bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La formation continue numérisée face à ses discontinuités
Authors: Boboc Anca , Metzger Jean-Luc
Published: March 2019

Dans un contexte caractérisé par la volonté d’accroître la responsabilisation individuelle des salariés dans l’acquisition et le maintien de leurs compétences professionnelles, l’utilisation du numérique apparaît aux yeux de certains décideurs comme une solution pertinente pour former leurs employés plus rapidement et en lien plus direct avec la stratégie des entreprises. Mais au-delà des principes séduisants, que montrent les expérimentations en cours ?

Pour apporter des éléments de réponse, nous nous appuyons dans cet article sur une enquête qualitative réalisée auprès des apprenants et des formateurs qui ont suivi — voire, pour certains, qui ont mis en place — une formation à distance entièrement numérisée (Corporate Open Online Courses ou COOC) au sein d’une grande entreprise. Nous pointons l’importance du taux d’abandon chez les apprenants, les difficultés des formateurs à exercer leur nouveau rôle d’animateur, et soulignons les discontinuités que la numérisation de la formation induit sur les espace-temps de travail et sur les interconnaissances professionnelles. Nous montrons également que ces discontinuités ont des effets différenciés sur les capacités d’apprentissage des salariés. Grâce à l’approche par les capacités d’Amartya Sen, nous interprétons ces constats en termes de facteurs de conversion (environnementaux, sociaux, individuels). Nous soutenons que c’est l’absence de ces trois catégories de facteurs qui explique, pour les apprenants et pour les formateurs, les discontinuités rencontrées et les inégalités dans la maîtrise des nouveaux dispositifs de formation. Enfin, nous esquissons des pistes pour repenser la numérisation de la formation continue, afin de réduire les risques d’inégalités sociales cristallisées autour de ce type de dispositifs technico-pédagogiques.
Maior nível tecnológico e escala de produção propiciam melhor qualidade do leite e menor ocorrência de mastite bovina?
Authors: Quadros Danilo Gusmão de , Andrade Alexandro Pereira , Silva Guilherme Augusto Vieira da , Kanematsu Carlos Hideo
Published: March 2019

Objetivou-se avaliar alguns parâmetros da composição físico-química e da qualidade microbiológica do leite cru e a ocorrência de mastite no rebanho leiteiro de propriedades com três diferentes escalas de produção e níveis tecnológicos: < 100 - baixo, 100 - 200 - médio, > 200 litros/dia - alto. O trabalho foi realizado em 15 fazendas de Barreiras/BA, com coletas de dados mensais durante um ano, entre os meses de outubro de 2007 e setembro de 2008. Foi adotado delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema de parcela subdividida no tempo. Os teores de extrato seco total variaram de 9,6 a 11,9%, com alta frequência de amostras abaixo do mínimo regulamentar, o que pode comprometer o rendimento dos produtos lácteos. Em geral, os valores da densidade apresentaram-se dentro das normas vigentes. As análises de acidez titulável e teste de redutase revelaram resultados preocupantes em propriedades com maiores escalas de produção e nível tecnológico. A contagem de células somáticas variou ao longo do ano, sem um efeito marcante da estação chuvosa ou seca sobre os resultados. As fazendas com maior nível tecnológico e de escala de produção, consideradas mais especializadas, apresentaram os maiores índices de mastite clínica e subclínica e pior qualidade do leite.
ИНСТИТУЦИОНАЛНИ ОКВИР И РАЗВОЈНИ АСПЕКТИ ЗАШТИЋЕНИХПОДРУЧЈА У РЕПУБЛИЦИ СРПСКОЈ
Authors: Гњато Рајк , Живак Неда , Медар-Тањга Ирена
Published: March 2019

У раду се дефинише улога надлежних институција и законодавства Републике Српске у проблематици заштићених подручја. У вези са овим, дат је и критички осврт на позиционираност заштићених подручја у просторно-планској документацији. Такође, предложене су смјернице и активности с циљем очувања и одрживог развоја заштићених подручја.
ИНФОРМАЦИОНЕ ТЕХНОЛОГИЈЕ У НАСТАВНОМ ПРОЦЕСУ НА ВИСОКООБРАЗОВНИМ ИНСТИТУЦИЈАМА
Authors: Тањга Митја
Published: March 2019

Информационе технологије (ИТ) су програми и рачунарска техника који служе да се обави неки посао. На високообразовним институцијама ово се у првом реду, односи на наставни процес. Рад приказује стање заступљености ИТ-а у наставном процесу, као и анализу потреба за ИТ и проблема који се јављају приликом увођења ИТ у наставни процес. Истраживање је проведено на примјеру Природно-математичког факултета (ПМФ) у Бањој Луци. Рад, такође, даје и смјернице за достизање жељеног стања заступљености ИТ у наставном процесу како на факултету, тако и на Унивезитету у цјелини.
НЕКИ АСПЕКТИ ТРАНСФОРМАЦИЈЕ АГРАРНИХ ПОВРШИНА У ФУНКЦИОНАЛНОМ ПОДРУЧЈУ ГРАДИШКЕ
Authors: Живковић Миленко
Published: March 2019

Радом се актуелизира проблематика просторног развоја и планирања аграрних површина у функционалном подручју Градишке, детерминисана факторима одрживог развоја. У том контексту сагледана је улога развојног центра Градишка, и њен значај у организацији, кориштењу и уређењу аграрног простора.
ОДРЖИВИ РУРАЛНИ РАЗВОЈ И ЖИВОТНА СРЕДИНАРЕПУБЛИКЕ СРПСКЕ
Authors: Гњато Рајко , Поповић Срђа , Поповић Горан , Трбић Горан
Published: March 2019

Одрживи развој је сложена појмовна категорија. Односи на природне, социјалне, економске и еколошке аспекте одрживости. Укључује и одрживост руралног развоја као подсистема економске и социјалне одрживости тијесно везаног за животну средину, посебно за њене еколошке аспекте. Циљеви одрживог развоја усмјерени су на потребе садашњих али не на рачун будућих генерација. Препреке одрживом развоју, мисли се и на његову руралну компоненту, најчешће су економске природе. У тијесној су вези и са политикама општег и регионалног развоја, законодавним и институционалним оквиром, стратегијама развоја, инфраструктурним системима и сл. Добар примјер одрживог руралног развоја и одрживе животне средине су развијене земље ЕУ. Одговарајуће развојне политике и законодавни оквир ЕУ су кључне претпоставке одрживог развоја. Зато рурални развој Републике Српске, и БиХ у цјелини, треба темељити на позитивним искуствима и пракси поменуте асоцијације, а развојне шансе су у пољопривреди, шумарству, водопривреди, туризму, ловству и сл.
ЗЕМЉЕ И ГРАДОВИ ЗАПАДНОГ БАЛКАНА У X ВЕКУ ПРЕМА ДЕЛУ КОНСТАНТИНА ПОРФИРОГЕНИТА, ПРИКАЗАНИ НА КАРТИ ГИЈОМА ДЕ ЛИЛА ПОЧЕТКОМ XVIIIВЕКА
Authors: Грчић Мирко , Грчић Љиљана
Published: March 2019

У овом раду се расправља о перцепцији земаља и градова западног Балкана X века по Константину VII Порфирогениту, према карти Де Лила и неким новијим сазнањима на пољу историјске географије. Циљ овога рада је да размотри карту западног Балкана половином 10. века и да идентификује прве словенске „насељене градове“, на основу два међусобно повезана извора. Први извор је дело Константина VII Порфирогенита De administrando Imperio, настало средином 10. века, а други је до сада мало проучена али драгоцена карта француског картографа Гијом де Лила (Guillaume del' isle) „Источна империја и околни региони према Константину Порфирогениту“. Карта је израђена око 1718. године према коментару бенедиктинца и истакнутог историчара Анселма Бандурија, пореклом из Дубровника, аутора обимног дела које је ушло у Париски корпус, заједно са новим издањем чувеног Порфирогенитовог списа.
ОДРЕЂИВАЊЕ ГЕОИДА НА ПОДРУЧЈУ РЕПУБЛИКЕ СРПСКЕ ПРИМЈЕНОМ ГЛОБАЛНОГ ГЕОПОТЕНЦИЈАЛНОГ МОДЕЛА ЕGМ2008
Authors: Васић Дејан , Васиљевић Славко , Секуловић Драгољуб
Published: March 2019

Концепт геоида је од великог значаја угеодезији и геонаукама уопште. Као еквипотенцијална површ, геоид има фундаментални значај у дефинисању појмова хоризонталног и вертикалног. У пракси се користи као референтна површ за неколико система висина, за проучавање унутрашње грађе Земље и за позиционирање. У зависности од расположивих података, данас је могуће прецизно одређивање геоида како у приобалним, тако и у континенталним подручјима. У раду је обрађен проблем одређивањаундулације геоида, са практичним примјером одређивања на подручју Бања Луке и сјеверозападног дијела Републике Српске.
In silico analysis of miR-137 transcription inhibition in homozygous (T/T) schizophrenic patients: a pilot study.
Authors: Esmaile Stephany C , Sousa Bruno G , Blaha Carlos A G , Oliveira Jonas I N
Published: March 2019

MicroRNA miR-137 single nucleotide polymorphism (rs1625579 SNP) is strongly associated with the worsening of schizophrenia symptoms and is involved in miR-137 gene suppression. MicroRNA miR-137 regulates synaptogenesis, neural plasticity and suppresses a variety of cancertypes. Based on in silico predictions of the current MIR137 Host Gene with and without the SNP, it can be hypothesized that the mutation reversibly inhibits miR-137 gene transcription by steric hindrance due to an alteration on DNA conformation, stability, electrostatic potential, and transcription factor binding sites.
Coleoptera genome and transcriptome sequences reveal numerous differences in neuropeptide signaling between species
Authors: Veenstra Jan A
Published: March 2019

Background. Insect neuropeptides are interesting for the potential their receptors hold as plausible targets for a novel generation of pesticides. Neuropeptide genes have been identified in a number of different species belonging to a variety of insects. Results suggest significant neuropeptide variation between different orders, but much less is known of neuropeptidome variability within an insect order. I therefore compared the neuropeptidomes of a number of Coleoptera. Methodology. Publicly available genome sequences, transcriptomes and the original sequence data in the form of short sequence read archives (SRAs) were analyzed for the presence or absence of genes coding neuropeptides as well as some neuropeptide receptors in seventeen beetle species. Results. Significant differences exist between the Coleoptera analyzed here, while many neuropeptides that were previously characterized from Tribolium castaneum appear very similar in all species, some are not and others are lacking in one or more species. On the other hand, leucokinin, which was presumed to be universally absent from Coleoptera, is still present in non-Polyphaga beetles. Conclusion. The variability in neuropeptidome composition between insect species from from the same insect order may be as large as the one that exists between species from different orders.
Intermodal Terminal Handling Equipment Selection Using a Fuzzy Multi-criteria Decision-making Model
Authors: Krstić Mladen Dragan , Tadić Snežana Radoman , Brnjac Nikolina , Zečević Slobodan
Published: March 2019

Intermodal transport enables energy, costs and time savings, improves the service quality and supports sustainable development. The basic element of the intermodal transport system is an intermodal terminal, whose efficiency largely depends on the subsystems’ technologies. Accordingly, the topic of this paper is the evaluation and the selection of the appropriate handling equipment within the intermodal terminal. As the decision-making on the handling equipment is influenced by different economic, technical, technological and other criteria, the appropriate multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods have to be applied in order to solve the problem. In this paper, a novel hybrid model which combines the fuzzy step-wise weight assessment ratio analysis (FSWARA) and the fuzzy best-worst method (FBWM) is developed. The defined model is applied for solving the case study of selecting adequate handling equipment for the planned intermodal terminal in Belgrade. The reach stacker is selected as the most adequate handling equipment since it suits best the characteristics of the planned terminal in the given conditions and in relation to the defined criteria. Solving the case study demonstrated the justification for using the MCDM methods to solve these kinds of problems as well as the applicability of the proposed MCDM model.
Dynamic control of hippocampal spatial coding resolution by local visual cues
Authors: Bourboulou Romain , Marti Geoffrey , Michon François-Xavier , El Feghaly Elissa , Nouguier Morgane , Robbe David , Koenig Julie , Epsztein Jerome
Published: March 2019

The ability to flexibly navigate an environment relies on a hippocampal-dependent cognitive map. External space can be internally mapped at different spatial resolutions. However, whether hippocampal spatial coding resolution can rapidly adapt to local features of an environment remains unclear. To explore this possibility, we recorded the firing of hippocampal neurons in mice navigating virtual reality environments, embedding or not local visual cues (virtual 3D objects) in specific locations. Virtual objects enhanced spatial coding resolution in their vicinity with a higher proportion of place cells, smaller place fields, increased spatial selectivity and stability. This effect was highly dynamic upon objects manipulations. Objects also improved temporal coding resolution through improved theta phase precession and theta timescale spike coordination. We propose that the fast adaptation of hippocampal spatial coding resolution to local features of an environment could be relevant for large-scale navigation.
All Roads Lead to Rome: Discretionary Reasoning on Medically Objective Injuries at the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Offices
Authors: Håvold Ole Kristian Sandnes
Published: March 2019

Discretion may challenge the formal principle of justice as it may involve unequal treatment of the same type of case. This article explores the discretionary reasoning exhibited by the frontline workers at different Norwegian Labour and Welfare offices (NAV) towards the same fictitious case. Frontline workers participate in a focus group where they are presented with a vignette concerning the case of a user with medically objective findings, that is, a severe head injury. The analysis focuses on the reasoning of the frontline workers before they come up with a suggestion as to how to proceed with the case. The findings demonstrate that while different avenues are pursued in the reasoning of the focus groups, the same conclusion is reached as to the treatment of the case. The article argues that the institutional logic which guides the frontline workers actions infers the reasoning process through a “norm of action” that states how it ought to be done.
Interdisciplinary Promises and Hierarchical Ambiguities in a Danish Hospital Context
Authors: Hindhede Anette Lykke , Andersen Vibeke
Published: March 2019

The public health sector in welfare states is increasingly subject to organisational changes, particularly in hospitals, as organisations comprise coali-tions of various (healthcare) professionals. In this context, due to interprofessional competition, knowledge claims play an important role in achieving jurisdictional control. In this paper, we investigate the manifestations of and health professionals’ reactions to competing institutional discourses. Through qualitative interviews with hospital management, middle managers, and staff employees at three hospitals in Denmark, we demonstrate how managerial attempts to control tenacious profes-sional bureaucracies are exercised through both bureaucratic forms of control and cultural-ideological modes of control with an introduction of new discourses of in-terprofessional teamwork. The findings suggest that hospitals seek not only to con-tain ambiguity through bureaucratic features of control, but also to cultivate it when seeking to strengthen cooperation between professions. Thereby, ambiguity itself becomes a mechanism for management.
Civil Society and Professions: US Civic and Politicized Lawyering
Authors: Flam Helena
Published: March 2019

It is important to include civil society in the purview of the sociology of professions because many professionals and professions interact not just with the state and the market but also with civil society actors. Moreover, members of professions engage in civic action and political activism not just as citizens or single professionals but also as the (founding or regular) members of their professional associations. They also establish think-tanks, research and counseling centres, consortia, and on occasion even citizen initiatives or social movements. Professional life can be explored more comprehensively when these professional interactions and activities are included in the analysis. The text provides a standard definition of professions, argues for considering professions’ role in civil society, defines civil society, and draws on US research on civic and political lawyering to buttress its arguments. Some examples from other professions are also offered.
Mitochondrial complex activity in permeabilised cells of chronic fatigue syndrome patients using two cell types
Authors: Tomas Cara , Brown Audrey E. , Newton Julia L. , Elson Joanna L.
Published: March 2019

Abnormalities in mitochondrial function have previously been shown in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients, implying that mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to the pathogenesis of disease. This study builds on previous work showing that mitochondrial respiratory parameters are impaired in whole cells from CFS patients by investigating the activity of individual mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes. Two different cell types were used in these studies in order to assess individual complex activity locally in the skeletal muscle (myotubes) (n = 6) and systemically (peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)) (controln = 6; CFSn = 13). Complex I, II and IV activity and respiratory activitysupported by fatty acid oxidation and glutaminolysis were measured usingextracellular flux analysis. Cells were permeabilised and combinations of substrates and inhibitors were added throughout the assays to allow states of mitochondrial respiration to be calculated and the activity of specific aspects of respiratory activity to be measured. Results showed there to be no significant differences in individual mitochondrial complex activity or respiratory activity supported by fatty acid oxidation or glutaminolysis between healthy control and CFS cohorts in either skeletal muscle (p ≥ 0.190) or PBMCs (p ≥ 0.065). This is the first study to use extracellular flux analysisto investigate individual mitochondrial complex activity in permeabilised cells in the context of CFS. The lack of difference in complex activity in CFS PBMCs suggests that the previously observed mitochondrial dysfunction in whole PBMCs is due to causes upstream of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.
An interpretable machine learning model for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Das Diptesh , Ito Junichi , Kadowaki Tadashi , Tsuda Koji
Published: March 2019

We present an interpretable machine learning model for medical diagnosis called sparse high-order interaction model with rejection option (SHIMR). A decision tree explains to a patient the diagnosis with a long rule (i.e., conjunction of many intervals), while SHIMR employs a weighted sum of short rules. Using proteomics data of 151 subjects in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset, SHIMR is shown to be as accurate as other non-interpretable methods (Sensitivity, SN = 0.84 ± 0.1, Specificity, SP = 0.69 ± 0.15 and Area Under the Curve, AUC = 0.86 ± 0.09). For clinical usage, SHIMR has a function to abstain from making any diagnosis when it is not confident enough, so that a medical doctor can choose more accurate but invasive and/or more costly pathologies. The incorporation of a rejection option complements SHIMR in designing a multistage cost-effective diagnosis framework. Using a baseline concentration of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma proteins from a common cohort of 141 subjects, SHIMR is shown to be effective in designing a patient-specific cost-effective Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. Thus, interpretability, reliability and having the potential to design a patient-specific multistage cost-effective diagnosis framework can make SHIMR serve as an indispensable tool in the era of precision medicine that can cater to the demand of both doctors and patients, and reduce the overwhelming financial burden of medical diagnosis.
Use of Next Generation Sequencing to study two cowpox virus outbreaks
Authors: Antwerpen Markus H. , Georgi Enrico , Nikolic Alexandra , Zoeller Gudrun , Wohlsein Peter , Baumgärtner Wolfgang , Peyrefitte Christophe , Charrel Remi , Meyer Hermann
Published: March 2019

Background

Between 2008 and 2011 about 40 cases of human cowpox were reported from Germany and France. Infections had been acquired via close contact to infected, young pet rats. An identical and unique sequence of the hemagglutinin gene was found in various cowpox virus (CPXV) isolates pointing to a common source of infection. In a second CPXV outbreak in cats in a small animal clinic in Germany in 2015, four out of five hospitalized cats showed identical hemagglutinin sequences and thus, a hospital-acquired transmission had been assumed. Next-Generation Sequencing was performed in order to re-investigate the outbreaks, as epidemiological data could not confirm all cases.

Methods

Homogenates of lesion material from rats, cats and humans were cultivated in cell culture. The genomes of four virus isolates, nine CPXVs from our strain collections and from DNA of three paraffin-embedded lesion materials were determined by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). For phylogenetic analyses a MAFFT-alignment was generated. A distance matrix based on concatenated SNPs was calculated and plotted as dendrogram using Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic mean (UPGMA) for visualization.

Results

Aligning of about 200.000 nucleotides of 8 virus isolates associated with the pet rat outbreak revealed complete identity of six genomes, the remainder two genomes differed in as little as 3 SNPs. When comparing this dataset with four already published CPXV genomes also associated with the pet rat outbreak, again a maximum difference of 3 SNPs was found. The outbreak which lasted from 2008 till 2011 was indeed caused by a single strain which has maintained an extremely high level of clonality over 4 years. Aligning genomic sequences from four cases of feline cowpox revealed 3 identical sequences and one sequence which differed in 65 nucleotides. Although identical hemagglutinin sequences had been obtained from four hospitalized cats, genomic sequencing proved that a hospital-acquired transmission had occurred in only three cats.

Conclusion

Analyzing the rather short sequence of the hemagglutinin gene is not sufficient to conduct molecular trace back analyses. Instead, whole genome sequencing is the method of choice which can even be applied to paraffin-embedded specimens.
Gestão regional do turismo – participação e representatividade no Conselho Regional de Turismo das Agulhas Negras- RJ
Authors: Bantim Natasha Ribeiro , Fratucci Aguinaldo Cesar
Published: March 2019

Esse artigo objetiva analisar empiricamente um dos instrumentos de tomada de decisão e gestão de destinos turísticos indicado pelas políticas públicas brasileiras: a instância de governança regional. A relevância desse estudo reside no fato de que no caso do setor de turismo brasileiro, os estudos de políticas públicas abrangendo a composição dos agentes participantes, arenas, processos decisórios e seus efeitos ainda são incipientes. A instância aqui estudada apresenta-se em formato de Conselho Regional de Turismo (CONRETUR) da região Agulhas Negras- RJ, que se destaca por ter sido pioneira no Estado do Rio de Janeiro na constituição de um colegiado participativo em nível regional. Os resultados aqui apresentados são parciais de uma pesquisa de dissertação de mestrado e foram alcançados a partir de pesquisa bibliográfica acerca do turismo na Região das Agulhas Negras, análise documental em registros regionais, estaduais e federais e de entrevistas em profundidade realizada com lideranças do CONRETUR no primeiro semestre de 2017. A falta de participação e de representatividade dos membros do Conselho alinhados às dificuldades de gerir um território regionalizado e a alta dependência de membros da esfera pública constituem-se fatores decisivos para que essa instância de governança passe por momentos de dificuldade atualmente.
Evaluation of Eggplant (Solanum spp) Genotypes for Proline Accumulation in Drought Conditions of Ghana
Authors: Laary J. K. , Ofori K. , Kusi F. , Oppong-Sekyere D.
Published: March 2019

Sixteen (16) genotypes of eggplant (Solanum spp) were grown over two years in the Coastal and Sudan Savannah areas of Ghana to identify proline accumulation response patterns of the genotypes under dry season and drought-stressed conditions of Ghana. The experiment was conducted at Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) experimental farm, Manga, Bawku (Sudan Savannah Agro-ecology), and University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, experimental farm (Coastal Savannah Agro-ecology). At each agro-ecology, leaf samples of the genotypes were collected at the flowering stages of growth, dried, milled and assayed for their proline levels. The proline data for each location and season for the two year period were separately analyzed by general analysis of variance (ANOVA), for the estimation of the variation among the genotypes in proline accumulation. Proline which confers tolerance of the crop to variable seasonal and drought-stressed conditions varied significantly, due to the genotype and genotype x environment interaction effects on its accumulation. The eggplant genotypes were observed to develop internal complementary drought survival mechanisms, by lowering leaf relative water contents (LRWC) and increasing proline content, thereby enabling plants to withstand periodic drought better. The genotypes A3, A4, A8, A9F, A10 and Bawku1 accumulated higher levels of proline under dry season and drought-stressed conditions of the Coastal and Sudan savannahs, with the associated high temperatures across locations. These genotypes could be selected on the basis of proline accumulation, for improved drought tolerance of the crop, and should be incorporated in eggplant drought tolerant improvement programmes in Ghana.
Prevalence, Pattern and Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence among Married Men as Victims in Osogbo, Nigeria
Authors: Deborah Abiodun Adejoke , Olarewaju Sunday O. , Benjamin Abiodun Afolabi , Adunoye Adegbite Temilade
Published: March 2019

Aim: The burden of intimate partner violence in men as victims is under explored in Nigeria and in the catchment area of the present study. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence pattern and correlates of intimate partner violence among married men as victims in Osogbo metropolis.

Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in Osogbo metropolis between October and December, 2017.

Methodology: The study was conducted among 300 consenting married men between the ages of 18 and 65 years in Osogbo metropolis. A multistage sampling technique was used. A questionnaire designed based on literature searches and also adapted from conflicts tactics scale was self-administered by the respondents. Data was entered into the computer and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Frequency distribution tables, charts and graphs were generated from variables while cross tabulation and test statistics were done where applicable. Chi square was used to compare rates, ratios and proportions while fisher’s exact test was used when cells had expected values less than 5. Logistic regression was used to avoid confounding effects. Level of significance was set with P-value less than .05.

Results: Majority of the respondents was currently in a monogamous relationship, employed and earns more than 1800 Naira minimum wage. More than half of the respondents had tertiary education and of Christian religion. The mean age of the respondents was 41.92±10.10 years. The prevalence of intimate partner violence was 31%, psychological abuse was 29.3%, physical abuse 14.7% while sexual abuse was 17%. The association between age of respondents, age of respondents’ wives, income less than wives’ and intimate partner violence was found to be statistically significant. Those whose wives were employed were 4.713 times more likely to have IPV and those who earn less than their wives’ were 2.442 times more likely to have IPV.

Conclusion: The prevalence of IPV was found to be high among married men. The results of this study have shown the burden of intimate partner violence among married men. This can serve as a baseline for planning intervention. This is also useful in providing part of a data base in Nigeria that may be important for advocating policy reviews.
Recreational Water Quality Assessment of Some Selected Swimming Pools in the Asuogyaman District, Ghana
Authors: Addo Matthew Glover , Tee Joseph , Larbi John Asiedu
Published: March 2019

The aim of this study seeks to assess the quality of recreational waters in selected swimming pools in the Asuogyaman district in the Eastern Region, Ghana. Samples from three different swimming facilities, coded as VH, RS and SH were collected during the months of March 2018 through to August, 2018 and analyzed in the laboratory employing standard methods for physicochemical properties and microbiological load. Isolates of coliforms were identified by API20E. Mean residual chlorine was significantly higher in the VH pool (1.357±1.09, P<0.001) than the pools at SH and RS. The mornings recorded significantly higher mean turbidity values in all the pools (VH: 2.385±0.8, P<0.001; SH: 3.392±0.9, P=0.010; RS: 2.77±1.0, P=0.007). Coliforms were isolated in the morning at VH pool (1.375±3.3) and RS pool (0.583±1.38) and evening at the SH pool (64.00±66.35) even though they were within acceptable limits. With regards to the sampled place, the middle part had the most coliforms isolated with SH pool having the highest (49.46±59.72) isolates. Although there was no significant (P=0.05) association between total coliforms and the physicochemical parameters at the SH and RS pool, turbidity was associated directly with temperature and total dissolved solids (TDS), and indirectly with pH. Continued physicochemical and microbiological analysis of these pools will give an objective insight into pool hygiene and help to prevent infection outbreaks among pool users.
Psychiatric pharmacist's role in overcoming barriers to clozapine use and improving management
Authors: Kelly Deanna L. , Love Raymond C.
Published: March 2019

Clozapine is an antipsychotic that exhibits superior efficacy and effectiveness for those with schizophrenia and other serious mental illness. However, its side-effect profile and administrative burdens present challenges to its use. In the United States, the medication is grossly underused even though it may improve outcomes and reduce costs. Current barriers to use include lack of prescriber knowledge and confidence, negative prescriber attitudes, special monitoring requirements, administrative factors, lack of clozapine on formularies, lack of support and infrastructure to use the medication within many health systems, and inadequate understanding or acknowledgement of clozapine prescribing and risks by policy makers and payers. Approaches using interprofessional models of care, which include pharmacists specializing in psychiatric care, can help meet the needs of patients receiving clozapine. This article lays out the big picture of barriers to clozapine and how psychiatric pharmacists could play a role in improving access.
Comparison of clozapine monitoring and adverse event management in a psychiatrist-only and a clinical pharmacist-psychiatrist collaborative clinic
Authors: Maryan Samantha , Harms Michelle , McAllister Erin , DeJongh Beth
Published: March 2019

Introduction

In an effort to establish clinical support for providers prescribing clozapine and to help reverse the national decline in clozapine utilization, a clinical pharmacist began seeing half the clozapine clinic patients, preceding the psychiatrist, at this facility in July 2017. The other half of the clozapine clinic patients continued being seen by the psychiatrist only. The purpose was to determine the impact of the pharmacist on clozapine management and identify barriers to clozapine use to potentially increase its utilization.

Methods

Baseline data (clozapine dose, number of antipsychotics and other psychotropics, A1c, lipids, pulse, body mass index, weight, blood pressure, and number of medications for adverse effects) were collected via chart review from the first clinic visit and each follow-up visit. A provider survey was used to identify barriers and solutions to prescribing clozapine.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences from baseline in patient outcomes between the collaborative and psychiatrist-only group. In the prepharmacist to postpharmacist analysis, there was a decrease in number of antipsychotics (−0.27 ± 0.65), number of other psychotropics (−0.18 ± 0.41), A1c (−0.04% ± 0.25%), clozapine dose (−7.96 mg ± 19.58 mg), and total cholesterol (−15.73 mg/dL ± 42.31 mg/dL). There were more pharmacologic (71 vs 19) and nonpharmacologic (154 vs 3) interventions documented in the collaborative group compared to the psychiatrist-only group. Eleven providers (69%) completed the survey. Providers' perception of patient refusal of monitoring was the barrier that received the most responses (54%). A pharmacist seeing every clozapine clinic patient was the solution that received the most responses (90%).

Discussion

Trends were seen for decreasing the number of antipsychotics, other psychotropics, A1c, and total cholesterol as well as an increased number of nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions documented in the collaborative group. Providers identified that pharmacists seeing every clozapine clinic patient would be a solution to clozapine underutilization, which demonstrates the perceived value of pharmacist involvement.
Evaluation of dextromethorphan with select antidepressant therapy for the treatment of depression in the acute care psychiatric setting
Authors: Nofziger Jill L. , Paxos Chris , Emshoff Jessica , Mullen Chanda
Published: March 2019

Introduction

Dextromethorphan (DXM), an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, may have ketamine-like antidepressant effects. Dextromethorphan is extensively metabolized via cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6, and its half-life in extensive metabolizers is 2 to 4 hours. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of DXM in combination with a moderate-to-strong CYP2D6 inhibitor antidepressant on depression in an acute care psychiatric setting.

Methods

This was a single-center, retrospective chart review of adult patients with a depressive disorder diagnosis. Patients who received select antidepressant therapy with or without scheduled DXM were included. The primary outcome was the difference in time to improvement of depressive symptoms, which was an average composite of physician documentation, nurse documentation, and first time to 24 hours without as-needed anxiolytics or antipsychotics. The study group consisted of patients who received DXM with select antidepressant therapy, whereas the control group included those who received only select antidepressant therapy.

Results

A total of 40 patients were included. The median time to clinical improvement was 3.00 days and 2.83 days for the study group and control group, respectively (P = .986). The incidence of perceptual disturbances and delusions was higher in the study group as compared with the control group (55% and 35% vs 30% and 25%, respectively).

Discussion

Dextromethorphan was not associated with a rapid antidepressant effect. The commonly used dose of 30 mg daily may have been too low to have an effect; additionally, the most frequently utilized select antidepressant, bupropion, has moderately less CYP2D6 inhibition than fluoxetine and paroxetine.
Rates of new antipsychotic prescriptions and continuation at discharge from a medical unit in a community teaching hospital serving rural counties
Authors: Phan Stephanie V. , Lugin Yelena , Morgan Katie
Published: March 2019

Introduction

Antipsychotics are commonly used during hospitalization to manage a variety of acute indications and may be inadvertently continued at discharge. The purpose of this study was to identify the rate at which patients admitted to nonpsychiatric units were continued on newly prescribed antipsychotics at discharge from a rural community teaching hospital.

Methods

This study was a retrospective chart review of adult patients admitted to a large community teaching hospital and initiated on an antipsychotic from August 1, 2016, to August 31, 2017. Exclusion criteria were patients admitted to psychiatric or obstetrics/gynecology services, with a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder, or on an antipsychotic prior to hospitalization. The primary outcome measure was the number of new antipsychotic prescriptions during hospitalization that were continued at discharge. Secondary outcomes included antipsychotic characteristics and initiation indications. Descriptive statistics were used to describe antipsychotic use and demographic data.

Results

Of 100 patients included, 3 patients were discharged on an antipsychotic. Two patients had questionable indications, and 1 patient had a new psychotic disorder diagnosis. Of all antipsychotics newly initiated during hospitalization, haloperidol was the most commonly prescribed antipsychotic. The majority of doses were scheduled as 1-time or as-needed doses. Approximately 20% of antipsychotics were administered orally. No relevant indication was found for 35% of patients newly initiated on antipsychotics, and documented indications included agitation, psychosis, delirium, and anxiety.

Discussion

In an institution that largely serves a rural population, antipsychotic prescribing at discontinuation was not worse than what has been previously reported in other regions of the United States. Limitations for this study include the retrospective nature, single-center study, and small sample size. Although there was a lack of continuation after discharge, there was also a deficit of documentation with 35% of the antipsychotic initiations having no documented indication.
Evaluation and optimization of take-home naloxone in an academic medical center
Authors: Cooler Jordan , Ross Clint A. , Robert Sophie , Linder Lauren , Ruhe Ann Marie , Philip Achsah
Published: March 2019

With the United States in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic, efforts to reduce overdose deaths have increased. Expanding access to the opioid antagonist naloxone can combat the epidemic. A pilot project in a psychiatric hospital resulted in the development of a screening tool in the electronic medical record (EMR) to help pharmacists identify adult inpatients at high risk of opioid overdose. Pharmacists can facilitate these patients being discharged with take-home naloxone. The purpose of this project was to optimize the screening tool for nonpsychiatric adult inpatient areas. Prior to implementation, a team of pharmacists familiar with the screening tool and take-home naloxone met with stakeholders to assess need for modification of the tool, determine barriers to implementation, and provide insight into the new service. In addition to expanding the tool into nonpsychiatric areas, a morphine-equivalents calculator was developed to identify patients receiving at least 100 mg of morphine equivalents per day to capture an additional at-risk population. Four short educational videos were developed to provide training to pharmacists. Initial performance of the screening tool was evaluated in general medicine patients over a 5-day period. Out of 44 admissions, 8 (18.2%) screened positive. The majority of those patients (5/8, 62.5%) screened positive for morphine equivalents greater than 100 mg. Anecdotally, the educational videos have been well received by pharmacy staff. Opioid overdose risk factors can be applied to nonpsychiatric inpatients for screening purposes in the EMR. Educational videos can be used to disseminate information to pharmacists on take-home naloxone and opioid overdose.
Encapsulation of Reactive Ti2AlC and Nb2AlC Particles via a Boehmite Precipitation Route
Authors: Stumpf Martin , Köllner David , Biggemann Jonas , Schüßler Martina , Greil Peter , Fey Tobias
Published: February 2019

Reactive Ti2AlC and Nb2AlC particles are encapsulated in a continuous boehmite shell by hydrolysis of ultrafine AlN powder in aqueous environment. The hydrolysis of AlN leads to the heterogeneous precipitation of nanolamellar boehmite on the surface of the Mn + 1AXn phase particles after 24 h reaction time. The boehmite coatings completely cover the MAX phase particles (Nb2AlC d50 = 7.9 μm; Ti2AlC d50 = 9.6 μm) with a thickness of 200 nm (Nb2AlC) and 135 nm (Ti2AlC). The lamellar structure of the boehmite coating is maintained after calcination at 400 °C in air, resulting in coatings with a maximum surface area of 41 m2 g−1 (Nb2AlC) and 50 m2 g−1 (Ti2AlC). The stability of the coating is assessed by using the coated Nb2AlC as particle filler in ZrO2. The coating is stable after the spark plasma sintering process and covers complex features of the particles. The present work shows the feasibility to encapsulate reactive MAX particles with a continuous oxide shell. The coated particles can be used as ductile crack bridging or healing filler in reactive matrixes requiring a spatial separation between filler and matrix. Higher surface charges by Al–O bonds on the surface facilitate the dispersion of the carbide particles in aqueous slurries.
Bulk Nanostructured Materials Design for Fracture‐Resistant Lithium Metal Anodes
Authors: Liu Shan , Deng Lijun , Guo Wenqing , Zhang Chanyuan , Liu Xingjiang , Luo Jiayan
Published: February 2019

Li metal is an ideal anode for next‐generation batteries because of its high theoretical capacity and low potential. However, the unevenly distributed stress in Li metal anodes (LMAs) induced by volume fluctuation may cause the electrode to fracture easily, especially during high‐rate plating/stripping processes. Here fracture‐resistant LMAs using the concept of bulk nanostructured materials are designed via a metallurgical process. In bulk nanostructured Li (BNL), ionic conducting phases exist at grain boundaries, which promote Li+ transport. The refined Li grain size and precipitation hardening in BNL enhances the mechanical strength and fatigue endurance, alleviating the unevenly distributed stress and preventing electrode pulverization. Density functional theory is used to investigate the binding energy between Li and various kinds of oxides and SiO2 is found to be optimal additive among screened oxides. BNL has 91% of the theoretical capacity of Li metal. In full cells with BNL anode, LiFePO4 could deliver capacity of 90 mAh g−1 at 10C, an order of magnitude higher than that in full cells with Li foil anode. This strategy is expected to pave the way for fracture‐resistant LMAs in high‐rate cycling with maximum capacity.
pH‐Regulated Heterostructure Porous Particles Enable Similarly Sized Protein Separation
Authors: Song Yongyang , Fan Jun‐Bing , Li Xiuling , Liang Xinmiao , Wang Shutao
Published: February 2019

Porous particles are frequently used for various healthcare applications that involve protein separation processes. However, conventional porous particles, either homogeneous particles or those subjected to surface modification with a layer of specific molecules, often encounter bottlenecks in separating proteins with similar size. Here, it is reported that heterostructure‐enabled separation particles (HESP), synthesized by a double emulsion interfacial polymerization process, can effectively and rapidly separate similarly sized proteins. Double emulsion interfacial polymerization endows the HESP with a nanoscale carboxylic layer outside the particles and inside the pores, allowing pH‐regulated selective adsorption of proteins. Thus, by optimizing the environmental pH, proteins with similar size can be effectively and rapidly separated. These HESP are expected to show potential in widespread applications ranging from biomolecule adsorption, encapsulation, and separation to controlled release and other biomedical fields.
Supramolecular Crosslinked Polymer for Efficient Organic Dye Removal from Aqueous Solution
Authors: Wu Xuan , Chen Yong , Liu Yu
Published: February 2019

Removal of organic dyes from aqueous solution has attracted considerable attention in the field of environmental science and for industrial application. Herein, a crosslinked pillar[5]arene polymer (Ru‐P5C) is synthesized by a click reaction between a hydrophobic azide‐modified pillar[5]arene (N3‐P5) and a hydrophilic alkyne‐modified Ru derivative. The synthesized material can efficiently remove various anionic organic dyes from aqueous solution upon irradiation at 450 nm in the air. The numerous positive charges on the nanoparticles facilitate adsorption of the dyes, and Ru‐catalyzed photolysis, promoted by the hydrophobic environment of the nanoparticles, leads to their degradation. The removal efficiency after ≈25 min exceeds 95%, which is much higher than the removal efficiencies of TiO2 (P25), BiOBr, and Ru(bipy)3Cl2. Moreover, the polymer not only exhibits good regeneration ability but also shows excellent performance for dye removal under irradiation from sunlight as well as in the wastewater system containing a number of dyes.
Tailor‐Made Core‐Multishell Nanocarriers for the Delivery of Cationic Analgesics to Inflamed Tissue
Authors: Unbehauen Michael L. , Łabuz Dominika , Schwarzl Richard , Moré Sam , Netz Roland R. , Stein Christoph , Machelska Halina , Haag Rainer
Published: February 2019

U50,488H (U50) is a κ‐opioid receptor agonist exerting effective analgesia in animal pain models. Yet, side effects such as sedation and depression‐like symptoms mediated in the brain limit its therapeutic potential. In this study, tailor‐made core‐multishell (CMS) nanocarriers are presented containing U50 that, despite their small size, exhibit a pH‐dependent retention effect via non‐covalent interactions with the drug. The nanocarriers and their non‐functionalized counterparts are characterized regarding their release properties in vitro, including a theoretical modeling of the release parameters which show the beneficial features of the additional functionalization. Finally, the U50‐containing nanocarriers are tested in an in vivo rat model of inflammatory pain, with the results showing prolonged analgesic effect.
Synthesis and Electrochemical Activity of Some Na(Li)‐Rich Ruthenium Oxides with the Feasibility to Stabilize Ru6+
Authors: Otoyama Misae , Jacquet Quentin , Iadecola Antonella , Saubanère Matthieu , Rousse Gwenaëlle , Tarascon Jean‐Marie
Published: February 2019

The capacity of Li‐ion cathode materials has recently been greatly improved by the feasibility to trigger both cationic and anionic redox reactions within the same material. This concept has rapidly been implemented to Na‐ion batteries to boost their energy density. The electrochemical properties of Na3RuO4 with Li3RuO4 are reported and compared herein. Strikingly, it is found that 3 Na can be extracted from Na3RuO4 with the charge compensation mechanism enlisting first the oxidation of Ru5+ to Ru6+, leading to Na2RuO4, and then the oxidation of oxygen during the rest of the charge. This drastically contrasts with the behavior of the Li counterpart since Ru never reaches that high oxidation state during lithium removal. By comparing the phase diagrams of AxRuO4 (A being Li, Na, or K) together with density functional theory calculations, this finding is rationalized and it is demonstrated that this difference is mainly rooted in the size of the alkali cation. The bigger the alkali, the lower the coordination of Ru will be, stabilized by the same higher oxidation states. This work highlights the difference between Li and Na materials toward anionic redox and suggests the unusual coexistence of Ru6+ and (O2)n−, hence setting new challenges to theoreticians and opening opportunities for materials design.