bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analisis Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Penerapan Berpikir Kritis Perawat dalam Melaksanakan Asuhan Keperawatan di Rumah Sakit
Authors: Sutriyanti Yanti , Mulyadi Mulyadi
Published: September 2019

Critical thinking skills is a very essential ability in providing services to patients. Factors that can influence critical thinking skills include physical condition, motivation, anxiety, habits, intellectual development, consistency, feelings, and experience. These factors can provide positive support or can reduce critical thinking skills. The purpose of the study was to analyze the factors that influence the application of nurses' critical thinking skills in implementing nursing care to patients. Crossectional research design. The study population was inpatient nurses and a total population sample of 113 nurses. The results of this study (73%) were female, (78%) education was not Ners, (91%) were married, (57%) were civil servants, (53%) were more than 30 years old, (58%) were working long < 6 years. There was a significant relationship between sex factors (p. 005), duration of work (p. 0,045), motivation (p. 0.015), anxiety (p. 0.008), intellectual development (p. 001), and experience (0.002) towards the application of critical thinking nurses in implementing nursing care. There was no significant relationship between factors of age, education, marital status, employment status, physical condition, feelings, habits, consistency in the application of nurse critical thinking in implementing nursing care (p value> 0.005).The intellectual development of nurses can improve critical thinking which is the most dominant in implementing nursing care.
Health threat of global warming
Authors: Rasul CH
Published: September 2019

Abstract not available

Bang Med J (Khulna) 2018; 51 : 1-2
A comparative study of nature of adnexal masses by ultrasonography and histopathology
Authors: Roshed Md Mahabubur , Akhter Mst Dalia , Hossain Syed Mozammel
Published: September 2019

Background: Adnexal masses are common lesions in women across the globe. This is also important for woman in Bangladesh. The incidence of adnexal malignancy ranks only after the carcinoma of cervix and endometrium. So their accurate and early diagnosis is necessary for design management and treatment protocol.

Objective: The aim of the study is to assess the correlation between histopathological examination and ultrasonographic evaluation in making early and confirm diagnosis of adnexal masses.

Methodology: Eighty four women with different ages having adnexal mass, diagnosed by ultrasonographic evaluations and followed by surgery were included in this study between january 12 to December, 14. The morphologic characteristics of the masses were evaluated with gray scale Ultrasonography (USG). Specimens were collected after surgical resection in a container containing 10% formalin. The specimens were processed by paraffin embedding method and stained by routine Haematoxylin and Eosin stain for microscopic examination. The results of this study were calculated by standard statistical formula.

Results: Histopathological examination revealed that 68 masses (80.95%) were benign, two (2.38%) were borderline malignant, and 16 (19.05%) were malignant. USG enabled correct diagnosis of 63 of the 68 benign masses (92.65%) and all 16 malignant masses (100%).

Conclusion: There is a correlation between histopathological examination and ultrasonographic evaluation of adnexal masses in most cases. Therefore the imaging analysis of internal architectural appearance by USG and histopathological examination increases the specificity in the diagnosis of adnexal masses.

Bang Med J (Khulna) 2018; 51 : 7-11
Variation of blood pressure during change of posture
Authors: Islam Md Nazrul , Kamal SK , Islam Md Sirajul , Hossain Sk Amir
Published: September 2019

Background: Many factors can influence blood pressure, one of which is body position. The aim of present study was to establish a specific pattern of blood pressure (BP) changes in accordance with posture changes in healthy adults.

Objective: Aim of present study was to establish a specific pattern of blood pressure (BP) changes in accordance with posture changes in healthy adult male and females.

Methods: Blood pressure was recorded by aneroid sphygmomanometer in supine, sitting and standing posture on both arms. Mean ± standard deviation of the observation for all the parameters were calculated and comparison in supine, sitting and standing position was done by repeated measures Analysis was done by ANOVA test and tukey's post hoc test.

Results: Fifty healthy males and fifty healthy female took part in this study. BP varies according to body position. Both Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure was significantly decreased (P<0.05) while changing posture from supine to standing. But blood pressure changes during change of posture from supine to sitting or from sitting to standing was not significant (P>0.05).

Conclusions: Change in body posture changes systolic blood pressure as well as diastolic blood pressure.

Bang Med J (Khulna) 2018; 51 : 16-20
Comparison between flunarizine and levetiracetam in paediatric migraine prophylaxis
Authors: Rahman Sk Masiur , Kundu Gopen Kumar , Fatema Kanij , Akhter Shaheen , Rahman Md Mizanur
Published: September 2019

Background: Migraine hampers child's life through school absence, limitation of home and social activities. The goal of prophylactic (preventive) therapy is to reduce headache frequency, headache days, and headache severity with minimum side effects.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam compared to flunarizine as prophylactic treatment of Migraine in children. Methods: This prospective study was carried out in the outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. A total of 105 children aged 6-15 years, diagnosed as migraine without aura, were enrolled. Patients were treated with flunarizine or levetiracetam for three months. Headache disabilities were evaluated at baseline and at the end of three months.

Results: In flunarizine group, 54 children and in levetiracetam group, 51 children were enrolled. Among them thirty nine children in flunarizine group and 36 children in levetiracetam group completed the study. Headache frequency, headache days, VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) score and PedMIDAS (Paediatric Migraine Disability Assessment Score) score were evaluated at baseline and during the follow up. After three months, headache frequency, headache days, pain severity (Visual Analogue Scale score) reduced significantly compared to baseline (p<0.05). PedMIDAS score was also reduced from 60.35(±16.36) to 30.13(±14.28) in flunarizine group and from 64.25(±19.63) to 25.91(±18.6) in levetiracetam group (p<0.05). Some minor side effects were also reported by both groups, but were well tolerated by the patients and need not withdrawal of medication.

Conclusion: Levetiracetam is as effective as flunarizine in paediatric Migraine Prophylaxis.

Bang Med J (Khulna) 2018; 51 : 35-39
Abstract From Current Literature 51(1-2)
Authors: - -
Published: September 2019

Abstract not available

Bang Med J (Khulna) 2018; 51 : 44-47
HUBUNGAN MOTIVASI DENGAN KEMAMPUAN SERVIS BAWAH DALAM PERMAINAN BOLAVOLI
Authors: Risma Nova , Jatra Rices
Published: September 2019

The problem in this study is the lack of activeness and motivation of students of SMP Negeri 6 Pekanbaru in the learning activities of volleyball games, especially in learning service below, so that learning activities do not run optimally. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of motivation with the ability to serve under the volleyball game of SMP Negeri 6 Pekanbaru students. This study is correlational that connects the independent variable, motivation (X) with the dependent variable, namely the ability to serve under the game of volleyball (Y). The population in this study were all students of SMP Negeri 6 Pekanbaru, totaling 335 people. The sampling technique in this study is Purposive Sampling, so that the students sampled in this study amounted to 54 people. Data collection for motivation is done by distributing questionnaires and service capabilities under Russel-Lange. The data obtained were analyzed using thecorrelation formula product moment with α = 0.05. Hypothesis test results show there is a relationship between motivation and the ability to service down in the game of volleyball (rxy = 0.345> rtable 0.281) and (tarithmetic = 2.520> ttable = 2.012). This means that the higher motivation possessed by SMP Negeri 6 Pekanbaru students, the tendency of lower service ability in volleyball games is also increasing. In another sense, the hypothesis is accepted (significant).
Towards a Conceptualization of Populist Rights
Authors: Panizza Francisco
Published: September 2019

Is there a particular set of rights that can be regarded as “populist” in the same sense that we speak about liberal democratic rights and, if so, what are these rights and how do they relate to populism? There is a long list of arguments against any notion of populist rightsThe purpose of the paper is to discuss a theoretical framework for the conceptualisation of populist rights. In doing so, I argue that (democratic) populism can be associated to a notion of rights normatively centred in the exercise of sovereignty and empirically centred in the denunciation of asymmetries of power embedded in liberal democratic institutions. I conclude that populism’s antagonistic divide between the people and its Other presents significant challenges to notions of democratic populist rights that, in order to be truly democratic, would require the incorporation of some notion of citizenship to populism’s people – centred appeal.
Unrepresentative claims: Refusing to represent as a source of power and legitimacy
Authors: Hayat Samuel
Published: September 2019

This paper is about situations in which people actively refuse to make representative claims or refute their own representativeness. While they may seem to constitute a minor and borderline case in the study of political representation, taking these claims seriously may help us understand some quite common political interactions that we may not be fully equipped to deal with. Yet among these interactions, some can be said to gain prominence these days, especially when it comes to social movements, and much of my interest for this question was prompted by the French Yellow Vest movement and the difficulties in interpreting it. More importantly, these claims articulate representation and power in a way that seems at odds with how we intuitively think their relation, making them potentially of some interest for our understanding of representation.
Exploring Changes in State Interest Group Systems: Replications and Extensions of the ESA Model
Authors: Holyoke Thomas
Published: September 2019

How have interest group populations in the fifty states changed in the 21st Century so far, and have factors like population growth, changing state ideology, economic performance, legislative professionalism, personal wealth, and shocks like the Great Recession shaped these changes? Using new data on state interest groups originally gathered by the National Institute for Money in State Politics, which I cleaned and introduced at last year, combined with several other measures of state politics, economic performance, and demographic change, I study these questions. With data covering the years 2006 to 2015 allowing for cross-state, as well as time-series, analysis, I explore the extent to which change in economic, political, and social variables lead to changes in state interest group systems, some of which replicates Gray and Lowery’s work. Their work holds-up well in the replications, but new extensions are also explored, including a new “capacity” term for the ESA model.
Integrating Study Skills in First Year Politics Modules: A Case Study
Authors: Murray Judith
Published: September 2019

This paper will present an approach to redesigning a first year Politics module with a focus on integrating study and research skills. The prior module will be presented along with the rationale for the module redesign. Key skill and learning outcomes will be discussed, with an emphasis on realignment of the assessment regime to a mixed approach to improve the transition to university teaching. Active learning pedagogy incorporated into the redesigned module will be presented, including the use of interactive personal response systems in lectures as well as student generated research topics. Seminar structure will be discussed, noting the linking of seminar tasks to lectures and the use of student portfolios to master key study skills. Finally, student feedback regarding their first experience of the module redesign will be presented, as well as the feedback of the assessment results, to gain insight into the implications of the module redesign.
Dynamics of cytological parameters of the conjunctiva in the course of a complex treatment of eye burns using a low-intensity laser radiation
Authors: Bakhritdinova Fazilat
Published: September 2019

Purpose: A cytological assessment of the effectiveness of eye burns complex treatment using low-intensity infrared laser radiation (LILR) was performed.
Material and methods. 42 patients (64 eyes) with eye burns of different etiology and severity were examined. For the patients of the main group (21 patients, 30 eyes) low-intensity infrared laser radiation was added to the traditional treatment methods.
Results. Decrease in the number of basophils and the amount of exudation during the inflammatory process indicated the suppression of the initial forms of inflammatory mediators – histamine and serotonin; the disappearance of leukocytes and restoration of the cytoplasm structure and epithelial nuclei was the result of the prostaglandins and leukotrienes suppression by LILR. An increase in the nuclear cytoplasmic ratio (NCR) was the result of the metabolic processes activation and the increase of their regenerative ability.
Conclusion. Therefore, the use of LIRL is considered to be an effective method of the eye burn treatment since it triggers and prolongs the effect of the primary therapy.
Steam Explosion Treatment of Byproduct Feedstuffs for Potential Use as Ruminant Feed
Authors: Liu Yue , Ren Xiaoxuan , Wu Hao , Meng Qingxiang , Zhou Zhenming
Published: September 2019

Although many byproducts of milling industries have potential as a ruminant feed, they have not been widely used due to their low nutritive value, especially high-fiber content and difficult processing techniques. Steam explosion can increase the degradation of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin and make byproduct feedstuffs more suitable as ruminant feed. Five byproduct feedstuffs: cassava alcohol residue (CAR), distillers’ grains (DG), cottonseed meal (CM), rapeseed meal (RM) and potato starchy residues (PSR), were steam-exploded using five different processing parameters and the effects on the chemical composition, in vitro digestibility, energy value, and Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System composition were assessed in order to provide a theoretical basis for the technique’s development and utilization for ruminant feed production. In this study, after steam-explosion treatment, the nutritive value and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of CAR, DG, RM and PSR were improved (p < 0.05), while there was no effect on nutritive value of CM (p > 0.05). Specifically, steam explosion treatment decreased the contents of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, available cell wall, and slowly degraded protein, and increased the total digestible nutrients, digestible energy, metabolic energy, net energy for maintenance, and net energy for gain, sugar, non-structural carbohydrate and IVDMD. Therefore, steam-explosion treatment offers the potential to improve the suitability of byproduct feedstuffs as ruminant feed.
Validation Study of SNPs in CAPN1-CAST Genes on the Tenderness of Muscles (Longissimus thoracis and Semimembranosus) in Hanwoo (Korean Cattle)
Authors: Lee Hyo Jun , Jin Shil , Kim Hyoun-Joo , Bhuiyan Mohammad Shamsul Alam , Lee Doo Ho , Lee Soo Hyun , Jang Sung Bong , Han Man Hye , Lee Seung Hwan
Published: September 2019

Previous studies demonstrated that polymorphisms in the μ-calpain (CAPN1) and calpastatin (CAST) genes had significant effects on meat tenderness in different cattle populations. The aim of this study was to validate the potential association of seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) harbored in these two candidate genes with meat tenderness in the Longissimus thoracis (LT) and Semimembranosus (SM) muscles. A total of 1000 animals were genotyped using TaqMan SNP genotyping arrays, and the meat tenderness of two muscle (LT and SM at 7 days post-slaughter) was assessed based on Warner-Bratzler WBSF (WBSF) testing. We observed significant associations of the CAPN1:c.580T>C, CAPN1:c.658T>C and CAST:c.1985G>C polymorphisms (p < 0.05) with the WBSF values in the LT and SM muscles. Additive effects of the C allele in CAPN1:c.580T>C and CAST:c.1985G>C were associated with an increase of 0.16 and 0.15 kg, and 0.08 and 0.26 kg WBSF in the LT and SM, respectively; CAPN1:c.658T>C had negative effects on the WBSFs. Furthermore, six reconstructed haplotypes demonstrated significant associations with WBSF values (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the significant associations identified between the SNPs in CAPN1, CAST and WBSF values could be utilized in marker-assisted selection programs in order to improve the beef tenderness of Hanwoo cattle.
Improving Conductivity in Nano-Conduit Flows by Using Thermal Pulse-Induced Brownian Motion: A Spectral Impulse Intensity Approach
Authors: Tuzun Ugur
Published: September 2019

Inter-particle and particle-wall connectivity in suspension flow has profound effects on thermal and electrical conductivity. The spectral impulse generation and the imparting of kinetic energy on the particles is shown through a mathematical analysis to be effective as a means of achieving an approximate equivalent of a Langevin thermostat. However, with dilute suspensions, the quadratic form of the thermal pulse spectra is modified with a damping coefficient to achieve the desired Langevin value. With the dense suspension system, the relaxation time is calculated from the non-linear differential equation, and the fluid properties were supported by the viscosity coefficient. A “smoothed” pulse is used for each time-step of the flow simulation to take care of the near-neighbor interactions of the adjacent particles. An approximate optimal thermostat is achieved when the number of extra pulses introduced within each time step is found to be nearly equal to the co-ordination number of each particle within the assembly. Furthermore, the ratio of the particle kinetic energy and the thermal energy imparted is found to be never quite equal to unity, as they both depend upon the finite values of the pulse duration and the relaxation time.
Polyhydroxybutyrate Production from Natural Gas in A Bubble Column Bioreactor: Simulation Using COMSOL
Authors: Moradi Mohsen , Rashedi Hamid , Mofradnia Soheil Rezazadeh , Khosravi-Darani Kianoush , Ashouri Reihaneh , Yazdian Fatemeh
Published: September 2019

In this study, the simulation of microorganism ability for the production of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) from natural gas (as a carbon source) was carried out. Based on the Taguchi algorithm, the optimum situations for PHB production from natural gas in the columnar bubble reactor with 30 cm length and 1.5 cm diameter at a temperature of 32 °C was evaluated. So, the volume ratio of air to methane of 50:50 was calculated. The simulation was carried out by COMSOL software with two-dimensional symmetric mode. Mass transfer, momentum, density-time, and density-place were investigated. The maximum production of biomass concentration reached was 1.63 g/L, which shows a 10% difference in contrast to the number of experimental results. Furthermore, the consequence of inlet gas rate on concentration and gas hold up was investigated Andres the simulation results were confirmed to experimental results with less than 20% error.
Utilizing the Combination of Binding Kinetics and Micro-Pharmacokinetics Link in Vitro α-Glucosidase Inhibition to in Vivo Target Occupancy
Authors: Wang Guopeng , Ji Yanhua , Li Xueyan , Wang Qian , Gong Hang , Wang Baoshun , Liu Yang , Pan Yanli
Published: September 2019

Many compounds with good inhibitory activity (i.e., high affinity) within in vitro experiments failed in vivo studies due to a lack of efficacy from limited target occupancy (TO) in the drug discovery process. Recently, it was found that rate constants of the formation and dissociation of the binary drug-target complex, rather than affinity, often govern in vivo efficacy. Therefore, the binding kinetics (BK) properties of compound-target interaction are emerging as a pivotal parameter. However, it is obvious that BK rate constants of the compound against target would not be directly linked to the in vivo TO unless the compound concentration in the target vicinity at any time point (TPK) can be evaluated. Here, we developed a novel simulation model to quantitate the dynamic change of target engagement over time in rat with a combined use of BK and TPK features of Epicatechin gallate (ECG) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the basis of α-glucosidase (AGH). Analysis of the results displayed that the percent of maximum AGH occupancies by the ECG were varied significantly from 48.9 to 95.3% and by the EGCG slightly from 96 to 99.8%; that the time course of above 70% engagement by ECG spanned a range from 0 to 0.64 h and by EGCG a range of 1.5 to 8.9 h in four different intestinal segments of the rat. It was clearly analyzed how each parameter in the simulation model effected on the in vivo the AGH engagement by ECG and EGCG. Our results provide a novel approach for assessing the potential inhibitory activity of the compounds against AGH.
Observations on Solitary Versus Multiple Isolated Pancreatic Metastases of Renal Cell Carcinoma: Another Indication of a Seed and Soil Mechanism?
Authors: Sellner Franz
Published: September 2019

Isolated pancreas metastases are a rare type of metastasis of renal cell carcinoma, characterized by the presence of pancreatic metastases, while all other organs remain unaffected. In a previous study, we determined arguments from the literature which (a) indicate a systemic–haematogenic metastasis route (uniform distribution of the metastases across the pancreas and independence of the metastatic localization in the pancreas of the side of the renal carcinoma); and (b) postulate a high impact of a seed and soil mechanism (SSM) on isolated pancreatic metastasis of renal cell carcinoma (isPM) as an explanation for exclusive pancreatic metastases, despite a systemic haematogenous tumor cell embolization. The objective of the study presented was to search for further arguments in favor of an SSM with isPM. For that purpose, the factor’s histology, grading, and singular/multiple pancreas metastases were analyzed on the basis of 814 observations published up to 2018. While histology and grading allowed for no conclusions regarding the importance of an SSM, the comparison of singular/multiple pancreas metastases produced arguments in favor of an SSM: 1. The multiple pancreas metastases observed in 38.1% prove that multiple tumor cell embolisms occur with isPM, the exclusive “maturation” of which in the pancreas requires an SSM; 2. The survival rates (SVR), which are consistent with singular and multiple pancreas metastases (despite the higher total tumor load with the latter), prove that the metastasized tumor cells are not able to survive in all other organs because of an SSM, which results in identical SVR when the pancreatic foci are treated adequately.
BRAF Mutations Classes I, II, and III in NSCLC Patients Included in the SLLIP Trial: The Need for a New Pre-Clinical Treatment Rationale
Authors: Bracht Jillian Wilhelmina Paulina , Karachaliou Niki , Bivona Trever , Lanman Richard B. , Faull Iris , Nagy Rebecca J. , Drozdowskyj Ana , Berenguer Jordi , Fernandez-Bruno Manuel , Molina-Vila Miguel Angel , Rosell Rafael
Published: September 2019

BRAF V600 mutations have been found in 1–2% of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatment of dabrafenib plus trametinib and progression free survival (PFS) of 10.9 months. However, 50–80% of BRAF mutations in lung cancer are non-V600, and can be class II, with intermediate to high kinase activity and RAS independence, or class III, with impaired kinase activity, upstream signaling dependence, and consequently, sensitivity to receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitors. Plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) of 185 newly diagnosed advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients (Spanish Lung Liquid versus Invasive Biopsy Program, SLLIP, NCT03248089) was examined for BRAF and other alterations with a targeted cfDNA next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay (Guardant360®, Guardant Health Inc., CA, USA), and results were correlated with patient outcome. Cell viability with single or combined RAF, MEK, and SHP2 inhibitors was assessed in cell lines with BRAF class I, II, and III mutations. Out of 185 patients, 22 had BRAF alterations (12%) of which seven patients harbored amplifications (32%) and 17 had BRAF mutations (77%). Of the BRAF mutations, four out of 22 (18%) were V600E and 18/22 (82%) were non-V600. In vitro results confirmed sensitivity of class III and resistance of class I and II BRAF mutations, and BRAF wild type cells to SHP2 inhibition. Concomitant MEK or RAF and SHP2 inhibition showed synergistic effects, especially in the class III BRAF-mutant cell line. Our study indicates that the class of the BRAF mutation may have clinical implications and therefore should be defined in the clinical practice and used to guide therapeutic decisions.
Expression of FGF8, FGF18, and FGFR4 in Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinomas
Authors: Jomrich Gerd , Hudec Xenia , Harpain Felix , Winkler Daniel , Timelthaler Gerald , Mohr Thomas , Marian Brigitte , Schoppmann Sebastian F.
Published: September 2019

Even though distinctive advances in the field of esophageal cancer therapy have occurred over the last few years, patients’ survival rates remain poor. FGF8, FGF18, and FGFR4 have been identified as promising biomarkers in a number of cancers; however no data exist on expression of FGF8, FGF18, and FGFR4 in adenocarcinomas of the esophago-gastric junction (AEG). A preliminary analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database on FGF8, FGF18, and FGFR4 mRNA expression data of patients with AEG was performed. Furthermore, protein levels of FGF8, FGF18, and FGFR4 in diagnostic biopsies and post-operative specimens in neoadjuvantly treated and primarily resected patients using immunohistochemistry were investigated. A total of 242 patients was analyzed in this study: 87 patients were investigated in the TCGA data set analysis and 155 patients in the analysis of protein expression using immunohistochemistry. High protein levels of FGF8, FGF18, and FGFR4 were detected in 94 (60.7%), 49 (31.6%) and 84 (54.2%) patients, respectively. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models revealed that high expression of FGF8 was an independent prognostic factor for diminished overall survival for all patients and for neoadjuvantly treated patients. By contrast, FGF18 overexpression was significantly associated with longer survival rates in neoadjuvantly treated patients. In addition, FGF8 protein level correlated with Mandard regression due to neoadjuvant therapy, indicating potential as a predictive marker. In summary, FGF8 and FGF18 are promising candidates for prognostic factors in adenocarcinomas of the esophago-gastric junction and new potential targets for new anti-cancer therapies.
Interannual Variation of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities at Long-Term Monitoring Sites Impacted by Human Activities: Implications for Bioassessment
Authors: Idígoras Chaumel Almudena L. , Armanini David G. , Schwindt John A. , Yates Adam G.
Published: September 2019

Bioassessment assumes that ecological conditions remain stable in the absence of environmental changes. Evidence suggests this assumption may hold for reference streams, but knowledge gaps remain for impacted streams. Our study quantified interannual variation of benthic macroinvertebrate communities, monitored for at least 14 years in eight impacted streams in the Upper Thames River watershed in Ontario, Canada. Benthic communities exhibited moderate interannual variation in relative abundance of EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) and Chironomidae taxa. Year-to-year changes were reflected in lower community persistence than that observed in studies of reference streams. In contrast, tolerance-based metrics showed minimal interannual variation, suggesting compositional changes were because of taxonomic substitutions, in which one tolerant taxon replaced another. Analyses indicated limited directionality in temporal variation for most bioassessment metrics. An exception was taxa richness, which increased at most sites, possibly because of changes in subsampling. However, no associations between calculated bioassessment metrics and measured environmental factors (stream flow and water chemistry) or sampling procedures were observed. We conclude interannual variation in ecological conditions can be substantial and may not be associated with deterministic factors routinely measured in stream assessments. We recommend increased sampling frequency and traits-based assessment as options for limiting effects of interannual variation on assessment results.
Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes—Progress and Perspectives
Authors: Grigorescu Elena-Daniela , Lacatusu Cristina-Mihaela , Floria Mariana , Mihai Bogdan-Mircea , Cretu Ioana , Sorodoc Laurentiu
Published: September 2019

In-depth understanding of early cardiovascular manifestations in diabetes is high on international research and prevention agendas given that cardiovascular events are the leading cause of death for diabetic patients. Our aim was to review recent developments in the echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) as a telltale pre-clinical disturbance preceding diabetic cardiomyopathy. We analyzed papers in which patients had been comprehensively assessed echocardiographically according to the latest LVDD guidelines (2016), and those affording comparisons with previous, widely used recommendations (2009). We found that the updated algorithm for LVDD is more effective in predicting adverse cardiovascular events in patients with established LVDD, and less specific in grading other patients (labelled “indeterminate”). This may prove instrumental for recruiting “indeterminate” LVDD cases among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in future screening programs. As an interesting consideration, the elevated values of the index E/e’ can point to early diastolic impairment, foretelling diabetic cardiomyopathy. Identifying subclinical signs early makes clinical sense, but the complex nature of T2DM calls for further research. Specifically, longitudinal studies on rigorously selected cohorts of diabetic patients are needed to better understand and predict the subtle, slow onset of cardiac manifestations with T2DM as a complicating backdrop.
An Empirical Investigation of Foreign Financial Assistance Inflows and Its Fungibility Analyses: Evidence from Bangladesh
Authors: Murshed Muntasir
Published: September 2019

The external financing of fiscal deficit is key to bridging public revenue shortfalls within developing economies. However, the public expenditure responses to the incoming foreign financial assistances, as documented in the existing literature, depict ambiguity with respect to the nature of the assistances. Against this milieu, this paper attempts to perform a comprehensive analysis of the dynamics adhering to the foreign financial inflows–government expenditure nexus in Bangladesh tapping annual data from 1985 to 2017. The vector error-correction model approach to short and long-run correlations and causality analyses, variance decomposition technique, and impulse response function exercises comprise the econometric methodologies considered in this paper. In a nutshell, the results from the analyses indicate toward foreign financial inflows crowding out public investments, and reducing the tax and non-tax efforts of the government, while diminishing the amount of local public borrowings in Bangladesh. Conversely, financial assistances in the form of concessional loans and those originating from multilateral sources are found to enhance government expenditure, while the foreign aids intended for the health sector are found to be fungible in nature. Thus, these contrasting findings are expected to generate crucial policy implications with regard to structuring appropriate public policies.
R-MetaboList 2: A Flexible Tool for Metabolite Annotation from High-Resolution Data-Independent Acquisition Mass Spectrometry Analysis
Authors: Peris-Díaz Manuel D. , Sweeney Shannon R. , Rodak Olga , Sentandreu Enrique , Tiziani Stefano
Published: September 2019

Technological advancements have permitted the development of innovative multiplexing strategies for data independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry (MS). Software solutions and extensive compound libraries facilitate the efficient analysis of MS1 data, regardless of the analytical platform. However, the development of comparable tools for DIA data analysis has significantly lagged. This research introduces an update to the former MetaboList R package and a workflow for full-scan MS1 and MS/MS DIA processing of metabolomic data from multiplexed liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) experiments. When compared to the former version, new functions have been added to address isolated MS1 and MS/MS workflows, processing of MS/MS data from stepped collision energies, performance scoring of metabolite annotations, and batch job analysis were incorporated into the update. The flexibility and efficiency of this strategy were assessed through the study of the metabolite profiles of human urine, leukemia cell culture, and medium samples analyzed by either liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight (q-TOF) or quadrupole orbital (q-Orbitrap) instruments. This open-source alternative was designed to promote global metabolomic strategies based on recursive retrospective research of multiplexed DIA analysis.
Nanomaterials as Delivery Vehicles and Components of New Strategies to Combat Bacterial Infections: Advantages and Limitations
Authors: Naskar Atanu , Kim Kwang-sun
Published: September 2019

Life-threatening bacterial infections have been well-controlled by antibiotic therapies and this approach has greatly improved the health and lifespan of human beings. However, the rapid and worldwide emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria has forced researchers to find alternative treatments for MDR infections as MDR bacteria can sometimes resist all the present day antibiotic therapies. In this respect, nanomaterials have emerged as innovative antimicrobial agents that can be a potential solution against MDR bacteria. The present review discusses the advantages of nanomaterials as potential medical means and carriers of antibacterial activity, the types of nanomaterials used for antibacterial agents, strategies to tackle toxicity of nanomaterials for clinical applications, and limitations which need extensive studies to overcome. The current progress of using different types of nanomaterials, including new emerging strategies for the single purpose of combating bacterial infections, is also discussed in detail.
Phase Relations in MAFSH System up to 21 GPa: Implications for Water Cycles in Martian Interior
Authors: Xu Chaowen , Inoue Toru
Published: September 2019

To elucidate the water cycles in iron-rich Mars, we investigated the phase relation of a water-undersaturated (2 wt.%) analog of Martian mantle in simplified MgO-Al2O3-FeO-SiO2-H2O (MAFSH) system between 15 and 21 GPa at 900–1500 °C using a multi-anvil apparatus. Results showed that phase E coexisting with wadsleyite or ringwoodite was at least stable at 15–16.5 GPa and below 1050 °C. Phase D coexisted with ringwoodite at pressures higher than 16.5 GPa and temperatures below 1100 °C. The transition pressure of the loop at the wadsleyite-ringwoodite boundary shifted towards lower pressure in an iron-rich system compared with a hydrous pyrolite model of the Earth. Some evidence indicates that water once existed on the Martian surface on ancient Mars. The water present in the hydrous crust might have been brought into the deep interior by the convecting mantle. Therefore, water might have been transported to the deep Martian interior by hydrous minerals, such as phase E and phase D, in cold subduction plates. Moreover, it might have been stored in wadsleyite or ringwoodite after those hydrous materials decomposed when the plates equilibrated thermally with the surrounding Martian mantle.
Path Mapping Approach for Network Function Virtualization Resource Allocation with Network Function Decomposition Support
Authors: Raddwan Basheer , AL-Wagih Khalil , Al-Baltah Ibrahim A. , Alrshah Mohamed A. , Al-Maqri Mohammed A.
Published: September 2019

Recently, Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software Defined Networking (SDN) have attracted many mobile operators. For the flexible deployment of Network Functions (NFs) in an NFV environment, NF decompositions and control/user plane separation have been introduced in the literature. That is to map traditional functions into their corresponding Virtual Network Functions (VNFs). This mapping requires the NFV Resource Allocation (NFV-RA) for multi-path service graphs with a high number of virtual nodes and links, which is a complex NP-hard problem that inherited its complexity from the Virtual Network Embedding (VNE). This paper proposes a new path mapping approach to solving the NFV-RA problem for decomposed Network Service Chains (NSCs). The proposed solution has symmetrically considered optimizing an average embedding cost with an enhancement on average execution time. The proposed approach has been compared to two other existing schemes using 6 and 16 scenarios of short and long simulation runs, respectively. The impact of the number of nodes, links and paths of the service requests on the proposed scheme has been studied by solving more than 122,000 service requests. The proposed Integer Linear Programming (ILP) and heuristic schemes have reduced the execution time up to 39.58% and 6.42% compared to existing ILP and heuristic schemes, respectively. Moreover, the proposed schemes have also reduced the average embedding cost and increased the profit for the service providers.
Abnormal Water Quality Monitoring Based on Visual Sensing of Three-Dimensional Motion Behavior of Fish
Authors: Cheng Shuhong , Zhao Kaopeng , Zhang Dianfan
Published: September 2019

In the context of the problem of water pollution, the movement characteristics and patterns of fish under normal water quality and abnormal water quality are clearly different. This paper proposes a biological water quality monitoring method combining three-dimensional motion trajectory synthesis and integrated learning. The videos of the fish movement are captured by two cameras, and the Kuhn-Munkres (KM) algorithm is used to match the target points of the fish body. The Kalman filter is used to update the current state and find the optimal tracking position as the tracking result. The Kernelized Correlation Filters (KCF) algorithm compensates the targets that are lost in the tracking process and collision or occlusion in the movement process, reducing the errors caused by illumination, occlusion and water surface fluctuation effectively. This algorithm can directly obtain the target motion trajectory, avoiding the re-extraction from the centroid point in the image sequence, which greatly improves the efficiency. In order to avoid the one-sidedness of the two-dimensional trajectory, the experiment combines the pixel coordinates of different perspectives into three-dimensional trajectory pixel coordinates, so as to provide a more authentic fish swimming trajectory. We then select a representative positive and negative sample data set; the number of data sets should have symmetry. The base classifier capable of identifying different water quality is obtained by training. Finally, support vector machine(SVM), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and pointnet based classifiers are combined into strong classifiers through integrated learning. The experimental results show that the integrated learning model can reflect the water quality effectively and accurately under the three-dimensional trajectory pixel coordinates of fish, and the recognition rate of water quality is above 95%.
Clinical and Virological Aspects of HBV Reactivation: A Focus on Acute Liver Failure
Authors: Anastasiou Olympia E. , Theissen Martin , Verheyen Jens , Bleekmann Barbara , Wedemeyer Heiner , Widera Marek , Ciesek Sandra
Published: September 2019

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in immunosuppressed patients can cause considerable morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study was to evaluate factors associated with acute liver failure (ALF) in HBV reactivation. Clinical, laboratory, and virological data of 87 patients with HBV reactivation were analyzed retrospectively. Teno torque virus (TTV) plasma loads were measured as a measure of immune competence. HBV genomes isolated from 47 patients were analyzed by next-generation sequencing. A functional analysis of identified HBsAg mutants was performed. In patients with ALF the diagnosis was significantly later confirmed than in the non-ALF group. Patients diagnosed during immunosuppression had a milder clinical course compared to later diagnosed patients (p = 0.018, OR = 4.17). TTV viral loads did not differ significantly between the two groups. The HBV genomes isolated from ALF patients had higher viral complexity. A mutation in C-region of HBsAg (L216*), was associated with reduced HBsAg production and secretion. Patients diagnosed with HBV reactivation during immunosuppression had a milder clinical course compared to patients diagnosed during immune reconstitution. ALF was associated with higher viral complexity. An HBsAg mutation (L216*) was found to be more frequent in ALF patients and was associated with reduced HBsAg production and secretion.
The Effect of Chironomid Larvae on Nitrogen Cycling and Microbial Communities in Soft Sediments
Authors: Samuiloviene Aurelija , Bartoli Marco , Bonaglia Stefano , Cardini Ulisse , Vybernaite-Lubiene Irma , Marzocchi Ugo , Petkuviene Jolita , Politi Tobia , Zaiko Anastasija , Zilius Mindaugas
Published: September 2019

The combination of biogeochemical methods and molecular techniques has the potential to uncover the black-box of the nitrogen (N) cycle in bioturbated sediments. Advanced biogeochemical methods allow the quantification of the process rates of different microbial processes, whereas molecular tools allow the analysis of microbial diversity (16S rRNA metabarcoding) and activity (marker genes and transcripts) in biogeochemical hot-spots such as the burrow wall or macrofauna guts. By combining biogeochemical and molecular techniques, we analyzed the role of tube-dwelling Chironomus plumosus (Insecta, Diptera) larvae on nitrification and nitrate reduction processes in a laboratory experiment with reconstructed sediments. We hypothesized that chironomid larvae stimulate these processes and host bacteria actively involved in N-cycling. Our results suggest that chironomid larvae significantly enhance the recycling of ammonium (80.5 ± 48.7 µmol m−2 h−1) and the production of dinitrogen (420.2 ± 21.4 µmol m−2 h−1) via coupled nitrification–denitrification and the consumption of water column nitrates. Besides creating oxygen microniches in ammonium-rich subsurface sediments via burrow digging and ventilation, chironomid larvae serve as hot-spots of microbial communities involved in N-cycling. The quantification of functional genes showed a significantly higher potential for microbial denitrification and nitrate ammonification in larvae as compared to surrounding sediments. Future studies may further scrutinize N transformation rates associated with intimate macrofaunal–bacteria associations.
Linear Attenuation as an Indicator for Safe Water
Authors: Mgbukwu M. U. , Christopher L. D. , Iseh A. J.
Published: September 2019

This study analyses the linear attenuation coefficient as an indicator for safe water, the study was carried out using various water samples from borehole, well and pond in two Local Government Areas namely, Jos North and Jos East areas of Plateau State, Nigeria. The samples were collected in a Perspex of volume 7cmX7cmX7cm and filled to a height of 3cm. Energy of 70kVp of X-ray was passed through the samples with an X-ray detector under the Perspex of water to get the different final X-ray doses. From the study the linear attenuation coefficient ranges from 0.2878cm-1-0.4270cm-1, 0.3074cm-1-0.4743cm-1, 0.3074cm-1-0.4743cm-1 for borehole, well and pond in that order. The study showed a strong correlation between the linear attenuation coefficient and turbidity, total hardness and density which follows a trend for different samples. The highest value of linear attenuation ranges from borehole, well, pond in that order. This study was able to get a value of linear attenuation coefficient for safe water which ranges from 0.40203cm-1-0.02414cm-1 which can be used to ascertain the quality of water.
Formación sociolingüística e intercultural para profesores de ELE en contexto de diversidad lingüística: un estudio de caso en la frontera Brasil-Bolivia
Authors: Ferreira Martins Viviane
Published: September 2019

Los contextos sociolingüísticamente complejos, como son las zonas de frontera con lenguas en contacto, demandan una enseñanza de lenguas acorde con sus especificidades. En este sentido, el estudio es una propuesta de formación docente de base sociolingüística e intercultural para los profesores de español como lengua extranjera (ELE) de la frontera de Brasil con Bolivia, en concreto la ciudad brasileña de Cáceres. Las lenguas en la zona, el portugués, el español, el portuñol y lenguas indígenas, ocupan posiciones jerárquicas que responden a las relaciones de desigualdad y prejuicios entre los individuos de diferentes orígenes étnicos o de diferentes nacionalidades. Las conclusiones, obtenidas, por una parte, mediante el diagnóstico de la situación sociolingüística, de las actitudes y de la presencia de las lenguas en el sistema educativo y, por otra parte, a partir del diagnóstico de la formación de base sociolingüística de los profesores de ELE, nos llevan a afirmar que la formación que proponemos puede ser un importante factor para el desarrollo de la interculturalidad y del plurilingüismo en la región y, además, puede servir como modelo para la enseñanza de lenguas extranjeras en otros contextos de diversidad lingüística.
La frontera como recurso: el bilingüismo portugués-español y el Proyecto de Escuelas Interculturales Bilingües de Frontera en el MERCOSUR (2005-2016)
Authors: Müller de Oliveira Gilvan , Morello Rosângela
Published: September 2019

La promoción del bilingüismo portugués-español constituye un campo estratégico para ampliar el uso de estas lenguas. Juntas, conforman una de las más grandes fonías del mundo, con más de 600 millones de hablantes, y comparten una larga historia de conexión, especialmente en las zonas fronterizas, y son en gran medida intercomprensibles. Este texto plantea una caracterización de este campo estratégico basado en las condiciones políticas y sociohistóricas que han marcado el Programa de Escuelas Interculturales Bilingües de Frontera (PEIBF) como una política de gestión del bilingüismo portugués-español. A partir del análisis de esta experiencia, discutiremos las posibilidades de fomentar políticas lingüísticas centradas en el bilingüismo en estas dos lenguas y su relación con las actuales perspectivas de valorización de las lenguas