bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Update on infection control practices in cancer hospitals
Authors: Ariza‐Heredia Ella J. , Chemaly Roy F.
Published: July 2018

Therapies in oncology have evolved rapidly over the last years. At the same pace, supportive care for patients receiving cancer therapy has also evolved, allowing patients to safely receive the newest advances in treatment in both an inpatient and outpatient basis. The recognition of the role of infection control and prevention (ICP) in the outcomes of patients living with cancer has been such that it is now a requirement for hospitals and involves multidisciplinary groups. Some unique aspects of ICP for patients with cancer that have gained momentum over the past few decades include catheter‐related infections, multidrug‐resistant organisms, community‐acquired viral infections, and the impact of the health care environment on the horizontal transmission of organisms. Furthermore, as the potential for infections to cross international borders has increased, alertness for outbreaks or new infections that occur outside the area have become constant. As the future approaches, ICP in immunocompromised hosts will continue to integrate emerging disciplines, such as antibiotic stewardship and the microbiome, and new techniques for environmental cleaning and for controlling the spread of infections, such as whole‐genome sequencing. CA Cancer J Clin 2018;000:000‐000. © 2018 American Cancer Society.
Infectious Diseases among the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals, a Public Health Concern for Bangladesh
Authors: Ahmed Misbah Uddin , Rashid Rumana , Faiz Md Abul
Published: July 2018

Abstrcat not availableJ MEDICINE JUL 2018; 19 (2) : 72-73
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Antibiotics Usage among patients attending OPD of a Dental College Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Yasmin Rubina , Gyeltshen Tshewang , Islam Rubiyat E
Published: July 2018

Background: Antibiotics Resistance has been in the limelight of medical developments for long. The patient factor, mainly social aspect of it is overshadowed by ever growing new potent drugs and medical technologies. Bangladesh is no exception to the rest of the world. However, relatively fewer works have been published on the relationship between Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) and Antibiotics Resistance within Bangladesh. This study was done to assess the present status of knowledge, attitude and practice on the use of antibiotics among the people visiting a tertiary care dental hospital in Dhaka; Bangladesh. This will further assess the current status of knowledge on antibiotics and its resistance, attitude towards its use and practices pertaining to it among Bangladeshi general public. It is also aimed at evaluating the behavioral pattern towards use of antibiotics among these group within wide range of income groups and different educational backgrounds.Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among patients attending OPD of Dhaka Dental College & Hospital. Patients from all the social background participated in this study. Sample sizes of 562 patients were surveyed. Structured self–administered assessment questionnaire was used to collect the data. SPSS version 24 software was used for data analysis.Results: Of 562 respondents; 64% were female while male constituted 36%. Majority of them fell in the age group of 18-47 consisting of 84.4%. 62.4% of the respondents were married and majority 94% belonged to Muslim faith.93.2% of the respondents had at least primary level educational status. 52% of the respondents belonged to the low income group while 48% constituted high income group. 86.1% of the total respondents knew that indiscriminate use of antibiotics leads to certain harm to the body, while the majority, almost 97.5% have never heard of the term antibiotics resistance. There appears to be statistically significant relationship between the level of education and higher income group with that of KAP on antibiotics usage.Conclusions: The study population had variable understandings on antibiotics and its resistance. This study provides the need to educate people to make them change their mindset towards antibiotics. Most of the people don’t take antibiotics after their infections are subsided or after they become alright. A better and revised strategy of awareness campaign might be needed among the public to educate them on it.J MEDICINE JUL 2018; 19 (2) : 84-90
Retracted: Role of CD 20 in Physiopathology of Hodgkin’s Disease
Authors: Santos Marcelo Antônio Oliveira
Published: July 2018

The following retraction notice appears in this issue Vol.19(2) 2018 http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jom.v19i2.37864On 10th August 2018 the Editorial Board of Journal of Medicine agreed to retract the article ‘Role of CD 20 in Physiopathology of Hodgkin’s Disease’ published in Journal of Medicine, Vol.19(2) pages 119-122 (DOI: https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/JOM/article/view/37232) as it was found to be a duplicate publication of the following published article: ‘CD20 role in pathophysiology of Hodgkin’s disease’ by Marcelo Antônio Oliveira Santos and Marinus de Moraes Lima published in Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira, Vol.63(9) pages 810-813 http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1806-9282.63.09.810.J MEDICINE JUL 2018; 19 (2) : 119-122
A Case Series of Vertigo: Red Alert and the Importance of Thinking Ahead
Authors: Aziz Azliana , Salim Rosdan , Mohamad Irfan , Yusuf Marlina
Published: July 2018

Vertigo can be central or peripheral causes. However, determining the cause can be difficult as central vertigo may mimic the presentation of peripheral vertigo. Hence, we report three cases of central vertigo, to highlight the importance of early recognition and clinical suspicions in managing the aforementioned cases which may present with debilitating daily living.J MEDICINE JUL 2018; 19 (2) : 126-129
Robust Fuzzy Adaptive Sliding Mode Stabilization for Fractional-Order Chaos
Authors: Bourouba Bachir , Ladaci Samir
Published: July 2018

In this paper, a new adaptive fuzzy sliding mode control (AFSMC) design strategy is proposed for the control of a special class of three-dimensional fractional order chaotic systems with uncertainties and external disturbance. The design methodology is developed in two stages: first, an adaptive sliding mode control law is proposed for the class of fractional order chaotic systems without uncertainties, and then a fuzzy logic system is used to estimate the control compensation effort to be added in the case of uncertainties on the system’s model. Based on the Lyapunov theory, the stability analysis of both control laws is provided with elimination of the chattering action in the control signal. The developed control scheme is simple to implement and the overall control scheme guarantees the global asymptotic stability in the Lyapunov sense if all the involved signals are uniformly bounded. In the present work, simulation studies on fractional-order Chen chaotic systems are carried out to show the efficiency of the proposed fractional adaptive controllers.
Using Ultrasonic Pulse and Artificial Intelligence to Investigate the Thermal-Induced Damage Characteristics of Concrete
Authors: Chen Li-Hsien , Chen Wei-Chih , Chen Yao-Chung , Lin Hsin-Jung , Cai Chio-Fang , Lei Ming-Yuan , Wang Tien-Chih , Hsu Kuo-Wei
Published: July 2018

Using the traditional assessment method considering single-input and single-output variables, the correlation between ignition loss and maximum temperature is usually used to evaluate the fire-damage degree of concrete. To improve this method, multi-input and multi-output variables are examined in this study using a newly-developed experiment consisting of a thermo-induced damage test, ultrasonic pulse (UP) measurement technique, and uniaxial compressive test. The input variables include the designed strength, rate of heating, maximum temperature, and exposure time. The output variables include the stiffness, strength, toughness, and ratio of shear wave velocity to pressure wave velocity (Vs/Vp). Artificial intelligence (AI) is used to assess these variables. The test results show that the stiffness, strength, and toughness decreased with an increase in maximum temperature. The measured Vs/Vp has a high positive correlation with maximum temperature and the reduced ratio of stiffness, strength, and toughness. This correlation was also identified using AI analysis. The findings in this study suggest that the wave velocity ratio obtained using the UP technique can be applied to quantitatively evaluate thermal-induced damage in concrete.
Weathering Process of In Situ Granite and Particle Breakage Characteristics of Compacted Weathered Granite
Authors: Niu Xirong , Yao Yangping , Sun Yanfang , Luo Zuolong
Published: July 2018

Quantificationally describing weathering process and characterizing particle breakage are important in predicting the behavior of coarse-grained soil (e.g., weathered granite). In order to comprehensively understand the mechanical properties of weathered granite and provide references for reasonable evaluation of the engineering properties of subgrade filling in mountains, a series of tests—X-ray diffraction, sieving, heavy compaction, large-scale triaxial, and field compaction tests—were carried out in this research. Based on the weathering process parameters (m and r) of in-situ granite samples at two typical sections of weathered granite mountains obtained by using previous grading equation, the mathematical model of weathering process with depth was proposed and the variation laws of weathering process with depth were described. The results show that, with an increase in burying depth of mountain profile (h) of weathered granite, the geological year’s parameter (m) decrease by power function, but the geometric progression constants (r) increase by power function. Some factors affecting the particle breakage properties of compacted weathered granite were evaluated by using relative breakage (Br). Especially, the effect of field compaction condition (such as thickness of loose paving layer and number of vibratory rolling passes) on particle breakage was analyzed creatively. Through laboratory and field tests, it was found that particle gradation, mineral composition, compaction effect, stress level, and number of rolling passes significantly affected the particle breakage characteristics of weathered granite. Furthermore, it is worthy of attention that the weathered granite in this paper showed obvious particle breakage characteristics under weak compaction effect and at low stress levels and over-compaction could result in a decrease in the degree of compaction of a certain thickness of loose paving layer filled with weathered granite. Findings in this research can provide a theoretical basis for evaluating the physical properties and mechanical behavior of weathered granite as subgrade fillings.
Perceived Discrimination and Substance Use among Caribbean Black Youth; Gender Differences
Authors: Assari Shervin , Mistry Ritesh , Caldwell Cleopatra Howard
Published: July 2018

Although perceived discrimination in Black youth is a risk factor for a wide range of negative mental health outcomes, recent research has suggested some gender differences in these associations. Gender differences in vulnerability to perceived discrimination among Caribbean Black youth is, however, still unknown. The current cross-sectional study investigated gender variations in the association between perceived discrimination and substance use (SU) in a national sample of Caribbean Black youth. Data came from the National Survey of American Life-Adolescents (NSAL-A), 2003–2004. This analysis included 360 Caribbean Black youth (165 males and 195 females) who were between 13 and 17 years old. Sociodemographic factors, perceived discrimination, and SU were measured. Logistic regressions were used for data analysis. Among Caribbean Black youth, a positive association was found between perceived discrimination and SU (odds ratio (OR) = 1.15 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02–1.29)). A significant interaction was found between gender and perceived discrimination on smoking (OR = 1.23 (95% CI = 1.07–1.41)) suggesting that the association between perceived discrimination and smoking is larger for male than female Caribbean Black youth. The interaction between gender and perceived discrimination on SU was not statistically significant (OR = 1.32 (95% CI = 0.94–1.86)). While perceived discrimination increases SU in Caribbean Black youth, this effect is stronger for males than females, especially for smoking. While discrimination should be reduced at all levels and for all populations, clinicians may specifically address discrimination for SU prevention and treatment among male Caribbean Black youth.
Oncolytic Viruses as Therapeutic Tools for Pediatric Brain Tumors
Authors: Varela-Guruceaga Maider , Tejada-Solís Sonia , García-Moure Marc , Fueyo Juan , Gomez-Manzano Candelaria , Patiño-García Ana , Alonso Marta
Published: July 2018

In recent years, we have seen an important progress in our comprehension of the molecular basis of pediatric brain tumors (PBTs). However, they still represent the main cause of death by disease in children. Due to the poor prognosis of some types of PBTs and the long-term adverse effects associated with the traditional treatments, oncolytic viruses (OVs) have emerged as an interesting therapeutic option since they displayed safety and high tolerability in pre-clinical and clinical levels. In this review, we summarize the OVs evaluated in different types of PBTs, mostly in pre-clinical studies, and we discuss the possible future direction of research in this field. In this sense, one important aspect of OVs antitumoral effect is the stimulation of an immune response against the tumor which is necessary for a complete response in preclinical immunocompetent models and in the clinic. The role of the immune system in the response of OVs needs to be evaluated in PBTs and represents an experimental challenge due to the limited immunocompetent models of these diseases available for pre-clinical research.
Interpretation of Cerebral Oxygenation Changes in the Preterm Infant
Authors: Garvey Aisling A. , Kooi Elisabeth M. W. , Smith Aisling , Dempsey Eugene M.
Published: July 2018

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) allows for continuous, non-invasive monitoring of end-organ tissue oxygenation. The use of NIRS, cerebral NIRS (cNIRS) in particular, in neonatal care has increased significantly over the last few years. This dynamic monitoring technique provides real-time information on the cerebral and haemodynamic status of the neonate and has the potential to serve as an important adjunct to patient care with some centres routinely utilising cNIRS to aid decision-making at the bedside. cNIRS values may be influenced by many variables, including cardiac, respiratory and metabolic parameters, and therefore it is essential to understand the pathophysiology behind alterations in cNIRS values. Correct interpretation is required to direct appropriate patient-specific interventions. This article aims to assist clinicians in deciphering cNIRS values by providing an overview of potential causes of fluctuations in cNIRS values, illustrated by common clinical scenarios, with particular emphasis on the preterm infant.
Concept Justification of Future 3DPVS and Novel Approach towards its Conceptual Development
Authors: Yuan Haobo , Xing Ke , Hsu Hung-Yao
Published: July 2018

The categorization of cell culture chiefly includes two aspects; one is the dimensionality and another regards the dynamicity. Referring to knowledge of “engineering system evolution”, 2D toward 3D cell culture follows the direction of evolution in dimensionality, and 3D scaffolds with 3DP as its popular fabrication tools has played a role in 3D cell culture applications. Dynamic methods of cell culturing, compared with traditional static means, generally follow the evolution line “static to motional or dynamic”, and vibration has been selected frequently as the suitable tool to achieve the dynamicity of cell culture. Although such a scaffold plus vibration approach has benefited cell culture, there exist significant defects. To mitigate some existing gaps, as well as following further evolutionary trends, the concept of the 3D printed vibratory scaffold (3DPVS) used in cell culture applications is firstly brought out in this study. With 3DPVS, a 3D scaffold in traditional scaffold engineering could potentially evolve into a novel vibratory scaffold which will play significant role in future bioengineering and scaffold engineering. Since 3DPVS’s development remains blank, designers firstly need to propose a high-quality conceptual design; the process of identifying design methodology is challenging since there has been no formal methodology applied for scaffold design. To address these issues, a new design approach is proposed in this paper, which includes an integral development process and focuses on the 3DPVS conceptual stage. The possible methodology and tools to achieve the established conceptual design in following step will be also be discussed.
On the Entropy of Oscillator-Based True Random Number Generators under Ionizing Radiation
Authors: Martin Honorio , Martin-Holgado Pedro , Peris-Lopez Pedro , Morilla Yolanda , Entrena Luis
Published: July 2018

The effects of ionizing radiation on field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) have been investigated in depth during the last decades. The impact of these effects is typically evaluated on implementations which have a deterministic behavior. In this article, two well-known true-random number generators (TRNGs) based on sampling jittery signals have been exposed to a Co-60 radiation source as in the standard tests for space conditions. The effects of the accumulated dose on these TRNGs, an in particular, its repercussion over their randomness quality (e.g., entropy or linear complexity), have been evaluated by using two National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) statistical test suites. The obtained results clearly show how the degradation of the statistical properties of these TRNGs increases with the accumulated dose. It is also notable that the deterioration of the TRNG (non-deterministic component) appears before that the degradation of the deterministic elements in the FPGA, which compromises the integrated circuit lifetime.
On the Importance of Electron Diffusion in a Bulk-Matter Test of the Pauli Exclusion Principle
Authors: Milotti Edoardo , Bartalucci Sergio , Bertolucci Sergio , Bazzi Massimiliano , Bragadireanu Mario , Cargnelli Michael , Clozza Alberto , Curceanu Catalina , De Paolis Luca , Egger Jean-Pierre , Guaraldo Carlo , Iliescu Mihail , Laubenstein Matthias , Marton Johann , Miliucci Marco , Pichler Andreas , Pietreanu Dorel , Piscicchia Kristian , Scordo Alessandro , Shi Hexi , Sirghi Diana Laura , Sirghi Florin , Sperandio Laura , Vázquez Doce Oton , Widmann Eberhard , Zmeskal Johann
Published: July 2018

The VIolation of Pauli (VIP) experiment (and its upgraded version, VIP-2) uses the Ramberg and Snow (RS) method (Phys. Lett. B 1990, 238, 438) to search for violations of the Pauli exclusion principle in the Gran Sasso underground laboratory. The RS method consists of feeding a copper conductor with a high direct current, so that the large number of newly-injected conduction electrons can interact with the copper atoms and possibly cascade electromagnetically to an already occupied atomic ground state if their wavefunction has the wrong symmetry with respect to the atomic electrons, emitting characteristic X-rays as they do so. In their original data analysis, RS considered a very simple path for each electron, which is sure to return a bound, albeit a very weak one, because it ignores the meandering random walks of the electrons as they move from the entrance to the exit of the copper sample. These complex walks bring the electrons close to many more atoms than in the RS calculation. Here, we consider the full description of these walks and show that this leads to a nontrivial and nonlinear X-ray emission rate. Finally, we obtain an improved bound, which sets much tighter constraints on the violation of the Pauli exclusion principle for electrons.
A Quantum Ruler for Magnetic Deflectometry
Authors: Mairhofer Lukas , Eibenberger Sandra , Shayeghi Armin , Arndt Markus
Published: July 2018

Matter-wave near-field interference can imprint a nano-scale fringe pattern onto a molecular beam, which allows observing its shifts in the presence of even very small external forces. Here we demonstrate quantum interference of the pre-vitamin 7-dehydrocholesterol and discuss the conceptual challenges of magnetic deflectometry in a near-field interferometer as a tool to explore photochemical processes within molecules whose center of mass is quantum delocalized.
Educational Leadership in Post-Colonial Contexts: What Can We Learn from the Experiences of Three Female Principals in Kenyan Secondary Schools?
Authors: Lopez Ann E. , Rugano Peter
Published: July 2018

Leadership matters in the engagement and achievement of students. Much of the research in this area has emanated from western contexts and there is a growing demand for research and knowledge generated from emerging areas of the world. This qualitative study through the use of narratives, examines the experiences of three female secondary school principals in Kenyan secondary schools to gain deeper insights into leadership practices and theorizing within a post-colonial context such as Kenya. Utilizing a decolonizing education and social justice leadership discursive framework the tensions and complexities of their leadership practices are explored. Educational leaders in developing countries face problems that are uniquely different from their counterparts in Western countries and as such leadership practices and theorizing must be contextualized. Findings of the study support existing research on the perpetuation of colonized approaches to education, existence of a “managing” view of leadership, tensions in practice regarding the manifestation of social issues in schools, and the need for leadership development grounded in Kenyan knowledge and experiences. While these findings can inform leadership discourses and practices, further research is warranted on a larger scale with greater diversity of participants.
Multi Objective Optimization in Charge Management of Micro Grid Based Multistory Carpark
Authors: Prokop Lukáš , Vantuch Tomáš , Mišák Stanislav
Published: July 2018

Distributed power supply with the use of renewable energy sources and intelligent energy flow management has undoubtedly become one of the pressing trends in modern power engineering, which also inspired researchers from other fields to contribute to the topic. There are several kinds of micro grid platforms, each facing its own challenges and thus making the problem purely multi objective. In this paper, an evolutionary driven algorithm is applied and evaluated on a real platform represented by a private multistory carpark equipped with photovoltaic solar panels and several battery packs. The algorithm works as a core of an adaptive charge management system based on predicted conditions represented by estimated electric load and production in the future hours. The outcome of the paper is a comparison of the optimized and unoptimized charge management on three different battery setups proving that optimization may often outperform a battery setup with larger capacity in several criteria.
Six-Phase Space Vector PWM under Stator One-Phase Open-Circuit Fault Condition
Authors: Zheng Jian , Huang Shoudao , Rong Fei , Lye Mingcheng
Published: July 2018

The torque pulsation and speed pulsation of a six-phase induction machine with double Y-connected windings displaced by 30° increase after one phase of the stator winding is open-circuited. To reduce the pulsations, a method of six-phase space vector pulse width modulation (PWM) with fault-tolerance is proposed. The star point of the open-circuit winding group is connected to the centre point of the converter DC voltage. The 32 column matrices, which represent 32 stator winding voltages, are mapped to the d-q and z1-z2 planes using a new five-dimensional orthogonal matrix; then, 32 basic vectors are obtained. By using an optimal model, six auxiliary vectors and an equivalent null vector are constructed, the magnitudes of which are all zero in the z1-z2 plane. By using the auxiliary vectors and equivalent null vector, the reference vector is synthesized, the zero magnitude of which in the z1-z2 plane can suppress the harmonic voltages, and the circular trajectory of which in the d-q plane can make the torque smooth. The simulation and experimental results show that the torque pulsation range and speed pulsation range of the proposed method with fault-tolerance are 30% and 25% of those of the classical method without fault-tolerance, respectively. Thus, the phase-deficient operation performance of the system is improved.
The Contribution of Forest Structure to Complementarity in Mixed Stands of Norway Spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) and European Larch (Larix decidua Mill.)
Authors: Sterba Hubert , Dirnberger Gerald , Ritter Tim
Published: July 2018

An increasing number of investigations into mixed forest stands shows clear interactions between complementarity and stand and site characteristics. One of the least-investigated mixture types are mixed stands of Norway spruce and European larch. We investigated pure and mixed stands of these species in the northern part of the eastern intermediate Alps in Austria, at altitudes between approximately 880 and 1330 m above sea level. In these stands, 12 plots sized between 0.25 ha and 1.6 ha, with varying ages and proportions of Norway spruce, were established. All trees were measured for their coordinates, diameter at breast height, tree height, crown height, and crown projection area. The trees were cored at breast height, and from about 200 felled sample trees, equations for leaf area and for the five-year volume increment were developed. Growth efficiency (volume increment of a species per its fraction of the stand area) exhibited a clear interaction with age: in young mixed stands, spruce as well as larch grew less than the reference from the pure stands, while in the older stands especially spruce grew much better in the mixed stands. When the Clark Evans index was entered into the growth efficiency equations, it could be seen that the spatial distribution of the trees (i) explained more variance than the species proportion and (ii) showed an additional influence of stand density on the complementarity of the species.
Historical Fire Regimes in Ponderosa Pine and Mixed-Conifer Landscapes of the San Juan Mountains, Colorado, USA, from Multiple Sources
Authors: Baker William L.
Published: July 2018

Reconstructing historical fire regimes is difficult at the landscape scale, but essential to determine whether modern fires are unnaturally severe. I synthesized evidence across 725,000 ha of montane forests in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado, from forest atlases, forest-reserve reports, fire-scar studies, early reports, and newspaper accounts. Atlases mapped moderate- to high-severity fires during 1850–1909 (~60 years), and 86% of atlas area was attributable to 24 fire years. Historical fire rotations from atlases were mostly 225–360 years for high-severity fires and 133–185 years for moderate- to high-severity fires. Historical low-severity fire from tree-ring data at 33 sites revealed a median fire rotation of 31 years in ponderosa pine, 78 years in dry mixed-conifer, and 113 years in moist mixed-conifer forests. Only 15% of montane sites had “frequent-fire” forests with fire rotations <25 years that kept understory fuels at low levels. Moderate- to high-severity fire rotations were long enough to enable old-growth forests, but short enough to foster heterogeneous landscapes with expanses of recovering forests and openings. About 38–39% is still recovering from the 1850–1909 fires. Large, infrequent severe fires historically enhanced resilience to subsequent beetle outbreaks, droughts, and fires, but have burned at lower rates in the last few decades.
Assessing the Influence of Roads on Fire Ignition: Does Land Cover Matter?
Authors: Ricotta Carlo , Bajocco Sofia , Guglietta Daniela , Conedera Marco
Published: July 2018

In human-affected fire environments, assessing the influence of human activities on the spatial distribution of wildfire ignitions is of paramount importance for fire management planning. Previous studies have shown that roads have significant effects on fire ignition. However, since different land cover classes are subject to different levels of ignition risk, roads in different land cover classes may differently affect fire ignition. The aim of this paper is thus to assess the influence of roads on fire ignition in selected land cover classes subjected to different levels of anthropogenic pressure in Sardinia (Italy). Our results show that fires are preferentially ignited close to roads in all land cover classes. However, the influence of roads is much stronger in less impacted land uses, where the availability of human-induced ignitions highly depends on the accessibility networks. Our approach represents a first step towards the systematic integration of interacting fire ignition drivers such as roads and land cover into fire risk analysis.
Influence of Iodine Feeding on Microbiological and Physico-Chemical Characteristics and Biogenic Amines Content in a Raw Ewes’ Milk Cheese
Authors: Schirone Maria , Tofalo Rosanna , Perpetuini Giorgia , Manetta Anna Chiara , Di Gianvito Paola , Tittarelli Fabrizia , Battistelli Noemi , Corsetti Aldo , Suzzi Giovanna , Martino Giuseppe
Published: July 2018

Iodine is an essential trace element involved in the regulation of thyroid metabolism and antioxidant status in humans and animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ewes’ dietary iodine supplementation on biogenic amines content as well as microbiological and physico-chemical characteristics in a raw milk cheese at different ripening times (milk, curd, and 2, 7, 15, 30, 60, and 90 days). Two cheese-making trials were carried out using milk from ewes fed with unifeed (Cheese A) or with the same concentrate enriched with iodine (Cheese B). The results indicated that the counts of principal microbial groups and physico-chemical characteristics were quite similar in both cheeses at day 90. Cheese B was characterized by a higher content of biogenic amines and propionic acid. Propionic bacteria were found in both cheeses mainly in Trial B in agreement with the higher content of propionic acid detected.
Culture, Ageing and the Construction of Pain
Authors: Lane Pauline , Smith David
Published: July 2018

In this paper, the authors seek to discuss some of the complexities involved in cross-cultural working in relation to the communication and management of pain in older people. Specifically, the paper addresses the culture construction of ageing and how pain is often constructed as a natural part of ageing. The authors also suggest that with the rise of the ideology of active-ageing, many older people who are disabled or living in chronic pain, may feel a moral imperative to hide pain and ill-health. The discussion extends into looking at the impact of culture and the communication of pain, including specific idioms of distress, somaticize and the lay-management of pain through stoicism. The literature utilised in this paper was based on a thematic review, exploring the cultural dimensions of health, illness and pain in old age. The review also drew on the authors’ previous publications, as well as their extensive community research experience working with ethnic minority communities.
Oral Health in Pregnant Chinese Women in Singapore: A Call to Go beyond the Traditional Clinical Care
Authors: Balan Preethi , He Hong-Gu , Cao Fengchunzhi , Wong Mun , Chong Yap-Seng , Lopez Violeta , Soh Shu-E. , Seneviratne Chaminda
Published: July 2018

Objective: To examine the correlations among oral health knowledge, attitude, practices and oral disease among pregnant Chinese women in Singapore. Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted in pregnant Chinese women in Singapore. A questionnaire was used to collect data of oral health knowledge, attitude and practices. Plaque index scores were used to assess the oral health of subjects. Results: A total of 82 pregnant women participated in the study, out of whom 38% showed adequate oral health knowledge, nearly half of them achieved adequate and oral health attitude and practice scores while 34% had good Plaque index scores. The lower income group had higher experience of self-reported dental problems during pregnancy than those in the higher income group (p = 0.03). There were significant positive correlations between scores of oral health practice, attitude and oral health knowledge levels. The plaque index scores negatively correlated with the oral health practice scores (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Our findings provided evidence that oral health knowledge, attitude and practices among Chinese pregnant women were not optimal which implies the importance of promoting their oral health during pregnancy through the improvement of knowledge and attitudes. This would facilitate formulation and implementation of appropriate oral health promotion policies.
Implications of Smallholder Farm Production Diversity for Household Food Consumption Diversity: Insights from Diverse Agro-Ecological and Market Access Contexts in Rural Tanzania
Authors: Kissoly Luitfred , Faße Anja , Grote Ulrike
Published: July 2018

Owing to persistent challenges of food and nutritional insecurity, recent literature has focused on the role diversity of farm production has on food consumption diversity, particularly for smallholder households. Yet, the relationship between farm production diversity and household food consumption diversity remains complex and empirical evidence is, so far, mixed. The present article assesses this relationship using two districts—Kilosa and Chamwino—with contrasting agro-ecological and market contexts in rural Tanzania. These districts represent the majority of farming systems found in Tanzania as well as in several countries within the region. We used household data and employed descriptive as well as multivariate regression analyses. The results indicated a positive role of farm production diversity for food consumption diversity in the district with relatively harsh climatic and agro-ecological characteristics and poor access to markets. Furthermore, increased farm production diversity was generally associated with seasonal food consumption diversity. However, results suggested a lesser role of farm production diversity in the presence of better agro-ecological and market access characteristics. These findings imply that promoting farm production diversity should consider the existing agro-ecological and market characteristics. In addition, achieving increased food consumption diversity among rural households may require effective market related infrastructure and institutions.
Awareness, Risk Perception, and Protective Behaviors for Extreme Heat and Climate Change in New York City
Authors: Madrigano Jaime , Lane Kathryn , Petrovic Nada , Ahmed Munerah , Blum Micheline , Matte Thomas
Published: July 2018

Preventing heat-related illness and death requires an understanding of who is at risk and why, and options for intervention. We sought to understand the drivers of socioeconomic disparities in heat-related vulnerability in New York City (NYC), the perceived risk of heat exposure and climate change, and barriers to protective behaviors. A random digit dial telephone survey of 801 NYC adults aged 18 and older was conducted from 22 September–1 October, 2015. Thirteen percent of the population did not possess an air conditioner (AC), and another 15% used AC never/infrequently. In adjusted models, odds of not possessing AC were greater for non-Hispanic blacks compared with other races/ethnicities, odds ratio (OR) = 2.0 (95% CI: 1.1, 3.5), and for those with low annual household income, OR = 3.1 (95% CI: 1.8, 5.5). Only 12% reported going to a public place with AC if they could not keep cool at home. While low-income individuals were less likely to be aware of heat warnings, they were more likely to be concerned that heat could make them ill and that climate change would affect their health than participants with a higher household income, OR = 1.6 (95% CI: 1.0, 2.3). In NYC, lack of access to AC partially explains disparities in heat-related health outcomes. Our results point to opportunities for knowledge building and engagement on heat-health awareness and climate change adaptation that can be applied in NYC and other metropolitan areas to improve and target public health prevention efforts.
The INHERIT Model: A Tool to Jointly Improve Health, Environmental Sustainability and Health Equity through Behavior and Lifestyle Change
Authors: Van der Vliet Nina , Staatsen Brigit , Kruize Hanneke , Morris George , Costongs Caroline , Bell Ruth , Marques Sibila , Taylor Timothy , Quiroga Sonia , Martinez Juarez Pablo , Máca Vojtech , Ščasný Milan , Zvěřinová Iva , Tozija Fimka , Gjorgjev Dragan , Espnes Geir Arild , Schuit Jantine
Published: July 2018

The need for analysis and action across the interrelated domains of human behaviors and lifestyles, environmental sustainability, health and inequality is increasingly apparent. Currently, these areas are often not considered in conjunction when developing policies or interventions, introducing the potential for suboptimal or conflicting outcomes. The INHERIT model has been developed within the EU-funded project INHERIT as a tool to guide thinking and intersectoral action towards changing the behaviors and lifestyles that play such an important role in today’s multidisciplinary challenges. The model integrates ecological public health and behavioral change models, emphasizing inequalities and those parts of the causal process that are influenced by human behaviors and lifestyles. The model was developed through web-based and live discussions with experts and policy stakeholders. To test the model’s usability, the model was applied to aspects of food consumption. This paper shows that the INHERIT model can serve as a tool to identify opportunities for change in important −food-related behaviors and lifestyles and to examine how they impact on health, health inequalities, and the environment in Europe and beyond. The INHERIT model helps clarify these interrelated domains, creating new opportunities to improve environmental health and health inequality, while taking our planetary boundaries into consideration.
Cross-Talk between Wnt and Hh Signaling Pathways in the Pathology of Basal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Noubissi Felicite K. , Yedjou Clement G. , Spiegelman Vladimir S. , Tchounwou Paul B.
Published: July 2018

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequently occurring form of all cancers. The cost of care for BCC is one of the highest for all cancers in the Medicare population in the United States. Activation of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway appears to be a key driver of BCC development. Studies involving mouse models have provided evidence that activation of the glioma-associated oncogene (GLI) family of transcription factors is a key step in the initiation of the tumorigenic program leading to BCC. Activation of the Wnt pathway is also observed in BCCs. In addition, the Wnt signaling pathway has been shown to be required in Hh pathway-driven development of BCC in a mouse model. Cross-talks between Wnt and Hh pathways have been observed at different levels, yet the mechanisms of these cross-talks are not fully understood. In this review, we examine the mechanism of cross-talk between Wnt and Hh signaling in BCC development and its potential relevance for treatment. Recent studies have identified insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1), a direct target of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling, as the factor that binds to GLI1 mRNA and upregulates its levels and activities. This mode of regulation of GLI1 appears important in BCC tumorigenesis and could be explored in the treatment of BCCs.
Pollutant Removal from Synthetic Aqueous Solutions with a Combined Electrochemical Oxidation and Adsorption Method
Authors: Mojiri Amin , Ohashi Akiyoshi , Ozaki Noriatsu , Shoiful Ahmad , Kindaichi Tomonori
Published: July 2018

Eliminating organic and inorganic pollutants from water is a worldwide concern. In this study, we applied electrochemical oxidation (EO) and adsorption techniques to eliminate ammonia, phenols, and Mo(VI) from aqueous solutions. We analyzed the first stage (EO) with response surface methodology, where the reaction time (1–3 h), initial contaminant concentration (10–50 mg/L), and pH (3–6) were the three independent factors. Sodium sulfate (as an electrolyte) and Ti/RuO2–IrO2 (as an electrode) were used in the EO system. Based on preliminary experiments, the current and voltage were set to 50 mA and 7 V, respectively. The optimum EO conditions included a reaction time, initial contaminant concentration, and pH of 2.4 h, 27.4 mg/L, and 4.9, respectively. The ammonia, phenols, and Mo elimination efficiencies were 79.4%, 48.0%, and 55.9%, respectively. After treating water under the optimum EO conditions, the solution was transferred to a granular composite adsorbent column containing bentonite, limestone, zeolite, cockleshell, activated carbon, and Portland cement (i.e., BAZLSC), which improved the elimination efficiencies of ammonia, phenols, and molybdenum(VI) to 99.9%. The energy consumption value (8.0 kWh kg−1 N) was detected at the optimum operating conditions.
2-Naphthol Levels and Allergic Disorders in Children
Authors: Lin Tien-Jen , Guo Yueliang Leon , Hsu Jiin-Chyr , Wang I-Jen
Published: July 2018

Background: The measurement of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in ambient air is quite difficult to perform. Using urine biomarkers of PAH such as 2-naphthol is one approach to this problem. This study explored the association between urine 2-naphthol levels and allergic diseases. The associations between 2-naphthol levels and oxidative stress biomarkers for the possible disease pathogenesis were also investigated. Method: A total of 453 kindergarten children from the (Childhood Environment and Allergic Diseases Study) CEAS cohort with urine samples were recruited. Urine 2-naphthol levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) and markers of oxidative stress (8OHdG) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Information on environmental risk factors and allergic diseases were also collected. The association between 2-naphthol levels, 8OHdG levels, IgE, and allergic diseases were evaluated by multivariate linear regression and logistic regression. Results: Levels of 2-naphthol were positively correlated with 8OHdG levels. A one ln-unit increase in the 2-naphthol level was positively associated to 8OHdG levels (per ln-unit: β = 100.61, p < 0.001). When dividing 2-naphthol levels into quartiles, asthma was significantly associated with 2-naphthol levels at a concentration of >1.60 ng/mL (adjusted OR: 3.14, 95% CI 1.34–7.35). Conclusion: Urine 2-naphthol levels are associated with markers of oxidative stress and the risk of allergic diseases in young children.
Association Rules-Based Multivariate Analysis and Visualization of Spatiotemporal Climate Data
Authors: Wang Feng , Li Wenwen , Wang Sizhe , Johnson Chris R.
Published: July 2018

Understanding atmospheric phenomena involves analysis of large-scale spatiotemporal multivariate data. The complexity and heterogeneity of such data pose a significant challenge in discovering and understanding the association between multiple climate variables. To tackle this challenge, we present an interactive heuristic visualization system that supports climate scientists and the public in their exploration and analysis of atmospheric phenomena of interest. Three techniques are introduced: (1) web-based spatiotemporal climate data visualization; (2) multiview and multivariate scientific data analysis; and (3) data mining-enabled visual analytics. The Arctic System Reanalysis (ASR) data are used to demonstrate and validate the effectiveness and usefulness of our method through a case study of “The Great Arctic Cyclone of 2012”. The results show that different variables have strong associations near the polar cyclone area. This work also provides techniques for identifying multivariate correlation and for better understanding the driving factors of climate phenomena.
Pterostilbene Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Growth via Induction of Apoptosis and Blockade of Cell Cycle Progression Involving Inhibition of the STAT3 Pathway
Authors: Wen Wei , Lowe Gina , Roberts Cai M. , Finlay James , Han Ernest S. , Glackin Carlotta A. , Dellinger Thanh Hue
Published: July 2018

A growing body of evidence has demonstrated the promising anti-tumor effects of resveratrol in ovarian cancer cells, including its inhibitory effects on STAT3 activation. Nonetheless, the low bioavailability of resveratrol has reduced its attractiveness as a potential anti-cancer treatment. In contrast, pterostilbene, a stilbenoid and resveratrol analog, has demonstrated superior bioavailability, while possessing significant antitumor activity in multiple solid tumors. In this study, the therapeutic potential of pterostilbene was evaluated in ovarian cancer cells. Pterostilbene reduces cell viability in several different ovarian cancer cell lines by suppressing cell cycle progression and inducing apoptosis. Further molecular study has shown that pterostilbene effectively suppressed phosphorylation of STAT3, as well as STAT3 downstream genes that regulate cell cycle and apoptosis, indicating that inhibition of STAT3 pathway may be involved in its anti-tumor activity. The addition of pterostilbene to the commonly used chemotherapy cisplatin demonstrated synergistic antiproliferative activity in several ovarian cancer cell lines. Pterostilbene additionally inhibited cell migration in multiple ovarian cancer cell lines. The above results suggest that pterostilbene facilitates significant anti-tumor activity in ovarian cancer via anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic mechanisms, possibly via downregulation of JAK/STAT3 pathway. Pterostilbene thus presents as an attractive non-toxic alternative for potential adjuvant or maintenance chemotherapy in ovarian cancer.