bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing methods for assessing the health of regeneration in Scots pine culture
Authors: Sierota Zbigniew , Małecka Monika , Damszel Marta
Published: April 2021

This study’s aim was to describe the health condition of Scots pine cultures of up to 10 years old using and comparing various field assessment methods. Since forest districts report on the health of stands annually, we assumed that for a proper health analysis it is necessary to develop a simple and yet reliable assessment method that allows for determining the share of fungal pathogen infection in the stand (both foliar and root pathogens) and their differentiation from symptoms of abiotic factors such as drought. Six different methods of health assessment were tested in selected Forest Districts across Poland. We found that the most reliable assessment of the health condition of young stands is obtained with the surface method ‘MF’ (phytopathological monitoring method) and the linear ‘Z’ method, which uses transects of 30 meters in three rows in the shape of the letter Z.
Multiplex detection ofPhytophthoraspp. using the Fluidigm platform
Authors: Sikora Katarzyna , Oszako Tomasz , Kubiak Katarzyna , Nowakowska Justyna Anna , Malewski Tadeusz
Published: April 2021

The genusPhytophthoraplays an important role not only in agriculture but also in forest ecosystems. As the number of knownPhytophthoraspecies continues to grow, identifying new isolates in this genus has become increasingly challenging even by DNA sequencing. Therefore, the development of proper techniques for detection and identification is crucial for monitoring and control of these pathogens in the forestry sector. In recent years, new molecular methods using innovative approaches have indeed been developed. However, the majority of these methods was designed to detect singlePhytophthoraspecies. Techniques that are able to target multiple species would offer advantages, especially for the assessment of Phytophthora diversity in the environment. This paper describes a multiplex assay for the identification of eightPhytophthoraisolates, down to the species level, based on a Fluidigm platform employing pyrosequencing. The obtained results showed that for an accurate determination of the species, it is sufficient to know the sequence of two markers, ITS and COX1. The sensitivity of this test is sufficient to identifyPhytophthorain a pure culture. Unfortunately, analysis based on a pyrosequencing platform does not provide enough data to simultaneous identify multiplePhytophthoraspecies in samples collected in the field. This problem could be resolved in the future by sequencing using more efficient platforms like Illumina or IonTorrent.
Unexpected action and insecurity: some structural characteristics of postmodernity
Authors: Cocozza Antonio
Published: April 2021

This essay presents an analysis of the structural and cultural characteristics of postmodern society’s new capitalism, underscoring the fact that uncertainty, flexibility, mobility and risk are the latest categories of contemporary life, with which we need to interact and communicate constantly.

It is necessary to aim at governing uncertainty by activating a new logic of the diffused empowerment of people aimed at promoting value for all the stakeholders by sharing objectives, development plans and the joint redesign of technologies, structures and processes. This is a perspective which places the person at the centre of strategic action, relaunches a New Humanism, invests in the cultural dimension, enhances that of value with a view to surpassing theutilitarian and technocentric paradigm while asserting a new anthropocentric
Impact of Rest-Redistribution on Fatigue During Maximal Eccentric Knee Extensions
Authors: Merrigan Justin J. , Jones Margaret T. , Padecky Jan , Malecek Jan , Omcirk Dan , Scott Brendan R. , Tufano James J.
Published: April 2021

Redistributing long inter-set rest intervals into shorter but more frequent rest intervals generally maintains concentric performance, possibly due to improved energy store maintenance. However, eccentric actions require less energy than concentric actions, meaning that shorter but more frequent sets may not affect eccentric actions to the same degree as concentric actions. Considering the increased popularity of eccentric exercise, the current study evaluated the effects of redistributing long inter-set rest periods into shorter but more frequent rest periods during eccentric only knee extensions. Eleven resistance-trained men performed 40 isokinetic unilateral knee extensions at 60°·s−1 with 285 s of total rest using traditional sets (TS; 4 sets of 10 with 95 s inter-set rest) and rest-redistribution (RR; 20 sets of 2 with 15 s inter-set rest). Before and during exercise, muscle oxygenation was measured via near-infrared spectroscopy, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded after every 10th repetition. There were no differences between protocols for peak torque (RR, 241.58±47.20 N; TS, 231.64±48.87 N; p=0.396) or total work (RR, 215.26±41.47 J; TS, 209.71±36.02 J; p=0.601), but moderate to large effect sizes existed in later repetitions (6,8,10) with greater peak torque during RR (d=0.66-1.19). For the entire session, RR had moderate effects on RPE (RR, 5.73±1.42; TS, 6.09±1.30; p=0.307; d=0.53) and large effects on oxygen saturation (RR, 5857.4±310.0; TS, 6495.8±273.8; p=0.002, d=2.13). Therefore, RR may maintain peak torque or total work during eccentric exercise, improve oxygen utilization at the muscle, and reduce the perceived effort.
The Effects of a 9-Week Hip Focused Weight Training Program on Hip And Knee Kinematics and Kinetics in Experienced Female Dancers
Authors: Rajic Sandro , Legg Hayley S. , Maurus Philipp , Nigg Sandro R. , Cleather Daniel J.
Published: April 2021

Increased involvement of the hip musculature during some movements is associated with enhanced performance and reduced injury risk. However, the impact of hip dominant weight training methods on movement strategy has seen limited attention within the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate if a 9-week hip dominant weight training intervention promotes a more hip dominant movement strategy leading to an improvement in countermovement jump performance. Twenty-two experienced female dancers were recruited and separated into an intervention (age 24.4 ± 6.3 years, body height 165.5 ± 5.8 cm, body mass 65.9 ± 5.6 kg) and a control (age 22.9 ± 5.6 years, body height 163.3 ± 5.4 cm, body mass 57.4 ± 6.8 kg) group. The intervention group participated in a 9-week hip dominant training intervention, which consisted of a wide stance back squat, Romanian deadlift, hip thrusters, and a bent over row. Hip and knee kinematics and kinetics, and countermovement jump performance were assessed pre and post training. Significant interaction effects were found for peak hip joint moment (p = 0.030, η2 = 0.214) and countermovement jump performance (p = 0.003, η2 = 0.356), indicating an increase in peak hip joint moment and countermovement jump performance for the intervention group. Specifically, the intervention group showed a mean increase in jump height of 11.5%. The data show that the use of a hip dominant weight training strategy can improve hip contribution in the propulsion phase of the countermovement jump. Strength and conditioning specialists should incorporate hip dominant weight training exercises to increase hip strength and improve performance.
Statistical Comparison of Singles Badminton Matches at the London 2012 and Rio De Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games
Authors: Torres-Luque Gema , Carlos Blanca-Torres Juan , Cabello-Manrique David , Kondric Miran
Published: April 2021

The aim of this study was to analyse statistical differences in men’s and women’s singles badminton competitions at the London and Rio Olympic Games. Forty-five matches (128 sets in total) played at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics in badminton were analysed. Variables related to the match (6) and each set (13) were determined. The results show the longest rally in sets 1 and 3, the biggest come back to win the game in set 2, and that the duration of set 3 for men was longer in Rio than in London. All of the women’s sets had longer duration, and the rally length and the number of strokes per rally was also longer in Rio versus London. In conclusion, the timing factors of badminton singles were dissimilar in London 2012 and Rio 2016 for both men and women. This information may help players and coaches manage different workout types or, more specifically, competition schedules that are adapted to suit modern badminton’s characteristics.
Match and Training High Intensity Activity-Demands Profile during a Competitive Mesocycle in Youth Elite Soccer Players
Authors: Oliva-Lozano José María , Gómez-Carmona Carlos David , Pino-Ortega José , Moreno-Pérez Víctor , Rodríguez-Pérez Manuel Antonio
Published: April 2021

The monitoring of the high intensity activity-demands profile during official matches (OMs) and training sessions (TSs) provides a deeper understanding of the relationship between training and competition loads as well as players’ fitness characteristics. The aims of this study were to: 1) describe the training and match high intensity activity-demands profile in U-19 soccer players; 2) compare the profile depending on the type of session (OM or TS) throughout match-weeks; and 3) differentiate between profiles depending on the match location (home or away). Twenty-five U-19 Spanish soccer players were monitored during TSs and OMs for a one-month competitive period using a WIMU PROTM wearable inertial device. The variables of the study were: high speed running distance (HSRD), total sprints (SPs), maximum speed (MS) and player load (PL). OMs required higher demands than TSs in HSRD (460.99 ± 206.18 vs. 315.45 ± 180.12 m; p < 0.01; d = 0.75), SPs (10.86 ± 6.64 vs. 7.23 ± 4.82; p < 0.01; d = 0.69), MS (29.99 ± 2.54 vs. 28.50 ± 2.4 km/h; p < 0.01; d = 0.59) and PL (103.08 ± 24.15 vs. 83.18 ± 17.96 a.u.; p < 0.01; d = 0.94). The interaction between the type of session and mean week’s demands presented differences with medium effect size in MS (p < 0.01; ωp
2 = 0.06) and small effect size in HSRD (p = 0.04; ωp
2 = 0.03), and SP (p = 0.05; ωp
2 = 0.03), but there were no differences in PL (p = 0.18; ωp
2 = 0). Finally, no differences were found in the match location comparison (p > 0.33; d = 0.22–0.33). Therefore, the profiles presented could be useful for future scientific purposes and serve as valid information for coaches trying to optimize performance.
The Slovak v the Danish Labor Law Approach to COVID 19 Pandemic
Authors: Hamuľák Juraj , Nevická Denisa
Published: April 2021

The corona virus pandemic affects the functioning of all states. It intervenes in various areas of life, and it is employment relations that we can consider to be the area with the most negative impact. The Slovak Republic is dealing with pandemic in terms of labor law with partial amendments to the Labor Code and a hybrid form of short time working (kurzarbeit). We therefore decided to point out the shortcomings of the legislation in the Slovak Republic as well as to propose solutions that would help alleviate rising unemployment but also adjust the labor market to the demand for modern and flexible forms of work. We also analyzed measures that were chosen by the Kingdom of Denmark to suppress the consequences of the pandemic and, in our opinion, were of a sustainable nature and met the requirements of the labor market subjects.
The Extension of the Jurisdiction of Constitutional Court in Assessing the Constitutional Amendments – the Case of Slovakia and Kosovo
Authors: Balaj Luz , Muçaj Florent
Published: April 2021

This paper examines the jurisprudence of the constitutional courts of Slovakia and Kosovo regarding their assessment of the constitutionality of constitutional amendments. The rationale for the selected countries stands behind the practices of their Constitutional Courts of, in terms of the jurisdiction expansion in assessing constitutional amendments. Considering the fact that these courts have been recently established, the Slovak Constitutional Court with the Constitution of 1992 and the Constitutional Court of Kosovo with the Constitution of 2008, it is the purpose of this paper to further analyze their initial work in assessing the constitutionality of constitutional amendments in the light of the impact of the German jurisprudence. Regardless the lack of experience in this regard, these courts have shown an interesting correlation between scientific doctrines and jurisprudences, which have served the judges to justify their decisions. In this direction, this paper frames its discussion in two key segments. Firstly, is the manner in which these courts have expanded their jurisdiction, an expansion that provided an assess to the constitutionality of constitutional amendments that goes beyond confronting the amendment with the explicit nature of the unamendability of the constitution. Secondly, on the impact of the German jurisprudence, especially in the case of the Slovak Constitutional court.
VIDÍŠ TÝM LEPŠIE, ČÍM BLIŽŠIE SA POZERÁŠSLOVAK COMPARATIVE CORRELATIVE CC' CONSTRUCTIONS FROM A CONSTRUCTION GRAMMAR PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Horsch Jakob
Published: April 2021

The Slovak Comparative Correlative (CC) construction has received little attention, although it is interesting regarding both its semantics and its form: As discussed in Horsch (2019), CCs are characterized by their complex symmetric (parallel change over time) and asymmetric (cause-effect) semantics, which are encoded in a biclausal structure in which each clause consists of a combination of fixed material and obligatory/optional slots. Typically, the first clause (C1) encodes a cause/protasis, and precedes the second clause (C2), which encodes an effect/apodosis: [čím bližšie sa pozeráš,]C1[tým lepšie vidíš.]C2‘the closer you look, the better you see.’ However, there are also structures that retain the same meaning but in which C2 precedes C1 (often referred to as CC’): [Tým lepšie vidíš]C2[čím bližšie sa pozeráš.]C1. ‘You see the better, the closer you look.’ Additionally, there is a variant in Slovak where the clause precedes the clause-initial element and comparative element: [Vidíš tým lepšie,]C2[čím bližšie sa pozeráš.]C1.

Embedded in a Usage-based Construction Grammar approach, this is the first large-scale corpus study to investigate the C2C1 order in Slovak, and how semantics influences its formal properties. It is argued that both the significantly higher amount of C1C2 order in the corpus data and the significantly higher amount of C2C1 structures in which the clause precedes the comparative element in C2 can be explained with the principle of iconicity (linguistic form is influenced by the semantics of a construction), which makes certain strings easier to process and thus leads to performance preference. From a cross-linguistic perspective, the present investigation provides evidence in support of Goldberg’s Tenet #5 (2003, p. 219), which posits that cross-linguistic generalizations can be accounted for with general cognitive constraints.
The Neuropeptide Kyotorphin as a Possible Biomarker and Neuroprotective Agent in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Angelova Hristina Tz. , Pechlivanova Daniela M. , Landzhov Boycho V. , Dzhambazova Elena B.
Published: April 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder clinically characterized by memory impairment, disorientation, cognitive deficits, and behavioral disturbances. The neuropathological features are amyloid plaques containing aggregated amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide, neurofibrillary tangles composed of the hyperphosphorylated form of the microtubule protein tau (HP-tau), and loss of neurons and synapses in the brain.

There are no effective strategies for the prevention or treatment of the disease, leading to an increased need for AD biomarkers to improve early detection, accurate diagnosis, and accelerate drug development in this field. Recently, increasing attention has been dedicated to neuropeptides in searching for new drug targets in the treatment of nervous system disorders. Available data suggest that many neuropeptides may be associated with the pathophysiology and potential therapy of AD because of their wide distribution in brain areas responsible for learning and memory processes and their predominately neuroprotective actions. This short review aimed to briefly describe the neuropathology of AD and summarize the data related to one of its recently proposed biomarker - kyotorphin (KTP) neuropeptide. Our previous experiments showed moderate and selective protective effects of KTP against the late consequences of the intracerebroventricular streptozotocin-induced AD model.
The Different Faces of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia -Two Clinical Cases
Authors: Popova Vanya S. , Ignatova Kalina K. , Nguen Dobromir D. , Tonchev Pencho T. , Todorieva Doroteya K. , Bogdanov Lachezar H. , Hristov Ivailo G. , Tzvetkov Nikolai Tz.
Published: April 2021

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is one of the most common types of leukemia affecting adults over 65 years of age [1]. The disease is a part of the so-called indolent lymphomas and has a variable clinical course, defined by many factors. In recent years, knowing better the pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease, significant advances in the treatment have been made [2]. Monoclonal antibodies, immunomodulators, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein inhibitors have been approved for clinical practice. Nevertheless, the development of tumor resistance and recurrence of the disease remains a challenge for hematologists, biologists, and pharmacists. We present two clinical cases of patients of both age groups (young adults and adults), in whom treatment was started with a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, after inadequate response to immunochemotherapy (CIT).
On-Pump Beating Heart versus Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: Short-Term Follow-up Outcomes of a Single Center
Authors: İlkeli Ekin , Düzgün Ali Cemal
Published: April 2021

Background and Aim: Novel surgical approaches are gaining attention in an attempt to overcome possible adverse events following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. This single-center study aimed to evaluate and compare the early postoperative outcomes of on-pump beating-heart (OPBH-CABG) versus off-pump CABG surgery in similar risk groups with a total number of 1–2 grafts.

Methods: The records of a total of 229 patients who underwent non-emergency, primary, isolated, either OPBH-CABG (n = 32) or off-pump CABG (n = 197) surgery were retrospectively evaluated. Reported outcome measures included baseline data, the number of coronary artery grafts, prophylactic intra-aortic balloon pump, time of extubation from mechanical ventilation, duration of stay in the coronary ICU and hospital, as well as early postoperative complications, in-hospital and early postoperative mortality.

Results: The groups were identical with regards to age and BMI. The patients in the off-pump group received a higher number of grafts (1.84 ± 0.36 vs. 1.18 ± 0.39, p <0.0001). The OPBH-CABG group had a higher Euroscore II score (2.514 ± 1.68 vs. 1.706 ± 1.93, p = 0.021). The time to extubation after the surgery, postoperative length of ICU stay, and total length of hospital stay were similar between the groups (p = 0.2228; p = 0.098; p = 0.717, respectively). The incidence of arrythmia and atrial fibrillation was higher in the on-pump group (12.5% vs. 2.53%, p <0.05). One patient in the on-pump, and four patients in the off-pump groups deceased due to postoperative complications.

Conclusions: OPBH-CABG surgery is comparable to off-pump CABG in terms of early postoperative outcomes. In patients who underwent OPBH-CABG, the risk of arrythmia and atrial fibrillation should be of concern and solved with optimal strategies.
AMC backed circularly polarized dual band antenna for Wi-Fi and WLAN applications
Authors: Tilak Gande B. G. , Kotamraju Sarat K. , Madhav Boddapati T. P. , Kavya Korada C. S. , Rao Manikonda V.
Published: April 2021

In this article the design and implementation of dual band circularly polarized antenna which is backed with AMC is presented. The proposed antenna consists of a novel heart shaped concentric ringshaped patch attached to meander line. The dimension of the antenna without AMC is 0.24 λ0 × 0.140 λ0 × 0.012 λ0 × and with AMC 0.43 λ0 × 0.43 λ0 × 0.32 λ0 and designed on a commercial FR4 substrate. The antenna gets worked at dual band applications such as 2.4 GHz (wi-fi) operates from 2.3 GHz to 2.5 GHz and 5.2 GHz (WLAN) operates from 4.7 GHz to 5.9 GHz and also gets circular polarization from 2.3 GHz to 2.5 GHz (200 MHz) and 4.95 GHz to 5.40 GHz (450 MHz) is achieved. In this article the proposed model is investigated towards circular polarization, radiation patterns and current distributions by varying parametric analysis is carried to analyze overall performance of antenna with and without AMC.
Signal periodicity detection using Ramanujan subspace projection
Authors: Abraham Deepa , Manuel Manju
Published: April 2021

Signal periodic decomposition and periodic estimation are two crucial problems in the signal processing domain. Due to its significance, the applications have been extended to fields like periodic sequence analysis of biomolecules, stock market predictions, speech signal processing, and musical pitch analysis. The recently proposed Ramanujan sums (RS) based transforms are very useful in analysing the periodicity of signals. This paper proposes a method for periodicity detection of signals with multiple periods based on autocorrelation and Ramanujan subspace projection with low computational complexity. The proposed method is compared with other signal periodicity detection methods and the results show that the proposed method detects the signal period correctly in less time.
Preparation and gas-sensing properties of very thin sputtered NiO films
Authors: Hotovy Ivan , Rehacek Vlastimil , Kemeny Martin , Ondrejka Peter , Kostic Ivan , Mikolasek Miroslav , Spiess Lothar
Published: April 2021

We present results on very thin NiO films which are able to detect 3 ppm of acetone, toluene and n-butyl acetate in synthetic air and to operate at 300°C. NiO films with 25 and 50 nm thicknesses were prepared by dc reactive magnetron sputtering on alumina substrates previously coated by Pt layers as heater and as interdigitated electrodes. Annealed NiO films are indexed to the (fcc) crystalline structure of NiO and their calculated grain sizes are in the range from 22 to 27 nm. Surface morphology of the examined samples was influenced by a rough and compact granular structure of alumina substrate. Nanoporous NiO film is formed by an agglomeration of small grains with different shapes while they are created on every alumina grain.
New model of explanation for phase angle pattern of online partial discharge measurement in winding insulation of turbine generator
Authors: Baboraik Abdulrahman , Usachev Alexander
Published: April 2021

On-line partial discharge (PD) measurement in electrical insulation of the turbine generator (TG) is an essential approach to control the quality of insulation and to avoid any undesired shutdowns of TG. Although in the last few decades the number of research in PD on-line monitoring methods in the stator winding of TG has increased significantly, it is still not clear yet why PD only appears at certain phase angles of the AC cycle in the phase resolved partial discharge (PRPD) pattern. Moreover, there is not yet any clarification on how the winding configuration of stator may affect PD phase angle pattern. For this reason, this work examines detailed study of the impact of the winding diagram on PD occurrence in the stator winding of real turbine generator class TVF-60-2 (60 MW, 10.5 KV). In addition, a computer simulation of various sizes of ellipsoidal cavities from 0.1 to 2.5 mm between conductor bar and stator core were carried out by using Laplaces equation in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software ComSol to investigate the relation between the cavity size and coefficient of electric field. As a result of that, the phase angle of PD occurrence in the stator winding will highly depend on the configuration of bars connection, and the computer simulation has helped identifying the PD inception voltage and applied voltage of various ellipsoidal defects size. These two results have helped proposing an initial new theoretical model of explanation the relationship between voltage distributions and phase angle of PD occurrence to determine the degradation level of insulation caused by ellipsoidal defects in the insulation bars of the stator winding which can be used for stator windings of TG rated 6 kV and higher. This model is the initial step to develop a further comprehensive model of explanation for PRPD patterns which will consider all other types of defects as well as the space charge effects from the previous PD.
Pactism in Catalonia: A Dual Conception of the Political Community
Authors: de Montagut Tomàs , Ripoll Pere
Published: April 2021

This article offers a historiographic definition of ‘pactism’, i.e. the pact-based model institutional doctrine and practice held in Europe from the High-Middle Ages onwards, until the emergence of the modern concept of sovereignty in the absolutist state of the 16th and 17th centuries. As institutional doctrine, pactism found in Catalonia one of its most elaborate formulations. This article defines the constitutive elements of Catalan legal pactism, stemming from the Romanist concept of ius commune and the conceptual work on interpretation and early public law carried out by legal scholars. It distinguishes different kinds and degrees of jurisdictio (senyoria, in Catalan language)—universals, generals and speciales—and it defines populus, constitutio populi, imperium and contrafaccions. Catalan legal instruments related to the enactment of laws by the General Courts—Constitucions, Capítols i Actes de Cort—and the limited power of the King, the composition of Generalitat (the General of Catalonia), and the role of the three Catalan branches (braços, estaments) are also elucidated. It also delves into the procedure for establishing constitutions which was followed by the Cort General of Montsó of 1585. The 15th c. legal compilation called Llibre dels Quatre Senyals and the recent discovery of the Llibre dels Vuit Senyals allow a more accurate dating of origins (1289, 1291, 1359, 1376), and a better understanding of its financial objectives, procedures and protections. Finally, this article introduces the notion of a dual conception of the political community as a suitable interpretative thesis to make sense of the whole process of the development of public law in Medieval Catalonia.
Electrical impedance to easily discover undeclared freeze-thaw cycles in slaughtered bovine meat
Authors: Dell’Osa A. H. , Battacone G. , Pulina G. , Fois A. , Tocco F. , Loviselli A. , Concu A. , Velluzzi F.
Published: April 2021

A portable electrical impedance spectroscopy device was developed to monitor the bioimpedance resistive component of bovine meat by injecting a sinusoidal current of 1 mA at 65 kHz. Both right and left longissimus dorsi muscles were trimmed from 4 slaughtered cows. The left muscle portions were frozen to −18 °C for 7 days while the right ones were meantime maintained at 5 °C. Mean value of impedance per length (Ω/cm) of frozen and thawed left samples was 31% lower than that of right non-frozen one (P = 0.0001). It was concluded that the device is reliable for monitoring the maturation of beef meat in situ with the possibility of revealing undeclared freeze-thaw cycles.
Plurilingualism and monolingualism in foreign language classrooms: The perspective of EFL teachers in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alsaawi Ali
Published: April 2021

The idea of teaching a target language via a monolingual medium of instruction in the classroom has long predominated in the pedagogical context. In Saudi Arabia, excluding the students’ mother tongue (Arabic) in the foreign language classroom has been seen as a tool that accelerates the acquisition of the target language (English). This is widely viewed as the most practical and effective method of language learning, especially in the Gulf region, where English is a foreign language employed in the fields of economics and business. The recent academic argument that exploiting the students’ linguistic repertoire, including the mother tongue, in the target language classroom boosts and fosters the students’ learning cycle is still encountering huge resistance, especially among second/foreign language teachers. To explore this dispute from the perspective of English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers in intermediate and secondary schools, a case study was conducted with 34 teachers in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia, through questionnaires and a focus group interview. The study found that most teachers believe that the policy of using the target language (English) only is the most effective method of language learning. They employed the students’ mother tongue (Arabic) on an ad hoc basis to ensure complete comprehension, organize classroom tasks or convey personal remarks. In addition, the study revealed that teachers’ understanding of plurilingualism was unclear and limited to the verbal use of two languages, and that EFL teachers need more clarification on its application in the classroom.
On a shoestring: child speakers of other languages in Slovak education
Authors: Bánovčanová Zuzana , Danišková Zuzana , Filagová Markéta
Published: April 2021

This article focuses on children who cannot speak the language of the majority when they enter the school system. It recommends that the term child speakers of other languages should be adopted in Slovakia. Various approaches and types of support used in other European countries (Germany, Denmark, Czechia) are presented. These could be adopted nationally to integrate these children in school. The legal situation and current situation in preschools and primary school is also explored. The article outlines potential forms of support for preschool children and their families that require little in the way of additional funding and human resources.
Donald Blacks Moralsoziologie
Authors: Pies Ingo
Published: April 2021

This article aims at introducing the sociology of morals by Donald Black to a broader German-speaking public. The reconstruction draws on graphical visualizations that help to follow the basic arguments and to understand the systematicity of Black’s line of thought. Furthermore, Black’s approach is illustrated by highlighting several propositions he derives. This article thus clarifies Black’s relevance for foundational research in ethics as well as for research in the field of business ethics.
A Rawlsian perspective on the institutional limits of lobbying the European Commission
Authors: Bäumlisberger Damian
Published: April 2021

In the process of drafting European Union (EU) legislation and supervising its effective national implementation, the European Commission has to cooperate with lobbyists. This exchange involves the risk of arbitrary lobby influence on its decisions at the expense of other EU citizens. Against this backdrop, this article addresses the research question of which normative principles should constrain the Commission’s interaction with lobbyists. Based on the contractarian approach from Rawls’ Law of Peoples, it identifies eight criteria of a Rawlsian lobby consultation system for the Commission, which representatives of EU countries could accept from behind a Rawlsian veil of ignorance and in view of the fundamental interest of their people. These normative criteria can be supervised by independent institutions like the European Parliament and the European Court of Justice. They constitute a procedural approach to the political supervision of the Commission’s interaction with lobbyists that can be enforced without compromising its necessary institutional independence.
Praktischer Weisheit nach-denken. Wirtschaftsethische Orientierung am Standort Ingolstadt in der Tradition von Johannes Eck
Authors: Habisch André
Published: April 2021

In the late Middle Ages, the canonical prohibition of interest increasingly came into conflict with an ever more dynamic economic practice. The Ingolstadt based theology professor Johannes Eck is better known as Catholic opponent of Martin Luther; however, he also worked more strongly than his academic contemporaries against fundamentalist business ethics theories thereby actively searching public debate. Subsequently, he became forerunner and point of reference for academic theory, which is committed to the struggle of merchants and entrepreneurs to shape their forms of practice responsibly.
From Matter to Form: the Evolution of the Genetic Code as Semio-Poiesis
Authors: Zolyan Suren
Published: April 2021

The code is meaningless unless translated. (Monod 1971, 143)

We address issues of a description of the origin and evolution of the genetic code from the semiotics standpoint. Developing the concept of codepoiesis introduced by M. Barbieri, a new idea of semio-poiesis is proposed. Semio-poiesis, a recursive auto-referential processing of a semiotic system, becomes a form of organization of the bio-world when and while notions of meaning and aiming are introduced into it. The description of the genetic code as a semiotic system (grammar and vocabulary) allows us to apply the method of internal reconstruction to it: on the basis of heterogeneity and irregularity of the current state, to explicate possible previous states and various ways of forming coding and textualization mechanisms. The revealed patterns and irregularities are consistent with hypotheses about the origin and evolution of the genetic code.
Polysemy and cognitive linguistics. The case of vána
Authors: Jurewicz Joanna
Published: April 2021

The aim of this paper is to address the problem of the polysemy of Sanskrit words using the example of the meanings of the word vána used in the Ṛgveda (“a tree, wood, forest, fire drill, vessel for Soma, water and material of the world”). I will show that the methodology of cognitive linguistics is very useful to analyse the rational background of polysemy and its conceptual consistency. The basis for my analysis is three assumptions accepted in cognitive linguistics: 1. the meaning of words reflects thinking about the designate; 2. thinking is motivated by experience and cultural beliefs; 3. the associations between semantic aspects of the word can be modelled as conceptual metonymy, conceptual metaphor and conceptual blending. On the basis of these assumptions, I will reconstruct the semantic structure of the word vána. It is a radial category, the centre of which is constituted by its most literal meaning, “tree”, and its metonymic extensions, i.e. wood and forest. The meanings of things made of wood (i.e. fire drill and vessel) are also close to the central meaning and are metonymic extensions. The meanings of water and the material of the world are metaphoric extensions of the central meaning and more peripheral. They are based on cultural beliefs and models shared by the Ṛgvedic poets. I will also argue that the Ṛgvedic poets consciously shaped the semantics of the word vána by using it in contexts which forced the recipient to activate its less literal meanings. Thus they could create a general concept of the hiding place of desirable goods, such as fire, Soma, the sun, and the world.
Kavíkratu
Authors: Köhler Frank
Published: April 2021

In this article the meaning of thebahuvrīhicompoundkavíkratu(attested ten times in the ṚV: 1.1.5; 3.2.4; 3.14.7; 3.27.12; 5.11.4; 6.16.23; 8.44.7; 9.9.1; 9.25.5; 9.62.13; seven times used as an attribute for Agni, thrice for Soma) is examined. Its morphology (adjectival possessive compound) and the meaning of its two constituentskaví“poet” andkrátu“resolve” are more or less undisputed, hence the common translation “with a poet’s resolve”. However, in spite of the rare occurrence and the apparent lucidity of the morphology and semantics ofkavíkratu, such a translation may not be appropriate. The uneven distribution of this term and its marked position within the stanzas where it occurs, in combination with the semantic ambiguity of Sanskrit compounds, may be taken as an indication that this compound possesses a more intricate structure, and that this intricacy is the reason for its occurrence. In this article it is argued that this compound admits more than one translation, and that it is necessary to reproduce its semantic ambiguity in translation. Finally, the possibility of using the uneven distribution ofkavíkratuto identify differences between certain groups within the Ṛgveda with regard to their world-views is briefly discussed.
Challenges and perspectivesfor human activity in Arctic coastal environments – a review of selected interactions and problems
Authors: Jaskólski Marek Wojciech
Published: April 2021

The currently-observed increase in human activity in the Arctic accelerates the negative impact on the environment as well as increases the risk of threats to mankind itself. This paper reviews and summarises a selection of studies on the interaction between humans and the environment in the Arctic coastal zone, which is impacted by a warming climate and associated geohazards. The paper presents a general description of human presence in the Arctic, identifies and describes the processes that are threatening the infrastructure, and the anthropogenic processes that have a negative impact on the Arctic. It considers the possible future economic opportunities, and presents the sustainable requirements for modern human activity in the Arctic. The paper demonstrates the urgent need to develop a common, Arctic-wide strategy based on sustainable development. The time has come to change human perception of the Arctic because, in the near future, it may be considered as a refuge for climate change refugees.
Territorial fragmentation in post-communist Romania: the not so curious case of a de-amalgamation reform
Authors: Stănuș Cristina
Published: April 2021

The efficiency-driven trend towards amalgamation characterising local government reforms in Europe seems to have escaped Romania, which displays a significant increase in the number of local governments post-1989. This is the result of rural first-tier local governments splitting into smaller units. The paper examines objective factors and subjective motivations that have shaped the behaviour of both national and local actors in dealing with territorial reform. First, it explores the rationale and rationality of a central government initiative to facilitate municipal splits against a set of criteria derived from the literature. Second, it examines the municipal splits occurring between 1991 and 2018 against alternative or concurring explanations developed in the literature based on economic, socio-cultural and political elements. The paper argues that in the highly charged political context of the post-communist countries it is reasonable to expect a dominance of subjective rather than objective factors in decision-making on territorial reform.
Reversing the Past. Municipal Splits in Slovakia After 1989
Authors: Spáč Peter
Published: April 2021

The research on territorial reforms on the local level has so far focused on municipal amalgamations. However, less is known about municipal splits – a phenomenon that is less frequent, but that occurred in several European countries in recent decades. This paper deals with municipal splits in Slovakia after 1989, and it examines a set of factors that supported municipalities in their effort to obtain independence. The findings show that the massive wave of splits that began shortly after 1989 was primarily motivated by the aim of reversing the consequences of the amalgamation that had been conducted by the Communist regime. Hence, the question of identity was the main trigger leading to municipal splits. On the other hand, the analysis found that economic factors had only a limited role in the establishing of new municipalities in Slovakia.
Generalized functional inequalities in Banach spaces
Authors: Dimou H. , Aribou Y. , Kabbaj S.
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we solve and investigate the generalized additive functional inequalities

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\left\| {F\left( {{1 \over n}\sum\limits_{i = 1}^n {{x_i}} } \right) - {1 \over n}\sum\limits_{i = 1}^n {F\left( {{x_i}} \right)} } \right\| \le \left\| {F\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^n {{x_i}} } \right) - \sum\limits_{i = 1}^n {F\left( {{x_i}} \right)} } \right\|.

Using the direct method, we prove the Hyers-Ulam stability of the functional inequalities (0.1) in Banach spaces and (0.2) in non-Archimedian Banach spaces.
Eu2+-activated strontium-barium silicate: a positive solution for improving luminous efficacy and color uniformity of white light-emitting diodes
Authors: Thi My Hanh Nguyen , That Phung Ton , Anh Nguyen Doan Quoc
Published: April 2021

In this research we have studied the lighting enhancement method by analyzing chromatic performance and luminous flux of light emitting diodes that produce white light. In order to achieve expected results, it is necessary to mix Eu2+-activated strontium-barium silicate (SrBaSiO4:Eu2+) with its phosphor compounding, which has been demonstrated to have considerable influence on lighting performance. The results showed that with the gradually increasing concentration of yellow-greenemitting SrBaSiO4:Eu2+ phosphor in LEDs devices, at 8500 K, the color homogeneity and the lighting output received a great improvement. The color quality scale, on the other hand, responded negatively to the increase in SrBaSiO4:Eu2+. The impact of SrBaSiO4:Eu2+ on optical properties of WLEDs was confirmed. The final step to optimize SrBaSiO4:Eu2+ usage in lighting development is to figure out a suitable amount of particles and optimize their size.
Growth and characterization of 4-(((4-aminophenyl)sulfonyl)oxy)-2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxobutanoic acid with Ce3+: for semiorganic nonlinear optical application
Authors: Vinoth E. , Vetrivel S. , Gopinath S. , Aruljothi R. , Suresh T. , Mullai R.U.
Published: April 2021

This work aims at the growth and characterization of novel semi-organometallic nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal 4-(((4- aminophenyl) sulfonyl) oxy)-2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxobutanoic acid (ASODA) with ammonium ceric (II) sulfate dehydrate (ACS). The crystal 4-(((4-aminophenyl) sulfonyl) oxy)-2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxobutanoic acid with Ce3+ (STA) was grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique using deionized water as a solvent. Crystalline system of the grown STA crystal was identified by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study and confirmed as monoclinic crystalline system with non-centrosymmetric space group P21/C. The powder X-ray diffraction study confirmed the purity and crystallinity of the crystal. The presence of functional groups and hydrogen bonds (–O–H–O–) was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. UV-Vis spectra showed that the grown crystal had a low cutoff wavelength at 219 nm. The position of protons and carbons were determined by structural studies based on NMR technique. The grown crystal was thermally stable up to 130 °C and its melting point was 163 °C. The SHG studies were performed by Quanta Ray Model laser source using Kurtz powder technique. The NLO efficiency of the STA crystal was 0.5 times greater than that of standard KDP. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss of the grown crystal were studied at different temperatures. The surface morphology and the particle size of the crystal were determined by FE-SEM technique. From the mechanical studies, it was found that the grown crystal is a soft material.
’Ballet Energy for Boys’ in Finland: A Description of the Workshop Content
Authors: Chua Joey , Niiranen Hannele
Published: April 2021

How can we improve Finnish boys’ conceptions of ballet? How can we increase male involvement in ballet? We tried to answer these central questions by reflecting on and reviewing the goals, content and teaching methods utilized to teach methods of a tuition-free ballet workshop titled Ballet Energy for Boys. Produced by the Finnish National Opera, this workshop was introduced to about 2500 seven to eight year-old boys in elementary schools in the capital region in Finland. Written primarily for dance educators, this article aims to contribute to the literature about our recent efforts in inspiring boys to learn ballet and to learn how to appreciate ballet.
Priming the Body: Breath as a Foundation for Exploring Ethical Performance Practice
Authors: Rouhiainen Leena
Published: April 2021

This article contemplates how the cultivation of breath through specific body awareness techniques might be understood to support a dialogical and ethical relatedness between collaborators constructing a performance through an open-ended process. The article introduces a teaching experiment based mainly upon exercises drawn from strands of body psychotherapy that took place within a larger experimental and cross-artistic workshop and performance project. This project aimed at enhancing the collaborative, creative, and critical skills of MA students in dance and theatre pedagogy of the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki. The article discusses the overall artistic project as well as the kind of bodywork the teaching experiment involved, and it makes a phenomenologically oriented reading of the written interview material gathered from the students. The specific theoretical perspective taken on the topic draws from two phenomenologically inspired thinkers, namely, Luce Irigaray’s and Timo Klemola’s views on the influence that cultivation of breathing can have on subjectivity. The article suggests that exploring and cultivating breathing through compassion can support the evolution of ethical collaboration in open-ended performance processes.
Observing one’s own teaching–creating awareness for professional development as a dance teacher
Authors: Frisk Anders
Published: April 2021

The aim of this article is to provide insights into how dance teachers experience observing their own dance lessons and how this experience is articulated in order to create awareness of the development of dance teachers’ own teaching. The interests of this study lie in what the dance teachers are reacting to, what actions they perform as well as how these reactions and actions are manifested in the body. Two dance teachers at the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences in Stockholm were observed and filmed giving dance lessons to student teachers of Physical Education and Health. Different situations from the lessons were discussed during a re-experiencing conversation. Using a phenomenological methodology for analysis and empirical-data generation, the results are discussed using the kinaesthetic communicative concepts of interaffectivity and interbodily resonance (Fuchs 2016). The results indicate that observing one’s own teaching is a valuable tool for dance teachers, as it allows them to reflect upon aspects of their teaching pedagogies and possibilities for their professional development. As well as this, the results show that teachers’ teaching goals and objectives are important parameters for what they react to in teaching situations.