bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cetirizine versus diphenhydramine in the prevention of chemotherapy-related hypersensitivity reactions
Authors: Durham Charis G , Thotakura Deepthi , Sager Lauren , Foster Jennifer , Herrington Jon D
Published: November 2018

Objective

This study evaluated the role of cetirizine compared to diphenhydramine as premedications for patients receiving paclitaxel, cetuximab, and rituximab infusions. Historically, diphenhydramine has been linked with more sedation in comparison to cetirizine; however, it is unknown if cetirizine can replace diphenhydramine in the prevention of hypersensitivity reactions in patients receiving chemotherapy.

Methods

This is a retrospective study designed to assess infusion reactions occurring in patients receiving diphenhydramine or cetirizine premedication for rituximab, paclitaxel, or cetuximab therapies. Infusion reactions were defined as various symptoms such as flushing, itching, alterations in heart rate and blood pressure, and dyspnea plus the clinical setting of a concurrent or very recent infusion.

Results

A total of 207 patients were evaluated in this study with 83 patients receiving cetirizine and 124 diphenhydramine patients. Overall, the percentage of patients with at least one chemotherapy-related infusion event in the cetirizine group was 19.3% (95% CI 11.4–29.4) compared to diphenhydramine group 24.2% (95% CI 17.0–32.7), P = 0.40. Of the patients who received cetirizine and then experienced an event in the first cycle, 41.7% (95% CI 13.7–74.3) of the events were due to paclitaxel, 50.0% (95% CI 19.4–80.6) were due to rituximab, and 8.3% (95% CI 0.1–43.6) were due to cetuximab. Of the patients who received diphenhydramine and then experienced an event in the first cycle, 26.1% (95% CI 5.7–51.4) were due to paclitaxel, 73.9% (95% CI 48.6–94.3) were due to rituximab and none due to cetuximab.

Conclusion

Cetirizine appears to be a viable substitute for diphenhydramine for the prevention of infusions reactions with cetuximab, paclitaxel, and rituximab infusions in adults. Prospective studies are needed to determine the efficacy and safety of cetirizine compared with diphenhydramine in the prevention of chemotherapy-related infusion reactions.
A case of severe, irreversible hypocalcemia after one dose of pamidronate administered for hypercalcemia of malignancy
Authors: Kim Sophie
Published: November 2018

This is a case report of a patient who developed severe, irreversible hypocalcemia after receiving one dose of pamidronate 90 mg for hypercalcemia of malignancy. Hypocalcemia is a known risk of bisphosphonate treatments, but the incidence of severe hypocalcemia is rare, and the risk factors are well established. However, in the treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy, the treatment objective is to reduce the elevated serum calcium level, and the bisphosphonate is usually given as one time dose only. The potential for developing severe hypocalcemia may not be considered a significant concern in this setting compared to the setting of the treatment of bone metastasis, where the baseline serum calcium level is not elevated and the bisphosphonate is administered at a regular interval of every three to four weeks. Furthermore, there is unawareness of prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in cancer patients, especially in those with advanced cancer, which may lead to inadvertent, severe hypocalcemia from bisphosphonate treatment. The objective of this case report is to bring awareness to the risk of severe hypocalcemia in patients with hypercalcemia of malignancy and the high prevalence of unrecognized vitamin D deficiency in cancer patients.
Feasibility Study of a Newly Developed Hybrid Energy Device Used During Laparoscopic Liver Resection in a Porcine Model
Authors: Wakabayashi Taiga , Abe Yuta , Kanazawa Akishige , Oshima Go , Kodai Shintaro , Ehara Kazuhisa , Kinugasa Yusuke , Kinoshita Takahiro , Nomura Akinari , Kawakubo Hirofumi , Kitagawa Yuko
Published: November 2018

Background. Although various devices have been clinically used for laparoscopic liver resection (LLR), the best device for liver parenchymal transection remains unknown. Olympus Corp (Tokyo, Japan) developed a laparoscopic hybrid pencil (LHP) device, which is the first electric knife to combine ultrasound and electric energy with a monopolar output. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using the LHP device and to compare it with the laparoscopic monopolar pencil (LMP) and laparoscopic ultrasonic shears (LUS) devices for LLR in a porcine model. Methods. Nine male piglets underwent laparoscopic liver lobe transections using each device. The operative parameters were evaluated in the 3 groups (n = 24 lobes) during the acute study period. The imaging findings from contrast-enhanced computed tomography and histopathological findings of autopsy on postoperative day 7 were compared among groups (n = 6 piglets) during the long-term study. Results. The transection time was shorter ( P = .001); there was less blood loss ( P = .018); and tip cleaning ( P < .001) and instrument changes were less often required ( P < .001) in the LHP group than in the LMP group. The LHP group had fewer instances of bleeding ( P < .001) and coagulator usage ( P < .001) than did the LUS group. In the long-term study, no postoperative adverse events occurred in the 3 groups. The thermal spread and depth of the LHP device were equivalent to those of the LMP and LUS devices (vs LMP: P = .226 and .159; vs LUS: P = 1.000 and .574). Conclusions. The LHP device may be an efficient device for LLR if it can be applied to human surgery.
Surgical Loupe at 4.0× Magnification in Pancreaticoduodenectomy—Does It Affect the Surgical Outcomes? A Propensity Score–Matched Study
Authors: El Shobary Mohamed , El Nakeeb Ayman , Sultan Ahmad , Ali Mahmoud Abd El Wahab , El Dosoky Mohamed , Shehta Ahmed , Ezzat Helmy , Elsabbagh Ahmed M.
Published: November 2018

Background. There is paucity of data about the impact of using magnification on rate of pancreatic leak after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The aim of this study was to show the impact of using magnifying surgical loupes 4.0× EF (electro-focus) on technical performance and surgical outcomes of PD. Patients and Method. This is a propensity score–matched study. Thirty patients underwent PD using surgical loupes at 4.0× magnification (Group A), and 60 patients underwent PD using the conventional method (Group B). The primary outcome was postoperative pancreatic fistula. Secondary outcomes included operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, mortality, and hospital stay. Results. The total operative time was significantly longer in the loupe group ( P = .0001). The operative time for pancreatic reconstruction was significantly longer in the loupe group ( P = .0001). There were no significant differences between both groups regarding hospital stay, time to oral intake, total amount of drainage, and time of nasogastric tube removal. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated 3 independent factors of development of postoperative pancreatic fistula: pancreatic duct <3 mm, body mass index >25, and soft pancreas. Conclusion. Surgical loupes 4.0× added no advantage in surgical outcomes of PD with regard to improvement of postoperative complications rate or mortality rate.
Engine fault diagnosis based on sensor data fusion considering information quality and evidence theory
Authors: Zhang Hepeng , Deng Yong
Published: November 2018

Fault diagnosis is a problem processing variable information obtained from different sources in nature. Evidence theory, efficient to deal with information viewed as evidence, is widely used in fault diagnosis. However, a shortcoming of the existing fault diagnosis methods only gets probability distribution rather than the basic probability assignment. A novel method of generating basic probability assignment that takes information quality into account is proposed. The probability distribution is determined by the preliminary matrix and sampling matrix that are constructed by sensor data. And the quality of probability distribution is taken as the discount factor and the rest of belief is assigned to the universal set. Hence, the basic probability assignment is obtained. Then, basic probability assignment can be combined with Dempster and Shafer evidence theory to determine the status of the engine. An application of engine fault is shown to illustrate the practicability of the proposed method. Then by comparing the result of the method which takes information quality into account (the proposed method) and does not do it, the former is better than the latter. Finally, the reliability analysis shows that the proposed method has strong reliability because performance accuracy is 100% when the error rate is less than 10%.
When frames collide: ‘Ethnic war’ and ‘genocide’
Authors: Hammond Philip
Published: November 2018

This article examines the problem of how to interpret competing, clashing or contradictory news frames in coverage of war and conflict, focusing on the reporting of the 1992–1995 Bosnian war. ‘Ethnic war’ and ‘genocide’ featured as competing news frames in news coverage of Bosnia and several subsequent conflicts, and are often understood to be contradictory in terms of their implied explanations, moral evaluations and policy prescriptions. The author questions the assumptions that many journalists and academics have made about these frames and the relationship between them. He asks how we can make sense of clashing or contradictory scholarly analyses of these competing frames and considers a number of broader issues for framing analysis: the significance of historical context for understanding the meaning of particular framing devices, the importance of quantification in framing analysis and the role of influential sources in prompting journalists to adopt particular frames.
Incidence, risk factors, and clinical impact of non-home discharge following surgical management of proximal humerus fractures
Authors: Malik Azeem T , Barlow Jonathan D , Jain Nikhil , Khan Safdar N
Published: November 2018

Introduction

There has been a reported increase in the number of proximal humerus fractures being surgically managed. In an attempt to manage increasing costs associated with increasing volume, there is a need for identification of factors associated with discharge destinations.

Methods

The 2012–2016 American College of Surgeons—National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried using Current Procedural Terminology codes for open reduction internal fixation, hemiarthroplasty, and total shoulder arthroplasty being performed for proximal humerus fractures.

Results

Five hundred and seventy-six (21.5%) patients had nonhome discharge disposition. Following adjusted analysis, age > 65 years (p < 0.001), partially dependent functional health status prior to surgery(p = 0.027), inpatient surgery (p = 0.010), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade>II (p < 0.001), transfer from nursing home/chronic care facility (p < 0.001), undergoing a total shoulder arthroplasty versus open reduction internal fixation (p = 0.012), length of stay > 2 days (p < 0.001), and the occurrence of any predischarge complication (p < 0.001) were significant predictors associated with a nonhome discharge disposition.

Conclusion

The study identifies significant risk factors associated with a nonhome discharge and assesses clinical impact of nonhome discharge destination on postdischarge outcomes. Providers can utilize these data to preoperatively risk stratify those at an increased risk of a nonhome discharge, counsel patients on discharge expectations, and tailor a more appropriate postoperative course of care.
Development of acquired intrapulmonary venous anastomosis contributing to establishment of Fontan circulation
Authors: Hayabuchi Yasunobu , Homma Yukako , Sugano Mikio , Kitaichi Takashi , Kagami Shoji
Published: November 2018

Pulmonary venous (PV) obstruction is associated with a poor prognosis, as well as a high risk of recurrence, following surgical treatment. It can also interfere with the successful completion of Fontan circulation in patients with complex congenital heart disease. A case of a patient who had right isomerism (also known as asplenia syndrome), total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), and a single right ventricle is presented. Although bilateral total occlusion of the inferior PVs was identified postoperatively, the formation of the anastomosis and collateral vessels into the superior and middle PVs enabled successful completion of Fontan circulation. Anastomoses and collateral flow of the PVs were found largely in the interlobar pleura and not in the lung parenchyma.
Hemodynamic changes after acute fluid loading in patients with systemic sclerosis without pulmonary hypertension
Authors: D’Alto Michele , Romeo Emanuele , Argiento Paola , Mattera Iacono Agostino , Vettori Serena , Riccardi Antonella , Allanore Yannick , D’Andrea Antonello , Rea Gaetano , Bossone Eduardo , Valentini Gabriele , Naeije Robert , Golino Paolo
Published: November 2018

A fluid challenge with a rapid infusion of saline helps to discriminate between pre‐ and post‐capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) and allows unmasking hidden post‐capillary PH. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients may present with biventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic changes of the pulmonary circulation in SSc patients without PH after a fluid challenge. Twenty‐five SSc patients and 25 controls underwent right heart catheterization in basal conditions and after volume loading with saline infusion of 7 mL/kg over 5–10 min. At baseline, there was no difference in hemodynamics between SSc patients and controls. Rapid volume loading resulted in a significant increase in pressures and flows in both groups. Increases in right atrial pressure (3 ± 1 vs. 2 ± 1 mmHg, P = 0.03), mean pulmonary artery pressure (5 ± 1 vs. 3 ± 1 mmHg, P < 0.001), and pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP; 5 ± 2 vs. 3 ± 1 mmHg, P < 0.001) were larger in SSc patients than in controls. Conversely, cardiac index (0.4 ± 0.2 vs. 0.6 ± 0.3 L/min/m2, P = 0.005) increased less in SSc patients than in controls. Pulmonary vascular resistance did not differ between groups before and after volume loading. Four SSc patients and only one of the controls reached a PAWP > 18 mmHg suggesting latent left heart failure. Even if differences are small and not diagnostic for heart failure, SSc patients without PH have a larger increase in pulmonary vascular pressures and a smaller increase in cardiac output than controls after an acute volume loading, probably due to subclinical left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.
C-Myc Deregulation is Involved in Melphalan Resistance of Multiple Myeloma: Role of PDGF-BB
Authors: Greco C. , D'Agnano I. , Vitelli G. , Vona R. , Marino M. , Mottolese M. , Zuppi C. , Capoluongo E. , Ameglio F.
Published: November 2018

Oncogenes are important regulators of cancer growth and progression and their action may be modulated by proteins of the growth factor family, such as angiogenic cytokines, known to be strongly involved in neoplastic evolution. Reciprocal interactions between oncogenes and angiogenic modulators may represent, in haematological neoplasms, including multiple myeloma (MM), a possible mechanism of drug resistance. The aim of this work is to investigate in vitro and in vivo whether or not c-myc deregulation is involved in the melphalan resistance elicited by myeloma patients and consequently to clarify the role of the angiogenic factor PDGF-BB in modulating c-myc protein expression. Fifty-one MM patients on chemotherapy with melphalan were analyzed for structural alterations of the c-myc gene, c-Myc protein expression, as well as for serum PDGF-BB release. For the in vitro study, two M14-derived established cell clones, differing for the c-Myc protein expression (c-Myc low -expressing or constitutively expressing clones) were used. Our results show that PDGF-BB is able to up-regulate Myc expression and reduce melphalan sensitivity of tumor cell clones, constitutively expressing c-myc gene product. In addition, down-regulation of c-Myc protein induces the expression of PDGF-β receptor molecules and reduces PDGF-BB release. In agreement with these results, in vivo data show that melphalan-resistant MM patients present overexpressed c-Myc protein and higher serum PDGF-β receptor levels compared to minor responding patients.
Central control of autonomic function
Authors: Coote John H. , Spyer K. Michael
Published: November 2018

In this review, current understanding of the control of autonomic function is outlined and its development over the last 50 years highlighted. Using the control of the cardiovascular system as the primary tool, the importance of the patterning of autonomic outflows is shown to be crucial in both homeostasis and behaviour. Technical advances have made it possible to obtain a clearer idea of how the central nervous system evolves patterns of autonomic discharge that optimise autonomic changes to support motor and behavioural responses. The specific roles of sympathetic and parasympathetic preganglionic neurones and premotor neurones are surveyed and the importance of their roles in integrating afferent inputs that result from peripheral sensory inputs and drive from multiple levels of the neuraxis is outlined. The autonomic control of the viscera, including the urinogenital organs and other organs is discussed briefly. The current ability to use animal models to monitor and modulate autonomic neural discharge and simultaneously co-relate this with end-organ activity is shown to have translational potential. There is every prospect that these studies will lead to the identification of new therapies for pathophysiological conditions.
Oxygen delivered by a high flow concentrator for the treatment of medication-overuse headache
Authors: Mawet Jerome , Valade Dominique , Vigan Marie , Laouenan Cedric , Roos Caroline
Published: November 2018

Treatment of medication-overuse headache (MOH) relies on detoxification, during which patients face rebound headache without alternative to painkiller. As oxygen has been proven effective for cluster and other headache subtypes, we sought to evaluate use of normobaric oxygen delivered by a high flow concentrator (HFC) in patients suffering MOH. For this purpose, twenty patients with MOH were included in this prospective monocentric open-labeled feasibility study. All patients received standard care with detoxification in addition to HFC delivering normobaric oxygen at 9 l/min, used to their discretion to treat rebound headache. Primary endpoint was acceptance of HFC and secondary endpoints evaluated its efficacy. Four patients were lost of follow-up after inclusion, one was excluded. HFC was accepted by 14/15 (93.3%). At M6 of follow-up, 15/15 (100%) reverted to episodic headache. In conclusion, normobaric oxygen delivered by HFC appears to be safe, feasible, and probably efficient to help patient with MOH who undergo withdrawal therapy. A larger double-blind, sham-controlled prospective study is needed.

Trial registration: Clinical trials: NCT02302027.
Evolution and multiple origins of zona pellucida genes in vertebrates
Authors: Feng Jin-Mei , Tian Hai-Feng , Hu Qiao-Mu , Meng Yan , Xiao Han-Bing
Published: November 2018

Animal egg coats are composed of different glycoproteins collectively named zona pellucida (ZP) proteins. The characterized vertebrate genes encoding ZP proteins have been classified into six subfamilies, and exhibit low similarity to the ZP genes characterized in certain invertebrates. The origin and evolution of the vertebrate ZP genes remain obscure. A search against 97 representative metazoan species revealed various numbers (ranging from three to 33) of different putative egg-coat ZP genes in all 47 vertebrates and several ZP genes in five invertebrate species, but no putative ZP gene was found in the other 45 species. Based on phylogenetic and synteny analyses, all vertebrate egg-coat ZP genes were classified into eight ZP gene subfamilies. Lineage- and species-specific gene duplications and gene losses occurred frequently and represented the main causes of the patchy distribution of the eight ZP gene subfamilies in vertebrates. Thorough phylogenetic analyses revealed that the vertebrate ZP genes could be traced to three independent origins but were not orthologues of the characterized invertebrate ZP genes. Our results suggested that vertebrate egg-coat ZP genes should be classified into eight subfamilies, and a putative evolutionary map is proposed. These findings would aid the functional and evolutionary analyses of these reproductive genes in vertebrates.
Moving things forward in Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Bröckelmann Paul J. , Böll Boris
Published: November 2018

Arising from the immune system and located primarily in lymphoid organs, Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is one of the most common cancers in young adults. Risk-adapted first-line treatment usually consisting of multi-agent chemotherapy and often incorporating consolidative radiation therapy aims at long-term cure. Although this is achieved in the vast majority of patients, therapy-related side effects such as organ damage, second cancers, and fatigue constitute considerable sequelae and outweigh HL as the cause of mortality after successful first-line treatment. In addition, intensive conventional therapy is seldom feasible in elderly or frail patients, diminishing chances of cure in this growing population of patients. The rapidly growing understanding of HL biology, innovative clinical trials, and the incorporation of novel drugs might help to overcome these obstacles in the management of HL. In this review, recent advances in the understanding and care of HL will be summarized with a focus on ongoing and future strategies which might help move things forward.
Power and society in the development of General education in Russia (XIX-end of XX century)
Authors: Овчинников Анатолий , Ovchinnikov Anatoliy , Козлова Галина , Kozlova Galina , Петухова Ирина , Petukhova Irina
Published: November 2018

The monograph is the result of the work of the team of authors on the execution of the grant RGNF №14-06-00424a
"Historical experience of interaction between government and society in the development of General education in Russia (XIX - end of XX centuries)". It describes the historiography and methodological approaches to the study of the problem. On the basis of a wide range of sources, the problems of relations between the Russian government and society in the education of students, determining the content of education in the domestic school.
The book is intended for managers and employees of the education system who are interested in the history of the Russian school. It can also be useful for teachers and students of pedagogical educational institutions, all interested in General education.
Comportamento sedentário como critério discriminador do excesso de peso corporal em idosos
Authors: Jesus Andreia Santos , Rocha Saulo Vasconcelos
Published: November 2018

O objetivo do estudo foi analisar o comportamento sedentário como discriminador de excesso de peso corporal em idosos. Estudo transversal, com 310 idosos (idade ≥ 60 anos), de ambos os sexos, residentes no município de Ibicuí, Bahia. Foram investigadas informações sobre características sociodemográficas e pessoais; hábitos de vida e comportamento sedentário (CS), avaliado por meio do Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física - IPAQ. O índice de massa corporal (IMC) foi calculado pela divisão da massa corporal (kg) pelo quadrado da estatura (m2). Para identificação do CS (total/dia) como discriminador de excesso de peso, foi adotada análise das curvas Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) com IC95%. Os resultados apontaram tempo médio de CS de 414,14 (± 243,80) min/dia e a prevalência de excesso de peso (IMC > 27 kg/m2) foi de 39,7%. A área total sob a curva ROC entre CS e o excesso de peso foi 0,59 (IC95%: 0,50-0,67) para homens e 0,54 (IC95%: 0,43-0,58) para mulheres. Os melhores pontos de corte para discriminar a presença de excesso de peso foram de 390 min/dia ou mais e 270 min/dia ou mais para homens e mulheres, respectivamente. Nesse sentido, observa-se que o tempo gasto em CS apresenta uma boa capacidade preditiva para discriminar o excesso de peso em idosos.
Description of the male of Monochamus shembaganurensis Breuning, 1979 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae)

Authors: HIREMATH SANGAMESH R. , HARIHARAKRISHNAN SANKARARAMAN
Published: November 2018

The hitherto unknown male of Monochamus shembaganurensis Breuning, 1979 is described and illustrated with emphasis on aedeagus and endophallic structures. Additional information on distribution of the species, endemic to the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot in south India is provided.
Soro de leite com hidrólise da lactose: desafios na secagem
Authors: Santos Valéria Maria dos , Gomes Elisângela Ramieres , Paiva Virgínia Nardy , Stephani Rodrigo , Carvalho Antônio Fernandes de , Perrone Ítalo Tuler
Published: November 2018

Para atender a demanda de consumidores que buscam por produtos sem lactose ou com baixo teor de lactose, as indústrias têm diversificado sua gama de produtos ao longo dos anos. Vários produtos lácteos deslactosados já estão bem estabelecidos no mercado, como: leite UHT, iogurte e queijo. Este último possui o soro como seu derivado que é muito utilizado como ingrediente na indústria de alimentos. No entanto, ainda que este mercado tem crescido, o mesmo apresenta desafios tecnológicos na secagem, transporte e estocagem de alguns produtos como o soro deslactosado. O soro tradicional é um produto de difícil manutenção da transição vítrea, com isso, problemas tecnológicos como empedramento e aderência ao equipamento podem ocorrer. Ao hidrolisar a lactose, promove a liberação de glicose e galactose no leite. Estes possuem transição vítrea menor que a da lactose, logo a transição vítrea do produto deslactosado é reduzida. Dessa forma, o soro deslactosado torna-se ainda mais difícil de secar. Com isso, as indústrias têm buscado quais os melhores parâmetros de operação para secagem, juntamente com modificações na composição que favoreçam a manutenção do estado vítreo do soro deslactosado.
Influência do tipo de fermento nas características físico-químicas de queijo Minas artesanal do serro – Minas Gerais, maturado em condições controladas
Authors: Vale Rosana Campos do , Rodrigues Maria Paula Jansen , Martins José Manoel
Published: November 2018

Na produção do queijo Minas artesanal do Serro são utilizados leite cru, coalho e fermento lático natural, designado de “pingo”. Alguns produtores da região do Serro, fazem uso da “rala”, parte ralada do próprio queijo artesanal, com 3 a 5 dias de fabricação, que é adicionada ao leite em substituição ao “pingo”. Sabendo-se que condições controladas de umidade relativa do ar (UR) e temperatura também podem influenciar as características dos queijos durante a maturação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência do tipo de fermento (“pingo” ou “rala”) nas características físico-químicas do queijo Minas artesanal do Serro, maturado em condições de UR e temperatura controladas. Queijos artesanais de seis produtores da região do Serro, cadastrados no Instituto Mineiro de Agropecuária, sendo três fabricados com “pingo” e três com “rala”, foram maturados sem embalagens, em câmara de maturação com UR média de 85% e temperatura de 20 ºC, durante 31 dias na Cooperativa dos Produtores Rurais do Serro. As análises foram realizadas nos tempos 3, 10, 17, 24 e 31 dias de maturação. Para os parâmetros de umidade, acidez, gordura, gordura no extrato seco, cinzas, cloreto de sódio, sal na umidade e índices de extensão de maturação não se observou diferença (p > 0,05) entre os queijos fabricados com “pingo” e “rala”. As altas temperaturas de maturação e de umidade relativa do ar mostraram não serem condições adequadas de maturação para os queijos artesanais do Serro, já que modificaram as características físico-químicas e de aparência do produto
Revisiting Slavery and the Slave Trade in Ethiopia
Authors: Bonacci Giulia , Meckelburg Alexander
Published: November 2018

Slavery remains one of the blind spots in the historiography of the Horn of Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular. This is peculiar in light of the fact that in the territories of the Horn slavery left a significant imprint on the sociocultural fabric, and that the ports along the Horn of Africa coast fed the slave trade to the Arab, Ottoman, and Indian Ocean worlds for many centuries. In this article, we highlight some of the research trends on slavery in Africa and discuss slavery and the slave trade in different Ethiopian regions. We also question the public silence around the legacies of slavery in the country. By means of introducing the articles of this special issue, we point towards new, pending, or unresolved research questions.
Assessment of iodine status among school age children and pregnant women of Belarus in 2017–2018
Authors: Mokhort Tatiana V. , Petrenko Sergei V. , Leushev Boris Y. , Fedorenko Ekaterina V. , Kolomiets Natalia D. , Mokhort Alena G.
Published: November 2018

Background. Despite the measures taken by the Government of Belarus, the problem of iodine deficiency among the population remains actual.
Aims. To determine iodine sufficiency in children and pregnant women living in Belarus.
Materials and methods. The study included 873 schoolchildren aged 9–12 years of both sexes, of which 650 children were in regular schools, and the remaining children in boarding schools. A separate group consisted of 700 practically healthy pregnant women (during gestation from 16 to 36 weeks). Questioning, determination of urinary iodine concentration and thyroid volume with ultrasound was carried out.
Results. Urine iodine median was 191 µg/L in the 873 children in 16 regions of Belarus. Thyroid volume corresponds to the normative values in children. According to the survey, 81% of households used iodized salt, constantly – 46%. Indicator of iodine sufficiency of 700 pregnant women (median urinary iodine concentration was 121 µg /l) is a non-optimal for this population group.
Conclusions. Currently adequate iodine supplementation in school age children has been achieved. The prevalence of thyroid gland diseases caused by iodine deficiency in children decreased significantly. In pregnant women iodine supply is still insufficient.
Association of adiponectin gene alleles with type 2 diabetes mellitus in residents of Bashkortostan
Authors: Avzaletdinova Diana S. , Sharipova Liaisan F. , Kochetova Olga V. , Morugova Tatiana V. , Mustafina Olga E.
Published: November 2018

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most acute problems of the modern world. The disease is characterized by high ratio of micro- and macrovascular complications. T2DM is a multifactorial and polygenic disease, structure of hereditary predisposition to which may be population-specific.
Aim the analysis of allelic associations of adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ, rs17366743) with T2DM, its clinical and metabolic characteristics and complications in T2DM patients resident in the Republic of Bashkortostan.
Material and methods. 3 PCR-based method of genotyping with polymorphic marker rs17366743 of ADIPOQ gene in 433 T2DM patients and 428 healthy controls, residents of Bashkortostan.
Results. The ratio of genotype CT and allele С was higher in T2DM patients compared with controls (15.7% vs. 6.8%; p=0.0002 and 7.8% vs. 3.4%; p0.0001, respectively). Genotype ТТ and allele Т were less frequent in T2DM than in healthy subjects (84.3 and 93,2%; p=0.0002; 92.2 and 96.6%, p0.0001, respectively). The association with the development of diabetic retinopathy and cataract was shown (p=0,044, p=0,008, respectively).
Conclusions. Allele C and genotype CT are risk markers of T2DM (OR=2.43 and 2.56 respectively).
Content of Zn, Cd and Pb in purple moor-grass in soils heavily contaminated with heavy metals around a zinc and lead ore tailing landfill
Authors: Pietrzykowski Marcin , Antonkiewicz Jacek , Gruba Piotr , Pająk Marek
Published: November 2018

The paper presents concentrations and correlations between Zn, Cd and Pb in the aboveground parts of purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea L.) in forest soils heavily contaminated with heavy metals around a zinc and lead ore tailing landfill at Mining & Metallurgy Enterprise “Bolesław” SA in Bukowno. Field observations have indicated that purple moor-grass, which occurs as one of the few vascular plants in locations with tailing mud, is probably a species with high adaptability to conditions in contaminated environments. The research was carried out in a network of 20 regular monitoring sites. At these sites, a detailed inventory of purple moor-grass was carried out and samples of the aboveground parts of the plants were collected from the leaves and ears and from the soil at a depth of 0-20 cm. It was found that there was no significant correlation between the concentration of heavy metals in the soils and aboveground parts of the plants in the most heavily contaminated zones. This may indicate the existence of mechanisms limiting uptake of heavy metals by this species, and therefore the need for further research in the context of its suitability for biological regeneration of tailing landfills and phytosanitary protection of adjoining areas.
Oil-in-water emulsion of a heterocyclic adduct as a novel inhibitor of API X52 steel corrosion in acidic solution
Authors: Farag Ahmed A.
Published: November 2018

In this study, an addition reaction occurred between epoxidized soybean oil and 4-(dimethylamino)benzenethiol to produce a thiol adduct (TA). The produced TA had been emulsified using a nonionic emulsifier blend (Tween 20, Span 20, and Span 80) to be a water-miscible emulsified thiol adduct (ETA). The ETA emulsion was investigated as a corrosion inhibitor for API X52 carbon steel in 1mHCl using weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The surface morphologies of the carbon steel were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray. The effect of temperature was investigated. It was found that the emulsified adduct behaves as an excellent corrosion inhibitor with high inhibition efficiency of 94.7% with 0.005mconcentration. The polarization data indicate that the emulsified adduct acted as a mixed-type inhibitor. The adsorption of the emulsified adduct on the carbon steel surface has been found to follow the Langmuir isotherm.
Scheming against the Schemes: A New Framework to Deal with Business Financial Distress in Spain
Authors: Tirado Ignacio
Published: November 2018

In Spain, the legal framework to solve the financial distress of businesses was confined to formal insolvency proceedings until recently, a number of reforms, have created a menu of options to tackle the problem out of court. The deficient results offered by formal insolvency proceedings in practice make this change commendable. The choice of out of court solution will depend on the type of debtor as well as on the kind of measurers needed to bring the business back to solvent trading. The most complete, versatile and practically relevant of the new procedures is the Homologated Refinancing Agreement. Through this vehicle, troubled-but-solvent or insolvent debtors (and groups of debtors) may restructure its business, refinance its debt or bail in its shareholders, with a minimal Court intervention. Although the design of the procedure is subject to improvement in a number of ways, it has already been used successfully to restructure a several highly relevant market participants, many with an important international component. It remains to be seen whether large corporations seeking to solve their financial distress will continue to consider buying an –economy class- ticket to England with a view to reach a scheme of arrangement with its creditors.
Urea nitrate catalyzed synthesis of 2-arylbenzothiazoles using the grindstone technique
Authors: Gandhi Divyani , Agarwal Shikha
Published: November 2018

An efficient, green and environmentally friendly grindstone method for the synthesis of 2-arylbenzothiazole derivatives in the presence of urea nitrate as the catalyst under solvent-free conditions was developed. All products were characterized by elemental analysis and spectral methods.
Legal Privilege and Third Party Disclosure: A Comparative Analysis of UK and the US Rules
Authors: Akhtar Zia
Published: November 2018

The rules of evidence in common law courts rely on the weight of evidence that is deduced by the court based on its admissibility and credibility. This is subject to the evidence that has been disclosed by the client to their lawyer either before or after the litigation is commenced in court. The availability of legal professional privilege is a substantive legal right (not a procedural rule) and it enables a person to refuse to disclose certain documents in a wide range of situations. There can be no adverse inference that can be drawn from a valid assertion of legal professional privilege on evidential grounds by the court. Under English law, privilege applies to the advice given by external lawyers and in-house lawyers (acting in their capacity as lawyers) in the case or in contemplation of litigation. Privilege in the US is broader than in the UK and may vary over time and according to locations/context but a privileged communication under UK law may not be privileged in the US. The Attorney-client confidentiality and work-product doctrine are the most common US types of privilege and this will protect investigation material if its primary purpose is to provide information to obtain a legal advice (i. e. if it is not for a business purpose). The research question in this paper is to what extent internal investigations need to be disclosed where the client confidentiality is not applicable and the court orders disclosure. It compares the framework under which privilege can be exercised, and how in the US a different interpretation allows greater margin for client confidentiality when investigations include another party if documents are compiled in contemplation of legal proceedings.
Non-Archimedean hyperstability of Cauchy–Jensen functional equations on a restricted domain
Authors: EL-Fassi Iz-iddine
Published: November 2018

Let X be a normed space,

U
⊂

X
∖

{
0
}

{U\subset X\setminus\{0\}}

a non-empty subset, and

(
G
,
+
)

{(G,+)}

a commutative group equipped with a complete ultrametric d that is invariant (i.e.,

d

(
x
+
z
,
y
+
z
)

=
d

(
x
,
y

{d(x+z,y+z)=d(x,y}

) for

x
,
y
,
z

∈
G

{x,y,z\in G}

).
Under some weak natural assumptions on U and on the function

γ
:

U
3

→

[
0
,
∞
)

{\gamma\colon U^{3}\to[0,\infty)}

, we study the new generalized hyperstability results when

f
:

U
→
G

{f\colon U\to G}

satisfies the inequality

d
⁢

(

α
⁢
f
⁢

(

x
+
y

α

+
z

)

,

α
⁢
f
⁢

(
z
)

+

f
⁢

(
y
)

+

f
⁢

(
x
)

)

≤

γ
⁢

(
x
,
y
,
z
)

d\biggl{(}\alpha f\biggl{(}\frac{x+y}{\alpha}+z\biggr{)},\alpha f(z)+f(y)+f(x)%
\biggr{)}\leq\gamma(x,y,z)

for all

x
,
y
,
z

∈
U

{x,y,z\in U}

, where

x
+
y

α

+
z

∈
U

{\frac{x+y}{\alpha}+z\in U}

and

α
≥
2

{\alpha\geq 2}

is a fixed positive integer. The method is based on a quite recent fixed point theorem
(Theorem 1 in [J. Brzdȩk and K. Ciepliński,
A fixed point approach to the stability of functional equations in non-Archimedean metric spaces,
Nonlinear Anal. 74 2011, 18, 6861–6867])
(cf. [8, Theorem 1])
in some functions spaces.
Aberration correction for improving the image quality in STED microscopy using the genetic algorithm
Authors: Wang Luwei , Yan Wei , Li Runze , Weng Xiaoyu , Zhang Jia , Yang Zhigang , Liu Liwei , Ye Tong , Qu Junle
Published: November 2018

With a purely optical modulation of fluorescent behaviors, stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy allows for far-field imaging with a diffraction-unlimited resolution in theory. The performance of STED microscopy is affected by many factors, of which aberrations induced by the optical system and biological samples can distort the wave front of the depletion beam at the focal plane to greatly deteriorate the spatial resolution and the image contrast. Therefore, aberration correction is imperative for STED imaging, especially for imaging thick specimens. Here, we present a wave front compensation approach based on the genetic algorithm (GA) to restore the distorted laser wave front for improving the quality of STED images. After performing aberration correction on two types of zebrafish samples, the signal intensity and the imaging resolution of STED images were both improved, where the thicknesses were 24 μm and 100 μm in the zebrafish retina sample and the zebrafish embryo sample, respectively. The results showed that the GA-based wave front compensation approach has the capability of correction for both system-induced and sample-induced aberrations. The elimination of aberrations can prompt STED imaging in deep tissues; therefore, STED microscopy can be expected to play an increasingly important role in super-resolution imaging related to the scientific research in biological fields.
Principales rasgos gramaticales del español de Nicaragua
Authors: Pato Enrique
Published: November 2018

This work offers an in-depth description of the main morphosyntactic features found in present Nicaraguan Spanish, a lesser known Central American variety despite being the subject of one of the pioneering dialectological studies on Spanish (Barreto 1893). With the help of text corpora and sociolinguistic surveys, an updated grammatical overview is provided, which takes into account most categories: nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions and locutions (coordinators, subordinators, among others), and illustrates with examples taken from both formal and informal settings. By comparing these features with previous grammatical descriptions, this study helps in identifying some common American features ―such as the use of medio as an agreeing adjective instead of an adverb particle― as well as some specific patterns ―such as the prominence of ‑udo/‑uda and ‑oso/‑osa suffixes― in present-day Nicaraguan Spanish, some of which remain to be incorporated in the Academy grammar.
The making of the Dictionnaire de la langue franque
Authors: Operstein Natalie
Published: November 2018

Our knowledge of the structural features of Lingua Franca (LF), a Romance-based contact language of the Mediterranean, is heavily dependent on a single publication, the Dictionnaire de la langue franque ou petit mauresque published anonymously in Marseille in 1830. Various aspects of the Dictionnaire have been explored in previous studies, including the lexical makeup and the structural features of the LF variety it records and the orthography that it employs for LF. This study advances our understanding of the Dictionnaire and of its place in the LF scholarship by focusing on a previously unexplored aspect of this important but understudied publication: its sources.
Preparation and Properties of Waterborne Epoxy–Modified Emulsified Asphalt Binder (WEMEAB)
Authors: Ji Jie , Yao Hui , Zheng Wenhua , Suo Zhi , Xu Ying , Han Song , Xu Shifa , You Zhanping
Published: November 2018

The objective of this research is to study the properties of waterborne epoxy–modified emulsified asphalt binder (WEMEAB). The WEMEAB was prepared with a method of preemulsification and modification. The optimum asphalt-water ratio (ratio of base asphalt binder to emulsifier), emulsifier content, and waterborne epoxy content were determined through an orthogonal test with three factors and three levels. Based on the penetration system, the high- and low-temperature properties and storage stability of WEMEAB were evaluated. The distribution of waterborne epoxy in the modified emulsified asphalt binder and the microstructure of WEMEAB were observed through the Fluorescence Optical Microscopy (FOM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) tests. The test results indicated that the high- and low-temperature properties of WEMEAB were noticeably improved and that the waterborne epoxy was distributed uniformly in the modified emulsified asphalt binder with an asphalt-water ratio of 65:35, 4 % waterborne epoxy and 1.4 % emulsifier. The FOM and AFM images showed that cross-linking and interpenetration network structure and “bee-like” structures had formed on the surface of the WEMEAB.
High-Temperature Performance and Workability of Crumb Rubber–Modified Warm-Mix Asphalt
Authors: Wang Hainian , Li Xiaoyan , Xiao Jinkun , You Zhanping , Yang Xu , Irfan Muhammad
Published: November 2018

Crumb rubber produced from scrap tires has been widely applied in asphalt mixtures to improve the pavement performance. Warm-mix technology has also been employed to lower the production temperature of asphalt mixtures. The objective of this article is to investigate the effects of warm-mix additive types and crumb rubber concentration on the resistance to deformation of crumb rubber–modified (CRM) binders through the repeated creep and recovery test (RCRT), dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), and rotational viscosity test. The CRM binders with crumb rubber concentrations of 10 %, 15 %, 20 %, and 25 % were prepared first as the control binders. Then, three types of warm-mix additives, Sasobit, RH, and Advera, were added into the CRM asphalt to produce CRM warm-mix asphalt (WMA) binder. Generally, the workability of CRM asphalt can be improved with the addition of warm-mix additives. The effect of warm-mix additive on the high-temperature performance is highly dependent on the crumb rubber dosage. The RCRT results overall showed that the warm-mix additives can improve the high-temperature performance of asphalt when the crumb rubber concentration is low. However, according to the DSR test, Sasobit improved the rutting resistance of CRM asphalt, while the RH and Advera sacrificed the rutting resistance. The inconsistency between the RCRT and DSR results suggests that it may be necessary to conduct both the tests when investigating the high-temperature performance of CRM asphalt with warm-mix additives.
A Study on Performance of Roller-Compacted Concrete Pavement in Accelerated Pavement Tests
Authors: Chhorn Chamroeun , Kim Young Kyu , Hong Seong Jae , Park Jun Young , Lee Seung Woo
Published: November 2018

Roller-compacted concrete pavement, or RCCP, is well-known for its low cost and fast construction. Through compaction, the friction induced by aggregate interlock provides additional load carry capacity at the beginning of construction. Although its construction procedure is quite different from typical conventional concrete pavement, RCCP consists of the same basic ingredients as conventional concrete pavement. The characteristics of RCCP make it an excellent alternative for port, intermodal, street, and highway applications. Even though this pavement has been used for decades, research on and experiences in its application are still limited, particularly in Korea. In order to evaluate the performance of RCCP, two phases of an accelerated pavement test were conducted. In Phase One, the performance of RCCP at two different strengths (35.6 and 30.4 MPa) is evaluated. In Phase Two, the performance of RCCP with different thicknesses (5, 7.5, and 10 cm) is investigated. The number of load repetitions to fatigue crack occurrence in each section is compared to the estimated fatigue failure determined from the fatigue equation for RCCP. The crack development in each section is compared to the crack model for jointed plain concrete pavement. Overall, it is confirmed that RCCP has equal or better performance compared to the estimation in terms of fatigue cracking.