bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prenatal Diagnosis of Clubfoot: A Review of Current Available Methodology
Authors: Faldini Cesare , Fenga Domenico , Sanzarello Ilaria , Nanni Matteo , Traina Francesco , Rosa Michele Attilio A. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBackground:Clubfoot is one of the most common congenital limb deformities. Prenatal diagnosis of the condition is essential as it can help treat the malformation as early as possible. We reviewed the recent available literature concerning the current methods for prenatal diagnosis of clubfoot.Methods:The following databases were searched from 1966 to 2015: PubMed, OVID, Cochrane, CINAHL, Google scholar and Embase.Results:Out of a total number of 197 retrieved articles, after abstract or title page evaluation, 158 articles not matching the inclusion criteria were excluded. The full text versions of the remaining 39 articles were obtained, and their reference lists screened, with the addition of another 5 full-text articles.Conclusions:Currently, ultrasonography is considered the most reliable method of prenatal diagnosis of clubfoot. Ultrasonographic diagnosis of clubfoot appears more likely between the 18th and the 24th week of pregnancy. Alternative imaging is not indicated. There is no agreement whether to propose foetal karyotyping when isolated clubfoot is diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography. Early detection of clubfoot should prompt a careful surveillance during pregnancy in order to detect any possible additional abnormalities and, if any of these are detected, invasive testing should be offered.
Optimization of Chitosan Microspheres Spray Drying via 32 Full Factorial Design
Authors: Katsarov Plamen D. , Pilicheva Bissera A. , Manev Hristo M. , Lukova Paolina K. , Kassarova Margarita I. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBackground:Generally, the preparation of spray-dried microspheres is strongly affected by the process parameters. Particle size and production yield are mainly influenced by the spraying solution concentration and the pump rate of the spray dryer.Aim:The aim of this study was to assess optimum spray drying parameters - polymer concentration and pump rate required for the production of chitosan microspheres with high production yield and targeted for nasal administration particle size.Materials and methods:Full 32factorial design was used to study the investigated parameters. Three different concentrations of the chitosan solution were selected: a low concentration of 1%, average concentration of 1.5% and high concentration of 2%. The rate of the peristaltic pump was also varied at three levels: low rate of 10%, medium rate of 14% and high rate of 18%.Results:Nine models of chitosan microspheres were formulated and characterized in terms of shape, surface morphology, size, particle size distribution and production yield. The particles obtained from 2% chitosan solutions, sprayed at 10% pump rate were of the highest yield (64.33%) and appropriate for nasal administration median diameter (3,434 μm).Conclusion:The two investigated spray-drying parameters interact with each other and their influence on the production yield and the size of the chitosan microspheres should be evaluated together, instead of one at a time. The assessed process parameters allow the production of chitosan microparticles with high yield and desirable characteristics (size, size distribution and shape) for intranasal delivery.
Discontinuation of Oral Antiplatelet Agents before Dental Extraction - Necessity or Myth?
Authors: Dinkova Atanaska S. , Atanasov Dimitar T. , Vladimirova-Kitova Ludmila G. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBackground:The risk of excessive bleeding often prompts physicians to interrupt the antiplatelet agents as acetylsalicilyc acid and clopidogrel before dental extractions which puts patients at risk of adverse thrombotic events.Aim:To assess the bleeding risk during dental extractions in patients with continued antiplatelet therapy.Materials and methods:The study included 130 patients (64 men and 66 women) aged between 18 and 99 years old. Sixty-eight of the patients received 100 mg acetilsalicilic acid (ASA); these were divided into two groups: 34 patients continued taking ASA and 34 patients stopped it 72 hours before extraction. Sixty-two of the patients were treated with 75 mg clopidogrel; these were also divided into two groups: 31 continued taking clopidogrel and 31 patients stopped it 72 hours before extractions. Extraction was performed under local anaesthesia as no more than 3 teeth per visit were extracted. Local haemostasis with gelatine sponge and/or suturing was used to control bleeding.Results:Mild bleeding was observed most frequently in the first 30 minutes, successfully managed by local haemostasis. Only 1 patient in the control and 1 in the experimental group receiving ASA reported mild bleeding in the first 24 hours, controlled by compression with gauze. No major haemorrhage requiring emergency or more than local haemostasis occurred. No statistically significant difference in bleeding between two groups was found.Conclusion:Single and multiple dental extractions in patients receiving acetylsalicylic acid or clopidogrel can be safely performed without discontinuation of the therapy with provided appropriate local haemostasis.
Clinical Laboratory Tests in Some Acute Exogenous Poisonings
Authors: Tufkova Stoilka G. , Yankov Ivan V. , Paskaleva Diana A. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBackground:There is no specific toxicological screening of clinical laboratory parameters in clinical toxicology when it comes to acute exogenous poisoning.Aim:To determine routine clinical laboratory parameters and indicators for assessment of vital functions in patients with acute intoxications.Materials and methods:One hundred and fifty-three patients were included in the present study. They were hospitalized in the Department of Clinical Toxicology at St. George University Hospital, Plovdiv for cerebral toxicity inducing medication (n = 45), alcohol (n = 40), heroin abuse (n = 33). The controls were 35. The laboratory tests were conducted in compliance with the standards of the clinical laboratory. We used the following statistical analyses: analysis of variance (the ucriterion of normal distribution, the Student’s t-test, dispersion analysis based on ANOVA) and non-parametric analysis.Results and discussion:Based on the routine hematological parameters with statistically significant changes in three groups of poisoning are: red blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin (except alcohol intoxication) and leukocytes. We found statistically significant changes in serum total protein, sodium and bilirubin. The highest statistical significance is the increased activity of AST and ALT.Conclusion:We present a model for selection of clinical laboratory tests for severe acute poisoning with modern equipment under standardized conditions. The results of the study suggest that the clinical laboratory constellation we used can be used as a mandatory element in the diagnosis of moderate and severe intoxication with the mentioned toxic substances.
The dinoponeratoxin peptides from the giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps display in vitro antitrypanosomal activity
Authors: Lima Dânya Bandeira , Mello Clarissa Perdigão , Bandeira Izabel Cristina Justino , Pessoa Bezerra de Menezes Ramon Róseo Paula , Sampaio Tiago Lima , Falcão Cláudio Borges , Morlighem Jean-Étienne R.L. , Rádis-Baptista Gandhi , Martins Alice Maria Costa 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
The crude venom of the giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps is a cocktail of polypeptides and organic compounds that shows antiparasitic effects against Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. In order to investigate the venom-derived components responsible for such antitrypanosomal activity, four dinoponeratoxins (DnTxs) were identified, namely M-PONTX-Dq3a, -Dq3b, -Dq3c and -Dq4e, that are diverse in size, net charge, hydrophobicity and propensity to interact with eukaryote cell membranes. These peptides were tested against epimastigote, trypomastigote and amastigote forms of benznidazole (Bz)-resistant Y strain of T. cruzi and in mammalian host cells. The M-PONTX-Dq3a and -Dq4e inhibited all developmental forms of T. cruzi, including amastigotes, the responsible form for the maintenance of infection on chronic phase of the disease. The M-PONTX-Dq3a showed the highest selectivity index (SI) (80) and caused morphological alterations in T. cruzi, as observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and induced cell death through necrosis, as seen by multiparametric flow cytometry analysis with specific biochemical markers. Altogether, the D. quadriceps venom appears as a source for the prospection of trypanocidal peptides and the M-PONTX-Dq3a arises as a candidate among the dinoponeratoxin-related peptides in the development of compounds against Chagas disease.
Mechanisms, pathophysiological roles and methods for analyzing mitophagy – recent insights
Authors: Williams Jessica A. , Ding Wen-Xing 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIn 2012, we briefly summarized the mechanisms, pathophysiological roles and methods for analyzing mitophagy. As then, the mitophagy field has continued to grow rapidly, and many new molecular mechanisms regulating mitophagy and molecular tools for monitoring mitophagy have been discovered and developed. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to update information regarding these advances in mitophagy while focusing on basic molecular mechanisms of mitophagy in different organisms and its pathophysiological roles. We also discuss the advantage and limitations of current methods to monitor and quantify mitophagy in cultured cells andin vivomouse tissues.
Integrating Evidence-Based Practice into a Lebanese Nursing Baccalaureate Program: Challenges and Successes
Authors: Sukkarieh-Haraty Ola , Hoffart Nancy 
Published: October 2017

AbstractEvidence-based practice (EBP) is defined as “the conscientious use of current best evidence in making clinical decisions about patient care.” This paper describes how we have developed the evidence-based practice concept and integrated it into two courses at two different levels of the BSN curriculum. Students apply EBP knowledge and process by using the PICO clinical question (Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome), whereby they observe a selected clinical skill, and then compare their observations to hospital protocol and against the latest evidence-based practice guidelines. The assignment for the second course requires students to pick a more complex clinical skill and to support proposed changes in practice with scholarly literature. Assessment of student learning and course evaluation has shown that the overall experience of integrating EBP projects into the curriculum is fruitful for students, clinical agencies, and faculty.
Traditional sectorsbased on natural resources – a blessing or a curse for less developed regions? A case study of Podlaskie Voivodeship
Authors: Dąbrowska Anna 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe natural environment, as a source of natural resources, has long been perceived as being a factor in determining the development of many states and regions, especially less developed areas. The main research question in this article is what role is played by natural resources and traditional industry sectors based on natural resources (milk production and tourism), in the process of establishing a competitive advantage for Podlaskie Voivodeship, which is one of the less developed regions in Poland. The results of the research reveal weaknesses that are inherent in earlier ways of thinking about these industries and, at the same time, emphasise the importance of making use of natural resources in an integrated way and combining them with new technologies.
Tolstoyism in the Late-Socialist Cultural Underground: Soviet Youth in Search of Religion, Individual Autonomy and Nonviolence in the 1970s – 1980s
Authors: Gordeeva Irina 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
The 1970s in the Soviet Russia were characterized by religious revival among the members of the Soviet counterculture milieu. The young generation often opted for religious ideas and Tolstoyism served as one such option. The article explores individual cases of coming to Tolstoyism, reading and perception of his ideas, as well as a general historical background of spiritual search of Soviet youth (hippies and others) of the period. The article demonstrates that all countercultural Tolstoyans shared two basic values - personal autonomy and nonviolence. They asserted the ideals of the free and individual search for the truth, of nonviolence, of anti-authoritarian humanism, a quest for a new, spiritual form of community, having nothing to do with obligatory Soviet-type communist, atheist, and materialistic collectivism. The spiritual alternative of the Tolstoyans was directed it not only at the individual, but at society as a whole fully anticipating that society would be improved. The research is based on the wide range of unexplored primary sources (rare samizdat texts and personal archives).
The natural environment as an area of Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Wolak-Tuzimek Anna , Tarnawska Joanna , Chmiel Marek 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Areas of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) have been defined in ISO 26000. Guidelines of the International Standardisation Organisation distinguish seven areas: corporate governance, human rights, labour practices, natural environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues, social commitment and development of local communities. This article presents good practices implemented by enterprises in the individual areas, in particular, actions in the area of the natural environment. Two research hypotheses are posited concerning the rate of implementing good CSR practices and the number of actions in the natural environment area. National Responsible Business Forum research and a survey of a group of enterprises in the Mazovian region, conducted by the authors in 2014–2016, served to verify the hypotheses. The results imply that the number of good practices realised in CSR areas tends to grow. In addition, actions in the area of the natural environment rank third with regard to good practices implemented.
Regulatory function of stress in the process of leukemia patients’ recovery after bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Wrona-Polańska Helena 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
The theoretical rationale was the author’s Functional Model of Health (FMH), where health is construed as a function of creative coping with stress. Participants in the study were 141 patients with blood cancer (80 men and 61 women) treated with bone marrow transplantation at the Hematology Clinic, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum. Besides a standardized interview the following instruments were used: STAI by Spielberger, CISS and CHIP by Endler and Parker, and SOC-29 by Antonovsky. Health status was operationalized using 10-point self-rating scales to assess the patients’ perceived health and sense of calmness, while their objective health was rated by a medical expert - hematologist. In the statistical analyses significant correlations were found between stress level and the patients’ subjective health (-0.34, p<0.001). The following variables predicted stress intensity: anxious personality (.585), distraction coping strategy (-.202), female sex (.201), and sense of meaningfulness (-.190). Subjective health predictors of leukemia patients are: objective health (β = .413), level of stress (β = -.285), by the patient’s sense of meaningfulness (β = .244) and focusing on negative emotions (β = -.193). To promote patients’ health moreover, their sense of meaningfulness in life and in being active should be supported and enhanced.
Attitudes to professional boundaries among therapists with and without substance abuse history
Authors: Pietkiewicz Igor , Skowrońska-Włoch Karolina 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
There is no empirical research exploring how substance abuse therapists perceive and manage their professional role or privacy boundaries. This study explores their attitudes associated with self-disclosure and dual relationships. Ten therapists, five who had recovered (neophytes) and five who had never been substance dependent, shared their work experiences during semi-structured, in-depth interviews, which have been subjected to interpretative phenomenological analysis. While nonneophytes were generally reluctant to share personal information or establish alternative forms of relationship with current or former clients, neophytes were more open to using self-disclosure and admitted changing professional relationships into friendships. These findings are discussed in relation to ethical codes, training and supervision in substance abuse treatment.
An Application of a Stochastic Semi-Continuous Simulation Method for Flood Frequency Analysis: A Case Study in Slovakia
Authors: Valent Peter , Paquet Emmanuel 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
A reliable estimate of extreme flood characteristics has always been an active topic in hydrological research. Over the decades a large number of approaches and their modifications have been proposed and used, with various methods utilizing continuous simulation of catchment runoff, being the subject of the most intensive research in the last decade. In this paper a new and promising stochastic semi-continuous method is used to estimate extreme discharges in two mountainous Slovak catchments of the rivers Váh and Hron, in which snow-melt processes need to be taken into account. The SCHADEX method used, couples a precipitation probabilistic model with a rainfall-runoff model used to both continuously simulate catchment hydrological conditions and to transform generated synthetic rainfall events into corresponding discharges. The stochastic nature of the method means that a wide range of synthetic rainfall events were simulated on various historical catchment conditions, taking into account not only the saturation of soil, but also the amount of snow accumulated in the catchment. The results showed that the SCHADEX extreme discharge estimates with return periods of up to 100 years were comparable to those estimated by statistical approaches. In addition, two reconstructed historical floods with corresponding return periods of 100 and 1000 years were compared to the SCHADEX estimates. The results confirmed the usability of the method for estimating design discharges with a recurrence interval of more than 100 years and its applicability in Slovak conditions.
Reference Across Pathologies: A New Linguistic Lens on Disorders of Thought
Authors: Hinzen Wolfram 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAccording to a linguistic tradition here termed ‘Cartesian’, language is relegated to an expressive system considered to provide the means to encode or communicate an independently constituted thought process. An alternative vision here termed ‘un-Cartesian’ regards language as an organizational principle of human-specific thought, with the implication that thought of the same type would not become available to a cognitive system without language and that clinical thought disturbances implicate language dysfunction. I here explore the latter view in the context of intra-species variation of the human cognitive type: cognitive disorders that, as in the case of autism and schizophrenia, come with language-related clinical symptoms. If language is the configurator of human-specific thought, cognitive and linguistic phenotypes should illuminate one another. I specifically review evidence for impairment in one universal linguistic function, namely reference. Linguistic meaning is referential meaning: we cannot utter sentences without referring to persons, objects, and events, based on lexicalized concepts that provide descriptions of these referents. Reference in this sense takes a number of human-specific forms, from generic to specific, deictic and personal ones, which empirically co-vary with forms of grammatical organization. As reference in some of these forms proves to be highly vulnerable across major mental disorders, grammar is thereby linked to forms of thought and selfhood critical to normal cognitive functioning. In this way clinical linguistic and cognitive diversity provides an important new window into the foundational question of the thought-language relationship and the cognitive significance of grammar.
Assessment of Radioactivity in Concrete Made with e-Waste Plastic
Authors: Senthil Kumar K. , Premalatha P. V. , Baskar K. , Sankaran Pillai G. , Shahul Hameed P. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
The paper reports the impact of e-waste plastic [high-impact polystyrene (HIPS)] mixing in concrete on its radioactivity profile. The concrete was prepared with HIPS as a partial replacement for coarse aggregate in varying percentages by volume and radioactivity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K were measured using gamma-ray spectrometer and radon activity by solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD) technique. Both gamma radiation and radon activity in standard concrete and concrete with HIPS were well within the permissible limit. However, the gamma-radiation level and radon activity decreased with an increase in HIPS content of the concrete. The study concludes that the concrete with HIPS does not pose any radiation hazard and, hence, is suitable as a construction material.
Compressive Behavior of Cement Asphalt Mortar Under Low Confinement
Authors: Wu X. , Wang J.-F. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
The compressive behavior of cement asphalt mortar (CA mortar) with high elastic modulus subjected to the low confinement is studied in this paper. The failure mode, mechanical properties and deviatoric stress-strain response of CA mortar under the confinement from 0 to 0.6 MPa were investigated by a triaxial test. It was found that the specimens of CA mortar failed mainly by shearing under the low confinement. The peak deviatoric stress has a negligible improvement by the low confinement, whereas the peak strain and the residual stress exhibit an appreciable linear increase with the confinement. Moreover, the shape of the deviatoric stress-strain curve was significantly affected even by the low confinement. Based on the experimental observations, a stress-strain model of CA mortar under low confinement was established. The model was verified by a reasonable agreement of the experimental and predicted deviatoric stress-strain curves.
Investigation on Thermo-Oxidative Aging Properties of Asphalt Binder with Hindered Phenolic Antioxidant
Authors: Wu W. , Li L. , Yu J. , Xu S. , Zhang C. , Xue L. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
The modified asphalt binders with hindered phenolic antioxidant (Irganox 1010) were prepared by melt blending, and the effects of Irganox 1010 on physical and rheological properties of base asphalt were investigated by means of conventional physical properties tests and dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) tests. The short-term and long-term thermo-oxidative aging properties of asphalts with Irganox 1010 were studied by thin-film oven test (TFOT) and pressure aging vessel (PAV) test. The influence of Irganox 1010 on the chemical structure and compositions of asphalt before and after the aging test were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis and thin-layer chromatography with flame ionization detection (TLC-FID) analysis, respectively. The results show that the penetration and ductility are increased, whereas the viscosity and softening point are decreased, with the addition of Irganox 1010, and Irganox 1010 also decreases the complex modulus and increases the phase angle of asphalt binder. The antioxidant-treated binders exhibit excellent resistance to thermo-oxidative aging. Furthermore, Irganox 1010 inhibits the carbonyl (at 1,700 cm−1) index and sulfoxide (at 1,035 cm−1) index increment by oxidation of phenolic hydroxyl and degradation of ester group, and changes of chemical compositions of asphalt show that Irganox 1010 peptizes the asphaltenes and exhibits effective inhibition of gelatinization of asphalt binder during the process of thermal oxidation aging.