bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Pedagogy of Poverty: Instructional and Technological Challenges
Authors: Al Lily Abdulrahman Essa , Alhazmi Ahmed Ali
Published: December 2018

Poverty is discussed here from pedagogical and therefore instructional perspectives. It is analyzed in novel ways, seeing charities as environments wherein adult learning occurs. Charities are shown as overlooked “adult learning institutions” that “instruct” the poor by conveying to them (indirectly through the type of aid offered and the conditions for obtaining aid) by using three ideologies of poverty: ontological, epistemological, and axiological. Ideology 1 presents poverty as an ontological (tangible) matter of limited (real or digital) resources—some of the tangibly poor have access to the Internet (to unlimited digital resources), being digitally nonpoor but tangibly poor. Ideology 2 portrays poverty as an epistemological (cognitive) issue of limited abilities—some poor people (with access to the Internet and therefore to unlimited, free-of-charge learning opportunities) have exploited these opportunities to gain skills. Ideology 3 paints poverty as an axiological (value-based) lack of valuing poverty—although some poor people have positive attitudes towards poverty, their access to the Internet (to the lifestyle of the wealthy) has made them reconsider their attitudes. Being influenced by these ideologies, the poor perceive poverty (a) as limited resources and therefore as external to them, thereby feeling disempowered; (b) as limited skills and thus as internal to them, therefore feeling empowered; or (c) as a positive value and accordingly take no action. Previous works discuss the potential of adult learning to break the cycle of poverty, whereas this article demonstrates that adult learning can encourage individuals to remain poor and value their status of being poor.
Why Legitimacy Matters in Crisis Communication: A Case Study of the “Nut Rage” Incident on Korean Air
Authors: Yim Myungok Chris , Park Hyun Soon
Published: December 2018

This study analyzes the December 2014 “nut rage” incident on Korean Air Lines by means of in-depth interviews with corporate communication experts. We examine how Korean Air managed this crisis of legitimacy, asking whether its legitimization strategy and tactics were effective. The authors argue that Korean Air breached both cognitive and moral legitimacy in terms of leadership, corporate culture, internal and external communication, and legality. The results demonstrate to other organizations what types of legitimacy resources and tactics are required in order to meet social expectations in their responses to crises.
Assessments for Caregivers of Hospitalized Older Adults
Authors: Fields Beth , Turner Rose L. , Naidu Maharsi , Schulz Richard , James Everette , Rodakowski Juleen
Published: December 2018

A systematic review was conducted to characterize assessments for caregivers of hospitalized older adults. Electronic literature searches of Medline, PsycINFO, and CINAHL of articles on caregiver assessments published in English between 2006 and present were completed. Thirty-three articles underwent full-text review; four included assessments designed to capture caregiver needs in hospital settings. Original articles on the development of these assessments were reviewed for quality appraisal. Four findings emerged from our review. Existing assessments (a) focus on caregivers of specific conditions of older adults, (b) contain a singular caregiving domain, (c) measure caregiver outcomes or simply describe caregiving experiences, and (d) neglect psychometric properties. Health care providers are limited in their selection of assessments with caregivers of hospitalized older adults. This barrier is problematic if we are to equip caregivers to be successful at providing care to older adults. Future research should develop a hospital assessment for caregivers.
Adverse Drug Events as a Reason for Adult Hospitalization: A Nationwide Readmission Study
Authors: Crispo James A. G. , Thibault Dylan P. , Willis Allison W.
Published: December 2018

Background: Adverse drug events (ADEs) are common; however, there are limited data on the impact of ADEs on post-discharge outcomes. Objectives: To identify ADEs responsible for readmission within 6 months of hospital discharge in the United States. Secondary objectives were to examine whether demographic, clinical, and hospital characteristics were associated with ADE readmission. Methods: We identified all adults hospitalized between January and June using the 2014 Nationwide Readmission Database. Nationally representative estimates of hospitalization outcomes and ADE-related readmissions, excluding ADEs from illicit drug use and intentional overdose, were computed using survey weighting methods. Associations between patient, clinical, and hospital characteristics, and ADE readmission were assessed using unconditional logistic regression. Results: We identified 10 889 282 hospitalizations meeting inclusion criteria. The 6-month readmission rate was 17.8% (n = 1 943 111). A total of 6964 readmissions were attributed to an ADE, most frequently “poisoning by opiates and related narcotics” (18.3%), “poisoning by benzodiazepines” (11.9%), and “dermatitis due to drugs and medicines taken internally” (9.4%). Factors identified as being positively associated with ADE readmission included age <60 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.69; 95% CI = 1.45-1.97), Medicare insurance (AOR = 2.93; 95% CI = 2.55-3.38), and discharge to home health care (AOR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.28-1.59). Conclusion and Relevance: Readmissions caused by ADEs are frequently attributed to opiate and benzodiazepine poisonings, and factors such as age, insurance status, and discharge disposition were found to be associated with ADE readmission. Future studies are needed to examine whether ADE readmissions are preventable.
Holding Water: A Suicide Poem In Memory of Kate Spade, Anthony Bourdain, 75 Igbo Rebels, and Those Who Never Made the News
Authors: Bowden Tiffany
Published: December 2018

This is a poem that breaks the silence of suicide and reflects on a silently increasing trend. Through autoethnography, we find empathy by connecting the personal to the whole. It also underscores power dynamics as while thousands commit suicide globally annually, and mass suicide was a part of African Resistance, the world only stops when wealthy, White, U.S.-based celebrities are affected. Other stories remain untold. This promotes stigma. This poem is a necessary contribution to honor the ruptures of those gone who did not have the power or privilege to have their story told to the masses. A voice for the voiceless.
Tactile temporalities: The impossible promise of increasing efficiency and eliminating delay through haptic media
Authors: Parisi David , Farman Jason
Published: December 2018

In an attempt to help make humans into more efficient and effective information processors, the engineers of mobile communication systems and devices have turned to touch as an alternative pathway for the transmission of communicative messages. This article traces the goal of using touch as a way to speed up communication from the 1950s experiments with military systems for haptic communication to the launch of the Apple Watch in 2015. Using these two technological milieus as bookends for analyzing the co-constitutive relationship between tactility and temporality, we argue that the ever-accelerating pace of human communication – as seen in the attempts at reducing the latency between sender and receiver through haptic communication – produces bodies that are always on and attentive. Ultimately, the disciplining of time and touch is aimed at the production of neoliberal bodies and information subjects whose skin is utilized as an open channel for attention, communication, and labor. However, as we show by examining the persistence of phantom vibrations and the stalled development of Immersion Corporation’s Instinctive Alerts Framework for wearables, the repeated failures of users to properly recognize and differentiate between machine-generated haptic sensations suggest that this attempted transformation of touch into a communicative sense has persistently fallen short of its disciplining aims.
Use of electronic health record data from diverse primary care practices to identify and characterize patients’ prescribed common medications
Authors: Cole Allison M , Stephens Kari A , West Imara , Keppel Gina A , Thummel Ken , Baldwin Laura-Mae
Published: December 2018

We use prescription of statin medications and prescription of warfarin to explore the capacity of electronic health record data to (1) describe cohorts of patients prescribed these medications and (2) identify cohorts of patients with evidence of adverse events related to prescription of these medications. This study was conducted in the WWAMI region Practice and Research Network (WPRN)., a network of primary care practices across Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho DataQUEST, an electronic data-sharing infrastructure. We used electronic health record data to describe cohorts of patients prescribed statin or warfarin medications and reported the proportions of patients with adverse events. Among the 35,445 active patients, 1745 received at least one statin prescription and 301 received at least one warfarin prescription. Only 3 percent of statin patients had evidence of myopathy; 51 patients (17% of those prescribed warfarin) had a bleeding complication. Primary-care electronic health record data can effectively be used to identify patients prescribed specific medications and patients potentially experiencing medication adverse events.
Gathering evidence of evidence: News aggregation as an epistemological practice
Authors: Coddington Mark
Published: December 2018

News aggregation is often presented in opposition to reporting, though the two practices have much in common as journalistic evidence-gathering techniques largely built around quickly pulling together scraps of information from a variety of other accounts and validating it as knowledge for the public. This study uses participant observation and interviews with aggregators to explore aggregation as an epistemological practice, examining the ways aggregators weigh evidence, evaluate sources, and verify information and particularly examining the points of convergence and distinction between aggregation and reporting. It finds that aggregation is scaffolded on top of reporting’s epistemological principles and methods, but defined and distinguished by its additional distance from the evidence on which it relies.
Estimation of the in-cylinder residual mass fraction at intake valve closing in a two-stroke high-speed direct-injection compression-ignition engine
Authors: Torregrosa Antonio , Martín Jaime , Novella Ricardo , Thein Kevin
Published: December 2018

New combustion concepts and engine designs are being currently investigated in order to comply with upcoming pollutant regulations and reduce fuel consumption. In this context, two-stroke architectures appear as a promising solution for the implementation of some combustion concepts. However, scavenging processes in a two-stroke engine are much more challenging than for a four-stroke engine, and the residual mass of burnt gases retained inside the cylinder needs to be properly determined in order to keep control over the in-cylinder composition, hence over the combustion conditions and pollutant emissions. In this study, a new methodology for the estimation of the internal residual gas fraction is introduced, which is based on the thermodynamic processes occurring in the engine investigated and makes use of basic engine instrumentation and measurement equipment usually available in a conventional test cell. Several versions of the estimator were developed so that different requirements could be met, such as those of real-time estimation on an engine test bench but with reduced precision or, on the contrary, highly precise but time-consuming computations for post-processing purposes and combustion diagnosis. The consistency of the internal residual gas estimator was then validated through its application to real engine tests at different operating points.
Who Cares? Pro-social education within the programmes of the International Baccalaureate
Authors: Bailey Lucy , Cooker Lucy
Published: December 2018

This article is a study of one aspect of the character education offered by schools following the curriculum of the International Baccalaureate – students’ pro-social development. Set against a background in which the development of inter-personal qualities is being marginalised by conservative governments across many national systems of education (Keddie, 2015), the International Baccalaureate seems to defy these trends by continuing to centre attention on the holistic development of personal characteristics, including the cultivation of pro-social behaviour through the learner attribute ‘Caring’. Through a focused analysis of the pro-social curriculum practice enacted by nine case-study international schools following this curriculum across three continents, the article concludes that pro-social behaviour is effectively encouraged by the International Baccalaureate programmes, but that it is a somewhat patrician version of caring that is enacted in many contexts.
Expression and Clinical Significance of Claudin-7 in Patients With Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Xu Chang , Wang Xiaonan , Li Wenjing , Wang Kun , Ding Lei
Published: December 2018

Background and Objective:

Claudin-7 is a component of tight junctions and plays important roles in maintaining cell polarity and tightly connecting the barriers between cells. Abnormal claudin-7 protein expression is closely related to tumor occurrence, development, and metastasis. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between claudin-7 expression and carcinogenesis or metastasis in colorectal cancer and the clinical significance of these relationships.

Materials and Methods:

In this study, enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to measure the claudin-7 levels in serum from patients with colorectal cancer. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting were used to measure claudin-7 expression in colorectal cancer tissues, paracancerous tissues, and metastatic tissues.

Results:

Serum claudin-7 levels were significantly lower in patients with colorectal cancer than in healthy controls. Immunohistochemistry indicated that claudin-7 expression was lower in colorectal cancer tissues than in normal colorectal tissues, and its expression level was positively correlated with the degree of colorectal cancer tissue differentiation. Claudin-7 expression levels were significantly reduced or undetectable in metastatic tissues compared to primary tumor tissues, but there were no significant differences in claudin-7 expression among different metastatic tissues.

Conclusion:

We confirmed that claudin-7 downregulation was associated with colorectal cancer and metastasis. Claudin-7 could be a tumor suppressor gene for colorectal cancer and may thus serve an early diagnostic marker and a novel therapeutic target.
Meltblown Fabrics from Biodegradable Polymers
Authors: Müller Dieter H. , Krobjilowski Andreas
Published: December 2018

This paper describes the processing of biodegradable polymers in the meltblowing process. The processing of such materials is still in the development stages as their rheological behavior gives a strong restriction for such applications. Meltblowing experiments were carried out with different polymers, including polylactide, polyesteramide, polyvinylalcohol, cellulosediacetate and polycaprolactone/thermoplastic starch. The process of meltblowing requires lower molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution resins to produce uniform, fine-fiber webs. The polymer distribution is inversely proportional to the melt flow rate and directly related to the melt viscosity. The processing conditions and general observations will be explained. The physical properties and parameters such as fiber diameter, fiber diameter distribution and stress-strain properties of the webs were measured. Also, microscopical analysis of the meltblown fabric will be shown. These tests give first hints for the processability of such materials with the meltblown process.
Formation of Carded Webs from Microfibers
Authors: Hwang Yoon J. , Oxenham William , Seyam Abdelfattah M.
Published: December 2018

The paper is reporting an extensive experimental investigation to optimize the processing of microfibers on a flat top card. Carding parameters, type of fiber finish and their interactions were studied in terms of their impact on web quality. The web quality was determined by assessing the nep content and fiber breakage due to carding. Statistical analyses of the data indicate that fiber finish and processing parameters can be selected to minimize neps and fiber breakage during carding. Furthermore the investigation showed that there is a strong correlation between the incidents of neps and the increase in short fiber content during carding. An additional finding of this study is that the generation of neps was not uniform across the width of the carded web and is influenced by fiber load measured on the doffer in the cross machine direction.
Development of Wet Process Mimic Device
Authors: Dong Daojie
Published: December 2018

Drainage and the fiber bleed-through (FBT) are very important variables for the wet process. While there are several methods that can be used to evaluate the drainage retention characteristics of papermaking furnishes, these methods are not suitable for the fiberglass slurries used in the wet process. This paper reported a wet process mimic device (WPMD) that is specially designed for the fiberglass slurries. The WPMD is capable of (1) mimicking a wet process, (2) measuring the rate of drainage, (3) quantifying the amount of FBT and (4) comparing the performance of various forming fabrics under simulated dynamic conditions. With some minor modifications, the WPMD is expected to have additional functions for (5) studying the shearing and aging effect on white water and (6) (possibly) evaluating the wear resistance of a forming fabric under simulated dynamic conditions.
Real World Uniformity Measurement in Nonwoven Coverstock
Authors: Pound William H.
Published: December 2018

Studies were carried out in a nonwoven roll goods plant to help eliminate subjective formation ratings. Tests were run on single layer samples with instruments measuring color, transmittance, haze and camera image gray scale values. High correlations are shown with air porosity, basis weight and formation ratings. Relationships to diaper glue bleed through, superabsorbent loss, and web tracking are reported. Some effects of process change are noted. Correlations critically depend upon measuring identical sample areas.
Marring of Automotive Clearcoats Caused by Nonwoven Wipes
Authors: Jeddi Ali A. A. , Iran Tehran , Kim H. S. , Pourdeyhimi B.
Published: December 2018

We recently reported on various techniques we have developed for accurate characterization appearance changes brought about by scratch and mar damage. Scratch and mar resistance is related to the ability of a coating to resist deformation. The appearance change is brought about by the scratches and by roughening, which in turn leads to a reduction in gloss and reflectivity. Marring can be minimized by the appropriate use of the wipe material employed. This paper reports on three common wipes used by the automotive industry and focuses on the measurement of the appearance of coating by image analysis.
The Impact of Input Energy on the Performance of Hydroentangled Nonwoven Fabrics
Authors: Zheng Huabing , Seyam Abdelfattah M. , Shiffler Donald
Published: December 2018

The main goal of this study is to investigate the performance behavior of hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics in terms of input water jet energy and fabric structural parameters (basis weight and fiber orientation). The input jet energy was varied by altering jet pressure, number of passes, process speed and fabric basis weight. To achieve the goal, two sets of trials, which had different jet pressures, process speeds, basis weights and number of passes, were executed to reveal the significance of these parameters in achieving high fabric tensile strength. Image analysis was used to determine the fiber orientation of the hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics to aid in understanding fabric performance behavior.
Utilization of Turkey Feather Fibers in Nonwoven Erosion Control Fabrics
Authors: George Brian R. , Bockarie Anne , McBride Holly , Hoppy David , Scutti Alison
Published: December 2018

Currently, between two and four billion pounds of feathers are produced annually by the poultry processing industry (1). These feathers present a disposal problem, and are usually converted to animal feed. A method of effectively stripping the feather fibers from the quill without damaging the fibers has been patented, and as a result research is being conducted to determine uses for these fibers (4). Current research has focused on creating latex bonded fabrics containing turkey feather fibers for utilization as erosion control fabrics. These fabrics have been compared with currently available erosion control fabrics to determine their suitability for this particular purpose. The turkey fiber fabrics performed similarly to the commercially available erosion control fabrics tested in terms of light and water transmittance. None of the fabrics significantly affected the pH, nitrogen or phosphorus content of the soil even though the turkey fabrics had fully decomposed by the conclusion of the experiment. The turkey fabrics increased soil moisture content and decreased soil compaction, which are critical properties for successful ecological restoration of habitats. One significant drawback of the turkey fabrics was difficulty in handling and installation on the site compared to the two commercial erosion control fabrics tested.
The Manufacturing of Wet-Laid Hydroentangled Glass Fiber Composites: Preliminary Results
Authors: Vaidya N. , Pourdeyhimi B. , Shiffler D. , Acar M.
Published: December 2018

The potential for manufacturing a nonwoven preform for composites using blends of glass and low melt polyester or bicomponent sheath/core (polyester/polyethylene) fibers is demonstrated. Wet-lay webs were hydroentangled to form strong, flexible preforms that could be easily manipulated for the production of compression molded composites. An appropriate white water recipe for dispersing glass and binder fibers was critical to the formation of good quality webs. Optimal dispersion times were determined experimentally by examining the total number of defects present in hand sheet samples. To achieve the required web density, several wet-laid sheets were stacked and hydroentangled into a single sheet. This final sheet structure was subsequently heat pressed in a mold to achieve the final form. Forming temperatures producing binder fiber melting and a rigid uniform composite were selected.
Fundamentals of Gas Management as Applied to Nonwovens Production
Authors: Holloway Keith A. , Patharkar Mukund
Published: December 2018

Nonwovens production is often adversely affected by non-uniformity associated with fiber laydown and web formation. This non-uniformity is in part a result of the complex interactions between the air streams and the spinning process. Currently, the amount of available research in this area has been minimal with few engineering solutions or references to guide equipment designers. The purpose of this paper is to explore and explain the interaction of air streams engaged in the laying down of nonwovens product onto a porous conveyor or laydown belt. This paper concentrates on the space above the laydown table and the interaction of the fiber stream with the surrounding environment. In this paper, the influence of the ambient and conditioned air will be examined from the spinneret to the forming table. It is assumed for the purposes of this paper that the laydown vacuum is sufficient to evacuate 100% of the combined air streams and a cross-flow quench is used.

Why is air management above the forming or laydown table so important? The control of the air that is feeding the system affects the entire forming area and has a direct impact on web formation and energy cost. The size and complexity of air removal systems are also directly affected by the quantity of entrained air expected in the laydown process. By understanding the process and applying better management techniques, the design, equipment and operational cost for the laydown area can be reduced and also ensure acceptable web formation.

Does entrainment of ambient air affect the formation of the nonwovens web? The formation of the web is directly affected by the amount and aspect of the entrained air available to the system. The interaction between the air laid stream and the surrounding air can cause disruptive eddies within the laydown profile of the nonwoven fiber.

Can the entrained air streams be controlled effectively? By actively supplying the entrained air along the thread path of the fibers and using control devices, such as dampers or valves, adequate control of the entrained air can be attained.
Utilization of Air Permeability in Predicting the Thermal Conductivity
Authors: Banks-Lee Pamela , Mohammadi Massoud , Ghadimi Parviz
Published: December 2018

General linear regression models were used to determine the relationship between thermal conductivity and specific air permeability of 48 heterogeneous, needlepunched, nonwoven samples that were made from ceramic and glass webs. Parameters analyzed included number of needle barbs, fabric weight, thickness, and porosity. Other factors considered were fabric layering structure, temperature drop across the fabric and specific air permeability. Of the linear regression models examined, three models were found to be significant at greater than 95% confidence. These models had r2 values of greater than 97%. Factors that proved to be greater than 95% significant in predicting the effective thermal conductivity of the samples tested were fabric thickness and weight, fabric porosity, fabric mean pore size, and specific air permeability.
Patterned Electrospray Fiber Structures
Authors: Gibson Phil , Schreuder-Gibson Heidi
Published: December 2018

Electrospun fibers have useful filtration properties for chemical protective clothing and filter masks. Techniques for the patterned deposition of these fibers have been developed based on varying the conductivity of the target substrate. We are investigating multilayer arrangements of patterned fibers deposited in single layers, and onto air-permeable substrates. Patterning through the depth and across the area of the deposited layers has an effect on membrane strength. These materials are possible add-on solutions to provide complete biological and chemical aerosol particle protection for air permeable garments. Enhanced filtration efficiency of woven and nonwoven fabrics will improve individual soldier protection without compromising air flow characteristics or comfort of air-permeable garments.
Ensemble Laser Diffraction for Online Measurement of Fiber Diameter Distribution during the Melt Blowing Process
Authors: Moore Eric M. , Shambaugh Robert L. , Papavassiliou Dimitrios V.
Published: December 2018

Online measurements of the fiber diameter distribution during a melt blowing process were taken using a new laser diffraction technique. This technique measured both the attenuation of the fibers as well as entanglement of the fibers into bundles at large distances from the die. A pilot scale unit with a 20.3 cm (8 inch) slot die was used for the studies. Commercial polypropylene polymer was used. Both the spin-line attenuation and fiber bundling were measured as a function of position both below and across the die face.
Cooperative Charging Effects of Fibers from Electrospinning of Electrically Dissimilar Polymers
Authors: Schreuder-Gibson Heidi L. , Gibson Phil , Tsai Peter
Published: December 2018

Electrical charging and residual charge decay of electro-spun nonwoven webs comprised of two electrically dissimilar polymers were studied in an effort to investigate their filtration properties. Polystyrene (PS) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) were electrospun separately, in a layer-by-layer configuration and simultaneously in a side-by-side bi-component apparatus into thin webs on a polypropylene spunbond substrate. During electrospinning of the PS and PAN polymer solutions, the fibers became positively charged when positive voltage was applied to the solution-filled spinning nozzle and became negatively charged when negative voltage was applied. This study was undertaken to examine the effect of cooperative charging from electrospinning of the two polymers, the effect of the three types of web constructions on charge retention, and filtration properties of the fibers. It was found that single, multilayered, and bi-component webs retained surface charges in the thousands of volts that diminished very little over a 20-hour period, but eventually bled off while resting for three months. Filtration properties were found to be exceptionally high for some, but not all, electrospun samples; filtration was found to have a weak dependence on both surface charge and web geometrical factors, particularly the fiber diameter, that influence pressure drop of the aerosol test.
On the ‘Mean Flow’ Pore Size Distribution of Microfiber and Nanofiber Webs
Authors: Lifshutz Norman
Published: December 2018

A nonwoven fibrous filter media is modeled as a planar stochastic array of straight lines defining multiple polygons. The cumulative distribution and mean of the hydraulic diameter of these polygons is determined, and related theoretically to the “mean flow” pore diameter commonly measured by commercial partial flow testers. This model is tested against data obtained for a range of wetlaid glass microfiber handsheets and electrospun polymeric nanofiber webs. The results indicate that the simple two-layer model is inadequate. However, a statistically powerful correlation between “mean flow” pore diameter, total fiber length per unit area, and fiber diameter, is demonstrated to hold.
Cotton Fiber Nonwovens for Automotive Composites
Authors: Kamath M. G. , Bhat G. S. , Parikh! D. V. , Mueller D.
Published: December 2018

With increasing demand for automobiles in the global market, and a simultaneous pressure to address the issue of sustainability, there is continuing need for the incorporation of natural fiber based materials into automotives. The focus of recent research has been to produce compostable cotton fiber-based composites that can be safely disposed off after their intended use without polluting the atmosphere, in an environmentally safe manner. It is evident from studies being done jointly at the University of Tennessee, University of Bremen, Germany and USDA, New Orleans, that by suitably combining cotton and other natural cellulosic fibers, with an appropriate biodegradable binder fiber in the right combination a moldable nonwoven fabric can be produced. Results from these studies addressing the structure and properties of the composites, with respect to their suitability for automotive applications are discussed.
Regulatory Road Map for Formaldehyde Emissions and other Hazardous Air Pollutants in Fiberglass Insulation Materials in the United States
Authors: Chari Desi M.
Published: December 2018

This paper provides a perspective of air pollution control regulations in the United States that affect the Wool Fiberglass Manufacturing Industry. In addition, it analyzes regulations specifically targeted towards formaldehyde emissions from these operations and evaluates what lies ahead under existing Clean Air Act requirements. This paper addresses only the regulatory climate in the United States. However, based on history, other countries such as Canada and European Union tend to mirror US laws that are eventually followed by other developing countries.
Influence of Processing Conditions on Melt Blown Web Structure: Part 2 -Primary Airflow Rate
Authors: Bresee Randall R. , Qureshi A. , Pelham Matthew C.
Published: December 2018

We are continuing an effort to quantitatively measure the influence of processing variables on the detailed structure of commercial polypropylene melt blown (MB) webs. In this paper, we report the influence of primary airflow rate on fiber entanglement, global fiber orientation and pore structure in webs. This enabled us to quantify the influence of primary airflow on web structural features as well as achieve greater understanding of the commercial MB process.
Studies on Porous and Morphological Structures of Expanded PTFE Membrane through Biaxial Stretching Technique
Authors: Hao Xinmin , Zhang Jianchunn , Guo Yuhai , Zhang Huapeng
Published: December 2018

A porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane was prepared from emulsion polymerized PTFE fine powders by a series of mechanical operations, which included extrusion, rolling, stretching and heat setting. Very small holes in the PTFE sheet were observed by SEM analyses after extrusion and rolling, and which were elongated and enlarged by longitudinal stretching. Fibrils between the slits are observed by SEM analyses. The second stretching operation, transverse stretching, provided a lattice-like porous structure. After heat setting, an island-like structure was formed, which is composed of billions of tiny inter-connected continuous fibrils and nodes. The porous structure was studied through SEM and the COULTER POROMETER tester. Results show that the mean pore size and porosity increase with an increase in longitudinal stretching ratio, transverse stretching ratio, and heat setting temperature. The mean pore size decreases and the porosity increases with an increase in transverse stretching rate. Remarkably, increasing transverse stretching rate increases porosity while the mean pore size decreases slightly, resulting in a membrane with a more uniform cell and denser cell structure. DSC, WAXD analysis and mechanical testing show that mechanical processing and heat setting decrease both the crystallinity and crystallite size.
Study of Repellent Finish of Filtration Ability of Surgical Face Masks
Authors: Shen Hongqing , Leonas Karen K.
Published: December 2018

A surgical face mask is an important medical device used to protect both surgical patients and operating room personnel from the transfer of microorganisms, body fluids and particulate material. In this research, the effect of repellent finish on filtration ability of surgical face masks was studied. In determining the filtration ability of surgical face masks, a technique using Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM) was used to determine particle capture. Small particles present on/in nonwoven fabrics of the face masks were located using LSCM. Then, image analysis was used to quantify the small particles by total area to evaluate the filtration ability. The results showed that the filtration layer was the primary contributor to the barrier effectiveness of the surgical face mask. Statistical analysis was performed and the results showed that although repellent finish decreased the filtration ability of the cover layer, it did not affect the filtration ability of the filtration layer.
Quercetin and Idebenone Ameliorate Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, DNA damage, and Apoptosis Induced by Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles in Rat Liver
Authors: Fadda Laila M. , Hagar Hanan , Mohamed Azza M. , Ali Hanaa M.
Published: December 2018

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) are extensively used in a wide range of applications; however, many reports have investigated their nanotoxicological effect at the molecular level either in vitro or in vivo systems. The defensive roles of quercetin (Qur) or idebenone (Id) against the hepatotoxicity induced by TiO2-NPs were evaluated in the current study. The results showed that the coadministration of Qur or Id to rats intoxicated with TiO2-NPs markedly ameliorated the elevation in hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), serum alanine amino-transferase (ALT), glucose, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), immunoglobin G (IgG), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels compared to their levels in TiO2-NPs-treated rats. The aforementioned antioxidants also effectively modulated the changes in the levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nitric oxide (NO), hepatic DNA breakage, caspase-3, and inhibition of drug metabolizing enzymes (cytochrome P450s; CYP4502E12E1) in rat livers induced by TiO2-NPs toxicity. The histopathological examination of the liver section showed that TiO2-NPs caused severe degeneration of most hepatocytes with an increase in collagen in the portal region, while treatment with the antioxidants in question improved liver architecture. These outcomes supported the use of Qur and Id as protective agents against the hepatotoxicity induced by TiO2-NPs and other hepatotoxic drugs.
Approaches to Reduce Sports Drink Consumption Among Adolescents
Authors: White Nicole D.
Published: December 2018

Sports drinks originally developed to improve performance and prevent or treat dehydration, heat stroke, and muscle cramps in elite athletes are consumed regularly by nearly 60% of the adolescent population. Sports drinks are often perceived as healthy, and marketing campaigns fail to delineate the types and amount of activity that warrant appropriate use. Current trends in adolescent consumption of sports drinks will be reviewed and approaches to reduce consumption, including counseling on the appropriate use of sports drinks, will be discussed.
Leadership for Learning as Experience: Introducing the Use of Vignettes for Research on Leadership Experiences in Schools
Authors: Ammann Markus
Published: December 2018

Research on the link between educational leadership and student learning employs a variety of quantitative and qualitative research designs. Surprisingly, there are relatively few studies on methods for researching educational leadership practices. This article addresses this gap in research and discusses how the experiences of different participants can constitute potential starting points for learning processes. This leads to the question, how and to what extent the educational leadership practices manifest in students’ experiences and how “Leadership for Learning as Experience” can be empirically researched. The phenomenologically oriented vignette as research method for studying educational leadership practices will be introduced. Vignettes are narratives that are based on the experiences of participants. In vignettes, the co-experienced observations in the field are captured in form of vivid narratives. Vignettes thus open up a new, supplementary perspective, in which the traces that leadership practices have left on school participants are revealed.
Efficacy and safety profile of autologous blood versus talc pleurodesis for malignant pleural effusion: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Keeratichananont Warangkana , Kaewdech Apichat , Keeratichananont Suriya
Published: December 2018

Background:

Autologous blood is a novel, high-efficacy sclerosant for treatment of malignant pleural effusion (MPE), similar to tetracycline. There has been no comparative data between autologous blood and a worldwide sclerosant like talc. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of autologous blood versus talc pleurodesis.

Methods:

A prospective study was conducted at Songklanagarind Hospital, Songkhla, Thailand. A total of 123 symptomatic MPE cases were randomized to receive autologous blood pleurodesis (ABP) versus pleurodesis with talc slurry. In the ABP group, 100 ml of autologous venous blood was instilled through a chest drain, followed by 50 ml of sterile normal saline (NSS). In the talc group, 20 ml of 1% lidocaine diluted in 30 ml NSS was instilled, followed by 4 g of sterile talc (Steritalc®, a non-small particle size talc) suspended in 100 ml of NSS. A 30-day pleurodesis efficacy (according to Paladine’s criteria), along with the adverse events, was evaluated.

Results:

Fifty-six cases in the ABP, and 54 cases in the talc group completed the study. There was no difference between the two groups in the demographic data. The overall pleurodesis success rate at 30 days was 82.0% in the ABP group, comparable to the talc pleurodesis group (87.0%, p = 0.12). The percentage of fever (9.0% versus 28.0%, p = 0.04), amount of acetaminophen required by each participant (2.2 ± 0.7 versus 4.6 ± 0.9 tablets, p = 0.03), pain score and percentage of cases who needed opioids (9.0% versus 26.0%, p = 0.02) and hospital stay (10.2 ± 2.7 versus 12.8 ± 3.4, p = 0.04) were significantly lower in the ABP group; no infectious or serious events occurred.

Conclusions:

ABP had an equivalent efficacy compared to talc pleurodesis for MPE treatment. ABP offered less fever and pain and could shorten hospital stays, and neither produced means ABP did not produce clotted drainage, pulmonary or systemic adverse events.
Closing the Loop: Optimizing Diabetes Care in the Hospital by Addressing Dispersed Information in Electronic Health Records and Using Clinical Decision Support
Authors: Pichardo-Lowden Ariana R. , Haidet Paul M.
Published: December 2018

Multiple factors hinder the management of diabetes in hospitals. Amid the demands of practice, health care providers must collect, collate, and analyze multiple data points to optimally interpret glucose control and manage insulin dosing. Such data points are commonly dispersed in different sections of electronic health records (EHR), and the system for data display and physician interaction with the EHR are often poorly conducive to seamless clinical decision making. In this perspective article, we examine challenges in the process of EHR data retrieval, interpretation and decision making, using glucose management as an exemplar. We propose a conceptual, systems-based design for closing the loop between data gathering, analysis and decision making in the management of inpatient diabetes. This concept capitalizes on attributes of the EHR that can enable automated recognition of cases and provision of clinical recommendations.
Seed Priming Effects on Germination and Seedling Establishment of Useful Tropical Trees for Ecological Restoration
Authors: Peraza-Villarreal Humberto , . Sánchez-Coronado María E , Lindig-Cisneros Roberto , Tinoco-Ojanguren Clara , Velázquez-Rosas Noé , Cámara-Cabrales Luisa , Orozco-Segovia Alma
Published: December 2018

We assessed the effects of seed priming and soil retainers on seed germination and early seedling performance of useful species in a tropical semideciduous forest in Veracruz, México. We determined mass and water and lipid content in the seeds of Albizia saman, Cedrela odorata, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, and Swietenia macrophylla. The seeds were exposed to hydropriming and natural priming (seed burial inside the soil) and germinated at 25°C and 25/35°C. The produced seedlings were grown in a shade house and planted in a plain terrain and a hillside (slope 75%). Seedling growth and survival were evaluated. S. macrophylla and E. cyclocarpum seeds had the lowest and highest water content, respectively. S. macrophylla and C. odorata had oil seeds. A. saman and E. cyclocarpum seeds had physical dormancy. Natural priming improved germination in A. saman, C. odorata, and S. macrophylla while hydropriming and 25/35°C enhanced germination in E. cyclocarpum. In the shade house, natural priming promoted seedling growth in all studied species and in the field survival of A. saman and S. macrophylla. In E. cyclocarpum, this effect was obtained with hydropriming in the plain terrain. In the hillside, hydropriming and natural priming and 25/35°C improved survival of S. macrophylla and E. cyclocarpum, respectively. Seed burial for 8 days improved germination, seedling performance, and survival. To bury seeds inside a pot placed in a shade house induced natural priming in C. odorata. We suggest natural priming for A. saman, C. odorata, and S. macrophylla, and hydropriming for E. cyclocarpum seeds. Germination pretreatments were inexpensive and easy tools potentially applicable in restoration and conservation programs.
Septal Perforation Repair Utilizing an Anterior Ethmoidal Artery Flap and Collagen Matrix
Authors: Cavada Marina N. , Orgain Carolyn A. , Alvarado Raquel , Sacks Raymond , Harvey Richard J.
Published: December 2018

Background

Nasal septal perforation repair remains a challenge with no standard technique for repair recognized.

Objective

To describe the combination of an anterior ethmoidal artery flap with a collagen matrix inlay as a successful technique for nasal septal perforation repair.

Methods

A case series of consecutive patients who underwent nasal septal perforation repair with an anterior ethmoidal artery flap with an inlay collagen graft was conducted. Demographic data, preoperative features of the perforation (size, location, and presence of chondritis), and postoperative outcomes were analyzed; closure rate, mucosalization rate (of the contralateral side at 21 and 90 days), and complications (crusting, bleeding, obstruction, infection, and rehospitalization <30 days) were documented.

Results

Thirteen patients (age: 49 ± 15 years, 30.8% women) were assessed. The perforation size was 1.6 ± 0.9 cm (range: 0.3–3.5 cm) and located 1.2 ± 0.5 cm (range: 0.5–2.0 cm) posterior to the columella. Chondritis was present in 69.2%. The closure rate was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 77%–100%) at both 21 and 90 days. One patient required a free mucosa graft to an area of persistent crusting on the contralateral side (7.7%). Complications were low; bleeding 0%, obstruction 7.7% (requiring corticosteroid injection of anterior ethmoidal artery flap), and 0% infection/rehospitalization.

Conclusion

Anterior ethmoidal artery flap with an inlay collagen matrix is a reliable technique to repair nasal septal perforation. This technique, with robust vascularity and wide angle of rotation, enables the closure of perforations both large (<50% total septum) and with anterior locations.
Home-based exercise programmes for individuals with intermittent claudication: A protocol for an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Pymer Sean , Tew Garry A , Palmer Joanne , Ingle Lee , Smith George E , Chetter Ian C , Harwood Amy E
Published: December 2018

Background:

The aim of this updated review is to consider the evidence base for the effectiveness of home-based exercise programmes as a treatment option for improving walking distance in patients with intermittent claudication.

Methods:

The Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro and Cochrane CENTRAL databases will be searched for terms including ‘intermittent claudication’, ‘peripheral arterial disease’, ‘home-based exercise’ and ‘home-based walking’. No date restrictions will be used but only articles in the English language will be included. Both randomised and non-randomised trials of home-based exercise programmes versus a comparator arm will be included, and a meta-analysis using only the randomised controlled trials will be attempted if the assumptions of heterogeneity are met. Data extraction will include study details, sample description, intervention description, length of follow-up and outcomes measures. The primary outcome measure is objectively measured maximal walking distance or time, with secondary outcome measures including pain-free walking distance or time, changes in physical activity and quality of life. We will also provide a narrative description of the effective components of a home-based exercise intervention which can aid future recommendations.

Conclusion:

Overall, this proposed review and meta-analysis aims provide a comprehensive and complete overview of the evidence base for home-based exercise programmes, which can aid clinicians in the management of their patients.