bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence of cutaneous manifestation in patients with end stage renal disease
Authors: Singh Khileshwar , Thakur Amit , Dhruv Kamlesh
Published: July 2017

Background: Kidney failure as well as renal diseases is the most important health problems affecting the middle and old age population all over the world. They were supposed to be fatal till recently. The objective of this study was to study incidence of cutaneous manifestation in patients with end stage renal disease.Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was carried out from July 2012 to June 2013 in the Department of General Medicine, Late Baliram Kashyap Memorial Government Medical College, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, India. It was possible to study a total of 50 cases of cutaneous manifestations that are already known cases of end stage renal disease. All patients with skin lesion were evaluated by history, clinical examination (systemic and dermatological), biopsy and other relevant investigations procedure for skin disease during the course of current renal disease and their stay in the hospital.Results: The incidence of cutaneous manifestations among patients with acute renal failure was zero. It was 86% among patients with chronic renal failure. The most common manifestation was pruritus in 14% of cases followed by oral candidiasis in 4% of cases. Next common was scabies in 6% of cases and this was followed by herpes zoster and Tinea cruris in 4% of cases each. Folliculitis was seen in only one case. It was seen that all types of cutaneous manifestations were present only in patients with chronic renal failure, whereas patients of acute renal failure did not show any sort of cutaneous manifestations.Conclusions: Chronic renal failure was observed as the important cause of cutaneous manifestations seen in patients with end stage renal disease. No cases were seen in patients with acute renal failure. Thus, it is important that patients with acute renal failure take proper precautions to avoid cutaneous manifestations up to the extent possible.
Neck dissection in node negative oral malignancies: is it justified
Authors: Tote Darshana S. , Jajoo Suhas , A. Panchal , Tote Sachin
Published: July 2017

Background: Oral cancer is one of the ten most common cancers in world, prevalence being highest in India. The objective of the study was to decide whether it is justifiable to do neck dissection in every case of oral malignancy in true negative necks diagnosed by investigative modalities and to decide whether we can avoid unnecessary block dissection in patient of oral malignancy with negative necks diagnosed by investigation.Methods: It was proposed randomized controlled study conducted over period of 2 years including all patients diagnosed of having oral squamous cell carcinoma. Lymph nodes were assessed by clinical examination and ultrasonography (USG). FNAC was done with the help of USG guidance. After thorough evaluation, the patient was subjected for treatment either surgery or radiotherapy and sometimes chemotherapy. After neck dissection, whole block was sent for histopathological examination. Data collected was analysed on various statistical parameters.Results: For clinical examination consistency and fixity is having high reliability than size and shape. On USG central necrosis, ECS, shape and RI were having specificity and accuracy. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of USG FNAC is more.Conclusions: USG and USG FNAC are helpful methods in directing further work up in more efficient and cost-effective manner and these help in reaching diagnosis more accurately than the clinical examination alone and thus it is considered second step in evaluation of neck only after clinical examination.
A study of respiratory distress in patients with bilateral lung opacities admitted in a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Nagar Mahendra , Saxena Anil , Khangarot Suman , Bansiwal Babulal , K. V. Anees , Phulwari Jitendra
Published: July 2017

Background: Patients presented with respiratory distress along with bilateral lung opacities, like infections, Neoplasia, primary abnormality of the airways, pulmonary edema, pulmonary haemorrhage, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and interstitial lung diseases is a common scenario in our hospitals. The chest radiograph remains the basic radiological tool in many rural hospitals in our country. Thus, we aimed to study the patients presenting with respiratory distress having bilateral opacities in chest radiograph admitted in a tertiary care centre.Methods: This study was cross sectional study conducted in the department of respiratory medicine, New Medical College and Hospital, Kota for a period of one year on indoor patients. Fifty patients were studied by detailed clinical history, thorough physical examination, chest x-ray, routine haematological, sputum, electrocardiogram and relevant investigations.Results: Amongst 50 patients we found tuberculosis in 32% cases, pneumonia in 28%, pulmonary edema in 16%, silicosis (ILD) in 8 %, fungal pneumonia in 8 %, malignancy in 4% and aspiration pneumonia in 4% cases.Conclusions: Patients presenting with respiratory distress and bilateral lung opacities can have different diagnosis, most of them can be diagnosed by thorough history, clinical examinations and basic investigations. Proper diagnosis is essential in these patients for their management.
Magnitude of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and concomitant risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Gupta Mayank , S. Mahavar , A. Chaturvedi , R. Chandra , G. Chauhan , S. Srivastava , R. Sharma
Published: July 2017

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a distinct hepatic condition that is strongly associated with insulin resistance and type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). This study was designed to assess the magnitude of NAFLD and its concomitant risk factors among patients with T2DM.Methods: In a hospital based observational descriptive study, 150 patients with T2DM were submitted to a complete clinical and laboratory evaluation; abdominal ultrasonography for NAFLD detection and grading. Patients with known chronic liver disease and history of alcohol intake were excluded. They were divided into fatty and non-fatty liver group: evaluated, compared and statistical analysis done.Results: Out of 150 patients with T2DM, 104 (69.33%) had fatty liver on USG. 42.67% had grade 1, 24% had grade 2, and the remaining 2.67% had grade 3 fatty changes in liver. The severity of NAFLD increased with increasing age (r-value = +0.554, p<0.001). Statistically significant difference in Body Mass Index (29.64±4.36 v/s 25.94±3.25 kg/m2, p<0.001) and triglycerides (175.47±24.82 v/s 128.53±26.66 mg/dl, p<0.001) was observed in the fatty liver group as compared to non-fatty liver group.Conclusions: The magnitude of NAFLD is higher in type 2 diabetic patients. Older age group, Body Mass Index (BMI) and triglyceride (TG) had significant relationship with the presence of fatty liver. Ultrasonographic evidence of fatty liver with older age, elevation of triglyceride level and increasing BMI should be taken seriously as a predictor of severity of NAFLD.
Reliability of FNAC as a diagnostic tool in lymphadenopathy
Authors: K. M. Sheela , M. G. Priya
Published: July 2017

Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology is a first line investigation modality for the evaluation of cervical lymphadenopathies. Cervical lymphadenopathy is one of the most common clinical presentations affecting all age groups. Fine needle aspiration cytology is a first line investigation modality for the evaluation of cervical lymphadenopathies. Cervical lymphadenopathy is one of the most common clinical presentations affecting all age groups.Methods: This study was carried out in the Department of Pathology of Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram over a two year. Out of 1020 aspirations 122 cases where identified and included in the study. All the diagnosis obtained by fine needle aspiration cytology was correlated with histopathology.Results: The age of the patients ranged from seven years to seventy-eight years in which 44% were males and 56% were females. Incidence of non-neoplastic lymph node lesions was common during 2 to 4 decades. Incidence of neoplastic lymph node lesions was common during 4 to 6th decade. Reactive change and Tuberculosis were seen more common in females whereas Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and metastatic tumors were more common in males. The overall accuracy of lymph node lesions in our study was found to be 90.98%, sensitivity 84 % and specificity 95.8%.Conclusions: Our study concluded that FNAC is simple, quick, minimally invasive technique to diagnose lymphadenopathy. The overall accuracy of lymph node lesions in our study was found to be 90.98%, sensitivity 84% and specificity 95.8%. Findings in this study are comparable and consistent with studies conducted elsewhere. The limitations of FNAC are that only positive results have clinical significance. The limitations have to be taken into account while interpreting the smears and skill has to be gained by constant practice.
Role of methyl prednisolone in reducing mortality and morbidity in hair dye poisoning
Authors: A. Akhtar , B. D. Verma
Published: July 2017

Background: Hair dye containing paraphenylenediamine (PPD) is widely used in India because of its free availability and low cost. PPD produces local as well as systemic toxic effects when applied topically and/or ingested. This study was undertaken to find the role of methyl prednisolone in reducing mortality and morbidity in hair poisoning and to study the cardiac complications of hair dye poisoning.Methods: The present study was carried out among 1000 cases admitted in the Department of Medicine, MLB Medical College, Jhansi with history/characteristic and clinical features of hair dye poisoning. The complication and mortality profile was studied. Statistical significance was drawn with the help of Microsoft excel 2003.Results: Mortality in acute hair dye poisoning cases was 23.20%. Majority of deaths (50.04%) occurred within 24 hours of hair dye ingestion and were because of asphyxia and respiratory failure. Mortality in 44.96% cases was after 24 hours and were mainly due to renal failure and its related complications hyperkalaemia and cardiac complication. Lower mortality was observed in group A (8.40%) as compared to group B (8.0%) and C (4.0%) in association with ST and T wave changes.Conclusions: PPD is available quite freely and used extensively. Awareness regarding its poisonous effects should be increased among the medical health care workers.
Clinical profile of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its association with metabolic syndrome
Authors: Pande Abhishek , Pande Vivek
Published: July 2017

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the accumulation of lipid, primarily in the form of triacylglycerols in individuals who do not consume significant amounts of alcohol and other known causes of steatosis, such as certain drugs and toxins, have been excluded. The rising incidence of obesity is associated with health complications. The non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is increasingly being recognized as a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality among 15-40% of the general population. Currently, a liver biopsy is the gold standard method for diagnosing NAFLD. Ultrasonography is relatively inexpensive and widely available in clinical settings. NAFLD is considered to be an integral part of the metabolic syndrome. The present study is designed to study the clinical profile of patients with NAFLD with varying degrees of severity as diagnosed by Ultrasonography and evaluate the relationship between the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the metabolic syndrome along with its individual components, as defined by the modified NCEP ATP III criteria.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by Department of Medicine, NKPSIMS and LMH, Nagpur. A total of 100 cases during the study period of February 2015 to January 2016 were included and investigated for metabolic syndrome according to the NCEP ATP 3 Criteria.Results: Total of 100 cases ultrasonographically diagnosed as NAFLD were included in the study and showed 49%, 38% and 13% of cases had grade I, II, and III fatty liver respectively. On physical examination mean BMI was 27.6±4.39 kg/m2. Mean diastolic blood pressure was 92.87±6.25 and mean systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) 132.0±18.17. Out of the 100, patients with NAFLD with metabolic syndrome were 57% and without metabolic syndrome were 43%. The correlation was significant for fasting plasma glucose, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein and waist circumference (p<0.05).Conclusions: From the study, it can be concluded that symptoms and signs of NAFLD are non-specific and occur later in the course of the disease hence the physician should have a high index of suspicion in order to detect NAFLD early in the course of the disease. Early detection would help not only in modifying the disease course and delaying its complications.
A study of treatment outcomes of pulmonary tuberculosis and extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients in a tertiary care centre
Authors: Ramya V. H. , Gayathri G. , Gangadharan V.
Published: July 2017

Background: Directly observed treatment remains one of the most widely-accepted global health interventions for tuberculosis. Tuberculosis treatment outcome is one of the performance indicators of the programme set by World Health Organization.Methods: This study was conducted in a tertiary care centre Chennai. A retrospective analysis of the profile and treatment outcome of all tuberculosis patients registered from January 2015 to December 2015 at DOTS centre under RNTCP was conducted. Data on treatment outcomes was analysed using appropriate statistical methods and percentages were calculated.Results: Out of 118 TB cases, 59.3% had pulmonary while 40.7% had extra-pulmonary TB. Sputum positive PTB is more common than sputum negative which is 74.2% and 25.8% respectively. Frequency of TB lymphadenitis is being the common presentation among extra pulmonary TB cases, followed by TB pleurisy. Success rate (cure rate plus treatment completion rate) for new cases was 63.1% and for retreatment cases was 36.9% while the overall success rate was 81%.Conclusions: Effective measures have to be taken in the programme to move forward to help in the eradication of TB. Tuberculosis mostly affects males of the economically productive age group and causes economic losses. The success rate of new cases was higher compared to retreatment cases though the overall success rate was lower compared to the RNTCP norms. Proper education on DOTS can help in improving the success rate and cure rate.
Miller Fisher Syndrome: a case report
Authors: Patro Shubhransu , S. Vipin , Khora Pankaj K. , Jena Payod K.
Published: July 2017

Miller Fisher Syndrome (MFS) is an uncommon variant of Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS). It is largely a clinical diagnosis based on the cardinal clinical features of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia and areflexia. The following case report is that of a patient who presented with an acute history of reeling of head, difficulty in opening the eyelids and swaying while walking, on clinical examination revealed the above-mentioned cardinal features and on investigation showed positive serum anti GQ1b antibody titer. The patient started recovering with conservative management and was discharged in the recovery phase.
Application of Bubnov-Galerkin method to determine fixed vibrational loads of launch vehicle compartments
Authors: Popov P. A. , Sindyukov A. A. , Malykhina O. I.
Published: July 2017

The stage of qualification vibration tests of space rocketry products is one of the most important stages of their design. To carry out the tests it is necessary to know the levels of vibration loads as early as the system definition stage. It is necessary to use methods that were previously tried and found efficient when defining the modes of vibration and acoustic loading on the structural elements of advanced launch vehicles and the assembly and protective blocks. The results of calculations made according to efficient methods in most cases agree with the results of full-scale measurements. We propose a methodological complex that will help engineers to create necessary vibration dynamic impact on the structures of space-rocketry products. Equations of shell vibration dynamics and a way of solving them on the basis of Bubnov-Galerkin method is presented in the paper. A method of forming the right-hand sides of the equations is also presented. The equations under consideration are equivalent to the actual spectra of external acoustic loads determined at the stage of flight development tests. A way of forming frequency-dependent damping characteristics of the structure is described. Spectral characteristics of vibration dynamic impact on a launch vehicle of the Soyuz type obtained by the results of processing of telemetric information are given. The vibration dynamic impact on the structure of the launch vehicle compartments is calculated on the basis of the characteristics specified. The results of the probability analysis of the vibration loads obtained are presented.
Investigation of the thermal regime of microsatellite optoelectronic telescopic complex under operating conditions
Authors: Tsaplin S. V. , Bolychev S. A.
Published: July 2017

An optoelectronic telescopic lens-type complex is proposed for the purpose of creating a domestic constellation of Earth remote sensing satellites with the ability of timely obtaining of the imagery on-demand. A thermal control system based on electric heaters was chosen to maintain the optimal thermal conditions of the lens telescope. The calculation of the objectives thermal mode was carried out on the basis of a 3D model taking into account actual operational conditions of the spacecraft in its orbital motion. The dynamics of the transient temperature fields of the objective was calculated using the finite- element method under various operating conditions of the microsatellite: stabilization of the thermal regime, Earth remote sensing, emergency failure of the heaters. It is shown that the thermal control system maintains a predetermined temperature range of the optical elements under nominal operating conditions with moderate energy consumption.
New technologies of manufacturing non-rigid parts made of titanium alloys and stainless steels
Authors: Kiselev E. S. , Blagovskiy O. V.
Published: July 2017

The article considers a new approach to solving a topical scientific problem of providing dimensional stabilization of non-rigid aircraft parts made of titanium alloys and stainless steels. It is known that a significant loss of accuracy and a change in the spatial orientation of surfaces of non-rigid parts are associated with the formation of undesirable technological residual stresses in the surface layers. The authors of the work propose a method of reducing the magnitude of residual stresses in the surface layer of cylindrical parts by ultrasonic treatment with an indenter having strip contact with the workpiece. We present the results of experimental research aimed at eliminating the lengthy operation of thermal relaxation of residual stresses in the process of manufacturing non-rigid parts made of titanium alloys and stainless steels through the rational use of technological heredity phenomena and ultrasonic field energy. The developed method is highly efficient and can be used to stabilize dimensional accuracy of non-rigid and thin-walled parts made of hard-to-machine materials.
Numerical modeling and experimental research of a two-phase liquid- gas ejector with a profiled supersonic nozzle
Authors: Lepeshinsky I. A. , Reshetnikov V. A. , Zarankevich I. A.
Published: July 2017

A two-phase liquid-gas ejector with a supersonic nozzle is described in the article. The results of numerical modeling of the processes occurring in it and forming a two-phase jet are presented. The structure of a two-phase flow formed by the ejector and the velocity field of the dispersed phase are experimentally investigated. The characteristic curves of the ejected gas flow for different values of the working fluid consumption are obtained and the rarefaction achieved by the ejector is measured. The ejector ensures the systems operation that forms two-phase high-concentration gas-droplet jets at different flow rates and pressures of working bodies. It is established that, due to the presence of air in a two-phase working body, a two-phase jet at the exit from the ejector accelerates in the initial section and then is decelerated. The results of the numerical modeling of internal processes occurring in a two-phase liquid-gas ejector are presented in fluid and gas dynamics ANSYS software application packages on the basis of analyzing a small-scale model. The characteristics of the energy efficiency of a full-size jet device are given, as compared to production prototypes. The prospects of using liquid-gas jet devices for high-altitude testing of jet engines and their units are indicated.
Method and algorithm of decomposition for the synthesis of programs of control of electrical equipment complex objects
Authors: Myasnikova Ju. V.
Published: July 2017

The article considers dimension problems of electrical equipment complex objects in developing test programs in the context of programming diagnostic tasks. To solve the problem, we propose a method and an algorithm for the effective description of electrical equipment objects for its decomposition, i.e. reducing large-dimensional problems to the solution of a number of simpler problems. An adequate task description language based on the theory of graphs was chosen for solving dimension problems. To represent the results, we use the concepts of U. Grenanders patterns theory. To solve the problems of synthesis (design) and analysis we use a single methodology of pattern representation using models of their components, circuits (configurations) made up of them and images of production objects. The decomposition method is based on the analysis of the controlled object in the context of the graph theory and the separation of strong components in the matrices of the electrical connections of the elements. The scheme is divided into separate functional modules, each module including a functionally complete part of the scheme that forms the basis of designing tests for discrete circuits of objects.
Micro gas turbine engine imitation model
Authors: Kuznetsov A. V. , Makaryants G. M.
Published: July 2017

Benches are widely used in the process of creating automatic control systems (ACS) for gas turbine engines (GTE). The engine work is simulated via mathematical models. The model is supposed to be highly accurate in conditions of quite rapid calculation of the engine main parameters in both steady-state conditions and transient processes. A simulation model of a micro gas turbine Jet Cat P-60 engine is presented in the article. The model is based on the data obtained from generalized engine performance. A simulation model of a small-sized gas turbine engine is developed by plotting the rotor acceleration against the rotor rotational speed and the combustion chamber fuel consumption at each moment of time. The results of simulating the engine operation are compared with the experimental data obtained with increasing the GTE operation mode. The average modeling error value is obtained: 1.04% (ambient temperature is 288 K), 2.58% (249 K). It is acceptable for an adequate simulation of the GTE bench performance.
Control over the deployment of an orbital tether system of great length
Authors: Wang Ch. , Zabolotnov Yu. M.
Published: July 2017

Control of deploying an extended tether system into the vertical position is considered in the paper. It is assumed that in the initial state the system consisting of two space vehicles moves in a circular Earth orbit. We propose nominal control programs ensuring the deployment of the system to a predetermined length and taking into account the restrictions on the speed of tether and force in the control mechanism. To construct nominal deployment programs a mathematical model of the systems motion in the orbital moving coordinate system is used. The model takes into account the peculiarities of the problem. We assess the operability of the proposed programs of deployment according to the mathematical model of controlled motion of the orbital tether system with distributed parameters recorded in the geocentric coordinate system. To perform test calculations a linear regulator that provides feedback on the length and speed of the tether deployment is used.
Criterion assessment of the possibility to prolong the service life limit of the helicopter tail drive shaft
Authors: Mashoshin O. F. , Semenikhin R. L.
Published: July 2017

Low life time of home-produced helicopter transmission elements in comparison with foreign analogues is one of the problems of Russian helicopter industry. For example, the service life limit of Mi-2 drive shaft is 4,500 hours, the time between overhauls is 1,500 hours. The time between overhauls for the drive shaft of a similar helicopter Bell 429 is 3200 hours, for the Eurocopter AS350 it is 3000 hours. The service life limit of the drive shafts of Bell 429 and Eurocopter AS350 is not specified. As the financing of operations to prolong the service life limit of high-load elements of aircraft structure is very limited it is necessary to suggest other, less labor-intensive ways of assessing the technical condition of these elements in order to prolong the service life limit. New criteria need to be introduced to solve this problem. New criteria for the assessment of the possibility of prolonging the assigned life of helicopter tail rotor drive shafts are proposed and scientifically justified in this article. The criteria indicate changes in chemical, physical and mechanical properties, as well as strength properties of products after some time of service. Comparing the properties with their maximum values we can make a conclusion about the possibility to prolong the life cycle of helicopter transmission components. An example of the criteria calculation for the Mi-2 helicopter tail drive shaft with an expired Service Life Limit of 4500 hours is given.
A PORTABLE AND INEXPENSIVE DO-IT-YOURSELF TEMPERATURE SENSOR
Authors: Silva Jorge , Lomba Emmanuel , Martinho D. , Duarte J.
Published: July 2017

Nowadays it is important to have commercial solutions to be used in teaching and research laboratories for the needs. We can have different equipment according to the necessary parameters of control being related to the influence of parameters internal or external to the laboratory practice. However they can't be straightforward to use, their costs can be considerable.  In this context, the do-it-yourself approach is an interesting alternative. In this paper we report the construction of a temperature sensor made by students. Based on a probe taken from a deactivated equipment, the sensor development and validation encompassed its design and building up, the establishment of a connection to a personal computer via USB, the setup of computer-controlled processes, which included remote control, graphical and numerical displaying and signal acquisition, and finally its testing. Tests were performed in water containers with different temperatures, namely boiling, room and ice. The obtained results are comparable to those from a commercial thermometer. This student experiment project allowed not only to contact different disciplines such as chemistry, electronics, and programming but also to gain competencies that can be used outside the class context. We proved it is possible to build tailor-made electronic devices capable of providing useful measurements to chemical purposes old equipment in an inexpensive and trustworthy way.
AGE ESTIMATION USING NEURAL NETWORKS BASED ON FACE IMAGES WITH STUDY OF DIFFERENT FEATURE EXTRACTION METHODS
Authors: Parab Rajan Vishnu , Vatsaraj Meenal Suryakant , Bade D.S.
Published: July 2017

Facial age estimation recently becomes active research topic in pattern recognition. As there are vast potential application in age specific human computer interaction security control and surveillance monitoring. Insufficient and incomplete training data, uncontrollable environment, facial expression are the most prominent challenges in facial age estimation. Degree of accuracy for age estimation is obtained by forming appropriate feature vector of a facial image. Feature vectors are constructed from facial features. Therefore comparative study of feature extraction from facial image by bio inspired feature (BIF), histogram of gradient (HOG), Gabor filter, wavelet transform and scattering transform is done. The propose approach exploits scattering transform gives more information about features of the facial images. Well organized system consist scattering transform that disperse gabber coefficients pulling with smooth gaussian process in number of layers which isused to calculate for facial feature representation. These extracted features are classified using support vector machine and artificial neural network.
Treatment of a forearm cut wound using localised hyperbaric
oxygen therapy – a case report
Authors: Pasek Jarosław , Majda Dariusz , Cieślar Grzegorz , Sieroń Aleksander , Pasek Tomasz
Published: July 2017

Leczenie trudno gojących się ran stanowi nadal poważny, interdyscyplinarny problem medyczny. W ostatnich latach w leczeniu schorzeń i urazów narządu ruchu, tkanek miękkich, a także przewlekłych ran coraz częściej z powo-dzeniem wykorzystywane są nowoczesne metody medycyny fizykalnej. W artykule przedstawiono korzystny efekt leczenia rany pooperacyjnej u 7-letniego pacjenta po urazie ciętym przedramienia prawego, po użyciu miejscowej hiperbarycznej terapii tlenowej. Po serii 10 codziennych zabiegów uzyskano całkowite wygojenie się rany po prze-prowadzonym zabiegu operacyjnym, ustąpienie dolegliwości bólowych, a także poprawę jakości życia pacjenta wynikającą z odzyskania samodzielnej egzystencji.
Learning and Developing Individual Exercise Skills (L.A.D.I.E.S.) for a Better Life: A Church-Based Physical Activity Intervention - Baseline Participant Characteristics
Authors: Whitt-Glover Melicia C. , Goldmon Moses V. , Gizlice Ziya , Heil Daniel P. , Karanja Njeri
Published: July 2017

Objective: Physical activity (PA) is beneficial for health, yet most African American women do not achieve recommended levels. Successful, sustainable strategies could help to address disparities in health outcomes associated with low levels of PA. The Learning and Developing Individual Exercise Skills (L.A.D.I.E.S.) for a Better Life study compared a faith-based and a secular intervention for increasing PA with a selfguided control group. 

Design Setting Participants: This cluster randomized, controlled trial was conducted from 2010 – 2011 in African American churches (n=31) in suburban North Carolina. Participants were 469 self-identified low active African American women. 

Measures: Baseline data were collected on participant demographics, objective and self-reported PA, and constructs related to social ecological theory and social cognitive theory. 

Results: Complete baseline data were available for 417 participants who were aged 51.4 ± 12.9 years, with average BMI (kg/ m2) 35.8 ± 9.9; 73% of participants were obese (BMI >30). Participants averaged 3,990 ± 1,828 pedometer-assessed daily steps and 23.9 ± 37.7 accelerometer-assessed minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous PA, and self-reported 25.4 ± 45.4 minutes of weekly walking and moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA. Baseline self-reported religiosity and social support were high. 

Conclusions: L.A.D.I.E.S. is one of the largest PA trials focused on individual behavior change in African American women. Baseline characteristics suggest participants are representative of the general population. Findings from the study will contribute toward understanding appropriate strategies for increasing PA in high-risk populations.

Ethn Dis. 2017;27(3):257-264; doi:10.18865/ed.27.3.257 
1918 Influenza Pandemic: In Utero Exposure in the United States and Long-Term Impact on Hospitalizations
Authors: Acquah Joseph Kofi , Dahal Roshani , Sloan Frank A.
Published: July 2017

Objectives. To explore associations between in utero exposure to the 1918 influenza pandemic and hospitalization rates in old age (≥ 70 years) in the United States.

Methods. We identified individuals exposed (mild and deadly waves) and unexposed in utero to the 1918 influenza pandemic (a natural experiment) by using birth dates from the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old survey. We analyzed differences in hospitalization rates by exposure status with multivariate linear regression.

Results. In utero exposure to the deadly wave of the 1918 influenza pandemic increased the number of hospital visits by 10.0 per 100 persons. For those exposed in utero to the deadliest wave of the influenza pandemic, high rates of functional limitations are shown to drive the higher rates of hospitalizations in old age.

Conclusions. In utero exposure to the influenza pandemic increased functional limitations and hospitalization rates in old age.

Public Health Implications. To determine investments in influenza pandemic prevention programs that protect fetal health, policymakers should include long-term reductions in hospitalizations in their cost–benefit evaluations.
Maracatu Rural: Improvisation as a Social and Cultural Practice
Authors: Weghuber Stefan
Published: July 2017

Maracatu Rural is a type of folk play with improvised verses performed in northeastern Brasil. Nowadays it has become one of the main attractions of pernambucanian carnival after decades of social struggle for wider national recognition within the context of Afro-Brazilian music. The poets are verbal representatives to outsiders. They have three culturally accepted options to choose from: to improvise freely, chant internalized lines, or combine these two elements. Both improvisation sites and the rhyme schemes affects the poets decision to either prepare or take performance risks (improvise).

The article discusses the close link between the art of improvisation of the poets as social agents and its situational context, depending on the cultural conditions, social position and individual development of each poet. It shows the interdependencies between a local folk play and supra-regional contexts such as the city, the state, the cultural industry or the media.
Improvisational Practices in the Production of the Precarious Common Spaces on the Periphery of Europe
Authors: Argyropoulou Gigi
Published: July 2017

This article discusses improvisational cultural practices in relation to sedimented processes and other modes of production. During the economic crisis on Europe’s south edge, extreme neoliberal policies experimented with new modes of social engineering. Yet, even in the face of such coercive systems, emergent cultural practices were improvising, testing their own radical alternatives, and producing nomadic, ephemeral, and impromptu practices inside and outside of social orders. Focusing on a seemingly grey period in the history of a theatre occupation in Athens during the years of the economic crisis, this article examines a series of improvisational practices that emerged in a constant fragile negotiation between agents, structures, social orders, and impossibilities.

Through this specific reading of an emergent cultural operation, this article seeks to explore how practices of improvisation can help us rethink and actively produce alternative structures and forms of organization, and further, how practices of improvisation can function as a form of social production in relation to other productions of the same moment.

The discussion of these precarious improvisational structures may uncover a modus operandi for rethinking the cultural constellation as a continuously ever-changing system. Improvisational tactics emerge as moments of self-institution that produce ephemerally alternative social imaginaries that might allow us to rethink improvisation’s potential in the current landscape.
Confronting a Darkening World: AMM at 50 Years—An Aesthetic Memorandum
Authors: Prévost Eddie
Published: July 2017

The origins of this piece are simple: it was meant as a note to the musicians (and perhaps the audience) taking part in a weekly London improvisation workshop I first convened in 1999. These sessions followed the principles, practices, and theoretical insights of AMM and led to a concert at the 2015 Huddersfield festival of Contemporary Music, a festival celebrating the 50th anniversary of AMM. Audience responses suggested that this piece merited a wider readership, and after reading the original draft through again, I realized that a wider historical perspective of AMM was warranted. This memorandum is my contribution to such a perspective.
Improvisation and Global Sites of Difference: Ten Parables Verging on a Theory
Authors: Fischlin Daniel , Porter Eric
Published: July 2017

Special issue editors Daniel Fischlin and Eric Porter introduce this issue of Critical Studies in Improvisation / Études critiques en improvisation.
Historical Perspective of Soil Balancing Theory and Identifying Knowledge Gaps: A Review
Authors: Chaganti Vijayasatya N. , Culman Steve W.
Published: July 2017

Core Ideas

A soil with an ideal basic cation saturation ratio (BCSR) is said to maximize crop yields.

Previous studies concluded higher crop yields are possible over a wide range of ratios.

Scientific community generally disregards BCSR theory.

Soil balancing effects on weeds, soils, and crop quality are critical knowledge gaps.

The common philosophies that contextualize soil test results and fertilizer recommendations are sufficiency level of available nutrients (SLAN), buildup and maintenance, and basic cation saturation ratio (BCSR). The BCSR approach postulates maintaining an ideal ratio of basic cation (Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+) saturations on the soil exchange sites to maximize crop yields. The practice of adding amendments to alter the ratios of basic cation saturations in soils is called “soil balancing.” Bear, Graham, and Albrecht promoted this concept, with each suggesting a desired saturation ratio of Ca:Mg:K for optimum crop yields. Several researchers have tried to validate this theory with both greenhouse and field experiments but could not conclude that an ideal cation saturation ratio existed and found that crop yields were similar across a wide range of ratios. While the scientific community disregards this theory, some farmers, crop consultants, and commercial soil‐testing laboratories still use BCSR to guide their fertilizer recommendations. It is believed that soil balancing effectively controls weeds, insects, and pests and improves overall soil health for better plant growth, ultimately producing better crop yields. Some even argue that soil balancing improves nutritional quality of the harvested crop. However, contemporary research to objectively demonstrate such perceived benefits of practicing soil balancing is missing. This review presents a holistic overview of soil balancing, presents a literature review on BCSR, and identifies knowledge gaps, which need to be addressed to better understand the merits and limitations of soil balancing.
Numerical simulation of filtration performance in submerged membrane bioreactors: effect of particle packed structure
Authors: Wang Zhidong , Su Kuizu , Shu Tong , Wang Weihong
Published: July 2017

It is widely known that the accumulation of solid matter forming a cake layer on the membrane surface is one of the major limitations of the filtration performance in submerged membrane bioreactors (SMBR). This study is focused on the influence of the cake porosity of different particle microscopic packed structures on the filtration performance of hollow fiber systems. An integrated model based on the finite element method to simulate numerically the flow in an SMBR is presented. The model coupled the Navier–Stokes and Darcy Brinkman equations to simulate a complete filtration run. The cake growth took into consideration not only the deposition with local filtration velocity but also the effect of aeration scouring. A novel solution of mesh deformation was adopted to investigate transient cake growth along the fiber. Comparisons between simulations and experiments are in good agreement. The results show that a higher porosity particle packed structure causes non-uniform filtration and cake thickness but also higher permeate flux. Meanwhile, the proportion of cake resistance to total resistance increases with the decrease of porosity.
Level strategies for teaching a foreign language at the university
Authors: Bosova Lyudmila Mikhailovna
Published: July 2017

The article deals with priorities of level language learning at non-linguistic institutions of higher professional education in Russia and contains recommendations for level learning. Attention is paid to delineate the most urgent problems that require further development. A level approach to foreign language teaching is considered as both a practical strategy in organizing foreign language teaching at the university and a factor that contributes to the development of educational system.
Interest in studying foreign language – the way to achieve personal results
Authors: Nazarova Elena Yuryevna
Published: July 2017

The article is devoted to the problem of the personal results development in teaching English through keeping the interest in the subject. The author analyzes the main approaches to the development of students’ interest in the subject throughout the years of studying it at school and tells about her own solutions of this problem.
Attitude to family values
Authors: Grigoryeva Olga Valdimirovna , Zakharova Darina Innokentyevna
Published: July 2017

Family is a system of a person’s social functioning. The article consists of the survey that was conducted April, 7–11, 2017, among students from NEFU: “Attitudes of teenagers to family values”. The study involved 150 students from NEFU. The aim of the research is to determine the level of teenagers’ readiness for family life and the factors affecting the creation of a new family. This analysis showed that most students are not ready to marry and have a wrong idea of ​​creating a family.
The question of main directions to analyze the organization's financial situation and the ways to improve it in Russian practice
Authors: Kurov Vladislav Vladimirovich
Published: July 2017

The paper stresses the need to analyze organization's financial situation; determines the main directions and methods of analysis. Based on the particular example the author has assessed the organization's financial situation, which is very important, and suggested the ways of quality growth of financial indicators.
To the question of creating programs for the prevention of internet addiction
Authors: Palchikova Marina Ivanovna
Published: July 2017

The article examines the problem of the effectiveness of preventing Internet addiction and analyzes possible options for preventing Internet addiction among younger schoolchildren. The author suggests addressing the problem in a comprehensive manner, developing social and pedagogical prevention programs using the potential of the educational environment and taking into account the specific interests and needs of specific students.
Impact of ASEAN India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA) on India's HS-85( Electrical goods) exports
Authors: Bajaj Parul , Sharma Anuj
Published: July 2017

The trade agreement in goods between India and ASEAN became operational in January, 2010. The paper attempts an enquiry into the Tariff concession given to India by the ASEAN countries in the electrical goods sector and also attempts to identify product lines at HS 4 levels sub segments in the same where there could be possibility for the exports to increase due to tariff cuts in the significant product categories as the two regions become more important trading partners in times to come. The paper will also give an overview of the tariff cuts in the identified tariff lines given by the ASEAN nations to India.
Self Help Groups and Women empowerment: Appraisal of Drang Block in Mandi District of HP
Authors: Singh Uttam
Published: July 2017

The self Help Group (SHG) movement in India has worked in the right path to fulfil the aim of empowering women and eradicating poverty in the rural area. The participation of women in SHG made an important impact on their empowerment both in social and economical aspect. However, women are still not empowered as per the expectation. The present study is conducted in Drang block of district Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. The study is trying to look at the role and performance of SHGs in women empowerment, how SHG impacting on the socio-economic status and their decision-making power in family and community also. The data collected from primary sources. A cluster and random sampling method used to for identification of area and respondent. Closed format questionnaire used for the interview. The percentage tool is used to check the result. The study concludes with an observation that financial autonomy, and participation in community-driven program, self-employment autonomy are only enabling factors to women empowerment.
Отклик термоэлектрических параметров пленок Bi-=SUB=-0.5-=/SUB=-Sb-=SUB=-1.5-=/SUB=-Te-=SUB=-3-=/SUB=- на вторичную рекристаллизацию
Authors: Бойков Ю.А. , Данилов В.А.
Published: July 2017

Методом дискретного испарения на подложках из слюды (мусковит) сформированы пленки Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 толщиной 1.2 мкм. Средний латеральный размер кристаллитов в свежевыращенных пленках ~800 нм. Плоскость (0001) в кристаллитах преимущественно ориентирована параллельно плоскости подложки. После термообработки в атмосфере аргона эффективный латеральный размер кристаллитов, в которых ось третьего порядка перпендикулярна плоскости подложки, увеличивался в 3-5 раз, причем последние были четко преимущественно ориентированы и в плоскости подложки. Параметр термоэлектрической мощности пленок Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3, после их термообработки в инертной атмосфере возрастал примерно вдвое и имел значения, близкие к его величине для соответствующих монокристаллов. DOI: 10.21883/FTP.2017.08.44776.45
Термоэлектрические свойства твердого раствора Mg-=SUB=-2-=/SUB=-Ge-=SUB=-0.3-=/SUB=-Sn-=SUB=-0.7-=/SUB=- p-типа проводимости
Authors: Исаченко Г.Н. , Самунин А.Ю. , Зайцев В.К. , Гуриева Е.А. , Константинов П.П.
Published: July 2017

Исследованы термоэлектрические свойства твердого раствора Mg2Ge0.3Sn0.7, легированного Ga и Li. Получены образцы с концентрацией дырок до 5·1020 см-3. Измерены температурные зависимости термоэдс, электропроводности и теплопроводности от комнатной температуры до 800 K. Наблюдается более высокая подвижность свободных носителей на образцах, легированных литием, чем в образцах с галлием. Максимальная безразмерная термоэлектрическая добротность на исследованных образцах составила 0.42 при 700 K. DOI: 10.21883/FTP.2017.08.44785.54
Сверхпроводящие свойства (Pb-=SUB=-0.05-=/SUB=-Sn-=SUB=-0.95-=/SUB=-)Te, легированного индием, в условиях гидростатического сжатия
Authors: Михайлин Н.Ю. , Парфеньев Р.В. , Черняев А.В. , Шамшур Д.В. , Андрианов Г.О.
Published: July 2017

Изучены сверхпроводящие свойства полупроводникового сплава Pb0.05Sn0.95Te, легированного 5 ат.% In, при гидростатическом сжатии P<7 кбар. При увеличении давления P>1.35 кбар исчезает скачок сопротивления к rho=0 на температурных и магнитополевых зависимостях электросопротивления rho(T) при T≥1.3 K и rho(H), соответствующих переходу в сверхпроводящее состояние. Экспериментальные результаты свидетельствуют об уменьшении плотности состояний на уровне Ферми с ростом давления, что можно интерпретировать как смещение уровня индия вглубь валентной зоны. Полученные данные уточняют и дополняют результаты работ по изучению барических зависимостей критических параметров сверхпроводящего перехода в (PbzSn1-z)0.95In0.05Te с различным содержанием свинца z. DOI: 10.21883/FTP.2017.08.44788.57