bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is it the human resource policy to blame?
Authors: Yaghi Abdulfattah
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the multi-dimensionality of women managers’ turnover in the United Arab Emirates. The study argues that several factors besides public policy influence turnover.

Design/methodology/approach

A special survey was developed and administered to a convenience sample of 298 local women managers in both sectors. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha, Pearson and multiple regression analyses were used.

Findings

The empirical analyses provided support to the multidimensionality of turnover. In addition, turnover was predicted by a model of eight factors (adjusted R2 = 0.456), namely, economic needs, quality of work life, leadership type and practices, social needs, marital status, organisational satisfaction, organisational commitment and public policy.

Research limitations/implications

The study was rich, empirical data were gathered and analysed along with qualitative literature. Gender remains salient in organisations as human resource policies alone are incapable of retaining women in leadership. Limited sample size and convenience sampling method may limit the generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

Workplace conditions complement human resource policies; hence, the success of the latter relies on the success of the former. Economic incentives remain significant to motivating managers and retaining women in leadership jobs.

Social implications

Human resource management policies, such as Emiratisation, cannot be successful without empowering women.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper is drawn from using first-hand data to examine the multi-dimensionality argument of turnover in addition to the advancement of gender studies in leadership and management. The study also provided evidence that rationality (i.e. economic means) remains important to retain women managers.
Juror perceptions of female-female sexual harassment: do sexual orientation and type of harassment matter?
Authors: Carlucci Marianna E. , Golom Frank D.
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how mock jurors perceive female-female sexual harassment.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants read a case vignette depicting female-female workplace sexual harassment where the sexual orientation of the harasser (lesbian vs heterosexual) and type of sexual harassment (approach vs reject vs generalized) were randomly assigned across participants. Participants were asked to make a liability determination for the case. They were also asked to rate the unwanted conduct on several legally relevant dimensions (e.g. severity, pervasiveness, and unwelcomeness).

Findings

Results revealed that the sexual orientation of the harasser is an important factor used to make legal decisions in same-sex sexual harassment cases. Participants found the same conduct to be more severe, pervasive, unwelcome, and threatening when the harasser was lesbian than when she was heterosexual. As hypothesized, female participants found more evidence of discrimination than male participants.

Research limitations/implications

These findings illustrate biases mock jurors may hold when making legal decisions in female-female sexual harassment cases.

Practical implications

Results are discussed in the context of decision-making models and possible future directions and interventions are explored.

Originality/value

The findings extend the literature on female same-sex sexual harassment.
Do people perceive juvenile sex offenders who are gay and Christian as hypocrites? The effects of shared and dual identity defendants
Authors: Altholz Rachel , Salerno Jessica
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how a criminal offender’s dual social identity affects judgments. Drawing from similarity-leniency and black sheep theories, the authors tested and discuss whether these effects could be explained by legal decision makers’ perceptions of hypocrisy or shared identity with the defendant.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors recruited 256 Christian and non-Christian adults to read a vignette about a juvenile sex offender who was either Christian or non-Christian, and heterosexual or gay. The authors measured participants’ punitiveness toward the offender.

Findings

Results revealed that legal decision makers were more punitive when they were Christian compared to non-Christian, and the defendant was gay compared to heterosexual. Further, legal decision makers perceived themselves as more similar to the defendant when they were non-Christian compared to Christian, and the defendant was heterosexual compared to gay. Finally, only when the defendant was Christian, legal decision makers perceived him as more hypocritical when he was gay compared to heterosexual.

Originality/value

This is the first study to investigate whether gay defendants might be particularly discriminated against if they are also Christian. It is also the first to test the black sheep and similarity-leniency theories in the legal context of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and Christian defendants.
Harnessing platform-based business models to power disruptive innovation
Authors: Shaughnessy Haydn
Published: September 2016

Purpose

Adopting and implementing a platform-based business model is fraught with problems and complications, many of which are poorly understood even by industry insiders. As they try to sort through the best practices for operating in this new business environment, senior managers need to carefully analyze the strengths of the business model of some of most successful companies before trying to imitate them. .

Design/methodology/approach

For a team to execute such a strategy quickly and seamlessly it must first thoroughly understand the components of such a business model and how they interact to produce unique customer value and formidable competitive advantage

Findings

The platform is a new way to organize wealth-creating activity.

Practical implications

The author details the components of a successful platform-based business model.

Originality/value

Platform-based business models seek to leverage the assets of third parties and in the process extend the value of economic activity to customers in ways that engage and benefit them. Senior leaders and operations managers alike need to understand that continuous innovation of customer value and policies that attract asset-rich partners and skillful developers is essential to the growth of the network.
Dependent-Chance Goal Programming for Water Resources Management under Uncertainty
Authors: Guo Haiying , Shi Honghua , Wang Xiaosheng
Published: September 2016

Without sufficient data, consulting experts is a good way to quantify unknown parameters in water resources management which will result in human uncertainty. The aim of this paper is to introduce a new tool-uncertainty theory to deal with such uncertainty which is treated as uncertain variable with uncertainty distribution. And a dependent-chance goal programming (DCGP) model is provided for water resources management under such circumstance. In the model uncertain measure is used to measure possibility that an event will occur which is maximized by minimizing the deviation (positive or negative deviation) from target of objective event under a given priority structure. In the end, the developed model is applied to a numerical example to illustrate the effectiveness of the model. The result obtained contributes to the desired water-allocation schemes for decision-markers.
Combined Scleral Flap with Donor Scleral Patch Graft for Anterior Tube Placement in Glaucoma Drainage Device Surgery
Authors: Yu Jea H. , Nguyen Chuck , Gallemore Esmeralda , Gallemore Ron P.
Published: September 2016

Purpose. To report a new technique for anterior placement of tubes for glaucoma drainage devices to reduce the risk of tube erosions.Methods. Retrospective review of select cases of Ahmed Valve surgery combined with the novel method of a limbal-based scleral flap covered by a scleral patch graft to cover the tube at the entrance through the limbus. Intraoperative and postoperative illustrations are shown to highlight the method of tube placement.Results. In this retrospective case series, 3 patients are presented illustrating the technique. Two had neovascular glaucoma and one had primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). On average, intraocular pressure was reduced from39±14 mmHg to15±2 mmHg and the number of glaucoma medications was reduced from4±1to 0. Preoperative and most recent visual acuities were hand-motion (HM) and HM, 20/60 and 20/50, and 20/70 and 20/30, respectively.Conclusion. The combination of a limbal-based scleral flap with scleral patch graft to cover the tube with glaucoma drainage devices may be an effective means to reduce erosion and protect against endophthalmitis.
Segmentation of Coronary Angiograms Using Gabor Filters and Boltzmann Univariate Marginal Distribution Algorithm
Authors: Cervantes-Sanchez Fernando , Cruz-Aceves Ivan , Hernandez-Aguirre Arturo , Aviña-Cervantes Juan Gabriel , Solorio-Meza Sergio , Ornelas-Rodriguez Manuel , Torres-Cisneros Miguel
Published: September 2016

This paper presents a novel method for improving the training step of the single-scale Gabor filters by using the Boltzmann univariate marginal distribution algorithm (BUMDA) in X-ray angiograms. Since the single-scale Gabor filters (SSG) are governed by three parameters, the optimal selection of the SSG parameters is highly desirable in order to maximize the detection performance of coronary arteries while reducing the computational time. To obtain the best set of parameters for the SSG, the area (Az) under the receiver operating characteristic curve is used as fitness function. Moreover, to classify vessel and nonvessel pixels from the Gabor filter response, the interclass variance thresholding method has been adopted. The experimental results using the proposed method obtained the highest detection rate withAz=0.9502over a training set of 40 images andAz=0.9583with a test set of 40 images. In addition, the experimental results of vessel segmentation provided an accuracy of0.944with the test set of angiograms.
Signal Denoising Method Based on Adaptive Redundant Second-Generation Wavelet for Rotating Machinery Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Lu Na , Zhang Guangtao , Cheng Yuanchu , Chen Diyi
Published: September 2016

Vibration signal of rotating machinery is often submerged in a large amount of noise, leading to the decrease of fault diagnosis accuracy. In order to improve the denoising effect of the vibration signal, an adaptive redundant second-generation wavelet (ARSGW) denoising method is proposed. In this method, a new index for denoising result evaluation (IDRE) is constructed first. Then, the maximum value of IDRE and the genetic algorithm are taken as the optimization objective and the optimization algorithm, respectively, to search for the optimal parameters of the ARSGW. The obtained optimal redundant second-generation wavelet (RSGW) is used for vibration signal denoising. After that, features are extracted from the denoised signal and then input into the support vector machine method for fault recognition. The application result indicates that the proposed ARSGW denoising method can effectively improve the accuracy of rotating machinery fault diagnosis.
Validation Techniques for Sensor Data in Mobile Health Applications
Authors: Pires Ivan Miguel , Garcia Nuno M. , Pombo Nuno , Flórez-Revuelta Francisco , Rodríguez Natalia Díaz
Published: September 2016

Mobile applications have become a must in every user’s smart device, and many of these applications make use of the device sensors’ to achieve its goal. Nevertheless, it remains fairly unknown to the user to which extent the data the applications use can be relied upon and, therefore, to which extent the output of a given application is trustworthy or not. To help developers and researchers and to provide a common ground of data validation algorithms and techniques, this paper presents a review of the most commonly used data validation algorithms, along with its usage scenarios, and proposes a classification for these algorithms. This paper also discusses the process of achieving statistical significance and trust for the desired output.
Effect of Phosphatase and Tensin Homologue on Chromosome 10 on Angiotensin II-Mediated Proliferation, Collagen Synthesis, and Akt/P27 Signaling in Neonatal Rat Cardiac Fibroblasts
Authors: Nie Ling , Zhao Jing-Hong , Wang Jiang , Song Rong , Zhu Shan-Jun
Published: September 2016

Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) play a key role in cardiac fibrosis by regulating the balance between extracellular matrix synthesis and breakdown. Although phosphatase and tensin homologue on chromosome 10 (PTEN) has been found to play an important role in cardiovascular disease, it is not clear whether PTEN is involved in functional regulation of CFs. In the present study, PTEN was overexpressed in neonatal rat CFs via recombinant adenovirus-mediated gene transfer. The effects of PTEN overexpression on cell-cycle progression and angiotensin II- (Ang II-) mediated regulation of collagen metabolism, synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases, and Akt/P27 signaling were investigated. Compared with uninfected cells and cells infected with green fluorescent protein-expressing adenovirus (Ad-GFP), cells infected with PTEN-expressing adenovirus (Ad-PTEN) significantly increased PTEN protein and mRNA levels in CFs (P<0.05). The proportion of CFs in the G1/S cell-cycle phase was significantly higher for PTEN-overexpressing cells. In addition, Ad-PTEN decreased mRNA expression and the protein synthesis rate of collagen types I and III and antagonized Ang II-induced collagen synthesis. Overexpression of PTEN also decreased Ang II-induced matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) production as well as gelatinase activity. Moreover, Ad-PTEN decreased Akt expression and increased P27 expression independent of Ang II stimulation. These results suggest that PTEN could regulate its functional effects in neonatal rat CFs partially via the Akt/P27 signaling pathway.
Metastatic Calcinosis of Aortic Valve Secondary to Renal Failure Mimicking Infective Endocarditis
Authors: Khan Noman Ahmed Jang , Khan Masroor A. , Chardon Guillermo Juan Morell
Published: September 2016

End stage renal disease has a list of consequences, cardiovascular being the most common. Inefficient dialysis can cause significant deposition of calcium all over the body, including heart valves making heart function impaired. We illustrate a case of 38-year-old female with end stage renal disease on peritoneal dialysis. The patient had been complaining of pain and swelling of the right hand for the last few months and had been seen by hand surgeon and was admitted electively for the biopsy of hand lesions. Before her planned surgery, she developed severe shortness of breath. Urgent echocardiogram revealed severe aortic regurgitation and large vegetation on the aortic valve. Infective endocarditis was suspected but blood cultures were negative for any microorganism and the patient did not meet the Duke criteria. Because of her hemodynamic instability immediate mechanical valve replacement surgery was performed. The pathology report showed extensive calcification and myxoid degeneration. No infectious agent was found. Later on, biopsy of her hand lesions showed extensive calcification with macrophages and giant cells. No atypia or malignancy was identified. This is a rare case of the metastatic calcinosis of aortic valve secondary to renal failure mimicking aortic valve infective endocarditis.
Symmetry Classification and Exact Solutions of a Variable Coefficient Space-Time Fractional Potential Burgers’ Equation
Authors: Gaur Manoj , Singh K.
Published: September 2016

We investigate the symmetry properties of a variable coefficient space-time fractional potential Burgers’ equation. Fractional Lie symmetries and corresponding infinitesimal generators are obtained. With the help of the infinitesimal generators, some group invariant solutions are deduced. Further, some exact solutions of fractional potential Burgers’ equation are generated by the invariant subspace method.
Folic Acid Is Able to Polarize the Inflammatory Response in LPS Activated Microglia by Regulating Multiple Signaling Pathways
Authors: Cianciulli Antonia , Salvatore Rosaria , Porro Chiara , Trotta Teresa , Panaro Maria Antonietta
Published: September 2016

We investigated the ability of folic acid to modulate the inflammatory responses of LPS activated BV-2 microglia cells and the signal transduction pathways involved. To this aim, the BV-2 cell line was exposed to LPS as a proinflammatory response inducer, in presence or absence of various concentrations of folic acid. The production of nitric oxide (NO) was determined by the Griess test. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and IL-10 were determined by ELISA. Inducible NO synthase (iNOS), nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65, MAPKs protein, and suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS)1 and SOCS3 were analyzed by western blotting. TNF-αand IL-1β, as well as iNOS dependent NO production, resulted significantly inhibited by folic acid pretreatment in LPS-activated BV-2 cells. We also observed that folic acid dose-dependently upregulated both SOCS1 and SOCS3 expression in BV-2 cells, leading to an increased expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Finally, p-IκBα, which indirectly reflects NF-κB complex activation, and JNK phosphorylation resulted dose-dependently downregulated by folic acid pretreatment of LPS-activated cells, whereas p38 MAPK phosphorylation resulted significantly upregulated by folic acid treatment. Overall, these results demonstrated that folic acid was able to modulate the inflammatory response in microglia cells, shifting proinflammatory versus anti-inflammatory responses through regulating multiple signaling pathways.
Resolvin E1 Inhibits Substance P-Induced Potentiation of TRPV1 in Primary Sensory Neurons
Authors: Jo Youn Yi , Lee Ji Yeon , Park Chul-Kyu
Published: September 2016

The neuropeptide substance P (SP) is expressed in primary sensory neurons and is commonly regarded as a “pain” neurotransmitter. Upon peripheral inflammation, SP activates the neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor and potentiates activity of transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1), which is coexpressed by nociceptive neurons. Therefore, SP functions as an important neurotransmitter involved in the hypersensitization of inflammatory pain. Resolvin E1 (RvE1), derived from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, inhibits TRPV1 activity via activation of the chemerin 23 receptor (ChemR23)—an RvE1 receptor located in dorsal root ganglion neurons—and therefore exerts an inhibitory effect on inflammatory pain. We demonstrate here that RvE1 regulates the SP-induced potentiation of TRPV1 via G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) on peripheral nociceptive neurons. SP-induced potentiation of TRPV1 inhibited by RvE1 was blocked by the Gαi-coupled GPCR inhibitor pertussis toxin and the G-protein inhibitor GDPβ-S. These results indicate that a low concentration of RvE1 strongly inhibits the potentiation of TRPV1, induced by the SP-mediated activation of NK-1, via a GPCR signaling pathway activated by ChemR23 in nociceptive neurons. RvE1 might represent a new therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammatory pain as a prospective endogenous inhibitor that strongly inhibits TRPV1 activity associated with peripheral inflammation.
Effects and Safety of Aqueous Extract of Poncirus fructus in Spinal Cord Injury with Neurogenic Bowel
Authors: Kim Ji Hee , Lee Su Kyung , Joo Min Cheol
Published: September 2016

Objective. To investigate the effects and safety of the aqueous extract of the dried, immature fruit of Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf., known as Poncirus fructus (PF), in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients with neurogenic bowel. Methods. Thirty‐one SCI patients with neurogenic bowel were recruited. Patients were evaluated based on clinical information, constipation score, Bristol Stool Form Scale, stool retention score using plain abdominal radiograph, and colon transit time. PF was administered in dosages of 800 mg each prior to breakfast and lunch for 14 days. Results. The morphological feature of the stool before and after administration indicated a statistically significant difference from 3.52 ± 1.33 to 4.32 ± 1.44 points (p < 0.05). Stool retention score before and after administration of PF was represented with low significance (7.25 ± 1.60 to 6.46 ± 1.53 points) in the whole colon (p < 0.05), and the colon transit time was significantly shortened (57.41 ± 20.7 to 41.2 ± 25.5 hours) in terms of the whole transit time (p < 0.05). Side effects were observed in 7 people (28.0%) consisting of 2 people with soft stools and 5 people with diarrhea. Conclusion. For SCI patients, PF administration significantly improved defecation patterns, defecation retention, and colon transit time. PF could be an effective aid to improve colonic motility and constipation.
The Effect ofPoly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase-1Gene 3′Untranslated Region Polymorphism in Colorectal Cancer Risk among Saudi Cohort
Authors: Alhadheq Abdullah M. , Purusottapatnam Shaik Jilani , Alamri Abdullah , Aljebreen Abdulrahman M. , Alharbi Othman , Almadi Majid A. , Alhadeq Faten , Azzam Nahla A. , Semlali Abdelhabib , Alanazi Mohammad , Bazzi Mohammad D. , Reddy Parine Narasimha
Published: September 2016

Background. DNA repair systems are essential for each cell to repair and maintain the genome integrity. Base excision repair pathway is one of the crucial pathways to maintain genome integrity andPARP-1plays a key role in BER pathway. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between polymorphisms inPARP-13′untranslated region (3′UTR) SNP rs8679 and its expression in colorectal cancer.Methods. Genotyping and gene expression were performed using TaqMan assays. The effects of age, gender, and tumor location were evaluated in cases and controls regarding the genotyping results. Resulting data was analyzed using SPSS software.Results and Conclusions. Genotyping analysis for SNP rs8679 showed decreased susceptibility to colorectal cancer at heterozygous TC allele and at minor allele C. Further this protective association was also observed in younger age patients (≤57), in female patients, and also in patients with tumors located at colon and rectum.PARP-1expression levels are significantly different in colorectal cancer compared to matched normal tissue. Our findings proved that the upregulation ofPARP-1is associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis in Saudi patients with colorectal cancer, suggesting thatPARP-1can be novel and valuable signatures for predicting the clinical outcome of patients with colorectal cancer.
The Extrusion Process as an Alternative for Improving the Biological Potential of Sorghum Bran: Phenolic Compounds and Antiradical and Anti‐Inflammatory Capacity
Authors: Salazar Lopez Norma Julieta , Loarca-Piña Guadalupe , Campos-Vega Rocío , Gaytán Martínez Marcela , Morales Sánchez Eduardo , Esquerra-Brauer J. Marina , Gonzalez-Aguilar Gustavo A. , Robles Sánchez Maribel
Published: September 2016

Approximately 80% of sorghum phenolic compounds are linked to arabinoxylans by ester bonds, which are capable of resisting the digestion process in the upper gastrointestinal tract, compromising their bioaccessibility and biological potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the extrusion process on the content of phenolic compounds in sorghum bran and its impact on phenolic compounds and antiradical and anti‐inflammatory capacity. Results revealed that the extrusion process increased total phenol content in sorghum bran compared to nonextruded sorghum, particularly for extrusion at 180°C with 20% moisture content (2.0222 ± 0.0157 versus 3.0729 ± 0.0187 mg GAE/g +52%), which positively affected antiradical capacity measured by the DPPH and TEAC assays. The percentage of inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production by RAW cells due to the presence of extruded sorghum bran extract was significantly higher than that of nonextruded sorghum bran extract (90.2 ± 1.9% versus 76.2 ± 1.3%). The results suggest that extruded sorghum bran could be used as a functional ingredient and provide advantages to consumers by reducing diseases related to oxidative stress and inflammation.
Chlamydia Peritonitis and Ascites Mimicking Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Gojayev Anar , English Diana P. , Macer Matthew , Azodi Masoud
Published: September 2016

Background. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) rarely results in diffuse ascites. Severe adhesive disease secondary to PID may lead to the formation of inclusion cysts and even pelvic peritoneal nodularity due to postinflammatory scarring and cause an elevation of serum CA-125 levels. The constellation of these findings may mimic an ovarian neoplasm.Case. We report a case of a 22-year-old female who presented with multiple pelvic cysts and diffuse ascites due toChlamydia trachomatisinfection. The initial gynecologic exam did not reveal obvious evidence of PID; however, a positiveChlamydia trachomatistest, pathologic findings, and the exclusion of other etiologies facilitated the diagnosis.Conclusion.Chlamydia trachomatisand other infectious agents should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a young sexually active female with abdominal pain, ascites, and pelvic cystic masses. Thorough workup in such a population may reduce the number of more invasive procedures as well as unnecessary repeat surgical procedures.
High-Methionine Diet Attenuates Severity of Arthritis and Modulates IGF-I Related Gene Expressions in an Adjuvant Arthritis Rats Model
Authors: Li Mingxin , Zhai Lidong , Wei Wanfu
Published: September 2016

Rheumatoid arthritis, a synthesized form of adjuvant arthritis exhibited throughout many animal species, inhibits liver function and circulation of IGF-I and contributes to the degradation of skeletal muscle mass. One of the primary goals of the present study is determining whether a high-Methionine (high-Met) diet is capable of reducing the adverse effects of arthritis, namely, loss of body mass. Following adjuvant injection, forty arthritic rats were randomly assigned to either a control group with a basal diet or a high-Met group with the same basal diet + 0.5% Methionine. After 14 days all rats were terminated. The high-Met group exhibited an increase in body weight and food intake in comparison with the control group (P<0.05). High-Met diet debilitated arthritis-induced surges in the gastrocnemius in both atrogin-1 and the MuRF1 expressions; however, it was observed to have little to no effect on atrogin-1 and MuRF1 gene expression in soleus. At the same time, high-Met diet rats experienced a rise in IGF-I, with lowering of IGFBP-3 gene expression in the gastrocnemius and the soleus. These data suggest that arthritis severity can be partly attenuated by high-Met diet.
Full-Thickness Macular Hole Formation after Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling: Beware the “Omega Sign”
Authors: Sisk Robert A. , Toygar Okan
Published: September 2016

Purpose. To introduce a clinical sign on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT), which may indicate high risk for full-thickness macular hole formation after internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling.Methods. The preoperative SDOCT images of two patients—one with multilaminar hemorrhage from ruptured retinal artery macroaneurysm and one with serous retinal detachment and severe macular schisis from optic pit maculopathy—who developed full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) after ILM peeling were evaluated retrospectively.Results. On the preoperative SDOCT images of both patients there was a thin bridge of tissue on either side of the foveal center with an outer retinal defect. The photoreceptors were displaced laterally away from the foveal center to create an “omega-” shaped configuration of the remaining tissue.Conclusion. “Omega-” shaped configuration on SDOCT may represent a higher risk of FTMH following ILM peeling. Vitreoretinal surgeons may wish to consider this sign in the process of their surgical decision making.
Endothelial Function and Arterial Stiffness Relate to Functional Outcomes in Adolescent and Young Adult Fontan Survivors
Authors: Goldstein Bryan H. , Urbina Elaine M. , Khoury Philip R. , Gao Zhiqian , Amos Michelle A. , Mays Wayne A. , Redington Andrew N. , Marino Bradley S.
Published: September 2016

Background

Fontan survivors demonstrate diminished vascular function and functional outcomes, but the relationships between these measures have not been established.

Methods and Results

We performed a cross‐sectional study of 60 Fontan survivors (52% male) with a mean age of 13.9±4.1 years and mean Fontan duration of 9.9±4.2 years. Multimodality assessment of endothelial function (reactive hyperemia index and flow‐mediated dilation) and arterial stiffness (augmentation index and baseline pulse amplitude) was performed with peripheral arterial tonometry and brachial flow‐mediated dilation. Aerobic capacity was determined using cardiopulmonary exercise testing; mean peak and percentage of predicted oxygen consumption (VO
2
) were 27.8±7.6 mL/kg per minute and 71.0±21.2%, respectively. Quality of life and physical activity were assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (Peds
QL
) and the Physical Activity Questionnaire. Vascular measures served as predictor variables, whereas functional measures served as outcome variables. In all cases, worse vascular measures were associated with worse functional measures. Flow‐mediated dilation–derived reactive hyperemia index (
P
<0.05) was positively associated with VO
2
at anaerobic threshold. Peripheral arterial tonometry–derived baseline pulse amplitude (
P
<0.05) was negatively associated with the ratio of minute ventilation to carbon dioxide at anaerobic threshold. Flow‐mediated dilation–derived reactive hyperemia index and peripheral arterial tonometry–derived augmentation index (
P
<0.05) were positively and negatively associated, respectively, with peak VO
2
. Maximum flow‐mediated dilation (
P
<0.05) was positively associated with Physical Activity Questionnaire score. Peripheral arterial tonometry–derived augmentation index and baseline pulse amplitude (
P
<0.05) were negatively associated with parent‐reported Peds
QL
total and physical heath summary scores.

Conclusions

Increased arterial stiffness and decreased endothelial function are associated with lower aerobic capacity, physical activity, and quality of life in adolescent and young adult Fontan survivors. Understanding the cause–effect relationship between vascular function and functional outcomes is an important next step.
Localization of Minodronate in Mouse Femora Through Isotope Microscopy
Authors: Hongo Hiromi , Sasaki Muneteru , Kobayashi Sachio , Hasegawa Tomoka , Yamamoto Tomomaya , Tsuboi Kanako , Tsuchiya Erika , Nagai Tomoya , Khadiza Naznin , Abe Miki , Kudo Ai , Oda Kimimitsu , Henrique Luiz de Freitas Paulo , Li Minqi , Yurimoto Hisayoshi , Amizuka Norio
Published: September 2016

Minodronate is highlighted for its marked and sustained effects on osteoporotic bones. To determine the duration of minodronate’s effects, we have assessed the localization of the drug in mouse bones through isotope microscopy, after labeling it with a stable nitrogen isotope ([15N]-minodronate). In addition, minodronate-treated bones were assessed by histochemistry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Eight-week-old male ICR mice received [15N]-minodronate (1 mg/kg) intravenously and were sacrificed after 3 hr, 24 hr, 1 week, and 1 month. Isotope microscopy showed that [15N]-minodronate was present mainly beneath osteoblasts rather than nearby osteoclasts. At 3 hr after minodronate administration, histochemistry and TEM showed osteoclasts with well-developed ruffled borders. However, osteoclasts were roughly attached to the bone surfaces and did not feature ruffled borders at 24 hr after minodronate administration. The numbers of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase–positive osteoclasts and alkaline phosphatase–reactive osteoblastic area were not reduced suddenly, and apoptotic osteoclasts appeared in 1 week and 1 month after the injections. Von Kossa staining demonstrated that osteoclasts treated with minodronate did not incorporate mineralized bone matrix. Taken together, minodronate accumulates in bone underneath osteoblasts rather than under bone-resorbing osteoclasts; therefore, it is likely that the minodronate-coated bone matrix is resistant to osteoclastic resorption, which results in a long-lasting and bone-preserving effect.
Existence and stability of collinear points in elliptic restricted three body problem with radiating and oblate primaries
Authors: Chakraborty Anindita , Narayan Ashutosh , Shrivastav Amit
Published: September 2016

The location of the collinear points in elliptical restricted three body problem, taking into account the effect of oblateness and radiation pressure of both primaries, has been obtained in this paper. Vinti's method has been exploited and the x-coordinates are obtained in the form of series solution. The linear stability has been investigated and it is found that the points are unstable in the Lyapunov's sense. The problem is also numerically explored taking into account two binary systems: Luyten-726 and Kruger-60.
A testmozgás szerepe az egészségügyi dolgozók egészségfejlesztésében
Authors: Terebessy András , Matyasovszky Melinda , Horváth Ferenc , Horosz Áron , Juhász Irén , Győrffy Zsuzsa
Published: September 2016

Introduction: The health status of doctors, nurses and any other professionals working in the healthcare sector influences the quality of their work. Therefore, health promotion of healthcare workers is not only an occupational health program but it can be considered as an action towards improving the quality of care. Aim: The current study was designed to assess the efficacy of a health promotion intervention among healthcare workers after health status assessment. Method: Before and after the intervention a self-assessment questionnaire-based health survey and physical status examination were performed. Members of the intervention group were offered to use fitness facilities, professional psychological help, dietary counselling, and dental consultation. Results: The intervention program lasted for 12 months with the participation of 79 health care professionals (based on their decision being in the intervention or in the control group). Significant decrease was found in the abdominal perimeter in participants of the intervention group and they ran a longer distance on the 12 minute-long-run test at the end of the study. Conclusions: The positive effect of regular physical exercise as part of active lifestyle has been demonstrated not only in the increase of physical capacity, but in the change of body shape, as well. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(39), 1563–1570.
Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Organizational Problems
Authors: Samsonova E.V. , Alekseeva M.N.
Published: September 2016

The article presents data of applied socio-psychological research devoted to the study of difficulties encountered by educational institutions when teaching children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The research involved analysis of theoretical issues and practical experience on the subject; a survey of administrative and teaching staff; an exploration of organizational problems related to the education of children with ASD, in particular, the need for methodological support in teachers providing such education. The findings of the research indicated the following problems in educational institutions teaching children with ASD: 1) Education models for children with ASD require personnel and economic support; 2) teachers are not provided with special training necessary for working with children with ASD and for developing adapted teaching programmes; 3) institutions lack methodological and didactic support necessary for working with children with ASD; 4) there’s no communication between educational and medical institutions concerning the assistance to children with ASD and their families.
A Case-Study of Inclusion of an Intellectually Gifted Adolescent with Autism Spectrum Disorder in a General Education School: Risk Factors and Developmental Resources
Authors: Demina E.V. , Trubitsyna A.N.
Published: September 2016

The article examines the case of integration of an intellectually gifted adolescent with autism spectrum disorder in a general education school. It provides results of the applied behavioral analysis aimed at developing general learning skills. The child, diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at early school age, encountered difficulties related to the inability to study effectively at school in spite of the clear evidence of intellectual giftedness (including such motivational and instrumental preconditions as high levels of cognitive interest, verbal and abstract reasoning, and educability). The article reflects on the risks and advantages of the developmental work with the “twice exceptional” adolescent following an individual behavioral plan. Based on the results of the study, the article outlines the possible ways of forming the learning behavior skills: learning activity-based, communicative and organizational. The article discusses the necessity of further support of the “twice exceptional” adolescent based on an integrated approach with regard to the special learning needs of the intellectually gifted adolescent.
Character Education Based on Religious Values: an Islamic Perspective
Authors: Ismail Ismail
Published: September 2016

Character education in Indonesia has become a necessity that can not be negotiable. Various cases of crime and moral deviations become evident that the character of most citizens already at alarming stage. Therefore, since the beginning, national education is not only aimed at generating human intelligent and skilled, but also of noble character. This is realized through the introduction of 18 characters excel in school (religious, honest, disciplined, tolerance, and so on). In the Islamic perspective character education paired with akhlak (Islamic ethics) education. Among the important characteristics are: it sourced from the Quran Hadith; Prophet Muhammad as a role model; priority-based methods of mental-spiritual (soul management, habituation, exemplary, and healthy environment); are simultaneous in which three education centers, namely schools, families, and communities should play a role in synergy. The government and the mass media also play a role in supporting the education of character. Pendidikan karakter di Indonesia telah menjadi kebutuhan yang tidak dapat ditawar. Berbagai kasus kejahatan moral dan penyimpangan menjadi jelas bahwa karakter sebagian besar warga sudah pada tahap mengkhawatirkan. Oleh karena itu, sejak awal, pendidikan nasional tidak hanya bertujuan menghasilkan manusia cerdas dan terampil, tetapi juga karakter yang mulia. Hal ini diwujudkan melalui pengenalan 18 karakter berprestasi di sekolah (agama, jujur, disiplin, tolerann, dan sebagainya). Dalam pendidikan karakter perspektif Islam dipasangkan dengan pendidikan akhlak (etika Islam). Di antara karakteristik penting adalah: itu bersumber dari al-Quran Hadis; Nabi Muhammad sebagai panutan; metode berbasis prioritas mental-spiritual (manajemen jiwa, pembiasaan, keteladanan, dan lingkungan yang sehat); yang simultan di mana tiga pusat pendidikan, yaitu sekolah, keluarga, dan masyarakat harus berperan dalam sinergi. Pemerintah dan media massa juga berperan dalam mendukung pendidikan karakter.
“Compaixão pela messe!”: Filhas do divino zelo e as pedagogias missionárias em ação na Vila Operária Mineração de Içara (SC-Brasil) 1959 a 1968
Authors: Rabelo Giani
Published: September 2016

Este artigo é um recorte de um estudo que procurou inventariar e analisar, numa perspectiva histórica, as práticas instauradas pelas pedagogias missionárias, protagonizadas pelas congregações religiosas femininas em vilas operárias do complexo carbonífero do sul do Estado de Santa Catarina, entre os anos de 1950 e 1980. Neste artigo, o destaque será dado à Congregação das Filhas do Divino Zelo. Tal congregação atuou no distrito de Içara que se destacou, desde os anos de 1949, na extração do carvão mineral pela Carbonífera Barão do Rio Branco, a qual mantinha uma vila operária. A chegada das religiosas para a realização do trabalho de cunho socioeducativo na Vila Operária da Mineração, junto às famílias, ocorreu entre no final dos anos de 1950. O principal objetivo do estudo foi compreender tais pedagogias em ação, junto aos operários e suas famílias, especialmente filhos, filhas e esposas. A pesquisa assentou-se num amplo corpus empírico composto por documentos orais, produzidos a partir da História Oral, bem como documentos escritos e iconográficos, conservados pelas congregações. A partir dos indícios encontrados foi possível observar a ação insidiosa das religiosas na “reeducação” das famílias. Elas procuraram instituir novos hábitos e valores nas práticas cotidianas das famílias operárias e, para que isso se concretizasse, envolveram, de forma diferenciada, os operários, suas esposas, filhos e filhas, em várias ações de caráter social, educativo e religioso.
Inspetor de Ensino e Diretor Escolar na Legislação Educacional de Minas Gerais (1906–24)
Authors: Ribeiro Betânia Oliveira Laterza , Carvalho Luciana B. O. B. , Oliveira Sandra M.
Published: September 2016

Na primeira República (1889–1930), a legislação possibilitou pensar na organização da educação. As reformas se proliferaram país afora, institucionalizado um modelo de escola para um modelo de cidadão. Institucionalizar supôs controlar e hierarquizar a administração do grupo escolar pela ação do inspetor de ensino e do diretor. Este estudo verifica a constituição e o surgimento desses agentes em leis e decretos da legislação mineira. Tomados aqui tomados como fontes históricas, são lidos no campo da gênese das políticas educacionais e da organização e do funcionamento do grupo escolar. O estudo objetiva analisar tanto o efeito da força político-legal na administração e estruturação técnico-pedagógica para controlar a ação escolar quanto seus reflexos no ensino primário, sobretudo de Minas. Os resultados mostram que os cargos de inspetor (criado em 1835) e diretor (criado em 1906) deviam ser exercidos por homens; e que sua atividade fiscalizadora previa fazer a escola funcionar, fiscalizar tal funcionamento e atestá-lo mediante documentos para o governo. O estudo mostra que a ação desses sujeitos supunha outros conhecimentos que não os pedagógicos e administrativos. Mais que isso, reforça a ideia de centralização das decisões educacionais a ser tomadas com base em documentos da burocracia escolar que faziam a interface do governo mineiro com a escola.
Narrativas e Trajetórias de Formação: Um Diálogo Entre Literatura e Memórias
Authors: Henriques Eda Maria De Oliveira , De Azevedo Mônica Maria
Published: September 2016

O desprestígio crescente da profissão docente vem afetando um grande número de alunos que chegam às Licenciaturas com sérias dúvidas em relação à carreira docente. Diante deste quadro, desenvolveu-se uma pesquisa que procurou entender de que forma os alunos significam a sua trajetória de formação. Para conhecer tais trajetórias concebeu-se uma metodologia inspirada na proposta do memorial de formação de acordo com a concepção de Passeggi. Para deflagrar as narrativas utilizou-se o potencial discursivo e produtor de sentidos de crônicas da literatura brasileira, com as contribuições de Benjamin, Vygotsky e Iser. A partir da leitura de uma crônica, os alunos tornaram suas trajetórias um espaço de narrativa, análise e reflexão.
Study of salinity effects on the inorganic phosphorus transformation in three different soil series of Ganges River Floodplain
Authors: Nasrin Sonia , Biswas Tanmoy Kumar , Amin Md Sadiqul , Khatun Monowara
Published: September 2016

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of salinity level on different forms of inorganic phosphorus (P) transformation in three different soil series such as Amjhupi, Gopalpur and Bajoa located in Ganges River Floodplain. Two non-saline soils and one slightly saline soil with different textural classes were collected from these sites. The salinity treatments were 0, 6, 10 and 13 dSm-1 with three replications. The treated soils were then incubated in laboratory at field capacity moisture condition. To determine the transformation of different forms of inorganic P, sampling was done for 0, 14, 21, 42 and 84 days. Different forms of inorganic P such as soluble and exchangeable phosphorus (SE-P), iron and aluminium bound phosphorus (Fe and Al-P), calcium bound phosphorus (Ca-P) and residual phosphorus (RE-P) were determined. For Amjhupi soil series, the sequence of different forms of inorganic P was RE-P>Ca-P>Fe and Al-P>SE-P according to their amount. For Gopalpur and Bajoa soil series, the sequence was Ca- P>RE-P>Fe and Al-P>SE-P and RE-P>Ca-P>Fe and Al-P>SE-P, respectively. The sequence clearly indicates that the soluble and exchangeable P decreases with time due to salinity which reduces the uptake of P and ultimately reduces the yield. The changes were statistically significant (p<0.0001) in case of all three soils.Jahangirnagar University J. Biol. Sci. 5(1): 71-79, 2016 (June)
Acmella radicans (Jacq.) R.K. Jansen (Asteraceae) - a new angiosperm record for Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman M Mahfuzur , Khan Saleh Ahammad , Hossain Gazi Mosharof , Jakaria Md , Rahim Md A
Published: September 2016

Abstract not availableJahangirnagar University J. Biol. Sci. 5(1): 87-93, 2016 (June)
Metacognition and Perspective Taking Predict Negative Self-Evaluation of Social Performance in Patients with Social Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Nordahl Hans M , Nordahl Henrik , Wells Adrian
Published: September 2016

This study set out to test metacognitive beliefs and perspective taking in self-imagery as predictors of negative self-evaluation of performance in social anxiety disorder. Forty-seven patients with a primary diagnosis of DSM-IV social anxiety disorder were asked to engage in a speech task. Metacognitive beliefs were assessed before the task, and perspective taking in self-imagery and negative self-evaluations of performance were measured after the task. Positive metacognitive beliefs about worrying and observer perspective imagery were positively correlated with negative self-evaluation. A hierarchical linear regression showed that age, and both positive metacognitive beliefs and the observer perspective, were unique predictors of negative self-evaluation. The results suggest that psychological models, especially those formulating the self-concept, should incorporate metacognitive beliefs.