bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Natural radionuclide uptake by mosses in eastern Serbia in 2008-2013 / Prirodni radionuklidi u mahovinama iz istočne Srbije u razdoblju 2008.-2013
Authors: Čučulović Ana Č , Sabovljević Marko , Čučulović Rodoljub Č , Veselinović Dragan 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
The results of the study on natural radionuclide content in 102 samples of the moss species randomly collected in 2008- 2013 at 30 locations of eastern Serbia are presented in the paper. The activity concentration values of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 7Be determined by gamma spectrometry were within the intervals: 238U (1.1−50) Bq kg-1, 226Ra (1.1−41) Bq kg-1, 232Th (1.4−28) Bq kg-1, 40K (64−484) Bq kg-1 and 7Be (88−227) Bq kg-1, not standing out of the average data reported for this region. The distribution of the obtained data for 226Ra, 232Th, and 238U activity concentration in the analysed mosses has shown values up to 10 Bq kg-1 with frequencies 47.1 %, 54.9 % and 48.0 %, respectively. The obtained activity concentration values of primordial 40K and cosmogenic radionuclide 7Be were up to 500 Bq kg-1 and about 90 % of all the results for 7Be uptake by mosses were in the 200-250 Bq kg-1 concentration range.
Mechanism of acute endosulfan intoxication-induced neurotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats / Mehanizam akutne neurotoksičnosti u Sprague-Dawley štakora izazvane trovanjem endosulfanom
Authors: Jang Tae-chang , Jang Jung-hee , Lee Kyung-won 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying oxidative and inflammatory neuronal cell death induced by endosulfan, a pesticide belonging to the chemical family of organochlorines. The cortical and hippocampal tissues derived from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats treated with endosulfan exhibited increased intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species and oxidative damages to cellular macromolecules such as depletion of glutathione, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonylation. Conversely, the expression of antioxidant enzymes including γ-glutamylcysteine ligase (GCL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was markedly reduced in the brain tissues exposed to endosulfan. Moreover, during endosulfan-induced neuronal cell death, mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was elevated, which seemed to be mediated by the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) by phosphorylation of p65 subunit. These results suggest a new molecular mechanism underlying the endosulfan-induced acute neurotoxicity via induction of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory responses.
Adsorption of Cu (II) and Zn (II) from Water by Jatropha curcas L. as Biosorbent
Authors: Nacke Herbert , Gonçalves Affonso Celso , Campagnolo Marcelo Angelo , Coelho Gustavo Ferreira , Schwantes Daniel , dos Santos Marcelo Gonçalves , Briesch Dionir Luiz , Zimmermann Juliano 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe objective of this work was to evaluate the removal of Cu2+ and Zn2+ in water by means of the adsorption process using three biosorbents derived from jatropha biomass (bark, endosperm and endosperm + seed coat). The experiments were performed in batch and evaluated the effect of solution pH, adsorbent mass, contact time, different initial concentrations of the metals Cu2+ and Zn2+, and the temperature of the solution during the adsorptive process. By kinetics, the adsorption isotherms and thermodynamics the mechanisms that control the adsorptive process were evaluated. The optimal conditions for the realization of the adsorptive process for both metals were: solution pH of 5.0 and 8 g L-1 of adsorbent mass per volume of solution, with a contact time between adsorbent and adsorbate of 60 min. According to the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacities for the bark, endosperm and endosperm + seed coat of Jatropha were, respectively, for Cu2+ 11.541, 20.475 and 22.910 mg g-1, and for Zn2+ 14.852; 15.888 and 14.674 mg g-1, with the predominance of chemisorption in monolayer. The three biosorbents derived from the biomass of Jatropha have potential for the remediation of water contaminated with Cu2+ and Zn2+.
An Analysis of the Effects of the Economic Policy in Serbia by the Mundell-Fleming Model
Authors: Grubišić Zoran , Kamenković Sandra 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
The global economic crisis has affected the whole world, including Serbia. Countries with different degrees of development reacted with different measures of economic policy, both monetary as well as fiscal. Economic authorities in Serbia have encountered certain limiting factors in the selection of measures, first of all taking into account the unfinished transition process. This paper will examine whether the applied monetary and fiscal policy in Serbia is adequate according to the position which Serbia occupies by the Mundell-Fleming model, as well as to identify the starting position for future economic policy measures.
Smiling synchronicity and gaze patterns in dyadic humorous conversations
Authors: Gironzetti Elisa , Pickering Lucy , Huang Meichan , Zhang Ying , Menjo Shigehito , Attardo Salvatore 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThis present article is part of a larger study on speaker-hearer allocation of attentional resources in face-to-face interactions. The goal of the paper is twofold: first, we present results concerning the degree of correlation, in computer-mediated conversation, between speaker’s timing and intensity of smiling when humor is either present or absent in the conversation. The results were obtained from the analysis of five dyadic interactions between English speakers that were video and audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to establish a baseline of synchronicity of smiling among participants. From the study it emerged that conversational partners engaged in humorous conversations not only reciprocate each other’s smiling, but also match each other’s smiling intensity. Our data led to the identification of different smiling and non-smiling synchronic behaviors that point to the existence of a synchronous multimodal relationship between humorous events and smiling intensity for conversational partners. Second, in the last part of the paper, we argue for the need of a multimodal conversational corpus in humor studies and present the corpus that is being collected, annotated, and analyzed at Texas A&M University–Commerce. The corpus consists of humorous interactions among dyads of native speakers of English, Spanish, and Chinese for which video, audio, and eye-tracking data have been recorded. As part of this section of the paper, we also present some preliminary results based on the analysis of one English conversation, and some exploratory analysis of Chinese data, that show that greater attention is paid to facial areas involved in smiling when humor is present. This study sheds light on the role of smiling as a discourse marker (Attardo, S., L. Pickering, F. Lomotey & S. Menjo. 2013. Multimodality in Conversational Humor.
Association between circulating CCL2 levels and modifiable behaviors in overweight and obese adolescents: a cross-sectional pilot study
Authors: Bodo Mackenzie J. , Jimenez Elizabeth Yakes , Conn Carole , Dye Alyssa , Pomo Page , Kolkmeyer Deborah , Orlando Robert , Kong Alberta S. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractWe evaluated the relationship between an early inflammatory biomarker, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), and other clinical biomarkers and lifestyle behaviors, in overweight/obese adolescents at high risk of developing cardiometabolic derangements.We collected anthropometric measurements, clinical biomarkers, and three 24-h dietary recalls from 21 vocational high school students (91% male), 14–19 years, with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/mMean BMI was 33.2 kg/mCCL2 was positively associated with pro-inflammatory biomarkers and negatively associated with some anti-inflammatory dietary factors.
Enhanced Cooperation in an Enlarged EU
Authors: Ahrens Joachim , Ohr Renate , Zeddies Götz 
Published: April 2016

Zusammenfassung
Die jüngsten Erweiterungen der EU auf 27 Mitgliedsstaaten haben den europäischen Integrationsprozess in ein neues Stadium geführt. In einer Gemeinschaft von 27 zunehmend heterogenen Mitgliedsländern wird es immer schwieriger, gemeinsame Entscheidungen zu treffen, wodurch dem Prozess einer weiteren Vertiefung der Integration Grenzen gesetzt werden. Die Europäische Union hat auf diese Entwicklung mit der Einführung des Instruments der sog. „verstärkten Zusammenarbeit“ reagiert. Diese Option ermöglicht eine verstärkte Kooperation einer Untergruppe der gesamten Gemeinschaft (Club im Club), falls nicht alle Mitgliedsländer sich an dem Projekt beteiligen wollen. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wurden verschiedene Politikbereiche beispielhaft herausgegriffen, um mit Hilfe der Clusteranalyse Ländergruppen mit relativ homogenen Präferenzen voneinander abzugrenzen, um herauszufinden, von welchen Ländern und mit welchen Zielen möglicherweise eine verstärkte Zusammenarbeit innerhalb der EU ausgehen könnte. Es zeigt sich dabei, dass gegebenenfalls von Politikfeld zu Politikfeld jeweils unterschiedliche Ländergruppen die Integration vorantreiben würden.
Möglichkeiten und Grenzen regionaler Kaufkraftvergleiche
Authors: Lippe Peter Michael von der , Breuer Claus Christian 
Published: April 2016

Summary
The Bavarian Ministry of Economics published a comparison between price and income levels of various municipalities of Bavaria based on the current monthly statistics of consumer prices. This widely disseminated official publication gained much attention and served to plead a cause in the German constitutional court. It then turned out that it was highly objectionable from a methodological point of view. The present paper not only collates the shortcomings of the ministerial publication it also presents alternative statistical results and some considerations about the methodological requirements and the feasibility of estimating valid regional purchasing power parities.
Von der Finanzkrise zur Schuldenkrise
Authors: Wittmann Walter 
Published: April 2016

Summary
This paper reviews the main developments leading to the actual financial and debt crisis. It starts with the expansionary monetary policy experiment in the US in 2002, which led to a bubble in stock markets and real estate markets. When the bubble burst, the latter provoked the subprime crisis. Banks holding subprime assets made substantial losses. Especially investment banks relying on refinancing in the capital market got in trouble. When Lehman Brothers failed the interbank markets collapsed and it was only due to the collective action of central banks and government that the financial system could be stabilized. The government involvement raised the public debt in many countries to unsustainable heights transforming the financial crisis into a public debt crisis. In Europe the weaker Euro member countries, burdened with both high public debt and high foreign debt, experienced steeply rising risk premia. In order to avoid a default of a member country as well as a default of their own banks, the stronger Euro countries made available guaranties, which will, in the longer run, diminish their own credit rating. The paper concludes with the skeptical note, that both the banking crisis and the public debt debt crisis may be with us for a long time to come.
German Unification: Lessons for Korea?
Authors: Blum Ulrich 
Published: April 2016

Summary
We analyze the similarities and differences in terms of the demographic, social, political and economic situation of the two Germanies and the two Koreas before unification. Based on the German experience, we inquire whether there is room for economic policy unification strategies. An important issue is the degree of international openness which, under “stone-age” type conditions, is much lower in North Korea than it ever was in East Germany. This may create additional adjustment costs, especially if institutions change.
We go on by showing how transition and integration interact in a potential unification process based on the World Bank Revised Minimum Standard Model (RMSM) and the Salter-Swan-Meade model. In doing so, we relate the macro and external impacts on an open economy to its micro-sectoral structural dynamics. Theoretical findings and evidence from Germany suggest that limits to accelerating unification from an economic perspective are important factors to take into account.
We then consider unification as an “investment” and track down the (by-and-large immediate to medium-term) costs and the (by-and-large long-term) benefits of retooling a retarded communist economy. We conclude that, from a South-Korean perspective, Korean unification will become much more expensive than German unification. This may pose severe political and strategic problems.
Der Nutzen der Mesoökonomie für ökonomische Paradigmenbildung am Beispiel der Agrarökonomie
Authors: Mann Stefan 
Published: April 2016

Summary
In order to check the potentials of mesoeconomic research, the example of agricultural economics serves as a case in point to look for advances which contributed to progress in general economic science. In the literature of economic history, the pioneer work by J. H. v. Thünen catches the eye, while T. W. Schultz is a classic Agricultural Economist who won the Nobel Prize. A special section is devoted to mathematical progress within Agricultural Economics and the role of agricultural economists in welfare economics. It is concluded that a high added value can be generated through restricting empirical analyses to a particular sector.
Sustained release of OIC-A006 from PLGA microspheres to induce osteogenesis of composite PLGA/β-TCP scaffolds
Authors: Lin Liulan , Dong Yangyang , Zhou Qi 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
In this article, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres containing the drug OIC-A006 were prepared by ice bath extraction and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/ β-tricalcium phosphate (PLGA/β-TCP) scaffolds were prepared by freeze-drying. Three kinds of scaffold were prepared by adding no drug, direct loading the drug, and loading with drug microspheres. The mechanical strength, degradation, and microstructure of the scaffolds were analyzed. The drug delivery properties of the scaffolds were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It was found that PLGA/β-TCP scaffolds with PLGA microspheres that contained the drug OIC-A006 exhibited a biphasic drug release pattern. Sustained release of the drug OIC-A006 was beneficial to cell adhesion and proliferation. Experiments on rats showed that composite PLGA/β-TCP scaffolds with PLGA microspheres containing the drug OIC-A006 produced good bone formation and bone induction.
Cannabis as a Possible Treatment for Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis / Kanabis Kao Moguci Tretman U Lecenju Spasticnosti Kod Multiple Skleroze
Authors: Vesic Katarina , Dejanovic Slavica Djukic , Borovcanin Milica , Samardzic Janko , Toncev Gordana 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
The therapeutic potential of cannabis has been known for centuries. Cannabinoids express their effects through two types of receptors, cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2). Present studies indicate that cannabis-based drugs can make a positive impact in the treatment of different diseases. For many years, multiple sclerosis patients have self-medicated with illegal street cannabis to alleviate spasticity, a common and debilitating symptom that impairs quality of life.
Nabiximols is the cannabis-based medicine approved in many countries as an add-on therapy for symptom improvement in patients with spasticity who have not responded adequately to other medications. Adverse events such as dizziness, diarrhoea, fatigue, nausea, headache and somnolence occur quite frequently with nabiximols, but they are generally of mild-to-moderate intensity and their incidence can be markedly reduced by gradual uptitration. The prerequisite for the therapeutic use of cannabis in Serbia arerequires legal clarification for the use of the drug in a clinical environment
Band Structure Characteristics of Nacreous Composite Materials with Various Defects
Authors: Yin J. , Zhang S. , Zhang H.W. , Chen B.S. 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
Nacreous composite materials have excellent mechanical properties, such as high strength, high toughness, and wide phononic band gap. In order to research band structure characteristics of nacreous composite materials with various defects, supercell models with the Brick-and-Mortar microstructure are considered. An efficient multi-level substructure algorithm is employed to discuss the band structure. Furthermore, two common systems with point and line defects and varied material parameters are discussed. In addition, band structures concerning straight and deflected crack defects are calculated by changing the shear modulus of the mortar. Finally, the sensitivity of band structures to the random material distribution is presented by considering different volume ratios of the brick. The results reveal that the first band gap of a nacreous composite material is insensitive to defects under certain conditions. It will be of great value to the design and synthesis of new nacreous composite materials for better dynamic properties.
Numerical Solution for the Effect of Suction or Injection on Flow of Nanofluids Past a Stretching Sheet
Authors: Abd Elazem Nader Y. 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
The flow of nanofluids past a stretching sheet has attracted much attention owing to its wide applications in industry and engineering. Numerical solution has been discussed in this article for studying the effect of suction (or injection) on flow of nanofluids past a stretching sheet. The numerical results carried out using Chebyshev collocation method (ChCM). Useful results for temperature profile, concentration profile, reduced Nusselt number, and reduced Sherwood number are discussed in tabular and graphical forms. It was also demonstrated that both temperature and concentration profiles decrease by an increase from injection to suction. Moreover, the numerical results show that the temperature profiles decrease at high values of Prandtl number Pr. Finally, the present results showed that the reduced Nusselt number is a decreasing function, whereas the reduced Sherwood number is an increasing function at fixed values of Prandtl number Pr, Lewis number Le and suction (or injection) parameter s for variation of Brownian motion parameter Nb, and thermophoresis parameter Nt.
Acute Cardiopulmonary and Metabolic Responses to High-Intensity Interval Training Protocols Using 60 s of Work and 60 s Recovery
Authors: Rozenek Ralph , Salassi James W. , Pinto Nicole M. , Fleming John D. 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
Rozenek, R, Salassi III, JW, Pinto, NM, and Fleming, JD. Acute cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses to high-intensity interval training protocols using 60 s of work and 60 s recovery. J Strength Cond Res 30(11): 3014–3023, 2016—Low-volume, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) consisting of 60 s work and 60 s recovery (60 s/60 s) repeated for 10 times has previously been found to produce beneficial cardiopulmonary, cellular, and metabolic adaptations in healthy and at-risk populations. There is currently relatively little information pertaining to the acute changes that take place during individual training sessions. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute physiological responses to 60 s/60 s × 10 HIIT protocols using several combinations of work and recovery intensities. Eleven healthy adults (mean age ± SD = 26.0 ± 5.3 years) performed 4 HIIT trials on separate days at varying percentages of peak power output that consisted of the following work/recovery intensities: (a) 80% PPO/0% PPO (80/0); (b) 80% PPO/50% PPO (80/50); (c) 100% PPO/0% PPO (100/0); and (d) 100% PPO/50% PPO (100/50). Compared with the other protocols, 100/50 produced higher (p ≤ 0.05) peak, average, and nadir %V̇o
2peak. Other than the nadir values resulting from the 80/0 trial, all trials produced average, peak, and nadir %V̇o
2peak and %HRpeak values that were within exercise intensity ranges (≈45–90% V̇o
2max; ≈65–90% HRmax) recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine for improvement of cardiopulmonary function. Similar average HR and peak HR, RPE, blood lactate, and %V̇o
2peak values were produced by 80/50 and 100/0 protocols. However, the average %V̇o
2peak was significantly higher (∼9.3% absolute) in 80/50. It appeared that use of the 80/0, 80/50, and 100/0 protocols would be appropriate for individuals who are at the low to moderate end of the cardiopulmonary fitness spectrum.
Core Muscle Activation During Unstable Bicep Curl Using a Water-Filled Instability Training Tube
Authors: Glass Stephen C. , Blanchette Taylor W. , Karwan Lauren A. , Pearson Spencer S. , O'Neil Allison P. , Karlik Dustin A. 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
Glass, SC, Blanchette, TW, Karwan, LA, Pearson, SS, O'Neil, AP, and Karlik, DA. Core muscle activation during unstable bicep curl using a water-filled instability training tube. J Strength Cond Res 30(11): 3212–3219, 2016—The purpose of this study was to assess compensatory muscle activation created during a bicep curl using a water-filled, unstable lifting tube. Ten men (age = 21 ± 1.6 years, height = 180.0 ± 3.3 cm, mass = 87.4 ± 15.0 kg) and 10 women (age = 19.6 ± 1.3 years, height = 161.4 ± 12.0 cm, mass = 61.2 ± 7.4 kg) completed bicep curls using an 11.4-kg tube partially filled with water during a 50% open-valve, 100% open, and control setting. Subjects completed 8 repetitions within each condition with integrated electromyographic signal (converted to percent maximal voluntary contraction) of the bicep, deltoid, rectus abdominus, and paraspinal muscles measured. Compensatory activation was determined using the natural log of coefficient of variation across concentric (CON) and eccentric (ECC) contractions. There were no differences between gender for any condition. Significant variability was seen across treatments for paraspinal muscles for CON and ECC at 50% (CON LnCV = 3.13 ± 0.56%, ECC LnCV = 3.34 ± 0.58%) and 100% (CON = 3.24 ± 0.34%, ECC = 3.46 ± 0.35%) compared with control (CON = 2.59 ± 0.47%, ECC = 2.80 ± 0.61%). Deltoid variability was greater at the 100% open setting (CON = 3.51 ± 0.53%, ECC = 3.56 ± 0.36%) compared with control (CON = 2.98 ± 0.35%, ECC = 2.97 ± 0.45%). The abdominal CON 100% showed variability (3.02 ± 0.47%) compared with control (2.65 ± 0.43%). Bicep activation remained unvaried. Compensatory activation of postural muscles contribute to postural stability. This device may be a useful tool for neuromuscular training leading to improved stability and control.