bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The socioeducational profile of illegal traders of wild animals in free markets on Amazon Region
Authors: Mendes Fabricio Lemos de Siqueira , Mendonça Ygor De Siqueira Mendes
Published: November 2019

O Brasil é detentor da maior biodiversidade do planeta e a cobiça por essa biodiversidade existe desde a chegada dos portugueses na época da colonização. A Amazônia possui grande diversidade biológica, principalmente em relação aos Animais Silvestres (AS), apresentando também problemas na sua preservação. Além de ser importante na dieta alimentar de populações carentes, os AS são também criados em cativeiro como animais de estimação. Este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar o perfil socioeducacional dos comerciantes de AS em feiras livre da Amazônia. Utilizou-se um questionário, o qual foi aplicado em 17 cidades dos estados do Pará e Amazonas. Os resultados comprovaram que os comerciantes de AS possuem mais de 30 anos de idade, com baixa escolaridade e residentes das cidades onde se realizou a pesquisa. Deste modo, as autoridades responsáveis pela temática devem, não só realizar repressão aos comerciantes ilegais, mas também implementar programas voltados para a sustentabilidade, como por exemplo a Educação Ambiental, assim como o investimento na Educação Básica.
Interdisciplinarity between the teaching of environmental education and the mathematics discipline - analysis of some parameters related to the air quality report of the Metropolitan Region of great Vitória
Authors: Feroni Rita De Cassia , Galvão Elson Silva
Published: November 2019

Este trabalho apresenta uma abordagem sobre a interdisciplinaridade na Educação Ambiental, como forma de trazer ao aluno as aplicações práticas do processo de aprendizagem de conceitos e fundamentos básicos das disciplinas base como a Matemática, ofertada ao longo de sua trajetória acadêmica. Assim, realiza-se uma contextualização sobre o ensino de Educação ambiental e a Matemática, associando os conceitos fundamentais da matemática com um problema prático e atual na região da Grande Vitória, a poluição do ar. Uma análise da qualidade do ar na Grande Vitória é abordada através da interpretação de dados e gráficos apresentados no Relatório de Qualidade do Ar de Vitória para o ano de 2013. Em tal interpretação, são demonstrados que a análise da qualidade do ar de uma região está diretamente relacionada ao processo de aprendizado de fundamentos básicos matemáticos como: médias, medianas, máximos e mínimos, amplitude, análises de proporção, porcentagem, representação de funções de coordenadas cartesianas, geometria, assim como a interpretação e representação gráfica de dados como forma de geração de informação a partir de um conjunto de dados.
The construction of semantic waves of knowledge-building: High school students´ natural science writing
Authors: Svensson Birgitta
Published: November 2019

This paper investigates popular science articles written by Swedish high school students as part of a project aimed at building their knowledge of the content of their natural science curriculum by integrating it with their Swedish language studies. This work, an effort to promote content-area literacy and knowledge-building, was undertaken during their project time. By analyzing the students´ texts, the purpose of the study was to access their value as knowledge-building tools. The analysis of the texts was carried out utilizing Maton´s (2013) theoretical concepts of waves of semantic density and semantic gravity, which are seen as a prerequisite for cumulative knowledge-building. The investigation extends previous studies on semantic waves since it incorporates into the analyses both linguistic features and visual elements. The students were writing in pairs and a total of six texts were analyzed. The text analyses showed three different types of semantic profiles, with four of the texts including features that served as means of cumulative knowledge-building. In a concluding section, some pedagogical implications of the study are considered.
Coherence in hybrid texts: The case of the Patient Information Leaflet genre
Authors: Hill-Madsen Aage
Published: November 2019

This article investigates the degree of coherence in a particular type of hybrid text, viz. the Patient Information Leaflet, which is a lay-oriented genre fusing original and derived textual elements. Having their source in the specialized genre named Summary of Product Characteristics, derived segments undergo various kinds and degrees of registerial simplification in the transfer to the Patient Information Leaflet. Given this complex textual genesis, the aim of the article is to investigate the nature and degree of coherence in the Patient Information Leaflet genre, and, more specifically, to investigate the degree of integration between derived and non-derived elements. Following Halliday/Hasan’s (1976) definition of the coherence concept, the article examines the genre’s contextual coherence in the form of registerial consistency and its text-internal coherence in the form of cohesiveness. For the investigation of cohesiveness, the analytical framework known as Cohesive Harmony Analysis (Hasan 1984, 1985) has been applied to a sample text from the genre, and likewise to a parallel lay-oriented, but non-hybrid text from the health column of a British quality newspaper, which serves as a control. While the investigation confirms already well-known problems with registerial consistency in the Patient Information Leaflet genre, the analytical results reflect a high degree of cohesiveness, and one that is even markedly higher than that of the non-hybrid control text. Further, the results reflect a high level of integration between derived and non-derived segments in the Patient Information Leaflet.
Entrevista a Antònia Lorente Bibiloni
Authors: Blasco Laia
Published: November 2019

Antònia Lorente es una diseñadora gráfica con más de ocho años de experiencia profesional. En 2008 fue diplomada en Diseño Gráfico en la Escola Superior de les Illes Balears y posteriormente, en 2014, acabó el Master en Diseño de Aplicaciones Multimedia de la UOC. Es en este momento que Antònia fue la ganadora de el I premio de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya y la Fundación Ramón Molinas.
New Hybrid-Based Self-Test Strategy for Faulty Modules of Complex Microcontroller Systems
Authors: El-Mahlawy Mohamed H. , Hussein Sherif , Mohamed Gouda I.
Published: November 2019

In this paper, a new hybrid test strategy, called hybrid-based self-test (HYBST), is presented to test complex digital circuits such as microcontrollers. This test strategy integrates the signature multi-mode hardware-based self-test (SM-BST) with the software-based self-test (SBST). In this test strategy, the microcontroller is divided into a number of main modules, and then test subroutines are used to functionally test each module, based on its instruction set architecture (ISA). The ISA is used to generate test subroutines that represent test pattern generators (TPGs) and part of the test controller. The SMHBST represents the other part of the test controller and the test response compaction (TRC). The experimental results illustrate the superiority of the HYBST in the memory utilization, test application time, testing of internal modules of the microcontroller, and testing of general-purpose input-output (GPIO) pins of the microcontroller. In addition, an integrated test solution for fault diagnosis of the circuit boards including random logic integrated circuits (ICs) and microcontroller chips is presented to indicate a real practical test strategy.
Differences between Bilinguals and Monolinguals in False Memory Production? A Look into the DRM Paradigm Using Contextual Details
Authors: Riesthuis Paul , Otgaar Henry , Wang Jianqin
Published: November 2019

This study compared false memory production in Spanish monolinguals and Spanish-Catalan bilinguals. We used an adjusted Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) false memory paradigm and presented the participants with eight Spanish DRM lists containing 12 words each, along with figures and colors to manipulate contextual details. Free recall results showed higher true recall levels in bilinguals than in monolinguals. However, we did not find notable false memory differences between the monolinguals and bilinguals. We found no differences in the amount of contextual details added in the true and false recall, indicating that levels of confidence in memories are similar in the two groups. Implications of the findings are discussed.
RNA from a simple-tandem repeat is required for sperm maturation and male fertility in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Mills Wilbur Kyle , Lee Yuh Chwen G , Kochendoerfer Antje M , Dunleavy Elaine M , Karpen Gary H
Published: November 2019

Tandemly-repeated DNAs, or satellites, are enriched in heterochromatic regions of eukaryotic genomes and contribute to nuclear structure and function. Some satellites are transcribed, but we lack direct evidence that specific satellite RNAs are required for normal organismal functions. Here, we show satellite RNAs derived from AAGAG tandem repeats are transcribed in many cells throughout Drosophila melanogaster development, enriched in neurons and testes, often localized within heterochromatic regions, and important for viability. Strikingly, we find AAGAG transcripts are necessary for male fertility, and that AAGAG RNA depletion results in defective histone-protamine exchange, sperm maturation and chromatin organization. Since these events happen late in spermatogenesis when the transcripts are not detected, we speculate that AAGAG RNA in primary spermatocytes ‘primes’ post-meiosis steps for sperm maturation. In addition to demonstrating essential functions for AAGAG RNAs, comparisons between closely related Drosophila species suggest that satellites and their transcription evolve quickly to generate new functions.
A tale of two pathways
Authors: Oler Jonathan A , Fudge Julie L
Published: November 2019

A combination of invasive and non-invasive techniques has allowed researchers to take a closer look at the two major neural pathways that connect the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex.
Female in football
Authors: Wilhelmsen Linda
Published: November 2019

Purpose

For centuries, men have dominated football organizations in all levels, and the imbalance in status between male and female football is unparalleled in the world of sports. This may affect female football by means of career opportunities, resource allocation and organizational performance. This study will explore managerial, organizational and cultural parameters that have an impact on women’s career possibilities in football organizations as players, coaches and leaders. The following research questions will be explored: In what way do governing mechanisms such as culture, attitudes and values have an impact on female positions in football organizations? How do organizational structures and cultures in football organizations affect women's career opportunities? How do power mechanisms, gender roles and stereotypes, unbalanced resource access, commercial investment impact female versus male football?

Methodology

Data will be collected among female football organizations in the two top football leagues in Norway. Qualitative data will be collected by interviews, field notes from facilitated face-to-face meetings with World Café dialogue technique and participant evaluations, whereas quantitative data will be collected by surveys and registry data.

Implications

Female football has received very little research attention, and as such, findings from the present project will give provide novel insight regarding the impact of organizational performance for women’s opportunity for a career in football. Directing attention towards female participation in football organizations may increase participation and positions of trust within the organizations.
Mot alle odds
Authors: Tjønndal Anne , Hovden Jorid
Published: November 2019

Historisk så vel som i dag, blir boksing sett på som en svært maskulin idrett. I motsetning til de fleste andre idretter, er boksing en idrett hvor kvinner og menn trener sammen med samme trener. Vi har i dag flere muslimske innvandrerjenter som trener og konkurrerer i boksing, og disse utfordrer dominerende forestillinger og grenser for hvordan en ung muslimsk kvinne kan opptre i det offentlige rom. Dette betyr at de opplever stigmatisering både i det norske boksemiljøet og i den muslimske kulturen. Artikkelen bak denne presentasjonen er basert på livshistorieintervju med to unge muslimske kvinnelige boksere med innvandrerbakgrunn. Den teoretiske rammen er basert på komponenter fra både postkolonial teori og sivilisasjonsteori. De unge boksernes fortellinger er preget av en vedvarende konflikt med familiene sine som et resultat av deres valg om å konkurrere i boksing. Samtidig opplever de stereotypisering og ‘minorisering’ i et mannsdominert boksemiljø. Likevel utrykker de at de elsker boksing og særlig det å være i bokseringen. Bokseringen erfares som et fristed, et sted hvor de kan opplever mestring, få anerkjennelse, overskride nye grenser, og få en ‘time-out’ fra den sosiale orden som omgir dem. Boksing omtales som en lidenskap og som en viktig del av deres identitet.
Losing Hearts and Minds
Authors: Shannon Matthew K.
Published: November 2019

Losing Hearts and Minds analyzes the relationship between the United States, Iran, and their citizens between the Second World War and the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Rather than a narrow focus on the security and economic considerations of U.S. policymakers, the book explores how the educational networks that brought Iranian students to the United States helped define the contours of the binational relationship during the Cold War era. The United States aimed to create a cultural foundation for the official relationship and to provide Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi with educated elites to administer an ambitious program of socio-economic development. However, the educational networks that connected the United States and Iran also created a transnational community of Iranian students and American progressives that engaged with the language of rights to contest U.S. support for the shah, elevate human rights thinking over modernization theory in the international community, and contribute in their own way to the Iranian Revolution.
Democracy and Displacement in Colombia's Civil War
Authors: Steele Abbey
Published: November 2019

Civilian displacement is a regular, massive feature of civil war violence. This book provides a new way to think about displacement, by connecting it to how armed groups target violence against civilians, and how civilians respond. Individuals escape selective violence, civilians relocate together to avoid indiscriminate violence, and groups experience political cleansing following collective violence. Political cleansing is the expulsion of civilians from their communities based on a shared identity or trait. While it is difficult to detect civilians’ loyalties, the book shows that elections can both facilitate and incentivize displacement by revealing civilians’ political preferences; and giving elites a stake in the electoral composition of a community, motivating them to ally with armed groups. The book traces how democratic reforms triggered both processes in Colombia, leading to a major intensification of the war and to one of the highest populations of internally displaced people in the world. Combining evidence collected from remote archives, interviews with ex-combatants and displaced people, and quantitative data from the government’s displacement registry during nearly two years of fieldwork, the book connects Colombia’s political development and the course of its civil war to displacement.
From Stalin to Mao
Authors: Mëhilli Elidor
Published: November 2019

This book interprets socialism as a form of globalization by telling the unknown history of a small country that found itself entangled in some of the biggest developments of the Cold War. Within two decades, Albania went from fascist Italian rule to Nazi occupation, a brief interlude as a Yugoslav satellite, and then to a heady period of borrowings—government advisers, brand new factories, school textbooks, urban plans, and everything in between— from the Soviet Union in the 1950s. With Soviet backing, Albania’s regime launched a bold experiment: turn illiterate peasants into conscious workers. Ambitious but poor, the country also turned into a contact zone between East German engineers, Czech planners, and Hungarian geologists who came to help build socialism from scratch. Then, the socialist world shattered. During the Sino-Soviet conflict of the 1960s, Albania’s party clique switched allegiance to China, seeing in Mao’s patronage an opportunity to keep Stalinism alive. Combining an analysis of ideology with a keen sense of geopolitics, this book explores this strange connectivity of socialism, showing how socialism created a shared material and mental culture—still evident today across Eurasia—but it failed to generate political unity.
Effects of afforestation on water resource variations in the Inner Mongolian Plateau
Authors: Xiao Qiang , Xiao Yang , Luo Ying , Song Changsu , Bi Jiacheng
Published: November 2019

Afforestation is a key approach used to effectively prevent ecosystem degradation, which in itself is a key reason for the obstruction of sustainable societal development. In order to suppress sand and dust storms as a result of ecological environmental degradation in North China, the Government of China has sanctioned the planting of a large number of trees in Inner Mongolia. However, water resources in the Inner Mongolian Plateau are insufficient to sustain this effort because such a large number of trees consume a large amount of water, which also significantly increases evapotranspiration. This study uses spatiotemporal trend analyses and abrupt change analyses to determine the effects of afforestation on water resource variations in the Inner Mongolian Plateau. Results show that even though water resources in Inner Mongolia fluctuate, this resource has generally exhibited a declining trend from 1980 to 2015, corresponding to the NDVI trend. On spatial-temporal scales, water resources decreased significantly in the eastern section of the plateau, especially in the Horqin District and the Hulunbuir Plateau. By contrast, water resources increased as a whole in the western section of the plateau (Alxa Plateau). Driving analysis results show that water resource variation is mainly due to the contribution of change in precipitation (positive effect), which accounted for 39.35% of total changes in water resources, followed by the evapotranspiration (negative effect). In other words, afforestation with the primary aim of improving ecosystem has effectually upset the water resource balance of Inner Mongolia Plateau.
Spatial genetic structure inPinus cembroidesZucc. at population and landscape levels in central and northern Mexico
Authors: García-Zubia Luis C. , Hernández-Velasco Javier , Hernández-Díaz José C. , Simental-Rodríguez Sergio L. , López-Sánchez Carlos A. , Quiñones-Pérez Carmen Z. , Carrillo-Parra Artemio , Wehenkel Christian
Published: November 2019

Background

Spatial genetic structure (SGS) analysis is a powerful approach to quantifying gene flow between trees, thus clarifying the functional connectivity of trees at population and landscape scales. The findings of SGS analysis may be useful for conservation and management of natural populations and plantations.Pinus cembroidesis a widely distributed tree species, covering an area of about 2.5 million hectares in Mexico. The aim of this study was to examine five natural seed stands ofP. cembroidesin the Sierra Madre Occidental to determine the SGS at population (within the seed stand) and landscape (among seed stands) levels in order to establish guidelines for the conservation and management of the species. We hypothesized thatP. cembroides, in which the seeds are dispersed by birds and mammals, creates weaker SGS than species with wind-dispersed seeds.

Methods

DNA fingerprinting was performed using the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique. In order to estimate the SGS at population and landscape levels, we measured the geographical (spatial) distance as the Euclidean distance. We also estimated the genetic distances between individuals using the pairwise kinship coefficient.

Results

The results showed non-significant autocorrelation in four out of five seed stands studied (i.e., a mainly random distribution in the space of the genetic variants ofP. cembroidesat population level).

Discussion

SGS was detected at the landscape scale, supporting the theory of isolation by distance as a consequence of restricted pollen and seed dispersal. However, the SGS may also have been generated by our sampling strategy. We recommended establishing a close network of seed stands ofP. cembroidesto prevent greater loss of local genetic variants and alteration of SGS. We recommend seed stands ofP. cembroidesof a minimum width of 225 m.
APRENDIZAGEM SIGNIFICATIVA DE PROBABILIDADE: UM OLHAR SOBRE A COMPREENSÃO DOS PROFESSORES DO ENSINO FUNDAMENTAL / MEANINGFUL LEARNING OF PROBABILITY: A LOOK AT TEACHERS’ UNDERSTANDING OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Authors: Rufino Maria Aparecida Silva , Silva José Roberto
Published: November 2019

Este artigo debate acerca da aprendizagem significativa de probabilidade no Ensino Fundamental (EF), na perspectiva do tratamento da informação. Grande parte dos professores não estudou ou não viu esses conteúdos em sua formação, como objetos a serem ensinados. Esse fato tem explicado as dificuldades pedagógicas e a abordagem contestável que adotam sobre os métodos probabilísticos, incentivando mais a aprendizagem mecânica do que significativa, em termos ausubelinos. Pretende-se saber se esses equívocos perduram, passadas mais de duas décadas da inserção desses conteúdos no currículo do EF. Em estudo de caso qualitativo, investigaram-se quinze professores da rede pública de Vicência, em Pernambuco, Brasil. Observou-se que a visão desses professores é bastante restrita aos objetos da estatística, não havendo clareza sobre o sistema de informação a ser ensinado, o que compromete a análise probabilística em problemas típicos. Isso significa que o ensino por eles promovido dificilmente facilitará a aprendizagem significativa.
A ARGUMENTAÇÃO PRESENTE NA CONSTRUÇÃO DE MAPAS CONCEITUAIS COMO PROPULSORA DE UMA APRENDIZAGEM SIGNIFICATIVA CRÍTICA / THE ARGUMENTATION PRESENT IN CONSTRUCTION OF CONCEPTUAL MAPS AS DRIVER OF CRITICAL MEANINGFUL LEARNING
Authors: De Chiaro Sylvia , Aquino Kátia Aparecida Da Silva , Lima Raquel Cordeiro Nogueira
Published: November 2019

O mapa conceitual é uma ferramenta muito utilizada no contexto educacional para apoiar o estudante na articulação do conhecimento e o professor como instrumento de avaliação. Apoiado em uma concepção de linguagem como constitutiva da cognição, este estudo intenta mostrar que o caráter inerentemente argumentativo que caracteriza a construção dos mapas conceituais contribui para que ele seja um recurso didático privilegiado na aprendizagem significativa crítica. Entendendo a argumentação como caracterizada pela justificação e negociação de perspectivas a partir de uma organização discursiva formada pela relação entre argumento, contra-argumento e resposta, ela tem sido considerada um caminho propício a um funcionamento crítico-reflexivo na construção do conhecimento. Reconhecendo essa movimentação discursiva na construção de mapas conceituais de alunos de química do ensino médio em uma escola pública da região metropoliana do Recife, as análises realizadas mostram portanto, a relação intrínseca que existe entre argumentação e aprendizagem significativa crítica.
Amply Cofinitely Essential Supplemented Modules
Authors: Koşar Berna , Nebiyev Celil
Published: November 2019

Let M be an R−module. If every cofinite essential submodule of M has ample supplements in M then M is called an amply cofinitely essential supplemented module. In this work some properties of these modules are investigated. Let M be a projective and cofinitely essential supplemented R−module. Then every M−generated R−module is amply cofinitely essential supplemented.
Survival Analysis of Cholera Patients a Parametric and Non-parametric Approach
Authors: Hassan Umar M. , Abiodun A. A.
Published: November 2019

Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate survival probability of cholera patients who were under follow-up and identify significant risk factors for mortality.

Methodology: In this research, we present the basic concepts, nonparametric methods (the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test) and parametric method. Parametric AFT models (Exponential, Weibull, Lognormal and Log logistic) were compared using Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC).

Results: Recorded data of 513 patients were obtained from UNICEF Cholera Hospital for Internally Displaced Persons Camps within Maiduguri, Borno State. Non-Parametric and Parametric approach were used to estimate the survival probability of the patients and examine the association between the survival times with different risk factors. The analysis shows that some factors significantly contribute to longer survival time of cholera patients. These factors include being a female, age less than twenty, being vaccinated before the infection and mild degree of dehydration.

Conclusion: The vaccination, age, sex and degree of dehydration of a cholera patient affects its survival hence, much attention should be given to older patients, degree of dehydration and vaccine (killed oral 01 with whole-cell with Bsubunit) should be administered whenever there is outbreak. When carrying out survival analysis of this kind, a Weibull model is Recommended for used while if dealing with Accelerated Failure Time models.
Vocal Folds: An Unusual Hideout for Systemic Sarcoidosis
Authors: Hariz Anis , Derbel Abir , Kechaou Ines , Boukhris Imène , Salah Hamdi Mohamed , Cherif Eya
Published: November 2019

Sarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. It can expand to all organs and tissues. Lungs and lymph nodes are the most commonly involved tissues. Laryngeal sarcoidosis is rare, accounting for no more than 1% of patients with systemic sarcoidosis. We herein report the case of a 51-year-old female presenting a two-year history of persistent voice hoarseness with direct laryngoscopy findings of epiglottis swelling and irregular swelled and bruised left vocal fold. Histological examination highlighted the presence of non-caseating granulomas. Further investigations revealed similar histological findings in the nasal cavity as well as lymphocytic alveolitis. It also showed the presence of phalangeal bone lesions of both hands. All these pointed to the diagnosis of sarcoidosis with upper respiratory tract (nasal and laryngeal), lung and bone involvement. The patient was started on 0.5 mg/kg daily of prednisone for 1 month followed by progressive tapering with lasting favorable outcome.
Primary Pancreatic Echinococcosis: A Rare Cause of Pancreatic Cyst
Authors: Khullar Rahul , Nag Hirdaya , Saluja Sundeep
Published: November 2019

Introduction: Primary Hydatid cyst of pancreas is a rare entity even in endemic countries. These cases usually present with non specific symptoms such as pain abdomen, vomiting or feeling of vague lump in abdomen.

Presentation of Case: A 55 year old lady presented to GI surgery department, GB Pant institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (GIPMER), India with complaints of lump in abdomen and pain abdomen which was evaluated with imaging studies (Computed tomography scan Abdomen and Magnetic resonance imaging Abdomen). Initially considered as cystic lesion pancreas, Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) confirmed diagnosis of Hydatid cyst and patient underwent open deroofing and drainage of cyst with uneventful post operative period.
Chemical Constituents of the Volatile Derived from the Black Garlic Processing
Authors: Hamano Hamasuke , Sutoh Chihiro , Osanai Yoshiyuki , Sasaki Jin-ichi
Published: November 2019

Pungent gas released from the black garlic production was analyzed by Gas Chromatography to clarify compounds included. Three major constituents as ammonia, sulfide-group and aldehyde-group were identified as stimulating agents. Vegetables (plants) released-gas from garlic, onion, horse radish, et al. showed bacteria killing activity against P. aeruginosa, B. natto, enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157, MRSA and C. albicans. Scanning electron micrographs showed that anti-bacteria mechanisms by the volatile seem different depending on species of vegetables (plants).
Impact of Age and Life-expectancy on Treatment Receipt in High-risk Prostate Cancer
Authors: Fei Kezhen , Lin Jenny J. , Supoyo Stephen , Franco Rebeca , Abramson Sarah , Hoke Gerald , Oh William , Stock Richard , Bickell Nina A.
Published: November 2019

Background/Objectives:  The incidence of Prostate cancer is increasing with age and active treatment of high-risk prostate cancer improves survival. However, it is uncertain how the age as contrasted with life expectancy impact treatment decision-making for men with clinically significant prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to determine whether age or life expectancy affected the treatment receipt.

Participants: 541 men with high-risk localized prostate cancer (Gleason ≥ 8 or PSA > 20) diagnosed between 2007 and 2013 were recruited to the study.

Measurements: Outcome variables included treatment underuse and type of definitive therapies such as radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy, androgen deprivation therapy and cryotherapy. Life expectancy was assessed according to Schonberg Prognostic Index.

Results: Among the 541 high-risk prostate cancer patients, older men (≥65 years) received definitive therapy at similar rates as younger men (97% vs 98%; p=0.2), while younger men were more likely to accept surgery compared with older men (95% vs. 72%, p<0.001). Age affected treatment choice depending on the patient's life expectancy. Among men with higher life expectancy, age did not affect surgery receipt (OR=0.62; 95%CI: 0.18-2.20). But among men with lower life expectancy, older age (OR=0.15; 95%CI: 0.06-0.38), black race (OR=0.27; 95%CI: 0.10-0.77), comorbidity (OR=0.31; 95%CI: 0.13-0.76) and non-commercial insurance (OR=0.12, 95%CI: 0.05-0.28) were associated with lower rate of surgical receipt.

Conclusion: Although most high-risk prostate cancer patients undergo definitive therapy, both age and life expectancy affected the type of treatment. Clinical decisions appear to be based on patients’ medical condition and long-term outlook, rather than simply age. Non-clinical factors such as race and insurance play a role in treatment decision-making.
Distal Humeral Shear Fracture - A Modified Technique for Exposure
Authors: Raviraj A. , Mallepati Vidyasagar , Sugumar K. Abhishek , N. Savsani Vivek Kumar , Prabhu Ajith N. , Anand Ashish
Published: November 2019

Coronal shear fractures of the distal humerus are rare, complex fractures that can be technically challenging even in the best of hands. Their peak incidence is seen in elderly females and is usually the result of low energy fall. The injury is usually part of complex elbow injury and in rare instances can be isolated entity. Complex injury pattern is characterized by shear fracture combined with fracture of radial head and collateral ligament injury. The preferred treatment for this complex fracture is Open reduction and internal fixation. The usual recommendation is a two-incision approach.

We report a rare case in which fracture could not be classified using the traditional classification systems and in which entire fracture was managed via a single approach.
Crowdfunding: An Alternative to Funding Women Entrepreneurs
Authors: Okoyeuzu Chinwe , Nwakoby Ifeoma , Onwujekwe Obinna
Published: November 2019

Traditionally, Small businesses in Nigeria find it particularly difficult to fund their operations from formal sources. The situation becomes more challenging when women are involved because of cultural bias. Credit is rarely made available to women as many perceive a business run by women a big risk. Several government credit intervention programmes in the past were initiated but the problem of financing remained unsolved. Similar businesses in more developed economies are turning to innovative financing known as crowdfunding. The need to explore such a financing mechanism in Nigeria is the aim of this study. We employed a cross-sectional and retrospective mixed-methods approach, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data. Findings from this study show that gender was not significant for understanding crowdfunding as a means of raising money from the public over the internet. This finding is very revealing as it shows that cultural barrier faced by women in accessing credit from traditional lenders will be solved by crowdfunding.
A suggested method for setting up GSI profiles on the GE Revolution CT scanner
Authors: Gauntt David M.
Published: November 2019

“GSI Assist” is the automatic exposure control (AEC) system for dual‐energy acquisitions on the GE Revolution CT scanner. This paper describes the user options of GSI Assist, and describes the method developed at UAB Medical Center to simplify the use of GSI Assist without adversely affecting the AEC Operation.
Ultraeffective Cancer Therapy with an Antimonene‐Based X‐Ray Radiosensitizer
Authors: Duo Yanhong , Huang Yanyu , Liang Weiyuan , Yuan Riming , Li Yang , Chen Tianfeng , Zhang Han
Published: November 2019

Nanoparticulate chemotherapeutics hold great potential for inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and exerting antihypoxic effects for efficient cancer radiotherapy. However, previous strategies for designing smart radiosensitizers necessitate the multistep incorporation of nanomaterials to achieve valuable radiosensitive outcomes, which causes unpredictable safety issues including poor decomposition and undefined biotransformations. Ultrathin antimonene nanoparticles (AMNPs) are demonstrated as new radiosensitizers that achieve an efficient radiochemotherapeutic effect through the induction of a strong oxidative stress response and their significantly high radiotoxicity in vivo. Analyzing the irradiation process of AMNPs indicates that irradiation accelerates photoelectron generation and the valence transition to toxic Sb2O3, leading to cancer cell apoptosis and S‐phase arrest. The tumor regression activity and concealed biotoxicity of the AMNPs in a melanoma mouse model enhance the applicability of antimonene to overcoming radioresistance by increasing ROS generation and normoxia. This new technology can extend the applications of antimonene as an effective radiosensitizer and can promote its clinical translation for tunable and effective radiosensitization in the future.
Covalent Functionalization of PMMA Surface with L‐3,4‐Dihydroxyphenylalanine (L‐DOPA) to Enhance its Biocompatibility and Adhesion to Corneal Tissue
Authors: Sharifi Roholah , Mahmoudzadeh Soudabe , Islam Mohammad Mirazul , Koza Darrell , Dohlman Claes H. , Chodosh James , Gonzalez‐Andrades Miguel
Published: November 2019

The Boston keratoprosthesis (B‐KPro) is globally the most commonly implanted artificial cornea for patients with severe corneal diseases, particularly those with multiple allograft failures. Despite providing a good visual recovery, the poor adhesion between the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)‐made stem and the donor tissue poses a challenge, impacting the clinical outcome of the B‐KPro. Using single‐molecule covalent bonding, PMMA surface is functionalized with l‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (l‐DOPA) and its chemical, optical, mechanical, and biological properties are studied. The functionalization process significantly improves biocompatibility of PMMA, without affecting its optical and mechanical properties. Human corneal fibroblasts (HCF) and human corneal epithelial cells (HCEp) seeded on l‐DOPA surface both exhibit greater confluency and metabolic rate compared to those of PMMA during 7‐day cell culture. Moreover, HCF cultured on l‐DOPA demonstrates a higher expression of ALDH3A1, Ki67, Integrin 1, and FAK with no expression of α‐SMA, compared to those of PMMA, which instead show greater expression of α‐SMA. These suggest that l‐DOPA surface fosters cellular adhesion, proliferation, and migration, without adversely impacting the phenotype of the cells. This study offers an inexpensive and efficient tactic to modify the surface of materials with l‐DOPA to achieve the optimal biocompatibility and biointegration of medical devices.
Escape the Trauma Room
Authors: Podlog Mikhail , Husain Abbas , Greenstein Josh , Sanghvi Snaha
Published: November 2019

Traditional conference didactics may not be effectively meeting the learning needs of today's emergency medicine (EM) residents, and educators are employing various interactive approaches to engage learners. Escape Room is a popular adventure game in which participants must work together to solve a series of puzzles to escape a locked room. Our aim was to adapt this game design to teach core EM content and procedural aptitude. Upon entering the “locked” room residents were faced with a series of puzzles involving concepts such as toxicology antidotes, ventilator management, echocardiogram interpretations, airway foreign body removal, arterial line transducer setup, and using a cast cutter. Using teamwork and limited clues learners had to work together to “escape” the room. Afterward, a didactic summary was given to enhance knowledge retention. The Escape Room construct was successfully adopted as an engaging model to teach EM core content and procedure skills while simultaneously fostering team building. Feedback received was overwhelmingly positive. This unique alternative educational activity can be easily implemented at any EM residency program as an effective alternative educational tool
Hemodynamic changes in patients undergoing office‐based sinus procedures under local anesthesia
Authors: Chang Michael T. , Jitaroon Kawinyarat , Nguyen Teresa , Yan Carol H. , Overdevest Jonathan B. , Nayak Jayakar V. , Hwang Peter H. , Patel Zara M.
Published: November 2019

Background

The objective of this study is to characterize changes in hemodynamics, pain, and anxiety during office‐based endoscopic sinus procedures performed under local anesthesia.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study of adults undergoing in‐office endoscopic sinus procedures under local anesthesia. Patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification System class 1 or 2 were included. Anesthesia was administered by topical 4% lidocaine/oxymetazoline and submucosal injection of 1% lidocaine/1:200,000 epinephrine. Vital signs and pain were measured at baseline, postinjection, and 5‐minute intervals throughout the procedure. Anxiety levels were scored using the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify factors significantly associated with changes in each hemodynamic metric.

Results

Twenty‐five patients were studied. This cohort was 52% male, mean age of 57.8 ± 14.4 years, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) median of 2. Mean procedure duration was 25.0 ± 10.3 minutes. Mean maximal increase in systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 24.6 ± 17.8 mmHg from baseline. Mean maximal heart rate increase was 22.8 ± 10.8 beats per minute (bpm) from baseline. In multivariate regression analysis, when accounting for patient age, cardiac comorbidity, CCI, and ASA, older age was significantly associated with an increase of >20 mmHg in SBP (p = 0.043). Mean pain score during procedures was 1.5 ± 1.3 with a mean maximum of 4.0 ± 2.6. STAI anxiety scores did not change significantly from preprocedure to postprocedure (32.8 ± 11.6 to 31.0 ± 12.6, p = 0.46). No medical complications occurred.

Conclusion

Although patients appear to tolerate office procedures well, providers should recognize the potential for significant fluctuations in blood pressure during the procedure, especially in older patients.
Direct Imaging of Atomically Dispersed Molybdenum that Enables Location of Aluminum in the Framework of Zeolite ZSM‐5
Authors: Liu Lingmei , Wang Ning , Zhu Chongzhi , Liu Xiaona , Zhu Yihan , Guo Peng , Alfilfil Lujain , Dong Xinglong , Zhang Daliang , Han Yu
Published: November 2019

Integrated differential phase‐contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy (iDPC‐STEM) is capable of directly probing guest molecules in zeolites, owing to its sufficient and interpretable image contrast for both heavy and light elements under low‐dose conditions. This unique ability is demonstrated by imaging volatile organic compounds adsorbed in zeolite Silicalite‐1; iDPC‐STEM was then used to investigate molybdenum supported on various zeolites including Silicalite‐1, ZSM‐5, and mordenite. Isolated single‐Mo clusters were observed in the micropores of ZSM‐5, demonstrating the crucial role of framework Al in driving Mo atomically dispersed into the micropores. Importantly, the specific one‐to‐one Mo‐Al interaction makes it possible to locate Al atoms, that is, catalytic active sites, in the ZSM‐5 framework from the images, according to the positions of Mo atoms in the micropores.
Study of Electromagnetic Properties of Fabricated NiFe2O4/Polyurethane Nanocomposites
Authors: Agarwal Kavita , Prasad Mahender , Katiyar Mohit , Jaiswal Rimpa , Kumar Subodh , Prasad N Eswara
Published: November 2019

Nickel ferrite loaded (NiFe2O4) segmented polyurethane (SPU) nanocomposites prepared by melt mixing method using microcompounder at temperature 185 °C in recirculation mode to ensure proper dispersion and distribution of nanoparticles at optimized residency time of 5 min. Three different weight percentages of nanocomposites (3, 5, and 10 wt %) was prepared and studied the electromagnetic property of nanocomposites obtained from complex permittivity and permeability. The effect of nanofiller (NiFe2O4) has been studied to assess their thermal properties using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermomechanical analysis. The nanocomposites (NiFe2O4/SPU) have further been studied using FE‐SEM, and the micrographs show embedded NiFe2O4 filler uniformly dispersed in SPU matrix without agglomeration (size 20–40 nm). It is also evident that further loading of nanofiller resulted in saturation effect yielding no applicable change in thermal behavior and revealed lesser melting enthalpy due to the coalescence of the nanofillers. X‐ray diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometer also support the formation of the nanocomposite. The electric and magnetic properties of NiFe2O4 incorporated nanocomposite (NiFe2O4/SPU) may have potential application in microwave absorption. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 137, 48645.
Shape memory and self‐healing behavior of styrene–butadiene–styrene/ethylene‐methacrylic acid copolymer (SBS/EMAA) elastomers containing ionic interactions
Authors: Wu Wenjing , Zhou Yutao , Li Jie , Wan Chaoying
Published: November 2019

Ionic interactions were introduced to styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) through blending with ethylene‐methacrylic acid copolymer (EMAA) and zinc oxide (ZnO), and a following in situ neutralization reaction between the carboxyl groups of EMAA and ZnO. The resultant SBS/EMAA (60/40 wt %) blends containing zinc carboxylate crosslinks exhibited high modulus and strong long‐time relaxation characteristics. With 74% of the carboxyl groups neutralized (zinc cation fraction of 1.7 wt %), the tensile strength of the blends was increased from 14.6 to 16.6 MPa, and the stress at 100% extension was increased from 4.8 to 8.1 MPa. The melting temperature of EMAA was utilized to trigger the shape memory behavior of SBS/EMAA, and the reversible ionic bonds endowed SBS with better shape memory and self‐healing performance. The shape‐fixing ratio and recovery ratio of SBS were increased from 90.2 and 56.5% up to 93.3 and 84.2%, respectively. When the cut surfaces of SBS/EMAA/Zn samples were brought back into contact and annealed at 100 °C for 1 h, the strength and the elongation at break were recovered by 36 and 21%, respectively. This introduction of ionic interactions through the EMAA‐ZnO neutralization reactions imparts new functions to SBS thermoplastic elastomers. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 137, 48666.
5‐Benzylidene‐4‐Oxazolidinones Are Synergistic with Antibiotics for the Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms
Authors: Frohock Bram H. , Gilbertie Jessica M. , Daiker Jennifer C. , Schnabel Lauren V. , Pierce Joshua G.
Published: November 2019

The failure of frontline antibiotics in the clinic is one of the most serious threats to human health and requires a multitude of novel therapeutics and innovative approaches to treatment so as to curtail the growing crisis. In addition to traditional resistance mechanisms resulting in the lack of efficacy of many antibiotics, most chronic and recurring infections are further made tolerant to antibiotic action by the presence of biofilms. Herein, we report an expanded set of 5‐benzylidene‐4‐oxazolidinones that are able to inhibit the formation of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms, disperse preformed biofilms, and, in combination with common antibiotics, are able to significantly reduce the bacterial load in a robust collagen‐matrix model of biofilm infection.
Indigo Formation and Rapid NADPH Consumption Provide Robust Prediction of Raspberry Ketone Synthesis by Engineered Cytochrome P450 BM3
Authors: Rousseau Olivier , Ebert Maximilian C. C. J. C. , Quaglia Daniela , Fendri Ali , Parisien Adem H. , Besna Jonathan N. , Iyathurai Saathanan , Pelletier Joelle N.
Published: November 2019

Natural raspberry ketone has a high value in the flavor, fragrance and pharmaceutical industries. Its extraction is costly, justifying the search for biosynthetic routes. We hypothesized that cytochrome P450 BM3 (P450 BM3) could be engineered to catalyze the hydroxylation of 4‐phenyl‐2‐butanone, a naturally sourceable precursor, to raspberry ketone. The synthesis of indigo by variants of P450 BM3 has previously served as a predictor of promiscuous oxidation reactions. To this end, we screened 53 active‐site variants of P450 BM3 using orthogonal high‐throughput workflows to identify the most streamlined route to all indigo‐forming variants. Among the three known and 13 new indigo‐forming variants, eight hydroxylated 4‐phenyl‐2‐butanone to raspberry ketone. Previously unreported variant A82Q displayed the highest initial rates and coupling efficiencies in synthesis of indigo and of raspberry ketone. It produced the highest total concentration of raspberry ketone despite producing less total indigo than previously reported variants. Its productivity, although modest, clearly demonstrates the potential for development of a biocatalytic route to raspberry ketone. In addition to validating indigo as a robust predictor of this promiscuous activity, we demonstrate that monitoring rapid NADPH consumption serves as an alternative predictor of a promiscuous reactivity in P450 BM3.
Microstructure and thermoelectric performance of La‐doped (Ca0.9Ag0.1)3Co4O9/nano‐sized Ag composite ceramics
Authors: Shi Zongmo , Zhang Yi , Zhang Ruizhi , Lou Zhihao , Qin Mengjie , Zhang Ping , Xu Jie , Gao Feng , Yan Haixue
Published: November 2019

(Ca0.9‐xAg0.1Lax)3Co4O9/nano‐sized Ag thermoelectric composite ceramics were fabricated by solid‐state reaction method. The influences of La3+ dopants on the microstructure, band gaps, and thermoelectric properties were investigated. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy fitting results showed that the reduction of oxygen vacancy and the increment of trivalent cobalt concentration could significantly improve thermoelectric performance. With the increasing of La3+ dopants level, the band gaps of samples enlarged. Electrical resistivity decreased from 21.3 to 17.2 mΩ·cm, while Seebeck coefficient increased from 113.3 to 182.3 μV/K. Furthermore, the peak ZT value of 0.18 was obtained at 1073 K for the x = 0.03 sample, resulting from the lower thermal conductivity of 1.05 W/(m·K). The obtained results suggest that the La3+ substitution, oxygen vacancy, and Ag inclusions can dramatically improve the thermoelectric performance of Ca3Co4O9 composites.