bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What is open peer review? A systematic review
Authors: Ross-Hellauer Tony
Published: April 2017

Background: “Open peer review” (OPR), despite being a major pillar of Open Science, has neither a standardized definition nor an agreed schema of its features and implementations. The literature reflects this, with a myriad of overlapping and often contradictory definitions. While the term is used by some to refer to peer review where the identities of both author and reviewer are disclosed to each other, for others it signifies systems where reviewer reports are published alongside articles. For others it signifies both of these conditions, and for yet others it describes systems where not only “invited experts” are able to comment. For still others, it includes a variety of combinations of these and other novel methods.

Methods: Recognising the absence of a consensus view on what open peer review is, this article undertakes a systematic review of definitions of “open peer review” or “open review”, to create a corpus of 122 definitions. These definitions are then systematically analysed to build a coherent typology of the many different innovations in peer review signified by the term, and hence provide the precise technical definition currently lacking.

Results: This quantifiable data yields rich information on the range and extent of differing definitions over time and by broad subject area. Quantifying definitions in this way allows us to accurately portray exactly how  ambiguously the phrase “open peer review”  has been used thus far, for the literature offers a total of 22 distinct configurations of seven traits, effectively meaning that there are 22 different definitions of OPR in the literature.

Conclusions: Based on this work, I propose a pragmatic definition of open peer review as an umbrella term for a number of overlapping ways that peer review models can be adapted in line with the ethos of Open Science, including making reviewer and author identities open, publishing review reports and enabling greater participation in the peer review process.
Estimating Inside Air Temperature of a Glasshouse Using Statistical Models
Authors: Matsoukis Aristidis , Chronopoulos Konstantinos
Published: April 2017

The efficiency of applying linear regression (LR) and artificial neural network (ANN) models to estimate inside air temperature (T) of a glasshouse (37o48΄20΄΄N, 23o57΄48΄΄E), Lavreotiki, was investigated in the present work. The T data from an urban meteorological station (MS) at 37058΄55΄΄N, 23o32΄14΄΄E, Athens, Attica, Greece, about 30 Km away from the glasshouse, were used as predictor variable, taking into account the actual time of measurement (ATM) and two hours earlier (ATM-2), depending on the case. Air temperature data were monitored in each examined area (glasshouse and MS) for four successive months (July-October) and averages on a two-hour basis were used for the aforementioned estimation. Results showed that ANN were better than LR models, considering their better performance as shown in the scatterplots of the distribution of observed versus estimated inside T data of the glasshouse, in terms of both higher coefficient of determination (R2) and lower mean absolute error (MAE). The best ANN model (highest R2 and lowest MAE) was achieved by using as predictor variables the T at ATM and the T at ATM-2 from MS. The findings of our study may be a first step towards the estimation of inside T of a glasshouse in Greece, from outside T data of a remote MS. Thus, the operation of the glasshouse could be improved noticeably.
Visitors Experiences in Different Zoo Exhibits
Authors: Yılmaz Serap , Düzenli Tuğba , Çiğdem Abdullah
Published: April 2017

Zoos help people to learn through exhibiting the relationships of animals in nature. Therefore, they have the important missions of education and protection of wild life. Most of these missions are achieved through visitors' experiences in exhibit areas. Therefore, it is important to understand visitors' experiences in the zoo and know the reasons that affect these experiences. Animals should exhibit normal behaviors actively to enable visitors to have positive experiences during their visits. For this reason, the design of exhibit areas is significant. The purpose of this study is to determine the visitors' perceptual descriptions in the zoos including different exhibit areas and their reasons to visit them. Thus, the role of the zoos in enabling visitors to learn nature protection and have environmental consciousness is explored correlating with zoo typologies. In this study, three zoos in different typologies in Turkey have been examined and it is conducted in two stages. In the first stage, the typologies of the zoos have been identified. In the second stage, a questionnaire has been conducted to find out the visitors' visiting aims, the extent they reached these aims, their level of appreciation and their perceptions on exhibit areas. The questionnaire has been performed with 450 zoo visitors, and there have been 150 visitors from each zoo. According to the results of this study, it has been explored that visitors visit the zoos mostly for "education" without considering the design approach. However, it has been found out that the design of exhibit areas affects visitors' level of appreciation and their zoo descriptions. It has been identified that as the level of appreciation increases, the level of reaching aims increases.
Statistical Trend Analysis of Rainfall in Amaravathi River Basin using Mann-Kendall Test
Authors: Sridhar S.I , Raviraj A
Published: April 2017

The present study aims to detect the trends in annual and seasonal rainfall and its magnitude in Amaravathi basin, Tamil Nadu. In this study, the mean annual and seasonal rainfall in 10 rain gauge stations of Amaravathi basin have been analysed to determine the trend and its magnitude for the period of 1982-2014. The trend analysis is done using Mann-Kendall and Sen’s slope estimator. The trend analysis results showed wide variations during all the seasons. The increasing trend of rainfall is found to be dominant during north-east monsoon season when compared to other seasons.
Impact of Micro-climatic variations on Forest Ecosystem in Mid Hills of Himachal Pradesh
Authors: Mehta Purnima , Baweja P. K , Aggarwal R. K.
Published: April 2017

A study was carried out on “Impact of micro-climatic variations on forest ecosystem in mid hills of Himachal Pradesh” during winter and summer seasons of 2015-16. Comparisons of below forest canopy and open sites were carried out for abiotic and biotic factors under five forest ecosystems (chir pine forest, mixed forest, ban oak forest, agriculture field and bare area) and analysed the forest influence on local winter and summer climate according to forest type, soil type, slope orientation, tree height and diameter at breast height by using RBD design. Seasonal and diurnal variations in microclimatic variables viz., air temperature, soil temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and wind direction were measured with Portable weather station (Delta T) at afternoon 2:00-4:00 PM fortnightly in each forest ecosystem and bare area during winter and summer season. Solar radiation and albedo were measured with Pyranometer (Kipp and Zonen) at 1.35 m height. A significant decrease was attained in below forest canopy and bare area data for ambient temperature (2.5-5.0 oC), soil temperature (1.5-3.6 oC) solar radiation (13.2-47.4 Wm-2), albedo (0.15-0.21) and increased relative humidity (7-18%), soil moisture (8.0-15.2%). Among different forest ecosystem, the diurnal trends in microclimatic parameters showed large variations. The ambient air temperature ranged from 02.2-16.3 oC and 14.2- 30.7 oC where as soil temperature ranged from 07.4- 16.5 oC and 15.4-32.7 oC, however relative humidity ranged from 37- 88 per cent and 14-60 per cent among different forest ecosystem during winter and summer seasons, respectively. Mico-climatic variables under Ban-Oak forest revealed significant lowest air temperature, highest relative humidity and less wind speed.
Climate Change Projection In Kashmir Valley (J&K)
Authors: Parvaze Saqib , Ahmad Latief , Parvaze Sabah , Kanth Raihana
Published: April 2017

The decision support tool viz. SDSM (Statistical Downscaling Model) was used to downscale climate data of future years for Kashmir province of Jammu & Kashmir state. The 21st century projected data for the A1B scenario was adjusted by using observed climatic data recorded during the period 1985-2015 for the region. The data from the same period was taken as the baseline for the analysis. This data was thereon analyzed for monthly, seasonal, cropping season and annual periods to enumerate the variation of maximum temperature, minimum temperature and precipitation in Kashmir valley of Jammu & Kashmir state in the 21st century. The modelled data obtained exhibited no significant change in maximum and minimum temperature for the period 2021-2050 but for the same period increase in annual precipitation was exhibited. For the period2051-2100, decreasing trend of annual temperature was exhibited whereas for annual precipitation, an increasing trend was exhibited.
Structure and Floristic Composition of Existing Agroforestry Systems in Fatehpur District of Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Umrao Rajiv , Mehera B , Khare Neelam , Kumar Hemant
Published: April 2017

The floristic-composition and structure study of existing agroforestry systems was carried out in the farmer’s fields of village Dariyapur (Site-I) and Alampur (Site-II) at Fatehpur district (Uttar Pradesh) during 2008-2010. The quantitative characteristics of vegetation were determined by the quadrat method. The floristic diversity study was made by adopting random sampling approach, under which, 20 quadrates of 10 m x 10 m were laid down. The density, frequency, abundance, IVI, Species –diversity, concentration of dominance, species-richness, equitability and beta diversity and other useful parameters for comparison of different types of existing agroforestry systems were analyzed by the simple arithmetic calculation. The study illustrated that Acacia nilotica was dominant in these sites with highest IVI values (24.91) in site- II (Alampur) lowest IVI values (22.04) in site- I (Dariyapur). Concentration of Dominance (Simpson Index) of tree species was higher in site -II (0.039) and lowest in site- I (0.032). Species diversity level among the tree species in site was observed and found higher in site-II (0.994) and lowest in site -I (0.934). Tree species equitability was same in site-I and site-II (0.055) while Beta-diversity was recorded highest in site –I (4.176) and lowest in site –II (3.944).Tree species-richness was recorded maximum in site –II (0.154) and minimum in site-I (0.149).
Butterfly Diversity in Lateritic Biotope of Kavvayi River Basin, Kerala, India
Authors: Bhaskar Dhaneesh , Prejith M. P. , Rajkumar K. P , Alex C. J. , Prasad T. S. , Sreejith K.A.
Published: April 2017

A study on butterfly diversity of lateritic biotopes of Kavvayi River Basin was conducted during February 2013 to January 2015. The study area represents diverse habitats that include sacred groves, laterite hills, riparian ecosystem, and kanams. A total of 140 species butterflies were recorded from the study area, among which the highest number of butterfly species were from the family Nymphalidae (48 species), followed by Hesperiidae (32 species), Lycaenidae (27 species), Papilionidae and Pieridae with 16 species each and 1 from the family Riodinidae. The present study revealed the faunal richness of the unique ecosystems and microhabitats in lateritic biotopes in terms of butterfly diversity. The study also highlights conservation significance of the area which is under severe human pressure including mining, habitat fragmentation and change in the land-use system.
Genetic Instability by Mangroves: A Global Warming Threat Found in Gulf Countries
Authors: Dangi C.B.S , Farooqui Nizam
Published: April 2017

The Mangroves are highly threatened by certain ecologically condition and there arise a need of critical management and protection of those species because of vital role in protecting the coastal areas of their ecosystem. The diversity of these plants with respect to genetics is well understood but the genetic variations of those species in gulf countries were scattered on the basis of reports from literature. The main aim of the current review is to collect all the available literature for creating a comprehensive viewpoint of different works on the basis of genetic variations in Mangroves. With so little known, it will be important to monitor the responses of mangroves to global warming to minimize the impacts and reestablishing mangroves.
Application of Geographical Information System to Understand Spatial Variability of Soil Available Nutrients in Northern Karnataka, India
Authors: Kambale J. B. , Rudramurthy H. V
Published: April 2017

It is very important to distinguish the spatial variability in soil fertility for site specific nutrient application. To know the status, 25 soil samples were collected from Vandurga Village, Yadgir District, Karnataka, India. Samples were analysed for electrical conductivity (EC), power of hydrogen (pH), organic carbon (OC), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P2O5) and Potassium (K2O). Further, SPSS (ver. 19) was used to execute conventional statistical analysis and ArcGIS to get the information about distribution and spatial variability of soil available nutrients. The analysis results showed that the EC of soil varied from 0.13 to 0.25 dS/m with a mean of 0.18 dS/m. The PH ranged from 6.62 to 8.82 with an average of 7.89. Available OC ranged from 0.14 % to 1.90 % with mean of 0.78 %. Similarly mean values for N, P2O5 and K2O observed 215.3 kg/ha, 31.5 kg/ha, and 513.4 kg/ha, respectively. The SD and CV for EC was 0.031 and 16.69%, respectively, while for pH, OC, N, P2O5 and K2O it was found to be 0.56 and 7.04, 0.39 and 51.16, 100.9 and 46.86, 19.12 and 60.61, 160.88 and 31.33 respectively. Spatial variability maps for various nutrients prepared shows the huge variation in the soil nutrients availability. This variability appeared due to lack of balanced application of fertilizers. It was suggested that an appropriate applications of nutrients necessary for selected land based on soil nutrients.
Trend Analysis of Rainfall Variability in Western Agro Climatic Zone of Tamil Nadu
Authors: Kokilavani S , Selvi R , Panneerselvam S , Dheebakaran Ga
Published: April 2017

An analytical examination was done to work out the unevenness in point location and time to time variability in rainfall at Coimbatore and Erode district of Western agro climatic zone of Tamil Nadu (India) for 100 years (1916-2015). Simple descriptive statistics along with Co-efficient of Variation (CV) were worked to understand the rainfall variability. The long term mean seasonal and annual rainfall analysis showed that South West Monsoon (SWM) rainfall observed was (176.9 mm) & (257.9 mm) and North East Monsoon (NEM) of (336.9 mm) & (323.3 mm) and annual rainfall of (674.8 mm) & (764.4 mm) at Coimbatore and Erode respectively. The CV for seasonal and annual rainfall showed high dependability status by recording appropriate threshold level of CV for seasonal and annual rainfall.

The time series rainfall data for 100 years were divided into ten year period and the correlation was carried out for the SWM and NEM using Spearman’s rank-order correlation. The results indicated the correlation between two monsoons for Coimbatore (0.14) and for erode (0.07) which indicates that there was less relation between SWM and NEM.

Major emphasis was given to analyse annual and seasonal (SWM and NEM) rainfall time sequence over an extensive time gap to identify probable trend and to measure their implication. For Coimbatore and Erode districts, in both the monsoon seasons and annual analysis revealed an increasing trend for long term (100 years-1916-2015) period.
Periprosthetic shoulder infection: an overview
Authors: Bonnevialle Nicolas , Dauzères Florence , Toulemonde Julien , Elia Fanny , Laffosse Jean-Michel , Mansat Pierre
Published: April 2017

Periprosthetic shoulder infection (PSI) is rare but potentially devastating. The rate of PSI is increased in cases of revision procedures, reverse shoulder implants and co-morbidities. One specific type of PSI is the occurrence of low-grade infections caused by non-suppurative bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes or Staphylococcus epidemermidis. Success of treatment depends on micro-organism identification, appropriate surgical procedures and antibiotic administration efficiency. Post-operative early PSI can be treated with simple debridement, while chronic PSI requires a one- or two-stage revision procedure. Indication for one-time exchange is based on pre-operative identification of a causative agent. Resection arthroplasty remains an option for low-demand patients or recalcitrant infection.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2017;2:104-109. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.2.160023
Chemical and Anatomical Properties of Dendrocalamus giganteus Sheaths as Pulp Fiber
Authors: Zhan Hui , Niu Zhao-Hui , Li Mao-biao , Wang Chang-ming , Wang Shu-guang
Published: April 2017

Bamboo sheaths are typical, lignocellulosic, forest and agricultural residues in bamboo stands. This study investigated the potential for use of Dendrocalamus giganteus sheaths as the raw material for paper making, based on their morphological and chemical properties at various growth stages. Undifferentiated and differentiated vascular bundles of sheaths were studied, and phloem sheaths were found to have more fiber than protoxylem sheaths. The parenchymal cells adjoining the differentiated vascular bundles showed decomposition and formed air cavities. D. giganteus sheaths contained medium-sized fibers, and both the slenderness ratio and the Runkel ratio showed high suitability as pulp fiber. The chemical composition demonstrated moderate differences at various growth stages. Overall, D. giganteus sheaths had a low ash content and lignin and holocellulose contents that were comparable to those of traditional pulp fibers. Therefore, D. giganteus sheaths have a promising potential as pulp fiber.
Uma proposta de solução para o Aircraft Recovery Problem de companhias aéreas regulares de pequeno porte
Authors: Gouveia Dias Glend Kleiser , Subramanian Anand , Cabral Lucídio Dos Anjos Formiga
Published: April 2017

A resolução do Aircraft Recovery Problem consiste em redefinir o sequenciamento das aeronaves, após interrup- ções das operações, que implique no menor custo operacional às companhias aéreas de voos regulares. O método adotado neste trabalho baseou-se na construção de uma rede tempo-espaço a partir dos dados de pousos e decolagens de uma companhia aérea brasileira. O modelo matemático do fluxo de custo mínimo foi implementado para o problema, o qual foi resolvido via Programação Linear Inteira. Foram realizados testes computacionais com centenas de instâncias e os resultados obtidos sugerem que a abordagem proposta é capaz de encontrar soluções melhores quando comparados com a simples estratégia de cancelar os voos atribuídos às aeronaves indisponíveis. Também foram realizados testes adicionais para verificar o impacto do fornecimento de uma aeronave extra no aeroporto com o maior número de voos operados pela companhia aérea estudada.
Prolonged Sinus Pauses upon Termination of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: Abnormal Right Atrial Electrophysiologic and Electroanatomic Findings
Authors: Bao Zhengyu , Chen Hongwu , Yang Bing , Shehata Michael , Ju Weizhu , Zhang Fengxiang , Yang Gang , Gu Kai , Li Mingfang , Cao Kejiang , Wang Xunzhang , Chen Minglong
Published: April 2017

The efficacy of pulmonary vein antral isolation for patients with prolonged sinus pauses (PSP) on termination of atrial fibrillation has been reported. We studied the right atrial (RA) electrophysiologic and electroanatomic characteristics in such patients.

Forty patients underwent electroanatomic mapping of the RA: 13 had PSP (group A), 13 had no PSP (group B), and 14 had paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (control group C). Group A had longer P-wave durations in lead II than did groups B and C (115.5 ± 15.4 vs 99.5 ± 10.9 vs 96.5 ± 10.4 ms; P=0.001), and RA activation times (106.8 ± 13.8 vs 99 ± 8.7 vs 94.5 ± 9.1 s; P=0.02). Group A's PP intervals were longer during adenosine triphosphate testing before ablation (4.6 ± 2.3 vs 1.7 ± 0.6 vs 1.5 ± 1 s; P <0.001) and after ablation (4.7 ± 2.5 vs 2.2 ± 1.4 vs 1.6 ± 0.8 s; P <0.001), and group A had more complex electrograms (11.4% ± 5.4% vs 9.3% ± 1.6% vs 5.8% ± 1.6%; P <0.001). Compared with group C, group A had significantly longer corrected sinus node recovery times at a 400-ms pacing cycle length after ablation, larger RA volumes (100.1 ± 23.1 vs 83 ± 22.1 mL; P=0.04), and lower conduction velocities in the high posterior (0.87 ± 0.13 vs 1.02 ± 0.21 mm/ms; P=0.02) and high lateral RA (0.89 ± 0.2 vs 1.1 ± 0.35 mm/ms; P=0.04).

We found that patients with PSP upon termination of atrial fibrillation have RA electrophysiologic and electroanatomic abnormalities that warrant post-ablation monitoring.
Phasic Compression of Left Circumflex Coronary Artery during Atrial Systole
Authors: Roberto Edward Samuel , Agarwal Ajay
Published: April 2017

Phasic coronary artery compression is typically associated with spasm or myocardial bridging. Compression caused by acquired anatomic changes to the surrounding heart chambers has been reported only infrequently. We present a possibly unique case of phasic compression of the proximal left circumflex coronary artery during atrial contraction in association with a dilated left atrium.

A 55-year-old man with multiple cardiac risk factors presented with worsening exertional dyspnea. An electrocardiogram and echocardiogram revealed marked left atrial dilation and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.15 to 0.20 with elevated filling pressures. Angiograms showed compression of the proximal segment of the left circumflex coronary artery during late ventricular diastole: the compression occurred in phase with atrial systole, whereas good flow without compression was present during atrial diastole. We attributed this phenomenon to ballooning of the lateral region of the atrial wall toward the atrioventricular groove during atrial systole. The patient complied with antihypertensive therapy, and his status improved after one year.

To identify coronary artery compression in the presence of abnormal chamber geometry and to guide the treatment of the contributing medical conditions, we recommend careful analysis of angiographic results.
Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Replacement in a Donor Heart before Orthotopic Heart Transplantation
Authors: Patel Manish , Vahdat Khashayar K. , Nathan Sriram , Petrovic Marija , Loyalka Pranav , Kar Biswajit , Gregoric Igor D.
Published: April 2017

Current criteria for donor hearts limit the number of hearts available for transplantation, despite an increasing number of recipients on waiting lists. We report the case of a patient with ischemic cardiomyopathy and refractory ventricular tachycardia who underwent successful orthotopic heart transplantation and concurrent aortic valve replacement with a donor heart that had displayed moderate aortic valve regurgitation.

The patient was a 71-year-old man with a history of advanced heart failure, 5-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting, and paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia. He was not a candidate for repeat revascularization or myocardial ablation, so he was placed on the heart-transplant list as status 1A. On intra-aortic balloon pump support, the patient waited 51 days for a donor match to be identified. Despite the donor heart's having moderate aortic valve regurgitation, the decision was made to use that heart. We performed a back-table aortic valve replacement with a 23-mm St. Jude Epic bioprosthesis, and then performed the orthotopic heart transplantation. The patient did well and was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 11.

This case indicates that expanding donor criteria to include otherwise healthy hearts with certain aortic valve defects is feasible, if surgical experience and expertise permit.
Positive Regulation of Macromolecule Metabolic Process Belongs to the Main Mechanisms Crucial for Porcine Oocytes Maturation
Authors: Kranc Wiesława , Celichowski Piotr , Budna Joanna , Khozmi Ronza , Bryja Artur , Ciesiółka Sylwia , Rybska Marta , Borys Sylwia , Jeseta Michal , Bukowska Dorota , Antosik Paweł , Brüssow Klaus P. , Bruska Małgorzata , Nowicki Michał , Zabel Maciej , Kempisty Bartosz
Published: April 2017

The mammalian oocytes maturation is the compound process that involves morphological and molecular changes. These modifications include storage of macromolecules, which are crucial for proteins biosynthesis during periimplantation stages of embryo development. This study was aimed to investigate the genes expression profile encoding macromolecules important for regulation of proper porcine oocytes maturation.

The porcine oocytes were collected from large ovarian follicles and analyzed both before and after in vitro maturation (IVM). Additionally, to check the developmental competence status, brilliant crezyl blue test (BCB) was performed. The obtained cDNA was used for biotin labeling and fragmentation by AffymetrixGeneChip® WT Terminal Labeling and Hybridization (Affymetrix). The preliminary analysis of the scanned chips was performed using AffymetrixGeneAtlasTM Operating Software. The created CEL files were imported into downstream data analysis software.

In results, we found expression of 419 different genes, 379 genes were down-regulated and 40 genes were up-regulated in relation to the oocyte transcriptome before in vitro procedure. We observed up-regulation of all genes involved in “positive regulation of macromolecule metabolic process” before IVM as compared to transcriptional profile analyzed after IVM.

In conclusion, we suggested that genes encoding proteins involved in macromolecule metabolism are important for achieving of porcine oocytes maturational stage. Moreover, the “activity of macromolecules metabolism” is much more increased in immature oocytes.
Resveratrol and Its Analogues – Is It a New Strategy of Anticancer Therapy?
Authors: Borys Sylwia , Khozmi Ronza , Kranc Wiesława , Bryja Artur , Jeseta Michal , Kempisty Bartosz
Published: April 2017

Resveratrol (RSV) is one of the polyphenols - metabolites common in plants,however it does not occur in animals. It occurs mainly in grape skin (Vitisvinifera), peanuts (Arachis hypogeal) and in the roots of (Polygonumcupidatum) a traditional Chinese curative plant.

RSV has a preventive property against the most serious diseases of modern world such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular diseases. Due to pleiotropy, RSV is currently the main object of many research teams′ interest, which is shown by the significant number of publications devoted to this subject.

Animal and human conducted studies have shown very low bioavailability of RSV (approx. 2%), which is the result of rapid biotransformation to sulphate and to a lesser extent, to the glucuronide conjugates as well. The studies on the improvement of RSV bioavailability, which have beencarried out for many years, have contributed to the synthesis of the analogues of more chemopreventive and more desirable pharmacokinetic properties. In order to enhance antiproliferative activity and RSV bioavailability, series of methyl analogues were synthesized and this will be described later in more detail. An example of such a derivative is DMU-212 (3,4,4’5-tetramethoxystilbene).
On the Rationale of Coercive Land Acquisitions
Authors: Kaur Karamjit
Published: April 2017

This study seeks to frame the rationale of land acquisition by explicating on the market conditions necessitating the suspension of consensual exchanges in favor of the use of coercion to meet the land supply requirements of a project, and then examines the reasoning governing the use of the acquisition legislation in India. It has been argued that the law of land acquisition, by terminating the right of the seller to negotiate the conditions of the exchange and by forcibly re-allocating the land to the other party, can help in easing out land transactions only in conditions where the inordinate bargaining power of the seller, possessing the non-substitutable unit of land, is the source of the obstacles at the stage of bargaining. In Indian context, however, it is observed that the application of the land acquisition act does not fit into the economic rationale of the acquisition law as a law to correct for the specific type of land supply constraints associated with non-substitutability; rather, the concern of availing the low cost supply of land appeared to be the dominant motivation guiding the use of acquisitions.
New Trends in Free Boundary Problems
Authors: Dipierro Serena , Karakhanyan Aram , Valdinoci Enrico
Published: April 2017

We present a series of recent results on some new classes of free boundary problems.Differently from the classical literature, the problems considered have either a “nonlocal” feature (e.g., the interaction or/and the interfacial energy may depend on global quantities) or a “nonlinear” flavor (namely, the total energy is the nonlinear superposition of energy components, thus losing the standard additivity and scale invariances of the problem).

The complete proofs and the full details of the results presented here are given in [17, 31, 35, 26, 28, 39].
Le Jeu de la Hache: A Critical edition and dating discussion
Authors: Dupuis Olivier , Deluz Vincent
Published: April 2017

Twenty-six years after the first edition and translation by Sydney Anglo in 1991 of the anonymous manuscript Le Jeu de la hache , many elements can still be significantly improved. This paper offers a completely new critical edition of the text, and a major revision of the translation. This article includes a detailed glossary as well as notes to discuss the many ambiguous passages in the original text. Finally, the studies of the language, the vocabulary, the dialect, the writing style and the physical document make it possible to refine the dating of the manuscript to the third quarter of the fifteenth century, between 1460 and 1485, and its origin, probably Flanders or Wallonia in the entourage of the dukes of Burgundy.
East meets West: Mounted Encounters in Early and High Mediaeval Europe
Authors: Gassmann Jürg
Published: April 2017

By the Late Middle Ages, mounted troops - cavalry in the form of knights - are established as the dominant battlefield arm in North-Western Europe. This paper considers the development of cavalry after the Germanic Barbarian Successor Kingdoms such as the Visigoths in Spain or the Carolingian Franks emerged from Roman Late Antiquity and their encounters with Islam, as with the Moors in Iberia or the Saracens (Arabs and Turks) during the Crusades, since an important part of literature ascribes advances in European horse breeding and horsemanship to Arab influence. Special attention is paid to information about horse types or breeds, conformation, tactics - fighting with lance and bow - and training. Genetic studies and the archaeological record are incorporated to test the literary tradition.
The Management of Anemia in Patients with HCV Treated with DAA
Authors: Stavar Angelica Nela , Dumitru Irina Magdalena , Rugina S. , Craciun L. R.
Published: April 2017

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects approximately 180 million people worldwide, which accounts for roughly 2% - 3% of the world’s population. Complications arising from chronic HCV infection include the development of cirrhosis, end stage liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCV).

Objective: The study analyses management of anemia with patients in administrating DAA treatment (Telaprevir for 12 weeks).

Material and method: We conducted a study on 24 patients who have concluded the DAA administration period, being now in the period of finalization of standard therapy.

Results: Anemia was the most common adverse reaction,17 patients ( 70.8% ),mild anemia 5 patients (20.8%),medium anemia 8 patients( 47% ), severe anemia 4 patients (24% ). Hemoglobin levels were recorded during therapy, mild Hgb (10.0-10.9g/dl),medium Hgb (9.99-9.9 g/dl),severe Hgb (7.0-8.9 g/dl ), and analyzed the management of anemia in these patients.

In the first 3 months of therapy ( DAA+PegINF and RBV ), doses of DAA not changed.

Any doses of RBV were not modified in patients with mild anemia, in patients with moderate anemia patients received lower doses of RBV, while those with severe anemia patients received lower doses of RBV and red blood cells mass.

Conclusions: Anemia was common adverse reaction in patients with DAA compared with previous results, only PegINF end RBV. Lowering the dose of RBV in the first 3 months, when patients received DAA did not affect SVR.
Reliability and validity of time domain heart rate variability during daily routine activities – an alternative to the morning orthostatic test?
Authors: Mesquita Ricardo Neves de Oliveira , Kyröläinen Heikki , Schäfer Olstad Daniela
Published: April 2017

Study aim: To determine the reliability and validity of a time domain heart rate variability (HRV) index during free-living physical activity (FLPA).

Material and methods: Eight white-collar workers participated in this study. RR intervals (time between consecutive R-peaks of the PQRS complex) were recorded using the Polar V800 heart rate (HR) monitor upon awakening and at work on 16 different days. A total of 127 cycles of sitting periods followed by walking breaks were included for consecutive pairwise analysis for reliability. The HR values from the orthostatic test (OT) were compared with the corresponding values at work.

Results: The HR values showed high levels of repeatability [the coefficient of variation (CV) during sitting and walking at work was 4.71 and 3.99%, respectively, with a typical error (TE) of 3.73 (3.34-4.25) and 3.65 (3.31-4.09)], but they did not correlate with the corresponding OT HR upon awakening (r = 0.28 for supine vs. sitting and r = 0.05 for standing vs. walking, p > 0.05). The root-mean-square difference of successive normal RR (RMSSD) was revealed not to be repeatable [CV values during sitting and walking were 19.99 and 29.05%, respectively, with a TE of 7.9 (7.15-8.85) and 9.43 (8.53-10.57)].

Conclusions: Analyzing RMSSD from daily routine activities was not reliable, and therefore validity cannot be assumed. RMSSD should therefore be calculated from RR intervals recorded in standardized conditions, such as during the OT upon awakening.
Separate patient serum sodium medians from males and females provide independent information on analytical bias
Authors: Hansen Steen Ingemann , Petersen Per Hyltoft , Lund Flemming , Fraser Callum G. , Sölétormos György
Published: April 2017

Background:

During monitoring of monthly medians of results from patients undertaken to assess analytical stability in routine laboratory performance, the medians for serum sodium for male and female patients were found to be significantly related.

Methods:

Daily, weekly and monthly patient medians of serum sodium for both male and female patients were calculated from results obtained on samples from the population >18 years on three analysers in the hospital laboratory. The half-range of medians was applied as an estimate of the maximum bias. Further, the ratios between the two medians were calculated.

Results:

The medians of both genders demonstrated dispersions over time, but they were closely connected in like patterns, which were confirmed by the half-range of the ratios of medians for males and females that varied from 0.36% for daily, 0.14% for weekly and 0.036% for monthly ratios over all instruments.

Conclusions:

The tight relationship between the gender medians for serum sodium is only possible when raw laboratory data are used for calculation. The two patient medians can be used to confirm both and are useful as independent estimates of analytical bias during constant calibration periods. In contrast to the gender combined median, the estimate of analytical bias can be confirmed further by calculation of the ratios of medians for males and females.
Consequences of Integration Proceses in Europe: Sector of Logistics Services
Authors: Godnič Beti , Vodopivec Robert
Published: April 2017

In the article the authors analyse the integration processes in the European Union and consequences of this processes, after the new EU Member States joined the EU in the year 2004 and 2007. The authors analyse the European market of logistics services and focus on the issue of the irregular effects that occur in the year 2004 and 2007. The authors wanted to examine if there are differences in the old EU-15 Member States and the new EU Member States in changed micro and macro environment in the European market of logistics services. The authors wanted to determine how the old EU-15 Member States and the new EU Member States adapt to the new business environment and other changes in the micro and macro environment in the European market of logistics services. The authors found that the development after the new EU Member States joined the EU in the year 2004 and 2007 in the EU-15 member states and in the new EU Member States is different. The EU has to adopt the harmonised economic policy which will solve the North-South problem and cross-state cultural consensus and find a way to operate systemically in global environment.
Digital Transformation and Value Creation: Sea Change Ahead
Authors: Reddy Srinivas K. , Reinartz Werner
Published: April 2017

Digital transformation is taking place all around us and there is hardly a single aspect of life that has not been affected. It has an obvious, lasting, and even revolutionary impact, not only on the economic systems and commercial players, but also on the lives of individuals and on society at large. Digital transformation will bring greater tangible and intangible value, but the changes do come with certain costs and risks, sometimes unforeseen.
In terms of business strategy, digital technology has been transforming businesses dramatically. Even young companies that have been at the forefront of digital disruption are forced to reinvent and transform themselves and their businesses permanently in order to survive and thrive. If incumbents themselves don’t take advantage of this digital progress to innovate, others will. A new wave of digital disruptors is changing the face of industries. The ability to innovate is thus more important than ever. Entire industries may be threatened if they do not react quickly, while others are emerging almost instantly as if out of nowhere. Handling speed and providing real-time solutions is therefore one of the most critical skills in a digital world.
Crowdfunding: Financing Ventures in the Digital Era
Authors: Reddy Srinivas K. , Tan Yee Heng
Published: April 2017

Crowdfunding is a method of raising funds to support a venture, usually by raising small amounts from a large number of investors. Typically, a project creator posts a project on a platform seeking a certain amount of funds for some venture. Potential backers view the project and contribute money if they are convinced of the idea. In most cases, these backers receive something in return.
Crowdfunding helps facilitate projects that would otherwise have fallen through the cracks. There are many success stories, but the average success rates are moderate. To succeed, it is necessary to manage the expectations of diverse stakeholders during the entire funding and development process. Success factors range from selecting the right platform to accurate communication all along the way. Prior experience helps, as well as a realistic assessment of the chances, so as not to disappoint the community.
From Point of Sale to Point of Need: How Digital Technology Is Transforming Retailing
Authors: Reinartz Werner , Imschloß Monika
Published: April 2017

Digital transformation has a strong impact on the retail industry. Activities that were once retail sector are moving to online stores, and specialized third parties are taking over physical distribution and payment. Naturally, store-based retailers are not taking this sitting down and many are reacting by starting to “digitalize” their point of sale. But in order to understand the true impact of digitalization and to react adequately, one needs to think backwards from the consumer and enter the scene at a much earlier stage. In our digital age, need occurrence, shopping and consumption are moving much closer in time and space and are being naturally integrated into our daily routine. If retailers still want their share, they have to build an ecosystem of presence and organize themselves around consumption and lived reality of their consumers. They have to be present in the mind of the consumer at the very instance a need arises. Being recalled in time matters now more than ever.
Smart Cities, Livable Cities
Authors: Menon Anil
Published: April 2017

Urbanization is a truly global trend, affecting populations in developed and emerging regions across all continents. To keep up with the rapid influx of new city dwellers, city leaders are turning to technology. One of the key challenges in many cities is providing safe drinking water. Other major issues in many cities across the developing world are traffic, parking, waste management, lighting, security, education and health care.
The Internet of Things increasingly offers new ways to make our lives as citizens smarter, more efficient and more informed. For example, city governments can charge appropriate fees, deliver tailored services and manage public infrastructure while considering interdependencies. In order to successfully seize the opportunities associated with the current shifts and to anticipate what’s coming, city leaders need to recognize and address the interrelationship of all city challenges and their impact across all constituent groups in seeking solutions.
Influence of Nearshore Mining Pits on Hydro- and Lithodynamics of a Dissipative Coastal Zone: Case Study of the Hel Peninsula (Poland)
Authors: Ostrowski Rafał , Skaja Marek
Published: April 2017

The paper deals with a sandy shore located on the open sea side of the Hel Peninsula in Poland (the south Baltic Sea coast). The study site displays a cross-shore profile that intensively dissipates wave energy, mostly due to breaking. The theoretical modelling of wave transformation at this site reveals specific distributions of wave heights and bed shear stresses. The sediment borrow areas, presently used and identified for future exploitation, are located inconveniently far from the periodically re-nourished shores. The paper presents the possibilities of dredging works in the coastal zone that would not disturb the natural nearshore motion of water and sediments. The results of the study can be helpful in formulating generic safety standards, at least with respect to dissipative shores of non-tidal or micro-tidal seas, like the Baltic Sea.
Whirling System of Water Exchange in Breeding Pools
Authors: Matej Karolina , Pawliczka Iwona , Sawicki Jerzy M. , Wielgat Paweł , Zima Piotr
Published: April 2017

To create proper living conditions for sea mammals kept in closed systems, one has to make sure that the characteristics of breeding pools, such as their shape, dimensions, the facing of the walls and bottom, as well as the quality and motion of water, resemble as closely as possible the natural environment of the animals. An appropriate system of water exchange plays a very important role here. A complete exchange of water is time-consuming, expensive and troublesome, so it can be performed only periodically and should be supported by a supplementary continuous exchange. This operation improves water quality and can create a proper velocity field in breeding pools. The breeding pools investigated in the present study are located in a sealarium in Hel (Poland), which belongs to the Institute of Oceanography of the Gdansk University. Tracer measurements, carried out in these reservoirs made it possible to evaluate the intensity of continuous water exchange. It was found that this intensity was insufficient (as evidenced by large dead zones in the pools and short detention time), and therefore alterations to the existing system were proposed (i.e. a tangential position of the inlet and a centrally situated outlet). On the basis of a simplified model of circulative water flow, it was shown that the altered hydraulic system can considerably improve the situation.
On Uncertainties in Determination of Sediment Transport Rates in Coastal Regions
Authors: Ostrowski Rafał
Published: April 2017

The paper deals with research uncertainties, difficulties, inaccuracies and unreliabilities related to the modelling of physical phenomena involving coastal lithodynamics. The considerations are focused on processes of wave transformation, wave-driven currents and sediment transport itself. It is shown that possible inaccuracies at individual stages of the modelling of coastal hydrodynamics can lead to serious uncertainties with respect to the ultimate modelling output, namely bed shear stresses and sediment transport rates. These inaccuracies result mostly from arbitrarily assumed parameters and constants. Other modelling biases discussed in the paper comprise simplifications and approximations with respect to sediment resources and size-graded properties, randomness of hydrodynamic impacts, bottom roughness and land-borne factors involved in coastal lithodynamics.
Desensitization to chemical and food sensitivities by low-dose immunotherapy ascertained by provocation neutralization is associated with reduced influx of calcium ions into lymphocytes
Authors: Puri Basant K. , Howard John McLaren , Monro Jean A.
Published: April 2017

Background

Food and chemical sensitivities have detrimental effects on health and the quality of life. The natural course of such sensitivities can potentially be altered through various types of allergen-specific immunotherapy, including low-dose immunotherapy. The molecular mechanism by which low-dose immunotherapy causes desensitization has not thus far been elucidated. While resting lymphocytes maintain a low cytosolic calcium ion concentration, antigen receptor signaling results in calcium ion influx, predominantly via store-operated calcium channels. We therefore hypothesized that desensitization by low-dose immunotherapy is associated with reduced influx of calcium ions into lymphocytes. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis.

Methods

Intracellular lymphocytic calcium ion concentrations were assayed in a total of 47 patients, following incubation with picogram amounts of the test allergens, using a cell-permeable calcium-sensing ratiometric fluorescent dye and fluorescence spectroscopy, both at baseline and following successful provocation neutralization treatment with low-dose immunotherapy.

Results

Low-dose immunotherapy was associated with a reduction in lymphocytic intracellular calcium ion concentration following treatment of: 23 % for metabisulfite sensitivity (p<0.0004); 12 % for salicylate sensitivity (p<0.01); 23 % for benzoate sensitivity (p<0.01); 30 % for formaldehyde sensitivity (p<0.0001); 16 % for sensitivity to petrol exhaust (p<0.003); 16 % for natural gas sensitivity (p<0.001); 13 % for nickel sensitivity (p<0.05); 30 % for sensitivity to organophosphates (p<0.01); and 24 % for sensitivity to nitrosamines (p<0.05).

Conclusions

Low-dose immunotherapy may affect baseline levels of intracellular calcium in lymphocytes, supporting the premise that allergens affect cell signaling in immune cells and provocation neutralization immunotherapy helps to promote more normal immune cell signaling.