bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Myocardial Adiponectin Isoform Shift in Dogs with Congestive Heart Failure—A Comparison to Hibernating Brown Bears (Ursus arctos horribilis)
Authors: Nelson O. , Wood Rachael , Häggström Jens , Kvart Clarence , Robbins Charles
Published: July 2017

Adiponectin is the most abundant plasma adipokine, and is well known for its role in energy homeostasis and cardiac protection. In humans with dilated cardiomyopathy, myocardial adiponectin protein expression is reduced compared to normal hearts and has been implicated in the pathology of cardiomyopathy. Serum adiponectin levels are often conflicting, with higher levels associated with poor survival in humans with congestive heart failure (CHF). We evaluated adiponectin serum concentrations and myocardial protein expression in dogs with naturally occurring myxomatous mitral valve disease and CHF. We compared the findings to active and hibernating brown bears as bears are adapted to endure an extreme period of low cardiac output during their annual hibernation. Bears exhibited largely the active high-molecular weight (HMW) versus the low-molecular weight isoforms of myocardial adiponectin (HMW:LMW = 6.3) during both the active period and hibernation, while healthy dogs exhibited a more balanced mix of isoforms. Dogs with CHF expressed predominately HMW isoforms of adiponectin (HMW:LMW = 12.5), appearing more similar to bears. In contrast to humans, serum adiponectin was significantly lower in dogs with CHF and lowest levels in the severest CHF class. In both dogs and bears, myocardial adiponectin was expressed independent of circulating adiponectin concentrations, suggesting a local regulatory mechanism within the heart.
La contribution du droit aux effets de la participation du public : de la prise en considération des résultats de la participation
Authors: Betaille Julien
Published: July 2017

L’influence réelle de la participation du public sur la décision est une des exigences de l’article 6 de la Convention d’Aarhus. L’examen de la jurisprudence française et de celle du Comité d’examen du respect des dispositions de la Convention d’Aarhus montre une certaine réticence quant au contrôle de ces dispositions. Cela révèle toutes les difficultés de garantir, par le droit, que la participation produise des effets sur la décision finale. Si cela tient d’abord aux limites des procédures de participation françaises, la motivation des décisions administratives peut par ailleurs constituer un moyen d’évaluation de la prise en compte de la participation.
Chronique protection de la nature (2006-2009)
Authors: Gervasoni Véronique , Makowiak Jessica
Published: July 2017

Cette chronique à la fois législative et jurisprudentielle couvre la période 2006 à 2009 et comprend deux parties. La première est consacrée à la protection des milieux naturels, à l’exception des rubriques Natura 2000, chasse et protection des espèces. La seconde porte sur la participation de la France à la constitution du réseau écologique européen Natura 2000.
De la charte des parcs naturels régionaux en particulier et des chartes territoriales en général
Authors: Janin Patrick
Published: July 2017

En acceptant de se prononcer par la voie de l’exception sur la légalité de la charte d’un parc naturel régional, le Conseil d’Etat a consacré le caractère réglementaire du document. Cette qualification inédite encore que prévisible et implicite, retient l’attention car au-delà de la théorie des actes administratifs et de la technique contentieuse, la décision Commune de Manzat emporte des conséquences et présente bien d’autres intérêts dans l’ordre de l’administration territoriale et du droit public de l’aménagement des territoires locaux.
L’océan arctique et la coopération intergouvernementale non contraignante, un défi pour la protection internationale de l’environnement
Authors: Kaufmann Sven G.
Published: July 2017

The Conference of the Parties to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which took place in Copenhagen in December 2009 illustrates the difficulties met by international preservation of the environment. Coercive legal framing of polluting activities at international level often clashes with strategic and economic interests of States concerned. The Arctic Ocean, an extremely fragile ecosystem coveted by States owing to its resources in hydrocarbons and its waterways is a very good example of the problem. The present article means to approach informal regional and non coercive cooperation as a coherent step towards the creation of mandatory and stable legal systems. Without renouncing a global framework, the reinforcement of the role of regional initiatives, e. g. the Arctic Council, is a means of conciliating the need of an efficient protection of the environment with issues of political practicability due to the reluctance of States to commit themselves.
Development of microsatellite markers for Eurya acuminatissima (Theaceae)
Authors: Shi Xianggang , Wu Haidan , Xie Hongxian , Zheng Yi , Huang Yelin , Yu Shixiao
Published: July 2017

Premise of the study:

Sixteen microsatellite markers were developed to study the fine‐scale spatial genetic structure of Eurya acuminatissima, a dioecious tree species of Theaceae endemic to southern China.

Methods and Results:

A total of 30 primer pairs were initially designed and tested on the basis of the transcriptome data of E. acuminatissima, of which 16 were successfully amplified and showed clear polymorphism. For these microsatellites, one to 17 alleles per locus were identified. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0 to 1.000 and 0 to 0.903, respectively.

Conclusions:

The microsatellite markers described here can be used to study genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure of E. acuminatissima. Furthermore, all loci were successfully cross‐amplified in a related species, E. auriformis.
Mechanochemical synthesis of graphene oxide-supported transition metal catalysts for the oxidation of isoeugenol to vanillin
Authors: Franco Ana , De Sudipta , Balu Alina M , Garcia Araceli , Luque Rafael
Published: July 2017

Vanillin is one of the most commonly used natural products, which can also be produced from lignin-derived feedstocks. The chemical synthesis of vanillin is well-established in large-scale production from petrochemical-based starting materials. To overcome this problem, lignin-derived monomers (such as eugenol, isoeugenol, ferulic acid etc.) have been effectively used in the past few years. However, selective and efficient production of vanillin from these feedstocks still remains an issue to replace the existing process. In this work, new transition metal-based catalysts were proposed to investigate their efficiency in vanillin production. Reduced graphene oxide supported Fe and Co catalysts showed high conversion of isoeugenol under mild reaction conditions using H2O2 as oxidizing agent. Fe catalysts were more selective as compared to Co catalysts, providing a 63% vanillin selectivity at 61% conversion in 2 h. The mechanochemical process was demonstrated as an effective approach to prepare supported metal catalysts that exhibited high activity for the production of vanillin from isoeugenol.
Smart Specialization Strategy and its Operationalization in the Regional Policy: Case Finland
Authors: Kaivo-oja Jari , Vähäsantanen Saku , Karppinen Ari , Haukioja Teemu
Published: July 2017

In the European Union, smart specialization is an important concept in regional policy. Its primary aim is to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth. There is a lack of convenient region specific measures to operationalize smart specialization startegies (S3). The purpose of the paper is to find “indices of smart specialization” on a regional level. We propose indices that are based on (1) the rate of industrial diversification, (2) revealed comparative advantage and (3) regions’ overall relative specialization. In the empirical part, we analyze smart specialization in Finland using structural data provided by Statistics Finland for seventy sub-regions (LAU1) and 24 sub-industries in manufacturing. These industries are the most important for exports, productivity, and regional economic performance for a small country. The following indices are used in empirical evaluations: Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for regional diversity, Balassa-Hoover Index (BHI) for revealed comparative advantage, and Region’s Relative Specialization Index (RRSI) for aggregate regional specialization differences. The concept of smart specialization is related to these measures. Index analyses reveal that many growing sub-regions have similar comparative advantages. This means inter-regional synergy, and it enables opportunities for strategic cooperation between regions. To develop smart specialization strategies for Europe’s regions, we need these kinds of empirical knowledge-based management tools and planning approaches.
Sunspots, Starspots, and Elemental Abundances
Authors: Doschek G. A. , Warren H. P.
Published: July 2017

Element abundances in the solar photosphere, chromosphere, transition region, and corona are key parameters for investigating sources of the solar wind and for estimating radiative losses in the quiet corona and in dynamical events such as solar flares. Abundances in the solar corona and photosphere differ from each other depending on the first ionization potential (FIP) of the element. Normally, abundances with FIP values less than about 10 eV are about 3–4 times more abundant in the corona than in the photosphere. However, recently, an inverse FIP effect was found in small regions near sunspots where elements with FIP less than 10 eV are less abundant relative to high FIP elements (

eV) than they are in the photosphere. This is similar to fully convective stars with large starspots. The inverse FIP effect is predicted to occur in the vicinity of sunspots/starspots. Up to now, the solar anomalous abundances have only been found in very spatially small areas. In this paper, we show that in the vicinity of sunspots there can be substantially larger areas with abundances that are between coronal and photospheric abundances and sometimes just photospheric abundances. In some cases, the FIP effect tends to shut down near sunspots. We examine several active regions with relatively large sunspots that were observed with the Extreme-ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer on the Hinode spacecraft in cycle 24.
Decay of Solar Wind Turbulence behind Interplanetary Shocks
Authors: Pitňa Alexander , Šafránková Jana , Němeček Zdeněk , Franci Luca
Published: July 2017

We investigate the decay of magnetic and kinetic energies behind IP shocks with motivation to find a relaxation time when downstream turbulence reaches a usual solar wind value. We start with a case study that introduces computation techniques and quantifies a contribution of kinetic fluctuations to the general energy balance. This part of the study is based on high-time (31 ms) resolution plasma data provided by the Spektr-R spacecraft. On the other hand, a statistical part is based on 92 s Wind plasma and magnetic data and its results confirm theoretically established decay laws for kinetic and magnetic energies. We observe the power-law behavior of the energy decay profiles and we estimated the power-law exponents of both kinetic and magnetic energy decay rates as −1.2. We found that the decay of MHD turbulence does not start immediately after the IP shock ramp and we suggest that the proper decay of turbulence begins when a contribution of the kinetic processes becomes negligible. We support this suggestion with a detailed analysis of the decay of turbulence at the kinetic scale.
Frailty in Men Living with HIV: A Cross-Sectional Comparison of Three Frailty Instruments
Authors: Yeoh Hui-Ling , Cheng Allen , Palmer Clovis , Crowe Suzanne M , Hoy Jennifer F
Published: July 2017

Background

Potent antiretroviral treatment has resulted in near normal life expectancy for people living with HIV. Consequently, there is an increased focus on comorbidities, frailty and quality of life.

Methods

We assessed and compared the prevalence of frailty, associated factors and relationship with quality of life in older Australian men living with HIV in a cross-sectional study using three frailty measurements. The Frailty Phenotype, Frailty Index and Edmonton Frail Scale were applied to 93 HIV-infected men aged over 50 years, on antiretroviral therapy. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression was used to analyse the associations of frailty with covariates and quality of life.

Results

The prevalence of frailty was 10.8% ( n=10) using the Frailty Phenotype; 22.6% ( n=21) using the Frailty Index and 15.1% ( n=14) using the Edmonton Frail Scale. Frailty Phenotype-defined pre-frailty/frailty was associated with pre-1996 ART initiation (OR, 3.56; CI, 1.23, 10.36; P=0.020) and depression (OR, 3.74; CI, 1.24, 11.27; P=0.019). Osteoporosis, serious non-AIDS events and AIDS were associated with Frailty Index-defined frailty (OR, 4.84, CI, 1.27, 18.43, P=0.021; OR, 4.27, CI, 1.25, 14.58, P=0.020; OR, 4.62, CI, 1.30, 16.45, P=0.018, respectively) and Edmonton Frail Scale-defined frailty (OR, 7.51; CI, 1.55, 36.42; P=0.012; OR, 7.71; CI, 1.62, 36.75; P=0.010; OR, 8.53; CI, 1.70, 42.73; P=0.009, respectively), independent of age and current CD4+ T-cell count. Frailty, defined by any of the instruments, was significantly associated with poorer quality of life ( P<0.001).

Conclusions

Identifying frailty is an increasingly important contemporary consideration of HIV care related to ageing and quality of life.
El poblado de Alarcos (Ciudad Real) en los inicios del I milenio a.C.: estructuras y materiales cerámicos
Authors: García Huerta M.ª del Rosario , Morales Hervás F. Javier
Published: July 2017

Hasta finales del siglo XX la etapa protohistórica correspondiente al Bronce Final- Hierro I en el área sudoccidental de la Meseta no contaba con una documentación arqueológica suficientemente amplia para proceder a su caracterización. En los últimos años los trabajos desarrollados en poblados como Alarcos han logrado obtener una interesante información sobre estructuras de hábitat que han permitido contextualizar y fechar un amplio y variado elenco de cerámicas pintadas postcocción, entre otros materiales arqueológicos, que solo se conocían por prospección superficial. Destaca una vajilla cuidada decorada, pensada para un uso selecto que reproduce modas y costumbres de clara inspiración tartésica como las cerámicas de tipo Carambolo y de retícula bruñida, cuya presencia no sería resultado de una posible colonización tartésica sino el fruto de intercambios comerciales. Gracias a la investigación en curso se empiezan a detallar las características del nuevo patrón de poblamiento que empieza a gestarse en la transición del II al I milenio a.C. en el valle medio del Guadiana, cuyo dinamismo y relaciones comerciales con el Bajo Guadalquivir ponen de manifiesto los materiales cerámicos de este estudio.
A Control System of PLC's Stereo Garage Based on Photoelectric Sensor
Authors: Yang Guangming , Jiang Tao , Hou Lunyuan , Tang Yaming , Zhang Jie
Published: July 2017

In order to design a vertical lifting three-dimensional garage control system, and to achieve the mechanical three-dimensional garage of the university automatic operation, the photoelectric sensors, hall pressure sensors and programmable logic controller (PLC) are used. The results show that the three-dimensional garage control system can run safely and reliably, and each sensor can perform fault self-diagnosis and carry out certain treatment on the fault. In conclusion, the three-dimensional garage control system designed is feasible, and it can get wide extension and application.
Race and Gender Inequalities in Medicine and Biomedical Research
Authors: Harp Djana , Shim Ruth S. , Johnson Japera , Harp Jamil A. , Wilcox William Clyde , (Gwathmey) Wilcox Judith K.
Published: July 2017

There is a critical need to develop initiatives aimed at expanding and diversifying the healthcare workforce, beginning with medical education. This chapter addresses racial and gender disparities in academic medicine and biomedical research. Racial and ethnic minorities and women remain underrepresented in medicine, biomedical research, and healthcare leadership. These disparities are national issues and have far-reaching effects which translate into significant educational and healthcare-delivery disparities. Research has shown that health care professionals from underserved backgrounds are more likely than others to work in underserved areas which would address current shortages in health professionals for the medically underserved. The authors describe their theory for the existence and persistence of these disparities. They offer evidence of these disparities while concluding with current initiatives to address these disparities, calling for innovative approaches to training underrepresented minorities and women as physicians and biomedical research scientists.
The Internet of Things and Beyond
Authors: Tatnall Arthur , Davey Bill
Published: July 2017

In the past, it was rare for non-humans to interact with each other without any involvement by humans, but this is changing. The Internet of Things (IoT) involves connections of physical things to the Internet. It is largely about the relationships between things, or non-humans actors. In other cases the ‘Things' seem to have inordinate power. The authors will ask: where does this leave humans? Are the things taking over? As a consideration of interactions like this must be a socio-technical one, in this article the authors will make use of Actor-Network Theory to frame the discussion. While the original applications for IoT technology were in areas such as supply chain management and logistics, now many more examples can be found ranging from control of home appliances to healthcare. It is expected that the ‘Things' will become active participants in business, information and social processes and that they will communicate among themselves by exchanging data sensed from the environment, while reacting autonomously. The Things will continue to develop identities and virtual personalities. In the past non-human actors have needed humans to interact with each other, but this is not the case anymore. In this perhaps provocative and rather speculative article we will look not just at the Internet of Things, but other related concepts such as artificial intelligence and robotics and make use of scenarios from science fiction to investigate the Rise of the Non-Human Actors and where this may lead in the future.
Optimization of Maintenance in Critical Equipment in Neonatology
Authors: Carnero María Carmen , Gómez Andrés
Published: July 2017

Maintenance decisions by medical staff play an essential role in achieving availability, quality and safety in care services provided. This has, in turn, an effect on the quality of care perceived by patients. Nonetheless, despite its importance, there is a serious deficiency in models facilitating optimization of maintenance decisions in critical care equipment. This chapter shows a decision support system (DSS) for choosing the best combination of maintenance policies, together with other actions for improvement, such as the increase in the number of back-up devices used in the assisted breathing unit in the Neonatology Service of a hospital. This DSS is combined with an innovative form of continuous time Markov chains, and the multicriteria Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical Based Evaluation Technique (MACBETH). The result is a ranking of the various maintenance alternatives to be applied. Finally, the real implications for availability and quality of care of applying the best solution are described.
Applications of Operations Research in Production and Distribution Management of Pharmaceutical Products
Authors: Sarmad Mahsa Yousefi , Pishvaee Mir Saman
Published: July 2017

Pharmaceutical industry is considered as a global industry because of its effects on the human life. Many researchers used optimization tools to manage the pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) efficiently. A supply chain may be defined as an integrated process where several business entities work together to produce goods and/or services and deliver them to the end customer. The issue of PSC which includes strategic, tactical and operational decisions, is still a quite hot issue. The intended mission of this chapter is to introduce and discuss the recent developments of procurement, production and distribution management of pharmaceutical products in order to pave the way for the readers who are interested in this area of research. Notably, the focus of the chapter is on quantitative OR-based models which enable the decision makers to appropriately coordinate and manage the whole pharmaceutical industry.
The Applications of Simulation Modeling in Emergency Departments
Authors: Oueida Soraia , Kadry Seifedine , Abichar Pierre , Ionescu Sorin
Published: July 2017

A recent study carried out an empirical investigation of the quality of healthcare delivered to adults and found out that only 54.9±0.6% adult received recommended care. Huge variation in the quality of care depends on patient's condition. In fact, the literature on healthcare is laden with articles like these that emphasize on the importance of the systems view of healthcare problems. Healthcare is a very vast and complex system where different departments interact with each other in order to deliver a certain service to arriving patients. Emergency departments (EDs) are the busiest units of healthcare. Existing problems and their cascading effect will be highlighted by a literature review of a bunch of researches. The purpose of this work is to study, in specific, the emergency department of a hospital with the existing problems and how simulation modeling can interfere in order to solve these problems, increase patient satisfaction and reduce cost. Simulation has emerged as a popular decision support in the domains of manufacturing and services industries.
Regression-Based Methods of Phase-I Monitoring Surgical Performance Using Risk-Adjusted Charts
Authors: Asadayyoobi Negin
Published: July 2017

Monitoring medical processes gained importance and researchers attempted to reduce death rates by quick detection mortality rate of surgical outcomes in recent years. The patient time until death (survival time) depends on risk factor of each patient, which reflects the patients' health condition prior to surgery. Ignoring differences in risk factors among specific patients, risk adjusted control charts could be considered as a corrective tool to minimize false alarms related to inhomogeneity in patients' health condition. A number of risk adjusted charting procedures have been developed on both phase I & II monitoring of aforementioned outcomes. This chapter will review both models and focus on phase-I risk-adjustment models in medical setting with a particular emphasis on monitoring for surgical context and describe each method's unique properties.
Applications of Image Processing in Laparoscopic Surgeries
Authors: Khatibi Toktam , Sepehri Mohammad Mehdi , Shadpour Pejman , Zegordi Seyed Hessameddin
Published: July 2017

Laparoscopy is a minimally-invasive surgery using a few small incisions on the patient's body to insert the tools and telescope and conduct the surgical operation. Laparoscopic video processing can be used to extract valuable knowledge and help the surgeons. We discuss the present and possible future role of processing laparoscopic videos. The various applications are categorized for image processing algorithms in laparoscopic surgeries including preprocessing video frames by laparoscopic image enhancement, telescope related applications (telescope position estimation, telescope motion estimation and compensation), surgical instrument related applications (surgical instrument detection and tracking), soft tissue related applications (soft tissue segmentation and deformation tracking) and high level applications such as safe actions in laparoscopic videos, summarization of laparoscopic videos, surgical task recognition and extracting knowledge using fusion techniques. Some different methods have been proposed previously for each of the mentioned applications using image processing.
A Mixed-Criticality Integration in Cyber-Physical Systems
Authors: Isakovic Haris , Grosu Radu
Published: July 2017

A Cyber-Physical System (CPS) describes a system or a system-of-systems closely and actively coupled with environment. It comprises the digital intelligence system, a co-dependent physical system (i.e., electrical, mechanical) and the system environment. Since the beginning of modern computer systems integration was ever present challenge, from the huge single room computers to the IoT. Today applications interleave and build larger systems with different system requirements and properties. Implementation of safety critical applications together with non-critical applications within the same platform is almost inevitable in modern industrial systems. This article provides a retrospective overview of the major integration challenges and the current problems in mixed-criticality environments. Finally, it provides an insight in a hardware solution which creates deterministic platform for mixed-criticality applications.
Induction of Regulatory T Cells and Its Regulation with Insulin-like Growth Factor/Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein-4 by Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Miyagawa Ippei , Nakayamada Shingo , Nakano Kazuhisa , Yamagata Kaoru , Sakata Kei , Yamaoka Kunihiro , Tanaka Yoshiya
Published: July 2017

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent and exert anti-inflammatory effects, but the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. In the current study, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of regulatory T cell (Treg) induction through the growth factors released by human MSCs. Human naive CD4+ T cells were stimulated with anti-CD3/28 Abs and cocultured with human MSC culture supernatant for 48 h. The proliferation and cytokine production of CD4+ T cells and surface molecule expression on CD4+ T cells were evaluated. The proliferation of anti-CD3/28 Abs–stimulated CD4+ T cells was suppressed by the addition of human MSC culture supernatant; in addition, the production of IL-10 and IL-4 increased. The human MSC culture supernatant induced CD4+FOXP3+ Tregs that expressed CD25, CTLA-4, glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1R, and IGF-2R, showing antiproliferative activity against CD4+ T cells. In addition, the induction of Tregs by human MSC culture supernatant was enhanced by the addition of IGF and suppressed by the inhibition of IGF-1R. In contrast, a significant amount of IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-4, an inhibitor of IGF action, was detected in the human MSC culture supernatant. After neutralization of IGFBP-4 in the human MSC culture supernatant by anti–IGFBP-4 Ab, Treg numbers increased significantly. Thus, our results raise the possibility that human MSC actions also involve a negative-regulatory mechanism that suppresses Treg proliferation by releasing IGFBP-4. The results of this study suggest that regulation of IGF may be important for treatments using human MSCs.
Premature ejaculation: Pharmacotherapy vs group psychotherapy alone or in combination
Authors: Pavone Carlo , Abbadessa Daniela , Gambino Giuseppa , Scaduto Giovanna , Vella Marco
Published: July 2017

Objectives: Premature Ejaculation (PE), the commonest sexual dysfunction in males, is generally treated with local anesthetic and SSRI (Dapoxetine). The aim of our study was investigate Group Psychotherapy as an alternative treatment for PE and compare the efficacy of pharmacological treatment and psychotherapy, either alone or in combination, in terms of response and improved Quality of Life (QoL). From a male outpatient population screened for PE, those who received a diagnosis of PE were proposed for the study, enrolled and divided into 3 groups (A, B and C). Each group was treated with Dapoxetine, Group Psychotherapy alone and Dapoxetine and Group Psychotherapy, respectively. Materials and methods: Out of 1237 male outpatients, 353 received a diagnosis of Premature Ejaculation. Of them, 279 were enrolled in the study and randomized into 3 groups (A, B and C). Only 157 patients were evaluable. Before and after treatments all participants completed two questionnaires to evaluate PE status and anxiety and referred their IELT. Results: GROUP A: The mean post-treatment Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) score decreased from 12.95 to 8.26, while the mean Intra-vaginal Ejaculation Latency Time (IELT) increased from 50.77 sec to 203 sec. (p < 0.05); GROUP B: Reduction in the mean PEDT from 13.44 to 5.11 and an increased IELT from 48.33 to 431.11 sec (p < 0.001); GROUP C: The mean post-treatment PEDT score decreased from 12.29 to 5.57, while the mean IELT increased from 46.86 to 412.14 sec (p < 0.001). All groups recorded an improvement in anxiety. Conclusions: According to our results Group Psychotherapy is an alternative method of treatment for PE. Group Psychotherapy plays a significant role in the treatment of PE, determining a better improvement of symptoms than Dapoxetine alone even if not statistically significant.
Alprostadil plus Vacuum (VITARUM) in severe erectile dysfunction (ED)
Authors: Mantovani Franco
Published: July 2017

Objectives: Severe erectile dysfunction (ED) is not uncommon, as can be seen from the epidemiological literature, and there are several possible causes, which are not always known, or leastways evident. Having ascertained the ineffectiveness, intolerance to or rejection of pharmacological aids, the option of prosthetic surgery remains, but before this, it may be wise when feasible to use Alprostadil cream in association with Vacuum device. Material and methods: 12 patients, aged between 55 and 65 years, with severe erectile dysfunction without palpable cavernous fibrosis, were instructed to self-insert into the urethral meatus, 3 mg of Alprostadil cream, sufficient to make it easy to place the Vacuum device over the penis. Results: In the cases observed, the preliminary use of Alprostadil cream fast produced an erection with enough rigidity to place the Vacuum. A sufficient erection was maintained, obviously using an elastic ring at the base of the penis, to achieve penetration. The reproducibility of the use of Alprostadil cream with Vacuum device was then confirmed at home, to the satisfaction of the patients.
Acute urinary retention after venlafaxine use
Authors: Demirdöğen Şaban Oğuz , Yıldırım Demirdöğen Esen , Adanur Şenol
Published: July 2017

We describe a case of lower urinary system symptoms (LUSSs) and acute urinary retention that developed after treatment with a low dose of venlafaxine. A 48-year-old male patient was admitted to our clinic because of difficulty urinating, an intermittent stream, and trickling at the end of urination, together with urinary retention that had started about 45 days ago. The patient had been taking venlafaxine for the previous 6 months. The drug had been prescribed by the psychiatry department for a diagnosis of major depression, and the dose had been increased from 75 mg/day to 150 mg/day 1.5 months earlier. The patients’ symptoms were thought to be related to venlafaxine, and the symptoms disappeared completely after venlafaxine was replaced with agomelatine. We concluded that the LUSSs and urinary retention were due to the venlafaxine treatment.
Kaposi’s sarcoma: An unusual penile lesion in a HIV negative patient
Authors: De Rose Aldo Franco , Justich Matteo , Mantica Guglielmo , Testino Nicolò , Terrone Carlo
Published: July 2017

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) of the penis is a very rare lesion and it is usually observed in HIV-infected patients. We introduce a case of KS of the penis in a 75 years old HIV negative patient with a peripheral T-cell lymphoma. He came to our attention with a painful ulcerated red lesion on the glans that stretched from the urethral meatus to the coronal skin. This lesion was found to be a KS balanopreputial in the classical variant. Penile KS must be included in the differential diagnosis of genital diseases especially when the clinical features of the lesion are aspecific and diagnosis can be made histologically by performing a biopsy.
Protective Effect of Nigella sativa Oil on Acoustic Trauma Induced Hearing Loss in Rats
Authors: Culhaoglu Belde , Erbek Selim S. , Erbek Seyra , Hizal Evren
Published: July 2017

Acoustic trauma is a common reason for hearing loss. Different agents are used to prevent the harmful effect of acoustic trauma on hearing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential preventive effect of Nigella sativa (black cumin) oil in acoustic trauma. Our experimental study was conducted with 20 Sprague Downey female rats (mean age, 12 months; mean weight 250 g). All of the procedures were held under general anesthesia. Following otoscopic examinations, baseline-hearing thresholds were obtained using auditory brainstem responses (ABR). To create acoustic trauma, the rats were then exposed to white band noise of 4 kHz with an intensity level of 107 dB in a soundproof testing room. On Day 1 following acoustic trauma, hearing threshold measurements were repeated. The rats were divided into two groups as the study group (n: 10) and the controls (n: 10). 2 mL/kg/day of Nigella sativa oil was given to the rats in the study group orally. On Day 4 following acoustic trauma, ABR measurements were repeated again. There was no difference between the baseline hearing thresholds of the rats before acoustic trauma (P>0.005). After the acoustic trauma, hearing thresholds were increased and there was no significant statistically difference between the hearing thresholds of the study and control groups (P=0.979). At the 4th day following acoustic trauma, hearing thresholds of the rats in control group were found to be higher than those in the study group (P=0.03). Our results suggest that Nigella sativa oil has a protective effect against acoustic trauma in early period. This finding should be supported with additional experimental and clinical studies, especially to determine the optimal dose, duration and frequency of potential Nigella sativa oil therapy.
Treatment of chronic pain associated with bruxism through Myofunctional therapy
Authors: Messina Giuseppe , Martines Francesco , Thomas Ewan , Salvago Pietro , Menchini Fabris Giovanni Battista , Poli Luciano , Iovane Angelo
Published: July 2017

 

 Temporomandibular disorders such as bruxism may cause painful clinical conditions and over time lead to chronic facial pain. A combination of therapeutic strategies that are usually undertaken by dentists and gnathologists to reduce bruxism episodes and consequently pain, are myofunctional therapy, pharmacological treatment, intraoral interventions and behavioural treatments. The aim of this work was to understand if myofuntional therapy alone can be a useful therapy for the reduction of chronic facial pain. 24 patients, 9 male and 15 female, age ranging between 25 and 45, were treated with a myofunctional therapy for 9 month. Each patient was evaluated through a numeric pain intensity scale ranging from 0 to 10 and the number of bruxism episodes/hour per patient were also recorded; electromyographic examinations of the temporal, masseter, sternocleidomastoid and digastric muscles were performed to evaluate muscle activation. Each patient was tested before (T0) and after (T1) the treatment period. Pain intensity decreased from T0 to T1 (8.13±0.39 vs. 1.75±2.43, respectively, p<0.01). The number of bruxism episodes also significatively decreased between T0 and T1 (24 vs. 9, p<0.01). Electromyographic assessment showed a decrease in the tonic activity of the masseter muscle (T0: 1.88±0.31 vs. T1: 1.4±0.25 μV; p<0.05) and a reduction of the electric activity of the temporal and digastric muscles during serration of the mandible (T0: 167.9±19.6 μV Vs T1: 144.6+16.43 μV; p<0.05 and T0: 58.97+8.38 μV Vs T1: 52.79+7.44 μV; p<0.05, respectively). Myofunctional therapy could be used to reduce facial pain as a consequence of bruxism episodes.
Microorganisms of the intestinal microbiota of Oncorhynchus mykiss produce antagonistic substances against bacteria contaminating food and causing disease in humans
Authors: Lobos Olga , Barrera Andrea , Padilla Carlos
Published: July 2017

The objective was to analyse the antibacterial ability of members of the intestinal microbiota of Oncorhynchus mykiss specimens on several bacterial target strains that contaminate food and cause disease in humans. Bacterial colonies from an intestinal portion of the 20 specimens of O. mykiss were obtained in different culture media. Several of the colonies showed antibacterial action on different target strains. The bacterial species with the highest antagonistic capacity were Hafnia alvei and Lactococcus lactis and the more susceptible target strains were Aeromonas hydrophila, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli. Moreover, it was shown that all the antibacterial substances were susceptible to the action of various proteolytic enzymes. The detection of substances of a proteinaceous nature, possibly bacteriocins produced by bacteria of the intestinal microbiota of O. mykiss, allows further study of these products to establish biotechnological developments in the area of health protection and food biopreservation.
The contribution of work characteristics and risk propensity in explaining pro-social rule breaking among teachers in Wakiso District, Uganda
Authors: Kahari Waweru I. , Mildred Kyakuha , Micheal Nsereko
Published: July 2017

Orientation: This study explored the mechanisms that drive pro-social rule breaking among teachers in Ugandan private secondary schools.Research purpose: The main aim of this study was to examine the contribution of work characteristics and risk propensity in promoting pro-social rule breaking among teachers in one of the Ugandan districts that has a high number of private schools.Motivation for the study: As there is a scarcity of research on pro-social rule breaking in Uganda, this study sought to explore the concept and shed light on the mechanisms that influence this.Research design, approach and method: A quantitative research process formed the basis for this study. Two hundred and forty-two teachers from 15 private secondary schools in Wakiso District formed the targeted sample size. A response rate of 87% was registered. A hierarchical regression analysis was conducted in order to assess the influence of each of the variables on the dependent variable, by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences.Main findings: The regression results showed that work characteristics were a statistically significant predictor of pro-social rule breaking, but risk propensity was not. The results finally showed that there was no moderation effect of risk propensity on the relationship between work characteristics and pro-social rule breaking.Practical implications: The schools should expect more pro-social rule-breaking tendencies when the tasks given to the teachers are complex and when the teachers operate with autonomy. The environment in which the private secondary school teachers in Uganda work, motivates them to sometimes break rules in a bid to perform better or minimise the complexity associated with work.Contribution: This study expands on current theoretical knowledge on pro-social rule breaking and provides insights into the key drivers of the same among private secondary school teachers in the Ugandan context.
The Impact of Philosophy to Human Development
Authors: Ochuba Henry Obinna
Published: July 2017

Man’s make-up comprises culture and nature. Though nature is primordial to culture, but the two are essentially and existentially inseparable. However, every development in man’s life affects the two dimensions of man’s existence: nature and culture and such developments can influence him negatively or positively. This simply unveils the two types of development: the authentic development and the inauthentic developments. Howbeit, the essence of philosophy is to expose and give issues, problems and evidence their deserved weight by the use of logical reasoning. It is also to set standard, ground and criteria to judging of values in any development. Likewise, another impact of philosophy to development is that it unveils the appropriate meaning of concepts, thereby making appropriate conception of human development known to the general public through “public reason”. In summary, philosophy equips us with a hard look and critical attitude to see clearly the quality of human development, differentiating such from the instrumental development, and enabling us to abide by such. For example, the need for humanizing the actual development in the human society today which is likened to globalization is unfolded by the simple activity of philosophy.
The Theatre and Sustainable Human Development: Fumes of Fuel and Boundless Love as Paradigms
Authors: Anyanwu Chukwuma B. , Okome Greene I. , Tugbokorowei Martins U. E.
Published: July 2017

The performing Arts encompass a wide range of disciplines which are invariably synonymous with creativity, thus, creativity is the hallmark of performance. For the sake of clarity, Performing Arts comprise Theatre Arts, Music, Dance and Choreography and the electronic media of Radio, Television and film commonly referred to as the audio-visual or media arts. Development is invariably measured by performance using certain indices. It is also part of the function of the performing arts to project development as well be evidence of development themselves. For instance, it is a sign of development to produce a play before an audience, particularly an audience composed of persons saddled with the responsibility of showing the direction for the development of a certain society. This paper will use the plays, Fumes of Fuel and Boundless Love to expound on the relevance of the Performing Arts in human and societal development.Keywords: Performing Arts, Creativity, Development and Humanity.
The Contrastive Study of Igbo and English Denominal Nouns
Authors: Umeodinka Aloysius U. , Ogwudile Christian E. C.
Published: July 2017

Language is an indispensable tool in the affairs of human beings. It is a system of arbitrary and conventional symbols by which humans communicate. Language is the central object of study in linguistics. In the morphological study in linguistics, Denominal nouns are words formed from nouns. Linguistics, through its branch, Applied Linguistics, has been of immense help in the teaching of a second language and in analyzing learner’s errors. The teaching of nominalization has not been all smooth for an Igbo second language learner of English language. That is why this study is set to contrast English and Igbo Denominal nouns. The objective is to find out the similarities and differences between the nominalization process in Igbo and that of the English language. Also, the study will seek to know how the findings will contribute to the enhancement of the teaching of English Denominal nouns to the Igbo learning English as a target language. A descriptive approach is used in the study. The theory of Contrastive Study propounded by Robert Lado in 1957 guides the study. The study discovers that unlike English, Igbo language uses syllable reduction, reduplication and noun-agent and noun object combination. Also, it discovers that both English and Igbo employ both prefixation and suffixation in nominalization. Another discovery is that since there exist more irregularities in the English morphological process than in Igbo, the pedagogical attention for the Igbo learner should be centred on the majority of the words and their specific patterns in the irregularities.
Philosophy and Human Development: Nigerian Context
Authors: Egbekpalu Purissima
Published: July 2017

Philosophy as we all know is the mother of all sciences and a universal discipline that directly enquires into the phenomena of life, while it concerns itself with the basic questions and problems confronting man and his existence and the environment in which he lives. It is a humanistic discipline that guides man and offers him the necessary prescriptions to cope with the challenges of life and existence for his well-being, that of others and for the nation at large. This article tries to relate clearly the sacred role of philosophy with regard to development. As an education of the mind it is a very powerful medium through which necessary skills can be acquired to cope with daily life’s prospects meaningfully. With philosophy, one develops a rational outlook on life that interrogates the basic assumptions and realities of life; the polis, culture, religion, etc. It grapples with the issues of human conduct and value system of the people to think clearly in traditional manner suitable for their culture about the problems on ground and seeks to proffer humane solutions. It enables a rational system of good behaviour and advices the government to permit the role of reason in its affairs. The philosophical education of the mind on the consciousness and the clarity of the fundamental principles (nation’s philosophy) upon which the governance of the nation is constituted helps to inculcate sense of nationalism, patriotism, loyalty and objectivity in the minds of the members, while it empowers them to be non-dogmatic but rational, coherent and act accordingly. To this effect, Philosophers believe that knowledge is power (scientia est potentia) through which one can conquer existential barriers, promote authentic existence and sustainable development. Ignorance on the other hand is an ailment that demotes the standard of life and impedes quality development. It goes to buttress the biblical saying that, “my people perish for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6). In the same vein, our people shrivel for ‘lack of philosophical ideas’ to analyze life’s phenomena properly and make thoughtful decisions that guide their actions towards proper development.
Work as a Perfection of the Human Person: A Philosophico- Theological Contextualization of 2 Thes. 3,10
Authors: Obielosi Dominic , Mgbemena Stanley
Published: July 2017

In the first creation account, Gen 1,28 God mandated man to conquer the earth and subdue. Immediately after the fall in Gen 3, God spells out work as the only way through which man would get his daily bread. It follows therefore, that work remains a conditio sine qua non for man’s survival whether he is at peace with God or no. Hannah Arendt the French philosopher understands work as having a self perfective dimension. Plato in his Republic groups the organization of his political society according to the work every group does. This paper footnotes Paul’s instruction to the Thessalonians to project work as part and parcel of man. It views work as that which perfects man. The researcher believes that without work, the human person can neither be perfected nor can he survive. Thus, the paper documents that work is not just a virtue for survival, it also perfects the human person in as much as it perfects nature. The researcher takes work from the backdrop of its holistic dimension as a term. Distinctions are not made as to the different types or classes of works. The common denominator is that every work perfects the human person. The researcher encourages every person to go back to his drawing board and bend down to work. He believes that God created us without us but cannot help us without us. Using exegetical lens, the paper interprets 2Thes 3,10 from the background of practical experience. It makes a call to all to struggle not just to survive or succeed but to become significant through greater perfections realizable only through hard work.