bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative analysis of shale reservoir characteristics in the Wufeng-Longmaxi (O3w-S1l) and Niutitang (Є1n) Formations: A case study of wells JY1 and TX1 in the southeastern Sichuan Basin and its neighboring areas, southwestern China
Authors: Wang Ruyue , Hu Zongquan , Sun Chuanxiang , Liu Zhongbao , Zhang Chenchen , Gao Bo , Du Wei , Zhao Jianhua , Tang Wenhao
Published: August 2018

A systematic comparative analysis of shale reservoir characteristics of the Wufeng-Longmaxi (O3 w-S1 l) and Niutitang (Є1 n) Formations in southeastern Sichuan Basin and its neighboring areas was conducted with respect to mineralogy, organic geochemistry, pore structure, methane sorption, brittleness, and fractures. Results indicate that (1) organic matter (OM)-hosted pores that are hundreds of nanometers to micrometers in size in the Longmaxi shale are well-developed in migrated OM rather than in the in situ OM, and they are the dominant reservoir spaces. Furthermore, the total organic carbon (TOC), brittleness, organic pores, and bedding fractures have good synergistic development relationships. However, there are fewer OM-hosted pores in the Niutitang shale; they are smaller in size, usually less than 30 nm, and have a more complicated pore structure. The intergranular pores in cataclastic organic-inorganic mineral fragments are the dominant reservoir spaces in the Niutitang shale and are coupled with stronger methane sorption and desorption capacities. (2) The piecewise correlation between TOC and brittleness indicates the significant differences in pore and fracture characteristics. When the TOC [Formula: see text], the TOC, brittleness, organic/inorganic pores, and fractures synergistically develop; when the TOC [Formula: see text], even though the increase in ductility reduces the number of fractures, the lower cohesive strength, internal friction angle, and weaker surfaces of interlayer fractures and cataclastic minerals promote the development of slip fractures, which significantly improves the fracture effectiveness and reservoir spaces for free and absorbed shale gas. (3) The Longmaxi, Wufeng, and Niutitang shales formed and evolved in different evolutionary stages. With the evolution of hydrocarbon generation, diagenesis, tectonic deformation, and pressure, the size and proportion of OM-hosted pores gradually decrease. At the same time, the complexity of the pore-fracture structure, the methane adsorption/desorption capacity, and the proportion of inorganic pores and fractures increase.
Update on Perioperative Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Zarbock Alexander , Koyner Jay L. , Hoste Eric A. J. , Kellum John A.
Published: August 2018

Acute kidney injury (AKI) in the perioperative period is a common complication and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. A standard definition and staging system for AKI has been developed, incorporating a reduction of the urine output and/or an increase of serum creatinine. Novel biomarkers may detect kidney damage in the absence of a change in function and can also predict the development of AKI. Several specific considerations for AKI risk are important in surgical patients. The surgery, especially major and emergency procedures in critically ill patients, may cause AKI. In addition, certain comorbidities, such as chronic kidney disease and chronic heart failure, are important risk factors for AKI. Diuretics, contrast agents, and nephrotoxic drugs are commonly used in the perioperative period and may result in a significant amount of in-hospital AKI. Before and during surgery, anesthetists are supposed to optimize the patient, including preventing and treating a hypovolemia and correcting an anemia. Intraoperative episodes of hypotension have to be avoided because even short periods of hypotension are associated with an increased risk of AKI. During the intraoperative period, urine output might be reduced in the absence of kidney injury or the presence of kidney injury with or without fluid responsiveness. Therefore, fluids should be used carefully to avoid hypovolemia and hypervolemia. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines suggest implementing preventive strategies in high-risk patients, which include optimization of hemodynamics, restoration of the circulating volume, institution of functional hemodynamic monitoring, and avoidance of nephrotoxic agents and hyperglycemia. Two recently published studies found that implementing this bundle in high-risk patients reduced the occurrence of AKI in the perioperative period. In addition, the application of remote ischemic preconditioning has been studied to potentially reduce the incidence of perioperative AKI. This review discusses the epidemiology and pathophysiology of surgery-associated AKI, highlights the importance of intraoperative oliguria, and emphasizes potential preventive strategies.
Zoledronic acid prevents pagetic-like lesions and accelerated bone loss in the p62P394L mouse model of Paget's disease
Authors: Daroszewska Anna , Rose Lorraine , Sarsam Nadine , Charlesworth Gemma , Prior Amanda , Rose Kenneth , Ralston Stuart H. , van ‘t Hof Robert J.
Published: August 2018

Paget's disease of bone (PDB) is an age-related metabolic bone disorder, characterised by focally increased and disorganised bone remodelling initiated by abnormal and hyperactive osteoclasts. The germline P392L mutation of SQSTM1 (encoding p62) is a strong genetic risk factor for PDB in humans, and the equivalent mutation in mice (P394L) causes a PDB-like disorder. However, it is unclear why pagetic lesions become more common with age. Here, we assessed the effect of the p62 P394L mutation on osteoclastogenesis and bone morphometry in relation to ageing, the natural history of lesion progression in p62P394L mice and the effect of zoledronic acid (ZA) on lesion development. p62P394L+/+ osteoclast precursors had increased sensitivity to RANKL (also known as TNFSF11) compared with wild-type (WT) cells, and the sensitivity further increased in both genotypes with ageing. Osteoclastogenesis from 12-month-old p62P394L+/+ mice was twofold greater than that from 3-month-old p62P394L+/+ mice (P<0.001) and three-fold greater than that from age-matched WT littermates. The p62P394L+/+ mice lost 33% more trabecular bone volume in the long bones by 12 months compared with WT mice (P<0.01), and developed pagetic-like lesions in the long bones which progressed with ageing. ZA prevented the development of pagetic-like lesions, and increased trabecular bone volume tenfold compared with vehicle by 12 months of age (P<0.01). This demonstrates that ageing has a pro-osteoclastogenic effect, which is further enhanced by the p62 P394L mutation, providing an explanation for the increased penetrance of bone lesions with age in this model. Lesions are prevented by ZA, providing a rationale for early intervention in humans.
Synthesis and Structure of a Bis(indolyl)-Coordinated Titanium Diamido Complex, and Its Catalytic Applications in the Intermolecular Hydroamination of Alkynes
Authors: Ohta Shun , Shimbayashi Masaya , Miyamoto Ryo , Okazaki Masaaki
Published: August 2018

Titanium bis(diethylamido) complex 1, which contains a carbon-bridged bis(indolyl) ligand, was obtained in 69% yield from the reaction of Ti(NEt2)4 with the corresponding bis(indole) ligand. Its molecular structure in the crystal was unequivocally determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Furthermore, we examined applications of 1 as a catalyst for the intermolecular hydroamination of alkynes. When using phenylacetylene or 1-hexyne as alkynes, the Markovnikov products were obtained selectively, while the reaction with 1-phenyl-1-propyne afforded an imine of phenylacetone.
What is a predatory journal? A scoping review
Authors: Cobey Kelly D. , Lalu Manoj M , Skidmore Becky , Ahmadzai Nadera , Grudniewicz Agnes , Moher David
Published: August 2018

Background: There is no standardized definition of what a predatory journal is, nor have the characteristics of these journals been delineated or agreed upon. In order to study the phenomenon precisely a definition of predatory journals is needed. The objective of this scoping review is to summarize the literature on predatory journals, describe its epidemiological characteristics, and to extract empirical descriptions of potential characteristics of predatory journals.

Methods: We searched five bibliographic databases: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase Classic + Embase, ERIC, and PsycINFO, and Web of Science on January 2nd, 2018. A related grey literature search was conducted March 27th, 2018. Eligible studies were those published in English after 2012 that discuss predatory journals. Titles and abstracts of records obtained were screened. We extracted epidemiological characteristics from all search records discussing predatory journals. Subsequently, we extracted statements from the empirical studies describing empirically derived characteristics of predatory journals. These characteristics were then categorized and thematically grouped.  

Results: 920 records were obtained from the search. 344 of these records met our inclusion criteria. The majority of these records took the form of commentaries, viewpoints, letters, or editorials (78.44%), and just 38 records were empirical studies that reported empirically derived characteristics of predatory journals. We extracted 109 unique characteristics from these 38 studies, which we subsequently thematically grouped into six categories: journal operations, article, editorial and peer review, communication, article processing charges, and dissemination, indexing and archiving, and five descriptors.   

Conclusions: This work identified a corpus of potential characteristics of predatory journals. Limitations of the work include our restriction to English language articles, and the fact that the methodological quality of articles included in our extraction was not assessed. These results will be provided to attendees at a stakeholder meeting seeking to develop a standardized definition for what constitutes a predatory journal.
Recent advances in allergic rhinitis
Authors: Hoyte Flavia C. L. , Nelson Harold S.
Published: August 2018

Allergic rhinitis affects 20 to 30% of adults in both the United States and Europe and perhaps a somewhat higher percentage of children. In addition to nasal and ocular symptoms directly related to the allergic process, interference of these symptoms with sleep leads to daytime sleepiness and impaired quality of life. Patients miss work because of symptoms but an even greater problem is interference with work productivity, or presenteeism, which has been reported to be the biggest contributor to the total economic cost of allergic rhinitis. There has been increasing awareness that many patients with either seasonal or perennial symptoms but negative skin and in vitro tests for allergen sensitivity have local nasal allergy, diagnosable by the presence of allergen-specific IgE in their nasal secretions or a positive nasal allergen challenge or both. The pharmaceutical management of allergic rhinitis rests on symptomatic treatment with antihistamines that perhaps are more effectively administered intranasally than orally and intranasal corticosteroids. Allergen immunotherapy is very effective, even for local allergic rhinitis, and the shortcomings of subcutaneous immunotherapy of inconvenience and safety are reduced by the introduction of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Use of the latter is currently somewhat limited by the lack of appropriate dosing information for SLIT liquids and the limited number of allergens for which SLIT tablets are available.
Nucleocytoplasmic distribution of S6K1 depends on the density and motility of MCF-7 cells in vitro
Authors: Kosach Viktoriia , Shkarina Kateryna , Kravchenko Anastasiia , Tereshchenko Yuliia , Kovalchuk Evelina , Skoroda Larysa , Krotevych Mykhailo , Khoruzhenko Antonina
Published: August 2018

Background:The ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) is one of the main components of the mTOR/S6K signal transduction pathway, which controls cellular metabolism, autophagy, growth, and proliferation. Overexpression of S6K1 was detected in tumors of different origin including breast cancer, which was associated with a worse disease outcome. In addition, significant accumulation of S6K1 was found in the nuclei of breast carcinoma cells suggesting the implication of kinase nuclear substrates in tumor progression. However, this aspect of S6K1 functioning is poorly understood. The main aim of the present work was to study the subcellular localization of S6K1 in breast cancer cells with focus on cell migration.

Methods:Multicellular spheroids of MCF-7 cells were generated using agarose-coated Petri dishes. Cell migration was initiated by spheroids seeding onto growth surface and subsequent cultivation for 24 and 72 hours. S6K1 subcellular localization was studied in human breast cancer and normal tissue, 2D and 3D MCF-7 cell culture using immunofluorescence analysis and confocal microscopy.

Results:Analysis of histological sections of human breast cancer and normal tissue revealed predominantly nuclear localization of S6K1 in breast malignant cells and mainly cytoplasmic one in conditionally normal cells.In vitrostudies of MCF-7 cells showed that the subcellular localization of S6K1 depends on the cell density in the monolayer culture. S6K1 relocalization from the cytoplasm into the nucleus was detected in MCF-7 cells migrating from multicellular spheroids onto growth surface. Immunofluorescence analysis of S6K1 and immunocoprecipitation assay revealed the colocalization and interaction between S6K1 and transcription factor TBR2 (T-box brain protein 2) in MCF-7 cells. Bioinformatical analysis revealed existence of several phosphorylation sites in TBR2 for S6K1 suggesting that TBR2 can be a target for phosphorylation and regulation by S6K1.

Conclusions:Subcellular localization of S6K1 depends on the density and locomotor activity of the MCF-7 cells.
Per aspera ad astra. The relationship of teachers and students in the national gymnasium in the second half of XIX-early XX century
Authors: Грива Ольга , Griva Ol'ga
Published: August 2018

In the presented monograph discusses the state of Affairs in the schools in the second half of XIX — beginning of XX century, concerning questions of organization of relations between teachers and students, by students. Documents of the gymnasiums operating in the territory of the Russian Empire, in particular in the Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev, Kharkov and Odessa educational districts are analyzed.
The author refuted the point of view on the school as a "school of drill and rote learning", and allegedly progressive role of school in shaping the educated, cultured, educated citizens. On numerous unpublished materials of archives (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev, Kharkov, Odessa and Simferopol), a complex of official pedagogical documents and theoretical works of teachers shows the nature of the organization of intra-relations.
Chinese young generation’s perceptions and consumption of clothing for sustainability
Authors: DeLong Marilyn , Wu Juanjuan , Jia Zhenyu , Gibson Laureen
Published: August 2018

This research explored the concept of sustainability related to the clothing practices of design students attending a university in Shanghai. Participants included 29 males and 36 female students who completed a survey about their wearing of specific clothing categories, their perceptions of the importance of the need for sustainability in the clothing they wear and sustainable practices regarding their clothing. Data were analysed, compared between the genders, and summarized. Within this context, students reported wearing their clothing a relatively short time while at the same time considering awareness of clothing sustainability important. Also, the students’ sustainable practices and strategies were found to be more geared towards care and use but neglecting purchase decisions and disposable methods. We postulated that Shanghai economy is influential as are the student’s expectations for gaining status through their clothing. These students’ views of sustainability and their clothing practices are important as they will become designers in the future and will play a leading role in the fields of applied arts.
Conscious hip hop: Lupe Fiasco’s critical teachings on raced and gendered representations
Authors: Woods Alyssa , Burns Lori
Published: August 2018

This article examines the critical pedagogy of Lupe Fiasco’s music video ‘Bitch Bad’ (2012). Situating Fiasco’s work as an instance of hip hop teaching, we propose an analytic model to facilitate the interpretation of genre conventions evident in the multimodal music video text. We place genre theory into dialogue with critical discourse analysis in order to bring forward the ideologies, social values and cultural norms invoked in Fiasco’s portrayal of hip hop video actors and spectators. The analysis reveals Lupe Fiasco’s and videographer Gil Green’s critique of racist and misogynist stereotypes perpetuated in the music industry. Fiasco and Green present the hip hop performer as a labourer who is asked to portray specific conventions of gender, race and class. They explore the impact of the genre conventions upon children who grow up in the context of these cultural norms; they situate Fiasco as a cultural critic and teacher; and they demonstrate the potential of the music video to function as a pedagogical text.
Holistic educational ideals and pedagogy of trust within popular music education in civil society
Authors: Söderman Johan
Published: August 2018

Through directing focus towards hip-hop culture and aspects of young people’s learning in after-school hip-hop activities for participants 13 years and older within Swedish state-funded study associations, this article is guided by the following question: What meanings do hip-hop activities have for participants and rappers who function as ‘organic’ educators within Swedish study associations? The empirical data were produced through interviews with participants and rappers who function as organic hip-hop educators in Swedish study associations. The term ‘organic’ is used to underline how rappers, without formal education, have developed pedagogical skills through educating others. In light of holistic educational ideals, rappers and their pedagogical work can be understood to contrast the dominant trend in western education of instrumental and narrow perspectives and approaches to learning.
Balance de la evaluación de políticas públicas en América Latina en el presente siglo
Authors: Fernández Edgardo Ricardo Romero , Cano Eduardo Romero
Published: August 2018

El proceso de las políticas públicas, adoptado por Latinoamérica, está asociado a la idea de desarrollo y a la democracia participativa -frente al análisis profesional vinculado a una institucionalidad desde su forma representativa- como profundo rechazo a los regímenes dictatoriales que asolaron la región en el pasado siglo. La institucionalización de la evaluación en América Latina coincide con los procesos de reforma del Estado y nuevo constitucionalismo y muchas de las reformas propuestas desde finales de los 80´s se dirigieron a combatir el híper-presidencialismo y la limitada participación ciudadana. Mas, los sistemas de seguimiento y evaluación nacional son en rigor simples sistemas de seguimiento, que no generan posibilidades de evaluación exhaustiva. Aun con esas dificultades, los procesos y evaluación de programas y políticas avanzaron con asistencia técnica y metodológica de organismos internacionales. Existen publicaciones periódicas que robustecen el proceso de institucionalización, ocupándose mayormente de las temáticas referentes a la política pública.  Ello – de conjunto a la celebración sistemática de congresos y eventos de organismos internacionales que abordaron la temática- expresa el proceso de academización de las políticas públicas. Aunque el mismo estuvo marcado por el sectorialismo y el pragmatismo. Se reconoce una cantidad alta de escritos y acciones en América Latina sobre evaluación, solo que muchos de los trabajos, informes y reportes, sobre evaluación no son identificables con evaluación de política pública sino con otros procesos o formas de la política desde enfoques asistencialistas (sociales) o verticalistas (estatales).
O feminicídio como uma manifestação das relaçôes de poder entre os gêneros
Authors: Fonseca Maria Fernanda Soares , Ferreira Maria Da Luz Alves , Figueiredo Rizza Maria De , Pinheiro Ágatha Silva
Published: August 2018

O presente artigo propõe realizar uma análise sociojurídica da introdução da perspectiva da violência de gênero no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro. Através da apresentação das leis 13.104/2015 e 11.340/2006, com ênfase na primeira que versa sobre o feminicídio, demonstra-se uma especialização da legislação penal que aprimora a punição de homens que matam em razão do gênero. Também foram apresentados a relação da desigualdade de gênero com a ocorrência da violência contra a mulher e sua persistência no decorrer da história da humanidade. Diante dos dados apresentados e da pesquisa realizada, foi possível concluir que a violência de gênero permanece presente na realidade brasileira, vitimando muitas mulheres, fazendo-se necessária a especialização da legislação no sentido de punir, prevenir e erradicar esta forma de violência, que é resultado de uma sociedade eminentemente patriarcalista e machista. Para desenvolvimento deste artigo foi utilizada como metodologia a pesquisa bibliográfica
Autonomia, liberdade e dependência da mulher: a política reducionista de cesarianas desnecessárias no Brasil e o biodireito
Authors: Oliveira Paula Caroline Pepa , Simioni Rafael Lazzarotto
Published: August 2018

Esta pesquisa objetiva discutir a relação entre autonomia, liberdade e dependência da mulher a respeito do seu direito de escolha entre a via do parto normal ou da cesárea. Especialmente diante da especificidade da situação da mulher parturiente brasileira, que demonstra altíssimos índices de cesárea na rede de saúde complementar. Analisa-se a relação entre o conceito contemporâneo de pré-natal e as políticas públicas de saúde no Brasil, as diferentes atribuições dos enfermeiros, médicos e obstetrizes, bem como a política de diminuição das cesáreas desnecessárias institucionalizada pelas Resoluções ANS nº 368/2015, 398/2016 e 409/2016. Através de uma metodologia analítica, a pesquisa apresenta, como resultado, uma reflexão crítica sobre a atual política da ANS, que ainda se encontra muito aquém da necessidade de garantia do direito de escolha mulher a respeito do seu tipo de parto, pois a distância entre a cultura brasileira da cesárea e o conceito global de parto humanizado ainda persiste muito presente tanto nos discursos das consultas médicas de pré-natal, quanto no imaginário social do século XX.
Controle externo, auditoria e combate à corrupção no Tribunal de Contas do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul: uma análise de âmbito municipal
Authors: Pase Hemerson Luiz , Ferreira Leonardo , Barreto Paulo Ricardo Ceni , Allebrandt Sergio Luis , Patella Ana Paula
Published: August 2018

Este artigo busca identificar e analisar fatores que retiram efetividade dos trabalhos de auditoria de regularidade do Tribunal de Contas do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (TCERS) no cumprimento da sua missão institucional de controle externo, realizados em âmbito municipal. A pesquisa foi de natureza qualitativa e a metodologia utilizou entrevistas semiestruturadas, análise documental e revisão bibliográfica. Os achados foram apreciados à luz da análise de conteúdo, por meio de categorias. Os resultados apontaram que a efetividade é afetada em todas as categorias investigadas, cabendo esforços para o aperfeiçoamento das auditorias em relação a tecnologias de detecção e punição na seara do combate à corrupção.
Decisões judiciais em ação civil pública que trata de políticas públicas: possibilidade de intervenção judicial e seus limites
Authors: Zantut Loren Tazioli Engelbrecht , Brandão Paulo De Tarso
Published: August 2018

O presente artigo busca verificar os fundamentos para a legitimação do juiz para interferir ou definir políticas públicas pela via da ação civil pública que versa sobre direitos difusos, coletivos em sentido estrito e individuais homogêneos, analisando a tendência das tomadas de decisão judicial neste âmbito. Para alcançar o resultado da pesquisa, utilizou-se pesquisa bibliográfica e jurisprudencial, buscando traçar uma linha de comportamento dos entendimentos sobre do tema.
Coping with Pregnancy in Academic Environment: Experiences of Pregnant Students in A Public University in Ghana
Authors: Araba Etuah Priscilla , Gbagbo Fred Yao , Nkrumah Jacqueline
Published: August 2018

Background:
The Ghanaian culture expects women of reproductive age to reproduce. This makes pregnancy an acceptable occurrence in most tertiary institutions in Ghana. Although Ghanaian Universities allow pregnancy in school, challenges associated with pregnancies do not exempt pregnant students from following the academic requirements of the universities. This study therefore explores students’ experiences of copying with pregnancy in an academic environment in Ghana.

Methods:
This was a case study, quantitative and qualitative design using structured questionnaires and semi-structured interview guides respectively for data collection. Respondents comprised twenty (30) pregnant full time and part time female students from campuses of University of Education, Winneba. Data collection was between October 2016 and May 2017. Quantitative data were analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23. The qualitative data was transcribed and manually analysed thematically.

Results:
The study found that majority of participants were adults between ages 26 and 30 years. More than half of them (66.7%) had no child and this was their first pregnancy which they felt was mistimed as it occurred during schooling, posing some physiological, financial and academic challenges which compelled students to devise various coping strategies to combine academic work and pregnancy amidst limited University provisions for pregnant students.

Conclusions:
The study results have policy and programme implications for meeting women’s needs for pursuing academic and reproductive goals concurrently. The study recommends that public universities in Ghana should institutionalise programmes on preconception counselling and coping with pregnancy in academic environment to enable female students make informed decisions on exercising their reproductive rights in whilst in the university to ensure positive maternal health outcomes.
Holistic Nursing Practiced as Intensive Care Nursing
Authors: Fenske Joan M
Published: August 2018

This 11440 word manuscript relates a case study derived from field experiences. The format is unique. By describing the fictional character, the manuscript integrates a narrative story line. This is a case study portraying a fictional patient who is determined to take her life. Self distruction is overtly characterized. Holistic Nursing Practice emphasis is upon positive reinforcement.
Peripheral arterial disease and indicators of low-grade inflammation in patients with coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Genkel Vadim V. , Nikushkina Karina V. , Nikonova Tansilla I. , Shaposhnik Igor I.
Published: August 2018

BACKGROUND: The study of low-grade inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases is a pressing problem. A deeper understanding of the cascade of inflammatory reactions, possibly mediating the severe atherosclerotic lesions of various vascular pools in patients with diabetes, has the potential to introduce more sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic approaches into practice.
AIM: To study the interrelation of low-grade inflammation and atherosclerosis of peripheral arteries in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and T2DM.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 137 patients (77 men and 60 women) with CAD. The average age of patients was 62.0 (57.066.0) years. The first group included 67 patients with CAD and T2DM, and the second group included 70 patients with CAD. Low-grade inflammation was assessed by the levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-. All patients underwent duplex scanning of carotid arteries and lower extremity arteries (LEAs).
RESULTS: Patients with CAD and T2DM showed significantly greater values of stenosis of carotid arteries and LEAs. Direct correlation was revealed between markers of inflammation and the degree of stenosis of the femoral and tibial arteries, as well as the intima-media thickness of the carotid and femoral arteries. In the group of patients with T2DM, the value of IL-1 was 2.04 (0.982.52) pg/mL, which was significantly less than 2.43 (1.843.19) pg/mL for patients in the second group (p = 0.010). The values of IL-6 were also significantly lower in the first group of patients, at 1.84 (0.734.41) pg/mL vs. 3.73 (2.2710.2) pg/mL in the first and second groups, respectively (p = 0.008). The dose of metformin was inversely correlated with the level of IL-6 (r = 0.314, p = 0.003).
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CAD and T2DM compared with patients without diabetes had significantly greater values of stenosis of peripheral arteries. The levels of IL-1 and IL-6 in the group of patients with CAD and T2DM were significantly lower in comparison with patients without diabetes. The dose of metformin was inversely correlated with the level of IL-6.
Decrease of cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes: review of the common strategies and clinical studies
Authors: Salukhov Vladimir V. , Khalimov Yurii Sh. , Shustov Sergey B. , Kadin Dmitriy V.
Published: August 2018

Military Medical Academy of S.M. Kirov, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Recent clinical trials about the cardiovascular safety of empagliflozin and liraglutide demonstrated a convincing lowering effect on mortality from cardiovascular causes among the patients with type 2 diabetes. These findings resulted in many questions about why this phenomenon was seen in two drugs with widely different mechanisms of functioning. It is important to note that the glucose-lowering effect was moderate, although a feature seen in both empagliflozin and liraglutide was their ability to increase insulin sensitivity. In many fundamental studies, this feature was associated with a reduction of cardiovascular risks. Insulin resistance, which has always been a pathophysiological base for the development of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes, is a topic for this report. Different methods to manage insulin resistance, including lifestyle changes, drug treatment and metabolic surgery, are discussed. Furthermore, the most common features of glucose-lowering drugs are analysed, including protective effects for cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes presented in randomised clinical trials. Studies include the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), PROspective pioglitAzone Clinical Trial In macroVascular Events (PROactive), Insulin Resistance Intervention After Stroke (IRIS), Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcome Results (LEADER) and the Empagliflozin Cardiovascular Outcome Event Trial in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients (EMPA-REG OUTCOME). The current study shows that the potential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease is determined not only by effective lowering of glucose but also by the ability to lower insulin resistance, which causes a paradigm shift in the management of type 2 diabetes.
Free-living use of artificial pancreas for children with type 1 diabetes: systematic review
Authors: Dovc Klemen , Mutlu Gül Yeşiltepe , Philippov Yury I. , Laptev Dmitry N. , Patrakeeva Evgenia M. , Chernilova Lubov O. , Zalevskaya Alsu G. , Shestakova Marina V. , Battelino Tadej
Published: August 2018

BACKGRAUND: A closed-loop glucose control system or artificial pancreas consists of three components a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM), infusion pumps to deliver hormone(s) and a sophisticated dosing algorithm to control hormone delivery. In the past years, numerous studies with closed-loop system devices were conducted with gradual shift to out-of-hospital environment and with lengthening study duration.
AIMS: To compare efficacy and safety of closed-loop insulin pump use in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus in compare with conventional insulin treatment (continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) with our without CGM) based on randomized control trials data (RCT).
METHODS: In the systematic review we have include 28 randomized controlled trials results indexed in PubMed, Medline databases published till 15 June 2017. The efficacy on metabolic control in this study evaluated by the proportion of time within target range (preferably 70 to 180 mg/dl if reported) and mean (median) glucose based on sensor measurements, and the safety evaluated by time in hypoglycemia (below 70 mg/dl if reported).
RESULTS: Increased time in range in the night period was observed in all RCT. Only 3 RCT showed decrease of the time in range within 24 h evaluation period. In one RCT the significant positive differences have been shown in the time in range for dual hormone closed-loop glucose control system in compare with insulin-only artificial pancreas. Mean glycaemia and glucose variability changes were not in the same manner in different RCT, both in the night only and in 24 h estimation period. Night hypoglycemia duration decreased in most RCT with closed-loop control in compare with CSII, and increased only in 2 RCT. When all-day estimation period the time in hypoglycemia changed not in the same manner in different RCT. Valuable methodology differences of the glycaemic control estimation within observed RCT brought significant complications in the data analysis and made impossible the results quantitative estimation to prepare a metaanalysis.
CONCLUSIONS: Much work has been done to develop effective and safe artificial pancreas, but not all RCTs confirmed advantages of closed-loop glucose control in compare with CSII in children and adolescents in real life. More research with prospective randomized control design required to prove benefits of closed-loop glucose control. Further RCTs should have an uniform methodology for glycemic control assessment and long duration that will allow to use cumulative measures in a closed-loop efficacy estimation (HbA1c).
How to assess functional state of thyroid gland, and what should we do in situation when thyroid function tests are inadequate?
Authors: Melnichenko Galina A. , Rybakova Anastasia A.
Published: August 2018

In most cases, estimation of tests of the functional state of the thyroid gland does not cause difficulties. Often, according to results of hormonal research, we can conclude that there is a manifest (subclinical) hypothyroidism or a manifest (subclinical) hyperthyroidism. In these situations, difficulties in diagnosing and prescribing treatment to the patient usually do not arise. However, in clinical practice, can be a situation when the results of laboratory researches either do not correspond to clinical picture or do not correspond to the normal functioning of the pituitary-thyroid axis by the principle of log negative relationship. In such situations, quite often inadequate results can be explained by laboratory errors, effect of drugs or existence of genetic disease. Also, recently more and more questions arise in the diagnosis of the syndrome of euthyroid pathology. The correct algorithm of action in this situation will play a key role in diagnosing and identification of further tactics of patient management. In this study will be considered factors that lead to changes in laboratory researches and structured approach to assess functional state of the thyroid gland, which has big importance in clinical practice.
The role of interleukins 17, 23 and antibodies to the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor in the pathogenesis of endocrine ophthalmopathy
Authors: Charinzeva Svetlana V. , Taskina Elizaveta S.
Published: August 2018

Background. Endocrine ophthalmopathy (EOP) is an autoimmune orbit disease characterized by soft retrobulbar tissues damage. The level of antibodies to the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHRAbs) is considered as a laboratory marker of EOP activity. Interleukins 17 (IL-17) and 23 (IL-23) play an important role in the pathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases and directly correlate with clinical activity. At present, there is an open question about the role of these cytokines in EOP and their relationship with TSHRAbs.
Aims. To assess pathogenetic role of IL-17, IL-23 and TSHRAbs in patients with EOP.
Materials and methods. The study included 50 people (100 eyes) at the age of 43 [35; 50] years. Three study groups were formed: 32 patients with moderate severity of EOP (clinical group), 18 patients with thyroid pathology without EOP (comparison group) and 15 healthy subjects (control group). All groups were comparable in age and sex. The diagnosis was verified clinically, laboratory and instrumentally. A comprehensive ophthalmologic examination and blood sampling were performed to determine the concentrations of IL-17, IL-23 and TSHRAbs. Statistical processing of the data was carried out in the program “Statistica 10.0”, StatSoft, Inc.
Results. An increase in the level of TSHRAbs was observed in all phases of EOP activity in comparison with both comparison group and control (p < 0.05). But in the active phase TSHRAbs level reached the maximum values in 100% of patients. An increase in the IL-17 concentration in 5,3 times was found in the active EOP in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). Concentration of TSHRAbs and IL-17 in blood serum directly correlates with EOP activity (p < 0.001). After carrying out pulse therapy with glucocorticosteroids, the consentration of IL-17 decreased almost to zero. There were no significant differences in the level of IL-23 in the groups (p = 0.56).
Conclusions. Determination of TSHRAbs and IL-17 levels in serum can be used as a laboratory diagnostic marker of EOP activity.
New adventures of the median urinary iodine
Authors: Gerasimov Gregory A.
Published: August 2018

From the beginning of the 1990s until the end of the 2000s, Russian thyroidology developed under the auspice of “median ioduria”. The emergence of available techniques, such as urinary iodine analysis and the estimation of thyroid volume by ultrasonography, multiplied by the vast expanses of Russia, gave researchers an uncultivated field for epidemiological studies. In the course of the research, there were sometimes difficulties in interpreting the data identified in the epidemiological studies, which was partly due to the imperfection of the then existing international guidelines. In 2018, UNICEF and the Iodine Global Network (IGN) released updated recommendations based on an analysis of the experience and mistakes of the past 10–15 years. In his regular column, the author discusses new approaches to monitoring of iodine prophylaxis programs, in which the “median of ioduria” remains a central piece.
Shock Humor: Zaniness and the Freedom of Permanent Improvisation in Urban Tanzania
Authors: Degani Michael
Published: August 2018

This essay explores scenes of zany comedy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, across three sites: a television sketch about repeated electrical shock; the careers of freelance electricians known as vishoka; and encounters between residents and power utility inspectors. Drawing on the work of Sianne Ngai, as well as long-term ethnographic research, the essay argues that zaniness manifests the structural paradoxes of entrepreneurial populations that have alternately been described as the lumpen, the informal, or simply the urban poor. Specifically, it argues that such populations are often consigned to permanent improvisation and that this engenders a social freedom that, in some respects, remains indistinguishable from constraint. The zany can thus critically nuance portraits of livelihood and citizenship practices in urban Africa by bringing their freedoms and constraints into the same frame.
Elementary principals’ social construction of parents of color and working class parents: Disrupting or reproducing conflicting and deficit orientations of education policy?
Authors: Bertrand Melanie , Freelon Rhoda , Rogers John
Published: August 2018

School principals, contending with competing characterizations of parents in education policy and society, may view parents in a number of ways. Two common understandings portray parents as authentic partners or, in contrast, simply supporters of the school’s agenda. This paper explores these characterizations by considering the possible link between principals’ understandings of parents and their approaches to parent engagement and/or shared decision making, especially in light of the ways that the social context and education policy construct parents of color and working class parents as deficient. We use the lens of social construction of target populations to add to the currently minimal literature that directly examines principals’ views of parents. We report findings of a multi-phase analysis of surveys of 667 elementary principals in the state of California and interviews with a subgroup of 34 of these principals. We explore how principals structured parent engagement and conceived of the goals and rationales for parent workshops, illustrating how they socially constructed the target population of parents, particularly parents of color and working class parents. We find that principals often constructed parents in terms of deficiencies and as needing to learn to better support school goals. Our findings have profound implications for advancing equity in schools.
Radon measure-valued solutions of first order scalar conservation laws
Authors: Bertsch Michiel , Smarrazzo Flavia , Terracina Andrea , Tesei Alberto
Published: August 2018

We study nonnegative solutions of the Cauchy problem

{∂t⁡u+∂x⁡[φ⁢(u)]=0in ⁢ℝ×(0,T),u=u0≥0in ⁢ℝ×{0},\left\{\begin{aligned} &\displaystyle\partial_{t}u+\partial_{x}[\varphi(u)]=0&% &\displaystyle\phantom{}\text{in }\mathbb{R}\times(0,T),\\ &\displaystyle u=u_{0}\geq 0&&\displaystyle\phantom{}\text{in }\mathbb{R}% \times\{0\},\end{aligned}\right.

whereu0{u_{0}}is a Radon measure andφ:[0,∞)↦ℝ{\varphi\colon[0,\infty)\mapsto\mathbb{R}}is a globally Lipschitz continuous function. We construct suitably defined entropy solutions in the space of Radon measures. Under some additional conditions on φ, we prove their uniqueness if the singular part ofu0{u_{0}}is a finite superposition of Dirac masses. Regarding the behavior of φ at infinity, we give criteria to distinguish two cases: either all solutions are function-valued for positive times (an instantaneous regularizing effect), or the singular parts of certain solutions persist until some positivewaiting time(in the linear caseφ⁢(u)=u{\varphi(u)=u}this happens for all times). In the latter case, we describe the evolution of the singular parts.
The relativistic Enskog equation near the vacuum in the Robertson–Walker space-time
Authors: Ciake Ciake Fidele Lavenir , Takou Etienne
Published: August 2018

In this paper, we consider the Cauchy problem for the relativistic Enskog equation with near vacuum data for a hard sphere gas in the Robertson–Walker space-time. We prove an existence and uniqueness result of the global (in time) mild solution in a suitable weighted space. We also study the asymptotic behavior of the solution as well as the

{L^{\infty}}

-stability.
Aberrant glycosylation and cancer biomarker discovery: a promising and thorny journey
Authors: Wang Mengmeng , Zhu Jianhui , Lubman David M. , Gao Chunfang
Published: August 2018

Glycosylation is among the most important post-translational modifications for proteins and is of intrinsic complex character compared with DNAs and naked proteins. Indeed, over 50%–70% of proteins in circulation are glycosylated, and the “sweet attachments” have versatile structural and functional implications. Both the configuration and composition of the attached glycans affect the biological activities of consensus proteins significantly. Glycosylation is generated by complex biosynthetic pathways comprising hundreds of glycosyltransferases, glycosidases, transcriptional factors, transporters and the protein backbone. In addition, lack of direct genetic templates and glyco-specific antibodies such as those commonly used in DNA amplification and protein capture makes research on glycans and glycoproteins even more difficult, thus resulting in sparse knowledge on the pathophysiological implications of glycosylation. Fortunately, cutting-edge technologies have afforded new opportunities and approaches for investigating cancer-related glycosylation. Thus, glycans as well as aberrantly glycosylated protein-based cancer biomarkers have been increasingly recognized. This mini-review highlights the most recent developments in glyco-biomarker studies in an effort to discover clinically relevant cancer biomarkers using advanced analytical methodologies such as mass spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatographic/ultra-performance liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, and lectin-based technologies. Recent clinical-centered glycobiological studies focused on determining the regulatory mechanisms and the relation with diagnostics, prognostics and even therapeutics are also summarized. These studies indicate that glycomics is a treasure waiting to be mined where the growth of cancer-related glycomics and glycoproteomics is the next great challenge after genomics and proteomics.
Thalassemia in the laboratory: pearls, pitfalls, and promises
Authors: Aliyeva Gunay , Asadov Chingiz , Mammadova Tahira , Gafarova Surmaya , Abdulalimov Eldar
Published: August 2018

Thalassemia is one of the most common hereditary disorders of the developing world, and it is associated with severe anemia and transfusion dependence. The global health burden of thalassemia has increased as a result of human mobility and migration in recent years. Depending on inherited mutations, thalassemia patients exhibit distorted hemoglobin (Hb) patterns and deviated red cell indices, both of which can be used to support identification by diagnostic tools. Diagnostic approaches vary depending on the target population and the aim of the testing. Current methods, which are based on Hb patterns, are used for first-line screening, whereas molecular testing is needed for conformation of the results and for prenatal and preimplantation genetic diagnosis. In the present paper, we review the diagnostic parameters, pitfalls, interfering factors, and methods; currently available best-practice guidelines; quality assurance and standardization of the procedures; and promising laboratory technologies for the future of thalassemia diagnosis.
Titanium dioxide-benzophenone hybrid as an effective catalyst for enhanced photochemical degradation of low density polyethylene
Authors: Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan , Kim Hong Gun , Kwac Lee Ku , Bui Quoc Bao , Nguyen Dang Mao , Jeong Hun
Published: August 2018

In this study, a hybrid of titanium dioxide, benzophenone and ethylene vinyl acetate (TiO2-BP-EVA) was used as a novel catalyst to accelerate photo-oxidization reaction of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film under ambient conditions. The degradation of the LDPE films (thickness of ~25 μm) containing different catalyst concentrations were successfully investigated by different techniques, such as Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and mechanical tests. The results showed that the use of catalyst in which TiO2-BP content (1/3 w/w) is 0.5 phr (parts per hundred resin) and EVA content is 4.5 phr in a LDPE film provided the best degradation rate. The carbonyl index of the polymer film achieved the highest value without an equilibrium stage. Besides, the carbon-carbon backbone of the polymer was completely broken down consistent with the deformation of the surface. In addition, the mechanical properties impressively dropped after 3 months’ exposure. The obtained results imply that the TiO2-BP-EVA compound can be considered as an efficient catalyst for the photodegradation of LDPE polymer.