bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of Antibodies Directed to the N-Terminal Region of GAD Is Dependent on Assay Format and Contributes to Differences in the Specificity of GAD Autoantibody Assays for Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Williams Alistair J.K. , Lampasona Vito , Schlosser Michael , Mueller Patricia W. , Pittman David L. , Winter William E. , Akolkar Beena , Wyatt Rebecca , Brigatti Cristina , Krause Stephanie , Achenbach Peter ,   Participating Laboratories
Published: May 2015

GAD autoantibodies (GADAs) are sensitive markers of islet autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes. They form the basis of robust prediction models and are widely used for the recruitment of subjects at high risk of type 1 diabetes to prevention trials. However, GADAs are also found in many individuals at low risk of diabetes progression. To identify the sources of diabetes-irrelevant GADA reactivity, we analyzed data from the 2009 and 2010 Diabetes Autoantibody Standardization Program GADA workshop and found that binding of healthy control sera varied according to assay type. The characterization of control sera found positive by radiobinding assay (RBA), but negative by ELISA, showed that many of these sera reacted to epitopes in the N-terminal region of the molecule. This finding prompted development of an N-terminally truncated GAD65 radiolabel, 35S-GAD65(96–585), which improved the performance of most GADA RBAs participating in an Islet Autoantibody Standardization Program GADA substudy. These detailed workshop comparisons have identified a source of disease-irrelevant signals in GADA RBAs and suggest that N-terminally truncated GAD labels will enable more specific measurement of GADAs in type 1 diabetes.
Impaired Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Adipose Tissue in Acquired Obesity
Authors: Heinonen Sini , Buzkova Jana , Muniandy Maheswary , Kaksonen Risto , Ollikainen Miina , Ismail Khadeeja , Hakkarainen Antti , Lundbom Jesse , Lundbom Nina , Vuolteenaho Katriina , Moilanen Eeva , Kaprio Jaakko , Rissanen Aila , Suomalainen Anu , Pietiläinen Kirsi H.
Published: May 2015

Low mitochondrial number and activity have been suggested as underlying factors in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. However, the stage at which mitochondrial dysfunction manifests in adipose tissue after the onset of obesity remains unknown. Here we examined subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) samples from healthy monozygotic twin pairs, 22.8–36.2 years of age, who were discordant (ΔBMI >3 kg/m2, mean length of discordance 6.3 ± 0.3 years, n = 26) and concordant (ΔBMI <3 kg/m2, n = 14) for body weight, and assessed their detailed mitochondrial metabolic characteristics: mitochondrial-related transcriptomes with dysregulated pathways, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) amount, mtDNA-encoded transcripts, and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) protein levels. We report global expressional downregulation of mitochondrial oxidative pathways with concomitant downregulation of mtDNA amount, mtDNA-dependent translation system, and protein levels of the OXPHOS machinery in the obese compared with the lean co-twins. Pathway analysis indicated downshifting of fatty acid oxidation, ketone body production and breakdown, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, which inversely correlated with adiposity, insulin resistance, and inflammatory cytokines. Our results suggest that mitochondrial biogenesis, oxidative metabolic pathways, and OXPHOS proteins in SAT are downregulated in acquired obesity, and are associated with metabolic disturbances already at the preclinical stage.
Anthropology and Language in Europe
Authors: Craith Máiréad Nic , O'Rourke Bernadette
Published: May 2015

Within the field of anthropology, there is a comprehensive linguistic sub-discipline which deals with issues from semiotics and linguistics to identity and intangible cultural heritage. This special volume of AJEC emerged from our desire to explore that sub-discipline in a European context. From our perspective, it appears that many anthropologists in and of Europe engage with a variety of questions within the sub-discipline. However, these anthropologists are not necessarily located in anthropology departments. Furthermore, their expertise is not necessarily profiled in anthropological journals. This is in sharp contrast with the U.S.A. where the significance of language in the field of anthropology is more clearly defined and profiled.
Belonging through Languagecultural Practices in the Periphery
Authors: Cornips Leonie , De Rooij Vincent
Published: May 2015

In this article, we will present two case studies of language and cultural practices that are part of or strongly related to carnival, in the Dutch peripheral province of Limburg, and more precisely in the southern Limburgian city of Heerlen, which in turn is considered peripheral vis-à-vis the provincial capital Maastricht. We will consider carnival as a political force field in which opposing language and cultural practices are involved in the production of belonging as an official, public-oriented 'formal structure' of membership, and belonging as a personal, intimate feeling of being 'at home' in a place (place-belongingness) (Antonsich 2010; Yuval-Davis 2006). In the case studies presented here, we take seriously the idea that ideology, linguistic form and the situated use of language are dialectically related (Silverstein 1985). In doing so, we wish to transcend disciplinary boundaries between anthropology and (socio)linguistics in Europe.
Civilization versus Barbarism
Authors: Lehmann Jörg
Published: May 2015

In French history textbooks published after France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 to 1871, the presentation of the war and its outcome frequently include the myth of France's revanche and depictions of the Prussian enemy as barbarians. Other textbooks presented a narrative of progress in which the French Third Republic is shown as the endpoint of a process of advancing civilization. While the idea of a French revanche can be regarded as a founding myth of the Third Republic, the narrative of progress can be seen as an echo of this myth, cleansed of the concept of the enemy as barbarian, which constitutes a national master narrative.
Full-physics 3-D heterogeneous simulations of electromagnetic induction fields on level and deformed sea ice
Authors: Samluk Jesse P. , Geiger Cathleen A. , Weiss Chester J.
Published: May 2015

In this paper we explore simulated responses of electromagnetic (EM) signals relative to in situ field surveys and quantify the effects that different values of conductivity in sea ice have on the EM fields. We compute EM responses of ice types with a three-dimensional (3-D) finite-volume discretization of Maxwell’s equations and present 2-D sliced visualizations of their associated EM fields at discrete frequencies. Several interesting observations result: First, since the simulator computes the fields everywhere, each gridcell acts as a receiver within the model volume, and captures the complete, coupled interactions between air, snow, sea ice and sea water as a function of their conductivity; second, visualizations demonstrate how 1-D approximations near deformed ice features are violated. But the most important new finding is that changes in conductivity affect EM field response by modifying the magnitude and spatial patterns (i.e. footprint size and shape) of current density and magnetic fields. These effects are demonstrated through a visual feature we define as ‘null lines’. Null line shape is affected by changes in conductivity near material boundaries as well as transmitter location. Our results encourage the use of null lines as a planning tool for better ground-truth field measurements near deformed ice types.
Proximate composition of salted smoke-dried and salt-garlic treated smoke-dried chapila (Gudusia chapra; Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) fish stored at room temperature
Authors: Nahid Mosarrat Nabila , Latifa Gulshan Ara , Farid Farzana Binte , Begum Mohajira
Published: May 2015

Proximate composition of chapila fish (Gudusia chapra) was determined using two different treatments of smoke-drying. In salt treated smoke-dried chapila (S-C), moisture, crude protein, lipid and ash contents were found 5.31%, 46.47%, 29.05% and 19.92% respectively. The same parameters were 6.77%, 45.24%, 30.52% and 18.71% respectively in case of salt-garlic treated smokedried chapila (S+G-C) fish. During storage at room temperature (26-320C), the percentage of moisture was increased significantly whereas crude protein, lipid and ash contents were decreased. The values of moisture (%) content were increased 9.91% (8th months) in S-C and 10.74 % (16th months) in S+G-C respectively. The values of protein (%) content were decreased 44.81% (8th months) in S-C and 42.66% (16th months) in S+G-C respectively. Values of fat and ash (%) content were decreased 28.55% and 18.01% (8th months) respectively in S-C and 28.75% and 17.34% (16th months) respectively in S+G-C. The overall study showed that the smoke cured fish treated with salt-garlic had longer shelf life and found better for preservation.Bangladesh J. Zool. 42(2): 205-209, 2014
De l’art de gérer ses investisseurs financiers, l’aventure de La Buvette
Authors: Bousquet Jean-Philippe
Published: May 2015

La société La Buvette conçoit des abreuvoirs pour les élevages intensifs, détient 60 % du marché français et réalise sa croissance à l’international. La transmission de l’entreprise s’est faite par des LBO successifs, d’une façon qui en fait un cas d’école.
La fréquence en morphologie : pour quels usages ?
Authors: Dal Georgette , Namer Fiammetta
Published: May 2015

Cet article a pour objectif de faire le point sur la notion de fréquence et sur l’utilisation encore timide qui en est faite en France dans les recherches actuelles en morphologie. Nous commençons par distinguer et définir trois types de fréquence : fréquence d’occurrence, fréquence de lexème et fréquence constructionnelle, que nous mettons en rapport avec la notion de productivité . À titre d’illustration, nous exploitons ensuite ces notions pour comparer, dans frWaC, le comportement des nominalisations en Xisation et Xabilité en français.
Le statut de la fréquence dans les grammaires de constructions : simple comme bonjour ?
Authors: Desagulier Guillaume
Published: May 2015

Cet article fait le point sur le statut de la fréquence dans les grammaires de constructions sous l’angle de l’ancrage cognitif et des collocations. Je montre que le traitement intuitif des phénomènes de fréquences au détriment de l’empirie mène souvent à une vision faussée de l’usage. L’article est structuré comme suit. La première partie est épistémologique. J’y aborde le statut de la fréquence dans le contexte du tournant quantitatif dans les approches centrées sur l’usage. La deuxième partie est consacrée à l’étude de A as GN dans un corpus d’anglais américain. J’utilise trois outils : l’analyse collexémique covariante, la classification ascendante hiérarchique et ΔP, une mesure d’association permettant de repérer les collocations asymétriques. La troisième partie propose une discussion critique des résultats et des méthodes.
Marqueurs intonosyntaxiques en français parlé et genres : compter pourquoi, compter quoi, compter comment ?
Authors: Beliao Julie , Lacheret Anne , Kahane Sylvain
Published: May 2015

Nous montrons comment la fréquence variable de traits prosodiques, syntaxiques et intonosyntaxiques constitue un indice pour caractériser des types de textes à l’oral et les genres qui les engendrent. Parmi l’ensemble des traits formels explorés, on s’interroge sur la manière dont ils se répartissent en termes de redondance de l’information, de complémentarité ou de pertinence pour l’étude des variables situationnelles considérées. Lors de notre étude quantitative, nous confrontons deux méthodes de classification supervisée : arbres de décision et machine à vecteurs supports, et nous abordons le problème de la représentation graphique des traits grâce à l’analyse en composantes principales. L’ensemble donne un retour précis et inédit sur le rôle de l’interface intonosyntaxique dans l’identification des genres en français parlé.
Tipología de cúpulas tabicadas. Geometría y construcción en la Valencia del siglo XVIII
Authors: Soler-Verdú R. , Soler-Estrela A.
Published: May 2015

En el contexto de las bóvedas tabicadas, destacan las cúpulas por su protagonismo arquitectónico y particularidades constructivas. La propuesta de tipos constructivos, se ha realizado a partir de una serie de cúpulas tabicadas en las que se han llevado a cabo obras de restauración, lo que ha hecho posible conocer su composición constructiva y geometría. Los resultados obtenidos permiten encuadrarlas como cáscaras extremadamente delgadas, con espesores que alcanzan límites difícilmente superables. Son representativas de centenares de cúpulas levantadas en el siglo XVIII, que tienen como epicentro difusor a la ciudad de Valencia, de acreditada experiencia en la construcción de sistemas de abovedamientos tabicados, desde finales del trescientos. No obstante, las características comunes, hacen que el estudio sea de aplicación en un amplio ámbito hispánico y en un dilatado periodo temporal desde su inicio en el siglo XVI hasta las últimas realizaciones contemporáneas.
Involvement of the HCK and FGR src-Family Kinases in FCRL4-Mediated Immune Regulation
Authors: Liu Yanling , Bezverbnaya Ksenia , Zhao Tiantian , Parsons Marion J. , Shi Mengyao , Treanor Bebhinn , Ehrhardt Götz R. A.
Published: May 2015

FCRL4 is an immunoregulatory receptor expressed by a subpopulation of memory B cells. These tissue-based cells express increased levels of the src-family kinases HCK and FGR. In this study, we investigate the roles of these src-family kinases in FCRL4-mediated immunoregulation of B cells in the context of previously unrecognized palmitoylation of the receptor. We observed enhanced phosphorylation of FCRL4 on tyrosine residues in the presence of the HCK p59 or FGR. This phosphorylation was markedly reduced in assays using a palmitoylation-defective mutant of FCRL4. In reporter gene studies, we observe that FCRL4 expression enhances CpG-mediated activation of NF-κB signaling. Surprisingly, using a reporter gene linked to activation of the MAPK substrate Elk-1 in response to Ag receptor ligation, we find that FCRL4 has inhibitory activity in cells coexpressing FGR but an activating function in cells coexpressing HCK p59. We provide evidence that in primary memory B cells, expression of FCRL4 leads to increased expression of IL-10 in the presence of FGR or HCK p59 in response to CpG, but increased levels of IFN-γ only in the context of coexpression of FGR. Our study supports the specific requirement of HCK p59 and FGR src-family kinases for FCRL4-mediated immunomodulatory activity and indicates that palmitoylation serves as an additional level of regulatory control of FCRL4.
Thymic Low Affinity/Avidity Interaction Selects Natural Th1 Cells
Authors: Kang Byung Hyun , Park Hyo Jin , Yum Hye In , Park Seung Pyo , Park Jin Kyun , Kang Eun Ha , Lee Jae-Il , Lee Eun Bong , Park Chung-Gyu , Jung Kyeong Cheon , Park Seong Hoe
Published: May 2015

Identification of intrathymic eomesodermin+ (Eomes+) CD4 T cells creates a novel idea that there is more than one way for the generation of innate CD4 T cells. Promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger protein+ T cells and natural Th17 cells are known to be generated by sensing a high and persistent TCR strength, whereas this is not the case for Eomes+ CD4 T cells. These cells go through low-level signal during the entire maturation pathway, which subsequently leads to induction of high susceptibility to cytokine IL-4. This event seems to be a major determinant for the generation of this type of cell. These T cells are functionally equivalent to Th1 cells that are present in the periphery, and this event takes place both in transgenic and in wild-type mice. There is additional evidence that this type of Eomes+ innate CD4 T cell is also present in human cord blood.
Poly(inosinic-cytidylic) Acid–Triggered Exacerbation of Experimental Asthma Depends on IL-17A Produced by NK Cells
Authors: Lunding Lars P. , Webering Sina , Vock Christina , Behrends Jochen , Wagner Christina , Hölscher Christoph , Fehrenbach Heinz , Wegmann Michael
Published: May 2015

Viral infection of the respiratory tract represents the major cause of acute asthma exacerbations. dsRNA is produced as an intermediate during replication of respiratory viruses and triggers immune responses via TLR3. This study aimed at clarifying the mechanisms underlying TLR3 triggered exacerbation of experimental allergic asthma. The TLR3 ligand poly(inosinic-cytidylic) acid was applied intranasally to mice with already established experimental allergic asthma. Airway inflammation, cytokine expression, mucus production, and airway reactivity was assessed in wild-type, IL-17A, or IL-23p19–deficient, and in NK cell–depleted mice. Local application of poly(inosinic-cytidylic) acid exacerbated experimental allergic asthma in mice as characterized by enhanced release of proinflammatory cytokines, aggravated airway inflammation, and increased mucus production together with pronounced airway hyperresponsiveness. This was further associated with augmented production of IL-17 by Th17 cells and NK cells. Whereas experimental exacerbation could be induced in IL-23p19–deficient mice lacking mature, proinflammatory Th17 cells, this was not possible in mice lacking IL-17A or in NK cell–depleted animals. These experiments indicate a central role for IL-17 derived from NK cells but not from Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of virus-triggered exacerbation of experimental asthma.
Genetic Vaccines To Potentiate the Effective CD103+ Dendritic Cell–Mediated Cross-Priming of Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Zhang Yi , Chen Guo , Liu Zuqiang , Tian Shenghe , Zhang Jiying , Carey Cara D. , Murphy Kenneth M. , Storkus Walter J. , Falo Louis D. , You Zhaoyang
Published: May 2015

The development of effective cancer vaccines remains an urgent, but as yet unmet, clinical need. This deficiency is in part due to an incomplete understanding of how to best invoke dendritic cells (DC) that are crucial for the induction of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells capable of mediating durable protective immunity. In this regard, elevated expression of the transcription factor X box–binding protein 1 (XBP1) in DC appears to play a decisive role in promoting the ability of DC to cross-present Ags to CD8+ T cells in the therapeutic setting. Delivery of DNA vaccines encoding XBP1 and tumor Ag to skin DC resulted in increased IFN-α production by plasmacytoid DC (pDC) from skin/tumor draining lymph nodes and the cross-priming of Ag-specific CD8+ T cell responses associated with therapeutic benefit. Antitumor protection was dependent on cross-presenting Batf3+ DC, pDC, and CD8+ T cells. CD103+ DC from the skin/tumor draining lymph nodes of the immunized mice appeared responsible for activation of Ag-specific naive CD8+ T cells, but were dependent on pDC for optimal effectiveness. Similarly, human XBP1 improved the capacity of human blood- and skin-derived DC to activate human T cells. These data support an important intrinsic role for XBP1 in DC for effective cross-priming and orchestration of Batf3+ DC–pDC interactions, thereby enabling effective vaccine induction of protective antitumor immunity.
Literature–Based Discovery of Salivary Biomarkers for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Srinivasan Mythily , Blackburn Corinne , Mohamed Mohamed , Sivagami A.V. , Blum Janice
Published: May 2015

The alarming increase in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) underscores the need for efficient screening and preventive strategies. Select protein biomarker profiles emerge over time during T2DM development. Periodic evaluation of these markers will increase the predictive ability of diabetes risk scores. Noninvasive methods for frequent measurements of biomarkers are increasingly being investigated. Application of salivary diagnostics has gained importance with the establishment of significant similarities between the salivary and serum proteomes. The objective of this study is to identify T2DM–specific salivary biomarkers by literature–based discovery. A serial interrogation of the PubMed database was performed using MeSH terms of specific T2DM pathological processes in primary and secondary iterations to compile cohorts of T2DM–specific serum markers. Subsequent search consisted of mining for the identified serum markers in human saliva. More than 60% of T2DM–associated serum proteins have been measured in saliva. Nearly half of these proteins have been reported in diabetic saliva. Measurements of salivary lipids and oxidative stress markers that can exhibit correlated saliva plasma ratio could constitute reliable factors for T2DM risk assessment. We conclude that a high percentage of T2DM–associated serum proteins can be measured in saliva, which offers an attractive and economical strategy for T2DM screening.
A brief history of Facebook as a media text: The development of an empty structure
Authors: Brügger Niels
Published: May 2015

This paper tells a history of Facebook from 2004 to 2013. It presents the big picture by focusing on Facebook as it presented itself to a user, that is the available semiotic and interactional elements (e.g., profile, wall, feed, commercials, etc.) as well as the functions and useforms which these elements made possible for a variety of actor types (profile owners, groups, companies, software developers, etc.). In addition, Facebook’s development is inscribed in a longer Web historical perspective with a view to identifying a general mechanism for Internet development.
Slacktivism and the social benefits of social video: Sharing a video to ‘help’ a cause
Authors: Jones Cat
Published: May 2015

Interest in online ‘slacktivism’ is high both within and outside academia, and the online sharing of cause-related campaigns is increasing, but research into the extent to which ‘slacktivism’ applies to the act of sharing online content to ‘help’ a cause is limited. Slacktivism, as used in much of today’s popular discourse, is defined as ‘feel-good online activism [with] zero political or social impact’ (Morozov, 2009). Here, a survey-based analysis investigates social videos’ impacts on U.K. and U.S. viewers. Results show that the stronger viewers’ motivations are to share to help a cause, the stronger their motivations are to find out more afterwards. Further, a case study shows that social videos that motivate viewers to share the video ‘because it’s for a good cause, and I want to help’ (cause-related sharing versus, for example, to appear knowledgeable about a subject), can also prompt real-life actions, including donations. These results indicate that cause-related video sharing does have an impact, and therefore is not slacktivism by Morozov’s definition. Preliminary analysis suggests that of viewers sharing to ‘help’ causes, those discriminating in their choice of sharing audience (narrow vs. broad) are more likely to further engage than indiscriminate sharers. Result patterns from U.S. narrowcast sharers differ from those of other groups, indicating that tie strength and cultural differences may play a role in modifying slacktivist behaviors.
Monitoring Trends of Self-diagnosis in New York City Emergency Departments
Authors: Chase Alyssa Z.
Published: May 2015

Americans are increasingly accessing the internet for health information, and 35% of patients have used the internet to self-diagnose a condition. This analysis examines NYC Emergency Department syndromic surveillance chief complaints to determine if there is an increasing trend in self-diagnosis, and to characterize the types of patients who are most likely to self-diagnose. In addition, this study investigates the health impact of self-diagnosis by comparing hospital admission rates, a proxy for the severity of patient illness upon arrival at the hospital, among patients who self-diagnose versus those who do not.
Environmental Health Surveillance: A Critical Function of Public Health Laboratories
Authors: Checkley Sylvia , Fathima Sumana Fathima , Neumann Norman , Mukhi Shamir
Published: May 2015

Environmental Health Surveillance is a critical function of public health laboratories, where monitoring water quality trends helps create information to be used for health promotion, disease mitigation, resource planning, risk analyses and other decision making.
Effect of the Ukrainian Crisis on the Current Measles Situation and ways of Improving Surveillance
Authors: Chumachenko Tetyana , Chumachenko Dmytro , Karlova Tetyana
Published: May 2015

Armed conflict and the crisis in Ukraine led to the destruction of health care facilities. The refugees dispersed throughout Ukraine, including in the Kharkiv region, bordering the Lugansk and Donetsk regions. There was a threat of importation and spread of communicable diseases. The measles situation has been worsened. To achieve the goals of eliminating measles in spite of the crisis in Ukraine implementation of the syndromic surveillance of measles should be continued in order to identify all the cases fully.
Disaster Public Health Surveillance Response Systems in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Authors: Donna Bella , Suparniati Endang , Ariani Madelina , Sanusi Rossi
Published: May 2015

N/A
Surveillance of Cardio Vascular Risk Factors Among Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Authors: Furnaz Shumaila , Sharif Hasanat
Published: May 2015

According to world health organization report 2011, coronary artery diseases are the number one cause of death globally: more people die annually from coronary artery diseases than from any other cause. For this big burden of disease we need to know the ,prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among patients undergoing elective Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery (CABG) in Karachi, Pakistan.
New Ways to Disseminate the US National Notifiable Disease Provisional Data
Authors: Grigoryan Anna
Published: May 2015

The purpose of this study was to identify ideas for an enhanced dissemination of the US National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) provisional data. The author conducted a search of all US State Health Department websites looking for on-line data display tables and tools for either reportable or notifiable diseases. In addition, the scope of the search of websites was expanded to include notifiable diseases of several countries, organizations and institutions. As a result of this study the author proposes enhancement of the current US notifiable disease data display from a static format to a more interactive dashboard design.
Cutaneous Anthrax surveillance by Person, Place, and Time in Georgia (2008-2013)
Authors: Kasradze Anna , Zakhashvili Khatuna , Echeverria Diana , Heyer Nicholos , Garcia David , Kracilik Ian , Imnadze Paata
Published: May 2015

National surveillance of cutaneous anthrax cases in Georgia (EIDSS 2008-2013) appears secondary to epizoonotic events that are more likely to occur in populations that work with unvaccinated sheep and cattle. Six-year mean incidence rates per 100,000 were 1.32 for Georgian nationals and 9.31 for Azerbaijani nationals. The contrast between groups was pronounced in Kvemo Kartli and Kakheti where a large proportion of Azeris pastoralists live and migrate along animal corridors. One Heath recommendations include promotion of anthrax awareness campaigns, the destruction of carcasses, mapping and disinfect infected soils, and introduce a participatory health education anthrax tool.
Online Reports of Foodborne Illness Capture Foods Implicated in Official Foodborne Outbreak Reports
Authors: Nsoesie Elaine O. , Kluberg Sheryl A. , Brownstein John S.
Published: May 2015

In this study, we assessed reports of foodborne illness in foodservice reviews as a possible data source for disease surveillance. We observed that reports of foodborne illness on Yelp were sometimes extremely detailed. We also located clusters of reports for particular restaurants, some of which had health safety violations related to food handling and hygiene. Most importantly, we found that foods implicated in foodborne illness reports on Yelp correlated with foods implicated in outbreak reports from the CDC. This could be useful for identifying food vehicles for attribution and estimation of the extent of foodborne illness.
Big Data Analytics for Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) Situational Awareness
Authors: Ordun Catherine , Davis Timothy , Goode Brante , Ross Dean , Hopmeier Mike
Published: May 2015

An expert panel will share insights from the National Disaster Medical System, Vermont Department of Health, the National Park Service, and Department of Defense, regarding the application of big data analytics on situational awareness of Mass Casualty Incidents (MCIs). Moderated by Booz Allen Hamilton, the panel will share examples from their agencies about the information/data challenges of responding to MCIs, and suggest how analytic methods used to detect disease outbreaks, for example, could be applied. Booz Allen will present 10 situational awareness information-needs criteria identified in a survey of federal experts that could be used to build an analytics tool.
Protecting Australia from Future Polio Outbreaks
Authors: Paterson Beverley J. , Martin Nicolee , Durrheim David N.
Published: May 2015

Few countries have tested the sensitivity of their polio surveillance systems, undertaken a comprehensive risk assessment or questioned whether existing polio surveillance strategies are the optimal surveillance at this stage of the global eradication initiative. To address this challenge, a risk assessment and review of Australia's polio surveillance systems were undertaken to assess the potential risk of introduction of polio by an infected person, product or specimen.
Managing Dengue Fever by Using the One Health Approach and Electronic Surveillance
Authors: Zareen Shagufta , Mursalin Syed M.
Published: May 2015

The worst and first outbreak of dengue fever (DF) was experienced in Lahore, Punjab in 2011. The weak disease surveillance program for DF resulted in 301 deaths out of 17531 reported confirmed patients in just 4 months of post-monsoon season. The government tackled this health crisis by ensuring interdepartmental coordination ranging from case management, vector control to advocacy and massive social mobilization campaign. The use of information technology in the form of smart phone application “SATSCAN” to track dengue surveillance activity was launched in 2012. All these efforts enabled the government to completely control dengue in 2012 in Lahore.
Overview of Performance Management System with reference to Higher Education in Bahrain
Authors: Ali Mahmood Asad , Mahfod Joma
Published: May 2015

This paper focus on the nature, technics and the practice of performance management system applied in the higher education in Bahrain.  Therefore, the chapter covers essential area related such as performance appraisal, promotion, rewards, and specifically: vision, mission, value and strategy; organization; employees’ talent management, leadership development; employee relations; staffing; education, learning and development; and performance management. The scope of this paper is to cover the applications of the performance management system in the Higher Education in Bahrain. The paper demonstrates the main obstacles and provide suggestion for solving the difficulties for the performance management system in higher education in Bahrain.
Palaeobotanical studies of raised mires
Authors: Kloss Marek
Published: May 2015

In 2003-2005, peat analyses were carried out in seven raised bogs to reconstruct their history. They are located in different geographical regions of Poland representing four relief types: young-glacial lowland, old-glacial lowland, upland and mountain. This paper defines the objectives of the research project and provides the applied methods. Palaeobotanical and stratigraphical studies of peatbogs are indispensable to learn about their ecological history. The analyses of plant macrofossils accumulated in biogenic deposits are of particular significance.
Mikroskopijne grzyby pasożytnicze w zbiorowiskach roślinnych Wyżyny Częstochowskiej [Phytoparasitic micromycetes in plant communities of the Wyżyna Częstochowska Upland]
Authors: Ruszkiewicz-Michalska Małgorzata
Published: May 2015

Mycosociological studies on microfungi parasitising vascular plants were carried out on 21 permanent observation plots in 5 phytocoenoses representing beech forests (Luzulo pilosae-Fagetum, Melico-Fagetum, Dentario enneaphyllidis-Fagetum,  Carici-Fagetum)  and  xerothermic  grassland  (Origano-Brachypodietum  pinnati)  as  well as using route  method in other  plant communities.  The frequency  of host  plants and fungi  occurring on  permanent plots was estimated using 5-degree scale. The observations yielded in 478 fungal species belonging to Peronosporales (Oomycota), Dothideales, Erysiphales, Helotiales, Hypocreales, Mycosphaerellales, Phyllachorales, Pleosporales, Xylariales (Ascomycota), Uredinales, Microbotryales, Urocystales (Basidiomycota) and Hyphomycetes and Coelomycetes (anamorphic fungi), which were hosted by 301 species of vascular plants as well as by 19 taxa of Erysiphales and Uredinales. The predominanting group was anamorphic fungi (65% of species), especially members of Sphaeropsidales (39%). This group was however less dispersed on the study area than Uredinales and Erysiphales, which were represented by relatively small number of species. The results provided data on diversi- fied occurrence of fungi depending on abiotic (humidity, temperature, insolation) and biotic factors (e.g. density of host plant population) provided by plant communities. The differences concern species composition and richness of fungi, their distribution as well as frequency of hosts and parasites. In the case of members of Erysiphales, Moniliales and Peronosporales differences in phenology were also noted. The greatest species richness and distribution of the micromycetes was observed in Origano-Brachypodietum and the poorest were plots of Luzulo pilosae-Fagetum. Most frequently the parasites infected small percentage of the individuals in the population of the hosts (about 1%), which occurred with the lowest coverage (below 10%). This type of relationship between frequency of fungi and density of plants dominated in all of the studied phytocenoses. Sixty two species of fungi observed on Wyżyna Częstochowska Upland are new for Polish biota. They belong to anamorphic fungi, mainly to Phyllosticta (32 species) and Ascochyta (15).
Diversity of Basidiomycetes in various ecosystems of the Góry Świętokrzyskie Mts.
Authors: Łuszczyński Janusz
Published: May 2015

Mycocoenological studies were conducted at 77 permanent research plots established in 14 leading forest communities and in three non-forest communities in the Góry Świętokrzyskie Mts. The greatest numbers of Basidiomycetes were recorded in phytocoenoses in the following plant communities: Tilio-Carpinetum (393 species), Querco-Pinetum (292 species) and Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum (268 species). Saprobionts dominated the mycobiota of the forest communities (593 species, that is 57% of the total number of species), including 332 species of pedobionts (32%), 251 species of xylobionts (24%) and 10 species of allobionts (0.9%). Furthermore, 375 species of mycorrhizal fungi (36% of the total number of the recorded species) and 59 species of parasites (6% of the total number of the mycobiota studied) were recorded.

The current species composition of Basidiomycetes in the Góry Świętokrzyskie Mts. has been influenced by the location of the area in relation to the adjacent geographical regions, climatic conditions, natural topography, geological structure and plant cover as well as human economy. Abies alba, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Larix decidua ssp. polonica and Picea abies, which encourage the development of mountain fungi, influence the biota of Basidiomycetes in particular. The occurrence of 87 species of the mountain element sensu lato was recorded. Trophic relationships between Basidiomycetes and 34 species of vascular plants as well as 11 genera of mosses were analysed. The most numerous groups of fungi accompany pine trees (114 species), beech trees (105 species), fir trees (102 species) and oak trees (100 species). Despite significant damage, well-preserved and fairly intact forest areas are still found in the Góry Świętokrzyskie Mts. They now serve as refugia of Albatrellus confluens, Bankera fuligineoalba, Fomitopsis officinalis, Hericium coralloides, H. flagellum, Pycnoporellus fulgens, Skeletocutis odora and S. stellae. Both natural and anthropogenic factors determine the changes of the mycological profile in the Góry Świętokrzyskie Mts. Some of the newly arrived Basidiomycetes have features of expansive species, for instance Clathrus archeri, Mutinus ravenelii and Psilocybe rugosoannulata.
Possibilities of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland using unmanned aircraft systems
Authors: Kompała Dariusz
Published: May 2015

The use of unmanned aircraft systems by the armed forces is currently an area of interest
to many foreign and domestic experts, mainly due to the characteristics and properties of
these systems. Amorphous battlefields, as well as dynamism, where efforts force the need for
combat measures which are capable of carrying out the highest risk missions, are limiting
the risk of losing personnel in manned aircraft. Due to the fact that the Armed Forces of
the Republic of Poland are involved in several operations outside the country, and the fact
that a modern and strong army must also consist of modern armed forces, there seems to be
a desire to acquire the latest technological achievements – unmanned aircraft systems.
This publication discusses the possibility of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland.
using unmanned aircraft systems.
The international balance of power in the year 2050 (security implications)
Authors: Kłos Piotr , Kobryński Robert
Published: May 2015

The project aims at applying qualitative and quantitative methods to create a model of
the international balance of power in 2050. This allows to create more accurate forecasts
of future security environment development and its implications. For the purpose, the
authors use a computational model developed by Professor Mirosław Sulek, the Polish
pioneer of powermetrics research. Fundamentals of the interdisciplinary model can be
found in international relations theories, security studies methods, cybernetics and physics.
The authors are directly involved in developing this field of research and their intention is
to share initial results of their work.
Selected logistics centres in the European Union
Authors: Krekora Paweł , Nyszk Wojciech
Published: May 2015

The paper deals with logistics centres. Author presents some various definitions, identifies
main functions and classifies logistics centres. The main purpose of the article is to
characterize selected logistics centres located in member countries of the European Union
and to show their comparison.
Challenges for the Ukrainian energy industry
Authors: Krysyuk Halina
Published: May 2015

Reform of the energy sector is very important, both for the Ukrainian economy and for the
reputation of Ukraine in Europe. Since independence, the energy sector, and especially the
gas sector, has been totally in transparency and a major area of corruption. Energy is the
most important component of Ukraine’s economy and energy security is one of the weakest
links in the state’s national security strategy.
Military Cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union under the Association Agreement and an issue of state sovereignty
Authors: Zinyak Lubomir
Published: May 2015

The article deals with the complex investigation of the content of the draft Association
Agreement with the European Union in the context of military collaboration proceeding
from the theory of International Law. Special attention is focused on the issues regarding
its influence on the military aspects of the state sovereignty of Ukraine. Four main questions
are investigated: Does Ukraine have the obligations of an EU member state in the military
sphere under the Agreement? What is the nature of Ukraine’s obligations in the military
sphere under the Agreement? Does Ukraine have
any legal guarantees that protect its own
strategic interests in the military sphere in coordinating its defence policy with that of the
EU? Are the sovereign
rights of Ukraine in the military sphere taken into account in the
institutional framework of cooperation under the Association Agreement?
The author comes to the conclusion that the deepening cooperation with the EU under this
international agreement does not lead to a limitation of the state sovereignty of Ukraine in
the military sphere.
On the theoretical and terminological premises for researching peace operations
Authors: Ivančík Radoslav , Jurčák Vojtech
Published: May 2015

The high dynamics of the changes in the security environment, deepening globalisation,
and the growth of current and new, predominantly asymmetric, threats make permanent
new demands on international society and require new more complex approaches towards
the issue. One of the most significant tools the international community has for keeping
peace and security on an international level, restraining centres of tension, consolidating
or stabilising relations in crisis areas, and multilateral reconstruction and restoration of
countries after armed conflicts, is represented by peace operations within international
crisis management. Peace operations have changed a lot throughout the last fifty years,
and today, unlike in the past, they represent highly complex, dynamic, demanding and
multidimensional activities. Therefore, the main aim of the authors is to point out the
significance of a theoretical and terminological basis for research in the field of peace
operations.
Cooperation of military educational institutions
as a tool for developing regional security and confidence
Authors: Gawliczek Piotr
Published: May 2015

The paper deals with issues related to security and defence as seen from the perspective of the
role played by military education. The essence of the new security environment realm and
new threats for security are described. The importance of military educational institutions
is underlined. In this context, observations and reflections on education and training based
on NDU Warsaw’s experiences are offered. There are four leading issues mentioned. The
first one is the approach to military education, the second one is the curricula, the third
one is research and the lessons learned, and the fourth one is to share the experiences of
an activity aimed at forging strategic trust. Finally, the author puts forward suggestions on
how to strengthen educational cooperation in the Europe and Asia-Pacific region.
Morfolitologinių anomalijų Kuršių nerijos jūros krante nustatymas
Authors: Jarmalavičius Darius , Pupienis Donatas , Žilinskas Gintautas , Fedorovič Julija
Published: May 2015

Kuršių nerijos formavimasis pasižymi nepertraukiama morfolitologinių rodiklių kaita išilgai jūros kranto. Tačiau tam tikrose vietose ši tolydumo sąlyga erdvėje sutrinka. Šiose vietose pastebimas stiprus morfolitologinių rodiklių reikšmių nukrypimas nuo tolydžios kaitos, sąlygotas paleogeografinių, geologinių, hidrodinaminių, meteorologinių bei antropogeninių veiksnių. Remiantis smėlio dalelių dydžio bei paplūdimio ir kopagūbrio morfometrinių rodiklių kaita, išilgai Kuršių nerijos jūros kranto buvo išskirti kranto ruožai, kuriuose nagrinėjami rodikliai „iškrinta“ iš tolygiai kintančios rodiklių eilės. Nustatyti du ruožai, turintys specifinį rodiklių kompleksą, nesisiejantį su gretimais kranto ruožais: pirmas – Kopgalio ruožas, kurio formavimuisi betarpiškos įtakos turėjo Klaipėdos uosto pietinis molas, ir antras  –  Juodkrantės ruožas, kurio formavimąsi galėjo lemti visas kompleksas veiksnių: tiek paleogeografinių, tiek hidrodinaminių, tiek ir kitų. Tačiau dėl duomenų stokos tiksli jo genezė nėra nustatyta. Išskirti ruožai yra santykinai stabilūs laiko atžvilgiu ir jų savybės praktiškai nepakito per pastaruosius 20 metų. Nustatyti dėsningumai parodė, kad morfolitologinių rodiklių ekstremalios vertės gali būti laikomos indikatoriais, parodančiais staigų atskiros geosistemos dalies dinamikos pokytį keičiantis hidrometeorologinėms ar antropogeninėms sąlygoms.
Stipraus štormo „Feliksas“ padariniai Lietuvos jūriniame krante
Authors: Jarmalavičius Darius , Žilinskas Gintautas , Pupienis Donatas
Published: May 2015

Ryškiausi kranto morfologijos pokyčiai fiksuojami prasiautus stipriems štormams bei uraganams, kai per trumpą laiką (keletą ar keliolika valandų) iš kranto išplaunami dideli smėlio kiekiai, paplūdimiai tampa siauri ir lėkšti, kopagūbrio jūriniame šlaite susiformuoja skardžiai. 2015 m. sausio 11 d. siautėjęs stiprus štormas „Feliksas“, nors savo galingumu neprilygo didžiausiems XX a. uraganams, tačiau padaryti nuostoliai kai kuriems Lietuvos jūrinio kranto ruožams buvo reikšmingi. Remiantis natūrinių tyrimų duomenimis, įvertinti išplauto iš paplūdimio ir kopagūbrio bei viso kranto sąnašų kiekiai, nustatytos labiausiai pažeistos ir geriausiai stipraus štormo poveikį atlaikiusios kranto atkarpos. Per stiprų štormą „Feliksas“ Lietuvos jūrinis krantas prarado apie 0,76 mln. m3 sąnašų: 0,39 mln. m3 iš žemyno kranto ir 0,37 m3 mln. iš Kuršių nerijos kranto. Didžiąją nuoplovos dalį (631 000 m3, arba net 80 %) sudarė paplūdimio sąnašos, o kopagūbris nukentėjo sąlyginai nedaug (127 000 m3; arba tik 20 %).
Tautos ir nacijos sampratos problema
Authors: Kavaliauskas Paulius , Jakutis Mindaugas
Published: May 2015

Straipsnyje nagrinėjami politinėje erdvėje, ypač politinėje geografijoje, aktualūs tautos ir nacijos apibrėžimai bei šių sąvokų formavimasis angliškoje ir lietuviškoje mokslinėje literatūroje. Pateikiama nagrinėjamų sąvokų problemiškumo genezė, atskirų autorių išskiriamų jas formuojančių veiksnių ir apibūdinančių požymių analizė. Bandoma išryškinti bendras angliškos ir lietuviškos literatūros tendencijas, taip pat abiejų terminų interpretacijų atskirose kalbinėse terpėse skirtumus. Remiantis atlikta literatūros šaltinių analize, pateikiami tautos ir nacijos sąvokų apibrėžimai, apjungiantys angliškoje ir lietuviškoje terpėse išaiškintus veiksnius bei požymius. Teigiama, kad neįmanoma visiškai tiksliai apibrėžti šių sąvokų vien remiantis pagrindiniais ar papildomais požymiais, nes tai yra politiniai terminai, dažnai orientuoti ir integruoti į konkrečią politinę sistemą, besiskiriančią savo atsiradimu bei raida, o pastaroji savaip gali interpretuoti šiuos terminus. Kaip perspektyvinė tolesnių tyrimų kryptis politinės geografijos kontekste yra nurodoma užduotis parengti nacijų paplitimo pasaulyje žemėlapį įvertinant pačių nacijų išsivystymo laipsnį.
Deductive interpretations of the results of geographical and aetiological studies of type 1 diabetes
Authors: Veteikis Darijus
Published: May 2015

The article attempts to contribute to the whole momentum of finding the cause of type 1 diabetes (T1D), exhibiting the global growth in the incidence of 3% per year, but more intense in developing economies of Europe. As there is still no conclusion about the real cause of T1D, although a number of environmental factors in a focus, a hypothesis was raised that the possible main trigger is still not identified. The main method applied was screening of the scientific publications presenting geographical, epidemiological and etiological studies of T1D. The geographical, migrant, etiological and other facts suggesting a direct implication (deduced assumption) about the features of the top trigger of T1D were collected, discussed and used for deduction of assumptions, organized in a hierarchical order. The final assumption was drawn indicating the discussable candidate for the top trigger of T1D as a synthetic medicine administrated in times of viral infections with increasing popularity among the youngest population.