bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The evaluation of off‐loading using a new removable oRTHOsis in DIABetic foot (ORTHODIAB) randomized controlled trial: study design and rationale
Authors: Mohammedi Kamel , Potier Louis , François Maud , Dardari Dured , Feron Marilyne , Nobecourt‐Dupuy Estelle , Dolz Manuel , Ducloux Roxane , Chibani Abdelkader , Eveno Dominique‐François , Crea Avila Teresa , Sultan Ariane , Baillet‐Blanco Laurence , Rigalleau Vincent , Velho Gilberto , Tubach Florence , Roussel Ronan , Dupré Jean‐Claude , Malgrange Dominique , Marre Michel
Published: August 2016

Background

Off‐loading is essential for diabetic foot management, but remains understudied. The evaluation of Off‐loading using a new removable oRTHOsis in DIABetic foot (ORTHODIAB) trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a new removable device “Orthèse Diabète” in the healing of diabetic foot.

Methods/design

ORTHODIAB is a French multi‐centre randomized, open label trial, with a blinded end points evaluation by an adjudication committee according to the Prospective Randomized Open Blinded End‐point. Main endpoints are adjudicated based on the analysis of diabetic foot photographs. Orthèse Diabète is a new removable off‐loading orthosis (PROTEOR, France) allowing innovative functions including real‐time evaluation of off‐loading and estimation of patients' adherence. Diabetic patients with neuropathic plantar ulcer or amputation wounds (toes or transmetatarsal) are assigned to one of 2 parallel‐groups: Orthèse Diabète or control group (any removable device) according to a central computer‐based randomization. Study visits are scheduled for 6 months (days D7 and D14, and months M1, M2, M3, and M6). The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients whose principal ulcer is healed at M3. Secondary endpoints are: the proportion of patients whose principal ulcer is healed at M1, M2 and M6; the proportion of patients whose initial ulcers are all healed at M1, M2, M3, and M6; principal ulcer area reduction; time‐related ulcer‐free survival; development of new ulcers; new lower‐extremity amputation; infectious complications; off‐loading adherence; and patient satisfaction. The study protocol was approved by the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety, and by the ethics committee of Saint‐Louis Hospital (Paris). Comprehensive study information including a Patient Information Sheet has been provided to each patient who must give written informed consent before enrolment. Monitoring, data management, and statistical analyses are providing by UMANIS Life Science (Paris), independently to the sponsor. Since 27/10/2013, 13 centres have agreed to participate in this study, 117 participants were included, and 70 have achieved the study schedules. The study completion is expected for the end of 2016, and the main results will be published in 2017.

Conclusion

ORTHODIAB trial evaluates an innovating removable off‐loading device, seeking to improve diabetic foot healing (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01956162).
Generation of a new transgenic mouse model for assessment of tau gene silencing therapies
Authors: Fromholt Susan , Reitano Christian , Brown Hilda , Lewis Jada , Borchelt David R.
Published: August 2016

Background

Targeting the expression of genes has emerged as a potentially viable therapeutic approach to human disease. In Alzheimer’s disease, therapies that silence the expression of tau could be a viable strategy to slow disease progression.

Methods

We produced a novel strain of transgenic mice that could be used to assess the efficacy of gene knockdown therapies for human tau, in live mice. We designed a tetracycline-regulated transgene construct in which the cDNA for human tau was fused to ubiquitin and to luciferase to create a single fusion polyprotein, termed TUL.

Results

When expressed in brain, the TUL polyprotein was cleaved by ubiquitin-processing enzymes to release the luciferase as an independent protein, separating the half-life of luciferase from the long-lived tau protein. Treatment of bigenic tTA/TUL mice with doxycycline produced rapid declines in luciferase levels visualized by in vivo imaging and ex vivo enzyme measurement.

Conclusions

This new mouse model can be used as a discovery tool in optimizing gene targeting therapeutics directed to reduce human tau mRNA levels.
Alzheimer’s Research UK 2016 Conference report
Authors: Sancho Rosa M. , Cox Carla J. , Phipps Laura E. , Ridley Simon H.
Published: August 2016

The annual Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) Conference was hosted by the Manchester and North West Network Centre on March 8–9, 2016. In this report, we provide a summary of the research presented.
Chromosomer: a reference-based genome arrangement tool for producing draft chromosome sequences
Authors: Tamazian Gaik , Dobrynin Pavel , Krasheninnikova Ksenia , Komissarov Aleksey , Koepfli Klaus-Peter , O'Brien Stephen J
Published: August 2016

Background

As the number of sequenced genomes rapidly increases, chromosome assembly is becoming an even more crucial step of any genome study. Since de novo chromosome assemblies are confounded by repeat-mediated artifacts, reference-assisted assemblies that use comparative inference have become widely used, prompting the development of several reference-assisted assembly programs for prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes.

Findings

We developed Chromosomer – a reference-based genome arrangement tool, which rapidly builds chromosomes from genome contigs or scaffolds using their alignments to a reference genome of a closely related species. Chromosomer does not require mate-pair libraries and it offers a number of auxiliary tools that implement common operations accompanying the genome assembly process.

Conclusions

Despite implementing a straightforward alignment-based approach, Chromosomer is a useful tool for genomic analysis of species without chromosome maps. Putative chromosome assemblies by Chromosomer can be used in comparative genomic analysis, genomic variation assessment, potential linkage group inference and other kinds of analysis involving contig or scaffold mapping to a high-quality assembly.
High-quality genome assembly of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus
Authors: Chen Xiaohui , Zhong Liqiang , Bian Chao , Xu Pao , Qiu Ying , You Xinxin , Zhang Shiyong , Huang Yu , Li Jia , Wang Minghua , Qin Qin , Zhu Xiaohua , Peng Chao , Wong Alex , Zhu Zhifei , Wang Min , Gu Ruobo , Xu Junmin , Shi Qiong , Bian Wenji
Published: August 2016

Background

The channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), a species native to North America, is one of the most important commercial freshwater fish in the world, especially in the United States' aquaculture industry. Since its introduction into China in 1984, both cultivation area and yield of this species have been dramatically increased such that China is now the leading producer of channel catfish. To aid genomic research in this species, data sets such as genetic linkage groups, long-insert libraries, physical maps, bacterial artificial clones (BAC) end sequences (BES), transcriptome assemblies, and reference genome sequences have been generated. Here, using diverse assembly methods, we provide a comparable high-quality genome assembly for a channel catfish from a breeding stock inbred in China for more than three generations, which was originally imported to China from North America.

Findings

Approximately 201.6 gigabases (Gb) of genome reads were sequenced by the Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform. Subsequently, we generated high quality, cost-effective and easily assembled sequences of the channel catfish genome with a scaffold N50 of 7.2 Mb and 95.6 % completeness. We also predicted that the channel catfish genome contains 21,556 protein-coding genes and 275.3 Mb (megabase pairs) of repetitive sequences.

Conclusions

We report a high-quality genome assembly of the channel catfish, which is comparable to a recent report of the “Coco” channel catfish. These generated genome data could be used as an initial platform for molecular breeding to obtain novel catfish varieties using genomic approaches.
Achieving convergence in galaxy formation models by augmenting N-body merger trees
Authors: Benson Andrew J , Cannella Chris , Cole Shaun
Published: August 2016

Accurate modeling of galaxy formation in a hierarchical, cold dark matter universe requires the use of sufficiently high-resolution merger trees to obtain convergence in the predicted properties of galaxies. When semi-analytic galaxy formation models are applied to cosmological N-body simulation merger trees, it is often the case that those trees have insufficient resolution to give converged galaxy properties. We demonstrate a method to augment the resolution of N-body merger trees by grafting in branches of Monte Carlo merger trees with higher resolution, but which are consistent with the pre-existing branches in the N-body tree. We show that this approach leads to converged galaxy properties.
HRTEM low dose: the unfold of the morphed graphene, from amorphous carbon to morphed graphenes
Authors: Calderon H. A. , Okonkwo A. , Estrada-Guel I. , Hadjiev V. G. , Alvarez-Ramírez F. , Robles Hernández F. C.
Published: August 2016

We present experimental evidence under low-dose conditions transmission electron microscopy for the unfolding of the evolving changes in carbon soot during mechanical milling. The milled soot shows evolving changes as a function of the milling severity or time. Those changes are responsible for the transformation from amorphous carbon to graphenes, graphitic carbon, and highly ordered structures such as morphed graphenes, namely Rh6 and Rh6-II. The morphed graphenes are corrugated layers of carbon with cross-linked covalently nature and sp2- or sp3-type allotropes. Electron microscopy and numerical simulations are excellent complementary tools to identify those phases. Furthermore, the TEAM 05 microscope is an outstanding tool to resolve the microstructure and prevent any damage to the sample. Other characterization techniques such as XRD, Raman, and XPS fade to convey a true identification of those phases because the samples are usually blends or mixes of the mentioned phases.
Characterization of Tumor Size Changes Over Time From the Phase 3 Study of Lenvatinib in Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Robinson Bruce , Schlumberger Martin , Wirth Lori J. , Dutcus Corina E. , Song James , Taylor Matthew H. , Kim Sung-Bae , Krzyzanowska Monika K. , Capdevila Jaume , Sherman Steven I. , Tahara Makoto
Published: August 2016

Context:

Lenvatinib improved the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall response rate of patients with radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer vs placebo in the Phase 3 Study of (E7080) Lenvatinib in Differentiated Cancer of the Thyroid (SELECT).

Objective:

The objective of the study was to characterize tumor size changes with lenvatinib treatment.

Design:

SELECT was a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study.

Setting:

In this clinical trial, tumor assessments of lenvatinib (n = 261) and placebo-treated (n = 131) patients were performed by independent radiological review per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version, 1.1 at 8-week intervals.

Patients:

Patients with complete or partial response were defined as responders to lenvatinib (n = 169). Of the 92 nonresponders, 76 had at least one postbaseline tumor assessment and were included in this analysis.

Interventions:

Lenvatinib (24 mg once daily) or placebo in 28-day cycles until unacceptable toxicity, disease progression, or death.

Main Outcome Measures:

This was an exploratory analysis of key end points from SELECT, including PFS, overall response rate, and tumor reduction.

Results:

The median maximum percentage change in tumor size was −42.9% for patients receiving lenvatinib (responders, −51.9%; nonresponders, −20.2%). Tumor size reduction was most pronounced at first assessment (median, −24.7% at 8 wk after randomization); thereafter, the rate of change was slower but continuous (−1.3% per mo). In a multivariate model, percentage change in tumor size at the first assessment was a marginally significant positive predictor for PFS (P = .06).

Conclusions:

The change in tumor size conferred by lenvatinib was characterized by two phases: an initial, rapid decline, followed by slower, continuous shrinkage.
MetaGenSense: A web-application for analysis and exploration of high throughput sequencing metagenomic data
Authors: Correia Damien , Doppelt-Azeroual Olivia , Denis Jean-Baptiste , Vandenbogaert Mathias , Caro Valérie
Published: August 2016

The detection and characterization of emerging infectious agents has been a continuing public health concern. High Throughput Sequencing (HTS) or Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies have proven to be promising approaches for efficient and unbiased detection of pathogens in complex biological samples, providing access to comprehensive analyses. As NGS approaches typically yield millions of putatively representative reads per sample, efficient data management and visualization resources have become mandatory. Most usually, those resources are implemented through a dedicated Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), solely to provide perspective regarding the available information.

We developed an easily deployable web-interface, facilitating management and bioinformatics analysis of metagenomics data-samples. It was engineered to run associated and dedicated Galaxy workflows for the detection and eventually classification of pathogens.

The web application allows easy interaction with existing Galaxy metagenomic workflows, facilitates the organization, exploration and aggregation of the most relevant sample-specific sequences among millions of genomic sequences, allowing them to determine their relative abundance, and associate them to the most closely related organism or pathogen.

The user-friendly Django-Based interface, associates the users’ input data and its metadata through a bio-IT provided set of resources (a Galaxy instance, and both sufficient storage and grid computing power). Galaxy is used to handle and analyze the user’s input data from loading, indexing, mapping, assembly and DB-searches. Interaction between our application and Galaxy is ensured by the BioBlend library, which gives API-based access to Galaxy’s main features. Metadata about samples, runs, as well as the workflow results are stored in the LIMS. For metagenomic classification and exploration purposes, we show, as a proof of concept, that integration of intuitive exploratory tools, like Krona for representation of taxonomic classification, can be achieved very easily. In the trend of Galaxy, the interface enables the sharing of scientific results to fellow team members.
Inventory, Risk Shifting, and Trade Credit
Authors: Chod Jiri
Published: August 2016

This paper has two objectives. First, we show how debt financing distorts a retailer’s inventory decision when the retailer orders multiple items that differ in cost, revenue, or demand parameters. Taking advantage of limited liability, a debt-financed retailer favors items with a low salvage value, those with a high profit margin, and those that represent a large proportion of the total inventory investment. Second, we argue that this distortion is mitigated when the financing is provided by the supplier who can observe the actual order quantities before determining the credit terms. Borrowing goods rather than borrowing cash limits the retailer’s ability to deviate from the first-best inventory decision. On the flip side, few suppliers can access capital at the same low cost as banks. We study a combination of bank and supplier financing that allows the retailer to get the best of both worlds.

This paper was accepted by Serguei Netessine, operations management.
An Expectation-Maximization Algorithm to Estimate the Integrated Choice and Latent Variable Model
Authors: Sohn Keemin
Published: August 2016

As computing capability has grown dramatically, the transport choice model has rigorously included latent variables. However, integrated latent and choice variable (ICLV) models are hampered by a serious problem that is caused by the maximum simulated likelihood method. The method cannot properly reproduce the true coefficients, which is a problem that is often referred to as a lack of empirical identification. In particular, the problem is exacerbated particularly when an ICLV model is calibrated based on cross-sectional data. An expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm has been successfully employed to calibrate a random coefficient choice model, but it has never been applied to the calibration of an ICLV model. In this study, an EM algorithm was adapted to calibrate an ICLV model, and it successfully reproduced the true coefficients in the model. The main contribution of adopting an EM algorithm was to simplify the calibration procedure by decomposing the procedure into three well known econometric problems: a weighted linear regression, a weighted discrete choice problem, and a weighted ordinal choice problem. Simulation experiments also confirmed that an EM algorithm is a stable method for averting the problem of lack of empirical identification.
Reducción del tiempo de trabajo y desempleo: un escenario europeo
Authors: Husson Michel
Published: August 2016

En este artículo se señalan las condiciones que debe reunir la Reducción del Tiempo de Trabajo (RTT) para la creación de empleo, mediante un escenario a escala europeo y en base a un ejercicio realizado sobre Francia. Se expone las diferentes modalidades de reducción de la duración de trabajo: una, excluyente, basada en la coexistencia de jornadas a tiempo completo con jornadas a tiempo parcial y el desempleo; otra igualitaria, que reparte el total de las horas trabajadas entre todas las personas candidatas a un empleo. Se presenta un cálculo, sumario pero muy aclaratorio, sobre la «duración del trabajo de pleno empleo» que permitiría reducir a cero la tasa de paro. Asimismo se indica que la diferencia relativa entre la duración de trabajo de pleno empleo y la duración efectiva es igual a la tasa de paro. Se señalan las cuestiones políticas que van ligadas a una política de reducción de la duración de trabajo y los aspectos de su financiación. Se concluye con los principios que debe reunir una «buena RTT». El artículo finaliza con tres breves anexos que presentan con matemáticas sencillas varios aspectos de la RTT.
Effect of three anticoccidials on pharmacokinetics of tilmicosin in broiler chickens
Authors: El-Hewaity Mohamed
Published: August 2016

The disposition kinetic of tilmicosin (25mg/kg) was studied following oral administration alone, pretreated with amprolium (240 ppm), pretreated with diclazuril (2.5 ppm) and pretreated with toltrazuril (25 ppm) in broiler chickens. The serum tilmicosin concentrations were determined by microbiological assay technique using Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633) as the test organism. Following oral administration of tilmicosin, the disposition curve was best described by two-compartment open model. The maximum serum concentration (Cmax) was 1.90 ± 0.11, 1.27 ± 0.13, 1.50 ± 0.14 and 1.41 ± 0.11µg/ml for tilmicosin alone and in the presence of amprolium, diclazuril and toltrazuril, respectively. The elimination half-life (T0.5 (el)) was significantly decreased (5.28 ± 0.30, 5.88 ± 0.33, 6.03 ± 0.25 h, respectively) in amprolium, diclazuril and toltrazuril pretreated broiler chicken compared to tilmicosin alone (7.30 ± 0.41 h). The outcomes illustrated a significant decrease in the interval between doses in amprolium, diclazuril and toltrazuril pretreated broiler chicken compared to tilmicosin alone. Amprolium diclazuril and toltrazuril, resulted in a significance decrease in AUC (12.02 ± 1.14, 15.50 ± 1.26 and 14.56 ± 1.46 µg.h.ml-1, respectively) compared to tilmicosin alone (21.98±1.83 µg.h.ml-1). It is concluded that the administration of amprolium, diclazuril and toltrazuril before tilmicosin would altered its pharmacokinetic profile in broiler chicken.
Pobożność maryjna w służbie komunii z Bogiem i ludźmi w nauczaniu Sługi Bożego kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego
Authors: Hadryś Jacek
Published: August 2016

W artykule opisano nauczania Prymasa Tysiąclecia dotyczące pobożności maryjnej w kontekście roli Maryji w drodze człowieka do komunii z Bogiem i ludźmi. Artykół jest podzielony na trzy części. Pierwsza część dotyczy nauczaniu Prymasa Tysiąclecia w uzasadnieniu pobożności maryjnej, druga dotyczy roli pobożności maryjnej w drodze człowieka do komunii z Bogiem, a trzecia omawia wypowiedzi kardynała Wyszyńskiego na rozumieniu pobożności maryjnej w realizacji przykazania miłości bliźniego. Temat jest przedstawiony poprzez analizę ponad 3000 wypowiedzi Sługi Bożego, które skierował do członków świeckich Instytutu Pomocników Maryi Jasnogórskiej Matki Kościoła. Badanie prowadzi między innymi do twierdzenia, że zjednoczenie życia z Maryją sprzyja osobistemu uświęceniu i czynnej miłości bliźniego oraz ten sposób przyczynia się do budowania jedności między ludźmi.
Prymas Tysiąclecia darem Opatrzności dla narodu polskiego
Authors: Kołodziej Bernard
Published: August 2016

Mija ponad trzydzieści lat od śmierci prymasa Polski, kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego, znanego również jako Prymas Tysiąclecia. Jego duszpasterska i powszechna działalność dla dobra Narodu odbywała się w czasach wielkich przemian społecznych i politycznych w Polsce, Europie świecie. Był dziedzicem swego poprzednika kardynała Augusta Hlonda w jego otoczeniu pojawiłaś się jeszcze inna wielka osobistość - kardynał Karol Wojtyła. Po wyborze na papieża dał on świadectwo o kardynale Wyszyńskim.
Małżeństwo drogą do komunii z Bogiem w świetle Familiaris consortio Jana Pawła II
Authors: Hadryś Jacek
Published: August 2016

Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie małżeństwa jako drogi prowadzącej do komunii z Bogiem. Dlatego treść adhortacji Jana Pawła II „Familiaris consortio” została poddana analizie. Cała refleksja został podzielony na kilka części wzorowanych na odpowiednich częściach adhortacji. Na początku zostało przedstawione powołanie do małżeństwa w Bożym planie, następnie zaprezentowano poszczególne zadania małżeństwa oraz realizację tych zadań. Wyniki przeprowadzonych badań zostały podane we wnioskach.
Terapia małżonków zagrożonych kryzysem według modelu „pięciu kroków"
Authors: Szewczyk Władysław
Published: August 2016

Rosnąca liczba rozwodów, a zwłaszcza "złagodzenie" w podejmowaniu takich decyzji wymagają odpowiednich sposobów pomocy. Konflikty w małżeństwie są jak gorączka w organizmie, a kryzysy są jak stany ataku serca . Model "Pięć kroków" jest propozycją opracowaną przez autora artykułu (kapłan, psycholog i terapeuta) w oparciu o trzydzieści lat doświadczenia terapeutycznego w poradni ARKA w Tarnowie. Pięć kroków (wdrożone w ciągu pięciu lub więcej spotkań) odpowiadają pięciu następującym pytanią:1. Co nas łączy? Za co cenię mojego męża/żonę?2. Co nas dzieli? Nie podoba mi się, że ...3. Czego oczekujemy od Ciebie? Spodziewam się, że ty... 4. Jakie działania i decyzje mam podjąć? Z mojej strony postanawiam ...5. Dane szczegółowe dotyczące kompromisu i porozumienia "na jutro" - co my wspólnie uzgodnimy i co dołożymy do naszego działania?
Wykluczenie społeczne wyzwaniem dla współczesnego świata
Authors: Młyński Józef
Published: August 2016

Społeczeństwo, w którym egzystuje współczesny człowiek, jest nie tyle trudne, ile bardzo złożone. Dlatego też wielu ludzi nie radzi sobie z różnymi problemami natury osobistej i społecznej. Wielu z nich doświadcza wykluczenia społecznego definiowanego jako efekt różnego rodzaju upośledzeń społecznych, wobec czego jednostka lub grupa nie może w pełni uczestniczyć w życiu gospodarczym, społecznym, ekonomicznym i politycznym społeczeństwa, do którego należy. Podmiotem wykluczenia społecznego jest przede wszystkim jednostka, która na drodze realizacji własnego humanitas została wykluczona w sposób przez siebie zawiniony lub doznała wykluczenia z powodu niewłaściwej polityki państwa. Do najważniejszych problemów lokujących się w obrębie wykluczenia autor zalicza: niepełnosprawność, bezrobocie, bezdomność, uzależnienia, samotność i ubóstwo. Scharakteryzowano przywołane powyżej obszary wykluczenia oraz podjęto próbę wskazania sposobów pomocy jednostkom, które stały się ofiarami wykluczenia. Podstawową instytucją pomagającą tym osobom jest pomoc społeczna, której pierwszym i podstawowym celem jest ulepszanie życia społecznego. Ważne miejsce zajmują w niej pracownicy socjalni, którzy jako jednostki wykształcone i kompetentne mogą wpływać na lepsze życie człowieka. Niestety, współcześnie nie zawsze w wystarczający sposób zaspokajane są podstawowe potrzeby zagubionych osób. Najsilniej dotykają one grupy i jednostki najsłabsze. Wskutek owych braków w polityce społecznej oraz w jej przedmiotowych zakresach: w polityce ludnościowej, rodzinnej, edukacyjnej, mieszkaniowej, polityce podziału dochodu, zabezpieczenia społecznego, zatrudnienia, następuje erozja najsłabszych ogniw systemu społecznego. Konieczne zatem wydaje się otwarcie polityki państwa na różne problemy społeczne, nie zawsze zawinione przez jednostkę, ale przez system, w którym się ona znalazła.
Predicting study success of international students
Authors: Daller Michael , Yixin Wang
Published: August 2016

The study success of international students in Higher Education (HE) in English speaking countries has been a major concern for both the students and the host universities. However, studies on the predictive validity of established language tests, such as IELTS, are inconclusive (for an overview see Daller and Phelan 2013, Predicting international student study success.Applied Linguistics Review4(1). 173–193). The present study explores the predictive validity of new test formats that could be used in the admissions process alongside the established tests to identify students who are at risk. In the long-term these new test formats have the potential to form the basis of a stand-alone admissions test. The formats under investigation are a gap-filling test (C-test) as test of general language proficiency and several measures of lexical richness (Guiraud, Guiraud Advanced, “D”; see also methodology). All measures were taken at the beginning of an academic year to predict the average grades at the end of the academic year (General Points Average/ GPA). In total 107 international students, mainly from China, with a wide range of subjects participated in the study. A multiple regression analysis including hierarchical models shows that the C-test and “Guiraud” have the highest predictive validity. Given the fact that these two measures can be administered quite easily in a short period of time, we conclude that they have clear advantages over IELTS in the prediction of international student’s study success.
Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of perianal fistulas
Authors: Baz R. , Deacu Cristina-Mădălina
Published: August 2016

MRI has become the method of choice for evaluating perianal fistulae due to its ability to display the anatomy of the sphincter muscles orthogonally, with good contrast resolution. In this article we give an outline of the classification of perianal fistulae and present a pictorial assay of sphincter anatomy and the MRI findings in perianal fistulae. This study is based on a retrospective analysis of 21 patients with a clinical diagnosis of perianal fistula.
The role of ultrasonography in the evaluation of portal hemodynamics in healthy adults and pathologic conditions
Authors: Achim C. Anda , Bordei P. , Dumitru E.
Published: August 2016

Introduction: Portal hypertension results from increased resistance to the portal blood flow. The ultrasound represents a noninvasive tool for assessing the structural and hemodynamic abnormalities in this condition.

Objectives: The assessment of the hemodynamic blood flow of the liver and spleen by using Doppler ultrasound in patients with portal hypertension compared with healthy subjects and to identify correlations with the severity of liver cirrhosis and esophageal varices.

Materials and Method: This study included 50 patients with liver cirrhosis and 20 healthy subjects as controls. Different correlations were carried out between hemodynamic variables obtained from the Doppler examination and the severity of cirrhosis as assessed by the Child score and the degree of esophageal varices at endoscopy.

Results: The portal vein diameter was larger in cirrhotic patients compared with the control group. The mean portal vein velocity and the blood flow were significantly lower in advanced forms of liver cirrhosis. The portal vein congestion index, the pulsatility and resistivity indexes of the hepatic artery were significantly increased in patients with CHILD B and C cirrhosis compared with the control group and patients in CHILD class A. There were no statistically significant differences between the pulsatility and resistivity indexes of the splenic artery in patients with cirrhosis. The liver vascular index was significantly lower in patients with advanced cirrhosis.

Conclusions: The ultrasound is a valuable noninvasive tool for cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. However, it is not sufficiently accurate in differentiating between different classes of cirrhosis or degrees of esophageal varices.
Divorce Rate in the Slovak Republic as a Social and Educational Problem
Authors: Gežová Katarína Cimprichová
Published: August 2016

Divorce is considered an unwanted phenomenon in the society, although the divorce rate increases. There are many problems for both sides - parents and their children - coming along with divorce. The legal adjustment of divorce may violently strike not only the lives of children influenced by divorce but also the lives of other persons, whose existence is seriously endangered or complicated by establishing new life conditions. Family break-up and the loss of one parent leaves lifelong consequences on the child. The decision for divorce should be therefore thoroughly considered, because it is the point, where the source of loss of personal and family safety arises. Our aim is to point out the problems arising from divorce not only for the divorcing couple, but also for their children, above all, because divorce should not mean hostility for sensible people, particularly if they have children. It is necessary to find a way how to talk together before and during divorce and to do best in solving problems in the possibly shortest time.
Motivations, Results and the Role of Technology in Participatory Design Research during 2000’s – a Review in the Field of Architecture and Urban Planning
Authors: Vainio Teija
Published: August 2016

This study analyses motivations, results and technology of the participatory design approach. It is a review based on 32 papers, presenting recent studies on participatory design in architecture and urban planning during the time period from 2000 to 2014. As a result, the main motivations, outcomes and the role of technology are emphasised and discussed. Furthermore, recommendations for future research directions for participatory design research in the field of urban planning are also provided.
Decreased expression of miR-132 in CRC tissues and its inhibitory function on tumor progression
Authors: Yong Chen , Xiao-lu Han , Xiao-xiang Yin , Yun Zhou , Tao Wu
Published: August 2016

Objectives Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most common types of malignancies in the worldwide, and microRNAs (miRNAs) emerge as key regulators in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Here we intended to address the expression and function of miR-132 in CRC cells. Methods Paired CRC tissues and several established cell lines were firstly collected. We performed qPCR to detect the expression of miR-132 in these tissues and cell lines. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were respectively monitored by CCK-8 assay and Annexin-V/PI staining followed by flow cytometry, after miR-132 was transiently overexpressed in RKO cells. Afterwards, Luciferase reporter assays were performed to examine the targeting of YAP1 by miR-132. Finally, qPCR and western blotting were also carried out to validate this targeting. Results MiR-132 was significantly decreased in CRC and its overexpression in RKO cells exerted tumor suppressing effects, including cell growth arrest and apoptosis promotion. Additionally, we proved that miR-132 could negatively regulate the expression of YAP1. Conclusion Our findings suggested that miR-132 was downregulated in CRC, and played as a tumor suppressor to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. And these anti-tumor activities might be related with the targeting of YAP1 by miR-132.
Basic Income in the Capitalist Economy: The Mirage of “Exit” from Employment
Authors: Birnbaum Simon , De Wispelaere Jurgen
Published: August 2016

A widespread argument in the basic income debate is that the unconditional entitlement to a secure income floor improves workers’ bargaining position vis-a-vis their employers. Basic income effectively grants all (potential) workers an
CCDEA: Consumer and Cloud – DEA Based Trust Assessment Model for the Adoption of Cloud Services
Authors: Raja Sivakami , Ramaiah Saravanan
Published: August 2016

Knowing the trust level of cloud service providers is a significant issue in the field of cloud computing for privacy and security reasons. The idea of this paper is to build up a Consumer and Cloud-Data Envelopment Analysis (CCDEA) trust assessment model for evaluating cloud services in two stages. In first stage, the believability index of each cloud Consumer (C) is calculated. The second stage incorporates Cloud-Data Envelopment Analysis (C-DEA) model for the trust assessment of cloud services from the viewpoint of cloud consumers. Several experiments were conducted and the results were analyzed to show the stability of our method in measuring the relative efficiency and effectiveness of cloud services through ranking mechanism.
Petri Net Based Modeling and Correctness Verification of Collaborative Emergency Response Processes
Authors: Liu Cong , Zhang Feng
Published: August 2016

Petri net extended with resource and message factors, RMWF-Net for short, is proposed to model collaborative emergency response processes with various collaboration patterns. Correctness of a RMWF-Net is formally defined and verified using reachability analysis. A running case of collaborative fire emergency response processes is given to validate the approach.
Transportation Service Quality Improvement through Closed Sequential Pattern Mining Approach
Authors: Huang Haisong , Yao Liguo , Tsai Chieh-Yuan
Published: August 2016

With the improvement of people’s living quality, more attention has been paid in food safety and quality. This is especially true for perishable agricultural and dairy products. It is quite often that customers receive poor or broken products due to mistakes or wrong ways in transportation. This leads customers the unsatisfied for companies’ products are relatively low. To solve the above problem, this paper proposes a new approach of using frequent closed sequential mining technology to analysis logistics data for helping companies to track the possible transportation problems. The approach consists of several important steps: RFID-enabled raw data collection, frequent sequential patterns mining, and patterns analysis. The experiment shows the proposed analysis method can discover many inside transportation service causes.
Edge Detection Method for Latent Fingerprint Images Using Intuitionistic Type-2 Fuzzy Entropy
Authors: Ezhilmaran Devarasan , Adhiyaman Manickam
Published: August 2016

A latent fingerprint is an interesting issue because of it has attained from crime places and moreover contained a low quality image, less number of features and unwanted noises. It is necessity to extract the original image with exact boundary from the surface for further processing such as authentication, identification and matching. In this work, a new distance measure has been proposed for latent fingerprint edge detection using Intuitionistic Type-2 Fuzzy Entropy (IT2FE) and a comprehensible definition is made for Intuitionistic Type-2 Fuzzy Sets (IT2FS). IT2FS takes into account of uncertainty in the form of membership function which is also termed as Intuitionistic Type-2 Fuzzy Divergence (IT2FD). The experiment is conducted with public domain fingerprint databases such as FVC-2004 and IIIT-latent fingerprint. The edge detection is carried out with the proposed method and the results are discovered better regarding existing method.
Human Understanding in Light of John Deely, Charles Darwin, and Charles Peirce
Authors: Colapietro Vincent
Published: August 2016

This article presents a review of Deely’s 2002 book, What Distinguishes Human Understanding? It considers Deely’s argument regarding the grounds for asserting the “uniqueness of man” as the “semiotic animal”. It then compares Deely with the arguments regarding continuity of species in the work of Charles Darwin, Charles Peirce and, more recently, Frans de Waal. The article argues that while Deely’s book draws us to key features of the human, the animal semeioticum might be distinctive without being in any single respect absolutely unique.
A Labor of Love and Friendship
Authors: Martinelli Dario
Published: August 2016

This review of Deely’s small book on Sebeok assesses its two parts. The first, on the relation of schools and terms in semiotics, arguing that the relation between the two might not be as firm as the volume implies. The second, on Thomas A. Sebeok – his contribution to contemporary semiotics and, in particular, his role as inspiration and friend to John Deely.
Research and Development Expenditures and Economic Growth in the EU: A Panel Data Analysis
Authors: Freimane Rita , Bāliņa Signe
Published: August 2016

The main aim of the paper is to investigate the empirical relationship between research and development (R&D) expenditures and economic growth in the European Union member states in the period of 2000–2013. The empirical analysis is based on panel data regressions. The estimated model is the production function type standard growth model extended with R&D stock variable. The results show a statistically significant impact of R&D expenditures on the economic growth in the EU countries. The significance for R&D coefficient remains robust to different sub-periods, but the level of significance decreases as a sub-sample of new EU countries was considered.
Modelling Electricity Price Expectations in a Day-Ahead Market: A Case of Latvia
Authors: Bobinaite Viktorija , Zuters Jānis
Published: August 2016

The paper aims at modelling the electricity generator’s expectations about price development in the Latvian day-ahead electricity market. Correlation and sensitivity analysis methods are used to identify the key determinants of electricity price expectations. A neural network approach is employed to model electricity price expectations. The research results demonstrate that electricity price expectations depend on the historical electricity prices. The price a day ago is the key determinant of price expectations and the importance of the lagged prices reduces as the time backwards lengthens. Nine models of electricity price expectations are prepared for different natural seasons and types of the day. The forecast accuracy of models varies from high to low, since errors are 7.02 % to 59.23 %. The forecasting power of models for weekends is reduced; therefore, additional determinants of electricity price expectations should be considered in the models and advanced input selection algorithms should be applied in future research. Electricity price expectations affect the generator’s loss through the production decisions, which are made considering the expected (forecasted) prices. The models allow making the production decision at a sufficient level of accuracy.
Aspects of Statistics on Innovation in Latvia and Some Guidelines for Its Effective Use
Authors: Jesiļevska Svetlana
Published: August 2016

Statistical data on innovation in Latvia, at a current stage, were applied only to the particular areas of developing and planning of Latvian innovation support strategies. The aim of the paper is to show Latvian innovative performance and to provide proposals on making statistical data on innovations more useful for the analysis of innovativeness of Latvia. Research methods: bibliography review and methods of statistical analysis, such as processing and comparative analysis.
Financial Management as a Tool for Achieving Stable Firm Growth
Authors: Saksonova Svetlana , Savina Svetlana
Published: August 2016

The purpose of this study is to show that financial management in the firm is a tool for achieving stable firm growth and long-term firm stability while problems in firm financial management lead to the inability of firms to ensure sustainable growth of their value.

This problem is relevant for firms in all countries. The main objectives of this paper are: to analyse dynamics of value of the largest Latvian firms, to determine the drivers of these dynamics and to establish the main problems slowing the growth of firm value, which are related to the drawbacks in financial management, and to provide suggestions for solving these problems.

This study analyses financial management processes and identifies several key problems in financial management.
Expecting Refugees in Latvia: Negative Stereotyping
Authors: Murašovs Vadims , Ruža Aleksejs , Raščevskis Vitālijs , Dombrovskis Valērijs
Published: August 2016

In response to a dramatic increase of illegal immigration in the European Union, in the fall of 2015 Latvia agreed to accept several hundreds of refugees on its soil. Nevertheless, Latvian society remains very sceptic about these plans, and reportedly demonstrates strong negative attitudes towards refugees. According to the survey, by the end of 2015 the factual experience of interaction with refugees did not exceed ten per cent of Latvian population. This suggests that most of the real attitudes are formed by mass media and other socialisation agents. In order to uncover the nature of these feelings, the present study has been designed to make an in-depth social psychological study on attitudes. One thousand Latvian residents evenly representing Latvia’s demography have taken part in this study. A modified Stephan’s Prejudicial Attitude Survey has been used to study prejudice. Negative stereotyping represents one of the emotional components of attitudes towards refugees. The results illustrate the palette of emotions and the level of their expression in Latvian society, and highlight the feelings, which may shape the identity of the in-group.
Tax Impact on Household Income
Authors: Pavlova Mariyana
Published: August 2016

The household income is an important economic indicator because it determines the scale of the household sector consumption and its delay in future in terms of saving and investing. Many factors influence the magnitude of household income and one of these factors is taxation. Given the significance of tax payments not only for household income, and through them – for the national economy, the object of the current study is the household income and in particular the impact of the taxation framework on the formation of disposable income. The aim of the study is to examine the changes in the monetary income of households in the Republic of Bulgaria as a function of the implemented tax reforms in the period following the country’s accession to the EU.
Role of Social Partners for Work-Based Learning: Results of Surveys
Authors: Buligina Ilze , Sloka Biruta , Kantāne Ināra , Līce Anita
Published: August 2016

Introduction of work-based learning (WBL) in Latvia has required new approaches in decision making of different stakeholders. Experience from countries with long-standing WBL tradition has shown the numerous advantages but also the challenges this approach presents. One of these challenges is the need for new forms and mechanisms of cooperation among the key stakeholders – policy makers, public administrators, employers, educators and social partners. The current paper analyses the results of scientific research in this field, as well as uses the empirical results of two surveys performed by the authors: a survey of public sector experts and a survey of employers in Latvia. In order to obtain detailed results, the evaluations of respondents on multiple aspects analysed in the surveys were evaluation in the scale 1–10. The data of both surveys have been analysed by descriptive analysis, cross-tabulations and multivariate analysis – factor analysis. The results have indicated that the views of employers and social partners on the most of the key aspects of introduction and implementation of WBL are similar. However, a more profound analysis has to be performed in order to develop proposals or the most efficient approach to WBL.
Interaction Testing: Residuals-Based Permutations and Parametric Bootstrap in Continuous, Count, and Binary Data
Authors: Buzkova Petra
Published: August 2016

To obtain statistical inference about interaction hypotheses without making strong distributional assumptions, permutation tests based on permuting the outcomes are often being used. It was shown that in continuous and binary data these tests might not be even approximately valid and parametric bootstrap was suggested as a viable alternative, outperforming such permutation tests. We describe an alternative permutation test, permuting the null hypothesis residuals rather than the outcome. Using simulations, we compare accuracy across the permutation tests and parametric bootstrap, studying continuous, binary, and additionally count data. Finally, we address power.
Inhibition of IRE1 signaling affects the expression of genes encoded glucocorticoid receptor and some related factors and their hypoxic regulation in U87 glioma cells
Authors: Minchenko D.O. , Riabovol O.O. , Tsymbal D.O. , Ratushna O.O. , Minchenko O.H.
Published: August 2016

Objective. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the effect of inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling, mediated by IRE1 (inositol requiring enzyme 1), which is a central mediator of the unfolded protein response on the expression of genes encoding glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) and some related proteins (SGK1, SGK3, NCOA1, NCOA2, ARHGAP35, NNT) and their hypoxic regulation in U87 glioma cells for evaluation of their possible significance in the control of the glioma growth.

Methods. The expression of NR3C1,SGK1,SGK3, NCOA1, NCOA2, ARHGAP35, and NNT genes in U87 glioma cells, transfected by empty vector pcDNA3.1 (control) and cells without IRE1 signaling enzyme function (transfected by dnIRE1) upon hypoxia, was studied by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results. Inhibition of IRE1 signaling enzyme function up-regulates the expression of NR3C1, SGK1, NCOA1, NCOA2, ARHGAP35, and NNT genes in U87 glioma cells in comparison with the control glioma cells, with more significant changes for NR3C1, SGK1, and NNT genes. At the same time, the expression of SGK3 gene is strongly down-regulated in glioma cells upon inhibition of IRE1. We have also shown that hypoxia increases the expression of NR3C1, SGK1, NCOA2, ARHGAP35, and NNT genes but decreases SGK3 and NCOA1 genes expression in control glioma cells. Moreover, the inhibition of both enzymatic activities (kinase and endoribonuclease) of IRE1 in U87 glioma cells enhances the eff ect of hypoxia on the expression of SGK1, SGK3, and NNT genes, but decreases the sensitivity of NR3C1 gene to hypoxic condition. Furthermore, the expression of NCOA1 gene is resistant to hypoxia in control glioma cells, but NCOA2 and ARHGAP35 genes are resistant to this condition in glioma cells without functional activity of IRE1 signaling enzyme.

Conclusions. Results of this investigation demonstrate that inhibition of IRE1 signaling enzyme function affects the expression of NR3C1, SGK1, SGK3, NCOA1, NCOA2, ARHGAP35, and NNT genes in U87 glioma cells in gene specific manner and that all these genes are regulated by hypoxia preferentially through IRE1 signaling pathway of the endoplasmic reticulum stress.