bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential Asphyxia and Brainstem Abnormalities in Sudden and Unexpected Death in Infants
Authors: Randall Bradley B. , Paterson David S. , Haas Elisabeth A. , Broadbelt Kevin G. , Duncan Jhodie R. , Mena Othon J. , Krous Henry F. , Trachtenberg Felicia L. , Kinney Hannah C.
Published: November 2013

OBJECTIVE:

Sudden and unexplained death is a leading cause of infant mortality. Certain characteristics of the sleep environment increase the risk for sleep-related sudden and unexplained infant death. These characteristics have the potential to generate asphyxial conditions. We tested the hypothesis that infants may be exposed to differing degrees of asphyxia in sleep environments, such that vulnerable infants with a severe underlying brainstem deficiency in serotonergic, γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic, or 14-3-3 transduction proteins succumb even without asphyxial triggers (eg, supine), whereas infants with intermediate or borderline brainstem deficiencies require asphyxial stressors to precipitate death.

METHODS:

We classified cases of sudden infant death into categories relative to a “potential asphyxia” schema in a cohort autopsied at the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office. Controls were infants who died with known causes of death established at autopsy. Analysis of covariance tested for differences between groups.

RESULTS:

Medullary neurochemical abnormalities were present in both infants dying suddenly in circumstances consistent with asphyxia and infants dying suddenly without obvious asphyxia-generating circumstances. There were no differences in the mean neurochemical measures between these 2 groups, although mean measures were both significantly lower (P < .05) than those of controls dying of known causes.

CONCLUSIONS:

We found no direct relationship between the presence of potentially asphyxia conditions in the sleep environment and brainstem abnormalities in infants dying suddenly and unexpectedly. Brainstem abnormalities were associated with both asphyxia-generating and non–asphyxia generating conditions. Heeding safe sleep messages is essential for all infants, especially given our current inability to detect underlying vulnerabilities.
Neonatal Death Suspected To Be From Sepsis Was Found To Be Kernicterus With G6PD Deficiency
Authors: Christensen Robert D. , Yaish Hassan M. , Wiedmeier Susan E. , Reading N. Scott , Pysher Theodore J. , Palmer Cheryl Ann , Prchal Josef T.
Published: November 2013

We cared for a term male infant born to Burmese immigrants. At about 24 hours a total serum bilirubin (TSB) was 9.3 mg/dL, and phototherapy was begun. It was stopped 48 hours later, with a TSB of 10.9 mg/dL, and he was discharged from the hospital with an appointment for a repeat TSB check 48 hours later. A few hours before the appointment he became listless and apneic, and his parents took him to the emergency department of the regional children’s hospital, where sepsis was suspected. The TSB was 41 mg/dL. He died 4 hours later, despite intensive care efforts, with opisthotonus and refractory hypotension. Blood drawn before the exchange transfusion had low glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzymatic activity, and sequencing of the G6PD gene revealed the G6PD Mahidol mutation (c.487G>A). Cultures and postmortem examination did not demonstrate an infectious process, but kernicterus was present. Acute kernicterus can mimic septic shock.
Longitudinal Validation of a Tool for Asthma Self-Monitoring
Authors: Nkoy Flory L. , Stone Bryan L. , Fassl Bernhard A. , Uchida Derek A. , Koopmeiners Karmella , Halbern Sarah , Kim Eun H. , Wilcox Allison , Ying Jian , Greene Tom H. , Mosen David M. , Schatz Michael N. , Maloney Christopher G.
Published: November 2013

OBJECTIVES:

To establish longitudinal validation of a new tool, the Asthma Symptom Tracker (AST). AST combines weekly use of the Asthma Control Test with a color-coded graph for visual trending.

METHODS:

Prospective cohort study of children age 2 to 18 years admitted for asthma. Parents or children (n = 210) completed baseline AST assessments during hospitalization, then over 6 months after discharge. Concurrent with the first 5 AST assessments, the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) was administered for comparison.

RESULTS:

Test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation) was moderate, with a small longitudinal variation of AST measurements within subjects during follow-ups. Internal consistency was strong at baseline (Cronbach’s α 0.70) and during follow-ups (Cronbach’s α 0.82–0.90). Criterion validity demonstrated a significant correlation between AST and ACQ scores at baseline (r = −0.80, P < .01) and during follow-ups (r = −0.64, −0.72, −0.63, and −0.69). The AST was responsive to change over time; an increased ACQ score by 1 point was associated with a decreased AST score by 2.65 points (P < .01) at baseline and 3.11 points (P < .01) during follow-ups. Discriminant validity demonstrated a strong association between decreased AST scores and increased oral corticosteroid use (odds ratio 1.13, 95% confidence interval, 1.10–1.16, P < .01) and increased unscheduled acute asthma visits (odds ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval, 1.18–1.28, P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS:

The AST is reliable, valid, and responsive to change over time, and can facilitate ongoing monitoring of asthma control and proactive medical decision-making in children.
Development and Evaluation of Global Child Health Educational Modules
Authors: Audcent Tobey A. , MacDonnell Heather M. , Moreau Katherine A. , Hawkes Michael , Sauve Laura J. , Crockett Maryanne , Fisher Julie A. , Goldfarb David M. , Hunter Andrea J. , McCarthy Anne E. , Pernica Jeffrey M. , Liu Joanne , Luong Tinh-Nhan , Sandhu Amonpreet K. , Rashed Selim , Levy Arielle , Brenner Jennifer L.
Published: November 2013

OBJECTIVES:

To determine if a standardized global child health (GCH) modular course for pediatric residents leads to satisfaction, learning, and behavior change.

METHODS:

Four 1-hour interactive GCH modules were developed addressing priority GCH topics. “Site champions” from 4 Canadian institutions delivered modules to pediatric residents from their respective programs during academic half-days. A pre–post, mixed methods evaluation incorporated satisfaction surveys, multiple-choice knowledge tests, and focus group discussions involving residents and satisfaction surveys from program directors.

RESULTS:

A total of 125 trainees participated in ≥1 module. Satisfaction levels were high. Focus group participants reported high satisfaction with the concepts taught and the dynamic, participatory approach used, which incorporated multimedia resources. Mean scores on knowledge tests increased significantly postintervention for 3 of the 4 modules (P < .001), and residents cited increases in their practical knowledge, global health awareness, and motivation to learn about global health. Program directors unanimously agreed that the modules were relevant, interesting, and could be integrated within existing formal training time.

CONCLUSIONS:

A relatively short, participatory, foundational GCH modular curriculum facilitated knowledge acquisition and attitude change. It could be scaled up and serve as a model for other standardized North American curricula.
Vaccine-Preventable Disease Among Homeschooled Children: Two Cases of Tetanus in Oklahoma
Authors: Johnson Matthew G. , Bradley Kristy K. , Mendus Susan , Burnsed Laurence , Clinton Rachel , Tiwari Tejpratap
Published: November 2013

Homeschooled children represent an increasing proportion of school-aged children in the United States. Immunization rates among homeschooled children are largely unknown because they are usually not subject to state-based school-entry vaccination requirements. Geographic foci of underimmunized children can increase the risk for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. In 2012, 2 cases of tetanus were reported in Oklahoma; both cases involved homeschooled children without documentation of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccination. We describe the characteristics of both patients and outline innovative outreach measures with the potential to increase vaccination access and coverage among homeschooled children.
Cough and Cold Medication Adverse Events After Market Withdrawal and Labeling Revision
Authors: Hampton Lee M. , Nguyen Duc B. , Edwards Jonathan R. , Budnitz Daniel S.
Published: November 2013

BACKGROUND:

In October 2007, manufacturers voluntarily withdrew over-the-counter (OTC) infant cough and cold medications (CCMs) from the US market. A year later, manufacturers announced OTC CCM labeling would be revised to warn against OTC CCM use by children aged <4 years. We determined whether emergency department (ED) visits for CCM adverse drug events (ADEs) declined after these interventions.

METHODS:

We used National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance data from 2004 to 2011 to estimate the number of ED visits for CCM ADEs before and after each intervention.

RESULTS:

Among children aged <2 years, ED visits for CCM ADEs decreased from 4.1% of all ADE ED visits before the market withdrawal to 2.4% of all ADE visits afterward (difference in proportion: –1.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: –2.7% to –0.6%). Among children aged 2 to 3 years, ED visits for CCM ADEs decreased from 9.5% of all ADE ED visits before the labeling revision announcement to 6.5% of all ADE visits afterward (difference in proportion: –3.0%, 95% CI: –5.4% to –0.6%). Unsupervised ingestions accounted for 64.3% (95% CI: 51.1% to 77.5%) of CCM ADE ED visits involving children aged <2 years after the withdrawal and 88.8% (95% CI: 83.8% to 93.8%) of visits involving children aged 2 to 3 years after the labeling revision announcement.

CONCLUSIONS:

After a voluntary market withdrawal and labeling revision, ED visits for CCM ADEs declined among children aged <2 years and 2 to 3 years relative to ADE ED visits for all drugs. Interventions addressing unsupervised ingestions are needed to reduce CCM ADEs.
Capital social no ELSA-Brasil: confiabilidade teste-reteste do Resource Generator scale
Authors: Griep Rosane Harter , Santos Simone M , Cardoso Leticia de Oliveira , Fonseca Maria de Jesus Mendes da , Alves Marcia Guimaraes de Mello , Souto Ester Paiva , Chor Dora
Published: November 2013

OBJETIVO: Estimar a confiabilidade teste-reteste dos itens do Resource Generator scale para avaliação de capital social no Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil). MÉTODOS: A escala de capital social foi aplicada em subamostra de 281 participantes dos seis Centros de Investigação do ELSA, em duas oportunidades, com intervalo de sete a 14 dias. O instrumento é constituído por 31 itens que representam situações concretas para avaliar o acesso a diferentes tipos de recursos, além de avaliar a fonte dos recursos disponíveis (familiares, amigos ou conhecidos). A análise estatística foi realizada por meio de estatísticas kappa (k) e kappa ajustado pela prevalência (ka). RESULTADOS: Os recursos sociais investigados foram encontrados com grande frequência (acima de 50%). Em relação à presença ou ausência dos recursos, as estimativas de confiabilidade ajustadas pela prevalência (ka) variaram de 0,54 a 0,97. No que se refere à fonte de recurso, essas estimativas variaram de ka = 0,45 (alguém que tenha bons contatos com a mídia) a ka = 0,86 (alguém que se formou no Ensino Médio). CONCLUSÕES: A escala apresentou níveis adequados de confiabilidade, que variaram de acordo com o tipo de recurso.
Reprodutibilidade da pressão arterial medida no ELSA-Brasil com a monitorização pressórica de 24h
Authors: Nascimento Larissa Rangel , Molina Maria del Carmen Bisi , Faria Carolina Perim , Cunha Roberto de Sá , Mill José Geraldo
Published: November 2013

OBJETIVO: Determinar a reprodutibilidade da pressão arterial casual de participantes do Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil) e confirmar o diagnóstico pressórico pela monitorização.MÉTODOS: A pressão arterial casual foi medida em aparelho oscilométrico. Uma subamostra dos participantes do estado do Espírito Santo (N = 255) foi reavaliada com igual metodologia de uma a dez semanas após; além disso, foi realizada monitorização. O diagnóstico de hipertensão seguiu os pontos de corte de 140/90 mmHg ou 130/80 mmHg para a pressão casual e na monitorização, respectivamente. A hipertensão do jaleco branco foi definida pela presença hipertensão na medida casual e normotensão na monitorização e o inverso para a hipertensão mascarada.RESULTADOS: Os dados referem-se a 230 participantes que nas duas ocasiões estavam sem medicação (N1 = 153) ou sob a mesma medicação anti-hipertensiva (N2 = 77). No N1, a normotensão casual foi confirmada em 120 dos 134 pela monitorização. No N2, a monitorização confirmou o controle pressórico em 43 dos 54 participantes com pressão controlada pela medida casual. A concordância geral de diagnósticos entre a pressão casual e monitorada foi de 78% (kappa = 0,44). No grupo N1, seis indivíduos (4%) apresentaram hipertensão do jaleco branco e 23 (25%), mascarada.CONCLUSÕES: A concordância de diagnósticos entre a pressão arterial casual e a monitorada foi moderada. A padronização rigorosa da medida casual adotada no ELSA-Brasil foi capaz de reduzir a hipertensão do jaleco branco. A alta frequência de hipertensão mascarada sugere que a medida pressórica da monitorização indique grau elevado de estresse no trabalho.
Questionario do ELSA-Brasil: desafios na elaboracao de instrumento multidimensional
Authors: Chor Dora , Alves Marcia Guimaraes de Mello , Giatti Luana , Cade Nagela Valadao , Nunes Maria Angelica , Molina Maria del Carmen Bisi , Bensenor Isabela M , Aquino Estela M L , Passos Valeria , Santos Simone M , Fonseca Maria de Jesus Mendes da , Oliveira Leticia Cardoso de
Published: November 2013

O artigo apresenta o processo de elaboração do questionário utilizado no Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil). Iniciamos pelo relato sobre a "Seleção de Temas" abordados no questionário, cujo conteúdo teria que abranger o conhecimento disponível acerca da complexa rede de causalidade dos desfechos de interesse, assim como possibilitar a comparabilidade com estudos semelhantes. Contextualizamos a "tradução e a adaptação de instrumentos de medida", necessárias no caso de escalas de avaliação de vizinhanças, do instrumento para diagnóstico de transtornos depressivos e de ansiedade, e do questionário de frequência alimentar. A seguir, comentamos os critérios que nortearam a "ordem dos blocos temáticos" e finalmente a importância prática dos "pré-testes e estudos-piloto". As relações entre o conjunto de informações reunidas no ELSA poderão constituir contribuição original sobre os fatores que causam ou agravam os desfechos de interesse no contexto brasileiro, assim como sobre seus fatores de proteção.
Afericoes e exames clinicos realizados nos participantes do ELSA-Brasil
Authors: Mill Jose Geraldo , Pinto Karina , Griep Rosane Harter , Goulart Alessandra , Foppa Murilo , Lotufo Paulo A , Maestri Marcelo K , Ribeiro Antonio Luiz , Andreao Rodrigo Varejao , Dantas Eduardo Miranda , Oliveira Ilka , Fuchs Sandra C , Cunha Roberto de Sa , Bensenor Isabela M
Published: November 2013

Este artigo descreve os exames clínicos realizados no Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil). Alguns deles (antropometria, pressão arterial e índice tornozelo-braquial) já têm uso clínico consolidado. Outros, como a velocidade de onda de pulso, variabilidade da frequência cardíaca e medida da espessura médio-intimal de carótidas, carecem de valor de referência na população brasileira não doente e podem constituir preditores importantes de desfechos cardiovasculares. A medida da pressão arterial após manobra postural foi incluída no ELSA-Brasil porque foi pouco testada em estudos epidemiológicos. O ELSA-Brasil inovou na realização do índice tornozelo-braquial, ao usar um aparelho automático em substituição à coluna de mercúrio na medida da pressão arterial, e também na medida do diâmetro ântero-posterior do lobo direito do fígado pela ultrassonografia, proposta para avaliação quantitativa da doença hepática gordurosa não-alcoólica. Os participantes são indivíduos mais jovens (a partir dos 35 anos) do que em outras coortes focadas no estudo da aterosclerose subclínica. A inclusão de indivíduos mais jovens e a diversidade dos exames realizados tornam o ELSA-Brasil um estudo relevante no contexto da epidemiologia brasileira e internacional.
Adaptacao transcultural e confiabilidade de medidas de caracteristicas autorreferidas de vizinhanca no ELSA-Brasil
Authors: Santos Simone M , Griep Rosane Harter , Cardoso Leticia O , Alves Marcia Guimaraes de Mello , Fonseca Maria de Jesus Mendes da , Giatti Luana , Chor Dora
Published: November 2013

OBJETIVO: Descrever o processo de adaptação de escalas de medida de características de vizinhança para o português brasileiro. MÉTODOS: As dimensões abordadas foram coesão social, ambiente propício para atividade física, disponibilidade de alimentos saudáveis, segurança em relação a crimes, violência percebida e vitimização. No processo de adaptação foram avaliados aspectos de equivalência entre as escalas originais e respectivas versões para o português. A confiabilidade teste-reteste foi avaliada em submostra de 261 participantes do Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil) que responderam ao mesmo questionário em dois momentos distintos em um intervalo de tempo de sete a 14 dias entre as duas aplicações. RESULTADOS: Os aspectos de equivalência avaliados mostraram-se adequados. O coeficiente de correlação intraclasse variou entre 0,83 (IC95% 0,78;0,87) para Coesão Social e 0,90 (IC95% 0,87;0,92) para Ambiente para Atividade Física. As escalas apresentaram consistência interna (alfa de Cronbach) que variaram entre 0,60 e 0,84. CONCLUSÕES: As medidas autorreferidas de características de vizinhança tiveram reprodutibilidade muito boa e boa consistência interna. Os resultados sugerem que essas escalas podem ser utilizadas em estudos com população brasileira que apresente características similares àquelas do ELSA-Brasil.
Mothers' Perspectives on Signs of Child Sexual Abuse in Their Families
Authors: Gilgun Jane F. , Anderson Gwendolyn
Published: November 2013

Child sexual abuse can be difficult to detect. Most children tell no one, and they often show no signs of abuse. This article reports on interviews with mothers of survivors of child sexual abuse. The purpose of the interview research was to understand mothers' experiences of the signs, the lack of signs, and the signs that made sense once the abuse came to light. This article is relevant to practice because, first, it shows how difficult child sexual abuse can be to detect, and second, it shows the shock and devastation that some mothers experience when child sexual abuse occurs in their families. Service provider sensitivity and attunement are shown to be key to effective practice in this area.
Parenting in Puerto Rican Families
Authors: Mogro-Wilson Cristina
Published: November 2013

Puerto Ricans are currently the second largest Latino subgroup in the United States. Social work services are often aligned with non-Latino cultural traditions. The model presented in this article contains the development of a basic understanding of essential elements of Latino culture, and how parenting practices for Puerto Rican families are actualized, through the lens of familismo, respecto, simpatia, and personalismo. The understanding of these fundamental concepts of Puerto Rican families will enhance the effectiveness of social work services.
Distribution of activation energies in superconducting BSCCO tapes
Authors: Pande Chandra S. , Holtz Ronald L. , Gillespie Darrell J.
Published: November 2013

It has been shown before that collective pinning behavior in high-Tc superconducting oxides can be reconciled to a model of distribution of activation energies, in their thermally activated flux motion. In this article, the authors provided experimental evidence for such a distribution and showed that this distribution is lognormal as predicted. For this purpose, the distribution of the activation energies in bismuth–strontium–calcium–copper oxide tapes were estimated from magnetic relaxation measurements using the Hagen–Griessen inversion scheme.
Biodiversity and species identity shape the antifungal activity of bacterial communities
Authors: Jousset Alexandre , Becker Joachim , Chatterjee Subhankar , Karlovsky Petr , Scheu Stefan , Eisenhauer Nico
Published: November 2013

Soils host diverse communities of interacting microbes and the nature of interspecific interactions is increasingly recognized to affect ecosystem‐level processes. Antagonistic interactions between bacteria and fungi are of particular relevance for soil functioning. A number of soil bacteria produce secondary metabolites that inhibit eukaryotic growth. Antibiosis may be stimulated in the presence of competing bacteria, and we tested if biodiversity within bacterial communities affects their antagonistic activity against fungi and fungal‐like species. We set upPseudomonascommunities of increasing diversity and measured the production of the broad spectrum antifungal compound 2,4‐DAPG and their antagonistic activity against different eukaryotes. Diversity increased DAPG concentration and antifungal activity, an effect due to a combination of identity and interactions between species. Our results indicate that investment of pseudomonads into broad spectrum anti‐eukaryotic traits is determined by both community composition and diversity and this provides new avenues to understand interactions between bacterial and fungal communities.
Retracted: Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) as bioindicators of stable water quality in Sydney Harbour during remediation of the Sydney Tar Ponds, Nova Scotia, Canada
Authors: Walker Tony R. , Macaskill Devin , Weaver Peter
Published: November 2013

Water Quality Research Journal issues a formal retraction in relation to the above article titled by Tony R. Walker, Devin Macaskill and Peter Weaver. The decision to retract the article is due to concerns about redundant publication and duplicate submissions. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the content in this article substantially overlaps with a previously published material, which violates the journal's Ethics Policies and Guidance. We apologise for any confusion this may have caused. The authors have provided a response to our inquiries during the investigation and agreed with the retraction. As such, the Editors-in-Chief no longer have confidence in the integrity of the article.
Assessment of uncertainty in soil test phosphorus using kriging techniques and sequential Gaussian simulation: implications for water quality management in southern Quebec
Authors: Boluwade Alaba , Madramootoo C. A.
Published: November 2013

Missisquoi Bay, located in southern Quebec at the north-eastern extremity of Lake Champlain, is subject to eutrophication arising from excess nutrients, predominantly phosphorus (P), contributed by agricultural watersheds. Factors such as land use pattern, management practices, soil properties and geomorphology have an impact on soil P levels. Land patches under different management practices introduce a cyclic pattern, especially when fitting the variogram. Geostatistics procedures were used to model soil test phosphorus (STP) within the 11 km2 Castor Watershed in southern Quebec, Canada. An ordinary kriging (OK) method was used to estimate STP at unsampled points, but this had a smoothing effect, resulting in an underestimation of high values and overestimation of low values. Therefore, a more efficient technique was needed to draw predictions from the conditional probability distribution at the simulation grid nodes. A sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS) was adopted for this purpose, and used to create 50 equal probable realizations. Uncertainty was modelled using the E-type (mean) of the realizations, which ranged from 12.5 to 223 mg P kg–1 soil. The adequate spatial probability pattern for STP is a valuable criterion when seeking to delineate areas of high STP for site-specific best management practices (BMPs).
Occurrence of earthy and musty odor compounds (geosmin, 2-methylisoborneol and 2,4,6-trichloroanisole) in biologically treated wastewater
Authors: Urase T. , Sasaki Y.
Published: November 2013

The concentrations of earthy and musty odor compounds (2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB), geosmin and 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA)) in treated wastewater were measured. Concentrations of 2,4,6-TCA (4.3–37.7 ng/L) and geosmin (3.7–42.2 ng/L) higher than their odor thresholds were detected for effluents from large-scale treatment plants. The effluent from a small-scale wastewater plant treating toilet and kitchen wastewater contained the target earthy and musty odor compounds below the odor thresholds. The ozonation applied as an advanced wastewater treatment process was considerably more effective for the removal of 2,4,6-TCA than for the removal of 2-MIB and geosmin. The measured concentrations of 2,4,6-TCA in river environments without the influence of large-scale wastewater effluents were less than the odor threshold.
A Psychophysical Exploration of the Perception of Emotion from Abstract Art
Authors: Dubal Stéphanie , Lerebours Aure-Elise , Taffou Marine , Pelletier Jérôme , Escande Yolaine , Knoblauch Kenneth
Published: November 2013

Centuries ago, western philosophers of art proposed that an artifact may express emotion. The much older tradition of Chinese calligraphy and landscape painting sees in the brushstroke a central element of the emotional expressiveness of pictorial art. How emotion is detected and perceived from artwork is a current subject of exploration in psychology. We used Signal Detection Theory to determine whether or not naive subjects were able to detect the emotional classification proposed by an artist. Thirty pairs of Chinese characters were produced by an artist so as to render the same Chinese sign with different emotional expressive intensities: one with low emotional expressivity and a second with high emotional expressivity. Twenty-two participants were asked to rate emotional intensity on a 5-point scale while viewing each calligraphy. d', a sensitivity measure reflecting the capacity to detect a signal from a noisy background, was estimated from ROC curves. If the participants categorized the stimuli according to the artist's classification (or in direct opposition), d' would differ significantly from 0. Sixteen of the participants had d' values significantly different from 0, thereby showing that they discriminated the emotional categorization of the calligraphy. Those results indicate a significant sensitivity to the emotion expressed in a Chinese calligraphy by a non-Chinese speaking population ignorant of the art of calligraphy and the artist's intention.
Pomological properties of sweet cherry cultivars grafted on ‘colt’ rootstock
Authors: Milatovic Dragan , Djurovic Dejan , Djordjevic Boban , Vulic Todor , Zec Gordan
Published: November 2013

Pomological properties of 11 newly sweet cherry cultivars grafted on Colt
rootstock were studied in the region of Macva over a three-year period (2010-
2012). An investigation has included phenological traits (flowering and
maturing), the elements of productivity (number of flowers in an
inflorescence, fruit set and yield), the most important fruit characteristics
(physical, chemical and sensory), and fruit cracking index. Average time of
flowering of tested cultivars was in the first and the second decade of
April, while the maturing time was between 15 May (?Early Lory?) and 20 June
(?Penny?). The highest yield was achieved by cultivars ?Giorgia?, ?Sunburst?,
and ?Crystalina?. Large fruit size was found in cultivars ?Penny?, ?Santina?,
?Sunburst?, ?Olympus?, and ?Kordia?. The lowest susceptibility to fruit
cracking was manifested in cultivars ?Early Lory? and ?Giorgia?. Cultivars
?Kordia? and ?Cristalina? were given the highest sensory ratings. Overall,
the best results were shown by medium-early season cultivar ?Santina?, which
can be recommended for commercial cultivation. In addition, the early-season
cultivar ?Early Lory?, and the late-season cultivar ?Kordia? can also be
recommended for cultivation.
Electrochemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles in poly(vinyl alcohol) solution
Authors: Surudzic Rade , Jovanovic Zeljka , Bibic Natasa , Nikolic Branislav , Miskovic-Stankovic Vesna
Published: November 2013

In this work silver/poly(vinyl alcohol), Ag/PVA, colloid dispersions were
obtained by electrochemical reduction of Ag+ ions. The electrochemical
synthesis of silver nanoparticles in the aqueous solutions of 5 and 10 wt. %
PVA, containing 0.1 M KNO3 and 3.9 mM AgNO3, was performed at constant
current density of 25 mA cm-2, and during synthesis time of 10 min. The
presence of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy. Cyclic
voltammetry analysis and FTIR spectroscopy indicated the interactions between
silver nanoparticles and PVA molecules. TEM analysis confirmed spherical
shape of the obtained silver nanoparticles, with the mean diameter of 15 ? 9
nm.
Tailoring the supercapacitive performances of noble metal oxides, porous carbons and their composites
Authors: Panic Vladimir , Dekanski Aleksandar , Nikolic Branislav
Published: November 2013

Porous electrochemical supercapacitive materials, as an important type of
new-generation energy storage devices, require a detailed analysis and
knowledge of their capacitive performances upon different
charging/discharging regimes. The investigation of the responses to dynamic
perturbations of typical representatives, noble metal oxides, carbonaceous
materials and RuO2-impregnated carbon blacks, by electrochemical impedance
spectroscopy (EIS) is presented. This presentation follows a brief
description of supercapacitive behavior and origin of pseudocapacitive
response of noble metal oxides. For all investigated materials, the
electrical charging/discharging equivalent of the EIS response was found to
obey the transmission line model envisaged as so-called ?resistor/capacitor
(RC) ladder?. The ladder features are correlated to material physicochemical
properties, its composition and the composition of the electrolyte. Fitting
of the EIS data of different supercapacitive materials to appropriate RC
ladders enables the in-depth profiling of the capacitance and pore resistance
of their porous thin-layers and finally the complete revelation of capacitive
energy storage issues.
The effects of resveratrol on rat behaviour in the forced swim test
Authors: Samardzic Janko , Jadzic Dragana , Radovanovic Milan , Jancic Jasna , Obradovic Dragan , Gojkovic-Bukarica Ljiljana , Scepanovic Radisav
Published: November 2013

Introduction. The trans-isomer of resveratrol is the active ingredient of
Poligonum cuspidatum, known for its medicinal properties and traditionally
used in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. It is also found
abundantly in the skin of red grapes and red wine. Previous studies have
suggested that trans-resveratrol demonstrates a variety of pharmacological
activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, as well as
neuroprotective properties and procognitive effects. Objective. The goal of
the present study was to examine the influence of trans-resveratrol on
behavior in rats and its antidepressant properties. Methods. Male Wistar rats
were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with the increasing doses of
trans-resveratrol (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) or vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide -
DMSO), 30 minutes before testing of the spontaneous locomotor activity or
forced swimming. For the experiments, the behavior of the animals was
recorded by a digital camera, and the data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA,
followed by Tukey post-hoc test. Results. Testing of spontaneous locomotor
activity, after the application of vehicle or increasing doses of
trans-resveratrol, showed no statistically significant difference between
groups (p>0.05). In the forced swim test, one-way ANOVA indicated
statistically significant effects of trans-resveratrol (p<0.001). Tukey
post-hoc test showed that resveratrol significantly decreased immobility time
at the doses of 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg, manifesting the acute
antidepressant-like effects. There were no statistically significant
differences between the resveratrol treatment of 5 mg/kg and vehicle
(p>0.05). Conclusion. The results from our study suggest that
trans-resveratrol produces significant effects in the central nervous system.
After single application, it has acute antidepressant effects, but without
influence on locomotor activity.
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: Quantitative study on enterochromaffin cells in hamartomatous intestine polyps
Authors: Krstic Miljan , Katic Vuka , Stojnev Slavica , Mihailovic Dragan , Mojsilovic Marijola , Radovanovic Zoran , Zivkovic Vladimir
Published: November 2013

Introduction. Peutz-Jeghers (PJ) syndrome is a rare familial disorder with
the autosomal transmission characterized by multiple intestinal polyps,
mucocutaneous pigmentation and increased incidence of various malignancies.
Some clinical manifestations of PJ syndrome may be associated with the
serotonin secretion from the enterochromaffin cells (EC). Objective. Since no
data have been reported so far regarding EC cells in PJ polyps, the aim of
our study was to quantitatively investigate EC population in hamartomatous
intestinal polyps in patients with the PJ syndrome. Methods. The samples of
surgically removed PJ polyps from family members with the PJ syndrome were
collected during 34-year follow-up period. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded
specimens of twenty-one PJ polyps were stained with HE, AB-PAS, Van Gieson,
Fontana-Masson, FIF and Grimelius. For immuno- histochemical analysis, the
following antibodies were used: chromogranin A, serotonin, Ki-67, desmin,
vimentin and cytokeratin in order to eliminate differential diagnostic
possibilities and to confirm diagnosis of PJ polyps. Results. Strong EC cell
hyperplasia was observed within the tissue of the investigated polyps.
Statistical analysis demonstrated significantly higher content of EC cells in
PJ polyps than in the normal ileal mucosa. Conclusion. Marked hyperplasia of
EC cells within the PJ polyps may be the most important contributor to
functional disorders in patients with the PJ syndrome.
Interferon gamma, interleukin 8 and interleukin 10 in serum of patients with the cervical infection and symptoms of the imminent preterm delivery
Authors: Bogavac Mirjana , Brkic Snezana , Celic Dejan , Simin Natasa , Matijasevic Jovan , Ilic Tatjana
Published: November 2013

Introduction. Preterm delivery (PTD), defined as a delivery between 24th and
37th completed week, increases the risk of neonatal morbidity and
mortality. There is a growing body of evidence that the intrauterine
infection as well as cervicovaginal bacterial infections and Chlamydia
infections are possible causes of preterm delivery. Host response to
cervicovaginal and/or intrauterine infections is coupled with a release of
various inflammatory mediators, many of which are cytokines. Objective. The
aim of the study was to find out if cervical infection influenced the serum
levels of interferon-? (IFN-?), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and interleukin 10
(IL-10) in patients with the clinical symptoms of the imminent preterm
delivery. Methods. A total of 128 pregnant women (from 24 to 30 weeks of
gestation) with the clinical symptoms of the imminent preterm delivery were
divided in: study group - 85 patients with the cervical infection, and
control group - 43 patients without the cervical infection. The level of
cytokines in the serum was measured with commercial ELISA tests. Results. No
significant difference could be found in serum levels of IFN-? (p=0.632),
IL-8 (p=0.712) and IL-10 (p=0.676) between these two investigated groups.
Conclusion. The results of our study suggest that there is no significant
difference in serum IFN-?, IL-8 and IL-10 concentrations between pregnant
women with the symptoms of the imminent preterm delivery who had and had no
cervical infection.
The impact of information technology on organizational design: Example in health organization
Authors: Petkovic Mirjana , Lukic Jelena
Published: November 2013

The aim of this paper is to explore the impact of information technology (IT)
on organization including all elements that are integral part of
organizational design through Star Model (Kates and Galbraith, 2007), and to
show that IT has become an important strategic resource that provides a
concentration of all relevant information for quality decision-making and
integration of complex organization with the concept of ?Big Data? (Manyika
et al, 2011). In order to achieve the aim, research was performed in
organization in the health sector which affects the quality of life and
standard of living. TheIT impact on organizational design and through him on
organizational effectiveness in the health care is visible and provide
insight into the implications of information technology and opportunities for
reasoning about matters that are the subject of research: whether and how
information technology causes changes in the design of the organization;
whether it affects all elements of design equally; on which elements has the
most intense impact and why; whether and why employees and users of health
services exhibit resistance to information technology; under what conditions
can be reduced or completely eliminated the resistance of employees and users
of health services?
Resistance Conditions and Applications
Authors: Kinnunen Juha , Silvestre Pilar
Published: November 2013

This paper studies analytic aspects of so-called resistance
conditions on metric measure spaces with a doubling measure.
These conditions are weaker than the usually assumed
Poincaré inequality, but however, they are sufficiently strong
to imply several useful results in analysis on metric measure
spaces. We show that under a perimeter resistance condition,
the capacity of order one and the Hausdorff content of
codimension one are comparable. Moreover, we have connections
to the Sobolev inequality for compactly supported
Lipschitz functions on balls as well as capacitary strong type
estimates for the Hardy-Littlewood maximal function. We also
consider extensions to Sobolev type inequalities with two different
measures and Lorentz type estimates.
The Lusin Theorem and Horizontal Graphs in the
Heisenberg Group
Authors: Hajłasz Piotr , Mirra Jacob
Published: November 2013

In this paper we prove that every collection of measurable
functions fα , |α| = m, coincides a.e. withmth order derivatives
of a function g ∈ Cm−1 whose derivatives of order m − 1 may
have any modulus of continuity weaker than that of a Lipschitz
function. This is a stronger version of earlier results of Lusin,
Moonens-Pfeffer and Francos. As an application we construct
surfaces in the Heisenberg group with tangent spaces being
horizontal a.e.
Reliability in Maritime Transport / Niezawodność W Transporcie Morskim
Authors: Burciu Zbigniew , Abramowicz-Gerigk Teresa
Published: November 2013

The paper presents the vessel reliability while realizing transportation task in maritime transport. The approach based on predicted failure intensity in particular stages of ship operation is proposed.
Ship’S Rolling Amplitude as a Significant Factor Influencing Liquid Sloshing in Partly Filled Tanks / Amplituda Kołysań Statku Jako Istotny Parametr W Badaniach Zjawiska Sloshingu W Niepełnych Zbiornikach Okrętowych
Authors: Krata Przemysław , Wawrzyński Wojciech
Published: November 2013

The study considers ship’s rolling amplitude as one of the key parameters influencing liquid sloshing in partly filled tanks during sea voyage. This issue is strictly related to the safety of navigation matters and belongs to the group of non-linear hydrodynamic phenomena. The presented investigation is focused on the estimation of typical and extreme rolling amplitude of a vessel in terms of dynamic approach towards liquid motion onboard ships. The number of exemplary numerical simulations of liquid sloshing taking place in moving tanks is carried out and the heeling moment due to liquid sloshing is obtained.
The Problem of Termal Stability of Present Aviation Turbine Fuels – Preliminary Study / Problem Stabilności Termicznej Współczesnych Paliw Do Turbinowych Silników Lotniczych – Badania Wstępne
Authors: Dzięgielewski Wojciech , Gawron Bartosz
Published: November 2013

The theme of this paper is the issue related to the thermal stability of aviation fuel to turbine jet engine. This paper presents the importance of this parameter in terms of the proper conduct of the combustion process in a jet engine. In paper were presented critical remarks of the standard test method of determining the thermal stability and its modification for the needs of realization of the research work, relying on multiple pass of fuel through the test system, which resulted in a greater selectivity results. In article presented the results of own research, on the effects of technology fuel production and additives put into fuel on change the thermal stability
The Relevance of Oxidative Stress Status in One Week and One Month Alcohol Abstinent Patients
Authors: Alexinschi Ovidiu , Chirita Roxana , Ciobica Alin , Manuela Padurariu , Dobrin Romeo , Prepelita Raluca , Serban Ionela Lacramioara , Chirita Vasile
Published: November 2013

Background: Although it is generally accepted that there is an increased oxidative stress status in alcoholics, the separate relevance of oxidative stress following alcohol withdrawal is still not understood to this date. There are reports stating that the increased oxidative stress status in alcoholics may persist independently of the constant presence of alcohol intake, while on the other side, it was demonstrated that the antioxidant defense mechanism could significantly increase after alcohol withdrawal.

Methods: In the present work, we were interested in studying the relevance of oxidative stress status in the alcohol withdrawal processes, by determining some oxidative stress markers (two antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase - SOD and glutathione peroxidase - GPX and a lipid peroxidation maker - MDA) after one week and one month of abstinence, as compared to the baseline and a control group of subjects.

Results: Our data confirmed the increased oxidative stress status in alcoholic patients and, more importantly, we de m - onstrated here a significant decrease of the oxidative stress status one week and one month following the withdrawal, as showed by a significant increase in the specific activity of SOD (p<0.003), as well as by a decrease in MDA levels (p<0.019). Still, in the case of all three markers of oxidative stress status which we determined, the levels after one week or one month of abstinence were significantly altered when compared to controls.

Conclusions: This suggests that severe and prolonged deficiency in the oxidative stress marker levels needs longer than one month of abstinence to normalize.
Terahertz studies of superconducting gaps in Co-doped BaFe2As2 pnictide superconductors
Authors: Dore Paolo , Joseph Boby , Lupi Stefano , Perucchi Andrea
Published: November 2013

In the present paper we report a summary of the infrared studies on the multi-band Ba(Fe
The Proposal of Key Performance Indicators in Facility Management and Determination the Weights of Significance
Authors: Rimbalová Jarmila , Vilčeková Silvia
Published: November 2013

The practice of facilities management is rapidly evolving with the increasing interest in the discourse of sustainable development. The industry and its market are forecasted to develop to include non-core functions, activities traditionally not associated with this profession, but which are increasingly being addressed by facilities managers. The scale of growth in the built environment and the consequential growth of the facility management sector is anticipated to be enormous. Key Performance Indicators (KPI) are measure that provides essential information about performance of facility services delivery. In selecting KPI, it is critical to limit them to those factors that are essential to the organization reaching its goals. It is also important to keep the number of KPI small just to keep everyone's attention focused on achieving the same KPIs. This paper deals with the determination of weights of KPI of FM in terms of the design and use of sustainable buildings.
Hawthorne’s Perspectival Perversity: What if “Wakefield” Were (About) a Woman?; or, Credo Quia Absurdum
Authors: Semrau Janusz
Published: November 2013

Although “Wakefield” opens as a leisurely mnemonic act, it turns into an intensely emotional affair. However, the stance of moral indignation and, indeed, condemnation adopted in many readings of this classic tale seems to be a monological trap, an interpretive ride along Einbahnstrasse. The present close re-reading draws on the combined appreciation of perversity as (i) formal figuration in which the bearings of the original are reversed, (ii) attitudinal disposition to proceed against the weight of evidence (the so-called ‘being stubborn in error’). Building on this logic, the paper offers a transcriptive anti-type response to Hawthorne’s title. It is meant as a detour of understanding and a reclamation of a seemingly obvious relational and denotative proposition. Inasmuch as “Wakefield” is a distinctive rhetorical performance, foundationally a story about story-telling, its title can be naturalized as identifying the story-teller. Even if this does not come across as lucius ordo, it is argued that the order of reappropriative and be-longing signification is that of Mrs. rather than - as is commonly believed - that of Mr. Wakefield. Informed by object permanence and a peculiar looking bias, “Wakefield” proves to be her-tale rather than his-story. As a secret sharer and a would be-speaking gaze, the wife turns out to be a structural and existential pivot of the narrative. More broadly, Mrs. Wakefield can be appreciated as coarticulator of a ventriloquistic logos and choreographer of a telescopic parallactic vision. Unintentional challenge to both the heresy of paraphrase and the aesthetics of astonishment, this is ultimately to proffer a radical Shakespearean/Kantian re-cognition that in certain spheres there obtains nothing absolutely ‘moral’ or ‘immoral’, and it is only a particular perspectival discourse that may make it so.
Neighborhood base at the identity of free paratopological groups
Authors: Elfard Ali Sayed
Published: November 2013

In 1985, V. G. Pestov described a neighborhood base at the
identity of free topological groups on a Tychonoff space in
terms of the elements of the fine uniformity on the Tychonoff
space. In this paper, we extend Postev’s description to the
free paratopological groups where we introduce a neighborhood
base at the identity of free paratopological groups on any
topological space in terms of the elements of the fine quasiuniformity
on the space.
Changes in the Nothern Border of the Home Range of the Dice Snake, Natrix Tessellata (Reptilia, Colubridae), in the Dnipro Basin (Ukraine)
Authors: Nekrasova O. D. , Gavris G. G. , Kuybida V. V.
Published: November 2013

A new distribution boundary of the dice snake, Natrix tessellate (Laurenti, 1768), in Ukraine has been established. The northern edge currently lies within the valley of the middle course of the Dnipro River: Trakhtemyriv Peninsula, Cherkasy Region on the right side (49°59′ N, 31°25′ E); on the left side in Kyiv Region within Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky District: at a fishermen’s station (50°02' N, 31°17' E), yacht club (Kurinoye Estuary 50°02′ N, 31°29′ E); Lubny, Poltava Region (49°58 N, 33°01′ E). These points are located 70-80 km northwards from the previous boundary of the species home range. The level of Natrix tessellata population polymorphism in the North of Cherkasy Region is high; more than 40 % of specimens are dark-colored.