bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Chronic Inflammation and Glucidic-Lipidic Profile Disorders in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Tarța I.D. , Căldăraru Carmen Denise , Gliga Mirela , Huțanu Adina , Bajko Z. , Carașca E. , Dogaru G.A.
Published: February 2016

Introduction: Chronic inflammation has a proven role in atherogenesis, lipid profile parameters being related to cytokine production. In kidney transplant recipients, interleukin 6 (IL-6) is significantly associated with graft-related outcomes and also alterations of cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between chronic inflammation and glucidic-lipidic metabolism disorders in a group of patients with kidney transplantation as renal replacement therapy. Methods: A prospective observational study which enrolled thirtysix non-diabetic kidney transplant recipients was conducted in the Nephrology and Peritoneal Dialysis Department, County Clinic Hospital of Tirgu Mures. The study group was divided as following: recipients with serum IL-6 concentration higher than 3.8 pg/ml (group A) and IL-6 within the normal range (group B). Results: Allograft recipients with higher serum IL-6 had significant higher erytrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR, p=0.0067). Patients with over-the-range levels of IL-6 had significant higher levels of serum cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol respectively (p=0.0242 and p=0.0081). Serum Apo-B was also significant higher in Group A than Group B. Protein excretion was significant higher in patients from group A (p=0.0013). No statistical significant relationship could be proven between elevated levels of IL-6 and hbA1c, insulin and glycosuria disturbances in the two groups. Also, we found no statistical significant association between resistivity and pulsatility indices (both hilum and intragraft) or carotid intima media thickness. Conclusion: Serum interleukin 6 is related to lipid profile disorders and less to glucidic metabolism anomalies in non-diabetic kidney transplant recipients.
High-on-Aspirin Residual Platelet Reactivity Evaluated Using the Multiplate® Point-of-Care Device
Authors: Mărginean Alina , Moldovan Valeriu , Mărginean Mihai
Published: February 2016

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of aspirin non-responsiveness using whole blood multiple electrode aggregometry and to investigate the role of different clinical and laboratory variables associated with the lack of response. Methods: The present study included 116 aspirin treated patients presented with acute coronary syndromes or stroke. Response to aspirin was assessed by impedance aggregometry using arachidonic acid as agonist, in a final concentration of 0.5 mM (ASPI test). Results: In our data set 81% (n=94) were responders and 19% (n=22) non-responders showing high-on-aspirin platelet reactivity. Correlation analysis showed that the ward of admittance, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), concomitant antibiotic treatment, beta-adrenergic receptor blockers, history of myocardial infarction as well as PCI performed on Cardiology patients have different degrees of association with aspirin response. Conclusion: Concomitant treatment with beta-adrenergic receptor inhibitors, history of myocardial infarction and Cardiology ward admittance significantly increased the chance of responding to aspirin treatment whereas antibiotic therapy and low-density lipoproteins cholesterol seemed to increase the risk of high-on-aspirin residual platelet reactivity.
Incidence of pathogens infections in a Romanian Intensive Care Unit and sensitivity to antibiotics. A prospective single center study
Authors: Bedreag Ovidiu Horea , Rogobete Alexandru Florin , Luca Loredana , Neamtu Claudiu , Dragulescu Dorian Mihai , Nartita Radu , Papurica Marius
Published: February 2016

Introduction: Nosocomial infections represent one of the biggest challenges faced by clinicians in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Infections in ICU are most often very serious and represent often the cause of hospitalization in intensive care clinics.

Aim of the study: This paper presents the incidence of nosocomial infections, and the sensitivity to antibiotics encountered in our ICU. Material and Methods: This prospective study was conducted for two years at the Clinic of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Emergency County Hospital “Pius Brinzeu” Timisoara, Romania. All patients admitted to the ICU were analyzed in terms of signs and symptoms of bacterial infections.

Results: A total of 1081 microbiological reports were recorded. Among these, 635 (58.70 %) represented infections in the respiratory tract, 201 (18.60 %) in the bloodstream, 100 (9.30 %) in genitourinary tract, and 10 (0.90 %) in the central nervous system. The top five most frequently identified pathogen in microbiological reports are Klebsiella sp (17.60 %), Acinetobacter sp (14.20 %), Proteus mirabilis (13.80 %), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.90 %), Staphylococcus aureus - MSSA (12.80%).

Conclusions: In order to choose empirical treatment, international guidelines should be consulted according to each pathology and adapted to the sensitivity encountered in the microbiology reports of the Critical Care Unit.
Volemic Resuscitation in a Patient with Multiple Traumas and Haemorrhagic Shock. Anti-oxidative Therapy Management in Critical Patients. A Case Report
Authors: Bedreag Ovidiu Horea , Rogobete Alexandru Florin , Sarandan Mirela , Cradigati Alina Carmen , Nartita Radu , Sandesc Dorel , Papurica Marius
Published: February 2016

A patient with multiple traumas is usually found in severe haemorrhagic shock. In 40% of the cases, the patient with multiple traumas and haemorrhagic shock cannot recover due to secondary injuries and complications associated with the shock. In this paper we present the case of a male patient 30 years old, who suffered a car accident. The patient is admitted in our hospital with haemorrhagic shock due to femur fracture, acute cranial-cerebral trauma and severe thoracic trauma with bleeding scalp wound, associated with lethal triad of trauma. The clinical and biological parameters demand massive transfusion with packed red blood cells (PRBCs), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), cryoprecipitate (CRY) and colloidal solution (CO) sustained with vassopresor for the haemodynamic stabilisation. During his stay in the ICU, the patient benefits from anti-oxidative therapy with Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin B1. After 14 days the clinical state of the patient improves and he is transferred in Polytrauma Department.
Endocrine Dysfunction in Neurofibromatosis Type 1 – An Update
Authors: Pop Raluca-Monica , Neagoe Radu Mircea , Kolcsar Melinda , Paşcanu Ionela
Published: February 2016

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 is an autosomal dominant disorder associated with multiple neoplasms particularly those of ectodermal origin. Various endocrine pathologies are often present, among them, hyperparathyroidism and follicular thyroid lesion are very rare described and their coincidence in the same patient has not been described in the literature reviewed.

Subject: A 59-years-old woman with clinical manifestation of neurofibromatosis type 1 developed dysphagia, dysphonia, choking sensation. Physical and imagistic examination revealed a multinodular goiter with microfollicular lesion on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), elevated parathormone levels and severe osteoporosis. The surgically removed thyroid contained a nodule with follicular architecture of uncertain malignant potential; the parathyroid tissue appeared normal.

Discussion and conclusion: This case serves as a reminder to look for non-neurogenic tumors in patients with neurofibromatosis. Clinicians must be aware of the diverse clinical features of this genetic disorder.
Bulk Fill Resin Composite Materials Cured with Single-Peak versus Dual-Peak LED LCUs
Authors: Aldossary Mohammed , Roebuck Elizabeth M. , Santini Ario
Published: February 2016

Introduction: Manufactures claim that recently introduced bulk fill materials (BFM) can be cured adequately in 4 mm increments. This requires adequate light energy to be transmitted through the material to ensure adequate polymerization at the bottom of the increment.

Aim: To compare the total light energy transmission through three BFMs and bottom/top (B/T) surface Vickers hardness (VH) when cured with single-peak versus dual-peak LED LCUs.

Methods and Materials: Samples (n=5) of two viscous BFMs, Tetric EvoCeram® Bulk Fill X-tra fil® [XF] flowable SureFil, were prepared. A conventional RBC, Tetric EvoCeram® was used as a control. Using MARC® RC, the irradiance delivered to top surface of samples was adjusted to 1200 mW/cm2. Samples were cured with singlepeak EliparTM S10 or dual-peakBluephase® G2 for 10 seconds and irradiance transmitted to the bottom surface measured. Samples were stored for 24 hours, prior to VH measurements B/T VH ratios were calculated. Statistically analysed used oneway ANOVA (α=0.05).

Results: There was no statistically significant difference for B/T total energy transmission between materials except XF with EliparTM S10 (P<0.001). Total energy transmission ranged from 0.7 J/cm2 to 1.5 J/cm2. There was no statistically significant difference for B/T VH ratios between materials (P>0.05) when materials were cured with single-peak versus dual-peak LCU’s, XF>SDR>TEC>TBF. TBF alone, did not reach the generally accepted B/T VH of 80%.

Conclusions: Both single-peak and dual-peak LCU’s were equally effective for curing the studied bulk fill materials. Manufacture’s recommended total energy delivered to the top surface may not always be sufficient for effective curing.
Numerical solution of time fractional Burgers equation
Authors: Esen A. , Tasbozan O.
Published: February 2016

In this article, the time fractional order Burgers equation has been solved by quadratic B-spline Galerkin method. This method has been applied to three model problems. The obtained numerical solutions and error norms L2 and L∞ have been presented in tables. Absolute error graphics as well as those of exact and numerical solutions have been given.
Ein mengenbasierter Ansatz zur kollisionsfreien Navigation mobiler Roboter
Authors: Horn Sylvia , Janschek Klaus
Published: February 2016

In dem vorliegenden Beitrag wird ein mengenbasierter Ansatz für eine robuste, sichere
Lokalisierung und Bewegungsführung mobiler Roboter vorgestellt. Den Kern bildet ein
Multifusionsansatz für unbestimmte, betragsbegrenzte (unknown but bounded – UBB)
Systemgrößen. Darauf aufbauend werden eine mengenbasierte Bestimmung der Roboterpose und
eine zielgerichtete und kollisionsfreie Bewegungsführung nach dem Dynamic-Window-Prinzip zu
einem integrierten und konsistenten Navigationskonzept für Umgebungen mit veränderlichen
Hindernissen zusammengefügt. Experimentelle Erprobungsergebnisse in einer planaren
Büroumgebung zeigen die Leistungseigenschaften des vorgestellten Verfahrens.
Beispiele für einen direkten Zugang zu einer globalen, energiebasierten Modellbildung und Regelung von Starrkörpersystemen
Authors: Konz Matthias , Rudolph Joachim
Published: February 2016

Der bekannte Lagrange-Formalismus wird erweitert, indem redundante Koordinaten zugelassen
werden. Darauf aufbauend wird ein direkter Zugang zur Modellbildung und zum Reglerentwurf
für Starrkörpersysteme vorgeschlagen. Dabei wird ein Wunschverhalten in den redundanten
Koordinaten definiert, aus dem das Regelgesetz folgt, wobei im Fall von weniger Stellgrößen
als Freiheitsgraden eine Strukturbedingung zu berücksichtigen ist. Das Verfahren wird an
drei Beispielen demonstriert.
Monetary policy and news shocks: are Taylor rules forward-looking?
Authors: Best Gabriela , Kapinos Pavel
Published: February 2016

This paper extends a standard New Keynesian model by introducing anticipated shocks to inflation, output, and interest rates, and by incorporating forward-looking, forecast-targeting Taylor rules. The latter aspect is parsimoniously modeled through the presence of an expected future interest rate term in the Taylor rule that recent literature has found to be economically and statistically important in a variety of settings without anticipated shocks. Using Bayesian econometric methods, we find that the presence of anticipated shocks improves the model’s fit to the US data but substantially decreases the weight on future macroeconomic variables in the forward-looking Taylor rule. Our results suggest that, although communicating its intentions regarding future monetary policy conduct, as modeled by anticipated monetary shocks, plays an important role for the Fed, responding to its expectations of future macroeconomic conditions does not. Furthermore, we conduct extensive robustness checks with respect to modeling the forward-looking specification of the Taylor rule that confirm our baseline results.
BRAF analysis before surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma: correlation with clinicopathological features and prognosis in a single-institution prospective experience
Authors: Galuppini Francesca , Pennelli Gianmaria , Vianello Federica , Censi Simona , Zambonin Laura , Watutantrige-Fernando Sara , Manso Jacopo , Nacamulli Davide , Lora Ornella , Pelizzo Maria Rosa , Rugge Massimo , Barollo Susi , Mian Caterina
Published: February 2016

Background:

Risk stratification in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) currently relies on postoperative parameters. Testing forBRAFmutations preoperatively may serve as a novel tool for identifying PTC patients at risk of persistence/recurrence after surgery.

Methods:

The study involved 185 consecutive patients with a histological diagnosis of PTC andBRAFanalysis performed on thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). We assessedBRAFstatus in FNAB specimens obtained before thyroidectomy for PTC, and examined its association with the clinicopathological characteristics identified postoperatively, and with outcome after a mean 55±15 months of follow-up.

Results:

One hundred and fifteen of 185 (62%) PTCs carried aBRAFmutation. Univariate analysis showed thatBRAFstatus correlated with the histological variant of PTC, cancer size, and stage at diagnosis, but not with gender, age, multifocality, or lymph node involvement.BRAF-mutated cases had a higher prevalence of persistent/recurrent disease by the end of the follow-up (11% vs. 8%), but this difference was not statistically significant. The Kaplan-Meier curve shows that among the patients with persistent/recurrent disease,BRAF-mutated patients needed a second treatment earlier than patients withBRAFwild-type, although the difference did not completely reach the statistical significance.

Conclusions:

Our study confirmed that preoperatively-identifiedBRAFmutation are associated with certain pathological features of PTC that correlate with prognosis. We speculate that it has a role in identifying PTCs that would generally be considered low-risk but that may reveal an aggressive behavior during their follow-up.
Application of vacuum membrane distillation for concentration of organic solutions‡
Authors: Gryta Marek , Waszak Marta
Published: February 2016

Vacuum membrane distillation was used to concentrate organic solutions containing mainly 1,3-propanediol, ethanol and carboxylic acids. The studied solutions were permeates obtained from nanofiltration process applied for the separation of broths from the fermentation of glycerol with the
Fabrication of amperometric cholesterol biosensor based on SnO2 nanoparticles and Nafion-modified carbon paste electrode
Authors: Tığ Gözde Aydoğdu , Zeybek Derya Koyuncu , Pekyardımcı Şule
Published: February 2016

This study reports the fabrication of an amperometric cholesterol biosensor based on cholesterol oxidase (ChOx), SnO
Two 1,8-naphthalimide-based proton-receptor fluorescent probes for pH determination
Authors: Wu Hui-Lu , Chen Cheng-Yong , Zhang Han , Peng Hong-Ping , Wang Fei , Yang Zai-Hui , Zhang Jia-Wen
Published: February 2016

Two newly synthesised 1,8-naphthalimide-based proton-receptor fluorescent probes
Radical-scavenging activity of glutathione, chitin derivatives and their combination‡
Authors: Valachová Katarína , Tamer Tamer Mahmoud , Eldin Mohamed Mohy , Šoltés Ladislav
Published: February 2016

Since chitosan and its amino-, cinnamo- or cinnamo-amino- derivatives are acid-soluble, the effect of acetic acid on hyaluronan (HA) macromolecules degraded by Cu(II) ions and ascorbate was examined to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Further, the effects of glutathione (GSH), chitosan and its derivatives, added individually or in combination, on the quenching of ROS and ABTS
Stability of character sums for positive-depth,
supercuspidal representations
Authors: DeBacker Stephen , Spice Loren
Published: February 2016

We re-write the character formulae of
Adler and the first author in a form amenable to
explicit computations in p-adic harmonic analysis, and
use them to prove the stability of character sums for a
modification of Reeder’s conjectural positive-depth,
unramified, toral supercuspidal L-packets.
Modelling of maturation, expulsion and accumulation of bacterial methane within Ravneš Member (Pliocene age), Croatia onshore
Authors: Cvetković Marko
Published: February 2016

Bacterial methane is a dominant hydrocarbon component in the Northern Croatia’s Adriatic offshore proven hydrocarbon reservoirs. As onshore reserves are declining the potential of shallow gas accumulation, analogue to the Adriatic ones, are being tested. A part of the Lonja Formation (Pliocene Pleistocene and Holocene), the Ravneš Member (Early Pliocene age) is analysed for its maturation and expulsion regarding bacterial methane as potential source and reservoir rocks, especially as it is thermally immature. Two approaches were used for the initial lithology modelling processes - the convergent interpolation and sequential Gaussian simulation. Possibility for trapping and forming of accumulations was also modelled. Results show that selected member has a large source rock potential for bacterial methane with a total volume of 411.53 × 10
Markov chains and entropy tests in genetic-based lithofacies analysis of deep-water clastic depositional systems
Authors: Borka Szabolcs
Published: February 2016

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between structural elements and the so-called genetic lithofacies in a clastic deep-water depositional system. Process-sedimentology has recently been gaining importance in the characterization of these systems. This way the recognized facies attributes can be associated with the depositional processes establishing the genetic lithofacies. In this paper this approach was presented through a case study of a Tertiary deep-water sequence of the Pannonian-basin.

Of course it was necessary to interpret the stratigraphy of the sequences in terms of “general” sedimentology, focusing on the structural elements. For this purpose, well-logs and standard deep-water models were applied.

The cyclicity of sedimentary sequences can be easily revealed by using Markov chains. Though Markov chain analysis has broad application in mainly fluvial depositional environments, its utilization is uncommon in deep-water systems. In this context genetic lithofacies was determined and analysed by embedded Markov chains. The randomness in the presence of a lithofacies within a cycle was estimated by entropy tests (entropy after depositional, before depositional, for the whole system). Subsequently the relationships between lithofacies were revealed and a depositional model (i.e. modal cycle) was produced with 90% confidence level of stationarity. The non-randomness of the latter was tested by chi-square test.

The consequences coming from the comparison of “general” sequences (composed of architectural elements), the genetic-based sequences (showing the distributions of the genetic lithofacies) and the lithofacies relationships were discussed in details. This way main depositional channel has the best, channelized lobes have good potential hydrocarbon reservoir attributes, with symmetric alternation of persistent fine-grained sandstone (Facies D) and muddy fine-grained sandstone with traction structures (Facies F)
Revisiting the applications of drainage capillary pressure curves in water-wet hydrocarbon systems
Authors: Nemes István
Published: February 2016

The main focus of the paper is to introduce a new approach at studying and modelling the relationship of initial water saturation profile and capillarity in water-wet hydrocarbon reservoirs, and describe the available measurement methods and possible applications. As a side track it aims to highlight a set of derivable parameters of mercury capillary curves using the Thomeer-method. Since the widely used mercury capillary pressure curves themselves can lead to over-, or underestimations regarding in-place and technical volumes and misinterpreted reservoir behaviour, the need for a proper capillary curve is reasonable. Combining the results of mercury and centrifuge capillary curves could yield a capillary curve preserving the strengths of both methods, while overcoming their weaknesses. Mercury injection capillary curves were normalized by using the irreducible water saturations derived from centrifuge capillary pressure measurements of the same core plug, and this new, combined capillary curve was applied for engineering calculations in order to make comparisons with other approaches. The most significant benefit of this approach is, that all of the measured data needed for a valid drainage capillary pressure curve represents the very same sample piece.
CFD Modeling with Experimental Validation of the Internal Hydrodynamics in a Pilot-Scale Slurry Bubble Column Reactor
Authors: Basha Omar M. , Weng Li , Men Zhuowu , Morsi Badie I.
Published: February 2016

A multiphase-Eulerian, three-dimensional (3-D), computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was built to investigate the local hydrodynamics of a pilot-scale (0.29 m ID, 3 m height) Slurry Bubble Column Reactor (SBCR). The model was first validated against the gas holdup radial profiles in an air-water-glass beads system obtained in a 0.254 m ID and 2.5 m height column under ambient conditions at various superficial gas velocities by Yu and Kim (Bubble characteristics in the radial direction of three-phase fluidized beds. AIChE Journal 34, 2069–2072, 1988). The model was next validated against the gas holdup radial profile data for N2-Drakeol-glass beads system obtained in a 0.44 m ID and 2.44 m height reactor, including internals, operating under ambient conditions at various superficial gas velocities by Chen et al. (Fluid dynamic parameters in bubble columns with internals. Chemical Engineering Science 54, 2187–2197, 1999). The model was also validated against experimental data obtained in our lab for N2-Fischer Tropsch (F-T) reactor wax-Fe catalyst system obtained in a pilot-scale, Slurry Bubble column Reactor, SBCR (0.29 m ID, 3 m height) under pressures and temperatures up to 25.9 bar and 490 K, respectively. These three validations led to the selection of the turbulence and interphase drag coefficient models, and the optimization of the solution method, mesh size and structure and the step size. Moreover, the inclusion of RNG k-ε turbulence model coupled with the Wen-Yu (Mechanics of Fluidization. Chemical Engineering Progress Symposium Series 62, 100–111, 1966) / Schiller-Naumann (A drag coefficient correlation. Zeitung Ver. Deutsch. Ing 77, 318–320, 1935) drag correlations, and the mass transfer coefficients were found to provide the most accurate predictions of the experimental data. The CFD model was then used to investigate local gas holdup, liquid recirculation, local turbulence intensities, bubble diameters, and solids distribution throughout our pilot-scale SBCR, operating under typical F-T process conditions. The model predictions showed strong liquid recirculation and backmixing near the walls of the reactor, and the solid-phase velocity vectors closely followed those of the liquid-phase. A relatively high liquid turbulence intensities were observed in the vicinity of the sparger upon startup, however, after reaching a steady state, the liquid turbulence intensities became more evenly distributed throughout the reactor. The liquid turbulence intensities were slightly higher near the center of the reactor, and closely resembled the velocity vectors. Also, the Sauter mean bubble diameters increased, whereas the solids distribution decreased with reactor height above the gas distributor.
The Others in the Czech Republic: their image and their languages
Authors: Fidler Masako
Published: February 2016

This corpus-assisted study attempts to unpack the Czech majority’s image of the Others
Czech Sign Language in contemporary Czech society
Authors: Filippová Eva , Hudáková Andrea
Published: February 2016

Czech Sign Language (CzSL) is a vital means of communication used in the Czech Deaf community; it constitutes an essential communication tool for a minority population in the Czech sociolinguistic space. The aim of the article is to provide an overview of the usage of CzSL in contemporary Czech society, to sketch a brief history of its formative stages and to list the challenges the Czech Deaf face nowadays. An emphasis is placed on the question of bilingualism of the CzSL users. Our special focus is on the questions of language socialization and social-cognitive development, as the early years set the stage for a Deaf child’s and the Deaf community’s subsequent advancement. Real world implications for the healthy and uncompromised development resonate throughout the discussion of the Czech education system and the place of the Deaf in it. CzSL represents an irrefutable part of the identity of the Czech Deaf population and, as such, merits a critical consideration in the context of the minority languages in the present day Czech society.
Texas Czech Legacy Project: documenting the past and present for the future
Authors: Cope Lida
Published: February 2016

This article focuses on the
Czech immigrant dialects in the Northern Caucasus and Western Siberia
Authors: Skorvid Sergej
Published: February 2016

The article deals with essential aspects of the sociolinguistic situation and, partly, the phonological and grammatical systems of Czech immigrants’ dialects spoken in Russia. One of the examined dialects is used in two villages near Novorossiysk and Anapa in the Northern Caucasus, and the other in the Middle Irtysh area of the Omsk Region. The dialects appeared as a result of different waves of Czech rural migration at the end of the 1860s and the start of the twentieth century. The primary purpose of this research is to describe the process of formation of the two dialects, their functioning within the community and their contact with the languages used outside, as well as external factors that contributed first to their survival and then to the breach of dialect transmission in families since the 1970s. In the process, the article outlines the main linguistic features of the two dialects, focusing on those that indicate the dialects’ origin and those that have been affected by the languages of their surroundings. The corpus of interviews with speakers of Czech heritage in Russia used in this article likely represents the largest data collection to date.
Transnationalism and language maintenance: Czech and Slovak as heritage languages in the Southeastern United States
Authors: McCabe Marta
Published: February 2016

This qualitative study examines heritage language maintenance goals, motivation, and strategies in eleven Czech and Slovak immigrant families in the Southeastern United States. The goals of this article are threefold. First, this article outlines the changes in Czech and Slovak immigration patterns over time, documenting that while Czech immigrants used to settle mainly in Texas and the Midwest in the past, they generally opt for the East and West Coast today. Second, this article describes language practices of current Czech and Slovak immigrants in the Southeast and finds that the most successful factors of heritage language (HL) retention include: (a) expectations that children will need the language in the future; (b) consistent HL use by both parents; (c) annual lengthy trips overseas; and (d) parental ability to use additional strategies, such as involving grandparents or employing Slavic au pairs. Third, this article compares today’s HL maintenance with the classical period of immigration. In the past, Czech and Slovak children in the United States learned and used their native languages within ethnic communities. Today, the necessity to learn and use Czech or Slovak in the context of the United States has largely disappeared. Instead, it is the transnational context that is vital for HL retention.
Architecting safety-critical
decision-support systems for nuclear emergency
management
Authors: Ionescu Tudor B. , Scheuermann Walter
Published: February 2016

We present the architecture of
the new ABR-KFUE decision-support
system for nuclear emergency management used in Germany.
Such systems assist decision makers in taking countermeasures in case of
releases of radioactive materials into the environment.
The specificity of these systems is that they use simulation software in
a safety-critical application
context. The new architecture of the system thus aims at
fulfilling non-functional requirements for improved
reliability, performance,
availability, and maintainability.
The proposed solutions are evaluated using a stimulus/response
analysis.
Towards composition principles and fractal architectures
in the context of smart grids
Authors: Bytschkow Denis
Published: February 2016

The operation of smart grids is based on different energy management and control systems.
Despite their variety, all of them offer similar functionalities to achieve
a stable, reliable, sustainable and economic supply of energy. Similarity
offers advantages for the construction of systems that are not well reflected in current system architectures. This work introduces foundations for specifications and development of fractal architectures that are based on self-similarity. We aim to apply those principles on two smart grid use cases: virtual power plants and optimal power flow control applications.
Load flexibility in an industrial setting: Energy-aware test rig scheduling in the automotive industry
Authors: Kern Fabian
Published: February 2016

The increasing share of volatile renewable energy sources leads to new
challenges for the power system. Flexible operation of power consumers
is getting more important to keep power generation in balance with
power consumption. Large potential loads are available in the
industrial sector. Flexibility of these large loads is hard to utilize
and requires consideration of the specific operational constraints. In
the automotive industry test rigs for the development of cars or
components, like engine or gearbox, exist, which are characterized by
a high energy demand. In this work the idea of an energy-aware
scheduling concept for test rigs in the automotive industry is
presented. The goal is to provide an optimized schedule based on
internal (e. g., prediction of local power generation) or external
(e. g., electricity prices) signals. To this end, a methodological
approach for the classification, identification and selection of
suitable test rigs is presented. Based on this, a model of the test
rigs has to be developed which can be used in a simulation to evaluate
the optimization algorithm. Finally, the need for design guidelines
for the implementation of an energy-aware test rig scheduling in
a real-world evaluation environment are discussed.
SG-rating – Putting values on smart grid architectures
Authors: van Amelsvoort Marie Antoinette
Published: February 2016

Due to the integration of renewable energy ressources in the
electricity grids, many new challenges have to be coped
with. Therefore, new architectures are developed. To validate if a new
architecture meets the requirements of transforming electricity grids
into Smart Grids, a general evaluation-metric should be used.

Not all requirements and their satisfaction can be mapped on
monetary values, so a differentiated view on different aspects
of an Smart Grid architecture is preferable. To meet this
purpose, the idea is to develop separate evaluation-metrics on
each layer of the Smart Grid Architecture Model and to build
one comprising evaluation scheme for Smart Grid
Architectures.
Using cognitive models for behavioral assistance of humans
Authors: Michael Judith
Published: February 2016

Cognitive impairments are a rising challenge in society. Everybody has
experienced events of forgetting what one was going to do when
entering a certain room, or where one has put the keys, the purse or
the smartphone. Such problems mostly occur under stress or
fatigue. And they may increase with age up to diseases like senile
dementia or Alzheimer which affect mental tasks like memory or
reasoning, and thus often lead to the need of comprehensive
assistance. Due to the societal change, the number of people suffering
from such impairments is continuously growing. Cognitive modeling may
provide human-centered solutions for this challenge since a cognitive
model of a person's behavior, regarding activities of daily living,
can serve as a knowledge base for support actions. This paper presents
a Domain Specific Modeling Language for Ambient Assistance: The Human
Cognitive Modeling Language (HCM-L). It was developed to preserve the
episodic memory of a person in the form of conceptual behavior models
including relevant context. The work is part of the Human Behavior
Monitoring and Support (HBMS) project, a research project in the field
of Ambient Assisted Living funded by the Klaus Tschira Stiftung
gGmbH. HBMS aims at monitoring a person's behavior using activity
recognition techniques, generating models from their output, and
providing focused and timely support by the use of intelligent
reasoning mechanisms.
Anti-platelet Therapy Resistance – Concept, Mechanisms and Platelet Function Tests in Intensive Care Facilities
Authors: Mărginean Alina , Bănescu Claudia , Scridon Alina , Dobreanu Minodora
Published: February 2016

It is well known that critically ill patients require special attention and additional consideration during their treatment and management. The multiple systems and organ dysfunctions, typical of the critical patient, often results in different patterns of enteral absorption in these patients. Anti-platelet drugs are the cornerstone in treating patients with coronary and cerebrovascular disease. Dual anti-platelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel is the treatment of choice in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary interventions and is still widely used in patients with acute coronary syndromes. However, despite the use of dual anti-platelet therapy, some patients continue to experience cardiovascular ischemic events. Recurrence of ischemic events is partly attributed to the fact that some patients have poor inhibition of platelet reactivity despite treatment. These patients are considered low- or nonresponders to therapy. The underlying mechanisms leading to resistance are not yet fully elucidated and are probably multifactorial, cellular, genetic and clinical factors being implicated. Several methods have been developed to asses platelet function and can be used to identify patients with persistent platelet reactivity, which have an increased risk of thrombosis. In this paper, the concept of anti-platelet therapy resistance, the underlying mechanisms and the methods used to identify patients with low responsiveness to anti-platelet therapy will be highlighted with a focus on aspirin and clopidogrel therapy and addressing especially critically ill patients.
Sugammadex: An Update
Authors: Ezri Tiberiu , Boaz Mona , Sherman Alexander , Armaly Marwan , Berlovitz Yitzhak
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this update is to provide recent knowledge and debates regarding the use of sugammadex in the fields of anesthesia and critical care. The review is not intended to provide a comprehensive description of sugammadex and its clinical use.
Effect of Chirality on Dispersion Characteristics of Uniaxial Anisotropic Chiral Elliptical Waveguide
Authors: Lohia Pooja , Prajapati Y. K. , Saini J. P. , Rai B. S.
Published: February 2016

In this paper, the dispersion characteristic of elliptical waveguide consisting of uniaxial anisotropic chiral medium is investigated. The eigenvalue equation for the waveguide that is to be studied is deduced by solving the Mathieu and modified Mathieu functions. The cutoff frequencies for several lower order even modes have been calculated and their dispersion characteristics are correspondingly plotted. The effects of elliptical eccentricity and chirality on the mode cutoff frequencies and mode transmission are examined numerically.
Design and Analysis of the LIFG Filters for Coupling Efficiency Near 100 % Range for a Desired Bandwidth
Authors: Mahmoudzadeh Ahad
Published: February 2016

In this paper, we present preliminary simulation results of an improved dual grating-assisted fiber filter. As choosing optimum length the total loss is reduced, and coupling efficiency significantly increased compared to the previously reported results. The coupling efficiency is near 100 % range for a desired bandwidth. Dependence of the coupler on period has also been investigated.
Sociolinguistics in selected textbooks used for teaching Polish as a native language in a primary school
Authors: Szymańska Marta
Published: February 2016

Abstracts

The text is an effort to present a change which took place at the turn of centuries in teaching Polish as a native language. It is, first of all, about a new sociolinguistic perspective in teaching Polish which appeared at schools. The author analyses four selected series of textbooks used for teaching Polish in a primary school. Special attention was paid to activity books, which are analysed with regard for presence of situational exercises that make students analyse communication situations and their typical language behaviours. They also make them create effective utterances adequate to a specific context. The conducted research shows that a communication perspective is not represented well in school textbooks. Activities focusing on development of communication competence are rare, they are scattered or separated from other language actions. Thus, they do not fit into a general textbook concept, and they often are only a decoration required by the core curriculum.
Preferences for activities in French textbooks used in Slovak secondary schools analysed with Birova´s Communication Curve Tool
Authors: Bírová Jana
Published: February 2016

Which textbooks are used in French classes? Can the struggle to choose a good textbook affect the communication procedure in French? What is the proportion of language, intercultural and communicative activities in selected textbooks? What are the reasons for purchasing language-based and communication-based textbooks? The present study explores these questions and presents results with broad implications for teachers of French at secondary schools. It points out some significant markers such as textbook type activities preferences and arguments for choosing textbooks for French classes.
Taking a literature circles approach to teach Academic English
Authors: Graham-Marr Alastair , Pellowe William
Published: February 2016

Literature circles (LC), an activity framework for classroom discussion, has been adapted for EFL classes to help students engage more deeply with reading texts. In this approach, students read texts outside of class, and discuss the texts in class, using a specified discussion framework. Originally developed for L1 classes as a tool for teaching literature, LC has been adapted for EFL classes, not only to help develop reading skills, but also to help students develop their discussion skills. However, to date, many adaptations of LC have relied on graded fiction as source material, which is not always appropriate for tertiary education. Feeling pressure to match course content with the labour market needs of our contemporary global society, English departments are increasingly being asked to include more academic content in their classes. This requires that non-fiction be used as source material. This preliminary study examines student perceptions of an LC class using non-fiction as source material. The subjects of this short, qualitative, pilot study were engineering students at a university in Japan. Procedures of the class and the issues that emerged are discussed.
Paper-pen peer-correction versus wiki-based peer-correction
Authors: Froldova Vladimira
Published: February 2016

This study reports on the comparison of the students’ achievement and their attitudes towards the use of paper-pen peer-correction and wiki-based peer-correction within English language lessons and CLIL Social Science lessons at the higher secondary school in Prague. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were utilized to gather information. The data suggests that students made considerable use of wikis and showed higher degrees of motivation in wiki-based peer-correction during English language lessons than in CLIL Social Science lessons. In both cases wikis not only contributed to developing students’ writing skills, but also helped students recognize the importance of collaboration.
Impact of Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO) on Selected Antioxidants in Horses
Authors: Borowicz Hieronim , Kubiak Krzysztof , Nikolovski Goran , Niedźwiedź Artur
Published: February 2016

The aim of this review was to collect the most important data on the characteristics of selected antioxidants in horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). RAO is one of the most common respiratory diseases in horses. This disease can not be cured, but we can try to stop its progression. It is not exactly known, what is the real contribution of antioxidants in the pathology of recurrent airway obstruction. Many researchers investigated the possibility of using antioxidant supplementation in horses with RAO.
Locally adequate semigroup algebras
Authors: Ji Yingdan , Luo Yanfeng
Published: February 2016

We build up a multiplicative basis for a locally adequate concordant semigroup algebra by constructing Rukolaĭne idempotents. This allows us to decompose the locally adequate concordant semigroup algebra into a direct product of primitive abundant0-J*$0{\rm{ - }}{\cal J}*$-simple semigroup algebras. We also deduce a direct sum decomposition of this semigroup algebra in terms of theℛ*${\cal R}*$-classes of the semigroup obtained from the above multiplicative basis. Finally, for some special cases, we provide a description of the projective indecomposable modules and determine the representation type.
Conceptualizing conversational humour as (im)politeness: The case of film talk
Authors: Dynel Marta
Published: February 2016

This paper addresses the methodology and theory of research on conversational humour in the context of (im)politeness theory, focusing on the production and reception ends (the speaker’s intention and the hearer’s evaluation respectively). In the light of a critical overview of the relevant scholarship from both humour and impoliteness studies, several notions are elucidated, such as mock (im)politeness or banter. Generally, conversational humour forms may give rise to face-saving and rapport, thereby subscribing to (solidarity) politeness; and/or face-threat and conflict indicative of impoliteness. Moreover, impoliteness can be viewed as a source of humour in its own right, especially in media entertainment discourse. Additionally, one utterance may invite diverging evaluations on the part of the various participants, depending on their interactional statuses: the butt/target or the receiver of humour, which is most pronounced in media discourse. This discussion on the interdependence between humour and (im)politeness is conducted with reference to film talk and is illustrated with humorous extracts taken from the American series entitled “House”.
A social cognitive account of relational work
Authors: Long Christopher
Published: February 2016

Postmodern accounts of politeness are founded on the idea that theoretical ‘second order’ conceptualizations (e.g., politeness2) must be grounded in ‘first order’ interlocutor interpretations (e.g., politeness1). One consequence of this assumption is that the generalizability of
Efficacy of a Four-Week Uphill Sprint Training Intervention in Field Hockey Players
Authors: Jakeman John R. , McMullan Judith , Babraj John A.
Published: February 2016

Jakeman, JR, McMullan, J, and Babraj, JA. Efficacy of a four-week uphill sprint training intervention in field hockey players. J Strength Cond Res 30(10): 2761–2766, 2016—Current evidence increasingly suggests that very short, supramaximal bouts of exercise can have significant health and performance benefits. Most research conducted in the area, however, uses laboratory-based protocols, which can lack ecological validity. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a high-intensity sprint training program on hockey-related performance measures. Fourteen semiprofessional hockey players either completed a 4-week high-intensity training (HIT) intervention, consisting of a total of 6 sessions of HIT, which progressively increased in volume (n = 7), or followed their normal training program (Con; n = 7). Straight-line sprint speed, with and without a hockey stick and ball, and slalom sprint speed, with and without a hockey stick and ball, were used as performance indicators. Maximal sprint speed over 22.9 m was also assessed. On completion of the 4-week intervention, straight-line sprint speed improved significantly in the HIT group (∼3%), with no changes in performance for the Con group. Slalom sprint speed, both with and without a hockey ball, was not significantly different after the training program in either group. Maximal sprint speed improved significantly (12.1%) in the HIT group, but there was no significant performance change in the Con group. The findings of this study indicate that a short period of HIT can significantly improve hockey-related performance measures and could be beneficial to athletes and coaches in field settings.
Evaluation of Density-Measurement Methods for Construction Slurries
Authors: Lam Carlos
Published: February 2016

The density of slurries is an important quality-control parameter for many types of geotechnical works, such as slurry trenching, grouting, and bored piling. Although the working range of this parameter has been refined over the years in many standard specifications, surprisingly almost nothing has been done to improve the accuracy of the density-measurement technique. For density testing, almost all of the current standards specify the use of the conventional mud balance, although it has a measurement range far greater than what is actually needed for civil engineering works. To provide a scientific basis for the possible adoption of other measurement tools, this paper compares the performance of four different tools, namely, mud balance, digital density meter, aerometer, and pycnometer. From the results, it was found that the performance of the pycnometer depends on its measurement volume, and that the one with a nominal volume of 2 liters gives the best overall performance (measurement error ≤0.001 g/cm3). The accuracy of the mud balance and the aerometer has been found to be dependent on how they are read (i.e., to the original scale division or with care to a half a division) and also on the specimen. The digital density meter, although having good overall performance, cannot be used to measure fluids containing coarse soil particles because of the small diameter of the internal vibrating U-tube. The findings of this study will find applications in geotechnical works involving the use of slurries or grouts.