bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linking Experiential Workshops and Increased STEM Interest Among First- and Second-Generation Latino Youth
Authors: Sallee Jeff , Cox Ronald B. , Flores Rita , Cooper Steven R. , Gomez Belinda I. , Gifford Craig A. , Hernandez-Gifford Jennifer A.
Published: June 2019

Extension outreach professionals are searching for new methods to target the growing population of Latino students. Oklahoma State University faculty in the Animal Science department and the 4-H Youth Development program partnered to sponsor a 4-H STEM Institute designed to promote science, technology, engineering, and math to Latino students in the Unidos Se Puede program. The STEM Institute was designed to introduce the Latino youth to college life and STEM based career opportunities. The program was evaluated utilizing the 4-H Common Measures Science instruments. The results indicate a positive impact on the youth’s perception of STEM as a career option. The students increase in self-efficacy predicts the students will increase their persistence in the subjects of science and math (Simpkins, Davis-Kean, & Eccles, 2006). Increased persistence in science and math leads to increased success in post secondary STEM studies and occupations.
Testing the Retrospective Pretest with High School Youth in Out-of-School Time Programs
Authors: Young Jill , Kallemeyn Leanne
Published: June 2019

Practitioners and evaluators face several constraints in conducting rigorous evaluations to determine program effect. Researchers have offered the retrospective pretest/posttest design as a remedy to curb response-shift bias and better estimate program effects. This article presents an example of how After School Matters (ASM) tested the use of retrospective pretest/posttest design for evaluating out-of-school time (OST) programs for high school youth participants. Differences between traditional pretest and retrospective pretest scores were statistically significant, but effect sizes were negligible, indicating that both pretests yielded similar results. Interviews with youth led to 3 key findings that have implications for ASM using retrospective pretests with youth: response-shift bias was more prominent in youth interviews than in quantitative findings, youth recommended reordering the questions so that the retrospective pretest appears first to increase comprehension, and acquiescence bias emerged in the interviews. This study demonstrates that the retrospective pretest/posttest design can be an alternative to the traditional pretest/posttest design for OST at ASM. These findings are important for ASM and other youth-serving organizations, which often have limited capacity to survey youth multiple times within 1 program session.
Examining Resiliency in Adolescent Refugees Through the Tree of Life Activity
Authors: Stark Marcella D. , Quinn Brandy P. , Hennessey Katharine A. , Rutledge Amanda A. , Hunter Allison K. , Gordillo Paola K.
Published: June 2019

Grounded in both resiliency science and positive youth development, the research team set out to understand the strengths and resources of adolescent refugees living in northeast Texas. In coordination with a local refugee services agency, members of the research team conducted the Tree of Life activity with 16 participants ranging in age from 13 to 20 years. Identifying 16 codes in the qualitative analyses of participants’ drawings, they organized these codes into 3 themes: self-efficacy, values, and relationships. The authors recommend the use of Tree of Life and other creative arts activities to facilitate the discovery of strengths and resources in adolescent refugees, by which they may progress beyond survival of adversity to resiliency and thriving.
Immigrant Youth in Juvenile Facilities: A State-by-State Review of Recreation Programming
Authors: León Maria
Published: June 2019

Recent national events have increased attention towards immigrant youth. Youth placed in juvenile justice facilities go through processes overseen by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, the Office of Refugee Resettlement, and the Unaccompanied Children’s Program. While in placement youth are exposed to risk factors and face cultural barriers being in a new country. As publicity of the incarceration of immigrant youth increases, there is an emphatic need for researchers to examine the quality of care youth experience in placement facilities. One of the areas that has not been critically investigated is recreation programming in juvenile justice facilities. Recreation programs grounded in Positive Youth Development have proven to promote healthy development and offer immigrant youth opportunities to adapt to their new environment. Providing youth in juvenile justice facilities access to high quality recreation programming strengthens protective factors in youth to prepare them for adulthood, and reduces the likelihood of their committing an offense, thereby increasing public safety and saving taxpayer dollars. This paper is a first step to establish a clear understanding of the treatment of immigrant youth in detention. In this paper I discuss the results of a comprehensive examination of the minimum requirements for recreation programming in juvenile justice facilities. The results provide clear implications for immigrant youth as well as suggestions for further critical inquiry.
Understanding Youths’ Educational Aspirations in the Somali Diaspora
Authors: Tzenis Joanna A.
Published: June 2019

This article shares findings from a 10-month qualitative longitudinal study that offer insight into the educational aspirations of American youth (grades 6-9) who belong to the Minnesota Somali diaspora and highlight the social and cultural influences that shape these aspirations. The findings show that while the majority of youth participants (at one point in the study) expressed that they wanted to become doctors in the future, these aspirations were informed by family values around helping others in Somalia—not an interest in medicine or science. The findings also demonstrate that through time, as the high school youth began to engage more deeply in non-diasporic environments, such as school, their aspirations became more open-ended and individualized. Each of the youth in this study was a child of Somali-born parents; they were living and receiving an education in the United States, and their aspirations for the future were imagined and reimagined in these multiple contexts. The importance of these findings is that they demonstrate how youths’ cultural ties to Somalia enabled them to aspire. These findings also bring attention to the social and cultural conditions Somali diasporic youth navigate as they strive for a healthy transition into adulthood. It is my hope that the findings from this article will support educators’ and youth workers’ abilities to respond to and support the positive developmental processes of youth living in the American Somali diaspora by widening the sets of opportunities they have to healthily navigate early adolescence and achieve their aspirations for the future.
Girls’ Experiences in a Positive Youth Development Sport Program: Developing a Participant-Centered Space
Authors: Johnston Kelly C. , Marttinen Risto , Frederick, III Ray N. , Bhat Vidya R.
Published: June 2019

School-age youth of low-income, urban communities frequently experience systemic inequities, such as limited access to healthy foods, lack of space for physical activity, higher drop-out rates, lower academic performance, and escalating rates of neighborhood violence. These inequities are often exacerbated for girls of color. After-school programs hold great potential for countering these issues, particularly when guided by a positive youth development (PYD) model. This qualitative study examined girls’ experiences in one after-school PYD program called REACH (Reflective Educational Approach to Character and Health). The authors discuss the ways in which the co-creation of a participant-centered space and interrelated connections between participants and program elements contributed to the girls’ experiences of the program in particular ways. These findings enhance understandings on how girls’ experiences shape relational dimensions of the PYD model, particularly PYD through sport. The authors conclude with implications for future research, suggesting enhancing the PYD through sport framework through activist-based research as a particularized means for further researching girls’ experiences in after-school PYD programs seeking interdisciplinary integration.
Surrealism is Real
Authors: Medina Dirdra
Published: June 2019

Moving from the Philippines to the United States at a young age to live with a father, with whom you have had limited contact, and meeting a stepmom and stepbrother for the first time provides unique challenges. Socializing and “fitting in” with peers is especially difficult and overwhelming. The youth author highlights how overcoming these obstacles is facilitated through hard work and the support of personal relationships.
A Summer of Discovery at Filipino Cultural School
Authors: Joo Julia Noelani Javier
Published: June 2019

Culturally specific youth development programs have a strong influence on the identity development of a number of youth from diverse cultural backgrounds. The following essay details a young person’s experiences while attending a cultural school and provides important implications for youth development practitioners who serve youth from various cultural backgrounds and experiences.
Special Issue: Perspectives on Immigrant, Refugee, and Border Youth
Authors: Outley Corliss , Skuza Jennifer A.
Published: June 2019

The positive development of immigrant, refugee, and border youth is a significant issue among youth development researchers, practitioners, and policy makers. As evidenced by the papers in this issue, the field has made great strides in research and programmatic approaches and has begun to identify specific developmental pathways. This special issue is intended to ignite a spark in future research and programming, encouraging the field of youth development to further develop interdisciplinary perspectives that include not only a focus on immigrant, refugee, and border youth, but also include their voices.
Las relaciones Iglesia-Estado durante el régimen franquista. Estudio de su evolución histórica reflejada en la celebración de actos oficiales
Authors: Castillo Esparcia Antonio , Castillero Ostio Elizabet
Published: June 2019

En el siguiente artículo se plantea la evolución de las relaciones entre Iglesia y Estado a través de la interpretación de la convocación de asistencia a los actos oficiales celebrados en una de las fechas señaladas como festivas según el calendario oficial durante el régimen franquista, el día de la Hispanidad-Raza (12 de octubre), por parte de las autoridades eclesiásticas, así como las variaciones que experimentan su ubicación en estos a lo largo del paso del tiempo. Dichos elementos se presentan como comunicación no verbal que permite transmitir los cambios producidos en la relación existente entre estas dos instituciones durante el periodo estudiado.
"El Siglo Futuro" y la I Guerra Mundial (1914-1918): una visión de conjunto
Authors: Agudín Menéndez José Luis
Published: June 2019

En plena conmemoración del centenario de la Gran Guerra y habida cuenta de la escasez de trabajos sobre la influencia de la I Guerra Mundial en el integrismo y sus órganos, el presente artículo se plantea, a partir de la consulta del diario madrileño El Siglo Futuro, sobre dos ejes fundamentales. Por una parte, se examina la evolución y estructuración de contenidos informativos al calor del conflicto. Por otra, se desgrana el condicionamiento y las campañas neutralistas del Partido Católico Nacional en el terreno de la opinión pública favorables a la Alemania del Káiser entre dos períodos claramente diferenciados del cuatrienio bélico.
La Norteamérica de Juan B Justo. Imágenes de Estados Unidos en la prensa socialista de fin de siglo XIX
Authors: Romero Juan Manuel
Published: June 2019

Este trabajo propone una aproximación a las imágenes argentinas de los Estados Unidos a fines del siglo XIX. Se analiza la crónica del viaje que Juan B. Justo realizó a los Estados Unidos a mediados de 1895, y que fue publicada por entregas en el flamante periódico La vanguardia. Se argumenta que las ideas de Justo pertenecen a un contexto más amplio de debates sobre Estados Unidos y se propone su puesta en diálogo con un ensayo de Ernesto Quesada, con el que comparte registro y preocupaciones, a la vez que se destacan los aspectos originales de su enfoque.
¿Anclados en el pasado? La sección Cultura en los periódicos "El País", "El Mundo" y "ABC": 2007 y 2017
Authors: Jurado Martín Montserrat , Ivars Nicolás Begoña
Published: June 2019

La sección Cultura es una veterana en el medio impreso, pero ¿ha renovado sus contenidos? Este trabajo tiene por objeto conocer si en el intervalo de 10 años, entre 2007 y 2017, las versiones impresas de El País, El Mundo y ABC han presentado cambios en sus contenidos y en la forma de ofrecerlos a sus lectores. Mediante el análisis de contenido se ha estudiado la sección Cultura en relación al resto del periódico, temas que se publican y la existencia de elementos innovadores. La hipótesis se concreta en que a pesar de toda la innovación de la que presumen los medios, ésta no está integrada en las páginas impresas, donde se sigue ofreciendo prácticamente el mismo producto que hace una década.
El montaje cinematográfico como herramienta para la revisión histórica: el caso de "Black Hawk Down"
Authors: Fernández Ramírez Laura
Published: June 2019

El artículo muestra qué recursos de montaje se emplean en la película Black Hawk Down para corregir la impresión del público estadounidense sobre la derrota militar en la Batalla de Mogadiscio. Su montaje convierte al espectador en un ranger haciéndole compartir su experiencia bélica y principios, así como enfatiza en la profesionalidad y ética del soldado estadounidense. Convierte una debacle militar en un triunfo ético. Como trasfondo se pone de manifiesto la importancia del montaje cinematográfico para definir (o redefinir) la visión del espectador sobre un hecho histórico. Metodológicamente se emplea un tipo de análisis deducido de las teorías de Eisenstein.
Los programas informativos en la televisión generalista en España: 1990-1994
Authors: Román Portas2 Mercedes , Feijoo Fernández Beatriz , García González Aurora
Published: June 2019

El artículo trata de realizar una aproximación a la programación informativa de las cadenas generalistas (TVE-1, TVE-2, Antena 3 TV y Telecinco) durante sus primeros cinco años de convivencia o competencia, es decir desde 1990 a 1994. Este trabajo se enmarca en un estudio más amplio sobre la programación televisiva en el período comprendido desde 1990 hasta el apagón analógico en el año 2010. La desregulación televisiva en España, producida en 1990, permitió el nacimiento de las cadenas privadas en el ámbito estatal. Esa situación afectó al panorama televisivo existente hasta entonces. Desde 1956 hasta 1990, el Estado ostentó el monopolio de la emisión televisiva y TVE no tuvo competencia a nivel nacional. Los cambios introducidos en los años 90 conformaron un panorama totalmente nuevo.
La singularidad política del Zapatismo
Authors: Darling Victoria Inés
Published: June 2019

La investigación problematiza la teoría y praxis de un movimiento social de composición indígena de reconocida trayectoria en la región latinoamericana, a través de una trama compuesta por tres líneas de análisis. En primer lugar, se indaga en la aparente contradicción existente entre la autonomía indígena del Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN) en relación al Estado, y su reciente propuesta de presentación de una candidatura presidencial a las elecciones de 2018 en Mexico. A través de una recuperación hemerográfica y un recuento de la producción teórica sobre el tema, se relevan los momentos constitutivos en que el movimiento zapatista y el gobierno realizaron encuentros de diálogo y negociación, con su consecuente desenlace. Asimismo se detalla la trayectoria de apoyo del movimiento a candidatos a cargos gubernamentales en los últimos veinte años de modo de dar cuenta de la coherencia del movimiento en relación a la propuesta de autonomía que sostienen y el carácter de su vinculación con el sistema político. En segundo lugar, en miras a dar cuenta de la perspectiva exterior sobre el movimiento, se analizan las críticas que intelectuales y sectores de izquierda han realizado a la propuesta revolucionaria del EZLN para finalmente relevar los saberes que la praxis zapatista ha desarrollado cuestionando las ideas revolucionarias tradicionales e innovando en una episteme propia. Su definición cuestiona el rol que las Ciencias Sociales juegan en su apuesta por explicar la realidad social y sugiere caminos de enlace para recrear una disciplina situada.
¿Intereses económicos en la protesta ambiental? Marcos de interpretación y coaliciones sociales en las movilizaciones ambientales contra sectores extractivos de recursos naturales en Argentina
Authors: Delamata Gabriela
Published: June 2019

El trabajo explora cómo se formuló socialmente la cuestión ambiental relacionada con la expansión de sectores extractivos de recursos naturales en Argentina durante las últimas décadas. Para ello analiza los “marcos interpretativos territoriales” de la acción ambientalista en tres sectores y se brinda una explicación basada en las coaliciones sociales de la movilización. El trabajo muestra que la común oposición a las actividades extractivas no se tradujo en una misma formulación del problema, y que la presencia o ausencia de actores económicos capitalizados en la coalición o en el territorio de la movilización ha sido un factor clave en la configuración de distintos marcos de significado.
Employee Relationship Management: Key to Organizational Growth
Authors: Raizada Sumesh
Published: June 2019

Employee Relationship Management (ERM) is both a management philosophy as well as strategy, and is extremely vital for the success of business organizations nowadays. It emphasize on effective inter and intra departmental coordination thereby enhancing employee engagement, creativity and productivity. The present paper is conceptual. It shall discuss ERM and explore its relevance in improving the performance of an organization. Paper shall identify various factors that contribute towards measurement and analysis of ERM in the organizations. Attempt has been made to quantify the attributes, propose indices for measurement and explore their linkages with the organizational performance indicators. Paper shall also develop conceptual model and hypotheses related to ERM for further empirical study by researchers and academicians. Both online as well as offline information has been sourced through books and articles.
Cost-benefit Analysis of Seedling Production on Floating Beds in a Few Selected Areas of Bangladesh
Authors: Kabir Mohammod Akbar , Moniruzzaman Md. , Jahan Kawsar , Shahjahan Md.
Published: June 2019

The aim of this study was to calculate the cost benefit analysis and economic viability of seedling production on the floating bed at Nazirpur Upazila in Pirojpur district of Bangladesh. The study area was selected purposively and 50 households (HHs) were surveyed through purposive sampling technique from a population of 80 households. From the results of those primary data, it was found that 68% farmers were engaged in seedling production as business purpose, and 30% as both own and business, 21 vegetables and spices seedlings were cultivated in the studied area. Average per square meter cost for floating seedling cultivation found BDT (Bangladeshi taka) 281 and benefit was BDT 401. The net benefit of floating agriculture found BDT 120 and with a BCR of 1.43. Income from floating seedlings mainly utilized in winter vegetable cultivation (Kandi), mainstream agriculture, business, house development and land purchase etc. Fifty percent (50%) of the floating farmers mentioned various constraints regarding floating seedling production such as lack of government aid, higher interest from NGOs and lack of capital. Among the surveyed respondents, 64% agreed that floating cultivation is effective to combat climate change and 76% replied as beneficial to the environment. Although floating agriculture is an indigenous age-old practice in the South-western region of Bangladesh, it can be replicated with the help of subsidy and agro-technology.
Pædagogstuderendes muligheder for at opbygge kompetence omkring børns bevægelseslæring i uderummet: Hæmmende og fremmende faktorer i dagtilbud
Authors: Hostrup Sønnichsen Lise , Von Seelen Jesper , Lüders Bo
Published: June 2019

Artiklen formidler resultaterne af en spørgeskemaundersøgelse på fem pædagoguddannelser. Fokus for undersøgelsen har været studerendes mulighed for at opbygge kompetencer til det pædagogiske arbejde med børn og bevægelse i uderummet under deres praktik i et dagtilbud. Undersøgelsen afslører blandt andet en diskrepans mellem de studerendes idealer for bevægelsespædagogik i uderummet og den konkrete pædagogik, de oplever i praktikken. Kompetencemål, som går på at understøtte, udvikle, gennemføre og evaluere bevægelsesaktiviteter, har særlig positiv betydning for den studerendes læringsmuligheder. Resultaterne af undersøgelsen diskuteres i slutningen af artiklen i et teoretisk perspektiv med henblik på at kunne stille kritiske spørgsmål til gavn for udviklingen af pædagoguddannelsen.
English abstract
Opportunities for social education students to develop outdoor activities competencies Inhibitory and supporting factors in day care
This paper presents the results of a questionnaire carried out on five different social education campuses. The focus of the study has been students’ opportunities to build competences on working with children and physical activity in the outdoor areas during their internship in a daycare facility. The study reveals a discrepancy between the students’ ideals of pedagogically sound activities in the outdoor areas and their experiences during their internship. Also, the analysis shows that having goals for the internship is positively associated with perceived learning outcomes on developing, implementing and evaluating physical activities.
Studying intergenerational processes in 21st century rural African societies
Authors: Phiri Douglas Tendai
Published: June 2019

This paper illustrates the impact of political economy on young people’s life courses and intergenerational processes in rural Africa. Rapid transformations and social changes in rural Africa often as a result of political economy contributes to the increasing malleability of rural contexts and tensions across the life courses of children and youth. The temporality and spatiality of globalisation are illustrated using the neo-liberal policies in the Economic Structural Adjustments Programmes (ESAPs) and the global educational policies in the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). The paper discusses the epistemological and methodological implications of political economy in rural African societies including approaches that capture complex interpenetrating factors contributing towards “constructions of young lives”, “contexts and identities” and “agency and social responsibilities”.
Lighting the Streets, Alleys, and Parks of the Smoky City, 1816–1930
Authors: Tarr Joel
Published: June 2019

During the nineteenth century, Pittsburgh transitioned from a city offering minimal services to one providing services largely through networked infrastructures. Among these were street lights fueled by coal gas produced by manufactured gas plants and distributed by pipelines and later by electrical lines. Because of fuel and construction costs, manufactured gas provision was expensive and uneven, and gas networks were confined to business sectors and affluent neighborhoods. To provide light to poorly served or dark areas such as alleys, parks, and suburbs, off-grid stand-alone lamps fueled by gasoline and naphtha byproducts of petroleum distillation often supplied illumination. Pittsburgh was one of the first large cities to utilize these stand-alone gasoline street lamps. This article will discuss the history of Pittsburgh street lighting, emphasizing the role played by gas and gas products.
Incentive Contract between Banks and B2B Platform in Online Agricultural Product Supply Chain Finance
Authors: Chen Xiaoxu , Xu Peng , Yang Guoqiang
Published: June 2019

Online agricultural supply chain finance, as an effective way to solve the financing difficulties of small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises in the chain, has made rapid progress in recent years, and the cooperation between banks and e-commerce has become the mainstream mode. Taking the electronic order pledge of agricultural products as an example, this paper discusses the incentive contract design between banks and B2B platform from the perspective of moral hazard prevention and the use of principal-agent theory. In this paper, the principal-agent model is constructed by considering the bank's effort and no effort, and then give the optimal incentive coefficient and fixed return. The results show that banks’ effort will increase the level of efforts of B2B platform, but also increase their own variable payment; under the given conditions, the bank’s effort will increase its income, and at a certain level of effort, the largest increase in revenue, In addition, improving the application level of B2B data processing technology and the degree of data pledge development will contribute to the increase of incentive coefficient and revenue.
A preliminary study on diabetes self-management education and glycemic control among patients with diabetes mellitus
Authors: G. Kisokanth , J. Indrakumar , S. Prathapan , J. Joseph , I.M.P.S. Ilankoon
Published: June 2019

This study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of diabetes self-management education (DSME) in the improvement of glycemic control among patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka. The study was a prospective interventional study and conducted as a preliminary study at medical clinic, Base hospital, Kaluwanchikudy, Batticaloa. Thirty patients with T2DM were included based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. A structured individual diabetes self-management education for 10 hours (one hour per week) was delivered to diabetic patients by the trained Nurse Health Educator. Glycosylate hemoglobin (HbA1c) was assessed as a main outcome measure and Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Body Mass Index (BMI) of each patient were also measured and recorded before and after the intervention. The respondent rate was 96.7% (n = 29). Majority of them were females (n = 25, 86.2%). A Wilcoxon signed rank test showed that DSME had a statistically significant reduction in HbA1c [8.60 (IQR 2.60) vs. 7.40 (IQR 2.10), p = .000] and FBS level [159.00 (IQR 77.50) vs. 134.00 (IQR 40.50), p = .002] at 3 months of intervention. The mean BMI at baseline was higher compared to 3 months of intervention [24.88 (SD ± 3.06) vs. 24.19 (SD ± 2.79)] which was statistically significant (p = .000). Majority of participants (n = 22, 75.9%) had improved their HbA1c level by ≥ 0.5% in 3 months. The diabetes self-management education is an effective measure in improving glycemic control and other clinical parameters among patients with T2DM. Thus, DSME needs to be implemented among clinic patients with T2DM for the better outcome and the preventions of complications.
Personal Loss and Grief Experiences of Healthcare Personnel in Pre- and Perinatal Care: A Review of Literature
Authors: Zsák Éva , Dömötör Teodóra , Hegedűs Katalin
Published: June 2019

Pre- and perinatal loss and grief tend to be referred to as complicated grief denoting the experience of ongoing trauma. It is considered a burden for the affected parents, their families and the helping professionals alike. Yet this phenomenon remains an underrepresented field in analytical studies. Our aim is to systematically review the literature that deals with personal grief caused by pre- and perinatal loss - as experienced by healthcare staff. We shall present a comprehensive view of relevant international and national attitudes including existing grief management options. The above-mentioned complex issue deserves greater attention, which should result in the establishment of dynamic, up-to-date support programmes on all professional levels.
Characterization of the Pyrolytic Products of Pine Nut Shells
Authors: Batbileg S. , Purevsuren B. , Battsetseg M. , Ankhtuya A. , Batkhishig D.
Published: June 2019

Have been determined the technical characteristics and elemental composition of shells. The elemental composition of the shell was determined by a microanalytical method such as 5Е С2000 model CNH-analyzer. The pyrolysis of shells investigated by using a standard quartz retort (tube) at different heating temperatures and determined the yields of pyrolysis products such as hard residue, tar, pyrolytic water, and gas. As a result of these experiments have been determined that 30% hard residue, higher yield 13% of tar, can be obtained at heating temperature 500oC. Thermogravimetric analysis of shells carried out in TG/DTA7200, Hitachi, Japan model equipment. The shells’ ash chemical composition was first time determined by the X-ray diffractions powder, that it consists of significantly higher 40% these chemical elements including manganese, nickel, little zinc, sulfur, aluminum, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and calcium. The solubility of purified pyrolysis tar of shells in hexane, benzene and dichloromethane were investigated by using silicagel column and the chemical composition of each fraction determined by using of GC/MS chromatography system. The FTIR spectra of shell and pyrolysis tar determined by using of a Nicolet 20-PC spectrometer. The porosity structure of activated pyrolysis hard residue determined by the SEM analysis.
Application of the 3'-Untranslated Region of Messenger RNA from Measles Virus Matrix Protein as an RNA Stabilizer: Implications in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Authors: Marzbany Marzieh , Ghassemi Fatemeh , Rasekhian Mahsa
Published: June 2019

BACKGROUND: The market for the use of recombinant proteins for medical applications has been increasing in recent years. In many cases including fast production of significant amounts of protein for research purposes, transient transfection is the method of choice. In this regard expression vectors are one of the decisive factors in the cost-effectiveness of the production process. The genetic elements found in the 3’untranslated region (UTR) of mRNA expressed by such vectors, play an essential role in determining its stability and thus in the efficiency of the process.

METHODS: In this study, the 3'UTR of matrix protein from the Measles Virus (MV) was used to construct a reporter plasmid containing Enhanced Green Fleurocent Protein (EGFP). The reporter construct was transfected into three cell lines. The effect of 3'UTR on mRNA stability was evaluated by real-time PCR. Secondary structure of the mrna was predicted based on minimum free energy. 3'UTR was analyzed in silico for the presence of binding motifs for trans-acting elements with known effects on RNA stability.

RESULTS: Addition of 3’UTR of MV matrix protein sequence to the 3’ end of the mRNA, increased the EGFP- mRNA stability in time and cell-dependent manner. Analysis for the presence of known cis-acting motifs in 3’UTR indicated the presence of two PABPC1 binding sites, an RNA-binding protein, known for its stability and translation enhancing effects.

CONCLUSION: Our results verified the potential of the 3'UTR region of matrix protein mRNA for improvement of transient recombinant protein production and vector design for mammalian cell hosts.
Borehole Microseismic Imaging of Hydraulic Fracturing: A Pilot Study on a Coal Bed Methane Reservoir in Indonesia
Authors: Ry Rexha Verdhora , Septyana Tepy , Widiyantoro Sri , Nugraha Andri Dian , Ardjuna Arii
Published: June 2019

Over the last decade, microseismic monitoring has emerged as a considerable and capable technology for imaging stimulated hydraulic fractures in the development of unconventional hydrocarbon resources. In this study, pilot hydraulic-fracturing treatments were operated at a coal-bed methane (CBM) field in Indonesia to stimulate the flow and increase the reservoir's permeability while the monitoring system was set in a single near-vertical borehole. Locating event sources accurately is fundamental to investigating the induced fractures, but the geometry of a single downhole array is a challenging data processing task, especially to remove ambiguity of the source locations. The locating procedure was reviewed in 3 main steps: (i) accurate picking of P- and S-wave phases; (ii) inclusion of P-wave particle motion to estimate the back azimuth; (iii) guided inversion for hypocenter determination. Furthermore, the seismic-source moment magnitudes were calculated by employing Brune's model. Reliable solutions of locations were obtained as shown statistically by uncertainty ellipsoids and a small misfit. Based on our results, both induced and triggered seismicity could be observed during the treatments and therefore conducting intensive monitoring is important. The triggered seismicity is an undesired activity so disaster precautions need to be taken, in particular for preventing reactivation of pre-existing faults.
A lipid-leakage model for Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Rudge Jonathan D
Published: June 2019

This paper describes a potential new explanation for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), referred to here as the lipid leakage model. It proposes that AD is caused by the influx of lipids following the breakdown of the blood brain barrier (BBB).The model argues that a principle role of the BBB is to protect the brain from external lipid access. When the BBB is damaged, it allows a mass influx of free fatty acids (FFAs) and lipid-rich lipoproteins to the brain, which in turn causes neurodegeneration, amyloidosis, tau tangles and other AD characteristics. The model also argues that, whilst β-amyloid causes neurodegeneration, as is widely argued, its principal role in the disease lies in damaging the BBB. It is the external lipids, entering as a consequence, that are the primary drivers of neurodegeneration in AD, especially FFAs, which stimulate microglia-driven neuroinflammation, inhibit neurogenesis and cause endosomal-lysosomal abnormalities, all characteristic of AD. In most cases amyloidosis and tau tangle formation lie downstream of these lipids and are in many ways as much symptomatic of the disease as causative. In support of this, it is argued that the pattern of damage caused by the influx of FFAs into the brain is likely to resemble the neurodegeneration seen in alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD), a disease that shows many similarities to AD, including the areas of the brain it affects. The fact that anterograde amnesia is far more pronounced in AD than ARBD results from the greater hydrophobicity of FFAs, in an anaesthesia-related manner.
Comparison of first-year grade point average and national board scores between alternative admission track students in a chiropractic program who took or did not take preadmission science courses
Authors: Manrique Carissa J. , Giggleman Gene
Published: June 2019

Objective:

We compared first-year cumulative grade point average and a composite score on part I of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) exam for first-year alternative admission track program (AATP) students who did and did not take three specific undergraduate courses: general chemistry, organic chemistry, and anatomy and physiology.

Methods:

All AATP students in 2015 (n = 50) were evaluated for the course history of general chemistry and anatomy and physiology compared to their first-year cumulative grade point average and NBCE part 1 scores using independent t-tests.

Results:

Students in the AATP who took general chemistry tended to score higher overall on the NBCE exams (p = .038, r = .229). Organic chemistry and anatomy and physiology had no statistical effect on improving board scores. First-year cumulative grade point average seemed to be unaffected by any of the undergraduate courses evaluated.

Conclusion:

There was a statistically significant difference in composite NBCE part 1 score between AATP students who had and had not taken general chemistry 1 before admission. There were no differences in first-year GPA between AATP students who had and had not taken undergraduate chemistry and A&P courses.
Geoengineering: The Deadly New Global “Miasma”
Authors: Herndon J. Marvin , Whiteside Mark
Published: June 2019

Near-total adherence to false scientific theories is the striking parallel between 19th century miasma theory associated with cholera, dispelled by Dr. John Snow, and 21st century “miasmas”, namely, the anthropogenic-carbon-dioxide-cause of global warming theory, and its presumed “cure” by geoengineering, undisclosed jet-spraying particulate pollution into the troposphere. An image published in the New York Times in 2017 began a series of discoveries that pointed to particulate pollution, not carbon dioxide, as the principal cause of global warming. Both industrial and deliberate jet-sprayed particulate pollution heat the atmosphere and thus reduces atmospheric convection-efficiency, which retards heat loss from earth’s surface and causes global warming, concomitantly wreaking havoc on human and environmental health. Today’s “bad air,” rather than spreading contagion, is causing a pandemic of non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) and decimating our natural environment. Covert tropospheric aerosol geoengineering, especially utilizing coal fly ash, is a primary catalyst for both of these modern disasters, and it must be recognized and halted. Air pollution is the leading environmental cause of disease and death in the world. Combustion products of fossil fuels are major contributors to both global warming and air pollution. The causes of air pollution and associated runaway global warming are modifiable in a short time-frame by reducing industrial and geo-engineering particulate pollution. However, corrective actions hinge on a scientific paradigm-shift and international cooperation at all levels of authority. The modern “miasmas” of complacency encompassing the universal dangers of air pollution and the deadly code of silence on the subject of undisclosed geo-engineering must be dispelled if we are to have a “fighting chance” to confront these global public health emergencies. Despite Snow’s ground-breaking work, the stubborn belief in “miasma” as the cause of infectious disease persisted well beyond his death into the 20th Century; our time is much too short now to delay changing course.
Survey of Subjective Skills of Physical Examination of Children by Nurses and Related Factors in Children's Therapeutic Education Center in Rasht, Iran
Authors: Mirhoseini Seyedeh Soghra , Yaghoubi Yasaman , Mirzaei Mahshid , Lili Ehsan Kazamnajad
Published: June 2019

Background and Aim: Since mental skills of nurses are effective on the quality of their activities, this research was conducted with the aim of determining the mental skills of physical examinations of children by nurses and related agents at the Children's Medical Education Center in Rasht.

Methods: The current cross sectional study was performed on 127 female nurses working in pediatric wards of the 17th Shahrivar hospital in Rasht in 2018 by enumeration sampling method. A valid and reliable questionnaire comprised of two sections of demographic information and information for physical examination of children was used. Data were analyzed by SPSS software v.21. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: The highest number of nurses (71.7%) had a moderate mental skills. There were a significant relationship between the mean of mental skills with the service ward (p <0.001), interest in the current service ward (p = 0.031), and the history of retraining related to health status assessment (p = 0.034). While, there were not a significant relationship between the mean of mental skills with age (p = 0.847), total score at graduation date (p = 0.052), marital status (p = 0.812), number of children (p = 0.501), educational status (p = 0.797), employment status (p = 0.505), classification of clinical experience (p = 0.644), classification of work experience in the current ward (p = 0.127), shift work (p = 0.443), the degree of interest in the current field and job (p = 0.439).

Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the nurses had moderate mental skills, which the mean of mental skills were related to the total score at the date of graduation, the name of the service ward, the level of interest in the current ward and the history of retraining related to health status assessment. Therefore, considering the factors affecting the mental skills, this skill can be increased, which should be considered in future researches.
Mevalonate pathway activity as a determinant of radiation sensitivity in head and neck cancer
Authors: Ricco Natalia , Flor Amy , Wolfgeher Don , Efimova Elena V. , Ramamurthy Aishwarya , Appelbe Oliver K. , Brinkman Jacqueline , Truman Andrew W. , Spiotto Michael T. , Kron Stephen J.
Published: June 2019

Radioresistance is a major hurdle in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Here, we report that concomitant treatment of HNSCCs with radiotherapy and mevalonate pathway inhibitors (statins) may overcome resistance. Proteomic profiling and comparison of radioresistant to radiosensitive HNSCCs revealed differential regulation of the mevalonate biosynthetic pathway. Consistent with this finding, inhibition of the mevalonate pathway by pitavastatin sensitized radioresistant SQ20B cells to ionizing radiation and reduced their clonogenic potential. Overall, this study reinforces the view that the mevalonate pathway is a promising therapeutic target in radioresistant HNSCCs.
Methylation‐associated miR‐193b silencing activates master drivers of aggressive prostate cancer
Authors: Mazzu Ying Z. , Yoshikawa Yuki , Nandakumar Subhiksha , Chakraborty Goutam , Armenia Joshua , Jehane Lina E. , Lee Gwo‐Shu Mary , Kantoff Philip W.
Published: June 2019

Epigenetic silencing of miRNA is a primary mechanism of aberrant miRNA expression in cancer, and hypermethylation of miRNA promoters has been reported to contribute to prostate cancer initiation and progression. Recent data have shown that the miR‐193b promoter is hypermethylated in prostate cancer compared with normal tissue, but studies assessing its functional significance have not been performed. We aimed to elucidate the function of miR‐193b and identify its critical targets in prostate cancer. We observed an inverse correlation between miR‐193b level and methylation of its promoter in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort. Overexpression of miR‐193b in prostate cancer cell lines inhibited invasion and induced apoptosis. We found that a majority of the top 150 genes downregulated when miR‐193b was overexpressed in liposarcoma are overexpressed in metastatic prostate cancer and that 41 miR‐193b target genes overlapped with the 86 genes in the aggressive prostate cancer subtype 1 (PCS1) signature. Overexpression of miR‐193b led to the inhibition of the majority of the 41 genes in prostate cancer cell lines. High expression of the 41 genes was correlated with recurrence of prostate cancer. Knockdown of miR‐193b targets FOXM1 and RRM2 in prostate cancer cells phenocopied overexpression of miR‐193b. Dual treatment with DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors decreased miR‐193b promoter methylation and restored inhibition of FOXM1 and RRM2. Our data suggest that silencing of miR‐193b through promoter methylation may release the inhibition of PCS1 genes, contributing to prostate cancer progression and suggesting a possible therapeutic strategy for aggressive prostate cancer.
Prenatal use of cannabis associated with preterm birth
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: June 2019

Self‐reported cannabis use by pregnant women was associated with a significant increase in the rate of preterm birth, even after adjustment for confounding, researchers reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Gut bacteria can treat alcohol‐associated liver disease
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: June 2019

Almost half of all liver disease deaths in the United States are related to alcohol use. With alcohol‐associated liver disease (AALD) now the leading cause of liver transplantation due to chronic liver disease, replacing hepatitis C, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is calling for effective interventions for AALD.
Targeting of CXCR1 on Osteosarcoma Circulating Tumor Cells and Precise Treatment via Cisplatin Nanodelivery
Authors: Han Xiu‐guo , Yang Sheng‐bing , Mo Hui‐min , Wang Min‐qi , Zhou Feng , Li Han‐jun , Qiao Han , Mei Jing‐tian , Wang Yong‐jie , Cheng Ya‐wen , Liu Xu‐qiang , Du Lin , Dong Yang , Tang Ting‐ting
Published: June 2019

Metastasis and chemotherapy resistance are the key factors affecting the effectiveness of osteosarcoma (OS) treatments. CXCR1 overexpression is found to be closely related to chemotherapy resistance and anoikis resistance in OS cell subtypes with high metastasis potential. Further study demonstrates that CXCR1 is highly expressed on circulating tumor cell (CTC)‐derived cells with cancer stem cell characteristics. Then, a CXCR1 targeting peptide is designed and synthesized to competitively inhibit the IL‐8/CXCR1 pathway and to improve the cisplatin sensitivity of CTCs. Fluorescence‐labeled magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) with pH‐responsive cisplatin release are fabricated and linked with the CXCR1 targeting peptide (Cis@MFPPC). Results demonstrate that CTC survival could be inhibited effectively by the targeting nanoparticles in vivo. Cis@MFPPC can also inhibit OS growth and pulmonary metastasis in an orthotopic model and patient‐derived tumor xenograft model. This study verifies the clinical significance of CXCR1 as a therapeutic target and provides a drug delivery NP system for precise treatment of OS.
A Stretchable Terahertz Parabolic‐Shaped Metamaterial
Authors: Xu Zefeng , Lin Yu‐Sheng
Published: June 2019

A stretchable parabolic‐shaped metamaterial (PSM) coated onto polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is proposed and demonstrated for operation in the terahertz (THz) frequency range. By stretching the PDMS‐based PSM device along different directions, ultranarrowband, polarization dependent, switchable optical characteristics are obtained. By stretching the PSM width and length in the transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes, resonant tuning ranges of 0.55 and 0.32 THz, respectively, are demonstrated for the PSM device. In these deformation ranges, the Q‐factors of the PSM device for different widths and lengths are quite stable and maintained in the range of 9 to 14 for the TE mode, with a high Q‐factor of 50 obtained at resonance for the TM mode. The integration of the PSM on a mechanically deformable PDMS substrate provides potential for use in flexible electronics applications. Furthermore, the PSM device exhibits single‐/dual‐band switching and polarization switching characteristics. These multifunctional states for the PSM device can be determined by mechanical inputs to represent binary digits that can then be used to perform logic operations. Such a stretchable PSM device offers an effective approach for the realization of programmable metamaterials with enhanced optical‐mechanical performance due to its high flexibility, applicability, and cost‐effectiveness.