bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Protein kinase C isozymes; predictors of progression free survival in NSCLC patients
Authors: Halvorsen Ann Rita , Haugen Mads Haugland , Öjlert Åsa Kristina , Lund-Iversen Marius , Jørgensen Lars , Solberg Steinar , Mælandsmo Gunhild M. , Brustugun Odd Terje , Helland Åslaug 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Background

Protein expression is deregulated in cancer, and the proteomic changes observed in lung cancer may be a consequence of mutations in essential genes. The purpose of this study was to identify protein expression associated with prognosis in lung cancers stratified by smoking status, molecular subtypes, and EGFR-, TP53- and KRAS-mutations.

Methods

We performed profiling of 295 cancer-relevant phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated proteins, using reverse phase protein arrays. Biopsies from 80 patients with operable lung adenocarcinomas were analyzed for protein expression and association with progression free survival (PFS) were studied.

Results

Spearman rank correlation analysis identified 56 proteins with significant association to PFS (p<0.05). High expression of protein kinase C (PKC)-α and the phosporylated state of PKC-α, PKC-β and PKC-δ, showed the strongest positive correlation to PFS, especially in the wild type samples. This was confirmed in gene expression data from 186 samples. Based on protein expression, unsupervised hierarchical clustering separated the samples into four subclusters enriched with the molecular subtypes TRU, PI or PP (p=0.0001). Subcluster 2 contained a smaller cluster (2a) enriched with samples of the subtype PP, low expression of the PKC isozymes, and associated with poor PFS (p=0.003) compared to the other samples. Subcluster 2a revealed increased expression of neuroendocrine markers, supporting the aggressive behavior. Low expression of the PKC isozymes in the subtype PP and a reduced relapse free survival was confirmed with the TCGA LUAD samples.

Conclusion

This study identified different proteins associated with PFS depending on molecular subtype, smoking- and mutational-status, with PKC-α, PKC-β and PKC-δ showing the strongest correlation. Cluster analysis detected a subgroup of samples enriched for samples of the PP subtype and poor PFS, which may benefit from a more aggressive treatment regimen.
Monitoring Immobilized Elderly Patients Using a Public Provider Online System for Pressure Ulcer Information and Registration (SIRUPP): Protocol for a Health Care Impact Study
Authors: Vera-Salmerón Eugenio , Rutherford Claudia , Dominguez-Nogueira Carmen , Tudela-Vázquez María Pilar , Costela-Ruiz Victor J , Gómez-Pozo Basilio 
Published: June 2019

Background
Pressure ulcers represent a major challenge to patient safety in the health care context, presenting high incidence (from 7% to 14% in Spain) and increased financial costs (€400-600 million/year) in medical treatment. Moreover, they are a significant predictor of mortality. The prevention of pressure ulcers in long-term care centers and patients’ own homes is proposed as a priority indicator of health care quality. Early stage risk assessment and database recording are both crucial aspects of prevention, classification, diagnosis, and treatment.

Objective
This project proposes a 3-year study of immobilized patients residing in the Granada-Metropolitan Primary Healthcare District (DSGM) and monitored via the Pressure Ulcer Information and Registration System (SIRUPP, Spanish initials). The project aims to estimate the incidence of PUs among immobilized elderly patients, analyze the health-related quality of life of these patients by using the Pressure Ulcer Quality of Life (PU-QoL) instrument in a sample of 250 patients, determine the average time to complete wound healing, estimate the rate of pressure ulcers–associated mortality, and assess the predictive value of the Braden and Mini Nutritional Assessment risk measurement scales in a sample of 1700 patients.

Methods
The DSGM runs SIRUPP, which is linked to patients’ electronic health records. Currently, 17,104 immobilized patients are monitored under this system. Health-related quality of life will be measured by patient self-reports using the Spanish Pressure Ulcer Quality of Life questionnaire, following cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation with respect to the English-language version.

Results
The project commenced in June 2017 and is expected to conclude in April 2020.

Conclusions
This study addresses two main health outcomes—the time needed for wound healing and the mortality associated with pressure ulcers—both of which might be accounted for by variations in clinical practice and the health-related quality of life of patients with pressure ulcers.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)
DERR1-10.2196/13701
POLITIK EKONOMI ISLAM KOMPARASI HUKUM DAN NILAI SISTEM EKONOMI DUNIA
Authors: Sumar'in Sumar'in 
Published: June 2019

The Islamic Economic Doctrine is a comparative study that looks at the fundamental principles of Islamic economics, and compares them with the economic and philosophical foundations of capitalism and Marxism. It identifies through a review of theoretical economics the structural problems that lie in the current economic order. Poverty and Inequality have increased in last two decades and the millennium development goals are still far from achieved. The research identifies that lack of an ethical foundation, unbridled pursuit of self interest in production as well as in consumption, interest based financial ad monetary system are the major problematic issues in Capitalism against which mixed economy has also shown limited effectiveness. Socialism promises to create heaven on earth, but takes fundamental human rights and profit motive away and in the extreme case give way for an autocratic or totalitarian regime. Islamic economic system in its true sense is not present in any country. It is a blend of natural features present in Capitalism i.e. right to private property, private pursuit of economic interest, use of market forces etc. used along with some distinct features derived through Islamic economic teachings i.e. interest free economy, moral check on unbridled self-pursuit and provision of socio-economic justice to achieve the goals of Socialism as far as is naturally possible without denying individual freedom and profit motive.
Give credit to the market: The decision not to prohibit 100 per cent loan-to-value mortgages
Authors: FitzGerald Cathal 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
A decision not to prohibit or limit high-risk mortgage products in Ireland in 2005 reveals the extent to which three important factors – interests, institutions, ideology – impact on information processing by decision-makers, and reveals irrationality or otherwise in the process. This article summarises the events leading up to the bad decision on 100 per cent loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages in November 2005. This case reveals the nature of the interaction between government departments, regulators and banks at a critical time before the crash, and shows how a department’s interests can interact with institutional factors, and the ideological context, to prompt poor rational and irrational information processing, and lead to a bad decision. In particular, the dominance of a market ideology which raised the threshold for what information was necessary before intervention would be made, combined with the low institutional standing of the department seeking intervention, produced a suboptimal outcome. Finally, the case provides evidence of irrationality (e.g. groupthink, herding) within institutional actors, rather than between them.
Intensity of Soccer Players’ Training Load in Small-Sided Games with Various Content Focus
Authors: Nagy Nikolas , Holienka Miroslav , Babic Matej , Michálek Jakub , Kunzmann Egon 
Published: June 2019

Summary
The aim of this research was to make reference to the difference in heart rate values (HR) of soccer players in small-sided games (SSG) with various content focus. We assumed that the aim at the content in small-sided games would significantly affect the HR values of participating soccer players. The research group was comprised of players (n = 6) of the soccer club FK DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda (U15) at the age of 14 ± 0.7 years. The HR values were evaluated on the basis of collected data, which we obtained using sport testers and special software POLAR TEAM2. In order to find out the statistical significance of the difference in HR was used the One-Way ANOVA and the Bonferroni post hoc test. The level of statistical significance was set at 5 %. We found out that by the change of the small-sided game’s content focus, the internal reaction of players’ organism to training load was at different level. In the SSG3, with the emphasis on the improvement of individual’s final offensive game activity – shooting, was recorded the highest achieved HRavg value of the monitored players (181.83 ±7.11 beats.min−1). This form of the SSG was the most intense. However, there were no significant differences in HR values among the individual forms of the SSG. Our recommendation is to employ in the systematic training process small forms of small-sided games with various content focus, because by the means of it we can adequately prepare the players for the match load itself.
Validation of RAPD and ISSR Markers Used for Sex Determination in Date Palm Grown under Sudan Conditions
Authors: Mohammed Ismail A. , Mohamed Israa A. 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Date palm is one of the most important economical crops in the world. Sex determination of date palm in early stage is a prerequisite for breeding and cultivation. The aim of this study is to validate RAPD and ISSR markers for sex identification of date palm genotypes grown under Sudan conditions. DNA was extracted from ten seedlings and five male and female plants using CTAB method. Eight primers, six RAPD and two ISSR primers were examined for their validation in sex determination of date palm genotypes. PCR amplification was performed using these primers. Four RAPD primers OPA02, OPJ-09, RD A02 and RD A21 were amplified male specific band with size of 1000, 1100, 1000 and 1400 pb respectively, while ISSR markers could not. The specific bands were observed clearly among all male genotypes and absent in female samples unknown samples irrespective of genotypes. Our results could be useful for sex determination of date palm sex in seedling stage and would promote date palm cultivation and production.
DNA Fingerprinting of Sex in Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) Grown under the Semi-arid Conditions of Sudan
Authors: Mohammed Ismail A. , Osman Fatima M. , Elsanousi Rania S. , Elhoweiris Sayeda O. , Gasim Seif M. 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Jojoba cultivation and production face the challenge of establishing ways to identify the sex at early stage of plant growth. The present study was carried out to identify sex of jojoba at the seedling stage under Sudan condition. Two DNA markers, ISSR (UBC807) and RAPD (OPG-5), were used for sex identification of jojoba genotypes: two known male and females genotypes and four unknown genotypes. ISSR marker, UBC807 was successfully amplified a unique male-specific band at 1200 bp, while RAPD marker, OPG-5 could not amplify a unique band within jojoba sex. The result clearly indicates that ISSR-UBC807 marker can be used for sex identification of jojoba at seedlings stage, a finding that could make the commercial cultivation and production of jojoba possible in Sudan.
Molluscicidal Activities of Curcumin-Nisin Polylactic Acid Nanoparticle (PLA) on Adult Snail Intermediate Hosts of Schistosomes and Fasciola spp.
Authors: Omobhude Michael E. , Morenikeji Olajumoke A. , Oyeyemi Oyetunde T. 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Digenetic trematode infections including schistosomiasis and fascioliasis have highly neglected statuses but are a menace to people in the poorest countries of the tropics, causing high morbidity and mortality in humans as well as great global losses in livestock production. This has neccesitated the widespread search for better control options for the snail vectors of these diseases. Hence, a novel drug - curcumin and nisin poly lactic acid (PLA) entrapped nanoparticles (CurNisNp) was screened for molluscicidal activity against the adults (> 2 months old) of Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Bulinus globosus and Lymnaea natalensis vector snails. Mortality was determined after 96-h of exposure at varying concentrations. The snails of the species L. natalensis were found to be the most susceptible to the molluscicide (LC50 323.6 ppm). This finding further supports the desirability of curcumin-nisin polylactic acid (PLA) nanoparticles as a molluscicide and therefore shows that it could be a good alternative to conventional molluscicides with prospects in the selective control of fascioliasis. However, more optimization of the drug could ensure a greater molluscicidal potency.
The impact of economic crisis on regional disparities and the allocation of economic branches in Greek regions
Authors: Christofakis Manolis , Gaki Eleni , Lagos Dimitrios 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
The objective of this paper is to analyse the changes that occurred in the regional disparities and sectoral specialisation of the Greek regions due to the economic crisis. The research problem is to identify the effect that the crisis had on the developmental perspectives of the regions and on regional policy priorities. In this framework, we explore the regional disparities, along with the allocation and specialisation of economic sectors in two separate time periods: the pre-crisis period (2000–2007) and the crisis period (2008–2014). The variable used is regional employment in the branches of economic activity. The methods used are Coefficient of Variation, Location Quotients and Shift-Share Analysis. According to the results, we classify the spatial units into categories and we propose means of regional policy. The results show that the disparities increased during the first period of the crisis and declined in the next, without, however, reaching the levels of 2000. In the first period the dynamic economic sectors are concentrated mainly in the metropolitan region of Attica and in the island region of South Aegean, while local advantages are shown in several regions except Attica. During the period of crisis, Attica and South Aegean lost their sectoral dynamism, while a few regions resisted. Regarding the local share effects, the more urbanised regions show negative local shares. The rest of the regions exhibit local advantages. Thus, according to these results, a concluding remark is that the more traditional activities seem to be more resilient, unlike the modern activities, which seem more sensitive to the crisis and are located mainly in the large cities and the most urbanised regions of the country. Regarding the proposed regional policy means, infrastructure improvement is indicated for most of the urbanised regions in order to improve their developmental environment. For the other regions, a more balanced sectoral structure must be promoted. Of course, in order to propose more targeted policy measures, it is important that regional development features (according to the classification of the regions and the proposed policy measures) be adapted to smaller areas and to a greater number of narrower economic sectors, rather than simply applying them at the regional level. This is also true of the effect that some other factors such as human capital and innovative capacity have on regional resilience. Future research will focus on this.
Public spending mechanisms and gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the agricultural sector (1970–2016): Lessons for Nigeria from agricultural policy progressions in China
Authors: Apata Temidayo Gabriel 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
China has pursued a sustainable path of development in line with reality for four decades. Economic restructuring started in its vast rural areas, focusing on reforms targeting income increase for rural farmers. These radical sustainable policies that China’s political leaders imbibed were not embraced by Nigeria’s past leaders and these resulted in the bane of underdevelopment. The study examines the level and composition of the drivers of public-spending policy mechanisms that contribute to gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the agricultural sector in China and Nigeria and draws up a model of Chinese development for Nigeria. Secondary data was used and were sourced from FAOSTAT and International Monetary Fund’s Government-Finance Statistics (various issues) from 1970–2016. Random-effects model results revealed that the policy of public-expenditure (PUEXP) and intervention (INTEV) variables were significant but negative, while enterprise-development (ENTDEV), drivers of development (DRIVERS) and Dummy D1t (modest public-expenditure access) were significant and positive for Nigeria. Three variables were significant and positive. The dummies D1t and D2t (macro-economic stability) were positive and significant for China. Public-expenditure and GDP growth has an inverse relationship in Nigeria, but a direct relationship in China. In Nigeria, PUEXP coefficient is ˗0.6810 and 0.8902 for China. Hence, macro-economic stability, enhanced market mechanisms and economic progress resulted in China and hereby lessons are drawn for Nigeria. Public leaders are responsible for governing the market in a manner that induces businesses to produce public value. However, if public-policy mechanisms are not well-designed to fit the economy’s needs it could significantly influence the economy in a negative way, and the society bears the costs.
Local planning attitudes: Comparative content analysis of municipal director plans of shrinking Portuguese cities
Authors: Sousa Sílvia 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Traditional planning practice, in its essence, usually pursues urban growth, and is more comfortable dealing with population increase and other growth dynamics than with population decline and what ensues. The main goal of this article is to assess local planning attitudes in Portugal towards demographic change, and in particular towards population decrease, in terms of housing development. In order to do so, a comparative content analysis of municipal director plans (PDM) – Planos Diretores Municipais – of the fourteen Portuguese cities that shrank prevalently and persistently across both conjoining periods 1991– 2001–2011 was completed using a simple matrix of analysis. The qualitative analysis of the regulations of these PDMs showed that aspects of population decrease and shrinkage in relation to housing development are gradually entering local planning practice, though there is not yet an overall intelligible strategy. In Portugal, demographic change and housing development are only just starting to come together in local spatial planning.
Can trail characteristics influence visitor numbers in natural protected areas? A quantitative approach to trail choice assessment
Authors: Svobodova Kamila , Monteiro Luis , Vojar Jiri , Gdulova Katerina 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Planning for recreational activities in protected areas involves an understanding of multiple and complex factors. Trails constitute the main recreation facility in protected areas. They are an important and common infrastructure that concentrates visitor movement. Their sustainable planning and management requires an understanding of how the visitors made their selection. The aim of this study was to identify the effect of trail attributes on visitor numbers in the Krkonoše Mountains National Park in the Czech Republic. The methods used in this study present an analytical approach involving geographic information system analysis, field monitoring and data analyses using generalised linear models. The results showed the preferential tendencies among visitors to certain trail attributes. Marginal significance and a rather strong variability in preferences (over 10%) were identified for five trail characteristics: the amount of local attractions; diversity of land cover types; dominant land cover along a trail; soil erosion; and the type of trail surface. In our study, we illustrate an analytical framework for the assessment of trail characteristics that can help guide trail analyses and management efforts. On the other hand, our findings raise new research questions and point to the requirements for further research in order to better understand how environmental attributes influence visitor choice and to use this knowledge for trail planning and management.
Stability of Frequent Exacerbator Phenotype in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Krachunov Iliya , Kyuchukov Nikolay , Ivanova Zlatina , Yanev Nikolay A. , Hristova Petkana A. , Pavlov Plamen , Glogovska Pavlina , Popova Tsanya , Ivanov Yavor Y. 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Background: At present, there is little information in Bulgaria regarding the rate and stability of frequent-exacerbation phenotype in COPD patients.
Aim: To study the rate and stability of frequent-exacerbation phenotype in COPD patients.
Materials and methods: We followed up 465 COPD patients for exacerbations over a 3-year period. Exacerbations were defined as events that resulted in treatment with antibiotics and/or corticosteroids (moderate), or that led to hospitalization (severe).
Result: Approximately 10% of the patients had two or more exacerbations per year (frequent-exacerbation phenotype), and this structure stayed stable over the study period. The exacerbation rate in the first year of follow up was 0.33 per stage I COPD patients (according to GOLD stages), 0.49 per stage II COPD patients; 0.69 - for stage III, and 1.06 for stage IV COPD patients. The frequent-exacerbation rate increased from stage I to stage IV by 4.35%, 9.17%, 10.79%, and 20.97%, respectively. A history of previous year exacerbations increased the risk of new exacerbations: with a history of one exacerbation - OR 2.1820 (95% CI: 1.4018 to 3.3965, p = 0.0005), and with a history of two exacerbations - OR 4.6460 (95% CI: 2.3286 to 9.2696; p < 0.0001). The frequent-exacerbation phenotype appeared to be unstable over the study period - up to 33% from those patients stayed in the phenotype for the next year.
Conclusions: The exacerbation frequency and the rate of frequent-exacerbation phenotype increases with COPD progression. History of exacerbations in the previous year is a significant risk factor for exacerbations of COPD. The frequent-exacerbation phenotype appeared to be unstable over the study period. The pheno-type of non-exacerbators was more likely to remain stable over time.
Investment in education and the importance to invest in training in maritime sector
Authors: Figus Alessandro 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Empirical studies have shown that changes in levels of education explain a significant part of changes in income between countries. Many causes and phenomena can affect income. In this there is a “reverse causal link” that exists between the two sizes (countries with a higher GDP offer better educational services). Cuts to education certainly contribute to reducing the numerator of the two “cursed relations” - between deficit and GDP and between debt and GDP. Too often we forget that improving the educational and university system is an investment that in the long term can contribute to the increase of the denominator of these relationships, the GDP, making public finance more sustainable. Investing in the education system and in University is good for the economy, even for the transport sector, of course.