bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Palliative care for people with dementia: a literature review
Authors: Lillyman Sue , Bruce Mary
Published: February 2016

With growing numbers of people dying with, and from, dementia there is a need for professionals and health-care organisations to review the access to and provision of palliative care. This literature review has identified several key themes in relation to the person dying with dementia including: diagnosis of the dying phase, appropriate timing of referral to specialist palliative care services; ethical decisions in relation to medication and nutrition; the environment; undertreatment especially, for pain relief; over and burdensome treatment interventions; carer involvement; collaborative working and advance decision making.
Stability and Sensory Property of Microencapsulated Garlic Powders
Authors: Lee Changmin , Kim Yeong Eun , Woo Hee Dong , Ko Sanghoon
Published: February 2016

The objectives of this study are to encapsulate lyophilized garlic powder with various coating materials for reducing its unpleasant taste and odor and to investigate their physiochemical and taste masking properties. All coating materials used in this study were edible ones such as maltodextrin (MD), whey protein isolate (WPI), whole milk powder (WMP), and skim milk powder (SMP). To produce encapsulated garlic powders, lyophilized garlic powder was mixed with coating materials at the ratio of 1:1 followed by homogenization for 30 min, and then spray- or freezedried. Physiochemical property measurements and quantitative analyses were carried out for the encapsulated garlic powders. Encapsulated garlic powder using WMP with spray drying method showed the highest alliin concentration (4.131 mg/g) compared to those coated with other coating materials. Sensory evaluation showed that encapsulated garlic powder using WPI and WMP reduced unpleasant garlic taste and odor effectively. Milk fats in the WMP and hydrophobic chains of the proteins in WPI might bind with volatile and hydrophobic odor emitting molecules. In the evaluation for aqueous stability, encapsulated garlic powder using WMP showed better stability compared to others. This garlic taste and odor masking study can contribute to a number of possible health benefits by adding garlic powder to a wide variety of functional foods.
Quality Characteristic of High Pressure Processed Fruits and Vegetables Juices for Infants and Preschoolers
Authors: Bang Eun , Lee Hwa-Jin , Kim Soo Jung , Cho Hyung-Yong
Published: February 2016

Three kinds of fresh squeezed fruits and vegetables juices (FV juices) were prepared, focusing on color (red, yellow, and green). For infant and young children, puffed brown rice powder 4% (w/w) was added into FV juices as a natural thickener (FV baby juices). In order to pasteurize, they were treated at 20°C and 500 MPa for 3 min (HPPFV baby juices). Flow behavior of FV, FV baby, and HPP-FV baby juices was analyzed to investigate the increasing effects of viscosity using a rotational viscometer at shear rates ranging from 0.1 to 300 s-1. The changes of color and antioxidant activity of FV baby juices were observed after being treated with high pressure, and over 4 weeks at 4°C. The L, a, and b values of high pressure processed red, yellow, and green baby juice were (33.48±0.01, 37.39±0.01, 6.58±0.01), (57.96±0.07, 13.39±0.02, 56.34±0.04), and (35.77±0.14, -4.38±0.06, 33.12±0.32), respectively. No significant difference in color and antioxidant activity were observed after treatment at high pressure (p<0.05). The viscosity of FV juices was increased with the addition of puffed whole grain powder, and more increased after high pressure treatment. During storage, the changes of color and antioxidant activities were slightly decreased, but the microbial levels were not detected more than 1.00×105 CFU/mL.
Isolation of Parenchyma Cells from Potato Flesh and Potato Quality Characteristics Affecting Their Isolation Yields
Authors: Jung Gil-Young , Kwon Oh-Keun , Jeong Jin-Cheol , Kim Hyun-Seok
Published: February 2016

The objective of this study is to investigate the optimal conditions for the isolation of individual parenchyma cells (PC) from domestic potato flesh, to determine the proper potato cultivars preparing the dehydrated potato PC to maximum yields, and to identify critical factors affecting the isolation of PC from potato flesh. The isolation yield of PC from frozen potato flesh was 2 times higher than that of raw potato flesh. Commercial pectinase cocktail with pectin lyase (relative to polygalacturonase) as a main enzyme was more effective in isolating PC from potato flesh. Once pectinase cocktail was diluted 200 times with deionized water, free potato starch granules and damaged/ruptured parenchyma cells were observed in dehydrated PC to a much less extent. During 2 h enzyme reaction, maximum yield (66.1%) of dehydrated PC was achieved at pH 2.5 and 50°C with 14:3 (v/w) mixing ratio of reaction medium and thawed potato flesh. Of domestic potatoes, Chuback, Chudong, Chuyoung, Dejima, and Gawon potato cultivars were appropriate for producing the dehydrated PC material. The isolation yields of PC from potato fleshes was significantly influenced by the hardness of raw potato flesh and the total starch and non-starch polysaccharide content of potato.
Effect of Liposome Coated Hemicellulase on Softening of a Carrot
Authors: Kim Kwang-Il , Jo Yeon-Ji , Kim Soojin , Seo Jae-Hee , Min Sang-Gi , Cho Hyung-Yong , Shin Jung-Kue , Choi Mi-Jung
Published: February 2016

The objective is to investigate effect of liposome coated hemicellulose on softening of carrot. To encapsulate hemicellulose in nanoliposome, 2% hemicellulase and 2% lecithin were processed by using high-speed homogenizer (10,000 rpm, 3 min) and ultrasonification (200 W, 54%). The carrot were cut into cylinder type (3×1 cm) and then immersed in distilled water (DW, control), hemicellulase (He) and nanoliposome coated hemicellulose (He/NL) for 48 h at 4°C. The final concentration of hemicellulose is 1% (w/v). The droplets properties of He, NL, He/NL analyzed using zeta-sizer. Moreover, the carrots treated different immersed solutions were characterized by measuring hardness, color, microstructural observation and enzyme activity (glucose contents). For the results, hardness of carrot immersed in He or He/NL solution decreased after 48 h by 47% or 31% (outline of carrot) and 35% or 31% (center of carrot) respectively compared to control (7,240 g). The total color difference value of all samples increased over immersion time. For microstructural observation, cell was destroyed after 24 h at He solution. For the enzyme activity, glucose contents of carrot in He solution increased than it in He/NL at 0 h sample however the enzyme activity was no significant difference with immersion time.
Optimization of Brown Rice Replacement Ratio and Superheated Steam Conditions in Production of Extruded Snacks for Infants Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Ko Bum-Soo , Park Jun-Kyu , Lee Si-Yeon , Lee Mi-Yeon , Jo Eun-Kyoung , Lee Jae-Kwon
Published: February 2016

The optimization of brown rice replacement ratio and superheated steam (SHS) treatment conditions in production of extruded rice snack for infants were conducted using a response surface methodology. Experiments were designed using a Box-Behnken design with three independent variables (brown rice replacement ratio, SHS temperature, and SHS time) and two response variables (hardness and water uptake). The second order polynomial model showed a satisfactory description of the experimental results. Optimal conditions for extruded snack with the lowest predicted hardness (2.84 kg/cm2) were 15.81% of brown rice replacement with SHS treatment at 279.59°C for 197.40 sec. Meanwhile, optimal conditions for extruded snack with the highest predicted water uptake (384.79%) were 17.18% of brown rice replacement ratio with SHS treatment at 274.52°C for 196.22 sec.
The Effect of High Pressure Hormesis on Pterostilbene Content and Biological Activity in Blueberries
Authors: Kim Tae-Eun , Cho Yong-Jin , Kim Chong-Tai , Cho Yong-Jin
Published: February 2016

This study was performed to investigate the enrichment of pterostilbene content and improvement of biological activity in harvested blueberries through the modulation of metabolism with high pressure treatment at hormetic doses. After harvested blueberries were pressurized under 2, 10, and 20 MPa for 5 min at 25°C along with a set of control, pterostilbene content and induction of quinone reductase activity were observed. As a result, the content of pterostilbene in high pressure treated blueberries was enriched up to 1.33 times while quinone reductase activity was improved compared to the untreated sample. These results suggest that a mild high pressure treatment can enrich pterostilbene content and improve biological activity in harvested blueberries according to hormetic response.
Improving the quality of vascular surgical discharge planning in a hub centre
Authors: Wariyapola C , Littlehales E , Abayasekara K , Fall D , Parker V , Hatton G
Published: February 2016

Introduction

Discharge planning improves patient outcomes, reduces hospital stay and readmission rates, and should involve a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach. The efficacy of MDT meetings in discharge planning was examined, as well as reasons for delayed discharge among vascular surgical inpatients.

Methods

Dedicated weekly MDT meetings were held on the vascular ward in Royal Derby Hospital for three months. Each patient was presented to the discharge planning meeting and an expected date of discharge was decided prospectively. Patients who were discharged after this date were considered ‘delayed’ and reasons for delay were explored at the next meeting.

Results

Overall, 193 patients were included in the study. Of these, 42 patients (22%) had a delayed discharge while 29 (15%) had an early discharge. The main reasons for delay were awaiting beds (30%), social (14%) and medical (45%). In 64%, the cause for delay was avoidable. Two-thirds (67%) of all delays were >24 hours. This totalled 115 bed days, of which 67 could have been avoided. However, 32 bed days were saved by early discharge. This equates to a net loss of 35 bed days, at a net cost of £2,936 per month or £35,235 per year. The MDT meetings also improved the quality of discharge planning; the variability between expected and actual discharge dates decreased after the first month.

Conclusions

Discharge planning meetings help prepare for patient discharge and are most effective with multidisciplinary input. The majority of delayed discharges from hospital are preventable. The main causes are awaiting transfers, social services input and medical reasons (eg falls). There is an obvious financial incentive to improve discharge planning. The efficiency of the MDT at discharge planning improves with time and this should therefore be continued for best results.
Clinical outcome following primary total hip or knee replacement in nonagenarians
Authors: Skinner D , Tadros BJ , Bray E , Elsherbiny M , Stafford G
Published: February 2016

Introduction

The Elective Orthopaedic Centre in Epsom has an established patient reported outcome measures programme, into which all patients are enrolled. Postoperative complications, Oxford hip/knee scores (OHS/OKS) and EQ-5D™ (EuroQol, Rotterdam, Netherlands) scores are collected up to the second postoperative year. Our population is ageing and the number of joint replacements being performed on the very elderly is rising. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of joint replacements in a nonagenarian population.

Methods

Our dataset was reviewed retrospectively for a cohort of nonagenarians undergoing either a primary total hip replacement (THR) or total knee replacement (TKR) between April 2008 and October 2011. Postoperative complications, mortality rates and functional outcomes were compared with those of a time matched 70–79-year-old cohort.

Results

Nonagenarians requiring a THR presented with a lower preoperative OHS (p=0.020) but made a greater improvement in the first postoperative year than the younger cohort (p=0.040). The preoperative OKS was lower for nonagenarians than for the control group (p=0.022). At one and two years after TKR, however, there was no significant difference between the age groups. The nonagenarians had a greater risk of requiring a blood transfusion following both THR (p=0.027; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–5.75) and TKR (p=0.037; 95% CI: 1.08–16.65) while the latter cohort also required a longer stay than their younger counterparts (p=0.001). Mortality rates were higher in the nonagenarian group but these were in keeping with the life expectancy projections identified by the Office for National Statistics.

Conclusions

Over a two-year period, the functional outcome and satisfaction rates achieved by nonagenarians following a THR or TKR are comparable with 70–79-year-olds.
Incidental findings during routine pathological evaluation of gallbladder specimens: review of 1,747 elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy cases
Authors: Basak F , Hasbahceci M , Canbak T , Sisik A , Acar A , Yucel M , Bas G , Alimoglu O
Published: February 2016

Introduction

Cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder diseases can lead to previously undiagnosed gallbladder cancer during histopathological evaluation. Despite some controversy over its usefulness, histopathological evaluation of all gallbladder specimens is common in most hospitals. We evaluated the results of routine pathology of the gallbladder after cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder diseases with regard to unexpected primary gallbladder cancer (UPGC).

Methods

Patients undergoing cholecystectomy because of benign gallbladder diseases between 2009 and 2013 were enrolled in this study. All gallbladder specimens were sent to the pathology department, and histopathological reports were examined in detail. The impact of demographic features on pathological diagnoses and prevalence of UPGC assessed. Data on additional interventions and postoperative survival for patients with UPGC were collected.

Results

We enrolled 1,747 patients (mean age, 48.7±13.6 years). Chronic cholecystitis was the most common diagnosis (96.3%) and was associated significantly with being female (p=0.001). Four patients had UPGC (0.23%); one was stage T3 at the time of surgery, and the remaining three cases were stage T2.

Conclusions

Routine histopathological examination of the gallbladder is valuable for identification of cancer that requires further postoperative management.
Treme and Antigone: Mourning, music and resistance
Authors: Moore Andrew
Published: February 2016

David Simon regularly says that the origins of The Wire can be traced to Greek tragedy. My contention here is that Simon’s engagement with Greek literature persists in his New Orleans drama, Treme. For instance, through the story of LaDonna Batiste-Williams, a woman desperately trying to locate and bury the body of her brother, Simon reimagines and adapts Sophocles’ Antigone for a twenty-first-century urban context. Both Sophocles and Simon use the image of the unburied corpse to demonstrate the injustices of ancient tyrannies and modern capitalist bureaucracies, respectively. However, Treme also depicts (and perhaps even models) alternative modes of being, ways of life organized around art and beauty. This article contends that these alternative ways of life are offered as potential antidotes to the political absurdities of post-Katrina New Orleans.
Home on Home Box Office: Sound, home, and disaster in Spike Lee’s When the Levees Broke and David Simon’s Treme
Authors: Fuqua Joy V.
Published: February 2016

This article focuses on the ways two HBO productions, David Simon’s television series Treme and Spike Lee’s documentary film When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Three Acts, rely upon sound to construct senses of loss, home and place. Drawing upon personal experience, textual analysis and interviews, the article examines the conditional possibility for television and film to function as ‘reckoning texts’ in relation to Hurricane Katrina.
Becoming the middle sea: Portraits of the Mediterranean in art education
Authors: Vella Raphael
Published: February 2016

This article examines the pedagogical, political and artistic implications of drawing an intercultural ‘portrait’ of the Mediterranean in various educational and cultural settings located in different countries in the region. Based on an educational project (‘Dessine-moi la Méditerranée’) carried out in several Mediterranean countries, in which children of different ages studied and redefined their own environments and cultures within a Mediterranean context, the article argues for an artistic pedagogy that incorporates local knowledge in the curriculum and simultaneously encourages participatory and collaborative experiences that promote relational understandings of identity. It argues against restrictive or essentialist interpretations of identity by highlighting the sense of ‘becoming’ inherent in the enigmatic, double exposure portraits and the medium of drawing employed by children during the international project.
Book Reviews
Authors: Buschkühle Carl-Peter , Eca Teresa , Haanstra Folkert
Published: February 2016

Youth, Arts and Education: Reassembling Subjectivity through Affect, Anna Hickey-Moody (2014) New York and Abingdon: Routledge, 176 pp., ISBN: 9781138820531, p/bk, US$54.95

Art, Anthropology and the Gift, Roger Sansi (2015) London: Bloomsbury Academic, 482 pp., ISBN: 9780857857811, h/bk, £65

The Routledge International Handbook of the Arts and Education, Mike Fleming, Liora Bresler and John O’Toole (eds) (2015) Abingdon and New York: Routledge, 424 pp., ISBN: 9780415839211, h/bk, £131.00
Museum family programmes as a model to develop democratic education: A pedagogy inspired by the principles of Cha-no-yu
Authors: Otaka Miyuki
Published: February 2016

In response to the lack of studies on art-museum family programmes despite their popularity, I have been developing pedagogy based on the four principles of the art of tea in Japan, cha-no-yu – harmony, respect, purity and tranquility – and conducting museum family programmes as an educator and researcher. Museum family programmes should provide art-appreciation and art-creation components including individual, family and group activities in a gentle, respectful and reflective atmosphere so that participants can construct their art experiences by utilizing multiple senses. The goals of family programmes are to provide meaningful and enjoyable art experiences that enable participants to learn about art, others and themselves interpersonally and personally and to enhance democratic education through dialogues within the family by emphasizing the transfer of learning from participants’ experiences in the programmes to those in their daily lives. This pedagogical model can promote education within the family and any form of democratic education.
Towards grey matter – by bridge or tunnel?
Authors: Goodwin Marc
Published: February 2016

The emergent status of practice-based research within the arts is surprising, given the long tradition of research and reflective practice as the working methodology of artists. Stranger still is the scepticism towards its application in arts education. This article will address those problems via the impasse indicated by current literature on the topic of entrepreneurial learning. As one way out of that dead-end, a case study is presented which applies the practice-based learning of a doctoral thesis to the learning environment of an interdisciplinary course in architectural photography.
The cemetery as a site for aesthetic enquiry in Art Education
Authors: Huerta Ricard
Published: February 2016

This article aims to introduce an innovative element to teacher training in Art Education. Grounded in romantic, ‘kitsch’ and even ‘gore’ archetypes in literature, painting and cinema, both gravestones and cemeteries have become a central part of our collective imagination in western culture. These visual artefacts can therefore play an important role in helping us to understand the often complex relationships between images and writing. The enduring power of gravestone texts, which are commonly inscribed in marble, offers the potential to address issues that have not previously been explored in teacher training education. We hope to promote the acknowledgement of cemeteries as spaces of reflection and historical memory, both of which are key areas in the pedagogical analysis of modern visual cultures. Employing an Arts Based Education methodology, this study uses photographs taken by its author as core sources of information and analysis, in the manner of a photo-essay or visual essay.
Challenging a tendency to finish before starting: A processed-based visual/material methodology
Authors: Croft Michael
Published: February 2016

Students tend to over-conceptualize their interests/intentions at the starting point of any given or self-set project, foreclosing the movement and process of their thinking through projects’ time frames. The article introduces the author’s self-developed visual/material thinking methodology, and proposes a means of addressing a difficulty that educator-readers working in undergraduate contexts may themselves have experienced. The context of the article, a project with Thai university students, is presented as image and text inserts. The questions raised by the methodology are therefore presented as a parallel narrative of students’ responsive material. The article is written in tandem with the unfolding of a student group’s project. As the author moves to a track of the methodology that foregrounds movement, the presentational material shifts to the work of one student who critiques the methodology’s end-point in conceptualization, but supports the alternative track: the idea of Development as a more philosophical way forward.
AD HOC TEAMWORK BEHAVIORS FOR INFLUENCING A FLOCK
Authors: Genter Katie , Stone Peter
Published: February 2016

Ad hoc teamwork refers to the challenge of designing agents that can influence the behavior of a team, without prior coordination with its teammates. This paper considers influencing a flock of simple robotic agents to adopt a desired behavior within the context of ad hoc teamwork. Specifically, we examine how the ad hoc agents should behave in order to orient a flock towards a target heading as quickly as possible when given knowledge of, but no direct control over, the behavior of the flock. We introduce three algorithms which the ad hoc agents can use to influence the flock, and we examine the relative importance of coordinating the ad hoc agents versus planning farther ahead when given fixed computational resources. We present detailed experimental results for each of these algorithms, concluding that in this setting, inter-agent coordination and deeper lookahead planning are no more beneficial than short-term lookahead planning.
Recontextualización de políticas y (cuasi)mercados educativos. Un análisis de las dinámicas de demanda y oferta escolar en Chile
Authors: Verger Antoni , Bonal Xavier , Zancajo Adrián
Published: February 2016

El artículo cuestiona las asunciones de la teoría de la elección pública en educación mediante el análisis del funcionamiento de los mecanismos de mercado y de las dinámicas de oferta y demanda educativa en Chile – el país del mundo que ha adoptado políticas de cuasi-mercado educativo por un período más largo y a mayor escala. En términos analíticos, el artículo se basa en el trabajo sobre mercados educativos y elección escolar de Stephen Ball, así como en el marco conceptual desarrollado por este mismo autor para entender, por un lado, las lógicas de acción de la oferta educativa en espacios educativos locales y, por el otro, el ‘enactment’ (o la recontextualización) de políticas educativas.
A teoria da atuação de Stephen Ball: E se a noção de discurso fosse outra?
Authors: Lopes Alice Casimiro
Published: February 2016

Os estudos de políticas curriculares, e políticas educacionais de forma geral, com base nas abordagens teóricas de Ball difundidas no fim dos anos 1980, permanecem sendo considerados potentes, no Brasil e em outros países do mundo, em diferentes investigações. Diferentes trabalhos incorporam a abordagem do ciclo de políticas à investigação curricular, contribuindo para ampliar o entendimento de currículo e abrindo para outras agendas de pesquisa, particularmente aquelas dirigidas às conexões entre os constrangimentos estruturais e as possibilidades de agência. Focalizo, assim, neste artigo a teoria da atuação de Ball, fazendo-a dialogar com a teoria do discurso de registro pós-estrutural apoiada em Laclau e Derrida. Interessa-me reforçar o registro pós-estrutural já presente nas discussões de Ball, apostando na sua produtividade para visões mais complexas das políticas de currículo que questionem a separação entre intepretação e tradução, proposta e prática, estrutura e agência.
Genotyping of Flax Genetic Resources by Mirna-Based Molecular Markers and Morphology
Authors: Ražná Katarína , Nôžková Janka , Hlavačková Lucia , Brutch Nina , Porokhovinova Elizaveta , Shelenga Tatiana , Pavlov Andrey
Published: February 2016

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs about 20-24 nucleotides long. They play an important role in the gene regulation at the post-transcriptional level. They affect the plant genome response to environmental stress. The miRNA-based molecular markers is type of functional markers reported in very few plants. However, the information connected to the evaluation of genotypes by this type of markers within a single species is missing. Considering the stability, polymorphism, functionality and transferability potential of miRNA-based markers, the research was conducted to apply selected types of them (miR156b, miR408a and the combined type of miR156b/miR408a) for the genotyping analysis of eight flax genotypes of different origin together with the morphology analyses. A total of 145 miRNA loci were identified, of which 19 were unique. The highest numbers of miRNA loci (57) and unique fragments (9) as well as the highest percentage of polymorphism and the extent of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of miRNA fragments have been observed with the combination of miR156b-F and miR408-F markers. By means of the miRNA markers has been recorded the unique profile of the miRNA loci for individual accessions. The morphology study has shown that the genotypes are the same in the expression of selected morphological traits despite the different use and different places of origin. However, we have identified an interface between some of morphological traits and miRNA-based markers for genotyping the genetic resources of flax. By mutually linking these two types of markers, we were able to determine unique genotypes of flax.
In Silico Retrieving of Opium Poppy (Papaver Somniferum L.) Microsatellites
Authors: Masárová Veronika , Mihálik Daniel , Kraic Ján
Published: February 2016

Repetitive tandem sequences were retrieved within nucleotide sequences of opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) genomic DNA available in the GenBank® database. Altogether 538 different microsatellites with the desired length characteristics of tandem repeats have been identified within 450 sequences of opium poppy DNA available in the database. The most frequented were mononucleotide repeats (246); nevertheless, 44 dinucleotide, 148 trinucleotide, 62 tetranucleotide, 28 pentanucleotide and 5 hexanucleotide tandem repeats have also been found. The most abundant were trinucleotide motifs (27.50%), and the most abundant motifs within each group of tandem repeats were TA/AT, TTC/GAA, GGTT/AACC and TTTTA/ TAAAA. Five hexanucleotide repeats contained four different motifs.
Emerging tradition of european symposia at the pan-european university in Bratislava
Authors: Dolinsky Martin
Published: February 2016

Purpose of the article is to describe purpose of symposia oriented at sustainable development, existing achievements of the Pan-European University in organization of such events and future plans. Methodologyused in this manuscript is simple observation. Manuscript discovers potential of the Pan-European University to come up with further similar events in the year 2015. Concluding remarks are that described activities fully conform into the vision of the Pan-European University to become a well-known institution within the Global Research Area, traditionally elaborating research and scientific collaboration across national borders. Sustainable Development Symposium and follow-up events belong to top-rated international events bringing together scientists, professionals, and policymakers from many countries.
Social Situation and Poverty of Roma
Authors: Kováčová Lenka
Published: February 2016

The purpose of the article is to analyze the social situation of the Roma and poverty more broadly, to highlight the factors underpinning their lack of access to education and hence to jobs from which they derive income insecurity and worsen their living conditions, their poor health and finally, their poor contact with the majority. Theme of Roma poverty and their general social situation is very demanding in terms of finding the solution, since the large rate of Roma population is unable to even minimally participate in social, economic, cultural and political life. I have picked a combined survey interview as a method for the empirical part of the article, by looking at various projects and literature. Scientific objectives of the article is to highlight the fact that in all areas affecting the way of life of Roma, including their discriminiation, the most influental one is the long-term segregation of the learning process, which is essential to their integration into an active lifestyle. I refer to the fact that the condition of education of Roma children depends mainly on the socio-economic enviroment from which they come from and which can be measured by various factors. As on of the factors in the education of the parents alone, other factors could be household equipment, monitoring the overall social, economic and cultural status of Roma pupils. In the conclusion of the article, I want to point out that a large number of research findings demonstrate that the dependence of education outcomes as students from their socio-economic enviroment suggests that the education system is no way meeting the requirements of a fair transfer of learning to all, according to their abilities and is just never obilizing the social equality in education. The Education Act and the related rules do not contain provisions that are aimed directly at Roma pupils. However, the general term "socially disadvantaged" enviroment is being used, that is defined primarly by poverty. However, many disadvantages faced by the Roa in all areas of life, often are not only subject to their financial circumstances.

"Given that some portion of barriers stem from the approach of the majority population towards the Roma on the basis of their declared or credited ehtnicity, it is questionable whether the measures are based on the financial circumstances of families enough." (Draft concept of education of Roma children and pupils, including the development secondary and higher education, 2009, p.1).
Cultural considerations for the adaptation of an Internet-based intervention for depression prevention in Mainland China
Authors: Patel Unnati , Sobowale Kunmi , Fan Jingyi , Liu Nina , Kuwabara Sachiko , Lei Zhang , Sherer Renslow , Van Voorhees Benjamin
Published: February 2016

Internet-based interventions to prevent depression during adolescence have been implemented in Western countries, but there is a lack of research about its adaptation for use in other countries. Project Competent Adulthood Transition with Cognitive-Behavioral, Humanistic and Interpersonal Training (CATCH-IT) is an Internet-based intervention targeting teens at risk for developing depression. This study explored cultural adaptation of the intervention for use in Mainland China. A pilot study using the English version of CATCH-IT was conducted in Wuhan, China, with adolescents from the Wuhan School of Medicine in 2013. Participants completed a feedback survey to evaluate the format and socio-cultural relevance for each component of the intervention. Twenty students were surveyed (age range 19–23 years). In 2014, Chinese physicians evaluated CATCH-IT and completed a feedback questionnaire. Data obtained were collected and analyzed for recurrent themes. Both groups recommended new modules focusing on Chinese-relevant themes like pressure for academic excellence, filial piety, and balancing school and social life. Physicians agreed to retain the cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and behavioral activation (BA) modules, and were split on the use of interpersonal therapy (IPT). All experts recommended translation of the content into Mandarin and a majority suggested interactive features and less text. All agreed the Internet serves well as a delivery model; however, dissemination through schools was preferred. The results support cultural adaptation of basic facets of the intervention like language and visuals, and also deeper aspects like IPT and the delivery model. Development of an adaptation should build upon the findings from this study and work to maintain fidelity.
Peptic esophageal stricture in an adolescent with Barrett’s esophagus
Authors: Lamoria Sandeep , De Arka , Agarwal Somya , Singh Lamba Brinder Mohan , Sharma Vishal
Published: February 2016

Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is characterized by the replacement of distal esophageal stratified squamous epithelium by columnar epithelium. It is rare in children and the risk factors may include mental retardation, cerebral palsy, esophageal atresia, etc. Apart from corrosive ingestion, peptic stricture is the other leading cause of esophageal strictures in children. However, BE has not been well characterized in the pediatric population and in children presenting with esophageal strictures. A 16-year-old Indian boy presented with a history of gradually progressive dysphagia to solids (but not liquids) for 12 years along with heartburn and poor weight gain. Physical examination and routine blood investigations were unremarkable. Previously performed barium meal studies were suggestive of stricture in the mid and lower esophagus. Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy revealed a non-negotiable stricture with circumferential ulceration at 26 cm. The stricture was traversed using an ultrathin scope and the distal mucosa was found to be columnar. Biopsies revealed cardiac mucosa. The patient was treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and four series of segmental dilatations with Savary Gilliard esophageal dilators. Peptic strictures occurring in the mid-upper esophagus should raise concerns about BE or malignancy. Here, we report a case of peptic esophageal stricture in a child without neurodevelopmental or trachea-esophageal abnormalities.
Dynamic Large Eddy Simulations of the Ekman Layer Based on Stochastic Analysis
Authors: Kazemi Ehsan , Heinz Stefan
Published: February 2016

Large eddy simulation (LES) of the neutrally stratified turbulent Ekman layer is performed. In particular, we compare three LES models with direct numerical simulation (DNS), which was validated against existing DNS. The models considered are a standard nondynamic LES model, the Smagorinsky model (SM), a standard dynamic LES model, the stabilized dynamic Smagorinsky model (DSM), and a new linear dynamic model (LDM), which was derived from a realizable stochastic turbulence model. The following conclusions are obtained. The SM does not represent an appropriate model for the flow considered. Mean velocity and turbulence intensities are poorly predicted. With respect to instantaneous fields, the SM provides a tilting of turbulence structures in the opposite direction as seen in DNS. The stabilized DSM also suffers from significant shortcomings. First, its behavior depends on the wall distance. Close to the wall, it produces acceptable turbulence structures. Away from the wall, it suffers from the same shortcomings as the SM. Second, it incorrectly describes the effect of grid coarsening. The new LDM is free from the disadvantages of the SM and stabilized DSM. Its predictions of both mean and instantaneous velocity fields agree very well with DNS. The relevant conclusion is the following. The use of a dynamic LES method represents a mean for correctly simulating large-scale structures (means and stresses), but it does not ensure a correct simultaneous simulation of small-scale structures. Our results indicate that a dynamic method designed in consistency with a realizable stress model can correctly simulate both large-scale and small-scale structures.
Multiclass Contour-Preserving Classification with Support Vector Machine (SVM)
Authors: Fuangkhon Piyabute
Published: February 2016

Multiclass contour-preserving classification (MCOV) has been used to preserve the contour of the data set and improve the classification accuracy of a feed-forward neural network. It synthesizes two types of new instances, called fundamental multiclass outpost vector (FMCOV) and additional multiclass outpost vector (AMCOV), in the middle of the decision boundary between consecutive classes of data. This paper presents a comparison on the generalization of an inclusion of FMCOVs, AMCOVs, and both MCOVs on the final training sets with support vector machine (SVM). The experiments were carried out using MATLAB R2015a and LIBSVM v3.20 on seven types of the final training sets generated from each of the synthetic and real-world data sets from the University of California Irvine machine learning repository and the ELENA project. The experimental results confirm that an inclusion of FMCOVs on the final training sets having raw data can improve the SVM classification accuracy significantly.
Safety and metabolic impact of Ramadan fasting in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes
Authors: El-Hawary Amany , Salem Nanees , Elsharkawy Ashraf , Metwali Abdelhameed , Wafa Alaa , Chalaby Nehad , El-Gilany Abelhady , Abo-Elmagd Megahed , El-Ziny Magdy
Published: February 2016

Annually, many children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) insist on fasting for Ramadan despite being exempted and despite knowing all the risks. We aimed to assess the safety and metabolic impact of Ramadan fasting in children with T1DM using different insulin regimens.

Children with T1DM who choose to fast during Ramadan 1434/2013 (29 days) were recruited 3 months before Ramadan. They received pre-Ramadan intensive education. Three insulin regimens were included; Regimen-I (regular insulin/NPH); Regimen-II (regular insulin/insulin glargine) and Regimen-III (premixed insulin). Changes in weight, insulin dose, HbA

Out of total 53 patients (24 male), 28 patients (52.8%) completed Ramadan fasting (fasting group). The remaining 25 patients were included in (broke-fasting group). Positive correlation between fructosamine changes and number of days fasted during Ramadan. Significant decrease in post-Ramadan fructosamine (<0.001) and increase in post-Ramadan total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were detected within fasting, broke-fasting and insulin regimen groups. Significant higher blood glucose at three time points, pre-Iftar, pre-Sohur and midday in Regimen-I compared to Regimen-II and Regimen-III (p=0.004).

: Fasting during Ramadan is feasible and is associated with significant improvement in fructosamine level in children with T1DM using different insulin regimens. Mandatory consideration to the quality and quantity of food offered to patients with T1DM during Ramadan to guard against adverse changes in lipid profile.
Butyrylcholinesterase as an additional marker in the diagnostic network of acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Kocabaş Ramazan , Erenler Ali Kemal , Yetim Mücahit , Doğan Tolga , Erdemli Hacı Kemal
Published: February 2016

Background: Acute coronary syndrome defines a broad spectrum of complaints from angina to irreversible myocardial damage. There is an ongoing need for a biomarker to predict and diagnose acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the early stage. In this study, our aim was to reveal early diagnostic value of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in discrimination of healthy subjects and patients with AMI.

Methods: Eighty-five patients admitted to our hospital due to AMI and 45 healthy subjects were involved in the study. Patients and controls were compared according to BChE, lipid profiles and biochemical parameters.

Results: The serum BChE activity was significantly lower in patients with AMI than in the controls (p<0.001). After correlation analysis, while a negative correlation was determined between the serum BChE concentrations and AMI presence (r=–0.363, p<0.001); a positive correlation was determined between the serum BChE and cholesterol (r=0.443, p<0.001), HDL (r=0.243, p=0.006) and LDL (r=0.369, p<0.001) levels. The data indicate that BChE is associated with AMI and a subsequent receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis revealed that BChE, as an independent indicator, may differentiate AMI patients from controls. A cut-off point set at ≤7.15 kIU/L, BChE showed a sensitivity of 51.2% and a specificity of 84.4% (AUC=0.719, p<0.001).

Conclusions: Low BChE level was significantly associated with AMI when compared to healthy subjects. Even though it has low sensitivity, plasma levels of BChE might represent an additional marker in the diagnostic network of AMI.
Comparison of the novel Maglumi ferritin immunoluminometric assay with Beckman Coulter DxI 800 ferritin
Authors: Dipalo Mariella , Gnocchi Cecilia , Aloe Rosalia , Lippi Giuseppe
Published: February 2016

Background: The demand for routine measurement of ferritin is constantly increasing in clinical laboratories due to the clinical value of this biomarker for diagnosing anemia. Therefore, this study was aimed to compare the newly commercialized Maglumi ferritin immunoluminometric assay with a validated commercial and fully automated technique.

Methods: The comparison study included 95 consecutive inpatient serum samples referred to the local laboratory for routine ferritin measurement. Serum was separated, divided in two paired aliquots and immediately analyzed with both Beckman Coulter DxI 800 and Maglumi 2000. Correlation was assessed with Deming fit and Spearman’s correlation, the mean bias was estimated with Bland-Altman plot. The concordance between methods was calculated as percentage agreement and κ coefficient.

Results: An excellent correlation was observed between Maglumi and DxI (r=0.997). The mean bias was 34 ng/mL and the strength of agreement between values obtained with Maglumi and DxI was 98% and 100% at the lower and upper limits of the reference range. The agreement was also 98% for diagnosing iron deficiency and 94% for diagnosing iron overload.

Conclusions: Maglumi immunoassay may be regarded as a suitable alternative for routine and fully-automated assessment of ferritin in clinical laboratories.
Geographical variation in the body size of adult female sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) – an example of McNab’s resource rule?
Authors: Best Peter B. , Tormosov Dmitri , Brandão Anabela , Mikhalev Yuri
Published: February 2016

This study investigates possible regional variations in size composition of adult female sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) using data from 3302 pregnant individuals taken on Soviet whaling expeditions to the Southern Hemisphere 1961/62–1974/75. A general linear model (GLM) was used to take the covariates of expedition, latitude and ocean basin into account. The average body size decreased from south to north in each ocean basin, with the biggest decrease (about 200 cm) in the Indian Ocean; followed by the Pacific Ocean (about 110 cm), and the Atlantic Ocean (about 80 cm). Independent data confirm the small size of female/immature sperm whales in some tropical areas of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The mechanism responsible for this geographic variation in sperm whale growth could reflect culturally transmitted differences in foraging behaviour between clans of female/immature sperm whales in response to differing availabilities of prey resources by geographical region – McNab’s resource rule. However there is little available information for such a mechanism to be readily identifiable. Although data for oceanic squids (sperm whale’s main source of food) are lacking, there is evidence that the individual sizes of neritic species are positively correlated with latitude. Hence feeding in equatorial regions may be energetically more demanding due to smaller individual prey size, with consequent effects on growth rate.
Landscape attributes determine bobcat (Lynx rufus escuinapae) presence in Central Mexico
Authors: Espinosa-Flores María Eugenia , López-González Carlos A.
Published: February 2016

Central Mexico has experienced a decline of its natural vegetation due to anthropogenic pressure. In 12 sites in the southeastern portion of Guanajuato, we deployed camera traps and analyzed landscape characteristics. We recorded the presence of bobcats in four sites. Their presence was explained by a combination of patch size and tree cover. Because bobcats are sensitive to fragmentation and habitat loss, it is essential to increase sampling and conservation efforts to define the minimum patch size and maximum area of human development that can limit their long-term persistence and the establishment of breeding populations.
Methodology for the estimation of the age categories of Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (Rodentia, Hydrochoeridae) through the cranial and femur morphometry
Authors: Gorosábel Antonella , Corriale María J. , Loponte Daniel
Published: February 2016

The aim of this study is to propose a methodology to estimate the age of individuals of capybaras (
Debating Brain Drain: An Overview
Authors: Brock Gillian
Published: February 2016

The basic needs of desperately poor people frequently activate normative concern. An important part of addressing deprivation is the availability of skilled personnel able to provide what would fulfill needs. Sadly, developing countries, where neediness is most dire, experience severe shortages of just such personnel. For instance, about 4.25 million more health workers are needed to supply basic health for all. These shortages are exacerbated by the departure of high numbers of skilled personnel from developing countries seeking better prospects for themselves in developed ones. What, if anything, may developing countries defensibly do to solve problems associated with high skill migration? In our just published book, Debating Brain Drain: May Governments Restrict Emigration?, I develop an account of the responsibilities skilled citizens of poor, developing countries have to contribute to deprivation reduction, especially when they wish to leave such countries. In this overview article I discuss the structure of that project. I focus particularly on my case that carefully designed compulsory service and taxation programs can be justified under certain kinds of conditions.
Can a Liberal State Make Access to Medical Education Conditional on Public Service?
Authors: Moellendorf Darrel
Published: February 2016

This paper is a contribution to the discussion of Gillian Brock and Michael Blake’s book “Debating Brain Drain.” It argues with Gillian Brock and against Michael Blake that a liberal state may make access to medical education conditional on public service of a reasonable duration after the completion of state supported education. Blake rejects this position on grounds that are broadly Rawlsian. This paper argues that such conditionality can be a reasonable limitation on liberty pursuant to the general satisfaction of a lexically prior basic needs principle, which includes a human right to health. Therefore such conditionality can be consistent with Rawlsian egalitarian liberalism generally.