bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Analysis on Cultural Operation & Management for Catering
Authors: Jin Yongguang
Published: April 2018

The overall competence of the employed in the catering industry, whether in terms of service concept, knowledge or professional skills, lacks behind the development of the industry. Since the competition remains to be the theme of the market economy, how to establish an unassailable position in the growing market economy which values survival of the fittest is what has been long studied and discussed among catering enterprises. Although catering business belongs to traditional labor-intensive service industry, it is against the backdrop of "demographic dividend" being turned into "talents dividend" that the cultivation of catering talents becomes of great importance. Besides, the trend of branding will be even more intensifying and innovation will certainly serve as a significant approach to the improvement of competitiveness among catering enterprises. As public catering becomes a main current in today’s catering business — an accurate market positioning and food dishes get to be more exquisite and diversified with health elements taken into top priority, brand power stands to be the recipe for winning the competition. Moreover, the strategy of enterprises development through culture is an irreversible trend in modern catering operation and management. Furthermore, the education and artistic cultivation serve as core competence of modern catering enterprises and the employed.
Create a Campus Scholarly Culture, Improve Students Extracurricular Reading Ability
Authors: Xiao Haizhen
Published: April 2018

Reading is an important way for students to acquire knowledge and information, develop their abilities and cultivate their language literacy. Chinese language teachers to create a good reading for students to read the atmosphere, to create a strong campus scholarly culture, open extracurricular reading guidance courses, recommended extracurricular reading excellent bibliography, to carry out a variety of reading activities, to lead students to read books, Will study.
On the Unique Development Path of Universities of Applied Sciences
Authors: Zuo Jing , Ye Yanxin
Published: April 2018

The transition of universities from academy-oriented to application-oriented has become a paramount mission for the management. And the revelation of the path for the unique development lies in the six aspects below: locating specific talents-cultivating goals, innovating educational plans, developing distinctive teaching resources, enhancing instructions for students' vocation and employment, optimizing teaching equipment and increasing publicity.
USING JIGSAW MODEL TO IMPROVE READING COMPREHENSION OF THE NINTH GRADERS OF SMPN 1 KARANGPLOSO
Authors: Yuhananik Yuhananik
Published: April 2018

This study is aimed at improving reading comprehension using jigsaw model of cooperative learning in reading classes. This study used classroom action research as the design.  The subject of the study is the nineth graders of SMPN 1 Karangploso Malang. The number of 30 students was assigned as the subject of this study.  The subject had low comprehension in reading English texts.  The study revealed that the jigsaw model of cooperative learning in teaching reading is effective to increase reading comprehension.  Records of the comprehension showed the increase on the first, second, and third test.  The average score before jigsaw was given was 6,08. All students took active participation in the last cycle.
PENGARUH INVESTASI ASET TETAP DAN BIAYA OPERASIONAL TERHADAP PENDAPATAN OPERASIONAL PADA PT. SANSHIRO HARAPAN MAKMUR
Authors: Mukmin Mas Nur , Gusprasetyo Gusprasetyo
Published: April 2018

Research the purpose of this is to determine the influence of Fixed Assets Investment and Operating Expenses to Operating Income simultaneously and partially in PT Makmur Sanshiro expectations. This research is classified as causal research. Analysis of data using multiple linear regression . The results showed, simultaneously Fixed Asset Investment and Operating Costs Operating affect the revenue. Only partially influenced Operating Cost to Operating Income.Keywords: Fixed Asset Investment, Operating Expenses, Operating Income
PENGARUH INTELEGENCE QUOTIENT (IQ), EMOTIONAL QUOTIENT (EQ), DAN SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT (SQ) TERHADAP PEMAHAMAN AKUNTANSI SISWA DI SMK SUMPAH PEMUDA 2
Authors: Kusuma Indra Cahya , Rizki Lody Mangku
Published: April 2018

This research is replicated from Rahman (2014) and Pasek (2015). This research aim to examine impact of Intelectual Quotient, Emotional Quotient, and Spritual Quotient to wards Understanding of Accountancy. This study used a survey method that uses primary data collected from questionnaires. The population in this study were student of the Concentration of Accounting at SMK Sumpah Pemuda 2 Ciawi. The member of sample taken in this study are 31 student XII Classi. Hypotesis tets use liniear coreelation and regression. Result of the hypothesis test indicate that Intelectual Quotient, Emitional Quotient, and Spiritual Quotient has positive correlation with understanding of Accountancy. The result showed simulataneous Intelectual Quotient, Emotional Quotient, and Spiritual Quotient has significantly impact toward Understanding of Accountancy. In parcial Intelectual Quotient has a Positive and significant impact towards Understanding of Accountancy, meanwhile Emotional Quotient and Spiritual Quotient has not impact towards Understanding of Accountancy.Key word: Intelectual Quotient (IQ), Emotional Quotient (EQ), Spiritual Quotient (SQ), and Understanding of Accountancy.
AKUNTABILITAS KINERJA AKUNTAN PENDIDIK BERDASARKAN KOMPETENSI AKUNTAN DAN ETIKA PROFESIONAL ( Studi Empiris Pada Perguruan Tinggi Swasta di Bogor )
Authors: Mukmin Mas Nur , Wulansari Hesti
Published: April 2018

This research has purpose to know influence of competence accountant educator, professional ethics accountant performance of educator accountant at private university in Bogor. Population that is accountant educator. Samples amounted to 75 respondents from 9 private universities Bogor. Sampling method this research using non probability sampling. The analytical method used this research validity test, reliability test, classical assumption test, multiple regression analysis, coefficient of determination (R2), F test and T test. Based the results the research, it is known that the competence of educators accountant simultaneously and partially influence the accountability of the accountant's performance of educators, professional ethics simultaneously influence but not partially influence the accountant's performance accountant accountability. Contribution amount influence of competence of educator accountant, professional ethics can use to explain accountant performance of 46.7 percent.Keywords: Competence, professional ethics, performance accountability
SALADİN: LATİN KAYNAKLARINDA SELAHADDİN EYYUBÎ
Authors: ALICI Mustafa
Published: April 2018

Haçlılara karşı mücadele eden İslam kumandanı ve Eyyübîler adlı devletin kurucusu ve ilk hükümdarı olan Selahaddin Eyyubî (1171-1193), Avrupa kaynaklarında Ortaçağ Avrupa kaynaklarında literatür dili olan Latince’nin fonetik yapısına uygun bir söylenişle Saladin olarak bilinir. Selahaddin tartışılmaz olarak Batı dünyasında Hz Peygamber haricinde tanı-nan en önemli Müslüman olarak bilinmektedir.Bu çalışmada Latin dünyasının Selahaddin Eyyubi hakkındaki olumlu imajının al-tında yatan askeri teolojik ve sosyo-kültürel faktörler irdelenecektir.
ÂŞIK VEYSEL’İN ÂŞIKLIK GELENEĞİ İÇERİSİNDEKİ YERİ ÜZERİNE BİR DEĞERLENDİRME
Authors: ŞİMŞEK Esma
Published: April 2018

Temeli, İslâmiyet Öncesi dönemdeki ozanlık geleneğine kadar dayanan halkşairliği, 15. asrın sonlarından itibaren “âşık” terimi ile anılmaya başlamıştır. 16. asırdangünümüze kadar gelişerek ve değişerek devam eden âşıklık geleneği; Karacaoğlan, ErcişliEmrah, Âşık Ömer, Gevheri, Dadaloğlu, Şenlik, Ruhsâtî, Murat Çobanoğlu vs. gibi birçokismi edebiyatımıza kazandırmıştır. Bu önemli isimlerden biri de Âşık Veysel’dir.Bu yazıda, şiirlerinden birçoğu türkü ve şarkı olarak bestelenip söylenen ÂşıkVeysel’in, gelenekteki yeri tespit edilmeye çalışılmıştır. Bilindiği gibi âşıklar arasında,geçmişten günümüze süregelen bazı uygulamalar vardır. Bunlar, çoğunluk tarafından kabulgördüğü için gelenek hâline gelmiş ve zamanla bir “âşıklık geleneği” oluşmuştur.Âşıklık geleneği; saz çalma, mahlâs alma, bâde içme / rüya sonrası âşık olma, usta- çırakilişkisi, âşık karşılaşmaları/atışma, leb-değmez söyleme, muamma sorma, tarih bildirmeve “dedim-dedi” tarzı şiir söyleme gibi icralardan oluşmaktadır. Âşık Veysel’in sanatçılıkyanı, bu maddelere göre araştırıldığında; saz çalma, mahlâs alma, kısmen usta-çırakilişkisi (kısmen) ve tarih bildirme konularında âşıklık geleneğine uymasına karşılık; onunrüyada pîr elinden bâde içmediği, lebdeğmez, muamma, atışma ve soru cevap şeklinde“dedim-dedi” tarzı şiir söyleme özelliklerine sahip olmadığı görülmektedir.
BİR TASAVVUF DÜSTURU OLARAK “ÂN-I DÂİM”,”İBNÜ’L-VAKT”, “EBU’L-VAKT” DÜŞÜNCELERİNİN KLASİK TÜRK ŞİİRİNE YANSIMALARI
Authors: YILDIRIM Ali
Published: April 2018

Klasik şiirimizin lirik ve coşkulu söyleminin esasını neredeyse tasavvufun engin vecit ve neşvesi oluşturmaktadır. Onun için Klasik şiirin içerisinden tasavvufu ve tasavvuf düsturlarının çıkarırsak geriye pek bir şey kalmayacağı malumdur. Şüphesiz bazı değerlendirmelerde şairlerin bir kısmının bu düsturları inançlarının gereğinden çok, bir edebi çeşni itibarıyla şiirlerinde kullandıkları söylenmektedir. Neticede bizim için önemli olan elimizdeki metinlerdir. Şairlerin neye gerçekten inandığının veya inanmadığının bu noktada önemi yoktur. Tasavvuf bazı yabancı düşünce sistemlerinden etkilenmiş olsa da kaynağını İslam’dan almaktadır. Yüzyıllar içinde sistemini oturtmuş, pek çok kaide ve düsturunu ortaya koymuş-tur. Şüphesiz kavram alanının, manevi ve soyut kavramların üzerine oturuyor olmasından kaynaklanan sıkıntıları vardır. Bu kavramlarla ilgili çok geniş yelpazeler oluşturan anlama ve algılamalar oluşmuştur. Tasavvuf geleneğindeki pek çok düsturdan üçü de “ân-ı dâim”, “ibnü’ l-vakt”, “ebu’l-vakt” kavramlarıdır. Benzer ve farklı algılamalarla birlikte “ân-ı dâim”, bilinen zamanın dışında veya üstünde bir durumu ifade etmektedir ki İlahi bir boyuttur. Bu anı tecrübe edenlere “ibnü’l-vakt”, bu anı tasarruf edenlere de “ebu’l-vakt” denmektedir. Klasik şiirimizin bazı beyitlerde bu kavramların bilinen tariflerine uygun kullanımlarda karşımıza çıktığı görülmektedir.
DEDE KORKUT HİKÂYELERİ’NDE ARKETİPSEL BİR SEMBOL OLARAK KADIN
Authors: Alsaç Fevziye
Published: April 2018

Mitler, mitoslar ve
halk edebiyatı ürünleri; insanlığın ortak tecrübelerle oluşturduğu ilk
örnek/köken olan arketipsel sembollerin zengin örneklerini oluşturur. Her
milletin anlatılarında vücut bulan ortak duygu ve düşünceler, evrensellik
kazanarak ilk kökene/örneğe ulaştıran arketipsel sembollere dönüşür. Milletlerin,
farklı zaman ve coğrafyalarda ürettiği kültürel bellek, arketiplerle evrensel
bir imaj halinde insanlığın ortak hafızasına dönüşür. İnsanın/insanoğlunun
ortak kültürel mirası arketipler, insanı merkeze alan felsefe, psikoloji ve
edebiyatın ortak konusudur. İnsan eylemlerinin çözümlemesinde edebiyat,
psikoloji ve felsefe bilimleri ortak biçimde edebi metin, tören vb. kaynakları
inceler.             Türk milletinin destansı hayatını her
bakımdan şifreleyen Dede Korkut Hikâyeleri, kadını göçebe hayatın içinde etkin
bir birey olarak tasvir eder. Kadın kahramanlar, hikâyelerde erkek kahramanlar
kadar önemli, onlarla aynı özelliklere sahip güzellikleri ve erdemleriyle ön
plana çıkan karakterlerdir. Dede Korkut Hikâyelerinde kadın kahramanların fonksiyonları;
sorunu çözme ve erkek kahramanı tamamlayan bir kompozisyona sahiptir.

Bu çalışmada, Türk
kültürünün ortak bilinçdışı malzemesini ihtiva eden Dede Korkut Hikâyelerinde
kadına bakış değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışmanın temelinde arketipsel semboller
açısından kadın kahramanların özellikleri ele alınmış ve Türk kadınının
hikâyelerdeki etkin fonksiyonunun arketipsel formları ve tezahürleri
irdelenmiştir.  Hikâyelerdeki arketipsel
sembollerin kadın kahramanlar aracılığıyla oluşan izlek ve tezahürleri
metinlerden örnekler verilerek açıklanmaya çalışılmıştır. Ayrıca Dede Korkut
Hikâyelerinde kadına verilen değerin arketipsel sembolizm açısından
çözümlemesinin Türk kültüründeki izleri ele alınmıştır.
An ASIC-Based Artificial Neural Network Applied Real-time Speech Recognition SOPC
Authors: D. Pham Lam , M. Nguyen Hieu , T. Nguyen Du N. N. , Hoang Trang
Published: April 2018

Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is promoted to one of major schemes applied in pattern recognition area. Indeed, many approaches to software-based platforms have proven great performance of ANN. However, developing pattern recognition systems integrating ANN hardware-based architecture has been limited not only by the silicon requirements such as frequency, area, power, or resource but also by high accuracy and real-time applications strictly. Although a considerable number of ANN hardware-based architectures have been proposed currently, they have experienced a deprivation of functions due to both small configurations and ability of reconfiguration. Consequently, achieving an effective ANN hardware-based architecture so as to adapt to not only strict accuracy, enormous configures, or silicon area but also real-time criterion in pattern recognition systems has been really challenged. To tackle these issues, this work has proposed a dynamic structure of three-layer ANN architecture being able to reconfigure for adapting to various real-time applications. What is more, a complete SOPC system integrating proposed ANN hardware has also implemented to apply Vietnamese speech recognition automatically to confirm high recognition probability around 95.2 % towards 20 Vietnamese discrete words. Moreover, experiment results on such ASIC-based architecture have witnessed maximum frequency at 250 MHz on 130nm technology as well as great ability of reconfiguration.
Enhancement of Asynchronous MAC Protocol in Wireless Sensor Networks for Smart Monitoring Applications
Authors: Son Vo Que , Son Tran Truong
Published: April 2018

Up to now, many research works have been focusing on designs in MAC layer of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) to target high throughput, low latency and solving the problem of idle listening. In this paper, an enhancement of Low-power asynchronous protocol for MAC layer, namely E-MAC, is proposed to target a long lifetime of sensor nodes working 6LoWPAN/IPv6 networks. Moreover, the E-MAC protocol is implemented on TI low-power platforms to verify the efficiency of the proposed design. Several parameters such as energy consumption, latency and packet delivery ratio are simulated and measured in a real monitoring test-bed to show the better performance in comparison with other popular MAC protocols.
Prediction of clinical outcome in subacute subarachnoid hemorrhage using diffusion tensor imaging
Authors: Fragata Isabel , Alves Marta , Papoila Ana Luísa , Ferreira Patrícia , Nunes Ana Paiva , Moreira Nuno Canto , Canhão Patrícia
Published: April 2018

OBJECTIVE

Clinical outcome in nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is multifactorial and difficult to predict. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) findings are a prognostic marker in some diseases such as traumatic brain injury. The authors hypothesized that DTI parameters measured in the subacute phase of SAH can be associated with a poor clinical outcome.

METHODS

Diffusion tensor imaging was prospectively performed in 54 patients at 8–10 days after nontraumatic SAH. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association of fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values with a poor clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≥ 3) at 3 months.

RESULTS

At 8–10 days post-SAH, after adjusting for other variables associated with a poor outcome, an increased ADC at the frontal centrum semiovale was associated with a poor prognosis (OR estimate 1.29, 95% CI 1.04–1.60, p = 0.020). Moreover, an increase of 0.1 in the FA value at the corpus callosum at 8–10 days after SAH corresponded to 66% lower odds of having a poor outcome (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased FA and increased ADC values in specific brain regions were independently associated with a poor clinical outcome after SAH. This preliminary exploratory study supports a potential role for DTI in predicting the outcome of SAH.
Neuroprotective Effects of Ferruginol, Jatrophone, and Junicedric Acid Against Amyloid-β Injury in Hippocampal Neurons
Authors: Zolezzi Juan M. , Lindsay Carolina B. , Serrano Felipe G. , Ureta Roxana C. , Theoduloz Cristina , Schmeda-Hirschmann Guillermo , Inestrosa Nibaldo C.
Published: April 2018

Soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers have been recognized as early neurotoxic intermediates with a key role in the synaptic dysfunction observed in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Aβ oligomers block hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and impair rodent spatial memory. Additionally, the presence of Aβ oligomers is associated with imbalanced intracellular calcium levels and apoptosis in neurons. In this context, we evaluated the effects of three diterpenes (ferruginol, jatrophone, and junicedric acid) that are found in medicinal plants and have several forms of biological activity. The intracellular calcium levels in hippocampal neurons increased in the presence of ferruginol, jatrophone, and junicedric acid, a result that was consistent with the observed increase in CA1 synaptic transmission in mouse hippocampal slices. Additionally, assays using Aβ peptide demonstrated that diterpenes, particularly ferruginol, restore LTP and reduce apoptosis. Recovery of the Aβ oligomer-induced loss of the synaptic proteins PSD-95, synapsin, VGlut, and NMDA receptor subunit 2A was observed in mouse hippocampal slices treated with junicedric acid. This cascade of events may be associated with the regulation of kinases, e.g., protein kinase C (PKC) and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), in addition to the activation of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway and could thus provide protection against Aβ oligomers, which trigger synaptic dysfunction. Our results suggest a potential neuroprotective role for diterpenes against the Aβ oligomers-induced neurodegenerative alterations, which make them interesting molecules to be further studied in the context of AD.
Personality Modulates the Efficacy of Art Intervention on Chronic Pain in a Population of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Rouch Isabelle , Pongan Elodie , Leveque Yohana , Tillmann Barbara , Trombert Béatrice , Getenet Jean Claude , Auguste Nicolas , Krolak-Salmon Pierre ,   the LACMé group, Laurent Bernard , Dorey Jean-Michel
Published: April 2018

Background:

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) mainly occurs in elderly individuals. Comorbidities and chronic pain are frequent in this population. Previous studies revealed that personality modulates both chronic pain (CP) andADoccurrence and evolution. Moreover, as pain treatments can induce side-effects, non-drugs treatments, such as art interventions, are interesting alternative therapies for decreasing CP in these patients.

Objective:

Our aim was to assess the potential role of personality traits on art intervention efficacy for reducing CP in a population of patients with mild AD.

Methods:

Design: multicenter randomized controlled trial. Fifty mild AD patients underwent a 12-week art intervention including singing and painting groups. Personality was assessed with the Big Five Inventory before the sessions. CP was measured with Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) [Usual pain (NRS-U) and most Intense pain (NRS-I)], Simple Visual Scale [Usual pain (SVS-U) and most Intense pain (SVS-I)] and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) before and after the sessions. The influence of personality traits on CP evolution before and after art intervention was assessed with multiple linear regression models.

Results:

A positive association was observed between neuroticism and the evolution of three CP measures including NRS-U (B = 0.34, p = 0.01), SVS-U (B = 0.20, p = 0.04), and BPI-U (B = 0.46, p = 0.02) evolution. No significant relationship was observed between neuroticism and NRS-I, SVS-I and BPI-R evolution.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that neuroticism can decrease the efficacy of group art intervention on pain in patients with mild AD. Individual therapies could be more appropriate for these patients. These results emphasize the interest of taking into account patients’ personality before proposing them to participate to a group therapy.
The Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog): Modifications and Responsiveness in Pre-Dementia Populations. A Narrative Review
Authors: Kueper Jacqueline K. , Speechley Mark , Montero-Odasso Manuel
Published: April 2018

The Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) was developed in the 1980s to assess the level of cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease. Advancements in the research field have shifted focus toward pre-dementia populations, and use of the ADAS-Cog has extended into these pre-dementia studies despite concerns about its ability to detect important changes at these milder stages of disease progression. If the ADAS-Cog cannot detect important changes, our understanding of pre-dementia disease progression may be compromised and trials may incorrectly conclude that a novel treatment approach is not beneficial. The purpose of this review was to assess the performance of the ADAS-Cog in pre-dementia populations, and to review all modifications that have been made to the ADAS-Cog to improve its measurement performance in dementia or pre-dementia populations. The contents of this review are based on bibliographic searches of electronic databases to locate all studies using the ADAS-Cog in pre-dementia samples or subsamples, and to locate all modified versions. Citations from relevant articles were also consulted. Overall, our results suggest the original ADAS-Cog is not an optimal outcome measure for pre-dementia studies; however, given the prominence of the ADAS-Cog, care must be taken when considering the use of alternative outcome measures. Thirty-one modified versions of the ADAS-Cog were found. Modification approaches that appear most beneficial include altering scoring methodology or adding tests of memory, executive function, and/or daily functioning. Although modifications improve the performance of the ADAS-Cog, this is at the cost of introducing heterogeneity that may limit between-study comparison.
Aberrant Cortical Event-Related Potentials During Associative Learning in Rat Models for Presymptomatic Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Nouriziabari Bardia , Sarkar Susmita , Tanninen Stephanie E. , Dayton Robert D. , Klein Ronald L. , Takehara-Nishiuchi Kaori
Published: April 2018

Trace eyeblink conditioning is a hippocampus-dependent associative learning paradigm which is impaired in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and animal AD models. Learning in this paradigm accompanies changes in oscillatory activity in forebrain regions, some of which are loci of pathogenic changes in prodromal AD stages. These observations motivated us to examine how cortical event-related potentials (ERPs) during this paradigm are affected by two features of the asymptomatic, AD-related brain abnormality, entorhinal tau accumulation and mild cholinergic deficit. Adult rats received viral overexpression of P301L mutant human tau in the entorhinal cortex, low-dose scopolamine treatment, or both. Electroencephalograms were recorded with epidural electrodes on the surface of the frontal, parietal, and temporal cortices during differential and reversal trace eyeblink conditioning. All rats developed conditioned responses to one of two stimuli (auditory or visual) paired with mild eyelid shock (CS+), but not to the other stimulus presented alone (CS-). They were also able to adjust the response when the stimulus contingency was reversed. With learning, the amplitude of several ERP components in the frontal and temporal cortices came to differentiate the CS+ from CS-. Scopolamine affected the learning-related change in temporal P2 and other learning-unrelated components in three regions. Entorhinal tau overexpression primary affected the amplitude of temporal visual ERPs and learning-unrelated frontal and temporal auditory ERP components. The double manipulation only affected two components of temporal auditory ERPs. Thus, cortical ERPs during differential associative learning are sensitive to asymptomatic brain abnormality associated with AD.
Age-Dependent Changes to Sphingolipid Balance in the Human Hippocampus are Gender-Specific and May Sensitize to Neurodegeneration
Authors: Couttas Timothy A. , Kain Nupur , Tran Collin , Chatterton Zac , Kwok John B. , Don Anthony S.
Published: April 2018

The greatest risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is aging. The major genetic risk factor for AD is the ɛ4 allele of the APOE gene, encoding the brain’s major lipid transport protein, apolipoprotein E (ApoE). The research community is yet to decipher why the ApoE4 variant pre-disposes to AD, and how aging causes the disease. Studies have shown deregulated levels of sphingolipids, including decreased levels of the neuroprotective signaling lipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), and increased ceramide content, in brain tissue and serum of people with pre-clinical or very early AD. In this study we investigated whether sphingolipid levels are affected as a function of age or APOE genotype, in the hippocampus of neurologically normal subjects over the age of 65. Lipids were quantified in 80 postmortem tissue samples using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Sphingolipid levels were not significantly affected by the presence of one ɛ4 or ɛ2 allele. However, ceramide, sphingomyelin, and sulfatide content was very significantly correlated with age in the hippocampus of males. On the other hand, S1P, normalized to its non-phosphorylated precursor sphingosine, was inversely correlated with age in females. Our results therefore establish gender-specific differences in sphingolipid metabolism in the aging human brain. Ceramide is a pro-apoptotic lipid, and heavily implicated as a driver of insulin resistance in metabolic tissues. S1P is a neuroprotective lipid that supports glutamatergic neurotransmission. Increasing ceramide and decreasing S1P levels may contribute significantly to a pro-neurodegenerative phenotype in the aging brain.
Genetic disorders of calcium, phosphorus, and bone homeostasis
Authors: Root Allen W.
Published: April 2018

Calcium and phosphorus [in the form of phosphate (H2PO4-/HPO4–2)] are the most abundant elements in the body where they subserve many functions – the most prominent of which is the formation of hydroxyapatite [Ca10(PO4)10(OH)2] – the mineral portion of bone [ 1 , 2 ]. Calcium and phosphate are present in every cell in the body and are essential for normal cellular function. Calcium is indispensable for transmission of neural signals, muscle contractility, intracellular signal transduction, and secretion of cellular products. Phosphate is required for formation of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA and RNA, phospholipids for cell membrane formation, glycolysis and generation of high energy bonds (ATP), and intracellular signaling by guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-bearing proteins (G-proteins) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP). Phosphorylation of networks of intracellular proteins by many different kinases propagate the transmission of signals from the cell’s plasma membrane into the nucleus to regulate gene expression and cellular function. Genetic disorders of calcium, phosphate, and skeletal homeostasis lead to hypercalcemia, hypocalcemia, rickets or osteomalacia, osteopenia with marked skeletal fragility, and excessively dense bones.
Patient Empowerment: A New dimension in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Management?
Authors: Ashraf Fatema , Hasan M Tasdik
Published: April 2018

Abstract not available Journal of Current and Advance Medical Research 2017;4(2):34-35
Prediction of 10 Years and Lifetime Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) Risk Among Working Physician of CMCH
Authors: Awal Anisul , Tareq Nuruddin , Bhattacharjee Biplob , Chowdhury Ibrahim , Dey Ashish , Das Probir Kumar , Roy Noresh Chendra , Shahin Abul Hossain , Jahangir Nuruddin , Das Sandipan , Siddique Salehuddin , Ahmed Shakera , Murshed Manzur
Published: April 2018

Background:Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) still represent the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, worldwide. As, physicians have a vital role in battling the CVD epidemic by counseling and motivating people to reduce their risk, they should also set an example by taking care of their own health.Objective: To estimate the CVD risk factors prevalence and predict 10 years & lifetime atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) risk among physician.Method: Data was collected for this cross-sectional study from 137 working physicians of Chittagong Medical College Hospital on 17th January, 2017. The participants filled a structured questionnaire followed by physical and biochemical measurements including BMI, blood pressure, waist circumference, lipid profile, and fasting blood glucose. We estimated the 10-year predicted risk for ASCVD events (myocardial infarction, coronary insufficiency, atherothrombotic stroke, or CVD death) for the physicians >40 years of age and lifetime predicted risk for ASCVD was estimated for all physicians irrespective of age.Result: Most of the physician irrespective of sex had high lifetime predicted risk of ASCVD (68.4% female, 77.8% male & 75.2% total, P>0.05). Regarding 10-year predicted risk of ASCVD among the physician >40 years of age 24.0% female and 40.6% male physician had moderate to high risk. The following overall prevalence rates of risk factors were reported: current smoker 6.7%, obesity 86.1%, reported hypertension 21.1% and DM was 11.9%.The prevalence of total cholesterol levels e”200 gm/dl was 49.6% and LDL levels >130 mg/dl 46.7% , HDL levels (d”40 mg/dl) was 64.2% and high fasting blood glucose ( >126 mg/dl) was 27.7%. The majority of the participants (61.31%) had > 3 risk factors. Only 14.59% had either no or less than 3 CVD risk factors.Conclusions: Prevalence CVD risk factors were high among working physicians and most of them had high lifetime or 10 years predicted risk for ASCVD events.University Heart Journal Vol. 12, No. 2, July 2016; 68-75
Demographic and Socio-Eeconomic Characteristics of Patients with Congestive Heart failure Presenting to the Cardiac Emergency of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University
Authors: Abedin Md Zainal , Banerjee Sajal Krishan , Hoque Harisul , Mahmood Manzoor , Krishna Dipal , Adhikary - , Mohammad Samsuzzaman Sheikh , Amin Md Al , Rashed Md Rakibul Hasan , Ahmed Khurshed , Hossain Md Amir
Published: April 2018

Background: Repeated hospital readmissions are frequent and increasing over time in patients with heart failure (HF). The readmission rate within 3-6 months after discharge in these patients is 10-50%.Aim and Objective: This study was conducted to find out the demographic and socioeconomic factors contributing to readmission of patients with congestive heart failure admitted in university cardiac center of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Shahbag, Dhaka, Bangladesh during last quarter of 2016 and early quarter of 2017.Material and method: This was observational descriptive cross sectional study and enrolled 102 patients were enrolled for the study. Complete medical records were reviewed carefully.Results:A total of 68 men and 34 women with a mean (±SD) age of 55 (±14) years constitute the study population. Most of the population (42%) who belongs to age group 51-60 years had readmissions (p <0.0004). De-motivation due to negative comments from surrounding causing fully or partially drugs discontinuation (P <0.008) and poor adherence to drug (P <0.004) were associated with readmissions.Conclusion: After proper addressing of possible all medical factors and co morbidities, optimizing education strategies in a manner to respect the patients’ level of understanding; emphasizing the importance of medication adherence, diet and life style modification, increasing the self-monitoring skills as well as supporting the spouse and family members are considered as effective measures to reduce readmission rate due to congestive heart failure.University Heart Journal Vol. 12, No. 2, July 2016; 76-81
An Approach for Setting Parameters for Two-Degree-of-Freedom PID Controllers
Authors: Wang Xinxin , Yan Xiaoqiang , Li Donghai , Sun Li
Published: April 2018

In this paper, a new tuning method is proposed, based on the desired dynamics equation (DDE) and the generalized frequency method (GFM), for a two-degree-of-freedom proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller. The DDE method builds a quantitative relationship between the performance and the two-degree-of-freedom PID controller parameters and guarantees the desired dynamic, but it cannot guarantee the stability margin. So, we have developed the proposed tuning method, which guarantees not only the desired dynamic but also the stability margin. Based on the DDE and the GFM, several simple formulas are deduced to calculate directly the controller parameters. In addition, it performs almost no overshooting setpoint response. Compared with Panagopoulos’ method, the proposed methodology is proven to be effective.
Photooxidation of p-Arsanilic Acid in Aqueous Solution by UV/Persulfate Process
Authors: Shen Xiangyi , Xu Jing , Pozdnyakov Ivan , Liu Zizheng
Published: April 2018

Used as a kind of feed additive, p-arsanilic acid can pose a potential risk to organisms when abandoned in the environment. The photodegradation of p-ASA was investigated under UV-C irradiation in the presence of persulfate (PS) in this work. The addition of PS facilitated the decomposition of p-ASA and notably, the presence of 50 mmol PS brought about a nearly complete mineralization after 3 h, while an insignificant total organic carbon (TOC) removal was observed under UV irradiation (λ = 254 nm) only. Experimental results proved that sulfate radical (SO4•−) was responsible for the promotion effect. The cleavage of As-C bond released inorganic arsenic and caused the occurrence of various organic products, for example, hydroxybenzaldehyde, nitrobenzene, benzenediol sulfate, and biphenylarsinic acid. The application of PS with UV-C light may throw a light on thorough treatment for p-ASA containing wastewater.
Air-Pollutant Emissions from Agricultural Burning in Mae Chaem Basin, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand
Authors: Arunrat Noppol , Pumijumnong Nathsuda , Sereenonchai Sukanya
Published: April 2018

Particulate pollution is a continual problem which is usually caused by the burning of crop residues in highland agricultural systems. The objectives of this study are to investigate crop-residue management and estimate the amount of pollutant emissions from burning crop residues for each land-use pattern (grain maize, seed maize and integrated farming), and to estimate the chemical compositions of PM2.5 emissions from agricultural burning in Mae Chaem basin, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The purposive sampling method was used for sample selection. A door-to-door questionnaire survey was used to obtain responses from 149 respondents. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the open burning of crop residues were estimated, using specific emission factors obtained from several literature reviews and from the field by the questionnaire survey. Results revealed that the majority of farmers burned maize residues during April and May and mostly in the afternoon. These burning behaviors are in line with the supportive weather conditions that reflect high values of temperature and wind speed, and less rainfall and relative humidity result in maize residues being burned easily and quickly. The integrated farming system generated the lowest GHG emissions and amount of chemical composition of PM2.5 emissions, followed by the grain maize and seed maize patterns, respectively. This study strongly supports the implementation of the integrated farming system in Mae Chaem basin. Proactive and reactive measures should be taken in a well-organized and systematic fashion and should engage all related parties. More importantly, there is an urgent need for policy makers to include PM2.5 concentrations to upgrade Thailand’s air-quality index (PM2.5 AQI).
Land Surface Temperature Variation Due to Changes in Elevation in Northwest Vietnam
Authors: Phan Thanh , Kappas Martin , Tran Trong
Published: April 2018

Land surface temperature (LST) is one of the most important variables for applications relating to the physics of land surface processes. LST rapidly changes in both space and time, and knowledge of LST and its spatiotemporal variation is essential to understand the interactions between human activity and the environment. This study investigates the spatiotemporal variation of LST according to changes in elevation. The newest version (version 6) of MODIS LST data for 2015 was used. An area of 40,000 km2 (200 × 200 km2) in northwest Vietnam with elevations ranging from 8 m to 3165 m was chosen as a case study. Our results showed that the drop in LST with increased elevation varied throughout the year during both the daytime and nighttime. The monthly averages in 2015 and an altitude increase of 1000 m resulted in a decrease in LST ranging from 3.8 °C to 6.1 °C and 1.5 °C to 5.8 °C for the daytime and nighttime, respectively. This suggests that in any study relating to the spatial distribution of LST, the effect of elevation on LST should be considered. In addition, the effects of land use/cover and elevation distribution on the relationship between LST and elevation are discussed.
The Voice of the Heart: Vowel-Like Sound in Pulmonary Artery Hypertension
Authors: Elgendi Mohamed , Bobhate Prashant , Jain Shreepal , Guo Long , Rutledge Jennifer , Coe Yashu , Zemp Roger , Schuurmans Dale , Adatia Ian
Published: April 2018

Increased blood pressure in the pulmonary artery is referred to as pulmonary hypertension and often is linked to loud pulmonic valve closures. For the purpose of this paper, it was hypothesized that pulmonary circulation vibrations will create sounds similar to sounds created by vocal cords during speech and that subjects with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) could have unique sound signatures across four auscultatory sites. Using a digital stethoscope, heart sounds were recorded at the cardiac apex, 2nd left intercostal space (2LICS), 2nd right intercostal space (2RICS), and 4th left intercostal space (4LICS) undergoing simultaneous cardiac catheterization. From the collected heart sounds, relative power of the frequency band, energy of the sinusoid formants, and entropy were extracted. PAH subjects were differentiated by applying the linear discriminant analysis with leave-one-out cross-validation. The entropy of the first sinusoid formant decreased significantly in subjects with a mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAp) ≥ 25 mmHg versus subjects with a mPAp < 25 mmHg with a sensitivity of 84% and specificity of 88.57%, within a 10-s optimized window length for heart sounds recorded at the 2LICS. First sinusoid formant entropy reduction of heart sounds in PAH subjects suggests the existence of a vowel-like pattern. Pattern analysis revealed a unique sound signature, which could be used in non-invasive screening tools.
The Perspectives of Women Professors on the Professoriate: A Missing Piece in the Narrative on Gender Equality in the University
Authors: Harford Judith
Published: April 2018

The under-representation of women in the professoriate is a widely acknowledged and complex phenomenon internationally. Ireland is no exception to this and indeed the issue of gender equality in Irish higher education has in the last 24 months emerged on the national policy agenda, largely as a result of a number of high profile legal cases and the subsequent setting up of an expert review panel (2015) and a gender equality taskforce (2017). What has now become clear internationally is that despite the advances women have made in terms of their participation rates as undergraduates, as well as the introduction of gender equity policies, the vast majority of professors in higher education institutions globally are men. Specifically, regarding Ireland in the period 2013–2015, even though 50% of the lecturer staff in universities were women, only 19% of professors were women. While the availability of such data is instructive, attention also needs to focus on examining the organizational culture and practices that appear to perpetuate such gender divisions and gendered patterns of action. On this, however, there is an almost complete absence of studies on the perspectives of women professors in Ireland on the professoriate. The study reported here, which was undertaken within the life story tradition, is one response to this deficit. It is based on interviews conducted with 21 women professors on their perspectives on working as professors in the university sphere in the period 2000‒2017. Four key themes were generated during the analysis of their testimony: they regarded universities as operating according to male-definitions of merit; they made a strategic choice not to engage in senior management roles (Senior management is defined as occupying the role of Dean level or above.); they considered there was no room for caring responsibilities in universities; and they emphasized the importance of validation, selection, and networks of support.
Application of Rumen Microorganisms for Enhancing Biogas Production of Corn Straw and Livestock Manure in a Pilot-Scale Anaerobic Digestion System: Performance and Microbial Community Analysis
Authors: Jin Wenyao , Xu Xiaochen , Yang Fenglin
Published: April 2018

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of rumen microorganisms inoculated in a modified pilot-scale system for enhancing biogas production of (1) solely corn straw (CS) and (2) CS with livestock manure under different solid contents and mixture ratios. The biogas liquid was proven to pretreat CS at this scale. The digestion system was started up within 32 days at a retention time of 20 days. The rumen culture was found to have a positive response to the impact on temperature and pH. The optimal solid content of CS was detected to be 3%, resulting in a stable biogas yield of 395 L kg−1·total solid (TS)−1. A higher biogas yield of 400 L kg−1·TS−1 – 420 L kg−1·TS−1 was achieved at a solid content of 10% organic loading rate (OLR, 4.42 kg volatile solid (VS) m−3·d−1) in co-digestion systems with CS and livestock manure. The methane content could be maintained at about 60%. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens were dominated by Methanobacterium in the solely CS digestion system, and two methanogenetic pathways, including hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogens by Methanosarcina and Methanobacterium, co-occurred for methane production during the co-digestion of CS with pig manure (PM). This study indicates that rumen microbes could be utilized in a pilot-scale digestion system and that they greatly promoted the biogas yield.
Optimizing Conservation Strategies for a Threatened Tree Species: In Situ Conservation of White Ash (Fraxinus americana L.) Genetic Diversity through Insecticide Treatment
Authors: Flower Charles E. , Fant Jeremie B. , Hoban Sean , Knight Kathleen S. , Steger Laura , Aubihl Elijah , Gonzalez-Meler Miquel A. , Forry Stephen , Hille Andrea , Royo Alejandro A.
Published: April 2018

Forest resources face numerous threats that require costly management. Hence, there is an increasing need for data-informed strategies to guide conservation practices. The introduction of the emerald ash borer to North America has caused rapid declines in ash populations (Fraxinus spp. L.). Natural resource managers are faced with a choice of either allowing ash trees to die, risking forest degradation and reduced functional resilience, or investing in conserving trees to preserve ecosystem structure and standing genetic diversity. The information needed to guide these decisions is not always readily available. Therefore, to address this concern, we used eight microsatellites to genotype 352 white ash trees (Fraxinus americana L.) across 17 populations in the Allegheny National Forest; a subset of individuals sampled are part of an insecticide treatment regimen. Genetic diversity (number of alleles and He) was equivalent in treated and untreated trees, with little evidence of differentiation or inbreeding, suggesting current insecticidal treatment is conserving local, neutral genetic diversity. Using simulations, we demonstrated that best practice is treating more populations rather than more trees in fewer populations. Furthermore, through genetic screening, conservation practitioners can select highly diverse and unique populations to maximize diversity and reduce expenditures (by up to 21%). These findings will help practitioners develop cost-effective strategies to conserve genetic diversity.
Variation in Soil Methane Fluxes and Comparison between Two Forests in China
Authors: Wei Hua , Peng Changhui , Liu Shirong , Liu Xiaojing , Li Peng , Song Hanxiong , Yuan Minshu , Wang Meng
Published: April 2018

Methane (CH4) is a vital greenhouse gas with a 28-fold higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide when considering a molar basis for the time horizon of 100 years. Here, we investigated the variation of soil CH4 fluxes, soil physiochemical properties, and CH4-related bacteria community composition of two forests in China. We measured CH4 fluxes using static chambers and analyzed soil bacterial communities using next-generation high-throughput sequencing in a temperate broad-leaved deciduous forest at Baotianman Nature Reserve (TBDF-BTM) and a tropical rainforest at Jianfengling National Natural Reserve (TRF-JFL). Our results showed that the soils from both sites were CH4 sinks. Significant variation in soil CH4 fluxes was found at TBDF-BTM exclusively, while no seasonal variation in the CH4 uptake was observed at TRF-JFL. The CH4 fluxes at TBDF-BTM were substantially higher than those at TRF-JFL during all seasons. One genus of methanotrophs and three genera of methylotrophs were detected at both sites, though they had no direct relationship with soil CH4 fluxes. Water-filled pore space and soil total carbon content are the main factors controlling the soil CH4 fluxes at TBDF-BTM. At TRF-JFL, the soil CH4 fluxes showed no significant correlations with any of the soil properties. This study improves our understanding of soil CH4 fluxes and their influencing factors in forests in different climatic zones and provides a reference for future investigation of forest soil CH4 fluxes, the forest ecosystem carbon cycle, and the forest CH4 model.
Generalized Trust, Need for Cognitive Closure, and the Perceived Acceptability of Personal Data Collection
Authors: Chavanne David
Published: April 2018

This vignette-based study examines how generalized trust and the need for cognitive closure relate to the perceived acceptability of contemporary business methods of personal data collection. Subjects are exposed to four scenarios that describe a method of personal data collection, involving either brand-name companies or generic descriptors of companies. After each scenario, subjects rate how acceptable they find the practice of data collection, along with the frequency and quality of experiences that they have had with the company (for brand names) or type of company (for generic descriptors). Judgments of perceived acceptability are analyzed, both across the portfolio of judgments and within each separate scenario. While analyses of each separate scenario point to the context-dependency of the perceived acceptability of data collection, several results stand out when analyzing the subjects’ portfolios of responses in the aggregate. Higher generalized trust is linked to a higher average acceptability rating, and the effect is stronger when companies are described with brand names rather than generic descriptors. Uniformly, however, no relationship is found between need for cognitive closure and perceived acceptability. Additionally, positive experiences are found to be a stronger predictor of perceived acceptability of data collection than frequency of use.