bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Une sémiotique à refaire?
Authors: Landowski Eric
Published: March 2014

Le récit, c'est ce qui nous sert à donner un peu de signification et de valeur à la vie, en dépit de ce qu'elle peut avoir d'insignifiant par sa monotonie ou d'insensé par son aspect chaotique. Mais indépendamment des significations portées les récits, il nous arrive parfois, face à autrui, à une oeuvre, à un paysage, d'être saisis par la présence d'un sens qui s'impose à notre intuition bien qu'il n'émane d'aucun discours constitué. Ce sens second, toute une littérature, de Proust à Musil, de Svevo à Woolf, s'est employée à le dire en inventant les formes d'écriture de ce qu'on peut appeler le discours de l'expérience. Distinct du vécu, ce discours a le pouvoir d'en capter le mouvement en restituant la dynamique du rapport aux choses, à autrui, à soi-même sur laquelle se fonde l'expérience du sens dans son émergence en acte. Pour construire une sémiotique qui permette d'en rendre compte, ni la grammaire narrative standard ni ses prolongements relatifs aux passions et à la tensivité ne fournissent les instruments nécessaires. Il convient donc de compléter l'appareil théorique dont nous disposons. C'est ce qui justifie le réexamen critique des notions de narrativité et de discursivité auquel procède cet article, ainsi que la proposition finale d'un modèle tenant compte de la diversité des régimes possibles de production du sens dans l'interaction.
O Alumbramento e o fracasso: uma leitura de Estrada para Ythaca
Authors: Lopes Denilson
Published: March 2014

Este é um ensaio sobre o filme Estrada para Ythaca (2010) de Luiz Pretti, Ricardo Pretti, Guto Parente e Pedro Diógenes no qual a encenação de nuvens, como marca do sublime, é confrontada com o fracasso não só como uma posição estética, mas como uma ética da arte e artistas contemporâneos. Como resposta ao fracasso, a amizade aparece como estratégia de sobrevivência, mas também de isolamento do mundo.
O problema do estilo na obra de José Mojica Marins
Authors: Carreiro Rodrigo
Published: March 2014

Mais conhecido cineasta brasileiro de horror, José Mojica Marins tem uma obra vasta, na qual transitou por outros gêneros fílmicos, como o western e o sexo explícito. Ele trabalhou dentro de modos de produção distintos, usou diversas tecnologias e lidou com mudanças profundas no círculo de colaboradores. Tudo isso teve como consequência certa heterogeneidade temática, visual e sonora nos filmes que ele dirigiu, tornando mais difícil a tarefa de rastrear uma assinatura estilística em sua obra. Apesar disso, é possível afirmar que seus filmes têm um estilo próprio. Este ensaio procura identificar padrões recorrentes de forma e conteúdo na obra de Mojica, tentando explicá-los através do exame dos contextos socioculturais, tecnológicos, econômicos e políticos que afetaram o trabalho e a vida pessoal do cineasta.
Questões para pensar campanhas de cerveja e seus processos de midiatização: regulação e regulamentação
Authors: Trindade Eneus , Hellín Pedro , Egi Christiane Haruê
Published: March 2014

Este trabalho se refere à discussão sobre os sentidos da regulação aplicados ao consumo e à comunicação, bem como ao entendimento desse conceito frente às definições de regulamentação e autorregulamentação, que constituem parte da base para a formação do quadro teórico do projeto integrado - Cerveja, Publicidade, Regulação e Consumo: o olhar da comunicação sobre as marcas de cervejas contemporâneas e suas implicações na vida social de adolescentes. Tal abordagem visa conhecer processos de midiatização e presença das marcas de cerveja na vida dos adolescentes que vivem em São Paulo, pelo olhar da pesquisa em comunicação. Este texto procura gerar outros pontos de vista sobre a regulação social dos sentidos das campanhas de cerveja com base na Análise Crítica do Discurso e sua perspectiva de mudança social.
Violência simbólica e redes sociais no facebook: o caso da fanpage "Diva Depressão"
Authors: Recuero Raquel , Soares Pricilla
Published: March 2014

O presente artigo foca a violência simbólica e sua propagação através do discurso em sites de rede social. O objetivo é discutir os mecanismos através dos quais o estigma social é exposto e reforçado no Facebook, através do conteúdo publicado por fanpages humorísticas. Para trazer evidências para esta discussão, apresentamos dados de uma fanpage popular, "Diva Depressão" e analisamos três postagens e seus comentários através da Análise do Discurso Mediado pelo Computador (CMDA). Os resultados apontam para evidências de que tanto o conteúdo das páginas quanto as interações (comentários, curtidas e compartilhamentos) reforçam e naturalizam o estigma.
Prevalence and costs of hospitalizations for poisoning and accidental intoxication in Brazilian elderly
Authors: Abreu Marcelle Silva de , Ferreira Silvandro Diego de Albuquerque , Ferreira Larissa Pelágia de Lima , Toneo Júnior José Ferreira , Maciel Wamberto Vieira , Maciel Shirley Suely Soares Veras
Published: March 2014

A cross-sectional study of secondary data/information obtained from the Hospital Information System (HIS) spanning the years 2008 - 2009 was performed. The distribution of the main hospital admissions by gender, age, color/race, region and federal unit of residence, average expenditure and average length of hospital stay, year of hospitalization and mortality rates (MR) were studied. The data collected were tabulated by TabNet and keyed into Microsoft Excel 2007. It was verified that elderly males (54.3%), from 60 to 69 years old (50.6%), nonwhites (36.3%) and residents of Southeast and North regions of the country had the highest rates of hospitalization. Seniors were hospitalized for an average of 4.8 days, and the major causes were exposure to alcohol (43.7%) and to drugs (33.9%). Expenses related to hospital admissions were, on average, R$ 529,817.70. The highest mortality rates were recorded among females (MR = 4.34), in elderly, 80 years or older (MR = 10.16) and Caucasians (MR = 3.95), where pharmacological substances with action on the Autonomic Nervous System were the leading cause of death. There are demographic differences in morbi-mortality of these elderly since, although men and younger elderly were the main victims, women and elderly of advanced age have greater mortality. The leading causes of hospitalization were alcohol and drugs.
Hepatitis C in prisoners and non-prisoners in Colatina, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Authors: Falquetto Tânia Cristina , Endringer Denise Coutinho , Andrade Tadeu Uggere de , Lenz Dominik
Published: March 2014

The aim of the present work was to compare hepatitis C prevalence, genotypes, and risk factors between prisoners and non-prisoners in the city of Colatina, Espírito Santo, Brazil. This cross-sectional study involved approximately 1,600 residents and 730 prisoners, all of whom were living in Colatina. The percentage of individuals who tested positive for anti-HCV was 0.1% (2/1,600) in the non-prisoner group and 1.0% (7/730) in the prisoner group, confirming a higher risk of hepatitis C in the latter group. The percentage of subjects who progressed to HCV-RNA negative was 11.1% (1/9), confirming the high probability of evolution to chronicity. Genotype 1 was the most predominant genotype found. Factors associated with increased risk of hepatitis C were being male, being institutionalized, having an income of less than three minimum wages, having low educational attainment, and using injected drugs. Alcohol use, pain in the liver, migraine, and reported history of hepatitis were markedly associated with hepatitis C. The prison population tested positive for anti-HCV at a higher rate than the non-prison population.
A fully validated microbiological assay to evaluate the potency of ceftriaxone sodium
Authors: Manfio Maria Luisa , Agarrayua Danielle Araújo , Machado Jaison Carlosso , Schmidt Cleber Alberto
Published: March 2014

Ceftriaxone (CFTX) sodium is a third-generation, broad-spectrum cephalosporin that is resistant to beta-lactamases. An alternative bioassay for the assessment of the potency of this drug in pharmaceutical formulations has not been previously reported. Thus, this paper reports the development and full validation of a 3 x 3 agar diffusion bioassay using a cylinder-plate method to quantify CFTX sodium in pharmaceutical samples. The strain Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P was used as the test microorganism, and the results of the proposed bioassay displayed high linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity and robustness. All potency results were statistically analyzed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) and were found to be linear (r=0.99999) in the range of 16-64 µg/mL, accurate (100.5%), and precise [repeatability: relative standard deviation (RSD)=1.4%; intermediate precision: between-day RSD=2.1% and between-analyst RSD=2.5%]. The specificity of the bioassay was determined by evaluating a degraded sample (50 ºC) at 0, 24 and 48 hours as compared against the results from the pharmacopeial liquid chromatography method for CFTX. The results validated the proposed microbiological assay, which allows reliable quantitation of CFTX in pharmaceutical samples. Moreover, it is a useful, simple and low-cost alternative method for monitoring the quality of this medicine.
Production of intravenous human dengue immunoglobulin from Brazilian-blood donors
Authors: Gouveia Frederico Leite , Oliveira Renata Mendes Batista de , Lucena Antônio Edson de Souza , Cordeiro Marli Tenório , Leite Ana Cristina Lima
Published: March 2014

Dengue represents an important health problem in Brazil and therefore there is a great need to develop a vaccine or treatment. The neutralization of the dengue virus by a specific antibody can potentially be applied to therapy. The present paper describes, for the first time, the preparation of Immunoglobulin specific for the dengue virus (anti-DENV IgG), collected from screened Brazilian blood-donations. Production was performed using the classic Cohn-Oncley process with minor modifications. The anti-DENV IgG was biochemically and biophysically characterized and fulfilled the requirements defined by the European Pharmacopoeia. The finished product was able to neutralize different virus serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, and DENV-3), while a commercial IgG collected from American blood donations was found to have low anti-dengue antibody titers. Overall, this anti-DENV IgG represents an important step in the study of the therapeutic potential and safety of a specific antibody that neutralizes the dengue virus in humans.
17p13.3 Microduplication, a Potential Novel Genetic Locus for Nonsyndromic Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Ibitoye Rita M. , Roberts Joanna , Goodacre Tim , Kini Usha
Published: March 2014

Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is a relatively common congenital malformation. The etiology is complex and postulated to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The genetic loci for nonsyndromic CLP remain poorly characterized. Two families have recently been reported with a chromosome 17p13.3 microduplication and CLP. We report a third family with four individuals affected by nonsyndromic bilateral CLP and a 350-kb chromosome 17p13.3 microduplication (17:1,113,102–1,461,838). Our family possesses the smallest overlapping chromosome 17p13.3 microduplication associated with CLP, narrowing down the critical region for this potential new genetic locus for CLP.
Simulation of spectral emissivity of vanadium oxides (VOx)-based microbolometer structures
Authors: Lamsal Chiranjivi , Ravindra Nuggehalli M.
Published: March 2014

A simulation of room temperature spectral emissivity of an industry standard VOx-based microbolometer structure, with x equal to 1·8, is presented in this study. The simulation is based on Multi-Rad, a package that implements thin film optics in the form of matrix method of multilayers and assumes the layers to be optically smooth, parallel to each other and optically isotropic. The simulated results are shown to be in good accord with the available experimental data in the literature. The calculations show that bare VOx, that is VO2, V2O3 and V2O5, with different thicknesses, exhibits wavelength-dependent emissivity that scales almost linearly with thickness. In the wavelength range of 8–14 µm, the spectral emissivity of bare VOx, consisting of the stacked layers of the thin films of VO2, V2O3 and V2O5, of total thickness of 500 Å, behaves as a mixed system. The Si3N4 overlayer does not change the spectral emissivity of Al/Si while it decreases the spectral emissivity of the VOx/Si3N4/Air/Al/Si system. Calculations show that the Si3N4 layer provides the much-desired linear performance of the VOx-based microbolometer.
Dentists’ Willingness to Provide Expanded HIV Screening in Oral Health Care Settings: Results From a Nationally Representative Survey
Authors: Pollack Harold A. , Pereyra Margaret , Parish Carrigan L. , Abel Stephen , Messinger Shari , Singer Richard , Kunzel Carol , Greenberg Barbara , Gerbert Barbara , Glick Michael , Metsch Lisa R.
Published: March 2014

Objectives. Using a nationally representative survey, we determined dentists’ willingness to provide oral rapid HIV screening in the oral health care setting.

Methods. From November 2010 through November 2011, a nationally representative survey of general dentists (sampling frame obtained from American Dental Association Survey Center) examined barriers and facilitators to offering oral HIV rapid testing (n = 1802; 70.7% response). Multiple logistic regression analysis examined dentists’ willingness to conduct this screening and perceived compatibility with their professional role.

Results. Agreement with the importance of annual testing for high-risk persons and familiarity with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations regarding routine HIV testing were positively associated with willingness to conduct such screening. Respondents’ agreement with patients’ acceptance of HIV testing and colleagues’ improved perception of them were also positively associated with willingness.

Conclusions. Oral HIV rapid testing is potentially well suited to the dental setting. Although our analysis identified many predictors of dentists’ willingness to offer screening, there are many barriers, including dentists’ perceptions of patients’ acceptance, that must be addressed before such screening is likely to be widely implemented.
Life-Course Accumulation of Neighborhood Disadvantage and Allostatic Load: Empirical Integration of Three Social Determinants of Health Frameworks
Authors: Gustafsson Per E. , San Sebastian Miguel , Janlert Urban , Theorell Töres , Westerlund Hugo , Hammarström Anne
Published: March 2014

Objectives. We examined if the accumulation of neighborhood disadvantages from adolescence to mid-adulthood were related to allostatic load, a measure of cumulative biological risk, in mid-adulthood, and explored whether this association was similar in women and men.

Methods. Data were from the participants in the Northern Swedish Cohort (analytical n = 818) at ages 16, 21, 30, and 43 years in 1981, 1986, 1995, and 2008. Personal living conditions were self-reported at each wave. At age 43 years, 12 biological markers were measured to operationalize allostatic load. Registered data for all residents in the cohort participants’ neighborhoods at each wave were used to construct a cumulative measure of neighborhood disadvantage. Associations were examined in ordinary least-squares regression models.

Results. We found that cumulative neighborhood disadvantage between ages 16 and 43 years was related to higher allostatic load at age 43 years after adjusting for personal living conditions in the total sample (B = 0.11; P = .004) and in men (B = 0.16; P = .004), but not in women (B = 0.07; P = .248).

Conclusions. Our findings suggested that neighborhood disadvantage acted cumulatively over the life course on biological wear and tear, and exemplified the gains of integrating social determinants of health frameworks.
Neighborhood Contributions to Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Obesity Among New York City Adults
Authors: Lim Sungwoo , Harris Tiffany G.
Published: March 2014

Objectives. We assessed neighborhood confounding on racial/ethnic obesity disparities among adults in New York City after accounting for complex sampling, and how much neighborhood factors (walkability, percentage Black or Hispanic, poverty) contributed to this effect.

Methods. We combined New York City Community Health Survey 2002–2004 data with Census 2000 zip code–level data. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) for obesity with 2 sets of regression analyses. First, we used the method incorporating the conditional pseudolikelihood into complex sample adjustment. Second, we compared ORs for race/ethnicity from a conventional multilevel model for each neighborhood factor with those from a hybrid fixed-effect model.

Results. The weighted estimate for obesity for Blacks versus Whites (OR = 1.8; 95% confidence interval = 1.6, 2.0) was attenuated when we controlled neighborhood confounding (OR = 1.4; 95% confidence interval = 1.2, 1.6; first analysis). Percentage of Blacks in the neighborhood made a large contribution whereas the walkability contribution was minimal (second analysis).

Conclusions. Percentage of Blacks in New York City neighborhoods explained a large portion of the disparity in obesity between Blacks and Whites. The study highlights the importance of estimating valid neighborhood effects for public health surveillance and intervention.
The First Concussion Crisis: Head Injury and Evidence in Early American Football
Authors: Harrison Emily A.
Published: March 2014

In the early 21st century, sports concussion has become a prominent public health problem, popularly labeled “The Concussion Crisis.” Football-related concussion contributes much of the epidemiological burden and inspires much of the public awareness. Though often cast as a recent phenomenon, the crisis in fact began more than a century ago, as concussions were identified among footballers in the game’s first decades. This early concussion crisis subsided—allowing the problem to proliferate—because work was done by football’s supporters to reshape public acceptance of risk. They appealed to an American culture that permitted violence, shifted attention to reforms addressing more visible injuries, and legitimized football within morally reputable institutions. Meanwhile, changing demands on the medical profession made practitioners reluctant to take a definitive stance. Drawing on scientific journals, public newspapers, and personal letters of players and coaches, this history of the early crisis raises critical questions about solutions being negotiated at present.
Low-temperature limitation of bioreactor sludge in anaerobic treatment of domestic wastewater
Authors: Bowen Emma J. , Dolfing Jan , Davenport Russell J. , Read Fiona L. , Curtis Thomas P.
Published: March 2014

Two strategies exist for seeding low-temperature anaerobic reactors: the use of specialist psychrophilic biomass or mesophilic bioreactor sludge acclimated to low temperature. We sought to determine the low-temperature limitation of anaerobic sludge from a bioreactor acclimated to UK temperatures (<15 °C). Anaerobic incubation tests using low-strength real domestic wastewater (DWW) and various alternative soluble COD sources were conducted at 4, 8 and 15 °C; methanogenesis and acidogenesis were monitored separately. Production of methane and acetate was observed; decreasing temperature resulted in decreased yields and increased ‘start-up’ times. At 4 °C methanogenesis not hydrolysis/acidogenesis was rate-limiting. The final methane yields at 4 °C were less than 35% of the theoretical potential whilst at 8 and 15 °C more than 75 and 100% of the theoretical yield was achieved respectively. We propose that the lower temperature limit for DWW treatment with anaerobic bioreactor sludge lies between 8 and 4 °C and that 8 °C is the threshold for reliable operation.
Water reclamation from shale gas drilling flow-back fluid using a novel forward osmosis–vacuum membrane distillation hybrid system
Authors: Li Xue-Mei , Zhao Baolong , Wang Zhouwei , Xie Ming , Song Jianfeng , Nghiem Long D. , He Tao , Yang Chi , Li Chunxia , Chen Gang
Published: March 2014

This study examined the performance of a novel hybrid system of forward osmosis (FO) combined with vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) for reclaiming water from shale gas drilling flow-back fluid (SGDF). In the hybrid FO-VMD system, water permeated through the FO membrane into a draw solution reservoir, and the VMD process was used for draw solute recovery and clean water production. Using a SGDF sample obtained from a drilling site in China, the hybrid system could achieve almost 90% water recovery. Quality of the reclaimed water was comparable to that of bottled water. In the hybrid FO-VMD system, FO functions as a pre-treatment step to remove most contaminants and constituents that may foul or scale the membrane distillation (MD) membrane, whereas MD produces high quality water. It is envisioned that the FO-VMD system can recover high quality water not only from SGDF but also other wastewaters with high salinity and complex compositions.
Long-Term Results of Radical Surgery and Adjuvant Radiotherapy in a Case of Primary Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of the Kidney
Authors: Cormio Luigi , Sanguedolce Francesca , Massenio Paolo , Di Fino Giuseppe , Lucarelli Giuseppe , Mancini Vito , Bufo Pantaleo , Carrieri Giuseppe
Published: March 2014

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the kidney is an extremely rare tumor that isthought to arise from the renal capsule. Radical nephrectomy is the standard treatment for localized disease but 25% of patients die of metastatic disease despite radical surgical resection. In the absence of clear pathogenetic information, adjuvant treatment remains empiric. Herein, we describe the case of a previously healthy 58-year-old woman who underwent radical nephrectomy because of 8-cm solid lesion of the right kidney; pathology revealed a pleomorphic malignant fibrous histiocytoma invading the perinephric fat, stage pT3aN0. She received adjuvant radiotherapy. To date, five years after surgery, she is alive and there is no evidence of disease. To our knowledge, this is the first report of favorable long-term results of surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy in a locally-advanced malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the kidney.
A Parent's Tears: Primary Results from the Traumatic Experiences and Resiliency Study
Authors: Cacciatore Joanne , Lacasse Jeffrey R. , Lietz Cynthia A. , McPherson Jane
Published: March 2014

This study examined health/mental health status, family functioning, and resiliency among a sample of bereaved parents ( N = 503). Participants were recruited from an online support community to complete an online survey instrument (response rate = 51.75%). The questionnaire contained an array of self-report instruments, such as the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25 (HSCL-25), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the Family Assessment Device (FAD), as well as open-ended questions. Many respondents scored over the clinical cut-off for the HSCL-25 (51.3%, n = 258) and IES-R (42.3%, n = 213). IES-R scores were negatively correlated with years-since loss ( r = −0.24, p < .05). In narrative responses, participants described a wide range of deeply impactful mental and physical health problems. The results indicate significant clinical distress in this sample of bereaved parents, with many reporting enduring psychological, familial, and health consequences following the death of a child.
Dealing with Death: Medical Students' Experiences with Patient Loss
Authors: Pessagno Regina , Foote Carrie E. , Aponte Robert
Published: March 2014

This article explores medical students' experiences and coping strategies when confronting patient loss in their 3rd and 4th years of their programs. Much of the literature on the impact of patient losses focuses on physicians. This article joins a handful of works aimed at how medical students experience and cope with patient loss. In-depth interviews with 20 medical students provided rich descriptions of their varying experiences coping with death. Consistent with previous work, students experience substantial emotional stress coping with patient deaths, though some were more difficult to bear than others, such as when the dying patient was a child or when treatment errors could have contributed to deaths. Common coping mechanisms included talking through their emotions, thrusting themselves into continuing their rounds, crying, participating in infant death rituals, and turning to religion. When deaths occurred, senior personnel who exhibited empathy toward the deceased and tolerance toward the students' emotional responses were lauded and made the process easier. Also emotionally daunting, in many instances, was dealing with the families of dying patients. Most of the students did not view death as a failure, contrary to much earlier literature, except in instances in which human error or decision making may have played a part in causing the death of a patient.
The Death Effect in Literary Evaluation: Reverence for the Dead?
Authors: Green Joseph P. , Mohler Eric W.
Published: March 2014

It is commonly believed that the value of art and other creative works increases after the death of the artist. In an attempt to examine this so-called death effect we presented a short story to N = 431 undergraduate students asking how much money they would hypothetically spend to purchase a literary work. We experimentally manipulated: 1) whether the author died or moved after publishing a short story, and, 2) the gender of the author. Participants randomly received one of four possible biographical descriptions about the author. We predicted that participants would offer higher purchase prices and subjectively evaluate the work more positively when they believed the author was dead. Results were consistent with this hypothesis perhaps reflecting a certain reverence for the dead. We also found that evaluations of the story were more favorable when the purported gender of the author matched that of the participant.
Fuzzy model for determination and assessment of groundwater quality in the city of Zrenjanin, Serbia
Authors: Kiurski-Milosevic Jelena , Vojinovic-Miloradov Mirjana , Ralevic Nebojsa
Published: March 2014

The application of the fuzzy logic for determination and assessment of the
chemical quality of groundwater for drinking purposes in the city of
Zrenjanin is presented. The degree of certainty and uncertainties are one of
the problems in the most commonly used methods for assessing the water
quality. Fuzzy logic can successfully handle these problems. Evaluation of
fuzzy model was carried out on the samples from two representative wells that
are located at depths of two aquifers from which water is taken to supply the
population as drinking water. The samples were analyzed on 8 different
chemical water quality parameters. In the research arsenic concentration
(As3+, As5+) is considered as the dominant parameter due to its suspecting
carcinogenic effects on human health. This type of research is for the first
time conducted in the city of Zrenjanin, middle Banat region.
Incentive System Design in Creativity-Dependent Firms
Authors: Grabner Isabella
Published: March 2014

I empirically investigate the impact of an organization's creativity dependency on the design of its incentive system. In firms for which the primary source of value creation is the creativity of core employees, the designs of incentive systems are particularly challenging. The nature of creative work constrains the feasibility of extrinsic incentives, but at the same time creates a need for them. Accordingly, there is concern that the use of incentives renders people not creative enough, but a lack of incentives makes employees “too creative.” I argue that a solution to this dilemma is the acknowledgment that the decision to use performance-based pay is not made in isolation, but as part of a set of complementary choices. I theoretically argue and empirically show that subjective evaluations of non-task-related performance and performance-based pay are complements in a creativity-dependent setting. I further argue that the intense use of both control mechanisms is the incentive system that best accommodates the control requirements of creativity-dependent firms, and show that the likelihood of choosing this system increases with the creativity dependency.
Use of Antidiabetic Drugs in the U.S., 2003–2012
Authors: Hampp Christian , Borders-Hemphill Vicky , Moeny David G. , Wysowski Diane K.
Published: March 2014

OBJECTIVE

To describe market trends for antidiabetic drugs, focusing on newly approved drugs, concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs, and effects of safety concerns and access restrictions on thiazolidinedione use.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Nationally projected data on antidiabetic prescriptions for adults dispensed from U.S. retail pharmacies were extracted from IMS Health Vector One National and Total Patient Tracker for 2003–2012 and from Encuity Research Treatment Answers and Symphony Health Solutions PHAST Prescription Monthly for 2012.

RESULTS

Since 2003, the number of adult antidiabetic drug users increased by 42.9% to 18.8 million in 2012. Metformin use increased by 97.0% to 60.4 million prescriptions dispensed in retail pharmacies in 2012. Among antidiabetic drugs newly approved for marketing between 2003 and 2012, the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor sitagliptin had the largest share with 10.5 million prescriptions in 2012. Rosiglitazone use plummeted to <13,000 prescriptions dispensed in retail or mail-order pharmacies in 2012. Concomitancy analyses showed that 44.9% of metformin use was for monotherapy. Between 33.4 and 48.1% of sulfonylurea, DPP-4 inhibitor, thiazolidinedione, and glucagon-like peptide 1 analog use was not accompanied by metformin.

CONCLUSIONS

The antidiabetic drug market is characterized by steady increases in volume, and newly approved drugs experienced substantial uptake, especially DPP-4 inhibitors. The use of rosiglitazone has been negligible since restrictions were put in place in 2011. Further study is needed to understand why one-third to one-half of other noninsulin antidiabetic drug use was not concomitant with metformin use despite guidelines recommending that metformin be continued when other agents are added to treatment.
Alleviation of nickel toxicity in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings by selenium supplementation
Authors: Gajewska Ewa , Drobik Daniel , Wielanek Marzena , Sekulska-Nalewajko Joanna , Gocławski Jarosław , Mazur Janusz , Skłodowska Maria
Published: March 2014

Hydroponically grown wheat seedlings were treated with 50 μM N i and/or 15 μM Se. After a 7-day culture period, their growth parameters, N i, Se, F e, and M g contents, electrolyte leakage, photosynthetic pigment concentrations, and photochemical activity of photosystem II were determined. Exposure of wheat seedlings to N i alone resulted in reduction in the total shoot and root lengths, by 22% and 50%, respectively. Addition of Se to the N i-containing medium significantly improved the growth of these organs, compared to the seedlings subjected to N i alone. Application of Se decreased the accumulation of N i in shoots and roots and partially alleviated the N i-induced decrease in F e and M g concentations in shoots. Electrolyte leakage increased in response to N i stress, but in shoots it was diminished by Se supplementation. Exposure to N i led to a decrease in chlorophyll a and b contents and enhancement of chlorophyll a/b ratio, but did not influence the concentration of carotenoids. Enrichment of the N i-containing medium with Se significantly increased chlorophyll b content, compared to the seedlings treated with N i alone. Photochemical activity, estimated in terms of the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II , decreased in response to N i treatment but was significantly improved by simultaneous addition of Se. Results of our study suggest that alleviation of N i toxicity in wheat seedlings by Se supplementation may be related to limitation of N i uptake.
Communities of mites (Acari) in litter and soil under the invasive red oak (Quercus rubra L.) and native pedunculate oak (Q. robur L.)
Authors: Kohyt Joanna , Skubała Piotr
Published: March 2014

Because of thoughtless decisions or unintentional introduction, alien species disturb native ecosystems. Red oak (Quercus rubra), among other alien woody plants, is still used to rehabilitate degraded land because of its better resistance to pollution and faster growth, as compared to native tree species. Soil mites, especially Oribatida, are good bioindicators of ecosystem disturbance, so the main goal of this study was to explore the influence of invasive and native oaks on mite communities. F orest stands dominated by 40-year-old Q. rubra or 35-year-old Q. robur were compared. Over 2300 soil mites were extracted from 20 soil and 20 litter samples. M ite densities in the communities were higher in red oak litter, which is probably a result of the thicker layer of shed leaves. Changes in species composition of oribatid communities were observed in litter, in contrast to a lack of differences in soil. These observations are consistent with other researches on invasive woody plants. W e expect that over time these changes will also be noticeable in the soil and will increase in litter.
Dynamics Of Innovation Diffusion With Two Step Decision Process
Authors: Szymczyk Michał , Kamiński Bogumił
Published: March 2014

The paper discusses the dynamics of innovation diffusion among heterogeneous consumers. We assume that customers’ decision making process is divided into two steps: testing the innovation and later potential adopting. Such a model setup is designed to imitate the mobile applications market. An innovation provider, to some extent, can control the innovation diffusion by two parameters: product quality and marketing activity. Using the multi-agent approach we identify factors influencing the saturation level and the speed of innovation adaptation in the artificial population. The results show that the expected level of innovation adoption among customer’s friends and relative product quality and marketing campaign intensity are crucial factors explaining them. It has to be stressed that the product quality is more important for innovation saturation level and marketing campaign has bigger influence on the speed of diffusion. The topology of social network between customers is found important, but within investigated parameter range it has lover impact on innovation diffusion dynamics than the above mentioned factors
Chemometric analysis of volatiles of propolis from different regions using static headspace GC-MS
Authors: Kaškonienė Vilma , Kaškonas Paulius , Maruška Audrius , Kubilienė Loreta
Published: March 2014

Six samples of propolis were analyzed in the paper: a sample from Brazil, Estonia, China and three samples from different locations of Uruguay. Static headspace technique coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis has been applied for the determination of the characteristic volatile profile with the aim to differentiate the propolis from different regions. Monoterpenes (α- and β-pinenes) were predominant in all samples, except the sample from China. This sample separated itself by the alcohols 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol and 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol, (40.33% and 11.57%, respectively) and ester 4-penten-1-yl acetate (9.04%). α-Pinene and β-pinene composed 64.59–77.56% of volatiles in Brazilian and Uruguayan propolis, and 29.43% in Estonian propolis. Brazilian propolis was distinguished by a high amount of β-methyl crotonaldehyde (10.11%), one of Uruguayan samples 3- by limonene (15.58%), and the Estonian sample — by eucalyptol (25.95%). Statistical investigation of the samples was made applying principal component, hierarchical cluster and K-Means cluster analyses. Various data pre-processing techniques were proposed and used to study and obtain the important volatile compounds contributed to the differentiation of the propolis samples from different regions to separate clusters.
Openness of the Public to Right-Wing Extremism and Social Distance to Minorities
Authors: Bartoš František
Published: March 2014

The article informs of the results of research for the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic. Its main aim was to state the measure of risk of right-wing extremism in the Czech Republic and to define the most endangered groups. One of the phases of the project was a questionnaire research (n = 2056, population older than 15 years, probability selection). Through personal interviews has been found that in the Czech Republic there are 2.5 % of inhabitants who share ultra-right ideas and they are willing to support the parties offering a radical solution only with their votes. People sharing ideas characteristic of right-wing extremism and at the same time willing to actively support a party offering a radical solution represent 6 %. From the research then results that the main risk from the viewpoint of the fight against right-wing extremism is represented by the second mentioned group. Both high-risk groups show the highest measure of social distance to the Jews, black people and the Ukrainians, but also to homosexuals. The high-risk group is statistically significantly more distant to the Romas as well. The Romas represent the group that the studied high-risk groups perceive with the biggest antagonism.
Postmodern Japan Middle Class Related Mythology and Nostalgia
Authors: Keliyan Maya
Published: March 2014

The paper explores the transformations of middle class mythology in contemporary Japan, studying phenomena, connected to the objective and subjective middle class identification. After 1970s, when the share of people self-identified with the middle class reached 90% Japanese identity has been shaped around the sense of “all nation belonging to the middle class”. The economic prosperity after World War Two and the fact that within two generations Japan turned from a poor country into a rich society, provide the foundations of the myth of “a middle class society”, zealously maintained by political parties and the media. Since the end of the 1990s, the issue of growing economic inequality is becoming a topic of intense discussion. During this period Japanese society underwent recessions and crises followed by periods of revival; as a result Japan changed its direction from the lavish lifestyle of the 1980s to growing sense of deepening social inequalities. These transformations brought about the popularity of a new myth, this time about melting and even vanishing middle class, and nostalgic reminiscences of “happy late 1970s and 1980s” when supposedly Japanese people used to live in better society. The March 11, 2011 natural disasters and the ensuing nuclear crisis in Japan have destroyed another myth - that of prime importance of consumers` comfort, and of nuclear power plant safety. The ecologically and environmentally responsible consumption and lifestyle are an important resource for achieving vitally important task of revitalizing our-day Japan
Modification of Delivery Practice in Rajbanshi Mothers of Nepal
Authors: Subba Nawaraj , Subba Shishir
Published: March 2014

Introduction: This is a cross-sectional study with the objective of identifying modification in delivery practice in Rajbanshi mothers of Nepal. Methodology: Both qualitative and quantitative tools were used. Semi-structured questionnaires covering 375 samples of its resident districts Morang, Jhapa and Sunsari districts and check lists for in-depth interview were used in the study. Results: People were adopting both traditional and modern care practices concurrently. Among 375 households; 40% adopted local clinic/ hospital/ traditional healer concurrently. Similarly 31.20% adopted local clinic/ traditional healer/ hospital, 10.67% adopted hospital/traditional healer. There were 11.47% (urban 0.54% and rural 10.93%) respondents were having traditional care system as a first choice. During first delivery among 375 mothers 265 (70.67%) had traditional home delivery and 110 (29.33%) had hospital delivery. During last delivery, this was 115 (30.67%) in traditional home delivery and 260 (69.33%) in hospital delivery. Therefore trend of hospital delivery was increasing whereas trend of traditional home delivery was decreasing. It was statistically highly significant (p=<0.0001). There was also remarkable increased in using trained Health Worker/Nurse/Doctor at hospitals is 66.4% during last delivery which was only 6.13% during first delivery. It is statistically highly significant (p= <.0001). Conclusion: Trend of hospital delivery was increasing (from 30.67% to 69.33%) and trend of home delivery was decreasing (from 69.33% to 29.23%) in between first and last child delivery. There was remarkable increased in using trained HW/Nurse/Doctor at hospitals is 66.4% during last delivery which was only 6.13% during first delivery. Traditional care was more practiced in rural than in urban population. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jonmc.v3i1.10047   Journal of Nobel Medical College Vol.3(1) 2014; 10-15
Co-Morbidities in Children with Cerebral Palsy Undergoing Early Spine Fusion for Scoliosis
Authors: Sitoula Prakash , Miller Freeman
Published: March 2014

Introduction: Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) may have multisystem involvement the occurrence of which increases with severity of involvement. Scoliosis is also found to be more prevalent in severely involved children with CP. Aims: This study aimed to describe co-morbidities in children with CP undergoing early spine fusion for scoliosis. Methods: A retrospective review of patients with CP Scoliosis between 1989 and 206 who were <10 years at spine fusion was done. Demographics, mental status, pre-operative weight and height and body-mass index (BMI), curve characteristics, geographic pattern of involvement and GMFCS level were reported. Co-morbidities were broadly categorized as those involving central nervous system, gastrointestinal system and respiratory system. Results: 42 patients (24 male and 18 female) with mean age of 8.1 ±1.6 years at surgery were identified. The mean preoperative weight, height, and BMI were 22 ±6.8 kilograms, 115 ±11.8 centimeters and 16 ±3.7 respectively. All patients were mentally retarded and quadriplegic. GMFCS level was V in 40 patients and IV in 2 patients. The mean Cobb angle was 83.4° ±18.3° and pelvic tilt was 18° ±10°. Seizure disorder and GER were present in 98% and 69% of patients respectively. 88% patients had gastrostomy-tube for feeding. 31% patients were tracheostomized; 46% of them were ventilator dependent. Asthma/ reactive airway disease, restrictive lung disease and obstructive respiratory disease/ sleep apnea were present in 29%, 17% and 5% of patients respectively. 19% patients had recurrent aspiration pneumonitis. Conclusion: Our study showed that children with CP Scoliosis progressing to surgical range before 10 years of age are severely involved with co-morbidities encompassing multiple organsystems. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jonmc.v3i1.10049    Journal of Nobel Medical College Vol.3(1) 2014; 22-26
Clinical Profile and Management of Gall Bladder Cancer: Our Early Experience
Authors: Kumar Sujit , Kafle Prakash , Maharjan N , Patowar BN , Belbase N , Shrestha SJ
Published: March 2014

Objective: To evaluate the clinical profile of patients with gallbladder cancer. Methodology: This is a single institution based retrospective study of patients with gallbladder cancer who presented at College of Medical Sciences and Teaching Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal. Patients presenting during the two years period from August 2011 to July 2013 were reviewed. Result: Out of 12 patients, 9 were females (75%) and 3 were males (25%), showing female preponderance. Most of the patients (75%) were in age group of 51-70 years. Only one patient (8%) was below 50 years of age. Main symptom was pain associated with anorexia, nausea & vomiting. Major signs were palpable mass, hepatomegaly and jaundice. All the histopathological reports were adenocarcinoma. 8 patients (66.66%) presented with advanced disease and were managed with extended cholecystectomy followed by systemic chemotherapy. Conclusions: Prevalence of gall bladder cancer is higher in females in our series. Most of the patients were in fifth to seventh decade of life and presented in advanced stage. Gallbladder cancer showed association with gallstones. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jonmc.v3i1.10050 Journal of Nobel Medical College Vol.3(1) 2014; 27-30
Effect on Lung Structure, Inflammatory and Nutritional Status of COPD Patients with Fibrotic and Proliferative Tuberculosis Changes in Chest Imaging
Authors: Ghimire Hridaya Bibhu , Li Jian Guo , Yong-Xun Zhuan Sun
Published: March 2014

Background and objectives Tuberculosis and COPD are common diseases in developing countries, sharing risk factors like smoking and low socio-economic status but little is known about the specific relationship between tuberculosis and COPD. Methods Retrospective analysis was done. All COPD patients with either fibrotic and proliferative tubercular changes in chest imaging or none of the features of tuberculosis (in chest imaging, sputum test, skin test or history) admitted in Sun Yat- Sen Memorial Hospital, China from the year 2007 to 2010 were taken for the study. Clinical features along with post– bronchodilator FEV1/FVC<70% were used as a basis for the diagnosis of COPD. Results Among 84 COPD patients with fibrotic and proliferative tuberculosis changes in chest imaging, 20 of them had bullae or blebs in their radiologic examination whereas only 11 of 105 non-tuberculosis COPD cases had those features, Pearson Chi Square value=6.05, p=0.014. COPD patients with fibrotic and proliferative tuberculosis changes had lower blood iron, transferrin, albumin but higher high sensitive CRP (hsCRP) (p=0.010, 0.003, 0.010 and 0.032 respectively) compared to non-tuberculosis COPD cases. Conclusions Fibrotic and proliferative tuberculosis changes in COPD results in greater inflammation and damage to lung tissue (determined by increase bullae formation, higher hsCRP level) with decrease in basic nutritional elements. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jonmc.v3i1.10053 Journal of Nobel Medical College Vol.3(1) 2014; 40-44
Burden of Developmental and Behavioral Problems among Children - A Descriptive Hospital Based Study
Authors: Rimal Hem Sagar , Pokharel Archana , Saha Vijay , Giri Arun , Ghimire Basudha , Raja Shiva , Verghease Bijoy
Published: March 2014

The child development is a dynamic process that utilizes the genetic potential of the baby to achieve full potential within the context of available environment. Throughout the world, there are growing concerns about developmental, behavioural, social and emotional wellbeing of children. The management of these issues is possible only with an organized approach through a multidisciplinary team Objective: To estimate the prevalence of developmental and behavioral disorders in children. Method: Data were collected from primary caregivers of children presented to a developmental and behavioral pediatrics clinic over a period of 12 months. Standard screening and assessment tools like Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ), Spence anxiety scale and Vanderbilt rating scale for ADHD were used. Cases were referred to the Psychiatrist, psychologist, speech therapist and physiotherapist for assessment and management when needed. Results: A total of 85 children with developmental problems presented to our clinic which gives clinic prevalence of 8.5%. There were 51 (60%) of male and 34 (40%) of female. The majority of these children were from Morang district 39 (46%), Sunsari district 13 (15%) and Jhapa District 9 (10.6%). The most common diagnosis were speech and language delay (22.4%), behavioral problems 21.2%, Anxiety disorders 18.8% , cerebral palsy 14.1% and Global developmental delay of 11.8% and several others. The highest number of children i.e 27 (31.8%), were referred to the psychologist/Psychiatrist followed by speech therapist 25 (29.4%) and physiotherapist 21(24.7%). Behavioral modification strategies and CBT were provided to children. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jonmc.v3i1.10054 Journal of Nobel Medical College Vol.3(1) 2014; 45-49