bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Coherence and phase synchrony analyses of EEG signals in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): A study of functional brain connectivity
Authors: Handayani Nita , Haryanto Freddy , Khotimah Siti Nurul , Arif Idam , Taruno Warsito Purwo 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
This paper presents an EEG study for coherence and phase synchrony in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects. MCI is characterized by cognitive decline, which is an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is a neurodegenerative disorder with symptoms such as memory loss and cognitive impairment. EEG coherence is a statistical measure of correlation between signals from electrodes spatially separated on the scalp. The magnitude of phase synchrony is expressed in the phase locking value (PLV), a statistical measure of neuronal connectivity in the human brain. Brain signals were recorded using an Emotiv Epoc 14-channel wireless EEG at a sampling frequency of 128 Hz. In this study, we used 22 elderly subjects consisted of 10 MCI subjects and 12 healthy subjects as control group. The coherence between each electrode pair was measured for all frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha and beta). In the MCI subjects, the value of coherence and phase synchrony was generally lower than in the healthy subjects especially in the beta frequency. A decline of intrahemisphere coherence in the MCI subjects occurred in the left temporo-parietal-occipital region. The pattern of decline in MCI coherence is associated with decreased cholinergic connectivity along the path that connects the temporal, occipital, and parietal areas of the brain to the frontal area of the brain. EEG coherence and phase synchrony are able to distinguish persons who suffer AD in the early stages from healthy elderly subjects.
Optimization of Efficacy of Core Strengthening Exercise Protocols on Patients Suffering from Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Kaur Jaspreet , Singh Shailendra Kumar , Vij Jaspreet Singh 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackground and Aims:Lack of physical activity, obesity, eating habits contributes to an increase in metabolic disorders. Patients with diabetes have balance, gait, and proprioceptive impairments which hinder the activity of daily living. Therefore, the main objective of present research was to optimize and to find efficacy of the exercise protocols on gait, balance, proprioception and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in patients suffering from Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Material and Methods:Forty individuals with T2DM age between 35 to 60 were recruited and randomly allocated to four groups with 10 subjects per group. Core strengthening exercises were given with duration of twenty or thirty minutes per session and frequency of twice or thrice weekly for six weeks.Results:Design Expert Software version 10.0.6 was used to analyse data Design Expert software. Further duration and frequency of exercises were compares using ful factorial design. Paired sample t test was used at significance level p<0.05 to find efficacy of core strengthening exercises. The results showed the roe of duration and frequency along with significant effect of exercises on balance, gait, proprioception and HbA1c.Conclusion:Pilates based core strengthening exercises (PBCS) significantly improved all the parameter selected if exercise protocol was given for 30 minutes and thrice weekly for six weeks. Study has also shown impact of duration and frequency of exercises separately on these parameters.
Secondary Diabetes Mellitus in Patients with Endogenous Cushing’s Syndrome - Clinical Characteristics at Diagnosis
Authors: Căpăţînă Cristina , Baciu Ionela , Greere Daniela , Caragheorgheopol Andra , Poiană Cătălina 
Published: April 2018

Abstract

Background and aims. Endogenous Cushing’s syndrome is a rare disease associated with severe morbidity and increased mortality if untreated. Diabetes mellitus is a frequent initial complaint of these patients. Our aim was to investigate the clinical characteristics at the time of diagnosis in a cohort of patients with endogenous Cushing’s syndrome (CS).

Material and methods. A retrospective analysis of the presentation of 68 cases diagnosed with endogenous Cushing’s syndrome followed-up in our institution was performed.

Results: There were 57 women and 11 men, aged 18-74 years (mean 45.57±14.2). 38 had Cushing’s disease (CD) while 30 had adrenal CS. The most frequent signs/symptoms leading to the initial consultation and diagnostic suspicion were central obesity (55 cases, 80.88%), purple striae (28 cases, 41.1%), secondary arterial hypertension (27 cases, 39.7%), secondary diabetes mellitus (24 cases, 35.29%), hirsutism in 23/55 women (41.81%), hypogonadism in 23 cases (33.82%), proximal myopathy in 17 cases (25%), edema (10 cases, 14.7%). 13 cases (19.11%) also had secondary osteoporosis (diagnosed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry - DXA osteodensitometry). Among the two diagnostic groups there were several differences. Proximal myopathy, secondary hypertension and diabetes mellitus were all more frequent in cases with adrenal Cushing compared to those with CD. (p= 0.011, 0.006 and 0.024, respectively). This did not reflect more severe hypercortisolism in adrenal CS, as the hormonal values were similar in the two groups.

Conclusion: If associated with certain clinical signs, some nonspecific (central obesity, edema, arterial hypertension), other more suggestive of CS (purple striae, proximal myopathy) diabetes mellitus could be the initial sign of this severe condition.
The Effect of Tempeh Gembus Variations to Serum Levels of High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) and Serum Levels of Fibrinogen of Sprague Dawley Rats with Aterogenic Diet
Authors: Dewi Partika Kharunia , Afifah Diana Nur , Rustanti Ninik , Sulchan Mohammad , Anjani Gemala 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackground and aims:Cardiovascular diseases are widespread and causes many deaths in the world. The concentration of acute phase protein: C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen will rise dramatically when inflammation happens, which that can be used as an early marker of cardiovascular disease risk. Tempeh gembus contains fiber, unsaturated fatty acids and isoflavones are believed to reduce the inflammatory reaction. The aim of the study was to determinate the effect of tempeh gembus variations to levels of hcCRP and levels of fibrinogen of Sprague Dawley rats with atherogenic diet.Material and methods:This study was quasi-experimental with posttest only randomized control group design using 35 Sprague Dawley mice. The rats were randomized into 5 groups: negative control group given the standard diet, the positive control group given standard diet and atherogenic diet, and three treatment groups were given the standard diet, atherogenic diet and variation of tempeh gembus (tempeh gembus, heated tempeh gembus and tempeh gembus with bromelain enzyme) for 28 days. Serum levels of hsCRP and fibrinogen examined using ELISA (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay).Results and conclusions:The administration of tempeh gembus with bromelain enzyme is the most effective treatment for hsCRP serum level indicated a significant difference (p=0.028) between the negative control group, positive control group and first group with the third group. Fibrinogen serum levels showed significant differences in all treatment groups (p =0.042), administration of tempeh gembus with bromelain enzyme is the most effective treatment is shown by a significant difference between the negative control group and the positive control group with third group. The administration of tempeh gembus with bromelain enzyme for 28 days can reduce the serum levels of hsCRP and fibrinogen on rats significantly.
Carcinogenic Substances Naturrally Occuring in the Human Diet
Authors: Mogos Viorel T. , Dondoi Carmen I. , Bajko Daiana E. 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Oncogenesis is a result of the combined action of numerous factors peculiar to the body and the environment (the latter are more effective). Among dietary factors directly implied in the occurrence of malignant tumors we can mention: food additives, contaminated food, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrosamines and some components which are naturally present in food. Moreover, food-related malignancies are a consequence of the increased consumption of fats, proteins, alcohol in parallel with decreases in the consumption of dietary fibers and some micronutrients. Carcinogenic substances naturally present in food are of a particular interest for both nutritionist’s and patient’s, usually not being perceived as being harmful.
Dealing with Ethnography in the Context of Mediterranean Mobilities
Authors: Ribas-Mateos Natalia 
Published: April 2018

Today when working with mobilities, one is faced with the revision of a complete theoretical tapestry as well as entrenched methodological challenges of conducting ethnography; an endeavour which implies various tasks such as reviewing methodological nationalism, considering the essence of the research and the use of its adjectives, as well as problematising in the position of the researcher in a single-sited or in a multi-sited context of research. Therefore, this article takes its point of departure in ethnography as a production of knowledge, by working in two senses. First, by reviewing classic existing fieldwork. Secondly, by questioning the way we do fieldwork today in the context of Mediterranean mobilities. In order to provide some examples on such work on mobilities, this article tackles three main interconnected questions: the nature of ethnography as capturing new challenges, mainly through the mobility paradigm, the use of the adjectives of ethnography and its meaning, and finally considering some ethnographic reflections in the Mediterranean setting (fieldwork in Northern Morocco: Tangier and the Jebala Mountains) as a fieldwork illustration. Hoy, al trabajar con movilidades nos enfretamos a una revisión completa de un contexto teórico así como con complejos retos metodólogicos a la hora de realizar investigaciones de corte etnográfico; es una apuesta que implica varias tareas tales como la revisión del nacionalismo metodológico, el considerar también la naturaleza de la investigación y los adjetivos que atribuimos a esta, así como también problematizar sobre la posición del investigador en un emplazamiento único o en múltiples emplazamientos de análisis. Así, este artículo toma como punto de partida la etnografía como la producción de conocimiento, entendido en dos sentidos. En primer lugar, al revisar la tradición del trabajo de campo. En segundo lugar, cuestionando la forma que realizamos hoy el trabajo de campo en el contexto de las movilidades en el Mediterráneo. Veremos también como a través de diversos ejemplos este artículo persigue tres cuestiones interconectadas: la naturaleza de la etnografía para poder captar nuevos retos, especialmente a través del paradigma de las movilidades, del uso de la adjetivación de la etnografía y sus significados, y en último lugar, considerando algunas reflexiones etnográficas en el contexto Mediterráneo (trabajo de campo en Marruecos: Tánger y las montañas de Yebala), como una ilustración de la etnografía.
It is not only about access: Transnational Bolivian families in Barcelona and their meanings of social protection
Authors: Speroni Thales 
Published: April 2018

The ambition of this exploratory article is to contribute to the analyses of transnational social protection, highlighting the relevance of migrants’ agency. Specifically, I argue that the strategies of transnational social protection are manifested in the interface between informal (interpersonal networks) and formal social protection (provided by national states and organisations), not only through their objective elements (multi-sited resources and services), but also by their subjective aspects (actors’ meanings and institutional normative concepts). The understanding of the actors’ subjective meanings has the potential to articulate the interpretation of transnational ways to access resources of social protection, with the comprehension of the meanings that motivate different modes of use of these resources, by mobile and non-mobile actors. In this paper, a survey and semi-structured interviews from the “Return from Transnationalism” project (RETTRANS, 2011-2013) and life story interviews from the ongoing doctoral project “Transnational social protection: Bolivian transnational families in Barcelona and São Paulo” are analysed. La ambición de este artículo exploratorio es contribuir a los análisis de la protección social transnacional, destacando la relevancia de la agencia de los migrantes. En concreto, argumento que las estrategias de protección social transnacional expresan las interfaces entre la protección social informal (redes interpersonales) y formal (proporcionada por los estados y organizaciones nacionales), no sólo a través de sus elementos objetivos (recursos y servicios multisituados) sino también por sus aspectos subjetivos (los significados de los actores y los conceptos normativos institucionales). La comprensión de los significados subjetivos de los actores tiene el potencial de articular la interpretación de las vías transnacionales de acceso a los recursos de protección social con la comprensión de los significados que motivan diferentes modos de uso de estos recursos por parte de actores móviles y no móviles. En este trabajo se analizan una encuesta y entrevistas semi-estructuradas del proyecto Retorno del Transnacionalismo (RETTRANS, 2011-2013) y entrevistas de historias de vida del proyecto doctoral “Protección social transnacional: familias transnacionales bolivianas en Barcelona y Sao Paulo”.
Grounded theory and ethnography in the study of transit-mobilities of refugees in border zones. Challenges from fieldworks (Italy/Greece) with people fleeing Syria
Authors: Association ASAFFRON 
Published: April 2018

In the frame of the current so-called refugee crisis in Southern European countries, and bringing empirical references from previous research, concerning the right to asylum in the border zones and the transit mobility of refugees from Southern European countries to the North, the article explores three methodological challenges that qualitative research encounters, such as grounded theory and ethnography, applied to the study of refugees’ transit mobilities, can produce. Firstly, the so-called ethical dilemma that the observation of and interaction with seaborne refugees, who are in many cases still traumatized by the journey at sea, can produce; secondly, the difficulties of carrying out a ‘long-term observation’ of people in transit, who are often in a ‘grey zone’ between legality and illegality, and do not have the ‘time’ or the intention to build relationships; thirdly, the uncomfortable role of the ethnographer as a ‘detached observer’ in such a context and the need to renegotiate his/her identity. The analysis is framed within a brief reflection on the interdependence between grounded theory and ethnography, which is a key issue in the contemporary scientific debate concerning qualitative research. En el contexto de la denominada crisis de los refugiados en los países de la Europa del Sur, así como teniendo en cuenta resultados empíricos de investigaciones anteriores en relación al derecho de asilo en zonas fronterizas y movilidades en tránsito de los refugiados desde los países de la Europa del sur hacia el norte, este artículo explora tres retos metodológicos en la investigación cualitativa, relativa a la grounded theory y la etnografía, aplicada a la producción de movilidades en tránsito de los refugiados y su producción. En primer lugar, relativa al llamado dilema ético en la observación y en la interacción con los refugiados que llegan vía marítima, que con frecuencia se encuentran traumatizados por el viaje, en segundo lugar, a las dificultades de una observación a largo plazo de las personas en tránsito, que se ubican con frecuencia en una ‘una zona gris’ entre la legalidad y la ilegalidad, y que no hallan el ‘tiempo’ ni la intención de construir relaciones, y en tercer lugar, el peliagudo rol del etnógrafo como observador despegado del contexto de la investigación y de la necesidad de renegociar su identidad. El análisis de este artículo refleja la interdependencia entre la Teoría Fundamentada y la etnografía, el cual resulta ser un tema clave en el debate científico contemporáneo relativa a la investigación cualitativa.
'Carrier' women: a Grounded Theory approach
Authors: Fuentes Lara Cristina 
Published: April 2018

This article stems from the doctoral thesis “The Situation of Carrier Women in the Spanish-Moroccan Border: The Case of Ceuta.” The text focuses on three specific aspects. The first part looks into the relevance of the geopolitical situation of Ceuta and the Tetouan region as factors influencing the large amounts of cross-border transport of people and commodities that take place at the Tarajal border. Looking at trans-boundary women, most of them are domestic workers, prostitutes and 'carriers' (porteadoras, in Spanish). This study focusses on the latter, i.e. Moroccan woman carrying commodities across the Spanish-Moroccan border. The second part of this article explains the methods used to carry out the study: strenuous ethnographic research at the border point and surrounding areas, complemented with in-depth interviews with the main agents involved in the research. Grounded Theory was the technique used to analyse the data. Finally, the last part of this article focuses on the main results obtained through the research. El presente artículo proviene de la tesis doctoral: “La situación de las mujeres porteadoras en la frontera hispano-marroquí: el caso de Ceuta”. La comunicación se centra en tres puntos clave. Una primera parte en la cual se hace una aproximación al contexto en el que se enmarca la investigación, es decir, la importancia de la situación geopolítica de Ceuta y la región de Tetuán en la estructuración de un paso fronterizo –el Tarajal– con un elevado trasiego de personas y mercancías, centrando la atención en las mujeres transfronterizas que principalmente son: prostitutas, empleadas domésticas y porteadoras, y es justamente en estas últimas sobre las que se va a centrar la investigación. En la segunda parte se explica el método que se ha llevado a cabo en la investigación; se ha realizado un férreo trabajo etnográfico en la frontera y las poblaciones objeto de la tesis que se ha complementado con entrevistas en profundidad a los agentes implicados en la investigación. La técnica de análisis de datos empleada ha sido la Teoría Fundamentada. Para finalizar, en la tercera fase se presentan los principales resultados obtenidos de la investigación.
THE IMPACT OF ONLINE ENVIRONMENT ON TOURISM
Authors: SOFRONOV Bogdan 
Published: April 2018

The online tourism is part of e-commerce and unites some of the fastest growing technologies, such as communications and information technology, the hospitality industry, and strategic management / marketing / planning.Online tourism activities involve tour operators, travel agencies and other entities with tourism-related interests in the virtual space through a dedicated portal. The phenomenon itself has implications for the tourist services consumer.The internet has revolutionized the travel industry both as a source of information and like a sales channel. Online marketing, photographs, and consumer reviews are bringing destinations and attractions to the screens of potential travelers around the world. The ease with which a customer can review and compare travel options opens up new markets for both large and small businesses and the ability to confirm prices and purchase services online benefits travelers and businesses alike.
Budgetary Participation and Managerial Performance in Public Sector Organisations: A Study from Nigeria
Authors: OYEWO Babajide , ADEYEYE Gbadegesin 
Published: April 2018

This study investigated the impact of budgetary participation on managerial performance in public-sector organisations in Nigeria. Questionnaire was used to obtain the opinion of 174 managers (unit and departmental heads) in five public-sector organisations located in Abuja, Nigeria Federal Capital. Results from statistical analysis (descriptive, factor analysis, Kruskal-Wallis tests, correlation and regression) show that there is high level of budgetary participation by managers in public-sector organisations in Nigeria. Although budgetary participation was observed to positively and significantly impact on managerial functions such as planning, investigating, co-ordinating, supervising, evaluating, and staffing, it exerts the most on planning. The impact of budgetary participation on managerial performance appears to be moderate. Whilst it is desirable for public-sector organisations to adopt sophisticated budgeting techniques, the study advocates for employees’ motivation and deeper involvement in budget matters as a way out of the traditional budgeting quagmire that public-sector organisations are characteristically bedevilled with.
EFFECT OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARD ON CORPORATE PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED BANKS LISTED ON NIGERIA STOCK EXCHANGE
Authors: ELOSIUBA J. N. , OKOYE Emma 
Published: April 2018

In the light of globalisation where foreign investment has become trendy, comparability of financial reports of Nigerian firms and those of other firms across the world has become a concern. Nigerian firms has been mandated to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) is their financial reporting. This study has examined the effect of the IFRS adoption on the reported performance of Nigerian banks listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Eight (8) out of the fourteen (14) quoted banks were selected for the study. Four indices of performance employed in the study are profitability using the Return on Equity, Liquidity using total deposit to total loan, loan grants and then market value measured by Price earnings ratio for the period (2011 and 2012). 2011 represented GAAP era while 2012 stands for IFRS adoption. A comparability index for the banks were computed using the Excel Spreadsheet for each of the banks on each variable. Then the One Sample Test was employed for the analyses. The mean was used to answer the research question while the t-statistics tested the hypotheses. The results showed that mean values for profitability, liquidity and market value are greater in the GAAP era (2011) than in the IFRS period (2012), while loan grant has higher for IFRS period (2012). The t-tested indicated none of the variables had significant effect. Thus the study concluded that IFRS adopted does not have significant effect on bank performance reported in 2011 and 2012. The use of IFRS for all firms as well as incorporation of IFRS guideline in professional training are recommended by this study.