bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of substance use among young people attending an urban primary health center in Delhi
Authors: Mogan KA , Venkatesh U , Kapoor Richa , Kumar Mukesh
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Substance abuse remains one of the major challenges in young people, as it is one of the top five causes of disability-adjusted life years (DALY). The present study aims to find the prevalence and determinants of substance use among young people attending an urban primary health center in Delhi.

Methodology

Systematic random sampling was used to enroll the calculated sample size of 190. Substance use was assessed using ASSIST (an Alcohol Smoking Substance Involvement Screening Tool) and brief intervention was given based on the standard guidelines of ASSIST. The total score among the substance users is calculated and divided into Grades 1, 2 or 3. Log binomial regression was performed to quantify the association between substance use and covariates such as age, sex, education, occupation, family history of substance use, socio-economic status and family type. The association was expressed in odds ratio (OR) with 95 percent confidence interval (CI).

Result

The mean age of study participants was 18.6 ± 4.1, ranges from 10 to 24 years. Out of 48 substance users, 43.7% were consuming only tobacco, 22.9% were consuming only alcohol and 33.3% were polysubstance users. The history of substance use among family members of participants was found to be 46.3%. Median substance involvement score of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis users was 19 (IQR: 14.5–22), 19 (IQR: 13.5–25) and 22.5 (IQR: 22–23), respectively. Among tobacco users, 2.7% were Grade 1 and 7.2% were Grade 2. Four (16%), 20 (80%) and one (4%) of alcohol users were Grades 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Among the cannabis users, four (100%) were in the Grade 2 category. The median age of initiation of substance use among users was 16 (range 13–21) years. The analysis shows substance use was almost 25 times (adjusted OR = 25.84, 95% CI 5.65–118.09) more common among males and it increase by 2.5 times with a decrease in socio-economic status (adjusted OR = 2.52, 95% CI 1.27–5.02) and the result is significant. The substance use was almost 7 times higher when there is a family history of substance usage (adjusted OR = 7.40, 95% CI 2.15–25.4). Residential and marital status were not significantly associated with substance use.

Conclusion

Male sex, lower socio-economic status, participants currently not going to school/college, family history of substance use were found to be significant predictors of substance use among the study participants.
Validation of SPH-FE Numerical Modeling of the Interaction between a High-Speed Water Jet and a PMMA Target by CEL Model and Experimental Study
Authors: Ben Belgacem I. , Cheikh L. , Barhoumi E.M. , Khan W. , Ben Salem W.
Published: June 2020

In this paper, we present a numerical simulation of a round impacting jet using coupled Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) and Finite Element (FE) methods. Numerical results are compared with the results of another simulation carried out by the CEL (Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian) method. A water jet with a spherical head was used at an initial speed of 570 m/s to impact a flat plate made of Polymethyl-Methacrylate (PMMA). To model the entire process, the SPH method was used to model the water jet and the FE method for the PMMA structure. The distribution of the pressure on the impact surface and the resulting deformation of the structure were discussed. A Numerical model was developed using ABAQUS/Explicit version 6.14. Results of the coupled SPH-FE simulation were further validated. It is demonstrated that the CEL method presents smoother curves compared to the SPH method. These comparisons serve not only to validate the numerical simulation but also to give guidance in formulating the SPH-FEM numerical model.
Approximation by Stancu–Chlodowsky type λ-Bernstein operators
Authors: Mursaleen M. , Al-Abied A. A. H. , Salman M. A.
Published: June 2020

In this paper, we give some approximation properties by
Stancu–Chlodowsky type λ-Bernstein operators in the polynomial weighted space and
obtain the convergence properties of these operators by using Korovkin’s theorem. We also establish the direct result and the Voronovskaja type asymptotic formula.
Convergence theorem for a finite family of asymptotically demicontractive multi-valued mappings in CAT(0) spaces
Authors: Ugwunnadi Godwin C. , Mewomo Oluwatosin T. , Izuchukwu Chinedu
Published: June 2020

In this paper, we introduce the class of asymptotically demicontractive multivalued mappings and establish a strong convergence theorem of the modified Mann iteration to a common fixed point of a finite family of asymptotically demicontractive multivalued mappings in a complete

CAT
⁢

(
0
)

{\mathrm{CAT}(0)}

space. We also give a numerical example of our iterative method to show its applicability.
Use of birth weight- vs. ultrasound-derived fetal weight classification methods: implications for detection of abnormal umbilical artery Doppler
Authors: Finneran Matthew M. , Ware Courtney A. , Russo Jessica , Webster Shaylyn , Mathew Susanne , Buhimschi Irina A. , Buhimschi Catalin S.
Published: June 2020

Objectives

To compare a birth weight-derived (Brenner) and multiple ultrasound-derived [Hadlock, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium (INTERGROWTH)] classification systems’ frequency of assigning an antenatal estimated fetal weight (EFW) <10% and subsequent detection rate for abnormal umbilical artery Doppler (UAD).

Methods

We analyzed 569 consecutive non-anomalous singleton gestations identified by ultrasound with either an abdominal circumference (AC) <3% or EFW <10% at a tertiary medical center between 1/2012 and 12/2016. The biometric measurements were exported for all serial ultrasounds and the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated for the diagnosis of any abnormal UAD, absent or reversed end-diastolic flow (AREDF), and small for gestational age (SGA) for each classification method.

Results

Brenner classified less patients with EFW <10% (49.7%) vs. the comparison methods (range: 84.2–85.0%; P < 0.001). The sensitivity was highest using Hadlock for detection of any abnormal UAD [96.6%; confidence interval (CI) 92.8–98.8%], AREDF (100%; CI 95.1–100%), and SGA (89.0%; CI 85.4–91.6%). However, there was minimal variation between the Hadlock, NICHD, and INTERGROWTH methods for detection of the studied outcomes. The AUCs for any abnormal UAD, AREDF, and SGA were highest for the Brenner method, but there were a substantial number of false-negative results with lower overall detection rates.

Conclusions

Use of a birth weight-derived method to assign a fetal weight <10% as the threshold to initiate UAD surveillance has a lower detection rate for abnormal UAD when compared to ultrasound-derived methods. Despite substantial methodological differences in the creation of the Hadlock, NICHD, and INTERGROWTH methods, there were no differences in the detection rates of abnormal UAD.
On the Malcev products of some classes of epigroups, I
Authors: Liu Jingguo
Published: June 2020

A semigroup is called an epigroup if some power of each element lies in a subgroup. Under the universal of epigroups, the aim of the paper is devoted to presenting elements in the groupoid together with the multiplication of Malcev products generated by classes of completely simple semigroups, nil-semigroups and semilattices. The information about the set inclusion relations among them is also provided.
Some results in cone metric spaces with applications in homotopy theory
Authors: Nazam Muhammad , Arif Anam , Mahmood Hasan , Park Choonkil
Published: June 2020

The self-mappings satisfying implicit relations were introduced in a previous study [Popa,Fixed point theorems for implicit contractive mappings, Stud. Cerc. St. Ser. Mat. Univ. Bacău7(1997), 129–133]. In this study, we introduce self-operators satisfying an ordered implicit relation and hence obtain their fixed points in the cone metric space under some additional conditions. We obtain a homotopy result as an application.
The role of osteoprotegerin in the development, progression and management of abdominal aortic aneurysms
Authors: Migacz Maciej , Janoska-Gawrońska Agata , Holecki Michał , Chudek Jerzy
Published: June 2020

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) appears to be a very promising marker both in the diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and as a potential target in its treatment. This article presents an overview of the current literature that discusses the role of OPG in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its potential value as a prognostic factor in AAA. Pharmacological modulation of OPG expression has been considered. In conclusion, it seems that further research designed to assess the relationship between OPG and AAA is needed as this may contribute to improved AAA monitoring and more effective treatment of patients with AAA.
Crystal structure of (E)-1-(2-cyano-3-oxo-1-phenylprop-1-en-1-yl)-3,7-diphenylindolizine-6-carbonitrile, C31H19N3O
Authors: Wang Feng , Shen Lun-Hua , Jiang Jin-Ke , Chen Nian-gen
Published: June 2020

C31H19N3O, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 8.672(5) Å, b = 10.725(6) Å, c = 13.886(8) Å, α = 97.550(9)°, β = 101.415(9)°, γ = 109.603(9)°, V = 1164.9(12) Å3, Z = 2, R
gt(F) = 0.0439, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1288, T = 296 K.
Crystal structure of 2-methyl-1H-perimidine, C12H10N2
Authors: Shi Xiao-Ming , Xiao Li-Na , Peng Peng
Published: June 2020

C12H10N2, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 9.0431(18) Å, b = 9.9770(19) Å, c = 11.623(2) Å, α = 102.375(3)°, β = 109.641(3)°, γ = 99.834(2)°, V = 930.5(3) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0395, wRref(F2) = 0.1105, T = 128.15 K.
The Imagination and Its Technological Destiny
Authors: Montani Pietro
Published: June 2020

The tradition of Kant’s critical philosophy developed the concept of imagination rigorously and productively. In this article, I shall defend the suitability of placing this concept in a paleoanthropological frame and linking it to the cognitive practices – predominantly sensorimotor, interactive and those directed at the emergence of technologies – which preceded and prepared for the advent of articulated speech. Special attention will be paid to the internalization processes of these practices and their effects on human conduct. On the basis of this discussion, I shall defend the theory by which the advent of denotative articulated speech entailed a profound reorganization of the technical performances attributable to the imagination and the relative internalization processes. Moreover, the origin of articulated speech inaugurated a singular story, that of the relationship between word and image. In my conclusions, I shall describe a major outcome of this within the framework of the new electronic technologies.
Stereoselective synergystic organo photoredox catalysis with enamines and iminiums
Authors: Gualandi Andrea , Cozzi Pier Giorgio , Rodeghiero Giacomo , Jansen Thomas Paul , Perciaccante Rossana
Published: June 2020

Graphical Abstract

Application of small chiral organic molecules in catalysis has been dominated by formation of chiral enamines or iminium ions. Nucleophiles – electrophiles reactivity has been exploited in many papers. Now, the possibility to combine organocatalysis with photochemistry open new “exciting” possibilities and opportunities, in reactions that are mediated by radicals.
Exploring the Vastness of design space for greener solutions using a quality approach
Authors: Murphy Mark A.
Published: June 2020

Chemistry and biology constitute Vast and/or infinite design spaces which can be used by scientists and engineers to generate new and ever more complex chemical molecules and other structures having new emergent properties. A Vanishingly small proportion of those new molecules can generate even more complexity and new emergent properties by interacting with other molecules, bio-molecules, or complex collections of biomolecules. Large degrees of unpredictability reign throughout that Vastness, as well as in the Environment, and human society and behavior. Yet Life, the Earth’s ecosystem, consciousness, and civilized human societies evolved from simpler systems, despite the Vastness and unpredictability. Green Chemistry and Engineering emerged over the last few decades from an evolutionary search for new processes and products for the benefit of humans and the planet that are both economically viable and do less harm to the Environment. The author, who originally conceived, in 1984, the BHC Ibuprofen Process that won one of the very first Presidential Green Chemistry Awards, was inspired and guided in significant part by the “Quality” philosophy, teachings and methods of W. Edwards Deming. Deming’s Quality philosophy and methods adapt the empirical/reductionist perspectives and approaches of the Scientific Method, to readily integrate holistic, human, and ethical goals, ideas, and perspectives, in order to identify and solve Real-World problems. Deming’s methods include his “PDCA” circles, which, when continuously iterated, can guide scientists, engineers, and their interdisciplinary team-mates as to what to do toward the development and evolution of Real-World processes and products that create little waste, and therefore are both economically and ecologically beneficial, via a process of human guided and human accelerated evolution.
Chemical reduction of chlorpyrifos driven by flavin mononucleotide functionalized titanium (IV) dioxide
Authors: Díaz Stephanie Santos , Al-Zubaidi Hazim , Ross-Obare Amir C. , Obare Sherine O.
Published: June 2020

For many decades, organohalide and organophosphate compounds have shown significant detrimental impact on the environment. Consequently, strategies for their remediation continue to be an area of emerging need. The reduction of the chlorpyrifos pesticide, a molecule that bears both organohalide and organophosphate functional groups, is an important area of investigation due to it toxic nature. In this report, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the biological molecule, flavin mononucleotide (FMN) toward chemically reducing chlorpyrifos. The FMN was found to be highly active when anchored to nanocrystalline TiO2 surfaces. The results show new directions toward the remediation of organic contaminants under mild reaction conditions.
Synthesis and mechanical properties of nano-Sb2O3/BPS-PP composites
Authors: Xu Jianlin , Zhao Jinqiang , Kang Chenghu , Niu Lei , Zhang Jianbin , Ma Jiqiang , Ju Chunyan
Published: June 2020

In view of the limitation of wide application of polypropylene(PP) with low strength, poor low-temperature brittleness and easy combustion, a kind of PP matrix nanocomposites was designed and prepared. Sb2O3 nanoparticles (nano-Sb2O3) modified by silane coupling agent of KH550 were dispersed into brominated polystyrene(BPS)-PP matrix by ball milling dispersion and melt blending method, respectively. And the nano-Sb2O3/BPS-PP composites samples were obtained by injection molding method. The effects of nano-Sb2O3 particles on mechanical properties of nano-Sb2O3/BPS-PP composites were investigated. The results showed that the surface of nano-Sb2O3 particles was successfully modified by the KH550 and the interfacial adhesion between nano-Sb2O3 and PP matrix was improved. With increasing of the mass fraction of nano-Sb2O3, the tensile strength and impact strength of nano-Sb2O3/BPS-PP composites were improved accompanying by increasing of crystallinity and refining grain of the composites. When the mass fraction of nano-Sb2O3 was 3 wt%, the tensile strength of nano-Sb2O3/BPS-PP composites was 43 MPa, which was 30.3% higher than that of PP. When the mass fraction of nano-Sb2O3 was 2 wt%, the impact strength of the composites was 44.19 kJ·m−2, which was 30.8% higher than that of PP.
Effect of C-phycocyanin on HDAC3 and miRNA-335 in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Li Zhengyu , Gan Li , Yan Si , Yan Yufang , Huang Wei
Published: June 2020

Background:

Amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaque deposits and neurofibrillary tangles containing tau proteins are the key pathognomonic manifestations of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Lack of holistic drugs for AD has reinvigorated enthusiasm in the natural product-based therapies. In this study, our idea to decipher the beneficial effects of C-phycocyanin (CPC) in the management of AD is buoyed by its multifaceted and holistic therapeutic effects.

Methods:

We evaluated the effect of CPC treatment on epigenetic factors and inflammatory mediators in a mouse with oligomeric Aβ1-42-induced AD. Besides, the cognitive function was evaluated by the spatial memory performance on a radial arm maze.

Results:

The results showed cognitive deficit in the mice with AD along with upregulated HDAC3 expression and diminished miRNA-335 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expressions. In addition, inflammation was provoked (manifested by increased interleukins (IL)-6 and IL-1β) and neuronal apoptosis was accelerated (indicated by increased Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9 along with decreased Bcl2) in the hippocampus of the mice with AD. Interestingly, CPC treatment in the mice with AD improved spatial memory performance and decreased the perturbations in the epigenetic and inflammatory biofactors.

Conclusion:

These results underscore that mitigation of inflammation via regulation of epigenetic factors might be the key pathway underlying the ameliorative effect of CPC against the aberrations in AD. Our findings provide the rationale for considering CPC as a viable therapeutic option in the management of AD.
Ormosanine improves neuronal functions in spinal cord-injured rats by blocking peroxynitrite/calpain activity
Authors: An Yan , Li Jianing , Liu Yajun , Fan Mingxing
Published: June 2020

The present study was performed to evaluate the effects of ormosanine against spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats and to examine the possible molecular mechanism of action. SCI was induced using an impactor device, and rats were treated with ormosanine 10, 50 or 100 mg/kg, p.o., for 10 days after induction of SCI. The effect of ormosanine on SCI was determined by estimating neurological functions and cytokines and parameters of oxidative stress level were estimated in SCI rats. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting analysis and histopathological study were performed on spinal tissue of SCI rats. The data suggested that treatment with ormosanine reversed the alterations of neurological function in SCI rats. Moreover, the levels of cytokines, oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species production were reduced in the ormosanine treatment group compared to the SCI group. The levels of calpain and neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity were significantly reduced in the spinal tissue of the ormosanine treatment group compared to the SCI group. Moreover, ormosanine treatment reduced the percentage of viable neurons in the spinal tissue of SCI rats. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that ormosanine treatment had a protective effect against neuronal injury in spinal cord-injured rats by regulating the peroxynitrite/calpain activity.
Cation and Anion Formation in F 1s-Excited SF6-Clusters
Authors: Grunewald Christian , Flesch Roman , Rühl Eckart
Published: June 2020

Cation and anion formation from molecular SF6 and SF6 clusters is reported in the F 1s-excitation regime (680–720 eV) using tunable synchrotron radiation. Stable products are identified by mass spectrometry, while the tunablility of the soft X-rays source is used to determine mechanistic details on the formation of the detected charged products. Characteristic differences are observed between product formation from the isolated molecule as well as from clusters for both, cations and anions. Specifically, dication formation, such as SF2
2+, is only observed for molecular precursors, which are formed with high efficiency at the F 1s → t2g-transition. SF6
− is efficiently formed from clusters upon F 1s → t1u-transition. Mechanistic details on the formation of stable products are discussed.
Pronounced α-Synuclein Pathology in a Seeding-Based Mouse Model Is Not Sufficient to Induce Mitochondrial Respiration Deficits in the Striatum and Amygdala
Authors: Burtscher Johannes , Copin Jean-Christophe , Sandi Carmen , Lashuel Hilal A.
Published: June 2020

Increasing evidence suggests that cross talk between α-synuclein pathology formation and mitochondrial dysfunction plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and related synucleinopathies. While mitochondrial dysfunction is a well-studied phenomenon in the substantia nigra, which is selectively vulnerable in PD and some models thereof, less information is available in other brain regions that are also affected by synuclein pathology. Therefore, we sought to test the hypothesis that early α-synuclein pathology causes mitochondrial dysfunction and that this effect might be exacerbated in conditions of increased vulnerability in affected brain regions, such as the amygdala. We combined a model of intracerebral α-synuclein pathology seeding with chronic glucocorticoid treatment, which models non-motor symptoms of PD and affects amygdala physiology. We measured mitochondrial respiration, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and protein abundance as well as α-synuclein pathology in male mice. Chronic corticosterone administration induced mitochondrial hyperactivity in the amygdala. Although injection of α-synuclein preformed fibrils (PFFs) into the striatum resulted in pronounced α-synuclein pathology in both striatum and amygdala, mitochondrial respiration in these brain regions was not compromised, regardless of corticosterone treatment. Our results suggest that early stage α-synuclein pathology does not influence mitochondrial respiration in the striatum and amygdala, even in corticosterone-induced respirational hyperactivity. We discuss our findings in light of relevant literature, warn of a potential publication bias and encourage scientists to report their negative results within the framework of this model.
Positive association between progestins and the evolution of multiple fibroadenomas in 72 women
Authors: Grouthier Virginie , Chakhtoura Zeina , Tejedor Isabelle , Badachi Yasmina , Goffin Vincent , Touraine Philippe
Published: June 2020

Objective

Multiple fibroadenomas (MFA) of the breast is a rare benign disease, thus its natural history is poorly understood. The aim of our study was to describe the radiological evolution of MFA and to evaluate the influence of different factors on this evolution.

Methods

This was a longitudinal cohort study. All patients included had two clinical and radiological assessments (breast ultrasound (US) and/or MRI) at least 5 years apart.

Results

Seventy-two women were followed for 7.6 ± 2.1 years. The radiological evolution showed a decrease or stability in the number of fibroadenomas (FA) in 26/44 cases on the MRI and in 38/64 cases on the US. There was a decrease of size in 35/44 cases on the MRI and in 53/64 cases on the US. An increase in the number of FAs was found in 18/44 cases in the MRI and 26/64 cases in the US with, for the majority, a decrease of size (19/26 by MRI and 16/18 by MRI). Older age at the first FA (P < 0.0001) and at the diagnosis of MFA (P < 0.0001), pregnancy (P = 0.003) and progestin use (P < 0.001), particularly lynestrenol (P < 0.0001), had a beneficial effect on the evolution of MFA.

Conclusion

This is the first longitudinal study describing women with MFA. The radiological evolution of MFA seamed favorable and similar to that expected for a single FA. We identified factors influencing the evolution of the disease, including progestin treatments such as lynestrenol, which could have a beneficial effect. Our cohort should be followed further in order to expand our knowledge of MFA, especially concerning the risk of breast cancer.
Addition of olive oil to diet of rats with mild pre-gestational diabetes impacts offspring β-cell development
Authors: Taqui Bushra , Asadi Farzad , Capobianco Evangelina , Hardy Daniel Barry , Jawerbaum Alicia , Arany Edith Juliana
Published: June 2020

Maternal diabetes impairs fetal development and increases the risk of metabolic diseases in the offspring. Previously, we demonstrated that maternal dietary supplementation with 6% of olive oil prevents diabetes-induced embryo and fetal defects, in part, through the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). In this study, we examined the effects of this diet on neonatal and adult pancreatic development in male and female offspring of mothers affected with pre-gestational diabetes. A mild diabetic model was developed by injecting neonatal rats with streptozotocin (90 mg/kg). During pregnancy, these dams were fed a chow diet supplemented or not with 6% olive oil. Offspring pancreata was examined at day 2 and 5 months of age by immunohistochemistry followed by morphometric analysis to determine number of islets, α and β cell clusters and β-cell mass. At 5 months, male offspring of diabetic mothers had reduced β-cell mass that was prevented by maternal supplementation with olive oil. PPARα and PPARγ were localized mainly in α cells and PPARβ/δ in both α and β cells. Although Pparβ/δ and Pparγ RNA expression showed reduction in 5-month-old male offspring of diabetic rats, Pparβ/δ expression returned to control levels after olive-oil supplementation. Interestingly, in vitro exposure to oleic acid (major component of olive oil) and natural PPAR agonists such as LTB4, CPC and 15dPGJ2 also significantly increased expression of all Ppars in αTC1–6 cells. However, only oleic acid and 15dPGJ2 increased insulin and Pdx-1 expression in INS-1E cells suggesting a protective role in β-cells. Olive oil may be considered a dietary supplement to improve islet function in offspring of affected mothers with pre-gestational diabetes.
Genetic Mapping in Autohexaploid Sweet Potato with Low-Coverage NGS-Based Genotyping Data
Authors: Yamamoto Eiji , Shirasawa Kenta , Kimura Takumi , Monden Yuki , Tanaka Masaru , Isobe Sachiko
Published: June 2020

Next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based genotyping methods can generate numerous genetic markers in a single experiment and have contributed to plant genetic mapping. However, for high precision genetic analysis, the complicated genetic segregation mode in polyploid organisms requires high-coverage NGS data and elaborate analytical algorithms. In the present study, we propose a simple strategy for the genetic mapping of polyploids using low-coverage NGS data. The validity of the strategy was investigated using simulated data. Previous studies indicated that accurate allele dosage estimation from low-coverage NGS data (read depth < 40) is difficult. Therefore, we used allele dosage probabilities calculated from read counts in association analyses to detect loci associated with phenotypic variations. The allele dosage probabilities showed significant detection power, although higher allele dosage estimation accuracy resulted in higher detection power. On the contrary, differences in the segregation patterns between the marker and causal genes resulted in a drastic decrease in detection power even if the marker and casual genes were in complete linkage and the allele dosage estimation was accurate. These results indicated that the use of a larger number of markers is advantageous, even if the accuracy of allele dosage estimation is low. Finally, we applied the strategy for the genetic mapping of autohexaploid sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) populations to detect loci associated with agronomic traits. Our strategy could constitute a cost-effective approach for preliminary experiments done performed to large-scale studies.
Financial Development, Institutional Quality and Economic Growth: Evidence from ECOWAS Countries
Authors: Appiah Michael , Li Fanglin , Frowne Doreen Idan
Published: June 2020

Most of the literature that explored the relationship between financial development and economic growth taking into consideration the roles played by institutional quality in the ECOWAS region still debates on the roles of institutional quality on economic growth. This study used data from 1996-2017 for 15 emerging economies within the ECOWAS by applying two-step SYS GMM (SGMM) estimators. The following conclusions were developed: first, the study discovered that financial development has no significant and positive impact on economic growth in the ECOWAS region. Secondly, regulatory quality and control of corruption, which are considered as institutional quality variables, have opposing results with control of corruption reducing growth as well as regulatory quality variable increasing growth. Again, the results indicate that capital formation has a positive association with growth and labor force influencing growth negatively. Finally, due to a lack of proper corruption control systems in the region and poor financial sector development, growth cannot improve.
Pricing Efficiency of Exchange Traded Funds in India
Authors: Reddy Y V , Dhabolkar Pinkesh
Published: June 2020

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) have two prices, the market price and the net asset value (NAV) price. ETFs NAV price gets determined by the net value of the constituent assets, whereas the market price of ETFs depends upon the number of units bought or sold on the stock exchange during trading hours. As per the law of one price, the NAV and market price of the ETF should be the same. However, due to demand and supply forces, the market price may divert from its NAV. This price difference may have significant repercussions to investors, as it represents a cost if they buy overvalued ETF shares or sell undervalued ETF shares. Pricing efficiency is the speed at which the market makers correct the deviations between ETFs NAV and market price. The present study attempts to investigate the pricing efficiency of Indian equity ETFs employing an autoregression model over its price deviation, and also attempts to understand the lead-lag relationship between the price and NAV using the vector error correction model (VECM).
Ethnography in sociolinguistic studies of youth language
Authors: Čekuolytė Aurelija
Published: June 2020

In Lithuanian sociolinguistics ethnography is a new method; there are no comprehensive ethnographic studies. The main purpose of this paper is to introduce the reader to ethnography and to show why it is important to include ethnography in linguistic studies and how this method can enrich the analysis of linguistic material. When applying the ethnographic method it is not only possible to provide a picture of the distribution of linguistic variables in the community, but also to discover the social meaning which is associated with those variables. What is unique about ethnography is that it allows the scientist to discover social meanings instead of presupposing them and to examine the construction and organization of the social meaning of linguistic variables. Even though ethnographic studies are often treated as case studies, the results of a well-constructed ethnographic study are reliable and replicable, for instance, the ethnographically discovered social categories and social meanings, associated with them, can be tested in a different community with a help of match-guise technique.

Following the sociolinguistic wave theory, I explain how and why ethnography has been employed in sociolinguistic studies. The studies in the first sociolinguistic wave applied survey and quantitative methods to examine the relation between linguistic variation and the traditional social categories – class, age, sex, and ethnicity. However, the quantitative methods were not sufficient enough in explaining which social mechanisms caused linguistic variation. Studies in the second wave employed ethnography in order to find the relation between linguistic variation and locally determined social categories. Studies in the third wave departed from the dialect-based approach of the first two waves, employed stylistic practice approach and examined any linguistic material that is socially meaningful in the community.

I also discuss the main aspects of ethnographic method: participant observation, fieldnotes, ethnographic interview and other types of interviews. I come in with advice for researchers who plan to use ethnography in their research. The examples of ethnographic studies that I’m using in my paper are mostly taken from studies of youth language. Nevertheless, the paper can also be useful to any researcher who is willing to conduct an ethnographic sociolinguistic study.
Introduction
Authors: Vaicekauskienė Loreta
Published: June 2020

This special issue of the journal publishes research papers focusing on new borrowings in Lithuanian. They approach the problem of borrowing from different perspectives: sociolinguistic, morphological, lexicographic, and terminological.
Verbal morphology in the Database of New Borrowings into Lithuanian
Authors: Pakerys Jurgis
Published: June 2020

The Database of New Borrowings into Lithuanian lists 129 verbs which were either directly borrowed or derived from the borrowed nominal and adjectival stems. In terms of morphosyntactic adaptation, two suffixes, viz. uo ti and in ti, are used as indirect insertion strategy devices (Wohlgemuth 2009: 94 ff.). The suffix uo ti is the most productive verbalizer in modern Lithuanian and is predominantly used to integrate the so called internationalisms in the standard language, while in ti is the main factitive/causative affix and is employed in the non standard language domain to accommodate the verbal borrowings coming mostly from English. In very many cases, verbs, nouns and some adjectives sharing the same stem were borrowed and I argue that a synchronic derivational link between them can be recognized in Lithuanian, no matter what the derivational history of these words in the donor language was. If a borrowed verb has a suffix, but no corresponding noun or adjective is found in the current usage, the suffix can be interpreted as a device of morpho-syntactic adaptation only. Compared to uo ti and in ti, other suffixes are only rarely attested in the database, but they clearly reflect productive types of verb formation, namely, the denominal similatives in au ti and the deadjectival inchoatives in ė ti. The data on prefixal and reflexive derivatives is too scarce to note any definite trends. As far as inflectional productivity is concerned, in ti and uo ti definitely play a major role in enriching the classes characterized by the present stem affixes of the a-type and the past stems affixes of the o-type. The inflexion of verbs in uo ti is also affected by morpho-phonological alternation of the suffix to resolve hiatus, viz. the infinitive stem has /uo/ (no hiatus), the present stem is augmented by the palatal glide /j/ ( uoj ), while in the past stem, /uo/ is replaced by /av/ (i.e. uo ti, uoj a, av o).
In Search of Pronunciation Peculiarities Characteristic to Vilnians: Vowel Shortening Tendencies of Vilnians Aged 25–35
Authors: Aliūkaitė Daiva
Published: June 2020

The article discusses the question of Vilnius variant exclusivity and covers one fragment of Vilnius as a complex microcosm: exclusivity of Vilnius variant is examined by analysing spontaneous speech among Vilnians aged 25–35. Empirical research units are variants of phonological variables /i·/ and /u·/ in unstressed positions. Applying two different research methods – one based on hearing (auditory) and an instrumental one – the parameter of duration of these long vowels was evaluated in the spontaneous speech of the interviewed Vilnians aged 25-35. The results of the auditory research and instrumental examination (instrumental checks of almost 800 variants of phonological variables /i·/ and /u·/ in unstressed positions and 384 variants in stressed positions have been carried out) demonstrate that shortened variants of variables /i·/ and /u·/ in unstressed positions are characteristic of the language of the research group. Unstressed variants of the variables under investigation cover the duration continuum range between 60 and 80 milliseconds. Duration range of the variants of variables /i·/ and /u·/ in stressed positions starts at approx. 90 ms. Duration data of variants /i·/ and /u·/ in stressed and unstressed positions was correlated and this correlation reveals that duration areas of these variants almost overlap. Transitional zone is between ~80 and 90 ms. Quantitative reduction is very apparent so it is possible to make an assumption that this tendency reflects this particular peculiarity of the language specific to Vilnians. However, it is essential to state that even after shortened variants of variables /i·/ and /u·/ in unstressed positions are present in the speech of people belonging to different generations or having different sociolinguistic portraits, this characteristic cannot be considered as a distinctive characterization of Vilnius language (Vilnius variant). Distinguishing features in variability analysis cannot be at the same time primary, i. e. distinctive, as well as tertiary, i. e. denoting, characteristic. In this research this would be the case. The value of tertiary features is characteristic of quantitative (shortened) variants of variables /i·/ and /u·/ in some dialects. Therefore, methodologically it is not accurate to evaluate vowel shortening tendency of Vilnians as distinctive characteristics specific to the people of Vilnius. These features are characteristic, but they do not have a clear single-plan dividing power.
How to study second language acquisition: a cross-sectional method
Authors: Ramonaitė Jogilė Teresa
Published: June 2020

This paper describes a cross-sectional method, which is employed when conducting research on acquisition of Lithuanian as a second language. This is one of the most optimal methods to study the process of language acquisition in adults, since it does not demand a long-term commitment on the part of the studied subjects. On the basis of the method, a specific research protocol has been designed in the framework of various second language acquisition research projects conducted in Europe. One of its advantages is that language data can be collected in a fairly small group (10-30 people) of learners of different acquisition levels. The data collected in this way is later analysed and compared between learners in order to determine the acquisitional sequence and other aspects of interest. The main corpus for this study is constituted by language data collected during a semi- structured (socio)linguistic interview, which is a free talk with a participant, who is encouraged to talk. The talk includes some specific questions. During the interview, not only the language data but also some important information about other relevant sociolinguistic factors is collected, such as age, period of stay in the country, language attitudes and motivation. To be able to better compare the participants and to study specific linguistic aspects that might fail to appear in spontaneous speech, all the participants are given the same additional tasks. The tasks described in this paper are of different types: film retelling, storytelling according to a sequence of pictures, describing two similar pictures and indicating differences between them, giving a recipe and repeating sentences. Different competences are required in these tasks but most attention is given to language production. The paper also offers some practical advice and observations based on the study. The specific study where the method was applied for Lithuanian aims at researching the development of acquisition of Lithuanian with the focus on the development of the verb system. The data collected in this manner could be used to study other aspects of language acquisition as well.
Formulaic language is not all the same: comparing the frequency of idiomatic phrases, collocations, lexical bundles, and phrasal verbs
Authors: Vilkaitė Laura
Published: June 2020

Formulaic language is widely acknowledged to be a central part of a language. However, it is heterogeneous in nature, made up of various formulaic categories with their own characteristics and behaviour. A first step towards systematically describing the relationship between these categories is to describe their distribution in language. This study investigated the frequency of occurrence of four categories of formulaic sequences: collocations, phrasal verbs, idiomatic phrases, and lexical bundles. Together the four categories made up about 41% of English, with lexical bundles being by far the most common, followed by collocations, idiomatic phrases and phrasal verbs. There were differences in the frequencies of each category in the overall corpus, and also in the four registers analysed (academic prose, fiction, newspaper language, and spoken conversation). Language mode (spoken/written) had a substantial effect on the frequency distribution of the categories as well.
Lithuanian metaphorical legal terms
Authors: Gedzevičienė Dalia
Published: June 2020

The article analyses Lithuanian metaphorical legal terms, which account for about 8.8 per cent of all legal terms in Lithuanian. Based on formal linguistic attributes, four main groups of metaphorical terms were identified: (1) terms with a metaphorical headword, which subsumes two groups distinguished according to the part of speech: (a) noun metaphors, e.g. įstatymo spraga ‘a gap in the law’, teisės šaltinis ‘source of the law’; (b) verb metaphors, e.g. laikytis įstatymo ‘to keep to the law’, paremti įstatymo projektą ‘to support a bill’. In this article, differently from a fairly well-established tradition of Lithuanian terminology, verb-based phrases with a special meaning are also classified as terms; (2) terms with a metaphorical subordinate constituent, e.g. sunki bausmė ‘heavy punishment’, juodoji rinka ‘black market’; (3) metaphorical expressions, e.g. Delavero efektas ‘Delaware-effect’; (4) metaphorical compounds, e.g. pilnametystė ‘full age’.

The paper has identified four trends of metaphoricity in Lithuanian legal terms (1) conceptualising legal issues as things or objects (67.04 per cent of all metaphorical terms), e.g. duoti parodymus ‘to give evidence’, įstatymo ribos ‘limits of law’, tuščias grasinimas ‘empty threat’; (2) conceptualising legal issues as humans or animals (18.59 per cent), e.g. sąžiningas procesas ‘fair trial’, diplomatinis imunitetas ‘diplomatic immunity’; (3) conceptualising legal issues as objects or humans (12.88 per cent), e.g. bylos sustabdymas ‘stay of proceedings’, aukštesnioji instancija ‘higher instance’; (4) conceptualising legal issues as some natural phenomena (1.63 per cent), e.g. teisės šaka ‘branch of law’. The conceptual metaphor analysis has shown that the target domain of legal metaphors mostly includes abstract concepts referring to legally regulated human activities and relations. The most productive source domain of these metaphors includes (1) objects of the material concrete world around us, mostly things, their attributes and functions, and human actions closely linked to them, and (2) living beings with their physical and mental characteristics.
Corpus Pattern Analysis for Learner Lexicography: A Pilot-study of Lithuanian Verbs
Authors: Kovalevskaitė Jolanta , Jancaitė Laima
Published: June 2020

The aim of this paper is to present a pilot study which applies the framework of Corpus Pattern Analysis (CPA, Hanks 2004) to analyse some Lithuanian verbs which form part of the basic vocabulary. CPA draws on the insights of the corpus-driven language analysis and contextual and functional theory of meaning: a meaning of a word is associated with a specific lexical and grammatical environment, e.g. corpus patterns which represent an interconnection of lexical and grammatical elements. The CPA procedure is one of the several corpus-driven methods differing from the pattern grammar (Hunston, Francis 2000) in the way that CPA not only uses typical grammatical categories (e.g. word classes) but also introduces semantic values (e.g. semantic types) to distinguish different senses of a word. Semantic types are often the main separator of meanings, especially when two verb senses are associated with the same grammatical pattern. Concerning learners’ dictionaries, CPA could provide learners with more detailed usage data, and this could lead to a better understanding of meaning differences, important both for language reception and language production. After introducing the CPA methodology, we present the CPA analysis of two Lithuanian verbs, namely, the inductive procedure followed to observe and define meaning-related patterning. We also discuss the problematic issues related to the application of CPA as identified in this study and mentioned by other CPA practitioners. First, observing and defining corpus patterns is a challenging task for lexicographers, especially because of the pattern / meaning division and generalizations related to semantic types. The second problematic aspect is automatization in the process of pattern recognition. The third issue relates to foreign language learners as a target group: meaning-related patterning observed in the data has to be presented in a learner dictionary in a user-friendly way.
Vocabulary size of an adult Lithuanian native speaker
Authors: Andriuškevičiūtė Karolina , Vilkienė Loreta
Published: June 2020

This paper aims to answer the question about the vocabulary size of an adult native speaker of the Lithuanian language and to check which sociolinguistic factors have a significant impact on the size of the vocabulary. The material for this study consists of 132 responses given to a sociolinguistic survey and a vocabulary size test. The data was analysed using the statistical R-Studio program. T-test and regression analysis were also applied in the research. Participants of the study were divided into two age groups (the younger and the older) as the adult age range is very broad. In total, the younger group consisted of 68 participants: 31 females and 37 males. The average age of this group is about 22. The older group consisted of 64 participants: 30 females and 34 males. The average age of this group is about 49.

The study has revealed that the vocabulary of a younger native speaker (about 22 years old) is about 57,490 words and that the vocabulary size varies between 42,021 and 72,703 words. It has been found that the vocabulary of an older native speaker (about 49 years old) is about 60,770 and that the vocabulary size varies between 46,690 and 76,705 words. Regression analysis data shows that such factors as education, knowledge of foreign languages and reading fiction have a significant impact on the size of vocabulary. The study has also revealed that the size of the vocabulary is significantly larger for participants with a Master’s degree. Furthermore, the vocabulary size is larger for those individuals who know several languages which may not necessarily share any vocabulary with the Lithuanian language. Regression analysis data also indicates that reading fiction can significantly influence the size of vocabulary and that the vocabulary is larger for those participants who read sometimes, often or daily. It must be noted that the sample of participants in this study is relatively small, so all the findings and insights need to be verified by expanding the study groups.