bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management of acute laminitis
Authors: Agass Rachel
Published: March 2019

Acute laminitis is a common and painful condition of equines that can result in ongoing lameness and even necessitate euthanasia. It may be associated with systemic disease, including systemic inflammatory response syndrome and endocrine disorders, as well as supporting-limb laminitis. Treatment consists of provision of analgesia; mechanical support of the foot; and ongoing dietary management, as well as treatment of any underlying endocrinopathies.
Epistemology and Moral Economies of Difference: Transforming Social Research
Authors: Pascale Celine-Marie
Published: March 2019

Colonialism’s incitement to difference threads through the historical and intellectual formation of academic institutions. How are today’s standards for scholarship compromised by methodologies and methods that are entwined with colonial productions of difference? My analysis begins with a brief consideration of colonialism’s social and intellectual projects, most particularly, I attend to some of their systematic productions of belonging and erasure. I then demonstrate how the power of coloniality extends through the hegemonic practices that define social science scholarship to (re)produce systematic erasures that continue to normalize particular forms of belonging and exclusion. My analysis illustrates that even when research practices have purportedly progressive aims, they can reproduce hegemonic relations of power through the ordinary constraints of epistemic foundations. The goal of this article is to provide analyses and insights that contribute to more globally inclusive intellectual environments, to a more diverse range of epistemologies, and to more effective studies of power and privilege. I conclude by considering decolonial strategies to build inclusive global communities of scholars and to transform our epistemic foundations of research.
The End of Diversity?
Authors: Thanem Torkild
Published: March 2019

Drawing on examples from contemporary Sweden, in this essay, I discuss how the diversity project is under attack from a variety of patriarchal, extremist and hypocritical forces. I conclude that the survival of diversity is not a question of altruism but a matter of our own survival and welfare.
Nanoparticles of zinc oxide defeat chlorpyrifos-induced immunotoxic effects and histopathological alterations
Authors: Essa Sara S. , El-Saied Eiman M. , El-Tawil Osama S. , Gamal Inas M. , Abd El-Rahman Sahar S.
Published: March 2019

Background and Aim: Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a widely used organophosphate insecticide. Nanoparticles of zinc oxide (ZnO NPs) physically showed effective adsorbing property for some insecticides. The study was conducted to estimate the potential effect of ZnO NPs against CPF toxicity.

Materials and Methods: Four groups of male rats were used; control group and three groups received drinking water contained 75 mg/L CPF, combined 75 mg/L CPF and 200 mg/L ZnO NPs, and 200 mg/L ZnO NPs, respectively.

Results: CPF significantly decreased macrophage activity, serum lysozyme activity, and levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-6; increased the percentage of DNA degeneration on comet assay of lymphocytes and significantly elevated hepatic and splenic malondialdehyde contents; and decreased their glutathione contents. The liver and spleen showed marked histological alterations after exposure to CPF with decreased expression of acetylcholinesterase. The coadministration of ZnO NPs ameliorated most of the undesirable effects of CPF, through elevation of macrophage and serum lysozyme activities, increased the levels of IL-2 and IL-6, corrected the oxidative stress markers, and alleviated most of the adverse effect exerted by CPF in liver and spleen tissues.

Conclusion: The addition of ZnO NPs to CPF-contaminated drinking water may be useful as a powerful antioxidant agent against toxic damage induced by CPF particularly in individuals who are on daily occupational exposure to low doses of CPF.
PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS OF GREAT BURNET SANQUISORBA OFFICINALIS (L.) CELL CULTURE
Authors: Акулов (Akulov) Антон (Anton) Николаевич (Nikolaevich)
Published: March 2019

Callus cultures were obtained from the seeds of great burnet plants. Long-passed suspension cultures were obtained by transferring callus cultures to a liquid medium. The increase in the biomass of the suspension culture for the passage was 501%, the yield of dry biomass was 120 mg/g wet weight. The content of methanol-extracted phenolic compounds in the suspension culture increased during the passage and reached a maximum (34.6 mg/g dry weight) on the 22nd day of cultivation. An HPLC analysis of the phenolic compounds of the suspension culture and the rhizomes of the herbaceous plants was carried out. The proportion of some phenolic compounds in the obtained culture is significantly higher compared to their proportion in the rhizomes of plants. Such compounds were gallic, ferulic and caffeic acids, as well as condensed tannins. The obtained culture can be an object for conducting experiments on enhancing the synthesis of phenolic using various inductors. All this allows us to consider the obtained culture as a potential source of biologically active phenolic compounds.
DETERMINATION OF THE STRUCTURE OF CELLULOSE ETHERS BY 13C NMR SPECTROSCOPY OF PRODUCTS OF ACID-CATALYZED HYDROLYSIS
Authors: Арасланкин (Araslankin) Сергей (Sergey) Валерьевич (Valer'evich) , Калязин (Kalyazin) Валентин (Valintin) Александрович (Aleksandrovich) , Кострюков (Kostryukov) Сергей (Sergey) Геннадьевич (Gennad'evich) , Петров (Petrov) Павел (Pavel) Сергеевич (Sergeevich)
Published: March 2019

Cellulose ethers (CE) are widely used in the pharmaceutical, food and construction industries to impart the necessary rheological, thixotropic and water-retention properties to water dispersion systems. In this paper, we compare the substitution parameters of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and hydroxyethyl methylcellulose (HEMC), which are obtained from 13C NMR spectroscopy of products of acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and cellulose ethers. Accurate data on the degree of substitution at the 2, 3 and 6 positions (DSC-2, DSC-3 and DSC-6) were obtained from 13С NMR spectra of products of acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. The total degree of substitution (DStotal) and molar substitution (MS) for the hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl substituents were determined. The distribution of substituents at different positions of the glucopyranose link indicates that the most reactive are the C-2 and C-6 positions, as well as the hydroxyl of the hydroxyethyl fragment. Within the proposed method, the degree of substitution and molar substitution are determined: DSHPMC = 1.79 and MSHPMC = 0.38; DSHEC = 1.02 and MSHEC = 2.03; DSHEMC = 1.93 and MSHEMC = 1.82. It is shown that the results are consistent with the data obtained from 13C NMR (СРMAS) spectra of the same cellulose ethers. The proposed method of analysis is characterized by the simplicity of the experiment, the accuracy and informative of the results obtained.
MODELING OF THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF LIGNIN AS A PROCESS OF ENZYMATIC DEHYDROPOLYMERIZATION MONOLIGNOLS
Authors: Карманов (Karmanov) Анатолий (Anatoliy) Петрович (Petrovich) , Полещиков (Poleshchikov) Сергей (Sergey) Михайлович (Mikhaylovich)
Published: March 2019

The results of theoretical modeling of lignin biosynthesis in the system of peroxidase-hydrogen peroxide-monolignol are presented. The process under study is presented as a sequence of enzymatic and chemical reactions occurring in an open system. The growth of the lignin molecule is due to successive stages of the formation of phenoxyl radicals of different generation numbers and acts of recombination of these radicals. The mathematical model of the process in the form of a system of 14 differential equations is proposed for the first time. For the numerical solution of the system, the eighth order Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg method with an automatic integration step was applied. The results of numerical integration are presented, which indicate a significant dependence of the process dynamics on the initial conditions. Various modes of the process, including oscillatory modes, are found. Features of the system dynamics are due to the choice of the initial concentration of monolignol, hydrogen peroxide and the enzyme, as well as the nonlinearity of differential equations and the presence of feedbacks. The results of numerical experiments within the framework of the first proposed mathematical concept on dehydropolymerization of monolignols allow us to give a theoretical justification of the phenomena that are currently treated as the processes of dynamic self-organization in the biosynthesis of this polymer.
PROSPECTS OF CELLULOSE NITRATES FROM UNCONVENTIONAL FEEDSTOCKS FOR USE IN COMPOSITE EX-PLOSIVES
Authors: Сакович (Sakovich) Геннадий (Gennadiy) Викторович (Viktorovich) , Будаева (Budaeva) Вера (Vera) Владимировна (Vladimirovna) , Корчагина (Korchagina) Анна (Anna) Александровна (Aleksandrovna) , Гисматулина (Gismatulina) Юлия (Yuliya) Александровна (Aleksandrovna)
Published: March 2019

Research on the synthesis of in-demand industrial-grade cellulose nitrates from unconventional feedstocks such as Miscanthus, oat hulls, intermediate flax straw is of the most immediate interest due to a lack of national cotton and to encountered problems with wood cellulose. The celluloses derived herein from the said unconventional feedstocks are inhomogeneous in nature, are composed mostly of short fibers, and have non-cellulosic constituents as opposed to elite cotton – these all pose certain difficulties in developing such a nitrocellulose production technology. Besides, it is worth noting that cellulosic fibers of the said feedstocks are peculiar in nature on their own. The findings obtained herein suggest that the research problem can successfully be solved. The pulp samples obtained in this study from the unconventional biomasses by the nitric-acid process have 85−95% α-cellulose and 580−1420 degree of polymerization. These specimens similar in properties to industrial Colloxylin were obtained under optimal synthetic conditions for highly soluble cellulose nitrates by using commercial mixed acid: 11.97–12.29% N, 8–15 mPa∙s, and 98% solubility in alcohol–ester mixture. The morphological features of the resultant cellulose nitrates were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Infrared spectroscopy revealed the intrinsic frequencies (2560–2550, 1670–1660, 1650–1620, 1280–1270, 830–810, 750–740, 680–670 cm-1) that identify the resultant products as cellulose nitroesters. The practical importance of this research is that the nitrocelluloses obtained from the unconventional non-woody feedstocks can be used as the promising component in the manufacture of explosive formulations.
CHITOSAN-GLUCAN COMPLEXES OF HIGHEST MUSHROOMS: SELECTION, IDENTIFICATION AND DETER-MINATION OF SOME PROPERTIES
Authors: Минаков (Minakov) Денис (Denis) Викторович (Viktorovich) , Верещагин (Vereshchagin) Александр (Aleksandr) Леонидович (Leonidovich) , Мороженко (Morozhenko) Юрий (Yuriy) Васильевич (Vasil'evich) , Базарнова (Bazarnova) Наталья (Natal'ya) Григорьевна (Grigor'evna)
Published: March 2019

The work is devoted to the study of chitosan-glucan complexes obtained from the higher fungi of the autumnal marmot (Armillaria mellea), shiitake (Lentinula edodes) and grifola frutosa (Grifola frondosa), optimization of the method of isolation and expansion of their use for various areas of the national economy. As objects of research, strains of fungi L. edodes F-1000 and G. frondosa 2639 isolated from commercial mycelium and A. mellea D-13 strain isolated from fruiting bodies harvested from Betula pendula stems in natural habitats of the Altai Territory. When analyzing the IR spectroscopy data, it was established that the samples of chitosan-glucan complexes isolated from the fruiting bodies of fungi are identical to the structure of chitosan obtained in the traditional way from the king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus). It was found that the test chitosan-glucan complexes in terms of intrinsic viscosity (1.6–2.2 cm3/g), molecular weight (37.5–51.8 kDa) and deacetylation degree (75.6–79.5%) significantly exceed the chitosan-glucan complexes obtained from the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus osteratus) and are comparable to the chitosan-glucan complexes of mold fungi (Aspergillus niger). At the same time, the chitosan-glucan complexes from A. mellea D-13 are closest to the chitosan isolated from P. camtschaticus in the above indices. According to the physico-chemical properties, the investigated chitosan-glucan complexes correspond to the requirements of food chitosan (TU 9289-067-00472124).
TOTAL CHLORINE-FREE BLEACHING OF SULFATE HARDWOOD PULP WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
Authors: Хакимова (Hakimova) Фирдавес (Firdaves) Харисовна (Harisovna) , Синяев (Sinyaev) Константин (Konstantin) Андреевич (Andreevich)
Published: March 2019

The work is devoted to the study of the possibility and feasibility of environmentally safe bleaching of sulfate hardwood pulp by TCF-technology without the use of traditional oxygen and ozone as a delignifying reagent.

The TCF-technology of sulphate hardwood pulp bleaching (scheme Pa-EP-Pd-Aac-P-A) was developed with only one oxidizing reagent – hydrogen peroxide. It is proposed to carry out of pulp delignification with hydrogen peroxide in an acid medium conditions, additional delignification and bleaching – with hydrogen peroxide in an alkaline medium conditions.

Soft oxidizing effect of hydrogen peroxide used at all stages of bleaching provides selectivity of the process along with ecological compatibility of the scheme. The mechanical strength of pulp varies during bleaching in accordance with the change of the degree of delignification and is very moderate, and the total loss of pulp fibers is only 6.1%.

Production of hardwood sulfate pulp, as well as sulfite, is associated with difficulties caused by a "harmful" resin at a small proportion of extractives. The proposed scheme of bleaching provides a high degree of resin removal and contributes to the depitching, i.e. decision of very important problems in sulphate hardwood pulp production.
Effect of Oral Honey Consumption on Immune Function Following Ex-Vivo Lipopolysaccharide Stimulation in Healthy Humans
Authors: McCarthy Olivia , McCarthy Olivia , Moser Othmar , Moser Othmar , Eckstein Max L , Eckstein Max L , Deere Rachel , Deere Rachel , Bain Steve C , Dunseath Gareth , Bodger Owen , Bracken Richard M , Bracken Richard M
Published: March 2019

Nine healthy individuals with a mean ± SD BMI of 22.0 ± 0.7 kg/m² and age of 20 ± 0.2 years, participated in this single-blind randomised, crossover trial investigating the impact of ingesting two different honeys (1) Tropical Forest Honey (TFH) and (2) Manuka Honey; strength 12+ (MAN) on circulating levels of plasma interferon gamma following ex-vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Blood samples were prepared into duplicate aliquots of whole blood (800 μl) and 100 μg/l of LPS was added to samples to give a final volume of 1 ml. Levels of IFN-γ in plasma fractions were measured via commercially available sandwich ELISA and all comparisons were made with paired data using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test taking a significance level of 5%. Whilst significant intra-and-interpersonal variation was observed, IFN-γ concentrations remained statistically unchanged 48 hours after the ingestion of either honey (p=0.15). Thus, in this instance the type of honey did not influence the IFN-γ response to plasma samples spiked with LPS.
RESISTANCE OF MORTARS WITH GYPSUM, LIME AND COMPOSITE BINDERS AGAINST MOLDS
Authors: Krejsová Jitka , Doleželová Magdaléna
Published: March 2019

Resistance of three mortars (the lime mortar, the gypsum mortar and the mortar with the composite binder) against molds was evaluated. Mortars were also compared according to their pH, bulk density, strength and porosity. Experiments showed that the lime mortar has the best resistance against molds and the lowest bending and compressive strength. The mortar with the composite binder has better mold resistance and higher bending and compressive strength than the gypsum mortar.
RECYCLING AND ITS USE IN CONCRETE WASTE PROCESSING BY HIGH-SPEED MILLING
Authors: Prošek Zdeněk , Tesárek Pavel , Trejbal Jan
Published: March 2019

This article discusses the possibility of recycling of concrete waste using the high-speed milling method. The resulting of milling is micronize old concrete. Used old concrete was created by crushing of old concrete, which served as a structural concrete for the construction of a supporting column. Two level of milling process was used to recycle old concrete. The main use of waste is the possibility of partial replacement of commonly used binder and microfillers in concrete. For this reason, properties as particle size distribution, dynamic modulus of elasticity, flexural strength and compressive strength were observed. The aim is to replace as much cement as possible while maintaining mechanical properties.
Trichoderma dan Gliocladium untuk Mengendalikan Penyakit Busuk Akar Fusarium pada Bibit Kelapa Sawit
Authors: Juariyah Siti , Tondok Efi Toding , Sinaga Meity Suradji
Published: March 2019

Trichoderma and Gliocladium for Controling Fusarium Root Rot Disease of Oil Palm SeedlingsFusarium spp. have been reported as the causal agent of common spear rot and crown rot diseases on oil palm.  An effective strategy to control these diseases is not available yet. This research was aimed to find biocontrol agents for effective control of crown rot disease on oil palm seedlings caused by Fusarium spp. The experiment consisted of 3 parts i.e. pathogenicity test of 3 isolates of Fusarium, identification and in vitro test of biocontrol agents, and in planta test of biocontrol agents against Fusarium spp. In vitro test was done through dual culture test and test for volatile compound produced by the biocontrol agents. In planta test was conducted through inoculation of Fusarium spp. into oil palm seedlings growing on medium containing  selected biocontrol agents i.e. Trichoderma harzianum, T. virens, T. inhamatum, and Gliocladium fimbriatum. In vitro test showed that Gliocladium fimbriatum 1 and 2 were inhibited effectively the growth of Fusarium spp. on the dual culture test, whereas T. harzianum Gadingrejo 2 was inhibited effectively the growth of Fusarium spp. on volatile compound test. The application of biocontrol agents was effective to protect oil palm seedlings from Fusarium spp. infection.
Dynamiczny charakter zmiennych indywidualnych – wyzwania badawcze i implikacje dydaktyczne
Authors: Pawlak Mirosław
Published: March 2019

Not so long ago individual difference factors were perceived as relatively stable attributes of learners and it appeared that their impact on the outcomes of the language learning process could be determined in a straightforward manner. There was a widespread belief that it was sufficient to design appropriate data collection instruments, carefully validate them, collect the requisite data concerning the variable in question as well as learners’ attainment, and then apply the procedures of inferential statistics in order to arrive at conclusions in this respect (Dörnyei, 2005). Such findings could later be used as a point of reference for pedagogical implications for teachers. However, the findings of research conducted over the last decade, in particular such that has focused upon motivation and willingness to communicate (e.g., Dörnyei, MacIntyre and Henry, 2015), have clearly demonstrated that the situation is much more complicated, because such factors are subject to constant fluctuations, both over longer periods of time, sequences of classes, single lessons or even specific tasks implemented by teachers. This phenomenon brings with it a number of challenges, not only with respect to designing and conducting empirical studies but also in regard to the steps that should be taken to take account of learners’ individual profiles. The main aim of the present paper is to demonstrate how the dynamic nature of individual difference factors can be accommodated in empirical research as well as elucidating its consequences for the individualization of the process of language learning in the classroom and beyond.
Pisemna autonarracja w badaniu różnic indywidualnych w glottodydaktyce
Authors: Smuk Maciej
Published: March 2019

In general terms, this article presents the practical aspects of narrative forms in research on the process of foreign language learning and teaching. In detail, its purpose is to describe the written auto-narration inquiry concerning the impact of individual factors (savoir-être) in the course of language learning. The article contains a description of the object, the purpose as well as the opinions and feelings of the respondents on the practical implementation of their auto-narrative inquiries.
Odniesienia do języka ojczystego jako strategia uczenia się gramatyki języka obcego: perspektywa polskich uczniów języka angielskiego
Authors: Wach Aleksandra
Published: March 2019

This article reports the findings of a qualitative study aimed at investigating the use of L1-based grammar learning strategies by beginnerlevel Polish learners of L2 English. The research looked into the participants’ accounts of their strategy use and into their perceptions about the usefulness of referring to one’s L1 in learning L2 grammar. Semistructured interviews were conducted as a data elicitation procedure. The findings pointed to considerable reliance on L1-based strategies, such as translation, in the participants’ learning of L2 English grammar, as well as positive opinions about their usefulness. L1-based strategies were reported to be used in explicit, analytic learning of L2 grammar, and their affective role in providing confidence to learners was also mentioned. Pedagogical implications include a need to raise learners’ awareness of the complex roles of the L1 in L2 learning and give them training in the use of specific strategies in order to make L1-based strategy use more informed.
Determinanty korzystania ze strategii uczenia się języka angielskiego przez studentów poznańskich uczelni
Authors: Przybył Jakub
Published: March 2019

The study described in the present paper aimed to account for all the three dimensions of learners’ strategic self-regulation, i.e. cognitive, affective, and sociocultural-interactive language learning strategies (LLS) (Oxford 2011), and attempted to explore their relationships with learners’ personality and other individual variables, such as gender, type of university and area of studies, or the level of proficiency in English. The participants of the study, who formed a representative sample of BA/BS students of AMU and WSB University (722 students in total), completed two questionnaires, a Polish adaptation of SILL ver. 7.0 (Oxford 1990), and the adaptation of NEO-FFI recommended by the Polish Association of Psychology (Zawadzki et al. 2010) for research. The goodness criteria for psychometric research tools (Hornowska 2007) were analysed for both questionnaires. The obtained results confirm the role of most of the above-mentioned individual characteristics in strategy choice, validate the importance of learners’ personality in language learning, and provide evidence of the significance of openness to experience in learning a foreign language.
Cechy użytkowników języków obcych sprzyjające interkomunikacji (komunikacji w językach pokrewnych)
Authors: Grabowska Anna
Published: March 2019

The article reflects on individual differences of foreign language users from the standpoint of polylingual communication in two related languages (intercommunication), on the basis of the work of Paolo Balboni on intercomprehension, intercommunication and useful approaches to foreign language learning. The author attempts to elaborate a list of individual characteristics which facilitate intercommunication (a conversation in which the participants speak different, but related languages). The discussion relates to features presented by selected authors in the field of foreign language teaching, the European documents on language education (CEFR and FREPA) and to psycholinguistics. The final part describes the characteristics which favour intercommunication.
Towards verified continuous integration in the engineering of automated production systems
Authors: Mund Jakob , Bougouffa Safa , Badr Iman , Vogel-Heuser Birgit
Published: March 2019

Continuous integration (CI) is widely used in software engineering. The observed benefits include reduced efforts for system integration, which is particularly appealing for engineering automated production systems (aPS) due to the different disciplines involved. Yet, while many individual quality assurance means for aPS have been proposed, their adequacy for and systematic use in CI remains unclear. In this article, the authors provide two key contributions: First, a quality model for a model-based engineering approach specifically developed for aPS. Based thereon, a discussion of the suitable verification techniques for aPS and their systematic integration in a CI process are given. As a result, the paper provide a blueprint to be further studied in practice, and a research agenda for quality assurance of aPS.
Bydgostian hand exoskeleton – own concept and the biomedical factors
Authors: Kopowski Jakub , Mikołajewski Dariusz , Macko Marek , Rojek Izabela
Published: March 2019

An exoskeleton is defined as a distinctive kind of robot to be worn as an overall or frame, effectively supporting, or in some cases substituting for, the user’s own movements. In this paper a new three-dimensional (3D) printed bydgostian hand exoskeleton is introduced and biomedically characterized. The proposed concept is promising, and the described approach combining biomechanical factors and 3D modeling driven by detailed hand exoskeleton patterns may constitute a key future method of ergonomic hand exoskeleton design and validation prior to manufacturing. Despite the aforementioned approach, we should be aware that hand exoskeleton constitutes hand support and rehabilitation robot system developing with the user; thus, certain coordination and continuity of the “hardware” part of the whole system and the training paradigm are essential for therapy efficacy.
Complexities of cognition in poetic art: Matthew Arnold's “The Last Word”
Authors: Freeman Margaret H.
Published: March 2019

The cognitive complexity of Matthew Arnold's poem “The Last Word” has resulted in diverging literary critical evaluations. By applying several cognitive approaches to the poem, I develop a reading that reveals the poem's underlying coherence. I then address the question of how that reading might reflect Arnold's own intentions and motivations in responding to adversaries of his social criticism. In doing so, I hope to present a way of showing how both cognitive approaches to literature and traditional literary expertise complement each other in contributing to our understanding of the complexities of human minding: the integration of sensations, emotions, and conceptual reasoning that constitute the way we experience and interact with each other and the world of which we are a part.
Congenital cytomegalovirus infection presenting as a fetal intra-abdominal cyst
Authors: Mills Emily , Janicki Mary Beth , Figueroa Reinaldo
Published: March 2019

Background

Fetal intra-abdominal cysts have an incidence of 1/500–1/1000 live births. Cysts can be physiologic or pathologic and can either spontaneously regress or require intervention and treatment. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of congenital infection in the USA with an incidence of 0.2–2%. The risk of transmission is greatest with a primary maternal infection and the severity of fetal injury increases when transmission occurs in the first half of the pregnancy. An infectious etiology for a fetal intra-abdominal cyst has not been reported to the best of our knowledge.

Case presentation

A 31-year-old multigravida presented at 19 weeks’ gestation for an anatomical survey. The female fetus was noted to have a 2.4 × 2.0 × 3.1 cm echolucent cyst in the right side of the abdomen. Three weeks later, the cyst was not seen; however, there was free fluid and a few echogenic areas within the fetal abdomen. Maternal serum tested positive for CMV IgM and IgG titers, and the CMV IgG avidity test was 0.75, consistent with high avidity. At 27 weeks’ gestation, ascites remained and a pericardial effusion was noted. Amniocentesis resulted in >2,000,000 copies of CMV DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the amniotic fluid. The patient underwent termination of the pregnancy at 29 weeks of gestation.

Conclusion

It would be important to consider an infectious etiology in the differential diagnosis of fetal intra-abdominal cysts as the outcome in the fetus with congenital CMV infection could be much different. Amniocentesis is considered the best option for the diagnosis of fetal congenital CMV infection if performed after 21 weeks’ gestation and more than 6 weeks from maternal infection.
Morning report innovation: Case Oriented Report and Exam Skills
Authors: Goyal Amit , Garibaldi Brian , Liu Gigi , Desai Sanjay , Manesh Reza
Published: March 2019

Morning report is a valuable educational conference but is often a stand-alone classroom-based discussion which misses the opportunity for bedside education. In this report, we describe an innovative morning report structure – the Case Oriented Report and Exam Skills (CORES) – that addresses this pitfall of the traditional case conference format and brings learners to the bedside. The key components of CORES include highlighting concepts of clinical reasoning, emphasizing evidence-based and hypothesis-driven physical exam (HDPE), and integrating emerging bedside technologies such as point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS).
Opportunistic infection at the start of antiretroviral therapy and baseline CD4+ count less than 50 cells/mm3 are associated with poor immunological recovery
Authors: Tilak Amod , Shenoy Smita , Varma Muralidhar , Kamath Asha , Tripathy Amruta , Sori Ravi , Saravu Kavitha
Published: March 2019

Introduction

There is a dearth of studies assessing the efficacy and immunological improvement in patients started on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in India. This study was undertaken to assess the 2-year treatment outcomes in HIV-positive patients initiated on ART in a tertiary-care hospital.

Methods

After approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee, adult HIV-positive patients from a tertiary-care hospital, initiated on ART between January 2013 and February 2015, were included in the study. Data on clinical and immunological parameters were obtained from medical case records over a period of 2 years after initiation of therapy. Intention-to-treat analysis was done using a descriptive approach, using SPSS version 15 (SPSS Inc. Released 2006. SPSS for Windows, Version 15.0. Chicago, SPSS Inc.). A logistic regression analysis was done to assess the predictors for poor outcomes. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

ART was initiated in 299 adult patients. At 1 and 2 years, the median (interquartile range) change in CD4+ cell count was 65 (39, 98) cells/mm3 and 160 (95, 245) cells/mm3. The change observed after 2 years of treatment initiation was statistically significant compared with that after 1 year. Three deaths occurred during the study period and 28 were lost to follow-up. Male sex, presence of at least one opportunistic infection at the start of therapy, and baseline CD4+ count <50 cells/mm3 were associated with poor immunological recovery.

Conclusions

With long-term treatment and regular follow-up, sustained clinical and immunological outcomes can be obtained in resource-limited settings.
Pre-analytical quality control in hemostasis laboratories: visual evaluation of hemolysis index alone may cause unnecessary sample rejection
Authors: Storti Simona , Battipaglia Elena , Parri Maria Serena , Ripoli Andrea , Lombardi Stefania , Andreani Giovanna
Published: March 2019

Background

Visual inspection is the most widespread method for evaluating sample hemolysis in hemostasis laboratories. The hemolysis index (HI) was determined visually (visual index, VI) and measured on an ACL TOP 750 (IL Werfen) system with a hemolysis-icterus-lipemia index (HIL) module. These values were compared with those measured on clinical chemistry systems Unicel DXC600 and AU680 and with quantitation of free-hemoglobin (Hb) performed by a spectrophotometric measurement method (SMM).

Methods

The HI was measured in 356 sodium citrate plasma samples, 306 of which were visibly hemolyzed to varying degrees and 50 were not hemolyzed. The analytical performance of each method was evaluated.

Results

Linear regression analysis, calculated between SMM and the other systems in the study, returned coefficients of determination r2 = 0.853 (AU680), r2 = 0.893 (DXC600) and r2 = 0.917 (ACL TOP 750). An r2 = 0.648 was obtained for linear regression analysis between VI and ACL TOP 750. In addition, ACL TOP 750 showed an excellent correlation in multivariate analysis (r2 = 0.958), showing good sensitivity (0.939) and specificity (0.934) and a diagnostic accuracy of 94%. By comparison, DXC600 and AU680 showed coefficients of determination of 0.945 and 0.923, respectively. A cut-off was set at 0.15 g/L free-Hb, as determined by the automated method, such that any hemostasis samples measuring above this threshold should not be analyzed. Based on this criterion, samples were classified as accepted or rejected, and the number of samples discarded during VI or ACL TOP 750 measurements was compared.

Conclusions

This study confirmed that hemostasis laboratories should consider introducing an objective, automated and standardized method to check samples for hemolysis. By relying solely on visual inspection, up to 50% of samples could be unnecessarily rejected. The ACL TOP 750 system demonstrated a satisfactory analytical performance, giving results comparable to those of the reference method.
Ein „Götterbildbeschlag“ aus der Uckermark als Zeugnis mittelalterlicher Glaubensvorstellungen im nordwestslawischen Raum
Authors: Biermann Felix
Published: March 2019

Zusammenfassung: Das Bruchstück eines figürlich verzierten Messerscheidenbeschlags (um 1000/frühes 11. Jahrhundert) von einer spätslawischen Siedlung bei Melzow in der Uckermark kann den sog. „Götterbildbeschlägen“ nach I. Gabriel zugeordnet werden. Es gehört offenkundig in reli giösen Kontext und zeigt wohl eine Szene, bei der eine Gottheit Segen und Leben an Mensch und Tier spendet. Der Fund wird vor dem Hintergrund der paganen Glaubensvorstellungen der Liutizen und zusammen mit seinen Parallelen kulturhistorisch interpretiert.

Résumé: Un fragment d’un fourreau de couteau avec décor figuratif provenant d’un habitat de l’époque slave tardive à Melzow dans l’Uckermark et daté vers 1000 apr. J.-C./début du 11e siècle appartient à la catégorie des “appliques avec images divines” identifiée par I. Gabriel. Il fait clairement partie d’un contexte religieux et représente une scène dans laquelle une divinité bénit et donne vie à des animaux et à des êtres humains. Cet article examine cet objet dans le contexte des croyances religieuses des Lutici (ou Liutizi) et des exemplaires comparables connus, et offre une interprétation sur le plan de l’histoire culturelle.

Abstract: A fragment of a fitting belonging to the sheath of a knife with figurative decoration (dated to around AD 1000/early 11th century) from a Late Slavic settlement near Melzow in Uckermark can be attributed to the so-called “Idol fittings” identified by Ingo Gabriel. It obviously belongs to a religious context, and probably depicts a scene in which a god-figure is blessing and imparting life to animals and humans. The object is considered here against the background of the religious beliefs of the Lutici (or Liutizi) and interpreted, together with other parallels, in culture historical terms.
Process intensification in chemical engineering: general trends and Russian contribution
Authors: Abiev Rufat S.
Published: March 2019

Minimization of the costs with simultaneous increase in the raw materials and energy use efficiency is a challenge for the modern world. One of the most effective tools to solve this task is the use of process intensification (PI), first proposed by Ramshaw C. The incentive for process intensification, Proceedings, 1st Intl. Conf. Proc. Intensif. for Chem. Ind., 18, BHR Group, London, 1995, p. 1. and then extended by Stankiewicz AI, Moulijn JA. Process intensification: transforming chemical engineering. Chem Eng Prog 2000: 22–34. In the presented review, some principles of PI in chemical engineering and their application for wide variety of processes is discussed. The role of the Russian scientist with a research background is carried out in other countries.
Elements of Peircean phenomenology: From categories to signs by way of grounds
Authors: Sonesson Göran
Published: March 2019

It is curious facts that Peirce scholars tends to take the three Peircean categories for granted, whereas Peirce himself claimed they must be derived by means of phenomenology, later rebaptized phaneroscopy. As I have suggested elsewhere, this is the essential difference between Peircean and Husserlean phenomenology, which are in other respects identical, whether or not there is a historical connection. I have tried to show that the meanings of the three categories, so differently epitomized in Peirce’s numerous writings, can (more or less) be reduced to common denominators. Quite independently of this, I suggested in some earlier work that, by taking our point of departure in Peirce’s notion of “ground” as being that which differentiates the different kinds of signs, we can account for iconicity, indexicality, and symbolicity, quite apart from their embodiment in signs. The task of the present paper is to investigate to what extent this two threesomes can be related to each other.
Statistical Mechanics of Thermotransport of a Heavy Impurity in an Insulating Solid
Authors: Allnatt A. R.
Published: March 2019

A kinetic equation is derived for the singlet distribution function for a heavy impurity in a lattice of lighter atoms in a temperature gradient. In the one dimensional case the equation can be solved to find formal expressions for the jump probability and hence the heat of transport, q*. for a single vacancy jump of the impurity, q* is the sum of the enthalpy of activation, a term involving only averaging in an equilibrium ensemble, and two non-equilibrium terms in­volving time correlation functions. The most important non-equilibrium term concerns the cor­relation between the force on the impurity and a microscopic heat flux. A plausible extension to three dimensions is suggested and the relation to earlier isothermal and non-isothermal theories is indicated
Observation of Void Formation Induced by Electromigration in Metallic Films *,**
Authors: Ho P. S. , Glowinski L. D.
Published: March 2019

Observation has been made on void formation induced by electromigration in single crystal and bicrystal (100) Au films and polycrystalline Al films. In the Au film, voids were observed to be bound by crystal planes with low surface energies, and dislocations appeared to be the preferred sites for void formation. In the Al film, void formation was observed to begin at grain boundaries or grain boundary junctions. Under our experimental conditions, the formation of voids and hillocks is determined by the local concentration of defects at the grain boundary, but the overall effect is determined by the divergence of the diffusion flux under a temperature gradient
Seif Diffusion of Liquid 6Li and 7Li as Measured by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Authors: Krüger G. J. , Müller-Warmuth W. , Klemm A.
Published: March 2019

The self-diffusion coefficients of liquid 6Li and 7Li have been measured using NMR spin echo techniques with pulsed gradients. In the experimental procedure, and in the sample preparation, particular attention has been paid to a relative, rather than to an absolute measurement. At 190 °C, the ratio of the self-diffusion coefficients is found to be D6 (x6 = 1) / D7 (x7 = 1) = 1.09 ± 0.06, in agree­ment with the square root of the mass ratio (m7-m6)1/2 = 1.08. In an atomic mixture of 80% 6Li and 20% 7Li, D6 (x6 = 0.8)/D7 (x6 = 0.8) = 1.0 3 ± 0.08 has been obtained
On the Computation of Lattice Green's Functions by Sine Series Expansions
Authors: Ra O.
Published: March 2019

Mahanty has pointed out that by expanding the imaginary part of a lattice Green’s function in a sine series, direct numerical treatment of the principal value integral which determines the real part of a Green’s function of real argument can be circumvented. Here Mahanty’s result is extended to cover Green’s functions of purely imaginary arguments. Also, alternative expressions which, in certain cases, simplify numerical computations are recorded. Whereas the aforemention­ed formulas are of quite general validity, an included recurrence relation, which links defect induced changes in moments of the frequency distribution with the Fourier coefficients, is re­stricted to the case of a mass defect in a diagonally cubic lattice. The prospects of applying Mahanty’s method to moderately complex polyatomic crystals are assessed on the basis of com­putations pertaining to alkaline earth fluorides. It is found, through studying simple point de­fects in CaF2, SrF2, and BaF2, that by truncating the sine series expansions when associated functionals assume satisfactory values at functions which are constants on the set of phonon frequencies, one obtains sets of Fourier coefficients containing sufficient information to cover a variety of defect properties. Also the number of Fourier coefficients is no larger than to preserve a chief merit of the method, namely the provision of a convenient way of condensing and storing information. For the type of lattices considered Mahanty’s way of evaluating Fourier coefficients is found to be impracticable. However, upon supplementing the sine series expansion method by an adaptation of Gilat’s extrapolation procedure for frequency spectra, Brillouin zone integra­tions involving rapidly varying functions become redundant
Studies on the PMR Spectra of Oxetanes. III. 2-Methyloxetane
Authors: Jokisaari Jukka
Published: March 2019

The 60 MHz PMR sub-spectral analysis of 2-methyloxetane (A3BCDEF spin system) has been carried out approximating some weak couplings to zero. The proton chemical shifts and the proton-proton couplings are reported. Also the proton chemical shifts of symmetrically substituted 2,2-di-methyloxetane and 3,3-dimethyloxetane have been investigated. The anisotropy and inductive effects of the methyl groups, together with the evidently nonplanar structure of the oxetane ring in 2-methyloxetane, affect the spectral parameters of the protons under inspection
On Designing Distribution-Free Homogeneously Weighted Moving Average Control Charts
Authors: Raza Muhammad Ali , Nawaz Tahir , Han Dong
Published: March 2019

There are many practical situations in which the underlying process distribution is either completely unknown or partially known but deviates from normality. In such cases, the performance of the traditional parametric control charts deteriorates, and nonparametric control charts are considered as a robust alternative for monitoring the process. In this article, two new nonparametric homogeneously weighted moving average (NPHWMA) control charts are proposed for monitoring the deviations in process location from the target value. The proposed charts assign a specific weight to the current sample information, and the remaining weight is equally distributed among the previous samples. The proposed NPHWMA charts are based on sign test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test for process monitoring under the skewed and symmetric distributions, respectively. The Monte Carlo simulations are used to study the run length properties and compare the performance of the proposed charts with some existing control charts. It is found that the proposed charts outperform their existing counterparts. Empirical illustrations are provided for practical implementation of the proposed charts.
Beyond Critical Period Learning: Striatal FoxP2 Affects the Active Maintenance of Learned Vocalizations in Adulthood
Authors: Day Nancy F. , Hobbs Taylor G. , Heston Jonathan B. , White Stephanie A.
Published: March 2019

In humans, mutations in the transcription factor forkhead box P2 (FOXP2) result in language disorders associated with altered striatal structure. Like speech, birdsong is learned through social interactions during maturational critical periods, and it relies on auditory feedback during initial learning and on-going maintenance. Hearing loss causes learned vocalizations to deteriorate in adult humans and songbirds. In the adult songbird brain, most FoxP2-enriched regions (e.g., cortex, thalamus) show a static expression level, but in the striatal song control nucleus, area X, FoxP2 is regulated by singing and social context: when juveniles and adults sing alone, its levels drop, and songs are more variable. When males sing to females, FoxP2 levels remain high, and songs are relatively stable: this “on-line” regulation implicates FoxP2 in ongoing vocal processes, but its role in the auditory-based maintenance of learned vocalization has not been examined. To test this, we overexpressed FoxP2 in both hearing and deafened adult zebra finches and assessed effects on song sung alone versus songs directed to females. In intact birds singing alone, no changes were detected between songs of males expressing FoxP2 or a GFP construct in area X, consistent with the marked stability of mature song in this species. In contrast, songs of males overexpressing FoxP2 became more variable and were less preferable to females, unlike responses to songs of GFP-expressing control males. In deafened birds, song deteriorated more rapidly following FoxP2 overexpression relative to GFP controls. Together, these experiments suggest that behavior-driven FoxP2 expression and auditory feedback interact to precisely maintain learned vocalizations.