bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thrombin Generation Assay Detects Moderate-Intensity Statin-Induced Reduction of Hypercoagulability in Diabetes
Authors: Park Hee Sue , Gu Ja-Yoon , Yoo Hyun Ju , Han Se Eun , Park Chan Ho , Kim Young Il , Nam-Goong Il Sung , Kim Eun Sook , Kim Hyun Kyung
Published: April 2018

Statins not only have a lipid-lowering effect but also reduce inflammation and have an antithrombotic effect. Since hypercoagulability assessed by thrombin generation assay (TGA) and increased formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) were demonstrated in diabetes, we investigated whether statin therapy in diabetes modifies coagulation status and NET formation. Twenty-five consecutive patients with diabetes were recruited. Global coagulation assays (prothrombin time [PT], activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT], and TGA) and NET markers (DNA–histone complex, cell-free DNA, and neutrophil elastase) were measured before and after 3-month moderate-intensity statin therapy. In addition, all coagulation factors and 3 anticoagulation factors were measured. Statin therapy significantly reduced endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) value and blood lipids but did not change the PT and aPTT values or NET formation markers. Statin significantly decreased not only coagulation factors (II, V, VIII, IX, and X) but also the anticoagulation factor antithrombin. Statin-induced reduction of factor V and X significantly contributed to the reduction of ETP value. The extent of reduction in coagulation factors correlated with that of anticoagulation factors, but not that of cholesterol. It is possible to use TGA as a global coagulation assay that can detect coagulation status modified by statin therapy. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the clinical implications of statin-induced simultaneous reduction of coagulation and anticoagulation factors.
Mineralogy, geochemistry and emplacement of the Conakry Igneous Complex, Guinea: implications for the Ni–Cu–PGE mineralization
Authors: Augé Thierry , Gloaguen Éric , Chevillard Matthieu , Bailly Laurent
Published: April 2018

The Conakry Igneous Complex is a mafic-ultramafic intrusion emplaced contemporaneously with the opening of the Atlantic, forming a complex, 55 km x 5 km dyke-like body within which three main episodes of injection have been recognized, characterized by a lack of mineral layering. Unit 1 consists of dunite and related facies, Unit 2 of wehrlite and pyroxene peridotite and Unit 3 corresponds to various gabbro facies. Units 1 and 2 constitute the Kaloum Peninsula; Unit 3 is its NW extension, forming the 1010 m high Mount Kakoulima. Unit 3 intrudes the two previous units and corresponds to a tholeiitic liquid that crystallized in an almost closed system, and thus exhibits a strong differentiation trend, in contrast to Units 1 and 2. Mineral compositions suggest the existence of a deeper magma chamber where a first stage of differentiation occurred.

Disseminated base-metal sulfides (BMS) are present in all units of the complex and earlier descriptions have mentioned a “massive sulfide layer” with 2 to 4 g/t PGE. Platinum-group minerals (PGM) are almost everywhere included in or attached to composite Ni–Fe–Cu sulfides. Most PGM grains form complex associations resulting either from exsolution or alteration. It is characteristic of the Conakry Igneous Complex PGM, described here for the first time, to be dominated by (Pd,Pt)(Te,Bi) minerals with rare Pd,Sn and Pd,Pb compositions and an absence of Pt,Pd sulfides and Pt,Pd antimonides.

The constant association of the PGM with the BMS shows that the magmatic sulfide liquid acts as an efficient collector of PGE. In such a dynamic environment, the process leading to the formation of massive sulfides must be sought in the accumulation of sulfides in the conduit following host-rock assimilation. Accordingly, considering the multiple injection processes that characterize the whole intrusion, the potential for discovering additional Ni–Cu–PGE mineralization in the Conakry Igneous Complex remains high.
Cancer mortality in Serbia, 1991–2015: an age‐period‐cohort and joinpoint regression analysis
Authors: Ilic Milena , Ilic Irena
Published: April 2018

Background

As the result of dramatic political changes, civil wars, and a long‐term refugee crisis from the end of the last to beginning of this century, the population of Serbia has experienced significant health problems. The aim of this study was to assess cancer mortality trends in Serbia.

Methods

This nationwide study was carried out to analyze cancer mortality in Serbia during 1991–2015 using official data. The age‐standardized mortality rates (per 100,000) were calculated by direct standardization, using the world standard population by Segi. The average annual percent change (AAPC) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed using joinpoint regression analysis. Age‐period‐cohort analysis was performed to address the possible underlying reasons for the observed temporal trends.

Results

Over the 25‐year study period, there were 466,075 cancer deaths (266,043 males and 200,032 females) in Serbia. Overall cancer mortality increased between 1991 and 2009 in both males (by + 0.9% per year) and females (by + 0.8% per year) and has been decreasing since then, by − 0.9% annually in both sexes. For almost all major cancers except stomach cancer, cancer mortality in Serbia demonstrated upward trends during the study period. The largest increases were noted in lung cancer among females (AAPC = + 3.7, 95% CI 3.5–3.9) and prostate cancer in males (AAPC = + 1.9, 95% CI 1.4–2.3).

Conclusions

After two decades of increase, cancer mortality rates are finally declining in Serbia. Despite this, these rates place Serbia among the countries with the highest cancer mortality in the world.
BRAF in Lung Cancers: Analysis of Patient Cases Reveals Recurrent BRAF Mutations, Fusions, Kinase Duplications, and Concurrent Alterations
Authors: Sheikine Yuri , Pavlick Dean , Klempner Samuel J. , Trabucco Sally E. , Chung Jon H. , Rosenzweig Mark , Wang Kai , Velcheti Vamsidhar , Frampton Garrett M. , Peled Nir , Murray Molly , Chae Young Kwang , Albacker Lee A. , Gay Laurie , Husain Hatim , Suh James H. , Millis Sherri Z. , Reddy Venkataprasanth P. , Elvin Julia A. , Hartmaier Ryan J. , Dowlati Afshin , Stephens Phil , Ross Jeffrey S. , Bivona Trever G. , Miller Vincent A. , Ganesan Shridar , Schrock Alexa B. , Ou Sai-Hong Ignatius , Ali Siraj M.
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Dabrafenib and trametinib are approved for the management of advanced non–small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) that harbor BRAF V600E mutations. Small series and pan-cancer analyses have identified non-V600 alterations as therapeutic targets. We sought to examine a large genomic data set to comprehensively characterize non-V600 B RAF alterations in lung cancer.

Patients and Methods

A total of 23,396 patients with lung cancer provided data to assay with comprehensive genomic profiling. Data were reviewed for predicted pathogenic BRAF base substitutions, short insertions and deletions, copy number changes, and rearrangements.

Results

Adenocarcinomas represented 65% of the occurrences; NSCLC not otherwise specified (NOS), 15%; squamous cell carcinoma, 12%; and small-cell lung carcinoma, 5%. BRAF was altered in 4.5% (1,048 of 23,396) of all tumors; 37.4% (n = 397) were BRAF V600E, 38% were BRAF non-V600E activating mutations, and 18% were BRAF inactivating. Rearrangements were observed at a frequency of 4.3% and consisted of N-terminal deletions (NTDs; 0.75%), kinase domain duplications (KDDs; 0.75%), and BRAF fusions (2.8%). The fusions involved three recurrent fusion partners: ARMC10, DOCK4, and TRIM24. BRAF V600E was associated with co-occurrence of SETD2 alterations, but other BRAF alterations were not and were instead associated with CDKN2A, TP53, and STK11 alterations ( P < .05). Potential mechanisms of acquired resistance to BRAF V600E inhibition are demonstrated.

Conclusion

This series characterized the frequent occurrence (4.4%) of BRAF alterations in lung cancers. Recurrent BRAF alterations in NSCLC adenocarcinoma are comparable to the frequency of other NSCLC oncogenic drivers, such as ALK, and exceed that of ROS1 or RET. This work supports a broad profiling approach in lung cancers and suggests that non-V600E BR AF alterations represent a subgroup of lung cancers in which targeted therapy should be considered.
Changes in free amino acid concentrations and associated gene expression profiles in the abdominal muscle of kuruma shrimpMarsupenaeus japonicusacclimated at different salinities
Authors: Koyama Hiroki , Mizusawa Nanami , Hoashi Masataka , Tan Engkong , Yasumoto Ko , Jimbo Mitsuru , Ikeda Daisuke , Yokoyama Takehiko , Asakawa Shuichi , Piyapattanakorn Sanit , Watabe Shugo
Published: April 2018

Shrimps inhabiting the coastal water can survive in a wide range of salinity. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in their acclimation to different environmental salinities have remained largely unknown. In the present study, we acclimated kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus at 1.7 %, 3.4 % and 4.0 % salinities. After acclimating for 6, 12, 24 and 72 h, we determined free amino acid concentrations in their abdominal muscle, and performed RNA-seq analysis on this muscle. The concentrations of free amino acids were clearly altered depending on salinity after acclimating for 24 h. Glutamine and alanine concentrations were markedly increased following the increase of salinity. In association with such changes, many genes related to amino acid metabolism changed their expression levels. In particular, the increase of the expression level of the gene encoding glutamate-ammonia ligase which functions in the glutamine metabolism appeared to be relevant to the increased glutamine concentration at high salinity. Furthermore, the alanine concentration increased at high salinity was likely to be associated with the decrease in the expression levels of the alanine-glyoxylate transaminase gene. Thus, there is a possibility that changes in the concentration of free amino acids for osmoregulation in kuruma shrimp are regulated by changes in the expression levels of genes related to amino acid metabolism.
Cherchez la femme - impact of ocean acidification on the egg jelly coat and attractants for sperm
Authors: Foo Shawna A. , Deaker Dione , Byrne Maria
Published: April 2018

The impact of ocean acidification on marine invertebrate eggs and consequences for sperm chemotaxis are unknown. In the sea urchins Heliocidaris tuberculata and H. erythrogramma, with small (93µm) and large (393µm) eggs, respectively, we documented the effect of decreased pH on the egg jelly coat, an extracellular matrix that increases target size for sperm and contains sperm attracting molecules. In near future conditions (pH 7.8, 7.6) the jelly coat of H. tuberculata decreased by 11 and 21%, reducing egg target size by 9 and 17%, respectively. In contrast, the egg jelly coat of H. erythrogramma was not affected. The reduction in the jelly coat has implications for sperm chemotaxis in H. tuberculata. In the presence of decreased pH and egg chemicals, the sperm of this species increased their velocity, motility and linearity, behaviour that was opposite to that seen for sperm exposed to egg chemicals in ambient conditions. Egg chemistry appears to cause a reduction in sperm velocity where attractants guide them in the direction of the egg. Investigation of the effects of decreased pH on sperm isolated from egg chemistry does not provide an integrative assessment of the effects of ocean acidification on sperm function. Differences in the sensitivity of the jelly coat of the two species is likely associated with egg evolution in H. erythrogramma. We highlight important unappreciated impacts of ocean acidification on marine gamete functionality, and insights into potential winners and losers in a changing ocean, pointing to the advantage conveyed by evolution of large eggs.
Relative position of the atrioventricular canal determines the electrical activation of developing reptile ventricles
Authors: Gregorovicova Martina , Sedmera David , Jensen Bjarke
Published: April 2018

Squamate reptiles appear to lack the specialized His/Purkinje system that enables the cardiac ventricle to be activated from apex to base as in mammals and birds. Instead, activation may simply spread from where the atrioventricular canal connects to the base. Gja5, which encodes Cx40 that allows fast impulse propagation, was expressed throughout the ventricles of developing anole lizards. Activation was optically recorded in developing corn snake and central bearded dragon. Early embryonic ventricles were broad in shape, and activation propagated from the base to the right. Elongated ventricles of later stages were activated from base to apex. Before hatching, the snake ventricle developed a cranial extension on the left and activation now propagated from the base to the caudal apex and the cranial extension. In squamate reptiles, the pattern of electrical activation of the cardiac ventricle is dependent the position of the atrioventricular canal and the shape of the ventricle.
Circulating microRNA as Emerging Biomarkers of Exercise
Authors: Fernández-Sanjurjo Manuel , de Gonzalo-Calvo David , Fernández-García Benjamín , Díez-Robles Sergio , Martínez-Canal Ángel , Olmedillas Hugo , Dávalos Alberto , Iglesias-Gutiérrez Eduardo
Published: April 2018

An interest has recently emerged in the role of circulating microRNAs (c-miRNAs) as posttranscriptional regulators, intercellular communicators and, especially, as potential biomarkers of the systemic response to acute exercise and training. We propose that, with the limited, heterogeneous, and mainly descriptive information currently available, c-miRNAs do not provide a reliable biomarker of exercise in healthy or diseased individuals.
Problem stylizacji w tłumaczeniu dzieł Witolda Gombrowicza
Authors: Salmeri Claudio
Published: April 2018

Style as a Specific Problem of Literary Translation. An overview of the English and Italian Translations of Witold Gombrowicz’s Works

This research study deals with an area which has largely escaped the attention of researchers so far, i.e. linguistic equivalence and the limits to the translatability of Gombrowicz’s convoluted style, an effective deterrent for other translators. This article investigates the English and Italian translations of various works of Gombrowicz. Particular attention must be paid to the way in which translators have rendered the Polish original, and above all to the vocabulary, phrasing and structure of the language used by Gombrowicz in the Italian and English languages.
Brak normy jako norma: Gombrowicz „tłumaczy” Ferdydurke
Authors: Niziołek Renata
Published: April 2018

In 1973 in France the translation of Gombrowcz’s Ferdydurke by Georges Sédir was published. The initiator of this publication was a French editor Christian Bourgois, who considered the previous French edition of the novel (translated by Roland Martin and Witold Gombrowicz) as “unfaithful to the original”. Regadless of the fact that the first French edition opened Gombrowicz the window to the word and became the grounwork for seven English editions (London, New York) as well as fortranslations to Italian, Norwegian and Swedish. The aim of the essay is to analyse the chosen fragments of the author’s translation, showing the strategy of “wild creative freedom” against the Polish original version. What is worth reminding, the strategy made the book to be nominated in 1958 as the best translation in France.
‘So we try to do normal things, like a family’: sociologies of children in the prison visiting room
Authors: Oldrup Helene
Published: April 2018

Parental imprisonment has damaging effects on children’s lives and family relationships. Drawing on Morgan’s theories of family and on the sociology of childhood, this article argues that children of male prisoners actively construct relationships through family practices of display, intimacy and risk. Using the voices of children whose fathers are in prison, the article shows how this group of children may conform to, evade and resist practices of family, changing their relationships with their fathers. Further, as these theories on family and children typically are used in relation to middle-class families and to show how families are constructed and maintained, this article shows how family practices may also contribute to the reversal of parent–child relationships and the erosion of intimacy. The article draws on qualitative in-depth interview data from a Danish study of children and young people aged 5–27, whose fathers/stepfathers presently or previously are/were incarcerated.
Non-invasive voiding assessment in conscious mice
Authors: Sidler Martin , J. Aitken Karen , Forward Sarah , Vitkin Alex , J. Bagli Darius
Published: April 2018

OBJECTIVE: To review available options of assessing murine bladder function and to evaluate a non-invasive technique suitable for long-term recording.
METHODS: We reviewed previously described methods to record rodent bladder function. We used modified metabolic cages to capture novel recording tracings of mouse micturition. We evaluated our method in a pilot study with female mice undergoing partial bladder outlet obstruction or sham operation, respectively; half of the partial obstruction and sham group received treatment with an S6K-inhibitor, targeting the mTOR pathway, which is known to be implicated in bladder response to obstruction.
RESULTS: Our non-invasive method using continuous urine weight recording reliably detected changes in murine bladder function resulting from partial bladder outlet obstruction or treatment with S6K-inhibitor. We found obstruction as well as treatment with S6K-inhibitor to correlate with a hyperactive voiding pattern.
CONCLUSIONS: While invasive methods to assess murine bladder function largely disturb bladder histology and intrinsically render post-cystometry gene expression analysis of questionable value, continuous urine weight recording is a reliable, inexpensive, and critically non-invasive method to assess murine bladder function, suitable for a long-term application.
Introduction to the special issue: Historical and contemporary perspectives on educational evaluation
Authors: Anderson Lorin W. , De Ibarrola Maria , Phillips D. C.
Published: April 2018

Most special issues on evaluation focus on one form or type of evaluation (e.g., program evaluation, personnel evaluation, and, increasingly, educational system evaluation. This special issue is unique in that there are papers on system evaluation, program evaluation, teacher evaluation, and student evaluation. Some papers are primarily conceptual, others are empirical, and still others are a little of each. Some papers are more historical, some contemporary, and some a little of each. The authors represent four countries: Canada, Mexico, South Africa, and the United States, providing an international perspective on key issues. The final paper contains six recommendations concerning the future of educational evaluation based on an analysis of commonalities across the papers.
The many functions of evaluation in education
Authors: Phillips D. C.
Published: April 2018

This paper focuses upon the many functions that are served by evaluations, and by the process of conducting them. Many forms or types of evaluation have evolved to serve these different functions; and a brief account is given of some of the most common of these forms and the issues or controversies that they have engendered. The discussion opens, after a brief historical note, by describing the differing views of Lee Cronbach and Michael Scriven about whether an evaluator should aim to educate stakeholders about the program so that they can make informed decisions about it, or whether evaluators should go further and make a value judgement about it. The discussion then moves on to the importance of not overlooking the unintended effects of a program that is under study; and after presenting a list of functions that evaluations can have, the remainder of the discussion deals with the “pros” and “cons” of, and the differences between, formative and summative evaluations.
Perspectives on evaluation from curricular contexts
Authors: Schubert William
Published: April 2018

Educational issues in nations throughout the world center on teacher and student evaluation, leading to much consternation. The root of debate stretches to curriculum questions that directly address matters of worth or value. Examining evaluation of education at any level through curricular lenses increases its complexity. First, complexity is approached by focusing on three broad categories that can be framed as questions: What are value considerations in foundations of curriculum? What is worthwhile for subsequent generations? How should we evaluate extant impacts of curricular venues? Second, perspectives on the complexity of evaluation based in curriculum studies are advanced through responses from five orientations to curriculum: Intellectual Traditionalist, Social Behaviorist, Experientialist, Critical Reconstructionist, and Postmodern Global Anti-Imperialist. Each offers a perspective worth considering by those who wish to improve curriculum and its evaluation.
Methodological perspectives: Standardized (summative) or contextualized (formative) evaluation?
Authors: Shavelson Richard J.
Published: April 2018

A critical issue in educational evaluation is whether evaluations should focus on standardized (summative, often quantitative) or contextualized (formative or often qualitative) evidence. The author of this article advises readers to beware of false dichotomies. The big issue is not whether evaluations should be “standardized” or “contextualized” but rather whether the evidence collected rigorously addresses the policy and/or practice questions driving the evaluation. The questions asked, in turn, lead to evaluation designs which may be standardized (summative), contextualized (formative) or both. Three general questions drive research and evaluation: (1) Descriptive—What’s Happening? (2) Causal—Is there a systematic effect? and (3) Process or mechanism—Why or how is it happening? Depending on the nature of the question, summative and/or formative data might be collected. Equally important are politics, measurement methods and modeling in conducting evaluations. Ignore these matters at your peril. Concrete examples show how assumptions and misperceptions can upend or change the outcomes of evaluation; they are drawn from political, measurement and statistical modeling contexts.
A critique of grading: Policies, practices, and technical matters
Authors: Anderson Lorin W.
Published: April 2018

In recent years there was been a raft of criticisms of the way that grades (or marks) are assigned to students. The purpose of this paper is to examine the strengths and weaknesses of grading systems and grading practices, drawing upon both historical and contemporary research and writing. Five questions are used to frame the review and organize the paper. They are: (1) Why do we grade students? (2) What do grades mean? (3) How reliable are students’ grades? (4) How valid are students’ grades? and (5) What are the consequences of grading students?  The results suggest that (1) The are several purposes for grading students; the way that grades are assigned and reported should be consistent with the specified purpose. (2) Grades mean different things to different people (including the teachers who assign them). (3) Grades on a single task (e.g., a test or project, a homework assignment) are quite unreliable, whereas cumulative grades (that is, those based on several data sources) are reasonably reliable. (4) The validity of grades on a single task is virtually impossible to determine; however, the evidence suggests that cumulative grades are reasonably valid. (5) Grades influence a variety of student affective characteristics (e.g., self-esteem). However, their influence is no greater, nor less than, a host of other school-related factors.
What international educational evaluations tell us about education quality in developing nations
Authors: Van der Berg Servaas
Published: April 2018

Few developing countries participate in external educational evaluations. Information gaps on education quality make it imperative to expand such evaluations. Furthermore, international comparability across different evaluations should be improved. In addition, data from evaluations must be combined with data on access or coverage. Finally, educational evaluations reveal social inequalities; socioeconomic status has a systematic influence on educational outcomes, but social gradients vary over countries. Resources alone cannot explain massive performance gaps between developing and developed countries. Large efficiency improvements must occur in classrooms and schools. The need is not for “league tables,” but for data that allow countries to judge the appropriateness of their policies and strategies in an international context. Efficient and targeted application of resources and policies to improve education in developing countries requires information on system performance, inequalities, progress and stagnation. International evaluations should be expanded to more countries, should be better anchored and comparable, and should be demystified. Too little international educational evaluation is the enemy of progress.
Digital divide: A critical context for digitally based assessments
Authors: Ercikan Kadriye , Asil Mustafa , Grover Raman
Published: April 2018

Student learning is increasingly taking place in digital environments both within and outside schooling contexts. Educational assessments are following suit, both to take advantage of the conveniences and opportunities that digital environments provide as well as to reflect the mediums of learning increasingly taking place in societies around the world. A social context relevant to learning and assessment in the digital age is the great differences in access to and competence in technology among students from different segments of societies. Therefore, access and competency in relation to technology become critical contexts for evaluations that rely on digitally based assessments. This chapter examines the digital divide between students from different segments of the society and discusses strategies for minimizing effects of digital divide on assessments of student learning. The research focuses on two types of demographic groups—gender and socioeconomic status (SES) groups—that have been highlighted in research on the digital divide. The research utilizes data from IEA’s International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS) 2013 for Grade 8 students administered in 21 jurisdictions around the world. It thus provides an international perspective on digital divide as an important context for international assessments as well as assessments within jurisdictions such as Mexico that are conducting assessments in digitally based environments.
Toward an intercultural approach to evaluation: A perspective from INEE in Mexico
Authors: Schmelkes Sylvia
Published: April 2018

The National Institute for the Evaluation of Education (INEE) in Mexico has begun to meet the challenges in evaluating indigenous children and teachers and the educational programs and policies targeted to them. Several evaluation projects are described in this paper. One is the “Previous, Free and Informed Consultation of Indigenous People,” which focuses on quality of education they receive. A second is the design of a protocol for reducing cultural and linguistic bias in standardized tests, which requires oversampling of indigenous students and the involvement of anthropologists, linguists and indigenous teachers in item development. A third is an indigenous language evaluation for candidates for entry into the teaching profession, which they must pass before they can work in indigenous schools. A fourth is the development of a qualitative instrument for evaluating teacher performance. The instrument asks evaluated teachers to contextualize their planning; scorers decide whether the plan is adapted to the cultural context and the characteristics of the children. The projects described are only a starting point. In the near future, several dilemmas, such as the apparent trade-off between contextualization and quality, have to be faced and solved.
Evaluation of teachers of basic education: Political tensions and radical oppositions
Authors: De Ibarrola Maria
Published: April 2018

This paper focuses upon the enactment and implementation of a National Educational Reform in Mexico, which introduced competitive examinations for teachers entering the newly established Professional Teaching Service of the National Educational System, and compulsory evaluation of all teachers in active service for promotion and tenure.  The analysis describes the (1) aims and intentions of the Reform, (2) the force and errors in its implementation, (3) the opposition of a radical wing of the National Union of Educational Workers, and (4) the social turmoil this confrontation has caused.  A theoretical basis for a political analysis of educational reform is provided, one that includes an understanding of the political nature of the reforms, the distinction between design and implementation, and the use of different categories to provide a solid analytical framework.  It is important to understand the actors of the opposing forces, the aims they pursue, the rationale of their arguments, and the nature of their power.
Afterword: Key questions for thought and action
Authors: Anderson Lorin W.
Published: April 2018

In this summary article, six recommendations for the design, implementation, and interpretation of educational evaluations are presented and discussed. These recommendations are based on common “threads” that run through most, if not all, of the papers included in this special issue. The recommendations concern (1) the need for awareness of the political, societal, cultural, and economic factors affecting evaluation studies; (2) the importance of knowing and understanding the stakeholder groups; (3) the need to ensure that the purposes of the evaluation are explicit and clear; (4) the importance of allowing flexibility in the implementation of the evaluation when needed to account for issues that arise during the evaluation process; (5) the need to ensure that the data gathered as part of the evaluation process are of the highest technical quality possible; and the (6) importance of ensuring that the results of the evaluation are interpreted correctly and well understood by stakeholders and decision makers.
Chronic granulomatous disease due to different mutations in patients from the same consanguineous extended family
Authors: Broides Arnon , Gavrieli Ronit , Levy Jacov , Levy Rachel , Hadad Nurit , Roos Dirk , Wolach Baruch , Nahum Amit
Published: April 2018

Chronic granulomatous disease is a primary immunodeficiency disease caused by a genetic mutation in any of the 5 genes encoding the different components of the Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate reduced (NADPH)-Oxidase enzyme complex. Since primary immunodeficiency diseases are considered to be rare diseases, the genetic diagnosis of a certain primary immunodeficiency leads to the reasonable assumption that all patients with the same disease within the same family will have the same genetic mutation. We report 2 patients with chronic granulomatous disease from the same extended consanguineous family who had different genetic causes of their disease. Therefore, it is crucial to obtain a definitive genetic diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency disease even in patients from the same family, where the same genetic diagnosis is presumed to be the cause of the disease.

Statement of novelty: Genetic causes of chronic granulomatous disease may be different in patients from the same family.
Competitiveness of Family Tourist Micro-Enterprises as an Element of Tourist Destination Product
Authors: Dębski Maciej , Krawczyk Adriana
Published: April 2018

Objective: Tourist regions are characterized by a very high complexity and micro-enterprises are the largest group of entities which determine the competitiveness of the destination. However, management of such businesses has a strong specificity. The goal of this paper is to identify the capabilities of managing competitiveness and marketing of this group of entities.

Methodology: Literature review, examining and discussing the current knowledge regarding the competitiveness of family tourist micro-enterprises.

Findings: On the one hand, small companies have significant limitations compared to larger companies. However, the family nature of the company allows for high flexibility of management. Decisions can usually be made faster and easier, which means that they are able to adapt their offer to the expectations of customers faster and better than large entities. Also, an atmosphere of hospitality and friendship can be easily created. What is more, cooperation with other local entities should result in the ability to offer higher value to consumers.

Value Added: Authors, on the bases of literature review have proposed a model that shows relations as an element of building competitiveness of a family tourist micro-enterprises. It appears that these firms have unique opportunities to develop relationships with their customers. Cooperation, quality and communication have been described as key variables responsible for this process, that should result in generating the benefits of re-selecting the services of the company as well as giving them positive recommendations.

Recommendations: In the area of family businesses in tourism, there is still lack of empirical studies. That is why, the issues presented in this work should be subjected to empirical verification. Future research should concentrate on the specificity of managing a tourist family micro-enterprise and on possible sources of competitive advantage of a tourist family micro-enterprise in the eyes of customers. Especially, described model should be empirically verified.
Bone mineral density comparison of adolescents with constitutional thinness and anorexia nervosa
Authors: Pehlivantürk Kızılkan Melis , Akgül Sinem , Derman Orhan , Kanbur Nuray
Published: April 2018

Background:

The negative impact of anorexia nervosa (AN) on bone health is well defined. However, there are very few studies evaluating the effect of constitutional thinness on bone health, especially in the adolescent period and in the male gender. The aim of this study is to compare the bone mineral density (BMD) measurements of adolescents with AN and with constitutional thinness.

Methods:

Between April 2013 and March 2014, 40 adolescents with AN and 36 adolescents with constitutional thinness participated in the study. The femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Results:

Mean lumbar z and BMD scores of adolescents with constitutional thinness were significantly lower than in adolescents with AN, whereas the mean femoral z and BMD scores were not significantly different. When males were compared separately, lumbar z and BMD values of the constitutionally thin group were found to be significantly lower than in the AN group. This difference was not significant for females.

Conclusions:

The difference between the male and female results of our study suggested two hypotheses. The significantly lower BMD values in constitutionally thin boys are attributed to their longer duration of low body mass index (BMI). Although the duration of low BMI is also longer for constitutionally thin girls, similar BMD values of AN and constitutionally thin female groups are attributed to the additional negative impact of estrogen deficiency on the bone health of girls with AN.
Preliminary investigations on reducing the high radiation risk level of TENORM scale waste from petroleum industry
Authors: Attallah Mohamed F. , Hilal Moustafa A. , Mohamed Yasser T.
Published: April 2018

The main objective of this study is directed to remove 226Ra, 228Ra radionuclides from TENORM scale waste without seriously degradation the physicochemical characteristics of soils or generating waste. It was found that 82, 87% removal of total radioactivity using successive washing by commercial and TX-100 solutions, respectively, after seven cycles. Some radiation risk before and after treatment with surfactants were determined. It is a promising and efficient as well as economic process. Our results from this task could provide a useful information for defining the establishing and operating on a pilot-scale plant for efficient and economic TENORM treatment.
Model Predictive Control and Controller Parameter Optimisation of Combustion Instabilities
Authors: Yazar I. , Caliskan F. , Vepa R.
Published: April 2018

In this paper the application of model predictive control (MPC) to a two-mode model of the dynamics of the combustion process is considered. It is shown that the MPC by itself does not stabilize the combustor and the control gains obtained by applying the MPC algorithms need to be optimized further to ensure that the phase difference between the two modes is also stable. The results of applying the algorithm are compared with the open loop model amplitude responses and to the closed loop responses obtained by the application of a direct adaptive control algorithm. It is shown that the MPC coupled with the cost parameter optimisation proposed in the paper, always guarantees the closed loop stability, a feature that may not always be possible with an adaptive implementations.
Effects of Different Footwear Properties and Surface Instability on Neuromuscular Activity and Kinematics During Jumping
Authors: Lesinski Melanie , Prieske Olaf , Borde Ron , Beurskens Rainer , Granacher Urs
Published: April 2018

Lesinski, M, Prieske, O, Borde, R, Beurskens, R, and Granacher, U. Effects of different footwear properties and surface instability on neuromuscular activity and kinematics during jumping. J Strength Cond Res 32(11): 3246–3257, 2018—The purpose of this study was to examine sex-specific effects of different footwear properties vs. barefoot condition during the performance of drop jumps (DJs) on stable and unstable surfaces on measures of jump performance, electromyographic (EMG) activity, and knee joint kinematics. Drop jump performance, EMG activity of lower-extremity muscles, as well as sagittal and frontal knee joint kinematics were tested in 28 healthy male (n = 14) and female (n = 14) physically active sports science students (23 ± 2 years) during the performance of DJs on stable and unstable surfaces using different footwear properties (elastic vs. minimal shoes) vs. barefoot condition. Analysis revealed a significantly lower jump height and performance index (Δ7–12%; p < 0.001; 2.22 ≤ d = 2.90) during DJs on unstable compared with stable surfaces. This was accompanied by lower thigh/shank muscle activities (Δ11–28%; p < 0.05; 0.99 ≤ d = 2.16) and knee flexion angles (Δ5–8%; p < 0.05; 1.02 ≤ d = 2.09). Furthermore, knee valgus angles during DJs were significantly lower when wearing shoes compared with barefoot condition (Δ22–32%; p < 0.01; 1.38 ≤ d = 3.31). Sex-specific analyses indicated higher knee flexion angles in females compared with males during DJs, irrespective of the examined surface and footwear conditions (Δ29%; p < 0.05; d = 0.92). Finally, hardly any significant footwear-surface interactions were detected. Our findings revealed that surface instability had an impact on DJ performance, thigh/shank muscle activity, and knee joint kinematics. In addition, the single factors “footwear” and “sex” modulated knee joint kinematics during DJs. However, hardly any significant interaction effects were found. Thus, additional footwear-related effects can be neglected when performing DJs during training on different surfaces.
The role of neuro-specific dihydropyrimidinase-related protein 2 (dpyl2) in spatial memory formation in teleosts
Authors: Garina D. V. , Bol’shakov V. V. , Toropygin I. Y. , Mekhtiev A. A. , Andreeva A. M.
Published: April 2018

This article presents the results of an experiment on the influence of serotonin-modulating anticonsolidation protein (SMAP) on the spatial memory formation of juvenile goldfish Carassius auratus (L.) in a maze with food reinforcement. Three experimental fish groups were formed: (1) intact animals, (2) experimental group (fish injected ICV with SMAP in 24 h before the beginning of training; 2 μl, 1.5 mg·ml–1), (3) active control group (fish injected ICV with inactivated SMAP). Goldfishes of the experimental group demonstrated the lowest capability for spatial recognition: the maximum level of performance of the task was on 4th day of the training – 38%, while the values of this index in fishes of the control and intact groups were 70% and 63% respectively. In general, throughout the period of the training the average value of task performance was 16% in the SMAP-injected fish (in the control and intact groups – 42% and 53%, respectively). By using Ds-Na-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis SMAP compositeon has been revealed. It was found that it consists of 10–12 protein components, among which four proteins dominated. They were identified by mass spectrometry MALDI-TOF: spectrin, dihydropyrimidinase-related protein 2 (DPYL2), tubulin and actin. It has been suggested that the most likely candidate responsible for the negative effects of SMAP on fish memory formation is DPYL2. It was hypothesized that anticonsolidation effect of SMAP is caused by the effect of DPYL2 which blocks the growth of axons or its cytostatic activity which leads to disorders in formation of new neurons in the brain as a result of learning.
Content of chemical elements in the liver of cattle with fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis
Authors: Kruchynenko O. V. , Prus M. P. , Galat M. V. , Mykhailiutenko S. M. , Klymenko O. S. , Kuzmenko L. M.
Published: April 2018

The concentration of chemical ements (Pb, Cd, Cu, As, Zn, Hg, Fe, Co, Mn) in the liver of healthy cattle and those affected by Fasciola hepatica and Dicrocoelium lanceatum in Poltava region (central part of Ukraine) was determined. The research was carried out by the method of atomic and absorption spectrometry carried out at the Regional State Laboratory of Veterinary Medicine in Poltava region. The liver samples (n = 30) from healthy cattle black-and-white breed and those affected by F. hepatica and D. lanceatum were taken at the meat processing plant. The ages of the cattle ranged from 6 to 8 years. The samples were immediately cooled, transported to the laboratory and stored at –20 °C for further analysis. The results of the research determined the average indicators of concentration of some toxic elements in the livers of healthy cattle and those infected by the trematodes. The content of chemical elements in the liver of healthy animals and those affected by fasciola can be represented in the form of a decreasing rank number: Zn > Fe > Cu, and for dicrocoeliosis, respectively, Fe > Zn > Cu. It has been established that Cu and Zn are involved in the metabolic processes of the body of trematodes, which is confirmed by our research. The presence of F. hepatica and D. lanceatum in the body of cattle significantly reduces the level of copper and zinc, with a high inverse correlation dependence on the intensity of infection, thus indicating the possibility of their accumulation by helminths. Concentration of Cu and Zn in the liver of cattle with fasciolosis was 6.82 ± 0.29 and 35.77 ± 1.93 mg/kg, while for animals with dicrocoeliosis it was 3.90 ± 0.25 and 41.91 ± 2.22 mg/kg. The content of cobalt and manganese in the liver of healthy animals was, respectively, 0.05 ± 0.01 and 1.95 ± 0.06 mg/kg. In the case of Fasciola parasitising in the liver tissue, the level of cobalt (0.10 ± 0.02) and manganese (2.55 ± 0.16) significantly increased, positively correlating with the intensity of the infection, indicating no effect on the exchange and bioaccumulation of these elements by helminths.
Hereditary tubulopathies including the associated bone disease
Authors: Ryznychuk M. O. , Khmara T. V. , Kryvchanska M. I. , Zamorskii I. I.
Published: April 2018

Tubulopathy is a heterogeneous group of diseases combined by the nephron functions disorders of one or more enzyme proteins in the tubular epithelium that cease to function as a reabsorption of one or several substances filtered from the blood through the glomeruli into tubules, which determines the development of the disease. This review addresses the tubulopathies accompanying bone disease, namely: de Tony-Debre-Fanconi syndrome (autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked), renal distal metabolic acidosis type I (classic, autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive inheritance), renal distal tubular metabolic acidosis I (autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive inheritance) and type II (autosomal recessive inheritance accompanying delayed mental development and eye disorders), combined distal and proximal renal tubular metabolic acidosis type III (autosomal recessive inheritance characterized by osteoporosis), hypophosphatemia rickets (X-linked dominant, autosomal dominant, primary hypercalciuria, autosomal recessive inheritance). However, the diagnosis of tubulopathy remains complex and requires expensive laboratory equipment and specialist expertise; it can be diagnosed in children showing the following symptoms: impaired growth, vitamin D resistant rickets (lower limb deformities between 2 and 3 years of age). In the evaluation of such patients urine analysis is commonly used (levels of calcium, phosphorus, pH, bicarbonate, sodium, potassium, glucose, creatinine, protein, amino acids), blood count (levels of creatinine, uric acid, alkaline phosphatase, glucose, pH and sodium, bicarbonate, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus ions), ultrasound of the kidneys to detect nephrocalcinosis. Determination of serum parathyroid hormone concentration, vitamin D metabolites, aldosterone and plasma renin activity, cysteine lymphocyte concentration (suspicion to diagnose cystinosis) and ophthalmologist examination may also be used as additional diagnostic methods. Despite the fact that most tubulopathies can be diagnosed clinically, molecular genetic studies are needed to clarify the type of inheritance and prognosis. The use of calcitriol will help in the management of phosphorous levels in the blood. Correction of vitamin D deficiency state is not required. Calcitriol supplementation may prevent secondary hyperparathyroidism resulting from increased phosphate intake.