bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Boundaries of Medicine and Spirituality
Authors: Danell Jenny-Ann
Published: December 2013

This article examines professionalization and self-regulation in two Swedish Reiki organizations. The main question is: how do they approach their activities in relations to established (bio-) medicine/science and public health care? With help from qualitative interviews with key actors and a variety of written material, we take a closer look at the goals of the organizations, how they relate to spiritual and medical/scientific claims, and how they work to establish different forms of legitimacy and professional status. The results indicate that both organizations work actively to increase the general legitimacy of Reiki and to establish Reiki as an occupation. However, a key dilemma is how to deal with the different kinds of Reiki practitioners. Most people who attend Reiki training use it as a self-help technique, and have no intention of working professionally. One of the organizations has chosen to focus on the issue of getting Reiki acknowledged in medical settings and by public authorities. This organization has also made the choice to first of all be an organization for those who want to work professionally and who supports research in this area. The other organization has chosen a broader approach as an association for all kinds of Reiki practitioners, as long as they follow general statutes and guidelines. The difference in focus is also evident in other aspects of their work. For example, the first organization has developed a documentation protocol to contribute to scientific knowledge on the effects of Reiki. In general, this organization is focused on the technical or physical aspects of Reiki. The second organization has focused on developing common standards for education in order to secure quality and support a common understanding of Reiki. This second organization has a more pluralistic approach concerning spiritual aspects of the tradition.
David Icke’s Reptilian Thesis and the Development of New Age Theodicy
Authors: Robertson David
Published: December 2013

Despite its considerable currency in popular culture, David Icke’s Reptilian Thesis is almost always viewed academically as irrational and anti-Semitic. Here, I suggest that it be considered instead against a) traditional conceptualizations of “evil,” and b) the development of the New Age milieu. The need to reconcile a holistic, relativizing construction of evil with the perceived failure of the New Age to arrive was keenly felt in the New Age milieu through the 1990s and 2000s. An Other had to exist, yet could not be constructed as human. The Reptilian Thesis introduces a theodicy into New Age, of a globalized, extra-terrestrial Other. Icke’s Reptilian Thesis seeks to portray the extra-terrestrial as that which is, literally, “alien,” in order to explain away the perceived failure of the New Age. The New Age, Icke suggests, did not fail to arrive, but was prevented from arriving. The Reptilian Thesis is therefore not so much a departure from New Age Theodicy, but a reconfiguration of it.
Strategies Among Young Jehovah’s Witnesses in Compulsory School in Sweden, Age 13–15, a Case Study
Authors: Liedgren Pernilla , Andersson Lars
Published: December 2013

This study investigated how young teenagers, as members of a strong religious organization, dealt with the school situation and the encounter with mainstream culture taking place at school during the final years in Swedish primary school (age 13–15 years). The purpose was to explore possible strategies that members of a minority group, in this case the Jehovah’s Witnesses, developed in order to deal with a value system differing from that of the group. We interviewed eleven former members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses about their final years in compulsory Swedish communal school. The ages of the interviewees ranged between 24 and 46 years, and the interviewed group comprised six men and five women. Nine of the eleven interviewees had grown up in the countryside or in villages. All but two were ethnic Swedes. The time that had passed since leaving the movement ranged from quite recently to 20 years ago. The results revealed three strategies; Standing up for Your Beliefs, Escaping, and Living in Two Worlds. The first two strategies are based on a One-World View, and the third strategy, Living in Two Worlds, implies a Two-World View, accepting to a certain extent both the Jehovah’s Witnesses outlook as well as that of ordinary society. The strategy Standing up for Your Beliefs can be described as straightforward, outspoken, and bold; the youngsters did not show any doubts about their belief. The second subgroup showed an unshakeable faith, but suffered psychological stress since their intentions to live according to their belief led to insecurity in terms of how to behave, and also left them quite isolated. These people reported more absence from school. The youngsters using the strategy Living in Two Worlds appeared to possess the ability to sympathize with both world views, and were more adaptable in different situations.
Editorial
Authors: Collins Mike
Published: December 2013

Contemporary Religion in Historical Perspective: Engaging Outside Academia, Open University, 15–16 May 2013
“I Really Don’t Do It For The Spirituality”
Authors: Kraus Rachel
Published: December 2013

To what extent does spirituality play a role in artistic leisure? Utilizing semi-structured interviews with 35 belly dancers in the United States, this article discusses how although many participants attach spiritual meaning to belly dance, there is a wide range in how often and within what contexts people do so. Findings show that some dancers infuse belly dance with spiritual meaning almost every time they engage in the activity, but for most participants, spirituality does not make up the majority of their belly dance experiences. Many dancers rarely or never attach spiritual significance to belly dance. Furthermore, the context in which dancers attach spiritual meaning to belly dance varies. If dancers infuse belly dance with spirituality, they will most likely do so when they are dancing alone in their homes. Only dancers who associate belly dance with spirituality most of the time they dance experience spirituality when dancing outside their home, such as performances or teaching their dance students.
FIRST REPORT ON Cryptococcus neoformans IN PIGEON EXCRETA FROM PUBLIC AND RESIDENTIAL LOCATIONS IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA OF CUIABÁ, STATE OF MATO GROSSO, BRAZIL
Authors: Takahara Doracilde Terumi , Lazera Marcia dos Santos , Wanke Bodo , Trilles Luciana , Dutra Valeria , Paula Daphine Ariadne Jesus de , Nakazato Luciano , Anzai Mariana Caselli , Leite Junior Diniz Pereira , Paula Claudete Rodrigues , Hahn Rosane Christine
Published: December 2013

SUMMARY Cryptococcosis is a severe systemic mycosis caused by two species of Cryptococcus that affect humans and animals: C. neoformans and C. gattii. Cosmopolitan and emergent, the mycosis results from the interaction between a susceptible host and the environment. The occurrence of C. neoformans was evaluated in 122 samples of dried pigeon excreta collected in 49 locations in the City of Cuiabá, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil, including public squares (n = 5), churches (n = 4), educational institutions (n = 3), health units (n = 8), open areas covered with asbestos (n = 4), residences (n = 23), factory (n = 1) and a prison (n = 1). Samples collected from July to December of 2010 were seeded on Niger seed agar (NSA). Dark brown colonies were identified by urease test, carbon source assimilation tests and canavanine-glycine-bromothymol blue medium. Polymerase chain reaction primer pairs specific for C. neoformans were also used for identification. Cryptococcus neoformans associated to pigeon excreta was isolated from eight (6.6%) samples corresponding to six (12.2%) locations. Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated from urban areas, predominantly in residences, constituting a risk of acquiring the disease by immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals.
COMPARISON OF SIX COMMERCIALLY-AVAILABLE DNA POLYMERASES FOR DIRECT PCR
Authors: Miura Masashi , Tanigawa Chihiro , Fujii Yoshito , Kaneko Satoshi
Published: December 2013

SUMMARY The use of a “direct PCR” DNA polymerase enables PCR amplification without any prior DNA purification from blood samples due to the enzyme's resistance to inhibitors present in blood components. Such DNA polymerases are now commercially available. We compared the PCR performance of six direct PCR-type DNA polymerases (KOD FX, Mighty Amp, Hemo KlenTaq, Phusion Blood II, KAPA Blood, and BIOTAQ) in dried blood eluted from a filter paper with TE buffer. GoTaq Flexi was used as a standard DNA polymerase. PCR performance was evaluated by a nested PCR technique for detecting Plasmodium falciparum genomic DNA in the presence of the blood components. Although all six DNA polymerases showed resistance to blood components compared to the standard Taq polymerase, the KOD FX and BIOTAQ DNA polymerases were resistant to inhibitory blood components at concentrations of 40%, and their PCR performance was superior to that of other DNA polymerases. When the reaction mixture contained a mild detergent, only KOD FX DNA polymerase retained the original amount of amplified product. These results indicate that KOD FX DNA polymerase is the most resistant to inhibitory blood components and/or detergents. Thus, KOD FX DNA polymerase could be useful in serological studies to simultaneously detect antibodies and DNA in eluents for antibodies. KOD FX DNA polymerase is thus not limited to use in detecting malaria parasites, but could also be employed to detect other blood-borne pathogens.
POTENTIALLY PATHOGENIC FREE-LIVING AMOEBAE IN SOME FLOOD-AFFECTED AREAS DURING 2011 CHIANG MAI FLOOD
Authors: Wannasan Anchalee , Uparanukraw Pichart , Songsangchun Apichart , Morakote Nimit
Published: December 2013

SUMMARY The survey was carried out to investigate the presence of potentially pathogenic free-living amoebae (FLA) during flood in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2011. From different crisis flood areas, seven water samples were collected and tested for the presence of amoebae using culture and molecular methods. By monoxenic culture, FLA were detected from all samples at 37 °C incubation. The FLA growing at 37 °C were morphologically identified as Acanthamoeba spp., Naegleria spp. and some unidentified amoebae. Only three samples (42.8%), defined as thermotolerant FLA, continued to grow at 42 °C. By molecular methods, two non-thermotolerant FlA were shown to have 99% identity to Acanthamoeba sp. and 98% identity to Hartmannella vermiformis while the two thermotolerant FLA were identified as Echinamoeba exundans (100% identity) and Hartmannella sp. (99% identity). This first report of the occurrence of FLA in water during the flood disaster will provide information to the public to be aware of potentially pathogenic FLA.
Smqnr VARIANTS IN CLINICAL ISOLATES OF Stenotrophomonas maltophilia IN BRAZIL
Authors: Gracia-Paez Jorge Isaac , Ferraz Juliana Rosa , Franca E Silva Ivan Avelino , Rossi Flavia , Levin Anna Sara , Costa Silvia Figueiredo
Published: December 2013

SUMMARY Stenotrophomonas maltophilia contains a novel chromosomally-encoded qnr gene named Smqnr that contributes to low intrinsic resistance to quinolone. We described Smqnr in 13 clinical isolates of S. maltophilia from two Brazilian hospitals, over a 2-year period. The strains were identified by API 20 NE (bioMérieux, France). Susceptibility by microdilution method to trimetroprim/sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, minocycline, ceftazidime, chloramphenicol and ticarcillin/clavulanate was performed according to CLSI. PCR detection of Smqnr gene was carried out. The sequence of Smqnr was compared with those deposited in GenBank. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of all strains was performed. Thirteen Smqnr positives isolates were sequenced and three novel variants of Smqnr were identified. All 13 Smqnr isolates had distinguishable patterns by PFGE. This is the first report of Smqnr in S. maltophilia isolated in Brazil.
CASE STUDY OF A PATIENT WITH HIV-AIDS AND VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS CO-INFECTION IN MULTIPLE EPISODES
Authors: Silva Elis Dionisio da , Andrade Luiz Dias de , Araujo Paulo Sergio Ramos de , Silveira Vera Magalhaes , Padilha Carlos Eduardo , Silva Maria Almerice Lopes da , Medeiros Zulma Maria de
Published: December 2013

SUMMARY Report of a 45-year-old male farmer, a resident in the forest zone of Pernambuco, who was diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 1999 and treated using antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. In 2005, the first episode of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), as assessed by parasitological diagnosis of bone marrow aspirate, was recorded. When admitted to the hospital, the patient presented fever, hepatosplenomegaly, weight loss, and diarrhea. Since then, six additional episodes of VL occurred, with a frequency rate of one per year (2005-2012, except in 2008). In 2011, the patient presented a disseminated skin lesion caused by the amastigotes of Leishmania, as identified by histopathological assessment of skin biopsy samples. In 2005, he was treated with N-methyl-glucamine-antimony and amphotericin B deoxycholate. However, since 2006 because of a reported toxicity, the drug of choice was liposomal amphotericin B. As recommended by the Ministry of Health, this report emphasizes the need for HIV patients living in VL endemic areas to include this parasitosis in their follow-up protocol, particularly after the first infection of VL.
USEFULNESS OF kDNA PCR IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS REACTIVATION IN CO-INFECTED PATIENTS
Authors: Nicodemo Antonio Carlos , Amato Valdir Sabbaga , Tuon Felipe Francisco , Souza Regina Maia de , Okay Thelma Suely , Braz Lucia Maria Almeida
Published: December 2013

SUMMARY It is important to develop new methods for diagnosing relapses in the co-infection of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and HIV to enable earlier detection using less invasive methods. We report a case of a co-infected patient who had relapses after VL treatment, where the qualitative kDNA PCR showed a good performance. The kDNA PCR seems to be a useful tool for diagnosing VL and may be a good marker for predicting VL relapses after treatment of co-infected patients with clinical symptoms of the disease.
Maxillary Sinus Lateral Wall Thickness and Morphologic Patterns in the Atrophic Posterior Maxilla
Authors: Monje Alberto , Catena Andrés , Monje Florencio , Gonzalez‐García Raúl , Galindo‐Moreno Pablo , Suarez Fernando , Wang Hom‐Lay
Published: December 2013

Background: The aim of the present study is to examine the sinus lateral wall thickness (LWT) of atrophic posterior maxilla (<10 mm) of patients with complete and partial edentulism and determine the influence of residual ridge height (RH), sex, and age on maxillary LWT.

Methods: Four hundred fourteen measures were taken from 140 consecutive patients that met the inclusion criteria. On the selected sagittal section, a built‐in digital caliper recorded in millimeters the RH and LWT (a perpendicular line at 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, and 15 mm from the lowest point of the sinus floor). Edentulous spans were further classified as complete edentulous atrophic maxilla (CEM) and partial edentulous atrophic maxilla (PEM). The mixed linear model was used to test the effects of sex, type of edentulism, edentulous span, and RH on the measurement of the LWT of the sinus.

Results: Mean LWT for PEM was 1.71 ± 0.12 mm, and for CEM, 1.57 ± 0.07 mm (P = 0.01). The mixed model yielded significant effect of edentulous span (P = 0.048) and interactions among type of edentulism and edentulous span (P <0.001) and edentulous span by RH (P <0.01). Age and RH were positively associated with LWT; however, they did not interact with RH, sex, or type of edentulism. RH has been shown to correlate with edentulous span (P <0.001) and type of edentulism (P = 0.01). The longer the edentulous span, the thinner the LWT. Similarly, RH was larger for PEM (6.85 ± 0.34 mm) than CEM (5.69 ± 0.26 mm).

Conclusions: The maxillary sinus lateral wall tends to increase in thickness from the second premolar to the second molar and from 5 mm up to 15 mm. In addition, RH, presence of teeth adjacent to the edentulous atrophic ridge, and age were shown to influence maxillary sinus LWT.
Soft relations applied to semigroups
Authors: Feng Feng , Ali Irfan , Shabir Muhammad
Published: December 2013

Binary relations, in particular, equivalence relations play an important role in both mathematics and information sciences. The concept of soft sets was initiated by Molodtsov as a general mathematical framework for dealing with uncertainty. The present paper establishes a possible connection between binary relations and soft sets. The concept of soft binary relations is introduced and some related properties are investigated. It is shown that any fuzzy relation may be considered as a soft binary relation. Moreover, we discuss the application of soft binary relations in semigroup theory. We consider soft congruence relations over semigroups and show that all soft congruence relations over a semigroup with a fixed parameter set form a lattice. Finally, the notion of soft homomorphisms is presented and isomorphism theorems for soft semigroups are established based on soft congruence relations.
On the regularity of topologies in the family of sets having the Baire property
Authors: Hejduk Jacek
Published: December 2013

The paper concerns the topologies introduced in the family of sets having the Baire property in a topological space (X, ?) and in the family generated by the sets having the Baire property and given a proper ?-ideal containing ? -meager sets. The regularity property of such topologies is investigated.
Property (Bb) and Tensor product
Authors: Rashid M.H.M. , Prasad T.
Published: December 2013

In this paper, we find necessary and sufficient conditions for Banach Space operator to satisfy the property (Bb). Then we obtain, if Banach Space operators A ? B(X)and B ? B(Y) satisfy property (Bb) implies A x B satisfies property (Bb) if and only if the B-Weyl spectrum identity ?BW(A x B) = ?BW(A)?(B) U ?BW(B)?(A) holds. Perturbations by Riesz operators are considered.
Coincidence and fixed point results under generalized weakly contractive condition in partially ordered G-metric spaces
Authors: Nashine Kumar , Kadelburg Zoran , Radenovic Stojan
Published: December 2013

We deduce coincidence and fixed point theorems under generalized weakly contractive conditions in G-metric spaces equipped with partial order. We furnish examples to demonstrate the usage of the results and to distinguish them from the known ones.
School Choice Policy: Seeking to Balance Educational Efficiency and Equity. A Comparative Analysis of 20 European Countries
Authors: Lauri Triin , Põder Kaire
Published: December 2013

In recent years, the degree of choice in education systems has increased in most countries. Still, the variation of choice policies across countries is substantial. The authors ask under what combinations of conditions (i.e. institutional features of education systems) choice policy succeeds in balancing educational efficiency and equity. Using the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, they investigate the impact of seven institutional conditions in 20 European countries. Those seven conditions are identified in school choice literature as relevant in explaining variations in educational efficiency and equity. The analysis shows that there are multiple causal paths to good policy outcome. The main contribution of this article is to show that ‘choice’ is an INUS condition (i.e. an insufficient but necessary part of an unnecessary but sufficient combination of conditions) and that ‘no tracking’ is a necessary condition for educational efficiency and equity. In addition, the authors show that ‘good management’ and ‘competition’ of schools contribute to good educational outcomes only in choice-tolerant countries.
The National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) in Germany: An Overview of Design, Research Options and Access, with a Focus on Lower-Secondary School
Authors: Strietholt Rolf , Naujokat Kerstin , Mai Tobias , Kretschmer Sara , Jarsinski Stephan , Goy Martin , Frahm Sarah , Kanders Michael , Bos Wilfried , Blatt Inge
Published: December 2013

This article introduces the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS). This German longitudinal study produces a vast amount of data for the scientific community, and researchers all around Europe are invited to use the data to address various research questions empirically. Therefore, the authors provide information about the purpose as well as the design of this educational study that has just released data from several starting cohorts, ranging from newborns to adults. As the authors have coordinated the starting cohort of students in lower-secondary school, this target group will be introduced in more detail, with the implementation of NEPS's design being outlined, as well as the tests and survey contents. The analytical potentials are exemplified by the authors' stage-specific research on German-language instruction, the development of orthography competence, and engagement in reading and orthography in lower-secondary school. An overview of different modes of access to the available data completes this research report.
A Reexamination of Audit Fees for Initial Audit Engagements in the Post-SOX Period
Authors: Desir Rosemond , Casterella Jeffrey R. , Kokina Julia
Published: December 2013

On August 16, 2011, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) issued a concept release seeking comments on ways to enhance auditor independence. The Board notes that higher failure rates in new audit engagements might be linked to unrealistic pricing. The Board's concern is that a new auditor might be more susceptible to management pressure if initial-year audit fees are set artificially low. Prior to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002, empirical evidence shows that auditors discounted their initial-year audit fees. This practice, known as lowballing, was expected to decrease significantly after the enactment of SOX. Indeed, findings in Huang, Raghunandan, and Rama (2009) seem to confirm that Big 4 auditors charged a fee premium on new auditor-client relationships in 2006. However, it is not clear if more recent post-SOX initial-year audits are free of lowballing. We investigate whether lowballing exists in new auditor-client relationships in an “extended” post-SOX environment for the years 2007 to 2010. Our results suggest that both Big 4 and non-Big 4 accounting firms discounted their initial-year audit fees during our sample period (2007–2010). These findings should be of interest to the PCAOB as it searches for ways to bolster auditor independence.

Data Availability: Available from public sources.
Genome-Wide Transcriptional Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes in Diabetic, Healing Corneal Epithelial Cells: Hyperglycemia-Suppressed TGFβ3 Expression Contributes to the Delay of Epithelial Wound Healing in Diabetic Corneas
Authors: Bettahi Ilham , Sun Haijing , Gao Nan , Wang Feng , Mi Xiaofan , Chen Weiping , Liu Zuguo , Yu Fu-Shin X.
Published: December 2013

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) may develop corneal complications and delayed wound healing. The aims of this study are to characterize the molecular signatures and biological pathways leading to delayed epithelial wound healing and to delineate the involvement of TGFβ3 therein. Genome-wide cDNA microarray analysis revealed 1,888 differentially expressed genes in the healing epithelia of normal (NL) versus type 1 DM rat corneas. Gene ontology and enrichment analyses indicated TGFβ signaling as a major altered pathway. Among three TGFβ isoforms, TGF-β1 and β3 were upregulated in response to wounding in NL corneal epithelial cells (CECs), whereas the latter was greatly suppressed by hyperglycemia in rat type 1 and 2 and mouse type 1 DM models. Functional analysis indicated that TGF-β3 contributed to wound healing in NL corneas. Moreover, exogenously added TGF-β3 accelerated epithelial wound closure in type 2 rat and type 1 mouse DM corneas via Smad and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways, autoregulation, and/or upregulation of Serpine1, a well-known TGFβ target gene. Taken together, our study for the first time provides a comprehensive list of genes differentially expressed in the healing CECs of NL versus diabetic corneas and suggests the therapeutic potential of TGF-β3 for treating corneal and skin wounds in diabetic patients.
Ground Temperature at The Henryk Arctowski Station (King George Island, Antarctic) – Case Study from the Period January 2012 to February 2013
Authors: Araźny Andrzej , Kejna Marek , Sobota Ireneusz
Published: December 2013

The article presents the results of measurements of ground temperature in the context of general meteorological conditions at the Henryk Arctowski Station (King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic) from the period of 20 January 2013 to 22 February 2013. The measurements were taken using a Vantage Pro+ automatic weather station and the thermal conditions of the ground were measured by means of a HOBO automatic data logger. The variability of ground temperature was analysed in an annual and diurnal cycle. A clear recurrent diurnal pattern was observed in the summer season, resulting from more favourable insolation conditions in that part of the year. In the winter, on the other hand, no major differences in the diurnal cycle of ground temperature were found, particularly with a dense snow cover.
Frequency of Ice Days at Selected Meteorological Stations in Svalbard
Authors: Łupikasza Ewa , Niedźwiedź Tadeusz
Published: December 2013

The paper aims to present research into both the long-term variability in the ice days in Svalbard representing the Atlantic sector of the Arctic, and their relations to atmospheric circulation. Ice days are defined as days with a daily maximum temperature below 0°C (Tmax<0°C). They are considered to be amongst the most important indices of current climate change. All the available data on daily maximum air temperature from three Norwegian stations (Svalbard Airport (Svalbard Lufthavn), Bjørnøya and Hopen) and from the Polish Polar Station in Hornsund (SW Spitsbergen) have been employed. The relevance of atmospheric circulation to the frequency of the occurrence of ice days was evaluated by calculating the Spearman correlation coefficients between the frequency of ice days and three regional circulation indices: zonal westerly circulation index (W), meridional southerly circulation index (S) and index of cyclonicity (C). At all the stations the number of ice days exhibited significant decreasing trends in the period of 1979-2012.
Strength profile in young male athletes from different sports
Authors: Buśko Krzysztof , Gajewski Jan , Mazur-Różycka Joanna , Michalski Radosław , Łach Patrycja
Published: December 2013

Study aim: The aim of the present study was to determine a strength profile which characterizes young male athletes from different sports and to use the method of allometry to synthetically evaluate the muscular strength with respect to body mass.

Material and methods: The study included 85 men who practiced taekwondo (8 subjects), 20 judoists, 10 weightlifters, 35 canoeists and 12 speed skaters. Measurements of maximal muscle torques in 10 groups of flexors and extensors of the elbow, shoulder, hip, knee and trunk were carried out in a testing station for muscle torque measurements under static conditions. In order to determine the relationships between the body mass and muscle torques in each muscle group, the authors used a procedure of linear regression for the data expressed as logarithms. Hence, the allometric relationship scaled with body mass was obtained.

Results: The study demonstrated that the mean values of logarithms of maximal muscle torques are significantly different for the representatives of individual sports and they depend on the logarithm of body mass. The analysis of residuals was employed for the evaluation of maximal muscle torques. The highest strength profiles were observed in athletes who practice judo and the lowest in those who represented weightlifting and taekwondo.

Conclusion: The authors propose to use an allometric relationship which takes body mass into consideration during evaluation of strength in individual muscle groups, because the values of muscle torques are not in direct proportion to body mass and their mutual proportions change with an increase in body mass.
The influence of large-scale climatic patterns on precipitation, temperature, and discharge in Czech river basins
Authors: Šípek Václav
Published: December 2013

The present study focuses on the possible influence of large-scale climatic patterns on precipitation, temperature, and discharge in two distinct river basins in the Czech Republic. The first one is a flat lowland basin of the Cidlina River and the second one represents a more mountainous type of climate (the Blanice River). The large-scale climatic patterns used comprise monthly averages of teleconnection patterns, sea level pressure values, and two geopotential heights (850 hPa and 500 hPa). The correlations for corresponding months and also up to a three months lead time were investigated. The relations concerning the corresponding months proved to be most reliable in the winter period of the year. The behaviour of both selected river basins with respect to these predictors is rather similar in character. However, higher values of correlation coefficients are reached in the case of the Cidlina River basin. Considering the prediction abilities with a certain lead time, the results seem to be more promising for the winter and spring periods in both basins. In the Cidlina River basin, they are likely to be beneficial also for the late summer and autumn period.
Characterizing sand ripples at equilibrium phases
Authors: Qin Jie , Zhong Deyu , Wang Guangqian
Published: December 2013

Morphological characteristics of ripples are analyzed considering bed surfaces as two dimensional random fields of bed elevations. Two equilibrium phases are analyzed with respect to successive development of ripples based on digital elevation models. The key findings relate to the shape of the two dimensional second-order structure functions and multiscaling behavior revealed by higher-order structure functions. Our results suggest that (1) the two dimensional second-order structure functions can be used to differentiate the two equilibrium phases of ripples; and (2) in contrast to the elevational time series of ripples that exhibit significant multiscaling behavior, the DEMs of ripples at both equilibrium phases do not exhibit multiscaling behavior.
Comparison of two methods to assess heterogeneity of water flow in soils
Authors: Lichner Ľubomír , Dušek Jaromír , Dekker Louis W. , Zhukova Natalia , Faško Pavol , Holko Ladislav , Šír Miloslav
Published: December 2013

The heterogeneity of water flow and solute transport was assessed during radioactive tracer infiltration experiment in a black clay loam soil using modified methods to estimate the effective cross section (ECS) and the degree of preferential flow (DPF). The results of field and numerical experiments showed that these parameters characterized the heterogeneity of water flow in the soils unequivocally. The ECS decreases non-linearly and the DPF increases linearly with an increase of the bypassing ratio (ratio of macropore flow rate to total flow rate). The ECS decreased and the DPF increased with depth, which suggests an increase in the heterogeneity of water flow with depth. The plot of the DPF against ECS values calculated from the tracer experiment data was consistent with the relationship obtained by the numerical simulation assuming preferential flow in the neighbourhood of three probes.
Possibilities of usage meta-analysis method in economic research area
Authors: Gondek Anna
Published: December 2013

Possibilities of usage meta-analysis method in economic research area The article presents the method of meta-analysis showing its essence, main elements, steps of carrying out research, as well as showing the advantages and disadvantages. In the support to available scientific bases of the source body of the literature, the author checked the economic studies, in which meta-analysis was used and divided them into twelve subject groups. Two group were the most numerous, they were: (1) macro-economics in such subjest as development and growth economics, sustainable development, national accounts, public budgeting and finance and (2) management, especially about productivity, quality of human capital, organizational attitude, and widely understood competitiveness.
The Accounts Receivable Management in Commercial Enterprises of the Installation and Heating Industry
Authors: Roszkowska-Hołysz Dorota
Published: December 2013

The Accounts Receivable Management in Commercial Enterprises of the Installation and Heating Industry The article presents the issues of managing current assets in trade enterprises on the market of sanitary and heating devices and installations. It is a capital intensive activity and the current assets being receivables are characterized by a high risk level. Distributors finance executing companies, which commonly use trade credit.
Appraisal of Financial Situation of the Polish Banking Sector from 2008 to 2012
Authors: Trippner Paweł
Published: December 2013

Appraisal of Financial Situation of the Polish Banking Sector from 2008 to 2012 The banking system is a very important element of the financial system of a country. As institutions of public trust, banks play a crucial role in the process of transforming savings into investments, which directly affects the country’s economic development. Maintaining the banking sector in a good financial condition guarantees stability of the financial system and economic development of Poland. The article aims to present the essence of operations of banks as financial institutions, present their role in the economy, and describe various methods of appraising their financial condition. In order to fulfil the above goals, a research hypothesis is put forward stating that the financial condition of the banking sector in Poland deteriorated in the analysed period as a result of an adverse impact of turbulence in financial markets and problems in banking sectors in the European Union countries.
Mechanisms of valuation of public goods on the agricultural land market - considerations in the context of sustainable development
Authors: Czyżewski Bazyli , Majchrzak Adam
Published: December 2013

Mechanisms of valuation of public goods on the agricultural land market - considerations in the context of sustainable development Since the beginning of human civilization, the land has been creating certain utilities which satisfy human needs. When the dangerous side effects of industrial agriculture have occurred intrinsic land utilities are being discovered anew. They have a nature of public goods and constitute a hard core of the sustainable agriculture paradigm. Despite irreversible accumulation of capital in the anthropogenic environment many new utilities of the land come into existence without additional capital and labour outlay. Since they are public goods, they are paid from taxes in great measure. This way an intrinsic land utility takes a form of a financial product and can be called „intrinsic productivity” of land. The aim of the elaboration is to identify the mechanism that make intrinsic land utility transforms into productivity in monetary units. A conducted research consists in deriving a land rent capitalized in land prices and estimating its share in land value in comparison with the share of lease fees in the different regions of Poland in years 2000-2009. In the authors’ opinion since accession of Poland to the UE a market valorizes intrinsic utilities of land, whereas the new role of capital and labour is distribution of those utilities for consumers.
Integration of spendings on the agricultural sector in the national budget and the budgets of voivodes in Poland in the long term (2000-2013)
Authors: Czyżewski Andrzej , Matuszczak Anna
Published: December 2013

Integration of spendings on the agricultural sector in the national budget and the budgets of voivodes in Poland in the long term (2000-2013) The purpose of this article is to identify the areas of integration spendings on the agricultural sector in the national budget and the budgets of voivodes in the years 2000-2013, with an indication of the processes of their complementarity and substitutability. There was analyzed the expenditures of national and the EU budget flowing to the agricultural sector in Poland, showing their significant increase after the Polish integration with the EU. Was noticeable, however, that increasing spendings on the agricultural sector from the national budget could be „enforced” by increasing funding from the EU. This indicates the integrity understood as complementary to each other. Then shown the complementarity and substitutability spendings on the agricultural sector in the central agricultural budgets and the budgets of voivodes with regard to the financing of projects involving EU funds, noting ongoing trends.
Energy Transition in and by the Local Media
Authors: Horsbøl Anders
Published: December 2013

Climate change mitigation and the transition to environmentally sustainable forms of life have become central public issues, and a number of studies have investigated the role of the media in constructing and distributing representations of climate change and sustainability. Most of these studies have addressed the media at a national or international level. This article investigates the mediating of a local, municipal initiative, i.e. the so-called ‘Energy Town Frederikshavn’ project in northern Denmark, which has set the ambitious goal of complete transition to renewable energy consumption and CO2 neutrality within a few years. Using frame analysis, informed by discourse studies, the article analyzes how the project emerged and was established as a public phenomenon in the media coverage, including how it was made intelligible and which social actors were represented as having a say on the matter. The findings show several differences to national or international representations of climate change and sustainability, such as a prevalent profiling frame and an indication of a reversal of the so-called Giddens’ paradox.
Tardigrada from Arctic tundra (Spitsbergen) with description of Isohypsibius karenae sp. n. (Isohypsibiidae)
Authors: Zawierucha Krzysztof
Published: December 2013

Five species of Tardigrada were found in two moss samples collected from the Hornsund area (Ariekammen, Spitsbergen) including one new to science. The new species, Isohypsibius karenae sp. n., differs from the other similar congeners mainly by having a different type of cuticular sculpture, a different macroplacoid length sequence, by the presence of lunules and cuticular bars under claws as well as by some morphometric characters. The current study increases the number of Isohypsibius species known from Svalbard to thirteen.
Microphytoplankton communities off the Antarctic Peninsula region in austral summer 2010/2011
Authors: Luan Qingshan , Wang Chenghua , Wang Xinliang , Sun Jianqiang , Niu Mingxiang , Wang Jun
Published: December 2013

Microphytoplankton communities in waters near the Antarctic Peninsula were investigated using collections made during two krill harvesting cruises in austral summer 2010/2011. Twenty−five net−haul samples were collected. The species composition was assessed, and the cell abundance was counted with a light microscope. A total of forty−four species were recorded, with diatoms being the most abundant group. The predominant species near the South Shetland Islands (SSIs) were Fragilariopsis kerguelensis, Pseudo−nitzschia lineola and Thalassiothrix antarctica, while Rhizosolenia antennata f. semispina was the most common species near the South Orkney Islands (SOIs). Habitat use was preferentially distributed. The average cell abundance of total phytoplankton was 6.6×1011 cells m−2 with high densities detected at the southwest tip of theAntarctic Peninsula. Cluster analysis clearly illustrated that the microphytoplankton communities were different at the SSIs and SOIs. Correlation analysis was applied to interpret the relationship between phytoplankton distribuion and associated hydrographic conditions. Total phytoplankton abundance showed a significant negative correlation with sea surface salinity (p <0.01). The results implied that the high phytoplankton biomass was supported primarily by suitable physical conditions in the upper water column, i.e., relatively stable, stratified and well−lighted seawaters. Water stability in combination with the depth of the upper mixed layer might be the main factor control− ling the phytoplankton distribution in waters near the Antarctic Peninsula.
Salt and Bread: Latvia’S Experience
Authors: Kunkulberga Daiga , Mūrniece Endija
Published: December 2013

Much research has shown that reduction in salt intake can have a very positive impact on human health, as salt intake plays a critical role in regulating blood pressure. According to the World Health Organization, populations with low salt intake, all other factors being equal, usually have lower blood pressure level, in that way decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. The main source of salt in the diet is ready-made food, and only about 11% of overall salt intake is the salt people add to their food themselves. A common EU framework for salt reduction has been developed, which describes a common vision for a general European approach towards salt reduction. Bread has been identified as an important contributor to the daily salt intake in many countries. On the other hand, salt has important technological functions in bakery products. It improves the qualities of dough, fermentation, and flavour of bread. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the amount of salt in Latvian bread and to assess the need for decreasing the amount of salt in bread. The majority of Latvian bread contains 1.1 to 1.2% salt in flour, but in some other kinds of bread it is even less.
Nutrition-Related Diseases in the Medicines Reimbursement System of Latvia
Authors: Arāja Diāna
Published: December 2013

In Latvia, the medicine reimbursement system for outpatient treatment operates under conditions of limited resources, and the state budget financing has been reduced in recent years. Under such circumstances, a necessity to identify additional possibilities to optimise resources allocation to health care programmes and prevention activities is important. The aim of this research was to identify nutrition-related diagnoses in the Latvian medicine reimbursement system and to determine potential efficiency of the resource allocation to complementary nutrition programmes. To meet the aim defined, theoretical research methods (analysis of legislative documents and special literature analysis) were used alongside empirical research methods (data collection: documentary analysis, statistical database analysis). The results of this research showed that the largest amount of reimbursed diagnoses, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, digestive diseases, and osteoporosis, are identified as nutrition-related diagnoses in the review of special literature. Determination of the efficiency of complementary nutrition programmes is a crucial issue in the context of the evidence-based medicine, both in terms of direct and indirect costs to society and government, and in terms of disability-adjusted life years and other health determinants directly related to patients. For this reason, possibilities for the evaluation of relative efficiency of the nutrition programmes for reimbursed diagnoses are investigated in depth.
Synthesis, optimization, characterization, and potential agricultural application of polymer hydrogel composites based on cotton microfiber
Authors: Laftah Waham , Hashim Shahrir
Published: December 2013

The optimum content of cotton microfiber, initiator, cross-linker, and sodium hydroxide were determined using the central composite design method. Polymer hydrogels (PHGs) were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis. A comparison between plain PHG and the polymer hydrogel composite (PHGC) in terms of biodegradation, swelling rate, and re-swelling capacity was carried out. The effect of PHGC on the sandy soil holding capacity, urea leaching loss rate (ULLR), and okra plant growth were evaluated. The highest water absorption capacity was obtained at 1.30 mass %, 0.15 mass %, 13.00 mass %, and 13.50 mass % of the initiator, cross-linker, sodium hydroxide, and cotton microfiber, respectively. Cotton microfiber has a prominent effect on the swelling rate, re-swelling capacity, and biodegradability of PHG. Okra plant growth and ULLR were positively affected by PHGC and the best leaching loss rate of 33.3 mass % was observed for the lowest urea loaded sample.
Determination of pK a of N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylamine-N-oxides using 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Búcsi Alexander , Karlovská Janka , Chovan Michal , Devínsky Ferdinand , Uhríková Daniela
Published: December 2013

The pK a values of N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylamine-N-oxides were determined from the pH dependences of chemical shifts in 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra. The dependences were measured at concentrations below and above the critical micelle concentration of the amine oxides. Above the critical micelle concentration, the plots of the peak positions vs. pH were either sigmoid (the groups close to the nitrogen) or “peak type” (farther groups). The sigmoidal behaviour was a direct result of the acid-base reaction; on the other hand, the “peak type” behaviour was probably an indirect consequence of the pH variation, mediated with the change in micelle size.
Kinetics and modelling of heptane steam-cracking
Authors: Olahová Natália , Bajus Martin , Hájeková Elena , Šugár Lukáš , Markoš Jozef
Published: December 2013

The kinetics and product distribution during the cracking of heptane in the presence of steam were investigated. The experiments were performed in a flow reactor under atmospheric pressure in a temperature range of 680–760°C with a mass ratio of steam to heptane of 3: 1. The overall decomposition of heptane is represented by a first-order reaction with activation energy of 249.1 kJ mol−1 and a frequency factor of 3.13 × 1013 s−1. The reaction products were analysed using gas chromatography, the main product being ethylene. The molecular reaction scheme, which consists of a primary reaction and 24 secondary reactions between primary products, was used for modelling the experimental product yields. The yields of ethylene and hydrogen were in good agreement; however the experimental yields of propylene were higher than the predicted yields.