bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aplicação do postulado pós-keynesiano no estado do Rio de Janeiro através de uma análise de cluster
Authors: Meotte Daniel Ramos , Baptista Maécio Pinto , Sanches Rafael da Silva , Ribeiro Alcimar das Chagas
Published: September 2019

A discussão sobre o papel da moeda na economia e no desenvolvimento regional, só cresce ao longo dos anos. Na literatura muitos autores defendem que a moeda é neutra, mas outros autores baseados na teoria pós-keynesiana, consideram que a não neutralidade da moeda pode ajudar a aumentar ou diminuir a desigualdade no desenvolvimento regional, ou seja, moeda é endógena ao sistema econômico. Portanto, seguindo essa linha, o atual artigo tem como objetivo verificar o grau de preferência pela liquidez dos bancos e do público nos clusters de municípios presentes no estado do Rio de Janeiro. A partir de uma análise multivariada de cluster e baseados na teoria pós-keynesiana, foi possível observar a disparidade no grau de preferência entre os clusters. Em geral, quanto mais desenvolvido é o cluster de municípios, menor é o grau de preferência pela liquidez, seja dos bancos, seja do público, ficando evidente que o centro das regiões tende a concentrar a disponibilidade de crédito dos bancos e da utilização desses créditos por parte do público.
Aplicação de métodos estatísticos com suavização exponencial dupla e tripla para previsão de demanda na gestão de estoques
Authors: Alves Custodio da Cunha , Hoepers Edgar , Corazza Emerson Jose , Santos Gilson João dos , Cristofolini Renato , Cruz Altair Carlos da
Published: September 2019

Os métodos estatísticos com suavização exponencial dupla e tripla amplamente utilizados para modelar tendências significativas em dados não estacionários por séries temporais são aplicados neste trabalho para obter em curto prazo, previsões para o planejamento da demanda do processo produtivo em uma indústria metalúrgica do norte de Santa Catarina. O objetivo principal da aplicação de tais métodos é estabelecer a previsão de demanda com o propósito de antecipar cenários futuros de vendas em duas categorias de produtos e obter o melhor aproveitamento da capacidade produtiva através de uma gestão de estoques adequada para a redução de riscos no processo de tomada de decisões gerenciais dessa indústria. Os resultados obtidos com a seleção apropriada dos métodos preditivos com suavização exponencial, objeto de estudo deste trabalho, foram fundamentais para o analista do sistema de previsão de demanda direcionar especial atenção ao grau de acurácia que integrado a uma política de gerenciamento de estoques eficiente foi  responsável por minimizar os efeitos de variabilidade e custos operacionais, além contribuir na melhoria dos níveis de serviço e no consequente aumento da rentabilidade da indústria envolvida.
Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity
Authors: Hrdina Radomír , Geršl Vladimír , Klimtová Ivona , Šimůnek Tomáš , Macháčková Jarmila , Adamcová Michaela
Published: September 2019

Anthracycline antibiotics are among the most effective and widely used antineoplastic drugs. Their usefulness is limited by a cumulative dose-related cardiotoxicity, whose precise mechanisms are not clear as yet. The principal role is possibly exerted by free oxygen radicals generated by “redox-cycling“ of anthracycline molecule and/or by the formation of anthracycline-ferric ion complexes. The iron catalyzes the hydroxyl radical production via Haber-Weiss reaction. The selective toxicity of ANT against cardiomyocytes results from high accumulation of ANT in cardiac tissue, appreciable production of oxygen radicals by mitochondria and relatively poor antioxidant defense systems. Other additional mechanisms of the anthracycline cardiotoxicity have been proposed - calcium overload, histamine release and impairment in autonomic regulation of heart function. The currently used methods for an early identification of anthracycline cardiotoxicity comprise ECG measurement, biochemical markers, functional measurement and morphologic examination. Among a plenty of studied cardioprotective agents only dexrazoxane (ICRF-187) has been approved for clinical use. Its protective effect likely consists in intracellular chelating of iron. However, in high doses dexrazoxane itself may cause myelotoxicity. This fact encourages investigation of new cardioprotectants with lower toxicity. Orally active iron chelators and flavonoids attract more attention. Modification of dosage schedule and synthesis of new anthracycline analogues may represent alternative approaches to mitigate anthracycline cardiotoxicity while preserving antitumour activity.
Influence of CYP3A Metabolizer Status on the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Amiodarone
Authors: Mičuda Stanislav , Hodač Martin , Pařízek Petr , Pleskot Miloslav , Šišpera Luděk , Cerman Jaroslav , Maláková Jana , Martínková Jiřina , Pidrman Vladimír
Published: September 2019

The present work was designed to determine whether the individual differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of amiodarone and its N-desethyl metabolite are related to cytochrome CYP3A metabolizer status. Methods: 12 cardiac patients with inducible ventricular tachyarrhythmias during the baseline electrophysiologic study were enrolled in this study. Urinary 24-hour excretion of 6β-hydroxycortisol (6β-OHC and the ratio of 6β-hydroxycortisol to urinary free cortisol (6β-OHC/UFC) were measured before the first amiodarone administration. Trough plasma concentrations of amiodarone and N-desethylamiodarone (N-DEA) were measured after 79 ± 11 days (2nd period) and after 182 ± 25 days (3rd period). Electrophysiologic effects of amiodarone therapy were established with serial electrophysiologic studies in 9 of these patients at the baseline and after 79 ± 11 days (during the second period). Results: Both the 6β-OHC excretion and 6β-OHC/UFC ratio varied approximately 6-fold between the patients. We found significant inverse correlation between the 6β-OHC excretion and the trough plasma concentrations of amiodarone at the time of the 3rd period (rs = -0.58, p < 0.05). Similarly, there was correlation between the 24-hour urinary 6β-OHC excretion and trough plasma concentrations of amiodarone during the 3rd period (rs = -0.64, p < 0.025). We were unable to detect any association between CYP3A activity and amiodarone pharmacodynamics. Conclusion: This study points toward important information value of CYP3A metabolizer status in the context of therapeutic drug monitoring of amiodarone.
Serum Soluble Adhesion Molecules (sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-Selectin) in Healthy School Aged Children and Adults
Authors: Andrýs Ctirad , Pozler Oldřich , Krejsek Jan , Derner Václav , Drahošová Marcela , Kopecký Otakar
Published: September 2019

The aim of this study was to map normal levels of serum soluble isoforms of adhesion molecules in relation to age and sex in the group of school-aged children. sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin were determined in the group of 158 normal children subdivided into two subgroups; 6-10 years (68 children, median age 8 years) and 11-15 years (90 children, median age 12 years) and in 70 normal adult blood donors (25 females and 45 males, median age 46 years). The levels of sICAM-1 and sE-selectin fell down significantly over the age range 6-15 years, while the level of sVCAM-1 was remained. Age-related normal ranges were established using correlation analysis and were expressed as the 5%-95% percentiles intervals: sICAM-1 206.8-486.8 ng/ml, sE-selectin 36.7-153.2 ng/ml in the group of 6-10 years old children, sICAM-1 184.1-354.0 ng/ml, sE-selectin 29.9-114.1 ng/ml in group of 11-15 years old children. The levels of sVCAM-1 were 359.6-822.0 ng/ml and were constant within the examined age interval from 6 to 15 years. The influence of sex was also assayed and it was not statistically significant in any age category tested. Normal ranges of sICAM-1 (60.2-218.4 ng/ml), sE-selectin (8.3-116.9 ng/ml) and sVCAM-1 (338.0-1148.0 ng/ml) were established for adult population of healthy blood donors using the same methods.
Automatic hypernasality grade assessment in cleft palate speech based on the spectral envelope method
Authors: Zhang Jing , Yang Sen , Wang Xiyue , Tang Ming , Yin Heng , He Ling
Published: September 2019

Due to velopharyngeal incompetence, airflow overflows from the oral cavity to the nasal cavity, which results in hypernasality. Hypernasality greatly reduces speech intelligibility and affects the daily communication of patients with cleft palate. Accurate assessment of hypernasality grades can provide assisted diagnosis for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in clinical settings. Utilizing a support vector machine (SVM), this paper classifies speech recordings into four grades (normal, mild, moderate and severe hypernasality) based on vocal tract characteristics. Linear prediction (LP) analysis is widely used to model the vocal tract. Glottal source information may be included in the LP-based spectrum. The stabilized weighted linear prediction (SWLP) method, which imposes the temporal weights on the closed-phase interval of the glottal cycle, is a more robust approach for modeling the vocal tract. The extended weighted linear prediction (XLP) method weights each lagged speech signal separately, which achieves a finer time scale on the spectral envelope than the SWLP method. Tested speech recordings were collected from 60 subjects with cleft palate and 20 control subjects, and included a total of 4640 Mandarin syllables. The experimental results showed that the spectral envelope of normal speech decreases faster than that of hypernasal speech in the high-frequency part. The experimental results also indicate that the SWLP- and XLP-based methods have smaller correlation coefficients between normal and hypernasal speech than the LP method. Thus, the SWLP and XLP methods have better ability to distinguish hypernasal from normal speech than the LP method. The classification accuracies of the four hypernasality grades using the SWLP and XLP methods range from 83.86% to 97.47%. The selection of the model order and the size of the weight function are also discussed in this paper.
Serum or plasma? An old question looking for new answers
Authors: Plebani Mario , Banfi Giuseppe , Bernardini Sergio , Bondanini Francesco , Conti Laura , Dorizzi Romolo , Ferrara Fulvio Enrico , Mancini Rita , Trenti Tommaso
Published: September 2019

Serum or plasma? An old question looking for new answers. There is a continual debate on what type of sample a clinical laboratory should use. While serum is still considered the gold standard and remains the required sample for some assays, laboratories must consider turn-around time, which is an important metric for laboratory performance and, more importantly, plays a critical role in patient care. In addition, a body of evidence emphasise the choice of plasma in order to prevent modifications of some analytes due to the coagulation process and related interferences. Advantages and disadvantages of serum and plasma are discussed on the basis of current literature and evidence. In addition, data are provided on the current utilisation of the samples (serum or plasma) in Italy and in other countries. Finally, a rationale for a possible switch from serum to plasma is provided.
“I am a healthcare practitioner”: A qualitative exploration of massage therapists’ professional identity
Authors: Baskwill Amanda , Vanstone Meredith , Harnish Del , Dore Kelly
Published: September 2019

Background

A division has been described among massage therapists, some who identify as healthcare providers while others identify as service providers. The perceived division creates confusion about what it means to be a massage therapist.

Objective

This qualitative study answered, “How do massage therapists in Ontario describe their professional identity?”

Methods

Qualitative description (QD) was used and data were collected from 33 massage therapists using semi-structured interviews.

Results

The resulting description of massage therapists’ identity in Ontario is the first of its kind. The identity described includes passion as professional motivation in practice, the importance of confidence and competence, a focus on the therapeutic relationship, individualized care, and patient empowerment, and a desire to be recognized for their role within the healthcare system.

Conclusion

There is still much to be investigated about massage therapists’ identity. Future research will explore whether this description resonates with a larger sample of massage therapists in Ontario.
Binary Genetic Swarm Optimization: A Combination of GA and PSO for Feature Selection
Authors: Ghosh Manosij , Guha Ritam , Alam Imran , Lohariwal Priyank , Jalan Devesh , Sarkar Ram
Published: September 2019

Feature selection (FS) is a technique which helps to find the most optimal feature subset to develop an efficient pattern recognition model under consideration. The use of genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) in the field of FS is profound. In this paper, we propose an insightful way to perform FS by amassing information from the candidate solutions produced by GA and PSO. Our aim is to combine the exploitation ability of GA with the exploration capacity of PSO. We name this new model as binary genetic swarm optimization (BGSO). The proposed method initially lets GA and PSO to run independently. To extract sufficient information from the feature subsets obtained by those, BGSO combines their results by an algorithm called average weighted combination method to produce an intermediate solution. Thereafter, a local search called sequential one-point flipping is applied to refine the intermediate solution further in order to generate the final solution. BGSO is applied on 20 popular UCI datasets. The results were obtained by two classifiers, namely,knearest neighbors (KNN) and multi-layer perceptron (MLP). The overall results and comparisons show that the proposed method outperforms the constituent algorithms in 16 and 14 datasets using KNN and MLP, respectively, whereas among the constituent algorithms, GA is able to achieve the best classification accuracy for 2 and 7 datasets and PSO achieves best accuracy for 2 and 4 datasets, respectively, for the same set of classifiers. This proves the applicability and usefulness of the method in the domain of FS.
Analysis of a 6-year pilot external quality assurance survey of free light chain using Sigma metrics
Authors: Chae Hyojin , Yoo Jaeeun , Park Joonhong , Cha Kyoungho , Lee Jeong Joong , Cho Bongrae , Kim Myungshin , Kim Yonggoo
Published: September 2019

Background

A pilot external quality assurance (EQA) survey for the free light chain (FLC) assay was developed and implemented in Korea.

Methods

Survey data over 6 years (2010–2015) were collected retrospectively and Sigma metrics were calculated for method-specific peer groups.

Results

Nineteen to 29 laboratories participated in the EQA survey, and nephelometric (20%) and turbidimetric (80%) methods were used. Using a previously published clinically relevant reference change value (RCV) of 54.5% as the tolerance limit, the method-specific median Sigma metrics of kappa (κ) and lambda (λ) FLC achieved greater than Three-Sigma for 86–97% of all EQA distributions, and Five-Sigma for 48–72% of all distributions.

Conclusions

This EQA analysis of FLC assay applied clinically relevant quality specifications using Sigma metrics. During the 6-year EQA survey, we found that most of the results from participating laboratories meet clinically relevant quality specifications. In addition, method-specific differences were noted for λ FLC, at FLC concentrations above the initial measuring range that require a sample dilution.
Investigation of the dual cascade algorithm in the diagnosis of antinuclear antibodies
Authors: Ecemiş Talat , Faraşat Vildan Turan , Doğan Yavuz , Şener Aslı Gamze , Ece Gülfem Terek , Dündar Pınar Erbay , Şanlıdağ Tamer
Published: September 2019

Background

The dual cascade algorithm which involves screening and confirmation of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) by further reflex testing is widely used in the detection of ANAs. We aimed to investigate this algorithm which is commonly used in many laboratories.

Methods

A total of 475 sera obtained from patients with a clinical suspicion of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) upon which three expert assessors agreed for interpretation in the indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) test were determined and tested by the line immunoassay (LIA) containing 16 antigens. The results of the tests were statistically compared and evaluated.

Results

In 141 of the sera (29.7%), there was an agreement between ANA-IIF(+) and LIA(+) results. The overall agreement rate between the two tests for positivity and negativity only was 85.5% with a Cohen’s κ coefficient of 0.69. In 118 of these 141 sera (83.7%), pattern and associated ANA agreement was detected with an overall agreement rate of 80.6% and a Cohen’s κ coefficient of 0.57. The highest agreement between the pattern and associated ANAs was seen in centromere, dense fine speckled (DFS) and cytoplasmic reticular patterns. In these patterns, the rate of anti-centromere-associated protein B (CENP-B), anti-DFS and anti-antimitochondrial antibody M2 (anti-AMA-M2) antibodies were 93.4%, 92.3% and 66.7%, respectively.

Conclusions

We found an overall moderate agreement between IIF screening and LIA confirmation tests. However, the level of agreement varies according to the pattern type. The discrepancy in agreement rates may cause false reflex test requests. Our results highlight the need for collaboration between clinical and laboratory professionals in selected cases instead of the reflex testing approach.
Crystal structure of bromido-dimethyl-4-tolyl-(triphenylphosphine oxide)tin(IV), C27H28BrOPSn
Authors: Lee See Mun , Lo Kong Mun , Tiekink Edward R.T.
Published: September 2019

C27H28BrOPSn, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 10.9369(1) Å, b = 12.2170(1) Å, c = 18.8402(1) Å, β = 91.869(1)°, V = 2516.01(3) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0279, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0754, T = 100(2) K.
Manufacture and mechanical properties of sandwich structure-battery composites
Authors: Zhang Lu , Lu Shaowei , Wang Xiaoqiang , Ma Keming , Liu Hoyin , Zhou Limin
Published: September 2019

An innovative sandwich battery composite was designed and manufactured by applying he vacuum assisted hand lay-up molding process. A series of bending mechanical properties and electrical performance testing were performed to investigate the reliability of the structure-battery composites. Experimental results showed that embedding the lithium polymer cell had no influence on the specific strength of the composite components and the electrical properties of the battery packs. Moreover, the charging and discharging properties of the structure-battery composites were not affected when subjected to 60% of failure load level or less. Under 80% of failure load, the charging and discharging capacities of the battery were reduced by 21.80% and 22.78%, respectively, and this degradation was unrecoverable. The structure-battery system has great potential as a multifunctional composite to optimize structural design and improve lightweight integrated properties.
Seizure initiation in infantile spasms vs. focal seizures: proposed common cellular mechanisms
Authors: Traub Roger D. , Moeller Friederike , Rosch Richard , Baldeweg Torsten , Whittington Miles A. , Hall Stephen P.
Published: September 2019

Infantile spasms (IS) and seizures with focal onset have different clinical expressions, even when electroencephalography (EEG) associated with IS has some degree of focality. Oddly, identical pathology (with, however, age-dependent expression) can lead to IS in one patient vs. focal seizures in another or even in the same, albeit older, patient. We therefore investigated whether the cellular mechanisms underlying seizure initiation are similar in the two instances: spasms vs. focal. We noted that in-common EEG features can include (i) a background of waves at alpha to delta frequencies; (ii) a period of flattening, lasting about a second or more – the electrodecrement (ED); and (iii) often an interval of very fast oscillations (VFO; ~70 Hz or faster) preceding, or at the beginning of, the ED. With IS, VFO temporally coincides with the motor spasm. What is different between the two conditions is this: with IS, the ED reverts to recurring slow waves, as occurring before the ED, whereas with focal seizures the ED instead evolves into an electrographic seizure, containing high-amplitude synchronized bursts, having superimposed VFO. We used in vitro data to help understand these patterns, as such data suggest cellular mechanisms for delta waves, for VFO, for seizure-related burst complexes containing VFO, and, more recently, for the ED. We propose a unifying mechanistic hypothesis – emphasizing the importance of brain pH – to explain the commonalities and differences of EEG signals in IS versus focal seizures.
Sensorial Intermedialities in Roman Letters: Cicero, Horace, and Ovid
Authors: Mannering Jonathan E.
Published: September 2019

In recent years, much progress has been made towards elucidating the function of ekphrasis in Roman epistolography, especially with relation to the writings of Seneca and Pliny. Following on from these precedents, this article mines the epistles of three prominent Roman letter-writers, Cicero, Horace, and Ovid, for their intermedial elements. The motifs of oral quotations, handwriting, and human tear stains, which interweave the sources analysed, are shown not only to straddle the borders between distinct media, but also to engage with multiple senses as a result of their multiple medialities. Oral quotations integrate speech into written texts and thus necessitate both sight and hearing. Handwriting likewise consists of both a ‘basic mediality’ – the visual – and a ‘qualified mediality’ of chirographic distinctiveness, and thus necessitates not only perception via sight but also recognition. Tear stains, which range from the actual smudges in Cicero’s missives to metaphorical ones in Tears don’t feature in Horace’s letters. Ovid’s epistles, are in turn geared both towards sight and touch, since they simultaneously alter the letter’s appearance and surface. However, these intermedial connections have different effects in prose and poetry epistles: they enable the former to transcend the very category of ‘letter’, but confine the latter within the epistolary genre by characterising them in material terms.
Fractalkine (CX3CL1) and its receptor (CX3CR1) in children with hypertrophic adenoid and chronic otitis media with effusion
Authors: Inan Serhat , Babakurban Seda Türkoğlu , Erbek Selim Sermed , Terzi Yunus Kasım , Sahin Feride Iffet
Published: September 2019

Background

Adenoid hypertrophy (AH) is one of the possible causes of chronic inflammation in the middle ear. It has been suggested that CX3CL1 and its specific receptor (CX3CR1) could be related with the pathogenesis of some inflammatory diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 in the pathogenesis of AH with chronic otitis media with effusion (COME) in children.

Materials and methods

Adenoid tissue samples were obtained from 91 pediatric patients and divided into two groups: adenoidectomy only for AH (n: 47) and adenoidectomy in conjunction with ventilation tube insertion for AH + COME (n: 44). Expression levels of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 genes were compared.

Results

Expression levels of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 in hypertrophic adenoid tissue were not significantly different between the AH + COME and AH only groups. Although no significant difference was detected in the expression of CX3CL1 in the adenoid samples, the expression of CX3CR1 was higher in children older than 48 months.

Conclusions

When allergy, atopy and chronic adenoiditis does not exist to obstructive adenoid hypertrophy, inflammatory fractalkine chemokine expression levels in adenoid tissue was not observed to be increased in children with COME.
Experimental Study of Kerosene Ignition and Flame Stabilization in a Supersonic Combustor
Authors: Meng Yu , Gu Hongbin , Zhang Xinyu
Published: September 2019

A supersonic kerosene ignition and flame stabilization experiments were conducted on a directly connected supersonic combustion test bench. The kerosene fuel was jetted by wall jet at Ma 2.5 airflow. High-speed photography was used to record the CH* emission during ignition, extinguishing and evolution of the flame. Experiments of different equivalence ratios were performed. The processes of ignition, flame holding, and extinguishing were observed as well. The experiment showed the characteristics of ignition core initiation and extension. The time of ignition increased with the increase of equivalence ratios. Flame stability during the process of Ma 2.5 at the entrance of the combustion chamber was also studied. An equilibrium flame pattern of shock wave and flame was discovered in the experiment. In the stable flame state, shock waves near the kerosene jet orifice promote atomization and blending, and the combustion chamber pressure with stable flame makes the shock waves stable near the kerosene jet orifice, thus forming the flame stability model. The whole process and characteristics of kerosene ignition, flame holding and extinguishing are revealed in the experiment.
Structural elucidation of two new compounds from Artemisia ordosica and their antioxidative activity
Authors: Wu Guo-Hua , Wang Qing-Hu , He Xiang , Bao Wen-Qiang , Pa Bi-Li-Ge-Tu
Published: September 2019

Two new compounds, namely, arteordosin A (1) and arteordosin B (2), were isolated from the CHCl3 extract of Artemisia ordosica. This is the first report on the structure elucidation of arteordosin A (1) and arteordosin B (2) based on spectroscopic methods including electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, one-dimensional (1D) nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and 2D NMR techniques. Antioxidant activities of the compounds were measured for their radical scavenging capacity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. Compound 1 (IC50 of 1.01 mg mL−1) showed antioxidant activity similar to the standard reference ascorbic acid (IC50 of 0.98 mg mL−1) and is more active than compound 2 (IC50 of 1.87 mg mL−1). In conclusion, arteordosin A (1) and arteordosin B (2) may be used as potential antihyperlipidemic agent in routine clinical practice.
Noción de la educomunicación en las organizaciones intergubernamentales
Authors: Caldeiro Pedreira Mari Carmen , Torres-Toukoumidis Angel , Romero-Rodríguez Luis M. , Aguaded Ignacio
Published: September 2019

La presente investigación analiza la noción que tienen las principales organizaciones internacionales de carácter multilateral sobre el concepto de educomunicación (media literacy), mediante el extracto correlacional y análisis de contenido de base interpretativa de 2.648 unidades informativas de 12 organismos, tanto de carácter regional como transcontinental, entre los que se encuentran la Organización de las Naciones Unidas, Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económico, Liga Árabe, Organización Internacional de la Francofonía, Comunidad de Países de Lengua Portuguesa y Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos, Unión Africana, Unión Europea, Liga de los Estados Árabes, Comunidad de Estados Independientes, Organización de Estados Americanos, Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños, Unión de Naciones Sudamericanas, Asociación de Naciones del Sureste Asiático, Consejo de Cooperación para los Estados Árabes del Golfo y Foro de las Islas del Pacífico. En cuanto a los principales resultados se evidencia que 83% organizaciones analizadas, salvo en la Comunidad de Países de Lengua Portuguesa y en la Unión Africana la convergencia del contexto educativo y comunicativo, específicamente se presenta bajo la terminología “educación mediática”, lo que influye en la formulación de políticas domésticas mediante el planteamiento de incentivos y restricciones que afectan la toma de decisiones a nivel gubernamental aludiendo al continuo cambio y la dinámica construcción de la identidad.
Genetic Ablation of Neural Progenitor Cells Impairs Acquisition of Trace Eyeblink Conditioning
Authors: Miller Lisa N. , Weiss Craig , Disterhoft John F.
Published: September 2019

Adult-born neurons are believed to play a role in memory formation by providing enhanced plasticity to the hippocampus. Past studies have demonstrated that reduction of neurogenesis impairs associative learning, but these experiments used irradiation or neurotoxic substances, which may have had unintended off-target effects. Therefore, to investigate the role of these adult-born neurons more precisely, we used nestin-HSV-TK transgenic mice (Nes-TK) to selectively ablate newborn neurons. Nes-TK mice were fed a chow infused with valganciclovir to induce the ablation of neural progenitor cells. After being on this diet for 4 weeks, mice were trained on trace eyeblink conditioning, a hippocampus-dependent temporal associative memory task. Following the completion of training, brain sections from these animals were stained for doublecortin, a marker for immature neurons, to quantify levels of neurogenesis. We found that male transgenic mice on valganciclovir had significantly decreased amounts of doublecortin relative to male control animals, indicating a successful reduction in levels of neurogenesis. In conjunction with this reduction in neurogenesis, the male transgenic mice on valganciclovir learned at a significantly slower rate than male control mice. The female Nes-TK mice on valganciclovir showed no significant decrease in neurogenesis and no behavioral impairment relative to female control mice. Ultimately, the results are consistent with, and expand upon, prior studies that demonstrated that adult-born neurons are involved in the formation of associative memories. This study also provides a foundation to continue to explore the physiological role of newborn neurons within vivorecordings during behavioral training.
Conformational Dynamics of Transmembrane Domain 3 of Presenilin 1 Is Associated with the Trimming Activity of γ-Secretase
Authors: Cai Tetsuo , Morishima Kanan , Takagi-Niidome Shizuka , Tominaga Aya , Tomita Taisuke
Published: September 2019

γ-Secretase is an intramembrane-cleaving protease that generates the toxic species of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) that is responsible for the pathology of Alzheimer disease. The catalytic subunit of γ-secretase is presenilin 1 (PS1), which is a polytopic membrane protein with a hydrophilic catalytic pore. The length of the C terminus of Aβ is proteolytically determined by its processive trimming by γ-secretase, although the precise mechanism still remains largely unknown. Here, we identified that transmembrane domain (TMD) 3 of human PS1 is involved in the formation of the intramembranous hydrophilic pore. Notably, the water accessibility of TMD3 was greatly altered by point mutations and compounds, which modify γ-secretase activity. The changes in the water accessibility of TMD3 was also correlated with Aβ42 production. Moreover, crosslinking between TMD3 and TMD7 resulted in a loss of sensitivity to a γ-secretase modulator that reduces Aβ42 production. Therefore, our findings indicate that the conformational dynamics of TMD3 is a prerequisite for regulation of the Aβ trimming activity of γ-secretase.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTModulation of γ-secretase activity to reduce the level of toxic amyloid-β species is thought to be a therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer disease. However, the detailed mechanism of the regulation of amyloid-β production, as well as the structure-and-activity relationship of γ-secretase remains unclear. Here we identified that the water accessibility around transmembrane domain 3 in presenilin 1 was increased along with a reduction in toxic amyloid-β production. Our findings demonstrate how the structure of presenilin 1 dynamically changes during amyloid-β production, and provides insights toward the development of treatments against Alzheimer disease.
Etomidate in the management of severe Cushing’s disease and MRSA bacteraemia in a district general hospital in the United Kingdom
Authors: Wong Stephanie Wei Ping , Yap Yew Wen , Narayanan Ram Prakash , Al-Jubouri Mohammad , Grossman Ashley , Daousi Christina , Mahgoub Yahya
Published: September 2019

We report our experience on managing a case of florid Cushing’s disease with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) sepsis using intravenous etomidate in the intensive care unit of a UK district general hospital.

Learning points:

Severe Cushing’s syndrome is associated with high morbidity and mortality.

Etomidate is a safe and effective medical therapy to rapidly lower cortisol levels even in the context of severe sepsis and immunosuppression.

Etomidate should ideally be administered in an intensive care unit but is still feasible in a district general hospital.

During treatment with etomidate, accumulation of serum 11β-deoxycortisol (11DOC) levels can cross-react with laboratory cortisol measurement leading to falsely elevated serum cortisol levels. For this reason, serum cortisol measurement using a mass spectrometry assay should ideally be used to guide etomidate prescription.
Expression of thyroglobulin by regulatory T cells in thyroid tissue
Authors: Zhu Yun-Qing , Hu Yun , He Ke , Li Na , Jiang Peng , Pan Yu-Qin , Zhou Hong , Mao Xiao-Ming
Published: September 2019

The follicles are the minimal functional unit of the thyroid; the morphology and the function of each follicle can vary significantly. However, the reasons for the apparent follicular heterogeneity are poorly understood. Some tissue-resident regulatory T cells (Tregs) have a special phenotype that expresses unique molecules related to local tissue and regulates the tissue functions. The aim of this study was to identify the phenotype of thyroid Tregs and the roles of thyroid Tregs in thyroid physiological regulation. Thyroid tissue and peripheral blood samples were obtained from patients with benign thyroid nodules. Microarray-based gene expression, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence microscopy, and functional analysis of thyroid Tregs were performed. Here, we demonstrated that human thyroid Tregs expressed high level of thyroglobulin (Tg), both gene and protein. The immunofluorescence microscopy of thyroid section showed that the FOXP3+Tg+ cells concentrated in some of the thyroid follicles, at the side of the thyroid follicle. The peripheral blood Tregs expressed minimal levels of Tg, and low levels of Tg could effectively induce peripheral blood Tregs to express Tg, which was independent of thyrotropin simulation. Furthermore, the Tg secreted freely from thyroid Tregs that negatively regulated some thyroid-related genes expression. Our results revealed that the thyroid Tregs was a distinct population of Tregs, which expressed high level of Tg. The thyroid Tregs regulate thyroid function by Tg that is paracrine from the cells.
El género del CEO como determinante de la supervivencia de la empresa: el caso de las pymes agroalimentarias españolas
Authors: Luque-Vílchez Mercedes , Rodríguez-Gutiérrez Pablo , Guerrero-Baena María Dolores
Published: September 2019

Esta investigación, motivada por la literatura previa, tiene como objetivo estudiar el efecto del género del CEO en la supervivencia de las pequeñas y medianas empresas (pymes) del sector agroalimentario español a lo largo del tiempo. La elección de España se debe a que es uno de los países con mayor tasa de supervivencia de las pymes. Con este fin, se llevó a cabo un análisis empírico de los patrones de las pymes del sector agroalimentario durante el período 2000-2015. Para ello, se siguió el método de Kaplan-Meier para un análisis univariante de la supervivencia, y una regresión lineal para el análisis multivariado. Los resultados muestran que las pymes del sector agroalimentario tienen más probabilidades de sobrevivir si son dirigidas por mujeres. En este sentido, esta investigación pone de manifiesto la necesidad de promover y desarrollar políticas y programas que faciliten la presencia de mujeres en este tipo de puestos de responsabilidad.
The construction sector in Galicia: Corporate social responsibility and financial results
Authors: Vilar Fernández Juan Manuel , Fe Marqués Jaime , Vasallo Rapela Alejandro M.
Published: September 2019

The company’s social responsibility, also called corporate social responsibility (CSR), is considered a key strategic factor in management. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the existing relationships between the CSR principles and the profitability of companies in the construction sector in Galicia. To this end, a review of the concept of CSR and its evolution is made; then, an analysis of the relationship between CSR and business results for Galician companies of the construction sector is carried out; finally, quantitative indicators are developed to evaluate the management and performance of the company and the theoretical approaches are compared with the results obtained through econometric modeling for a sample of 100 companies. This comparative analysis is done through return on assets (ROA,) or economic profitability, and return on equity (ROE), or financial profitability. We conclude that there is a positive relationship between financial returns and CSR, so the latter is consolidated as a source of competitive advantage.
Conventional tourist accommodations versus the expansion of vacational rentals. Origins, causes and consequences
Authors: Solano Sánchez Miguel Ángel , Núñez Tabales Julia M. , Caridad y Ocerín José M.
Published: September 2019

In the past 10 years, there has been an absolute paradigm shift in the tourist accommodation sector worldwide. Apart from conventional accommodation, new forms of accommodation known as vacation rentals have appeared in the context of collaborative consumption. The objective of this paper is to analyze this new phenomenon, its origin, the causes of its growth and the consequences derived from it, such as gentrification and mass tourism, finally providing some possible solutions for them.
The political economy of ‘impeachment’ in Brazil: an assessment of the Temer interlude (2016-2018)
Authors: Schincariol Vitor Eduardo , Yeros Paris
Published: September 2019

This article focuses on the impeachment process of Dilma Rousseff in Brazil, as well as the economic policies and the performance of the economy under the Temer administration, between 2016 and 2018. The article shows that Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment favored a stronger neoliberal thrust advocated especially by financial markets, and that contrary to the proclaimed objectives of the new administration, the economic policies adopted against recession did not lead to an expressive economic recovery, or to an improvement of the fiscal situation of the central government. Instead, the accelerated privatization and denationalization of the economy since the impeachment has further perpetuated stagnation, reinforced indebtedness, and reduced the capacity of the central government to respond.
The performance of the brazilian economy: The development of inflation, growth and unemployment
Authors: Cutrim Carvalho André , Ferreira Carvalho David
Published: September 2019

In Brazil, as in most countries, government strategies have sought to encourage economic growth so as to reduce unemployment and maintain price stability as a deterrent to distributive conflict and rigid inflation, a historically difficult problem to solve in this country. Within this context, the fundamental objective of this article is to discuss the macroeconomic performance of the Brazilian economy during the period between the military dictatorship and the new republic, particularly in relation to inflation, economic growth and unemployment. The main conclusion is that Brazil urgently needs to improve its current economic performance. The federal government must therefore foster public and private investment so that all sectors of the economy may break with the current recession. It must also strengthen mechanisms to control inflation and reduce the risk factor and uncertainty for investors so that they are encouraged to hire labor. This will reduce unemployment and improve the outreach of social protection systems for low-income families. More expressly, it will generate opportunities for the improvement and specialization of certain productive activities so that the country is able to create skilled labor, thereby increasing income and stimulating consumption amongst these future workers.
Sistemas regionales de innovación: pasado, presente y futuro
Authors: Asheim Björn , Grillitsch Markus , Trippl Michaela
Published: September 2019

Desde su aparición en la década de 1990, el enfoque de los sistemas regionales de innovación (SRI) ha atraído una considerable atención por parte de los geógrafos económicos, académicos y responsables de políticas de innovación. El enfoque SRI ocupa un lugar destacado en el discurso científico sobre la desigual geografía de la innovación y los factores que explican la generación de conocimiento y la capacidad de innovar de las regiones. El objetivo de este trabajo es reflexionar acerca de la aparición del enfoque SIR, su debate actual, así como los retos de futuro. Este documento se estructura con base en cuatro preguntas generales de investigación: ¿cuáles son los orígenes y fundamentos teóricos de este enfoque?, ¿cuál ha sido su contribución a los estudios de innovación y a la geografía económica?, ¿cuáles son sus implicaciones para la política de innovación?, y ¿cuáles son las líneas de investigación más recientes y los desafíos claves de la investigación en el futuro? Se argumenta que las contribuciones del enfoque de los SRI han sido sustanciales. Sin embargo, el enfoque ha sido aplicado a veces de una manera más bien estática, más como una heurística que como una teoría coherente. Los principales retos para la investigación actual y futura, por tanto, deben avanzar en la línea de construir un enfoque más robusto desde el punto vista téorico y también más centrado en la dinámica y transformación de los SRI.
Investigation of the Postoperative Complications Rate and Predictors in Patients Undergoing Surgery due to Associated Carotid and Coronary Occlusive Disease
Authors: Jovicic Vladimir , Putnik Svetozar , Djordjevic Aleksandar , Grgurevic Anita , Atanasijevic Igor , Terzic Dusko , Jovicic Milica
Published: September 2019

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of postoperative complications in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and simultaneous carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and find predictors of postoperative complications.
Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 86 patients after simultaneous CABG and CEA. Inclusion criteria were: patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis with a reduction of the carotid lumen diameter of more than 70% detected with Doppler ultrasound and diagnosed with one, two, or three vessel coronary artery disease with coronary stenosis more than 75% and hemodynamic significant stenosis of the left main artery. Exclusion criteria were patients with urgent and previous cardiac surgery and patients with myocardial infarction and stroke in the past one month. We monitored preoperative (ejection fraction, coronarography status), operative (number of grafts, on-pump or off-pump technique) and postoperative (extubation, unit care and hospital stay, bleeding and reoperation) details and complications (myocardial infarction, neurological events, inotropic agents and transfusion requiry, infection, arrhythmic complication, renal failure, mortality).
Results: Postoperative complications were observed in 18 (29.9%) patients. Two patients (2.3%) had postoperative stroke and one patient (1.2%) had transient ischemic attack (TIA). Previous stroke was a predictor for increased postoperative neurological events (P < .05). Intrahospital mortality was 8.1%.
Conclusion: Simultaneous CEA and CABG were performed with low rates of stroke and TIA. Previous stroke was identified as a predictor for increased postoperative neurological complications.
29th Baltic Conference on the History of Science in Vilnius
Authors: Kondratas Ramūnas , Railienė Birutė
Published: September 2019

Welcome to the 29th Baltic Conference on the History of Science. This conference carries on the tradition of rotating conferences in the Baltic countries (now including Finland) which was begun in the summer of 1958. This year it is part of Vilnius University’s celebration of its 440th anniversary, and thus the theme Science and the University. The lectures in our plenary session will explore in greater depth the founding during the interwar period of the major national universities in the Baltic States and Finland. The presentations in our general sessions are divided into five sections: medicine, biological sciences, physical sciences, science and technology, and philosophy. In addition to presenters from the Baltic States and Finland, there will be representatives from Poland, Russia, Ukraine and the United States. I would like to thank the members of the organizing and local arrangements committees for their help, and especially Birutė Railienė, the secretary-treasurer of the Lithuanian Association of the History and Philosophy of Science, and Barbara Omelčenko, the Vilnius University Museum administrator. We are very grateful for support from Vilnius University which has provided the facilities for our conference and the very generous financial contribution from Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics. The organization of this conference in Lithuania began under the very able leadership of Prof. Juozapas Algimantas Krikštopaitis, who was the heart and soul and long-time head of the Lithuanian Association of the History and Philosophy of Science. Unfortunately, he died last year and passed the baton onto me. An In Memoriam for Prof. Krikštopaitis can be found in the front of the abstract booklet. In the name of us all, I would like to dedicate this conference in his memory.Dr. Ramūnas KondratasPresident, Baltic Association of the History and Philosophy of SciencePresident, Lithuanian Association of the History and Philosophy of Science
Dinu Garber Eainstein (1938-2019). In memoriam
Authors: Díaz Jorge Aurelio
Published: September 2019

El profesor Dinu Garber nació en Rumania, el 26 de octubre de 1938, en el seno de una familia de origen judío, que, por los avatares de la guerra, debió emigrar, vía Francia e Italia, para radicarse finalmente en Venezuela. En Caracas terminó sus estudios de primaria y bachille-rato, y se trasladó luego a Brasil, donde cursó la carrera de Arquitectura. Al regresar a Venezuela, organizó, con algunos colegas, una firma de arquitectos, en la que trabajó unos años con gran éxito. En el año 1970 contrajo matrimonio con su esposa Doris Halle.
Constituição do outro e do si mesmo. A partir da Einfünhlungem Edith Stein
Authors: Pires Lopes Nunes Etelvina
Published: September 2019

A empatia, em Edith Stein, é uma vivência que permite o conhecimento do outro, mastambém do “sujeito empatizante”. Pela teoria “do vivenciar completo”, alcança-se nãoapenas um conhecimento da vivência do outro, mas também dos valores subjacentesà sua ação. Através desta teoria, pretende-se responder à proposta levinasiana deuma responsabilidade total, por um lado, e, por outro, de P. Ricoeur, que apresenta anecessidade de uma relação que pense ao mesmo tempo a reflexividade do si mesmo.A empatia permite um modo de constituição personalizadora para os dois sujeitosque mantém, de modo simultâneo, a unicidade e a alteridade de cada um.
Laicidad y anticlericalismo
Authors: Rudas Sebastián
Published: September 2019

De acuerdo con la postura dominante sobre la laicidad, ésta debe ser concebida en relación con el reconocimiento del pluralismo y prestando atención a no reprodu- cir sesgos antirreligiosos. El artículo defiende una propuesta alternativa: la laicidad como anticlericalismo, cuyo elemento distintivo consiste en instaurar un arreglo institucional de separación estricta y de exclusión de los contenidos religiosos de las instituciones del Estado. Se argumenta que esta forma de concebir la laicidad responde adecuadamente a la pregunta por el lugar de la religión en la esfera pública en el contexto de los Estados liberales y democráticos latinoamericanos.