bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expected hazards and hospital beds in host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil
Authors: Miranda Elaine Silva , Shoaf Kimberley , Silva Raulino Sabino da , Freitas Carolina Figueiredo , Osorio-de-Castro Claudia Garcia Serpa
Published: June 2017

Planning for mass gatherings involves health system preparedness based on an understanding of natural and technological hazards identified through prior risk assessment. We present the expected hazards reported by health administrators of the host cities for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and discuss the hazards considering minimal available public hospital beds in the 12 cities at the time of the event. Four different groups of respondents were interviewed: pharmaceutical service administrators and overall health administrators at both the municipal and hospital levels. The hospital bed occupancy rate was calculated, based on the Brazilian Health Informatics Department (DATASUS). The number of surplus beds was calculated using parameters from the literature regarding surge and mass casualty needs and number of unoccupied beds. In all groups, physical injuries ranked first, followed by emerging and endemic diseases. Baseline occupancy rates were high (95%CI: 0.93-2.19) in all 12 cities. Total shortage, considering all the cities, ranged from -47,670 (for surges) to -60,569 beds (for mass casualties). The study can contribute to discussions on mass-gathering preparedness.
Perfil dos ensaios clínicos envolvendo crianças brasileiras
Authors: Vieira Jean Mendes de Lucena , Lima Elisangela da Costa , Land Marcelo Gerardin Poirot , Ventura Miriam , Coelho Helena Lutescia Luna
Published: June 2017

Resumo: Este estudo visou a caracterizar os ensaios clínicos com medicamentos envolvendo crianças e adolescentes brasileiros, registrados nas bases de dados do Clinical Trials e da Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos (ReBEC), entre os anos de 1994 e 2014. Apenas 462 ensaios clínicos envolveram brasileiros nessa faixa etária. A partir de 2003, houve aumento no número de registros, com expressiva queda em 2011. Dentre esses, 35,5% foram sediados no Brasil. Os ensaios clínicos internacionais foram majoritariamente conduzidos por empresas norte-americanas. Em ambos os casos, a indústria multinacional foi a principal fonte de apoio financeiro. Predominaram ensaios clínicos de fase III com antivirais em formas farmacêuticas injetáveis e sólidas orais. Os ensaios clínicos nacionais apresentaram maior variação quanto às formas farmacêuticas e maior porcentual de formulações líquidas investigadas, em comparação aos internacionais. Além da forte dependência externa para a realização dos ensaios clínicos, destacou-se o desafio para o cuidado pediátrico no Brasil, que apresenta peculiaridades epidemiológicas em um ambiente propício ao uso de medicamentos não licenciados para crianças.
Separação e caracterização dos componentes de hemoglobina de Pterygoplichthys pardalis, o acaribodó
Authors: Brunori M. , Bonaventura J. , Focesi Jr A. , Galdames-Portus M. I. , Wilson M. T.
Published: June 2017

Resumo Os quatro componentes de hemoglobina principais do hemolisado de Pterygoplichthys pardalis foram isolados e caracterizados. As propriedades funcionais investigadas para os componentes isolados compreendem o efeito de pH e ATP sobre: (i) o equilíbrio de O2, (ii) a cinética da dissociação de O2 (iii) a cinética da combinação de CO. O componente I, corresponde a aproximadamente 50% da hemoglobina total, é caracterizado por propriedades funcionais que são diferentes das dos componentes II, III e IV, os quais são semelhantes. Assim, é provado, uma vez mais, que componentes múltiplos num hemolisado caem na categoria de hemoglobinas caracterizadas por propriedades funcionais distintas e complementares.
Efeitos da respiração aérea sobre o balanço ácido-base no cascudo Hypostomus sp.
Authors: Wood Stephen C. , Weber Roy E. , Davis Bonnie J.
Published: June 2017

Resumo O cascudo (Hypostomus sp.) induzido por água hipóxica a respirar ar apresentou o mesmo pH (7,39 a 30°C) que os peixes mantidos em água bem oxigenada e dependentes apenas da ventilação branquial (pH 7,41). Ocorreu retenção do CO2(aumento da PCO2de 3 para 20 torr) no grupo hipóxico indicando troca gasosa aquática reduzida, porém ela foi completamente compensada por um aumento no bicarbonato plasmático (de 2 a 13 mmol/L). Este padrão do balanço ácido-base é semelhante àqueles encontrados em comparações prévias entre espécies diferentes de vertebrados com respiração aquática e aérea. O teor mais elevado de bicarbonato plasmático de peixes aclimatados à hipóxia é considerado vantajoso na tamponação de ácidos metabólicos produzidos pelo matabolismo anaeróbico.
Isolamento e caracterização da hemoglobina de Brachyplatystoma sp.: um bagre tropical
Authors: Martin Joseph P. , Brunori Maurizio , Garlick Robert L. , Powers Dennis A.
Published: June 2017

Resumo O componente único da hemoglobina de Brachyplatysoma sp, tem um peso molecular aparente de 69000 determinado por filtração de gel. A hemoglobina apresenta efeito Bohr tanto ácido quanto básico, efeito de fosfato orgânico e não apresenta efeito Root. O P1/2, de oxigênio do sangue completo varia de 10.7 mm Hg em soluções equilibradas no ar até 25,1 mm Hg após a adição de 5,6% CO2 ao gás equilibrado. O efeito Bohr medido para hemoglobina "stripped" entre pH 7,0 e 8,0 é Δ log P1/2/Δp = H —0,23. Adições de 1mM ATP induzem mudança no efeito Bohr a Δ log P1/2/Δ pH = —0,58 na mesma faixa de pH. O valor n das soluções de hemoglobina "stripped" varia de 1 a pH 7,0. Adições de 1mM ATP mudam a variação de n a valores de pH mais altos causando um aumento no valor de n, n=2 a pH 7,4. As cinéticas da ligação de monóxido de carbono e dissociação de oxigênio são dependentes do pH. A taxa CO "on" vira autocatalítica à medida que o pH diminui, indicando interações positivas das subunidades. A taxa O2 "off" foi homogênea a todos os valores do pH. Os efeitos Bohr da hemoglobina de Brachyplatystoma e outras hemoglobinas de pimeloidídeos são maiores que as determinadas para as hemoglobinas não fraccionadas de espécies mais sedentárias de outras famílias de bagres, tais como Loricariidae e Callichthyidae.
Retirement decision-making influenced by family and work relationships
Authors: Figueira Desirée Ariane Modos , Haddad Maria do Carmo Lourenço , Gvozd Raquel , Pissinati Paloma de Souza Cavalcante
Published: June 2017

Abstract Objective: To identify the influence of family and work relationships on decision-making about retiring. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was carried out with 16 pre-retirees from a public university institution located in the north of Paraná, Brazil. Data were collected between July and November 2012 from three reflection groups that discussed aspects related to retirement. The Content Analysis technique was chosen for data analysis. For the theoretical basis of the results, the Theory of Social Representations was used. Results: Two categories emerged from discourse analysis: The influence of family relationships on decision-making about retiring and the influence of work relationships on decision-making about retiring. Conclusion: Family and work experiences influence decision-making about retiring, and become more important when the pre-retiree does not have post-career life projects, demonstrating the importance of the participation of workers in strategies to prepare for retirement during working life.
Em Busca do Lá: educação, espaço e linguagem
Authors: Oliveira Jr. Wenceslao Machado
Published: June 2017

Resumo: A partir da obra literária Fora do tempo, de David Grossman, apontar a criação do espaço na linguagem, através dela, na fratura dela mesma: um lá, um onde a linguagem pode levar autor, personagens e leitores até o encontro do espaço-lugar expresso ali, nas palavras e nos silêncios. A literatura como linguagem intensiva que, ao invés de buscar dizer de um espaço-lugar-lá como algo fora dela, cria espaço-lugar-lá no burilamento-dobra da própria linguagem, ela mesma sendo matéria-prima, matéria de expressão, desse espaço. A partir das proposições de Deleuze e Pellejero acerca da potência política da literatura, lidar com o abrir das linguagens para vertentes menos informativas e mais expressivas nas atividades de ensino e, talvez, permitindo aos alunos a possibilidade deles nos darem a ver - criarem, resistirem, agirem com vontade de arte (Oneto) - outros espaços-geografias ainda não sensíveis a nós, permitindo-nos, também talvez, a invenção de outros possíveis, outras maneiras de testemunhar (Vilela), outras potências da literatura na educação, outras maneiras de habitar o espaço, como nos incita Massey.
O estilo verbal como o lugar dialógico e pluridiscursivo das relações sociais: um estatuto dialógico para a análise linguística
Authors: Polato Adriana Delmira Mendes , Menegassi Renilson José
Published: June 2017

RESUMO Neste trabalho, defendemos um estatuto dialógico à atividade de análise linguística na leitura de textos. O conto A causa secreta, de Machado de Assis, é tomado como corpus, por a literatura constituir, esteticamente, uma representação tensionada dos fenômenos de linguagem analisados. A análise compreende o estilo verbal como o lugar dialógico e pluridiscursivo das relações sociais, cujas escolhas vocabulares e sintáticas da autoria estão orientadas às ligações objetais e semânticas de caráter cognitivo e ético, refletindo o compartilhamento de axiologias sociais sustentadoras da constituição textual/discursiva. A discussão se respalda nos trabalhos do Círculo de Bakhtin e nas pesquisas decorrentes. Os resultados demonstram a presença de movimentos discursivizados estilístico-composicionalmente, demarcadores da interação autor-criador, interlocutor e tema, os quais apresentamos como dialógicos/valorativos e cuja descrição exige uma interpretação axiológica da forma e estilístico-gramatical do funcionamento linguístico. Daí advém o estatuto dialógico da análise linguística empreendida.
Problemas de fronteira: reflexões sobre a relação entre o discursivo e o extradiscursivo na Análise do Discurso Francesa
Authors: Lijterman Eliana
Published: June 2017

RESUMO A Análise do Discurso Francesa (ADF) nasceu como corrente de análise ao propor, para a compreensão do seu objeto, uma intersecção entre linguística e história e uma união com a teoria das ideologias, tal como foi elaborada por Althusser. Esta proposta inaugurou um verdadeiro problema teórico em torno da relação entre o discurso e o seu exterior. Procuraremos desenvolver este problema retomando duas propostas de análise que, com frequência, travaram uma polêmica no interior da ADF: uma centralizada no conceito de "interdiscurso"; outra, nas categorias de prática e acontecimento discursivos. Assim, refletiremos sobre as tensões e desafios que esta relação estabelece em nível conceitual e metodológico.
IMPRESSÕES DE FOUCAULT: ENTREVISTA COM ROBERTO MACHADO
Authors: Misse Michel
Published: June 2017

Resumo Nesta entrevista sobre Michel Foucault, Roberto Machado aborda sua atualidade e seu impacto nas ciências humanas; os tipos de estudo que caracterizam diferentes momentos de sua trajetória intelectual; as singularidades de seu pensamento - o método provisório, a dimensão instrumental do conhecimento e a atenção à atualidade teórica e política -; bem como o vínculo entre suas análises histórico-filosóficas e suas ações políticas. Relata a vinda de Foucault ao Brasil durante a ditadura militar, o encontro com o pensador francês e sua obra, a experiência em seus cursos e seminários no Collège de France. Comenta ainda o aprendizado da dimensão política dos saberes como um instrumento de luta e resistência.
Manual educativo para criação de hábitos e ambientes sonoros saudáveis
Authors: Costa Angela dos Santos , Durante Alessandra Spada
Published: June 2017

RESUMO Introdução O ruído é um dos principais problemas ambientais observados nos grandes centros urbanos. No caso do excesso de ruído presente na escola, pesquisas apontam que as principais fontes de ruído são os próprios membros da comunidade escolar, os quais, em geral, não percebem sua própria responsabilidade na geração do problema. Portanto, a fim de produzir um ambiente sonoro escolar saudável, é vital que sejam desenvolvidas ações educativas. Objetivo Apresentar um manual educativo para criação de hábitos e ambientes sonoros saudáveis, no contexto escolar. Métodos Foram consultadas bases de dados, bibliotecas virtuais, páginas eletrônicas, portais, livros, manuais e periódicos para a elaboração do manual, baseado nas teorias de educação em saúde. Resultados Apresentação do manual, descrevendo as seis etapas do programa educacional para a criação de hábitos e ambientes sonoros saudáveis. Conclusão A implantação desse manual educativo poderia contribuir com o empoderamento da comunidade escolar nas questões relacionadas ao ruído e favorecer a criação de hábitos e ambientes sonoros saudáveis.
Typical performance of elderly patients with Alzheimer disease on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST)
Authors: Silva-Filho José Humberto , Pasian Sonia Regina , Vale Francisco de Assis Carvalho do
Published: June 2017

Abstract The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is a neuropsychological assessment tool designed to assess executive functions, frequently used in cases of cognitive disorders. However, Brazilian neuroscientific settings lack standardization studies of psychological assessment instruments, especially in the neuropsychological area. Thus, the assessment of clinical groups including dementias and particularly Alzheimer´s disease (AD) patients, may be compromised by the lack of analytical references. Objective: To characterize the performance of elderly patients with Alzheimer´s disease on the WCST, aiming at establishing preliminary evaluative norms. Method: Thirty-six elderly patients (mean age of 75.8 years) with mild AD from a teaching hospital were assessed using the printed form of the WCST. Results: The elderly patients with AD had impaired performance on the various WCST technical indicators, highlighting cognitive deficit with traces of stereotyped behavior and failures in working memory, conceptualization and learning. The results allowed preliminary norms to be defined for elderly AD patients on the various WCST indicators, grading their performance in eight diagnostic areas and yielding the identification of different levels of impairment of executive functions in these elderly patients. Conclusions: The results demonstrated specific aspects of performance on the WCST by elderly people with AD, highlighting the effect of the disease on cognitive performance and executive functioning. Those normative references, although preliminary make a significant contribution to the neuropsychological assessment of AD patients in the Brazilian context, within the informative scope of the WCST.
The Evolution of Clinical Trials in Oncology: Defining Who Benefits from New Drugs Using Innovative Study Designs
Authors: Goldberg Richard M. , Wei Lai , Fernandez Soledad
Published: June 2017

Historically, advocates of randomized drug treatment trials in oncology contributed to the changing paradigm for testing cancer treatments in the U.S., which led to global efforts to generate evidence of promise in preclinical model systems and translate those findings into improved patient outcomes. In the age of genomic medicine, the challenge to speed the evolution of how clinical trials are conducted in patients with cancer continues.
Maturing of contacts and ageing of silica sand
Authors: Michalowski R. L. , Wang Z. , Nadukuru S. S.
Published: June 2017

A typical surface texture of silica sand grains is rich in asperities and mineral debris. Consequently, a nominal inter-granular contact is composed of many ‘contact points’. Associated with the contact loading process is micro-fracturing of the textural features, causing the contact to evolve. Even under a constant load, the process of micro-fracturing continues, although with a decreasing frequency. This static fatigue at contacts (or contact maturing) under a constant load is considered to be a major contributor to ageing of silica sand. The rich surface micro-morphology of silica sand grains is demonstrated using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Grain-scale tests indicate time-dependent deflection under constant load, attributed to delayed fracturing of textural features at grain contacts. The process is greatly dependent on the initial roughness of the surfaces. The rate of the deflection for a grain with large initial roughness (root mean square of grain surface elevation (RMS) = 621 nm), loaded with 2·4 N, was found to be 17·6 nm/h at the end of the first day after loading, whereas for a grain with approximately half the initial roughness (RMS = 321 nm) it was only about 2 nm/h. A consequence of the contact maturing process in grain assemblies is a time-dependent increase in macroscopic stiffness, and a resulting alteration of the stress state in a confined sand. This was confirmed in soft-ring oedometer tests on specimens subjected to constant load. The temporal scale of the radial stress increase in the oedometric samples was about the same as that in convergence tests on single grains. Contact maturing is accelerated by the presence of moisture and pressure dissolution, and this was manifested in tests on samples saturated with pore fluid. The results of both grain-scale and sand specimen tests are consistent with the hypothesis indicating contact maturing as the major contributor to time-dependent effects in silica sand.
Study of composite steel frame with reinforced-concrete infill
Authors: Vogiatzis Tzanetis , Avdelas Aris
Published: June 2017

This paper describes the development of a three-dimensional, non-linear finite-element model for evaluating the response of composite structural systems consisting of steel frames with reinforced-concrete infill walls subjected to a combination of gravity and in-plane lateral loading. Several sensitivity studies, taking into account both material characteristics and geometrical non-linearities were performed in order to investigate parameters such as the shear retention factors, Coulomb's coefficient for steel–concrete contacts and different load–slip relationships for modelling the shear behaviour of headed studs. Appropriate experimental data sourced from the literature were utilised to verify the proposed numerical model. A series of parametric studies was conducted to explore the effect of transverse and longitudinal confinement reinforcement, reinforcing bar diameter and steel strength. In order to investigate the composite interaction effect, several numerical models were developed, with emphasis on the configuration of shear connectors along the interface between the steel members and the reinforced-concrete infills. The analysis results demonstrated that the developed finite-element model captured and predicted the force–drift response of the system and revealed that the presence of shear connectors had a critical effect on the overall behaviour of the system.
Improving seismic performance of segmental precast post-tensioned bridge piers
Authors: Amini Mehrshad , Mirtaheri Masoud , Zandi Amir Peyman
Published: June 2017

Segmental precast post-tensioned bridge piers are one of the latest options for accelerated bridge construction. However, their application in seismic zones is limited due to the low energy dissipation observed in such piers and a lack of research. This paper reports on the construction and testing of a half-scale model pier equipped with an innovative external energy dissipation device. A combination of lead and steel plates were used in the segment joints to improve energy dissipation. The hysteresis behaviour, dissipated energy, effective stiffness and equivalent viscous damping for several consecutive cycles of loading were obtained. Furthermore, the hysteresis behaviour of the pier was modelled using numerical methods. The energy dissipation device was found to increase the energy dissipation capability of the pier by up to 30% at high drifts (more than 3%) while reducing damage criteria and residual displacement at the end of the test.
Pactários uma história do Brasil
Authors: Zilberman Regina
Published: June 2017

O mito de Fausto narra o pacto de um indivíduo com o demônio, a quem vende a alma em troca de poder, riqueza e juventude. A concretização do pacto depende do crédito na exis-tência do demônio, entidade que se manifesta tardiamente na Antiguidade, mas que se tor-na parte do pensamento cristão a partir da Idade Média. O mito de Fausto expande-se du-rante o período renascentista e depois, consolidando a personagem “pactária” enquanto pa-trimônio da literatura ocidental, de que são exemplo as obras “A Salamanca do Jarau”, de João Simões Lopes Neto, “A teiniaguá”, episódio de O Continente, de Erico Verissimo, e Grande sertão: veredas, de João Guimarães Rosa.
Independent risk factors for severe cardiovascular events in male patients with gout: Results of a 7-year prospective study
Authors: Eliseev M S , Denisov I S , Markelova E I , Glukhova S I , Nasonov E L
Published: June 2017

Aim. To determine risk factors for severe cardiovascular (CV) events (CVEs) in male patients with crystal-verified gout. Subjects and methods. 251 male patients with crystal-verified gout were prospectively followed up in 2003 to 2013. The mean follow-up period was 6.9±2.0 years. New severe CVE cases and deaths were recorded. Logistic regression was used to analyze the impact of traditional and other risk factors and allopurinol use on the risk for severe CVEs. Results. 32 patients died during the follow-up period. Severe CVEs were recorded in 58 (23.1%) patients; CVE deaths were notified in 22 (8.8%) patients. The risk of all severe CVEs was high for hypertension, increased serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level (>5 mg/l), ≥ stage III chronic kidney disease (CKD) (glomerular filtration rate, 20 g/day), coronary heart disease (CHD), and a family history of premature CHD. The risk of fatal CVEs was highest for elevated serum hs-CRP level, ≥stage III CKD, a family history of premature CHD, hypercholesterolemia, upper quartile of serum uric acid levels (>552 µmol/l), and regular intake of allopurinol. Conclusion. In addition to the traditional risk factors of CV catastrophes, the presence of chronic inflammation and the impact of high serum uric acid levels may explain the high frequency of CV catastrophes.
Cancer-testis genes in colon cancer
Authors: Hilal N R , Novikov D V , Novikov V V , Karaulov A V
Published: June 2017

The expression of cancer-testis (CT) genes varies with tumor type. There are tumors with high, low, and intermediate gene expressions. Tumor cells of different origin are characterized by ST gene co-expression. The expression of ST genes increases in later stages of tumor development in the presence of metastases. In colon cancer, the tumor samples showed most frequently MAGE-A and SSX mRNA. The peripheral blood samples displayed most commonly XAGE, MAGE-C, and SSX mRNA. In patients with colon cancer, the expression of TSP50, MAGE-A(1-6), and SSX1,2,4 genes was associated with a poor prognosis, that of MAGE-C1 and XAGE1 was related to a favorable prognosis.
The influence of STAT4 rs7574865 (G/T) polymorphism on the risk of clinical and immunological phenotypes of systemic sclerosis in a Russian patient population: Results of a pilot study
Authors: Krylov M Yu , Ananyeva L P , Koneva О А , Starovoytova M N , Desinova O V , Ovsyannikova O B , Aleksandrova E N , Novikov A A , Guseva I A , Konovalova N V , Varlamov D A
Published: June 2017

Aim. To examine the association of signal transducer and activator transcription 4 (STAT4) rs7574865 G/T polymorphism with a predisposition to systemic sclerosis (SSC) and associated clinical and autoimmune phenotypes in a Russian population. Subjects and methods. A total of 102 patients with SSC and 103 healthy individuals as controls were examined. STAT4 rs7574865 polymorphism was investigated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results. The carriers of the T allele showed a statistically significant association with SSC, a diffuse form (DF), the presence of interstitial lung disease (ILD), cardiac injury (CI), and seropositivity for anti-topoisomerase I antibodies (ATA). Conclusion. The findings results confirm the important role of STAT4 gene in the predisposition to SSC and its phenotypes, such as DF, ILD, CI, and ATA in the Russian population.
Multidisciplinary problems of rheumatology and pulmonology
Authors: Ananyeva L P
Published: June 2017

Damage to the respiratory system worsens prognosis and increases mortality in all systemic immunoinflammatory rheumatic diseases (SIRDs). Leading pulmonary manifestations in each disease are different, so the typical picture of each nosological entity is very peculiar. In all SIRDs, the disease starts with lung involvement in 10—20% of cases, preceding the expanded clinical presentation of a systemic disease. At a certain stage, lung damage may be the only manifestation of the disease or predominate in its clinical picture, determining the severity of a condition. Among the patients referred to consultation with a pulmonologist for interstitial lung disease, about 15% have manifestations of SIRDs that is confirmed by a special survey. The paper discusses the diagnostic features of SIRDs with lung involvement, as well as indications for consultation with a rheumatologist. The key clinical symptoms indicating a possible rheumatic disease in patients with lung involvement are considered. Evidence for the main circulating autoantibodies identifiable in high titers in patients with SIRDs in a serological test is given and its positivity is interpreted. The issues associated with the term «undifferentiated connective tissue diseases-associated interstitial lung disease» are discussed; the expediency of using the term «interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune signs (AIS)» is emphasized. The clinical characteristics of and classification criteria for AIS are presented. The prognosis and outcomes of interstitial pneumonias of varying etiologies, as well as the importance of the multidisciplinary approach to managing patients with SIRDs and lung involvement, which improves the quality of diagnosis, adequacy of treatment, and quality of life, are dealt with.
Hepatitis C virus-associated cryoglobulinemic vasculitis: A 20-year experience with treatment
Authors: Ignatova T M , Kozlovskaya L V , Gordovskaya N B , Chernova O A , Milovanova S Yu , Novikov P I , Nekrasova T P , Beketova T V , Mukhin N A
Published: June 2017

Aim. To summarize the experience of a multidisciplinary therapy hospital in treating patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV). Subjects and methods. Seventy-two patients (mean age, 49.4±10.3 years) with HCV-associated CV were examined and followed up for an average period of 2.8±3.6 years. The efficiency of traditional (corticosteroids ± cyclophosphamide) and selective (rituximab) immunosuppressive therapy (IST) was estimated in 31 and 15 observations, respectively, and that of antiviral therapy (AVT) in 25. Vasculitis activity was assessed using the Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS). The patients’ survival was studied; multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out. Results. 24 (33.4%) of the 72 patients had a stage of liver cirrhosis (LC). The pretreatment mean BVAS was 11.9±7.2 (range 2 to 36). Severe CV (BVAS ≥15) was present in 30.6% of the patients. AVT was accompanied by achievement of sustained virologic response in 48% of the patients, clinical remission in 68% and had an advantage over IST in relation to long-term treatment results. Rituximab was significantly more effective than traditional immunosuppressants (remission rates of 73 and 13%, respectively). Combined therapy (rituximab and AVT) was most effective in patients with severe forms of vasculitis. Sixteen patients died from complications of vasculitis (37.5%), infection (37.5%), and LC (25%). The factors adversely affecting prognosis were age >55 years (odds ratio (OR), 4.49), the presence of LC (OR, 3.68), renal failure (OR, 4.66) and the use of glucocorticosteroids (OR, 3.91). Conclusion. HCV-associated CV can determine the prognosis of chronic HСV infection. AVT is the treatment of choice in all patients with HСV-associated CV. AVT must be combined with rituximab therapy in patients with severe forms of vasculitis.
Lower extremity venous diseases in primary knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Lesnyak O M , Zubareva E V , Goncharova M G , Maksimov D M
Published: June 2017

Aim. To establish a possible association between knee osteoarthritis (OA) and lower extremity venous diseases ((LEVDs) on the basis of thorough clinical and instrumental studies. Subjects and methods. A case-control study recruiting 40-60-year-old women was conducted. A study group included 85 women with knee OA; a control group consisted of 50 women without this condition. The patients of both groups underwent assessment of complaints and goal-directed objective examination to identify joint diseases and chronic LEVDs, knee X-ray study, and duplex scanning of the lower extremity veins. Results. The patients with knee OA were more frequently diagnosed with lower extremity varicose vein disease (VVD) (43% vs 22%; p=0.015) and had signs of chronic venous insufficiency (28% vs 12%; p=0.03). Duplex scanning of the lower extremities showed that knee OA was characterized by generalized LEVD (bilateral valve lesions of the great and small saphenous veins and severe valvular incompetence in the veins) that was detected in 53% of the patients in this group versus 20% of the women in the control group (p = 0.0004). After adjustment for body mass index, the differences in the incidence of VVD between the groups remained clinically and statistically significant (odds ratio (OR), 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.1—6.7; p=0.036). Conclusion. The 40—60-year-old patients with knee OA more commonly develop symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency than their healthy peers. Although obesity is a risk factor for both diseases, there is an independent association between knee OA and lower extremity VVD.
Polymorphism in the regulatory regions –С2578A and +C936T of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) gene in Russian women with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Shevchenko A V , Prokofyev V F , Korolev M A , Banshchikova N E , Konenkov V I
Published: June 2017

Aim. To analyze polymorphism in the regulatory regions of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Subjects and methods. The investigation enrolled 257 female patients with RA. A control group consisted of 297 women without chronic diseases. The investigators examined the single-nucleotide polymorphism of VEGF-А2578С in the promoter region (rs699947) and that of VEGF+С936Т 3 in the retranslated region (rs3025039) of the gene. Genotyping was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Results. There was an increase in the frequency of VEGF+936 CT and a reduction in that of the VEGF+936СС genotypes in the seronegative patients as compared to the healthy women. The VEGF+936СС genotype frequency was higher in the patients with seropositive RA than in the subgroup of seronegative patients. The frequency of the VEGF-2578СС genotype was increased in the patients with RA and rheumatoid nodules, as compared to the healthy women. Conclusion. The data presented suggest that the presence of certain VEGF gene variants located in the regulatory regions may reflect the nature of immunopathological mechanisms in RA.
Clinical features of osteoarthritis in patients with metabolic syndrome
Authors: Vasilyeva L V , Lakhin D I
Published: June 2017

Aim. To estimate clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and in those with OA and metabolic syndrome (MS). Subjects and methods. 164 patients with OA were examined and divided into 2 groups of 82 people: a study group (patients with MS) and a control one (those without MS). OA was defined according to the diagnostic criteria described by R.D. Althmann (1995). MS was identified based on the criteria developed by the International Diabetes Federation (2005). The location of affected and swollen joints was determined according to the Richie index; the intensity of pain syndrome was measured by a visual analogue scale at rest and on movement; the WOMAC and Lequesne indexes were estimated in the patients. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were determined from laboratory data. Results. In the MS group, the frequency of joint injuries at various sites, the prevalence of synovitis, and the intensity of pain and inflammation were significantly higher than in the non-MS group. Conclusion. The negative impact of MS on the clinical picture of OA can be inferred by the findings.
Association of ITGB3, P2RY12, and CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms with platelet functional activity in patients with coronary heart disease during dual antiplatelet therapy
Authors: Muslimova E F , Afanasiev S A , Rebrova T Yu , Sergienko T N , Repin A N
Published: June 2017

Aim. To assess the association of CYP2C19 G681A, P2RY12 H1/H2, and ITGB3 T1565C polymorphisms with the extent of platelet aggregation in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) during antiplatelet therapy. Subjects and methods. 166 male patients with CHD, living in the Western Siberian Region, were examined. All the patients underwent a test for platelet aggregation induced by ADP (2.5 and 5.0 µm) and epinephrine (0.2 µm). Genotyping was performed using an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction technique. Results. The polymorphic variants of the P2RY12 and ITGB3 genes were ascertained to have no impact on the extent of platelet aggregation in patients receiving clopidogrel and acetylsalicylic acid. An association was found between CYP2C19 681A allele carriage and the increased extent of platelet aggregation induced by ADP. Conclusion. The carriage of the cytochrome P450 CYP2C19 681A allele rather than platelet receptor gene polymorphisms determines a risk for clopidogrel resistance in patients with CHD.
REHABILITATION OF POLLUTED URBAN AREAS
Authors: Galitskova Yu. M. , Balzannikov M. I. , Vyshkin E. G.
Published: June 2017

Industrial structures, residential buildings and other objects of infrastructure are being constructed in many Russian cities now. In addition to new constructions, reconstruction and rebuilding of existing buildings is also being performed. Meanwhile, such construction objects are situated not only in open suburban areas but also in urban districts and city zones. Often it is necessary to dismantle or demolish old run-down buildings or distressed structures before constructing new buildings. Such works always cause large amounts of construction waste.

To accommodate constructive materials for new structures and to store elements of disassembled buildings and construction wastes special storage grounds are used. Being of temporal nature, these storage grounds are not capable to ensure full protection of the environment from pollution.

The team of employees of Samara State Technical University investigated several districts of the city of Samara. This investigation revealed that in all temporary dumping sites construction wastes amount to 8% and dumping sites of a mixed type containing construction wastes – to 35%.

The majority of temporary dumping sites are removed in a short time. Mostly, it is done by collection and removal of construction waste to special waste landfills. At the same time, the investigation demonstrated that though these dumping sites are temporal, their existence causes environmental pollution of underlying open ground as repugnant substance penetrates the ground with rains and pollution of airspace as light pollutants are dispersed by wind. Moreover, even after these temporary dumping sites are removed, already polluted soil layers continue to pollute soils as a secondary pollutant source.

The authors offer a technical solution which allow to carry out rehabilitation of polluted urban areas more effectively. In particular, it is recommended to remove waste from the temporary dumping sites stage by stage. At the first stage, off-site areas should be inspected and the extent of pollution (pollution depth) of underground layers should be estimated. At the next stage, a protective barrier in the ground around the dumping site and on the surface should be built. Only after that we recommend that wastes should be removed and sent to a waste recycling plant or to a specially equipped waste landfill. Then, it is required to cut off all polluted soils and to remove them to a special waste landfill for storage.

Thus, this solution makes it possible to reduce the risk of secondary environmental pollution.
AUTO-SCALING AND ADJUSTMENT PLATFORM FOR CLOUD-BASED SYSTEMS
Authors: Kampars Jānis , Pinka Krišjānis
Published: June 2017

For customers of cloud-computing platforms it is important to minimize the infrastructure footprint and associated costs while providing required levels of Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) dictated by the Service Level Agreement (SLA). To assist with that cloud service providers are offering: (1) horizontal resource scaling through provisioning and destruction of virtual machines and containers, (2) vertical scaling through changing the capacity of individual cloud nodes. Existing scaling solutions mostly concentrate on low-level metrics like CPU load and memory consumption which doesn’t always correlate with the level of SLA conformity. Such technical measures should be preprocessed and viewed from a higher level of abstraction. Application level metrics should also be considered when deciding upon scaling the cloud-based solution. Existing scaling platforms are mostly proprietary technologies owned by cloud service providers themselves or by third parties and offered as Software as a Service. Enterprise applications could span infrastructures of multiple public and private clouds, dictating that the auto-scaling solution should not be isolated inside a single cloud infrastructure.

The goal of this paper is to address the challenges above by presenting the architecture of Auto-scaling and Adjustment Platform for Cloud-based Systems (ASAPCS). It is based on open-source technologies and supports integration of various low and high level performance metrics, providing higher levels of abstraction for design of scaling algorithms. ASAPCS can be used with any cloud service provider and guarantees that move from one cloud platform to another will not result in complete redesign of the scaling algorithm. ASAPCS itself is horizontally scalable and can process large amounts of real-time data which is particularly important for applications developed following the microservices architectural style. ASAPCS approaches the scaling problem in a nonstandard way by considering real-time adjustments of the application logic to be part of the scalability strategy if it can result in performance improvements.
AN ALGORITHM OF FUZZY INFERENCE SYSTEM FOR ISAR IMAGE CLASSIFICATION
Authors: Slavyanov Krasimir , Minchev Chavdar
Published: June 2017

This article offers an original ISAR image classification procedure based on Mamdani fuzzy inference system (FIS) dedicated to compute multiple results each from different type of analyzing criteria. The modeling and information analysis of the FIS are developed to draw a general conclusion from several results each produced by classification from neural network. Simulation experiments are carried out in MATLAB environment.
Total hip arthroplasty in children who have undergone arthroplasty with demineralized bone-cartilage allocups
Authors: Baskov Vladimir E. , Neverov Valentin A. , Bortulev Pavel I. , Krasnov Andrey I. , Barsukov Dmitry B. , Pozdnikin Ivan Y. , Krasnogorskiy Ivan N. , Bortuleva Oksana V.
Published: June 2017

Introduction. Treating children with degenerative dystrophic diseases of the hip joint has become one of the most acute problems in contemporary orthopedics. Until recently, we performed arthroplasty by demineralized bone-cartilage allocups (DBCA) in the Clinic of the Hip Joint Pathology of the Turner Scientific and Research Institute for Children’s Orthopedics for patients showing clinical and radiological signs of irreversible destruction of the hip joint; we carried out this procedure to preserve the function of the lower limb. However, over the last 8 years, we have changed our protocol for children older than 12 years of age and have replaced DBCA with total hip replacement. In a number of cases, total hip replacement was performed after a previous intervention involving arthroplasty with DBCA.

Objective. To determine the technical peculiarities of total hip replacement after a previous intervention involving arthroplasty with DBCA.

Material and methods. We analyzed the results of treatment involving various types of hip pathology in 13 children (100%) aged between 15 and 16 years [8 girls (61.5%) and 5 boys (38.5%)]. The medical histories of all 13 children (100%) showed repeated operations on the hip joint, ultimately resulting in arthroplasty with DBCA. All 13 children (100%) underwent a total hip replacement. Upon hip replacement, all 13 patients (100%) showed a pronounced thinning and hardening of the edges and the bottom of the acetabulum, which created some difficulties in the process of acetabular component implantation. The transformation of DBCA was not evident in any of the 13 cases (100%).

Results. During the observation period of 3–5 years following total hip arthroplasty, all 13 cases (100%) showed recovery in the range of motion and absence of pain. An important criterion for evaluating the quality of care was the complete social and domestic adaptation of all 13 children (100%) during the period from 6 to 9 months following total hip replacement surgery.

Conclusions. The main feature of the implementation of total hip replacement, following a previous intervention involving arthroplasty with DBCA, was a pronounced deficit of the pelvic bone in the joint component. This significantly complicated the subsequent implantation of the acetabular prosthesis component, and in some cases required the use of a cemented acetabular component. Our experience suggests that patients under 11 years of age who show clinical and radiological signs of coxarthrosis can be treated with arthroplasty with DBCA in order to save the lost function of the hip joint and maintain the function of the periarticular muscles.
Impacts of Extraction Methods and Solvent Systems in the Assessment of Toxic Organic Compounds in a Solid Matrix
Authors: Ugwu K. E. , Ukoha P. O.
Published: June 2017

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the listed persistent organic compounds (POP) which are pollutants of environmental concern due to their toxicity. This study evaluated soxhlet and ultrasonic extraction methods using a three-solvent system (acetone+dichloromethane+n-hexane) in order to compare the ability of the techniques to extract selected PAHs in raw coals collected from a coal mine in Okobo-Enjema, Nigeria. Then, binary solvent mixtures consisting of acetone+dichloromethane; dichloromethane+n-hexane; and acetone+n-hexane, were compared with the ternary solvent system for their ability to extract the target PAHs by soxhlet extraction method. The extracts were quantitatively analysed for sixteen PAHs using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). Sonication extraction method extracted higher number of PAHs, required fewer amount of solvents, shorter time of extraction and less energy consumption compared to soxhlet extraction, which extracted higher amount of the target PAHs. The total amount of PAHs determined ranged from 0.02 mg/kg to 0.20 mg/kg in the various solvents' mixtures. The ternary mixture extracted larger quantities of the target toxic PAHs. This report will assist in the choice of analytical methods and solvent systems for environmental studies.
Biological Potential and Chemical Properties of Pyridine and Piperidine Fused Pyridazine Compounds: Pyridopyridazine a Versatile Nucleus
Authors: Asif Mohammad
Published: June 2017

Pyridopyridazine compounds are important nitrogen atom containing heterocyclic compounds due to their pharmacological versatility. This heterocycle system characterized a structural feature for different types of bioactive compounds that exhibiting various types of biological activities which make it an attractive scaffold for the design and development of new drug molecules. This article provided information about the pharmacological properties of pyridopyridazines derivatives.
Some Conventional and Convenient Process for Functionalization of 6-Phenyl-4,5-Dihydropyridazinone Compounds
Authors: Asif Mohammad
Published: June 2017

The pyridazinone derivatives, particularly those bearing substituted different group or atom at a different position, have attracted considerable attention due to their characteristic pharmacological and other anticipated activities. These activities promoted the synthesis of a large number of substituted pyridazinone derivatives in order to explore the usefulness of this heterocyclic system. In the present review, various synthetic methods have been studied for the synthesis of substituted pyridazinone derivatives. The behaviour of the pyridazinone toward formaldehyde/piperidine, ethyl chloroacetate, chloroacetic acid, benzene sulfonyl chloride, bromine/acetic acid and aromatic aldehydes has also been studied. However, the reactions of the chloro derivative resulting from the reaction of pyridazinone with phosphorus oxychloride (POCl3). The behavior of chloropyridazine toward hydrazines, thiourea, sodium azide, anthranilic acid, aromatic amines and sulfa compounds have also been taken into consideration. Thethiopyridazinone derivativeswere prepared from the reaction of pyridazinone with phosphorus pentasulphide (P2S5). All the structures of were established on the based of spectroscopic data.
 

 
An Atom Economic Acid Catalyzed Synthetic Method for Aromatic Imines
Authors: Baruah Shyamal , Fisyuk Alexander , Kulakov Ivan V. , Puzari Amrit
Published: June 2017

A new one-pot acid catalyzed synthetic methodology has been described for synthesis of aromatic imines. The reaction is carried out under microwave irradiation using minimum amount of methanol as solvent. Aqueous solution of the acid catalyst act as solvent for amine dissolution. The reaction yields substantial yield of product imine. The simplicity and environmentally benign nature of the process are the most notable features. The process can also be extended to include wide number of substrates. Product of the reaction can be isolated by simple procedure. The reaction can be carried out under mild conditions without heating to a higher temperature which eventually prevents the formation of nitrile byproducts in the reaction. Byproduct formation was significantly less during the reaction.
La teoria de las "contraintes" jurídicas
Authors: Champeil-Desplats Véronique , Millard Eric
Published: June 2017

A partir de una teoría de la interpretación que postula que los intérpretes jurídicos están libres, la teoría de las “contraintes” trata de aislar algunos factores específicos que influyen, determinan o intervienen en el proceso de decisión jurídica. Las “contraintes” reducen el campo de las posibilidades de los actores que producen un enunciado, una decisión o un razonamiento jurídicos. No son sinónimas de obligación en el sentido común de los juristas que definen la obligación jurídica como conjunto de deberes impuestos por normas jurídicas. El concepto de “contrainte” tampoco se concibe en el orden del “sollen” (deber ser), sino en el orden del “sein”. La hipótesis es que existen “contraintes” específicamente jurídicas que se diferencian de los factores morales, económicos, psicológicos, sociales que determinan también las decisiones jurídicas. Este artigo trata de conceptualizar la especifidad de tales “contraintes” y de establecer tipologías que permitan identificarlas más precisamente.