bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular and biological characterization of some circulating strains of Newcastle disease virus in broiler chickens from Eastern Saudi Arabia in 2012-2014
Authors: Almubarak Abdullah I. A.
Published: October 2019

Background and Aim: Newcastle disease (ND) is a worldwide poultry disease that is historically known to cause severe losses in the poultry industry. In the present study, attempts were made to characterize ND virus (NDV) recovered from broiler chickens in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia from January 2012 to March 2014. Materials and Methods: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used for the detection of NDV followed by partial sequencing of the fusion (F) gene. The intracerebral pathogenicity index (ICPI), mean death time (MDT), and complete sequencing of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) gene were also used for further biological and molecular characterization. Results: NDV was detected at a rate of 9.6% (11/115) of the tested flocks, most of which were vaccinated against ND. F gene-based phylogeny and motifs of the fusion protein cleavage site (FPCS) showed segregation of Saudi isolates into two groups. The first group contained 10 isolates and was located in genotype II with the lentogenic motif 112GRQGRL117 at the FPCS. The second group contained one isolate and was located in genotype VII with velogenic motif 112RRQKRF117. Further characterization using the ICPI and MDT of two representative isolates showed virulence of both tested isolates. Phylogenetic analysis of the HN gene showed close nucleotide identity between the two isolates. A BLAST search for sequences similar to HN gene sequences showed high identity with isolates from the surrounding region. Conclusion: The present findings showed a low detection rate of NDV, possibly due to the wide application of vaccines, and the circulation of at least two NDV genotypes, II and VII, in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. The present Saudi isolates may share common ancestors with isolates from the surrounding region.
Effect of shell as natural testosterone boosters in Sprague Dawley rats
Authors: Astuti Pudji , Airin Claude Mona , Sarmin Sarmin , Nururrozi Alfarisa , Harimurti Sri
Published: October 2019

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of shell supplementation on the regulation of male reproduction in rats.

Materials and Methods: The zinc (Zn) level of shell from blood clam (Anadara granosa), green mussel (Perna viridis), and conch shell (Telescopium telescopium) was analyzed. The highest Zn content shell was fed to male Sprague Dawley rats for 0, 9, 30, and 50 days at the dose of either 0.09 mg/200 g BW or 0.18 mg/200 g BW. To determine the testosterone levels, blood was collected through the infraorbitalis sinus just before the rat was sacrificed. Testicular and brain were also collected for Cyp19 aromatase receptor analysis.

Results: The Zn level in the shell of blood clam, green mussel, and conch shell 61.55 mg/kg, 2.78 mg/kg, and 3.93 mg/kg, respectively. The testosterone level of T1 group receiving 0.18 mg/200 g BW for 0, 9, 30, and 50 days was 1.42±0.59, 2.15±1.58, 2.98±2.53, and 8.11±2.03 ng/mL, respectively. The testosterone level of T2 group receiving 0.09 mg/200 g BW for 0, 9, 30, and 50 days was 2.50±0.32, 1.25±0.60, 3.87±3.27, and 3.54±0.23 ng/mL, respectively. The T3 group receiving Na-CMC showed the level of testosterone at days 0, 9, 30, and 50 days was 0.77±0.22, 1.99±1.65, 4.12±0.07, and 2.19±1.30 ng/mL, respectively. Finally, the T4 group receiving Zn showed testosterone levels at days 0, 9, 30, and 50 days was 0.51±0.58, 2.24±3.16, 4.58±1.97, and 2.89±0.20 ng/mL, respectively. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the T1 group compared to the other groups. However, the absence of expression of Cyp19 aromatase both in Leydig cells and the brain indicated no conversion of testosterone to estradiol. To add, this finding showed the potential use of the shell to boost the testosterone level in male rats.

Conclusion: Shell acted as an aromatase blocker to boost the testosterone level in male rats. This also indicates its promising application in birds to manipulate the quality of song and feather.
Available Sources of Food in Indonesia (for the improvement of the nutritional status of children)
Authors: Goan-Hong Lie , Kam-Nio Oey , Prawiranegara Dradjat D. , Herlina Tudit , Sihombing Geertruida , Jus'at Idrus
Published: October 2019

Ultimately, improvement of the nutritional status of children, in especially the preschool children, can only be achieved if the daily food intake is sufficient.This will ensure in the first instance the adequate provision -of energy, and secondly, the available protein in the diet will then be efficiently utilized. Sufficient intake of food can and must be realized through the combined use of inexpensive locally available foods from the food groups: Cereals, Legumes and Fish, Fat, Vegetables and Fruits, according to the existing menu-pattern "4 Sehat - 5 Sempurna" (4 means healthy- 5 is excellent).

The diet therefore must not consist of rice alone. The role of fat in the diet must be stressed. The meal pattern of preschool children must be at least l times a day, preferably more.

Depending on the available budget and the creative imagination of the mother, a variety of inexpensive but palatable dishes can be prepared at home which will stimulate the food intake.
Adoption at Dr. Kariadi Hospital Semarang
Authors: N. Soetadji , Trastotenojo Moeljono S. , Harijono R. , Darsono Soerarjo , Alfinah Siti , Waspodo Djoko
Published: October 2019

Procedures and other arrangements concerning adoption at Dr. Kariadi Hospital, Semarang, is discussed in this paper. From 1969 to the first three months of 1974, 41 children with ages ranging between 5 days and 3 years old have been adopted. A visit to 18 of them showed that their health condition was satisfactory; a psychological evaluation also indicated that no mental retardation was observed, excepting that their I.Q. level was difficult to determine. Five children received official approval from the court, one from the notary and the others from the local District Head (Lurah/Camat).
Seven Diseases as Main Causes of Death In Department of Child Health Dr. Pirngadi General Hospital
Authors: Silitonga Rumiam , Emysah Lily , Lubis Chairuddin P.
Published: October 2019

The retrospective study of main causes of death was conducted in Department of Child Health, Dr. Pirngadi General Hospital, from January to December 1986. Seven diseases as main causes of death were: bronchopneumonia, encephalitis, purulent meningitis, serous meningitis sepsis, tetanus and severe malnutrition with case fatality rates of 29%; 44%; 41%; 31%; 47%; 12% and 18%, respectively.
Novel Circulating Tumor Cell Assay for Detection of Colorectal Adenomas and Cancer
Authors: Tsai Wen-Sy , You Jeng-Fu , Hung Hsin-Yuan , Hsieh Pao-Shiu , Hsieh Ben , Lenz Heinz-Josef , Idos Gregory , Friedland Shai , Yi-Jiun Pan Jennifer , Shao Hung-Jen , Wu Jen-chia , Lai Jr-Ming , Chang Shih-En , Mei Rui , Watson Drew , Javey Manana , Nimgaonkar Ashish
Published: October 2019

OBJECTIVES:

There is a significant unmet need for a blood test with adequate sensitivity to detect colorectal cancer (CRC) and adenomas. We describe a novel circulating tumor cell (CTC) platform to capture colorectal epithelial cells associated with CRC and adenomas.

METHODS:

Blood was collected from 667 Taiwanese adults from 2012 to 2018 before a colonoscopy. The study population included healthy control subjects, patients with adenomas, and those with stage I–IV CRC. CTCs were isolated from the blood using the CellMax platform. The isolated cells were enumerated, and an algorithm was used to determine the likelihood of detecting adenoma or CRC. Nominal and ordinal logistic regression demonstrated that CTC counts could identify adenomas and CRC, including CRC stage.

RESULTS:

The CellMax test demonstrated a significant association between CTC counts and worsening disease status (Cuzick's P value < 0.0001) with respect to the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. The test showed high specificity (86%) and sensitivity across all CRC stages (95%) and adenomatous lesions (79%). The area under the curve was 0.940 and 0.868 for the detection of CRC and adenomas, respectively.

DISCUSSION:

The blood-based CTC platform demonstrated high sensitivity in detecting adenomas and CRC, as well as reasonable specificity in an enriched symptomatic patient population.

TRANSLATIONAL IMPACT:

If these results are reproduced in an average risk population, this test has the potential to prevent CRC by improving patient compliance and detecting precancerous adenomas, eventually reducing CRC mortality.
A CNN-Based Subpixel Level DSM Generation Approach via Single Image Super-Resolution
Authors: Zhang Yongjun , Zheng Zhi , Luo Yimin , Zhang Yanfeng , Wu Jun , Peng Zhiyong
Published: October 2019

Previous work for subpixel level Digital Surface Model (DSM) generation mainly focused on data fusion techniques, which are extremely limited by the difficulty of multisource data acquisition. Although several DSM super resolution (SR) methods have been developed to ease the problem,
a new issue that plenty of DSM samples are needed to train the model is raised. Therefore, considering the original images have vital influence on its DSM's accuracy, we address the problem by directly improving images resolution. Several SR models are refined and brought into the traditional
DSM generation process as an image quality improvement stage to construct an easy but effective workflow for subpixel level DSM generation. Experiments verified the validity and significance of bringing SR technology into this kind of application. Statistical analysis also confirmed that a
subpixel level DSM with higher fidelity can be obtained more easily compared to directly DSM interpolation.
Apresentação
Authors: Marco Fabiana Fiorezi de , Guimarães Iara Vieira
Published: October 2019

Apresentação: v. 26, n. 3 (set./dez. 2019)
Contribuições do ensino da Educação Física para o trabalho com o conhecimento teórico na escola
Authors: Nascimento Carolina Picchetti , Araujo Elaine Sampaio
Published: October 2019

O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar o processo de organização do ensino que contribua para o desenvolvimento do pensamento teórico dos sujeitos da atividade pedagógica, professores e estudantes. Tendo a Atividade Orientadora de Ensino, proposta por Moura (1996, 2000, 2016), como fundamento teórico-metodológico apresentam-se interpretações didáticas sobre a tese vigotskiana de que “o único bom ensino é o que se adianta ao desenvolvimento”. Do ponto de vista das ações metodológicas discute-se o significado pedagógico do trabalho com o conhecimento teórico na escola por meio da análise de momentos-chave de uma situação formativa realizada com professoras da educação básica, no contexto de um projeto de pesquisa voltado à melhoria do ensino público. Busca-se evidenciar, então, nos processos de organização do ensino, como os conhecimentos propostos na atividade pedagógica podem se realizar como conceitos teóricos para os sujeitos em suas ações de estudo.
Identidade profissional e agir docente do professor de língua materna
Authors: Bessa José Cezinaldo Rocha , Silva Franciclébia Nicolau da
Published: October 2019

Quanto mais trabalhos surgem com a proposta de apontar e explorar as contribuições do pensamento bakhtiniano, sobretudo aquelas relacionadas ao ensino de língua materna no Brasil, mais visualizamos a necessidade de pesquisas e do empreendimento de renovadas discussões. Assim, visando aprofundar a compreensão sobre os eventos que se dão no tempo-espaço da relação entre professor e aluno em sala de aula, inclinamo-nos a escutar a voz do eu-professor, objetivando investigar como ele constrói sua identidade professoral e seu agir docente. Para tanto, solicitamos ao professor participante que elaborasse um caso de ensino, este correspondente a um tipo de narrativa reflexiva sobre o vivido em sala de aula. A perspectiva que fundamenta este trabalho corresponde ao diálogo construído entre as vozes do Círculo de Bakhtin e de outros estudiosos que discutem sobre o ensino de língua materna.
The Development of A Flexible Battery by Using A Stainless Mesh Anode
Authors: Iwai Kanawe , Tamura Teppei , Nguyen Dang-Trang , Taguchi Kozo
Published: October 2019

We have developed a compact and flexible battery, which composes three parts: (1) an anode electrode made for stainless mesh which was heat-treated for 30 min at 500℃ with coated carbon nanotube (CNT), (2) a piece of paper filter-based membrane with the pore size of 0.025 µm and the thickness of 100 µm, and (3) a cathode electrode coated potassium ferricyanide. The battery can generate electricity activated by adding  sodium chloride (NaCl) solution to the anode. The battery has a NaCl concentration-dependence characteristic. In this research, we tested 0.5, 1, 3, 5, and 10% NaCl solution, respectively. At 3% NaCl concentration, the maximum power density and current density of 42.3 µW/cm2 and 228 µA/cm2 were obtained, respectively. After the experiments, there was a blue material encountered on the anode surface. By using EDS to analyze the blue material, it could be confirmed that the blue material was ferric ferrocyanide (Prussian blue). The operation principle of this battery was proposed as follows. First, on the anode side, the injected sodium chloride solution oxidizes the stainless mesh surface, then ferric ions and electrons are released. Second, on the cathode side, ferricyanide ions are reduced to ferrocyanide ions by electrons coming from the anode through the external circuit. Simultaneously, ferric ions react with ferrocyanide ions to produce Prussian blue and generate more electrons. This battery can be potentially utilized for applications that require on-demand, disposable, and flexible characteristics. ©2019. CBIORE-IJRED. All rights reserved
Numerical Study of Effect of Blade Twist Modifications on the Aerodynamic Performance of Wind Turbine
Authors: Beabpimai Wiroj , Chitsomboon Tawit
Published: October 2019

This paper aims to investigate aerodynamic performance of a wind turbine blade with twist modifications using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The phenomenon of 3D stall-delay effect in relation to blade twist is the key feature to be investigated in order to improve efficiency of a wind turbine. The NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Phase VI wind turbine rotor was used for validation and as the baseline rotor. The baseline blade geometry was modified by increasing/decreasing the twist angles in the inboard, mid-board and outboard regions of the blade in the form of a symmetrical curve with maximum twist angle of 3°. The steady incompressible Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with the k-ω Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence closure model were used for the calculations at wind speeds ranging from 5-20 m/s. The computational results for the baseline Phase VI rotor were validated against experimental data and a good agreement was found. The computational results for the modified blades were compared against those of the baseline blade. It was found that increase of annual energy production of up to 5.1% could be achieved by this modification technique.  ©2019. CBIORE-IJRED. All rights reserved
Rhinogenic Orbital Inflammation – What Has Changed over the Past 50 Years?
Authors: Chrobok Viktor , Pellant Arnošt , Mandysová Petra , Mejzlík Jan , Dědková Jana , Čelakovský Petr
Published: October 2019

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to compare the incidence, diagnostics, and treatment of rhinogenic inflammatory complications over the past 50 years. Material and methods: Retrospective study of 292 patients of ENT department, University hospital: Group A treated from 1966 to 1995, Group B treated from 1996 to 2015. Results: Preseptal inflammation was the most common type (73% vs. 74%), followed by subperiosteal abscess (21% vs. 20%). Surgery was indicated in 35% vs. 37% of the patients (p = 0.434). The most commonly used surgical approach was the external route (80%) in Group A and endoscopic endonasal surgery (60%) or a combination of endoscopic surgery of the paranasal sinuses and external orbitotomy (30%) in Group B (p < 0.001). The percentage of reoperations was 13% vs. 14%. In cases of revision surgery, the orbit was always treated using the external surgical approach. Complete recovery was achieved in 92% and 98.5% of the patients belonging to Group A and B, respectively (p = 0.622). Conclusion: Nowadays, the endoscopic endonasal approach is the most frequently used surgical technique for paranasal sinuses. The technique used to treat the orbital complication itself depends on several factors. Nowadays, the endoscopic approach is preferred. The external approach can be considered in the case of recurrent or persistent abscesses, especially if they are located in the upper or the lateral part of the orbit.
Monocyte to Lymphocyte Ratio, Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio, and Red Cell Distribution Width are the Associates with Gouty Arthritis
Authors: Kadiyoran Cengiz , Zengin Orhan , Cizmecioglu Hilal Akay , Tufan Abdurrahman , Kucuksahin Orhan , Cure Medine Cumhur , Cure Erkan , Kucuk Adem , Ozturk Mehmet Akif
Published: October 2019

Background: Neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages activations are associated with a gout attack. Monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), red cell distribution width (RDW), and mean platelet volume (MPV) are well-known inflammation markers. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether they could be a predictive marker to the gout attack. Material and Methods: A hundred and ten gout patients (male/female, 86/24) and 90 (male/female, 64/26) age-, gender-, and body mass index-matched volunteer controls were included in the study. Blood samples were obtained in the intercritical and attack period of the patients. Hemogram, serum uric acid (SUA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) values were studied. Results: In the attack period NLR (p < 0.001), PLR (p < 0.05), MLR (p < 0.001), RDW (p < 0.05), MPV (p < 0.05), ESR (p < 0.001), CRP (p < 0.001) and SUA (p < 0.001) values were significantly higher than intercritical period values. According to the results of regression analysis; There was an independent strong relationship between the gout attack and SUA, (Beta [β] = 0.352, p < 0.001), ESR (β = 0.329, p < 0.001), CRP (β = 0.286, p < 0.001), MLR (β = 0.126, p < 0.001), RDW (β = 0.100, p = 0.003) and NLR (β = 0.082, p = 0.014). Conclusions: MLR, RDW, and NLR may be a strong predictive marker for a gout attack. MPV and PLR values in the gout attack may be associated with systemic inflammation.
Novel ABCD1 gene mutations in Iranian pedigrees with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy
Authors: Emamalizadeh Babak , Daneshmandpour Yousef , Tafakhori Abbas , Ranji-Burachaloo Sakineh , Shafiee Sajad , Ghods Elahe , Darvish Hossein
Published: October 2019

Background

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), the most common peroxisomal disorder, is caused by mutations in the ABCD1 gene located on Xq28. X-ALD is characterized by a spectrum of different manifestations varying in patients and families.

Methods

Four pedigrees with X-ALD consisting of patients and healthy members were selected for investigation of ABCD1 gene mutations. The mutation analysis was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by direct sequencing of all exons. The identified mutations were investigated using bioinformatics tools to predict their effects on the protein product and also to compare the mutated sequence with close species.

Results

One previously known missense mutation (c.1978 C > T) and three novel mutations (c.1797dupT, c.879delC, c.1218 C > G) were identified in the ABCD1 gene, each in one family. Predicting the effects of the mutations on protein structure and function indicated the probable damaging effect for them with significant alterations in the protein structure. We found three novel mutations in the ABCD1 gene with damaging effects on its protein product and responsible for X-ALD.
The Impact of Roe on Prenatal Tort Litigation: On the Public Policy of Unexpected Children
Authors: Haqq Luke Isaac
Published: October 2019

This article provides a history of especial importance to abortion politics today, based on research involving a dataset of over 1,200 wrongful conception, wrongful birth, wrongful life, and standard torts for prenatal injuries. In documenting the rise of these torts over the twentieth century, I specifically focus on how this domain of litigation dramatically changed beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, with the recognition of the constitutional rights to contraception and abortion. I provide an exhaustive survey of an underappreciated yet robust arena of public policy at the intersection of reproductive rights and tort law, emphasizing the reciprocal relationship between these torts and reproductive rights. State courts and legislatures continue to debate into the present about whether to ban, permit, or restrict damages in these torts, debates that have been perennial since the early 1970s. Using several timelines created in Stata to plot the annual frequency of the above cases from the late 1800s into the present, as well as several maps providing a 50-state overview, I highlight a specific arena in which reproductive rights are forged, one revealing problematic aspects of a “post-Roe era” of public policy regarding the benefits and harms of unexpected children.
Local Government Law, Development and Cross-border Trade in the Global Cities of SADC
Authors: Pieterse Marius
Published: October 2019

The ways in which cities function and are governed matter economically. While the growing literature on ‘global cities’ shows that city governments often pursue economic competitiveness, not much work has been done on whether the formal powers and competencies of cities and towns, as well as the ways in which these are wielded, are conducive to the achievement of developmental and socio-economic objectives. This article considers the interactions and interdependencies between local government law, urban governance, developmental objectives and formal as well as informal cross-border trade between cities in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. While supporting increased devolution of local government powers, it cautions that cities of SADC must take care to wield their powers in ways that ensure the economic flourishing of the majority of their inhabitants. In particular, this requires a change of mindset in relation to the municipal regulation of informal economic activity.
„Bei uns in Chaironeia …“
Authors: Neumann Christian
Published: October 2019

This paper analyses the conception of the speaker figures in Plutarch’s Quaestiones Graecae and Quaestiones Romanae and their relationship to each other and to the historical author. The analysis is based on the questions as to what extent it is actually possible to identify a conceived speaker figure in these seemingly note-like writings and if such speaker figure can be assumed to be a completely freely conceived character or is at least in some way related to the person of the historical author. The analysis of the Quaestiones Graecae reveals that the speaker in this treatise is conceived as a competent explainer of the Greek world. He is imbued with Greek culture, but shows no particular proximity to the author’s special interests and competencies. Only a reader who is deeply familiar with the author can discern his presence in some passages, which gives them access to a second level of understanding. The speaker of the Quaestiones Romanae, in contrast, is conceived as a conscientious researcher, who is interwoven with Greek culture and exercises restraint in addressing Roman issues. However, where Greek subjects are concerned, he can take a more pronounced position, thus exhibiting some proximity to the speaker of the Quaestiones Graecae. The analysis of such a passage makes evident that the speaker figures of the two treatises are identical and that their approach is essentially dependent on the subject contemplated. They can be considered as conceptions based on the historical author, whose presence, however, shines through in only some passages. This multi-layered speaker conception shows that both treatises are more thoroughly elaborated from a literary point of view and are more closely interconnected than often assumed by researchers.
„Klarere Spiegel des Göttlichen“ – Plutarch und die Tiere
Authors: Pabst Angela
Published: October 2019

This paper deals with one of Plutarch’s favourite subjects - the relation between human beings and animals. In order to gain new insight into this topic, a three-step approach is chosen: First, the paper investigates some of the essential ideas concerning animals (their soul, their emotions and intellectual capacities) to be found in Plutarch’s work and the vocabulary he employs. Secondly, the paper focuses on Plutarch’s unique style of writing and his skillful use of the Socratic method to guide his audience. Thirdly, Plutarch’s personal opinion will be analyzed. In the first part of this paper, Plutarch’s work serves as a lens to unfold the nature of contemporary discourses on the relation between man and animal (with broad agreement on some points and controversies about others) as well as the different notions associated with the terms theria and zoa. A special focus is placed on the ‘Gryllos’ (mor. 985 d-992 e). Plutarch’s treatise ‘Whether the creatures of the land or the creatures of the sea have more phronesis’ (mor. 959 b-985 c) is an important contribution to the field of animal ethics and the subject of the second part of this paper. The ingenious structure of said text illustrates Plutarch’s qualities as a writer and how carefully he employs maieutic methods to support his readers in developing their own point of view. The third part of this paper is devoted to passages from Plutarch’s oeuvre which illustrate his personal position in the debate on the relation between human beings and animals. He is clearly aware that life on earth is inextricably interwoven with acts of killing and destruction, yet he also believes that observing animals has some lessons to offer to mystery religions. Plutarch describes animals as ‘clearer mirrors to the divine’, thereby illustrating that he perceives creatures - whether tiny or large - as a unique chance to gain a better understanding of the miracle of life. In this capacity animals provide a way for human beings to improve their insight into the nature of the divine.
ʿAbbāsid-Carolingian Diplomacy in Early Medieval Arabic Apocalypse
Authors: Ottewill-Soulsby Samuel
Published: October 2019

Study of the diplomacy between the Carolingians and the ʿAbbāsids has been hampered by the absence of any sources from the Caliphate commenting on their relationship. This paper identifies two variants of the Arabic Tiburtine Sibyl, apocalyptic prophecies composed by Syriac Christians in the early ninth century, that provide contemporary Arabic references to contact between Charlemagne and Hārūn al-Rashīd. In doing so, they shed new light on this diplomatic activity by indicating that it was considerably more important for the Caliph than normally appreciated. Combined with other references to the Franks in Arabic apocalyptic of the period, the evidence of these Sibyls suggests that Hārūn al-Rashīd accrued considerable prestige from his reception of Charlemagne’s envoys and the gifts that they brought with them.
Alexandria between Antiquity and Islam: Commerce and Concepts in First Millennium Afro-Eurasia
Authors: Fowden Garth
Published: October 2019

Late antique Alexandria is much better known than the early Islamic city. To be fully appreciated, the transition must be contextualized against the full range of Afro-Eurasiatic commercial and intellectual life. The Alexandrian schools ‘harmonized’ Hippocrates and Galen, Plato and Aristotle. They also catalyzed Christian theology especially during the controversies before and after the Council of Chalcedon (451) that tore the Church apart and set the stage for the emergence of Islam. Alexandrian cultural dissemination down to the seventh century is here studied especially through evidence for the city’s libraries and book trade, together with the impact of its educational curriculum from Iran to Canterbury. After the Arab conquest, Alexandria turned into a frontier city and lost its economic and political role. But it became a city of the mind whose conceptual legacy fertilized not only Greek scholarship at Constantinople, but also Arabic science and philosophy thanks to the eighth- to ninth-century Baghdadi translation movement. Alexandria emanated occult energies too, thanks to the Pharos as variously misunderstood by Arabic writers, or the relics of its Christian saints, not least the Evangelist Mark, surreptitiously translated to Venice in 828-29. Study of the astral sciences too - astronomy but also astrology - was fertilized from Alexandria, as far afield as India and perhaps China as well as Syria, Baghdad and Constantinople. Egypt’s revival by the Fatimids, who founded Cairo in 961, had little impact on Alexandria until about the end of the eleventh century when, for a time, the city attracted Sunni scholars from as far away as Spain or Iran, while commerce benefited from the rise of the Italian merchant republics and the beginning of the Crusades. While the early caliphate had united a vast zone from Afghanistan to the Atlantic, the eleventh century saw a reemergence of late antique distinctions between the Iranian plateau, Syro-Mesopotamia, and the two Mediterranean basins. Alexandria was one of the points where these worlds intersected, though sub-Saharan Africa, to which it formally belonged, remained largely beyond its horizon until the twentieth century.
Effects of a stylus on the surface roughness determination in a contact method for paper and paperboard
Authors: Jeong Hyun Seok , Ko Young Chan , Kim Hyoung-Jin
Published: October 2019

Surface characterization is important and has many applications in the paper industry. It includes both surface roughness and surface friction. In determining the surface roughness of paper and paperboard, non-contact methods such as air-leak methods In characterizing the surface roughness of paper and paperboard, it has been a common practice that the average roughness with the coefficient of variation (COV) has been conventionally determined. This practice, however, this runs the risk of drawing wrong conclusions since two different surfaces having the same average roughness and COV can exhibit totally different properties. To avoid such mistake, a stylus-type contact method has been developed to determine surface roughness of paper and paperboard such as printing & writing (P&W), kraft and liners. In this method, surface roughness profile has been generated to determine its variability which has been defined as the mean deviation from the roughness average, referred to as MDRA. In determining the MDRA, it is noted that thickness measurement is not required. In this method, stylus shape and size, contact force of the stylus to the surface, scan speed and resolution have been identified as the key parameters of generating stable surface roughness profiles. It has been further identified that the optimal conditions on these parameters should depend on paper grade. It is suggested that a stylus-type contact method should be used to determine surface roughness of paper and paperboard to help determine their practical applications such as printing, coating and embossing.
Mitochondrial dysfunction and energy deprivation in the mechanism of neurodegeneration
Authors: Abramov Andrey Y. , Angelova Plamena R.
Published: October 2019

Energy-producing organelles mitochondria are involved in a number of cellular functions. Deregulation of mitochondrial function due to mutations or effects of mitochondrial toxins is proven to be a trigger for diverse pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders. Despite the extensive research done in the last decades, the mechanisms by which mitochondrial dysfunction leads to neuronal deregulation and cell death have not yet been fully elucidated. Brain cells are specifically dependent on mitochondria due to their high energy demands to maintain neuronal ion gradients and signal transduction, and also, to mediate neuronal health through the processes of mitochondrial calcium homeostasis, mitophagy, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial dynamics. Some of these processes have been independently implicated in the mechanism of neuronal loss in neurodegeneration. Moreover, it is increasingly recognised that these processes are interdependent and interact within the mitochondria to ensure proper neuronal function and survival.
Optimizing college health promotion in the digital age: Comparingperceived well-being, health behaviors, health education needs and preferences between college students enrolled in fully online verses campus-based programs
Authors: Burcin Michelle M. , Armstrong Shelley N. , Early Jody O. , Godwin Holly
Published: October 2019

Background: There is little published about non-traditional and online college students’ health and well-being. College health services must evolve to address the needs of this growing population. The purpose of this study was to explore risk factors, perceived well-being, health behaviors, and health education preferences of US college students enrolled in a fully online academic programs compared to a national sample of college students enrolled in campus based programs. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a volunteer sample of 961 college students enrolled in two large, U.S. accredited online universities. Participants completed an online survey that included questions and sub scales from the National College Health Assessment (NCHA, IIb). Responses on survey items from student learning online were compared to an equal sample of college students enrolled in non-online programs, randomly drawn from the NCHA IIb national data set (n = 961). Frequencies on survey items were calculated and mean scores of subset measures for online students were compared against those from the NCHA data set using two tailed z-test scores and independent sample t-tests with alpha at 0.05. Results: Online students reported significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher percentages of chronic illnesses, psychiatric conditions, mobility disabilities, deafness/hearing loss, speech/language disorders,cigarette use, obesity, sedentary activity, and depression than the NCHA national sample. Implication for Practice: Health professionals and leaders who work in higher education must consider the shifting landscape and demographics in higher education in order to develop more tailored, innovative digital health promotion approaches that effectively reach the growing population of online, commuter, and older learners.
Associations between optimism, tobacco smoking and substanceabuse among Iranian high school students
Authors: Marin Soudabeh , Heshmatian Esmaeil , Nadrian Haidar , Fakhari Ali , Mohammadpourasl Asghar
Published: October 2019

Background: Optimism is known to be associated with many health behaviors. However, the associations between optimism, tobacco smoking and substance abuse in adolescents are not well documented. This study aimed to address this research gap in a large school-based population. Methods: Participants (N = 1104) were selected based on multi-stage cluster sampling method. Cigarette and hookah smoking behaviors, illicit drug use, optimism, and relevant covariates were measured using a validated questionnaire. Data were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression. Results: After adjustment, higher optimism score was a protective factor against being situated in advanced stages of cigarette smoking (odds ratio [OR] = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.84-0.91), hookah smoking (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.88-0.94), and illicit drugs usage (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.85-0.95). Moreover, the results showed that negative-stability and negative-globality domains of optimism were significantly higher among advanced-stage smokers and illicit drug users. Conclusion: Optimism was found to be a protective factor against tobacco smoking and substance abuse; whereas pessimism (negative-stability and negative-globality) was found to be a determinant factor. Further research is needed to investigate the effects of optimism on the transition in cigarette and hookah smoking stages.
The relationship between family social capital, social media use and life satisfaction in adolescents
Authors: Geraee Narjes , Eslami Ahmad Ali , Soltani Raheleh
Published: October 2019

Background: Nowadays, two social phenomena are identified as factors that significantly influence life satisfaction among adolescents: family social capital and social media use. This study aimed to investigate the direct and indirect relationships between family social capital and life satisfaction, and the possible mediating role of social media use between the variables among Iranian adolescents. Methods: In 2018, this cross-sectional study was carried out on 835 adolescents aged from 12to 19, in six high schools of Isfahan, Iran. Data were collected using a validated four-section questionnaire including demographic characteristics (3 items), life satisfaction (5 items), family social capital (31 items) and social media use (4 items) scales. IBM SPSS version 21 statistical software and AMOS version 24 were used to analyze the data. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the fit of model. The significance level of 0.05 was considered for all data analyses. Results: The findings indicated that family social capital and social media use explained 50%of the variance in life satisfaction. Social media use was found with a partial mediating role in the association between family social capital and life satisfaction. Family social capital was the strongest predictor of life satisfaction (β =0.681, P<0.001). The relationship between social media use and life satisfaction was also statistically significant (β =- 0.12, P<0.001). Conclusion: Social media use and family social capital should be considered while investigating the determinants of life satisfaction among adolescents.
Instagram as a social media tool about orthognathic surgery
Authors: Buyuk S Kutalmış , Imamoglu Tugce
Published: October 2019

Background: The aim of this short communication was to evaluate the quality and content of the Instagram posts about orthognathic surgery. Methods: Two hashtags #jawsurgery and #orthognathicsurgery were searched on Instagramin this retrospective Instagram post analysis study. Selected 100 posts for each hashtag were analyzed for type, total number of likes, comments, purpose and source. Results: Most of the posts about #jawsurgery were uploaded by patients (56.1%) who shared their personal experience. Most of the posts about #orthognathicsurgery also were uploaded by clinics (49.1%). Most of posts (39.6%) provided information about orthognathic surgery in #orthognaticsurgery. Posts generally involved by patient’s experience (49.1%), followed by patient information (28.1%), and advertisement (22.8%) in #jawsurgery. Conclusion: Patients should be educated by orthodontists and maxillofacial surgeons about Instagram platform that it is not an adequate or accurate source of information about orthognathic surgery in its current form.
Possibilities to Support Heterogeneous Mobile Services in Vehicle Communication Networks
Authors: Dzemydienė Dalė , Kurmis Mindaugas , Baikštienė Vilija , Dzindzalieta Ramūnas
Published: October 2019

Research on the provision of heterogeneous services in the field of intelligent transport is of great interest in the rapidly changing infrastructure of road transport. In particular, the availability of such services has increased through the use of wireless technologies and communication tools. The current development of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and the integration of intelligent transport platforms and service systems make it possible to significantly improve road safety and reduce the likelihood of road accidents. However, the delivery of mobile-smart services requires the development of a rather sophisticated infrastructure to support multicast services. The purpose of this scientific article is to analyze the data transmission capabilities for heterogeneous services while ensuring road safety. The paper deals with the tasks of evaluating the possibilities of integrating such mobile services into the infrastructure of motor vehicles. Measuring bandwidth by enabling multicast services on the base of Ad-hoc wireless networks becomes an important task. The demonstrated results illustrate the capabilities of wireless networks by simulating these services in a transport service generating environment. The paper demonstrates that high-quality heterogeneous services require new wireless network interaction protocols, such as a session initiation protocol (SIP), GPRS functionality, routing protocols, and channel access to provide a large number of supportive service components.
A long and troublesome journey: People's perceptions and attitudes along the migratory path of a scavenger bird.
Authors: Ballejo Fernando , Graña Grilli Maricel , Lambertucci Sergio Agustín
Published: October 2019

In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in integrating the social sciences and conservation studies to inform a more realistic management approach. Indeed, an understanding of people's perception of fauna helps in the evaluation of possible conflicts with humans, and provides tools to solve these conflicts. However, perceptions may change along different parts of a species' geographical distribution. Scavenger birds are not exempt from these conflicts as many farmers blame them for attacking and killing livestock. We evaluated the knowledge, perceptions and attitude of people regarding New World vultures along a migratory path in South America. We conducted 114 interviews with farmers in six different localities between Argentine Patagonia and central Bolivia. About half (48.2%) of the interviewees considered vultures harmful to livestock and a substantial number (24.5%) considered killing these birds as a solution for the conflict. The perception of the damage caused by these birds was worse in vultures' wintering and breeding areas, than along the migration route. People with a higher level of education and greater numbers of livestock exhibited more negative perceptions. However, many people (53%) still believed that scavenger birds are important for the environment. Our results suggest that acknowledgment of services provided by scavengers makes killing of scavengers less likely. Educational strategies are needed to increase levels of appreciation toward the ecosystem services provided by vultures, over those of perceived damages.
Role of Public and Private Partnership in Implementing Development Strategies of the South of Russia
Authors: Nikitaeva Anastasia , Maslyukova Elena , Podgainov Denis
Published: October 2019

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of public and private partnership (PPP) in implementing strategic priorities for developing the regions of Southern Russia. Public and private partnership is currently one of the priority mechanisms for developing regional infrastructure, modernizing industry, establishing “smart” digital environment, improving social facilities, housing and communal services.
Taking into account these factors, the authors suggest an approach to analysing the relationship between the level of PPP development in the regions of Southern Russia and key strategic development vectors by means of identifying the relation between the integrated indicators characterizing the level of social and economic development of regions, investment and innovation attractiveness, digitalization and energy efficiency of the corresponding regions of the South of Russia and the PPP development index. The graphical representation of the regions of Southern Russia in respect of the relevant integrated indicators reveales that higher competitive positions are provided in the following leading regions of the South of Russia: Krasnodar and Stavropol krai, Rostov, Volgograd and Astrakhan regions. The analysis makes it possible to identify interregional gaps in the period under study in terms of investment attractiveness, innovativeness, energy efficiency and digitalization of the regions of Southern Russia. It is determined that there exists a high level of regional “stratification” according to the level of social and economic development and public and private partnership (PPP) development. The study shows a high level of relationship between the strategic development of the regions of Southern Russia and the level of public and private partnership (PPP) development. In accordance with the obtained results the authors propose recommendations for improving institutional environment and management tools to enhance the public and private cooperation.
Innovative Potential of Volgograd Region: Assessment and Prospects of Implementation
Authors: Khryseva Anna , Akimova Olga , Volkov Sergey
Published: October 2019

The article is devoted to the study of the innovative potential of Volgograd region in the context of developing technological and innovative entrepreneurship. The article defines the contribution of Volgograd region to the development of high-technological business in Russia carried out on the basis of the analysis of empirical data, discusses the main problems of innovative growth, and suggests a model for developing and implementing innovation potential in the territory under consideration. The methodological basis of this study is quantitative and qualitative analysis of the statistical data of the Federal Service for State Statistics, the national report “High-Technological Business in Russia”, and, moreover, the rating of innovative companies in Russia and the rating of innovative regions for the purposes of monitoring and management developed by the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, with the participation of representatives of regional administrations and leading country experts. The results of this study may be useful to the officials responsible for the development of entrepreneurship and innovation, both at the regional and federal levels.
One of the perspective directions of developing innovative potential in the region may be creating clusters, including the unification of various participants in innovative activities. An important fact is involving all actors of the region taking into account the degree of the development of the scientific and educational sphere and innovative entrepreneurship. In this regard, the most appropriate model of the development of innovative potential for Volgograd region can be the production and scientific model.