bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative Features of the Choriocapillaris in Healthy Individuals Using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Authors: Al-Sheikh Mayss , Falavarjani Khalil Ghasemi , Pfau Maximilian , Uji Akihito , Le Phillip P. , Sadda SriniVas R.
Published: August 2017

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To quantify vessel density (VD) and grey value (GV) as a measure of flow in the choriocapillaris (CC) in healthy subjects with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

In this prospective, noncomparative case series, 3 mm × 3 mm OCTA images of 36 eyes of 22 healthy individuals were obtained using a swept-source instrument. VD and GV levels were calculated on CC en face slabs in the central 1-mm (subfoveal field) and surrounding 2.5-mm parafoveal ring. VD was calculated as a ratio of vessel area over nonvessel area following image binarization. GV was computed as the mean, un-normalized greyscale intensity value for all pixels in the region of interest. For each eye, the procedure was repeated 1 minute to 2 minutes later and intersession repeatability was analyzed. The choroidal thickness (CT) was automatically measured in the subfoveal and parafoveal regions and compared to VD and GV values.

RESULTS:

The VD ratio and GV was lower in the subfoveal field than in the parafoveal four sectors. The intersession intraclass correlation coefficients were high for both VD and GV measurements. There was no correlation observed between CT and VD or GV.

CONCLUSIONS:

Quantitative metrics can be obtained from CC OCTA en face images. These values show moderate to good intersession repeatability. These normative data may be of value as a reference of comparison in future studies of eyes with disease.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2017;48:623–631.]
Distinguishing White Dot Syndromes With Patterns of Choroidal Hypoperfusion on Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Authors: Wang Jay C. , Laíns Inês , Sobrin Lucia , Miller John B.
Published: August 2017

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To compare patterns of choroidal hypoperfusion in white dot syndromes (WDS) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Consecutive patients with WDS were imaged with either the Zeiss AngioPlex OCT Angiography (Carl Zeiss AG, Oberkochen, Germany) or the AngioVue OCT Angiography (Optovue, Fremont, CA) from February to November 2016. Four patients with acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE), birdshot chorioretinopathy (BCR), presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (POHS), and multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) were selected. This study was approved by the institutional review board at Massachusetts Eye and Ear.

RESULTS:

Unique patterns of choroidal hypoperfusion were observed. In POHS and MEWDS, areas of choroidal hypoperfusion correlated well with clinically observed pathology, but in APMPPE and BCR, they were more widespread.

CONCLUSION:

OCTA can identify different patterns of choroidal hypoperfusion in APMPPE, BCR, POHS, and MEWDS, which appears to be a shared feature of WDS.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2017;48:638–646.]
Vascular Density of Retinal Capillary Plexuses in Different Subtypes of Macular Hole
Authors: Pierro Luisa , Rabiolo Alessandro , Iuliano Lorenzo , Gagliardi Marco , Panico Davide , Bandello Francesco
Published: August 2017

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To compare vessel density and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area among eyes with full-thickness macular hole (FTMH), lamellar macular hole (LMH), and macular pseudohole (MPH) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Cross-sectional study involving 10 eyes with idiopathic FTMH, 10 eyes with LMH, 10 eyes with MPH, 17 unaffected fellow eyes, and 10 healthy controls. All patients underwent 3 mm × 3 mm OCTA centered on the macula. Vessel density and FAZ area were calculated.

RESULTS:

In the deep capillary plexus, FTMHs disclosed the highest vessel density (82.7% ± 16.8%), superior to LMHs (63.7% ± 5.9%;
P
= .0092), MPHs (37.8% ± 2.5%;
P
= .0011), and controls (53.0% ± 12.2%;
P
< .0001). In the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), MPHs had the lowest vascular density. Fellow eyes had reduced vascular density at SCP compared to control eyes.

CONCLUSIONS:

Microvascular changes are evident in different subtypes of macular holes. Unaffected fellow eyes exhibit early involvement of SCP.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2017;48:648–654.]
Morphologic and Postoperative Fixation Characteristics of the Macular Epiretinal Membrane in Young Patients Undergoing Surgery
Authors: Tian Tian , Chen Chunli , Jin Haiying , Zhang Qi , Xu Yu , Wang Shiyuan , Zhang Xiang , Zhao Peiquan
Published: August 2017

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To describe morphologic characteristics, surgical outcomes, postoperative preferred retinal loci (PRL), and fixation stability of epiretinal membranes (ERMs) in young patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

This retrospective study analyzed 43 eyes of 41 young patients (age range: 0.8 years to 28 years) with ERMs, which were divided into two groups: secondary ERMs (SERMs; n = 28) and idiopathic ERMs (IERMs; n = 13). All 43 eyes underwent 25-gauge vitrectomy and membrane peeling. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography scans and microperimetry were used to analyze morphologic and fixation characteristics, respectively.

RESULTS:

Premacular fibrosis was more common in SERMs group (
P
= .006). SERMs were also associated with less external limiting membrane (ELM) (
P
= .008) and ellipsoid zone visibility (
P
= .008) compared with IERMs. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved in 20 eyes (69%) with SERMs (
P
= .005) and in 12 eyes (86%) with IERMs (
P
= .13). From the analysis of the postoperative fixation characteristics, there was a linear correlation between visual acuity and fixation stability (R
2
= 0.495).

CONCLUSION:

BCVA improved significantly in young patients with ERM, even in cases with a severely disrupted ELM and ellipsoid zone. More attention should be paid to the postoperative fixation location and stability.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2017;48:655–662.]
Amalric Triangular Syndrome Associated With Outer Nuclear Layer Infarction
Authors: Garrity Sean T. , Holz Eric J. , Sarraf David
Published: August 2017

An 85-year-old man presented with temporal headache and bilateral paracentral scotomas. Clinical examination, laboratory testing, and temporal artery biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis. Fluorescein angiography illustrated Amalric triangular choroidal infarction of the left eye. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography of the left eye demonstrated outer nuclear layer abnormalities adjacent to the choroidal infarct.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina.
2017;48:668–670.]
Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in West Nile Virus Chorioretinitis and Associated Occlusive Retinal Vasculitis
Authors: Khairallah Moncef , Kahloun Rim , Gargouri Salma , Jelliti Bechir , Sellami Dorra , Ben Yahia Salim , Feki Jamel
Published: August 2017

A 65-year-old man with diabetes and a history of fever of unknown origin 2 weeks earlier complained of sudden decreased vision in the left eye. The patient was diagnosed with bilateral West Nile virus (WNV) chorioretinitis associated with occlusive retinal vasculitis in the left eye. Swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) of the left eye showed extensive, well-delineated, hypointense non-perfusion areas and perifoveal capillary arcade disruption in the superficial capillary plexus, as well as larger non-perfusion areas, capillary rarefaction, and diffuse capillary network attenuation and disorganization in the deep capillary plexus. OCTA may be a valuable tool for noninvasively assessing occlusive retinal vasculitis associated with WNV infection. It allows an accurate detection and precise delineation of areas of retinal capillary nonperfusion in both the superficial and deep capillary plexuses.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina.
2017;48:672–675.]
The Effect of Personality (Brand Ambassadors) on Advertisement and Consumers Purchase Intentions in the Telecommunication Industry
Authors: Portia Opoku Boadi , Li Guoxin , Philip Antwi
Published: August 2017

Celebrity advertisement is a popular method adopted by companies, and NGO's to increase the awareness of their product or service, sales and profit margin. The notion behind this strategy is that consumers and the general public usually endorse the lifestyle and personality of these celebrities. To this effect they tend to patronize the goods and services endorsed by such celebrities. The advertising literature does not mention much about these celebrity advertisement, therefore this research will bridge the gap by empirically testing to find out if celebrities have any influence on such advertisements and if they influence consumers purchase intentions. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 290 Ghanaians, using Glo Mobile Ghana Ltd as a case study. After analyzing the data received, the findings affirmed that celebrity advertisement does not always have a positive influence on products and consumers' purchase intentions. Conclusions and managerial implications are discussed
Finding the Semantic Relationship Between Wikipedia Articles Based on a Useful Entry Relationship
Authors: Chen Lin-Chih
Published: August 2017

Wikipedia is the largest online Internet encyclopedia, and everyone can create and edit different articles. On the one hand, because it contains huge amounts of articles and there are many different language versions, it often faces synonymous and polysemy problems. On the other hand, since some of the similar Wikipedia articles may have the same topic of discussion, it needs a suitable way to identify effectively the semantic relationships between articles. This paper first uses three well-known semantic analysis models LSA, PLSA, and LDA as evaluation benchmarks. Then, it uses the entry relationship between Wikipedia articles to design its model. According to the experimental results and analysis, its model has high performance and low cost characteristics compared with other models. The advantages of its model are as follows: (1) it is a good model for finding the semantic relationships between Wikipedia articles; (2) it is suitable for dealing with huge amounts of documentation.
A Hedonic Analysis of Consumer Demand for Mobile Value-Added Services
Authors: Hsiao Ming-Hsiung , Chen Liang-Chun
Published: August 2017

A large part of valued-added mobile services are free for consumers' use. To enjoy these services, however, consumers have to pay for the mobile phone handsets, and for the mobile Internet as well. This study, therefore, aims to estimate the implicit price consumers are willing to pay for these free mobile services, and for the attributes of mobile devices as well. The study applies hedonic pricing models with structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to estimating the coefficients of the variables on mobile phone and service usage. Then it employs data on 296 mobile phone users collected in 2012 for model estimation. The estimation results show that there are seven attributes which determine the price consumers pay for the mobile phone handsets and another eight attributes on the usage of the value-added mobile services which determine the price for the access to the mobile network.
Real-Time Unspecified Major Sub-Events Detection in the Twitter Data Stream That Cause the Change in the Sentiment Score of the Targeted Event
Authors: Srivastava Ritesh , Bhatia M.P.S.
Published: August 2017

Twitter behaves as a social sensor of the world. The tweets provided by the Twitter Firehose reveal the properties of big data (i.e. volume, variety, and velocity). With millions of users on Twitter, the Twitter's virtual communities are now replicating the real-world communities. Consequently, the discussions of real world events are also very often on Twitter. This work has performed the real-time analysis of the tweets related to a targeted event (e.g. election) to identify those potential sub-events that occurred in the real world, discussed over Twitter and cause the significant change in the aggregated sentiment score of the targeted event with time. Such type of analysis can enrich the real-time decision-making ability of the event bearer. The proposed approach utilizes a three-step process: (1) Real-time sentiment analysis of tweets (2) Application of Bayesian Change Points Detection to determine the sentiment change points (3) Major sub-events detection that have influenced the sentiment of targeted event. This work has experimented on Twitter data of Delhi Election 2015.
Information Quality in Participatory Systems
Authors: Touq Ahmed Bin , Ijeh Anthony
Published: August 2017

The study explores the impact of participatory systems on information quality using Abu Dhabi as a case study. Participatory systems are used for deciding social change to affect residents and citizens positively. The case study research method was used to examine information quality in a participatory system. Content of the participatory system was assessed for information quality and it was found to support theoretical claims that Abu Dhabi residents and citizens participate in building sustainable competition using participatory systems. The limitations of the study are found in its focus on a single application, the app CityGuard. Through examining the use of CityGuard, specific issues were recognized which allowed the definition of steps on how its use could impact social change more positively. This paper presents findings from the use of CityGuard as a public participatory tool.
Pop Lyrics and Mobile Language Learning
Authors: Werner Valentin , Lehl Maria , Walton Jonathan
Published: August 2017

Pop lyrics represent a rich, but underused resource in language teaching in both institutional and informal contexts. This is striking in view of analyses from the fields of motivational and cognitive psychology, didactics as well as linguistics, which all provide evidence for the inherent potential of pop lyrics. This paper will first take a closer look at arguments in favor of exploiting pop lyrics for learning purposes. Next, it will outline gateway steps and potential difficulties on the way toward using lyrics in a video/lyrics app tailored to the requirements of an informal, gamified and learner-centered setting. In conclusion, the authors suggest that pop lyrics can be used effectively to establish a connection to the world of the learner both within and beyond the language classroom. However, there remain a number of technical and methodological challenges that have to be overcome to create a fully adaptable and flexible framework for using lyrics in mobile-assisted language learning.
Exploring the Impact of Globalization and Technology on Supply Chain Management
Authors: Hu Jiayi , Haddud Abubaker
Published: August 2017

This article reports on results of a research aimed at understanding the relation between globalization and technology and what impact this relation has brought to the modern global supply chain. The research focuses on the e-business/e-commerce, a new but fast growing concept as a supply chain operation model, to compare and discuss the differences of related aspects to global supply chain management versus similar practices a decade earlier. An online questionnaire was used to collect data and the participants were all supply chain experts working for the same global logistics and transportation company. Participants' perceptions were collected about their online experience and how they have experienced the change in supply chain management as a result. The research revealed that there is a relationship between globalization, technology use, and the impact of these two elements on the evolution of the global supply chain in the e-business industry. Also, the ‘digitalization' is leading the global supply chain operations to a new operation platform. There were two main limitations in this study; a) relatively small sample size, and b) the majority of participants had a logistics background and this may have impacted their reported perceptions.
Using a Design Science Research Approach in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Project
Authors: Islam Muhammad Nazrul
Published: August 2017

Design science is a problem-solving approach that focuses on how to develop and produce artifacts having desired properties. A Design Science Research (DSR) approach was followed to develop a Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) artifact (semiotic framework [Semiotic Interface sign Design and Evaluation – the SIDE framework]) to help practitioners to design and evaluate the web interfaces. The objective of this paper is to present how a DSR approach was adopted in a HCI project and to highlight what lessons were learned by adopting the DSR approach in developing a HCI artifact. This paper outlines how the principles and guidelines of DSR approach were adopted, while performing the activities of the DSR process model to construct the artifact. Lessons learned from this case study and their implications in HCI research are also discussed; that includes, for example, DSR provides higher level of procedural transparency, maintains the research rigor, create a bridge between the HCI and IS, provides established research knowledge base, support to claim both as an approach and a paradigm, and facilitates to employ both inductive and deductive design activities.
Quality Enhancement in Higher Education Institutions in India
Authors: Rao Katta Rama Mohana , Patro Chandra Sekhar
Published: August 2017

Higher education system in India has been expanded in a remarkable way, particularly in the post-independence period, to become one of the largest systems of its kind in the world. However, the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) is far below when compared to developed and many developing countries. The Government of India has focused on increasing the access and ensuring equity during successive plan periods. The resultant growth, though impressive, failed to ensure desired Quality in Higher Education. Only a few Higher Education Institutions earned reputation for high quality services. Globalization has resulted in significant changes in the knowledge economy and ushered new conditions for the provision of higher education to cater the skill requirement all across the globe. Under these circumstances, focus on quality enhancement of higher education in India assumes greater significance. This paper analyses the growth of higher education in India, the major quality concerns, the government initiatives and challenges for enhancement of quality of higher education in India.
Intelligent Virtual Assistant's Impact on Technical Proficiency within Virtual Teams
Authors: Graham Christian , Jones Nory B
Published: August 2017

Information-systems development continues to be a difficult process, particularly for virtual teams that do not have the luxury of meeting face-to-face. The research literature on this topic reinforces this point: the greater part of database systems development projects ends in failure. The use of virtual teams to complete projects further compounds these failures. However, recent developments in intelligent virtual assistants (IVAs), such as Siri, Cortana, or Watson, have created opportunities to automate the systems-development process and improve success rates. Specifically, the use of a virtual assistant possessing key knowledge about database systems development can increase virtual team member technical proficiency in project-based skills. In addition, a virtual assistant can contribute to the development of higher-quality virtual team projects—in this case, database management systems. This observational study found that while the result of statistical analysis was not quite significant, teams that used the IVA did develop higher-quality team projects.
An Energy-Aware and Under-SLA-Constraints VM Consolidation Strategy Based on the Optimal Matching Method
Authors: Li WeiLing , Wang Yongbo , Wang Yuandou , Xia YunNi , Luo Xin , Wu Quanwang
Published: August 2017

Growing demand of computational power brings increasing scale and complexity of cloud datacenters. However, such increase also generates growing energy consumption and related cost incurred for cooling and maintenance. With concerns of cost and energy saving by both industry and academy, the reduction of energy consumption of cloud datacenters becomes a hotspot issue. Recently, virtual-machine-consolidation-based strategies are proposed as promising methods for reduction of cloud energy consumption. Virtual machine (VM) consolidation effectively increases the resource utilization rate. However, it remains a great challenge how to reduce energy consumption while maintaining the quality of service (QoS) at a satisfactory level. In this work, a comprehensive framework is presented for the above-mentioned problem, which aims at maximizing the number of physical machines (PMs) to be turned off within a consolidation period following the constraints of QoS, in terms of Service-Level-Agreement (SLA) violation rate. In comparison with most existing related works which consider invariant utilization rate of PMs in computing energy reduction of candidate migration plans, propose framework considers time-varying utilization rate and employs the number of PMs to be turned off within a consolidation period (NPTCP for simple) as the optimization objective. The proposed framework consists of a resource selection algorithm taking the predicted migration overhead (derived by the Pareto distribution) as inputs and another algorithm generating optimal matching plans based on preference scores of candidate VMs. For the model validation purpose, a case study is conducted on the CloudSim simulation platform and it shows that the proposed method achieves better energy reduction and less SLA violation.
A Comparative Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Concussion on a Computerized Neurocognitive Test and Self-Reported Symptoms
Authors: Alsalaheen Bara , Stockdale Kayla , Pechumer Dana , Broglio Steven P. , Marchetti Gregory F.
Published: August 2017

Context: 

Meta-analyses examining construct-specific cognitive impairment concurrently with self-reported symptoms postconcussion are sparse.

Objective: 

To review the literature on the effects of concussion on construct-specific neurocognitive declines and to compare them with self-reported symptoms before 1 week and between 1 and 3 weeks postconcussion.

Data Sources: 

Relevant studies in PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO published from January 1, 1999 through November 30, 2015.

Study Selection: 

Studies were included if participants completed the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) before and after concussion and if test performance and Postconcussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) scores were reported at both times.

Data Extraction: 

After reviewing the full texts, we extracted data from 17 studies consisting of 29 independent samples; therefore, this meta-analysis consisted of 1777 unique participants.

Data Synthesis: 

The Hedges g effect size (ES) was estimated. A random-effects or fixed-effects model was used based on heterogeneity findings. When heterogeneity was present, we used meta-regression to assess unexplained between-studies variance. Within the first week of injury, the ESs were small to moderate for cognitive declines, ranging from −0.43 (95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.52, −0.35) to −0.67 (95% CI = −0.77, −0.58), and large for the PCSS score (Hedges g = −0.81; 95% CI = −0.91, −0.71). After 1 week, the ESs for cognitive declines (Hedges g range = −0.25 [95% CI = −0.35, −0.15] to −0.37 [95% CI = −0.55, −0.19]) and PCSS score (Hedges g = −0.38; 95% CI = −0.53, −0.22) were also small. Within 2 weeks of injury, PCSS score and time since injury weakly moderated the cognitive ES.

Conclusions: 

When a neurocognitive test was administered within 1 week of injury, the ES was larger for self-reported symptoms than for ImPACT scores generated at the same session. After 1 week of injury, the ESs for ImPACT and PCSS scores were comparable. If the athlete reports symptoms within 1 week of injury, administering a cognitive test does not appear to offer additional information to the clinician. However, if the athlete does not report symptoms postconcussion, cognitive testing may inform the clinical management of the injury.
Case Report: Treatment of Widespread Nodular Post kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis with Extended-Dose Liposomal Amphotericin B in Bangladesh: A Series of Four Cases
Authors: Basher Ariful , Maruf Shomik , Nath Proggananda , Hasnain Md Golam , Mukit Muhammod Abdul , Anuwarul Azim , Aktar Fatima , Nath Rupen , Hossain AFM Akhtar , Milton Abul Hasnat , Mondal Dinesh , Mohammad Sumsuzzaman Abul Khair , Rahman Ridwanur , Faiz M. A.
Published: August 2017

Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a skin manifestation which usually appears after visceral leishmaniasis. It is now proved that PKDL patients serve as a reservoir for anthropometric leishmanial transmission. Hence, to achieve the kala-azar elimination target set by the World Health Organization in the Indian Subcontinent, PKDL cases should be given priority. The goal of treatment for PKDL should be early reepithelizlization and rapid cure, but unfortunately this has been difficult to achieve, especially for patients with severe lesions. Therefore, we describe here four cases of PKDL who had widespread nodular and macular lesions and were treated with two cycles of LAmB doses with 20 mg/kg body weight divided into four equal doses (each dose contains 5 mg/kg) administered every alternate day. This treatment schedule achieved 100% treatment success with the minimal safety concern.
Field Trial of the CareStart Biosensor Analyzer for the Determination of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Activity in Haiti
Authors: Weppelmann Thomas A. , von Fricken Michael E. , Wilfong Tara D. , Aguenza Elisa , Philippe Taina T. , Okech Bernard A.
Published: August 2017

Throughout many developing and tropical countries around the world, malaria remains a significant threat to human health. One barrier to malaria elimination is the ability to safely administer primaquine chemotherapy for the radical cure of malaria infections in populations with a high prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. In the current study, a field trial of the world’s first quantitative, point-of-care assay for measuring G6PD activity was conducted in Haiti. The performance of the CareStart Biosensor Analyzer was compared with the gold standard spectrophotometric assay and genotyping of the G6PD allele in schoolchildren (N = 343) from the Ouest Department of Haiti. In this population, 19.5% of participants (67/343) had some form of G6PD deficiency (< 60% residual activity) and 9.9% (34/343) had moderate-to-severe G6PD deficiency (< 30% residual activity). Overall, 18.95% of participants had the presence of the A-allele (65/343) with 7.87% (27/343) considered at high risk for drug-induced hemolysis (hemizygous males and homozygous females). Compared with the spectrophotometric assay, the sensitivity and specificity to determine participants with < 60% residual activity were 53.7% and 94.6%, respectively; for participants with 30% residual activity, the sensitivity and specificity were 5.9% and 99.7%, respectively. The biosensor overestimated the activity in deficient individuals and underestimated it in participants with normal G6PD activity, indicating the potential for a systematic measurement error. Thus, we suggest that the current version of the biosensor lacks adequate sensitivity and should be improved prior to its use as a point-of-care diagnostic for G6PD deficiency.
Efficacy, Safety and Cost-Effectiveness of Thermotherapy in the Treatment of Leishmania donovani–Induced Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Refai Wardha F. , Madarasingha Nayani P. , Sumanasena Buthsiri , Weerasingha Sudath , De Silva Amala , Fernandopulle Rohini , Satoskar Abhay R. , Karunaweera Nadira D.
Published: August 2017

Leishmania donovani causes cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Sri Lanka. Standard treatment is multiple, painful doses of intralesional sodium stibogluconate (IL-SSG). Treatment failures are increasingly reported, hence the need to investigate alternatives. Efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of thermotherapy were assessed for the first time for L. donovani CL. A single blinded noninferiority randomized controlled trial was conducted on new laboratory-confirmed CL patients with single lesions (N = 213). Selected patients were randomly assigned to 1) test group (N = 98; single session of radiofrequency-induced heat therapy (RFHT) given at 50°C for 30 seconds) and 2) control group (N = 115; 1–3 mL IL-SSG given weekly, until cure/10 doses). Patients were followed-up fortnightly for 12 weeks to assess clinical cure. Cost of treatment was assessed using scenario building technique. Cure rates by 8, 10, and 12 weeks in RFHT group were 46.5%, 56.5%, and 65.9% as opposed to 28%, 40.8%, and 59.4% in IL-SSG group, with no major adverse events. Cure rate by RFHT was significantly higher at 8 weeks (P = 0.009, odds ratio [OR]: 2.236, confidence interval [CI]: 1.217–4.108) and 10 weeks (P = 0.035, OR: 1.881, CI: 1.044–3.388), but comparable thereafter. Cost of RFHT was 7 times less (USD = 1.54/patient) than IL-SSG (USD = 11.09/patient). A single application of RFHT is safe, cost-effective, and convenient, compared with multiple doses of IL-SSG in the treatment of L. donovani CL. Therefore, RFHT would be considered noninferior as per trial outcome when compared with standard IL-SSG therapy with multiple benefits for the patient and the national health care system.
Prevalence and Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in a Military Population in Texas
Authors: Webber Bryant J. , Pawlak Mary T. , Valtier Sandra , Daniels Candelaria C. , Tully Charla C. , Wozniak Edward J. , Roachell Walter D. , Sanchez Francisco X. , Blasi Audra A. , Cropper Thomas L.
Published: August 2017

Recent biosurveillance findings at Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), a large military installation located in south-central Texas, indicate the potential for vector-borne human Chagas disease. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in highest risk subpopulations on the installation, including students and instructors who work and sleep in triatomine-endemic field settings. Real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay were performed on enrolled subjects (N = 1,033), none of whom tested positive for T. cruzi or anti-T. cruzi antibodies. Current countermeasures used during field training on JBSA appear to be sufficient for preventing autochthonous human Chagas disease.
Limited Transmission Potential of Takeda’s Tetravalent Dengue Vaccine Candidate by Aedes albopictus
Authors: Dietrich Elizabeth A. , Ong Yee Tsuey , Stovall Janae L. , Dean Hansi , Huang Claire Y.-H.
Published: August 2017

Recombinant live-attenuated chimeric tetravalent dengue vaccine viruses, TDV-1, -2, -3, and -4, contain the premembrane and envelope genes of dengue virus serotypes 1–4 in the replicative background of the attenuated dengue virus type-2 (DENV-2) PDK-53 vaccine strain. Previous results have shown that these recombinant vaccine viruses demonstrate limited infection and dissemination in Aedes aegypti and are unlikely to be transmitted by the primary mosquito vector of DENVs. In this report, we expand this analysis by assessing vector competence of all four serotypes of the TDV virus in Aedes albopictus, the secondary mosquito vector of DENVs. Our results indicate that these vaccine viruses demonstrate incompetence or defective infection and dissemination in these mosquitoes and will likely not be transmissible.
Epidemiology of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in a Colombian Municipality
Authors: Medina-Morales Diego Alejandro , Machado-Duque Manuel E. , Machado-Alba Jorge Enrique
Published: August 2017

This study describes the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of leishmaniasis and the pharmacological treatment of this disease in the municipality of Pueblo Rico, Risaralda, between January 2010 and December 2014. An observational study was conducted using information from the clinical records and epidemiological reports of patients diagnosed and confirmed with leishmaniasis of any age and sex, including sociodemographic, clinical, and pharmacological variables of the therapy received. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed. A total of 539 cases of leishmaniasis were confirmed, with 29.5% occurring in children under 5 years of age. The median age was 10 years, with predominance in males (55.5%). The indigenous Emberá (aboriginal Americans) were the most affected (50.8%), and 93.3% of cases occurred in people living in scattered rural areas. All lesions corresponded to cutaneous leishmaniasis, of which 251 patients had compromise of the upper limbs (46.6%), 221 of the face (41.0%), and 139 of the lower limbs (25.8%). Pentavalent antimony salts (n-methyl glucamine and sodium stibogluconate) were prescribed in 77.6% (N = 418) of the cases; miltefosine was the second most frequently prescribed medication (21.5%, N = 116). The inhabitants of rural areas and the indigenous communities are at a higher risk of acquiring the infection, particularly among infants, which highlights the importance of the biological, social, and demographic factors involved in the disease. There is a need to seek effective public health actions and further research this disease.
Differential Neurovirulence of African and Asian Genotype Zika Virus Isolates in Outbred Immunocompetent Mice
Authors: Duggal Nisha K. , Ritter Jana M. , McDonald Erin M. , Romo Hannah , Guirakhoo Farshad , Davis Brent S. , Chang Gwong-Jen J. , Brault Aaron C.
Published: August 2017

Although first isolated almost 70 years ago, Zika virus (ZIKV; Flavivirus, Flaviviridae) has only recently been associated with significant outbreaks of disease in humans. Several severe ZIKV disease manifestations have also been recently documented, including fetal malformations, such as microcephaly, and Guillain–Barré syndrome in adults. Although principally transmitted by mosquitoes, sexual transmission of ZIKV has been documented. Recent publications of several interferon receptor knockout mouse models have demonstrated ZIKV-induced disease. Herein, outbred immunocompetent CD-1/ICR adult mice were assessed for susceptibility to disease by intracranial (i.c.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) inoculation with the Ugandan prototype strain (MR766; African genotype), a low-passage Senegalese strain (DakAr41524; African genotype) and a recent ZIKV strain isolated from a traveler infected in Puerto Rico (PRVABC59; Asian genotype). Morbidity was not observed in mice inoculated by the i.p. route with either MR766 or PRVABC59 for doses up to 6 log10 PFU. In contrast, CD-1/ICR mice inoculated i.c. with the MR766 ZIKV strain exhibited an 80–100% mortality rate that was age independent. The DakAr41524 strain delivered by the i.c route caused 30% mortality, and the Puerto Rican ZIKV strain failed to elicit mortality but did induce a serum neutralizing immune response in 60% of mice. These data provide a potential animal model for assessing neurovirulence determinants of different ZIKV strains as well as a potential immunocompetent challenge model for assessing protective efficacy of vaccine candidates.
Clinical Spectrum, Etiology, and Outcome of Neurological Disorders in the Rural Hospital of Mosango, the Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Mukendi Deby , Lilo Kalo Jean-Roger , Mpanya Alain , Minikulu Luigi , Kayembe Tharcisse , Lutumba Pascal , Barbé Barbara , Gillet Philippe , Jacobs Jan , Van Loen Harry , Yansouni Cédric P. , Chappuis François , Ravinetto Raffaella , Verdonck Kristien , Boelaert Marleen , Winkler Andrea S. , Bottieau Emmanuel
Published: August 2017

There is little published information on the epidemiology of neurological disorders in rural Central Africa, although the burden is considered to be substantial. This study aimed to investigate the pattern, etiology, and outcome of neurological disorders in children > 5 years and adults admitted to the rural hospital of Mosango, province of Kwilu, Democratic Republic of Congo, with a focus on severe and treatable infections of the central nervous system (CNS). From September 2012 to January 2015, 351 consecutive patients hospitalized for recent and/or ongoing neurological disorder were prospectively evaluated by a neurologist, subjected to a set of reference diagnostic tests in blood or cerebrospinal fluid, and followed-up for 3–6 months after discharge. No neuroimaging was available. Severe headache (199, 56.7%), gait/walking disorders (97, 27.6%), epileptic seizure (87, 24.8%), and focal neurological deficit (86, 24.5%) were the predominant presentations, often in combination. Infections of the CNS were documented in 63 (17.9%) patients and mainly included bacterial meningitis and unspecified meningoencephalitis (33, 9.4%), second-stage human African trypanosomiasis (10, 2.8%), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related neurological disorders (10, 2.8%). Other focal/systemic infections with neurological manifestations were diagnosed in an additional 60 (17.1%) cases. The leading noncommunicable conditions were epilepsy (61, 17.3%), psychiatric disorders (56, 16.0%), and cerebrovascular accident (23, 6.6%). Overall fatality rate was 8.2% (29/351), but up to 23.8% for CNS infections. Sequelae were observed in 76 (21.6%) patients. Clinical presentations and etiologies of neurological disorders were very diverse in this rural Central African setting and caused considerable mortality and morbidity.
Rapid Detection of Plasmodium knowlesi by Isothermal Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assay
Authors: Lai Meng-Yee , Ooi Choo-Huck , Lau Yee-Ling
Published: August 2017

In this study, we developed a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay for specific diagnosis of Plasmodium knowlesi. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood samples using a commercial kit. With incubation at 37°C, the samples were successfully amplified within 20 minutes. The end product of RPA was further examined by loading onto agarose gel and a specific band was observed with a size of 128 bp. The RPA assay exhibited high sensitivity with limits of detection down to one copy of the plasmid. From the specificity experiments, it was demonstrated that all P. knowlesi samples (N = 45) were positive while other Plasmodium spp. (N = 42) and negative samples (N = 6) were negative. Therefore, the RPA assay is a highly promising approach with the potential to be used in resource-limited settings. This assay can be further optimized for bedside and on field application.
A narrativa ficcional como método no ensino de sociologia
Authors: Cavalcante Gustavo Oliveira Wolf
Published: August 2017

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-3532.2015n13p111Este trabalho reflete sobre o recurso à ficção como estratégia de ensino de sociologia, a partir de experiência de estágio de docência realizada em 2014. No exercício intitulado “conto sociológico”, alguns textos remetiam a concepções que contradiziam o retorno dado pelos alunos nos debates em sala, o que nos deu mostras de que a sociologia pode não lograr êxito em abalar estruturas de pensamento. Supondo uma relação entre esta esterilidade e a sua forma científica, o estudo se debruça sobre possibilidades de desenvolver o pensamento sociológico e agregar capital simbólico a partir da escrita, com a pretensão de empoderar estudantes e compensar desigualdades linguísticas, valendo-se da mimesis artística e da narrativa ficcional para criar um espaço de crítica das representações hegemônicas, de práticas discursivas que contribuam para atenuar a violência simbólica a que são submetidos os alunos do ensino médio ao se depararem com a aridez e a objetividade da linguagem científica.
Educação e Ludicidade: um diálogo acerca das possibilidades epistêmicas que a abordagem lúdica têm a oferecer a Sociologia
Authors: Meirelles Mauro , Hoppe Luciana , Sperhacke Simone
Published: August 2017

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-3532.2015n13p162A partir de entrevistas realizadas com as professoras Luciana Hoppe e Simone L. Sperhacke buscou-se trazer algumas contribuições que a educação lúdica tem a oferecer ao campo das Ciências Sociais. Num tom de diálogo, busca trazer algumas definições, apontar ideias e pensar a relação professor-aluno pelo uso de jogos em sala de aula. Luciana é comunicadora, especialista e mestre em marketing, professora universitária desde 1999, tem formação em Metodologia Cefe e Focalização de Jogos. Além da docência presencial e em EAD, atua na gestão no Ensino Superior, tem atuando com pesquisa e consultoria desde 1990 e é proprietária da SIM!. Simone é Desenhista Industrial, mestre e doutoranda em design e tecnologia, Participa como pesquisadora no Projeto ICD do Núcleo de Desenvolvimento de Produtos (NDP) da UFRGS desde 2009, professora universitária, tem formação em focalização de Jogos e facilitação gráfica, especialização em design de jogos e é proprietária da Sisper Design.
Fragmentos de sociologia pré-acadêmica no ensino normalista de 1935
Authors: Bodart Cristiano Das Neves
Published: August 2017

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-3532.2015n13p30Neste artigo são analisados e discutidos conteúdos abordados no âmbito do ensino de Sociologia no contexto de uma escola normalista rural da década de 1930. Tal discussão corrobora no sentido de desvendar aspectos e disputas ideológicas que envolveram o ensino de Sociologia nesse período de inclusão obrigatória no ensino brasileiro. Para tal empreitada adotamos a análise documental, mais especificadamente de provas escolares aplicadas em 10 de agosto de 1935 na Escola Normal Municipal de Alegre, que se localizava no interior do Espírito Santo. Identificamos que há, no ensino de Sociologia, elementos que indicam que nesse período sua prática esteve marcada pela presença de fundamentos religiosos e que a “Sociologia pré-acadêmica” convergia-se no ensino de uma “Sociologia pré-científica” ou “Cristã”.
A perspectiva docente sobre as ciências sociais no ensino médio integrado
Authors: Guerino Mariana De Fátima , Nunes Marcela De Oliveira
Published: August 2017

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-3532.2015n13p52Problematiza-se o ensino de ciências sociais no ensino médio integrado ao profissional no Instituto Federal de Santa Catarina (IFSC) na perspectiva dos docentes responsáveis por essa área, a qual se faz representada pela disciplina de sociologia. O objetivo é saber quais as suas correlações com dimensões mais amplas do trabalho docente no IFSC. Para isso, os professores responderam um questionário sobre o ensino de sociologia, onde mencionaram obstáculos presentes no cotidiano, os quais se expandem para além das salas de aulas e abarcam questões que envolvem servidores técnicos, gestores e demais docentes. Dialogamos com Silva (2007; 2009), Jinkings (2007), Sposito (2003), Shiroma, et al. (2011), dentre outros estudiosos que transitam pela esfera do trabalho e educação. Dados preliminares indicam que a sociologia no IFSC tem se configurado em meio a contrassensos quanto aos conteúdos ministrados, metodologias, além do escasso reconhecimento e legitimidade da disciplina por alguns gestores e professores.
Ciência política no ensino médio: reconhecimento, diálogos e itinerários da institucionalização de uma área
Authors: Pereira Jesus Marmanillo
Published: August 2017

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-3532.2015n13p75O presente artigo visa delinear uma etapa da institucionalização da Ciência Política, que corresponde a determinados debates e ações orientados para a inserção dessa área no ensino médio. A partir daí buscamos elencar quais as principais influências, argumentos e contextos que caracterizam um campo heterônomo - ora de disputa disciplinar, ora pelo discurso da interdisciplinaridade. Por fim, analisamos os conteúdos dessa disciplina trabalhados em um livro didático de Sociologia, verificando que essa mesma lógica heterônoma também é vinculada a outros aspectos, como a pluralidade de métodos da Ciência Política, em outros níveis de ensino e os processos mais amplos de formação de licenciados e de institucionalização dessa área.
Editorial
Authors: Gaspar Müller Ricardo
Published: August 2017

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-3532.2015n14p1Trata-se do Editorial número 14.
Elementos para se pensar sobre a didática da Sociologia no ensino médio
Authors: Silva da Nóbrega José Aderivaldo
Published: August 2017

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-3532.2015n14p101Já estamos próximos de uma década de retorno da sociologia aos currículos escolares e o debate acadêmico sobre este fato tem avançado, sobretudo, no que se refere à questão curricular e, mais especificamente, na conversão da produção científica da Sociologia em conteúdos escolares. No presente artigo chamamos a atenção para a necessidade de intensificar o debate sobre a didática do ensino de sociologia porque, se por um lado, os objetos de estudo da nossa ciência justificam a sua entrada no ensino médio, por outro, a sua permanência e sua efetividade está relacionada à qualidade do ensino e dos resultados, em termos de aprendizagem, que o nosso trabalho deve apresentar. No texto que segue propomos um debate sobre quais seriam os aspectos pedagógicos, teóricos e metodológicos que estariam em jogo na definição da didática do ensino de sociologia.
Hierarquia, legitimidade e autoridade no processo de institucionalização da sociologia como disciplina escolar (1997-2008)
Authors: Moraes Lívia Bocalon Pires de
Published: August 2017

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-3532.2015n14p24Este artigo busca analisar a institucionalização recente do ensino de sociologia no Ensino Médio, entre 1997 e 2008, com base na teoria sociológica de Pierre Bourdieu, em especial suas noções de poder simbólico, campo, capital e habitus, enfocando as ações de Amaury Cesar Moraes, Ileizi Luciana Fiorelli Silva, Sueli Guadelupe de Lima Mendonça, Elisabeth da Fonseca Guimarães, Nelson Dacio Tomazi, Heloisa Helena Teixeira de Souza Martins, e Lejeune Mato Grosso de Carvalho, cientistas sociais pioneiros neste processo. Enfatiza o envolvimento de cada um deles e a rede de relações pessoais e institucionais que gradativamente se constituiu, bem como suas concepções e representações acerca de suas ações e das relações atinentes a elas, e compreende as ações estratégicas que eles empreenderam a partir análise das diferentes posições hierárquicas ocupadas nos espaços sociais envolvidos com esta institucionalização.
O diário de campo como recurso didático-pedagógico para a disciplina sociologia no ensino médio
Authors: De Souza Andre Luis Santos
Published: August 2017

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-3532.2015n14p67Este artigo mobiliza alguns dados e análises com base em um processo educacional envolvendo a disciplina de Sociologia e estudantes do primeiro ano do Ensino Médio. Os dados e discussões foram produzidos a partir das interações face a face proporcionada pela sequência didática de cinco aulas em uma instituição privada de ensino localizada na cidade de Ponte Nova, MG. A temática que norteou as aulas foi “Tecnologias e Mídias” e os conceitos mobilizados foram Tecnologia, TICs, NTICs e Mídia. Objetivou-se, com auxílio e participação dos estudantes, o estranhamento e desnaturalização dos usos e significados relativos às Novas Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (NTICs) no cotidiano deles. Como recurso didático os estudantes produziram “diários de campo” narrando um dia em sua rotina e foram orientados a fazer leitura deles e, com ajuda do professor, interpretar e analisar os dados contidos nos relatos. Notou-se que esse recurso auxiliou de modo eficaz na mediação do conhecimento crítico da realidade social e na compreensão científica da disciplina.