bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bilateral Piriform sinus fistulas: A case study and review of management options
Authors: Lammers Deanna , Campbell Ross , Davila Jorge , MacCormick Johnna 
Published: February 2018

Background Piriform sinus fistulas occur due to developmental abnormalities of the third and fourth branchial arches, and almost always occur unilaterally. They generally present as recurrent abscesses in the anterior-inferior neck, with concurrent thyroiditis. They have conventionally been managed with complete removal of the sinus tract, and thyroidectomy if required; however, endoscopic approaches have been increasingly favored. Herein we describe a case of bilateral piriform sinus fistulas, and present a review of the literature concerning their endoscopic management. Case presentation Our patient was determined to have bilateral piriform sinus fistulas based on computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and microlaryngoscopy. We performed electrocauterization of the proximal fistula tracts, followed by injection of fibrin sealent. Our patient has not had a recurrence in the ten months since his procedure. There were no complications. Twenty-three articles describing an endoscopic approach to these fistulas were identified through PubMed, and a search through the references of related articles was completed. Conclusion Of one hundred and ninety-five patient cases we reviewed, an endoscopic procedure success rate of 82% and complication rate of 5.6% was determined. Piriform sinus fistulas that occur bilaterally are a rare congenital abnormality of the neck. Endoscopic approaches are an acceptable alternative option to open procedures, with similar success and a lower rate of complications.
Reliability and construct validity of the Ottawa valve collapse scale when assessing external nasal valve collapse
Authors: Ziai Hedyeh , Bonaparte James P. 
Published: February 2018

Background Nasal valve collapse is a common cause of nasal obstruction in otolaryngology practice. Common examination methods, such as the Cottle Maneuver and modified Cottle Maneuver are available. However, these methods are dichotomous and do not provide ordinal severity information. The Ottawa Valve Collapse Scale (OVCS) is a grading system for assessing and easily grading external nasal valve collapse in patients with a septal deviation. The primary objective was to assess the test-retest reliability and construct validity of the OVCS grading scale. A secondary objective was to perform the same assessments on the Cottle Maneuver. Methods Patients with a septal deviation who were requesting surgical correction were prospectively enrolled in the study. All patients were assessed using both the Cottle Maneuver and the OVCS by one otolaryngologist at two visits separated by one month. The phi coefficient was calculated to assess the test-retest reliability of the instruments. Results of the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) Score was compared to determine construct validity. Results Ninety-two patients met our inclusion criteria. The phi coefficient was 0.62 for the OVCS and 0.32 for the Cottle Maneuver. The scores on the NOSE instrument were positively associated with the OVCS scores ( p = 0.01) while there was no association with the Cottle Maneuver ( p = 047). Conclusion This current preliminary analysis suggests that the novel Ottawa Valve Collapse Scale has good test-retest reliability and construct validity. This scale may help clinicians grade external nasal valve collapse in patients with a septal deviation. Future studies are required to determine if this scale assists surgeons in determining which patients need formal nasal valve surgery in addition to a standard septoplasty.
Cyclical expression of GDNF is required for spermatogonial stem cell homeostasis
Authors: Sharma Manju , Braun Robert E. 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACT
In the murine testis, self-renewal of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) requires glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) secreted from neighboring somatic cells. However, it not clear how GDNF promotes self-renewal in vivo or what downstream signaling pathways are required for SSC maintenance. We found that GDNF is normally expressed cyclically during spermatogenesis. Stage-specific ectopic expression of GDNF caused the accumulation of a GFRA1+ LIN28− Asingle population, which has enhanced SSC activity compared with wild type, suggesting that GDNF normally limits self-renewal to specific stages. Despite the increase in SSC cell number, EdU labeling during steady-stage spermatogenesis, and during recovery after busulfan-mediated spermatogonial depletion, indicated that GDNF promotes self-renewal by blocking differentiation and not by promoting proliferation. Increased GDNF signaling led to increased phosphorylation of AKT3 in undifferentiated spermatogonia, but not of AKT1 or AKT2, and was independent of RPS6 phosphorylation, suggesting that AKT3 functions in SSC self-renewal or progenitor cell expansion.
Comparative Social Policy: A Historical Overview of the Field
Authors: Lalioti Varvara 
Published: February 2018

This article aims to provide a succinct historical overview of comparative social policy. Typified by both challenges and benefits, comparative social policy started to experience a period of growth in the 1960s, a time characterized by the dominance of the socalled Keynesian welfare state. It will be argued that the publication of Esping-Andersen’s Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism in 1990, during a period marked by the omnipotence of the so-called Schumpeterian welfare state, coincides with the beginning of a new era for comparative social policy, one that has resulted in it being recognized as a separate field of study. The article discusses the main characteristics of each evolutionary phase of comparative social policy, as exemplified by the preponderance of descriptive studies and the functionalist family of welfare state explanations in the pre-1990 years and the dominance of the welfare state taxonomies in the post-1990 period. In spite of the challenges that are yet to be overcome, the proliferation of studies in the field transmitspositive messages about the future of comparative social policy.
Vertex and edge Co-PI indices of bridge graphs
Authors: Devi Sharmila , Kaladevi V. 
Published: February 2018

The Co-PI index of a graph G is denoted by Co-PI(G) and Â is defined as Co-PI(G Â is the number of vertices of G whose distance to the vertex u is less than the distance to the vertex v in G. Similarly, the edge Co-PI index of G is defined as Co-PIe(G) is number of edges of G whose distance Â to the vertex u is less than the distance to the vertex v in G. Â In this paper, the upper bounds for the Co-PI and edge Co-PI indices of bridge graph are obtained.
Antioxidant-Free Radical Scavenging of Some Euphorbiaceae Herbs
Authors: Sunarni Titik , Leviana Fransiska 
Published: February 2018

In order to screen natural antioxidant, the research about antioxidant of some Euphobiaceae herbs, have been conducted. The air-dried herbs of Euphorbia heterophylla L, Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels, and Phyllanthus buxifolius Muell Arg were extracted with metanol. The obtained extract was concentrated and then suspended to produce n-hexane, ethyl acetat and aqueous fractions. Free radical scavenger activity against DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-pycrylhydrazyl) measured by spectrophotometric method and the IC50 value was determined. The compounds of active fraction had been identified by TLC method. All of the herbs showed activity as DPPH scavenger. Among these herbs, Euphorbia heterophylla L. and Phyllanthus buxifolius Muell, Arg. exhibited a strong free radical scavenging of ethyl acetat fraction with IC50 value 5,88 µg/ml and 4,64 µg/ml. The result of TLC by mobile phase n-buthanol-acetic acid-water (4:1:5) and acetic acid 15% showed flavonoid compound.Keywords: Euphorbiaceae herbs, antioxidant, DPPH, flavonoid
Anti-Proliferative Activity of Nigella sativa Chloroform Extract on 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene Induced Female Rats Splenocyte
Authors: Firdaus Ahmad Fiki , Sobri Iskandar , Ekowati Heny 
Published: February 2018

Previous study reported that Nigella sativa has in vitro and in vivo cancer activity.This study was conducted to observe the effect of chloroform extract of Nigella sativa seed (NCE) on 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced female rats’ splenocyte. The experiment consisted of five groups, corn oil solvent control group, DMBA group, DMBA+250 mg/kgBW NCE, DMBA+500 mg/kgBW NCE and DMBA+750 mg/kgBW NCE. Extract was dissolved in corn oil and oral administered daily for 2 weeks before and during the DMBA induction. Observation of cell proliferation was performed using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and AgNOR stainings. H&E staining showed decreased necrocis activity extract groups compared to DMBA group. From AgNOR staining results, mean AgNOR (mAgNOR) of extract groups was less in number compared to DMBA group. The mAgNOR in corn oil solvent control group, DMBA group, DMBA+250 mg/kgBW NCE, DMBA+500 mg/kgBW NCE and DMBA+750 mg/kgBW NCE were 1.22, 1.91, 1.29, 1.36 and 1.33, respectively. Our current results showed that NCE reduces the proliferation of DMBA-induced rat spleenocytes Thus, NCE has potency to be developed as a chemopreventive agent.Keywords: Nigella sativa, spleen, DMBA, anti-proliferative
Annona muricata's Leaves Ethanolic Extract Enhance p53 Expression in Rat Hepatic Cells Induced by Dimethylbenz(a)Anthracene (DMBA)
Authors: Adelina Rosa , Oktoberia Intan Sari , Intan Putri Reno 
Published: February 2018

Annona muricata or soursop contains acetogenin which can induce apoptosis in vitro and has cytotoxic effect. The study has been done to examine soursop leaves extract’s potency in vivo especially to induce apoptosis in 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced Sprague Dawley rats. The induction process was done twice a week for five weeks. The soursop leaves extract were given in three dosages, that are 200, 400, and 800 mg/kgBW for seventeen days after two weeks DMBA induction. Data analysis showed that Annona muricata leaves ethanolic extract could enhance p53 pathway significantly with a dose independent manner in DMBA-induced rats.Keywords: Proapoptosis, Annona muricata leaves ethanolic extract, hepatoma
Strictly Archimedean copulas with complete association for multivariate dependence based on the Clayton family
Authors: Cooray Kahadawala 
Published: February 2018

Abstract The family of Clayton copulas is one of the most widely used Archimedean copulas for dependency measurement. A major drawback of this copula is that when it accounts for negative dependence, the copula is nonstrict and its support is dependent on the parameter. The main motivation for this paper is to address this drawback by introducing a new two-parameter family of strict Archimedean copulas to measure exchangeable multivariate dependence. Closed-form formulas for both complete and d−monotonicity parameter regions of the generator and the copula distribution function are derived. In addition, recursive formulas for both copula and radial densities are obtained. Simulation studies are conducted to assess the performance of the maximum likelihood estimators of d−variate copula under known marginals. Furthermore, derivativefree closed-form formulas for Kendall’s distribution function are derived. A real multivariate data example is provided to illustrate the flexibility of the new copula for negative association.
A numerical test of the topographic bias
Authors: Sjöberg L.E. , Joud M.S.S. 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
In 1962 A. Bjerhammar introduced the method of analytical continuation in physical geodesy, implying that surface gravity anomalies are downward continued into the topographic masses down to an internal sphere (the Bjerhammar sphere). The method also includes analytical upward continuation of the potential to the surface of the Earth to obtain the quasigeoid. One can show that also the common remove-compute-restore technique for geoid determination includes an analytical continuation as long as the complete density distribution of the topography is not known. The analytical continuation implies that the downward continued gravity anomaly and/or potential are/is in error by the so-called topographic bias, which was postulated by a simple formula of L E Sjöberg in 2007. Here we will numerically test the postulated formula by comparing it with the bias obtained by analytical downward continuation of the external potential of a homogeneous ellipsoid to an inner sphere. The result shows that the postulated formula holds: At the equator of the ellipsoid, where the external potential is downward continued 21 km, the computed and postulated topographic biases agree to less than a millimetre (when the potential is scaled to the unit of metre).
A landscape of nanomedicine innovations in India
Authors: Bhatia Pooja , Vasaikar Suhas , Wali Anil 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Nanomedicine is one of the emerging technologies and a branch of nanotechnology finding applications in healthcare. Many countries, including India, are pursuing active research programs in nanomedicine to explore novel healthcare solutions to address specific healthcare needs of the society. At present, the government of India, through its various agencies, is funding nanomedicine research in India. It is anticipated that in the next 5 years or so, several nanomedicine-based products shall reach the market. Thereby, it becomes pertinent to evaluate the extent of India’s involvement in activities related to innovation in nanomedicine. However, a comprehensive landscape of nanomedicine innovation in India is currently lacking. This paper attempts to profile the status of research and innovation in the field of nanomedicine in India. The current study evaluates the innovation on the basis of five indicators: financial ecosystem, technology source, research translation, bibliographic data (patents and publications), and regulation. Public-private partnerships and international collaborations are also discussed in the paper. The landscape elucidates current status of nanomedicine in India and may be relevant for policy-related matters.
Theoretical Models and Specific Communication Situations in Projects
Authors: Pelikan Kristina , Roelcke Thorsten 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn recent years, numerous proposals have been made with the aim of establishing a systematic hierarchy of relationships for languages for special purposes (LSP), and different approaches have been classified in terms of vertical and horizontal models. Recently, however LSP research has moved more and more towards Applied Linguistics and a segregation has emerged between studies focusing on systematic topics and those based on concrete case studies. While studies in applied LSP research have increased, work on systematic approaches has been neglected. The present study follows a different approach, in that instead of segregating the analysis of concrete case studies from the work on systematic approaches, examples from case studies will be used for testing and revising systematic approaches. In this paper we shall first address the question based on these examples of which long established classifications need to be revised, and consider further whether revising and applying classifications is the way to go in LSP research or whether there is a need for a new typology. In the present paper we shall thus be building on and developing the work on structuring LSP in (Roelcke 2014) and on project-specific terminology (Pelikan & Roelcke 2015).
Rules for Dividing a Disputed Resource in the Context of the
Classical Liberal Argument for Peace
Authors: Garfinkel Michelle R. , Syropoulos Constantinos 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
In this paper, we study alternative forms of conflict resolution, both peaceful
and non-peaceful, between two countries that compete for claims to a resource
used to produce potentially traded goods. Consistent with the classical liberal
argument, peace supports mutually beneficial trade, whereas war preempts it. War
always induces countries to allocate resources into non-contractible arming
(“guns”) for superiority in conflict. Under peaceful settlement,
countries might choose to arm as well for gaining leverage in negotiations, but
arming is typically less than what it is under war. Building on the observation
that arming itself affects the countries’ bargaining sets, we compare the
efficiency properties of division rules generated by three prominent bargaining
solutions – namely, splitting the surplus, equal sacrifice, and Nash
bargaining – and show how they depend on the gains from trade.
Quaestiones Convivales: Plutarch’s Sense of Humour as Evidence of his Platonism
Authors: Nikolaidis Anastasios 
Published: February 2018

AbstractGiven Plutarch’s fragmentary piece on Aristophanes and Menander (Mor. 853A–854D), a piece ofTable Talkon almost the same topic (Mor. 711A–713F) and various attacks on comic poets scattered through theLives, one might believe that Plutarch is a staid, conservative and humourless author. But several other instances in his writings reveal a playful, facetious, witty and humorous Plutarch. This paper will focus on theQuaestiones Convivales, which bear ample witness to this aspect of Plutarch’s personality and authorial technique. It will examine the ways in which he introduces and describes the various interlocutors, discuss certain comments (or arguments) with which he tries to ridicule his philosophical opponents, notably the Stoics and the Epicureans, try to distinguish the various manifestations of Plutarch’s humour (spontaneous reaction, literary device, pleasantry, witticism, irony) and finally suggest that Plutarch’s stance and attitude towards playfulness, comic situations and laughter may ultimately be affected, at least in part, by his allegiance to Plato.
Publicly Funded Objectors
Authors: Burch Elizabeth Chamblee 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
On paper, class actions run like clockwork. But practice suggests the need for tune-ups: sometimes judges still approve settlements rife with red flags, and professional objectors may be more concerned with shaking down class counsel than with improving class member’s outcomes. The lack of data on the number of opt-outs, objectors, and claims rates fuels debates on both sides, for little is known about how well or poorly class members actually fare. This reveals a ubiquitous problem — information barriers confront judges, objectors, and even reformers. Rule 23’s answer is to empower objectors. At best, objectors are a partial fix. They step in as the adversarial process breaks down in an attempt to resurrect the information-generating function that culture creates. And, as the proposed changes to Rule 23’s handling of objectors reflect, turmoil exists over how to encourage noble objectors that benefit class members while staving off those that namely seek rents from class counsel. The U.S. class-action scheme is not the only one that relies on private actors to perform public functions: citizens privately fund political campaigns, and private lobbyists provide research and information to lawmakers about public bills and policies. Across disciplines, the best responses to those challenges have often been to level up, not down. This Article therefore proposes a leveling up approach to address judges’ information deficit such that they can better perform their monitoring role. By relying on public funds to subsidize data collection efforts and nonprofit objectors’ information-gathering function, we can disrupt private class counsel’s disproportionate influence.
Shape-controlled synthesis of three-dimensional zinc oxide nanoflowers for disinfection of food pathogens
Authors: Amna Touseef 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe antibacterial activity of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoflowers has been investigated and presented in this article. Classic three-dimensional nanoflowers have been prepared by hydrothermal method using zinc acetate dihydrate Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O as the sole precursor. The X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectra confirm the formation of ZnO crystals. Consequently, on the basis of morphological and chemical observations, the chemical reaction mechanism of ZnO nanoflowers was also proposed. Antibacterial activity was carried out against food-borne pathogen,Escherichia coli, which is ubiquitous in distribution among food-laden wastes. The experimental procedures for the antibacterial test included a spectroscopic method with different concentrations (5–20 μg/mL) of ZnO nanoflowers to unearth the minimum inhibitory concentration. Our investigation suggests that the lowest concentration of ZnO nanoflower solution that can hamper the growth of this microbial strain was 5 μg/mL.
Attitudes About Cognitive Screening: A Survey of Home Care Physical Therapists
Authors: Miles Jean D. , Staples William H. , Lee Daniel J. 
Published: February 2018

Background and Purpose:
Home care physical therapists (PTs) are inconsistent regarding cognitive screening, possibly because screening tools were traditionally considered the domain of other home care disciplines, or because therapists perceive their dementia training to be inadequate. A cross sectional study was designed to survey home care therapists' attitudes and beliefs about the management of persons with dementia and to find out whether any specific cognitive tools or measures are currently used.

Methods:
A 5-point Likert-type survey was administered to home care PTs via an online survey. Three state home care associations and individual home care agencies agreed to share the survey link. The survey was also made available to American Physical Therapy Association members through the Home Health and Geriatric Section listservs.

Results and Discussion:
Two hundred fifty-one PTs opened the survey and 233 completed the survey. Respondents included 180 females and 53 males. Seventy-four had a bachelor's degree (BS), 53 held a master's degree (MS), 104 had achieved a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) or doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree, and 2 did not provide this information. Significant differences were found between those with the highest doctoral degrees and those with master's or bachelor's degrees (P = .01) regarding whether they were qualified to screen (strongly agree, agree) for cognitive deficits. Therapists with the highest degrees also attended continuing education for dementia training more than those with less formal education (P = .042.) Gender differences were found in 2 questions regarding positive outcomes (P = .010 and .42); for both questions, males were more likely to believe that dementia has a negative impact. Eighty-seven percent indicated that PTs are qualified (strongly agree, agree), but only 53% said that they possess the necessary skills (strongly agree, agree) to perform cognitive screens. Specialty certification revealed significant differences in several of the questions. No significance was found for any question regarding years of practice or years in home care. The Mini-Mental State Examination and the Clock Drawing Test were most frequently cited among PTs who conduct cognitive screening.

Conclusions:
Physical therapists recognize that they are qualified to perform cognitive screening but may need additional training to utilize cognitive findings to enhance interventions and outcomes in home care. More research is needed to determine which screens are most relevant for therapist use and to examine the effect of cognitive screening on therapy outcomes.