bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The trilayer approach of teaching physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology concepts in a first-year pharmacy course: the TLAT model
Authors: Islam Mohammed A. , Sabnis Gauri , Farris Fred
Published: July 2017

This paper describes the development, implementation, and students’ perceptions of a new trilayer approach of teaching (TLAT). The TLAT model involved blending lecture, in-class group activities, and out-of-class assignments on selected content areas and was implemented initially in a first-year integrated pharmacy course. Course contents were either delivered by traditional lectures or by the TLAT. A survey instrument was distributed by SurveyMonkey to determine students’ perceptions of the TLAT model. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Students’ performance in a total of 225 examination and quiz questions was analyzed to evaluate whether the TLAT model improved students’ learning. Students’ ( n = 98) performance scores for TLAT-based and lecture-based questions were 83.3 ± 10.2 and 79.5 ± 14.0, respectively ( P < 0.05). Ninety-three percent of students believed that in-class group activities enhanced conceptual understanding of course materials, helped them take responsibility of their own learning, and enhanced their overall learning experiences. More than 80% of respondents felt that solving cases and developing concept maps helped them sharpen creative and critical thinking skills. In addition, 90% of the respondents indicated that the homework throughout the semester helped them stay up to date and focused with the progress of the course. The use of the TLAT model led to an improvement in student learning of complex concepts. Moreover, the results suggest that this model improves students’ self-reliance and attitudes toward learning. Our findings should serve as an impetus for inclusion of diverse active learning strategies in pharmacy education.
How do the Institutes on Teaching and Learning (ITLs) nurture the members of the Physiology Educators Community of Practice (PECOP)?
Authors: Goodman Barbara E.
Published: July 2017

Do you teach physiology? Do you use best practices when you teach physiology? Have you ever thought about conducting educational research? Do you need collaborators to help with ideas for educational research or to expand your research populations? The American Physiological Society (APS) Teaching Section has developed a biennial Institute on Teaching and Learning (ITL) through the APS Conference Program to address these issues. The first institute was held in June 2014, and the second institute was held in June 2016. A Physiology Education Community of Practice (PECOP) was created to help connect the institute participants and other physiology educators and to share evidence-based teaching in physiology at all education levels. The 2018 APS ITL will be the next meeting to learn best practices, to share ideas with colleagues, and to find collaborators in improving the teaching of physiology for students. The meeting will include workshops modeling best practices, plenary talks about hot new issues in physiology and science education, and poster sessions and informal meals to discuss interests with colleagues. Even if one’s primary responsibility is bench research or administration, the training from the institute will improve efficiency and effectiveness when teaching. The two prior ITLs (2014 and 2016) were highly evaluated by educators of both undergraduate and professional students who spent a week together emphasizing improvement in their teaching. This paper reports the outcomes of the 2016 ITL and encourages participation in the upcoming ITL in Madison, WI, June 18–22, 2018. Watch the APS Conference site for more information about the 2018 ITL ( http://www.the-aps.org/mm/Conferences/APS-Conferences ).
The thrill of the paper, the agony of the review
Authors: Curran-Everett Douglas
Published: July 2017

The process of first writing a scientific paper and then responding to reviewer comments can be challenging and sometimes—some might say often—frustrating. In this personal view, I recount some of my experiences as an author, and I offer some strategies to write a paper and to then respond to comments from the people who reviewed it.
High, but not low, exercise volume shifts the balance of renin-angiotensin system toward ACE2/Mas receptor axis in skeletal muscle in obese rats
Authors: Frantz Eliete Dalla Corte , Giori Isabele Gomes , Machado Marcus Vinícius , Magliano D’Angelo Carlo , Freitas Fernanda Marques , Andrade Mariana Sodré Boêta , Vieira Aline Bomfim , Nóbrega Antonio Claudio Lucas , Tibiriçá Eduardo
Published: July 2017

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic risk factors that is linked to central obesity, elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance (IR), and dyslipidemia, where the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may provide a link among them. This study aimed to evaluate volume exercise effects comparing low vs. high volume of chronic aerobic exercise on RAS axes in skeletal muscle in a diet-induced obesity (DIO) rat model. For this, male Wistar-Kyoto rats were fed a standard chow (SC) diet or a high-fat (HF) diet for 32 wk. Animals receiving the HF diet were randomly divided into low exercise volume (LEV, 150 min/wk) and high exercise volume (HEV, 300 min/wk) at the 20th week. After 12 wk of aerobic treadmill training, the body mass and composition, blood pressure, glucose and lipid metabolism, RAS axes, insulin signaling, and inflammatory pathway were performed. HEV slowed the body mass gain, reduced intra-abdominal fat pad and leptin levels, improved total and peripheral body composition and inflammatory cytokine, reduced angiotensin II type 1 receptor expression, and increased Mas receptor protein expression compared with the HF animals. Sedentary groups (SC and HF) presented lower time to exhaustion and maximal velocity compared with the LEV and HEV groups. Both exercise training groups showed reduced resting systolic blood pressure and heart rate, improved glucose tolerance, IR, insulin signaling, and lipid profile. We conclude that the HEV, but not LEV, shifted the balance of RAS toward the ACE2/Mas receptor axis in skeletal muscle, presenting protective effects against the DIO model.
Adaptive facultative diet-induced thermogenesis in wild-type but not in UCP1-ablated mice
Authors: von Essen Gabriella , Lindsund Erik , Cannon Barbara , Nedergaard Jan
Published: July 2017

The significance of diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) for metabolic control is still debated. Although obesogenic diets recruit UCP1 and adrenergically inducible thermogenesis, and although the absence of UCP1 may promote the development of obesity, no actual UCP1-related thermogenesis identifiable as diet-induced thermogenesis has to date been unambiguously demonstrated. Examining mice living at thermoneutrality, we have identified a process of facultative (directly elicited by acute eating), adaptive (magnitude develops over weeks on an obesogenic diet), and fully UCP1-dependent thermogenesis. We found no evidence for UCP1-independent diet-induced thermogenesis. The thermogenesis was proportional to the total amount of UCP1 protein in brown adipose tissue and was not dependent on any contribution of UCP1 in brite/beige adipose tissue, since no UCP1 protein was found there under these conditions. Total UCP1 protein amount developed proportionally to total body fat content. The physiological messenger linking obesity level and acute eating to increased thermogenesis is not known. Thus UCP1-dependent diet-induced thermogenesis limits obesity development during exposure to obesogenic diets but does not prevent obesity as such.
Acute effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition versus angiotensin II receptor blockade on cardiac sympathetic activity in patients with heart failure
Authors: Azevedo Eduardo R. , Mak Susanna , Floras John S. , Parker John D.
Published: July 2017

The beneficial effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II (ANG II) receptor antagonists in patients with heart failure secondary to reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are felt to result from prevention of the adverse effects of ANG II on systemic afterload and renal homeostasis. However, ANG II can activate the sympathetic nervous system, and part of the beneficial effects of ACE inhibitors and ANG II antagonists may result from their ability to inhibit such activation. We examined the acute effects of the ACE inhibitor captopril (25 mg, n = 9) and the ANG II receptor antagonist losartan (50 mg, n = 10) on hemodynamics as well as total body and cardiac norepinephrine spillover in patients with chronic HFrEF. Hemodynamic and neurochemical measurements were made at baseline and at 1, 2, and 4 h after oral dosing. Administration of both drugs caused significant reductions in systemic arterial, cardiac filling, and pulmonary artery pressures ( P < 0.05 vs. baseline). There was no significant difference in the magnitude of those hemodynamic effects. Plasma concentrations of ANG II were significantly decreased by captopril and increased by losartan ( P < 0.05 vs. baseline for both). Total body sympathetic activity increased in response to both captopril and losartan ( P < 0.05 vs. baseline for both); however, there was no change in cardiac sympathetic activity in response to either drug. The results of the present study do not support the hypothesis that the acute inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system has sympathoinhibitory effects in patients with chronic HFrEF.
Insulin stimulates uric acid reabsorption via regulating urate transporter 1 and ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2
Authors: Toyoki Daigo , Shibata Shigeru , Kuribayashi-Okuma Emiko , Xu Ning , Ishizawa Kenichi , Hosoyamada Makoto , Uchida Shunya
Published: July 2017

Accumulating data indicate that renal uric acid (UA) handling is altered in diabetes and by hypoglycemic agents. In addition, hyperinsulinemia is associated with hyperuricemia and hypouricosuria. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate how diabetes and hypoglycemic agents alter the levels of renal urate transporters. In insulin-depleted diabetic rats with streptozotocin treatment, both UA excretion and fractional excretion of UA were increased, suggesting that tubular handling of UA is altered in this model. In the membrane fraction of the kidney, the expression of urate transporter 1 (URAT1) was significantly decreased, whereas that of ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) was increased, consistent with the increased renal UA clearance. Administration of insulin to the diabetic rats decreased UA excretion and alleviated UA transporter-level changes, while sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) ipragliflozin did not change renal UA handling in this model. To confirm the contribution of insulin in the regulation of urate transporters, normal rats received insulin and separately, ipragliflozin. Insulin significantly increased URAT1 and decreased ABCG2 levels, resulting in increased UA reabsorption. In contrast, the SGLT2i did not alter URAT1 or ABCG2 levels, although blood glucose levels were similarly reduced. Furthermore, we found that insulin significantly increased endogenous URAT1 levels in the membrane fraction of NRK-52E cells, the kidney epithelial cell line, demonstrating the direct effects of insulin on renal UA transport mechanisms. These results suggest a previously unrecognized mechanism for the anti-uricosuric effects of insulin and provide novel insights into the renal UA handling in the diabetic state.
Envelope contributions to the representation of interaural time difference in the forebrain of barn owls
Authors: Tellers Philipp , Lehmann Jessica , Führ Hartmut , Wagner Hermann
Published: July 2017

Birds and mammals use the interaural time difference (ITD) for azimuthal sound localization. While barn owls can use the ITD of the stimulus carrier frequency over nearly their entire hearing range, mammals have to utilize the ITD of the stimulus envelope to extend the upper frequency limit of ITD-based sound localization. ITD is computed and processed in a dedicated neural circuit that consists of two pathways. In the barn owl, ITD representation is more complex in the forebrain than in the midbrain pathway because of the combination of two inputs that represent different ITDs. We speculated that one of the two inputs includes an envelope contribution. To estimate the envelope contribution, we recorded ITD response functions for correlated and anticorrelated noise stimuli in the barn owl’s auditory arcopallium. Our findings indicate that barn owls, like mammals, represent both carrier and envelope ITDs of overlapping frequency ranges, supporting the hypothesis that carrier and envelope ITD-based localization are complementary beyond a mere extension of the upper frequency limit.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The results presented in this study show for the first time that the barn owl is able to extract and represent the interaural time difference (ITD) information conveyed by the envelope of a broadband acoustic signal. Like mammals, the barn owl extracts the ITD of the envelope and the carrier of a signal from the same frequency range. These results are of general interest, since they reinforce a trend found in neural signal processing across different species.
Ab Initio Study of Electronic Transport in Cubic-HfO2 Grain Boundaries
Authors: Degoli Elena , Luppi Eleonora , Capron Nathalie
Published: July 2017

In polycrystalline materials the grain boundaries (GBs) are particularly important as they can act as a sink for atom defects and impurities, which may drive structural transformation of the materials and consequently modify their properties. Characterising the structure and properties of GBs is critical for understanding and controlling material property. Here, we investigated how GBs can modify the structural, electronic, and transport properties of the polycrystalline material HfO2. In general, grain boundaries are considered to be detrimental to the physical stability and electronic transport in HfO2. Anyway, studying by first principles the two most stable and common types of GBs, the tilt and the twist, we found substantial differences on the impact they have on the material properties. In fact, while tilt defects create channels of different sizes and shapes in hafnia along which the electronic transport is stronger in relation to leakage current through GBs, twist defects create a sort of amorphous structure that tends to resemble the bulk and which is independent of the number of rotated planes/atoms.
Comparison of Retinal Microvessel Blood Flow Velocities Acquired with Two Different Fields of View
Authors: Zhou Jin , Li Min , Chen Wan , Yang Ye , Hu Liang , Wang Liang , Jiang Hong , Wang Jianhua
Published: July 2017

To compare the different retinal blood flow velocities (BFVs) acquired with different fields of view (FOVs) using the retinal function imager (RFI), twenty eyes of twenty healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Retinal microvessel BFV in the macula was acquired with both a wide FOV (35 degrees, 7.3 × 7.3 mm2) and a commonly used small FOV (20 degrees, 4.3 × 4.3 mm2). The 35-degree FOV was trimmed to be equivalent to the 20-degree FOV to compare the BFVs of the similar FOVs using different settings. With the 35-degree FOV, both retinal arteriolar and venular BFVs were significantly greater than the 20-degree FOV (P<0.001). When the 20-degree FOV was compared to the trimmed equivalent 20-degree FOV acquired using the 35-degree FOV, significant BFV differences were found in both the arterioles (P=0.029) and venules (P<0.001). This is the first study to compare retinal blood flow velocities acquired with different FOVs using RFI. The conversion factor from 35 degrees to 20 degrees is 0.95 for arteriolar BFV and 0.92 for venular BFV, which may be used for comparing BFVs acquired with different FOVs.
Evaluation of Metalloproteinase-8 Levels in Crevicular Fluid of Patients with Healthy Implants or Periodontitis
Authors: Aleksandrowicz Paweł , Żelechowska Paulina , Agier Justyna , Starska Katarzyna , Kędzierski Krzysztof , Wysokińska-Miszczuk Joanna , Brzezińska-Błaszczyk Ewa
Published: July 2017

Evaluation of periodontal and peri-implant tissue condition is mainly based on clinical examination and imaging diagnostics. Some data imply that Metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) level examination in peri-implant sulcular fluid (PISF) might be useful for evaluating the condition of peri-implant tissues and monitoring a development of peri-implant inflammation, including both mucositis and peri-implantitis. Hence, in this study, we decided to evaluate the level of MMP-8 in PISF obtained from patients without clinical symptoms of mucositis or peri-implantitis and compare it with MMP-8 level in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) obtained from patients with healthy periodontium and those with varying severity of periodontitis. A total of 189 subjects were included in the study, and GCF/PISF samples were analysed for MMP-8 level by ELISA test. We documented that MMP-8 level in PISF obtained from patients without symptoms of mucositis or peri-implantitis was significantly higher not only than in GCF of periodontally healthy patients but also, which seems to be very interesting, than in GCF of patients with varying degrees of periodontal inflammation, consistent with earlier studies. Our observation might imply that monitoring of MMP-8 level in PISF could help to diagnose mucositis/peri-implantitis in an early stage, prior to clinical manifestations, which may allow for quick start of appropriate therapy.
Structure and Function of Enterocyte in Intrauterine Growth Retarded Pig Neonates
Authors: Ferenc Karolina , Pilżys Tomasz , Skrzypek Tomasz , Garbicz Damian , Marcinkowski Michał , Dylewska Małgorzata , Gładysz Paweł , Skorobogatov Oleksandr , Gajewski Zdzisław , Grzesiuk Elżbieta , Zabielski Romuald
Published: July 2017

The intestine of intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) neonates showed different morphology compared to neonates born with normal body weight (NBW). The aim of the present study was to investigate the ultrastructure and proteomic profile of the gut epithelium in IUGR pig neonates with special attention to the digestive and absorptive function. Intestine tissue samples were investigated in 7-day-old IUGR and NBW littermate piglets using histometry, immunofluorescence, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mass spectrometry analysis. IUGR piglets have shown reduced mucosa and muscularis thickness and an enhanced number of foetal type enterocytes (FTE). SEM studies have shown the lack of the characteristic large-size vacuole in IUGR’s enterocytes. Delayed removal of FTE in IUGR neonates was probably due to the inhibited apoptosis in the apical part of villi and increased apoptosis and reduced mitosis in the crypt region. In the expression of proteins in the intestinal mucosa such as hexokinase I, histones, and prelamin A/C, carbamoyl phosphate was reduced in IUGR neonates. Finally, IUGR intestines showed higher expression of HSPA9 and HSPA5 as apoptosis markers. The data indicate modifications of gut mucosa in IUGRs that may result in slower gut mucosa maturation and reduced utilisation of nutrient as compared to NBW pig neonates.
Effects of Milling pH and Hydrothermal Treatment on Formation of Nanostructured Boehmite Binder for Alumina Extrusion
Authors: Lima Maurício Batista de , Tercini Marcela Bergamaschi , Santos Sydney Ferreira , Ortega Fernando dos Santos , Yoshimura Humberto Naoyuki
Published: July 2017

The in situ formation of nanostructured aluminum hydroxides on the surface of alumina particles, which can work as inorganic binder, was reported in this paper. The effect of the suspension pH during milling of alumina powder and subsequent hydrothermal treatment for the hydroxide formation and microstructure was depicted. Under acidic pH condition, the formation of hydroxides was not observed. When the pH of suspension changed from acidic to basic during milling, bayerite [Al(OH)3] nanoparticles were formed, but only a fraction of this hydroxide was converted to boehmite (AlOOH) during subsequent hydrothermal treatment. The aluminum hydroxide and oxyhydroxide formed in this condition improved the smoothness of extruded rods and the strength of presintered segments. For the powder milled under basic pH condition, the mechanochemically formed bayerite was completely converted into boehmite nanoparticles during the hydrothermal treatment. The presence of boehmite nanoparticles contributed to improving plasticity during extrusion, which allowed the reduction of organic binder and increased the strength of presintered alumina rods.
Circulating Th1, Th2, and Th17 Levels in Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Ji Qingwei , Cheng Guojie , Ma Ning , Huang Ying , Lin Yingzhong , Zhou Qi , Que Bin , Dong Jianzeng , Zhou Yujie , Nie Shaoping
Published: July 2017

Background. Evidence from experimental studies showed that Th1, Th2, and Th17 play a pivotal role in hypertension and target organ damage. However, whether changes in the circulating Th1, Th2, and Th17 levels are associated with nondipper hypertension and carotid atherosclerotic plaque in hypertension has yet to be investigated. Methods. Th1, Th2, and Th17 levels were detected using a flow cytometric analysis, and their related cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 45 hypertensive patients and 15 normotensive subjects. Results. The frequencies of Th1 and Th17 in hypertensive patients, especially in nondipper patients and patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaque, were markedly higher than those in the control group; this was accompanied by higher IFN-γ and IL-17 levels. In contrast, the Th2 frequencies and IL-4 levels in hypertensive patients, especially in nondipper patients and patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaque, were significantly lower than those in the control group. Conclusions. The changes in Th1, Th2, and Th17 activity are associated with the onset of the nondipper type and carotid atherosclerotic plaque in hypertensive patients.
Flight Time and Frequency‐Optimization Model for Multiairport System Operation
Authors: Bao Danwen , Hua Songyi
Published: July 2017

This study’s goal is to reduce the number of flights and alleviate congestion in hub airports. It proposes a flight time and frequency‐optimization method for multiairport systems. A flight time and frequency‐optimization model for multiairport system operation is created to minimize loss of passenger trip time. A k-means clustering algorithm is designed to solve the model and calculate indexes such as flight time and frequency, passenger trip‐time loss, and distribution of airplane models and quantity. The calculation results of an example in China are as follows. Under multiairport system operation mode, passenger demands are divided into 7 categories; 11 flights satisfy all passenger demands; passenger trip‐time loss is 129,573 min; and the average passenger load factor is 90.1%. Under an independent operation mode, passenger demands are divided into 8 categories; 13 flights satisfy all passenger demands; passenger trip‐time loss is 173,705 min; and the average passenger load factor is 87.4%. The multiairport system operation mode not only improves passenger trip efficiency but also benefits airlines by improving the passenger load factor and reducing flights. Moreover, comparative analysis of a genetic algorithm versus a clustering algorithm further proves the accuracy of the clustering algorithm.
13C Methacetin Breath Test for Assessment of Microsomal Liver Function: Methodology and Clinical Application
Authors: Gorowska-Kowolik Katarzyna , Chobot Agata , Kwiecien Jaroslaw
Published: July 2017

Assessment of the liver function, and the need of constant monitoring of the organ’s capacity, concerns not only patients with primary liver diseases, but also those at risk of hepatopathies secondary to other chronic diseases. Most commonly, the diagnostics is based on measurements of static biochemical parameters, which allow us to draw conclusions only indirectly about the function and the degree of damage of the organ. On the other hand, liver biopsy is an invasive procedure and therefore it is associated with a considerable risk of complications. Dynamic tests enable us to assess quantitatively the organ’s functional reserve by analyzing the kinetics of the metabolization of the substrate by the liver. In practice applied are breath tests using substances such as aminopyrine, caffeine, methacetin, erythromycin (for assessment of the microsomal function); phenylalanine, galactose (for assessment of the cytosolic function); methionine, octanoate, ketoisocaproic acid (for assessment of the mitochondrial function). The test with 13C methacetin belongs to the best described and most widely applied methods in noninvasive liver function assessment. Due to the rising availability of this method, knowledge concerning its limitations and controversies regarding the methodology, as well as its usefulness in chosen groups of patients, seems to be vital.
Intrinsic Variability Present in Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells and T Cell Responses May Impact Cell Therapy
Authors: Paladino Fernanda Vieira , Sardinha Luiz Roberto , Piccinato Carla Azevedo , Goldberg Anna Carla
Published: July 2017

Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSC) exhibit immunomodulatory effects on T cell response. WJ-MSC are easy to collect, process, and proliferate rapidly in culture, but information on the variability of individual cell samples impacting upon in vitro expansion, immunomodulatory potential, and aging processes is still lacking. We propose to evaluate the immunomodulatory cytokine profile and capacity to inhibit T cell proliferation of WJ-MSC progressing to replicative senescence in order to analyze if expected responses are affected. Our results show that the gene expression of immunomodulatory molecules varied among samples with no specific pattern present. In coculture, all WJ-MSC were capable of inhibiting mitogen-activated CD3+ T cell proliferation, although to different degrees, and each PBMC responded with a different level of inhibition. Thus, we suggest that each WJ-MSC displays unique behavior, differing in patterns of cytokine mRNA expression and immunomodulatory capacity. We believe that variability between samples may play a role in the effectiveness of WJ-MSC employed therapeutically.
Combining Facility Location and Routing Decisions in Sustainable Urban Freight Distribution under Horizontal Collaboration: How Can Shippers Be Benefited?
Authors: Ouhader Hanan , El Kyal Malika
Published: July 2017

This article investigates the potential economic, environmental, and social effects of combining depot location and vehicle routing decisions in urban road freight transportation under horizontal collaboration. We consider a city in which several suppliers decide to joint deliveries to their customers and goods are delivered via intermediate depots. We study a transportation optimization problem from the perspective of sustainability development. This quantitative approach is based on three‐objective mathematical model for strategic, tactical, and operational decision‐making as a two‐echelon location routing problem (2E‐LRP). The objectives are to minimize cost and CO2 emissions of the transportation and maximize the created job opportunities. The model was solved with the ε‐constraint method using extended known instances reflecting the real distribution in urban area to evaluate several goods’ delivery strategies. The obtained results by comparing collaborative and noncollaborative scenarios show that collaboration leads to a reduction in CO2 emissions, transportation cost, used vehicles, and travelled distances in addition to the improvement of the vehicles load rate but collaboration affects negatively social impact. To evaluate the effect of the method used to allocate the total gains to the different partners, we suggest to decision makers a comparison between well‐known allocation methods.
Pharmacokinetics of Caffeic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Formononetin, Cryptotanshinone, and Tanshinone IIA after Oral Administration of Naoxintong Capsule in Rat by HPLC‐MS/MS
Authors: Li Jin , Bai Yang , Bai Yun , Zhu Ruichao , Liu Wei , Cao Jun , An Mingrui , Tan Zhijing , Chang Yan-xu
Published: July 2017

Naoxintong capsule (NXTC) was a famous patent medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat cerebrovascular diseases in China. An LC‐MS/MS method was developed for simultaneous determination of 11 major ingredients (paeoniflorin, ecdysterone, amygdalin, mulberroside A, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, salvianolic acid B, astragaloside IV, formononetin, cryptotanshinone, and tanshinone IIA) in NXTC in rat plasma. All analytes were separated on an Eclipse plus C18 column using a gradient mobile phase system of acetonitrile‐0.1% formic acid aqueous solution. The lower limits of quantification of 11 ingredients were between 0.075 and 10 ng mL−1. The precision was less than 15% and the accuracies were between 85% and 115%. The results showed that caffeic acid, ferulic acid, formononetin, cryptotanshinone, and tanshinone IIA could be detected after oral administration of NXTC. The validated method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of the caffeic acid, ferulic acid, formononetin, cryptotanshinone, and tanshinone IIA in rats after oral administration of NXTC at single and triple dose.
Inovando o Trabalho de Campo com a Articulação entre Teoria e Prática: as Disciplinas do Curso de Obstetrícia
Authors: Silva Eunice Almeida da , Narchi Nádia Zanon , Belli Maria Aparecida De Jesus , Trintinália Maryam Michelle Jarrouge , Teixeira Nilva
Published: July 2017

Este estudo tem como finalidade mostrar a estratégia de ensino utilizada nas disciplinas Administração dos Serviços de Atenção à Saúde e Estágio Curricular de Administração de Serviços de Atenção à Saúde, obrigatórias no curso de graduação em Obstetrícia da Universidade de São Paulo. O objetivo geral da estratégia foi articular o conteúdo oferecido em sala de aula às práticas em gerenciamento. Em 2014, 43 alunos cursaram as disciplinas, discutiram o conteúdo programático em sala de aula, realizaram visitas a serviços da rede privada e vivenciaram práticas de gerenciamento em serviços públicos de saúde. O objetivo específico era identificar e analisar até três situações-problema que poderiam dificultar a dinâmica de gerenciamento dos serviços públicos de saúde. A partir da análise e com base nas visitas realizadas, os alunos em grupos elaboraram um projeto visando à melhoria do gerenciamento dos serviços públicos. Os projetos deveriam responder a questão: “É possível administrar os processos, os recursos e as pessoas nos serviços públicos de atenção à saúde de maneira a agregar-lhes valor?” Todos responderam afirmativamente, evidenciando descrições de como foram compreendidas as articulações dos conceitos discutidos em sala de aula com as dificuldades e possibilidades encontradas nos cenários das práticas.
A Simulação e a Videoconferência no Ensino de Enfermagem
Authors: Mazzo Alessandra , Martins José Carlos A. , Baptista Rui C. Negrão , Godoy Simone , Coutinho Verónica R. Dias , Seixas Carlos A. , Mendes Isabel A. Costa , Franzon Juliana Constantino
Published: July 2017

O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar os resultados da aprendizagem de estudantes de graduação em enfermagem que utilizaram estratégias de ensino simulado de baixa fidelidade com os resultados dos que usaram videoconferência do ensino simulado de alta fidelidade. Trata-se de um trabalho experimental realizado com graduandos de enfermagem do Brasil, os quais foram divididos em dois grupos e submetidos a diferentes estratégias de educação a distância: Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem (AVA) e videoconferência. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionários e avaliação teórica e teórico-prática. Em linhas gerais, foram comparados os dois grupos de estudantes, os quais haviam sido distribuídos aleatoriamente e submetidos ao ensino simulado de baixa fidelidade (17) e à videoconferência do treino simulado de alta fidelidade e seu respectivo debriefing (27). O estudo foi realizado seguindo os preceitos éticos. Utilizou-se o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido. Os estudantes relataram que o AVA e a videoconferência auxiliaram no seu aprendizado. Observou-se ainda que foi melhor o desempenho da aprendizagem dos alunos submetidos à simulação de baixa fidelidade do que o daqueles que assistiram à videoconferência do treino simulado de alta fidelidade e seu respectivo debriefing. Conclui-se que o ensino simulado é uma estratégia de ensino eficaz que promove de modo efetivo a participação do aluno como ator de seu aprendizado.
A Cerâmica como Elemento Facilitador do Processo de Aprendizagem do Uso de Modelos Físicos como Ferramenta de Projeto
Authors: Bertoldi Cristiane Aun
Published: July 2017

Este trabalho trata da necessidade de construção e do uso de modelos físicos como ferramentas de projeto, perpassando por todas as suas fases de desenvolvimento, desde a geração de conceitos até a validação de protótipos. Aponta como estratégia para o processo de aprendizagem em design o estímulo para o desenvolvimento de um projeto de produto cerâmico, visando à possibilidade de se chegar à obtenção de protótipos, aproximando a atividade de projeto da realidade encontrada na produção fabril. Os produtos cerâmicos são simples, compostos por poucos elementos unidos durante a conformação. Eles são confeccionados por processos tradicionais e acessíveis e apresentam baixa complexidade tecnológica. Propor o uso de materiais cerâmicos possibilita que o aluno organize o pensamento projetivo em função do comportamento do material e dos processos de fabricação e passe a compreender suas implicações no desenho de produtos, auxiliando a tomada de decisões durante o desenvolvimento do projeto.
The Instrument as the Source of New in New Music
Authors: Andersen Kristina , Gibson Dan
Published: July 2017

How can we treat technological matter as yet another material from which our notions of possible future instruments can be constructed, intrinsically intertwined with, and informed by a practice of performance? We strive to develop musical-performance instruments not only by creating technology, but also in developing them as aesthetic and cultural objects. A musical instrument is not an interface and should not be designed as such; instead, new instruments are the source of new in new music. Like any traditional instrument, a new instrument's potential for producing quality musical sound can only be revealed when it is played. We present an instrument-design process conducted by a visionary and an agenda-setting musician. The resulting objects are experimental prototypes of technological matter, which allow analysis and meaning to be specified through physical and tactile interaction with the objects themselves. As the instruments evolve through various stages, their capability is continually enhanced, making them all the more desirable for musicians to play.
The Sons of Noah and the Sons of Abraham: The Origins of Noahide Law
Authors: Van Zile Matthew P.
Published: July 2017

This article addresses the early formation of the rabbinic Noahide laws in light of Paul’s “sons of Abraham” motif and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Close examination reveals that Paul’s epistles, Acts of the Apostles, and rabbinic Noahide law represent one side of a debate among Jews about the eschatological fate of the nations. This development was in contrast to the homogenizing paradigms of Hellenistic Judaism and the anti-gentile apocalypticism of the Qumran community. The similarities between Paul’s “sons of Abraham” and the rabbinic “sons of Noah” suggest that both traditions originated from the same school of thought and may indicate a proto-rabbinic source from which Paul and the rabbis derived these requirements.
The Socio-Historical Case for the Existence of a Nexus Requirement in the Application of Universal Jurisdiction to Maritime Piracy
Authors: Tirshfield Jeffrey T.
Published: July 2017

This article provides a historical account of the application of universal jurisdiction to piracy jure gentium and details the nexus requirement. Prior work by Kontorovich and Art noted an increase in the application of universal jurisdiction concurrent with the rise of piracy off the coast of Somalia, yet did not address the historical case for the attribution of nexus to its application. This appears to be a non-sequitur, as the vast majority of scholars suggest that by definition the exercise of universal jurisdiction does not require a nexus. I argue that any presupposition of a lack of connection in the application of universality should be questioned, as not only is there a normative connection between the seizing and the adjudicating state, but that historically this has always been the case until just prior to the advent of third-party jurisdictional piracy courts in Kenya and the Seychelles that address Somali piracy, and only Somali piracy.
Joseph Grigulevich: A Tale of Identity, Soviet Espionage, and Storytelling
Authors: Znamenski Andrei
Published: July 2017

This paper explores the life of Joseph Grigulevich (1913–1988), a famous early Soviet illegal intelligence operative, who conducted various “special tasks” on behalf of Stalin’s foreign espionage network. These included the murder of dissident Spanish communist Andreas Nin (1938), a participation in the assassination of Leon Trotsky (1940), posing as a Costa Rican ambassador (1949–1952), and an abortive project to assassinate Joseph Bros Tito (1952). In contrast to conventional espionage studies that are usually informed by diplomatic, political, and military history approaches, I employ a cultural history angle. First, the paper examines the formation of Grigulevich’s communist and espionage identity against his background as a cosmopolitan Jewish “other” from the interwar Polish-Lithuanian realm. Second, it explores his role in the production and invention of intelligence knowledge, which he later used to jump start his second career as a prominent Soviet humanities scholar and a bestselling writer of revolutionary non-fiction.
An annotated catalogue of the Coleoptera types deposited in the National Insect Collection (CNIN) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico
Authors: ZARAGOZA-CABALLERO SANTIAGO , PÉREZ-HERNÁNDEZ CISTEIL XINUM
Published: July 2017

The National Insect Collection (CNIN) constitutes the most representative entomological collection in Mexico. The coleopterans housed in the collection, mainly sampled in national territory, are represented by approximately 350,000 adult specimens mounted on entomological pins and nearly 250,000 preserved in alcohol. This catalogue includes information regarding 765 species from 255 genera classified into 34 families of Coleoptera types: Belidae Schönherr, Brentidae Billberg, Buprestidae Leach, Cantharidae Imhoff, Carabidae Latreille, Cerambycidae Latreille, Chrysomelidae Latreille, Cleridae Latreille, Curculionidae Latreille, Dytiscidae Leach, Elateridae Leach, Elmidae Curtis, Endomychidae Leach, Erotylidae Latreille, Geotrupidae Latreille, Heteroceridae MacLeay, Hydraenidae Mulsant, Hydrophilidae Latreille, Lampyridae Rafinesque, Leiodidae Fleming, Limnichidae Erichson, Lycidae Laporte, Meloidae Gyllenhal, Melolonthidae MacLeay, Passalidae Leach, Phengodidae LeConte, Ripiphoridae Gemminger, Scarabaeidae Latreille, Silphidae Latreille, Silvanidae Kirby, Staphylinidae Latreille, Telegeusidae Leng, Tenebrionidae Latreille and Zopheridae Solier. The total of 3,487 type specimens encompasses 468 holotypes, 100 allotypes, 2,911 paratypes, one neotype and four syntypes.
Trade and Industrialisation in India
Authors: Paul Justin , Sebastian V.J. , Ramanathan A.
Published: July 2017

The term "globalisation" has become a catch phrase throughout the world. Openness to foreign trade is one of the central tenets of the industrialisation strategy. Trade liberalisation measures undertaken by India under the aegis of WTO are expected to have significant impact on the industrial sector. The objective of this paper is to study the pattern and direction of causality between activity variables in the external sector (viz. exports and imports) and domestic sector (viz. industrial output) using multivariate block Granger causality test in the Vector Auto Regression (VAR) framework. Our analysis clearly indicates an increasing rate of interdependence between industrial growth and foreign trade in India during the last five years and shows the integration between the external sector and the domestic industrial sector, which has taken place since 1995. We find that the nexus between trade and industrialisation would become the most important issue, when Indian economy gets fully integrated with the world, with the removal of Quantitative Restrictions which is set to take place on 1 April 2001.
Trade and Development Report, 1993
Authors: Dadzie K.K.S.
Published: July 2017

The Trade and Development Report of 1992 had predicted that without a strong boost to global demand the world economy v.�ould continue to stagnate. So it has. Belying almost all other official forecasts, the North has failed to recover. As a result, commodity prices are falling yet again, intensifying poverty in the South, and the unemployed are multiplying, intensifying poverty in the North. Joblessness is now not only the prime issue in domestic politics: by providing humus for protectionist sentiments and xenophobia, it is also forcing itself onto the international agenda.

The tide of market-oriented reform has continued to flow strongly in developing countries and the former socialist countries of Eastern Europe. In Asia, the fast-growing economies, which had managed to steer clear of the turbulence of debt and policy shocks, have continued ahead at full steam. Thanks to reform, Latin America has been showered with finance. In Africa, the winds of change have turned into a gale, but the economies are still in the doldrums. In the transition economies of Europe, the worst is over in some hut not in others.

International financial flows have been bringing many benefits but also problems. Exchange rates have been under severe strain, and international trade negotiations have been teetering bern�een openness and protectionism.

The new era after the Cold War should not be allowed to become one of economic conflict. Governments acknowledge the need for cooperation, but the real challenge remains. It is to translate the aspiration for harmony into practice-and do so in a way that will advance development and push back poverty

The right approach is to marry boldness with realism. Without boldness structures will not change, but unless policies are tempered with realism there will be costly excesses. Boldness is also required to clear the debt overhang, which continues to bear down on 1nany developing countries. And unless there is boldness, too, infighting global deflation, the problems of the world economy will further multiply, and instability will overwhelm confidence.
Prospectus for Human Factors in Electronics
Authors: Herman Elvin E.
Published: July 2017

Factors presently inhibiting the acceptance of human engineering contributions, future areas of work, and means of expanding the utilization of human engineering in the electronics field are discussed from an engineering management viewpoint.
Optimum Symbols for Radar Displays
Authors: Bowen Huch M. , Andreassi John L. , Truax Shaffer , Orlansky Jesse
Published: July 2017

Experiments were conducted to determine: 1) sets of geometric symbols which can be discriminated from each other and recognized with high accuracy under a variety of display conditions, especially those involving degradation of the image in ways similar to those that occur on radar displays, and 2) the size and strokewidth to height ratio desirable for symbols to be used on complex displays.

The recommended symbols are illustrated in the report; symbol height should be 1/2 inch or more and the strokewidth should be 1/8 to 1/10 of the height.

Suggestions for combining auxiliary symbols with primary symbols are given.
Measurement Methodology for Perceptual-Motor Performance under Highly Transient Extreme Heat Stress
Authors: Groth Hilde , Lyman John
Published: July 2017

The existing state of the art for handling human performance under transient heat stress has been reviewed. It was concluded that it is necessary to develop a new methodology based on “micro-performance” measurements to assess severe localized transient heat stresses relevant to contemporary flight problems.

The test procedure proposed is based on the rationale that a primary task, with difficulty that can be varied according to subject error in order to maintain a relatively constant subject performance level, can be used as a measure of the moment-to-moment perceptual load. In addition to the primary task, secondary tasks are suggested to help simulate problems in decision-making and verbal communication.
Systems Analysis of Driving Simulation
Authors: Schlesinger Lawrence E. , Karmel Bernard , Cohen Stanley
Published: July 2017

System analysis procedures as applied to driving simulators must accomplish several bask tasks: (1) they must identify the system components and interactions that are to be simulated; (2) they must specify the degree of simulation of each component in the system. In this case, the extent to which the automobile and the environment are to be reproduced by the simulator must be adequately established; (3) the input and output to the simulator, plus the process of introducing variability and measuring the response to it, must be subjected to careful analysis; (4) finally, the simulation process requires that a major portion of any driver-related systems analysis be devoted to an examination of each component in the system, its input, functioning, and response characteristics.

The basic components of the driving situation were analyzed from a systems point of view. In order to summarize some existing simulation attempts, the particular focus of each study with respect to the component or method of handling a component, was utilized. The driving simulation literature was reviewed to provide an integrated conceptual framework of the accomplishments of research in this field

The basic component relations were explored and the primary functions of simulation were then analyzed. These primary functions were: (1) the introduction of experimental variation into the system; (2) the representation of the components of the system; (3) the measurement of component response; and (4) the measurement of system performance.
Methods of Predicting Human Reliability in Man–Machine Systems
Authors: Meister David
Published: July 2017

Four studies describing the development and application of a simple multiplicative probability model for human error prediction are reviewed and evaluated. The methodology is an elementaristic one that requires analysis of system operations to the task-element level. Estimates of human performance reliability are applied through the use of the Data Store, which is based on extrapolation of results from 164 experimental studies. The various possibilities of operator action are explored in detail through a “probability” tree; each branch of the tree represents an alternative contingency. Performance reliabilities for task elements are progressively combined through the use of the series product rule to yield reliability estimates for tasks, mission phases, and the overall system. The methodology has been applied in two contexts: the generation of reliability estimates through a computerized Monte Carlo program and by using experts' rating of operator performance.