bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ASSOCIATION OF TREE COMMUNITIES WITH SOIL PROPERTIES IN A SEMI DECIDUOUS FOREST OF PERLIS, PENINSULAR MALAYSIA
Authors: Zakaria Radhiah , Mohd Said Mohd Nizam , Ibrahim Faridah Hanum
Published: August 2019

Plant community distribution is associated with environmental factors, particularly, the soil properties of habitats. This study was conducted to determine the effect of soil properties on the association of tree communities within three distinct habitats in a semi-deciduous forest in Perlis State Park (PSP), Perlis.Â  Eighteen plots of 40 m Ã— 60 m (0.24 ha each) with sampling areas of 1.92 ha (8 plots) in Setul Formation, 0.96 ha (4 plots) in Granite and 1.44 ha (6 plots) in Kubang Pasu Formation (totalling 4.32 ha) were established at the PSP. All trees with 5.0 cm and above diameter at breast height (dbh) were enumerated, while the top soil samples were collected from each plot for soil analyses. A total of 412 tree species, 207 genera, and 68 families were recorded; 270 tree species from 152 genera and 57 families in the Setul forest; 204 tree species of 130 genera and 50 families in the Granite forest; and 109 tree species from 76 genera and 31 families in the Kubang Pasu forest. Euphorbiaceae was the most represented family at Setul, Granite and Kubang Pasu with 36, 19 and 12 species, respectively. Soil properties significantly varied among the study sites.Â  Setul had loam, Kubang Pasu had clay-loam, and Granite had the sandy-loam texture.Â  The soils were acidic, and had low to high concentrations of available nutrients. Ordinations using canonical correspondence analysis indicated that the soil factors play an important role in the distribution and diversity of plants in these forest habitats.
Conocimientos sobre dibujo, escritura y numerales en la producción gráfica materno-infantil, Argentina
Authors: Gariboldi María Belén , Salsa Analía M.
Published: August 2019

(analítico) Este estudio examina los conocimientos sobre las propiedades formales y la función referencial del dibujo, la escritura y los numerales desplegados por madres y sus niños y niñas (2 ½ años y 4 años) en una tarea de producción conjunta. Se construyó un sistema de codificación mediante el método comparativo constante; se analizó mediante pruebas no paramétricas. Las díadas del grupo de 2 ½ años conversaron sobre la función referencial de los tres sistemas, especialmente del dibujo. A los 4 años se incrementó el interés en la escritura, la consideración de las propiedades formales de la escritura y los numerales; así como las producciones infantiles independientes de dibujo y escritura. El estudio mostró a la producción gráfica como una interacción educativa en la familia que estimula la apropiación temprana de las representaciones externas.
El protagonismo de la familia en la atención temprana de niños y niñas con Síndrome de Down, Chile
Authors: Andreucci-Annunziata Paola , Morales-Cabello Camila
Published: August 2019

(descriptivo) Se presenta un modelo de intervención en atención temprana en niños y niñas con SD, inscribiéndose en el enfoque de derechos y la perspectiva de la educación inclusiva en primera infancia. Para abordar las necesidades educativo-sanitarias especiales de estos niños y niñas, de entre 0 y 4 años, se diseña un programa de intervención asociado al grado de discapacidad cognitiva-afectiva-relacional previamente diagnosticado. El seguimiento se desarrolla en un taller de acompañamiento con progenitores y en atenciones con los niños y niñas en un centro universitario de atención temprana. Este programa entrega a la familia herramientas para constituirse en agentes activos de cuidado en el proceso de desarrollo y aprendizaje de sus hijos e hijas. Se evidencian sus resultados y las propuestas de mejora que provienen de progenitores y cuidadores.
Percepción de riesgo sobre lesiones no intencionales en niños y niñas, México
Authors: Sevilla Elizabeth , Ramos-Escobedo Alejandro , Franco-Ordaz Arturo
Published: August 2019

(analítico) Es posible evitar las lesiones no intencionales, particularmente en los menores, esto se ve obstruido por la percepción de los cuidadores. La narrativa recupera la experiencia de los cuidadores, padres, familiares, analizando la visión sobre las lesiones, en hijos o menores a cargo, hospitalizados. A partir de los resultados se percibe que hay una reducción de la percepción de riesgo en los cuidadores y carencia en la información de medidas preventivas. Además, una creencia de carencia de control, cedido al destino. Se concluye que existe una ingenuidad preventiva en la sobreestimación de las capacidades de los niños. Una percepción de riesgo, creencias y conductas que reducen la valoración del peligro. Roles de género y estatus socio-económico son bases de esta visión fatalista. Resultando la reducción de capacidades de prevención, hacia hijos o menores a cargo.
Acoso homo-lesbofóbico y educación preuniversitaria en Cuba: estudio de caso
Authors: Garcés-Marrero Roberto
Published: August 2019

El objetivo de esta investigación fue realizar un estudio de caso si-tuacional sobre el acoso homo-lesbofóbico en la educación preuni-versitaria en Cuba, a partir del testimonio de tres personas que estu-diaron en diferentes Institutos Preuniversitarios Vocacionales de Ciencias Exactas (IPVCE), tomadas como muestra de máxima varia-ción. Se llevó a cabo una serie de entrevistas semiestructuradas que arrojaron como resultado que estos espacios de educación interna resultan propicios para el ejercicio del acoso basado en la presun-ción de una orientación sexual diferente. El personal docente no pa-rece preparado para enfrentar estos episodios. Las secuelas en los participantes, víctimas o no, son graves. Quede este estudio explora-torio como primer paso para futuras profundizaciones.
Sentidos del cuidado en centros de privación de libertad para adolescentes en Uruguay
Authors: Montes-Maldonado Cecilia
Published: August 2019

El artículo explora sentidos y significados asociados al cuidado por parte de agentes responsables de la custodia de adolescentes en centros de privación de libertad en Uruguay. La investigación cualitativa es un estudio de caso de tipo único, descriptivo y en profundidad que presenta un corpus compuesto por entrevistas, documentos, observaciones y registro en diario de campo. Se describen tres categorías de análisis en las que se reflexiona sobre el cuidado: acerca de la medida socioeducativa, la seguridad como criterio de funcionamiento y el acceso a los derechos a través de la política punitiva. Se concluye que existen visiones plurales asociadas al cuidado y que el tratamiento de los y las adolescentes se basa en el castigo por la vía del encierro disciplinante que legitima el uso de prácticas violentas.
Vínculos afectivos en adolescentes institucionalizados, Chile
Authors: Hueche Clementina , Lagos Giselle , Ríos Nicol , Silva Evelyn , Alarcón-Espinoza Marina
Published: August 2019

El objetivo de este estudio fue describir la experiencia de vínculos afectivos en adolescentes institucionalizados en la región de la Araucanía, Chile. La muestra estuvo compuesta por cuatro adolescentes varones (entre 16 a 18 años), que actualmente residen en centros administrados por la red Servicio Nacional de Menores (Sename). La metodología utilizada fue a partir de entrevistas en profundidad realizadas a los adolescentes y analizadas a través del análisis fenomenológico interpretativo. Los resultados mostraron tres temas principales: a) valoración de los vínculos con personas significativas, b) construcción y mantenimiento de vínculos y c) institucionalización como contexto en el que han desarrollado su trayectoria de vida. Se concluye destacando los vínculos establecidos en la cotidianidad de la vida institucional y su relevancia para el proyecto vital del adolescente
Restrictive measure for the commercialization of antimicrobials in Brazil: results achieved
Authors: Costa Josiane Moreira da , Moura Cristiano Soares de , Pádua Cristiane Aparecida Menezes de , Vegi Aline Siqueira Fogal , Magalhães Sérgia Maria Starling , Rodrigues Marina Barra , Ribeiro Andréia Queiroz
Published: August 2019

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the incidence of hospital infection by a resistant microorganism decreased after the implementation of the restrictive measure of the National Health Surveillance Agency for the commercialization of antimicrobials. METHODS: A historical cohort study of medical records of adult patients admitted to a general and public hospital from May 2010 to July 2011. A cohort was formed with patients admitted in the period before the restrictive measure for the commercialization of antimicrobials (Phase I) and a second cohort was formed with patients admitted after the implementation of the restrictive measure (Phase II). RESULTS: The instantaneous risk of hospital infection by a resistant microorganism was estimated at seven by 1,000 people-time (95%CI 0.006–0.008) in Phase I, and four by 1,000 people-time (95%CI 0.003–0.005) in Phase II of the study. The differences between the survival curves in the different phases of the study and stratified by age group were also significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the implementation of the restrictive measure of the commercialization of antimicrobials by the National Health Surveillance Agency reduced the incidence of hospital infection by a resistant microorganism.
Metabolic Stress and Cardiovascular Disease in Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Chen Yabing , Zhao Xinyang , Wu Hui
Published: August 2019

Mammalian cells metabolize glucose primarily for energy production, biomass synthesis, and posttranslational glycosylation; and maintaining glucose metabolic homeostasis is essential for normal physiology of cells. Impaired glucose homeostasis leads to hyperglycemia, a hallmark of diabetes mellitus. Chronically increased glucose in diabetes mellitus promotes pathological changes accompanied by impaired cellular function and tissue damage, which facilitates the development of cardiovascular complications, the major cause of morbidity and mortality of patients with diabetes mellitus. Emerging roles of glucose metabolism via the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) and increased protein modification via
O
-linked β-
N
-acetylglucosamine (
O
-GlcNAcylation) have been demonstrated in diabetes mellitus and implicated in the development of diabetic cardiovascular complications. This review will discuss the biological outcomes of the glucose metabolism via the hexosamine biogenesis pathway and protein
O
-GlcNAcylation in regulating cellular homeostasis, and highlight the regulations and contributions of elevated
O
-GlcNAcylation to the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiovascular disease.
Coronary Inflammation by Computed Tomography Pericoronary Fat Attenuation in MINOCA and Tako‐Tsubo Syndrome
Authors: Gaibazzi Nicola , Martini Chiara , Botti Andrea , Pinazzi Antonio , Bottazzi Barbara , Palumbo Anselmo A.
Published: August 2019

Background

The pericoronary fat attenuation index (
pFAI
) has emerged as a marker of coronary inflammation, which is measurable from standard coronary computed tomography angiography (
CCTA
). It compares well with gold‐standard methods for the assessment of coronary inflammation and can predict future cardiovascular events.
pFAI
could prove invaluable to differentiate an inflammatory from a noninflammatory coronary artery status, helping unravel the mechanisms subtending an event classified as myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (
MINOCA
) or Tako‐Tsubo syndrome (
TTS
).

Methods and Results

Patients admitted with
MINOCA
and
TTS
between 2011 and 2018, who had both
CCTA
and cardiac magnetic resonance during or shortly after the acute phase, were selected and
pFAI
measured in their
CCTA
;
pFAI
was also measured in control subjects who had
CCTA
for atypical chest pain workup, no obstructive coronary artery disease found in their
CCTA,
and no cardiac events at 2‐year follow‐up. In the n=106
MINOCA
/
TT
S patients, mean
pFAI
was −68.37±8.29 versus −78.03±6.20 in the n=106 controls (
P
<0.0001), and the difference was confirmed also when comparing mean
pFAI
in each coronary artery between
MINOCA
/
TT
S and controls (
P
<0.0001). Nonobstructive coronary plaques at
CCTA
, high‐risk plaques in particular, were more frequently found (
P
<0.01) in the
MINOCA
/
TT
S group compared with controls.

Conclusions

In
MINOCA
and
TT
S patients,
CCTA
is not only able to detect angiographically invisible atherosclerotic plaques, but its diagnostic yield can be expanded using the simple measurement of
pFAI
to characterize pericoronary fat tissue; in
MINOCA
/
TT
S mean
pFAI
demonstrates higher values compared with controls, a finding that has been associated with coronary artery inflammation.
Derivation and Validation of a Novel Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Admission Risk Score for Mortality
Authors: Jentzer Jacob C. , Anavekar Nandan S. , Bennett Courtney , Murphree Dennis H. , Keegan Mark T. , Wiley Brandon , Morrow David A. , Murphy Joseph G. , Bell Malcolm R. , Barsness Gregory W.
Published: August 2019

Background

There are no risk scores designed specifically for mortality risk prediction in unselected cardiac intensive care unit (
CICU
) patients. We sought to develop a novel
CICU
‐specific risk score for prediction of hospital mortality using variables available at the time of
CICU
admission.

Methods and Results

A database of
CICU
patients admitted from January 1, 2007 to April 30, 2018 was divided into derivation and validation cohorts. The top 7 predictors of hospital mortality were identified using stepwise backward regression, then used to develop the Mayo
CICU
Admission Risk Score (M‐
CARS
), with integer scores ranging from 0 to 10. Discrimination was assessed using area under the receiver‐operator curve analysis. Calibration was assessed using the Hosmer–Lemeshow statistic. The derivation cohort included 10 004 patients and the validation cohort included 2634 patients (mean age 67.6 years, 37.7% females). Hospital mortality was 9.2%. Predictor variables included in the M‐
CARS
were cardiac arrest, shock, respiratory failure, Braden skin score, blood urea nitrogen, anion gap and red blood cell distribution width at the time of
CICU
admission. The M‐
CARS
showed a graded relationship with hospital mortality (odds ratio 1.84 for each 1‐point increase in M‐
CARS
, 95%
CI
1.78–1.89). In the validation cohort, the M‐
CARS
had an area under the receiver‐operator curve of 0.86 for hospital mortality, with good calibration (
P
=0.21). The 47.1% of patients with M‐
CARS
<2 had hospital mortality of 0.8%, and the 5.2% of patients with M‐
CARS
>6 had hospital mortality of 51.6%.

Conclusions

Using 7 variables available at the time of
CICU
admission, the M‐
CARS
can predict hospital mortality in unselected
CICU
patients with excellent discrimination.
The Outside of Butoh Is the Inside of the Body: Ko Murobushi and the Process of Self-Mummification
Authors: Nakajima Nanako
Published: August 2019

Ko Murobushi (1947–2015) is considered one of the most significant figures of Japanese butoh in the post–Tatsumi Hijikata era. His manifesto, published right after Tatsumi Hijikata’s death, is believed to mark the beginning of a new era for butoh. Murobushi’s work reflects both his understanding of the “outside,” a concept used to describe the dancing body in butoh, and his study of self-mummification.
Trans/formative: Queering the Binaries of Sex and Gender in Cassils’s Performances of (Un)Becoming
Authors: Riszko Leila
Published: August 2019

How and to what extent can the materiality of the body be manipulated to effect a transformation of sex and gender? A psychoanalytically informed reading of Cassils’s performances of (un)becoming reveals that the artist contests the binaries of sex and gender at the level of bodily morphology and through transference and resignification of the phallus.
Trick Star
Authors: Woods Suné
Published: August 2019

Site: A portal opens, one must acknowledge and only if Eleggua wants.

Future score: Fly with twisted dialogue, red swarm of honey bees. Medicinal wisdoms embodied in bountiful skies.

Meditation: She sits by the water, she sits by the water, petals of wetness lap her toes, breath heavy and quiet.
Drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs)
Authors: Hanich Quentin , Davis Ruth , Holmes Glen , Amidjogbe Elizabeth-Rose , Campbell Brooke
Published: August 2019

This article describes the proliferation of drifting fish aggregating devices (FADs) and analyses subsequent legal questions that arise for fisheries and marine litter management over who is responsible for FADs during their drifting stage. This follows recent concerns about unlicensed FADs drifting through closed areas. This article analyses a case study of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in order to determine State obligations to manage drifting FADs. Analysis concludes that a drifting FAD in the WCPFC Area is ‘fishing’ from deployment to recovery, thereby creating obligations to monitor, control and report drifting FADs, consistent with broader obligations for coastal and flag States. The article recommends strengthening regional management in three ways: implement regional drifting FAD monitoring systems; control deployment of drifting FADs so as to promote recovery and minimize lost gear; and define appropriate responses for FADs that drift into national or closed waters without a license.
First soldier beetles (Coleoptera Cantharidae) from the Late Oligocene Enspel Fossil-Lagerstätte (SW Germany)

Authors: FANTI FABRIZIO , POSCHMANN MARKUS
Published: August 2019

The rich late Oligocene fossil deposit of Enspel (Westerwald, Germany) provided two new species of soldier beetles (Cantharidae), namely Cantharis doernerorum sp. nov. and Cantharis zabolica sp. nov. Furthermore, C. doernerorum sp. nov. appears to have preserved traces of the original coloration, a character not found until now in soldier beetles preserved as compression fossils in rocks, and C. zabolica sp. nov. shows a metathoracic wing with veins. The new species are compared to those of the adjacent and almost contemporaneous Rott Lagerstätte (late Oligocene) and other fossiliferous deposits.
Pemphilimnadiopsis cheni sp. nov. (Branchiopoda: Diplostraca: Spinicaudata) from the Upper Carboniferous of East Hebei, China and its biostratigraphic significance

Authors: LIAO HUANYU , SHEN YANBIN , GAO JIAN , HUANG DIYING
Published: August 2019

A new conchostracan species Pemphilimnadiopsis cheni sp. nov. is found in the upper section of the Pennsylvanian Benxi Formation in Kaiping, Tangshan City, Hebei Province, China and is closely related to the type species of the genus, P. ortoni. This finding is the fifth record of the Carboniferous conchostracans in China. Its finding gives evidence that the Benxi Formation in Kaiping, Tangshan City can be restricted into middle-late Moscovian to early Kasimovian and the present conchostracan layers more likely correspond to the early Kasimovian. Moreover, the first described Palaeozoic insects come from the same layers in the Kaiping Basin. This study indicates the age of these fossil insects would be close to the boundary of Moscovian and Kasimovian and more likely the early Kasimovian.
Protolycus gedaniensis gen. et sp. nov., the first Baltic amber representative of Lycini (Coleoptera: Lycidae: Lycinae)

Authors: KAZANTSEV SERGEY
Published: August 2019

The first amber lycid taxon, Pseudaplatopterus Kleine, 1940, was discovered in Baltic amber in the middle of the 20th century (Kleine, 1940, 1941); after almost five decades another three Baltic amber genera, Hiekeolycus Winkler, 1987, Kolibaceum Winkler, 1987 and Pietrzeniukia Winkler, 1987 (Winkler, 1987) were added to the list of fossil Lycidae. However, Hiekeolycus was soon demonstrated to be synonymous with the extant Palaearctic lycid genus Helcophorus Fairmaire, 1891 (Kazantsev, 1995, 1997, 2004), while Pietrzeniukia turned out to be synonymous with Kolibaceum, representatives of which were found among the extant net-winged beetles of eastern Asia (Kazantsev, 1997, 2012a).
A review of the Japanese species of the genus Xanthocampoplex Morley, 1913 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae), with description of a new genus
Authors: WATANABE KYOHEI
Published: August 2019

Japanese species of the genus Xanthocampoplex Morley, 1913 are reviewed. Three species previously belonging to this genus, X. caloptiliae Kusigemati, 1982, X. kumatai Kusigemati, 1982 and X. spulerinae Kusigemati, 1982 share unique character states and thus I describe a new genus, Kusigematia gen. nov. including K. caloptiliae (Kusigemati, 1982) comb. nov., K. kumatai (Kusigemati, 1982) comb. nov. (type species of the genus) and K. spulerinae (Kusigemati, 1982) comb. nov. This genus morphologically resembles Xanthocampoplex, but it can be distinguished by the following combination of character states: flagellum covered with long setae and with an erect very long seta on apex (these setae short in Xanthocampoplex); all flagellomeres longer than wide (at least some apical flagellomeres as long as wide or wider than long in Xanthocampoplex); tarsal claws small and simple (small to moderate length and pectinate in Xanthocampoplex); apex of dorsal valve of ovipositor with a distinct convexity behind of notch (not convex in Xanthocampoplex), body, excluding legs and wings, largely black to blackish brown (yellow or black with conspicuous large yellow markings in Xanthocampoplex); host is Gracillariidae (Cossidae and Crambidae in Xanthocampoplex). Xanthocampoplex chinensis Gupta, 1973 is newly recorded from Japan and Palaearctic region.
An overview of the tribe Cnephasiini (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Tortricinae) of Iran with description of a new species
Authors: ALIPANAH HELEN
Published: August 2019

The 22 species of the tortricid tribe Cnephasiini recorded from Iran are reviewed. Cnephasia razowskii, sp. n., is described and illustrated. Five species, i.e., C. communana (Herrich & Schäffer, 1851), C. genitalana Pierce & Metcalfe, 1922, C. tianshanica Filipjev, 1934, C. kenneli Obraztsov, 1956 and Eana incanana (Stephens, 1852), are newly reported for the fauna of Iran. New distributional data are presented for all other species. The previously unknown females of C. facetana Kennel, 1901 and C. kenneli are described and illustrated. A re-description of the female genitalia of C. grandis Osthelder, 1938 is provided owing to its poor original description.
A new species of the genus Larutia (Squamata: Scincidae) from Gunung Penrissen, Sarawak, Borneo
Authors: FUKUYAMA IBUKI , HIKIDA TSUTOMU , HOSSMAN MOHAMAD YAZID , NISHIKAWA KANTO
Published: August 2019

We collected a specimen of a scincid lizard of Larutia Böhme, 1981 from the edge of a primary forest on Gunung Penrissen, Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. The single specimen of the new species differs from all other known congeners by the molecular divergence in the mitochondrial ND1 gene and morphological characters including small adult body size (SVL 84 mm); 22 longitudinal scale rows around midbody; first pair of chinshields contacting second infralabial; second pair of chinshields separated from infralabials by an elongated scale; two subdigital lamellae on second toe; and body without yellow or pale bands or spots. It is the ninth species described in the genus and the second species of Larutia in Borneo.
Two species of Edwardsia having gigantic nematocysts, E. aff. tuberculata
and E. alternobomen sp. nov. (Cnidaria; Anthozoa; Actiniaria; Edwardsiidae) from Japan
Authors: IZUMI TAKATO , FUJITA TOSHIHIKO
Published: August 2019

The genus Edwardsia de Quatrefages, 1842 is the group of worm-like sea anemones of the family Edwardsiidae, characterized by having nemathybomes on their body wall and physa at their aboral end. This genus accommodates a lot of species, but only three have been known from Japanese waters. In this study, we report Edwardsia aff. tuberculata Duben and Koren, 1847 and describe a new species E. alternobomen sp. nov. from seas around Japan. Both are characterized by prominent, papillae-like nemathybomes which contain unusually large nematocysts. Some nematocysts of E. alternobomen sp. nov. are over 200 µm in length, which are the largest reported for a member of Edwardsiidae.
Intratumoral Injection of Norcantharidin-Loaded Poly(D,L-lactide)-b-Poly(ethylene glycol)-b-Poly(D,L-lactide) Thermosensitive Hydrogel for the Treatment of Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Xue Bingxin , Lei MinYi , Shi Kun , Wang MengYao , Hao Ying , Xiao Yao , Yuan Liping , Peng JinRong , Qian ZhiYong
Published: August 2019

In this study we employed self-designed PDLLA-PEG-PDLLA (PLEL) thermosensitive hydrogel to blend with norcantharidin (NCTD), a hydrophilic chemotherapeutic drug possessing curative effect on primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adverse effects, then utilized the composite in HCC
interstitial chemotherapy. PLEL copolymer was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization, NCTD-loaded PLEL hydrogel was prepared in a simple and reasonable way. The addition of NCTD had no significant effect on the temperature-dependent rheological properties of PLEL hydrogel. The pH values
of NCTD-loaded gel solutions (13 wt%) and free NCTD solutions with three drug concentrations of 0.4 mg/mL, 0.8 mg/mL and 1.2 mg/mL under different storage conditions met the pH requirement of small-volume injection. There was no significant difference among the drug release behaviors of NCTD-loaded
gels with drug concentrations of 0.4 mg/mL, 0.8 mg/mL and 1.2 mg/mL, they fitted first-order dynamics, exhibited significantly slower drug release than free drug solutions and the release was mainly based on drug diffusion. Drug-loaded gel solution (13 wt%) could evenly distribute throughout
tumor tissue before converting into gel after being intratumorally injected and was able to significantly prolong retention time of the drug in tumor compared to free drug solution. The sustained-release performance of NCTD-loaded gel (13 wt%) was confirmed from the perspective of pharmacodynamics
in vitro. The in vivo evaluation demonstrated that intratumoral injection of NCTD-loaded PLEL gel (13 wt%) was capable of improving curative effect of the drug and reducing its toxicity.
Superparamagnetic Chitosan Nanoparticles for a Vancomycin Delivery System: Optimized Fabrication and In Vitro Characterization
Authors: Changxuan Wang , Chaode Cen , Xiangyang Qu , Jian Wang , Cong Luo , Ming Li , Xing Liu , Dianming Jiang , Linjun Jiang , Jun Wu
Published: August 2019

To develop a vancomycin-loaded superparamagnetic chitosan nanoparticles (Vm-SPMCNs) system for the treatment of chronic pyogenic osteoarthrosis to avoid the critical side effects caused by the systemic administration of vancomycin, the preparation process of Vm-SPMCNs was optimized
by the orthogonal array design method; the optimum parameters were 1.2 g of chitosan, 0.2 g of vancomycin, 0.3 g of magnetite (Fe3O4), 12 mL of glutaraldehyde and stirring at 400 rpm. The drug loading and encapsulation efficiencies of the optimum Vm-SPMCNs were 10.30
± 0.42% and 79.02 ± 1.81%, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed that vancomycin was successfully bound to the magnetic chitosan nanoparticles. The Vm-SPMCNs were superparamagnetic particles with a diameter of 207.2 nm. The results of in vitro
release tests suggested that the Vm-SPMCNs could constantly release vancomycin to maintain the concentration above the minimum inhibitory concentration for ten days, and noninvasive external magnetic stimulation could modulate the release profile according to the actual therapeutic requirements.
Photoacoustic Imaging Guided Photothermal and Chemodynamic Combined Therapy for Cancer Using "All in One" W18O49 Nanorod Agent
Authors: Guo Qi , Wang Dan , Yang Guangling
Published: August 2019

Chemodynamic therapy based on Fenton or Fenton-like reactions is an emerging cancer therapy that has attracted considerable attention due to its high selectivity for tumors. However, the low catalytic efficiency of the Fenton or Fenton-like agent limits its therapeutic effect. Combination
therapies based on chemodynamic therapy using "all-in-one" agents show great potential for cancer treatment. In this study, W18O49 nanorods with strong near-infrared absorption and excellent Fenton-like reaction performance were prepared, and their application in photoacoustic
imaging-guided photothermal-chemodynamic combination cancer therapy was explored. First, hydrophobic W18O49 nanorods were synthesized via a one-step pyrolysis method. Hydrophilic W18O49 nanorods were then prepared via hydrophobic self-assembly between
oleyl amine-coated W18O49 nanorods and an amphiphilic polymer. The W18O49 nanorods exhibited good photoacoustic, photothermal, and chemodynamic performance in vitro along with good photoacoustic imaging contrast and excellent therapeutic effect
in photothermal-chemodynamic combination cancer therapy in vivo. This study provides a low-cost and easy-to-prepare agent for photothermal-chemodynamic combination therapy and promotes the application of photothermal-chemodynamic combination therapy in cancer treatment.
Nanomedicine for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Formicola Beatrice , Cox Alysia , dal Magro Roberta , Masserini Massimo , Re Francesca
Published: August 2019

Alzheimer's disease affects millions of people worldwide and this figure is continuously increasing. Currently, there is no resolutive cure for this disorder, but a valid contribution could be provided by nanomedicine, utilizing multi-functionalized nanodevices as drug vehicles with
additional features of specific brain targeting. Nanomedicine may represent also a practicable strategy for the pharmaceutical industry that moved from small MW pharmaceuticals to larger biologicals, such as antibodies and nucleotides, as the next generation of drugs, leading to the challenge
of effective drug delivery. This review provides a survey on the nano-based strategies for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and treatment, aiming at enhancing the passage of candidate pharmaceuticals across the BBB, and at supporting the evaluation of new therapeutic agents targeting this disease.
Dual-Functional Esophageal Stent Coating Composed of Paclitaxel-Loaded Electrospun Membrane and Protective Film
Authors: Xia Qinghua , Zhang Nuozi , Li Jiangxue , Wang Heran , Wang Chenhong , Zhang Zixin , Gu Jin'ge , Wang Mengjie , Han Charles C. , Xu Shanshan , Liu Ying
Published: August 2019

There is a high need for covered esophageal stents as part of the palliative treatment for patients suffering from esophageal obstruction, a common symptom of esophageal cancer. This paper describes the development of a soft and flexible multi-functional bilayer membrane carrying paclitaxel,
and the use of solution-casting and electrospinning to form this material into an esophageal stent coating. FDA-approved materials and established methods were used to shorten the certification process. A protective layer consisting of a polycaprolactone casting film and an electrospunpoly(lactide-coglycolide)/polycaprolactone/gelatin
membrane was employed as a functional layer to enhance the material's hydrophilicity and cytocompatibility, as well as to control drug delivery behaviors. In vitro cytocompatibility indicated that cancer cells adhered and grew better than normal cells when competing for attachment on
the surface of fibrous membranes. Cytotoxicity comparisons of paclitaxel-loaded membranes with various paclitaxel concentrations and corresponding paclitaxel solutions indicated that cancer cells were more sensitive than normal cells, and the controlled delivery of paclitaxel from drug-loaded
membranes could maintain a sustained antitumor effect and cause less damage to normal cells. Animal experiments showed that the bilayered membrane increased the concentration of drug aggregation at the tumor, achieved efficient antitumor effects and reduced the side-effects of PTX. Bilayered
membranes could be a promising stent coating to relieve dysphagia and improve the quality of life for esophageal cancer patients.
[ARTICLE WITHDRAWN] Wound Dressings Based on Rubidium-Doped Bioactive Glass Nanospheres Promote Diabetic Wound Healing
Authors: He Xiang , Ding Yufang , Duan Saili , Luo Songzhu , Song Jian , Peng Chen , Tan Yanni , Zeng Qinghai , Liu Yong
Published: August 2019

THIS ARTICLE WAS WITHDRAWN BY THE PUBLISHER IN MARCH 2021
How to Express Hail Intensity—Modeling the Hailstone Size Distribution
Authors: Grieser Juergen , Hill Marc
Published: August 2019

The local intensity of hail can be expressed by a variety of variables, such as hail kinetic energy, maximum hailstone size, and radar reflectivity–driven algorithms. All of these variables are connected by the hailstone size distribution. In the United States, the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) provides more than 37 000 observations that describe the diameter of the smallest, average, and largest hailstone; duration of hail; and overall hailstone number density. We use these data and the assumption of an exponential hailstone size distribution aloft to model the rate of hailstones hitting the ground per unit area, time, and hailstone size bin during the passage of a hailstorm. We found that total hail kinetic energy is proportional to the diameter of the largest hailstone to a power of less than 2. To validate these results, we compared them with hailpad observations of the largest hailstone diameters and hail kinetic energies in southwestern France. As an example application, we calculate the probability mass function for the largest hailstone observed by a hailpad given the largest hailstone occurring in its vicinity. We use this model at Risk Management Solutions, Ltd. (RMS), to calculate the vulnerability of subjects at risk as a function of the diameter of the largest hailstone.
Effects of Text Enhancement, Identical Prescription-Package Names, Visual Cues, and Verbal Provocation on Visual Searches of Look-Alike Drug Names: A Simulation and Eye-Tracking Study
Authors: Wang Hailiang , Or Calvin K. L.
Published: August 2019

Objective

Simulation and eye tracking were used to examine the effects of text enhancement, identical prescription-package names, visual cues, and verbal provocation on visual searches of look-alike drug names.

Background

Look-alike drug names can cause confusion and medication errors, which jeopardize patient safety. The effectiveness of many strategies that may prevent these problems requires evaluation.

Method

We conducted two experiments that were based on a four-way, repeated-measures design. The within-subject factors were text enhancement, identical prescription-package names, visual cues, and verbal provocation. In Experiment 1, 40 nurses searched for and selected a target drug from an array of drug packages on a pharmacy shelf mock-up. In Experiment 2, the eye movements of another 40 nurses were tracked while they performed a computer-based drug search task.

Results

Text enhancement had no significant effect on the drug search. Nurses selected the target drugs more quickly and easily when the prescriptions and drug packages shared identical drug name formats. The use of a visual cue to direct nurses’ attention facilitated their visual searches and improved their eye gaze behaviors. The nurses reported greater mental effort if they were provoked verbally during the drug search.

Conclusion

Efficient and practical strategies should be adopted for designs that facilitate accurate drug search. Among these strategies are using identical name appearances on drug prescriptions and packages, using a visual cue to direct nurses’ attention, and avoiding rushing nurses while they are concentrating.

Application

The findings aim to inspire recommendations for work system designs that will improve the visual search of look-alike drug names.
Mindful Matching: Ordinal Versus Nominal Attributes
Authors: Liu Peggy J. , McFerran Brent , Haws Kelly L.
Published: August 2019

The authors propose a new conceptual basis for predicting when and why consumers match others’ consumption choices. Specifically, they distinguish between ordinal (“ranked”) versus nominal (“unranked”) attributes and propose that consumers are more likely to match others on ordinal than on nominal attributes. Eleven studies involving a range of different ways of operationalizing ordinal versus nominal attributes collectively support this hypothesis. The authors’ conceptualization helps resolve divergent findings in prior literature and provides guidance to managers on how to leverage information about prior customers’ choices and employees’ recommendations to shape and predict future customers’ choices. Furthermore, the authors find process evidence that this effect is driven in part by consumers’ beliefs that a failure to match on ordinal (but not nominal) attributes will lead to social discomfort for one or both parties. Although the primary focus is on food choices, the effects are also demonstrated in other domains, extending the generalizability of the findings and implications for managerial practice and theory. Finally, the conceptual framework offers additional paths for future research.
Beyond the Individual: Evidence Linking Neighborhood Trust and Social Isolation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Yang Jie , Moorman Sara M.
Published: August 2019

Loneliness and social isolation are significant public health problems. However, the community and neighborhood factors that contribute to this pandemic are less examined. Adopting a neighborhood resource-based social capital theory, we examined whether neighborhood trust was associated with older Americans’ loneliness, number of friends, and perceived support from friends. We analyzed two waves of longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study, with a sample of 5,817 Americans aged 50 years and older. We used first difference models to analyze the data and controlled for potential confounders including perceived support from family and health status. Increases in the perception that neighbors are trustworthy and helpful were associated with statistically significant decreases in loneliness and increases in perceived social support from friends over a 4-year period. Findings have implications for conceptualizing social capital and for potential interventions targeting interpersonal trust and reducing loneliness and social isolation.
Women’s Body Image Throughout the Adult Life Span: A Latent Growth Modeling Approach
Authors: Lee Minsun , Damhorst Mary Lynn
Published: August 2019

This retrospective study examined developmental trajectories of women’s body image perceptions throughout the adult life span from life course and self-discrepancy theory perspectives. Data were collected from women over 65 years of age, recruited from 15 senior communities and centers in a Midwest U.S. state in 2012. A total of 102 older women completed a survey about their past and current body image perceptions. To examine developmental trajectories of the repeated body image measures, a latent growth modeling analysis was adopted. Distinct and significant trajectories in each body image measure during the entire adult life course were found, confirming that a retrospective account of women’s body image perceptions significantly change with age. The individual differences in the trajectories over time and the relationship between an individual’s initial mean level and the rate of change on each variable were also examined. The findings advanced understanding of the retrospective age effects on women’s body image throughout the adult life span.
China’s Blood-Borne HIV Catastrophe Revisited
Authors: Guan Yue
Published: August 2019

The 1990s blood-borne HIV epidemic in China cost tens of thousands of lives. This article traces the political origins of and early responses to this catastrophe, drawing on published documents, especially government publications. Government-business collusion, which has been emphasized in the literature, cannot alone account for the catastrophe nor for the government’s reaction. In the 1980s, the Chinese government promoted the domestic blood-product industry to keep AIDS, which was considered a foreign disease, out of the country and adopted the broadly accepted and efficient technology of plasmapheresis. However, it neglected the early warning signs of hepatitis cross-infection, thus failing to prevent the spread of HIV. This article also reveals that, complementary to the conventional focus on delayed reactions in Henan, health officials in Hebei initially reported the outbreak of HIV to their superiors in February 1995 and, in response, the central government in fact intervened. Nevertheless, infected victims—let alone the public—were not alerted to this communicable disease, which resulted in a second wave of transmission. This study implies that preemptively the Chinese government did not deem it necessary to act when risks were (mis)identified as noncritical, and reactively it withheld information from the public while coping with the emergency. As a result, the governance of health and safety was compromised.
Principal Engagement in the Professional Development Process
Authors: Koonce Michael , Pijanowski John C. , Bengtson Ed , Lasater Kara
Published: August 2019

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that served as barriers to principal engagement in the professional development process, and identify what resources or supports were needed to increase engagement. The 249 survey participants were drawn from 112 different school systems. From that group 20 principals were purposefully sampled for interviews. The theoretical framework for this study drew from social cognitive, self-efficacy, and collective efficacy theories which served to frame school and district leaders’ roles in professional development.
Electronic Word of Mouth engagement in social commerce platforms: An empirical study
Authors: Ali Yusuf Sahabi , Hussin Ab Razak Che , Dahlan Halina Mohamed
Published: August 2019

The aim of this study is to investigate the factors that encourage customer engagement with Electronic Word of Mouth (eWOM) from the perspective of information characteristics, consumer behaviour, consumer motives, technological and social factors. Drawing from the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and Social Support Theory (SST) we propose a new model of eWOM engagement in s-commerce. This model was assessed using structural equation modeling (SEM) technique based on a survey of 218 s-commerce users in Nigeria. The findings confirmed that eWOM engagement is strongly determined by information credibility, information quality, social support, innovativeness, altruism, self-enhancement and sense of belonging. Additionally, using the Importance-Performance Map Analysis (IPMA), this study identifies information credibility, sense of belonging, attitude towards eWOM and social support as the most important factors that should be giving priority by managers in order to encourage consumer eWOM engagement in s-commerce platforms. Implications of the study and suggestions for future research are presented.
The fate of indigenous knowledge: The role played by libraries in Tanzania
Authors: Mbilinyi Debora , Mwabungulu Elias M
Published: August 2019

The study aimed at assessing libraries’ role in sustaining indigenous knowledge (IK) in Tanzania. To do so, an exploratory design that used face to face semi-structured interviews and non-participatory observations were employed to collect data. The study has established that libraries play an insignificant role in collecting IK, especially when it comes to its codification. However, the libraries have also been found to play a good role at preservation of IK and use a number of ways to disseminate and promote IK usage. Unfortunately, these efforts face a number of challenges including insufficiency of funds and lack of interest in IK.
Causes of nonfatal occupational injury in the private sector in Tunisia
Authors: Benkhalifa Abdelaziz , Ayadi Mohamed
Published: August 2019

The absence of studies that investigate the causes and risk factors of nonfatal occupational injury in Tunisia inhibits the development of effective preventive strategies. The objective of this study was to identify the causes and risk factors of nonfatal occupational injury in the private sector in Tunisia. We used retrospective data derived from the occupational injury reporting forms submitted to the Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Maladie. A sample of 42,293 workers in the private sector for 2014 contains information on sociodemographic variables. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to investigate the association of cause-specific injury with demographic variables. The leading causes of nonfatal occupational injury were “falls” (employee fall and falling objects; 36%) and “struck by objects” (23%). Male employees were at higher risk of “exposure to extreme temperatures” (PR = 12 [7–45]), “asphyxia and poisoning” (PR = 4 [2.4–12]), “transport and handling” (PR = 2.4 [1.9–5]), “falling objects” (PR = 2.3 [1.4–3.7]), and “employee fall” (PR = 1.2 [1.1–1.5]). Although, rural areas were at higher risk to “asphyxia and poisoning” (PR = 3.6 [1.1–11.4]), “transport and handling” (PR = 2.5 [1.3–5.4]), and “burns” (PR = 1.3 [1.1–3]). It is important that effective interventions be developed to minimize the impact of falls and “struck by objects.” The most vulnerable categories to occupational injury are less educated men, rural residents aged between 15 years and 24 years, and elderly employees (55 years and over). Thus, our findings can contribute to the planning of prevention intervention programs that should expand to the most vulnerable categories.
Rainbows and crosses: Noncompliance with EU law prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination
Authors: Siegel Scott N
Published: August 2019

The Employment Equality Framework Directive (EED) is the first and still the only EU law that requires EU member states to combat sexual orientation discrimination. It requires states to change employment laws or draft news ones that prevent employers and coworkers from discriminating against gay and lesbian employees. Implementation of the EED was problematic, despite strong support for the law among many EU member states and their publics. An analysis of the EED’s provisions shows that in countries where religious organizations provide a substantial share of a country’s social services, governments are more likely to transpose the directive incorrectly. These findings are based on an innovative research design that addresses one legal subject matter within a directive. Contradicting earlier research showing it has little to no role, public opinion about an EU law can affect compliance. This article also sheds more light on how religious organizations and beliefs affect European integration, comparatively understudied in the literature. These findings also have important implications for the future of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) human rights legislation at the EU level.