bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Análisis parasitológico de plantas medicinales de un mercado municipal en Paraguay
Authors: Aveiro Róbalo Telmo Raul , Garlisi Torales Luciana Daniela , Duré Acuña Édgar Gonzalo , Martins Vera María José 
Published: April 2019

RESUMEN
Objetivo: Ciertas especies de plantas autóctonas del Paraguay poseen propiedades medicinales que son utilizadas tradicionalmente en dolencias frecuentes. El objetivo que se persigue con este estudio es identificar la presencia de parásitos en plantas medicinales comercializadas en un mercado municipal de Asunción, Paraguay. Metodología: Estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal no probabilístico por conveniencia. Se estudiaron seis muestras de diez especies de plantas con propiedades medicinales. Resultados: Del total de las 60 muestras observadas, al menos 21 (35%) de ellas poseían algún tipo de parásito, 39 (65%) no poseían presencia de parásitos y 4 (7%) de ellas poseían múltiples especies de parásitos. Conclusiones: El uso y comercialización de estas plantas con propiedades medicinales debe de ser monitoreada por las autoridades sanitarias, a efectos de evitar infecciones.
Palabras clave: Hierbas medicinales, parásitos. (Fuente: DeCS BIREME).
ESTUDIO PROSPECTIVO DE LA CALIDAD MICROBIOLÓGICA DEL AGUA QUE CONSUME LA POBLACIÓN DE FORTALEZA – COCHABAMBA
Authors: Cossio Andia Eddy 
Published: April 2019

El estudio microbiológico del agua es de vital importancia porque ello permite tomar acciones en la prevención de enfermedades causadas por el consumo de agua contaminada. El presente estudio se realizó en base a la siguiente pregunta: ¿El agua consumida por la población de Fortaleza es apta para el consumo humano? Para responder la misma se planteó el objetivo: Determinar la calidad microbiológica del agua que consume la población de fortaleza. Dado que esta población es considerada zona periurbana agrícola (zona sudoeste) y al no contar con servicios básicos pone en riesgo la salud de la población y provoca un problema de salud pública. En base a la hipótesis de que el agua de fortaleza tiene una deficiente calidad microbiológica y no cumple los requisitos microbiológicos establecidos en las Normas Bolivianas, se realizó un estudio prospectivo longitudinal. Se tomaron 4 muestras en la gestión 2013 y 4 muestras en la gestión 2017 de diferentes puntos de distribución del agua que consume la población de Fortaleza y se sometieron a pruebas de control de calidad microbiológica. Los resultados mostraron que la calidad del agua es deficiente, se encontró la presencia de Pseudomonas aeruginosa, un incremento en el recuento de Bacterias Aerobias Mesófilas totales y de coliformes totales. Se puede observar que el agua de la población de Fortaleza está contaminada con Pseudomonas aeruginosa y que no cumplen con los requisitos mínimos establecidos en la Norma Boliviana 512 y MB 5122 al superar notablemente los valores máximos de conteo de bacterias para los parámetros estudiados.
PALABRAS CLAVE: Calidad, Microbiologico, agua
Modeling Soil Organic Carbon in Crude Oil Contaminated Soil in the Niger Delta
Authors: NWAKWASI LEVI NGOZI , Okoro B. C. , Osuagwu J. C. , Nwachukwu A. N. , Agunwamba J. C. 
Published: April 2019

Oil spillage is a major environmental threat in south south of Nigeria where most of oil exploration and exploitation activities takes place. If this goes on unchecked or poorly managed, it would lead to total annihilation of the ecosystem. The objective of this study is to develop a model for the prediction of potassium depletion in the crude oil contaminated soil with time using regression analysis. Each sample containing 10kg of soil was artificially polluted with 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 liters of crude oil (Bonny Light). The potassium concentrations were determined using standard methods. Results shows that the concentration of residual potassium in the soil for all the volumes of crude oil introduced into the soil decrees significantly with time when compared to values obtained for the control samples. The concentration of residual concentration in the control soil sample was about three times higher than the concentration obtained for other samples. The results obtained from the derived model were very close to the experimental value. The model is suitable for determining potassium content in crude oil polluted site.
Application of a Fuzzy Logic Controller for Hydropower Generator Speed Regulation
Authors: Egoigwe Sochima Vincent , Chukwudozie Chukwudi , Nwobi Chukwudumebi , Araoye Timothy Oluwaseun , Arize Chukwuemeka Igwe , Anoliefo Edward C. 
Published: April 2019

The hydroelectric plants flow rate always varies with time due to the speed rotation of turbines which affect the amplitude and frequency of electrical energy generated. Hydro plants are being utilized for the purpose of peaking as well as base load, pumped storage and spinning reserve power operation etc. Especially in a system consisting of large industries, where frequency and voltage fluctuations are required to be kept minimum, their stability determines the quality of power. For efficient use of plant, complex control techniques are employed in the station automation and these involve the turbine governor in control features for which a flexible governor design is essential. MATLAB 2007 Software was used to carry out simulations analysis to develop fuzzy logic controller for hydropower Generator speed regulation with aims of stabilizing output power supply in order to increase the water flows rate through the hydropower penstock. The result of the research shows the hydropower generator speed model which can be used to stabilized power output as a result of increase in turbine speed rotation when fuzzy logic controller is applied. The result showed that hydropower Generation speed regulation with and without fuzzy logic controller were 319.8m/s and 65m/s respectively. The speed increased by 254.8m/s. the result shows that application of fuzzy logic controller gives better result and increase the rotational speed of hydropower.
The absorption of oral morroniside in rats: In vivo, in situ and in vitro studies
Authors: Xiong Shan , Li Jinglai , Mu Yanling , Zhang Zhenqing 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Morroniside is one of the most important iridoid glycosides from Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. In the present study, the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability studies of morroniside were conducted on Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. A rat in situ intestinal perfusion model was used to characterize the absorption of morroniside. Caco-2 cells were used to examine the transport mechanisms of morroniside. The pharmacokinetic study of morroniside exhibited linear dose-proportional pharmacokinetic characteristics and low bioavailability (4.3 %) in SD rats. Its average P
eff value for transport across the small intestinal segments changed from (3.09 ± 2.03) × 10−6 to (4.53 ± 0.94) × 10−6 cm s−1. In Caco-2 cells, the P
app values ranged from (1.61 ± 0.53) × 10−9 to (1.19 ± 0.22) × 10−7 cm s−1 for the apical to basolateral side and the P
ratio values at three concentrations were all lower than 1.2. Morroniside showed poor absorption and it might not be a specific substrate of P-glycoprotein (P-gp).
Stability-indicating HPLC-PDA assay for simultaneous determination of paracetamol, thiamine and pyridoxal phosphate in tablet formulations
Authors: Ali Amir , Athar Muhammad Makshoof , Ahmed Mahmood , Nadeem Kashif , Murtaza Ghulam , Farooq Umar , Salman Muhammad 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
With the increased number of multi-drug formulations, there is a need to develop new methods for simultaneous determinations of drugs. A precise, accurate and reliable liquid chromatographic method was developed for simultaneous determination of paracetamol, thiamine, and pyridoxal phosphate in pharmaceutical formulations. Separation of analytes was carried out with an Agilent Poroshell C18 column. A mixture of ammonium phosphate buffer (pH = 3.0), acetonitrile and methanol in the ratio of 86:7:7 (V/V/V) was used as the mobile phase pumped at a flow rate of 1.8 mL min−1. Detection of all three components, impurities and degradation products was performed at the selected wavelength of 270 nm. The developed method was validated in terms of linearity, specificity, precision, accuracy, LOD and LOQ as per ICH guidelines. Linearity of the developed method was found in the range 17.5–30 µg mL−1 for thiamine, 35–60 µg mL−1 for pyridoxal phosphate and 87.5–150 µg mL−1 for paracetamol. The coefficient of determination was ≥ 0.9981 for all three analytes. The proposed HPLC method was found to be simple and reliable for the routine simultaneous analysis of paracetamol, thiamine and pyridoxal phosphate in tablet formulations. Complete separation of analytes in the presence of degradation products indicated selectivity of the method.
How to assess orodispersible film quality? A review of applied methods and their modifications
Authors: Wasilewska Katarzyna , Winnicka Katarzyna 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
In recent years, there has been a tendency toward creating innovative, easy to use and patient-friendly drug delivery systems suitable for every consumer profile, which would ensure safety, stability and acceptability of a drug. One of the relatively novel and promising approaches is the manufacture of orodispersible films (ODFs), which is an upcoming area of interest in drug delivery. They are defined as polymer thin films that disintegrate in the oral cavity within seconds, without drinking water or chewing, and eliminate the risk of choking. Gaining special usefulness in therapies of children and the elderly, ODFs seem to fill the gap in the range of preparations available for these groups of patients. As no detailed monography of ODFs including testing methods and uniform requirements has been presented in any of the pharmacopoeias to date, the aim of this article is to give an overview of the applied testing methods, their modifications and innovative approaches related to ODF quality assessment.
Occurrence of aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A and zearalenone in maize silage in the region of Vojvodina, Serbia
Authors: Glamočić Dragan , Polovinski Horvatović Miroslava , Jajić Igor , Krstović Saša , Guljaš Darko 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Silage made from the whole-plant maize is one of the most popular forages in Serbia. Consumption of maize silage by cows can be up to 30-35 kg/day. In Serbia in the few last years in the focus of the public and agriculture community were two mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1 and its metabolite aflatoxin M1 due to the outbreak of contaminated maize which affected the Balkans in 2012. Maize is regularly checked on the occurrence of aflatoxin B1, however forages are often neglected as a potential source of mycotoxins in the nutrition of dairy cattle.
In this work, 48 samples of maize silage were analyzed for the occurrence of aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A and zearalenone. Samples were collected from three regions (Bačka, Banat and Srem) in Vojvodina. In all samples, at least one mycotoxin above the limit of quantification was measured. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in 36 (75%) samples. In two samples from Banat, the concentration of aflatoxin B1 exceeded the maximum level (ML) set by Serbian regulation (30 µg/kg at moisture content of 12%). In seven samples, the concentration of aflatoxin B1 was above 20 µg/kg which is the EU regulated ML. Average concentration of ochratoxin A was 10.4 µg/kg, while the maximum measured value was 34.3 µg/kg. Maximum zearalenone content in all samples was 538 µg/kg while the average zearalenone concentration was 138 µg/kg.
The results from this research point out that mycotoxin contaminated silage in the region of Vojvodina, Serbia can significantly contribute to daily intake of aflatoxin B1 in dairy cattle.
The prognostic value of microalbuminuria in puppies with canine parvoviral enteritis
Authors: Oikonomidis Ioannis L. , Soubasis Nectarios , Ceron Jose Joaquin , Theodorou Konstantina , Rallis Timoleon , Polizopoulou Zoe 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Increased urine albumin concentration (UALB) or urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) at admission has been associated with systemic disease and increased morbidity and mortality in critically ill canine patients. The objective of this study was to assess the prognostic value of UALB and UACR for the survival, as well as for the development and duration of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in puppies with canine parvoviral enteritis (CPVE). Unvaccinated puppies, aged 1-12 months with confirmed CPVE, hospitalized for ≥5 days were included. Urine was collected at admission via cystocentesis; albumin was measured immunoturbidimetrically and creatinine spectrophotometrically. The presence of SIRS was daily evaluated. Statistical analysis was conducted using R language. Twenty-six dogs were enrolled; 12/26 (46%) developed SIRS during hospitalization, while 5/26 (19%) died. A significant correlation was found between UALB and UACR (ϱ=0.868, p<0.001). The dogs with SIRS had higher median UALB [0.5 (0-12.7) mg/dL] and UACR [4.2 (0-2,093) mg/g] compared to dogs without SIRS [UALB= 0.1 (0-0.8) mg/dL, UACR= 1.6 (0-5.6) mg/g], but the differences were non-significant (p>0.05). SIRS duration was significantly correlated with UACR (ϱ=0.427, p=0.030), but not with UALB (ϱ=0.386, p=0.052). The non-survivors had higher median UALB [0.6 (0.1-12.7) mg/dL] and UACR [19.6 (0.7-2,093) mg/g] compared to survivors [UALB= 0.2 (0-1.5) mg/dL, UACR= 2.3 (0-16.9) mg/g], but the differences were non-significant (p>0.05). UACR appears to be a prognostic indicator of SIRS duration in puppies with CPVE. However, a large-scale study is warranted to confirm the usefulness of UALB and UACR for clinical risk assessment in puppies with CPVE.
An Integral Systems Theory Perspective of Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The Example of CATCH, a Capture-Based Aquaculture Research Project for Quality Norwegian Cod Products
Authors: Cordeiro Cheryl Marie , Sogn-Grundvåg Geir 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Due to the increasing complexity of the global development challenges that need solving, the past thirty years have seen interdisciplinary research (IDR) and university-industry collaboration developing into its own subject of research. While there have been numerous studies on defining and evaluating IDR, what remains under-researched is a unifying or integral perspective in IDR theoretical framing and conceptualisation much due to the nature of the multiple disciplines that constitute IDR. This study takes an integral systems theory perspective in address of the knowledge-gap in IDR, using the example of the project CATCH, a capture-based aquaculture research project funded by the Research Council of Norway and industry partners, for improved Norwegian cod products to local and global markets. The purpose of this study is to investigate and uncover the management strategies of the project CATCH, with the goal of illustrating how elements of such a management strategy can be mapped unto a four-quadrant integral systems theory model towards a unified perspective of an IDR project. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has projected a 20% growth in global fish production and consumption by 2030. CATCH, which is situated in the field of fisheries and aquaculture research, makes for a timely and interesting example of how an inherently IDR project is managed and executed by multiple stakeholders from academic institutions as well as industry partners. The contribution of this study is twofold, (i) working towards the consolidation of the theoretical foundations of IDR, and (ii) developing empirical insights into the management processes and strategy of an IDR project.
Identification of Quality of VAT Data: The Case of Albania
Authors: Dhuli Elsa 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
The increasing demand of users for quick and qualitative statistics, have increased the focus of statisticians from different countries to develop strategies, produce systems, compile statistical methods for the use of administrative sources as primary source. An important issue of official statistics is the reduction of the response burden from enterprises. Administrative sources are frequent in time, have wide scope coverage, are fast in terms of deadlines, but in content they carry suspicious values. In the case of Quarterly Survey these suspicious values affect the quarterly growth rate analysis. In Short Term Statistics cases where the value between the quarters is not accurate give a wrong picture of the development. In the Structural Survey, an annual net sale gives a wrong picture of the structure of the economy. Sources used for this paper are Value Added Tax and Quarterly Survey of Enterprises. The paper tries to identify the different patterns of the VAT in Albania by analysing two years VAT data, 2016-2017 and propose the editing method for correcting them. As the focus is the use of VAT in Short Term Statistics, the patterns are identified in the panel data created by linking with the same ID code the businesses on both sources. Various methods have been used from other countries’ statistics for the editing of these suspicions values. The experience of these countries is studied in orded to be used in Albania as well. This process will reduce the time for processing VAT file, will be used in effective way for quarterly business survey or structure business survey purposes and will increase the quality of statistical procces and product by using effectively the VAT file.
Introducing narratives in Europeana: A case study
Authors: Meghini Carlo , Bartalesi Valentina , Metilli Daniele , Benedetti Filippo 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
We present a preliminary study to introduce narratives as a first-class functionality in digital libraries. The general idea is to enrich those libraries with semantic networks of events providing a meaningful contextualisation of the digital libraries’ objects. More specific motivations are presented through a set of use cases by different actors who would benefit from using narratives for different purposes. Then, we consider a specific digital library, Europeana, the largest European digital library in the cultural heritage domain. We discuss how the Europeana Data Model could be extended for representing narratives, and we introduce an ontology for narratives. We also present a semi-automatic tool, which, on the basis of the ontology, supports the creation and visualisation of narratives, and we show how the tool has been employed to create a narrative of the life of the painter Gustav Klimt as a case study. In particular, we focus our attention on the functionality of the tool that allows extracting and proposing to the user specific digital objects for each event of the narrative.
An algorithm for arbitrary–order cumulant tensor calculation in a sliding window of data streams
Authors: Domino Krzysztof , Gawron Piotr 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
High-order cumulant tensors carry information about statistics of non-normally distributed multivariate data. In this work we present a new efficient algorithm for calculation of cumulants of arbitrary orders in a sliding window for data streams. We show that this algorithm offers substantial speedups of cumulant updates compared with the current solutions. The proposed algorithm can be used for processing on-line high-frequency multivariate data and can find applications, e.g., in on-line signal filtering and classification of data streams. To present an application of this algorithm, we propose an estimator of non-Gaussianity of a data stream based on the norms of high order cumulant tensors. We show how to detect the transition from Gaussian distributed data to non-Gaussian ones in a data stream. In order to achieve high implementation efficiency of operations on super-symmetric tensors, such as cumulant tensors, we employ a block structure to store and calculate only one hyper-pyramid part of such tensors.
Congestive Heart Failure and Upper Digestive Endoscopic Lesions
Authors: Cosma Adriana-Stela , Bănescu Claudia , Mocan Simona , Balla Beáta , Negovan Anca 
Published: April 2019

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of congestive heart failure and the most important clinical and pathological factors on severe upper digestive mucosal lesions.

Methods: The study included 749 patients referred for upper digestive endoscopy, divided into two groups: 140 subjects with congestive heart failure (study group) and 609 subjects without heart failure (control group).

Results: Severe endoscopic lesions quantified according to Lanza score (OR = 3.84, 95% IC: 2.62-5.62), active/inactive gastritis (OR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.36-3.14), intestinal metaplasia and/or gastric atrophy (OR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.67-3.52) were significant more frequent among patients with heart failure. Anemia (OR = 3.65, 95% IC: 2.48-5.37) and all investigated comorbidities, as well as alcohol consumption (OR = 1.60, 95% IC: 1.10-2.34) and smoking (OR = 1.76, 95% IC: 1.17-2.64) were more frequent in the study-group. Dividing the patients with cardiac insufficiency according to the severity of their endoscopic lesions, the male gender (OR = 2.76, 95% IC: 1.35–5.61) and daily low-dose aspirin consumption were found to be more frequent among patients with severe endoscopic lesions (OR = 7.71, 95% IC: 3.62–16.40), while anticoagulant therapy and alcohol consumption were borderline associated with mucosal lesions (p=0.08).

Conclusions: Male patients and aspirin consumers with heart failure, but not those with H. pylori infection seem to be more prone to develop upper digestive endoscopic lesions, while alcohol consumption or anticoagulant therapy could be other modifiable factors associated with severe endoscopic lesions in a congestive gastro-duodenal mucosa.
Interferon Beta-1b for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis – More than 10 Years of Experience
Authors: Barcutean Laura Iulia , Maier Smaranda , Bajko Zoltan , Motataianu Anca , Romaniuc Andreea , Andone Sebastian Razvan , Balasa Rodica Ioana 
Published: April 2019

Abstract

Objective: Interferon beta-1b (IFNβ-1b) was the first disease-modifying agent (DMT) used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). We aimed to evaluate the first patients with MS that started treatment in our clinic.

Methods: An observational, retrospective study was performed on 78 patients that had continuous treatment with IFNβ-1b for more than 10 years. The collection of the demographical data and periodical clinical evaluation was performed on all patients. The disability was quantified using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), creating two groups of patients, G1: EDSS < 4.0 and G2: EDSS ≥ 4.0. The hallmarks of the disability evolution were gathered by direct patient interview, such as the symptoms at onset and relapse frequency.

Results: After more than 17 years of disease evolution, more than half (65.38%) of the patients present a mild disability score. The majority (54.90%) started treatment in the first three years after the onset, while the patients in G2 started treatment after more than 3 years from the onset. The initiation of IFNβ-1b lead to a significant reduction of the relapse rates. A reduced number of patients (<25%) transitioned from RRMS to SPMS.

Discussion: Continuous evaluation of MS patients allows us to assess the possibility of prolonged treatment with IFNβ-1b and to differentiate the responders from non-responders. The clear reduction in relapse rates and disability progression, notably in patients that started treatment early ensure us into continuing administering this medication. Compared to historical cohorts, our lot had a slower disability evolution and a significant proportion hadn’t reach an important disability score.