bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alt ekstremite kısalıklarının uzayabilen intramedüller çivi ile tedavisinin klinik ve radyolojik sonuçlarının değerlendirilmesi
Authors: KARIKSIZ Mesut , SARI Abdülkadir , KARAKOYUN Özgür
Published: September 2019

Amaç: Alt ekstremite kısalıklarının tedavisinde yeni bir yöntem olan uzayabilen intramedüller çivi ile ekstremite uzatmaları yapılan hastaların klinik ve radyolojik sonuçlarının değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yöntemler: Retrospektif olan bu çalışmada, kliniğimize 2013-2016 yılları arasında alt ekstremitede kısalık nedeniyle başvuran hastalardan uzayabilen intramedüller çivi ile ekstremite uzatma operasyonu yapılan 12 hastaya ait 13 ekstremitenin klinik ve radyolojik sonuçları değerlendirilmiştir. Hastaların ortalama yaşı 26,9 (dağılım:13-51), cinsiyet dağılımı 2 erkek, 10 kadındır. Kemik dağılımı 5 tibia, 8 femur olarak tespit edilmiştir. Hastaların karşı ekstremiteye göre kısalığı ortalama olarak 54,6 mm (dağılım: 30-140 mm)ve taraf olarak dağılımı ise 8 sağ, 5 soldur. Hastalardan 3 tanesinde post travmatik kısalık, 6 tanesinde konjenital kısalık ve 3 tanesinde de opere gelişimsel kalça displazisine sekonder kısalık tespit edilmiştir. Bulgular: Hastaların ortalama takip süresi 35,7 (dağılım: 12-36) aydır. Ortalama distraksiyon indeksleri 1,12 (dağılım:1,05-1,52) gün/mmdir. Ortalama kemik iyileşme indeksi 37,3 (dağılım: 27-70) gün/cm olarak hesaplanmış olup, ortalama uzatma miktarı 5,15 (dağılım: 3-10) cm olarak gözlenmiştir. Paleyinintramedüller çivi üzerinde uzatma hastaları için kullandığı kemik ve fonksiyonel skorlamasına göre hastalar değerlendirildiğinde, hepsinin fonksiyonel skoru çok iyi, 11 hastanın kemik skoru çok iyi ve 1 hastanın kemik skoru iyi olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Tüm hastalarda tam kaynama sağlanmış olup, sadece bir hastada gecikmiş kaynama saptanmıştır. Bu hastada da greft tatbiki ihtiyacı olmadan kontrollerde kaynama gözlenmiştir. Tüm hastaların eklem hareket açıklıkları operasyon öncesi değerlerine ulaşmıştır. Tüm hastalarda post op medial aks sapması (MAD) fonksiyonel sınırlar içerisinde gözlemlenmiştir. Bir hastanın konsolidasyon safhasında intramedüller çivisinde kırık saptanmış ve plak vida ile desteklenmiştir. Hiç bir hastada derin enfeksiyon tespit edilmemiştir. Sonuç: Alt ekstremite kısalığı olan hastaların tedavisinde uzayabilen intramedüller çivi ile uzatma operasyonlarının klinik ve radyolojik sonuçlarının tatmin edici olduğu söylenebilir. 
Anti-TNF alfa kullanan hastalarda hepatit B reaktivasyonunun değerlendirilmesi
Authors: BOZKURT İlkay , BEKTAŞ Ahmet
Published: September 2019

Amaç: Anti-tümör nekrozis faktör alfa (anti-TNF) alfa kullanan HBsAg pozitif hastalarda profilaksi önerilmektedir. HbsAg (-), anti-HBcIgG ( +/-) ve anti-HBsIgG (-)hastalarda ise hepatit B profilaksisi tartışmalıdır. Bu çalışmada anti-TNF alfa kullanan hastalarda HBV tarama oranı ve reaktivasyon sıklığının saptanması amaçlanmıştır.Yönetmler: Çalışma tek merkezde retrospektif olarak yürütülmüştür. Farklı endikasyonlarla anti-TNF alfa kullanan hastalarda tedavi öncesi hepatit B göstergeleri (HBsAg, anti-HBcIgG, anti-HBs) ile viral yük tetkik sonuçları elektronik dosya kayıtlarından taranmıştır.Bulgular: Farklı endikasyonlarla anti-TNF alfa kullanan 644 hasta çalışmaya alınmıştır. Bu hastaların 410’u (%63,7) tedavi öncesinde hepatit B açısından taranmıştır. (410 hastanın 17’si HBsAg (+) (grup 1), 39’u HBsAg (-), anti-HBs(+) ve anti-HBcIgG (+) (grup 2), 15’i izole anti-HBcIgG (+) (grup 3), 339‘u viral göstergeleri negatif (grup 4) olarak saptanmıştır). Hastalar ortalama 28 ay süreyle takip edilmiştir. Grup 1 hastaların 13’ü (%76), grup 2 ve 3’deki hastaların ise 48’i (%88,9) reaktivasyon açısından takip edilmiştir. Grup 2 ve 3’deki hastaların hiçbirisinde takiplerinde HBV reaktivasyonu gelişmezken, grup 1 hastalarının birinde reaktivasyon gelişmiştir. Anti-TNF öncesinde tarama yapılmayan bir hastada da reaktivasyon tespit edilmiştir.Sonuç: Anti-TNF alfa alan hastaların reaktivasyon açısından tarama ve takibinin doğru zamanda ve uygun testlerle yapılması ve hastaların yakın izlemi gerekmektedir.
Review of Aphidiinae parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of the Middle East and North Africa: key to species and host associations
Authors: Rakhshani Ehsan , Barahoei Hossein , Ahmad Zubair , Starý Petr , Ghafouri-Moghaddam Mostafa , Mehrparvar Mohsen , Kavallieratos Nickolas G. , Čkrkić Jelisaveta , Tomanović Željko
Published: September 2019

In this study, a total of 108 Aphidiinae species, belonging to 18 genera, associated with 240 aphid species in 16 countries of the Middle East and North Africa are reviewed. 743 host aphid-parasitoid associations are listed. New material was collected from various regions of Saudi Arabia during 2011–2013. Three species including Aphidius avenae Haliday, 1834, Aphidius platensis Brèthes, 1913 and Praon barbatum Mackauer, 1967 are first recorded for the fauna of this country. Lysiphlebus marismortui Mescheloff & Rosen, 1990 syn. nov. is classified as the junior synonym of Lysiphlebus confusus Tremblay & Eady, 1978. An illustrated up-to-date key to all known species of Aphidiinae that occur in the Middle East and North Africa is provided. The findings are discussed in relation to the overall parasitoid-aphid associations in the target investigated region.
A Cor Do Traje Da Baiana E Suas Leituras Contemporâneas
Authors:   Universitat Politècnica de València, Argolo Isabel Catarina Suzart
Published: September 2019

O artigo analisa as variações cromáticas do traje tradicional da baiana sofridas ao longo das últimas décadas por interpretações da indústria do entretenimento (Carnaval), de criadores artesãs baseadas no conceito de upcycling e do turismo ou receptivo. Tem como propósito estabelecer um paralelismo estético-simbólico entre sua composição matricial que inclui um conjunto de peças vestimentares, torso, acessórios e calçado (LODY, 1996, 2003) e as derivações sucedidas à margem do seu contexto sociorreligioso de origem, com as novas morfologias e cores apresentadas pela mídia televisiva, observadas em exposições e no cotidiano das ruas de Salvador. Partindo do pressuposto de que o traje tradicional representa uma identidade afro-brasileira derivada de uma conjuntura sociorreligiosa na qual a cor é um elemento fundamental (LODY, 1996, 2003), pretende-se buscar na sua ontologia as referências fundamentais à interpretação de suas recentes morfologias e significados atribuídos pelas cores, incorporação de materiais e subtração de elementos de sua composição original.
Entre: a Literatura como deflagrador de uma produção poética
Authors:   Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Santos Marcelo Armesto
Published: September 2019

O presente artigo tem como objetivo tecer uma investigação sobre minha própria produção artística recente, estabelecendo uma relação entre as artes visuais e a literatura em suas estratégias de criação, posto que os trabalhos aqui implicados têm como deflagrador o livro “Se um viajante numa noite de inverno”, de Italo Calvino. Relacionando as ideias do próprio autor e minhas observações sobre o romance, além dos escritos de Maurice Blanchot sobre literatura, busco adensar o entendimento em relação a minha produção poética recente e o papel que o texto tem adquirido nessa produção visual.
Factors affecting the maternal-foetal relationship
Authors: Čėsnaitė Gerda , Domža Gintautas , Ramašauskaitė Diana , Volochovič Jelena , Bužinskienė Diana
Published: September 2019

Background. Mother’s attachment to her unborn child has a strong impact on a pregnant woman’s attitude towards her health, postnatal attachment, and the child’s physical and emotional growth. The purpose of our study was to identify the factors that impact the maternal-foetal relationship.
Materials and methods. The study was conducted at the Centre of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the tertiary-level Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos in Vilnius, Lithuania. An original questionnaire of nine parts was developed that the questionnaire included information on demographical data, gynaecological and obstetrical history, a relationship assessment scale, the index of happiness, an antenatal depression risk questionnaire, and the Maternal-Antenatal Attachment Scale.
Results. The study included 388 pregnant women. It was found that the level of education, obstetrical issues during pregnancy, and the risk of postnatal depression negatively impacted the maternal-foetal relationship (p < 0.05). Mothers who were elder in family birth order, also those whose pregnancy was of a longer duration, who had a better-quality romantic relationship with partner, and whose socioeconomic fulfilment was higher were all found to have a better quality of maternal-foetal bonding (p < 0.05).
Conclusions. The early recognition of low attachment and right application of various means of psychologic intervention might improve the quality of pregnancy, maternity, and childhood.
Wilms tumour in children: 18 years of experience at Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Lithuania
Authors: Rančelytė Milda , Nemanienė Rolanda , Ragelienė Lina , Rascon Jelena
Published: September 2019

Introduction. Wilms tumour (WT) is the most common childhood abdominal malignancy, with an average annual incidence of 1 in 10,000 children. The study published in 2002 reported lower survival rates of WT in Lithuania in comparison to the data of SIOP-9 study and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). We aimed to assess current diagnostic approach and treatment results of patients with WT treated at our institution and to compare the results with the previously published study.
Materials and methods. A retrospective single-centre study was performed. 48 patients with WT registered at the institutional database from 2000 to 2018 were enrolled. An estimated 5-year overall survival (OS5y) and 2-year event-free survival (EFS2y) by stage and risk groups was calculated using IBM SPSS. A comparative analysis of two time periods – 2000–2008 and 2009–2018 – was carried out.
Results. Forty-two (87.5%) patients presented with localised disease and 6 (12.5%) with primary metastatic disease. The majority of cases were of the intermediate-risk group (77%). The OS5yof all analysed children was 86.4%. The EFS2y was 88.9% in stage I, 91.7% in stage II, 83.3% in stage III, and 50% in stage IV. The EFS2y was 100% in the low-risk group, 86.5% in the intermediate-risk group, and 25% in the high-risk group. Improvement of outcomes was observed over the analysed period: OS5y changed from 81.0% in 2000– 2008 to 92.6% in 2009–2018. Among 48 cases, ten patients showed recurrence: eight – early relapse and two – late relapse. Six patients died.
Conclusions. WT was diagnosed at early stages in most cases. The survival was better among the patients diagnosed in earlier stages and with favourable risk group. Better survival rates were observed in patients treated in 2009–2018 compared to the 2000–2008 period.
Successful laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy: first experience in Lithuania
Authors: Laučytė-Cibulskienė Agnė , Miglinas Marius , Želvys Arūnas , Čekauskas Albertas
Published: September 2019

Background. The aim of this paper is to share the initial results of LLDN in high-volume university centre that is performing laparoscopic nephrectomies for other indications.
Materials and methods. During 2017, four LLDNs were performed. The transperitoneal approach was used in all cases and the kidney was removed using a suprapubic incision. All donors and recipients were prospectively analysed within six-month follow-up. The patients’ clinical, laboratory, and operation-related data were collected from direct interviews with them and from medical records. All patients signed written informed consent.
Results. One male and three females donated their left kidneys by using the LLDN technique. The mean age was 58 ± 9 years; two of them with a history of previous cholecystectomy. All donated kidneys had a single renal artery and renal vein. Pre-operative average eGFR was 94.2 ± 7.1 ml/min/1.73 m2, immediately after LLDN 57.5 ± 10.3 ml/min/1.73 m2, after one month 56.0 ± 9.1 ml/min/1.73 m2. There were no intraoperative complications; surgery duration was 223.75 ± 21.74 min, the cold ischemia time was 77.5 ± 28.77 min, and the warm ischemia time 6.37 ± 3.14 min. There was one postoperative donor complication, one case of acute kidney injury, and one case of prolonged postoperative abdominal pain. The only recipient complication was one case of acute kidney rejection; there were no cases of delayed graft function.
Conclusions. Our initial experience confirms that LLDN is an approach that is easy to learn, especially in a high-volume university hospital with expertise in performing laparoscopic nephrectomies for other indications.
Grietas textuales y discursos interrumpidos: el recurso del glitch en las ‘escrituras del software’
Authors: Sánchez-Aparicio Vega
Published: September 2019

La generalización de los medios masivos y tecnológicos ha ocasionado una transformación notoria en la sociedad, en la cultura y, por consiguiente, en la epistemología. La esfera artística afronta estas variaciones no solo en su naturaleza sino también en sus técnicas de elaboración. Este ensayo propone analizar cómo el software está actuando en las escrituras, del mismo modo que afecta en las relaciones con los objetos en el espacio virtual. Para ello propongo el concepto ‘escrituras del software’ para examinar estas escrituras como una respuesta política. Concretamente investigaré sobre el glitch —un efecto inesperado en los videojuegos debido a un problema en el código— en ciertos casos de la literatura contemporánea en español.
Una metafísica de la vida: contra el posthumanismo y el nuevo materialismo
Authors: Maureira Velásquez Marco
Published: September 2019

Los debates actuales en torno a la reconceptualización de la materia, así como aquellos referidos al posthumanismo, tienen como común denominador el despliegue de una renovada preocupación por enfoques ontológicos que permitan superar el vicio del antropocentrismo. De igual forma, dichos planteamientos teóricos se presentan, directa o indirectamente, como plataformas de articulación para un nuevo vitalismo. Sin embargo, la conceptualización de la vida que despliegan dichos enfoques teóricos resulta insuficiente e insatisfactoria. Su ontología vitalista, al carecer de una perspectiva intempestiva, no problematiza adecuadamente el fenómeno de la vida. En este sentido, el presente artículo propondrá un proyecto de allokhronía radical que permita responder a dos importantes preguntas: a) con relación al posthumanismo, ¿cómo pensar la vida sin re-caer en el vicio del antropocentrismo?; y b) con referencia al nuevo materialismo, ¿qué implica la emergencia de la vida en el agenciamiento material del Universo?
The tech entrepreneur in Colombia: a discussion of actor-network-theory, Lacanian theory and social imaginaries
Authors: Santiesteban Sebastian Camilo
Published: September 2019

The figure of the tech entrepreneur has gained special relevance in the contemporary world. Recognized stories of success such as those of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg have popularized worldwide the imagination of the young student who starts a garage company with nothing more than his own passion, intelligence and determination, and becomes a global celebrity and a billionaire in just a few years. Nevertheless, the discourses and cultural productions that shape this figure do not always adhere to empirical consequences and factual data, but in fact, are the result of some processes determined by the desires and dreams of those who construct and transmit it (entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship gurus and experts, advertisers, government agencies, etc.), as well as those who consume it (young people with entrepreneurial aspirations). In this process of analyzing the “material/empiric” dimension of the figure of the tech entrepreneur in contrast with the “symbolic/imaginary” dimension, this article proposes a theoretical discussion between the Actor-Network-Theory, the Lacanian psychoanalysis and the Social Imaginaries theory. Based on the work by Lacan, Latour and Taylor and recurring to interviews applied to tech entrepreneurs in Colombia in different stages of development, it is concluded that the symbolic/imaginary dimension plays a fundamental role in structuring the contemporary figure of the tech entrepreneur with important implications at the level of the material/empirical reality, insofar as it shapes actions and objects. Thus, the Lacanian theory and the Social Imaginaries constitute two fundamental frameworks of analysis that contribute to understanding more comprehensively how the tech sector works as well as what sort of technological objects are created.
What’s the trouble with humanity? A feminist critique of Judith Butler’s ethics of vulnerability
Authors: Cyfer Ingrid
Published: September 2019

The article addresses Judith Butler’s thought on ethics of vulnerability. The main goal of the article is to approach the concepts of vulnerability, recognition and representation considering the way each of them engage in the process of subject formation Butler presents in different phases of her work. This comparison will function as a guide to locate and interpret Butler’s theoretical inflections along her trajectory; and it will also work to ground a feminist critical analysis of her ethics.
Reseña del libro Nakedness, Shame and Embarrassment: A Long-Term Sociological Perspective de Barbara Górnicka (Springer, 2016)
Authors: Sanchez Daniela
Published: September 2019

¿Cómo y por qué la cultura occidental ha relacionado la desnudez con la vergüenza y el erotismo?, siendo así, ¿cómo es posible que clubes nudistas puedan socializar sin mostrar expresiones de excitación sexual ni de vergüenza?, ¿cuál es el proceso para convertirse en nudista? y, ¿de qué formas es visible el género en espacios de interacción de cuerpos desnudos? Estas son preguntas que encuentran una profunda y atinada respuesta en el reciente libro Nakedness, Shame and Embarrassment: A Long-Term Sociological Perspective, de la socióloga Barbara Górnicka. La suya es una fina mirada sobre cómo los comportamientos y las emociones son parte de cambios sociales de larga duración inscritos en el cuerpo. El libro teje una reflexión sobre la las actitudes y emociones ligadas a la desnudez desde una perspectiva eliasiana a través de 8 capítulos. En éstos, transita entre su investigación empírica en Club Nautica, agrupación nudista de Dublín, Irlanda y reflexiones teóricas a propósito de los postulados de Norbert Elias sobre el proceso de civilización.
The Tragi-Comic Lives of Theory: Values of a Simmelian Existence
Authors: Kemple Thomas
Published: September 2019

The philosopher and sociologist Georg Simmel made repeated efforts throughout his career to address the crisis of modern culture by drawing on a wide repertoire of scholarly discourses and imaginative fictions. An overlooked and unique feature of his early works include humorous vignettes and free-verse poems in pseudonymous pieces published in the avant-garde journal Jugend. In later writings, he advances his own life-philosophy through an idiosyncratic use of Goethe’s scientific, autobiographical, and literary works in an attempt to articulate what is distinctive about the modern worldview. Focussing on these lesser-known writings reveals the tragi-comic character of his approach to modern individuality in a variety of cultural spheres, and in the life of theory itself. Like Simmel’s vitalist quest for the archetype or “primary phenomenon (Urphänomen) […] of the idea of Goethe” and in his formulation of “the values of Goethean Life”, this essay offers a kind of theorizing about the “spiritual meaning (geistige Sinn) of Simmelian existence” in its many forms of expression. Although Simmel’s ideas may seem antiquated to us now, recovering what might be called his ‘theory-fictions’ is essential if the humanities and social sciences are to address the most pressing problems we face in the 21st century.
Neurexophilin4 is a selectively expressed α-neurexin ligand that modulates specific cerebellar synapses and motor functions
Authors: Meng Xiangling , McGraw Christopher M , Wang Wei , Jing Junzhan , Yeh Szu-Ying , Wang Li , Lopez Joanna , Brown Amanda M , Lin Tao , Chen Wu , Xue Mingshan , Sillitoe Roy V , Jiang Xiaolong , Zoghbi Huda Y
Published: September 2019

Neurexophilins are secreted neuropeptide-like glycoproteins, and neurexophilin1 and neurexophilin3 are ligands for the presynaptic cell adhesion molecule α-neurexin. Neurexophilins are more selectively expressed in the brain than α-neurexins, however, which led us to ask whether neurexophilins modulate the function of α-neurexin in a context-specific manner. We characterized the expression and function of neurexophilin4 in mice and found it to be expressed in subsets of neurons responsible for feeding, emotion, balance, and movement. Deletion of Neurexophilin4 caused corresponding impairments, most notably in motor learning and coordination. We demonstrated that neurexophilin4 interacts with α-neurexin and GABAARs in the cerebellum. Loss of Neurexophilin4 impaired cerebellar Golgi-granule inhibitory neurotransmission and synapse number, providing a partial explanation for the motor learning and coordination deficits observed in the Neurexophilin4 null mice. Our data illustrate how selectively expressed Neurexophilin4, an α-neurexin ligand, regulates specific synapse function and modulates cerebellar motor control.
Self-assembling manifolds in single-cell RNA sequencing data
Authors: Tarashansky Alexander J , Xue Yuan , Li Pengyang , Quake Stephen R , Wang Bo
Published: September 2019

Single-cell RNA sequencing has spurred the development of computational methods that enable researchers to classify cell types, delineate developmental trajectories, and measure molecular responses to external perturbations. Many of these technologies rely on their ability to detect genes whose cell-to-cell variations arise from the biological processes of interest rather than transcriptional or technical noise. However, for datasets in which the biologically relevant differences between cells are subtle, identifying these genes is challenging. We present the self-assembling manifold (SAM) algorithm, an iterative soft feature selection strategy to quantify gene relevance and improve dimensionality reduction. We demonstrate its advantages over other state-of-the-art methods with experimental validation in identifying novel stem cell populations of Schistosoma mansoni, a prevalent parasite that infects hundreds of millions of people. Extending our analysis to a total of 56 datasets, we show that SAM is generalizable and consistently outperforms other methods in a variety of biological and quantitative benchmarks.
Dynamic turnover of centromeres drives karyotype evolution in Drosophila
Authors: Bracewell Ryan , Chatla Kamalakar , Nalley Matthew J , Bachtrog Doris
Published: September 2019

Centromeres are the basic unit for chromosome inheritance, but their evolutionary dynamics is poorly understood. We generate high-quality reference genomes for multiple Drosophila obscura group species to reconstruct karyotype evolution. All chromosomes in this lineage were ancestrally telocentric and the creation of metacentric chromosomes in some species was driven by de novo seeding of new centromeres at ancestrally gene-rich regions, independently of chromosomal rearrangements. The emergence of centromeres resulted in a drastic size increase due to repeat accumulation, and dozens of genes previously located in euchromatin are now embedded in pericentromeric heterochromatin. Metacentric chromosomes secondarily became telocentric in the pseudoobscura subgroup through centromere repositioning and a pericentric inversion. The former (peri)centric sequences left behind shrunk dramatically in size after their inactivation, yet contain remnants of their evolutionary past, including increased repeat-content and heterochromatic environment. Centromere movements are accompanied by rapid turnover of the major satellite DNA detected in (peri)centromeric regions.
A systematic review on hand gesture recognition techniques, challenges and applications
Authors: Yasen Mais , Jusoh Shaidah
Published: September 2019

Background

With the development of today’s technology, and as humans tend to naturally use hand gestures in their communication process to clarify their intentions, hand gesture recognition is considered to be an important part of Human Computer Interaction (HCI), which gives computers the ability of capturing and interpreting hand gestures, and executing commands afterwards. The aim of this study is to perform a systematic literature review for identifying the most prominent techniques, applications and challenges in hand gesture recognition.

Methodology

To conduct this systematic review, we have screened 560 papers retrieved from IEEE Explore published from the year 2016 to 2018, in the searching process keywords such as “hand gesture recognition” and “hand gesture techniques” have been used. However, to focus the scope of the study 465 papers have been excluded. Only the most relevant hand gesture recognition works to the research questions, and the well-organized papers have been studied.

Results

The results of this paper can be summarized as the following; the surface electromyography (sEMG) sensors with wearable hand gesture devices were the most acquisition tool used in the work studied, also Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was the most applied classifier, the most popular application was using hand gestures for sign language, the dominant environmental surrounding factor that affected the accuracy was the background color, and finally the problem of overfitting in the datasets was highly experienced.

Conclusions

The paper will discuss the gesture acquisition methods, the feature extraction process, the classification of hand gestures, the applications that were recently proposed, the challenges that face researchers in the hand gesture recognition process, and the future of hand gesture recognition. We shall also introduce the most recent research from the year 2016 to the year 2018 in the field of hand gesture recognition for the first time.
The Kaine capture - questioning the history of the last Thylacine in captivity.
Authors: Sleightholme Stephen R. , Gordon Tammy J. , Campbell Cameron R.
Published: September 2019

With the passage of time, first-hand accounts of the Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) are now rare, and those that challenge the established historical narrative, rarer still. Recent recollections by one of the last living witnesses to a Thylacine capture have enabled us to piece together the life history of one of the last captive specimens. This account raises important questions over the accepted sequencing of the final two Thylacines on display at the Hobart Zoo.
Nigeria Government’s Expenditure on Economic and Social Service Development: A Canonical Correlation Analysis Approach
Authors: Akano Rafiu Olayinka , Adams Samuel Olorunfemi
Published: September 2019

The study examine the effect of Government’s expenditure on economic and social services development in Nigeria over the period of 1961 to 2018. The study used Canonical Correlation Analysis, the test carried out include; Structure Vector for Economic and social Service and Redundancy Index. The result reveals that strong positive relationship exists between national recurrent expenditure and economic service and Social service. The study also discover that Nigeria Government placed more emphasis on other economic services like; Oil and gas, trade, infrastructure and manufacturing, followed by Transport and Communication, Construction, and Agriculture being the least. In the case of the Social service, it was discovered that Nigeria Government placed more emphasis on other social services like; food subsidies, police, fire services, housing, community management, policy research, information and labour, followed by Health, and Education being the least. Based on the findings, the study recommends that, all tiers of government and policy makers should implement policies that will aid improvement in Transportation and Communication, Construction, Agriculture, Health and Education.
Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activities of Fractions of Plant Parts of Pterocarpus santalinoides
Authors: Emencheta S. C. , Enweani I. B. , Oli A. N. , Okezie U. M. , Attama A. A.
Published: September 2019

Aims: The study aims to investigate the antimicrobial activities of the leaves, seeds, bark, and root of Pterocarpus santalinoides plant.

Study Design: Agar well diffusion and Agar well dilution methods were used to test the preliminary antimicrobial and minimum inhibitory/bactericidal/fungicidal concentrations respectively of Pterocarpus santalinoides plants.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu Campus, Nigeria, between February – October, 2017.

Methodology: Primary extraction and fractionation of the plant parts were undertaken with methanol, butanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane. Agar diffusion method for the primary antimicrobial screening on Muller-Hinton agar (bacteria) and Sabouraud dextrose agar (fungi) were used to assess the antimicrobial activities of the sixteen (16) samples on some microbial isolates namely Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Microsporon canis, and Trichophyton rubrum. The minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) and percentage inhibition diameter growth (PIDG) of the samples that yielded positive activity were also evaluated.

Results: Twelve (12) samples exhibited inhibitory activity on at least one or more of the test isolates. The MIC range observed for the extracts and fractions that yielded positive activity was 12.5 – 100 mg/ml. The n-hexane fraction of the plant root indicated the best value of 12.5 mg/ml against M. canis. The best MBC/MFC value of 25 mg/ml was observed with the ethyl acetate fraction of the bark (against E. coli and M. canis) and the n-hexane fraction of the root (against M. canis). The result showed S. typhi to be the most sensitive organism to the metabolites of P. santalinoides. Extended-spectrum activity was observed with the ethyl acetate fraction of the bark against three (3) of the test isolates namely S. typhi, E. coli and M. canis. The determination of PIDG values for the test organisms against the plants’ extracts/fractions showed that crude methanol extract (28.57%) and ethyl-acetate fraction (0.14%) of the leaves, butanol fraction (0.14%) of the root (all against S. typhi) were the most potent test samples.

Conclusion: The results indicated that the plant parts may have potential medicinal values and confirmed its use in traditional medicine.
Serum Electrolytes and Red Blood Cell Membrane Potential of Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Constance Nwadike , Ijeoma Nosiri Chidi , Adindu Eze , Chimaraoke Onyeabo , Sunday Ezekwe Ahamefula , Catherine Onyejiekwe
Published: September 2019

Serum electrolyte and red blood cell membrane potential of hypertensive patients in Owerri metropolis were investigated. A total of 50 volunteer subjects were used for the study.  Thirty (30) of the volunteer subjects were hypertensive subjects and were used as test subjects; while the remaining 20 subjects were healthy subjects with normal blood pressure used as normentensive subjects (control). Results observed showed increased red blood cell (RBC) K+ and Cl- in hypertension subjects against normentensive subjects. Apart from K+ which reduced significantly (p<0.05), other electrolyte ions of the serum increased significantly (p<0.05) in hypertensive subjects against normentensive subjects. However, Na+ and Cl- membrane potential was not significantly (p>0.05) altered in hypertensive subjects against normotensive subjects while K+ was significantly (p<0.05) altered. The observed alterations in the parameters investigated in hypertensive subjects in the present study could be as a result of a host of derangements involving electrolyte metabolism, altered membrane transport and a possible increase in membrane fragility. This study has shown the serum electrolyte and red blood cell membrane potential of hypertensive patients in Owerri metropolis.
Presence of Bluetongue Virus Antibodies in Cattle and Sheep in Ogun and Osun States, Nigeria
Authors: Oladimeji Oluwayelu Donald , Kelechi Anosike Ignatius
Published: September 2019

Bluetongue is an infectious, arthropod-borne viral disease principally affecting ruminants. The occurrence of bluetongue virus (BTV) antibodies in sheep and cattle from backyard farms, cattle markets and abattoirs in Ogun and Osun states of Nigeria was investigated. Three hundred and forty (340) plasma samples comprising 205 from sheep and 135 from cattle were collected from March to September 2017, noting the sex, breed and age of the animals. The samples were screened with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosurbent assay (ELISA) kit that detects BTV antibodies in ruminant plasma or serum. All cattle tested from both states were positive for BTV antibodies giving a seroprevalence of 100% while 95% seroprevalence was obtained for sheep. In Ogun state, prevalence of 90.5% and 98% were obtained for male and female sheep respectively while 95.6% and 95% prevalence were also obtained for male and female sheep respectively in Osun state. Based on breed, 94%, 95%, 95% and 96% prevalence were obtained for Yankasa, Balami, Ouda and West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep respectively in Ogun state while 93%, 95.5%, 100% and 93% prevalence were obtained for Yankasa, Balami, Ouda and WAD sheep respectively in Osun state. Furthermore, prevalence of 92% and 96.7% were obtained for age groups of ≤ 1 year and > 1 year respectively in Ogun state, while prevalence of 96% and 94.7% were obtained for age groups of ≤ 1 year and > 1 year respectively in Osun state. Since vaccination against bluetongue disease is not practiced in Nigeria, the detection of high prevalence of BTV antibodies observed in apparently healthy animals in this study indicates natural, albeit subclinical, infection with the virus and sustained activity of the Culicoides vector. These findings suggest that bluetongue is widespread in southwestern part of Nigeria and highlight the need for continuous surveillance of the disease in the country as well as isolation, identification and characterisation of currently circulating BTV strains in Nigeria.
Efficient Microorganisms Applied to the Soil and in Cover on the Quinoa Crop
Authors: Favorito Amanda Cecato , Seidel Edleusa Pereira , Hermann Daniela da Rocha , Favorito Patrícia Aparecida , Pan Renan
Published: September 2019

The present study had as objective to know the effects of the natural fertilizer, from a biological compound of Efficient Microorganisms (EM-4), applied to the soil and in cover of quinoa, over its phytotechnics properties and its production. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, in a totally randomized block design, in a factorial scheme 4x2+1 with three replicates. The first factor constituted of four doses of EM (3, 6, 9 and 12%) applied to the soil before sowing, the second factor was the application or not of the compound via foliar. The additional treatment was considered a control treatment without any application of EM. It was evaluated plant height, inflorescence height, stem diameter, inflorescence diameter, root length, root volume, root dry mass and production. The results indicate that the use of Efficient Microorganisms (EMs) increases the production in 40% independent of the dose applied, when compared to the control. The foliar or soil application of EM-4 did not influence in the production components and in the production of quinoa.
Global Warming Influence on Major Seasonal and Intra-seasonal Rainfall Indicators for Sustainable Cocoa Production in West-central Côte d'Ivoire
Authors: Ehounou Jean-Noël , Kouamé Brou , Tahi Mathias G. , Kassin Emmanuel K. , A. Kotaix Jacques Alain , Dékoula Charles S. , Yao Guy F. , Kouadio Hypolith K. , N'guessan Angelo E. B. , Soro Nagnin
Published: September 2019

Ivorian cocoa production, which still remains the driving force of the national economy today, despite the increasingly pronounced diversification of the State's resources, has long benefited from relatively favorable climatic conditions. However, since the 1970s, recurrent disruptions in key rainfall indicators for cocoa production have posed significant risks to the yields and incomes of many Ivorians who depend directly or indirectly on the agronomic performance of this speculation. Using a methodological approach based on descriptive statistical analysis, this study provides an understanding of the evolution of the main climatic factors involved in cocoa production in the Central West, which is one of the country's natural cocoa production basins. To carry out this task, daily rainfall data from Divo and Gagnoa, covering the period 1946-2015, were collected and processed. The results of the various statistical analyses indicate that the seasonal and intra-seasonal rainfall indicators in Gagnoa and Divo are generally declining after the break-up years detected in 1972 in Divo and 1966 in Gagnoa. After the breaks, the Useful Rainy Season (URS) starts later and the ends are earlier than before, which results in a shortening of the length of the URS and a reduction in the intra-seasonal rainfall totals of the two localities. Conversely, the maximum dry sequences during the URS show a slight increase after the break-up dates. The station of Gagnoa was less affected by the rainfall recession than that of Divo where the downward trend in seasonal and intra-seasonal rainfall events is more severe. This makes the Gagnoa region the one with the best rainfall capacities for cocoa production in the study area.
Multi-way Degradation and Process Optimization of Phenol from Simulated Wastewater System
Authors: Kolhe Pratik M. , Patil Sanjay N. , Bhole Seema P. , Wagh Nilesh D.
Published: September 2019

This research was based on the comparative study between microbial, enzymatic and photocatalytic phenol degradation. Different experiments were carried out under three distinct methodologies that seeked to examine which method is more feasible between them through various aspects. For the microbial study, E. coli was used for phenol degradation at an optimum condition of E. coli. In the enzymatic study, peroxidase was extracted from soybean seed hulls, and it was purified. The purified peroxidase enzyme was applied in phenolic solution at neutral pH. The H2O2/UV/TiO2 scheme was adopted in the photocatalytic treatment of phenol. Maximum phenol degradation was observed in photo catalysis. From this comparative study, a microbial method was found to be more time consuming and an enzymatic method require more steps to perform the experiment while photo catalysis took less time with a more feasible results.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (
FDA
) and The Products It Regulates
Authors: Onel Suzan , Davidson Jennifer A. , Dwyer Daniel , Ehrlich Stacy , Meyer Cynthia L. , Reagan Kinsey S. , Woodlee James William , Chan Jacqueline , Logan T. Daniel
Published: September 2019

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the primary federal government agency that is responsible for protecting and promoting public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biologics, medical devices, food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, tobacco, and products that emit radiation. To achieve this mission, the FDA balances the twin goals of assuring products are safe and effective and encouraging innovation and new product entry into the market. As a science‐based institution, the FDA also reviews clinical research, monitors the marketing practices of regulated‐industry to assure the public gets accurate, science‐based information, and interacts with international bodies with the goal of reducing the burden of regulation and harmonizing regulatory requirements.

The FDA's organization currently consists of the Office of the Commissioner and four directorates overseeing the core functions of the agency. Functionally, the FDA is comprised of six product centers: the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), and the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). The FDA also has an office dedicated to research and multiple offices focused on global regulatory operations and policy. Collectively these Centers oversee the development, manufacture, promotion and distribution of drugs, biologics, veterinary products, medical devices, foods, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and tobacco in the United States under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and its implementing regulations. This article provides a historical summary of the legal framework in which the FDA operates, discusses the FDA's organization and role, highlights the regulatory requirements for each of the product types the FDA regulates, and ends with a general discussion of the FDA's enforcement powers.
Textiles
Authors: Geršak Jelka
Published: September 2019

Textiles refer to fibers and fiber assemblies, and most products for which these are a principal raw material. This article presents an overview of textile structures, from fibers, yarns to planar, flexible sheet‐like structures such as fiber‐based products, their classification, methods of manufacture, and uses. The structure and formation of fibers that govern their suitability for use in various applications are summarized briefly, and significant properties and performance of textile structures are given. The focus is directed upon the structure and formation of fibers, including high‐performance fibers and other specialty fibers, based on an understanding of the fundamentals of textile chemistry and the processes by which textile fibers are converted into a wide variety of useful products. A brief overview of chemical treatments of textile structures and the chemistry of functional fibers and fabrics and a description of their development strategy are given. Finally, technical textiles and smart and intelligent textiles are highlighted, which are generating new applications for textiles, as well as an environmental impact.
Road Map of the PhylumCampylobacterota
Authors: Waite David W. , Chuvochina Maria S. , Hugenholtz Philip
Published: September 2019

TheCampylobacterotais a novel phylum created from the reclassification of the proteobacterial classEpsilonproteobacteriaand orderDesulfurellales(Deltaproteobacteria). The phylum is organized according to phylogenies based on a concatenated alignment of 120 conserved protein marker sequences and the 16S rRNA gene. Like any phylogenetic inference, this road map is a hypothesis based on the data available at the time of writing and may be subject to change as new species are described, or other gene sequences considered. This road map incorporates relative evolutionary divergence to normalize subordinate ranks. It, therefore, includes a number of changes at the rank of order, family, and genus, which would otherwise not be affected by the merging of the former lineages.
M
ethanonatronarchaeaceae
Authors: Sorokin Dimitry Y. , Merkel Alexander Y.
Published: September 2019

Me.tha.no.na.tron.ar.chae.a.ce'ae. N.L. neut. n.
Methanonatronarchaeum
, the type genus of the family; ‐
aceae
ending to denote a family; N.L. fem. pl. n.
Methanonatronarchaeaceae
, the
Methanonatronarchaeum
family.

Halobacteriota / Methanonatronarchaeia / Methanonatronarchaeales / Methanonatronarchaeaceae

The family
Methanonatronarchaeaceae
includes obligately anaerobic, extremely halophilic, or haloalkaliphilic methanogens with small coccoid cells which produce methane by reduction of C
1
‐methylated compounds with either H
2
or formate and assimilate either amino acids or acetate as C source. Cells accumulate intracellular potassium as a compatible solute. It is found exclusively in hypersaline lakes. The family consists of two genera: alkaliphilic
Methanonatronarchaeum
, which is the type genus, and neutrophilic
Candidatus
Methanohalarchaeum.

DNA G
+
C content (mol%)
: 35.4–38.0 (genomes).

Type genus
:
Methanonatronarchaeum
Sorokin, Merkel, Abbas, Makarova, Rijpstra, Koenen et al. 2018, 2205
VP
.
M
ethanohalobium
Authors: Zhilina Tatyana N. , Merkel Alexander Y.
Published: September 2019

Me.tha.no.ha.lo'bi.um. N.L. neut. n.
methanum
methane; Gr. masc. n.
hals, halos
salt; Gr. masc. n.
bios
life; N.L. neut. n.
Methanohalobium
methane‐producing organism living in salt.

Euryarchaeota / Methanomicrobia / Methanosarcinales / Methanosarcinaceae / Methanohalobium

Cells flat, polygonal, or irregular spheroid bodies in small aggregates or single. Gram stain variable. Nonmotile. Oxidized cells have strong F
420
‐based autofluorescence. Strictly anaerobic. Extremely halophilic and moderately thermophilic. Grows optimally at 40–50°C (growth range, 35–58°C), 4.3 M Na
+
(growth range, 2.6–5.1 M Na
+
), and pH 7.0–7.5 (growth range pH 6.6–8.0). Obligately methylotrophic methanogen using methylamines for both growth and methanogenesis. Trimethylamine is the preferred substrate. Methanol is utilized at very low concentrations (<5 mM). Acetate, formate, H
2
/CO
2
, and alcohols (other than methanol) are not utilized. The core membrane lipids include archaeol, caldarchaeol, and cyclic archaeol. Intact polar lipids include phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol. A member of the order
Methanosarcinales
, family
Methanosarcinaceae
. Known habitats are saline lagoons with variable salinity up to halite deposition.

DNA G
+
C content (mol%)
: 36.4 (genome)

Type species
:
Methanohalobium evestigatum
Zhilina and Zavarzin 1988, 136
VP
(Effective publication: Zhilina and Zavarzin 1987, 467) (
Methanohalobium evestigatus
(sic) Zhilina and Zavarzin 1987, 467).
B
ilophila
Authors: Galushko Alexander , Kuever Jan
Published: September 2019

Bi.lo'phi.la. L. fem. n.
bilis
, gall, bile; Gr. adj.
philus
, loving; N.L. fem. n.
Bilophila
, bile‐loving organism.

Desulfobacterota / Desulfovibrionia / Desulfovibrionales / Desulfovibrionaceae / Bilophila

Rod‐shaped cells with rounded ends, measuring 0.7–1.0 µm × 1.0–2.0 µm. Occur singly or in pairs; occasionally long filaments are observed. Spore formation is not observed. Stain Gram‐negative. Nonmotile. Strictly anaerobic, having a respiratory type of metabolism. Chemoorganoheterotrophic and nonfermentative. Metabolize peptone but not carbohydrates. The major product from peptone is acetic acid with lesser to trace amounts of succinic acid. Able to reduce nitrate to nitrite. Sulfide is produced from sulfur‐containing amino acids and from sulfite and sometimes from thiosulfate, but the organisms do not reduce sulfur. Strongly catalase‐positive (when tested with 15% H
2
O
2
). Approximately 75–90% of strains produce urease, depending on the test system (Claros et al., 1999). In the presence of formate,
B. wadsworthia
utilizes taurine as an electron acceptor with the production of acetate and the reduction of sulfonate sulfur to sulfide (Laue et al., 1997; Cook et al., 1998). The dissimilatory sulfite reductase (desulfoviridin) of
B. wadsworthia
is related to that of
Desulfovibrio
(Laue et al., 2001). Isolated from gastrointestinal, genital, and oral (periodontal) cavities of humans and other mammals (dogs), and sewage sludge.

DNA G + C content (mol%)
: 59.2 (genome).

Type species
:
Bilophila wadsworthia
Baron, Summanen, Downes, Roberts, Wexler and Finegold 1990, 320
VP
(Effective publication: Baron, Summanen, Downes, Roberts, Wexler and Finegold 1989, 3410).