bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human-Machine Interface Degree of Freedom Effects on Performance in Space Telerobotics
Authors: Hall Sherrie A. , Stirling Leia
Published: November 2018

INTRODUCTION: There are many potential human-machine interfaces for controlling complex robotics. However, restrictions in hardware, software, or human capability may pose limits on the input device degrees-of-freedom (DOF). This study examined effects on operational performance
and strategy when interface DOF were limited, hypothesizing that different limitations on interface DOF would affect operator performance and technique.METHODS: Experiments used a Canadarm2 simulator with a dual-joystick interface adapted to operate under limited DOF conditions.
Four interfaces were compared: full multiaxis (FM), limited translation (TL), limited rotation (RL), and without simultaneous translation/rotation or “non-bimanual” (NB). Subjects were tasked with operating the Canadarm2 in a simulated ISS control scenario to approach and grapple
a moving cargo vehicle within a 90-s time limit.RESULTS: No significant difference was seen between FM and RL in task time or grapple success, and both were significantly different from TL. NB exhibited significantly increased task time from FM and RL, but no significant difference
in grapple success rate. When rotating, subjects decreased time spent using multirotation for NB over FM.DISCUSSION: Similar performance between FM and RL suggests that restricting rotation may be preferred for interfaces with DOF design limits. For the NB condition, there was increased
task time combined with decreased multirotation, highlighting potential use for NB in training for rotation efficiency. Two different strategies were observed during TL to overcome inability to visually track, align with, and move toward the target simultaneously. Examination of these techniques
provides insight on which strategic elements were most critical for success.Hall SA, Stirling L. Human-machine interface degree of freedom effects on performance in space telerobotics. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2018; 89(12):1022–1030.
Simulation Training for In-Flight Medical Emergencies Improves Provider Knowledge and Confidence
Authors: Padaki Amit , Redha Waddaa , Clark Todd , Nichols Ty , Jacoby Leah , Slivka Rachael , Ranniger Claudia , Lehnhardt Kris
Published: November 2018

INTRODUCTION: In-flight medical emergencies require healthcare providers to operate in confined spaces with limited resources and delayed access to definitive care. These emergencies are common, with an estimated frequency of 1 per 100 to 1000 flights. Despite this, training
for medical response in these environments is limited. We hypothesize that integrating such education into a pre-existing medical student elective course would improve knowledge and ability to respond appropriately to in-flight medical emergencies.METHODS: The available literature
surrounding in-flight medical emergencies was reviewed. Syncope, respiratory distress, allergic reaction, and cardiac arrest were identified as common and potentially life-threatening complaints. Simulation cases were designed for each of these complaints and a simulation room was modified
to mimic an airplane cabin. These simulation cases and accompanying relevant didactic lectures were incorporated into an existing wilderness and extreme environmental medicine course, with multiple-choice tests completed by the students at the beginning and end of the 2-wk course.RESULTS:
Participating in this study were 18 students. The pretest average was 76%, which improved to 87% on the posttest. Qualitative feedback regarding this type of training was overwhelmingly positive.DISCUSSION: Simulation-based training for in-flight medical emergencies can significantly
improve medical students’ knowledge. This training was very well received by the students. Opportunities for training to manage in-flight medical emergencies remain limited; incorporating such training into existing curricula could provide a means by which to improve provider knowledge.
Such a curriculum could be adapted for use by flight crews and other populations.Padaki A, Redha W, Clark T, Nichols T, Jacoby L, Slivka R, Ranniger C, Lehnhardt K. Simulation training for in-flight medical emergencies improves provider knowledge and confidence. Aerosp Med Hum
Perform. 2018; 89(12):1076–1079.
Inspicientes—et non inspicientes—eius legem: Thirteenth-Century Dominicans, the Qur'an, and Islam
Authors: Burman Thomas E.
Published: November 2018

This article explores the interesting fact that, while we know of a number of Dominicans in the thirteenth century that were eius legem inspicientes (‘inspectors of [Muḥammad's] law’), the vast majority of preaching friars, and indeed the great bulk of thirteenth-century scholastic intellectuals, were very pointedly eius legem non inspicientes. Even some of those who are most commonly held up as impassioned students of Islam, particularly the brilliant Semitic linguist, Ramon Martí OP (fl. 1250–1284), turn out on examination to have had only a passing interest in the challenge of Islam. The amazing extent of learning in things Islamic possessed by Martí and his confreres William of Tripoli OP (fl. 1250–1273) and Riccoldo da Monte di Croce OP (d. 1320) certainly deserves our attention, but so also does the much more common disinterest, disinterest which, indeed, often borders on intentional ignorance. As this article shows, the nearly obsessive engagement with Qur'an and Islam that we find among some Dominicans at certain times is the counterpart to a vast disinterest which is often just as obsessive.
Two Hungarian Jesuits and the Qur'an: Understanding, Misunderstanding, and Polemic
Authors: Shore Paul
Published: November 2018

Two Hungarian Jesuits active in the early seventeenth century, Stephanus Arator and Peter Pázmány, wrote polemical pieces drawing on the Qur'an. Arator's work, Confutatio alcorani (1610) relies on the 1543 Bibliander edition of the translation made by Robert of Ketton and on Juan Andrés’ Confusión o confutación de la secta Mahomética y del Alcorán. Pázmány, in his Az mostan tamat uy tvdomaniok hamissaganak (1605) also draws on Bibliander, while presenting his own translations of, and commentaries on, Bibliander into Hungarian, the language of Pázmány's work. Both Arator and Pázmány were influenced more by the political and confessional dynamics surrounding them than by any apparent desire to grasp the meaning of the Qur'an. The crisis that both Catholicism and, more broadly, European Christianity, faced in the early seventeenth century overshadows these Jesuits’ efforts to explore the Qur'an. Pázmány, in particular, uses the Qur'an to make a case against Protestant sects and Unitarians, whose influence and numbers had greatly increased in Hungary. However further study of the Jesuit Austrian Province, in which both men worked, is needed to understand more fully the factors shaping these two examples of anti-Qur'anic literature.
Bulghaith al-Darawi and Barthélemy d'Herbelot: Readers of the Qur'an in Seventeenth-Century Tuscany
Authors: Tommasino Pier Mattia
Published: November 2018

This paper is an exercise in the history of reading and textual production in seventeeth-century Florence. Through the analysis of a very short and fascinating miscellaneous manuscript (BNCF, MS Magliabechi XXXIV.31), this article aims to disentangle the complex and intertwined relations between European orientalism, Italian intellectual history, and Muslim exegesis of the Qur'an in the seventeenth century. Despite its fragmentary nature, the material, linguistic, and doctrinal features of this miscellaneous manuscript shed new light on the study of Oriental languages in seventeenth-century Florence and, especially, on Barthélemy d'Herbelot's (1625–1695) stay in Tuscany between 1666 and 1671, and the Muslim scholars he worked with and learned from during this time.
Demodulation Technique Based on Laser Interference for Weak Photo-Acoustic Signals on Water Surface
Authors: Zhang Xiaolin , Mao Hongjie , Tang Wenyan
Published: November 2018

To detect underwater sound-generating targets, a water surface acoustic wave laser interference and signal demodulation technique is proposed in this paper. The underlying principle of this technique involves casting a laser beam onto the water surface disturbed by an underwater acoustic source and creating interference between lights reflected by the surface and reference lights. A data acquisition and processing system was employed to obtain water surface acoustic wave information from the interference signals by means of demodulation, thus allowing detection of the underwater target. For the purpose of this study, an interference detection platform was set up in an optical dark chamber. High-frequency water surface fluctuations were introduced in the reference optical path as the phase generated carriers to create laser interference signals in two different paths, which received demodulation based on an improved arc tangent demodulation algorithm and characteristic ratio algorithm, respectively, in view of their different frequencies. Water surface wave information was then derived from such low-frequency and high-frequency signals. According to test results, in the frequency range of 200 Hz–10 kHz, the frequency detection accuracy was better than 1 Hz. The amplitude measurements exhibited high repeatability, with a standard deviation lower than 2.5 nm. The theory proposed in this paper is therefore experimentally verified with good results.
Four-Probe Bridges for In-Line Determination of Thickness and Sidewall Etch Angle of Surface Micromachined Thin Films
Authors: Liu Haiyun , Zhang Zhen , Chen Jiaqi
Published: November 2018

Geometrical parameters, such as the thickness and the sidewall etch angle of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) thin films, are important information for device design and simulation, material property extraction, and quality control in a fabrication process line. This paper presents an in-line test microstructure for measuring geometrical parameters of surface micromachined thin films. The structure consists of four-probe bridges with continuous step structures and deposited at three different angles. The extraction method takes advantage of the resistances of the step structures to determine the thickness and the sidewall etch angle of the phosphosilicate glass (PSG) layer and the thickness of the polysilicon layer. The sheet resistance and the width of the test structure are required for the extraction method and can also be measured by using the test structure. Thicknesses of (2.080 ± 0.011) µm, (2.142 ± 0.012) µm, (1.614 ± 0.014) µm and (2.892 ± 0.012) µm are obtained for the Poly 1 layer, the Oxide 1 layer, the Poly 2 layer and the stacked layer of Oxide 1-Oxide 2, respectively. The sidewall etch angles for the Oxide 1 layer and the stacked layer of Oxide 1-Oxide 2 are obtained as (77.51 ± 0.61)° and (76.17 ± 0.91)°, respectively. In comparison to previously reported thickness measurement approaches, the proposed method is nondestructive, and makes use of four-point probe technique which is featured with electrical input and output configuration, simple operation, low cost, fast response, good repeatability and ease of integration. Therefore, this method is more suited to in-line monitoring the MEMS fabrication process.
The Optical Barcode Detection and Recognition Method Based on Visible Light Communication Using Machine Learning
Authors: Li Jingyi , Guan Weipeng
Published: November 2018

Visible light communication (VLC) has developed rapidly in recent years. VLC has the advantages of high confidentiality, low cost, etc. It could be an effective way to connect online to offline (O2O). In this paper, an RGB-LED-ID detection and recognition method based on VLC using machine learning is proposed. Different from traditional encoding and decoding VLC, we develop a new VLC system with a form of modulation and recognition. We create different features for different LEDs to make it an Optical Barcode (OBC) based on a Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) senor and a pulse-width modulation (PWM) method. The features are extracted using image processing and then support vector machine (SVM) and artificial neural networks (ANN) are introduced into the scheme, which are employed as a classifier. The experimental results show that the proposed method can provide a huge number of unique LED-IDs with a high LED-ID recognition rate and its performance in dark and distant conditions is significantly better than traditional Quick Response (QR) codes. This is the first time the VLC is used in the field of Internet of Things (IoT) and it is an innovative application of RGB-LED to create features. Furthermore, with the development of camera technology, the number of unique LED-IDs and the maximum identifiable distance would increase. Therefore, this scheme can be used as an effective complement to QR codes in the future.
Numerical Study on Evaluating the Concrete-Bedrock Interface Condition for Hydraulic Tunnel Linings Using the SASW Method
Authors: Li Xiulin , Lu Xiaobin , Li Meng , Hao Jutao , Xu Yao
Published: November 2018

The current methods for evaluating the contact condition between concrete and lining were the ground penetrating radar (GPR) and the coring method. The penetration of radar electromagnetic waves was greatly affected by steel reinforcement and water, which often made the detection results of GPR unsatisfactory. A spectral analysis of the surface wave (SASW) method was used to evaluate the concrete-bedrock interface condition for hydraulic tunnel linings in this paper, since the impact elastic wave is less affected by steel bars and water content. An SASW implementation program based on fast Fourier transformation (FFT) was developed to analyze data from numerical simulations and field tests. Various models were studied to investigate the feasibility of using numerical analysis. For the first time, the study was employed to find out the influences of different receiver spacings and impact duration on the efficiency of detecting the existence of a weak layer underneath the concrete using the SASW method. On this basis, in-situ tests were carried out to verify the applicability in the field and results were verified by coring. In the research, the following results were found: (1) The finite element analysis results of different uniform or layered models showed that the SASW method could accurately identify the interface contact condition between the concrete lining and bedrock, especially the existence of voids; (2) when the receiver spacing was 1.0–1.5 times the thickness of the target object to be inspected, the quality of the collected signal data was the best; (3) under a certain reasonable range, the impact duration had an insignificant effect on the phase spectra and dispersion curves of a concrete-weak layer model; (4) in-situ SASW inspection could accurately tell whether the voids exist at the concrete-bedrock interface; and (5) the data processing program of the SASW method based on the MATLAB platform was accurate, convenient, and worth promoting.
Helix-Free Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals: Electro Optics and Possible Applications
Authors: Andreev Alexander , Andreeva Tatiana , Kompanets Igor , Zalyapin Nikolay
Published: November 2018

This is a review of results from studying ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) of a new type developed for fast low-voltage displays and light modulators. These materials are helix-free FLCs, which are characterized by spatially periodic deformation of smectic layers and a small value of spontaneous polarization (less than 50 nC/cm2). The FLC director is reoriented due to the motion of solitons at the transition to the Maxwellian mechanism of energy dissipation. A theoretical model is proposed for describing the FLC deformation and director reorientation. The frequency and field dependences of the optical response time are studied experimentally for modulation of light transmission, scattering, and phase delay with a high rate. The hysteresis-free nature and smooth dependence of the optical response on the external electric field in the frequency range up to 6 kHz is demonstrated, as well as bistable light scattering with memorization of an optical state for a time exceeding the switching time by up to 6 orders of magnitude. Due to the spatially inhomogeneous light phase delay, the ability of a laser beam to cause interference is effectively suppressed. The fastest FLCs under study are compatible with 3D, FLC on Silicon (FLCoS), and Field Sequential Colors (FSC) technologies.
Viral-Mediated mRNA Degradation for Pathogenesis
Authors: Du Shujuan , Liu Xiaoqing , Cai Qiliang
Published: November 2018

Cellular RNA decay machinery plays a vital role in regulating gene expression by altering the stability of mRNAs in response to external stresses, including viral infection. In the primary infection, viruses often conquer the host cell’s antiviral immune response by controlling the inherently cellular mRNA degradation machinery to facilitate viral gene expression and establish a successful infection. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the diverse strategies of viral-mediated regulatory RNA shutoff for pathogenesis, and particularly sheds a light on the mechanisms that viruses evolve to elude immune surveillance during infection.
A Pilot Study to Non-Invasively Track PIK3CA Mutation in Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Schmidt Henri , Kulasinghe Arutha , Allcock Richard J.N. , Tan Lit Yeen , Mokany Elisa , Kenny Liz , Punyadeera Chamindie
Published: November 2018

Background: PIK3CA pathways are the most frequently mutated oncogenic pathway in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), including virally driven HNCs. PIK3CA is involved in the PI3K-PTEN-mTOR signalling pathway. PIK3CA has been implicated in HNSCC progression and PIK3CA mutations may serve as predictive biomarkers for therapy selection. Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) derived from necrotic and apoptotic tumour cells are thought to harbour tumour-specific genetic alterations. As such, the detection of PIK3CA alterations detected by ctDNA holds promise as a potential biomarker in HNSCC. Methods: Blood samples from treatment naïve HNSCC patients (n = 29) were interrogated for a commonly mutated PIK3CA hotspot mutation using low cost allele-specific Plex-PCRTM technology. Results: In this pilot, cross sectional study, PIK3CA E545K mutation was detected in the plasma samples of 9/29 HNSCC patients using the Plex-PCRTM technology. Conclusion: The results of this pilot study support the notion of using allele-specific technologies for cost-effective testing of ctDNA, and further assert the potential utility of ctDNA in HNSCC.
Novel Cyclic Blade Pitching Mechanism for Wind and Tidal Energy Turbine Applications
Authors: Prasad Rao Jubilee , Diez Francisco
Published: November 2018

A vertical axis drag-based turbine is proposed that allows for an improved performance by feathering its blades during recovery strokes to eliminate adverse blade forces. The turbine blades resemble flat plates and pitch by 90 ∘ between the two turbine strokes using a novel dual-cam mechanism. This passive mechanism orients the blades vertically during the drive stroke for maximum effective area and horizontally for minimum effective area during the recovery stroke. This allows maximizing the positive drive stroke force and minimizing the recovery stroke losses, in turn maximizing the net energy capture and the turbine performance. It is called the cyclic pitch turbine, and a mathematical model is developed that predicts the turbine performance. It shows that the turbine is self-starting for all orientations and has a higher and more uniform static torque coefficient than the popular Savonius turbine. The dynamic analysis also indicates a higher performance, and the predicted values for torque and power coefficients match very closely with those from water channel and wind tunnel experiments on a prototype. Results of testing several blade shapes indicate that airfoil section blades with long and narrow continuous shapes that have less area towards the blade’s tip result in higher performance.
Design Considerations for Parallel Differential Power Processing Converters in a Photovoltaic-Powered Wearable Application
Authors: Lee Hyunji , Kim Katherine A.
Published: November 2018

Solar photovoltaic (PV) power is a widely used to supply power to the electric grid but can also be used in lower-power emerging applications, like in wearables or the internet of things. One fundamental challenge of using PV power in flexible wearable applications is that individual PV modules point at various angles, thus receiving different light intensities. Using a series configuration for the PV modules greatly decreases power utilization under uneven irradiance conditions. Parallel differential power processing (DPP) converters are employed to address this power reduction problem, while maintaining individual PV control and maximizing output power. Two parallel DPP configurations, with and without a front-end converter, are analyzed and compared for a target battery-charging application. The DPP system without a front-end converter shows consistently high performance and operates properly over a wider range of lighting conditions. Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms are also examined for parallel DPP systems. When the MPPT parameters are properly calibrated, simulation results indicate that voltage-offset resistive control is the most effective at maximizing PV power under unbalanced lighting conditions.
Systems Analysis of Transcriptomic and Proteomic Profiles Identifies Novel Regulation of Fibrotic Programs by miRNAs in Pulmonary Fibrosis Fibroblasts
Authors: Mullenbrock Steven , Liu Fei , Szak Suzanne , Hronowski Xiaoping , Gao Benbo , Juhasz Peter , Sun Chao , Liu Mei , McLaughlin Helen , Xiao Qiurong , Feghali-Bostwick Carol , Zheng Timothy S.
Published: November 2018

Fibroblasts/myofibroblasts are the key effector cells responsible for excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and fibrosis progression in both idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) patient lungs, thus it is critical to understand the transcriptomic and proteomic programs underlying their fibrogenic activity. We conducted the first integrative analysis of the fibrotic programming in these cells at the levels of gene and microRNA (miRNA) expression, as well as deposited ECM protein to gain insights into how fibrotic transcriptional programs culminate in aberrant ECM protein production/deposition. We identified messenger RNA (mRNA), miRNA, and deposited matrisome protein signatures for IPF and SSc fibroblasts obtained from lung transplants using next-generation sequencing and mass spectrometry. SSc and IPF fibroblast transcriptional signatures were remarkably similar, with enrichment of WNT, TGF-β, and ECM genes. miRNA-seq identified differentially regulated miRNAs, including downregulation of miR-29b-3p, miR-138-5p and miR-146b-5p in disease fibroblasts and transfection of their mimics decreased expression of distinct sets of fibrotic signature genes as assessed using a Nanostring fibrosis panel. Finally, proteomic analyses uncovered a distinct “fibrotic” matrisome profile deposited by IPF and SSc fibroblasts compared to controls that highlights the dysregulated ECM production underlying their fibrogenic activities. Our comprehensive analyses of mRNA, miRNA, and matrisome proteomic profiles in IPF and SSc lung fibroblasts revealed robust fibrotic signatures at both the gene and protein expression levels and identified novel fibrogenesis-associated miRNAs whose aberrant downregulation in disease fibroblasts likely contributes to their fibrotic and ECM gene expression.
Nightclub as a Liminal Space: Space, Gender, and Identity in Lisa See’s China Dolls
Authors: Li Melody Yunzi
Published: November 2018

Nightclubs flourished in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the late 1930s when it became a nightlife destination. To Chinese Americans, however, San Francisco nightclubs became a new site at the time for them to re-explore their identities. For some, visiting these nightclubs became a way for them to escape from traditional Chinese values. For others, it became a way to satisfy Western stereotypes of Chinese culture. Lisa See’s China Dolls (2015) describes three young oriental women from various backgrounds that become dancers at the popular Forbidden City nightclub in San Francisco in the late 1930s. Through the three girls’ precarious careers and personal conflicts, Lisa See proposes the San Francisco nightclub as both a site for them to articulate their new identities beyond their restricted spheres and a site for them to perform the expected stereotypical Asian images from Western perspectives. It was, at that time, a struggle for the emergence of modern Chinese women but particularly a paradox for Chinese-American women. The space of the Chinese-American nightclub, which is exotic, erotic, but stereotypical, represents contradictions in the Chinese-American identity. Through studying Lisa See’s novel along with other autobiographies of the Chinese American dancing girls, I argue that San Francisco nightclubs, as represented in Lisa See’s novel, embody the paradox of Chinese American identities as shown in the outfits of Chinese American chorus girls—modest cheongsams outside and sexy, burlesque costumes underneath.
Health Consequences of an Armed Conflict in Zamboanga, Philippines Using a Syndromic Surveillance Database
Authors: Salazar Miguel Antonio , Law Ronald , Winkler Volker
Published: November 2018

The Zamboanga armed conflict was a 19-day long encounter in the Philippines in 2013 that displaced 119,000 people from their homes. This study describes the health consequences of this complex emergency in different age groups, time periods, and health facilities using data from Surveillance in Post Extreme Emergencies and Disasters (SPEED). This is a descriptive study of the SPEED database spanning 196 days of observation post-disaster and 1065 SPEED reports from 49 health facilities. Evacuation centers and village health centers, both primary care facilities, had the highest number of consults. Common infections and noncommunicable diseases were the most common reasons for consultations, namely, acute respiratory infections, fever, watery diarrhea, skin disease, and hypertension. Infections can be associated with environmental conditions in displaced populations, while hypertension has a high prevalence in the country and implies long-term care. Conflict-related injuries and deaths were not frequently observed due to the volatile situation that influenced health-seeking behavior as well as possible reporting gaps. In conclusion, in complex emergencies, as in natural disasters, wherein early alert and warning for potential outbreaks is crucial, SPEED can assist decision makers on response and recovery interventions. Linkages between SPEED and other surveillance and reporting systems need to be explored.
The Effects of Substance Abuse on Blood Glucose Parameters in Patients with Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ojo Omorogieva , Wang Xiao-Hua , Ojo Osarhumwese Osaretin , Ibe Jude
Published: November 2018

Background: People who abuse substances are at increased risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes resulting partly from increased cell damage and due to the effects of opioids on glucose homeostasis. Therefore, people with diabetes who abuse substances may carry greater health risks than the general population resulting from their effect on glucose metabolism. These substances may be in the form of cannabis, hallucinogens, opioids, and stimulants. Therefore, the aim of this review was to evaluate the effects of substance abuse on blood glucose parameters in patients with diabetes. Method: Databases including Embase, Psycho-Info, Google Scholar and PubMed were searched systematically for relevant articles from database inception to May 2018. Search terms including medical subject headings (MeSH) based on the Population, Intervention, Comparator and Outcomes (PICO) framework was used to access the databases. Eligible articles were selected based on set inclusion and exclusion criteria. The articles reviewed were evaluated for quality and meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis were carried out using the Review Manager (RevMan 5.3, The Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen, Denmark). The Random effects model was used for the data analysis. Results: Twelve studies which met the inclusion criteria were included in the systematic review, while nine articles were selected for the meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis showed that substance abuse does not have significant effects (p > 0.05) on postprandial blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin in patients with diabetes. With respect to the effect of substance abuse on fasting blood glucose, while this was significant (p < 0.05) following meta-analysis, the results of the sensitivity test did not demonstrate any significant difference (p > 0.05) between patients who abused substances compared with control. This would suggest that the effect of substance abuse on fasting blood glucose in these patients was not very reliable or not consistent. Conclusions: The effect of substance abuse on glycated haemoglobin and postprandial blood glucose in patients with diabetes was not significant. In the meta-analysis, while the value was slightly lower with respect to postprandial blood glucose, this was slightly higher in relation to HbA1c in the substance abuse group compared with control. On the other hand, the effect of substance abuse on fasting blood glucose was significant (p = 0.03) compared with control, but this was attenuated following a sensitivity test. A range of factors including eating habits, characteristics of drugs, erratic lifestyle of patients may explain the outcome of this review. There is the need for randomised controlled trials that will include diet and medication history in order to fully understand the effect of substance abuse on blood glucose parameters in patients with diabetes.
Mobile Phone Use and Mental Health. A Review of the Research That Takes a Psychological Perspective on Exposure
Authors: Thomée Sara
Published: November 2018

The purpose of this study was to carry out a review of observational studies that consider links between mobile phone use and mental health from a psychological or behavioral perspective. Systematic literature searches in PubMed and PsycINFO for articles published until 2017 were done. Exclusion criteria included: papers that considered radiofrequency fields, attention, safety, relational consequences, sexual behavior, cyberbullying, and reviews, qualitative, and case or experimental studies. A total of 4738 papers were screened by title and abstract, 404 were retrieved in full text, and 290 were included. Only 5% had any longitudinal design. Self-reporting was the dominating method of measurement. One third of the studies included children or youth. A majority of adult populations consisted of university students and/or self-selected participants. The main research results included associations between frequent mobile phone use and mental health outcomes, such as depressive symptoms and sleep problems. Mobile phone use at bedtime was associated with, e.g., shorter sleep duration and lower sleep quality. “Problematic use” (dependency) was associated with several negative outcomes. In conclusion, associations between mobile phone use and adverse mental health outcomes are found in studies that take a psychological or behavioral perspective on the exposure. However, more studies of high quality are needed in order to draw valid conclusions about the mechanisms and causal directions of associations.
A Comparison between the Predictors of Vaccine Uptake Intentions for Influenza and Dengue
Authors: Panchapakesan Chitra , Sheldenkar Anita , Cayabyab Ysa Marie , Ng Janelle Shaina , Lu Jiahui , Lwin May O.
Published: November 2018

Infectious diseases have a huge health and economic burden globally. Vaccination has been found to be a crucial health intervention for diseases. The study aims to compare the drivers of vaccine uptake for influenza and dengue, and to understand the key drivers within each of the diseases in predicting vaccine uptake intentions. Data were collected from 1000 Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents between the ages of 21 and 70 through face to face surveys. Overall, intention to get vaccinated was low for both diseases. Comparing the means between the knowledge and perceptions regarding influenza and dengue and their vaccine uptake intentions, perceived susceptibility was significantly higher for influenza than dengue; and perceived severity, knowledge of the disease, and benefits of the vaccine were significantly higher for dengue. Looking at the key drivers within the diseases, perceived susceptibility towards the diseases and benefits of the vaccine were positively associated with vaccination uptake intentions for influenza and dengue. Perceived barriers towards the vaccine were negatively associated with vaccine uptake for dengue. Programs conducted for public health promotion should focus on increasing the public’s awareness of the susceptibility and seriousness of the diseases, and the benefits of getting vaccinated.
Improved Biosafety and Biosecurity Measures and/or Strategies to Tackle Laboratory-Acquired Infections and Related Risks
Authors: Peng Huasong , Bilal Muhammad , Iqbal Hafiz M. N.
Published: November 2018

Herein, we reviewed laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs) along with their health-related biological risks to provide an evidence base to tackle biosafety/biosecurity and biocontainment issues. Over the past years, a broad spectrum of pathogenic agents, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, or genetically modified organisms, have been described and gained a substantial concern due to their profound biological as well as ecological risks. Furthermore, the emergence and/or re-emergence of life-threatening diseases are of supreme concern and come under the biosafety and biosecurity agenda to circumvent LAIs. Though the precise infection risk after an exposure remains uncertain, LAIs inspections revealed that Brucella spp., Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Rickettsia spp., and Neisseria meningitidis are the leading causes. Similarly, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as well as hepatitis B (HBV) and C viruses (HCV), and the dimorphic fungi are accountable for the utmost number of viral and fungal-associated LAIs. In this context, clinical laboratories at large and microbiology, mycology, bacteriology, and virology-oriented laboratories, in particular, necessitate appropriate biosafety and/or biosecurity measures to ensure the safety of laboratory workers and working environment, which are likely to have direct or indirect contact/exposure to hazardous materials or organisms. Laboratory staff education and training are indispensable to gain an adequate awareness to handle biologically hazardous materials as per internationally recognized strategies. In addition, workshops should be organized among laboratory workers to let them know the epidemiology, pathogenicity, and human susceptibility of LAIs. In this way, several health-related threats that result from the biologically hazardous materials can be abridged or minimized and controlled by the correct implementation of nationally and internationally certified protocols that include proper microbiological practices, containment devices/apparatus, satisfactory facilities or resources, protective barriers, and specialized education and training of laboratory staffs. The present work highlights this serious issue of LAIs and associated risks with suitable examples. Potential preventive strategies to tackle an array of causative agents are also discussed. In this respect, the researchers and scientific community may benefit from the lessons learned in the past to anticipate future problems.
Healthy Design and Urban Planning Strategies, Actions, and Policy to Achieve Salutogenic Cities
Authors: Capolongo Stefano , Rebecchi Andrea , Dettori Marco , Appolloni Letizia , Azara Antonio , Buffoli Maddalena , Capasso Lorenzo , Casuccio Alessandra , Oliveri Conti Gea , D’Amico Alessandro , Ferrante Margherita , Moscato Umberto , Oberti Ilaria , Paglione Lorenzo , Restivo Vincenzo , D’Alessandro Daniela
Published: November 2018

Starting from a previous experience carried out by the working group “Building and Environmental Hygiene” of the Italian Society of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine (SItI), the aim of the present work is to define new strategic goals for achieving a “Healthy and Salutogenic City”, which will be useful to designers, local governments and public bodies, policy makers, and all professionals working at local health agencies. Ten key points have been formulated: 1. climate change and management of adverse weather events; 2. land consumption, sprawl, and shrinking cities; 3. tactical urbanism and urban resilience; 4. urban comfort, safety, and security perception; 5. strengths and weaknesses of urban green areas and infrastructures; 6. urban solid waste management; 7. housing emergencies in relation to socio-economic and environmental changes; 8. energy aspects and environmental planning at an urban scale; 9. socio-assistance and welfare network at an urban scale: importance of a rational and widespread system; and 10. new forms of living, conscious of coparticipation models and aware of sharing quality objectives. Design strategies, actions, and policies, identified to improve public health and wellbeing, underline that the connection between morphological and functional features of urban context and public health is crucial for contemporary cities and modern societies.
Worldwide Research on Circular Economy and Environment: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Ruiz-Real José Luis , Uribe-Toril Juan , De Pablo Valenciano Jaime , Gázquez-Abad Juan Carlos
Published: November 2018

The relevance of circular economy to environmental science has led to a notable increase of research works during the last few years. It is very important to know the evolution of the publications that relate these two concepts, as well as the main areas of knowledge in which these investigations are framed. The purpose is to understand and highlight the state of art of circular economy and the role and relationship of the environment. Bibliometric analysis allows to evaluate developments in knowledge on a specific subject and assesses the scientific influence of researches and sources. This paper analyses the worldwide research dynamics on circular economy in the period from 2006 to 2017. A bibliometric analysis of 743 articles was completed. The most productive journals in this field were Journal of Cleaner Production. The five most productive countries were China, United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany. Works on the circular economy and environment has considerable potential and it is open to research fields as sustainability or industrial production. The findings of this study could prove useful for studies into environmental circular economy, as they show a global sight of this line of study. Thus, the article represents a contribution to identify the main trends in circular economy research and environment and, from there, propose future research initiatives.
Liposomes with an Ethanol Fraction as an Application for Drug Delivery
Authors: Pilch Ewa , Musiał Witold
Published: November 2018

Liposomes containing a certain amount of ethanol are often referred to in the literature as ethosomes. Liposomes vary in size from 25 nm to 25,000 nm. Ethosomes are defined as lipids composed of phospholipids, ethanol, or isopropyl alcohol in quite high concentrations, and water. They enable active substances to reach the deep skin layers or even the general circulation. The structure of ethosomes allows for an increased penetration of the drug through two effects: the ethanolic effect and the ethosomal effect. Ethosomes can be obtained using three methods: the hot method, the cold method, and the classic method of mechanical dispersion. The literature describes many of the therapeutic groups of drugs that can be enclosed in ethosomal formulations. These include anti-viral drugs, antineoplastic drugs, antifungal drugs, hypnotic drugs, hormones, and many others. Ethosomes show important practical advantages compared to classic liposomes. It is necessary to conduct research with regard to real pharmaceutical systems using advanced physicochemical techniques.
Quinoa Abiotic Stress Responses: A Review
Authors: Hinojosa Leonardo , González Juan A. , Barrios-Masias Felipe H. , Fuentes Francisco , Murphy Kevin M.
Published: November 2018

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a genetically diverse Andean crop that has earned special attention worldwide due to its nutritional and health benefits and its ability to adapt to contrasting environments, including nutrient-poor and saline soils and drought stressed marginal agroecosystems. Drought and salinity are the abiotic stresses most studied in quinoa; however, studies of other important stress factors, such as heat, cold, heavy metals, and UV-B light irradiance, are severely limited. In the last few decades, the incidence of abiotic stress has been accentuated by the increase in unpredictable weather patterns. Furthermore, stresses habitually occur as combinations of two or more. The goals of this review are to: (1) provide an in-depth description of the existing knowledge of quinoa’s tolerance to different abiotic stressors; (2) summarize quinoa’s physiological responses to these stressors; and (3) describe novel advances in molecular tools that can aid our understanding of the mechanisms underlying quinoa’s abiotic stress tolerance.
Migration as a Challenge to Couple Relationships: The Point of View of Muslim Women
Authors: Accordini Monica , Giuliani Cristina , Gennari Marialuisa
Published: November 2018

Migration posits new challenges to couple relationships. The distance from one’s family and kin, the need to restructure long-standing and culturally established role expectations, the social isolation, and economic strains often put couple stability at stake. Muslim women’s perception of the changes that have occurred to their couple relationship after migration has rarely been investigated. To fill this gap in the research literature, a sample of 15 Moroccan and as many Pakistani women living in Italy were administered an in depth semi-structured interview. A thematic analysis of the interview transcripts led to the identification of the following main themes: (a) The value and meanings of marriage; (b) couple life in Italy: Partners’ roles; (c) adjustments required by the post-migration context; and (d) resources of the post-migration context. Results show that while migration is often a challenge to couples who are called to renegotiate their values, expectations, and reciprocal duties, it might also be an opportunity to experience a new intimacy far from the control of their family. Moreover, while migration often entails greater autonomy and a more balanced couple relationship for Moroccan women, Pakistanis remain anchored to more traditional gender values and are more exposed to feeling isolated.
Urban Intensities. The Urbanization of the Iberian Mediterranean Coast in the Light of Nighttime Satellite Images of the Earth
Authors: Checa Joan , Nel·lo Oriol
Published: November 2018

The contribution shares the approach of critical urban studies that have conceptualized urbanization more as a process than as a sum of spatial forms. Thus, the contribution studies the urbanization process not only from the point of view of the physical occupation of land but also considers changes in the intensity of the uses of space. To fulfill this aim, the new sources of nocturnal satellite images are particularly useful. These allow us to observe the intensity of urban uses both in terms of their distribution over space and their recurrence over time. The research focuses on the Iberian Mediterranean coast and permits the verification of the intensity of the urban uses of the space for the whole of this area and their seasonal variations throughout the year. The source of the study are the nighttime satellite images of the Earth for the 2012–2017 period from the NASA SNPP satellite equipped with the VIIRS-DNB instrument. By establishing a threshold of urban light the research shows that those districts with the greatest extensions of urban light do not necessarily correspond with the most densely populated areas. Similarly the absence of urban light does not necessarily indicate the absence of urban uses. Finally, the variations of intensity of light prove to be a good indicator of seasonal variations of activity in tourist areas.
Contribution à l'étude de l'altération des feldspaths, dans l'eau entre 100 et 200° C, sous diverses pressions de CO2 et application à la synthèse des minéraux argileux
Authors: Lagache Martine
Published: November 2018

Étude de la dissolution dans l'eau, entre 100 et 200° C, sous diverses pressions de CO₂, de trois feldspaths, une albite, une adulaire et un labrador.

Confirmation du caractère incongruent de la dissolution :

— l'alumine est peu ou pas soluble.

— la silice, plus soluble, atteint une saturation pour une concentration de 100 à 200 mg SiO₂/litre.

— la concentration en alcalins croît en fonction d'un paramètre tS, produit de la durée de l'attaque par la surface des cristaux exposés à la dissolution. On montre que la cinétique de la dissolution est fonction de l'accumulation des éléments chimiques en solution. Lorsque la saturation en silice est atteinte, la vitesse de dissolution est une fonction du rapport des activités ([Na⁺] ou [K⁺]) / [H⁺] en solution, dont on donne une représentation graphique.

Évaluation de l'influence de la température sur le phénomène.

Étude de la genèse des argiles au dépens de ces mêmes feldspaths.

On dirige l'altération des feldspaths vers la formation de trois types de minéraux :

la boehmite, la kaolinite et le mica muscovite, en jouant sur le rapport Si/Al dans le

résidu solide et le rapport ([Na⁺] ou [K⁺]) / [H⁺] dans la solution.
Étude de quelques phyllites colorées des schistes cristallins des Alpes piémontaises
Authors: Bahezre C. , Michel R. , Vialon Pierre
Published: November 2018

Les caractères optiques ne permettant pas une détermination exacte, des analyses ponctuelles à la microsonde électronique de Castaing ont permis de préciser la nature de certaines phyllites à fort pléochroïsme dans les tons verts ou bruns, contenues dans les gneiss des massifs du Grand Paradis et de Dora˗Maïra (Alpes piémontaises). Ces phyllites sont bien des biotites dont les couleurs sont déterminées par une plus ou moins grande teneur en Ti et qu'on ne peut donc ranger parmi les chlorites ou les stilpnomélanes, comme certains auteurs avaient tendance à le faire jusqu'ici.

Du point de vue de la zonéographie des schistes cristallins, la biotite verte caractérise des conditions physico-chimiques de formation intermédiaires entre celles de la zone à chlorite˗épidote˗muscovite et celles de la zone à biotite brune banale. La biotite verte pourrait donc servir de minéral˗repère pour la base de la zone des micaschistes supérieurs de Jung et Roques.