bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the Variability of Epstein-Barr Virus Genes in Infectious Mononucleosis: Investigation of the Potential Correlation with Biochemical Parameters of Hepatic Involvement
Authors: Banko Ana , Lazarevic Ivana , Stevanovic Goran , Cirkovic Andja , Karalic Danijela , Cupic Maja , Banko Bojan , Milovanovic Jovica , Jovanovic Tanja 
Published: March 2016

SummaryBackground: Primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is usually asymptomatic, although at times it results in the benign lymphoproliferative disease, infectious mononucleosis (IM), during which almost half of patients develop hepatitis. The aims of the present study are to evaluate polymorphisms of EBV genes circulating in IM isolates from this geographic region and to investigate the correlation of viral sequence patterns with the available IM biochemical parameters.Methods: The study included plasma samples from 128 IM patients. The genes EBNA2, LMP1, and EBNA1 were amplified using nested-PCR. EBNA2 genotyping was performed by visualization of PCR products using gel electrophoresis. Investigation of LMP1 and EBNA1 included sequence, phylogenetic, and statistical analyses.Results: The presence of EBV DNA in plasma samples showed correlation with patients’ necessity for hospitalization (p=0.034). The majority of EBV isolates was genotype 1. LMP1 variability showed 4 known variants, and two new deletions (27-bp and 147-bp). Of the 3 analyzed attributes of LMP1 isolates, the number of 33-bp repeats less than the reference 4.5 was the only one that absolutely correlated with the elevated levels of transaminases. EBNA1 variability was presented by prototype subtypes. A particular combination of EBNA2, LMP1, and EBNA1 polymorphisms, deleted LMP1/P-thr and non-deleted LMP1/P-ala, as well as genotype 1/ 4.5 33-bp LMP1 repeats or genotype 2/ 4.5 33-bp LMP1 repeats showed correlation with elevated AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine transaminase).Conclusions: This is the first study which identified the association between EBV variability and biochemical parameters in IM patients. These results showed a possibility for the identification of hepatic related diagnostic EBV markers.
Relationship between Cardiovascular Risk Score and Traditional and Nontraditional Cardiometabolic Parameters in Obese Adolescent Girls
Authors: Klisic Aleksandra , Kavaric Nebojsa , Soldatovic Ivan , Bjelakovic Bojko , Kotur-Stevuljevic Jelena 
Published: March 2016

Summary
Background: Since the cardiovascular (CV) risk score in the young population, children and adolescents, is underestimated, especially in developing countries such as Montenegro, where a strong interaction exists between the genetically conditioned CV risk and environmental factors, the purpose of this study was to estimate CV risk in apparently healthy adolescent girls. Moreover, we aimed to test some new, emerging CV risk factors and their interaction with the traditional ones, such as obesity. Precisely, we aimed to assess the impact of low bilirubin levels, as a routine biochemical parameter, as an additional risk factor for atherosclerotic disease in the adult phase.
Methods: Forty-five obese adolescent girls (mean age 17.8±1.22 years) and forty-five age-and sex-matched normal weight controls, all nonsmokers, were included. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured. Cardiovascular Risk Score (CVRS) was calculated by adding the points for each risk factor (e.g. sex, HDL-c, non-HDLc, blood pressure and fasting glycemia).
Results: A significant positive relationship between CVRS and ALT, hsCRP and TG/HDL-c, but an opposite relationship between CVRS and total bilirubin were found (P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that higher waist circumference (WC) and LDL-c, but lower HDL-c were independent predictors of lower bilirubin values (adjusted R2=0.603, P<0.001).
Conclusions: Obese adolescent girls are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease late in life. In addition to the traditional risk factors, total bilirubin may have the potential to discriminate between low and higher risk for cardiovascular disturbances in healthy adolescent girls.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors In 7–13 Years Old Children From Vojvodina (Serbia)
Authors: Dželajlija Darko D. , Spasić Slavica S. , Kotur-Stevuljevic Jelena M. , Bogavac-Stanojevic Nataša B. 
Published: March 2016

SummaryBackground: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease which starts early in life and depends on many factors, an important one being dyslipoproteinemia. According to several studies, atherosclerotic plaques or their precursors could be seen in children younger than 10 years. During later life, interaction with a sedentary way of life, as well as unhealthy nutrition, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity and family history of cardiovascular disease cause the burden of atherosclerotic disease.Methods: Study included 624 children (316 boys, 308 girls), aged from 7-13 years. We analysed socio-demographic data (BMI, blood pressure, cardiovascular family history, smoking status), as well as lipid status with lipoprotein little a-Lp(a), and apolipoproteins: Apo AI, Apo B-100 for all children. This enabled us to calculate new atherogenic indices Tg/HDL-c, lipid tetrad index (LTI) and lipid pentad index (LPI). Cardiovascular risk for later life was estimated by using modified Risk Score for Young Individuals (RS), which divided the subjects according to the score level: low, medium and higher risk.Results: The older children (13 y) had better lipid status than the younger children, i.e. significantly lower total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides and non-HDL-C concentration and significantly higher HDL-C concentration than the younger children and this was in accordance with the RS level. Children with a positive family history of CV disease had significantly higher Lp(a) concentration and blood pressure. LPI was significantly higher in children with a higher RS.Conclusions: The results of our work could be used for cardiovascular risk assessment in apparently healthy children to provide preventive measures which could control the change able risk factors.
A Note on the Effect of Data Clustering on the Multiple-Imputation Variance Estimator: A Theoretical Addendum to the Lewis et al. article in JOS 2014
Authors: He Yulei , Shimizu Iris , Schappert Susan , Xu Jianmin , Beresovsky Vladislav , Khan Diba , Valverde Roberto , Schenker Nathaniel 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
Multiple imputation is a popular approach to handling missing data. Although it was originally motivated by survey nonresponse problems, it has been readily applied to other data settings. However, its general behavior still remains unclear when applied to survey data with complex sample designs, including clustering. Recently, Lewis et al. (2014) compared single- and multiple-imputation analyses for certain incomplete variables in the 2008 National Ambulatory Medicare Care Survey, which has a nationally representative, multistage, and clustered sampling design. Their study results suggested that the increase of the variance estimate due to multiple imputation compared with single imputation largely disappears for estimates with large design effects. We complement their empirical research by providing some theoretical reasoning. We consider data sampled from an equally weighted, single-stage cluster design and characterize the process using a balanced, one-way normal random-effects model. Assuming that the missingness is completely at random, we derive analytic expressions for the within- and between-multiple-imputation variance estimators for the mean estimator, and thus conveniently reveal the impact of design effects on these variance estimators. We propose approximations for the fraction of missing information in clustered samples, extending previous results for simple random samples. We discuss some generalizations of this research and its practical implications for data release by statistical agencies.
Bayesian Predictive Inference of a Proportion Under a Twofold Small-Area Model
Authors: Nandram Balgobin 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
We extend the twofold small-area model of Stukel and Rao (1997; 1999) to accommodate binary data. An example is the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), in which pass-fail data for mathematics of students from US schools (clusters) are available at the third grade by regions and communities (small areas). We compare the finite population proportions of these small areas. We present a hierarchical Bayesian model in which the firststage binary responses have independent Bernoulli distributions, and each subsequent stage is modeled using a beta distribution, which is parameterized by its mean and a correlation coefficient. This twofold small-area model has an intracluster correlation at the first stage and an intercluster correlation at the second stage. The final-stage mean and all correlations are assumed to be noninformative independent random variables. We show how to infer the finite population proportion of each area. We have applied our models to synthetic TIMSS data to show that the twofold model is preferred over a onefold small-area model that ignores the clustering within areas. We further compare these models using a simulation study, which shows that the intracluster correlation is particularly important.
БІОЕКОЛОГІЧНИЙ АНАЛІЗ ЕПІФІТНИХ ЛИШАЙНИКІВ PHYSCIA В УМОВАХ ГІРНИЧО-МЕТАЛУРГІЙНОГО КОМПЛЕКСУ КРИВБАСУ
Authors: Kachinskaya V. V. 
Published: March 2016

<p>The comparative analysis of lichens <em>Physcia</em>. Рopulation at different levels of aerotechnogenic pollution of industrial mining – metallurgical complex of Krivyi Rig Basin. In the highway area there was found the worsening living conditions of thallus at the lichens <em>Physcia</em><em>, </em>manifested in the reduction of a projective cover and reducing of the size of thallus with the increasing of the degree of their damage.<strong> </strong>It is set that specific composition and conformities to law of distribution of cladinas is determined the type of the industrial loading. Predominance at the lichens of crustaceous cladinas, insignificant participation of fissile cladinas and complete absence of bushy forms is the possible consequence of industrial influence.</p> <p>We registered some 3 species of epiphytic lichens, namely Phaeophyscia nigricans, Physcia tenella, Physcia adscendens in a residential zone, while on conditional control area we found Physcia orbicularis. The dominant species was scum-like shape Phaeophyscia nigricans, Physcia adscendens, Physcia tenella, while on conditional control region we marked predominance of Physcia orbicularis and did not registered bushy lichens form.</p> <p>We also divided the lichens into two groups according to the resistance towards air pollution - moderate (2 species, Phaeophyscia nigricans, Physcia tenella) and toxic-resistant (2 species, Physcia orbicularis, Physcia adscendens). Epiphytic lichens in terms of residential areas compared to conventionally control area characterized by a decrease of morphometric parameters of the melt. Key results can be used to predict the state of ecosystems using lichenoindication in terms of industrial regions of Ukraine.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em><em>:<strong> </strong></em><em>lichen, projective cover, </em><em>floristic composition, </em><em>lichenoindication</em><em>.</em><em></em></p>
DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER MG. ЯК ТЕСТ-ОБ’ЄКТ СКРИНІНГУ КСЕНОБІОТИКІВ НА АКАРИЦИДНУ АКТИВНІСТЬ
Authors: Belokon S. V. 
Published: March 2016

<p> </p><p>The development of new effective test systems for screening xenobiotics on biological activity, including its possible harmful influence on the organism is the modern challenge. Test systems of eukaryotic origin are needed for testing of xenobiotics on their gonadotoxical, embryotoxic, teratogenic, and carcinogenic effects. Such testing should include the monitoring of genetic effects of bioactive compounds and the possible mutagenic effect. The <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em> Mg. is very convenient test object as a classical genetics object, for which the genome is fully sequenced. It is convenient and easy to find out the frequency of crossingover in different parts of the genome, and study the key indicators of vitality and ontogenetic adaptation (fertility, longevity, survival under stress conditions, etc.) on <em>Drosophila. </em>The crossover frequency, in our opinion, can be an integral factor for the general state of genotype.so we could use the mark of genetic recombination frequency as one of the indicators of the impact of xenobiotics.</p> <p>In this study we examined the possibility of using <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em> Mg. (Diptera, Drosophilidae) as a test object for screening xenobiotics on acaricidal activity. Sensitivity of flies to acaricides piridaben (<em>Sanmayt</em>) and proparhit (<em>Omayt</em>) was studied by their fitness, longevity, fertility, and frequency of meiotic recombination in the area b-vg second chromosome. It was found that the studied compounds - piridaben and proparhit have significant influence on vitality of <em>D. melanogaster.</em> The presence of these acaricides in the nutrition of flies testifies the harmful influence on their crossingover and reduced fecundity and longevity. We suggested to use the <em>D. melanogaster</em> as a test object for screening xenobiotics on acaricidal activity.</p> <p><em>Keywords: Drosophila, the test object, acaricides, crossingover, fertility, longevity.</em></p><p><strong><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.7905/bbmspu.v5i1.970">http://dx.doi.org/10.7905/bbmspu.v5i1.970</a></strong><strong> </strong></p>
Langfristige Trends im metabolischen Profil von Deutsch-Holstein-Milchviehherden in Thüringen
Authors: Siebert W. , Menzer E. , Söllner-Donat S. , Donat K. 
Published: March 2016

ZusammenfassungGegenstand und Ziel: Regelmäßige und systematisch durchgeführte Stoffwechselkontrollen können eine wichtige Datengrundlage sein, um den gestiegenen Anforderungen an das Herdenmanagement von Milchviehherden gerecht zu werden. Ziel dieser Arbeit war, aus den Ergebnissen dieser in Thüringer Deutsch-Holstein-Beständen vorgenommenen Untersuchungen langfristige Trends abzuleiten. Material und Methoden: Das metabolische Profil umfasste 13 Parameter: die Serumkonzentrationen von β-Hydroxybutyrat (BHB), freien Fettsäuren (FFS), Bilirubin, Harnstoff, Kalzium, anorganischem Phosphat, Selen und β-Carotin, die Aktivitäten der Aspartat-Aminotransferase (AST) und der Glutamat-Dehydrogenase (GLDH), die Konzentrationen der Natrium- und Kaliumionen im Harn sowie die Netto-Säuren-Basen-Ausscheidung (NSBA). Dabei wurden je sieben bis zehn trockenstehende, frischlaktierende und hochlaktierende Kühe untersucht. In den Jahren 1997–2014 gingen insgesamt 17 070 Gruppenstichproben aus 103 Herden in die Untersuchung ein. Für jedes Kalenderjahr wurde die Periodenprävalenz beanstandeter Leistungsgruppen ermittelt und deren Entwicklung mithilfe eines linearen Regressionsmodells beschrieben. Ergebnisse: Für die je Laktationsphase untersuchten 15 Beanstandungsmöglichkeiten ergaben sich bei Trockenstehern für sieben, bei Frischabkalbern für neun und bei hochlaktierenden Kühen für zehn signifikante Trends. Dabei waren Verminderungen der Beanstandungsquote für erhöhte FFS-Konzentration, erniedrigte Serum konzentrationen von anorganischem Phosphat, Selen, β-Carotin und Harnstoff, erniedrigte Natrium- und erhöhte Kaliumkonzentrationen sowie erhöhte NSBA im Harn zu verzeichnen. Dagegen erhöhte sich der Anteil der Beanstandungen wegen erhöhter AST-und GLDH-Aktivität und Bilirubinkonzentration im Serum sowie erniedrigter NSBA. Schlussfolgerung und klinische Relevanz: Mithilfe von Stoffwechselprofilen kann der Herdengesundheitsstatus auf der Basis objektiver Messwerte beschrieben werden. Auf deren Grundlage lassen sich Maßnahmen zur Optimierung des Herdenmanagements und damit zur Verbesserung der Herdengesundheit implementieren.
Age-Oriented High School Model: Implementation Outcomes
Authors: Luchenkov ﻿Andrey 
Published: March 2016

In the age-oriented model, the high school aims to provide conditions for students to identify themselves as capable of goal setting and achievement and to get prepared for self-determination in learning and life. The model was implemented in Univers Gymnasium of Krasnoyarsk. The experimental and control groups of students were surveyed twice — at the end of Grade 9 and at the end of Grade 11—using a battery of diagnostic methods to evaluate how the model prepared high school students for self-determination. The experimental group included high school students from Univers, and the control one covered students of two neighboring schools. The study revealed significant differences between the groups in every component of preparedness for self-determination: motivation and needs, cognition, and application. Thus, development of self-determination, world outlooks and moral conscience among students is possible and shows better performance in institutions based on the age-oriented model.
Attributions for Success and Failure: Gender and Language Proficiency Differences among Iranian EFL Learners
Authors: Mohammadi Afsane , Sharififar Masoud 
Published: March 2016

The study examined the attributions of Iranian English language learners for their successes and failure s in learning English as foreign language and to determine the relationship between learners' gender and attributions. Moreover, the relationship between their proficiency level and attributions was investigated. To this end, the Attribution Theory for Foreign Language Learners Questionnaire (ATFLL) was administered to 200 English language students studying in different private language institutes of Kerman and Mashhad, Iran. A theoretical framework adopted from Weiner (1986) was applied to categorize students' responses based on attributions (ability, effort, task difficulty and luck). To analyze the data, SPSS 22.0 was employed. The results of the study indicated that learners attributed their success and failure to both internal and external factors but giving more priority to external factors. Furthermore, it was revealed that there were significant relationships between learner's gender, proficiency level and attributions.
Proposing a Conceptual Model for Teacher Expertise in ELT
Authors: Yazdanmehr Elham , Akbari Ramin , Kiany Gholamreza , Samar Reza Ghaffar 
Published: March 2016

Interest in expertise studies has been shown from the beginning of 21st century so far in quite many fields including art, music, chess, medical sciences, etc. Just recently, applied linguistics has joint this new wave of research and this was an inspiration for conducting the present research. Since the early twenty-first century, expertise studies have been undertaken in a large number of domains. Applied linguistics is relatively a newcomer to the list which makes any study aiming to cast light on some aspect of expertise in this domain worth considering. In the present study, a model is proposed for the construct of teaching expertise in ELT comprised of 8 interrelated factors. Based on a perusal of previous research on expertise in education and the thought patterns and behavior of exemplary teachers of English language these factors were extracted. The direct or indirect effect of each factor on the latent variable, teaching expertise, is indicated in the model. For further content validation, 20 specialists of the field were interviewed. These specialists included university professors of applied linguistics, teacher educators, teacher trainers at the private sector, mentor teachers and experienced teachers. The 8 factors which were extracted from prior research and interviewees’ remarks include: teacher’s language proficiency, pedagogical content knowledge, social recognition, cognitive skills, experience, professional development, contextual knowledge, and learner-centered teaching. These are perceived to be the key constituents of teaching expertise in ELT. This model is aimed to be later used as a basis for developing an instrument for operationalizing the construct of teacher expertise in ELT.
Integrating Environmental Issues Into The Business Curriculum
Authors: Stanwick Sarah D. 
Published: March 2016

Over the past several years, the reporting environment has changed for companies reporting environmental information. This change comes primarily from stakeholder interest in protecting the environment. This paper addresses the topic of integrating environmental issues into accounting and business courses. Background information on environmental issues is provided. In addition, suggested classroom assignments and resources that can be used to enhance the learning environment for business students are provided.
Entrepreneurship: One Key To Integrated Business Education
Authors: O'Conner Matthew L. , Jasinski Dale W. , Nehrt Chad , Simione Kathleen 
Published: March 2016

This paper presents a case study of the key issues in implementing an innovative approach to teaching the business core curriculum. The program utilizes entrepreneurship as a key integrating theme and is designed to include two major active learning components: the development of a business plan and the implementation of a student business. The course integrates cross-functional topic areas including accounting, finance, international business, management, and marketing. The paper describes the program in detail and identifies the key challenges and opportunities that remain. From the student and faculty feedback it appears obvious that while certain improvements need to be made and institutional resources increased, the course offers a unique educational experience.
Selected E-Course Controls: Accounting Department Heads Views
Authors: Saunders Gary , Price Jean 
Published: March 2016

Use of the Internet continues to increase, and new technology continues to provide more and better communication options. As more and more students choose to enroll in Internet courses (e-courses), technological advances offer various ways to control academic dishonesty. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to chairpersons of accounting departments to obtain their views about the use of several technological enhancements that could serve as controls in e-courses. Such controls would require that some of these newer physical enhancements be on students’ computers when they register for an e-course. Respondents strongly favored requiring students to provide a digital photo ID and audio capabilities when registering for an e-course. Other potential controls were not supported. Those surveyed also tended to believe that students should use a web cam when completing examinations on-line and that faculty should compare the photo ID with the web cam image. In other settings, they felt that such a comparison was unnecessary. Overall, the accounting department heads surveyed endorsed requiring the student who enrolls in an e-course to obtain some existing technology, and they expect the student to be prepared to spend more than $100 to obtain the technology.