bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time, cost and carbon dioxide benefits – rescheduling urban freight operations
Authors: Aschauer Gerald J. , Starkl Friedrich
Published: January 2014

Currently, road infrastructure reaches capacity limits during rush hour periods, resulting in severe congestion and bottlenecks. This is particularly true in urban areas. As road capacity cannot be extended to match projected traffic growth, innovative organisational solutions need to be developed. The research project provides a method for removing truck traffic from rush hour periods through a co-operative approach among road operators and industry. The method concentrates on rescheduling lorry trips in and out of urban areas. Traffic simulation is used to reschedule trucks, saving time and costs and reducing emissions. The first part of the paper gives an introduction and description of the developed method. The second part of the paper consists of the presentation of the effects and results of tested scenarios with this new tool. The method results in road capacity being used more efficiently while capital expenditure for road construction can be avoided or at least postponed. Furthermore, the elimination or at least reduction of congestion and bottlenecks leads to competitive advantages for industry, business parks and the entire urban area, and also benefits the environment. For all stakeholders, reducing bottlenecks and congestion within economic regions through organisational action is the task for the future.
London 2012 Olympics – design and town planning
Authors: Durbin Ken , Mason Selina , Hughes Kay
Published: January 2014

The London 2012 bid committed the UK to the delivery of an exciting new type of Olympic Park which places long-term legacy alongside sustainability, access and world-class design as primary goals. The London 2012 ambition also added a new level of complexity to the traditional planning and design processes for Olympic and Paralympic Games. Legacy goals and numerous stakeholders meant new methods of delivery were required that differed from comparative UK development models at the time. The creation of the Olympic Park with its 10 major sporting and broadcast venues and over 600 acres of parkland set in a previously neglected and run-down part of east London required the committed efforts of over 60 design firms developing more than 11 000 drawings in an accelerated fashion to meet all goals on time and on budget. In order to manage the Design and Town Planning requirements of this complex programme with its multiple projects and to ensure that the appropriate level of quality was met, the Olympic Delivery Authority and its delivery partner, CLM, created a design and planning management approach.
User and organisational responses to biomass district heating
Authors: Ambrose Aimee
Published: January 2014

Biomass fuelled district heating is currently the UK government's favoured approach to meeting the country's domestic heat demand while achieving carbon dioxide emission savings due to its cost effectiveness, viability and potential to reduce heating and hot water costs for residents. However, there are currently few examples of it within the UK and it therefore remains unfamiliar to both consumers and housing providers, raising many possible social and organisational challenges that are not yet fully understood. This paper elucidates these challenges by drawing on two case studies of recent social housing developments using biomass fuelled district heating. Socio-technical theory and transition theory are used to understand what happens when the technical innovation of biomass fuelled district heating meets the rigid social systems within which social housing providers and tenants operate. The paper concludes that the ability of both the organisation and the end user to adapt to and accommodate the innovation will determine the extent to which the intended benefits of biomass fuelled district heating are realised.
Altered water and nitrogen input shifts succession in a southern California coastal sage community
Authors: Kimball Sarah , Goulden Michael L. , Suding Katharine N. , Parker Scot
Published: January 2014

Vegetation‐type conversions between grasslands and shrublands have occurred worldwide in semiarid regions over the last 150 years. Areas once covered by drought‐deciduous shrubs in Southern California (coastal sage scrub) are converting to grasslands dominated by nonnative species. Increasing fire frequency, drought, and nitrogen deposition have all been hypothesized as causes of this conversion, though there is little direct evidence. We constructed rain‐out shelters in a coastal sage scrub community following a wildfire, manipulated water and nitrogen input in a split‐plot design, and collected annual data on community composition for four years. While shrub cover increased through time in all plots during the postfire succession, both drought and nitrogen significantly slowed recovery. Four years after the fire, average native shrub cover ranged from over 80% in water addition, ambient‐nitrogen plots to 20% in water reduction, nitrogen addition plots. Nonnative grass cover was high following the fire and remained high in the water reduction plots through the third spring after the fire, before decreasing in the fourth year of the study. Adding nitrogen decreased the cover of native plants and increased the cover of nonnative grasses, but also increased the growth of one crown‐sprouting shrub species. Our results suggest that extreme drought during postfire succession may slow or alter succession, possibly facilitating vegetation‐type conversion of coastal sage scrub to grassland. Nitrogen addition slowed succession and, when combined with drought, significantly decreased native cover and increased grass cover. Fire, drought, and atmospheric N deposition are widespread aspects of environmental change that occur simultaneously in this system. Our results imply these drivers of change may reinforce each other, leading to a continued decline of native shrubs and conversion to annual grassland.
Interactions between megaherbivores and microherbivores: elephant browsing reduces host plant quality for caterpillars
Authors: Hrabar Halszka , du Toit Johan T.
Published: January 2014

Direct effects of herbivory, and indirect effects through induced responses to herbivory, can both influence the susceptibility of plants to subsequent attacks by herbivores. There has, however, been very little research (if any) to investigate how the large‐scale effects of browsing by megaherbivores (>1000 kg body mass) on woody plants might influence the subsequent use of those plants by phytophagous insects. We conducted a field study in Kruger National Park, South Africa, to investigate whether browsing by elephants (Loxodonta africana) on mopane trees (Colophospermum mopane) had any influence on the subsequent selection of those trees by ovipositing mopane moths (Imbrasia belina). Our results showed that, after controlling for differences in canopy volume, the density of egg masses was almost halved in mopane woodlands recovering from severe elephant browsing in the previous season. This is despite the regrowth on heavily browsed trees having lower tannin:protein ratios and longer shoots. Our suggested explanation is that large monophagous caterpillars can only feed in the canopies of the trees in which they hatch and so the quantity of food in each canopy is more important than its quality. There are implications for the sustainable harvesting of mopane caterpillars, which represent an important food resource for rural communities in southern Africa. Future avenues for research include patch selection by large herbivores in response to local nutrient enrichment by frass deposited during caterpillar outbreaks.
Couples Treatment for Intimate Partner Violence: Clients’ Reports of Changes During Therapy
Authors: Mendez Marcos , Horst Kyle , Stith Sandra M. , McCollum Eric E.
Published: January 2014

In 2005, 68% of the 50 states in the United States expressly prohibited the funding of any program that offers couples or family counseling when there has been intimate partner violence (IPV; Maiuro & Eberle, 2008). However, many couples experiencing violence want to participate in couples treatment. The purpose of this study is to examine the changes experienced by clients during participation in a couples treatment program for IPV. In this study, we analyzed interviews with couples participating in a specific treatment program, Domestic Violence Focused Couples Treatment (Stith, McCollum, & Rosen, 2011), to learn from them what changes they made while participating in the treatment program. Clients reported changes in both individual and relational domains. In addition, a few clients reported no change or an increase in stress. This article examines these changes and provides implications for practice.
Extent and Implications of the Presentation of False Facts by Domestic Violence Agencies in the United States
Authors: Hines Denise A.
Published: January 2014

The problem of domestic violence (DV) agencies presenting statistics that are distortions or have no basis in research has been pointed out by several DV researchers in the past several years. However, the extent of this problem is unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how frequently 15 identified false facts were presented on DV agencies’ websites in their fact sheets. All member agencies of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV;N= 2,180) were investigated to see if they have websites and fact sheets on their websites. The fact sheets were then examined to see whether they presented any of the 15 false facts. The most frequently mentioned false fact was, “According to the FBI, a woman is beaten every (fill in the blank) seconds in the United States,” presented by 34.9% of the agencies with fact sheets. Results are discussed in terms of their limitations and their implications for the field of DV, paying particular attention to how the proliferation of these false facts may undermine the credibility of the DV field and also harm the very people the agencies are trying to help.
Childhood Abuse and Women’s Use of Intimate Partner Violence: Exploring the Role of Complex Trauma
Authors: Flemke Kimberly R. , Underwood Jennifer W. , Allen Katherine R.
Published: January 2014

Much research now indicates significant long-term effects for individuals who have experienced various forms of abuse in childhood. Recent research also has examined the role of women as perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV), including potential factors that contribute to their use of violence. One trend revealed in the research is that many of the women who engaged in acts of IPV also had a history of experiencing one or more types of childhood abuse (e.g., physical or sexual abuse, or witnessing family violence). This article discusses the specific framework of complex trauma as a theoretical model to understand how unresolved triggers of childhood trauma may potentially serve as ongoing catalysts for women’s IPV. Using the lens of complex trauma illuminates the criticalinterpersonalfactor yet to be studied thus far, which suggests that many women’s IPV experiences may be rooted in havingchildhood traumas triggeredby their intimate partner. Suggestions for treatment are recommended as exploring the intersection between past trauma and present violence, which seems to be the key for unlocking important answers in treating violent women and decreasing IPV.
Assessment of GeoEye-1 stereo-pair-generated DEM in flood mapping of an ungauged basin
Authors: Tsanis I. K. , Seiradakis K. D. , Daliakopoulos I. N. , Grillakis M. G. , Koutroulis A. G.
Published: January 2014

A very high resolution (VHR) digital elevation model (DEM) is produced from a GeoEye-1 0.5-m-resolution satellite stereo pair and is used for floodplain management and mapping applications such as watershed delineation and river cross-section extraction. For this purpose, a 2 m × 2 m resolution terrain surface is produced from the stereo pair by using the Leica Photogrammetry Suite (LPS) enhanced Automatic Terrain Extraction (eATE) algorithm. DEM accuracy is assessed by comparison with measured individual ground control points (GCPs), stream cross-sections and other landscape features. Results show that the produced DEM is in good agreement with ground truth and superior to products of lower resolution, such as 90 m NASA Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and 1:5,000 topographical maps. One- and two-dimensional hydraulic models are used to simulate rainfall–runoff characteristics and flood wave kinematics of the flash flood event of 17 October 2006 that occurred in the ungauged basin of Almirida, using the 2 m VHR-DEM as an input. Results show that the hydraulic simulation based on the generated VHR-DEM, calibrated and validated via field data, produces an accurate extent and water level of the flooded area. Remote sensing stereo reconstruction is a promising alternative to traditional survey methods in flood mapping applications.
Adult Onset Still’s Disease Presenting with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Dua Anisha B. , Manadan Augustine M. , Case John P.
Published: January 2014

Introduction:

Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is a systemic inflammatory disorder characterized by rash, leukocytosis, fevers, and arthralgias. Pulmonary involvement has been reported rarely in AOSD, but acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is extremely rare and potentially fatal and must be recognized as potential manifestation of underlying AOSD.

Methods:

We present a case of AOSD manifested by ARDS and review the previously reported cases in Medline/Pub med.

Results:

Including this case, 19 cases of AOSD complicated with ARDS have been reported in the literature.

Conclusions:

It is important to recognize ARDS as a manifestation of AOSD so that proper diagnostic and therapeutic management can be initiated promptly.
Seismic Retrofitting and Health Monitoring of School Buildings of Cyprus
Authors: Chrysostomou C.Z. , Kyriakides N. , Kappos A.J. , Kouris L. , Georgiou E. , Millis M.
Published: January 2014

The vulnerability of existing buildings to seismic forces and their retrofitting is an international problem. The
majority of structures in seismic-prone areas worldwide are structures that have been designed either without the consideration
of seismic forces, or with previous codes of practice specifying lower levels of seismic forces. In Cyprus, after the
three earthquakes that occurred in 1995, 1996, and 1999, the Cyprus State, acting in a pioneering way internationally, has
decided the seismic retrofitting of all school buildings, taking into account the sensitivity of the society towards these
structures, which house the future generation of the society. In this paper the overall assessment methodology is presented,
along with details of the over 10 year ongoing retrofitting program of the school buildings of Cyprus, with emphasis
on the description of the program and the development of a wireless monitoring system. In addition, mathematical
models of selected school buildings are presented and comparison is made with in-situ measurement.
Age Differences in Subjective Well-Being across Adulthood: The Roles of Savoring and Future Time Perspective
Authors: Ramsey Meagan A. , Gentzler Amy L.
Published: January 2014

Prior research indicates there are age differences in subjective well-being during adulthood, but research on age differences in savoring (up-regulating positive emotion) is lacking. Using an online survey ( N = 218, adults 18–77), this study investigated age differences in subjective well-being and savoring, and whether future time perspective (perceived amount of time left to live) mediated associations between age and savoring. Results indicated a nonlinear effect of age on subjective well-being. Although savoring was associated with subjective well-being, age was not directly associated with savoring. However, an indirect effect of future time perspective linking age and savoring indicated that younger adults reported more perceived time left in life and those perceiving more time left in life reported greater savoring. Overall, the results do not support savoring as a direct explanatory mechanism for age differences in subjective well-being, but future time perspective appears to play an important role in indirect associations between age and savoring.
Aging and Social Networks in Spain: The Importance of Pubs and Churches
Authors: Buz José , Sanchez Marta , Levenson Michael R. , Aldwin Carolyn M.
Published: January 2014

We examined whether the social convoy model and socioemotional selectivity theory apply in collectivistic cultures by examining the contextual factors which are hypothesized to mediate age-related differences in social support in a collectivist European country. Five hundred Spanish community-dwelling older adults (Mean age = 74.78, SD = 7.76, range = 60–93) were interviewed to examine structural aspects of their social networks. We found that age showed highly complex relationships with network size and frequency of interaction, depending on the network circle and the mediation of cultural factors. Family structure was important for social relations in the inner circle, while pubs and churches were important for peripheral relations. Surprisingly, pub attendance was the most important variable for maintenance of social support of peripheral network members. In general, the results support the applicability of the social convoy and socioemotional selectivity constructs to social support among Spanish older adults.
Talking through the Dead: The Impact and Interplay of Lived Grief after Suicide
Authors: McKay Kathy , Tighe Joe
Published: January 2014

In the aftermath of suicide, grief becomes a multi-faceted experience. Traditionally, this grief was silenced where the shame attached to suicide invalidated a person's need for expression. Even now, it can be difficult for people to fully articulate their grief, let alone find an empathetic audience. How do we examine this grief to more clearly hear the voices of the bereaved, and to better understand how to support those who are grieving a suicide death? Indeed, the ripple of suicide grief touches more than those traditionally considered to be impacted by the death. Whole communities can be affected and it cannot be presumed that researchers do not have their own lived experiences of suicide bereavement. In this way, the newly-opened discourse around the experience of suicide grief needs to be dissected within more practical and appropriate research. A balance needs to be created in research where the voices of grief can be included but the experiential context understood and respected.
“Widowerhood”: Masculinities and Spousal Loss in the Late-1960s
Authors: Bandini Julia , Thompson Edward H.
Published: January 2014

This study examined the distinctly gendered experiences of young widowers. Using qualitative longitudinal data from the 1960's Harvard Bereavement Study, we evaluated the interview transcripts of 19 widowers (median age = 38) who had been interviewed 3 weeks, 8 weeks, 13 months, and 2–4 years after the wife's death. Our findings indicate that the off-time spousal loss ruptured the ontological security that marriage provided and created two types of difficult situations for the widowers. Coping with deep sadness and grief, the men divulged their unspoken dependency on their marriage and on their late wife. They also struggled as single fathers, especially if they tried to singlehandedly care for their children. Becoming an off-time widower in the 1960s compelled the men to reclaim their masculine identity. Men's identity-rebuilding strategies involved promptly returning to work, and many men began dating and repartnering to recoup the normalcy of being married.
An Exploratory Study of Death Anxiety and Trainees' Choice of Theoretical Orientation
Authors: Belviso Francesco , Gaubatz Michael D.
Published: January 2014

This study investigated the association between therapist-trainees' death anxiety and their preference for “objective” (i.e., quantitative and rational) over “subjective” (i.e., experiential and symbolic) theoretical orientations. In this correlational investigation, 303 clinical psychology and counseling trainees at a Midwestern school of professional psychology completed instruments assessing their fear of personal death and their endorsement of superordinate dimensions of psychotherapy orientations. As hypothesized, trainees who reported higher levels of death anxiety displayed a stronger preference for objective over subjective orientations, a relationship that was found in post-hoc analyses to be particularly salient for male trainees. These findings suggest that trainees' death anxiety, and their attempts to control it, could influence their choice of a theoretical orientation. Potential implications for training institutions are discussed.
Reading between the Lines: A Comparison of 480 German and Dutch Obituaries
Authors: Barth Susanne , van Hoof Joris J. , Beldad Ardion D.
Published: January 2014

Obituaries do not only announce the death of a significant other but also provide insights into how a society deals with death according to the norms governing the rituals of individuals within that society. This study aimed at investigating possible differences between German and Dutch obituaries, specifically in terms of visual and textual elements, information about the deceased, and funeral ceremony-related information. Data used to address the research questions were the contents of 240 German and 240 Dutch obituaries published in 10 different newspapers (6 in Germany, 4 in the Netherlands). Results of this study show that statistically significant differences between German and Dutch obituaries exist. While German obituaries use illustrations more than Dutch ones, Dutch obituaries provide more information, in general, than their German counterparts. The types of deceased-related information on German and Dutch obituaries also vary significantly. Moreover, Dutch obituaries provide more funeral ceremony-related information than German obituaries.
The Thracian hero on the Danube new interpretation of an inscription from Diana
Authors: Grbic Dragana
Published: January 2014

The paper looks at some aspects of the Thracian Hero cult on the Danube
frontier of Upper Moesia inspired by a reinterpretation of a Latin votive
inscription from Diana, which, as the paper proposes, was dedicated to Deo
Totovitioni. Based on epigraphic analogies, the paper puts forth the view
that it was a dedication to the Thracian Hero, since it is in the context of
this particular cult that the epithet Totovitio has been attested in various
variants (Toto-viti- / Toto-bisi- / Toto-ithi-).
Timişoara between “fictive ethnicity” and “ideal nation” the identity profile during the interwar period
Authors: Neumann Victor
Published: January 2014

Seeking to delineate the identity profile of the citizens of interwar
Timi?oara, a city at the crossroad of Central- and South-East-European
cultures and civilizations, the paper analyzes the national, linguistic and
religious population structure using the data provided by three censuses
(1910, 1930 and 1941). Under Hungarian rule, until the First World War, there
prevailed the policy of linguistic nationalism. After 1918, in Romania, there
occurred a policy shift towards ethno-culturally based differentiation, i.e.
towards belonging to a nation. Yet, amidst the interaction of cultures and
customs, the notion of nationality or ethno-nationality was quite relative,
and Timi?oara functioned as a multilingual and multireligious environment.
Contradictions were observable between nationalist political orientation and
aspirations of local society. The Jewish community was an embodiment of
multiculturalism. The Jews enjoyed equal rights and functioned as a bridge
between other communities. In the 1930s multicultural Timi?oara seems to have
been a contrast to the cities where different linguistic and religious
communities lived parallel lives in isolation from one another. Thus,
Timi?oara resisted radical, racist and anti-Semitic movements that emerged on
the European political scene in the interwar period.
Application of paraconsistent annotated logic program bf-EVALPSN to intelligent control
Authors: Nakamatsu Kazumi
Published: January 2014

A paraconsistent annotated logic program called EVALPSN has been developed
for dealing with defeasible deontic reasoning and plausible reasoning, and
applied to various kinds of intelligent control and safety verification.
Moreover, in order to deal with before-after relation between processes(time
intervals), bf(before-after)-EVALPSN has also been developed recently. In
this paper, we review the reasoning system for before-after relation between
processes based on bf- EVALPSN. The system consists of two groups of
inference rules in bf-EVALPSN called basic and transitive bf-inference rules.
The application of the reasoning system to real-time process order control is
introduced with simple examples.
Virtual instrumentation for strain measurement using Wheatston bridge model
Authors: Jankovic Predrag , Manojlovic Jelena , Djukic Slavenko
Published: January 2014

Strain measurement is a very important procedure in mechanical engineering.
It has been the subject of the research in theoretical and experimental work.
Wheatstone bridge or resistance strain measurement is the most widely used
method in experimental stress analysis. Using the advanced virtual instrument
technology, there is a possibility to solve the problems of traditional
resistance strain instruments. In this paper we give an overview of strain
measurement and then introduce the concept and characteristics of virtual
instruments applied for that purpose.
Influence of housing conditions, number of farrowing and number of pigs in litter on weight loss in sows during lactation
Authors: Sladojevic Z. , Kasagic D. , Kukolj B. , Kirovski Danijela
Published: January 2014

The objective of this work was to investigate the influence of housing
conditions, number of farrowing and number of pigs in litter on weight loss
in sows during lactation. The experiment included 60 sows, half breed
developed by cross breeding of Big Yorkshire and Swedish Landrace in
lactation. Body weight of the sows (kg) was determined 2nd, 7th, 14th, 21st
and 28th day after farrowing. On the basis of the obtained values, there was
calculated the difference in body weight between two consecutive
investigation periods. The sows were divided into two groups and held in
different housing conditions: 30 of them were held in extensive, and other 30
sows in intensive way of farming. In regard to number of farrowing, the sows
were divided into three groups: sows with one or two farrowing (group P1,
n=20), with three or four farrowing (group P2, n=20), and sows that farrowed
five or more times (P3,n=20). In regard to number of pigs in litter, the sows
were divided into two groups: the first (Group I, n=30) with sows that had up
to eight pigs, and the second (Group II, n=30) with sows that had nine or
more pigs in litter. The obtained results showed that in all perids of the
investigation during lactation, body weight in sows held in extensive farming
conditions was statistically significantly higher compared to those from
intensive farming conditions. On the other hand, the loss of body weight
during lactation was significantly higher in sows from extensive in regard to
intensive farming conditions in the first two weeks of lactation. The sows
with bigger number of farrowing had greater body weight, compared to those
with smaller number of farrowing. There was no statistically significant
difference in body weight loss during lactation, between sows with different
number of farrowing, but considering that the sows with less farrowings had
significantly lower body weight, they consequently lost more weight in
percentage. The sows with greater number of pigs had significantly smaller
body weight in the end of lactation, that is on 21st and 28th day of
lactation. The results of this investigation point out to the fact that
mainly housing conditions, that is nutrition influence body weight loss, and
after that comes the number of pigs in litter.
Letter to the editor — inconsistency on frequencies of the human apolipoprotein E Gene expression
Authors: Sosa Ivan , Strenja-Linic Ines
Published: January 2014

In this letter, we share our concerns regarding fluctuations of homozygosity for ApoE/ɛ4 allele. It appeared that over time, expression of this gene raised the felled as reported by various researchers. Considering the diversity of phenotypic characteristics assigned to expression of ApoE/ɛ4, seems to be a potentially useful to direct practitioner on concrete figures related to the genetic propensity of many conditions, from circulatory to mental disorders.
Thermo-chemical properties of biomass from Posidonia oceanica
Authors: Plis Agnieszka , Lasek Janusz , Skawińska Agnieszka , Kopczyński Marcin
Published: January 2014

Posidonia oceanica (PO) is a marine plant endemic to the Mediterranean basin, forming extensive grasslands. Onshore residues represent a major environmental, economic, social and hygienic problem in all coastal zones of the Mediterranean basin due to the great disturbance they cause to bathers and beachfront populations. This work sought to evaluate the thermo-chemical properties of PO in pyrolysis and thermo-oxidative degradation processes. The investigations were carried out using a thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) coupled to a quadrupole mass spectrometer (MS) and an infrared spectrometer (FTIR). In addition, proximate, ultimate, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and biodegradability analyses were carried out on PO. The biodegradability analysis confirmed that residues of PO were a biodegradable material. Accordingly, the application of PO as a feedstock for combustion/co-combustion or biorefining is recommended.
Al(III) and Cu(II) simultaneous foam separation: Physicochemical problems
Authors: Kawalec-Pietrenko Bożenna , Rybarczyk Piotr
Published: January 2014

In the paper, simultaneous removal of Al(III) and Cu(II) from dilute aqueous solutions by ion and precipitate flotation methods is investigated. Influence of the pH of the initial solution, the surface active collector concentration and the gas flow rate on the final removal ratio and the course of ion and precipitate flotations is presented. The results show that simultaneous flotations of Al(OH)3 and Cu(OH)2 insoluble species occur allowing to achieve their almost complete removal in the pH range between 7 and 9. An increase of the surface active agent concentration causes a decrease of the final removal ratio as well as of the flotation rate constant. An increase of the gas flow rate results in an increase of ion and precipitate flotation rates.
Synthesis and insecticidal activity of 6,8-dichloro-quinazoline derivatives containing a sulfide substructure
Authors: Wu Jian , Bai Song , Yue Min , Luo Li-Jun , Shi Qin-Cai , Ma Juan , Du Xian-Li , Kang Sheng-Hong , Hu Deyu , Yang Song
Published: January 2014

A series of 6,8-dichloro-quinazoline derivatives bearing a sulfide group was synthesized and characterized via 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR and elemental analyses. All the compounds were tested for their insecticidal activity against Plutella xylostella in vitro. The results indicate that the synthesized compounds possess good insecticidal activity. Among these compounds, Vc, Vi, Vj, Vk and Vm displayed 75 %, 85 %, 80 %, 70 % and 63 % activities, respectively. These may prove useful as insecticidal agents.
Revitalizing Primary Health Care and activities in Nepal
Authors: Jha Nilambar
Published: January 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hren.v11i3.9630 Health Renaissance 2013;11(3):185-191
Breast feeding pattern in teaching districts of a health sciences university in eastern Nepal
Authors: Shrivastava MK , Singh RR , Shah GS
Published: January 2014

Background: Adequate nutrition early in life has an important role in determining infants’ growth and development, and in preventing many adult diseases. Over 2/3rd of under-5 child deaths in the world is associated with inappropriate feeding practices and occurs during infancy. Yet, only 1/3rd of world’s infants are optimally fed. Objectives: To investigate breast feeding patterns and its relation to sociodemographic factors; and to identify factors associated with initiation, continuation, and maintenance of breast-feeding. Methods: Cross-sectional, semistructured questionnaire based study. 508 mothers of infants attending health center were interviewed about feeding patterns and socioeconomic variables. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Results: 55.9% infants were breastfed within first hour of life and 90% within the first day. Rapid decline in exclusive-breastfeeding was seen with infant’s age (78.6% at 1 month, 37.3% at 1-3 months, 35.4% at 3-6 months). Factors significantly associated with exclusive breast- feeding were maternal age and education, family income and type. 17.9% infants were given pre-lacteals where as 92.9% received Colostrum. Major factors associated with early initiation of breast-feeding were maternal age and education, family type and mode of delivery. Conclusion: The results show that national guidelines, public messages, and educational campaigns need to be strengthened to achieve desired goals regarding breast feeding. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hren.v11i3.9631  Health Renaissance 2013;11(3):191-197
Effect of leaf extract of ocimum gratissimum on central nervous system in mice and rats
Authors: Sarral DP , Rauniar GP , Sangraula H
Published: January 2014

Background: Ocimum gratissimum, known as “Ram Tulsi”, is one of medicinal herbs used in traditional medicinal practice in our country. Objective: To observe and evaluate various central nervous system activities of cold homogenized leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum (OGE) in mice and rats. Methods: OGE was given to albino mice (n=240) and Wistar rats (n=30) in three doses 5, 10 and 15 ml/kg for seven days and evaluated for antinociceptive, anticonvulsant, motor coordination, hypnotic and anxiolytic effect using respective experimental procedures. Distilled water was used as vehicle control and various drugs as standard control for comparison. Results: OGE showed significant (p<0.05) analgesic effect as compared to vehicle treatment in hot plate test. Pentobarbital-induced sleeping time was significantly (p<0.05) potentiated by OGE in rats. OGE significantly decreased duration of tonic hind limb extension at doses of 5 and 15ml/kg in MES test and increased latency to convulsion at dose of 15 ml/kg in PTZ-induced seizure test. OGE at dose of 5 and 10 ml/kg induced significant muscle relaxation. Time spent in central square and number of rearing increased in mice pretreated with OGE at 10 and 15 ml/kg. Conclusion: OGE possess antinociceptive, hypnotic-sedative potentiating, anxiolytic and muscle relaxant properties with probable anticonvulsant properties. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hren.v11i3.9632 Health Renaissance 2013;11(3):198-204
Alcohol consumption among women in a district of eastern Nepal
Authors: Niraul SR , Jha N , Shyangwa PM
Published: January 2014

Background: The World Health Assembly has declared alcohol related problems to be a major public health concern all over the world. It has a serious health effect on women. Objectives: To assess the strength, pattern and associated health problems among the female population in Sunsari district of Nepal. Methods: A representative sample of 2397 females aged 15 years and above were interviewed in Sunsari district in 2003. Results: Among the respondents, 16.6% of females were current alcohol users [95%CI=15.11 to 18.09] among which 14.7% in the reproductive age were consuming alcohol. About 23% of daily users, who were taking more than 524 ml of Homemade ‘Raksi’ were at high risk. Alcohol-users were more likely to use tobacco. About 15% of women were found be taking alcohol even during pregnancy. Exactly 42% of users and 27.5% of non-users reported to have health problems (P<0.0001). Self-reported illnesses among alcohol users were gynecological (40.1%), muskulo-skeletal (18.6%), headache (18.6%), cardiovascular (14.4%), and respiratory problem (9.0%). Conclusions: The prevalence of alcohol use among females was 16.6% in Sunsari district. ‘Local Raksi’ was the most common. Alcohol users were nearly two times to have health problem than the non-users [OR=1.7, 95% CI=1.4 to 2.0, P<0.001]. The adverse effect of alcohol on female is a serious issue for her health and also to her fetus. Health educational campaigns related to alcohol control should be directed at the community and emphasized them to go for the regular health check up. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hren.v11i3.9633  Health Renaissance 2013;11(3):205-212
Prevalence of depression among elderly people living in old age home in the capital city Kathmandu
Authors: Ranjan S , Bhattarai A , Dutta M
Published: January 2014

Background: There has been a considerable increase in the numbers of older people in the world population of both developed and developing countries. These populations are thought to be at greater risk for depression. Many researches are conducted on physical wellbeing of elderly but studies regarding depression among elderly, especially in old age home is lesser in the developing countries. Objectives: To assess depression among elderly residing in an old age home in Kathmandu and its association with some of the socio-demographic variables. Methods: One hundred fifty elderly people residing in social welfare centre elderly home, Pashupatinath, Gaushala, Kathmandu, Nepal were selected randomly. Geriatric depression scale (GDS) was applied in all the individuals to assess the prevalence and degree of depression. Results: This study showed that, 47.33% of population had depression. Among the depressed population, 70.42% had mild depression and 29.58% had severe depression. There was significant association between the prevalence of depression and history of physical illness. Conclusion: Depressive disorder is highly prevalent among the elderly population residing in the old age home in Kathmandu with history of physical illness. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hren.v11i3.9634 Health Renaissance 2013;11(3):213-218
Morphometric study of cervical spine vertebrae in eastern region Nepalese population
Authors: Singh S , Balakrishnan M
Published: January 2014

Objective: To ascertain the normal values of mid-sagittal vertebral body Diameter, mid-sagittal canal diameter and canal-body ratio in adult Nepalese population. Methods: In this consent based descriptive, clinico -radiological study of 100 individuals who volunteered to being subjected to lateral projection radiographs of cervical spine. The sagittal canal diameter (CD), sagittal vertebral body diameter (VBD) and the canal-body ratio (CBR) was recorded on lateral projection radiographs (film to tube distance at 183 cms) and analyzed statistically. Results: The mean vertebral body diameter was 17.81±1.73mm (male:18.30±1.64mm;female:17.05±1.61mm), mean canal diameter was 17.18±1.67mm (males:17.31±1.74mm; females: 16.97±1.56mm),the mean canal body ratio was 0.97±0.13 (males:0.95±0.13; females:1.00±0.13). In mongoloids mean body diameter is 18.23±1.58 mm, mean canal diameter is 16.87±1.77 mm. and mean canal body ratio is 0.93±0.13. In non-mongoloids the mean body diameter was 17.48±1.79 mm, mean canal diameter was 17.42±1.59 mm, and mean canal body ratio was 1.00±0.13. Conclusion: The vertebral body diameter was significantly larger in men as compared to women, and this difference was statistically significant at all vertebral levels (p <0.05). The canal diameter was more in males than females but this difference was not statistically significant (p >0.05). The canal body ratio was greater in females than in males at all levels but this was also not statistically significant (p >0.05. The canal diameter was more in non-mongoloids as compared to mongoloids but this difference was not significant except at C2 level. Population in the eastern region of Nepal had values more nearer to Indian population but lesser than Europeans. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hren.v11i3.9636 Health Renaissance 2013;11(3):224-228
Lip print pattern: an identification tool
Authors: Ghimire N , Ghimire N , Nepal P , Upadhyay S , Budhathoki SS , Subba A , Kharel B
Published: January 2014

Background: Cheiloscopy is a forensic investigation technique that deals with the identification based on lip traces. Based upon the research, it was established that the arrangement of lines on the red part of human lips is unique for each human being. Objectives: To analyze and compare quadrant wise and sex wise predilection of lip print pattern. Methods: A total of 200 (18-25 years) Nepalese undergraduate students of BPKIHS were selected. Thin layer of lip-stick was applied on the lips of these sub-jects. The hinged por-tion of a folded paper was inserted between the lips and the sub-jects were asked to press their lips onto it. Only middle 10 mm of both upper and lower lips were taken as study area. The lip prints, thus obtained were stud-ied on the basis of Tsuchihashi’s classification. Chi square test was used to analyze and compare the lip print patterns in all the quadrants of males and females, with the level of significance p<0.05. Results: Type I pattern was predominant in all the four quadrants among males (62%, 56%, 54%, 57% in first, second, third and fourth quadrants respectively). In female also type I was predominant in 2nd, 3rd and 4th quadrant (40%, 45%, 51% respectively) whereas in 1st( right upper) quadrant type II pattern was predominant (37%). Conclusion: Lip print pattern can be used as an additional tool for personal identification and sex determination. Further work on the subject can help to make cheiloscopy a practical reality in the forensic identification process. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hren.v11i3.9637 Health Renaissance 2013;11(3):229-233
A correlative study on cytopathological and histopathological findings in male genital tract lesions
Authors: Paudyal P , Sinha AK , Karak AK , Kumar B , Agrawal CS
Published: January 2014

Background: The incidence of male genital lesions has continuously increased during the last decades, especially in the developed countries. FNAC serves as an important tool to screen and diagnose all palpable lesions of the genital tract and provides sufficient information for the initiation of treatment without need for an open biopsy. This study compares the diagnostic outcome between FNAC and surgical biopsies in male genital tract lesions. Objectives To find out the correlative attributes of cytological findings with the histologic diagnosis in male genital tract lesions. Methods: This is a hospital based retrospective and prospective study spanning over a period of six years. A total of thirty seven male patients with genital tract lesions were subjected to both FNAC and biopsy. The age, site, duration of illness, onset of illness, history of pain, relevant past medical history, cytological and histological findings were recorded. Diagnostic contribution of FNAC was evaluated taking histologic diagnosis as gold standard. Results: The age range was 2-80 years. Mean age was 39.37 year. Commonest site involved was right testis (27.0%) followed by left epididymis (21.7%). Predominant lesion was benign which constituted 59.4%. Malignancies formed 18.9% of all cases. Conclusion: FNAC was observed to be capable of providing correct diagnosis in 78.4%. Taking histologic diagnosis as gold standard, FNAC was found to have a sensitivity of 81.48% and specificity of 42.85 %. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hren.v11i3.9638 Health Renaissance 2013;11(3):234-240
Study on knowledge and practice of water and sanitation application in Chandragadhi VDC of Jhapa District
Authors: Sah RB , Baral DD , Ghimire A , Pokharel PK
Published: January 2014

Background: Poor hygiene practices and inadequate sanitary conditions play major roles in the increased burden of communicable diseases within developing countries. Objectives: To know the knowledge and practice of the people about the diseases related to water and sanitation and to know the pattern of water related diseases in last one year in that area. Methods: The crosssectional study was conducted from 16th March to 30th March 2008 in Chandragadhi VDC where 203 households were taken as subjects. Convenient purposive sampling technique was applied. Semi-structured questionnaire was used and face to face interview was conducted. Chisquare test was applied to find out the significant difference between various diseases and related to water and sanitation system of the study areas. Results: People drinking untreated water suffered from diarrhea (38.46%) followed by dysentery (9.89%) respectively. People who devoid of latrine facilities suffered from diarrhea (40.74%) followed by dysentery (12.03%) respectively. Almost (38%) of the population under study gets rid of the excreta of their children in the river nearby and (32.5%) throw in the same latrine they use. Almost (66%) people wash their hands with soap water after defecation. Conclusion: A majority of people with knowledge of safe water and sanitation used soap and water for hand washing before meal and after defecation. People drinking untreated water showed significant with water related diseases ie diarrhoea followed by dysentery. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hren.v11i3.9639 Health Renaissance 2013;11(3):241-245
A comparative study to assess the effect of intrathecal bupivacaine with morphine or butorphanol on post-operative pain relief following abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy
Authors: Singh SN , Subedi A , Prasad JN , Regmi MC
Published: January 2014

Background: Post-operative pain management can be challenging. Objectives: To compare the efficiency of morphine with that of butorphanol in controlling the postoperative pain relief. Methods: This double-blind randomized clinical trial was performed on 75 consecutive patients. Intrathecal 3ml hyperbaric bupivacaine mixed with morphine (200 microgm-0.25ml); or mixed with butorphanol (200 microgm-0.25ml); or mixed with normal saline 0.25ml was administered to alternate groups (25 patients in each group), for postoperative pain relief after abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy. They were monitored for pain relief in the recovery and gynaecological ward for 24 hours. If the patient had any complications like nausea, vomiting, itching and urinary retention were recorded. Results: Time for two segment regression of sensory level in patients receiving intrathecal morphine (Group-M), was 114.0±12.2 min., intrathecal butorphanol (Group- B) was 96.0+24.4 min and normal saline (Group- N) was 104.4 ± 18.5min. Duration of pain relief after subarachonoid block In Group-M was 492.0 ± 153.2min, in Group- B 311.20 ±58.7min and in Group-N it was 299.4 ± 72.7min. Two patients (8%) in Group-M had nausea, vomiting and itching but none in other groups. Urinary retention occurred in 3 patients (12%), in Group- M, whereas the same was found in 2 patients (8%) and 1 patient (4%) of Group-B and N respectively. Conclusion: Intrathecal morphine provided prolonged and better analgesic effect after abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy than butorphanol, though there were some side effects like nausea, vomiting, itching and urinary retention which were graded by the patients as clinically not significant. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hren.v11i3.9640 Health Renaissance 2013;11(3):246-249
Peri-operative peripheral nerve injury
Authors: Pathak L
Published: January 2014

Peripheral nerve injury in peri-operative period is the topic of interest especially for the anesthesiologists because the concentration of rest of the operation theatre team lies on the positioning of the patient required for the surgical exposure rather than towards the stretching or compression of the nerves. Etiology of peri-operative peripheral nerve injury (PPNI) is complex and multifactorial. Prevention of injury and its consequences to some extent can be done with the alertness of the concerned surgical team and the anesthesiologist. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hren.v11i3.9643 Health Renaissance 2013;11(3):260-266