bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic factors for the outcome of nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in MEN1: a systematic review of literature
Authors: Sadowski S M , Pieterman C R C , Perrier N D , Triponez F , Valk G D
Published: March 2020

Metastatic duodenopancreatic neuro-endocrine tumors (dpNETs) are the most important disease-related cause of death in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). Nonfunctioning pNETs (NF-pNETs) are highly prevalent in MEN1 and clinically heterogeneous. Therefore, management is controversial. Data on prognostic factors for risk stratification are limited. This systematic review aims to establish the current state of evidence regarding prognostic factors in MEN1-related NF-pNETs. We systematically searched four databases for studies assessing prognostic value of any factor on NF-pNET progression, development of distant metastases, and/or overall survival. In- and exclusion, critical appraisal and data-extraction were performed independently by two authors according to pre-defined criteria. Thirteen studies (370 unique patients) were included. Prognostic factors investigated were tumor size, timing of surgical resection, WHO grade, methylation, p27/p18 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC), ARX/PDX1 IHC and alternative lengthening of telomeres. Results were complemented with evidence from studies in MEN1-related pNET for which data could not be separately extracted for NF-pNET and data from sporadic NF-pNET. We found that the most important prognostic factors used in clinical decision making in MEN1-related NF-pNETs are tumor size and grade. NF-pNETs <2 cm may be managed with watchful waiting, while surgical resection is advised for NF-pNETs ≥2 cm. Grade 2 NF-pNETs should be considered high risk. The most promising and MEN1-relevant avenues of prognostic research are multi-analyte circulating biomarkers, tissue-based molecular factors and imaging-based prognostication. Multi-institutional collaboration between clinical, translation and basic scientists with uniform data and biospecimen collection in prospective cohorts should advance the field.
LncRNA profile in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and potential function of NONHSAT079547.2
Authors: Luo Jingyi , Liu Tingting , Teng Weiping
Published: March 2020

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is a common organ-specific autoimmune disease, which develops in 0.3–1.5/1000 subjects annually. The aims of this study were to determine the lncRNA profile in peripheral blood CD4+ T cells from HT patients and then to characterize the potential function of NONHSAT079547.2. A total of 37 HT patients and 50 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were enrolled for high-throughput sequencing. Another 43 HT patients and 50 sex- and age-matched controls were enrolled for validation via real-time PCR. Flow cytometry and CCK8 assays were used to measure cell apoptosis and growth levels. Western blotting was used for measuring the expression of growth- and apoptosis-associated proteins. IL-17 serum concentration and transcriptional level in CD4+ T cells of participants were detected by ELISA and real-time PCR, respectively. The mechanism of competitive endogenous RNA was determined using real-time PCR, ELISA, RNA immunoprecipitation, and dual-luciferase assays in Jurkat cells. A total of 7564 significantly differentially expressed lncRNAs were found, of which 3913 lncRNAs were upregulated and 3651 lncRNAs were downregulated in HT group when compared to control group. NONHSAT079547.2 was significantly upregulated in HT patients and was positively correlated with serum thyroid peroxidase antibody level. Further studies confirmed that NONHSAT079547.2 could promote cell growth and control IL-17 expression and secretion via the NONHSAT079547.2/miR-4716-5p/IL-17 axis.This is the first study to describe the lncRNA profile in CD4+ T cells of HT patients. The studies on the function of NONHSAT079547.2 might elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and represent potential biomarkers for HT.
Frezlerle Ve Sonik Uçlarla Basamaklı Kole Preparasyonu Yapılmış Dişlerin Yüzey Pürüzlülüğünün Karşılaştırmalı Olarak Araştırılması
Authors: TAMAÇ Ece , TOMAN Muhittin , TOKSAVUL Suna
Published: March 2020

Amaç: Bu in
vitro çalışmanın amacı, sadece döner aletlerde kullanılan normal gren boyutlu
elmas frezlerle prepare edilen dişlerin yüzey pürüzlülüğü ile döner aletlerde
kullanılan normal gren boyutlu elmas frezler + özel ultra sonik uçlar
kullanılarak prepare edilen dişlerin yüzey pürüzlülüğünü karşılaştırmaktır.

Gereç ve Yöntemler: 20 adet yeni çekilmiş, çürüksüz molar diş bu çalışma için
seçilerek döner aletlerde kullanılan normal gren boyutlu elmas frezlerle
prepare edilmiştir. Bu dişlerin içinden 10 tanesi seçilerek bu dişlerin
preparasyonları özel ultrasonik uçlarla bitirilmiş ve böylece ikinci bir grup
oluşturulmuştur. Bu işlemlerin  ardından
yüzey pürüzlülüğünün kaydı yapılmıştır. Yüzey pürüzlüğü Ra (yüzey profilinin
aritmetik ortalaması) ve Rz (yüzey pürüzlülük profilinin en yüksek beş noktası
ve en düşük beş noktası arasındaki dikey mesafe) gibi farklı parametreler
kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir.

Bulgular:
Ra parametre değerlerine göre, sadece döner aletlerde kullanılan normal gren
boyutlu elmas frezlerle prepare edilen 
grup dişlerin yüzey pürüzlülüğü, sonik aletlerle preparasyonu düzeltilen
grupa göre istatistiksel olarak daha yüksek bulunmuştur (p=0.002). Rz parametre
değerlerine göre ise, bu iki grubun yüzey pürüzlülük değerleri arasında
istatiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmamıştır (p>0.05).

Sonuçlar: Bu
çalışmanın sınırları dahilinde diş preparasyonunun özel ultrasonik uçlarla
bitirilmesinin daha pürüzsüz diş yüzeylerinin elde edilmesinde etkili olduğu
tespit edilmiştir. Ancak yüzey profilindeki en yüksek 5 nokta ile en derin 5
nokta arasındaki ortalama mesafenin (Rz) her iki grup için de benzer olduğu
görülmüştür.

 

Anahtar kelimeler:
ultrasonikler, dental aletler, diş preparasyonu
Application of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients with Scrub Typhus Complicated with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Liao Xiaozu , Cheng Zhou , Wang LIqiang , Xu Ziqiang , Zheng Qiuyue , Chen Rui , Wu Guisen , Li Binfei
Published: March 2020

A 68-year-old woman was diagnosed with scrub typhus and acute pneumonia. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurred on day 4 after admission and was treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). After 7 days of ECMO assistance, her respiratory condition gradually improved, and ECMO was removed. On day 20 after admission, she was discharged without any sequelae. The results suggest that ECMO should be considered as early as possible for patients with ARDS caused by scrub typhus.
Liderazgo y comportamiento innovador del trabajador en personal administrativo de una institución educativa
Authors: Prieto Antolines Maycoll , Contreras Francoise , Espinosa Juan C.
Published: March 2020

El propósito de este estudio fue describir las prácticas de liderazgo que percibe un grupo de 145 empleados respecto a su jefe inmediato y estimar si éstas guardan relación con su comportamiento innovador en el trabajo. El estudio se realizó en una institución de educación superior con funcionarios del área administrativa que pertenecían al mismo departamento. Para esto, se utilizó la Escala de Liderazgo para la Innovación (Innovational Leadership Scale [ils-15]) de Contreras, Espinosa y Dornberger (2019) y la Escala de Comportamiento Innovador en el Trabajo de Janssen (2000). Ambos cuestionarios mostraron altos niveles de confiabilidad (coeficientes alfa de Cronbach superiores a .90). De acuerdo con los resultados, se observa un nivel medio de desarrollo en las dos variables estudiadas. Así mismo, se observó que los empleados con mayor comportamiento innovador perciben un mayor liderazgo para la innovación en sus jefes. Estos hallazgos contribuyen a la formación de líderes que fomenten la innovación en las organizaciones y muestran la necesidad de continuar estudiando este estilo de liderazgo en las empresas colombianas en relación con el comportamiento innovador de sus trabajadores a fin de contribuir al desarrollo de organizaciones más adaptables a las circunstancias cambiantes del entorno.
Violencia de Género en Estudiantes Universitarias Madres de la Sede de Occidente- UCR, durante el periodo 2011-2012
Authors: Piñeiro Ruiz Doris
Published: March 2020

Este artículo es el resultado de una investigación cualitativa, cuyo fin es exponer los tipos de violencia por género que las estudiantes madres afrontan en diferentes escenarios, como lo es el familiar, educativo y de pareja, y algunas estrategias de empoderamiento que deben asumir para poder cumplir con su derecho a la educación superior. Sobre estos tipos de violencia menos visibles, más aceptadas y menos cuestionadas, se va a reflexionar, especialmente en: la violencia física, psicológica, sexual, económica e institucional, vividas por parte de las estudiantes universitarias madres en el contexto familiar, de pareja, e institucional. Para ello se trabajó con una población de ocho estudiantes madres que recibieron los servicios de la Casa Infantil Universitaria de la Sede de Occidente (CIUSO), de la Universidad de Costa Rica, durante el periodo 2011- 2012. De ahí que, se consideró importante traer a colación un tema que estaba siendo invisibilizado y ausente en las investigaciones anteriores efectuadas por el área de Ciencias Sociales, en esta Sede Universitaria.

Para ello, se utilizó el enfoque cualitativo, porque fue de vital importancia en el proceso de recolección y análisis de la información, ya que con este se pudo comprender las diversas estrategias de empoderamiento, tanto a nivel individual como colectivas que las estudiantes universitarias madres desarrollaron para enfrentar la situación de violencia y poder iniciar o reanudar sus estudios superiores.

Los resultados obtenidos mostraron la presencia de violencia de género en sus distintas manifestaciones. logrando determinar, además, que en la población objeto de estudio estuvo presente tanto, el empoderamiento social como el político, pues existía una mezcla de capacidades individuales, talento y voluntad en cada una de ellas y fue gracias a esos atributos personales que lograron esfuerzos colectivos.
The chloroplast localization of protease mediated by the potato rbcS signal peptide and its improvement for construction of photorespiratory bypasses
Authors: YAO Zhen , SHEN Boran , YANG Xiulan , LONG Minhui
Published: March 2020

Location of the proteases would affect on protease stability and photorespiratory bypass pathway, while it is unsolved. Potato rbcS signal peptide was analyzed and constructed into the protease for study of their localization site. The tartronate semialdehyde reductase (EcTSR) proteins could be accurately and efficiently located in chloroplast only when this signal peptide was extended to 80 amino acids. The signal peptide would help malate synthase (CmMS) locate to the surface of chloroplast, to form granules on the outer membrane of chloroplast. The whole spectrum scanning showed that these proteins could enter chloroplast. A signal peptide named PCS1 (Peptide of self-cleavage site 1) carrying a self-cleavage site was designed, and sixteen amino acids from the blue pigment precursor protein of chloroplast positioning signal of Silene pratensis were added to the C-terminal of PCS1. Transient expression, Western blot analysis and full-spectrum scanning showed that PCS1 could locate the EcTSR to the chloroplast, after the removal of the signal peptide.
Seed priming as a promising technique to improve growth, chlorophyll, photosynthesis and nutrient contents in cucumber seedlings
Authors: ANWAR Ali , YU Xianchang , LI Yansu
Published: March 2020

Seed priming is a technique to improve seed germination, seedlings growth, uniformity and yield. The, present study was designed to, investigate the physiological mechanism of seed priming with GA3 and KNO3 on cucumber seedlings growth, chlorophyll, photosynthesis and nutrients uptake. The cucumber seeds were treated as; CK; control, T1; GA3 100 ppm, T2; GA3 200 ppm, T3; KNO3 1%, T4; KNO3 5%, before seed sowing. The results showed that seed priming with GA3 and KNO3 significantly increased the plant height, fresh and dry weight and strong seedling index. Moreover, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, chlorophyll a+b, carotenoid contents, net photosynthesis rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr) and intercellular CO2 concentration in seed priming seedlings. In addition, seed priming significantly enhanced leaf macro and micro nutrient contents. Additionally, among various treatments GA3 200 ppm and KNO3 5% are found best. These results suggested that seed priming with GA3 and KNO3 synergistically promoted the chlorophyll contents, photosynthesis and nutrients uptake in cucumber seedlings, thus leading to improve plant growth.
Effect of exogenous gibberellin on endogenous hormone and ginkgolide content in Ginkgo leaves
Authors: ZHANG Xian , ZHU Jun , CHENG Shuiyuan , ZHANG Wei-Wei , XU Feng , LIAO Yongling
Published: March 2020

Ginkgolide is one of the important secondary metabolites of Ginkgo biloba. The synthesis of plant secondary metabolites is influenced by exogenous phytohormones. In this study, ten-year-old ginkgo grafted seedlings were used as the test material, and the effects of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mmol L–1 gibberellin (GA3) on endogenous indole acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), GA3, and ginkgolide contents in ginkgo leaves were investigated. Results showed that exogenous GA3 treatment inhibited endogenous GA3, changed the contents of endogenous IAA and ABA in ginkgo leaves, and affected the accumulation of secondary metabolite ginkgolides. Among the given concentrations, the 4 mmol L–1 GA3 treatment could remarkably increase ginkgolide content. We found that the best harvesting period of ginkgo leaves were in late August and late September, in which the content of ginkgolides was the highest.
Influence of ammonium and moisture on survival and nifH transcription in the diazotrophic Pseudomonas mendocina S10
Authors: SHARMA Sushma , SINGH Dileep K.
Published: March 2020

Nitrogen is important for crop productivity and usually added in form of urea into the soil which negatively affects the environment. It is important to utilize nitrogen fixing bacteria for improving the nitrogen content of soil in India. Here, we have isolated nitrogen fixing-bacteria Pseudomonas mendocina S10 from rhizospheric soil and studied its nitrogenase activity along with its survival under sterile soil conditions. Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC) PCR and Real-time quantitative PCR were employed to investigate the population and nifH transcripts level respectively in presence of ammonium and moisture additives. Strain S10 was capable of growth and expressing nifH transcripts in the presence of 2.5 mM ammonium and 20 percent water availability. Population of isolated strain and it’s nifH mRNA was found at low levels when exposed to 5 mM ammonium for 60 days of incubation period. However, viable bacterial count and nifH transcript levels remained low in the presence of 1.25 mM ammonium and zero percent water content. These findings indicate that isolated strain could tolerate ammonium up to 5 mM for 60 days and can maintained their cell viability in low moisture conditions. Results revealed the advantage of using gene expression to evaluate the physiological state of microorganism’s population in soil.
Effect of vacuum pressure on Yamú fish (Brycon amazonicus) meat during cold storage
Authors: Valbuena Daniel Castañeda , Chacón Sandy Luz Ovando , Torregroza-Espinosa Ana Carolina , Mahecha Héctor Suárez
Published: March 2020

Abstract This study aimed to assess the cryoprotectant effect of vacuum packaging (35 and 45 kPa) on cold preserved (0 °C and -18 °C) fillets of Yamú (Brycon amazonicus), during 5 days of storage. We analyzed the physicochemical and microbiological changes in the fillets during storage time. Yamú’s water holding capacity, nitrogenated bases content (TVB-N) and texture (N) were affected (p ≤ 0.05) by time and temperature. Bacterial colonies in fillets did not represent a risk for human health after five days of storage. In conclusion, vacuum packing positively (p ≤ 0.05) reduces the effect of cold over Yamú fillets properties.
Estudio de los parámetros de freído sobre las propiedades fisicoquímicas de una botana hecha de harinas de maíz, chicharo y salvado de avena
Authors: Arriola-Guevara Enrique , Gudiño-García Dafnne Monserrat , Prado-Ramírez Rogelio , Mondragón-Cortez Pedro Martín , Corona-González Rosa Isela , Guatemala-Morales Guadalupe María
Published: March 2020

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la temperatura y tiempo de freído sobre las propiedades fisicoquímicas: porcentaje de humedad, H; cambio neto de color, ΔE; contenido de grasa, G; índices de absorción, IAA; solubilidad en agua, ISA; densidad aparente, DA; y dureza, D, de un alimento frito tipo botana preparado con una mezcla de harinas de maíz nixtamalizado (HMN), harina de chícharo (HC) y salvado de avena (SA), hidratada al 47%. El estudio mostró que DA y H disminuyeron, mientras que ΔE e IAA se incrementaron con el aumento de la temperatura y el tiempo de freído. Los cambios en ISA y D resultaron estadísticamente no significativos. El análisis de componentes principales, mostró que el 83% de la variabilidad de los datos se puede explicar debido a dos componentes: temperatura (56%) y tiempo (28%). El análisis sensorial mostró que la botana elaborada a 165 °C y 198 s obtuvo mayor aceptación, resultando un alimento con alto contenido de proteína y bajo contenido de grasa.
Lack of Association Between Radiographic Tumor Burden and Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Advanced Lung Cancer
Authors: Popat Vinita , Lu Rong , Ahmed Murtaza , Park Jason Y. , Xie Yang , Gerber David E.
Published: March 2020

Background

Historically, tumor burden has been considered an impediment to efficacy of immunotherapeutic agents, including vaccines, stem cell transplant, cytokine therapy, and intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin. This effect has been attributed to hypoxic zones in the tumor core contributing to poor T-cell infiltration, formation of immunosuppressive stromal cells, and development of therapy-resistant cell populations. However, the association between tumor burden and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors is unknown. We sought to determine the association between radiographic tumor burden parameters and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced lung cancer.

Materials and Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with advanced lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Demographic, disease, and treatment data were collected. Serial tumor dimensions were recorded according to RECIST version 1.1. Associations between radiographic tumor burden (baseline sum of longest diameters, longest single diameter) and clinical outcomes (radiographic response, progression-free survival, and overall survival) were determined using log-rank tests, Cox proportional-hazard regression, and logistic regression.

Results

Among 105 patients, the median baseline sum of longest diameters (BSLD) was 6.4 cm; median longest single diameter was 3.6 cm. BSLD was not associated with best radiographic, progression-free survival, or overall survival. In univariate and multivariate analyses, no significant associations were observed for the other radiographic parameters and outcomes when considered as categorical or continuous variables.

Conclusion

Although tumor burden has been considered a mediator of efficacy of earlier immunotherapies, in advanced lung cancer it does not appear to affect outcomes from immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Implications for Practice

Historically, tumor burden has been considered an impediment to the efficacy of various immunotherapies, including vaccines, cytokines, allogeneic stem cell transplant, and intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin. However, in the present study, no association was found between tumor burden and efficacy (response rate, progression-free survival, overall survival) of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced lung cancer. These findings suggest that immune checkpoint inhibitors may provide benefit across a range of disease burden, including bulky tumors considered resistant to other categories of immunotherapy.
Overexpression of cytochrome P450 genes in Aphis gossypii (Glover) in the cotton fields of the Çukurova region, Turkey
Authors: Ulusoy Selçuk
Published: March 2020

Aphis gossypii Glover, 1877 (Hemiptera: Aphididae), which is a polyphagous species, is among the main pests of the cotton plants in the whole world. The Çukurova region is an area where polyculture agriculture activities are carried out. While insecticides in the neonicotinoid group are prevalently used in the cotton fields in this region for controlling A. gossypii, the problem of resistance is frequently encountered. This study determined the relative expression levels of the CYP6CY22 and CYP6CY13 genes, cytochrome P450, acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme activities in six different populations of A. gossypii collected in 2018 from cotton fields in the province of Adana in Southern Turkey. In comparison to the reference culture, there was an increase in gene regulation by 81.9 fold in the CYP6CY22 gene in the Hamitbey population and by 6 fold in the CYP6CY13 gene in the Gazipaşa population. Additionally, the Hamitbey population showed 4.3 times higher (0.74 U/ml) cytochrome P450 enzyme activity. The Çiftlikler population showed 5.9 fold higher AChE (0.82 U/ml) and 4.3 fold higher GST (2.68 U/ml) activities. The analyses revealed that the A. gossypii populations were exposed to high amounts of insecticides. Consequently, overexpressed genes, high levels of enzyme activities and metabolic resistance in based on cytochrome P450 activity were observed in the study.
Adana ekolojik koşullarında Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead) (Acari: Phyllocoptidae)’nın popülasyon gelişmesi
Authors: Satar Serdar , Tiring Gülsevim , İşpınar Dindar , Yayla Miraç
Published: March 2020

Turunçgil pas böcüsü Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Acari: Phyllocoptidae) turunçgil meyve ağaçlarının önemli bir zararlısıdır. Bu çalışmada P. oleivora’nın popülasyon yoğunluğu 2013-2015 yılları arasında Çukurova Üniversitesi’ndeki (Balcalı-Adana) bir portakal bahçesinde yürütülmüştür. Rastgele seçilen 10 ağaçtan 10 yaprak, 1 meyve ve 1 ince dal örneği toplanmıştır. Örnekler nisan-ocak ayları arasında haftalık olarak alınırken ocak-nisan ayları arasında ise iki haftada bir alınmıştır. Bu çalışmanın sonucunda ilk bireyler temmuz ayında gözlemlenmiştir. P. oleivora’nın yaprak üzerindeki en yüksek popülasyonu 57.25 adet olarak ağustos ayında sayılmıştır. Yaprak üzerindeki son bireyler her iki yılda ocak ayında saptanmıştır. Bu akarın meyve üzerindeki en yüksek popülasyonu ağustos ayında gözlemlenmiştir. Meyve üzerindeki son bireyler her iki yıl içinde kasım ve aralık ayı arasında sayılmıştır. Dal üzerindeki en yüksek popülasyon 72.13 olarak ocak ayının ilk haftasında gözlemlenmiştir. P. oleivora’nın dal üzerindeki popülasyonu mayıs ayından sonra azalmıştır. Ayrıca P. oleivora’nın popülasyonunun hafif yağışlı günlerden sonra arttığı, çok soğuk ve yağışlı günlerden sonra ise azaldığı gözlemlenmiştir. P. oleivora’nın kışlama alanı dallar olarak gözlemlenmiştir. Ayrıca çalışma sırasında avcı akar olarak Amblyseius swirskii, Euseius scutalis ve E. stipulatus Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) türleri saptanmıştır. Yüksek P. oleivora popülasyonunda düşük avcı akar popülasyonu gözlemlenmiştir.
Use of Nonlinear Dynamic Motivational Strategies to Manage L2 Academic Entitlement and Psychological Reactance
Authors: Bahari Akbar
Published: March 2020

Expanding the dynamicity and nonlinearity of L2 motivation introduced by Bahari (2019a) based on the complex dynamics systems theory has served as the theoretical framework to introduce and contextualize nonlinear dynamic motivational strategies (NDMSs). The present study used the NDMSs to manage L2 academic entitlement and psychological reactance as two obstructive factors in the L2 learning-teaching process. For conceptualization purposes, a mixed methods approach was conducted among teachers as well as learners to examine the effectiveness of proposed strategies as a pedagogical tool to manage and minimize these obstructive factors in academic contexts. The observed effectiveness of the NDMSs at managing and minimizing the analyzed obstructive factors along with replacing teacher-centered and test-oriented L2 classrooms with a learner-friendly motivating L2 classroom has significant pedagogical and theoretical implications. The major finding of the study following a rigorous methodological triangulation of the data that was collected confirms the effectiveness of the NDMSs as an L2 teaching strategy to cater to the diversity of individual differences for the purpose of improving teacher-learner interactions. Drawing on the results, it can be safely concluded that the NDMSs as the independent variable of the study showed significant impact on managing and minimizing academic entitlement and psychological reactance.
Factors Preventing in-service University English Language Teachers from Becoming Action Researchers in Pakistan
Authors: Syed Hassan
Published: March 2020

Research suggests that TR enables classroom teachers to address their classroom-specific problems without having to rely too heavily on published research. However, despite the fact that TR narratives of language teachers have increased lately, there is still need for studies investigating the perceptions of university English language (EL) teachers about TR, and exploring the factors affecting their engagement with TR in culturally diverse contexts. The current study was designed to explore the perceptions of university EL practitioners about the factors that inhibit or encourage them to engage in TR in a university context in Pakistan. Data were obtained from fifteen EL teachers from four public sector universities through semi-structured interviews. Results show that teachers appeared to possess only simplistic knowledge of research as an activity aimed at finding something new. While a majority admitted to have done no research, even the engagement of others who claimed to have done some research seemed sporadic and less than systematic. The main factors responsible for teachers’ dis-engagement from TR included academic culture, management’s attitude, power relations between senior and junior faculty, workload, lack of monetary benefits, and large classes. A number of implications have also been discussed.
Developmental Performance Ranking of SAARC Nations: An Application of TOPSIS Method of Multi-Criteria Decision Making
Authors: Narayan Neeraj , Singh Kaushalendra Kumar , Srivastava Ujjaval
Published: March 2020

To be developed, nations are trying to cope up with the fast-changing economy and technology of the world. But the development of a nation does not depend only on these two factors rather several other indicators are essential to a country’s development. The present study deals with the progress of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries towards development through social, economic and environmental stability. This study aims at analyzing the comparative developmental performance of the SAARC nations in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this study, we have prioritized the 8 SAARC nations based on 4 indicators (economic, demographic, health and environment indicators) and 20 variables using the multi-criteria decision-making method (MCDM). The result showed that Sri Lanka has prioritized 1st followed by Bhutan. India has been ranked 4th and Afghanistan was least prioritized.
Huddle Up! Exploring Domestic Coalition Formation Dynamics in the Differentiated Politicization of TTIP
Authors: Gheyle Niels
Published: March 2020

The politicization of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) has manifested itself to different extents across EU Member States. In some countries, conflicting interpretations about the deal were highly visible in public and political debates, while in others there was hardly any awareness. To further understand this phenomenon, trade scholars have to date not yet deepened nor leveraged the insights of the ‘differentiated politicization’ and social movement literature, which both point to coalition formation as an important trigger of politicization processes. This article contributes to our understanding of variation in politicization across EU Member States, by exploring coalition formation dynamics in differentiated politicization processes, in order to identify the factors facilitating successful domestic coalition formation. Through an exploratory case study design, I focus on three countries that exemplify high, middle, and low politicization cases: Germany, Belgium, and Ireland. By relying on the testimonies of campaigners active during the TTIP episode, I identify three elements that facilitated the formation of a diverse domestic coalition, which subsequently played an important role in pushing for a broad-based debate about the implications of TTIP: (i) an expert ‘mesomobilization’ link with a transnational advocacy network, (ii) the prior availability of domestic alliances, and (iii) an inclusive framing approach in order to establish a diverse coalition. The findings also underline the importance of timing in the unfolding of (successful) politicization processes.
Politicization and Regional Integration in Latin America: Implications for EU–MERCOSUR Negotiations?
Authors: Bianculli Andrea C.
Published: March 2020

Regional integration in Latin America has experienced different periods of politicization. The most recent goes back to the 2000s and is related to the domestic political changes resulting from the so-called ‘left turn’ which sought alternative economic and development policies to neoliberalism as the state regained centrality. These transformations led to a broad process of politicization of regionalism which changed the terms of the debate surrounding whether regional integration and free trade are the only way for these countries to integrate regionally and internationally. Analyses have thus underscored the postliberal character of this phase of regionalism as reflected in the greater weight of social and political agendas at the expense of economic and trade issues. The Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) was no exception to this trend. However, in 2010 the bloc rather surprisingly agreed to relaunch negotiations with the European Union (EU). Why did MERCOSUR decide to resume these negotiations—stalled since 2004—in a context of high politicization of regional integration? This article argues that internal politicization did not lead to a paralysis of the international agenda. Moreover, internal politicization, coupled with external pressures and the demand for group-to-group negotiations by the EU, drove and supported the conduct of international negotiations. In so doing, this article also contests the idea that after the 2000s, MERCOSUR moved inexorably towards a postliberal model, thus rejecting any trade component. Findings suggest that these accounts may have overemphasized change and underestimated continuities in regional integration dynamics as the case of the external agenda shows.
Being from a Bad Neighbourhood: Confronting Bad Decision Discourses in the Impoverished Inner City
Authors: Bisaillon Laura , Hassan Mehdia , Hassan Maryam
Published: March 2020

This article confronts mainstream discourses about poverty and inner city poor neighbourhoods. It argues that the ways that poverty and poor inner city neighbourhoods are made publicly known in writing and through visual representations present problems such as overpowering structural causes of health and illness, reifying false dichotomy of us and them, and normalizing people living in poverty or working poor people as de facto vulnerable. This can happen when the social relations that govern poverty and sustain human suffering eschew the social relations that produce these experiences. Taking these relations as the objects of analysis, this article focuses sociologically on the Dundas/Sherbourne neighbourhood in Toronto, Canada, as the terrain of inquiry. The aim here is to contribute to analyses of the political, social, and economic determinants of health as well as to critiques of bad-neighbourhood and bad decision discourses. To do this, it bridges visual practice with critical social analysis: drawing together the authors’ individual practices as visual artists, marshaling their social positions as residents of the adjacent St. James Town neighbourhood, and sharing their experiences of the Dundas/Sherbourne area. They employ insights from sensory ethnography and street photography to offer an alternative source of knowledge about the poor inner city that contrasts and contests mainstream ways of knowing these same spaces.
El Precedente Administrativo en Colombia: Un Estudio a su Naturaleza Jurídica
Authors: Cabarcas-Mercado Cristian Enrique
Published: March 2020

El presente artículo pretende dar a conocer la teoría del precedente administrativo en Colombia, pero de manera particular, demostrar que el precedente administrativo se encuentra inmerso y regulado en el  ordenamiento jurídico Colombiano, dado que, que no solo la Corte Constitucional,  a través de sus precedentes en los que acogió derechos fundamentales, como igualdad, seguridad jurídica; ha consolidado dicha teoría, sino que además, una serie de normatividades ha dado un plus a  la consolidación de dicho precedente en Colombia, como lo fue en un inicio la ley de descongestión judicial (ley 1395 de 2010) y el actual código de procedimiento administrativo y de lo contencioso administrativo(ley 1437 de 2011).
Falencias de la presunción de legalidad en la expedición y aplicación de los actos administrativos
Authors: Bustillo Bustillo José Reinaldo , Crespo Vega Jesús Alfredo
Published: March 2020

El objetivo perseguido por el presente trabajo de grado es profundizar en uno de los elementos inherentes al acto administrativo, como lo es la presunción de legalidad, y solamente adentrándonos y entendiendo todos sus elementos y requisitos de validez podemos llegar a una opinión crítica más objetiva. Esta presunción es indispensable para el ejercicio de la función pública de las autoridades administrativas, en aras del cumplimiento de los fines esenciales del estado y satisfacer el interés general, pero en ese proceso se cometen claras violaciones al ordenamiento jurídico y se expiden actos que van en contra de la normativa preexistente. Para finalizar llevaremos a cabo un análisis sobre las sentencias judiciales que mantengan una concordancia temática en el tema en cuestión, y además observaremos si los mecanismos de acción con los que cuentan los ciudadanos para atacar los vicios en los actos expedidos por los servidores públicos, son lo suficientemente eficaces para controlar dicha problemática.
Impact of Different Repetitive Sampling Schemes on the Performance of X-bar Control Chart
Authors: Mughal Muhammad Anwar , Azam Muhammad , Aslam Muhammad
Published: March 2020

Repetitive sampling has been found very popular in improving the control chart techniques for last couple of years. In repetitive sampling based control charts, there are two additional control limits inside the usual upper control limit (UCL) and lower control limit (LCL). If any subgroup crosses these limits but remain inside outer limits, it is deferred and replaced with another selection. Process is said to be out of control if any subgroup falls outside UCL/LCL. In this article, the technique has been modified by introducing a relation between outer and inner control limits in terms of a ratio and need of this modification has also been justified by highlighting a gap in the existing technique. By using Monte Carlo simulation, several results have been generated relevant to different sample sizes and introduced ratios. The results have been described with the help of average run length (ARL) tables that how the efficiency of control chart is effected by using different ratios. The modification in the technique also provides variety of alternatives within the scope of repetitive based control charts. All the discussed options have summarized to one table to see that how the control limits under this technique behave and impact on detecting shifts in the process average. The schemes have been interpreted in the light of above ratio and their comparison has been described under different sample sizes that facilitate the user to select most appropriate scheme for a desired process control. An example has been included by choosing one of the proposed schemes to show the application and performance of the proposed control chart in a manufacturing process.
Bayesian Estimates Based On Record Values Under Weighted LINEX Loss Function
Authors: Al-Duais Fuad , Alhagyan Mohammed
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we developed linear exponential (LINEX) loss function by emerging weights to produce weighted linear exponential (WLINEX) loss function. Then we utilized WLINEX to derive scale parameter and reliability function of the Weibull distribution based on record values when the shape parameter is known. After, we estimated scale parameter and reliability function of Weibull distribution by using maximum likelihood (ML) estimation and by several Bayes estimations.  The Bayes estimates were obtained with respect to symmetric loss function (squared error loss (SEL)), asymmetric loss function (LINEX) and asymmetric loss function (WLINEX). The ML and the different Bayes estimates are compared via a Monte Carlo simulation study. The result of simulation mentioned that the proposed WLINEX loss function is promising and can be used in real environment especially at the case of underestimate where it revealed better performance than LINEX loss function for estimating scale parameter.
Study of socio-demographic factors in cases of pregnancy induced hypertension and its associated risk factors in a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Bairwa Radheshyam , Mandve Shikha , Sharma Savitri
Published: March 2020

Background: The aim of the study was to study the socio-demographic factors in cases of pregnancy induced hypertension and its associated risk factors in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: The present retrospective study was conducted in the obstetrics and gynecology department of Shrimati Heera Kunwar Baa Memorial Hospital, Jhalawar, Rajasthan from December 2018 to November 2019. A total of 80 cases of pregnant women with PIH were studied. The socio-demographic data like age, parity, gestational age of presentation, mode of delivery, maternal and perinatal complications were noted from the hospital records and studied.Results: The incidence of PIH was found to be 8.16% in pregnant women attending the SHKBM Hospital. Majority of the study subjects were rural dweller (70%). A higher incidence of PIH was found among illiterate women (51.25%). 53.75% cases were in the age group of 25-30 years and 25% were in the age group of 19-24 years. In the present study, incidence of PIH was found to be highest among primigravidas (67.50%) as compared to multigravidas (32.5%). Most cases were delivered by caesarean section (73.75%) and 26.25% were delivered vaginally. Out of 80 cases, 16.25% of cases were complicated by eclampsia, Severe PIH in 12.5%, abruptio placentae in 2.5% and HELLP Syndrome in 1.25% cases.Conclusions: PIH is a very common complication encountered in pregnancy associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcome. The risk is higher among young primigravidas and in rural population. Better health care facilities and awareness among the pregnant women will help in reducing the incidence of PIH and its associated complications.
La influencia materna en la inteligencia emocional y la competencia lectora de sus hijos
Authors: Jiménez-Pérez Elena , Martínez-León Natalia , Cuadros-Muñoz Roberto
Published: March 2020

La influencia de la familia en la educación de los niños es indiscutible y las madres juegan un papel fundamental en dicho proceso, especialmente en su competencia lectora. Por otro lado, la forma natural de entrenar la competencia lectora es leer, de modo que los hábitos de lectura consolidados de la madre puedan influir en sus hijos y en su competencia lectora, ya que ambas construcciones tienen una relación como lo demuestran estudios recientes. Además, diferentes investigaciones apuntan a la relación entre la lectura y la inteligencia emocional, por lo que estudiarlos en términos de hábitos de lectura materna puede generar información que matice el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. El objetivo de este estudio es establecer la existencia de relaciones entre los hábitos de lectura, el sexo y la inteligencia emocional con respecto a la comprensión lectora de sus hijos. Participaron 644 estudiantes de secundaria (303 hombres y 341 mujeres), que asistieron a tres escuelas secundarias públicas en la provincia de Málaga y dos en la provincia de Granada. Todos ellos ubicados en zonas de contexto sociocultural medio. Los resultados muestran que las niñas con mayor inteligencia emocional y cuyas madres tienen mayores hábitos de lectura obtienen una mayor competencia lectora.
Evaluación de la actividad alelopática del extracto en acetato de etilo de Miconia caudata (bonpl.) dc.
Authors: Ramírez Aristizabal Luz S. , Montes Ortíz Angélica M. , Martín Bedoya José G. , Jiménez-González Francisco J.
Published: March 2020

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el potencial alelopático del extracto en acetato de etilo (AcOEt) y sus fracciones obtenidas de las hojas de Miconia caudata (melastomataceae), a través del bioensayo de germinación y crecimiento en semillas de Lactuca sativa L. Inicialmente, el extracto en AcOEt se separó en columna cromatográfica sobre DIAION HP-20, utilizando un sistema de elución agua-isopropanol, obteniendo 20 fracciones las cuales fueron monitoreadas mediante la medición de la absorbancia a 280 nm y por cromatografía en capa delgada en fase normal y reversa. Adicionalmente, se realizaron pruebas químicas para la identificación de diferentes núcleos fitoquímicos. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que la fracción F1M presentó un efecto estimulador de crecimiento en el hipocótilo con un máximo valor de 54.39%, dicho efecto se puede atribuir a la presencia de taninos condensados. Las fracciones F1L y F1N tuvieron un comportamiento de actividad alelopática contrario, inhibiendo el crecimiento del hipocótilo de L. sativa. La fracción F1R presentó un mayor efecto inhibidor sobre las plántulas, con valores máximos de 86.67% y 93.78%. A la fracción F1R se le realizaron pruebas químicas que indicaron la presencia de lactonas sesquiterpénicas, las cuales pueden estar involucradas en la actividad alelopática presentada.
The relationship between dyslipidemia and lupus nephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus patients attending a Saudi Rheumatic Center, Tabuk
Authors: Mirghani Hyder Osman , Abdul Khalig Alyoussef Abdullah , Mohammed Osama Salih
Published: March 2020

Background: There is an increasing awareness of the role of dyslipidemia in lupus nephritis patients, no researchers have studied dyslipidemia in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Tabuk. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between dyslipidemia and lupus nephritis in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: This cross-sectional comparative longitudinal hospital-based study was conducted at a rheumatic clinic in the North West Armed Force Hospital (NWAFH) during the period April 2014–June 2015. Seventy-three patients diagnosed with SLE were invited to participate in the study. All participants were required to sign a written informed consent, following which they were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data collected include demographic data, clinical characteristics, fasting lipid profile, renal function tests, urine analysis, antinuclear antibody, anti-double-stranded antibodies, complement levels, serum albumin, anticardiolipin, ant bodies, and antiphospholipid antibodies. Lupus nephritis was ascertained by renal biopsy. The research was approved by the ethical committees of both the University of Tabuk and the NWAFH and data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
Results: Out of 73 patients with SLE, 86.3% were females with a mean age of  34 ± 6.4 years. Lupus nephritis was evident in 26% of the patients, proteinuria in 44.1%, high total cholesterol in 17.8%, high low-density lipoprotein in 15.1%, high triglycerides in 27.3%, and low high-density lipoproteins in 52.1%. Patients with lupus nephritis had high total cholesterol, high LDL, high TG, and low HDL than those without lupus nephritis P-value < 0.05.
Conclusion: Dyslipidemia was more common among patients with SLE nephritis, and an aggressive treatment is recommended to reduce this serious complication. The relatively small size of the study group and the fact that the study was conducted at a single tertiary center are the limitations of this study.
Keywords: dyslipidemia, lupus nephritis, Saudi Arabia
A Cross-sectional Study on Hepatitis B Immune Status among Vaccinated Healthcare Workers in Khartoum, Sudan
Authors: Elsheikh Mahgoub Abdullahi , Hamadalnil Yassir , Mohammed Osama , Nakhleh Rasha , Mohamed Khair Musa
Published: March 2020

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can lead to chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Vaccination against the virus plays an important role in its prevention. Health personnel at risk of infection are recommended to receive the vaccine and to check their immune status thereafterObjective:   To determine Hepatitis B Immune status among vaccinated health personnel in Khartoum state, Sudan.A total of 106 health personnel from different hospitals and doctors’mess in Khartoum and from different jobs were surveyed and their HBV surface antibodies levels were determined by HBsAb (Quantitative) ELISA Kits.Methods: Of the 106 participants in this study, the majority were females 72.6%. The mean age of those involved was 27.69 years, and nurses made for more than 50% of those surveyed. About 56.6% (60) of the health personnel involved took three or more doses of HBV vaccine while the rest received one or two doses. The results of the participants who received three or more doses of the vaccine represented immunity by 70%. In general, about 47.2% (50) of the participants in this study did show excellent immune response (> 100 mIU/mL) and 18.9% (20) had weak protective levels (between 10 and 100 mIU/mL)So, we concluded that HBV post-vaccination immunity status of health personnel in Khartoum state is lower than post-vaccination HBV immunity in other parts of the world. There is an urgent need for a national protocol of HBV vaccination to improve the immunization status of health personnel with a regular checkup of HBV immunity and easy access to a good-quality vaccine.
Keywords: hepatitis B vaccines; healthcare workers; immune response