bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Design and Evaluation of a Modulated TENS Stimulation in Medical Pain Therapy
Authors: Bouafif L. , Ellouze N. 
Published: July 2018

Background:
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a non-invasive
pain therapy that uses the sensory effects of an electrical current applied to the skin. Some clinical
studies demonstrated that this treatment helps to reduce acute and chronic pains, while others gave
sometimes contradictory or uncertain conclusions about the performances of this strategy according
to pathology classification. The purpose of this study is the development and evaluation of a
new modulated version of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation called PWM-TENS. The
principle is based on an automatic variation of the stimulation parameters (frequency, amplitude,
duration, shape, cyclic ratio) according to the pain evolution.

Methods:
The study was a controlled clinical trial involving 15 participants, divided into 2 groups.
The first experimental group performed modulated PWM-TENS electro-stimulation sessions applied
to the painful areas 3 to 4 times a day, for one month. The second control group did parallel
treatments by Placebo. The evaluation of the pain intensity is done with the Visual Analog Scale
(EVA), the DN4 and SF36 questionnaires.

Results:
The tests and measurements with our embedded PWM-TENS technique demonstrated
that we succeeded to increase the analgesic effect after stopping the stimulation and reduced the
pain sensation by about 60%. An improvement in pain intensity scores and questionnaires (EVA,
DN4), as well as the quality of life score (SF36), was observed. Also, a reduction of the treatment
period from 3 to 1 month was also obtained.

Conclusion:
The first results clinically observed in the PWM-TENS technique are encouraging.
The findings of this study confirm that this noninvasive strategy is suitable and useful for acute
pains coming from the nociceptive, neuropathic and musculoskeletal origin. However, its efficiency
is moderated and less adapted for low back pain. The experiments make it possible to estimate
whether this modulated TENS method could improve existing anti-pain therapies, taking into
account objective and subjective evaluation criteria. But this study must be followed by large
population samples to answer all the problems of acute and chronic pains.
Reproductive Health Choices Among Adolescents in Secondary Schools: A Case Study of Selected Schools in Limpopo, South Africa
Authors: ML Netshikweta , FC Olaniyi , TG Tshitangano 
Published: July 2018

Objectives:This study was conducted to determine the knowledge, opinions and practices of female adolescents in selected secondary schools in Limpopo Province of South Africa about reproductive health issues and assess the level of parental involvement in their choices.Materials and methods:A quantitative, exploratory, survey design was adopted. A total of 512 learners from grades 8 (first year of secondary school) and 12 (final year) were conveniently sampled from 24 randomly selected secondary schools in Limpopo Province. Data was collected with a structured, self-administered questionnaire and analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0.Results:Sixteen (3.9%) of the learners attained menarche at or before the early age of 8 years and 102 (29.3%) experienced sexual debut before age 14 years. More than half of grade 12 (n =84, 52.5%) and 49 (14%) of grade 8 learners were sexually active and 80% (n = 444, 86.7%) of them were unaware of contraceptives when engaging in sexual intercourse for the first time. Only 116 (22.7%) of the respondents admitted to having knowledge about contraceptives before engaging in sex for the first time and more than a third (n = 172, 33.6%) have been pregnant at least once before the study was conducted. Parental involvement in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) education was found to be low and many obtained the little information they have mainly through friends.Conclusion:Many adolescents are lacking in vital information regarding their SRH and some hold wrong opinions about contraception. Parents are advised to initiate and sustain discussions regarding SRH with their children to help them make informed reproductive health choices.
IgA Nephropathy Susceptibility Loci and Disease Progression
Authors: Shi Manman , Ouyang Yan , Yang Mingxin , Yang Meng , Zhang Xiaoyan , Huang Wei , Wang Weiming , Wang Zhaohui , Zhang Wen , Chen Xiaonong , Pan Xiaoxia , Ren Hong , Chen Nan , Xie Jingyuan 
Published: July 2018

Background and objectives
At least 20 susceptibility loci of IgA nephropathy have been identified by genome-wide association studies to date. Whether these loci were associated with disease progression is unclear.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
We enrolled 613 adult patients with IgA nephropathy for a follow-up of ≥12 months. All 20 IgA nephropathy susceptibility loci were selected and their tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped. After strict quality control, 16 SNPs and 517 patients with IgA nephropathy were eligible for subsequent analysis. Progression was defined as ESKD or 50% decrease in eGFR. A stepwise Cox regression analysis of all SNPs on Akaike information criterion was performed to select the best model.

Results
A four-SNP model, rs11150612 (ITGAM-ITGAX), rs7634389 (ST6GAL1), rs2412971 (HORMAD2), and rs2856717 (HLA-DQ/DR), was selected as the best predictive model. The genetic risk score calculated on the basis of the four SNPs was independently associated with disease progression before (hazard ratio [HR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.29 to 2.12) and after adjustment by a recently reported clinical model (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.62) or clinical–pathologic model (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.77). Compared with low genetic risk, patients with middle genetic risk had a 2.12-fold (95% CI, 1.33 to 3.40) increase of progression risk, whereas patients with high genetic risk had 3.61-fold (95% CI, 2.00 to 6.52) progression risk increase. In addition, incorporation of genetic risk score could potentially increase discrimination of the clinical model (c-statistic increase from 0.83 to 0.86) or the clinical–pathologic model (c-statistic increase from 0.82 to 0.85) in predicting 5-year progression risk.

Conclusions
The four-SNP genetic risk score was independently associated with IgA nephropathy progression and could enhance the performance of clinical and clinical–pathologic risk models.
REGULATORY STRATEGY FOR REGISTRATION OF COMBINATION PRODUCTS TO US-FDA
Authors: Kotha Vihar , Elphine Prabahar , Rao Nadendla Rama , Bhrama Srinivasarao Desu 
Published: July 2018

In pharmaceutical industry all the healthcare products are categorized into Drugs, Devices, and biologics and they are regulated by their respective departments of the regulatory authorities. Due to more and more development of science and technology in the current scenario, had led to the invention of innovative novel products in healthcare system for better diagnosis and treatment of diseases, advancement of these novel technologies have led to a the blurring of historical lines of separation between the healthcare products, so these advances had led to the existence of combination products.
Combination products raise a variety of regulatory and review challenges compared with single-entity products. They have the potential to provide enhanced therapeutic advantages. It ranges in complexity from Drug-eluting stents to gene therapy systems and from chemotherapeutic Drugs combined with monoclonal antibodies to novel nanotechnology-based Drug delivery systems. They include innovative products for diagnostic and therapeutic treatments of cardiovascular, metabolic, and oncologic disorders, among other types of products.
In this article we describe the regulations for registration of combination products in US and their regulatory considerations for identification, jurisdiction and review, premarket activities, applicability of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and post marketed requirements, adverse event reporting, inspection and enforcement.
PYRAZOLINE SYNTHESIS THROUGH A CHALCONE INTERMEDIATE
Authors: Hedaitullah Md , Walia Ramanpreet , Khalid Iqbal , Singh Balwan , Hussain Asif 
Published: July 2018

Pyrazoline derivatives, being used as potential medicinal agents, possess many important pharmacological activities and therefore they are useful materials in drug research. A series of these derivatives HT- 1 to HT- 6 containing 5-4-(chlorophenyl)-1,3-diphenyl- 4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole derivatives were synthesized, structures were confirmed using melting point, IR, NMR and MS and evaluated for their antibacterial activity using disc diffusion method at concentration 2mg/ml. The reference used was Amikacin and mostly, all synthesized compounds exhibited a significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC No. 96) as Gram positive bacteria, Staphylococcus epidermidis(MTCC No. 435) as Gram positive and Escherichia coli (MTCC No. 739) as Gram negative bacteria. It was observed that HT-1 and HT-2 possess good antibacterial potential against S. aureus, HT- 5 against S.epidermidis and HT-1 and HT-4against E. coli.
On the system of ensuring electrical safety of maintenance works performed on 35 – 750 kV power transmission lines being under induced voltage implemented in the Republic of Belarus
Authors: Drako M. A. , Korotkevich A. M. , Porshnev V. N. 
Published: July 2018

The article studies the matters of physics of interaction of parallel overhead power transmission lines. Cases are presented, where the maximum induced voltage values are expected on individual sections of closely approaching de-energized and energized power transmission lines. Possible scenarios are presented of direct contact with an unearthed conductor (wire) of OPL in the normal operation mode. Substantiation is presented of review of the list of the lines, which, when de-energized or earthed at terminal sections (in the switchgear of substations and power plants) have the values of induced voltage on the earthed conductors, as reduced to the maximum permissible continuous current of the affecting OPL, exceeding 25 V . Criteria are identified to classify OPL as being affected by induced voltage. The article considers organizational and technical procedures applied to provide safe maintenance works under induced voltage on de-energized overhead power lines (OPL) located within an area affected by energized OPL. Attention is given to the detailed description of types of earthing of OPL, line equipment, working section and workplaces used by State Production Association Belenergo. The mathematical apparatus used in the analytical calculations of the induced voltage values has been analyzed. The technical implementation of acceptable schemes of performing the repair and maintenance works on the earthing of de-energized OPL is considered. Performing geophysical ground survey by the method of vertical electrical sounding at places of mounting special low-resistance earthing electrodes is proposed and implemented. The methodology is developed and tested for measuring induced voltage values, which sets the order of induced voltage measurements on de-energized OPL running close to energized OPL with the voltage 110 kV, and higher. Comparative analysis is presented of results of analytical calculations and experimental research. Conclusions are made supporting the approach adopted and confirming the expediency of the system of ensuring electrical safety of maintenance works performed on 35–750 kV power transmission lines being under induced voltage implemented in the Republic of Belarus.
Memória e Esquecimento: uma relação indissociável nos relatos de mulheres que sobreviveram ao maior genocídio do século XX, o Holocausto
Authors: Arantes Sandra de Almada Mota 
Published: July 2018

RESUMO
Introdução: Este artigo é uma reflexão sobre mulheres sobreviventes da Segunda Guerra Mundial, assunto que, hoje, tem sido mais discutido e contribuído para a reconstrução de uma história. Mulheres sobreviventes do período do Holocausto, o maior genocídio do século XX, buscam recuperar sua história e o fazem ao acessar as essências perdidas no tempo, que poderão, via memória e lembranças, reviver o tempo passado ou o tempo em que se passaram. Objetivo: refletir sobre os relatos daquelas que sobreviveram ao Holocausto, e, a partir da relação indissociável memória/esquecimento, buscar entender os silenciamentos e o relato da dor, a superação para reedificação da vida após o trauma, e a possibilidade de recomeçar a escrita de uma história. Metodologia: para a fundamentação da escrita, realizou-se o levantamento bibliográfico a partir da análise de fontes que abordam, de diferentes maneiras, o tema. Dentre elas os livros, os artigos, os periódicos, textos disponíveis em sites confiáveis, locais que apresentam um conteúdo documentado. Conclusão: Os relatos mostram a possibilidade de traduzir a experiência do extermínio e consolidar um compromisso com as narrativas na intenção de fazer conhecido pelo maior número possível de pessoas o que aconteceu a elas a fim de que todo o sofrimento e violência não sejam esquecidos e não se repitam.

Palavras-chave: Mulheres; História; Memória; Violência sexual feminina.
Febre Amarela: uma velha doença, mas com novos desafios
Authors: Freire Fernanda Dias , Gomes Carlos Henrique Miranda , Cardoso Paula Sousa , Moura Alexandre Sampaio 
Published: July 2018

Introdução: Nos últimos dois anos, o Brasil vem registrando uma disseminação importante da Febre Amarela (FA) principalmente pelo Sudeste. A doença se espalhou por uma área na qual reside cerca de 8 milhões de pessoas e em 2018 já se estende uma área cujo risco ultrapassa 32 milhões de pessoas. Com isso destaca-se a importância de buscar novas modalidades terapêuticas e de imunização. Objetivos: Descrever a atual situação epidemiológica da Febre Amarela no Brasil e identificar as novos métodos utilizadas para o tratamento e imunização. Métodos: Revisão narrativa da literatura de artigos selecionados da base de dados SciELO e Pubmed, publicados nos últimos 20 anos, com as palavras-chaves: "febre amarela"; "tratamento"; "vacina"; "sofosbuvir"; "plasmaférese"; "transplante hepático". Resultados: A FA vem se expandindo em áreas antes não consideradas de risco e os tratamentos como sosfosbuvir e plasmaférese demonstraram ser positivos. Em casos graves opta-se por transplante hepático, tendo como desafio definir os critérios para sua indicação. Quanto à imunização, houve ampliação de municípios com indicação de vacinação, impondo a necessidade de fracionamento da dose para atender ao grande contingente populacional susceptível, o que gerou preocupações em relação à duração da proteção resultante desta estratégia. Conclusão: Com a expansão da FA no Brasil, foi necessário buscar novos tratamentos dentre os quais se incluem o uso do sofosbuvir, a plasmaferese e transplante hepático. Em relação à prevenção, é debatida a recomendação de dose única da vacina para toda a população e a duração da proteção resultante da aplicação de dose vacinal fracionada.
Palavras-chave: Febre amarela; Tratamento; Vacina; Sofosbuvir; Plasmaférese; Transplante hepático.
Ethical and Civic Education and the Social Commitment of University Students
Authors: Naval Concepción , García Rafaela , Puig Jose , Santos Miguel Anxo 
Published: July 2018

Recent decades have seen growing international concern about the lack of social commitment among young people, shown in their failure to participate in social affairs, scant interest in formal politics, and low turnout at elections.
First, the international framework which forms the background to our paper is outlined. The ethical and civic education which university students receive is discussed, in the context of the social mission of the university and the European Higher Education Area. We then move on to examine one of the most promising initiatives in this field: service learning. We conclude with a proposal containing some suggestions of relevance to higher education. The need for ethical and civic education underpins the whole article, since this is the key to promoting social commitment among young people.
Les défis et l’avenir de l’enseignement supérieur
Authors: Hugonnier Bernard 
Published: July 2018

Ce n’est pas moins de huit défis majeurs auxquels fait face à l’heure actuelle l’enseignement supérieur. Ces défis sont récents et d’une rare force, secouant un monde encore peu préparé aux évolutions économiques et sociales du temps présent. Ces défis sont aussi là pour durer, de sorte que se pose la question de l’avenir de l’enseignement supérieur. Cet avenir est principalement entre les mains des universités. De la nature et de la rapidité des réponses qu’elles apporteront aux défis auxquels elles font face dépend leur futur. Des réflexions prospectives permettent aussi d’éclairer cet avenir qui sera vraisemblablement différent suivant les régions du monde. En effet, dans les pays où règne une culture managériale et de l’innovation plus prégnante, les universités seront plus aptes et promptes à relever les défis et à préparer l’avenir. http://dx.doi.org/10.15572/ENCO2015.02
The design of computer-supported collaborative learning environments in higher education
Authors: Gros Begoña , Guerra Vania , Sánchez Diaz de Rivera Javier 
Published: July 2018

The main goal of this article is to analyze the implications of computer supported collaborative learning in higher education. To achieve this goal, we will describe the situation of the current research in this field and will focus our attention on the issues relating to the design of the conditions to promote collaborative processes and knowledge building. In the second part of the article, we will concentrate on the analysis of the results that we have obtained with the use of the programme Knowledge Forum as a support during the collaborative process in higher education.
Key words:
Historias de Vida y Teorías de la Educación: Tendiendo Puentes
Authors: Monteagudo José González 
Published: July 2018

In this paper I discuss life history approaches as research methodology, as educational tools, and as testimony. The discussion is placed within the context of economic globalisation and epistemological reshaping during the last few decades. Firstly, I analyze the research dimension of biographical perspectives. Secondly I point out the educational and testimonial dimensions of life histories in different settings such as teacher preparation and professional development, lifelong learning, genealogical and family work, educational auto/biography in a university context, historical memory, and popular education. Thirdly, I discuss some trends in educational theory and I outline some contributions of life history approaches to an educational theory grounded on critique and resistance.This paper offers a European perspective based on a review of relevant literature in English, French, Italian, and Spanish.
Key words: life history, narrative, qualitative methodology, remembering, experiential learning, emotional education
Fast Stability Analysis for Proportional-Integral Controller in Interval Systems
Authors: Vo Hau Huu 
Published: July 2018

The paper describes a technique for stability analysis of proportional-integral (PI) controller in linear continuous-time interval control systems. The stability conditions of Kharitonov's theorem together with related criterions, such as Routh-Hurwitz criterion for continuous-time systems, bring out sets of polynomial inequalities. The sets are very difficult to solve directly, especially in case of high-order systems. Direct technique was used for stability analysis without solving polynomial inequalities. Solving polynomial equation directly makes its computing speed low. In the paper, a set theory-based technique is proposed for finding robust stability range of PI controller without solving any Kharitonov polynomials directly Computation results confirm expected computing speed of the proposed technique. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Report of Chikungunya Virus in Wild Populations of Aedes aegypti in Guerrero State, Mexico
Authors: Ponce-García Gustavo , Flores-Suarez Adriana E. , Villanueva-Segura Karina , Lopez-Rodriguez Martha , Dzul Felipe , Lopez-Monroy Beatriz , RODRIGUEZ-SANCHEZ IRAM 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACT
We detected vertical transmission of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in wild populations of Aedes aegypti from San Marcos, Guerrero, Mexico, with real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction. A total of 20 pools (1–11 specimens/pool) of larvae, male, and female mosquitoes were tested. We report the detection of CHIKV in 2 of 11 larval pools, 4 of 5 male pools, and 1 of 4 female pools, from field-collected mosquitoes.
Lack of Resistance in Aedes vexans Field Populations After 36 Years of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Israelensis Applications in the Upper Rhine Valley, Germany
Authors: Becker Norbert , Ludwig Mario , Su Tianyun 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACT
Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) has been widely and solely used against floodwater mosquitoes, mostly Aedes vexans, for 36 years in the Upper Rhine Valley by the German Mosquito Control Association. During this period, almost 5,000 tons of Bti formulations were applied to an area of approximately 400,000 ha. To investigate a possible resistance development after such a long-term and widespread application of Bti, the susceptibility of Ae. vexans larvae to Bti in 3 untreated (Lake Constance) and 6 treated areas on both sides of the Rhine within the Upper Rhine Valley was assessed by bioassays following World Health Organization guidelines. Comparing log-probit analyses, it was shown that neither the median lethal concentration (LC50 values) nor slopes of the probit lines of bioassays of the larvae deriving from treated and untreated areas showed significant differences. These results have been confirmed by resistance ratios, which varied from 0.80 to 1.12 in all tests. The results provided the evidence that no restistance in the target species Ae. vexans has developed in the areas of the Upper Rhine Valley, despite the large-scale use of Bti for 36 years.
A Survey of the Mosquito Species in Maxcanu, Yucatan, Mexico
Authors: Cauich-Kumul Roger , Coronado-Blanco Juana María , Ruiz-Ruiz Jorge , Segura-Campos Maira , Koyoc-Cardeña Edgar , Navarrete-Carballo Juan , Jimenez Heron Huerta , Martin-Park Abdiel , Manrique-Saide Pablo 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACTA survey was carried out to identify the mosquitoes inhabiting human premises in the rural locality of Maxcanú, Yucatán, Mexico. Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention backpack aspirators, simple random sampling was carried out inside of 101 homes during the November 2013 rainy season. A total of 1,492 specimens were collected. Three subfamilies (Anophelinae, Culicinae, and Toxorhynchitinae) and 5 species were identified: Anopheles albimanus, Aedes aegypti, Culex interrogator, Limatus durhamii, and Toxorhynchites theobaldi. The most abundant species was Cx. interrogator (74%) followed by Ae. aegypti (25%). The Chao 1 and Bootstrap species richness estimator indicated that it was possible to collect 90% of the expected species. This is the 1st time that the presence of An. albimanus, Cx. interrogator, Li. durhamii, and Tx. theobaldi has been recorded in Maxcanú.