bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Infant Deaths Due To Herpes Simplex Virus, Congenital Syphilis, and HIV in New York City
Authors: Sampath Amitha , Maduro Gil , Schillinger Julia A.
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND:

Neonatal infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) is not a nationally reportable disease; there have been few population-based measures of HSV-related infant mortality. We describe infant death rates due to neonatal HSV as compared with congenital syphilis (CS) and HIV, 2 reportable, perinatally transmitted diseases, in New York City from 1981 to 2013.

METHODS:

We identified neonatal HSV-, CS-, and HIV-related deaths using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes listed on certificates of death or stillbirth issued in New York City. Deaths were classified as HSV-related if certificates listed (1) any HSV ICD-9/ICD-10 codes for deaths ≤42 days of age, (2) any HSV ICD-9/ICD-10 codes and an ICD code for perinatal infection for deaths at 43 to 365 days of age, or (3) an ICD-10 code for congenital HSV. CS- and HIV-related deaths were those listing any ICD code for syphilis or HIV.

RESULTS:

There were 34 deaths due to neonatal HSV (0.82 deaths per 100 000 live births), 38 from CS (0.92 per 100 000), and 262 from HIV (6.33 per 100 000). There were no CS-related deaths after 1996, and only 1 HIV-related infant death after 2004. The neonatal HSV-related death rate during the most recent decade (2004–2013) was significantly higher than in previous years.

CONCLUSIONS:

The increasing neonatal HSV-related death rate may reflect increases in neonatal herpes incidence; an increasing number of pregnant women have never had HSV type 1 and are therefore at risk of acquiring infection during pregnancy and transmitting to their infant.
Hacia una construcción de subjetividades: a propósito del poder psiquiátrico de Michel Foucault en Cachaza de Virgilio A. Mora Rodríguez
Authors: Rimolo Bariatti Annamaria
Published: March 2016

El objetivo del presente artículo es presentar un análisis foucaultiano sobre el poder psiquiátrico (mediante tecnologías de poder y estrategias de disciplina y normalización) en la novela costarricense Cachaza de Virgilio A. Mora Rodríguez1. Se espera construir las diferentes subjetividades encontradas en la novela: la manera cómo el personaje principal es sometido, a la vez que es testigo de su propia transformación subjetiva, deviniendo en un ser normalizado. 
Professors’ and Students’ Conflicting Beliefs about Translanguaging in the EFL Classroom: Dismantling the Monolingual Bia
Authors: Fallas Escobar Cristian , Dillard-Paltrineri Elizabeth
Published: March 2016

En este artículo, discutimos las perspectivas sobre bi/multilingüismo que han causado que la práctica discursiva de languaging bilingually sea censurada en sistemas educativos formales, por lo cual proponemos la construcción de una lingüística aplicada más justa e inclusiva que estudie el aprendizaje de una segunda lengua y el bilingüismo desde una perspectiva heteroglósica y multilingüe. Seguidamente, examinamos las opiniones y creencias de profesores y estudiantes del departamento de inglés en una universidad pública en Costa Rica con respecto a trans- languaging en las clases de inglés como lengua extranjera (EFL). Finalmente, ha- cemos un llamado a empezar un diálogo dentro de los departamentos de EFL que cuestione los supuestos que sustentan la práctica actual de tomar al hablante mo- nolingüe de la lengua meta como modelo en contextos de bilingüismo emergente. 
Production of Amorphous Alloys by Special Electrometallurgy Methods
Authors: Shapovalov V. , Nikitenko Y. , Manulyk A. , Kalashnyk D.
Published: March 2016

Fast-quenched alloys with amorphous and microcrystalline structures were obtained by the cooling drum spinning method during plasma-arc melting process. Thermal load measurements carried out during the melting process and the spinning of the molten material that followed, helped us to modify the existing plasma-arc equipment. Metallographic analyses of the amorphous alloys showed the influence of some quenching process parameters on the creation of their microstructure and revealed the nature of the formation of the crystal structures.
Ab Initio Study of Weldability of a High-Manganese Austenitic Twinning-Induced Plasticity (TWIP) Steel Microalloyed with Boron
Authors: Hernández-Belmontes Humberto , Mejía Ignacio , Maldonado Cuauhtémoc
Published: March 2016

High-Mn Twinning-Induced Plasticity (TWIP) steels are advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) currently under development; they are fully austenitic and characterized by twinning as the predominant strengthening mechanism. TWIP steels have high strength and formability with an elongation up to 80%, which allows reduction in automotive components weight and fuel consumption. Since the targeted application field of TWIP steels is the automotive industry, steels need high mechanical performance with good weldability and excellent corrosion resistance. However, there is lack of information about the weldability behavior of these advanced steels. This research work aims to study the weldability of a new generation of high-Mn austenitic TWIP steels microalloyed with B. Weldability was examined using spot welds produced by Gas Tungsten Arc Welding. Microstructural changes were examined using light optical metallography. Segregation of elements in the weld joint was evaluated using point and elemental mapping chemical analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Electron-Dispersive Spectroscopy; while the hardness properties were examined with Vickers microhardness testing (HV25). Experimental results show that the welded joint microstructure consists of austenitic dendritic grains in the fusion zone, and equiaxed grains in the heat affected zone. Notably, the boron microalloyed TWIP steel exhibited poor weldability, showing hot cracking. Additionally, the studied TWIP steels showed a high degree of segregation in the fusion zone; Mn and Si segregated into the interdendritic regions, while Al and C preferentially segregated in dendritic areas. Finally, the welded joints of the TWIP steels showed microhardness values lower than the base material. In general, the present TWIP steels have problems of weldability, which are corroborated with microstructural changes, elements segregation and microhardness loss.
Validación de uso de lodos generados en plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales tipo UASB como insumo en recuperación de suelos agrícolas
Authors: Mantilla Oviedo Gustavo Adolfo
Published: March 2016

El artículo trata de la validación del  aprovechamiento de lodos generados en plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales tipo UASB, como insumo de recuperadores de suelos agrícolas, a partir de compostación.  En primer término se presenta el marco legal que rige actualmente el manejo y aprovechamiento de biosólidos.  En segundo lugar, se describe el proceso de generación de lodos en una PTAR tipo UASB y las condiciones de salida de esos lodos generados.  En otro apartado se explicita el proceso de compostación estandarizado para residuos orgánicos; y finalmente se exponen las pruebas de laboratorio y legales necesarias para garantizar la inocuidad del lodo y su uso en procesos agrícolas.
Tecnologías de información y comunicaciones como apoyo al sector de lavado de automóviles
Authors: Torres Barreto Martha Liliana , Maestre Góngora Gina Paola
Published: March 2016

El número de pequeñas y medianas empresas que dedican su actividad al lavado de automóviles es representativo y creciente en el entorno colombiano, y se asocia, entre otros factores, al incremento del parque automotor en el país.  A pesar de este aumento, no se evidencian procesos de incorporación de tecnologías que les permitan mejorar los tiempos de respuesta, la atención al cliente ni contar con información organizada y disponible en todo momento para realizar su debida gestión.  Ante esta brecha tecnológica en este sector industrial, así como en otros con características similares en cuanto a tamaño empresarial, ingresos y nivel de empleo que generan; este trabajo ha ahondado en sus necesidades y soluciones tecnológicas, mediante la ejecución de un primer paso en el proceso de una mejora tecnológica sólida y sostenible consistente en un aplicativo web soportado en dispositivos móviles para apoyo a la operación diaria.
Riesgos de degradación de fuentes hídricas por inadecuada disposición de residuos sólidos en microcuencas urbanas
Authors: Guarín Villamizar Oscar Darío , Gualdrón Manosalva Silvia Paola , Delgado Monroy José Antonio
Published: March 2016

Este artículo presenta el panorama de riesgos de degradación hidrológica ocasionada por inadecuada disposición de residuos sólidos en microcuencas urbanas que son tributarias de afluentes de macrocuencas. Esta tesis está sustentada en los resultados de un estudio realizado en la microcuenca La Calavera, del municipio de Floridablanca en el Área Metropolitana de Bucaramanga (AMB), en el marco del proyecto Marketing ambiental para la recuperación de la cañada La Calavera, como escenario ecológico, lúdico y turístico. Experiencia piloto para futura implementación en el área de jurisdicción de la CDMB de la Universidad de Santander en Colombia. En primer lugar, se contextualiza el estudio de caso que sirve como muestra piloto para su futura aplicación en microcuencas urbanas de características similares. En segundo término se ofrecen los análisis de los residuos encontrados en la microcuenca seleccionada con la definición de puntos críticos; para finalizar con los resultados y conclusiones correspondientes.
Fermented products of India and its implication: A review
Authors: Sathe Gitanjali B. , Mandal S.
Published: March 2016

The diversity of Indian fermented food and its significance as a potential source of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Fermented foods in India are categorized based upon their base material. Fermented foods such as Dahi, Idli, Dosa, Gundruk, Sinki etc. As India’s population increases, lactic acid fermentation is expected to become an important role in preserving fresh vegetables, fruits, and other food items for feeding people. Among the food items, milk, fruits and vegetables are easily perishable due to their high water activity and nutritive values. These are more critical in our country which favors the growth of spoilage causing microorganisms. Lactic acid fermentation increases shelf life of fruits and vegetables and also enhances several beneficial properties, including an increase in nutritive value and flavors, reducing cooking time, and reduces toxicity. As a whole, the traditional fermented milk, fruits and vegetables not only serve as food supplements but also attribute towards health benefits. The objective of this review is to describe important fermented products of India and their significance.
Milk market structure in Cuttack district of Odisha: Orgnanized vs. unorganized sector
Authors: Prusty Suvashree R. , Tripathy Sudhakar
Published: March 2016

A comparative study was done to estimate the marketed surplus and factors affecting it, price spread, marketing efficiencies and constraints of milk marketing in organized and unorganized sector in Cuttack district of Odisha. A random sampling method was employed for data collection from 120 farmers (82-organized and 38-unorganized sector). Average production, consumption, marketed surplus were 49.45, 4.96, 44.49 litres in organized and 46.97, 5.21, 41.76 litres per day per household in unorganized sector respectively. Marketing efficiencies for channels I, II, III, IV, V were 20.77, 14.45, 10.38, 7.84 and 11.38 respectively which implied that channel I was most efficient. Milk production and price of milk had positive and significant impact on marketed surplus; however family size had negative impact and significant in both market structures. Low price and irregular payments were major milk marketing problems in the study area. Hence, it was suggested that for getting marketing benefit, remunerative price with regular payment to the farmers is needed.
Effect of thermal processing and chemical preservatives on the physicochemical and phytochemical parameters of carrot juice
Authors: Kaur Gurpreet , Aggarwal Poonam
Published: March 2016

Vegetables are important constituents of the diet and provide significant quantities of nutrients especially vitamins, minerals and fiber. Daily consumption of vegetables reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease, premature ageing, stress and fatigue primarily due to the integrated action of oxygen radical scavengers. One such vegetable available is carrot, which is an excellent source of β-carotene and antioxidants. Carrot is a cool season crop and during the harvesting season, large quantities get spoiled due to excess production. So a Long term preservation method is required that could be useful to prevent spoilage of Carrot such that it could be consumed in off seasons as well. Keeping in view the nutrirional and therapeutic value of carrot its juice was processed and treated with different chemical additives and tested for various physichochemical, phytochemical characteristics and antioxidant activity. At the end of storage period of six months, KMS treated samples were found to retain the maximum nutritional quality. There was significant(p≤0.05) increase in the shelf stability of the chemically preserved juices than the thermally treated samples.
Exogenous proline application enhances the efficiency of nitrogen fixation and assimilation in chickpea plants exposed to cadmium
Authors: Alyemeni Mohammed Nasser , Hayat Qaiser , Hayat Shamsul , Faizan Mohammad , Faraz Ahmad
Published: March 2016

Seeds of chickpea were sown in the pots supplemented with 0, 25, 50 or 100 mg of cadmium per kg of soil. At the stage of 30 days after sowing (DAS), the raised plants were sprayed with 20 mM proline except for the control plants which received double distilled water (DDW). The increasing degree of damage caused by the increasing concentration of Cd in soil was partially overcome by proline application. The treatment of 25 mg Cd fed plants with 20 mM proline increased significantly the nodulation parameters, leghemoglobin and carbohydrate content, leaf nitrogen and root nitrate content, activity of enzymes nitrogenase (E.C 1.18.6.1), nitrate reductase (E.C. 1.6.6.1), glutamine synthetase (GS) (E.C 6.3.1.2), glutamate synthase (GOGAT) (E.C 1.4.7.1) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) (E.C 1.4.1.3) over that of the control. The value of these parameters was found to be at par with that of the control in the plants exposed to 50 mg Cd per kg of soil and also treated with 20 mM proline. However, the treatment was not found to be effective in alleviating the adverse effects of 100 mg Cd per kg of soil.
A Procedure For Selecting A Best Multinomial Distribution With Application To Population Income Mobility
Authors: Bakir Saad T.
Published: March 2016

A procedure is developed for selecting a subset which is asserted to contain the “best” of several multinomial populations with a pre-assigned probability of correct selection. According to a pre-chosen linear combination of the multinomial cell probabilities, the “best” population is defined to be the one with the highest such linear combination. As an illustration, the proposed procedure is applied to data relating to the economics of happiness and population income mobility.
Export And The Fashion Industry In The USA: Evaluating Likely Impact On The USA Economy
Authors: Abubakar Binta , Richards Darlington , Nwanna Gladson
Published: March 2016

Contextually, fashion involves any product characterized as complementary apparel or wearable accessories, and its export market entails the shipping of the apparels or other wearable accessories that may perennially evolve and change from one country to another.  The objective of this research is to determine the impact that fashion exporting has on the US economy, as well as explore the changing trends in the economy and the overall contribution of the fashion export to the economy. The research designs applied to this study are executive interviews and surveys, which provided the authors with the primary data; this research also benefited from some secondary data. Apart from appropriate and relevant literature review, there is also an evaluation of these research findings. The preliminary findings would seem to suggest that the impact of fashion products being exported to foreign countries and the imports into the US have both negative and positive consequences on the American economy, even though the ongoing debate is to what extent, on either side.
Interest Rate Reforms And Credit Allocation In Tanzania: An Application Of The ARDL Bounds Testing Approach
Authors: Odhiambo Nicholas M.
Published: March 2016

This study attempts to empirically investigate the impact of interest rate reforms on the efficiency of credit allocation in Tanzania, using the recently developed ARDL-Bounds test approach proposed by Pesaran et al. (2001). Contrary to the results obtained in some previous studies, the current study finds a distinct positive relationship between interest rate and investment efficiency in Tanzania.  The coefficient of real interest rate in the investment efficiency function is found to be positive and statistically significant, as expected. The study, therefore, concludes that the financial system in Tanzania has had a significant and positive influence on the quality of investment during the study period. It also implies that the current financial liberalisation taking place in Tanzania has succeeded in transferring capital from projects with low returns to projects with high returns. However, this applies only in the short-run.
The Internet And Gray Marketing
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Soumava
Published: March 2016

The purpose of this conceptual paper is to investigate the nature, extent, and outcomes of gray marketing on the Internet.  We examined the current state of Internet-based gray marketing in several product categories and found the phenomenon to be on the rise.  Next, we developed a series of propositions to address evolving trends in online gray marketing, regarding actions of intermediaries and manufacturers, response by consumers, and outcomes on marketing strategy.
Corruption And Foreign Direct Investment: What Have We Learned?
Authors: Zurawicki Leon , Habib Mohsin
Published: March 2016

Over 25 years of research pertaining to corruption and FDI rendered valid and interesting findings.  We comment on these results to demonstrate that gradually the researchers develop a more detailed perspective on the significance of various dimensions of corruption and characteristics of the actors involved. Learning that corruption does not exert a uniform negative impact upon FDI, regardless of circumstances, leads to the formulation of the future research agenda.
A Transportation Model For Demand Responsive Fleet Operation In A Manufacturing Firm
Authors: Oyatoye E.O. , Magbagbeola J.A.O.
Published: March 2016

We study the problem of determining the number of vehicles needed to provide a demand responsive transit service with a predetermined quality for the user in terms of waiting time at the stops and maximum allowed detour. We propose a probabilistic model that requires only the knowledge of the distribution of the demand over the service area and the quality of the service in terms of time windows associated with pickup and delivery nodes. This methodology can be much more effective and straight forward compared to a simulation approach whenever detailed data on demand patterns are not available. Computational results under a fairly broad range of test problems show that the model can provide an estimation of the required size of the fleet in several different scenarios.
Evaluating The Welfare Cost Of Inflation In A Monetary Endogenous Growth General Equilibrium Model: The Case Of South Africa
Authors: Gupta Rangan , Uwilingiye Josine
Published: March 2016

This paper uses the general equilibrium monetary endogenous growth model of Dotsey and Ireland (1996), in which inflation distorts a variety of marginal decisions, to evaluate the welfare cost of inflation in South Africa – a country, where, since the February of 2000, the sole objective of the central bank has been to keep the inflation rate within the target band of 3 percent to 6 percent. Although individually none of the distortions is very large, they combine to yield substantial welfare cost estimates ranging between 0.70 percent of GDP to 1.33 percent of GDP for the lower and upper limits of the target band. More importantly, the welfare costs obtained here are at least three times more than those derived previously for the South African economy based on partial equilibrium approaches. These higher estimates, thus, tend to make a case for a possibly lower and narrower target band.
Interdependence And Volatility Spillovers Under Market Reforms: The Case Of National Stock Exchange
Authors: Jeyanthi B.J.Queensly
Published: March 2016

India, one of the emerging markets in Asia initiated the financial sector reforms by introducing international practices in its financial market.  In this paper an attempt has been made to examine whether and to what extent, Indian stock market is integrated with stock markets in the United States, Japan and U.K before and after the structural changes. It also examines whether such a relationship, if it exists, is affected by the structural changes that began in 1998  using daily data for the period April 1998 to December 2008. The main findings are: No evidence of long run relationships was found between the stock prices of India and its major trading partners before and after the structural changes. Second, in terms of short – run movements of international stock market returns, bidirectional Granger causality exist between the stock returns of India and those of US and UK and Japan after the structural changes but unidirectional relationship exists between India and the UK before the structural changes period.  The estimates from causality – type models suggest that volatility spillovers from UK and Japan were non –existent prior to structural changes and volatility spillovers from US and Japan have become quite pronounced after the structural changes. The results identify the US and Japan markets as the main sources of volatility spillovers for the NSE.
Understanding Foreign Exchange Option Returns: The Information Content Of Volatility
Authors: Kermiche Lamya , Dupuy Philippe
Published: March 2016

According to general asset pricing theory, options should reward their holders for the systematic risk they are bearing. In this paper, we study the returns of foreign exchange options. We find that, by sorting options according to the distance of their implied volatility from the historical volatility, we obtain portfolios with positive average monthly returns. These returns are not explained by standard aggregate risk factors, which suggest either that additional risk factors should be accounted for, or that investors behavior differs from the traditional paradigm of rational agents.
The Venture Capital Certification Role In Initial Public Offerings
Authors: Miloud Tarek
Published: March 2016

Using high frequency Euronext Paris data, the paper examines the market microstructure trading characteristics of venture backed initial public offerings (IPOs) in the French market. Previous North American market studies approve the role played by venture capital (VC) firms for the certification of IPOs and their role in reducing the asymmetric information between investors. The study sample is composed of IPOs realized during the period 2000–2013 both with and without VC firm involvement. The results present no significant price difference between both IPO types. The cost of asymmetric information and of price volatility is higher for the VC-backed operations. Moreover, the study shows that underpricing is positively correlated to the cost of the information asymmetry. Contrary to previous studies, the results show that the effects of VC firm certification and monitoring are not perceived by IPO investors in the French market.
Differential Effect Of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act On Individual And Institutional Investors
Authors: Park Sorah
Published: March 2016

This study investigates the differential effect of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“SOX”) on unsophisticated individual investors and sophisticated institutional investors. I examine the relationship between abnormal stock returns around quarterly earnings announcements before and after SOX and investor sophistication. Empirical test results show that SOX positively affected stock returns reaction around the quarterly earnings announcement, consistent with prior literature. However, the increased stock returns reaction in the post-SOX period appears to be unrelated to individual investors. I find that the impact of SOX on institutional investor reaction to earnings announcement is statistically significant, whereas individual investor reaction to earnings announcement is not affected by SOX. This suggests that institutional investors have improved on the extent to which earnings information is efficiently priced after SOX, but not individual investors. These findings are important because the differential effect of the accounting disclosure regulation on investors has received little attention in the literature.
Development Of Implicit Leadership Theories Prior To Training Or Employment
Authors: Frost Dean E.
Published: March 2016

This empirical study explored the development of implicit leadership theories among 16 to 18 year-old students in secondary schools prior to any formal leadership training or full-time employment.  Students from governance, athletics, clubs, performance groups, and part-time work groups completed interviews and questionnaires.  Adult leaders of activity groups also completed questionnaires.  Results were analyzed by activity and role (e.g., student leader, student group member, and adult supervisor) for three separate dependent variables: Adult Leaders, Leaders in General, and Student Leaders.  Results show that adolescents categorize leader behavior into similar constructs that have been previously established by research with adult samples experienced in organizational life.  Experience in groups but not necessarily as a leader contributes to developing implicit leadership theories and type of activity guides such leadership attributions.  Gender differences in the expectations for leaders were found and support the existence of early socialization into gender-specific leadership role stereotypes.
The Eminence Of Risk-Free Rates In Portfolio Management: A South African Perspective
Authors: Van Heerden Chris
Published: March 2016

The traditional Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) suggests that the minimum return required by an investor should be equal to the return of a risk-free asset (Reilly & Brown, 2003), which should be stable (Reilly & Brown, 2006), not influenced by external factors (Harrington, 1987), and certain (Bodie, Kane & Marcus, 2010). Evidence, however, suggests that risk-free asset returns vary (Brunnermeier, 2008), and that “there is really no such thing as a truly riskless asset” (Brigham & Ehrhardt, 2005:312). The pioneering studies of Mehra and Prescott (1985) and Weil (1989) only justified the size of the equity premium and risk-free rate puzzle but failed to provide a consensus on the specifications for the most ideal risk-free rate proxies. The results from this paper accentuated the problem of selecting a risk-free rate proxy, as all proxies under evaluation exhibited a level of risk and volatile returns. No regularities between the pre-, during and post-financial crisis regarding the choice of most ideal risk-free rate proxy were found. Overall findings suggested that the ideal proxies are the 3-month T-Bill rate and the 3-month NCD rate for the pre-, during and post-financial crisis periods, respectively.
Authors: Azevedo Ítalo Medeiros , Neves Ana Paula Fernandes , Paiva Danilo Veras Lobo , Véras Jurema Samara Fonsêca , Tomasi Larissa Castro , Rêgo Amália Cínthia Meneses , Carvalho Marília Daniela Ferreira , Medeiros Vítor Brasil , Araújo-Filho Irami , Medeiros Aldo Cunha
Published: March 2016

Purpose: To assess if splenectomy alters the biodistribution of sodium pertechnetate in organs and tissues of rats. Methods: Twelve Wistar rats were randomly allocated into two groups, A (splenectomized) and B (control), anesthetized with ketamine (50 mg / kg, IM, and sodium thiopental (20 mg / kg-IP) and operated under aseptic conditions. Group A (n = 6) rats underwent laparotomy for splenectomy and group B rats (n = 6) were only anesthetized. Both remained under postoperative observation and after 10 days they were injected with 0.1 mL of sodium pertechnetate  (0.66MBq) via orbital plexus. After 30 min, the rats were killed by an overdose of anesthetic and samples of stomach, liver, heart, lung, thyroid, bladder, kidney, brain and femur were harvested. Detection of radioactivity was determined by an automated gamma counter, Wizard Gamma Counter Ò Perkin-Elmer. Data were expressed as mean±standard deviation and Student t test was used for independent samples, considering p<0.05 as significant. Results: There was a lower uptake of pertechnetate in group A than group B in kidney, heart, lung, bladder and femur (p<0.05), when compared with controls. The liver of the splenectomized animals showed radioactive uptake significantly higher than in controls. Conclusion: According to the experimental model, we conclude that totalsplenectomy in rats resulted in alteration in the biodistribution of  pertechnetate in vital organs
Authors: Petroianu Andy , Alberti Luiz Ronaldo
Published: March 2016

Objetivo: O trauma cirúrgico pode provocar alterações sistêmicas, incluindo mudanças na síntese protéica hepática. Assim, é importante ressaltar a influência desse fenômeno sobre a concentraçáo sérica de albumina. Para avaliar o efeito do trauma cirúrgico na concentraçáo sérica de albumina, durante o período pós-operatório imediato. Método: O estudo foi conduzido em 200 pacientes adultos escolhidos aleatoriamente submetidos a cirurgias eletivas de grande porte (Grupo 1) e cirurgias de médio porte (Grupo 2), identificadas de acordo com sexo, idade e cor da pele. Amostras de sangue para determinaçáo da concentraçáo de albumina sérica foram obtidas no dia anterior e após o procedimento cirúrgico. Resultados: Houve uma reduçáo da albumina sérica tanto no Grupo 1 (p <0,0001) quanto no Grupo 2 (p <0,0001), sem diferença entre os sexos ou cor da pele de pacientes para cirurgias de grande porte. No entanto, as mulheres apresentaram uma menor reduçáo da albumina sérica do que os homens após as operações de médio porte. Além disso, a reduçáo de albumina foi menor nos pacientes de pele negra do que em faiodérmicos e menor nestes do que em pacientes de pele branca. Com relaçáo à faixa etária, uma maior reduçáo da albumina foi observada em ambos os grupos entre os pacientes com mais de 65 anos, seguidos pelos pacientes mais jovens (<45 anos) e, finalmente, por pacientes com idade entre 45 e 65 anos. Conclusáo: As intervenções cirúrgicas de médio e de grande portes provocaram uma reduçáo aguda na albuminemia, que foi mais intensa entre os homens, entre os idosos e entre os pacientes de pele branca.
Endo and ectoparasites in conventionally maintained rodents laboratory animals
Authors: Medeiros Vítor Brasil
Published: March 2016

Purpose: One of the most common problems regarding the health conditions of laboratory animals has been the endo and ectoparasites. The aim of this review is to discuss the most important aspects of these disorders in research rodents. Methods: The author performed a review in Pubmed, SieLo and Web of Science using the key words: parasites, rodents, laboratory animals, endoparasites and ectoparasites. The most relevant and recent articles were reviewed and used to elaborate this paper. Isues about clinical simptoms, diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment of the most frequent protozoa, helminths and ectoparasites in laboratory rodents were analysed. Conclusion: This review demonstrates that endo and ectoparasites are common in laboratory rodents, and that veterinary control is essential to get quality control, welfare and health of research animals.
Asesmen Akhlak Mulia: Suatu Model Alternatif Penilaian Pembelajaran Agama
Authors: Muri’ah Siti
Published: February 2016

One weakness of akhlak teaching method applied in schools is its teacher centered assessment. Teachers feel as the most well-informed sources about students’ akhlak while teachers’ capability of knowing students’ akhlak comprehensively is limited. Teachers’ chance to meet face-to-face with students is only in the learning process so that teachers’ assessment can not show the real akhlak of their students. Teachers should involve other parties who often associate with students, especially their peers. In addition, assessment instrument used by the teachers should not be limited to examination only. Therefore, comprehensive akhlak assessment is needed.

In this writing, I describe alternative method to assess students’ akhlak. With this method, we can assess batiniyah dimensions including willingness, conscience, value and attitude and also lahiriyah dimensions manifested in behaviors. This method applies self and peer assessment by involving students in inter and intra relations. Assessment instruments could be questionnaires, observation and portfolios in likert scale, semantic differential and thurstone scale.
Sistem Kalender Islam Dalam Perspektif Evolusi Syari’ah
Authors: Salam Abd.
Published: February 2016

This article tries to read Mecca and Medina messages by referring to Mahmud Muhammad Thaha’s, a Sudanese writer, term that is syariah evolution of Islamic calendar system. Mecca messages commanding to seeing the sky are theological, while Medina messages are more practical aspects from Mecca messages which are implemented in setting Islamic calendar not only through ru’yah bi al-fi’l, but also by hisab or computing based on syar’i pillars. The obeyed syar’i pillars represent that the human computing result should be considered a symbol of flexible Islamic teachings. Considering that, this writing points to a certain positioning, that Islamic calendar does not have only theological edge (Mecca messages), but also cultural one (Medina messages). As a theological calendar, Islamic calendar setting should be framed with adherence to syar’i pillars. As a cultural calendar, its arrangement should be designed by following human civilization advancement in astronomy.
Book Review: The Tyranny of Experts: Economists, Dictators, and the Forgotten Rights of the Poor. William Easterly. New York: Basic Books 2014. ISBN 978-0-465-03125-2
Authors: Duong Hang B.
Published: March 2016

Who is the development community? What are they doing? What are their roles in addressing the Global South’s development issues? Why are many foreign aid projects found to be ineffective? How achievable and sustainable are the global development goals? To what extent has development work improved the rights of the poor?
Evaluation of consumers’ preferences on drinking waters considering the information provision effect
Authors: Amano Iwato , Kurisu Kiyo , Hanaki Keisuke
Published: February 2016

Despite a high drinkable quality, many people avoid tap water because of vague anxiety about its safety. Conjoint analysis (CA) was conducted to determine what factors are considered important for consumers’ selection of drinking water. The information provision effect was also investigated inside CA profiles using different model equations. Results indicate that the perception of the safety of tap water was much lower than that of other waters. Higher levels of water hardness and cancer risk negatively influenced selection of drinking water, while third-party certifications about taste and safety positively impacted it. When cancer risk was shown in a CA profile, the weight given to other attributes decreased. Among different socio-demographic groups, gender was important in establishing drinking water preferences with men paying less attention to the benefits of water-dispensers and certifications from third parties. Besides, age also has some influence on drinking water selection. People's consciousness of taste, safety, cost, and handling for drinking water were assessed using an analytic hierarchy process and the scores were incorporated in a CA equation. The results suggest that improving people's perceptions of the taste and safety of tap water can promote consumers’ selection of tap water as drinking water.
Development and Initial Evaluation of the Web-Based Self-Management Program “Partner in Balance” for Family Caregivers of People With Early Stage Dementia: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Boots Lizzy MM , de Vugt Marjolein E , Withagen Hanneke EJ , Kempen Gertrudis IJM , Verhey Frans RJ
Published: March 2016

Background

People with dementia increasingly depend on informal caregivers. Internet-based self-management interventions hold considerable promise for meeting the educational and support needs of early stage dementia caregivers (EDCs) at a reduced cost.

Objective

This study aimed to (1) develop an online self-management program for EDC to increase self-efficacy and goal attainment, and (2) evaluate the program’s feasibility and report preliminary data on effectiveness.

Methods

Based on the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for the development and evaluation of complex interventions, a stepwise approach was adopted to explore potential user needs and develop and validate the content by means of (1) focus group discussions with dementia caregivers (N=28), (2) interviews with dementia care professionals (N=11), and (3) individual think-aloud usability tests with EDC (N=2) and experts (N=2). A pilot evaluation was conducted with EDC (N=17) to test the feasibility and establish preliminary effects. Self-report measures of feasibility were completed after the completion of intervention. Self-efficacy and goal attainment were evaluated before and after the intervention.

Results

The different steps provided useful information about the needs of potential users regarding the content and delivery of the program. This resulted in the newly developed “Partner in Balance” program. At the start, system failures resulted in a high noncompleter rate (7/17, 41%), but at the end, an acceptable feasibility score of 209 (range 54-234) was found. The convenience of completing the program at home, the tailored content, and the guidance (face-to-face and online) were appraised positively. Preliminary effects on caregiver self-efficacy (P<.05) and goal attainment (T>50) were promising.

Conclusions

Adaptations were made to the program to limit the amount of system failures and prevent high noncompleter rates. As recommended by the MRC framework, confirming the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness is a valuable step toward examining the effectiveness of this newly developed intervention.

Trial Registration

Dutch Trial Register (NTR): NTR4217; http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=4217 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6f6B8lvRP).
Use of Ultrasonography for Assessing Treatment Efficacy in a Case With Ankylosis of the Temporomandibular Joint
Authors: Ho Kai-Yu , Ho Sally , Colletti Patrick M.
Published: March 2016

The patient was a 32-year-old university lecturer with limited mouth opening for 15 years. The patient was diagnosed with right temporomandibular joint ankylosis 10 years prior. Ultrasonography was employed to assess capsule-condyle distance before and after physical therapy. A treatment plan aiming at mobilizations and exercises was implemented, and the patient reported improvements in eating and speaking.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2016;46(3):225. doi:10.2519/jospt.2016.0404
Improving the accuracy of brain tumor surgery via Raman-based technology
Authors: Hollon Todd , Lewis Spencer , Freudiger Christian W. , Sunney Xie X. , Orringer Daniel A.
Published: March 2016

Despite advances in the surgical management of brain tumors, achieving optimal surgical results and identification of tumor remains a challenge. Raman spectroscopy, a laser-based technique that can be used to nondestructively differentiate molecules based on the inelastic scattering of light, is being applied toward improving the accuracy of brain tumor surgery. Here, the authors systematically review the application of Raman spectroscopy for guidance during brain tumor surgery. Raman spectroscopy can differentiate normal brain from necrotic and vital glioma tissue in human specimens based on chemical differences, and has recently been shown to differentiate tumor-infiltrated tissues from noninfiltrated tissues during surgery. Raman spectroscopy also forms the basis for coherent Raman scattering (CRS) microscopy, a technique that amplifies spontaneous Raman signals by 10,000-fold, enabling real-time histological imaging without the need for tissue processing, sectioning, or staining. The authors review the relevant basic and translational studies on CRS microscopy as a means of providing real-time intraoperative guidance. Recent studies have demonstrated how CRS can be used to differentiate tumor-infiltrated tissues from noninfiltrated tissues and that it has excellent agreement with traditional histology. Under simulated operative conditions, CRS has been shown to identify tumor margins that would be undetectable using standard bright-field microscopy. In addition, CRS microscopy has been shown to detect tumor in human surgical specimens with near-perfect agreement to standard H & E microscopy. The authors suggest that as the intraoperative application and instrumentation for Raman spectroscopy and imaging matures, it will become an essential component in the neurosurgical armamentarium for identifying residual tumor and improving the surgical management of brain tumors.
Contribution of combined intraoperative electrophysiological investigation with 3-T intraoperative MRI for awake cerebral glioma surgery: comprehensive review of the clinical implications and radiological outcomes
Authors: Ghinda Diana , Zhang Nan , Lu Junfeng , Yao Cheng-Jun , Yuan Shiwen , Wu Jin-Song
Published: March 2016

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the clinical efficiency of combined awake craniotomy with 3-T intraoperative MRI (iMRI)–guided resection of gliomas adjacent to eloquent cortex performed at a single center. It also sought to explore the contribution of iMRI to surgeons' learning process of maximal safe resection of gliomas.

METHODS

All patients who underwent an awake craniotomy and iMRI for resection of eloquent area glioma during the 53 months between January 2011 and June 2015 were included. The cases were analyzed for short- and long-term neurological outcome, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and extent of resection (EOR). The learning curve was assessed after dividing the cohort into Group A (first 27 months) and Group B (last 26 months). Statistical analyses included univariate logistic regression analysis on clinical and radiological variables. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models were used for further analysis of OS and PFS. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

One hundred six patients were included in the study. Over an average follow-up period of 24.8 months, short- and long-term worsening of the neurological function was noted in 48 (46.2%) and 9 (8.7%) cases, respectively. The median and mean EOR were 100% and 92%, respectively, and complete radiographic resection was achieved in 64 (60.4%) patients. The rate of gross-total resection (GTR) in the patients with low-grade glioma (89.06% ± 19.6%) was significantly lower than that in patients with high-grade glioma (96.4% ± 9.1%) (p = 0.026). Thirty (28.3%) patients underwent further resection after initial iMRI scanning, with a 10.1% increase of the mean EOR. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards modeling demonstrated that the final EOR was a significant predictor of PFS (HR 0.225, 95% CI 0.070–0.723, p = 0.012). For patients with high-grade glioma, the GTR (p = 0.033), the presence of short-term motor deficit (p = 0.027), and the WHO grade (p = 0.005) were independent prognostic factors of OS. Performing further resection after the iMRI (p = 0.083) and achieving GTR (p = 0.05) demonstrated a PFS benefit trend for the patients affected by a low-grade glioma. Over time, the rate of performing further resection after an iMRI decreased by 26.1% (p = 0.005). A nonsignificant decrease in the rate of short-term (p = 0.101) and long-term (p = 0.132) neurological deficits was equally noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined awake craniotomy and iMRI is a safe and efficient technique allowing maximal safe resection of eloquent area gliomas with possible subsequent OS and PFS benefits. Although there is a learning curve for applying this technique, it can also improve the surgeon's ability in eloquent glioma surgery.
Adults with myelomeningocele and other forms of spinal dysraphism: hospital care in the United States since the turn of the millennium
Authors: Piatt Joseph H.
Published: March 2016

OBJECTIVE

The natural history and management of myelomeningocele (MM) in children is fairly well understood. There is a deficiency of knowledge regarding the care of adults, however, even though there are now more adults than children living with MM. The purpose of this study was to characterize the hospital care of adults with MM and hydrocephalus on a nationwide population base. Adults with other forms of spina bifida (SB) were studied for contrast.

METHODS

The Nationwide Inpatient Sample for the years 2001, 2004, 2007, and 2010 was queried for admissions with diagnostic ICD-9-CM codes for MM with hydrocephalus and for other forms of SB.

RESULTS

There were 4657 admissions of patients with MM and 12,369 admissions of patients with SB in the sample. Nationwide rates of admission increased steadily for both MM and SB patients throughout the study period. Hospital charges increased faster than the health care component of the Consumer Price Index. Patients with MM were younger than patients with SB, but annual admissions of MM patients older than 40 years increased significantly during the study period. With respect to hospital death and discharge home, outcomes of surgery for hydrocephalus were superior at high-volume hospitals. Patients with MM and SB were admitted to the hospital more frequently than the general population for surgery to treat degenerative spine disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with MM and SB continue to require neurosurgical attention in adulthood, and the demand for services for older patients with MM is increasing. Management of hydrocephalus at high-volume centers is advantageous for this population. Patients with MM or SB may experience high rates of degenerative spine disease.