bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Correlation between clinical hyperandrogenism, anthropometric, metabolic and endocrine parameters
Authors: Khan Ayesha , Karim Nasim , Ainuddin Jahan Ara , Faheem Muhammad Faisal
Published: August 2019

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between clinical hyperandrogenism-hirsutism assessed by modified Ferriman-Gallwey (F-G) score, anthropometric, metabolic and endocrine parameters among PCOS infertile women.

Methods: This observational study after approval of FRC & ERC of BUMDC was conducted from September 2018-March 2019. It included seventy women aged 20-40 years who presented in infertility clinic of a local Hospital in Karachi. After written informed consent participants were enrolled as per the inclusion criteria of the study and evaluated for cyclical pattern (oligomenorrhoea, amenorrhoea, polymenorrhea), physical (weight, height, BMI), anthropometric, (waist circumference, hip circumference, waist to hip ratio, hirsutism), metabolic (carbohydrate, lipid & protein) and endocrine parameters (serum FSH, LH, LH/FSH ratio, serum testosterone, prolactin and progesterone level). Hirsutism was assessed by visual method through modified F-G score and Pearson correlation was determined between hirsutism and other study parameters.

Results: A positive Pearson correlation is found between hirsutism and body weight, BMI, waist and hip circumference, waist to hip ratio (WHR), very low density lipoprotein, cholesterol, triglycerides and testosterone levels.

Conclusion: Hirsutism has correlation with anthropometric, metabolic and hyperandrgenic disorders in PCOS infertile women as assessed by modified F-G score.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.5.742

How to cite this:Khan A, Karim N, Ainuddin JA, Fahim MF. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Correlation between clinical hyperandrogenism, anthropometric, metabolic and endocrine parameters. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(5):1227-1232. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.5.742

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Gender based differences in clinical and Angiographic characteristics and outcomes of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) in Asian population
Authors: Altaf Afrasyab , Shah Hammad , Salahuddin Momin
Published: August 2019

Objective: There is very limited data about gender based differences in Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) in Asian population. This study was therefore aimed to ascertain gender based differences in clinical and angiographic characteristics and clinical outcomes in patient admitted with ACS.

Methods: This was a cross sectional, observational study including patients admitted with diagnosis of ACS. Patients were divided into two groups (Males and Females) and their clinical characteristics were noted. Gender based assessment was done following coronary angiography.

Results: A total of 386 patients were included, with 210 males and 176 females. Anterior wall myocardial infarction (AWMI) was present in 177(45.86%) patients. Mean age was 72.8±12.9 years in females and 66.8±11.2 years in males. Diabetes was present in 38.1% females and 31% males. Patients from rural population were 225(58.3%), while from urban 161(41.7%). Mean ejection fraction was 43.9±7.9% in women and 38.2±8.68% in males.

Conclusion: ACS was more common in males, rural population and AWMI was most common cause. Women were more elderly and had more adverse events as compared to males. Impaired renal dynamics were more commonly observed in males. Women were less aggressively treated with coronary interventions and radial approach was better tolerated regardless of gender.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.5.743

How to cite this:Altaf A, Shah H, Salahuddin M. Gender based differences in clinical and Angiographic characteristics and outcomes of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) in Asian population. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(5):1349-1354. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.5.743

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Human TP53 gene polymorphisms among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic hepatitis B in Kenya
Authors: Ochwoto Missiani , Oduma Colins O. , Oyugi Julius , Mwaengo Dufton , Ondigo Bartholomew N. , Kimotho James H. , Maiyo Alex K. , Nyangacha Ruth M. , Chesumbai Gladys , Songok Elijah
Published: August 2019

Background: Human TP53 is the gatekeeper for generation of human cells and is highly conserved. Any alteration/mutation to TP53 adversely affects the regulatory function of the protein, potentially resulting in cancer. This study investigated mutations in codons 7 and 249 of TP53, among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), Eldoret, Kenya.

Methods: In total, 33 HBV-positive patients attending MTRH hospital between September 2013 and July 2017 were purposely selected from medical records for the study; those with HCC were confirmed from the cancer registry. The patients were aged between 25-67 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.1:1. Blood samples were collected from the patients. DNA was extracted, amplified and sequenced using TP53 forward and reverse primers. Gene mutation detection and analysis was done on exons 4 and 7

Results:  Of the 33 patients, 75.8% were chronically infected with HBV and had HCC; the rest were HBsAg positive without HCC. Homozygous proline was prevalent (54.5%) at exon 4 codon 72, followed by heterozygous Arg/Pro (33.3%) and lastly homozygous Arg/Arg (12.1%,). Pro/Pro allele was frequent in HCC group while Arg/Arg allele was common in patients without HCC. There was no significant association between the HCC and codon polymorphisms (p=0.12).  In exon 7, codon 249, 24.2% of patients had an Arg-Ser mutation of which, 75.0% had HCC and 25.0% did not. There was no significant association between HCC patients and codon 249 mutation (p=0.15).

Conclusion: TP53 is a gene gate keeper, the mutations under study may dependently play a role in HCC development. This study did not find any association or clear mutational pattern between P53 mutations and HCC development. Therefore, TP53 mutation is a poor indicator for prognosis and a tumor’s biological behavior among HBV-positive subjects in Kenya.
Acute and chronic glycemic effects of aerobic training in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Delevatti Rodrigo Sudatti , Netto Nathalie , Heberle Isabel , Bracht Cláudia Gomes , Santiago Éder , Lisboa Salime Donida Chedid , Costa Rochelle Rocha , Hübner Alexandra , Fossati Marco , Kruel Luiz Fernando Martins
Published: August 2019

The aim of the present study was to analyze acute glycemic effects in different moments of an aerobic training, as well as to analyze the chronic effect of training, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). The participants performed 16 weeks of interval aerobic training with three weekly sessions. The main part of each session consisted of nine blocks of five minutes, in which four minutes consisted of stimulus between 85% and 95% of the anaerobic threshold heart rate (ATHR) and one minute consisted of recovery below 85% of the ATHR, totalizing 45 minutes. Capillary glucose was assessed before, immediately after and 30 minutes after the first and the last training sessions. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was assessed before and after the intervention. Paired t-test and Generalized Estimating Equations were performed for the analyses; α = 5%. The participants were seven individuals (four women) aged 59.60±6.69 years. In the first session, glucose values immediately after and 30 minutes after exercise were lower than pre-exercise values. On the other hand, in the last training session, only the glucose values immediately after exercise were lower than pre-exercise values. Analyzing the glycemic reductions, the first session presented a greater reduction immediately after (p = 0.042) and 30 minutes after exercise (p = 0.010). Regarding chronic glycemic effects, an increase (p = 0.010) in HbA1c levels was observed after training. It is concluded that, after 16 weeks of training without progression of duration and intensity, the exercise loses its acute glycemic effect, and may be even insufficient to reduce HbA1c levels.
UMA ANÁLISE DA TRANSMISSÃO DE VOLATILIDADE ENTRE MERCADO DOS EUA E AMÉRICA LATINA ATRAVÉS DE UMA MODELAGEM DCC-GARCH
Authors: Zanardini Daniel Ryba , Aiube Fernando Antônio De Lucena
Published: August 2019

Este estudo investiga as transmissões de volatilidades entre os índices Standard Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) dos Estados Unidos e os índices IBOVESPA, MERVAL, IGBVL e IPSA, representando a América Latina, com o intuito de observar se um mercado desenvolvido afeta os em desenvolvimento. Sendo assim, o índice S&P 500 que é considerado um índice de referência global, possui grande relevância para o sistema financeiro e é de grande importância o conhecimento das transmissões para outros índices. Com base em uma modelagem DCC-GARCH e uma amostragem de dados diários dos últimos 10 anos foi observado a existência de correlação entre os índices avaliados.Palavras-chave: DCC-GARCH; EGARCH; volatilidade; ações; índice; S&P 500; IBOVESPA;
Circulating Tumor Cells as a Prognostic Factor in Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The CIRCUTEC Prospective Study
Authors: Garrel Renaud , Mazel Martine , Perriard Françoise , Vinches Marie , Cayrefourcq Laure , Guigay Joël , Digue Laurence , Aubry Karine , Alfonsi Marc , Delord Jean-Pierre , Lallemant Benjamin , Even Caroline , Daurès Jean-Pierre , Landais Paul , Cupissol Didier , Alix-Panabières Catherine
Published: August 2019

BACKGROUND

This prospective multicenter study evaluated the prognostic value of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in relapsing nonoperable or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (rHNSCC) treated by chemotherapy and cetuximab.

METHODS

In 65 patients suitable for analyses, peripheral blood was taken at day 0 (D0) D7, and D21 of treatment for CTC detection by CellSearch®, EPISPOT, and flow cytometry (FCM). Progression-free survival (PFS) was assessed with the Kaplan–Meier method and compared with the log-rank test (P < 0.05).

RESULTS

At D0, CTCs were detected with EPISPOT, CellSearch, and FCM in 69% (45/65), 21% (12/58), and 11% (7/61) of patients, respectively. In the patients tested with all 3 methods, EPISPOT identified 92% (36/39), 92% (35/38), and 90% (25/28) of all positive samples at D0, D7, and D21, respectively. Median PFS time was significantly lower in (a) patients with increasing or stable CTC counts (36/54) from D0 to D7 with EPISPOTEGFR (3.9 vs 6.2 months; 95% CI, 5.0–6.9; P = 0.0103) and (b) patients with ≥1 CTC detected with EPISPOT or CellSearch® (37/51) (P = 0.0311), EPISPOT or FCM (38/54) (P = 0.0480), and CellSearch or FCM (11/51) (P = 0.0005) at D7.

CONCLUSIONS

CTCs can be detected before and during chemotherapy in patients with rHNSCC. D0–D7 CTC kinetics evaluated with EPISPOTEGFR are associated with the response to treatment. This study indicates that CTCs can be used as a real-time liquid biopsy to monitor the early response to chemotherapy in rHNSCC.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier

NCT02119559
A Avaliação da Atenção Primária: um olhar preliminar através do PCATool em Manaus, Amazonas
Authors: De Araújo Vieira Sá Lenice Ypiranga Benevides
Published: August 2019

Motivação:

Este artigo tem por objetivo avaliar os atributos da atenção primária à saúde sob a perspectiva dos usuários do sistema de saúde pública no município de Manaus (AM).

 

Método:

Realizou-se um estudo transversal, descritivo com uma população de 395 usuários cadastrados e atendidos pelas equipes da Estratégia Saúde da Família nas unidades básicas de saúde, os quais responderam com o uso do instrumento PCATool-Brasil (versão adultos) e a um questionário sociodemográfico.

 

Resultados:

Os atributos da acessibilidade, integralidade, orientação comunitária obtiveram médias de escores baixos. O Escore Geral, mensurado pela média do Escore Essencial e do Escore Derivado, superou o ponte de corte de 6,6. A média do Escore Essencial foi de 7,16.

 

Conclusões:

Os serviços e ações de saúde em Manaus de maneira geral possuem alto grau de orientação à Atenção Primária à Saúde, embora dois atributos essenciais e um atributo derivado possuam indicadores que necessitam ser melhorados.
Educação permanente em saúde e modelo assistencial: correlações no cotidiano do serviço na Atenção Primária a Saúde
Authors: Costa Campos Kátia Ferreira , Marques Rita De Cássia , Ceccim Ricardo Burg , Silva Kênia Lara
Published: August 2019

Motivação:

No Brasil, para a qualificação profissional em um modelo que atenda às necessidades de saúde dos usuários, fez-se uma aposta na Educação Permanente em Saúde (EPS). Pretendeu-se, a partir da análise do cotidiano de uma Unidade Básica de Saúde (UBS), responder quais as correlações da EPS com as mudanças no modelo assistencial. Nesse sentido, o objetivo geral foi analisar o cotidiano de serviço na UBS, identificando mudanças na atenção ao usuário, proporcionadas pela EPS.

 

Método:

O cenário foi uma unidade básica de saúde do município de Belo Horizonte. Os participantes foram os trabalhadores e os usuários da unidade. O referencial de análise foi a abordagem do cotidiano de Agnes Heller. Os dados foram submetidos à análise crítica de discurso. Foram realizadas 30 entrevistas em profundidade, 25 com trabalhadores e 05 com usuários, resultando num total de 22h de entrevistas.

 

Resultados:

Os resultados evidenciaram forças potenciais dos trabalhadores e usuários, para colaborar na mudança de modelo assistencial, revelando a busca pela centralidade dos usuários na coordenação da atenção à saúde e a priorização das tecnologias leves nas práticas de cuidado.

 

Conclusões:

Concluiu-se que são necessários mais investimentos nos processos de educação permanente em saúde e que o reconhecimento do cotidiano como espaço para reflexões e análises é capaz de provocar desacomodação e superação crítica, abrindo espaço para novas práticas sociais e de cuidado na Atenção Primária à Saúde.
Addressing the Cold Air Aloft Aviation Challenge with Satellite Sounding Observations
Authors: Weaver Gail M. , Smith Nadia , Berndt Emily B. , White Kristopher D. , Dostalek John F. , Zavodsky Bradley T.
Published: August 2019

At high latitudes in winter, the atmosphere at flight levels used by passenger and cargo aircraft can reach temperatures cold enough to restrict the flow of jet fuel from the fuel tanks to the engine, due either to water freezing in the fuel or the fuel itself freezing. Currently, aviation forecasters rely on a combination of aircraft reports, pilot reports, a sparse network of radiosondes, and global model fieldsfor identifying and characterizing Cold Air Aloft (CAA) events. More atmospheric data are needed to improve forecasts of CAA placement and timing, and satellite observations can help fill the gap. In particular, products derived from the NOAA-Unique Combined Atmospheric Processing System (NUCAPS) can be utilized by National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters to assist in the production of aviation hazard products. NUCAPS combines measurements from infrared and microwave sounding instruments on polar-orbiting satellites to retrieve atmospheric profiles of temperature and moisture in the high latitudes. NWS forecasters have real-time access to NUCAPS soundings via the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System-II (AWIPS-II). The Joint Polar Satellite System Sounding Applications Initiative created Gridded NUCAPS in order to view soundings as isobaric surfaces or vertical cross sections in AWIPS-II. The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) developed a web-based product for displaying satellite-derived CAA information. This paper describes how the AWIPS-II and CIRA displays of satellite sounding observations augment aviation forecasting activities in Alaska using two specific CAA cases from the 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 winter seasons.
Transcriptomic Signatures of Postnatal and Adult Intrinsically Photosensitive Ganglion Cells
Authors: Berg Daniel J. , Kartheiser Katherine , Leyrer Megan , Saali Alexandra , Berson David M.
Published: August 2019

Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) are rare mammalian photoreceptors essential for non-image-forming vision functions, such as circadian photoentrainment and the pupillary light reflex. They comprise multiple subtypes distinguishable by morphology, physiology, projections, and levels of expression of melanopsin (Opn4), their photopigment. The molecular programs that distinguish ipRGCs from other ganglion cells and ipRGC subtypes from one another remain elusive. Here, we present comprehensive gene expression profiles of early postnatal and adult mouse ipRGCs purified from two lines of reporter mice that mark different sets of ipRGC subtypes. We find dozens of novel genes highly enriched in ipRGCs. We reveal thatRasgrp1andTbx20are selectively expressed in subsets of ipRGCs, though these molecularly defined groups imperfectly match established ipRGC subtypes. We demonstrate that the ipRGCs regulating circadian photoentrainment are diverse at the molecular level. Our findings reveal unexpected complexity in gene expression patterns across mammalian ipRGC subtypes.
Sex Differences and Effects of Predictive Cues on Delayed Punishment Discounting
Authors: Liley Anna E. , Gabriel Daniel B. K. , Sable Helen J. , Simon Nicholas W.
Published: August 2019

The majority of the research studying punishment has focused on an aversive stimulus delivered immediately after an action. However, in real-world decision-making, negative consequences often occur long after a decision has been made. This can engender myopic decisions that fail to appropriately respond to consequences. Whereas discounting of delayed rewards has been well studied in both human and animal models, systematic discounting of delayed consequences remains largely unexplored. To address this gap in the literature, we developed the delayed punishment decision-making task. Rats chose between a small, single-pellet reinforcer and a large, three-pellet reinforcer accompanied by a mild foot shock. The shock was preceded by a delay, which systematically increased throughout the session (0, 4, 8, 12, 16 s). On average, rats discounted the negative value of delayed punishment, as indicated by increased choice of the large, punished reward as the delay preceding the shock lengthened. Female rats discounted delayed punishment less than males, and this behavior was not influenced by estrous cycling. The addition of a cue light significantly decreased the undervaluation of delayed consequences for both sexes. Finally, there was no correlation between the discounting of delayed punishments and a traditional reward delay discounting task for either sex. These data indicate that the ability of punishment to regulate decision-making is attenuated when punishment occurs later in time. This task provides an avenue for exploration of the neural circuitry underlying the devaluation of delayed punishment and may assist in developing treatments for substance use disorders.
International Students as Skilled Labor Migrants for Korean SMEs
Authors: Moon Rennie J.
Published: August 2019

This study examines international students in Korea as skilled labor migrants, specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises. It suggests that strengthening the study–work pathway as in other advanced countries represents a viable, future-oriented strategy in addressing the complications associated with hiring foreigners from abroad.
Prognostic usefulness of ACTH in the postoperative period of Cushing’s disease
Authors: Abellán-Galiana Pablo , Fajardo-Montañana Carmen , Riesgo-Suárez Pedro , Pérez-Bermejo Marcelino , Ríos-Pérez Celia , Gómez-Vela José
Published: August 2019

Objectives

To analyze the usefulness of plasma ACTH in predicting CD remission after surgery and to evaluate the prognostic usefulness of ACTH measurement after the cortisol and ACTH nadir (48 h prior to discharge).

Design

A prospective study was made of 65 patients with CD operated upon between 2005 and 2016.

Methods

Postsurgery plasma ACTH and cortisol were measured every 6 h, in the absence of corticosteroid coverage. Hydrocortisone was started in the presence of adrenal insufficiency or cortisol <55.2 nmol/L. Plasma ACTH was again determined before discharge.

Main outcome measure

Usefulness of plasma ACTH in predicting CD remission.

Results

Remission at 3 months of CD was achieved in 56 of 65 cases, with late recurrence in 18 of 58 cases. Following resection, the ACTH nadir was significantly lower referred to late remission (2.8 vs 6.5 pmol/L; P = 0.031) and higher for recurrence (2.1 vs 4.8 pmol/L; P < 0.001), and identical results were obtained for the ACTH values before discharge. In the analysis of the ROC curves, nadir and before discharge ACTH values <1.9 pmol/L and <2.6 pmol/L were respectively indicative of early remission (AUC 0.827; P < 0.001); <6.2 pmol/L of remission at 3 months (AUC 0.847; P = 0.001) and >3.2 pmol/L of recurrence (AUC 0.810; P < 0.001) in both ACTH values. A time to ACTH nadir <46 h was indicative of early remission (AUC 0.751; P = 0.001), while a time >39 h was indicative of recurrence (AUC 0.773; P = 0.001).

Conclusions

We propose an ACTH value <3.3 pmol/L as a good long-term prognostic marker in the postoperative period of CD. Reaching the ACTH nadir in less time is associated to a lesser recurrence rate.
Simvastatin downregulates adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and orbital fibroblasts from Graves’ ophthalmopathy patients
Authors: Shahida B , Johnson P Sahlstrand , Jain R , Brorson H , Åsman P , Lantz M , Planck T
Published: August 2019

Background

Smoking is a strong risk factor for the development of Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO). Immediate early genes (IEGs) are overexpressed in patients with active GO compared to healthy controls. The aim of this study was to study the effects of tobacco smoking and simvastatin on preadipocytes and orbital fibroblasts (OFs) in the adipogenic process.

Methods

Cigarette smoke extract (CSE) was generated by a validated pump system. Mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes or OFs were exposed to 10% CSE with or without simvastatin. Gene expression was studied in preadipocytes and OFs exposed to CSE with or without simvastatin and compared to unexposed cells or cells treated with a differentiation cocktail.

Results

In 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, Cyr61, Ptgs2, Egr1 and Zfp36 expression levels were two-fold higher in cells exposed to CSE than in unexposed cells. Simvastatin downregulated the expression of these genes (1.6-fold, 5.5-fold, 3.3-fold, 1.4-fold, respectively). CSE alone could not stimulate preadipocytes to differentiate. Scd1, Ppar-γ and adipogenesis were downregulated in simvastatin-treated preadipocytes compared to nontreated preadipocytes 18-, 35- and 1.7-fold, respectively. In OFs, similar effects of CSE were seen on the expression of CYR61 (1.4-fold) and PTGS2 (3-fold). Simvastatin downregulated adipogenesis, PPAR-γ (2-fold) and SCD (27-fold) expression in OFs.

Conclusion

CSE upregulated early adipogenic genes in both mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and human OFs but did not by itself induce adipogenesis. Simvastatin inhibited the expression of both early and late adipogenic genes and adipogenesis in preadipocytes and human OFs. The effect of simvastatin should be investigated in a clinical trial of patients with GO.
Direct effects of the light environment on daily neuroendocrine control
Authors: Paul Sarika , Brown Timothy M
Published: August 2019

Endocrine systems function as key mediators of adaptive responses to the external environment. As a reliable predictor of many salient variations in the external world, the light environment thus constitutes an influential source of control over neuroendocrine function. Accordingly, the vast majority of endocrine systems display 24-h variations in activity that are aligned to daily changes in external illumination. While the neural mechanisms responsible for driving these rhythms are still incompletely understood, circadian and light-dependent signals relayed via the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus (SCN) play a key role. Retinal projections to the SCN provide information from rods, cones and melanopsin, which, together, encode variations in the amount and spectral content of ambient light over the solar day. This sensory input, in turn, drives acute modulations in SCN cellular activity and aligns daily rhythms in the electrophysiological output of individual clock neurons. Neural outputs from the SCN can therefore convey both rapid and longer-term information about the light environment to other hypothalamic nuclei responsible for neuroendocrine control. In this review we summarise current understanding of the specific neural pathways by which the light environment influences key neuroendocrine axes, with a particular focus on the retinal and SCN-dependent circuits involved and their known sensory properties.
Best Prediction of the Additive Genomic Variance in Random-Effects Models
Authors: Schreck Nicholas , Piepho Hans-Peter , Schlather Martin
Published: August 2019

The additive genomic variance in linear models with random marker effects can be defined as a random variable that is in accordance with classical quantitative genetics theory. Common approaches to estimate the genomic variance in random-effects linear models based on genomic marker data can be regarded as estimating the unconditional (or prior) expectation of this random additive genomic variance, and result in a negligence of the contribution of linkage disequilibrium (LD). We introduce a novel best prediction (BP) approach for the additive genomic variance in both the current and the base population in the framework of genomic prediction using the genomic best linear unbiased prediction (gBLUP) method. The resulting best predictor is the conditional (or posterior) expectation of the additive genomic variance when using the additional information given by the phenotypic data, and is structurally in accordance with the genomic equivalent of the classical additive genetic variance in random-effects models. In particular, the best predictor includes the contribution of (marker) LD to the additive genomic variance and possibly fully eliminates the missing contribution of LD that is caused by the assumptions of statistical frameworks such as the random-effects model. We derive an empirical best predictor (eBP) and compare its performance with common approaches to estimate the additive genomic variance in random-effects models on commonly used genomic datasets.
Exponential synchronization for reaction-diffusion neural networks with mixed time-varying delays via periodically intermittent control
Authors: Gan Qintao , Zhang Hong , Dong Jun
Published: August 2019

This paper deals with the exponential synchronization problem for reaction-diffusion neural networks with mixed time-varying delays and stochastic disturbance. By using stochastic analysis approaches and constructing a novel Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, a periodically intermittent controller is first proposed to guarantee the exponential synchronization of reaction-diffusion neural networks with mixed time-varying delays and stochastic disturbance in terms of p-norm. The obtained synchronization results are easy to check and improve upon the existing ones. Particularly, the traditional assumptions on control width and time-varying delays are removed in this paper. This paper also presents two illustrative examples and uses simulated results of these examples to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Particle swarm optimization for linear support vector machines based classifier selection
Authors: Garšva Gintautas , Danėnas Paulius
Published: August 2019

Particle swarm optimization is a metaheuristic technique widely applied to solve various optimization problems as well as parameter selection problems for various classification techniques. This paper presents an approach for linear support vector machines classifier optimization combining its selection from a family of similar classifiers with parameter optimization. Experimental results indicate that proposed heuristics can help obtain competitive or even better results compared to similar techniques and approaches and can be used as a solver for various classification tasks.
Testing the epidemic change in nearly nonstationary autoregressive processes
Authors: Markevičiūtė Jurgita , Račkauskas Alfredas , Suquet Charles
Published: August 2019

Some tests for an epidemic type change in a first order nearly nonstationary autoregressive process are investigated. Limit distributions of the tests are found under no change. Consistencyis examined under short epidemics in the mean of innovations.
Identification of fast-changing signals by means of adaptive chaotic transformations
Authors: Berezowski Marek , Lawnik Marcin
Published: August 2019

The adaptive approach of strongly non-linear fast-changing signals identification is discussed. The approach is devised by adaptive sampling based on chaotic mapping “in yourself” of a signal. Presented sampling way may be utilized online in the automatic control of chemical reactor (throughout identification of concentrations and temperature oscillations in real-time), in medicine (throughout identification of ECG and EEG signals in real-time), etc. In this paper, we presented it to identify the Weierstrass function and ECG signal.
On the approximation of the set of trajectories of control system described by a Volterra integral equation
Authors: Huseyin Anar
Published: August 2019

In this paper, the set of trajectories of the control system described by a nonlinear Volterra integral equation is studied. It is assumed that the set of admissible control functions is the closed ball of the space Lp, p > 1, with radius µ and centered at the origin. It is shown that the sections of the set of trajectories can be approximated by the sections of trajectories, generated by the mixed constrained and Lipschitz continuous control functions, the Lipschitz constant of which is bounded.
Positive solutions to a class of random operator equations and applications to stochastic integral equations
Authors: Jleli Mohamed , Samet Bessem
Published: August 2019

We study the existence of random positive solutions to a random operator equation on ordered Polish spaces. We apply the results obtained in this paper to study the existence of random positive solutions to some classes of stochastic integral equations.
Grid multi-wing butterfly chaotic attractors generated from a new 3-D quadratic autonomous system
Authors: Luo Xiaowen , Wang Chunhua , Wan Zhao
Published: August 2019

Due to the dynamic characteristics of the Lorenz system, multi-wing chaotic systems are still confined in the positive half-space and fail to break the threshold limit. In this paper, a new approach for generating complex grid multi-wing attractors that can break the threshold limit via a novel nonlinear modulating function is proposed from the firstly proposed double-wing chaotic system. The proposed method is different from that of classical multi-scroll chaotic attractors generated by odd-symmetric multi-segment linear functions from Chua system. The new system is autonomous and can generate various grid multi-wing butterfly chaotic attractors without requiring any external forcing, it also can produce grid multi-wing both on the xz-plane and yz-plane. Basic properties of the new system such as dissipation property, equilibrium, stability, the Lyapunov exponent spectrum and bifurcation diagram are introduced by numerical simulation, theoretical analysis and circuit experiment, which confirm that the multi-wing attractors chaotic system has more rich and complicated chaotic dynamics. Finally, a novel module-based unified circuit is designed which provides some principles and guidelines for future circuitry design and engineering application. The circuit experimental results are consistent with the numerical simulation results.
The Category of Generation in Polish Linguistic Studies (Current Status and Perspectives)
Authors: Ruszkowski Marek
Published: August 2019

In linguistic studies, a generation is understood as “a group of people who are more or less the same age (Dubisz red. 2003, t. 3: 298 )”. It is assumed that the linguistic memory, the knowledge of linguistic conventions, the ability to take notice of nuances in one's language is the only and unique cultural heritage that is difficult to learn and is passed from generation to generation, albeit with smaller or bigger modifications. Such modifications are the reason why the language is differentiated in generational terms, and it is the age that plays the principal role in that differentiation. Apart from the biological criterion, the geographic one, that is the area of a specific region, determinates the distinct features in the speech of generations. The analysis of differences in speech of generations allows determining the direction, nature, pace, mechanism of and reasons for linguistic changes. Generally, scientists focus on phonetic, lexical, and morphological differences shown in the language spoken by people from different generations.

In Poland, the studies of differences in the speech of generations are at an introductory stage. The reconnaissance of the research area has been carried out, and basic determinations have been made, but the scope of analysis seems to be too narrow. A research perspective would be to use the quantitative indicators that are showing now and will show in the future that the common sense assumptions about specific frequency ratios between parts of speech, an increase in complexity of utterances and their lexical wealth concurrent with age does not need to be corroborated by empirical research. It is also advisable to analyse the differences in speech of one generation, especially the medium-age or old-age generation, in terms of sex, education, living, and other possible parameters. It will give the answer to the question to what extent the speech of people from a specific generation is a linguistic monolith, and to what extent it is a collection of idiolects.
The Characteristics of Adjective Usage in the Language of Advertisements
Authors: Kamandulytė-Merfeldienė Laura , Nenartavičiūtė Skaistė
Published: August 2019

The objectives of the study were to identify the semantic groups of the adjectives incorporated into the advertisements and to discuss the relationship between the adjective usage and manipulation strategy of the advertisements. A total number of 400 advertisements (totally 853 adjectives) have been taken from the newspapers Kauno diena, 15 min, Vakaro žinios and magazines Žmonės, Psichologija tau, Panelė, Cosmopolitan, Autocar, and Keturi ratai.

The analysis revealed that most often the adjectives in the advertisements have the meanings of value, quality, and physical property. The general conclusion of this study is that advertisements in magazines are conveying information about gender differences through their language. The advertisers’ objective is to cater to women and men’s separate interests and their desires. The language used in male advertisements with fewer modifiers seems to be tougher and more  straightforward, while the language in female magazines is more colourful. The adjectives used in male advertisements are precise and concrete; whereas, for female viewers – hyperbolised. They usually emphasize emotions, feelings, and femininity.The analysis of adjectives in the advertisements has shown that advertising does not only form stereotypes and images, but as well reflect peculiarities of contemporary world, consumer behaviour, and their specific features.
Quantitative Reduction of Vowel Graph ‘a’ and ‘o’ Positioned after the Hard Consonants in the Speech of Native and Non-Native Russian Speakers in Lithuania
Authors: Balšaitytė Danutė , Kodzis Vitalijus
Published: August 2019

This article analyses the absolute duration (ms) of stressed Russian vowels /a/, /o/ (graphs: “a”, “o”) and their allophones in unstressed positions after the hard consonants in the pronunciation of native and non-native Russian speakers in Lithuania. The results of the conducted spectral analysis reveal the specificities of quantitative reduction in the speech of the Russian speakers in Lithuania and the Lithuanian speakers that are learning the Russian language. These specificities are influenced by the two phonetic systems interaction. The speakers of both languages by the realisation of “a” and “o” violates the relation of unstressed vowel duration that is peculiar to the contemporary Russian language: the post-stressed vowels in closed syllables are shorter than the pre-stressed vowels; the first pre-stressed syllable differs from the second pre-stressed and post-stressed syllables by a longer voice duration. Both Russians and Lithuanians pronounce vowels longer in post-stressed syllables than in the pre-stressed syllables. This corresponds to the qualitative reduction of the Lithuanian language vowels /a:/ and /o:/. There are certain differences between the pronunciation of qualitative vowels “a” and “o” reduction among the native and non-native Russian speakers in Lithuania. The Russian speakers in Lithuania pronounce the second pre-stressed vowel longer than the first pre-stressed vowel; this corresponds to the degree of reduction of pre-stressed vowels “a” and “o” in the standardised Russian language. These degrees of quantitative reduction in the Lithuanian pronunciation are peculiar only for “a” in the Russian language. According to the duration ratio, the unstressed allophones “a” and “o” in the Russian language are closer to the unstressed /a:/ and /o:/ in the Lithuanian language in the pronunciation of Russian-Lithuanian bilinguals than in the pronunciation Lithuanian speakers.
Focus Particles (Just, Even, And, etc.) in the Advertisements
Authors: Valančė Danguolė
Published: August 2019

The article has been prepared by carrying out the analysis of focus particles: just, even, and, etc. It is important to note that particles play a very important role in linguistic pragmatics: they convey additional meanings called the conventional implicatures, and in that way they strengthen their effect on the consumers. First, the article discusses slogans which were advertised in January – March 2014; then, it discusses how focus particles are used in these slogans, besides the attention which is drawn to the visual advertising and invitation design. The research of advertisements and slogans has approved the prior statement just partially, and for this reason two corpora of advertisement articles (from the fields of education and medicine) were formed. They were analysed separately and later on compared in order to find out whether the focus particles are used similarly in different discourse advertisements. The comparison of the data has disclosed that the focus particles are more commonly used in the original texts related to Lithuania’s education than in the medical advertisements, which are mostly translations used to inform about new medical tools or medical treatment innovations. The research has been carried out by applying the method of corpus linguistics.
Syntax of the Verbal Predicate in the Expressions like ‘Pierwszy i Drugi Zawodnik’
Authors: Zbróg Piotr
Published: August 2019

In the Polish language there are expressions like pierwszy i drugi, taki lub inny which consist of adjectives, numerals or pronouns constituting determiners of nouns (e.g. ten czy ów zawodnik). Some of these sequences are distributional equivalents of the compound subject owing to the reference and syntax. Such a sequence, like series subject, relates to at least two referents in the extralinguistic reality and allows the occurrence of ad formam and/or ad sensum adjustment of verbs, for example: Pierwszy i drugi zawodnik mają / ma dobry czas. The habit of adjusting the person form in the Polish language is often unstable.The article discusses chosen issues concerning features of structure and syntax requirements among the sequences which function in sentences similarly to nominal series in the function of a subject.Models of syntax adjustment of verb in various types of sequences in the modern Polish were created on the basis of quantitative and qualitative analyses. Such a formulation of the rule may be directly provided in the correctness publications which codify the modern linguistic norm.
Keeping Identity, Freedom, and Independence of Polish Exiles in Siberia in 19th Century (till 1914). Part II. Ideas on Freedom and Independence
Authors: Caban Wiesław
Published: August 2019

First Poles were sent to Siberia in the second half of the 18th century; then, after the fall of the November Uprising (1831), about ten thousand young Poles were deported to Siberia. More than twenty thousand people were exiled after the fall of the January Uprising (1863); whereas, the beginning of 1880s saw large deportation of those who were the members of socialist parties.The majority of deportees thought that the time in exile should be devoted to self-education and self-organization; therefore, the necessity to cultivate patriotic sentiments and Catholic religion was unquestionable. Some deportees were strongly convinced that it is not enough to cultivate Polish traditions to get ready for the economic development of Poland, once the independence is regained; thus, it was necessary to take immediate steps that would bring freedom.One of the best known cases of such thinking is the so called Omsk Conspiracy. In 1833, the deportees from the Omsk region came up with a plan for an uprising, another revolt against stardom was planned in 1866 in Transbaikal; however, both of those attempts failed.
Tracing the Roots of Cognitive Linguistics in Hermann Paul’s “Principles of the History of Language”
Authors: Romanova Tatyana V. V.
Published: August 2019

The paper examines the impact of Hermann Paul’s ideas on the development of anthropocentric cognitive linguistics in Russia and Europe. The anthropocentric and pragmatic approaches to the study of language, related, in particular, to the consideration of language as “the language of the individual” and a product of personal experience, were formulated by the German linguist Hermann Paul (1846-1921) in his Principles of the History of Language (1920). In this important work, Paul argues that language development is driven by subjective, psychological factors, acknowledging the Man’s central role in the learning process (anthropocentrism). Viewing Paul’s position from the vantage point of modern linguistics, the article seeks to establish the rightness of the cognitive school in linguistics, provides a brief overview of Paul’s key ideas and concludes that he anticipated and formulated the main principles of the cognitive approach to language, namely: language as a product of individual experience, the role of individual notions in forming a word’s meaning, analogy as a mechanism of language acquisition, metaphor as a mechanism of learning and the connection of language with other mental processes.
On Word ‘Fake’ and What Is Behind It
Authors: Luciński Kazimierz
Published: August 2019

The paper focuses on a loanword borrowed from the English language “fake” that became very popular in the Russian soil. The author shows the derivational abilities of a word leading to the formation of new words that belong to the other parts of speech: a verb “фейковать”, an adjective “фейковый”, a noun “фейковость”. Every part of speech is analysed on the basis of paradigmatic relations, in which the word is involved, along with its sociolinguistic characteristics such as the field of use and social strata to which the native speakers belong. The author does not limit himself to an ordinary linguistic description of this loanword and its sense-correlates; instead the author tries to present socio-cultural peculiarities of reality that made possible a wide use of this loanword borrowed from the English language.
Hedging as a Multifunctional Phenomenon of Research / Popular Research Articles
Authors: Nemickienė Živilė
Published: August 2019

The paper analyses the versatile usage of hedges in medical academic texts and compares the (sub)genre peculiarities of the scientific research articles (RA) and science popularization articles (PRA). While comparing the two subgenres, the generalized three factors of strategies and functions influencing hedging usage were discriminated, i.e., the expectations of the discourse community, intentions, and shared background knowledge. The comparative analysis of RA and PRA aims at investigating the use of the multifunctional hedging device, and at the end the corpus of nearly 90 000 words and 20 articles has been comprised as a research database. A normative use of hedges in academic texts is treated as appropriate nowadays. The research focuses on the analysis of hedging strategies and functions. It stretched the borders of one function and analyses hedging as a pragmatic, semantic, social, and cognitive phenomenon in the field of epistemic modality. The hedge is viewed from the semantic, pragmatic, cognitive, and social perspectives. This article reviews the role and legitimacy of hedging producing deliberate elusiveness in scientific texts, interprets the cases of hedge uses, infers their functions and meaning. It as well discusses the vector of movement direction from the “author-centred rhetoric” to the “object-centred rhetoric” and vice versa. Hedging is interpreted in the frame of epistemic modality.
Characterization of odour-active volatile compounds of acerola wine
Authors: Pino J.A. , Quijano-Célis C.E.
Published: August 2019

The volatile compounds of acerola wine were isolated by headspace–solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and analysed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O). The composition of acerola wine included 38 esters, 19 alcohols, 16 acids, 8 terpenes, 5 aldehydes, 5 ketones, 3 furans, and 8 miscellaneous compounds. The odour-active compounds were screened by application of the aroma extract dilution analysis and odour activity values. Nineteen odorants were considered as odour-active volatiles, from which methyl 2-methylbutanoate and 2-ethylhexan-1-ol were the most odour-active compounds.
PENGARUH KOMPETENSI TERHADAP KINERJA PEGAWAI PADA BIRO PEMERINTAHAN DAN KERJASAMA SEKRETARIAT DAERAH PROVINSI JAWA BARAT
Authors: Fauzi Akhmad
Published: August 2019

This research is motivated by the existence of a phenomenon that occurs in the Bureau of Government and Cooperation of the Regional Secretariat of West Java Province, which is an indication of the lack of optimal performance of employees. This is suspected to be a result of the lack of optimal employee competency. The method used in this study is Explanatory survey. This method does not only explain or describe empirical facts found in the field, but will also explain the effect analysis, both partially and simultaneously in this case the influence of Employee Competence on employee performance. The number of samples studied were 42 respondents. Data analysis and hypothesis testing in this study were carried out using path analysis testing. The results of this study indicate that simultaneously employee competency has a positive and significant effect on the performance of employees in the Government Bureau and Cooperation of the Regional Secretariat of West Java Province with a contribution of 60.4%, while the remaining 39.4% is influenced by other variables not examined
The Responsiveness of Demand Policies to Balance of Payments: Postwar Patterns
Authors: Girton Lance
Published: August 2019

Book Review
The McKinnon Portfolio Balance Model
Authors: Girton Lance
Published: August 2019

In his closing comments at the Chicago Conference of Monetary Problems of the International Economy Harry Johnson expressed the opinion that McKinnon's contribution to the conference was of fundamental importance and would have large impact on future work.