bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards a Better Understanding of Lawyers’ Judgmental Biases in Client Representation: The Role of Need for Cognitive Closure
Authors: Stark James H. , Milyavsky Maxim
Published: July 2018

Previous research demonstrates that lawyers and law students are, on average, prone to overconfidence bias and self-serving judgments of fairness when they take on a representative lawyering role. This is the first study to investigate individual differences in susceptibility to these biases. Expanding on two previous experiments, and utilizing as our sample 468 law students from twelve geographically diverse U.S. law schools, we examined whether differences in students’ Need for Cognitive Closure (NFC) — a motivational desire for clear answers over ambiguity — would affect both their judicial outcome predictions and their “fair settlement value” assessments of a simulated personal injury case when assigned randomly to the role of plaintiff’s or defendant’s counsel. We also investigated whether high- or low-NFC scores would have any effect on the efficacy of a “consider-the-opposite” (“list the weaknesses of your case”) prompt given to half of our subjects in an effort to de-bias these assessments. We found that a high need for closure intensifies self-serving bias in both students’ judicial predictions and fair value assessments, and that bias in students’ judicial predictions could be mitigated through de-biasing interventions, even with students high in need for closure. Bias in fairness assessments persisted, despite de-biasing prompts.
Exploring the Electrophysiological Correlates of the Continued Influence Effect of Misinformation
Authors: Brydges Christopher , Gordon Andrew , Ecker Ullrich K. H.
Published: July 2018

Misinformation often affects inferences and judgments even after it has been retracted. This is known as the continued influence effect (CIE). Previous behavioural research into the effect’s underlying mechanisms has focussed on the role of long-term memory processes at the time misinformation is retrieved during inferential reasoning and judgments. We present the first investigation into the CIE using event-related potentials (ERPs). Participants (N = 47) completed a continued-influence task whilst electroencephalographic data were recorded. Analysis was guided by previous ERP research investigating the effects of post-event misinformation. The ERP elicited at a left parieto-occipital region of interest was significantly more positive for incorrectly accepted retracted misinformation than correctly accepted true information at a late (800-900 ms) time window. This suggests that post-retraction reliance on misinformation is driven by particularly strong recollection of the misinformation, ostensibly following poor integration of the retraction into the initial, partially invalid mental model.
Self-report of Social Modulation of Emotional Expression: The Domain Emotion Expression Profile
Authors: Hill Jonathan , Jones Sarah , Williams Lisa , Morriss Jayne
Published: July 2018

Cross-situational emotionality is a well-established dimension of personality, however the ability to modulate emotional expression by social domain is also a key aspect of personality functioning. We describe a self-report measure, the Domain Emotional Expression Profile (DEEP), designed to assess 5 emotions and behaviours in relation to 5 social domains, and report 2 studies. Study 1 (N = 166 students) assessed construct validity based on predictions from attachment theory regarding distress expression, and explored other emotions and domains. Study 2 (N = 279 students) tested hypotheses based on findings from Study 1 and explored the status of friendship interactions. In Study 1, mean distress-expression comfort-seeking scores in family and partner interactions were substantially higher than in work and in a social (e.g. party) situation consistent with the attachment based prediction (p < .001). In exploratory analyses mean anger expression scores were similarly higher in family and partner relationships than in work and social situations. However distress expression was higher in partner than family interactions (p = .008) which was not the case for anger expression. Study 2 replicated these findings from Study 1, and indicated an intermediate position for friendships between family and partner, and work and social interactions. We report support for the construct validity of the DEEP and replicated evidence regarding the partitioning of anger expression across domains, together with new indications of friendship processes. This method of profiling emotional expression and behaviours across social contexts offers a way of characterising individual differences, including those associated with psychopathology.
A unifying computational framework for teaching and active learning
Authors: Yang Scott Cheng-Hsin , Vong Wai Keen , Yu Yue , Shafto Patrick
Published: July 2018

Traditionally learning has been modeled as passively obtaining information or actively exploring the environment. Recent research has introduced models of learning from teachers that involve reasoning about why they have selected particular evidence. We introduce a computational framework that takes a critical step toward unifying active learning and teaching by recognizing that meta reasoning underlying reasoning about others can be applied to reasoning about oneself. The resulting Self-Teaching model captures much of the behavior of information-gain-based active learning with elements of hypothesis-testing-based active learning and can thus be considered as a formalization of active learning within the broader teaching framework. We present simulation experiments that characterize the behavior of the model within three simple and well-investigated learning problems. We conclude by discussing such theory-of-mind-based learning in the context of core cognition and cognitive development.
Preprint of Graph Construction: Setting the Range of the Y‐Axis by Jessica Witt (Under review at Meta-Psychology)
Authors: Witt Jessica K.
Published: July 2018

Graphs are an effective and compelling way to present scientific results. With few rigid guidelines, researchers have many degrees‐of‐freedom regarding graph construction. One such choice is the range of the y‐axis. A range set just beyond the data will bias readers to see all effects as big. Conversely, a range set to the full range of options will bias readers to see all effects as small.Researchers should maximize congruence between visual size of an effect and the actual size of the effect. To achieve congruency in scientific fields for which effects are standardized, the y‐axis range should be a function of the standard deviation. This improved graph comprehension by increasing sensitivity and reducing bias relative to the other options for the y‐axis range.
Predicting age of atheism: Credibility enhancing displays and religious importance, choice, and conflict in family upbringing
Authors: Langston Joseph , Speed David , Coleman Thomas Joseph
Published: July 2018

The cultural learning concept of Credibility Enhancing Displays (CREDs) concerns the extent to which behavioral models consistently live out their professed ideals. While researchers have suggested that past CRED exposure is an important variable for predicting who does and does not become a religious believer, it is unclear how CREDs relate to when a person rejects the religious beliefs modelled to them during their upbringing. Using a large sample of formerly believing atheists, two analyses assessed the ability of CREDs to predict the age at which an individual became an atheist. In the first analysis (n = 5,153), CREDs were positively associated with a delay in Age of Atheism, with family-level religious variables (Religious Importance, Religious Choice, and Religious Conflict) moderating this relationship. In the second analysis (n = 3,210), CREDs remained a stable predictor of Age of Atheism while controlling for demographics, parental quality, religious variables, relational variables, and institutional variables. Overall, while findings support a robust relation of CREDs to atheistic outcomes even when controlling for many other variables that influence religious transmission processes, they also highlight the importance of considering how such other variables modify the impact of CREDs on (non)religious outcomes.
The Economization of Diversity
Authors: Thomas James M.
Published: July 2018

Through a case study of an ongoing diversity initiative at Diversity University (DU), a public, flagship university in the US South, this research advances our understanding of the discursive relationship between neoliberalism and contemporary racial ideology. As part of a larger ethnographic project, I draw upon over ten years worth of diversity discourse at DU to illuminate diversity’s economization: the process whereby specific formations of economic values, practices, and metrics are extended toward diversity as justification for DU’s efforts. My analysis responds to three questions: (1) how is diversity economized by the organization; (2) how is this economization articulated through organizational discourse on diversity; and (3) how does the economization of diversity potentially reconfigure race and racial subjectivities? My findings reveal three interrelated processes that facilitate diversity’s: diversity-as-investment, diversity metrics, and diversity-as-affective labor. Together these processes congeal and convert multicultural principles and practices into economic ones. Consequently diversity’s economization recasts nonwhite racial subjectivity as human capital for DU and its white publics, minimizing and entrenching existing racial inequality in the process.
Borrowing a Bird's Eye: Teaching Urban-Based Environmental Science with Humanities and Archival Resources
Authors: Lennon Diana , Collins Theresa
Published: July 2018

This paper is part of the conference proceedings of the Humanities for STEM Symposium. This symposium was the culminating event of the research collaborative group Humanities for STEM: Using Archives to Bridge the Two Cultures Divide. The research collaborative was sponsored by a two-year grant (2016-2018) from the New York University Center for the Humanities. The group, which included teaching faculty, librarians, archivists, and graduate students from the New York/New Jersey area, sought to examine how the study of primary sources, archival research, and associated methodologies of the humanities can be used to enhance the understanding of science (including medicine), technology, engineering, and mathematics. For more information about the research collaborative, please see our Wordpress site: https://wp.nyu.edu/archives_collaborative/about-us/In May 2017, the research collaborative issued a call for papers for the symposium. The CFP encouraged papers to focus on one of three topics: STEM general education, innovation in STEM, or ethics in STEM archives. For the full CFP, follow this link: https://wp.nyu.edu/archives_collaborative/call-for-papers-2018-symposium/. Submitted abstracts were reviewed by the research collaborative in September 2017 and those which adequately addressed the CFP were accepted. The accepted papers were peer-reviewed by the research collaborative members and feedback was given before the final papers were submitted. This review process was not blind. The Humanities for STEM Symposium was held on April 6-7, 2018 in Brooklyn, NY. The final papers were uploaded to the OSF in June 2018.
Disability, Rights and Vulnerability in British Parliamentary Debate
Authors: Odell Evan
Published: July 2018

This paper examines discussion of disability and disabled people by Members of Parliament (MPs) in the UK House of Commons from 1979–2017. It examines general trends in the number of speeches mentioning disability, including the parties and MPs most likely to mention disability issues, and examines how disability is used in conjunction with two keywords: ‘rights’ and ‘vulnerable’. It uses these keywords to explore two conceptions of how the state should engage with disability and disabled people: a paternalistic conception (which post-2010 has become more common) and a rights-based conception (which has been in decline since the 1990s). I conclude with a discussion about how this reﬂects the disability movement in the UK, and what it means for the future of disability politics, the welfare state and how disabled people themselves might view paternalistic government policies.
The Burden of Acting Wise: Sanctioned School Success and Ambivalence about Hard Work at an Elite School in the Netherlands
Authors: Mijs Jonathan Jan Benjamin , Paulle Bowen
Published: July 2018

Sam and his classmates despise ‘nerds’: they say working hard in school makes a student unpopular, and that they purposefully do only the minimum to pass. Research suggests that such ‘oppositional’ attitudes are prevalent among working class students and/or ethnoracial minorities. Like most of his classmates, however, Sam is white, hails from a privileged background, and attends a selective school in the Netherlands. Deeply ambivalent about working hard and ‘acting wise’, Sam and the others constituting his adolescent society are thoroughly caught up in peer dynamics which sanction success and promote mediocrity. We link these anti-school peer dynamics to the institutional configuration of education in the Netherlands, characterized by rigid tracking at the end of primary school and non-selective universities: state structures and policies contribute to these privileged students’ rationale for ‘taking it easy’ and doing poorly in school.
Interdisciplinary Learning: A Strategy of Chinese Honors Education for providing depth and scale of learning
Authors: Ye Jing-Jia , Qiu Li-Min , Tang Xiao-Wu
Published: July 2018

Chu Kochen Honors College (CKC) offers a series of honors programs for talented and motivated students from all academic disciplines of Zhejiang University (ZJU). The Honors Programs offer both general education and interdisciplinary learning. Through the customized curriculum and interdisciplinary training, honors students will be required to push themselves academically and strive for excellence. Students enrolled in honors programs are encouraged to become independent thinkers and creative problem solvers.
Dealing with diversity – An honors program for students of teacher training starting in Muenster
Authors: Fischer Christian , Gillhaus Julia , Rott David , Gerven Vivian van
Published: July 2018

Dealing with diversity is a main topic in teacher education in Germany. One aspect which is often inadequately represented is gifted education in this context. Often dealing with diversity starts with a negative point of view: which difficulties does the student have? Another point of access in classroom could be a focus on the individual potentials. The idea of giftedness and talents gives another point of view to this topic.

First a short overview about Giftedness and Learning is given. The leading idea of diversity in school is following. With the Challenge and Support Project, a best practice example is given for illustration.
Different views on assuring the quality of honours programmes
Authors: Eijl Pierre van , Moesker Henmar , Eyckmans Marleen
Published: July 2018

Can we match formal procedures for quality assurance with the creativity and individuality that defines honours? In a session at the Utrecht Honours Conference 2016: Honours Futures we discussed experiences in quality assurance of honours programmes in the United States of America, the Netherlands and Belgium. To illustrate the possibilities, a case study of using an external audit for honours education and two case studies of the use of internal quality assurance tools in an honours programme were presented. It is concluded that a form of quality assurance is needed to continuously improve. So honours educators must at least care for internal quality control. Student involvement is stimulating for the engagement of all participants in the process of quality control. Internal quality control may result in an annual report. Annual reports can be used both internally and in external quality control.
Powerful Learning Environments: A Guide to Designing Innovation Labs
Authors: Miltenburg Ineke , Weerheijm Ron
Published: July 2018

The RUAS Honors Program aims to encourage students to develop into excellent professionals. To do so, RUAS has developed a competence profile entitled Learning to Innovate. This profile serves as a guide for designing a teaching approach which enables students to actively develop into such professionals.

There are five crucial characteristics for designing learning environments which challenge students to master the said competence profile: a multidisciplinary issue drawn from actual practice; an authentic learning environment; professional excellence as both the aim and basis for assessment; qualified teachers setting high standards for their students; and working and learning in a Community of Learners made up of all those involved.

In this paper, we first explain the essence of an Innovation Lab or I-lab. We then present some additional considerations and various different approaches to designing a powerful learning environment like the I-Lab.
Antioxidant effects of immunomodulators in patients with recurrent pyelonephritis
Authors: Kolesnyk M. , Korol L. , Stepanova N. , Driianska V. , Migal L. , Savchenko V.
Published: July 2018

The purpose of our work was to investigate the effect of immunomodulatory medicines on the intensity of oxidative stress (OS), the cytokines level and the activity of renospecific enzymes in patients with recurrent pyelonephritis (rPN).

Methods. A prospective, randomized, open-label study involved of 100 women aged 33.4 ± 8.8 year old. According to the sensitivity of the detected pathogens all patients received antibacterial therapy for two weeks. Along with the main course of antibiotic therapy, 25 patients were assigned Sodium nucleinate at a dose of 0.25 g 4 times per day during 14 days, 18 patients were prescribed Galavit intramuscularly 2 ml per dayfor 10 days, and 27patients were prescribed Proteflazid according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The comparison group consisted of 30 women with rPN who received antibiotic therapy exclusively.Women were screened before and after the treatment. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA), ceruloplasmin (CP), transferrin (TF) and sulfhydryl groups (SH-groups) were determined in the blood by colorimetric method. Oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. The concentration of interleukins (IL) -1f, -4, -8, -10, -17, tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-a), transforming growth factor f (TGF-f), monocytic chemoactive protein-1 (MCP-1) and interferon y (IFN-y) were analyzed in the blood of the women using an ELISA. To evaluate the functional state of the renal parenchyma the activity of tubular lysosome enzymes a total f-N-acetylhexosaminidase and f-galactosidase were determined in urine.

Results. The use of Sodium nucleinate decreased of the OS activity by reducing MDA level (p <0.001) and increasing the concentration of CP (p < 0.03). The serum levels ofIL-4 (p = 0.007), lL-17 (p = 0.04), TGF-f (p = 0.02) and MCP-1 (p = 0.03) were decrease. The use of Galavit contributed to a statistically significant decrease in the concentration of TNF-a (p <0.001), IL-8(p <0.001), IFN-y (p = 0.001) and TGF-f (p <0.001). The administration of Proteflazid resulted in a decrease in the concentrations of IL-8 and IFN-y, with a decrease in OSI (p =0.04) compared to pre-treatment. All applied immunomodulators partially reduced the activity of renospecific enzymes markers of kidney damage.

Conclusions. The use of immunomodulators in the complex therapy of patients with rPN contributes to the partial normalization of functional activity of immune system by the decreasing ofthe production ofcytokines as its mediators and the reducing ofthe OS intensity.
Fibroblast growth factor 23 and lipid metabolism association in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Chaikovska M. I. , Martynyuk L. P.
Published: July 2018

Recent scientificstudies have demonstrated the effect of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) on the volume and distribution of body fat. The aim of our study was to investigate of lipid metabolism in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its relationship with FGF-23.

Methods. We conducted a single-center, cohort retrospective study involved 106 patients with CKD 1-5 stages. Among the patients were 47 women (44%) and 59 men (56%) aged (49.6±13.9) years. All patients were determined the blood lipid spectrum: total cholesterol level (LDL), high density lipoproteins (HDL) and triglycerides (TG). The lipid profile was examined using a biochemical analyzer Cobas Integra 400 Plus. The C-terminal FGF-23 fragment was determined using a set of reagents for the enzyme immunoassay “Biomedica” (Astria). The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated using the CKD EPI formula (KDIGO 2012). All the statistical analyses were performed using Statistica 10.0.

Results. In patients with CKD, progressive decrease in the level of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and the increase in TG concurrent with the fall in GFR was detected (p<0.001). The concentration of the C-terminal FGF-23 fragment progressively increased in parallel with the fall in GFR, reaching the highest values at CKD stage 5 (p<0.001). A significant relationship was found between FGF-23 and total cholesterol (r =-0.45, p<0.05), LDL (r=-0.29, p<0.05), HDL (r=-0.54, p<0.05), FGF-23 and TG (r=0.28, p<0.05). Conclusions. CKD is characterized by a significant growth in TG levels, which increases with progression of renal dysfunction. The level of FGF-23 in CKD steadily increases in parallel with the decrease in GFR. The parameters of lipid metabolism, namely, total cholesterol, LDL, TG and HDL, have a reliable relationship with FGF-23 in CKD.
Intertwined Landscape
Authors: Hussein Mostafa
Published: July 2018

This article examines the ways in which Zionist intellectuals interacted with Arabo-Islamic culture in the Yishuv by looking into the cultivation of Islamicate knowledge pertinent to land and nature and its impact on the construction of the Jewish cultural landscape. I argue that in establishing a connection between Jews and the natural landscape of Palestine/ Israel, Jewish intellectuals relied on Arabo Islamic culture and its centuries of knowledge about the flora and the land itself. In their search to comprehend the flora and place names of the land of the Bible, Jewish individuals consulted Arabo-Islamic sources, finding them instrumental to their national enterprise. The culmination of these endeavors is that, in addition to Jewish and Western sources, Islamicate culture was one of the wellsprings from which Jewish intellectuals drew in shaping the emergent culture in the Yishuv and the early decades of the State of Israel.
STATISTICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE NOISE LEVELS IN COAL MINING INDUSTRY
Authors: ÖNDER Seyhan , ÖNDER Mustafa
Published: July 2018

Madencilikte gürültüye maruziyeti ve gürültüye
bağlı işitme kaybı yaygındır. Gürültüye bağlı işitme kaybını önlemek ve en aza
indirmek için çeşitli maden işlemlerinden kaynaklanan gürültü emisyon
seviyelerinin değerlendirilmesi gerekir. Madenciler arasında mesleki işitme
kaybının önlenmesine yönelik uygulamalar yetersiz olduğu için, bölgeye özgü
veriler üretmek üzere bir kömür madenciliği alanı seçilmiş ve 2004-2007 yılları
arasında gürültü ölçüm örnekleri toplanmıştır. Çalışma, lavvar, açık ocak ve
yeraltı madenini içeren üç ana maden alanını kapsamaktadır. Gürültü ölçüm
çalışmalarından elde edilen veriler, tek yönlü varyans analizi ve Tukey çoklu
karşılaştırma prosedürü kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Analizler Minitab® 14
istatistik yazılımı kullanılarak yapılmış ve en yüksek gürültü seviyelerini lavvar
tesislerinin ürettiği bulunmuştur. Lavvarda çalışan işçiler, izin verilen sınırların
oldukça üstünde gürültüye maruz kalmakta ve dolayısıyla gürültüye bağlı işitme
kaybı açısından daha fazla risk altındadır.
Поняття стилістичної маркованості мовних одиниць (загальнотеоретичний аспект)
Authors: Бузько Світлана Андріївна
Published: July 2018

У статті розглянуто різні підходи щодо визначення поняття «стилістична маркованість». Акцентовано на тому, що явище стилістичної маркованості в сучасній лінгвістиці розуміють по-різному. Одні дослідники розглядають його у співвідношенні з поняттям мовної норми, інші вчені поняття стилістичної маркованості пов’язують зі стилістичним значенням та наявністю в мовної одиниці різних конотацій. Зазначено, що у стилістиці активно використовують термін «стилістичне забарвлення», під яким зазвичай розуміють співвіднесеність мовної одиниці з певним функціональним стилем мови. Зосереджено увагу на тому, що деякі дослідники стилістичне забарвлення визначають як наявність у слова додаткових смислових та стилістичних відтінків. Стилістичну маркованість витлумачено як наявність у мовної одиниці додаткової конотативної інформації емоційного, експресивного, оцінного чи стильового характеру, що зумовлює здатність цієї одиниці створювати певний стилістичний ефект, надаючи мовленню, залежно від комунікативно-прагматичної настанови мовця, різних відтінків – урочистості, піднесеності, невимушеності, фамільярності, іронічності, гумору, комізму, згрубілості, агресивності тощо.
Про козаченьків і воріженьків: семантичні аспекти деривації
Authors: Малюга Наталія Миколаївна
Published: July 2018

У статті йдеться про словотвірні засоби вираження демінутивності у фольклорних текстах, проаналізовано стилістично марковані одиниці з суфіксами демінутивності в українських народних піснях і думах. Здійснено лексико-семантичну диференціацію іменників із значенням об’єктивної зменшеності. Досліджено особливості функціонування безеквівалентних демінутивів, утворених від основ негативної семантики. Задля правильного тлумачення функції морфеми з модифікаційним демінутивним значенням рекомендовано вдаватися до прийому контекстного аналізу.
Occam's Razor: From Ockham's via Moderna to Modern Data Science
Authors: Van Den Berg Hugo A.
Published: July 2018

The principle of parsimony, also known as ‘Occam's razor’, is a heuristic dictum that is thoroughly familiar to virtually all practitioners of science: Aristotle, Newton, and many others have enunciated it in some form or other. Even though the principle is not difficult to comprehend as a general heuristic guideline, it has proved surprisingly resistant to being put on a rigorous footing – a difficulty that has become more pressing and topical with the ‘big data’ explosion. We review the significance of Occam's razor in the philosophical and theological writings of William of Ockham, and survey modern developments of parsimony in data science.
Effect of different pruning operations on the incidence and severity of various diseases of tea plant
Authors: Ahmad I , Mamun MNA , Islam MS , Ara R , Mamdud MAA , Hoque AKMR
Published: July 2018

To analyze the effect of different pruning operation on the incidence and severity of different diseases of tea (Camellia sinensis) plant. An experiment was carried out at the Bilashchara Experimental Farm of Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI), Srimangal. Three places of the sections were selected randomly that received LP (Light Prune), DSK (deep skiff), MSK (medium skiff) and LSK (light skiff) operations. Every bush was critically observed before and after pruning operations and all infected diseases were recorded. Disease severity was expressed as percent disease index (PDI). MSTAT program was used for statistical snalysis. After pruning operation, maximum incidence 33.33% and severity 8.20% of Grey brown blight was found in LSK. Horse hair blight maximum incidence (18%) and maximum severity (6.27%) both were found in LSK. In thread blight maximum incidence was in MSK 22.67% and maximum severity was 7% in LSK. The highest % reduction of branch canker both in incidence and severity was observed in LP section followed by DSK, MSK and LSK. In case of Gall disease maximum incidence and severity both was LSK 24.67% and 7.60%. The highest incidence of black rot was in LSK 41.33% and severity 12.87% was in MSK. From the study, it was recommending that without using any chemicals, only by different pruning operations and proper cleaning can reduce the in incidence and severity of those diseases.J. bio-sci. 24: 01-09, 2016
Perspectives on Women’s Higher Education Leadership from Around the World
Authors: Longman Karen A.
Published: July 2018

Numerous studies in recent years have tracked dimensions related to the status of women both within specific countries and from an international perspective [...]
Production of β-Lactamase Inhibitors by Streptomyces Species
Authors: Viana Marques Daniela de Araújo , Machado Suellen Emilliany Feitosa , Ebinuma Valéria Carvalho Santos , Duarte Carolina de Albuquerque Lima , Converti Attilio , Porto Ana Lúcia Figueiredo
Published: July 2018

β-Lactamase inhibitors have emerged as an effective alternative to reduce the effects of resistance against β-lactam antibiotics. The Streptomyces genus is known for being an exceptional natural source of antimicrobials and β-lactamase inhibitors such as clavulanic acid, which is largely applied in clinical practice. To protect against the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains, new antibiotics and β-lactamase inhibitors need to be discovered and developed. This review will cover an update about the main β-lactamase inhibitors producers belonging to the Streptomyces genus; advanced methods, such as genetic and metabolic engineering, to enhance inhibitor production compared with wild-type strains; and fermentation and purification processes. Moreover, clinical practice and commercial issues are discussed. The commitment of companies and governments to develop innovative strategies and methods to improve the access to new, efficient, and potentially cost-effective microbial products to combat the antimicrobial resistance is also highlighted.
Di-Chromatic InGaN Based Color Tuneable Monolithic LED with High Color Rendering Index
Authors: Yadav Amit , Titkov Ilya E. , Sakharov Alexei V. , Lundin Wsevolod V. , Nikolaev Andrey E. , Sokolovskii Grigorii S. , Tsatsulnikov Andrey F. , Rafailov Edik U.
Published: July 2018

We demonstrate a phosphor free, dichromatic GaN-based monolithic white LED with vertically stacked green and blue emitting multiple quantum wells. The optimal thickness of GaN barrier layer between green and blue quantum wells used is 8 nm. This device can be tuned over a wide range of correlated color temperature (CCT) to achieve warm white (CCT = 3600 K) to cool white (CCT = 13,000 K) emission by current modulation from 2.3 A/cm2 to 12.9 A/cm2. It is also demonstrated for the first time that a color rendering index (CRI) as high as 67 can be achieved with such a dichromatic source. The observed CCT and CRI tunability is associated with the spectral power evolution due to the pumping-induced carrier redistribution.
Polymer Nanocomposite Membranes
Authors: Kononova Svetlana V. , Gubanova Galina N. , Korytkova Eleonora N. , Sapegin Denis A. , Setnickova Katerina , Petrychkovych Roman , Uchytil Petr
Published: July 2018

Based on the results of research works reflected in the scientific literature, the main examples, methods and approaches to the development of polymer inorganic nanocomposite materials for target membranes are considered. The focus is on membranes for critical technologies with improved mechanical, thermal properties that have the necessary capabilities to solve the problems of a selective pervaporation. For the purpose of directional changes in the parameters of membranes, effects on their properties of the type, amount and conditions of nanoparticle incorporation into the polymer matrix were analyzed. An influence of nanoparticles on the structural and morphological characteristics of the nanocomposite film is considered, as well as possibilities of forming transport channels for separated liquids are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to a correlation of nanocomposite structure-transport properties of membranes, whose separation characteristics are usually considered within the framework of the diffusion-sorption mechanism.
Conceptual Design of Micro-Bioreactors and Organ-on-Chips for Studies of Cell Cultures
Authors: Mandenius Carl-Fredrik
Published: July 2018

Engineering design of microbioreactors (MBRs) and organ-on-chip (OoC) devices can take advantage of established design science theory, in which systematic evaluation of functional concepts and user requirements are analyzed. This is commonly referred to as a conceptual design. This review article compares how common conceptual design principles are applicable to MBR and OoC devices. The complexity of this design, which is exemplified by MBRs for scaled-down cell cultures in bioprocess development and drug testing in OoCs for heart and eye, is discussed and compared with previous design solutions of MBRs and OoCs, from the perspective of how similarities in understanding design from functionality and user purpose perspectives can more efficiently be exploited. The review can serve as a guideline and help the future design of MBR and OoC devices for cell culture studies.
In Silico HCT116 Human Colon Cancer Cell-Based Models En Route to the Discovery of Lead-Like Anticancer Drugs
Authors: Cruz Sara , Gomes Sofia E. , Borralho Pedro M. , Rodrigues Cecília M. P. , Gaudêncio Susana P. , Pereira Florbela
Published: July 2018

To discover new inhibitors against the human colon carcinoma HCT116 cell line, two quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) studies using molecular and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) descriptors were developed through exploration of machine learning techniques and using the value of half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). In the first approach, A, regression models were developed using a total of 7339 molecules that were extracted from the ChEMBL and ZINC databases and recent literature. The performance of the regression models was successfully evaluated by internal and external validations, the best model achieved R2 of 0.75 and 0.73 and root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.66 and 0.69 for the training and test sets, respectively. With the inherent time-consuming efforts of working with natural products (NPs), we conceived a new NP drug hit discovery strategy that consists in frontloading samples with 1D NMR descriptors to predict compounds with anticancer activity prior to bioactivity screening for NPs discovery, approach B. The NMR QSAR classification models were built using 1D NMR data (1H and 13C) as descriptors, from 50 crude extracts, 55 fractions and five pure compounds obtained from actinobacteria isolated from marine sediments collected off the Madeira Archipelago. The overall predictability accuracies of the best model exceeded 63% for both training and test sets.
Pediatric Deep Brain Stimulation Using Awake Recording and Stimulation for Target Selection in an Inpatient Neuromodulation Monitoring Unit
Authors: Sanger Terence D. , Liker Mark , Arguelles Enrique , Deshpande Ruta , Maskooki Arash , Ferman Diana , Tongol Aprille , Robison Aaron
Published: July 2018

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for secondary (acquired, combined) dystonia does not reach the high degree of efficacy achieved in primary (genetic, isolated) dystonia. We hypothesize that this may be due to variability in the underlying injury, so that different children may require placement of electrodes in different regions of basal ganglia and thalamus. We describe a new targeting procedure in which temporary depth electrodes are placed at multiple possible targets in basal ganglia and thalamus, and probing for efficacy is performed using test stimulation and recording while children remain for one week in an inpatient Neuromodulation Monitoring Unit (NMU). Nine Children with severe secondary dystonia underwent the NMU targeting procedure. In all cases, 4 electrodes were implanted. We compared the results to 6 children who had previously had 4 electrodes implanted using standard intraoperative microelectrode targeting techniques. Results showed a significant benefit, with 80% of children with NMU targeting achieving greater than 5-point improvement on the Burke–Fahn–Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS), compared with 50% of children using intraoperative targeting. NMU targeting improved BFMDRS by an average of 17.1 whereas intraoperative targeting improved by an average of 10.3. These preliminary results support the use of test stimulation and recording in a Neuromodulation Monitoring Unit (NMU) as a new technique with the potential to improve outcomes following DBS in children with secondary (acquired) dystonia. A larger sample size will be needed to confirm these results.
Temporal Profiles and Dose-Responsiveness of Side Effects with Escitalopram and Duloxetine in Treatment-Naïve Depressed Adults
Authors: Polychroniou Philip E. , Mayberg Helen S. , Craighead W. Edward , Rakofsky Jeffrey J. , Aponte Rivera Vivianne , Haroon Ebrahim , Dunlop Boadie W.
Published: July 2018

Side effect profiles of antidepressants are relevant to treatment selection and adherence among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), but several clinically-relevant characteristics of side effects are poorly understood. We aimed to compare the side effect profiles of escitalopram and duloxetine, including frequencies, time to onset, duration, dose responsiveness, and impact on treatment outcomes. Side effects occurring in 211 treatment-naïve patients with MDD randomized to 12 weeks of treatment with flexibly-dosed escitalopram (10–20 mg/day) or duloxetine (30–60 mg/day) as part of the Predictors of Remission in Depression to Individual and Combined Treatments (PReDICT) study were evaluated. Escitalopram- and duloxetine-treated patients experienced a similar mean number of overall side effects and did not differ in terms of the specific side effects observed or their temporal profile. Experiencing any side effect during the first 2 weeks of treatment was associated with increased likelihood of trial completion (86.7% vs. 73.7%, p = 0.045). Duloxetine-treated patients who experienced dry mouth were significantly more likely to achieve remission than those who did not (73.7% vs. 44.8%, p = 0.026). Side effects that resolved prior to a dose increase were unlikely to recur after the increase, but only about 45% of intolerable side effects that required a dose reduction resolved within 30 days of the reduction. At the doses used in this study, escitalopram and duloxetine have similar side effect profiles. Understanding characteristics of side effects beyond simple frequency rates may help prescribers make more informed medication decisions and support conversations with patients to improve treatment adherence.
Cryptanalysis of a Proposal Based on the Discrete Logarithm Problem Inside Sn
Authors: González Vasco María Isabel , Robinson Angela , Steinwandt Rainer
Published: July 2018

In 2008, Doliskani et al. proposed an ElGamal-style encryption scheme using the symmetric group Sn as mathematical platform. In 2012, an improvement of the cryptosystem’s memory requirements was suggested by Othman. The proposal by Doliskani et al. in particular requires the discrete logarithm problem in Sn, using its natural representation, to be hard. Making use of the Chinese Remainder Theorem, we describe an efficient method to solve this discrete logarithm problem, yielding a polynomial time secret key recovery attack against Doliskani et al.’s proposal.
From Identity to Uniqueness: The Emergence of Increasingly Higher Levels of Hierarchy in the Process of the Matter Evolution
Authors: Mikhailovsky George
Published: July 2018

This article focuses on several factors of complification, which worked during the evolution of our Universe. During the early stages of such evolution up to the Recombination Era, it was laws of quantum mechanics; during the Dark Ages it was gravitation; during the chemical evolution-diversification; and during the biological and human evolution—a process of distinctifying. The main event in the evolution of the Universe was the emergence of new levels of hierarchy, which together constitute the process of hierarchogenesis. This process contains 14 such events so far, and its dynamics is presented graphically by a very regular and smooth curve. The function that the curve presents is odd, i.e., symmetric about its central part, due to the similarity of patterns of the deceleration during the cosmic/chemical evolution (1st half of the general evolution) and the acceleration during the biological/human evolution (its 2nd half). The main driver of the hierarchogenesis as described by this odd function is counteraction and counterbalance of attraction and repulsion that take various forms at the different hierarchical levels. Direction and pace of the irreversible and inevitable increase of the Universe complexity in accordance with the general law of complification result from a consistent influence of all these factors.
The Vocabulary-Comprehension Relationship across the Disciplines: Implications for Instruction
Authors: Harmon Janis , Wood Karen
Published: July 2018

The main purpose of vocabulary instruction is to enhance and support reading comprehension. This goal spans across the grade levels and different disciplines and is supported by a plethora of research. In recent years, a great deal of needed attention has been finally given to academic vocabulary and disciplinary literacy. To contribute to this body of knowledge, we believe it is critical to examine how the complex relationship between vocabulary and comprehension may be addressed in secondary content area classrooms, given the unique nature of the academic vocabulary students encounter daily in school. This conceptual paper contains the following: (1) definition of academic vocabulary; (2) description of what is known about the vocabulary–comprehension relationship; (3) conceptualization of the intersection of academic vocabulary and the vocabulary–comprehension relationship; and (4) instructional implications emerging from this intersection. Perhaps this conceptualization may provide disciplinary practitioners more insight to help them make decisions regarding vocabulary instruction.
Impact of Partial Shading on the P-V Characteristics and the Maximum Power of a Photovoltaic String
Authors: Teo J. C. , Tan Rodney H. G. , Mok V. H. , Ramachandaramurthy Vigna K. , Tan ChiaKwang
Published: July 2018

A photovoltaic system is highly susceptible to partial shading. Based on the functionality of a photovoltaic system that relies on solar irradiance to generate electrical power, it is tacitly assumed that the maximum power of a partially shaded photovoltaic system always decreases as the shading heaviness increases. However, the literature has reported that this might not be the case. The maximum power of a partially shaded photovoltaic system under a fixed configuration and partial shading pattern can be highly insusceptible to shading heaviness when a certain critical point is met. This paper presents an investigation of the impact of partial shading and the critical point that reduce the susceptibility of shading heaviness. Photovoltaic string formed by series-connected photovoltaic modules is used in this research. The investigation of the P-V characteristic curve under different numbers of shaded modules and shading heaviness suggests that the photovoltaic string becomes insusceptible to shading heaviness when the shaded modules irradiance reaches a certain critical point. The critical point can vary based on the number of the shaded modules. The formulated equation in this research contributes to determining the critical point for different photovoltaic string sizes and numbers of shaded modules in the photovoltaic string.
Hybrid Modulated Model Predictive Control in a Modular Multilevel Converter for Multi-Terminal Direct Current Systems
Authors: Wu Zhi , Chu Jiawei , Gu Wei , Huang Qiang , Chen Liang , Yuan Xiaodong
Published: July 2018

In this paper a hybrid modulated model predictive control (HM2PC) strategy for modular-multilevel-converter (MMC) multi-terminal direct current (MTDC) systems is proposed for supplying power to passive networks or weak AC systems, with the control objectives of maintaining the DC voltage, voltage stability and power balance of the proposed system. The proposed strategy preserves the desired characteristics of conventional model predictive control method based on finite control set (FCS-MPC) methods, but deals with high switching frequency, circulating current and steady-state error in a superior way by introducing the calculation of the optimal output voltage level in each bridge arm and the specific duty cycle in each Sub-Module (SM), both of which are well-suited for the control of the MMC system. In addition, an improved multi-point DC voltage control strategy based on active power balanced control is proposed for an MMC-MTDC system supplying power to passive networks or weak AC systems, with the control objective of coordinating the power balance between different stations. An MMC-HVDC simulation model including four stations has been established on MATLAB/Simulink (r2014b MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA). Simulations were performed to validate the feasibility of the proposed control strategy under both steady and transient states. The simulation results prove that the strategy can suppress oscillations in the MMC-MTDC system caused by AC side faults, and that the system can continue functioning if any one of the converters are tripped from the MMC-MTDC network.
Economic Effects of Wind Power Plant Deployment on the Croatian Economy
Authors: Mikulić Davor , Lovrinčević Željko , Keček Damira
Published: July 2018

This paper tests the hypothesis that incentives for renewable energy sources contribute to economic development in Croatia. The aim of the paper is to quantify the total effects of wind power plant deployment on the Croatian economy in terms of employment and gross value. Indirect and induced effects are spread over the value added chain of producers of investment and intermediate goods and services required for wind power plant deployment and operation. The open input-output model is used for quantifying indirect effects. The closed input output model, which assumes endogenous personal consumption, is applied for quantifying total effects, which includes the effects of induced personal consumption. The gross value added and employment type I and type II multipliers related to wind power plants in Croatia were calculated separately for the investment and intermediate consumption channel. The results show positive indirect and induced effects relating to the deployment of wind power plants in Croatia. They are less pronounced in comparison to previous studies due to the undeveloped domestic production of equipment required for wind power plant deployment. Apart from the manufacturing sector, which produces equipment incorporated into wind power plants, the total effects were significant for construction, transport, and other supporting industries.
Internal Model Current Control of Brushless Doubly Fed Induction Machines
Authors: Su Mei , Jin Weiyu , Zhang Guanguan , Tang Weiyi , Blaabjerg Frede
Published: July 2018

In the wind energy generation system, the brushless doubly-fed induction machine (BDFIM) has shown significant application potential, since it eliminates the electric brush and slip ring. However, the complicated rotor structure increases the control difficulty, especially resulting in complicated coupled terms in the current sub-system, which deteriorates the dynamic performance and reduces the system robustness. In order to address the problems caused by complex coupled terms, an internal model current control strategy is presented for the BDFIM, and an active damping term is designed for suppressing the disturbance caused by the total resistance. The proposed method simplifies the controller parameters design, and it achieves the fast-dynamic response and the good tracking performance, as well as good robustness. On the other hand, the feedforward term composed by the grid voltage is added to the internal model controller in order to suppress the disturbance when the symmetrical grid voltage sag happens. Finally, the simulation and experimental results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.