bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequency of Metabolic Syndrome in Male Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Khan MMR , Sana NK , Basak PM , Sarker BC , Islam M Akhtarul , Jahan KI , Rashid MHO , Rahman MK , Sarker A , Das CK , Majumder SC
Published: November 2018

Background: Acute myocardial infarction is the most common form of coronary heart disease and the single most important cause of premature death worldwide. A large proportion of patients with coronary disease have metabolic syndrome, although the frequency and association of its different components are not well understood. The risk of the metabolic syndrome on AMI has not been well evaluated.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its association with AMI patients. This study will help in awareness building in reducing AMI by early detection of metabolic syndrome.Patients and methods: This was a prospective observational study consisted of 222 persons of male AMI patients who were aged >20 years. Patients with first time AMI arriving in CCU of Rajshahi medical college during the period of 2012-2014, were included. Data were collected through interview, clinical examination, and laboratory tests. Five components of metabolic syndrome were defined according to criteria set by modified NCEP ATP III (according to ethnic variation) which had abdominal obesity (waist circumference), FBS, HDL-C, Triglyceride, and hypertension were measured within 24 hrs of AMI.Results: A total of 222 patients diagnosed with AMI were inducted in the study. The mean±SD age of the male was 53.51±11.63 years. Among the male patients highest percentage was in the age group 51-60 years (31.1%) followed by 41-50 years (27%) and then age group >60 (24.3%). Study showed that acute Myocardial infarction patients was more in age group >40 years of age. Highest percentage was observed in abdominal obesity (52.3%) followed by high blood pressure (50.0%) and FPG (46.4%). The Metabolic syndrome was 37.4 % (n=83).Conclusion: The metabolic syndrome was associated with an increased risk of AMI. The metabolic syndrome had a high prevalence in patients with AMI.TAJ 2014; 27(1): 57-61
Isolated Epididymal Tuberculosis : A Case Report
Authors: Haque M Manzurul , Kadir M Lailatul , Badruddoza SM , Islam Zahidul , Kamal AHM Mostofa
Published: November 2018

Isolated tubercular epididymitis is not a very common pathological entity. Tuberculosis of the epididymis is usually associated with infection of the ipselateral testis. More over it usually presented in early adult age group. Here we are communicating an isolated right epididymal tuberculosis in a sixty eight years old man. The diagnosis was suspected on clinical examination and ultrasonogram scanning of the testes and epididymis, was supported by FNAC study of the scrotal swelling and was confirmed by histopathological examination of excised lump following surgical exploration.TAJ 2014; 27(1): 64-66
Glycemic Targets
Authors: Ghose Sandipan
Published: November 2018

Abstract not availableTAJ 2014; 27(2): i
Prevalence of fatty liver in type 2 Diabetic patients: Experience from northern Bangladesh
Authors: Islam M Akhtarul , Basak PM , Sarkar BC , Khan MMR , Khanam MM , Das HS , Das Tapash Ranjan
Published: November 2018

This study was done to find out the prevalence of fatty liver in type2 Diabetic patients. This was a descriptive cross-sectional comparative study carried out in Department of Medicine, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital and Rajshahi Diabetic Association Hospital from July 2008 to June 2010. 100 (one hundred) diagnosed type2 diabetic patients were included. All of those study population were free from taking any hepatoxic drugs and free from any preexisting liver disease. This exclusion was done by history, through clinical examination and relevant investigations. Among 100 type2 diabetic patients, 66 (66%) had normal, 25 (25%) had mild fatty change, 6 (6%) had moderate fatty change in liver; 2 (2%) had mild hepatomegally and 1 (1%) had congested liver. Non had cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma.TAJ 2014; 27(2): 11-13
Troponin I Changes in Patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Sarker A , Hoque MA , Khan MMR , Rahman MK , Alam SM , Majumder S , Sardar MAH , Hasan MA
Published: November 2018

Background : Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a catastrophic neurological event. Aside from its neurological morbidities, SAH is associated with significant medical complications. Cardiac manifestations are common and can impact morbidity and mortality in SAH patients. Myocardial enzyme release occur frequently after Subarachnoid hemorrhage that reflect adverse intracranial events .These changes often are unrecognized or misinterpreted, potentially placing patients at risk for inappropriate management.Objective : The aim of this study was to assess Troponin I changes after acute SAH and these changes were compared with neurological severity. The result of the study might be helpful for better understanding diagnostic and therapeutic implications of acute neurocardiogenic injury after SAH.Patients and methods : This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted over 30 patients with SAH in medicine, neuromedicine and intensive care unit of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital during the period of January 2015 to December 2016. Predictor variables reflecting demographic (age, sex, occupation), hemodynamic (pulse, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) and neurological (WFNS score) informations were recorded. We evaluated their cTnI level, which had been measured at admission. A cTnI level above 0.12 ng/ml was defined as an indicator of cardiac injury following SAH.Results : Out of 30 patients 26.7% were both in between 40-49 years and 60-69 years age group & 50% were male and 50% were female. Among the risk factors 60% of patient had history of hypertension, 40% smoking, 10% Diabetes mellitus and 3.3% alcohol abuse. On admission the mean GCS was 12.53±2.69,. The most frequently occurring WFNS grading were grade 1 and grade 4 (both were 43.3% of patients). Out of Thirty, 43.3% of patients demonstrated elevations of Troponin I. WFNS score ≥ 3 (92.3%, p = <0.001) significantly correlated with elevated Troponin I concentration.Conclusion : serum troponin I reveal a higher incidence of myocardial injury in patients with SAH. The present study also demonstrates that raised serum cTnI is associated with more severe neurological injury. These findings support a neurocardiogenic cause of cardiac injury after SAH.TAJ 2014; 27(2): 39-43
Rate and Risk Factors for Conversion and Complications of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.
Authors: Sarker MM , Sarker MK , Perveen NA
Published: November 2018

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy has become the gold standard for the surgical treatment of gall bladder disease, but conversion to open cholecystectomy and both operative and post operative complications are still inevitable in certain cases. Knowledge of the rate and impact of the underlying reasons for conversion and complications could help surgeons during preoperative assessment and improve the informed consent of patients. In this study we retrospectively evaluated the rate and reasons for conversion and assessed complications of our laparoscopic cholecystectomy series. We included data of 720 consecutive patients who were attempted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy between January 2008 to March 2014 at Islami Bank Medical College Hospital, Rajshahi. The study included 468 (65%) female and 252 (35%) male with mean age of 38 years (range 16-78 years). Conversion to open procedure was carried out in 58 patients with conversion rate of 8.05%. Dense and extensive adhesions were the most common reasons for conversion (21, 36. 2%). The conversion rate due to operative complications was 13.8% of all converted cases. The major operative complications were extrahepatic bile ducts injuries 2(0.3%), duodenal injury 1(0.1%), excessive bleeding 10(1.4%). The incidence of postoperative complications was 2.8%. The most common post-operative complication was wound infection (11, 1. 52%) followed by biliary leakage in 4(0.55%) patients. Delayed complications seen in our series is port site hernia (1,0.13%). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the preferred method even in difficult cases. Conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy should be based on the sound clinical judgment of the surgeon and not be due to a lack of individual expertiseTAJ 2014; 27(2): 58-62
Gastroschisis and Omphalocele: A Case report
Authors: Shamima Mosammat Nargis , Hossain Mohd Alamgir , Jesmin Shahela , Jahan Nargis , Tasnim Noshin
Published: November 2018

Fetal gastroschisis and omphalocele are congenital defects of abdominal wall that are often diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound done for routine screening or for obstetric indications such as evaluating an elevated maternal serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP).Regular antenatal checkup and Prenatal ultrasound could potentially identify the overwhelming majority of abdominal wall defects and accurately distinguish omphalocele from gastroschisis. But in a developing country like Bangladesh neglected patients fail to seek antenatal visit and prenatal diagnosis. Here we report a case of gastroschisis and omphalocele diagnosed incidentally during last trimester.TAJ 2014; 27(2): 58-62
‘Singing Through the Wilderness’: Exile, Nomadic Lines of Flight and Music in Nancy Huston's Lignes de faille
Authors: Collie Sara Elizabeth
Published: November 2018

Exile is a central theme in Nancy Huston's fictional writing and her novels give voice to a range of experiences of this highly ambivalent condition. This article considers how theories of nomadism developed by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari can elucidate the different expressions of exiled identity in Lignes de faille (2006). I argue that the interest which Huston, her characters and nomadic theory have in music suggest that this creative practice can facilitate the emergence of new paths, directions and nomadic lines of flight. By comparing the exiled states of two characters – Kristina and Sadie – I investigate the potential and limitations of nomadism in situations that transcend purely theoretical contexts. I consider the wider implications of the transformative potential of music and other forms of creative practice within Huston's œuvre as a whole, arguing that writing fiction is Huston's means of ‘singing through the wilderness’ of her own exiled state
Divine Trial andExperimentum Mentis: The Psychoanalyst, the Imam, and the Ordeal of Madness
Authors: Pandolfo Stefania
Published: November 2018

Taking the lead from Lacan's experimentum mentis (Seminar VII) of adopting the point of view of the Last Judgement toward a psychoanalytic reconsideration of ethics, this paper traces the subjunctive forms of a conversation between a Moroccan psychoanalyst and a Qurʾanic scholar and religious therapist in their respective ways of engaging the ordeal of madness as a fundamental dimension of subjectivity, ethics, and politics. Implicitly proposing a framework for welcoming the Islamic problematic of the soul in psychoanalysis as an opening to thinking otherwise, it discusses their differing vision of psychic life, and their common attempt to understand the forms of subjective destruction that haunt our historical time. For the psychoanalyst this translated in an ethical, clinical, and existential engagement with psychosis, which took concrete form in his reformist experiment at the psychiatric hospital in Salé-Rabat, in the 1980s, and in his search to find ways of ‘listening’ to the unconscious at religious sites and liturgies; for the Imam in a theological, ethical, and clinical investment with the dialectic of the soul, its ‘battlefield’ (jihād al-nafs), and through the figure of ‘soul choking’ (taḍyīq al-nafs).
ʿAli al-Wardi and the Miracles of the Unconscious
Authors: Pursley Sara
Published: November 2018

In the 1950s, the Iraqi sociologist ʿAli al-Wardi attempted to work through, for a popular Iraqi readership, various theories of unconscious forces that shape human conduct, from Sufi conceptions of the hidden dimensions of the mind, to Freudian theories of the id and the super-ego, to insights into extrasensory psychic forces emerging from what al-Wardi considered to be the cutting-edge science of parapsychology. While earlier Iraqi intellectuals had engaged with Freudian terms in order to appropriate a reasoning ego worthy of sovereignty, al-Wardi was more interested in appropriating an unconscious, albeit one not entirely aligned with the Freudian understanding. According to al-Wardi, that understanding was too focused on the negative effects of the unconscious and neglected the miraculous or supernatural dimensions of the psyche. This project took on explicitly political and anticolonial implications in some of his works, which envisioned an Islamic revolutionary tradition that repeatedly disrupted the abstract reason of the state by drawing on the irrational but politically effective powers at the core of the human.
Spintronics of semiconductor, metallic, dielectric, and hybrid structures (100th anniversary of the Ioffe Institute)
Authors: Baranov P G , Kalashnikova A M , Kozub V I , Korenev V L , Kusrayev Yu G , Pisarev R V , Sapega V F , Akimov I A , Bayer M , Scherbakov A V , Yakovlev D R
Published: November 2018

Demands for miniaturization, increasing the operation speed and energy efficiency of electronic devices led to the emergence and rapid development of spin electronics, or spintronics. Several areas of experimental and theoretical research are considered, in which the Ioffe Institute is actively involved. We discuss current progress in developing semiconductor and hybrid structures that exhibit specified magnetic properties, the development of methods for manipulating individual spins, a theoretical description of switching of metallic heterostructures magnetization by an electric field, and ultrafast control of magnetization via manipulating the magnetic anisotropy by femtosecond laser pulses.
A Forecast Model of the Number of Containers for Containership Voyage
Authors: Wang Yuchuang , Shi Guoyou , Sun Xiaotong
Published: November 2018

Container ships must pass through multiple ports of call during a voyage. Therefore, forecasting container volume information at the port of origin followed by sending such information to subsequent ports is crucial for container terminal management and container stowage personnel. Numerous factors influence container allocation to container ships for a voyage, and the degree of influence varies, engendering a complex nonlinearity. Therefore, this paper proposes a model based on gray relational analysis (GRA) and mixed kernel support vector machine (SVM) for predicting container allocation to a container ship for a voyage. First, in this model, the weights of influencing factors are determined through GRA. Then, the weighted factors serve as the input of the SVM model, and SVM model parameters are optimized through a genetic algorithm. Numerical simulations revealed that the proposed model could effectively predict the number of containers for container ship voyage and that it exhibited strong generalization ability and high accuracy. Accordingly, this model provides a new method for predicting container volume for a voyage.
The Influence of Secondary Electron Emission and Electron Reflection on a Capacitively Coupled Oxygen Discharge
Authors: Proto Andrea , Gudmundsson Jon Tomas
Published: November 2018

The one-dimensional object-oriented particle-in-cell Monte Carlo collision code oopd1 is applied to explore the role of secondary electron emission and electron reflection on the properties of the capacitively-coupled oxygen discharge. At low pressure (10 mTorr), drift-ambipolar heating of the electrons dominates within the plasma bulk, while at higher pressure (50 mTorr), stochastic electron heating in the sheath region dominates. Electron reflection has negligible influence on the electron energy probability function and only a slight influence on the electron heating profile and electron density. Including ion-induced secondary electron emission in the discharge model introduces a high energy tail to the electron energy probability function, enhances the electron density, lowers the electronegativity, and increases the effective electron temperature in the plasma bulk.
Colorectal Cancer Presentation and Survival in Young Individuals: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ulanja Mark B. , Beutler Bryce D. , Rishi Mohit , Ogala Chioma , Patterson Darryll R. , Gullapalli Nageshwara , Ambika Santhosh
Published: November 2018

Emerging evidence suggests that the incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing among individuals under the age of 50 years. However, the pattern of disease presentation in young patients remains under investigation. This is a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) between 2004 and 2015. Data was acquired from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 program registries. A total of 269,398 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in the final analysis. The primary outcomes were the likelihood of metastatic disease at diagnosis and survival. Of the 269,389 patients diagnosed with CRC, 11.8% of the patients were young (20 to 49 years), 45.6% were middle-aged (50 to 69 years), and 42.6% were elderly (70 years or older). Individuals in the middle-aged and elderly cohorts were significantly less likely to present with metastatic disease as compared to the young cohort (middle-aged adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.70 to 0.75, elderly aOR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.47 to 0.50). However, overall survival was longest in the young cohort. We conclude that young individuals with colorectal cancer have an increased risk of presenting with distant metastases as compared to the middle-aged and elderly, but, nevertheless, exhibit prolonged survival.
Recreational Use of Spa Thermal Waters: Criticisms and Perspectives for Innovative Treatments
Authors: Valeriani Federica , Margarucci Lory Marika , Romano Spica Vincenzo
Published: November 2018

Natural spa springs are diffused all over the world and their use in pools is known since ancient times. This review underlines the cultural and social spa context focusing on hygiene issues, public health guidelines and emerging concerns regarding water management in wellness or recreational settings. The question of the "untouchability" of therapeutic natural waters and their incompatibility with traditional disinfection processes is addressed considering the demand for effective treatments that would respect the natural properties. Available strategies and innovative treatments are reviewed, highlighting potentials and limits for a sustainable management. Alternative approaches comprise nanotechnologies, photocatalysis systems, advanced filtration. State of the art and promising perspectives are reported considering the chemical-physical component and the biological natural complexity of the spa water microbiota.
Obesity in Older Type 2 Diabetic Patients: Does Working Environment Add Vulnerability?
Authors: Brandão Maria Piedade , Cardoso Margarida Fonseca
Published: November 2018

Little is known about how working adults with type 2 diabetes are managing their health. This study aims to analyze the associations between health, behavioral, and sociodemographic characteristics and obesity in older diabetic patients in Europe. Data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe was used to compare 1447 participants that were identified as having type 2 diabetes with 28,047 participants without diabetes. Multilevel logistic models stratified by type 2 diabetes examined the relationships of health, behavioral, and sociodemographic characteristics with obesity. The proportion of physical inactivity was significantly higher among those with type 2 diabetes (15.0% vs. 6.1%). Individuals with diabetes had more chronic diseases, more limitations in activities, higher body mass index, more depression, lower quality of life and well-being, and lower employment rate. Among those with type 2 diabetes, those employed were more likely to be obese (OR = 1.377, 95% CI, 1.023 to 1.853) and women were 52% more likely to be obese than men. The surveillance of weight in working environments should be required within workers with type 2 diabetes. It is concluded that this and other adjustments could be beneficial in people with diabetes.
Population Exposure to Ambient PM2.5 at the Subdistrict Level in China
Authors: Long Ying , Wang Jianghao , Wu Kang , Zhang Junjie
Published: November 2018

Fine-particulate pollution is a major public health concern in China. Accurate assessment of the population exposed to PM2.5 requires high-resolution pollution and population information. This paper assesses China’s potential population exposure to PM2.5, maps its spatiotemporal variability, and simulates the effects of the recent air pollution control policy. We relate satellite-based Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) retrievals to ground-based PM2.5 observations. We employ block cokriging (BCK) to improve the spatial interpolation of PM2.5 distribution. We use the subdistrict level population data to estimate and map the potential population exposure to PM2.5 pollution in China at the subdistrict level, the smallest administrative unit with public demographic information. During 8 April 2013 and 7 April 2014, China’s population-weighted annual average PM2.5 concentration was nearly 7 times the annual average level suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO). About 1322 million people, or 98.6% of the total population, were exposed to PM2.5 at levels above WHO’s daily guideline for longer than half a year. If China can achieve its Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Air Pollution targets by 2017, the population exposed to PM2.5 above China’s daily standard for longer than half a year will be reduced by 85%.
Activity of Antioxidant Enzymes and Their Association with Lipid Profile in Mexican People without Cardiovascular Disease: An Analysis of Interactions
Authors: Rivera-Mancía Susana , Jiménez-Osorio Angélica Saraí , Medina-Campos Omar Noel , Colín-Ramírez Eloísa , Vallejo Maite , Alcántara-Gaspar Ariadna , Cartas-Rosado Raúl , Vargas-Barrón Jesús , Pedraza-Chaverri José
Published: November 2018

Dyslipidemia and oxidative stress are both considered to be factors involved in cardiovascular disease; however, the relationship between them has been little explored. In this work, we studied the association between the lipid profile and the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as paraoxonase-1 (PON1), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), ceruloplasmin, and catalase, as well as total antioxidant capacity (the ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP)), in 626 volunteers without cardiovascular disease. Their lipid profile was evaluated, and they were classified as having or not having high triglycerides (↑TG), high low-density cholesterol (↑LDLC), and low high-density cholesterol (↓HDLC), resulting in eight groups: Without dyslipidemia, ↑TG, ↑LDLC, ↓HDLC, ↑TG↑LDLC, ↑TG↓HDLC, ↑LDLC↓HDLC, and ↑TG↑LDLC↓HDLC. When comparisons by group were made, no significant differences in the activity of antioxidant enzymes were obtained. However, the linear regression analysis considering the potential interactions between ↑TG, ↑LDLC, and ↓HDLC suggested a triple interaction between the three lipid profile alterations on the activity of PON1 and a double interaction between ↑TG and ↑LDLC on ferroxidase-ceruloplasmin activity. The analysis presented in this work showed an association between the lipid profile and antioxidant-enzyme activity and highlighted the importance of considering the interactions between the components of a phenomenon instead of studying them individually. Longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate the nature of these associations.
Intracerebral Delivery of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Using HyStem®-C Hydrogel Implants Improves Functional Recovery and Reduces Neuroinflammation in a Rat Model of Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Ravina Kristine , Briggs Denise I. , Kislal Sezen , Warraich Zuha , Nguyen Tiffany , Lam Rachel K. , Zarembinski Thomas I. , Shamloo Mehrdad
Published: November 2018

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Potential therapeutics aimed at neural repair and functional recovery are limited in their blood-brain barrier permeability and may exert systemic or off-target effects. We examined the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), delivered via an extended release HyStem®-C hydrogel implant or vehicle, on sensorimotor function, infarct volume, and neuroinflammation, following permanent distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAo) in rats. Eight days following dMCAo or sham surgery, treatments were implanted directly into the infarction site. Rats received either vehicle, BDNF-only (0.167 µg/µL), hydrogel-only, hydrogel impregnated with 0.057 µg/µL of BDNF (hydrogel + BDNFLOW), or hydrogel impregnated with 0.167 µg/µL of BDNF (hydrogel + BDNFHIGH). The adhesive removal test (ART) and 28-point Neuroscore (28-PN) were used to evaluate sensorimotor function up to two months post-ischemia. The hydrogel + BDNFHIGH group showed significant improvements on the ART six to eight weeks following treatment and their behavioral performance was consistently greater on the 28-PN. Infarct volume was reduced in rats treated with hydrogel + BDNFHIGH as were levels of microglial, phagocyte, and astrocyte marker immunoexpression in the corpus striatum. These data suggest that targeted intracerebral delivery of BDNF using hydrogels may mitigate ischemic brain injury and restore functional deficits by reducing neuroinflammation.
Glutathione Transferases: Potential Targets to Overcome Chemoresistance in Solid Tumors
Authors: Pljesa-Ercegovac Marija , Savic-Radojevic Ana , Matic Marija , Coric Vesna , Djukic Tatjana , Radic Tanja , Simic Tatjana
Published: November 2018

Multifunctional enzymes glutathione transferases (GSTs) are involved in the development of chemoresistance, thus representing a promising target for a novel approach in cancer treatment. This superfamily of polymorphic enzymes exhibits extraordinary substrate promiscuity responsible for detoxification of numerous conventional chemotherapeutics, at the same time regulating signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis. In addition to upregulated GST expression, different cancer cell types have a unique GST signature, enabling targeted selectivity for isoenzyme specific inhibitors and pro-drugs. As a result of extensive research, certain GST inhibitors are already tested in clinical trials. Catalytic properties of GST isoenzymes are also exploited in bio-activation of specific pro-drugs, enabling their targeted accumulation in cancer cells with upregulated expression of the appropriate GST isoenzyme. Moreover, the latest approach to increase specificity in treatment of solid tumors is development of GST pro-drugs that are derivatives of conventional anti-cancer drugs. A future perspective is based on the design of new drugs, which would selectively target GST overexpressing cancers more prone to developing chemoresistance, while decreasing side effects in off-target cells.
Chronic Exposure to Palmitate Impairs Insulin Signaling in an Intestinal L-cell Line: A Possible Shift from GLP-1 to Glucagon Production
Authors: Filippello Agnese , Urbano Francesca , Di Mauro Stefania , Scamporrino Alessandra , Di Pino Antonino , Scicali Roberto , Rabuazzo Agata Maria , Purrello Francesco , Piro Salvatore
Published: November 2018

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are characterized by insulin resistance and impaired glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion/function. Lipotoxicity, a chronic elevation of free fatty acids in the blood, could affect insulin-signaling in many peripheral tissues. To date, the effects of lipotoxicity on the insulin receptor and insulin resistance in the intestinal L-cells need to be elucidated. Moreover, recent observations indicate that L-cells may be able to process not only GLP-1 but also glucagon from proglucagon. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic palmitate exposure on insulin pathways, GLP-1 secretion and glucagon synthesis in the GLUTag L-cell line. Cells were cultured in the presence/absence of palmitate (0.5 mM) for 24 h to mimic lipotoxicity. Palmitate treatment affected insulin-stimulated GLP-1 secretion, insulin receptor phosphorylation and IRS-1-AKT pathway signaling. In our model lipotoxicity induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK 44/42) activation both in insulin stimulated and basal conditions and also up-regulated paired box 6 (PAX6) and proglucagon expression (Gcg). Interestingly, palmitate treatment caused an increased glucagon secretion through the up-regulation of prohormone convertase 2. These results indicate that a state of insulin resistance could be responsible for secretory alterations in L-cells through the impairment of insulin-signaling pathways. Our data support the hypothesis that lipotoxicity might contribute to L-cell deregulation.
The Short and Long-Term Effects of Pregnancy on Multiple Sclerosis and Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Authors: McCombe Pamela A
Published: November 2018

The role of pregnancy in multiple sclerosis (MS) is of importance because many patients with MS are young women in the childbearing age who require information to inform their reproductive decisions. Pregnancy is now well-known to be associated with fewer relapses of MS and reduced activity of autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, in women with multiple sclerosis, this benefit is not always sufficient to protect against a rebound of disease activity if disease-modulating therapy is ceased for pregnancy. There is concern that use of assisted reproductive therapies can be associated with relapses of MS, but more data are required. It is thought that the beneficial effects of pregnancy are due to the pregnancy-associated changes in the maternal immune system. There is some evidence of this in human studies and studies of EAE. There is also evidence that having been pregnant leads to better long-term outcome of MS. The mechanism for this is not fully understood but it could result from epigenetic changes resulting from pregnancy or parenthood. Further studies of the mechanisms of the beneficial effects of pregnancy could provide information that might be used to produce new therapies.
Forecasting Volatility: Evidence from the Saudi Stock Market
Authors: Al Rahahleh Naseem , Kao Robert
Published: November 2018

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the forecasting performance of linear and non-linear generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH)–class models in terms of their in-sample and out-of-sample forecasting accuracy for the Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) and the Tadawul Industrial Petrochemical Industries Share Index (TIPISI) for petrochemical industries. We use the daily price data of the TASI and the TIPISI for the period of 10 September 2007 to 26 February 2015. The results suggest that the Asymmetric Power of ARCH (APARCH) model is the most accurate model in the GARCH class for forecasting the volatility of both the TASI and the TIPISI in the context of petrochemical industries, as this model outperforms the other models in model estimation and daily out-of-sample volatility forecasting of the two indices. This study is useful for the dataset examined, because the results provide a basis for traders, policy-makers, and international investors to make decisions using this model to forecast the risks associated with investing in the Saudi stock market, within certain limitations.
Experimental Investigation and Thermodynamic Calculation of Ni–Al–La Ternary System in Nickel-Rich Region: A New Intermetallic Compound Ni2AlLa
Authors: Liao Jinfa , Wang Hang , Chen Tzu-Yu
Published: November 2018

The phase equilibrium of the Ni–Al–La ternary system in a nickel-rich region was observed at 800 °C and 1000 °C using scanning electron microscopy backscattered electron imaging, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and X-ray diffractometry. The solubility of Al in the Ni5La phase was remeasured at 800 °C and 1000 °C. Herein, we report a new ternary phase, termed Ni2AlLa, confirmed at 800 °C. Its X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern was indexed and space group determined using Total Pattern Solution (TOPAS), and the suitable lattice parameters were fitted using the Pawley method and selected-area electron diffraction. Ni2AlLa crystallizes in the trigonal system with a space group R3 (no. 146), a = 4.1985 Å and c = 13.6626 Å. A self-consistent set of thermodynamic parameters for the Al–La and Ni–La binary systems and the Ni–Al–La ternary system includes a Ni2AlLa ternary phase, which was optimized using the CALPHAD method. The calculated thermodynamic and phase-equilibria data for the binary and ternary systems are consistent with the literature and measured data.
Effect of Unit Cell Type and Pore Size on Porosity and Mechanical Behavior of Additively Manufactured Ti6Al4V Scaffolds
Authors: Zaharin Haizum Aimi , Abdul Rani Ahmad Majdi , Azam Farooq I. , Ginta Turnad Lenggo , Sallih Nabihah , Ahmad Azlan , Yunus Nurul Azhani , Zulkifli Tun Zainal Azni
Published: November 2018

Porous metal structures have emerged as a promising solution in repairing and replacing damaged bone in biomedical applications. With the advent of additive manufacturing technology, fabrication of porous scaffold architecture of different unit cell types with desired parameters can replicate the biomechanical properties of the natural bone, thereby overcoming the issues, such as stress shielding effect, to avoid implant failure. The purpose of this research was to investigate the influence of cube and gyroid unit cell types, with pore size ranging from 300 to 600 µm, on porosity and mechanical behavior of titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) scaffolds. Scaffold samples were modeled and analyzed using finite element analysis (FEA) following the ISO standard (ISO 13314). Selective laser melting (SLM) process was used to manufacture five samples of each type. Morphological characterization of samples was performed through micro CT Scan system and the samples were later subjected to compression testing to assess the mechanical behavior of scaffolds. Numerical and experimental analysis of samples show porosity greater than 50% for all types, which is in agreement with desired porosity range of natural bone. Mechanical properties of samples depict that values of elastic modulus and yield strength decreases with increase in porosity, with elastic modulus reduced up to 3 GPa and yield strength decreased to 7 MPa. However, while comparing with natural bone properties, only cube and gyroid structure with pore size 300 µm falls under the category of giving similar properties to that of natural bone. Analysis of porous scaffolds show promising results for application in orthopedic implants. Application of optimum scaffold structures to implants can reduce the premature failure of implants and increase the reliability of prosthetics.
The Effect of High-Energy Ionizing Radiation on the Mechanical Properties of a Melamine Resin, Phenol-Formaldehyde Resin, and Nitrile Rubber Blend
Authors: Kopal Ivan , Vršková Juliana , Labaj Ivan , Ondrušová Darina , Hybler Peter , Harničárová Marta , Valíček Jan , Kušnerová Milena
Published: November 2018

Irradiation by ionizing radiation is a specific type of controllable modification of the physical and chemical properties of a wide range of polymers, which is, in comparison to traditional chemical methods, rapid, non-polluting, simple, and relatively cheap. In the presented paper, the influence of high-energy ionizing radiation on the basic mechanical properties of the melamine resin, phenol-formaldehyde resin, and nitrile rubber blend has been studied for the first time. The mechanical properties of irradiated samples were compared to those of non-irradiated materials. It was found that radiation doses up to 150 kGy improved the mechanical properties of the tested materials in terms of a significant increase in stress at break, tensile strength, and tensile modulus at 40% strain, while decreasing the value of strain at break. At radiation doses above 150 kGy, the irradiated polymer blend is already degrading, and its tensile characteristics significantly deteriorate. An radiation dose of 150 kGy thus appears to be optimal from the viewpoint of achieving significant improvement, and the radiation treatment of the given polymeric blend by a beam of accelerated electrons is a very promising alternative to the traditional chemical mode of treatment which impacts the environment.
Why Should the “Alternative” Method of Estimating Local Interfacial Shear Strength in a Pull-Out Test Be Preferred to Other Methods?
Authors: Zhandarov Serge , Mäder Edith , Gohs Uwe
Published: November 2018

One of the most popular micromechanical techniques of determining the local interfacial shear strength (local IFSS, τd) between a fiber and a matrix is the single fiber pull-out test. The τd values are calculated from the characteristic forces determined from the experimental force–displacement curves using a model which relates their values to local interfacial strength parameters. Traditionally, the local IFSS is estimated from the debond force, Fd, which corresponds to the crack initiation and manifests itself by a “kink” in the force–displacement curve. However, for some specimens the kink point is hardly discernible, and the “alternative” method based on the post-debonding force, Fb, and the maximum force reached in the test, Fmax, has been proposed. Since the experimental force–displacement curve includes three characteristic points in which the relationship between the current values of the applied load and the crack length is reliably established, and, at the same time, it is fully determined by only two interfacial parameters, τd and the interfacial frictional stress, τf, several methods for the determination of τd and τf can be proposed. In this paper, we analyzed several theoretical and experimental force–displacement curves for different fiber-reinforced materials (thermoset, thermoplastic and concrete) and compared all seven possible methods of τd and τf calculation. It was shown that the “alternative” method was the most accurate and reliable one, while the traditional approach often yielded the worst results. Therefore, we proposed that the “alternative” method should be preferred for the experimental force–displacement curves analysis.
Rapid HPLC-ESI-MS/MS Analysis of Neurotransmitters in the Brain Tissue of Alzheimer’s Disease Rats before and after Oral Administration of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge
Authors: Sun Zheng , Li Qing , Bi Kaishun
Published: November 2018

In order to explore the potential therapeutic effect of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge. against Alzheimer’s disease, an HPLC-MS/MS method has been developed and validated for simultaneous determination in rat brain of eight neurotransmitters, including dopamine, norepinephrine, 5-hydroxy-tryptamine, acetylcholine, l-tryptophan, γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamic acid and aspartic acid with a simple protein precipitation method for sample pre-treatment. The brain samples were separated on a polar functional group embedded column, then detected on a 4000 QTrap HPLC-MS/MS system equipped with a turbo ion spray source in positive ion and multiple reaction monitoring mode. The method was fully validated to be precise and accurate within the linearity range of the assay, and successfully applied to compare the neurotransmitters in the rat brain from four groups of normal, Alzheimer’s disease, and the oral administration group of X. sorbifolia extract and huperzine. The results indicated that brain levels of dopamine, norepinephrine and acetyl choline all decreased in the AD rats, while l-tryptophan showed an opposite trend. After administration of the Xanthoceras sorbifolia extract and huperzine, the level of acetyl choline and tryptophan returned to normal. Combination of the metabolic analysis, the results indicated that acetyl choline and l-tryptophan could be employed as therapy biomarkers for AD, and the results shown that the crude extract of the husks from Xanthoceras sorbifolia might ameliorate the impairment of learning and memory in the Alzheimer’s disease animal model with similar function of AchEI as huperzine. The established method would provide an innovative and effective way for the discovery of novel drug against Alzheimer’s disease, and stimulate a theoretical basis for the design and development of new drugs.
Whole Fruits and Fruit Fiber Emerging Health Effects
Authors: Dreher Mark
Published: November 2018

Less than 10% of most Western populations consume adequate levels of whole fruits and dietary fiber with typical intake being about half of the recommended levels. Evidence of the beneficial health effects of consuming adequate levels of whole fruits has been steadily growing, especially regarding their bioactive fiber prebiotic effects and role in improved weight control, wellness and healthy aging. The primary aim of this narrative review article is to examine the increasing number of health benefits which are associated with the adequate intake of whole fruits, especially fruit fiber, throughout the human lifecycle. These potential health benefits include: protecting colonic gastrointestinal health (e.g., constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases, and diverticular disease); promoting long-term weight management; reducing risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome; defending against colorectal and lung cancers; improving odds of successful aging; reducing the severity of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; enhancing psychological well-being and lowering the risk of depression; contributing to higher bone mineral density in children and adults; reducing risk of seborrheic dermatitis; and helping to attenuate autism spectrum disorder severity. Low whole fruit intake represents a potentially more serious global population health threat than previously recognized, especially in light of the emerging research on whole fruit and fruit fiber health benefits.
Solid Waste Management Key Indicator Development for Hotels: A Tunisian Case Study Analysis
Authors: Chaabane Wassim , Nassour Abdallah , Nelles Michael
Published: November 2018

The main objective of this research was to provide suitable technical, organizational, financial, legal, and social indicators for solid waste management (SWM) systems, which can be used to diagnose the current situation faced by tourist destinations (TD) in Tunisia. To this end, 33 interviews and field visits to hotels in Tunisia were carried out. Specifically, the study covers tourist municipalities, private companies, and environment and tourism authorities. A characterization analysis and a quantification of the solid waste (SW) generated by hotels were also performed. It was found that hotels generate large amounts of mixed SW, especially during the summer period. It represents, for example, 45.5% of the total SW generated per year in Hammamet, and can reach 54.2% during the summer. The interviews indicated that 83% of the hotels collect mixed waste, which is then sent to landfills. The characterization of the SW shows that hotels generate about 58% organic waste, and a minimum of 36% of recyclable waste could be valorized. From a financial point of view, the results indicated that the collected taxes from hotels do not cover the municipalities’ expenses. The findings of the research reported in this paper can be used as a decision-making support.
Levinas and the “Matter” of Poverty
Authors: Rothhaar Timothy W.
Published: November 2018

“Poverty” is a term Levinas uses to describe the face-to-face encounter and the Other all through his corpus. Scholars regularly use this term, but no research has shown its origin nor that Levinas has a concept of poverty. This paper addresses both of those questions through an analysis of an early reflection on Judaism and the relevant sections of his Totality and Infinity. In the process, I argue for an alternative interpretation of Levinas’s ethical phenomenology on the basis of poverty concluding with some suggestions on how a Levinasian spiritual poverty can aid the pursuit of justice.
Interval Type-2 Neural Fuzzy Controller-Based Navigation of Cooperative Load-Carrying Mobile Robots in Unknown Environments
Authors: Lin Chun-Hui , Wang Shyh-Hau , Lin Cheng-Jian
Published: November 2018

In this paper, a navigation method is proposed for cooperative load-carrying mobile robots. The behavior mode manager is used efficaciously in the navigation control method to switch between two behavior modes, wall-following mode (WFM) and goal-oriented mode (GOM), according to various environmental conditions. Additionally, an interval type-2 neural fuzzy controller based on dynamic group artificial bee colony (DGABC) is proposed in this paper. Reinforcement learning was used to develop the WFM adaptively. First, a single robot is trained to learn the WFM. Then, this control method is implemented for cooperative load-carrying mobile robots. In WFM learning, the proposed DGABC performs better than the original artificial bee colony algorithm and other improved algorithms. Furthermore, the results of cooperative load-carrying navigation control tests demonstrate that the proposed cooperative load-carrying method and the navigation method can enable the robots to carry the task item to the goal and complete the navigation mission efficiently.
Neuromuscular Fatigue at Task Failure and During Immediate Recovery after Isometric Knee Extension Trials
Authors: Froyd Christian , Beltrami Fernando G. , Noakes Timothy D.
Published: November 2018

We asked whether the level of peripheral fatigue would differ when three consecutive exercise trials were completed to task failure, and whether there would be delayed recovery in maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force, neuromuscular activation and peripheral fatigue following task failure. Ten trained sport students performed three consecutive knee extension isometric trials (T1, T2, T3) to task failure without breaks between trials. T1 and T2 consisted of repeated 5-s contractions followed by 5-s rests. In T1, contractions were performed at a target force at 60% pre-exercise MVC. In T2, all contractions were MVCs, and task failure occurred at 50% MVC. T3 was a sustained MVC performed until force fell below 15% MVC. Evoked force responses to supramaximal electrical femoral nerve stimulation were recorded to assess peripheral fatigue. Electromyography signals were normalized to an M-wave amplitude to assess neuromuscular activation. Lower levels of evoked peak forces were observed at T3 compared with T2 and T1. Within 5 s of task failure in T3, MVC force and neuromuscular activation recovered substantially without any recovery in evoked peak force. Neuromuscular activation 5–10 s after T3 was unchanged from pre-exercise values, however, evoked peak forces were substantially reduced. These results challenge the existence of a critical peripheral fatigue threshold that reduces neuromuscular activation. Since neuromuscular activation changed independently of any change in evoked peak force, immediate recovery in force production after exercise is due to increased central recruitment and not to peripheral mechanisms.