bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Från lokal förankring till regional samverkan? FoU­-miljöer i socialtjänstens individ­ och familjeomsorg
Authors: Bergmark Åke , Lundström Tommy , Stranz Hugo
Published: July 2020

R&D units in Swedish social services: From local integration to regional collaboration For a period of over thirty years, the emergence of R&D units serving locally based Swedish social services has been considered an important ingredient in the evolvement of more professional and knowledge-based social services. It has also been regarded as a vital component for increasing practice orientation in social work research, both inside and outside the universities. In this article we describe and analyse the development of these units, with respect to their proliferation, organizational features and how they are valued by representatives of local social services. Our data show that almost every municipality in Sweden is, in one way or another, served by an R&D unit. These units, however, display a considerable variation with respect to basic resources, activity and organizational framework. Data enabled the identification of four basic categories that, more or less, represent different phases in the evolvement of R&D activities. At one end, representing the early stages, there are units integrated with and exclusively serving single municipalities. At the other end there are R&D units organized within regional associations, serving multiple municipalities and in general established in recent years. In between, there are two categories of R&D units formed in direct collaboration between a limited number of municipalities – one category formally connected to academia, another with less systematic contacts with university-based research. In general, development over time has resulted in a dilution of resources and an increasing distance between practice and R&D activities. Originally, the units were established by the initiatives of the municipalities and expected to respond to research needs emanating from practice. The regional associations have to a considerable extent been initiated and funded by earmarked state grants with the intention to implement evidence-based practice.
Välfärdsstatens logik? Erfarenheter från färäldrar med kognitiva och ekonomiska svårigheter
Authors: Fernqvist Stina , Näsman Elisabet
Published: July 2020

The logic of the welfare state? Experiences from parents with cognitive and financial difficultiesPrevious research has shown that parents with cognitive difficulties (neuropsychiatric impairments and/or intellectual disability) often are at risk of poverty. The same is reported from the Swedish welfare state, and such financial hardship may have a profound effect on family life. How these parents experience poverty and how their experiences can be related to cognitive difficulties and notions of poverty is addressed in this article. Their ability to cope in everyday life partly relies on whether, or how, existing support caters to the specific needs of these individuals. This article draws on research on poverty, disability and family. Based on interviews with parents with cognitive difficulties, these questions are discussed: how does their financial situation affect family life? How do they experience support from relatives and professionals? What kind of support is available from the welfare state, and to what extent does this support comprise perspectives on family and children? How do the parents experience informal support from their own family? How can this problem complex be localized in legislation and practice? The findings discussed here suggest that these parents often associate their experiences of poverty with the limitations caused by their impairments. Parents further state that they often rely on their own agency to get proper support, which can be very difficult, and question how support for these parents could be handled differently, in terms of both legislation and practice. The findings also show that support from society is often mediated on an individual level through initiatives from social workers and other persons working near the family, which highlights the absence of systematic support directed towards these parents.
John Bowlby på besök i 1950-talets Sverige – en udda fågel i svensk barnpsykiatri
Authors: Nelson Karin Zetterqvist , Van der Horst Frank , Van der Veer René
Published: July 2020

The mismatch between John Bowlby and post-war Swedish child psychiatry: Account of a research visit In the first half of 1950, the British psychiatrist and psychoanalyst John Bowlby visited France, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the USA to gain information about the state of the art in the care of homeless children. e World Health Organization published Bowlby’s conclusions as Maternal Care and Mental Health (1952). e article aims to present an account and discussion of Bowlby’s weeklong visit to Sweden, based on previously unpublished notebooks and letters. e analysis shows a clear mismatch between Bowlby’s ideas and those of his Swedish hosts working in child psychiatry and social care. At rst sight, Bowlby seemed to align with the Swedish psychoana- lytically oriented child psychiatrists, while rejecting those Swedish experts who represented a biological approach with ideas about heredity, but it was more complicated than that. Bowlby also appreciated the methodological rigor and statistical methods of the latter current. What he did not appreciate, however, was that both Swedish currents, despite their mutual disagreements, shared a similar view of the importance of the environment for child development that was much broader than his own. For Bowlby’s hosts, environmental factors such as housing, schooling, parental care, number of siblings, social contacts, etc. were all important for the understanding of poor mental health and social maladjustment in childhood. As also becomes clear from the title of his book, Bowlby rejected such a broad approach and focused exclusively on mother-child bon- ding as determining children’s mental development and health. is mismatch between Bowlby and the Swedish experts explains why Bowlby paid only scarce attention to Swedish views in his WHO report, why this report and his later ideas about the importance of mother-child attach- ment initially met with little enthusiasm, and why he remained a ”queer fish” in Sweden.
”Kör tills du brakar, sedan kastar vi ut dig om du inte flyr innan” – Socialsekreterares berättelser om uppbrott från arbetsplatsen
Authors: Blomberg Helena , Welander Jonas
Published: July 2020

”Work until you collapse, then we’ll throw you out if you don’t manage to escape before”: Social workers’ narratives about breaking up from the workplace. During the last few decades, several studies have shown that social workers have unfair working conditions which have led to both ill-health and increased turnover. A central aim of the article is to shed light on the break-up narratives of 31 social workers who have left their workplaces due to discontent with the organization. In terms of theory, the study draws upon a discursive narrative approach – how language is used to accomplish social actions. e aim of study is to analyse how the social workers narrate their working conditions, what they convey and how they construct a professional identity. Findings show that the social workers: (1) by rhetorical resources such as details, extreme case formulations, metaphorical expressions etc. illustrate an unsustainable work- ing situation; (2) convey criticism and testify to a lack of trust/reliance in their relation to organi- zational agents when the agents ignore calls for improvements, their communication is decient and dominated by blame and a call for loyalty; and (3) construct their identity by establishing a we-ness when talking about professional ethics and a collegial solidarity.
Forum: Vad är problemet?
Authors: Blomqvist Jan , Wallander Lisa
Published: July 2020

I det följande visar vi att uppfattningarna om och definitionerna av alkoholvanor, som setts och ses som olämpliga eller avvikande, i själva verket är både motsägelsefulla och sinsemellan motstridiga, och att de har skiftat över tid och med sammanhang. Artikeln analyserar denna brist på samsyn och diskuterar vilka implikationer den kan tänkas ha för framtida forskning, praktik och policyöverväganden på området. Analysen är i huvudsak empirisk och deskriptiv, och vi har för enkelhetens skull avstått från att tillämpa exempelvis Benoits (2003) res- pektive Bacchis (2009) förvisso intressanta resonemang kring de berörda frågorna.
Nya böcker
Authors: Frank Vibeke Asmussen
Published: July 2020

Alkohol- och narkotikaproblem

Björn Johnson,Torkel Richert & Bengt Svensson (2017) Lund: Studentlitteratur
Nya böcker
Authors: Denvall Verner
Published: July 2020

Peter Ström (2017) Utredning inleds. Språk, genredrag och ansvar i barnavårdsutredningar.

Växjö: Linnaeus University Dissertations
Våld mellan ungdomar i nära relationer
Authors: Øverlien Carolina
Published: July 2020

Teenage intimate partner violence. Digital media and coercive controlThe aim of this article is to describe violence and its different forms in an everyday context, through interviews with teenagers experiencing intimate partner violence, focusing on the violence that takes place in the digital arena. Using Evan Stark’s concept of coercive control, the dynamics of digital violence is explored. The conclusion is that the violence that takes place in the digital arena should be understood as a form of psychological violence. Furthermore, teenage intimate partner violence is a serious societal problem showing patterns and phenomenology similar to intimate partner violence between adults, and it must therefore be taken just as seriously.
Nya böcker
Authors: Karlsson Petter
Published: July 2020

.
Stöd till personer med psykisk funktionsnedsättning
Authors: Markström Urban
Published: July 2020

Establishment of community mental health services in SwedenCare and support for people with psychiatric disabilities has been subject to significant changes during recent decades. Institution-based forms of care have been replaced by policies focused on inclusion and participation in society, and by a new field of community-oriented services. The formal responsibility for supporting the target group has largely shifted from mental health care to municipal social services. This article characterizes this new field of expertise, and discusses a number of current themes that seem to influence the extent to which policy-level objectives can be achieved. One theme is the establishment of a knowledge base regarding community-based services, in which local development work and academic research have sometimes enriched each other. Individual support towards employment is used as one example of a model developed through a combination of service innovation and research. Another theme concerns the concept of personal recovery, which has contributed to a new ideological orientation, where the lived experience of service users and issues of participation and involvement are emphasized. Furthermore, the problem of in-real-life implementation is discussed. A significant share of the current knowledge on effective service and support is never implemented in real practice, neither at a national nor a local organizational level. This ”treatment gap” should be considered as one of the primary challenges in community mental health services today. This article highlights a study where researchers sought to identify critical components for long-term establishment of evidence-based services. Finally, the field of community mental health services is portrayed as slowly establishing both organizational forms and a foundation of research- and experience-based knowledge.
Light Quality Affects Growth and Physiology of Carpesium triste Maxim. Cultured In Vitro
Authors: Zhao Jin , Thi Luc The , Park Yoo Gyeong , Jeong Byoung Ryong
Published: July 2020

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of light quality on the growth and contents of photosynthetic pigments and total flavonoids, the parameters of chlorophyll a fluorescence, antioxidant capacities, and enzyme activities. It was intended to preliminarily explore the internal mechanisms involved for the effect of light quality on the growth and physiology of Carpesium triste Maxim. Stem apex explants were cultured on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium under white (W), red (R), blue (B), or a 1:1 mixture of red and blue (RB) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for four weeks. The RB induced sturdy plantlets and increased the contents of photosynthetic pigments and total flavonoids, photosynthetic electron transport and efficiency, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging capacity, and activities of antioxidant enzymes in the plantlets. Taken together, combinations of monochromatic red and blue LEDs could be used for the best production of high-quality C. triste plantlets in vitro.
Introduction of Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) in a Rainfed Rotation to Improve Soil Organic Carbon Stock in Marginal Lands
Authors: D’Avino Lorenzo , Di Bene Claudia , Farina Roberta , Razza Francesco
Published: July 2020

The production of a biomass as a feedstock for biorefinery is gaining attention in many agricultural areas. The adoption of biorefinery crops (i.e., perennial cardoon) can represent an interesting option for farmers and can contribute to increase soil organic carbon stock (SOCS). The study aimed to assess the potential effect on long-term SOCS change by the introduction of cardoon in a Mediterranean marginal area (Sassari, Italy). To this end, three process-oriented models, namely the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories (Tier 2), a humus-balance model (SOMBIT) and Rothamsted carbon model (RothC), were used to compare two scenarios over 20 years. The traditional cropping system’s faba bean–durum wheat biennial rotation was compared with the same scenario alternating seven years of cardoon cultivation. The model’s calibration was performed using climate, soil and crop data measured in three cardoon trials between 2011 and 2019. SOMBIT and Roth C models showed the best values of model performance metrics. By the insertion of cardoon, IPCC tool, SOMBIT and RothC models predicted an average annual SOCS increase, whereas, in the baseline scenario, the models predicted a steady state or a slight SOCS decrease. This increase can be attributed to a higher input of above- and belowground plant residues and a lower number of bare soil days (41 vs. 146 days year−1).
Rice Hulls and Anaerobic Digestion Residues as Substrate Components for Potted Production of Geranium and Rose
Authors: Bassan Antonio , Bona Stefano , Nicoletto Carlo , Sambo Paolo , Zanin Giampaolo
Published: July 2020

Economic and environmental concerns limit peat use for substrate production, promoting interest in alternative materials. Hence, in this study, 16 substrates were obtained by mixing, in a factorial combination, eight substrates with different ratios of peat, rice hulls (RH), and anaerobic digestion residues (ADR) and two types of RH: whole (WRH) or ground RH (GRH). Substrates were physically and chemically characterized and then tested as potting substrates for Pelargonium peltatum ‘Ville de Paris’ and Rosa × hybrida ‘La Sevillana’ production. Physical characteristics worsened the increasing RH content. This problem was partly solved using GRH and adding ADR to the substrates. As for chemical characteristics, RH increased P and K, reducing cation exchange capacity, NO3-N, and Ca, thus causing a possible nutritional imbalance. ADR addition increased all nutrients, restoring the nutritional balance. Geranium and rose plants were negatively affected by an increasing rate of RH. In both species, the use of GRH improved the considered parameters, whereas ADR improved some parameters but only in geranium. It was possible to partly substitute peat with 33% RH, but GRH plus ADR is necessary for geranium production, and facultative for rose. The multiple regression method and principal component analysis appear to be useful tools to understand which substrate parameters, and to what extent, influence the growth of ornamental plants.
Age-Related Changes in Serum Lipid Levels, Hepatic Morphology, Antioxidant Status, Lipid Metabolism Related Gene Expression and Enzyme Activities of Domestic Pigeon Squabs (Columba livia)
Authors: Xu Qianqian , Li Huaiyu , Zhou Wenting , Zou Xiaoting , Dong Xinyang
Published: July 2020

The objective of this study was to evaluate the age-related changes in antioxidant status and the lipid metabolism of pigeon squabs (Columba livia), by determining the BW, antioxidant indices, serum lipid levels, lipid metabolism-related enzyme activities, lipid metabolism-related gene expression, and liver morphology in squabs. Ten squabs were randomly selected and sampled on the day of hatching (DOH), days 7 (D7), 14 (D14) and 21 (D21) post-hatch, respectively. The results showed that BW of squabs increased linearly from DOH to D21. The minimum fold of BW gain was observed in the phase from D14 to D21. Serum triglyceride and free fatty acid levels displayed linear and quadratic trends as age increased, with these maximum responses in D14. Serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level responded to age linearly and quadratically with the minimum in D14. Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and the ratio of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased linearly with age, whereas the very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level decreased linearly. The activities of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase in liver displayed linear and quadratic trends as age increased, with these minimum responses in D14. Hepatic malondialdehyde concentration responded to age linearly and quadratically, with the maximum in D14. Activities of lipoprotein lipase, hepatic lipase, and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase in liver responded to age linearly and quadratically, with these minimum responses in D14. Hepatic hormone-sensitive lipase activity displayed linear and quadratic trends as age increased with the maximum in D14. Hepatic acetyl CoA carboxylase activity on D14 was significantly lower than squabs on DOH and D7. Hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 mRNA expression responded to age linearly and quadratically, with minimum response in D14. Hepatic mRNA expression of acetyl CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase increased linearly with age. Hepatic Oil-Red-O staining area displayed a quadratic trend as age increased, with the maximum response in D14. In conclusion, the phase from DOH to D14 was a crucial development stage for growth, antioxidant status and lipid metabolism in pigeon squabs. The results suggest it is better to take nutritional manipulation in squabs before D14.
Training Petting Zoo Sheep to Act Like Petting Zoo Sheep: An Empirical Evaluation of Response-Independent Schedules and Shaping with Negative Reinforcement
Authors: Fernandez Eduardo J.
Published: July 2020

Shaping through differential reinforcement of successive approximations to a target response has been a cornerstone procedure for the training of novel behavior. However, much of how it has traditionally been implemented occurs through informal observation, rather than any direct, systematic measurement. In the present study, we examine the use of response-independent food schedules and shaping for increasing approach and contact behaviors in petting zoo sheep. In Experiment 1, a fixed-time (FT) 15 s food schedule was used to effectively increase approach and contact behaviors in one sheep. In Experiment 2, negative reinforcement in the form of removal of the presence of a trainer was made contingent on the successful completion of approximations within a shaping procedure and later switched to food rewards. A changing-criterion design was used to empirically examine the effects of the shaping procedure during each step of the program. The result is one of the first studies to demonstrate the utility of using negative reinforcement within a shaping procedure to successfully intervene on approach/avoidance behaviors in an applied animal setting.
Behavior in Free-Living American Black Bear Dens: Parturition, Maternal Care, and Cub Behavior
Authors: Rogers Lynn L. , McColley Linda , Dalton Janet , Stroner Jim , Hajicek Douglas , Partin Adam , Burghardt Gordon M.
Published: July 2020

Denning behavior has long remained the least observed aspect of bear behavior. During 2010–2013, we used webcams, microphones, the internet, and 14,602 h of archived video to document the denning behaviors of two adult wild black bears (Ursus americanus) as they gave birth and cared for four litters through six winters in northeastern Minnesota. Observations included types of dens, labor, pre-parturient genital swelling, birthing positions, post-partum vocalizations, mothers removing amniotic tissues and warming newborn cubs in sub-freezing temperatures, frequency of nursing, cubs establishing nipple order, yearlings suckling, the ingestion of snow and icicles, the ingestion of foot pads, urination and defecation in latrine areas, toilet-licking, eye opening, reciprocal tongue-licking, play, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and possible dreaming, and reactions to wildlife intruders. The use of this new method for observing natural bear dens allowed the identification of many behaviors undescribed for any species of wild bear in dens. We also discuss the need for future studies and how the depth and duration of black bear hibernation varies with body condition and geographic region.
Deposition of CAP/Antioxidants Systems on Silica Particles Using the Supercritical Antisolvent Process
Authors: García-Casas Ignacio , Montes Antonio , Valor Diego , Pereyra Clara , Martínez de la Ossa Enrique J.
Published: July 2020

Supercritical carbon dioxide has been used to deposit co-precipitates of natural antioxidants with a polymer onto silica microparticles. The supercritical antisolvent process (SAS) was carried out with the antioxidants by introducing the silica microparticles into the precipitator vessel. Two different configurations were employed to pump the solution. In one configuration, the antioxidant and the polymer were dissolved and injected together through a nozzle. In the second configuration, the antioxidant and the polymer were dissolved in different solutions and sprayed through different nozzles. The use of operating conditions significantly above the critical point (180 bar and 323 K) led to the formation of composites made up of co-precipitates and silica. Delivery profiles showed that the presence of the polymer and the silica delayed release of the antioxidant into gastric media, thus protecting it and allowing its full delivery to the intestinal fluids to improve the effectiveness of the antioxidant.
Effect of Model Resolution on Intense and Extreme Precipitationinthe Mediterranean Region
Authors: Conte Dario , Gualdi Silvio , Lionello Piero
Published: July 2020

This study explores the role of model resolution on the simulation of precipitation and on the estimate of its future change in the Mediterranean region. It compares the results of two regional climate models (RCMs, with two different horizontal grid resolutions, 0.44 and 0.11 degs, covering the whole Mediterranean region) and of the global climate model (GCM, 0.75 degs) that has provided the boundary conditions for them. The regional climate models include an interactive oceanic component with a resolution of 1/16 degs. The period 1960–2100 and the representative concentration pathways RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 are considered. The results show that, in the present climate, increasing resolution increases total precipitation and its extremes over steep orography, while it has the opposite effect over flat areas and the sea. Considering climate change, in all simulations, total precipitation will decrease over most of the considered domain except at the northern boundary, where it will increase. Extreme precipitation will increase over most of the northern Mediterranean region and decrease over the sea and some southern areas. Further, the overall probability of precipitation (frequency of wet days) significantly decreases over most of the region, but wet days will be characterized with precipitation intensity higher than the present. Our analysis shows that: (1) these projected changes are robust with respect to the considered range of model resolution; (2) increasing the resolution (within the considered resolution range) decreases the magnitude of these climate change effects. However, it is likely that resolution plays a less important role than other factors, such as the different physics of regional and global climate models. It remains to be investigated whether further increasing the resolution (and reaching the scale explicitly permitting convection) would change this conclusion.
Risk Mapping for the Sustainable Protection of Cultural Heritage in Extreme Changing Environments
Authors: Sardella Alessandro , Palazzi Elisa , von Hardenberg Jost , Del Grande Carlo , De Nuntiis Paola , Sabbioni Cristina , Bonazza Alessandra
Published: July 2020

Cultural heritage is widely recognized to be at risk due to the impact of climate change and associated hazards, such as events of heavy rain, flooding, and drought. User-driven solutions are urgently required for sustainable management and protection of monumental complexes and related collections exposed to changes of extreme climate. With this purpose, maps of risk-prone areas in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin have been produced by an accurate selection and analysis of climate variables (daily minimum and maximum temperature—Tn and Tx, daily cumulated precipitation—RR) and climate-extreme indices (R20mm, R95pTOT, Rx5 day, CCD, Tx90p) defined by Expert Team on Climate Change Detection Indices (ETCCDI). Maps are available to users via an interactive Web GIS (Geographic Information System) tool, which provides evaluations based on historical observations (high-resolution gridded data set of daily climate over Europe—E-OBS, 25 km) and climate projections (regional climate models—RCM, ~12 km) for the near and far future, under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. The tool aims to support public authorities and private organizations in the decision making process to safeguard at-risk cultural heritage. In this paper, maps of risk-prone areas of heavy rain in Central Europe (by using R20mm index) are presented and discussed as example of the outputs achievable by using the Web GIS tool. The results show that major future variations are always foreseen for the 30-year period 2071–2100 under the pessimistic scenario (RCP 8.5). In general, the coastal area of the Adriatic Sea, the Northern Italy, and the Alps are foreseen to experience the highest variations in Central Europe.
A Data-Driven Approach for Winter Precipitation Classification Using Weather Radar and NWP Data
Authors: Seo Bong-Chul
Published: July 2020

This study describes a framework that provides qualitative weather information on winter precipitation types using a data-driven approach. The framework incorporates the data retrieved from weather radars and the numerical weather prediction (NWP) model to account for relevant precipitation microphysics. To enable multimodel-based ensemble classification, we selected six supervised machine learning models: k-nearest neighbors, logistic regression, support vector machine, decision tree, random forest, and multi-layer perceptron. Our model training and cross-validation results based on Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) showed that all the models performed better than our baseline method, which applies two thresholds (surface temperature and atmospheric layer thickness) for binary classification (i.e., rain/snow). Among all six models, random forest presented the best classification results for the basic classes (rain, freezing rain, and snow) and the further refinement of the snow classes (light, moderate, and heavy). Our model evaluation, which uses an independent dataset not associated with model development and learning, led to classification performance consistent with that from the MCS analysis. Based on the visual inspection of the classification maps generated for an individual radar domain, we confirmed the improved classification capability of the developed models (e.g., random forest) compared to the baseline one in representing both spatial variability and continuity.
Spatiotemporal Distribution of Major Aerosol Types over China Based on MODIS Products between 2008 and 2017
Authors: Chen Qi-Xiang , Huang Chun-Lin , Yuan Yuan , Mao Qian-Jun , Tan He-Ping
Published: July 2020

Knowledge of aerosol-type distribution is critical to the evaluation of aerosol–climate effects. However, research on aerosol-type distribution covering all is limited. This study characterized the spatiotemporal distribution of major aerosol types over China by using MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) products from 2008 to 2017. Two aerosol-type classification methods were combined to achieve this goal. One was for relatively high aerosol load (AOD ≥ 0.2) using aerosol optical depth (AOD) and aerosol relative optical depth (AROD) and the other was for low aerosol load (AOD < 0.2) using land use and population density information, which assumed that aerosols are closely related to local emissions. Results showed that the dominant aerosol-type distribution has a distinct spatial and temporal pattern. In western China, background aerosols (mainly dust/desert dust and continent aerosol) dominate with a combined occurrence ratio over 70% and they have slight variations on seasonal scale. While in eastern China, the dominant aerosols show strong seasonal variations. Spatially, mixed aerosols dominate most parts of eastern China in spring due to the influence of long-range transported dust from Taklamakan and Gobi desert and urban/industry aerosols take place in summer due to strong photochemical reactions. Temporally, mixed and urban/industry aerosols co-dominate eastern China.
Approximate Methods for Solving Linear and Nonlinear Hypersingular Integral Equations
Authors: Boykov Ilya , Roudnev Vladimir , Boykova Alla
Published: July 2020

We propose an iterative projection method for solving linear and nonlinear hypersingular integral equations with non-Riemann integrable functions on the right-hand sides. We investigate hypersingular integral equations with second order singularities. Today, hypersingular integral equations of this type are widely used in physics and technology. The convergence of the proposed method is based on the Lyapunov stability theory of solutions of ordinary differential equation systems. The advantage of the method for linear equations is in simplicity of unique solvability verification for the approximate equations system in terms of the operator logarithmic norm. This makes it possible to estimate the norm of the inverse matrix for an approximating system. The advantage of the method for nonlinear equations is that neither the existence or reversibility of the nonlinear operator derivative is required. Examples are given illustrating the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells Seeded on Integra® Dermal Regeneration Template Improve Post-Burn Wound Reconstruction
Authors: Piejko Marcin , Radziun Karolina , Bobis-Wozowicz Sylwia , Waligórska Agnieszka , Zimoląg Eliza , Nessler Michał , Chrapusta Anna , Madeja Zbigniew , Drukała Justyna
Published: July 2020

Fibrosis of burn-related wounds remains an unresolved clinical issue that leads to patient disability. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the transplantation of adipose-derived stromal cells seeded onto a collagen-based matrix in the reconstruction of burn-related scars. Here, we characterized an in vitro interaction between adipose-derived stromal cells and a collagen-based matrix, Integra®DRT. Our results show that transcription of pro-angiogenic, remodeling, and immunomodulatory factors was more significant in adipose-derived stromal cells than in fibroblasts. Transcription of metalloproteinases 2 and 9 is positively correlated with the collagenolytic activity of the adipose-derived stromal cells seeded onto Integra®DRT. The increase in the enzymatic activity corresponds to the decrease in the elasticity of the whole construct. Finally, we validated the treatment of a post-excision wound using adipose-derived stromal cells and an Integra®DRT construct in a 25-year-old woman suffering from burn-related scars. Scarless healing was observed in the area treated by adipose-derived stromal cells and the Integra®DRT construct but not in the reference area where Integra®DRT was applied without cells. This clinical observation may be explained by in vitro findings: Enhanced transcription of the vascular endothelial growth factor as well as remodeling of the collagen-based matrix decreased mechanical stress. Our experimental treatment demonstrated that the adipose-derived stromal cells seeded onto Integra®DRT exhibit valuable properties that may improve post-excision wound healing and facilitate skin regeneration without scars.
Cuttlefish Buoyancy in Response to Food Availability and Ocean Acidification
Authors: Otjacques Eve , Repolho Tiago , Paula José Ricardo , Simão Silvia , Baptista Miguel , Rosa Rui
Published: July 2020

Carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is expected to continue rising by 2100, leading to a decrease in ocean pH in a process known as ocean acidification (OA). OA can have a direct impact on calcifying organisms, including on the cuttlebone of the common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis. Moreover, nutritional status has also been shown to affect the cuttlebone structure and potentially affect buoyancy. Here, we aimed to understand the combined effects of OA (980 μatm CO2) and food availability (fed vs. non-fed) on the buoyancy of cuttlefish newborns and respective cuttlebone weight/area ratio (as a proxy for calcification). Our results indicate that while OA elicited negative effects on hatching success, it did not negatively affect the cuttlebone weight/area ratio of the hatchlings—OA led to an increase in cuttlebone weight/area ratio of fed newborns (but not in unfed individuals). The proportion of “floating” (linked to buoyancy control loss) newborns was greatest under starvation, regardless of the CO2 treatment, and was associated with a drop in cuttlebone weight/area ratio. Besides showing that cuttlefish buoyancy is unequivocally affected by starvation, here, we also highlight the importance of nutritional condition to assess calcifying organisms’ responses to ocean acidification.
The Alcohol–High-Density Lipoprotein Athero-Protective Axis
Authors: Rosales Corina , Gillard Baiba K. , Gotto Antonio M. , Pownall Henry J.
Published: July 2020

Ingestion of alcohol is associated with numerous changes in human energy metabolism, especially that of plasma lipids and lipoproteins. Regular moderate alcohol consumption is associated with reduced atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), an effect that has been attributed to the concurrent elevations of plasma high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations. More recent evidence has accrued against the hypothesis that raising plasma HDL concentrations prevents ASCVD so that other metabolic processes associated with alcohol consumption have been considered. This review explored the roles of other metabolites induced by alcohol consumption—triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, non-esterified free fatty acids, and acetate, the terminal alcohol metabolite in athero-protection: Current evidence suggests that acetate has a key role in athero-protection but additional studies are needed.
Autistic Traits Differently Account for Context-Based Predictions of Physical and Social Events
Authors: Bianco Valentina , Finisguerra Alessandra , Betti Sonia , D’Argenio Giulia , Urgesi Cosimo
Published: July 2020

Autism is associated with difficulties in making predictions based on contextual cues. Here, we investigated whether the distribution of autistic traits in the general population, as measured through the Autistic Quotient (AQ), is associated with alterations of context-based predictions of social and non-social stimuli. Seventy-eight healthy participants performed a social task, requiring the prediction of the unfolding of an action as interpersonal (e.g., to give) or individual (e.g., to eat), and a non-social task, requiring the prediction of the appearance of a moving shape as a short (e.g., square) or a long (e.g., rectangle) figure. Both tasks consisted of (i) a familiarization phase, in which the association between each stimulus type and a contextual cue was manipulated with different probabilities of co-occurrence, and (ii) a testing phase, in which visual information was impoverished by early occlusion of video display, thus forcing participants to rely on previously learned context-based associations. Findings showed that the prediction of both social and non-social stimuli was facilitated when embedded in high-probability contexts. However, only the contextual modulation of non-social predictions was reduced in individuals with lower ‘Attention switching’ abilities. The results provide evidence for an association between weaker context-based expectations of non-social events and higher autistic traits.
Pediatric Patients Treated for Leukemia Back to School: A Mixed-Method Analysis of Narratives about Daily Life and Illness Experience
Authors: Tremolada Marta , Taverna Livia , Bonichini Sabrina , Pillon Marta , Biffi Alessandra , Putti Maria Caterina
Published: July 2020

In the last few years, more children and adolescents healed from leukemia go back to their daily life, even if they can show some psycho-social difficulties. The study adopted semi-structured interviews and a mixed-method approach to examine the narratives of 75 children and adolescents about their return to school post 2-years treatment for leukemia. The aims are to collect their illness experiences, to understand how they feel about school and daily routines and to identify the best socio-demographic and illness predictors of a good re-adaptation to school and daily life. The results show that by increasing age and when the pediatric patient have received a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, at the stop-therapy time, her/his perception about relationships at school and academic performance decrease, especially if his/her feelings about the disease and follow-up visits are negative.
Air Permeability of Air-Entrained Hybrid Concrete Containing CSA Cement
Authors: Kubissa Wojciech
Published: July 2020

This paper presents the results of research on series of concrete prepared with Portland cement CEM I 42.5R, with partial replacement of this cement with calcium sulfoaluminate cement. In part of the series, an air-entraining admixture was used. It was assumed that the mixture must remain workable for at least 45 min and to ensure that citric acid as the setting retarder was used. Compressive strength tests after 2, 7, 28, 56 and 90 days, tensile splitting strength test and sorptivity test after 28 days were performed. After 56 and 90 days, the moisture content of the specimens was determined, and Torrent air permeability was tested. Freeze-thaw scaling resistance was also investigated. It was found that the addition of 15% and 30% calcium sulfoaluminate cement results in a significant reduction in the relative humidity of the concrete, after storage under air-dry conditions and an increase in air permeability. The series with 30% calcium sulfoaluminate cement in the binder, regardless of aeration, showed significantly lower resistance to cyclic freezing in the presence of salt. A clear correlation between sorptivity, air permeability and surface scaling was not found. On the basis of a multi-criteria evaluation of the tested concrete and performed Performance Index calculations, the best parameters were achieved by concrete series C30-4.5.
Recent Advances and Challenges in the Treatment of Rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Miwa Shinji , Yamamoto Norio , Hayashi Katsuhiro , Takeuchi Akihiko , Igarashi Kentaro , Tsuchiya Hiroyuki
Published: July 2020

Rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft tissue sarcoma noted in childhood, requires multimodality treatment, including chemotherapy, surgical resection, and/or radiation therapy. The majority of the patients with localized rhabdomyosarcoma can be cured; however, the long-term outcomes in patients with metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma remain poor. The standard chemotherapy regimen for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma is the combination of vincristine, actinomycin, and cyclophosphamide/ifosfamide. In recent clinical trials, modifications of the standard chemotherapy protocol have shown improvements in the outcomes in patients with rhabdomyosarcoma. In various type of malignancies, new treatments, such as molecular targeted drugs and immunotherapies, have shown superior clinical outcomes compared to those of standard treatments. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the benefits of these treatments in patients with rhabdomyosarcoma. Moreover, recent basic and clinical studies on rhabdomyosarcoma have reported promising therapeutic targets and novel therapeutic approaches. This article reviews the recent challenges and advances in the management of rhabdomyosarcoma.
Macrophages in Oral Carcinomas: Relationship with Cancer Stem Cell Markers and PD-L1 Expression
Authors: Suárez-Sánchez Faustino J. , Lequerica-Fernández Paloma , Suárez-Canto Julián , Rodrigo Juan P. , Rodriguez-Santamarta Tania , Domínguez-Iglesias Francisco , García-Pedrero Juana M. , de Vicente Juan C.
Published: July 2020

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) can be polarized into antitumoral M1 and protumoral and immunosuppressive M2 macrophages. This study investigated the clinical relevance of TAM infiltration in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), evaluating CD68 (M1 and M2 macrophage marker) and CD163 expression (M2 macrophage marker) in the tumor nests and surrounding stroma. Immunohistochemical analysis of both stromal/tumoral CD68+ and CD163+ TAMs was performed in paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from 125 OSCC patients, and correlated with clinical data. Potential relationships with the expression of cancer stem cell (CSC) markers and PD-L1 in the tumors were also assessed. Stromal CD163+ infiltration was significantly associated with the tumor location in the tongue, and stromal and tumoral CD68+ and CD163+-infiltrating TAMs were more abundant in nonsmokers and non-alcohol-drinkers. Strikingly, this study uncovers an inverse relationship between CD68+ and CD163+ TAMs and CSC marker expression (NANOG and SOX2) in OSCC. High infiltration of CD163+ TAMs in both tumor and stroma was strongly and significantly correlated with the absence of NANOG expression. Moreover, infiltration of both CD68+ and CD163+ TAMs was also significantly associated with high tumor expression of PD-L1. Our results suggest that there is a link between TAM infiltration and immune escape in OSCC.
DNA Damage- But Not Enzalutamide-Induced Senescence in Prostate Cancer Promotes Senolytic Bcl-xL Inhibitor Sensitivity
Authors: Malaquin Nicolas , Vancayseele Arthur , Gilbert Sophie , Antenor-Habazac Laureen , Olivier Marc-Alexandre , Ait Ali Brahem Zakia , Saad Fred , Delouya Guila , Rodier Francis
Published: July 2020

Cellular senescence is a natural tumor suppression mechanism defined by a stable proliferation arrest. In the context of cancer treatment, cancer cell therapy-induced senescence (TIS) is emerging as an omnipresent cell fate decision that can be pharmacologically targeted at the molecular level to enhance the beneficial aspects of senescence. In prostate cancer (PCa), TIS has been reported using multiple different model systems, and a more systematic analysis would be useful to identify relevant senescence manipulation molecular targets. Here we show that a spectrum of PCa senescence phenotypes can be induced by clinically relevant therapies. We found that DNA damage inducers like irradiation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase1 (PARP) inhibitors triggered a stable PCa-TIS independent of the p53 status. On the other hand, enzalutamide triggered a reversible senescence-like state that lacked evidence of cell death or DNA damage. Using a small senolytic drug panel, we found that senescence inducers dictated senolytic sensitivity. While Bcl-2 family anti-apoptotic inhibitor were lethal for PCa-TIS cells harboring evidence of DNA damage, they were ineffective against enzalutamide-TIS cells. Interestingly, piperlongumine, which was described as a senolytic, acted as a senomorphic to enhance enzalutamide-TIS proliferation arrest without promoting cell death. Overall, our results suggest that TIS phenotypic hallmarks need to be evaluated in a context-dependent manner because they can vary with senescence inducers, even within identical cancer cell populations. Defining this context-dependent spectrum of senescence phenotypes is key to determining subsequent molecular strategies that target senescent cancer cells.
Circulating Tumor Cell Migration Requires Fibronectin Acting through Integrin B1 or SLUG
Authors: Huaman Jeannette , Ogunwobi Olorunseun O.
Published: July 2020

Fibronectin (FN1) is an extracellular matrix protein gaining increasing attention for its multifaceted roles in cancer progression. Using our recently established circulating tumor cell (CTC) lines, we had demonstrated increased FN1 expression and enhanced migration in CTC lines, in comparison to primary tumor cell lines. Whether increased FN1 expression is directly required for CTC migration, and the specific role of FN1’s regulation of integrin B1 (ITGB1) and SLUG (SNAI2) in CTC migration remains unclear. Here, for the first time, we report that the knockdown of FN1, ITGB1, or SLUG expression in CTCs leads to a significant decrease in CTC migration. Knocking down two or all three of these proteins simultaneously did not further inhibit migration. We observed a corresponding increase in CTC migration when recombinant FN1 was added to CTCs. This effect was significantly impeded by prior knockdown of ITGB1 or SLUG. Using knock down experiments and western blotting analysis, we confirmed FN1’s regulation of ITGB1 and SLUG to occur via two separate, independent pathways. Consequently, we can conclude that FN1-dependent enhanced migration of CTCs requires downstream signaling through either ITGB1 or SLUG and that FN1 regulation of ITGB1 and SLUG may have important implications for cancer progression and metastasis.
Chemically Functionalized Water-Soluble Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Obstruct Vesicular/Plasmalemmal Recycling in Astrocytes Down-Stream of Calcium Ions
Authors: Gottipati Manoj K. , Bekyarova Elena , Haddon Robert C. , Parpura Vladimir
Published: July 2020

We used single-walled carbon nanotubes chemically functionalized with polyethylene glycol (SWCNT-PEG) to assess the effects of this nanomaterial on astrocytic endocytosis and exocytosis. We observed that the SWCNT-PEG do not affect the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-evoked Ca2+ elevations in astrocytes but significantly reduce the Ca2+-dependent glutamate release. There was a significant decrease in the endocytic load of the recycling dye during constitutive and ATP-evoked recycling. Furthermore, SWCNT-PEG hampered ATP-evoked exocytotic release of the loaded recycling dye. Thus, by functionally obstructing evoked vesicular recycling, SWCNT-PEG reduced glutamate release from astrocytes via regulated exocytosis. These effects implicate SWCNT-PEG as a modulator of Ca2+-dependent exocytosis in astrocytes downstream of Ca2+, likely at the level of vesicle fusion with/pinching off the plasma membrane.