bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the Renewable Energy Investments in Hungarian Rural Settlements: The Gained Local Benefits and the Aspects of Local Community Involvement
Authors: Honvári Patrícia , Kukorelli Irén Szörényiné
Published: April 2018

The results of the paper are based on a research project which examines the renewable energy investments carried out in Hungarian rural settlements. The study will focus on the municipality-led renewable energy developments, determining the most important local benefits and the aspects of the local community involvement. Altogether 748 rural settlements have been identified, which have implemented at least one renewable energy project through the Environmental and Energy Operative Program between 2007 and 2013. A questionnaire has been sent out to these municipalities, and 159 full answers have been collected and analysed. We have investigated the importance and presence of local benefits deriving from renewable energy investments, and examined what effort is put into the information and involvement of the local community. The study concludes that although several local benefits occur at local level while implementing renewable energy projects, the effect of direct benefits remain at a low level. Furthermore, it can also be stated, that only moderate effort is put into the issue of local community involvement. The study also determines several major threats that can endanger the successfulness of the previous investments, and prevent the further renewable energy developments at local level.
Specialities in the Institutionalisation of Hungarian Leader Local Action Groups
Authors: Patkós Csaba
Published: April 2018

LEADER local action groups (LAGs) have become an integral part of the European rural landscape. Our article examines how LEADER groups operate in Hungary by analysing their territorial, symbolic and institutional shape, and the established role of LAGs in Hungary. The results reveal an irregular territorial shape combined with uncertain symbolic form. The institutional constellation is significantly influenced by the size of the member municipalities. Action groups integrating smaller local authorities must involve more NGOs and enterprises to fulfil participatory regulations. Local bureaux are small and their functions are not differentiated according to the state of development. Although Hungarian LAGs, in a European comparison, have many levels of tasks their level of governance is relatively low.
Identity Changes in the Slovenian and Friulian Linguistic Communities in the Province of Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Authors: Kumar Danila Zuljan
Published: April 2018

The paper discusses the intertwined relationship between identity construction, language practices and language ideologies of Slovenes and Friulians in the Province of Udine, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy. We are dealing with two indigenous linguistic minorities whose native language was historically restricted to the private sphere of life. However, due to altered social conditions of decentralization and globalization, the ever-increasing use of these languages outside private sphere has been noticed. The phenomenon will be illuminated by the statements of the members of both linguistic minorities. The final part of the paper will present the reawakening of a dying culture and language of the village of Topolove through an art festival, called Postaja Topolove/Stazione Topolò, whose basic concept is to avoid folklorism and create the most advanced artwork search.
Influence of salidroside, a neuroactive compound of Rhodiola rosea L., on alcohol tolerance development in rats
Authors: Szulc Michał , Mularczyk Piotr , Kujawski Radosław , Gryszczyńska Agnieszka , Kamińska Ewa , Geppert Bogna , Baraniak Justyna , Kania-Dobrowolska Małgorzata , Ożarowski Marcin , Krajewska-Patan Anna , Mikołajczak Przemysław Ł.
Published: April 2018

Introduction: In recent years, the search for potential neuroprotective properties of salidroside and its ability to influence the activity of nervous system become the subject of intense studies of many research groups. None of these studies, however, include an attempt to determine the effect of salidroside on the course of alcohol tolerance in vivo.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of salidroside to inhibit the development of alcohol tolerance in rats, determining whether the effect of its action may occur in a dose-dependent manner, reducing both metabolic and central tolerance without affecting body temperature in control rats.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were injected daily with ethanol at a dose of 3 g/kg for 9 consecutive days to produce ethanol tolerance. Salidroside in two doses (4.5 mg/kg and 45 mg/kg b.w.) or vehiculum was administered orally. On the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 8th day a hypothermic effect of ethanol was measured, while the loss of righting reflex procedure was performed on the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 7th day. On the 9th day rats were treated with salidroside, sacrificed 1 h after ethanol injections and blood was collected for blood-ethanol concentration measurement.

Results: Salidroside at a dose of 45 mg/kg inhibited the development of tolerance to hypothermic and sedative effects of ethanol, whereas insignificant elevation of blood-ethanol concentration was observed. The dose of 4.5 mg/kg b.w. had minimal effect, only small inhibition of tolerance to hypothermic action was observed. Salidroside affected neither body mass growth nor body temperature in non-alcoholic (control) rats.

Conclusions: Results of the study indicate that salidroside at a dose of 45 mg/kg inhibited the development of tolerance to the hypothermic effect of ethanol. Observed inhibition of tolerance to the sedative effect of ethanol seems to be associated with salidroside influence on the central nervous system. A comprehensive explanation of the abovementioned observations requires further pharmacological and pharmacodynamic studies.
Dosimetric comparison of deep inspiration breath hold and free breathing technique in stereotactic body radiotherapy for localized lung tumor using Flattening Filter Free beam
Authors: Mani Karthick Raj , Bhuiyan Md. Anisuzzaman , Alam Md. Mahbub , Ahmed Sharif , Sumon Mostafa Aziz , Sengupta Ashim Kumar , Rahman Md. Shakilur , Azharul Islam Md. S. M.
Published: April 2018

Aim: To compare the dosimetric advantage of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for localized lung tumor between deep inspiration breath hold technique and free breathing technique.

Materials and methods: We retrospectively included ten previously treated lung tumor patients in this dosimetric study. All the ten patients underwent CT simulation using 4D-CT free breathing (FB) and deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) techniques. Plans were created using three coplanar full modulated arc using 6 MV flattening filter free (FFF) bream with a dose rate of 1400 MU/min. Same dose constraints for the target and the critical structures for a particular patient were used during the plan optimization process in DIBH and FB datasets. We intend to deliver 50 Gy in 5 fractions for all the patients. For standardization, all the plans were normalized at target mean of the planning target volume (PTV). Doses to the critical structures and targets were recorded from the dose volume histogram for evaluation.

Results: The mean right and left lung volumes were inflated by 1.55 and 1.60 times in DIBH scans compared to the FB scans. The mean internal target volume (ITV) increased in the FB datasets by 1.45 times compared to the DIBH data sets. The mean dose followed by standard deviation (x̄ ± σx̄) of ipsilateral lung for DIBH-SBRT and FB-SBRT plans were 7.48 ± 3.57 (Gy) and 10.23 ± 4.58 (Gy) respectively, with a mean reduction of 36.84% in DIBH-SBRT plans. Ipsilateral lung were reduced to 36.84% in DIBH plans compared to FB plans.

Conclusion: Significant dose reduction in ipsilateral lung due to the lung inflation and target motion restriction in DIBH-SBRT plans were observed compare to FB-SBRT. DIBH-SBRT plans demonstrate superior dose reduction to the normal tissues and other critical structures.
Comparison of three and four-field radiotherapy technique and the effect of laryngeal shield on vocal and spinal cord radiation dose in radiotherapy of non-laryngeal head and neck tumors
Authors: Pour Noushin Hassan , Farajollahi Alireza , Jamali Masoud , Zeinali Ahad , Jangjou Amir Ghasemi
Published: April 2018

Introduction: Due to the effect of radiation on both the tumor and the surrounding normal tissues, the side effects of radiation in normal tissues are expected. One of the important complications in the head and neck radiotherapy is the doses reached to the larynx and spinal cord of patients with non-laryngeal head and neck tumors.

Materials and Methods: In this study, CT scan images of 25 patients with non-laryngeal tumors including; lymph nodes, tongue, oropharynx and nasopharynx were used. A three-field and a four-field treatment planning with and without laryngeal shield in 3D CRT technique were planned for each patient. Subsequently, the values of Dmin, Dmean, Dmax and Dose Volume Histogram from the treatment planning system and NTCP values of spinal cord and larynx were calculated with BIOPLAN and MATLAB software for all patients.

Results: Statistical results showed that mean values of doses of larynx in both three and four-field methods were significantly different between with and without shield groups. Comparison of absorbed dose didn’t show any difference between the three and four field methods (P>0.05). Using Shield, just the mean and minimum doses of spinal cord decreased in both three and four fields. The NTCP of the spinal cord and larynx by three and four-field methods with shield in the LKB and EUD models significantly are less than that of the three and four fields without shields, and in the four-field method NTCP of larynx is less than three radiation field.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that there is no significant difference in doses reached to larynx and spinal cord between the treatments techniques, but laryngeal shield reduce dose and NTCP values in larynx considerably.
The rate of repeating X-rays in the medical centers of Jenin District/Palestine and how to reduce patient exposure to radiation
Authors: Assi Abed Al Nasser
Published: April 2018

Reduction of the patient’s received radiation dose to as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) is based on recommendations of radiation protection organizations such as the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB). The aim of this study was to explore the frequency and characteristics of rejected / repeated radiographic films in governmental and private centers in Jenin city. The radiological centers were chosen based on their high volume of radiographic studies. The evaluation was carried out over a period of four months. The collected data were compiled at the end of each week and entered into a computer for analysis at the end of study. Overall 5000 films (images) were performed in four months, The average repeat rate of radiographic images was 10% (500 films). Repetition rate was the same for both thoracic and abdominal images (42%). The main reason for repeating imaging was inadequate imaging quality (58.2%) and poor film processing (38%). Human error was the most likely reason necessitating the repetition of the radiographs (48 %). Infant and children groups comprised 85% of the patient population that required repetition of the radiographic studies. In conclusion, we have a higher repetition rate of imaging studies compared to the international standards (10% vs. 4-6%, respectively). This is especially noticeable in infants and children, and mainly attributed to human error in obtaining and processing images. This is an important issue that needs to be addressed on a national level due to the ill effects associated with excessive exposure to radiation especially in children, and to reduce cost of the care delivered.
Comparison of incident air kerma (ki) of common digital and analog radiology procedures in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province
Authors: Vafapour Hassan , Salehi Zaker
Published: April 2018

Introduction: Although in many developed countries, Analog radiography (AR) is replaced with digital radiography (DR) but AR is still widely used in many countries included Iran. Therefore, dosimetrically assessment of delivered dose is very important to avoid unnecessary patient dose.

Materials and Methods: In this study, all imaging centers in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad were selected. The initial information included the mean kVp and mAs used by the personnel to perform each radiological procedure were gathered through a questionnaire. Barracuda dosimeter was then used to measure Incident air kerma (ki). Data obtained from digital radiography (DR) and analogue radiography (AR) were then analyzed and compared to each other.

Results: The mean incident air kerma (ki) for five radiological procedures (chest AP&Lat, Skull AP&Lat, Lumbar spine AP&Lat, Thoracic spine AP&Lat and Pelvis) in digital devices were 0.38&1.34, 2.1&1.94, 4.99&7.83, 4.18& 6.41 and 4.33 mGy and those for analogue devices were 0.7&1.28, 3.05&3.02, 7.25&9.9, 7.125&8.36 and 5.36 mGy, respectively.

Discussion and Conclusion: The use of low kVp or high mAs is one of the reasons to increase the incident air kerma (ki) in analogue methods comparing to digital methods in all procedures except the chest (in Lateral view). Also the results, surprisingly, showed that in some of the analogue methods incident air kerma (ki) was less than digital methods which is most probably because of the auto-exposure conditions.
Emergence of Convolutional Neural Network in Future Medicine: Why and How. A Review on Brain Tumor Segmentation
Authors: Alizadeh Savareh Behrouz , Emami Hassan , Hajiabadi Mohamadreza , Ghafoori Mahyar , Majid Azimi Seyed
Published: April 2018

Manual analysis of brain tumors magnetic resonance images is usually accompanied by some problem. Several techniques have been proposed for the brain tumor segmentation. This study will be focused on searching popular databases for related studies, theoretical and practical aspects of Convolutional Neural Network surveyed in brain tumor segmentation. Based on our findings, details about related studies including the datasets used, evaluation parameters, preferred architectures and complementary steps analyzed. Deep learning as a revolutionary idea in image processing, achieved brilliant results in brain tumor segmentation too. This can be continuing until the next revolutionary idea emerging.
Impact of Dietary, Socioeconomic, and Physical Factors on Obese and Overweight Schoolchildren Living in Sidi-Bel-Abbes (West of Algeria) and Ain Defla (Centre)
Authors: Didaoui Hayat , Khaled Méghit Boumediene
Published: April 2018

Background and aims: The aim of the current study was to assess the impact of environmental factors; food, socio-economic, and physical activity, on a group of obese children living in Ain-Defla (Center Algeria) and Sidi-Bel-Abbes (West Algeria).

Material and methods: The protocol was carried out on a cohort of 125 school children aged of 5 to 11 years, including 64 boys and 61 girls, and 139 school children, including 93 boys and 46 girls in Ain Defla and Sidi-Bel-Abbes respectively. Concerning the classification of obesity and overweight, we referred to the International Obesity Task Force and the French References' curves.

Results: Regarding dietary intake our results showed that 34% of students from both regions took their breakfast, compared to 66% who did not take. Furthermore, 73% of students skipped at least one meal, however 23% respected meals frequency i.e. 4 meals a day. Regarding socio-economic factors and physical activity, our findings showed that obesity rates were high (36%) among children whose fathers are workers. However, for mothers who are housewives, obesity increases among their children (88%). The relationship was reversed between the parents' education level and the Body Mass Index. We found an opposite relationship between Body Mass Index and physical activity, and investigated children use screen devices for long time periods.

Conclusions: Our study showed a positive relationship between obesity and overweight and environmental factors.
Influence of Bromocriptine Plus Metformin Treatment on Glycaemia and Blood Pressure in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Briones-Aranda Alfredo , Ramírez-Carballo Javier , Gómez Bernardo Alfredo Romero , Villa Victor Manuel Vega , Pérez Manuela Castellanos , Parra Esmeralda Garcia , Santeliz-Montero Hugo Roberto
Published: April 2018

Background and aims: Bromocriptine is a dopaminergic (D2) agonist that has shown hypoglycemic and normotensive activity in preclinical and clinical studies. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of bromocriptine plus metformin on glycaemia and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Material and methods: An open-label randomised controlled trial was conducted for three months. It involved two groups (n=10), each containing 2 women and 8 men with an average age of 50 years. One group was given monotherapy (MT) with metformin (850 mg every 12 h) and the other combined therapy (CT) with the same dose of metformin plus an increasing dose of bromocriptine (from 1.25 mg per day to 2.5 mg per day). The parameters monitored were glycaemia, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum creatinine, blood pressure, and the body mass index.

Results: CT was able to significantly decrease the level of glycaemia, HbA1c and diastolic blood pressure, whereas MT had no effect on any of the measured variables.

Conclusions: The ability of CT with bromocriptine and metformin to control glycaemia and produce a normotensive effect reaffirms its advantages for controlling T2DM. Further research is needed to improve this therapeutic strategy.
Evaluation of Cognitive Function in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Overt Hypothyroidism
Authors: Miulescu Rucsandra Dănciulescu , Margină Denisa , Ungurianu Anca , Roșca Roxana Irina , Nicolau Alina , Mihai Andrada Doina
Published: April 2018

Background and Aims. Previous studies report the presence of cognitive impairment in patients with overt hypothyroidism. The thyroid hormones are essential for neurological and intellectual functions. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects are exposed to higher risk of cognitive function alteration compared to nondiabetic subjects. The aim of the present study was to analyze the cognitive function of T2DM subjects with overt hypothyroidism.

Materials and Methods. We performed an observational study between 2015-2017. A total of 12 patients (11 women and 1 men) with overt hypothyroidism and T2DM were recruited for this study. Their cognitive function was compared with that of subjects of a control group (16 patients - 12 women and 4 men with T2DM but without overt hypothyroidism). Cognitive function was evaluated using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) test. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were measured by immunoradiometric assay, free thyroxine (FT4) by radioimmunoassay while fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels were evaluated using automated devices.

Results. There were no significant differences between the two groups in respect of age and FPG. In the study group, mean TSH and FT4 levels were 11.76±4.43 mIU/L, resepectively 0.53±0.08 ng/dL while in the control group these were 2.60±0.40 mIU/L, respectively 1.12±0.19 ng/dL (p<0.001). Moderate cognitive impairment was present in 3 patients of the study group (25.00%) and in 2 subjects from the control group (12.50%). Mild cognitive impairment was present in 4 patients (33.33%) of the study group and in 2 subjects from the control group (12.50%).

Conclusion. This study showed that MMSE scores are significantly reduced in subjects with T2DM and hypothyroidism compared to subjects with T2DM without hypothyroidism (p<0.004). The study revealed a negative correlation between TSH and MMSE score in the study group.
Sustainable Design and Construction of a Library for Disabled Children of Jamaica
Authors: Marshall Steven
Published: April 2018

Jacob’s Ladder is a caring facility for disabled adults operated by Mustard Seed Communities in central Jamaica. In partnership with the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), MSC hopes to create a site which will be used to educate both the local and international community about sustainability. Additionally, site planners are developing appropriate sensory stimulation systems capable of meeting the needs of the many future residents. After performing detailed community assessments, a library for use by both the residents and visitors to the site was designed. The library will provide large-scale sensory stimulation to the residents and serve as the focal point for guests to the site desiring to learn about sustainability. The library will house educational material and will incorporate green design features, such as being built from a recycled shipping container and supporting a green roof and solar array. As Penn State begins to implement more sustainable research projects on site, the supporting and educational material will be centrally located in the library where visitors will be able to observe and learn more about the future plans for Jacob’s Ladder.
The Effects of Service-Based Learning on Metacognitive Strategies During an Engineering Design Task
Authors: Lemons Gay , Carberry Adam , Swan Christopher , Jarvin Linda
Published: April 2018

Service-based learning has become an emerging pedagogical tool for engineering education. Although there is a large body of literature reporting the benefits of service activities, most studies have relied on self-report measures and generalized learning contributions. Our evaluation went beyond self-perceptions by investigating the impact that service-based learning programs had on specific cognitive elements of engineering design. The primary goal of this project was to investigate what effects, if any, service activities had on the engineering design process. Verbal protocols were collected from ten engineering students during an open-ended, model-building design task. The five service students and five non-service students also completed post-task interviews and reflection papers. The students in our sample who had participated in service-based learning activities voiced more metacognitive phrases, demonstrated more accurate task analysis and clearer strategic planning skills, were more skilled at discriminating useful from superfluous information, and had a better understanding of clients’ needs and constraints. From our sample, it appears that participation in service-based learning activities enhances the design process of engineering students.
Current information about vaccination practice in pediatric rheumatic diseases and recommendations for future applications
Authors: Açarı Ceyhun , Ünsal Erbil
Published: April 2018

Pediatric patients with autoinflammatory or rheumatic diseases are at increased risk of infections; therefore, safe and effective immunizations are crucial in the management of these group of patients. Current aggressive treatments involving the early use of immunosuppressive drugs and biological agents have further increased the susceptibility to infections in this group of patients. Therefore, effective and safe vaccination with adequate serological responses is important. In patients with rheumatic diseases, immunogenicity of a vaccine can differ from the healthy population, because of the disease itself or the immunosuppressive treatment received. Moreover, possible effects of vaccination on the underlying disease should be considered. In general, live attenuated vaccines should not be administered when high-dose immunosuppressive drugs are used for immunosuppressed patients. Inactivated vaccine agents have proven to be generally safe in patients with RD. The immune-modulating of biologic agents effects can last for weeks to months after discontinuation, depending on their half lifes. Also, live virus vaccines are contraindicated during therapy and for weeks to months following discontinuation of the biologics. The aim of this review is to cover the current information about vaccination practice in pediatric rheumatologic diseases and to give recommendations for future applications.
Ectopic intrathyroidal thymus in children: Prevalence, imaging findings and evolution
Authors: Erol Oğuz Bülent , Şahin Dilek , Bayramoğlu Zuhal , Yılmaz Ravza , Akpınar Yunus Emre , Ünal Ömer Faruk , Yekeler Ensar
Published: April 2018

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ultrasound (US) features of intrathyroidal ectopic thymus (IET) and demonstrate the alterations after follow-up. This study included 36 lesions of 32 patients (mean age 95 ± 58 months) diagnosed with IET. The patients underwent follow-up US examination at least 22-months without a medication or surgical intervention. A total of 36 IETs with an incidence of 0.91% were detected among 3914 thyroid ultrasound (US) examinations. The mean of anteroposterior (ap), transverse (tr), and craniocaudal (cc) diameters in the initial US examinations were 3.1±1.19 mm, 4.89±1.86 mm, and 6.45±3.92 mm respectively. All of the lesions were well-demarcated, hypoechoic to the thyroid gland, and contained uniformly distributed punctate echogenic foci. Follow-up US examinations were performed after 684±85 days. The alterations between the initial and follow-up diameters for ap and cc direction were not statistically significant. However, a significant difference (p=0.007) was found for transverse diameters and the IETs were found to be smaller at follow-up US than in the initial US. Most of the IETs were located in the left lobe (64%), middle portion (83%), and extended to a border of thyroid gland (69%) and nonspherical in shape (89%). The descriptive findings of IETs are uniform distribution of punctate echogenic foci, absence of a rim, and the presence of vessels traversing through the lesion without parenchymal displacement. Given our findings, healthcare professionals should be aware of the diagnosis of IET. Patients with an IET could be safely managed with follow-up US and any surgical treatment would not be required.
Impaired glucose tolerance in Fanconi-Bickel syndrome: Eight patients with two novel mutations
Authors: Şeker-Yılmaz Berna , Kör Deniz , Bulut Fatma Derya , Yüksel Bilgin , Karabay-Bayazıt Aysun , Topaloğlu Ali Kemal , Ceylaner Gülay , Önenli-Mungan Neslihan
Published: April 2018

Fanconi-Bickel syndrome (FBS) is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder of carbohydrate metabolism caused by defects in the facilitative glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2 or SLC2A2) gene. Prominent findings are failure to thrive, renal tubular acidosis, hypoglycemia and postprandial hyperglycemia even mimicking diabetes mellitus. Eight patients from 6 families with FBS were included in this study. c.482_483insC homozygous mutation was detected in six patients from four different families. Mutation analysis of SLC2A2 gene revealed two novel homozygous mutations; c.1069delGinsAATAA and c.575A > G. Standard oral glucose tolerance test with 1.75 g/kg oral glucose was performed in six of the patients who were older than 3-years of age. Impaired glucose tolerance was found in all patients as expected and two of them had overt diabetes. None of the antidiabetic medications were given to them in order to avoid significant hypoglycemia. Beside the conservative treatment, follow up with frequent oral glucose tolerance tests are planned. We report these cases of FBS, as GSD XI is rare, two novel mutations were detected and also to highlight the risk of diabetes mellitus; although there is not a consensus about the treatment.
Nutritional rehabilitation for children with congenital heart disease with left to right shunt
Authors: El-Koofy Nehal , Mahmoud Amira M , Fattouh Aya M
Published: April 2018

Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are prone to malnutrition. We aimed to assess the nutritional status of infants with CHD and evaluate the role of nutritional counseling. A cohort study included 50 patients with acyanotic CHD causing increased pulmonary blood flow consecutively enrolled from the cardiology clinic in Cairo University Children Hospital. The patients were subjected to clinical evaluation, nutritional assessment with detailed nutritional history, anthropometric measurements and subjective global assessment (SGA) score and complete blood count, serum albumin and total protein assessment. Degree of failure to thrive (FTT) was assessed and nutritional counselling was offered to those patients; followed up for 3 months then re-evaluated. The mean age was (8.6±4.8 months) with male: female ratio 1:1. The overall prevalence of malnutrition was 62%. Fourteen patients had mild FTT and 17 patients had severe FTT [47.1% with mild heart failure (HF) and 47.1% had moderate or severe HF]. All patients with moderate to severe HF had severe FTT and 80% of those with mild HF had severe FTT. Anemia was present in 96% of the patients. Patients with moderate or severe FTT had more severe degree of HF (p < 0.001), more complications (p < 0.001), more frequent hospital admission (p < 0.001) and less optimum breast feeding (p < 0.001). It was found that 76.5% of those with moderate to severe FTT were formula fed (p 0.002) and significantly lower rate of optimum weaning among (p 0.037). There was significant improvement in the anthropometry, the SGA and degree of FTT, level of albumin with decrease in the percent of anemia among the included patients after nutritional rehabilitation. Malnutrition represents serious problem to children with CHD. Nutritional assessment and proper counseling help to improve the nutritional status of those patients.
Conventional insulin pump therapy in two neonatal diabetes patients harboring the homozygous PTF1A enhancer mutation: Need for a novel approach for the management of neonatal diabetes
Authors: Kurnaz Erdal , Aycan Zehra , Yıldırım Nurdan , Çetinkaya Semra
Published: April 2018

The enhancer of PTF1A mutation causes developmental defects of the pancreas. This condition can result in insulin-requiring diabetes and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. We report two patients with diabetes mellitus harboring the homozygous PTF1A enhancer mutation. The patients had hyperglycemia in the first month of life and were started with subcutaneous insulin injections with NPH insulin. When blood glucose (BG) exceeded 250 mg/dl, a conservative dose of rapid-acting insulin was administered to restore BG to the target range. In cases with documented poor control (persistent hypoglycemia and rebound hyperglycemia), it was decided that the baby would benefit from a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pump. But our experience shows that wide fluctuations in BG concentrations despite the strict follow-up was probably due to the absence of circulating glucagon. Further treatment options would overcome this problem, especially for children with pancreas agenesis. We could say theoretically that using diluted insulin, a sensor-augmented insulin pump system and single-hormone (insulin alone) and dual-hormone (insulin and glucagon) artificial pancreas systems may mitigate the severity of hypogylcemia.
Beta-ketothiolase deficiency: An unusual cause of recurrent ketoacidosis
Authors: Kılıç-Yıldırım Gonca , Durmuş-Aydoğdu Sultan , Ceylaner Serdar , Sass Jörn Oliver
Published: April 2018

Beta-ketothiolase deficiency (mitochondrial acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase, MAT or T2 deficiency) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of isoleucine and ketone body metabolism due to acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase-1 (ACAT1) gene mutations. The disease is characterized by recurrent episodes of ketoasidosis which starts with vomiting and followed by dehydration and tachypnea. Here, we present a patient who was admitted to the hospital with severe acidosis and dehydration because of vomiting induced by protein rich nutrient and was diagnosed with MAT deficiency. 3-hydroxy-butyric acid, acetoacetic acid and 3-hydroxy-iso-valeric acid levels were significantly increased and tiglyglycine as trace amount in the urine organic acid analysis of the patient. Genetic analysis for ACAT-1 showed compound heterozygosity for the mutations c.949G > A (p.D317N) and c.951C > T (p.D317D), which both are known to cause exon 10 skipping and to be pathogenic missense mutations.
A rare large mutation involving two exons of the SP-B gene in an infant with severe respiratory distress
Authors: Takcı Şahin , Anuk-İnce Deniz , Louha Malek , Couderc Remy , Çakar Nursen , Köseoğlu Reşit Doğan , Ateş Ömer
Published: April 2018

Hereditary surfactant protein-B (SP-B) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disease of newborn infants causing severe respiratory failure and death within the first year of life. The most common cause of SP-B deficiency is a frameshift mutation in exon 4 (121ins2) in the gene encoding SP-B. We report a term infant with unremitting respiratory distress who was unresponsive to all treatment modalities. The parents were consanguineous and a term sibling of the infant had died due to respiratory failure without a certain diagnosis. In the first step of the diagnostic work-up, common genetic mutations for SP-B, surfactant protein C and ATP-binding cassette s3 were absent, however sequencing of SP-B gene revealed a large homozygous genomic deletion covering exon 8 and 9. In this case report, we aimed to emphasize further genetic evaluation in all cases suggestive of surfactant dysfunction, even if common mutations are absent.
Career paths of Moroccan immigrants in Spain with experience in the export industry in origin. Methodological issues of research
Authors: Barros Rodríguez Francisco
Published: April 2018

In recent decades a process of export-oriented industrialisation has been implemented in Morocco. Many foreign companies are starting to relocate their production to Moroccan territory, benefiting (as have other agents) from the tax advantages offered by the government. The lack of labour rights in these companies gives workers an impulse to quit and emigrate abroad. About fifty thousand Moroccan immigrants with labour experience in the industry in Morocco live in Spain. This paper summarises the methodological decisions taken in a doctoral thesis which aimed to study the working and migratory careers of the Moroccan population in Spain who previously worked in the export industry of their country. Throughout the article, questions are answered about research design, data collection techniques, the field work that was carried out or the analytical and synthetic processing of information. For example, the commitment to methodological complementation as a model for gathering data, the conducting of fifty eight in-depth interviews (both in Spain and in Morocco), the preparation and use of the microdata of the National Immigrant Survey in 2007 or the use of grounded theory as a model of analysis.En las últimas décadas ha sido implantado un modelo de industrialización orientado hacia la exportación en Marruecos. Muchas empresas extranjeras están relocalizando sus procesos de producción en territorio marroquí, beneficiándose entre otros aspectos de las ventajas fiscales ofrecidas por la gobernanza pública. La ausencia de derechos laborales en estas empresas supone para los trabajadores un impulso para abandonar y emigrar hacia el extranjero. En España residen cerca de cincuenta mil inmigrantes marroquíes con experiencia laboral en la industria en Marruecos. El presente trabajo sintetiza aquellas decisiones metodológicas llevadas a cabo en una tesis doctoral que estudia la trayectoria laboral y migratoria de la población marroquí en España que, previamente, ha trabajado en la industria exportadora del país alauí. A lo largo del artículo se responden cuestiones en torno al diseño de la investigación, las técnicas de obtención de datos, el trabajo de campo llevado a cabo o el proceso analítico y sintético de la información. Por ejemplo, se justifica la apuesta por la complementación metodológica como modelo de obtención de la información, la realización de cincuenta y ocho entrevistas en profundidad (tanto en España como en Marruecos), la preparación y utilización de los microdatos de la Encuesta Nacional de Inmigrantes de 2007 o el recurso de la teoría fundamentada como modelo de análisis.
The Contribution of Oral History Research to Remembering the Struggle, and Struggle Heroes and Heroines: The Story of Gauta Lefuo and His Contemporaries
Authors: Challa Tshitso Conference
Published: April 2018

The political situation from which teacher, revolutionary and politician Gauta Lefuo emerged will be considered. Lefuo exerted a significant influence on the political pedagogy of the youth and his colleagues in Botshabelo and surrounding areas such as Thaba Nchu, Verkeerdevlei and Bloemfontein. His role is examined with due regard for the critical part played by his contemporaries in both the educational and political context.
Living with a Bullet in Oneâ€™s Body: General Magoto and Kenyaâ€™s Quest for Independence
Authors: Gathogo Julius M.
Published: April 2018

Mau-Mau revolutionary rebels began fighting for Kenyan independence in the 1940s, with the warfare reaching its zenith in the 1950s. The war was fought mainly by soldiers in their 20s and 30s, most of whom were from the central region of Kenya. The rebels and society at large were against British colonialism, which began when Kenya was declared a British protectorate in 1885 and a colony in 1920. It was the elites who encouraged people to see forced taxes, poor wages, the carrying of the Kipande (identity card), poor quality education, the colour bar (as Kenyaâ€™s version of apartheid was called), forced labour, constant harassment and arbitrary beatings and mass arrests, especially in the major towns, and indeed the general systemic poverty to be indicators of their enslavement. Furthermore, the African soldiers who returned from fighting on the side of the British during the Second World War came out strongly against the assumed superiority of the coloniser. By 1952, various Mau-Mau platoons had been established, with General Magoto joining the erstwhile Haraka platoon of Embu district. He is deserving of mention not only for having survived the military offensives via land and air, but also for having lived with a bullet lodged in his body for over 50 years.
The Future of Our Histories: Young Rural Voices from Dullstroom-Emnotweni
Authors: Landman Christina
Published: April 2018

This article reports on three sets of interviews conducted with children and young people living in Dullstroom-Emnotweni on the Mpumalanga Highveld in eastern South Africa. Firstly, 50 learners between the ages of 10 and 14 were interviewed on their dreams for the future. Later that year, in 2011, a total of 60 young people who were still unemployed ten or more years after having finished school were interviewed on what was left of their dreams. Five years later, in 2016, a third group of young people between the ages of 18 and 24 were interviewed in order to establish whether the situation of marginalised young people in rural South Africa had changed. The primary school learners expressed their career hopes in terms of the needs of their marginalised society, that is, to become nurses, teachers and social workers. The first group of young people interviewed in 2011 blamed their shattered dreams on the unavailability of tertiary education and the reality of HIV infection. The second group, interviewed in 2016, quite similarly, expressed their concerns as a lack of job and educational opportunities, a lack of agency and choice, a lack of respect from society and decision makers, and an inability to escape from drugs and unhealthy sex.
The Story of Lehlohonolo Cambridge Moloisane as an Element of Bathoâ€™s Liberation Heritage
Authors: Letsatsi Patrick
Published: April 2018

The Batho Liberation Heritage Project in the Mangaung area (Bloemfontein) has two main objectives: to collect available information on the people of Batho with specific reference to the liberation struggle, and to identify buildings and sites that were used for secret meetings or any politically related events during the apartheid era. This article places the story of Lehlohonolo Cambridge Moloisane, after whom a part of Batho, a â€œtownshipâ€ of Mangaung/Bloemfontein was named based on his participation in the liberation struggle, within the context of the Batho Liberation Heritage Project
Interrogating Thompsonâ€™s Community Approach to Oral History with Special Reference to Selected Oral History Programmes in Zimbabwe
Authors: Bhebhe Sindiso
Published: April 2018

Â Thompson (1998, 27) argued that â€œthere have been telling criticisms of a relationship with informers in which a middle-class professional determines who is to be interviewed and what is to be discussed and then disappears with a tape of somebodyâ€™s life which they never hear about againâ€”and if they did, might be indignant at the unintended meanings imposed on their words.â€ This is one of the criticisms that have been levelled at conventional oral history methodologies, especially those used by national institutions such as National Archives of Zimbabwe. It is Thompsonâ€™s argument that with the use of a â€œcommunity approachâ€ methodology, communities are empowered and then have confidence in writing their history which will be accessible to the public. This article will therefore interrogate Thompsonâ€™s concept using case studies of the Mafela Trust, the Tso-ro-tso San Development Trust and the National Archives of Zimbabwe to understand the positives and negatives of the community approach to oral history. The Mafela Trust is a private archival institution which deals with the memory of the Zimbabwe African Peopleâ€™s Union (ZAPU) whilst the Tso-ro-tso San Development Trust deals with the San Community of Zimbabwe. These institutions have used oral history as a tool to collect their oral testimonies; therefore this article will use oral history testimonies, some of which are archived, as its source of data. Document analysis will also be doneÂ
Hunting for Organic Molecules with Artificial Intelligence: Molecules Optimized for Desired Excitation Energies
Authors: Sumita Masato , Yang Xiufeng , Ishihara Shinsuke , Tamura Ryo , Tsuda Koji
Published: April 2018

This work presents a proof-of-concept study in artificial-intelligence-assisted (AI-assisted) chemistry where a machine-learning-based molecule generator is coupled with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, synthesis, and measurement. Although deep-learning-based molecule generators have shown promise, it is unclear to what extent they can be useful in real-world materials development. To assess the reliability of AI-assisted chemistry, we prepared a platform using the ChemTS molecule generator and a DFT simulator, and attempted to generate novel photo-functional molecules whose lowest excited states lie at desired energetic levels. A ten-day run on 12 cores discovered 86potential photo-functional molecules around target lowest excitation levels, designated as 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 nm. Among the molecules discovered, six were synthesized and five were confirmed to reproduce DFT predictions in ultraviolet visible absorption measurements. This result shows the potential of AI-assisted chemistry to discover ready-to-synthesize novel molecules with modest computational resources.

The Android robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.
A validated stability indicating RP-HPLC method for the quantification of Canagliflozin
Authors: S Sreenivasulu , M Rameswara Rao , KB Chandra Sekhar
Published: April 2018

A simple, authentic and stability indicating high performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of Canagliflozin in bulk and pharmaceutical formulations was developed and validated as per ICH Q2 R1 Guidelines, A C18 Column (250mm length×4.6 mm diameter x 5 μm particle size) with a mobile phase consisting of Acetonitrile: 1-octanesulphonic acid in a ratio of 70:30 v/v was employed for the chromatographic study. A flow rate of 1.0 mL/min with an injection volume of 20 μL was selected for this study and the proposed method was validated with different parameters such as Linearity, Precision, Accuracy, Robustness, Ruggedness, Limit of Detection (LOD) and Limit of Quantification (LOQ). Canagliflozin was eluted at 3.4 ± 0.5 min and detected at 245 nm. The method is linear over the concentration range of 10-100 μg/mL with correlation co-efficient r = 0.9997. The plate count and tailing factor was found 5398 and 1.05 respectively. The LOD and LOQ were found to be 0.0170 μg/mL and 0.1705 μg/mL respectively. The percentage recovery was achieved in the range of 98-102%, which was within the acceptance criteria. Developed method was employed to determine the amount of Canagliflozinpresent in dosage form (Sulisent). The stabilityof the method was demonstrated by forced degradation studies of drug in which it was degraded under conditions of hydrolysis (acidic and alkaline), oxidation, photolytic and thermal stress as per ICH guideline Q1A (R2).
EFFECT OF MONETARY POLICY ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION
Authors: UFOEZE Lawrence Olisaemeka , ODIMGBE J. C , EZEABALISI V. N. , ALAJEKWU Udoka Bernard
Published: April 2018

The study investigated effect of monetary policy on economic growth in Nigeria. The natural log of the GDP was used as the dependent variables against the explanatory monetary policy variables: monetary policy rate, money supply, exchange rate, lending rate and investment. The time series data is the market controlled period covering 1986 to 2016. The study adopted an Ordinary Least Squared technique and also conducted the unit root and co-integration tests. The study showed that long run relationship exists among the variables. Also, the core finding of this study showed that monetary policy rate, interest rate, and investment have insignificant positive effect on economic growth in Nigeria. Money supply however has significant positive effect on growth in Nigeria. Exchange rate has significant negative effect on GDP in Nigeria. Money supply and investment granger cause economic growth, while economic growth causes interest rate in Nigeria. On the overall, monetary policy explain 98% of the changes in economic growth in Nigeria. Thus, the study concluded that monetary policy can be effectively used to control Nigerian economy and thus a veritable tool for price stability and improve output.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ON THE IMPACT OF PROPERTY ON THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STATUS OF PEOPLE
Authors: DIACONESCU Amelia Mihaela , BANU Cristina
Published: April 2018

Property is indissolubly linked to people's lives, forming part of it, being a permanent problem and occupying a particularly important place in economic, social, political and philosophical science. Through the structure outlined in this short study, we are also trying to analyze the impact of ownership on people's economic and social status, relative to the concept of property and economic freedom.  So, the impact of property as a multiple social relationship on the social status of people is relevant, namely the link between property and economic freedom, property and social justice, property and equality/inequality in society.