bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent progress toward understanding the role of starch biosynthetic enzymes in the cereal endosperm
Authors: Li Cheng , Powell Prudence O. , Gilbert Robert G.
Published: November 2017

Starch from cereal endosperm is a major energy source for many mammals. The synthesis of this starch involves a number of different enzymes whose mode of action is still not completely understood. ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase is involved in the synthesis of starch monomer (ADP-glucose), a process, which almost exclusively takes place in the cytosol. ADPglucose is then transported into the amyloplast and incorporated into starch granules by starch synthase, starch-branching enzyme and debranching enzyme. Additional enzymes, including starch phosphorylase and disproportionating enzyme, may be also involved in the formation of starch granules, although their exact functions are still obscure. Interactions between these enzymes in the form of functional complexes have been proposed and investigated, resulting more complicated starch biosynthetic pathways. An overall picture and recent advances in understanding of the functions of these enzymes is summarized in this review to provide insights into how starch granules are synthesized in cereal endosperm.
Multi-modal language input: A learned superadditive effect
Authors: Cheetham Dominic
Published: November 2017

Review of psychological and language acquisition research into seeing faces while listening, seeing gesture while listening, illustrated text, reading while listening, and same language subtitled video, confirms that bi-modal input has a consistently positive effect on language learning over a variety of input types. This effect is normally discussed using a simple additive model where bi-modal input increases the total amount of data and adds redundancy to duplicated input thus increasing comprehension and then learning. Parallel studies in neuroscience suggest that bi-modal integration is a general effect using common brain areas and following common neural paths. Neuroscience also shows that bi-modal effects are more complex than simple addition, showing early integration of inputs, a learning/developmental effect, and a superadditive effect for integrated bi-modal input. The different bodies of research produce a revised model of bi-modal input as a learned, active system. The implications for language learning are that bi- or multi-modal input can powerfully enhance language learning and that the learning benefits of such input will increase alongside the development of neurological integration of the inputs.
Integrating Linguistic Theory and Experimentation in L2 Acquisition: Learning of Spanish Differential Object Marking by Portuguese and English speakers
Authors: Nediger Will , Pires Acrisio , Guijarro-Fuentes Pedro
Published: November 2017

This paper focuses on consequences for linguistic theory of a set of experiments on the L2 acquisition of Spanish Differential Object Marking (DOM), with three experimental groups: a native control group, a group of L2 learners whose L1 is English, and a group of L2 learners whose L1 is Brazilian Portuguese (BP). The results of the experiments shed light on two questions of theoretical import: (a) how best to characterize the syntax of Spanish DOM, and (b) whether BP should be classified as a DOM language. We argue that our results support López’s (2012, Indefinite objects: Scrambling, choice functions, and differential marking. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press) syntactic theory account of DOM over that of Torrego (1998, The dependencies of objects. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press), in particular due to the more fine-grained distinctions between non-specific objects made by López (2012) compared to Torrego (1998). We also argue that although BP is a DOM language (as suggested by Schwenter 2014, Two kinds of differential object marking in Portuguese and Spanish. In Patricia Amaral & Ana Maria Carvalho (eds.), Portuguese-Spanish interfaces: Diachrony, synchrony, and contact, 237–260. Amsterdam: John Benjamins), our BP subjects do not show a clear acquisitional advantage over English speakers with regard to Spanish DOM, due to independent reasons that include the morphological realization of DOM in Spanish.
Evaluating Societies Morally: The Case of Development and ‘Developing’ Societies
Authors: Okeja Uchenna
Published: November 2017

Can a society, as a collective, be evaluated morally? In this paper, I attempt to answer this question against the background of the discourse on development. Specifically, I undertake three explorations. I begin with 1) discussion of the ways we attribute responsibility to collectives in relation to some problems associated with globalisation. This is followed by 2) consideration of some of the debates in philosophy regarding the nature and possibility of collective responsibility. Lastly, I examine 3) an attractive but underexplored possibility in the growing literature on Ubuntu. On the basis of Ubuntu moral insights, I will attempt to defend the thesis that the collective responsibility of developing societies in relation development is grounded by the imperative to care about the humanity of other people.
Strategies for the Justification of Law
Authors: Pfannkuche Walter
Published: November 2017

We need to acknowledge that the members of most modern societes adhere to different and partially contradictory moral convictions which to overcome we yet don’t have the intellectual means. Since such convictions typically include opions about which moral rules should be established as laws there will be disagreement about the correct rules of law as well. The article investigates the possibilities to find a system of laws that all can accept on the basis of such moral pluralism. It develops six steps and models for the required justification. As the final step has the form of a strategic negotiation the concluding section explores which forms of representation and which deviations from unanimity are acceptable within this procedural model of justification.
Understanding the Unequal Post-Great Recession Wealth Recovery for American Families
Authors: Zhang Sisi , Feng Shuaizhang
Published: November 2017

The wealth of US families had not returned to its prerecession level by 2013, six years after the onset of the Great Recession. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of this slow and uneven episode of wealth recovery, using family-level data from the Survey of Consumer Finances 1989–2013. Both descriptive results and regressions controlling for life cycle wealth accumulation show that families of color and less-educated families are falling behind in wealth recovery because their wealth portfolios are concentrated in housing, which has recovered very slowly. The decomposition results suggest that homeownership plays a significant role in explaining wealth disparity by race, ethnicity, and education at the mean and bottom of the wealth distribution. Understanding the uneven wealth recovery has important implications for redesigning asset-related policies and narrowing wealth gaps.
Timing of electromyographic activity and ranges of motion during simple motor tasks of upper extremities
Authors: Syczewska Małgorzata , Krawczyk Maciej , Szczerbik Ewa , Kalinowska Małgorzata
Published: November 2017

Study aim: Improvement of the upper extremities’ performance is one of the key aims in the rehabilitation process. In order to achieve high effectiveness of this process the amount of functional improvement achieved by a patient during the therapy needs to be assessed. The aim of this study was to obtain electromyographic (EMG) activity profiles of the upper extremity muscles during execution of simple tasks in healthy subjects. Additionally the ranges of wrist, elbow and shoulder joints were measured and reported during performed trials. The second aim was to determine whether the movement execution and ranges of move­ments and muscular activity depend on age. Material and methods: Twenty-eight healthy adults, age range 21 to 65 years old, participated in the study. Surface electrodes were placed bilaterally on 7 upper extremity muscles. To obtain information about the beginning and end of the movement task and ranges of upper extremity joints, 13 markers were placed on the elbows and wrists of both upper extremities. The move­ments of the segments were calculated (distal vs proximal) in five simple functional tasks (each task involved only one joint), performed while sitting. Kinematic data were collected by the VICON 460 system, and electromyographic data with the Mo­tion Lab EMG system. Results: Charts of timing of EMG activity of the upper extremity muscles together with ranges of upper extremity joint motion were obtained. Conclusion: The results show that the number of muscles activated and the time (or percentage) of the task during which they are active depend on the type of the task and age. These data can be used as a reference in evaluation of functional deficits of patients.
OR.NET RT: how service-oriented medical device architecture meets real-time communication
Authors: Pfeiffer Jonas H. , Kasparick Martin , Strathen Benjamin , Dietz Christian , Dingler Max E. , Lueth Tim C. , Timmermann Dirk , Radermacher Klaus , Golatowski Frank
Published: November 2017

Today’s landscape of medical devices is dominated by stand-alone systems and proprietary interfaces lacking cross-vendor interoperability. This complicates or even impedes the innovation of novel, intelligent assistance systems relying on the collaboration of medical devices. Emerging approaches use the service-oriented architecture (SOA) paradigm based on Internet protocol (IP) to enable communication between medical devices. While this works well for scenarios with no or only soft timing constraints, the underlying best-effort communication scheme is insufficient for time critical data. Real-time (RT) networks are able to reliably guarantee fixed latency boundaries, for example, by using time division multiple access (TDMA) communication patterns. However, deterministic RT networks come with their own limitations such as tedious, inflexible configuration and a more restricted bandwidth allocation. In this contribution we overcome the drawbacks of both approaches by describing and implementing mechanisms that allow the two networks to interact. We introduce the first implementation of a medical device network that offers hard RT guarantees for control and sensor data and integrates into SOA networks. Based on two application examples we show how the flexibility of SOA networks and the reliability of RT networks can be combined to achieve an open network infrastructure for medical devices in the operating room (OR).
Insight into American tourists’ experiences with weather in South Africa
Authors: Giddy Julia K. , Fitchett Jennifer M. , Hoogendoorn Gijsbert
Published: November 2017

Weather and climate are often important factors determining the success of a tourism destination and resultant satisfaction among tourists. This is particularly true for South Africa due the predominance of outdoor tourist attractions. Increasing numbers of international tourists have visited South Africa since the fall of apartheid, particularly those from the United States (U.S.), which is an important market for South African tourism. Therefore, this paper seeks to examine a sample of American tourists’ experience with day-to-day weather and climatic conditions in South Africa. The results show that although respondents did not feel that climatic conditions were an important factor in motivations to visit the country, the day-to-day weather did often impact the enjoyment of their visit. Most notably, weather controlled their ability to participate in outdoor activities. In correlating accounts of unpleasant weather conditions with the meteorological records, a close association emerged, particularly for excessively high temperatures. This indicates that the experiences of American tourists are an accurate indication of climatic unsuitability for tourism, which poses threats to the South African outdoor tourism sector.
Accommodation services for competitive tourism in Sub-Saharan Africa: Historical evidence from Malawi
Authors: Magombo Alice , Rogerson Christian M. , Rogerson Jayne M.
Published: November 2017

The accommodation services sector is a vital underpinning of the competitiveness of destinations in especially emerging tourism regions of the global economy. Within the environment of Africa building the competitiveness of countries as tourism destinations is inseparable from the challenge of establishing a network of different forms of accommodation at competitive prices and internationally acceptable quality standards. This paper uses a longitudinal approach to analyse the development of the accommodation services sector in one African country - Malawi - which is scaling up its tourism industry. Using historical evidence the objective is to examine the unfolding evolution of accommodation services as a factor in enhancing tourism destination competitiveness. The chequered pathway followed in Malawi to building the country’s network of hotels and small-scale accommodation establishments is traced from the colonial period to post-independence developments. It is argued that in understanding the historical evolution of accommodation services policy re-orientations have been significant drivers of change.
Small-area variations in overweight and obesity in an urban area of Nigeria: The role of fast food outlets
Authors: Osayomi Tolulope , Orhiere Maryanne A.
Published: November 2017

Overweight and obesity are two related health issues of epidemic proportions. In Nigeria, these health conditions have been emerging only recently. The extant literature shows inter-city variations in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Nigeria. However, they say little about intra-city variations of these health problems in Nigerian urban centres. Thus, the focus of the study was to determine the small-area variations in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in an urban area of Nigeria and its association with socio-economic, environmental, dietary and lifestyle risk factors. With the aid of a questionnaire, information on the demographic, socio-economic, lifestyle, household and neighbourhood characteristics of respondents was obtained from respondents. Overweight and obesity were computed based on the self-reported height and weight of respondents, using the Body Mass Index (BMI) formula. A simple linear regression model was estimated to determine the individual and collective effects of risk factors. Findings showed that there were noticeable spatial variations in the prevalence of overweight and obesity which result from the varying contextual and compositional characteristics among the political wards of the Ibadan North LGA. Physical proximity to fast food outlets was the only significant factor driving the spatial pattern of obesity (b = 0.645; R2 = 0.416). The paper suggests that government and health officials should formulate area-specific obesity prevention and control plans to curb this growing epidemic in Nigeria.
Perception of the role of culture in the development of small cities by local governments in the context of strategic documents – a case study of Poland
Authors: Środa-Murawska Stefania , Biegańska Jadwiga , Dąbrowski Leszek
Published: November 2017

It is widely accepted that the cultural sector and the creative sector have an impact on the socio-economic revival of cities. They create urban images, form a specific creative milieu, generate new jobs, and organize urban space. The above-mentioned observations have been mainly referred to the largest cities. So far, small cities have not been the subject of similar considerations. As many studies have shown in recent years, the potential of culture for socio-economic development in small cities has been noticed more and more often. It refers mainly to countries in Western Europe or in North America where generally, in the 1980s, the cultural sector was perceived as a remedy for the problems of post-industrial cities. This paper discusses the role of culture in the development of small cities in Poland, i.e. in a country in which only after 1989 is it possible to consider local development managed by local communities. The paper aims at showing how local governments of small cities in Poland perceive the role of culture in their development. The study is based on the analysis of strategic documents dedicated to the development of individual cities. When analysed, strategic documents clearly indicate that local authorities in every city use and are planning to further use different types of cultural activities for the enhancement or development of selected elements included in the broadly-understood socio-economic development; however, only few small cities notice the wide array of opportunities for making the cultural sector a base for socio-economic development.
Approaches towards social deprivation: Reviewing measurement methods
Authors: Świgost Agnieszka
Published: November 2017

The phenomenon of social deprivation is highly diversified; hence there are a number of methods for measuring it. This article is a summary of a literature review concerning the methodology for calculating deprivation indices showing differences in research on deprivation. Reports, carried out on behalf of public administrations as well as academic articles from ten socially and economically developed countries, although diversified, were analysed. Partial indicators from the indices were classified into eight thematic groups representing different deprivation dimensions. A total of 166 partial indicators were analysed. Moreover, other methods of researching social crisis phenomena were discussed i.e. the indices employed by the UN and the USA. In the analysed countries, indicators of education and living conditions were considered most frequently while those relating to health and crime the least. The most common partial indicators are average levels of income, unemployment, overcrowding and education.
Full-bridge MMC DC fault ride-through and STATCOM operation in multi-terminal HVDC grids
Authors: Kontos E. , Tsolaridis G. , Teodorescu R. , Bauer P.
Published: November 2017

This paper investigates a control structure to enhance the DC fault ride-through capability of a full-bridge modular multilevel converter (MMC) station, while ensuring a stable controlled operation as a STATCOM during DC faults without the need for fault isolation. Taking advantage of the switching states of a full-bridge submodule, a DC current controller is proposed, which provides the DC voltage reference for the modulation when a DC fault is detected. By changing the outer controllers strategy from DC voltage or active power control to converter energy control during a fault, the decoupling of the converter operation from the DC side dynamics is realized. In this paper, the focus is on the control methodology at all times of operation and the evaluation of the STATCOM control during a fault. To this end, extensive simulations were performed on a three-terminal high voltage direct current (HVDC) grid in radial configuration and a pole-to-pole DC fault case was investigated. The results showed that the AC voltage and current were controlled within limits at all times, while the full-bridge MMC was able to provide reactive power support to the AC grid. Moreover, using the proposed control methodology, the transients at the operation transition points between STATCOM and inverter/rectifier operation were minimized and the stations were able to safely ride through the fault.
Power electronic transformer based on cascaded H-bridge converter
Authors: Morawiec M. , Lewicki A.
Published: November 2017

In this paper the control strategy of power electronic transformer (PET) is proposed. The analyzed structure of PET uses two seven-level cascaded H-bridge (CHB) rectifiers. The electrical power of PET is transferred between DC-links of CHB converters using dual-active-bridges (DABs) and low voltage high frequency transformers. The roposed solution allows for controlling the active and reactive power with a low level of harmonic distortions. The DC-link voltages and the load of the utilized H-bridges are controlled using appropriate modulation strategy. The theoretical issues are confirmed by simulation and experimental results.
Indifference pricing with counterparty risk
Authors: Ngo M. , Nguyen T. , Duong T.
Published: November 2017

We present counterparty risk by a jump in the underlying price and a structural change of the price process after the default of the counterparty. The default time is modeled by a default-density approach. Then we study an exponential utility-indifference price of an European option whose underlying asset is exposed to this counterparty risk. Utility-indifference pricing method normally consists in solving two optimization problems. However, by using the minimal entropy martingale measure, we reduce to solving just one optimal control problem. In addition, to overcome the incompleteness obstacle generated by the possible jump and the change in structure of the price process, we employ the BSDE-decomposition approach in order to decompose the problem into a global-before-default optimal control problem and an after-default one. Each problem works in its own complete framework. We demonstrate the result by numerical simulation of an European option price under the impact of jump’s size, intensity of the default, absolute risk aversion and change in the underlying volatility.
Stabilization of positive descriptor fractional discrete-time linear system with two different fractional orders by decentralized controller
Authors: Sajewski Ł.
Published: November 2017

Positive descriptor fractional discrete-time linear systems with fractional different orders are addressed in the paper. The decomposition of the regular pencil is used to extend necessary and sufficient conditions for positivity of the descriptor fractional discrete-time linear system with different fractional orders. A method for finding the decentralized controller for the class of positive systems is proposed and its effectiveness is demonstrated on a numerical example.
The Impact of Reputation on Corporate Financial Performance: Median Regression Approach
Authors: Vig Silvija , Dumičić Ksenija , Klopotan Igor
Published: November 2017

Background:In recent years, reputation has become an important risk concern for companies around the world. Deloitte Global Survey highlights the reputation risk as the top strategic business risk in 2014. This is also proven by a research conducted by AON Global Risk Management Survey in 2015 and Allianz Risk Barometer Survey in 2016 which finds a loss of reputation as one of the biggest risks for business executives. Furthermore, the importance of reputation is confirmed by the fact that reputation accounts for more than 25 percent of a company’s market value and the total market capitalization of the S&P500 companies.

Objectives:To investigates the relationship between corporate reputation and financial performance.

Methods/Approach:The survey of the paper was conducted in 2015 in Croatia. The questionnaire for assessing corporate reputation contained three reputational dimensions: products and services, corporate integrity, and organizational performance while the financial dimensions contained indicators of EVA, ROCE, ROA, ROE and the financial stability coefficient. Hierarchical regression methods were applied in the analysis.

Results:This research leads to the conclusion that some dimensions of corporate reputation can be important predictors of financial performance.

Conclusions:Results of the research could be a valid motivation for business executives to consider reputation risk as a critical issue of corporate business strategy.
Best Value Approach (BVA): Enhancing Value Creation in Construction Projects
Authors: Haddadi Amin , Johansen Agnar , Bjørberg Svein
Published: November 2017

Background: Research has revealed an inadequate understanding of the owners’ and users’ strategic objectives and a lack of methodology for translating these objectives into functional buildings. Fulfilment of owners’ and users’ objectives is fundamental in creating value through a project. Management and design processes can be decisive in achieving the desired objectives. Hence, knowledge about what creates value applied into a management framework will enable higher value creation.

Objectives: Providing a framework to enhance value creation in projects by addressing: i) what means and principles should be considered in the front end of a project to secure value creation?; and ii) how can these principles be structured in a framework to maximize the project’s value creation?

Methods/Approach: A literature study, two questionnaires, a focus group workshop, 8 interviews, and two case studies.

Results: Fulfilment and alignment of users’ needs and owners’ strategies combined with innovative thinking is required for value creation. Challenges and obstacles for value creation are identified, and a framework is suggested.

Conclusions: The framework suggests principles that contribute to value creation in each phase of a project. Implementing this methodology will help decision makers towards a better understanding of the objectives and translating them to functional solutions.
Case Study in Interdisciplinary Scientific Communication: A Decade of the INDECS Journal
Authors: Stepanić Josip , Zoroja Jovana , Šimičević Vanja
Published: November 2017

Background: Interdisciplinary scientific areas regularly develop unique methodologies, yet utilise the conventional communication modes to disseminate results of their researches.

Objectives: This paper analyses whether a novel, interdisciplinary communication mode can be found in a gradually developing interdisciplinary journal.

Methods/Approach: The content of the journal was categorised based on the characteristics attributed to the published papers. Statistical tests were performed to check for the overlapping categories.

Results: A number of indicators, related to papers or to their authors, are introduced and quantified.

Conclusions: Methodology utilised and data collected serve, on the one hand, as a referent set for treating the content of other interdisciplinary or disciplinary scientific journals, and, on the other hand, as a set for comparison and extraction of universalities or specificities of the journals. Fluctuations accompanying a gradual rise of the considered journal content prevent a definite answer to the question whether there are some emerging interdisciplinary communication novelties.
Digitalisation of Enterprises Brings New Opportunities to Traditional Management Control
Authors: Bredmar Krister
Published: November 2017

Background: Advanced information systems have changed the way managers work with planning and performance measurement. Traditional management control concepts such as efficiency have changed in meaning due to these information systems.

Objectives: The main purpose behind this paper is to try to understand how a new managerial context is shaped and re-shaped by new information systems that constitute a digital enterprise.

Methods/Approach: Three different cases are presented and analysed.

Results: The new managerial function of advanced information systems is presented through the three cases.

Conclusions: The digitalisation debate and agenda need to develop an even deeper understanding of how digital initiatives affect organisations. This is possible by dealing with concepts such as the digital enterprise, which integrates digital technical solutions with organisational challenges and management control intent.
A new approach to define acceptance limits for hematology in external quality assessment schemes
Authors: Soumali Mohamed Rida , Van Blerk Marjan , Akharif Abdelhadi , Albarède Stéphanie , Kesseler Dagmar , Gutierrez Gabriela , de la Salle Barbara , Plum Inger , Guyard Anne , Favia Ana Paula , Coucke Wim
Published: November 2017

Background:

A study performed in 2007 comparing the evaluation procedures used in European external quality assessment schemes (EQAS) for hemoglobin and leukocyte concentrations showed that acceptance criteria vary widely. For this reason, the Hematology working group from the European Organisation for External Quality Assurance Providers in Laboratory Medicine (EQALM) decided to perform a statistical study with the aim of establishing appropriate acceptance limits (AL) allowing harmonization between the evaluation procedures of European EQAS organizers.

Methods:

Eight EQAS organizers from seven European countries provided their hematology survey results from 2010 to 2012 for red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), white blood cells (WBC), platelets and reticulocytes. More than 440,000 data were collected. The relation between the absolute value of the relative differences between reported EQA results and their corresponding assigned value (U-scores) was modeled by means of an adaptation of Thompson’s “characteristic function”. Quantile regression was used to investigate the percentiles of the U-scores for each target concentration range. For deriving AL, focus was mainly on the upper percentiles (90th, 95th and 99th).

Results:

For RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit and MCV, no relation was found between the U-scores and the target concentrations for any of the percentiles. For WBC, platelets and reticulocytes, a relation with the target concentrations was found and concentration-dependent ALs were determined.

Conclusions:

The approach enabled to determine state of the art-based ALs, that were concentration-dependent when necessary and usable by various EQA providers. It could also easily be applied to other domains.
Visual assessment of hemolysis affects patient safety
Authors: Luksic Ana Helena , Nikolac Gabaj Nora , Miler Marijana , Dukic Lora , Bakliza Ana , Simundic Ana-Maria
Published: November 2017

Background:

Manual handling of hemolyzed samples is not standardized and is vulnerable to errors. This study aimed to evaluate laboratory errors due to manual handling of hemolyzed samples and to assess the risk they might have for patient safety.

Methods:

Data were retrospectively obtained from a laboratory information system for 25 emergency tests from hemolyzed samples. Hemolysis (concentration of free hemoglobin >0.5 g/L) was visually assessed by comparison with a color chart. The reference person reestimated the routinely assessed degree of hemolysis to all samples (n=3185) received in the laboratory in a 1-week period. For each test, the correct and incorrect way of handling results was determined. Risk assessment was performed according to ISO 14971 standard with five categories of risk (S1–S5) and error occurrence (O1–O5).

Results:

In the studied period, the emergency laboratory received 495 hemolyzed samples (15.5%) with a total of 2518 laboratory test requests (15.5%): 102 (20.6%) of the reports from hemolyzed samples had a comment on hemolysis; 31% of the test results were handled incorrectly (20.7% due to the incorrect release of the test result despite hemolysis interference and 10.3% due to unnecessary suppression), accounting for 4.8% of the total test volume. Tests with the highest combination of risk and occurrence rate were troponin T, potassium and total bilirubin.

Conclusions:

Manual handling of hemolyzed samples may lead to risk of errors in reporting results for troponin T, potassium and total bilirubin, which may have an effect on clinical decision. In addition, unnecessary suppression of the sample results unaffected by hemolysis could affect patient outcome.
Impact of Sowing Interval on the Yield and Yield Contributing Traits of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) under the Tropical Circumstance
Authors: Hakeem M. , Waseem M. , Baloch D.M. , Khan M.A. , Ali Q.
Published: November 2017

The experiment was conducted to study the impact of sowing interval on the yield and yield contributing traits of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), under the tropical circumstance, during 2016, at the research area present near Faculty of Agriculture, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Science, Uthal, Balochistan. Experimental treatments were comprising three varieties of sesame, SV1 (TS-5), SV2 (TH-6) and SV3 (4002), and cultivated under different three sowing dates, at 15 days interval: S1 = 1st sowing (15 March 2016), S2 = 2nd sowing (1st April 2016) and S3 =3rd sowing (15 April 2016). The results of various observations, i.e. plant height at maturity (cm), 1000-seed weight (g), seed mass (t ha−1), yield index (%) rooting depth (cm) and root weight per plant was found to be significant both for the all the sowing dates and sesame genotypes. Non significant finding was observed in traits of biological yield per plant (g) and root-shoot ratio. Whereas interaction among all the treatment factors was non-significant. Maximum yield and yields contributing parameters was observed in S3 = 3rd sowing (15 April 2016) and sesame genotype SV1 (TS-5), followed by SV2 (TH-6), while minimum yield was noted in S3 = 3rd sowing (15 April 2016) and SV3 (4002) sesame genotypes. On the basis of the coastal agroclimatic condition of district Lasbela, it was concluded that maximum yield production was achieved from the sesame variety (TS-5), as compared to other two sesame (TH-6 and 4002) varieties. Sowing date of sesame at 15th April 2016 was more productive, as compared to the other sowing interval. Coastal climatic condition is feasible for sesame cultivation, especially for the sesame variety (TS-5).
Comparative Evaluation of Biochemical Parameters During Urinary Infection in Maltese and Belgian Shepherd Dogs
Authors: Focak M. , Haskovic E. , Suljevic D. , Zahirovic A.
Published: November 2017

Urinary tract infections can be uncomfortable, painful and even dangerous for most dog breeds. Clinical signs are often nonspecific and insufficient for diagnosis. Urinalysis in combination with biochemical parameters and urine culture is the best combination of clinical findings for diagnosis of urinary tract infections. The incidence of urinary tract infections in dogs population is growing and 27% of dogs develop an urinary tract infection through their life. Urinary infections occur more often in the elderly than in younger dogs. More than 70% of all urinary tract infections are infections with one bacterial species. Biochemical profile is important aspect for diagnosis establishment, but due to the nature of action infection by different agents may be considered as individual case. The main aim of this research was to analyse biochemical parameters of Maltese and Belgian Shepherd (Malinois) dog breed, who were affected by urinary tract infections. Urea concentration was elevated in Malinois, while urea, phosphates, albumins and alkaline phosphatase activity were elevated in Maltese dogs. Statistical analysis showed differences in concentrations of urea, creatinine, phosphates, so as alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and amylase activity between compared breeds during acute urinary infections. Maltese dogs are less resistant to bacterias, that causes urinary tract infections, and have lower chance to maintain homeostasis of biochemical parameters in blood during urinary bacterial infections, in comparison to Maltese dogs.
Leptin and interleukin-6 level in patients with hypertension and obesity combined with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis during treatment with sartans and statins
Authors: Bochar Olesya , Sklyarov Eugene , Bochar Volodymyr
Published: November 2017

The results of treatment of patients with arterial hypertension and obesity combined with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis are presented in article. Herein, the combined use of olmesartan or telmisartan with atorvastatin for 12 weeks had a positive impact on the physical condition of patients with arterial hypertension and obesity. This effect was manifested by maintenance of optimal blood pressure, the reduction of subjective complaints and the improvement of heart hemodynamics. Administration of sartans and statins to patients with arterial hypertension combined with obesity and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis led to a significant reduction of LDL (p<0.01) and LDL cholesterol levels (p<0.01), as well as the values of leptin (p<0.01) and IL-6 (p<0.01). The combination of olmesartan or telmisartan with atorvastatin not only allows a control of BP, but also a reduction of the pro-atherogenic fractions of blood lipids, hyperleptinaemia and levels of pro-inflammatory IL-6, hence, in this manner, improving the patient general condition.
Mechanical properties of materials used for temporary fixed dentures – in vitro study
Authors: Celej-Piszcz Elzbieta , Szalewski Leszek , Kleinrok Przemyslaw , Borowicz Janusz
Published: November 2017

Objectives. The objective of the research was to define the mechanical properties of currently marketed temporary filling materials. Methods. Eight temporary filling materials: Boston, Dentalon, Protemp II, Revotek LC, Structure 2, Structure 3, UniFast LC, UniFast Trad were used to make 5 samples each of measurements 2 × 2 × 25 mm, in order to define the flexural strength, and 10 rings each of measurements 2 × 5 mm, in order to carry out the Vickers micro-hardness test. After preparation, the samples were stored in distilled water of temperature of 370°C, for 7 days. Subsequently, flexural strength and Vickers hardness testing was undertaken. Results. Composite temporary materials showed considerably better mechanical properties, both in flexural strength and in Vickers micro-hardness testing. Conclusions. the best mechanical properties, both in terms of flexural strength, as well as Vickers micro-hardness test can be observe among composite materials.
Tlr2, Tjp1 genes expression during wound healing dynamics – with melanin treatment
Authors: Dranitsina Alevtina , Dvorshchenko Kateryna , Taburets Olesya , Grebinyk Dmytro , Ostapchenko Ludmila , Beregova Tetyana
Published: November 2017

Wound healing is the complex and dynamic process of replacing devitalized and missing cellular structures and tissue layers. We have previously shown that melanin, herein, produced by the Antarctic black yeast fungi Pseudonadsoniella brunea (Nadsoniella nigra sp. X-1), has expressed a cyto-protective effect, promoted rapid wound healing of various ethiology and can be offered as a new dermatropic drug. The current study was conducted on a rat model of purulent necrotic wound. In each model, one group was a control, while in the others, wound healing occurred without drug application or with administration of 0,5% carbopol or with both 0,5% carbopol and 0,1% melanin. The pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance in skin gomogenate in dynamics on 3, 6, 9, 14 and day of full epithelization was estimated using the spectrophotometric biochemical method. Moreover, so as to understand the role played by the Tlr2 and Tjp1 in the process of wound healing and scar formation, Tlr2, Tjp1gene expression and genetic mRNA was determined with quantitative RT-PCR. The application of our pharmacological composition stimulated the decrease of Tlr2 and Tjp1 gene expression against the background of suppression of free radical processes (reduction of superoxide anion radical content) with epithelization and without scarring. The results of this study have shown the positive effects of melanin on wound healing. The obtained results indicate the advisability of applying melanin for the treatment of inflammatory processes.
Phenotypic diversity of Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus parainfluenzae isolates depending on origin and health condition
Authors: Andrzejczuk Sylwia , Kosikowska Urszula , Malm Anna , Chwiejczak Edyta , Stepien-Pysniak Dagmara
Published: November 2017

Background. Haemophili are common human microbiota representatives. The aim of our study was to investigate a diversity of Haemophilus spp. isolates selected from clinical specimens on the basis of biochemical characteristics, biotypes distribution, protein profiles and antimicrobial resistance. Results. A total of 893/1025 (87%) of haemophili isolates were identified: 260/1025 (25%) as H. influenzae and 633/1025 (62%) as H. parainfluenzae. Moreover, a group of 107/1025 (10%) isolates without species identification (with e.g. abnormal numerical profile) was described as Haemophilus spp. Within the H. influenzae isolates, biotypes II and III were in a great majority (92/893; 10%, each), whereas among H. parainfluenzae, the most commonly occurring was biotype I and II (301/893, 34% and 178/893, 20%, respectively). A similar prevalence of biotypes was obtained regardless of the patient’s age or health condition or the type of specimen. A production of beta-lactamases was shown in 46/893 (5%) haemophili, both H. influenzae (13/46, 28%) and H. parainfluenzae (33/46, 72%) isolates. On the basis of haemophili biochemical characteristics, the cluster analysis using the UPGMA method demonstrated a high degree of phenotypic similarity due to a small distances between isolates taken from both unhealthy children and adults. Conclusion. Based on biochemical characteristics, about 90% of haemophili clinical isolates representing human-specific respiratory microbiota were positively identified as H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae. The same differences in biotypes and antimicrobial resistance among isolates selected from healthy people or from patients with chronic and recurrent diseases were detected.
State, Market and Infrastructure: The New Silk Road
Authors: Nolan Peter
Published: November 2017

Infrastructure development, including transport, energy, buildings, electricity, telecommunications, water and sewage, as well as health and education, have been crucially important for China’s growth as well as for Chinese people’s welfare. China’s role in infrastructure development has the potential to contribute positively to growth and welfare in the countries along the Silk Road.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative Extension to Central and Eastern European Countries - Sixteen Nations, Five Summits, Many Challenges
Authors: Musabelliu Marsela
Published: November 2017

The Belt and Road Initiative proclaimed by President Xi in 2013, a strategy developed by the Chinese government, is very important to China but is not confined to China. In order for the initiative to be successful it needs to be embraced by the countries on the terrestrial and maritime route indicated in the plan. In the late 1980s Deng Xiaoping proposed to integrate Socialism with Chinese Characteristics (Zhongguo Tese Shehui Zhuyi, ) into global capitalism and in the 1990s the Jiang Zemin leadership initiated the Going out policy (Zouchuqu Zhanlue, ) – the current Belt and Road Initiative is China’s continuation in implementing those policies into actual deeds. China’s accession to WTO in 2001 marked China’s full integration into the global economy and since then the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has become the largest trading partner for more than 180 countries. The Xi-Li administration has been extremely proactive since it was established in 2012; from that year on, Chinese behavior in international affairs has gained an ever-growing role as a forger of economic and diplomatic ties between countries. The primary example of this behavior is the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). As every serious foreign policy plan, the BRI is an accumulation of various other initiatives. For example, the cooperation mechanism “16+1”, with which the PRC has approached Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), can be integrated under the BRI. This paper analizes the “16+1” China-CEEC cooperation mechanism in the context of the bigger BRI initiative, and tries to comprehend the economic and political factors intertwined with its implementation.
Catalytic steam reforming of ethanol over W-, V-, or Nb–modified Ni-Al-O hydrotalcite-type precursors
Authors: Korneeva E.V. , Kardash T.Yu. , Rogov V.A. , Smal E.A. , Sadykov V.A.
Published: November 2017

2:1 Ni/Al layered double hydroxides (LDH) doped by anions using ammonium salts (NH4)10[W12O41], NH4VO3 or (NH4)3[NbO(C2O4)3] have been prepared by co-precipitation, dried and calcined at 600оС, forming NiO-based solid solutions. Diffraction patterns are typical for the layered Ni-Al-O hydrotalcite-like structure. Anion incorporation into the interlayer space increases the interlayer distance for W- and Nb-containing anions but decreases it for VO3 -1. Broad halos in the diffraction patterns indicate amorphous or strongly disordered phases containing the doping anions. H2 reduction of undoped Ni-Al-O (NA) and those doped by W (NAW) and Nb (NANb) occurred in one step, while that doped by V (NAV) was reduced in two steps. W doping increases the reduction temperature, but Nb doping decreases it. The hydrogen consumed increases in the row: NANb < NAW < NAV < NA. In the ethanol steam reforming reaction, modification by W and Nb anions results in ethanol conversion rates close to that of the unmodified sample, but V increases it nearly twofold.
Energy Harvesting Employing a Drive Similar as a Clock Unit
Authors: Behnke C. , Klassen A. , Schomburg W. K.
Published: November 2017

An energy harvesting device for frequencies of less than 2 Hz with amplitudes of several cm was developed. A pendulum is driving a gear mechanism similar as a clock unit which is driving a wheel carrying 36 magnets. Next to the magnets there are mounted 18 coils generating voltage. This way, a maximum voltage and power of 21.5 V and 114 mW are achieved at 1.25 Hz and 57 mm amplitude.
Factors Impacting On Patient Compliance with Medical Advice: Empirical Study
Authors: Krot Katarzyna , Sousa João Pedro
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this paper to identify factors which have a bearing on compliance with medical advice in various age groups. The survey was conducted, using the CAWI method, on a representative sample of 1000 respondents who declared having used healthcare services in the previous six months. Control of competences is one of the strongest factors which is common for the oldest and youngest groups. Interestingly, trust in the integrity and honesty of doctors is significant for the youngest patients, i.e., the higher is the level of trust, the lower is the tendency to non-comply. Another type of trust is related to the benevolence of doctors and is significant to patients of the middle age group. Satisfaction is a significant predictor in the two oldest groups of patients. High levels of satisfaction seem to deter people from non-adherence to recommended treatment regimens. The results of the present study provide knowledge about the nature and diversity of factors behind patient compliance in various age groups.
Electrospun fibers/branched-clusters as building units for tissue engineering
Authors: Minden-Birkenmaier Benjamin A. , Selders Gretchen S. , Cherukuri Kasyap , Bowlin Gary L.
Published: November 2017

Although electrospun templates are effective at mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM) of native tissue due to the tailorability of parameters such as fiber diameter, polymer composition, and drug loading, these templates are often limited with regards to cell infiltration and the tailorability of the microenvironments within the structures. Thus, there remains a need for a flexible threedimensional template system which could be combined with cell suspensions to promote three-dimensional tissue regeneration, and ultimately allow cells to freely reorganize and modify their microenvironment. In this study, a mincing process was designed and optimized to create mixtures of electrospun fibers/branched-clusters for use as fundamental tissue engineering building units. These fiber/branched-cluster elements were characterized with regards to fiber and branch lengths, and a method was optimized to combine them with normal human dermal fibroblasts (nHDFs) in culture to create interconnected template constructs. Sectioning and imaging of these constructs revealed cell/fiber integration as well as even cell distribution throughout the construct interior. These fiber/branched-cluster elements represent an innovative flexible tissue regeneration template system.