bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inter-Ethnic Relations in Kosovo
Authors: Demjaha Agon 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
The paper aims to analyse the state of inter-ethnic relations in Kosovo between ethnic Albanians and ethnic Serbs, with special focus on the period after unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo in 2008. Inter-ethnic conflict in Kosovo has exclusively been over its territory since both Serbs and Albanians have made claims about history and ethno-demography to justify their alleged exclusive right to this ethnically mixed region. Consequently, inter-ethnic relations between Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo have been rather problematic throughout the most of the 20th century. During this period Albanians in Kosovo have been subjected to discrimination, intimidation and even mass expulsion by Yugoslav/Serb authorities. In late 1990s, these relations between Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo have progressively worsened and finally escalated in an armed warfare in 1999.
Immediately after the war, Serbs in Kosovo were occasionally exposed to acts of inter-ethnic and retaliatory violence. Inter-ethnic relations between the two major ethnicities continued to be tense and fragile after independence of Kosovo in 2008. Dramatic changes of ethnic composition structure, atrocities and huge number of refugees due to the war, have left a legacy of deep mistrust and animosities between Albanians and Serbs in the newly created state. Consequently, Serbs in Kosovo have from the beginning refused to recognize Kosovo’s independence and have rigorously refused any governance by Kosovo authorities. Serbian community, especially in the North, claims stronger territorial autonomy, even separatism and unification with Serbia. The paper claims that in Kosovo inter-ethnic and interstate relations are basically the components of the same equation. Therefore, paper concludes that only overall improvement of relations between Kosovo and Serbia could contribute to overall relaxation of inter-ethnic relations between Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo. Unfortunately, the latest incidents between Kosovo and Serbia have increased the tensions between the two sides to alarming levels.
National narration and Politics of Memory in post-socialist Georgia
Authors: Dundua Salome , Karaia Tamar , Abashidze Zviad 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
The article is dedicated to analyse the politics of so called “historical memory” during the state-building and nation-building process in post-socialist Georgia After the Rose Revolution 2003, the new government that aimed at building the “new Georgia,” implementing radical changes in many key spheres, including institutions, readdressing the totalitarian past, faced number of problematic manifestations in political and cultural life in this post-Soviet country. The “politics of memory” became one of the key factors of reconstructing of “new, democratic, western Georgia”. This process can be evaluated as leading toward state nationalism. Analyzing the politics of memory, symbolism is the most notable attitude and that is why former President Mikheil Saakashvili used commemorative ceremonies continuously. The authors argue in favour of approach, that the so called “memory politics” is the integral part of one’s legitimacy building, but at the same time, it can be used as tool for reconsidering of Polity’s future and mobilization of population under the “citizenship” umbrella towards the strong loyalty to the actual and future state-building.
A Gender and Marital Status Analysis of Household Income in a Low-Income Township
Authors: Dunga Steven Henry 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
The analysis of income at household level is highly important for understanding the poverty and for supporting the efforts to deal with poverty. Poverty measures can be calculated from a multitude of approaches. A common approach is to use household income and draw a minimum level of income required for a household to be considered above or below poverty. This paper looked at income at household level from a gender perspective and a marital status perspective in order to draw conclusions of the nature of household’s characteristics that are associated with higher or lower income as a proxy for poverty. Based on data collected in a low income township in South Africa, the regression analysis was applied to investigate the differences between different marital statuses and gender and how they are associated with different levels of income. The regression results reveal that female headed households have, on average, lower incomes compared to male headed households, and also, that married heads of households have higher incomes compared to the single, divorced, and widowed. The widowed had the lowest average income.
Performance Through Efficiency in the Public Healthcare System – A DEA Approach in an Emergent Country
Authors: Nistor Cristina Silvia , Ștefănescu Cristina Alexandrina , Crișan Andrei-Răzvan 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
Aiming to analyze the efficiency of the public sector, this paper enriches the literature by providing insights of the healthcare system for an emergent country - Romania. The empirical findings reached by applying the input orientated-variable return to scale (VRS) model of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Tobit regression method are determined on two key levels of the study. The Data Envelopment Analysis technique quantifies the efficiency within 20 representative hospitals located in the four administrative macro-regions, highlighting the ways of increasing efficiency, while the Tobit regression identifies the factors that influence the efficiency level. The results of the investigation allow for comparisons with other emerging countries, as efficiency has become an increasingly significant factor for public sector evolution.
Versatile asymmetrical tight extensions
Authors: Otafudu Olivier Olela , Mushaandja Zechariah 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
We show that the image of a q-hyperconvex quasi-metric space under a retraction is q-hyperconvex. Furthermore, we establish that quasi-tightness and quasi-essentiality of an extension of a T0-quasi-metric space are equivalent.
Dissociating intervention effects from superiority in English wh-questions
Authors: Kotek Hadas 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
In wh-questions, intervention effects are detected whenever certain elements – focus-sensitive operators, negative elements, and quantifiers – c-command an in-situ wh-word. Pesetsky (2000, Phrasal movement and its kin. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press) presents a comprehensive study of intervention effects in English multiple wh-questions, arguing that intervention correlates with superiority: superiority-violating questions are subject to intervention effects, while superiority-obeying questions are immune from such effects. This description has been adopted as an explanandum in most recent work on intervention, such as Beck (2006, Intervention effects follow from focus interpretation. Natural Language Semantics 14. 1–56) and Cable (2010, The Grammar of Q: Q-particles, wh-movement, and pied-piping. Oxford University Press), a.o. In this paper, I show instead that intervention effects in English questions correlate with the available LF positions for wh-in-situ and the intervener, but not with superiority. The grammar allows for several different ways of repairing intervention configurations, including wh-movement, scrambling, Quantifier Raising, and reconstruction. Intervention effects are observed when none of these repair strategies are applicable, and there is no way of avoiding the intervention configuration – regardless of superiority. Nonetheless, I show that these results are consistent with the syntax proposed for English questions in Pesetsky (2000, Phrasal movement and its kin. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press) and with the semantic theory of intervention effects in Beck (2006, Intervention effects follow from focus interpretation. Natural Language Semantics 14. 1–56).
Effect of Gravomagnetism on the Trajectory of Light Ray
Authors: Chakraborty Sarani , Sen A.K. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractIt has been shown by various authors that gravomagnetic field can produce lensing effect. The effect of such a gravitational body with gravomagnetic mass on the trajectory of light ray is discussed in this paper. The light deflection angle has been calculated in the present works, considering upto fourth order terms. Schwarzschild light deflection angle can be obtained from this expression, by setting gravomagnetic mass equals to zero. However, for a hypothetical massless, gravomagnetic monopole, the light deflection angle does not reduce to zero.
A dihydrochalcone derivative and further steroidal saponins from Sansevieria trifasciata Prain
Authors: Tchegnitegni Billy T. , Teponno Rémy B. , Jenett-Siems Kristina , Melzig Matthias F. , Miyamoto Tomofumi , Tapondjou Léon A. 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Sansevieria trifasciata, one of the most common Dracaenaceae plants, has resulted in the isolation of a new dihydrochalcone derivative named trifasciatine C (1), four previously unreported steroidal saponins as two pairs of inseparable regioisomers: trifasciatosides K/L (2/3), M/N (4/5), together with the known 1,2-(dipalmitoyl)-3-O-β-D-galactopyranosylglycerol (6), aconitic acid (7), and 1-methyl aconitic acid (8). Their structures were elucidated mainly by extensive spectroscopic analysis (1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance) and high-resolution electronspray ionization-mass spectrometry, as well as chemical methods and comparison of their spectral data with those of related compounds. Compounds 2/3 and 4/5 were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity on Hela cells, and no significant effect was observed.
Counter-Ion Effect on the Thermodynamics of Cr(III) Exchange by Macroporous Amberlyst-15
Authors: Shah Khizar Hussain , Mustafa Syed , Waseem Muhammad , Hamayun Muhammad , Syed Murtaza , Shah Faheem , Khan Abdur Rahman , Rehman Wajid 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
In the present study, we have investigated the counter-ion effect on the thermodynamics of Cr(III) sorption by macroporous resin Amberlyst-15. The exchange reaction was studied as a function of concentration of Cr(III) and nature of counter-ions at different temperatures. It was observed that nature of counter-ions have a profound effect on the exchange of Cr(III) ions. The selectivity of Amberlyst-15 towards metal ion sorption follows the order univalent>divalent> trivalent forms. This trend can be associated to the electrostatic interaction of ions with the functional sites of the resin. The equilibrium pH values (pHeq) were observed to decrease with Cr3+/H+ exchange whereas an increase in pHeq was detected during the exchange of Cr3+/Li+, Cr3+/Na+, Cr3+/Ca2+ and Cr3+/Al3+. Different adsorption models such as Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) and Langmuir were employed to analyze the sorption data. The maximum exchange capacities (X

m
) and binding energy constants (K

b
) values were determined by using the Langmuir model. The values of both ΔHo and ΔSo were found positive inferring that the exchange process is endothermic accompanied by the dehydration of Cr(III) ions. The thermodynamic parameters revealed that the mechanism of Cr(III) sorption for all the counter ions is entropy driven ion exchange.
Spectroscopic Properties of Yb3+-Doped Silicate Glasses
Authors: Linganna Kadathala , Ju Seongmin , Kim Bokhyeon , Han Won-Taek , Venkatramu Vemula , Jayasankar Chalicheemalapalli Kulala 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
Yb3+-doped silicate glasses (SiO2–Nb2O5–K2O–ZnF2) were prepared by a conventional melt quenching technique and their spectroscopic properties were investigated. The emission cross-section was found to be 0.53×10−20 cm2 at 1006 nm from the reciprocity method described by McCumber from the measured absorption spectrum of 1.0 mol% Yb2O3-doped glass. The lifetime (τ
exp) and figure of merit (σem
×τ
exp) for the 2F5/2→2F7/2 transition of 1.0 mol% Yb2O3 -doped silicate glass, were evaluated to be 0.50 ms and 0.26 cm2 ms, respectively. The other spectroscopic parameters, β
min, I
sat and I
min were found to be 0.17, 29.00 kW/cm2 and 4.90 kW/cm2, respectively. The results indicate that the present Yb3+-doped silicate glasses could be useful as laser gain media at 1006 nm.
Real-life GH dosing patterns in children with GHD, TS or born SGA: a report from the NordiNet® International Outcome Study
Authors: Blankenstein Oliver , Snajderova Marta , Blair Jo , Pournara Effie , Pedersen Birgitte Tønnes , Petit Isabelle Oliver 
Published: May 2017

Objective
To describe real-life dosing patterns in children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD), born small for gestational age (SGA) or with Turner syndrome (TS) receiving growth hormone (GH) and enrolled in the NordiNet International Outcome Study (IOS; Nbib960128) between 2006 and 2016.

Design
This non-interventional, multicentre study included paediatric patients diagnosed with GHD (isolated (IGHD) or multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD)), born SGA or with TS and treated according to everyday clinical practice from the Czech Republic (IGHD/MPHD/SGA/TS: n = 425/61/316/119), France (n = 1404/188/970/206), Germany (n = 2603/351/1387/411) and the UK (n = 259/60/87/35).

Methods
GH dosing was compared descriptively across countries and indications. Proportions of patients by GH dose group (low/medium/high) or GH dose change (decrease/increase/no change) during years 1 and 2 were also evaluated across countries and indications.

Results
In the Czech Republic, GH dosing was generally within recommended levels. In France, average GH doses were higher for patients with IGHD, MPHD and SGA than in other countries. GH doses in TS tended to be at the lower end of the recommended label range, especially in Germany and the UK; the majority of patients were in the low-dose group. A significant inverse association between baseline height standard deviation score and GH dose was shown (P < 0.05); shorter patients received higher doses. Changes in GH dose, particularly increases, were more common in the second (40%) than in the first year (25%).

Conclusions
GH dosing varies considerably across countries and indications. In particular, almost half of girls with TS received GH doses below practice guidelines and label recommendations.
A Novel Histone Crosstalk Pathway Important for Regulation of UV-Induced DNA Damage Repair in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Boudoures Anna L , Pfeil Jacob J , Steenkiste Elizabeth M , Hoffman Rachel A , Bailey Elizabeth A , Wilkes Sara E , Higdon Sarah K , Thompson Jeffrey S 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
Histone post-translational modifications play vital roles in a variety of nuclear processes, including DNA repair. It has been previously shown that histone H3K79 methylation is important for the cellular response to DNA damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, with evidence that specific methylation states play distinct roles in UV repair. Here, we report that H3K79 methylation is reduced in response to UV exposure in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This reduction is specific to the dimethylated state, as trimethylation levels are minimally altered by UV exposure. Inhibition of this reduction has a deleterious effect on UV-induced sister chromatid exchange, suggesting that H3K79 dimethylation levels play a regulatory role in UV repair. Further evidence implicates an additional role for H3K79 dimethylation levels in error-free translesion synthesis, but not in UV-induced G1/S checkpoint activation or double-stranded break repair. Additionally, we find that H3K79 dimethylation levels are influenced by acetylatable lysines on the histone H4 N-terminal tail, which are hyperacetylated in response to UV exposure. Preclusion of H4 acetylation prevents UV-induced reduction of H3K79 dimethylation, and similarly has a negative effect on UV-induced sister chromatid exchange. These results point to the existence of a novel histone crosstalk pathway that is important for the regulation of UV-induced DNA damage repair.
Orthogonal Estimates of Variances for Additive, Dominance, and Epistatic Effects in Populations
Authors: Vitezica Zulma G , Legarra Andrés , Toro Miguel A , Varona Luis 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
Genomic prediction methods based on multiple markers have potential to include nonadditive effects in prediction and analysis of complex traits. However, most developments assume a Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). Statistical approaches for genomic selection that account for dominance and epistasis in a general context, without assuming HWE (e.g., crosses or homozygous lines), are therefore needed. Our method expands the natural and orthogonal interactions (NOIA) approach, which builds incidence matrices based on genotypic (not allelic) frequencies, to include genome-wide epistasis for an arbitrary number of interacting loci in a genomic evaluation context. This results in an orthogonal partition of the variances, which is not warranted otherwise. We also present the partition of variance as a function of genotypic values and frequencies following Cockerham’s orthogonal contrast approach. Then we prove for the first time that, even not in HWE, the multiple-loci NOIA method is equivalent to construct epistatic genomic relationship matrices for higher-order interactions using Hadamard products of additive and dominant genomic orthogonal relationships. A standardization based on the trace of the relationship matrices is, however, needed. We illustrate these results with two simulated F1 (not in HWE) populations, either in linkage equilibrium (LE), or in linkage disequilibrium (LD) and divergent selection, and pure biological dominant pairwise epistasis. In the LE case, correct and orthogonal estimates of variances were obtained using NOIA genomic relationships but not if relationships were constructed assuming HWE. For the LD simulation, differences were smaller, due to the smaller deviation of the F1 from HWE. Wrongly assuming HWE to build genomic relationships and estimate variance components yields biased estimates, inflates the total genetic variance, and the estimates are not empirically orthogonal. The NOIA method to build genomic relationships, coupled with the use of Hadamard products for epistatic terms, allows the obtaining of correct estimates in populations either in HWE or not in HWE, and extends to any order of epistatic interactions.
Theoretical Aspects of Doping of Photovoltaic Materials
Authors: Katayama-Yoshida H. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe low-resistive p- and n-type transparent conductors are necessary for the efficient photovoltaic (PV) solar cells. We review a new valence control method of co-doping with doping Ga- (or In-, or Alsubstitutional impurity, and Li-interstitial impurity) donor and N-acceptor at the same time for the fabrication of a low-resistive p-type ZnO based upon the ab initio calculation. We compare our materials design to fabricate a low resistive p -type ZnO with the recent successful co-doping experiments. The Delafossite structure of CuAlO2 has great potentiality far p-type transparent conducting oxide to apply the high efficient photovoltaic solar-cells combined with n-type transparent conducting oxides such as ITO (indium tin oxides), SnO2 or ZnO. We have calculated the electronic structure, impurity levels, and formation energy of Cu-vacancy, Al-vacancy, Be, Mg, Ca acceptors at the Al-site, and Be, Mg, Ca donors at the Cu-site. Calculated acceptor energy levels are as follows; Cu-vacancy (-300meV from the VBM [valence band maximum]), Al-vacancy (671 meV from the VBM), Be-acceptor (85 meV from the VBM), Mg-acceptor (200 meV from the VBM), and Ca-acceptor (960 meV from the VBM). We find that the Mg impurity at the Cu-site is more stable than the Al-site. Therefore, Mg impurity acts as donor at the Cu-site in the CuAlO2. This is the reason why Mg doping reduces the p-type conductivity in CuAlO2. We propose the following valence control method for the fabrication of p-type CuAlO2; we should dope the high concentration of Cu-vacancy in order to form the impurity band with reducing the Cu vapor pressure during the PLD or MBE crystal growth method, or we dope the Mg or Be acceptors at the Al-site with reducing the Al vapor pressure and increasing the Cu vapor pressure during the thermal non-equilibrium crystal growth method such as MBE or MOCVD. We compare our materials design with the available experimental data. Finally, we propose the co-doping by 2PS(Se)+InCu+VCu for the fabrication of p-type CuInS2 or CuInSe2 based upon ab initio electronic structure calculation.
The Dynamics of Cadmium Telluride Etching
Authors: Dobson K. D. , Paulson P. D. , McCandless B. E. , Birkmire R. W. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractCdTe etching was investigated using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and glancing angle x-ray diffraction. Treatment with HNO3:H3PO4 (NP) based etches was shown to form amorphous-Te surface films which spontaneously crystallize following etching. Br2/methanol (BM) etching forms very thin amorphous-Te films. NP-etched surfaces are stable in ambient air for ∼1 hr before beginning to oxidize, while BM etched films oxidize immediately following treatment. CdTe grain boundary etching by NP was minimized using more acidic etches. Device analysis suggests that a higher Te content produces more stable back contacts by attenuating Cu diffusion. Mechanistic details of NP etching are discussed.
14% CdS/CdTe Thin Film Cells with ZnO:Al TCO
Authors: Gupta Akhlesh , Compaan Alvin D. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractAn Al-doped ZnO front contact was successfully used for the first time for the fabrication of high efficiency CdS/CdTe thin-film solar cells. The ZnO:Al films were deposited on aluminosilicate glass by RF sputtering from a ZnO:Al2O3 target. The ZnO:Al film has ∼95% average transmission in the visible spectrum with ∼3 ohm/square sheet resistance. The CdS and CdTe thin films were also deposited by RF sputtering and devices were completed with a vapor CdCl2 treatment and evaporated Cu/Au back contacts. The highest processing temperature was 387°C, reached during the vapor CdCl2 treatment. The devices were tested at NREL with efficiency of 14.0% which is a record for an all-sputtered CdS/CdTe solar cell. The ZnO-based cell had JSC of 23.6 mA/cm2 compared to 20.7 mA/cm2 for our recent NREL-tested 12.6% cell on a commercial soda-lime-glass/SnO2:F substrate. Other parameters of the 14% ZnO based cell are: FF = 73.25% and VOC = 814 mV. The improved performance is almost entirely due to higher current because of better optical and electrical properties of ZnO:Al TCO. We report also on relative stability between devices on SnO2:F and ZnO:Al TCO, under one-sun light soak at VOC.
Low Temperature Deposition of Zinc Oxide Films
Authors: Lee H. W. , Wang Y. G. , Lau S. P. , Tay B. K. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractA detailed study of zinc oxide (ZnO) films prepared by filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA) technique was carried out. To deposit the films, a pure zinc target was used and O2 was fed into the chamber. The electrical properties of both undoped and Al-doped ZnO films were studied. For preparing the Al-doped films, a Zn-Al alloy target with 5 wt % Al was used. The resistivity, Hall mobility and carrier concentration of the samples were measured. The lowest resistivity that can be achieved with undoped ZnO films was 3.4×10-3 Ωcm, and that for Al-doped films was 8×10-4 Ωcm. The carrier concentration was found to increase with Al doping.