bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grip and pinch strength in children with Down syndrome
Authors: John Rebecca , Dhanve Ankita , Mullerpatan Rajani P
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Children with Down syndrome present with joint laxity, hypotonia and shortened hands resulting in reduced grip and pinch strength. Limited information on grip and pinch strength in children with Down syndrome motivated this study.

Methods

A convenience sample of 30 children with Down syndrome (9–16 years) from special schools and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy school children was studied. Grip and pinch strength were measured according to ASHT standard procedure using JAMAR® dynamometer and B&L pinch gauge. Anthropometric data of upper limb and subject characteristics were recorded.

Results

Children with Down syndrome had significantly lower values for grip, palmar and key pinch strength (p < 0.001) (6.3 kg, 1.91 kg, 2.75 kg) compared to healthy children (15.9 kg, 2.86 kg, 3.52 kg), respectively. A positive moderate correlation was observed between right hand grip strength and body height (r = 0.67), bodyweight (r = 0.69), total arm length (r = 0.68), upper arm length (r = 0.68), forearm length (r = 0.63), hand length (r = 0.68) and hand breadth (r = 0.66) in children with Down syndrome.

Conclusions

Children with Down syndrome presented with 60% less grip strength, 33% less palmar pinch strength and 22% less key pinch strength when compared to children without Down syndrome. Positive moderate correlation was observed between grip strength, body height, body weight and upper limb anthropometric variables in children with Down syndrome.
China in Africa
Authors: Bailard Catie Snow
Published: May 2016

In 2006, Chinese officials revealed an extensive plan to increase the nation’s soft power in Africa through a number of initiatives to increase the presence and relevance of Chinese media in Africa. However, the question remains: Has China been successful in enhancing its soft power via its news media expansion in the African region? Although it is easy to find sweeping proclamations regarding the popularity of Chinese media throughout Africa, there have been limited efforts to systematically measure the effect of these media on African public opinion toward China. This study seeks to fill this void. Using Pew Global Attitudes Project data, I explore correlations between attitudes toward China and the extent of the Chinese media presence across six African nations in 2013. In addition, to better test for a causal effect of the post-2006 expansion, I employ a second analysis in which I compare these relationships in 2007 with these same relationships in 2013. By comparing changes in these relationships over time, this analysis provides tentative empirical support that the sweeping efforts undertaken to expand the reach and relevance of Chinese media in Africa have moved African public opinion in the desired direction.
Current and future treatment options for cystic fibrosis lung disease: latest evidence and clinical implications
Authors: Edmondson Claire , Davies Jane C.
Published: May 2016

Treatment for cystic fibrosis (CF) has conventionally targeted downstream consequences of the defect such as mucus plugging and infection. More recently, significant advances have been made in treating the root cause of the disease, namely a defective CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. This review summarizes current pulmonary treatment options and highlights advances in research and development of new therapies.
Toward a contextual theological reading of John Amos Comenius
Authors: Glenn Justin
Published: May 2016

John Amos Comenius developed a revolutionary philosophy of education in seventeenth-century Europe. He argued for ideas such as universal education, which was virtually unheard of in his time but has become standard in modern western society. In the middle of the twentieth century, Comenius’s ideas were heralded in the secular educational community. Jean Piaget and Vladimir Jelinek are prime examples of those who promoted the conclusions of Comenius’s educational philosophy while ignoring, and even refuting, his theological presuppositions. Comenius’s educational philosophy, however, was built specifically on his theological beliefs, and reading him holistically has resulted in more accurate interpretations.
China’s “Asia Dream”
Authors: Callahan William A
Published: May 2016

Since Xi Jinping became leader in 2012, he has redirected Chinese foreign policy. This article examines the role of peripheral diplomacy in Xi’s emerging grand strategy. While it is popular to look to theories of the international system – offensive realism and liberal institutionalism – to explore this issue, this article follows constructivism to take seriously the role of ideas and domestic politics in foreign policy-making. Through an analysis of official and unofficial sources, it traces linkages between ideas, institutions, and behavior in Chinese foreign policy. In particular, it argues that Beijing is combining new ideas (China Dream, Asia Dream), new policies (comprehensive diplomacy and security), new institutions (AIIB) and new projects (BRI) to build what Xi calls the ‘community of shared destiny.’ The goal is to weave neighboring countries into a Sino-centric network of economic, political, cultural, and security relations. Beijing’s grand strategy thus is to re-constitute the regional order – and eventually global order – with new governance ideas, norms, and rules. Hence while the Asian region is an important focus of Chinese foreign policy, Beijing’s peripheral diplomacy is about more than win-win cooperation in the neighborhood. It also acts as the means to the much larger end of promoting China’s new vision of global governance. Theoretically, the article shows how ‘connectivity’ is more than an issue of the ‘hardware’ of physical infrastructure; it is also a ‘software’ issue of the connectivity of ideas, institutions, and behavior in diplomacy itself.
Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Universiti Sains Malaysia Emotional Quotient Inventory Among Medical Students in Malaysia
Authors: Arifin Wan Nor , Yusoff Muhamad Saiful Bahri
Published: May 2016

The Universiti Sains Malaysia Emotional Quotient Inventory (USMEQ-i) is a Malay-language emotional intelligence (EI) inventory that was based on a mixed-model approach of EI. It was specifically developed and validated for use among medical course applicants. However, evidence to support its use among medical students is inadequate. This study aims to provide further construct validity evidence for the USMEQ-i among medical students through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). A cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 479 medical students in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). After a preliminary analysis, data from only 317 respondents were found suitable for inclusion in CFA. CFA was performed using the maximum likelihood estimation method with bootstrapping due to the nonnormality of items at the multivariate level. The results of the analysis support the two-factor model of the EI component and the one-factor model of the faking component. However, the USMEQ-i should be administered with caution until further cross-validation studies are conducted among students in other medical schools in Malaysia.
The feasibility and effectiveness of Catch It, an innovative CBT smartphone app
Authors: Kinderman Peter , Hagan Paul , King Sophie , Bowman James , Chahal Jasprit , Gan Li , McKnight Rebecca , Waldon Charlotte , Smith Matthew , Gilbertson John , Tai Sara
Published: May 2016

Background

The widespread use of smartphones makes effective therapies such as cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) potentially accessible to large numbers of people.

Aims

This paper reports the usage data of the first trial of Catch It, a new CBT smartphone app.

Method

Uptake and usage rates, fidelity of user responses to CBT principles, and impact on reported negative and positive moods were assessed.

Results

A relatively modest proportion of people chose to download the app. Once used, the app tended to be used more than once, and 84% of the user-generated content was consistent with the basic concepts of CBT. There were statistically significant reductions in negative mood intensity and increases in positive mood intensity.

Conclusions

Smartphone apps have potential beneficial effects in mental health through the application of basic CBT principles. More research with randomised controlled trial designs should be conducted.
DrosophilaPkaap regulates Rab4/Rab11-dependent traffic and Rab11 exocytosis of innate immune cargo
Authors: Sorvina Alexandra , Shandala Tetyana , Brooks Douglas A.
Published: May 2016

The secretion of immune-mediators is a critical step in the host innate immune response to pathogen invasion, and Rab GTPases have an important role in the regulation of this process. Rab4/Rab11 recycling endosomes are involved in the sorting of immune-mediators into specialist Rab11 vesicles that can traffic this cargo to the plasma membrane; however, how this sequential delivery process is regulated has yet to be fully defined. Here, we report that Drosophila Pkaap, an orthologue of the human dual-specific A-kinase-anchoring protein 2 or D-AKAP2 (also called AKAP10), appeared to have a nucleotide-dependent localisation to Rab4 and Rab11 endosomes. RNAi silencing of pkaap altered Rab4/Rab11 recycling endosome morphology, suggesting that Pkaap functions in cargo sorting and delivery in the secretory pathway. The depletion of pkaap also had a direct effect on Rab11 vesicle exocytosis and the secretion of the antimicrobial peptide Drosomycin at the plasma membrane. We propose that Pkaap has a dual role in antimicrobial peptide traffic and exocytosis, making it an essential component for the secretion of inflammatory mediators and the defence of the host against pathogens.
CLIC1 regulates dendritic cell antigen processing and presentation by modulating phagosome acidification and proteolysis
Authors: Salao Kanin , Jiang Lele , Li Hui , Tsai Vicky W.-W. , Husaini Yasmin , Curmi Paul M. G. , Brown Louise J. , Brown David A. , Breit Samuel N.
Published: May 2016

Intracellular chloride channel protein 1 (CLIC1) participates in inflammatory processes by regulating macrophage phagosomal functions such as pH and proteolysis. Here, we sought to determine if CLIC1 can regulate adaptive immunity by actions on dendritic cells (DCs), the key professional antigen presenting cells. To do this, we first generated bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) from germline CLIC1 gene-deleted (CLIC1−/−) and wild-type (CLIC1+/+) mice, then studied them in vitro and in vivo. We found phagocytosis triggered cytoplasmic CLIC1 translocation to the phagosomal membrane where it regulated phagosomal pH and proteolysis. Phagosomes from CLIC1−/− BMDCs displayed impaired acidification and proteolysis, which could be reproduced if CLIC1+/+, but not CLIC1−/− cells, were treated with IAA94, a CLIC family ion channel blocker. CLIC1−/− BMDC displayed reduced in vitro antigen processing and presentation of full-length myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and reduced MOG-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. These data suggest that CLIC1 regulates DC phagosomal pH to ensure optimal processing of antigen for presentation to antigen-specific T-cells. Further, they indicate that CLIC1 is a novel therapeutic target to help reduce the adaptive immune response in autoimmune diseases.
Expanding functions of GIT Arf GTPase-activating proteins, PIX Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors and GIT–PIX complexes
Authors: Zhou Wu , Li Xiaobo , Premont Richard T.
Published: May 2016

The GIT proteins, GIT1 and GIT2, are GTPase-activating proteins (inactivators) for the ADP-ribosylation factor (Arf) small GTP-binding proteins, and function to limit the activity of Arf proteins. The PIX proteins, α-PIX and β-PIX (also known as ARHGEF6 and ARHGEF7, respectively), are guanine nucleotide exchange factors (activators) for the Rho family small GTP-binding protein family members Rac1 and Cdc42. Through their multi-domain structures, GIT and PIX proteins can also function as signaling scaffolds by binding to numerous protein partners. Importantly, the constitutive association of GIT and PIX proteins into oligomeric GIT–PIX complexes allows these two proteins to function together as subunits of a larger structure that coordinates two distinct small GTP-binding protein pathways and serves as multivalent scaffold for the partners of both constituent subunits. Studies have revealed the involvement of GIT and PIX proteins, and of the GIT–PIX complex, in numerous fundamental cellular processes through a wide variety of mechanisms, pathways and signaling partners. In this Commentary, we discuss recent findings in key physiological systems that exemplify current understanding of the function of this important regulatory complex. Further, we draw attention to gaps in crucial information that remain to be filled to allow a better understanding of the many roles of the GIT–PIX complex in health and disease.
Corruption and population: the problem of understanding and evaluating the degree of distribution in the Russian society
Authors: Шедий  , Shediy Mariya
Published: May 2016

The article presents an analysis of the results of the author´s empirical sociological study aimed at determining the place and importance of corruption in the system of social relationships of modern Russian society, as well as identifying features in the perception of corruption by the public group and individual consciousness. The peculiarities of corruption perception in the Russian society as a constant value are examined, which led to the transformation of this phenomenon from social anomie to the social norm, also correlation of corruption perception is analyzed as norms of behavior and age of the individual. The study of the social foundations of corruption of the Russian society and the formation of a coherent system of knowledge as a tool to change public consciousness and behavior of citizens will contribute to the development of activation mechanisms of civil society as a social resource of improving the efficiency of the state anti-corruption policy.
Evaluation of public confidence in state civil servants: a sociological analysis
Authors: Литвинцева  , Litvintseva Elena
Published: May 2016

The article analyzes the results of the expert study of the level of public confidence in civil servants. Methodological bases of formation of public confidence are revealed: confidence is considered as a manifestation or result of development of the interaction system. It is concluded that the level of public confidence depends not only on the efficiency and quality of civil servants’ work, but also on personal qualities of public servants, the extent of official conduct of civil servants that meets the requirement of the principles of humanism, rule of law, public service.
Social factors of human resources management among youth
Authors: Ключникова  , Klyuchnikova Tatyana , Орлова  , Orlova Valentina
Published: May 2016

The article presents the results of a sociological study of the problems of human resources management of youth in the conditions of the region. The results allowed the authors to identify the main trends in professional self-determination of the Russian youth and strategies for career orientation of graduates. Identified factors reflect a gap in the needs of economic development of regions in the labor force and training segments. The article suggests ways to solve this social problem, methods of retaining the most talented and highly qualified young professionals. An important area is the right professional self-determination at the stage of choosing the direction of training, as well as technologies for effective talent management solutions for regional development tasks.
Evolution of the interpretation of social justice in political science
Authors: Радонова  , Radonova Anna
Published: May 2016

The article summarizes information on justice as a separate social category. The concept, essence and content of justice in the philosophical and historical terms are considered.The concept of justice in the context of the basic ideas of Plato, Aristotle and John Rawls is analyzed. The modern interpretation of the essence of justice in economics, law, politics and morality is presented.
Management pathology of the state: uncertainty, dysfunctions, social risks
Authors: Охотский  , Okhotskiy Evgeniy
Published: May 2016

The presented article is not only a review of the recently published monograph of Professor I.V.Ponin «Theory of deviantology of public administration: uncertainty, risks, defects, dysfunctions and failures of public administration», but also a scientific thinking of studying problems. First of all, they are the problems of administrative capacity of the state, various weaknesses, imbalances and uncertainty in state management, dysfunctions, risk and other abnormalities in the mechanisms of modern public administration. Particular attention is paid to the factors and conditions generating dysfunctional governance forming untenable, «parallel» and so – called corrupt distopia states. The reader´s attention will be drawn by plots concerning risk – based approaches in the state of political and administrative activity, as well as the features of error control in situations of uncertainty and crisis failures.
Personnel of state and municipal service: problems of political science training and retraining
Authors: Васютин  , Vasyutin Yuriy
Published: May 2016

The article deals with the methodological problems of political science training of state and municipal personnel. Some tendencies and directions of the educational and research process are analyzed. The attention is drawn to the need for a comprehensive approach to improving the competence and professionalism of personnel responsibility of state and municipal service.
Informal practices in municipal management
Authors: Бабинцев  , Babintsev Valentin , Юркова  , Yurkova Olga
Published: May 2016

The article deals with the phenomenon of informal practices in municipal management. The definition of this notion is given. The causes and consequences of their use in modern Russia are revealed. Based on the analysis of empirical data of the sociological survey conducted in the Belgorod region, the specifics of the perception of informal practices by municipal employees are determined.
Contemporary criminal law policy: a new phase of liberalization
Authors: Назаренко  , Nazarenko Gennadiy
Published: May 2016

In the article the modern criminal law policy is viewed as a multidimensional socio–legal phenomenon. The author distinguishes several levels of legal policy: theoretical, directive, legislative, institutional and enforcing. The article shows that the modern stage of development of criminal law policy is characterized by strengthening of negative tendencies at all levels of development, formation, organization and implementation of criminal policy. As a result, in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation inoperative statutes and double regulations appeared, the inclusion of which in the criminal law creates confusion and leads to difficulties in law enforcement practice. Casuistry of criminal law policy is evident not only in norms of the Special part of the Criminal code of the Russian Federation, but also in the requirements of the Special part that violates the consistency of the criminal law, reduces the quality of legal rules and the effective protection of the rights and legitimate interests of citizens by criminal law means. In general criminal policy of Russia at the present stage has the reflective nature, because forms, means and methods of combating crime are determined spontaneously, under the pressure of circumstances, indicating a lack of scientifically proved criminal law policy.
On some issues of the legal status of the Federal Service of National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation
Authors: Червинская  , Chervinskaya Aleksandra
Published: May 2016

The article examines the legal status of a new body of Executive power of Russia — Federal Service of National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation. The author describes the historical background and traditions of establishment of law enforcement bodies. The structure and functions of the National Guard are outlined. Within its responsibilities given to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation the powers of this service are analyzed. An important addition to the functions of the Internal Troops of created National Guard will be a function of investigative activity. Internal troops were not the subject of investigative activity, as there was no law to regulate these powers.
Legal regulation of Internet relationships: main problems and practice implementation in Russia
Authors: Балашов  , Balashov Andrey
Published: May 2016

The article analyzes the peculiarities of the legal regulation of online relationships. Categories of Internet relationships are given, regulation of which is carried out within the system of the Russian law. Particular attention is paid to such topical issues as copyright infringement, and the spread of inappropriate content. Restrictions of access to on-line resources are considered.
Social enterprise: essence and features
Authors: Кулькова  , Kulkova Varvara
Published: May 2016

The article reveals the essence and characteristics of social entrepreneurship based on a review of theoretical developments in the foreign and domestic science for the identification and isolation of business functions in a comparative analysis of the social enterprise. Such characteristics of social entrepreneurship are marked as socially responsible risk, social transformation through the implementation of social innovations, focus on the target group — people who are in difficult life situation. Social enterprise functions are allocated: creating social value, through the involvement of the target group in business; innovation; altruism.
Methodological approaches to assessing food security in the country
Authors: Елфимов  , Elfimov Andrey , Аничин  , Anichin Vladislav , Желябовский  , Zhelyabovskiy Aleksandr
Published: May 2016

The authors examined known methodological approaches to the assessment of food security of the country. They have revealed differences in the structure of the indicators between the Doctrine of food safety and applied statisticians. The authors have proposed a set of food security criteria of the country.

The authors point out that according to a number of criteria it becomes difficult to follow the progress of the program provisions for the Doctrine of food security for the achievement of food self— sufficiency threshold levels, as presented criteria in the Doctrine and indicators published by statistics bodies are calculated in different ways and have different dimensions.
Trends of development of agroindustrial complex of Russia in the context of import substitution
Authors: Долгова  , Dolgova Svetlana , Попова  , Popova Olga
Published: May 2016

Agroindustrial complex is an important object for the state investments, the development of which ensures the level of food security in the country. In this context, the article describes the main trends of the development of agroindustrial complex of Russia in conditions of anti Russian sanctions by the USA and EU countries, the influence of state support on the performance of enterprises of the agricultural sector is shown, the main directions of state financing are reflected, as well as the volume of resource support of the state program.
Prospects of development of the patent system of taxation for individual entrepreneurs in the Orel region
Authors: Кожанчиков  , Kozhanchikov Oleg , Кожанчикова  , Kozhanchikova Natalya
Published: May 2016

The patent system of taxation is one of special tax regimes for individual entrepreneurs. The patent system is enforced by laws of subjects of the Russian Federation. The tax code provides certain powers of public authorities of subjects of the Russian Federation on the patent system of taxation, including the right to set the size of the potential possibility to receive annual income and its differentiation according to the established criteria in the tax code. In the Orеl region in the differentiation of the potential possible annual income to receive some criteria are not used, such as vehicle capacity and number of seats in the vehicle. We propose to use these criteria of differentiation in the regional legislation.
Main problems of investment attraction of Russia
Authors: Полянин  , Polyanin Andrey , Рудакова  , Rudakova Olga , Кузнецова  , Kuznetsova Lyudmila
Published: May 2016

World practice indicates that the basis of economic growth is investment growth both at the state level, and at the regional level. Experience of the majority of the countries which have greatly improved their economic development for the last decades proves this fact. Comprehension of this fact has led to the situation when both developed countries, and developing economies consider attraction of investments into the economy at national and regional levels as one of priority problems of economic policy.
Influence of reputation costs for competitiveness of the enterprise in the conditions of instability of economy
Authors: Яхина  , Yakhina Viktoriya , Тихомиров  , Tikhomirov Aleksey , Горкуша  , Gorkusha Oksana
Published: May 2016

In the article an attempt of the analysis of the concept «reputation expenses» is made and also their influence on competitiveness of the enterprise in the conditions of instability of economy is held. Concepts of positive and negative reputation are presented, examples of reputation expenses of the enterprises are reviewed. The authors prove that the decline in control can not be prevented over internal and external information space, which is very sensitive to sudden changes in the marketing policy of the enterprise.
If the sun has got its hat on…
Authors: Neville Sarah
Published: May 2016

The government has asked early years settings to promote British values; these lend themselves to various important activities based on sun awareness week in May.
The blue beauty of cornflowers
Authors: Francis-Pester Dawn
Published: May 2016

Just as colourful fresh or dried, cornflowers are a bright, magical, versatile flower that will prove easy for children to grow and that will become a real haven for wildlife.
Moving around safely
Authors: Chalmers Debbie
Published: May 2016

Babies and children will frequently travel in car seats and pushchairs for convenience and safety, but they must spend time moving freely in order to meet developmental milestones.
What you need to know about Babesia canis
Authors: Wright Ian , Stokes Laura
Published: May 2016

Babesia canis is a tick-borne disease of canids, capable of causing acute lifethreatening disease. Pet travel has brought an increasing number of UK dogs into European countries where the parasite is endemic. This has not only put these dogs at risk of being exposed to the parasite abroad, but also increased the risk of the parasite becoming endemic in the UK. Although, until recently, the UK was thought to be free of B. canis, Dermacentor reticulatus ticks capable of harbouring the parasite are present in endemic foci across the south of the country. This combination of factors has led to a focus of B. canis infection becoming established in Essex, with subsequent cases of babesiosis. This article discusses B. canis distribution and control, as well as identification of ticks that may transmit the parasite.
Making global audiences for a Hollywood ‘blockbuster’ feature film: Marketability, playability and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Authors: Davis Charles H. , Michelle Carolyn , Hardy Ann , Hight Craig
Published: May 2016

This article interprets two key concepts in movie marketing (marketability and playability) through an empirical examination of the effects of commercial interpellation of audiences for a Hollywood ‘blockbuster’ fantasy film, Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). The article reports results of two online surveys of Hobbit audiences, one in November 2012 in the weeks preceding theatrical release, and one in February–June 2013 among post-viewing audiences, employing a mixedmethods approach that includes Q sorting and a questionnaire. We identify and describe five main pre-release and five main post-viewing audience groups, showing that the film had greater marketability than playability. Three of the pre-release audience groups expressed a high degree of anticipation to see the film, but only one post-viewing audience group expressed a high degree of enjoyment, while the others expressed various degrees of disappointment. We discuss the attributes of the film that most affected the film’s marketability and playability for each of the audience groups during the interpellation process from prefiguration to reception.
Review
Authors: Lamerichs Nicolle
Published: May 2016

Game Play: Paratextuality in Contemporary Board Games, Paul Booth (2015) New York and London: Bloomsbury, 247 pp., ISBN: 9781628927446, p/bk, $28.45
Girl!Version: The feminist framework for regendered characters in fanwork
Authors: Baker Lucy
Published: May 2016

Regendering, where fan creators change the gender of an existing character as part of the adaptation, offers a deconstruction of gender via the simultaneous examination of the original character, and the manifestation of gender performance in the regendered cipher. It also highlights and then occupies the absence of non-male characters, an absence being identified by researchers and fans as endemic to mainstream media. An examination of elements in commercial and non-commercial fanworks and paratexts, and the fannish engagement with those texts, reveals the methods and the motivation behind the regendering as a sort of praxis situated in the conflicts and complexities of the feminist theory and politics. It is also a manifestation of subversion and dissatisfaction – theorized by Jenkins and Sandvoss – with Butlerinfluenced understandings of gender performance and oppositional heterosexuality. This analysis and overview provides the foundation for a theory of how regendering works both with and against the hegemony of the media depiction of women, sexuality and sex.
‘If Duchamp’s toilet can be a masterpiece…’: Slash manips as fannish readymades
Authors: Brennan Joseph
Published: May 2016

This article performs textual analysis of works from two slash manip artists – Tumblr’s wandsinhand and LiveJournal’s mythagowood – to argue that the form can be understood as a fannish form of ‘readymades’. I perform a comparative analysis of Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain and the use of the toilet as a central sign in wandsinhand’s practice. The works of mythagowood are then examined. I use excerpts from various interviews with the artist to explore his practice, its connection with the Supernatural canon and his unique construction, ‘Sammy’. I compare his practice to that of figurative painter Francis Bacon and the statements his art makes on meat, beasts and sexuality. Framing my reading of the oeuvres of wandsinhand and mythagowood around Duchamp’s concept of ‘readymades’ and Bacon’s representation of meat demonstrates the potential for slash manips to explore the instability and malleability of the male sexed body, highlighting these objects’ aesthetic, artistic and cultural significance.
The contemporary Comic Market: A study of subculture
Authors: Miho Aida
Published: May 2016

The fan cultures surrounding manga and anime in Japan, associated with ‘otaku’, continue to draw popular and academic interest around the world. This article focuses on the Comic Market (also known as Comiket or Comike), one of the largest fan gatherings in the world. The Comic Market brings together 35,000 artists selling self-published work, mostly manga books featuring characters from established series, which are purchased by the over half-a-million people that attend the event. This article, based on fieldwork conducted in the summer of 2004, argues that the Comic Market provides a space of self-affirmation, which keeps fans participating in the event even when it is physically exhausting and costs them money to do so. In contrast to approaches that imagine communities of fans communicating with one another about shared interests, this article argues that, at the Comic Market, it is not communicating with others that allows one to limit encounters with difference and affirm one’s self as a participant. Through a study of Comic Market participants, we can examine the state of self and communication in contemporary Japan and beyond.
Investigating sport rivals: Number, evaluations and relationship with team identification
Authors: Wann Daniel L. , Havard Cody T. , Grieve Frederick G. , Lanter Jason R. , Partridge Julie A. , Zapalac Ryan K.
Published: May 2016

The current investigation examined the number of teams fans list as rivals of teams they follow closely, moderately and casually. It was hypothesized that there would be positive correlations between the level of identification for a team and the number of teams listed as rivals, and that evaluations of rival teams would be most negative for teams followed closely, followed by teams followed moderately, and then teams followed casually. Further, we expected negative relationships between identification and evaluations of the rivals. The final two hypotheses concerned predictors of estimates of the likelihood of watching rivals’ games: participants would report being more likely to watch rivals of closely followed teams and that identification would account for a significant proportion of unique variance in desire to watch rival games. Students from several universities completed a questionnaire packet assessing identification for and perceptions of rivals of teams they follow closely, moderately and casually. The results indicated strong support for the hypothesized patterns of effects.
Transformation of Helicopter PinS Procedures for Airplanes
Authors: Kraus Jakub , Capoušek Ladislav
Published: May 2016

<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;" lang="EN-GB">This article deals with the possibility to use existing helicopter Point in Space procedures with minor changes for airplanes. The basis is to find parts of PinS procedures that need to be changed, suggest these changes, and then determine whether the revised procedures could be usable and could bring the benefits for airplane operations.
Production and properties of alternative aviation fuels
Authors: Voráček Martin , Kraus Jakub
Published: May 2016

<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;" lang="EN-GB">This article focuses on alternative fuels in aviation and their production and properties. It also points out current challenges, which must be overtaken by these successors of petroleum.
Thermal Imaging in Aviation
Authors: Štumper Marek , Kraus Jakub
Published: May 2016

This article focuses on the use of thermal imaging in aviation. In the never ending pursuit of lower costs, the Thermal Imaging offers shorter inspection times thanks to its application in aircraft inspections and can reduce the number of costly goarounds using the Enhanced Vision System, which also increases safety in one of the most dangerous parts of flight. Thermal Imaging also offers solutions for Airport Perimeter Security and it can be used for construction of ground surveillance system.
Utilization of Selected Methods of Managerial Economics in Aviation Companies
Authors: Hurná Soňa , Bajusz Pavol
Published: May 2016

The article is focused on the areas of management in aviation companies by way of applying selected methods of managerial economics, applicable under the constantly changing conditions entailing high level of risks. Attention is paid separately to the characterizing the external environment, applying the systems-based views, balance sheet analysis and controlling. The core of the publication is on selected methods representing the pillars of company economics and can be adapted by managers with purely technical background.
Measurement of Contrails Using ADS-B Data
Authors: Voráček Martin , Hospodka Jakub
Published: May 2016

Air transport contributes to climate changes not only by greenhouse gas production but also because of production of contrails. The effect of contrails is less scientifically understood compared to greenhouse gases according to IPCC [3]. In order to be able to research the effect of contrails on the atmosphere, it is necessary to identify their realistic frequency of occurrence and to define the relationship between their occurrence and other factors. The effort to identify and monitor contrails and their dependence on the type of air traffic is the objective of SGS project.
Study of thematic relation of accounting theses of the universities and higher education institutions in over five decades with an educational approach
Authors: Shaghaghi Firooz , Fasihi Bahman
Published: May 2016

In this study, 1700 theses of master degree in five decades in accounting from 57 universities have been studied in terms of dispersion of thematic relation of these with accounting educational approach and have been reconciled in eight areas of financial, industrial, audit, state, tax, accounting information systems, educational and other various issues, and were analyzed based on thematic content analysis. The findings of study suggest that matters in terms of educational have been very limited and express reluctance of students to educational approach.
Development for a quality improvement training programme for health professionals in the ministry of health and social services in Namibia
Authors: Nangombe Julia Paul , Amukugo Hans Justus
Published: May 2016

The paper describes the steps followed in the development of a quality improvement training programme for health professionals. This was echoed by the facts that the health professionals are facing in their quest for quality health care delivery. In Namibia, most health care facilities have not been yielding good results in response to patients’ health care needs. Health care dynamics are complex and inundated with several factors; among others new methods, speed of improving medical science and technology, as well as increasing demands of the clients to address emerging and re-emerging diseases.In order to achieved that the five phases of programme development by Meyer and Van Niekerk (2008) were modified to facilitate the programme development. Quality improvement training for health professionals. Those five phases were situational analysis; conceptual framework; developing of the training programme; development of the guidelines for the implementation; and Evaluation of training programme.
Identification of zingiber components by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer and semi-empirical calculations
Authors: Sarhan Mahmoud Abd El kareem Mamoun , Abd El fattah Rabbih Mohamed , Taha Mohamed Selim Ezzat
Published: May 2016

The important used of Zingiber in different fields such as medicine and foods, this leads to study the physical and chemical properties of its components. The chemical components in Zingiber officinale Roscoe were identified by gas chromatograph/ mass spectrometer (GC/MS) with electron ionization mode. The major components of Zingiber under investigation namely: (1) Pentadecanoic acid (2) 1,3-Dioxepane, 2-pentadecyl (3) 4H-Pyran-4-one, 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl (4) gingerol. Electron ionization mass spectra of these compounds have been obtained and investigated. In addition, the semi-empirical (MNDO) method was used to calculate some physical and thermochemical properties for the structural of these compounds such as total energy, electronic energy, ionization energy, heats of formation, proton affinity and dipole moments which might to predict the activity and behavior of these compounds.
The L1L^{1} gradient flow of a generalized scale invariant Willmore energy for radially non-increasing functions
Authors: Dayrens François
Published: May 2016

We use the minimizing movement theory to study the gradient flow associated to a non-regular relaxation of a geometric functional derived from the Willmore energy. Thanks to the coarea formula, we can define a Willmore energy on regular functions ofL1L^{1}(ℝd\mathbb{R}^{d}). This functional is extended to everyL1{L^{1}}function by taking its lower semicontinuous envelope. We study the flow generated by this relaxed energy for radially non-increasing functions (functions with balls as superlevel sets). In the first part of the paper, we prove a coarea formula for the relaxed energy of such functions. Then, we show that the flow consists of an erosion of the initial data. The erosion speed is given by a first order ordinary equation.
The Effects of Cash Pooling Application in Funds Management in a Capital Group in Hard Coal Mining Industry
Authors: Bąk Patrycja , Sierpińska-Sawicz Agata
Published: May 2016

The article presents the effects of cash pooling application in a capital group. Calculations made on a mining company data indicate that the group’s companies achieve benefits on interests. Companies with surplus funds achieve higher interests on deposits. Companies recording cash shortages on current accounts pay lower interests on debit in the current account. Cash pooling provides for optimal use of the group’s funds, harmonisation of procedures in the area of financial cooperation, improves the group’s financial liquidity, and reduces the costs of external financing. One must not forget the effect of cash pooling manifested in high flexibility of financial settlements among the companies within the capital group.
On the well-posedness of global fully nonlinear first order elliptic systems
Authors: Abugirda Hussien , Katzourakis Nikos
Published: May 2016

In the very recent paper [15], the second author proved that for any

f
∈

L
2

⁢

(

ℝ
n

,

ℝ
N

)

{f\in L^{2}(\mathbb{R}^{n},\mathbb{R}^{N})}

, the fully nonlinear first order system

F
⁢

(
⋅
,

D
⁢
u

)

=
f

{F(\,\cdot\,,\mathrm{D}u)=f}

is well posed in the so-called J. L. Lions space and, moreover, the unique strong solution

u
:

ℝ
n

→

ℝ
N

{u\colon\mathbb{R}^{n}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}^{N}}

to the problem satisfies a quantitative estimate.
A central ingredient in the proof was the introduction of an appropriate notion of ellipticity for F inspired by Campanato’s classical work in the 2nd order case.
Herein, we extend the results of [15] by introducing a new strictly weaker ellipticity condition and by proving well-posedness in the same “energy” space.
Ray selection for optimization of rotationally symmetric systems
Authors: Forbes Greg W. , Ruoff Johannes , Flesch Andreas , Kerwien Norbert
Published: May 2016

Efficient performance assessment is essential during the design of systems involving complex aspheres. We present new classes of pupil sampling schemes that, with a reduced number of rays, yield accurate estimates of the RMS wavefront aberration over a circular pupil. It turns out that the number of samples in the pupil can be reduced by a factor of about 0.7, and these ideas can also be expected to lead to a similar additional reduction factor when averaging over the field and color. Beyond that, analysis of a patented lens system is used to establish the path to further significant reductions.
Investigation on the collation of the first Fight book (Leeds, Royal Armouries, Ms I.33)
Authors: Binard Fanny , Jaquet Daniel
Published: May 2016

This paper investigates the collation of the first Fight Book, the Leeds, Royal Armouries, Ms I.33. It critically reviews previous hypotheses about the composition of the quires and the identification of the material lacuna, and proposes a new hypothesis. This investigation is based on observation of the original after restoration (2012) and the simulation of the previous hypotheses with a working document composed of laminated sheets into which reproductions were inserted. Bifolia were physically attached, forming quires by successive folds. This simulation phase allowed us to analyse textual and pictorial content according to the various postulates and to propose identification of the material lacuna. The pivot point allowing a new argumentation are the two counterfoils of the two flying leaves (fol. 19 and 26), which were not taken into account by previous researchers. Several synoptical diagrams of the representation of the quire are enclosed for the reader to follow the developments.
A Well Regulated Militia Political and Military Organisation in Pre-Napoleonic Switzerland (1550-1799)
Authors: Gassmann Jürg
Published: May 2016

The period sees the transition of the ordinary fighter from feudal levy, yeoman or city burgher militia, to subject in an absolute polity, to today’s concept of the free citizen in a democratic state. In the period, the Swiss Confederacy was the only major polity that was not monarchical, but republican, and at the same time eschewed a standing army in favour of continued reliance on militia throughout.

A commonwealth’s military organisation is clearly one of fundamental importance to its own understanding of the nature of rule - its “constitution”. The article traces the transition and relates it to the concept of government under the different theories of the period.
The French staff material from Johann Georg Pasch
Authors: Dupuis Olivier
Published: May 2016

Johann Georg Pasch was a very prolific author who published a large number of books during the third quarter of the seventeenth century. Some of these included physical exercises with a long staff and presented by Pasch himself as coming from France. Among all the known editions, four different versions can be isolated; this offers the possibility to study the filiation of the edition process. This study is combined with a textual criticism of the material, beginning with a comprehensive biography from the author and finishing with the questioning of the French origin.
Income and working time of a Fencing Master in Bologna in the 15th and early 16th century
Authors: Battistini Alessandro , Corradetti Niki
Published: May 2016

Since ancient times, the master-at-arms profession has always been considered essential for the education of the nobility and the common citizenship, especially in the Middle Ages. Yet, we know nothing about the real standard of living of these characters. The recent discovery of documents, which report the sums earned by fencing masters to teach combat disciplines, has brought us the possibility to estimate how highly this profession was regarded, and what its actual economic value was in the Italian late Middle Ages. They also give us also a material view into the modes of operation of a sala d’arme in those times.

Using different comparative methods based on the quoted currencies, primary goods and the cost of living, it was possible to analyze prices and duration of various military teachings offered by the fencing Masters in the late Middle Ages and equivalent viable activities of the time. We use three ways to calculate equivalent income levels in euros: from the silver content of the coins (bolognini, equivalent to the soldo); from purchasing power in relation to bread prices; and from equivalent wages. As a result we were able to define more accurately both the accessibility of these services for citizens and the relative value to other professions.

This cursory research study also aims to estimate approximately the current equivalent wages of a fencing master operating in the Italian peninsula in the 15th and early 16th century, confirming that this job was comparable to a modern, highly specialized, profession.