bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The internationalization of Nigerian firms: Motivations and location patterns
Authors: Omokaro‐Romanus Constance , Anchor John R. , Konara Palitha
Published: January 2018

Despite the increased number of studies of the internationalization of emerging‐market multinationals (EMNCs), Latin American and Asian firms have dominated the focus of such studies, while the study of the internationalization process of sub‐Saharan African firms in the international business literature is quite limited. Therefore, this article examines the motivations and location patterns of the internationalization process of four Nigerian firms through a multiple case study approach. The findings show that the internationalization of the Nigerian firms is a recent phenomenon, but the foreign investment pattern reflects a pan‐African investment strategy. However, the findings also reveal that the firm‐specific advantages that had been accumulated in the domestic market, coupled with home‐country factors and regional‐/host‐market factors, were key determinants of the motivations and location patterns in the internationalization process of Nigerian firms.
A generalized framework for reduced‐order modeling of a wind turbine wake
Authors: Hamilton Nicholas , Viggiano Bianca , Calaf Marc , Tutkun Murat , Cal Raúl Bayoán
Published: January 2018

A reduced‐order model for a wind turbine wake is sought from large eddy simulation data. Fluctuating velocity fields are combined in the correlation tensor to form the kernel of the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). Proper orthogonal decomposition modes resulting from the decomposition represent the spatially coherent turbulence structures in the wind turbine wake; eigenvalues delineate the relative amount of turbulent kinetic energy associated with each mode. Back‐projecting the POD modes onto the velocity snapshots produces dynamic coefficients that express the amplitude of each mode in time. A reduced‐order model of the wind turbine wake (wakeROM) is defined through a series of polynomial parameters that quantify mode interaction and the evolution of each POD mode coefficients. The resulting system of ordinary differential equations models the wind turbine wake composed only of the large‐scale turbulent dynamics identified by the POD. Tikhonov regularization is used to recalibrate the dynamical system by adding additional constraints to the minimization seeking polynomial parameters, reducing error in the modeled mode coefficients. The wakeROM is periodically reinitialized with new initial conditions found by relating the incoming turbulent velocity to the POD mode coefficients through a series of open‐loop transfer functions. The wakeROM reproduces mode coefficients to within 25.2%, quantified through the normalized root‐mean‐square error.  A high‐level view of the modeling approach is provided as a platform to discuss promising research directions, alternate processes that could benefit stability and efficiency, and desired extensions of the wakeROM.
Old Wine in New Wineskins? A Trial of Restorative Justice in a Korean Criminal Court
Authors: CHANG Won Kyung
Published: January 2018

The concept of restorative justice emerged from efforts to find an alternative to the traditional punitive, retributive reaction to crime. The belief that face-to-face meetings are able to address the diverse needs of all involved parties has eventuated in the proposal of an informal process to discuss the aftermath of crime. One local district court in Korea was very keen to test this process and conducted a project to examine the applicability of restorative justice in Korean criminal trials. Investigating the processes and outcomes of this project, this study identifies challenges in officially adopting such a programme in Korea. In particular, this study raises questions regarding what form of justice Korean citizens truly desire.
Temporal Relationship Between Healthcare-Associated and Nonhealthcare-Associated Norovirus Outbreaks and Google Trends Data in the United States
Authors: Osuka Hanako , Hall Aron J. , Wikswo Mary E. , Baker Julia M. , Lopman Benjamin A.
Published: January 2018

Healthcare-associated norovirus outbreaks increase later but have a more pronounced seasonality than nonhealthcare norovirus outbreaks. Healthcare-associated norovirus outbreaks had higher correlation with Google Trends activity than nonhealthcare outbreaks (R2=0.68 vs 0.39). Google Trends data may have the potential to supplement existing norovirus surveillance due to its real-time availability.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:355–358
Influence ofLigula intestinalisplerocercoids (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea) on the occurrence of eyeflukes in roach (Rutilus rutilus) from a lake in south-east England
Authors: Morley N.J. , Lewis J.W.
Published: January 2018

Vertebrate hosts commonly harbour concurrent infections of different helminth species which may interact with each other in a synergistic, antagonistic or negligible manner. Direct interactions between helminths that share a common site in the host have been regularly reported, but indirect interactions between species that occur in different sites are rarely described, especially in fish hosts. Plerocercoids ofLigula intestinalisare common infections of the peritoneal (body) cavity of roach (Rutilus rutilus) in freshwater habitats. These larval cestodes can cause extensive systemic pathologies to the fish host, which in turn may alter its susceptibility as a target host for other helminth species. The present study, using an existing dataset, investigates the influence ofL. intestinalis(ligulosis) on frequently occurring eyefluke infections in roach sampled from a lake in south-east England. The occurrence of two species of eyefluke (Diplostomumsp. andTylodelphyssp.) in the roach population demonstrated no significant levels of interaction with each other. The prevalence but not mean intensity or abundance ofDiplostomumsp. was significantly increased in ligulosed roach, while the incidence ofTylodelphyssp. remained unchanged. Analyses of bilateral asymmetry in the occurrence of eyeflukes in left and right eyes of infected fish demonstrate thatTylodelphyssp. shows significant asymmetry in non-ligulosed roach, which is not replicated in ligulosed individuals. In contrast,Diplostomumsp. shows no evidence of asymmetry in either ligulosed or non-ligulosed fish.
A PATENTABILITY REQUIREMENT AND INDUSTRY-TARGETED R&D
Authors: Kishi Keiichi
Published: January 2018

I introduce a minimum innovation size required for patents into a Schumpeterian growth model. We show that to satisfy the patentability requirement for minimum innovation size, each research and development (R&D) firm targets only industries in which the incumbent's technology is of sufficient obsolescence. This is because the technological gap between innovator and incumbent is greater in industries using older technologies. Although the increase in minimum innovation size reduces the number of industries targeted for R&D, it also increases the amount of R&D investment directed at those targeted industries. Consequently, introducing a minimum innovation size has a nonmonotonic (or negative) effect on the aggregate flow of innovations. Further, by deriving the endogenous long-run distribution of innovation size, we show that an increase in minimum innovation size reduces the mean innovation size. This implies that even if the patent office only grants patents for superior innovations, it causes innovators to produce generally inferior-quality innovations.
Parents of the Welfare State: Pedagogues as Parenting Guides
Authors: Dannesboe Karen Ida , Bach Dil , Kjær Bjørg , Palludan Charlotte
Published: January 2018

In Denmark, a process of defamilising has taken place since the expansion of the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector in the 1960s, in the sense that children now spend a large part of their childhood outside the family. Nevertheless, parents are still seen as key figures in children's upbringing and as having primary responsibility for the quality of childhood, implying a simultaneous process of refamilising. Based on ethnographic fieldwork we show that parents are not only held responsible for their children's lives at home, but also for ensuring that ECEC staff have the best possible opportunity to support children's development at ECEC institutions. We analyse how ECEC staff offer guidance on how to be a responsible parent who cooperates in the right ways, and on how to cultivate children's development at home. Parents willingly accept such advice because of a strong risk awareness embedded in diagnostic forms, positioning ECEC staff as parenting experts.
Critical Role of Grazing Animals in an Ecosystem
Authors: Witman Sarah
Published: January 2018

Scientists model the effect of horses, cattle, sheep, and goats on local environments and global climate.
Proliferation dynamics of acute myeloid leukaemia and haematopoietic progenitors competing for bone marrow space
Authors: Akinduro O. , Weber T. S. , Ang H. , Haltalli M. L. R. , Ruivo N. , Duarte D. , Rashidi N. M. , Hawkins E. D. , Duffy K. R. , Lo Celso C.
Published: January 2018

Leukaemia progressively invades bone marrow (BM), outcompeting healthy haematopoiesis by mechanisms that are not fully understood. Combining cell number measurements with a short-timescale dual pulse labelling method, we simultaneously determine the proliferation dynamics of primitive haematopoietic compartments and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). We observe an unchanging proportion of AML cells entering S phase per hour throughout disease progression, with substantial BM egress at high levels of infiltration. For healthy haematopoiesis, we find haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) make a significant contribution to cell production, but we phenotypically identify a quiescent subpopulation with enhanced engraftment ability. During AML progression, we observe that multipotent progenitors maintain a constant proportion entering S phase per hour, despite a dramatic decrease in the overall population size. Primitive populations are lost from BM with kinetics that are consistent with ousting irrespective of cell cycle state, with the exception of the quiescent HSC subpopulation, which is more resistant to elimination.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Identification of a novel Na+-coupled Fe3+-citrate transport system, distinct from mammalian INDY, for uptake of citrate in mammalian cells
Authors: Ogura Jiro , Babu Ellappan , Miyauchi Seiji , Ramachandran Sabarish , Nemeth Elizebeta , Bhutia Yangzom D. , Ganapathy Vadivel
Published: January 2018

NaCT is a Na+-coupled transporter for citrate expressed in hepatocytes and neurons. It is the mammalian ortholog of INDY (I’m Not Dead Yet), a transporter which modifies lifespan inDrosophila. Here we describe a hitherto unknown transport system for citrate in mammalian cells. When liver and mammary epithelial cells were pretreated with the iron supplement ferric ammonium citrate (FAC), uptake of citrate increased >10-fold. Iron chelators abrogated the stimulation of citrate uptake in FAC-treated cells. The iron exporter ferroportin had no role in this process. The stimulation of citrate uptake also occurred when Fe3+was added during uptake without pretreatment. Similarly, uptake of Fe3+was enhanced by citrate. The Fe3+-citrate uptake was coupled to Na+. This transport system was detectable in primary hepatocytes and neuronal cell lines. The functional features of this citrate transport system distinguish it from NaCT. Loss-of-function mutations in NaCT cause early-onset epilepsy and encephalopathy; the newly discovered Na+-coupled Fe3+-citrate transport system might offer a novel treatment strategy for these patients to deliver citrate into affected neurons independent of NaCT. It also has implications to iron-overload conditions where circulating free iron increases, which would stimulate cellular uptake of citrate and consequently affect multiple metabolic pathways.
Optimal donor for severe aplastic anemia patient requiring allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A large-sample study from China
Authors: Zeng Yunjing , Wang Sanbin , Wang Jishi , Liu Li , Su Yi , Lu Zhixiang , Zhang Xuemei , Zhang Yanqi , Zhong Jiang Fan , Peng Lihui , Liu Qiang , Lu Yinghao , Gao Lei , Zhang Xi
Published: January 2018

HLA-haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) may be an option for severe aplastic anemia (SAA) patients. However, to date, no large-sample studies have been performed to determine which types of SAA patients are suitable for HLA-haploidentical HSCT. We retrospectively studied 189 consecutive patients with SAA who underwent HLA-identical or HLA-haploidentical HSCT at seven transplant centers in China. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied in this study to reduce the influence of potential confounders. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 72.0% in the HLA-haploidentical group and 76.5% in the HLA-identical group. The median time to achieve engraftment and the incidence of acute GVHD/chronic GVHD were not significantly different between the two groups. In the subgroup analysis, the outcome of patients older than 40 years in the HLA-haploidentical group was significantly poorer than that of patients younger than 40 years in the same group and that of patients older than 40 years in the HLA-identical group. Based on the above results, we suggest that HLA-haploidentical relative HSCT should be considered as a valid alternative option for patients younger than 40 years with SAA for whom no matched sibling donor is available.
Synthesis of novel Au@Void@Nb2O5 core–shell nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic activity
Authors: Bai Jiaquan , Xue Jiao , Wang Runwei , Zhang Zongtao , Qiu Shilun
Published: January 2018

Novel Au@Void@Nb2O5 core–shell nanocomposites have been fabricated through a facile sol–gel method exhibiting efficient photocatalytic performance and excellent durability.
Destruction of chemical warfare agent simulants by air and moisture stable metal NHC complexes
Authors: Weetman Catherine , Notman Stuart , Arnold Polly L.
Published: January 2018

The cooperative reactivity of both NHC and metal centre has been used to destroy chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulants.
Recent progress in magnesium-based thermoelectric materials
Authors: Santos Rafael , Aminorroaya Yamini Sima , Dou Shi Xue
Published: January 2018

We review the current status of low-cost magnesium-based thermoelectric materials in relation to other materials.
Contribution of HI-bearing ultra-diffuse galaxies to the cosmic number density of galaxies
Authors: Jones M. G. , Papastergis E. , Pandya V. , Leisman L. , Romanowsky A. J. , Yung L. Y. A. , Somerville R. S. , Adams E. A. K.
Published: January 2018

We estimate the cosmic number density of the recently identified class of HI-bearing ultra-diffuse sources (HUDs) based on the completeness limits of the ALFALFA survey. These objects have HI masses approximately in the range 8.5 < logMHI∕M⊙ < 9.5, average r-band surface brightnesses fainter than 24 mag arcsec−2, half-light radii greater than 1.5 kpc, and are separated from neighbours by at least 350 kpc. In this work we demonstrate that they contribute at most ~6% of the population of HI-bearing dwarfs detected by ALFALFA (with similar HI masses), have a total cosmic number density of (1.5 ± 0.6) × 10−3 Mpc−3, and an HI mass density of (6.0 ± 0.8) × 105 M⊙ Mpc−3. We estimate that this is similar to the total cosmic number density of ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) in groups and clusters, and conclude that the relation between the number of UDGs hosted in a halo and the halo mass must have a break below M200 ~ 1012 M⊙ in order to account for the abundance of HUDs in the field. The distribution of the velocity widths of HUDs rises steeply towards low values, indicating a preference for slow rotation rates compared to the global HI-rich dwarf population. These objects were already included in previous measurements of the HI mass function, but have been absent from measurements of the galaxy stellar mass function owing to their low surface brightness. However, we estimate that due to their low number density the inclusion of HUDs would constitute a correction of less than 1%. Comparison with the Santa Cruz semi-analytic model shows that it produces HI-rich central UDGs that have similar colours to HUDs, but that these UDGs are currently produced in a much greater number. While previous results from this sample have favoured formation scenarios where HUDs form in high spin-parameter halos, comparisons with recent results which invoke that formation mechanism reveal that this model produces an order of magnitude more field UDGs than we observe in the HUD population, and these have an occurrence rate (relative to other dwarfs) that is approximately double what we observe. In addition, the colours of HUDs are bluer than predicted, although we suspect this is due to a systematic problem in reproducing the star formation histories of low-mass galaxies rather than being specific to the ultra-diffuse nature of these sources.
Laboratory testing of a long expansion rock bolt support for energy-absorbing applications
Authors: Skrzypkowski Krzysztof
Published: January 2018

The main purpose of rock support and reinforcement in underground mining is to maintain excavations safe and open for their intended lifespan. The basic type of rock mass reinforcement method both in ore and hard coal mining is rock bolt support. Very often, existing bolt support systems are not always capable of providing a reliable controlled performance. Therefore, in recent years energy-absorbing bolts which are exposed to dynamic loading, for example from rock burst caused by high rock stresses, earthquakes, or blasting have appeared. In this article particular attention was paid to short and long expansion bolts. Quasi-static tests of expansion bolts were carried out at the laboratory test facility in simulated mining conditions, especially for the KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. mines. In the underground mines of the Legnica-Głogów Copper District (LGOM) the main way to protect the room excavation is rock bolt support with a length from 1.2 m to 2.6 m. Rock bolt support longer than 2.6 m is considered as additional support of excavations and is increasingly being used to reinforce the roofs. The comparisons of energy-absorbing short and long expansion bolts with a length of 1.8m, 3.6m and 5.2m were presented. In addition, for elastic and plastic range of each bolts were determined.
Nonnegative Matrix Factorization of time frequency representation of vibration signal for local damage detection – comparison of algorithms
Authors: Wodecki Jacek
Published: January 2018

Local damage detection in rotating machine elements is very important problem widely researched in the literature. One of the most common approaches is the vibration signal analysis. Since time domain processing is often insufficient, other representations are frequently favored. One of the most common one is time-frequency representation hence authors propose to separate internal processes occurring in the vibration signal by spectrogram matrix factorization. In order to achieve this, it is proposed to use the approach of Nonnegative Matrix Factorization (NMF). In this paper three NMF algorithms are tested using real and simulated data describing single-channel vibration signal acquired on damaged rolling bearing operating in drive pulley in belt conveyor driving station. Results are compared with filtration using Spectral Kurtosis, which is currently recognized as classical method for impulsive information extraction, to verify the validity of presented methodology.
Analysis of hard coal quality for narrow size fraction under 20 mm
Authors: Niedoba Tomasz , Pięta Paulina
Published: January 2018

The paper presents the results of an analysis of hard coal quality diversion in narrow size fraction by using taxonomic methods. Raw material samples were collected in selected mines of Upper Silesian Industrial Region and they were classified according to the Polish classification as types 31, 34.2 and 35. Then, each size fraction was characterized in terms of the following properties: density, ash content, calorific content, volatile content, total sulfur content and analytical moisture. As a result of the analysis it can be stated that the best quality in the entire range of the tested size fractions was the 34.2 coking coal type. At the same time, in terms of price parameters, high quality of raw material characterised the following size fractions: 0-6.3 mm of 31 energetic coal type and 0-3.15 mm of 35 coking coal type. The methods of grouping (Ward’s method) and agglomeration (k-means method) have shown that the size fraction below 10 mm was characterized by higher quality in all the analyzed hard coal types. However, the selected taxonomic methods do not make it possible to identify individual size fraction or hard coal types based on chosen parameters.
Analysis of environmental-social changes in the surrounding area of KWB Turow in the historical context
Authors: Ciesłik Tobiasz , Górniak-Zimroz Justyna
Published: January 2018

Opencast mining of large-area lignite deposits impacts the environment, and the health and life of people living in the vicinity of the conducted mining activity. Therefore, the attempt was made to develop a methodology for identification of environmental and social changes in the Bogatynia municipality (south-western Poland), resulting from functioning of Turow lignite mine within its area. During the study of changes occurring over the years, the development of mining pit was noticed, as well as the transformations of this area and impact of the mining plant on the selected elements of environment and surrounding areas. Analogue and digital data were used for the preparation of cartographic compilations, the usefulness of which was analyzed in accordance with the guidelines contained in the standard [1]. The conducted cartographic studies allowed to learn the history of the mine together with identification of changes taking place in the municipality Bogatynia. The obtained results show the form and condition of the objects in the analyzed year, allowing for the interpretation of changes that occurred in the surrounding areas of the Turow mine. Due to the conducted activity of the mine and Turow power plant, both negative and positive aspects were noted in connection with the carrying out of mining activity in the Bogatynia municipality.
Cellular automata and powers of p∕q
Authors: Kari Jarkko , Kopra Johan
Published: January 2018

We consider one-dimensional cellular automata Fp,q which multiply numbers by p∕q in base pq for relatively prime integers p and q. By studying the structure of traces with respect to Fp,q we show that for p ≥ 2q – 1 (and then as a simple corollary for p > q > 1) there are arbitrarily small finite unions of intervals which contain the fractional parts of the sequence ξ(p∕q)n, (n = 0, 1, 2, …) for some ξ > 0. To the other direction, by studying the measure theoretical properties of Fp,q, we show that for p > q > 1 there are finite unions of intervals approximating the unit interval arbitrarily well which don’t contain the fractional parts of the whole sequence ξ(p∕q)n for any ξ > 0.
Une question de pigmentation
Authors: Jordan Bertrand
Published: January 2018

GWAS analyses for skin colour performed on a series of diverse African groups reveal new loci involved in this phenotype and, surprisingly, the presence within several African populations of the “light” allele of the SLC24A5 gene at significant frequency. This underlines the complexity of skin colour genetics and the interest of studying a wide range of populations.
Fictitious employment contracts in loan recovery processes in Latvia
Authors: Neilands R.
Published: January 2018

Latvia from 2008 till 2013 experienced serious financial crisis. The results of the crisis were significant financial loss in banking area, plenty of foreclosures, plenty of corporate and private bankruptcy processes. One of issues Latvia faced in the foreclosure proceedings was the reaction of debtors – some of them used all possible means (including illegal) to obstruct foreclosure. One of such means is a conclusion of fictitious employmentcontracts on the mortgaged real estate maintenance and later obtaining a court judgment on a wage recovery.

The aim of the paper is to research how fictitious employmentcontracts are used and to propose a solution for the fictitious labour agreements issue. Methods of qualitative research were employed in the paper – comparative method, analytic method, inductive method, and deductive method.
Legal consequences and problems of the servitudes of right of way established by administrative acts in Latvia
Authors: Dinsberga J. , Bite K.
Published: January 2018

The right to own a property is guaranteed by the Article 105 of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia that in the same time stipulates that the said rights may be restricted only in accordance with law. This legitimate property right restriction is determined in Article 928 of the Civil Law: the ownership may be restricted both by private intent and by law. One of the restrictions of ownership rights is the servitude of right of way which is established by law, a contract, a court judgement, or a will. During the land reform, the State Forest Service, land commissions, and municipalities had the legal basis to establish the servitude of right of way also by an administrative act, taking a corresponding decision. However, many decisions were insufficient and legally incorrect. As a result, today the servitudes of right of way established by the administrative acts during the period of the land reform do not fulfil their purpose and cause a number of legal and practical problems both to owners of immovable property and to state institutions. In order to explore these problems, referring to the Article 7 of the Paragraph 105 of the protocol resolution No.56 of the Cabinet of Ministers from 29 October 2013, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Agriculture issued the Conceptual Report “On the Problems Occurring in Relation with the Servitudes of Right of Way Established during the Land Reform and Their Possible Solutions” (hereinafter – the Conceptual Report). In general there are 2 possible solutions, but for the second solution there are five courses of action, one of which – in cases when there is a road on private property that is needed for public use it is to be determined as an encumbrance of the immovable property “Public road”. The aim of the research is by analysis of the problems of the servitudes of right of way, established by the administrative acts during the period of the land reform, to evaluate whether the solutions offered in the Conceptual Report are practically applicable and will give the desired result, as well as to offer the author’s vision for solution of the existing problems. The author has used the scientific research approaches – descriptive, analytical, inductive and deductive, logical-constructive, formal-dogmatic, graphical and interpretation of legal norms – grammatical, systemic, and teleological.
Young adult health literacy on health promotion as social determinant of health: Challenges for health education practice in Lithuania
Authors: Cesnaviciene J. , Kalinkeviciene A. , Ustilaite S.
Published: January 2018

A synthesis of theory, research, and practice shows that education is linked to better health through individuals’ increased health knowledge and healthy behaviour. Health literacy is put forward as the central mediator between education and health. Scientific studies have shown a strong association between the levels of health literacy and health outcomes. The aim of the study is to identify the levels of health literacy on health promotion among Lithuania’s young adults. The anonymous self-reported questionnaire survey was carried out in the period of 2014-2015. The research sample involved 842 young adults aged 18-29. Health literacy was measured using an HLS-EU-Q-47 questionnaire. The research studies suggest that less than half of Lithuanian young adults have sufficient or excellent health literacy on health promotion, which is essential in maintaining good health and the quality of life. These findings are important evidence that health education should become a priority area at all levels of educational process at every stage of the life: from childhood through adulthood.
Health procrastination: The experience of 35-44 years old men
Authors: Silkane V. , Austers I.
Published: January 2018

The focal concept of this study is health procrastination. Delay in seeking help from medical practitioners is an increasing problem in Latvia, particularly with men between the ages of 35-44. Failures in primary and secondary prevention create a number of negative consequences, for instance, longer and more complex treatment; lower recovery prognosis as well as higher treatment costs. Nevertheless, the aforementioned group often avoids medical treatment. The aim of this study was to understand the experience of 35-44 years old men in terms of their health procrastination in qualitative terms. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 48 men within the age range of 35-44 years were conducted. Data was analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The following dominant themes are: delay of health behaviour, time management, motivation emerged during the analysis: conscientiousness, task avoidance, effort, short-term vs. long-term thinking, gains and losses assessment, and time discounting. Conclusions followed: there are three main concepts – personality traits, discounting and task characteristics – that bring together the experience of health procrastination for 35-44 years old males.
Anxiety indicators for women in the postpartum period
Authors: Sudraba V. , Zemite L.
Published: January 2018

Situations, which are dangerous and sad, provoke state anxiety (S-anxiety), but trait anxiety (T-anxiety) shows anxiety like person’s acquired behavioural disposition. The aim was to evaluate postpartum anxiety indicators of women that have had the vaginal birth and women that have had surgery in Riga regional medical institutions that provide obstetric services. Respondents – 100 women (50 – with vaginal birth; 50 – with caesarean section surgery) were surveyed by 2 instruments: the demographic survey and the state – trait anxiety inventory, STAI Form Y-1 (Spielberger et al., 1983, adapted in Latvian by Škuškovnika (2004). The results reflect the statistical difference between State anxiety indicators (S-anxiety) of women that have had the vaginal birth (M=35.38; SD= 9.98) and women that have had the surgery (M=37.20; SD= 9.41) was not found (p=0.304). Indicators of Trait anxiety (T-anxiety) show that there was not statistically significant (p=0.059) difference between women that have had the vaginal birth (M=36.92; SD= 7.81) and women that have had the surgery (M=39.24; SD= 7.56), however, it should be noted that the average anxiety scores were higher after surgery.
Spiritual needs of dying and emergency health care
Authors: Andrasi I.
Published: January 2018

Dying process can take different forms, and each death is related to leave-taking of a human with what he liked, with those whom he loved and who were close to him. Daily contact with the dying is very difficult, very demanding not only in physicalterms, but especially in terms of psychological burden. The essence of care for dying patients is to ensure adequate quality of life that is highly affected by understanding of human existence and the meaning of human life. Paramedics must realize that quality of life is associated with satisfying the needs that in each patient is different, so the quality of life is a very individual concept. Coping with dying is significantly affected by the ability of their very faith in God's existence, length of service and communication skills.
Accessibility problems in home environment for seniors in Latvia: Experience from the research project innovAge (WP2)
Authors: Tomsone S. , Saukuma L. , Liepina Z. , Zalkalns J.
Published: January 2018

Studies on relations between health and environment indicate that accessibility positively influence healthy life expectancy, as accessible home environment and neighbourhood support mobility, daily activities and social participation in old age. One of the tasks in the EC 7th framework research project innovAge (2012-2015) aimed to develop an IT tool to support seniors’ involvement in decisions about their housing options and help them to become active partners in choice and supply of housing.

This study aims to explore seniors’ opinions about accessibility in their physical home environment based on analysis of data - interview records and notes - from two study stages in the research project innovAge (WP2).
Participants, at the first stage - 8 seniors and at the second stage - 10 seniors, represented variety of living conditions, family situations and functional abilities. Participation in the study was voluntary and the participants had right to withdraw from the study at any stage.

Usually, barriers in home environment seniors consider late, when functional abilities decreases substantially. The most common places where environmental barriers appear are sanitary spaces, kitchen and entrance of the home. Despite the environmental barriers and functional limitations, seniors remain in their homes, mainly because in Latvia do not exist traditions to seek options for relocation, as well as there are no policies and services to support this. In few municipalities options exist to adapt home environment, but it refers only to cases of severe disability for persons using wheelchair. Usually, the need for environment adaptations for seniors is replaced by care services, thus meeting also the needs for seniors’ socialization. Regarding possibilities to adapt home environment, strong prejudices exist (bath vs. shower, disadvantages of living on the first floor, etc.). Seniors admitted that they lack knowledge and experience on housing adaptations, but emphasized that the environmental accessibility in a wider context, including the neighbourhood and services, is essential.

The close cooperation with participants facilitated the researchers’ understanding of the seniors’ complex views and needs regarding their home environment and related issues, which are important for developing housing policies for senior citizens in Latvia. Despite the specified accessibility problems in home environment, the seniors evaluated usability of their homes generally high.
Floral nectaries of Heliocarpus popayanensis and Luehea divaricata (Malvaceae-Grewioideae): structure and ultrastructure
Authors: Lattar Elsa C. , Galati Beatriz G. , Carrera Constanza S. , Ferrucci María S.
Published: January 2018

The structure and ultrastructure on floral nectaries of Heliocarpus popayanensis Kunth. and Luehea divaricata Mart (Malvaceae-Grewioideae) were investigated for the first time. The floral nectaries of the analysed species are structured (can be recognised macroscopically and microscopically) and of trichomatic type. Significant morphological differences were observed between the nectaries of perfect and pistillate flowers of H. popayanensis, as well as between nectaries of this species and those of the related species, Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq. The volume of nectar produced in the perfect and pistillate flowers of H. popayanensis and in the perfect flowers of L. divaricata presents significant differences that could be related to the rewards offered to flower visitors. No differences were observed in ultrastructure features of the glandular trichomes between H. popayanensis and L. divaricata. Nectar accumulation occurs between the wall and the cuticle. The predominant floral visitors in perfect and pistillate flowers of H. popayanensis were bees, and less frequently flies; whereas for L. divaricata were wasps, bumblebees, butterflies and beetles. Our results support the inclusion of each genus in different tribes according to the recent tribal classification based on molecular and morphological data of the subfamily Grewioideae.
Two G-box–like elements essential to high gene expression of SlAKR4B in tomato leaves
Authors: Suekawa Marina , Fujikawa Yukichi , Esaka Muneharu
Published: January 2018

Aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) play important roles in aldehyde detoxification as well as primary and secondary metabolism in plants. We previously reported inducible expression of a Solanum lycopersicum AKR4B (SlAKR4B) in tomato leaves treated with salicylic acid and jasmonic acid, and high promoter activity of SlAKR4B in tomato leaf protoplasts. In this study, we investigated the expression response of SlAKR4B in the tomato leaves with infiltration treatment and the cis-element(s) involved in high promoter activity. Gene expression analysis in tomato leaf protoplasts and buffer-infiltrated tomato leaves suggested that cell damage caused the increased expression of SlAKR4B. Promoter activity of SlAKR4B was significantly reduced by mutation of two G–box like elements. It is suggested that the two G–box like elements are responsible for the high promoter activity.
The Big Bang of tissue growth: Apical cell constriction turns into tissue expansion
Authors: Janody Florence
Published: January 2018

How tissue growth is regulated during development and cancer is a fundamental question in biology. In this issue, Tsoumpekos et al. (2018. J. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201705104) and Forest et al. (2018. J. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201705107) identify Big bang (Bbg) as an important growth regulator of the Drosophila melanogaster wing imaginal disc.
420 nm thick

CH3NH3PbI3−xBrx

capping layers for efficient TiO2 nanorod array perovskite solar cells*
Authors: Li Long , Shi Cheng-Wu , Deng Xin-Lian , Wang Yan-Qing , Xiao Guan-Nan , Ni Ling-Ling
Published: January 2018

The rutile TiO2 nanorod arrays with 240 nm in length, 30 nm in diameter, and

420

μ

m

−
2

in areal density were prepared by the hydrothermal method to replace the typical 200–300 nm thick mesoporous TiO2 thin films in perovskite solar cells. The CH3NH3PbI3−x
Br
x
capping layers with different thicknesses were obtained on the TiO2 nanorod arrays using different concentration

PbI

2

·
DMSO

complex precursor solutions in DMF and the photovoltaic performances of the corresponding solar cells were compared. The perovskite solar cells based on 240 nm long TiO2 nanorod arrays and 420 nm thick CH3NH3PbI3−x
Br
x
capping layers showed the best photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.56% and the average PCE of 14.93±0.63% at the relative humidity of 50%–54% under the illumination of simulated AM 1.5 sunlight (

100

mW
·

cm

−
2

).
A Note on Mitsumatsu’s Construction of a Leafwise Symplectic Foliation
Authors: Mori Atsuhide
Published: January 2018

Mitsumatsu [9] constructed a leafwise symplectic structure of the Lawson foliation of S5. Following his construction, we improve a previous result of the author [11] on convergence of contact structure to codimension one foliation, and give a sufficient condition for convergence to foliation with leafwise symplectic structure. As an application, we show that the product S4 × S1 admits infinitely many codimension one leafwise symplectic foliations.
The Logical Complexity of Finitely Generated Commutative Rings
Authors: Aschenbrenner Matthias , Khélif Anatole , Naziazeno Eudes , Scanlon Thomas
Published: January 2018

We characterize those finitely generated commutative rings which are (parametrically) bi-interpretable with arithmetic: a finitely generated commutative ring A is bi-interpretable with $(\mathbb{N},{+},{\times })$ if and only if the space of non-maximal prime ideals of A is nonempty and connected in the Zariski topology and the nilradical of A has a nontrivial annihilator in $\mathbb{Z}$. Notably, by constructing a nontrivial derivation on a nonstandard model of arithmetic we show that the ring of dual numbers over $\mathbb{Z}$ is not bi-interpretable with $\mathbb{N}$.
Three-dimensional structure of clumpy outflow from supercritical accretion flow onto black holes
Authors: Kobayashi Hiroshi , Ohsuga Ken , Takahashi Hiroyuki R , Kawashima Tomohisa , Asahina Yuta , Takeuchi Shun , Mineshige Shin
Published: January 2018

We perform global three-dimensional (3D) radiation-hydrodynamic (RHD) simulations of outflow from supercritical accretion flow around a 10 M⊙ black hole. We only solve the outflow part, starting from the axisymmetric 2D simulation data in a nearly steady state but with small perturbations in a sinusoidal form being added in the azimuthal direction. The mass accretion rate onto the black hole is ∼102LE/c2 in the underlying 2D simulation data, and the outflow rate is ∼10 LE/c2 (with LE and c being the Eddington luminosity and speed of light, respectively). We first confirm the emergence of clumpy outflow, which was discovered by the 2D RHD simulations, above the photosphere located at a few hundreds of Schwarzschild radii (rS) from the central black hole. As prominent 3D features we find that the clumps have the shape of a torn sheet, rather than a cut string, and that they are rotating around the central black hole with a sub-Keplerian velocity at a distance of ∼103 rS from the center. The typical clump size is ∼30 rS or less in the radial direction, and is more elongated in the angular directions, ∼ hundreds of rS at most. The sheet separation ranges from 50 to 150 rS. We expect stochastic time variations when clumps pass across the line of the sight of a distant observer. Variation timescales are estimated to be several seconds for a black hole with mass of ten to several tens of M⊙, in rough agreement with the observations of some ultra-luminous X-ray sources.
Churches as firms: An exploration of regulatory similarities
Authors: Patrikios Stratos , De Francesco Fabrizio
Published: January 2018

Regulatory states manage religious activity within their jurisdiction in the same way they manage economic activity, in an alignment pattern that reflects institutionally embedded processes. Relying on regulatory institutional options to trace consistencies in the way a regime manages economic and religious activity, the article develops and tests theoretical accounts of the presence and content—in terms of comparative variation—of this alignment. The empirical setting, primarily OECD countries in recent decades, allows us to reverse a conventional causal view and treat religious regulation as causally embedded in the logic and practice of economic regulation. If reliance on regulation as a means of social control is bound by the same processes across domains, this may even suggest the existence of national cross-sectoral models of coordinating competition. The study elaborates a broad conceptualization of regulatory governance with potentially wide applicability.
Molecular Insights into the Involvement of a Never Ripe Receptor in the Interaction Between Two Beneficial Soil Bacteria and Tomato Plants Under Well-Watered and Drought Conditions
Authors: Ibort Pablo , Molina Sonia , Ruiz-Lozano Juan Manuel , Aroca Ricardo
Published: January 2018

Management of plant growth–promoting bacteria (PGPB) can be implemented to deal with sustainable intensification of agriculture. Ethylene is an essential component for plant growth and development and in response to drought. However, little is known about the effects of bacterial inoculation on ethylene transduction pathway. Thus, the present study sought to establish whether ethylene perception is critical for growth induction by two different PGPB strains under drought conditions and the analysis of bacterial effects on ethylene production and gene expression in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). The ethylene-insensitive never ripe (nr) and its isogenic wild-type (wt) cv. Pearson line were inoculated with either Bacillus megaterium or Enterobacter sp. strain C7 and grown until the attainment of maturity under both well-watered and drought conditions. Ethylene perception is crucial for B. megaterium. However, it is not of prime importance for Enterobacter sp. strain C7 PGPB activity under drought conditions. Both PGPB decreased the expression of ethylene-related genes in wt plants, resulting in stress alleviation, while only B. megaterium induced their expression in nr plants. Furthermore, PGPB inoculation affected transcriptomic profile dependency on strain, genotype, and drought. Ethylene sensitivity determines plant interaction with PGPB strains. Enterobacter sp. strain C7 could modulate amino-acid metabolism, while nr mutation causes a partially functional interaction with B. megaterium, resulting in higher oxidative stress and loss of PGPB activity.
Selection of Differential Isolates of Magnaporthe oryzae for Postulation of Blast Resistance Genes
Authors: Fang W. W. , Liu C. C. , Zhang H. W. , Xu H. , Zhou S. , Fang K. X. , Peng Y. L. , Zhao W. S.
Published: January 2018

A set of differential isolates of Magnaporthe oryzae is needed for the postulation of blast resistance genes in numerous rice varieties and breeding materials. In this study, the pathotypes of 1,377 M. oryzae isolates from different regions of China were determined by inoculating detached rice leaves of 24 monogenic lines. Among them, 25 isolates were selected as differential isolates based on the following characteristics: they had distinct responses on the monogenic lines, contained the minimum number of avirulence genes, were stable in pathogenicity and conidiation during consecutive culture, were consistent colony growth rate, and, together, could differentiate combinations of the 24 major blast resistance genes. Seedlings of rice cultivars were inoculated with this differential set of isolates to postulate whether they contain 1 or more than 1 of the 24 blast resistance genes. The results were consistent with those from polymerase chain reaction analysis of target resistance genes. Establishment of a standard set of differential isolates will facilitate breeding for blast resistance and improved management of rice blast disease.
Transient Receptor Potential Canonical Channel Blockers Improve Ventricular Contractile Functions After Ischemia/Reperfusion in a Langendorff-perfused Mouse Heart Model
Authors: Kojima Akiko , Fukushima Yutaka , Ito Yuki , Ding Wei-Guang , Kitagawa Hirotoshi , Matsuura Hiroshi
Published: January 2018

Reperfusion of ischemic myocardium is accompanied by intracellular Ca2+ overload, leading to cardiac dysfunction. However, the mechanisms underlying intracellular Ca2+ overload have yet to be fully elucidated. The mechanism may involve the activation of store-operated Ca2+ entry, which is primarily mediated through the transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels. This study was undertaken to examine the possible involvement of TRPC channels in the development of contractile dysfunction associated with reperfusion of ischemic myocardium using a mouse heart model. The functional expression of TRPC channels was confirmed in mouse ventricular myocytes using immunocytochemistry, Western blotting, and patch-clamp experiments. The left ventricular functions were assessed by measuring left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, left ventricular developed pressure, and its first derivatives in a Langendorff-perfused mouse heart subjected to 30 minutes of normothermic (37°C) global ischemia followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion. Under control conditions, left ventricular functions were deteriorated during reperfusion, which was significantly ameliorated by administration of the TRPC channel blockers 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate and La3+ during initial 5 minutes of reperfusion. Our findings suggest that TRPC channels are involved in mediating contractile dysfunction during reperfusion of ischemic myocardium and detect TRPC channels as a potential therapeutic target for preventing myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.