bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Uma coalizão de defesa, na busca de um embrião de Estado Neopentecostal
Authors: (UFPEL) Nelton Moreira Souza , (UFG) Eliete Barbosa de Brito Silva , (UFPEL) Patricia Rodrigues Chaves da Cunha
Published: February 2020

Este artigo apresenta uma análise das práticas políticas de parlamentares pentecostais e neopentecostais da Assembléia de Deus e Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus no Congresso da República do Brasil. Compara essas práticas pentecostais e neopentecostais com padrões de comportamento da cultura política brasileira e as ações correspondentes do Estado nacional como preservador dessa mesma cultura. Intercalando-se a analise com alguns traços do trade policy-making a partir das inter-relações que se estabelecem entre Estado e Religião na forma de Coalizões de Defesa, na busca de um embrião de Estado neopentecostal. A abordagem aqui proposta não é histórica, nem linear, recorre à história social e suas interfaces com os processos políticos. Que se manifestam no trade policy-making, o artigo se propõe a lançar luz sobre alguns pontos da complexa inter-relação entre atores estatais e sociais e suas funções e negociações na consecução da agenda política. O referencial teórico mobilizado é o advocacy coalition framework. Com o intuito de compreender as relações, entre Estado, Política e Religião, na atual democracia brasileira, recorreu-se ao método comparativo. Considerando que as articulações arquitetadas pela bancada evangélica, no legislativo brasileiro, tem sido marcadas por um forte tradicionalismo moral da Frente Parlamentar Evangélica, que tem a missão de atuação na defesa da família e da moral cristã, sendo contra a plataforma dos movimentos feministas; da identidade de gênero, dos homossexuais e dos grupos de direitos humanos, valendo-se de alianças até mesmo com parlamentares católicos, fomentando um discurso moralístico, anticorrupção cabe-nos inquirir acerca dos objetivos implícitos na ação da bancada evangélica. Onde se esconde o seu pote de ouro? Palavras-Chaves: Estado; Politica; Religião; Coalizão de Defesa; Poder Legislativo.
Música positiva católica: confusão como estratégia e o caso da banda Rosa de Saron
Authors: (UFRGS) Leonardo Oliveira de Almeida
Published: February 2020

Em um contexto marcado por controvérsias, o grupo musical católico Rosa de Saron é frequentemente questionado sobre o teor ambíguo ou confuso de suas músicas. Tal fato, que para os membros do grupo pode ser compreendida a partir de uma noção positiva de ambiguidade ou maleabilidade, surge também como elemento estratégico, pautado em uma prática musical e artística que busca legitimar-se como parte de uma das etapas do processo de evangelização, o primeiro anúncio ou querigma. Apostando no potencial de circulação dessas músicas e na multiplicidade de experiências por elas mediadas, religiosas ou não, espirituais ou ainda como “mensagem positiva”, a banda transita entre a evangelização e o mercado fonográfico das majors, produzindo a “música católica que o mercado quer”. Este trabalho tem como objetivo evidenciar que a banda Rosa de Saron e a popularização da “música positiva” podem lançar luz sobre as transformações na produção musical católica brasileira a partir dos anos 1990.
Carismáticos, política e conservadorismo social
Authors: (UNIFAP) Marcos Vinicius de Freitas Reis Vinicius Reis , (UFJF) Emerson José Sena da Silveira , (UFSCar) Vinicius Manduca
Published: February 2020

O presente artigo tem por objetivo analisar o comportamento político dos parlamentares apoiados pela Renovação Carismática Católica na atual conjuntura da política brasileira. Foram feitas entrevistas com parlamentares e lideranças para entender como o referido movimento católico se organiza internamente para o apoio a determinadas candidaturas e seus posicionamentos políticos.
Etnografia do passe no Centro Espírita André Luiz em Crato (CE): uma leitura sobre símbolos religiosos, dádiva e mercado religioso.
Authors: (URCA) Renata Marinho Paz , (URCA) Geronima Alves de Souza
Published: February 2020

Neste artigo, analisamos a prática de aplicação de passes no âmbito do espiritismo Kardecista. A partir de uma abordagem etnográfica realizada junto ao Centro Espírita André Luiz, localizado no município de Crato – CE, apresentamos o modo como esta prática se desenvolve naquela instituição e, associadamente, como são agenciados símbolos religiosos presentes na cosmovisão espírita, a saber: a moral, a caridade e a reforma íntima. A partir disso, lançamos algumas reflexões sobre o paradoxo do interesse na construção de um ethos espírita marcado por habitus que leva ao desinteresse, em que, no que concerne ao Passe, seria uma ação aparentemente livre e gratuita. Analisamos também o passe considerando a dinâmica moderna de pluralização do mercado religioso, com a reflexão acerca da oferta e procura por bens e serviços religiosos.
Um catolicismo em mutação: práticas sacramentais e desafeição religiosa observadas a partir da Paróquia São Sebastião, Diocese de Teófilo Otoni - MG
Authors: (FUV) Claudete Beise Ulrich , (Universidade Regional de Blumenau) Edison Lucas Fabricio , (FUV) Wagner Ferreira Vaz
Published: February 2020

Este artigo objetiva refletir sobre as mudanças pelas quais passa a Igreja Católica Romana, especificamente, na Paróquia São Sebastião – Diocese de Teófilo Otoni/MG. Busca-se refletir a partir da seguinte problemática: quais fatores podem explicar a desafeição pelo catolicismo romano? Os conceitos de conversão, desafeição religiosa, trânsito e campo religioso, apoiados em Bourdieu, Hervieu-Léger, Berger, Domezi,Oliveira bem como os dados do Censo IBGE de 2010 fundamentam teoricamente este estudo. A metodologia adotada é o estudo de caso a partir de uma pesquisa realizada pelas Santas Missões Populares com famílias residentes na área urbana e rural da Paróquia São Sebastião, na cidade de Carlos Chagas/MG. Percebe-se a existência de um distanciamento dos/as católicos/as na prática dos sacramentos, indicando para um catolicismo em transformação.
On Hermite-Hadamard type inequalities of coordinated (p1,h1)-(p2,h2)-convex functions via Katugampola fractional integrals
Authors: Raees Muhammad , Anwar Matloob
Published: February 2020

The present article establishes some results on Hermite-Hadamard type
inequalities of coordinated (p1,h1)-(p2,h2)-convex functions by using
Katugampola fractional integrals. The results are in generalized form and
deduced for various special cases like coordinated pq-convex functions,
coordinated (p,s)-convex functions, coordinated s-convex functions and
classical case of coordinated convex functions.
Generalizations of Killing vector fields in sol space
Authors: Erjavec Zlatko
Published: February 2020

We consider two generalizations of the Killing vector fields in the 3D Sol
space. Conformal Killing vector fields are the first generalization,
2-Killing vector fields are the second. We characterize proper conformal
Killing vector fields and determine some proper 2-Killing vector fields in
Sol space.
On quasi-Sasakian 3-manifolds admitting η-Ricci solitons
Authors: Turan Mine , Yetim Cemile , Chaubey Sudhakar
Published: February 2020

The object of the present paper is to prove that in a quasi-Sasakian
3-manifold admitting ?-Ricci soliton, the structure function ? is a
constant. As a consequence we obtain several important results.
Feathered gyrogroups and gyrogroups with countable pseudocharacter
Authors: Bao Meng , Lin Fucai
Published: February 2020

Topological gyrogroups, with a weaker algebraic structure than groups, have
been investigated recently. In this paper, we prove that every feathered
strongly topological gyrogroup is paracompact, which implies that every
feathered strongly topological gyrogroup is a D-space and gives partial
answers to two questions posed by A.V. Arhangel?ski?(2010) in [2].
Moreover, we prove that every locally compact NSS-gyrogroup is
first-countable. Finally, we prove that each Lindel?f P-gyrogroup is
Ra?kov complete.
A solution to nonlinear Volterra integro-dynamic equations via fixed point theory
Authors: Sevinik-Adıguzel Rezan , Karapınar Erdal , Erhan İnci
Published: February 2020

In this paper we discuss the existence and uniqueness of solutions of a
certain type of nonlinear Volterra integro-dynamic equations on time scales.
We investigate the problem in the setting of a complete bmetric space and
apply a fixed point theorem with a contractive condition involving
b-comparison function. We use the theoremto show the existence of a unique
solution of some particular integro-dynamic equations.
Study of two dimensional boundary layer flow of a thin film second grade fluid with variable thermo-physical properties in three dimensions space
Authors: Khan Noor
Published: February 2020

The formation of three dimensional study from two dimensional study due to
high intensified magnetic field is investigated for a thin film second-grade
fluid with variable fluid properties. The effects of Soret, Dufour,
thermophoresis, thermal radiation and viscous dissipation are taken into
account in the problem. Similarity transformations are employed to convert
the governing equations into dimensionless form which have been solved by
using homotopy analysis method (HAM). Quite real results are achieved with
the help of emerging parameters which are shown through different graphs for
velocities, temperature and concentration profiles.
Understanding Metabolic Memory: A Tale of Two Studies
Authors: Miller Rachel G. , Orchard Trevor J.
Published: February 2020

The results of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) have given rise to much encouragement in the battle to stave off the complications of type 1 diabetes, showing dramatic declines in the development of severe retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy in those treated intensively compared with conventional therapy. Particularly encouraging has been the continuing difference between the two groups despite both having similar HbA1c (∼8%) since the end of DCCT, when 96% of participants entered the observational Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) study. This continuing relative benefit has been termed “metabolic memory,” which implies altered metabolic regulation. Based on evidence from both the Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications (EDC) prospective cohort study of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes and DCCT/EDIC, we show that the metabolic memory effect can be largely explained by lower cumulative glycemic exposure in the intensive therapy group, and, on average, the development of complications increases with greater glycemic exposure, irrespective of whether this results from a high exposure for a short time or a lower exposure for a longer time. Thus, there is no need for a concept like “metabolic memory” to explain these observations. Potential mechanisms explaining the cumulative glycemic effect are also briefly discussed.
Systematic Genetic Study of Youth With Diabetes in a Single Country Reveals the Prevalence of Diabetes Subtypes, Novel Candidate Genes, and Response to Precision Therapy
Authors: Stankute Ingrida , Verkauskiene Rasa , Blouin Jean-Louis , Klee Philippe , Dobrovolskiene Rimante , Danyte Evalda , Dirlewanger Mirjam , Santoni Federico , Razanskaite-Virbickiene Dovile , Marciulionyte Dale , Jasinskiene Edita , Mockeviciene Giedre , Schwitzgebel Valerie M.
Published: February 2020

Identifying gene variants causing monogenic diabetes (MD) increases understanding of disease etiology and allows for implementation of precision therapy to improve metabolic control and quality of life. Here, we aimed to assess the prevalence of MD in youth with diabetes in Lithuania, uncover potential diabetes-related gene variants, and prospectively introduce precision treatment. First, we assessed all pediatric and most young-adult patients with diabetes in Lithuania (n = 1,209) for diabetes-related autoimmune antibodies. We then screened all antibody-negative patients (n = 153) using targeted high-throughput sequencing of >300 potential candidate genes. In this group, 40.7% had MD, with the highest percentage (100%) in infants (diagnosis at ages 0–12 months), followed by those diagnosed at ages >1–18 years (40.3%) and >18–25 years (22.2%). The overall prevalence of MD in youth with diabetes in Lithuania was 3.5% (1.9% for GCK diabetes, 0.7% for HNF1A, 0.2% for HNF4A and ABCC8, 0.3% for KCNJ11, and 0.1% for INS). Furthermore, we identified likely pathogenic variants in 11 additional genes. Microvascular complications were present in 26% of those with MD. Prospective treatment change was successful in >50% of eligible candidates, with C-peptide >252 pmol/L emerging as the best prognostic factor.
Nutrient-Induced Metabolic Stress, Adaptation, Detoxification, and Toxicity in the Pancreatic β-Cell
Authors: Prentki Marc , Peyot Marie-Line , Masiello Pellegrino , Madiraju S.R. Murthy
Published: February 2020

Paraphrasing the Swiss physician and father of toxicology Paracelsus (1493–1541) on chemical agents used as therapeutics, “the dose makes the poison,” it is now realized that this aptly applies to the calorigenic nutrients. The case here is the pancreatic islet β-cell presented with excessive levels of nutrients such as glucose, lipids, and amino acids. The short-term effects these nutrients exert on the β-cell are enhanced insulin biosynthesis and secretion and changes in glucose sensitivity. However, chronic fuel surfeit triggers additional compensatory and adaptive mechanisms by β-cells to cope with the increased insulin demand or to protect itself. When these mechanisms fail, toxicity due to the nutrient surplus ensues, leading to β-cell dysfunction, dedifferentiation, and apoptosis. The terms glucotoxicity, lipotoxicity, and glucolipotoxicity have been widely used, but there is some confusion as to what they mean precisely and which is most appropriate for a given situation. Here we address the gluco-, lipo-, and glucolipo-toxicities in β-cells by assessing the evidence both for and against each of them. We also discuss potential mechanisms and defend the view that many of the identified “toxic” effects of nutrient excess, which may also include amino acids, are in fact beneficial adaptive processes. In addition, candidate fuel-excess detoxification pathways are evaluated. Finally, we propose that a more general term should be used for the in vivo situation of overweight-associated type 2 diabetes reflecting both the adaptive and toxic processes to mixed calorigenic nutrients excess: “nutrient-induced metabolic stress” or, in brief, “nutri-stress.”
Digitalization in Political Relations: Planes for Perception and Mechanisms for Transformation
Authors: Konkov A. E.
Published: February 2020

The process of digital technologies development and their comprehensive integration into people’s lives influences consecutively different social processes. Mostly such an influences relieves at the present moment in the economic sphere, where digital economy gets to be one of the key priorities all over the world. Also processes of digitalization are likely to touch education, health care, law, they filter through political relations too. The article dwells upon analyzing directions for such an infiltration and mechanisms for transforming political sphere of society because of their pressure, generalizes digital practices in the political discourse. The author attempts in particular to evaluate retrospectively prerequisites and initial characteristics for involving web instruments by political actors, to define specific features of digital environment as a new domain for social and political relations, to capture process and functional characteristics for applying consecutive technologies. The specific emphasize is made on Russian experience of regulating and applying the political dimension of digital technologies, which reveals the active search by government for some national vision of digital policy both inside and outside as far as state borders are not likely to apply to the web space. Based on approaching consecutive practices the author distinguishes three meaningful planes (directions) to consider digitalization in political relations: digital democracy, which characterizes upscaling deliberative mechanisms for public policy with web communication opportunities; digital bureaucracy, which reflects advanced skills of political establishment and emerging technocratic platforms based on advanced e-government: and also digital diplomacy, which makes it possible for involving new technologies into politi cal achievements on the international and supranational arena.
Factors of Global Competitiveness of American LNG
Authors: Zhukov S. V. , Maslennikov A. О. , Sinitsyn M. V.
Published: February 2020

The United States started lique fied natural gas (LNG) export in 2016 and just in two years became the world’s fourth largest exporter of LNG. There is a high probability that in the near future the U.S. will emerge as the third largest LNG exporter after Australia and Qatar. The article focuses on the factors, which ensure global competitiveness of U.S. LNG until 2030. The authors show that: first, the first wave of American export LNG projects significantly speeded up restructuring of contract system in the world gas trade as well as suppor ted development of a more flexible mechanism of natural gas pricing; secondly, production costs of the associated natural gas in the U.S. are relatively low and it is highly probable to expect Henry hub gas price to stabilize at around 2.5 dollars per MMBTU in the long run, what gives the American gas producers potential capability to significantly improve their global competitiveness by means of production and transportation costs reduction; fourthly, new waves of U.S. LNG export will not necessa rily be linked to the Henry Hub index, but to a wide range of price indicators, inclu ding the Brent oil price. With increasing flows of globally competitive Ameri can LNG entering the market, transformation of the institutional structure, contracts system and price mecha nism that have been unfold in the world LNG trade for the last ten to fifteen years became irreversible. That creates prerequisites for rapid formation of the world LNG market as well as with a some time lag of a global gas market.
Wavelike Character of Pension Reforms. First-wave 1994–2008
Authors: Zhukova T. V.
Published: February 2020

The article puts forward the hypothesis about the wave nature of pension systems reforms since the early 1990 under the effect of demographic and economic factors. In response to the results of previous works on this subject and statistical analysis results, wave’s mechanism has been identified. Conditions for starting the wave of pension reforms established with long-term demographic trend in periods of tension (the higher growth rates of age dependency ratio and others). The start and dynamic of the wave are determined by macroeconomic shocks arise from decreasing phase of business-cycle. The growth phase of pension reforms are followed by the period of deceleration. There is a factor that slowdowns responses to macroeconomic shocks (the decisions about pension reforms are not accepted instantly). Pension system adjusts to new conditions until further tightening. Quantitative and quality analysis of pension reforms across countries would allow to test this hypothesis. To that end an appropriate instruments have been developed: the classifier of pension reform (67 items with scoring system to estimate the depth of the changes), evaluation system for economic factors influences via sensitive to pension systems indicators and associated macroeconomic shocks. A cross-section of 24 countries generates a mix of pension reforms for the period of 1994–2019, two waves of pension reforms (1990–2008 and 2009 – present) is revealed, the hypothesis of waves nature of pension reforms is confirmed. The heart of pension systems transformations in the first way is identified. These are lowering of government pensions obligations, shifting the risks from state to population with the introduction of DCschemes. The suggestions that the implementation of second pillar is positive only for countries with well-developed financial market.  The research of second-wave of pension reforms and projection of the third way will be dealt with in the next article.
MEMBENTUK KARAKTER DENGAN AL-QUR’AN, SATU PERSPEKTIF PENDIDIKAN ISLAM
Authors: Anasri Anasri
Published: February 2020

The purpose of this study is to obtain a formula for Islamic Education in the perspective of al quran. The results of the study found that Character in an Islamic perspective is nothing but morality. Noble character is the fruit that results from the process of applying sharia (worship and muamalah) which is based on a solid foundation of aqeedah. Like a building, character or morals are the perfection of the building after the foundation and the building are strong. It is impossible for a character or noble character to manifest in someone if he does not have the right aqeedah and sharia. A Muslim who has true aqeedah or faith will surely manifest in attitudes and behaviors in daily life based on his faith. For example, people who have good and true faith in Allah SWT, he will always obey and carry out all His commands and stay away from all His prohibitions. He will always do good and stay away from things that are prohibited (bad). Faith is not only to Allah SWT, but also to angels, books, Apostles and so on will make their attitudes and behavior directed and controlled, so that they will manifest noble character or character. The same thing happened in the case of sharia implementation. All Islamic sharia provisions lead to the realization of noble character or character
Synthesis of Pullulan-Mediated Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) and their Antimicrobial Activities
Authors: Al-Owasi Yusra , Elshafie Abdulkhadir , Sivakumar Nallusamy , Al-Bahry Saif
Published: February 2020

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), using plant extracts, bacteria, fungi and yeasts, and their   antimicrobial activities have been widely investigated and well documented. However, pullulan AgNPs and their antimicrobial activities have not received much attention. The objective of this study was to synthesize pullulan AgNPs, characterize them, and test their antibacterial and antifungal activities. Pullulan was extracted from Aureobasidium mangrovei isolated from Oman and, using UV-Vis spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), found to be identical to the commercial pullulan obtained from Sigma, USA. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that most of the synthesized particles were poly-dispersed, irregular in shape, and most were spherical with an average size of 9.76 nm. Pullulan-mediated AgNPs were found to have antibacterial activities, and the ANOVA test showed that there were no significant differences between AgNO3, Pullulan and pullulan-mediated AgNPs for all the bacteria tested. Pullulan-mediated nanoparticles were found to have antifungal activity against Curvularia lunata, Fusarium incarnatum, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium sp. The ANOVA test also revealed that there was a significant difference in antifungal activity between pullulan and pullulan-mediated AgNPs, pullulan-mediated nanoparticles having shown a higher inhibitory activity than pullulan. Pullulan and pullulan-mediated nanoparticles could be used in the food industry and are safer than silver nitrates.
A Dataset-Independent Model for Estimating Software Development Effort Using Soft Computing Techniques
Authors: Khazaiepoor Mahdi , Bardsiri Amid Khatibi , Keynia Farshid
Published: February 2020

During the recent years, numerous endeavours have been made in the area of software development effort estimation for calculating the software costs in the preliminary development stages. These studies have resulted in the offering of a great many of the models. Despite the large deal of efforts, the substantial problems of the offered methods are their dependency on the used data collection and, sometimes, their lack of appropriate efficiency. The current article attempts to present a model for software development effort estimation through making use of evolutionary algorithms and neural networks. The distinctive characteristic of this model is its lack of dependency on the collection of data used as well as its high efficiency. To evaluate the proposed model, six different data collections have been used in the area of software effort estimation. The reason for the application of several data collections is related to the investigation of the model performance independence of the data collection used. The evaluation scales have been MMRE, MdMRE and PRED (0.25). The results have indicated that the proposed model, besides delivering high efficiency in contrast to its counterparts, produces the best responses for all of the used data collections.
Development of Ontology Based Competence Management Model for Non-Formal Education Services
Authors: Zandbergs Uldis , Grundspeņķis Jānis , Judrups Jānis , Briķe Signe
Published: February 2020

Competence management is a discipline that recently has regained popularity due to the growing demand for constantly higher competences of employees as well as graduates. One of the main implementation challenges of competence management is that, as a rule, it is based on experts’ implicit knowledge. This is the reason why the transformation of implicit knowledge into explicit knowledge practically is unmanageable and, as a consequence, limits the ability to transfer the already existing knowledge from one organisation to another.

The paper proposes an ontology-based competence model that allows the reuse of existing competence frameworks in the field of non-formal education where different competence frameworks need to be used together for the purpose of identification, assessment and development of customers’ competences without forcing the organisations to change their routine competence management processes. The proposed competence model is used as a basis for development of competence management model on which IT tools that support a competence management processes may be built up. Several existing frameworks have been analysed and the terminology used in them has been combined in a single model. The usage of the proposed model is discussed and the possible IT tools to support the competence management process are identified in the paper.
The Eco-Modification of Textiles Using Enzymatic Pretreatment and New Organic UV Absorbers
Authors: Olczyk Joanna , Sójka-Ledakowicz Jadwiga , Kudzin Marcin , Antecka Anna
Published: February 2020

Textile fabrics were subjected to bio-pretreatment using high-activity laccase from Cerrena unicolor for comparison to standard alkaline scouring and organic absorber of ultraviolet (UV) radiation based on 1,3,5-triazine derivatives. The basic aim of the study was the development of textiles made of natural cellulose fibers (mainly flax or its blends with cotton) to provide barrier properties against UV radiation. Controlled application of enzymatic pretreatment of woven fabrics made of natural cellulose fibers allows for an efficient removal of impurities from these fibers, resulting in the improvement of sorptive properties and good penetration of dyeing agents, UV organic absorbers and other chemical modifiers, into the textile structure. In this way, products with UV-protection properties (ultraviolet protection factor >40) are obtained. These innovative barrier materials can be used for outdoor textiles that protect professional people from harmful effects of UV radiation.
Short communication: Chlorpromazine causes a time-dependent decrease of lipids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Muhieddine Dina , Moughnié Mohamad , Abdel-Razzak Ziad
Published: February 2020

Chlorpromazine (CPZ) is still a commonly prescribed antipsychotic which causes poorly understood idiosyncratic toxicity such as cholestasis, phospholipidosis and steatosis. CPZ has diverse cellular targets and exerts various toxicity mechanisms whose exploration is necessary to understand CPZ side effects. We report here that CPZ causes a decrease of total lipid content in Saccharomyces cerevisiae at the same dose range as that used on mammalian cells. The observed lipid decrease was obvious after 4 and 9 hours of treatment, and disappeared after 24 hours due to cells adaptation to the chemical stress. The inhibitory effect of CPZ was antagonized by the antioxidant N-acetyl L-cysteine and is likely caused by the parent compound. The obtained results demonstrate that yeast model is valid to investigate the involved CPZ toxicity mechanisms, particularly in terms of lipids alteration. This would contribute to understand CPZ side effects in simple model and reduce experimentation on animals.
Aluminium toxicosis: a review of toxic actions and effects
Authors: Igbokwe Ikechukwu Onyebuchi , Igwenagu Ephraim , Igbokwe Nanacha Afifi
Published: February 2020

Aluminium (Al) is frequently accessible to animal and human populations to the extent that intoxications may occur. Intake of Al is by inhalation of aerosols or particles, ingestion of food, water and medicaments, skin contact, vaccination, dialysis and infusions. Toxic actions of Al induce oxidative stress, immunologic alterations, genotoxicity, pro-inflammatory effect, peptide denaturation or transformation, enzymatic dysfunction, metabolic derangement, amyloidogenesis, membrane perturbation, iron dyshomeostasis, apoptosis, necrosis and dysplasia. The pathological conditions associated with Al toxicosis are desquamative interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, granulomas, granulomatosis and fibrosis, toxic myocarditis, thrombosis and ischemic stroke, granulomatous enteritis, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, anemia, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, sclerosis, autism, macrophagic myofasciitis, osteomalacia, oligospermia and infertility, hepatorenal disease, breast cancer and cyst, pancreatitis, pancreatic necrosis and diabetes mellitus. The review provides a broad overview of Al toxicosis as a background for sustained investigations of the toxicology of Al compounds of public health importance.
World of earthworms with pesticides and insecticides
Authors: Miglani Rashi , Bisht Satpal Singh
Published: February 2020

Earthworms are important organisms in soil communities and are known for sustaining the life of the soil. They are used as a model organism in environmental risk assessment of chemicals and soil toxicology. Soil provides physical and nutritive support to agriculture system by regulating biogeochemical cycles, nutrient cycle, waste degradation, organic matter degradation etc. The biggest threat to soil health are pesticides and synthetic chemicals including fertilizers. Earthworms are most severely hit by these xenobiotic compounds leading to a sizeable reduction of their population and adversely affecting soil fertility. Earthworms are incredible soil organisms playing a crucial role in maintaining soil health. Pesticides used in crop management are known to be most over-purchased and irrationally used soil toxicants, simultaneously, used insecticides contribute to a quantum of damage to earthworms and other non-target organisms. LC50 and LD50 studies revealed that earthworms are highly susceptible to insecticides causing immobility, rigidity and also show a significant effect on biomass reduction, growth and reproduction by disrupting various physiological activities leading to loss of earthworm population and soil biodiversity.
Probiotics against alleviation of lead toxicity: recent advances
Authors: Bhattacharya Sanjib
Published: February 2020

Lead is a toxic heavy metal and there is no specific, safe and efficacious therapeutic management of lead toxicity. Scientific literature reported that some probiotic microorganisms alleviated experimentally induced lead toxicity. The present review attempts to collate the experimental studies on probiotics with ameliorative effects. Literature survey revealed that four (4) types of probiotic microorganisms exhibited significant protection from lead toxicity in experimental pre-clinical studies. No clinical study with significant outcome was found in the literature. From the outcomes of the preclinical studies it appears that probiotics are prospective for alleviation and treatment of lead toxicity.
General toxicity assessment of the novel aldose reductase inhibitor cemtirestat
Authors: Prnová Marta Šoltésová , Račková Lucia , Kováčiková Lucia , Balleková Jana , Viskupičová Jana , Micháliková Silvia , Taşkoparan Betul , Elmazoğlu Zübeyir , Rižner Tea Lanišnik , Karasu Cimen , Banerjee Sreeparna , Štefek Milan
Published: February 2020

Cemtirestat, 3-mercapto-5H-[1,2,4]-triazino[5,6-b]indole-5-acetic acid was recently designed and patented as a highly selective and efficient aldose reductase inhibitor endowed with antioxidant activity. The aim of the present study was to assess the general toxicity of cemtirestat using in silico predictions, in vitro and in vivo assays. ProTox-II toxicity prediction software gave 17 “Inactive” outputs, a mild hepatotoxicity score (0.52 probability) along with a predicted LD50 of 1000 mg/kg. Five different cell lines were used including the immortalized mouse microglia BV-2, the primary human fibroblasts VH10, the insulinoma pancreatic β-cells INS-1E, the human colon cancer cells HCT116 and the human immortalized epithelial endometrial cell lines HIEEC. In contrast to the clinically used epalrestat, cemtirestat showed remarkably low cytotoxicity in several different cell culture viability tests such as MTT proliferation assay, neutral red uptake, BrdU incorporation, WST-1 proliferation assay and propidium iodide staining followed by flow cytometry. In a yeast spotting assay, the presence of cemtirestat in incubation of Saccaromyces cerevisiae at concentrations as high as 1000 µM did not affect cell growth rate significantly. In the 120-day repeated oral toxicity study in male Wistar rats with daily cemtirestat dose of 6.4 mg/kg, no significant behavioral alterations or toxicological manifestations were observed in clinical and pathological examinations or in hematological parameters. In summary, these results suggest that cemtirestat is a safe drug that can proceed beyond preclinical studies.
Evaluation of acute toxicity of vinasse by means of Daphnia magna and Aliivibrio fischeri: a comparative study
Authors: Velásquez-Riaño Möritz , Meneses-Sánchez Juan Sebastían , Arias Carel Elizabeth Carvajal
Published: February 2020

In the bioethanol industry, per liter of the produced alcohol 9 to 14 liters of vinasse are obtained as a byproduct. If the vinasse is directly shed into bodies of water without an adequate treatment, it may have negative effects on the existing biota and human health due to its high turbidity and color, low pH and high content of organic material. The purpose of this study was to assess the acute toxicity of vinasse by means of a rapid test with Aliivibrio fischeri and compare it with a standard immobilization assay with Daphnia magna. The standard assay of D. magna by means of its EC50 of 4.7% showed that organism was more sensitive to the contaminant, in comparison with the 69.6% obtained with the A. fischeri which suggests that it should be continuesly used as one of the organisms of first choice for the evaluation of the acute toxicity of this effluent.
Influence of estrous stages on electrocardiography, clinical pathology and ovarian weight of experimental beagle dogs: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Shah Chitrang , Bhatt Laxit , Ravichandra B.V. , Kothule Viren , Kadam Shekhar , Nataraju G.J. , Patel Jitendra , Ranvir Ramachandra , Bhatnagar Upendra , Sundar S. Rajesh , Jain Mukul
Published: February 2020

Estrous cycle is a repetitive phenomenon occurring during the reproductive life of a female dog. The duration of the canine estrous cycle is considerably longer than one in the most of the other animals and is broadly grouped into follicular phase (proestrus and estrus), luteal phase (diestrus) and non-seasonal anestrus. Dogs in the same stage of cycle can be inadvertently assigned to same group during routine safety and metabolic studies leading to possible erroneous interpretation of test-item related effects. This retrospective analysis was conducted by analyzing data of 86 female beagle dogs from control/placebo treated groups to correlate any possible effect of estrous stages with electrocardiography, clinical pathology and ovarian weight. Different estrous cycle stages of beagles were confirmed histologically by evaluating ovary, uterus, vagina and mammary glands. The incidence of beagles in diestrus was the highest, followed by anestrus, proestrus and estrus. No significant effect was noticed on heart rate, P–A, P–D, RR, QRS and QT intervals across different stages of estrous cycle. However, significantly higher PQ (PR) interval in dogs in proestrus stage was observed compared to dogs in anestrus and estrus. Marginally higher WBCs, neutrophils, lymphocytes, RBCs, hemoglobin, AST and lower hematocrit, lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides), ALP level was evident in estrous period. Relative ovary weight was significantly higher in dogs in diestrus stage. Considering these results, one may need to exercise caution while interpreting experimental data from female beagle dogs.
Alternative Leprosy Treatment Using Rifampicin Ofloxacin Minocycline (ROM) Regimen – Two Case Reports
Authors: Widjaja Yohanes , Djawad Khairuddin , Amin Saffruddin , Djamaluddin Widyawati , Kadir Dirmawati , Muchtar Sri V.
Published: February 2020

Introduction. Leprosy is a disease that predominantly affects the skin and peripheral nerves, resulting in neuropathy and associated long-term consequences, including deformities and disabilities. According to the WHO classification, there are two categories of leprosy, paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB). The standard treatment for leprosy employs the use of WHO MDT (Multi Drug Treatment) regimen, despite its multiple downsides such as clofazimine-induced pigmentation, dapsone-induced haematological adverse effects, poor compliance due to long therapy duration, drug resistance, and relapse. Multiple studies and case reports using ROM regimen have reported satisfactory results. Nevertheless, there are still insufficient data to elucidate the optimum dosage and duration of ROM regimen as an alternative treatment for leprosy. Previous experience from our institution revealed that ROM regimen given three times weekly resulted in a satisfactory outcome.

Case Reports. We report two cases of leprosy treated with ROM regimen from our institution. The first case was PB leprosy in a 64-year-old male who presented with a single scaly plaque with erythematous edge on the right popliteal fossa. Sensibility examination showed hypoesthesia with no peripheral nerve enlargement. Histopathological examination confirmed Borderline Tuberculoid leprosy. ROM regimen was started three times weekly for 6 weeks and the patient showed significant clinical improvement at the end of the treatment with no reaction or relapse until after 6 months after treatment. The second case was MB leprosy in a 24-year-old male patient with clawed hand on the 3rd-5th phalanges of the right hand and a hypoesthetic erythematous plaque on the forehead. Histopathology examination confirmed Borderline leprosy. The patients received ROM therapy 3 times a week with significant clinical improvement after 12 weeks.

Conclusion. ROM regimen given three times weekly for 6 weeks in PB leprosy and 12 weeks in MB leprosy resulted in a significant clinical improvement. Thus, ROM regimen could be a more effective, safer, faster alternative treatment for leprosy.
Acne Necrotica (Varioliformis) – Case Report
Authors: Nikolić Marija , Perić Jelena , Škiljević Dušan
Published: February 2020

Acne necrotica is a rare disease, characterized by repeated cropping of inflammatory papules and papulo-pustules, which rapidly necrotize and leave varying degrees of varioliform scars that may lead to cicatricial alopecia when terminal hair-bearing sites are involved. In early lesions, pathology shows necrotizing lymphocytic folliculitis. We report a 63-year-old male patient with chronic, relapsing, umbilicated and centrally necrotic erythematous papules and papulo-pustules involving the frontal hairline area, face, and neck. Histopathology showed epidermal spongiosis and lymphocytic exocytosis, extensive necrosis and destruction of the follicular epithelium, a dense diffuse lymphohistiocytic infiltrate and necrosis of the perifolicular dermis. The diagnosis of acne necrotica was made based on the correlation of clinical and histopathological findings. A complete clinical remission was achieved with topical erythromycin and benzoyl peroxide.
Bird mortality on medium-voltage power lines in the Czech Republic
Authors: Škorpíková Vlasta , Hlaváč Václav , Křápek Milan
Published: February 2020

In 2015–2016, 6,429 km medium-voltage power lines with 76,430 pylons were checked for bird mortality in the Czech Republic. 1,326 bird victims of power lines were found, 156 of which died after collisions, and 1,170 birds were electrocuted. They belonged to 60 species from 12 orders, and birds of prey made up almost half of all victims. Steel pylons bearing several cross-arms including upper and crosswise jumpers were identified as most dangerous from the electrocution point of view. On the other hand, pylons in straight lines with Pařát cross-arms (triangular arrangement of conductors without any horizontal bar) were among the least dangerous, and when they had a simple perch fitted below the cross-arm, no mortality was recorded. But these pylons are new in practice and despite becoming widely used recently, they form less than one tenth of all pylons in the Czech Republic. On other pylons various types of mitigation measures have been installed. Commonly used plastic covers and plastic strips have proved to be especially effective, but only in cases when they are undamaged and correctly installed.
Changes in nesting habitat of the saker falcon (Falco cherrug) influenced its diet composition and potentially threatened its population in Slovakia in the years 1976–2016
Authors: Chavko Jozef , Obuch Ján , Lipták Ján , Slobodník Roman , Baláž Michal
Published: February 2020

In the period between the years 1976 to 2016 we monitored the nesting site distribution of two populations of saker falcon (Falco cherrug) concentrated in the highlands and adjacent lowlands of western and eastern Slovakia. In western Slovakia we recorded nesting by 56 pairs and 514 nestings, and in eastern Slovakia we observed nesting by 32 pairs and 245 nestings. There were similar nesting success rates in both regions, with pairs producing on average 3.2 young in every successful nest. During the monitored period as a whole a total of 1,788 young saker falcons were raised. At the same time all the pairs gradually resettled in the lowlands, and in the new environment the nesting success rate significantly improved (81.1% compared with 57.1 % in the highlands). This change of nesting biotopes was caused by the impacts of intensive exploitation and environmentally inappropriate forest management, with the accompanying excessive disturbance of nesting birds, but at the same time the disappearance of ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) colonies led to a change in the food spectrum for the observed saker falcon pairs. We evaluated the falcons’ feeding habits in western Slovakia between the years 1977 and 2016 (49 pairs; 1–17 pairs/year) and in eastern Slovakia between 2009 and 2016 (12 pairs; 1–3 pairs/year). Altogether 17,669 prey items were identified. From 1976 onwards mammals (Mammalia, 19.8%, 24 species) became gradually less represented as a component in the falcons’ diet compared with birds (Aves, 79.9%, 58 species). In areas of western Slovakia we found stable and predominant proportions of domestic pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) ranging from 52% to 62%. The proportion of pigeons was distinctly lower in eastern Slovakia (31.5%), compensated for by larger shares of common vole (Microtus arvalis), common starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) and hooded crow (Corvus cornix). The common starling (9.5%) was a significant prey species in the lowlands of western and eastern Slovakia alike. Mammals were mostly represented by common voles (9.8%), European hamsters (Cricetus cricetus, 5.3%), ground squirrels (2.1%) and hares (Lepus europaeus, 1.6%). Changes over time in the composition of falcons’ prey were also evaluated over five periods in western Slovakia.
Common Reading Experience
Authors: Smith Kelly , Rode Denise
Published: February 2020

High-Impact Practices, like the Common Reading Experience (CRE), are increasingly prevalent on college campuses. Despite the development and growth of CRE programs, assessment procedures struggle to keep pace. This article provides some innovative guidelines on how to effectively assess a high-impact and far-reaching program like the Common Reading Experience.
Small Fish Out of Water
Authors: Heinisch Benjamin P.
Published: February 2020

Changing rural economies are making it difficult for youths in rural areas to maintain job security without a college education (Tieken, 2016). After the 2008 economic recession, rural unemployment reached nearly 10%, and the poverty rate increased to 16.6% for nonmetropolitan areas, compared to 13.9% in metropolitan regions (Economic Research Service, 2011). This reduction in career opportunities has encouraged rural youths to think more seriously about attending college to increase their earning potential (Meece, et al., 2013; Tieken, 2016). Compared to the average American, rural students are less likely to have college-educated parents (Provasnik et al., 2007). These first-generation students are coming to college unprepared, due to their parent’s lack of institutional knowledge, creating challenges for them academically and socially as they transition into an unfamiliar environment (Forbus, Newbold, & Mehta, 2011; Lightweis, 2014). These rural students are also challenged by their lack of experience with large campuses and the diversity often found in college (Schultz, 2004). Few studies are dedicated to the rural student experience, and even fewer regard the intersection of rural and first-generation identities. Understanding their experiences as they transition to college will be key to providing this population with resources for their postsecondary education. This study utilized Schlossberg’s Transition Theory (Chickering & Schlossberg, 1995) as a framework to describe the first-year experiences of rural first-generation students at a large Midwestern university and identify important implications for practice.
Developing Professionals
Authors: McKenzie Brenda , Iverson Susan V. , Reynolds Kyle P.
Published: February 2020

The common path into a career in higher education and student affairs (HESA) involves undergraduate campus leadership, involvement, and mentorship from professionals in the field and leads to enrolling in a graduate program in HESA. What is less common is intentional preparation or curricula to transition undergraduates into a graduate program in HESA and a career in the field. This paper describes how one “Careers in Higher Education” course for undergraduate students at one university informed students’ decisions to enter the field. This study uses Kolb’s learning cycle (Kolb, 1984) as a conceptual and analytical framework.
Student Satisfaction With Orientation
Authors: Nadler Daniel P. , Miller Michael T. , Casebere Jennifer
Published: February 2020

Orientation programs are vital to a new student's acculturation to the campus community, and have been linked to students' long-term academic and personal success on campus. The Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) Standards for New Student Orientation provide a meaningful guide for program development and assessment. These CAS Standards were utilized over a two-year period to assess Tulane University's new student orientation program. The results of the assessments have prompted the professional staff at Tulane to examine the rationale behind each of the orientation program's activities and intentions.