bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Managing leg ulcers: A guide for practice nurses
Authors: Brown Annemarie
Published: January 2016

Managing leg ulceration costs the NHS approximately £168–198 million per annum and prevalence studies have estimated that there are 70 000–190 000 individuals in the UK with a venous leg ulcer at any time. Appropriate treatment depends on accurate diagnosis of the underlying aetiology and this is based on patient medical history, clinical presentation of the ulceration, and assessment procedures, such as ankle-brachial pressure index measurement. The most effective treatment for venous leg ulcers is compression therapy. In ulceration where there is significant arterial involvement and compression therapy is contraindicated, the focus of care should be on implementing interventions to improve the wound bed, reduce or alleviate the patient's symptoms, such as effective pain management, and improve quality of life.
Hydrotherapy for the osteoarthritic dog: why might it help and is there any evidence?
Authors: Cartlidge Helen
Published: January 2016

There are many potential factors that can play a role in the initial development of osteoarthritis, however, irrespective of cause, the progression of osteoarthritis is similar in all cases. Pathological changes within the joint are often self-perpetuating; degeneration of articular cartilage initiates an inflammatory response which results in further degeneration of the cartilage. Pain and discomfort and subsequent reduced activity follows, leading to reduced aerobic ability and further changes within the musculoskeletal tissues. With no cure available, treatment often centres on management strategies to ease discomfort and progression of clinical signs. Hydrotherapy could be beneficial for osteoarthritic patients as it allows exercise to be conducted in a reduced weight bearing environment. This allows aerobic ability, muscle strength and range of motion to be improved/maintained while reducing the impact on painful joints. Available evidence suggests that treatment with hydrotherapy is beneficial in the management of osteoarthritis, however, further evidence is required in the comparison of aquatic and land-based therapy.
Prophylactic antibiotics in elective hip and knee arthroplasty
Authors: Hickson C. J. , Metcalfe D. , Elgohari S. , Oswald T. , Masters J. P. , Rymaszewska M. , Reed M. R. , Sprowson† A. P.
Published: January 2016

Objectives

We wanted to investigate regional variations in the organisms reported to be causing peri-prosthetic infections and to report on prophylaxis regimens currently in use across England.

Methods

Analysis of data routinely collected by Public Health England’s (PHE) national surgical site infection database on elective primary hip and knee arthroplasty procedures between April 2010 and March 2013 to investigate regional variations in causative organisms. A separate national survey of 145 hospital Trusts (groups of hospitals under local management) in England routinely performing primary hip and/or knee arthroplasty was carried out by standard email questionnaire.

Results

Analysis of 189 858 elective primary hip and knee arthroplasty procedures and 1116 surgical site infections found statistically significant variations for some causative organism between regions. There was a 100% response rate to the prophylaxis questionnaire that showed substantial variation between individual trust guidelines. A number of regimens currently in use are inconsistent with the best available evidence.

Conclusions

The approach towards antibiotic prophylaxis in elective arthroplasty nationwide reveals substantial variation without clear justification. Only seven causative organisms are responsible for 89% of infections affecting primary hip and knee arthroplasty, which cannot justify such widespread variation between prophylactic antibiotic policies. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2015;4:181–189.
Mast Cells Produce a Unique Chondroitin Sulfate Epitope
Authors: Farrugia Brooke L. , Whitelock John M. , O’Grady Robert , Caterson Bruce , Lord Megan S.
Published: January 2016

The granules of mast cells contain a myriad of mediators that are stored and protected by the sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains that decorate proteoglycans. Whereas heparin is the GAG predominantly associated with mast cells, mast cell proteoglycans are also decorated with heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate (CS). This study investigated a unique CS structure produced by mast cells that was detected with the antibody clone 2B6 in the absence of chondroitinase ABC digestion. Mast cells in rodent tissue sections were characterized using toluidine blue, Leder stain and the presence of mast cell tryptase. The novel CS epitope was identified in rodent tissue sections and localized to cells that were morphologically similar to cells chemically identified as mast cells. The rodent mast cell-like line RBL-2H3 was also shown to express the novel CS epitope. This epitope co-localized with multiple CS proteoglycans in both rodent tissue and RBL-2H3 cultured cells. These findings suggest that the novel CS epitope that decorates mast cell proteoglycans may play a role in the way these chains are structured in mast cells.
Glucose metabolism and production of incretins in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus after Biliopancreatic bypass surgery in the modification of Hess-Marceau the early stages of postoperative monitoring
Authors: Dedov Ivan Ivanovich , Troshina Ekaterina Anatol'evna , Ershova Ekaterina Vladimirovna , Yashkov Yuriy Ivanovich
Published: January 2016

Introduction: a significant improvement was shown in metabolic control at the early stages after BPD, which was associated with GLP-1 and was regardless of weight loss.Aim: to study the secretion of GLP-1, GIP, insulin and glucagon and their relationship to the parameters of the carbohydrate metabolism among patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes before and 3 months after BPD.Materials and Methods: the check-up involved 22 patients with obesity (BMI 50.1 [41.3; 53.8] kg/m²) and type 2 diabetes. Determined: glucose, HbA1c, insulin, glucagon, GLP-1, GIP.Results: after the surgery for weight loss of 15.8% was showed a reduction of fasting and postprandial glycemia, a reduction of AUCglucose, HbA1c, НОМА-IR and hyperinsulinemia. The secretion of GLP-1 with a peak at 30' (test with a standard breakfast) increased, AUCGLP-1 – to 1.8-fold, the basal secretion of GIP – almost 2-fold and AUCGIP – to 1.7-fold; decreased of a secretion of glucagon with a minimum at 60' and AUCglucagon. A negative correlation was revealed between GIP and glucagon, AUCglucose and AUCglucagon; a positive correlation was revealed between GLP-1 and insulin. The weight loss was accompanied by an inversely proportional increase of GLP-1.Conclusion: More than 90% of the surveyed patients achieved a satisfactory glycemic control as early as 3 months after BPD. The significant improvement of the parameters of the carbohydrate metabolism was associated with elevated levels of GLP-1 and this improvement does not depend of weight loss.
The role of insulin, leptin, adiponectin in forming of structural and functional changes of myocardium in obesity and their dynamics in weight loss.
Authors: Postoeva Anna Viktorovna , Dvoryashinva Irina Vladimirovna
Published: January 2016

The aim of this work was a review of literature data on the possible relationships between the levels of insulin, leptin, and adiponectinand the formation of structural and functional changes in the myocardium in obesity, as well as their dynamics due to body weight reduction.We analyzed the studies found by keywords «insulin, adiponectin, leptin, left ventricular hypertrophy» in international databasesPubmed, Medline and Cochrane. Results of many studies suggest a positive association with hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia massindex and left ventricular mass. Insulin resistance can act as an independent predictor of subclinical diastolic dysfunction. Contributionof adiponectin in the development of cardiovascular diseases has been investigated extensively: many authors have obtained results thatindicate its protective effect on the myocardium. Weight reduction is associated with decrease in levels of blood insulin and leptin, butleptin reduction, according to some authors, there was only seen in a decrease in body weight by an amount exceeding 7% of the original.The results of measuring the level of adiponectin in obese patients on the background of weight loss remains controversial: some authorshave obtained an increase in the concentration of this protein in the blood, while others pointed out the lack of any dynamics.
Dynamic changes of body mass in patients with morbid obesity in the remote terms after gastric banding and gastric bypass.
Authors: Egiev Valeriy Nikolaevich , Mayorova Juliya Borisovna , Leont'eva Marina Sergeevna , Meleshko Anastasiya Vladimirovna
Published: January 2016

Since January 2005 till December 2013 655 patients with morbid obesity were operated on, 457 (69,7%) from which, had gastric banding with using different models of regulating bandages: AMI (AMI, Austria), SAGB (Ethicon, USA), Lap Band (ALLEGRAN, USA). Gastric bypass was made to 198 patients, that made 30,3%. The degree of lowering of overweight in general is more after gastric bypass, than after gastric banding. At the same time during the period of 1–1,5 year the degree of lowering of overweight with women is the same after both the operation. The degree of lowering of overweight with men after gastric bypass is a little higher. In the period of 2–4 years the degree of lowering of overweight both with men and women after gastric bypass is higher. In 5 years men after gastric bypass actually lose weight better than after gastric banding. The men older than 40 years having BMI more than 40 kg/m2 after gastric banding lose weight worst of all. In the period of more than 5 years the women in the age group of 30–39 years having BMI more than 40 kg/m2 had better results after gastric bypass. The women older than 50 years having BMI more than 40 kg/m2 after gastric banding had the worst results.
Silent pituitary adenomas: review and clinical cases
Authors: Lipatenkova Anna Konstantinovna , Dzeranova Larisa Konstantinovna , Pigarova Ekaterina Aleksandrovna , Astaf'eva Ludmila Igorevna , Grigor'ev Andrey Yur'evich , Shishkina Ludmila Valentinovna , Cherebilo Vladislav Yur'evich , Ektova Anastasiya Pavlovna
Published: January 2016

Silent, or clinically nonfunctioning adenomas are morphologically heterogeneous group, characterized by positive immunoreactivity for one or more hormones classically secreted by normal pituitary cells but without clinical expression. Although in some occasions enhanced or changed secretory activity can develop over time. According to immunoreactivity they are divided into "silent" gonado-, cortico-, somato -, mammo – and thyrotropinomas, oncocytomas, «zero-cell» tumors. All types of "silent" adenomas have different biological activity, secretory capacity and outcomes in the postoperative period. This series of clinical cases shows more «aggressiveness», a higher risk of relapse for "silent" cortico- and somatotropinomas. Immunohistochemical analysis of residual tissue can be used to identify patients with high risk of recurrence, to develop optimal treatment and follow-up.
Gene Expression Analysis of Murine Brown and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue: Significance with Human
Authors: Shvangiradze Teona Albertovna
Published: January 2016

Gene Expression Analysis of Murine Brown and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue: Significance with Human
The modifiable risk factors for obesity and overweight in early childhood period, the analysis of cumulative effects and the potential for prevention
Authors: Borodich Tatyana Sergeevna
Published: January 2016

The modifiable risk factors for obesity and overweight in early childhood period, the analysis of cumulative effects and the potential for prevention.
Tracking changes in natural history collections utilization: A case study at the Museum of Southwestern Biology at the University of New Mexico
Authors: Abrahamson Bethany L.
Published: January 2016

Natural history collections (NHCs) are used in many fields of study, but general knowledge regarding their uses is poor. Because of this, funding and support for NHCs frequently fluctuate. One way in which collections professionals can illustrate a collection’s contribution to a variety of fields is based on the collection’s history of use. Tracking NHC utilization through time can increase NHC value to others outside of the collection, allow for the analysis of changes in specimen-based research trends, and assist in effective collection management. This case study focuses on NHC usage records held by the Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB), a currently growing university collection used in many research fields, and presents methods for quantifying collections utilization through time. Through an exploration of these data, this paper illustrates MSB’s growth and changes in research produced over time and offers explanations for the changes observed. Last, this study provides suggestions for how collections professionals can most greatly benefit from considering NHC records as a data source. Understanding NHC usage from “the collection’s perspective” provides a new way for NHC professionals to understand NHCs’ value in the context of the research it supports and demonstrates the importance of this key infrastructure to a broader audience.
Oddy Tests: Adding the Analytical Dimension
Authors: Beiner Gail Gali , Lavi Miriam , Seri Hadas , Rossin Anna , Lev Ovadia , Gun Jenny , Rabinovich Rivka
Published: January 2016

The so-called “Oddy test” has gained popularity in art and archaeology collections because it is inexpensive to use, and the results are relatively easy to analyze. However, the method is also subjective and does not identify the pollutants. Here we present a modification to the traditional test that addresses these drawbacks and aims at providing solutions. Activated carbon was used to adsorb the volatile emissions generated within the standard Oddy test setup. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) desorbed from the activated carbon detected pollutants within a considerably shorter time frame than the traditional Oddy test and provided both qualitative and quantitative data. GC-MS analysis of volatiles off-gassed during the Oddy test provided information about the VOCs from local brands of materials commonly used for conservation and storage of objects in collections. The use of GC-MS analysis of volatiles improves the Oddy test in a fast, sensitive, and quantitative manner.
Immunoinformatic prediction about potential novel vaccine in surface antigen fragment protein of Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Hasheminasab Seyed Sajjad , Maghsood Hossein , Khalili Sara
Published: January 2016

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most widespread infections in animals and humans. The Toxoplasma gondii major surface antigen, called SAG1 or p30, is a highly immunogenic protein which has generated great interest as a diagnostic reagent, as a potential subunit vaccine, and for its role in invasion. In this study, the epitopes of Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 were identified using bioinformatics. Through the analysis of the out¬put of both NetCTL and CTLPred, and B-cell epitope prediction, the position of all the epitopes were found and combined in four sequences. The different tasks including, T-cell and B-cell prediction, Antigenicity determination of the conserved peptides, Homology modeling, Allergenicity and epitope conservancy analysis were done on the conserved peptides. We predict that our proposed epitopes would also trigger an immune response in vitro.Immunoinformatic prediction about potential novel vaccine in surface antigen fragment protein of Toxoplasma gondii
Capitalism and Its Current Crisis
Authors: Patnaik Prabhat
Published: January 2016

The "thirty-year crisis" of capitalism, which encompassed two world wars and the Great Depression, was followed by a period that some economists call the Golden Age of capitalism. Today, however, capitalism is once again enmeshed in a crisis that portends far-reaching consequences. I am not referring here to the mere phenomenon of the generally slower average growth that has marked the system since the mid-1970s. Rather, I am talking specifically of the crisis that started with the collapse of the U.S. housing bubble in 2007-8 and which, far from abating, is only becoming more pronounced.… The Western media often give the impression that the capitalist world is slowly emerging from this crisis. Since the Eurozone continues to be mired in stagnation, this impression derives entirely from the experience of the United States, where there has been talk of raising the interest rate on the grounds that the crisis is over, and inflation is now the new threat.… To claim…that the United States is experiencing a full recovery is, in terms of working class well-being and economic security, wrong. And if we consider the rest of the world, especially recent developments in the "emerging economies," the situation is much worse.

Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.
Digital Labor and Imperialism
Authors: Fuchs Christian
Published: January 2016

A century has now passed since Lenin's Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism (1916) and Bukharin's Imperialism and World Economy (1915), as well as Rosa Luxemburg's 1913 Accumulation of Capital, all spoke of imperialism as a force and tool of capitalism. It was a time of world war, monopolies, antitrust laws, strikes for pay raises, Ford's development of the assembly line, the October Revolution, the Mexican Revolution, the failed German revolution, and much more. It was a time that saw the spread and deepening of global challenges to capitalism.… This article reviews the role of the international division of labor in classical Marxist concepts of imperialism, and extends these ideas to the international division of labor in the production of information and information technology today. I will argue that digital labor, as the newest frontier of capitalist innovation and exploitation, is central to the structures of contemporary imperialism.

Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.
Accounting education and quality dimensions: A field research in Turkey
Muhasebe eğitimi ve kalite boyutları: Türkiye alan araştırması
Authors: Yücenurşen Mehmet , Bezirci Muhammet , Özpeynirci Rabia , Peker A. Aykut
Published: January 2016

Rules, regulations and operating characteristics regarding the accounting information system which they use during the life work are transferred to the individuals with the conception of lifelong learning in the accounting education. In this way, individuals acquires sufficient accounting information in their professional careers and professional exams. No doubt, the success is directly related to personal competencies of individuals and the quality of education received. The quality of accounting education is concerned with the level of realization of the expectations from the individuals who take or took accounting education. This study focuses on education quality dimensions referring to accounting education. The aim of this study is to contribute to the literature on the quality of accounting education by examining periodicals on the scope and quality of accounting education made in Turkey. In studies conducted in Turkey, it is investigated that the expectations of students and businesses from accounting education and the quality dimensions held by the universities such as the number of lecturers, course duration, and physical facilities.

 

Özet

Hayat boyu öğrenme anlayışı ile muhasebe eğitiminde, bireylere çalışma hayatı süresince kullanacakları, muhasebe bilgi sistemine ilişkin kural, yasal düzenleme ve işleyiş özellikleri aktarılmaktadır. Bu sayede bireyler profesyonel kariyerlerinde ve mesleki sınavlarda yeterli muhasebe bilgisi edinmektedir. Şüphesiz ki muhasebe eğitimi alan bireylerin profesyonel kariyerlerinde ve mesleki sınavlardaki başarısı kişisel yetkinlikler ve alınan eğitimin kalitesiyle doğrudan ilgilidir. Muhasebe eğitiminde kalite; muhasebe eğitimiyle hem eğitim alanların hem de muhasebe eğitimi almış kişilerden beklentilerin karşılanma düzeyiyle ilgilidir. Bu çalışmada muhasebe eğitimine değinilerek eğitimde kalite boyutları üzerinde durulmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye’de yapılmış muhasebe eğitimi ve kalite kapsamında süreli yayınlar incelenerek muhasebe eğitim kalitesi üzerine literatüre katkı sağlanmasıdır. Türkiye’de yapılmış çalışmalarda öğrencilerin ve işletmelerin muhasebe eğitiminden beklentileri, üniversitelerin sahip olduğu öğretim üyesi, ders süreleri, ve fiziki imkanlar gibi kalite boyutlarının araştırıldığı görülmektedir.
Exploring the Effects of “What” (Product) and “Where” (Website) Characteristics on Online Shopping Behavior
Authors: Mallapragada Girish , Chandukala Sandeep R. , Liu Qing
Published: January 2016

Understanding factors that influence online shopping and managing consumer relationships is not a trivial task for firms, considering the many pertinent factors that influence behavior, including the product being shopped (i.e., the “what”) and the context of the website itself (i.e., the “where”). This study investigates the impact of these characteristics on an online transaction's basket value, after incorporating the role of other aspects of the browsing process including page views and visit duration. The authors estimate a multivariate mixed-effects Type II Tobit model with a system of equations to explain variation in shopping basket value, using data involving 773,262 browsing sessions resulting in 9,664 transactions across 43 product categories from 385 unique websites. The results support the assertions that contextual factors are associated with online browsing. For example, a website's scope in terms of product variety is associated positively with visit durations and basket values but negatively with page views. Furthermore, a website's communication functionality is positively associated with basket value for hedonic products. Insights suggest managerial implications involving product and website strategies for online retailers.
Compound-combination synchronization of chaos in identical and different orders chaotic systems
Authors: Ojo K. S. , Njah A. N. , Olusola O. I.
Published: January 2016

This paper proposes a new synchronization scheme called compound-combination synchronization. The scheme is investigated using six chaotic Josephson junctions evolving from different initial conditions based on the drive-response configuration via the active backstepping technique. The technique is applied to achieve compound-combination synchronization of: (i) six identical third order resistive-capacitive-inductive-shunted Josepshon junctions (RCLSJJs) (with three as drive and three as response systems); (ii) three third order RCLSJJs (as drive systems) and three second order resistive-capacitive-shunted Josepshon junctions (RCSJJs (as response systems). In each case, sufficient conditions for global asymptotic stability for compound-combination synchronization to any desired scaling factors are achieved. Numerical simulations are employed to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the compound-combination synchronization scheme. The result shows that this scheme could be used to vary the junction signal to any desired level and also give a better insight into synchronization in biological systems wherein different organs of different dynamical structures and orders are involved. The scheme could also provide high security in information transmission due to the complexity of its dynamical formulation.
Can Knowledge Management Be Implemented in the Teaching of Medical Sciences?
Authors: Hassanian Zahra Marzieh , Ahanchian Mohammad Reza , Karimi-Moonaghi Hossein
Published: January 2016

Universities play a vital role in social progress. Knowledge management (KM) is a kind of process which transforms data into knowledge and knowledge into capital. The aim of this paper is to investigate the use of KM in the field of education of medical sciences in order to help educators and students benefit from the knowledge present in the field of health sciences in a more meaningful and informed way.

To achieve the aim of this narrative review, the related Persian and English literature sources were carefully examined; first, the Internet and other data bases were searched for articles containing one or more of the following key words: knowledge, knowledge management, medical science and higher education. Then, the related articles were quickly scanned and useful information was extracted. The selected parts of the text were carefully studied and summarized by two researchers. After gaining a thorough comprehension of the subject, its different dimensions and aspects were described and compared.

As a process, the goal of KM in the field of medical sciences is to motivate the creation, sharing, storing and utilization of knowledge. Knowledge creation occurs by continually transforming tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge and vice versa. KM can be implemented in different areas of medical science including clinical practice. Knowledge managements system (KMS) plans are used to provide high quality, high value cost-effective care in medical science. Critical factors that influence the success of the implementation of KM in the field of medical education include culture, leadership and appropriate substructure. KM can be implemented for the development of medical education. KM is a tool which makes education and its practice intellectual, high quality and affordable. Implementation of KM is recommended in the field of medical education for effective health care delivery.
Staphylococcus aureus: Immunopathogenesis and Human Immunity
Authors: Miljković-Selimović Biljana , Dinić Marina , Orlović Jovan , Babić Tatjana
Published: January 2016

Considering a large number of pathogen factors that enable high virulence of a microorganism such as Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), it is essential to see them through the continuous adaptation to the newly acquired mechanisms of the host immune response and efforts to overcome these, allowing the bacteria a perfect ecological niche for growth, reproduction, and location of new hosts. Past efforts to create a vaccine that would provide effective protection against infections caused by S. aureus remained without success. The reasons for this stem from the outstanding adaptability skills of this microorganism to almost all environmental conditions, the existence of a numerous virulence factors whose mechanisms of action are not well known, as well as insufficient knowledge of the immune response to S. aureus infections. This review article deals with this issue from another perspective and emphasizes actual knowledge on virulence factors and immune response to S. aureus.
The Beneficial Biological Properties of Salicylic Acid
Authors: Randjelović Pavle , Veljković Slavimir , Stojiljković Nenad , Sokolović Dušan , Ilić Ivan , Laketić Darko , Randjelović Dušica , Randjelović Nebojša
Published: January 2016

Salicylic acid is a phytochemical with beneficial effects on human well-being. Salicylic acid is a phenolic compound and is present in various plants where it has a vital role in protection against pathogenic agents. Natural sources include fruits, vegetables and spices. The most famous and defined effect of salicylic acid is prostaglandin synthesis inhibition. Salicylic acid has antiinflammatory effects through suppression of transcription of genes for cyclooxygenase. Most of the pharmacological properties of salicylic acid can be contributed to the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. Also, it was discovered that salicylic acid has other in vivo cyclooxygenase-independent pathways. Since salicylic acid does not inhibit cyclooxygenase considerably, the anti-inflammatory effect is not a consequence of direct inhibition of cyclooxygenase activity. Because of its fundamental role, it was suggested that inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B by salicylic acid is one of the key anti-inflammatory mechanisms of action for salicylates. One of the most studied properties of salicylic acid is its antioxidative activity. Salicylic acid is a confirmed inhibitor of oxidative stress. Salicylic acid is capable of binding iron. This fact is significant for antioxidative effect of salicylic acid because iron has an important function in the course of lipid peroxidation.
Fritillaria Meleagroides in Romania
Authors: Oprea Adrian , Sîrbu Culiţă , Peregrym Mykyta
Published: January 2016

The presence in the spontaneous flora of Romania of the species Fritillaria meleagroides is reported in this paper. It was identified in the North of the village Cotu Morii (Popricani Commune, Iaşi County), on (meso-) hygrophilous, slightly halophilous meadows, placed on the both sides of an old meander of the Jijia river. This place is at the western limit of natural area of F. meleagroides, which stretches from the Central Asia to the Eastern Europe (European Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria). Since F. meleagroides is an endangered species in large part of its natural range, we consider that urgent actions to protect its populations from Romania are necessary.
The Occurrence of Marine Alga Enteromorpha Intestinalis in Water Courses from Salt Area Meledic Plateau, Vrancei Subcarpathians (Romania)
Authors: Strat Daniela
Published: January 2016

Three new sites of Enteromorpha intestinalis have been found in the drainage basin of the Slănic River located in the Subcarpathians region, salt Meledic Plateau. E. intestinalis is a cosmopolitan macro green alga species with tubular thali that is primarily found in the coastal zone, including the Romanian Black Sea coast. Due to its salt tolerance this alga it was found in some inland waters, both fresh and saline waters courses and limnic waters that are often positively correlated with cultural eutrophication. These new reported localities of E. intestinalis in inland waters from this saline region contribute new and essential information about the distribution of this originally marine species on the inland area of Romania.
Bioaccessibility of lead in sand intended for playground sandboxes in Slovenia: a preliminary study / Biološka dostopnost svinca v mivki, ki je namenjen otroškim peskovnikom v Sloveniji
Authors: Fink Rok , Kukec Andreja , Eržen Ivan
Published: January 2016

Slovene press has recently expressed concern for the health of children who ingest playground sand contaminated with lead. However, current assessments may be overestimating the health risk, as they assume that human body absorbs the whole amount of a contaminant. The aim of our study was to see how much lead in sand intended for playground sandboxes in Slovenia really is absorbed and what health risk it may present. To do that, we ran bioaccessibility tests to simulate metabolism and see how digestion affects lead levels. Our results show low bioaccessibility of lead from sand (0.01- 36.84 %). Taking into account lead bioaccessibility, we ran several scenarios of sand ingestion in children and established that in general the risk is negligible, except for pica behaviour with extremely high (20 g) ingestion of sand with highly mobilised lead (2.69 μg g-1). Further research should assess real-life exposure to lead from playground sand in children and perhaps update these preliminary bioaccessibility data.
Assessment of acrylamide toxicity using a battery of standardised bioassays / Procjena toksičnosti akrilamida pomoću standardiziranih biotestova
Authors: Zovko Mira , Vidaković-Cifrek Željka , Cvetković Želimira , Bošnir Jasna , Šikić Sandra
Published: January 2016

Acrylamide is a monomer widely used as an intermediate in the production of organic chemicals, e.g. polyacrylamides (PAMs). Since PAMs are low cost chemicals with applications in various industries and waste- and drinking water treatment, a certain amount of non-polymerised acrylamide is expected to end up in waterways. PAMs are non-toxic but acrylamide induces neurotoxic effects in humans and genotoxic, reproductive, and carcinogenic effects in laboratory animals. In order to evaluate the effect of acrylamide on freshwater organisms, bioassays were conducted on four species: algae Desmodesmus subspicatus and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, duckweed Lemna minor and water flea Daphnia magna according to ISO (International Organization for Standardisation) standardised methods. This approach ensures the evaluation of acrylamide toxicity on organisms with different levels of organisation and the comparability of results, and it examines the value of using a battery of low-cost standardised bioassays in the monitoring of pollution and contamination of aquatic ecosystems. These results showed that EC50 values were lower for Desmodesmus subspicatus and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata than for Daphnia magna and Lemna minor, which suggests an increased sensitivity of algae to acrylamide. According to the toxic unit approach, the values estimated by the Lemna minor and Daphnia magna bioassays, classify acrylamide as slightly toxic (TU=0-1; Class 1). The results obtained from algal bioassays (Desmodesmus subspicatus and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata) revealed the toxic effect of acrylamide (TU=1-10; Class 2) on these organisms.
Modern analytical techniques in the assessment of the authenticity of Serbian honey / Moderne analitičke tehnike u procjeni izvornosti meda iz Srbije
Authors: Milojković Opsenica Dušanka , Lušić Dražen , Tešić Živoslav
Published: January 2016

Food authenticity in a broader sense means fulfilling chemical and physical criteria prescribed by the proposed legislation. In the case of honey authenticity, two aspects are of major concern: the manufacturing process and the labelling of final products in terms of their geographical and botanical origin. A reliable assessment of honey authenticity has been a longterm preoccupation of chemists-analysts and it usually involves the use of several criteria and chemical markers, as well as a combination of analytical and statistical (chemometric) methods. This paper provides an overview of different criteria and modern methods for the assessment of honey authenticity in the case of a statistically significant number of authentic honey samples of several botanical types from various regions of Serbia.
Trichomonas vaginalis: An Updated Overview Towards Diagnostic Improvement
Authors: Oliveira Ana S. , Ferrão Ana R. , Pereira Filomena Martins , Martinez-de-Oliveira José , Palmeira-de-Oliveira Ana
Published: January 2016

The protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) is responsible for trichomonosis, a sexually transmitted disease (STD) with a significant incidence worldwide. This infection is one of the most common non-viral STDs, representing almost 50% of all curable STDs. Trichomonosis has an incidence of 180 million new cases worldwide. Nowadays, the ‘gold standard’ for TV diagnosis remains the use of in vitro cultures combined with daily visual microscopic evaluations, which is a time-consuming and low sensitive method. Recent diagnostic methodologies include imunocromatographic assays and molecular biology techniques. The use of the latter has improved enormously the sensitivity and specificity of TV diagnosis, despite, however, none being unable to identify the presence of live parasites. By understanding the biology, the pathogenesis, the proteomic profile and its relation with the parasite’s virulence mechanisms, new possibilities towards diagnostic techniques can arise. This review covers various important aspects of vaginal trichomonosis from the parasite’s biology and virulence to recent improvements in diagnostic techniques and also metabolic and protein discoveries.
Effects of altered water quality and trace elements on the infection variables of Paradiplozoon ichthyoxanthon (Monogenea: Diplozoidae) from two sites in the Vaal River system, South Africa
Authors: Gilbert Beric Michael , Avenant-Oldewage Annemariè
Published: January 2016

Using parasites as sentinel organisms has received increased attention due to their responses toward environmental degradation. In some sections of the Vaal River, South Africa, water quality is altered and biota distribution affected. The aims of this study were to assess and compare infection variables of Paradipolozoon ichthyoxanthonAvenant-Oldewage, 2014 in Avenant- Oldewage et al. (2014) at two sites along the Vaal River and compare the water quality and trace element levels at the sites. Infection variables of the parasite, physico-chemical variables, and sediment and water samples for trace element analysis were collected at each site. Conductivity and trace element concentrations were higher at the Vaal River site than the Vaal Dam. Temporal variances in water quality and parasite prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance, at intervals over a 14 year period occurred, P. ichthyoxanthon was absent at the Vaal River site though the host fish are present. Prevalence peaks in summer and winter. Comparison of infection data to water quality and trace elements indicated that conductivity and trace element levels negatively affected/correlated with the infection variables. Higher trace elements concentration and conductivity at the Vaal River site are thought to be driving factors responsible for absence of the parasite.
Effects of Echinostoma caproni miracidia dose on the amino acid contents of Biomphalaria glabrata as determined by high-performance thin-layer chromatography
Authors: Nguyen Mai , Fried Bernard , Sherma Joseph
Published: January 2016

The effects of 5, 20, and 40 miracidia dose exposures of Echinostoma caproni on the amino acid contents of Biomphalaria glabrata were studied using high performance thin-layer chromatography-densitometry. Amino acids were identified and quantified in whole bodies of exposed snails and in the uninfected matched controls at 2 and 4 weeks post-exposure. Using cellulose layers with the mobile phase 2-butanol-pyridine-glacial acetic acid-deionized water (39:34:10:26) and ninhydrin detection reagent [2% ninhydrin in acetone-n-butanol (1:1)], five amino acids were identified, i.e., leucine/isoleucine, valine, alanine, glycine, and ornithine, by hRF value comparison and color differentiation. Quantitatively, there was a marked elevation in the amounts of four of these five amino acids (isoleucine/leucine, valine, alanine, and ornithine) across dose levels at 4 weeks post-infection (P<0.05). Elevation of the amino acid content in the high dose snail group suggested that some changes occurred in the amino acid metabolism of the snails in that group as a function of miracidia dose.
Molecular detection and prevalence of feline hemotropic mycoplasmas in Istanbul, Turkey
Authors: Cetinkaya Handan , Haktanir Damla , Arun Seckin , Vurusaner Cem
Published: January 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate Mycoplasma spp. species in blood samples of the domestic cats from the province of Istanbul, Turkey. Three hundred eighty four blood samples of client-owned cats were used for the identification of Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (CMhm) and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (CMt) by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) assays. Out of 384 blood samples, 74 (19.3%) were positive for one of Mycoplasma species. The total prevalence of Mhf, CMhm and CMt infections was 9.9%, 17.7% and 0.8% respectively. The most common species was CMhm. Co-infections were mostly with Mhf/CMhm and the frequency was 8.1%. Two cats were infected with three species. The current study was the first molecular prevalence study of hemotropic mycoplasmas in Istanbul, reporting the presence of CMt for the first time in Turkey. Prevalence of feline mycoplasma was notably high in Istanbul and PCR assay could be preferred rather than the microscopic examination for the diagnosis.
Sex Ratio Analysis of Some Macrolepidoptera Species Collected by Hungarian Forestry Light Traps
Authors: Nowinszky László , Puskás János
Published: January 2016

We analysed the sex ratio of 32 macrolepidopteran species caught by Hungarian forestry light traps. That the ratio of males and females collected by light trap varies by species has been known for decades; however, the sex ratio found in the natural population is not known. All 32 species were processed separately, but by the same method. Both males and females were counted throughout the whole swarming. We calculated these figures and inspected the difference in the level of significance with the χ2 test. For each swarming we calculated the percentage of males and females. We also calculated the values of the variation coefficients, which express the deviations in average percentages.

Males make up the majority of the moths captured in the trap; this result was mirrored by 29 of the 32 species investigated. One of the exceptions was the Pelosia muscerda Hfn. where we observed a male to female ratio that was equal. In addition to that Watsoniana cultraria Fabr. is the only one species captured by light traps that showed a significant female majority.

Our results confirm that the majority of moths captured in traps are males. However, the proportion of males and females of each species, and even within the same species, tended to differ greatly with each swarming. Yet, it must be noted that these results speak only for those specimens captured by light traps and cannot be related directly to the actual sex ratio of populations living in the natural environment
Multi-Frequency Electrical Impedance Measurement on a Wooden Disc Sample
Authors: Vizvár Zoltán , Kiss Tibor , Máthé Kálmán , Odry Péter , Vér Csaba , Divós Ferenc
Published: January 2016

Non-invasive measurement techniques are widely used for the investigation of living tree and wood material. Principles and methods from other fields of science form the basis of these techniques. Electrical impedance measurement, which is adopted mainly from applied geophysics, plays an important role in the investigation of living trees and wood material. Unlike other measurement techniques that provide mainly physical information, electrical impedance measurement is able to gather either physical or chemical information. There are several published accounts of the use of Electrical Impedance Tomography mainly for examining internal decay, estimation of sapwood, and heartwood width. The advantages of the method are its low costs and rapid execution; however, low spatial resolution is still one of the most glaring limits of the method. Use of a new, self-developed, high resolution measurement system provides new opportunities to gain better insights into the characterisation of wood material. As well as high accuracy and resolution, the measurement system is able to operate in a wide frequency range. This expands the examined parameters making it possible to extend the gained information and develop new methods for the investigation of living trees and wood material. The aim of our publication is to introduce some experimental results in the investigation of spatial resolution our system measured on a wooden disc.
Nonthermal Argon Plasma Generator and Some Potential Applications
Authors: Bunoiu M. , Jugunaru I. , Bica I. , Balasoiu M.
Published: January 2016

A laboratory - made nonthermal plasma generator is presented. It has a diameter of 0.020 m and length of 0.155 m and contains two electrodes. The first electrode is a 2% Th-W alloy, 0.002 m in diameter bar, centred inside the generator’s body by means of a four channel teflon piece; the other three channels, 0.003 m in diameter, are used for Ar supply. The second electrode is a nozzle of 0.002 m - 0.008 m diameter and 0.005m length. A ~500 kV/m electric field is generated between the two electrodes by a high frequency source (13.56 MHz ±5%), equipped with a OT-1000 (Tungsram) power triode. For Ar flows ranging from 0.00008 m3/s to 0.00056 m3/s, a plasma jet of length not exceeding 0.015 m and temperature below 315 K is obtained. Anthurium andraeanumis sample , blood matrix, human hair and textile fibers may be introduced in the plasma jet. For time periods of 30 s and 60 s, various effects like, cell detexturization, fast blood coagulation or textile fiber or hair cleaning and smoothing are obtained. These effects are presented and discussed in the paper.
Clouds and the Near-Earth Environment: Possible Links
Authors: Condurache-Bota Simona , Voiculescu Mirela , Dragomir Carmelia
Published: January 2016

Climate variability is a hot topic not only for scientists and policy-makers, but also for each and every one of us. The anthropogenic activities are considered to be responsible for most climate change, however there are large uncertainties about the magnitude of effects of solar variability and other extraterrestrial influences, such as galactic cosmic rays on terrestrial climate. Clouds play an important role due to feedbacks of the radiation budget: variation of cloud cover/composition affects climate, which, in turn, affects cloud cover via atmospheric dynamics and sea temperature variations. Cloud formation and evolution are still under scientific scrutiny, since their microphysics is still not understood. Besides atmospheric dynamics and other internal climatic parameters, extraterrestrial sources of cloud cover variation are considered. One of these is the solar wind, whose effect on cloud cover might be modulated by the global atmospheric electrical circuit. Clouds height and composition, their seasonal variation and latitudinal distribution should be considered when trying to identify possible mechanisms by which solar energy is transferred to clouds. The influence of the solar wind on cloud formation can be assessed also through the ap index - the geomagnetic storm index, which can be readily connected with interplanetary magnetic field, IMF structure. This paper proposes to assess the possible relationship between both cloud cover and solar wind proxies, as the ap index, function of cloud height and composition and also through seasonal studies. The data covers almost three solar cycles (1984-2009). Mechanisms are looked for by investigating observed trends or correlation at local/seasonal scale
Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in Polish cattle herds
Authors: Jodełko Agnieszka , Niemczuk Krzysztof , Szymańska-Czerwińska Monika
Published: January 2016

The aim of the study was to assess the seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in cattle herds in different regions of Poland. A total of 1150 serum samples collected from 443 cattle herds from 14 provinces were tested using complement fixation test. The seroprevalence was different in individual regions of Poland. The average percentage of seropositive herds was 40.41% and these herds were identified in each province tested.
Redox status in the blood of ewes in the perinatal period and during lactation
Authors: Ognik Katarzyna , Patkowski Krzysztof , Gruszecki Tomasz , Kostro Krzysztof
Published: January 2016

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the perinatal period on redox status indicators in the blood of ewes before and after lambing and during lactation. The study was performed on 12 ewes of the synthetic SCP line. Blood for testing of redox parameters was collected seven times: before pregnancy, 1.5 months and 24 h before lambing, 2 and 24 h after lambing, and in the fourth and eighth weeks of lactation. The following blood indices were determined by spectrophotometry: lipid peroxides, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, plasma total antioxidant capacity, uric acid, urea, bilirubin, and creatinine. The tests showed that during the perinatal period reactions are generated which lead to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress in pregnant ewes was found to increase during the period before lambing and may persist even up to weeks 4-8 of lactation.