bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Red Blood Cell Transfusion in Pediatric Orthotopic Liver Transplantation: What a Difference a Few Decades Make
Authors: Tran Lieu T. , Mazariegos George V. , Damian Daniela , Davis Peter J.
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND:

Liver transplantation in children is often associated with coagulopathy and significant blood loss. Available data are limited. In this observational retrospective study, we assessed transfusion practices in pediatric patients undergoing liver transplantation at a single institution over the course of 9 years.

METHODS:

Data were retrospectively collected from patient medical records at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. All patients who underwent liver transplantation from January 2008 to June 2017 were included. Primary and secondary outcomes were volume of red blood cells (RBCs) transfused and mortality, respectively.

RESULTS:

From January 2008 to June 2017, there were 278 liver transplants in 271 patients. The number of primary transplants were 259, second retransplants 15, and third retransplants 4. Average age at transplantation was 6.9 years. Biliary atresia, maple syrup urine disease, urea cycle defect, and liver tumor were the leading indications accounting for 66 (23.7%), 45 (16.2%), 24 (8.6%), and 23 (8.3%) of transplants, respectively. Seventy-six cases (27.3%) did not require RBC transfusions. Among those transfused, 181 (89.6%) of the cases required <1 blood volume (BV). The median BV transfused among all cases was 0.21 (range, 0–9; Q1, 0; Q3, 0.45). There is a trend toward higher volume transfusions among infants (median, 0.46 BV) compared to children >12 months of age (0.12 BV). By diagnosis, the group requiring the highest median volume transfusion was patients with total parenteral nutrition–related liver failure (3.41 BV) followed by patients undergoing repeat transplants (0.6 BV). Comparison of primary versus repeat transplants shows a trend toward higher volume transfusions in third transplants (median, 2.71 BV), compared to second transplants (0.43 BV) and primary transplants (0.18 BV). Four of 271 patients (1.5%) died during admission involving liver transplantation. Nine of 271 patients (3.3%) died subsequently. Total mortality was 4.8%.

CONCLUSIONS:

In contrast to historically reported trends, evaluation of current transfusion practices reveals that most patients undergoing liver transplantation receive <1 BV of packed RBCs. More than 1 in 4 transplantations require no transfusion at all. Risk factors for greater transfusion need include younger age, total parenteral nutrition–related liver failure, and repeat transplantation.
Witchcrafts of Color
Authors: Magloire Marina
Published: October 2018

This essay argues that the anticolonial efforts of Martinican intellectuals like Aimé Césaire and Frantz Fanon often established a strict dichotomy between a violated, abject, and feminized Martinique and a masculine and authoritative France. In this way, they reify and perpetuate a tradition of colonial literature that establishes Martinican women of color, like the island itself, as both sexually available to the colonizer and resigned to exploitation and abandonment. Through an analysis of two French West Indian women writers—Mayotte Capécia and Suzanne Césaire, both writing during the Vichy occupation of Martinique in the 1940s—the essay suggests that the seemingly monolithic trope of the sexually inviting Martinican woman contains a loophole that could lead to its own dismantling. More specifically, I argue that the element of the supernatural that is often imbedded in the colonial lore of female shapeshifters and sorceresses provides a counterreading to the beautiful and subservient woman of color of colonial fantasies. By situating West Indian femininity in a genealogy of supernatural camouflage, subterfuge, and transformation, Capécia and Césaire undermine misogynist colonial fantasies by revealing teeth, fangs, and venomous hearts beneath the seemingly obliging flesh of the Martinican woman of color.
The Aftereffects of Slavery
Authors: Stitt Jocelyn Fenton
Published: October 2018

The relationship of the enslaved past to the present has been an ongoing topic within African diaspora studies generally, and within Black feminist studies specifically. This essay traces a Black feminist genealogy rooted in Saidiya Hartman’s Lose Your Mother: A Journey along the Atlantic Slave Route (2007) and her essay “Venus in Two Acts” (2008). These are arguably two of the most influential works of scholarship in African American feminist studies of the past decade. Hartman’s attempt to use the archive to rescue those lost within, particularly girls and women, is a project also taken up in the three texts discussed here: Tina Campt’s Listening to Images (2017), Michelle D. Commander’s Afro-Atlantic Flight: Speculative Returns and the Black Fantastic (2017), and Christina Sharpe’s In the Wake: On Blackness and Being (2016). One of Hartman’s most important contributions is in juxtaposing the absences of the enslaved in the archive with the very real and present repercussions of what she calls the “aftereffects” of slavery on contemporary Black people, such as being subject to state violence. Hartman’s extraordinary work carries its own aftereffects in its influence on the writing of contemporary scholars of the Black diaspora. Campt, Commander, and Sharpe amplify her claim of the importance of the enslaved past to understanding contemporary Black lives.
Summer Girl
Authors: Pinkard Michelle J.
Published: October 2018

“Summer Girl” celebrates the spirit of resistance and individuality. The poem explores and broadens limited perceptions of identity.
Loss of CAMSAP3 promotes EMT via the modification of microtubule–Akt machinery
Authors: Pongrakhananon Varisa , Wattanathamsan Onsurang , Takeichi Masatoshi , Chetprayoon Paninee , Chanvorachote Pithi
Published: October 2018

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays pivotal roles in a variety of biological processes, including cancer invasion. Although EMT involves alterations of cytoskeletal proteins such as microtubules, the role of microtubules in EMT is not fully understood. Microtubule dynamics are regulated by microtubule-binding proteins, and one such protein is CAMSAP3, which binds the minus-end of microtubules. Here, we show that CAMSAP3 is important to preserve the epithelial phenotypes in lung carcinoma cells. Deletion of CAMSAP3 in human lung carcinoma-derived cell lines showed that CAMSAP3-deficient cells acquired increased mesenchymal features, mostly at the transcriptional level. Analysis of the mechanisms underlying these changes demonstrated that tubulin acetylation was dramatically increased following CAMSAP3 removal, leading to the upregulation of Akt proteins (also known as protein kinase B proteins, hereafter Akt) activity, which is known to promote EMT. These findings suggest that CAMSAP3 functions to protect lung carcinoma cells against EMT by suppressing Akt activity via microtubule regulation and that CAMSAP3 loss promotes EMT in these cells.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Effect of anatomical change on dose distribution during radiotherapy for maxillary sinus carcinoma: passive scattering proton therapy versus volumetric-modulated arc therapy
Authors: Narita Yuki , Kato Takahiro , Ono Takashi , Oyama Sho , Komori Shinya , Arai Kazuhiro , Abe Yoshitomo , Harada Takaomi , Nakamura Tatsuya , Wada Hitoshi , Kikuchi Yasuhiro , Murakami Masao , Hosokawa Yoichiro
Published: October 2018

Objective:

Maxillary sinus carcinomas are anatomically situated next to many organs at risk (OARs), and anatomical change is often observed during radiotherapy. We analyzed the effect of anatomical change on dose distribution of passive scattering proton therapy (PSPT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for 20 patients.

Methods:

The first plans were generated based on the first CT images. The second CT images were acquired after 3 weeks, and the second plans were generated by copying the first plans to the second CT images. The effect of anatomical change was estimated by comparing both plans.

Results:

Target volume change was observed in all cases, however, the influence on dose coverage of clinical target volume tended to be small. Alternatively, the doses to almost all OARs were increased. In particular, the increase in the dose to brainstem (p < 0.001) and optic chiasm (p < 0.001) was significantly higher in the second PSPT plan than in the first PSPT plan. Although PSPT is sensitive to anatomical change, the dose to OARs remained significantly lower in PSPT plans than that in VMAT plans.

Conclusion:

PSPT was confirmed to be more effective than VMAT even the effect of anatomical change was taken into account. Therefore, it is expected that the contralateral vision can be preserved reliably while optimal target coverage is provided.

Advances in knowledge:

PSPT allowed significant sparing of OARs even in the result of the second plans affected by the anatomical change. PSPT offers benefits over VMAT in reducing dose to several OARs.
Learning from Mixed Signals in Online Innovation Communities
Authors: Riedl Christoph , Seidel Victor P.
Published: October 2018

We study how contributors to innovation contests improve their performance through direct experience and by observing others as they synthesize learnable signals from different sources. Our research draws on a 10-year panel of more than 55,000 individuals participating in a firm-hosted online innovation community sponsoring creative t-shirt design contests. Our data set contains almost 180,000 submissions that reflect signals of direct performance evaluation from both the community and the firm. Our data set also contains almost 150 million ratings that reflect signals for learning from observing the completed work of others. We have three key findings. First, we find a period of initial investment with decreased performance. This is because individuals struggle to synthesize learnable signals from early performance evaluation. This finding is contrary to other studies that report faster learning from early direct experience when improvements are easiest to achieve. Second, we find that individuals consistently improve their performance from observing others’ good examples. However, whether they improve from observing others’ bad examples depends on their ability to correctly recognize that work as being of low quality. Third, we find that individuals can successfully integrate signals about what is valued by the firm hosting the community, not just about what is valued by the community. We thus provide important insights into the mechanisms of how individuals learn in crowdsourced innovation and provide important qualifications for the often-heralded theme of “learning from failures.”

The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2018.1219 .
O papel das Diretivas Antecipadas como respaldo legal ao médico com paciente idoso com demência
Authors: Casella Jéssica T. , Moreira Virgílio G.
Published: October 2018

Introdução: Observa-se uma transição demográfica em escala mundial. O prolongamento da sobrevida das pessoas idosas, aliada ao avanço no tratamento de doenças crônicas têm aumentado a prevalência de pessoas funcionalmente dependentes. O avanço dos recursos propedêuticos e terapêuticos da medicina nas últimas décadas trouxe a distanásia como efeito colateral. Fenômeno relativamente recente na sociedade tem suscitado discussões de cunho clínico, bioético e jurídico, com a finalidade de equacionar dilemas e modernizar as leis, adaptando-se a essa nova realidade. Objetivos: Analisar o papel das Diretivas Antecipadas de Vontade no contexto do cuidado paliativo. Metodologia: Foi realizada uma revisão narrativa investigando artigos publicados na Revista de Bioética do Conselho Federal de Medicina do Brasil e suas últimas resoluções nos últimos dez anos. Para tanto, foram levantados dados atuais, no contexto jurídico, analisando o respaldo legal do processo decisório a cargo do médico geriatra. Resultado: Foram identificados nove artigos e três resoluções principais. Conclusões: No Brasil ainda não há legislação específica sobre o tema. Apesar do novo Código de Ética Médica ter representado um grande avanço, não foi suficiente ainda para introduzir essa prática na relação médico-paciente. Atualmente, as Diretivas Antecipadas de Vontade são válidas à luz das normas constitucionais vigentes.Descritores: Diretivas antecipadas; Doença de Alzheimer; Bioética.
Obesidade sarcopênica e funcionalidade: Uma revisão da literatura
Authors: De Campos Glaucia Cristina , Lopes Claudia S. , Lourenço Roberto A.
Published: October 2018

Introdução: Nos últimos anos, a obesidade e a sarcopenia têm se destacado como epidemias mundiais, com impacto importante na qualidade de vida dos idosos, acarretando declínio nas atividades básicas da vida diária, dependência funcional e incapacidade principalmente quando há o efeito sinérgico destes dois fatores. Objetivos: Realizar uma revisão de literatura sobre a influência da obesidade sarcopênica na funcionalidade de idosos. Descrever a etiologia e os principais métodos e critérios para identificação da obesidade sarcopênica. Metodologia: Estudo de revisão narrativa, elaborado por meio de análise da literatura publicada em livros e artigos de revistas científicas digitais. Discussão: O artigo demonstra, a partir dos resultados de estudos nacionais e internacionais, a variabilidade das prevalências de obesidade sarcopênica e o impacto na capacidade funcional. Conclusões: A alta prevalência da obesidade sarcopênica é preocupante e aponta para a necessidade de implantação de políticas públicas para prevenir este fenótipo da composição corporal e os danos funcionais. Cabe ressaltar que novos estudos devem ser realizados visando à padronização de critérios e pontos de corte para identificação da obesidade sarcopênica.Descritores: Obesidade sarcopênica; Composição corporal; Idosos; Funcionalidade.
Sarcopenia: uma revisão narrativa das definições
Authors: Moreira Virgílio G. , Lourenço Roberto A.
Published: October 2018

Introdução: A sarcopenia é uma condição clínica associada ao envelhecimento. Está diretamente relacionada com desfechos indesejáveis à população idosa. Tem grande potencial terapêutico e apresenta elevada prevalência, de acordo com os critérios diagnósticos adotados. Objetivos: Realizar uma revisão sobre as principais definições de sarcopenia utilizadas em estudos epidemiológicos. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão narrativa com foco na busca de publicações sobre o tema utilizando palavras-chave por meio de linguagens boleanas via Medical Subheadings no PubMed: “sarcopenia”, “diagnosis”, “aged” e “epidemiology”. Do total de 1058 citações, 14 foram selecionadas. Resultados: Os trabalhos analisados apresentam uma perspectiva histórica da sarcopenia englobando sua definição original – somente massa muscular – até os trabalhos subsequentes que agregaram força e, posteriormente, desempenho funcional aos seus critérios diagnósticos. Conclusões: Apesar dos trabalhos mais recentes identificarem a associação dos três critérios para definição de sarcopenia – massa, força muscular e desempenho funcional – são necessários outros estudos para verificar o melhor constructo para esta condição clínica, uma vez que o critério original ainda é utilizado nesta definição.Descritores: Sarcopenia; Idosos; Diagnóstico.
New years
Authors: Silverton Louise
Published: October 2018

New Year is traditionally associated with the month of January, but as Louise Silverton writes, the autumn is also a good time to reflect on months past and make plans for the future
Care in crisis
Authors: Nicholl Jonquil
Published: October 2018

As a midwife with Médecins Sans Frontières, Jonquil Nicholl has travelled all over the world and has often been on the frontline when care is needed in an emergency. She shares some of her stories
An initiative to improve the safeguarding of vulnerable adults
Authors: Glasper Alan
Published: October 2018

Emeritus Professor Alan Glasper, from the University of Southampton, discusses a recent guidance report from the Royal College of Nursing, designed to enhance the safeguarding of adults at risk of abuse
Developing a new one-stop urology diagnostics service
Authors: Hillery Sarah
Published: October 2018

A newly built NHS ‘one-stop’ urology diagnostics unit has been created to provide a genuinely patient-centred experience for all new patients presenting with urological symptoms. Patients across the region now receive not only their initial specialist consultation, but also all diagnostic investigations and a treatment plan during a single visit to the unit. The purpose-built service has reduced the patient diagnostic pathway from several visits over many weeks to a matter of hours. The unit has facilities for urodynamic studies, ultrasound, flexible cystoscopy and trans-rectal ultrasound prostate biopsy in addition to full physiological measurement capabilities. Designing a new purpose-built unit in the current healthcare climate brought its own challenges as the project progressed. Having the right nursing team in place was essential, and this article describes the insights afforded in developing the project.
Use of electrophysical agents (EPAs) in small animal veterinary practice
Authors: King Megan
Published: October 2018

Animal physiotherapists have used electrophysical agents (EPAs) within their field of rehabilitation to aid a number of conditions within the musculoskeletal and neurological system. The use of EPAs in the animal health care arena is not exclusive to animal physiotherapists, but these agents are possibly most commonly utilised by physiotherapists. Not all EPAs are equally useful for every situation, and an understanding of what modality is best used for specific conditions or problems is vital to their efficacy. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the most commonly used EPAs, where they are best used and for what reasons.
One size doesn't fit all…
Authors: Allingham Sue
Published: October 2018

Trying to distil the nature of education at all levels and ages into one framework has been the goal of many an education minister, despite the well-received wisdom that the reality is far more complicated.
Making connections while breaking and creating
Authors: Brown Paula
Published: October 2018

It was made Toy of the Century in 2000 and its popularity never wanes, but in this article we examine the Lego and Duplo brick systems and their potential educational, therapeutic, creative and social benefits.
How does music boost brain development?
Authors: Bull Louise
Published: October 2018

Recent neuroscience research is proving the effectiveness of music on early years development, and it is finally getting recognition with a recent publication offering guidance based on Development Matters.
An unfair tax and an unfair rate
Authors: Tanuku Purnima
Published: October 2018

The sector has long called for an end to the business rates imposed on nurseries that are hampering investment and threatening sustainability. The tax on space is meant for factories, not education sites.
Writing is for a purpose
Authors: Clarke Jenni
Published: October 2018

This series shares a variety of ideas on how to provide opportunities for young children to read for pleasure, so when they are ready, they will have the motivation and foundations in story to persevere.
The great learning bake off
Authors: Roberts Ann R
Published: October 2018

Learning cookery skills and food preparation can aid and support physical development for three to five-year-olds, especially when it comes to refining and improving those all important fine motor skills.
In the best possible taste
Authors: Harries Judith
Published: October 2018

The fourth in a series of articles that will explore the classic five senses, introduces ways to investigate and explore each sense alongside cross-curricular activities – this month, taste.
Batch codes from Hamming and Reed-Muller codes
Authors: BAUMBAUGH Travis , DİAZ Yariana , FRİESENHAHN Sophia , MANGANİELLO Felice , VETTER Alexander
Published: October 2018

Batch codes, introduced by Ishai et al., encode a string $x \in \Sigma^{k}$ into an $m$-tuple of strings, called buckets. In this paper we consider multiset batch codes wherein a set of $t$-users wish to access one bit of information each from the original string. We introduce a concept of optimal batch codes. We first show that binary Hamming codes are optimal batch codes. The main body of this work provides batch properties of Reed-Muller codes. We look at locality and availability properties of first order Reed-Muller codes over any finite field. We then show that binary first order Reed-Muller codes are optimal batch codes when the number of users is 4 and generalize our study to the family of binary Reed-Muller codes which have order less than half their length.
Population Diversity of Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) (Termitidae, Macrotermitinae) from Different Geographic Locations in Anhui Province, China
Authors: Yang Yun Qiu , Pu Long Jun , Wang Qian , Wang Zhong , Pang Zheng Ping , Long Yan Hua
Published: October 2018

Genetic differentiation, genetic exchange, and influence of natural geographic barrier on the genetic structure of 20 geo-populations of Odontotermes formosanus sampled from different regions in Anhui province, China were detected using ISSR. Seventy-nine polymorphic loci were detected with nine ISSR primers, and the percentage of polymorphic bands was 87.78%. The average number of alleles per locus was 1.8778 ± 0.3294, and the effective number of alleles was 1.4741 ± 0.3438. The Nei′s gene diversity and Shannon information index were 0.2832 ± 0.1696 and 0.4307 ± 0.2274, respectively. All the populations were divided into two groups through UPGMA clustering analysis based on Nei’s genetic distance. One group comprised geo-populations A, C, and J, and the other group consisted of the remaining clusters. Mantel test results revealed no significant correlation between genetic similarity and geographical distance, as well as between elevation. High levels of genetic diversity, genetic mutation, and genetic differentiation were also detected among the geo-populations of O. formosanus. This study revealed the gene flow and possible migration paths of O. formosanus, which are necessary for continuous monitoring and prevention of this species.
Leaf Volatiles from Two Corydalis Species Lure A Keystone Seed-dispersing Ant and Enhance Seed Retrieval
Authors: Zhu Yan , Wang Dong
Published: October 2018

It has been reported that a suit of plant traits can regulate the ant-seed interaction and subsequently affect the seed dispersal. However, the role of plant volatiles in attracting the ants for seed dispersal remains little examined. We used a Y-tube olfactometer to test behavior response of a keystone seed-dispersing ant (Pristomyrmex pungens Mayr) to leaves and seeds of five co-occurring myrmecochorous Corydalis species (C. wilfordii Regel, C. racemosa (Thunberg) Persoon, C. sheareri S. Moore, C. balansae Prain and C. incisa (Thunberg) Persoon). Of the five species, only C. wilfordii and C. racemosa leaves emits heavily volatiles. We also performed seed cafeteria experiments to assess the effect of leaf volatiles from C. racemosa on seed retrieval by presenting simultaneously the seeds near the fresh leaf and the leaf immersed by diethyl ether both in the field and lab. The experiment using Y-tube showed that the ants were only significantly attracted by the fresh leaves of two species, C. wilfordii and C. racemosa. The cafeteria experiments showed that ants spent less time to detect the C. racemosa seeds which were near the fresh leaf, and transported these seeds more quickly. This indicated that the leaf volatiles can function as an attractant for the dispersing ants, and ant preference in turn enhance the seed retrieval. The findings reveal that leaf volatiles can play na important but underestimated role in shaping the ant-seed dispersing interactions.
Floral Resources Partitioning by Two Co-occurring Eusocial Bees in an Afromontane Landscape
Authors: Tropek Robert , Padysakova Eliska , Padysakova Eliska , Janecek Stepan , Janecek Stepan
Published: October 2018

Floral preferences of generalist foragers such as eusocial bees influence the success of pollination of many flowering plants, as well as competition with many other bee species in tropical communities. Eusocial bees are important for the pollination success of many flowering plants, as well as for food resources availability for many other species. However, their foraging preferences are still unknown in many tropical areas, especially in the Afrotropics. We studied the foraging activity of two syntopic eusocial bees with large colonies, the honeybee Apis mellifera Linnaeus and the stingless bee Meliplebeia ogouensis (Vachal), on seven plant species in the Bamenda Highlands, Cameroon, in two consecutive years. Simultaneously, we quantified intra- and inter-annual changes in the food resources. We observed resource partitioning among the two bee species. Although both species are considered as generalists, their short-term food niches overlap was very low. Their preferences to the most often visited plants differed even more strongly interannually. Our results bring the first evidence on such relatively strong resource partitioning among two dominant eusocial bee species from West/Central Africa.
Experiences in Transplanting Wood Ants into Plantations for Integrated Pest Management
Authors: Nielsen Jesper Stern , Nielsen Mogens Gissel , Offenberg Joachim
Published: October 2018

Ants can function efficiently as biocontrol agents in open field horticulture. Temperate wood ants can control forest pests, including species damaging forest regeneration plots and fruit plantations. Thus, they possess potential as biocontrol agents in open field horticulture, if they can persist in these systems. Here we present observationson activity and survival of wood ants transplanted from forests into different types of plantations. Mound fragments were transplanted into a conifer seedling plot, an organic and a conventional Christmas tree plantation, and into an organic apple plantation. Colonies survived at least one year in all types of plantations. In some cases, however, ants moved to new locations or migrated between mound fragments, leaving some inactive. Our compiled experiences suggest that this can be prevented by providing a minimum mound size, keeping a minimum spacing between mounds and incorporation of sand and scent marked wood pieces from donor colonies to imitate naturally occurring nests. We also observed that the ants preyed upon and significantly reduced the number of winter moth larvae (Operophtera brumata – a pest in apple and other fruit orchards) in two of four apple varieties. In conclusion, wood ants were tolerant to highly diferente habitat settings and will likely persist in most types of perennial horticultural systems, if managed properly. As they prey on winter moths and multiple other pest species, they are a potential new biocontrol agent for open agricultural systems.
How does landscape anthropization affect the myrmecofauna of urban forest fragments?
Authors: Santiago Graziele Da Silva , Campos B. R. F. , Ribas Carla Rodrigues
Published: October 2018

We evaluate whether landscape variables surrounding urban remnant forest fragments influence ant diversity and its components in urban areas. The study was conducted in six riparian forest fragments in midwestern Minas Gerais State, Brazil, by sampling epigaeic and arboreal ants. Arboreal ants respond to fragmente isolation with changes in alpha, beta and gamma diversities. Isolation likely hinders dispersion and re-colonization such that the more isolated a fragment is, the less likely that new species arrive there. On other hand, epigaeic diversity did not show any response to variables of the surroundings or fragments, probably because natural periodic floods constitute a more severe disturbance for these ants. In addition, throughout the process of urbanization, anthropogenic improvements, such as paving, that prevent the natural percolation of water, increase the flooding of riparian soil. Arboreal ant species composition responds to percentage of urban area, fragment area and distance from the urban center, while epigaeic ants respond only to fragment area and percentage of urban area. We believe that even with the loss of species diversity and anthropogenic influences on fragments within urban centers, these areas are still important for species conservation. We also suggest the development of environmental protection projects for riparian áreas within urban centers, including investments in ecological corridors connecting fragments and public policies seeking to preserve these areas.
New records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Sri Lanka, including four tramp species
Authors: Dias R. K. Sriyani , Udayakantha S. , Wachkoo Aijaz Ahmad , Akbar Shahid Ali
Published: October 2018

Five ant species are reported for the first time from Sri Lanka: Ooceraea alii (Bharti & Akbar, 2013); O. biroi (Forel, 1907); Prionopelta kraepelini Forel, 1905; Strumigenys emmae (Emery, 1890) and S. membranifera Emery, 1869. Among the newly reported species, four species (O. biroi, S. membranifera, S. emmae and P. kraepelini) are known for their invasive and tramping nature, spreading via human commerce and have attained broad cosmopolitan distribution. Impact of these ants on regional fauna is not known and needs immediate attention. A brief diagnosis, distribution, and illustrations are provided for each species.
The Effect of nest Size and Species Identity on Plant Selection in Acromyrmex Leaf-Cutting Ants
Authors: Jofre Laura Elizabeth , Medina Ana Irene , Farji-Brener Alejandro Gustavo , Moglia Marta Matilde
Published: October 2018

Leaf-cutting ants are key organisms because their role as primary consumers and potential agricultural pests. However, their foraging ecology was mostly studied as response of extrinsic factors such as climate and plant species traits. We evaluated the effects of intrinsic factors (i. e., nest size and species identity) on the foraging behavior in two species of Acromyrmex Mayr leaf-cutting ants. While large and small nests of A. lobicornis Emery showed similar feeding behavior, small nests of A. striatus Roger harvested a greater percent of the plant species available in their foraging area and showed a higher level of selectivity than larger nests. We discussed some probable reasons for this pattern. Our results highlight the relevance of intrinsic factors and species characteristics to explain changes in the foraging ecology of leaf-cutting ants as colony growth.
Age and HIV stage at initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy determine non-reversal of stunting at 3 years of treatment
Authors: Vedaswari Putu Diah , Wati Ketut Dewi Kumara , Sidiartha I Gusti Lanang , Pratiwi I Gusti Ayu Putu Eka , Santoso Hendra , Witarini Komang Ayu
Published: October 2018

Background Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been reported to improve growth, especially in the first 2 years of treatment. It is not clear whether catch up growth is maintained after 2 years of HAART.

Objective To assess growth in stunted children with HIV after 3 years of HAART and analyze possible risk factors for non-reversal of stunting.

Methods This study was done from May 2016 to April 2017 to follow children with HIV who started HAART between January 2009 and April 2014, and continued for 3 years. Inclusion criteria were children with HIV, aged < 18 years, compliance to the regimen, and stunting. Exclusion criteria were patients lost to follow up or who died prior to 3 years of HAART. Non-reversal of stunting was defined as HAZ ≤ -2SD after 3 years of HAART. Possible risk factors for non-reversal were analyzed using Chi-square test with P<0.05, as well as risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results Of 150 HIV-infected pediatric patients, 115 were on HAART and 55 (47.8%) were stunted at HAART initiation. Of the 55 stunted and HAART-treated children, 31 (56.4%) were male. Baseline median age was 3.6 years (interquartile range 0.37-8.48). Non-reversal occurred in 32 (58.2%) subjects. Multivariate Cox regression model analysis showed predictors of non-reversal after 3 years of HAART to be age >2 years (RR 16.05; 95%CI 2.89 to 89.02; P=0.002) and HIV stage III-IV (RR 8.93; 95%CI 1.47 to 54.37; P=0.017).

Conclusion HAART initiation at age >2 years and HIV clinical stage III-IV at diagnosis are risk factors for non-reversal of stunting after 3 years of HAART.
Valproate use and thyroid dysfunction in children with idiopathic epilepsy
Authors: Sibarani Josephine Juliana , Deliana Melda , Saing Johannes H.
Published: October 2018

Background Long-term administration of valproic acid (VPA) has side effects, including thyroid dysfunction. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) identified by elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations with normal thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), or normal free thyroxine (fT4) and free triiodothyronine (fT3) has been demonstrated in idiopathic epilepsy patients receiving VPA.

Objective To evaluate for associations between age at initiation of VPA treatment and duration of treatment with thyroid dysfunction.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2012 to May 2013 in Haji Adam Malik and Pirngadi Hospitals, Medan, North Sumatera. Subjects were children ranging from 0 and below 18 years who had been diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy. Blood specimens were taken to evaluate serum T3, T4, and TSH levels in all subjects. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate analyses.

Results A total of 49 subjects were included in the study. Age of ≤ 4 years at initiation of VPA was found to be a significant risk factor for SCH in the bivariate analysis (OR 6.67; 95%CI 1.215 to 36.594, P=0.036). Three factors had P values <0.25 in the bivariate analysis and were subsequently analyzed by stepwise multivariate regression test: age at initiation of VPA, duration of treatment, and drug dosage. The VPA initiation at age <4 years had 6.67 times the risk of SCH than the age of >4 years (95%CI 1.215 to 36.594; P=0.029). Duration of treatment and VPA dosage were not significantly associated with SCH on multivariate analysis

Conclusion Age ≤ 4 years old at the initiation of VPA is associated with thyroid dysfunction. However, no significant association was found between duration of treatment as well as drug dosage with  thyroid dysfunction.
The Environmental Impact of Etelebou Flow Station In Surface Water of Gbarain, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Authors: I. Seiyaboh Enetimi , C.N Angaye Tariwari
Published: October 2018

Environmental impact of anthropogenic activities from industrial sources, have become a threat to biodiversity. Water samples were collected from rivers around the flow station, and analysed from some physicochemical parameters and hydrocarbon contents. Result of the physicochemistry was reported for: pH (6.58± 0.04 - 6.76±0.01), conductivity (168.30±13.98 - 194.57±3.78 µS/cm), conductivity 8.29±0.04 - 10.66±0.02 NTU, salinity (0.07±0.00 - 0.09± 0.00 mg/l), and Total Solids (83.96±1.49 - 103.66±0.60mg/l). Other elemental analysis includes: sulphates (2.43±0.01 - 4.28 ±0.02 mg/l), nitrates (0.19±0.01 - 0.28±0.01 mg/l), carbonates (1.14±0.07 - 2.06±0.07 mg/l), calcium (8.45±0.10 - 11.70±0.25 mg/l), magnesium (1.14±0.07 - 2.56±0.03 mg/l), and sodium (4.37±0.15 - 5.62±0.03 mg/l). The values of THC and TPH were 0.92±0.08 - 1.51±0.03, and 0.37±0.13 - 0.76±0.07 mg/l respectively. Generally, the result indicated mild level of contamination in terms of Hydrocarbon contents. However, diagnostic data emerging for physicochemistry and some elemental property indicates the water is unfit for consumption. Notwithstanding, the order on contamination were reported as; downstream > midstream > upstream. Therefore this study concludes that there should be frequent monitoring of the recipient water bodies associated with the flow station in order to check anthropogenic activities, and conserve biodiversity.
Social media and Higher Education: FOMO (fear of missing out) or does digitally enabled learning have a place in Law Schools?
Authors: Curro Gina , Ainsworth Nussen
Published: October 2018

Recently embraced by the legal profession to make justice more accessible, social media (SM) is fast becoming the primary tool of communication for the courts. In Australia today The Supreme Court of Victoria uses SM to share judgments, media releases, publications, speeches and other information. On the County Court of Victoria home page one can read the Court's Twitter feed. These innovations have led to the expectations for Australian law schools to adopt 21st century technology, and enhance student engagement in the classroom. While there are studies which have investigated the use of SM as an educational tool in general, research specifically addressing its application to Law curricula is scant. In this article we propose that introducing SM into curricula will create learning opportunities to develop the awareness of responsible usage of SM platforms, thereby ensuring successful communication outcomes for Law graduates. We discuss the challenge of online scholarly/academic identity, and also the social capital benefits. A brief account of SM and the legal industry is presented next. Because of the impact of policy imperatives, VU Blended Learning Strategy and Graduate Capabilities for 21st century have been included. Examples of SM applications in the Australian Law classroom, including the use of the meme, an image with a text phrase that is distributed via SM, are discussed.  The complex and contested nature of SM, leads the authors conclude that it is possible to successfully implement digitally enabled learning in the Australian Law classroom, but not without certain pedagogical caveats.
Lived Experiences of New Faculty: Nine Stages of Development Toward Learner-Centered Practice
Authors: Lane Jill O'Shea
Published: October 2018

Community college faculty development programs need to be designed to help faculty move beyond content experience and become learner-centered instructors.  The purpose of this qualitative study with a hermeneutic phenomenological approach was to explore the experiences of new faculty participating in a systematic dialogue about learner-centered instruction in a community college setting.  Specifically, this research project was designed to answer the following question:  How do new faculty experience participation in a semester-long faculty development program focused on learner-centered instruction? Interviews with faculty experiencing a learner-centered training program revealed common themes as well as nine stages of faculty development related to moving toward a learner-centered approach to teaching. Keywords: community college faculty preparation, learner-centered instruction, professional development for faculty, barriers to learner-centered instruction.
The decorative images’ seductive effect in e-learning depends on attentional inhibition
Authors: González Federico Martín , Saux Gastón , Burin Debora
Published: October 2018

Two studies sought to replicate and extend the seductive effect of decorative pictures in expository text comprehension to an e-learning environment. In the first study, undergraduate students read and answered questions about two texts, with and without decorative, irrelevant images, in an e-learning course. The presence of decorative images had a small detrimental effect on comprehension. In the second study, participants read more difficult texts (low prior knowledge texts in multiple screens) and completed working memory and inhibitory ability tests. A significant interaction between comprehension and perceptual/attentional inhibitory ability was found: Participants with lower inhibitory capacity were affected by irrelevant pictures. In conclusion, evidence supported the hypothesis of a detrimental effect of irrelevant, decorative images on comprehension in e-learning, particularly for students with low attentional inhibition.
Boundary Layer Effects on Ionic Flows Via Classical Poisson-Nernst-Planck Systems
Authors: Zhang Mingji
Published: October 2018

A quasi-one-dimensional steady-state Poisson-Nernst-Planck model of two oppositely charged ion species through a membrane channel is analyzed. The model problem is treated as a boundary value problem of a singularly perturbed differential system. Our analysis is based on the geometric singular perturbation theory but, most importantly, on specific structures of this concrete model. The existence and (local ) uniqueness of solutions to the boundary value problem is established. In particular, an approximation of both the individual flux and the I-V (current-voltage) relation are derived explicitly from the zeroth order approximation (in ") solutions, from which the boundary layer effects on ionic flows are studied in great details.
Effect of MgO Injection on Smelting in a Blast Furnace
Authors: Chen Shujun , Lyu Qing , Li Jianpeng , Liu Xiaojie , Liu Kai
Published: October 2018

The effects of the simultaneous injection of MgO and magnesite powder on the combustion of coals, properties of the primary slag, and softening-melting properties of the burden were investigated. There were four aspects to the results that we obtained. First, MgO showed catalytic activity for dehydrogenation and carboxyl group removal from coal; as a result, with increasing MgO, the combustion ratio and pyrolysis ratio of the coal investigated improved. Notably, when the content of MgO increased from 0% to 3.21%, the combustion ratio increased from 67.75% to 75.73%. Secondly, the MgO distribution in the slag sample was close to that in the standard slag after melting for 10 min. After 50 min, the difference in MgO content between the slag and standard slag samples was less than 1%. Thirdly, with an increase in the content of MgO, the short-slag feature of the slag was obvious, the viscosity fluctuated wildly, and the melting temperature increased significantly. It is proposed that the properties of the primary slag could be improved by decreasing the MgO content. Finally, with the increase in the MgO added to the burden, the softening-melting properties of the burden degraded. When the MgO content was 0.86%, ΔP
max was only 2.04 kpa, and S 59 kPa·°C. However, when the MgO content was 2.61%, ΔP
max was 20.00 kPa, and S 1349 kPa·°C. Therefore, the technology of MgO injection into tuyeres with pulverized coal was beneficial for blast furnace operation.
Importance and health hazards of nanoparticles used in the food industry
Authors: Naseer Bazila , Srivastava Gaurav , Qadri Ovais Shafiq , Faridi Soban Ahmad , Islam Rayees Ul , Younis Kaiser
Published: October 2018

Nanoparticles are considered magic bullets because of their unique properties. Nowadays, the use of nanoparticles has emerged in almost every field of science and technology, owing to its potential of revolutionizing specific fields. In the field of food science and technology, the use of nanoparticles is being studied in diverse areas, starting with the harvesting of crops up to final food consumption. With the increased usage of nanoparticles in day-to-day life, concern over their safety has arisen in everyone’s mind. There is an imbalance between the increase in research to identify new nanoparticle applications and their safety, and this has triggered pressure on scientists to identify the possible effects of nanoparticles on human health. There are numerous studies on the use of nanotechnology in food and the effect of nanoparticles on human health, but there is a vacuum in the literature in terms of the combined analysis of such studies. This review is an attempt to present and analyze different studies on the use and the safety of nanoparticles in food.
Facile synthesis of multi-layer graphene by electrochemical exfoliation using organic solvent
Authors: Das Swapan , Ghosh Chandan K. , Sarkar Chandan K. , Roy Sunipa
Published: October 2018

This paper presents a facile method of producing graphene nanosheets by organic liquid-assisted electrochemical exfoliation using tetramethyleammonium hydroxide (TMAH) as organic electrolyte. The process involves low-cost copper as ground electrode and carbon block as anode or cathode. The application of organic electrolyte eliminates the presence of unwanted metal ions on the graphene nanosheets. To the best of our knowledge, this is a maiden effort of producing graphene with pure organic electrolyte using TMAH with low-cost copper electrode. By the use of TMAH, conformal large-area graphene nanosheets of 4.3 nm thickness with an average sheet diameter of 3–4 μm have been obtained. Graphene nanosheets are characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, Raman spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Raman characterization confirms the conservation of the intrinsic nature of few-layer graphene. Graphene nanosheets are dissolved in a polar aprotic solvent dimethylformamide and are drop coated on the Si/SiO2 substrate to make a thin film of graphene. Films are annealed to remove any residual solvent attached to it. Different annealing temperatures (50–200°C) were reported. Sheet resistances were measured before and after annealing, with a remarkable decrease afterward. Current-voltage characteristics were studied to evaluate the conductivity of the graphene nanosheets produced.
Phytochemical Profile and Bioactivity of Essential Oil from Pimenta Dioica Leaves on Cowpea Beetle, Callosobruchus Maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae): A Farmer Friendly Solution for Postharvest Pest Management
Authors: P.C.R.K Tenne , M.M.S.C Karunaratne
Published: October 2018

Pimenta dioica (Allspice) leaf essential oil was isolated using hydro-distillation and insecticidal properties were evaluated for their ability to suppress post-harvest insect pest Callosobruchus maculatus in storage legumes and pulses. Four concentrations of leaf oil (0.5, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 v/v% ) were tested to evaluate their contact and fumigation repellency as well as insecticidal activities. Volatile organic compounds of leaf oil were analyzed by headspace solid-phase micro extraction coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GCMS) using polar and medium polar fibers. All concentrations elicited significantly higher repellent effects on insects after 2 hour exposure when compared with those of the control with the highest concentration producing 98.0% and 92.0% contact and fumigation repellency effects. Contact and fumigation toxicity tests exhibited 100% mortality for the highest concentration after 6 and 12 hour exposure respectively giving low LC50 values of 0.3 (v/v%). Volatile oil analysis indicated that the leaf essential oil comprised of high amount of Eugenol (89.8%), Methyl eugenol (2.3%) and caryophyllene (4.1%) for the polar fiber. Eugenol (42.6%), Caryophyllene (27.9%), Humulene (6.8%) and 1,8 Cineol (8.1%) were obtained for the medium polar fiber. Results indicate that the leaf essential oil of P.dioica would be a safe, eco-friendly alternative botanical insecticide in managing C.maculatus during storage.