bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Winning and Losing in Russian New Music Today
Authors: Quillen William
Published: August 2014

This article examines some of the organizational changes shaping Russian new music from the collapse of the USSR in 1991 to the present and their consequences for composers active in Russia today. The Soviet collapse triggered significant transformations in how new music in Russia is funded, where and by whom it is performed, and how it is promoted and distributed. These developments have affected the opportunities available to contemporary Russian composers, their strategies for career success, and how they envision their place vis-à-vis other composers or within society at large. More significantly, such changes have shaped individual composers' creative practices: as composers moved into new collaborative networks after the Soviet collapse; as the resources at their disposal changed; and as they composed for new performers, markets, or patrons, so, too, did their styles change. In explaining musical developments from an organizational perspective, this article draws upon theories from the sociology of culture literature, in particular Howard Becker's idea of “art worlds” and the production-of-culture perspective developed by Richard Peterson and others. The article also considers factors other than organizational ones affecting Russian music today, including the generational shift presently underway as members of post-Soviet birth cohorts enter the professional ranks.
Circulating IGF1 and IGF2 and SNP genotypes in men and pregnant and non-pregnant women
Authors: Gatford K L , Heinemann G K , Thompson S D , Zhang J V , Buckberry S , Owens J A , Dekker G A , Roberts C T , _ _
Published: August 2014

Circulating IGFs are important regulators of prenatal and postnatal growth, and of metabolism and pregnancy, and change with sex, age and pregnancy. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes coding for these hormones associate with circulating abundance of IGF1 and IGF2 in non-pregnant adults and children, but whether this occurs in pregnancy is unknown. We therefore investigated associations of plasma IGF1 and IGF2 with age and genotype at candidate SNPs previously associated with circulating IGF1, IGF2 or methylation of the INS–IGF2–H19 locus in men (n=134), non-pregnant women (n=74) and women at 15 weeks of gestation (n=98). Plasma IGF1 concentrations decreased with age (P<0.001) and plasma IGF1 and IGF2 concentrations were lower in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women or men (each P<0.001). SNP genotypes in the INS–IGF2–H19 locus were associated with plasma IGF1 (IGF2 rs680, IGF2 rs1004446 and IGF2 rs3741204) and IGF2 (IGF2 rs1004446, IGF2 rs3741204 and H19 rs217727). In single SNP models, effects of IGF2 rs680 were similar between groups, with higher plasma IGF1 concentrations in individuals with the GG genotype when compared with GA (P=0.016), or combined GA and AA genotypes (P=0.003). SNPs in the IGF2 gene associated with IGF1 or IGF2 were in linkage disequilibrium, hence these associations could reflect other genotype variations within this region or be due to changes in INS–IGF2–H19 methylation previously associated with some of these variants. As IGF1 in early pregnancy promotes placental differentiation and function, lower IGF1 concentrations in pregnant women carrying IGF2 rs680 A alleles may affect placental development and/or risk of pregnancy complications.
Clinical characteristics of pain in patients with pituitary adenomas
Authors: Dimopoulou C , Athanasoulia A P , Hanisch E , Held S , Sprenger T , Toelle T R , Roemmler-Zehrer J , Schopohl J , Stalla G K , Sievers C
Published: August 2014

Objective

Clinical presentation of pituitary adenomas frequently involves pain, particularly headache, due to structural and functional properties of the tumour. Our aim was to investigate the clinical characteristics of pain in a large cohort of patients with pituitary disease.

Design

In a cross-sectional study, we assessed 278 patients with pituitary disease (n=81 acromegaly; n=45 Cushing's disease; n=92 prolactinoma; n=60 non-functioning pituitary adenoma).

Methods

Pain was studied using validated questionnaires to screen for nociceptive vs neuropathic pain components (painDETECT), determine pain severity, quality, duration and location (German pain questionnaire) and to assess the impact of pain on disability (migraine disability assessment, MIDAS) and quality of life (QoL).

Results

We recorded a high prevalence of bodily pain (n=180, 65%) and headache (n=178, 64%); adrenocorticotropic adenomas were most frequently associated with pain (n=34, 76%). Headache was equally frequent in patients with macro- and microadenomas (68 vs 60%; P=0.266). According to painDETECT, the majority of the patients had a nociceptive pain component (n=193, 80%). Despite high prevalence of headache, 72% reported little or no headache-related disability (MIDAS). Modifiable factors including tumour size, genetic predisposition, previous surgery, irradiation or medical therapy did not have significant impact neither on neuropathic pain components (painDETECT) nor on headache-related disability (MIDAS). Neuropathic pain and pain-related disability correlated significantly with depression and impaired QoL.

Conclusions

Pain appears to be a frequent problem in pituitary disease. The data suggest that pain should be integrated in the diagnostic and therapeutic work-up of patients with pituitary disease in order to treat them appropriately and improve their QoL.
MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Cardiovascular risk in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus and prediabetes: is it indeed higher than men?
Authors: Anagnostis Panagiotis , Majeed Azeem , Johnston Desmond G , Godsland Ian F
Published: August 2014

The relative risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and mortality in diabetic women (in comparison with non-diabetic women) is believed to be greater than that in diabetic men. However, the absolute risk for CVD mortality and morbidity does not appear to be higher in women. In general, there is heterogeneity between studies, and whether there is any definite difference in the CVD risk between sexes at any level of glycaemia is not known. The same arguments also apply when comparing the CVD risk factors, such as lipid profiles and systemic inflammation indices, which seem to be worse in women than in men with diabetes mellitus (DM). The same questions emerge at any given glycaemic state: are women at worse risk and do they have a worse risk factor profile than men? These issues have yet to be resolved. Similar, though less extensive, data have been reported for prediabetes. Furthermore, women with DM are suboptimally treated compared with men regarding lipid and blood pressure targets. Large prospective studies representative of the general population are therefore needed to define the differences between sexes regarding CVD events and mortality at a given glucose level and after adjusting for any other confounders.
Alcohol and the risk for latent autoimmune diabetes in adults: results based on Swedish ESTRID study
Authors: Rasouli Bahareh , Andersson Tomas , Carlsson Per-Ola , Dorkhan Mozhgan , Grill Valdemar , Groop Leif , Martinell Mats , Tuomi Tiinamaja , Carlsson Sofia
Published: August 2014

Objective

Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Our aim was to investigate whether alcohol consumption is associated with the risk of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), an autoimmune form of diabetes with features of type 2 diabetes.

Design

A population-based case–control study was carried out to investigate the association of alcohol consumption and the risk of LADA.

Methods

We used data from the ESTRID case–control study carried out between 2010 and 2013, including 250 incident cases of LADA (glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADAs) positive) and 764 cases of type 2 diabetes (GADA negative), and 1012 randomly selected controls aged ≥35. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) of diabetes in relation to alcohol intake, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, family history of diabetes, smoking, and education.

Results

Alcohol consumption was inversely associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92–0.99 for every 5-g increment in daily intake). Similar results were observed for LADA, but stratification by median GADA levels revealed that the results only pertained to LADA with low GADA levels (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.76–0.94/5 g alcohol per day), whereas no association was observed with LADA having high GADA levels (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.94–1.06/5 g per day). Every 5-g increment of daily alcohol intake was associated with a 10% increase in GADA levels (P=0.0312), and a 10% reduction in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (P=0.0418).

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that alcohol intake may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and type 2-like LADA, but has no beneficial effects on diabetes-related autoimmunity.
GH signaling in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in healthy human subjects: impact of gender and age
Authors: Vestergaard Poul F , Vendelbo Mikkel H , Pedersen Steen B , Juul Anders , Ringgard Steffen , Møller Niels , Jessen Niels , Jørgensen Jens O L
Published: August 2014

Objective

The mechanisms underlying the impact of age and gender on the GH–IGF1 axis remain unclear. We tested the hypothesis that age and gender have impacts on GH signaling in human subjects in vivo.

Design

A total of 20 healthy non-obese adults (‘young group’ <30 years (5F/5M) and ‘old group’ >60 years (5F/5M)) were studied after: i) an i.v. GH bolus (0.5 mg) and ii) saline.

Methods

Muscle and fat biopsies were obtained after 30 and 120 min. Total and phosphorylated STAT5B proteins, gene expression of IGF1, SOCS1, SOCS2, SOCS3 and CISH, body composition, VO2max, and muscle strength were measured.

Results

In the GH-unstimulated state, women displayed significantly elevated levels of CISH mRNA in muscle (P=0.002) and fat (P=0.05) and reduced levels of IGF1 mRNA in fat. Phosphorylated STAT5B (pSTAT5b) was maximally increased in all subjects 30 min after GH exposure and more pronounced in women when compared with men (P=0.01). IGF1, SOCS1, SOCS2, SOCS3, and CISH mRNA expression increased significantly in muscle after 120 min in all subjects with no impact of age and gender. GH-induced pSTAT5b correlated inversely with lean body mass (LBM; r=−0.56, P=0.01) and positively with the CISH mRNA response (r=0.533, P=0.05).

Conclusion

i) GH signaling in muscle and fat after a single GH bolus in healthy human subjects is age independent, ii) we hypothesize that constitutive overexpression of CISH may contribute to the relative GH resistance in women, and iii) experimental studies on the impact of sex steroid administration and physical training on GH signaling in human subjects in vivo are required.
EJE PRIZE 2012: Obesity: from genes to behaviour
Authors: Farooqi I Sadaf
Published: August 2014

An increase in the consumption of highly palatable foods coupled with a reduction in the amount of voluntary exercise undertaken has contributed to the rising prevalence of obesity. However, despite the obvious environmental influences, there is considerable evidence to support a genetic component to weight gain. In some people, particularly those who are severely obese, genetic factors play a major role in the development of their obesity and associated complications. Studies into the genetic basis of obesity have yielded insights into the mechanisms involved in the regulation of weight. We now understand that weight is regulated by neural mechanisms that regulate appetite and energy expenditure and that disruption of these pathways can result in severe obesity in some patients. These studies provide a starting point for investigating patients with severe obesity and may ultimately guide the development of more rational targeted therapies.
Bisphenol A enhances adipogenic differentiation of human adipose stromal/stem cells
Authors: Ohlstein Jason F , Strong Amy L , McLachlan John A , Gimble Jeffrey M , Burow Matthew E , Bunnell Bruce A
Published: August 2014

Exposure of humans to the endocrine disrupter bisphenol A (BPA) has been associated with increased weight and obesity. However, the mechanism(s) by which BPA increases adipose tissue in humans remains to be determined. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of BPA on adipogenesis of cultured human adipose stromal/stem cells (ASCs), precursors to mature adipocytes. ASCs from three donors were cultured for either 14 or 21 days in adipogenic differentiation media containing increasing concentrations of BPA (100 pM–10 μM). The extent of adipogenic differentiation in the ASCs was assessed by staining with Oil Red O to visualize adipogenic differentiation and then quantified by extraction and optical density measurement of the retained dye. BPA significantly enhanced adipogenesis at a concentration of 1 μM after 21 days of culture. Additionally, we found that BPA increased transcription of the estrogen receptor (ER (ESR1)) and that treatment with the ER antagonist ICI 182 780, blocked the effects of BPA, indicating that BPA may act via an ER-mediated pathway. The results of molecular analyses indicated that the expression of the adipogenesis-associated genes dual leucine zipper-bearing kinase (DLK (MAP3K12)), IGF1, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα (CEBPA)), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ (PPARG)), and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) was temporally accelerated and increased by BPA. In summary, these results indicate that BPA significantly enhances adipogenesis in ASCs through an ER-mediated pathway at physiologically relevant concentrations.
Gastrin induces ductal cell dedifferentiation and β-cell neogenesis after 90% pancreatectomy
Authors: Téllez Noèlia , Montanya Eduard
Published: August 2014

Induction of β-cell mass regeneration is a potentially curative treatment for diabetes. We have recently found that long-term gastrin treatment results in improved metabolic control and β-cell mass expansion in 95% pancreatectomised (Px) rats. In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanisms of gastrin-induced β-cell mass expansion after Px. After 90%-Px, rats were treated with gastrin (Px+G) or vehicle (Px+V), pancreatic remnants were harvested on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 and used for gene expression, protein immunolocalisation and morphometric analyses. Gastrin- and vehicle-treated Px rats showed similar blood glucose levels throughout the study. Initially, after Px, focal areas of regeneration, showing mesenchymal cells surrounding ductal structures that expressed the cholecystokinin B receptor, were identified. These focal areas of regeneration were similar in size and cell composition in the Px+G and Px+V groups. However, in the Px+G group, the ductal structures showed lower levels of keratin 20 and β-catenin (indicative of duct dedifferentiation) and higher levels of expression of neurogenin 3 and NKX6-1 (indicative of endocrine progenitor phenotype), as compared with Px+V rats. In Px+G rats, β-cell mass and the number of scattered β-cells were significantly increased compared with Px+V rats, whereas β-cell replication and apoptosis were similar in the two groups. These results indicate that gastrin treatment-enhanced dedifferentiation and reprogramming of regenerative ductal cells in Px rats, increased β-cell neogenesis and fostered β-cell mass expansion.
Expression and regulation of the tumor suppressor, SEF, during folliculogenesis in humans and mice
Authors: Lutwak Ela , Price Christopher A , Abramovich Sagit-Sela , Rabinovitz Shiri , Granot Irit , Dekel Nava , Ron Dina
Published: August 2014

Similar expression to FGF (SEF or IL17RD), is a tumor suppressor and an inhibitor of growth factors as well as of pro-inflammatory cytokine signaling. In this study, we examined the regulation ofSefexpression by gonadotropins during ovarian folliculogenesis. In sexually immature mice,in situhybridization (ISH) localizedSefgene expression to early developing oocytes and granulosa cells (GC) but not to theca cells.Sefwas also expressed in mouse ovarian endothelial cells, in the fallopian tube epithelium as well as in adipose tissue venules. SEF protein expression, determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC), correlated well withSefmRNA expression in GC, while differential expression was noticed in oocytes. HighSefmRNA but undetectable SEF protein levels were observed in the oocytes of primary/secondary follicles, while an inverse correlation was found in the oocytes of preantral and small antral follicles.SefmRNA expression dropped after pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) administration, peaked at 6–8 h after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatment, and declined by 12 h after this treatment. ISH and IHC localized the changes to oocytes and mural GC following PMSG treatment, whereasSefexpression increased in mural GC and declined in granulosa–lutein cells upon hCG treatment. The ovarian expression ofSEFwas confirmed using human samples. ISH localizedSEFtranscripts to human GC of antral follicles but not to corpora lutea. Furthermore,SEFmRNA was detected in human GC recovered from preovulatory follicles. These results are the first to demonstrate Sef expression in a healthy ovary during folliculogenesis. Hormonal regulation of its expression suggests that Sef may be an important factor involved in intra-ovarian control mechanisms.
SUMO1 in human sperm: new targets, role in motility and morphology and relationship with DNA damage
Authors: Marchiani S , Tamburrino L , Ricci B , Nosi D , Cambi M , Piomboni P , Belmonte G , Forti G , Muratori M , Baldi E
Published: August 2014

In studies carried out previously, we demonstrated that small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 (SUMO1) is associated with poor sperm motility when evaluated with a protocol that reveals mostly SUMO1-ylated live sperm. Recently, with another protocol, it has been demonstrated that SUMO is expressed in most sperm and is related to poor morphology and motility, suggesting that sumoylation may have multiple roles depending on its localisation and targets. We show herein, by confocal microscopy and co-immunoprecipitation, that dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), Ran GTPase-activating protein 1 (RanGAP1) and Topoisomerase IIα, SUMO1 targets in somatic and/or germ cells, are SUMO1-ylated in mature human spermatozoa. DRP1 co-localises with SUMO1 in the mid-piece, whereas RanGAP1 and Topoisomerase IIα in the post-acrosomal region of the head. Both SUMO1 expression and co-localisation with the three proteins were significantly higher in morphologically abnormal sperm, suggesting that sumoylation represents a marker of defective sperm. DRP1 sumoylation at the mid-piece level was higher in the sperm of asthenospermic men. As in somatic cells, DRP1 sumoylation is associated with mitochondrial alterations, this protein may represent the link between SUMO and poor motility. As SUMO pathways are involved in responses to DNA damage, another aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between sumoylation and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF). By flow cytometry, we demonstrated that SUMO1-ylation and SDF are correlated (r=0.4,P<0.02,n=37) and most sumoylated sperm shows DNA damage in co-localisation analysis. When SDF was induced by stressful conditions (freezing and thawing and oxidative stress), SUMO1-ylation increased. Following freezing and thawing, SUMO1–Topoisomerase IIα co-localisation and co-immunoprecipitation increased, suggesting an involvement in the formation/repair of DNA breakage.
Xenografting of testicular tissue pieces: 12 years of an in vivo spermatogenesis system
Authors: Arregui Lucía , Dobrinski Ina
Published: August 2014

Spermatogenesis is a dynamic and complex process that involves endocrine and testicular factors. During xenotransplantation of testicular tissue fragments into immunodecifient mice, a functional communication between host brain and donor testis is established. This interaction allows for the progression of spermatogenesis and recovery of fertilisation-competent spermatozoa from a broad range of mammalian species. In the last few years, significant progress has been achieved in testis tissue xenografting that improves our knowledge about the factors determining the success of grafting. The goal of this review is to provide up to date information about the role of factors such as donor age, donor species, testis tissue preservation or type of recipient mouse on the efficiency of this technique. Applications are described and compared with other techniques with similar purposes. Recent work has demonstrated that testicular tissue xenografting is used as a model to study gonadotoxicity of drugs and to obtain sperm from valuable young males.
Aptitud Física y su Relación con Rasgos Depresivos en Personas Adultas Mayores que Realizan Actividad Física
Authors: Rodriguez-Hernandez Mynor , Araya Ramirez Felipe , Ureña Bonilla Pedro , Wadsworth Danielle D , Solano Mora Luis
Published: August 2014

El propósito de esta investigación fue determinar la relación entre la aptitud física y los niveles depresivos en las personas adultas mayores que participan en programas de actividad física en el área de San Ramón, Alajuela. Un total de 138 personas mayores con edades entre los 60 y 86 años (67.94 ± 5.26 años), fueron medidas en los componentes de la aptitud física mediante la prueba  “Senior Fitness Test” (SFT) y los niveles de depresión mediante la Escala de Depresión Geriátrica de “Yesavage” (GDS, “Geriatric Depression Scale” por sus siglas en Inglés). Los resultados sugieren que el 97,8 % de las personas analizadas se ubicó dentro de los parámetros normales y excelentes de aptitud física, mientras tanto, el 86,2 % se encontró en la etapa normal de la depresión. Por su parte, la depresión geriátrica correlacionó negativamente con la aptitud física en las variables: fuerza muscular y resistencia corporal de la parte baja del cuerpo, resistencia de la fuerza muscular del brazo, la agilidad y equilibrio dinámico, y flexibilidad parte baja del cuerpo (p <0,05). Se concluye que a mayor nivel de aptitud física menor son los rasgos depresivos en personas adultas mayores.
Importancia de las artes visuales en la educación: Un desafío para la formación docente
Authors: Cárdenas-Pérez Ramón Esteban , Troncoso-Ávila Andrés
Published: August 2014

Recibido 12 de diciembre de 2013 • Corregido 1 de julio de 2014 • Aceptado 22 de agosto de 2014El presente manuscrito de revisión bibliográfica aborda la redefinición curricular de la asignatura de las artes visuales establecida por el Ministerio de Educación de Chile y las estrategias de acción reacción que el profesorado de educación general básica debe considerar al momento de transmitir los diferentes conocimientos artísticos de 1° a 6° año en la escuela. Se concluye que la propuesta curricular de las artes visuales se convierte en una poderosa herramienta de contextualización educativa para apoyar al profesorado en la enseñanza del arte, ayudar al estudiantado a expresar sus ideas y emociones sobre la base de una actitud crítica, reflexiva y permanente, generar instancias de formación centrada en el desarrollo de habilidades creativas y modelos didácticos de la educación artística que en su conjunto amplían las capacidades humanas.
Educación ambiental en el nivel medio superior, desde la perspectiva de género, Tlaxcala, México
Authors: Espejel-Rodríguez Adelina , Flores-Hernández Aurelia , Castillo-Ramos Isabel
Published: August 2014

Recibido 14 de enero de 2014 • Corregido 22 de mayo de 2014 • Aceptado 22 de agosto de 2014El trabajo tiene como objetivo describir las maneras en que el estudiantado –según su condición de género– innova acciones en favor del ambiente, para rescatar el papel de cambio para la promoción de la educación ambiental, asimismo las actividades que le motivan y le gusta realizar para conservar su escuela. La investigación se desarrolla en el marco de la metodología cualitativa, con una muestra de  80 estudiantes del bachillerato de ambos sexos,  la información se obtiene a través de  la observación directa, cuestionarios y las propias palabras del estudiantado. Esta se sistematiza y procesa para facilitar su análisis e interpretación, mediante el método de análisis descriptivo. Se encontró que hay diferencias y preferencias entre género para  innovar y mitigar problemas, asimismo los motivos y el entusiasmo para llevar a cabo acciones ambientales. Una conclusión es que a las mujeres les gusta cuidar y conservar más su ambiente, en comparación con los hombres, ya que ellas muestran mayor interés en preservarlo.
LFG parse disambiguation for Wolof
Authors: Dione Cheikh M. Bamba
Published: August 2014

This paper presents several techniques for managing ambiguity in LFG parsing of Wolof, a less-resourced Niger-Congo language. Ambiguity is pervasive in Wolof and This raises a number of theoretical and practical issues for managing ambiguity associated with different objectives. From a theoretical perspective, the main aim is to design a large-scale grammar for Wolof that is able to make linguistically motivated disambiguation decisions, and to find appropriate ways of controlling ambiguity at important interface representations. The practical aim is to develop disambiguation strategies to improve the performance of the grammar in terms of efficiency, robustness and coverage.To achieve these goals, different avenues are explored to manage ambiguity in the Wolof grammar, including the formal encoding of noun class indeterminacy, lexical specifications, the use of Constraint Grammar models (Karlsson 1990) for morphological disambiguation, the application of the c-structure pruning mechanism (Cahill et al. 2007, 2008; Crouch et al. 2013), and the use of optimality marks for preferences (Frank et al. 1998, 2001). The parsing system is further controlled by packing ambiguities. In addition, discriminant-based techniques for parse disambiguation (Rosén et al. 2007) are applied for treebanking purposes.
Esophagitis Caused by a Foreign Body Reaction
Authors: Peixoto Armando , Andrade Patricia , Silva Marco , Ramalho Rosa , Lopes Joanne , Macedo Guilherme
Published: August 2014

.
What Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Has Got to Do with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome and viceversa?
Authors: Tarantino Giovanni , Citro Vincenzo , Finelli Carmine
Published: August 2014

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) are common conditions, frequently encountered in patients with obesity and/or metabolic syndrome. NAFLD and OSAS are complex diseases that involve an interaction of several intertwined factors. Several lines of evidence lend credence to an immune system derangement in these patients, i.e. the low grade chronic inflammation status, reckoned to be the most important factor in causing and maintaining these two illnesses. Furthermore, it is emphasized the main role of spleen involvement, as a novel mechanism. In this review the contribution of the visceral adiposity in both NAFLD and OSAS is stressed as well as the role of intermittent hypoxia. Finally, a post on the prevention of systemic inflammation is made.Abbreviations: ALT: alanine aminotransferase; BMI: body mass index; CCR2: chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2; CRP: C-reactive protein; CPAP: continuous positive airway pressure; FFA: free fatty acid; IGF-I: insulin-like growth factor; IR: insulin resistance; IL-6: interleukin-6; IH: intermittent hypoxia; IKK-β: IκB kinase β; LPS: lipopolysaccharide; MCP-1: monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; NAFLD: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; NASH: nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; NEFA: non-esterified fatty acid; NF-κB: nuclear factor-κB; OSAS: obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome; PAI-1: plasminogen activator inhibitor-1; ROS: reactive oxygen species; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α; T2D: type 2 diabetes.
National culture and perceptions of success and failure in projects
Authors: Ojiako Udechukwu , Chipulu Maxwell
Published: August 2014

This study examines how national cultural perspectives impact on the perceptions of project practitioners. It aims to contribute to understanding of how project practitioners perceive success and failure and, how they make wider project decisions. Data from 707 practitioners were analysed using exploratory data analysis and structural equation modelling. National culture and cultural exposure were found to impact on the level of importance that practitioners assign to individual project success and failure factors. It was also found that the dominant culture in the country of residence influences how project success and project failure are perceived. The originality and value of this study are that it undertakes a simultaneous analysis of inter-related project success and project failure factors.
Ten years of PPP in Germany: experiences and perspectives
Authors: Jacob Dieter , Kochendörfer Bernd , von Drygalski Marcus , Hilbig Corinna
Published: August 2014

The federal report on public–private partnerships (PPPs) in the building sector, published in 2003, can be considered as the cornerstone for the realisation of PPP projects in Germany. Today, 10 years later, this paper draws a balance and takes a look back on 10 years of daily dealings with PPP projects. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the German PPP market and the experiences that have occurred in the context of procurement, financing and the realisation of PPP projects themselves. First of all a definition is given of PPP in Germany and a short overview is presented of the history of PPP and the different types of PPP contracts. A short survey analyses PPP projects in the building construction and road sectors. Then, the experiences in preparation and realisation are summarised and evaluated. Finally, the paper presents a closer look at the actual and future development of PPP in Germany with consideration of critical aspects and possible solutions.
Structural modification of the aluminum alloy AA1135 by cold rolling with shear
Authors: Pashinska Elena , Tkachenko Victor , Burkhovetskiy Valeriy , Zavdoveev Anatoliy , Varyukhin Victor
Published: August 2014

The method of rolling with shear in comb-shaped passes for a bar has been developed in order to create the conditions of severe deformation in the processed aluminum alloy. The method provides formation of a structural state with the controlled fraction of nanostructure. It is shown that rolling with shear results in intensive fragmentation of the structure and reduction of the anisotropy of the material properties at different sections of the billet, as compared to the conventional rolling. Reduced anisotropy of properties and an increase in the strength characteristics will allow to successfully apply AA1135 alloy-modified rolling shear in the energy sector.
Optimization of Well Trajectory Under Uncertainty for Proactive Geosteering
Authors: Chen Yan , Lorentzen Rolf J. , Vefring Erlend H.
Published: August 2014

Various logging-while-drilling (LWD) and seismic-while-drilling (SWD) tools offer opportunities to obtain geological information near the bottomhole assembly during the drilling process. These real-time in-situ data provide relatively high-resolution information around and possibly ahead of the drilling path compared with the data from a surface seismic survey. The use of these in-situ data offers substantial potential for improved recovery through continuous optimization of the remaining well path while drilling.

We show an automated workflow for proactive geosteering through continuous updating of the estimates of the Earth model and robust optimization of the remaining well path under uncertainty. A synthetic example is shown to illustrate the proposed workflow. The estimates of the depths of the reservoir surfaces and the depth of the oil/water contact and their associated uncertainty are obtained through the ensemble Kalman filter by use of directional-resistivity measurements. A robust optimization is used to compute the well position that minimizes the average cost function evaluated on the ensemble of geological models estimated from the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF). The effect of modeling errors and the effect of joint estimation of the depths of the boundaries and gridblock resistivity are also investigated.
Adaptive Maternal Immune Deviations as a Ground For Autism Spectrum Disorders Development in Children
Authors: Poletaev Alexander B. , Poletaeva Alina A. , Pukhalenko Alexander I. , Zamaleeva Roza S. , Cherepanova Natalia A. , Frizin Dmitry V.
Published: August 2014

Autism is a vexed problem today. Overall, there is a high frequency of birth children (1:80 – 1:150) with late diagnosed autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and this trend is getting progressively stronger. The causes for the currently increased frequency of ASD and the pathogenesis of ASD are not fully understood yet. One of the most likely mechanisms inducing ASD may be a maternal immune imprinting. This phenomenon is based on transplacental translocation of maternal antibodies of IgG class and, as a consequence, on the epigenetic “tuning” of immune system of the fetus and child. This mechanism provides development of child’s anti-infection resistance before meeting with microorganisms, but it can be also a cause of inborn pathology including the ASD appearance. The quantitative changes in maternal blood serum autoantibodies depend on a specific microbial population, or are induced by environmental chemical pollutants in association with some individual features of the maternal metabolism. These immune changes are adaptive in most cases for the maternal organism, but can be pathogenic for the fetus in some cases. We discuss in the present paper the possibilities to predict the risk from abnormal development of nervous system in fetus and early diagnosis of ASD in high-risk group of children.
Modern Imaging Modalities in the Assessment of Acute Stroke
Authors: Zlatareva Dora K. , Traykova Nikoleta I.
Published: August 2014

The AIM of this review was to present the modern concepts of diagnostic imaging in acute stroke. Neuroimaging in acute stroke aims at diagnosing the condition as early as possible and assessing the extent of parenchymal perfusion and the intracranial vessels patency. A modern approach would involve a combination of various imaging modalities as multidetector computed tomography and high field magnetic resonance imaging. A non-enhanced computed tomography (CT) is used to detect hemorrhage or to identify early signs of ischemic stroke. CT angiography finds evidence of intravascular thrombi or significant stenoses, and CT perfusion displays brain tissue at risk of irreversible alterations that can be salvaged therapeutically. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a more sensitive modality than CT in diagnosing acute brain ischemia. MR diffusion-weighted imaging is more sensitive than conventional MR sequences in hyperacute stage. MR angiography as a non-invasive and non-ionizing imaging method is used as an alternative modality to CT angiography. To find brain tissue at risk diffusion- and perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging modalities are used. The authors present briefly the modern neuroimaging modalities used in patients with transient ischemic attack, minor stroke and venous infarction. By combining different imaging techniques in a multimodal approach we can acquire the information necessary for therapeutic planning and differentiate patients who need thrombolysis.
Clinical Investigations: Somatosensory Evoked Potentials in Full-Term Neonates With Perinatal Asphyxia
Authors: Geneva Ina E. , Krasteva Maya B. , Kostianev Stefan S.
Published: August 2014

OBJECTIVE: To explore the capacity of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) to assess maturation processes in the development of the nervous system, and the characteristics of SEP in healthy full-term infants and full-term newborns with perinatal asphyxia and their follow up until the age of 14 months.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: SEP were studied in 21 healthy full-term infants and 38 full-term newborns with perinatal asphyxia. The children with asphyxia were studied longitudinally until they were 14 months old. To assess the SEP we measured the latency of the P15, N20 and P25 components, the amplitude ratio N20/ P25 and inter-peak intervals P15-N20 and N20-P25. RESULTS: The component that was most typically always found in the SEP recordings of both healthy infants and those with perinatal asphyxia was N20. The mean latency values of P15, N20 and P25 were higher in the children with perinatal asphyxia (p ⋋ 0.001). The SEP amplitude was highly variable (CoV% = 76.6%). The latencies became shorter with age in asphyxia patients aged 0 to 14 months, the shortening being the greatest in the first trimester, while they showed no statistically significant differences in infants aged 6 to 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: SEPs in the neonatal period differ considerably from those of adults and older children in the morphology and longer potential latency, which can be accounted for by the incomplete myelination of nerve fibers. The changes in SEP latency in patients with HIE stages I and II follow the same pattern found in healthy children - latency became shorter with increasing age, which was most pronounced in the first 3 months. SEP latency was found to be correlated with height and age. No differences were found in the latency of potentials between healthy infants and infants with brain hemorrhage. Recording SEP is a sensitive method to assess the CNS in children with perinatal asphyxia and to monitor the maturation of the somatosensory pathway.
Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: Dynamics of The Main Antioxidant Enzymes - Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase
Authors: Negreva Mariya N. , Penev Atanas P. , Georgiev Svetoslav Zh. , Aleksandrova Albena A.
Published: August 2014

INTRODUCTION: Researchers have a particularly strong interest in the mechanisms implicated in the clinical manifestation of atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: To examine dynamically the activity of the antioxidant enzymes, su-peroxide dismutase and catalase in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (duration ⋋ 48 hours).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The studied parameters were examined in the erythrocytes of 51 patients (59.84 ± 1.60, 26 men) immediately after their hospitalization, at 24 hours and 28 days after restoration of sinus rhythm. 52 controls (59.50 ± 1.46, 26 men) were also included, none of which had a history of arrhythmia. Propafenone was used to manage the rhythm abnormality. The enzyme activity was determined by a spectrophotometric method.

RESULTS: The average duration of atrial fibrillation episodes until the time of hospitalization was 8.14 hours (from 2 to 24 hours). During patient hospitalization the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase was considerably higher compared to that of the controls (8.46 ± 0.26 vs 5.81 ± 0.14 U/mg Hb; 7.36 ± 0.25 vs 4.76 ± 0.12 E240/min/mg Hb; P ⋋ 0.001). This difference was maintained 24 hours after the rhythm regularization (7.19 ± 0.25 vs 5.81 ± 0.14 U/mg Hb, p ⋋ 0.001; 5.30 ± 0.21 vs 4.76 ± 0.12 E240/min/mg Hb, p ⋋ 0.05). Twenty-eight days after the restoration of sinus rhythm, the activity of catalase remained increased (5.11 ± 0.08 vs 4.76 ± 0.12 E240/min/mg Hb, p ⋋ 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in our study was characterized with significantly increased activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase even in the early hours of clinical manifestation of the disorder, which then slowly decreased with the restoration of sinus rhythm. Therefore, we can conclude that changes in oxidative status are closely related to the disease and are probably a part of the intimate mechanisms related to its initiation and clinical course.
Fourier Analysis of Peripheral Blood Pressure and Flow in Intraoperative Assessment of Infrainguinal Arterial Reconstructions
Authors: Cheshmedzhiev Mihail V. , Mircheva Iskra S. , Jordanov Emil D. , Kovacheva Nina R.
Published: August 2014

AIM: To assess infrainguinal arterial reconstructions by intraoperative flowmetry under the distal anastomosis using a fast Fourier transformation; calculate and compare the amplitude ratios of peripheral arterial blood pressure and volume flow before and after drug-induced vasodilation of occluded bypass grafts and bypass grafts that have been patent at least for 1 year. To find what magnitude of the change of these ratios indicate a long-term patency of the bypass grafting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared the results of the intraoperative flowmetry tests of 97 patients with infrainguinal arterial reconstructions. The patients were divided into two groups based on the graft status: the grafts in 49 patients were patent for at least a year, and 48 patients had failed bypass. We used a fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the pressure and blood flow waves and compared the ratios of their amplitudes before and after administration of a vasodilator drug into the graft. Comparing the ratios obtained before and those after administration of the drug we quantified their change in each group and analysed them. RESULTS: After a drug-induced vasodilation, the blood pressure and flow amplitude ratios for the group with compromised reconstructions were less than 1.9 times smaller than those before drug infusion, while for the group with bypass grafts that had been functional for at least 12 months the ratios declined by more than 1.9≈2 times. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of the change of amplitude ratios of the peripheral pressure and volume flow after drug-induced vasodilation can be used to make an assessment of the bypass graft and the distal arterial segment.
Dental Investigations: Efficiency of Nonsurgical Periodontal Therapy in Moderate Chronic Periodontitis
Authors: Mlachkova Antoaneta M. , Popova Christina L.
Published: August 2014

INTRODUCTION: Chronic periodontitis is defined as an inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of teeth caused by microorganisms in the dental biofilm, resulting in progressive destruction of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone with pocket formation and gingival recession. Treatment of chronic periodontitis aims at arresting the inflammation and stopping the loss of attachment by removal and control of the supra- and subgingival biofilm and establishing a local environment and microflora compatible with periodontal health. The AIM of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of non-surgical therapy (scaling and root planning) in the treatment of moderate chronic periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 30 patients aged between 33 and 75 years, of which 46.7% women and 53.3% men, diagnosed with moderate and, at some sites, severe periodontitis. They were treated with non-surgical periodontal therapy methods (scaling and root planning and curettage if indicated). Additionally, chemical plaque control with rinse water containing chlorhexidine was applied. The diagnostic and reassessment procedures included measuring the periodontal indices of 601 periodontal units before and after the therapy. The indices measured were the papillary bleeding index (PBI), the hygiene index (HI), the probing pocket depth (PPD) and the clinical attachment level (CAL). RESULTS: Significant reduction of plaque and gingival inflammation was found in all treated patients; we also found a statistically significant reduction of periodontal pockets with clinically measured depth ⋋ 5 mm (PD ⋋ 5 mm). Pockets with PD > 5 mm did not show statistically significant lower incidence rates probably due to the initially small percentage of deep pockets in the patients studied. There was a statistically significant reduction of all sites with attachment loss, the highest significance found at sites where the attachment loss was greater than 5 mm. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that nonsurgical periodontal therapy is effective in managing the moderate chronic periodontitis. Given a good patient compliance, the antimicrobial periodontal therapy can be quite efficient in arresting the inflammatory process and reducing the depth of periodontal pockets; it can also achieve a stable attachment loss level and obviate the need to use a surgical periodontal treatment modality.
Validating a Short Bulgarian Version of a Psychometric Instrument for Multidimensional Noise Sensitivity Assessment
Authors: Dzhambov Angel M. , Dimitrova Donka D.
Published: August 2014

BACKGROUND: Noise sensitivity (NS) is a key construct in the fields of hygiene, planning and occupational medicine. It refers to a personality trait representing the reactivity to noise and is associated with various psycho-physiological health outcomes. AIM: This study aimed to develop a shorter version of the original Noise Sensitivity Questionnaire (NoiSeQ), retaining its dimensions and assess its validity and reliability. METHODS: A test-retest study was carried out in a convenience sample of 56 participants. A short 15-item form of the original NoiSeQ (NoiSeQSF) questionnaire was developed and then administered. All major analyses were based on the coeffi cient of equivalence and stability, the generalizability theory and linear regression. RESULTS: Relative (ρ = 0.83) and absolute (ρ = 0.80) G coefficients for global NS exceeded the lower reliability limit according to G- and D-studies. Sleep subscale can readily be used to assess sleep-related NS (ρ = 0.76/θ = 0.75). Moreover, NoiSeQSF predicted some cardiac symptoms (with age of participants as a moderator factor), which demonstrated nomological validity. CONCLUSION: NoiSeQSF is a reliable estimate for global NS and NS related to sleep quality. It might prove useful to experts in environmental hygiene, urban planning and occupational diseases when dealing with noise-impaired occupational, social or psycho-physiological functioning.
Endoscopic Diagnosis of Intramural Hematoma in The Colon sigmoideum In a Child With High Titer Inhibitory Hemophilia A
Authors: Yankov Ivan V. , Spasova Maria I. , Andonov Vladimir N. , Cholakova Efimia N. , Yonkov Alexander S.
Published: August 2014

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding is a rare condition in childhood pathology. The incidence of this disorder in the general population of Bulgarian children is unknown.

We report a case of a 7-year-old child with diagnosed hemophilia A and high titer of factor VIII inhibitor; the patient was admitted into the Department of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics for rectorrhagia after falling onto his buttocks while playing. Colonoscopy showed submucosal hematoma 25 cm from the anocutaneous line occluding the intestinal lumen with a lesion of the overlying mucosa as long as 20 mm.

If a patient presents with rectorrhagia, timely and carefully planned colonoscopy could identify the source of bleeding, determine the severity of bleeding and the size of hematoma, and assess the need for surgical intervention. The reported case supports the modern view that patients with inhibitor hemophilia should not be denied interventional procedure or surgical intervention for fear of uncontrolled bleeding.