.
Effect of poultry wastewater irrigation on nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon contents in farmland soil
Authors: Zhang Yan , Fu Chun-Yan , Liu Xue-Lan , Li Xin-Hua , Jing Qing-Chuan , Wei Xiang-Fa , Shi Tian-Hong , Dong Yi-Lei , Yan Pei-Pei
Published: October 2018

The goal of this study was to assess the suitability of poultry wastewater for the irrigation of farmland soil as a possible substitute for regular water and fertilizers. The vertical and spatial variability of soil total nitrogen (STN), soil total phosphorus (STP) and soil organic carbon (SOC) was analyzed during the growing season of summer maize in two types of soil: an experimental group (EG) soil, irrigated once only with poultry wastewater, and a control group (CG) soil, irrigated once only with regular water. Results revealed no difference in STP concentration, SOC concentration, nitrogen storage and phosphorus storage between EG and CG soils (all p>0.05); STN concentration in the 5–15 cm layer and carbon storage were higher in EG soil (p<0.05) while remaining within safety limits. Overall, single-time irrigation by poultry wastewater enhances nitrogen and carbon content of soil and does not pose a serious risk of pollution for ground water.
Isothermal Oxidation Behavior of Gadolinium Zirconate (Gd2Zr2O7) Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBCs) produced by Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposition (EB-PVD) technique
Authors: Doleker Kadir Mert , Ozgurluk Yasin , Ahlatci Hayrettin , Karaoglanli Abdullah Cahit
Published: October 2018

Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBCs) provide thermal insulation for gas turbine components operating at high temperatures. Generally, TBCs were produced on a MCrAlY bond coat with 7-8% Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) using Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS) technique. In this study, Inconel 718 substrate material was coated with CoNiCrAlY bond coat using high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) technique. Afterward, Gd2Zr2O7 was deposited on samples using Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposition (EB-PVD) technique. Produced TBCs were exposed to isothermal oxidation tests at 1000°C for 8 h, 24 h, 50 h and 100 h in muffle furnace. Scanning electron microscopy-energy distribution X-ray (SEM-EDX) spectroscopy was used to investigate thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer and TGO growth behavior of TBCs. In addition, X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) analysis was performed to TBCs to understand whether phase transformation occurs or not before and after oxidation.
Optimization of Adsorption Parameters for Ultra-Fine Calcite Using a Box-Behnken Experimental Design
Authors: Uçurum Metin , Özdemir Akın , Teke Çağatay , Serencam Hüseyin , İpek Mümtaz
Published: October 2018

Removal of heavy metals from wastewater is a significant issue because it prevents environmental-based concerns and impacts a large number of diseases and disorders. Many low-cost natural materials have been offered recently as possible precursors to commercial synthetic adsorbents. Ultra-fine calcite, one of these natural materials, has been investigated as a potential commercial adsorbent. Response surface designs are effective experimental techniques to investigate the heavy metal adsorption capacity of ultra-fine calcite. In the present study, one such response surface design, Box-Behnken, is used in order to optimize adsorption factors, such as pH level, initial metal concentration, stirring rate and adsorption time, and to determine the heavy metal capacity of this adsorbent. Our results show that the proposed methodology is an effective approach to optimizing the adsorption process and to maximize the heavy metal capacity.
Extreme classification
Authors: Fedden Sebastian , Corbett Greville G.
Published: October 2018

Categorization retains its key importance in research on human cognition. It is an intellectual area where all disciplines devoted to human cognition – psychology, philosophy, anthropology, and linguistics – intersect. In language, categorization is not only a central part of lexical structure but is also salient in systems of nominal classification, notably gender and classifiers. Recent years have seen great progress in the description and analysis of nominal classification systems, so that we are now in a position to offer an account of such systems which brings cognition and typology together, providing the essential parameters for the calibration of experiments for investigating cognition. To this end, we establish the extremes of nominal classification systems, from the surprisingly simple to the surprisingly complex. We analyse the two essential components of nominal classification systems: (i) assignment, i.e. the principles (semantic or formal) which govern category assignment and (ii) exponence, i.e. the morphological means by which systems of nominal classification are expressed. We discuss extreme configurations of assignment and exponence in individual languages and extreme multiple pairings of assignment and exponence in languages with two or even more concurrent classification systems.
Investigating Three Different Models for Simulation of the Thermal Stage of an Industrial Split-Flow SRU Based on Equilibrium-Kinetic Approach with Heat Loss
Authors: Kardan Mohammad Hossein , Eslamloueyan Reza
Published: October 2018

Modified Claus process is the most important process that recovers elemental sulfur from H2S. The thermal stage of sulfur recovery unit (SRU), including the reaction furnace (RF) and waste heat boiler (WHB), plays a critically important role in sulfur recovery percentage of the unit. In this article, three methods including kinetic (PFR model), equilibrium and equilibrium-kinetic models have been investigated in order to predict the reaction furnace effluent conditions. The comparison of results with industrial data shows that kinetic model (for whole the thermal stage) is the most accurate model for simulation of the thermal stage of the industrial split-flow SRU. Mean absolute percentage error for the considered kinetic model is 4.59 %. For the first time, the consequences of considering heat loss from the reaction furnace on calculated molar flows are studied. The results show that considering heat loss only affects better prediction of some effluent molar flow rates such as CO and SO2, and its effect is not significant on the results. Eventually the effects of feed preheating on some important parameters like sulfur conversion efficiency, H2S to SO2 molar ratio and important effluent molar flows are investigated. The results indicate that feed preheating will reduce the sulfur conversion efficiency. It is also noticeable that by reducing the feed temperature to 490 K, H2S/SO2 molar ratio reaches to its optimum value of 2.