bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Οι δυσκολίες συγγραφής γραπτών εργασιών στην εξ αποστάσεως εκπαίδευση
Authors: Ρεντίφης Γεράσιμος Κων
Published: January 2018

Η εξ αποστάσεως εκπαίδευση ως μέθοδος διδασκαλίας και μάθησης αναφέρεται σε ένα οργανικά δομημένο σύνολο μέσων και διαδικασιών, στις διδακτικές μεθόδους, στην επικοινωνία μεταξύ εκπαιδευτή και εκπαιδευόμενων καθώς και στην υποστήριξη και στην αξιολόγηση των εκπαιδευομένων. Αναπόσπαστο μέλος αυτού του δομημένου συνόλου συνιστούν και οι γραπτές εργασίες, αφού δια αυτών οι εκπαιδευόμενοι κατακτούν τη γνώση και μαθαίνουν δημιουργώντας. Στην παρούσα εργασία επικεντρώνουμε το ενδιαφέρον μας στις δυσκολίες που αντιμετωπίζουν οι εκπαιδευόμενοι εξ αποστάσεων εκπαιδευτικών προγραμμάτων κατά την συγγραφή των γραπτών τους εργασιών. Αρχικά θα αιτιολογήσουμε τη σπουδαιότητα της διερεύνησης των δυσκολιών αυτών και θα επικεντρώσουμε την προσοχή μας στο είδος αυτών των δυσκολιών εστιάζοντας παράλληλα το ενδιαφέρον μας και στους τρόπους άρσης αυτών. Στη συνέχεια θα παρουσιάσουμε αναλυτικά πέντε εμπειρικές έρευνες, που αφορούν τη διάσταση των δυσκολιών συγγραφής γραπτών εργασιών και τέλος θα πραγματοποιηθεί μια δημιουργική σύνθεση των ευρημάτων τους με διατύπωση παράλληλα προτάσεων για περαιτέρω διερεύνηση.
Patterns and Predictors of Short‐Term Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Use: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Paje David , Conlon Anna , Kaatz Scott , Swaminathan Lakshmi , Boldenow Tanya , Bernstein Steven J. , Flanders Scott A. , Chopra Vineet
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND

The guidelines for peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) recommend avoiding insertion if the anticipated duration of use is ≤5 days. However, short‐term PICC use is common in hospitals. We sought to identify patient, provider, and device characteristics and the clinical outcomes associated with short‐term PICCs.

METHODS

Between January 2014 and June 2016, trained abstractors at 52 Michigan Hospital Medicine Safety (HMS) Consortium sites collected data from medical records of adults that received PICCs during hospitalization. Patients were prospectively followed until PICC removal, death, or 70 days after insertion. Multivariable logistic regression models were fit to identify factors associated with short‐term PICCs, defined as dwell time of ≤5 days. Complications associated with short‐term use, including major (eg, venous thromboembolism [VTE] or central line‐associated bloodstream infection [CLABSI]) or minor (eg, catheter occlusion, tip migration) events were assessed.

RESULTS

Of the 15,397 PICCs placed, 3902 (25.3%) had a dwell time of ≤5 days. Most (95.5%) short‐term PICCs were removed during hospitalization. Compared to PICCs placed for >5 days, variables associated with short‐term PICCs included difficult venous access (odds ratio [OR], 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40‐1.69), multilumen devices (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.39‐1.69), and teaching hospitals (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.04‐1.52). Among those with short‐term PICCs, 374 (9.6%) experienced a complication, including 99 (2.5%) experiencing VTE and 17 (0.4%) experiencing CLABSI events. The most common minor complications were catheter occlusion (4%) and tip migration (2.2%).

CONCLUSION

Short‐term use of PICCs is common and associated with patient, provider, and device factors. As PICC placement, even for brief periods, is associated with complications, efforts targeted at factors underlying such use appear necessary.
You're far too modest…
Authors: Aubrey-Smith Fiona
Published: January 2018

Appreciative Inquiry is a model that might help schools to know and better understand their strengths, thus supporting your school improvement processes. Fiona Aubrey-Smith explains more
Alarm at Ofsted's Reception conclusions
Authors: O'Connell Suzanne
Published: January 2018

Bold or premature? Ofsted's small-scale report into the Reception curriculum has alarmed many with its dismissal of softer skills and focus on quick starts and rapid progress. Suzanne O'Connell reports
Essential experiences… parties
Authors: Tassoni Penny
Published: January 2018

Planning a party, to mark an event for example, is a fun activity as well as a learning experience for children, writes Penny Tassoni
Habitando el bug. El urbanismo simultáneo del 22@ y la chatarra en Barcelona
Authors: Torrego Gómez Daniel
Published: January 2018

El presente artículo pretende realizar un reconocimiento de algunas prácticas espaciales no oficiales del distrito de Poblenou-22@ de Barcelona, señalando cómo, de manera análoga a los mecanismos urbanísticos formalmente reconocidos, afectan y modifican la formulación de la identidad del barrio, su utilización y su imaginario, construyendo ciudad. Para ello se recurre a enfoques de estudios urbanos recientes que amplían la mirada sobre los procesos que “enactan2” ciudad. A través de la analogía de lo urbano como suma de hardware (o entorno construido) y software (red o relaciones que operan en él) se explora el concepto de bug informático, error del sistema, y los actores activados por este suceso. La operación de transformación de Poblenou-22@ de barrio industrial a post-industrial es el evento en el que se producen las controversias, se generan los bugs y aparecen las negociaciones entre poderes hegemónicos y marginales, activando una serie de prácticas urbanísticas de apropiación y reinterpretación espacial.
Aspectos Emocionais Vivenciados pelos Pais e/ou Cuidadores de Crianças com Alergia à Proteína do Leite de Vaca
Authors: Abagaro Raíza Maria De Aquino , Maranhão Thércia Lucena Grangeiro , Rocha Nicole Gonçalves Nascimento , Sobral Stevens Emanuel Cecílio , Sobral Maria Lindinez Cecílio
Published: January 2018

A alimentação é uma necessidade básica do ser humano, porém muitos alimentos podem desencadear reações adversas em qualquer etapa da vida. As alergias, como podem ser chamadas uma dessas reações, decorrem desde o nascimento até a vida adulta, trazendo angústias e preocupações não somente para a criança, como também para aqueles que a rodeiam, seus cuidadores. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo principal identificar os impactos vivenciados pelos cuidadores de crianças com alergia à proteína do leite de vaca (APLV). Para tanto, buscou, além de explicar como se caracteriza a alergia à proteína do leite de vaca em crianças, seus sintomas e tratamento, compreender, através de pesquisa bibliográfica, quais as dificuldades encontradas no cuidados com crianças com APLV. Utilizou-se, como método de estudo, a pesquisa bibliográfica qualitativa, através de busca livre nas bases de dados nacionais. Percebeu-se que os impactos enfrentados pelos cuidadores das crianças com APLV estão ligados principalmente ao processo de diagnóstico, pois os sintomas são diversos; à adaptação pessoal, familiar e social; à dieta restritiva; aos cuidados com a contaminação cruzada, através de utensílios domésticos; à introdução de fórmulas artificiais de alto custo e à aprendizagem da leitura dos rótulos dos produtos industrializados. Os resultados apontaram a necessidade de dedicar uma atenção não somente à criança com APLV, mas também aos seus cuidadores que, de acordo com os dados obtidos, enfrentam desafios e incertezas que merecem cuidado multiprofissional.
O Fazer do Psicólogo do NASF e o Processo de Educação em Saúde Frente à Sexualidade na Adolescência
Authors: Teixeira Iasminny Loiola , Silva Adriana Maria Simião da
Published: January 2018

O presente estudo visa analisar através de teorizações como o psicólogo do NASF atua, no processo de educação em saúde, diante da sexualidade na adolescência. Sabe-se que o NASF é um espaço relevante para concretização de intervenções profundas no âmbito psicossocial. Além disso, é imperativo pensar na relevância do trabalho com o público adolescente, visto que esta fase da vida demanda um olhar diferenciado, a adolescência é um fenômeno relativamente novo do ponto de vista científico e empírico, sendo considerada uma fase de alterações relevantes e que repercute em vários âmbitos. Também é primal pensar no processo de Educação em Saúde como lócus central na lida com esses sujeitos tendo em vista sua pertinência como método de atuação, ou seja, mediante intervenções grupais que facilitam o processo de mediação frente ao foco desse tipo de atuação. Nesse sentido, a intervenção psicológica, partindo desses princípios, revela-se fundamental na medida em que gera mudança nos sujeitos e consequentemente espaço para atitudes mais calcadas na realidade vivida por eles e, portanto, mais conscientes.
Uso da Estratégia Aprendizagem Baseada em Equipes em Disciplinas da Graduação em Farmácia
Authors: Machado Silva Saraiva Emanuela , De Oliveira Alencar Gustavo , Samya Oliveira Machado Yanaina , Edna Belém Gomes Antônia
Published: January 2018

O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi avaliar o aproveitamento de discentes mediante a utilização da estratégia de TBL em disciplina do primeiro e do último ano da graduação em Farmácia em uma Instituição de Ensino Superior da região do Cariri cearense. Trata-se de um estudo do tipo retrospectivo, baseado na análise documental dos registros das fichas de avaliação através da estratégia de TBL aplicada em disciplinas ministradas no primeiro ano e no último ano de graduação em Farmácia. Na disciplina do primeiro ano verificou-se um acréscimo de 1,11 pontos do aproveitamento da avaliação individual do aluno para a avaliação em equipe. Já na disciplina do último ano o aumento foi de apenas 1,02 pontos. O docente deve ser capaz de inovar as abordagens em sala de aula para que o discente se sinta constantemente motivado e disposto a encarar novos desafios, como também preparar-se para trabalhar em equipe e contribuir efetivamente para o sucesso da mesma.
Qualidade de vida e depressão entre pacientes carentes em tratamento oncológico na Casa do Amor em Vitória da Conquista BA
Authors: Lima Luciana Gonçalves , Santos Stifanny Brenda Alves dos , Gomes Gisele Norberto Mattos , Gomes Leilane Trindade , Freitas Valéria Pires , Caetité Diego Andrade , Duarte Stênio Fernando Pimentel
Published: January 2018

A Oncologia está voltada para a forma como o câncer se evolui no organismo e qual o tratamento mais apropriado para cada tipo de neoplasia.  De acordo com a Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), o câncer é a segunda causa de morte em países desenvolvidos, perdendo apenas para doenças cardiovasculares. Em termos estatísticos, podemos assegurar que o câncer é a doença crônica mais tratável no momento, cerca de 50% dos casos são curados. No Brasil estima-se que este número seja mais baixo, devido ao fato de que os diagnósticos são feitos tardiamente. As causas de câncer são diversas, podendo ser externas, internas ou inter-relacionadas. Mesmo depois dos progressos com o tratamento para o câncer e as chances de sobrevivência, cada vez maiores, o câncer ainda está correlacionado como uma doença que provoca dor, sofrimento e morte iminente (KUBLER-ROSS, 1981), fazendo com que assim o diagnostico tenha um grande impacto psicológico no individuo, resultando em ansiedade; angustia; duvidas; ódio; desesperança; medo entre outros. Segundo Minayo, Hartz e Buss (2000), “qualidade de vida tem sido ligada ao grau de satisfação encontrado na vida familiar, amorosa, social e ambiental e à própria estética existencial”. Foi realizado um estudo transversal, quantitativo com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade de vida e depressão dos pacientes oncológicos em tratamento na Casa do Amor em vitória da Conquista. Foram entrevistados 30 pacientes, 10 mulheres e 20 homens ambos diagnosticados câncer.
Avaliação das interações medicamentosas potenciais no âmbito da UTI adulta
Authors: Silva Júlia Souza e , Damascena Rodrigo Santos
Published: January 2018

As interações medicamentosas potenciais (IMP) tem sido alvo de diversos estudos, que avaliam seus diferentes riscos ou benefícios para o paciente. Daí a importância da identificação e rastreamento de tais efeitos, à partir da identificação das prescrições medicamentosas. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a frequência de potenciais interações medicamentosas em prescrições médicas nas unidades de terapia intensiva de adulto, do Hospital Público de Vitória da Conquista/BA, em 2017. Os resultados demonstraram um alto índice de efeitos colaterais das interações medicamentosas, suscitando o debate para uma maior atenção nas prescrições, de forma a minimizar-se tal problemática.
Modeling Gift Choice: The Effect of Uncertainty on Price Sensitivity
Authors: Wang Sherry Shi , Van Der Lans Ralf
Published: January 2018

Gift giving generates high revenues for retailers. It is also marked with significant welfare, or deadweight, loss in that givers tend to pay more than the receivers’ valuation. Previous research has attributed this discrepancy to givers’ inaccurate predictions of the receivers’ preferences. This research demonstrates that reduced price sensitivity is another important source of the deadweight loss: givers use gift prices to signal the importance of their relationship with the receiver. In order to demonstrate this mechanism, the authors develop a new Bayesian gift-choice model that captures both preference predictions as well as the signaling value of price. The model is estimated on two choice-based conjoint studies for gift giving that allow for the manipulation of the giver's uncertainty about the receiver's preferences. Both studies show the strong signaling value of price, especially when givers are uncertain about receivers’ preferences. Decomposition of the deadweight loss shows that the signaling value of price is an important source of welfare loss, especially in markets with heterogeneous prices. These findings have key implications for the gift industry.
Risk factors of long-term postoperative renal function after partial nephrectomy in a solitary kidney
Authors: Zhu Jie , Kuru Timur , Wei Yingqi , Hatiboglu Gencay , Popeneciu Valentin , Schöenberg Gita , Simpfendörfer Tobias , Zeier Martin , Xin Ma , Zhang Xu , Hohenfellner Markus , Pahernik Sascha
Published: January 2018

The effect of warm ischemia time (WIT) on longterm renal function after partial nephrectomy remains controversial. In this retrospectively cohort study, 75 solitary kidney patients were included and the effects of warm ischemia time, preoperative renal function and resected normal parenchyma volume on long-term renal function were evaluated. Multivariable analysis showed that the preoperative renal function baseline was significantly associated with renal function 12 months postoperation (P=0.01), adjusting for age and comorbidities factors. Meanwhile, perioperative acute renal failure (ARF) events significantly affected postoperative renal function at postoperative time points of 12 months (P=0.001) and 60 months (P=0.03), as well as renal function change at postoperative 12 months (P<0.01). Warm ischemia time and resected normal parenchyma volume were not risk factors for long-term postoperative renal function, while the latter was significantly associated with renal function change (P=0.03 at 12 months, P<0.01 at 36 and 60 months).

In conclusion, the quality of preoperative kidney primarily determines long-term postoperative renal function, while the quantity of preserved functional parenchyma volume was the main determinant for long-term kidney recovery. ARF was an independent risk factor while WIT was indirectly associated with postoperative renal function by causing perioperative ARF.
A pragmatic bottom-up approach to harmonize the units of clinical chemistry tests among Belgian clinical laboratories, focusing on immunoassays
Authors: Demarteau Marianne , Cammaert Piet , Vandevelde Nathalie M. , Callewaert Nico , Coucke Wim , China Bernard , Verstraete Alain G.
Published: January 2018

Background:

Harmonization of units is an important step to improve the comparability of clinical chemistry results, but few examples exist of successful harmonization efforts. We present the results of a pragmatic approach that was implemented in Belgium from 2012.

Methods:

After a large consultation and information of stakeholders, preferred units were proposed for 140 assays, including the 23 immunoassays discussed in more detail here. The change occurred in two phases, first involving assays for which there was no change in the numerical result, then changes involving a change in numerical results. Laboratories were invited to participate in this harmonization on a voluntary basis. The project was based on a bottom-up approach, large consultation and the pragmatic choice of the proposed units, including conventional and SI units.

Results:

The large heterogeneity of units was drastically reduced; adoption of the preferred units increased from 3% (insulin) – 45% (HCG) to 70% (insulin) – 96% (LH and FSH). Adoption of the preferred units was higher if it involved no change in numerical values (90%) than when there was a change (76%).

Conclusions:

We believe that the harmonization effort has reached its goals. Without aiming at implementing SI units for all parameters, our strategy was successful with a large majority of the laboratories switching to the proposed units. Moreover, the harmonization program is still progressing, with additional laboratories converting to the consensus units.
Beyoncé’s Slay Trick: The Performance of Black Camp and its Intersectional Politics
Authors: Chatzipapatheodoridis Constantine
Published: January 2018

This article pays attention to African-American artist Beyonce Knowles and her performance of black camp. Beyonce’s stage persona and performances invite multiple ideological readings as to what pertains to her interpretation of gender, sexuality, and race. While cultural theory around the icon of Beyonce has focused on her feminist and racial politics as well as her politicization of the black female body, a queer reading applied from the perspective of camp performance will concentrate on the artist’s queer appeal and, most importantly, on her exposition of black camp, an intersection of feminist, racial and queer poetics. By examining video and live performances, the scope of this article is to underline those queer nuances inherent in Beyonce’s dramatisation of black femininity and the cultural pool she draws from for its effective staging. More specifically, since Beyonce plays with tropes and themes that are common in camp culture, her performance relies on a meta-camping effect that interacts with African-American queer culture. This article, thus, traces black queer traditions and discourses in the artist’s praxis of black camp.
Love is the Message: Barkley Hendricks’s MFSB Portrait Aesthetics
Authors: Hyacinthe Genevieve
Published: January 2018

Barkley L. Hendricks’s (1945-2017) portraiture is considered in relation to camp’s liminal nature. Hendricks employs the camp techniques of surface emphasis, and affective audience engagement, to relay a political message of black agency. His portraiture is framed with dynamics of MFSB, a popular culture movement developed in his hometown, Philadelphia, during the era of the 1970s. The paper brings to light Hendricks’s participation within the complex histories of imaging the black body. His participation defies the hegemonies inherent within these histories and, at the same time, reifies them.
Chromatographic fingerprint analysis, antioxidant properties, and inhibition of cholinergic enzymes (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase) of phenolic extracts from Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O’Rorke) Baill bark
Authors: Ojo Oluwafemi Adeleke , Ojo Adebola Busola , Ajiboye Basiru Olaitan , Oyinloye Babatunji Emmanuel , Akinyemi Ayodele Jacob , Okesola Mary Abiola , Boligon Aline Augusti , de Campos Marli Matiko Anraku
Published: January 2018

Background:

Irvingia gabonensis stem bark is a medicinal plant used in most parts of Africa to manage a number of ailments including neurodegenerative diseases that occur without scientific basis. This work characterized the phenolic composition, evaluated the cholinergic enzymes (acetylcholinesterase, AChE and butyrylcholinesterase, BChE) inhibition, and assessed the antioxidant activity of phenolic extracts from I. gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O‘Rorke) Baill bark.

Methods:

Total phenol and flavonoids content was evaluated in addition to antioxidant activity as shown by Fe2+ chelation, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability, and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging ability. Inhibitory activities on AChE and BChE were evaluated.

Results:

The extract was found to be rich in phenolic acid (ellagic acid) and flavonoids (quercetrin, kaempferol, and apigenin). The phenolic extracts displayed DPPH radical scavenging ability (IC50=19.98 μg/mL), ABTS radical scavenging ability (IC50=18.25 μg/mL), iron chelation (IC50=113.10 μg/mL), and reducing power (Fe3+ to Fe2+) (5.94 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/100 g). Extracts of I. gabonensis inhibited AChE (IC50=32.90 μg/mL) and BChE (IC50=41.50 μg/mL) activities in concentration-dependent manner.

Conclusions:

Hence, possible mechanism through which the stem bark executes their anti-Alzheimer’s disease activity might be by inhibiting cholinesterase activities in addition to suppressing oxidative-stress-induced neurodegeneration.
Enhanced Performances of SAC-OCDMA System by Using Polarization Encoding
Authors: Garadi Ahmed , Bouazza Boubakar S. , Bouarfa Abdelkader , Meddah Khansae
Published: January 2018

This article presents a novel encoder technique of spectral amplitude coded multiple access (SAC-OCDMA) systems. The proposed technique is based on two orthogonal polarization states of the same one dimensional optical code. This method is usually applied to increase the number of simultaneous users in a network, and it can double the number of potential users against the one-dimensional code. The results obtained in this work show that optical zero cross-correlation code can accommodate more users simultaneously for the typical bit error rate of optical communication system of

${\ }{10^{ - 9}}$
.
Tunable High Performance 16-Channel Demultiplexer on 2D Photonic Crystal Ring Resonator Operating at Telecom Wavelengths
Authors: Naghizade S. , Sattari-Esfahlan S. M.
Published: January 2018

Here, we proposed a high performance 16-channel optical demultiplexer using two-dimensional photonic crystal ring resonator for telecommunication systems. By plane wave expansion (PWE) method the photonic band gap (PBG) of proposed structure calculated. Then, with finite difference time domain (FDTD) method the performance parameters of designed two-dimensional photonic crystal demultiplexer are analyzed. It is found that the channel wavelength of wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) is truly tuned by changing the structure parameters of the demultiplexer and position of rod. Output peaks located in the optical communication C-band and L-band with the transmission efficiency of 99 %. The demultiplexer exhibits high-quality factor of 5176, and spectral width of 0.3. Very low crosstalk values are between −19 dB and −90 dB where, device only occupies an area of 1708.65 µm2. The proposed compact 16-channel demultiplexer can find more applications for the ultra-compact WDM systems in highly integrated telecommunication circuits.
Segmental Myocardial Displacement and Tissue Velocity Analysis of the Right Ventricle in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Fetuses and Controls Using Color Tissue Doppler Imaging (C-TDI)
Authors: Graupner Oliver , Enzensberger Christian , Wieg Larissa , Wolter Aline , Yerebakan Can , Khalil Markus , Axt-Fliedner Roland
Published: January 2018

Introduction: The long-term outcome of patients with HLHS (hypoplastic left heart syndrome) is mainly determined by right ventricular function. Our study examines, whether there are differences in segmental right ventricular myocardial displacement and tissue velocities of fetuses with HLHS compared to healthy fetuses during gestation. Materials and methods: A prospective study was conducted including 20 fetuses with HLHS and 20 gestational age matched controls. c-TDI (colour tissue Doppler imaging) derived systolic and diastolic velocities as well as myocardial displacement were assessed in three different locations of the right ventricle (RV). A ROI (region of interest) was placed in the basal, middle and apical part of the myocardium. Possible changes of c-TDI indices in the course of pregnancy and between the three different segments were investigated in both groups. Results: HLHS fetuses showed significantly lower e' velocities measured in the basal and middle part of the RV compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). Basal displacement showed significantly lower values in HLHS fetuses compared to controls. In control fetuses but not in HLHS fetuses there was a significant increase of basal diastolic velocities and displacement in the course of pregnancy. According to myocardial velocities and displacement values there was a significant decrease from the base of the fetal heart to the apex pointed in both groups. Conclusions: An altered right ventricular myocardial function in HLHS fetuses within different myocardial segments could be demonstrated. An apicobasal gradient with higher velocity and displacement values in the basal part of RV myocardium could be found in both groups. The technique may be of value in the prenatal assessment of myocardial function, however its role as a monitoring tool and outcome predictor needs to be defined.
Follow-Up on 107 Fetuses with Normal Us + Echo After 37TH Week of Gestation
Authors: Strzelecka Iwona , Michalska Eliza , Zych-Krekora Katarzyna , Respondek-Liberska Maria
Published: January 2018

Introduction: Echocardiography of the fetal heart is an ultrasound examination that allows the evaluation of the anatomical structure and cardiovascular system usually performed in first half of pregnancy. Material and methods: This work presents the data of 107 fetuses with normal heart anatomy (NHA) and normal heart study (NHS) and their neonatal follow-up. In this group (in an addition to routine prenatal work-up) has been performed also a echocardiography examination in the third trimester of pregnancy, after 37th week of gestation: 61% of pregnant women were referred to the prenatal cardiology center due to the presence of high-risk pregnancies and 39% were low-risk pregnancies. Results: In two cases episodes of fetal arrhythmias were present during obstetrical examinations. After birth in the study group of 107 fetuses, 72% of newborns left the hospital during the 4 days and 28% newborns stayed in the hospital for longer time. In 16 cases their stay was extended due to maternal reasons and in 14 for newborns reasons. Conclusions: 1) In the neonate group, after prenatal cardiac evaluation > the 37th week of gestation such as “ normal fetal heart anatomy & normal heart study”, all newborns in our center were born in good general condition. 2) Late prenatal echocardiography in 3rd trimester of pregnancy maybe considered as additional tool to prove fetal well being, specially in high risk pregnancies.
Fetal Macrosomia, Polyhydramnios and Cardiac Anomalies may be Helpful to Predict Poor Outcome in Neonate – Case Report of a Possible Fetal Rasopathy with Sonographic and Neonatal Findings and Genetic Evaluation.
Authors: Respondek-Liberska Maria , Węgrzynowski Jerzy , Oszukowski Przemysław , Gulczyńska Ewa , Nykiel Elżbieta , Jakubowski Lucjusz , Grzesiak Mariusz , Czichos Ewa , Romanowicz Hanna
Published: January 2018

This is a case report about very rare findings in 2nd half of pregnancy (after normal 1 trimester scan ) at 18th week of gestation fetal macrosomia was detected unrelated to maternal diabetes, and acceleration fetal growth later on with unusual cardiac abnormalities (fetal cardiomegaly, cardiomyopathy, partial abnormal venous connection ). Progressive features of congestive heart failure with polyhydramnios in a fetus with estimated 5500 g predicted a poor outcome and severe neonatal condition, which was presented and discussed with the parents to be. Casearean section was performed at 33rd weeks of gestation due to maternal dyscomfort, severe legs edema and her tachypnoe. Baby boy was delivered with birth weight of 5050g, Apgar 4 with mutiple tumors. Conservative care was introduced and neonated died on the 3rd day. Differential diagnosis was discussed with special attention to Costello syndrome however without proved by genetic make-up from neonatal blood.
Tests for comparison of multiple endpoints with application to omics data
Authors: Marozzi Marco
Published: January 2018

In biomedical research, multiple endpoints are commonly analyzed in “omics” fields like genomics, proteomics and metabolomics. Traditional methods designed for low-dimensional data either perform poorly or are not applicable when analyzing high-dimensional data whose dimension is generally similar to, or even much larger than, the number of subjects. The complex biochemical interplay between hundreds (or thousands) of endpoints is reflected by complex dependence relations. The aim of the paper is to propose tests that are very suitable for analyzing omics data because they do not require the normality assumption, are powerful also for small sample sizes, in the presence of complex dependence relations among endpoints, and when the number of endpoints is much larger than the number of subjects. Unbiasedness and consistency of the tests are proved and their size and power are assessed numerically. It is shown that the proposed approach based on the nonparametric combination of dependent interpoint distance tests is very effective. Applications to genomics and metabolomics are discussed.
Intermolecular Interactions of Pyridine in Liquid Phase and Aqueous Solution Studied by Soft X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Nagasaka Masanari , Yuzawa Hayato , Kosugi Nobuhiro
Published: January 2018

Intermolecular interactions of pyridine in liquid and in aqueous solution are studied by using soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at the C, N, and O K-edges. XAS of liquid pyridine shows that the N 1s→π* peak is blue shifted and the C 1s→π* peak of the meta and para sites is red shifted, respectively, as compared with XAS of pyridine gas. These shifts in liquid are smaller than those in clusters, indicating that the intermolecular interaction of liquid pyridine is weaker than that of pyridine cluster, as supported by the combination of quantum chemical calculations of the core excitation and molecular dynamics simulations of the liquid structure. On the other hand, XAS spectra of aqueous pyridine solutions (C5H5N)x(H2O)1−x
measured at different molar fractions show that in the pyridine rich region, x>0.7, the C and N 1s→π* peak energies are not so different from pure liquid pyridine (x=1.0). In this region, antiparallel displaced structures of pyridine molecules are dominant as in pure pyridine liquid. In the O K-edge XAS, the pre-edge peaks sensitive to the hydrogen bond (HB) network of water molecules show the red shift of −0.15 eV from that of bulk water, indicating that small water clusters with no large-scale HB network are formed in the gap space of structured pyridine molecules. In the water rich region, 0.7>x, the N 1s→π* peaks and the O 1s pre-edge peaks are blue shifted, and the C 1s→π* peaks of the meta and para sites are red-shifted by increasing molar fraction of water. The HB network of bulk water is dominant, but quantum chemical calculations indicate that small pyridine clusters with the HB interaction between the H atom in water and the N atom in pyridine are still existent even in very dilute pyridine solutions.
Can Six Minutes of Culturally Competent Evolution Education Reduce Students' Level of Perceived Conflict Between Evolution and Religion?
Authors: Truong Jasmine M. , Barnes M. Elizabeth , Brownell Sara E.
Published: January 2018

Evolution is foundational to biology but is controversial for many undergraduate students. Although evolution and religion are potentially compatible, students' perceived conflict between their religious beliefs and evolution can negatively affect their acceptance of evolution. In a previous study, we found that illustrating the potential compatibility of religion and evolution decreased the number of students who perceived a conflict between religion and evolution by 53 percent. However, in the previous study, the instruction on the potential compatibility of religion and evolution took a significant amount of instructional time, which could be a barrier for implementation. In this current study, we condensed the instruction illustrating the potential compatibility of religion and evolution to six minutes. By conducting qualitative analyses on data gathered from ten students who perceived a conflict before the evolution module, we found that eight of these students reduced their level of perceived conflict after the evolution module. We identified eight distinct aspects of the evolution instruction that students stated reduced their perceived conflict, including that the instructor did not force student acceptance of evolution, the instructor was respectful of students with multiple viewpoints on evolution, and students experienced a greater exposure to evolution content.
Circadian rhythms in mitochondrial respiration
Authors: de Goede Paul , Wefers Jakob , Brombacher Eline Constance , Schrauwen Patrick , Kalsbeek Andries
Published: January 2018

Many physiological processes are regulated with a 24-h periodicity to anticipate the environmental changes of daytime to nighttime and vice versa. These 24-h regulations, commonly termed circadian rhythms, among others control the sleep–wake cycle, locomotor activity and preparation for food availability during the active phase (daytime for humans and nighttime for nocturnal animals). Disturbing circadian rhythms at the organ or whole-body level by social jetlag or shift work, increases the risk to develop chronic metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. The molecular basis of this risk is a topic of increasing interest. Mitochondria are essential organelles that produce the majority of energy in eukaryotes by converting lipids and carbohydrates into ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. To adapt to the ever-changing environment, mitochondria are highly dynamic in form and function and a loss of this flexibility is linked to metabolic diseases. Interestingly, recent studies have indicated that changes in mitochondrial morphology (i.e., fusion and fission) as well as generation of new mitochondria are dependent on a viable circadian clock. In addition, fission and fusion processes display diurnal changes that are aligned to the light/darkness cycle. Besides morphological changes, mitochondrial respiration also displays diurnal changes. Disturbing the molecular clock in animal models leads to abrogated mitochondrial rhythmicity and altered respiration. Moreover, mitochondrial-dependent production of reactive oxygen species, which plays a role in cellular signaling, has also been linked to the circadian clock. In this review, we will summarize recent advances in the study of circadian rhythms of mitochondria and how this is linked to the molecular circadian clock.
Maize Transposable Elements Ac/Ds as Insertion Mutagenesis Tools in Candida albicans
Authors: Mielich Kevin , Shtifman-Segal Ella , Golz Julia C , Zeng Guisheng , Wang Yue , Berman Judith , Kunze Reinhard
Published: January 2018

In nonmodel systems, genetic research is often limited by the lack of techniques for the generation and identification of gene mutations. One approach to overcome this bottleneck is the application of transposons for gene tagging. We have established a two-element transposon tagging system, based on the transposable elements Activator (Ac)/Dissociation (Ds) from maize, for in vivo insertion mutagenesis in the fungal human pathogen Candida albicans. A nonautonomous Ds transposon carrying a selectable marker was constructed into the ADE2 promoter on chromosome 3 and a codon usage-adapted Ac transposase gene was inserted into the neutral NEUT5L locus on chromosome 5. In C. albicans cells expressing the transposase, the Ds element efficiently excised and reintegrated elsewhere in the genome, which makes the Ac/Ds transposons promising tools for saturating insertion mutagenesis in clinical strains of C. albicans.
Genetic Loci Controlling Carotenoid Biosynthesis in Diverse Tropical Maize Lines
Authors: Azmach Girum , Menkir Abebe , Spillane Charles , Gedil Melaku
Published: January 2018

The discovery and use of genetic markers associated with carotenoid levels can help to exploit the genetic potential of maize for provitamin A accumulation more effectively. Provitamin A carotenoids are classes of carotenoids that are precursors of vitamin A, an essential micronutrient in humans. Vitamin A deficiency is a global public health problem affecting millions of people, especially in developing countries. Maize is one of the most important staple crops targeted for provitamin A biofortification to help alleviate vitamin A deficiency in developing countries. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) of maize endosperm carotenoids was conducted using a panel of 130 diverse yellow maize tropical inbred lines genotyped with Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS) SNP markers. Numerous significant association signals co-localizing with the known carotenoid biosynthesis genes crtRB1, lcyE and ZEP1 were identified. The GWAS confirmed previously reported large effects of the two major carotenoid biosynthesis genes lcyE and crtRB1. In addition, significant novel associations were detected for several transcription factors (e.g., RING zinc finger domain and HLH DNA-binding domain super family proteins) that may be involved in regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis in maize. When the GWAS was re-conducted by including the major effects of lcyE and crtRB1 genes as covariates, a SNP in a gene coding for an auxin response factor 20 transcription factor was identified which displayed an association with β-carotene and provitamin A levels. Our study provides a foundation for design and implementation of genomics-assisted selection strategies for provitamin A maize breeding in tropical regions, and advances efforts toward identification of additional genes (and allelic variants) involved in the regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis in plants.
Mentalizacijos paauglystėje raida ir sutrikimai
Authors: Barkauskienė Rasa , Čekuolienė Danguolė , Adler Asta , Gervinskaitė-Paulaitienė Lina
Published: January 2018

Paauglystė – tai laikotarpis, kai vyksta itin daug pokyčių, ypač svarbių socialiniam pažinimui. Tai nulemia vis geresnį paauglių savęs įsisąmoninimą (Harter, 2012). Todėl šiuo laikotarpiu labai svarbus tampa besivystantis mentalizacijos gebėjimas, užtikrinantis savo ir kitų elgesio supratimą psichikos būsenų kontekste (Fonagy, Gergely, Jurist, & Target, 2005). Nors neabejojama paauglystės laikotarpio svarba įtvirtinant mentalizacijos gebėjimą, vis dar stokojama nuoseklios mentalizacijos raidos paauglystėje analizės. Šiame straipsnyje* siekiama užpildyti esamą spragą ir, remiantis psichodinamine, raidos psichologijos, raidos psichopatologijos bei neuromokslo teorine ir empirine medžiaga, analizuoti mentalizacijos gebėjimo raidą paauglystėje, pagrindinį dėmesį skiriant paauglystėje svarbiausioms poliariškoms mentalizacijos konstrukto dimensijoms – emocinei ir kognityviai bei savęs ir kito mentalizacijai, taip pat mentalizacijos sutrikimo sąsajai su psichopatologija.
Pretendentų bendrųjų gebėjimų įvertinimo sąsajos su karjera Lietuvos valstybės tarnyboje
Authors: Žukauskaitė Irena
Published: January 2018

Lietuvos valstybės tarnyba išgyvena reformų etapą. 2013 m. pakeista atrankos į valstybės tarnybą sistema buvo didelis žingsnis modernizuojant žmogiškųjų išteklių valdymą. Atsižvelgiant į kitų šalių gerąją praktiką, atrankos metu pradėti vertinti kognityvieji gebėjimai ir kompetencijos leido pasiekti trumpalaikius tikslus – didesnį atrankos skaidrumą, objektyvumą, trumpesnį atrankos komisijų darbo laiką, kompetentingesnių asmenų dalyvavimą tolesniuose atrankos etapuose. Tačiau šio įvertinimo sąsajos su ilgalaikėmis pasekmėmis, tokiomis kaip karjera valstybės tarnyboje, iki šiol nebuvo tirtos.Tyrime analizuoti 17 281 asmens, išlaikiusio bendrųjų gebėjimų testą Valstybės tarnybos departamente, karjeros duomenys. Rezultatai atskleidė, kad bendrųjų gebėjimų įvertinimas gali būti taikomas ne tik kaip priemonė, apribojanti pakankamų gebėjimų neturinčių asmenų patekimą į valstybės tarnybą, bet ir kaip atskaitos taškas, vertinant įdarbinimo, karjeros ir darbuotojų išlaikymo organizacijoje sprendimus. Į valstybės tarnybą yra atrenkami ir karjerą daro aukštesniais balais bendrųjų gebėjimų testą išlaikę asmenys. Kita vertus, asmenys, kurių bendrųjų gebėjimų testo rezultatai geresni, yra labiau linkę palikti valstybės tarnybą savo noru. Todėl, siekiant, kad valstybės tarnyboje dirbtų savo srities profesionalai, daugiau dėmesio turi būti skirta kokybiškam žmogiškųjų išteklių valdymui.
Reducing Unnecessary Imaging and Pathology Tests: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hiscock Harriet , Neely Rachel Jane , Warren Hayley , Soon Jason , Georgiou Andrew
Published: January 2018

CONTEXT:

Unnecessary imaging and pathology procedures represent low-value care and can harm children and the health care system.

OBJECTIVE:

To perform a systematic review of interventions designed to reduce unnecessary pediatric imaging and pathology testing.

DATA SOURCES:

We searched Medline, Embase, Cinahl, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and gray literature.

STUDY SELECTION:

Studies we included were: reports of interventions to reduce unnecessary imaging and pathology testing in pediatric populations; from developed countries; written in the English language; and published between January 1, 1996, and April 29, 2017.

DATA EXTRACTION:

Two researchers independently extracted data and assessed study quality using a Cochrane group risk of bias tool. Level of evidence was graded using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine grading system.

RESULTS:

We found 64 articles including 44 before-after, 14 interrupted time series, and 1 randomized controlled trial. More effective interventions were (1) multifaceted, with 3 components (mean relative reduction = 45.0%; SD = 28.3%) as opposed to 2 components (32.0% [30.3%]); or 1 component (28.6%, [34.9%]); (2) targeted toward families and clinicians compared with clinicians only (61.9% [34.3%] vs 30.0% [32.0%], respectively); and (3) targeted toward imaging (41.8% [38.4%]) or pathology testing only (48.8% [20.9%]), compared with both simultaneously (21.6% [29.2%]).

LIMITATIONS:

The studies we included were limited to the English language.

CONCLUSIONS:

Promising interventions include audit and feedback, system-based changes, and education. Future researchers should move beyond before-after designs to rigorously evaluate interventions. A relatively novel approach will be to include both clinicians and the families they manage in such interventions.
Influence of Race in the Association of Diabetes and Heart Failure
Authors: Tee Lu Hou ,   Division of Cardiology, Sultanah Aminah Hospital, Johor, Malaysia,   Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia, Nordin Rusli Bin ,   Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia, Abdul Rahim Aizai Azan Bin ,   National Heart Institute, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Published: January 2018

Heart failure is a global public health problem with high mortality and readmission rates. Race and ethnicity are useful concepts when attempting to understand differential health risks and health disparities. With cardiovascular diseases accounting for most deaths globally, eliminating racial disparities in cardiac care has become a new challenge in cardiology. Significant racial differences exist in patients with heart failure. African American patients in the US have a significantly higher incidence of heart failure, lower ejection fraction and are younger at presentation compared to White, Hispanic and Chinese American patients. These findings are explained by a higher burden of risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity and lower household incomes among African Americans. The authors believe that these findings are applicable to other racial groups across the globe. The prevalence of predisposing risk factors probably has a stronger influence on the incidence of heart failure than the racial factor alone. The interaction between race and diabetes mellitus has important public health implications for the management and prevention of heart failure.
Microvascular Coronary Artery Disease: Review Article
Authors: Alrifai Abdulah ,   Cardiology Department, University of Miami/JFK Medical Center, Atlantis, FL, Kabach Mohamad ,   Cardiology Department, University of Miami/JFK Medical Center, Atlantis, FL, Nieves Jonathan ,   Cardiology Department, University of Miami/JFK Medical Center, Atlantis, FL, Pino Jesus ,   Cardiology Department, University of Miami/JFK Medical Center, Atlantis, FL, Chait Robert ,   Cardiology Department, University of Miami/JFK Medical Center, Atlantis, FL
Published: January 2018

Recently it has become more apparent that microvascular dysfunction is responsible for morbidity and mortality in many different cardiovascular diseases. It is no longer felt to be benign, and besides accounting for angina symptoms, it likely plays a role in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, as well as in Takotsubo syndrome and various inflammatory diseases associated with ischemia and atherosclerosis. Coronary microvascular disease can be diagnosed by means of invasive coronary reactivity testing and noninvasively by echocardiography, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance, and positron emission tomography. Unfortunately, treatment has been more empiric, and not as well evaluated by randomized trials as in other disease states. Beta blockers, nitrates, and calcium channel blockers have all been used with varying degrees of success. Given its prevalence, particularly among women, its increased recognition and importance mandates further research into prompt diagnosis and more robust studies of its treatment.
El estado del arte sobre la teoría de la estructura de capital de la empresa
Authors: Ramírez-Herrera Luis Miguel , Palacín-Sánchez María José
Published: January 2018

Este artículo resume las teorías más destacadas sobre la formación de la estructura financiera de las empresas, y realiza un recorrido cronológico hasta la época actual. Se analizan los estudios más representativos y sus resultados sobre la incidencia de estas teorías en la formación de la estructura financiera empresarial, por medio del análisis del comportamiento de diversas variables representativas de estas teorías. Además, se repasan otras características representativas en este sentido, como son los factores institucionales y la localización de las empresas. También ofrece una idea general del estado del arte de la formación de la estructura financiera de las empresas.
Evaluación de carbono fijado en la biomasa aérea de plantaciones de teca en Chahal, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala
Authors: Gerardo López Hubert , Estuardo Vaides Edwin , Alvarado Alfredo
Published: January 2018

En este trabajo se estimó la cantidad de carbono almacenado en plantaciones de teca (Tectona grandis L.f.) de 14 y 15 años en Chahal, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Se generó un modelo de regresión para estimar la biomasa área a partir del método del Instituto Internacional Winrock. Este método consiste en derribar y seccionar árboles de distintas clases diametrales para luego medir las variables: diámetro a la altura del pecho (DAP), altura total (Ht), diámetro de copa (DC), diámetro mayor (D1), diámetro menor (D2), largo de la troza (L) y el peso fresco de las ramas, ramillas y hojas de los cuales se obtienen sub muestras para realizar un posterior análisis de laboratorio. El contenido de carbono se estimó en un auto analizador de carbono y nitrógeno y la densidad de madera y el factor de expansión de la biomasa en el laboratorio químico de la Universidad Rafael Landívar, Sede La Verapaz. El modelo de predicción de biomasa del fuste obtuvo un r2 ajustado de 0,89 basado en 2 variables independientes (DAP (p<0,0001) y Ht (p=0,0008)). El carbono almacenado en las edades de 14 y 15 años estudiadas fue de 108,36 y 151,37 t.ha-1 respectivamente.