bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of New Sodium Vinyl Sulfonate-co-2-Acrylamido-2-methylpropane Sulfonic Acid Sodium Salt—Magnetite Cryogel Nanocomposites for Fast Methylene Blue Removal from Industrial Waste Water
Authors: Atta Ayman M. , Al-Hussain Sami A. , Al-Lohedan Hamad A. , Ezzat Abdelrahman O. , Tawfeek Ahmed M.
Published: September 2018

Inorganic nanoparticles based on magnetite improve the mechanical, thermal, and magnetic properties of microporous cryogel polymer composites. Here we report the synthesis of microporous cryogel based on the crosslinked sodium vinyl sulfonate (Na-VS) and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid sodium salt (Na-AMPS). The magnetite nanoparticles were inserted into Na-VS/Na-AMPS cryogel either during its crosslinking polymerization or by in-situ technique after its crosslinking.  The morphology, particle sizes, thermal stability and magnetite contents of Na-VS/Na-AMPS cryogel and its magnetite composites were investigated. The prepared Na-VS/Na-AMPS cryogel and its magnetite composites were used as adsorbents for methylene blue (MB) cationic dye using optimum conditions. The magnetite Na-VS/Na-AMPS cryogel composite prepared by in-situ technique achieved the best adsorption MB removal capacity for 7 cycles among the other adsorbents via chemical adsorption mechanism at room temperature.
Sessile droplets on deformable substrates
Authors: Ahmed Gulraiz , Koursari Nektaria , Trybala Anna , Starov Victor M.
Published: September 2018

Wetting of deformable substrates has gained significant interest over the past decade due to its extensive applications and uses. This interest has developed due to technological advances which are able to capture interfacial behavior taking place when a liquid droplet is placed on a deformable substrate. Researchers have developed different theories to explain processes taking place in the process of wetting of deformable/soft substrates. For the scope of this review, we will consider the fluid to be Newtonian, partially wetting, and surface forces are incorporated with the help of disjoining/conjoining pressure acting in the vicinity of the apparent, three-phase contact line. The following subjects are briefly reviewed: (i) Equilibrium of droplets on soft substrates. It is shown that properties of the disjoining/conjoining pressure isotherm and properties of the deformable substrate determine both the shape of the liquid droplet and deformation of the substrate; (ii) Equilibrium conditions of droplets on deformable substrates. It is shown that for a droplet to be at equilibrium on a deformable substrate under consideration, Jacobi’s sufficient condition is satisfied; (iii) Hysteresis of contact angle of sessile droplets on deformable substrates. It is shown that as the elasticity of the deformable substrate is increased, both advancing and receding contact angles are reduced.
The Impact of Training and Support Interventions on Small Businesses in the Expanded Public Works Programme – Pretoria Region
Authors: Dladla Lungisani G , Mutambara Emmanuel
Published: September 2018

Small business sector around the world is regarded as a catalyst of employment for the largest number of people. To reduce massive unemployment and inequality in the country, the Government of South Africa introduced various initiatives to stimulate and support small businesses, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is one of such initiatives. The enterprise development approach, is one of the delivery mechanisms of the EPWP, which seeks to transfer income to poor households in the short to medium-term. This study critically assess the impact and effectiveness of training and support interventions provided to small businesses through the EPWP. The study employs a quantitative research method and due to the size, availability and ease of access to the participants, the entire population of twenty (20) small businesses supported by the EPWP in Pretoria Region was sampled. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted. The study demonstrates that the training intervention provided through the EPWP is making positive impact and achieving its intended goals of enhancing business management skills to participants. It also reveals an interesting outcome that the majority of the participants are women. The study also identified some weaknesses in the programme which leads to the recommendation that long-term support mechanisms are essential to ensure sustainability of emerging enterprises.
Custo-efetividade do esquema com daratumumabe, bortezomibe e dexametasona em comparação com terapias à base de carfilzomibe, elotuzumabe e ixazomibe para o tratamento de mieloma múltiplo recidivado e refratário na perspectiva de um pagador do sistem
Authors: Fioratti Cyntia , Rosim Ricardo , Scaccabarozzi Luciana , Ribeiro Glaciano
Published: September 2018

Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo é estimar a razão de custo-efetividade incremental da combinação de daratumumabe, bortezomibe e dexametasona (DVd) em comparação com carfilzomibe com dexametasona (Kd); carfilzomibe, lenalidomida e dexametasona (KRd); elotuzumabe, lenalidomida e dexametasona (ERd); e ixazomibe, lenalidomida e dexametasona (IRd) no tratamento do mieloma múltiplo refratário ou recidivado (MMRR) sob a perspectiva de um pagador privado no Brasil. Métodos: Foi utilizado um modelo de transição com três estados, baseado no método de área sob a curva, para simular a trajetória de uma coorte com MMRR: pré-progressão, pós-progressão e morte. Parâmetros clínicos foram obtidos por meio de uma metanálise e os custos incluídos foram aquisição e administração de medicamentos e serviços médicos. O horizonte de tempo adotado foi de 30 anos e descontos de 5% foram aplicados tanto a custos quanto a desfechos de efetividade. Análise de sensibilidade probabilística foi realizada. Resultados: Demonstrou-se que o esquema terapêutico DVd é dominante sobre Kd, KRd, ERd e IRd. DVd gerou 1,09 ano de vida incremental versus Kd com economia de R$ 174.227; 0,15 ano de vida incremental com redução de R$ 238.324 em comparação com KRd; incremento de 0,06 ano de vida com redução de R$ 641.021 comparado com ERd; e 0,59 ano de vida incremental com economia de R$ 254.367 comparado com IRd. A análise de sensibilidade probabilística confirmou a consistência e a robustez do modelo e demonstrou que DVd tem probabilidades de 92,9%, 89,1%, 99,9% e 94,2% de ser custo-efetivo em comparação com Kd, KRd, ERd e IRd, respectivamente, assumindo um limiar de disposição a pagar de 3 PIB per capita. Conclusão: DVd demonstrou ser superior aos comparadores tanto em desfechos clínicos quanto econômicos no tratamento do MMRR, dados a maior sobrevida e os menores custos
Câncer de próstata com metástase óssea: impacto econômico para o Sistema de Saúde Suplementar brasileiro
Authors: Asano Enzo , Kim Hellen , Aguila Mariana , Navarro Sandra , Fernandes Roberta
Published: September 2018

Objetivo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o impacto de custo total do tratamento de câncer de próstata com metástase óssea na perspectiva do Sistema de Saúde Suplementar (SSS) brasileiro. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo de coorte conduzido de um banco de dados administrativos fornecidos pela empresa Orizon. A população consistiu em pacientes com registro de câncer de próstata com metástases ósseas, ou procedimentos relacionados, que foram registrados em entradas hospitalares ou ambulatoriais e receberam pelo menos um tipo de tratamento. A perspectiva da análise foi o SSS e o horizonte temporal, uma mediana de 181 dias. O desfecho primário foi o custo global, no qual foram contemplados gastos com exames, procedimentos, materiais e medicamentos. A partir do desfecho primário, foram calculados o custo por paciente, o número de atendimentos por paciente e o custo por atendimento. Adicionalmente foram analisados os custos relacionados aos diferentes subgrupos de tratamentos destinados à doença. Resultados: O custo global relacionado aos atendimentos foi de R$ 21.391.034 (n = 181), o custo médio resultou em R$ 118.183 por paciente, com média de 10,48 atendimentos por paciente e R$ 11.282 por atendimento. Pela análise isolada dos cenários, os custos nos ambientes hospitalar (R$ 11.452.496) e ambulatorial (R$ 9.938.537) demonstraram que houve mais gastos relacionados aos procedimentos hospitalares. Conclusões: O estudo demonstrou elevado impacto econômico de tratamento de câncer de próstata com metástases ósseas no SSS, devido principalmente a maior necessidade de quantidade de hospitalizações com mais tempo de permanência.
Associations between glucokinase and glucokinase regulatory protein gene polymorphisms and clinical parameters in pregnant women
Authors: Wieczorek Alicja , Safranow Krzysztof , Tarnowski Maciej , Pawlik Andrzej , Dziedziejko Violetta
Published: September 2018

ABSTRAKTWstęp: Ciąża wiąże się ze zmianami w metabolizmie węglowodanów, które mogą wywierać wpływ na noworodka. Podstawowym macierzyńskim czynnikiem środowiskowym, który reguluje wzrost płodu, jest dostarczanie substratu do łożyska, a glukoza jest głównym substratem energetycznym do wzrostu wewnątrzmacicznego. Podstawowym źródłem glukozy są węglowodany z diety. Glukokinaza (GCK) jest enzymem odpowiedzialnym za regulację wychwytu i magazynowania glukozy. Białko regulatorowe glukinazy (GCKR) moduluje glukokinazę, która katalizuje wątrobową fosforylację glukozy, prowadząc do syntezy glikogenu i triacylogliceroli.Celem badania była ocena związku między polimorfizmami GCK rs1799884 i GCKR rs780094 a parametrami klinicznymi u kobiet w ciąży.Materiały i metody: Do badania włączono 207 kobiet w ciąży z prawidłowymi wartościami doustnego testu tolerancji glukozy (OGTT). Przeanalizowano związek między badanymi polimorfizmami a parametrami klinicznymi takimi jak: masa ciała przed ciążą, masa ciała przy porodzie, wzrost masy ciała w czasie ciąży, wskaźnik masy ciała (BMI) przed ciążą, BMI przy porodzie, wzrost BMI w trakcie ciąży, czas trwania ciąży, masa ciała noworodka, wynik w skali APGAR i stężenia glukozy dla OGTT.Wyniki i wnioski: Nie stwierdzono zależności istotnych statystycznie między polimorfizmami GCK rs1799884 i GCKR rs780094 a badanymi parametrami klinicznymi, z wyjątkiem wyższego wzrostu BMI podczas ciąży u kobiet z genotypem CC GCK rs1799884.
The effects of ultrasound and shockwave treatment on muscle regional oxygen saturation using near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Lubkowska Anna , Radecka Aleksandra , Parchimowicz Miłosz , Bryczkowska Iwona , Chudecka Monika
Published: September 2018

ABSTRAKTWstęp: Terapeutyczne fale ciśnieniowe są często stosowane w leczeniu różnych schorzeń układu mięśniowo-szkieletowego, niemniej jednak efekt biologiczny ich odziaływania wciąż nie został w pełni poznany. W przedstawionych badaniach oceniono wpływ fal dźwiękowych o różnej sile bodźca stosowanych w terapii falą ultradźwiękową (ultrasound therapy – UST) i pozaustrojową radialną falą uderzeniową (radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy – rESWT) na wysycenie tlenem tkanki mięśniowej i temperaturę powierzchniową w kontekście potencjalnego efektu troficznego przy użyciu spektroskopii bliskiej podczerwieni (near-infrared spectroscopy).Materiały i metody: Badaniem objęto 41 zdrowych ochotników, w tym 27 poddanych UST i 14 rESWT, w wieku 22–48 lat. Pomiar saturacji tkankowej i temperatury powierzchni obszaru mięśnia podgrzebieniowego wykonano 4-krotnie: bezpośrednio przed (T0) i po (T1) oraz 15 (T2) i 30 min po aplikacji bodźca (T3). Saturacje mięśni zmierzono na 2 głębokościach: 20 mm (czujnik 1 – S1) i 12,5 mm (czujnik 2 – S2).Wyniki: Wartość regionalnej perfuzji tkankowej (rSO2 [%]) istotnie zmniejszyła się natychmiast oraz po 15 i 30 min od UST. Wartości początkowe, wynoszące 71,26 ±5,47% (S1) i 88,26 ±2,89% (S2) dla odpowiednich głębokości, znacząco spadły po bodźcowaniu odpowiednio do 68,89 ±5,26% (T2) i 68,93 ±5,12% (T3) na głębokości 20 mm i 86,63 ±5,37% (T1) i 86,52 ±3,38% (T2) na głębokości 12,5 mm.Wnioski: Uzyskane wyniki wskazują, że tylko leczenie za pomocą UST ma znaczący wpływ na zmiany oksymetrii regionalnej, co tłumaczy się ich działaniem przekrwiennym i termicznym w tkankach głębokich, które z kolei indukują dysocjacje tlenu z hemoglobiny do tkanek i efekt troficzny.
Program profilaktyki nadwagi i otyłości Odważna Ósemka jako element polityki zdrowotnej Szczecina
Authors: Kolwitz Marcin
Published: September 2018

ABSTRAKT Programy profilaktyki i promocji zdrowia są instrumentem polityki zdrowotnej realizowanej przez samorząd terytorialny. Polityka zdrowotna jest z kolei elementem polityki społecznej. Strategia Rozwiązywania Problemów Społecznych dla Gminy Miasto Szczecin na lata 2015–2020 jest kluczowym dokumentem określającym założenia polityki społecznej dla miasta Szczecina. Aktualnie realizowanym w Szczecinie programem jest „Przeciwdziałanie nadwadze i otyłości wśród dzieci w wieku 8 lat uczęszczających do szczecińskich szkół podstawowych”. Został on nazwany Programem Zapobiegania Otyłości – Odważna Ósemka. Odpowiada na zagrożenia zdrowotne pojawiające się w wieku przedszkolnym i wczesnoszkolnym – nadwagę i otyłość. Działania związane z programem Odważna Ósemka mają na celu wyodrębnienie populacji dotkniętej i zagrożonej problemem (badania przesiewowe) oraz zmianę zachowań zdrowotnych wśród dzieci (zmiana nawyków żywieniowych oraz promowanie aktywności fizycznej). Projekt programu został oceniony pozytywnie przez Agencję Oceny Technologii Medycznych i Taryfikacji i we wrześniu 2016 r. rozpoczęła się jego realizacja.
Świadomość kobiet w zakresie pobierania komórek macierzystych z krwi pępowinowej w kontekście danych socjodemograficznych
Authors: Branecka-Woźniak Dorota , Sawionek Klaudia , Stanisz Marta , Kurzawa Rafał , Ciepiela Przemysław , Jurczak Anna
Published: September 2018

ABSTRAKTWstęp: Pozytywne wyniki terapii eksperymentalnych z wykorzystaniem komórek macierzystych dają szansę na skuteczne leczenie w różnych obszarach medycyny. Najbardziej wartościowe i coraz częściej wykorzystywane w terapiach są komórki pozyskiwane z krwi pępowinowej, które mają przewagę nad komórkami pochodzącymi z pozostałych źródeł, ponieważ cechują się większymi zdolnościami regeneracyjnymi. Poziom wiedzy na ten temat wśród osób, które mogą stanowić bezpośrednie źródło ich pozyskiwania, pozostaje nieznany.Głównym celem pracy było pozyskanie wiedzy na temat świadomości kobiet w zakresie pobierania komórek macierzystych z krwi pępowinowej.Materiały i metody: Badaniem objęto 180 pacjentek Kliniki Położnictwa i Ginekologii Samodzielnego Publicznego Szpitala Klinicznego nr 2 Pomorskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Szczecinie w okresie od czerwca do listopada 2015 r. Wykorzystano autorski kwestionariusz zawierający 20 pytań. Analizę statystyczną wykonano w programie StatSoft Statistica 10. Wykorzystano: test Shapiro–Wilka, test U Manna–Whitneya, test niezależności χ2 Pearsona, współczynnik korelacji Spearmana. Za istotne statystycznie wyniki przyjęto wskaźnik p < 0,05.Wyniki: Wśród badanych kobiet 83,89% wiedziało o możliwości pobierania komórek macierzystych z krwi pępowinowej. Informacje na temat możliwości ich wykorzystania miało 65,56% osób. Kobiety, które zdecydowały się na pobranie krwi pępowinowej (88,10%), jako powód podawały przydatność komórek macierzystych w przyszłości. Przyczyną niepobierania były najczęściej względy finansowe (49,44%). Kobiety mieszkające w mieście, będące mężatkami, z wyższym wykształceniem i lepszą sytuacją materialną mają wyższy poziom wiedzy w zakresie komórek macierzystych.Wnioski: 1. Stan wiedzy ogólnej kobiet dotyczący komórek macierzystych jest zadowalający. 2. Czynnikami determinującymi poziom wiedzy na temat pobierania i wykorzystywania komórek macierzystych są: miejsce zamieszkania, stan cywilny, wykształcenie oraz sytuacja materialna. 3. Wysokie koszty związane z procedurą pobierania oraz przechowywania krwi pępowinowej wpływają negatywnie na podejmowanie decyzji o jej bankowaniu.
Poziom wiedzy z zakresu czynników ryzyka i profilaktyki raka piersi wśród studentek wrocławskich uczelni
Authors: Malicka Iwona , Jelecka Marta
Published: September 2018

ABSTRAKT Wstęp: Dotychczasowe badania wskazują, że mimo wielu kampanii informacyjnych na temat raka piersi wiedza kobiet w tym zakresie jest niewystarczająca lub niewykorzystywana w praktyce. Celem pracy była ocena wiedzy młodych kobiet (studentek) z zakresu czynników ryzyka i profilaktyki raka piersi. Materiały i metody: W badaniach uczestniczyło 320 studentek, respondentek z Akademii Wychowania Fizycznego we Wrocławiu (AWF), Politechniki Wrocławskiej, Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego oraz Uniwersytetu Medycznego im. Piastów Śląskich we Wrocławiu (UM). Narzędziem badawczym był kwestionariusz ankiety. Analiza uwzględniała miejsce zamieszkania oraz rodzaj uczelni. Wyniki: Miejsce zamieszkania nie wpływało na poziom wiedzy studentek w zakresie czynników ryzyka i profilaktyki raka piersi. Studentki w większości znały czynniki ryzyka raka piersi oraz jego objawy. Większą wiedzą w tym zakresie wykazały się studentki UM oraz AWF. Studentki z reguły nie miały wykonywanego badania piersi u lekarza, w większości nie dokonywały także samobadania piersi bądź robiły je nieregularnie. Najczęściej młode kobiety czerpały wiedzę na temat czynników ryzyka i profilaktyki raka piersi z mediów i prasy. Wnioski: Poziom wiedzy z zakresu czynników ryzyka i profilaktyki raka piersi wśród studentek wrocławskich uczelni można uznać za zadowalający, uzależniony był on jednak od wybranego kierunku studiów. Wiedza teoretyczna nie była wykorzystywana w praktyce. Niezależnie od profilu uczelni respondentki zgłosiły potrzebę prowadzenia kampanii na rzecz walki z rakiem w Polsce.
Właściwości prozdrowotne wybranych miodów
Authors: Bąkowska Milena , Janda Katarzyna
Published: September 2018

ABSTRAKTMiód należy do grupy produktów spożywczych naturalnego pochodzenia. Charakteryzuje się właściwościami odżywczymi i leczniczymi. Pod względem chemicznym zbudowany jest w 70–80% z cukrów, 10–20% z wody oraz wielu wartościowych składników: kwasów organicznych, protein, fenoli, aminokwasów, witamin i pierwiastków niezbędnych do prawidłowego funkcjonowania organizmu. Miód jest dobrym źródłem szybko przyswajalnych węglowodanów, głównie glukozy i fruktozy. Zasobny jest w enzymy: diastazę, inwertazę, katalazę, fosfatazę i oksydazę glikozową. Miody mają również właściwości antyoksydacyjne. Skład chemiczny i właściwości miodu uwarunkowane są jego rodzajem oraz czasem i miejscem zbioru.Miód pszczeli znajduje zastosowanie w wielu gałęziach przemysłu, m.in. fermentacyjnym, piekarniczym, cukierniczym, farmaceutycznym i kosmetycznym.Istotną rolę odgrywa w medycynie naturalnej. Szczególnie polecany jest dzieciom i osobom starszym, wyniszczonym chorobami lub nadmiernym wysiłkiem. Z uwagi na szereg walorów zdrowotnych i odżywczych miody cieszą się dużym uznaniem w profilaktyce i leczeniu wielu chorób. Celem pracy było omówienie prozdrowotnych właściwości najpopularniejszych miodów.
Use of methods of operational cost management in the planning and accounting organization at the enterprises in Ukraine
Authors: Pogorelov Yuriy , Kozachenko Ganna , Ovcharenko Ievgen , Illiashenko Olena
Published: September 2018

The efficiency of the use of methods of operational cost management at the enterprise depends on the consistency of functional methods. As a matter of actual practice, cost management at Ukrainian enterprises lacks such consistency causing managerial collision due to inconsistency of planning and actual data on the enterprise costs. The objective of the article is to resolve the mentioned managerial collision. There has been presented a criterion of consistency of functional cost management methods (identity of data about planning and actual costs of the enterprise according to the format, structure of the resulting data and period of their receipt). The consistency of functional methods – making it possible to deal with the issue of information communications in the enterprise management – is provided by reducing the methods of cost management at the enterprise, in the form of operationalization of concepts of methods of operational cost management in functional methods. With the objective of ensuring the consistency of functional methods of cost management, the article determines changes in the cost accounting, making it possible to provide the consistency of planning and actual data on the enterprise costs and to analyze them.
Synthesis and Antifungal Activities of Drimane-Amide Derivatives from Sclareol
Authors: Ma Miaofeng , Feng Jili , Wang Dezhi , Chen Shu-Wei , Xu Hui
Published: September 2018

Aim and Objective:

Plant diseases are caused by fungal pathogens lead to severe
economic losses in many agriculture crops. And the increasing resistance of many fungi to
commonly used antifungal agents necessitates the discovery and development of new fungicides. So
this study was focused on synthesizing novel skeleton compounds to effectively control plant
diseases.

Materials and Methods:

A series of drimane-amide derivatives were designed, synthesized by
aminolysis reaction of amine with intermediate sclareolide which was prepared from sclareol.
The structures of all the synthesized compounds were confirmed using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS
(ESI) spectroscopic data. Their in vitro antifungal activity were preliminarily evaluated by using
the mycelium growth rate method against five phytopathogenic fungi: Botrytis cinerea,
Glomerella cingulata, Alternaria alternate, Alternaria brassicae, and Fusarium
graminearum.

Results:

23 target compounds were successfully obtained in yields of 52-95%. Compounds
A2 and A3 displayed favorable inhibitory potency against B. cinerea, G. cingulata and A.
brassicae with IC50 values ranging from 3.18 to 10.48 µg/mL. These two compounds
displayed higher fungicidal activity than sclareol against all the tested phytopathogenic fungi,
and were more effective than the positive control thiabendazole against A. alternate and A.
brassicae. The structure-activity relationship studies of compounds A1-10 indicated that both the
position and type of substituent on the phenyl ring had significant effects on antifungal activity.

Conclusion:

The drimane-amide derivatives A2 and A3 were the most promising derivatives
and should be selected as new templates for the potential antifungal agents.
Controlled Release of Doxycycline by Magnetized Microporous MIL53(Fe); Focus on Magnetization and Drug Loading
Authors: Naeimi Shakiba , Faghihian Hossein
Published: September 2018

Background:

In this research, MIL-53(Fe) was magnetized and the performance of the magnetized
material as a drug delivery system for doxycycline was studied.

Objectives:

The experiments were designed to load the magnetic delivery compounds with different
amount of the drug.

Methods:

The in vitro release rate of doxycycline from magnetic MIL-53(Fe) with different drug content
into saline buffered fluid (SBF, pH=7.4) and phosphate buffered saline (PBS, pH=3) was then studied.

Results:

The results showed that the releasing process of the drug in PBS media achieved the equilibration
within 48h with 98% of releasing efficiency, while the releasing process in SBF media (pH=7.4)
was slower and the equilibrium was established within 264 h with the releasing efficiency of 95%. The
amount of the released doxycycline from the samples with different drug content was measured at
various time intervals.

Conclusion:

It was concluded that in PBS media after 75 h, 85, 95 and 98% of loaded doxycycline released,
respectively, from the sample containing 22, 32 and 35% of the drug. In SBF media, the release
was slower and after 350 h, 82, 91 and 95% of loaded doxycycline released from the samples, respectively,
containing 22, 32 and 35 % of the drug. The results of this study indicated that by use of drugreleasing
profile and selecting appropriate carrier dose, the released amount of the drug into the patient
body can be controlled.
A New Therapeutic Approach for Brain Delivery of Epigallocatechin Gallate: Development and Characterization Studies
Authors: Kaur Harjeet , Kumar Baldeep , Chakrabarti Amitava , Medhi Bikash , Modi Manish , Radotra Bishan Dass , Aggarwal Ritu , Sinha Vivek Ranjan
Published: September 2018

Background:

Blood-brain permeability is the primary concern when dealing with the biodistribution of drugs to the brain in neurological diseases.

Objective:

The purpose of the study is to develop the nanoformulation of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in order to improve its bioavailability and penetration into the brain.

Methods:

EGCG loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) have been developed using microemulsification method and pharmacological assessments were performed.

Results:

Surface morphology and micromeritics analysis showed the successful development of EGCG loaded solid lipid nanoparticles with an average size of 162.4 nm and spherical in shape. In vitro release studies indicated a consistent and slow drug release. Pharmacological evaluation of SLN-EGCG demonstrated a significant improvement in cerebral ischemia-induced memory impairment.

Conclusion:

The results indicate that the EGCG loaded SLNs provide a potential drug delivery system for improved delivery of EGCG to the brain, hence, enhancing its brain bioavailability.
Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells into Nucleus Pulposus Progenitor Cells for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration
Authors: Xia Kaishun , Gong Zhe , Zhu Jian , Yu Wei , Wang Yitian , Wang Junjie , Xu Ankai , Zhou Xiaopeng , Tao Huimin , Li Fangcai , Liang Chengzhen
Published: September 2018

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the world’s most common musculoskeletal diseases and is frequently associated with intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). While the main cause of IDD is commonly attributed to a reduced number of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, current treatment strategies (both surgical and more conservative) fail to replenish NP cells or reverse the pathology. Cell replacement therapies are an attractive alternative for treating IDD. However, injecting intervertebral disc (IVD) cells, chondrocytes, or mesenchymal stem cells into various animal models of IDD indicate that transplanted cells generally fail to survive and engraft into the avascular IVD niche. Whereas pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs), hold great potential for revolutionizing regenerative medicine, current protocols for differentiating these cells into NP-like cells are inadequate. Nucleus pulposus progenitor cells (NPPCs), which are derived from the embryonic notochord, can not only survive within the harsh hypoxic environment of the IVD, but they also efficiently differentiate into NP-like cells. Here we provide an overview of the latest progress in repairing degenerated IVDs using PSCs and NPPCs. We also discuss the molecular pathways by which PSCs differentiate into NPPCs in vitro and in vivo and propose a new, in vivo IDD therapy.
Off-line Chinese Signature Verification Using Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Hong Shao , Rongze Xu , Xiaopeng Guo , Wencheng Cui
Published: September 2018

Background:

The unique individual biological characteristics is used for identification in
biometrics, which is safe and difficult to forge. Therefore, it can help to enhance the safety of access
control system. Since the developing of modern information science and technology, computerbased
signature verification system enables signature verification more efficiently and automatically
in comparison with traditional human identification method.

Methods:

In order to improve the accuracy of Chinese signature verification, an off-line Chinese signature
verification method based on deep convolutional neural network is proposed. First, the machine
learning library Tensorflow is build, and the volunteers are invited to establish the offline Chinese
signature dataset. Second, the dataset is pre-processed, including denoising, binarization and size
normalization. Finally, three different CNN architectures (AlexNet, GoogleNet, VGGNet) are adopted
to implement the signature verification.

Results:

Experimental results show that the performance of AlexNet is better than that of the other
two convolutional neural network architectures, the accuracy of classification has been up to 99.77%,
and verification rate is 87.5%.

Conclusion:

Compared with the traditional offline Chinese signature recognition method, the method
based on the convolutional neural network Alex Net-f is better than other methods to some extent,
and avoids the complicated feature engineering.
Flare-Up Phenomenon of Intradermal Test with Anaphylactic Reaction to Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)
Authors: Rodríguez-Fernández Ana , Sánchez-Domínguez Marcos , Noguerado-Mellado Blanca , Rojas-Pérez-Ezquerra Patricia
Published: September 2018

Background:

Paracetamol is a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) that can
produce hypersensitive reactions mediated by specific immunological mechanisms (IgE or T celldependent)
or by a non-immunological mechanism (inhibition of cyclooxygenase COX-1).

Objective:

An 80-year-old man with a history of allergy to pyrazolones, with good tolerance to other
NSAIDs was referred to our allergy department because he presented a generalized urticaria after the
administration of Intravenous (IV) paracetamol.

Methods:

We performed an Intradermal Test (IDT) with paracetamol (0.02mg/ml) and later a Single
Blind Oral Challenge Test (SBOCT) with oral paracetamol.

Results:

IDT reading at 15min showed negative result so an SBOCT was performed with oral
paracetamol. With an accumulative dose of 250mg, after 20min, he developed discomfort, nausea and
dizziness, urticarial, hypotension (BP 80/40) as well as flare-up phenomenon was observed in the site
of the IDT with paracetamol. Tryptase levels during the reaction and 2hrs later were increased.

Conclusions:

We present an anaphylactic shock due to sensitization to paracetamol because of a type I
hypersensitivity mechanism, diagnosed by SBOCT and a positive IDT because of flare-up phenomenon,
in a patient with previous pyrazolones allergy and with tolerance to other NSAIDs. Some relevant
patents are also summarized in this paper.
La felicidad social: un deber hacia la felicidad intersubjetiva en el Chocó colombiano
Authors: Muñoz-Cardona Ángel-Emilio
Published: September 2018

Para la economía clásica, la felicidad general es entendida como el disfrute de la calidad de vida que tienen todos los habitantes de una nación o territorio. Por lo tanto, el objeto de la presente investigación es entender el concepto de “felicidad general” a través de un caso práctico en la ciudad afrodescendiente de Quibdó. Para lograrlo, la investigación desea conocer qué tan felices son los jóvenes universitarios y adolescentes de undécimo grado de la capital afrodescendiente en Colombia. Para tal efecto, se realizaron doscientos cincuenta cuestionarios, bajo el método de análisis multivariado, con un nivel de confianza del 95% y un margen de error del 5%. La investigación concluye la existencia de una felicidad subjetiva pero no social o intersubjetiva.
Boundary between Religion and Social Conflict —Perspective from the Civil Rights Movement
Authors: Li Qiong , Yang Jie
Published: September 2018

Based on the background of American civil rights movement in which religious factors participated, this study analyzes the function of religious factors in civil rights movement from the perspective of political participation and the principle of separation of politics and religion, in order to consider the research paradigm of the relationship between religion and social conflict. It is believed that religious participation is helpful to exert the positive force of social conflict, the right of religious freedom has, to a certain extent, become the “safety valve” of social stability, and the development of religion is the embodiment of social pluralism and symbiosis.
Interruption Elicits Laughter: Cooperative and Intrusive Interruptions in a Chinese Talk Show Host’s Conversation
Authors: Tao Yingnian
Published: September 2018

This study is designed to examine how the secondary/subordinate host under institutional obligations and restrictions employs the interruption mechanism to supplement the dominant host’s narrative and elicit an audience’s laughter. Ten episodes totaling 239 minutes of the popular Chinese TV talk show Jinxing Show were selected, focusing on the “monologue” narrative section in which the interruption mechanism is given its best play. The data encompass 288 interruption turns and 80 non-interruption turns. Conversation Analysis is used to analyse the type of interruptions and the relation between interruptions and laughter. It is found that interruptions adopted by the assistant host can be analysed according to two aspects: rapport and intrusion, with the former consisting of backchannel and progression, while the latter is characterized by tease, disagreement, and pick-up. Backchannel and pick-up scarcely produce laughter from the audience, while progression and disagreement result in around half of the interruption that embodies laughter, and tease causes the strongest reactions. It is also argued that the interruption-laughter correlation is determined by the role identification and institutional obligations, which are primarily aimed at complementing the storytelling of the dominant host and enliven the atmosphere in the studio. Through administering quantitative and qualitative analysis, this study is expected to develop studies of institutional interruption by displaying how the secondary characters in institutional contexts (talk shows) full of dominance and restrictions exert resistance (interruption), while also accomplishing institutional responsibilities. Helping the audience and viewers appreciate the discursive skills of the talk show hosts is also likely.
Prebisch, el Estado y la “debilidad del imprescindible”
Authors: Fernández Víctor Ramiro , Ormaechea Emilia
Published: September 2018

Partiendo de reconocer la centralidad del Estado en la propuesta de Raúl Prebisch, pero señalando, al mismo tiempo, los límites que ésta contenía para problematizar
la condición periférica de los Estados latinoamericanos, se analizan los cambios manifestados en relación con el rol del Estado para el desarrollo en la producción temprana del autor en la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (Cepal). Con el objeto de explicar aquellos cambios y de reconocer los fundamentos de esa condición periférica, se introducen elementos teórico-analíticos que reconocen las dinámicas conflictuales que históricamente actuaron sobre –y se retroalimentaban en– los Estados latinoamericanos, conformando determinadas estructuras y formas de implicación que les impidieron dirigir una estrategia de industrialización tal como lo planteó el estructuralismo en general, y Prebisch en particular.
Financiarización y desarrollo económico en la República Dominicana
Authors: Calvo Rosalía
Published: September 2018

En las últimas décadas las estructuras productivas y financieras de la República Dominicana han presentado características similares a las que muestra la región.
En el ámbito del sistema financiero se observan similitudes, en sintonía con los procesos de financiarización experimentados, no obstante, con ciertos rasgos distintivos. El análisis de las implicaciones de este proceso constituye un aspecto clave para entender el desarrollo del país, así como para formular políticas económicas eficaces que permitan alcanzar niveles de crecimiento sostenible.
Kedudukan Peraturan Mahkamah Agung Nomor 13 Tahun 2016 Dalam Mengatasi Kendala Penanggulangan Tindak Pidana Korporasi (The Role Of Regulation Of The Supreme Court Number 13 Year 2016 In Overcoming Obstacles Of Corporate Criminal Infringement)
Authors: Suhariyanto Budi
Published: September 2018

The prevention of corporate crime in Indonesia is constrained due to unclear management of corporate crime. In order to overcome the imperfection of such arrangements, the Supreme Court issued Supreme Court Regulation No.13 of 2016 on the Procedures for Corruption Case Handling by Corporations. There are questions that arise, what are the obstacles faced by Law Enforcement in an effort to overcome corporate crime and how the role of Perma No. 13 of 2016 in overcoming the obstacles to overcome the criminal act of the corporation? Normative legal research method is used to answer the problem. Normatively, from various laws governing the corruption of the subject of crime, there is no detailed formulation of corporate handling procedures so that law enforcers experience difficulties in conducting the criminal proceedings against the corporation. Article 79 of the Law on the Supreme Court provides the legal basis that if there is a legal deficiency in the course of the judiciary in any case, the Supreme Court has the authority to enact legislation to fill such shortcomings or vacancies. Perma No.13 of 2016 can be used as a guide for Law Enforcement to overcome technical obstacles of corporation criminal procedure law. Nevertheless, Perma has limitation so that required update of corporation criminal procedure in RKUHAP. AbstrakPenanggulangan tindak pidana korporasi di Indonesia mengalami kendala akibat tidak jelasnya pengaturan penanganan tindak pidana korporasi. Dalam rangka mengatasi ketidaksempurnaan pengaturan tersebut, Mahkamah Agung menerbitkan Peraturan Mahkamah Agung No.13 Tahun 2016 tentang Tata Cara Penanganan Perkara Tindak Pidana Oleh Korporasi. Ada pertanyaan yang mengemuka yaitu apa saja kendala yang dihadapi Penegak Hukum dalam upaya menanggulangi tindak pidana korporasi dan bagaimana peran Perma Nomor 13 Tahun 2016 dalam mengatasi kendala penanggulangan tindak pidana korporasi tersebut? Metode penelitian hukum normatif digunakan untuk menjawab permasalahan tersebut. Secara normatif, dari berbagai peraturan perundang-undangan yang mengatur korporasi subjek tindak pidana, tidak dirumuskan detail tata cara penanganan korporasi sehingga penegak hukum mengalami kendala dalam melakukan proses pemidanaan terhadap korporasi. Pasal 79 Undang-Undang tentang Mahkamah Agung memberikan dasar hukum bahwa apabila dalam jalannya peradilan terdapat kekurangan atau kekosongan hukum dalam suatu hal, Mahkamah Agung memiliki wewenang membuat peraturan untuk mengisi kekurangan atau kekosongan tersebut. Perma No. 13 Tahun 2016 dapat dijadikan pedoman bagi Penegak Hukum untuk mengatasi kendala teknis hukum acara pidana korporasi. Namun, Perma tersebut memiliki keterbatasan sehingga diperlukan pembaruan hukum acara pidana korporasi dalam RKUHAP.
Medicinal plants for the treatment of snakebites among the rural populations of Indian subcontinent: An indication from the traditional use To pharmacological confirmation
Authors: Ramaswamy Malathi , Duraikannu Sivakumar , Solaimuthu Chandrasekar
Published: September 2018

Snakebite is one of the important medical problems that affect the public health due to their high morbimortality. Most of the snake venoms produce intense lethal effects, which could lead to impermanent or permanent disability or in often death to the victims. The accessible specific treatment was using the antivenom serum separated from envenomed animals, whose efficiency is reduced against these lethal actions but it has a serious side effects. In this circumstance, this review aimed to provide an updated overview of herbal plants used popularly as antiophidic agents and discuss the main species with pharmacological studies supporting the uses, with prominence on plants inhibiting the lethal effects of snake envenomation amongst the rural tribal peoples of India. There are several reports of the accepted use of herbal plants against snakebites worldwide. In recent years, many studies have been published to giving pharmacological confirmation of benefits of several vegetal species against local effects induced by a broad range of snake venoms, including inhibitory potential against hyaluronidase, phospholipase, proteolytic, hemorrhagic, myotoxic, and edematogenic activities. In India, a variety of herbal plants are used to cure against the snakebites and other poisonous bites, used either in alone or in combination with other herbal agents. The present study was designed to formulate an attempt to bring together information on medicinal plants that are grown and used for snakebite treatment in India. From a variety of literature sources, data have been compiled with prominence on the plants, family, parts used, etc., depending on the availability of information.
XYLITOL ON DENTAL CARIES: A REVIEW
Authors: Gupta Jatin , Gupta Kanupriya
Published: September 2018

Xylitol is a pentahydroxy sugar-alcohol which exists in a very low quantity in fruits and vegetables (plums, strawberries, cauliflower, and pumpkin). On commercial scale, xylitol can be produced by chemical and biotechnological processes. Chemical production is costly and extensive in purification steps. The precursor xylose is produced from agricultural biomass by chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis and can be converted to xylitol primarily by yeast strain. Hydrolysis under acidic condition is the more commonly used practice influenced by various process parameters. Biotechnological xylitol production is an integral process of microbial species belonging to Candida genus which is influenced by various process parameters such as pH, temperature; time, nitrogen source, and yeast extract level. It is a functional sweetener as it has prebiotic effects which can reduce blood glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol level. Dental caries is an infectious microbiologic disease of the tooth that results in localized dissolution and destruction of calcified tissues. Xylitol has been shown to reduce dental caries when mixed with food, chewing gums and milk. Dental caries are prevalent in acidic pH where Streptoccocus mutans (MS) ferment resulting in demineralization of tooth, where as Streptococcus mutans cannot ferment xylitol thus it reduces MS by altering their metabolic pathway and enhance remineralization and helps arrest dentinal caries. Reduction in caries rate is greater, when xylitol is used as the sugar substitutes. This review discusses the taste acceptability of xylitol in milk as a step towards measuring the effectiveness for the reduction of dental caries.

Keywords: Xylitol, Carbohydrates, Caries, Remineralisation, Demineralization, Streptoccocus mutans
THE PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF AFRICAN NUTMEG (Myristica fragrans) IN BROMATE-INDUCED SPLEEN AND CARDIAC TISSUE TOXICITIES USING MALE WISTAR ALBINO RATS
Authors: Oseni Oatunde Abass , Olagboye Sulaiman Adeoye , Adams Olusegun Timothy , Maikasuwa Bamaiyi Sunday
Published: September 2018

This study was aimed at investigating the toxic effects of potassium bromate on the spleen and heart of Wistar albino rat and to evaluate the protective effects of aqueous extract of African nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) against potassium bromate induced toxicity in the two organs. Twenty-four (24) male wistar albino rats weighing between 180g and 200g were divided into four groups of six animals each. Group I animals were served with rat feed and water as the control group, group II were administered daily with 30mg/kg bw potassium bromate while groups III and IV animals were administered with 0.5mL of 20% and 40% aqueous extracts of nutmeg seed in addition with 30mg/kg body weight potassium bromate respectively for two weeks. The animals were kept at optimum temperature within a 12 hours light/dark cycle while the experiment lasted. Enzyme biomarkers such as Aspartate Transaminase, Alanine Transaminase, Alkaline Phosphatase; antioxidant enzymes such as, Superoxide dismutase, Catalase; reduced Glutathione; some lipid profiles like Cholesterol, Triglyceride and malondialdehyde were measured in the spleen and heart homogenates of the animals in all the groups. Results of this study showed that potassium bromate exerted significant (P < 0.05) toxic effects on the spleen and heart homogenates while the administration of aqueous extracts of African nutmeg seed caused a marked reversal in the toxicity in a dose dependent manner. However, the results of this study showed that aqueous extract of the seed of African nutmeg is a potential antioxidant against potassium bromate toxicity in the two organs.   

Keywords: Toxicity, Potassium bromate, Myristica fragrans, Cardiac tissue, Antioxidant
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES OF Polypodium vulgare Linn. : A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
Authors: Khan Afshan , Siddiqui Aisha , Jafri M.A , Asif Mohd
Published: September 2018

Polypodium vulgare Linn. commonly called as Bisfaij is a medicinal plant which is used in various ailments. It is one of the most archaic and essential plant, belonging to the family Polypodiaceae. It contains organic substances such as resin, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, protein, reducing sugar and inorganic substances like calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulphur, iron and chloride. It is used in Unani system of medicine for the treatment of sorethroat, stomach-aches, leprosy, melancholia, spleenomegaly, haemorrhoids, rheumatic swelling of the joints etc. Besides this, it has other pharmacological activities too such as antiepileptic, neuro-psychopharmacological, antipyretic, antibiotic, antiviral etc. This review paper discuses the medicinal values of Polypodium vulgare Linn. in Unani medicine as well as its modern pharmacology and gives a new impetus to utilize Bisfaij in various disorders.

Keywords: Bisfaij, Polypodium vulgare Linn, Phytopharmacology, Unani Medicine.
AYURVEDA PERSPECTIVE ON MOOTRASHMARI AND ITS MANAGEMENT: AN LITERATURE BASED REVIEW
Authors: Patel Diwakar , Kulshrestha Deepak
Published: September 2018

The formation of stone is one of the common problems of urinary system and as per modern science only few medicines are available for such condition along with surgery. It is second most common disease of urinary tract with high recurrence rate. The common symptoms of ureter culculi are pain, haematuria, burning micturiton, dysurea, tenderness and sometimes fever. Ayurveda described Mootrashmari as urinary calculus disease of Mutravaha Srotas and considered as Asthamahagada. Ayurveda described various treatment approaches for the management of disease; use of herbs, ayurveda formulation and Kshara, etc. this article presented summarative review on Mootrashmari.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Ashmari, Mutravaha Srotas, Mootrashmari
Ayurveda Literary Research Study on Some Important Aspects of Srotas
Authors: Chouhan Pradeep Kumar
Published: September 2018

The ancient medical science of India; Ayurveda considered Srotas as an important structural and functions entity of human body. The Hira, Antreshu, Gavinyau, Dhamani, Srotyah, Panth, Khani, Srawanti, Nadi and Dwar are considered as Srotas or they together form Srotas. Akashaa Mahabhut is mainly involves in the constitution of Srotas. Srotas play significant role in the circulation and transportation of various materials. Different studies have been conducted on Srotas, but still there is more to explore in this regards; considering this fact present investigation was planned to conduct more deep study related to ayurveda perspective of Srotas. The article presented critical study of Srotas with special reference to microcirculation in a view to explore all dimensions of micro channels. The study described various concepts related to nature, structure, functions and development of the Srotas.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Srotas, micro channels, transportation.