bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘They can't empower us’: The role of allies in the consumer movement
Authors: Juntanamalaga Piyada , Scholz Brett , Roper Cath , Happell Brenda
Published: March 2019

Goals of the mental health consumer movement include redressing inequality and increasing consumer leadership across the mental health sector. A means of achieving these goals is empowerment of consumers at systemic levels of the mental health sector. There have been calls for research to focus on allies – those who use their power to support and advocate for the goals of the consumer movement. This study aimed to examine the role of allies in consumer empowerment. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 15 individuals (including three consumers, nine allies, and three participants each identifying as both consumer and ally). Findings suggest that allies cannot directly empower consumers but should support opportunities for consumer leadership within the sector. We discuss how allies might do this and avoid paternalism in their allyship.
Exercise, fitness and musculoskeletal health of undergraduate nursing students: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Pugh Judith D. , Cormack Kylie , Gelder Lucy , Williams Anne M. , Twigg Diane E. , Blazevich Anthony J.
Published: March 2019

Aims

To describe the exercise, physical fitness and musculoskeletal health of nursing students.

Background

Nursing students are prone to musculoskeletal disorders restricting work ability. Physical fitness and leisure‐time exercise may affect responses to workplace exposures and risk for work‐related musculoskeletal disorders.

Design

A cross‐sectional study.

Method

Between August 2013 and April 2015, a convenience sample of 111 nursing students performed submaximal exercise tests. Nursing work, exercise and musculoskeletal health were surveyed and analysed descriptively.

Results

Students’ mean age was 30.0 years, 89.2% were female and 20.0% worked in nursing while studying. Highest annual prevalence of musculoskeletal trouble was in low back (45.6%), neck (32.0%) and shoulder (18.5%) regions. Most exercised regularly but did not meet weekly cardiorespiratory, resistance, neuromotor and flexibility exercise recommendations and had poor to average fitness levels. Approximately 40% were overweight or obese; 26.1% had risk for obesity‐related disease.

Conclusions

Interventions to improve nursing students’ physical condition before entering the nursing workforce appear warranted.

Impact

Imbalance between physical work capacity and demanding workloads increases musculoskeletal disorder risk amongst undergraduate nursing students. A large proportion studied reported recent musculoskeletal trouble (particularly low back, neck and shoulder). They exhibited modifiable characteristics of overweight/obese, poor fitness and inadequate leisure‐time exercise, predisposing them to work‐related musculoskeletal disorders. Undergraduate preparation should raise nursing students’ health literacy about physical fitness and ways to achieve it, for their musculoskeletal health and work capacity. Improving nursing students’ fitness may enhance their work preparedness and help them achieve longevity in this physically demanding occupation.
An integrated model of population genetics and community ecology
Authors: Overcast Isaac , Emerson Brent C. , Hickerson Michael J.
Published: March 2019

Aim

Quantifying abundance distributions is critical for understanding both how communities assemble, and how community structure varies through time and space, yet estimating abundances requires considerable investment in fieldwork. Community‐level population genetic data potentially offer a powerful way to indirectly infer richness, abundance and the history of accumulation of biodiversity within a community. Here we introduce a joint model linking neutral community assembly and comparative phylogeography to generate both community‐level richness, abundance and genetic variation under a neutral model, capturing both equilibrium and non‐equilibrium dynamics.

Location

Global.

Methods

Our model combines a forward‐time individual‐based community assembly process with a rescaled backward‐time neutral coalescent model of multi‐taxa population genetics. We explore general dynamics of genetic and abundance‐based summary statistics and use approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) to estimate parameters underlying the model of island community assembly. Finally, we demonstrate two applications of the model using community‐scale mtDNA sequence data and densely sampled abundances of an arachnid community on La Réunion. First, we use genetic data alone to estimate a summary of the abundance distribution, ground‐truthing this against the observed abundances. Then, we jointly use the observed genetic data and abundances to estimate the proximity of the community to equilibrium.

Results

Simulation experiments of our ABC procedure demonstrate that coupling abundance with genetic data leads to improved accuracy and precision of model parameter estimates compared with using abundance‐only data. We further demonstrate reasonable precision and accuracy in estimating a metric underlying the shape of the abundance distribution, temporal progress towards local equilibrium and several key parameters of the community assembly process. For the insular arachnid assemblage, we find the joint distribution of genetic diversity and abundance approaches equilibrium expectations, and that the Shannon entropy of the observed abundances can be estimated using genetic data alone.

Main conclusions

The framework that we present unifies neutral community assembly and comparative phylogeography to characterize the community‐level distribution of both abundance and genetic variation through time, providing a resource that should greatly enhance understanding of both the processes structuring ecological communities and the associated aggregate demographic histories.
P‐wave morphology and multipolar intracardiac atrial activation to facilitate nonpulmonary vein trigger localization
Authors: Kubala Maciej , Lucena‐Padros Irene , Xie Shuanglun , Casado‐Arroyo Ruben , Frankel David S. , Lin David , Santangeli Pasquale , Supple Gregory E. , Dixit Sanjay , Tschabrunn Cory M. , Liang Jackson J. , Yang Jiandu , Hyman Matthew C. , Zado Erica S. , Marchlinski Francis E.
Published: March 2019

Introduction

Nonpulmonary vein (non‐PV) triggers of atrial fibrillation (AF) are targets for ablation but their localization remains challenging. The aim of this study was to describe P‐wave (PW) morphologic characteristics and intra‐atrial activation patterns and timing from multipolar coronary sinus (CS) and crista terminalis (CT) catheters that localize non‐PV triggers.

Methods and Results

Selective pacing from six right and nine left atrial common non‐PV trigger sites was performed in 30 consecutive patients. We analyzed 12 lead ECG features based on PW duration, amplitude and morphology, and patterns and timing of multipolar activation for all 15 sites. Regionalization and then precise localization required criteria present in at least 70% of assessments at each pacing site. The algorithm was then prospectively evaluated by four blinded observers in a validation cohort of 18 consecutive patients undergoing the same pacing protocol and 60 consecutive patients who underwent successful non‐PV trigger ablation.

The algorithm for site regionalization included 1) negative PW in V1, ≥30 µV change in PW amplitude across the leads V1‐V3, and PW duration ≤100 milliseconds in lead 2 and 2) unique intra‐atrial activation patterns and timing noted in the multipolar catheters. Specific ECG and intra‐atrial activation timing characteristics included in the algorithm allowed for more precise site localization after regionalization. In the prospective evaluation, the algorithm identified the site of origin for 72% of paced and 70% of spontaneous non‐PV trigger sites.

Conclusion

An algorithm based on PW morphology and intra‐atrial multipolar activation pattern and timing can help identify non‐PV trigger sites of origin.
Right ventricular mechanics in patients with aortic stenosis and preserved ejection fraction: Is arterial hypertension a new player in the game?
Authors: Tadic Marijana , Cuspidi Cesare , Pencic Biljana , Ivanovic Branislava , Grassi Guido , Kocijancic Vesna , Celic Vera
Published: March 2019

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the influence of aortic stenosis (AS) on right ventricular (RV) strain and particularly the importance of arterial hypertension on this association. This cross‐sectional study included 107 patients with moderate and severe AS (with and without hypertension) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (>50%) and 82 age‐matched normotensive and hypertensive controls who underwent comprehensive echocardiographic examination. AS patients were divided into normotensive and hypertensive groups. Left ventricle (LV) mass index gradually increased from the controls, across the moderate AS to the severe AS. There was a trend of reduction of RV global and layer‐specific longitudinal strain of the whole ventricle and RV free wall from the controls, across the moderate AS to the severe AS. RV global longitudinal strain, as well as layer‐specific RV longitudinal strains, was significantly lower in the patients with severe AS than the controls and the normotensive patients with moderate AS. Endocardial and epicardial RV strains were lower in hypertensive than in normotensive patients with moderate AS. In patients with severe AS, there was no difference between normotensive and hypertensive patients. LV mass index and mean aortic valve gradient were associated with RV global longitudinal strain in AS patients independently of systolic blood pressure, LV ejection fraction (EF), age, and body mass index (BMI). In conclusion, RV mechanics was deteriorated in the patients with moderate and severe AS. There was a trend of RV longitudinal strain worsening in the hypertensive patients with AS in comparison with their normotensive counterparts. Severity of AS, expressed by the mean AV gradient, was related with RV longitudinal strain.
Diminished quality of life among adolescents with coeliac disease using maladaptive eating behaviours to manage a gluten‐free diet: a cross‐sectional, mixed‐methods study
Authors: Cadenhead J. W. , Wolf R. L. , Lebwohl B. , Lee A. R. , Zybert P. , Reilly N. R. , Schebendach J. , Satherley R. , Green P. H. R.
Published: March 2019

Background

Certain approaches to managing a strict gluten‐free diet (GFD) for coeliac disease (CD) may lead to impaired psychosocial well‐being, a diminished quality of life (QOL) and disordered eating. The present study aimed to understand adolescents’ approaches to managing a GFD and the association with QOL.

Methods

Thirty adolescents with CD (13–17 years old) following the GFD for at least 1 year completed the Celiac Dietary Adherence Test (CDAT) and QOL survey. Their approaches to GFD management were explored using a semi‐structured interview, where key themes were developed using an iterative process, and further analysed using a psychosocial rubric to classify management strategies and QOL. CDAT ratings were compared across groups.

Results

Gluten‐free diet management strategies were classified on a four‐point scale. Adaptive eating behaviours were characterised by greater flexibility (versus rigidity), trust (versus avoidance), confidence (versus controlling behaviour) and awareness (versus preoccupation) with respect to maintaining a GFD. Approximately half the sample (53.3%) expressed more maladaptive approaches to maintaining a GFD and those who did so were older with lower CD‐Specific Pediatric Quality of Life (CDPQOL) scores, mean subscale differences ranging from 15.0 points for Isolation (t = 2.4, P = 0.03, d.f. = 28) to 23.4 points for Limitations (t = 3.0, P = 0.01, d.f. = 28).

Conclusions

Adolescents with CD who manage a GFD with maladaptive eating behaviours similar to known risk factors for feeding and eating disorders experience diminished QOL. In accordance with CD management recommendations, we recommend ongoing follow‐up with gastroenterologists and dietitians and psychosocial support referrals, as needed.
Effect of waterpipe smoking on peri‐implant health: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Akram Zohaib , Javed Fawad , Vohra Fahim
Published: March 2019

The aim of the present review was to evaluate the effect of waterpipe smoking (WS) on clinical peri‐implant inflammatory parameters compared to non‐smokers (NS) with dental implants. Literature searches were performed using bibliographic databases up to May 2018. Primary outcomes included peri‐implant bone loss (PIBL), while secondary outcomes were probing depth (PD), plaque index, and bleeding on probing. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each PIBL and PD were estimated by a random‐effect model. Four retrospective case‐control studies were included in the qualitative and quantitative syntheses. All of the included studies showed statistically‐significantly worse peri‐implant outcomes in WS compared to NS. Considering the effects of WS on peri‐implant parameters, significant heterogeneity for PIBL (Q‐value = 34.21, P < 0.0001, I2 = 94.16%) and PD (Q‐value = 51.97, P < 0.0001, I2 = 96.15%) was observed between both groups. The overall RR for PIBL (RR = 3.32, 95% CI = 1.01‐3.97, P = 0.001) and PD (RR = 3.40, 95% CI = 1.91‐7.17, P = 0.001) were significant between WS and NS groups. WS has detrimental effect on peri‐implant health. Clinicians should instruct and advise patients about poor prognosis and peri‐implant diseases caused by WS.
Cardiovascular Risk in Middle‐Aged and Older Immigrants: Exploring Residency Period and Health Insurance Coverage
Authors: Sadarangani Tina R. , Trinh‐Shevrin Chau , Chyun Deborah , Yu Gary , Kovner Christine
Published: March 2019

Purpose

It is reported that while immigrants are, initially, healthier than the native‐born upon resettlement, this advantage erodes over time. In the United States, uninsured aging immigrants are increasingly experiencing severe complications of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The purpose of this study was to compare overall CVD risk and explore the importance of health insurance coverage on CVD risk relative to other health access barriers, from 2007 to 2012, in recent and long‐term immigrants >50 years of age.

Methods

This study was based on secondary cross‐sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (N = 1,920). The primary outcome, CVD risk category (high or low), was determined using the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association Pooled Cohort equation. Differences between immigrant groups were examined using independent‐samples t tests and chi‐square analysis. The association between insurance and CVD risk was explored using a hierarchical block logistic regression model, in which variables were entered in a predetermined order. Changes in pseudo R2 measured whether health insurance explained variance in cardiac risk beyond other variables.

Results

Recent immigrants had lower overall CVD risk than long‐term immigrants but were twice as likely to be uninsured and had higher serum glucose and lipid levels. Based on regression models, being uninsured contributed to CVD risk beyond other health access determinants, and CVD risk was pronounced among recent immigrants who were uninsured.

Conclusions

Health insurance coverage plays an essential part in a comprehensive approach to mitigating CVD risk for aging immigrants, particularly recent immigrants whose cardiovascular health is susceptible to deterioration.

Clinical Relevance

Nurses are tasked with recognizing the unique social and physical vulnerabilities of aging immigrants and accounting for these in care plans. In addition to helping them access healthcare coverage and affordable medication, nurses and clinicians should prioritize low‐cost lifestyle interventions that reduce CVD risk, especially diet and exercise programs.
Psychological Essentialism at the Explicit and Implicit Levels: The Unique Status of Social Categories
Authors: Karasawa Minoru , Asai Nobuko , Hioki Koichi
Published: March 2019

Psychological essentialismrefers to a naive theory concerning fundamental elements that bring a category into its existence. The present study examined the structure of this lay theory as well as its implicitness, with a special focus on social categories. In Study 1, Japanese college students rated a number of categories that were natural‐kind, social, or human artifacts, in terms of different elements of essentialist beliefs. A factor analysis revealed that entitativity and naturalness are the common underlying dimensions across these category domains. We also identified some natural‐kind and human artifact categories that can be used as two extreme referent points for the examination of naturalness perceived in a whole array of social categories. Study 2 assessed implicit and automatic judgments on naturalness using a go/no‐go task, and compared them to explicit judgments. Unlike natural kinds and artifacts, social categories were essentialized to a greater extent at the implicit level. These results suggest a dual process of intuitive and deliberate cognition, particularly involving social categories, with implications concerning the bases of stereotypes and prejudices.
Using owl pellets to infer habitat associations and clarify the regional distribution of a cryptic shrew
Authors: Biedma L. , Román J. , Godoy J. A. , Calzada J.
Published: March 2019

Accurate knowledge of the distribution of rare species remains a great challenge in conservation biology because these species are prone to extinction and the number of species becoming rare is increasing. However, the distribution of rare species is usually difficult to delimit because of their low abundances and/or small distribution ranges. These difficulties are even greater when they are sympatric with morphologically similar species that can lead to identification errors. Here, we use barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets to infer, indirectly, potential habitat associations of the lesser white‐toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens) in the Gulf of Cádiz, south‐western Iberia and to clarify the distribution of the species in this region. In the Gulf of Cádiz, C. suaveolens is a rare species that lives in sympatry with its congener, the greater white‐toothed shrew (Crocidura russula), a much more abundant and extremely similar species. Through several indirect lines of evidence we inferred a possible association of C. suaveolens with tidal marsh habitat. This was a very surprising finding since C. suaveolens is a habitat generalist throughout its global distribution range. The species presented a highly restricted distribution in the Gulf of Cádiz occurring only in four tidal marshes. The causes of this limited distribution remain poorly understood to date, but our results are consistent with the hypothesis that C. suaveolens was displaced to tidal marshes through competitive exclusion by C. russula, although the geomorphological history of the tidal marshes of the Gulf of Cádiz may also explain its regional distribution and the phylogeographical patterns recently described in the region.
Evolutionary genomics of gypsy moth populations sampled along a latitudinal gradient
Authors: Friedline Christopher J. , Faske Trevor M. , Lind Brandon M. , Hobson Erin M. , Parry Dylan , Dyer Rodney J. , Johnson Derek M. , Thompson Lily M. , Grayson Kristine L. , Eckert Andrew J.
Published: March 2019

The European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) was first introduced to Massachusetts in 1869 and within 150 years has spread throughout eastern North America. This large‐scale invasion across a heterogeneous landscape allows examination of the genetic signatures of adaptation potentially associated with rapid geographical spread. We tested the hypothesis that spatially divergent natural selection has driven observed changes in three developmental traits that were measured in a common garden for 165 adult moths sampled from six populations across a latitudinal gradient covering the entirety of the range. We generated genotype data for 91,468 single nucleotide polymorphisms based on double digest restriction‐site associated DNA sequencing and used these data to discover genome‐wide associations for each trait, as well as to test for signatures of selection on the discovered architectures. Genetic structure across the introduced range of gypsy moth was low in magnitude (FST = 0.069), with signatures of bottlenecks and spatial expansion apparent in the rare portion of the allele frequency spectrum. Results from applications of Bayesian sparse linear mixed models were consistent with the presumed polygenic architectures of each trait. Further analyses indicated spatially divergent natural selection acting on larval development time and pupal mass, with the linkage disequilibrium component of this test acting as the main driver of observed patterns. The populations most important for these signals were two range‐edge populations established less than 30 generations ago. We discuss the importance of rapid polygenic adaptation to the ability of non‐native species to invade novel environments.
Globalization: Current Issues and Future Research Directions
Authors: Janssens Maddy , Maddux William W. , Nguyen ToTran
Published: March 2019

In this paper, we propose a research agenda for psychologists in general, and scholars of culture and negotiations in particular, to address the key challenges of dealing with an increasingly globalized world from a psychological perspective. Building on an understanding of globalization in terms of cultural and subjective matters, we propose three research domains in which psychology scholars can contribute to a further understanding of our global society: (a) the effects of global contact on cognition and behavior; (b) hybridization and human agency; and (c) new forms of cooperation. In each domain, we start with a particular key tenet within the globalization or cosmopolitan literature and then develop research questions that connect human experience and human behavior with globalization. We conclude with research implications.
Analyzing variations in changes over time: development of the Pattern‐Oriented Longitudinal Analysis approach
Authors: Kneck Åsa , Audulv Åsa
Published: March 2019

Longitudinal qualitative research in nursing is rare but becoming more common. Data collection and analysis over time provide some intriguing possibilities to better understand processes, development, and change in illness experience, healthcare organizations, and self‐management. This paper aims to present a process for analyzing qualitative longitudinal data material, namely the Pattern‐Oriented Longitudinal Analysis approach (POLA). We developed this approach after synthesizing experiences from two longitudinal qualitative projects and comparing our procedures and reflections with the relevant literature. Using the POLA approach, researchers can describe complexity and variation in changes over time. During the analysis process, emphasis is put on visualizing and identifying change at both an individual and a group level. Ontological and epistemological assumptions for the approach are also described. The benefit of this approach is the possibility to describe complexity and diversity in processes over time, which is important for the development of nursing knowledge. The analysis approach can be further used and developed by researchers seeking to understand variance or contextual features in processes and changes over time.
Correlation Between Conditional Approval and Customized Bone Implant Devices
Authors: Guo Xiao‐lei , Liu Bin , Lu Zhong
Published: March 2019

This report aims to summarize key concerns regarding customized devices and conditional approval during the premarket evaluation of bone implants, and to explore the correlation between them. Based on the experience of approval of the first domestic custom‐designed bone implant, we consider the process of gaining conditional approval for urgently‐needed medical devices and medical devices for rare diseases, as well as the guidance available for clinical investigation. We also streamlined the scientifically administrative concept of this unique device, from the design and development of premarket technical evaluation to continuous post‐market study. The present study found that those two aspects have certain connections, but they are not directly correlated to each other. In contrast to the USA, Canada, Australia and the EU, where regulations and guidelines have been established for the use of customized devices, in this regard, China is still it its infancy. Thus, there is considerable potential for China to develop and perfect the policies relating to customized devices and to develop relevant strategies to ensure their efficacy with the aid of conditional approval. Appropriate scientific conditional approval for mass production of individualized anatomy‐matching bone implants could become a valuable approach for precision medicine.
Regression‐type models for extremal dependence
Authors: Mhalla L. , de Carvalho M. , Chavez‐Demoulin V.
Published: March 2019

We propose a vector generalized additive modeling framework for taking into account the effect of covariates on angular density functions in a multivariate extreme value context. The proposed methods are tailored for settings where the dependence between extreme values may change according to covariates. We devise a maximum penalized log‐likelihood estimator, discuss details of the estimation procedure, and derive its consistency and asymptotic normality. The simulation study suggests that the proposed methods perform well in a wealth of simulation scenarios by accurately recovering the true covariate‐adjusted angular density. Our empirical analysis reveals relevant dynamics of the dependence between extreme air temperatures in two alpine resorts during the winter season.
Modern slavery response and recognition training
Authors: Metcalf Elizabeth P , Selous Camilla
Published: March 2019

Background

Modern slavery is the recruitment and movement of people by force, coercion, deception or abuse of vulnerability for the purposes of exploitation. Modern slavery is a serious violation of human rights with significant negative physical and mental health consequences. Health care professionals are in a unique position to identify, safeguard, make appropriate referrals and meet the health needs of victims of such exploitation when they access health care. Moreover, there are significant legal, professional and ethical obligations for health care professionals regarding responding to modern slavery.

Methods

We designed a two‐part teaching session for undergraduate medical students at Cardiff University. Part 1 provided students with sufficient content information regarding the different types of modern slavery and pathways of referral. Part 2 provided training for students to communicate safely and effectively with these vulnerable patients. Student evaluation data were collected following the teaching.

Results

Quantitative and free text analysis confirmed that student confidence in recognising and understanding the action expected of them improved significantly following the teaching.

Discussion

Recent research indicates a serious shortfall in knowledge and confidence amongst health care professionals in the UK. Undergraduate medical education is a strategic point for training regarding people trafficking, yet medical education on people trafficking is variable and often absent in the UK. Although challenging in terms of content and governance, this teaching innovation appeared to be successful in raising the students’ awareness of an increasingly common problem in the UK, helping to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively identify and safely manage consultations involving potential victims of modern slavery.
Effects of blood storage age on immune, coagulation, and nitric oxide parameters in transfused patients undergoing cardiac surgery
Authors: Spinella Philip C. , Sniecinski Roman M. , Trachtenberg Felicia , Inglis Heather C. , Ranganathan Gayatri , Heitman John W. , Szlam Fania , Danesh Ali , Stone Mars , Keating Sheila M. , Levy Jerrold H. , Assmann Susan F. , Steiner Marie E. , Doctor Allan , Norris Philip J.
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

Retrospective studies suggested that storage age of RBCs is associated with inflammation and thromboembolism. The Red Cell Storage Duration Study (RECESS) trial randomized subjects undergoing complex cardiac surgery to receive RBCs stored for shorter versus longer periods, and no difference was seen in the primary outcome of change in multiple organ dysfunction score.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

In the current study, 90 subjects from the RECESS trial were studied intensively using a range of hemostasis, immunologic, and nitric oxide parameters. Samples were collected before transfusion and on Days 2, 6, 28, and 180 after transfusion.

RESULTS

Of 71 parameters tested, only 4 showed a significant difference after transfusion between study arms: CD8+ T‐cell interferon‐γ secretion and the concentration of extracellular vesicles bearing the B‐cell marker CD19 were higher, and plasma endothelial growth factor levels were lower in recipients of fresh versus aged RBCs. Plasma interleukin‐6 was higher at Day 2 and lower at Days 6 and 28 in recipients of fresh versus aged RBCs. Multiple parameters showed significant modulation after surgery and transfusion. Most analytes that changed after surgery did not differ based on transfusion status. Several extracellular vesicle markers, including two associated with platelets (CD41a and CD62P), decreased in transfused patients more than in those who underwent surgery without transfusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Transfusion of fresh versus aged RBCs does not result in substantial changes in hemostasis, immune, or nitric oxide parameters. It is possible that transfusion modulates the level of platelet‐derived extracellular vesicles, which will require study of patients randomly assigned to receipt of transfusion to define.
Impact of Brassica juncea biofumigation on viability of propagules of pernicious weed species
Authors: De Cauwer B , Vanbesien J , De Ryck S , Reheul D
Published: March 2019

Biofumigation may be a promising tool for depletion of persistent weed seedbanks/bud banks. This technique is based on the incorporation of chopped glucosinolate‐rich plant biomass into the soil, upon which isothiocyanates with herbicidal properties are released. To gain acceptance by farmers and foster its implementation, the biofumigation process should be further optimised. This study elucidated the impact of biological (species), technical (burial depth, ground cover) and pedohydrological (temperature and moisture content) factors on efficacy of Brassica juncea biofumigation under (semi‐)natural conditions. In a first experiment (field experiment), seeds and vegetative propagules of various weed species were buried at different depths and exposed to different doses of fresh fine‐chopped B. juncea biomass in the presence or absence of a plastic ground cover. In a second experiment (container experiment), buried seeds of ten species were subjected to biofumigation at diverging soil organic matter content, soil moisture content and soil temperature. In a third experiment (dose–response Petri dish bioassay), unburied seeds of eight species were subjected to various doses of rehydrated B. juncea powder. Biofumigation efficacy was determined by analysing viability of treated and untreated propagules. In general, efficacy of biofumigation increased with decreasing burial depth and increasing B. juncea dose. Biofumigation was highly effective (mortality >85%) against small‐seeded species but less effective (mortality 0%–20%) against hard‐seeded and large‐seeded species at 200 t ha−1. Vegetative propagules of Sonchus arvensis, Equisetum arvense and Convolvulus sepium were highly sensitive (mortality >90%) to biofumigation. Efficacy was most pronounced under moist warm incubation conditions, in the presence of a plastic ground cover.
Isomorphism and matrix representation of point groups
Authors: Heng Fong Wan , Abdul Rahman Aqilahfarhana , Sarmin Nor Haniza
Published: March 2019

In chemistry, point group is a type of group used to describe the symmetry of molecules. It is a collection of symmetry elements controlled by a form or shape which all go through one point in space, which consists of all symmetry operations that are possible for every molecule. Next, a set of number or matrices which assigns to the elements of a group and represents the multiplication of the elements is said to constitute representation of a group. Here, each individual matrix is called a representative that corresponds to the symmetry operations of point groups, and the complete set of matrices is called a matrix representation of the group. This research was aimed to relate the symmetry in point groups with group theory in mathematics using the concept of isomorphism, where elements of point groups and groups were mapped such that the isomorphism properties were fulfilled. Then, matrix representations of point groups were found based on the multiplication table where symmetry operations were represented by matrices. From this research, point groups of order less than eight were shown to be isomorphic with groups in group theory. In addition, the matrix representation corresponding to the symmetry operations of these point groups wasis presented. This research would hence connect the field of mathematics and chemistry, where the relation between groups in group theory and point groups in chemistry were shown.
Optimization of phenol adsorption onto biochar from oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB)
Authors: Md Arshad Siti Hadjar , Ngadi Norzita , Wong Syieluing , Saidina Amin Noraishah , Razmi Fatin Amirah , Mohamed Nurul Balqis , Inuwa Ibrahim Mohammed , Abdul Aziz Astimar
Published: March 2019

Malaysia, as one of the leading palm oil producers in the world faces problems in disposal of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB), which can be converted into various value-added products, including adsorbents. This study investigated the adsorption of phenol from its solution using biochar produced from EFB through carbonization. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Box-Behnken design was used to investigate the effects of three parameters (temperature, time and heating rate) during carbonization on phenol removal by the biochar produced. This was followed by process optimization based on statistical analysis. The results indicated that the optimized carbonization conditions were; 500 °C for temperature, 10 °C/min of heating rate and 80 min for reaction time, which led to 7.57% of phenol removal. SEM revealed coarse and uneven surface of the biochar surface, with small degree of pore development. Comparison between FTIR spectrum of EFB and biochar revealed the loss of water and hydroxyl compounds from EFB during carbonization. The lack of oxygenated groups (especially carbonyl groups) on the adsorbent surface as well as limited number of pores were the possible reasons leading to low phenol adsorption by biochar, therefore conversion of the biochar to activated carbon was necessary for higher adsorption performance.
Perfil de pacientes con cáncer en un centro de oncología en Bogotá
Authors: Carrillo González Gloria Mabel , Santamaría Narda Patricia , Sánchez Herrera Beatriz , García Lilia Esperanza
Published: March 2019

Introducción: La experiencia de vivir con un cáncer repercute significativamente en la vida, pues afecta todo el ser, lo que demanda de enfermería comprender las características del cuidado de las personas y de sus seres queridos para poderlo cuidar. Objetivo: Describir y comparar la caracterización para el cuidado de los pacientes con cáncer. Método: Estudio descriptivo comparativo realizado con 131 pacientes con cáncer atendidos en tres servicios oncológicos, determinando el perfil sociodemográfico, la carga percibida y la apropiación de las tecnologías para el cuidado. El análisis se realizó utilizando estadística descriptiva, la comparación con prueba chi cuadrado y de Kruskal-Wallis. Resultados: Predomina el género femenino, edad promedio de 54 años (SD 17,4), baja dependencia y estado cognitivo intacto, baja escolaridad, falta de ocupación laboral, nivel socioeconómico bajo y alto nivel de apoyo familiar. La percepción de bienestar es positiva en el aspecto físico, social y espiritual, para la mayoría. La apropiación de las tecnologías es media. Excepto por algunas variaciones, los pacientes presentan condiciones comunes para el cuidado. Conclusión: Los pacientes perciben apoyo, en especial familiar, bienestar físico, social y espiritual, excepto psicológico, lo que permite planear un cuidado de enfermería que garantice mejor acceso, seguridad y continuidad.
El lenguaje estandarizado enfermero: conocimiento, historia y perspectiva para el cuidado materno-perinatal
Authors: Pulido Acuña Gloria Paulina , Vergara Escobar Oscar Javier , Montenegro Ramirez Juan David , González Salazar Carlos Andrés , Ortiz Acosta Yeimi Johana
Published: March 2019

las gestantes hospitalizadas en los servicios materno-perinatales requieren la intervención del personal de enfermería con un lenguaje estandarizado que permitan fomentar cuidados con calidad, basados en la identificación de problemas, a través de diagnósticos, intervenciones y resultados. Objetivo: describir los hallazgos registrados en la literatura científica sobre el uso del lenguaje estandarizado enfermero, como estrategia para fomentar el cuidado a la gestante en los servicios materno-perinatales. Métodos: revisión sistemática de artículos científicos publicados entre los años 1994 y 2013 en español, inglés y portugués en bases de datos. Se realizó una búsqueda de la literatura científica inicialmente con vigencia mínima de 5 años, seleccionando 56 artículos, analizados bajo el método de Hoyos. Conclusiones: los resultados permiten establecer la información en 4 categorías: que hacen alusión al Conocimiento Contemporáneo de Enfermería (CCE), Proceso de Atención de Enfermería (PAE), Historia del lenguaje estandarizado de enfermería y  perspectivas para la aplicación del LEE en el cuidado materno-perinatal,  planteando la sinergia de una propuesta de articulación de Educación, Práctica e Investigación, denominado (EPI), la que pretende fortalecer el saber enfermero.  Palabras clave: lenguaje estandarizado, gestante, intervenciones de enfermería,  cuidado, bienestar materno, proceso de enfermería, materno, perinatal, conocimiento contemporáneo
Percepción que tienen las gestantes sobre el cuidado de enfermería en la atención prenata
Authors: Vesga Gualdrón Lucy Marcela , Ruiz de Cárdenas Carmen Helena
Published: March 2019

Introducción: Favorecer la adherencia al control prenatal es necesario para mejorar la salud materno-perinatal. El cuidado humano que ofrece enfermería es determinante. Objetivo: Describir la percepción de las mujeres gestantes frente a las competencias técnicas, cognitivas y la capacidad de los profesionales de enfermería de dar cuidado humanizado durante la atención prenatal. Método: Diseño descriptivo de corte trasversal, que empleó una muestra de 150 gestantes, abordadas de manera secuencial, seleccionadas por conveniencia, provenientes de cuatro centros de atención distintos, adscritos a un hospital de Bogotá, Colombia, durante el periodo junio-agosto de 2013. Se empleó la Escala de Cuidado Profesional fundada en la teoría El cuidado para el bienestar del otro, que permite identificar las habilidades técnicas y de cuidado humano. Resultados: El cuidado profesional fue calificado como excelente; sin embargo, existen elementos del cuidado humano que deben reconocerse. La habilidad para permitir la expresión de sentimientos, la escucha y la atención sin reproches o críticas a las condiciones particulares de las mujeres son valoradas de manera positiva y pueden modificar la percepción de la competencia cognitiva del profesional. Conclusiones: Estos atributos del cuidado humano pueden ser determinantes en la adherencia al control prenatal y su importancia debe ser reconocida por los profesionales sanitarios.
A New Result on Fractional Differential Inequality and Applications to Control of Dynamical Systems
Authors: Hoa Ngo Van , Duc Tran Minh , Vu Ho
Published: March 2019

In this work, we establish a new estimate result for fractional differential inequality, and this inequality is used to derive a robust sliding mode control law for the fractional-order (FO) dynamic systems. The sliding mode control law is provided to make the states of the system asymptotically stable. Some examples are given to illustrate the results.
Position Control of Pneumatic System Using High Gain and Backstepping Controllers
Authors: Hajji S. , Ayadi A. , Smaoui M. , Maatoug T. , Farza M. , M'saad M.
Published: March 2019

This paper investigates the applicability of two state feedback controllers for a class of uniformly controllable and observable nonlinear systems. The first one is based on an appropriate high gain control principle that has been developed by duality from the high gain observer principle. The state feedback control gain is particularly provided by a synthesis function satisfying a well-defined condition, leading thereby to a unification of the high gain control designs. The second one is a backstepping controller that has been developed from a suitable combination of the backstepping control approach bearing in mind the high gain control principle pursued for the first controller design. A common engineering design feature that is worth to be mentioned consists in properly formulating their underlying control problems as a regulation problem involving a suitable reference model with respect to the structure of the system as well as the control design principle under consideration. Of fundamental interest, the involved reference model is systematically derived thanks to the flatness and backstepping principles using an appropriate Lyapunov approach. An experimental evaluation is carried out to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed nonlinear controllers.
The Geometrical Arrangement of Knee Constraints That Makes Natural Motion Possible: Theoretical and Experimental Analysis
Authors: Conconi Michele , Sancisi Nicola , Parenti-Castelli Vincenzo
Published: March 2019

The study of the knee natural motion, namely the unresisted motion that the knee exhibits in the absence of external loads, provides insights into the physiology of this articulation. The natural motion represents the baseline condition upon which deformations of its passive structures (i.e., ligaments and cartilage) take place when loads are applied. Moreover, during natural motion, the strain energy density stored within ligaments and cartilage is minimized. This reduces the chance of microdamage occurrences and the corresponding metabolic cost for tissue repairing. The study of the knee natural motion is thus fundamental in understanding the joint physiology. This paper shows that the line of action of resultant forces of all the knee constraints provided by the passive structures must intersect the instantaneous helical axis (IHA) to make the knee natural motion possible. In other words, the lines of action of all these constraints must cross the same line at each flexion angle to guarantee the natural motion of the joint. This geometrical property is first proven theoretically and then verified in four in vitro and one in vivo experiments. The geometrical characterization of the knee natural motion presented in this study provides a fundamental property that must be satisfied to allow the correct joint mobility. The knowledge of this property may thus allow the definition of better models, treatments, and devices.
A Proof-of-Concept Demonstration for a Novel Soft Ventricular Assist Device
Authors: Gharaie Saleh H. , Amir Moghadam Amir Ali , Al'Aref Subhi J. , Caprio Alexandre , Alaie Seyedhamidreza , Zgaren Mohamed , Min James K. , Dunham Simon , Mosadegh Bobak
Published: March 2019

Patients treated by current ventricular assist devices (VADs) suffer from various post implantation complications including gastrointestinal bleeding and arteriovenous malformation. These issues are related to intrinsically mismatch of generated flow by VADs and the physiological flow. In addition, the common primary drawback of available VADs is excessive surgical dissection during implantation, which limits these devices to less morbid patients. We investigated an alternative soft VAD (SVAD) system that generates physiological flow, and designed to be implanted using minimally invasive surgery by leveraging soft materials. A soft VAD (which is an application of intraventricular balloon pump) is developed by utilizing a polyurethane balloon, which generates pulsatile flow by displacing volume within the left ventricle during its inflation and deflation phases. Our results show that the SVAD system generates an average ejection fraction of 50.18 ± 1.52% (n = 6 ± SD) in explanted porcine hearts. Since the SVAD is implanted via the apex of the heart, only a minithoracotomy should be required for implantation. Our results suggest that the SVAD system has the performance characteristics that could potentially make it useful for patients in acute and/or chronic heart failure, thus serving as a bridge-to-transplantation or bridge-to-recovery.
No-Load Stability Analysis of Pump Turbine at Startup-Grid Integration Process
Authors: Zhao Ziwen , Zhang Hao , Chen Diyi , Gao Xiang
Published: March 2019

This paper focuses on no-load stability during startup-grid integration process. First, no-load operating dynamic character under startup-grid integration process is studied by bifurcation diagram, based on a classical pumped storage plant model. Second, the no-load stability of pump turbine was analyzed by introducing step disturbance and slopes. Finally, the results indicate that the no-load operating point is easy to be disturbed and some factors, such as different disturbance intensity and slopes, have different influence on no-load stability. These methods and results will supply theoretical basis for operating the pumped storage plant steadily.
Investigation of the Integrated Model of Side Chamber, Wear-Rings Clearance, and Balancing Holes for Centrifugal Pumps
Authors: Zhang Sen , Li Huaxing , Xi Deke
Published: March 2019

The characteristics of radial pressure distribution inside side chamber and leakage flow through balancing holes of centrifugal pumps are very important for accurately predicting the axial thrust produced by a balancing system. Therefore, a rapid and sufficiently accurate calculation method is required. An integrated model describing the characteristics of radial pressure distribution inside side chamber and leakage flow rate through balancing holes was established. In this model, the correction coefficient of liquid pressure at side chamber entrance and the discharge coefficient of balancing holes were obtained by experiment. The IS 80-50-315 type single-suction, single-stage, and cantilevered centrifugal pump with the structure of double wear-rings and balancing holes was employed as a model to investigate the characteristics of internal liquid flow of the balancing system. Under different pump flow rates, pump performance curves, radial pressure distribution inside side chamber, and leakage flow rate through balancing holes were examined with different balancing hole diameters. Afterward, the experimental data were compared with the predicted results. The comparisons showed a reasonable consistency. Consequently, according to detailed pump dimensions and operating conditions, the integrated model in current form is recommended for centrifugal pumps, which have low specific speed and are with balancing systems of double wear-rings and balancing holes. This can be used for the prediction of radial pressure distribution inside side chamber and leakage flow rate through balancing holes and can be used both at the design stage and nondesign stage.