bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Seldinger approach to nasotracheal positioning of a subglottic jet ventilation catheter in the awake patient
Authors: Langford Roger
Published: December 2016

We describe use of the Seldinger technique to safely secure the airway of an awake adult patient with partial laryngeal obstruction. A similar technique has previously been described for the placement of tracheal tubes in spontaneously ventilating anaesthetised paediatric patients. However, we believe that this is the first report of successful placement of a subglottic jet‐ventilation catheter in an awake patient.
Cardiac arrest following intravenous administration of metaraminol in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy
Authors: Redmond Matthew , Knapp Claire , Salim Mohmad , Jaumdally Rumi
Published: December 2016

A sixty‐year‐old female presented to the emergency department with a perforated duodenal ulcer. Whilst awaiting surgery she developed chest pain and ST segment changes consistent with an inferior myocardial infarction. It was considered necessary to continue with surgical management, however general anaesthesia was complicated postoperatively by an episode of pulseless ventricular tachycardia, that appeared to be triggered by intravenous metaraminol. Subsequent coronary angiography demonstrated no evidence of coronary artery disease but findings were suggestive of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, which was probably exacerbated by intravenous metaraminol.
Cricopharyngeal myotomy under regional anaesthesia
Authors: King Trevor Aubrey , Violaris Nicodemos , Zahra Jean Paul
Published: December 2016

A cricopharyngeal myotomy was performed under unilateral superficial cervical plexus, pharyngeal plexus and glossopharyngeal nerve blocks. This procedure has not previously been described as being performed under regional anaesthesia. To our knowledge, a pharyngeal plexus block has not previously been reported. Whilst the cricopharyngeal myotomy was successfully completed, problems did occur. Coughing and swallowing were disruptive to the deep surgical dissection. In addition, the patient experienced pain in the ear and jaw despite having no pain in the surgical wound itself.
Serratus Anterior Plane Block for Flail Chest Injury
Authors: Eid Mohamed , Nassr Mohammed , Aziz Ahmed
Published: December 2016

We present the management of severe pain in a patient with a flail chest following blunt trauma. The patient presented with right sided chest pain, shortness of breath and inability to cough. A right‐sided serratus anterior plane block was performed which resulted in a marked reduction in the patient's pain scores and improvement in symptoms.
Severe tracheal distortion secondary to kyphoscoliosis
Authors: Jumani Deepa , Jamil Sadia , Mercer Neil
Published: December 2016

We describe the airway management of a patient with severe kyphoscoliosis presenting for urgent laparotomy. Reasonable laryngeal views were obtained but intubating the trachea proved challenging and required a complex series of steps using the flexible intubating fibreoptic scope (Pentax Model: F1‐10RBS, PENTAX Canada, Inc) and ultra‐flexible tip guidewire from the Arndt airway exchange catheter with rapid‐fit®adapters set (COOK Medical Inc. Bloomington, IN 47402‐4195, USA) Postoperative computed tomography (CT) imaging revealed two‐stage distortion of the trachea with the right brachiocephalic trunk running in close proximity. What made this case unique, was the inability to apply the unanticipated difficult airway algorithm to successfully secure the airway in our patient.
Use of Transpore TM tape to provide a temporary seal to a leaking endotracheal tube in a remote environment
Authors: Hale Bethan , Radhakrishna Subrahmanyan
Published: December 2016

We report a case of a 65‐year‐old lady who developed an endotracheal tube leak during transfer to the CT scanner from the intensive care unit. The leak was controlled by the application of TransporeTM tape to avoid endotracheal tube exchange under unfavourable conditions in a remote environment.
The perception of Islamic banking by the first national bank sales staff in the Kwazulu-Natal region of South Africa
Authors: Vahed Ismail , Ehsanul Hoque Muhammad
Published: December 2016

The objective of this study is to determine the perception and awareness of Islamic banking by a conventional banks sales force. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 100 sales staff randomly selected to take part in the study. A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was used to collect the data using online system called QuestionPro. Results revealed that whilst the respondents did feel there was a need for Islamic banking, they also did feel that Islamic banking was more complicated than conventional banking. The study also revealed that there was an overall negative perception of Islamic banking which was primarily based on a lack of knowledge, awareness, and understanding. It is recommended that banks provide sufficient and effective training to their staff on all products and services so that any negative perception can be eliminated. This study can benefit organizations that are in the Islamic banking industry or looking at getting into the Islamic banking industry.
Keywords: Islamic banking, conventional banking, knowledge, perception, training. JEL Classification: G21, D83
Benchmarking the South African Excellence Model against worldclass best practice business Excellence Models
Authors: Ladzani Watson
Published: December 2016

This study benchmarks South African Excellence Model (SAEM) against selected similar models in developed economies. The primary research question is: Why are South African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) not performing well in comparison to similar businesses in developed economies? The objectives of the study are to compare SAEM against worldclass best practice business excellence models, measure and rate SMEs management performance criteria. Random sampling was used to select SMEs in the construction industry. The findings revealed SAEM as equally a good model as worldclass best practice models. Empirical results revealed low management performance scores in comparison with those of worldclass best practice. Recommendations included aggressive marketing of SAEM and introducing continuous performance management improvement strategies on poorly rated criteria.
Keywords: benchmarking, business excellence models, developed economies, management performance, small and medium enterprises. JEL Classification: L26, O1, L25
Cosmovision and African conservation philosophy: indigenous knowledge system perspective
Authors: Mashingaidze Sivave
Published: December 2016

Cosmovision is the worldview of a society that is deeply imbedded in the way in which that society is organized and evolves over time. It is a society’s attempt to explain and better understand all that surrounds it, including its place within the cosmos, or universe and how it conserves it environment. In Africa, like elsewhere, indigenous knowledge systems (IKSs) were used to administer peace, harmony, and order amongst the people and their physical environment. However, with the advent of colonialism in Africa, IKSs were not only marginalized, but demonized leaving their potentials for establishing and maintaining a moral, virtuous society, unexploited. It is in this light that this article argues for a correction to the vestiges of colonialism. The article adopts examples of IKS success stories in pre-colonial era showing the beauty of the undiluted African indigenous knowledge systems and their potential for establishing a moral, virtuous society. To this end, the article argues that Africa, today, is in the grips of high crime rates, serious moral decadence, and other calamities because of the marginalization, false, and pejorative label attached to the African IKSs. This article criticizes, pulls down, and challenges the inherited colonial legacies, which have morally and socially injured many African societies.
Keywords: cosmovision, indigenous, knowledge, conservation, philosophy, taboos. JEL Classification: D83, O13, O15
Antecedent of sustainable cooperative within the social capital networks
Authors: Somhlahlo Noxolo , Patmond Mbhele Thokozani , Kunene Lindiwe
Published: December 2016

Sustainable agricultural system contextualizes cooperative practices to reflect competitive economic returns, the continuous supply of essential and life-supporting ecosystem services, and enhanced food security. The study seeks to establish the challenges of small scale farmers in transforming into mainstream sustainable commercial farming and accessing competitive markets through greener economic functionality of the agricultural cooperative. To address these challenging phases and gaps towards growth prospects, this paper provides a comprehensive literature review and phenomenological approach on the underlying paradigm of personal knowledge and subjectivity. The purpose of this paper is twofold: to assess the extent of sustainable socio-economic network influence of Sicabazini farming cooperative on the potential shift in the living standard, and to examine the antecedent economics of environmental farming cooperative challenges to traverse the growth prospects with the context of cooperative social capital networks. The paper adopted the qualitative paradigm using interviews as data collection instrument on fifty participants from Sicabazini farming cooperative. In providing richer understanding and more insightful and inductive discussions on the phenomena, the rigorous application of case study content analysis reveals credibility assurance that the role of the sustainable farming cooperative benefits the economics of dual objectivity (social and economic nature) while simultaneously elevating environment of agricultural prosperity and creating sustainable job opportunities in remote rural areas. Furthermore, to transferability value of this study, the lack of resources and less accessible larger markets coupled by languishing commercial growth prospects influence the progressive phases of environmental cooperative.
Keywords: cooperatives, sustainable farming, social capital, stakeholder theory. JEL Classification: Q13, Q56, Q58
Determinants of youth unemployment in South Africa: evidence from the Vhembe district of Limpopo province
Authors: Albert Dagume Mbulaheni , Gyekye Agyapong
Published: December 2016

The persistent high unemployment rate confronting South Africa, in particular among the youth, continues to be a cause of concern for all stakeholders including academic researchers dealing with labor market issues. As a contribution to efforts at finding solution to the unemployment challenge, the study sought to investigate the nature and causes of rural unemployment amongst the youth using data on a sample of 580 randomly and systematically selected youth from the four local municipalities in the Vhembe district of Limpopo province, South Africa. Binary logistic regression model was estimated to determine the socio-demographic, as well as economic factors that influence youth unemployment. Results of the binary logistic regression model showed that having received (skills) training and work experience were associated with reduced odds of being unemployed. This study highlights the importance of skills training opportunities, as well as apprenticeship in mitigating the unemployment challenge among the youth. The provision of necessary training infrastructure and funding for skills training, as well as work integrated learning and extended career specific internship programs to help to equip South African youth with work experience are major recommendations from this study.
Keywords: unemployment, youth, binary logistic regression, Vhembe district, South Africa. JEL Classification: J64
Inovação como Estratégia de Diferenciação: Produção de Vinho Kosher no Vale dos Vinhedos
Authors: Bebber Suélen , Graciola Ana Paula , De Souza Ariane Vanessa de Oliveira , Nodari Cristine Hermann , Olea Pelayo Munhoz , Dorion Eric Charles Henri
Published: December 2016

A inovação proporciona às empresas desenvolvimento, crescimento, bem como aumento dos lucros sustentáveis no mercado competitivo. Inovar constantemente coloca as empresas em posições de liderança, de modo a gerar lucros a partir da diferenciação. Neste cenário, a certificação de produtos kosher, em especial, os vinhos abordados neste estudo, garante que os produtos alimentícios passaram por processos regidos, com diretrizes e regulamentos religiosos que orientam o consumo. Portanto, em meio a esta complexidade, é considerado um produto diferenciado. Com isso, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi descrever como ocorreram as inovações na produção do vinho Kosher em uma vinícola do Vale dos Vinhedos. Para este estudo foi realizado um estudo de caso, com entrevista em profundidade, baseada em um roteiro básico de entrevista, e com a aplicação da técnica de pesquisa qualitativa, de caráter descritivo. Os resultados mostram que a vinícola busca fontes de conhecimento externas, por meio do contato próximo com os clientes e da sua política comercial, assim como a visão ampla da gestão da empresa em buscar compreender diferentes culturas e proporcionar produtos diferenciados à seus clientes, o que garante alento a inovações e contribue para manter vantagem competitiva.
Empreendedorismo Digital: estudo do Projeto Negócios Digitais desenvolvido pelo SEBRAE-PR em Maringá
Authors: Pereira Jaiane Aparecida , Bernardo Adriana
Published: December 2016

Fazer negócios no meio digital popularizou-se frente ao barateamento da infraestrutura de telecomunicações e nesse ambiente a competitividade torna-se cada vez mais acirrada. Com o intuito de apoiar o micro e pequeno empreendedor durante esse processo, o SEBRAE Paraná desenvolveu o Projeto Negócios Digitais que fornece informações e prepara as empresas para atuarem em plataformas virtuais. Isto posto, o objetivo do presente estudo é compreender como o Projeto Negócios Digitais desenvolvido pelo SEBRAE Maringá auxilia no desenvolvimento do empreendedorismo digital em micro e pequenas empresas. Para isso, foi desenvolvida uma pesquisa qualitativa por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas com os gestores do Projeto e o acompanhamento de três empresas que participaram. Também foi desenvolvida uma análise quantitativa descritiva para caracterizar o perfil do público participante. Por fim, os resultados obtidos mostram que as motivações dos participantes estavam relacionadas a busca de conhecimento sobre ferramentas e estratégias utilizadas no meio digital, porém a falta de tempo e de recursos financeiros retardam esse processo. Além disso, aponta-se a importância de iniciativas como a do Projeto e sugestões de melhoria para o mesmo.
Inovação Social e Tecnologia Social: o caso da Cadeia Curta de Agricultores Familiares e a Alimentação Escolar em Porto Alegre/RS
Authors: Franzoni Gabriel Borela , Da Silva Tania Nunes
Published: December 2016

No atual cenário mundial, problemas sociais e ambientais são desafios que mobilizam a busca de alternativas ao paradigma vigente, como a inovação social e a tecnologia social.  Em meio à transformação dos mercados agroalimentares, surgiram as cadeias agroalimentares curtas, que realizam uma aproximação entre produtores e consumidores. Em Porto Alegre, foi criada uma cadeia agroalimentar curta, formada por sete organizações de agricultores familiares, para atender a resolução do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar, que impõe que, do total dos recursos destinados à alimentação escolar dos municípios brasileiros, no mínimo 30% deverão ser utilizados na aquisição de alimentos da agricultura familiar. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a cadeia curta de agricultores familiares fornecedora da alimentação escolar da cidade de Porto Alegre sob as seguintes perspectivas: inovação social, tecnologia social e cadeias agroalimentares curtas. Foi realizado um estudo de caso nessa cadeia curta. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas, anotações de campo e pesquisa bibliográfica. Os resultados evidenciaram que todas as dimensões de inovação social estavam presentes na cadeia estudada, assim como parte dos seus elementos. Como uma inovação social, ela encontra-se no estágio de implementação e sustentação. Todos os aspectos de tecnologia social fora m encontrados nessa cadeia curta. Os aspectos de cadeias agroalimentares curtas presentes na cadeia auxiliaram no processo de inovação social e tecnologia social e trouxeram benefícios para os atores envolvidos. A resolução do PNAE foi importante nos processos de inovação social, de tecnologia social e na constituição dessa cadeia agroalimentar curta.
Inovatividade Organizacional, Consumo Sustentável e Desempenho: Evidências Empíricas no Setor do Agronegócio
Authors: Kist Vera Lucia , Werlang Nathalia Berger , Flach Rosiane Oswald , Favretto Fabiane
Published: December 2016

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo identificar a inovatividade organizacional, o consumo sustentável e desempenho das propriedades rurais pertencentes a 31ª Secretaria Desenvolvimento Regional de Itapiranga – SC. O procedimento metodológico utilizado neste estudo de natureza empírica seguiram as etapas do método quantitativo e descritivo, sendo operacionalizado por meio de uma survey. A amostra final foi composta por 171 questionários válidos respondidos por produtores rurais. Os testes realizados nesta pesquisa, contendo técnicas estatísticas univariadas, revelaram que as propriedades rurais apresentam uma propensão a inovatividade, uma vez que se diferenciam no mercado em que atuam. Os respondentes também afirmaram possuir práticas de consumo sustentável, visando diminuir impactos ao meio ambiente. Dessa forma, afirma-se que as práticas de inovatividade organizacional e de consumo sustentável podem influenciar o desempenho positivo das propriedades rurais.  
Indicadores de Sustentabilidade Ambiental: Uma Análise das Práticas Sustentáveis em Empreendimentos de Turismo Rural
Authors: Sanches Fernanda Cristina , Schmidt Carla Maria
Published: December 2016

O turismo sustentável se apresenta como uma maneira de manter o desempenho econômico de forma a não prejudicar o meio ambiente, atendendo às necessidades dos turistas e dos locais que os recebem de maneira simultânea, fazendo o necessário para atender a economia, a sociedade e o ambiente, sem desprezar a cultura regional, a diversidade biológica e os sistemas ecológicos que coordenam a vida. O objetivo geral deste estudo foi analisar as práticas de sustentabilidade ambiental utilizadas pelos empreendimentos de um roteiro de turismo rural localizado na Região Oeste do Paraná, à guisa do Barômetro de Sustentabilidade do Turismo. A construção do estudo se deu inicialmente por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica, descritiva e qualitativa. Os dados empíricos foram coletados por meio de entrevistas in loco em nove propriedades de turismo rural. Os principais resultados apontam para um cenário positivo, visto que, de maneira geral, existem iniciativas de sustentabilidade ambiental.
O Conceito de autonomia em Puig e Jaguaribe: uma análise comparativa intertextual
Authors: Muñoz Luciano Da Rosa
Published: December 2016

Este artigo pretende analisar e comparar o conceito de autonomia tal como se apresenta em dois textos diferentes: O nacionalismo na atualidade brasileira (1958) de Helio Jaguaribe e La política exterior argentina: incongruencia epidérmica y coherencia estructural (1982) de Juan Carlos Puig. Em primeiro lugar, será indispensável prover o leitor com seus respectivos contextos de publicação, bem como salientar os objetivos políticos e as fidelidades de grupo de cada autor. Na primeira seção, afirmamos como suas táticas textuais mantêm similitudes no que se refere ao modo como ambos os autores contrastam autonomia e dependência e almejam que o processo de autonomização de seus países emule a bem sucedida experiência histórica norte-americana. Na sequência, tentamos demonstrar que esses textos diferem em seus entendimentos do que a Terceira Posição deva ser, e ademais apoiam escopos opostos para a integração da América Latina. Finalmente, relacionamos as agendas políticas específicas de cada autor com suas interpretações enviesadas da história da política exterior de seus países.
Instituições democráticas, crise econômica e resultados políticos no Parlamento Europeu: as políticas migratória e ambiental (2009-2014)
Authors: Mamede Anna Paula Ribeiro Araujo , Anastasia Fátima
Published: December 2016

Este artigo explora os impactos da crise econômica de 2008 sobre o Parlamento Europeu (PE) a partir da análise comparativa das votações nominais relacionadas às políticas migratórias e do meio ambiente no período compreendido entre 2009 e 2014. Observaram-se resultados mais conservadores nas primeiras, considerando-se a distribuição dos Grupos Políticos nos eixos direita-esquerda e apoio/não apoio à integração europeia. Supõe-se que a crise econômica impacta mais os interesses relacionados aos temas migratórios do que aos temas ambientais, e espera-se observar significativa variação do conservadorismo dos resultados a depender da área temática.
A política externa turca no pós-2011: das revoltas árabes à ascensão do Estado Islâmico
Authors: Nasser Reginaldo , Moraes Willian Roberto
Published: December 2016

Com a eclosão das revoltas árabes a partir de 2011, a Turquia adotou uma nova postura externa, mais assertiva, tornando-se ator de suma importância no Oriente Médio, sobretudo na Síria. Entretanto, o país veio a enfrentar limites à sua projeção, e suas respostas a esses problemas acabaram colocando a Turquia ainda mais no centro de uma série de crises. Esse artigo, portanto, tem como objetivo compreender por que a Turquia realizou tamanha inflexão a partir de 2011 e como sua estratégia internacional evoluiu frente às transformações no Oriente Médio. Argumenta-se que fatores domésticos e choques externos levaram o país a adotar uma estratégia assertiva de liderança regional via apoio a grupos que poderiam adotar seu modelo político. Posteriormente, devido a novos choques externos e mudanças domésticas, a Turquia teve de reposicionar-se e mudar seus objetivos, adotando postura mais cautelosa, de contenção de danos. Passou, então, a utilizar-se de sua centralidade estratégica no conflito sírio e suas crises correlacionadas para barganhar frente às grandes potências, tentando consolidar-se como um ator indispensável, a fim de obter suficiente liberdade de ação para enfrentar aquilo que o governo turco considera como principais ameaças ao país – a expansão curda na Síria e o Estado Islâmico
Wavelet analysis–artificial neural network conjunction models for multi-scale monthly groundwater level predicting in an arid inland river basin, northwestern China
Authors: Wen Xiaohu , Feng Qi , Deo Ravinesh C. , Wu Min , Si Jianhua
Published: December 2016

In this study, the ability of a wavelet analysis–artificial neural network (WA-ANN) conjunction model for multi-scale monthly groundwater level forecasting was evaluated in an arid inland river basin, northwestern China. The WA-ANN models were obtained by combining discrete wavelet transformation with ANN. For WA-ANN model, three different input combinations were trialed in order to optimize the model performance: (1) ancient groundwater level only, (2) ancient climatic data, and (3) ancient groundwater level combined with climatic data to forecast the groundwater level for two wells in Zhangye basin. Based on the key statistical measures, the performance of the WA-ANN model was significantly better than ANN model. However, WA-ANN model with ancient groundwater level as its input yielded the best performance for 1-month groundwater forecasts. For 2- and 3-monthly forecasts, the performance of the WA-ANN model with integrated ancient groundwater level and climatic data as inputs was the most superior. Notwithstanding this, the WA-ANN model with only ancient climatic data as its inputs also exhibited accurate results for 1-, 2-, and 3-month groundwater forecasting. It is ascertained that the WA-ANN model is a useful tool for simulation of multi-scale groundwater forecasting in the current study region.
Quantitative analysis of glutathione and cysteine S-conjugates of microcystin-LR in the liver, kidney and muscle of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Lake Taihu
Authors: Wu Laiyan , Wang Songbo , Tao Min , Xie Ping , Chen Jun
Published: December 2016

Tissue distribution of microcystin (MC)-LR-GSH, MC-LR-Cys and MC-LR of omnivorous fish in Lake Taihu was investigated. MC-LR and MC-LR-Cys were detected in liver, kidney and muscle. The concentration of MC-LR in liver and kidney was 0.052 μg g−1 DW and 0.067 μg g−1 DW, respectively. MC-LR-Cys appeared to be an important metabolite with average contents of 1.104 μg g−1 DW and 0.724 μg g−1 DW in liver and kidney, and the MC-LR-Cys/MC-LR ratio in liver and kidney reaching as high as 21.4 and 10.8. High MC-LR-Cys/MC-LR ratio and a significant correlation between MC-LR-Cys and MC-LR concentration in liver, suggest that liver is more active in detoxification of MC-LR by formation of MC-LR-Cys for omnivorous fish. Furthermore, there might be a balance between the accumulation and depuration/metabolism of MC-LR-Cys in kidney. The MC-LR-Cys can be formed in kidney directly, or transported from liver or other tissues, while the MC-LR-Cys in kidney might be dissociated to MC-LR or excreted. Although MC-LR and its metabolites were scarcely detected in muscle, it is necessary to investigate the distribution of toxic metabolites in edible muscle.
Feasibility of on-site grey-water reuse for toilet flushing in China
Authors: Zhu Jie , Wagner Martin , Cornel Peter , Chen Hongbin , Dai Xiaohu
Published: December 2016

Although the total reuse rate of municipal wastewater was 8.8% in China in 2012, water crisis is forcing China to increasingly develop water reuse. Urban reuse is comparatively poor and has significant potential to be promoted in China. It is a sensitive matter whether to include kitchen wastewater in grey-water reuse in water-deficient areas when kitchen wastewater accounts for a large proportion of total domestic water consumption. Concentrations of chemical oxygen demand, BOD5 (biochemical oxygen demand), and total organic carbon in kitchen wastewater are comparatively lower in China than in other countries, but a high concentration of nitrogen from washing tableware and rice makes it difficult to meet nitrogen requirements in Chinese guidelines. Whether kitchen wastewater should be included in grey-water reuse in China needs further study. Aerobic biological processes combined with physical filtration and/or disinfection is preferred in grey-water treatment, and how to balance the investment and treatment costs with reuse criteria still needs to be researched further. The promotion of reclaimed water for toilet flushing faces resistance in China. The necessity and effectiveness of existing restrictions in water reuse guidelines for toilet flushing in China are in doubt and need further discussion.
Risk assessment of haloacetic acids in the water supply of Tehran, Iran
Authors: Ghoochani Mahboobeh , Rastkari Noushin , Heibati Behzad , Ghozikali Mohammad Ghanbari , Jeddi Maryam Zare , Fawell John , Nazmara Shahrokh , Mahvi Amir Hossein
Published: December 2016

Disinfection by-products are compounds occurring in drinking water as a result of reactions between disinfectants and impurities in raw water, and their occurrence has been a public health concern for the last four decades. Haloacetic acids (HAAs) are one of the major by-products of chlorination. The concentration and variation of HAAs was monitored in 540 samples taken from tap water in six water and wastewater districts of Tehran, Iran. Seasonal variation indicated that natural organic matter and HAA levels were much higher in the spring and fall seasons. The concentrations of HAAs in drinking water samples varied with water sources. They were higher in drinking water obtained from surface water. In this study, the analysis method of human health risk assessment with regard to exposure to HAAs by drinking water in Tehran was based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guideline. It was found from these studies that the risk to human health appears to be negligible.
Effect of lime addition during sewage sludge treatment on characteristics of resulting SSA when it is used in cementitious materials
Authors: Vouk D. , Nakic D. , Štirmer N. , Baricevic A.
Published: December 2016

Final disposal of sewage sludge is important not only in terms of satisfying the regulations, but the aspect of choosing the optimal wastewater treatment technology, including the sludge treatment. In most EU countries, significant amounts of stabilized and dewatered sludge are incinerated, and sewage sludge ash (SSA) is generated as a by product. At the same time, lime is one of the commonly used additives in the sewage sludge treatment primarily to stabilize the sludge. In doing so, the question arose how desirable is such addition of lime if the sludge is subsequently incinerated, and the generated ash is further used in the production of cementitious materials. A series of mortars were prepared where 10–20% of the cement fraction was replaced by SSA. Since all three types of analyzed SSA (without lime, with lime added during sludge stabilization and with extra lime added during sludge incineration) yielded nearly same results, it can be concluded that if sludge incineration is accepted solution, lime addition during sludge treatment is unnecessary even from the standpoint of preserving the pozzolanic properties of the resulting SSA. Results of the research carried out on cement mortars point to the great possibilities of using SSA in concrete industry.
Adsorption properties of cationic rhodamine B dye onto metals chloride-activated castor bean residue carbons
Authors: Zhi Lee Lin , Zaini Muhammad Abbas Ahmad
Published: December 2016

This work was aimed to evaluate the feasibility of castor bean residue based activated carbons prepared through metals chloride activation. The activated carbons were characterized for textural properties and surface chemistry, and the adsorption data of rhodamine B were established to investigate the removal performance. Zinc chloride-activated carbon with specific surface area of 395 m2/g displayed a higher adsorption capacity of 175 mg/g. Magnesium chloride and iron(III) chloride are less toxic and promising agents for composite chemical activation. The adsorption data obeyed Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics model. The rate-limiting step in the adsorption of rhodamine B is film diffusion. The positive values of enthalpy and entropy indicate that the adsorption is endothermic and spontaneous at high temperature.
Molecular characterization of potential salt tolerant bacteria for soybean growth promotion
Authors: Vaishnav* Anukool , Kumari Sarita , Jain Shekhar , Choudhary Devendra Kumar , Sharma Kanti Prakash
Published: December 2016

Salinity is a major limiting factor for soybean crop productivity. To enhance the tolerance of soybean against salt stress, it is essential to understand the diversity of microbiota harboured by soybean rhizosphere. Earlier studies have demonstrated that local adaptation of plants to habitat imposed stresses is driven by their closely associated microbes. The present study aimed to isolation and characterization of salt tolerant rhizobacteria with respect to their functional plant growth promotion ability. A total of 43 bacterial isolates were recovered from soybean rhizospheric soil grown in Bundi district, Rajasthan, India. Out of them, one bacterial isolate strain AU was found to tolerate 10% NaCl stress and significantly enhanced soybean seedlings growth under 100mM NaCl condition. Molecular phylogenetic analysis placed this isolate closely to Pseudomonas simiae OLiT with 99.93% similarity. Molecular characterization of functional genes revealed that AU bacterium possessed genes like IaaM (IAA production), g6pd (Pi-solubilization) and sid (siderophore production). Here, we show that soybean rhizosphere possessed a salt tolerant plant growth promoting bacterium strain AU, which may have impacts on alleviation and tolerance of salt stress in legume plants.
A complex network of molecular events triggered upon environmental cues which decide the fate of gene expression: a review
Authors: Panigrahi* Gagan Kumar , Sahoo Annapurna , Panda Sasmita
Published: December 2016

Gene expression in eukaryotes depends on a web of events which are inter-related and tightly regulated. These key events can be broadly classified into post-transcriptional and post-translational processes. In general, the post-transcriptional events include pre-mRNA processing (capping, splicing, polyadenylation), RNA stability, and translation as well as chromatin modifications through regulatory RNAs (miRNA, siRNAs and long non-coding RNAs). Protein phosphorylation, ubiquitination and sumoylation are a few post-translational events. These events are constitutive as well as provoked by specific exogenous and/or endogenous stimuli. In case of the plant system, the molecular mechanisms responsible for regulating the gene expression is diverse and yet to be fully revealed. The network of post-transcriptional and post-translational events do ensure temporal and spatial suitable patterns of downstream stress-related gene expression. The current review mainly focus on a variety of molecular events which play a pivotal role in fine tuning the gene expression in eukaryotes.
Advances in equine cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technique in horses: a review
Authors: Wakchaure Rajesh , Ganguly* Subha
Published: December 2016

Cloning a horse means using the genetic material (DNA) from a donor horse to produce a genetically identical foal. This technique involves collecting the DNA from the donor and inserting that DNA into an egg from another mare whose, DNA content has been removed, fusing donor nucleus with enucleated recipient oocytes, which then develops as an embryo, in vitro culture of embryo and lastly transfer cultured embryo into the uterus of a recipient mare. The modification of the in vitro culture conditions which can be suitable for equine oocyte activation, oocyte maturation and embryo development are the fundamental steps for a successful in vitro procedure for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in the horse to avoid the embryo losses. In general, few studies are available in the literature on equine in vitro embryo production and it is only recently that reports have been published on completely in vitro production of equine preimplantation embryos by means of in vitro oocyte maturation The present review discusses the latest developments in the field of equine cloning technique with the employment of SCNT. The basic understanding of SCNT for in vitro culture conditions is relevant to the increased efficiency of cloning. The available genotype can be used by SCNT which can enhance the vigour of a particular infertile or low fertile animal to produce normal fertility.
Studies on antibacterial potential and phytochemical screening of different extract of Achyranthes aspera
Authors: Shukla* Shyamji , Soni Priyanka , Kewat Harish K.
Published: December 2016

There is an alarming increase in the problem of resistance towards antibiotics amongst most of the pathogenic bacterial strains in recent years. This has drawn the attention of researchers around the world to search for novel and eco-friendly antibacterial compounds. Several biological sources have been explored in this respect but medicinal plants have taken a centre stage out of all. Plants have been known as a reservoir of number of bioactive compounds specially the antibacterial ones since time immemorial. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to analyze the antibacterial potential of the medicinal plant Achyranthes aspera. This study revealed that highest antibacterial activity was observed in the methanolic extract of stem against almost all test Bacteria. It showed maximum activity against E.coli (30 mm), followed by S. aureus (28 mm), Enterococcus sp.(25mm), Salmonella typhi ( 20 mm) and least activity was recorded in same extract against K.pneumoniae (6 mm). Four phytochemicals were screened in various solvent extracts. They are alkaloid, flavonoids, saponins and tannins.
A new paradigm of the en masse flowering in thorny bamboo
Authors: Malik Vijai
Published: December 2016

The presented paper highlights the records and occurrences of flowering in Bambusa arundinacea. The flowering in this species is generally gregarious and was seen earlier during 1960s and recently in March 2016 in North West Uttar Pradesh.
Seasonal changes in hematological and biochemical profile of dairy cows at high altitude cold desert
Authors: Giri Arup , Bharti* Vijay Kumar , Kalia Sahil , T. Vineeth Ravindran , Ranjan Puneet , Kundan Tilak Raj , Kumar Bhuvnesh
Published: December 2016

Cattle are the main source of livelihood for small farmers in high altitude cold desert. They also provide draught power, social and cultural strength. Cattle, therefore, contribute to subsistence farming and enhance the sustainability of smallholder farming systems. Determination of nutritional and health status of cattle is important in modern animal agriculture. Haematological and biochemical aids have been used to identify status of cattle. Keeping this in view, the present study was undertaken to establish hematological and biochemical responses on milk production of Jersey cows at high altitude production in two different seasons (summer and winter). For each period, ambient temperature and relative humidity were recorded and the temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated as indicator of thermal comfort for cattle. A total of 140 (70 cows in each season) clinically healthy lactating Jersey cows aged 2 – 17 years at 3327 – 3575-meter altitude from mean sea level in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, India, were used to evaluate the effect of environmental conditions on haematological parameters. The hematological parameters were estimated by using an automatic blood analyzer and biochemical test performed by the serum semi-auto analyzer. Among the hematological parameters, white blood cell (WBC), lymphocyte (LYM), granulocytes (GRAN), red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and platelets (PLT) were analyzed. The results showed a significant difference in most of the parameters due to the variation in ambient temperature, relative humidity and temperature-humidity index. A significant increase (p<0.05) in RBC, Hb, and HCT was recorded in winter season as compared to the summer season. MCV, MCH, MCHC and PLT levels also exhibited the similar trend whereas, the WBC, lymphocyte, monocytes, and granulocytes values found were higher in summer compared to the winter season (p<0.05). However, in case of biochemical profile, glucose and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in summer season but level of albumin went significantly higher (p<0.05) in the winter season. Milk production level was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the summer season. These results provide an insight into the hematological and biochemical responses of Jersey cows to different environmental conditions. As the hematological and biochemical profiles of dairy cows has been altered in response to the different season which ultimately affected on the milk production. This study will be helpful for the better dairy cattle management in different seasons for higher production at the cold arid high altitude region.
Діагностична роль остеосцинтиграфії у хворих на ревматоїдний артрит при ендопротезуванні кульшових суглобів
Authors: Korol P.O. , Tkachenko M.M. , Bondar V.K.
Published: December 2016

Актуальність. Ревматоїдний артрит є одним з найбільш поширених хронічних запальних захворювань суглобів. Поширеність захворювання серед дорослого населення у різних країнах світу становить від 0,6 до 5 %. Хворіють частіше люди працездатного віку. Пік захворювання припадає на 40–50 років, при цьому жінки хворіють у 2–4 рази частіше, ніж чоловіки. Захворюваність на ревматоїдний артрит у жінок збільшується після 30 років, досягаючи найбільших показників у 45–75 років. Мета: визначити діагностичну роль остеосцинтиграфії у хворих на ревматоїдний артрит при ендопротезуванні кульшових суглобів. Матеріали і методи. Остеосцинтиграфію проводили на томографічній сцинтиляційній однодетектерній гамма-камері «Тамара-301 Т» після внутрішньовенного введення 99m-Tc-пірофосфату активністю 550–770 МБк. Результати. Усіх хворих розподілили на три діагностичні групи. До першої групи було включено 34 (45 %) пацієнтів, у яких відсоток накопичення радіофармпрепарату в проекції ураженого суглоба дорівнював +10–80 %, до другої — 27 (36 %) хворих, у яких відсоток накопичення індикатору в проекції ураженого суглобового комплексу становив +81–150 %, третя група нараховувала 13 (19 %) пацієнтів із накопиченням індикатору в проекції ураженого суглобового комплексу більше ніж +150 %. Через 1 рік після ендопротезування ураженого кульшового суглоба у хворих першої діагностичної групи післяопераційних ускладнень не зафіксовано. У 3 (11 %) пацієнтів другої діагностичної групи та 19 (30 %) пацієнтів третьої діагностичної групи через рік після ендопротезування розвинулось імплант-асоційоване інфекційне ускладнення. ­Висновки. Чим вище відсоток включення радіофармпрепарату в проекції ураженого ревматоїдним артритом суглобового комплексу при остеосцинтиграфії в доопераційний період, тим вище вірогідність виникнення післяопераційних імплант-асоційованих ускладнень після ендопротезування (p < 0,05).
Експериментальне дослідження міцності первинної стабілізації кісткових фрагментів при використанні інтрамедулярних фіксаторів різного типу
Authors: Khmyzov S.A. , Pashenko A.V. , Tyazhelov A.A. , Karpinskyi M.Y. , Karpinska E.D. , Subbota I.A.
Published: December 2016

Актуальність. Лікування деформацій довгих кісток кінцівок — одна з ключових проблем у дітей з порушенням якості кісткової тканини, що пов’язано з комбінованим характером деформацій та їх рецидивами в післяопераційному періоді, нестабільністю фіксаторів, неможливістю самообслуговування пацієнтів. Мета дослідження: визначити в експерименті міцність первинної стабілізації кісткових фрагментів довгих кісток кінцівок при використанні інтрамедулярних фіксаторів різного типу на тлі порушення якості кісткової тканини. Матеріали і методи. Дослідження проведено в лабораторії біомеханіки ДУ «Інститут патології хребта та суглобів ім. проф. М.І. Ситенка НАМН України» на пластикових макетах великогомілкових кісток шляхом моделювання остеотомії в середній їх третині та з’єднання фрагментів за допомогою титанових еластичних стрижнів, ротаційно-нестабільного інтрамедулярного телескопічного фіксатора, а також ротаційно-стабільного інтрамедулярного телескопічного фіксатора шляхом прикладання згинаючого навантаження до середини діафіза моделі в зоні остеотомії. Величину деформації контролювали за величин 50, 100, 150, 200 Н з наступними вимірюваннями навантаження та фіксацією результатів експерименту. Дані оброблялись статистично, для порівняння видів фіксаторів застосовували однофакторний дисперсійний аналіз та апостеріорний тест Дункана, залежність величини деформації від площі перетину моделей досліджували за допомогою парної кореляції Пірсона. Результати. Найкращі результати отримано на моделях з ротаційно-стабільним телескопічним фіксатором, найгірші — при використанні титанових еластичних стрижнів. Висновки. Всі типи фіксаторів забезпечують достатню первинну стабільність фіксації на згинання (величина деформації не перевищує 5 мм), однак найкращі результати отримані на моделях з ротаційно-стабільним телескопічним фіксатором.
Ефективність та безпечність різнодозової фіксованої комбінації валсартану з гідрохлортіазидом: результати українського кооперативного дослідження ВАГНЕР (Вальсакор при Артеріальній ГіпертеНзії високого ступЕня Ризику)
Authors: Voronkov L.H. , Svishchenko Ye.P. , Bahrii A.E. , Vaida L.S. , Al. Et
Published: December 2016

У статті наведені дані українського кооперативного дослідження ВАГНЕР з вивчення ефективності комбінованої таблетованої лікарської форми, що містить валсартан та гідрохлортіазид. Доведено, що застосування комбінованих форм валсартану та гідрохлортіазиду (препарати Вальсакор Н 80/Вальсакор Н 160/Вальсакор НД 160) забезпечує досягнення цільових рівнів АТ у 72 % пацієнтів з АГ високого ризику. 16-тижневий контрольований прийом зазначених комбінованих форм супроводжується суттєвим зниженням основних показників артеріального тиску, достовірним зменшенням мікроальбумінурії та достовірним регресом гіпертрофії лівого шлуночка за високої переносимості лікування.
Гіперурикемія й артеріальна гіпертензія — чи існує зв’язок?
Authors: Mishchenko L.A.
Published: December 2016

На основі аналізу літературних джерел у статті відображено сучасний стан вивчення ролі гіперурикемії в розвитку та прогресуванні артеріальної гіпертензії. Описано еволюцію наукового уявлення про сечову кислоту — від етіологічного чинника подагри до так званого нового фактора ризику серцево-судинних ускладнень. Викладено результати досліджень, що засвідчують значення гіперурикемії у формуванні субклінічного гіпертензивного ураження серця й нирок, а також вплив різних антигіпертензивних препаратів на сироватковий рівень сечової кислоти. Обґрунтовано доцільність подальшого вивчення ролі гіперурикемії в прогресуванні артеріальної гіпертензії та можливостей її медикаментозної корекції.
Ураження нирок при геморагічному васкуліті Шенлейна — Геноха, що почався в дитячому і дорослому віці
Authors: Syniachenko O.V. , Yegudina E.D. , Bevzenko T.B. , Chernyshova O.E. , Gerasymenko V.V. , Dyadyk E.A.
Published: December 2016

Метою роботи стала порівняльна оцінка клініко-лабораторних і морфологічних проявів ниркової патології при геморагічному васкуліті Шенлейна — Геноха, що почався в дитячому та дорослому віці. Ураження нирок відзначено у 71 % від числа хворих (незалежно від віку пацієнтів у дебюті хвороби нефропатія зустрічалася з однаковою частотою), серед яких нефротичний синдром сформувався у 4 % випадків, хронічна хвороба нирок II, III, IV i V стадій — у 28 % спостережень (співвідношення 10 : 5 : 1 : 1), причому, за даними нефробіоптатів, у пацієнтів із трансформацією хвороби з ювенільної виявилися меншими ступені ураження ниркових артеріол, клубочків, канальців й строми, нижчими темпи прогресування ниркової недостатності, рівні артеріального тиску та периферійного судинного опору, а в цілому дебютний вік хворих впливає на подальшу частоту IV, V і VI класів генохівського гломерулонефриту, визначає рівень лімфогістіоцитарної інфільтрації судинних стінок й депозицій імуноглобулінів в клубочках та судинах.
Резюме керівництва NGC (2016): Канагліфлозин, дапагліфлозин і емпагліфлозин як монотерапія для лікування цукрового діабету 2-го типу
Authors: Mariia Ivanova Transl.
Published: December 2016

Національний інститут охорони здоров’я та догляду (NICE)14 червня 2016 – політика зовнішнього веб-сайта канагліфлозину (Інвокана, Інвокамет) і дапагліфлозину (Фарксіга, Ксігдуо XR): Управління санітарного нагляду за якістю харчових продуктів і медикаментів США (FDA) посилює існуюче попередження про ризик гострого пошкодження нирок при лікуванні діабету 2-го типу препаратами канагліфлозин (Інвокана, Інвокамет) і дапагліфлозин (Фарксіга, Ксігдуо XR). Ґрунтуючись на останніх даних, вони переглянули необхідність попередження на етикетках препаратів про гостре пошкодження нирок і додали рекомендації щодо мінімізації цього ризику.