bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Percepção Ambiental da População Urbana Próxima ao Rio Buriti no Município de São Bernardo, MA
Authors: Amarante Jr Ozelito Possidônio de , Sousa Enio Oliveira Ferreira de , Brito Natilene Mesquita
Published: December 2015

A percepção ambiental tem sido empregada como base para projetos de Educação Ambiental, pois identifica relações existentes entre seres humanos e ambiente. Reconhecer essas relações é importante para descobrir as causas de impactos ambientais. O município de São Bernardo/MA,  sofre vários impactos ambientais, principalmente sobre o Rio Buriti, que banha esse município e é considerado um recurso hídrico importante. Este trabalho de percepção ambiental identificou as relações entre a comunidade e o rio, gerando resultados que poderão embasar futuras pesquisas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a percepção ambiental da população que vive mais próxima ao rio. Para isso, foi aplicado um questionários a 199 moradores. Os resultados sugeriram uma percepção ambiental mais adequada dos participantes do que o esperado, pois muitos apontaram causas e soluções coerentes para a problemática ambiental.

Palavras-chave: Percepção ambiental. Aspectos socioambientais.  Ribeirinhos.
Os reflexos do efeito antrópico sobre o ambiente nas percepções de estudantes das séries finais do ensino fundamental
Authors: Proença Mariana De Souza , Dal-Farra Rossano André , Oslaj Eduardo Ubel
Published: December 2015

Nas últimas décadas a preocupação com o efeito antrópico e seus reflexos sobre o ambiente tem sido intensificada, gerando inúmeros debates em torno dos conceitos de sustentabilidade ambiental e especialmente em relação ao impacto advindo da urbanização, da indústria, da agricultura e da introdução de espécies exóticas no ambiente. Com esse enfoque, este estudo apresenta os resultados obtidos com 151 alunos de ensino fundamental que participaram de uma prática educativa relacionada com as espécies nativas e exóticas e os possíveis prejuízos à biodiversidade das ações do ser humano analisadas sob a perspectiva da CTSA. Os resultados indicaram que uma parcela elevada dos alunos desconhecia os possíveis impactos da agricultura e de forma mais ampla, da introdução de espécies exóticas no ambiente, demandando uma maior atenção a esse aspecto na Educação Ambiental e no Ensino de Ciências.

Palavras-chave: Educação Ambiental. Ensino de Ciências.  Ensino Fundamental.  Espécies nativas.  Espécies exóticas.
Sobre Precarização, Flexibilização e Intensificação do Trabalho do Educador Ambiental: Percursos na Formação e na Atuação Profissional
Authors: Piccinini Cláudia Lino
Published: December 2015

Considerando-se o conceito de trabalho na perspectiva da economia e da sociologia do trabalho, vamos analisar trajetórias profissionais e de formação - inicial e continuada - a partir de narrativas baseadas nas memórias de profissionais de educação ambiental. Buscamos relacionar escolhas profissionais, necessidades de amplificação da qualificação e inserção no mundo do trabalho. Ocorre que, em diversos casos, amplia-se a capacidade de realizar trabalho, através do aumento da especialização. Conclui-se que no transcurso de formação e de exercício profissional ocorrem diversas mudanças no tipo de trabalho realizado – educação não formal/formal – nos setores privado/público, trabalho voluntário/trabalho assalariado, ampliação dos loci de atuação, acúmulo de funções com  intensificação das jornadas de trabalho, precarização e flexibilização das relações de trabalho, dentre outras.

Palavras-chave: Trabalho. Qualificação. Educação Ambiental.
A formação do educador ambiental em debate: uma perspectiva interdisciplinar sobre o perfil deste profissional
Authors: Beling Loose Eloisa , Giacomini Martínez Joyde , Priori Gonçalves Lívia , Giacomitti Renata , Duarte Valéria , Knechtel Maria Do Rosário
Published: December 2015

A partir de leituras e discussões sobre os significados da crítica ao profissionalismo, da importância da criatividade no processo educativo e de diferentes abordagens sobre a educação ambiental, este texto busca discutir a necessidade e o público da formação de educadores ambientais. As autoras deste trabalho provêm de campos de conhecimentos diferentes, mas encontram, na interface entre educação e meio ambiente, um ponto comum que lhes motiva a pensar sobre quem pode e deve trabalhar com a educação ambiental, assim como quais os aspectos que devem ser considerados e incorporados nesse processo. Ao final, propõem-se princípios para uma educação ambiental transformadora, que modifique, de fato, a perspectiva dos indivíduos em relação com o meio que os cerca.

Palavras-chave: Formação de educadores. Princípios da educação ambiental. Educação ambiental.
Two Open-Ended, Experiential Learning Cases In Accounting
Authors: Fuglister Jayne , Stegmoyer Matthew , Castrigano Renee
Published: December 2015

The rapidly changing environment in international business provides an excellent opportunity for instructors to design timely, adaptable, experiential learning, and open-ended cases. This paper presents and discusses how to prepare and use two such cases in the areas of bank accounting and international accounting.  The cases can be offered and re-offered until the subjects are no longer relevant or interesting.  The structured spreadsheets are easily adapted to other topics for other times and other classes, not just accounting classes.  These two cases have been used in online courses as well as traditional courses.
Dodging Dysfunctional Dynamics In Power Exchange
Authors: Boyd David P.
Published: December 2015

In today’s organizations, the impetus for employee empowerment remains strong.  By developing an internal talent base, companies increase the likelihood of comprehensive contributions and also engender loyalty within the ranks.  A proclivity for power dispersion is evident among many pundits, with some even decreeing it an ethical mandate.  Yet, if rashly executed, empowerment can result in dire outcomes for the individual and dysfunctional consequences for the firm.  Through reference to the medium of film, this paper portrays four situations where empowerment efforts have gone awry, accentuating employee estrangement and eroding corporate ethics.  Because the behavioral dynamics of film are frozen in time and thus susceptible to recursive scrutiny, students can glean institutional insights that will facilitate career advancement.  Just as important, they will confront value conflicts that impel them to clarify their own ethical stance.
Cheating In Business Schools, The Millennial Generation, Gender And Racial Diversity: Has The Paradigm Shifted
Authors: Mathison David L.
Published: December 2015

Cheating in college is not new.  In 1960 over 50 percent of students admitted they cheated.  In the second decade of the 21st century has anything changed?  This research project looked at three possible new variables, the Millennial Generation, Gender, and Diversity.  Results suggest the amount of reported cheating remains the same even with current “Gen Yers” in college.  There was also no measured difference in cheating between men and women students.  Finally, the present study found that Asian-Americans admitted to cheating far more than the average and Latino-Americans reported to have cheated in college far less than the average current students in college.  This paper concludes with the following three implications: 1) Current college undergraduates, “the Millennial Generation,” may actually be more ethical as measured in this study than their Boomer Parents.  2) Women and graduates as measured in this study may be more prone to college cheating than women students in the past—trends of a new post-feminist generation?  3) Finally, diversity and the core values embedded in America’s individual subcultures, such as Asian and Hispanic, appear to significantly influence ethical choices of today’s college students—diversity within the melting pot?
Percepção de lesões musculares em praticantes de musculação em academias com e sem supervisão de fisioterapeuta: uma análise custo-efetividade
Authors: Castro Antonio A. M. , Guerino Raqueli Pasini Zeilinger , Ferreira Taise Keller , Portes Leslie Andrews , Porto Elias Ferreira
Published: December 2015

Avaliar a incidência de lesões percebidas pelos praticantes de treinamento resistido com pesos, a presença do fisioterapeuta em espaços comerciais e determinar custos relacionados. Procedimentos básicos: em amostragem por conveniência avaliou-se 19 academias da região sul de São Paulo/SP comparando-se os resultados em áreas da classe C2 (G1) e A2 (G2) e academias com fisioterapeuta (CF) e sem (SF). Um questionário de autopreenchimento foi aplicado a 19 proprietários e 176 usuários. Resultados mais importantes: Do G1, 68% dos alunos realizaram análise postural e 80% do G2 (p=0,0093). Obteve-se que 75% dos alunos não perceberam lesão, contudo há mais lesões percebidas no G2 (24,7%) que no G1 (12%) (p=0,05). Fisioterapeutas atuam em 31,57% das academias. Destes, 83,33% pertencem ao G2; porém apenas 22,7% dos alunos sabem de sua presença; dos que não sabem, 60% perceberam lesão (p=0,0054). Nas academias SF a percepção é de 11,1% e CF 29,1% (p=0,0037). No G1 e SF o custo da mensalidade é aproximadamente 50% menor que nos outros grupos. Apenas 2,8% da amostra se importam com aumento do custo e 64,8% gostariam da assistência do fisioterapeuta. Principais conclusões: a percepção de lesões é baixa, porém, no SF é menor que no CF devido à falta de identificação destas. Há poucos fisioterapeutas atuando em academias de musculação e os alunos gostariam de sua presença. Academias do G2 e CF são mais caras, contudo na visão dos alunos isso é custo-efetividade.
Exposição da equipe de enfermagem ao estresse no ambiente de trabalho na unidade de urgência e emergência
Authors: Camponês Diego Lurentt , Corsi Ivone , Loli Patrícia de Azevedo , Lima Danilo Tavares de
Published: December 2015

Identificar as características do estresse na equipe de enfermagem atuante em unidade de urgência e emergência; detectar os Diagnósticos de Enfermagem; e elaborar um Plano Teó­rico de Enfermagem para Autocuidado. Para tanto se utilizou de um questionário autoaplicável, baseado na Escala Job Stress Scale, com 30 profissionais. Foram detectados Diagnósticos de Enfermagem de Risco e elaborado Projeto de Autocuidado, respectivamente segundo a North American Nursing Diagnosis Association e Carpenito-Moyet. Quanto aos resultados obtidos, na demanda de trabalho, para 96,7% dos 30 participantes, frequentemente o trabalho era realizado com muita rapidez sendo bem intenso. No controle de trabalho, para 93,3%, o mesmo exigia habilidades e conhecimentos especializados. No apoio social, 73,4% discordavam totalmente ou discordavam mais do que concordavam que o ambiente de trabalho era calmo e tranquilo. As considerações foram que, para a maioria dos participantes: o tempo era insuficiente para cum­prir todas as tarefas, apesar da muita rapidez de suas realizações; ocorriam exigências discor­dantes ou contraditórias dos supervisores, raramente podiam escolher o que fazer no trabalho, e obtinham a compreensão dos colegas, com os quais gostavam de trabalhar. Os Diagnósticos de Enfermagem de Risco identificados foram: Padrão de Sono Prejudicado, Síndrome de Estres­se, Tensão do Papel do Cuidador, Ansiedade e Conflito de Decisão.
Standardised survey method for identifying catchment risks to water quality
Authors: Baker D. L. , Ferguson C. M. , Chier P. , Warnecke M. , Watkinson A.
Published: December 2015

This paper describes the development and application of a systematic methodology to identify and quantify risks in drinking water and recreational catchments. The methodology assesses microbial and chemical contaminants from both diffuse and point sources within a catchment using Escherichia coli, protozoan pathogens and chemicals (including fuel and pesticides) as index contaminants. Hazard source information is gathered by a defined sanitary survey process involving use of a software tool which groups hazards into six types: sewage infrastructure, on-site sewage systems, industrial, stormwater, agriculture and recreational sites. The survey estimates the likelihood of the site affecting catchment water quality, and the potential consequences, enabling the calculation of risk for individual sites. These risks are integrated to calculate a cumulative risk for each sub-catchment and the whole catchment. The cumulative risks process accounts for the proportion of potential input sources surveyed and for transfer of contaminants from upstream to downstream sub-catchments. The output risk matrices show the relative risk sources for each of the index contaminants, highlighting those with the greatest impact on water quality at a sub-catchment and catchment level. Verification of the sanitary survey assessments and prioritisation is achieved by comparison with water quality data and microbial source tracking.
Evaluation of Arteriosclerosis Using the Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity in Patients with Visceral Lesion-Free Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Characterized by Skin Lesions
Authors: Maruyama Kimiko , Ikeda Takaharu , Tanaka Katsunori , Furukawa Fukumi
Published: December 2015

Recently, the cardio-/cerebrovascular lesion-related mortality rate has been high in patients with systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE). In these patients, the risk of cardio-/cerebrovascular lesions is also higher than in the general
population. Cardio-/cerebrovascular lesions may occur during long-term follow-up. In this study, we evaluated
arteriosclerosis using the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in visceral lesion-free SLE patients with skin
lesions. In these patients, baPWV was higher than in healthy adults even at a young age. This suggests that baPWV is a
possible tool to evaluate the patient’s vascular function, which was difficult to evaluate using a conventional sera
arteriosclerosis index. Even when conditions are characterized by skin lesions, it may be important to consider the
influence on the cardio-/cerebrovascular systems, as indicated for patients with systemic symptoms.
Consequences of the affective turn: Exploring music practices from without and within
Authors: Atanasovski Srdjan
Published: December 2015

In this paper I explore the challenges of the ?affective turn? and map new
avenues of music research in this direction. I discuss four paths of enquiry,
in deviation from the semiotic models: the discovery of the non-signified
materiality and its potentiality to generate affects, the potentiality of
affect to de-signify, the ability of sign machines to catalyse the production
of intensities and, finally, the power of social machines to overcode the
produced affect through non-discursive mechanisms. I argue that the affective
turn in musicology can provide a different structuring of a view from without
and a view from within, calling both for finely tuned ?close reading? and for
the ability of the researcher to grasp the performative context.
The coexistence of older and newer two-part folk singing in the village of Prekonoga (Southeastern Serbia) as an example of bimusicality
Authors: Dumnic Marija
Published: December 2015

This paper deals with two different styles of rural folk singing in
Southeastern Serbia which coexisted in the repertoire of a particular folk
group. It is interesting that folk singing in the area of Svrljig can be
followed through the ethnomusicological publications with music
transcriptions from 1931 up to 2011 and it is vital even today. The
characteristics of the older two-part singing style typical for this region
are explored, as well as those of the newer two-part singing widespread after
World War Two. These styles are chronologically compared and specifically
presented through the analysis of (personal) field recordings of the group
?Prekonoga? who carried both traditions. This characteristic of the group is
considered in relation to the concept of bimusicality.
The Evolution of the Polymerase Chain Reaction to Diagnose Childhood Infections
Authors: Rogers Beverly Barton
Published: December 2015

Children's healthcare has evolved over the years, and the pediatric laboratory has contributed to the clinical understanding of childhood disease through the application of new technology and knowledge. This article highlights the evolution of PCR technology to aid in the diagnosis of pediatric infections, from the discovery of the PCR, through the subsequent years when the clinical need exceeded the capability of the technology, until the current day, when application of the PCR is becoming commonplace.
Pleuropulmonary Blastoma: Evolution of an Entity as an Entry into a Familial Tumor Predisposition Syndrome
Authors: Dehner Louis P. , Messinger Yoav H. , Schultz Kris Ann P. , Williams Gretchen M. , Wikenheiser-Brokamp Kathryn , Hill D. Ashley
Published: December 2015

Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is the most common primary malignant neoplasm of the lung in children. Like other solid dysontogenic neoplasms, this tumor typically presents before 7 years of age. The earliest manifestation is the presence of a lung cyst(s), which is usually recognized in the first year of life and is difficult to differentiate on the basis of imaging studies from nonneoplastic cysts of early childhood. From a multilocular cyst, PPB has the potential to progress to a high-grade multipatterned primitive sarcoma. More than 65% of all affected children have a heterozygous germline mutation in DICER1. The DICER1 PPB familial tumor predisposition syndrome is initially recognized in most cases on the basis of PPB alone but also by several other unique and characteristic extrapulmonary tumors, including pediatric cystic nephroma, nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma, nodular lesions of the thyroid, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the cervix, and ciliary body medulloepithelioma.
Use of Support Vector Machines to Assign Short-Term Counts to Seasonal Adjustment Factor Groups
Authors: Tsapakis Ioannis , Schneider William H.
Published: December 2015

The traditional method of estimating annual average daily traffic (AADT) involves several steps, with the most critical being the assignment process that involves allocating short-term counts to groups of seasonal adjustment factors (SAFs). The accuracy of AADT estimates highly depends on the assignment step, which is subject to errors stemming from human judgment. Support vector machines (SVMs), a supervised learning and statistical method, are employed to construct a series of assignment models that are compared with the traditional method and discriminant analysis (DA) models. Traffic volume data obtained from permanent traffic recorders are used to train and validate the models. The analysis is conducted with SAFs calculated for each direction of travel and separately for two-way traffic. The results reveal that the Gaussian kernel-based SVM model yields the lowest errors, improving AADT accuracy by 65% and decreasing the standard deviation of absolute percentage error by 73.7% over the traditional method. Another finding is that the assignment errors of the directional volume-based analysis are lower than those of the total volume-based analysis by 41.8%. The comparison between the two model parameters examined—the average daily traffic and the hourly factors—indicates that the combined use of both parameters in SVMs is more effective than when hourly factors are used alone. However, in the case of DA, the opposite results are obtained. A possible explanation is that the SVM kernels transfer data from the input space to a feature space and thus provide the ability to assign counts effectively with different types of data within the same model.
Determination and Application of Standard K Factors for Bicycle Traffic
Authors: Esawey Mohamed El , Mosa Ahmed Ibrahem
Published: December 2015

This research is concerned with the calculation and application of the design hour factor, also known as the K factor, for bicycle traffic. Two variations of the K factor were developed. The first variation was referred to as Kp/d and was calculated as the ratio between the peak hour volume and the total daily volume. The second variation was referred to as Kp/AADB and was computed as the ratio of the daily peak hour volume to the annual average daily bicycle volume (AADB). An application was presented on how to use the developed K factors to calculate the AADB, and the estimation accuracy of using the two variations of the K factor was assessed. Five groups of the K factors were calculated according to different criteria. The results showed that the Kp/d factors classified by groups of similar links, weekdays and weekends, and year led to the best results where the average estimation error of the daily bicycle volume was about 16.6%. Furthermore, the use of the best set of K p/d factors along with daily and monthly adjustment factors for the estimation of the AADB value led to an average estimation error of 28.3%. Conversely, the set of Kp/AADB factors classified by weekdays and weekends, month, and year led to the lowest estimation error with an average of 28.9%. The paper provides insights on the selection of data collection days and months, which could improve the design of data collection programs of bicycle traffic.
Walking Access to Transit Stations
Authors: Tilahun Nebiyou , Li Moyin
Published: December 2015

The last-mile problem refers to challenges that travelers experience in accessing transit stations from their activity locations. The objective of this study was to find the contributing factors that reduced people's propensity to walk and take transit. A stated preference study was conducted in the Chicago, Illinois, area with an online survey composed of questions based on the actual travel experience of the respondents. The data were used to estimate a logit choice model. The findings showed that access time, safety from crime, and sidewalk availability were important factors that influenced people's choice to walk to transit. The model was used to estimate time-based values associated with reduction in crime and sidewalk availability. The study also estimated the propensity to walk and use transit for a representative resident in each tract of the Chicago metropolitan area. These values were then used to identify census tracts where acute to minimal barriers to walking to transit existed. In addition to suburban areas that were not well suited for walking to transit, the results identified areas that were well served by transit but had other barriers that inhibited walking access to transit.
Improving Regenerative Energy Receptivity in Metro Transit Systems
Authors: Tang Haichuan , Dick C. Tyler , Feng Xiaoyun
Published: December 2015

Algorithms for current automatic train operation (ATO) focus mainly on reducing the mechanical energy of motion for a single train within an existing timetable. However, the reuse of regenerative energy is another factor that contributes to energy consumption and conservation in multitrain networks. To improve regenerative energy receptivity and energy savings in a bidirectional metro transit network, this study formulated a coordinated train control algorithm that was based on genetic algorithm techniques. The energy saving potential of different station departure time intervals between two opposing trains (synchronization time) was tested. Simulation on the Visual C++ platform demonstrated that the algorithm could provide an optimal train speed profile with better energy performance while also satisfying operational constraints. Different synchronization times have different optimization ratios. This research was another step to facilitate the development of an ATO control algorithm that considers overall energy consumption. Increased knowledge of the influence of synchronization time at stations on energy consumption in regenerative multitrain networks will also aid in the design of more energy-efficient timetables.
Transit Performance of Modern-Era Streetcars
Authors: Ramos-Santiago Luis Enrique , Brown Jeffrey R. , Nixon Hilary
Published: December 2015

This study examined the transit performance of streetcars in five U.S. cities: Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; and Tampa, Florida. The study documented strong and weak performing streetcars and identified the factors that might explain variation in streetcar performance. Portland emerged with the highest ridership and was the most productive and second-most cost-effective streetcar city. Portland's stronger transit performance was attributed to its local setting and to its planning and operating decisions, which emphasized the streetcar's role as a transportation investment and development tool. This approach contrasted with the other cities, where development and tourism objectives were the dominant factors in streetcar decision making.
Impacts of Moving-Block Signaling on Technical Efficiency
Authors: Canavan Shane , Graham Daniel J. , Melo Patricia C. , Anderson Richard J. , Barron Alexander S. , Cohen Judith M.
Published: December 2015

This study tested the effect of introducing moving-block signaling on the technical efficiency of urban metro rail systems. The study used a panel data set of 27 urban metro systems across 20 countries for 2004 to 2012. When moving-block signaling was considered as a treatment, the effect of the associated benefits on output efficiency levels was able to be measured. Stochastic frontier analysis was employed to estimate technical efficiencies for each metro, and then propensity score matching was applied to evaluate the effect of the type of signaling on technical efficiency. The study allowed the selection of appropriate reference groups and accounted for confounding factors. The study is novel in its provision of empirical evidence of this nature. The results indicate that the technical efficiency of a metro can be improved by 11.5%.
Modeling Passenger Behavior in Nonpayment Areas at Rail Transit Stations
Authors: Liao Mingjun , Liu Gang
Published: December 2015

The nonpayment area at urban transit stations in China usually becomes extremely crowded during peak hours because many passengers queue to buy tickets and pass through the fare gates. How to evaluate the performance of these activities is a critical issue for the design and management of the nonpayment area. This study used microscopic simulation models to investigate passenger behavior in the nonpayment area. The study developed a queue choice model, a passenger movement model, and a path navigation model. Some new ideas were involved. First, the study introduced the concepts of dynamic queue length and dynamic distance between the current passenger and alternative queues into the queue choice model. Second, a new factor, called direction of goal, was proposed to navigate a passenger through the dynamic end of a queue or other goals. This factor was used to construct the transition probability function of a cellular automata model. Finally, the proposed models were calibrated and verified on the basis of a field survey and sensitivity analysis. The results show that the proposed models can capture passenger behaviors in the nonpayment area and perform well for queue estimation.
Cucurbitacin B inhibits proliferation, induces G2/M cycle arrest and autophagy without affecting apoptosis but enhances MTT reduction in PC12 cells
Authors: Wu Chuanhong , Bao Jiaolin , He Chengwei , Lu Jinjian , Chen Xiuping
Published: December 2015

In the present study, the effect of cucurbitacin B (a natural product with anti-cancer effect) was studied on PC12 cells. It significantly reduced the cell number, changed cell morphology and inhibited colony formation while MTT results showed increased cell viability. Cucurbitacin B treatment increased activity of succinode hydrogenase. No alteration in the integrity of mem-brane, the release of lactic dehydrogenase, the mitochondrial membrane potential, and the expression of apoptotic proteins suggested that cucurbitacin B did not induce apoptosis. The cell cycle was remarkably arrested at G2/M phase. Furthermore, cucurbitacin B induced autophagy as evidence by accumulation of autophagic vacuoles and the increase of LC3II. In addition, cucurbitacin B up-regulated the expression of p-beclin-1, p-ULK1, p-Wee1, p21 and down-regulated p-mTOR, p-p70S6K, CDC25C, CDK1, Cyclin B1. In conclusion, cucurbitacin B inhibited PC12 proliferation but caused MTT pitfall. Cucurbitacin B induced G2/M cell cycle arrest, autophagy, but not the apoptosis in PC12 cells.

 
Ameliorative effect of Aegle marmelos leaves extract against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress
Authors: Ahmad Rizwan , Mujeeb Mohd. , Ahmad Aftab , Anwar Firoz
Published: December 2015

The methanolic extract of Aegle marmelos leaves was evaluated against cisplatin-induced renal toxicity in rats. Rats were divided into 5 groups: Group 1 received normal saline (1 mL, p.o.) for 15 days; Group II received single dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg, i.p.) on day 15 and normal saline (1 mL, p.o.) for 15 days; Group III, IV and V were pretreated with extract at  doses of 100, 300, 600 mg/kg, p.o., respectively for 15 days followed by single dose of cisplatin on day 15. The blood was collected on the day 16. The urea, creatinine, uric acid, sodium, potassium levels in the serum/blood and TBARS, reduced glutathione (GSH), sueroxide dismutase, catalase in tissue homogenate of kidneys were analyzed. The extract at all doses significantly ameliorated the changes in the serum parameters and decreased the elevated level of TBARS and increased the reduced level of GSH, sueroxide dismutase, catalase. The A. marmelos extract was found to possess nephroprotective and anti-oxidant activities.

 
Oculr Imaging
Authors: Rahman Md Zahedur , Ahmed Jalal
Published: December 2015

Abstract not availableJ Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2014; 32: 110-111
Personalized Medicine in Cancer
Authors: Rahman Md Mizanur
Published: December 2015

Current and emerging biomedical science efforts are driven by determining how to improve clini-cal outcomes for patients. High-throughput tech-nology has revolutionized the area of transla-tional research, confirming the high complexity and heterogeneity of common diseases, partic-ularly cancer. Therefore, moving from classic single-gene-based molecular investigation to molecular network research might result in dis-covering clinical implications faster and more efficiently .Molecular characterization of tumour cells enables refinement of classifications for many cancers and can sometimes guide treatment. Malignant diseases are no longer classified only by tumour site and histology but are separated into various homogenous molecular subtypes, distinguished by a presumed key molecular alteration. Therapies for patients with cancer have changed gradually over the past decade, moving away from the administration of broadly acting cytotoxic drugs towards the use of more-specific therapies that are targeted to each tumour. To facilitate this shift, tests need to be developed to identify those individuals who require therapy and those who are most likely to benefit from certain therapies. In particular, tests that predict the clinical outcome for patients on the basis of the genes expressed by their tumours are likely to increasingly affect patient management, heralding a new era of personalized medicine. In this review a brief discussion on definition and molecular aspects of personalized medicine and its practical application for the management of common solid cancers are highlighted.J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2014; 32: 153-163
A Young Male with Abdominal Distension and Per Rectal Bleeding
Authors: Afroj Roksana , Hossain AZM Mostaque , Khan Mohammad Ashraf Uddin , Alam SM Syeed Ul
Published: December 2015

Abstract not availableJ Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2014; 32: 178
Offset-Assisted Factored Solution of Nonlinear Systems
Authors: Ruiz-Oltra José , Gómez-Quiles Catalina , Gómez-Expósito Antonio
Published: December 2015

This paper presents an improvement to the recently-introduced factored method for the solution of nonlinear equations. The basic idea consists of transforming the original system by adding an offset to all unknowns. When searching for real solutions, a real offset prevents the intermediate values of unknowns from becoming complex. Reciprocally, when searching for complex solutions, a complex offset is advisable to allow the iterative process to quickly abandon the real domain. Several examples are used to illustrate the performance of the proposed algorithm, when compared to Newton’s method.
Opinion of Belgian Egg Farmers on Hen Welfare and Its Relationship with Housing Type
Authors: Stadig Lisanne , Ampe Bart , Van Gansbeke Suzy , Van den Bogaert Tom , D’Haenens Evelien , Heerkens Jasper , Tuyttens Frank
Published: December 2015

As of 2012, the EU has banned the use of conventional cages (CC) for laying hens, causing a shift in housing systems. This study’s aim was to gain insight into farmers’ opinions on hen health and welfare in their current housing systems. A survey was sent to 218 Belgian egg farmers, of which 127 (58.3%) responded, with 84 still active as egg farmer. Hen welfare tended to be less important in choosing the housing system for farmers with cage than with non-cage systems. Respondents currently using cage systems were more satisfied with hen health than respondents with non-cage systems. Reported mortality increased with farm size and was higher in furnished cages than in floor housing. Feather pecking, cannibalism, smothering and mortality were perceived to be higher in current housing systems than in CC, but only by respondents who shifted to non-cage systems from previously having had CC. Health- and production-related parameters were scored to be more important for hen welfare as compared to behavior-related parameters. Those without CC in the past rated factors relating to natural behavior to be more important for welfare than those with CC. This difference in opinion based on farmer backgrounds should be taken into account in future research.
Adolescent Pornography Use and Dating Violence among a Sample of Primarily Black and Hispanic, Urban-Residing, Underage Youth
Authors: Rothman Emily , Adhia Avanti
Published: December 2015

This cross-sectional study was designed to characterize the pornography viewing preferences of a sample of U.S.-based, urban-residing, economically disadvantaged, primarily Black and Hispanic youth (n = 72), and to assess whether pornography use was associated with experiences of adolescent dating abuse (ADA) victimization. The sample was recruited from a large, urban, safety net hospital, and participants were 53% female, 59% Black, 19% Hispanic, 14% Other race, 6% White, and 1% Native American. All were 16–17 years old. More than half (51%) had been asked to watch pornography together by a dating or sexual partner, and 44% had been asked to do something sexual that a partner saw in pornography. Adolescent dating abuse (ADA) victimization was associated with more frequent pornography use, viewing pornography in the company of others, being asked to perform a sexual act that a partner first saw in pornography, and watching pornography during or after marijuana use. Approximately 50% of ADA victims and 32% of non-victims reported that they had been asked to do a sexual act that their partner saw in pornography (p = 0.15), and 58% did not feel happy to have been asked. Results suggest that weekly pornography use among underage, urban-residing youth may be common, and may be associated with ADA victimization.
Ultrasonography of the Kidney: A Pictorial Review
Authors: Hansen Kristoffer , Nielsen Michael , Ewertsen Caroline
Published: December 2015

Ultrasonography of the kidneys is essential in the diagnosis and management of kidney-related diseases. The kidneys are easily examined, and most pathological changes in the kidneys are distinguishable with ultrasound. In this pictorial review, the most common findings in renal ultrasound are highlighted.
Double Blind Peer-Review in Humanities
Authors: Rittman Martyn , Classen Albrecht
Published: December 2015

Pre-publication peer-review forms the basis of how scholarly journals assess whether an article is suitable for publication. [...]
Statistical Validation of a Web-Based GIS Application and Its Applicability to Cardiovascular-Related Studies
Authors: Lee Jae , Sung Jung , Malouhi Mohamad
Published: December 2015

Purpose: There is abundant evidence that neighborhood characteristics are significantly linked to the health of the inhabitants of a given space within a given time frame. This study is to statistically validate a web-based GIS application designed to support cardiovascular-related research developed by the NIH funded Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Translational Research Network (RTRN) Data Coordinating Center (DCC) and discuss its applicability to cardiovascular studies. Methods: Geo-referencing, geocoding and geospatial analyses were conducted for 500 randomly selected home addresses in a U.S. southeastern Metropolitan area. The correlation coefficient, factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha (α) were estimated to quantify measures of the internal consistency, reliability and construct/criterion/discriminant validity of the cardiovascular-related geospatial variables (walk score, number of hospitals, fast food restaurants, parks and sidewalks). Results: Cronbach’s α for CVD GEOSPATIAL variables was 95.5%, implying successful internal consistency. Walk scores were significantly correlated with number of hospitals (r = 0.715; p < 0.0001), fast food restaurants (r = 0.729; p < 0.0001), parks (r = 0.773; p < 0.0001) and sidewalks (r = 0.648; p < 0.0001) within a mile from homes. It was also significantly associated with diversity index (r = 0.138, p = 0.0023), median household incomes (r = −0.181; p < 0.0001), and owner occupied rates (r = −0.440; p < 0.0001). However, its non-significant correlation was found with median age, vulnerability, unemployment rate, labor force, and population growth rate. Conclusion: Our data demonstrates that geospatial data generated by the web-based application were internally consistent and demonstrated satisfactory validity. Therefore, the GIS application may be useful to apply to cardiovascular-related studies aimed to investigate potential impact of geospatial factors on diseases and/or the long-term effect of clinical trials.
PVT1 Exon 9: A Potential Biomarker of Aggressive Prostate Cancer?
Authors: Ilboudo Adeodat , Chouhan Jyoti , McNeil Brian , Osborne Joseph , Ogunwobi Olorunseun
Published: December 2015

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer as well as the greatest source of cancer-related mortality in males of African ancestry (MoAA). Interestingly, this has been shown to be associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms around regions 2 and 3 of the 8q24 human chromosomal region. The non-protein coding gene locus Plasmacytoma Variant Translocation 1 (PVT1) is located at 8q24 and is overexpressed in PCa and, therefore, is also a candidate biomarker to explain the well-known disparity in this group. PVT1 has at least 12 exons that make separate transcripts which may have different functions, all of which are at present unknown in PCa. Our aim was to determine if any PVT1 transcripts play a role in aggressiveness and racial disparity in PCa. We used a panel of seven PCa cell lines including three derived from MoAA. Ribonucleic acid extraction, complementary deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were performed to evaluate expression of all 12 PVT1 exons. Each qPCR was performed in quadruplicates. At least four separate qPCR experiments were performed. Expression of PVT1 exons was inconsistent except for exon 9. There was no significant difference in exon 9 expression between cell lines derived from Caucasian males (CM), and an indolent cell line derived from MoAA. However, exon 9 expression in the aggressive MDA PCa 2b and E006AA-hT cell lines derived from MoAA was significantly higher than in other cell lines. Consequently, we observed differential expression of exon 9 of PVT1 in a manner that suggests that PVT1 exon 9 may be associated with aggressive PCa in MoAA.
Racial and Ethnic Heterogeneity in the Association Between Total Cholesterol and Pediatric Obesity
Authors: Holmes Laurens , LaHurd Alex , Wasson Emily , McClarin Lavisha , Dabney Kirk
Published: December 2015

Total cholesterol (TC) directly correlates with overweight/obesity, but it remains unclear if this association varies by race and ethnicity. We assessed the association as well as the racial/ethnic heterogeneity in this relationship. Data on 63,863 children were assessed using electronic medical records between 2010 and 2011. A cross-sectional design was utilized with log-binomial regression model and chi-squared statistic to examine the data. Overall, abnormal total cholesterol (ATC) was 7.5% (4812). Significant racial variability in ATC was observed: Black/African American (AA) (7.4%), White (7.0%), Asian (5.1%) and some other race (SOR) children (11.3%), χ2 (5) = 141.5, p < 0.0001. Black/AA (34.7%) and SOR children (41.2%) were predominantly overweight/obese, unlike the Asian children, (25.8%), χ2 (5) = 324.6, p < 0.0001. The BMI percentile was highest among SOR (69.0 ± 28.6) and Black/AA children (65.2 ± 29.1), but lowest among Asian children (55.7 ± 31.5). A significant racial variability was also observed in weight, with the highest mean among Black/AA children (36.8kg ± 23.0) and the lowest among Asian children (28.7kg ± 16.8), f = 7.2, p < 0.001. Relative to normal TC, children with ATC were 2.6 times as likely to have abnormal BMI, relative risk (RR) =2.60, 99% CI, 2.54–2.68). Compared to non-Hispanic (RR = 2.62, 99% CI, 2.54–2.69), the risk was lower among Hispanics (RR = 2.34, 99%, 2.21–2.48). Among children with ATC, risk for abnormal BMI was highest among Asians, adjusted RR = 2.91, 99% CI, 2.34–3.62), intermediate among AA (ARR = 2.68, 99% CI, 2.59–2.77), but lowest among Whites (ARR = 2.40, 99% CI, 2.39–2.64), and SOR (ARR = 2.33, 99% CI, 2.19–2.50). In a large sample of children, total cholesterol directly correlates with BMI, with an observed racial and ethnic heterogeneity.
Hot Spot Mutation in TP53 (R248Q) Causes Oncogenic Gain-of-Function Phenotypes in a Breast Cancer Cell Line Derived from an African American patient
Authors: Shtraizent Nataly , Matsui Hiroshi , Polotskaia Alla , Bargonetti Jill
Published: December 2015

African American (AA) breast cancer patients often have triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) that contains mutations in the TP53 gene. The point mutations at amino acid residues R273 and R248 both result in oncogenic gain-of-function (GOF) phenotypes. Expression of mutant p53 (mtp53) R273H associates with increased cell elasticity, survival under serum deprivation conditions, and increased Poly (ADP ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) on the chromatin in the AA-derived TNBC breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468. We hypothesized that GOF mtp53 R248Q expression could stimulate a similar phenotype in the AA-derived TNBC cell line HCC70. To test this hypothesis we depleted the R248Q protein in the HCC70 cell line using shRNA-mediated knockdown. Using impedance-based real-time analysis we correlated the expression of mtp53 R248Q with increased cell deformability. We also documented that depletion of mtp53 R248Q increased PARP1 in the cytoplasm and decreased PARP1 on the chromatin. We conclude that in the AA-derived TNBC HCC70 cells mtp53 R248Q expression results in a causative tumor associated phenotype. This study supports using the biological markers of high expression of mtp53 R273H or R248Q as additional diagnostics for TNBC resistant subtypes often found in the AA community. Each mtp53 protein must be considered separately and this work adds R248Q to the increasing list of p53 mutations that can be used for diagnostics and drug targeting. Here we report that when R248Q mtp53 proteins are expressed in TNBC, then targeting the gain-of-function pathways may improve treatment efficacy.
The Genetic Diversity and Evolution of HIV-1 Subtype B Epidemic in Puerto Rico
Authors: López Pablo , Rivera-Amill Vanessa , Rodríguez Nayra , Vargas Freddie , Yamamura Yasuhiro
Published: December 2015

HIV-1 epidemics in Caribbean countries, including Puerto Rico, have been reported to be almost exclusively associated with the subtype B virus (HIV-1B). However, while HIV infections associated with other clades have been only sporadically reported, no organized data exist to accurately assess the prevalence of non-subtype B HIV-1 infection. We analyzed the nucleotide sequence data of the HIV pol gene associated with HIV isolates from Puerto Rican patients. The sequences (n = 945) were obtained from our “HIV Genotyping” test file, which has been generated over a period of 14 years (2001–2014). REGA subtyping tool found the following subtypes: B (90%), B-like (3%), B/D recombinant (6%), and D/B recombinant (0.6%). Though there were fewer cases, the following subtypes were also found (in the given proportions): A1B (0.3%), BF1 (0.2%), subtype A (01-AE) (0.1%), subtype A (A2) (0.1%), subtype F (12BF) (0.1%), CRF-39 BF-like (0.1%), and others (0.1%). Some of the recombinants were identified as early as 2001. Although the HIV epidemic in Puerto Rico is primarily associated with HIV-1B virus, our analysis uncovered the presence of other subtypes. There was no indication of subtype C, which has been predominantly associated with heterosexual transmission in other parts of the world.
Services in the Field of Law within the Internal Market: Promoting e-Justice through Interoperability
Authors: Carullo Gherardo
Published: December 2015

The paper addresses the problem of intra-European services provided to professionals in the legal sector. Through a brief overview of the main services that are or may be offered in the internal market in this field, the author identifies the lack of interoperability as one of the most critical barriers currently preventing effective intra-community competition. The author wonders to what degree and under which rules of the treaties a European intervention could be justified and, therefore, what purposes could be pursued through European legislation. The author analyses the rail transport sector to assess if, and to what degree, existing barriers to entry could be reduced and innovation could be fostered by defining certain standards at a European level for the interoperability of IT systems in the field of law. In particular, the example of the rail sector is analyzed to determine the degree to which the solutions already in place for the “telematics applications for the passenger services subsystem” could be replicated in the context of the services addressed by the paper. In conclusion, the author suggests that addressing the issues of interoperability in the legal services sector could be a useful first step towards the digitalization of the internal market, as advocated by the Commission in its recent Communication on the digital single market.
Soy Isoflavones and Breast Cancer Cell Lines: Molecular Mechanisms and Future Perspectives
Authors: Uifălean Alina , Schneider Stefanie , Ionescu Corina , Lalk Michael , Iuga Cristina
Published: December 2015

The potential benefit of soy isoflavones in breast cancer chemoprevention, as suggested by epidemiological studies, has aroused the interest of numerous scientists for over twenty years. Although intensive work has been done in this field, the preclinical results continue to be controversial and the molecular mechanisms are far from being fully understood. The antiproliferative effect of soy isoflavones has been commonly linked to the estrogen receptor interaction, but there is growing evidence that other pathways are influenced as well. Among these, the regulation of apoptosis, cell proliferation and survival, inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis or antioxidant properties have been recently explored using various isoflavone doses and various breast cancer cells. In this review, we offer a comprehensive perspective on the molecular mechanisms of isoflavones observed in in vitro studies, emphasizing each time the dose-effect relationship and estrogen receptor status of the cells. Furthermore, we present future research directions in this field which could provide a better understanding of the inner molecular mechanisms of soy isoflavones in breast cancer.