bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phase III Clinical Trial to Evaluate Ivermectin in the Reduction of Mansonella ozzardi infection in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: de Almeida Basano Sergio , de Souza Almeida Aranha Camargo Juliana , Fontes Gilberto , Pereira Antonieta Relvas , Medeiros Jansen Fernandes , de Oliveira Laudisse Mayara Costa , de Godoi Mattos Ferreira Ricardo , Camargo Luís Marcelo Aranha
Published: January 2018

The treatment of mansonelliasis is still a challenge because there are few clinical trials for the treatment of the disease. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study (phase III clinical trial) was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a single oral dose of ivermectin (0.15 mg/kg) in the reduction of the Mansonella ozzardi microfilaraemia and the occurrence of adverse effects in infected people compared with the control group treated with placebo. A total of 49 microfilaraemic patients were randomly selected from the municipality of Lábrea, State of Amazonas, in the Brazilian Amazon. Among them, 40 patients have concluded the study, 19 treated with ivermectin and 21 treated with placebo. In the first and third days after the treatment, all the patients were clinically evaluated, and the diagnostic and quantification of blood microfilariae through blood filtration in polycarbonate membranes was performed. A significant reduction of the microfilaraemia (99.9%) was observed in the patients who received ivermectin. Slight changes in laboratory test results, without clinical importance, were seen in treated and control groups. Our results suggest that ivermectin is effective and safe for the treatment of infections caused by M. ozzardi.
Evaluation of the Diagnostic Performance of Onchocerca volvulus Linear Epitopes in a Peptide Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Authors: Lagatie Ole , Verheyen Ann , Nijs Erik , Van Dorst Bieke , Batsa Debrah Linda , Debrah Alex , Supali Taniawati , Sartono Erliyani , Stuyver Lieven J.
Published: January 2018

Diagnostic tools for the detection of infection with Onchocerca volvulus are presently limited to microfilaria detection in skin biopsies and serological assessment using the Ov16 immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) rapid test, both of which have limited sensitivity. We have investigated the diagnostic performance of a peptide enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on immunodominant linear epitopes previously discovered. Peptides that were used in these assays were designated O. volvulus motif peptides (OvMP): OvMP-1 (VSV-EPVTTQET-VSV), OvMP-2 (VSV-KDGEDK-VSV), OvMP-3 (VSV-QTSNLD-VSV), and the combination of the latter two, OvMP-23 (VSV-KDGEDK-VSV-QTSNLD-VSV). Sensitivity (O. volvulus infection), specificity (non-helminth infections), and cross-reactivity (helminth infections) were determined using several panels of clinical plasma isolates. OvMP-1 was found to be very sensitive (100%) and specific (98.7%), but showed substantial cross-reactivity with other helminths. Of the other peptides, OvMP-23 was the most promising peptide with a sensitivity of 92.7%, a specificity of 100%, and a cross-reactivity of 6%. It was also demonstrated that these peptides were immunoreactive to IgG but not IgG4, and there is no correlation with the Ov16 IgG4 status, making them promising candidates to complement this already available test. Combination of the Ov16 IgG4 rapid test and OvMP-23 peptide ELISA led to a sensitivity of 97.3% for the detection of O. volvulus infection, without compromising specificity and with minimal impact on cross-reactivity. The available results open the opportunity for a “clinical utility use case” discussion for improved O. volvulus epidemiological mapping.
Export fluxes of dissolved inorganic carbon to the Northern Indian Ocean from the Indian monsoonal rivers
Authors: Krishna Moturi S. , Viswanadham Rongali , Prasad Mamidala H. K. , Kumari Vuravakonda R. , Sarma Vedula V. S. S.
Published: January 2018

Abstract. Rivers are strong source of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) to the adjacent coastal waters. In order to identify the major sources of DIC in the Indian monsoonal estuaries and their export flux to the north Indian Ocean, 27 major and medium estuaries along the Indian coast were sampled during discharge period. An order of magnitude variability in DIC concentrations was found within the Indian estuaries sampled (3.4–44.1 mg l−1) due to significant variability in the size of rivers, precipitation pattern and lithology in the catchments. Dilution with high precipitation (2500 ± 500 mm) and exchange with ground waters of low DIC resulted in very low concentrations of DIC in estuaries located in the southwest of India (6.6 ± 2.1 mg l−1) than the estuaries located in the southeast (36.3 ± 6.3 mg l−1), northwest (30.3 ± 8.9 mg l−1) and northeast (19.5 ± 6.2 mg l−1) regions of India. Though the range of stable carbon isotopes of DIC (δ13CDIC) indicates that DIC is largely contributed by weathering of silicate and carbonate minerals, however, the storage of water in dams/reservoirs and intrusion of marine waters caused the enrichment in stable carbon isotopic composition of DIC (δ13CDIC). It is estimated that the Indian monsoonal estuaries annually export ~10.4 Tg (1 Tg = 1012 g) of DIC to the northern Indian Ocean, of which the major fraction (74.2 %) enters into the Bay of Bengal and the remaining reaches to the Arabian Sea. It is mainly due to the fact that the Bay of Bengal receives ~378 km3 yr−1 of freshwater from the catchment area of about 0.96 million km−2, whereas the Arabian Sea receives only 122 km3 yr−1 of freshwater from the catchment area of only 0.23 million km2. Though the discharge from the Indian monsoonal rivers account for only 1.3 % of global freshwater discharge, they disproportionately export 2.5 % of the total DIC export by the world major rivers and 9.4 % of the Asian rivers to oceans. The yield of DIC was found to be higher in the SW estuaries (10.8 ± 6.6 g m−2 yr−1) than the other estuaries though they export only 0.3 Tg yr−1 of DIC, which is more than an order of magnitude lower than the export by the NE (4.2 Tg yr−1) and SE estuaries (3.5 Tg yr−1), due to intense precipitation, favorable natural vegetation and tropical wet climate, high soil organic carbon and dominance of red loamy soils in catchments of the SW rivers. This study, therefore, reveals that significant variability in the lithology and hydrological and environmental conditions over the catchments strongly controls the concentrations and yield of DIC from the Indian monsoonal estuaries.
Subsurface hydrological connectivity of vegetated slopes: a new
modeling approach
Authors: Schwarz Massimiliano , Giadrossich Filippo , Lüscher Peter , Germann Peter F.
Published: January 2018

Abstract. Vegetation strongly influences the hydrology of hillslopes through different processes that may be important for the mitigation of flood risks. The complicated interactions of mechanisms that contribute to the formation of runoff at different spatial and temporal scales represent a big challenge for catchment hydrology. However, it is recognized that storage capacity and infiltration are one of the most important processes positively influenced by vegetation. Moreover, numerical studies have discussed the importance of preferential subsurface flow as dominant processes contributing to fast runoff in mountain catchments. While, previous studies have shown the importance of bedrock topography on the connectivity and drainage of shallow soil mantled hillslopes, no studies discussed the role of heterogeneous root distribution on the drainage of hillslope with stagnic soils so far. In this work we present a conceptual model that aims to link modelling approaches of root distribution combined to hydrological modelling of preferential flow, and the quantification of hydrological connectivity of forest hillslopes. We use a spatial distributed root distribution model to calculate the number of fine roots based on the structure of forest cover (tree position and dimension). The results of root distribution are used as input parameter for the quantification of preferential flow patches using a numerical approach. Finally, we use the spatial distributed values of preferential flow to calculate the hydrological connectivity of a vegetated hillslope considering topography and soil profile characteristics. The new proposed framework is calibrated through field experiments at the soil profile scale, and the first results of the numerical simulations considering different combination of parameters are discussed in the context of protection forests mitigation effects against flood risks.
Participatory flood vulnerability assessment: a multi-criteria approach
Authors: de Brito Mariana Madruga , Evers Mariele , Almoradie Adrian Delos Santos
Published: January 2018

Abstract. This paper presents a participatory multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach for flood vulnerability assessment while considering the relationships between vulnerability criteria. The applicability of the proposed framework is demonstrated in the municipalities of Lajeado and Estrela, Brazil. The model was co-constructed by 101 experts from governmental organizations, universities, research institutes, NGOs, and private companies. Participatory methods such as the Delphi survey, focus groups, and workshops were applied. A participatory problem structuration, in which the modellers work closely with end users, was used to establish the structure of the vulnerability index. The preferences of each participant regarding the criteria importance were spatially modelled through the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and analytical network process (ANP) multi-criteria methods. Experts were also involved at the end of the modelling exercise for validation. The final product is a set of individual and group flood vulnerability maps. Both AHP and ANP proved to be effective for flood vulnerability assessment; however, ANP is preferred as it considers the dependences among criteria. The participatory approach enabled experts to learn from each other and acknowledge different perspectives towards social learning. The findings highlight that to enhance the credibility and deployment of model results, multiple viewpoints should be integrated without forcing consensus.
Comparison of stochastic parameterizations in the framework of a coupled ocean-atmosphere model
Authors: Demaeyer Jonathan , Vannitsem Stéphane
Published: January 2018

Abstract. A new framework is proposed for the evaluation of stochastic subgrid-scale parameterizations in the context of MAOOAM, a coupled ocean-atmosphere model of intermediate complexity. Two physically-based parameterizations are investigated, the first one based on the singular perturbation of Markov operator, also known as homogenization. The second one is a recently proposed parameterization based on the Ruelle's response theory. The two parameterization are implemented in a rigorous way, assuming however that the unresolved scale relevant statistics are Gaussian. They are extensively tested for a low-order version known to exhibit low-frequency variability, and some preliminary results are obtained for an intermediate-order version. Several different configurations of the resolved-unresolved scale separations are then considered. Both parameterizations show remarkable performances in correcting the impact of model errors, being even able to change the modality of the probability distributions. Their respective limitations are also discussed.
Infraspinatus and Teres Minor Tendon Calcification with Severe Pain
Authors: Yang Zhen , Zhao Wenqiu , Yang Yongjun
Published: January 2018

Calcific tendinitis is an extremely common shoulder disorder which affects 2.7 to 10.3% of the adult population. However, clear details regarding the formation of calcific tendinitis have only been found recently, and its pathology still under debate. In this report, we present a case of calcific tendinitis affect both the infraspinatus and the teres minor tendon with both X-ray and ultrasound findings. Calcific tendinitis at the infraspinatus is rare (around 8.4% in all rotator cuff calcific tendinitis), and no separate case report on calcific tendinitis has been reported in the teres minor region in the preceding several years, therefore, the rarity of reporting this case was considered.4 We assume that additional case reports can help to further improve our understanding regarding infraspinatus and teres minor tendon calcification.
Western Faculty Profile: Dr. Gregory Kelly
Authors: Liu Zi Hao (Nemo)
Published: January 2018

Born in Winnipeg and raised in rural Manitoba, Dr. Gregory Kelly is a Full Professor in the Department of Biology at the Western University. He completed his Honors B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Zoology at the University of Manitoba before moving to the University of Washington for his Postdoctoral research and extended stay as a Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacology with Dr. Randall Moon. With almost 25 years of teaching experience at Western University, Dr. Kelly has led many groups of students through the expeditions of Cell and Developmental Biology. In addition to his experiences within Canada, Dr. Kelly has also served as a visiting professor at many international universities, including: The University of Warmia and Mazury in Poland, Umeå University in Sweden, Osaka University in Japan, as well as the University of Bergen and TromsØ in Norway.
Link aware and Energy efficient Routing Algorithm in Wireless Body Area Networks
Authors: Khodabandeh Hajar , Ayatollahitafti Vahid , Taghizadeh Mohammad Sadeq
Published: January 2018

Due to increasing developments of medical science, early detection and receiving exact information in treatment of diseases and even preventing them are very important. Body Area Networks (BANs), a subset of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), can deliver vital signs of patients to physician by collecting and analysis of patients' data and with applying different types of medical sensors. In this paper, a new link aware and energy efficient routing algorithm is introduced. In this algorithm, packets are divided into two categories: high-priority and low-priority packets and used for efficient next hop selection node. Selecting the next hop node based on the parameters such as the number of hops, delay and path loss is carried out. Results of simulation show that proposed algorithm improve average energy consumption and throughput compared to the similar routing algorithm.
Autonomous video compression system for environmental monitoring
Authors: Mateos-Cañas Irene , Sendra Sandra , Lloret Jaime , Jimenez Jose Miguel
Published: January 2018

Throughout the present work, series of exhaustive studies are realized with the purpose of determine which is the most suitable video compression codec for transmitting video recorded in a natural environment where a colour is predominant above the rest. This has been done starting from scratch by analyzing a video for obtaining its RGB level. After that, a study about the network parameters resulted from the fact of having the transcoded video stored in a server waiting for a RTP client request has been realized. Lately, a decision algorithm has been designed and it establishes, according to the results obtained in the previous researches, the most suitable video compression codec. Finally, a Python program has been implemented. It automatizes the process of video recording, RGB predominant level calculation and, depending on the previous results, transcoding for obtaining the final transcoded video file.
Quantitative evaluation of sensitivity in confidential car exterior design
Authors: Kato Takumi , Tsuda Kazuhiko
Published: January 2018

In recent years, the manufacturing industry has seen a shift in competition from performance, which can easily be evaluated numerically, to design which much more challenging to express numerically. The rise of companies that focus on design, such as Apple, Samsung and IKEA, is remarkable. However, design presents two challenges for the manufacturing industry. First, the sensory aspect of design is challenging to evaluate quantitatively, and unified evaluation indicators are not yet defined. Second, confidentiality of product design. In many cases, the design is kept in confidence within the companies, so it is often hesitated to investigate large customers. The above two problems increase the influence of the evaluator's experience and cause a situation that it is challenging to create a design desired by the customer. Therefore, the present study aims to enable inexpensive quantitative evaluation of automobile exterior design while maintaining confidentiality. We propose a technique that uses a convolutional neural network to link features extracted from accumulated design images to the sensitivity extracted from the customer's voice. This is then used to quantitatively evaluate an input image.
Inflation Forecasts: Are Market-Based and Survey-Based Measures Informative?
Authors: Grothe Magdalena , Meyler Aidan
Published: January 2018

This paper analyses the predictive power of market-based and survey-based inﬂation expectations for actual inﬂation. We use the data on inﬂation swaps and the forecasts from the Survey of Professional Forecasters for the euro area and the United States. The results show that both market-based and survey-based measures have a non-negligible predictive power for inﬂation developments, as compared to statistical benchmark models. Therefore, for horizons of one and two years ahead, market-based and survey-based inﬂation expectations actually convey information on future inﬂation developments.
Students’ Perception on the Usefulness of ICT-Based Language Program
Authors: Wiyaka . , Mujiyanto Januarius , Rukmini Dwi
Published: January 2018

This paper presents the result of a survey on the usefulness of an ICT-based software program called DEC (a pseudonym for a particular commercial English learning resource). This program was utilized by English Departement University of PGRI Semarang as a complementary software in Integrated Course offered to the first semester students. The research adopted Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by Davis (1989) which focused on the perceived acceptability of the program. An online questionaire was used to get the data. 236 students participated in the survey. The collected data were tabulated and interpreted descriptively. The findings show various results from the questionnaire under the 4 headings: perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, perceived attitude towards usage, and perceived intentional behavior to use.
The Impact of Atopic Dermatitis on Children’s Sleep Duration and Their Mother’s Suicidal Ideation
Authors: Yoon Heun-Keung , Kim Ji-Youn
Published: January 2018

PURPOSE: This study was performed to identify the effects of child’s atopic dermatitis (AD) on sleep duration and their moder’s suicidal ideation.METHODS: The subjects were 2,845 mothers of preadolescent and adolescent children who participated in the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI; 2013 and 2015). The data gathered were analyzed with a chi-square test and logistic regression using the SPSS 18.0 program for Windows.RESULTS: With respect to the effect of a child’s AD on maternal sleep duration and suicidal ideation , sleep duration was statistically and significantly lower in mothers of children with AD (OR=1.477 in Model 1, OR= 1.552 in Model 2 and OR=1.547 in Model 3) than in mothers of children without AD. ) Although not statistically significant, suicidal ideation was higher in mothers of affected children (OR=1.348 in Model 1, OR=1.414, p=.252 in Model 2 and OR=1.109 in Model 3) than in mothers of non-affected children.CONCLUSION: Mothers of children affected by atopic dermatitis suggest the development of nursing interventions for health maintenance because they can not rule out the possibility of depression or suicidal thoughts due to sleep disorders.
Long Run Relationship between Selected Macroeconomic Indicators and Banking Sector in Pakistan
Authors: Pervaiz Javed , Jian-Zhou Teng , Masih Junaid
Published: January 2018

The study investigated the long run relationship between selected macroeconomic indicators and banking sector index in Pakistan. The selected macroeconomic indicators are Exports, Industrial Production, CPI, and KIBOR as short-term interest rate, Money Supply (M0), Nominal Exchange Rate between Pakistan and United States of America (USA), Oil Prices and the Interest rate on Pakistan Government bond ten years, as the long-term interest rate. Monthly time series was used from January 2009 to August 2015. The study applied Augmented Dickey-Fuller test to determine the stationarity levels for the selected macroeconomic indicators and banking sector index, Phillips-Perron test to validate the results of Augmented Dickey-Fuller test, a bound testing technique in ARDL model to investigate the long run relationship between selected macroeconomic variables and banking sector index. Results suggested the presence of a long-run relationship between macroeconomic variables exchange rate, inflation, oil price and banking sector index in Pakistan. Results of Granger causality test suggested unidirectional causality running from macroeconomic variables KIBOR and oil prices to banking sector index in Pakistan. Further, unidirectional causality was found running from banking sector index to government bond in Pakistan.
Introducing statistical machine translation in translator training: from uses and perceptions to course design, and back again
Authors: Rossi Caroline
Published: January 2018

While translation technology is now at the core of most translator training programmes, only a handful include teaching of statistical machine translation (SMT). This paper reports on the design and evaluation of an SMT course which we introduced in the second year of our Master’s degree in Multilingual Specialised Translation in 2016.
Neural Machine Translation
Authors: Casacuberta Nolla Francisco , Peris Abril Álvaro
Published: January 2018

From the outset, automatic translation was dominated by systems based on linguistic information, but then later other approaches opened up the way, such as translation memories and statistical machine translation which draw on parallel language corpora. Recently the neuronal machine translation (NMT) models have become the cutting edge in automatic translation and many translation agencies and well-known web pages are successfully using these technologies. One NMT model is a kind of statistical model comprising a group of simple deeply interconnected process units. The parameters of these models are estimated from parallel corpora using efficient automatic learning algorithms and powerful graphic processors. Applying these neural models to automatic translation requires words to be represented in the form of vectors and use recurrent neural networks in order to process phrases.
La Revista Tradumàtica, una publicació al servei de les tecnologies de la traducció
Authors: Piqué Ramon , Sánchez-Gijón Pilar
Published: January 2018

L’article descriu l’evolució de la Revista Tradumàtica, publicació digital dedicada a les tecnologies de la traducció nascuda l’any 2001 amb voluntat de connectar el món acadèmic i el món professional i que ha recollit en les seves pàgines les transformacions més rellevants que ha viscut el món de la traducció professional. En el text es presenten dades quantitatives, es posa en valor les contribucions més rellevants i s’exposen els canvis que la mateixa publicació ha viscut fruit també dels canvis tecnològics per acabar apuntant els canvis actuals i les perspectives de futur com a publicació.
Physiological Effects of Whey- and Milk-Based Probiotic Yogurt in Rats
Authors: SZABÓ-FODOR JUDIT , BÓNAI ANDRÁS , BÓTA BRIGITTA , EGYED LINDA SZOMMERNÉ , LAKATOS FERENC , PÁPAI GRÉTA , ZSOLNAI ATTILA , GLÁVITS RÓBERT , HORVATOVICH KATALIN , KOVÁCS MELINDA
Published: January 2018

In an in vitro experiment commercially available probiotic products were tested for the survival of bacteria under conditions of simulated human digestion either when used alone or mixed into yogurt. In the in vivo experiment the effects of feeding a whey- and milk-based yogurt prepared with the probiotic strain showing adequate survival in the in vitro experiment, was measured on body weight, feed consumption and immune response of rats (IgG and IgA level after immunisation), on the composition and volatile fatty acid production of the intestinal microbiota and on the structure of intestinal villi. The Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA-15) strain had inadequate surviving ability in rats. Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis (BB-12) improved the composition of the intestinal microflora, whereas whey-containing product had a mild immunostimulating effect and exerted a favourable influence on the morphology of intestinal villi. The consumption of yogurts increased the depth of crypts in the ileum, which resulted in enhanced secretion and thus softer faeces.
Book Review: Getting Started with Digital Collections: Scaling to Fit Your Organization
Authors: Howell Monica
Published: January 2018

Collections of digitized cultural materials are becoming common in libraries, archives, and museums. However, many small and midsize institutions have found the creation of such collections to be difficult given organizational priorities and budgetary and staff restrictions. Monson’s book seeks to explain the basics of creating and sharing digital collections in ways that will allow smaller organizations to work on a scale suited to their needs and available resources.
Avaliação do potencial antioxidante e anti-Helicobacter pylori in vitro de extratos de plantas medicinais utilizadas popularmente na região amazônica
Authors: Nascimento Juliana Érica Cirino , Reatgui Walberson da Silva , Araújo Luciana Silva de , Ribeiro Maria Elizelma da Silva , Maia Daniela Cristina da Silva , Giacomin Leandro Lacerda , Kitagawa Rodrigo Rezende , Baratto Leopoldo Clemente
Published: January 2018

A região amazônica contempla uma enorme diversidade de espécies de plantas que contribuem para uma vasta riqueza natural. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial antioxidante, anti-Helicobacter pylori e atividade inibitória da enzima urease in vitro de extratos de espécies de plantas medicinais usadas popularmente na região oeste do Pará. Foram realizados ensaios antimicrobianos através da técnica espectrofotométrica de microdiluição em caldo, antioxidante pelos ensaios de DPPH e ABTS•+ e de inibição da urease. O extrato etanólico de folhas de Schnella sp. apresentou o melhor potencial antioxidante frente aos dois métodos, com CI50= 6,35 μg/mL (DPPH) e 1,81 μg/mL (ABTS•+), e, ainda, o maior percentual de inibição da urease (45%) na concentração de 1024 μg/mL. O extrato etanólico da resina de breu-branco inibiu 82,8% (512 μg/mL) do crescimento da bactéria. Estes resultados, em conjunto, evidenciam o potencial das espécies vegetais utilizadas na região oeste do Pará, na busca por moléculas com ação antioxidante e antimicrobiana.
Controle alternativo de Colletotrichum musae com extrato de mil folhas Alternative control of Colletotrichum musae with extract of yarrow
Authors: Figueiredo Yasmim Freitas , Altoé Luciana Schulthais , Gonçalves Lucas Caetano , Rodriguez Gabriel Afonso Alvarez , Silva Marcelo Barreto da
Published: January 2018

Extratos de planta de mil folhas (Achillea millefolium L.), podem auxiliar no controle de doenças de pós-colheita da banana (Musa sp.), como a antracnose (Colletotrichum musae B. & M.A.C.). O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a inibição de crescimento do fungo por frações dos extratos de distintas partes da planta em diferentes meses de colheita. O material colhido foi separado, secado e triturado, realizando-se a extração etanólica pela técnica de maceração. Após a obtenção do extrato, este foi seco, dissolvido em Dimetilsulfóxido e vertido em meio BDA fundente. Os tratamentos foram feitos em triplicata, sendo avaliado o crescimento radial do fungo após 5 dias em BOD (25°C). Ocorreu a redução de crescimento do fungo, quando comparadas com a testemunha, obtendo os melhores resultados nas frações mais polares e, as partes mais ativas foram as flores. A constância da atividade, observada nas diferentes partes da planta, é um indicativo do potencial do extrato da planta no controle da antracnose da banana.
REVISÃO DA PLANTA COSTUS SPIRALIS (JACQ.) ROSCOE: Pluralidade em propriedades medicinais
Authors: Duarte Regiane Cristina , Andrade Lais A. , Oliveira Tércia
Published: January 2018

Costus spiralis (Jacq.) Roscoe (Costaceae) ou Cana-do-brejo ou Cana-de-macaco é uma espécie amplamente encontrada no Brasil. Quais valores médicos e/ou potenciais terapêuticos? O objetivo desta revisão foi destacar a pluralidade da planta Costus spiralis para curar ou melhorar o sofrimento da população contra doenças e suas comorbidades. A partir dos vários artigos utilizados, destacamos a forte preocupação com a melhora da comunicação entre profissionais e usuários, mais especificamente sobre o Costus spiralis, devido a sua pluralidade em propriedades medicinais, a fim de evitar maiores complicações à saúde. Ressaltamos que, apesar da pouca literatura, os dados quantitativos e qualitativos sobre a dose e terapêutica de C. spiralis na medicina popular e/ou científica (extrato aquoso ou droga vegetal), as pesquisas revisadas neste artigo, sugerem, de forma indireta, a possibilidade de utilização desta planta para o tratamento da síndrome metabólica e suas comorbidades. Estudos multidisciplinares ainda são necessários e ampliados para verificar como agem nas comorbidades da síndrome metabólica, quais são os seus efeitos tóxicos e colaterais, como seriam suas interações com novos medicamentos alopatas, quais as estratégias mais adequadas para o controle de qualidade e produção de fitoterápicos, para atender às normas das agências reguladoras, como as resoluções da ANVISA.
Redacción de la Constitución en clave no masculina
Authors: Torres del Moral Antonio
Published: January 2018

Resumen:El lenguaje es un componente esencial del Derecho. El Derecho y la justicia se expresan con palabras. Los lenguajes jurídicos habituales en las culturas históricas han coincidido siempre en su sesgo masculino. El presente trabajo es un ensayo de redacción de ciertos pasajes de la Constitución española (el Preámbulo y los artículos primero a 29) procurando superar su sesgo masculino sin cambiar su sustancia jurídica.Summary:1. Introduction. 2. Law and Language. 3. Aplication to the Constitution. 4. Preamble. 5. Preliminary Part. 6. Part I: Concerning fundamental rights and duties. 6.1 Chapter I: Spaniards and Aliens. 6.2 Chapter II: Rights and Liberties. 6.2.1 Section 14. 6.2.2 Division I: Fundamental Rights and Publics Liberties.Abstract:Language is an essential component of the law. The law and the justice are expressed with words. The juridic languages have historically been expresed from the male slant. This is a trial of new wording of certain passages of the Spanish Constitution (the preamble and the articles 1 to 29) trying to overcome their male slant without changing the juridic substance.
El legislador ausente del articulo 18.3 de la Constitución (la construcción pretoriana del derecho al secreto de las comunicaciones)
Authors: Ridaura Martínez María Josefa
Published: January 2018

Resumen:Este trabajo aborda los problemas jurídicos generados por persistente ausencia de una ley de desarrollo del derecho fundamental al secreto de las comunicaciones acorde con las exigencias constitucionales. Centrándonosen el estudio de cómo, mediante la presencia del juez y la ausencia del legislador, se ha producido una construcción pretoriana de este derecho, tanto en su dimensión procesal, como en la sustantiva. Y, finalmente, abordamos en qué medida, siguiendo la doctrina constitucional, la recientemente reforma de la Ley de Enjuiciamiento Criminal ha venido a colmar el vacío normativo; quedando pendiente la exigencia de regular, con la garantías que ofrece la ley, el contenidomaterial de este derecho.Summary:I. Introduction. II. Framing constitutional. III. The jurisprudential construction of the substantive dimension of the right to the secret of communications. 1. Configuration of the right to secrecy of communications 2. Extend of the right to secrecy of communications. IV. The jurisprudential construction of the requirements for the intervention of communications. 1. Insufficiency of thenorm and jurisprudential fixation of the intervention requirements. 2. Persistence in not legislating. 3. The insufficiency of the precept not by what it says, but by he stops saying. 4. The requirement of motivation of the intervention as part of the essential content of the right. V. The required reform of the criminal procedure law. VI. Final considerations.Abstract:This paper addresses the legal problems generated by the persistent lack of a Law on the secrecy of communications, as demanded by the Constitution. This article studies how there was a praetorian construction of this right, both in its procedural and in its substantial dimensions, due to the presence of the judge and the absence of the legislator. It also analyses to what extent, (following the constitutional jurisprudence) the last reform of the Criminal Procedure Law fulfilled the normative vacuum regarding the secret of communications.Nevertheless, it rests pending to regulate, as legally requested, the substantial content of the right including the due legal guarantees.
Crisis de la democracia de partidos y segunda transición
Authors: González Juan Jesús
Published: January 2018

ResumenEste artículo comienza presentando la idea de Bernard Manin sobre la evolución de las formas de representación política y el paso de la democracia de partidos a la democracia de audiencia. A continuación, hace repaso de la génesis y evolución de la crisis económica con el fin de subrayar algunas de sus consecuencias en el terreno políticoinstitucional. En tercer lugar, se detiene en el análisis del impacto electoral de la crisis de representación en las elecciones autonómicas y generales de 2015, para llegar, por último, a evaluar el nuevo sistema de partidos y sus implicaciones en materia de polarización política.Summary:1. Old and new politics. 2. The genealogy of the crisis. 3. The electoral impact of the crisis: the autonomic and general elections of 2015. 4. The new system of parties: limited transition to pluralism polarized pluralism. 5. Summary.Abstract:This article begins by presenting the Bernard Manin’s argument on the evolution of the political representation and the transition from party democracy to audience democracy. It continues by taking into account the origins and evolution of the economic crisis in order to underline some of its consequences concerning the political and institutional arena. Third, it analyzes the electoral impact of the crisis of representation on the regional and general 2015 elections. Finally, the article evaluates the new party system and its implications withregard to the issue of political polarization.
El desarrollo de la Constitución social
Authors: Ruiz Rico Gerardo
Published: January 2018

Resumen:La Constitución Española de 1978 reconoce un amplio catálogo dederechos sociales, pero no ha previsto instrumentos eficaces para su tutelajurídica. Los derechos sociales constitucionalizados se configuranante todo en forma de principios y mandatos dirigidos a los poderespúblicos, con escasas posibilidades de ser utilizados en el control deconstitucionalidad de las normas. La crisis económica y la constitucionalizacióndel principio de estabilidad presupuestaria han venidoa debilitar más aún su potencialidad normativa. La implantación delEstado Autonómico ha tenido como resultado una elevada dosis dedescentralización en materia de derechos sociales. Se hace necesariauna reforma constitucional que permita reforzar la eficacia de los derechosdel Estado social.Summary:1. Deficits and normative potentialities of social rights in the Spanish Constitution of 1978. 2. An approximation to the faltering constitutionaljurisprudence on social rights and their relative normative capacity. 3. Budgetary stability and economic crisis: new canons of constitutionality of social rights in legislation and constitutional jurisprudence. 4. The territorial development of the Social Constitution. 5. Conclusions: the Social state in a future Constitutione  ferenda.Abstract:The Spanish Constitution of 1978 recognizes a wide catalog of social rights, but has not provided effective instruments for its legal protection. Constitutionalised social rights are shaped above all in the form of principles and mandates directed to public authorities, with little possibility of being used in the control of the constitutionality of norms. The economic crisis and the constitutionalisation of the principle of budgetary stability have further weakened its normative potentiality. The implementation of the Autonomous State has resulted in a high dose of decentralization in terms of social rights. A constitutional reform is necessary to strengthen the effectiveness of the rights of the Welfare state.
Regulación constitucional de la participación de los trabajadores en la economía y en la empresa
Authors: Colomer Viadel Antonio
Published: January 2018

Resumen:En el texto de la Constitución española de 1978, se opta por un modelo participativo, que se refleja en los artículos 7 y 9, en el título VII (Economía y Hacienda) y, en particular, el artículo 129 que parece contener un programa revolucionario en relación con la economía y la empresa y el acceso de los trabajadores a la propiedad. Sin embargo, no ha existido la voluntad política de desarrollar toda la potencialidad de la Constitución. Incluso se ha disminuido la tendencia participativa, especialmente en el campo social y económico.Summary:Preliminary note. 1. Introduction. 2. The economic constitution. A. Participation in Social Security and other bodies on quality of life and overall well-being. B. Participation in the company and its community dimension. C. Cooperatives. D. The access of workers to the ownership of the means of production. The participation economy and the Social and solidarity economy.Abstract:The Spanish Constitution of 1978 opt for a participatory model, which is reflected in articles 7 and 9, in title VII (Economy and Finance) and, in particular, article 129 which seems to contain a revolutionary programme for the Economy and the companies, and the workers access to the property. However, there has been no political will to develop the full potential of the Constitution. Even declined the participatory trend, especially in the social and economic field.
Derecho constitucional económico: estabilidad presupuestaria y derechos sociales
Authors: Aranda Álvarez Elviro
Published: January 2018

Resumen:La estabilidad presupuestaria y los límites a la deuda pública se han convertido en los principios referenciales de la política económica de la Unión Europea tras el paso por la crisis económica de los últimos años. La aplicación de estos principios supone hacer grandes recortes en el Estado del Bienestar que puede afectar sustancialmente a los derechos sociales e, incluso, el modelo de Estado de nuestro país. El presente artículo pretende dejar constancia que tanto la interpretación de esos principios como el nuevo artículo 135 de la CE deben ser interpretados de conformidad con las reglas económicas constitucionales que aseguran la vigencia del Estado social y democrático deDerecho.Summary:Introduction 1. Constitutional economic rules in the Spanish Constitution of 1978: the lack of a definite economic model and the diffuse reference to budget stability 2. Public spending as a key instrument in welfare state economic policies. 3. Justice principles regarding public spending contained in article 31.2 of the Spanish Constitution. 3. Budget stability in european law. evolution and goals. 4. The tense balance between economic and social rights and budget stability. Conclusions.Abstract:Budget stability and public debt limits have become key economic policy factors in the European Union in the wake of the recent economic crisis. The application of these principles involves major cuts to the Welfare State that may substantially affect social rights and even the model of State in our country. This article argues that both these principles and the new article 135 of the Spanish Constitution must be interpreted in accordance with constitutional economic rules that ensure the continuing validity of the social and democratic Statebased on the rule of law.
Aniversarios con luces y sombras: Constitución española, integración europea y ‘defectos estructurales’ de la UE
Authors: Pereira Menaut Antonio Carlos
Published: January 2018

Resumen:En conjunto puede decirse que tanto la UE como la Constitución española de 1978 han sido grandes éxitos que ahora celebran sus aniversarios, pero ambas tienen problemas que deben ser resueltos. En el caso de la UE, parece haber un puñado de defectos estructurales difíciles de eliminar y que dificultan mucho solucionar el déficit democrático y la plena constitucionalización de la Unión. Los mismos defectos estructurales plantean la cuestión de hasta dónde puede llegar la integración europea, manteniendo, al mismo tiempo, la integridad constitucional española, o al menos no amenazándola. Nos inclinamos por abandonar el método funcionalista, pasar a un tipo de gobierno plenamente político y constitucional, y encaminarnos hacia un federalismo pluralista, más bien dual y del tipo del americano.Summary:I. By way of an introduction. II. Some points to start with. III. On federalism, once again. IV. Has european constitutionalism some structural failures? A. Constitutionalism and the functionalist method. B. The impact of the insufficient EU democracy on Spanish constitutionalism. C. Is the EU a pluralistic, multilevel political community composed of smaller, yet real, political communities? D. Globalisation, European constitutionalism, and Spanish constitutionalism. V. How much European integration is the Spanish constitution apt to admit of?Abstract:On the whole, one may safely say that both the EU and the 1978 Spanish Constitution have been runaway successes that are now about celebrating their anniversaries, yet both have problems that should be addressed to. In the case of the EU, there seems to exist a handful of structural failures that are not easy to remove and make very difficult to cope with the democratic deficit and the full constitutionalising of the Union. The same inbuilt failures pose the question of how far may European integration go while at the same time maintaining, or not menacing, the integrity of the Spanish Constitution. Our leanings go towards abandoning the functionalist method, embracing a fully political, constitutional rule, and making for a pluralistic, rather dual, American-like, kind of federalism.
Logic and its Pragmatic Aspects
Authors: Marsonet Michele
Published: January 2018

A pragmatist conception of logic rejects any kind of logical constructionism, based on the appeal to privileged ontological and epistemological items and to a perfect language supposedly provided by mathematical logic. Even in logic, “pluralism” must be the key-word if one does not want to be locked in the cage of conceptions that become rapidly outdated. Dealing with the dichotomy Absolutism/Relativism in logic, it may be observed that the enterprise of logic can be considered in several - and substantially different - perspectives, among which we find (1) the psychologistic, (2) the Platonistic, and (3) the instrumentalistic viewpoints. According to (1) logic is viewed as fundamentally descriptive, and its task is taken to be that of outlining a “theory of reasoning,” i.e. a systematic account of how we humans proceed when reasoning successufully. According to (3), instead, logic’s task is that of constructing rigorous systems codifying not only actual, but also possible instrumentalities for conducting valid inferences, and these would be available (should someone want to avail himself to them) for adoption as an organon of reasoning, but no empirical claims are made that anyone has (or will) avail himself of this opportunity. The logician devises a tool or instrument for correct reasoning, but does not concern himself about the uses of this instrument. Philosophy and logic cannot be linked so closely, and today the idea that the analytic style of philosophizing is just one style among many others, and not the only possible one, is gaining increasing acceptance.
Dynamic Interactions Between Health, Human Capital and Wealth
Authors: Zhang Wei Bin
Published: January 2018

This paper proposes a dynamic economic model with health, human capital and wealth accumulation with elastic labor supply. The economic system consists of one industrial, one health, and one education sector. Our model is a synthesis of four main models in economic theory: Solow’s one-sector neoclassical growth mode, the Uzawa-Lucas two sector model, Arrow’s learning by doing model, and Grossman’s growth model with health. The model also includes Zhang’s idea about creative leisure or learning by consuming. Demand and supply of health service and education are determined by market mechanism. The model describes dynamic interdependence among wealth, health, human capital, economic structure, and time distribution among work, health caring, and education under perfect competition. We simulate the model and examine effects of changes in the propensity to consume health caring, the efficiency of producing health caring, the propensity to receive education, and the propensity to save.
KIF2A regulates the development of dentate granule cells and postnatal hippocampal wiring
Authors: Homma Noriko , Zhou Ruyun , Naseer Muhammad Imran , Chaudhary Adeel G , Al-Qahtani Mohammed H , Hirokawa Nobutaka
Published: January 2018

Kinesin super family protein 2A (KIF2A), an ATP-dependent microtubule (MT) destabilizer, regulates cell migration, axon elongation, and pruning in the developing nervous system. KIF2A mutations have recently been identified in patients with malformed cortical development. However, postnatal KIF2A is continuously expressed in the hippocampus, in which new neurons are generated throughout an individual's life in established neuronal circuits. In this study, we investigated KIF2A function in the postnatal hippocampus by using tamoxifen-inducible Kif2a conditional knockout (Kif2a-cKO) mice. Despite exhibiting no significant defects in neuronal proliferation or migration, Kif2a-cKO mice showed signs of an epileptic hippocampus. In addition to mossy fiber sprouting, the Kif2a-cKO dentate granule cells (DGCs) showed dendro-axonal conversion, leading to the growth of many aberrant overextended dendrites that eventually developed axonal properties. These results suggested that postnatal KIF2A is a key length regulator of DGC developing neurites and is involved in the establishment of precise postnatal hippocampal wiring.