bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paliperidone in the treatment of autistic spectrum disorder: case report
Authors: Calixto Karen Vasconcelos , Souza Rafaela Mineiro Oliveira de , Santos Rovena Onofre dos , Jacobsen Stéfany , Tetemann Tássia Faller , Sant’Ana Thayná Pella
Published: October 2019

Paliperidone is a new atypical antipsychotic, injectable, long-term, risperidone-derived antipsychotic drug for oral use. Atypical antipsychotics act by blocking dopamine and serotonin receptors in the central nervous system and are used for the treatment of schizophrenia as prevention of their positive and negative symptoms. Based on scientific studies, paliperidone has shown superior effect compared to the others in the same class. It has commonly been assumed that the autism spectrum disorder is due to a set of specific characteristics manifested by deficits of varying degrees in the areas of communication, social interaction, including restrictive and repetitive behaviors. It tends to manifest itself in early childhood, usually at two years of age, or may only be perceived in the school setting. It is a disorder that affects more boys than girls and has its main cause turned to genetic factors. The objective of this report is to present the course and benefit of a new therapy through the use of paliperidone for the case of severe autism, refractory to the other standard medications. Patient INS, 31 years old, with severe autism spectrum disorder, diagnosed at 3 years of age when was started the treatment with infantile Dogmatil. It evolved to use of adult dogmatil, being necessary the suspension of the medication due to adverse reactions related to the reproductive system. Initiated use of Ritalin and Tofranil, with no significant improvement in the clinical and psychic-behavioral development, as well as the side effects that worsened the patient’s symptoms. In view of the clinic refractory to the medications of choice for the mentioned pathology, in march 2018 Paliperidone was prescribed, 100mg IM, monthly dose; an atypical antipsychotic, of high cost, not usually provided by the Unified Health System (SUS), as an empirical attempt to control the case. It was observed that its effects were beneficial, resulting in a decrease in headache, allergic reactions, nocturia and improvement of urinary incontinence. In addition, the seizures ceased, the aggressiveness was reduced, the sleep was improved, and the patient did not present rejection to the drug, and therefore the continuous use was indicated. Currently, the patient is followed up with another psychiatrist, monthly, in the state where she lives, which kept the medication due to the excellent results obtained.
Is low female presence in urology a brazilian issue?
Authors: Rodrigues Camila Cavalcanti Barcelos , Gama Beatriz Klimeck Gouvêa , Portes Karla P.
Published: October 2019

Introduction: The increased presence of women in different work spaces can be also seen in Medicine. Although there's still a majority of men, 54.4% in 2017, women are the youngest doctors in the country, counting 55%. This number has been increasing since 1970, and in 2014 women have become responsible for most new medical records. However, this growth in the medical world has been restricted to some specialties. Urology, the focus of this study, remains the specialty with fewer women. In 2013, 1.7% of the graduates were female, and in 2018 rose to only 2.2%, one of the smallest growths among 53 specialties (only bigger than neurosurgery, 0.32%). Low female adherence is often justified by cultural issues, prejudice, misinformation and also the patient's supposed difficulty in opening up about her sexuality with a female doctor. The purpose of this study is to analyze the presence of women in urology in different countries and compare them with national data using publicly accessible information.Objective: Compare and analyze Brazilian statistics of the presence of women in urology with different countries in the last 10 years.Methodology: A bibliographical research was conducted with Brazilian statistics and compared to different international data on the presence of women in urology between 2008 and 2018. The information was collected by means of official free access data available online.Results: Data were collected from countries in different continents. The Brazilian data show a growth of the female presence in urology that is insignificant in the analyzed period, being one of the lowest of the data found. Other countries, such as France - which grew from 2.75% to 6.93% - had a more significant increase in female presence, although not following the expected increase. The United States, on the other hand, grew from 4.7% to 8.7%, which is closer to the general reality of medicine in the country (6.9%).Conclusion: The collected data indicate that the absence of women in urology is not a strictly Brazilian problem, however, it seems to be worse in Brazil. Further studies on the subject are needed in order to better understand the scenario of the presence of women in urology.
Therapeutic alternatives and application of bacteriophages as a strategy in the use of antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial diseases
Authors: Melo Samara Ariane de , Ceni Henrique de Mello Remelli , Dellalibera-Joviliano Renata
Published: October 2019

Introduction: In 1940 Alexander Fleming discovered the antibiotic, which proved to be effective in combating bacterial diseases, but he simultaneously had the unfortunate evidence of bacterias being able to become resistant to this drug (multiresistance). This problem has extended to the present day, becoming internationally a major reason for poor quality of life, hospitalization and even the death of thousands of people. An estimate made by the World Health Organization is that by 2050 the superbacterias can be responsible for about 10 million deaths a year and, besides that, it will generate a cost of approximately 84 trillion dollars for the global economy. Objectives: To identify the possible therapeutic alternatives exclusive or complementary to the use of antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial diseases. Methodology: To achieve the objectives, information from scientific articles and research sites such as CAPES, SciELO, Pubmed, CNPq and FAPESP platforms will be used. Results: It was possible to identify alternatives already in development such as hemofiltration devices, quorum detection inhibitors, advanced immunotherapies and alternative efforts to limit virulence. In addition to these, two practices widely used by the population, but on a smaller scale for bacterial diseases, are homeopathy and herbal medicine, considered within integrative medicine. Finally, the most promising alternative found was bacteriophages, discovered shortly after antibiotics, but they were developed and applied only in the eastern world, in a few regions such as Russia. The bacteriophage acts only on the bacteria causing the disease, irreversibly binding to its membrane, at which point lytic proteins promote a pore that culminates in its death. However, it is of extremely important for the problem to be solved by its root: unnecessary and excessive prescription of antibiotics in the medical area, banalization of its importance and incorrect administration of patients. Discussion and Conclusion of the results: Initially, it is necessary to prevent the occurrence of new cases of bacterial resistance with primary prevention measures, such as disseminating this knowledge to both prescribing professionals and patients who use antibiotics. However, in cases where this adversity has already taken place, finding these various alternatives takes a prominent role in the attempt to reverse them and generate a scenery of hope as to its effectiveness and also its applicability.
MEWS score evaluation as severity predictor in admitted patients of internal medicine
Authors: Campagnolo Maria Thereza , Veiga Ana Paula Rocha , Tomé Carlos Eduardo Mendonça , Perensin Fernanda Silva , Henriques Gabriela Pizarro Ossa Ferro , Santos Gabriella Moreira , Guidi Júlia Franco
Published: October 2019

abstract
Prevalence and evolution of the inflammatory manifestations of Graves' disease
Authors: Villagelin Danilo , Lira Maisa Neves
Published: October 2019

abstract
XXXVIII COMU Scientific Awards
Authors: Souza Heraldo Possolo de , Ribeiro Mateus Barradas
Published: October 2019

n.d.
Variáveis clínicas e razões para busca de tratamento de pacientes tabagistas
Authors: Santos Camila Barbosa dos , Scortegagna Silvana Alba , Franco Renata Da Rocha Campos , Wibelinger Lia Mara
Published: October 2019

OBJETIVO: identificar variáveis clínicas e razões para busca de tratamento de tabagistas.MÉTODOS: estudo retrospectivo documental, com pacientes assistidos no Centro de Atenção Psicossocial Álcool e outras drogas de 2013 a 2016.RESULTADOS: dos 211 usuários, 41 apresentaram dependência à nicotina: mulheres (68,3%), baixa escolaridade (70,7%), início precoce do tabagismo (82,9%), elevada/muito elevada (61%), presença de problemas psíquicos (78%) e ansiedade (58,5%). Na busca de tratamento, 85% das mulheres demonstraram preocupação com saúde e 73% custos elevados do cigarro.CONCLUSÃO: políticas públicas de intervenção e prevenção devem ser ampliadas e desenvolvidas com atenção especial às mulheres.
Aspectos técnicos e roteiro de análise da radiografia de tórax
Authors: Wada Danilo Tadao , Rodrigues José Antonio Hiesinger , Santos Marcel Koenigkam
Published: October 2019

Antes de se iniciar a avaliação dos achados radiográficos no exame de radiografia (RX) de tórax, é preciso se atentar às incidências realizadas e aos parâmetros técnicos do exame. A sistematização da avaliação, utilizando a rotina semiológica e a terminologia correta, também é importante. Este artigo visa abordar os aspetos técnicos básicos para a realização de um bom exame de RX de tórax e apresentar um roteiro de avaliação sistematizada para sua correta interpretação. O exame de RX de tórax deve ser realizado, sempre que possível, com as incidências em posteroanterior (PA) e perfil. Há outras incidências que são realizadas de maneira complementar ou em situações específicas, como a anteroposterior (AP), decúbito lateral com raios horizontais (Laurel), apicolordótica, obliquas, expiração máxima e com marcadores no tórax. Os 3 principais parâmetros técnicos do RX de tórax avaliados na rotina clínica são a dose de radiação (verificar se o RX não ficou pouco ou muito penetrado), inspiração correta (verificar se o exame não está expirado) e o alinhamento (verificar se o RX não está rodado). A sistematização na avaliação do exame de RX de tórax, seguindo uma rotina semiológica, ajuda a reduzir a chance de erros de interpretação e de se perder alterações menos importantes ou secundárias. O modelo de laudo normal pode servir de roteiro para a análise do exame.
Sondas, cateteres e outros aparatos médicos na radiografia de tórax
Authors: Wada Danilo Tadao , Rodrigues José Antonio Hiesinger , Santos Marcel Koenigkam
Published: October 2019

O exame de radiografia simples (RX) do tórax é utilizado para verificação do posicionamento adequado de vários tipos de aparatos médicos, além de auxiliar na detecção de complicações relacionadas à sua implantação e uso. Principalmente nos pacientes criticamente doentes, com suporte cardiovascular ou ventilação mecânica, a realização do RX é importante na avaliação de tubos endotraqueais, sondas de alimentação, cateteres vasculares e drenos de tórax. O posicionamento inadequado desses dispositivos pode levar a complicações sérias que muitas vezes não são clinicamente evidentes. Outros aparatos médicos, mesmo que na parede torácica ou externos ao corpo do paciente, podem ser identificados no exame de RX, sendo importante saber reconhece-los para não confundir com imagens de corpo estranho ou outro tipo de lesão torácica. Neste texto, serão abordados os aspectos radiográficos das principais sondas, tubos e cateteres, vasculares e não vasculares, discutindo o posicionamento correto e algumas complicações identificáveis ao exame de RX de tórax.
Uma revisão do conceito de texto e suas implicações para os estudos filológicos
Authors: Alves Luiz Pereira , Ximenes Expedito  Eloísio
Published: October 2019

As transformações conceituais da Linguística, nos últimos anos, têm proposto uma revisão de conceitos caros aos estudos da linguagem; dentre eles, o conceito de texto. Ultimamente, defende-se, sobretudo na Linguística Textual, que esse objeto deve ser contemplado para além de seus componentes materiais. Tendo em vista a relevância dessa discussão, julgamos ser conveniente apresentar neste artigo como as metamorfoses conceituais pelas quais a Filologia passou têm, ao nosso ver, uma intrínseca relação com o status que o texto veio incorporando, sobretudo, dentro dos estudos da Linguística Textual.  Dessa forma, neste trabalho, aprofundamos a discussão que já sinalizamos em Alves (2016), onde discutimos o conceito de Filologia Textual, já apresentado em trabalhos como os de Santos e Souza (2012), Gama e Telles (2006) e Teixeira (2008). Argumentamos no sentido de mostrar como perspectivas teóricas da Linguística de Texto tendem a contribuir com o desenvolvimento das pesquisas no campo da Filologia, estabelecendo uma interface entre essas duas áreas do estudo da linguagem.
Religiosity and Group-Binding Moral Concerns
Authors: LaBouff Jordan P. , Humphreys Matthew , Shen Megan Johnson
Published: October 2019

Research by Graham and Haidt (2010) suggests that beliefs, rituals, and other social aspects of religion establish moral communities. As such, they suggest religion is most strongly associated with the group-focused “binding” moral foundations of ingroup/loyalty, authority/respect, and purity/sanctity. Two studies tested this hypothesis, investigating the role of political orientation in these relationships. These studies supported our hypothesis that general religiosity is positively associated with each of the group-focused moral foundations, even when controlling for the role of political orientation. Further, we find religious and political orientations interact such that low-religious political liberals are least likely to endorse group-focused moral intuitions. Results are discussed in a moral foundations framework and consider the role of religiosity's association with political orientation and group-focused moral foundations.
Operation Monkey Wrench: Toward a Populist Policy Process?
Authors: Adler Paul , Tucker Todd
Published: October 2019

The policy process literature focuses on technocratic insiders, while scholarship on populism hones in on demagogic outsiders. The latter’s distrust of elites, compromise, and nuance makes them potentially effective in opposition or government, but less obviously as intervenors in policy formation between elections. We argue that, under certain conditions, populists can effectively insert themselves into policy processes without seizing power or even reducing the basic polarity they believe exists between “the elite” and “the people.” In particular, populists can “monkey wrench” the policy process by getting maligned elites to act against their own interests, even if the populists themselves can agree on no alternative policies. Using original archival materials, we illustrate how the transnational movement against the Multilateral Agreement on Investment in the late 1990s deployed monkey-wrenching. In so doing, we contribute to an understanding of how Benjamin Moffitt’s conception of the populist style can be deployed to analyze left-wing transnational nongovernmental policy entrepreneurs, instead of the right-wing national government aspirants who are often focused upon in political science research on populism. We conclude that interdisciplinary scholarship between political scientists and historians can identify circumstances when populists’ influence on policy is more likely.
Populism Curtailed? Globalization and the Debate over Genetically Modified Organisms in the European Union
Authors: Markowitz Shane
Published: October 2019

While the role of globalization in constituting the rise of populist movements has been increasingly recognized, the ways in which globalization can, in fact, curtail populism is also worthy of analytical attention. This is exemplified in the EU debate over plant biotechnology where a couple of exceptions to the largely anticorporate populist mobilization against transgenic crops include the political positioning of EU farmers in favor of GM soybean imports and the posturing of environmental groups and beekeepers against the labeling of GM contaminated honey. Interrogating these cases, the paper attributes mobilization/policy outcomes to the ways in which global food-consumption patterns, supermarket branding initiatives, and regulatory decisions intermingled with the sociomaterial dynamics of particular locales to constitute decision-making landscapes that made populist policies (un)fathomable. In engaging with the globalism-populism nexus in this manner, the paper imparts lessons on how globalization and the populist outcomes associated with it can be honed and reoriented.
Where the Real People Meet the Real Elite
Authors: Schoor Carola
Published: October 2019

This article clarifies how elitist elements are integrated into populist discourse by analyzing political speeches using this incongruent style. First, it introduces a method to identify populist, elitist, and pluralist discourse based on a shared logic, defining populism at an intercontextual level. Second, speeches by Donald Trump (US), Boris Johnson (UK), and Thierry Baudet (NL) are analyzed in their contexts to clarify their political styles and are then compared to see where these styles meet. The populism-elitism mix goes well with nationalism, as all three politicians combine the style with a nationalist ideology, which unites the people with the elite. Coalitions are created between the people and the “good” elite to fight the “bad” elite. Furthermore, the mix has rhetorical-strategic advantages, such as profiling oneself as unique on the political field. Overall, the blend shows political significance, justifying thoughtful academic consideration alongside the broad attention for full populism.
Proceedings of the 16th International Echinoderm Conference (Cover)

Authors: OJI TATSUO , FUJITA TOSHIHIKO , MOTOKAWA TATSUO , KOMATSU MIÉKO , AGATSUMA YUKIO , KANAZAWA KEN'ICHI
Published: October 2019

Cover
Crinoids lived around the Cretaceous seeps: the second example from cold-seep deposit in the Yezo Group in Hokkaido, Japan
Authors: KATO MOE
Published: October 2019

Cold seep deposits are characterized by authigenic carbonates with very low δ13C signatures and specific fossils of chemosynthetic community members. These members are mainly composed of mollusks, whereas only a few occurrences of fossil echinoderms from cold seep deposits have been reported. The information of paleoecology of fossil echinoderms in or near cold seep environments is also sporadic. Allochthonous columnal fossils of an Isocrinina crinoid species were found in a boulder of Cretaceous cold seep carbonate from the Yezo Group in northern Hokkaido. The stable carbon isotope of the fossil crinoid specimens showed very low values, approximately −30‰ (VPDB) or much lower value. The low δ13C signatures of the seep crinoids and their mode of occurrences suggest that the fossil crinoids lived near the seep environment, and they assimilated low δ13C organic particles shifted from there.
Clarifying the identity of the Uruguayan meadow katydid Conocephalus doryphorus (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalini)
Authors: GRECO-SPINGOLA SILVANA , BRAUN HOLGER
Published: October 2019

Conocephalus doryphorus (Karny, 1907), a member of the lesser meadow katydids, with around 150 recognized species in this genus with worldwide distribution, and around 25 of them living in South America, has been described from a unique immature female from an unknown locality in Uruguay.
Confirmation of Trachischium guentheri (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Tibet, China, with description of Tibetan T. monticola
Authors: WANG KAI , JIANG KE , JIN JIEQIONG , LIU XU , CHE JING
Published: October 2019

Little is known about the worm-eating snakes of the genus Trachischium in the East Himalaya due to their secretive nature. To date, only T. monticola and T. tenuiceps are recorded from China, and the former species was recorded based on historical literature without vouchered information. In addition, a questionable record of T. guentheri in Tibet, China exists in literature, but no one has yet confirmed this distribution record. Here we confirm the distribution of T. guentheri in southeastern Tibet, China based on a newly collected specimen, and provide the first detailed description of T. monticola, including the first description of its hemipenial morphology, based on newly collected Tibetan specimens. Lastly, we provide a diagnostic key to the three Chinese species, and discuss the general distribution patterns of the genus in the Trans-Himalayan Region.
Integrating data to redescribe Euschistus taurulus Berg (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)
Authors: HICKMANN FREDERICO , MORAES TAMARA , BIANCHI FILIPE MICHELS , CORRÊA ALBERTO SOARES , SCHWERTNER CRISTIANO FELDENS
Published: October 2019

The genus Euschistus Dallas includes 67 species restricted to the New World, and several species are registered on cultivated plants in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. In South America, most Euschistus species are completely overlooked due to the lack of information to allow accurate identification. Here, we redescribed Euschistus taurulus Berg, including for the first time, characterization of the internal and external genitalia of both sexes. We also report original information on bionomics, review and update information on geographical distribution and host plants records. Additionally, we provide DNA barcoding sequences for E. taurulus and three other morphologically similar key-agriculture pest species in South America: Euschistus heros (Fabricius), Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas), and Dichelops furcatus (Fabricius). We discuss means for correct identification of E. taurulus and its phylogenetic position within Euschistus and other similar stink bugs; the potential economic importance of the E. taurulus is also addressed.
A new species of Apostlethrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae); an Australian genus from grass tussocks
Authors: WANG JUN , MOUND LAURENCE , TREE DESLEY J.
Published: October 2019

In most of the warmer parts of the world, a considerable diversity of thrips live only at ground level where they feed on fungi. In Australia, many such Phlaeothripidae species live in leaf-litter (Mound et al. 2013; Wang et al. 2019), but a different and smaller suite of thrips lives particularly at the base of tussocks of grasses and similar plants (Mound & Minaei 2006; Eow et al. 2014; Mound & Tree 2018). One genus in this suite, Apostlethrips, has been known only from two species (ThripsWiki 2019), both of which were taken from the base of Triodia grasses in the northern parts of Western Australia. The purpose of the present contribution is to describe a third species in this genus, taken from grasses near Darwin. This new species shares with the other two members of the genus the unusual character of a pair of rather stout and capitate ocellar setae (Fig. 1), but it differs in several other character states. As a result, a revised generic diagnosis is provided here. Pronotal setal abbreviations are as follows: am—anteromarginals; aa—anteroangulars; ml—midlaterals; epim—epimerals; pa—posteroangulars.
Well-Ordered "Ripple-Shaped" Microstructures of Mn Thin Films on GaAs Substrates
Authors: Chanda Anupama , Sengupta Joydip , Jacob Chacko
Published: October 2019

This study was aimed to investigate the thickness dependent morphological changes of Mn films deposited on GaAs substrates by thermal evaporation technique. Ni films were deposited under same conditions to perform comparative study of the morphological changes with respect to the Mn
films. The scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy studies revealed ripple-shaped structure of Mn film with good periodicity, while Ni film only exhibited small granules deposited throughout the surface. The influence of the thickness of the Mn film in producing the ripple
structure was clearly observed. In addition, the annealing time was considered as the major parameter to control the ordering of the ripple structure. X-ray diffraction pattern indicated the formation of different phases of Ga-Mn and Mn-As due to diffusion of atoms during annealing. A model
for the creation of stress-driven microstructure is proposed which indicates that Mn thin films grow on GaAs substrates in three stages: in the primary stage, the growth occurs via two-dimensional nucleation process; as the thickness increases, the stress is released by the film via creation
of additional surface roughness which produce ripples; and finally an island-like growth occurs because of the non-uniform distribution of stress along the surface of the film.
Determination of Photon Attenuation Coefficients of Steel Doped Barite Plasters
Authors: Akkurt İskender , Günoğlu Kadir , Kılınçarslan Şemsettin
Published: October 2019

The plaster is used as a flattening of the interior and exterior surfaces of the buildings and as decorative material. In this study, photon attenuation coefficients of barite plaster containing steel were measured. The measurements performed at 511, 835 and 1275 keV which are obtained
from 22Na and 54Mn radioactive sources, using a gamma spectrometer that contains a NaI(Tl) detector and MCA. The measured results were compared with the calculation obtained using computer code of XCOM for 1 keV–1 GeV gamma energies. Also, half value layer (HVL)
and tenth value layer (TVL) were calculated using the results obtained from the experimental measurement.
Instability of Surface Quasigeostrophic Spatially Periodic Flows
Authors: Kalashnik M. V. , Kurgansky M. V. , Kostrykin S. V.
Published: October 2019

The surface quasigeostrophic (SQG) model is developed to describe the dynamics of flows with zero potential vorticity in the presence of one or two horizontal boundaries (Earth surface and tropopause). Within the framework of this model, the problems of linear and nonlinear stability of zonal spatially periodic flows are considered. To study the linear stability of flows with one boundary, two approaches are used. In the first approach, the solution is sought by decomposing into a trigonometric series, and the growth rate of the perturbations is found from the characteristic equation containing an infinite continued fraction. In the second approach, few-mode Galerkin approximations of the solution are constructed. It is shown that both approaches lead to the same dependence of the growth increment on the wavenumber of perturbations. The existence of instability with a preferred horizontal scale on the order of the wavelength of the main flow follows from this dependence. A similar result is obtained within the framework of the SQG model with two horizontal boundaries. The Galerkin method with three basis trigonometric functions is also used to study the nonlinear dynamics of perturbations, described by a system of three nonlinear differential equations similar to that describing the motion of a symmetric top in classical mechanics. An analysis of the solutions of this system shows that the exponential growth of disturbances at the linear stage is replaced by a stage of stable nonlinear oscillations (vacillations). The results of numerical integration of full nonlinear SQG equations confirm this analysis.
The Impact of Grants on Homeowner Decisions to Retrofit to Reduce Hurricane-Induced Wind and Flood Damage
Authors: Chiew Esther , Davidson Rachel A. , Trainor Joseph E. , Nozick Linda K. , Kruse Jamie L.
Published: October 2019

An increasing number of national, state, and local programs have offered grants or other monetary incentives to encourage homeowners to retrofit their homes to reduce damage from natural hazard events. Despite this fact, little is known about how these offerings influence a homeowner’s decision to carry out such structural retrofits. This paper studies the impact that different grant program designs in particular have on the decision to undertake different types of retrofits to mitigate against hurricane damage. Using data from a survey of homeowners in the eastern half of North Carolina, we implement a mixed logit model that allows for the combination of both revealed-preference and stated-preference data available from the survey. Our findings show that offering a grant results in households being, on average, 3 times as likely to retrofit as when a grant is not offered. In addition, both the percentage of retrofit cost and the maximum dollar amount covered by the grant have a substantial impact on the probability that households choose to retrofit. Living closer to the coastline also has a significant impact on the probability that households will choose to retrofit. Counter to some previous research, we find that households who have experienced two or more hurricanes are less likely to choose to retrofit their homes. From our research, we find that the percentage of retrofit cost covered by the grant and the total cost are both important factors when deciding on the best grant program configuration.
CSOs and EU Border Management: Cooperation or Resistance? The Case of Frontex Consultative Forum
Authors: Giannetto Leila
Published: October 2019

The so-called European migrant or refugee crisis, started in 2015, has marked the climax of an increasing European tension on the management of the external borders, tension that had been building up since the turn of the century. In this particularly turbulent period, civil society organizations (CSOs) lobbying for human and migrant rights have expanded their presence not only operatively at the land and sea borders of the European Union (EU) but also at the EU governance level. With the growing importance of agencies in the EU executive space in terms of competences and resources (i.e., agencification), advocacy groups have started to direct their advocacy efforts toward EU agencies, particularly in the Area of Freedom Security and Justice. The most controversial EU agency in this scenario is the 13-year-old agency Frontex, now called European Border and Coast Guard Agency, which is also where the presence of CSOs has become more substantial in terms of competences and ability to access information on the operational and strategic activity of the agency. The aim of this article is to establish how this relationship between Frontex and CSOs has developed over time and what has been the impact of this relationship on the agency on fundamental rights matters. This study addresses these two issues by, first, analyzing the CSOs represented within Frontex Consultative Forum (CF) on fundamental rights, their aims and lobbying strategies vis-à-vis Frontex; second, the evolution of their relationship with the agency and the rationale of their permanence within the CF; and, last, their impact on Frontex’s understanding of fundamental rights. Considerations on advocacy activity outside of the CF are also presented by stressing the difference in ideology between organizations that decided to advocate for fundamental rights from within or outside Frontex.
Examining the impact of the Good Behaviour Game on emotional and behavioural problems in primary school children: A case for integrating well-being strategies into education
Authors: Torok Michelle , Rasmussen Victoria , Wong Quincy , Werner-Seidler Aliza , O'Dea Bridianne , Toumbourou John , Calear Alison
Published: October 2019

Childhood emotional and behavioural problems can indicate a higher risk of developing mental illness in adolescence and beyond. Schools provide an appropriate setting in which to deliver universal preventions to improve well-being and protect against early risks for mental health disorder. However, interventions can often be difficult to implement in schools due to their perceived or actual burdensomeness and implementation challenges can affect effectiveness. Teacher-delivered well-being interventions that can be integrated into usual classroom teaching practices provide a potential solution. This study examines the efficacy of a teacher-delivered programme, the Good Behaviour Game, in Australian primary schools. The programme significantly reduced emotional and behavioural problems as measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire from baseline to post-intervention, suggesting that it may be an effective teaching practice for managing students in the classroom and for promoting well-being and development.
Re-Enchanting the Human in an Era of Naturalism
Authors: Jung Daekyung
Published: October 2019

Christians today are encountering new technologies such as gene editing via CRISPR-Cas9, designer babies, and anti-aging medical technology. These technical efforts are designed to enhance the physical properties of humans. Should we be vigilant about any aspects of these new technologies? Are we happy with these technologies? No, we are not happy about all of these developments. We need to critically examine some of the philosophical ideas embedded in the development and application of these technologies. This article aims to rebut the mechanical understanding of the human being that is implicitly embedded in the discourse on the technology. The author proposes naturalism as the cause of the emergence of the mechanical understanding of the human being, which has led to the reduction and negation of the nonphysical aspects of human existence. Due to the elimination of the universal and nonphysical reality of the meaning, value, and telos of human existence and the reduction of such realities to physical reality, what is valuable, meaningful, and good has become limited to that which is involved with something physical. In this way, technology has come to be very important, and the act of thinking has been reduced to the act of technical reasoning. Thus, the human being is construed as a purely physical, mathematical, and geometrical being—as a machine. In order to retrieve a holistic understanding of the human, therefore, it is necessary to reject the reduction of the nonphysical to the physical and thereby retrieve the inherent nonphysical aspects of the human being. This effort will help to re-enchant human beings and to provide theological and ethical rationale for preventing imprudent technological development and its application to humans.
Influence of Pharmacist Intervention on Re-Elevation of Glycated Hemoglobin for Diabetic Outpatients
Authors: Maiguma Takayoshi , Komoto Atsushi , Shiraga Emi , Hagiwara Sae , Onishi Junko , Li Miyoshi , Teshima Daisuke
Published: October 2019

Purpose: The effect of pharmacist intervention on blood sugar control in diabetic outpatients in a pharmacist-managed clinic was studied by focusing on the re-elevation of the glycated hemoglobin (A1c) level defined as a continuous variable. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed at the Mizushima Kyodo Hospital from April 2014 to March 2016. Of the 221 diabetic outpatients who were provided guidance by nurses and nutritional managers, 62 further consulted the pharmacist-managed clinic. The remaining 159 patients were enrolled in a nonintervention group. Finally, the data of 115 patients with A1c level of ≥7.5% and A1c re-elevation were extracted. Intergroup comparison was performed between the pharmacist intervention (n = 26) and nonintervention (n = 89) groups. In both the groups, the starting point (baseline) was the time when the A1c level of ≥7.5% was observed. Subsequent monitoring was performed once in every 3 months. The average cumulative level of A1c re-elevation (CARE) was compared between groups. Patients with A1c level of ≥8.0% and A1c level between 7.5% and 8.0%, and male and female patients were also compared. Furthermore, the number of days until the re-elevation of the A1c level from the baseline was also compared. Results: The CARE values were 0.89 ± 0.86% and 1.51 ± 1.25% in the pharmacist intervention and nonintervention groups, respectively, showing a significant difference ( P = .0195). There were no significant differences between patients with A1c level of ≥8.0% and A1c level between 7.5% and 8.0%, or between males and females. The number of days until the re-elevation of A1c level from the baseline also showed no significant difference. Conclusion: Pharmacist intervention for diabetic outpatients in pharmacist-managed clinics significantly suppressed CARE when compared with effects of no intervention, and this could be useful for preventing the exacerbation of diabetes.
Showing and hiding: The flickering visibility of earth workers in the archives of earth science
Authors: Barnett Lydia
Published: October 2019

This essay interrogates the motives of eighteenth-century European naturalists to alternately show and hide their laboring-class fossil suppliers. Focusing on rare moments of heightened visibility, I ask why gentlemen naturalists occasionally, deliberately, and even performatively made visible the marginalized science workers on whom they crucially depended but more typically ignored or effaced. Comparing archival fragments from elite works of natural history across a considerable stretch of time and space, including Italy, France, Switzerland, Britain, Ireland, Germany, Spain, and French, Spanish, and British America, this essay sketches the contours of a disparate group of people I term ‘earth workers’: laborers of very low social rank, such as quarrymen, shepherds, ditch-diggers, and fieldworkers, whose daily labor in and on the earth enabled the discovery of subterranean specimens. At the same time, archival traces of laboring lives ultimately reveal more about the naturalists who created them than they do about the marginalized laborers whose lives they faintly record. Cultural norms of elite masculinity and scholarly self-presentation in the Republic of Letters help us to understand why some eighteenth-century naturalists felt they had to publicly disavow a form of labor that would come to be recognized as a crucial and skilled part of scientific fieldwork in the modern era. Compared to other kinds of invisible labor that historians of science have brought into view, the social meaning of earth work rendered it uniquely visible in some ways and uniquely invisible in others.
Soft sensor for the moisture content of crude oil based on multi-kernel Gaussian process regression optimized by an adaptive variable population fruit fly optimization algorithm
Authors: Li Kun , Xu Wensu , Han Ying , Ge Fawei , Wang Yi’an
Published: October 2019

In the practical oilfield production, it has great significance to realize timely and accurate measurement of the moisture content of crude oil. However, there are some drawbacks in the traditional measurement methods, such as: non-real time, high cost, labor-consume, vulnerability to environmental impacts, and so on. In order to solve these problems, a soft sensor model based on multi-kernel Gaussian process regression optimized by an adaptive variable population fruit fly optimization algorithm (APFOA-MKGPR) is presented in this paper. A multiple kernels-based Gaussian process regression method is utilized to deal with the practical production process characterised by multiple operating phases, noises, strong nonlinearity and dynamic. In the multi-kernel function, many parameters (five hyper-parameters in the multi-kernel function and three weights of each kernel function) need to be accurately given, which is difficult to be effectively optimized by the maximum likelihood estimation. So, a swarm intelligence-based adaptive variable population fruit fly optimization algorithm (APFOA) is proposed to train the best model parameters. A novel adaptive variable population mechanism is developed to adaptively adjust the population size and the random flight distance during the iterations, which can realize a combination of the global searching and the local searching for the optimal solutions. The proposed method is verified by four benchmark functions and the actual production data of one oil well, and experimental results show the effectiveness for accurate prediction of the moisture content of crude oil.
Person-following by autonomous robots: A categorical overview
Authors: Islam Md Jahidul , Hong Jungseok , Sattar Junaed
Published: October 2019

A wide range of human–robot collaborative applications in diverse domains, such as manufacturing, health care, the entertainment industry, and social interactions, require an autonomous robot to follow its human companion. Different working environments and applications pose diverse challenges by adding constraints on the choice of sensors, degree of autonomy, and dynamics of a person-following robot. Researchers have addressed these challenges in many ways and contributed to the development of a large body of literature. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the literature by categorizing different aspects of person-following by autonomous robots. Also, the corresponding operational challenges are identified based on various design choices for ground, underwater, and aerial scenarios. In addition, state-of-the-art methods for perception, planning, control, and interaction are elaborately discussed and their applicability in varied operational scenarios is presented. Then some of the prominent methods are qualitatively compared, corresponding practicalities are illustrated, and their feasibility is analyzed for various use cases. Furthermore, several prospective application areas are identified, and open problems are highlighted for future research.
Factors influencing cognitive function in patients with atrial fibrillation: a cross-sectional clinical study
Authors: Xiong Nanqing , Shen Jun , Wu Bangwei , Yan Pingping , Shi Haiming , Li Jian , Luo Xinping
Published: October 2019

Background

The factors that influence cognitive function in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remain unclear.

Methods

This study involved an AF group and control group (normal sinus rhythm) of 150 patients each. Cognitive function was assessed with the adjusted Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSEadj) score and Memory and Executive Screening (MES) score. The relationship between cognitive function and the CHA2DS2VASc score was analyzed. Subgroup analysis was performed according to stroke history. Clinical factors affecting the MMSE score were screened by logistic regression analysis.

Results

Baseline data were similar between the two groups. The MMSEadj and MES scores were significantly lower in the AF than control group; the mean MMSEadj score in the AF non-stroke subgroup and control non-stroke subgroup was 26.2 ± 2.7 and 27.9 ± 2.0, respectively. In non-stroke patients with AF, the MMSEadj and MES scores were negatively correlated with the CHA2DS2VASc score. Factors significantly influencing the MMSE score in these patients were age, education, smoking history, NT-proB-type natriuretic peptide, hemoglobin, and anticoagulation.

Conclusion

AF is associated with cognitive dysfunction regardless of stroke history. High CHA2DS2VASc scores are associated with impaired cognitive function. Factors influencing cognitive function in non-stroke patients with AF are age, education, smoking history, NT-proB-type natriuretic peptide, hemoglobin, and anticoagulation.
Comparative assessment of individual RONS in serum of smokers compared with non-smokers and their correlation with the lipid profile and antioxidant status
Authors: Khojah Hani MJ , Ahmed Sameh A
Published: October 2019

Objective

Cigarette smoking generates free radicals, such as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) that contribute to many diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of individual RONS in serum from smokers and non-smokers, and to examine their impact on lipid profiles and the endogenous antioxidant status, which is represented by vitamins C and E.

Methods

Ninety-four healthy Egyptian volunteers (48 smokers and 46 non-smokers) were enrolled. Blood samples were collected and analysed for common haematological tests, lipid profiles, and serum antioxidants. Six reactive oxygen species and three reactive nitrogen species were measured.

Results

A significant increase in radical levels was observed, as well as significant increases in haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit, platelet count, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in smokers compared with non-smokers. In contrast, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly reduced in smokers compared with non-smokers. A moderate negative correlation was found between serum levels of vitamins C and E and O2–•, HO•, H2O2, NO•, and ONO•, reflecting a negative impact of elevated RONS levels on the endogenous antioxidant status.

Conclusion

These results may increase our understanding of the pathological role of smoking in several diseases.
CD30 Cross-Reactivity and Expression in Feline Normal Tissues and Lymphomas
Authors: Carminato Antonio , Tecilla Marco , Roccabianca Paola , Zanardello Claudia , Melchiotti Erica , Capello Katia , Vascellari Marta
Published: October 2019

CD30 is a transmembrane glycoprotein of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily included in the diagnostic algorithm of human cutaneous, anaplastic large cell and Hodgkin lymphomas and represents an optimal therapeutic target for CD30+ tumors. Similar diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are largely missing for feline lymphomas. Cross-reactivity of the antihuman CD30 receptor clone Ber-H2 was investigated in feline lymphomas. Comparative analysis of feline and human CD30 identified 61% identity of the amino acid sequence, with 100% identity of the main sequence of the epitope targeted by the antibody (RKQCEPDYYL). CD30 expression in normal feline tissues was restricted to rare lymphoid cells in perifollicular and interfollicular lymph node areas and in the thymic medulla. In feline lymphoma, CD30 was expressed in 4 of 33 (13%) T-cell lymphomas, 3 of 22 (14%) B-cell lymphomas, and 5 of 7 (71%) mixed-cell lymphomas, showing diffuse (1/5) or multifocal (4/5) positivity restricted to neoplastic multinucleated lymphoid cells and binucleated cells consistent with Reed-Sternberg-like cells. Based on the human classification system, cell morphology, expression of multiple markers (mixed cell components), and CD30 positivity, these cases were considered most consistent with classical Hodgkin-like lymphoma (HLL). The other 2 mixed-cell lymphomas were CD30 negative and thus most consistent with either T-cell-rich large B-cell lymphoma (TCRLBCL) or nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL). These findings provide multiple data supporting the cross-reactivity of the Ber-H2 anti-CD30 clone in feline tissues and give evidence of the usefulness of CD30 in the diagnostic evaluation of feline lymphoma.