bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Global Aerodynamic Shape Optimization of Transonic Compressor Blade
Authors: Duan Yanhui , Fan Zhaolin , Wu Wenhua , Chen Ti
Published: December 2018

In this paper, global optimization design of a transonic compressor 3D blade (Rotor 37) has been carried out by a self-developed aerodynamic shape optimization (ASO) platform based on improved parallel synchronous particle swarm optimization (PSPSO). To improve the performance of PSPSO, coefficient of variation (COV) based attenuation method with new parameters is proposed and then validated by optimization tests. Flow field of blade is calculated by an in-house computational fluid dynamic (CFD) code called PMB3D-Turbo, which is validated by Rotor 37. Choosing Rotor 37 as the case, optimization object is to maximize the peak adiabatic efficiency, meanwhile constraining mass flow and total pressure ratio. The solutions show that, the ASO platform is effective to transonic compressor blade and variations of thickness distribution near the trailing edge can help improve the adiabatic efficiency of a transonic compressor blade.
Förderung der Strategiefähigkeit touristischer Unternehmen durch nationale Tourismuspolitiken
Authors: Tanner Monika Bandi , Pfammatter Adrian , Weber Romina , Friedli Therese Lehmann
Published: December 2018

Steigende Anforderungsprofile für Tourismusbetriebe im Kontext der Internationalisierung verlangen nach strategischen Ansätzen. Damit erhält die Strategiefähigkeit der Betriebe eine erhöhte Bedeutung bei Förderungen durch die Tourismuspolitik. Dieser Beitrag greift auf ein planungsorientiertes Prozessmodell des strategischen Managements zur Erklärung der Strategiefähigkeit zurück. Entsprechend werden in strategischen Prozessen tourismusspezifische Ansatzpunkte starker Strategiefähigkeit diskutiert und abgeleitet. Daran angelehnt wird in einer pragmatischen Analyse die Förderwirkung von tourismuspolitischen Instrumenten und Massnahmen der Schweiz und Österreich auf die Strategiefähigkeit untersucht. Die Tourismuspolitik kann vor allem über Anreizsysteme eine positive Förderwirkung auf die drei Hauptprozesse der Strategiefähigkeit bei Betrieben erzielen und so versuchen, die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit zu fördern.
Music in Balance
Authors: Pritchard Matthew
Published: December 2018

This essay argues that musicological interpretations of Immanuel Kant’s music aesthetics tend to misread his stance as a defense of artistic formalism and autonomy—traits that, although present in his account of music, in fact reinforce his peculiarly low estimate of music’s value among the fine arts. Kant's position and its subsequent influence can be grasped more securely by analyzing his dichotomy between “free” and “dependent” beauty. Through an exploration of this opposition’s echoes and applications in the thought of three “Kantian” music critics and aestheticians in the two decades after the appearance of the Critique of Judgement—J. F. Reichardt, an anonymous series of articles commonly attributed to J. K. F. Triest, and C. F. Michaelis—this essay argues that Kantian aesthetics as applied in practice involved close attention to the impact of genre, style, function, and compositional aims on the relevant standards of judgment for an individual musical work. The result was not one-sided support for the aesthetic or metaphysical “truth” of absolute music, but a characteristic balance between the claims of “pure” and “applied” art forms—a balance that continued to be maintained in the transition from classical to Romantic aesthetics in the first decade of the nineteenth century.
Galina Ustvolskaya Outside, Inside, and Beyond Music History
Authors: Morrison Simon
Published: December 2018

Even among devotees of her music, Galina Ustvolskaya is often reduced to an intersectional victim of gendered and political repression, a fearful casualty of the Soviet system. Her percussive scores, including the Sixth Piano Sonata, have earned Ustvolskaya the nickname “lady with the hammers.” This article reviews the literature about this composer alongside scores from the beginning, middle, and end of her career, asking: Should her life and work be considered from a less empathetic perspective in order to take greater account of her craft, and to avoid the gendered, cultural, and political furrows that would narrow our conception of her music? Instead of defining Ustvolskaya’s life and work against our own expectations, this essay questions our assumptions.
Joint Analysis of Multiple Interaction Parameters in Genetic Association Studies
Authors: Kim Jihye , Ziyatdinov Andrey , Laville Vincent , Hu Frank B , Rimm Eric , Kraft Peter , Aschard Hugues
Published: December 2018

Despite the extensive literature on methods for assessing interactions between genetic and environmental factors, approaches for the joint analysis of multiple G-E interactions are surprisingly lacking. Kim et al. compare the power and robustness....

With growing human genetic and epidemiologic data, there has been increased interest for the study of gene-by-environment (G-E) interaction effects. Still, major questions remain on how to test jointly a large number of interactions between multiple SNPs and multiple exposures. In this study, we first compared the relative performance of four fixed-effect joint analysis approaches using simulated data, considering up to 10 exposures and 300 SNPs: (1) omnibus test, (2) multi-exposure and genetic risk score (GRS) test, (3) multi-SNP and environmental risk score (ERS) test, and (4) GRS-ERS test. Our simulations explored both linear and logistic regression while considering three statistics: the Wald test, the Score test, and the likelihood ratio test (LRT). We further applied the approaches to three large sets of human cohort data (n = 37,664), focusing on type 2 diabetes (T2D), obesity, hypertension, and coronary heart disease with smoking, physical activity, diets, and total energy intake. Overall, GRS-based approaches were the most robust, and had the highest power, especially when the G-E interaction effects were correlated with the marginal genetic and environmental effects. We also observed severe miscalibration of joint statistics in logistic models when the number of events per variable was too low when using either the Wald test or LRT test. Finally, our real data application detected nominally significant interaction effects for three outcomes (T2D, obesity, and hypertension), mainly from the GRS-ERS approach. In conclusion, this study provides guidelines for testing multiple interaction parameters in modern human cohorts including extensive genetic and environmental data.
High mortality caused by Bibersteinia trehalosi septicaemia in adult sheep – A case report
Authors: Szeredi Levente , Rausch Ferenc , Szeleczky Zsófia , Jánosi Szilárd
Published: December 2018

The disease induced by Bibersteinia trehalosi usually occurs in lambs. It is triggered by certain stress factors and often emerges in the form of severe outbreaks. In adult sheep, only sporadic cases have been reported so far. This paper reports a B. trehalosi-induced high-mortality case occurring only in adult sheep. Seventy out of 628 adult sheep (11%) died in the affected pen during the six days of the outbreak. None of the 146 lambs kept in the neighbouring pen showed any clinical signs during that period. Several preceding events (shearing, vaccination and antiparasitic treatment) can be regarded as factors predisposing to the disease. Five adult sheep (4 females and 1 male) were sent for laboratory examination. Clinical, gross pathological, histological and bacteriological examinations revealed results corresponding to those reported previously in lambs that had died of a B. trehalosi-induced septicaemia.
Comparison of the reliability of snap foal Ig test, Gamma-Check E test, refractometry and electrophoresis for determining the immune status of newborn foals in the first hours of life
Authors: Kummer Luca Laura , Govaere Jan , Egri Borisz
Published: December 2018

Twenty-eight warmblood mares were monitored during their late pregnancy in the Teaching Hospital of Ghent University. The reliability of two commercial assays (enzyme immunoassay and glutaraldehyde coagulation test) used for determining the IgG concentrations of their newborn foals was tested. Mammary secretions were examined at the time of foaling (T0), and then 4 (T1) and 8 (T2) hours after foaling by refractometry and electrophoresis. The foals’ blood IgG levels were measured at T1 and T2 as a routine clinical diagnostic examination using two different commercial test kits (SNAP Foal Ig and Gamma-Check E) and T0, T1 and T2 samples were stored (at −18 °C) for immunoglobulin (Ig) determination by electrophoresis. Differences between the results of refractometry and electrophoresis occurred in 27.8% of the colostrum analyses. Some serum IgG could be detected immediately post partum (T0) in 75% of the foals, and 42.82% of the newborn foals acquired a serum concentration of more than 800 mg/dl IgG within 8 h of birth. Compared to the electrophoresis, the glutaraldehyde test scored better (85%) than the enzyme immunoassay (74%), although both are accurate and safe to use since they clearly distinguish between safe and unsafe IgG concentrations.
Description of a new bat-associated bug species of the Cimex lectularius group from Vietnam
Authors: Hornok Sándor , Murányi Dávid , Kontschán Jenő , Tan Tu Vuong
Published: December 2018

Cimex lectularius, the common bedbug is an important, emerging pest of both veterinary and medical importance. Here a recently discovered, genetically distinct new species of the C. lectularius group is described morphologically, as Cimex pulveratus Hornok sp. nov.
Comparative pathogenicity of Colletotrichum spp. against different varieties of strawberry plants (Fragaria ananassa) widely grown in Morocco
Authors: El Kaissoumi H. , Mouden N. , Chliyeh M. , Benkirane R. , Ouazzani Touhami A. , Douira A.
Published: December 2018

The evolution of anthracnose symptoms on the aerial part (leaves, stems and strawberries) of three varieties Fortuna, Camarosa and Festival of strawberry plants inoculated with the conidial suspensions ofColletotrichum acutatumandColletotrichum gloeosporioidesisolates was followed. The severity index and infection coefficients increased in function of time. Seven days after inoculation they were low not exceeding 13.43% and 43.33, but they increased four weeks after inoculation, respectively, to 37.96% and 99 on strawberry plants of the Camarosa variety, 54.44% and 105 on those of Fortuna and 51.12% and 85 on those of Festival. At the sixth week, the severity index and infection coefficients became very high, reaching respectively 100% and 408 on Fortuna plants inoculated withC. gloeosporioidesisolate (Coll3) followed by Coll2 (89.28% – 300), Coll1 (86.66% – 378) and Coll4 (80.45% – 198) ofC. acutatumspecies. Similarly, the isolate Coll3 caused fruit rot; the percentage of rotten strawberries was 100% on Fortuna variety, 83.33% on Festival and 70.25% on Camarosa. A positive re-isolation of the testedColletotrichumisolates has been noted from leaves of strawberry varieties and negative from crowns or the roots. A significant to moderate reduction in fresh and dry weights of the aerial part and roots was noted in inoculated strawberry plants compared to the control.
Diversity of endomycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere of chickpea in Morocco
Authors: El Hazzat N. , Artib M. , Touati J. , Chliyeh M. , Selmaoui K. , Ouazzani Touhami A. , Benkirane R. , Douira A.
Published: December 2018

The endomycorrhizal fungi diversity in the rhizosphere of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and the evaluation of root mycorrhizal level were studied in six regions of Morocco: Tahla, Sefrou, Souk Larbae, Souk Tlat, Ouazzane and Jarf Melha. All chickpea roots are carrying endomycorrhizal structures. Root mycorrhizal parameters varied from one site to another, and the highest frequency and intensity of mycorrhization was recorded in the roots of chickpea plants at the two sites Tahla and Jarf Melha respectively, 83%, 33% and 25.03%. In addition, the highest arbuscular content was also noted in the roots of plants growing in the site of Tahla (22.18%) while the lowest content was noted at the site of Sefrou (2.07%). However, the vesicles were not observed in all the sites.

The highest numbers of endomycorrhizal spores were recorded in the rhizosphere of plants collected in Jarf Melha and Tahla, respectively, 74 and 41 spores / 100 g soil. All spores found in the studied sites are represented by 22 morphotypes belonging to 7 genera: Glomus (13 species), Acaulospora (4 species), Gigaspora (one species), Radekera (one species), Entrophospora (one species), Pacispora (one species), Dentiscutata (one species).
Effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and some plant pathogens on the growth and nodulation of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)
Authors: Siddiqui Z. A. , Khan A. , Khan M. R. , Abd-Allah E. F.
Published: December 2018

Effects of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were studied on lentil plants inoculated with Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentis, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli, Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and Meloidogyne incognita. Plant growth, chlorophyll, carotenoid contents, nitrate reductase (NR) activity and nodulation of lentil both in the presence and absence of Rhizobium sp. were examined in a pot test. Inoculation of plants with A. alternata / F. oxysporum f. sp. lentis / X. axonopodis pv. phaseoli / P. syringae pv. syringae or M. incognita caused a significant reduction in plant growth, number of pods per plant, chlorophyll, carotenoids and NR activity over uninoculated control. Inoculation of plants with Rhizobium sp. with or without pathogen increased plant growth and number of pods per plant, chlorophyll, carotenoids and NR activity. When plants were grown without Rhizobium, a foliar spray of plants with 10 ml solution of 0.1 mg ml–1of ZnO NPs per plant caused a significant increase in plant growth and number of pods, chlorophyll, carotenoid contents and NR activity in both inoculated and uninoculated plants. Spray of ZnO NPs to plants inoculated with Rhizobium sp. caused non significant increase in plant growth, number of pods per plant, chlorophyll, carotenoid contents and NR activity when plants were either uninoculated or inoculated with pathogens. Numbers of nodules per root system were high in plants treated with Rhizobium sp. but foliar spray of ZnO NPs had adverse effect on nodulation. Inoculation of plants with test pathogens also reduced nodulation. Spray of ZnO NPs to plants reduced galling, nematode multiplication, wilt, blight and leaf spot disease severity indices.
The effect of date palm tissue and aggregation pheromone on attraction and trapping of Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. (Col.: Dryophthoridae)
Authors: Mohammadpour K. , Avand-Faghih A. , Hosseini-Gharalari A.
Published: December 2018

Red Palm Weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. (Col.: Dryophthoridae), is a key pest of date palm in Asia, North Africa and Spain. A field study was conducted in south eastern Iran to find the effect of odor sources in traps on RPW behavior. This study consisted of four experiments; each included four treatments (odor sources) and eight replications. Each experiment was repeated 4 times (i.e. four different distances between odor sources (treatments) were considered: 0, 0.5, 2 and 5 meters). In each treatment, two traps were used. The treatments were as follows: 1) one trap included two pheromones and the other trap included two pieces of plant tissue, 2) both traps included one pheromone along with one piece of plant tissue, 3) both traps included one pheromone, and 4) both traps included one piece of plant tissue. Overall, much less RPWs were caught in the traps of treatments 3 and 4 (baited with only the pheromone or the plant bait) than in the traps of treatments 1 and 2 (baited with pheromone and plant tissue) evidencing the phenomenon of synergy, previously reported. The Results of analysis of variance of total catch of traps, at all between-trap distances indicated that there was significant difference among treatments. In all experiments, traps that contained just palm tissue had the least catch rate. The RPW distinguished pheromone from plant odor when both sources were separated by less than 5 m. At distances of 5 m, attractancy of plant odor was similar to pheromone attractancy. Our results suggest that each of the chemical cues probably induce a different behavioral process. Probably, pheromone would attract RPWs from a distance, making them fly towards the pheromone sources (traps) while the plant odor would arrest flight and induce landing and local search by walking for palm tissue, resulting in entry into traps.
Studying the efficacy of fipronil (WG 80%) against alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Authors: Mohammadpour K. , Jafarlu M. , Soltani H.
Published: December 2018

The alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica Gyll. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a key pest of alfalfa in different regions of the world where it causes sometimes complete crop destruction. Application of insecticides is the most important and major control method of this pest. The efficacy of fipronil (WG 80%), 50, 70 and 90 g/ha along with fosalon (EC 35%), 2.5 l/ha and malathion (EC 57%), 3 l/ha were assessed against this pest in the field based on a completely randomized block design. Based on Henderson–Tilton formula, on the fourteenth day after treatment, the minimum efficacy of fipronil, 50, 70 and 90 g/ha, fosalon, 2.5 l/ha and malathion, 3 l/ha bait was 80%, 89%, 98%, 76% and 75%, respectively. Results showed that fipronil (WG 80%) at 50–70 g/ha can be used against alfalfa weevil.
Adsorption of nutrients using low-cost adsorbents from agricultural waste and by-products – review
Authors: Naoufal Bellahsen , Szabolcs Kertész , Zoltán Pásztory , Cecilia Hodúr
Published: December 2018

Nutrient removal has become one of the key challenges for wastewater treatment facilities all over the world due to the harmful effect of these pollutants on water bodies and ecosystems known by eutrophication, however, most of the currently used technologies are not focused on nutrients recovery from wastewater. Recently, using agricultural waste/by-products for adsorption of nutrients acquired more interest because of their abundant availability, low-cost, high efficiency and eco-friendly advantages and this method may become more environmentally sustainable through maximizing removal while delivering nutrient and energy recovery technologies with economically attractive return on investment.

This review investigates the application of agricultural waste/by-products as bio-sorbent for phosphate, ammonium and nitrate removal with a focus on the modification methods and the process mechanism including influent parameters, kinetics and isotherms.
Incidence of Common and Rare Cancers in Ilorin, Nigeria
Authors: ANIFOWOSHE Abass T. , OWOLODUN Olubukola A. , OYINLOLA Bashirudeen O. , ABDULGANIYU Kazeem , YUSUF Robiat D. , OREDEIN Oyinkansola A. , IYIOLA Oluyinka A.
Published: December 2018

Cancer is a public health problem worldwide, affecting all categories of persons. It is the second common cause of death in developed countries and among the three leading causes of death in developing countries. Due to its genetics and medical importance, study on its incidence is germane. In the present study, 74 different cancers of 2,246 (n = 891 male and n = 1355 female) cancer patients within the age of 1-105 in Nigeria were retrospectively reviewed using the data from University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH). The overall profile of the categories showed the leading position of breast cancer, followed by cancer of the digestive system (32.29% and 19.67%, respectively), while Kaposi sarcoma, endocrine system and brain cancers were among the rare or least recorded (<1.0% incidence rate). Furthermore, the trend showed a high prevalence during 2011 and 2015 (>13% and >11%) than any other year within the study, while the lowest incidence was recorded in 2016 (<6%). Predisposing factors like tumorigenesis, immune system, biological stressors as well as gene-environment interaction and low life expectancy could influence the risk of different groups of cancer. Therefore, future investigations should be targeted on risk factors related to those considered rare so as to provide useful information about possible signs and symptoms for diagnosis before it escalate.
Anatomical and Physiological Effects of Spent-Engine Oil on Two Varieties of Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench. from Malvaceae
Authors: OLUWANISOLA Oluwaloni P. , ABDULRAHAMAN Abdullahi A.
Published: December 2018

The effect of different levels of spent engine oil application on germination, survival, growth, leaf anatomy, yield, nutrient content and heavy metals uptake of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus – ‘Clemson’ spineless variety and ‘OLA 3 Local’ variety) was assessed in the present study. Completely randomized design was used with five treatment levels of spent engine oil at 0 ml (control), 50 ml, 100 ml, 150 ml and 200 ml applied to 5 kg of soil. Data on germination, seedling survival, growth, chlorophyll nutrient and heavy metal content, as well as leaf epidermal features collected from the study were subjected to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) analyses. Spent engine oil at 200 ml per pot significantly (P < 0.05) delayed seed germination for 4 days and reduced germination percentage by approximately 24% compared to the control. Plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, chlorophyll A, B and stomata area were reduced by 21.33-72.89%; number and dry weight of fruits were reduced by 67.4-13.58%. Number of stomata was increased on the adaxial surface by 57.73% and on the abaxial surface by 34.99%. Na, K, Cr, Cd and Fe contents increased by 0.0178-6.2698 mg/kg-1. The present study has shown that plant constituents and anatomy can be influenced by spent oil contamination. Contamination of soil with spent engine oil therefore should be avoided in order to ensure sustainable crop plant productivity and to reduce the risk of heavy metals toxicity for human beings.
Hepatic Histomorphological Changes and Oxidative Stress Profile of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Juveniles Fed with Sodium Propanoate-Preserved Diets
Authors: ABA Patrick E. , UZOCHUKWU Ifeanyi E. , OSSAI Nelson I. , EKE Ifeanyi G.
Published: December 2018

Sodium propanoate is in the list of approved feed preservatives. However, there is dearth of information on its biological effects on the C. gariepinus. The present study investigated the effect of sodium propanoate-preserved feed on the hepatic histomorphometric changes, oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters of C. gariepinus juveniles. One hundred juveniles of mixed sexes, assigned into 5 groups of 20 fish per group, with each group consisting of 2 replicates of 10 fish, were used for the investigation. Group A juveniles were fed basal diet, while groups B-E received basal diet incorporated with sodium propanoate at the rate of 25, 50, 75 and 100 g/15 kg of feed respectively. Treatments were done two times daily for 8 weeks. Samples (sera and liver) were collected on the last day for evaluation of a few biochemical parameters (malondialdehyde values, catalase activity, C-reactive protein levels) and histomorphometric alterations in the liver. Results indicated that fish in groups D and E had higher catalase activities, lower serum levels of C-reactive proteins and an intact hepatic histomorphormetry when compared with the control group. There was no significant difference in the plasma malondialdehyde values in all the groups. It was concluded that preservation of fish feed with sodium propanoates improved antioxidant status of C. gariepinus and protected liver histology.
Phytoremediation Potentials and Effects of Lead on Growth of Pteris vittata L. and Pityrogramma calomelanos L. (Pteridaceae: Fern)
Authors: YUSUF Adams A. , OLOYEDE Fatai A. , BAMIGBOYE Rachael A.
Published: December 2018

Phytoremediation, tolerance and bio-accumulation potentials of lead in the roots and shoots of Pteris vittata and Pityrogramma calomelanos were investigated to ascertain the effects of lead on thee species’ growth and development. Within the experiment, 5 kg of air dried and sieved soil was put inside six plastic pots labelled CT, A, B, C, D and E, each with different concentrations (0, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1,000 ppm) of lead (II) trioxonitrate (v) salt. The shoots and roots of the plants were air dried, grounded and analysed for lead quantities using x-ray fluorescence before and after the treatments. One-month old healthy fernlets of each species were transplanted into each of the pots, in six replicates. Growth parameters such as leaflet area, number of leaflets and frond height were recorded weekly, for 12 weeks. Quantitative data were analysed for significant difference using analysis of variance for each of the plant species and means were evaluated with Duncan's multiple range test for frond height, leaflet number, leaflet area, roots and shoots biomass. Negative effects (decrease) on the growth parameters were observed in both species. Pteris vittata accumulated more lead in all the treatments, in both shoots and roots, compared with Pityrogramma calomelanos. The highest bio-accumulation factor in Pteris vittata shoot was 2.944 and 0.635 in Pityrogramma calomelanos.Transfer factor of Pteris vittata was 1.742, while for Pityrogramma calomelanos was 0.859 in all the treatments. It could be concluded that Pteris vittata is a better bio-accumulator, tolerated more lead and therefore could be used in remediating lead-contaminated soils, better than Pityrogramma calomelanos.
Characterization of Thirty Cultivars of Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae) by Their Foliar Anatomical Traits
Authors: SHARMA Bhavna Girish , ALBERT Susy , DHADUK Haresh Kumar
Published: December 2018

Leaves of thirty cultivars of Mangifera indica L. were investigated to compare their anatomical variations and identify the characteristic features which are potential markers for the identification of the cultivars. Variations were noted in the thickness of cuticle, length of epidermal cells in the abaxial and adaxial surfaces, length of palisade and spongy tissue. The length of epidermal cell varied from 10 µm in ‘Goto’ to 25 µm in ‘Desi’ cultivars on adaxial side, while on the abaxial side it varied from 15.5 µm in ‘Alphonso’ to 6.9 µm in ‘Sopari’. The palisade tissue length was maximum in ‘Jahangir’ (111.36 µm), while it was lowest in ‘Fazli’ (24.13 µm). Spongy tissue length was the highest in ‘Jamadar’ (199.92 µm) and lowest in ‘Fazli’ (90.55 µm). Two layers of palisade tissue were seen in ‘Sindoria’, ‘Jhumakhiya 2’, ‘Aambadi’, ‘Neelam’,  ‘Rajapuri’, ‘Fazli’, ‘Jahangir’, ‘Kaju’, and ‘Aamir pasand’, while three layers were seen in ‘Alphonso’, ‘Jamadar’, ‘Ladvo’, ‘Sopari’ and ‘Dudhpendo’. Such parameters can be used for distinctly differentiating varieties among them and thus have an exact identification when morphological features are indistinguishable.
Impacts of Plastic Filming on Growth Environment, Yield Parameters and Quality Attributes of Lettuce
Authors: SHAH JAHAN Mohammad , SARKAR Dulal Md. , CHAKRABORTY Rajesh , MUHAMMAD SOLAIMAN Abul Hasnat , AKTER Asma , SHU Sheng , GUO Shirong
Published: December 2018

The condition of soil and microclimate are prerequisite for proper growth and development of a plant. The environment may be mediated by artificial filming with different colored polyethylene. The mechanism of lettuce growing under colored plastic film remains largely unknown. Thus, to investigate the impact of different plastic film on the growth environment, yield parameters and phytochemical properties of lettuce, the present study was performed. Five different colored polyethylene films viz. black, white, blue, olive and silver were used as a treatment factor, in filed condition. The results demonstrated that the soil pH, temperature and overall performance of lettuce, as well as the phytochemical composition, varied within the use of different films. The maximum soil pH and temperature were found under black filming plots. Additionally, the black colored plastic film exhibited the best values for most of the yield parameters studied over other plastic films, whereas the field with non-plastic film condition showed the worst data in the experiment. Phytochemical concentrations and nutritive value of lettuce were also significantly affected by the colored plastic treatments. Furthermore, the chlorophyll, anthocyanin, phenols and carotenoids contents were increased in plants grown in soil covered with black polyethylene. Vitamin C content was of 2.5 fold higher in the plants grown in the black film compared to control conditions. The application of plastic film led to elevated concentrations of macro and micronutrients in lettuce because of the direct effect of modified radiation under the plastic film. Taken together, it can be concluded that plastic filming could be used to enhance the yield and nutritional status of lettuce in natural plant production facilities.
Zinc Influences Regeneration of Talinum portulacifolium Stem Cuttings in Nutrient Solution
Authors: MUTHUKUMAR Thangavelu , JAISON Sarah , BABU Selvam Dinesh
Published: December 2018

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth and development, but toxic at high concentrations. The present study focused to underline the direct effect of different concentrations (0-50 ppm) of Zn on the regeneration ability and morphological characteristics of Talinum portulacifolium stem cuttings in hydroponic solution over a period of 35 days without the interference of other soil factors. High concentrations of Zn (40-50 ppm) affected callusing, root initiation, root and shoot development to varying levels. At high concentrations, Zn caused stem decay, stunting and browning of roots, wilting, withering and necrotic spots on leaves. Increasing concentrations of Zn inversely affected the lateral shoot development, stem elongation, leaf, root numbers and total root length of the stem cuttings. Though Zn had no significant influence on fresh or dry weights of stem, low concentration (15 ppm) of Zn increased the fresh and dry weights of leaves by 11.17% and 26.79% respectively, compared to 0 ppm and with 77.06-243.80% and 47.92-255.00% compared with those raised in 20-50 ppm. Zn concentrations >10 ppm reduced the root fresh weight by 28.57-90.47% and dry weight by 27.27-90.91% than those at 0 ppm. The Zn content in leaves and stems increased linearly with increasing concentrations of Zn and ranged from 1.09-125.62 ppm and 1.00-110.26 in stems and leaves respectively. The tolerance index varied between 81 and 138 for different concentrations of Zn. The results of the study clearly indicate that high concentrations of Zn inhibit the regeneration of T. portulacifolium stem cuttings.
Antimicrobial Activity of Olea europaea Fatty Oil against Multi-Drug Resistant and Biofilm Forming Microorganisms
Authors: NAJEE Haifaa Bawie , ALKURJIA Dunya , ALMAHDAWY Othman , KAMERZAN Crina , MARUTESCU Luminita , GHEORGHE Irina , POPA Marcela , CHIFIRIUC Mariana Carmen , LAZĂR Veronica
Published: December 2018

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential antimicrobial activity of Olea europaea fatty oil against a collection of bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and fungal (Candida albicans) clinical isolates. The antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity were evaluated by broth microdilution method for establishing the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and microtiter assay for determining the minimal biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC). Some of the potential microbial targets of the fatty oil were investigated by flow cytometry (FCM). The results obtained hereby revealed that Olea europaea fatty oil inhibited microbial planktonic growth (MICs values of 5.23-41.8 mg/ mL) and biofilm development on inert substrata (MBEC values of 1.31-20.9 mg/ mL). The FCM measurements confirmed that the analyzed oil induced microbial membrane damages and inhibited microbial efflux pump activity.
A graduação em medicina no Brasil ante os desafios da formação para a Atenção Primária à Saúde
Authors: Vieira Swheelen de Paula , Pierantoni Celia Regina , Magnago Carinne , Ney Márcia Silveira , Miranda Rômulo Gonçalves de
Published: December 2018

RESUMO Este estudo objetivou identificar elementos da formação médica no Brasil, analisando a proximidade deles com os pressupostos da atuação profissional na Atenção Primária à Saúde e das Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais de 2014. Trata-se de estudo descritivo e exploratório, de abordagem qualiquantitativa, operacionalizado em 2015 e 2016, por entrevistas telefônicas e entrevistas in loco com coordenadores/diretores de cursos de graduação em medicina. Os resultados do survey indicam inclinação para uma formação médica generalista, com ênfase na atenção primária, mas que pouco prepara os alunos para o desenvolvimento de ações multiprofissionais. Nas entrevistas presenciais, foram relatadas fragilidades que limitam o desenvolvimento de competências para atuação na atenção primária, como a resistência e o pouco preparo dos docentes, as condições incipientes das unidades básicas, a rotatividade dos profissionais do serviço e a disputa dos cenários entre instituições de ensino públicas e privadas. Os achados indicam o caminho que está sendo desenhado após a implantação das novas diretrizes de medicina, sugerindo não apenas avanços, mas também desafios que precisam ser superados, especialmente em prol do desenvolvimento de competências para o trabalho colaborativo em equipe.
Focused ultrasound and Alzheimer’s disease A systematic review
Authors: Souza Rodrigo Marmo da Costa e , Silva Inaê Carolline Silveira da , Delgado Anna Beatriz Temoteo , Silva Pedro Hugo Vieira da , Costa Victor Ribeiro Xavier
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects millions of people, however, there is still no effective treatment. The use of focused ultrasound with microbubbles (FUS-MB) for the opening of the blood-brain barrier has been recently studied and may become a promising therapeutic target. Objective: To discuss the use of FUS-MB for the treatment of AD and to present some of the techniques used. Methods: A systematic review was performed of MEDLINE/PubMed and Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS) services, using the keywords: focused ultrasound, Alzheimer, amyloid-b. Original articles were included in the study; studies that did not focus on Alzheimer’s treatment were excluded. Results: Fifteen original studies were selected. Preclinical trials were able to reduce amyloid-b plaques and tau phosphorylation, improving cognitive performance in AD animals. Conclusion: The results are very promising, but the therapy still requires maturation. Further studies are needed to systematize all the techniques used and their effects in order to enable use in humans.
Influence of age and education on the processing of clustering and switching in verbal fluency tasks
Authors: Pereira Andressa Hermes , Gonçalves Ana Bresolin , Holz Maila , Gonçalves Hosana Alves , Kochhann Renata , Joanette Yves , Zimmermann Nicolle , Fonseca Rochele Paz
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT Verbal fluency (VF) is a widely used tool in neuropsychological assessment. Objective: We aimed to investigate the influence of age and educational level on clustering and switching in three VF modalities: phonemic (PVF), semantic (SVF) and unconstrained (UVF). We evaluated type of cluster, mean cluster size, and quantity of clusters, intersections, and returns. A total of 260 healthy subjects were assessed. Methods: Participants were divided into three age groups: young adults (18 to 39 years), middle-aged adults (40 to 59 years) and older adults (60 to 80 years) and into two groups of educational level: 1-8 years (low), 9 years or more (high). A two-way ANOVA analysis was conducted to analyze the effect of age and educational level and its interactions. A repeated measures ANOVA was performed to verify the performance during the task. Results: A main effect of age was detected on the UVF and SVF scores for total switches, taxonomic clusters, and for the total semantic clusters on the SVF. There was a greater effect of educational level on total switches (UVF, PFV and SVF), taxonomic clusters (UVF and SVF), thematic clusters and total semantic cluster (UVF), phonemic and mixed clusters (PVF), mean cluster size (UVF and SVF) and intersections (SVF). Educational level had a greater effect on all three VF tasks.
Applicability of the Test of Variables of Attention – T.O.V.A in Brazilian adults
Authors: Memória Cláudia M. , Muela Henrique C.S. , Moraes Natália C. , Costa-Hong Valéria A. , Machado Michel F. , Nitrini Ricardo , Bortolotto Luiz A. , Yassuda Monica S.
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT The functioning of attention is complex, a primordial function in several cognitive processes and of great interest to neuropsychology. The Test of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A) is a continuous computerized performance test that evaluates some attention components such as response time to a stimulus and errors due to inattention and impulsivity. Objective: 1) To evaluate the applicability of T.O.V.A in Brazilian adults; 2) To analyze the differences in performance between genders, age ranges, and levels of education; 3) To examine the association between T.O.V.A variables and other attention and cognitive screening tests. Methods: The T.O.V.A was applied to 63 healthy adults (24 to 78 years of age) who also underwent the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Digit Span and Digit Symbol (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults – WAIS-III) and the Trail Making Test. Results: the T.O.V.A was little influenced by age or education, but was influenced by gender. The correlations between some T.O.V.A variables and the Digit Symbol and Trail Making test were weak (r-values between 0.2 and 0.4), but significant (p<0.05). There was no correlation with the Digit Span test. Conclusion: The T.O.V.A showed good applicability and proved adequate for evaluating attentional processes in adults.
Impacts of cognitive impairment for different levels and causes of traumatic brain injury, and education status in TBI patients
Authors: Sharbafshaaer Minoo
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of main causes of death and disability among many young and old populations in different countries. Objective: The aim of this study were to consider and predict the cognitive impairments according to different levels and causes of TBI, and education status. Methods: The study was performed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to estimate cognitive impairment in patients at a trauma center in Zahedan city. Individuals were considered eligible if 18 years of age or older. This investigation assessed a subset of patients from a 6-month pilot study. Results: The study participants comprised 66% males and 34% females. Patient mean age was 32.5 years and SD was 12.924 years. One-way analysis of variance between groups indicated cognitive impairment related to different levels and causes of TBI, and education status in patients. There was a significant difference in the dimensions of cognitive impairments for different levels and causes of TBI, and education status. A regression test showed that levels of traumatic brain injury (b=.615, p=.001) and education status (b=.426, p=.001) predicted cognitive impairment. Conclusion: Different levels of TBI and education status were useful for predicting cognitive impairment in patients. Severe TBI and no education were associated with worse cognitive performance and higher disability. These data are essential in terms of helping patients understand their needs. Therefore, the factors identified can help plan effective rehabilitation programs.
Bioética e condição humana: contribuições para pensar o nascimento
Authors: Wuensch Ana Míriam , Cabrera Julio
Published: December 2018

Resumo A bioética recorre à filosofia ao examinar conceitos e valores, problemas e ferramentas metodológicas e ao tratar de problemas específicos da vida humana no mundo moderno. Contudo, tanto na bioética quanto na filosofia, a compreensão existencial do que significa nascer é poucas vezes articulada, enquanto a dimensão existencial da morte e do morrer tem recebido mais atenção. Neste artigo, propomos reconsiderar a condição humana como pano de fundo de uma ética para a vida em seus múltiplos extratos e modulações, e a partir da qual se pode elaborar perspectiva filosófica que pense o nascimento como horizonte mais amplo para tratar problemas bioéticos específicos. Destacamos, neste artigo, algumas contribuições de Hannah Arendt e María Zambrano, duas pensadoras que se ocuparam da condição humana, entre o nascimento e a morte.
Contribuição da bioética de intervenção à releitura do conceito de “princípio”
Authors: Matsui Sussumo , Machado Isis Laynne de Oliveira , Garrafa Volnei
Published: December 2018

Resumo O vocábulo “princípio” adquiriu crescente carga semântica durante os séculos, e hoje é utilizado na busca de solução para conflitos morais. Este estudo se inicia com a análise de diferentes conceitos de princípio na filosofia e no direito. Além desses campos, a pesquisa buscou estudar a interpretação da bioética sobre a ideia de princípio, especialmente no caso do principialismo. Observou-se que a noção básica de princípio tem sido utilizada nos três campos de modo verticalizado. Depois de apresentados, esses diferentes conceitos (relativos e absolutos) são discutidos a partir de perspectiva crítico-comparativa e cotejados com a noção presumivelmente universal de moralidade comum. Finalmente, explora-se a possibilidade de estabelecer abordagem horizontal dos princípios, tendo como referência o respeito ao pluralismo moral, na linha teórico-aplicada proposta pela bioética de intervenção.
Tecnologia assistiva e qualidade de vida na tetraplegia: abordagem bioética
Authors: Baldassin Valéria , Lorenzo Cláudio , Shimizu Helena Eri
Published: December 2018

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo quantitativo e transversal foi avaliar a qualidade de vida de pessoas com tetraplegia e, a partir dos resultados, refletir à luz da bioética sobre ações necessárias para aprimorar práticas de cuidado e acesso a recursos de tecnologia assistiva. Aplicou-se o questionário WHOQOL-bref a 100 indivíduos com tetraplegia, usuários ou não de tecnologias assistivas, e os resultados foram tratados estatisticamente. Os escores mais significativos relacionaram-se a gênero feminino, maiores níveis educacionais, ocupação, maior tempo de lesão e uso de tecnologia assistiva. As reflexões nesse campo, sustentadas pela ética do cuidado de Gilligan e bioética social latino-americana, apontam a necessidade de aprimorar inter-relações da assistência e a formulação de políticas públicas intersetorias de proteção a vulnerabilidades que garantam às pessoas com lesão medular notificação clínica e sociodemográfica, inclusão digital, adaptação domiciliar, acesso a tecnologias e postos de trabalho especiais.
A longa história do encontro entre Nietzsche e D. Pedro II
Authors: Dias Geraldo
Published: December 2018

Resumo A história do encontro entre Nietzsche e Dom Pedro II, outrora anedoticamente difundida por Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche, tem sido, ao longo de mais de um século, alimentada pela nossa historiografia (por historiadores como Oliveira Lima e José Murilo de Carvalho), pela crítica literária (seja pelo modernista Alceu Amoroso Lima e o simbolista Tristão da Cunha) e a imprensa diária e periódica, nacional e estrangeira. Nesse sentido, este artigo visa a discutir as causas e as consequências políticas dessa longa história para a recepção brasileira do pensamento de Nietzsche.
Verdade é práxis: Nietzsche e Marx
Authors: Heit Helmut
Published: December 2018

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é delinear semelhanças significativas e dissonâncias produtivas entre Marx e Nietzsche. Minha tese é a de que esses dois pensadores têm muito mais em comum do que é reconhecido ordinariamente. Após provar que Nietzsche muito provavelmente conhecia Marx, eu desenvolvo vários aspectos comuns a ambos. Ambos os pensadores perseguem projetos filosóficos de transformação crítica, empregam uma hermenêutica da suspeita, além do bem e do mal, ambos propõem uma antropologia naturalizada e reconstruções históricas. As passagens finais discutem suas respectivas concepções de capitalismo e de socialismo. As semelhanças e as diferenças entre Nietzsche e Marx podem servir como recurso produtivo e como inspiração em nossas tentativas contemporâneas para entender o mundo em que vivemos.
Nietzsche e a dialética aporética entre primeira e segunda natureza
Authors: Piazza Marco
Published: December 2018

Resumo Nietzsche, em seus escritos, usa várias vezes a expressão “segunda natureza”, e ao longo de uma vasta extensão de tempo. O que torna muito interessante o uso nietzschiano desse termo é que uma parte substancial das suas ocorrências se caracteriza em torno de uma justaposição dialética entre uma “primeira” e uma “segunda natureza”. Este artigo apresenta uma reconstrução da reflexão de Nietzsche acerca da “segunda natureza”, em que tentamos demonstrar como nela existe uma compreensão clara de alguns aspectos das Philosophies of Habit clássicas e modernas e, conjuntamente, uma crítica do papel positivo atribuído ao hábito pela filosofia empirista anglo-saxônica.
Um olhar de Nietzsche ao século XVII: os subterrâneos da revolução cartesiana
Authors: Krieger Saulo
Published: December 2018

Resumo Neste artigo pretendemos fazer ver de que modo a “revolução cartesiana” se revelou, para Nietzsche, uma resposta irrefletida a dispositivos inconscientes. A pretensa radicalidade da fundação da filosofia de Descartes e os desdobramentos desta teriam se dado pela intromissão dos seguintes fatores de ação inconsciente: o anseio por acomodação fisiopsicológica por trás do cogito; a moralidade inconsciente a hierarquizar o inteligível como superior ao sensível e ao passional, bem como a fazer pressupor um mundo ordenado, dócil às ideias claras e distintas; um terceiro fator de atuação inconsciente seria as “teias da gramática”, que o fizeram se limitar a inverter a primazia entre “eu” e “penso”, proporcionando ao pensar, e a seus resultados científicos subsequentes, uma ação de estrangulamento do que até então se tinha pela noção de alma. Esse quadro só fez se agravar até a segunda metade XIX, momento em que Nietzsche depara com a filosofia.
Evolução da disfagia em um caso de síndrome MELAS: o olhar dos cuidados paliativos
Authors: Luchesi Karen Fontes , Soares Amanda Souza , Silva Evilyn Adrine Américo dos Santos , Melo Júlia Parodi , Trilha Rafaella
Published: December 2018

RESUMO Este artigo teve por objetivo descrever a progressão da disfagia e a decisão pela via de alimentação em um caso de síndrome MELAS, sob o olhar dos cuidados paliativos. Trata-se de um caso do sexo feminino, que, por volta dos 26 anos de idade sofreu os primeiros sintomas da doença e teve sua função de deglutição progressivamente impactada. Foi realizado acompanhamento fonoaudiológico durante seis meses, com aplicação do protocolo de Avaliação da Segurança da Deglutição, da Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) e gerenciamento da deglutição, com retornos ambulatoriais semanais e mensais. Em seis meses de seguimento, a paciente evoluiu de disfagia moderada a disfagia moderada a grave e variou entre os níveis 5 e 1 da FOIS. Manteve a alimentação por via oral, com restrição de consistências, manobra de deglutições múltiplas e controle de volume para ingestão de líquido, até que, ao final dos seis meses de seguimento, foi realizada gastrostomia. A alimentação por via oral em mais de uma consistência, porém com compensações, foi reduzida a uma alimentação exclusiva por via alternativa, ao longo do acompanhamento fonoaudiológico. Optou-se por manter a via oral de alimentação até a colocação da gastrostomia. A não sugestão de sonda nasoenteral se embasou no respeito à vontade da paciente e na possibilidade de alimentar-se, minimamente, de uma consistência por via oral.