bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Institutional Education and Multilingualism: PlurCur® as a Prototype of a Multilingual Whole School Policy
Authors: Hufeisen Britta
Published: January 2018

In this article, a prototype of a whole school curriculum will be introduced which could be a framework for including more foreign languages than usual and for combining systematically foreign language instruction with content teaching, thereby enhancing the opportunities for school development. It has been tested as a political instrument for school development; examples of good practice will be given. In this article, it will be shown what this whole school language curriculum looks like, how it can be implemented and which research results were obtained.
Cognitive discourse functions in Austrian CLIL lessons: towards an empirical validation of the CDF Construct
Authors: Dalton-Puffer Christiane , Bauer-Marschallinger Silvia , Brückl-Mackey Katharina , Hofmann Victoria , Hopf Jennifer , Kröss Lisa , Lechner Lisa
Published: January 2018

It is now widely recognized among educators that explicit attention to language is necessary in order to optimize both language and content learning in situations, such as CLIL, where learners, teachers or both operate in a second language. However, the requirement of attention to language sits uneasily with the fact that content-subject specialist teachers frequently feel unprepared to think and operate in linguistic dimensions. In an attempt to create a conceptualisation that would speak to subject teachers in terms that are meaningful to them from within their own subjects, a Construct of Cognitive Discourse Functions (henceforth CDFs) has been proposed. This construct is theoretically founded in both educational curriculum theory and linguistic pragmatics and consists of a seven-fold categorization of verbalizations which express acts of thinking about subject matter in the classroom (CLASSIFY, DEFINE, DESCRIBE, EVALUATE, EXPLAIN, EXPLORE, REPORT). As the theoretical background of the CDF Construct has been discussed at length elsewhere (Dalton-Puffer 2013, 2016), it will be presented only briefly at the outset of this article. The main purpose of this contribution is to report on steps taken towards an empirical validation of the CDF Construct. A total of four smaller-scale studies each focusing on the classroom discourse in one subject (biology, physics, economics, history) will be surveyed in order to find answers to the questions of whether CDFs actually occur in classroom interaction and if they do, which and to what extent. Comparisons to a small complementary study on a set of EFL lessons will be made where appropriate. Results show that CDFs are indeed a staple of teaching and learning in classroom-based education but are in no way equally distributed. Also, they are almost never the object of conscious attention. As a number of further questions remain yet to be answered on the way towards empirical validation of a fully articulated CDF Construct, these will be discussed in the conclusion of the article.
On the different interpretations of sentence-initial ainsi ‘so’ and the competition between three types of Verb–Subject order
Authors: Karssenberg Lena , Lahousse Karen
Published: January 2018

This article is about different types of Subject–Verb inversion (nominal, pronominal, and complex inversion) in sentences introduced byainsi‘so, in this way’. We first make a distinction between four main interpretations: manner adverbainsi, quotativeainsi, consecutiveainsi(expressing either an intentional or an unintentional consequence), and illustrativeainsi. On the basis of a corpus study, we show that nominal inversion often (but not always) combines with the manner interpretation, whereas the predominant function ofainsi+ pronominal/complex inversion is to introduce an example or a consequence of the preceding discourse context. The data also contribute to the debate about the grammaticalization path ofainsi. Firstly, the unintentional consequence interpretation is argued to be a “bridging context” between manner and unintentional consequence. Secondly, given the preponderance of the illustrative interpretation, we argue that this under-researched interpretation be taken up in future diachronic and synchronic analyses ofainsiand its cross-linguistic counterparts.
Household food insecurity and its association with morbidity report among school adolescent in Jimma zone, Ethiopia
Authors: Tamiru Dessalegn , Belachew Tefera
Published: January 2018

Background

Household food insecurity has a substantial contribution to poor health outcomes among young children and adolescents. Food insecurity also affects optimal cognitive development and physiological function of these vulnerable groups. There is a gap of documented data regarding the association of food insecurity and morbidity among school adolescents in Ethiopia.

Objective

The aim of this study is to assess the interrelationship of household food insecurity and morbidity report among school adolescent in Jimma zone, Ethiopia.

Methods

A community based cross-sectional study was done from October to November, 2013. Data were gathered using structured questionnaires through interview of students and their caregivers. A total of 1000 students were selected by using simple random sampling methods using their rosters as a frame. Data were also checked for missing values and outliers, and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Regression analyses were used to see the strength of association between independent and dependent variables using odds ratios and 95% of confidence intervals.

Results

Adolescents from food insecure households had more reported illness (39.3%) than adolescents from food secure households (24.7%) (p < 0.001). Adolescents from food insecure households were two times more exposed to morbidity [AOR = 2.04(1.32, 3.14)] than adolescents from food secure households. This study also showed that males had 48% less reported illness [AOR = 0.52(0.01, 0.23)] than females. Adolescents who had attended health education had less reported illness [AOR = 0.57(0.38, 0.86)] than those who did not ever attend. This study also showed that having a farmer [AOR = 0.46(0.28, 0.74)] and government employee [AOR = 0.33 (0.17, 0.64)] father were inversely associated with adolescent morbidity.

Conclusion

The findings of this study showed that household food insecurity, female gender and lack of attending health education had a significant contribution to adolescent morbidity. Therefore, there is a need to improve household income earning capacity and strengthen school based health and nutrition education to prevent adolescent morbidity. The findings of this study can also be used to lead the development of programs aimed at preventing adolescent morbidity by notifying policymakers and other stakeholders about the association of morbidity with household food insecurity.
Adaptation and validation of the disruptive behaviour disorders teacher rating scale as a screening tool for early detection of disruptive behaviour disorders in schools in a lower-middle income setting
Authors: Olagundoye Olawunmi , Igundunasse Alex , Alugo Morenike
Published: January 2018

Background

Despite the need to curb the menace resulting from the negative trajectory of disruptive behaviour disorders (DBD) in societies of the world today, there is yet a dearth of locally standardised tools for the early detection of these disorders in Nigeria. This study was aimed at standardising the DBD teacher rating scale (DBD-TRS) to be culturally specific using teachers’ ratings of their students.

Objectives

To establish norm scores for the three categories of DBD on the DBD-TRS, to evaluate the reliability, validity, predictive power, sensitivity and specificity of DBD-TRS items for identifying DBD symptoms amongst children/adolescents between the ages of 4 and 16 years.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of the five divisions of Lagos was conducted using multi-stage sampling technique. A randomly selected sample of teachers from a selection of regular schools across the five divisions of Lagos retrospectively rated systematically selected samples of their students in absentia; by referring to the names in their class registers for the recently concluded school session. The DBD-TRS and the previously validated strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) were used for the ratings.

Results

Ratings were completed for 1508 children/adolescents by 197 teachers from 30 regular schools. The norm scores for the three categories of DBD were determined by gender, age, and grade/class. Satisfactory psychometric properties were established for the DBD rating scale. All DBD items had high negative predictive power and positive predictive power, high specificity, and low false positive rates. However, ADHD items had lower PPP (0.23–0.55).

Conclusion

The DBD rating scale demonstrated sufficient technical merits to be used as a preliminary tool for identifying children that may require further clinical evaluation by mental health experts for behavioural disorders.
Opposite-sex relationship questionnaire for female adolescents: development and psychometric evaluation
Authors: Bahrami Nasim , Sibmar Masoumeh , Vedadhir AbouAli , Alavi Majd Hamid , Parker Averil
Published: January 2018

Aim

The goal of the present study is to adopt state-of-the-art techniques and standards to develop and evaluate a measure, called the opposite-sex relationship questionnaire for female adolescents (OSRQFA), to assess the reasons why adolescent girls would or would not develop, a relationship with an adolescent boy.

Methods

A mixed-method, sequential, exploratory design was adopted. In the qualitative phase, an in-depth interview approach was used to identify the properties and dimensions to be included in the OSRQFA. In the quantitative phase, the psychometric properties of the OSRQFA were evaluated according to face, content and construct validity. Reliability and stability were assessed with Cronbach’s α and test–retest analysis, respectively.

Results

A preliminary questionnaire including 86 items which emerged from the qualitative phase of the study was designed. Based on the impact scores for face validity and the cutoff points for the content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI), the preliminary questionnaire was reduced to 57 items. The Kaiser criteria (eigenvalues >1) and scree plot tests demonstrated that 21 items forming six factors, which were labeled ‘innate predilection’, ‘abstinence’, ‘peer pressure’, ‘fear of the relationship consequences’, ‘family atmosphere’ and ‘risk taking’, that accounted for an estimated 66.19% of variance provided an optimal fit with the data. These scales had acceptable levels of internal consistency (α = 0.822) and stability (r = 0.871, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The OSRQFA with 21 items and 6 factors demonstrated suitable validity and reliability in a sample of Iranian female adolescents. The OSRQFA’s has good psychometric properties, and can be used by other researchers in future studies.
Sesame and Broad Bean Stalks: Mixing Characteristics of Chips as a Biomass Fuel for Bubbling Fluidized Bed Combustor
Authors: El-Sayed Saad A. , El-baz Amro A. , Noseir Emad H.
Published: January 2018

Mixing and segregation characteristics of biomass particles are of practical importance because the in-bed combustion efficiency of volatile matter affects the vertical location of biomass in bubbling fluidized bed combustor. Sesame and broad bean stalk biomass materials mixed with sand used in this study. The superficial gas velocity, biomass chip length, sand particle size and mass fraction of biomass varied as experimental variables. The mixing and segregation behavior of mixtures were analyzed in terms of mixing index. It was found that the variability in the chip-shape made the sesame chips is quantitatively and qualitatively higher homogeneity and mixedness than the broad bean chips. The optimum overall mixing index for the sesame and the broad bean is around 0.96 and 0.84 at dimensionless superficial gas velocity (U/Umf) of 2.0 (1.40 m/sec) and 2.1 (1.25 m/sec), respectively. It was found that as the mean diameter increased and the sphericity decreased, the mixing quality decreased. The average sand particle size of 371 µm can keep good mixing with biomass chips of both materials, compared with average particle sizes of sand 550 and 700 µm. Increasing the initial biomass mass fraction yields a poor mixing of the investigated biomass stalks.
Facilitators and Constraints of Policy Learning for Administrative Capacity in the Western Balkans
Authors: Karini Artan
Published: January 2018

Drawing on the policy-transfer literature, where processes such as Europeanization accentuate the role of policy networks as facilitators or constraints in the implementation of acquis, in addition to the familiar mechanism of “conditionality”, the principal objective of this article is to explore the challenges of policy learning toward administrative-capacity building and, more specifically, the role of what I refer to here as “donor-bureaucrat-contractor” networks in the Western Balkans. By employing a qualitative methodology consisting of forty semi-structured interviews and focus groups with policymakers, donor officers, civil-society experts and consultants in the region during the period of January 2011 to December 2016, a critical analysis of aid-supported policy learning via training as a conduit to administrative capacity-building reveals a series of context-specific dimensions, such as the informality of such networks, overreliance on local NGOs as “capacitybuilding” implementation partners and the ability of the context to affect donor behaviour - all ultimately contributing to the (non-) occurrence of policy transfer. Th e overarching conclusion this article draws is that potential answers to problems with aid-supported policy learning in the region may probably lie in the invisible workings of the aforementioned networks rather than solely in the official channels of communication between Brussels and regional governments. From a policymaking standpoint, this conclusion in itself may as well be construed as a recommendation to mobilize future research surrounding the impact of such networks on European Union (EU) accession processes in the region. Th is may encourage research organizations both in the EU and the region to (re) orient future endeavors towards this dimension of administrative capacity-building - a core requirement for EU accession - especially as the EU itself faces its own enlargement dilemmas following Brexit while the region faces threats of a potential revival of “old” ethnic conflicts, both affecting the progress of administrative reforms and prospects of EU accession.
National Curricula (Standards) in Public Administration (?)
Authors: Nemec Juraj , Larionov Andrei , Hintea Calin
Published: January 2018

The goal of this paper is to assess the role of “national curricula” (national education standards) determining the contents of public-administration (PA) education. To achieve our goal we deliver five case studies describing relevant information about the situation in the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Russia and Slovakia, all with different approaches how to apply national PA curricula. In the final part we try to evaluate the pros and cons of “national curricula” from the point of view of the development of PA education. Our research documents that extremes (no regulation and too strict regulation) do not deliver in less developed countries; the right path for such conditions should be somewhere in between - indicative national curricula and also indicative course contents should be available - something that seems to be achieved in Romania somehow.
Proposal for an Alternative Indicator for Testing the Presence of the Political-Budget Cycle in the Case of Tax Policy
Authors: Křápek Milan , Formanová Lucie
Published: January 2018

The content of this paper is a proposal for a new explanatory variable that can be used instead of commonly used variables expressing the dates of parliamentary elections. The proposed variable is then used to verify the existence of the impact of the political-budget cycle in the area of taxation on a sample of countries belonging to the European Union (EU28) over the period from 2000 to 2012. Combining the use of this variable and the Pearson correlation coefficient, a statistically significant effect of PBC was identified, particularly in the field of indirect excise taxes, and especially for countries belonging to the group of new EU Member States. The article also contains a comparison of results using traditional indicators which take into account the date of parliamentary elections and the results using a new variable. The results obtained show that with the help of two of the four indicators, statistically significant changes in tax policy in the area of indirect excise duties were identified. When evaluating a new variable, it can be noted that it is a variable which is appropriate for testing the effect of PBC, since not only has the number of statistically significant correlation coefficients been increased, but additionally, illogical results contrary to PBC theory have not been identified.
Sphere – To – Spheroid Comparison – Numerical Analysis
Authors: Lenart Andrzej S.
Published: January 2018

Differences of orthodromic distances calculated on the sphere in comparison to the spheroid are numerically analyzed in the full range of departure point latitudes, courses over the ground and orthodromic distances for the global and limited range of latitudes. Optimum solutions for the radii of the sphere are provided.
Performance Analysis of a Medium Frequency Offshore Grid for Identification Of Vessels Sailing on High Density Maritime European Routes
Authors: López Alfonso , Gutiérrez Miguel , Ortega Andrés , Puente Cristina , Morales Alejandro , Gonzalez Diego , Díaz Emma
Published: January 2018

The paper analyses the performance of an Automatic Vessel Identification System on Medium Frequency (AVISOMEF), which works with the Grid Method (GM) on high density maritime European routes using real data and uniformly distributed data. Compared to other systems, AVISOMEF is a novelty, as it is not a satellite system, nor is it limited by a given coverage distance, in contrast to the Automatic Identification System (AIS), though in exceptional circumstances it leans towards it. To perform the analysis, special simulation software was developed. Moreover, a number of maritime routes along with their traffic density data were selected for the study. For each route, two simulations were performed, the first of which based on the uniform traffic distribution along the route, while the second one made use of real AIS data positioning of vessels sailing on the selected routes. The obtained results for both simulations made the basis for formulating conclusions regarding the capacity of selected routes to support AVISOMEF.
An Innovative Steering System for a River Push Barge Operated in Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Authors: Abramowicz-Gerigk Teresa , Burciu Zbigniew , Jachowski Jacek
Published: January 2018

The paper presents an innovative steering system for a river push barge dedicated for operation in environmentally sensitive inland waterways. Development of the inland waterborne transport in Poland is dependent on the exploitation of rivers which can be adapted to navigation in the limited range because a high percent of their length is classified within special environment protection areas of Natura 2000 network. This is now the main reason that their better exploitation cannot be obtained without an introduction of a new generation of waterborne environment friendly inland units. In naturally winding rivers with differing and rapidly changing depths and widths it is important to equip a push barge with an efficient steering system that has a low environmental impact. The innovative steering system proposed in the paper is composed of main steering devices located at the pusher stern, auxiliary steering devices installed on the barge bow and a mechanical coupling system.
Acoustic Imaging of Selected Areas of Gdansk Bay with the Aid of Parametric Echosounder and Side-Scan Sonar
Authors: Grelowska Grażyna , Kozaczka Eugeniusz , Szymczak Wojciech
Published: January 2018

The article presents and analyses the data recorded during sounding of the Gdansk Bay seabed with the aid of a parametric echosounder and a side-scan sonar. The accuracy of seabed structure examination, as a condition for obtaining valuable results, requires correct configuration of echolocation devices and proper calibration of peripheral devices, such as the survey unit geographical position sensor - GPS, the navigation unit, the MRU-Z sensor of pitch, roll and heave, and the sound velocity meter, which deliver the data to the bathymetric measurement system. Parametric seabed profilers deliver two types of data: the envelope, and the detailed echo signal without processing. The envelope is used for data visualisation in the form of online echograms, while the echo signal is stored for further analyses, to be performed using dedicated software or, after relevant conversion, in arbitrary programming environment1. The presented data analysis is illustrated by selected sample images recorded by the parametric echosounder and the side-scan sonar during Gdansk Bay sounding.
Features of Load and Wear of Main Propulsion Devices on Sea-Going Ships with Piston Combustion Engines and Their Impact on Changes in Technical States of the Systems
Authors: Girtler Jerzy
Published: January 2018

The paper presents the specificity of operation of propulsion systems of seagoing ships which causes the need to control the load on them, especially on their engines called main engines. The characteristics of the load on the propulsion systems, especially on the main engines as well as on the shaft lines and propellers driven by the engines, along with the process of wear in tribological joints (sliding tribological systems) of the machines have been described herein. Using examples of typical types of wear (both linear and volumetric) for the tribological systems of this sort, interpretation of states of their wear has been provided with regards to the wear levels defined as acceptable, unacceptable and catastrophic. The following hypotheses have been formulated: 1) hypothesis explaining necessity to consider the loads on the systems under operation as stochastic processes; 2) hypothesis explaining a possibility of considering the processes as stationary; and 3) hypothesis explaining why it can be assumed that a given technical state of any tribological system can be considered as dependent only on the directly preceding state and stochastically independent of the states that existed earlier. Accepting the hypotheses as true, a four-state continuous-time semi-Markov process has been proposed in the form of a model of changes in condition of a propulsion system (PS) of any ship. The model includes the most significant states affecting safety of a ship at sea, such as: s0 - PS ability state, s1 - PS disability state due to damage to the main engine (ME), s2 - PS disability state due to damage to the shaft line (SL) and s3 - PS disability state due to damage to the propeller (P). Probability of occurrence (changes) of the states has also been demonstrated.
Operation of Two-Shaft Gas Turbine in the Range of Open Anti-Surge Valve
Authors: Dzida Marek , Frost Jacek
Published: January 2018

This paper presents experimental tests of full-scale two-shaft gas turbine in the range of open anti-surge valve (ASV). The tests were carried out in a laboratory gas- turbine test stand belonging to Department of Automation and Power Engineering , Faculty of Ocean Engineering and Ship Technology , Gdańsk University of Technology. The tests covered the start-up and low load operation of the turbine set in the range of open anti-surge valve.
A Method to Assess Transverse Vibration Energy of Ship Propeller Shaft for Diagnostic Purposes
Authors: Korczewski Zbigniew
Published: January 2018

The article discusses a key problem of ship propulsion system vibration diagnostics, which concerns assessing this part of mechanical energy transmitted from the main engine to the ship propeller which is dissipated due to propeller shaft vibration. A simplified calculation model is proposed which allows the total energy of the generated torsional vibration to be assessed from the shaft deflection amplitude measured at the mind-span point between the supports. To verify the developed model, pilot tests were performed on the laboratory rotational mechanical system test rig. In those tests, cyclic bending moment was applied to a unified (cylindrical) material sample, which modelled, at an appropriate scale, structural and functional properties of a real propeller shaft.
Comparison of Soil Models in the Thermodynamic Analysis of a Submarine Pipeline Buried in Seabed Sediments
Authors: Magda Waldemar
Published: January 2018

This paper deals with mathematical modelling of a seabed layer in the thermodynamic analysis of a submarine pipeline buried in seabed sediments. The existing seabed soil models: a “soil ring” and a semi-infinite soil layer are discussed in a comparative analysis of the shape factor of a surrounding soil layer. The meaning of differences in the heat transfer coefficient of a soil layer is illustrated based on a computational example of the longitudinal temperaturę profile of a -kilometer long crude oil pipeline buried in seabed sediments.
Young Married Women’s Perceptions On The Maeanings And Motivations For Their Husbands’ Opposition To Their Modern Contraceptive Use In Malawi
Authors: Kaneka Benjamin , Mturi Akim J.
Published: January 2018

The aim of the study was to examine the perceptions of young married women on meanings and motivations of partner opposition to their contraceptive use. Qualitative data was collected from focus group discussions and individual in-depth interviews with young married women and key informant interviews with health workers and traditional leaders in the districts of Ntcheu, Mangochi and Zomba in Malawi. Thematic data analysis was done using ATLAS ti software version 7. The results show that partners’ opposition to young married women’s use of contraceptives was perceived to be principally motivated by their husbands’ quest to control the sexual and reproductive lives of their spouses. Related to this aspect are the fears and misconceptions that use of modern contraceptives would relieve young married women of the fear of engaging in extra marital affairs as they would no longer be afraid of being discovered through pregnancy. Hence, the opposition was perceived to safeguard their marriages from instability and dissolution. The paper asserts that there should be a shift in the family planning programme delivery in the country aimed at reducing or eliminating partner opposition to young married women’s contraceptive use through involvement and inclusion of partners in the designing and implementation of contraceptive information and service provision interventions.
Dances with footings: a Goffmanian perspective on the Soto case
Authors: O’Driscoll Jim
Published: January 2018

This paper attempts to explain the trajectory and unusual outcome of this courtroom encounter by applying Erving Goffman’s approach to interaction. It employs his notions of frame and footing, plus those of face, ritual deference and demeanour when they are useful. This perspective shows that, as well as the socially constituted power asymmetry, the participants create an interactive asymmetry in which the accused, Penelope Soto, although a canonically ratified participant, is sometimes effectively ‘de-ratified’. However, as the encounter progresses, Soto and the judge shift their footings back and forth such that into the court-hearing frame, another frame, that of the social encounter, is insinuated. This clash of frames is shown to be a major cause of the trajectory taken by the encounter. The Goffmanian perspective also points up the effect of the use of a video link for this encounter. This application of Goffman’s framework functions as a test of some of his concepts and the paper concludes with some comments and suggested elaborations.
Developing a Model for Forecasting Road Traffic Accident (RTA) Fatalities in Yemen
Authors: Karim Fareed M. A. , Abdo Saleh Ali , Taijoobux Aref , Ševrović Marko
Published: January 2018

The aim of this paper is to develop a model for forecasting RTA fatalities in Yemen. The yearly fatalities was modeled as the dependent variable, while the number of independent variables included the population, number of vehicles, GNP, GDP and Real GDP per capita. It was determined that all these variables are highly correlated with the correlation coefficient (r ≈ 0.9); in order to avoid multicollinearity in the model, a single variable with the highest r value was selected (real GDP per capita). A simple regression model was developed; the model was very good (R2=0.916); however, the residuals were serially correlated. The Prais-Winsten procedure was used to overcome this violation of the regression assumption. The data for a 20-year period from 1991-2010 were analyzed to build the model; the model was validated by using data for the years 2011-2013; the historical fit for the period 1991 - 2011 was very good. Also, the validation for 2011-2013 proved accurate.
Development of a Web-Based Indoor Navigation System Using an Accelerometer and Gyroscope: A Case Study at The Faculty of Natural Sciences of Comenius University
Authors: Štefanička Tomáš , Ďuračiová Renata , Seres Csaba
Published: January 2018

As a complex of buildings, the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the Comenius University in Bratislava tends to be difficult to navigate in spite of its size. An indoor navigation application could potentially save a lot of time and frustration. There are currently numerous technologies used in indoor navigation systems. Some of them focus on a high degree of precision and require significant financial investment; others provide only static information about a current location. In this paper we focused on the determination of an approximate location using inertial measurement systems available on most smartphones, i.e., a gyroscope and an accelerometer. The actual position of the device was calculated using “a walk detection method” based on a delayed lack of motion. We have developed an indoor navigation application that relies solely on open source JavaScript libraries to visualize the interior of the building and calculate the shortest path utilizing Dijsktra’s routing algorithm. The application logic is located on the client side, so the software is able to work offline. Our solution represents an accessible lowcost and platform-independent web application that can significantly improve navigation at the Faculty of Natural Sciences. Although our application has been developed on a specific building complex, it could be used in other interiors as well.
Increased serum levels of spectrin degradation products in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Cetin Ihsan , Demirel Omer F.
Published: January 2018

Objective

Under various patho-physiological and physiological conditions, spectrin breakdown reactions generate several spectrin breakdown products of 120 kDa (SBDP120) and 145 kDa (SBDP145). Previous studies indicating that there is the existence of a raised breakdown of α-spectrin in schizophrenic left superior temporal cortices. In this study, we aimed to investigate serum levels of SBDP120 and SBDP145, which has not been previously examined, and investigate their relationships with clinical parameters in patients with schizophrenia.

Methods

Forty-four patients with schizophrenia, followed by psychotic disorders unit, and 44 healthy controls, age and gender-matched volunteers with no psychiatric history, were included in this study. Sociodemographic form was applied to both groups. Turkish version of positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) were implemented to the patients. Serum SBDP120 and SBDP145 levels were determined by Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay.

Results

Serum SBDP120 ng/mL and SBDP145 ng/mL levels of the patients with schizophrenia were significantly higher than healthy controls. Even more important, serum SBDP120 levels were positively correlated with PANSS scores in patients with schizophrenia.

Conclusions

These findings may provide evidence for disturbance of neuroplasticity, membrane/cytoskeleton stability, dynamics, and remodelling in schizophrenia patients and support the neurogenerative theories for explaining the etiology of schizophrenia.
The comparison of two glucose measurement systems: POCT devices versus central laboratory
Authors: Kilic Baygutalp Nurcan , Bakan Ebubekir , Bayraktutan Zafer , Umudum Fatma Zuhal
Published: January 2018

Background

Glucose meters are used for two purposes: point-of-care testing and the self-monitoring of glucose, both of which are very important in the management of diabetes, hypoglycemia, or hyperglycemia and in therapeutic decisions.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the test reliability of glucose meters and to compare their results with those of the clinical laboratory method.

Material and methods

Evaluation was made of five different types of glucose meters which are generally used for hospitalized patients. Capillary and venous specimens were obtained concurrently from each patient. The former were analyzed in the glucose meters, and the latter in the laboratory analyzer.

Results

Of 1837 glucose meters read-outs, 1748 capillary and venous comparisons were evaluated. The majority of the glucose meter measurements were within acceptable limits. The error percentage distribution of glucose meters indicated that the accuracy of glucose meters is higher in the prediabetic/diabetic measurement range than at normo-/hypoglycemic levels.

Conclusion

In general, the glucose meters and laboratory method were observed to be compatible. However, health care professionals and self-monitoring diabetic patients should be aware of the evaluation of glucose meter results, and should cross-check, as frequently as possible, with laboratory values.
Differences in structure, allergenic protein content and pectate lyase enzyme activity of some Cupressaceae pollen
Authors: Acar Şahin Aydan , Aslım Belma , Tan Sema , Alan Şenol , Pınar Nur Münevver
Published: January 2018

Objective

Cupressaceae pollen has commonly been reported to be an important aeroallergen and causal factor of spring, autumn and winter pollinosis in many countries. The aim of this study was to compare of the structure and allergenic protein content of Cupressus arizonica Greene., Cupressus sempervirens L. and Juniperus oxycedrus L. pollen in detail and contribute to Cupressaceae pollen allergen diagnosis and therapy studies in Turkey.

Methods

The pollen structure were examined by LM and SEM. Pollen protein content was investigated by Bradford protein assay, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Western blot analysis and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2DE PAGE), respectively. Pectate lyase (PL) enzyme activities were compared. Immunoblotting was carried out by using extracts of the three taxa pollen collected from Turkey.

Results

All three taxa was found very similar in terms of pollen morphology however, intine thickness was prominently different. Cupressus arizonica pollen extracts showed the lowest PL activity. Five sera specific IgE of all allergic subjects showed reaction with only C. arizonica pollen extracts.

Conclusions

As a conclusion, the pollen structure, protein function or protein structure and isoforms of allergens could affects allergenic properties of the pollen. This study also may help to improve the Cupressaceae pollen allergen diagnosis and therapy.
The Variability of Neural Responses to Naturalistic Videos Change with Age and Sex
Authors: Petroni Agustin , Cohen Samantha S. , Ai Lei , Langer Nicolas , Henin Simon , Vanderwal Tamara , Milham Michael P. , Parra Lucas C.
Published: January 2018

Neural development is generally marked by an increase in the efficiency and diversity of neural processes. In a large sample (n= 114) of human children and adults with ages ranging from 5 to 44 yr, we investigated the neural responses to naturalistic video stimuli. Videos from both real-life classroom settings and Hollywood feature films were used to probe different aspects of attention and engagement. For all stimuli, older ages were marked by more variable neural responses. Variability was assessed by the intersubject correlation of evoked electroencephalographic responses. Young males also had less-variable responses than young females. These results were replicated in an independent cohort (n= 303). When interpreted in the context of neural maturation, we conclude that neural function becomes more variable with maturity, at least during the passive viewing of real-world stimuli.
Telotristat ethyl in carcinoid syndrome: safety and efficacy in the TELECAST phase 3 trial
Authors: Pavel Marianne , Gross David J , Benavent Marta , Perros Petros , Srirajaskanthan Raj , Warner Richard R P , Kulke Matthew H , Anthony Lowell B , Kunz Pamela L , Hörsch Dieter , Weickert Martin O , Lapuerta Pablo , Jiang Wenjun , Kassler-Taub Kenneth , Wason Suman , Fleming Rosanna , Fleming Douglas , Garcia-Carbonero Rocio
Published: January 2018

Telotristat ethyl, a tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor, was efficacious and well tolerated in the phase 3 TELESTAR study in patients with carcinoid syndrome (CS) experiencing ≥4 bowel movements per day (BMs/day) while on somatostatin analogs (SSAs). TELECAST, a phase 3 companion study, assessed the safety and efficacy of telotristat ethyl in patients with CS (diarrhea, flushing, abdominal pain, nausea or elevated urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (u5-HIAA)) with <4 BMs/day on SSAs (or ≥1 symptom or ≥4 BMs/day if not on SSAs) during a 12-week double-blind treatment period followed by a 36-week open-label extension (OLE). The primary safety and efficacy endpoints were incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and percent change from baseline in 24-h u5-HIAA at week 12. Patients (N = 76) were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive placebo or telotristat ethyl 250 mg or 500 mg 3 times per day (tid); 67 continued receiving telotristat ethyl 500 mg tid during the OLE. Through week 12, TEAEs were generally mild to moderate in severity; 5 (placebo), 1 (telotristat ethyl 250 mg) and 3 (telotristat ethyl 500 mg) patients experienced serious events, and the rate of TEAEs in the OLE was comparable. At week 12, significant reductions in u5-HIAA from baseline were observed, with Hodges–Lehmann estimators of median treatment differences from placebo of −54.0% (95% confidence limits, −85.0%, −25.1%,P < 0.001) and −89.7% (95% confidence limits, −113.1%, −63.9%,P < 0.001) for telotristat ethyl 250 mg and 500 mg. These results support the safety and efficacy of telotristat ethyl when added to SSAs in patients with CS diarrhea (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: Nbib2063659).
Dysfunctional signaling underlying endometriosis: current state of knowledge
Authors: Cho Yeon Jean , Lee Seung Hyun , Park Jung Woo , Han Myoungseok , Park Mi Jin , Han Sang Jun
Published: January 2018

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. It affects approximately 5–10% of women of reproductive age. Endometriosis is associated with dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and, often, severe pelvic pain. In addition to pain, women with endometriosis often experience infertility. Defining the molecular etiology of endometriosis is a significant challenge for improving the quality of women’s lives. Unfortunately, the pathophysiology of endometriosis is not well understood. Here, we summarize the potential causative factors of endometriosis in the following three categories: (1) dysregulation of immune cells in the peritoneal fluid and endometriotic lesions; (2) alteration of apoptotic signaling in retrograde menstrual tissue and cytotoxic T cells involved in endometriosis progression and (3) dysregulation of oxidative stress. Determining the molecular etiology of these dysregulated cellular signaling pathways should provide crucial clues for understanding initiation and progression of endometriosis. Moreover, improved understanding should suggest new molecular therapeutic targets that could improve the specificity of endometriosis treatments and reduce the side effects associated with current approaches.
ВИЗНАЧЕННЯ ПОКАЗНИКІВ ЯКОСТІ БОРОШНА З РІЗНИХ СИСТЕМ ТЕХНОЛОГІЧНОГО ПРОЦЕСУ ПРИ СОРТОВОМУ ПОМЕЛІ ПШЕНИЦІ
Authors: Жигунов Д. О.
Published: January 2018

В статті наведено результати досліджень показників якості борошна з різних етапів технологічного процесу при сортовому помелі пшениці: зольність, білість, кількість клейковини та її якість, седиментація, водопоглинальна здатність та реологічні властивості тіста на приладі Міксолаб. Показано зміни показників в залежності від системи технологічного процесу. Встановлено, що потоки борошна з систем першої якості мають кращі технологічні властивості, так на драних і сортувальних системах спостерігається достатньо високі значення білості – від 43 од. (ІІІ др.кр.с.) до 61 од. (Сорт. 1), але на шліфувальних і розмелювальних системах білість борошна вище – від 57 од. (3 р.с.) до 70 од. (1 р.кр.с.), зольність даних потоків є найнижчою – від 0,49 % (1 р.кр.с., 2 р.с.) до 0,53 % (2 шл.с.). Кількість клейковини на драних і сортувальних системах коливається в межах від 27 % до 37 %, на шліфувальних і розмелювальних системах – від 24 % до 26 %, проте якість клейковини на шліфувальних і розмелювальних системах міцніша і змінюється від 61 од. до 72 од., а на драних і сортувальних системах – від 62 од. до 100 од. Показник седиментації борошна з драних і сортувальних систем І-ї якості має високі значення – від 42 мл (І др.с.) до 62 мл (Сорт 2) за рахунок високого вмісту клейковини, для шліфувальних і розмелювальних систем характерні нижчі значення – від 35 мл (2 шл.с.) до 50 мл (1 р.кр.с.). Найгірші технологічні показники якості властиві борошну з розмельних систем вимелу: їх білість дорівнює від 2 од. (11 р.с.) до 20 од. (8 р.с.), клейковина за винятком 8 р.с. не відмивається, хоча показник седиментації – від 31 мл (7 р.с.) до 50 мл (11 р.с.). Водопоглинальна здатність борошна на системах першої якості коливається в межах від 56 % (І др.с, Сорт.1, 1 шл.с., 2 шл.с., 1 р.др.с.) до 62 % (ІІІ др.др.с.), на системах другої якості та на системах вимелу значно вище – від 59 % (Сорт.5) до 73 % (11 р.с.). Водопоглинальна здатність борошна першого сорту (60 %) вища за водопоглинальну здатність борошна вищого сорту (56 %) через наявність великої кількості оболонкових частинок. За показниками Профайлерів приладу Міксолаб системи першої якості характеризуються низькими індексами ВПЗ та Замісу (2…3), високими індексами Глютен+, В’язкості та Амілази (6…8) та середніми значеннями індексу Ретроградації (5…7). Такі значення індексів обумовлені низькою водопоглинальною здатністю, кількістю клейковини, меншою амілолітичною активністю та більшою клейстеризацію крохмалю. Для борошна з систем другої якості характерні: високий індекс ВПЗ (6…7), що вказує на високий вміст оболонкових частинок, низькі індекси Замісу (2…6) та Глютен+ (3…5), що вказує на слабкий клейковинний каркас і слабку стабільність тіста. Для індексів В’язкості (3…6) та Амілази (5…6) спостерігається невисокі значення, що свідчить про високу амілолітичну активність.
Anormalidades selares e justasselares: achados na ressonância magnética atípicos de doenças comuns e típicos de doenças incomuns
Authors: Eduardo Denislene da Silva , Franco Suyane Benevides , Castro José Daniel Vieira de
Published: January 2018

Resumo A região selar/justasselar abrange o componente ósseo da sela turca, a glândula hipofisária, o seio cavernoso e a cisterna suprasselar. As alterações dessa região podem se manifestar por consequência de hipoprodução ou hiperprodução hormonal ou por sinais e sintomas neurológicos decorrentes da compressão de estruturas adjacentes. A ressonância magnética (RM) é, atualmente, o método de avaliação por imagem de eleição para o estudo dessa região, tendo suplantado a tomografia computadorizada. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo demonstrar aspectos comuns e incomuns de imagem dessas alterações selares/justasselares que auxiliem no diagnóstico diferencial. Avaliamos, retrospectivamente, as imagens de RM de 70 pacientes com anormalidades selares/justasselares do arquivo didático e relatamos os casos com alterações mais incomuns, em que a RM teve papel importante no diagnóstico. Todos os casos foram confirmados histopatologicamente ou clinicolaboratorialmente.
Clinical importance of second-opinion interpretations by radiologists specializing in gynecologic oncology at a tertiary cancer center: magnetic resonance imaging for endometrial cancer staging
Authors: Alves Inês , Cunha Teresa Margarida
Published: January 2018

Abstract Objective: To determine whether there are substantive differences between the initial interpretations of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans acquired at outside facilities and the second-opinion interpretations of radiologists specializing in gynecologic oncology at a tertiary cancer center, among patients referred for endometrial cancer staging. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, comparative analysis of 153 initial and second-opinion MRI reports for endometrial cancer staging officially submitted for review by radiologists specializing in gynecologic oncology. For each case, the relationship between the initial and second-opinion reports, regarding the suggested diagnosis and the clinically relevant MRI findings reported, was categorized as "agreement" or "disagreement". Histopathology was used in order to establish the definitive diagnosis. Results: Disagreement was found in 58 (37.9%) of the 153 cases. Second-opinion interpretations reported findings that affected the preoperative cancer staging and could have led to a change in treatment in 38 cases (24.8%); that did not affect the preoperative staging but provided information that was more accurate in 8 (5.2%); and that suggested a new cancer diagnosis in 12 (7.8%). In 37 cases (24.2%), there was a potential for changes in patient care. Among the 58 cases of disagreement, a definitive (histopathological) diagnosis was made in 41 (70.7%). In 31 (75.6%) of those 41 cases, the second-opinion report was more accurate than was the initial report. Conclusion: Discordant interpretations of MRI examinations, which can have a substantial effect on the clinical management of patients, appear to be common.
EFFECTS OF COLD ISCHEMIA TIME ON HEPATIC ALLOGRAFT FUNCTION
Authors: FREITAS Alexandre Coutinho Teixeira de , MATOS Desirée de Marillac Nascimento de , MILSTED Jorge Amilton Tosato , COELHO Julio Cezar Uili
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT Background : Cold ischemia time is related to success of liver transplantation. Aim : To compare the impact of cold ischemia time on allografts locally collected to those collected distantly. Methods : Were evaluated 83 transplantations. The patients were divided in two groups: those who received liver grafts collected from cities out of Curitiba (n=42) and locally (n=41). From the donors were compared: cause of death, days at ICU, cardiac arrest, vasoactive drugs, lab exams, gender, age, and BMI. Were compared the subsequent information of receptors: cold ischemia time, warm ischemia time, length of surgery, lab exams, etiology of cirrhosis, MELD score, age, gender, histology of graft, use of vasoactive drugs, and blood components transfusion. Were evaluated the correlation between cold ischemia time and lab results. Results : The liver grafts collected from other cities were submitted to a longer cold ischemia time (500±145 min) compared to those locally collected (317,85±105 min). Donors from other cities showed a higher serum sodium level at donation (154±16 mEq/dl) compared to those from Curitiba (144±10 mEq/dl). The length of cold ischemia time was related to serum levels of ALT and total bilirubin. Conclusion : Liver grafts distantly collected underwent longer cold ischemia times, although it caused neither histologic injuries nor higher transfusion demands. There is a correlation between cold ischemia time and hepatic injury, translated by elevation of serum ALT and total bilirubin levels.