bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A systematic review of school-based interventions targeting social communication behaviors for students with autism
Authors: Sutton Bronwyn M , Webster Amanda A , Westerveld Marleen F
Published: January 2018

Initiating and responding to peers are social communication behaviors which are challenging for students with autism. We reviewed intervention studies set in mainstream elementary schools, which targeted these behaviors and reported on intervention outcomes as well as the resources required for their implementation. A total of 22 studies met the criteria for inclusion. Findings suggest that school-based interventions can increase the frequency and duration of initiating and responding behaviors in elementary school aged students with autism. These interventions were resource-intensive and usually delivered by researchers or teaching assistants away from the classroom. Future research should build on this emerging evidence base to consider interventions which could be implemented by classroom teachers as part of the classroom program.
Branding Internet sovereignty: Digital media and the Chinese–Russian cyberalliance
Authors: Budnitsky Stanislav , Jia Lianrui
Published: January 2018

In the 2000s, China and Russia emerged as outspoken actors with global ambitions. To communicate their status aspirations, both countries introduced a range of nation-branding institutions and initiatives. Global Internet governance – the design and administration of Internet technology and related policymaking – is among the domains where China and Russia have asserted their national brands. The Chinese and Russian governments co-advance the brand narrative of ‘Internet sovereignty’ in opposition to perceived technological and governance hegemony of the United States. Given the power that private online intermediaries wield in the political economy of the Internet, national digital media champions, China’s Baidu and Russia’s Yandex, have been integral to their countries’ Internet branding efforts. The article examines how China and Russia have forged a public–private relationship with respective digital media champions in the context of building and branding an Internet sovereignty agenda.
Long non-coding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 inhibits the apoptosis of retina Müller cells after diabetic retinopathy through regulating miR-497/brain-derived neurotrophic factor axis
Authors: Li Xiu-juan
Published: January 2018

Background:

The role of long non-coding RNA in diabetic retinopathy, a serious complication of diabetes mellitus, has attracted increasing attention in recent years. The purpose of this study was to explore whether long non-coding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 was involved in the context of diabetic retinopathy and its underlying mechanisms.

Results:

Our results revealed that nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 was significantly downregulated in the retina of diabetes mellitus rats. Meanwhile, miR-497 was significantly increased in diabetes mellitus rats’ retina and high glucose–treated Müller cells, but brain-derived neurotrophic factor was increased. We also found that high glucose–induced apoptosis of Müller cells was accompanied by the significant downregulation of nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 in vitro. Further study demonstrated that high glucose–promoted Müller cells apoptosis through downregulating nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 and downregulated nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 mediated this effect via negative regulating miR-497. Moreover, brain-derived neurotrophic factor was negatively regulated by miR-497 and associated with the apoptosis of Müller cells under high glucose.

Conclusion:

Our results suggested that under diabetic conditions, downregulated nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 decreased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor through elevating miR-497, thereby promoting Müller cells apoptosis and aggravating diabetic retinopathy.
Cloud-based radio frequency identification authentication protocol with location privacy protection
Authors: Dong Qingkuan , Chen Mengmeng , Li Lulu , Fan Kai
Published: January 2018

With the development of the Internet of things and cloud storage, a large number of objects access to the Internet through radio frequency identification technology, cloud-based radio frequency identification system attracts more attention because it can reduce the costs of system maintenance by renting the cloud storage service on demand. Especially, it is very suitable for the small- and medium-sized enterprises. However, the security and privacy issues of the cloud-based radio frequency identification system are more serious than traditional radio frequency identification systems. The link between the reader and the cloud is no longer secure, and the cloud service provider is not trusted. Both the location privacy of the reader and the data privacy of the radio frequency identification system are not able to be exposed to the cloud service provider. In this article, a cloud-based radio frequency identification authentication protocol is proposed. It considers not only the mutual authentication between the reader and the tag, but also the security of data transmission between the reader and the cloud database. In particular, in order to solve the reader’s location privacy problem, the proposed scheme introduces MIPv6 network framework without adding additional infrastructure. The experimental verification with AVISPA tool shows that the protocol satisfies the mutual authentication property. Compared with other cloud-based schemes, the proposed protocol has obvious advantages in deployment cost, scalability, real-time authentication, and the tag’s computational complexity.
Interconnection algorithm of a wide range of pervasive devices for the Internet of things
Authors: Chi Tao , Chen Ming
Published: January 2018

With the rapid development of wireless communications for network of things, more and more models for such networks-on-chip architectures have been created and used in a wide range of applications. In this article, the behaviors of wireless communications for such networks-on-chip architectures are analyzed at two layers. The physical layer behaviors consist of what frequency is used, how and when signals are transmitted, and how transceivers’ responses are decoded. The medium access control layer behavior consists of how to provide a reliable link between two peer medium access control entities. For the optimization objective of each layer, the specific problems surrounding the design of combined radio frequency identification/Bluetooth/Wi-Fi chips are considered at their respective layer, and then, corresponding optimization methods are carried out. The problem of optimization is defined as a linear programming problem in which each active transceiver is assigned to a channel on condition that all the constraint is met on every link. Each optimization procedure proposed in this article is performed through the adaptation of its objective, from each one of these layers, in order to minimize interference previously specified. In principle, the optimization can be made layer by layer separately. The optimization criteria consist of a specification of the behaviors of wireless communications (radio frequency identification, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) and a set of constraints and goals. Our approach is to perform it independently within the given task, where the given task can be achieved with its sequencing graph entities, including automate selection, binding, and scheduling. We have implemented our algorithms on a field-programmable gate array and applied them to some off-the-shelf products. This methodology looks promising, not only for the results presented and obtained through computer simulations but also for its generality concerning to the kind of wireless network system used. Therefore, such methodology is expandable either to multi-core networks-on-chip architecture or also to the off-the-shelf products.
Socioeconomic Status and Student Opportunity: A Case of Disrespect or Teenage Rebellion?
Authors: Beese Jane A. , Martin Jennifer
Published: January 2018

This case involves inner city students situated within a summer program purported to meet their needs. The administrators charged with creating this program do not necessarily understand the identities of their students or the community needs and desires. This case hinges on the conflict of whether students should be disciplined for using their public transportation bus passes, provided by the summer program and to be used only for that purpose, for other purposes. This case highlights issues of racial spotlighting, racial animus, and cultural mismatch.
Timeline Drawing and the Online Scrapbook
Authors: Chen Annie T.
Published: January 2018

This article explores the use of two visual methods to facilitate elicitation of temporal data in a qualitative interview study—specifically, a timeline drawing activity and collaborative viewing of an interface for visualizing personal social media histories, the Online Scrapbook—for eliciting participants’ recollections and reflections upon their experience of chronic illness. This study makes a novel contribution in the use of an interactive, data-driven timeline based on social media participation to elicit personal reflections. Both elicitation techniques were effective for encouraging participants to tell their story and take a closer look at their own experiences in their respective ways. Whereas the timeline drawing activity gave participants the opportunity to share their illness experiences from their own perspective, the Online Scrapbook facilitated a multidimensional exploration of how participants interacted with their surrounding online and offline environments, enabled participants to revisit their past through their own digital artifacts, and supported a deeper exploration of participants’ information behaviors. The article examines how the timeline drawing activity and the Online Scrapbook viewing activity were used together in the same study to bring out the richness and complexity of the relationship between information behavior and health management, and facilitate a nuanced view of participants’ lives.
Korean clergy for healthy families: online intervention for preventing intimate partner violence
Authors: Choi Y. Joon , Orpinas Pamela , Kim Irang , Ko Kyung Soon
Published: January 2018

Background:

Intimate partner violence (IPV) among immigrant women is a serious public health problem. Churches and clergy play a fundamental role in their lives, as a form of social organization and alternative to community services.

Purpose:

To describe the implementation and evaluation of an intervention for Korean American faith leaders designed to increase knowledge about IPV and about resources to handle IPV, strengthen attitudes that do not support IPV, enhance self-efficacy to handle IPV, and increase prevention and intervention behaviors about IPV.

Methods:

Korean American faith leaders in a Southeastern state of the USA were invited to participate in the study ( n = 55). Participants completed two online assessments: baseline and a 3-month follow-up. After the baseline assessment, participants were randomized to either the intervention ( n = 27) or the control ( n = 28) group. The intervention consisted of three online modules, each taking approximately 30–45 min to complete. Modules were developed based on the researchers’ work with Korean American faith leaders. Assessments and interventions were available in Korean and English.

Results:

Compared to the control group, the intervention group significantly improved their knowledge of resources and enhanced attitudes against IPV. The intervention group increased their self-efficacy and behaviors to prevent IPV more than the control group, but these changes were not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

The online training provided a safe and convenient environment for the Korean American clergy, for whom anonymity and convenient access were important. Results are promising, but highlight the need to include more specific training of skills, which could be incorporated into the online modules in the form of an avatar. This online training could serve as a template to be adapted for other immigrant groups.
Longitudinal assessment of gray matter volumes and white matter integrity in patients with medication-overuse headache
Authors: Beckmann Yesim , Gökçe Sevgin , Zorlu Nabi , Türe H Sabiha , Gelal Fazıl
Published: January 2018

Background

Medication-overuse headache is a common clinical entity, but neuroimaging studies investigating volumetric and microstructural alterations of the brain in medication-overuse headache are rare. Therefore, in the current longitidunal study we evaluated gray matter volume and white matter integrity in patients with medication-overuse headache before and after drug withdrawal.

Methods

A prospective study evaluated 27 patients with medication-overuse headache and 27 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy adults. High-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging were obtained from the control group and medication-overuse headache patients before and six months after drug withdrawal. Tract-based spatial statistics of multiple diffusivity indices and voxel-based morphometry were employed to investigate white and gray matter abnormalities.

Results

No correlation was found between age, gender, education and smoking status in both groups. The most commonly overused medications were simple analgesics (96.3%) and combined analgesics (3.7%). The mean duration of the history of medication overuse and headaches was 56.7 ± 63.5 months. White matter diffusional and gray matter morphological alterations including volume, fractional anisotropy, radial diffusivity, and axial diffusivity analyses showed no significant relationship in the patients before and six months after withdrawal of analgesics. Also no difference was observed between the patients versus controls.

Conclusion

Our data demonstrated no structural alterations within the brain in medication-overuse headache.
Efficacy of oral metformin in a patient with metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma: Examination of mechanisms and therapeutic implications
Authors: Peixoto RD , Gomes LM , Sousa TT , Racy DJ , Shigenaga M , Nagourney RA
Published: January 2018

Although rare, adrenocortical carcinoma is among the most common tumors found in children with Li-Fraumeni syndrome and Li-Fraumeni-like syndrome, associated with germ-line mutations in the TP53 gene. In southern Brazil, one form of Li-Fraumeni syndrome, associated with childhood adrenocortical carcinoma, is caused by a mutation in the R337H TP53 tetramerisation domain and is attributed to a familial founder effect. Adrenocortical carcinoma is considered an aggressive neoplasm, usually of poor prognosis and is generally unresponsive to systemic chemotherapy. Optimal treatment regimens remain to be established. We report the case of a young woman with metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma, who achieved stable disease with mitotane, cisplatin, doxorubicin, and etoposide as first-line therapy, but then had an objective response to oral metformin that lasted 9 months. The presence of the R337H TP53 mutation suggests a mechanism for the observed response to metformin.
The Science and Clinical Applications of Placental Tissues in Spine Surgery
Authors: Shaw K. Aaron , Parada Stephen A. , Gloystein David M. , Devine John G.
Published: January 2018

Study Design:

Narrative literature review.

Objectives:

Placental tissue, amniotic/chorionic membrane, and umbilical cord have seen a recent expansion in their clinical application in various fields of surgery. It is important for practicing surgeons to know the underlying science, especially as it relates to spine surgery, to understand the rationale and clinical indication, if any, for their usage.

Methods:

A literature search was performed using PubMed and MEDLINE databases to identify studies reporting the application of placental tissues as it relates to the practicing spine surgeon. Four areas of interest were identified and a comprehensive review was performed of available literature.

Results:

Clinical application of placental tissue holds promise with regard to treatment of intervertebral disc pathology, preventing epidural fibrosis, spinal dysraphism closure, and spinal cord injury; however, there is an overall paucity of high-quality evidence. As such, evidence-based guidelines for its clinical application are currently unavailable.

Conclusions:

There is no high-level clinical evidence to support the application of placental tissue for spinal surgery, although it does hold promise for several areas of interest for the practicing spine surgeon. High-quality research is needed to define the clinical effectiveness and indications of placental tissue as it relates to spine surgery.
Opana ER (Oxymorphone)–Induced Thrombotic Microangiopathy: An Atypical Presentation in a Patient With Hepatitis C
Authors: Mehmood Hassan , Khan Muzammil , Marwat Asghar , Joshi Medha , Malhotra Varun
Published: January 2018

Oxymorphone is a semisynthetic extended release opiate used to treat moderate to severe chronic pain. The Food and Drug Administration approved the oral form of oxymorphone available as Opana and Opana ER (extended release) since 2006. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued warning against intravenous use of Opana ER. We are presenting a case report of a 37-year-old female with a history of active intravenous drug abuse who presented to our hospital with acute kidney injury. Urinalysis showed red blood cell sediments, many dysmorphic red blood cell casts along with nephrotic range proteinuria of 12 g/deal per day. Kidney biopsy showed microscopic thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) involving glomeruli and vessels. Further workup was undertaken for TMA, and apart from mildly elevated lactate dehydrogenase of 380 (normal <243), active hepatitis C, and slightly low ADAMTS-13 (55%), there was no other laboratory evidence of TMA. On literature search, we found that intravenous injection of chronic Opana ER has been reported to cause TMA resulting in chronic kidney disease. Our patient also admitted to use of intravenous Opana ER abuse for the past 5 years. She had a normal platelet count and an absence of schistocytes, which makes it an atypical presentation of TMA resulting in chronic kidney disease in an opiate user. We strongly urge physicians to avoid prescribing opiates for chronic pain, especially Opana ER, which if injected intravenously for recreational purposes can lead to serious side effects like TMA. Treatment is mainly supportive and avoidance of drug in future.
Utilization of Social Media Platforms for Educational Purposes among the Faculty of Higher Education with Special Reference to Tamil Nadu
Authors: Vivakaran Mangala Vadivu , Neelamalar M.
Published: January 2018

Social media tools are observed to play a vital role in the renovation of the conventional teaching and learning practices across the globe. Though primarily developed for online social communication, social media platforms tend to possess suitable tools that can be used for instructional purposes in order to initiate active learning among students. Additionally, the social publishing features that support User Generated Content (UGC) act as powerful drivers in converting social media sites into informal, networked and constructive virtual learning environments.

The present study aims to analyse the use of social media platforms for educational purposes in developing nations such as India. The study intends to examine the penetration and reception of social media platforms in higher educational institutions in urban as well as the technologically deprived rural areas. An extensive survey was conducted among the faculty members in the higher educational institutions in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The research reveals the present diffusion level of social software in the academic sector of Tamil Nadu, a state containing a varied technological landscape due to its internal digital divide and many other infrastructural discrepancies. Additionally, factors that induce and the barriers that affect the pedagogical employment of social media tools by the higher education faculty members have been identified.
Pedagogical Practices and Students’ Experiences in Eritrean Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Tsegay Samson Maekele , Zegergish Mulgeta Zemuy , Ashraf Muhammad Azeem
Published: January 2018

Using semi-structured interview and review of documents, this study analyzes the pedagogical practices and students’ experiences in Eritrean Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The study indicated that pedagogical practices are affected by instructors’ pedagogical skills and perceptions, and the teaching-learning environment. Moreover, the pedagogical practices that instructors use determine the pedagogical experiences of students and shape their socio-economic and political perspectives. Despite its small scale, the study provides a more robust explanation of the connections between instructors’ pedagogical practices and experiences of students. It can also be applied to other countries, especially developing countries with similar circumstances. The study implies that skilled instructors employ interactive pedagogy connecting theory and practice, even in a large class size. Hence, instructors need to be trained, well equipped and motivated to improve their teaching skills and attitudes.
Finding Unity: Christian Reflections on Overcoming the Inter-Korean Division
Authors: Son Sarah A.
Published: January 2018

This collection of articles considers the problem of inter-Korean division from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, including history, missiology, theology, and political science. It provides fresh insights into the ideational structures that perpetuate the division, particularly in relation to identity and ideology, which have made the inter-Korean conflict seem so intractable. Each author addresses these issues in different ways, while providing a range of recommendations through which reconciliation, and ultimately reunification, might be achieved, and the key role the Christian church might play in such a process.
Contested South Korean Identities of Reunification and Christian Paradigms of Reconciliation
Authors: Rice Chris
Published: January 2018

South Koreans, including church members, remain deeply divided about the pathway to any future reunification with North Korea. One form of division lies in the contested South Korean identities regarding North Korea and their implications for national identity, policy, and how South Koreans must change for a peaceful future with the North to become possible. This article identifies four prevailing South Korean identities regarding North Korea and reunification: Enemy Nation, Another Country, Disadvantaged Sibling, and Ruptured Family. We then consider five paradigms from the Christian tradition as responses to the contested identities via the biblical priority for peace and reconciliation.
Short-Run and Long-Run Effects of Milton Friedman's Presidential Address
Authors: Hall Robert E. , Sargent Thomas J.
Published: January 2018

The centerpiece of Milton Friedman's (1968) presidential address to the American Economic Association, delivered in Washington, DC, on December 29, 1967, was the striking proposition that monetary policy has no longer-run effects on the real economy. Friedman focused on two real measures, the unemployment rate and the real interest rate, but the message was broader—in the longer run, monetary policy controls only the price level. We call this the monetary-policy invariance hypothesis. By 1968, macroeconomics had adopted the basic Phillips curve as the favored model of correlations between inflation and unemployment, and Friedman used the Phillips curve in the exposition of the invariance hypothesis. Friedman's presidential address was commonly interpreted as a recommendation to add a previously omitted variable, the rate of inflation anticipated by the public, to the right-hand side of what then became an augmented Phillips curve. We believe that Friedman's main message, the invariance hypothesis about long-term outcomes, has prevailed over the last half-century based on the broad sweep of evidence from many economies over many years. Subsequent research has not been kind to the Phillips curve, but we will argue that Friedman's exposition of the invariance hypothesis in terms of a 1960s-style Phillips curve is incidental to his main message.
Do Economists Swing for the Fences after Tenure?
Authors: Brogaard Jonathan , Engelberg Joseph , Van Wesep Edward
Published: January 2018

Using a sample of all academics who pass through top 50 economics and finance departments from 1996 through 2014, we study whether the granting of tenure leads faculty to pursue riskier ideas. We use the extreme tails of ex-post citations as our measure of risk and find that both the number of publications and the portion consisting of “home runs” peak at tenure and fall steadily for a decade thereafter. Similar patterns hold for faculty at elite (top 10) institutions and for faculty who take differing time to tenure. We find the opposite pattern among poorly cited publications: their numbers rise post-tenure.
Sand Castles Before the Tide? Affordable Housing in Expensive Cities
Authors: Metcalf Gabriel
Published: January 2018

This article focuses on cities with unprecedented economic success and a seemingly permanent crisis of affordable housing. In the expensive cities, policymakers expend great amounts of energy trying to bring down housing costs with subsidies for affordable housing and sometimes with rent control. But these efforts are undermined by planning decisions that make housing for most people vastly more expensive than it has to be by restricting the supply of new units even in the face of growing demand. I begin by describing current housing policy in the expensive metro areas of the United States. I then show how this combination of policies affecting housing, despite internal contradictions, makes sense from the perspective of the political coalitions that can form in a setting of fragmented local jurisdictions, local control over land use policies, and homeowner control over local government. Finally, I propose some more effective approaches to housing policy. My view is that the effects of the formal affordable housing policies of expensive cities are quite small in their impact when compared to the size of the problem—like sand castles before the tide. I will argue that we can do more, potentially much more, to create subsidized affordable housing in high-cost American cities. But more fundamentally, we will need to rethink the broader set of exclusionary land use policies that are the primary reason that housing in these cities has become so expensive. We cannot solve the problem unless we fix the housing market itself.
Crédito com garantia
Authors: Schiozer Rafael , Vilar Orlando
Published: January 2018

Tecnologias emergentes permitem a criação de sistemas de verificação que reduzem riscos e aumentam o volume de empréstimos.
Cuidado com o paciente
Authors: Schiesari Laura
Published: January 2018

Erros de medicação, infecções hospitalares, quedas, falhas de comunicação, custos elevados. Só com melhores processos de qualidade e segurança será possível diminuir esses problemas.
Vias para o comércio eletrônico
Authors: Miguel Priscila Laczynski de Souza , Fernandes Paulo
Published: January 2018

As vendas on-line possibilitam melhorar a oferta e reduzir gastos, mas é preciso investir em novos sistemas de logística para gerenciar informações e otimizar transporte.
E depois de 2018?
Authors: Sandroni Paulo
Published: January 2018

Para o ajuste fiscal, será inevitável aumentar a arrecadação tributária. Sugiro progressividade em impostos lançados sobre o patrimônio das pessoas físicas.
Some principles of ostriches nutrition and their products.
Authors: CHRISTAKI (Ε. ΧΡΗΣΤΑΚΗ) E.
Published: January 2018

The ostriches have been farmed for about 150 years in South Africa. They are flightless birds but fast runners. Adults usually weigh more than 130 kg and stand up to 2.7 m tall. Domesticated ostriches reach maturity at 2-3 years old. Theirgastrointestinal tract is more similar to that of ruminants than to poultry's. The ostriches derive a lot of energy from feed fibre through the production of volatile fatty acids, in large intestine. The ostriches tend to be a credible competitor in the red meat market because of the quality of its meat (low in cholesterol and fat, high protein) .The eggs and nearly all parts, feathers, leather and meat, of the slaughtered ostrich can be used for commercial purposes.
Milk production and milk composition of the Boutsko bred of ewes in Epirus
Authors: FOLINAS (Γ. Σ. ΦΩΛΙΝΑΣ) S. G.
Published: January 2018

A flock of 244 hill sheep of the indigenous Boutsko breed of Epirus (NW of Greece), 1-6 years old, reared under a transhumance system was used to study their milk productivity for a period of 14 months (March - June of next year). In addition three groups of ewes, aged 3 to 4 years (group A with 10 ewes suckling a single male lamb, group Βwith 10 ewes suckling a single female lamb and group C with 10 ewes suckling twin lambs) were kept under the same conditions of nutrition and management with the rest of the above flock. They were studied for a 26-week lactation period (4-week suckling period. 22-week milking period) to assess the effect of sex and number of lambs suckled on milk yield, milk composition and body reserves. The results of the study have been summarized as follows: 1) Lactation period (suckling period=4 weeks, milking period=32 weeks) was very long (36 weeks). Throughout milking period milk production of the ewes was 93.7 Kg. Of this 82.3% was produced during the winter period and 17.7% during the summer period. Persistency of milk production was low. One month after weaning of lambs the milk yield of ewes was reduced by 49% and 44% of the level at weaning for singlesuckled and twin-suckled ewes, respectively. 2) Throughout lactation, milk yield and milk composition were not affected by sex of lambs suckled. However, milk yield of ewes was affected by the number of suckled lambs; twin-suckled ewes produced more milk during the suckling period ( + 15.7%, Ρ < 0.05) and milking period (+21.8%, Ρ < 0.05) than those of single-suckled ewes. Fat, protein and dry matter concentration of milk was lower (P<0.05) in twin-suckled ewes than in single-suckled ewes. Concentration of all milk constituents was affected by stage of lactation (P<0.05).
Swine leptospirosis: the disease and the relation with public health
Authors: VAROUDIS (Λ.Β. ΒΑΡΟΥΔΗΣ) V. L. , SAOULIDIS (Κ. ΣΑΟΥΛΙΔΗΣ) K. , SARRIS (Κ. ΣΑΡΡΗΣ) K. , ANTONIADIS (Α. ΑΝΤΩΝΙΑΔΗΣ) A. , KYRIAKIS (Σ.K. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗΣ) S. C.
Published: January 2018

Swine leptospirosis is an important bacterial disease known from the past century. At present its significance is underestimated contrary to the epidemiological and other scientific evidences. This review is dealing with aetiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical signs, post mortem findings, diagnosis, treatment and control measures of swine leptospirosis. Finally the relation of leptospirosis, in general, with public health is examined.
Pyometra in the bitch
Authors: VERVERIDIS (Χ. ΒΕΡΒΕΡΙΔΗΣ) H. , BOSCOS (Κ. ΜΠΟΣΚΟΣ) C.
Published: January 2018

Pyometra is the final stage of a developing cystic endometrial hyperplasia. The aetiopathogenesis remains unresolved. Repeated barren oestrus cycles, excessive use of progestins or oestrogens as well as a bacterial infection of the endometrium contribute to the development of pyometra. Pyometra sould be suspected if, a post-estrous, usually aged bitch is presented with a varying degree of depression, inappétence, polydipsia, polyuria, dehydration, abdominal distension, manifesting or not an abnormal vulvar discharge. Abdominal radiography or ultrasonograpy can confirm the diagnosis. Laboratory findings prove to be helpful in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Ovariohysterectomy is the treatment of choice along with proper fluid and antimicrobial therapy for aged or severely ill bitches or for those with low breeding value. Medical treatment with Prostaglandin F2a combined with bactericidal antibiotics can be recommended, provided that the bitch is young, of high breeding value and with mild clinical signs.
Microbiological quality of surimi-based imitation crab
Authors: SOULTOS (Ν. ΣΟΥΛΤΟΣ) N. , ABRAHIM (Α. ΑΜΠΡΑΧΙΜ) A. , THEOLOGIDOU (Ε. ΘΕΟΛΟΓΙΔΟΥ) E. , KARAIOANNOGLOU (ΠΡ. ΚΑΡΑΪΩΑΝΝΟΓΛΟΥ) Pr. , KANSOUZIDOU (Α. ΚΑΝΣΟΥΖΙΔΟΥ) A.
Published: January 2018

A survey was conducted to evaluate the microbiological quality of sliced, vacuumpacked, surimi-based imitation crab at the retail level, during a 3-month storage period. The roll shaped product imported from France, was sliced and packed in a fishery processing plant in the region of Thessaloniki. Twenty five samples were examined each month, and a total of 75 samples were examined during the three month storage period of the product. Psychrotropic, lactic acid and coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli I, yeasts, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Listeria spp. and Escherichia coli Θ157:Η7, were used as microbial indices, to evaluate the microbiological quality of the product. The following conclusions were derived from the evaluation of the results of the microbiological examinations. 1) The microbiological condition of the crab meat analogs examined on the 15th day of storage, was found satisfactory, since microbial populations were very low, while pathogenic bacteria were not detected in any of the examined samples. 2) The overall microbiological quality of the samples examined at the end of the second month of storage, was also good, since psychrotrophic and lactic acid bacteria exceeded 1Θ7 log cfu/g only in one sample), while coliform bacteria were not detected in 60% of the samples and Escherichia coli I was detected only in one sample. The mean value of the yeasts was 2.84 log cfu/g, while molds were not detected in any of samples examined. 3) The microbiological quality of the samples examined at the end of the three months storage period was not satisfactory, since the microbial indices in the majority of the samples (80%), were rather high. S. aureus, Salmonella spp, Listeria s pp. and E. coli 0157:H7 were not detected in any sample, during the three month storage period.
An outbreak of dermatophilosis in a dairy cattle farm in the area of Thessaloniki.
Authors: GIADINIS (Ν. ΓΙΑΔΙΝΗΣ) N. , SARIDOMICHELAKIS (Μ.Ν. ΣΑΡΙΔΟΜΙΧΕΛΑΚΗΣ) M. N. , KOUTINAS (Α. Φ. ΚΟΥΤΙΝΑΣ) A. F. , KARATZIAS (Χ. ΚΑΡΑΤΖΙΑΣ) H.
Published: January 2018

A retrospective study of an outbreak of dermatophilosis in a dairy cattle farm of 40 cows, 12 heifers, 15 bullocks and 10 newborn calves, in the area of Thessaloniki, is presented. To our knowledge this is the first time such an outbreak has been reported in Greece. In 62 of the 77 animals (80.5%) the characteristic skin lesions of the chronic form of the disease were found. None of the bullocks, which did not have access to the open yard, were clinically affected. The disease first appeared in the farm soon after a tractor had been used to dispose the manure from the yard. The mildly painful lesions, involving various parts of the hairy and glabrous skin, were characterized by dry and thick crusts, erythema, hyperpigmentation, erosions and alopecia. Due to the chronic nature of the disease, diagnosis was based on the clinical appearance and skin histopathology, where the organisms were demonstrated with difficulty within the keratin of the crusts, appearing as chains of two parallel rows of coccoid cells. Clinical resolution occurred within a few weeks after one injection of long-acting Oxytetracycline. No recurrence of the disease has ever been reported. Despite the zoonotic potential of dermatophilosis, none of the people who had been in contact with the infected cattle developed skin lesions.
Food contamination with cadmium-A review.
Authors: PAPAVERGOU (Α. ΠΑΠΑΒΕΡΓΟΥ) A. , GEORGANTELIS (Δ. ΓΕΩΡΓΑΝΤΕΛΗΣ) D. , VARELTZIS (Κ. ΒΑΡΕΛΤΖΗΣ) K.
Published: January 2018

Levels of cadmium in the environment have drastically increased over the last decades, as a result of human activity. This cadmium pollution is transferred to the human food chain resulting in elevated concentrations in some foods such as vegetables and grain crops, animal liver and kidney and especially seafood. Cadmium ingested by animals and humans, accumulates mainly in the renal cortex and may result in a variety of toxic effects, such as renal damage, bone degeneration and cancer. Taking into account the rather elevated concentrations of cadmium in offal and seafood appearing in the international literature, a continuous control of such products is suggested as necessary in order to protect consumers from any undue exposure to this heavy metal.
Morphological and reproductive characteristics of the Boutsko sheep of Epirus
Authors: FOLINAS (Γ. Σ. ΦΩΛΙΝΑΣ) S. G.
Published: January 2018

A flock of 244 hill sheep of the indigenous Boutsko breed of Epirus (NW of Greece), 1-6 years old, kept under a transhumance system, was used to study their morphological and reproductive characteristics for a period of 14 months (March -June of next year). The results of the study could be summarized as follows: 1) The Boutsko sheep studied is a rather small indigenous hill breed (mature body weight of ewes=40,7±0,37 Kg and rams = 54,4±l,82 Kg) with hardness, longevity, early maturity and high adaptability to the harsh environmental conditions of being its most important characteristics. 2) The mating period begins relatively early (June) lasts until September, with ewes being mated first, followed by ewe hoggs and gimmers. 3) Pregnancy duration was 144,3 ±0,09 and 146,5± 0,07 days for the ewes bearing twin and single Iambs, respectively (P<0,001) and 144,0 and 145,9±0,12 days for the gimmers bearing twin and single lambs, respectively (P<0,05). Body condition score of animals at the end of pregnancy remained satisfactory (3.25 ±0,14). 4) Fertility of the animals was high. All females were mated and lambed. Lambing rate at birth and at weaning was 1,25 and 1,04, respectively.
Postparturient liver diseases of dairy cattle (Ketosis, fatty liver). II. Management principles
Authors: PANOUSIS (Ν. ΠΑΝΟΥΣΗΣ) N. , KARATZIAS (Χ. ΚΑΡΑΤΖΙΑΣ) H.
Published: January 2018

Two of the commonest in practice postparturient liver diseases of dairy cows, ketosis and fatty liver, are discussed in this paper. It is not uncommon for both diseases to occur simultaneously, or each to act as a predisposing factor for the other. Clinical findings are nonspecific and certain biochemical parameters can be used as diagnostic tools. Treatment is focused in restoring glucose and energy balance of the affected animals with the administration of glucose, glucogenic substances, corticosteroids, insulin and lipotropic agents. Prevention aims in proper herd management, especially in terms of feeding rations.
Experimental trial of bioencapsulation of antimicrobial agent for the treatment of bacterial etiology diseases in seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fry. Evaluation of different therapeutic regimes
Authors: MOURELATOS (Σ. ΜΟΥΡΕΛΑΤΟΣ) S. , TOURAKI (Μ. ΤΟΥΡΑΚΗ) M. , SAVVIDIS (Γ. ΣΑΒΒΙΔΗΣ) G. , SOULOUNIAS (Γ. ΣΟΥΛΟΥΝΙΑΣ) G. , KASTRITSIS (Κ. ΚΑΣΤΡΙΤΣΗΣ) K.
Published: January 2018

Early stages of larval development of seabass and seabream are typically fed with live feeds (nauplii of Artemia). The different disease of microbial etiology with important economic consequences, constitute one of the most significant problems during this first larval period. Therapeutic interventions, implying oral delivery of appropriate antimicrobial agents, are considered more feasible and environmentally friendly. The method used consists in techniques of bioencapsulation (incorporation of therapeutics in the live feeds). In specially designed facilities of the Laboratory of General Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in the frame of a European Union research programme, experimental trials were carried out on seabass fry with Vibrio anguillarum strains, aiming at the optimisation of therapeutic and/or preventive schemes. Within this work, comparative results from separate experimental sets (each set comprising eight different experimental series [conditions], each series having five aliquots) are presented. The experimentation will be continued by using different strains and different bacterial species and by testing other relevant experimental protocols.
Feline Coronavirus infections and feline infectious peritonitis
Authors: TZIVARA (Α. ΤΖΙΒΑΡΑ) A. , KRITAS (Σ.Κ. ΚΡΗΤΑΣ) S. K.
Published: January 2018

Cats are susceptible to infection with several different strains of feline Coronavirus. Depending on the involved strain, clinical signs may range from asymptomatic infection to gastrointestinal disease or fibrinous serositis and disseminated vasculitis, commonly known as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Excretion of virus by infected cats into the environment occurs by faeces, oronasal secretions and urine. The feline coronaviruses are rapidly inactivated by most disinfectants. Clinical diagnosis of Coronavirus infection is made by evaluating the case history, physical findings, laboratory results, Coronavirus antibody titers and tissue biopsy. A temperature-sensitive feline infectious peritonitis virus vaccine has become available for healthy 16 week of age or older cats.
Laminitis in dairy cows
Authors: PANOUSIS (Ν. ΠΑΝΟΥΣΗΣ) N. , KARATZIAS (Χ. ΚΑΡΑΤΖΙΑΣ) H.
Published: January 2018

Laminitis is currently considered one of the commonest causes of lameness in dairy cows in Greece. Nutrition, especially rations based on concentrated feedstuffs, herd management and genetic factors are involved in the etiopathogenesis of the disease. The causative agents, formed usually in the digestive tract, reach the heels via systemic circulation, damaging initially the dermis and subsequently the deeper tissues, thus disrupting normal keratin formation. The disease is characterized by a chronic, or even subclinical course and pathognomonic lesions, like ecchymoses and ulcers in the hindlimb hoof soles. Since early diagnosis is usually missed, preventive measures focused mainly on proper nutrition, herd management and breeding strategies constitute the only possible treatment.
Laparoscopie collection and transfer of Chios sheep embryos
Authors: AMIRIDIS (Γ.Σ. ΑΜΟΙΡΙΔΗΣ) G. S. , KUEHHOLZER B. , BESENFELDER U. , LYMBEROPOULOS (Α. ΛΥΜΠΕΡΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ) A. , VAINAS (Ε. ΒΑΪΝΑΣ) E.
Published: January 2018

The efficiency of two different laparoscopic techniques for embryo collection was examined. Two groups (A and B) of 12 Chios breed ewes were used as donors and 20 crossbred Chios ewes as recipients. Oestrus was synchronised by intravaginal sponges, the donors were supervoulated by 8,8 mg of ovine FSH and laparoscopic intrauterine artificial insemination was conducted with extended fresh ram semen. Embryo collection was carried out the 6th day after AI. The uteri of the animals of group A were flushed after catheterisation of the ipsilateral oviduct. In the animals of group Β a flushing catheter was inserted close to the tip of the horn. Fifty nine and 46 embryos were collected from groups A and Β corresponding to recovery rate of 51.75% and 39% respectively (P>0.05). Laparoscopic transfer of 43 fresh embryos resulted to 11 (55%) pregnancies with (39.5%) surviving fetuses.
A retrospective study of 10 spontaneous cases of feline atopic dermatitis (1995-1997)
Authors: SARIDOMICHELAKIS (Μ. Ν. ΣΑΡΙΔΟΜΙΧΕΛΑΚΗΣ) M. N. , KOUTINAS (Α.Φ. ΚΟΥΤΙΝΑΣ) A. F.
Published: January 2018

Ten atopic cats (5 DSH, 4 Siamese, one Persian) were admitted to the Clinic of Companion Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, A.U.T., because of a seasonal (3/10) or nonseasonal (1/10) pruritic skin disease. The seasonal pattern of the clinical signs could not be established in the rest 6 cats. The presenting cutaneous syndromes were miliary dermatitis (6 cats), self- induced alopecia - hypotrichosis (5 cats), indolent ulcer (one cat), linear eosinophilic granuloma (one cat) and head and neck self - inflicted dermatitis (one cat), some appearing alone (5/10) or in various combinations (4/10). One cat had a generalized but non - lesionai pruritus. The onset of these manifestations ranged from 6 months to 8.5 years. The aeroallergens implicated by the ID skin test were Dermatophagoides farinae (9/10), D. pteronyssinus (4/10), Acarus siro (4/10), house dust, cottonseed and tree pollens (2/10) and grass and weed pollens (1/10). ID test reactions to single or multiple aeroallergens were detected in 2 and 8 cats, respectively. Although 5 of the 10 atopic cats also reacted positive to ID test with flea allergen, there was not strong evidence that flea allergic dermatitis had been coexisting in 4 of them. Other conditions associated (conjuctivitis, bronchial asthma) or not (otodectic otitis externa) with feline atopy were seen in 3 cats.
Observations on blood figure of sheep infected with Dicrocoelium dendriticum
Authors: THEODORIDIS (Ι. ΘΕΟΔΩΡΙΔΗΣ) Y. , SOTIRAKI (Σ. ΣΩΤΗΡΑΚΗ) S. , PAPADOPOULOS (Η. ΠΑΠΑΔΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ) E.
Published: January 2018

Total protein, serum albumin, serum iron and haematocrit of 21 mixed breed female sheep were examined in order to clarify the pathogenicity of Dicrocoelium dendriticum in these animals. The animals were placed individually in metabolic cages and divided into three groups depending on the presence of the worm burden, after their slaughtering and liver examination. The first one was composed of six animals with high D. dendriticum burden (4.800-8.180 parasites), the second of seven with a moderate burden (400-2.720 parasites) and the third which was composed of eight animals, was the control and its worm burden ranged between 0 and 37 parasites. In the begining of the experiment, all sheep were treated, with anthelmintic drugs and an insecticide against cestode and nematode parasites and ectoparasites. Additionally, the control group was treated with a drug against D. dendriticum. All sheep were free of Fasciola hepatica and lung nematodes. During the study, three blood samplings were taken for total protein,serum albumin and serum iron and every day for haematocrit. The first blood sampling was taken the same day with the anthelmintic treatment and the other two, three and four weeks later. There were no statistically significant differences when the group mean values were compared either between the different dates of sampling in the same group or between the different groups,with the exception of serum albumin in the highly infected group, which appeared to be improved in the 2nd and 3rd blood examinations. Finalty, according to the not significant changes in the blood figures, in combination with the other radioisotopic  measurments, which took place earlier, is concluded, that D. dendriticum, appart from local lesions, does not seem to infuence the animal health in general.