bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Clinically-Translatable Machine Learning Algorithm for the Prediction of Alzheimer’s Disease Conversion in Individuals with Mild and Premild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Grassi Massimiliano , Perna Giampaolo , Caldirola Daniela , Schruers Koen , Duara Ranjan , Loewenstein David A.
Published: January 2018

Background:

Available therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can only alleviate and delay the advance of symptoms, with the greatest impact eventually achieved when provided at an early stage. Thus, early identification of which subjects at high risk, e.g., with MCI, will later develop AD is of key importance. Currently available machine learning algorithms achieve only limited predictive accuracy or they are based on expensive and hard-to-collect information.

Objective:

The current study aims to develop an algorithm for a 3-year prediction of conversion to AD in MCI and PreMCI subjects based only on non-invasively and effectively collectable predictors.

Methods:

A dataset of 123 MCI/PreMCI subjects was used to train different machine learning techniques. Baseline information regarding sociodemographic characteristics, clinical and neuropsychological test scores, cardiovascular risk indexes, and a visual rating scale for brain atrophy was used to extract 36 predictors. Leave-pair-out-cross-validation was employed as validation strategy and a recursive feature elimination procedure was applied to identify a relevant subset of predictors.

Results:

16 predictors were selected from all domains excluding sociodemographic information. The best model resulted a support vector machine with radial-basis function kernel (whole sample: AUC = 0.962, best balanced accuracy = 0.913; MCI sub-group alone: AUC = 0.914, best balanced accuracy = 0.874).

Conclusions:

Our algorithm shows very high cross-validated performances that outperform the vast majority of the currently available algorithms, and all those which use only non-invasive and effectively assessable predictors. Further testing and optimization in independent samples will warrant its application in both clinical practice and clinical trials.
Floating Charges and Trust Property in Scots Law: A Tale of Two Patrimonies?
Authors: MacPherson Alisdair D J
Published: January 2018

This article contains a doctrinal analysis of floating charges and trust property in Scots law. It uses the dual patrimony approach of trust law to interpret the floating charge's creation, attachment and enforcement, and thereby demonstrates that it is not possible under the current law to effectively charge property held by a company in trust. The application of the dual patrimony theory provides a broader foundation for explaining the current legal position and helps to integrate the floating charge into wider Scots law. The article also diagnoses issues that would need to be resolved if the law were to be successfully reformed to enable the charging of trust property. It shows that there are some ways in which the current law could facilitate such reform but that, in other respects, more substantial changes would be required.
Early Kura-Araxes ceramic technology in the fourth millennium BCE site of Tsaghkasar, Armenia
Authors: Iserlis Mark , Goren Yuval , Hovsepyan Inessa , Greenberg Raphael
Published: January 2018

The Kura-Araxes phenomenon, represented by its trademark pottery, is one of the most intriguing examples of cultural expansion in the Bronze Age world. Technological analysis of pottery assemblages, providing insight into relations between producers, users, pots and the environment, can be a key to understand how the culture was maintained over time and space. We focus on Tsaghkasar, an early Kura-Araxes village in the Armenian highlands, which should provide a clear view of the technological choices that characterize the Kura-Araxes tradition from its inception, as well as a benchmark against which to measure other expressions of the tradition. Using visual observations, microscopic method and experimental work, we demonstrate that the tradition was based on the use of ready-to-hand soils that underwent considerable manipulation, and on added tempers including volcanic ash that may have been perceived as a guarantee of technical success.
Effect of Magnetic Twist on Nonlinear Transverse Kink Oscillations of Line-tied Magnetic Flux Tubes
Authors: Terradas J. , Magyar N. , Van Doorsselaere T.
Published: January 2018

Magnetic twist is thought to play an important role in many structures of the solar atmosphere. One of the effects of twist is to modify the properties of the eigenmodes of magnetic tubes. In the linear regime standing kink solutions are characterized by a change in polarization of the transverse displacement along the twisted tube. In the nonlinear regime, magnetic twist affects the development of shear instabilities that appear at the tube boundary when it is oscillating laterally. These Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities (KHI) are produced either by the jump in the azimuthal component of the velocity at the edge of the sharp boundary between the internal and external part of the tube or by the continuous small length scales produced by phase mixing when there is a smooth inhomogeneous layer. In this work the effect of twist is consistently investigated by solving the time-dependent problem including the process of energy transfer to the inhomogeneous layer. It is found that twist always delays the appearance of the shear instability, but for tubes with thin inhomogeneous layers the effect is relatively small for moderate values of twist. On the contrary, for tubes with thick layers, the effect of twist is much stronger. This can have some important implications regarding observations of transverse kink modes and the KHI itself.
La modernisation du droit de l’environnement : quelle(s) orientation(s) pour le fabricant de la norme ?
Authors: Édouard Thierry
Published: January 2018

La question de la modernisation de l’action publique environnementale française préfigure-t-elle le droit de l’Environnement à l’aube du XXIe siècle ? Si la Charte de l’environnement témoigne d’une relation symbiotique entre la nature et la perpétuation de l’espèce humaine, l’idée de rénovation laisse subodorer, quant à elle, l’ambition du mieux ou de l’utile. Par ailleurs, il est permis d’observer que l’acte de moderniser aujourd’hui, est dominé par « le statactivisme ». Mais l’invocation de la modernisation du droit de l’environnement ne doit pas tromper, car si cette évolution présente bien les apparences du droit, elle s’apparente davantage à une technique managériale profondément inspirée du concept des politiques publiques, dont l’objectif est de garantir in fine les intérêts de l’Etat dans un domaine prédéfini.
Ombres et lumières sur le droit fondamental à la protection des données personnelles confronté aux services de renseignement en matière de prévention du terrorisme
Authors: Guillot Philippe Ch.-A.
Published: January 2018

Après avoir rappelé les textes français, européens (Union européenne et Conseil de l’Europe) et internationaux pertinents en matière de protection des données personnelles, cet article fait le point sur la législation française en matière d’accès aux données personnelles par les services français de renseignement aux fins de prévention du terrorisme. Il revient sur la succession de mesures de la loi n° 91-646 du 10 juillet 1991 relative au secret émises par la voie des communications électroniques, qui fut la première à permettre des interceptions de sécurité en la matière, à la mise en place du « système APIPNR France » et la directive PNR, avant d’examiner la loi no 2015-912 du 24 juillet 2015 relative au renseignement.
Le parlement de Paris et la répression des banqueroutes frauduleuses aux xviie et xviiie siècles
Authors: Broch Julien
Published: January 2018

Dans une optique de moralisation du commerce, le législateur d’Ancien Régime s’est efforcé d’évincer ou de simplement corriger ceux des opérateurs économiques qui, par leur comportement, nuisent à la confiance, laquelle est nécessaire au bon développement des relations d’affaires. Du code Savary à la Révolution, l’autorité monarchique s’est ainsi employée à réprimer les auteurs de banqueroutes. À partir d’une étude du droit royal, de la doctrine et d’arrêts du parlement de Paris, cet article met en lumière les éléments constitutifs de ce crime – notamment ce que l’on entendait par fraude –, ainsi que les modalités de la répression.
Le monopole persistant des huissiers de justice en France
Authors: Belmanaa Nawel
Published: January 2018

Promulguée le 6 août 2015, la loi no 2015-990 pour la croissance, l’activité et l’égalité des chances économiques dite Macron est censée libérer les professions juridiques règlementées. Cependant, les huissiers de justice conserveront leur monopole. On peut alors se demander si les motifs qui ont présidé à l’octroi de ce monopole sont encore d’actualité.
De « la constitution internationale »
Authors: Ngando Sandjè Rodrigue
Published: January 2018

Telle qu’on l’observe à partir de la promotion des droits fondamentaux par exemple, la pratique du droit au-delà du cadre étatique illustre, en application de l’article 16 de la DDHC, l’hypothèse d’un constitutionnalisme holistique. De cette considération pourrait-il naître l’idée d’une constitution internationale ? La présente contribution tente d’en relever les aspects significatifs. Il y a d’une part, du point de vue formel, la question d’un peuple – et de facto d’un pouvoir constituant – qui marque la dimension politique (le dêmos) de l’ordre juridique supra-étatique. Pour certains auteurs, l’idée de constitution au-delà du cadre étatique ne saurait prospérer en l’absence d’un peuple auquel on imputerait la volonté générale dans ce cadre. Mais quel sens accorde-t-on à la notion de peuple dans ce contexte ? Le développement d’une citoyenneté au-delà des frontières ne suit-elle pas une qualification juridique qui emporte celle du peuple dont l’idée serait consécutive à la mise en place d’un ordre constitutionnel justement ? D’autre part, au point de vue matériel, l’hypothèse d’une constitution internationale se discute à partir du système de production de normes. À ce niveau, la question serait liée à la validité des normes venues d’ailleurs et dont la performance sous-tend un ordre institutionnel en palier : une « cité constitutionnelle » d’après la formule qui fait cours dans le contexte juridique européen.
Contribution à une analyse rénovée de la causalité alternative
Authors: Villa Émilie Quintane
Published: January 2018

À l’aube d’une réforme d’envergure en matière de responsabilité civile, la causalité, source d’inconstance, mérite toute l’attention. Bien que consacrée par voie jurisprudentielle au sein de notre ordonnancement juridique, la causalité alternative gagne du terrain. Répondant efficacement aux problématiques liées aux dommages causés par un membre anonyme d’un ensemble de personnes identifiées, l’absence de définition précise dénote un usage parfois peu orthodoxe. Cette étude sera l’occasion de circonscrire son application.
L’opposabilité de la cession de créance et le droit au retrait litigieux
Authors: Tsiaklagkanou Dimitra
Published: January 2018

Le Code civil autorise le débiteur cédé à racheter sa dette au prix auquel le cessionnaire l’avait acquise. Dans un grand nombre d’opérations, la cession en bloc du portefeuille de créances peut se faire pour un prix global forfaitaire. La Cour de cassation précise que la signification de la cession est valable, qu’elle comporte ou non le prix global de cette opération. La signification vise à informer le débiteur de la cession intervenue, et le prix de cette dernière ne constitue pas un élément nécessaire de cet acte. D’ailleurs, l’exercice de ce droit, en cas de cession d’un ensemble de créances, nécessite la connaissance du prix réel de la cession de sa propre dette. En effet, la jurisprudence admet l’exercice du droit de retrait lorsque la créance à racheter peut être individualisée. Dans l’arrêt rapporté, la Cour de cassation précise que la cession globale du portefeuille de créances reste opposable au débiteur même si le prix de la créance en cause est indéterminable et l’exercice du retrait litigieux impossible. Le Code civil ne conditionne l’opposabilité de la cession qu’à sa signification, et la Cour refuse d’ajouter des conditions à celles posées par la loi. Il reste à examiner si d’autres conséquences, en dehors de l’inopposabilité de la cession rejetée, peuvent être encourues à l’encontre du cessionnaire qui rend si facilement inutile la prévision du retrait litigieux.
Le Mäṣḥafä Seddät et le Futūḥ al-Ḥabaša : un cas de contact entre manuscrits islamiques et manuscrits chrétiens d’Éthiopie au XVIe siècle ?
Authors: Chekroun Amélie
Published: January 2018

Version chrétienne des guerres menées par l’imām Aḥmad depuis le sultanat du Barr Sa‘d ad-Dīn contre le royaume chrétien éthiopien entre les années 1527 et 1543, le Mäṣḥafä Seddät (« Livre de la persécution ») fut inséré au cours de la première moitié du xviiie siècle dans le texte des « chroniques brèves ». Connu de manière autonome dans trois manuscrits chrétiens, ce court texte ge‘ez fut très probablement rédigé au tournant du xviie siècle par un ecclésiastique d’un monastère de l’Enfraz, dans le Bägémder. Cet article avance l’hypothèse que, afin de composer son texte, l’auteur aurait eu accès et se serait très largement inspiré d’une copie du texte arabe du Futūḥ al-Ḥabaša (« Conquête de l’Abyssinie »), version islamique du récit des guerres de l’imam Aḥmad rédigée à Harar au milieu du xvie siècle par un savant musulman. Ce possible cas de contact entre un texte islamique et un auteur chrétien des hauts plateaux permet de remettre en question la séparation couramment admise entre les productions manuscrites islamiques et chrétiennes en Éthiopie au xvie siècle.
Quand l’ancien français aide à apprendre le français
Authors: Longhi Blandine
Published: January 2018

L’étude d’œuvres du Moyen-Âge en classe peut être l’occasion d’approcher l’ancien français et d’aborder la langue dans une perspective diachronique. Cette démarche s’accorde tout à fait avec l’esprit des nouveaux programmes de collège, qui invitent à faire acquérir aux élèves une posture réflexive par rapport à la langue. Le recours à l’histoire du français permet d’éclairer le processus d’élaboration des normes orthographiques et celui de l’évolution du sens des mots, donnant de la cohérence à ce qui peut paraître arbitraire si l’on ne considère que la langue actuelle. L’ancien français peut également jouer un rôle dans deux axes importants des nouveaux programmes : d’une part l’enseignement de la langue orale et l’étude des relations entre oral et écrit ; d’autre part l’interdisciplinarité, en permettant de tisser des liens entre français, Histoire et histoire des arts, en particulier autour de la question des manuscrits.
La littérature médiévale au collège : un continuum didactique ?
Authors: Lelong Chloé
Published: January 2018

Si elles étaient jusqu’à présent plutôt réservées à la classe 5ème, en français comme en histoire, les études de textes médiévaux sont préconisées, par les nouveaux programmes, également en 6ème. La littérature du Moyen Âge devient donc un élément parmi d’autres de la continuité souhaitée dans le parcours d’apprentissage et de formation des élèves, continuité mise en œuvre par le nouveau découpage des cycles de la scolarité. Cette notion de continuum didactique s’accompagne d’une profonde volonté de cohésion entre les différentes « matières » enseignées au collège, cohésion formalisée, à partir de la rentrée 2016, par la mise en place des EPI (Enseignements Pratiques Interdisciplinaires). Entre expérimentations et perspectives, le présent exposé souhaite dresser un panorama de l’enseignement du Moyen Âge au collège, avant et après la réforme.
Nature-Inspired-Based Modified Multi-Objective BB-BC Algorithm to Find Near-OGRs for Optical WDM Systems and Its Performance Comparison
Authors: Bansal Shonak , Sharma Kuldeep
Published: January 2018

Multi-objective nature-inspired-based approaches are powerful optimizing algorithms to solve the multiple objectives in NP-complete engineering design problems. This chapter proposes a nature-inspired-based modified multi-objective big bang-big crunch (M-MOBB-BC) optimization algorithm to find the Optimal Golomb rulers (OGRs) in a reasonable timeframe. The OGRs have their important application as channel-allocation algorithm that allow suppression of the four-wave mixing crosstalk in optical wavelength division multiplexing systems. The presented simulation results conclude that the proposed hybrid algorithm is superior to the existing conventional classical algorithms, namely extended quadratic congruence and search algorithm and nature-inspired-based algorithms, namely genetic algorithms, biogeography-based optimization, and simple BB-BC optimization algorithm to find near-OGRs in terms of ruler length, total occupied optical channel bandwidth, bandwidth expansion factor, computation time, computational complexity, and non-parametric statistical tests.
New FastPFOR for Inverted File Compression
Authors: Glory V. , Domnic S.
Published: January 2018

Inverted index is used in most Information Retrieval Systems (IRS) to achieve the fast query response time. In inverted index, compression schemes are used to improve the efficiency of IRS. In this chapter, the authors study and analyze various compression techniques that are used for indexing. They also present a new compression technique that is based on FastPFOR called New FastPFOR. The storage structure and the integers' representation of the proposed method can improve its performances both in compression and decompression. The study on existing works shows that the recent research works provide good results either in compression or in decoding, but not in both. Hence, their decompression performance is not fair. To achieve better performance in decompression, the authors propose New FastPFOR in this chapter. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, they experiment with TREC collections. The results show that the proposed method could achieve better decompression performance than the existing techniques.
Lonely Typers at Midnight
Authors: Niezgoda Brandon C.
Published: January 2018

Also known as Generation Y, Millennials—an American construct to classify those born from the early 1980 to mid-1990s—have been targeted by mainstream media as narcissistic, and internet obsessed. But as Diesing (2011) organizes, gross generalizations of the American cohort's vanity may only contain nuggets of truth. If millennials are in fact narcissistic and technologically oriented, this research attempts to understand whether this psychological assessment is innate, or deterministic. Contemporary online platforms allow users to voice their opinions and insight regarding predominant frames constructed by once exclusive media domains. Analysis of Reddit discussions through digital ethnography has worked to better understand modes of agency, or lack thereof, as this demographic navigates health problems in a technologically mediated society; providing insight for practitioners, patients, and family members in how to properly conceptualize illness to best help them, and the social order. Also known as Generation Y, Millennials—an American construct to classify those born from the early 1980 to mid-1990s—have been targeted by mainstream media as narcissistic, and internet obsessed. But gross generalizations of the American cohort's vanity may only contain nuggets of truth. If millennials are in fact narcissistic and technologically oriented, this research attempts to understand whether this psychological assessment is innate, or deterministic. Contemporary online platforms allow users to voice their opinions and insight regarding predominant frames constructed by once exclusive media domains. Analysis of Reddit discussions through digital ethnography has worked to better understand modes of agency, or lack thereof, as this demographic navigates health problems in a technologically mediated society; providing insight for practitioners, patients, and family members in how to properly conceptualize illness to best help them, and the social order.
The Patient/Provider Relationship in Emergency Medicine
Authors: Soczywko Julita , Rutkowska Dorota
Published: January 2018

Emergency medicine is a rapidly developing medical specialty which focuses on the diagnostic process, initial stabilization, and the treatment of patients suffering from acute illnesses or injuries. Emergency care can be provided in prehospital settings by emergency medical services, as well as in emergency departments. The primary providers of emergency care are: emergency medicine physicians, emergency nurses, and paramedics. Emergency medical personnel are required to be prepared to take decisive action at any time of day or night. It is essential for them to possess basic knowledge relating to psychology and an ability to utilize interpersonal communication skills. A critical role of medical workers in emergency settings is to provide a patient with emotional support coupled with medical assistance. Interpersonal communication skills depend on the personal abilities of an individual, however, these skills can be also enhanced through training and work experience.
The Utility of Preoperative ACTH/Cortisol Ratio for the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Cushing's Disease
Authors: Selek Alev , Cetinarslan Berrin , Canturk Zeynep , Tarkun Ilhan , Akyay Ozlem Zeynep , Cabuk Burak , Ceylan Savas
Published: January 2018

Purpose: Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a rare disease having diagnostic difficulties. Many diagnostic tests have been defined but none of these are diagnostic alone. Determination of the cause is another problem which sometimes requires more sophisticated and invasive procedures. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the utility of pretreatment plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)/cortisol ratios in patients with confirmed endogenous CS for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of CS. Materials and Methods: This retrospective evaluation included 145 patients with the diagnosis of CS, 119 patients with Cushing's disease (CD), and 26 patients with ACTH-independent CS (AICS), in a university hospital. Furthermore, 114 individuals in whom CS diagnosis was excluded with at least one negative screening test were enrolled to the study as control group. The clinical, laboratory, imaging, postsurgical pathologic records and also clinical follow-up data of all patients were evaluated. Results: The median basal ACTH/cortisol ratio of the patients with CD was significantly higher than AICS and controls. A cutoff ACTH/cortisol ratio >2.5 was found to be diagnostic for CD with 82% specificity and 63% sensitivity. Among CD group, patients with recurrent disease had higher preoperative ACTH levels and ACTH/cortisol ratio than patients with sustained remission. Furthermore, these patients had more invasive, atypical, and larger tumors. Conclusion: An ACTH/cortisol ratio >2.5 would be beneficial to diagnose CD together with other diagnostic tests. It is a simple test with no additional cost. Higher ratios might be related with larger, invasive, and atypical adenoma and also might be helpful to predict recurrence.
Association between Severity of Liver Disease, Frequency of Helicobacter pylori Infection, and Degree of Gastric Lesion in Egyptian Patients with Hepatitis B Virus Infection
Authors: Mohamed Amal A. , Elshimy Amal A. , El Sadik Abir O. , Ezzat Elham , Nasar Mona , Elshaer Shereen S. M. , Sayed Moataz M.
Published: January 2018

The relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, severity of liver disease, frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection, and degree of gastric lesions was not yet fully investigated in Egyptian patients. The present work was performed on 100 Egyptian patients with HBV from the National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Institute and 70 healthy volunteers as control group. The participants were subjected to full medical history taking, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations. All patients were positive for HBV surface antigen (HBV sAg), HBV DNA, and negative for hepatitis C virus antibodies. The severity of the liver disease was assessed using Child–Pugh scoring system. Screening of all participants for H. pylori Ag in stool was performed. Biopsy specimens were taken from the gastric lesions of H. pylori-infected patients for histopathological examination. The mean age of the patients and control group were 34.9 and 33.4 years, respectively. The levels of the liver enzymes were statistically higher in HBV patients than the control group. Helicobacter pylori Ag in stool was detected in 45.7% of the control group, and a higher percentage (60%) was detected in the patients group. Chronic gastritis with glandular atrophy and metaplasia was found in 15.6% of patients of Child–Pugh A, 70% of Child–Pugh B, and 100% of Child–Pugh C. It could be concluded that the prognosis of the liver disease significantly influences the severity of the gastric pathology in H. pylori infection.
Biogeochemical evidence of heterotrophic N2 fixation in the Gulf of
Aqaba (Israel), Red Sea
Authors: Kuhn Angela M. , Fennel Katja , Berman-Frank Ilana
Published: January 2018

Abstract. Recent studies demonstrate that marine N2 fixation can be carried out without light by heterotrophic N2-fixers (diazotrophs). However, direct measurements of N2 fixation in aphotic environments are relatively scarce. Heterotrophic, as well as unicellular and colonial photoautotrophic diazotrophs, are present in the oligotrophic Gulf of Aqaba (northern Red Sea). This study evaluates the relative importance of these different diazotrophs by combining biogeochemical models with time series measurements at a 700 m-deep monitoring station in the Gulf of Aqaba. At this location, an excess of nitrate is present throughout most of the water column, especially in deep waters during stratified conditions. An excess of phosphate occurs only at the surface during nutrient-starved conditions in summer. We show that a model without N2 fixation can replicate the observed surface chlorophyll, but fails to accurately simulate inorganic nutrient ratios throughout the water column. Models with N2 fixation improve simulated deep nitrate by enriching sinking organic matter in nitrogen, suggesting that N2 fixation is necessary to explain the observations. The observed vertical structure of nutrient ratios and oxygen is reproduced best with a model that includes heterotrophic, and colonial and unicellular autotrophic diazotrophs. These results suggest that heterotrophic N2 fixation explains the observed excess nitrogen in deep water at this location. If heterotrophic diazotrophs are generally present in oligotrophic ocean regions, their consideration would increase current estimates of global N2 fixation and may require explicit representation in large-scale models.
Projected decrease in wintertime bearing capacity on different forest and soil types in Finland under a warming climate
Authors: Lehtonen Ilari , Venäläinen Ari , Kämäräinen Matti , Asikainen Antti , Laitila Juha , Anttila Perttu , Peltola Heli
Published: January 2018

Abstract. Trafficability in forest terrain is largely determined by ground-bearing capacity and it is thus one of the most important issues in timber harvesting. In winter, the bearing capacity is mainly determined by soil frost. Particularly on peatland forests bearing capacity is poor under unfrozen conditions. The bearing capacity of forest truck roads is similarly affected by ground frost. Already 20 cm thick layer of frozen soil or 40 cm layer of snow on the ground can carry in Finnish forest conditions heavy machines in forest harvesting. In this work, we studied the impacts of climate change on soil frost conditions, and consequently on ground-bearing capacity of soils from the timber harvesting point of view. The number of days with good wintertime bearing capacity was modelled by using a soil temperature model and wide set of downscaled climate model data until the end of the 21st century. The model was optimized for different forest and soil types. The results show that by the mid-21st century, the wintertime bearing season length decreases in Finland most likely by about one month. The decrease in soil frost and wintertime bearing capacity will be more pronounced during the latter half of the century when drained peatlands may virtually lack soil frost in most of winters in southern and western Finland. The projected decrease in the bearing capacity, accompanied with increasing demand for wood harvesting from drained peatlands, induces a clear need for the development of new sustainable and efficient logging practices for drained peatlands.
Use of a remotely piloted aircraft system for hazard assessment in a rocky mining area (Lucca, Italy)
Authors: Salvini Riccardo , Mastrorocco Giovanni , Esposito Giuseppe , Di Bartolo Silvia , Coggan John , Vanneschi Claudio
Published: January 2018

Abstract. The use of remote sensing techniques is now common practice in different working environments, including engineering geology. Moreover, in recent years the development of structure from motion (SfM) methods, together with rapid technological improvement, has allowed the widespread use of cost-effective remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) for acquiring detailed and accurate geometrical information even in evolving environments, such as mining contexts. Indeed, the acquisition of remotely sensed data from hazardous areas provides accurate 3-D models and high-resolution orthophotos minimizing the risk for operators. The quality and quantity of the data obtainable from RPAS surveys can then be used for inspection of mining areas, audit of mining design, rock mass characterizations, stability analysis investigations and monitoring activities. Despite the widespread use of RPAS, its potential and limitations still have to be fully understood.In this paper a case study is shown where a RPAS was used for the engineering geological investigation of a closed marble mine area in Italy; direct ground-based techniques could not be applied for safety reasons. In view of the re-activation of mining operations, high-resolution images taken from different positions and heights were acquired and processed using SfM techniques to obtain an accurate and detailed 3-D model of the area. The geometrical and radiometrical information was subsequently used for a deterministic rock mass characterization, which led to the identification of two large marble blocks that pose a potential significant hazard issue for the future workforce. A preliminary stability analysis, with a focus on investigating the contribution of potential rock bridges, was then performed in order to demonstrate the potential use of RPAS information in engineering geological contexts for geohazard identification, awareness and reduction.
Simple statistics for complex Earthquakes’ time distribution
Authors: Matcharashvili Teimuraz , Hatano Takahiro , Chelidze Tamaz , Zhukova Natalia
Published: January 2018

Abstract. Here we investigated a statistical feature of earthquakes time distribution in southern Californian earthquake catalogue. As a main data analysis tool, we used simple statistical approach based on the calculation of integral deviation times (IDT) from the time distribution of regular markers. The research objective is to define whether the process of earthquakes time distribution approaches to randomness. Effectiveness of the IDT calculation method was tested on the set of simulated color noise data sets with the different extent of regularity. Standard methods of complex data analysis have also been used, such as power spectrum regression, Lempel and Ziv complexity and recurrence quantification analysis as well as multi-scale entropy calculation. After testing the IDT calculation method for simulated model data sets, we have analyzed the variation of the extent of regularity in southern Californian earthquake catalogue. Analysis was carried out for different time periods and at different magnitude thresholds. It was found that the extent of the order in earthquakes time distribution is fluctuating over the catalogue. Particularly, we show that the process of earthquakes’ time distribution becomes most random-like in periods of decreased local seismic activity.
Hypoderma rubi on two new hosts in Slovakia
Authors: Pastirčák Martin , Pastirčáková Katarína
Published: January 2018

Hypoderma rubi was found on the previous year's fallen petioles of Fraxinus chinensis subsp. rhynchophylla and on attached dead twigs of Rhododendron fortunei in Slovakia. The fungus, which is recorded for the first time on these host taxa, also represents
a new taxon for the Slovak mycota. The morphological characteristics of the fungus found on Slovak collections are described.
Two new Neotropical Chironominae genera (Diptera: Chironomidae)
Authors: Andersen Trond , Mendes Humberto Fonseca , Pinho Luiz Carlos
Published: January 2018

Claudiotendipes n. gen. and Sigmoitendipes n. gen. are described and figured based on adults, pupae and larvae. Two species are included in Claudiotendipes: the type species, C. froehlichi n. sp. from Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Santa Catarina States in Brazil; and C. epleri n. sp. from Costa Rica. Five species are included in Sigmoitendipes, all from Brazil: the type species, S. susanae n. sp. from São Paulo, Mato Grosso, Amazonas and Pará States; S. fittkaui n. sp. from Mato Grosso and Pará; S. reissi n. sp. from São Paulo; and S. oliveirai n. sp. and S. spiesi n. sp., both from Mato Grosso. A cladistic analysis grouped the two new genera with Beardius, Oukuriella and Endotribelos. Keys to the males of the two new genera are presented.
Angiography and Embolization in the Management of Bleeding Pelvic Fractures
Authors: Vaidya Rahul , Waldron Jacob , Scott Alesha , Nasr Kerellos
Published: January 2018

The use, timing, and priority of angioembolization in the management of bleeding pelvic fractures remain ambiguous. The most common vessels for angioembolization are, in decreasing order, the internal iliac artery and its branches, the superior gluteal artery, the obturator artery, and the internal pudendal artery. Technical success rates for this treatment option range from 74% to 100%. The fracture patterns most commonly requiring angioembolization are the Young and Burgess lateral compression and anterior-posterior compression types and Tile type C. Mortality rates after angioembolization of 16% to 50% have been reported, but deaths are usually related to concomitant injuries. The sensitivity and specificity of contrast-enhanced CT in detecting the need for angioembolization range from 60% to 90% and 92% to 100%, respectively. Angioembolization can be effective in the management of bleeding pelvic fractures, but as with any treatment, the risks of complications must be considered. Availability of angioembolization and institutional expertise/preference for the alternative strategy of pelvic packing influence its use.
An Analysis of Vietnamese EFL Students’ Pronunciation of English Affricates and Nasals
Authors: Loi Do Phat
Published: January 2018

English learners in Vietnam may have many difficulties when pronouncing English, mainly Nasals and Affricates since English has been their second most used language. There are many factors which lead to this problem like their mother tongue, their study environment, and a lack of knowledge about English phonology and phonetics. This assignment analyzes the problems in English’s Affricates and Nasals pronunciations experienced by Vietnamese EFL students. Data were collected and analyzed from many Vietnamese students including tips and techniques to improve each different pronunciation of Affricates and Nasals. This research will hopefully widen knowledge for those who want to improve their pronunciation of Affricates and Nasals and establish more information which could be able to be developed in the English phonology and phonetics systems in Vietnam.
Evaluating BEPS
Authors: Avi-Yonah Reuven S. , Xu Haiyan
Published: January 2018

Evaluating BEPS

This article evaluates the recently completed Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project of the G20 and OECD and offers some alternatives for reform.
OS GASTOS DE UMA NOVA IDEIA – OS BENEFÍCIOS DE INICIAR UMA EMPRESA EM UMA INCUBADORA DE BASE TECNOLÓGICA
Authors: Da Mota Couto Carlos Henrique , Brion Cardoso Antônio Augusto , De Lima Anderson Henrique
Published: January 2018

Este artigo propõe uma comparação entre iniciar uma empresa diretamente no mercado em relação a iniciar em uma incubadora e relacionar os custos envolvidos neste processo. Para isto, no referencial teórico são apresentados os conceitos de empreendedorismo, burocracia para abertura de empresas, custos de abertura de empresa, incubadora de empresa e contabilidade de custos. Buscando confrontar a teoria com a prática, uma pesquisa do tipo estudo de caso foi realizada dentro de uma incubadora de empresas, o Centro Regional de Inovação e Transferência de Tecnologia (CRITT) da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF). Os resultados obtidos com a pesquisa juntamente com a base teórica explorada, objetivam tornar este estudo uma ferramenta de auxílio aos indivíduos que tenham uma ideia inovadora e que almejam abrir uma empresa, tornando-se empreendedores.
Komparácia úrovne akceleračnej rýchlosti a explozívnej sily z hľadiska hráčskych pozícií futbalistov reprezentácie Slovenska U21
Authors: Pivovarniček Pavol
Published: January 2018

The aim of the study was to compare the level of limited physical abilities – sprint and jump abilities of the players of Slovak national under-21 soccer team at different positions. The observational group consisted of Slovak national under-21 soccer players (N = 18, goalkeepers N = 2, defenders N = 4, midfielders N = 7, forwards N = 5) in time of qualification for the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship 2011. The level of sprint abilities was diagnosed with the device Fitro Light Gates (FiTRONIC, Bratislava, The Slovak Republic). The criterion for the level assessment was the time obtained in the distance of 10 m with the exactness of 0.01 s. The level of jump abilities was diagnosed with the device FiTRO Jumper (FiTRONIC, Bratislava, The Slovak Republic). The criterion for the level assessment was the jump height in cm with the exactness of 0.1 cm. Differences in the level of sprint and jump abilities were recognised and defined with the special subject analysis. The level of sprint abilities of the whole group was presented with the average performance with the value 2.21±0.08 s. The level of jump abilities with the average performance with the value 39.0±4.2 cm. We have not found out with special subject analysis any significant differences in monitored parameters between groups divided according to playing positions. The significantly lower level was observed only in the level of sprint abilities of goalkeepers.
Biomechanická analýza štartových skokov v plávaní
Authors: Matúš Ivan
Published: January 2018

Presented research comes up with results representing a role of speed-force and timing parameters in four start types at the track of 7.5 m and 10 m distance. Eighteen performance male swimmers (age 23.4±2.1), specialists in sprint event, participated in this study. We noticed the highest measured vertical force in swimming starts with rearward stretch (ZŠSN, AŠSN) in both track distances. For the horizontal force in the tracks of both distances we noticed the highest values of maximum force in grab starts (ZŠS, ZŠSN), but the average values were the highest in the track starts (AŠSN, AŠS). From the timing parameters on the starting block, the shortest reaction time was measured in swimming starts with rearward stretch (ZŠSN, AŠSN). The shortest movement and starting reaction time from the starting block was measured in the swimming start with rearward stretch (ZŠSN, AŠSN) in both track distances. The shortest time of a flight and gliding phase for the track of 7.5 m and 10 m distance we measured in the track start with rearward. Difference between the first and the second fastest time in the track of 7.5 m distance to 0,02 s, but the track of 10 m distance was doubled. On the basis of these results we recommend to swimmer sprinters to use mainly the track start with rearward. The statistical significance of differences in speed-force parameters pointed on the differences between the four types of swimming starts. In all types of the starts were shown close relations between the track time for 7.5 m and 10 m distance, horizontal force parameters and the time of the flight and gliding phase.
Vývoj úspěšnosti střelby elitních biatlonistů
Authors: Boudíková Adéla , Suchý Jiří
Published: January 2018

The aim of this study was evaluated the progress of shooting efficiency of elite biathletes fifteen years ago. Shooting efficiency was computed as a proportion of hit targets and number of fired cartridges during all races of World Cup. Values of shooting efficiency in each season were averaged and compared together. It was not able to characterize the shooting efficiency of men by any trend which can describe progress of shooting efficiency. In women category it was recorded progress of shooting efficiency apart from three last seasons. Most of medalists achieved the values of shooting efficiency about 84 – 85. Some biathletes can win with lower shooting efficiency cause of excellent cross country skiing performance. In the average the best three biathlete’s women extend to higher shooting efficiency than the best three biathletes. Shooting and physical performance of average ten elite men is more equaled than by women, probably it is the reason why biathletes have to shorten shooting velocity. Finally it can lead to decrease of shooting efficiency.
Dlouhodobá koncepce sportovního tréninku z pohledu tenisových expertů
Authors: Pecha Jan , Dovalil Josef
Published: January 2018

nine structured open ended interviews is the aim of the study to identify, confirm and/or review the ways of achieving the top tennis performance. The study focuses on three topics of the problem – characteristic features of training, demands on successful players and importance of sport competitions. Results reveal the importance of specialization in the early age of children in the tennis training, and crucial is keeping principles of deliberate play and versatility as well. Psychological factors are frequently mentioned requirements for successful players. Based on the interviews with experts the ranking among top players in youth age categories is an important aspect for the player development. The research brings new and often required information for tennis federations, coaches, managers and researchers, dealing with the talent identification, selection and development.
Vliv somatických faktorů na výkonnost studentek Fyzioterapie FZS UJEP v Ústí n. L.
Authors: Vaníková Kateřina , Havel Zdeněk
Published: January 2018

The study contributes to the knowledge expansion regarding basic level performance of the students studying Physiotherapy in Usti nad Labem, the Faculty of Health Studies. The study shows influence somatic factors on the performance. For the study purposes two hypotheses are set: the first one is that the basic level performance of the students studying Physiotherapy is indicated as rather stable during the first year of study, and the second one is that the basic level performance of the students studying the same programme is greatly influenced by somatic factors in motoric tests. The students performed the following tests: the 20 m progressive shuttle run test, Katch-McArdle step test, both hands 2kg ball throwing test, standing broad jump test, body strength test with a horizontal bar, lie down-stand up 1 min exercise test, seated forward bend test and Iowa Brace test. Additionally, the somatic factors such as body height, body weight, lean body mass and body fat were measured. Active body mass and body fat of the students’ tested in the year 2014 were calculated using Body Jett device. The results show that the average BMI can be considered as normal in both groups. The student group of the year 2014 showed 31% higher level of body fat than the norm. The basic level performance of the first-year students studying Physiotherapy is stated as stable. The results confirmed that the students’ basic level performance is influenced by somatic factors.
Plavecká úroveň studentů Univerzity Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně v letech 2002–2013
Authors: Dolejšová Miroslava , Melichárek Zdeněk , Kubalčíková Marcela
Published: January 2018

The aim of this paper is to compare the swimming fitness of students at our university. We wanted to know whether the non-swimmers could improve their swimming fitness at the end of the swimming training. We wanted to know whether the students of our university improved their swimming fitness at the end of the swimming training. We wondered whether the swimming fitness of our university students has changed in 10 years. The first part of the analysis covered the years 2007 to 2013. We examined whether the non-swimmers were able to improve the swimming fitness. At the same time we examined whether the students improved the swimming fitness at the end of the swimming training. We used the tests of proportions to analyse the data. The second part of the analysis covered the years 2002 and 2012. We measured the times of students both at the beginning and at the end of the swimming training in these years. We wondered whether the swimming fitness of university students has changed in 10 years. To compare the swimming fitness in 2002 and 2012 we used the Wilcoxon test for paired samples. To compare the swimming fitness in 10 years we applied the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test.We found that 138 non-swimmers improved their swimming fitness at the end of the swimming training. It has been shown that non-swimmers made up less than 10 % of the total number of students who attended the swimming training between the years 2007 and 2013. All non-swimmers improved in academic years 2007/2008, 2011/2012 and 2012/2013. 92 non-swimmers swam the limit of 100 meters. We have shown that 60 % of non-swimmers improved their swimming fitness at the end of the swimming training. Furthermore, we found that a third of students mismanaged to swim the limit of 100 meters. The required limit of 100 meters swam 1 029 students. 3 432 students improved the swimming fitness at the end of the swimming training. Furthermore, we found that the swimming fitness of students improved both in 2002 and 2012. Finally, we found that the swimming fitness of our students has improved in 10 years. We managed to prove almost all the statistical hypothesis at the significance level of 0.05 and therefore we could consider them to be statistically significant. The procedure that we used to analyse the swimming fitness of students at the Tomas Bata University in Zlín may be beneficial for analysis of the swimming fitness not only at other universities, but in different workplaces that deal with measuring the performance of athletes.
Emigrace vrcholových sportovců z bývalého Československa v letech 1948–1989
Authors: Válek Jakub
Published: January 2018

The presented article deals with the migration of the Czech and Slovak sportsmen out of former Czechoslovakia within the years 1948–1989, i.e. under the rule of the so called „working mass dictatorship“. The sportsmen recruited from the elite level, minimal level was the winning in national championship, European or World level success, only in Olympic sports. Heuristic historical method and documents analyses were used for data collection. 271 sportsmen were found (212 male, 59 female) in 37 Olympic sports. Survey of frequency of sportsmen-migrants involved in sports types, destination of domestication, motives and gender differences are described. The majority of elite sportsman-migrants were successful in new life both in sports and professional domains. Some of them never came back, some of them returned after political changes in free Czechoslovakia 1990 or they have been living alternately in each country.