bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
National Trends in Nonoperative Management of Rectal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Ellis Clayton Tyler , Samuel Cleo A. , Stitzenberg Karyn B.
Published: March 2016

Purpose

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation for stage II/III rectal cancer results in up to 49% of patients with a clinical complete response. As a result, many have questioned whether surgery can be omitted for this group of patients. Currently, there is insufficient evidence for chemoradiation only, or nonoperative management (NOM), to support its adoption. Despite this, anecdotal evidence suggests there is a trend toward increased use of NOM. Our objective was to examine the use of NOM for rectal cancer over time, as well as the patient- and facility-level factors associated with its use.

Methods

We included all incident cases of invasive, nonmetastatic rectal adenocarcinoma reported to the National Cancer Database from 1998 to 2010. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to assess for NOM use over time, as well as associated patient- and facility-level factors.

Results

A total of 146,135 patients met the inclusion criteria: 5,741 had NOM and 140,394 had surgery with or without additional therapy. From 1998 to 2010, NOM doubled, from 2.4% to 5% of all cases annually. Patients who were black (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.71; 95% CI, 1.57 to 1.86), uninsured (AOR, 2.35; 95% CI, 2.08 to 2.65) or enrolled in Medicaid (AOR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.90 to 2.33), or treated at low-volume facilities (AOR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.42 to 1.64) were more likely to receive NOM than were patients who were white, privately insured, and treated at a high-volume facility, respectively.

Conclusion

NOM demonstrates promise for the treatment of rectal cancer; currently, however, the most appropriate strategy is to pursue this approach with well-informed patients in the context of a clinical trial. We observed evidence of increasing NOM use, with this increase occurring more frequently in black and uninsured/Medicaid patients, raising concern that increased NOM use may actually represent increasing disparities in rectal cancer care rather than innovation. Further studies are needed to assess survival differences by treatment strategy.
Risk of Adverse Health and Social Outcomes Up to 50 Years After Wilms Tumor: The British Childhood Cancer Survivor Study
Authors: Wong Kwok F. , Reulen Raoul C. , Winter David L. , Guha Joyeeta , Fidler Miranda M. , Kelly Julie , Lancashire Emma R. , Pritchard-Jones Kathryn , Jenkinson Helen C. , Sugden Elaine , Levitt Gill , Frobisher Clare , Hawkins Michael M.
Published: March 2016

Purpose

Survivors of Wilms tumor (WT) are at risk for adverse health and social outcomes but risks beyond 30 years from diagnosis remain uncertain. We investigated the risks of adverse outcomes among 5-year survivors of WT, in particular, those between 30 and 50 years from diagnosis.

Patients and Methods

The British Childhood Cancer Survivor Study includes 1,441 5-year survivors of WT. We investigated cause-specific mortality, risk of subsequent primary neoplasms (SPNs), and, for those who completed a questionnaire, the extent of smoking and drinking, educational achievement, health status, and health service use compared with the general population.

Results

Cumulative risk of death from all causes, excluding recurrence, increased substantially from 5.4% to 22.7% at 30 years and 50 years, respectively, after WT diagnosis—75% of excess deaths beyond 30 years from diagnosis were attributable to SPNs (50%) and cardiac diseases (25%). Digestive cancer, most frequently bowel, accounted for 41% of excess cancers beyond 30 years.

Conclusion

Between 30 and 50 years from diagnosis, survivors of WT are at a substantially increased risk of premature mortality, and 75% of excess deaths were accounted for by SPNs and cardiac diseases. Radiotherapy exposure was a risk factor for both outcomes. The proportion of patients with WT who are exposed to radiotherapy has reduced substantially in recent decades because of initiatives such as the SIOP WT 2001 clinical trial, which sought to reduce late effects; however, the majority of current survivors, who are at least 30 years from diagnosis, received radiotherapy. Surveillance of this group should focus on SPNs, in particular, bowel and breast cancers, and cardiac conditions.
Strategies for Empiric Management of Pediatric Fever and Neutropenia in Patients With Cancer and Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation Recipients: A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials
Authors: Robinson Paula D. , Lehrnbecher Thomas , Phillips Robert , Dupuis L. Lee , Sung Lillian
Published: March 2016

Purpose

To describe treatment failure and mortality rates with different antibiotic regimens and different management strategies for empirical treatment of fever and neutropenia (FN) in pediatric patients with cancer and hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and performed searches of MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Studies were included if pediatric patients had cancer or were HSCT recipients and the intervention was related to the management of FN. Strategies synthesized were monotherapy versus aminoglycoside-containing combination therapy; antipseudomonal penicillin monotherapy versus fourth-generation cephalosporin monotherapy; inpatient versus outpatient management; oral versus intravenous antibiotics; and addition of colony-stimulating factors.

Results

Of 11,469 citations screened, 68 studies randomly assigning 7,265 episodes were included. When compared with monotherapy, aminoglycoside-containing combination therapy did not decrease treatment failures (risk ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.92 to 1.38; P = 0.23), and no difference in mortality was observed. Antipseudomonal penicillin and fourth-generation cephalosporin monotherapy were associated with similar failure and mortality rates. Outpatient management and oral antibiotics were safe in low-risk FN with no infection-related mortality observed in any patient and no significant differences in outcomes compared with inpatient management and intravenous therapy. Therapeutic colony-stimulating factors were associated with a 1.42-day reduction in hospitalization (95% CI, 0.62 to 2.22 days; P < .001).

Conclusion

There were a moderate number of pediatric randomized trials of FN management. Monotherapy for high-risk FN and outpatient and oral management for low-risk FN are effective strategies. These findings will provide the basis for guideline recommendations in pediatric FN.
The Effects of Bisphenol A Exposure at Different Developmental Time Points in an Androgen-Sensitive Neuromuscular System in Male Rats
Authors: Jones Bryan A. , Wagner Lydia S. , Watson Neil V.
Published: March 2016

The industrial plasticizer bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous endocrine disruptor to which the general human population is routinely exposed. Although BPA is well known as an estrogenic mimic, there have been some suggestions that this compound may also alter activity at the androgen receptor. To determine whether BPA does have antiandrogenic properties, we evaluated BPA effects in the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus and dorsolateral nucleus, sexually dimorphic groups of motor neurons in the lumbar spinal cord that are critically dependent on androgens for survival and maintenance, as well as the monomorphic retrodorsolateral nucleus. In experiment 1, we administered varying concentrations of BPA to juvenile rats pre- and postnatally and examined both the number and size of motor neurons in adulthood. In experiment 2, different doses of BPA were given to adult rats for 28 days, after which the soma size of motor neurons were measured. Although no effect of BPA on neural survival or soma size was noted after perinatal BPA exposure, BPA exposure did result in a decrease in soma size in all motor neuron pools after chronic exposure in adulthood. These findings are discussed with regard to putative antiandrogenic effects of BPA; we argue that BPA is not antiandrogenic but is acting through nonandrogen receptor-dependent mechanisms.
Spring Forward at Your Own Risk: Daylight Saving Time and Fatal Vehicle Crashes
Authors: Smith Austin C.
Published: March 2016

Daylight Saving Time (DST) impacts over 1.5 billion people, yet many of its impacts on practicing populations remain uncertain. Exploiting the discrete nature of DST transitions and a 2007 policy change, I estimate the impact of DST on fatal automobile crashes. My results imply that from 2002–2011 the transition into DST caused over 30 deaths at a social cost of $275 million annually. Employing four tests to decompose the aggregate effect into an ambient light or sleep mechanism, I find that shifting ambient light only reallocates fatalities within a day, while sleep deprivation caused by the spring transition increases risk. (JEL I12, Q48, R41)
Internal Labor Migration as a Shock Coping Strategy: Evidence from a Typhoon
Authors: Gröger André , Zylberberg Yanos
Published: March 2016

We analyze how internal labor migration facilitates shock coping in rural economies. Employing high-precision satellite data, we identify objective variations in the inundations generated by a catastrophic typhoon in Vietnam and match them with household panel data before and after the shock. We find that, following a massive drop in income, households cope mainly through labor migration to urban areas. Households with settled migrants ex ante receive more remittances. Nonmigrant households react by sending new members away who then remit similar amounts than established migrants. This mechanism is most effective with long-distance migration, while local networks fail to provide insurance. (JEL J61, O15, P25, P36, Q54, R23)
Income Opportunities and Sea Piracy in Indonesia: Evidence from Satellite Data
Authors: Axbard Sebastian
Published: March 2016

The effect of climatic variation on conflict and crime is well established, but less is known about the mechanism through which this effect operates. This study contributes to the literature by exploiting a new source of exogenous variation in climate to study the effect of fishermen's income opportunities on sea piracy. Using satellite data to construct a monthly measure of local fishing conditions it is found that better income opportunities reduce piracy. A wide range of approaches are employed to ensure that these effects are driven by income opportunities rather than other mechanisms through which climate could affect piracy. (JEL D74, J31, K42, O13, O17, Q22, Q54)
Market Impacts of a Nuclear Power Plant Closure
Authors: Davis Lucas , Hausman Catherine
Published: March 2016

Falling revenues and rising costs have put US nuclear plants in financial trouble, and some threaten to close. To understand the potential private and social consequences, we examine the abrupt closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) in 2012. Using a novel econometric approach, we show that the lost generation from SONGS was met largely by increased in-state natural gas generation. In the twelve months following the closure, natural gas generation costs increased by $350 million. The closure also created binding transmission constraints, causing short-run inefficiencies and potentially making it more profitable for certain plants to act noncompetitively. (JEL D24, L25, L94, L98, Q42, Q48)
The Returns to Medical School: Evidence from Admission Lotteries
Authors: Ketel Nadine , Leuven Edwin , Oosterbeek Hessel , van der Klaauw Bas
Published: March 2016

We exploit admission lotteries to estimate the returns to medical school in the Netherlands. Using data from up to 22 years after the lottery, we find that in every single year after graduation doctors earn at least 20 percent more than people who end up in their next-best occupation. Twenty-two years after the lottery the earnings difference is almost 50 percent. Only a small fraction of this difference can be attributed to differences in working hours and human capital investments. The returns do not vary with gender or ability, and shift the entire earnings distribution. (JEL D44, I11, I26, J24, J31, J44)
Immigrants' Effect on Native Workers: New Analysis on Longitudinal Data
Authors: Foged Mette , Peri Giovanni
Published: March 2016

Using longitudinal data on the universe of workers in Denmark during the period 1991–2008, we track the labor market outcomes of low-skilled natives in response to an exogenous inflow of low-skilled immigrants. We innovate on previous identification strategies by considering immigrants distributed across municipalities by a refugee dispersal policy in place between 1986 and 1998. We find that an increase in the supply of refugee-country immigrants pushed less educated native workers (especially the young and low-tenured ones) to pursue less manual-intensive occupations. As a result immigration had positive effects on native unskilled wages, employment, and occupational mobility. (JEL J15, J24, J31, J61, J62)
How many biological replicates are needed in an RNA-seq experiment and which differential expression tool should you use?
Authors: Schurch Nicholas J. , Schofield Pietá , Gierliński Marek , Cole Christian , Sherstnev Alexander , Singh Vijender , Wrobel Nicola , Gharbi Karim , Simpson Gordon G. , Owen-Hughes Tom , Blaxter Mark , Barton Geoffrey J.
Published: March 2016

RNA-seq is now the technology of choice for genome-wide differential gene expression experiments, but it is not clear how many biological replicates are needed to ensure valid biological interpretation of the results or which statistical tools are best for analyzing the data. An RNA-seq experiment with 48 biological replicates in each of two conditions was performed to answer these questions and provide guidelines for experimental design. With three biological replicates, nine of the 11 tools evaluated found only 20%–40% of the significantly differentially expressed (SDE) genes identified with the full set of 42 clean replicates. This rises to >85% for the subset of SDE genes changing in expression by more than fourfold. To achieve >85% for all SDE genes regardless of fold change requires more than 20 biological replicates. The same nine tools successfully control their false discovery rate at ≲5% for all numbers of replicates, while the remaining two tools fail to control their FDR adequately, particularly for low numbers of replicates. For future RNA-seq experiments, these results suggest that at least six biological replicates should be used, rising to at least 12 when it is important to identify SDE genes for all fold changes. If fewer than 12 replicates are used, a superior combination of true positive and false positive performances makesedgeRandDESeq2the leading tools. For higher replicate numbers, minimizing false positives is more important andDESeqmarginally outperforms the other tools.
Probiotics in critically ill children
Authors: Singhi Sunit C. , Kumar Suresh
Published: March 2016

Gut microflora contribute greatly to immune and nutritive functions and act as a physical barrier against pathogenic organisms across the gut mucosa. Critical illness disrupts the balance between host and gut microflora, facilitating colonization, overgrowth, and translocation of pathogens and microbial products across intestinal mucosal barrier and causing systemic inflammatory response syndrome and sepsis. Commonly used probiotics, which have been developed from organisms that form gut microbiota, singly or in combination, can restore gut microflora and offer the benefits similar to those offered by normal gut flora, namely immune enhancement, improved barrier function of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and prevention of bacterial translocation. Enteral supplementation of probiotic strains containing eitherLactobacillusalone or in combination withBifidobacteriumreduced the incidence and severity of necrotizing enterocolitis and all-cause mortality in preterm infants. Orally administeredLactobacillus caseisubspeciesrhamnosus,Lactobacillus reuteri, andLactobacillus rhamnosuswere effective in the prevention of late-onset sepsis and GIT colonization byCandidain preterm very low birth weight infants. In critically ill children, probiotics are effective in the prevention and treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Oral administration of a mix of probiotics for 1 week to children on broad-spectrum antibiotics in a pediatric intensive care unit decreased GIT colonization byCandida, led to a 50% reduction in candiduria, and showed a trend toward decreased incidence of candidemia. However, routine use of probiotics cannot be supported on the basis of current scientific evidence. Safety of probiotics is also a concern; rarely, probiotics may cause bacteremia, fungemia, and sepsis in immunocompromised critically ill children. More studies are needed to answer questions on the effectiveness of a mix versus single-strain probiotics, optimum dosage regimens and duration of treatment, cost effectiveness, and risk-benefit potential for the prevention and treatment of various critical illnesses.
Tools for Sustainable Development of High-Tech Enterprises in the Face of Current Challenges and Threats
Authors: Пименов  , Pimenov Vladimir , Быстров  , Bystrov Andrey , Калиматова  , Kalimatova L.
Published: March 2016

The current challenges and threats undermine economic security of the most production enterprises, primarily as the result of such environmental factors, as sanctions and declining oil prices, which in turn significantly affects the whole Russian economy, heavily dependent on energy resources exports. These external factors also threaten the financial stability and create prerequisites for crisis situations at the enterprises, ultimately undermining their economic security. The paper reveals the close relationship between such concepts, as sustainability and economic security, and shows the role of financial strategy as one of the tools to ensure sustainable development of an enterprise under the mentioned conditions. The research findings are considered through the case study of high-tech enterprises within the defence-industrial complex of this country.
Managing Economic Calculations of a Company
Authors: Ровенский  , Rovenskiy Yu. , Наточеева  , Natocheeva N. , Белянчикова  , Belyanchikova T.
Published: March 2016

The paper considers the issues of how to manage the accounts receivable and

accounts payable based on the findings of analysis of thereof. The authors

propose to sort out definite stages in debt management and suggest ways to

calculate the working capital amount to be allocated to accounts receivable; to

assess the company financial performance, subject to the provision of onemonth

and three-month discounts to debtors, and to evaluate the effect of the

increase in accounts receivable in the upcoming period. All the above help to

enhance efficiency of the company’s credit policy and of the accounts payables

management and also allow to reduce financial losses related to attracting

additional sources of capital.
Literacy campaign aims to improve quality and choice
Authors: Billington Charlotte
Published: March 2016

MA Education Ltd, St Jude's Church, Dulwich Road, London, SE24 0PB. neil.henty@markallengroup.com
What we can learn from…: Bedrooms!
Authors: Chapman Ailsa
Published: March 2016

This month, we will delve further into where we live by exploring ‘bedrooms’ past and present. There is so much for children to find out about and so many directions their interests can take learning.
All in the imagination
Authors: Chalmers Debbie
Published: March 2016

Young children are born with the capacity to be naturally imaginative, but this must be encouraged to thrive and develop throughout childhood if we are to help inspire them to become creative adults.
Mary had a little lamb
Authors: Hammond Paula
Published: March 2016

Physical activity is intrinsically linked to healthy development in young children and what better way to encourage them to get moving then to link exercise to familiar stories and nursery rhymes.
Hip and knee arthroplasty implants contraindicated in obesity
Authors: Craik JD , Bircher MD , Rickman M
Published: March 2016

Introduction

High patient weight is a risk factor for mechanical implant failure and some manufacturers list obesity as a contraindication for implant use. We reviewed data from the 2012–2013 UK National Joint Registry to determine whether surgical practice reflects these manufacturer recommendations.

Methods

The product literature for the most commonly used hip and knee implants was reviewed for recommendations against use in obese patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30kg/m2). The total number of obese patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty was calculated, as was the proportion receiving implants against manufacturer recommendations.

Results

Out of 200,054 patient records, 147,691 (74%) had a recorded BMI. The mean BMI for patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty was 29kg/m2, compared with 31kg/m2 for total knee arthroplasty. Of the 25 components reviewed, 5 listed obesity as a contraindication or recommended against implant use in obese patients. A total of 10,745 patients (16% of all obese patients) received implants against manufacturer recommendations.

Conclusions

A high proportion of patients are receiving implants against manufacturer recommendations. However, there are limitations to using BMI for stratifying risk of implant fatigue failure and manufacturers should therefore provide more detailed guidelines on size specific implant load limits to facilitate surgical decisions.
Biological Variation of Plasma and Urinary Markers of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Carter Joanne L , Parker Christopher T , Stevens Paul E , Eaglestone Gillian , Knight Sarah , Farmer Christopher K T , Lamb Edmund J
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND

Identification of acute kidney injury (AKI) is predominantly based on changes in plasma creatinine concentration, an insensitive marker. Alternative biomarkers have been proposed. The reference change value (RCV), the point at which biomarker change can be inferred to have occurred with statistical certainty, provides an objective assessment of change in serial tests results in an individual.

METHODS

In 80 patients with chronic kidney disease, weekly measurements of blood and urinary biomarker concentrations were undertaken over 6 weeks. Variability was determined and compared before and after adjustment for urinary creatinine and across subgroups stratified by level of kidney function, proteinuria, and presence or absence of diabetes.

RESULTS

RCVs were determined for whole blood, plasma, and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (111%, 59%, and 693%, respectively), plasma cystatin C (14%), creatinine (17%), and urinary kidney injury molecule 1 (497%), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (454%), N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (361%), interleukin-18 (819%), albumin (430%), and α1-microglobulin (216%). Blood biomarkers exhibited lower variability than urinary biomarkers. Generally, adjusting urinary biomarker concentrations for creatinine reduced (P < 0.05) within-subject biological variability (CVI). For some markers, variation differed (P < 0.05) between subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

These data can form a basis for application of these tests in clinical practice and research studies and are applicable across different levels of kidney function and proteinuria and in the presence or absence of diabetes. Most of the studied biomarkers have relatively high CVI (noise) but also have reported large concentration changes in response to renal insult (signal); thus progressive change should be detectable (high signal-to-noise ratio) when baseline data are available.
A Home for Life? A Critical Perspective on Housing Choice for “Downsizers” in the UK
Authors: Adam Park , Friederike Ziegler
Published: March 2016

A range of policy, research and media commentary has highlighted the link between housing, health, and wellbeing in later life, with discourses around “ageing in place” and “downsizing” emerging as particularly dominant. Proponents of “downsizing” strategies argue that the motivation for older people should be self-evident: difficulties with maintenance, heating bills, getting upstairs, and the increasing risk of falls are all commonly referred to. This outlook also highlights the economic benefits of downsizing to “age-appropriate” housing, particularly in relation to potential savings for health and social care budgets. Drawing upon participatory research with older people in the city of Sheffield, UK, this paper critiques current practices and discourses around the commissioning, design, and management of purpose-built retirement housing. The paper calls for an urgent need to reframe housing from a lifecourse perspective and to recognize older people as active citizens, for whom their homes are essential to their continuing to contribute to family life and society. We argue for a more nuanced debate around “downsizing” and “ageing in place”, and call for policy-makers to recognize the risk of spatially and socially marginalizing older people through current limitations in housing choices. The paper concludes by setting out a number of measures to improve the choice, quality, and flexibility of housing for later life.
The New Role of Ulama in Nigeria: Focus on the Post 1999 Democratic Dispensation
Authors: Bunza Mukhtar Umar
Published: March 2016

Nigeria is a country with a centuries’ long tradition of Islamic revivalism and activism. It was the impact of the activities of the 17th century scholars of Nigeria that culminated in the success of the 19th century tajdeed movement that brought about the emergence of the muslim caliphate of Sokoto. British imperialism brought an end to the caliphate in the beginning of the 20th century, the circumstances of which have been consistently challenged mainly by the ulama and their followers ever since. Some contemporary scholars such as Shaikh Abubakar Mahmud Gummi, former Grand Qadi of Northern Nigeria, contributed significantly in the new dimension to the roles of muslim scholars in the government. Since 1999 muslim scholars have taken on new roles in the administration of states, serving as commissioners for newly established ministries for Religious Affairs, as special advisers, or directors of commissions like Hisbah, Hajj, Masjid, Moon Sighting, and other related government bodies, with full salaries and other benefits unlike ever before in the Nigerian system. This new role of ulama and its impacts in the governance of the contemporary Nigeria is what this paper intends to investigate and expound.[Nigeria merupakan sebuah negara dengan tradisi revivalisme dan aktivisme Islam selama berabad-abad. Hal itu terkait dengan upaya para ulama Nigeria abad ke-17 yang berpuncak pada keberhasilan gerakan tajdid pada abad 19 dengan munculnya kekhalifahan muslim dari Sokoto. Imperialisme Inggris mengakhiri kekhalifahan ini pada awal abad ke-20, yang terus dilawan oleh terutama para ulama secara konsisten. Beberapa ulama kontemporer seperti Syaikh Abubakar Mahmud Gummi, mantan Grand Qadi Nigeria Utara, memberikan kontribusi signifikan dalam membentuk dimensi baru peran ulama dalam pemerintahan Nigeria modern. Sejak tahun 1999 para ulama telah mengambil peran baru dalam pemerintahan, sebagai pegawai Kementerian Agama yang baru didirikan, sebagai penasihat ahli, atau direktur komisi seperti Hisbah, Haji, Masjid, Rukyah Hilal, dan badan-badan pemerintah terkait lainnya, dengan gaji penuh. Peran baru dari ulama dan pengaruhnya dalam pemerintahan Nigeria kontemporer inilah yang menjadi fokus tulisan ini.]
Ślub kościelny wymogiem miłości
Authors: Dudziak Urszula
Published: March 2016

Celem niniejszego artykułu jest odpowiedź na pytanie, czemu służy ślub kościelny. Dla dojrzałych w wierze i miłości katolików zrozumiałe jest, że rozpoczyna on nową małżeńską drogę, będąc przymierzem zawartym na całe życie. Realizacja celów małżeństwa takich, jak: wzajemna miłość, doskonalenie się i uświęcenie, przekazywanie życia i wychowanie dzieci poprzez własny przykład w pełni możliwa jest po ślubie kościelnym. Wobec wielu wewnętrznych i zewnętrznych zagrożeń więzi małżeńskiej i rodzicielskiej nieodzowna jest pomoc łaski Bożej. Liczne negatywne następstwa „zabawy w miłość” wyrażającej się we współżyciu seksualnym poza kontekstem małżeństwa i płodzeniu dzieci poza kontekstem rodziny oraz zjawisko konkubinatów ujawniają potrzebę zintensyfikowania działań wychowawczych. Dotyczy to zwłaszcza wychowania religijnego w aspekcie sakramentologii, liturgiki, moralności, a także przygotowania do życia w małżeństwie i rodzinie, wychowania do miłości i odpowiedzialnego rodzicielstwa.
Duch sakramentalnej pokuty
Authors: Biskup Marian
Published: March 2016

30. rocznica adhortacji Recontiliatio et paenitentia, ogłoszonej przez Ojca Świętego Jana Pawła II, jest dobrą okazją, aby skłonić do refleksji na temat znaczenia i sensu pokuty i nawrócenia. Adhortacja inspiruje nas do rozpoczęcia podróży odkrycia  pokuty w duchu ewangelicznym, co z kolei pociąga za sobą zrozumienie ducha sakramentalnej pokuty. Cała Ewangelia jest przeniknięta Boską Miłością ku człowiekowi, objawioną przez Boga Syna - Jezusa Chrystusa. Pokuta i nawrócenie powinny być przepojone miłością i pragnieniem doświadczania miłości miłosiernej Boga przez człowieka. Stąd jest to wielowymiarowa radość, która stanowi owoc pokuty. Jesteśmy w stanie podkreślić potrójne potwierdzenie pokuty, wynikająca ze zrozumienia ewangelicznej wizji.
Rola sakramentu pokuty w życiu osób korzystających ze spowiedzi na podstawie badań ankietowych
Authors: Gaca Adam
Published: March 2016

Artykuł jest próbą opisania postawy wobec sakramentu pokuty. Badanie ankietowe zostały przeprowadzone na grupie 65 osób. Jeden z aspektów dotyczył praktycznego podejścia osób badanychpraktycznego sakramentu pokuty i pojednania. Wykazano, że wysoki stopień deklarowanej religijności często nie idzie w parze z praktykowania tego sakramentu.
“Snake legs it to freedom”: Dummy it as pseudo-object”
Authors: Mondorf Britta
Published: March 2016

While dummy
When variables align: A Bayesian multinomial mixed-effects model of English permissive constructions
Authors: Levshina Natalia
Published: March 2016

This paper is a quantitative multifactorial study of the near-synonymous constructionslet+V,allow+toV andpermit+toV based on the British National Corpus. The study investigates the differences between these constructions with the help of 23 formal, semantic, social and collostructional variables. A Bayesian multinomial mixed-effects model reveals a remarkable alignment of the variables that represent different dimensions of variation, namely, the linguistic distance between the predicates, the conceptual distance between the events they represent, the distance between the speaker and the Permitter and Permittee on the animacy/entrenchment/empathy hierarchy, the social and communicative distance between the interlocutors, as well as the strength of collostructional attraction between the constructions and second verb slot fillers. The paper offers several possible explanations for this alignment from a cognitive, functional and historical perspective.
Metaphor in culture: LIFE IS A SHOW in Chinese
Authors: Yu Ning , Jia Dingding
Published: March 2016

This study analyzes the linguistic patterns via both qualitative and quantitative data that manifest the underlying conceptual metaphorlife is a showin Chinese. It starts with an analysis of theperforming artsframe as the source domain of theshowmetaphor. The frame comprises three major aspects:people, performance, andvenue, and each of them has a focal element, respectivelyrole, opera, andstage. It argues that the second one,opera, which refers to “Chinese opera”, a prominent form of performing arts in traditional Chinese culture, is the central element that dominates the whole frame. A systematic qualitative analysis of linguistic data shows that, because its source domain centers onChinese opera, thelife is a showmetaphor generates a large number of culture-specific linguistic instantiations in Chinese. A quantitative perspective supported by corpus data reinforces the argument that this metaphor plays a central role in the Chinese conceptualization of events and phenomena in various domains of life, constituting a core component of the Chinese cultural model of life. The study concludes that theshowmetaphor has a salient subversionlife is an operain Chinese, in contrast with its sisterlife is a playfound salient in English.
The role of DO-auxiliary in subject-auxiliary inversion: Developing Langacker’s notion of existential negotiation
Authors: Duffley Patrick
Published: March 2016

This paper builds on Langacker’s (in press. How to build an English clause.Journal of Foreign Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics2(2)) analysis of subject-auxiliary inversion (SAI) as involving “existential negotiation”. Langacker’s account is completed by relating it to full verb inversion (FVI). In FVI, non-core elements are fronted, resulting in inversion without an auxiliary, as inInto the room walked Mary; however, non-core elements are also frontable in SAI, as inBitterly did we regret our decision.Dois treated as denoting full actualization and SAI is accounted for by focus on an exceptionally intense mode of actualization, whence the use ofdoto explicitly express what is focused on. The role ofinto the roomin the FVI example is to define a locus into which an entity is introduced. Since this does not involve focus on the fact or manner of the verbal event’s actualization,dois not used. This leads to a different division of inverted structures than that of Chen (2013. Subject auxiliary inversion and linguistic generalization: Evidence for functional/cognitive motivation in language.Cognitive Linguistics24. 1–32), who distinguishes those that merely reverse subject and auxiliary (argued to denote non-indicative mood) from those where the inverted auxiliary-subject order is accompanied by fronting of a non-subject element (treated as involving focus on the fronted item). It is argued here that frontingdo-auxiliary marks focus on the actualization of the verbal event itself.
Importance of perinatal care for pregnant women with severe fetal multiple limb abnormalities
Authors: Sawanobori Yukiko , Hasegawa Junichi , Nakamura Masamitsu , Hamada Shoko , Matsuoka Ryu , Sekizawa Akihiko
Published: March 2016

Severe major limb abnormalities of the fetus found by antenatal ultrasound screening are often difficult to be accepted by pregnant women. We experienced two cases with fibular aplasia, tibial campomelia, and oligosyndactyly (FATCO) syndrome, and Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS). Appropriate perinatal care coordinated by obstetricians, pediatric specialists, genetic counselors, nurses, and social workers successfully ensured the better acceptance of the parents toward the severe anomalies complicated in the newborn. In this report, we described the two cases of patients with fetuses prenatally diagnosed with severe fetal limb anomalies.
Learning Cantonese as an additional language (CAL) or not: What the CAL learners say
Authors: Li David C. S. , Keung Shuet , Poon Hon Fong , Xu Zhichang
Published: March 2016

Based on qualitative data obtained from 33 participants in four focus groups, two each in Putonghua (17) and English (16) respectively, this study shows that learners of Cantonese as an additional language (CAL) in Hong Kong experience a lot of difficulties. As a ‘dialect’, Cantonese has not been standardized and is not part of school literacy. A variety of romanization systems are used in commercially obtainable learning aid like Cantonese course books and bilingual dictionaries, which tend to diverge from romanized Cantonese in street signs and personal names. Independent learning is difficult while incidental learning is almost impossible. Cantonese tuition, often focusing on tones, is reportedly not so helpful. With six distinctive tonemes, the Cantonese tone system appears to be a major stumbling block. When spoken to in Cantonese, local speakers tend to switch to English or Putonghua. Inaccuracies in tone contours often trigger laughter, damaging CAL learners’ self-esteem and dampening their motivation to learn and speak Cantonese. Unlike sojourners, non-Chinese residents who see themselves as Hongkongers often get upset as their identity claims are questioned or even challenged by the mainstream Cantonese society.
A facile one-pot synthesis of aryl-substituted fused pyrimidinones
Authors: Lee Hyuck Joo , Song Yang-Heon
Published: March 2016

The convenient synthesis of a series of 3-phenylpyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidinones 4, 3-phenylpyrimido[1,2-c]quinazolinones 7 and 3-phenylpyrazino[1,2-a]pyrimidinones 10 with promising biological activity is presented.
Acid-base properties and keto-enol equilibrium of a 5-substituted derivative of 1,3-diethyl-2-thiobarbituric acid
Authors: Lutoshkin Maxim Alexandrovich , Golovnev Nicolay Nicolaevich
Published: March 2016

This article deals with spectrophotometric and ab initio studies of 1,3-diethyl-7-hydroxy-5,5,7-trimethyl-2-thioxo-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydro-4Hpyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one (HDEAC). Acid-base properties for I = 0.25 and in a strongly acidic solution of HCl (I → 0) were investigated. The obtained value of pKa (5.79±0.02) and -pKH (1.68±0.03) show that this compound is a weaker acid than thiobarbituric acid. For interpretation of the spectrophotometric data the ab initio methods with density functional theory at level PBE0/cc-pVDZ/SMD were used. The most energetically favorable structures for neutral and cationic forms of HDEAC were proposed.
Curing of wood treated with vinyl acetate-epoxidized linseed oil copolymer (VAc-ELO)
Authors: Cai Shengzhen , Jebrane Mohamed , Terziev Nasko
Published: March 2016

Scots pine sapwood was treated with a new formulation consisting of vinyl acetate (VAc) and epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) catalyzed by potassium persulfate to impart protection to wood. The effects of various curing temperatures, durations, and solution uptakes on dimensional stability (DS) and leachability were studied. The new formulation provided good anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) ranging from 35% to 47% with negligible leaching of the treating agent after four cycles of water soaking and oven drying (2%–2.5%). The extent of polymerization in wood was observed by FTIR-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) by evaluation of the areas below typical IR bands as a function of curing temperature and time. Linear relationships were found with high R2 values. The FTIR data of extracted samples were interpreted that chemical reactions took place between the resulting copolymer and wood components.
Mixing Behaviors of Jets in Cross-Flow for Heat Recovery of Partial Oxidation Process
Authors: Yu Xinyu , Chen Tianwen , Zhang Qi , Wang Tiefeng
Published: March 2016

In our previous work, a new technology has been proposed that the cooled synthetic gas (syngas) produced in the partial oxidation process can be used as quenching medium. The mixing of the hot product gas and cold syngas is critical to this new quenching approach. In this work, both experimental measurements and CFD simulations were conducted to study the mixing behavior of the jets in cross-flow (JICF). A mixing apparatus with four jets was set up. Methane was used as the tracing gas and the concentration distribution was measured using an FID detector. The realizable k-ε model was found to give better predictions of the experimental data among the three k-ε models. The effects of jet incident angle θ, jet velocity to mainstream velocity ratio VR and Reynolds number on the mixing behavior were investigated. The results showed that the optimum jet incident angle was 145°. For configuration with jet incident angle smaller than 130°, increasing the velocity ratio VR in the range of 1–3 improves the mixing. When the jet incident angle is larger than 130°, the optimized range of velocity ratio VR is 1.8–2.4. The Reynolds number has insignificant effect on the spatial distribution of mixedness, indicating that the optimum design parameters obtained at low Reynolds number can be used to guide the choosing of industry operating conditions with Reynolds number as high as 3.13×105–6.26×105.
UNGASS 2016 in Comparative Perspective: Improving the Prospects for Success
Authors: Felbab-Brown Vanda , Trinkunas Harold
Published: March 2016

As the international community prepares for the 2016 United Nations Special Session of the General Assembly on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS 2016), the global counternarcotics regime faces profound challenges. An increasing number of countries now find the regime’s emphasis on punitive approaches to illicit drugs to be problematic and are asking for reform. However, critical players such as Russia and China remain committed to the preservation of the existing approaches. At the global level, much has changed since 1998 that undermines the previous global consensus on punitive counternarcotics strategies: illicit markets and networks have shifted; the harms and costs of drugs are unevenly distributed; and states no longer agree on what drug policies work. This moment of global disagreement, which is reflected at UNGASS 2016, provides an important opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness and problematic side-effects of existing counternarcotics policies and to emphasize evidence-based strategies. This article argues that UNGASS 2016 should inject realism into the global discussion of drug policy objectives, instead of once again setting an unattainable goal of a drug-free world. The overall goal should be to strengthen states as they cope with the costs, harms, and threats posed by drug use and drug trade, and to do so in ways that increase, not erode, their legitimacy through policies that advance human rights and strengthen the bonds between the state and their citizens.
Polyol-based biodegradable polyesters: a short review
Authors: Tham Weng Hong , Wahit Mat Uzir , Abdul Kadir Mohammed Rafiq , Wong Tuck Whye , Hassan Onn
Published: March 2016

Catalyst-free thermal polyesterification has recently emerged as a potential strategy for designing biodegradable thermoset polymers, particularly polyol-based polyesters for biomedical applications. These thermoset polyesters are synthesized through polycondensation of polyol and polyacid without the presence of catalyst or solvents. The mechanical properties, degradation rates, crystallinity, hydrophilicity, and biocompatibility can be controlled by adjusting the monomer feed ratios and curing conditions. These polyesters often degrade via surface erosion that allows the polymers to maintain structural integrity throughout hydrolysis. Additionally, polyol-based polyesters demonstrated good biocompatibility as non-toxic catalysts and/or solvents involved in the reaction, and the monomers used are endogenous to human metabolism which can be resorbed and metabolized in various physiological pathways. This review summarizes the polyol-based biodegradable polyesters that were synthesized by catalyst-free polyesterification.
Crosslinking of starch and its effect on viscosity behaviour
Authors: Shah Nimish , Mewada Rajubhai K. , Mehta Tejal
Published: March 2016

Starch is a widely used component in the food industry. Native starch does not have the desired properties, so it is modified according to the required properties. Out of different methods, crosslinking is one of the widely used ones. There are different crosslinking agents available. The method and mechanism of widely used crosslinking agents like phosphorous oxychloride, adipate and epichlorohydrin are discussed and compared. When starch is crosslinked, its properties vary. The extent of crosslinking can be predicted with the help of properties like viscosity and swelling. They are also compared for crosslinking by different agents.
The physico-chemical properties of some citrus seeds and seed oils
Authors: Juhaimi Fahad A.L. , Matthäus Bertrand , Özcan Mehmet Musa , Ghafoor Kashif
Published: March 2016

The chemical properties, mineral contents, fatty acid and tocopherol contents of seed and seed oils of some citrus genus provided from several locations in Turkey and Saudi Arabia were determined. While Ca contents of seeds were between 5018 mg/kg (Kütdiken lemon) and 7619 mg/kg (kinnow mandarin), K contents of seeds varied between 7007 mg/kg (Orlando orange) and 10334 mg/kg (kinnow mandarin). Glucose and fructose contents of citrus seed samples varied between 3.75 g/kg and 5.75 g/kg, and 4.09 g/kg and 6.03 g/kg. Palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids were established as dominant fatty acids. Palmitic, oleic and linoleic acid contents of citrus seed oils varied between 19.6% (Kütdiken lemon) and 26.2% (pineapple orange), 21.3% (kinnow mandarin) and 31.4% (Kütdiken lemon) and 32.3% (Kütdiken lemon) and 43.7% (kinnow mandarin), respectively. The total amount of tocopherols of Turkish citrus oil varied between 0.5 mg/100 g (Fremont mandarin) and 18.8 mg/100 g (bitter orange).
Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Made With Basalt-Bundled Fibers
Authors: Iyer P. , Kenno S. Y. , Das S.
Published: March 2016

Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) has become a viable new material used in various flatwork construction projects, such as building pavements, large industrial floors, and runways. In this research, basalt chopped fibers in bundled form were used to make an FRC material called basalt fiber-reinforced concrete (BFRC) to study the possible improvement in the 28-day compressive strength and modulus of rupture, although the latter one is the more important factor in flatwork construction. The basalt fiber specimens were cast using basalt-bundled fibers of three different lengths and three different amounts. The results indicated that 36-mm-long chopped basalt-bundled fibers, and the fiber amount of 8 kg/m3 are the optimum fiber length and fiber quantity for achieving the best performance of both the compressive strength and modulus of rupture. This paper discusses the test matrix and test results obtained from various BFRC and plain concrete specimens.
Investigation of Mott–Schottky Analysis Test Parameters to Study the Semiconductive Properties of Passive Films of Carbon Steel in Highly Alkaline Environments
Authors: Williamson J. , Isgor O. B.
Published: March 2016

A testing methodology for using Mott–Schottky (M-S) analysis to study the semiconductive properties of passive films that form on carbon steel in simulated concrete pores solutions (pH > 12.5) is presented. The development of the methodology includes determining the proper M-S potential sweep range, rate, and frequency for the passive steel, which were found to be −0.5 to 0.5 V, 18 mV/s, and 1000 Hz, respectively. The methodology was then applied to steel rebar in a saturated calcium hydroxide passivating solution (pH 12.6) to simulate the highly alkaline environments seen in concrete. Potentiostatically formed passive film was different from the film formed under open-circuit conditions. The passive film on steel rebar was found to be n-type with two discrete donor species. A donor density on the order of 1021 cm−3, a flatband potential of −0.53 V, and a maximum space charge layer thickness of 0.4 nm at full passivation were reported.