bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resistance to K. pneumoniae in young children with congenital heart defects
Authors: Ilina V. N. , Strunin O. V. , Samoylova L. M. , Gorbatykh Yu. N. , Solovev O. N.
Published: June 2018

Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the leading agents of nosocomial infections (NI). In Russia, Klebsiella pneumoniae is the third in frequency of gram-negative pathogen NI. For a long time one of the major clinically relevant mechanisms of acquired resistance to K. pneumoniae is multidrug resistance caused by extended spectrum -lactamase production (ESBL). Carbapenems show the greatest resistance to the action of ESB. However, now there exist registered strains of K.pneumoniae resistant to carbapenems. In connection with this in 2008 we conducted a prospective study on resistance to K. pneumoniae in young children being treated at ICU. It was found out that resistance to III-IV-generation cephalosporines, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides is determined by production of ESBL, while resistance to carbapenems occurs due to reduction of permeability of cell membranes, in combination with production of ESBL. Some features of patients colonized with multidrug-resistant strains of K. pneumoniae are described.
Current possibilities for developing nuclear medicine in Russia
Authors: Markova V. D. , Pukhalskiy A. N.
Published: June 2018

Focus in this article is placed on the areas of application of nuclear medicine methods, the existing structure of the nuclear medicine market in the world and the scope of implementation of these methods into practice of the Russian health care. Some criteria for selecting the regions and medical institutions to be taking part in the implementation of the national program on the development of nuclear medicine are determined. The existing experience is pooled and the conclusions drawn by experts on the challenges and opportunities of training highly qualified non-medical specialists for nuclear medicine are given.
British tank troops in the 1930s in views of the Soviet military and technical experts
Authors:   Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Petunin Konstantin Borisovich
Published: June 2018

The study examines the state of British tank troops in the 1930s reflected in the reports of the Soviet military and technical experts. The paper demonstrated the systemic problems of the British military industry and tank troops which played an important role in the preparation of the UK for the Second World War. The author concluded that the peculiarities of the development and production of armored vehicles along with the deteriorating training of personnel led to a weak position of the British armored forces in the early stages of the war. These shortcomings are evident when studying the reports of the Soviet military and technical experts. The research is based on the archival records of the Russian State Military Archives, the National Archives of Great Britain, transcripts of meetings of the British Parliament, domestic and international scientific literature.
The organizational structure of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the mid-20th century
Authors:   Kolomna Theological Seminary, Yasenitsky Vasiliy Matveyevich
Published: June 2018

The study deals with the church and canonical structure of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the mid-20th century. At that time, its canonical units could operate freely only in the Ukrainian diaspora. The Patriarchal Charter of 1973 was translated into Russian and analyzed. This is a church canonical act regulating the activities of the institutional forms and bodies of ecclesiastical administration of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church prior to the adoption of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches in 1990. The claims of the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to the rank of patriarch were declared in this document. The continuity between this Eastern Catholic Church and the so-called Kiev Church was noted; their jurisdictional boundaries were defined. The system of the highest ecclesiastical administration (Patriarchal Council, Local Council, Permanent Synod) was presented. The return of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to the conciliarity of church administration was proclaimed. In the Charter, the name of jurisdiction was indicated as the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Spatial and temporal representations in the public mind of the North Caucasus Cossacks in the late 18th – early 19th centuries
Authors:   Armavir Institute of Mechanics  and Technology (branch) of  Kuban State Technological University, Semenov Aleksandr Albertovich
Published: June 2018

The study discusses the spatial and temporal representations of the North Caucasus Cossacks later reflected in the public consciousness of the inhabitants of the region. The research analyzes various historical, geographical, social and cultural factors determining their specific nature and manifestation in the everyday life of the Cossacks, the attitude of the latter to the surrounding reality. In the author’s opinion, they had a significant impact on the values, standards of social and cultural life of the Cossacks, their daily life and routine and formed a special type of consciousness inherent in representatives of the Russian South. Accordingly, the purpose of the study is to identify the significant differences in these ideas of public consciousness of the inhabitants of the region and the all-Russian ones. The novelty of the study lies in the fact that on its basis the author reveals the social and cultural type of the personality which has been formed in the regional social environment. The study analyzes the specific features of the worldview of the population of the North Caucasus and its reflection in the social structure and economic activity in the region. The research findings may be useful in developing the modalities for the implementation of the national policy of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus as one of the most sensitive and specific regions in the modern Russian state.
La rationalité théologique chez Paul Ricœur
Authors: Quesada Rodríguez Francisco
Published: June 2018

L’herméneutique phénoménologique de Paul Ricœur nous donne la possibilité de réfléchir sur le statut rationnel de la théologie et sur l’éthique chrétienne, dans la mesure où conjointement le langage et l’action peuvent constituer une science humaine qui parle de Dieu et de l’homme à un même niveau épistémologique. Une telle rationalité, d’après Ricœur, doit mettre en jeu une nouvelle théologie anthropologique, qui reformule et raconte la « sagesse pratique » de la théologie chrétienne dans le cadre de la raison contemporaine. Afin d’analyser cette rationalité théologique, nous prendrons pour base les Gifford Lectures de Ricœur publiés dans Soi-même comme un autre (1990) et Amour et Justice (2008), ouvrages considérés comme une synthèse de sa pensée philosophique, sans nous priver de faire aussi parfois un retour ou un détour par quelques idées contenues dans d’autres ouvrages.
Co mówią o życiu książki o śmierci. Analiza wybranej literatury przedmiotu
Authors: Sztobryn-Bochomulska Justyna
Published: June 2018

Tekst jest analizą wybranej dziecięcej literatury o śmierci. Mimo iż literatura ta mogłaby wydawać się niedojrzała, to teksty te zawierają w sobie przesłanie, które nie tylko oswaja z trudnym tematem odchodzenia, ale między wierszami skrywa filozofię życia. W artykule podejmuję próbę ukazania tej filozofii.
Ogólna kompetencja pedagogiczna: w poszukiwaniu specyfiki kształcenia ogólnopedagogicznego. Rozważania teoretyczne i raport z badania empirycznego
Authors: Stępkowski Dariusz
Published: June 2018

O pedagogice ogólnej jako przedmiocie kształcenia studentów kierunków pedagogicznych twierdzi się dość powszechnie, że pełni ona podstawową funkcję w kształtowaniu ich myślenia profesjonalnego, a w przyszłości również działania. Niestety w codzienności akademickiej pozycja pedagogiki ogólnej bywa umniejszana, a niekiedy nawet kwestionowana. To świadczy o pilnej potrzebie doprecyzowania wkładu tej subdyscypliny nauk o wychowaniu w proces kształcenia adeptów sztuki wychowania. W pierwszej części niniejszego artykułu zrekonstruowano pojęcie kompetencji obowiązujące w szkolnictwie wyższym w Polsce i w krytycznej dyskusji z nim opracowano model dostosowany do specyfiki pedagogiki ogólnej. Druga część zawiera raport z badania, którego celem była weryfikacja zaproponowanego modelu. Po przeprowadzeniu analizy zgromadzonych danych okazało się, że sposób myślenia studentów kierunków pedagogicznych nie różni się od potocznych poglądów na wychowanie studentów innych kierunków i nie zmienia się znacząco w trakcie studiowania pedagogiki ogólnej.
First Archivists in the Russian Far East
Authors:   Vladivostok State University of Economics and Services, Vladivostok, Russian Federation, Khisamutdinova Natalia V.
Published: June 2018

The article studies the creation of the first archival organization in Primorye, the Primorye Regional Archival Committee. It was due to the efforts of professors of the history and philology faculty (later, part of the Far Eastern State University), one of the first higher education institutions in the Russian Far East, established in Vladivostok in 1918 by the inteligentsia escaping the Civil War. The article attempts to identify and systematize the scattered papers of departmental archives in order to promote the development of the archiving and the study of the region. The research has revealed several factors that contributed to the emergence of archiving in the Far East, one of them large-scale migration during the Civil War with predominance of educated and enterprising people. After receiving the status of scientific institution, the Primorye Regional Archival Committee (later, the Primorye Province Archival Bureau) reviewed, collected, and described documents in major departmental archives of the region, thus laying the foundation of archiving in the Russian Far East, and, moreover, identified historical artifacts, thus providing a headstart for archaeologists and ethnographers. The first archivists laid down professional foundations for archival studies in the Far East. Their methodological recommendations published in the Bulletin of the Primorie Regional Archival Committee (Izvestiya Primorskoi oblastnoi arkhivnoi komissii) or separately haven’t yet lost their significance. Promulgation of archiving and public involvement in the search for valuable historical records and objects provide an example of skill and efficacy. These activities were all the more significant since they started on a voluntary basis, with no official support or funding. The article draws on publications and materials from the personal archive of A. P. Georgievsky (1888–1955), archivist and educator. New materials help to clarify the first archivists’ biographical data and to assess the significance of their activities in identifying and collecting data about the history of the Far East and for further development of its archives.
Distinctness of Formation and Development of the Health Care System during Occupation of the Stary Oskol District, Kursk Region
Authors:   Gubkin branch of the V.G.Shukhov Belgorod State Technological University, Gubkin, Russian Federation, Kovalev Vladimir I.
Published: June 2018

The article studies how the occupational authorities established medical institutions and developed health services in the Stary Oskol district of the Kursk region from July 2, 1942 to February 5, 1943. The author has analyzed scholarship and archival materials and concluded that the problem needs a further study. The article analyzes the process of medical institutions reconstruction. It focuses on the formation of financial resources, which was indispensable for their restoration, and the outset of their work. The author underscores the difficulties in providing medical institutions with professional personnel, and secondly, the instances of collaboration among the local population. Such cooperation could be justified not just by self-preservation, but also by preoccupation with public needs. Collaboration on the territory of the Stary Oskol district occupied by the German troops was not extensive. However, the health care was under-stuffed and badly supplied, the population had little food and less money, which resulted in rising death rates in the Stary Oskol district. A large part of the documents is being now introduced into scientific use by the article. It significantly expands traditional notions of the national scholarship on the occupation regime, the difficulties in medical institutions development and healthcare delivery to the local population and the prisoners of war, thus allowing a better understanding of the problem. The novelty of the article is in its being a first study of formation and development of the health care system under the new political regime and of social collaborationism manifestations among an insignificant part of the civilian population during the occupation of the Stary Oskol district, Kursk region.
Training of Far Eastern Internal Affairs Agencies for Action under the Conditions of the Special Period in 1970-1972
Authors:   Far Eastern Law Institute of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Khabarovsk, Russian Federation, Dorokhov Vyacheslav Z. , Sinichenko Vladimir V. ,   Vladivostok branch of the Law Institute of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Vladivostok, Russian Federation
Published: June 2018

Drawing on unique documents that have not yet been introduced into scientific use, the article reviews the activities of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs in training its agencies for probable border war with China. A series of events was conducted by Shchelokov, Minister of the Internal Affairs of the USSR, in order to strengthen the regional internal affairs agencies. It included introduction of a list of ‘advanced alert,’ ‘special period,’ and ‘covert mobilization’ signals, accompanied by a list of mandatory positions. The article focuses on the work of internal affairs agencies in the Far East border areas and the Khabarovsk special secondary school of militia of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR in particular, all of which hurried to fine-tune public order and state security maintenance, evacuation of the population and the internal affairs bodies in case of onset of the Special Period. Significantly, the Khabarovsk special secondary school of militia of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR was to become not just a base for accelerated training of officers, but also a military reserve in case of enemy assault. It also was to enforce public order in case of mass riots. The manpower strength of the school allowed to form a battalion of 3 rifle companies. The author underscores that all measures implemented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR were carried out in close cooperation with the KGB under the Council of Ministers of the USSR and its regional agencies. Training for Special Period was multifaceted, it included propaganda support via mass media, control over radio-broadcasting in the territories bordering China, camouflage of installations at the expense of the forest fund, mobilization by rail and road transport, etc.
Nine years review of emergency peripartum hysterectomy at tertiary care university teaching hospital
Authors: Singh Alka , Shrestha Sarada Dulal , Pradhan Anagha
Published: June 2018

Introductions: This study documented the frequency, indications, and outcome of emergency obstetric hysterectomies in a tertiary care hospital in Nepal.Methods: This was a nine years retrospective study of peripartum hysterectomy at Patan Hospital, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Nepal, during 2006 to 2014. Patients’ charts were retrieved from the medical record section for review. Study variables included previous obstetric history, details of the index pregnancy, indications for peripartum hysterectomy, outcome of the hysterectomy and infant morbidity.Results: There were total of 73,130 deliveries. Emergency peripartum hysterectomies were performed in 28 (0.04%), of which 23 (82%) after cesarean and 5 (18%) after vaginal delivery. The primary indication for hysterectomy was uterine atony with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), and placental causes with PPH and uterine rupture. Twelve (43%) patients had postoperative complications. There was one maternal and two neonatal mortalities, and one stillbirth.Conclusion: The rate of emergency peripartum hysterectomy in our institute is low at 0.04%, indications were primarily due to uterine atony with postpartum hemorrhage.Journal of Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2016. page:23-26
Neisseria gonorrhoeae Aggregation Reduces Its Ceftriaxone Susceptibility
Authors: Wang Liang-Chun , Litwin Madeline , Sahiholnasab Zahraossadat , Song Wenxia , Stein Daniel C.
Published: June 2018

Antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) has become an emerging threat worldwide and heightens the need for monitoring treatment failures. N. gonorrhoeae, a gram-negative bacterium responsible for gonorrhea, infects humans exclusively and can form aggregates during infection. While minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests are often used for determining antibiotic resistance development and treatment, the knowledge of the true MIC in individual patients and how it relates to this laboratory measure is not known. We examined the effect of aggregation on GC antibiotic susceptibility and the relationship between bacterial aggregate size and their antibiotic susceptibility. Aggregated GC have a higher survival rate when treated with ceftriaxone than non-aggregated GC, with bacteria in the core of the aggregates surviving the treatment. GC lacking opacity-associated protein or pili, or expressing a truncated lipooligosaccharide, three surface molecules that mediate GC-GC interactions, reduce both aggregation and ceftriaxone survival. This study demonstrates that the aggregation of N. gonorrhoeae can reduce the susceptibility to antibiotics, and suggests that antibiotic utilization can select for GC surface molecules that promote aggregation which in turn drive pathogen evolution. Inhibiting aggregation may be a potential way of increasing the efficacy of ceftriaxone treatment, consequently reducing treatment failure.
A Low-Cost Inkjet-Printed Paper-Based Potentiostat
Authors: Bezuidenhout Petroné , Smith Suzanne , Joubert Trudi-Heleen
Published: June 2018

The work presented details the manufacturing of a low-cost hybrid inkjet-printed paper-based potentiostat, with the aim of creating a low-cost sensing system for rapid water quality monitoring. Potentiostats exhibit high sensitivities and can be used for a variety of applications. The results highlight the functionality of a paper-based potentiostat compared to a potentiostat manufactured on a printed circuit board (PCB), an LMP91000EVM development board and a laboratory-based Metrohm Autolab potentiostat. Cyclic voltammetry was performed using an 80 µL sample of 5 mM ferri-ferrocyanide dropped onto a commercial screen-printed electrode from DropSens. The miniaturized paper-based potentiostat is small enough to be stored in a wallet and therefore easy to transport. Furthermore, a cost analysis shows that the potentiostat is 10 times lower in cost than the commercially available handheld potentiostat, taking the costs of man hours into account. This technology enables electrochemistry experiments to be performed on-site using the portable, disposable and low-cost solution and can be applied to a variety of fields including healthcare, wearables and environmental monitoring.
Self-Powered Fast Brazing of Ti-6Al-4V Using Ni/Al Reactive Multilayer Films
Authors: Bridges Denzel , Rouleau Christopher , Gosser Zachary , Smith Cary , Zhang Zhili , Hong Kunlun , Cheng Jinquan , Bar-Cohen Yoseph , Hu Anming
Published: June 2018

Self-powered brazing of Ti-6Al-4V was performed using Ni/Al reactive multilayer films (RMFs) as self-propagated heat resources. BAlSi-4 was first coated on Ti-6Al-4V by plasma welding, then alternating layers of Ni and Al were successfully deposited on BAlSi-4 up to 32.9 μm thick with e-beam deposition. The joint microstructure was investigated and the AlNi and Ni5Al3 phases were identified in the RMF. The cause for the two phases was determined to be differences in the diffusivity of Ni and Al, ultrafast brazing time, and faster cooling at the interface between brazing filler metal and the RMF. The maximum temperature of 683 °C was reached in the brazed joint, with a total RMF thickness of 135 μm, which is more than sufficient to melt the BAlSi-4 brazing material. The maximum bonding strength obtained was 10.6 MPa, with a self-power brazing procedure conducted in a minute. It is possible to further improve the bonding strength by using more ductile RMFs and/or modifying the bonding interface configuration.
Sensitivity of Yeast Mutants Deficient in Mitochondrial or Vacuolar ABC Transporters to Pathogenesis-Related Protein TcPR-10 of Theobroma cacao
Authors: Barreto Louise R. , Barreto Thayná , Melo Sonia , Pungartnik Cristina , Brendel Martin
Published: June 2018

Pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs) are induced in plants after infection by pathogens and/or abiotic stress. Among these proteins, the family 10 (PR-10) influences the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and shows antimicrobial ribonuclease activity. TcPR-10p (Pathogenesis-related Protein 10 of Theobroma cacao) was isolated from resistant and susceptible Moniliophthora perniciosa cacao cultivars. Cell survival with Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant lines deficient in ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter proteins indicated the influence on resistance to TcPR-10p. Proteins of the ABC transport type are considered important in the process of resistance to antimicrobials and toxins. Thus, the objective of this work was to observe the sensitivity of ABC transporter yeast mutants in the presence of the TcPR-10p. Chronic exposure of S. cerevisiae mitochondrial (BYatm1Δ and BYmdl1Δ) and vacuole (BYnft1Δ, BYvmr1Δ, BYybt1Δ, BYycf1Δ and BYbpt1Δ) ABC transporter mutants to TcPR-10p (3 μg/mL, 0, 6, 12 and 24 h) was performed. Two TcPR-10p sensitive strains (BYmdl1Δ and BYnft1Δ) were submitted to a fluorescence test with the fluorogenic dihydroethidium (DHE), to visualize the presence of oxidative stress in the cells. Oxidative stress-increased sensitivity was confirmed by flow cytometry indicating induced cell death either via apoptosis or necrosis. This yeast data combined with previous data of literature (of M. perniciosa sensitivity to TcPR-10p) show that increased sensitivity to TcPR-10p in these mutants could be due to the TcPR10p-generated higher levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to increased cell death either via necrosis or apoptosis.
Interval Outcomes of a Lifestyle Weight-Loss Intervention in Early Adolescence
Authors: Wei Christina , Candler Toby , Crowne Elizabeth , Hamilton-Shield Julian P.
Published: June 2018

We undertook a feasibility study to reassess metabolic outcomes in young people with early onset obesity who attended a hospital-based lifestyle weight-loss intervention during adolescence. Comparisons of metabolic assessments, including body mass index standard deviation scores (BMI–SDSs), blood pressure (BP), oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs), lipid profile, and alanine transaminase (ALT), before and after treatment were made. Twenty-five subjects (10 males) with median ages (interquartile range, IQR) of 14.5 (12.6–15.4) years at the beginning of intervention and 18.2 (17.2–18.9) years at reassessment and who were 3.5 (2.4–6.5) years post-intervention were recruited. Twenty-eight percent had a ≥0.25 reduction in BMI–SDS from baseline (responders). Responders demonstrated significantly lower BMI–SDS, systolic BP, and glucose disposal at reassessment compared with baseline. They also showed significantly lower total fat percentage SDSs, trunk fat percentages, 120 min insulin, and ALT, as well as higher insulin sensitivity index (ISIcomp) than non-responders. Male gender and younger age at the initiation of intervention showed a non-significant trend towards greater success in weight loss. Long-term benefits were demonstrated in around one-quarter of obese adolescents after lifestyle modification treatment, with associated improvements in body composition and metabolic parameters.
Does Systematic Sampling Preserve Granger Causality with an Application to High Frequency Financial Data?
Authors: Rajaguru Gulasekaran , O’Neill Michael , Abeysinghe Tilak
Published: June 2018

In applied econometric literature, the causal inferences are often made based on temporally aggregated or systematically sampled data. A number of studies document that temporal aggregation has distorting effects on causal inference and systematic sampling of stationary variables preserves the direction of causality. Contrary to the stationary case, this paper shows for the bivariate VAR(1) system that systematic sampling induces spurious bi-directional Granger causality among the variables if the uni-directional causality runs from a non-stationary series to either a stationary or a non-stationary series. An empirical exercise illustrates the relative usefulness of the results further.
Exploitation of Microalgae Species for Nutraceutical Purposes: Cultivation Aspects
Authors: Saha Sushanta Kumar , Murray Patrick
Published: June 2018

Cyanobacteria and microalgae have been cultivated only for a limited number of bioactive compounds or biotechnological applications such as for carotenoids; essential omega-3 fatty acids; phycobilipigments; live cells, unprocessed or minimally processed complete biomass as aqua feed, animal feed and human health supplements as rich sources of proteins, carbohydrates, pigments, vitamins and minerals. However, cyanobacteria and microalgae have been reported through several research investigations as a potential source for various bioactive molecules with marketable nutraceutical and pharmaceutical properties. Therefore, more cultivation of cyanobacteria and microalgae species are waiting for new biotechnological applications. At present, the global demand for microalgal applications is focused on biofuels including biodiesel and bioethanol apart from a handful (mentioned above) of bioactive compounds which are mostly used as nutraceuticals. Thus, microalgal biorefinery is growing rapidly for multiple commodities production from both conventional and photobioreactor-based cultivation for biomass feedstocks for various biotechnological applications. This review presents the cultivation aspects of selected cyanobacteria and microalgae for commercial purposes.
Whole Grain Muffin Acceptance by Young Adults
Authors: Mellette Thomas , Yerxa Kathryn , Therrien Mona , Camire Mary Ellen
Published: June 2018

Adolescents and young adults in the United States do not consume recommended amounts of whole grains. University dining services have opportunities to inform students about whole grains and to offer foods containing blends of whole grains with refined flour to increase daily consumption of these healthful foods. An online survey of university students (n = 100) found that 70% of respondents did not know the proportion of servings of whole grains that should be eaten daily. Mini blueberry muffins containing 50, 75, and 100% white whole wheat flour were served to 50 undergraduate students who rated their liking of the muffins using a nine-point hedonic scale. Respondents liked all muffin formulations similarly for appearance, taste, texture and overall liking. After the whole grain content of each muffin was revealed, 66% of students increased their liking of the muffins containing 100% whole wheat flour. Only half of the students increased their liking for the 75% whole wheat flour muffins, and most students reported no change in liking for the muffins made with the lowest percentage of whole wheat flour. Labeling whole grain foods in university foodservice operations may increase consumption of this food group by some students. Further research with actual purchase behavior is needed.
Pain and Pain Medication among Older People with Intellectual Disabilities in Comparison with the General Population
Authors: Axmon Anna , Ahlström Gerd , Westergren Hans
Published: June 2018

Little is known about pain and pain treatment among people with intellectual disabilities (IDs). We aimed to describe pain and pain medications among older people with ID compared to the general population. Data on diagnoses and prescriptions were collected from national registers for the period between 2006 and 2012 for 7936 people with an ID and a referent cohort from the general population. IDs were associated with a decreased risk of being diagnosed with headaches, musculoskeletal pain, and pain related to the circulatory and respiratory systems, but they were associated with increased risk of being diagnosed with pain related to the urinary system. Among men, IDs were associated with an increased risk of being diagnosed with visceral pain. People with IDs were more likely to be prescribed paracetamol and fentanyl regardless of the type of pain but were less likely to be prescribed COX(1+2) and COX2 inhibitors and weak opioids. Healthcare staff and caregivers must be made aware of signs of pain among people with IDs who may not be able to communicate it themselves. Further research is needed to investigate whether people with IDs are prescribed paracetamol rather than other pain drugs due to physicians trying to avoid polypharmacy or if there are other reasons not to prescribe a greater range of pain treatments.
HidroMap: A New Tool for Irrigation Monitoring and Management Using Free Satellite Imagery
Authors: Piedelobo Laura , Ortega-Terol Damián , Del Pozo Susana , Hernández-López David , Ballesteros Rocío , Moreno Miguel A. , Molina José-Luis , González-Aguilera Diego
Published: June 2018

Proper control and planning of water resource use, especially in those catchments with large surface, climatic variability and intensive irrigation activity, is essential for a sustainable water management. Decision support systems based on useful tools involving main stakeholders and hydrological planning offices of the river basins play a key role. The free availability of Earth observation products with high temporal resolution, such as the European Sentinel-2B, has allowed us to combine remote sensing with cadastral and agronomic data. This paper introduces HidroMap to the scientific community, an open source tool as a geographic information system (GIS) organized in two different modules, desktop-GIS and web-GIS, with complementary functions and based on PostgreSQL/PostGIS database. Through an effective methodology HidroMap allows monitoring irrigation activity, managing unregulated irrigation, and optimizing available fluvial surveillance resources using satellite imagery. This is possible thanks to the automatic download, processing and storage of satellite products within field data provided by the River Surveillance Agency (RSA) and the Hydrological Planning Office (HPO). The tool was successfully validated in Duero Hydrographic Basin along the 2017 summer irrigation period. In conclusion, HidroMap comprised an important support tool for water management tasks and decision making tackled by Duero Hydrographic Confederation which can be adapted to any additional need and transferred to other river basin organizations.
Ganoderma lucidum Ameliorates Non-Alcoholic Steatosis by Upregulating Energy Metabolizing Enzymes in the Liver
Authors: Jung Soonwoong , Son Hyeonwi , Hwang Chung , Cho Kye , Park Sang , Kim Hyun
Published: June 2018

Non-alcoholic steatosis is a common health problem worldwide due to altered food habits and life styles, and it is intimately linked with various metabolic disorders. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of Ganoderma lucidum (GL) against the development of non-alcoholic steatosis using in vivo and in vitro settings. C57BL/6 mice fed with normal diet (ND) or high fat diet (HFD) were administered GL extract or vehicle for 16 weeks. HFD feeding increased serum alanine aminotransferase level and hepatic lipid droplet, but these increases were significantly attenuated by GL. GL inhibited the increases in epididymal and perirenal adipose tissue weights and serum cholesterol and LDL levels in HFD-fed mice. Fasting blood glucose levels were elevated in HFD-fed mice compared to ND-fed mice, and glucose and insulin sensitivities were deteriorated. These changes were markedly improved by GL. GL restored the reduction of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) phosphorylation in the liver of HFD-fed mice, and increased AMPK and ACC phosphorylation in HepG2 and 3T3-L1 cells. GL induced GLUT4 protein expression in 3T3-L1 cells. Finally, GL attenuated lipid accumulation induced by free fatty acid in HepG2 cells. Taken together, our results indicate that GL has a potential to improve non-alcoholic steatosis and the associated complicated disorders via the induction of energy metabolizing enzymes.
Betulin Suppresses Osteoclast Formation via Down-Regulating NFATc1
Authors: Kim Kwang-Jin , Lee Yongjin , Hwang Hae-Gwang , Sung Sang , Lee Mina , Son Young-Jin
Published: June 2018

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by osteoclast-mediated low bone mass. The modulation of osteoclasts is important for the prevention or therapeutic treatment of loss of bone mass. Osteoclasts, which are bone-resorbing multinucleated cells, are differentiated from the hematopoietic stem cell monocyte/macrophage lineage by Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) expressed from osteoblasts and stromal cells. RANKL signaling ultimately activates nuclear factor of activated T Cells 1 (NFATc1), which is a master transcription factor in osteoclastogenesis. Betulin, a lupine type pentacyclic triterpenoid, was isolated from the bark of Betula platyphylla. Betulin inhibited RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation by downregulating NFATc1. Betulin may serve as a useful structural scaffold in the therapeutic agent development to prevention/treatment the osteoclast-mediated bone disorder.
Large-Scale Land Concessions, Migration, and Land Use: The Paradox of Industrial Estates in the Red River Delta of Vietnam and Rubber Plantations of Northeast Cambodia
Authors: Fox Jefferson , Nghiem Tuyen , Kimkong Ham , Hurni Kaspar , Baird Ian G.
Published: June 2018

This study investigated the implications of large-scale land concessions in the Red River Delta, Vietnam, and Northeast Cambodia with regard to urban and agricultural frontiers, agrarian transitions, migration, and places from which the migrant workers originated. Field interviews conducted near large-scale land concessions for industrial estates in the Red River Delta and rubber plantations in Northeast Cambodia suggest that these radically different concessions are paradoxically leading to similar reconfigurations of livelihoods, labor patterns, and landscapes despite basic differences in these forms of land use. Both the Red River Delta and Northeast Cambodia are frontier environments undergoing extensive agrarian change with migration to work in the large-scale land concessions leading to a shortage of farm labor that anticipates changes in farming practices and farm livelihoods. These population movements will lead to further land-use changes as governments invest in the infrastructure and services needed to support increased population density in the receiving areas. In addition, labor migrations associated with these investments affect land-use practices both at the site of the concession and the places from where the migrants originate.
Effect of Different Dosages of ST36 Indirect Moxibustion on the Skin Temperature of the Lower Legs and Feet
Authors: Kuge Hiroshi , Mori Hidetoshi , Morisawa Tateyuki , Hanyu Kazuyo , Miyazaki Junji , Watanabe Mayumi , Tanaka Tim
Published: June 2018

Background: Indirect moxibustion (IM) has been previously performed between the spinous process while recording skin temperature of the trunk. However, moxibustion is often applied not only to acupuncture points on the back, but also to points located on the limbs. Thus, there is a need to investigate skin temperature (ST) responses following IM applied to the limbs. Methods: In Experiment 1 (Exp 1), subjects were randomly assigned to three groups: the left IM stimulation, right IM stimulation and control groups. In Experiment 2 (Exp 2), the subjects underwent two experimental sessions consisting of a single stimulation of IM or triple stimulations of IM. The IM stimulation was administered to the ST36 acupuncture point. A thermograph was used to obtain the ST on the lower limbs. Results: In Exp 1, the ST of the lower limbs increased in the stimulation groups whereas there was no increase in the non-stimulation group. In Exp 2, no significant response occurred between the single and triple stimulation of IM groups for all observed sites except for the left ankle ST. Conclusions: Lower limb ST increased following IM application to the ST36 point. No difference was observed between the dosage of the stimulation and ST responses.
Wetting Properties of Defective Graphene Oxide: A Molecular Simulation Study
Authors: Xu Ke , Zhang Jicheng , Hao Xiaoli , Zhang Chunbo , Wei Ning , Zhang Chao
Published: June 2018

In the present work, the wettability of defective graphene oxide (GO) film is studied by molecular dynamics simulations. A water droplet is deposited on the surface of a graphene oxide membrane, and the contact angle is measured by fitting the liquid–vapor interface. Although pristine graphene has few hydrophobic properties with a contact angle of 95°, graphene oxide presents more hydrophilic properties, due to the stronger hydrogen bonds interactions at the interface. Moreover, the introduction of vacancy defects at the graphene oxide surface decreases the wettability of graphene oxide. We find that the contact angle of graphene oxide increases from 70° to 82°, with a defective concentration from 0% to 10%. Our results will help provide a new method for controlling the wetting properties of GO and its additional capabilities in device design for applications.
Understanding the Molecule-Electrode Interface for Molecular Spintronic Devices: A Computational and Experimental Study
Authors: Rosado Piquer Lidia , Sánchez Raquel Royo , Sañudo E. Carolina , Echeverría Jorge
Published: June 2018

A triple-decker SYML-Dy2 single-molecule magnet (SMM) was synthetized and grafted onto the surface of iron oxide nanoparticles (IO-NPs) coated by an oleic acid monolayer. The magnetism of the SYML-Dy2 complex, and the hybrid system, NP-Dy2, were studied by a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to study both the energetics of the interaction between SYML-Dy2 complex to the organic capping, and the assembly presented by the oleic acid chains.
Anticoagulant Activities of Indobufen, an Antiplatelet Drug
Authors: Liu Jia , Xu Dan , Xia Nian , Hou Kai , Chen Shijie , Wang Yu , Li Yunman
Published: June 2018

Indobufen is a new generation of anti-platelet aggregation drug, but studies were not sufficient on its anticoagulant effects. In the present study, the anticoagulant activity of indobufen was determined by monitoring the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT) in rabbit plasma. We evaluated the anticoagulant mechanisms on the content of the platelet factor 3,4 (PF3,4), and the coagulation factor 1, 2, 5, 8, 10 (FI, II, V, VIII, X) in rabbits, as well as the in vivo bleeding time and clotting time in mice. The pharmacodynamic differences between indobufen and warfarin sodium, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran were further studied on thrombus formation and the content of FII and FX in rats. Animal experiments showed that intragastric-administrated indobufen can significantly reduce the APTT, PT, TT, PF3, FI, II, V, VIII, and X plasma contents. Its inhibitory effect on plasma FII was better than thrombin inhibitor dabigatran with effect on FX better than FXa inhibitor rivaroxaban. These results suggest that indobufen has some anticoagulant effects as strong as some conventional anticoagulants. The mechanism may be related to both exogenous and endogenous coagulation system.
Anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis Activity of Esters of Quinoxaline 1,4-Di-N-Oxide
Authors: Palos Isidro , Luna-Herrera Julieta , Lara-Ramírez Edgar E. , Loera-Piedra Alejandra , Fernández-Ramírez Emanuel , Aguilera-Arreola Ma. Guadalupe , Paz-González Alma D. , Monge Antonio , Wan Baojie , Franzblau Scott , Rivera Gildardo
Published: June 2018

Tuberculosis continues to be a public health problem in the world, and drug resistance has been a major obstacle in its treatment. Quinoxaline 1,4-di-N-oxide has been proposed as a scaffold to design new drugs to combat this disease. To examine the efficacy of this compound, this study evaluates methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, and n-propyl esters of quinoxaline 1,4-di-N-oxide derivatives in vitro against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (pansusceptible and monoresistant strains). Additionally, the inhibitory effect of esters of quinoxaline 1,4-di-N-oxide on M. tuberculosis gyrase supercoiling was examined, and a stability analysis by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) was also carried out. Results showed that eight compounds (T-007, T-018, T-011, T-069, T-070, T-072, T-085 and T-088) had an activity similar to that of the reference drug isoniazid (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 0.12 µg/mL) with an effect on nonreplicative cells and drug monoresistant strains. Structural activity relationship analysis showed that the steric effect of an ester group at 7-position is key to enhancing its biological effects. Additionally, T-069 showed a high stability after 24 h in human plasma at 37 °C.
16S rDNA Profiling to Reveal the Influence of Seed-Applied Biostimulants on the Rhizosphere of Young Maize Plants
Authors: Visioli Giovanna , Sanangelantoni Anna Maria , Vamerali Teofilo , Dal Cortivo Cristian , Blandino Massimo
Published: June 2018

In an open field trial on two agricultural soils in NW Italy, the impact of two seed-applied biostimulants on the rhizosphere bacterial community of young maize plants was evaluated. The 16S rDNA profiling was carried out on control and treated plant rhizosphere samples collected at the 4-leaf stage and on bulk soil. In both soils, the rhizospheres were significantly enriched in Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteriodetes, while the abundances of Acidobacteria, Cloroflexi and Gemmatimonadetes decreased compared with bulk soil. Among the culturable bacteria genera that showed an increase by both biostimulants, most are known to be beneficial for nutrient uptake, such as Opitutus, Chryseolinea, Terrimonas, Rhodovastum, Cohnella, Pseudoduganella and the species Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans; others are known to be involved in root growth, such as Niastella, Labrys, Chloroflexia and Thermomonas; or in plant defence, such as Ohtaekwangia, Quadrisphaera, Turneriella, and Actinoallomurus. Both biostimulants were also found to stimulate gen. Nannocystis, a potential biocompetitive agent against aflatoxigenic Aspergillus moulds. Under controlled conditions, both biostimulants enhanced the shoot and root biomass at the 4–5 leaf stage. We conclude that the biostimulants do not decrease the biodiversity of the microbial community rhizosphere of young maize plants, but stimulate rare bacterial taxa, some involved in plant growth and pathogen resistance, a result that may have implications in improving crop management.
Cryptic species of Curvularia in the culture collection of the Queensland Plant Pathology Herbarium
Authors: Tan Yu Pei , Crous Pedro W. , Shivas Roger G.
Published: June 2018

Several unidentified specimens of Curvularia deposited in the Queensland Plant Pathology Herbarium were re-examined. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequence data of the internal transcribed spacer region, partial fragments of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and the translation elongation factor 1-α genes, supported the introduction of 13 novel Curvularia species. Eight of the species described, namely, C.beasleyi sp. nov., C.beerburrumensis sp. nov., C.eragrosticola sp. nov., C.kenpeggii sp. nov., C.mebaldsii sp. nov., C.petersonii sp. nov., C.platzii sp. nov. and C.warraberensis sp. nov., were isolated from grasses (Poaceae) exotic to Australia. Only two species, C.lamingtonensis sp. nov. and C.sporobolicola sp. nov., were described from native Australian grasses. Two species were described from hosts in other families, namely, C.coatesiae sp. nov. from Litchichinensis (Sapindaceae) and C.colbranii sp. nov. from Crinumzeylanicum (Amaryllidaceae). Curvulariareesii sp. nov. was described from an isolate obtained from an air sample. Furthermore, DNA sequences from ex-type cultures supported the generic placement of C.neoindica and the transfer of Drechsleraboeremae to Curvularia.
Longterm Outcomes of 188 Japanese Patients with Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
Authors: Saku Aiko , Furuta Shunsuke , Hiraguri Masaki , Ikeda Kei , Kobayashi Yoshihisa , Kagami Shin-ichiro , Kurasawa Kazuhiro , Matsumura Ryutaro , Nakagomi Daiki , Sugiyama Takao , Umibe Takeshi , Watanabe Norihiko , Nakajima Hiroshi
Published: June 2018

Objective.

Patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) frequently experience relapses, which lead to cumulative organ damage. In this retrospective observational study, we aimed to reveal the risk factors for relapse in EGPA.

Methods.

A total of 188 Japanese patients with EGPA diagnosed between 1996 and 2015 were identified from medical records in 10 hospitals. The diagnosis was based on the American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria or Lanham’s criteria. Baseline characteristics, treatments, asthma exacerbation, and relapses were evaluated by retrospective chart review.

Results.

The median followup period was 56 months. The median age at disease onset was 59.7 years. At the disease onset, 95.2% of the patients had a history of bronchial asthma and 44.7% were positive for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. The cumulative survival and relapse-free survival rates at 5 years were 89.6% and 64.0%, respectively. Multivariate analysis with 2 models, proportional hazards, and competing risk models, was performed to identify the factors associated with relapse. The proportional hazards model identified azathioprine (AZA) maintenance therapy and high eosinophil counts at onset as independent factors with lower relapse risks, and high immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels at onset as a risk factor for relapse. The competing risk model identified no statistically significant factors.

Conclusion.

Although potential benefit of AZA maintenance therapy in preventing relapse of EGPA was suggested by the proportional hazards model, there was a discrepancy in the results between the models. Eosinophil counts and IgE levels at onset were also identified as candidates of factors associated with relapse in EGPA.
Empathy, enemies and present participles: A review of Justify the enemy: Becoming human in South Africa
Authors: Thackwray Sara
Published: June 2018

No abstract available.