bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A streaming multi-GPU implementation of image simulation algorithms for scanning transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Pryor Alan , Ophus Colin , Miao Jianwei
Published: October 2017

Simulation of atomic-resolution image formation in scanning transmission electron microscopy can require significant computation times using traditional methods. A recently developed method, termed plane-wave reciprocal-space interpolated scattering matrix (PRISM), demonstrates potential for significant acceleration of such simulations with negligible loss of accuracy. Here, we present a software package called Prismatic for parallelized simulation of image formation in scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) using both the PRISM and multislice methods. By distributing the workload between multiple CUDA-enabled GPUs and multicore processors, accelerations as high as 1000 × for PRISM and 15 × for multislice are achieved relative to traditional multislice implementations using a single 4-GPU machine. We demonstrate a potentially important application of Prismatic, using it to compute images for atomic electron tomography at sufficient speeds to include in the reconstruction pipeline. Prismatic is freely available both as an open-source CUDA/C++ package with a graphical user interface and as a Python package, PyPrismatic.
Predictors of Posthospital Transitions of Care in Patients With Advanced Cancer
Authors: Lage Daniel E. , Nipp Ryan D. , D'Arpino Sara M. , Moran Samantha M. , Johnson P. Connor , Wong Risa L. , Pirl William F. , Hochberg Ephraim P. , Traeger Lara N. , Jackson Vicki A. , Cashavelly Barbara J. , Martinson Holly S. , Greer Joseph A. , Ryan David P. , Temel Jennifer S. , El-Jawahri Areej
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Patients with advanced cancer experience potentially burdensome transitions of care after hospitalizations. We examined predictors of discharge location and assessed the relationship between discharge location and survival in this population.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study of 932 patients with advanced cancer who experienced an unplanned hospitalization between September 2014 and March 2016. Upon admission, we assessed patients’ physical symptoms (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System) and psychological distress (Patient Health Questionnaire-4). The primary outcome was discharge location (home without hospice, postacute care [PAC], or hospice [any setting]). The secondary outcome was survival.

Results

Of 932 patients, 726 (77.9%) were discharged home without hospice, 118 (12.7%) were discharged to PAC, and 88 (9.4%) to hospice. Those discharged to PAC and hospice reported high rates of severe symptoms, including dyspnea, constipation, low appetite, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Using logistic regression, patients discharged to PAC or hospice versus home without hospice were more likely to be older (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.05; P < .001), live alone (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.25 to 3.02; P < .003), have impaired mobility (OR, 5.08; 95% CI, 3.46 to 7.45; P < .001), longer hospital stays (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.20; P < .001), higher Edmonton Symptom Assessment System physical symptoms (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.003 to 1.032; P < .017), and higher Patient Health Questionnaire-4 depression symptoms (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.25; P < .027). Patients discharged to hospice rather than PAC were more likely to receive palliative care consultation (OR, 4.44; 95% CI, 2.12 to 9.29; P < .001) and have shorter hospital stays (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.91; P < .001). Patients discharged to PAC versus home had lower survival (hazard ratio, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.22 to 1.93; P < .001).

Conclusion

Patients with advanced cancer who were discharged to PAC facilities and hospice had substantial physical and psychological symptom burden, impaired physical function, and inferior survival compared with those discharged to home. These patients may benefit from interventions to enhance their quality of life and care.
MicroRNA Expression-Based Model Indicates Event-Free Survival in Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Lim Emilia L. , Trinh Diane L. , Ries Rhonda E. , Wang Jim , Gerbing Robert B. , Ma Yussanne , Topham James , Hughes Maya , Pleasance Erin , Mungall Andrew J. , Moore Richard , Zhao Yongjun , Aplenc Richard , Sung Lillian , Kolb E. Anders , Gamis Alan , Smith Malcolm , Gerhard Daniela S. , Alonzo Todd A. , Meshinchi Soheil , Marra Marco A.
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) whose disease is refractory to standard induction chemotherapy therapy or who experience relapse after initial response have dismal outcomes. We sought to comprehensively profile pediatric AML microRNA (miRNA) samples to identify dysregulated genes and assess the utility of miRNAs for improved outcome prediction.

Patients and Methods

To identify miRNA biomarkers that are associated with treatment failure, we performed a comprehensive sequence-based characterization of the pediatric AML miRNA landscape. miRNA sequencing was performed on 1,362 samples—1,303 primary, 22 refractory, and 37 relapse samples. One hundred sixty-four matched samples—127 primary and 37 relapse samples—were analyzed by using RNA sequencing.

Results

By using penalized lasso Cox proportional hazards regression, we identified 36 miRNAs the expression levels at diagnosis of which were highly associated with event-free survival. Combined expression of the 36 miRNAs was used to create a novel miRNA-based risk classification scheme (AMLmiR36). This new miRNA-based risk classifier identifies those patients who are at high risk (hazard ratio, 2.830; P ≤ .001) or low risk (hazard ratio, 0.323; P ≤ .001) of experiencing treatment failure, independent of conventional karyotype or mutation status. The performance of AMLmiR36 was independently assessed by using 878 patients from two different clinical trials (AAML0531 and AAML1031). Our analysis also revealed that miR-106a-363 was abundantly expressed in relapse and refractory samples, and several candidate targets of miR-106a-5p were involved in oxidative phosphorylation, a process that is suppressed in treatment-resistant leukemic cells.

Conclusion

To assess the utility of miRNAs for outcome prediction in patients with pediatric AML, we designed and validated a miRNA-based risk classification scheme. We also hypothesized that the abundant expression of miR-106a could increase treatment resistance via modulation of genes that are involved in oxidative phosphorylation.
Increased Brain Glucose Uptake After 12 Weeks of Aerobic High-Intensity Interval Training in Young and Older Adults
Authors: Robinson Matthew M , Lowe Val J , Nair K Sreekumaran
Published: October 2017

Context

Aerobic exercise training can increase brain volume and blood flow, but the impact on brain metabolism is less known.

Objective

We determined whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) increases brain metabolism by measuring brain glucose uptake in younger and older adults.

Design

Brain glucose uptake was measured before and after HIIT or a sedentary (SED) control period within a larger exercise study.

Setting

Study procedures were performed at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

Participants

Participants were younger (18 to 30 years) or older (65 to 80 years) SED adults who were free of major medical conditions. Group sizes were 15 for HIIT (nine younger and six older) and 12 for SED (six younger and six older).

Intervention

Participants completed 12 weeks of HIIT or SED. HIIT was 3 days per week of 4 × 4 minute intervals at over 90% of peak aerobic capacity (VO2peak) with 2 days per week of treadmill walking at 70% VO2peak.

Main Outcome Measures

Resting brain glucose uptake was measured using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scans at baseline and at week 12. Scans were performed at 96 hours after exercise. VO2peak was measured by indirect calorimetry.

Results

Glucose uptake increased significantly in the parietal-temporal and caudate regions after HIIT compared with SED. The gains with HIIT were not observed in all brain regions. VO2peak was increased for all participants after HIIT and did not change with SED.

Conclusion

We demonstrate that brain glucose metabolism increased after 12 weeks of HIIT in adults in regions where it is reduced in Alzheimer’s disease.
Gershom Scholem and America
Authors: Dweck Yaacob
Published: October 2017

This article traces the connections between Gershom Scholem and the United States. It opens with a narrative history of Scholem's visits to the United States before and after World War II and then discusses the reception of his postwar writings in the United States. Finally, it turns to his reflections on American writers and scholars in the final third of his career.
“All Our Theories Are Going to Be Carried Away by History”: Alexander Mitscherlich and American Psychoanalysis
Authors: Herzog Dagmar
Published: October 2017

Alexander Mitscherlich succeeded in his life project of returning psychoanalysis to post-Nazi central Europe—and securing for it far greater cultural prestige than it ever had in Sigmund Freud's own day—by advancing an idiosyncratic version of psychoanalysis as a secular moral-political language. Mitscherlich was also an effective public intellectual, serving as “the conscience of the nation,” a “gentle repentance-preacher.” Precisely what worked so well in the West German context was, however, anathema in America. This article explores the reasons for the depoliticized version of psychoanalysis ascendant in the postwar United States; the counterintuitive combination of factors shaping Mitscherlich's distinctive theorizing; and the many ironies in his delayed-reaction American reception in the 1990s and early 2000s, including in the unlikely realms of the turn-of-the-millennium “men's rights movement” (in its complex relation to second-wave feminism) and in post–Cold War international diplomacy, especially in sites of interethnic conflict.
A putative role for genome-wide epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in Huntington’s disease: A computational assessment
Authors: Mina Eleni , van Roon-Mom Willeke , Verschure Pernette , 't Hoen Peter A.C. , Thompson Mark , Kaliyaperumal Rajaram , Hettne Kristina , Schultes Erik , Mons Barend , Roos Marco
Published: October 2017

Background:Huntington's Disease (HD) is an incurable disease of the adult brain. Massive changes in gene expression are a prominent feature. Epigenetic effects have been reported to be implicated in HD, but the role of chromatin is not well understood. We tested if the chromatin state of dysregulated genes in HD is affected at a genome-wide scale and examined how epigenetic processes are associated with CpG-island-mediated gene expression.

Methods:Our general approach incorporates computational and functional analysis of public data before embarking on expensive wet-lab experiments. We compared the location in the genome of the genes that were deregulated in HD human brain, obtained from public gene expression data, to the location of particular chromatin marks in reference tissues using data from the ENCODE project.

Results:We found that differentially expressed genes were enriched in the active chromatin state, but not enriched in the silent state. In the caudate nucleus, the most highly affected brain region in HD, genes in the active state were associated with transcription, cell cycle, protein transport and modification, RNA splicing, histone post-translational modifications and RNA processing. Genes in the repressed state were linked with developmental processes and responses related to zinc and cadmium stimulus. We confirmed that genes within CpG-islands are enriched among HD dysregulated genes in human and mouse in HD. Epigenetic processes were associated more with genes that overlap with CpG-islands than genes that do not.

Conclusion:Our results suggest that massive transcriptional dysregulation in HD is not matched by large-scale relocation of gene activity, i.e. inactive chromatin regions are altered into actively expressed chromatin regions and vice versa. We expect that changes in epigenetic chromatin state might occur at the level of single genes (e.g. promoters, gene body) and scattered genomic sites (e.g. CTCF sites, enhancer regions) instead of large-scale genomic regions.
Science intensive technology for efficiency increase in carbon plastic dimension processing through continuous emission of fiber ytterbium laser
Authors: Котов Сергей , Kokotov Sergey , Блинков Владимир , Blinkov Vladimir , Григорьянц Александр , Grigoryants Aleksandr , Шиганов Игорь , Shiganov Igor , Инфимовский Юрий , Infimovsky Yuryi
Published: October 2017

As a result of the experimental investigations carried out on the dimension processing of carbon plastic of 3mm thick with the matrix on the basis of epoxy resin by continuous emission of the fiber ytterbium laser with λ=1.06 mkm of the wave length there are defined basic technological parameters ensuring high quality and processing speed. A comparative investigation of the processing method impact upon mechanical strength of samples investigated in accordance with RSS 33375-2015 is carried out.
The Enhanced Care Program: Impact of a Care Transition Program on 30‐Day Hospital Readmissions for Patients Discharged From an Acute Care Facility to Skilled Nursing Facilities
Authors: Rosen Bradley T. , Halbert Ronald J. , Hart Kelley , Diniz Marcio A. , Isonaka Sharon , Black Jeanne T.
Published: October 2017

BACKGROUND

Increased acuity of skilled nursing facility (SNF) patients challenges the current system of care for these patients.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the impact on 30‐day readmissions of a program designed to enhance the care of patients discharged from an acute care facility to SNFs.

DESIGN

An observational, retrospective cohort analysis of 30‐day hospital readmissions for patients discharged to 8 SNFs between January 1, 2014, and June 30, 2015.

SETTING

A collaboration between a large, acute care hospital in an urban setting, an interdisciplinary clinical team, 124 community physicians, and 8 SNFs.

PATIENTS

All patients discharged from Cedars‐Sinai Medical Center to 8 partner SNFs were eligible for participation.

INTERVENTION

The Enhanced Care Program (ECP) involved the following 3 interventions in addition to standard care: (1) a team of nurse practitioners participating in the care of SNF patients; (2) a pharmacist‐driven medication reconciliation at the time of transfer; and (3) educational in‐services for SNF nursing staff.

MEASUREMENT

Thirty‐day readmission rate for ECP patients compared to patients not enrolled in ECP.

RESULTS

The average unadjusted, 30‐day readmission rate for ECP patients over the 18‐month study period was 17.2% compared to 23.0% among patients not enrolled in ECP (P< .001). After adjustment for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, ECP patients had 29% lower odds of being readmitted within 30 days (P< .001). These effects were robust to stratified analyses, analyses adjusted for clustering, and balancing of covariates using propensity weighting.

CONCLUSIONS

A coordinated, interdisciplinary team caring for SNF patients can reduce 30‐day hospital readmissions.
Simulation on sensory impairment in older adults: nursing education
Authors: Macaden Leah , Smith Annetta , Croy Suzanne
Published: October 2017

Sensory impairments are identified as the most common chronic and disabling conditions of later life, impacting significantly on the quality of life and safety of older adults. Hospitals and care environments can present significant challenges to older adults with sensory impairments. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness on sensory and cognitive impairments with all health professionals, and nurses in particular, both to help develop an empathetic awareness of the impact of impairment and to minimise risk of adverse events. This article reports on a pedagogical innovation on the development and use of a simulation resource—primarily on sensory impairments in older adults—with first-year nursing students in an undergraduate nursing programme in a Scottish university. The article also reports on students' reflections on their experience of participating in this simulation.
Emotional labour: learning from the past, understanding the present
Authors: Elliott Chris
Published: October 2017

The number of nurses considering leaving the profession has continued to rise, and in many areas there is a nursing shortfall. For many of those leaving the profession, the decision results from workplace stress. This article examines the concept of emotional labour, which has been linked to compassion fatigue and subsequent burnout. Emotional labour is the term used to describe the process of displaying outward emotion that may not match our internal emotion; this dissonance can lead to highly stressful situations. The concept is explored from a genealogical perspective, specifically focusing on how gender, socio-political and health cultures have influenced the evolution of the discourse that defines how emotional labour is perceived, understood and valued. This article will identify what has shaped the discourse and how the historical influences have influenced perceptions. The article identifies that emotional labour has traditionally been viewed as women's work and has been undervalued. The influence of male nurses and the gradual decline of heavy industry has served to improve the understanding and value of the concept. Lessons from the past can inform the management of the stresses of emotional labour. Emotional labour is a recognised component of workplace stress and this article makes a number of recommendations for further research or management strategies, which may assist in the recognition and management of the stresses nurses face when delivering emotionally demanding care.
Recruit and retain: planning to expand the mental healthcare workforce
Authors: Glasper Alan
Published: October 2017

Emeritus Professor Alan Glasper, University of Southampton, discusses an initiative by health secretary Jeremy Hunt to expand the mental health workforce of the NHS in England
Support the support workers
Authors: Foster Sam
Published: October 2017

Sam Foster, Chief Nurse, Oxford University Hospitals, examines the issue of the recruitment and retention of healthcare support workers, and considers what encourages staff to stay in a job
Experiences of peripheral IV insertion in hospital: a qualitative study
Authors: Larsen Emily , Keogh Samantha , Marsh Nicole , Rickard Claire
Published: October 2017

Adult medical and surgical patients admitted to tertiary hospitals regularly have peripheral venous catheters (PVCs) inserted for their treatment. Anecdotally, patients report varying levels of pain and anxiety during the insertion procedure; however, lived experiences of patients are not well documented in the literature. The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of patients' experiences of PVC insertion. Some 10 participants were purposively sampled for semi-structured interviews, from the medical and surgical wards at a tertiary hospital in Queensland, Australia. Four key themes developed from the interview data: communication between the patient and the inserter; technique of device insertion; competence of the inserter; and location of the device. These themes informed practical ways that nurses might improve the patient experience, including: consultation with patients regarding device insertion preferences; siting the PVC in locations other than the antecubital fossa and hand; ensuring experienced and confident inserters are available to insert PVCs.
Veterinary hospice: a compassionate option at the end of a pet's life?
Authors: Taylor Claire Louise
Published: October 2017

In veterinary medicine, palliative care is a relatively recent topic, with the demand for high quality hospice and palliative care for terminally ill companion animals increasing and more owners being attracted to practices that offer such services. Death of an animal is a common occurrence in veterinary practice witnessed by veterinary professionals on a daily basis; despite this, veterinary staff remain apprehensive about approaching the subject of end-of-life care with owners. End-of-life care can be a challenging period for veterinary personnel as most staff have not had any comprehensive training to consistently deliver the best possible end-of-life experience. The complex and delicate issue of end-of-life care can be introduced to the owners following the diagnosis of a terminal illness, allowing the owners to explore alternative veterinary care to euthanasia. It is important that the owners understand that palliative care is not curative but may increase the amount of time that the owners have with a pet following a terminal diagnosis. Owners can experience spiritual conflict when faced with the impending death of a pet and require support from veterinary professionals for assistance during this difficult period. Following the bereavement of a pet, grieving owners often experience disenfranchised grief as it is often trivialised in society, it is understandable then that owners seeking understanding and validation often turn to the veterinary profession for support.
Identification and Counting of Soybean Aphids from Digital Images Using Shape Classification
Authors: Shajahan Sunoj , Sivarajan Saravanan , Maharlooei Mohammadmehdi , Bajwa Sreekala G. , Harmon Jason P. , Nowatzki John F. , Cannayen Igathinathane
Published: October 2017

Abstract. Soybean aphids are serious pests, causing negative yield impacts in the crop. Assessing their population is essential for making appropriate pesticide application decisions. Manual identification and counting, which is commonly performed to determine the economic threshold level, is time-consuming, laborious, and causes visual fatigue. In this study, an automatic image processing method was developed to identify and count aphids as well as exoskeletons and leaf spots on soybean leaves based on shape analysis. Aphid-infested soybean trifoliates were obtained at three infestation rates (low, medium, and high). Images of the front sides of the leaves were captured in the laboratory with three cameras (digital single-lens reflex or DSLR, consumer-grade digital, and smartphone) under two lighting conditions (direct and indirect). The shape parameters considered were area, perimeter, convex area, eccentricity, aspect ratio, solidity, hollowness, and roundness. Among the shape parameters tested, hollowness was the best in identifying aphids and was therefore used for developing the object classification algorithm. Of the three cameras tested, images from the consumer-grade digital camera produced the best identification accuracy (>82.4%), followed by the DSLR camera (>81.2%) and smartphone camera (>37.9%). Statistical analysis revealed that the accuracies did not differ significantly under different lighting conditions (p = 0.43), but the accuracies differed for the smartphone camera compared to the DSLR and consumer-grade digital cameras (p = 8.87 × 10-10). The results of automatic and manual counting were very well correlated (r = 0.92). The automatic image processing method achieved more rapid counting (<2 s per image after loading the image) compared to manual counting (~5 min per image). The developed approach for aphid identification and counting can be easily applied to other pest identification issues with minor modifications to the algorithm. Keywords: Aphids, Classification, Image processing, Segmentation, Shape analysis, Soybean.
Ammonia Nitrogen Removal Using Oyster Shell as Alkalinity-Releasing Media in a Biological Nitrification System
Authors: Han Zhiying , Li Changwei , Fan Rong , Lin Xiaochang , Liu Dezhao , Wang Shuo , Zhu Songming , Ye Zhangying
Published: October 2017

Abstract.

The booming shellfish aquaculture industry in China generates a large amount of oyster shell (OS) as a byproduct, which poses an urgent threat to the sensitive ecosystem. In this study, the feasibility of enhanced NH4+-N removal from wastewater using OS as an alkalinity provider was explored using a set of shaken flasks continuously operated in batch mode. The results indicated that NH4+-N removal was enhanced due to the presence of OS, considering the variations in NH4+-N concentration and NH4+-N removal efficiency. Furthermore, the nitrification rate, calculated as NH4+-N removed per hour, was higher with greater OS addition. The most important result is an equation for estimating OS addition, based on alkalinity analysis, that provides a reference for the design of nitrifying biofilters with OS as media. Additionally, the alkalinity released from OS due to biological nitrification was confirmed using x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Keywords: Alkalinity, Ammonia nitrogen, Nitrification, Oyster shell (OS), pH, Wastewater.
Relationship of Strawberry Yield with Microclimate Factors in Open and Covered Raised-Bed Production
Authors: Condori Bruno , Fleisher David H. , Lewers Kimberly S.
Published: October 2017

Abstract.

Supply for the fresh strawberry (× Duchesne ex Rozier) market in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region is frequently supplemented by product grown in states outside the region. The adoption of repeat-fruiting cultivars specially bred for this area can benefit local and regional growers, but production systems suited to meet the cultural needs of these varieties must be evaluated. The relationships between yields from five repeat-fruiting cultivars grown in either uncovered (open) or plastic-covered (tunnel) raised-bed systems and associated microclimate factors were assessed from data collected over a three-year period at the USDA-ARS facility in Beltsville, Maryland. Average in-season yields were 40% higher and berry numbers were 150% higher for production in tunnel versus open systems when averaged across all cultivars, years, and harvests. This yield difference was attributed to warmer temperatures in the tunnel system that enabled extension of the growing season, higher weekly yields, and higher light use efficiency. Temperature and solar radiation accounted for more than 41% of the variance between yield and all measured microclimatic factors. Maximum 24 h temperatures averaged 3.5°C, 1.6°C, and 0.8°C higher, respectively, at the air (Ta), crown (Tc), and bed (Tb) positions in the tunnel system, and daily photosynthetically active radiation was 34% lower in the tunnel system. A four-week period between floral initiation and fruit maturity was estimated as representative of the floral development period and was used as a basis for obtaining cardinal temperatures. The optimum temperature averaged 26.8°C, 28.6°C, and 27.9°C at Ta, Tc, and Tb, respectively. Yields were positively correlated with daily light integral at temperatures below these thresholds, and higher slopes from the relationship of yield versus light were observed for tunnel production. Predicted yields using the beta function were shown to match observed values well in either production system, especially when Tc data were used, and can be used for production system design and management. Keywords: Modeling, Plastic tunnels, Solar radiation, Strawberries, Temperature, Yields.
Prospects of Laser Doppler flowmetry application in assessment of skin microcirculation in diabetes
Authors: Kulikov Dmitry A. , Glazkov Alexey A. , Kovaleva Yulia A. , Balashova Natalia V. , Kulikov Alexander V.
Published: October 2017

This review includes results of scientific and clinical use of laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) in patients with diabetes mellitus. LDF is a non-invasive method for the quantitative evaluation of microcirculation, which can assess microcirculatory rhythms and conduct functional tests with various impacts, allowing the exploration of regulatory mechanisms of microcirculation.
LDF reveals specific diabetes changes in the regulatory function of microcirculation. Microcirculation disturbances, which are traditionally associated with the pathogenesis of complications, also occur in patients with early disorders of carbohydrate metabolism and may precede the manifestation of diabetes. However, this method is still not applied in clinical practice. In this review, we analysed factors limiting the implementation of LDF in practical medicine and suggest ways to improve its clinical significance.
In silico validation of microalgal metabolites against Diabetes mellitus
Authors: Selvaraj Gurudeeban , Kaliamurthi Satyavani , Elibol Çakmak Zeynep , Çakmak Turgay
Published: October 2017

Aim. Present study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of microalgal metabolites as ligands for anti-diabetic target proteins viz., glucokinase, fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase, glycogen synthase kinase, cytochrome P450, multi drug resistant protein, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-(PPAR) via computational approach.
Matherials and methods. Three-dimensional structures of microalgal metabolites were retrieved from PubChem database and were energy minimized. The active site of target protein was predicted through PDB sum. Molecular docking was performed with microalgae metabolites by using Hex 8.0 and DockThor server.
Results. Hex docking revealed that the binding interaction of fucoxanthin was higher with fructose 1.6 bis-phosphatase (-298.31), human multidrug resistant protein 1 (-369.67), and PPAR(-404.18). DockThor docking indicated that zeaxanthin with glucokinase produced higher total energy (111.23 kcal/mol) and interaction energy (-2.99 kcal/mol). Lutein with fructose 1.6 bis phosphatase, human multidrug resistant protein, glycogen synthase kinase, PPARand cytochrome p450 produced higher total energy and interaction energy.
Conclusion. Further studies will assess the anti-diabetic effect of carotenoids of microalgae especially lutein, zeaxanthin and fucoxanthin.
Macular oedema as manifestation of diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Bikbov Mukharram M. , Fayzrakhmanov Rinat R. , Zaynullin Rinat M. , Zaynetdinov Artur F. , Gilmanshin Timur R. , Kalanov Marat R.
Published: October 2017

Diabetes mellitus is the third most dangerous disease of our time preceded by cardiovascular diseases and oncologic pathology.
According to the International Diabetes Federation (January 1, 2016), worldwide approximately 415 million people aged 2079 years suffer from diabetes.
The most significant manifestations of diabetes mellitus are lesions of the retina and blood vessels, which manifest as diabetic retinopathy and macular oedema, which lead to the inevitable loss of vision and disability in patients of working age. The existence of multile diagnostic methods and a broad classification provide an evidence of the complex nature of the pathological process of the macular zone in diabetes mellitus. However, to date, a single, generalised and accepted classification does not exist. Difficulties in the treatment of diabetic maculopathy are attributed to various forms of retinal lesions and ambiguities in the approach used to choose the disease management.
It determines the importance of the development of diagnostic methods for the further correction of the standard treatment approach. New directions of surgical treatment allow relying on the best results of diabetic maculopathy treatment.
Features of carbohydrate metabolism and incretin secretion in patients with Cushing disease and acromegaly
Authors: Matchekhina Lubov V. , Shestakova Ekaterina A. , Belaya Zhanna E. , Astafieva Lyudmila I. , Nikankina Larisa V. , Shestakova Marina V.
Published: October 2017

Aim. This study aims to analyse the rhythm and levels of incretins and neuropeptides secretion in patients with Cushing disease (CD) and acromegaly, and thus specify the pathogenesis of carbohydrate metabolism disturbances.
Matherials and methods. In this study, 42 patients (mean age, 37.5 years) with CD and acromegaly were enrolled. All patients were newly diagnosed with CD and acromegaly, and none had a history of previous drug therapy, radiotherapy or pituitary surgery. All patients underwent OGTT, during which glucose, glucagon, GLP-1, GLP-2, GIP and ghrelin were evaluated at 0, 30 and 120 min, respectively.
Results. During OGTT, glucose levels were not significantly different between the groups. The relevance of pre-diabetes was higher in patients with CD. In these patients, while glucagon levels were substantially higher at all cut-off points than those in controls (р = 0.001), GIP secretion was slightly lower. The acromegaly group was characterised by an inverse rhythm of GIP secretion with no peak level at 30 min. In addition, GLP-1 levels were significantly higher in patients with CD (р = 0.047). Similarly, GLP-2 levels were also significantly higher in patients with CD than in those with acromegaly and controls (p = 0.001). Finally, ghrelin levels were significantly higher in patients with CD (р = 0.013) and acromegaly (р = 0.023).
Conclusion. More pleiotropic actions of glucocorticoids can explain the higher relevance of carbohydrate metabolism disturbances in patients with CD. This can also be explained by higher levels of glucagon secretion, which do not depend on the type of carbohydrate metabolism disorder and are stimulated by a direct action of glucocorticoids on the glucagon receptor. GIP and GLP-1 secretion in patients with CD and acromegaly are characterised by the inverse rhythm with no peak levels, implying that these hormones do not play a crucial role in the development of carbohydrate disturbances in these patients. In contrast, GLP-2 and ghrelin seem to influence and potentially regulate glucose homeostasis in patients with CD and acromegaly.
Evolution of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for the treatment of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Galstyan Gagik R. , Karataeva Evgeniya A. , Yudovich Ekaterina A.
Published: October 2017

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are a class of antidiabetic drugs developed over the past 15 years. GLP-1, a gastrointestinal peptide hormone that contributes to the postprandial incretin effect, stimulates glucose-dependent insulin secretion. The incretin effect is greatly diminished in type 2 diabetes, but can be restored by GLP-1RAs. These drugs also exert other GLP-1 effects, including reducing glucagon secretion, delaying gastric emptying, reducing food intake, improving cardiac ventricular function, and lowering blood pressure. Short-acting GLP-1RAs are administered once daily (lixisenatide) or twice daily (exenatide); long-acting GLP 1RAs are administered once daily (liraglutide) or once weekly (slow-release exenatide, dulaglutide, albiglutide). All GLP-1RAs significantly reduce glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients with type 2 diabetes whose glycemic control is inadequate with oral antidiabetic drugs. Compared with other antidiabetic medications, GLP-1RAs provide better glycemic control with the additional benefit of weight loss. Within this class, long-acting GLP-1RAs are more efficacious than short-acting GLP-1RAs, with similar or lower risk of hypoglycemia and lower incidence of gastrointestinal adverse effects. Head-to-head trials and a network meta-analysis suggest that once daily liraglutide is the most effective GLP-1RA in reducing HbA1c. Dulaglutide is the only once-weekly GLP 1RA demonstrated to be noninferior to liraglutide. The once-weekly GLP-1RAs offer additional advantages to patients, including fewer injections and easy-to-use, single-dose pen devices. Despite the relatively recent development of GLP-1RAs, international diabetes guidelines recognize the benefits of this class of drugs and recommend them as a treatment option for patients with type 2 diabetes.
Degree of Chitosan Deacetylation on Antimicrobial Properties of Nylon 6,6 Fabrics
Authors: Varan N. Y.
Published: October 2017

The aim of this study is to research the effects of degree of deacetylation (DD) of chitosan on the antimicrobial properties of nylon 6,6 fabrics. Chitosan (70% DD) was deacetylated to 98% DD. Subsequently, nylon 6,6 fabrics with a warp-knitted powernet structure were treated with 1% chitosan (70% or 98% DD) by separately crosslinking with 0.1% dimethylol dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU). Treated samples were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. Antimicrobial tests showed that all treated samples had very good antimicrobial activity even after 10 washes. Fabrics treated with lower DD (70%) chitosan exhibited better antimicrobial activity.
Existence of variational solutions for time dependent integrands via minimizing movements
Authors: Schätzler Leah
Published: October 2017

We prove the existence of variational solutions to equations of the form

where the function
Exploring the effects of school context on Chinese students’ use of language learning strategies in English learning
Authors: Rao Zhenhui , Huang Lin
Published: October 2017

The research reported here investigated the effects of contextual factors on Chinese students’ use of language learning strategies in English learning. The study differed from most of the previous studies on learning strategies in that the data were examined within Biggs (1993. What do inventories of students’ learning processes really measure? A theoretical review and clarification. British Journal of Educational Psychology 63. 3–19.) 3P (Presage, Process and Product) model of learning. Using a Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (Oxford, R. L. 1990. Language learning strategies: What every teacher should know. New York: Newbury House Publishers.) and interview, the researchers discovered the disparities in the use of learning strategies in English learning between the students from urban schools and those from rural schools. The former made a more frequent use of the strategies leading to the improvement of communicative competence and active involvement in classroom activities, whereas the latter showed a strong preference for the strategies relevant to the analysis of grammatical rules and linguistic details. An in-depth analysis of the data revealed that the differences in strategy use between the two groups might stem from some social and economic factors and could be linked to three elements in Biggs’ 3P model: value and expectation, teacher competence and teaching facilities. The article concludes by discussing some implications for English as a foreign language (EFL) teaching in Chinese schools and other similar education settings worldwide.
The Failure of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (establishment etc.) Act 2004 as a Development Act
Authors: Ibe-Ojiludu Somadina
Published: October 2017

This write-up answered the question of why the 2004 Act which set up Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has failed to tame corruption in Nigeria. Reflecting on the numerous cases of political interference in the activities of the EFCC, the lack of some adequate funding of the activities of the commission and the EFCC’s plea bargaining regime, and relying on the thoughts of Charles Sherman and Ann Seidman and Robert Seidman, the write-up submits that the 2004 Act has principally failed to check corruption – and by extension has failed as a development Act – because it was not drafted and implemented for development.
Emerging technologies for high performance infrared detectors
Authors: Tan Chee Leong , Mohseni Hooman
Published: October 2017

Infrared photodetectors (IRPDs) have become important devices in various applications such as night vision, military missile tracking, medical imaging, industry defect imaging, environmental sensing, and exoplanet exploration. Mature semiconductor technologies such as mercury cadmium telluride and III–V material-based photodetectors have been dominating the industry. However, in the last few decades, significant funding and research has been focused to improve the performance of IRPDs such as lowering the fabrication cost, simplifying the fabrication processes, increasing the production yield, and increasing the operating temperature by making use of advances in nanofabrication and nanotechnology. We will first review the nanomaterial with suitable electronic and mechanical properties, such as two-dimensional material, graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, and metal oxides. We compare these with more traditional low-dimensional material such as quantum well, quantum dot, quantum dot in well, semiconductor superlattice, nanowires, nanotube, and colloid quantum dot. We will also review the nanostructures used for enhanced light-matter interaction to boost the IRPD sensitivity. These include nanostructured antireflection coatings, optical antennas, plasmonic, and metamaterials.
Die Handlungspflichten der GmbH-Geschäftsführer: Generalklausel vs. Einzelvorgaben
Authors: Schmidt Jessica
Published: October 2017

Zu den grundlegenden Fragen, die sich bei allen Gesellschaften aus der principal-agent-Problematik ergeben, gehört die Frage, welchen Handlungspflichten die Geschäftsführer unterliegen. Haben sie eine Sorgfaltspflicht und welche Sorgfaltsstandards gelten? Unterliegen Sie einer Treuepflicht und wie weit reicht diese? Dem Gesetzgeber stehen insoweit verschiedene Optionen offen: Er kann diese Fragen entweder komplett der Rechtsprechung und Lehre überlassen oder aber ganz oder teilweise gesetzlich regeln. Entscheidet er sich für eine (partielle) gesetzliche Regelung, so kann diese entweder im Wege einer Generalklausel erfolgen oder durch die Statuierung von mehr oder weniger detaillierten Einzelvorgaben. Der Beitrag gibt zunächst einen rechtsvergleichenden Überblick über die verschiedenen Regelungsansätze (I.). Anschließend wird ein näherer Blick auf das englische Recht geworfen (II.). Dieses erscheint aus deutscher Perspektive nicht nur aufgrund seiner wirtschaftlichen Bedeutung, sondern vor allem auch deshalb besonders interessant, weil die directors‘ duties dort traditionell reines common law waren, dann aber im Zuge der großen Gesellschaftsrechtsreform durch den Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006) kodifiziert wurden. Anknüpfend daran werden die Vor- und Nachteile des englischen Konzepts im Vergleich zum deutschen herausarbeitet und analysiert, welche rechtsvergleichenden Schlussfolgerungen sich hieraus ziehen lassen (III.).
Effects of Combined Strength and Endurance Training on Physical Performance and Biomarkers of Healthy Young Women
Authors: Kyröläinen Heikki , Hackney Anthony C. , Salminen Riikka , Repola Johanna , Häkkinen Keijo , Haimi Jari
Published: October 2017

Kyröläinen, H, Hackney, AC, Salminen, R, Repola, J, Häkkinen, K, and Haimi, J. Effects of combined strength and endurance training on physical performance and biomarkers of healthy young women. J Strength Cond Res 32(6): 1554–1561, 2018—Cardiovascular fitness has decreased and obesity has increased in young adults worldwide during the last 10 years. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find out optimal exercise training programs for improving physical performance and health outcomes, especially among sedentary women. Subjects were 25- to 30-year-old women with a very low physical activity, and 65% of them were overweight (body mass index > 25). They performed endurance and strength training 3 times a week for 9 weeks. Independent strength training and instructed endurance training by indoor cycling were prescribed. Measurements were performed before, in the middle, and after the training period. No nutritional guidelines were given to the subjects. The 9-week training period led to an 8.5% increase in estimated maximal oxygen uptake. Maximal isometric strength of the leg and arm extensors as well as trunk flexors and extensors increased by 28.9, 7.8, 27.2, and 16.1%, respectively. Total cholesterol values lowered by 7.6%, and high-density lipoprotein increased by 8.8%, whereas low-density lipoprotein, hemoglobin, serum glucose, and triglyceride remained unchanged. Serum cortisol increased by 22.7%, but no changes in plasma testosterone, estradiol, or sex hormone binding globulin were observed. The skeletal muscle mass increased by 0.8% without other changes in body composition. Our results indicated that only 27 combined endurance and strength training sessions in 9 weeks improved maximal endurance and strength capacity as well as some health outcomes. Thus, combined strength and endurance training itself can induce significant health benefits without the necessity of changes in dietary habits.
Intregração Latino-Americana e Educação: O plano trienal da educação para o MERCOSUL
Authors: Poletto Dorivaldo Walmor
Published: October 2017

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Possibilidades de interpretação do conteúdo simbólico da arte gráfica guarani.
Authors: Bordin Tocchetto Fernanda
Published: October 2017

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O solar da Travessa Paraíso: um exemplo de arqueologia história em Porto Alegre
Authors: Baptista Carle Cláudio , Javares Duarte de Oliveira Alberto
Published: October 2017

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Rompendo o silêncio: A participação feminina no Movimento Operário de Rio Grande-Pelotas (1890-1920)
Authors: Gonçalves da Silva Maria Amélia
Published: October 2017

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A pobreza na Espanha setecentista: o diagnóstico ilustrado
Authors: Moreira Earle Macarthy
Published: October 2017

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Antropologia e história: redimensionamento de paradigmas e um convite à congregação festiva
Authors: Do Nascimento Mara Regina
Published: October 2017

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ARTE FUNERARIA: APROPRIAÇÃO DA PIETÀ PELOS MARMORISTAS E ESCULTOBES CONTEMPORÂNEOS
Authors: Borges Maria Elizia
Published: October 2017

Resumo – O objetivo, dacomunicação presente é estabelecer um ponto comum entre as tradições do passado - Pietá de Michelangelo e suas referências presentes - “Sepultamento” por Victor Brecheret e outras obras feitas por escultores de pedra ítalo-brasileiros.
BUENOS AIRES: “OUTRA” MODERNIDADE
Authors: Wechsler Diana B.
Published: October 2017

Este trabalho é uma síntese de diferentes aspectos da minha pesquisa sobre a tensão modernidade à tradição no campo artístico de Buenos Aires. A hipótese central da investigação é focada na construção da modernidade, tentando olhar para fora dos atores, formações, instituições, tipos de produções, posições, debates, etc. A “influência/contaminação” da tradição da arte europeia em nossas artes é um aspecto importante deste trabalho. Este artigo considerou um momento particular para a consagração da modernidade na arte em Buenos Aires o “Salóndelcincuentenario de laciudad de La Plata” (1932). Com este texto meu objetivo é dar um olhar pontual em torno de um aspecto ligado ao nosso processo de aceitação da arte moderna na Argentina..
O urbanismo colonial e os símbolos do poder: o exemplo do Rio de Janeiro nos séculos XVII e XVIII
Authors: Bicalho Maria Fernanda B.
Published: October 2017

O presente artigo analisa a experiência da cidade colonial do Rio de Janeiro, nos séculos XVII e XVIII. Interpreta seu urbanismo, e discute como a Coroa Portuguesa presidiu as tarefas de fortificação e criação de cidades no exterior, assim como fez ao longo de todo o esforço de conquista no exterior. Como o centro da administração política, a arrecadação de impostos, comércio e defesa na vasta região centro-sul do Luso-América, Rio de Janeiro foi o palco privilegiado para o exercício da dominação metropolitana sobre a colônia. Assim, através de um estudo do Rio de Janeiro, este artigo discute como a espacialidade física, social e política das cidades coloniais portuguesas na América eram uma expressão simbólica de poder real metropolitano, e também um espaço para o cruzamento e confronto de interesses dos representantes da Coroa Portuguesa e seus vassalos coloniais.
A política nas ruas: os espaços públicos na cidade imperial do Rio de Janeiro
Authors: Morel Marco
Published: October 2017

A dimensão política das manifestações públicas que aconteceram nas ruas do Rio de Janeiro entre 1820 e 1840, ao mesmo tempo considerada como cidade e Corte, aponta para as mudanças que estavam ocorrendo nos espaços públicos durante a transição do absolutismo para a modernidade política. As diferentes ocupações dos bairros comércios, praças e locais públicos expressaram uma “disputa” para a proeminência dos polis - interferências políticas que foram delimitadas pela cena urbana predominantemente tradicional e ao mesmo tempo tentaram interferir e transformá-lo.