bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A machine vision system for the braid angle measurement of tubular braided structures
Authors: Hunt Alexander J , Carey Jason P
Published: September 2018

Two-dimensional braided composite materials consist of an impregnated and cured braided fiber structure. The braid angle, which describes the orientation of fibers on the mandrel, affects the material properties of the composite part. Furthermore, braid production is often inaccurate, requiring quality assurance measurements of the fiber orientation. In this study, a frequency domain machine vision algorithm was applied to tubular braided preforms to measure fiber alignment during production. Several approaches to compensate for the tubular mandrel shape were tested and the fiber distribution in both the spatial and frequency domains was compared. The developed machine vision system allowed braid angle measurements to be made in real-time and in-line during the braiding process. The integration of such a system eliminates the need to make manual quality assurance measurements of the braided fiber structure, it further automates the braiding process, and it decreases production error.
A Mixed-Methods Study of Teacher Dispositions and Culturally Relevant Teaching
Authors: Truscott Diane , Stenhouse Vera L
Published: September 2018

The study tests the proposition that pedagogical orientations foster domain-specific teacher dispositions. Nineteen preservice teachers in an urban teacher certification program emphasizing culturally relevant teaching (CRT) were interviewed at the completion of all coursework and teaching experiences in diverse, urban classrooms. Dispositional statements ( n = 405) were used in a comparative analysis that included cross-tabs chi-square statistics and contingency tables. The study found that teaching dispositions associated with two CRT domains, academic success and cultural competence, were prevalent, whereas dispositions associated with the critical consciousness domain were minimal. Interrelatedness was found for teacher dispositions associated with respect for diversity, authenticity, and generalizability.
An Examination of the Book of Common Prayer as Technical Writing for an Oral–Aural Culture
Authors: Keane Drew Nathaniel
Published: September 2018

This article addresses limitations in the scholarship on the Edwardian editions of the Book of Common Prayer (1549 and 1552) and contributes to the growing body of research on early modern technical communication by approaching the Prayer Book as technical writing for a primarily oral–aural culture. I examine three sample texts from the Prayer Book to showcase their oral qualities and how these oral qualities contribute to the utility of the book. This examination shows that the Prayer Book played a role in the development of technical writing in the early modern period and that its oral features contribute to the success of its technical aims.
Geological models and controlling factors of gas content in marine–terrigenous shale in the Southern Qinshui Basin, China
Authors: Hou Xiaowei , Zhu Yanming , Jiang Zhenfei , Gao Haitao
Published: September 2018

Geological prediction models for gas content in marine–terrigenous shale under the effects of reservoir characteristics and in situ geological conditions, were established using methane isothermal adsorption, high temperature/pressure methane isothermal adsorption, total organic carbon, X-ray diffraction, mercury porosimetry, porosity in net confining stress, and field desorption methods. Results indicated that the adsorption capacity of marine–terrigenous shale has a linearly positive correlation with total organic carbon content and maturity. Clay and quartz minerals are the two main components of inorganic minerals in marine–terrigenous shale, with an average content of 54.3% and 36.9%, respectively. Adsorption capacity of marine–terrigenous shale is slightly positive correlated with clay content, while it exponentially decreases with increasing quartz content. The effects of in situ temperature and reservoir pressure on adsorption capacity in marine–terrigenous shale are also significant. The adsorption capacity of marine–terrigenous shale shows a clear decreasing trend as temperature increases, while it increases with increasing reservoir pressure. The porosity of marine–terrigenous shale is characterized by highly stress-sensitive, decreasing exponentially with increasing effective stress, which results in a more complex occurrence of free gas in deep shale reservoirs. In addition, gas saturation for the shale samples was calculated based on the results of field desorption, after which geological prediction models of total gas, adsorbed gas, and free gas were established while considering the coupled effects. Adsorbed gas, free gas, and total gas content all initially increase as burial depth increases, and then eventually decrease. Adsorbed gas content and free gas content have a positive correlation with total organic carbon content and porosity, indicating that the total gas content at different burial depths is mainly controlled by the total organic carbon content and porosity.
Ontology population: Approaches and design aspects
Authors: Lubani Mohamed , Noah Shahrul Azman Mohd , Mahmud Rohana
Published: September 2018

Ontologies provide a means to store knowledge in a machine-readable format. Ontology population is the task of updating an ontology with new facts from an input knowledge resource. These facts are represented in a structured format and integrated thereafter into the existing knowledge in the ontology. Textual resources are the dominant online knowledge resources that contain a large number of facts expressed either explicitly or implicitly. Hence, the automatic processing of the extensive knowledge available in these resources has recently gained increasing interest. This study discusses the major components of ontology population process and the different design aspects to be considered when building ontology population systems. In addition, this research explains the different approaches and techniques adopted to carry out the task of ontology population. The possible choices of the design aspects and the related issues are identified and analysed using a set of representative ontology population systems. This study concludes by describing the remaining open issues that should be further explored in ontology population.
Remittance Behaviors of International Migrants in Comparative Perspective: The Case in Fujian, China
Authors: Song Qian , Liang Zai
Published: September 2018

Taking an origin-destination linked approach, we compare remittance behaviors of Fuzhou-US and Mingxi-Europe migrants. We find that different mechanisms predict propensity to remit and the amount of remittances. Altruistic remittance is more consistent with the remitting propensities of migrants from the poorer Mingxi region but is also reflected in the remittance amount of migrants from Fuzhou, where there is higher economic disparity and where people who fail to consume lavishly are socially sanctioned. When emigration is risky, circuitous, and expensive, we find, migration cost drives the remittance amount. In Fuzhou, where cultural practice is developed to confer honor on public project donors, more households are motivated to contribute to public infrastructure. These results provide economic, political, and cultural contexts for remittance theories, identify contexts that promote community development, and help reconcile debates derived from single case studies in various settings.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer after induction therapy
Authors: Matsuoka Katsunari , Yamada Tetsu , Matsuoka Takahisa , Nagai Shinjiro , Ueda Mitsuhiro , Miyamoto Yoshihiro
Published: September 2018

Background

Although thoracoscopic surgery is widely performed for early-stage lung cancer, only a few small studies have evaluated the role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in patients with locally advanced lung cancer who had received preoperative chemotherapy.

Methods

Among 1655 patients who underwent anatomical lung resection for lung cancer between January 2009 and December 2014 in our institution, we retrospectively examined the short- and long-term outcomes of 110 (6.6%) who had undergone induction therapy. Thoracoscopic surgery was performed in 79 of these patients and thoracotomy in 31.

Results

In the thoracoscopic group, conversion to a thoracotomy was required in 4 patients. More combined resections were included in the thoracotomy group, and combined resection of large vessels or the carina was carried out only via a thoracotomy. Postoperative complications of grade 3 or above were found in 15 (13.6%) patients, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the 2 groups. The 3- and 5-year survival rates for the patients overall were 58.6% and 50.3%, respectively. Although there was no significant difference in overall outcome between the 2 groups, the patients with postoperative ypN2 status in the thoracoscopic group had a significantly better outcome than those in the thoracotomy group.

Conclusion

Although video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was not suitable for central advanced lung cancer requiring angioplasty or carinal resection, it seems to be useful for patients with locally advanced lung cancer who had undergone induction therapy, especially patients with peripheral lung cancer and mediastinal lymph node metastasis.
Surgical management of a free-floating thrombus in the ascending aorta
Authors: Campanile Alfonso , Sardone Mariagrazia , Pasquino Stefano , Cagini Angelo , Di Manici Gino , Cavallini Claudio
Published: September 2018

The ascending aorta is an uncommon site of noninfective thrombus. We describe the case of a 63-year-old woman who was admitted to our department with acute myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography showed occlusion of a small diagonal vessel, likely related to a distal embolization event. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a free-floating mass in the proximal ascending aorta. Two-and 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography studies were performed, and after a multidisciplinary heart team discussion, surgical removal of the mass was planned and successfully performed through a median sternotomy on cardiopulmonary bypass.
Examining the ‘psychopharmacology revolution’ (1950–1980) through the advertising of psychoactive drugs in the British Medical Journal
Authors: Green A Richard , Aronson Jeffrey K , Haddad Peter M
Published: September 2018

Background:

Many modern pharmaceutical products were launched during 1950–1980, as reflected in advertisements in the British Medical Journal ( BMJ). One of the first therapeutic areas to benefit from novel effective medications was psychiatry.

Methods:

We examined BMJ advertising material between 1950 and 1980, including every other issue over six-month periods (October–March) in 1950/1951, 1955/1956, 1957/1958, 1960/1961, 1962/1963, 1965/1966, 1967/1968, 1970/1971, 1972/1973, 1975/1976, 1980/1981. We recorded numbers of adverts for all pharmaceutical products and for psychiatric drugs; we also recorded trade names, generic names and marketing company.

Results:

Advertising in BMJ peaked in the 1960s and declined markedly in the 1970s. Adverts for psychiatric drugs as a percentage of total pharmaceutical product advertising was broadly similar during 1955–1980, but with peaks in 1960/1961, 1970/1971 and 1975/1976, reflecting the entry of several novel compounds into the market. The peak marketing of antipsychotic drugs, sedatives and anxiolytic drugs was in 1960 and of antidepressants 1970. The time course of the rise of tricyclics and the switch from barbiturates to benzodiazepines can be seen. Drugs for psychiatry rose from ninth (1955/1956) to fourth (1975/1976) in terms of the number of products in the top 10 therapeutic areas. There is no evidence that they were advertised more aggressively (number of adverts/number of products).

Conclusions:

The birth of modern psychopharmacology is reflected in th e advertising of psychiatric drugs in BMJ. Many drugs currently used, or their closely related successors, were launched in the early to mid-1960s. This rise in modern pharmaceuticals preceded several other major therapeutic areas.
Effects of aripiprazole on pupillometric parameters related to pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenetics after single oral administration to healthy subjects
Authors: Koller Dora , Belmonte Carmen , Lubomirov Rubin , Saiz-Rodríguez Miriam , Zubiaur Pablo , Román Manuel , Ochoa Dolores , Carcas Antonio , Wojnicz Aneta , Abad-Santos Francisco
Published: September 2018

Background:

Pupillometry is used for the detection of autonomic dysfunction related to numerous diseases and drug administration. Genetic variants in cytochrome P450 ( CYP2D6, CYP3A4), dopamine receptor ( DRD2, DRD3), serotonin receptor ( HTR2A, HTR2C) and ATP-binding cassette subfamily B ( ABCB1) genes were previously associated with aripiprazole response.

Aims:

Our aim was to evaluate if aripiprazole affects pupil contraction and its relationship with pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenetics.

Methods:

Thirty-two healthy volunteers receiving a 10 mg single oral dose of aripiprazole were genotyped for 15 polymorphisms in ABCB1, CYP2D6, DRD2, DRD3, HTR2A and HTR2C genes by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Aripiprazole and dehydro-aripiprazole plasma concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Pupil examination was performed by automated pupillometry.

Results:

Aripiprazole caused pupil constriction and reached the peak value at Cmax. HTR2A rs6313 T allele carriers and HTR2C rs3813929 C/T subjects showed higher maximum constriction velocity and maximum pupil diameter. Besides, Gly/Gly homozygotes for DRD3 rs6280 showed significantly lower maximum constriction velocity values. A/G heterozygotes for DRD2 rs6277 showed higher total time taken by the pupil to recover 75% of the initial resting size values. CYP2D6 intermediate metabolisers showed higher area under the curve, Cmax and T1/2 than extensive metabolisers. ABCB1 G2677T/A A/A homozygotes had greater T1/2 in comparison with C/C homozygotes. ABCB1 C3435T T allele carriers and C1236T C/T subjects showed greater area under the curve than C/C homozygotes.

Conclusions:

Aripiprazole affects pupil contraction, which could be a secondary effect through dopamine and serotonin receptors. Pupillometry could be a useful tool to assess autonomic nervous system activity during antipsychotic treatment.
The politics of Generation Grime
Authors: Perera Jessica
Published: September 2018

In the 2017 UK general election, Grime artists (musicians representing the experience of a young black dispossessed city working class) came out in support of the Labour Party’s radical leader Jeremy Corbyn. The author, drawing on in-depth interviews with Grime experts and leftwing activists and an examination of social media, explains that endorsement in terms of the concept of ‘embedded ethics’ which allows Grime artists to present themselves as authentic social commentators on intersecting forms of poverty, state racism and social exclusion. Using the work of cultural theorists Stuart Hall and Paul Gilroy, she argues that Grime is more than a music genre and more a way of life giving cultural meaning – explaining the mobilisations for both the election and, later, over the Grenfell fire. But the piece asks whether, at a time of blatant neoliberalism and harsh austerity, there is a need now to insert a more direct discussion of class into the cultural theory debate.
Investment banking centres since the global financial crisis: New typology, ranking and trends
Authors: Wójcik Dariusz , Pažitka Vladimír , Knight Eric , O’Neill Phillip
Published: September 2018

Financial centres are central to contemporary capitalism, but research on their development has been impeded by methodological challenges related to data availability. This paper offers a new typology of financial centre activity. Based on the nationality of parent companies of financial service providers operating in a centre, and the nationalities of their customers, we distinguish between domestic, export, import and platform activities. Second, we compile a unique dataset of investment banking deals worldwide, which allows us to apply the new typology and introduce the first ever ranking of top financial centres based on the actual investment banking activity conducted in these centres. Our findings confirm the dominance of New York and London as global financial centres, with New York focused on domestic activities, and London on export and platform activities. Our data also show that, overall, investment banking activity has fallen dramatically since 2007, with 60% of the decline concentrated in New York, and a further 30% in Zurich, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Edinburgh combined. As a result, the dominance of investment banking by New York and London has diminished, contributing to a trend that predates the crisis, explainable by the increasing shares of Asian centres, with Tokyo and Chinese cities in the lead.
Temporary Traffic Control Strategy Optimization for Urban Freeways
Authors: Ghosh Laura E. , Abdelmohsen Ahmed , El-Rayes Khaled A. , Ouyang Yanfeng
Published: September 2018

Temporary traffic control (TTC) strategies have been widely adopted to maintain traffic flow while ensuring TTC costs remain a reasonable portion of construction budgets. As travel demand approaches the capacity of an existing facility, implementation of an appropriate TTC strategy is increasingly important not only because lane closures on these facilities exacerbate existing delay, but also because speeds associated with congestion contribute disproportionately and non-linearly to roadway emissions produced throughout the lifetime of the roadway. To enable stakeholders to make informed and transparent decisions on selecting a TTC strategy so as to balance the trade-offs among construction cost, traffic delay, and energy consumption, this paper discusses the development of an integrated model that identifies the Pareto-optimal front when construction start time, construction duration, lateral clearance, and width of shoulder borrowed as a through lane are considered as decision variables. A test implementation of the model suggests that when construction budgets are low, strategies for decreasing traffic delay differ significantly from those for decreasing energy consumption; however, as construction budgets increase, the objectives on traffic delay and energy consumption align much better.
Enhancing the Prediction Performance of Real-Time Crash Prediction Models: A Cell Transmission-Dynamic Bayesian Network Approach
Authors: Roy Ananya , Hossain Moinul , Muromachi Yasunori
Published: September 2018

Predicting crash probability in real time is a concept that has inspired studies into complex modeling methods, exploring more sophisticated data collection methods, reducing specification errors by introducing new traffic variables, etc. Most existing real-time crash prediction models (RTCPMs) are based on loop detector data and the model architecture, and their prediction performances are sensitive to the location and layout of detectors with respect to crashes, that is, the spacing of detectors on the road section. Different expressways/freeways have different detector layouts and these vary substantially even within the same expressway/freeway. This limitation is a major obstacle in developing a universal RTCPM. To address this, this paper takes one-minute aggregated loop detector data along with detector layouts as input and employs a cell transmission model (CTM) to interpolate states of traffic flow variables for a pre-defined hypothetical detector layout. Next, several RTCPMs are constructed using Bayesian networks (BNs) and dynamic Bayesian networks (DBNs) for existing and CTM-based detector layouts. It is observed that the CTM can generate traffic flow parameters with a mean percentage error of 12.96%. The results further suggest that the model constructed with the CTM-based uniformly spaced simulated detector data coupled with the DBN method performed better than the model based on the BN and existing non-uniform detector layout.
Adherence to and Persistence with Antidepressant Medication during Pregnancy: Does It Differ by the Class of Antidepressant Medication Prescribed?
Authors: Adhikari Kamala , Patten Scott B. , Lee Sangmin , Metcalfe Amy
Published: September 2018

Objective:

Pregnant women are often concerned about the impact of medication use on their pregnancy, such as congenital abnormalities. This study examined the rate of adherence to and persistence with antidepressant medications during pregnancy based on the class of antidepressants prescribed.

Methods:

Women who gave birth between 2012 and 2015 in Alberta, Canada; had ≥1 diagnosis of depression within 1 year of preconception in outpatient physician claims, emergency department, or hospitalization administrative data; and were adherent (medication possession ratio ≥80%) to ≥2 consecutive antidepressant prescriptions during the preconception year ( n = 1865) were included in this retrospective cohort study. The rates of adherence and persistence (prescription refill gap ≤30 days) were calculated by antidepressant class and were compared using chi-square tests.

Results:

During pregnancy, 834 (44.7%; 95% CI, 42.4% to 47.0%) women discontinued antidepressants. Among those continuing antidepressants, the overall rate of adherence was 62.6% (95% CI, 59.4% to 65.7%). The rate differed significantly by medication class ( P < 0.0001), with a rate of 75.1% (95% CI, 68.3% to 80.9%) for serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitors, 60.9% (95% CI, 57.2% to 64.5%) for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, 42.8% (95% CI, 19.9% to 69.3%) for nonselective monoamine reuptake inhibitors, and 37.5% (95% CI, 22.5% to 55.4%) for atypical antidepressants. Only, 40.7% (95% CI, 37.5 to 44.1) of women were persistent with antidepressants for the full pregnancy period—the rate differed significantly by medication class ( P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

Adherence to and persistence with antidepressants is low during pregnancy and varies by medication class. Low adherence and persistence can interfere with a therapeutic effect of antidepressants, which may contribute to the worsening of depression symptoms.
Questions healthcare boards should ask senior leaders about risk
Authors: Stevens Polly , Down Annette , Willcox Jordan M.
Published: September 2018

Drawing on strong ethical and evidence-based principles, Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada, in collaboration with healthcare leaders, has developed guiding questions to help boards of healthcare organizations carry out a critical governance function—the oversight of key organizational risks. The resulting list of 21 questions is the first of its kind for healthcare and focuses on the core mandate of healthcare organizations which is providing high-quality care. Recommended practices accompany each question.
Fabricated approach for an effective wound dressing material based on a natural gum impregnated with Acalypha indica extract
Authors: Jenifer Preethi , Kalachaveedu Mangathayaru , Viswanathan Arun , Gnanamani Arumugam , Mubeena
Published: September 2018

Although acute wounds are common, treatment for a scarless condition remains limited and ineffective as medicated dressings act only as an epidermal coverage and no interdermal interactions happen. This study examined the benefit of Acalypha indica, a traditionally acclaimed plant for wound healing, as a three-dimensional nanofibrous dressing. guar gum, a natural polysaccharide, was chosen as the raw material, in combination with a synthetic copolymer polyvinyl alcohol. A series of polymer blend nanofibers made of 3:7 of 1% wt guar and 10% wt polyvinyl alcohol along with varied ratios of A. indica were prepared using electrospinning. The effect of cross-linking by citric acid on the nanofibers was studied using Fourier transform infrared. A 5% wt A. indica content was optimized in the electrospun solution to get nanosized morphology, roughness, water absorbing capacity, thermal stability, and tensile strength. The composite material was found inhibitory to both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains as measured by zone of inhibition. The ability of the dressing to support and proliferate human dermal fibroblasts was evaluated by cell proliferation assay and Calcein acetomethyl (AM) staining assay. The results confirmed that the composite dressing could support long-term cell growth in the 9-day cell culture study. The incorporation of A. indica to guar/polyvinyl alcohol composite nanofibers has thus resulted in a wound dressing material with nanosized morphology for mimicking the extracellular matrix, surface roughness for the absorbtion of proteins, swelling capacity for the absorption of exudates, antimicrobial activity for prevention of microbial infections, and cell proliferation activity for the complete wound closure. The electrospun guar/polyvinyl alcohol/ A. indica composite which proved to be a suitable dressing for acute wounds when ascertained in vitro can surely be developed as an ethical plant bioactive wound healant.
Response of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to graphene-containing grid-like bioactive glass scaffolds produced by robocasting
Authors: Deliormanlı Aylin M , Türk Mert , Atmaca Harika
Published: September 2018

In the study, three-dimensional, grid-like silicate-based bioactive glass scaffolds were manufactured using a robotic deposition technique. Inks were prepared by mixing 13-93 bioactive glass particles in Pluronic® F-127 solution. After deposition, scaffolds were dried at room temperature and sintered at 690°C for 1 h. The surface of the sintered scaffolds was coated with graphene nanopowder (1, 3, 5, 10 wt%) containing poly(ε-caprolactone) solution. The in vitro mineralization ability of the prepared composite scaffolds was investigated in simulated body fluid. The surface of the simulated body fluid-treated scaffolds was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy to investigate the hydroxyapatite formation. Mechanical properties were tested under compression. Results revealed that graphene coating has no detrimental effect on the hydroxyapatite forming ability of the prepared glass scaffolds. On the other hand, it decreased the compression strength of the scaffolds at high graphene concentrations. The prepared grid-like bioactive glass-based composite scaffolds did not show toxic response to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. It was shown that stem cells seeded onto the scaffolds attached and proliferated well on the surface. Cells seeded on the scaffolds surface also demonstrated osteogenic differentiation under in vitro conditions in the absence of transforming growth factors.
Precarious Manhood and Its Effects on Aggression: The Role of Cultural Script
Authors: Jin Yuchang , Sun Cuicui , Wu Jing , An Junxiu , Li Junyi
Published: September 2018

The present study tests the precariousness of manhood and the impact of precarious manhood on aggression. In total, 50 undergraduates (25 girls, 25 boys) participated in this experiment. It was found that the male participants used more verbs in the “A man should__” sentence string than in the “One woman should__” sentence string, and similar language patterns were found even after controlling for gender stereotypes. Individuals were found to more often attribute the individual behavior caused by cultural scripts to external situational factors; that is, if individuals agreed that another male’s aggression was due to threatened manhood, this behavior was seen to be because of the male cultural script and was due to external circumstances. To test this view, a total of 56 college students participated in this experiment. In total, 25 college students (11 males, 14 females) took part in the attribution evaluation of two male fighters, and 31 college students (15 males, 16 females) participated in the attribution evaluation of two female fighters. It was found that the male participants believed that other male physical aggression that threatened their manhood was induced by situational factors rather than the internal characteristics of the attacker. The differences between the female participants were not significant, indicating that it was part of the male cultural script for men (rather than women) to defend or restore precarious manhood through aggression.
The “Children of Crisis”: Making Sense of (Post)socialism and the End of Yugoslavia
Authors: Spaskovska Ljubica
Published: September 2018

This article is part of the special section titled The Genealogies of Memory, guest edited by Ferenc Laczó and Joanna Wawrzyniak

The article traces certain mnemonic patterns in the ways individuals who belonged to the late-socialist Yugoslav youth elite articulated their values in the wake of Yugoslavia’s demise and the ways they make sense of the Yugoslav socialist past and their generational role a quarter of a century later. It detects narratives of loss, betrayed hopes, and a general disillusionment with politics and the state of post-socialist democracy that appear to be particularly frequent in the testimonies of the media and cultural elites. They convey a sense of discontent with the state of post-Yugoslav democracy and with the politicians—some belonging to the same generation—who embraced conservative values and a semi-authoritarian political culture. The article argues that an emerging new authoritarianism and the very process of progressive disillusionment with post-socialist politics allowed for the emergence and articulation of such alternative, noninstitutionalized individual memories that, whilst not uncritical of the Yugoslav past, tend to highlight its positive aspects.
Memories of 1989 in Europe between Hope, Dismay, and Neglect
Authors: Laczó Ferenc , Wawrzyniak Joanna
Published: September 2018

This article is part of the special section titled The Genealogies of Memory, guest edited by Ferenc Laczó and Joanna Wawrzyniak

This introduction to the special section on memories of 1989 calls for a closer analysis of various ways in which narratives of the democratic breakthrough in East Central Europe develop at the transnational, national, and vernacular levels. The four case studies in this section show that the liberal view of 1989 has been neither institutionalized nor internalized as its most common understanding. Instead, we observe a divergence of interpretations, the replacement of 1989 with other symbolic dates, its non-existence in the “working memory” of Western Europeans, as well as disappointments, frustrations, or nostalgia for socialism in East Central Europe.
A Peculiar Interpretation of the Constitutional Principle of “One Person, One Vote” in Poland: Voter (In)equality in the Elections to 1,200 Local Legislatures
Authors: Pierzgalski Michał , Stępień Paweł
Published: September 2018

The adoption of new redistricting plans for the 2014 elections to local legislatures in Poland resulted in significant violations of the “one person, one vote” principle. This article shows the results of the first comparative study measuring within-country variation of voter inequality, using data from the 2014 Polish local elections to 1,200 commune or municipal councils, that is, local legislatures. Voter inequality is usually examined at the country or state level, while studies that take into account within-country variation of malapportionment, using local election data, are neglected by scholars. To put our research in a broader context, we compared levels of malapportionment in Poland with internationally recognized standards (contained, e.g., in the Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters issued by the Venice Commission) as to the acceptable levels of deviations from the “ideal” population, and also with empirical findings on the levels of voter inequality in other countries. We argue that the significant vote–value disparities in elections to commune councils in Poland result primarily from the disadvantages of the Polish 2011 Election Code. When it comes to local legislature elections in the vast majority of communes that are not the so-called county-status towns, the legally permitted deviation from the ideal district population ranges from +50 percent to −50 percent. Even considering the standards of redistricting for local elections, the interpretation of the “one person, one vote” principle is rather peculiar in Polish commune elections.
Green Flash in the Croatian Pan: Green Party Survival in Post-socialist Europe
Authors: Dolenec Danijela , Širinić Daniela
Published: September 2018

This article explores the subject matter of new political parties’ survival by analysing the recent trajectory of the Green party ORaH in Croatia. ORaH emerged in October 2013; it won 9.4 percent of the vote at the 2014 European Parliament election and subsequently rose to 18.5 percent of public support in October 2014, only to collapse to 1.7 percent of the vote at the parliamentary election held in November 2015. In order to explain ORaH’s initial meteoric rise and its later equally rapid demise, we will employ studies on new and niche parties while we further elaborate our analysis of ORaH’s programme by profiling ORaH’s voter base. We also address a recurrent weakness in political party research by analysing the role of the European level of competition in increasing the chances of a new party’s survival by developing a framework that better integrates domestic and international dynamics of political party development. Our main finding is that despite its success in the 2014 European Parliament elections, and even though its electorate shares important features of the European Green voter, ORaH failed to secure parliamentary representation because of the inability of the party’s leadership to steer the party away from its initial contender status and define OraH’s policy niche.
Shuttle Trade across Russia’s Borders with the Baltic States and Poland: Between Tolerance and Suppression
Authors: Golunov Serghei
Published: September 2018

The paper focuses on the phenomenon of borderland shuttle trade across Russia’s borders with Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. I argue that borderland shuttle trade is more sustainable in comparison with long-haul shuttle trade, as the former gives entrepreneurs more flexibility, involves fewer transaction costs, and can rely on the extensive support of borderland communities. At the same time, it has some specific vulnerabilities, and its susceptibility to customs control and reliance on overloaded border crossing infrastructure are among the most important. Contrary to beliefs about contemporary states’ inability to exercise efficient control over informal cross-border flows in the age of globalization, this research demonstrates that over the course of time, states may be at least partially successful in suppressing informal cross-border trade. Ultimately, cross-border shuttle trade has proven to be vulnerable to more and more targeted restrictions and control practices. Still, it has also proven to be highly resistant to governmental crackdown in various ways, such as buying fuel from long-haul truck drivers or switching to trade in non-excisable goods or to low-penalty cigarette smuggling. The latter practice illustrates that shuttle trade is only part of the flexible informal cross-border economy and that it can be transformed into low-penalty smuggling when needed.
The Economy or an Urban–Rural Divide? Explaining Spatial Patterns of Voting Behaviour in Poland
Authors: Marcinkiewicz Kamil
Published: September 2018

This article contributes to the debate on spatial variance of voting behaviour in Poland. Using empirical data from the 2015 Polish parliamentary election, two alternative explanations of observed patterns are tested. The first focuses on the role of economy while the second emphasises the importance of the urban–rural divide. The empirical analysis demonstrates higher relevance of the differences between urban and rural areas. Even after controlling for historical legacies, urbanization offers the best explanation of the differences in electoral results between spatial units. Furthermore, the effects related to the urban–rural divide are similar within the two broadly defined clusters of parties. Economic variables, on the contrary, matter only in certain socio-cultural contexts.
The Size and Heterogeneity of Egocentric Networks and Social Integration in Hungary
Authors: Gerő Márton , Hajdu Gábor
Published: September 2018

In this study, we examine the relationship between objective and subjective dimensions of social integration and the size and heterogeneity of an egocentric network using nationally representative databases from Hungary. We measure social integration with the level of trust and the level of public participation (objective dimension) and with individuals’ self-evaluation of whether they are integrated (subjective dimension).

Our results show that while the size and heterogeneity of the egocentric network are positively associated, the proportion of relatives among strong ties correlates negatively with objective indicators of social integration. The heterogeneity of weak ties is related positively to public participation. The correlation between the size and composition of egocentric networks and subjective integration is less clear: The proportion of relatives among strong ties seems to be unrelated to the external side of perceived social integration, while it is associated positively with the internal side of subjective integration. The number of strong ties seems to be positively correlated with both sides of subjective integration.

These results suggest that higher levels of social integration cannot be achieved without concentrating on more than one of the network’s dimensions. They also underline the need to pay more attention to network characteristics and social support not only regarding perceived social integration but also regarding objective indicators of social integration.
Football, Conservative Values, and a Feeling of Oneness with the Group: A Study of Polish Football Fandom
Authors: Kossakowski Radosław , Besta Tomasz
Published: September 2018

The main aim of this article is to show some characteristics of the identity of Polish football supporters. The results of a study conducted among 309 fans actively engaged in formal (supporters’ associations) and informal groups (e.g., hooligans or ultras), as well as data from qualitative research, reveal their strong identification with Poland as a country, with their family, club, and group of supporters. At the same time, Polish fans do not identify with “Europe” as a category. The fandom culture in Poland is characterized by such attitudes as honour, steadfastness, the “might is right” principle, and moral and economic conservatism. Supporters tend to sympathize with political parties embracing right-wing values. The article points out important elements of Polish history that could have affected the ideological construction of the supporters’ vision. In the absence of historical civic and left-wing tradition, Polish supporters emerged during the period of the country’s struggle for freedom as a community structured by militant, conservative, punitive, and masculine frames of reference. Since the values of a particular group cannot be analysed without an assessment of its broader cultural and social context, the article also presents the different dimensions of Polish history and society in order to provide a contextual background influencing fandom.
Effect of hygrothermal aging on mechanical and tribological behaviors of short glass-fiber-reinforced PA66
Authors: Autay Riadh , Njeh Ahmed , Dammak Fakhreddine
Published: September 2018

Mechanical and tribological behaviors of polyamide 66 reinforced by various weight fractions of short glass fiber were investigated. All studied materials were subjected to accelerated hygrothermal aging tests. Three-point bending flexural tests were carried out to determine the mechanical behavior. Reciprocating tribotester was employed to determine friction and wear behaviors. Tribological tests were carried out, without lubrication and under ambient conditions. Ball on flat contact configuration was adopted for friction tests. Wear tests were carried out against an abrasive counterface. Results showed that flexural strength and elastic modulus increased when increasing glass fiber rate for all tested materials. In the contrary, the coefficient of friction and the wear resistance decreased. Results showed that the hygrothermal aging decreased the flexural features and increased the coefficient of friction. The effect of hygrothermal aging on the wear resistance depends on the reinforcement rate.
Waste heat recovery from engine coolant on mild hybrid vehicle using organic Rankine cycle
Authors: Mansour Charbel , Bou Nader Wissam , Dumand Clément , Nemer Maroun
Published: September 2018

Considerable efforts have been invested in the automotive industry on electrified powertrains in order to reduce passenger cars’ dependence on fossil fuels. Powertrains electrification resulted in a wide range of mass-production hybrid vehicle models, ranging from micro-hybrid, to mild, full, and battery-extended hybrids such as plug-in and range-extender electric vehicles. Fuel savings of these powertrains strongly rely on the energy management strategy deployed on-board, as well as on the technology used to recover the waste heat energy. This paper investigates the fuel savings potential of a mild hybrid vehicle using an organic Rankine cycle for generating electricity from the engine-coolant circuit. The net mechanical power and electrical power generated from the organic Rankine cycle are determined based on experimental data recorded on a 1.2-L turbocharged engine. The coolant temperature is regulated at 85°C and 105°C depending on the engine load. The R-1234yf organic fluid is used and the Rankine operating pressure has been controlled to maximize the overall system efficiency under technological constraints. The dynamic programming control is used as a global optimal energy management strategy in order to define the best strategy for the engine operation and power-split between the electric and thermal paths of the powertrain. A sensitivity analysis is also performed to find the optimal size of the electric motor while taking into account the additional weight of the organic Rankine cycle system. Results show 2.4% of fuel economy improvement on The Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Cycles.
Assessment of optimal location for a centralized biogas upgrading facility
Authors: Havrysh Valerii , Nitsenko Vitalii , Bilan Yuriy , Streimikiene Dalia
Published: September 2018

Since the 1990s, the volume of biogas produced in the world has been increasing. Biomethane (upgraded biogas) is a more versatile renewable fuel. Biogas transportation from production sites to upgrading facilities induces a scale advantage and an efficiency increase. Therefore, exploration of costs and energy use of biogas transportation using dedicated infrastructure is needed. A mathematical model to determine the optimum location for a certain biogas upgrading plant has been presented. It was developed to describe a local biogas grid that is used to collect biogas from several digesters and to deliver it to a central upgrading point. The model minimizes operational and maintenance costs per volumetric unit of biogas. The results indicate that cooperation between biogas producers in collecting biogas by means of a star layout reduces the cost of biomethane production (investment costs by 22.4–24.8% and operating and maintenance costs by 1.7–10.9%) relative to using a decentralized method. Merging smaller digesters into a smaller number of larger biogas upgrading plants reduces the biomethane production costs for the same biogas volume source.
An Ex Vivo Vessel Injury Model to Study Remodeling
Authors: Kural Mehmet H. , Dai Guohao , Niklason Laura E. , Gui Liqiong
Published: September 2018

Objective:

Invasive coronary interventions can fail due to intimal hyperplasia and restenosis. Endothelial cell (EC) seeding to the vessel lumen, accelerating re-endothelialization, or local release of mTOR pathway inhibitors have helped reduce intimal hyperplasia after vessel injury. While animal models are powerful tools, they are complex and expensive, and not always reflective of human physiology. Therefore, we developed an in vitro 3D vascular model validating previous in vivo animal models and utilizing isolated human arteries to study vascular remodeling after injury. Approach: We utilized a bioreactor that enables the control of intramural pressure and shear stress in vessel conduits to investigate the vascular response in both rat and human arteries to intraluminal injury.

Results:

Culturing rat aorta segments in vitro, we show that vigorous removal of luminal ECs results in vessel injury, causing medial proliferation by Day-4 and neointima formation, with the observation of SCA1+ cells (stem cell antigen-1) in the intima by Day-7, in the absence of flow. Conversely, when endothelial-denuded rat aortae and human umbilical arteries were subjected to arterial shear stress, pre-seeding with human umbilical ECs decreased the number and proliferation of smooth muscle cell (SMC) significantly in the media of both rat and human vessels.

Conclusion:

Our bioreactor system provides a novel platform for correlating ex vivo findings with vascular outcomes in vivo. The present in vitro human arterial injury model can be helpful in the study of EC-SMC interactions and vascular remodeling, by allowing for the separation of mechanical, cellular, and soluble factors.
Application of Cord Blood and Cord Blood-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Cartilage Regeneration
Authors: Rim Yeri Alice , Nam Yoojun , Ju Ji Hyeon
Published: September 2018

Regeneration of articular cartilage is of great interest in cartilage tissue engineering since articular cartilage has a low regenerative capacity. Due to the difficulty in obtaining healthy cartilage for transplantation, there is a need to develop an alternative and effective regeneration therapy to treat degenerative or damaged joint diseases. Stem cells including various adult stem cells and pluripotent stem cells are now actively used in tissue engineering. Here, we provide an overview of the current status of cord blood cells and induced pluripotent stem cells derived from these cells in cartilage regeneration. The abilities of these cells to undergo chondrogenic differentiation are also described. Finally, the technical challenges of articular cartilage regeneration and future directions are discussed.
Transplanting Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Treatment of Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Wang Fan , Tang Hailiang , Zhu Jianhong , Zhang John H.
Published: September 2018

Stroke is a major disease that leads to high mortality and morbidity. Given the ageing population and the potential risk factors, the prevalence of stroke and socioeconomic burden associated with stroke are expected to increase. During the past decade, both prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for stroke have made significant progress. However, current therapies still cannot adequately improve the outcomes of stroke and may not apply to all patients. One of the significant advances in modern medicine is cell-derived neurovascular regeneration and neuronal repair. Progress in stem cell biology has greatly contributed to ameliorating stroke-related brain injuries in preclinical studies and demonstrated clinical potential in stroke treatment. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the differentiating potential of chondrocytes, adipocytes, and osteoblasts, and they have the ability to transdifferentiate into endothelial cells, glial cells, and neurons. Due to their great plasticity, MSCs have drawn much attention from the scientific community. This review will focus on MSCs, stem cells widely utilized in current medical research, and evaluate their effect and potential of improving outcomes in ischemic stroke.