bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Financial Development and Economic Sustainability in ECOWAS Countries: the Role of Institutional Quality
Authors: Li Fanglin , Appiah Michael , Korankye Benjamin 
Published: March 2020

The literature explored the relationship between financial development and economic sustainability, taking into consideration the roles played by institutional quality in the ECOWAS region. Most literature still debates on the roles of institutional quality on economic growth. The study used data from 1996-2017 for 15 emerging economies within the ECOWAS by applying two-step SYS GMM (SGMM) estimators. The study discovered that financial development has no significant and positive alliance on economic sustainability in the ECOWAS region. Besides that, regulatory quality and control of corruption, considered institutional quality variables have conflicting results with control of corruption reducing growth as well as regulatory quality increasing growth. Again, the results came out that capital formation has a positive association with growth and labor force influencing negatively on growth. Finally, due to a lack of proper corruption control systems in the region and poor financial sector development, growth cannot improve.JEL Classification: O11, O43, C23How to Cite:Li, F., Appiah, M., & Korankye, B. (2020). Financial Development and Economic Sustainability in ECOWAS Countries: The Role of Institutional Quality. Etikonomi: Jurnal Ekonomi, 19(1), 41 – 50. https://doi.org/10.15408/etk.v19i1.13709.
Surface Morphing of Geometrically Patterned Active Skins
Authors: Park Yujin , Loh Kenneth J. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractNature is ripe with biological organisms that can interact with its surroundings to continuously morph their surface texture. Many attempts have been made to optimize artificial surfaces depending on operational needs; however, most of these architected materials only focus on enhancing a specific material property or functionality. This study introduces a new class of instability-induced morphable structures, herein referred to as “Active Skins”, which enables on-demand, reversible, surface morphing through buckling-induced feature deployment. By taking advantage of a preconceived auxetic unit cell geometrical design, mechanical instabilities were introduced to facilitate rapid out-of-plane deformations when in-plane strains are applied. Here, these notches were introduced at judiciously chosen locations in an array of unit cells to elicit unique patterns of out-of-plane deformations to pave way for controlling bulk Active Skin behavior. These purposefully designed imperfections were employed for selectively actuating them for applications ranging from camouflage to surface morphing to soft robotic grippers.
Mechanisms and predictors of ischemic mitral regurgitation at rest and on exertion in patients at early stage of myocardial infarction
Authors: Adamyan K. G. , Chilingaryan A. L. , Mkrtchyan N. G. , Tunyan L. G. 
Published: March 2020

Aim. Determination of the mechanisms and predictors of ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) at rest and on exertion in patients at early stage of myocardial infarction (MI).Material and methods. Seventy-seven patients with inferoposterior MI and 79 patients with anteroseptal apical MI were examined on the 7th day at rest and after exertion. We determined the degree of IMR (according to the PISA method), posteromedial and anterolateral papillary muscle (PM) displacement, closure height of the mitral valve (MV), systolic and diastolic mitral valve orifice area, volume of the left ventricle (LV), LV contractility index, deformation of the infarction regions, general LV deformation, deformation and systolic dyssinchrony of the PM.Results. IMR was more common in inferior MI (42% vs 28%). LV volumes in cases with anteroseptal apical MI and IMR were greater and LV deformation was less than in patients without IMR. In inferoposterior MI and IMR, differences were observed in the index of local contractility and function of the posteromedial PM. The differences in MI of both localizations and IMR compared with MI without IMR were the areas of the mitral orifice and dyssinchrony of the PM. The degree of IMR after exertion did not depend on the degree of IMR at rest. Predictors of IMR at rest in MI of both localizations were the apical displacement of MV closure and the area of the mitral orifice. In inferoposterior, posteromedial PM displacement, deformation of the infarcted areas, PM dyssinchrony were also predictors. In anteroseptal apical MI, the area of the mitral orifice was the predictor of IMR. Predictors of anteroseptal apical MI after physical exertion after inferior MI were mitral orifice areas, contractility index, displacement and deformation of the posteromedial PM. In anteroseptal apical MI, the IMR predictors were MV closure height and systolic area of mitral orifice.Conclusion. The study confirms the significance of changing the spatial orientation of the MV structures in MI of both localizations, impaired regional contractility in inferoposterior MI and LV volume in anteroseptal apical MI at early stage of the disease.
Assessment of the effectiveness of treatment in patients after acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Shvets D. A. , Povetkin S. V. , Karasev A. Yu. , Vishnevsky V. I. 
Published: March 2020

Aim. To assess the effectiveness of secondary drug prevention and surgical myocardial revascularization in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) during long-term follow-up after acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Material and methods. The study involved 400 patients with ACS discharged from the hospital in 2012-2016. The diagnosis was verified according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines. There were no exclusion criteria. We analyzed the data of medical records (complaints, medical history, physical examination, laboratory and instrumental data). Repeated data collection was carried out by distance survey and during a face-to-face examination during 2018. According to the clinical course of CAD, all patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 151 patients with complicated course of CAD, group 2 — 249 patients with stable CAD. We analyzed drug therapy recommended at hospital discharge and taken at the time of the repeated examination. The drug names and daily dosage used for the secondary prevention of CAD were recorded. Assessment of survival without cardiovascular complications was carried out according to the Kaplan-Mayer analysis.Results. Seven-year mortality was 22,5%. The total number of cardiovascular events was 37,7%. The main reason for the frequent complications was the insufficient secondary prevention of CAD after ACS. We found that the drugs and their dosage did not have a significant effect on survival. Statin use is associated with a paradoxical increase in the number of complications. The increased frequency of use and dosage of statins are a consequence of unfavorable course of CAD and do not have the proper preventive effect. For some groups of drugs, we observed irregular intake over the observation period. The low effectiveness of therapy is not only due to insufficient doses, but also in the frequent use of generic drugs. The significant effect of coronary angiography on the probability of cardiovascular complications compared with stenting is due to high proportion of coronary angiography use without revascularization.Conclusion. The combination of following factors of drug therapy can explain the low effectiveness of secondary CAD prevention: low dose (26,1±2,8 mg for atorvastatin), irregular intake and common use of generic drugs (97,6% for statins), present in different ratios. The contribution of surgical treatment to reducing cardiovascular complications is lower, the more significant residual coronary artery stenosis.
Predictors of myocardial fibrosis and loss of epicardial adipose tissue volume in the long-term period after myocardial infarction
Authors: Barbarash O. L. , Gruzdeva O. V. , Pecherina T. B. , Akbasheva O. E. , Borodkina D. A. , Kashtalap V. V. , Karetnikova V. N. , Kokov A. N. , Brel N. K. , Dyleva Yu. A. , Belik E. V. , Uchasova E. G. , Bychkova E. E. , Kuzmina A. A. 
Published: March 2020

Aim. To assess the changes of biochemical markers in hospitalization, the relationship with the severity of myocardial fibrosis and the epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness one year after myocardial infarction (MI).Material and methods. A total of 88 patients (65 men and 23 women) with MI were examined. The percentage of cicatricial changes in the myocardium and the EAT thickness were measured using the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) one year after MI. In the hospitalization (days 1 and 12) and 1 year after MI, the concentrations of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), stimulating growth factor (ST2), interleukin-33 (IL-33) and type I collagen (COL-1). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation and ROC analysis, and logistic regression (Statistica 9.0).Results. One year after MI, cicatricial changes were detected in 68 (77%) patients: 27 people had myocardial fibrosis <5%, 22 patients — 5-15%, and 19 patients >15%. We established that myocardial fibrosis after MI is associated with unfavorable medical history, a complicated course during in-hospital period and higher concentrations of ST2, NT-proBNP, COL-1 compared with patients without myocardial fibrosis. High levels of ST2, NT-proBNP increase the risk of myocardial fibrosis by 1,2 and 1,8 times after hospitalization, respectively. In patients with myocardial fibrosis >15%, IL-33 level was significantly lower in the 1st day of MI. It was found that the EAT thickness increases with fibrosis of 5-15%. An increase in the left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) EAT thickness by 1,33 times and 1,34 times, respectively, increases the risk of myocardial fibrosis (LV EAT thickness, mm (OR 1,33; 95% CI (1,08-1,4), AUC 0,75; RV EAT thickness, mm (OR 1,34; 95% CI (1,15-1,43), AUC 0,79). In patients with myocardial fibrosis >15%, EAT thickness decreases and correlates with NT-proBNP increase in the acute period and a one year after MI.Conclusion. The development of myocardial fibrosis one year after MI is associated with an increase in ST2, NT-proBNP, COL-1, both in the hospitalization and 1 year after MI. The decrease in IL-33 concentration during hospitalization with MI is accompanied by the development of fibrosis >15% of the myocardium.
In-hospital changes of echocardiographic parameters and their relationship with the procollagen I C-terminal propeptide in patients with myocardial infarction and preserved left ventricle systolic function
Authors: Osokina A. V. , Karetnikova V. N. , Polikutina O. V. , Ivanova A. V. , Gruzdeva O. V. , Ryzhenkova S. A. , Artemova T. P. , Barbarash O. L. 
Published: March 2020

Aim. To study the changes of echocardiographic parameters and their relationship with the procollagen I C-terminal propeptide (PICP) during hospitalization of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and preserved left ventricular (LV) systolic function.Material and methods. A total of 120 (100%) patients hospitalized with STEMI were examined. Upon admission, all patients underwent standard examinations to verify myocardial infarction (MI), including coronary angiography and, if necessary, coronary stent implantation. The mean values of LV ejection fraction (LVEF) were 40-49% in 3 patients (2,5%), <40% — in 31 patients (26%), LVEF was. We also analyzed patients with LVEF ≥50%, n=86 (71,6%); mean age was 57,8 years. During the hospitalization, all patients received standard therapy; on the 1st and 12th day of MI, the PICP levels in venous blood serum was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In order to compare PICP values, a control group of healthy volunteers n=20 (100%) was formed, which were comparable by gender and age. In this group, the concentration of PICP was 179,2 [163.5; 194.9] ng/ml.Results. By the 12th day, a significant decrease in the following parameters of the transmitral flow was revealed: DT (p=0,049), dE (0,012), Em (0,029), Em/ Am (p=0,000), Em/PICP (p=0,001). This indicates diastolic function deterioration. At the same time, by the end of hospitalization, systolic function deterioration was recorded in 15,1% of cases. Initially, a higher PICP on the 1st day relative to the control group tended to decrease the concentration by the 12th day, but the differences did not reach statistical significance (p=0,466). Correlation analysis showed a relationship between PICP and echocardiography (Tei index, p=0,026, and mitral annulus velocity, p=0,049).Conclusion. At the hospital stage of treatment of patients with STEMI and preserved LVEF, a negative changes of echocardiography parameters characterizing diastolic dysfunction was revealed. Positive correlation was established between the concentration of PICP with mitral annulus velocity and the Tei index, indicating an association between the myocardial fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction.
PRECLINICAL STUDY OF THE PHARMACOKINETICS OF BACTERIOSENS FOR THE PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY OF MALIGNANT NEOPLASMS
Authors: Morozova N. B. , Plotnikova E. A. , Plyutinskaya A. D. , Stramova V. O. , Vorontsova M. S. , Pankratov A. A. , Makarova E. A. , Lukyanets E. A. , Kaprin A. D. 
Published: March 2020

Introduction. Special attention has been recently paid to photosensitizers that absorb and fluoresce in the near infrared region of the spectrum. One of the most promising photosensitizers is bacteriosens, a synthetic bacteriochlorin derivative. Objective. To conduct a preclinical study of the biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of bacteriosens in animals.Materials and methods. The active ingredient of bacteriosens is (meso-tetra(3-pyridyl)bacteriochlorin) with of λmax 747 nm). The biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of the agent were studied in mice and rabbits. It was administered intravenously once at three doses: 1.0; 2.5 and 6.25 mg/kg for the mice and 0.236; 0.59 and 1.475 mg/kg for the rabbits. Local fluorescence spectroscopy was used for the quantitative determination of the pharmacokinetic parameters of bacteriosens.Results. Bacteriosens was removed quickly from the mouse bloodstream at 1 and 4 days after using minimal (1.0 mg/kg) and maximal (6.25 mg/kg) doses, respectively. When given at doses of 6.25 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg, bacteriosens was recorded in the skin, muscle, and spleen for 4 days and 24 h, respectively. The agent most intensively accumulated and long persisted in the omentum, liver, and kidneys for more than 6 days (6.25 mg/kg) and 2 days (1.0 mg/kg). A similar pattern was observed in the rabbits. Bacteriosens was rapidly removed from the rabbit bloodstream at 1 and 3 days after using at doses of 0.236 and 1.475 mg/kg, respectively. The agent was recorded in the skin, muscle, and spleen up to 4 days (1.475 mg/kg) and 3 days (0.236 mg/kg). It most intensively accumulated and long persisted in the omentum, liver, and kidneys for more than 6 days (1.475 mg/kg) and 4 days (0.236 mg/kg).Conclusion. Bacteriosens was removed from the animal bloodstream within 3–4 days after administration of the maximum dose that was 2.5 times higher than therapeutic one. The half-life of bacteriosens for mice was directly proportional to the dose and increased from 8 to 24 min; the half-life for rabbits was 20 min, irrespective of the dose. The drug was recorded in the skin for no more than 4 days. The main routes of bacteriosens elimination from the body of animals were the kidneys and liver.The study was performed in accordance with ethical principles adopted by the European Convention for the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes.
EVALUATION OF ANTITUMOR ACTIVITY OF TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR ALPHA WITHIN THE ARTIFICIAL VIRUS-LIKE PARTICLE
Authors: Sysoeva G. M. , Ryabchikova E. I. , Simakova O. V. , Volosnikova E. A. , Lebedev L. R. , Danilenko E. D. 
Published: March 2020

Introduction. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) is a natural cytokine, characterized by pronounced antitumor properties. A wide range of side effects serves as an obstacle for the use of TNF-α in clinical practice. One of the ways to improve its therapeutic properties is to increase the tropism of the cytokine to the tumor tissue by incorporating it into the targeted delivery system.The aim of the study was to evaluate the antitumor activity of the preparation containing TNF-α as part of the artificial “virus-like particle” (VLP-TNF-α), developed in SRC VB “Vector” as a transport system for delivering proteins to target cells.Materials and methods. The antitumor effect of VLP-TNF-α preparation was evaluated in experimental B16F10 melanoma model by the change of dynamics of tumor growth (volume, mass) and its morphological structure (presence of necrotic processes, blood vessel destruction). The number of the effector immune cells (CD3+, CD11b+) in the tumor tissue was determined by immunohistochemical method.Results. It has been shown that VLP-TNF-α administered intravenously at the doses of 5 × 104 and 1 × 105 IU/mouse inhibits the growth of the primary tumor. The most pronounced and stable effect was observed with a five-fold administration at the dose of 1 × 105 IU/mouse every other day: tumor growth inhibition was 40 % on the 1st day, and 47 % on the 7 th day upon the treatment. Injections of the preparation resulted in the increase of necrosis number, destruction level of the tumor tissue, development of damage and destruction of the tumor blood vessels and its infiltration with immunocompetent cells.Conclusion. The obtained data indicates that TNF-α within the delivery system exerts antitumor activity, which suggests the possibility of its further use for the treatment of malignant neoplasms, in particular, melanoma.The study was performed in accordance with ethical principles adopted by the European Convention for the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes.
Role of emergency coronary artery bypass grafting in the era of percutaneous interventions
Authors: Ramarao Venugopal , N. C. Chandana , P. K. Sunil 
Published: March 2020

Background: In acute coronary syndrome, prompt restoration of myocardial blood flow is essential to optimize myocardial salvage and decrease mortality. Coronary artery reperfusion, if performed in a timely manner improves clinical outcomes compared to no reperfusion. Fibrinolysis and percutaneous interventions can restore blood flow in an acutely occluded coronary artery in most of the patients; but in a few subset of patients coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is needed to effectively restore blood flow.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted among all CABGs performed during March 2016 - February 2018. During this period, 366 CABGs were performed and 57 patients underwent emergency CABG as per the inclusion criterias. Pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative data was analysed of these patients. Patients were divided into four groups based on the time of surgery from the time of onset of myocardial infarction. Results: 57 patients underwent emergency CABG with males constituting 94.7% of the study population. 78.9% of them had an ejection fraction less than 35%. 52% presented with low cardiac output status, 10% needed intra-aortic balloon pump support and 15% required mechanical ventilation prior to surgery. All patients received an average of 2.8 grafts. Mortality was 5%Conclusions: Immediate surgical revascularisation of patients presenting with acute MI is feasible. Emergency CABG not only treats the culprit lesion but also achieves complete revascularization and offers a clear advantage for patients. The optimal timing of CABG for patients with acute MI remains difficult to establish.
Calculation of Derivatives in the Lp Spaces where 1 ≤ p ≤ ∞
Authors: Morozov Anatoly Nikolaevich 
Published: March 2020

It is well known in functional analysis that construction of \(k\)-order derivative in Sobolev space \(W_p^k\) can be performed by spreading the \(k\)-multiple differentiation operator from the space \(C^k.\) At the same time there is a definition of \((k,p)\)-differentiability of a function at an individual point based on the corresponding order of infinitesimal difference between the function and the approximating algebraic polynomial \(k\)-th degree in the neighborhood of this point on the norm of the space \(L_p\). The purpose of this article is to study the consistency of the operator and local derivative constructions and their direct calculation. The function \(f\in L_p[I], \;p>0,\) (for \(p=\infty\), we consider measurable functions bounded on the segment \(I\) ) is called \((k; p)\)-differentiable at a point \(x \in I\;\) if there exists an algebraic polynomial of \(\;\pi\) of degree no more than \(k\) for which holds \( \Vert f-\pi \Vert_{L_p[J_h]} = o(h^{k+\frac{1}{p}}), \) where \(\;J_h=[x_0-h; x_0+h]\cap I.\) At an internal point for \(k = 1\) and \(p = \infty\) this is equivalent to the usual definition of the function differentiability. The discussed concept was investigated and applied in the works of S. N. Bernshtein [1], A. P. Calderon and A. Sigmund [2]. The author's article [3] shows that uniform \((k, p)\)-differentiability of a function on the segment \(I\) for some \(\; p\ge 1\) is equivalent to belonging the function to the space \(C^k[I]\) (existence of an equivalent function in \(C^k[I]\)). In present article, integral-difference expressions are constructed for calculating generalized local derivatives of natural order in the space \(L_1\) (hence, in the spaces \(L_p,\; 1\le p\le \infty\)), and on their basis - sequences of piecewise constant functions subordinate to uniform partitions of the segment \(I\). It is shown that for the function \( f \) from the space \( W_p^k \) the sequence piecewise constant functions defined by integral-difference \(k\)-th order expressions converges to \( f^{(k)} \) on the norm of the space \( L_p[I].\) The constructions are algorithmic in nature and can be applied in numerical computer research of various differential models.
VIGOREXIA: INFLUÊNCIA DOS PADRÕES ESTÉTICOS CULTURAIS E OBSESSÃO PELO CORPO IDEAL
Authors: Freitas Thais Lins de , Zortea Giovanna Botini , Wagner Valdilene , Oliveira Leonardo Pestillo de 
Published: March 2020

A sociedade exerce pressão sobre como deve ser a estrutura corporal dos indivíduos. A auto percepção do peso pode estar relacionada com a distorção da imagem corporal. Nos homens, a preocupação excessiva com o corpo pode desencadear Transtornos Alimentares, além de um novo transtorno comportamental denominado Vigorexia. Assim, nos anos de 2016 e 2017 buscou-se coletar e agrupar variáveis que indicassem quais implicações à disseminação de um padrão de beleza superestimado socialmente tem gerado na percepção e conduta dos indivíduos. Para isso, a pesquisa contou com a colaboração de quatro indivíduos, sendo dois destes praticantes de fisiculturismo e outros dois compondo o grupo controle (praticantes de exercício físico a mais de dois anos consecutivos sem qualquer inclinação ou volição pelo fisiculturismo). Nestes indivíduos fora aplicado um questionário semiestruturado de questões abertas e utilizado, posteriormente a análise, como parâmetro de comparação entre os discursos. Por fim, foi possível definir um padrão de comportamento e percepção comum entre os indivíduos acometidos pela Vigorexia, diferenciando a prática física saudável da obsessão pelo corpo perfeito.