bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Bidirectionality of Metaphor
Authors: Danesi Marcel
Published: January 2017

Views on the role of metaphor in language have varied ever since Aristotle discovered it and described its features. Traditional accounts of metaphor have seen it as a form of comparison or substitution for literal language, or else a “deviant” form of semantics. This situation changed in the twentieth century, starting with the work of I. A. Richards and the early gestalt psychologists, who put forward arguments and evidence that led, by the later part of the century, to the view that metaphor was more than a digression from literal language; rather, it was a trace of how meaning and concepts are formed. The major models that are derived from this perspective are generally discussed under the rubrics of “interaction,” “projection,” and “blending.” Each model can be described as a “unidirectional” one, since it posits essentially that metaphor is the result of enlisting concrete vehicles in order to shed light on (and even construct) abstract topics. By and large, these models have not entertained the possibility that metaphor is actually a “bidirectional” process, not only enlisting concrete vehicles to guide abstract conceptualization but also the reverse: abstract topics allow us to understand the vehicles. In other words, the parts of a metaphor implicate each other in tandem. This article will argue for a bidirectional model of metaphor. Such a model has implications for both linguistics and psychology — mainly, that the traditional view of metaphor as a process that makes abstractions understandable through vehicles or source domains may be moot, even though it might have practical functions and validity in specific instances of cognition.
Principles That Promote Bidirectionality in Verbal Metaphor
Authors: Katz Albert N. , Al-Azary Hamad
Published: January 2017

Received wisdom holds that there is a basic and intrinsic directionality in metaphor, wherein switching the target and source of a metaphor either leads to a loss of meaning or, if meaningful, is based on different sets of features. Here the authors review experimental literature based on the notion that semantic memory can be conceptualized in a manner similar to Euclidean space, and that properties of this space provide boundary conditions that invite uni- or bidirectionality when concepts are juxtaposed as in metaphor. The authors review three basic components of this space: distance of concepts A and B, varieties of distances (namely, those unique to the concepts themselves and those that are descriptive of higher-order relations), the density of space in which A and B reside, and the nature of such space for concrete and abstract concepts. The authors argue further that metaphor comprehension involves both use of these factors and pragmatic knowledge and that, unfortunately, in the typical psychology experiments, metaphors are presented for processing in impoverished pragmatic conditions. Under these conditions, the main pragmatic knowledge available for use is knowledge available in semantic space (e.g., distance, feature types, concreteness, and density). The authors review and report studies that demonstrate that the information available in semantic space can invite bidirectionality or topic-vehicle asymmetry, and that bidirectionality can be more easily obtained when the metaphors are placed in a discourse context. To date, the influence of semantic density has not been shown in metaphor comprehension, and the authors present the first studies that have examined this variable in metaphor understanding. Future research directions are suggested.
Metaphor: The Journey from Bidirectionality to Unidirectionality
Authors: Porat Roy , Shen Yeshayahu
Published: January 2017

It is widely held that the direction of mapping from the source to the target domain in metaphors derives directly from the conceptual relations between its members (e.g., from concrete to abstract, from salient to less salient). In contrast, the authors propose the following: (1) The relation between the same two concepts/domains can, in principle, be either bidirectional or unidirectional. Hence, even if there is a conceptual asymmetry between the metaphor concepts/domains (so that one of them is a better candidate for being assigned the source function than the other), this conceptual asymmetry in itself might not be sufficient to trigger a unidirectional mapping process. (2) Among those two potential relations, the bidirectional one is more basic than the unidirectional, in that it can be triggered by the mere presence of the two stimuli; in contrast, the unidirectional process requires an additional mechanism for it to be fully realized. The authors survey and analyze several empirical findings that can be accounted for by this proposal. Then the authors introduce and discuss the ways the linguistic structure in which the metaphor is embedded may function as the mechanism by which bidirectional metaphors may turn into unidirectional ones.
Discordia Concors and Bidirectionality: Embodied Cognition in John Donne's Songs and Sonnets
Authors: Goodblatt Chanita , Glicksohn Joseph
Published: January 2017

In the introduction to his 1912 edition of John Donne's poetry, Herbert J. C. Grierson writes of “the vein of sheer ugliness which runs through his work, presenting details that seem merely and wantonly repulsive.” What is more, Donne displays what Samuel Johnson argues is “a kind of discordia concors; a combination of dissimilar images.” Through both a cognitive-literary and an empirical study of the metaphors in Donne's poems “The Bait” and “The Flea,” the authors discuss the grotesque nature of his poetic imagery as constituting “a clash of incompatibles, generated by the great distance between the two semantic fields.” The authors argue that it is this clash that sustains bidirectionality in a metaphor, by preserving the tension between its two subjects, while allowing each to alternatively become the focus of one's attention while reading. Donne's use of grotesque imagery thereby juxtaposes semantic fields and their worlds with frightening consequences, and this impacts upon the bidirectionality inherent in the process of metaphor comprehension. Furthermore, this essay will show how the poetic texts enable both embodied simulation and bodily feeling, both of which manifest embodied cognition in the reader; the authors therefore argue that Donne is, in fact, an early advocate of embodied cognition.
Statin (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor)-based therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection-related diseases in the era of direct-acting antiviral agents
Authors: Kishta Sara Sobhy , Kishta Sobhy Ahmed , El-Shenawy Reem
Published: January 2017

Recent improvements have been made in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs). However, despite successful viral clearance, many patients continue to have HCV-related disease progression. Therefore, new treatments must be developed to achieve viral clearance and prevent the risk of HCV-related diseases. In particular, the use of pitavastatin together with DAAs may improve the antiviral efficacy as well as decrease the progression of liver fibrosis and the incidence of HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma. To investigate the management methods for HCV-related diseases using pitavastatin and DAAs, clinical trials should be undertaken. However, concerns have been raised about potential drug interactions between statins and DAAs. Therefore, pre-clinical trials using a replicon system, human hepatocyte-like cells, human neurons and human cardiomyocytes from human-induced pluripotent stem cells should be conducted. Based on these pre-clinical trials, an optimal direct-acting antiviral agent could be selected for combination with pitavastatin and DAAs. Following the pre-clinical trial, the combination of pitavastatin and the optimal direct-acting antiviral agent should be compared to other combinations of DAAs (e.g., sofosbuvir and velpatasvir) according to the antiviral effect on HCV infection, HCV-related diseases and cost-effectiveness.
Concept of Quality Management of Economic Systems As a Mechanism for Re-industrialization
Authors: Мижерова  , Mizherova K. , Свирчевский  , Svirchevskiy Vadim , Юсим  , Yusim Vyacheslav , Есина  , Yesina Alla
Published: January 2017

The article explains the methodology of re-industrialization of the economy, which is based on two components: the group method of providing dynamic optimization of the development of a quantitative quality criterion of the economic system and the group of methods that solve the problem of overcoming resistance to the development of backward technological environment. Methods of the first group based on the use of previously unknown: macroconstants development of the economies and their industrial sectors; the statistical dependence of the quality of economic growth the quality industry; models direct quality management of clusters of firms; a universal indicator of the quality of human-machine systems and goal-setting policy of increasing the quality of the economy as a whole, based on this indicator. Group of methods of overcoming resistance to the development of backward technological environment based on proposed by Russian researchers technology reform of large socio-economic systems, including solutions that provoke positive changes in the backward institutional environment. The proposed methodology can provide enhance coordinated government development processes, the pace of which approach the theoretical maximum in the current institutional and technological environment and the existing resource constraints.
Target Capital Structure of Insurance Companies
Authors: Полякова  , Polyakova M. , Поляков  , Polyakov K.
Published: January 2017

This article is devoted to the analysis of the existence of target capital structure of insurance companies and empirical testing of wide known capital structure theories for Russian insurance companies. Trade-off and “pecking order” theories were considered and the model that reflects the impact on the capital structure indicators various characteristics of firms was built. Traditional for insurance markets coefficients — net premium/capital ratio and liabilities/active ratio — were considered as capital structure indicators. It was shown that tradeoff theory is more adequate for Russian insurance market. The existence of target capital structure was discovered. Such indicators as firm size, the share of premiums transferred to reinsurance, return on assets, returned on capital have significant impact on the capital structure. The opportunity to grow, which was estimated as growth in premiums, and the breadth of the range didn’t has significant impact.
Condutância vascular aumentada em indivíduos fisicamente ativos filhos de hipertensos
Authors: Almeida Leonardo , Freitas Isabelle , Souza Livia , Mira Pedro , Martinez Daniel , Laterza Mateus
Published: January 2017

Objetivou-se testar a hipótese de que a prática regular de exercício físico melhora a função vascular de filhos de hipertensos em repouso. Foram avaliados 13 indivíduos fisicamente ativos filhos de hipertensos (FHA) e 22 indivíduos sedentários filhos de hipertensos (FHS), pareados por idade (22,5±2,9 vs. 23,8±2,7 anos, p=0,18) e IMC (23,8±1,9 vs. 23,0±3,0 kg/m², p=0,45). Foram registrados, simultaneamente, a frequência cardíaca, a pressão arterial, minuto a minuto (método oscilométrico – DIXTAL 2022®) e o fluxo sanguíneo do antebraço (pletismografia de oclusão venosa – Hokanson®), continuamente, durante 3 minutos em repouso. A função vascular foi avaliada por meio da condutância vascular do antebraço, calculada pela divisão do fluxo sanguíneo do antebraço pela pressão arterial média e multiplicada por 100. Foi adotado significância de p≤0,05. Como resultados, em condições basais, os grupos FHA e FHS foram semelhantes para pressão arterial sistólica (124 ± 9 vs. 121 ± 11 mmHg, p=0,42), diastólica (64 ± 5 vs. 64 ± 5 mmHg, p=0,94), média (84 ± 6 vs. 83 ± 7 mmHg, p=0,71) e fluxo sanguíneo do antebraço (3,6 ± 1,1 vs. 2,9 ± 0,9 ml/min/100ml, p=0,06). Mas, o grupo FHA apresentou menor valor de frequência cardíaca de repouso (61 ± 7 vs. 70 ± 8 bpm, p<0,01) e maior condutância vascular do antebraço (4,3 ± 1,3 vs. 3,4 ± 1,0 unidades, p=0,05). Conclui-se que indivíduos fisicamente ativos filhos de hipertensos apresentam melhor função vascular em situação de repouso.
Endoscopic incision of protruding right ureterocele in a single collecting system: a case report
Authors: Hariwibowo Rinto , Rahardjo Harrina E.
Published: January 2017

Protruding ureterocele is a very rare case found in the literature. We are reporting a 21 year-old female with an intermittent protruding mass from urethra, accompanied by dysuria, hematuria, and recurrent urinary tract infection. Inspection of the external genitalia revealed a protruding mass from the urethra which could be reduced manually. Excretory urography showed bilateral single collecting systems, grade II hydronephrosis of the right kidney, and a cobra head appearance of the lower right pelvis. The patient was diagnosed with a protruding right ureterocele in a single collecting system, and thus, endoscopic incision of a ureterocele was performed. Ultrasonography which was carried out three weeks after the procedure confirmed no residual hydronephrosis or ureterocele in the bladder. Voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) underwent at a three-month-follow up revealed a grade 5 vesico-ureteral reflux (VUR) on the right side. Surgical reimplantation was then considered. In conclusion, endoscopic incision was safe and yielded good result for protruding ureteroceles, but the need for secondary surgery in several conditions should be considered.
Management of overactive bladder review: the role of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation
Authors: Wibisono Elita , Rahardjo Harrina E.
Published: January 2017

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common condition that is experienced by around 455 million people (11% of the world population) and associated with significant impact in patients’ quality of life. The first line treatments of OAB are conservative treatment and anti-muscarinic medication. For the refractory OAB patients, the treatment options available are surgical therapy, electrical stimulation, and botulinum toxin injection. Among them, percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is a minimally invasive option that aims to stimulate sacral nerve plexus, a group of nerve that is responsible for regulation of bladder function. After its approval by food and drug administration (FDA) in 2007, PTNS revealed considerable promise in OAB management. In this review, several non-comparative and comparative studies comparing PTNS with sham procedure, anti-muscarinic therapy, and multimodal therapy combining PTNS and anti-muscarinic had supportive data to this consideration.
Epigenetic: A new approach to etiology of infertility
Authors: Lestari Silvia W. , Rizki Meidika D.
Published: January 2017

Infertility is a complex disease which could be caused by male and female factors. The etiology from both factors needs further study. There are some approaches to understanding the etiology of infertility, one of them is epigenetic. Epigenetic modifications consist of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodelling. Male and female germinal cells undergo epigenetic modifications dynamically during differentiation into matured sperm and oocyte cells. In a male, the alteration of DNA methylation in spermatogenesis will cause oligo/asthenozoospermia. In addition, the histone methylation, acetylation, or other histone modification may lead sperm lose its ability to fertilize oocyte. Similarly, in a female, the alteration of DNA methylation and histone modification affects oogenesis, created aneuploidy in fertilized oocytes and resulted in embryonic death in the uterus. Alteration of these epigenetic modification patterns will cause infertility, both in male and female.
Conservare criticamente è, tanto quanto innovare, un’ipotesi. La edición de textos de tradición única (desde la perspectiva gallego-portuguesa)
Authors: Arbor Aldea Mariña
Published: January 2017

En este trabajo se repasan las aportaciones teóricas realizadas por la crítica en lo que atañe a la edición de textos enviados por un único manuscrito y se afrontan las dificultades que en la práctica encuentra el filólogo que trabaja con tales documentos. Los problemas y soluciones posibles (conservación vs. corrección, grafía) se ejemplifican con textos de diferente naturaleza y procedencia, prestando particular atención a la lírica profana gallega y portuguesa de la Edad Media.
El Llibre de cançons, un cançoner cinccentista desconegut
Authors: Rossich Albert
Published: January 2017

Aquest treball estudia i edita un cançoner d’autor, anònim, escrit a mitjan segle XVI i conservat fragmentàriament. De les cent vuitanta composicions que havia contingut inicialment ara només se’n conserven cent: noranta-vuit en català i dues (els números 23 i 24) en castellà. Totes eren desconegudes, encara que una (núm. 21) recrea uns versos que devien ser tradicionals, ja que apareixen amb poca variació en una composició del cançoner Flor de enamorados, de Joan Timoneda. A pesar dels defectes mètrics i estròfics i la reiteració dels tòpics de la poesia de cançoner, en aquest recull també trobem temes nous i un lèxic i una sintaxi populars que el fan interessant.
Los poemas castellanos del Túmulo Imperial de la gran ciudad de México (1560). Edición y comentario
Authors: Sanchis Amat Víctor Manuel
Published: January 2017

A finales de 1559 la ciudad de México celebró las honras fúnebres en memoria de Carlos V alrededor de un catafalco efímero construido en la capilla de San José de los Naturales, a partir del cual se proyectó un programa artístico que mitificaba los hechos del emperador. Francisco Cervantes de Salazar redactó un comentario de las honras donde junto con la descripción de la arquitectura, las pinturas y los emblemas que conformaron el túmulo imperial se transcriben cuatro sonetos y diez octavas reales. El artículo presenta como apéndice documental una edición de estos poemas, precedida de un comentario crítico en el que se analizan las tensiones entre la visión medieval de la muerte y las nuevas representaciones que los humanistas rescataron de la antigüedad clásica para el Renacimiento
Creating a climate that catalyses healthcare innovation in the United Kingdom – learning lessons from international innovators
Authors: Cresswell Kathrin , Cunningham-Burley Sarah , Sheikh Aziz
Published: January 2017

Background: The United Kingdom (UK) lags behind other high-income countries in relation to technological innovation in healthcare. In order to inform UK strategy on how to catalyse innovation, we sought to understand what national strategies can help to promote a climate for innovation in healthcare settings by extracting lessons for the UK from international innovators.Methods: We undertook a series of qualitative semi-structured interviews with senior international innovators from a range of health related policy, care/service delivery, commercial and academic backgrounds. Thematic analysis helped to explore how different stakeholder groups could facilitate/inhibit innovation at individual, organisational, and wider societal levels.Results: We conducted 14 interviews and found that a conducive climate for healthcare innovation comprised of national/regional strategies stimulating commercial competition, promoting public/private relationships, and providing central direction (e.g. incentives for adoption and regulation through standards) without being restrictive. Organisational attitudes with a willingness to experiment and to take risks were also seen as important, but a bottom-up approach to innovation, based on the identification of clinical need, was seen as a crucial first step to construct relevant national policies.Conclusions:  There is now a need to create mechanisms through which frontline National Health Service staff in relation can raise ideas/concerns and suggest opportunities for improvement, and then build national innovation environments that seek to address these needs. This should be accompanied by creating competitive health technology markets to stimulate a commercial environment that attracts high-quality health information technology experts and innovators working in partnership with staff and patients.
Screen-casting as a Technology-enhanced Feedback Mode
Authors: Bissell Laura Claire
Published: January 2017

Feedback by tutors to students on their written assignments is most frequently given via written comments and occasionally through a one-to-one tutorial. Recent developments in screen-casting technology have allowed students to receive feedback in MP4 video format where they are guided through their assignment visually and aurally by the tutor. This paper disseminates the pilot of screen-casting as a technology-enhanced feedback mode in a performing arts HEI. The aim of this limited but focussed research was to explore alternative ways of providing feedback to students and to engage with a range of approaches to learning and assessment. This paper reflects on the potential of screen-casting technology as a feedback mode for written work to provide extensive aural and visual feedback and suggests other possible applications in other areas of learning and teaching.
Exploring the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Student Attainment Gap: What Did It Tell Us? Actions to Address Home BME Undergraduate Students’ Degree Attainment
Authors: Smith Susan
Published: January 2017

This paper explores work in progress on six key actions derived from a project exploring Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) student degree attainment at Leeds Beckett University (LBU). In 2014–15, in common with the wider national picture in higher education, at LBU there was a significant disparity between the percentage achievement of good degrees (Firsts and 2:1 classification) between the white students (64%, who comprise 84% of the total institutional student population) and the BME students (49%, who comprise 16% of the total institutional student population). This attainment gap existed across all the degree programmes after controlling for UCAS tariff points on entry. Indeed, it has been indicated in the literature that the degree attainment gap is strongly related to the experience of teaching and learning at a university (Stephenson, 2012; Office for Fair Access [OFFA], 2015). This context provided the opportunity to examine the particular nature of the BME student experience with a view to using this information to develop local University strategy and actions in relation to identified priority areas. This research used a mixed methods approach of i) documentary analysis of course documentation wording to explore the visibility of inclusive curricular issues and ii) focus groups and interviews to explore staff and student views on BME student experience and achievement. This paper presents findings from student and staff focus groups and documentary evidence from course documents of the five courses in our University which had the highest numbers of enrolled BME students. The findings focused on the BME students’ low confidence, their classroom and placement experience, curricular content, reading lists and delivery. Discussion of these findings by staff and students generated six priorities for short term action. Progress on these actions and proposed future developments are outlined.
Linking Reflective Activities for Self-managed Development of Higher-level Abilities
Authors: Cowan John
Published: January 2017

The writer suggests that the potential of the available range of critically analysed and widely practiced approaches to reflection could generally be better realised. The case is made in relation to the purposeful development of higher-level abilities in higher education, which are increasingly important for employers and learners. In courses where suc­h development is deemed a priority, the writer advocates the structured and self-managed linking of integrated reflective activities, based upon an ePortfolio, which can readily accommodate and accumulate linked digital materials of various types and forms without effort devoted to rewriting. Four common approaches to reflection by learners are outlined and amplified through descriptions of their use, to illustrate the type of outcomes they can generate and their usefulness if linked to other reflections. It is argued that logical course design should structure complementary tasks contributing linked entries to an ePortfolio, so that the affordances of their separate contributions to learning and development are realised.
Effect of irrigation with nutrient solutions mixed with treated wastewater on Asiatic lily ‘Brunello’ grown in a closed soilless culture
Authors: Al-Hammouri Ahmed Abdel-Nabi , Al-Ghawanmeh Khalid , Bani Hani Nabeel , Karam Nabeela
Published: January 2017

A plastic greenhouse study was implemented to evaluate the potential use of treated wastewater for irrigation of Asiatic lily ‘Brunello’ grown in zeolite. Plants received the following treatments: a nutrient solution (N) alone, (N) mixed with treated wastewater (W) at rates of 3N:1W, 1N:1W and 1N:3W respectively. A closed system was used in which the drain solution was circulated for several days until its electrical conductivity reached 2.3 dS m-1, after which fresh irrigation solutions were used to start a second cycle of circulation. The results indicated that plants irrigated with (N) or 3N:1W solution had the longest stems (34.4 and 36.2 cm) respectively, peduncles and buds (about 4.5 cm), and the greatest shoot (3.4 and 3.8 cm) and bud mass (14.95 and 17.6 g) respectively. Plants irrigated with 1N:3W solution had the highest dry mass tissue content of K (3.06 g kg -1) and B (35.5 mg kg-1). Plants irrigated with 1N:1W or 1N:3W were inferior to other plants. It can be concluded that 1N:3W mixture may be used for production of high quality cut flowers of lily. Moreover, it is expected to save 3.4 litres m-2 of a nutrient solution and 1850, 347 and 1870 mg m-2 day-1 for N, P, and K respectively.
Effects of increased concentrations of chloride on the expression of Mn-SOD enzyme in tobacco
Authors: Norastehnia Akbar , SHEYDAEI Parvaneh
Published: January 2017

Chlorine is one of the ions contributing to salinity, despite being an essential micronutrient. Cl- absorption takes place more easily than other nutrients so, the toxic effects of chlorine on the growth has considered rather than its scarcity. Salt stress can ultimately leads to oxidative stress through ROS increase and antioxidant defense system is induced. Therefore, in this study the effect of different concentration of chlorine in irrigation water on the expression of manganese superoxide dismutase was investigated as an indicator of antioxidant defense system activation. Seedlings of tobacco were treated with different concentrations, i.e. 2, 4, 8 mM of CaCl2. Evaluation of Mn-SOD isoenzyme gene expression was performed using RT-qPCR (quantitative reverse transcription PCR) at 0, 3, 6 and 12 hours after treatment. The results showed Mn-SOD gene transcription increased after 3 h treatment with 8 mM CaCl2 and peaked at 6 hours. Based on the observed changes, concentrations of calcium chloride greater than 8 mM in water used for irrigation of tobacco causes stress that results in activation of antioxidant response.
PLANT RESOURCES BASED SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTATION IN DAILY NUTRITION
Authors: Škrabanja Vida
Published: January 2017

Selenium is one of the essential elements that has a direct effect on human health and disease. Environmental conditions and agricultural practice have a profound influence on the selenium content in plants. Cultivation of plants enriched with the selenium has an effective potential for selenium supplementation in diets for population which is exposed to selenium deficiency. Bioavailability of selenium compounds from food is in strong correlation with the source and its chemical form. The selenium of different sources and forms can become a part of human consumption when entering the food chain, wherein the inorganic forms of selenium are metabolized and converted to more available organic forms. Numerous results of systematic research of the selenium content in individual plant species as well as various techniques for producing selenium enriched foodstuffs is reviewed. The soil in Slovenia is selenium-poor and may concern a part of population which is potentially sensitive to selenium status. The merits of selenium effect, either alone or in combination with different environmental changes on plant production published by Slovenian authors are thus closely considered. Controversies continue to prevail regarding adequate amounts for selenium for health and disease prevention. Thus, general and individualized recommendations for selenium intake and supplementation in the future need to be cautiously followed and the reference values continually revised.
Does it Pay to Recall your Product Early? An Empirical Investigation in the Automobile Industry
Authors: Eilert Meike , Jayachandran Satish , Kalaignanam Kartik , Swartz Tracey A.
Published: January 2017

Defective products are often recalled to limit harm to consumers and damage to the firm. However, little is known about why the timing of product recalls varies after an investigation is opened. Likewise, there is little evidence on whether recall timing affects stock markets. This study tests the effect of problem severity on time to recall, the role of brand characteristics in moderating this relationship, and the stock market impact of time to recall. The authors test the hypotheses on a sample of 381 recall investigations in the automobile industry between 1999 and 2012. The results show that although problem severity increases time to recall, this relationship is weaker when the brand under investigation (1) has a strong reputation for reliability and (2) has experienced severe recalls in the recent past. However, the relationship between problem severity and time to recall is stronger when the brand is diverse. Importantly, the results reveal that stock markets punish recall delays. The study suggests that time to recall has significant implications for managers and policy makers.
Visions of “Eco- Law”: A Comment on Capra and Mattei, The Ecology of Law: Toward a Legal System in Tune with Nature and Community (Berrett-Kohler Pubs., 2015)
Authors: Strasser Kurt A.
Published: January 2017

This new book offers an interesting vision of a new legal system, one aimed at promoting sustainable living on the planet. The vision is supported with an interesting and rich discussion comparing the history of scientific thought to the history of legal thought, noting that legal thinking has not yet evolved from mechanistic traditional individual rights centered thinking to a focus on networks and relationships. Yet it needs to do so to move to a new conception of “eco-law” which will support sustainable living and regeneration of the ecosystem. The vision is appealing and the presentation effectively sets the stage for further discussion. Eventually more will be needed to support the adoption of a new “eco-law” vision.
Four laser companies to exceed $1 billion revenue in 2016
Authors: Thoss Andreas F.
Published: January 2017

It seems very likely that for first time four companies will exceed the revenue of $1 billion in 2016. This comes along with substantial changes in the market for lasers and laser systems. The article analyzes some of the changes and looks at the individual success strategies of the major players in these markets.
The semantic change of the word min 民 in texts of the Eastern Zhou Period (771–221 BC)
Authors: Crone Thomas
Published: January 2017

This paper is a follow-up to a previous study whose results suggest that the term min 民 in texts of the Western Zhou Period (ca. 1045–771 BC) primarily refers to subjected lineages and rulers outside of the ancestral homeland of the Zhou kings. The assumption derived from this, namely, that min might have served to distinguish populations of peripheral territories that were supposedly formally subjected to the royal house from those directly controlled by the Zhou kings, will be further examined in this article with regard to later texts of the Eastern Zhou Period. As the first two sections of this article reveal, in texts such as the Zuozhuan and the Guoyu, min continues to be used in a comparable way as it frequently addresses lineages of the dafu 大夫 rank, which in every single “country” (guo 國) could be similarly considered as subordinated “external” (wai 外) entities separated from the central ruling house. In relation to the phenomenon that in texts of the fourth and third centuries BC the semantic content of the word min appears to have shifted to addressing lower population strata, I conclude by arguing that this new usage of min to refer to “the common people” was born out of the political and social changes that occurred during the early Warring States Period and should not easily be projected onto earlier documents as it might lead to crucial misunderstandings in regard to the basic intentions and reasoning of these texts.
China’s New School of Thought-Masters (Xinzixue): An Alternative to Sinologism?
Authors: Vetrov Viatcheslav
Published: January 2017

As is well known, identity studies have always to do with drawing boundaries. In Western sinological works as in the debates of Chinese intellectuals concerning their cultural identity, there are a number of fields which are again and again demarcated against some corresponding fields in other cultures: Chinese philosophy, Chinese literature, Chinese history etc. The practice of drawing boundaries is not limited to the work of the so called cultural relativists. Universalists, who display a critical attitude towards cultural relativism and advocate the equality of cultural phenomena in the world as a matter of principle, construct their argumentation also on the basis of a crucial boundary, i. e. the conception of their own program – their own academic identity – as opposing the program of cultural relativism. The present study defends the idea that any discussion of questions concerning identity constructions, any act of drawing boundaries, as any criticism against drawing them can be interpreted as a political statement and that they become every time problematic when they are accompanied by an explicit negation of politics or when they are not reflected upon as participating in politics. The focus will lie on Chinese readings of Edward Said’s Orientalism (1978) and on current Chinese debates about the issue of national identity.
Catalytic crosslinking of a regenerated hydrophobic benzylated cellulose and nano TiO2 composite for enhanced oil absorbency
Authors: Saliu Oluwaseyi D. , Olatunji Gabriel A. , Yakubu Azeh , Arowona Mariam T. , Mohammed Aminat A.
Published: January 2017

Hydrophobic cellulosic composites with the nano form of metal oxides possess good absorptive and adsorptive potentials. Native cellulose was regenerated, benzylated, crosslinked and blended with TiO2 nanoparticles to absorb toluene, xylene, chloroform, kerosene and petrol. The composite was fully characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission emission microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The effect of crosslinker, catalyst and time of absorption was investigated. The FTIR shows stretch and bend vibrations of hydroxyl (-OH), alkyl (-CH), aromatic double bond (C=C) for benzyl cellulose while the appearance of new peaks at 816, 769 and 726 cm−1 for Ti-O stretching vibrations confirms the successful synthesis of the composite. The SEM images revealed the transformation of foam-like appearance of benzyl cellulose to a solidified mass after TiO2 compositing. Enhanced oil absorption was seen as the amount of the aluminum sulfate catalyst was doubled as a high Qmax of 24.16, 25.81, 27.22, 24.03 and 24.43 was obtained when the amount of catalyst used was doubled.
Death and the Dowry System: India’s Women and Female Children at Global Risk of Gendercide Over Money
Authors: Monani Devaki , Gerry QC Felicity
Published: January 2017

Increasing globalization means that some actions or events transcend national boundaries and often require harmonization of responses. This is increasingly apparent in the context of violence against women and girls as movement of people and culture creates new challenges. News of accusations of dowry harassment against actress Smita Bansal caused a sensation in December 2015. The allegations arose during her brother’s divorce in London. It was suggested that her family had taken away jewelry and money from her sister-in-law during marriage to her brother. The allegations were refuted. True or otherwise, the issue of dowry has been catapulted onto the world stage. Whilst the demanding and giving of dowry has been effectively illegal in India since 1961 (The Dowry prohibition Act, 1961), the practice continues and has been exported globally with migration. No similar provisions appear outside India to protect extra territorial dowry demands or harassment. Research is scant but news reports suggest that women are burned, poisoned, beaten and forced to commit suicide. Female children suffer infanticide and foeticide when dowry is unpaid or deemed insufficient. This paper explores these issues.
Role of oxygen-containing functional surface groups of activated carbons on the elimination of 2-hydroxybenzothiazole from waters in A hybrid heterogeneous ozonation system
Authors: Valdés Héctor , Sánchez-Polo Manuel , Zaror Claudio A.
Published: January 2017

The influence of the variation of chemical surface properties of activated carbons on the sorption capacity of activated carbons used in hybrid heterogeneous ozonation systems is still under discussion. In this study, the effect of long exposure of activated carbon to ozone and its implication on the removal of emerging organic pollutants from waters is evaluated. A commercial activated carbon (Filtrasorb-400) is used here as a raw material. It is chemically modified by continuous ozone exposure. 2-hydroxybenzothiazole (OHBT) is chosen as a target organic contaminant, representative of emerging micro-pollutants. Results obtained here reveal that extensive exposition of activated carbon surface to ozone weakens adsorbate–adsorbent interactions. Highly exposed activated carbon to ozone increases the concentration of oxygen-containing acidic functional groups, leading to a higher concentration of surface electron-withdrawing groups such as carboxylic acid anhydrides and carboxylic acids and reducing the sorption capacity toward OHBT in the hybrid heterogeneous ozonation system. At pH conditions around the point of zero charge (pH
Effect of light and oxygen on repetitive bacterial inactivation on uniform, adhesive, robust and stable Cu-polyester surfaces
Authors: Rtimi Sami , Sanjines Rosendo , Pulgarin Cesar , Kiwi John
Published: January 2017

This study reports new findings on the sputtered Cu-polyester (Cu-PES) bacterial inactivation under low intensity visible light (λ >400 nm). Cu-PES samples sputtered for 160 s led to the complete inactivation of
Photocurrent response and photocatalytic activity of Nd-doped TiO2 thin films prepared by sol-gel method
Authors: Zhu Xiaodong , Song Huijin , Feng Wei , Wen Guilan , Li Haoyu , Zhou Jing
Published: January 2017

The undoped and Nd-doped TiO
Antidiabetic effect of Ruta montana L. in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
Authors: Farid Omar , Hebi Morad , Ajebli Mohammed , Hidani Ahmed EL , Eddouks Mohamed
Published: January 2017

Background:

Ruta montana (L.) is known as a medicinal plant with many beneficial effects, including those that can be used in the treatment of diabetes. The objective of the study was to investigate the antidiabetic effect of this plant in diabetic rat.

Methods:

This study investigated the effects of an aerial part aqueous extract (APAE) of Ruta montana (L.) (RM) at a dose of 5 mg/kg on blood glucose levels in normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Histopathological changes were also evaluated in liver and pancreas both in normal and STZ-induced rats. The effect of this aqueous extract on glucose tolerance was demonstrated in normal rats. Furthermore, the relative organ weight (ROW) of liver, kidney, pancreas, and brown adipose tissue were evaluated after 15 days of daily oral administration of the aqueous extract.

Results:

Both single and repeated oral doses of APAE (5 mg/kg) produced significant reductions in the blood glucose levels in normal and STZ-induced rats. Oral glucose tolerance test results showed that, after the administration of 3 g/kg of glucose, RM APAE (5 mg/kg) improved the increase in blood glucose levels in normal rats at the 30th min (p<0.01) and 90th min (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

RM APAE exhibits a potent hypoglycemic effect in normal rats and an antidiabetic effect in STZ-induced rats. This finding supports the use of this plant in traditional Moroccan medicine for diabetes management.
New insight into the cradle of the grey voles (subgenus Microtus) inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences
Authors: Mahmoudi Ahmad , Darvish Jamshid , Aliabadian Mansour , Yazdani Moghaddam Faezeh , Kryštufek Boris
Published: January 2017

Our aim in this study was to further the understanding of the taxonomic relationships and the evolutionary history of grey voles (subgenus
Iodine(III)-mediated synthesis of chiral α-substituted ketones: recent advances and mechanistic insights
Authors: Basdevant Benoit , Guilbault Audrey-Anne , Beaulieu Samuel , Lauriers Antoine Jobin-Des , Legault Claude Y.
Published: January 2017

The development of iodine(III)-mediated synthetic transformations has received growing interest, in particular to mediate enantioselective processes. In this class, the α-tosyloxylation of ketone derivatives using iodine(III) is a particularly powerful one, as it yields α-tosyloxy ketones – versatile chiral precursors that enable rapid access to numerous α-chiral ketones through nucleophilic displacement. Despite years of research from numerous groups, the enantioselectivities for this transformation have remained modest. Using quantum chemical calculations, we have uncovered a possible rational for the lack of selectivity. With these computational insights, we have developed an alternative experimental strategy and achieved unprecedented levels of selectivities. Applying this newfound knowledge, we have recently developed a new method to access α-halo ketones from non-ketonic precursors.
POD-Galerkin Model for Incompressible Single-Phase Flow in Porous Media
Authors: Wang Yi , Yu Bo , Sun Shuyu
Published: January 2017

Fast prediction modeling via proper orthogonal decomposition method combined with Galerkin projection is applied to incompressible single-phase fluid flow in porous media. Cases for different configurations of porous media, boundary conditions and problem scales are designed to examine the fidelity and robustness of the model. High precision (relative deviation 1.0 × 10−4% ~ 2.3 × 10−1%) and large acceleration (speed-up 880 ~ 98454 times) of POD model are found in these cases. Moreover, the computational time of POD model is quite insensitive to the complexity of problems. These results indicate POD model is especially suitable for large-scale complex problems in engineering.
Survey of Object-Based Data Reduction Techniques in Observational Astronomy
Authors: Łukasik Szymon , Moitinho André , Kowalski Piotr A. , Falcão António , Ribeiro Rita A. , Kulczycki Piotr
Published: January 2017

Dealing with astronomical observations represents one of the most challenging areas of big data analytics. Besides huge variety of data types, dynamics related to continuous data flow from multiple sources, handling enormous volumes of data is essential. This paper provides an overview of methods aimed at reducing both the number of features/attributes as well as data instances. It concentrates on data mining approaches not related to instruments and observation tools instead working on processed object-based data. The main goal of this article is to describe existing datasets on which algorithms are frequently tested, to characterize and classify available data reduction algorithms and identify promising solutions capable of addressing present and future challenges in astronomy.
Role of intramolecular hydrogen bonding in the excited-state intramolecular double proton transfer (ESIDPT) of calix[4]arene: A TDDFT study
Authors: Wang Se , Wang Zhuang , Hao Ce
Published: January 2017

The time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) method was performed to investigate the excited-state intramolecular double proton transfer (ESIDPT) reaction of calix[4]arene (C4A) and the role of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds in the ESIDPT process. The geometries of C4A in the ground state and excited states (S1, S2 and T1) were optimized. Four intramolecular hydrogen bonds formed in the C4A are strengthened or weakened in the S2 and T1 states compared to those in the ground state. Interestingly, upon excitation to the S1 state of C4A, two protons H1 and H2 transfer along the two intramolecular hydrogen bonds O1-H1···O2 and O2-H2···O3, while the other two protons do not transfer. The ESIDPT reaction breaks the primary symmetry of C4A in the ground state. The potential energy curves of proton transfer demonstrate that the ESIDPT process follows the stepwise mechanism but not the concerted mechanism. Findings indicate that intramolecular hydrogen bonding is critical to the ESIDPT reactions in intramolecular hydrogen-bonded systems.
Hydrogen-bonding study of photoexcited 4-nitro-1,8-naphthalimide in hydrogen-donating solvents
Authors: Cao Jianfang , Wu Hongmei , Zheng Yue , Nie Fangyuan , Li Ming , Zou Chenchen
Published: January 2017

The solute–solvent interactions of 4-nitro-1,8-naphthalimide (4NNI) as a hydrogen bond acceptor in hydrogen donating methanol (MeOH) solvent in electronic excited states were investigated by means of the time-dependent density functional theory(TDDFT). We calculated the S0state geometry optimizations, electronic transition energies and corresponding oscillation strengths of the low-lying electronically excited states for the isolated 4NNi and hydrogen-bonded 4NNi-(MeOH)1,4complexes using the density functional theory (DFT) and TDDFT methods. The electronic excitation energies of the hydrogen-bonded complexes are correspondingly decreased compared to that of the isolated 4NNi, which revealed that the intermolecular hydrogen bond C=O···H–O and N=O···H–O in the hydrogen-bonded 4NNi-(MeOH)1,4are strengthened in the electronically excited state. The calculated results are consistent with the mechanism that hydrogen bond strengthening will induce a redshift of the corresponding electronic spectra, while hydrogen bond weakening will cause a blueshift. Furthermore, we believe that the deduction we used to depict the trend of the hydrogen bond changes in excited states exists in many other fuorescent dyes in solution.