bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TANAMAN TARUM ( Indigofera tinctoria Linn. ) SEBAGAI PENGHASIL ZAT PEWARNA
Authors: Ariyanti Mira , Asbur Yenni
Published: June 2019

Indonesia is known as a country with high biodiversity in the world. Plenty of beneficial-rich plants grow in Indonesia as a country that has tropical climate, one of the plant is tarum (Indigofera tinctoria Linn.). Tarum is a natural dye-producing plant whose presence is not widely known. The development of human needs, especially in meeting the needs of natural dyes, is considered to be the main reason for reintroducing tarum as a suitable plant to grow in Indonesia. The use of natural dyes in addition to being safe for humans is also safe for the environment, considering the substances produced by the tarum plant are widely used as textile dyes. Good enough environmental compatibility makes this plant actually spread in many parts of Indonesia, especially in Java. It is necessary to possess a knowledge about the right cultivation techniques for tarum plants in an effort to increase the color-producing substances in plants. The attempts to obtain information about cultivation techniques are an opportunity to re-raise these plants to be better known and developed as potential plants.
What matters to patients and families: A content and process framework for clarifying preferences, concerns and values
Authors: Rocque Rhea , Dansokho Selma Chipenda , Grad Roland , Witteman Holly
Published: June 2019

Background: Values clarification, or sorting out what matters to a patient or family relevant to a health decision, is a fundamental part of shared decision making. Little is known about how this process occurs. We aimed to describe how values clarification occurs in routine primary care.Methods: Using framework analysis and an established taxonomy, two independent researchers analyzed 260 consultations in five family medicine clinics across Quebec. Two questions guided our analyses: 1) What categories exist regarding what matters to patients? 2) What patterns exist in discussions of what matters to patients? Results: 1) Five distinct categories of what matters to patients were apparent: preferences, concerns, treatment-specific values, life goals or philosophies, and broader contextual or sociocultural values. Preferences and concerns were the matters most commonly raised. 2) Diverse patterns of values clarification emerged based on three analytical questions: Who initiates the discussion about what matters to patients? When? What information is discussed? The most frequent pattern was clinicians soliciting patients’ concerns and preferences during the information-gathering phase. The second most common pattern was similar, except that patients’ spontaneously raised what matters to them.Limitations: The study was descriptive and based on audio-recorded visits. We did not interview patients and clinicians to elicit their perspectives.Conclusions: There are five distinct categories of information that matters to patients as well as clear patterns of how values clarification occurs in routine primary care consultations. Clinicians could be sensitive to these categories when engaging in the process of values clarification, and may wish to pay particular attention to the opening minutes of a consultation. This study provides a structure for future identification of best practices in values clarification.
Fearless, 1000 days and still running : the ‘most resilient’ exit nodes of the Tor network and their ISP’s – a quantitative approach.
Authors: Akmut Camille
Published: June 2019

We make use of metrics to identify what we call ‘the most resilient exitnodes of the Tor network’, and so gain an insight into their characteristics.This first quantitative answer, we hope, will be of help, both to the usersand makers of this network.
Implementation of Evidence Based Practice For Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo in the Emergency Department: A Stepped Wedge Randomized Trial
Authors: Kerber Kevin , Damschroder Laura Joy , McLaughlin Thomas , Brown Devin , burke jim , Telian Steve , Fagerlin Angela , An Lawrence , Morgenstern Lewis , Forman Jane , Vijan Sandeep , Rowell Brigid , Meurer William J.
Published: June 2019

Objective: To evaluate a strategy to increase use of the test (Dix-Hallpike test [DHT]) and treatment (canalith repositioning maneuver [CRM]) for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) in emergency department (ED) dizziness visits. Methods: We conducted a stepped-wedge randomized trial in six EDs. The population was visits with dizziness as a principal reason for the visit. The intervention included educational sessions and decision aid materials. Outcomes were DHT or CRM documentation (primary), head CT use, length-of-stay, admission, and 90-day stroke events. The analysis was multi-level logistic regression with intervention, month, and hospital as fixed effects, and provider as a random effect. We assessed fidelity with monitoring intervention use and semi-structured interviews. Results: We identified 7,635 dizziness visits over 18 months. The DHT or CRM was documented in 1.5% of control visits (45/3077; 95% CI, 1%-1.9%) and 3.5% of intervention visits (159/4558; 95% CI, 3%-4%; difference 2% 95% CI, 1.3%, 2.7%). Head CT use was lower in intervention visits compared with controls (44.0% [1352/3077] vs 36.9% [1682/4558]). No differences were observed in admission or 90-day subsequent stroke risk. In fidelity evaluations, providers who used the materials typically reported positive clinical experiences but provider engagement was low at facilities without an emergency medicine residency program. Conclusions: These findings provide evidence that an implementation strategy of a BPPV-focused approach to ED dizziness visits can be successful and safe in promoting evidence-based care. Absolute rates of DHT and CRM use, however, were still low which relates in part to our broad inclusion criteria for dizziness visits.
Decision Fusion of EEG and fNIRS Signals
Authors: Al-Shargie Fares
Published: June 2019

In this study, we investigated the use of multimodal functional neuroimaging in detecting mental stress on the prefrontal cortex (PFC). We recorded Electroencephalography (EEG) and functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) simultaneously from 20-subjects performing mental arithmetic task under control and stress conditions. Stress was induced in this study based on two established stressors – time pressure and negative feedback about peer performance. We explored decision fusion by using support vector machine classifier for each modality, and optimizing the classifiers based on Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve values. Experiment results revealed significant reduction in alpha rhythm and mean change in concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin at PFC when stressed, p<0.001 and 0.0001 respectively. The decision fusion improved significantly the detection rate of mental stress by +7.76% and +10.57%, when compared to sole modality of EEG and fNIRS, respectively.
Pengembangan Model Konservasi Lingkungan dengan Metode Introdusir Vegetasi Asli Pegunungan Jawa pada Lereng Baratdaya Gunungapi Merbabu: Tinjauan Biogeografi
Authors: Ashari Arif , Nuraini Fahad
Published: June 2019

Kebutuhan sumberdaya lahan yang semakin besar dalam beberapa dekade terakhir telah memicu terjadinya alih fungsi lahan dan pemanfaatan lahan yang tidak sesuai kemampuannya. Pengelolaan sumberdaya yang kurang memperhatikan kaidah konservasi dan masih bertumpu pada pandangan antroposentrisme selanjutnya turut berpengaruh terhadap timbulnya degradasi kualitas lingkungan, antara lain berupa penurunan kualitas lahan akibat erosi dan hilangnya kesuburan tanah, gangguan pada sistem hidrologi, hingga ancaman terhadap kelestarian keanekaragaman hayati suatu wilayah. Lereng baratdaya Gunungapi Merbabu merupakan wilayah yang menghadapi ancaman degradasi lingkungan, sehingga perlu adanya arahan konservasi agar dapat tercapai ekuilibrium dinamik antara upaya pelestarian lingkungan dengan tetap memanfaatkan sumberdaya yang ada secara optimum. Salah satu bentuk tindakan konservasi adalah secara vegetatif dengan memanfaatkan fungsi vegetasi asli untuk menghambat laju kerusakan lingkungan. Untuk itu terlebih dahulu perlu adanya restorasi vegetasi asli dengan identifikasi vegetasi masa lampau serta introdusir vegetasi tempat lain yang masih lestari dan memiliki karakteristik iklim dan bentanglahan sama dengan Gunungapi Merbabu. Beberapa jenis vegetasi asli Pegunungan Jawa sesuai dengan karakteristik bentanglahan Gunungapi Merbabu, antara lain rasamala (altinga excelsa), puspa (shima walichii), sarangan (castanopsis argantea), dan urang-urang (debregasia longifolia). Distribusi spasial vegetasi tersebut secara umum terbagi dalam tiga zona vegetasi yaitu zona sub pegunungan, pegunungan, dan sub alpin. Pembagian zonasi vegetasi didasarkan pada kondisi iklim terutama suhu udara dan curah hujan, serta kondisi lahan. Berbagai jenis vegetasi tersebut sesuai untuk konservasi lingkungan karena memiliki kapasitas intersepsi hujan tinggi, tidak mengurangi airtanah dalam jumlah besar, dapat segera mengalami regenerasi pada hutan Merbabu yang sering terbakar, dan merupakan tumbuhan pionir pada bentanglahan vulkanik.
Information Avoidance in Genetic Health: Perceptions, Norms, and Preferences
Authors: Heck Patrick Ryan , Meyer Michelle N.
Published: June 2019

The decision to avoid or ignore potentially useful information is common and often costly in health and genetics. Little is known, however, about how people evaluate those who choose to avoid or learn health information about themselves. Across four preregistered studies, we find that lay observers view those who avoid a genetic health result as less competent and moral, with less empathy and sympathy, and as less normative than those who choose to learn this information. These negative evaluations were less severe, but still present, when the health information was described as medically nonactionable, and depended little on the true presence or absence of a harmful gene. These findings replicated for actionable genetic health results in a large sample of clinicians who interact and discuss medical tests with patients. We suggest that avoiding information about oneself may have negative consequences for social interaction, the patient-provider relationship, and health.
Neither the richness of optic flow, nor the precision of heading judgements, predicts walking trajectories
Authors: Cen Danlu , Rushton Simon , Vann Seralynne
Published: June 2019

When an observer translates through space, a pattern of image motion, “optic flow”, is projected onto the back of each eye. If the translation is forwards, a radial pattern of optic flow results, with the center of the pattern specifying the direction of translation. It is commonly assumed that humans use optic flow in the visual guidance of walking and that the contribution of optic flow is proportional to its richness. A further assumption is that “heading” judgements (judgements of the direction of translation) and guidance of walking rely on the same visual information and thus the processes involved in the latter can be studied using the former. These assumptions underpin a very extensive body of psychophysical, behavioral, neurophysiological, clinical, computational modelling and imaging research. We measure the form of walking trajectories (using a standard perturbation design in Experiment 1) and the precision of heading judgements (Experiment 2) in four different visual environments. We find that neither the richness of optic flow nor the precision of heading judgements predicts walking trajectories. These results challenge the widely held assumptions about optic flow, perception of heading and the visual guidance of walking.
Perceptual modality norms for 1121 Italian words: a comparison with concreteness and imageability scores and an analysis of their impact in word processing tasks.
Authors: Vergallito Alessandra , Petilli Marco Alessandro , Marelli Marco
Published: June 2019

Normative measures of verbal material are fundamental in psycholinguistic and cognitive research to control for confounding in experimental procedures and achieve a better comprehension of our conceptual system. Traditionally, normative studies focused on classical psycholinguistic variables, such as concreteness and imageability. Recent works shifted researchers’ focus to perceptual strength, in which items are separately rated for each of the five senses.We present a resource including perceptual norms for 1121 Italian words extracted from the Italian version of ANEW. Norms were collected from 57 native-speakers. For each word, participants provided perceptual strength ratings for each of the five perceptual modalities. Perceptual norms performance in predicting human behavior was tested in two novel experiments, a lexical decision and a naming task. Concreteness, imageability and different composite variables representing perceptual strength scores were considered as competing predictors in a series of linear regressions, evaluating the goodness-of-fit of each model.For both tasks, the model with imageability as predictor was found to be the best fitting model according to AIC, while the model with the separately considered five modalities better described data according to the explained variance. These results differ from the ones previously reported for English, in which maximum perceptual strength emerged as the best predictor of behavior. We investigated this discrepancy by comparing Italian and English data on the same set of translated items, thus confirming a genuine cross-linguistic effect. We conclude confirming that perceptual experience influences linguistic processing, even though evaluations from different languages are needed to generalize this claim.
Status of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc Scores in Predicting Risk of Stroke and its Prevention in Iraqi Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Radeef Mohanad Yasir
Published: June 2019

Atrial fibrillation is associates with elevated risk of stroke. The simplest stroke risk assessment schemes are CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc score. Aspirin and oral anticoagulants are recommended for stroke prevention in such patients.

The aim of this study was to  assess status of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores in Iraqi atrial fibrillation patients and to report current status of stroke prevention in these patients with either warfarin or aspirin in relation to these scores.

This prospective cross-sectional study was carried out at Tikrit, Samarra, Sharqat, Baquba, and AL-Numaan hospitals from July 2017 to October 2017. CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores were manually calculated.

One hundred patients were participated, 48 were men and 52 were women. Their mean age was 62.56 ± 14.36 years. Permanent type of atrial fibrillation, palpitation, and hypertension were the most diagnosed type, symptom and comorbidity recorded in this study respectively. Average scores of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc were 2.34 ± 1.39 and 4.1 ± 2.05, respectively. These scores were not calculated for these patients in hospital setting. Aspirin and warfarin were prescribed regardless to these scores.

The result of this study indicated that CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores were often neglected in hospitals; and aspirin is still widely used as a strategy to minimize the risk of stroke.
Exposure response function for a quantitative prediction of weathering caused aging of polyethylene
Authors: Geburtig Anja , Wachtendorf Volker , Trubiroha Peter
Published: June 2019

The exposure response function of the carbonyl formation over the bulk has been determined for a high-density polyethylene of a thickness of 200 μm, which was used as a weathering reference material according to ISO TR 19032. To this end, spectral sensitivity was studied by local measurement of the effect of spectrally dispersed irradiation. Both the exposure device and the methodology of determination are described. The temperature dependency of photooxidation was determined by UV exposure at various temperatures between 23 and 80 °C. Deviations from linearity and thus reciprocity below 40 °C are discussed and assumed to be related to diffusion limitations. An Arrhenius approach – based on data of linear carbonyl formation – has been incorporated into the exposure response function. Using this exposure response function, aging in terms of the distribution of a quantitative property change over a plastic component can be predicted for a specific outdoor location with real chronologic weather data as input for the exposure. Thus, artificial and natural weathering can be linked and compared. The established exposure response function has been validated by outdoor exposure results from the literature. If an estimated diffusion limitation is taken into consideration, calculations and published data are in good agreement.
Modeling of machining parameters for MRR and TWR in EDM characteristics on Al/10 wt.-% TiB2 composites
Authors: Prabu Muthusamy , Magibalan Subramaniam , Senthilkumar Chinnamuthu , Palanivelu Rajagounder , Senthilkumar Palanisamy , Boopathi Rajendran
Published: June 2019

This work was undertaken to study the effect of some of the main electro-discharge machining process parameters such as flushing pressure, current, pulse-on-time, and vibration on the tool wear rate (TWR), and metal removal rate (MRR) of Al 6061 alloy with 10 wt.-% TiB2p (titanium boride particulate) composites. The response surface methodology was used to determine the most important criteria to maximize the MRR and minimize the TWR. The experimental procedure was designed based on second-order rotatable central composite design. Sensitivity analysis was used to identify the important criteria and classify them by their order of importance in model validation. Many efforts were made to compare the calculated output of the data obtained. Pulse-on-time sensitivity was found to exert a more significant effect on MRR and TWR than did other criteria. The surface plots were prepared for both MRR and TWR. MRR value increases with an increase in peak current. It occurs in a workpiece that transfers the heat directly to the workpiece, and these functions increase TWR. This occurs because of an increase in MRR and a decrease in TWR.
Effect of different loading systems on acousto-ultrasonic characteristics of concrete under axial compression
Authors: Wang Yan , Zhang Tingting , Yan Chao , Wang Na , Yao Fei , Chen Lijun , Gu Jie
Published: June 2019

In order to study the effects of different loading systems and stress history on the damage evolution of concrete, the acoustic emission characteristic parameters, the acoustic emission release rate, acousto-ultrasonic pulse wave velocity and the Rv value were compared and analyzed in the process of axial compression damage of concrete with different water cement ratios under step and intermittent loading. In this paper, the intermittent period led to a certain degree of “closure” in the internal microcracks of concrete, thus in the same HB to HD holding period, the acoustic emission release rate, mean value of acoustic emission characteristic parameters and mean acousto-ultrasonic pulse wave velocity under intermittent loading were all higher than that of step loading. The acousto-ultrasonic pulse wave velocity decreased with the increasing of the stress level and increased during the IA to ID intermittent period. Among them, with the decreasing of water cement ratio (from 0.6 to 0.4), the acoustic emission cumulative hits and the acoustic emission release rate increased, while the acousto-ultrasonic pulse wave velocity increased, and there were some differences in the acoustic emission release rate of the two loading systems at different water cement ratios. Furthermore, the Rv value decreased with the decreasing of water cement ratio in the IA to IC intermittent period and in the ID intermittent period, the Rv value increased with the decreasing of water cement ratio, thus the Rv value could reflect the evolution law of concrete with different water cement ratios during the intermittent period. The obtained results show that the acoustic emission and acousto-ultrasonic characteristic parameters are not consistent under two different loading systems, so research in this paper can provide a theoretical basis for the damage identification and analysis of concrete structures under cyclic loading based on the acousto-ultrasonic technology in practical engineering.
Assessment of possible changes of water resources of the rivers belonging to the Kuyalnytskyi Liman catchment at the beginning of the 21st century (2021 -2050) according to the models of the climatic scenario RCP4.5
Authors: Loboda N. S. , Kuza А. M. , Kozlov О. M.
Published: June 2019

Relevance of the paper consists in the need of ability to predict the water resources state of small and medium-sized rivers of the North-Western Black Sea Region in the 21st century in order to justify the strategy of Odesa Region's economy development. The water bodies of the studied territory include Kuyalnitskyi Liman with its unique balneological properties used for health improvement purposes since the end of the 19th century. Global warming and construction of numerous artificial reservoirs across the catchments of the liman's rivers resulted in its shallowing since the 90s of the last century. Forecasts for possible inflow of fresh water from the rivers to the liman in the near future have a great importance for assessing the prospects of its natural resources protection and preservation. The aim of the paper is to determine a possible state of water resources of the rivers belonging to the Kuyalnitskyi Liman catchment over the period of 2021-2050 based on imitational mathematical modelling with the climate-runoff model taken as a template and using meteorological data of 14 models of the RCP4.5 climate scenario. Estimations of zonal (climatic) annual runoff were provided for six meteorological stations located across the Kuyalnitskyi Liman catchment and adjacent territories. Each of the studied models has the water resources, heat and moisture resources estimations averaged over the target territory. It is shown that, compared to the last century's data, water resources changes will range from -82.6 % (model CLMcom3) to + 75.4 % (model MPI-CSC2). An average statistical model which is the result of averaging all the studied models was taken for further calculations. It was established that the best harmonization of estimated and actual tendencies of runoff formation climatic factors changes is observed when the average statistical model is taken. According to this model, over the period of 2021-2050 the Kuyalnitskyi Liman catchment area will see a heat resources expected increase by + 12.3 % with a slight (-1.80 %) humidification resources decrease. This will lead to reduction of territory's water resources by 25.5 %. The transfer of some watercourses feeding the liman to natural annual river runoff made it possible to determine that, according to the RCP4.5 scenario, over the period of 2021-2050 the average long-term inflow of fresh water from the Velykyi Kuyalnik River will constitute 16.5 million m3 and the inflow from other watercourses – 1.3 million m3.
Tendencies of long-term changes of temperature fields, salinity and water level of the North-Western part of the Black Sea
Authors: Berlinsky N. , Gavriluk R. , Danilenko O.
Published: June 2019

The paper analyzes the variability of hydrological characteristics of the North-Western part of the Black for different temporal scales: long-term, seasonal and synoptic. The traditional methods of geographic investigations, such as comparative-geographic, retrospective and cartographic methods, were used. When analyzing sea level data packages and thermohaline characteristics mathematical methods, including statistical, correlation and regression analysis, were used. As a result of the conducted research quantitative estimates of tendencies of long-term changes of the thermohaline characteristics and level in the North-Western part of the Black Sea were received. Over the period of 1982-2005 an increase of water temperature in the North-Western part of the Black Sea was observed: in winter water temperature in the surface layer increased by 2оC, in the bottom layer – by more than 2оC. Over the period of 1990-2005 an increase of an average annual water temperature in Odesa area constituted 1,2°C. The most considerable and statistically significant temperature increase took place during the summer hydrological season: an average summer temperature increased during this period by 2,7оC. During transitional seasons (autumn and spring) there was also a tendency of temperature increase, however, statistically significant trend was observed only during the autumn period. There is a statistically significant negative trend observed for long-term changes of salinity. For the period of 1990-2005 an average annual salinity decreased by 1.36 ‰. A tendency of salinity decrease was observed for all seasons of the year, however, statistically significant trends are observed only in winter and summer. A close relationship between long-term changes in water salinity and runoff of the Dnieper River was also established. A sea level rise is observed at all stations of the North-Western part of the Black Sea. Over the period of 1947-2012 an average annual sea level in Odesa increased by 14 cm. An analysis of climatic changes of wind-induced sea level fluctuations showed that the frequency of surges of varying intensity remained almost unchanged, however, the frequency of sweeps changed significantly. Over the period of 1980-2012, as opposed to the period of 1947-1979, the frequency of minor sweeps (no more than 30 cm) increased, and the frequency of significant (more than 30 cm) and very significant (more than 50 cm) sweeps, on the contrary, decreased by about 5%-6%. Changes of wind-induced sea level fluctuations' character harmonize with wind direction and wind speed over the North-Western part of the Black Sea.
Manejo nutricional para cães e gatos obesos
Authors: Pereira de Souza Silva Lucas , Hoog Nora Júnior Ronaldo César , Carlos Pereira Cinthia Maria , Pereira Bernardino Verônica Maria
Published: June 2019

Obesity is one of the most frequent nutritional disorders in dogs and cats. The disease is characterized by excessive accumulation of body fat in a systemic way, leading to secondary damage to the animal's health. Among the causes of obesity are factors such as race, species, genetic predisposition, nutrition, castration, use of some medications, but it is also due to the change in the habit of life of these species that over time were becoming more and more sedentary. Because it is a nutritional disorder, the adoption of nutritional management is essential in the treatment of the disease, because the proper balance of nutrients such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, fibers and food moisture, will function in a regulatory way in the animal's organism. Associated with an adequate nutritional management, the institution of a program of physical activities to reduce the sedentarism of the animals is of paramount importance to help the weight loss in a healthy way and without risks to the health of the animal. Thus, it can be said that providing a healthy and balanced diet to these animals is the main way to control obesity, so it is important to know the role of each nutrient in the treatment, as well as the feasibility of using ready-made foods available in the Marketplace.
Comparison of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Honey and Spirulina platensis with Sulfasalazine and Mesalazine on Acetic Acid-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Rats
Authors: Rezaei Nadia , Eftekhari Mohammad Hassan , Tanideh Nader , Mokhtari Maral , Bagheri Zahra
Published: June 2019

Background: Antioxidant therapy has gained attention for the treatment of ulcerative coli­tis (UC). The excessive generation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species in the gastrointestinal tract increases oxidative stress, thereby leading to antioxidant defense depletion, lipid perox­idation, inflammation, tissue damage, and ulceration. Spirulina platensis (SP) and honey are excellent sources of potent antioxidants such as polyphenols and other bioactive compounds. We aimed to investigate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of honey and SP in com­parison with sulfasalazine (SSZ) and mesalazine on acetic acid-induced colitis (AA-colitis) in rats. Materials and Methods: Fifty-six Sprague Dawley male rats were allocated to sev­en groups, with each group comprising eight rats. UC was induced, except in normal con­trols (NC). All groups received oral treatments for seven days. The normal saline solution of 2 mL was intrarectally administered to the NC group. The AA-colitis and NC groups received 2 mL acetic acid intrarectally as a single dose and 2 mL normal saline for seven consecutive days orally. The mesalazine group received 100 mg/kg mesalazine, the SSZ group 360 mg/kg SSZ, the honey or H group 1 mL honey diluted with 1 mL distilled water, the SH group 1g/kg SP and 1 mL honey, and the SP group 1g/kg SP. After clinical activity score assessment, the rats were sacrificed. Colonic weight/length ratio, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), myeloperoxidase (MPO), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. Colonic histopathological changes were observed microscopically. Results: Treatment of UC with SP, honey, and combination regimen significantly reduced TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, MDA, MPO, NO, and PGE2, and increased TAC, GSH, GPx, and SOD in interventional groups compared to the AA-colitis group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Honey and SP might be beneficial food supple­ments for medical nutrition therapy in UC. [GMJ.2019;8:e1095]
Depression Among First- and Fifth-Year Medical Students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Almalki Abdulaziz Saeed , Almalki Abdullah , Kokandi Abdullah , Aldosari Bandar , Bin Baz Abdulaziz , Alfadhel Shoog , Alsuwayyigh Abdulaziz , Alsadoun Rgad , Haddad Bandar
Published: June 2019

Background: Depression, which is characterized by persistent sadness, is a highly prevalent and serious medical disease that affects more than 300 million individuals worldwide. It is hypothesized that the onset of depressive symptoms in medical students occurs due to prolonged exposure to the stressful environment of medical colleges. Hence, we aimed to determine the presence of depressive symptoms and compare the level of depression between the first-year and fifth-year medical students in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed with convenient sampling from 2 medical colleges in Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from October to November 2017. The English version of Beck’s Depression Inventory questionnaire was used in this study. Statistical analysis was administered using SPSS via chi-square test, and P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The questionnaire was answered by 241 participants. The age variable shows a bimodal distribution. The mean age of first-year and fifth-year students was 19±0.8 years and 23±2.1 years, respectively. Fifth-year students comprised 53.5% of the total sample, and male students accounted for 63.1% of the total sample. After analysis, the results show that male students scored higher than female students on the lower side of the scale in both years. Most of the first-year female students scored a higher level of depression compared with male students (P=0.001), whereas no difference between males and females (P=0.04) was found in the fifth-year students’ data. Conclusion: Our study shows a new pattern of reported depressive symptoms among first- and fifth-year medical students. In addition, the study suggests that depression is more common in female medical students as compared with their male counterparts. For future studies, we recommend using randomized sampling in a cohort study including all levels of medical students to further investigate and confirm the findings.[GMJ.2019;8:e1497]
Precarious Provisioning: Three Explorations of Food after Progress
Authors: McEvoy Patrick
Published: June 2019

Studying the socio-ecological systems which produce food highlights the entangled nature of humans, other species and ecosystems near and far. The three texts discussed in this essay have this awareness in the foreground. Participants in the solidarity economy and artisan cheesemakers know this, and the three authors do as well, demonstrating an integration of ecological awareness in their research and the pursuit of new knowledge. Cristina Grasseni, Heather Paxson and Anna Tsing trace connections and describe flows of organisms, food, skills and ideas, from the microbial community on the surface of a maturing cheese to global trade networks shaping mushrooms, mushroom pickers and forests. Each demonstrates the tight synergies of human culture and more-than-human nature that shape ecosystems and produce food beyond increasingly fragile capitalist industrial food production systems.
Ludic Scopes for Environmental Crisis and Education
Authors: Osti Giorgio
Published: June 2019

The article aims to add a ludic perspective to those generally used for studying environmental issues in social sciences. To introduce in the debate a play/game metaphor enriches the interpretations of environmental crisis and provides a further motivation to action. The ludic perspective has a sociorelational background. That tradition of studies helps in constructing a set of categories that are then applied to environmental education (EE). The choice of such a topic is motivated by two factors: EE is an aspect generally practiced but mistreated in the main theorizations, and EE is exemplary of the potentialities of the playing games metaphor, which are the desire to create, the acceptance of slow changes, the protection of an experimental bubble, and irony toward environmental issues.
Mikrobiološka kvaliteta kakaove ljuske
Authors: Doko Kristina , Barišić Veronika , Flanjak Ivana , Jozinović Antun , Babić Jurislav , Ačkar Đurđica
Published: June 2019

U ovom radu određena je mikrobiološka kvaliteta kakaove ljuske koja se dobiva kao nusproizvod u proizvodnji čokolade, nakon prženja kakaovog zrna. Kakaova ljuska je tretirana postupkom visokonaponskog električnog pražnjenja (VNEP) pri 40 i 80 Hz tijekom 15, 30 i 45 min u vodenoj suspenziji (pri koncentraciji kakaove ljuske 1,5 i 3,0 %). Istraživanje je pokazalo da je kakaova ljuska, iako je prije analize prošla termički tretman (prženje) jako opterećena mikroorganizmima, ali da se primjenom VNEP može reducirati broj enterobakterija. Naknadna obrada kakaove ljuske sušenjem pri 40 °C, međutim, uzrokuje oporavak mikroorganizama.
Žuta kukuruzna sovica (Heliocoverpa armigera Hübner) važan štetnik duhana u Hercegovini
Authors: Rotim Nino
Published: June 2019

Duhan (Nicotiana tabacum L.) je dulje od dva stoljeća predstavljao dominantnu poljoprivrednu kulturu u Bosni i Hercegovini. Tradicionalno se proizvodio u Hercegovini gdje je dugo vremena bio najvažnija gospodarska djelatnost. Poznat je velik broj različitih štetnih organizama koji ugrožavaju proizvodnju duhana. Određene vrste štetnika napadaju presadnice duhana unutar zaštićenih prostora dok su pojedine ograničavajući čimbenik njegova uzgoja na otvorenom polju. Posljednjih godina u Hercegovini kod uzgoja duhanu na otvorenom polju velike štete čine gusjenice žute kukuruzne sovice. Njihova masovnija pojava uočena je 2012. godine kada su velike štete osim na duhana zabilježene u nasadima rajčice i paprike. Žuta kukuruzna sovica na duhanu oštećuje vegetativnu masu umanjujući prinos i kakvoću sirovine. Naročito velika oštećenja čini generativnim organima duhana i proizvođačima koji nastoje sačuvati sjeme potrebno za zasnivanje proizvodnje u narednoj vegetaciji.
Benchmarking as a Tool for Providing Analytical Support to Mortgage Lending Operations of a Bank
Authors: Hamkalo O. B. , Demkiv K. S.
Published: June 2019

The essence of benchmarking is investigated and questions of its organization in the course of mortgage lending operations in the bank are considered as one of the most effective modern tools for improvement of work and achievement of competitive advantages in the field of mortgage lending.
Taking into account the specifics of banking operations in the banking sector, benchmarking can be considered as a process for comparing the Bank’s services and business processes with the products of services and business processes of leading banks, best lenders, partners in order to borrow better practices in mortgage operations and their adaptation for obtaining competitive advantages in the market of mortgage banking services.
The classification signs of benchmarking of mortgage lending are singled out and systematized, which will enable the management of banks to purposefully apply the methodology of studying and introducing the positive experience of competitors, partners and other organizations, as well as promoting the innovative development of credit organizations, and in the future, specialized mortgage banks in Ukraine.
It is determined that the choice of the type of benchmarking depends on: the goals, goals and objectives set by the banks; ability to obtain the information and analysis necessary for comparison; the necessary financial, human resources, information, technological and other resources, as well as the experience of the workers and the time required for its implementation.
In order to improve the process of mortgage lending, the Bank proposes the following procedure for the introduction of a benchmarking procedure: the identification of areas to be improved, that is, objects of benchmarking, based on the results of the analysis of the state of mortgage lending in a bank; definition of the basic criteria of comparative analysis; search for benchmarking benchmarks; collection and processing of information; development of recommendations and their introduction into the policy of mortgage lending in the bank; monitoring and control over the implementation of decisions on problem solving. This creates the preconditions for using the positive experience of leading banks in the field of mortgage lending and forms the appropriate principles for developing a strategy for further development of the bank.
It is substantiated that the use of benchmarking in the activities of banks in relation to mortgage lending is a powerful tool in the context of global competition, and its implementation in the organization of economic analysis of mortgage lending operations of banks will allow for a higher level of application of mortgage opportunities.
Structure and variability of the synoptic disturbances of ocean currents in the Drake Passage and Scotia Sea
Authors: Koshlyakov M. N. , Repina I. A. , Savchenko D. S. , Tarakanov R. Yu. , Taroyan V. K.
Published: June 2019

Twenty two years data of the satellite altimeter observations are used for the analysis of structure and variability of the ocean current synoptic disturbances in the Drake Passage and Scotia Sea. Wavelet analysis of the time series of ocean surface absolute dynamics topography (OSADT) at a set of points in the studied ocean area has revealed a high degree of the statistical nonstationarity of these series appearing as short (few years) intervals of intensive fluctuations of OSADT separated by long intervals of weak fluctuations. Analysis of the synoptic OSADT maps has showed that the intervals of the strong ocean current fluctuations at a point are conditioned by the alternation of processes of cyclonic and anticyclonic eddy-meanders formation by the jets of Antarctic Circumpolar Current, strengthening of the eddies, their following attenuation and final eddy confluence with the mother jets. Besides of the statistical nonstationarity, a considerable spatial variability of the statistical characteristics of the ocean current synoptical disturbances has been revealed for the scales of 150–200 km.
Organic substances of sea bottom sediments in conditions of the coast urbanization (for example Kazachiya Bay, The Black Sea)
Authors: Soloveva O. V. , Tikhonova E. A. , Klimenko T. L. , Skrupnik G. V. , Votinova T. V.
Published: June 2019

The data on the hydrocarbons compound in the sea bottom sediments of adjacent water area to the zone of mass cottage building (Kazachiya Bay, the coast of Sevastopol, the Black Sea) are given. As a result of the survey conducted in the summer of 2015, pH, Eh, natural moisture, chloroform extractable substances, oil hydrocarbons, petroleum products, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and n-paraffins in the sea bottom sediments of the water area were determined. Areas with unfavorable and moderately adverse environmental conditions are identified. The impact of coastal urbanization on the deterioration condition of the sea bottom sediment is shown.
Changes in the geomagnetic field and the evolution of marine biota
Authors: Barash M. S.
Published: June 2019

The ideas about the influence of the geomagnetic field on evolution and biodiversity are controversial. The quantitative distribution of datum levels of oceanic microplankton during the last 2.0 million years shows a correlation with geomagnetic inversions. Lowering of the field intensity increases cosmic irradiation of the Earth's surface, which can activate mutagenesis leading to new species emergence. Moreover, since the correlation of the geomagnetic field intensity with the composition of the atmosphere, temperature, climate, volcanism and other environmental conditions is revealed, it is possible to assume its influence on evolutionary processes as a part of the general complex of environmental conditions. Geomagnetic polarity superchrons ended by mantle plume formation which produced the trap eruptions and initiated Phanerozoic faunal mass extinctions. The sources of the geomagnetic field and plume formation leading to trap volcanism are at the boundaries of the inner spheres of the Earth, which explains their correlation. And their correlation with impact events as one of the causes of extinction can be explained by the common cosmic root cause located outside the solar system.
The integrated geological and geophysical expedition aboard the R/V Akademik Oparin to the Tatar Strait, Sea of Japan (cruise No. 54, 2017)
Authors: Valitov M. G. , Shakirov R. B. , Yatsuk A. V. , Aksentov K. I. , Proshkina Z. N. , Belous O. V. , Mishukova G. I.
Published: June 2019

According to the Plan of Integrated Scientific Research of the World Ocean for 2017–2022, the Il’ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (POI FEB RAS) began a comprehensive study of the northern part of the Sea of Japan and the Tatar Strait, having developed a three-year plan for expeditionary research in the area. The first expedition from the three-year expeditionary research cycle was carried out from September 21 to October 31, 2017 on the R/V “Akademik Oparin” (cruise № 54). The main goal of the expedition was to study the geological structure, conditions and mechanisms for the formation of the Tatar Strait, to study the correlation of the distribution of gas-fluid flows with a network of tectonic disturbances of different ranks in one of the seismic areas of Sakhalin Island, as well as the reaction of the Sea of Japan to climate change and increasing anthropogenic impacts.
Algebras of Definable Sets vs. Concept Lattices
Authors: Wasilewski Piotr
Published: June 2019

The paper is aimed at comparing Rough Set Theory (RST) and Formal Concept Analysis (FCA) with respect to algebraic structures of concepts appearing in both theories, namely algebras of definable sets and concept lattices. The paper presents also basic ideas and concepts of RST and FCA together with some set theoretical concepts connected with set spaces which can serve as a convenient platform for a comparison of RST and FCA. In the last section there are shown necessary and sufficient conditions for the fact, that families of definable sets and concept extents determined by the same formal contexts are equal . This in finite cases is equivalent to an isomorphism of respective structures and generally reflects a very specific situation when both theories give the same conceptual hierarchies.
Applying the Illinois Work and Well-Being Model to increase labor force participation among people with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Strauser David R. , Rumrill, Phillip D. , Greco Chelsea
Published: June 2019

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this article is to introduce the Illinois Work and Well-Being Model as a framework that can be applied to facilitate the career development of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The model emphasizes the interaction of contextual and career development domains to improve participation in the areas of work, society, community, and home.

CONCLUSION:

A brief discussion of potential implications regarding vocational rehabilitation research, service, and policy is offered, with the overall goal of reinforcing career development as the foundation of vocational rehabilitation services for adults with MS and other chronic health conditions.
Priority employment concerns identified by Americans with MS residing in rural areas: Results of a national survey
Authors: Rumrill, Phillip D. , Strauser David R. , Li Jian , Roessler Richard T. , Chan Fong , Bishop Malachy L. , Leslie Mykal , Frain Michael
Published: June 2019

BACKGROUND:

This article presents descriptive findings from a sub-sample of 414 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) residing in rural areas that was derived from a national survey of the employment concerns of Americans with MS.

OBJECTIVE:

Respondents were asked to evaluate 38 employment concerns items on two dimensions, importance and satisfaction, for the purpose of identifying strengths and weaknesses in the employment policies and practices affecting the labor force participation of Americans with MS.

RESULTS:

Results revealed a total of 13 employment strengths and 25 employment weaknesses that must be addressed in direct service and advocacy efforts if more rural residents with MS are to continue their careers while coping with this intrusive and unpredictable disease.

CONCLUSION:

Implications of these findings for future rehabilitation programming and research are examined.