bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EurA1c: The European HbA1c Trial to Investigate the Performance of HbA1c Assays in 2166 Laboratories across 17 Countries and 24 Manufacturers by Use of the IFCC Model for Quality Targets
Authors:   The EurA1c Trial Group, Weykamp Cas , John W Garry , English Emma , Erasmus Rajiv T , Sacks David B , Buchta Christoph , Mueller Mathias M , Lenga Yolande , Budina Marek , Kratochvila Josef , Friedecky Bedrich , Siest Jean-Pascal , Kaiser Patricia , Haliassos Alexander , Panagiotakis Otto , Makris Konstantinos , Graham Hazel , Kane Anne , Smith Thomas P , Barrett Ned , Sciacovelli Laura , Plebani Mario , Faria Ana Andrade , Cardoso Ana , Correia Helena , Alemany Montserrat Ventura , Alsina Carmen Perich , Gómez Carmen González , Nordin Gunnar , Persson Carita Krook , Fried Roman , Akcadag Fatma , Akgöz Müslüm , Aslan Diler , Jones Samantha , Thomas Annette , Gillery Philippe , Jaisson Stéphane , Mosca Andrea , Paleari Renata , Slingerland Robbert J , Slootstra Janine , Leppink Sanne , Elmgren Anders , Little Randie R , Connolly Shawn M , Makky Vicky , Nowicki Maren , Siebelder Carla , Schröer-Janssen Liesbeth , te Winkel Marieke , de Graaf Irene , Lenters-Westra Erna
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND

A major objective of the IFCC Committee on Education and Use of Biomarkers in Diabetes is to generate awareness and improvement of HbA1c assays through evaluation of the performance by countries and manufacturers.

METHODS

Fresh whole blood and lyophilized hemolysate specimens manufactured from the same pool were used by 17 external quality assessment organizers to evaluate analytical performance of 2166 laboratories. Results were evaluated per country, per manufacturer, and per manufacturer and country combined according to criteria of the IFCC model for quality targets.

RESULTS

At the country level with fresh whole blood specimens, 6 countries met the IFCC criterion, 2 did not, and 2 were borderline. With lyophilized hemolysates, 5 countries met the criterion, 2 did not, and 3 were borderline. At the manufacturer level using fresh whole blood specimens, 13 manufacturers met the criterion, 8 did not, and 3 were borderline. Using lyophilized hemolysates, 7 manufacturers met the criterion, 6 did not, and 3 were borderline. In both country and manufacturer groups, the major contribution to total error derived from between-laboratory variation. There were no substantial differences in performance between groups using fresh whole blood or lyophilized hemolysate samples.

CONCLUSIONS

The state of the art is that 1 of 20 laboratories does not meet the IFCC criterion, but there are substantial differences between country and between manufacturer groups. Efforts to further improve quality should focus on reducing between-laboratory variation. With some limitations, fresh whole blood and well-defined lyophilized specimens are suitable for purpose.
A internacionalização da hotelaria portuguesa para os mercados emergentes
Authors: Brito Carrasqueira Helder Manuel , Galvão Garcia Paula Cristina , Cotrim Carrasqueira Margarida
Published: June 2018

O presente artigo procura explicar a internacionalização da hotelaria portuguesa nos países que se designam de economias emergentes latu sensu, situados em África e região nordeste do Brasil (abrange 72% das unidades hoteleiras e 93,8% das cadeias portuguesas com unidades hoteleiras no exterior). A partir de um inquérito junto dos diretores das unidades hoteleiras procurou-se caracterizar a afirmação no exterior através de três vetores: dimensões da internacionalização, forças competitivas e características da operação no exterior. Além das respostas ao: Porquê, o Quê, Como e para Onde, este artigo revela a posição face aos concorrentes, clientes, fornecedores, novas entradas e produtos substitutos; acresce as especificidades operacionais como o posicionamento face à distribuição, produto comercializado, opções de estandardização versus adaptação, entre outros. Procura-se ainda responder à seguinte questão através dos dados disponíveis: qual tem sido o ritmo de expansão da hotelaria portuguesa no exterior? O processo de internacionalização ocorreu essencialmente para o espaço lusófono. Apenas um grupo apresenta um posicionamento multi-mercado, podendo ser considerado uma multinacional; os restantes têm um posicionamento multi-doméstico.
Los usos y costumbre del estado de Oaxaca y su impacto en el capital humano de las empresas turísticas de Bahías de Huatulco
Authors: Rios Rocio Esquivel , López Molina Luis Alberto
Published: June 2018

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo principal identificar el impacto que existe dentro de las empresas turísticas de Bahías de Huatulco, Oaxaca, los usos y costumbres que se encuentran arraigados en los colaboradores que ahí se desempeñan. Lo anterior, definido a través de la importancia que ellos mismos le otorgan al ejercicio de estas actividades culturales derivadas de las comunidades de procedencia y al mismo tiempo reflejado en la cultura organizacional de las empresas. A partir de aquí, el artículo propone, de acuerdo a la teoría de Geert Hofstede, identificar la plataforma correspondiente a la orientación a largo plazo del destino en general y determinar cuál es la importancia que se le otorga a los usos y costumbres, de igual forma se podrá identificar si esta práctica se ve reflejada en el servicio brindado.
Imperios coloniales del Atlántico Sur e iberismo
Authors: Andrade Arruda José Jobson de
Published: June 2018

El presente artículo tiene un perfil teórico, historiográfico e histórico. Discute la pertinencia de las interpretaciones que se pueden identificar como pertenecientes a la moderna teoría de los imperios coloniales ibéricos, cuestionando las proposiciones deconstructivistas que estuvieron presentes en las formulaciones de los imperios negociados, polisinodiales, a los cuales se opone la noción de sistema colonial y capitalismo comercial apuntando hacia la originalidad de las arquitecturas políticas de los Estados y su importancia en la configuración del iberismo.
The One Divine Nature
Authors: Hasker William
Published: June 2018

The doctrine of the Trinity affirms that there are three divine Persons, each of whom is fully God, who have between them a single concrete divine nature. This paper attempts two show that, and how, these claims are coherent rather than contradictory. In the process a model for the Trinity is proposed using the notion of constitution.
Decoding Deviance with the Sons of Anarchy
Authors: Kremer Joseph , Cutler Kristin A
Published: June 2018

This article explicates the ways that the popular television series Sons of Anarchy in conjunction with our content analysis coding tool can be used to teach theories and concepts central to Sociology of Deviance courses. We detail how students learned to understand deviance as a social constructed phenomenon by coding and analyzing the behaviors of their most liked and most hated Sons characters. Evidence extrapolated from students’ final projects, class discussions, and course evaluations suggests that this pedagogical technique creates a systematic teaching method enabling students to more actively engage in the course while enhancing connections to the course materials.
Understanding the University and Faculty Investment in Implementing High-Impact Educational Practices
Authors: White Allison
Published: June 2018

A variety of assessment options utilizing high-impact educational practices have emerged to assist faculty in higher education with college student learning outcomes. High-impact practices are defined as teaching and learning designs which have been demonstrated to increase student engagement and persistence. Practices such as first-year seminars, tech-rich learning communities, collaborative projects, undergrad research, global/diversity learning, service learning, practicums, and internships are educational tools making it possible to assess the practices’ contribution to students’ cumulative learning. However, utilization of these practices is unsystematic due in part to the required investment of time, training, and money. This paper describes high-impact practices that support course and program level learning outcomes in conjunction with the investments for implementation. Exploration into why these types of practices are effective and which students have access to them emphasizes the need for this investment to meet accreditation standards and the mandates of our government’s “completion agenda” geared towards preparing America’s future workforce.
Ein Rückblick auf die Zukunft
Authors: Hesse Markus
Published: June 2018

Es ist eine interessante Koinzidenz, dass der zunehmend diskutierte Ruf nach einer Trendwendeim Verkehrswesen mit dem 25- jährigen Erscheinen einer kleinen Schrift zum Thema„ Verkehrswende“ zusammentrifft. Anlass genug, einen distanzierten Blick auf das Konzept ausheutiger Sicht zu werfen.
Ein übertragbares Modell zur Weitervermittlung von Gebraucht- und Restmaterial
Authors: Vosse Corinna
Published: June 2018

Ressourcenschonung ist eine zentrale Herausforderung nachhaltigen Wirtschaftens. WelcheAnsatzpunkte existieren und welche Möglich keiten und Grenzen bieten diese? Und welchen Beitragzur Ressourcenschonung kann eine Verlängerung der Nutzungsdauer von Rest material leisten?
John Stuart Mills liberaler Marktsozialismus: bisheriges Scheitern und bleibende Relevanz
Authors: Neuhäuser Christian
Published: June 2018

John Stuart Mill had strong sympathies with a liberal form of market socialism based on worker-owned and worker-managed firms. He thought that only very few government interventions were needed to trigger a peaceful and spontaneous transition to such an economic system. This article recapitulates his thesis and argument by focusing on his major workPrinciples of Political Economy, which is rather neglected by philosophers, especially in the German-speaking world. I will argue that Mill was too optimistic in his hope for a spontaneous transition without government intervention. Since it is possible to reconstruct how Mill thought this transition would proceed, it is also possible to identify at what point the transition did not advance in the way envisioned by him, but was blocked by antagonistic forces. I will argue that this insight is not only of historical value, but still poses a serious problem for John Rawls’s theory of justice. Rawls follows Mill closely in his discussion of the proper economic system and he faces the same problem of transition.
Hegels Begriff der Gewohnheit
Authors: Peters Julia
Published: June 2018

In his Encyclopedia of Philosophical Sciences, Hegel states that the essential characteristic of spirit is to exhibit the structure of manifestation. This paper argues that for Hegel the structure of manifestation is actualized in habituated bodily actions, which sheds light on Hegel’s understanding of the relation between body and soul. Furthermore, the paper shows that there is an intrinsic relation between Hegel’s theory of habit and his aesthetics. Insofar as it exemplifies the structure of manifestation, habit has an expressive dimension for Hegel, and is therefore essentially complemented by its portrayal in classical works of art by virtue of the specific relation between form and content that such works exhibit. According to the interpretation presented here, Hegel’s philosophy of mind and his philosophy of aesthetics mutually complement and illuminate each other.
Implementation of high speed machining in thin-walled aircraft integral elements
Authors: Bałon Paweł , Rejman Edward , Smusz Robert , Szostak Janusz , Kiełbasa Bartłomiej
Published: June 2018

High speed milling (HSM) is currently one of the most important technologies used in the aviation industry, especially concerning aluminium alloys. The difference between HSM and other milling techniques is the ability to select cutting parameters – depth of the cut layer, feed rate, and cutting speed, in order to simultaneously ensure high quality, precision of the machined surface, and high machining efficiency, all of which shorten the manufacturing process of the integral components. By implementing the HSM technology, it is possible to manufacture very complex integral thin-walled aerial parts from the full quantity of the raw material. At present, aircraft structures are designed to mainly consist of integral elements which have been produced by welding or riveting of component parts in technologies utilized earlier in the production process. Parts such as ribs, longitudinals, girders, frames, coverages of fuselage and wings can all be categorized as integral elements. These parts are assembled into larger assemblies after milling. The main aim of the utilized treatments, besides ensuring the functional criterion, is obtaining the best ratio of strength to construction weight. Using high milling speeds enables economical manufacturing of integral components by reducing machining time, but it also improves the quality of the machined surface. It is caused by the fact that cutting forces are significantly lower for high cutting speeds than for standard machining techniques.
The Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML): Language Specification for Level 3 Version 1 Core
Authors: Hucka Michael , Bergmann Frank T. , Dräger Andreas , Hoops Stefan , Keating Sarah M. , Le Novère Nicolas , Myers Chris J. , Olivier Brett G. , Sahle Sven , Schaff James C. , Smith Lucian P. , Waltemath Dagmar , Wilkinson Darren J.
Published: June 2018

Computational models can help researchers to interpret data, understand biological functions, and make quantitative predictions. The Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML) is a file format for representing computational models in a declarative form that different software systems can exchange. SBML is oriented towards describing biological processes of the sort common in research on a number of topics, including metabolic pathways, cell signaling pathways, and many others. By supporting SBML as an input/output format, different tools can all operate on an identical representation of a model, removing opportunities for translation errors and assuring a common starting point for analyses and simulations. This document provides the specification for Release 2 of Version 1 of SBML Level 3 Core. The specification defines the data structures prescribed by SBML, their encoding in XML (the eXtensible Markup Language), validation rules that determine the validity of an SBML document, and examples of models in SBML form. No design changes have been made to the description of models between Release 1 and Release 2; changes are restricted to the format of annotations, the correction of errata and the addition of clarifications. Other materials and software are available from the SBML project website at http://sbml.org/.
On the optimality of non-linear computations for symmetric key primitives
Authors: Chakraborti Avik , Datta Nilanjan , Nandi Mridul
Published: June 2018

A block is an n-bit string, and a (possibly keyed) block-function is a non-linear mapping that maps one block to another, e.g., a block-cipher. In this paper, we consider various symmetric key primitives with

{\ell}

block inputs and raise the following question: what is the minimum number of block-function invocations required for a mode to be secure? We begin with encryption modes that generate

{\ell^{\prime}}

block outputs and show that at least

{(\ell+\ell^{\prime}-1)}

block-function invocations are necessary to achieve the PRF security. In presence of a nonce, the requirement of block-functions reduces to

{\ell^{\prime}}

blocks only. If

{\ell=\ell^{\prime}}

, in order to achieve SPRP security, the mode requires at least

{2\ell}

many block-function invocations. We next consider length preserving r-block (called chunk) online encryption modes and show that, to achieve online PRP security, each chunk should have at least

{2r-1}

many and overall at least

{2r\ell-1}

many block-functions for

{\ell}

many chunks. Moreover, we show that it can achieve online SPRP security if each chunk contains at least

{2r}

non-linear block-functions. We next analyze affine MAC modes and show that an integrity-secure affine MAC mode requires at least

{\ell}

many block-function invocations to process an

{\ell}

block message. Finally, we consider affine mode authenticated encryption and show that in order to achieve INT-RUP security or integrity security under a nonce-misuse scenario, either (i) the number of non-linear block-functions required to generate the ciphertext is more than

{\ell}

or (ii) the number of extra non-linear block-functions required to generate the tag depends on

{\ell}

.
Ultra mensuram tendere. Zur Maßlosigkeit mönchischer Askese (David von Augsburg, García Jiménez de Cisneros, Bernardino de Laredo)
Authors: Bischoff Christina Johanna
Published: June 2018

The present contribution deals with excess in medieval and early modern monastic asceticism. It claims that excess, in this context, is not an individual option, but a general problem inherent to Christian asceticism. By giving priority to self-denial, this type of asceticism promotes a self-regulated, autonomous subjectivity which is clearly an unintentional by-product of the asceticism. Therefore individual asceticism oscillates between prohibited self-fashioning and, as a response, intensified self-denial. The problem is outlined in an introductory chapter about ‘De exterioris et interioris hominis compositione’ by David of Augsburg. Following this, two early modern Spanish books are used to illustrate how spiritual texts deal with the ambivalences of asceticism. The ‘Exercitatorio de la vida spiritual’ by García Jiménez de Cisneros regulates asceticism in detail, while the ‘Subida del monte Sión’ by Bernardino de Laredo allows the subject more room for interpretation; this however comes at the price of a fictionalisation of asceticism.
Gelehrte Autorität und die Ordnung der Dinge. Über Wissen, Macht und die Vermessung der Wirklichkeit im Mittelalter
Authors: Bubert Marcel
Published: June 2018

Although the medieval period was not part of Michel Foucault’s seminal study on ‘The Order of Things’, there are good reasons to believe that the learned cultures of the Middle Ages were to a certain degree based on specific epistemic orders, general organizing principles which were unconsciously presupposed in concepts of reality. Nevertheless, the extent as to which these concepts are in fact committed to the assumption of a metaphysically determined measuring of reality, is not altogether clear. This article aims to discuss this question in general, based on recent views of the role of the ‘subject’ in epistemic orders.
Naturmaß, künstlerisches Maß und die Maßlosigkeit ihrer Anwendung. Simplicia in zwei ‚Tractatus de herbis‘-Handschriften des 13. und 14. Jahrhunderts
Authors: Holler Theresa
Published: June 2018

On the cusp of the 14th century, a new means of visualizing plants arose in the herbal manuscript tradition of South Italy. Unlike the previous medieval tradition’s stylized plant representations or antique manuscripts with their lifelike representations, these new images are characterized by their similarity to nature and pressed herbs. Based on two ‘Tractatus de herbis’ manuscripts, namely the MS lat. 6823 in Paris and the MS Egerton 747 in London, this article examines such a new form of nature as a measurement for art. The images themselves alternate between naturalistic impressions, fantastic creations, and pure aesthetic pleasure for the beholder. Together with the accompanying medical treatise they address the boundaries between measurements and excessiveness pertaining not only to artifice but also the body, which has come out of the balance of the four humors and therefore has lost its right measure.
Messen ohne Maß? Nicolaus Cusanus und das Kriterium menschlicher Erkenntnis
Authors: Kny Christian
Published: June 2018

In the late Middle Ages, Nicholas of Cusa renders human cognition as creative, asymptotic assimilation—humans creatively approach their objects of cognition without ever fully reaching them. Questions about measuring are an important part of Nicholas’ model of cognition in two regards: On the one hand, he explicitly calls human cognition a ‘measuring’ (mensurare), moving the concept into the centre of attention. On the other hand, measuring in the sense of evaluating epistemic activities is an issue for Nicholas. He describes humans as living images of god who ‘enfold’ (complicare) the ideas of all things within themselves in a specific way. They measure, i. e. judge, their epistemic activities looking at what they enfold. However, Nicholas provides little information about what exactly that means. He is thus threatened with a serious epistemological problem: the lack of a satisfying criterion of epistemic activities. In my paper, I discuss options of how to deal with this problem. After briefly describing (1) Nicholas’ notion of human cognition and (2) what he has on offer regarding a criterion of epistemic activities, I (3) try to clarify what ‘enfolding the ideas of all things’ can mean. Presenting and discussing two plausible interpretations of this expression—a static and a dynamic one—sheds light on possible answers Nicholas can give as well as the limitations these answers are confronted with.
First record of Sigara assimilis (Fieber, 1848) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Corixidae) in Poland
Authors: Sowa Agnieszka , Tończyk Grzegorz , Halabowski Dariusz , Krodkiewska Mariola
Published: June 2018

Sigara assimilis (Fieber, 1848) is an aquatic true bug from the family Corixidae. Our paper is the first report on this species from Poland. Numerous males and females of the species were found in a hypohaline coal mine settling pond in southern Poland.
Simplified simulation technique of rotating, induction heated, calender rolls for study of temperature field control
Authors: Zgraja Jerzy
Published: June 2018

Predictive computer simulation of the temperature field control system of an induction heated object encounters difficulties associated with the nonlinearityof systemon the one hand, and the time of calculation on the other hand, during numerical analysis of the magnetothermal field of the object, especially in 3D. The paper presents a methodology for the fast simulation of temperature field for a completed induction heating system of calender rolls. The method of 3D calculations of rotating calender rolls with a moving web of wet paper can be connected easily with a simulation of the temperature field controller, for simulation of complex control systems.
Reconstructing time series into a complex network to assess the evolution dynamics of the correlations among energy prices
Authors: Fang Wei , Gao Xiangyun , Huang Shupei , Jiang Meihui , Liu Siyao
Published: June 2018

Reconstructing a time series into a complex network can help uncover the dynamic information hidden in the time series. Previous studies mainly focused on the long-term relationship between two energy prices, and traditional econometric methods poorly reflect the evolution of correlations among variables from a short-term perspective. Thus, first, we divide natural gas, coal and crude oil price time series into a series of segments via a set of temporal sliding windows and then calculate the correlation coefficients for each pair of energy prices in each segment. Second, we define the correlation modes based on the correlation coefficients and a coarse graining process. Third, we reconstruct the time series into a complex network to assess the evolution dynamics of the correlations among energy prices. The results show that a few major correlation modes and transmission patterns play important roles in the evolution. The evolution of the correlation modes among energy prices exhibits a significant cluster effect. Approximately 30 days is a turning point at which one type of cluster transforms into another type. Then, we improve the betweenness centrality algorithm to measure the media capability of the correlation mode in the evolution process of different clusters. Based on the transmission probabilities between clusters, we can determine the evolution direction of the correlation modes based on energy prices. These results are useful for monitoring fluctuations in energy prices and making decisions for risk avoidance.
Detection of industrially potential enzymes of moderately halophilic bacteria on salted goat skins
Authors: Caglayan Pinar , Birbir Meral , Sánchez-Porro Cristina , Ventosa Antonio
Published: June 2018

Aim

This study aimed to isolate moderately halophilic bacteria from salted goat skins, to characterize these microorganisms and to determine their industrially important enzymes such as amylase, catalase, oxidase, caseinase, cellulase, DNase, lipase, lecithinase, protease, pullulanase, urease, phospholipase, xylanase and β-galactosidase.

Methods

Enzymes of these bacteria, isolated from skin samples belonging to eight countries and identified using phenotypic and genotypic methods, were examined in agar media.

Results

Thirty-nine isolates were fairly similar to species of genera Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Salinicoccus, Gracilibacillus, Chromohalobacter and Halomonas. Various carbon sources were utilized, and all isolates produced enzyme. Enzyme-producing species were Staphylococcus saprophyticus subsp. saprophyticus, Staphylococcus arlettae, Bacillus pumilus, Gracilibacillus dipsosauri, Salinicoccus roseus, Bacillus licheniformis, Chromohalobacter beijerinckii, Staphylococcus xylosus, Halomonas eurihalina, Staphylococcus equorum subsp. equorum, Halomonas zhanjiangensis, Halomonas venusta and Chromohalobacter canadensis. Fairly high percentage of isolates produced protease (87%) and catalase (100%). While more than 50% of isolates produced lipase (64%), β-galactosidase (59%) and oxidase (56%), less than 50% of isolates produced urease (46%), caseinase (28%), amylase (26%), lecithinase (8%) and cellulase (5%).

Conclusion

We detected that moderately halophilic bacteria on skins produced important enzymes, which may be used in diverse industrial applications in leather, feed, detergent, paper, food, chemical, medical, pharmaceutical, textile industries.
On Comparing Two Dependent Linear and Nonlinear Regression Models
Authors: Mahmoudi Mohammad Reza
Published: June 2018

Linear and nonlinear regression models are flexible methods of data analysis that may be appropriate whenever a quantitative response variable is to be examined in relationship to any other explanatory variables. This relationship can be expressed by different models and equations. In some fields, such as in agriculture, biology, hydrology, neural network, and psychology, researchers need to analyze whether the relationship between response variable and predictor variables differ in two fitted models on the same dataset. In other words, we are interested in the comparison of two regression models for a single dataset. In this article, we will use the nonparametric methods to establish hypothesis testing for the equality of two dependent regression models. Then, a simulation study is provided to investigate the performance of the proposed method. Also, the proposed method is applied to compare the different linear, quadratic, cubic, and exponential models that can be fitted on a real dataset.
Increasing Motor Noise Impairs Reinforcement Learning in Healthy Individuals
Authors: Therrien Amanda S. , Wolpert Daniel M. , Bastian Amy J.
Published: June 2018

Motor variability from exploration is crucial for reinforcement learning as it allows the nervous system to find new task solutions. However, motor variability from noise can be detrimental to learning and may underlie slowed reinforcement learning performance observed in individuals with cerebellar damage. Here we examine whether artificially increasing noise in healthy individuals slows reinforcement learning in a manner similar to that seen in patients with cerebellar damage. Participants used binary reinforcement to learn to rotate their reach angle in a series of directions. By comparing task performance between conditions with different levels of added noise, we show that adding a high level of noise—matched to a group of patients with cerebellar damage—slows learning. In additional experiments, we show that the detrimental effect of noise may lie in reinforcing incorrect behavior, rather than not reinforcing correct behavior. By comparing performance between healthy participants with added noise and a group of patients with cerebellar damage, we found that added noise does not slow the learning of the control group to the same degree observed in the patient group. Using a mechanistic model, we show that added noise in the present study matched patients’ motor noise and total learning. However, increased exploration in the control group relative to the group with cerebellar damage supports faster learning. Our results suggest that motor noise slows reinforcement learning by impairing the mapping of reward to the correct action and that this may underlie deficits induced by cerebellar damage.
Diagnosis and follow-up of type 2 diabetes in women with PCOS: a role for OGTT?
Authors: Andersen Marianne , Glintborg Dorte
Published: June 2018

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is common in premenopausal women. The majority of women with PCOS have insulin resistance and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is higher in women with PCOS compared to controls. In non-pregnant women with PCOS, glycemic status may be assessed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or HbA1c. OGTT has been reckoned gold standard test for diagnosing T2D, but OGTT is rarely used for diagnostic purpose in other non-pregnant individuals at risk of T2D, apart from PCOS. OGTT has questionable reproducibility, and high sensitivity of the 2-h glucose value is at the expense of relatively low specificity, especially regarding impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Furthermore, lean women with PCOS are rarely diagnosed with T2D and only few percent of normal-weight women have prediabetes. Glycemic status is necessary at diagnosis and during follow-up of PCOS, especially in women with high risk of T2D (obesity, previous gestational diabetes (GDM)). We suggest that OGTT should be used in the same situations in PCOS as in other patient groups at risk of T2D. OGTT is indicated for diagnosing GDM; however, OGTT during pregnancy may not be indicated in lean women with PCOS without other risk factors for GDM.
Activated-farnesoid X receptor (FXR) expressed in human sperm alters its fertilising ability
Authors: Malivindi R , Santoro M , De Rose D , Panza S , Gervasi S , Rago V , Aquila S
Published: June 2018

The farnesoid X receptor alpha (FXR) is a bile acid sensor activated by binding to endogenous bile acids including chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). Although, FXR is expressed in male reproductive tissue, the relevance of the receptor on reproduction is scarcely known. Here, we demonstrated the FXR presence and its action on several human sperm features. Western blot and immunofluorescence assays evidenced the FXR expression in human spermatozoa and the localisation in the middle piece. CDCA increasing concentrations and GW4064, synthetic ligand of FXR, were used to study the FXR influence on sperm motility, survival, capacitation, acrosome reaction and on glucose as well as lipid metabolism. Interestingly, our data showed that increasing concentrations of CDCA negatively affected sperm parameters, while the receptor blockage by (Z)-Guggulsterone and by the anti-FXR Ab reversed the effects. Intriguingly, elevated CDCA levels increased triglyceride content, while lipase and G6PDH activities were reduced with respect to untreated samples, thus impeding the metabolic reprogramming typical of the capacitated sperm. In conclusion, in this study, we demonstrated for the first time a novel target for FXR and that the activated receptor alters the acquisition of sperm fertilising ability. We showed that sperm itself express the FXR and it is responsive to specific ligands of the receptor; therefore, bile acids influence this cell both in male and in female genital tracts. It might be hypothesized that bile acid levels could be involved in infertility with idiopathic origin as these compounds are not systematically measured in men undergoing medically assisted procreation.
DESIGNING OPTIMAL FUZZY CONTROLLER FOR MRD-BASED TRAIN-CAR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS
Authors: Nguyen Dung Sy , Lam Bao Danh
Published: June 2018

Random time-varying chassis mass, which consists of passenger and cargo mass as well as the normalized wind force, causes reducing the effectiveness of smart vehicle suspensions. In order to deal with this, we develop a novel fuzzy-based dynamic inversion controller (FDIC) for the control of a train-car suspension system using a magneto-rheological damper (MRD) or MRDs. The FDIC is constituted of three main parts: i) an inverse MRD model (ANFIS-I-MRD) via a measured data set and an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), ii) a fuzzy-based sliding mode controller (FSMC) and iii) a disturbance and uncertainty observer (DUO). The FSMC is designed via the two following steps. The first one is to establish and optimize parameters of a sliding mode controller (SMC). The next is to design a fuzzy logic system to expand the ability of the SMC to face with the larger ranges of the load variation. The DUO is used to compensate for disturbance and uncertainty. By using the ANFIS-I-MRD and the control force estimated by the FDIC, current for the MRD at each time for stamping out chassis vibration is specified. The stability of the FDIC is analyzed via Lyapunov stability theory. Surveys shown that the FDIC could provide the improved control competence to reduce unwanted vibrations in an enlarged range of the varying chassis load.
Book review
Authors: Frost Matthew
Published: June 2018

Crossrail Project Infrastructure Design and Construction: Volume 4
Custo de exacerbações em pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica submetidos a um programa de reabilitação pulmonar
Authors: Dressler Garske Cristiane Carla , De Borba Schneiders Paloma , Gonçalves da Silva Andréa Lúcia , Carvalho Lisiane Lisboa
Published: June 2018

Justificativa e Objetivo: A exacerbação contribui na progressão da doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) e gera altos custos para o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Neste sentido nosso objetivo foi estimar o custo do SUS nas exacerbações dos portadores de DPOC em diferentes tempos de permanência no Programa de Reabilitação Pulmonar (PRP) do Hospital Santa Cruz (HSC). Metodologia: 32 prontuários de portadores de DPOC foram analisados através do sistema informatizado do HSC, de novembro a dezembro de 2015. Posteriormente foram estratificados conforme tempo de PRP: Grupo 1 (G1, n=4), ˂2 meses; Grupo 2 (G2, n=20), 2-12 meses; e Grupo 3 (G3, n=8), ≥12 meses. Resultados: Houve predominância do sexo masculino (n=19, 59,3%), idade adulta (63,5±6,9anos), VEF1 1,03±0,47l/min, %predito do VEF1 39,4±16,5%, e estadiamento severo da doença (n=14, 43,7%). Exacerbações moderadas (n=34) e graves (n=3) foram contabilizadas, totalizando gasto de R$7.030,78 para o SUS. Entretanto somente 2 indivíduos mantinham o hábito de fumar. O G3 apresentou-se menor na severidade da doença (n=2, 25%), taxa de exacerbação (n=3, 37,5%) e custos para o SUS (R$40,8±14,5). Conclusão: A redução da quantidade e severidade de exacerbações, bem como menores custos do SUS, estão diretamente relacionados com a maior permanência no PRP.
Bacteremia causada por Staphylococcus aureus: Uma análise de quinze anos da sensibilidade a antimicrobianos em um hospital terciário do Brasil
Authors: Duarte Felipe Crepaldi , Danelli Tiago , Ribeiro Maria Alice Galvão , Perugini Luis Felipe , Vespero Eliana Carolina , Carrara-Marroni Floristher Elaine , Pelisson Marsileni , Yamauchi Lucy Megumi , Yamada-Ogatta Sueli Fumie , Eches Perugini Marcia Regina
Published: June 2018

Justificativa e Objetivo: Infecções da corrente sanguínea por Staphylococcus aureus constituem uma das principais causas de morbidade e mortalidade em todo mundo. O tratamento de infecções por S. aureus é complicado pela elevada prevalência de resistência a antimicrobianos. Compreender a epidemiologia e os padrões de resistência deste microrganismo é um ponto crítico para a prescrição empírica adequada de antimicrobianos. Desta maneira, este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a evolução de resistência antimicrobiana de S. aureus num período de quinze anos. Metodologia: Foram analisados os testes de sensibilidade aos antimicrobianos de 720 S. aureus isolados de hemoculturas de um hospital terciário do sul do Brasil. Os dados foram obtidos do Sistema de Informação AGTA Healthcare, módulo LABHOS®. Resultados: A frequência média de S. aureus resistentes a meticilina foi de 43,74%. Com exceção de penicilina, ocorreu variação significativa da resistência para todos os antimicrobianos no período avaliado (< 0,001). Ciprofloxacina, Eritromicina e Clindamicina apresentaram os maiores índices de resistência com tendência de aumento. Surpreendentemente, Gentamicina e Sulfametoxazol-Trimetoprim apresentaram queda significativa nos percentuais de resistência. Analisando-se vancomicina do ano 2011 a 2015 pode-se evidenciar um aumento das concentrações inibitórias mínimas. Conclusão: Embora a resistência a antimicrobianos tenha aumentado nos quinze anos para a maioria dos antimicrobianos, para Sulfametoxazol-Trimetoprim e Gentamicina ocorreu redução significativa, indicando uma possível alteração clonal. Este estudo evidenciou, ainda, a emergência do fenótipo S. aureus intermediário a vancomicina.
Influence of land use on the condition of the riparian zone along an urban-rural gradient in the Sabinal River, Mexico
Authors: Díaz-Pascacio Erika , Ortega-Argueta Alejandro , Castillo-Uzcanga María Mercedes , Ramírez-Marcial Neptalí
Published: June 2018

Background: Riparian vegetation is strongly influenced by the surrounding land use. While it is known that urbanization processes can affect plant species composition and the ecological condition of the riparian zone, the specific responses require a fuller understanding.Hypothesis: The quality of riparian zones is inversely related to the degree of urbanization of adjacent areas, and that land uses that provide forest cover ensure a less degraded condition and greater diversity of species.Study site and year of study: Sabinal River basin, Chiapas, Mexico, 2015.Methods: Measures of the Riparian Quality Index (RQI) and plant species composition were compared among three different land use conditions (secondary forest, grasslands and crops, and human settlements). Results: Riparian zones adjacent to secondary forest showed higher RQI than those next to grasslands and crops and human settlements. Riparian zones within secondary forest also had a higher woody species richness and better substrate condition, whereas reaches adjacent to human settlements appeared paved and eroded, exhibiting soil compaction. Species richness and diversity were positively correlated to the RQI and were greater in riparian zones adjacent to secondary forest than in those next to human settlements.Conclusions: While grazing and cultivation affect the riparian zone, expansion of urban areas has a greater impact by reducing woody species richness and diversity, altering species composition and favoring soil compaction and bank erosion, which results in reduced riparian quality.
Pinguicula olmeca (Lentibulariaceae) una nueva especie del sur de México
Authors: Burelo-Ramos Carlos Manuel , Zamudio-Ruiz Sergio , González-Aguilar Marlon A.
Published: June 2018

Antecedentes: Como parte del proyecto Flora de Tabasco, en los años recientes se han explorado las regiones montañosas del sur del estado. Recientemente, en un cerro poco conocido en el extremo suroeste se encontró por primera vez una población de plantas del género Pinguicula .Pregunta: ¿Puede un análisis taxonómico crítico de caracteres morfológicos demostrar que la especie en cuestión no corresponde a ninguna de las entidades de Pinguicula antes descritas para México y Centroamérica?Taxón: Lentibulariaceae, Pinguicula sp. nov.Sitio de estudio: Ejido Villa de Guadalupe, municipio de Huimanguillo, TabascoMétodos: Se realizaron varias colectas de las plantas para elaborar muestras botánicas; posteriormente se realizó un análisis crítico de los caracteres morfológicos de las plantas colectadas y se compararon con las especies conocidas del sureste de México y Centroamérica para contrastarlas.Resultados: A partir del material colectado se describe Pinguicula olmeca como una especie nueva para la ciencia.Conclusiones: La nueva especie se ubica en la sección Orcheosanthus , dentro de ésta es parecida a P. moranensis y P. zecheri, pero se diferencia de éstas por producir un solo tipo de hojas durante todo el año y por tanto no forma rosetas de invierno, por el pedúnculo y cáliz glabros y por el espolón muy largo, tan largo como el pedúnculo o ligeramente más corto. Esta especie representa el primer registro del género Pinguicula para Tabasco.
The Yucatan Peninsula is the place of origin of sisal ( Agave sisalana , Asparagaceae): historical accounts, phytogeography and current populations
Authors: Trejo-Torres Jorge C. , Gann George D. , Christenhusz Maarten J.M.
Published: June 2018

Background . Agave sisalana  is a cultigen from Mexico. In 1833 it was brought to Florida by Henry Perrine as an experimental crop. From there it was introduced to tropical Africa and Asia in the late 19th Century, where it became established as a fiber crop. Paradoxically, in the Yucatan it meanwhile evanesced from its already scanty presence. Because material was collected from cultivated stock in Chiapas in the 1950s and a neotype from there was selected in 1988, it was assumed to have originated in Chiapas. Questions. Did  A. sisalana  originate in the Yucatan Peninsula following   Perrine (1838a, 1938b) rather than from Chiapas  sensu  Gentry (1988)?Studied species.   Agave sisalana  (sisal), one of the strongest natural fibers in the world and a commercially important crop.Study site and dates.   Live plants were located in the Yucatan between 2013–2017.Methods. We document historical and current presences of  A. sisalana  in the Yucatan Peninsula following three lines of evidence: 1) overlooked records and reports in literature; 2) herbarium specimens; and 3) presence of extant populations.Results.  Eleven localities in the Yucatan Peninsula still have extant populations of sisal. We uncovered herbarium specimens from the region, including an original specimen by Perrine, from Campeche, which is selected as the lectotype for the name, superseding the neotype from Chiapas.Conclusion. We demonstrate the continued presence of  Agave sisalana  in the Yucatan Peninsula, even though it has now become rare. It is most likely that the crop was first domesticated there.
Adult mouse kidney dissociation v2
Authors: Potter Andrew
Published: June 2018

Protocol for adult (8-10 week) mouse kidney dissociation.
Age dynamics of higher mental functions among the employees of law enforcement agencies
Authors: Kotelnikova D.A. , Pronicheva M.M. , Vasilchenko A.
Published: June 2018

The article presents the results of the research on the age dynamics of higher mental functions among the employees of law enforcement agencies. There was an assumption that the decrease in concentration of attention, visual and somatosensory gnosis and visual memory dominate in the structure of age-related changes in higher mental functions among employees of law enforcement agencies. The sample of the study was 68 soldiers aged from 19 to 41 years (mean age of the group 27 ± 4.78). The methodological complex included methods aimed to evaluate the function of gnosis (Recognition of the figures of Poppelreiter, Had's sampling, Copying of the drawing with a rotation of 180°, Posture transfer, Feeling of Ferster, Reproduction of rhythms), attention (Schulte's Tables, Bourdon's Correction Test) and memory (Memorization of two-valued numbers, the memorization of two semantic series, the test "5 figures"). It was revealed that, irrespective of age, the functional disorder of basal-frontal, "deep" structures and temporal divisions of the brain predominates in the entire sample. The structure of age-related changes is dominated by a decline in visual-spatial functions, changes in visual and somatosensory gnosis, as well as visual memory.
Psychological diagnostics in educational organizations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia
Authors: Ulyanina O.A.
Published: June 2018

The article considers one of the directions of psychological practice — diagnostics. Specific features of the realization of psychodiagnostics in the educational environment are described. The historical context of the development of psychodiagnostics in education is being studied. The urgency of the research of this area of psychological work, dictated by the need, on the one hand, in assessing the quality of educational services, on the other — searching and stimulating the intrapersonal resources of trainees, is substantiated. In this connection, there is a need to develop theoretical, methodological and conceptual approaches to the implementation of psychodiagnostic activity in education. The substantive and procedural aspects of psychodiagnostic activity in educational organizations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia are concretized. The advantages of the hardware-software psychodiagnostic complex "Multiplexer", used by psychologists of law enforcement bodies, are highlighted. The program of psychodiagnostics of personal and business qualities of cadets, designed for each year of training, is described. A personal profile of the future specialist is designed, which reflects the results of psychological support and diagnostics throughout the entire period of study.
The metaphor of the professional self-determination: the interrelationship of individual and personal characteristics, and vocational choice
Authors: Vachkov I. , Molchanova D.V.
Published: June 2018

The article presents the data of research of interrelation of professional self-determination and features of individual and personal characteristics of individuals on the example of the choice of the profession of “psychologist” in different age groups: high school students, psychology students and practitioners. Also considered the peculiarities of the choice of metaphors to describe the category of “Self” image” and “I'm a professional”. The study was done on a sample of 55 people using a set of three methods. Based on the results, it is concluded that some personal characteristics can indirectly affect professional self-determination. For example, “altruistic” people tend to choose “helping” professions, while those with high indicators on the scale of “Openness to new experience” are more suited to creatively oriented work. It is assumed that the relationship between the use of certain cognitive metaphors and professional choice determines some inclusion of images of different “Self” images” in the process of self-determination, but for the conclusions about the integration of personal and professional self-determination in cognitive metaphors further research is needed.
On the subject of legal psychology
Authors: Ilyina V.A.
Published: June 2018

The article discusses the debatable issues of legal psychology related to its subject. The problem of integration of legal and psychological knowledge as the basis of the subject area of research in legal psychology is studied. The solution of the problem of integration, in the author's opinion, is seen in the comprehension of the differentiation and interdisciplinary synthesis of knowledge about a man, prompting to explore and disclose in the mass of special descriptions of certain psychic phenomena that have developed in different psychological disciplines, that special that can be attributed to the discoveries of legal psychology. It is concluded that the mechanism of integration of legal and psychological knowledge consists in the search for patterns between legal and psychological phenomena. In this regard, it is proposed to consider the subject of legal psychology as the patterns that arise between legal and psychological phenomena, as well as the psychological mechanisms of the formation of new phenomena in the sphere of relations governed by law.