bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Observations on a Recent Increase in Plagiocephaly Without Synostosis
Authors: Kane Alex A. , Mitchell Laura E. , Craven Kathleen P. , Marsh Jeffrey L.
Published: December 2021

Objective. To verify and determine the cause of an increase in the referral of infants with plagiocephaly without synostosis (PWS) to a single tertiary craniofacial center.

Design. A chart review was performed for 269 infants with a diagnosis of PWS who presented to a single tertiary craniofacial center between 1979 and 1994. The pattern of referral for PWS was analyzed using both simple linear regression and time series regression analyses. In addition, the referral pattern for PWS was compared with that for infants seen at the same center who received a diagnosis of synostotic plagiocephaly. Changes in the distribution of several demographic, perinatal, and clinical variables during the study period were also assessed. Finally, in an effort to identify correlates of the risk of PWS developing, characteristics of patients who were Missouri residents and presented between 1992 and 1994 were evaluated and compared with those of the 1993 Missouri live birth cohort.

Setting. The Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Deformities Institute, St Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University Medical Center.

Results. The average annual number of referrals to our center for PWS in the period 1992 to 1994 was more than sixfold greater than that for the preceding 13 years. There was a statistically significant increase in the annual number of referrals to our center during the 16-year study period. Moreover, there was evidence that the average annual increase in referrals was significantly greater during the last 3 years (1992 through 1994) of the study than in the first 13 years. This shift in the referral patterns is roughly contemporaneous with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations regarding infant sleep position. There was no evidence that either the mean number of referrals or the average annual increase in referrals for patients with synostosis changed during the study period. Among patients with PWS, the average age at presentation did not change during the study period. There were also no significant changes in the distribution of other demographic, perinatal, and clinical variables. When compared with the Missouri birth cohort, infants with PWS were significantly more likely to be boys and to have been delivered by forceps. There was also some evidence that patients with PWS were more likely to be born prematurely and to be products of multiple-gestation pregnancies. These associations were, however, of only borderline statistical significance.

Conclusion. Referrals to our center for PWS increased markedly in 1992 relative to previous years. The temporal coincidence of this increase with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation to avoid the prone sleeping position, to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, suggests a possible causal relationship. If this association is causal, education regarding the need for head position rotation coupled with that for sudden infant death syndrome should obviate positional PWS.
Lumbar Puncture in the Evaluation for Early Neonatal Sepsis
Authors: Tierney Anne J. , Finer Nell N.
Published: December 2021

We have read with interest the article by Wiswell et al on the use of lumbar punctures (LPs) in the neonate suspected of sepsis (Pediatrics 1995;95:803-806). At the present time, we are in the process of drawing up guidelines on the management of infants born to mothers who are positive for group B streptococcus in pregnancy. In view of the extremely large numbers in your study, some of your findings are causing us some concern.
Letter To The Editor
Authors: Beeram Madhava , Oltore Charles , Cipriani Cheryl
Published: December 2021

We read the article by Dr Wiswell et al1 in the June 1995 issue of Pediatrics. We believe this article tells only one side of the story on lumbar puncture (LP) and suspected neonatal sepsis because the data on the number of LPs performed to identify these meningitis cases are not available. We reviewed articles published on this issue (LP in the first week of life to rule out sepsis) over the years in the English language peer-reviewed journals, which have given the number of cases of meningitis diagnosed versus the number of LPs performed.
Renal Bicarbonate Excretion in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants
Authors: Ramiro-Tolentino Susan B. , Markarian Katherine , Kleinman Leonard I.
Published: December 2021

Objective. To test the hypothesis that due to the immaturity of their kidneys extremely low birth weight infants lose large amounts of bicarbonate in their urine.

Methods. Urine and blood samples collected every 8 to 12 hours for the first 4 days of life from 22 preterm infants 23 to 29 weeks' gestation weighing 540 to 982 g at birth were prospectively studied.

Results. As described previously, three phases of fluid homeostasis were identified. The first phase (prediuresis) was a period of low urine output followed by a period of spontaneous diuresis/natriuresis (diuretic phase) and then by a phase when urine output varied according to fluid intake (postdiuresis). Sodium, potassium chloride, and bicarbonate excretion rates and bicarbonate balance (bicarbonate or acetate infused minus bicarbonate excreted) were calculated for each of the three phases. Urinary excretion of sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate increased from the prediuretic to the diuretic phase and decreased from the diuretic to the postdiuretic phase. During the diuretic phase 88% of renal sodium excretion was accompanied by excretion of chloride. Bicarbonate balance was positive in all three fluid phases. Cumulative renal bicarbonate loss over the first 4 days of life was 1.9 ± 0.5 meq/kg (SD) and the cumulative bicarbonate balance was +4.4 ± 4.1 meq/kg (SD). The glomerular filtration rate, filtered load of bicarbonate, and absolute tubular reabsorption of bicarbonate significantly increased from the prediuretic to the diuretic phase, while fractional reabsorption of sodium and chloride decreased between these two phases. The fractional reabsorption of bicarbonate did not change from prediuresis to diuresis, but increased from diuresis to postdiuresis and consequently from prediuresis to postdiuresis.

Conclusions. Contrary to our original hypothesis, the total renal bicarbonate excretion of extremely low birth weight infants in the first 4 days of life is low and the net bicarbonate balance is positive. The anion predominantly accompanying the excretion of sodium in all three phases is chloride and not bicarbonate. Bicarbonate excretion appears to be independent of sodium excretion during these phases. The increase in renal tubular bicarbonate reabsorption during the first week of life may be associated with extracellular volume contraction.
Protective Eyewear for Young Athletes
Authors:   American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness,   American Academy of Ophthalmology Committee on Eye Safety and Sports Ophthalmology
Published: December 2021

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommend mandatory protective eyewear for all functionally one-eyed individuals and for athletes who have had eye surgery or trauma and whose ophthalmologists recommend eye protection. Protective eyewear is also strongly recommended for all other athletes.

BACKGROUND

More than 41 000 sports-related and recreational eye injuries were treated in hospital emergency departments in 1993.1 Seventy-one percent of the injuries occurred in individuals younger than 25 years; 41% occurred in individuals younger than 15 years; and 6% occurred in children younger than 5 years. Children and adolescents are particularly susceptible to injuries because of their fearless manner of play and their athletic immaturity.2-4

Ten sports or sports groupings are highlighted in this statement based on their popularity and the high incidence of eye injuries (see Table 1).1 Baseball and basketball are associated with the most eye injuries in athletes 5 to 24 years old.5 Participation rates and information on the severity of the injuries are unavailable, however; therefore, the relative risk of significant injuries cannot be determined for various sports.

The high frequency of sports-related eye injuries in young athletes indicates the need for an awareness among athletes and their parents of the risks of participation and of the availability of a variety of approved sports eye protectors. When properly fitted, appropriate eye protectors have been found to reduce the risk of significant eye injury by at least 90%.4,6,7

EVALUATION

It would be ideal if all children and adolescents wore appropriate eye protection for all sports and recreational activities.
Letter To The Editor
Authors: Bennett Forrest C.
Published: December 2021

The experience of Drs Kilbride and Daily concerning the survival and morbidity of infants with birth weights less than 800 g appears to be very similar to our own. Their reported survival between 1980 and 1990 for infants between 701 and 700 g birth weight demonstrates the identical improvement over time which we describe down to at least 500 g. Most of the increased survival at the University of Washington attributable to surfactant therapy has occurred after 1990.
ALTERED T LYMPHOCYTE PHENOTYPE AT BIRTH IN BABIES BORN TO ATOPIC PARENTS
Authors: Sampson Hugh A.
Published: December 2021

The presence of activated and memory T cells at birth implies intrauterine priming. The authors concluded that the significantly lower numbers of memory T cells in the infants at high risk for allergy suggests a suppression of T cell activation or lack of antigenic priming in this group.
CORRELATES OF RECURRENT WHEEZING IN SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN
Authors: Galant Stanley P.
Published: December 2021

The authors conclude that major risk factors to develop recurrent wheezing in school-age children include the exposure to such aeroallergens as house dust mite, animal dander, particularly cat, and mold spores in addition to ETS. They feel that a reduction in indoor aeroallergens and ETS could reduce recurrent wheezing by 65% and they make a great case for implementing strong environmental control measures, praticularly in those with a strong family history of asthma.
ASTHMA SELF-MANAGEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM BY HOME MONITORING OF PEAK EXPIRATORY FLOW
Authors: Szefler Stanley J.
Published: December 2021

The personal use of an objective measure of lung function in association with a medication self-management plan leads to improvement in the patient's condition.
MUTATIONS OF Jak-3 GENE IN PATIENTS WITH AUTOSOMAL SEVERE COMBINED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY (SCID)
Authors: Liu Andrew
Published: December 2021

Abnormalities in the Jak/STAT signaling pathway can account for SCID in humans.
Prevalence and Impact of Exposure to Interpersonal Violence Among Suburban and Urban Middle School Students
Authors: Campbell Carla , Schwarz Donald F.
Published: December 2021

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of exposure to violence in preadolescent children in communities that vary by family income and to determine patterns of physical symptomatology and communication after exposure to a traumatic event.

Methods. Two hundred twenty-eight sixth-grade students from a suburban middle school (school A) and 209 sixth-grade students from an urban middle school (school B) in the Philadelphia metropolitan area were surveyed by a group-administered anonymous questionnaire.

Results. Two hundred two students (89%) from school A and 200 students (96%) from school B reported knowing someone who had been robbed, beaten, stabbed, shot, or murdered. One hundred twenty-nine students (57%) and 183 students (88%), respectively, witnessed a robbing, beating, stabbing, shooting, or murder. Ninety-one students (40%) and 141 students (67%) had been personally robbed, beaten up, stabbed, shot, or caught in gun cross fire. One hundred thirty-four (59%) and 152 (73%) reported hearing gunfire in their neighborhood. One hundred eighty-eight (82%) and 202 (97%) had at least one positive response in all three categories: knowing a victim, witnessing an event, and being a victim of violence.

The proportion of positive responses from school B was significantly greater than the proportion from school A for all of these results. Many students reported symptoms associated with somatization syndromes, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder; the school B group had significantly more symptoms than the school A group. Both student groups had discussed episodes of witnessing an event or victimization with others, mostly family members and friends, and expressed feelings of fear, anger, sadness, and frustration about these episodes. A very low percentage of the students (from 1% to 8% in the different analyses) consulted a medical or mental health professional.

Conclusions. These data support a substantial prevalence of exposure to violence for suburban and, even more dramatically, for urban middle school-aged children. The higher-prevalence group reported a higher incidence of symptoms sometimes seen after traumatic stress. Many students in both groups expressed multiple feelings about their exposure to violence, and most talked to someone about their exposure; rarely was this person a health professional.
Perianal Lymphangioma Circumscriptum Mistaken for Genital Warts
Authors: Darmstadt Gary L.
Published: December 2021

Genital warts are common relative to other verrucous lesions of the anogenital region. Consideration of the differential diagnosis of verrucous anogenital lesions is necessary, however, to make a correct diagnosis consistently and to avoid futile, painful, and possibly traumatic attempts at treatment. In this report, I describe a child with a history suspicious for sexual abuse who was treated with inappropriate measures because of misdiagnosis of perianal lymphangioma circumscriptum as genital warts. The pathogenesis, differential diagnosis, and treatment of lymphangioma is presented.

CASE REPORT

A 5-year-old Hispanic boy was referred by his pediatrician to the Dermatology Service with an eruption of red papules on the left buttock and perianal region.
Maternal Smoking and Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cells in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Authors: Cutz Ernest , Perrin Donald G. , Hackman Richard , Czegledy-Nagy Elinor N.
Published: December 2021

Background. Maternal smoking is a well-recognized risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), but the precise mechanism is unknown. We tested a hypothesis that maternal smoking affects pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs) and neuroepithelial bodies (NEBs), which are innervated PNEC clusters and presumed airway chemoreceptors.

Methods. Lung sections from infants who died of SIDS and whose mothers smoked during pregnancy (n = 22), infants who died of SIDS and whose mothers were nonsmokers (n = 17), and age-matched control infants (n = 15) who died of other causes were immunostained for bombesin (a PNEC and NEB marker) and assessed morphometrically.

Results. The frequency of PNEC (the percentage of airway epithelium immunoreactive for bombesin) was increased up to twofold in the lungs of infants who died of SIDS (7.7 ± 0.4%) compared with controls (4.9 ± 0.4%), as was the frequency (40 ± 3.5 vs 23 ± 3.7/cm2) and size (748 ± 46.5 vs 491 ± 25.8,µm2) of NEBs. In infants who died of SIDS and who were born to smoking mothers, PNEC frequency was increased significantly compared with that in those born to nonsmoking mothers, but the frequency and size of NEBs were not significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusion. Our findings suggest that maternal smoking potentiates hyperplasia of the PNEC system in the lungs of infants who die of SIDS and that a dysfunction of these cells may contribute to the pathophysiology of SIDS.
Early Identification of Cerebral Palsy Using a Profile of Abnormal Motor Patterns
Authors: Morgan Andrew M. , Aldag Jean C.
Published: December 2021

Objective. To determine whether a profile of abnormal motor patterns can identify children with cerebral palsy (CP) in the first year of life.

Methods. The Early Motor Pattern Profile (EMPP) consists of 15 items reflecting variations in muscle tone, reflexes, and movement that have been organized into a standardized format to provide the clinician with an objective picture of neurologic status. A three-point scoring system was applied to each item, delineating a clearly normal response from a clearly abnormal one and placing all partial or inconsistent responses in the middle. Twelve hundred forty-seven high-risk infants who were enrolled in a neonatal intensive care unit follow-up program were examined at 6 and/or 12 months' corrected age using the EMPP. These infants were followed to at least 36 months of age to distinguish those with CP from those with normal motor outcome or minimal impairment (no CP).

Results. Predictive validity of the EMPP at the 6- and 12-month examinations was determined using various pass-fail cutoffs. The optimal cutoff score at 6 months was between 9 and 10, at which the positive predictive value was 89.4, sensitivity was 87.1, and specificity was 97.8. The optimal cutoff score at 12 months was between 3 and 4, at which the positive predictive value was 91.0, sensitivity was 91.5, and specificity was 97.9.

Conclusions. The EMPP offers the clinician an effective instrument to identify children in the first year of life who are at greatest risk for the development of CP. The EMPP can be incorporated into a routine health maintenance visit, adding only a few minutes to the process, and has high sensitivity and specificity.
Eliminating Sleep-associated Hypoxemia Improves Growth in Infants With Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Authors: Moyer-Mileur Laurie J. , Nielson Dennis W. , Pfeffer Kathleen D. , Witte Madolin K. , Chapman Dale L.
Published: December 2021

Objective. Infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) have been previously reported to have a decrease in growth velocity after stopping supplemental oxygen (SO). SO was stopped after a short-term recording (20-30 minutes) of pulse oxygen saturation (Sao2) of 92% or greater in room air. Other studies have documented that Sao2 decreases further during feedings and sleep in infants with BPD. Two questions were asked: (1) whether short-term, awake Sao2 studies would reliably predict prolonged sleep Sao2 and (2) how Sao2 sustained at 88% to 91% vs 92% or greater in room air would impact growth velocity in infants with BPD.

Methodology. Short-term Sao2 studies were prospectively compared with prolonged sleep Sao2 (n = 63) and the growth velocity of infants who had SO discontinued after a prolonged sleep Sao2 recording of 88% to 91% (group 1; n = 14) versus 92% or greater (group 2; n = 34) in room air.

Results. Failure to maintain Sao2 at predetermined levels occurred in 18 (29%) of 63 infants during their first prolonged sleep study. There was no correlation between short-term awake Sao and prolonged sleep Sao2 recordings (r = .02). Body weight, height, weight for height, and rate of weight gain were similar for all study infants before SO was stopped and remained constant for group 2 infants after SO was stopped. However, group 1 infants had a significant decrease in the rate of weight gain (17.3 + 13.1 vs 3.7 + 6.1 g/kg per day), and the mean z scores for weight gain and weight for height also decreased significantly for group 1 infants. Energy intake, incidence of acute infection, hematocrit values, and medication use did not differ before or after stopping SO in either group.

Conclusions. This study indicated that short-term, awake Sao2 measurements do not predict prolonged sleep Sao2, and overall, infants with BPD continued a positive growth trend when Sao2 remained greater than 92% during prolonged sleep.
PARENTS SPUR LAWS AGAINST TATTOOS FOR KIDS
Authors: L. J. F.
Published: December 2021

When 15-year-old Ria Hendrickson came home with a "black swirly design" tattooed on her stomach, her mother didn't just lecture her and ground her for life. She called the police. She also called her state senator.

"It was an invasion of my parental rights," says Sharon Hendrickson, a mother from suburban Phoenix who pushed the Arizona legislature to make it a crime to tattoo anyone under 18 unless a parent is present. The bill became law in April.
Neuromotor Development of Cocaine-exposed and control Infants from Birth Through 15 Months: Poor and Poorer Performance
Authors: Fetters Linda , Tronick Edward Z.
Published: December 2021

Objective. The objective of this study is to describe the longitudinal course of motor development of a group of infants exposed to cocaine in utero and an unexposed control group.

Methods. Subjects induded 28 in utero-exposed infants and 22 unexposed infants matched for race, income of the family, and mother's educational level. Infants were evaluated at 1 month with the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), at 4 months with the AIMS and Movement Assessment of Infants (MAI), at 7 months with the AIMS and MAI, and at 15 months with the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS).

Results. At 4 months, compared with the unexposed infants, a significantly larger proportion of the exposed infants fell below the 50th percentile on the AIMS and had greater proportion of suspicious risk scores on the MAI. At 7 months infants in the exposed group had lower AIMS and MAI scores than the control group. There was no difference between groups on the motor scales at 1, 4, or 15 months. At all ages more infants in both groups scored significanfly less than the expected norms on all scales. Performance was unrelated to a cumulative risk index made up of demographic, medical, and social factors. Almost all subjects had risk scores that placed them at extremely high levels of risk. Performance may have been related to a difference in weight between groups at 7 months and to decreasing weights for both groups by 15 months.

Conclusion. In utero cocaine exposure has a significant, although relatively small, effect on infant motor performance late in infancy. However, regardless of exposure status, these infants had poor performance that may be accounted for by a heavy accumulation of risk factors associated with poverty.
Bone Mineral Density in Geographically Diverse Adolescent Populations
Authors: Sheth Raj D. , Hobbs Gerald R. , Riggs Jack E. , Penney Sharon
Published: December 2021

Objective. Measure bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy Newfoundland adolescents and determine whether BMD is comparable in geographically diverse adolescent populations.

Study design. Lumbar spine BMD was measured by dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry in 26 healthy adolescents between ages 8 and 20 years. The age and gender of these subjects were used to predict BMD from equations derived from normative BMD data in six geographically diverse populations. The actual BMD value obtained for each subject was then compared with each of the six predicted BMD values for that adolescent using the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test.

Results. Actual lumbar spine BMD in Newfoundland adolescents was not significantly different from that predicted by age and gender if they were from California, Finland, France, North Carolina, and Switzerland. Only the prediction based on the Spanish population resulted in a 4% greater BMD than was actually measured in the Newfoundland adolescents.

Conclusions. Lumbar spine BMD measurements for most healthy adolescent populations, as in adults, are comparable despite geographic diversity. Thus, generation of institution-specific normative BMD data may not be necessary for most adolescent populations.
The Natural History of a Treated Episode of Acute Otitis Media
Authors: Isaacson Glenn
Published: December 2021

The accurate diagnosis of acute otitis media is difficult, especially in its early hours. The vague symptoms and subtle physical signs of early otitis lead the practitioner to make too many diagnoses by default and to issue too much treatment out of caulion. With the growth of resistant organisms limiting the effectiveness of safe, low-cost antibiotics, there is increasing pressure to prescribe antibiotics more sparingly.1-3 Thus, the accurate diagnosis of otitis media is more important than ever.

To correctly diagnose acute otitis media the pediatrician must know what it looks like, not only in its early hours, but throughout the course of infection.
Vocal Cord Dysfunction Mimicking Exercise-induced Bronchospasm in Adolescents
Authors: Landwehr Lawrence P. , Wood Raymond P. , Blager Florence B. , Milgrom Henry
Published: December 2021

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is a condition defined by an abnormal adduction of the vocal cords. The signs and symptoms of VCD-throat tightness, change in voice quality and airflow obstruction sufficient to cause wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and cough-are commonly associated with exercise. VCD and exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB), the term for exacerbation of asthma associated with physical exertion, are both aggravated by exercise and characterized by dyspnea. The clinical presentation of VCD is often dramatic and its misdiagnosis as asthma, EIB, or upper airway obstruction has led to inappropriate treatment including highdose corticosteroids, intubation, and tracheostomy.1 The diagnosis of VCD is best established by observing the vocal cords through a fiberoptic rhinolaryngoscope while the patient is symptomatic.2,3
Neurologic Status of Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1-Infected Infants and Their Controls: A Prospective Study From Birth to 2 Years
Authors: Belman Anita L. , Muenz Larry R. , Marcus Joseph C. , Goedert James J. , Landesman Sheldon , Rubinstein Arye , Goodwin Susan , Durako Stephen , Willoughby Anne
Published: December 2021

Objective. To determine the timing, extent, severity, and persistence of neurologic abnormalities in children with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection compared with similar uninfected children of HIV-1-infected women and control children.

Methods. Serial neurologic examinations and head circumference measurements were performed on a cohort of HIV-1-infected children born to HIV-1-infected women, seroreverting children born to HIV-1-infected women, and control children born to uninfected women. Examination data from 32 HIV-1-infected children, 99 reverters, and 116 control children were summarized by eight neurologic domains. Data were analyzed by longitudinal analysis.

Results. Reverter children were not different from control children in neurologic function for any of the eight domains or head circumference. HIV-1-infected children had significantly more neurologic problems than the control and reverter children for seven of the eight domains. The HIV-1-infected children were further classified by whether they had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining clinical conditions (other than lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis) in the first 24 months of life (the AIDS-opportunistic infection group) or did not (the infected-other group). Neurologic abnormalities were early, severe, pervasive, and persistent in the AIDS-opportunistic infection group, and nearly all in this group had head circumference measurements below the 10th percentile. The infected-other group had no statistically significant differences from the uninfected children, although individual children in the infected-other group had some abnormalities.

Conclusions. In utero exposure to HIV-1 without infection seems to have no negative impact on neurologic function in children in the first 2 years of life. Among children with perinatally acquired HIV-1 infection, the most severe and pervasive neurologic problems occur in those children who have early serious HIV-1 clinical disease. Most children without serious AIDS-defining clinical conditions in the first 2 years of life are also free from serious neurologic problems during that period.
The Use of Chaperones During the Physical Examination of the Pediatric Patient
Authors:   COMMITTEE ON PRACTICE AND AMBULATORY MEDICINE
Published: December 2021

The intent of this statement is to inform practitioners about the purpose and scope of an appropriate physical examination for children, adolescents, and young adults, and the need to communicate this information to the parents and the patient. Issues of patient comfort, confidentiality, and the use of a chaperone are addressed. An appropriate physical examination should result in efficient, sensitive, and effective health care.
END OF THE VITAMIN K BROUHAHA
Authors: Student
Published: December 2021

Because hemorrhagic disease of the newborn can be life-threatening but preventable, the studies by von Kries et al and Ansell et al should allay our fears and doubts about the dangers of administering intramuscular vitamin K immediately after birth. It seems that hemorrhagic disease of the newborn can be completely eradicated without the threat of leukemia and childhood cancer as a side effect.
Susceptibility to erosion risks in soils dedicated to the pineapple cultivation in the state of Valle del Cauca, Colombia
Authors: Martinez López Carolina , Rivera Paja Albin Osvaldo , Menjivar Flores Juan Carlos
Published: December 2021

In Colombia almost half of the soils are prone to erosion, where Valle del Cauca is one of the most affected departments with respect to its severity. In order to identify the susceptibility to erosion risks in terms of the rainfall erosivity and the incidence of the topographic factor in the main pineapple producing municipalities of the department, a study was carried out that contemplated the historical climatological information of more than 50 years, for which all available weather stations in the area were selected. The erosivity index (R–EI30), the modified Fournier index (MFI), and the topographic factor (LS) were estimated. The results indicate that the average MFI values ranged between (91.31 and 582.79) which correspond to the moderate, high and very high categories, the results of R-EI30 presented moderate, high, very high and extremely severe values (5076.91 MJ.mm.ha-1 - 22718.83 MJ.mm.ha-1), while the highest values of the topographic factor (with slopes up to 81°) coincide with the upper part of the river basin Dagua, predominantly in the municipality of Dagua. These values indicate that the soils in the area are susceptible to erosion risks depending on the rainfall erosivity and the topographic factor at a moderate, high and very high level, which can generate significant soil losses, and therefore they should be considered when establishing a pineapple crop.
Servicios preventivos de asesoría y advertencia de las auditorías internas
Authors: Calderón Ramos Flora
Published: December 2021

Esta investigación tiene como propósito mostrar cómo se abordan los servicios preventivos de asesoría y advertencia por parte de las Unidades de Auditoría Interna (UAI), la cual se efectúa bajo un enfoque metodológico cuantitativo y de tipo descriptivo, y se basa en los resultados seleccionados de un cuestionario de 50 preguntas, dividido en las siguientes categorías de análisis que apoyan la investigación: metodologías de las UAI utilizadas para brindar servicios preventivos de asesoría y advertencia; utilidades de este tipo de servicios; y dificultades que se presentan para poder realizarlos; aplicado a jefaturas y personal técnico colaborador de 22 UAI del sector público costarricense. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que, en su mayoría, se utiliza un instrumento de gestión para llevar a cabo dichos servicios; además, se atienden de forma permanente las solicitudes de asesorías o advertencias que surgen y se emiten conforme al ordenamiento jurídico y técnico costarricense.
Wydanie opinii psychologicznej sporządzonej na potrzeby formacji zakonnej w optyce ochrony danych osobowych w Kościele katolickim
Authors: Czarnowicz Robert , Kroczek Piotr
Published: December 2021

Tematem artykułu jest kwestia wydania przez zgromadzenie zakonne opinii psychologicznej sporządzanej w czasie okresu formacji osobie, której opinia dotyczy. Opinia psychologiczna zawiera dane osobowe. To oznacza, że taki dokument podlega regulacjom dotyczącym ochrony danych osobowych. Artykuł przedstawia tę problematykę w perspektywie prawa kanonicznego i odpowiada na pytanie: czy taką opinię należy wydać osobie, której dane dotyczą, a jeżeli tak, to jaką procedurę przyjąć. Odpowiedź jest następująca: co do zasady opinię należy wydać, zawsze jednak zachowując prawo innych osób do zachowania prywatności. Artykuł wskazuje na liczne wady Dekretu o ochronie danych ­osobowych.
Helena Grabschrift-Taffet, a Krakow artist born in Tuchów
Authors: Styrna Natasza
Published: December 2021

Helena Grabschrift was born on 18 April 1909 in Tuchów. Starting 1929, she studied at the Krakow Academy of Fine Arts, taught by such artists as Władysław Jarocki, Wojciech Weiss and Stanisław Kamocki. In late 1930s she became involved with the Krakow Association of Jewish Painters and Sculptors. She was one of the most active members of the organisation, and made arrangements for the last Krakow exhibitions of the works of Jewish painters before the war. For a long time, nothing was known of her life after the end of the Second World War; she was considered either dead or missing. The author of the present article managed to find sources confirming that the artist had survived the war, and to contact her family in Israel. Consequently, it was possible to add to the artist’s biography many new details from pre-war years, the period of Nazi occupation, as well as her later life in Israel, where she moved with her husband Henryk Taffet. Unfortunately, not much has survived from the artist's pre-war output, therefore the inter-war press remains the most important source of information about her work.
Jan Jerzyczek – a resident painter of the Calvary complex in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska
Authors: Płonka Mirosław
Published: December 2021

The art of resident monastic painter Jan Jerzyczek (1788-1842) is paradoxical, as his technical skills and painting technique were categories as folk art even though the artist himself copied 17th century work and his paintings are based on 16th century Antwerpian engravings as well as his own experience of the Calvary’ mystery plays. Authors of monographs on the Calvary complex barely mention Jerzyczek, yet even without providing a historical, economic, and political context of the job of a resident monastic painter in the early 19th century, due to which they fail to notice the phenomenon of Jan’s paintings in the course the changes that were in progress at that time. The aim of this article is to organise knowledge on Jerzyczek’s activity and work in the Calvary, which would serve as the basis for determining the iconography of original Calvary scenery and images which were removed in the course of the first comprehensive ‘maintenance’ of the Polish Jerusalem under the supervision of Gaudenty Thynell OFM. At the same time, a closer look at Jerzyczek’s paintings allows us to perceive the visual arts (mainly painting) in the Calvary in the first half of the 19th century as a replacement for the mystery play scenes removed after 1772, the observance of which (according to Austrian authorities) was incompatible with the solemnity of the service. Jerzyczek’s art is also paradoxical in that he was much better at painting pictures inspired by his own participation in Calvary mystery plays when personal experience prevailed over his printed influences.
Zwrot ku mariologii maksymalistycznej – na przykładzie nauczania ks. Dominika Chmielewskiego SDB
Authors: Wiśniewski Sebastian
Published: December 2021

Tematy, które zostały podjęte w niniejszym artykule, dotyczą roli Maryi w dziele zbawienia i Jej miejsca w życiu chrześcijanina. Kościół chce mówić o Maryi bez wyolbrzymiania i pomniejszania Jej zasług. Pojawiają się jednak tendencje maksymalistyczne w mariologii, które należy badać. Kanwą do niniejszych rozważań stały się twierdzenia mariologiczne głoszone przez ks. Dominika Chmielewskiego SDB, które mogą budzić pewne wątpliwości teologiczne.
RESEARCH OF INNOVATIVE MECHANISMS CREATION OF MODERN BUILDING MATERIALS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF PRODUCTION PROCESSES
Authors: RADKEVICH A. V. , MISHUK E. N. , PASTUKHOVA S. V.
Published: December 2021

Purpose. To reveal the mechanism of formation of contact zones and purposeful choice of mastic composition and its substantiation on the basis of revealing of regularities of interrelations "mastic composition – waterproofing resource". Methodology. The sequence of changes in the technical condition of roofing materials, which varies from normal without damage to emergency with intermediate satisfactory and unsuitable for normal operation depending on the specific damage and leakage of the roof affects the definition of conventional material resources, means and methods of arrangement and arrangements. roofs, as well as the mechanism and kinetics of loss of serviceability are a key factor in improving the whole set of measures aimed at making technology competitive. Results. Technologies of repair of point and local damages in the form of cracks, breaks, exfoliations which are carried out by cutting and the subsequent gluing of pieces of cloths on the prepared sites with filling, allow to receive short-term results. Elimination of continuous surface damage by applying an additional layer of rolled or mastic material is associated with the inevitable preservation in the lower layers of the causes of premature loss of operational functions of the coating. The results provide an opportunity to perform non-dismantling repair and restoration work using purposefully proposed repair composition with the minimum possible cost of resources and a high degree of mechanization. The developed technology is based on the ability of the used repair composition to impregnate and saturate the adjacent surfaces with ingredients that can eliminate damage of a certain type and return the coating or protective layer of the initial waterproofing potential and strengthen it. Originality. Substantiation of possibilities of use of the residual waterproofing resource of the existing soft roof by its saturation with ingredients of the offered repair composition. Practical value. It is possible to effectively use, restore and enhance the residual waterproofing potential of bitumen-roofing roof by pneumatic spraying repair composition of the developed composition.
Effluent from local palm oil mill refinery in Nigeria is excessively oily and potentially genotoxic
Authors: DADA Ebenezer O. , SIFAU Mutiu O. , GBEGBE Oreoluwa M. , IBRAHIM Haolat O. , ADEFILA Olushola O.
Published: December 2021

In spite of the fact that the informal, local mills in countries like Nigeria constitute a major portion of the palm oil refinery, adequate attention has not been paid to the quality of the palm oil mill effluent (POME) they generate. In this study, therefore, the physicochemical properties and genotoxic potential of POME generated by a local mill in Nigeria were investigated using the methods prescribed by the American Public Health Association and Allium cepa chromosomal assay, respectively. In addition to the presence of trace/toxic metals (Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu) and high biochemical oxygen demand, POME contained a very high oil and grease concentration of 10,500 mg L-1 as against the maximum limit of 25 mg L-1 prescribed in the Environmental Management Guideline for the Palm Oil Industry. Mitotic activities in A. cepa roots exposed to POME showed that the number of dividing cells and percentage mitotic index generally decreased with increasing POME concentrations. The major chromosomal aberrations induced by POME were sticky, C-mitosis, bridged anaphase, vagrant, and attached chromosomes. However, no chromosomal aberrations were observed in onion roots exposed to water (control). These results indicate that the local refinery from where the POME was obtained is inefficient at recovering oil from palm fibre. The effluent generated by the mill is also a potential pollutant capable of inducing genotoxic and other adverse effects. These results may be typical of many more local palm oil refineries who use mainly manual methods to extract oil from oil palm fruits.
Comparative leaf anatomy of ten Nepenthes L. species (Nepenthaceae) from Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: GHAZALLI Mohd N. , TAMIZI Amin A. , NIKONG Dome , MAT ESA Muhammad I. , BESI Edward E. , SALLEH Salmaniza , TALIP Noraini , LATIFF A.
Published: December 2021

The genus Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae) in Peninsular Malaysia includes fourteen species that can be found from the sea-level to over 1000 m in the mountains. Our observation indicated that Nepenthes can be found in five major habitat types: specifically in tropical lowland evergreen rain forest, heath forest, peat swamp forest, montane forest, and limestone forest. Their leaves have several anatomical characters that remain underexplored. There were specific differences between species that could be potential identification characters. The following anatomical characteristics were explored for their diagnostic value and comprised of ten distinct anatomical characteristics in Nepenthes, viz., density and stomatal index (SI), hypodermis cell – cell layers, occurrence of fiber groups mixed with the hypodermis cells, adaxial cuticle thickness, vascular bundle arrangement, midrib outline shape, venation plasticity, druses appearance and appendage/trichome type.
Foliar anatomical studies of Andropogon gayanus - Andropogon tectorum complex in Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: OJO Funmilola M. , NWOKEOCHA Constance C. , FALUYI Julius O.
Published: December 2021

Foliar epidermal studies were carried out on accessions of Andropogon gayanus-Andropogon tectorum complex collected in Southwestern Nigeria with a view to providing additional characters of the two species of Andropogon to enhance the understanding of the taxonomic relationship between the two species. The epidermal preparation of the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of the leaf blade was made from the median part of well-matured leaf samples by the scrapping method. The analysis of both qualitative and quantitative characters revealed that study revealed that the costal zones of both adaxial and abaxial surfaces of all accessions studied showed similar features with little or no variation in their expression; epidermal cells are mostly rectangular with wavy walls, and the stomata encountered are paracytic. There was a unique occurrence of cluster of cells at the base of the macro hairs present in A. gayanus which is a diagnostic feature for its accessions collected. Kiwani, an unidentified polyploid accession, has the highest number of bands, the stomata are bigger, which is consistent with gigas effect occasioned by its polyploidy status. Glandular trichomes were present in both diploid and tetraploid of A. tectorum, a diagnostic feature for the species.
Molecular detection of Trypanosoma species and haematological alterations in four trypanosome-infected Nigerian horses
Authors: AGINA Onyinyechukwu A. , IHEDIOHA John I. , ADEYEYE Tope E. , UMEAKUANA Paschal U. , IDOKO Idoko Sunday
Published: December 2021

Trypanosomes cause anaemia and are responsible for widespread morbidity and mortality particularly in imported breeds of animals found in sub-tropical and tropical parts of the world. Light microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to detect trypanosomes in naturally infected Nigerian crossbred horses at Obollo-Afor abattoir, Udenu Local Government Area, Enugu State Nigeria. Blood was collected via the jugular outflow from a total of 200 horses of varying ages and either sex. Conventional procedures were followed during the PCR assay, parasite identification in wet mount, Leishman-stained thin blood and buffy coat smears on glass slides. Light microscopy revealed Trypanosoma species with an elongated, streamlined and tapered body, highly suggestive of T. brucei brucei or its subspecies T. evansi or T. equiperdum. PCR assay produced the expected fragment size of 700 bp specific for ITS-1 region of the 18SrRNA gene of Trypanosoma species in 4 (2%) of 200 blood samples against the routine blood and buffy coat smear examination, which revealed trypanosomes in 3 (1.5%) out of 200 blood samples. Sex and age were not significantly (p>0.05) associated with the trypanosome infection. One of the Trypanosoma infected anaemic horses had microcytic normochromic anaemia, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate and normal leukocyte count, while one of the Trypanosoma species infected non-anaemic horses had erythrocytic parameters and ESR values that are within the reference range, with leukocytosis. It was concluded that the prevalence of equine trypanosomosis was very low, and it’s characterized by mild to moderate anaemia in clinical cases.
Exploring the Antecedents of Online Learning Satisfaction: Role of Flow and Comparison Between use Contexts
Authors: Xiao Quan , Li Xia
Published: December 2021

Learners’ satisfaction plays a critical role in the success of online learning platform. Many factors that affect online learning satisfaction have been addressed by previous studies. However, the mechanisms by which these factors are associated with online learning satisfaction are not sufficiently clear. Moreover, the difference in the antecedents of online learning satisfaction between two use contexts- Mobile context and PC context, was rarely examined. Based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework, we investigate the key factors (self-efficacy, social interaction, platform quality, teacher’s expertise) affecting flow and highlights its role in online learning satisfaction, which is empirically tested through an online survey of 333 online learners. Results show that self-efficacy, teacher’s expertise, platform quality, and social interaction positively affect online learning satisfaction through the mediation of flow. Use contexts not only moderate the relationship between flow and online learning satisfaction, but also between social interaction, platform quality, teacher’s expertise, and flow. These new findings expand educators with ways to increase flow, add to knowledge about the relationship between flow and online learning satisfaction and provide references for online learning platforms to enhance learners’ online learning satisfaction under multiple-version affordances.
Neuro-inspired Framework for Cognitive Manufacturing Control
Authors: Dumitrache Ioan , Caramihai Simona Iuliana , Popescu Dragos Constantin , Moisescu Mihnea Alexandru , Sacala Ioan Stefan
Published: December 2021

There are currently certain categories of manufacturing enterprises whose structure, organization and operating context have an extremely high degree of complexity, especially due to the way in which their various components interact and influence each other. For them, a series of paradigms have been developed, including intelligent manufacturing, smart manufacturing, cognitive manufacturing; which are based equally on information and knowledge management, management and interpretation of data flows and problem solving approaches. This work presents a new vision regarding the evolution of the future enterprise based on concepts and attributes acquired from the field of biology. Our approach addresses in a systemic manner the structural, functional, and behavioral aspects of the enterprise, seen as a complex dynamic system. In this article we are proposing an architecture and management methodology based on the human brain, where the problem solving is achieved by Perception – Memory – Learning and Behavior Generation mechanisms. In order to support the design of such an architecture and to allow a faster learning process, a software modeling and simulation platform was developed and is briefly presented.