bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
'O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Let the whole earth tremble before him' (Psalm 96:9)
Authors: Nicolson Ron
Published: January 2019

My main question in this article is: Is there a place and a future for persons who still hold to the centrality of Christ, or of Jesus of Nazareth, in their lives, but who are agnostic about what traditional Christianity would hold to be central points of dogma or even about the existence of what Cupitt and others have called an 'objective God'? My view is that the liberal theology which dominated the 1950s and 1960s has given way to more conservative and indeed near fundamentalist views in both Protestant and Catholic Theology. It is to be noted though, that within both evangelical and catholic circles, there is some evidence of a swing back to more liberal views. Most people in the Western world have however lost any link with the church or with institutional Christianity. Yet, according to polls, a surprising number still claim that they 'pray' and believe in a 'higher power'. Movements such as the Sea of Faith, or Progressive Christianity attempt to hold on to Christian imagery and cultus while leaving open the question of whether the concept of God is any more than a human construction. Attendance at Cathedral-type worship where dignified ceremony and beautiful music leave the worshipper free to place his or her own interpretation on the words is steadily increasing. Given this state of affairs, my question is: Does this signify a new form of religious belief, more fluid and less linked to institutional dogma? Following James Fowler, my view is that the direction that the most mature form of faith, is that which acknowledges ambiguity and unknowableness in religious belief. Robert Ellwood also suggests that the Western post-Christian world is moving unto what he calls the 'folk-religion' stage where persons may follow many different religious beliefs and practices simultaneously in a syncretistic way without believing any of them in a literal sense, or alternatively believing them all, despite difference and incongruity. Is this the future of religion? Is there a future for a type of Christianity which still reads the scriptures, practices the liturgies, tells the stories but does not necessarily believe that Jesus is God incarnate or indeed that there is any God? These are the issues the chapter addresses.
God and Universities
Authors: Cobb Jr John B.
Published: January 2019

In this article, 'God and Universities', I argue that the exclusion of God from contemporary academia did not come about because of evidence or argument. Rather, it is due to the fact that the scientific adherence to the treatment of the objective world as self-contained, was increasingly applied to everything. Also the limiting of acceptable thinking to topics falling within one academic discipline or another had no place for continuing a discussion of the topic. The self-assurance of academia is beginning to weaken. The exclusion of God as a causal factor, is part of the exclusion of purpose including human purpose. This leads to implausible explanations that are assumed to be needed but rarely explicitly defended. If the evidence for the importance of subjective experience is allowed, the door will be opened to changes that eventually could reinstate God.
Martin Prozesky and 'Well-being': Retroactive and proactive perspectives on religion and ethics in the social transformation of South Africa
Authors: Smit Johannes A. , Chetty Denzil
Published: January 2019

This article primarily outlines the discursive threads in Prozesky's 'Implications of Apartheid for Christianity in South Africa' in the book he edited, Christianity Amidst Apartheid: Selected Perspectives on the Church in South Africa ([1985] 1990); his first book, Religion and Ultimate Well-Being: An Explanatory Theory (1984); and his latest book, Conscience: Ethical Intelligence for Global Well-Being (2007). This is under three headings: Apartheid as Heresy; Explaining Religion; and Conscience Ethics. We conclude with some appreciative and critical reflections, that we believe, can take Prozesky's life-long project, further. This is positioned in the social transformation paradigm.
Tomorrow's ethics in a globalizing world
Authors: Prozesky Martin
Published: January 2019

The exploration of the ways ethical practice will change in the future is done in this article by means of five great transitions. They are as follows: firstly, from the ethics of obedience to an ethic of creative commitment; secondly, from a primary concern with micro-ethics to an equal and even greater concern with macro-ethics; thirdly, from a cluster of regional value systems to a cooperatively created global ethic; in the fourth place, from a conceptual base in western philosophy and theology to an academic base in the social and natural sciences; and in the fifth place, from dependence on religion in important parts of the world, including ours, to what I want to call a relationship with religion characterized by cooperative, critical and creative independence for ethics.
Professor Dr. Martin Prozesky publications (1965 - 2018)
Authors: Prozesky Martin
Published: January 2019

[2018] Honest to Goodness. (Forthcoming from Wipf and Stock Publishers, Eugene, Oregon, USA, in their Resource Publications imprint.) This book provides the author's semi-autobiographical account of the scholarly work and personal experiences that lead him to differentiate between the classical Christianity of traditional, orthodox faith and what he calls an alternative Christianity that has been emerging since the pioneering work of Friedrich Schleiermacher, and why he considers the latter to be closer to the work and words of the Jesus of history.
World religions in the world
Authors: Chidester David
Published: January 2019

The classification of 'world religions' is highly problematic because of its arbitrary construction, its exclusion of indigenous religions, and its easy availability for ideological manipulation. The imperial edifice of 'world religions' has been dismantled in recent scholarship in the study of religion. Yet, the notion of 'world religions' has been enthusiastically embraced by advocates of inclusive citizenship in democratic societies and by advocates of indigenous empowerment in postcolonial societies. This brief essay reviews the terms of engagement for critically reflecting on the various deployments of 'world religions' as a prelude to thinking about religion in the world.
Thinking God in a global multi-religious context: Trends, challenges and possibilities
Authors: Venter Rian
Published: January 2019

Contemporary religious and theological scholarship is acutely aware that different contexts result in different ways of thinking and speaking about God. This article situates God-talk intentionally in the present global and post-secular horizon and asks about the implications of this hermeneutical move. Mapping scholarly trends in this regard is a specific aim of the article, which is written from the perspective of Systematic Theology in conversation with the Study of Religion. The development of reflection on God in inter-religious theologies and in the so-called Trinitarian rediscovery is discussed. Two academic challenges are identified as part of a constructive proposal - a re-envisioning of the relationship between the Study of Religion on the one hand and Christian Theology and Systematic Theology respectively on the other at public universities. Possible future constructive avenues are suggested and the article proposes a minimalist way forward to engage the global and post-secular context, and highlighting an inter-subjective ethos, attention to discursive performances and the African context.
Learning from Black Theology
Authors: Moore Basil
Published: January 2019

Black Theology had a profound effect on the religious, especially Christian scene in South Africa in the late 1960, 1970s and 1980s. The traditional stance was that clergy should not get involved in politics. What Black Theology in fact enabled clergy to understand, was that the Gospel was not primarily about the forgiveness of sins but about setting the oppressed free. Thus, politics was at the heart of the work of the clergy in South Africa. Black Theology also had a radical understanding of God. While the need for Black Theology may be less critical in post-Apartheid South Africa, there are major lessons to be learned from how it constructed the Gospel message in the then current context of the oppression and exploitation of the oppressed South African blacks. (This article is an edited version of my honorary doctorate presentation at Rhodes University in 2012.)
Convergence and divergence: A Christian response to Prozesky's 'global ethic' and secular spirituality
Authors: Kretzschmar Louise
Published: January 2019

The aim of this article is to identify areas of convergence and divergence in the value systems of secular ethics and Christian ethics and to address what is meant by the moral development of individual persons and communities. The article discusses the views of Martin Prozesky on religion, the creation of a global ethic and secular spirituality from the perspective of Christian ethics. The discussion draws on the 'Barthian-Thomism' of Nigel Biggar and the four key moral questions posed by Dallas Willard in order to identify elements of convergence and divergence related to worldviews, values, virtues and the moral development of persons and groups.
Comparing mathematics knowledge of first-year students from three different school curricula
Authors: Froneman Sonica , Hitge Mariette
Published: January 2019

Mathematics forms an integral part in the training of scientists and engineers. In recent history the South African school system has experienced several changes in school curricula. In 1994 the traditional knowledge based curricula were replaced by an outcomes-based curriculum. Owing to implementation problems which resulted in resistance from teachers and the general public, revisions followed of which the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) and Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements had the most direct effect in terms of preparation for tertiary mathematics. We report here on an investigation of the basic mathematical knowledge of three student cohorts representing three curricula, namely the last cohort that received the traditional knowledge-based curriculum, and the first cohorts that received the two outcomes-based curricula. The results indicate that changes in the mathematical content of the curricula did not impact negatively on the basic mathematical knowledge of students enrolled for tertiary mainstream mathematics. The only exception is Euclidean geometry, for which certain topics were transferred to an optional paper in the NCS curriculum.
Significance:

The introduction of outcomes-based curricula in South Africa initiated a discourse on the preparedness of first-year students for programmes with mainstream mathematics.
The availability of a homogeneous set of samples and a uniform test provided a unique opportunity to compare the basic mathematical knowledge of first-year natural science and engineering students entering university from three different exit-level school curricula.
Generalist solitary ground-nesting bees dominate diversity survey in intensively managed agricultural land
Authors: Ahrenfeldt Erica Juel , Kollmann Johannes , Madsen Henning Bang , Skov-Petersen Hans , Sigsgaard Lene
Published: January 2019

In Western Europe agricultural management was intensified in the period 1950–2010 with negative consequences for ecosystem services, such as pollination, especially in countries with a large proportion of agriculture. Farmland represents 66% of the Danish landscape, but little is known about wild bees despite that 75% of the country’s wild and cultivated plant species depend on insect pollination. Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) gains considerable benefits from insect pollination and abundance, species richness and functional diversity, are all important elements. We surveyed the diversity of wild bees during strawberry flowering by sampling bees with pan-traps along permanent margins bordering strawberry fields on six organic and six conventional farms in eastern Denmark and compared the results of the survey with that of sampling site farming practice and field margin forage availability. The majority of bees sampled were polylectic solitary ground-nesting bees known to forage on species of the rose family. This indicates that these bee species are potential pollinators of strawberries, and the low number of specialized bees suggests that the bee community was affected by the simplified landscapes. Temporal trends in abundance, species richness, and body size of the bees, suggest that the functional diversity of pollinator assemblages available differed for early- and late-flowering strawberries. Fewer plants species and a lower plant cover were found in the margins of sprayed fields. Abundance and diversity of the wild bees were neither correlated with the use of herbicides and insecticides, nor with plant species richness or flowering plant cover.
CIRCULATING NEUTROPHIL EXTRACELLULAR TRAPS IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS WITH SUPPURATIVE AND NECROTIC COMPLICATIONS
Authors: Maximov D I , Basyreva L Yu , Gusev A A , Vakhrusheva T V , Yaskevich A V , Gusev S A , Ostrovsky E M , Panasenko O M , Sergienko V I
Published: January 2019

Aim of the study. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been reported to participate in many pathological processes, which points at NET concentration in blood as an important indicator of the body condition. When studying NETs, their blood concentration is usually evaluated indirectly, which has a number of shortcomings. We aimed to measure directly the amount of NETs as integral structures, using blood smears as a most suitable tool for clinical practice, and to carry out measurements of NET levels in blood of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with necrotic suppurative complications to elucidate the usefulness of this assay. Materials and methods of the research. NETs were quantified by counting in standardized blood smears stained with Romanovsky dyes. Results. The mean level of circulating NETs in the blood of patients was higher than that in healthy subjects. Blood NET concentration in healthy persons and patients with high levels of NETs increased as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration increased in the blood. In other patients, NET concentration decreased as HbAlc increased. Elevated NET levels and a direct correlation between NETs and HbAlc were observed in patients with phlegmon, large-area infected wound, lower leg gangrene, suppurative mediastinitis. In other patients, the prevailing lesions were infected wounds, abscesses, finger gangrene. Conclusion. This pilot study demonstrated the usefulness of measurement (using blood smear) of circulating NET concentration in the blood as a clinical parameter that would help to estimate patient’s condition, to predict the duration of post-surgical wound healing and the probability of complications in the form of thrombosis in T2DM.
Molecular-genetic characteristics of strain Escherichia coli serogroup O26 causing diarrheal diseases in children
Authors: Makarova M A , Dmitriev A V , Matveeva Z N , Kaftyreva K A
Published: January 2019

Aim. To determine the serotype and virulence factors of the E. coli serogroup O26 isolated from children with diarrheal syndrome. Materials and methods. Fifty-three strains of E. coli O26 isolated in 2014-2016 from the stool of children with clinical manifestations of acute intestinal infection in Saint Petersburg were studied. Phenotypic (enzymatic and antigenic properties), molecular genetic [detection of virulence genes of enteropathogenic (EPEC - eae, bfp, hlyA), and enterohemorrhagic (EHEC - eae, stx1, stx2, ehxA), genes encoding O- and H-antigens (rfb and fliC), genes, defining phylogenetic group (chuA, yjaA и TspE)] methods were used. The phylogenetic group and the production Shiga toxins were determined. Results. All strains were identical to the antigen characteristics of serotype O26:H11 and phylogenetic group B1. Two pathogroups were created based on the set of virulence genes: a-EPEC (64.2%) and EHEC (35.8%). Strains EHEC produced Shiga-toxin 1, encoding gen stx1. No differences in enzymatic activities were found between the strains of E. coli О26:H11 for EPEC and EHEC strains. Conclusion. In the population of E. coli O26:H11, which caused acute intestinal infection in children in Saint Petersburg, more than 30% of the strains belonged to the highly virulent group EHEC. Molecular-genetic methods should be used for reliable detection of pathogens.
Safety and efficacy of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy in management of posterior capsular opacification
Authors: Sahu Pratima , Mishra Amit Kumar
Published: January 2019

Background: At present, the only effective treatment of posterior capsular opacification (PCO), which is the most common complication of modern cataract surgery, is Neodymium-Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy. There are few complications associated with this easy and quick laser capsulotomy. The current study was conducted in a tertiary hospital of Odisha with an objective to find the safety and efficacy of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy in the management of defective vision due to posterior capsular opacity.Methods: The study was conducted among the patients attending the Ophthalmology out patient department of a tertiary hospital in Odisha with defective vision due to posterior capsular opacity after cataract surgery. Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy was carried out in all patients with significant PCO. Visual acuity and intraocular pressure were recorded before and after the procedure. The cases were carefully followed up and looked for any complication and visual acuity was assessed during follow up visits.Results: In the study 184 participants were included. Visual improvement was observed in 97.8% participants. Visual acuity improved to 6/6 in 21.73 %, 6/9 in 36.41 % cases, 6/12 in 15.21 % cases. Raised IOP was recorded among 46% of participant after 4 hrs of laser capsulotomy which was later observed among 12% of participants on follow up visit at 1 week. The most common complication recorded was transient rise of IOP (46.3%) followed by aqueous flare (28.8%).Conclusions: Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy is a noninvasive, effective, relatively safe procedure for PCO with good visual outcome.
Prevalence and implications of depression in type-2 diabetes mellitus: a follow up study
Authors: Rajkumar Amirthalakshmi , S. Lokesh , B. Sivaprakash , Ramachandrappa Arun Kumar
Published: January 2019

Background: There are not many longitudinal or prospective studies to determine the association between Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and depression in Indian scenario. Present study was mainly intended to find out the prevalence of depression in diabetic individuals and its impact on diabetes. The aim of the present endeavour was to study the prevalence of depression in diabetic patients, its impact on the clinical course of diabetes and to study the association between clinical courses of depression and diabetes.Methods: It is a prospective analytical study done in MGMCRI. All diabetic patients, aged 30years and above were taken up. Those who screened positive for depression were further assessed using PHQ9 questionnaire and were subjected to antidepression management. From the total number of diabetic patients screened, the prevalence of depression was calculated. Equal number of T2DM patients who screened negative for psychiatric disorders were taken as control. PHQ-9, FBS, PPBS, HbA1c were measured at baseline and repeated at 3rd month of follow-up.Results: In our study the prevalence of depression among diabetic individuals was found to be 15%. The difference in improvement of HbA1c from baseline to follow up was statistically significant when compared between groups having mild, moderate and severe depression, with maximum fall of HbA1c in the group with severe depression. This implies the positive effect of treating depression on glycemic control.Conclusions: This study shows that when diabetes and depression were addressed together it has a positive effect on the glycemic control and the depressive symptoms emphasizing the need for a collaborative management and need for screening diabetes patients for depression for a better care.
Polyarthritis and erythema nodosum: an unusual presentation of tuberculosis
Authors: Gupta Partisha , Dhanawat Aditya , Mohanty Lalatendu , Mishra Siddhartha
Published: January 2019

Reactive arthritis and erythema nodosum occur in presence of active tubercular infection and both are immunological phenomenon. Author described a case report of a 17year old female with 10months history of symmetrical polyarthritis and presence of healed lesions of erythema nodosum. She was also found to have caseating granulomatous lesion in right supraclavicular lymph node which led us to diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis presenting as reactive polyarthritis (poncet’s disease) and erythema nodosum. Her joint pain and swelling dramatically resolved after 2weeks of ATT. Thus, tuberculosis may manifest as reactive polyarthritis (poncet’s disease) and erythema nodosum and they should be kept in mind even in the absence of other clinical clues of TB, to provide patients with a good clinical outcome.
Control System for Multi-Inverter Parallel Operation in Uninterruptible Power Systems
Authors: Albugeri Cesar A. , Pont Neilor C. Da , Jappe Tiago K. , Mussa Samir A. , Lazzarin Telles B.
Published: January 2019

This paper proposes a network communication system applied in a control strategy for parallel-connected multi-inverters, which is based on a distributed control system and a redundant communication system. The control system is produced by a Phased-Locked Loop (PLL) synchronism algorithm, a voltage controller and a parallelism controller. All control systems are based on instantaneous values and in the parallelism control the inverters share a single voltage reference signal. The communication system, which is the main focus of the paper, is based on two buses: one analog, which is a measurement taken from the electrical grid; and one digital, comprised of a Controller Area Network (CAN). The former allows the reference voltage of all inverters to be in synchronism and the latter keeps the reference voltage in synchronism even during a grid power outage. There is a PLL algorithm in each Voltage Source Inverter (VSI), which ensures the synchronism between the internal reference and external signal received from the grid or from the CAN. The proposed networked control system was verified in three 5 kVA three-phase VSIs operating in parallel. Experimental results with static and dynamic tests and with electrical grid interruption and return, were obtained. The networked control system is redundant and it provides increased reliability, thus it can be applied in the parallel operation of an on-line Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS).
Władylena Sokyrska, Widnostiny miż RSFRR i USRR (1919–1929 rr): administratiwno-teritorialnyj ta politiko-ekonomicznyj dyskurs, Wydawień Soczynskij М.М., Umań 2017, ss. 578 + nlb. 2.
Authors: Srogosz Tadeusz
Published: January 2019

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Sprawozdanie z konferencji międzynarodowej pt. 1918 rik w istorii Centralno-Schidnoj Jewropy: do 100-riczczia progołoszenija niezależnosti UNR ta 100-riczczia jeidorożenija polskoj dierżawnosti, Charków, 27–29 września 2018 r.
Authors: Srogosz Tadeusz
Published: January 2019

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БАЗИЧНА ОПОЗИЦИЯ ДЇЄСЛОВНОГО ВИДА
Authors: Фейса Михайло
Published: January 2019

У русинистики значна увага пошвецена катеґориї часу, а, кед слово о катеґориї вида, увага ше затримує лєм на уровню дефинованя катеґориї и основних поняцох у єй рамикох. Автор у першей часци роботи представя потерашнї славистич- ни виглєдованя хтори унапрямени на утвердзованє основней опозициї на хторей ше базує катеґория дїєсловного вида, а у другей редефинує потерашнї становиска. Реде- финованю предходзи критичне огляднуце на становиска руских ґраматичарох хтори базичну опозицию катеґориї вида видзели у опозициї перфективносци (законченосци) и имперфективносци (нєзаконченосци). Автор у роботи виноши арґументи за запрова- дзованє новей дїєсловней катеґориї – катеґориї акционсарта, а базичну опозицию ка- теґорию вида видзи у опозициї тотивносци (цалосносци) и атотивносци (нєцалосносци).
ПРИКМЕТНЇЦКИ ПРИСЛОВНЇКИ У РУСКИМ ЯЗИКУ
Authors: Дїтко Оксана Тимко
Published: January 2019

У роботи ше анализує присловнїки прикметнїцкого походзеня. Руша ше од рижних теорийох котри пояшнюю походзенє тей файти присловнїкох. Сама анали- за дзелї прикметнїцки присловнїки на два часци. У першей гевти котри створени през адвербиялизацию, т.є. преходзенє зоз прикметнїкох до присловнїкох ”замарзованьом” дзепоєдней припадковей форми прикметнїка. У таким процесу нє лєм же ше окаменює одредзена морфолоґийна форма, алє ше и меня семантика слова. Таки адвербиялизо- вани присловнїки дзелїме на два часци: на гевти котри настали зоз просту и зложену адвербиялизацию. До другей ґрупи вошли присловнїки котри настали морфолоґийно, т.є. найчастейше кед адвербиялизовани форми уж постали потвердзени модел по котрим ше творя присловнїки, лєбо зоз додаваньом инших афиксох.
Quadriceps Weakness in Individuals with Coexisting Medial and Lateral Osteoarthritis
Authors: Iijima Hirotaka , Suzuki Yusuke , Aoyama Tomoki , Takahashi Masaki
Published: January 2019

Background:

This study examined whether individuals who have mild medial osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee with coexisting lateral OA have less muscle strength than individuals who do not have lateral OA.

Methods:

A series of 153 individuals (84% of whom were women) between 48 and 88 years old who had Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) grade-2 OA in the medial compartment of the knee underwent radiographic evaluation to assess the presence of lateral OA, which was graded with the system of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) atlas as well as the KL system. The isometric maximum strengths of the quadriceps, the hip abductors, and the hip extensors were evaluated with use of a handheld dynamometer.

Results:

Individuals who had coexisting medial and lateral OA had more severe knee pain and weaker quadriceps than those who did not have lateral OA. The study adjusted for age and sex both for the OARSI atlas system (adjusted difference in mean strength: 0.272 Nm/kg, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.143 to 0.401 Nm/kg) and for KL grading (adjusted difference in mean strength: 0.185 Nm/kg, 95% CI: 0.061 to 0.309 Nm/kg). Logistic regression analysis showed that weakness of the quadriceps increased the odds of the presence of lateral OA sevenfold after adjustments using the OARSI atlas were made for age, sex, anatomical axis, range of motion of the knee, and intensity of pain in the knee.

Conclusions:

Individuals who had coexisting medial and lateral OA had weaker quadriceps than individuals who had mild medial OA alone. Paying close attention to quadriceps weakness might provide a key to clarifying the pathogenesis of bicompartmental disease in the tibiofemoral joint.

Level of Evidence:

Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Team Approach: Treatment of Injuries in the Female Athlete
Authors: Tanaka Miho J. , Szymanski Linda M. , Dale John L. , Dixit Sameer , Jones Lynne C.
Published: January 2019

* Women’s sports medicine programs are gaining interest throughout the United States. Despite growing interest in the topic, we continue to have limited knowledge about the epidemiology, etiology, and long-term outcomes of treatment of injuries in female athletes.

* Currently, no sex-specific differences in the perioperative treatment of female athletes exist.

* The role of a team approach to treat and prevent injuries in female athletes extends beyond the single episode of perioperative care. Athletic trainers can extend the scope of outreach and education for female athletes.

* Postoperative counseling for female athletes may have a role in addressing psychological barriers during recovery and return to play.

* The role of hormones and considerations in the treatment of injuries in pregnant athletes should be addressed in collaborative women’s sports medicine programs.
Trapeziometacarpal Arthrosis
Authors: Wilkens Suzanne C. , Meghpara Michael M. , Ring David , Coert J. Henk , Jupiter Jesse B. , Chen Neal C.
Published: January 2019

* Trapeziometacarpal arthrosis is an expected part of normal human aging.

* The radiographic severity of trapeziometacarpal arthrosis may not correlate with symptom intensity or magnitude of limitations.

* Psychosocial factors may be important drivers of symptom intensity, magnitude of limitations, and seeking of treatment.

* Nonoperative treatment is palliative and not disease-modifying, but may facilitate long-term adaptation.

* Current surgical treatment strategies center around trapeziectomy, but it is unclear whether the addition of other stabilization or interposition techniques changes overall outcomes.
Association between ultra-processed food consumption and the nutrient profile of the Colombian diet in 2005
Authors: Parra Diana C , Da Costa-Louzada Maria Laura , Moubarac Jean-Claude , Bertazzi-Levy Renata , Khandpur Neha , Cediel Gustavo , Monteiro Carlos A
Published: January 2019

Objective. To evaluate the consumption of ultra-processed food and drink products and its association with the nutrient profile of the Colombian diet in 2005. Materials and methods. Food consumption based on 24-hour dietary records from 38 643 men and women was classified into four NOVA groups according to the extent and purpose of food processing. Results. Ultra-processed food and drink products represented 15.9% of the total energy daily intake, compared to 63.3% from minimally processed food, 15.8% from processed culinary ingredients, and 4.9% from processed food. Non-ultra-processed food items had a healthier nutritional profile compared to ultra-processed items in terms of contribution to total calories from protein, carbohydrates, total fat, saturated fat, free sugar, fiber and energy density. Conclusions. Ultra-processed food products have a less healthy nutrient profile than non-ultra-processed ones. An increase in the consumption of these foods must be prevented within Colombia
An healthy lifestyle consultant based on Traditional Chinese medicine versus routine patient education in the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss after failure of systemic therapy: Study protocol for a clinical randomized trial with a paired design
Authors: Fei Yingping , Zheng Yun , Lai Dan , Zhong Ping , Lu Jing-zhe , Li Gang , Liu Peng
Published: January 2019

Background: Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is an important cause of deafness. Despite advances of systemic therapy, some ISSNHL patients remains ineffective since the exact etiology for SSNHL is still unclear. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for treating disease for thousands of years. It is popular and widely practiced in Asia. TCM contains guidance on people's healthy lifestyle. In recent decades, the relationship between lifestyle and disease has been emphasized and unhealthy lifestyle may lead to illness. Thus, this study aims to compare the efficacy of the lifestyle modification based on TCM to the usual consultation of the ISSNHL after failure of two weeks systemic therapy, to provide a scientific basis for clinical decisions.
Methods: This is a clinical randomized trial with a paired design which will include 58 patients diagnosed with ISSNHL, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery sudden hearing loss clinical guideline published in 2012, but incomplete recovery from ISSNHL after of initial management. Participants will be randomized to either healthy lifestyle modification group based on TCM or control group. All patients will be followed for 3 months. The primary outcome measure is the effective rate of hearing improvement (defined as the proportion of patients with at least 15- dB improvement in the average thresholds by the hearing loss frequency). Secondary outcome measures are the improvements in pure-tone average (PTA) of the impaired frequencies, Word Recognition Score (WRS), Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and ear blockage. The assessments of the participants will be made at baseline, after lifestyle modification in 1 month and 3 months.
Discussion: This trial will determine the efficacy of healthy lifestyle modification based on TCM program for ISSNHL patients with incomplete recovery from after failure of initial systemic therapy. The results, if it is yielding positive results, will provide clinical evidence and TCM based healthy lifestyle could be recommended as salvage therapy for patients with ISSNHL.
Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, ChiCTR-INR-17011459. Registered on May 22 2017.
Keywords: ISSNHL, TCM, healthy lifestyle, Study protocol, randomized controlled trial
NEO-FİSHER ETKİSİ VE TÜRKİYE UYGULAMASI
Authors: TAYYAR Ahmet Emrah
Published: January 2019

2007-2009 döneminde yaşanan finansal krizden sonra
çoğu merkez bankası düşük faiz politikası uygulamıştır. Ancak özellikle
gelişmiş ülkelerde düşük faiz politikasıyla birlikte enflasyon hedeflenen
seviyelerin altında kalmaya devam etmiştir. Finansal krizi takiben enflasyon
ile nominal faiz oranları arasındaki nedensellik ilişkisi tekrar gözden
geçirilmiştir. Yapılan çalışmalarda Fisher etkisindeki nedenselliğin aksine
Neo-Fisheryen görüşlere paralel olarak kısa dönemde nominal faiz oranından
enflasyon oranına doğru nedenselliğin olduğu görülmüştür. Bu çalışmada
Türkiye’de 2002:01-2014:05 dönemine ilişkin olarak BAFO, A1FO, A3FO, A6FO, Y1FO
ve TÜFE değişkenleri arasındaki nedensellik ilişkisi Toda-Yamamoto (1995)
analiziyle incelenmiştir. Analiz sonuçlarına göre BAFO değişkeninden TÜFE
değişkenine doğru tek yönlü nedenselliğin olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Dolayısıyla
Türkiye’de ilgili dönemde değişkenlerin nedensellik ilişkileri Neo-Fisher
etkisinin varlığını göstermektedir. Ancak Neo-Fisher etkisindeki nedenselliğin
enflasyonu kontrol etmede kullanılabilmesi için disiplin altına alınmış mali ortamın
varlığı, dışa bağımlılığı yüksek ülkelerde politik ve ekonomik alanlarda
istikrarın sağlanması ve merkez bankasının kredibilitesinin oluşturulması
gerekmektedir.
negligenciado Cerrado paulista
Authors: Mendonça Rodrigo Antonio de Agostinho , Costa Carla Gheler
Published: January 2019

O Cerrado é um dos maiores biomas brasileiros e uma das savanas mais ricas e ameaçadas do mundo, e no estado de São Paulo cobria originalmente cerca de 14% do território estadual em um domínio que chegava a 33%. Uma avaliação histórica mostra que de 1962 a 2001 foram perdidos 88,5% do Cerrado paulista, correspondendo a cerca de 1.625.229 hectares de vegetação. As unidades de conservação (UC) detêm apenas 0,51% do Cerrado original do estado, sendo as UCs uma estratégia relevante e urgente para manutenção da biodiversidade deste bioma no estado. Neste sentido foi realizado uma análise crítica da situação do bioma em São Paulo, das políticas públicas existentes e da representatividade das unidades de conservação existentes. Recomenda-se desta forma urgência ao poder público na definição de estratégias de conservação.
geomorfologia costeira e seu desdobramento para a geografia costeira e marinha
Authors: Muehe Dieter
Published: January 2019

A pesquisa geomorfológica costeira, no Brasil, vem crescendo de forma consistente e acelerada durante os últimos 80 anos, ajustando suas técnicas de pesquisa aos enormes avanços tecnológicos. O presente artigo analisa esta evolução, com foco nas principais linhas de pesquisa, ressaltando a participação de geógrafos, notadamente de geomorfólogos-geógrafos nesse desenvolvimento, além da evolução da própria Geografia, no sentido de ampliar o escopo da geomorfologia stricto sensu com vistas a integrá-la com aspectos socioeconômicos transitando, por fim, para a Geografia Costeira e a Geografia Marinha.
A Novel Gene Selection Algorithm based on Sparse Representation and Minimum-redundancy Maximum-relevancy of Maximum Compatibility Center
Authors: Chen Min , Zhang Yi , Li Zejun , Li Ang , Liu Wenhua , Liu Liubin , Chen Zheng
Published: January 2019

Background:

Tumor classification is important for accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment and has recently received great attention. Analysis of gene expression profile has shown relevant biological significance and thus has become a research hotspot and a new challenge for bio-data mining. In the research methods, some algorithms can identify few genes but with great time complexity, some algorithms can get small time complex methods but with unsatisfactory classification accuracy, this article proposed a new extraction method for gene expression profile.

Methods:

In this paper, we propose a classification method for tumor subtypes based on the Minimum- Redundancy Maximum-Relevancy (MRMR) of maximum compatibility center. First, we performed a fuzzy clustering of gene expression profiles based on the compatibility relation. Next, we used the sparse representation coefficient to assess the importance of the gene for the category, extracted the top-ranked genes, and removed the uncorrelated genes. Finally, the MRMR search strategy was used to select the characteristic gene, reject the redundant gene, and obtain the final subset of characteristic genes.

Results:

Our method and four others were tested on four different datasets to verify its effectiveness. Results show that the classification accuracy and standard deviation of our method are better than those of other methods.

Conclusion:

Our proposed method is robust, adaptable, and superior in classification. This method can help us discover the susceptibility genes associated with complex diseases and understand the interaction between these genes. Our technique provides a new way of thinking and is important to understand the pathogenesis of complex diseases and prevent diseases, diagnosis and treatment.
A Method for Analyzing Two-locus Epistasis of Complex Diseases based on Decision Tree and Mutual Entropy
Authors: Li Xiong , Yang Hui , Wen Kaifu , Zhong Xiaoming , Xia Xuewen , Liu Liyue , Qin Dehao
Published: January 2019

Background:

Epistasis makes complex diseases difficult to understand, especially when heterogeneity also exists. Heterogeneity of complex diseases makes the distribution of case population more confused. However, the traditional methods proposed to detect epistasis often ignore heterogeneity, resulting in low power of association studies.

Methods:

In this study, we firstly use rank information in the Classification Decision Tree and Mutual Entropy (CTME) to construct two different evaluation scores, namely multiple objectives. In addition, we improve the calculation of joint entropy between SNPs and disease label, which elevates the efficiency of CTME. Then, the ant colony algorithm is applied to search two-locus epistatic combination space. To handle the potential heterogeneity, all candidate two-locus SNPs are merged to recognize multiple different epistatic combinations. Finally, all these solutions are tested by χ2 test.

Results and Conclusion:

Experiments show that our method CTME improves the power of association study. More importantly, CTME also detects multiple epistatic SNPs contributing to heterogeneity. The experimental results show that CTME has advantages on power and efficiency.
Comparative iTRAQ Proteomics Identified Myocardium Proteins Associated with Hypoxia of Yak
Authors: Babar Asma , Mipam Tserang Donko , Wu Shixin , Xu Chuanfei , Shah Mujahid Ali , Mengal Kifayatullah , Yi Chuanping , Luo Hui , Zhao Wangsheng , Cai Xin , Luo Xuegang
Published: January 2019

Background: Yaks inhabit high-altitude are well-adapted to the hypoxic environments. Though, the mechanisms involved in regulatory myocardial protein expression at high-altitude were not completely understood.  Objective: To revel the molecular mechanism of hypoxic adaptation in yak, here we have applied comparative myocardial proteomics in between yak and cattle by isobaric Tag for Relative and Absolute Quantitation (iTRAQ) labelling.  Methods: To understand the systematic protein expression variations in myocardial tissues that explain the hypoxic adaptation in yak, we have performed iTRAQ analysis combined with Liquid Chromatography- Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Bioinformatics analysis was performed to find the association of these Differentially Expressed Proteins (DEPs) in different functions and pathways. Protein to protein interaction was analyzed by using STRING database.  Results: 686 Differentially Expressed Proteins (DEPs) were identified in yak with respect to cattle. From which, 480 DEPs were up-regulated and 206 were down-regulated in yak. Upregulated expression of ASB4, STAT, HRG, RHO and TSP4 in yak may be associated with angiogenesis, cardiovascular development, response to pressure overload to heart and regulation of myocardial contraction in response to increased oxygen tension. The up-regulation of mitochondrial proteins, ACAD8, GPDH-M, PTPMT1, and ALDH2, may have contributed to oxidation within mitochondria, hypoxia-induced cell metabolism and protection of heart against cardiac ischemic injuries. Further, the upregulated expression of SAA1, PTX, HP and MBL2 involved in immune response potentially helpful in myocardial protection against ischemic injuries, extracellular matrix remodeling and free heme neutralization/ clearance in oxygen-deficient environment.  Conclusion: Therefore, the identification of these myocardial proteins in will be conducive to investigation of the molecular mechanisms involved in hypoxic adaptations of yaks at high-altitude condition.
Multigram-scale Synthesis of Building Block Nitro-imine Derivative by Using Classical Method and Ultrasound Irradiation and Conversion to Imino-alcohol Derivative, Using Camphor as Starting Material
Authors: da Silva Emerson Teixeira , da Silva Araújo Adriele , Moraes Adriana Marques , de Souza Marcus Vinícius Nora
Published: January 2019

This study describes a simple multigram-scale procedure for the preparation of (E)-N-(1,7,7- trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-ylidene)nitramide, nitro-imine 2, by using both classical methods and ultrasound irradiation from 1 utilizing Camphor, a natural product, as starting material. This key intermediate 2, a good building block, is useful to prepare various substances such as terpenoids, reagents for large-scale hydroxylation and amination of organic substrates, and derivatives with anticonvulsant, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral activities. It can be transformed into a wide range of other derivatives which can then also be employed in inorganic chemistry. In this work, another useful derivative (E)-2-((1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-ylidene)amino)ethanol 3 has been prepared from nitro-imine 2 on multigram-scale which also allows access to a variety of products of biological interest after suitable chemical transformations.
Synthesis of Carbohydrate Derived Non-ionic Gemini Surfactants and Study of Their Micellar and Reverse Micellar Behavior - A Review
Authors: Singh Nirmal , Sharma Lalit
Published: January 2019

Gemini surfactants (gemini) are a distinct class of amphiphiles having more than one hydrophobic tail and hydrophilic head group connected via a spacer. These surfactants usually have better surface active properties than corresponding conventional surfactant of equal chain length. Depending upon the nature of charge on head group, these geminis may be cationic or anionic. If there is no charge on head group, the geminis are termed as non-ionic. Carbohydrate derived gemini surfactants carry sugar moiety linked with each of the conventional surfactants, which are further connected by spacer. The sugar moiety was found to enhance the aggregation tendencies. Moreover, due to the presence of sugar moiety, these surfactants are non-toxic and biodegradable. Due to chiral nature of sugar moiety, these surfactants can be used for chiral recognition of some chiral drugs in order to improve their aqueous solubility. Non-ionic surfactants are more important than ionic surfactants as in the latter case, due to repulsion among the same charged head group, aggregation does not take place readily. However, in case of non-ionic surfactants, the head group carries no charge, so there is no repulsion, thus micelle forms easily and at low concentration. The only repulsive forces among head groups are due to hydration shell formed by solvent molecules.
Recent Investigations on the Functionalizations of C(sp3)-H Bonds Adjacent to a Heteroatom
Authors: Cai Xiao-Hua , Yang Meng-Zhi , Xie Bing
Published: January 2019

The selective functionalization of unactivated C(sp3)-H bonds has been regarded as an efficient
and atom-economical approach for the formation of carbon-carbon or carbon-heteroatom bonds
in modern organic synthesis. Especially, the oxidative activation of C(sp3)–H bonds adjacent to a heteroatom
exhibits quite significant features in synthetic chemistry. For example, the direct functionalizations
of amines, amides and ethers present important alternative tactics for the synthesis of various
novel and useful molecules from simple starting materials. Many remarkable achievements in the area
had continuously been made in the past decades. Here we reviewed recent investigations on the transformations
of C(sp3)-H bond adjacent to a heteroatom.
Alzheimer’s Disease-related Biomarkers in Aging Adults with Down Syndrome: Systematic Review
Authors: de França Bram Jessyka Maria , Talib Leda Leme , Joaquim Helena Passarelli Giroud , Carvalho Cláudia Lopes , Gattaz Wagner Farid , Forlenza Orestes Vicente
Published: January 2019

Background:

Down syndrome (DS) is associated with a high prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia in middle age and older adults. Given the presence of common neuropathological findings and similar pathogenic mechanisms, dementia in DS is regarded as a form of genetically determined, early-onset AD. The clinical characterization of cognitive decline in persons with DS is a difficult task, due to the presence intellectual disability and pre-existing cognitive impairment. Subtle changes that occur at early stages of the dementing process may not be perceived clinically, given that most cognitive screening tests are not sensitive enough to detect them. Therefore, biological markers will provide support to the diagnosis of DS-related cognitive impairment and dementia, particularly at early stages of this process.

Objective:

To perform a systematic review of the literature on AD-related biomarkers in DS.

Method:

We searched PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library for scientific papers published between 2008 and 2018 using as primary mesh terms ‘Down’, ‘Alzheimer’, ‘biomarker’.

Results:

79 studies were retrieved, and 39 were considered eligible for inclusion in the systematic review: 14 post-mortem studies, 10 neuroimaging, 4 addressing cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, and 11 on peripheral markers.

Conclusion:

There is consistent growth in the number of publication in this field over the past years. Studies in DS-related dementia tend to incorporate many of the diagnostic technologies that have been more extensively studied and validated in AD. In many instances, the study of CNS and peripheral biomarkers reinforces the presence of AD pathology in DS.