bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of curcuma (Curcuma xanthorrizha roxb.) extract as an adjuvant of captopril therapy on cardiac histopathology of male mice (Mus musculus) with hypertension
Authors: Hijriani Nursela , Yusetyani Lilik , Hasmono Didik
Published: January 2020

Background

Hypertension is a cardiovascular disease which has become a major health problem in Indonesia. Left ventricle hypertrophy is one of the cardiac complications of hypertension that is characterized by thickening of the left ventricle and increasing the mass of cardiac muscle.

Methods

This study was an experimental study with a posttest group design. Twenty-four mice were divided into four groups. The normal group was given distilled water, the negative control group was given L-NAME 1.75 mg/25 g BW/day, the positive control group was given L-NAME 1.75 mg/25 g BW/day + captopril 0.04875 mg/30 g BW/day, and the adjuvant captopril group was given L-NAME 1.75 mg/25 g BW/day + captopril 0.04875 mg/30 g BW/day + curcuma extract 31.25 mg/30 g BW for 30 days.

Results

The results of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test analysis on the adjuvant treatment of the captopril group revealed no significant effect on cardiac muscle mass (p > 0.05), while the thickness of the left ventricle was significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Captopril-Curcuma group resulted in a decrease of cardiac muscle and the thickness of the left ventricle in male mice with hypertension.
Analysis of the use and cost of stress ulcer prophylaxis for surgical inpatients
Authors: Wijaya Dhani , Padolo Elfri , Ardianto Chrismawan , Sumarno  , Matulatan Fendy , Alderman Chris , Suharjono
Published: January 2020

Background

Stress ulcer is a superficial and asymptomatic lesion and causes bleeding. As many as 50% of death cases are reported as the result of stress ulcer bleeding. Stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) is a drug used to prevent gastrointestinal tract injuries due to stress ulcers. The inappropriate use of SUP drugs can cause adverse drug reactions, and thus SUP drugs are only given to patients in accordance with guidelines in order to avoid the overuse of SUP drugs. The aim of this present study is to analyse the suitability of SUP drug usage based on the criteria from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the drug costs of SUP overuse.

Methods

An observational descriptive study was conducted from April 24, 2019, to May 17, 2019, in the inpatient surgical ward of Dr. Soetomo General Hospital. Data were obtained from patient medical health records.

Results

One hundred fifty-two patients used 1404 SUP drugs. Approximately 48% of usage did not suit the ASHP criteria and was considered as medication overuse. The cost of excessive SUP usage during the study period was more than US $65, which is 30.08% of the total drug cost of prescribed stress ulcer drugs.

Conclusions

The present study suggests that the relatively high excessive drug costs for SUP show a need for monitoring of the application of SUP therapy guidelines.
Attenuation of IL-1ß on the use of glucosamine as an adjuvant in meloxicam treatment in rat models with osteoarthritis
Authors: Khotib Junaidi , Pratiwi Asri Putri , Ardianto Chrismawan , Rahmadi Mahardian
Published: January 2020

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent joint disease and a common cause of joint pain, functional loss, and disability. The severity of this disease is always associated with increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, which play an important role in cartilage damage, synovitis, and other damage to joint tissues. The discovery that many soluble mediators such as cytokines or prostaglandins can increase the production of matrix metalloproteinases by chondrocytes led to the first steps of an inflammatory state. Several studies show that cytokines, such as interleukin 1ß, have a major role in the development of inflammation that occurs in these joints. The use of glucosamine as an adjuvant to meloxicam therapy is expected to inhibit the development of inflammatory OA.

Methods

The OA model in rat was induced by single injection of intraarticular monosodium iodoacetate (MIA). The development of OA was observed for 21 days. Furthermore, the evaluation of glucosamine potency as an adjuvant of meloxicam therapy for reducing IL-1ß was done by combined treatment at a low dose of meloxicam 1 mg/kg BW with glucosamine at a dose of 125, 250, or 500 mg/kg BW orally for 28 days. Response to hyperalgesia and knee joint diameter was measured on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49. IL-1ß levels were measured on day 21 and day 49 after MIA injection.

Results

MIA injection successfully induced OA as marked by a significant difference in the time of latency to heat stimulus (p < 0.01) and a significant increase in joint diameter (p < 0.01). On day 21, IL-1ß levels showed a significant decrease in MIA injection (p = 0.05). The administration of meloxicam and glucosamine did not induce significant decrease in knee joint diameter (p > 0.10), but was able to significantly increase the latency time to heat stimulus (p < 0.01). IL-1ß levels also showed a significant decrease after administering a combination of glucosamine and meloxicam (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Taken together, the use of glucosamine as an adjuvant in meloxicam therapy may be caused by the synergistic mechanism of meloxicam for the attenuation of OA development through systemically reducing IL-1ß.
Intravenous insulin therapy in diabetes mellitus with hyperglycemic crisis and intercurrent illness
Authors: Suprapti Budi , Syarfina Fairuza , Ardianto Chrismawan , Wibisono Cahyo
Published: January 2020

Background

Hyperglycemic crisis is one of the complications of diabetes mellitus, which is common in hospitalized diabetic patient with intercurrent illness, requiring immediate action to control blood glucose. As an effort to attain rapid, gradually and more definite blood glucose, insulin is given intravenously. This study aimed to explore the patterns of blood glucose in hyperglycemic crisis and intercurrent illness, precipitating conditions, insulin regimen and blood glucose (BG) level results.

Methods

It was a cross-sectional study conducted on type 2 diabetic patients. The inclusion criteria were as follows: hospitalized in the general/internal medicine ward with or without any complication or comorbidity receiving intravenous insulin therapy; have pre- and post-BG data after insulin intervention.

Results

In 3 months of the study period, 22 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria with 28 cases of intravenous insulin therapy, and 1 patient could get more than one intervention. The major condition toward a hyperglycemic crisis condition was infection. The patient’s BG before interventions was 243 mg/dL to more than 600 mg/dL. The dosage of insulin varied from 4 to 10 units per hour, intravenously with a frequency of 1–4 times. The dosage consideration was not only based on BG levels but also on the patient’s condition. The reduction in BG level varied greatly between 0.2 and 28.1 mg/dL per unit of insulin. The BG level of three patients did not decrease. On the other hand, one patient experienced mild hypoglycemia.

Conclusions

Infection conditions were the most common factor for the hyperglycemia crisis. Moreover, intravenous insulin dosing was done individually, and there was a large variation in the results of the decrease in BG levels.
The effect of premixed insulin to blood glucose concentration in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Puspitasari Arina D. , Kusuma Hayu , Ratri Dinda M.N. , Wibisono Cahyo , Suprapti Budi
Published: January 2020

Background

One of the therapies used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) disease is combination insulin which consists of rapid-acting insulin and intermediate-acting insulin (premixed). This study aimed to examine the profile of premixed insulin related to blood glucose concentration and to identify the drug interactions due to the combination of premixed insulin with other drugs taken by T2DM patients.

Methods

This study was a prospective observational study with cross-sectional data that were analyzed descriptively. The respondents invited were T2DM patients with or without complication or comorbid disease who received premixed insulin with or without a combination of oral antidiabetic therapy in the Outpatient Unit of Universitas Airlangga Hospital, Surabaya. The research instruments used are data sheet, patient medical record, and fasting and postprandial blood glucose concentration.

Results

A total of 118 patients received premixed insulin therapy, but only 80 patients were included in the inclusion criteria. Based on types of insulin, the combination of 30% aspart and 70% protamine aspart was used by 91.25% T2DM patients, and a combination of 25% insulin lispro and 75% protamine lispro was used by 8.75% T2DM patients. There were 30.3% of patients who could achieve the target of 80–130 mg/dL in fasting blood glucose concentrations, and 35.1% of patients achieved the target of ≤180 mg/dL in postprandial blood glucose concentration. Drug interactions may occur in patients who use premixed insulin with glimepiride, lisinopril, fenofibrate, candesartan, irbesartan, and gemfibrozil.

Conclusions

In this study, premixed insulin have not reached the target of fasting and postprandial blood glucose concentrations in most patients.
Overview of therapeutic changes in antiepileptic drugs in adult patients
Authors: Ratri Dinda M.N. , Rahmadi Mahardian , Islamiyah Wardah R. , Harum Nur Faridah
Published: January 2020

Background

Previous studies suggest a highly variable response of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). This may be because the response to AEDs has been changed to sustained period of freedom from seizures. This study was conducted to determine whether therapeutic changes of AEDs in the treatment of seizure would be observable in an Indonesian population.

Methods

The study was conducted at the outpatient neurology polyclinic at the Universitas Airlangga Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia. This was an observational retrospective cohort study, examining the outcomes of 41 cases of switching AEDs (increase or decrease of the dose, switch to branded or generic, or added or reduced type of AEDs).

Results

After treatment with the switched AED, seizure did not show any significant improvement. However, the incidence of seizure during and after the therapeutic change showed a downward trend (from 44% to 32%).

Conclusions

According to the present study, mere optimization of antiepileptic therapy may not result in a steep decrease in seizure events, particularly in polytherapy with AEDs. On the other hand, monotherapy with AEDs evidences to decreasing tendency of seizures.
Ghrelin, obestatin and the ghrelin/obestatin ratio as potential mediators for food intake among obese children: a case control study
Authors: Aly Gamal S. , Hassan Nayera E. , Anwar Ghada M. , Ahmed Hanaa H. , El-Masry Sahar A. , El-Banna Rokia A. , Ahmed Nihad H. , Kamal Ayat N. , Tarkan Reham S.
Published: January 2020

Background

Ghrelin and obestatin are two gastric hormones encoded by the same preproghrelin gene that convey information concerning nutritional status to the central nervous system. Ghrelin has been considered as an appetite stimulating peptide that has a role in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Obestatin has been described for its appetite suppressing effects opposing ghrelin’s effect on food intake. The study aimed to evaluate ghrelin, obestatin and the ghrelin/obestatin ratio in obese children compared to non-obese and correlate them to food macronutrients intake.

Methods

This study is a cross-sectional case control study comprising 60 obese children, in addition to 31 age- and sex-matched controls. All children were subjected to clinical examination, anthropometric assessment, and a 3-day 24-h dietary recall. Fasting serum ghrelin and obestatin levels were evaluated, the ghrelin/obestatin ratio was calculated and they were correlated to macronutrients intake.

Results

Obese children had significantly lower serum fasting levels of ghrelin, obestatin and the ghrelin/obestatin ratio than the control group. The mean intake of total energy and macronutrients was significantly higher in obese children. Ghrelin showed positive correlation with total energy and fat intake in the obese group. Obestatin had positive correlations with total energy and fat intake while the ghrelin/obestatin ratio had a negative correlation with the total energy intake in the control group.

Conclusions

Ghrelin, obestatin and the ghrelin/obestatin ratio were significantly lower in obese children and significantly associated with their total energy intake. Disturbed ghrelin to obestatin balance may have a role in the etiology and pathophysiology of obesity.
The trade-off between the olfactory bulb and eyeball volume in precocious puberty
Authors: Karaoglan Murat , Er Hale Colakoğlu , Aytaç Emel Hatun , Keskin Mehmet
Published: January 2020

Background

The olfactory bulb (OB) and eyeball size change depending on age and puberty. There is a well-established trade-off between sensory structures of the brain such as the eye and the olfactory bulb that depend on environmental circumstances in the evolutionary history of animals.

The aim of this study was to developmentally investigate the potential reciprocal changes between OB and eyeball volumes (EV) in girls with precocious puberty (PP).

Methods

A total of 148 girls aged between 5 and 8 years (63 PP, 85 healthy) were included in the study. Exclusion criteria: Cases of anosmia/hyposmia, neurodegenerative disorder, refractive errors and trauma. The pituitary height (PH), EV and OB volumes were measured on segmentation of a magnetic resonance image (MRI) slice using manual countering. The corrected measurements by body surface were used in all statistical analyses.

Results

In girls with PP, the means of the OB volume and PH were larger (71.11 ± 20.64 mL) and higher (4.62 ± 1.18 mm), respectively, while the mean of EVs was smaller (11.24 ± 2.62 cm3) (p = 0.000). Cut-off values were 62.27 mL, 10.7 cm3 and 4.71 mm for OB volume, EV and PH, respectively. While negative correlations were found between OB volume-EV and EV-PH (r63 = −0.224, p = 0.001 and r63 = −0.116, p = 0.001, respectively), OB volume was positively correlated with PH (r63 = 0.578, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

The present study demonstrates that girls with PP have significantly larger OB volume, but smaller EV, and there is negative correlation between the two structures. These results indicate that there is trade-off between anatomical dimensions of OB and eyeball in favor of OB in PP girls.
Maternal smoking and cannabis use during pregnancy and infant outcomes
Authors: Sturrock Sarah , Williams Emma , Ambulkar Hemant , Dassios Theodore , Greenough Anne
Published: January 2020

Background

Our aim was to determine the prevalence of tobacco smoking and e-cigarettes and cannabis use during pregnancy, whether these were influenced by ethnicity, and their relationship to perinatal outcomes.

Methods

A study was carried out in 4465 infants whose mothers delivered during 2017 and 2018. Self-reported maternal smoking, e-cigarette and cannabis use at booking were recorded. Outcome measures were birthweight and head circumference z-scores and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Results

Two hundred and five women reported smoking cigarettes (4.7%), five were using e-cigarettes (0.11%) and 106 were using cannabis (2.43%). Women were most likely to smoke if young (15–19 years old) or from a mixed-race or White background. Cigarette smoking was associated with a lower mean z-score for birthweight (−0.587 vs. −0.064) and head circumference (−0.782 vs. −0.157) (both outcomes P < 0.0001). Young, mixed-race women were most likely to be both smoking and using cannabis during pregnancy and their infants had a lower birthweight mean z score (−0.989 vs. −0.587, P = 0.028) and head circumference z score (−1.33 vs. 0.782, P = 0.025) than cigarette use alone.

Conclusion

Young, mixed-race women were most likely to be both smoking and using cannabis during pregnancy and should be targeted for cessation programmes.
Operative vaginal delivery: a review of four national guidelines
Authors: Tsakiridis Ioannis , Giouleka Sonia , Mamopoulos Apostolos , Athanasiadis Apostolos , Daniilidis Angelos , Dagklis Themistoklis
Published: January 2020

There is a broad range in the rates of operative vaginal deliveries (OVD) worldwide, which reflects the variety of local practice patterns, the number of trained clinicians and the lack of international evidence-based guidelines. The aim of this study was to review and compare the recommendations from published guidelines on OVD. Thus, a descriptive review of guidelines from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) on instrumental vaginal birth was conducted. All the guidelines point out that the use of any instrument should be based on the clinical circumstances and the experience of the operator. The indications, the contraindications, the prerequisites and the classification for OVD are overall very similar in the reviewed guidelines. Further, they all agree that episiotomy should not be performed routinely. The RCOG, the RANZCOG and the SOGC describe some interventions which may promote spontaneous vaginal birth and therefore reduce the need for OVD. They also highlight the importance of adequate postnatal care and counseling. There is no consensus on the actual technique that should be used, including the type of forceps or vacuum cup, the force and duration of traction or the number of detachments allowed. Hence, there is need for international practice protocols, so as to encourage the clinicians to use OVD when indicated, minimize the complications and reduce rates of cesarean delivery.
Investigating the language-culture nexus in refugee legal advice meetings
Authors: Reynolds Judith
Published: January 2020

This paper explores linguistic and cultural complexity within immigration legal advice communication. Drawing from a linguistic ethnographic study, ethnographic and interactional data from two linked advice meetings about UK refugee family reunion processes are subject to deductive analysis using Risager’s model of the language-culture nexus, within which the intersection of language(s) and culture(s) in a communicative event is conceptualised as a nexus of linguistic, languacultural, discursive, and other (non-linguistic) cultural resources and practices. The paper operationalises this intercultural communication theory in a new and exploratory way to investigate how cultural complexity is manifest, and interactionally managed, at different levels of meaning.

The substantive analysis shows how a range of divergent resources, brought in by the different participants, are drawn upon and externalised as communicative practices in both legal advice meetings. Understanding is negotiated interculturally at different levels of meaning – the linguistic, the languacultural, and the discursive – in contrasting ways in each meeting. Methodologically, the paper argues that a strength of Risager’s framework is that it supports a methodical and structured analysis of communicative events characterised by linguistic and cultural complexity, which can be linked to other discourse analytical approaches. The model’s complexity, and its foregrounding of verbal over other semiotic modes, are highlighted as challenges for the analyst.
Interpreting profanity in police interviews
Authors: Hale Sandra , Martschuk Natalie , Goodman-Delahunty Jane , Taibi Mustapha , Xu Han
Published: January 2020

Professional interpreters are obliged by their codes of ethics to interpret the speakers’ speech faithfully, including offensive, profane or vulgar language. In order to achieve this goal, interpreters need to be pragmatically competent, so as to understand the intention and effect of the offensive remark in the source language and be able to appropriately render it into the target language to achieve the same effect in the hearer. Research has shown, however, that not all interpreters abide by this requirement, and many tend to tone down or even omit any offensive language, for a number of reasons, including attempts to protect the hearers or to save their own face. This study examined the ways in which Arabic, Mandarin and Spanish speaking interpreters interpreted offensive language by a suspect in a simulated police interview into English. Experienced qualified interpreters in the three languages, maintained the highest levels of pragmatic equivalence.
Correlation between electrochemical performance degradation and catalyst structural parameters on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell
Authors: Li Yunqi , Xiong Danping , Liu Yuwei , Liu Mingtao , Liu Jinzhang , Liang Chen , Li Congxin , Xu Jun
Published: January 2020

The catalysts performance degradation is a crucial issue in decay of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The effect of Nafion content, dispersity of Pt nanoparticles and selected types of carbon support on the degradation of electrochemical surface area (ECSA) and double layer capacitance (DLC) were experimentally discussed by accelerated stress test (AST). The catalyst with 20wt% Nafion content exhibited better catalyst performance.i.e., the less DLC and ECSA degradation during AST. Catalysts with well Pt dispersity showed superior %ECSA (the percentage change of ECSA) retention. The heat-treated catalysts exhibited the lowest ECSA and DLC degradation rate due to the larger Pt particle and high carbon corrosion resistance. Moreover, a multi-order model describing the correlation between ECSA and DLC degradation was proposed, providing a vital reference for quantitatively investigating ECSA and DLC degradation in the catalysts with different catalysts structural parameters.
Graphene oxide and zinc oxide decorated chitosan nanocomposite biofilms for packaging applications
Authors: Terzioglu Pınar , Altin Yasin , Kalemtas Ayse , Celik Bedeloglu Ayse
Published: January 2020

Recently, due to sustainable development and environmental protection policies, there is increasing interest in the development of new biodegradable polymer-based multifunctional composites. Chitosan is one of the most remarkable and preferred biopolymers, which is environmentally friendly as well as renewable, biocompatible, and inexpensive. Though it has a wide range of potential applications, the major limitation of chitosan – the problem of poor mechanical performance – needs to be solved. In this work, graphene oxide was first produced and then used to manufacture a chitosan/graphene oxide/zinc oxide composite film through a casting method. The properties of the chitosan film and the chitosan/graphene oxide/zinc oxide composite film were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, mechanical, thermal gravimetric, and ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectroscopy analyses. The results showed that the incorporation of graphene oxide and zinc oxide into the chitosan matrix resulted in enhanced mechanical properties and thermal stability of chitosan biocomposite films. The graphene oxide- and zinc oxide-reinforced chitosan film showed 2527 MPa and 55.72 MPa of Young’s modulus and tensile strength, respectively, while neat chitosan showed only 1549 MPa and 37.91 MPa of Young’s modulus and tensile strength, respectively. Conversely, the addition of graphene oxide decreased the transmittance, notably in the UV region.
India: country report on children’s environmental health
Authors: Bangalore Thimmadasiah Narayanaswamy , Joshi Tushar Kant
Published: January 2020

Children contribute substantially to the burden of disease in India. Most common are problems with outdoor and household air pollution, with solutions not immediately apparent or implementable. Children are also often exposed to heavy metals, industrial chemicals and pesticides. Despite advances in some regions, many children still do not have adequate access to clean water and improved sanitation. Infectious diseases remain a problem, especially for children living in poverty. The children of these regions are now facing the dual problems of undernutrition and stunting on the one hand, and overnutrition and obesity on the other.
Construing Scandinavia: A semiotic account of intercultural exchange in theme park design
Authors: Sandin Gunnar
Published: January 2020

Evaluation of other cultures is a strong force in a culture’s definition of itself. Cultures are formed in encounters that include domination, conflict, and dismissal as much as appreciation and smooth exchange. In this paper, the construction of cultural identity is discussed, with reference to a Scandinavian Theme Park proposal made in cooperation between American design consultants and a local Swedish team of planners and visionaries. The image production in this design proposal, which never came to be realised in architectural production, shows that “Scandinavia” appears as a two-some dialogic construction that adopts stereotyped cultural identities, and that it was not brought to any wider public dialogue. In a semiotic account of this architectural decision-making, models of culture (Lotman. 1990.Universe of the mind: A semiotic theory of culture. London: Tauris.) are discussed in terms of the tripartition of culture into Ego-culture, Alter-culture and Alius-culture (Sonesson. 2000. Ego meets alter: The meaning of otherness in cultural semiotics.Semiotica128(3/4). 537–559.; Cabak Rédei, Anna. 2007.An inquiry into cultural semiotics: Germaine de Staël’s autobiographical travel accounts. Lund: Lund University Press.), considered as a basic abstracted backdrop of what is meant by cultural difference. In this paper it is suggested that this tripartite view on culture, can be further discussed in reflection of post-colonial studies, notably through terms such as “mimicry” (Bhabha. 1984. Of mimicry and man: The ambivalence of colonial discourse.October28. 125–133.) and “subalterity” (Spivak. 1988. Can the subaltern speak?. In Cary Nelson & Lawrence Grossberg (eds.),Marxism and the interpretation of culture, 271–313. Urbana & Chicago: University of Illinois Press.). The model of culture can furthermore be discussed through Peirce’s distinction between different stages and carriers of representation, adding to the cultural model an understanding of what it means, over time, for a culture to relate to an admired as well as to a neglected other cultural actor.
Intercultural competition over resources via contests for symbolic capitals
Authors: Even-Zohar Itamar
Published: January 2020

Intergroup competition over resources is attested since the dawn of history. Written and archaeological evidence go back to at least the fourth millennium BC. According to accepted views, evolution has favored humans because of their ability to have cumulative cultures, which has made flexible adaptation possible. One major aspect of this adaptation has been the ability to handle power contests without engaging physical force. Instead, increasing prestige dynamics has allowed contest management by displaying symbolic assets. These have growingly been instrumental in deterring external assaults, thus guaranteeing the possession – or expansion – of a group’s resources. However, while material assets are believed to create status by the evidence of their tangible usefulness (such as foods, husbandry and tools), symbolic assets are by definition subject to ongoing negotiation, entirely dependent on being socio-semiotically recognized as types of capital. Symbolic stock exchanges thus appear to have been determinative since antiquity in hierarchizing ethnic and political groups fighting over resources, prioritizing ones over the others. They have culminated in repertoires of more solid tangible and intangible assets, from impressive buildings, city gates, gardens and temples, to ideas such as freedom, quality of life and wealth, justice, personal security, or whatever values that have gained universal recognition. The article discusses the creation and expansion of such symbolic repertoires and their uncertain position in recent times.
Intercultural parallax: Comparative modeling, ethnic taxonomy, and the dynamic object
Authors: Pelkey Jamin
Published: January 2020

Comparative modeling is necessary for semiotic inquiry. To better theorize such pursuits, a reflexive turn is in order: comparative modeling needs comparative modeling. In search of experientially grounded analogies better suited for understanding, validating, scrutinizing, and accounting for the situation of the semiotic inquirer, this paper applies insights from Peircean process semiotics and Göran Sonesson’s extended theory of cultural semiotics toward two ends: one theoretical, the other applied. First, I undertake a critical review of recent scholarly and creative works that attempt to adapt concepts of “parallax” as a source domain for comparative modeling activities. I do this in order to continue laying groundwork for a more complex, systematic theory of reflexive semiotic modeling in human inquiry, building on my earlier work. Second, I explore a specific case study of comparative intercultural modeling: namely, nationalist ethnic classification strategies in China and Vietnam. While many researchers have considered the onomastic and geopolitical dimensions of state-sanctioned ethnic categorization programs in these two countries, little has been done to unpack the powerful visual and narratological strategies employed by both; and little has been done to compare the intercultural categories these strategies serve to legitimize. The Vietnamese classification program is clearly modeled on its Chinese counterpart historically, but important categorical mismatches emerge between the two that indicate the presence of hidden diversity. Comparing the two systems also leads to a number of discoveries with implications for further developing the theory of cultural semiotics. Ultimately, the function or purpose of parallax modeling is shown to both comprehend and point beyond nascent intercultural and intracultural models toward more complex blends, by holding all such relations in a comparative frame, not as irreconcilable positions but as a more developed composite sign indicating the presence of yet more deeply buried dynamic objects to be searched out through further collateral experience.
Spiritual Care als Therapeuticum spätmoderner Medizin
Authors: Neuhold David
Published: January 2020

Vorliegender Essay beschäftigt sich kritisch mit dem jüngst erschienenen Buch des Ehepaars Balboni „Hostility to Hospitality“. Er analysiert die Herangehensweise der Autorin und des Autors und fokussiert vor allem auf den Gebrauch von geschichtlichen Argumenten. Zwar ist es erfreulich, dass historische Überlegungen in die These miteinbezogen werden, aber dies geschieht in selektiver Weise und ist mit großen „Narrativen“ – wie dem einer spezifischen Verlustgeschichte – hinterlegt. Das alles schmälert den Wert des Bandes, der sehr breit aufgestellt ist, sich engagiert zeigt und argumentativ aus vielen Quellen schöpft, letztendlich nicht.
Synthesising solver structure of the OpenFOAM mathematical modeling system for analysing thermal mode of LED lamps
Authors: Sobianin I. V. , Trofimov V. E.
Published: January 2020

Today LED lamps are used more and more widely in various fields of human activity. The operation of LEDs substantially depends on the thermal dissipation power and temperature. In this regard, one of the mandatory stages in the process of creating such lamps is the analysis of their thermal mode, which is necessary for the development of a heat sink.
In order to analyze the thermal mode and design the heat sink for powerful LED lamps, the authors synthesized the structure of the problem solver. The new structure was based on the structure of the basic laplacianFoam solver and the application of the swak4foam library functions, which is a part of the OpenFOAM computational fluid dynamics toolbox. The results of the thermal mode simulation of the LED thermal model (a plate with a rectangular heat source) obtained using a modified solver were compared with those obtained by the proprietary solver of the CAD/CAE SolidWorks system and those obtained by analytical computation. The data adequacy of the modified solver was estimated and its practical application verified.
The thermal mode of the Samsung LC009D LED, which is placed on the flat-plate finned heat sink, was analyzed. The Kaufer 5204 glue ability to be used in such design with natural convection cooling of the heat sink was tested. The glue thickness was 0.1 mm and its thermal conductivity was 1,5 W/(m•К). The heat sink’s heat transfer coefficient was 10 W/(м2•К). The paper presents corresponding temperature distributions and shows that the new technique can be used for solving problems that arise when designing LED lamps
Influence of impurities and structural defects on electrophysical and detector properties of CdTe and CdZnTe
Authors: Kondrik A. I. , Kovtun G. P.
Published: January 2020

Solid-state ionizing radiation detectors based on high-resistance semiconductors can be used to monitor the safety of nuclear reactors. High-resistance CdTe and CdZnTe have very good electrophysical and detector properties. The objective of this study was to use computer simulation to determine how impurities and structural defects, as well as their clusters, affect electrophysical and detector properties of Cd1-xZnxTe (0≤x≤0.3). The calculations were based on well-tested models, the reliability of which was confirmed when comparing simulation results with well-known experimental data. It has been established that deep donors with energy levels near the middle of the band gap considerably extend the area of the high-resistance state of CdTe and CdZnTe, which is suitable for the creation of radiation detectors. The capture and recombination of non-equilibrium charge carriers occurs at the deep levels of cadmium vacancies owing to the influence of Ti, V, Ge, Ni, and Sn impurities. For this reason, such impurities are considered to be harmful, noticeably reducing the efficiency of charge collection η in CdTe and CdZnTe detectors. The decrease of electron mobility in CdTe and CdZnTe can be caused by the distribution heterogeneity of impurities (impurity clusters).When concentration of harmful impurities Ti, V, Ni, Sn, Ge does not exceed the content of the "background", provided that the impurities are distributed over the crystal uniformly, it is possible to obtain high-resistance CdZnTe of an acceptable detector quality. The obtained results could help determining conditions for producing CdTe and CdZnTe materials of high detector quality.
Electronic Cigarettes and Cardiovascular Risk: Caution Waiting for Evidence
Authors: D’Amario Domenico , Migliaro Stefano , Borovac Josip Andjelo , Vergallo Rocco , Galli Mattia , Restivo Attilio , Bonini Matteo , Romagnoli Enrico , Leone Antonio Maria , Crea Filippo
Published: January 2020

Electronic cigarettes use is a growing trend in contemporary societies, with the propensity to compete with traditional tobacco smoking. Some preclinical studies demonstrated the toxic and detrimental effects of electronic cigarettes liquid components. Its impact on human health remains unknown and insufficiently studied. While some studies suggest that electronic cigarettes use might be associated with endothelial dysfunction, impaired platelet function and increased risk of adverse clinical events, other studies did not confirm these findings and epidemiological data mostly suggest that the use of electronic cigarettes appears to be safer than that of traditional tobacco cigarettes. This article provides an up-to-date overview of the current state of knowledge regarding electronic cigarettes and their impact on human health, with special emphasis on their effect on cardiovascular diseases.
Predictors of Recurrence of AF in Patients After Radiofrequency Ablation
Authors: Garvanski Iskren , Simova Iana , Angelkov Lazar , Matveev Mikhail
Published: January 2020

Catheter ablation is a well-known treatment for patients with AF. Despite the growing knowledge in the field, the identification of predictors of recurrence of AF after catheter ablation is one of the primary goals and is of major importance to improve long-term results of the procedure. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of what has been published in recent years and to summarise the major predictors, helping cardiac electrophysiologists in the selection of the right candidates for catheter ablation.
Model and determinants of state-local governments’ relations in Nigeria
Authors: Ikeanyibe Okechukwu Marcellus , Chukwu Patrick Chiemeka , Ibietan Jide
Published: January 2020

Abstract Nigeria struggles to establish and sustain cooperative, interdependent state-local intergovernmental relations (IGR) by providing for the powers and rights of local governments in the federal constitution. Despite the provisions, the practice of state-local IGR has remained inclusive, hierarchical, dependent and competitive. This paper investigates the extent to which constitutional provisions determine state-local relations as against the macrostructure of intergovernmental relations between the federal government and states. The authors argue that it is difficult to expect a cooperative, interdependent, state-local IGR through constitutional provisions of the powers and rights of local governments, if the federal-state relations, which should be the determining framework of IGR is inclusive, hierarchical and dependent. The paper suggests that the lower forms of IGR in a federation (e.g. the state-local IGR), largely depend on the super-structure, which is that between the federal government and the lower tiers. The implication is that the level of autonomy enjoyed by local governments largely depends on the level of autonomy the states themselves enjoy.
The impact of the project management office on scientific research
Authors: Junqueira Michele Aparecida Dela Ricci , Passador Cláudia Souza
Published: January 2020

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é demonstrar que o escritório de gestão de projetos, uma unidade organizacional reconhecida pelo guia Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®), pode apoiar o cientista na gestão de projetos de pesquisa, de modo que ele se dedique a outras atividades. Para testar a hipótese, detalha-se o marco teórico e a coleta de dados de projetos financiados pela Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa no Estado de São Paulo (Fapesp) e executados na Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP) no período de 2009 a 2015. O estudo mostrou que os cientistas teriam cumprido os requisitos exigidos pela agência de financiamento sem esse apoio; porém, o escritório impactou a gestão financeira do projeto, uma iniciativa alinhada às práticas de universidades estrangeiras, nas quais o suporte a cientistas já se tornou parte rotineira do apoio institucional.
“Wish you were here” confianza en la administración pública en Latinoamérica
Authors: Güemes Cecilia
Published: January 2020

Resumen Sabemos que los ciudadanos latinoamericanos desconfían mucho de las instituciones. Pero ¿qué subyace a dichas actitudes? Este trabajo presenta un esfuerzo exploratorio y descriptivo en torno a la Administración Pública. Los objetivos son: a) contrastar las creencias que sobre dicha institución tienen la ciudadanía y los administradores, b) verificar diferencias y semejanzas entre países de la región, c) identificar ejes de reforma para promover la creación de confianza. Metodológicamente, se triangula información proveniente de tres fuentes de datos: Latinobarómetro (2011, 2015), CAF Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina, (CAF, 2014), y una encuesta propia con apoyo de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA, 2015). El análisis revela que: a) no existen diferencias apreciables entre funcionarios y ciudadanía, b) hay relativa homogeneidad entre países, c) las políticas de gobierno abierto pueden ser una excelente oportunidad para renovar la confianza.
Interatividade e ciclo de políticas públicas no Orçamento Participativo Digital: uma análise internacional
Authors: Iasulaitis Sylvia , Nebot Carmen Pineda , Silva Elielson Carneiro da , Sampaio Rafael Cardoso
Published: January 2020

Resumo Contemporaneamente, verifica-se a apropriação de tecnologias de informação e comunicação (TIC) por iniciativas que têm como meta a participação cidadã, cujo exemplo emblemático é o orçamento participativo digital (OPD). O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar plataformas de OPD, buscando identificar seus modelos de interatividade e avaliar quão profícuas são as funcionalidades oferecidas em termos políticos no sentido de transmissão de informação política, formulação da agenda pública, emissão de opinião, negociação da diferença e tomada de decisão política. Essa análise possibilitou enquadrar as ferramentas disponibilizadas em seis níveis de interatividade, com base nas variáveis nível de controle do receptor e direção da comunicação, e identificar a quais modelos de OPD as diversas funcionalidades correspondem, bem como quais fases do processo decisório e do ciclo de políticas públicas são contempladas em cada experiência em foco. Foram desenvolvidos estudos de caso em perspectiva comparada, buscando contemplar a diversidade de formatos de OPD existentes.
Interactivity and policy cycle within Electronic Participatory Budgeting: a comparative analysis
Authors: Iasulaitis Sylvia , Nebot Carmen Pineda , Silva Elielson Carneiro da , Sampaio Rafael Cardoso
Published: January 2020

Resumo Contemporaneamente, verifica-se a apropriação de tecnologias de informação e comunicação (TIC) por iniciativas que têm como meta a participação cidadã, cujo exemplo emblemático é o orçamento participativo digital (OPD). O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar plataformas de OPD, buscando identificar seus modelos de interatividade e avaliar quão profícuas são as funcionalidades oferecidas em termos políticos no sentido de transmissão de informação política, formulação da agenda pública, emissão de opinião, negociação da diferença e tomada de decisão política. Essa análise possibilitou enquadrar as ferramentas disponibilizadas em seis níveis de interatividade, com base nas variáveis nível de controle do receptor e direção da comunicação, e identificar a quais modelos de OPD as diversas funcionalidades correspondem, bem como quais fases do processo decisório e do ciclo de políticas públicas são contempladas em cada experiência em foco. Foram desenvolvidos estudos de caso em perspectiva comparada, buscando contemplar a diversidade de formatos de OPD existentes.
The effects of time on the performance of local government: the “Pact for Health Care” Program
Authors: Kroth Darlan Christiano , Guimarães Raquel Rangel de Meireles
Published: January 2020

Resumo Este estudo avaliou o impacto do tempo de adesão ao termo de compromisso de gestão (TCG), no âmbito do programa Pacto pela Saúde, sobre o nível de eficácia da política municipal de atenção básica, no período de 2008 a 2012. O TCG objetivou aprimorar a governança de política de saúde pelos entes federados, com especial atenção à gestão por resultados. O programa vigorou no Brasil entre 2006 e 2012, tendo recebido a adesão de 4.587 municípios (80% do total). Esta pesquisa buscou responder à seguinte questão: “qual foi o efeito causal do tempo de participação (em anos) no programa Pacto pela Saúde sobre o nível da eficácia da política local de atenção básica, para os municípios participantes?”. Para tanto, adotou-se um desenho de pesquisa quase experimental, mediante estimação de um modelo de dose-resposta com escore de propensão generalizado. Estimou-se, via análise de componentes principais, um indicador de eficácia da política de atenção básica (IDEAB), tendo como referência as metas preconizadas pelo programa. Os resultados da estimação da função de dose-resposta evidenciaram que o tempo de adesão ao Pacto pela Saúde teve impacto positivo e estatisticamente significativo sobre o nível de eficácia das políticas de atenção básica nos municípios participantes. Para cada ano adicional de permanência da política, o IDEAB aumentou, em média, entre 0,011 e 0,019 unidades. Portanto, os resultados sugerem que as metas importam para a governança de política de saúde municipal brasileira.
The (unexerted) competencies of municipal legislative financial committees in Brazil
Authors: Domingos Fernando Deodato , Aquino André Carlos Busanelli de
Published: January 2020

Resumo Este artigo analisa a atuação das comissões de orçamento e finanças das câmaras municipais no controle orçamentário. Tais comissões apoiariam os vereadores na análise, na avaliação e no controle de projetos de lei, emendas parlamentares e prestação de contas apresentados(as) pelas prefeituras ao longo de todas as fases do ciclo orçamentário. Baseado em um método indutivo de pequenas amostras, este estudo compara a atuação das comissões de orçamento e finanças de 3 câmaras municipais no mandato de 2013-2016. Constatou-se que tais comissões atuaram de modo cerimonial e passivo, emitindo pareceres superficiais. Os resultados indicam que a previsão regimental e a existência de recursos materiais e humanos não garantem o funcionamento dessas comissões. Os efeitos colaterais do governo de coalizão geram incentivos políticos para manter as comissões com atuação cerimonial. A frágil atuação das comissões legislativas no controle orçamentário se mostra um ponto crítico para qualquer pretensão de equilíbrio fiscal na Federação.
HEIDEGGERS ERLÄUTERUNG DER HÖLDERLINSCHEN DICHTUNG: DIE VERWANDLUNG DES BIOGRAPHISCHEN IM GEDICHTETEN
Authors: Han Choong-Su
Published: January 2020

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Die vorliegende Arbeit unternimmt den Versuch, zu erklären, was Heidegger mit dem Ausdruck “die Verwandlung des Biographischen im Gedichteten” bei seiner Erläuterung der Hölderlinschen Hymne Andenken meint. Viele Literaturwissenschaftler interessieren sich für das Entstehungsdatum der Hymne und die damaligen Erlebnisse Hölderlins, um daraus die Hymne zu interpretieren. Im Vergleich mit ihnen richtet Heidegger wenig sein Augenmerk darauf, weil er glaubt, dass das Biographische des Dichters unmittelbar nichts mit dem Inhalt des Gedichtes zu tun hat. Bei der Dichtung geschieht Heidegger zufolge die Verwandlung des Biographischen im Gedichteten. Demnach untersucht die vorliegende Arbeit das Phänomen des Dichtens. Dazu wird Heideggers Erläuterung der Hymne Wie wenn am Feiertage ... herangezogen, die er als die “reinste Dichtung des Wesens der Dichtung” ansieht. Danach wird das Gedicht Andenken im Hinblick auf die “Schiffer” betrachtet, die Heidegger die “kommenden Dichter Germaniens” nennt. Diese Betrachtung dient dazu, die Verwandlung, die im Dichten geschieht, zu erläutern.
DEMOCRACY AS COMPROMISE: AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE AGONISTIC VS. EPISTEMIC DIVIDE
Authors: Dalaqua Gustavo H.
Published: January 2020

ABSTRACT The agonistic vs. epistemic dichotomy is fairly widespread in contemporary democratic theory and is endorsed by scholars as outstanding as Luis Felipe Miguel, Chantal Mouffe, and Nadia Urbinati. According to them, the idea that democratic deliberation can work as a rational exchange of arguments that aims at truth is incompatible with the recognition of conflict as a central feature of politics. In other words, the epistemic approach is bound to obliterate the agonistic and conflictive dimension of democracy. This article takes this dichotomized way of thinking to task by reconstructing the association between democracy and compromise made by John Stuart Mill, John Morley, and Hans Kelsen. It concludes that the conceptualization of democracy as compromise offers an alternative to the agonistic vs. epistemic divide that disconcerts a significant part of political philosophy today.