bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The place of febuxostat in the treatment of gout
Authors: Novikova A. M. , Eliseev M. S.
Published: September 2020

The curation of patients with gout involves the mandatory prescription of pathogenetic therapy with urate-lowering drugs, among which xanthine oxidase inhibitors, such as allopurinol and febuxostat, are most widely used. According to various national and international guidelines, allopurinol is the first line drug for gout. However, there is a large cohort of patients, in whom the use of febuxostat is not only justified, but is also preferable. First of all, these are patients who are intolerant to allopurinol and at a high risk of severe skin reactions. There is a high risk of mortality and a low probability of achieving the target uric acid level when allopurinol is prescribed for patients with diminished renal function. Taking into account the fact that febuxostat has a pronounced nephroprotective effect, prescribing the drug in these patients will be a more effective way to achieve normouricemia. At the same time, the presence of cardiovascular diseases, although this requires additional caution when choosing therapy, should not be a reason for refusal to take febuxostat, since the results of many studies not only have failed to confirm a higher risk for cardiovascular events during therapy with this drug, but also have shown that it has cardioprotective properties.
Epidemiology of human brucellosis in Nahavand county, Hamadan Province, western Iran: an 8-year (2010–2017) registry-based analysis
Authors: Khazaei Salman , Solgi Manoochehr , Goodarzi Shahram , Khazaei Leila , Salehi Iraj , Jenabi Ensiyeh
Published: September 2020

Background

Brucellosis is an infectious zoonosis, which greatly afflicts human health and animal productivity.

Objectives

To describe the trends and epidemiological characteristics of human brucellosis in Nahavand county, Hamadan Province, western Iran over 8 years (2010–2017).

Methods

In this registry-based longitudinal study, we analyzed all reported cases of human brucellosis, including 1,130 patients from 2010 to 2017. A checklist including demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with reported cases of brucellosis had been used to gather data. We calculated annual percent changes (APCs) and average annual percent changes (AAPCs) using Joinpoint software to determine the trend of brucellosis using a segmented regression model.

Results

Among the patients, 60.9% were male and 87.3% lived in rural areas. The mean age of the patients was 35.9 ± 18.34 years. Compared with male patients, female patients were more affected when they were elderly (15.6% men vs. 24.2% women for those aged ≥55 years) (P = 0.001). Of patients with brucellosis, 65.2% had consumed unpasteurized dairy products and 82.3% had a history of contact with animals. The incidence of human brucellosis in Nahavand county increased between 2010 and 2014, then decreased in 2015, and thereafter remained steady. Per 100,000 population, the AAPC pertaining to the incidence was 17.4 in the male population (95% CI: 4.4, 31.9), 13.8 in the female population (95% CI: 0.2, 29.3), and 16.1 in rural dwellers (95% CI: 2.2, 31.8) indicating an increasing trend from 2010 to 2017 (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The incidence of brucellosis in the western part of Iran is high and remains a challenging health problem. In the present study, age, job, sex, and seasonal changes are important risk factors for human brucellosis.
Cooperation and development for academic language skills in the university context
Authors: Argondizzo Carmen , Marcella Vanessa , Sasso Maria I.
Published: September 2020

This paper analyses the learning process of students of a Master’s course in Cooperation and Development (C&D) who attend classes in English for Academic Writing at the University of Calabria, and their awareness of competences achieved. The language objectives are to expand students’ knowledge of the main elements of spoken and written discourse in English in academic contexts with focus on specialized language in the fields of C&D. The study evaluates the ability of students to improve their competences and assess their language development using the self-assessment grid of academic language competences included in the European Language Portfolio created at the Università della Calabria, Italy. Specifically, this version of the ELP focuses on academic language and contains descriptors aimed at evaluating learners’ language competences in academic contexts. A group of 25 students participated in this didactic experience, in the second semester of the academic year 2018. Students’ oral production, interaction and academic writing skills were monitored. For the written examination students were required to write a Research Proposal (RP) showing competence in text cohesion and content coherence, appropriate use of terminology and accurate use of language structures. Following on from the acceptance of the RP, students delivered an oral presentation on the topic presented, showing ability in answering questions and expressing opinions on issues presented by other students. The concepts of autonomous learning are crucial in order to monitor students’ improvement and commitment. A contrastive analysis of data from students’ first self-assessment to the final evaluation of competences achieved by the end of the academic year was conducted.
Nitrate removal studies on polyurea membrane using nanofiltration system – membrane characterization and model development
Authors: Kancherla Ravichand , Kumar Vadeghar Ramesh , Prabhaker Reddy Ginuga , Sridhar Sundergopal
Published: September 2020

Desalination of nitrates from brackish water is prominent in the coastal areas due to excessive disposal of pesticides by agricultural industries. Nowadays, membrane processes are growing tremendously for the desalination of brackish water. In this context, polyurea (PU) could be a useful membrane material for the treatment of brackish water. The present work deals with the removal of nitrates from synthetic water using PU membranes by nanofiltration (NF) process. Polyurea thin film composite (PU-TFC) membranes were prepared by interfacial polymerization followed by thermal crosslinking and characterized using Fourier transformed infrared spectral (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy– energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric (TGA), and universal testing machine (UTM) for structural analysis, crystallinity, morphological, compositional, thermal and mechanical properties, respectively. Experimental studies were conducted on an NF pilot plant by varying operating pressure from 2 to 10 bar and feed nitrate concentration from 60 to 200 mg/L for evaluating PU membrane performance. Experimental observations revealed a maximum water flux of 30.6 L/m2 h and nitrate rejection of 97.2% at a pressure of 10 bar for feed containing 140 mg/L of nitrate. A mass transfer model was developed on the basis of solution–diffusion mechanism for a semi-batch NF process by considering cake enhanced concentration polarization model, for laminar flow with feed recycle, using a plate and frame membrane module. A generic semi-batch NF process model was integrated taking into account concentration polarization and fouling layer resistance. The integrated model was successfully compared with existing data in literature and could be used for process scale-up. Due to the merits of hydrophilicity, negative charge, high thermal and mechanical resistance, the PU membrane can be termed as a low cost, commercially viable and ecofriendly barrier for separation of nitrates.
Pandemic-Resistant Corporate Law: How to Help Companies Cope with Existential Threats and Extreme Uncertainty During the Covid-19 Crisis
Authors: Enriques Luca
Published: September 2020

This essay argues that, to address the Covid-19 crisis, in addition to creating a special temporary insolvency regime, relaxing provisions for companies in the vicinity of insolvency, and enabling companies to hold virtual meetings, policymakers should tweak company law to facilitate equity and debt injections and address the consequences of the extreme uncertainty firms are facing. After some general reflections upon the type of rules that are needed in these exceptional times, examples of temporary corporate law interventions for the emergency are provided. Specifically, rules to facilitate injections of equity capital and shareholder loans are suggested, together with relaxations of directors’ liability rules and measures to protect firms against hostile takeovers. All of these measures should apply merely by default and only for so long as the emergency lasts. The essay concludes with some thoughts about how to make normal-times corporate law ready for similar emergencies in the future. The goal is both to reduce the risk that the temporary extreme measures enacted for this crisis are made permanent under the pretence that another crisis may hit again and to have quick adaptation mechanisms already in place to respond to such a crisis.
Takeover Bids in Europe in Times of a World-wide Pandemic Threat: A Delicate Balance Between the Fundamental Freedoms and the Protection of Europe’s and the Member States’ Strategic Assets
Authors: Wyckaert Marieke
Published: September 2020

This paper explores takeover bids in Europe in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The search for a balance between maintaining the open market as a European achievement and the protection of national security and public order is not a new phenomenon. This search is not easy with the future FDI Regulation and will raise additional questions.

The FDI Regulation became very concrete thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic: At the beginning of the crisis, the Commission presented a Communication setting out guidelines for FDI to be applied prior to the regulation.
The Response of the European Central Bank to the Current Pandemic Crisis: Monetary Policy and Prudential Banking Supervision Decisions
Authors: Gortsos Christos V.
Published: September 2020

Immediately after the outbreak of the current pandemic crisis, the EU developed a (rather) consistent strategy, by taking measures in order to deal with health emergency needs, support economic activity and employment, preserve monetary and financial stability and prepare the ground for recovery; these contain a combination of government fiscal stimuli (with extensive resort to the principle of solidarity), emergency liquidity and monetary policy measures and measures relating to financial stability. After briefly reviewing all these measures from a systematic point of view, the present article further analyses the role of the European Central Bank (ECB) during the first phase of this crisis, both in its capacity as a monetary authority within the Eurosystem and in its capacity as prudential banking supervisory authority within the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), with particular emphasis on the treatment of non-performing loans (NPLs). Its specific contribution to financial macro-prudential oversight within European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) is also highlighted.
Does Judicial Selection Affect Judicial Performance? Evidence from a Natural Experiment
Authors: Vakilifathi Mona , Kousser Thad
Published: September 2020

Do judges selected by merit review commissions perform better than elected judges or those directly appointed by elected officials? This is a central question in both the academic study of state judicial institutions and the policy discourse about how to reform them. To address it, we take advantage of the variation in the means of the selection for trial court judges within Arizona, a state comprised of appointed, elected, and merit-selected trial court judges. This unique context allows us to use an objective measure of judicial performance – the reversal rate of trial court cases appealed to Arizona’s state appellate courts – to evaluate judges by their means of selection. We gather an original dataset on 2919 cases heard by 176 judges, estimating multivariate models that control for characteristics of cases and of judges. Overall, we find that elected judges have a lower reversal rate than merit-selected judges. Our findings question the conventional wisdom in the state courts literature in favor of merit selection and against judicial elections, and encourage further work on the effects of judges’ means of selection beyond state supreme courts to include state appellate and trial courts.
The optimization and statistical analysis of fermentative hydrogen production using Taguchi method
Authors: Sepehri Sara , Rostami Khosrow , Azin Mehrdad
Published: September 2020

There are many variables influencing the performance of fermentative hydrogen production. The present paper tries to scrutinize and improve the rate and efficiency of fermentative hydrogen production through modeling and optimizing the effective parameters or variables on fermentative process. In this research, Taguchi experimental design method are applied to design the experiments. Then, the experimental results are analyzed by Design Expert software. Eventually, the optimization of process with considering the experimental data is implemented and their results are reported. The optimum conditions of bio hydrogen production and their predicted responses have been resulted in inoculums size of 11%, an initial glucose concentration of 10.13 g/L, initial pH of medium of 6.18 and FeSO4·7H2O concentration of 30 mg/L. The yield of hydrogen is 2.86 mol of hydrogen per mole. glucose with the production rate of 3.21 mol of hydrogen per hour.
Effect of experimental wet and dry cycles on bamboo fibre reinforced acrylic polymer modified cement composites
Authors: Akinyemi Banjo A. , Omoniyi Temidayo E.
Published: September 2020

This study experimentally evaluated the effect of accelerated wet/dry cycles on the dimensional stability and some selected mechanical properties of polymer modified vegetable fibre cement composites. The bamboo fibres were pre-treated with 10% conc. of sodium hydroxide and varied from 0 – 2.0% while acrylic polymer admixture of 10% w/w of cement was added to improve the properties. The modified fibre-cement composites were subjected to 50 cycles of wet/dry processes to simulate natural weathering process of the environment. The samples were subjected to water absorption, thickness swelling, modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) after 28 days of curing and aging cycles respectively using 5 replicates. One way ANOVA at p<0.05 was used to analyse the results. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transformer Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses were conducted on the samples. The results showed improvement of 33.3, 64, 71 and 57% in MOR and 135, 85, 101 and 188% in MOE for samples with 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% fibre inclusion after ageing tests. Significantly improved dimensional stability values were observed in this study in comparison with data from similar ageing tests conducted on unmodified vegetable fibre-cement matrix. SEM micrographs showed marginal increase in the size of the pores before and after ageing tests. FTIR analysis indicated increase in intensities during the ageing tests especially for spectra bands located at 3384 – 3520cm−1 which are denoted for OH vibration stretching as well as 1676, 1726 and 1794 cm−1 which depict the presence of carbonyl groups because of absorption of polymers to the fibre surface during the ageing cycles. The study has shown thatwet/dry ageing cycles showed less harmful effect on vegetable fibre cement composites provided the cement matrix is modified with polymer admixtures.
Respecting Children’s Choices
Authors: Grill Kalle
Published: September 2020

The traditional liberal view on conflicts between care for wellbeing and respect for choice and desire is that we should look to degrees of competence and voluntariness to determine which moral imperative should take priority. This view has likely influenced the common view that children’s choices should be considered only to the extent that this promotes their future autonomy and helps us determine their best interests. I reject both the general traditional liberal view and its application to children. Competence and voluntariness, as well as maturity, are at best proxies for what really matters, which is wellbeing, choice and desire. We typically have reason to respect children’s choices, irrespective of any further positive consequences. If we should more often make children do what they do not want to do, this is mainly because, though we should care about respecting their choices, we should care even more about their wellbeing and future autonomy.
Semantic Realism, Actually
Authors: Hewitt Simon
Published: September 2020

Michael Dummett offered a semantic characterisation of a variety of realism-antirealism debates. This approach has fallen out of fashion. This has been to the detriment of metaphysics. This paper offers an accurate characterisation of Dummett’s view, often lacking in the literature, and then defends it against a range of attacks (from Devitt, Miller and Williamson). This understanding of realism debates is resilient, and if we take it seriously the philosophical terrain looks importantly different. In particular, the philosophy of language has a foundational role with respect to metaphysics.
Quantum computing and simulation
Authors: Cirac Juan Ignacio
Published: September 2020

Quantum computers and simulators can have an extraordinary impact on our society. Despite the extraordinary progress they have made in recent years, there are still great challenges to be met and new opportunities to be discovered.
Micro Remote Islands: Lands of Freedom or Lands of Despotism?
Authors: Bertolini Elisa
Published: September 2020

The paper addresses the narrative that qualifies micro and remote islands as lands of freedom, suggesting that they can also be lands of despotism. Philosophers from Plato to Aristotle, to Thomas More, to Montesquieu and Rousseau have claimed that micro polities, preferably insular, represent the ideal society, where everyone is actively engaged in public affairs and pursues common good. Literature has represented islands as lands of freedom, opportunity, challenge, success, adventure, redemption, away from the corruption of Europe. However, in the nineteenth century a new narrative has emerged in fiction, which abandons this idyllic approach: islands as lands of despotism. Islands are interpreted as lawless lands, characterised by rivalries between individuals. Moving from these contrasting suggestions from literature and philosophy, the paper discusses the constitutional arrangements of Commonwealth Caribbean and Pacific micro states, in order to investigate where they stand with respect to the dialectic freedom/despotism.
Law, Narrative and Critique in Contemporary Verbatim Theatre
Authors: Howe Steven , Pégorier Clotilde
Published: September 2020

The present article undertakes an interdisciplinary inquiry into contemporary British verbatim theatre as a site of interplay between law, art and politics. Focusing on the example of Matt Woodhead and Richard Norton-Taylor’s 2016 play Chilcot, documenting the public inquiry into the UK’s role in the 2003 Iraq war, the authors explore the work as a space of legal and political critique, and ask how the specific theatrical and narrative affordances of the verbatim form shape its critical substance.
Effectiveness assessment of TiO2-Al2O3 nano-mixture as a filler material for improvement of packaging performance of PLA nanocomposite films
Authors: Yakdoumi Fatima Zohra , Hadj-Hamou Assia Siham
Published: September 2020

The main objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of TiO2-Al2O3 nano-mixture used as filler in improving packaging films performance. Polylactic acid/titanium dioxide (PLA/TiO2), polylactic acid/alumina (PLA/Al2O3) and polylactic acid/TiO2-Al2O3 (PLA/TiO2-Al2O3) nanocomposite films were successfully prepared via melt mixing process and thoroughly characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The properties such as heat resistant, barrier, mechanical and antimicrobial properties, required for food packaging have also been investigated. As compared to the neat PLA film, the developed PLA nanocomposites have displayed superior properties particularly the PLA/ TiO2-Al2O3 nanocomposite film. This resulted material has showed a 22 °C increase in its thermal stability versus 14 and 2 °C in the cases of PLA/TiO2 and PLA/Al2O3 respectively, and a 54% reduction of its water vapor permeability in comparison with 47% for PLA/TiO2 and 39% for PLA/Al2O3. In addition, the PLA/TiO2-Al2O3 had a significant enhancement of its mechanical properties. Its Young modulus increased by 102% unlike 23.60% for the PLA/TiO2 and 44.66% for the PLA/Al2O3. It was also noticed that this nanocomposite film demonstrated stronger antibacterial activity than the two others. The bacterial growth inhibition effect of TiO2-Al2O3 nano-mixture against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli bacteria was more effective than that of its two constituents.
Temperature impact on [68Ga]Ga-edotreotide for the shipping of radioactive material in shielded container
Authors: Schmitt Camille , Fouque Julien , Blondeel-Gomes Sandy , Provost Claire , Da Costa Branquinho Emilie , Madar Olivier
Published: September 2020

Introduction

To reduce costs of gallium-68 activity in nuclear medicine, a subcontracting activity has been settled for [68Ga]Ga-edotreotide preparations. Cold kits are radiolabeled in our radiopharmacy and shipped out to nearby hospitals. According to the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), preparations must be stored below 25 °C until expiration (4 h).

Objective

The aim of this study was to define the impact of high temperature on preparation quality during shipping.

Materials & methods

After radiolabeling, vials were placed in “type A” package until their expiry date. Four kits were stored in “Type A” container exposed to an outside temperature of 50 °C to represent extreme temperature conditions and one kit was kept at room temperature and used as a control. For each preparation, pH, organoleptic properties and radiochemical purity (RCP) were evaluated. RCP was measured using two radio thin layer chromatography, to evaluate the rates of gallium-68 colloids and free gallium-68. Samples were withdrawn at the end of preparation (t0), at t0 + 1 h or at t0 + 2 h and at t0 + 4 h.

Results

RCPs and pH of the radiopharmaceutical were all conform from t0 to t0 + 4 h. Four hours storage in “type A” package at 50 °C does not show any impact on physical and chemical quality of the preparation. Thanks to it expanded polyethylene foam which absorbs impacts; “Type A” package might acts as thermal barrier and enables the temperature regulation of shipped vials.

Conclusion

A monitored expedition in temperature-controlled vehicle does not seem necessary in those conditions.
Innovatory role of nanomaterials as bio-tools for treatment of cancer
Authors: Ahmad Khuram Shahzad , Talat Muntaha , Jaffri Shaan Bibi , Shaheen Neelofer
Published: September 2020

Conventional treatment modes like chemotherapy, thermal and radiations aimed at cancerous cells eradication are marked by destruction pointing the employment of nanomaterials as sustainable and auspicious materials for saving human lives. Cancer has been deemed as the second leading cause of death on a global scale. Nanomaterials employment in cancer treatment is based on the utilization of their inherent physicochemical characteristics in addition to their modification for using as nano-carriers and nano-vehicles eluted with anti-cancer drugs. Current work has reviewed the significant role of different types of nanomaterials in cancer therapeutics and diagnostics in a systematic way. Compilation of review has been done by analyzing voluminous investigations employing ERIC, MEDLINE, NHS Evidence and Web of Science databases. Search engines used were Google scholar, Jstore and PubMed. Current review is suggestive of the remarkable performance of nanomaterials making them candidates for cancer treatment for substitution of destructive treatment modes through investigation of their physicochemical characteristics, utilization outputs and long term impacts in patients.
Variable elasticity of substitution and economic growth in the neoclassical model
Authors: Gómez Manuel A.
Published: September 2020

We study the effect of factor substitutability in the neoclassical growth model with variable elasticity of substitution. We consider two otherwise identical economies differing uniquely in their initial factor substitutability with Variable-Elasticity-of-Substitution (VES), Sobelow or Sigmoidal technologies. If the initial capital per capita is below its steady-state value, the economy with the higher initial elasticity of substitution will feature a higher steady-state income and capital per capita irrespective of whether the production technology is VES, Sobelow or Sigmoidal. Numerical results are provided to compare the effect of a higher elasticity of substitution in the Constant-Elasticity-of-Substitution (CES) model versus the models with variable-elasticity-of-substitution technology.
Zionism and Political Liberalism: The Right of Scattered Nations to Self-Determination
Authors: Benbaji Yitzhak
Published: September 2020

This Article offers a defense of egalitarian Zionism that, unlike Chaim Gans’s argument for this view, does not appeal to the Jewish problem in justifying the Zionist requirement for a state with a dominant Jewish community. The argument extracts from the egalitarian principles that underlie John Rawls’s political liberalism, a conception of global justice according to which members of a scattered nation are entitled to a fair opportunity to establish a new state within which they enjoy the advantage of demographic dominance
In Pursuit of Political Imagination: Reflections on Diasporic Jewish History
Authors: Cooper Julie E.
Published: September 2020

In recent years, scholars of Jewish politics have invested political hopes in the revival of “political imagination.” If only we could recapture some of the imaginativeness that early Zionists displayed when wrestling with questions of regime design, it is argued, we might be able to advance more compelling “solutions” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yet how does one cultivate political imagination? Curiously, scholars who rehearse the catalogue of regimes that Jews have historically entertained seldom pose this question. In this Article, I revisit a historical episode—the appropriation of diasporic historical narratives by Zionists in mandatory Palestine—in an effort to cultivate a richer political imaginary. I analyze the labor Zionist deployment of Simon Dubnow’s influential master narrative, focusing on a 1926 speech in which David Ben Gurion depicts the autonomist regime that he advocates as a variation upon diasporic political practices. On my reading, this episode illustrates the dilemmas that confront thinkers who invest political hopes in regime design. To realize the promise that new political configurations may emerge from reflections upon Jewish history, I argue, we must develop a new account of political agency, once foundational assumptions of the nation-state have been suspended.
Constructing “Private” Historical Justice in State-Building
Authors: Totry-Jubran Manal
Published: September 2020

Wealthy philanthropic individuals operating within private law have been largely absent from the historical justice narrative of states in transition and, consequently, from normative discussion regarding the justification of their actions under the auspices of the market. This Article seeks to fill this void by examining the “private” historical justice of Jewish state-building prior to the establishment of Israel. Specifically, it focuses on the legal history of Baron Edmond de Rothschild’s settlement project during the Ottoman and Mandate periods and investigates the project’s normative implications. The Baron was a fundamental actor in the design of the Palestinian/Israeli space, as he supported existing Jewish settlements and established new ones. He also built several public institutions that continue to exist to date. I argue that the Baron’s settlement project needs to be addressed from a multidimensional aspect with regard to different groups that were affected by it. On the one hand, his settlement project was just towards the Jewish settlement because it provided a shelter for Jewish immigrants who fled Europe, and it realized the Jews’ right of self-determination. On the other hand, his project resulted in the coercive displacement of an underprivileged local Arab population called the fellaheen and unjustly infringed on their territorial rights.
How the Law of Return Creates One Legal Order in Palestine
Authors: Jabareen Hassan
Published: September 2020

The prevailing discourse in Israeli academia on justifying the values of Israel as a “Jewish and democratic state” takes the form of a debate involving questions of group rights of a national minority, as in any liberal democracy. The framework of this discourse relies on three interconnected, hegemonic assertions. These assertions assume the applicability of equal individual rights, put aside the Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza as irrelevant for the “Jewishness” of the state as it belongs to a different rule of recognition, and conceptualize the Green Line based on majority-minority relations with Jewish group rights, including the Law of Return, as not leading to discrimination against individuals. I contend that these assertions are invalid and that colonialism is the relevant framework of Israel’s constitutional identity in Palestine (the Green Line, the West Bank including Jerusalem and Gaza). I argue there is one Constitution in Palestine based on one conception of sovereignty, regardless of any rules of recognition where the Law of Return, together with the value of “preserving a Jewish majority,” constitutes its very essence that targets the Palestinians as such. The Article presents a case-law study regarding family life between spouses and their children in Palestine. This case-law reveals an unfamiliar phenomenon. Unlike the plurality of written laws that characterize colonial regimes, the Israeli legal system introduces a unique model in which racial domination is created mostly by decisionism of the Court, out of the written laws and regardless of any rule of recognition.
Multidisciplinary case-based small group discussions to integrate basic medical sciences with clinical situations
Authors: Semin Ilgi , Soysal Dilek Ersil , Seval-Celik Yasemin , Hayran Murvet , Demir Ayse Banu , Ozkaya Ali Burak , Inan Sevinc V. , Akdogan Gul
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Integration of the basic medical sciences with clinical medicine motivates medical students by showing how the fundamental concepts they have learned will come into their future practice. In this context, we created clinical integration sessions (CIS) in our first-year medical curriculum.

Methods

The instructors of different disciplines wrote the clinical scenarios together. The scenarios were discussed in five sessions with 39 first-year students. The first session’s scenario consisted of four brief “anemia” cases. The next four sessions included a single case, according to the feedback of the students. Students formed groups of 7–8 participants. In the first 2 h, the scenarios were discussed in the groups and questions were answered by the students. In the third hour, the instructors answered the questions together with the students. After the first CIS, written feedback obtained from the students via a survey.

Results

The survey provided positive feedback on the benefits of active learning within small group discussions, and most of the students thought that their background was sufficient to solve the cases, with some literature search.

Conclusion

The scenarios, which provide multidisciplinary integration of basic medical sciences and clinical medicine, can be useful educational materials.
Evaluation of application of new decision-making methods in selected companies: the use of business intelligence in practice
Authors: Kašparová Petra
Published: September 2020

Growing pressure on increasing decision-making speed in all spheres of human life is one of the basic phenomena of today. Immediately after the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, we can consider the ability of making good decisions quickly as one of the most important aspects of our being. The main objective of this article is to find out the utilization rate of several basic decision-making approaches in selected companies with an emphasis on newly used methods such as data analysis and business intelligence tools. The first part of the article presents a short introduction of the decision-making process and an overview of hitherto known and used tools facilitating the whole procedure. The submitted study of available literature leads to the presentation of own classification of the most widely used decisionmaking methods. Based on a questionnaire survey, in the second section, the pilot research examines the involvement of five different groups of methods in business decision-making, such as intuition and previous experiences, consultation with colleagues, data analysis (historical), MCDM methods and consultation with experts. Afterwards, the most common obstacles that employees must face in introducing new tools have been identified. In general, the results show that time and the associated pressure on decision-making speed play a crucial role in the decision-making process.
Application of ARMA and GARCH models on time series of Komerční banka stocks
Authors: Sedláková Markéta
Published: September 2020

One of the main goals of entities in the securities market is to buy stocks cheaply at the right time (buy undervalued stocks) and also to sell stocks expensively at the right time (sell overvalued stocks). It is typical for undervalued stocks to be traded at a low price at some point due to their fundamental characteristics. In the future, undervalued stocks can be expected to rise in price, which can bring a capital gain to an investor who bought at a low price. Undervalued stocks are therefore recommended for purchase. An important prerequisite is therefore the accurate timing of buy and sell signals. The problem, however, is that no one knows exactly when the right time will come, because the market price of stocks is affected by many factors that have an impact on fluctuations in the market value of stocks. For this reason, volatility modeling is coming to the forefront of the interests of many financial analysts and investors.
Readiness of small and medium enterprises for marketing automation
Authors: Semerádová Tereza , Weinlich Petr
Published: September 2020

As the technological progress of online shopping and advertising advances with increased speed, marketing automation has been gaining more attention from both practitioners and academics. However, despite the growing popularity of this new marketing approach, there are many restrictions when it comes to its implementation by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Due to the high requirements regarding the collection of customer data and advanced knowledge necessary to set up and operate marketing automation systems, many enterprises are not able to fully grasp the potential marketing technologies offer. This article describes the mechanisms of marketing automation, provides the state-of-art research overview and analyses current level of readiness of Czech SMEs to implement digital marketing tools and the obstacles that prevent them to do so.
On safeguarding economic perspectives of regional enterprises in the trinational Neisse region
Authors: Löhr Albrecht , Straßberger Nataly
Published: September 2020

This article focuses on the economic development of especially small and medium-sized enterprises in the border triangle of Germany, Czech Republic and Poland. The motive for this article was primarily driven by the politically decided structural changes in the East German coal regions. While preparing this article, the authors found that this groundbreaking transformation resembles the unexpectedly occurring crisis originated by the corona virus in terms of analyzing, structuring measures and management principles. Organizations like economic development institutions located in the municipalities, networks or business initiatives and technology centers like the Bautzen-based Bautzen Innovation Center should play an important part in overcoming both challenges in its role as supporters of the regional economy and – for the innovation centers – host for new businesses.
Sustainable tourism development – analysis of tourism development in Kosovo
Authors: Tahiri Alberta , Kovaçi Idriz , Bushi Fari
Published: September 2020

The purpose of this article is to provide a theoretical overview of sustainable tourism as a tourism system that focuses on qualitative development, taking into account the quality of life and prosperity of the population, without causing damage in other aspects. The theoretical part deals with sustainable tourism and sustainable development. Based on these facts, it turns out that sustainable tourism is a subgroup of sustainable development. Thus, in this article there are given the differences between these two terms and other terms relevant to our research. It also provides an analysis of tourism development in Kosovo, including statistics on how much the tourism sector is financially supported by the Kosovo Government. Finally, a SWOT analysis of the current state of tourism in Kosovo is presented.
Cluster performance management
Authors: Pelloneová Natalie
Published: September 2020

The presented article is based on research evaluating the impact of cluster organisations on the financial performance of member entities. The author’s doctoral thesis examines whether there is a difference in the financial performance of cluster organisations created through the bottom-up and the top-down approaches, under the conditions existing in the Czech Republic. Both types of clusters that meet the condition of maturity (established before or in 2012) and of a high degree of activity were selected for the research. The financial performance of member business entities was assessed using the following indicators: ROA, ROE, ROS, EVA, EVA/employee and EVA/sales. The aim of the research was to demonstrate whether public support for clusters would be reflected in member entities’ better financial performance. The final part of the paper then summarises and discusses the findings.
The Development of 3D Professional Pageflip-based Pregnancy Care E-Module
Authors: Shovrotul Khoiriyah Ely , Sumaryanto Florentinus Totok , Yuniastuti Ari
Published: September 2020

Midwifery education has an important role in producing competent and professional midwives. Competent and professional midwife staff starts from a quality learning process. This study aimed to develop a valid and reliable 3D Pageflip Professional pregnancy care e-module. The type of research was Research and Development (R&D) research. The data collection techniques use primary data from the validation of experts (media expert and content expert). The results of this study indicated that media expert review got an average score of 3.77 (good criterion), content expert got an average score of 4.15 (good criterion) and the pregnancy care lecturer evaluation got an average score of 4.14 (good criterion). In addition, it stated that 3D Pageflip Professional pregnancy care e-module was good and deserved to be tested in the learning process. 3D Pageflip Professional pregnancy care e-module developed as an alternative to assist midwifery students in overcoming learning difficulties. Implications this article are giving the curriculum knowledge focused on learning innovations. The application of e-pregnancy care modules was easy to learn and practically accessible anywhere. To be development and innovative teaching content of education midwife and source study midwifery student so as to increase motivation and learning outcome.
The Effectiveness of Project-Based Learning Model and Talking stickType of Cooperative Learning Model on the Quran-Hadith Subject Learning Outcomes
Authors: Ulya Farchatin , Rifai RC Achmad , Sulistyorini Sri
Published: September 2020

In the Quran-Hadith learning activities, teachers still make use of conventional methods so that students do not achieve optimal results. Therefore, teachers, as managers in a learning process, are required to be creative in order to make their students learn more actively. This study aims to analyze the differences in learning outcomes gained by students treated using project-based learning model and talking sticktype of cooperative learning model withlevels of abilityand interaction as moderating variables. This study used a quantitative method throughan experimental approach using 2x2 factorial design. The results found there are differences in students’ learning outcomes using project-based learning model and talking sticktype of cooperative learning model with a significance value of 0,000; there were differences in learning outcomes between students with high ability and those with low ability with a significancevalue of 0.002; an interaction between the learning models and the students’ ability levels on their learning outcomes with a significance value of 0.011. The implication of this study is to provide teachers with direct experiences in examining the learning models and it can be used by teachers in selecting the proper learning model in improving the learning activity process.
Growth stresses and cellulose structural parameters in tension and normal wood from three tropical rainforest angiosperm species
Authors: Ruelle Julien , Yamamoto Hiroyuki , Thibaut Bernard
Published: September 2020

Few studies have been conducted about relation between cellulose para-meters and biomechanical properties of wood in tropical angiosperms species. For this purpose, on 13 trees from 3 species of French Guyana tropical rainforest in a clear active process of restoring verticality, i) growth strains were measured in situ in order to determine the occurrence of tension wood within samples and ii) cellulose structural parameters were estimated on all the samples using X-ray diffraction method. Crystallite size was estimated from the full-width at half-maximum of the Miller index (002) arc diffraction and angle T was measured following Cave’s method. Relationships between these parameters and growth stresses were good and the variations between normal and tension wood were significant, i.e. a lower angle T and a larger crystallite size in tension wood. In order to have a good estimation of the microfibril angle in the main layer of the secondary wall for each species, an experimental calibration was done between angle T and microfibril angle observed with scanning electron microscopy.
In situ detection of cell wall polysaccharides in sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière) wood tissue
Authors: Altaner Clemens , Knox J. Paul , Jarvis Michael C.
Published: September 2020

Wood cell wall polysaccharides can be probed with monoclonal antibodies and carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs). Binding of monoclonal antibodies to β-1-4-xylan, β-1-4-mannan, β-1-3-glucan, and α-1-5-arabinan structures were observed in native Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière) wood cell walls. Furthermore CBMs of different families, differing in their affinities for crystalline cellulose (3a) and amorphous cellulose (17 and 28), were shown to bind to the native wood cell walls with varying intensities. Resin channel forming cells exhibited an increased β-1-4-xylan and a decreased β-1-4-mannan content. Focusing on severe compression wood (CW) tracheids, β-1-3-glucan was found towards the cell lumen. In contrast, α-1-5-arabinan structures were present in the intercellular spaces between the round tracheids in severe CW, highlighting the importance of this polymer in cell adhesion.
Temporomandibular dysfunction diagnosis by means of computerized axiography
Authors: Buduru Smaranda , Balhuc Silvia , Ciumasu Alexandru , Kui Andreea , Ciobanu Cosmin , Almasan Oana , Manziuc Manuela , Negucioiu Marius
Published: September 2020

Background and aims.The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the CADIAX Compact 2 axiograph in confirming the presumptive clinical diagnosis of temporomandibular dysfunction, established according to the muscular-articular clinical examination.

Methods. A retrospective analytical study was carried out on 50 patients, aged between 21 and 62 years, 31 women and 19 men. A clinical diagnosis was established after masticatory muscles, temporomandibular joints and mandibular border limit movements were assessed. During the same day a computerized axiography (Cadiax Compact 2, Gamma, Vienna, Austria) was performed in order to confirm the diagnosis.

Results. The study had a sensitivity of 100%, which means that the CADIAX device detected all clinically positive patients. On the other hand, the specificity of the study was 74%, representing the percentage of patients negatively diagnosed by CADIAX device out of the total number of patients clinically diagnosed as negative. The 88% accuracy shows the proportion in which the CADIAX device provides a diagnosis equal to the clinical one.

Conclusions. Of all the methods for investigating temporomandibular joint dysfunction, axiography is less invasive, does not irradiate the patient, it is relatively easy to use and it offers functional information about the TMJ function.
Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Schiff base Cu(II) Complexes: Antimicrobial and Molecular docking Studies
Authors: AP Arumugam  , G Elango  , S Guhanathan
Published: September 2020

N2O2 type complexes of C+2uion have been synthesized by the reaction of Salicylaldehyde/ 3,4-diaminobenzophenone/ acetyl acetoneand glutaric anhydride. The ligands and respective metal complexes was established through spectroscopic data (FT-IR, UV-Vis,1H NMR and 13C NMR). They are non-electrolytic in nature as their molar conductivities (ΛM) in DMSO of 10-3 M solution from the EPR study the complexes proposed to be octahedral geometry. All the metal complexes have been screened for their antibacterial activity andthe predicted binding affinity using molecular docking studies.
Phytochemical investigation of seeds of Trachyspermum ammi Linn. by GC-MS
Authors: Ekta Sharma  , B S Arora
Published: September 2020

The present study embraces phytochemical investigation of the essential oil extracted from the mature seeds of Trachyspermum ammi Linn for different constituents by subjecting the oil to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The identification of the constituents is based upon retention indices and by comparison of their mass spectral fragmentation patterns against the commercial library mass spectra (Wiley, Nist etc.). Ellagic acid (EA), which is a natural phenol antioxidant, has been isolated from methanol extract from the mature seeds of Trachyspermum ammi Linn. Also, Thymol (Thl), a naturally occurring phenolic compound, has been crystallized by the reported standard procedure from oil extracted from these mature seeds. Both these compounds have been evaluated for their possible anti-cancer effect against a selected panel of human cancer cell lines by means of sulforhodamine B assay.