bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lymph/angiogenesis contributes to sex differences in lung cancer through oestrogen receptor alpha signalling
Authors: Dubois Charline , Rocks Natacha , Blacher Silvia , Primac Irina , Gallez Anne , García-Caballero Melissa , Gérard Céline , Brouchet Laurent , Noël Agnès , Lenfant Françoise , Cataldo Didier , Pequeux Christel
Published: November 2018

Oestrogen signalling pathways are emerging targets for lung cancer therapy. Unravelling the contribution of oestrogens in lung cancer development is a pre-requisite to support the development of sex-based treatments and identify patients who could potentially benefit from anti-oestrogen treatments. In this study, we highlight the contribution of lymphatic and blood endothelia in the sex-dependent modulation of lung cancer. The orthotopic graft of syngeneic lung cancer cells into immunocompetent mice showed that lung tumours grow faster in female mice than in males. Moreover, oestradiol (E2) promoted tumour development, increased lymph/angiogenesis and VEGFA and bFGF levels in lung tumours of females through an oestrogen receptor (ER) alpha-dependent pathway. Furthermore, while treatment with ERb antagonist was inefficient, ERa antagonist (MPP) and tamoxifen decreased lung tumour volumes, altered blood and lymphatic vasculature and reduced VEGFA and bFGF levels in females, but not in males. Finally, the quantification of lymphatic and blood vasculature of lung adenocarcinoma biopsies from patients aged between 35 and 55 years revealed more extensive lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in tumour samples issued from women than from men. In conclusion, our findings highlight an E2/ERa-dependent modulation of lymphatic and blood vascular components of lung tumour microenvironment. Our study has potential clinical implication in a personalised medicine perspective by pointing to the importance of oestrogen status or supplementation on lung cancer development that should be considered to adapt therapeutic strategies.
Capital structure and religion. Some international evidence
Authors: Dragotă Ingrid-Mihaela , Dragotă Victor , Curmei-Semenescu Andreea , Pele Daniel Traian
Published: November 2018

In the recent years, an increasing number of papers deepened cross-disciplinary studies, examining how different cultural values influence financial variables. The main objective of our paper is to test if the dominant world religions (Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, and Judaic), and, moreover, some Christian denominations (Catholicism, Protestantism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity) are related to some patterns in capital structure. Our paper considers distinctly the category of countries in which Agnostics, Atheists and non-religious people are predominant.

The results are promising. Companies located in the states with predominance of Islamic religion have a lower leverage, while the ones from predominantly Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Hindu and Judaic countries, as well as those in mainly Agnostic, Atheist and non-religious ones, are indebted more than those from mainly Protestant countries. The debt maturity seems to be correlated to the dominant religions or denominations, with companies in the predominantly Eastern Orthodox, Buddhist and Agnostic, Atheist and non-religious countries relying more on short term debt, and those in the majority Catholic, Judaic and Hindu countries on long term debt.
PENGARUH DOSIS IMPLANTASI ION NITROGEN PADA SIFAT KAPASITASI POLIMER PVDF DAN PVDF-HFP
Authors: Hudayawan Riza Nor , Darsono Darsono , Kusuma Damar Yoga
Published: November 2018

Material berdensitas energi elektrik tinggi sebagai bahan dielektrik kapasitor sangat diperlukan dalam industri bidang elektronika. Tujuan penelitian ini ialah mengkarakterisasi dan menganalisis polimer PVDF( Poly vinylidene fluorde) dan PVDF-HFP (Poly vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene)  sebelum dan sesudah diimplan ion nitrogen. Metode penelitian yang dilakukan ialah menyiapkan sampel lapisan tipis Polimer PVDFdan PVDF-HFP kemudian diimplan menggunakan ion nitrogen pada dosis 4,69 x 1016 ion/cm2 hingga 1,41 x 1018 ion/cm2 pada energi 10 keV. Selanjutnya nilai kapasitansi, faktor disipasi dan kekuatan dielektrik sampel dikarakterisasi menggunakan LCR meter GW-Instek 800. Morfologi dan ikatan struktur dari sampel dikarakterisasi menggunakan SEM dan FTIR. Hasil percobaan menunjukkan bahwa terjadi peningkatan nilai kapasitansi sebesar 4,3 kali pada polimer PVDF dan 1,4 kali pada polimer PVDF-HPF. Peningkatan nilai kapasitansi disebabkan bertambahnya ikatan rangkap C=C pada PVDF dan PVDF-HFP yang diimplan ion nitrogen. Hal tersebut dibuktikan dari hasil karakterisasi FTIR dan SEM. Namun demikian nilai kekuatan dielektrik mengalami penurunan akibat semakin konduktifnya polimer PVDF dan PVDF-HPF. Untuk sampel PVDF ada kapasitansi optimum dicapai pada dosis 9,38 x 1017 ion/cm2 sedangkan untuk sampel PVDF-HFP diatas dosis tersebut memperlihatkan gejala saturasi. Nilai kapasitansi optimal diperoleh berturut-turut sebesar 0,089483 nF, faktor disipasi 0,129613 % pada polimer PVDF dan 0,134889 nF, faktor disipasi 0,09784 % untuk polimer PVDF-HFP.
Suid-Afrika se waterkrisis - 'n Interdissiplinêre benadering
Authors: Viljoen G , van der Walt K
Published: November 2018

Suid-Afrika se toekoms word wesentlik bedreig deur 'n uiters beperkte water-hulpbron wat vanweë 'n lae reënvalsyfer en onvoorspelbare droogtes vergelyk kan word met van die droogste lande ter wêreld. Suid-Afrika het boonop 'n swak rekord van waterbesparing, die behandeling van afvalwater asook die instandhouding van waterinfrastruktuur. Hierdie gebreke lei tot groeiende kommer oor die land se beskikbare volume water, asook die gehalte daarvan. Die Nasionale Waterwet 36 van 1998 (NWW) is uitgevaardig met die primêre doel om die reg rakende Suid-Afrika se waterhulpbronne fundamenteel te verander. Die aanhef van die NWW verklaar dat water "'n skaars nasionale hulpbron is" en "'n natuurlike hulpbron is wat aan alle mense behoort". Artikel 3 van die NWW brei hierdie standpunt uit deur te bepaal dat alle watergebruiksregte onder die gesentraliseerde beheer van die nasionale regering as openbare trustee val om onder meer die verspreiding, bestuur, gebruik en bewaring van en gelyke toegang tot dié skaars hulpbron te verseker. Die inkorporering van die konsep van openbare trusteeskap het 'n paradigmaskuif in die waterreguleringsraamwerk meegebring, met die gevolg dat alle privaat regte in water afgeskaf is en dat alle water effektief genasionaliseer is. Ten spyte van hierdie statutêre hervorming dui beskikbare data daarop dat die toestand van waterhulpbronne in Suid-Afrika besig is om gaandeweg en voortdurend te verswak. Hierdie artikel het ten doel om te bepaal of die nuwe waterreguleringsraamwerk van Suid-Afrika, geskoei op die konsep van openbare trusteeskap, voldoende oplossings vir Suid-Afrika se groeiende waterkrisis bied. Die artikel ontleed derhalwe Suid-Afrika se waterreguleringsraamwerk, met spesifieke verwysing na die konsep van openbare trusteeskap. Die verswakkende toestand van die land se water word vervolgens bespreek, waarna die artikel afsluit met n gefundeerde opinie oor of die waterreguleringsraamwerk, geskoei op die konsep van openbare trusteeskap, geskik is om Suid-Afrika se waterhulpbron op n volhoubare en billike wyse te bestuur en te beskerm.
Teacher-Centered Mentorship as Meaningful Professional Development
Authors: Saylor Laura Lackner , McKenzie Ginger , Sacco Cathy Cebulski
Published: November 2018

A real-time, multidimensional, professional-development program that is connected to both practice and school culture was delivered to a group of Montessori teachers with the goal of improving teaching practices and increasing student success by exploring the potential benefits of mindfulness, structured reflective practice, and teacher-centered mentorship (i.e., clinical supervision), A case study of each participant and of the cocreated professional-development learning communities revealed that the program supported teacher growth and efficacy. Four themes emerged from participants’ experiences: the importance of mindfulness as a precursor to reflection and mentorship, the creation of communities of trust, the benefits of structure and focus, and the role of supportive accountability in improved practices. The study provides preliminary evidence for the use of multidimensional and teacher-centered professional-development programs to improve teaching practices. The research study has implications for administrators, teachers, and future research.
Оценка достаточности капитала в российских банках в соответствии с новыми международными стандартами («Базель 2»)
Authors: Пустовалова Татьяна Александровна , Прохорова Ирина Сергеевна
Published: November 2018

В данной статье рассматриваются новые международные стандарты расчета минимальных требований к банковскому капиталу, которые сформулированы в документе «Международная конвергенция измерения капитала и стандартов капитала: новые подходы» («International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards: A Revised Framework», «Базель 2»), опубликованном Базельским комитетом по банковскому регулированию и надзору в 2004 году. Основное внимание уделено анализу одного из подходов, предложенных в данном документе, – анализу стандартизированного подхода к учету кредитного риска при расчете минимальных требований к капиталу. В работе представлены результаты исследования количественного влияния применения данного подхода в российских банках. Расчеты производились на основании выборки из 38 российских банков. Результаты исследования показали, что применение новых методик в российских банках приведет к увеличению минимальных требований к капиталу и размер данного увеличения для отдельных банков будет определяться структурой их активов. Адрес электронной почты: ira_prokhorova@inbox.ru
Использование методов прогнозирования в бюджетном процессе (на примере бюджета Иркутской области)
Authors: Клещинский Андрей Игоревич
Published: November 2018

Автор: Андрей Игоревич Клещинский

На сегодняшний день государственный бюджет является одним из важнейших инструментов финансового планирования. От точности его составления зависит эффективность исполнения важных государственных функций, таких как содержание аппарата управления, внутренняя и внешняя безопасность, социальная сфера, поддержка отдельных отраслей хозяйства и пр. Использование методов формализованного прогнозирования в бюджетном процессе является одним из способов улучшения точности составления бюджета. В статье проведен анализ возможностей применения формализованных методов прогнозирования в бюджетном процессе. На основании результатов анализа предложен алгоритм проведения прогноза в рамках региональных бюджетных систем и дана его оценка на примере бюджета Иркутской области. В результате использование формализованных методов прогнозирования позволяет составлять прогнозы региональных бюджетов с точностью, превышающей порог в 80%.
MALDI-TOF MS preparation for identification of mosquitoes v2
Authors: L. Lawrence Andrea , Laroche Maureen , Batovska Jana , E. Webb Cameron , E. Lynch Stacey , J. Blacket Mark , Šlapeta Jan , Parola Philippe
Published: November 2018

MALDI-TOF MS specimen preparation for rapid identification of Australian mosquitoes
The mechanisms of acquired resistance to anti-EGFR drugs in non-small cell lung cancer not associated with T790m mutation and their significance in clinical practice
Authors: Karabina E. V. , Lubchenko L. N. , Davydov M. M.
Published: November 2018

The prospects of treatment strategies for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) featuring the acquired resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, not associated with the Т790М mutation, are quite vast from a scientific point of view, but in routine clinical practice they are not yet available in full. Understanding the mechanisms of acquired resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors is important for clinicians from the perspective of the possibility of forming more effective options for the second and subsequent treatment of NSCLC. The most studied and frequent mechanism causing the formation of the acquired resistance is the appearance of the Т790М mutation in 20 exons of the EGFR gene. This article describes the current understanding of the mechanisms of acquired resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors not associated with the mutation of T790M, the evolution of views concerning the treatment of NSCLC, progressing in the course of the treatment by this group of drugs. Taking into account the diversity of unresolved issues and directions of further scientific research, we should not forget about the available research results and the ability to use the described options in routine clinical practice in a proper way.
Human Development and the Creative Potential of Culture (Roundtable of the methodological seminar supervised by V.V. Rubtsov and B.D. Elkonin)
Authors: Rubtsov V.V. , Cole M. , Wertsch J.V. , Asmolov A.G. , Elkonin B.D. , Lektorsky V.A. , Nechaev N.N. , Kudryavtsev V.T. , Akhutina T.V. , Glozman Z.M. , Falikman M.V. , Margolis A.A. , Guruzhapov V.A.
Published: November 2018

On May 25, 2018 the Moscow State University of Psychology and Education hosted a methodological seminar “Human Development and the Creative Potential of Culture” (supervised by V.V. Rubtsov and B.D. Elkonin) that was dedicated to the 80th birthday of the renowned American psychologist professor Michael Cole, the disciple of A.R. Luria and the successor of the cultural-historical and activity approaches in psychology. Michael Cole has and continues to put a lot of effort into the internationalization and development of these acknowledged Russian approaches all over the world. The seminar was organized by the Cultural-Historical Psychology journal and the International UNESCO Chair of Cultural-Historical Psychology of Childhood (MSUPE). The issues discussed in the seminar included: 1. Understanding culture: from the environment to the origins of human development; 2. Cultural-historical psychology: the language of mutual understanding and the creative tool in science and education; 3. The diversity of cultural mediation of human activity in the modern world; 4. Cultural-activity approach as an interdisciplinary project; 5. Psychology and sociocultural practices of human development; 6. From joint activity towards co-creation of culture; 7. Imagination: the ‘third’ eye of culture. Among the participants of the seminar were Russian researchers V.V. Rubtsov, A.A. Margolis, A.G. Asmolov, V.T. Kudryavtsev, N.N. Nechaev, V.A. Lektorsky, T.V. Akhutina, Zh.M. Glozman, M.V. Falikman, B.D. Elkonin, V.A. Guruzhapov as well as M. Cole himself and his friend and colleague J.Wertsch (both participating online). The paper presents the full text of the discussion.
Michael Cole as the Mediator and Integrator of Cultural-Historical Psychology
Authors: Meshcheryakov B.G. , Ponomare I.V.
Published: November 2018

The article describes the ideas and tuning points of M. Cole's career — the famous American psychologist, his theoretical, methodological and empirical contribution to modern psychology. It is composed of three sections. The first one considers Cole—Luria's cooperation for many years: scientific as well as personal interactions in the process of acquiring Cultural-Historical Psychology of Russia. It summarizes the outcomes and methodological problems of interdisciplinary cross-cultural studies that M. Cole and his colleagues conducted in Africa and on the Yucatan Peninsula. The second one outlines M. Cole's important role as an international mediator in Soviet and post-Soviet psychology that revealed both through his own studies and his translations of L.S. Vygotsky and A.R. Luria's works in English or their editing. Plus his occupations with “Soviet psychology” (later — “Journal of Russian and East European Psychology”). The third section briefly evaluates Cole's theoretical efforts on the integration of Vygotsky, Luria and Leontiev's ideas as much as recasting them in the context of modern trends in Cultural psychology. Significant place is given to a context-activity approach developed by M. Cole in Cultural in the framework of integrated "Cultural-Historical Activity theory". The erroneous labeling of the context-activity approach as an anti-historical one is discussed. The authors come to the conclusion that M. Cole's context-activity approach is not far remote from Cultural-Historical Psychology but complements its development with new concepts, methods and points of growth.
A.F. Losev and Psychology
Authors: Takho-Godi E.A.
Published: November 2018

This article is devoted to the great Russian philosopher A.F. Losev (1983—1988) and his place in the history of evolution of Russian psychology. Losev’s attitude to his scientific advisor at the Institute of Psychology, G.I. Chelpanov, as well as to the ensuing discussions between G.I. Chelpanov and K.N. Kornilov in the 1920s are being considered. Attention is focused on the generation of Losev’s interest in psychology, and consequent transformation of the works of the 1910s directly devoted to psychological problems (“Criticism of modern functional psychology”, “Critical review of the basic teachings and methods of the Würzburg School”, “Research on philosophy and psychology of thinking”). The evolution of psychological views of the thinker is described – from the enthusiasm of his student years for experimental and functional psychology to the construction of psychology based on the “genetic method”, and then, in the late 1920s, to the Platonic-patristic psychology outlined in the “Supplement to the Dialectics of Myth”. Proceeding from the new European psychology, including F. Brentano and E. Husserl guided by Thomas Aquinas (and through him by Aristotle), Losev builds his “absolute mythology”, based on the opposite tradition going back to neoplatonism, Dionysius the Areopagite and Nicholas of Cusa. The article shows how in the 1920s Losev developed a new, sociological, vision, the belief that every being (physical, physiological, psychological and naturalistically-causally-sociological, etc.) “is, in comparison with social existence, a pure abstraction”, and this does not lead to the rejection of “materialistic idealism” and “absolute mythology”. This sociological stand promotes the description of “relative mythologies” (collective psychology, social “myths”). In the 1930s—1940s, knowledge gained in the walls of the Institute of Psychology as well as Losev’s habit of self-observation and reflection about his own experiences contributed to the writing of psychological musical-philosophical prose, where Losev conceptualizes problems also addressed in his “octateuch” of the late 1920s.
Effect of the Application of Poultry Manure and Wood Ash on Maize (Zea mays L.) Performance
Authors: Dayo-Olagbende G. Olufemi , Ayodele O.J. , Ogunwale G.I.
Published: November 2018

A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of the application of poultry manure and wood ash on the growth and grain yield of maize (Zea mays L.). The poultry manure was applied two weeks prior to planting to allow for proper decomposition. Wood ash was applied a day before planting. There were three treatments in all including the control and the treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Plant height and leaf area were taken at three weeks after planting to nine weeks after planting with an interval of two weeks. The grain yield was taken at eleven weeks after planting and was dried, weighed and recorded. The results showed that poultry manure significantly increased plant height (192.0 cm) and grain yield (4.83 t/ha) but has no significant effect on the number of leaves and leaf area with 12cm and 3403.6cm2 respectively. The values of plant height and leaf area of the control were relatively high compared with other treatments. This can be attributed to the availability of Nitrogen in the soil. The wood ash was found to give the lowest values for nitrogen as well as vegetative growth of maize, this could be attributed to the fact that nitrogen tends to volatilize when in contact with alkaline mediums and consequently affect vegetative growth of maize.
Waterpipe smoking: prevalence and associated factors among Jazan University students, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Bahri Ahmed A. , Gosadi Ibrahim M. , Mahfouz Mohamed S. , Albasheer Osama B. , Mawkili Yahya H. , Mawkili Hamzah A. , Yaqoub Hassan A. , Alwan Ahmed K. , Jawahy Mohammed A. , Jabbari Osama M.
Published: November 2018

Background: Waterpipe (WP) smoking exposes smokers to high levels of tobacco and toxins. This investigation is aiming to assess the prevalence of WP smoking among Jazan University students and to related influencing factors.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Multistage random sampling was utilized to target several colleges in Jazan University. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire where information about demographics, knowledge, attitude, and practice were collected. Chi square test and T Students test were used to assess statistical difference of measured variable among studied groups.Results: A total of 610 Jazan University students were recruited in this survey. The prevalence of students who had ever tried WP smoking (even once) was 52% and the proportion of participants who were current smokers at the time of recruitment was 34%. Being a male student, older than 21, related to health speciality and non-smoker was found to have a higher level of knowledge concerning WP smoking. A higher proportion of smokers were found to agree that WP smoking made them more attractive, agree that smoking WP is cheaper than cigarettes and agree that flavoured WP is less harmful than unflavoured WP when compared to non-smokers. Influence of gender smoking practice was apparent where most female student smokers were found to prefer to smoke with friends but not in the home or a cafe.Conclusions: The prevalence of WP smoking detected among Jazan University students was relatively high which mandates appropriate implementation of educational health campaigns with targeting influencing social determinants.
The Effect of Intellectual Capital on Business Performance in Micro-,
Small-, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) in Medan City
Authors: Absah Y , Chairunisa Muchtar Y , Qamariah I
Published: November 2018

.
Analysis of the Factors Influencing Dividend Policy: Evidence of
Indonesian Listed Firms
Authors: Trisanti T
Published: November 2018

.
Promoting Indonesia as a Wellness Tourism Destination
Authors: Lucky Kurniawan L
Published: November 2018

.
Effect of Styles and Leadership Work Discipline to Employee Performance
(Case Study of PT. Telecommunication Indonesia Tbk Dki Jakarta)
Authors: Parashakti R D , Haryadi A , Nashar M
Published: November 2018

.
Analysis of the Competence Factors in Improving Personnel Performance
Unit in Reserve Criminal Police Resort Asahan
Authors: Setyawan A , Nasution H , Matondang N
Published: November 2018

.
The Effect of Competency to Work Effectiveness: Case Study on Women’s
Principal
Authors: Christiana Kalis M
Published: November 2018

.
Sustainable Growth: Grow and Broke Empirical Study on Manufacturing
Sector Companies Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange
Authors: Utami D , . Sulastri , Muthia F , Husni Thamrin K M
Published: November 2018

.
Understanding Skill Mismatch from Learning Organization Perspective: A
Literature Review
Authors: Pravitasmara Dewi Y E , Suharti L
Published: November 2018

.
Stock Liquidity and Dividend Policy
Authors: Nadia Sawitri A , Sulistyowati C
Published: November 2018

.
Good University Governance Analysis Implementation on Private University
in West Java, Indonesia
Authors: . Hanifah
Published: November 2018

.
Effect of Product Enhancement Type on Replacement and Purchase Preference
of Consumers
Authors: Hsu Y
Published: November 2018

.
Design and Evaluation of Innovative Consumer-oriented Kitchens
Authors: Wang M-Y , Huang C-H
Published: November 2018

.
Study on the Path of Virtualization Management of Wisdom Education
Platform
Authors: Xiaoyong C , Yi L
Published: November 2018

.
The Impact of Perceived Lottery Knowledge on Problem Lottery Playing: A
Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Xiantao H , Lian L , Yue H , Gai L , Dongdong G , Bin W , Keqing S
Published: November 2018

.
The Influence of eWOM Source Credibility and Product Involvement on
Travel Product Purchasing Intention of Malaysian Chinese
Authors: Chang I-Y
Published: November 2018

.
Concurrent Design Strategy for Improving Public Wheelchairs for People
with Disabilities
Authors: Hsiao S-W , Lee Y-Y
Published: November 2018

.
Ways to Improve Students’ Humanistic Quality in Vocational
Colleges
Authors: Lei J , Xu M
Published: November 2018

.
On Red Culture Education under the Background of Youth Education in
Higher Vocational Colleges
Authors: Xiong Y , Guan Q
Published: November 2018

.
A Study on the Relationship Among Brand Image, Service Quality, Customer
Satisfaction, and Customer Loyalty – Taking ‘the Bao Wei Zhen Catering Team’
As an Empirical Study
Authors: Hsieh S-W , Lu C-C , Lu Y-H
Published: November 2018

.
Research on the Role of Ideological and Political Education in the
Cultivation of College Students’ Professional Qualities in the New
Situation
Authors: Li R
Published: November 2018

.
Are nasal steroids effective in children with adenoid hypertrophy?
Authors: Solmaz Fevzi , Aşçıoğlu Mustafa Erhan , Durgut Osman , Dikici Oğuzhan , Haksever Mehmet , Akduman Davut
Published: November 2018

Objectives: Chronic
nasal obstruction is a common disease of childhood. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy
plays an important role in obstructive sleep apnea. The topical use of the
aerosolized forms of corticosteroids therefore seems the most appropriate route
to decrease systemic side effects. The aim of our study is to demonstrate the
effect of topical mometasone furoate especially on the adenoid volume in
patients without any allergic story. Methods: The study
group consisting of 30 males and 25 females was administered topical nasal
mometasone furoate steroid treatment. The 20 patients were in the control group
where saline solution (0.9% NaCl) treatment was administered consisted of 12
males and 8 females. Nasopharyngeal X-rays before treatment revealed that 25
patients were Grade 2 and 30 patients were Grade 3 according to the Fujioka method.
Results: Flexible
endoscopy performed before the treatment revealed that 20 patients were Grade 2,
11 patients were Grade 3 and 24 patients were Grade 4. Nasal endoscopies
performed after 6 weeks of intranasal topical steroid therapy revealed that 45
patients were Grade 1 and 10 patients were Grade 2. A statistically significant
difference was present between endoscopic grades before and after treatment (p
< 0.0001). Nasal endoscopies performed after 6 weeks in control group
receiving saline solution treatment revealed Grade 2 in 7 patients, Grade 3 in
10 patients and Grade 4 in 3 patients. There was no statistically significant
difference between in the prior and later grades of the control group (p =
0.3125).

Conclusions:
We believe that the
use of intranasal steroids (mometasone furoate) for 6 weeks in patients with
pediatric chronic nasal obstruction due to adenoid hypertrophy may be an
effective treatment modality in alleviating symptoms and decreasing adenoid
volume without causing systemic side effects.
Assessment of Depression among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study from Pakistan.
Authors: Malik Madeeha , Nasir Rida , Hussain Azhar
Published: November 2018

Background: Depression is a condition that is often co-morbid to tuberculosis and can lead to increased morbidity and mortality associated with tuberculosis. The current prevalence of depression worldwide among individuals receiving treatment for TB ranged from 11.3% to 80.2%, with a mean weighted prevalence of 48.9%. The aim of the current study was to assess depression among tuberculosis patients in Pakistan. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate depression among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Pakistan. All the public and private tertiary healthcare facilities treating TB located in Rawalpindi and Islamabad were included in the study. Patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to collect data from 382 patients of pulmonary tuberculosis. Non-parametric tests, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis, were performed to find out the difference among different variables. Results & Conclusion: Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney (p ≥ 0.05) were performed to find out the differences among different variables. Significant difference between different income levels (p=0.002), duration of treatment (p=0.01), phase of treatment (p=0.03) and type of treatment (p=0.001) were observed. Moderate depression was observed among patients at baseline and had duration of treatment less than a month. The present study concluded that majority of patients suffering from tuberculosis suffered from some sort of depression. This depression was more evident at baseline phase of therapy. Patients undergoing directly observed therapy appeared to be more depressed due to increased stigma along with increase in financial burden. Counseling and psychotherapy can play a massive role in combating depression and improving medication adherence in TB patients.
First Approximation to DHD Design and Implementation
Authors: R. Sartorio Alejandro , Cristiá Maximiliano
Published: November 2018

This work presents a proposal on design and implementation of web sites e-learning withproperties of service reconfiguration in execution time, offering a new adaptation andpersonalisation mechanism with context-aware characteristics.We describe an integration model to incorporate “the coordination context-aware contracts”into an e-learning framework. The implementation has been solved using design patternswhich allow superimposition of rules through contracts, by means of the interaction betweenthe objects that implement services (i.e messages edition on a Forum) and the objects thatrequire them.
Optimal Selection of sigma-Cycle for Optical Networks. An approach based on Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Colmán Carlos , Pinto Diego , Barán Benjamín
Published: November 2018

The study of prevention and protection against failures is a central problem in Optical Networks due to the growth of capacity demand for data transmission, especially with the Internet traffic. Without protection, failures of links or nodes cause huge losses of data. The ρ-Cycle protection is a novel approach based on pre-configured protection cycles to provide a fast recovery for single link failure. This work proposes a Genetic Algorithm to solve the ρ-Cycle protection question. Experimental tests carried out on different topologies have shown that this new proposal is a promising approach to achieve better results when compared to a well-known state-of-the-art alternative called Capacitated Iterative Design Algorithm - CIDA.
Implementation of an Improvement Cycle using the Competisoft Methodological Framework and the Tutelkan Platform
Authors: Villarroel Rodolfo H. , M. Gómez Yessica , Gajardo Román , Rodríguez Oscar
Published: November 2018

Formalizing and institutionalizing software processes has become a necessity in recent years requiring the management and enhancement of software production and, at the same time, achieving certification in accordance with international standards. Due to the lack of collaboration tools in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) which could contribute to the improvement of software processes, different proposals have been made to enable these companies to develop and grow. This paper presents the experimental implementation of an improvement cycle in an internal area of a small company, considering the basic profile of the Competisoft process model with support on the Tutelkan platform. Through this experiment, it was noted that Competisoft supplied the basic elements to formalize and institutionalize the processes and that Tutelkan was a good complement to achieving this aim.
Empirical Validation of Component-based Software Systems Generation and Evaluation Approaches
Authors: Sagredo Víctor , Becerra Carlos , Valdes Gonzalo
Published: November 2018

Component-based software development needs to formalize a process of generation, evaluation andselection of Composite COTS-based Software Systems (CCSS), enabling software architects to make earlydecisions; the Azimut approach and its associated software tool were proposed to tackle this problem.This article presents an experimental study conduced to compare Azimut approach with a SystematizedAd-Hoc approach, regarding generated solutions quality, cost and e®ort. Results suggest that: (1) Azimutgenerate better quality solutions at lower cost, but not statistically signi¯cant, and (2) there is strongevidence showing that the e®ort required is higher than for Systematized Ad-Hoc approach; re-samplingmethods (Bootstrap and Jackknife) were applied to reinforce these conclusions. Also this study serves asa framework for validating approaches, process and tools for generating and evaluating component-basedsoftware systems.
A Query Language for Data Access in Ubiquitous Environments
Authors: Silveira Cristiano , Eloy Leonardo , Monteiro José Maria
Published: November 2018

Recent progress in ubiquitous computing technology is allowing development of new and so- phisticated applications that are now able to store very large data on the mobile device itself, besides access data stored remotely. Thus emerges the need to query and maintain data from portable equipments. However, traditional query languages such as SQL (Structure Query Lan- guage) and QbE (Query by Example) are inadequate for devices with small screens. Hence, this work presents QbZ (Query by Zoom), a query language based on Semantic Zoom for small-screen devices. The proposed mechanism is particularly suitable to locate and access data stored in portable equipments. In order to demonstrate the benefits of using QbZ, usability tests were conducted, as well as a comparative analysis with the existing solutions.
High Throughput and Low Cost Architecture for the Forward Quantization of the H.264/AVC Video Compression Standard
Authors: Sampaio Felipe , Palomino Daniel , Dornelles Robson , Agostini Luciano
Published: November 2018

This work presents a dedicated hardware design for the Forward Quantization Module (Q module) of the H.264/AVC Video Coding Standard, using optimized multipliers. The goal of this design is to achieve high throughput rates combined with low hardware consumption. The architecture was described in VHDL and synthesized to the EP2S60F1020C3 Altera Stratix II FPGA and to the TSMC 0.18μm Standard Cell technology. The architecture is able to operate at 364.2 MHz as a maximum operation frequency. At this frequency, the architecture is able to process 117 QHDTV frames (3840x2048 pixels) per second. The designed architecture can be used in low power and low cost applications, since it can process high resolution in real time even with very low operation frequencies and with low hardware consumption. In the comparison with related works, the designed Q module achieves the best results of throughput and hardware consumption.
Negotiating Between Identities: Indonesia’s Chinese-Language Newspapers in the Post-New Order Era
Authors: Wen Yuhao
Published: November 2018

This study aims to provide a description of Chinese-Indonesian identity in the post-New Order era. Under the previous authoritarian regime, public expression of Chinese identity in all social fields, such as culture, language and politics, was officially suppressed by the government through its assimilation policy. A person could be Chinese or Indonesian, but not both. Since the collapse of the New Order government in 1998, Indonesia has begun the process of democratization, and the old Indonesian identity and cultural heritage of Indonesia has been "liberated". Now there is an urgent need to re-examine the identity of the Chinese. One channel for expressing Chinese ethnic identity is through ethnic media, such as Chinese newspapers which this paper will focus on. Based on this context, this paper aims to see what Chinese-Indonesian identities are presented in Chinese-language Indonesian newspapers in the post-New Order era by analyzing their reporting and discussion regarding main domestic political events.

Bahasa Abstrak: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memberikan penggambaran identitas orang Tionghoa-Indonesia di era pasca-Orde Baru. Di bawah rezim otoriter, ekspresi publik dengan identitas Tionghoa di semua bidang sosial, seperti budaya, bahasa dan politik, ditekan secara resmi oleh pemerintah seiring dengan kebijakan asimilasi. Seseorang bisa menjadi orang Tionghoa atau orang Indonesia, tetapi tidak keduanya. Sejak runtuhnya pemerintahan Orde Baru pada tahun 1998, Indonesia telah memulai proses demokratisasi, dan identitas lama serta warisan budaya Tionghoa-Indonesia telah "dibebaskan". Sekarang ada kebutuhan mendesak untuk memeriksa kembali identitas orang Tionghoa. Satu saluran untuk mengekspresikan identitas etnis Tionghoa adalah melalui media etnis, seperti surat kabar berbahasa Mandarin - sebagaimana yang akan difokuskan oleh makalah ini. Berdasarkan konteks ini, makalah ini bertujuan untuk melihat apa identitas orang Tionghoa-Indonesia yang disajikan dalam surat kabar Indonesia berbahasa Mandarin di masa pasca-Orde Baru, dengan menganalisa pelaporan dan diskusi mereka mengenai peristiwa politik domestik yang utama.
Data Quality in Banking System: Case of Azerbaijan
Authors: Dadashzade Ali
Published: November 2018

Data quality in banking and financial sector is one of the most researched topics nowadays. With the increasing regulatory burden and increased importance of targeted sales, data quality directly influences funds and performance of banking system. In this paper, the author is aiming to define universal reasons and causes of data quality problem and apply the case to local Azerbaijani banks taking into account local managers’ personal view based on their banking experience. Key finding of the research is that unintegrated software, wrong data insertion, aging of data with the growing speed of market, corporate governance and inability to calculate true costs of low data quality to the local banks are the reasons of data quality issue in the local banks. Moreover, main costs of the data quality issue are time and money, appearance of hidden data factories, obstacles to apply and measure KPIs, uncorrelations in sensitivity analysis and ineffective marketing strategies.
An Assessment of Competitive Factors in Medical Tourism
Authors: Dundar Ege Seyda , Demir Uslu Yeter
Published: November 2018

Increasing globalization of the healthcare sector indicates that there are new opportunities for emerging markets to take a bigger share from the whole healthcare industry. This is realized in the form of medical tourism where people prefer to travel to different destinations to receive medical treatments and services. Medical tourists prefer to travel for several reasons like low cost, high quality care or shorter waiting periods. The industry is growing rapidly and the annual expenditure is estimated to be around US$ 30 billion at the end of 2019. The challenging amount of expenditure whets the appetite of the countries and competitiveness becomes crucial to take more market share in this respect. Therefore the factors that build up competitiveness is identified and assessed thoroughly. This paper makes a literature review on the subject and recommends a New research opportunity for Turkey in this field.
Real-Time Inferential Analytics Based on Online Databases of Trends: A Breakthrough within the Discipline of Digital Epidemiology in Dentistry and Dental Anatomy
Authors: Al-Imam Ahmed , Khalid Usama , Al-Qaisi Shahad , Al-Hadithi Nawfal , Kaouche Dawoude
Published: November 2018

BACKGROUND Epidemiological sciences have been evolving at an exponential rate paralleled only by the comparable growth within the discipline of data science. Digital epidemiological studies are playing a vital role in medical science analytics for the past few decades. To date, there are no published attempts at deploying the use of real-time analytics in connection with the disciplines of Dentistry or Medicine. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES We deployed a real-time statistical analysis in connection with topics in Dental Anatomy and Dental Pathology represented by the maxillary sinus, posterior maxillary teeth, related oral pathology. The purpose is to infer the digital epidemiology based on a continuous stream of raw data retrieved from Google Trends database. MATERIALS AND METHODS Statistical analysis was carried out via Microsoft Excel 2016 and SPSS version 24. Google Trends database was used to retrieve data for digital epidemiology. Real-time analysis and the statistical inference were based on encoding a programming script using Python high-level programming language. A systematic review of the literature was carried out via PubMed-NCBI, the Cochrane Library, and Elsevier databases. RESULTS The comprehensive review of databases of the literature, based on specific keywords search, yielded 491813 published studies. These were distributed as 488884 (PubMed-NCBI), 1611 (the Cochrane Library), and 1318 (Elsevier). However, there was no single study attempting real-time analytics. Nevertheless, we succeeded in achieving an automated real-time stream of data accompanied by a statistical inference based on data extrapolated from Google Trends. CONCLUSION Real-time analytics are of considerable impact when implemented in biological and life sciences as they will tremendously reduce the required resources for research. Predictive analytics, based on artificial neural networks and machine learning algorithms, can be the next step to be deployed in continuation of the real-time systems to prognosticate changes in the temporal trends and the digital epidemiology of phenomena of interest.
Myocardial Interstitial Matrix as Novel Target for Succinic Acid Treatment Strategies during Experimental Hypobaric Hypoxia
Authors: Zadnipryany Igor V. , Sataieva Tatiana P. , Tretiakova Olga S. , Zukow Walery
Published: November 2018

The myocardial extracellular matrix is not a passive entity, but rather a complex and dynamic microenvironment which represents an important structural and signaling system within the myocardium. Understanding the fundamental role of hypoxia and peroxidation in the genesis of many cardiovascular diseases has stimulated the development of strategies that can enhance the energy-producing functions of cells. Revealing the alterations in cardiac metabolism and function associated with sustained exposure to high altitude advances our understanding of hypoxia-related disease.  The study was conducted on 26 adult males of Wistar rats weighing 220–310 g, divided into 3 groups.  The first control group consisted of 6 intact animals, the second group included 10 rats which were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia without medication for 30 days. Third group was composed of 10 rats, which were medicated by succinic acid solution which was injected intraperitoneally once a day at the rate of 0.5 mL/100 g of animal body weight 15 minutes before hypoxic exposure for 30 days. Fibrosis in the myocardium inevitably leads to increased myocardial stiffness, resulting in systolic and diastolic dysfunction, neurohormonal activation and, ultimately, heart failure Changes in cardiac highenergy phosphate metabolism may underlie the myocardial dysfunction caused by hypobaric hypoxia. Reduced oxygen delivery by microvascular damage, increased perivascular fibrosis associated with reduced cellular oxygen availability may contribute to contractile failure. Succinic acid combined with inosine acts as a high-energy phosphate reserve, to maintain adenosine triphosphate at levels sufficient to support contractile function. 
Detergent Plants of Northern Thailand: Potential Sources of Natural Saponins
Authors: Wisetkomolmat Jiratchaya , Suppakittpaisarn Pongsakorn , Sommano Sarana Rose
Published: November 2018

The natural forests of Northern Thailand are the mother source of many utilisable natural products because of their diverse flora and fauna. Among many plant species found within Northern Thai forests, detergent plants are known for its distinctive cleansing properties. Several local species of detergent plants in Thailand are traditionally used by the locals and indigenous people. However, these plants may become extinct because their habitats have been replaced by industrial agriculture, and their uses have been replaced by chemically synthesised detergents. Researchers need to study and communicate the biology, phytochemistry, and the importance of these plants to conserve natural biodiversity of Northern Thailand. Of many utilisable detergent phytochemicals, natural saponins are known as bio-surfactant and foaming agents. Their physiochemical and biological properties feature structural diversity, which leads to many industrial applications.  In this review, we explained the term “detergent” from the physiological mechanism perspective and the detergent effects of saponin.  We also compiled a list of Thai local plants with cleansing properties focusing on the saponin-containing plants. Future studies should investigate information relative to plant environment, ethnobotanical data and bioactive compound content of these plants. The knowledge acquired from this study will promote the maintenance of the local biodiversity and the conservation of the detergent plant species found in Thailand.
Spirulina Maxima Decreases Endothelial Damage and Oxidative Stress Indicators in Patients with Systemic Arterial Hypertension: Results from Exploratory Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Martínez-Sámano Jesús , Torres-Montes de Oca Adriana , Luqueño-Bocardo Oscar Ivan , Torres-Durán Patricia V. , Juárez-Oropeza Marco Antonio
Published: November 2018

1) Background: Spirulina (Arthrospira) maxima has shown beneficial effects such anti-dyslipidemic, antiviral, antioxidant and antihypertensive. However, there are few and limited clinical studies. 2) Methods: a prospective, randomized, parallel pilot study of 4.5 g administration of Spirulina maxima or placebo for 12 weeks in 16 patients with systemic arterial hypertension undergoing treatment with ACE inhibitors was performed to assess the effects on endothelial damage and oxidative stress indicators. The blood levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, endothelin-1, and sE-selectin were quantified; the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and concentrations of reduced glutathione, oxidized glutathione, and thiobarbituric acid reactive susbtances, were also quantified before and after the treatment period. 3) Results: There were statistically significant (p < 0.05) decreases in systolic blood pressure, sVCAM-1, sE-selectin and endothelin-1 levels, and increases in glutathione peroxidase activity and oxidized glutathione levels. 4) Conclusion: The effects found in the present study agree with antihypertensive and antioxidant effects previously reported for Spirulina maxima. However, this is the first report about the effects on indicators of endothelial damage. More research in this field is necessary to gain an insight into the effects of Spirulina on these indicators.   