bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predicting study success of international students
Authors: Daller Michael , Yixin Wang 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe study success of international students in Higher Education (HE) in English speaking countries has been a major concern for both the students and the host universities. However, studies on the predictive validity of established language tests, such as IELTS, are inconclusive (for an overview see Daller and Phelan 2013, Predicting international student study success.Applied Linguistics Review4(1). 173–193). The present study explores the predictive validity of new test formats that could be used in the admissions process alongside the established tests to identify students who are at risk. In the long-term these new test formats have the potential to form the basis of a stand-alone admissions test. The formats under investigation are a gap-filling test (C-test) as test of general language proficiency and several measures of lexical richness (Guiraud, Guiraud Advanced, “D”; see also methodology). All measures were taken at the beginning of an academic year to predict the average grades at the end of the academic year (General Points Average/ GPA). In total 107 international students, mainly from China, with a wide range of subjects participated in the study. A multiple regression analysis including hierarchical models shows that the C-test and “Guiraud” have the highest predictive validity. Given the fact that these two measures can be administered quite easily in a short period of time, we conclude that they have clear advantages over IELTS in the prediction of international student’s study success.
Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of perianal fistulas
Authors: Baz R. , Deacu Cristina-Mădălina 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
MRI has become the method of choice for evaluating perianal fistulae due to its ability to display the anatomy of the sphincter muscles orthogonally, with good contrast resolution. In this article we give an outline of the classification of perianal fistulae and present a pictorial assay of sphincter anatomy and the MRI findings in perianal fistulae. This study is based on a retrospective analysis of 21 patients with a clinical diagnosis of perianal fistula.
The role of ultrasonography in the evaluation of portal hemodynamics in healthy adults and pathologic conditions
Authors: Achim C. Anda , Bordei P. , Dumitru E. 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
Introduction: Portal hypertension results from increased resistance to the portal blood flow. The ultrasound represents a noninvasive tool for assessing the structural and hemodynamic abnormalities in this condition.
Objectives: The assessment of the hemodynamic blood flow of the liver and spleen by using Doppler ultrasound in patients with portal hypertension compared with healthy subjects and to identify correlations with the severity of liver cirrhosis and esophageal varices.
Materials and Method: This study included 50 patients with liver cirrhosis and 20 healthy subjects as controls. Different correlations were carried out between hemodynamic variables obtained from the Doppler examination and the severity of cirrhosis as assessed by the Child score and the degree of esophageal varices at endoscopy.
Results: The portal vein diameter was larger in cirrhotic patients compared with the control group. The mean portal vein velocity and the blood flow were significantly lower in advanced forms of liver cirrhosis. The portal vein congestion index, the pulsatility and resistivity indexes of the hepatic artery were significantly increased in patients with CHILD B and C cirrhosis compared with the control group and patients in CHILD class A. There were no statistically significant differences between the pulsatility and resistivity indexes of the splenic artery in patients with cirrhosis. The liver vascular index was significantly lower in patients with advanced cirrhosis.
Conclusions: The ultrasound is a valuable noninvasive tool for cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. However, it is not sufficiently accurate in differentiating between different classes of cirrhosis or degrees of esophageal varices.
Divorce Rate in the Slovak Republic as a Social and Educational Problem
Authors: Gežová Katarína Cimprichová 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
Divorce is considered an unwanted phenomenon in the society, although the divorce rate increases. There are many problems for both sides - parents and their children - coming along with divorce. The legal adjustment of divorce may violently strike not only the lives of children influenced by divorce but also the lives of other persons, whose existence is seriously endangered or complicated by establishing new life conditions. Family break-up and the loss of one parent leaves lifelong consequences on the child. The decision for divorce should be therefore thoroughly considered, because it is the point, where the source of loss of personal and family safety arises. Our aim is to point out the problems arising from divorce not only for the divorcing couple, but also for their children, above all, because divorce should not mean hostility for sensible people, particularly if they have children. It is necessary to find a way how to talk together before and during divorce and to do best in solving problems in the possibly shortest time.
Motivations, Results and the Role of Technology in Participatory Design Research during 2000’s – a Review in the Field of Architecture and Urban Planning
Authors: Vainio Teija 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
This study analyses motivations, results and technology of the participatory design approach. It is a review based on 32 papers, presenting recent studies on participatory design in architecture and urban planning during the time period from 2000 to 2014. As a result, the main motivations, outcomes and the role of technology are emphasised and discussed. Furthermore, recommendations for future research directions for participatory design research in the field of urban planning are also provided.
Decreased expression of miR-132 in CRC tissues and its inhibitory function on tumor progression
Authors: Yong Chen , Xiao-lu Han , Xiao-xiang Yin , Yun Zhou , Tao Wu 
Published: August 2016

AbstractObjectives Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most common types of malignancies in the worldwide, and microRNAs (miRNAs) emerge as key regulators in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Here we intended to address the expression and function of miR-132 in CRC cells. Methods Paired CRC tissues and several established cell lines were firstly collected. We performed qPCR to detect the expression of miR-132 in these tissues and cell lines. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were respectively monitored by CCK-8 assay and Annexin-V/PI staining followed by flow cytometry, after miR-132 was transiently overexpressed in RKO cells. Afterwards, Luciferase reporter assays were performed to examine the targeting of YAP1 by miR-132. Finally, qPCR and western blotting were also carried out to validate this targeting. Results MiR-132 was significantly decreased in CRC and its overexpression in RKO cells exerted tumor suppressing effects, including cell growth arrest and apoptosis promotion. Additionally, we proved that miR-132 could negatively regulate the expression of YAP1. Conclusion Our findings suggested that miR-132 was downregulated in CRC, and played as a tumor suppressor to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. And these anti-tumor activities might be related with the targeting of YAP1 by miR-132.
CCDEA: Consumer and Cloud – DEA Based Trust Assessment Model for the Adoption of Cloud Services
Authors: Raja Sivakami , Ramaiah Saravanan 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
Knowing the trust level of cloud service providers is a significant issue in the field of cloud computing for privacy and security reasons. The idea of this paper is to build up a Consumer and Cloud-Data Envelopment Analysis (CCDEA) trust assessment model for evaluating cloud services in two stages. In first stage, the believability index of each cloud Consumer (C) is calculated. The second stage incorporates Cloud-Data Envelopment Analysis (C-DEA) model for the trust assessment of cloud services from the viewpoint of cloud consumers. Several experiments were conducted and the results were analyzed to show the stability of our method in measuring the relative efficiency and effectiveness of cloud services through ranking mechanism.
Petri Net Based Modeling and Correctness Verification of Collaborative Emergency Response Processes
Authors: Liu Cong , Zhang Feng 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
Petri net extended with resource and message factors, RMWF-Net for short, is proposed to model collaborative emergency response processes with various collaboration patterns. Correctness of a RMWF-Net is formally defined and verified using reachability analysis. A running case of collaborative fire emergency response processes is given to validate the approach.
Transportation Service Quality Improvement through Closed Sequential Pattern Mining Approach
Authors: Huang Haisong , Yao Liguo , Tsai Chieh-Yuan 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
With the improvement of people’s living quality, more attention has been paid in food safety and quality. This is especially true for perishable agricultural and dairy products. It is quite often that customers receive poor or broken products due to mistakes or wrong ways in transportation. This leads customers the unsatisfied for companies’ products are relatively low. To solve the above problem, this paper proposes a new approach of using frequent closed sequential mining technology to analysis logistics data for helping companies to track the possible transportation problems. The approach consists of several important steps: RFID-enabled raw data collection, frequent sequential patterns mining, and patterns analysis. The experiment shows the proposed analysis method can discover many inside transportation service causes.
Edge Detection Method for Latent Fingerprint Images Using Intuitionistic Type-2 Fuzzy Entropy
Authors: Ezhilmaran Devarasan , Adhiyaman Manickam 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
A latent fingerprint is an interesting issue because of it has attained from crime places and moreover contained a low quality image, less number of features and unwanted noises. It is necessity to extract the original image with exact boundary from the surface for further processing such as authentication, identification and matching. In this work, a new distance measure has been proposed for latent fingerprint edge detection using Intuitionistic Type-2 Fuzzy Entropy (IT2FE) and a comprehensible definition is made for Intuitionistic Type-2 Fuzzy Sets (IT2FS). IT2FS takes into account of uncertainty in the form of membership function which is also termed as Intuitionistic Type-2 Fuzzy Divergence (IT2FD). The experiment is conducted with public domain fingerprint databases such as FVC-2004 and IIIT-latent fingerprint. The edge detection is carried out with the proposed method and the results are discovered better regarding existing method.
Human Understanding in Light of John Deely, Charles Darwin, and Charles Peirce
Authors: Colapietro Vincent 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
This article presents a review of Deely’s 2002 book, What Distinguishes Human Understanding? It considers Deely’s argument regarding the grounds for asserting the “uniqueness of man” as the “semiotic animal”. It then compares Deely with the arguments regarding continuity of species in the work of Charles Darwin, Charles Peirce and, more recently, Frans de Waal. The article argues that while Deely’s book draws us to key features of the human, the animal semeioticum might be distinctive without being in any single respect absolutely unique.
A Labor of Love and Friendship
Authors: Martinelli Dario 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
This review of Deely’s small book on Sebeok assesses its two parts. The first, on the relation of schools and terms in semiotics, arguing that the relation between the two might not be as firm as the volume implies. The second, on Thomas A. Sebeok – his contribution to contemporary semiotics and, in particular, his role as inspiration and friend to John Deely.
Research and Development Expenditures and Economic Growth in the EU: A Panel Data Analysis
Authors: Freimane Rita , Bāliņa Signe 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
The main aim of the paper is to investigate the empirical relationship between research and development (R&D) expenditures and economic growth in the European Union member states in the period of 2000–2013. The empirical analysis is based on panel data regressions. The estimated model is the production function type standard growth model extended with R&D stock variable. The results show a statistically significant impact of R&D expenditures on the economic growth in the EU countries. The significance for R&D coefficient remains robust to different sub-periods, but the level of significance decreases as a sub-sample of new EU countries was considered.
Modelling Electricity Price Expectations in a Day-Ahead Market: A Case of Latvia
Authors: Bobinaite Viktorija , Zuters Jānis 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
The paper aims at modelling the electricity generator’s expectations about price development in the Latvian day-ahead electricity market. Correlation and sensitivity analysis methods are used to identify the key determinants of electricity price expectations. A neural network approach is employed to model electricity price expectations. The research results demonstrate that electricity price expectations depend on the historical electricity prices. The price a day ago is the key determinant of price expectations and the importance of the lagged prices reduces as the time backwards lengthens. Nine models of electricity price expectations are prepared for different natural seasons and types of the day. The forecast accuracy of models varies from high to low, since errors are 7.02 % to 59.23 %. The forecasting power of models for weekends is reduced; therefore, additional determinants of electricity price expectations should be considered in the models and advanced input selection algorithms should be applied in future research. Electricity price expectations affect the generator’s loss through the production decisions, which are made considering the expected (forecasted) prices. The models allow making the production decision at a sufficient level of accuracy.
Aspects of Statistics on Innovation in Latvia and Some Guidelines for Its Effective Use
Authors: Jesiļevska Svetlana 
Published: August 2016

AbstractStatistical data on innovation in Latvia, at a current stage, were applied only to the particular areas of developing and planning of Latvian innovation support strategies. The aim of the paper is to show Latvian innovative performance and to provide proposals on making statistical data on innovations more useful for the analysis of innovativeness of Latvia. Research methods: bibliography review and methods of statistical analysis, such as processing and comparative analysis.
Financial Management as a Tool for Achieving Stable Firm Growth
Authors: Saksonova Svetlana , Savina Svetlana 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to show that financial management in the firm is a tool for achieving stable firm growth and long-term firm stability while problems in firm financial management lead to the inability of firms to ensure sustainable growth of their value.
This problem is relevant for firms in all countries. The main objectives of this paper are: to analyse dynamics of value of the largest Latvian firms, to determine the drivers of these dynamics and to establish the main problems slowing the growth of firm value, which are related to the drawbacks in financial management, and to provide suggestions for solving these problems.
This study analyses financial management processes and identifies several key problems in financial management.
Expecting Refugees in Latvia: Negative Stereotyping
Authors: Murašovs Vadims , Ruža Aleksejs , Raščevskis Vitālijs , Dombrovskis Valērijs 
Published: August 2016

AbstractIn response to a dramatic increase of illegal immigration in the European Union, in the fall of 2015 Latvia agreed to accept several hundreds of refugees on its soil. Nevertheless, Latvian society remains very sceptic about these plans, and reportedly demonstrates strong negative attitudes towards refugees. According to the survey, by the end of 2015 the factual experience of interaction with refugees did not exceed ten per cent of Latvian population. This suggests that most of the real attitudes are formed by mass media and other socialisation agents. In order to uncover the nature of these feelings, the present study has been designed to make an in-depth social psychological study on attitudes. One thousand Latvian residents evenly representing Latvia’s demography have taken part in this study. A modified Stephan’s Prejudicial Attitude Survey has been used to study prejudice. Negative stereotyping represents one of the emotional components of attitudes towards refugees. The results illustrate the palette of emotions and the level of their expression in Latvian society, and highlight the feelings, which may shape the identity of the in-group.
Tax Impact on Household Income
Authors: Pavlova Mariyana 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
The household income is an important economic indicator because it determines the scale of the household sector consumption and its delay in future in terms of saving and investing. Many factors influence the magnitude of household income and one of these factors is taxation. Given the significance of tax payments not only for household income, and through them – for the national economy, the object of the current study is the household income and in particular the impact of the taxation framework on the formation of disposable income. The aim of the study is to examine the changes in the monetary income of households in the Republic of Bulgaria as a function of the implemented tax reforms in the period following the country’s accession to the EU.
Role of Social Partners for Work-Based Learning: Results of Surveys
Authors: Buligina Ilze , Sloka Biruta , Kantāne Ināra , Līce Anita 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
Introduction of work-based learning (WBL) in Latvia has required new approaches in decision making of different stakeholders. Experience from countries with long-standing WBL tradition has shown the numerous advantages but also the challenges this approach presents. One of these challenges is the need for new forms and mechanisms of cooperation among the key stakeholders – policy makers, public administrators, employers, educators and social partners. The current paper analyses the results of scientific research in this field, as well as uses the empirical results of two surveys performed by the authors: a survey of public sector experts and a survey of employers in Latvia. In order to obtain detailed results, the evaluations of respondents on multiple aspects analysed in the surveys were evaluation in the scale 1–10. The data of both surveys have been analysed by descriptive analysis, cross-tabulations and multivariate analysis – factor analysis. The results have indicated that the views of employers and social partners on the most of the key aspects of introduction and implementation of WBL are similar. However, a more profound analysis has to be performed in order to develop proposals or the most efficient approach to WBL.
Interaction Testing: Residuals-Based Permutations and Parametric Bootstrap in Continuous, Count, and Binary Data
Authors: Buzkova Petra 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
To obtain statistical inference about interaction hypotheses without making strong distributional assumptions, permutation tests based on permuting the outcomes are often being used. It was shown that in continuous and binary data these tests might not be even approximately valid and parametric bootstrap was suggested as a viable alternative, outperforming such permutation tests. We describe an alternative permutation test, permuting the null hypothesis residuals rather than the outcome. Using simulations, we compare accuracy across the permutation tests and parametric bootstrap, studying continuous, binary, and additionally count data. Finally, we address power.
Inhibition of IRE1 signaling affects the expression of genes encoded glucocorticoid receptor and some related factors and their hypoxic regulation in U87 glioma cells
Authors: Minchenko D.O. , Riabovol O.O. , Tsymbal D.O. , Ratushna O.O. , Minchenko O.H. 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
Objective. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the effect of inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling, mediated by IRE1 (inositol requiring enzyme 1), which is a central mediator of the unfolded protein response on the expression of genes encoding glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) and some related proteins (SGK1, SGK3, NCOA1, NCOA2, ARHGAP35, NNT) and their hypoxic regulation in U87 glioma cells for evaluation of their possible significance in the control of the glioma growth.
Methods. The expression of NR3C1,SGK1,SGK3, NCOA1, NCOA2, ARHGAP35, and NNT genes in U87 glioma cells, transfected by empty vector pcDNA3.1 (control) and cells without IRE1 signaling enzyme function (transfected by dnIRE1) upon hypoxia, was studied by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Results. Inhibition of IRE1 signaling enzyme function up-regulates the expression of NR3C1, SGK1, NCOA1, NCOA2, ARHGAP35, and NNT genes in U87 glioma cells in comparison with the control glioma cells, with more significant changes for NR3C1, SGK1, and NNT genes. At the same time, the expression of SGK3 gene is strongly down-regulated in glioma cells upon inhibition of IRE1. We have also shown that hypoxia increases the expression of NR3C1, SGK1, NCOA2, ARHGAP35, and NNT genes but decreases SGK3 and NCOA1 genes expression in control glioma cells. Moreover, the inhibition of both enzymatic activities (kinase and endoribonuclease) of IRE1 in U87 glioma cells enhances the eff ect of hypoxia on the expression of SGK1, SGK3, and NNT genes, but decreases the sensitivity of NR3C1 gene to hypoxic condition. Furthermore, the expression of NCOA1 gene is resistant to hypoxia in control glioma cells, but NCOA2 and ARHGAP35 genes are resistant to this condition in glioma cells without functional activity of IRE1 signaling enzyme.
Conclusions. Results of this investigation demonstrate that inhibition of IRE1 signaling enzyme function affects the expression of NR3C1, SGK1, SGK3, NCOA1, NCOA2, ARHGAP35, and NNT genes in U87 glioma cells in gene specific manner and that all these genes are regulated by hypoxia preferentially through IRE1 signaling pathway of the endoplasmic reticulum stress.