bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fabrication and Characterization of Starch-Based Biodegradable Polymer with Polyvinyl Alcohol
Authors: Pokhrel Shanta , Rai Lalita Sundari
Published: January 2020

Starch is a renewable, biodegradable and low-cost natural biopolymer with high availability. Starch was extracted from Solanum tuberosum (potatoes) and its preliminary properties were studied. The structure of extracted starch was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A series of starch-based biodegradable blends, with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were prepared by using glycerol as a plasticizer and citric acid as a cross-linking agent, through solution casting method and their biodegradable properties were studied. The structure of the blend was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The morphology of starch shows the potato starch has oval or ellipsoid in the structure having a size of 20-35 µm. The compatibility of the two components can be improved by the hydroxyl group present on both starch and PVA. As compared to pure polyvinyl, the melting point of the blend was decreased. The blends were found degradable within a weak.
Extraction of Silica Nanoparticles from Rice Husk Ash (RHA) and Study of Its Application in Making Composites
Authors: Raut Bimal Kumar , Panthi Khim Prasad
Published: January 2020

Nanotechnology is the most emerging field in the area of different scientific research. Various methods of synthesis of nanoparticles are available. The wet chemical synthesis method is applicable in the extraction of silica nanoparticles from Rice Husk Ash (RHA). Rice husk is a form of waste product from the rice milling industries which is produced in an abundance amount in and around the country. Rice husk which is generally left on the field as a waste contains 60% silica content and can be economically viable raw materials for the extraction of silica [1-2]. Initially, Rice husk was burnt to obtain its ash. Then, a simple bottom-up approach, the sol-gel method was applied, and fine powder silica in the nanoscopic range was extracted. After extraction of it, internal arrangement and average particle size were recognized by XRD while molecular components and structure present in silica were identified by FTIR. The obtained silica was then used in making of ceramics matrix nanocomposites (particularly silica-sand cement block), and its mechanical properties were identified by compressive strength test using Instron testing machine which was found to be increased in comparing with the compressive strength of ceramics composite (Sand cement block) prepared in the same ratio and same size of mold as that of ceramics matrix nanocomposites. The ceramics matrix nanocomposites acquiring higher mechanical strength than Ceramics composite occurred due to the incorporation of Silica nanoparticles.
A guide to the bedrock geology of Range Creek Canyon, Book Cliffs, Utah
Authors: Nieminski Nora , Johnson Cari
Published: January 2020

Range Creek Canyon, located within the Book Cliffs of eastern Utah, contains some of the most abundant and well-preserved archaeological sites in North America. Its cliffs and landscapes provide a canvas for rock art panels and a foundation for granaries, ruins, and artifacts of the prehistoric Fremont Indians. In order to place these Range Creek sites within a geologic context, an illustrated geologic field guide was created for the general public. The guide focuses on the major bedrock formations that crop out in the canyon, as well as many indicators that facilitate geologic interpretation of these rocks. Outcrops of the Paleogene Flagstaff and Colton Formations (~58 to 48 million years old) in Range Creek Canyon were investigated in order to interpret their depositional environments. The lacustrine Flagstaff Limestone contains limestone beds and fossils of freshwater gastropods, oysters, and turtles indicative of lake environments. The unit coarsens upward with an increase of interbedded sandstone, which was deposited in and near ancient river channels. This trend suggests dynamic levels of the ancient lake, with overall encroachment of river systems near the contact with the Colton Formation. The fluvial Colton Formation is characterized by discontinuous, stacked beds of sandstone, representing a succession of migrating river channels and floodplain deposits. The Colton Formation exhibits a general upward trend of increased grain size and increased channel belt (continuous sandstone beds) frequency and lateral extent, implying a transition to higher energy river systems through time. These dynamic, ancient rivers may have been flowing generally northward into Eocene Lake Uinta, recorded in deposits of the Green River Formation north of Range Creek Canyon.
Stratigraphy and fossil plants from the Cutler Formation (Late Paleozoic) and their paleoclimatic implications, eastern Paradox Basin, Colorado
Authors: Grazul Kendall , Huntoon Jacqueline , O’Keefe Jennifer
Published: January 2020

Exposures of the late Paleozoic Cutler Formation, near the town of Gateway, Colorado, have traditionally been interpreted as the product of alluvial-fan deposition along the western flank of the Uncompahgre uplift and within the easternmost portion of the Paradox Basin. The Paradox Basin formed between the western margin of the Uncompahgre uplift, a segment of the Ancestral Rocky Mountains, and the western paleoshoreline of the North American portion of Pangea. This part of Pangea is commonly thought to have experienced semi-arid to arid conditions and warm temperatures during the Pennsylvanian and Permian. We present stratigraphic and fossil plant evidence in this paper to support prior interpretations that the Cutler near Gateway, Colorado, was deposited by alluvial fans that hosted localized wetland areas. Our findings are consistent with the results of prior studies that have suggested the climate in the area was warm, semi-arid, and ice-free at the time the plants described in this paper were living. Plant fossils collected from the Cutler Formation came from two sites in The Palisade Wilderness Study Area (managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management) of western Colorado. The stratigraphic sections at the sites were composed mostly of pebble to cobble conglomerate and sandstone, but the fossil plants were mainly preserved in fine-grained intervals (fine-grained sandstone to siltstone). The preservation of plant fossils in the proximal Cutler Formation is remarkable because the surrounding sections consist mostly of conglomerate and sandstone interpreted as fluvial and debris-flow deposits. The fine-grained strata containing the plant horizons must have been deposited in a wet and protected setting, possibly a spring-fed abandoned channel on the alluvial fan. The plants and their surrounding sediment must have been rapidly buried in order to allow for long-term preservation of the fossils. It seems likely that vegetation was abundant in and adjacent to low-lying wet areas on the fan’s surface, based on the abundance of plant fossils found at the two sites. The fossil plant assemblage includes Calamites, Walchia, and Pecopteris. The flora are interpreted to have lived near the apex of the alluvial-fan system. These fossils suggest that warm and at least seasonally and locally wet conditions existed in the area during the time that the plants were growing. More arid conditions during the late Paleozoic are suggested by the characteristics of some of the time-equivalent and near time-equivalent rocks exposed to the west of the study area in the central Paradox Basin.
ŞANLIURFA İLİ’NDE 2013-2015 YILLARI ARASINDA BİYOKLİMATİK KONFOR KOŞULLARI İLE DOĞAL ÖLÜM OLAYLARI ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİNİN ARAŞTIRILMASI
Authors: KOLBÜKEN Mesut , AYTAÇ Ahmet Serdar
Published: January 2020

İklimin yerleşme, tarım, sanayi, turizm,
ticaret, ulaşım, sanat, suç olayları, insan sağlığı ve psikolojisi üzerinde doğrudan
ya da dolaylı etkileri mevcuttur. İklim şartları ve atmosferik koşullarda
meydana gelen değişiklikler, ölüm olayları üzerinde de ekilidir. Sıcaklık, nem,
rüzgar hızı ve hava basıncı gibi klimatik parametrelerde meydana gelen
değişikliklerin ölüm olayları üzerinde etkilerine ilişkin çok sayıda araştırma
bulunmaktadır.

Bu araştırmada
2013-2015 yıllarını kapsayan dönemde Şanlıurfa İli’nde, doğal ölüm vakaları ile
biyoklimatik konfor koşulları arasında ilişkinin saptanması amaçlanmıştır. Bu
araştırma, ülkemizde biyoklimatik konfor koşulları ile ölüm vakaları arasındaki
ilişkinin analitik metotlar kullanılarak araştırıldığı ilk araştırmalardan
biridir. Araştırma kapsamında, önce Şanlıurfa İli’nin biyoklimatik konfor
koşulları THI (Sıcaklık Nemlilik İndisi) konfor indisi ile belirlenmiştir.
Akabinde doğal ölüm olayları ile konfor koşulları arasında ilişkiyi belirlemek
amacıyla korelasyon ve regresyon analizleri yapılmıştır. Araştırma sonuçlarına
göre; araştırma döneminde, Şanlıurfa İli’nde biyoklimatik konfor koşulları ile
doğal ölüm olayları arasında, günlük düzeyde, on günlük düzeyde ve aylık
düzeyde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı ilişkiler bulunmuştur. Bu anlamlı ilişki,
günlük ve on günlük düzeyde zayıf derecede, aylık düzeyde ise orta derecededir.
Efficient backward private searchable encryption
Authors: Chatterjee Sanjit , Parshuram Puria Shravan Kumar , Shah Akash
Published: January 2020

Dynamic Searchable Symmetric Encryption ([Formula: see text]), apart from providing support for search operation, allows a client to perform update operations on outsourced database efficiently. Two security properties, viz., forward privacy and backward privacy are desirable from a [Formula: see text] scheme. The former captures that the newly updated entries cannot be related to previous search queries and the latter ensures that search queries should not leak matching entries after they have been deleted. These security properties are formalized in terms of the information leakage that can be incurred by the respective constructions. Existing backward private constructions either have a non-optimal communication overhead or they make use of heavy cryptographic primitives. Our main contribution consists of two efficient backward private schemes [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] that aim to achieve practical efficiency by using light weight symmetric cryptographic components only. In the process, we also revisit the existing definitions of information leakage for backward privacy [Bost et al. (In ACM CCS ( 2017 ) 1465–1482 ACM Press)] and propose a relaxed formulation. [Formula: see text] is the first construction to achieve backward privacy in the general setting with optimal communication complexity. Our second construction, [Formula: see text], is the first single round-trip scheme achieving backward privacy in a restricted setting with optimal communication complexity using light weight symmetric cryptographic primitives. The prototype implementations of our schemes depict the practicability of the proposed constructions and indicate that the cost of achieving backward privacy over forward privacy is substantially small. The performance results also show that the proposed constructions outperform the currently most efficient scheme achieving backward privacy.
RETRACTED: Fuzzy decision-making in patients with Alzheimer’s disease – a manifestation of pathological aging
Authors: Lyu Yuhong , Li Xiaoqian , Wang Xuemei , Zhao Wen , Cui Xiangyi , Yue Changwu
Published: January 2020

This article has been retracted. A retraction notice can be found at https://doi.org/10.3233/JIFS-219321.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the dual specificity phosphatase genes and risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infant
Authors: Talavera M.M. , Jin Y. , Zmuda E.J. , Frick J. , Liu Y. , McBride K.L. , Nelin L.D. , Trittmann J.K.
Published: January 2020

BACKGROUND:

Differences in the susceptibility of preterm infants to develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) implicate potential genetic differences in response to the inflammatory stimuli leading to NEC. Dual specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) are a key suppressor pathway of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pro-inflammatory signaling pathway. We hypothesized that inherited single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DUSP genes contribute to NEC susceptibility in premature infants.

METHODS:

Patients admitted between 2010 and 2015 born at <  32 weeks GA and≤1,500 g BW with stage II+NEC (cases; n = 50) and age, weight-matched controls ( n = 38) were included. Blood samples were collected for DNA isolation. Agena Mass Array assay was used to examine 31 SNPs in 9 different DUSP genes. Calculated minor allele frequencies (MAF) for cases and controls were compared using χ2 and logistic regression.

RESULTS:

The presence of the rs704074 SNP was associated with a 48% decreased risk of developing NEC (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.27– 1.01, p = 0.04). The odds of surgical NEC decreased by 78% (OR 0.22; 95% CI 0.06– 0.84, p = 0.027) for each copy of rs704074/G allele in patients with NEC.

CONCLUSION:

In this small single-center pilot study, DUSP-6 SNP (rs704074) was associated with a lower risk of developing NEC and surgical NEC, the most severe form of NEC, in preterm infants.
Urban/rural differences in the use of physician services by people with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Buchanan Robert J. , Wang Suojin , Stuifbergen Alexa , Chakravorty Bonnie J. , Zhu Li , Kim MyungSuk
Published: January 2020

Objective:

to identify any urban/rural differences among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the utilization of physician services and MS-focused care, as well as differences in patient perceptions of access and quality.

Method:

data were collected by surveying 1,518 people with MS throughout the United States, equally divided among urban, urban-adjacent rural areas, and more remote rural areas. Standard SAS procedures were used to analyze the results.

Results:

significantly larger proportions of people with MS in rural areas had a family or general practitioner as their primary physician while a significantly larger proportion of people with MS in urban areas had a neurologist as their primary physician. Rural residents traveled significantly greater distances to receive MS-focused care than their urban counterparts. People with MS living in more remote rural areas averaged less satisfaction with their access to a neurologist and to MS-focused care, and less satisfaction with the quality of care received, than people with MS in urban areas.

Conclusion:

limited availability of MS specialists in rural areas, and greater travel time and distance required to receive care from these providers, present future challenges to providing appropriate and high quality MS-focused care to people living with MS in rural areas.
The use of electropalatography in the assessment and treatment of acquired motor speech disorders in adults: Current knowledge and future directions
Authors: McAuliffe Megan J. , Ward Elizabeth C.
Published: January 2020

Electropalatography (EPG) has been employed to measure speech articulation since the mid-1970s. This technique has predominately been used in experimental phonetic research and in the diagnosis and treatment of articulation disorders in children. However, there is a growing body of research employing EPG to diagnose and treat articulatory impairment associated with acquired motor speech disorder (MSD) in adults. The purpose of this paper was to (1) review the findings of studies pertaining to the assessment and treatment of MSDs in adults using EPG, (2) highlight current methodologies employed, and (3) discuss the potential limitations of EPG in the assessment and treatment of MSDs and examine directions for future applied research and treatment studies.
Utilization of rehabilitation therapies by nursing home residents with MS at admission
Authors: Buchanan Robert J. , Wang Suojin , Martin Raymond A. , Ju Hyunsu
Published: January 2020

Objective:

To identify factors associated with the utilization of physical and occupational therapies by nursing home residents with multiple sclerosis (MS) at admission to the facility.

Design:

The study analyzed 27,264 admission assessments for residents with MS recorded in the national Minimum Data Set (MDS) between June, 1998 and June, 2003. A multiple linear regression model was employed to analyze the MDS data. The total number of minutes of physical and occupational therapies provided are the dependent variables. Independent variables are demographic characteristics, payment source, behavioral symptoms, and a range of health-related characteristics.

Results:

The use of physical and occupational therapies by residents with MS at admission to the nursing facility was significantly associated with payment source, controlling for other independent variables.

Conclusions:

When reimbursement is available these therapies are more likely to be prescribed or requested. Since provision of these rehabilitative services diminishes disability and handicap, expanded Medicaid coverage may reduce long term health care costs and also improve the quality of life.
Adult human neural stem cells for autologous cell replacement therapies for neurodegenerative disorders
Authors: Galvin Kerry A. , Jones D. Gareth
Published: January 2020

Neural stem cells residing in the adult human brain have the potential to provide a source of tissue for self-to-self cell replacement strategies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Adult human neural stem cells (NSCs) are self renewable in culture and can generate mature neural progeny which display the characteristics of functional neurons and glia. Despite this, a number of concerns remain regarding their current suitability for treating neurodegenerative disorders. It must be demonstrated that desired neuronal types can be generated in clinically significant quantities, and can induce long-lasting functional improvements in well-characterised animal models of neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, the risks to patients in terms of tumour formation and side effects must be adequately assessed. Due to the paucity of data on adult human NSCs, a move from preclinical studies to clinical trials in human patients in the foreseeable future is unlikely. If clinical trials with autologous NSCs are pursued as a treatment option for neurodegenerative diseases, then lessons and insights from many years of clinical trials with fetal neural transplantation for Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases will be invaluable, and should be heeded. Issues include experimental versus therapeutic research, standardisation of methodologies, and minimisation of risks and maximisation of benefits.
A review of motor recovery mechanisms in patients with stroke
Authors: Jang Sung Ho
Published: January 2020

Elucidation of the motor recovery mechanisms in stroke patients is important because such information could provide the scientific basis for stroke rehabilitation. The motor recovery mechanism after stroke, however, has not yet been clearly elucidated, but several suggested mechanisms have been proposed. These include the ipsilateral motor pathway from the unaffected motor cortex to the affected hand, peri-lesional reorganization, the recovery of a damaged lateral corticospinal tract, and contribution of the secondary motor area. Additionally, little is known about the motor recovery mechanism for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, for locomotor recovery, and for damage at the subcortical level. Therefore, we suggest that further research should be focused on the elucidation of motor recovery mechanisms in relation to the above topics. In the current study, we tried to review the literatures about the motor recovery mechanisms of the patients with stroke.
Ipsi-lesional motor deficits in hemiparetic patients with stroke
Authors: Kwon Yong-Hyun , Kim Chung Sun , Jang Sung Ho
Published: January 2020

Previous studies have proven that motor deficits are expressed in the ipsi-lesional limbs of the injured hemisphere in a variety of motor tasks. However, it still remained controversial for the distinct characteristics of the motor deficits according to the dysfunction of each hemisphere related to motor control. We evaluated the performance of the ipsi-lesional limb in stroke patients and age-sex matched normal controls. Kinematic components such as the temporal variation and accuracy index were analyzed. Our findings revealed that both groups with right or left hemisphere damage showed poor accuracy in terms of complex visuomotor function. Overall, patients with left hemisphere damage exhibited temporal inconstancies in simple repetitive movement. Accordingly, the non-dominant hemisphere plays a primary role in the function of complex visuospatial accuracy, whereas the dominant hemisphere is mainly involved in the motor control of bilateral upper limbs as well as the performance of complex tasks. Therefore, we assumed that such deficits may be caused by damage of the lateralized hemispheric function, depending on the property of the performed task and hemispheric asymmetry. The manifest understanding of the ipsi-lesional motor abnormalities provides clinicians with useful neurophysiologic information, and with the necessity of careful evaluation and therapeutic intervention on the ipsi-lesional upper limb, often clinically assumed as “the non-affected side”.
Long-term effects of prism adaptation on chronic neglect after stroke
Authors: Shiraishi Hideki , Yamakawa Yuriko , Itou Ayaka , Muraki Toshiaki , Asada Takashi
Published: January 2020

Previous studies have discussed the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of prism adaptation for neglect patients. Purpose: The aim of present study was to determine the long-term effect of prism adaptation with activity performance instead of pointing performance on chronic neglect patients. Subjects: Seven patients with chronic unilateral spatial neglect were recruited. Methods: We performed an 8-week intervention using prismatic glasses. Changes in eye movement before and after intervention were measured using an eye mark recorder system. We also assessed intentional spatial bias in terms of center of gravity in the standing position using a tactile sensor scan system. Additionally, regional cerebral blood flow was measured using SPECT (IMP) before and after intervention. Results: Eye movements significantly improved on the neglected side ( p < 0.01), and the effects were sustained for up to 6 weeks after the removal of the prism. The center of gravity significantly moved to the left and forward. Furthermore, rCBF showed a significant increase at the parietal cortex, pericalleosal area of the left hemisphere ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that intervention using prismatic glasses could improve eye movement on the neglected side and correct intentional spatial bias. Prism intervention might be one valuable method for the activation of the important areas of the brain in neglect patients.
Does long-term outcome after intensive inpatient rehabilitation of acquired brain injury depend on etiology?
Authors: Blicher Jakob Udby , Nielsen Jørgen Feldbæk
Published: January 2020

Purpose:

To identify predictors of outcome, epilepsy, spasticity and depression one year after severe acquired brain injury.

Method:

Retrospective cohort study. A consecutive sample of 165 patients with severe acquired brain injury admitted for inpatient rehabilitation during a 18-month time period, was contacted and offered home visits one-year after brain injury. Of the 165 patients 12 did not participate. The cohort included patients with different etiologies primarily traumatic brain injury (65), stroke (25) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (34). Functional independent measure (FIM) was measured at admission at rehabilitation unit and at follow-up. At follow-up the presence of epilepsy, spasticity, and depression was evaluated.

Results:

Using multiple logistic regression a short length of stay at acute hospital (LOS1) ( P = 0.004), a high FIM score at admission ( P < 0.001), and low age ( P = 0.003), were all predictors of good outcome. No difference was found between etiologies ( P = 0.077). The presence of spasticity was predicted by low FIM score ( P < 0.001), longer LOS1 ( P < 0.036), etiology ( P < 0.001), and lower age ( P = 0.001). Depression was predicted by higher age ( P = 0.035).

Conclusions:

Age, functional status, and length of acute hospital stay are associated with outcome one year after brain injury. The functional outcome was not correlated to etiology.
Relation of executive functioning and social communication measures to functional outcomes following traumatic brain injury
Authors: Struchen Margaret A. , Clark Allison N. , Sander Angelle M. , Mills Monique R. , Evans Gina , Kurtz Diana
Published: January 2020

Neuropsychologists are increasingly asked to provide recommendations regarding functional abilities based on test results, particularly within the rehabilitation setting. Yet, the empirical basis for making such recommendations is limited. The current study examines relationships between executive functioning and social communication measures and concurrently measured occupational and social integration outcomes. Participants were 121 individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) recruited from participants in a longitudinal study of outcome following TBI who had all received comprehensive brain injury rehabilitation. As part of a larger study designed to evaluate social communication abilities following TBI, participants completed measures of executive functioning, affect perception, perceived communication ability, and functional outcome. After adjusting for age, education, and performance on executive functioning measures, social communication performance accounted for a unique 5.6% of the variance in occupational outcomes and 7.9% of variance in social integration outcomes. Executive functioning performance accounted for a unique 13.3% of the variance in occupational functioning and 16.0% of explained variance in social integration. These results provide evidence of the value of executive functioning and social communication measures in the prediction of functional outcomes. Additionally, such results provide preliminary support for the addition of social communication measures to assessment of TBI in neuropsychological practice.
Ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin type A injection to the iliopsoas muscle in the management of children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Depedibi R. , Ünlü E. , Çevikol A. , Akkaya T. , Çakcı A. , Çerekçi R. , Köse G. , Ünlüsoy D.
Published: January 2020

Objective:

To determine the effect of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) on spasticity and functional development in children with cerebral palsy (CP) in conjunction with a physiotherapy program.

Method:

In this prospective study, 18 CP patients were evaluated. Multilevel BTX-A injection was applied to children at a dose of 15 U/kg. Children were assessed before and at the 5th and 12th week post-injection using Thomas test, Duncan-Ely test, passive range of motion (pROM) measurement, Distance Between Knee (DBK), Selective Motor Control (SMC) scale, modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and modified Physician Rating Scale (mPRS). To assess functional improvement, Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) were used before and at the 12th week post-injection.

Results:

At 5th week post-injection, a statistically significant decrease was determined in spasticity ( p < 0.01). Improvement was observed in mPRS and pROM, but not in SMC. At the 12th week post-injection, GMFM ( p < 0.001) and WeeFIM improved significantly (p < 0.001). The improvement in pROM and mPRS ( p < 0.01) lasted until the 12th week post-injection, but the improvement in MAS ( p > 0.05) and in the Tardieu test of hip adductors ( p > 0.05) did not last after the 5th week.

Conclusion:

BTX-A injection enhances functional and motor abilities in the development process.
The interrater and intrarater reliability of the Modified Ashworth Scale in the assessment of muscle spasticity: Limb and muscle group effect
Authors: Ansari Noureddin Nakhostin , Naghdi Soofia , Arab Tahereh Khosravian , Jalaie Shohreh
Published: January 2020

The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) is a clinical scale used to assess muscle spasticity. While the evidence indicates that the reliability of the MAS is better in the upper limb and in certain distal muscle groups, no investigation has compared the effect of limbs and muscle groups on the MAS reliability. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of limb and muscle group on the reliability of the MAS in patients with spastic hemiplegia. Thirty subjects with upper and lower limb muscle spasticity were recruited for this trial. Two female experienced physiotherapists participated in this examination of reliability, and rated each patient in a randomized order in a single session. For the intrarater reliability, the second rater repeated the test 1 week later. Shoulder adductor, elbow flexor, wrist flexor, hip adductor, knee extensor, and ankle plantar flexor were tested on the hemiplegic side. Results demonstrated moderate inter ( κ = 0.514, SE = 0.046, p < 0.001) and intrarater ( κ = 0.590, SE = 0.051, p < 0.001) reliability. For the inter and intrarater reliability, the agreement obtained for the upper and lower limb was similar. In the upper limb, the agreement between raters on the distal wrist flexor was significantly higher than the agreement on the proximal shoulder adductor. In the lower limb, there was a similar agreement between raters on the distal ankle plantar flexor and proximal hip adductor. For within rater, the agreement on the proximal and distal muscles of both limbs was not statistically significant.

The Modified Ashworth Scale had moderate reliability. The limbs had no effect on the reliability. The agreement on distal wrist flexor in the upper limb was significantly higher between rater than in the proximal shoulder adductor. The agreement obtained with the MAS was not good, which questions the validity of the measurements.
Using the Internet to assess activities of daily living and hand function in people with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Hoffmann Tammy , Russell Trevor , Thompson Leah , Vincent Amy , Nelson Mark
Published: January 2020

The ability to measure activities of daily living (ADL) and hand function for people with Parkinson's disease via an Internet-based telerehabilitation system would have a significant impact on the equity, accessibility, and management of the condition for patients who live in rural and remote communities. A low-bandwidth computer-based telerehabilitation system, which incorporates videoconferencing with calibrated assessment tools, has been recently developed at the University of Queensland. This study aimed to determine the validity, intra- and inter-rater reliability of the telerehabilitation system in measuring ADL and hand function in 12 people with Parkinson's disease. ADL status was assessed using the motor component of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and selected items from the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). The Nine Hole Peg Test, Jamar dynamometer and Preston pinch gauge were also used to assess hand function. For half of the participants, an assessor administered assessments in the traditional face-to-face manner while another assessor simultaneously scored the same assessments via the telerehabilitation system. For the remaining participants, the telerehabilitation assessor administered the assessments via the telerehabilitation system while a face-to-face assessor simultaneously scored the assessments. The telerehabilitation system was found to be a valid measure of ADL status and hand function in people with Parkinson's disease and to have a high level of intra- and inter-rater reliability (all ICCs > 0.80). These results suggest that therapists can confidently use a low-bandwidth telerehabilitation system to assess ADL status and hand function in people with Parkinson's disease.
Epizootiology of Infectious Diseases of Dog in Some States in Nigeria (2015–2018)
Authors: Tion M. T. , Zon G. A. , Fotina H. A. , Ogbu K. I. , Nguetyo S. A. , Amine A. A. , Oochi J. O. , Ojeamiren M. T. , Saganuwan A. A.
Published: January 2020

An epizootiology of infectious diseases/conditions of dog in some veterinary clinics from Benue, Plateau states and the Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria were assessed from 2015 to 2018. This study revealed about seventeen (17) infectious clinical cases/conditions from 1865 cases recorded within the period of four (4) years. These comprised of helminthoses (17.8%) having the highest prevalence followed by babesiosis (17.5%), parvovirosis (15.9%), ectoparasitism (11.3%), scepticemia (6.9%), Mange (5.7%), urinary tract infections (4.7%), canine distemper (4.2%), colitis (3.9%), myiasis (2.7%), trypanosomosis (2.1%), leptospirosis and transmissible venereal tumor (1.9%), respiratory infections (1.7%), otitis (1.0%) and orchitis (0.7%). Puppies (0–6 months old) 50.2% were mostly affected. Incidences of diseases were more in Alsatians (23.7%), Cross (22.9%), Nigerian indigenous breed (20.5%), Caucasian (9.6%) and Rottweiler (8.9%). More cases of vaccinated (68.7%) were recorded against the unvaccinated (31.3%) dogs while male (57.1%) dogs had a higher frequency of cases as compared with their female (42.9%) counterpart. Disease incidence was highest in dry season (54.3%) especially in the months of December (13.3%), January (11.1%) and February (10.6%).The highest frequency of disease incidence was recorded in 2015 (36.4%). Most the infectious clinical cases/conditions recorded from this study were preventable cases demanding veterinary care in order to prevent the risk of zoonosis.
Zur russischen Vermittlung von Germanismen ins Polnische während der Zeit der polnischen Teilungen
Authors: Hentschel Gerd , Anders-Marnowsky Sabine , Tesch Sviatlana
Published: January 2020

Artykuł poświęcony jest fenomenowi przenikania germanizmów za pośrednictwem rosyjskiego do polskiego. Na wybranych przykładach autor pokazuje, że liczba w ten sposób zapożyczanych germanizmów jest najprawdopodobniej większa niż dotąd zakładano. Przy systematycznym uwzględnianiu wariantów danego słowa na poziomie wyrażenia oraz polisemii pojawiają się często układy, w których określone warianty wyrażenia i/lub znaczenia wskazują na pośrednictwo rosyjskiego w procesie zapożyczania, niektóre natomiast bezpośrednio z niemieckiego trafi ły do polszczyzny.
Wyrazy polskie w "Variae exhortationes et formulae ordinis Fratrum Minorum de Observatia" Bartłomieja z Bydgoszczy
Authors: Trawińska Maria
Published: January 2020

Artykuł omawia wyrazy polskie występujące w XVI-wiecznym łacińskim rękopisie Bartłomieja z Bydgoszczy. Wskazane przykłady ilustrują, że wprowadzanie polszczyzny może przybierać formę dosłownego tłumaczenia łacińskiego fragmentu, być zbliżonym znaczeniowo dopowiedzeniem lub rozbudowanym komentarzem, bądź swobodną parafrazą.
Does biogeography need species?
Authors: Procheş Ş
Published: January 2020

The non–equivalence of species defined using different species concepts has recently been highlighted as a serious impediment for conservation efforts. The question arises then, to what extent biogeographical studies, and especially macroecological studies, might also be hampered by the numerous problems pertaining to multi–species datasets. An examination of what is meant by species across spatial scales reveals an important discontinuity. Over and above the much–debated species concepts the word ‘species’ describes, in fact, two distinct ideas. One, applicable at the local scale, is critical in a community ecology context. The second refers to non–equivalent units in the global inventory of biodiversity, useful for reference purpose, but problematic where analysis is concerned. The majority of biogeographical studies are in fact relevant to those intermediate spatial scales where neither meaning truly applies. Multi–species lineages that are comparable in one or another respect (such as equal–age lineages and similar–range lineages) are probably more accurate units for testing biogeographical hypotheses
“Yedi Puanlamalı Subjektif Global Değerlendirme’nin (SGD-7P)” Türkçe’ye Uyarlanması ve Hemodiyaliz Hastaları Üzerinde Pilot Çalışma ile SGD-3P Uyumunun Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: Olcay Eminsoy İrem , Kızıltan Gül , Akçil Ok Mehtap , Eminsoy M. Gökhan , Oral Emel Aydan , Sayın Cihat Burak
Published: January 2020

Amaç: Orijinali İngilizce olan ve diyaliz hastalarının beslenme durumunun değerlendirmek için kullanılan “Yedi puanlamalı Subjektif Global Değerlendirme (SGD-7P)” formunun Türkçe denkliğini (semantik) göstermek ve Subjektif Global Değerlendirme (SGD-3P) uyumunun araştırılmasıdır.

Bireyler ve Yöntem: Semantik denkliği sağlamak için İngilizce olan form Türkçe’ye çevrilmiş, sonra tekrar İngilizce’ye çevrilip, her iki formun birbirine örtüştüğüne karar verildikten sonra, 16 hemodiyaliz hastasıyla yapılan pilot çalışma sonunda SGD-7P ile SGD-3P uyumlu olduğu bulunmuştur. Sonrasında 227 hemodiyaliz hastasına SGD-3P ve SGD-7P uygulanarak, bazı kan parametrelerinin ve antropometrik ölçümlerinin değerlendirildiği çalışma düzenlenmiştir.

Bulgular: SGD-7P ve SGD-3P uyumu değerlendirmek için 16 hasta üzerinde yapılan pilot çalışmada, Cohen Kappa testi sonucunda uyum katsayısı 0.862 ve p<0.0001 olarak bulunmuştur. Çalışmanın ikinci aşamasına katılan 227 hastanın, %30.4’ü kadın, %69.6’ı erkektir. Yaş ortalamaları 60.44±14.99 yıldır. SGD-3P ve SGD-7P için sırasıyla serum albümin (r=-0. 261, p<0.0001; r=-0.182, p=0.006), hemodiyaliz (HD) öncesi kreatinin değerlerinin (r=-0.248, p<0.0001; r=-0.212, p=0.001) negatif yönlü ve benzer güçte bir korelasyon gösterdiği belirlenmiştir. Antropometrik ölçümler ile SGD-3P ve SGD-7P yapılan korelasyon analizinde sırasıyla vücut ağırlığı (r=-0.347, p<0.0001; r=-0.243, p<0.0001), beden kütle indeksi (BKİ) (r=-0.300 p<0.0001; r=-0.199, p=0.003), üst orta kol çevresi (ÜOKÇ) (r=-0.312, p<0.0001; r=-0.252 p<0.0001), triseps deri kıvrım kalınlığı (TDKK) (r=-0.369, p<0.0001; r=-0.190, p=0.007) ve el kavrama kuvveti (r=-0.170, p=0.016; r=-0.157, p=0.026) ile negatif yönlü ve benzer güçte bir korelasyon gösterdiği belirlenmiştir. SGD-7P ile SGD-3P uyumunu gösteren Kappa istatistiği 0.571 olarak bulunmuştur. Serum albümin, total protein, kreatinin değerleri ile vücut ağırlığı, BKİ, ÜOKÇ, TDKK, el kavrama kuvvetleri SGD-3P ve SGD-7P yapılan değerlendirmede iyi beslenmiş ve hafif-orta-ağır malnütrisyonlu olan hastalarda istatistiksel olarak önemli olacak şekilde farklılıklar göstermektedir.

Sonuç: SGD-7P Türkçeye uyarlanmış ve hemodiyaliz hastalarında malnütrisyon durumunu değerlendirmek için uygun bir araç olduğu belirlenmiştir.
Nowe źródła zasobów własnych Unii Europejskiej
Authors: Kłos Agnieszka
Published: January 2020

Wspólnoty Europejskie, a później Unia Europejska, miały podejmować wszelkie działaniaprowadzące do zmniejszenia różnic w rozwoju gospodarczym poszczególnych państwczłonkowskich oraz w ich regionach. Te cele były osiągane m.in. poprzez utworzenie uniicelnej, jednolitego rynku europejskiego, utworzenie docelowo unii gospodarczej i walutowej oraz wprowadzanie i realizację polityki: handlowej, rolnej, spójności, konkurencjiitp. Nierozłącznie z funkcjonowaniem Unii Europejskiej i urzeczywistnianiem jej celówwiąże się problem pozyskania środków finansowych, które pozwoliłyby na wywiązywanie się z zadań nałożonych na nią traktatami i innymi aktami prawnymi. A to oznaczakonieczność pozyskiwania nowych zasobów własnych Unii Europejskiej. W ostatnichlatach pojawiły się propozycje wprowadzania nowych zasobów własnych w postaci jednolitego podatku VAT, który obowiązywałby w jednakowym stopniu wszystkie państwaczłonkowskie oraz w postaci podatku od transakcji finansowych. Wadą nowej metodologii wyliczania zasobu własnego opartego na podatku VAT od dostaw towarów i usług,nabycia oraz importu podlegających podstawowej stawce VAT w każdym państwie członkowskim jest złożoność metodologii wyliczeń. Mimo poczynionych starań ww. podatkinadal nie będą typowym środkiem własnym, który wpływa bezpośrednio do budżetuUnii Europejskiej. Będą one przekazywane za pośrednictwem organów państwowychlub podmiotów gospodarczych w wypadku podatku od transakcji finansowych i nadalbędą zależne od systemów oraz stawek podatkowych każdego państwa członkowskiego.
Polityka podatkowa państw członkowskich Unii Europejskiej w świetle polityki publicznej
Authors: Gajewski Dominik
Published: January 2020

Przedmiotem publikacji jest problematyka związana z międzynarodową konkurencjąpodatkową i międzynarodowym unikaniem opodatkowania w kontekście polityki publicznej. W stosunkach wewnątrzwspólnotowych, konkurencję podatkową należy uznaćza zjawisko polegające na wykorzystywaniu różnych instrumentów techniki podatkowejdla rozwijania krajowej gospodarki i dobrobytu poprzez zwiększanie konkurencyjnościrodzimej działalności gospodarczej lub przyciąganie inwestycji zagranicznych. Konkurencja podatkowa jest naturalną konsekwencją procesów globalizacji, gdyż w świecierosnących ekonomicznych współzależności opodatkowanie wywiera coraz większywpływ na decyzje inwestycyjne holdingów. Stanowi ona wyraz rozdźwięku między interesami pojedynczego państwa Unii Europejskiej a interesem całej Unii Europejskiej.Najczęściej granica pomiędzy szkodliwą a korzystną konkurencją podatkową jest trudnado wyznaczenia.
Polityka publiczna – zagadnienia i nurty teoretyczne
Authors: Szarfenberg Ryszard
Published: January 2020

Prowadząc badania polityki publicznej w Polsce, powinno się nawiązywać do pojęć, kategorii analitycznych oraz teorii, które zaproponowano już w tym obszarze badawczym. Artykuł ma na celu przedstawienie przeglądu rozwoju teorii polityki publicznej w dłuższym okresie. Jako pierwsze zostały przedstawione podejścia typologiczne i stadialne. 

Teorie polityki publicznej zostały omówione jako dwa szersze zbiory przy uwzględnieniupodziału na paradygmaty – racjonalny oraz interpretatywny. Szczegółowo przedstawiono zastosowanie pierwszego z nich do zagadnienia definiowania wyboru rozwiązań problemów publicznych. Paradygmat interpretatywny opisano głównie w powiązaniu z argumentatywnym zwrotem oraz próbą połączenia podejścia racjonalistycznego i interpretatywnego w perspektywie racjonalnej dyskusji. Przegląd kończy przedstawienie kilku prób uporządkowania pola badawczego nauki o polityce publicznej za pomocą określenia listy pytań badawczych, obszarów badań, ram teoretyczno-metodologicznych oraz archetypów działalności analityków polityki publicznej.
Trust in government in times of economic crisis
Authors: Sobiech Robert
Published: January 2020

The aim of the paper is to provide an overview of the existing studies concerning the phenomenon of public trust in government. Low trust in government has been frequently defined as a key problem influencing the policy process in many countries. The economic crises reinforced the importance of trust and triggered public debates on the necessary reforms of the public sector. The paper examines the key theories and research conducted by social scientists with a particular emphasis on the role of trust in risk societies. The review of the existing literature concentrates on the drivers of trust, showing the importance of two interlinked logics: the logic of consequences (the performance approach) and the logic of appropriateness (the process approach). The first one explains trust as a result of outputs and outcomes of government policies and services. The logic of appropriateness claims that trust is built on values and identity and depends on the adoption by governments the rules of integrity, openness, responsiveness and transparency. Trust in government is also deeply rooted in a broader system of rules, norms andvalues known as the trust culture. The last part of the paper is an attempt to trace an impact of an economic crisis on public trust. Studies of public opinion do not fully confirm the opinions on low trust and a decline in trust in government and trust in public administration in times of crisis. Some studies reveal considerable fluctuations of public trust in selected countries. In other countries, the public evaluation of government and public administration is high and there are only slight modifications in citizens’ perception of the government.
Population-genetic parameters of the traits of the body structure of cows of Ukrainian Black-and-White Dairy breed
Authors: Khmelnychyi L. , Khmelnychyi S.
Published: January 2020

Researches of the linear traits of the body structure of cows of Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy breed were conducted in the herd of the breeding plant of the Pidlisnivskoyi branch of PJSC «Rise-Maksymko» in Sumy region. The results of the correlated variability between conformation measurements and the value of animal milk yield in the age-related lactation dynamics were presented. Positive correlation coefficients were determined within the statistical significance between measurements and milk yield of first-born cows: height at withers (r=0,422) and sacrum (0,353), chest depth (r=0,362), width in pin (r=0,311), hip bone (0,271 ) and ischial humps (r=0.366); oblique body length (r=0,286) and rear (r=0,244); chest girth (r=0.391). With age ties are weakening. The degree of heritability measurements varies within the traits and age of cows. In the herd of the breeding farm revealed sufficient, reliable by Fisher's criterion, the level of inheritance coefficients, which will provide adequate efficiency of mass selection by height measurements at the withers (h2=0,347) and sacrum (h2=0,288), depth (h2=0,244) and chest girth (h2=0,348), rear width (h2=0,251‒0,264), oblique body length (h2=0,318) and rear part (h2=0,216), for which animals differed at the age of the first lactation. It was determined that the share of variability of measurements of the main traits of the body structure is caused by the heritability of improving breed (22.1‒36.4 %), parent breeding value of cows (16.1‒37.7 %), blood of father (10.9‒26, 6 %) and father line (8.6‒19.6 %). The positive correlation coefficients have been determined between the majority of body parts measurements and the value of milk yield, and the sufficient level of heritability in age-related lactation dynamics were the motivating factors for efficiency of selective breeding of dairy cattle breed by conformation. Power of influence of the breeding value of parent and his origin on the indicators of the conformation measurements of their offspring indicated the need to consider when selection of indicators of comprehensive assessment the breeding value of sires.
Key words: Ukrainian Black-and-White Dairy breed, cows, measurements, correlation, inheritance, power of influence, hope.