bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Persistent chronic respiratory symptoms despite TB cure is poorly correlated with lung function
Authors: Allwood B. W. , Stolbrink M. , Baines N. , Louw E. , Wademan D. T. , Lupton-Smith A. , Nel S. , Maree D. , Mpagama S. , Osman M. , Marx F. M. , Hoddinott G. , Lesosky M. , Rylance J. , Mortimer; K. , on behalf of the Lung health in Africa across
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND: Persistent respiratory symptoms and lung function deficits are common after patients with TB. We aimed to define the burden of post-TB lung disease (PTLD) and assess associations between symptoms and impairment in two high TB incidence communities.METHODS:
This was a cross-sectional survey of adults in Cape Town, South Africa who completed TB treatment 1–5 years previously. Questionnaires, spirometry and 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) were used to assess relationships between outcome measures and associated factors.RESULTS:
Of the 145 participants recruited (mean age: 42 years, range: 18–75; 55 [38%] women), 55 (38%) had airflow obstruction and 84 (58%) had low forced vital capacity (FVC); the mean 6MWD was 463 m (range: 240–723). Respiratory symptoms were common: chronic cough (n = 27, 19%),
wheeze (n = 61, 42%) and dyspnoea (modified MRC dyspnoea score 3 or 4: n = 36, 25%). There was poor correlation between FVC or obstruction and 6MWD. Only low body mass index showed consistent association with outcomes on multivariable analyses. Only 19 (13%) participants had
a diagnosis of respiratory disease, and 16 (11%) currently received inhalers.CONCLUSION: There was substantial burden of symptoms and physiological impairment in this “cured” population, but poor correlation between objective outcome measures, highlighting deficits in
our understanding of PTLD.
Sexual education in selected European countries - characteristics
Authors: Kempińska Urszula , Nowak Anna
Published: March 2021

This article aims to present the characteristics of sex education in selected European countries. Particular attention should be paid to the need for compulsory and diligently conducted sexual education of young people as a preventive measure and a factor providing objective scientific truth. Normative systems and set of beliefs often create social taboos about sexuality. Based on the analysis of scientific sources published in Polish, French and English, this article also shows the essence of sex education in schools, as a way for young people to make the right choices, reduce the occurrence of risky behaviors and protect against and prevent sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancy and sexual violence. Acquiring true and consistent with the current state of knowledge information on the human sexual sphere should be carried out throughout life. Conducting professional sex education classes at school would be an opportunity for all students to have equal access to information on this subject. Both for those who talk to their parents and those for whom it is a taboo. The presented effects of the lack of sexual education in schools show that its reliable and professional implementation is a means of providing help to young people and their families. However, in order to change the approach of parents and students to attending classes in this subject, it is necessary to improve the quality of teaching in this subject and to make some changes to the curriculum.
Dispute over contact with a child as the result of unresolved divorce-related conflicts
Authors: Zalewska Anna
Published: March 2021

Parting and divorce are situations that are not only the result of conflicts, but also their causes, especially if they concern parents of minor children. A problem then arises regarding the establishment of contact between the secondary parent and the child, which may be difficult if the disputes that led to the separation remain unresolved or other court cases are pending at the same time. The parties, during or after divorce, often submit a request to the court to regulate the frequency and form of meetings between the secondary parent and the child, which seems to be the main issue of misunderstandings. After a deeper analysis of the relationship between former partners, it turns out, that the lack of ability to establish contact with the child is the result of the accumulation of other disputes and unresolved misunderstandings.
The presented fragments of qualitative analyzes of psychological and pedagogical opinions prepared by the Opinion Team of Forensic Specialists, illustrating the assumption that the dispute over contact may be related to other conflicts between former spouses, are part of a qualitative project focused around divorce-related conflicts. The aim of the research is to identify the effects of strong conflict between parents and the lack of communication between them after divorce for family relationships and the child functioning.
Sugardating – just dating or modern form of prostitution?
Authors: Gardian-Miałkowska Renata
Published: March 2021

In the article, I attempt to analyze the phenomenon of sugardating, which is usually correlated with prostitution. It raises considerable controversy and emotions, despite the fact that little is known about the phenomenon itself. For this purpose, I conducted my own research, the essence of which was to find the answer: what is sugardating? Based on the research, it was possible to obtain knowledge on the assumptions of sugardating, the parties and roles of people in this relationship and the euphemisms that have arose in this regard. Moreover, research has shown that the understanding of the concept of prostitution has been changing more and more over the years, thanks to the tendency to humanize terms, moral equilibrium, binarity and dichotomy of the phenomenon. The content of the study lead to further considerations and research on the phenomenon of sugradating.
Visits between incarcerated father and his child (mothers' perspective)
Authors: Jarzębińska Aneta
Published: March 2021

The study, the results of which are presented in the article, assumed the recognition of problems noticed by mothers in connection with the child's visits to the father in penitentiary isolation. For this purpose, an analysis of online discussions on six different forums was carried out. These forums are frequented by women, whose partner/husband has served a prison sentence or has been temporarily arrested. Their posts have been treated as already existing data and have been examined using the content analysis method in its variant based on discourse analysis.
The conducted study allowed to identify the dilemmas experienced by mothers focused on the realization of visits between incarcerated father and a child. In particular, they mentioned the lack of knowledge about the criteria determining the consent of the prison administration to a visit. At the same time, they shared their knowledge of how to overcome some of the difficulties specific to visits between incarcerated father and a child. They explained the procedure preceding the consent of the prison administration to a visit, they recommended to mentally prepare the child for such a visit, also after consulting a psychologist, visiting and thus personally verifying their own concerns. At the same time, many women in those discussions were opponents of such child's visits to the prison. In their arguments, they pointed to the burdens that such a visit may have for the child, the man's failure to fulfil his parental duties so far and the lack of faith that he cares about contact with the child.
Adapting Disruptive Applications in Managing Quality Control Systems in Intelligence Manufacturing
Authors: Lekan Amusan , Aigbavboa Clinton , Emetere Moses , Owolabi James
Published: March 2021

Controlling quality has become a major trend in the circle of manufacturers and production managers that engage in intelligent manufacturing all over the world, on account of industry 4.0, in recent times. Intelligent manufacturing therefore is the use of advanced applications, analytics, sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) to improve manufacturing. The aim of the study is to carry out a study on application of disruptive application in managing quality system in intelligent manufacturing with a view to improving manufacturing process in organizations. Survey methods was used in collating responses from production managers of manufacturing companies at selected locations censoring production managers and supervisors on some parameters such as areas of disruptions in the quality assurance monitoring and calibration in production process, issues and challenges involved in quality control systems in manufacturing, Man-Whitney U Test, T-test, Pearson’s Test were used to analyze the collated data. Also, this study presents advanced analytical tools and applications to improve quality in manufacturing process. The study finally presents areas of disruptions in the quality assurance monitoring and calibration in production process, issues and challenges involved in quality control systems in manufacturing, emerging areas of application and recommendation for improvement.
Averaged No-Regret Control for an Electromagnetic Wave Equation Depending upon a Parameter with Incomplete Initial Conditions
Authors: Hafdallah Abdelhak , Abdelli Mouna
Published: March 2021

This chapter concerns the optimal control problem for an electromagnetic wave equation with a potential term depending on a real parameter and with missing initial conditions. By using both the average control notion introduced recently by E. Zuazua to control parameter depending systems and the no-regret method introduced for the optimal control of systems with missing data. The relaxation of averaged no-regret control by the averaged low-regret control sequence transforms the problem into a standard optimal control problem. We prove that the problem of average optimal control admits a unique averaged no-regret control that we characterize by means of optimality systems.
Functional Fermented Beverage Prepared from Germinated White Kidney Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
Authors: Veber Anna , Zaręba Dorota , Ziarno Małgorzata
Published: March 2021

The current demand for plant-based food indicates that the food market is providing alternatives for products that are currently commercially available. This chapter discusses the possible use of germinated bean seeds as a raw material in the production of substitutes for dairy products, including fermented ones. Beans are a valuable source of easily digestible protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and various vitamins (e.g., B vitamin group). They also contain significant amounts of fiber which affects the proper functioning of the digestive system and antioxidant compounds. The fat content is low and is estimated to be around only 1–2%. However, it is mainly (about 70%) constituted by unsaturated fatty acids, including the polyunsaturated ones such as linoleic acid or linolenic acid, which are desirable in the human diet for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases or cancer. Biological processes such as germination or fermentation may improve the nutritional value of bean seeds (by increasing the content, digestibility, and bioavailability of some nutrients and by eliminating undesirable components) and deliver live cells of prohealth bacteria (lactic acid bacteria, propionic acid bacteria, or bifidobacteria).
Anion-π Catalysis: A Novel Supramolecular Approach for Chemical and Biological Transformations
Authors: Ahmad Rather Ishfaq , Ali Rashid
Published: March 2021

Catalysts by virtue of lowering the activation barrier helps in the completion of a chemical reaction in a lesser amount of time without being themselves consumed. Utilizing the diverse non-covalent interactions in the design and construction of catalysts, recently anion-π interactions were also introduced, giving rise to an emerging field of anion-π catalysis. In the newly constructed anion-π catalysts, significant lowering of activation energy occurs by virtue of anion-π interactions. Till now, several important reactions generating chiral centers have been carried out on the π-acidic surfaces of anion-π catalysts, thereby revealing the significance of anion-π catalysis in the domain of asymmetric synthesis. The motive of this chapter is to highlight the role of anion-π catalysis in asymmetric synthesis and we surely believe that it will offer new opportunities in supramolecular chemistry.
The Use of the Conceptual Framework to Develop a Training Programme for Home-Based Carers Who Care for People with Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Adelaide Bopape Mamare
Published: March 2021

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the complex disease associated with morbidity, mortality and loss of quality of life. Furthermore, it is the most significant cause of death in the diabetic population. South Africa is faced with an increasing number of people diagnosed with diabetes mellitus which intensify the burden on the health system. Home Based Carers (HBCs), also known as Community Health Workers need to undergo training before taking – up health-related jobs at the community level. HBCs who care for patients with cardiovascular diseases at the community level need to be trained on how to care for their patients at care and management. The systematic literature review method was used to review literature related to diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, Community Health Workers, CHWs diabetic knowledge and diabetes mellitus, diabetic training of CHWs. The following themes and their subthemes have emerged: (1) The use of Practice orientated theory for training development which include the agent, the recipient, the context, the dynamics, procedure and terminus; (2) The use of the ADDIE model in the development of a training programme for HBCs which include Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation. Two conceptual frameworks to be used to guide the development of the training programme for HBCs for people with diabetes. The ideas of Dickoff and others can be used to formulate the conceptual framework that guides the development of training for HBCs for cardiovascular patients. The six concepts of the survey list include agent, recipient, context, dynamics, procedure and terminus. Instructional design system following the ADDIE model provided practical steps for organising training development project. According to Branch, ADDIE’s model describes and prescribes what needs to happen during the process.
Saccharomyces: Is a Necessary Organism or a Biological Warrior?
Authors: Seyidoglu Nilay , Aydin Cenk
Published: March 2021

Saccharomyces is a eukaryotic organism that possesses approximately 6,000 known genes since 1996. It has long been used for food, bakeries, drinks, and therapeutics due to its many ingredients and its role in several mechanisms. Saccharomyces can be used as an experimental organism for medicinal products in the pharmaceutical industry. Particularly in public health, the use of Saccharomyces in the production of vaccines is remarkable. It has been alleviated that this yeast helps clarify the function of individual proteins in pathogenic viruses. To clarify virus life and host interactions, virus replication systems in Saccharomyces were interested in scientists. The new antiviral strategies with yeasts suggest the biological mechanism of a pathogen virus. Due to the variety of diseases and current epidemic conditions, these organisms play an essential role in prevention and treatment. This chapter will try to update Saccharomyces’ scientific discoveries with the most recent and up-to-date literature.
Current Advances in Clinical Application of Liquid Biopsy
Authors: Baldacchino Shawn
Published: March 2021

Liquid biopsy solutions are available for niche clinical applications. The patient benefits of such solutions are evident: ease of sampling, acceptable and repeatable. To date a number of solutions have received regulatory approval with more comprehensive, multi-cancer companion diagnostic approaches receiving approval in late 2020. Given these breakthrough advances and the ongoing clinical studies in early detection of cancer, the liquid biopsy field is making strides in technology. While circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) solutions are quickly penetrating the market, strides in circulating tumour cells (CTC) and extracellular vesicles (EV) technologies is unlocking their potential for liquid biopsy. ctDNA solutions are paving the way towards clinical translation into the distinct applications across the cancer continuum. This chapter presents a detailed review of current approved liquid biopsy tests and provides a summary of advanced-stage prospective technologies within the context of distinctive clinical applications.
Poverty, Reproductive Health and Public Health Policies in Chile
Authors: Arcos Griffiths Estela
Published: March 2021

In Chile the social inequality is the result of the accumulation and concentration of income, wealth and property coming from the prevailing neoliberal model in the chilean economy. Under this model, persistent gaps in basic living standards, precarious assets, disparities in health, and inequalities in well-being, employment, treatment and safety of people have been configured. Using the case study methodology, evidence of the phenomenon is presented, making an analysis of the expression of poverty and other social determinants in the results of the reproductive health of socially vulnerable women. Scientific literature on the situation of exclusion and invisibility of subgroups of women who have experienced domestic violence, unplanned pregnancy, early motherhood, migration and ethnic status is analyzed. In turn, the results of effective transfers of health and social benefits to women in social adversity are mentioned in the management of health policy and the social protection system. Finally, a reflection is presented on the need for innovation in the processes of human capital formation in health and social science, and as a response, strategies are proposed to address it to from the complexity of the phenomenon of vulnerability and inequality in reproductive health analyzed.
Solid Waste Gasification: Comparison of Single- and Multi-Staged Reactors
Authors: Zhao Xianhui , Li Kai , E. Lamm Meghan , Celik Serdar , Wei Lin , Ozcan Soydan
Published: March 2021

Interest in converting waste into renewable energy has increased recently due to concerns about sustainability and climate change. This solid waste is mainly derived from municipal solid waste (MSW), biomass residue, plastic waste, and their mixtures. Gasification is one commonly applied technology that can convert solid waste into usable gases, including H2, CO, CH4, and CO2. Single- and multi-staged reactors have been utilized for solid waste gasification. Comparison in reactor dimensions, operating factors (e.g., gasification agent, temperature, and feed composition), performance (e.g., syngas yield and selectivity), advantages, and disadvantages are discussed and summarized. Additionally, discussion will include economic and advanced catalysts which have been developed for use in solid waste gasification. The multi-staged reactor can not only be applied for gasification, but also for pyrolysis and torrefaction.
3D Point Cloud-Based Tree Canopy Visualization for a Smart Deployment of Mobile Communication Systems
Authors: Egi Yunus , Eyceyurt Engin
Published: March 2021

Mobile communication is one of the most important parameters of smart cities in terms of maintaining connectivity and interaction between humans and smart systems. However, In the deployment process of Mobile Communication Systems (MCS), Radio Frequency (RF) engineers use location depended empirical Signal Strength Path Loss (SSPL) models ending up with poor signal strength and slow data connection. This is due to the fact that empirical propagation models usually are restrained by the environment and do not implement state of the art technologies, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), Image Processing, and Machine Learning to increase efficiency. Terrains involving buildings, hills, trees, mountains, and human-made structures are considered irregular terrains by telecommunication engineers. Irregular terrains, specifically trees, significantly affect MCS’s efficiency because of their complex pattern resulting in erroneous signal fading via multi-path reflection and absorption. Therefore, a virtual 3D environment is required to extract the required 3D terrain pattern and elevation data from the environment. Once this data is processed in the machine learning algorithm, an adaptive propagation model can be formed and can significantly improve SSPL prediction accuracy for MCS. This chapter presents 3D point cloud visualization via sensor fusion and 2D image color classification techniques, which lead to a novel propagation model for the smart deployment of MCS. The proposed system’s main contribution is to develop an intelligent environment that eliminates limitations and minimizes related signal fading prediction errors. In addition, having better connectivity and efficiency will resolve the communication problem of smart cities. The chapter also provides a case study that significantly outperforms other empirical models with an accuracy of 95.4%.
Health Benefits and Industrial Applications of Functional Cowpea Seed Proteins
Authors: Carneiro da Silva Alexandre , de Freitas Barbosa Marcos , Bento da Silva Pedro , Peres de Oliveira Janiffe , Loureiro da Silva Tatiana , Lopes Teixeira Junior Davair , de Moura Rocha Maurisrrael
Published: March 2021

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is among the pulse’s species of greatest economic and social importance. This legume is strategic for the food security and health of millions of people in the world. Cowpea is rich in nutraceuticals compounds such as dietary fibre, antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols, whose health benefits and use in the food industry have been extensively studied. However, research on the identification of functional proteins from cowpea, their metabolic functions and applications in the food, health and other industries are still scarce. In this chapter, a critical review of the most recent and important research about functional cowpea proteins. We objective was identify and systematize information about the nature and functions of these proteins, as well as their use and applications in food, health and other industries. Cowpea seed proteins are highly versatile and offer direct health benefits such as reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer. The proteins of cowpea are also used in material science for the development of new technologies such as development of special fabrics for protection against ultraviolet rays and microencapsulation of ascorbic acid.
Therapeutic Potential of IL-9 in Allergic and Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: Ummey Khalecha Bintha Ahmed , Souwelimatou Amadou Amani , Md Huzzatul Mursalin , Fauziyya Muhammad
Published: March 2021

Interleukin-9 (IL-9) is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by several immune and epithelial cells. Recently, many studies have eluded the physiological and pathological roles of IL-9 and its lineage-specific helper T cell subset (Th9). In this chapter, we will focus on the immunological role of Interleukin 9 (IL-9) in allergy and autoimmunity. We will introduce the basics of IL-9 and describe the cells involved in the secretion, signaling, and regulation of IL-9. After establishing the background, we will discuss the pathogenesis and regulation of IL-9 in allergic and autoimmune diseases. We will conclude the chapter by providing an updated therapeutics that target IL-9 and their potential uses in autoimmune and allergic diseases.
The Centenarians: An Emerging Population
Authors: M. Heshmati Hassan
Published: March 2021

Long life is a topic of great interest in medicine and among the general public. The “successful aging” which is a high priority for individuals and societies, is aging without any disabilities and severe diseases. In several countries, the increase in life expectancy has led the very old to become the fastest growing segment of the population. Centenarians are subjects living 100 years or older. The majority of centenarians are females (female to male ratio around 3.6/1). A very small fraction of centenarians (up to 0.5%) will live 110 years or older (supercentenarians). Most centenarians have managed to avoid, postpone, or overcome the important age-related and life-threatening diseases and disabilities (e.g., ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, respiratory infection, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and dementia). Some forecasts suggest that most babies born in developed countries since 2000 will become centenarians. In 2020, the number of centenarians in the world was approximately 573,000, mainly from the United States of America (USA). This number could reach approximately 3,676,000 by 2050. In the absence of the genetic predisposition to become centenarian, there are several ways to extend longevity (e.g., lifestyle, reduction of several life-threatening diseases and disabilities, hormonal replacement or blockade, antioxidants, maintenance of a proper autophagic activity, stem cell therapy, and gene therapy). The continuous increase of the number of centenarians has worldwide practical implications including profound impact on intergenerational interactions and significant financial challenges for any society, especially in relation to medical expenses.
Material Classification via Machine Learning Techniques: Construction Projects Progress Monitoring
Authors: Salah Alaloul Wesam , Hannan Qureshi Abdul
Published: March 2021

Nowadays, the construction industry is on a fast track to adopting digital processes under the Industrial Revolution (IR) 4.0. The desire to automate maximum construction processes with less human interference has led the industry and research community to inclined towards artificial intelligence. This chapter has been themed on automated construction monitoring practices by adopting material classification via machine learning (ML) techniques. The study has been conducted by following the structure review approach to gain an understanding of the applications of ML techniques for construction progress assessment. Data were collected from the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases, concluding 14 relevant studies. The literature review depicted the support vector machine (SVM) and artificial neural network (ANN) techniques as more effective than other ML techniques for material classification. The last section of this chapter includes a python-based ANN model for material classification. This ANN model has been tested for construction items (brick, wood, concrete block, and asphalt) for training and prediction. Moreover, the predictive ANN model results have been shared for the readers, along with the resources and open-source web links.
The Emergence of Risk and Return on Human Capital Development
Authors: C. Mara Cashandra
Published: March 2021

Performance improvement has been the focus of both public and private sector organisations for decades, but the extent to which human capital and human capital resources play a central role, has come into sharp focus only in recent years. Human capital, whether it is enhanced through local or foreign direct investment, can be turned into a dynamic capability, optimising and continually transforming collective human skills, competencies and expertise to improve performance and competitive capability. However, to understand the true contribution of human capital to dynamic capabilities, managers and team leaders require the ability to measure and manage the results of human capital improvement or training. Yet, they hardly do, for various reasons. In this chapter, the risk and return on human capital is highlighted, as well as the successes and improved relations organisations and countries may enjoy from understanding, managing and reporting on this important building block to human capital development.
Mitochondria and Eye
Authors: Singh Lata , Kumar Singh Mithalesh
Published: March 2021

Mitochondria are essential subcellular organelles and important key regulators of metabolism. Mammalian mitochondria contain their own DNA (mtDNA). Human mtDNA is remarkably small (16,569 bp) compared to nuclear DNA. Mitochondria promote aerobic respiration, an important part of energy metabolism in eukaryotes, as the site of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). OXPHOS occurs in the inner membrane of the mitochondrion and involves 5 protein complexes that sequentially undergo reduction-oxygen reactions ultimately producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Tissues with high metabolic demand such as lungs, central nervous system, peripheral nerves, heart, adrenal glands, renal tubules and the retina are affected preferentially by this critical role in energy production by mitochondrial disorders. Eye-affected mitochondrial disorders are always primary, but the role of mitochondrial dysfunction is now best understood in acquired chronic progressive ocular diseases. Recent advances in mitochondrial research have improved our understanding of ocular disorders. In this chapter, we will discuss the mitochondria in relation to eye diseases, ocular tumors, pathogenesis, and treatment modalities that will help to improve the outcomes of these conditions.
Proprioception Impairment and Treatment Approaches in Pediatrics
Authors: Kaviraja Kamatchi
Published: March 2021

In children problems like trauma and injuries are quite obvious. Other problems related to sensory system dysfunction are identified at the later stages of the child due to lack of awareness of the sensory integration problems which is not obvious. Some children have behavioral problems and some are poor at the school which is related to each other finally cause trouble to perform their daily routine. Early identification and intervention play a major role in improving the ability and development of the proprioceptive senses. Hence this chapter will introduce the new aspect of proprioception sense and its dysfunction. It would enhance you to identify the problems and understand the challenges that the child come across due to increase or decrease in proprioceptive input. We will be able to help them to overcome these challenges and frame a treatment strategy and help them to lead a successful life.
Connecting Pedagogical Interactions in the Twenty-First Century Classrooms: The Role of the Learners’ Perspective in Knowledge Production in the Curriculum Transformation in South Africa
Authors: Ethel Khuzwayo Mamsi , Booi Kwanele
Published: March 2021

This chapter presents the analysis of the interactions in the context of knowledge acquisition and learning. Despite the different contesting approaches to knowledge acquisition, this chapter unveils the confusion prevailing in classrooms concerning the gaps and questions arising from knowledge that is asserted to be empirically verified. The observation sheets and notes were the primary sources of data gathered from the evaluation of lesson presentations conducted in classrooms, with the focus being on teacher-learner-interaction. Learners’ reflections, questions, comments as well as feedback from teachers were analysed through qualitative procedures. The results and the findings highlighted that the preparation of the lessons by the teachers have unforeseen gaps, blind spots, and undesired learning outcomes. This work concluded that teachers are experiencing challenges and difficulties in addressing the cognitive and intellectual needs of the twenty-first generation learners in classrooms. This study recommends the review of factual knowledge by school subject curriculum experts, and teacher educators in the faculties.
Self-Management of Blood Pressure Control at Home in Chronic Kidney Disease: Nursing Interventions and Health Gains
Authors: Costa Dilar , Aguiar Filipa
Published: March 2021

One of the advantages of HBPM (Home Blood Pressure Measurement) compared to office measurement is being a strong predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients, including those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, studies with renal patients not dependent on dialysis are scarce. HBPM is an important tool in the regular monitoring of blood pressure (BP) and in patient’s involvement in its long-term self-management. Nurses have an important role here and their involvement in the process is essential. Nurses must be aware of the latest recommendations as well as they should teach, train, guide and supervise patients. This chapter summarizes information about CKD and hypertension, the importance of measuring blood pressure at home in CKD and describes nursing interventions in this field. Nurses have a role in enabling patients to optimize their self-management skills. Nurse-delivered interventions have been shown to contribute to improved patient outcomes. Nurses can educate patients about proper blood pressure monitoring techniques at home, and also interpreting and evaluating the results and managing the therapeutic regimen. Evidence shows the effects of interventions performed by nurses in improving and controlling BP, such as teaching, training, counseling, motivational interview, coaching, nurse–patient relationship, communication, negotiation, and support.
Why Produce Food-Bioactive Compounds to Generate Functional Grade Foods?
Authors: Marsanasco Marina , del Valle Alonso Silvia
Published: March 2021

Functional foods are those with health benefits but cannot incorporate and protect from oxidation or deterioration, maintaining the bioactive compounds (BC) activity. The liposomes have several advantages for BC encapsulation: ease of obtention, characterization, scaling-up, lipid protection for hydrophilic and lipophilic BC, and best, they are made with natural lipids of alimentary grade. In our studies, liposomes were made of soy phosphatidylcholine (SPC) with Stearic Acid or Calcium Stearate as membrane stabilizer. They encapsulated BC as vitamin E, vitamin C and folic acid (B9). The liposome’s design strategy is that SPC lipid’s components are BC like choline and essential fatty acids. These liposomes preserved and maintain the activity of the thermolabile vitamins C and B9. Like milk and fruit juice, in various food types can incorporate liposomes protecting BC. A series of laboratory studies will be performed to select the most stable liposomal formulations, like characterization, encapsulation efficiency, physicochemical, microbiological, thermal and sensory stability. Liposomes- BC design and development are discussed in the chapter. The food heat treatment and the conditions/storage time are also crucial and must be considered in these studies. Finally, incorporating the BC into a food production line is feasible with an excellent economic prospect until supermarket shelves are reached, like our food product proposal.
The Effect of HNO3 and/or NaOH Treatments on Characteristics of Mordenite
Authors: Trisunaryanti Wega , Wijaya Karna , Suryani Desi , Chasanah Uswatul
Published: March 2021

Modification of mordenite had been performed by HNO3 and/or NaOH treatments and used as a catalyst in the hydrotreating of pyrolyzed α-cellulose. The Si/Al ratio of mordenites was analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), the acidity was gravimetrically determined using ammonium vapor adsorption, the crystallinity was identified by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and pore characters of mordenites (BHM, BAM0.1, and BAM0.5) were analyzed using Gas Sorption Analyzed (GSA). Catalytic activity and selectivity of the mordenites were evaluated in the hydrotreating of pyrolyzed α-cellulose under 20 mL minute−1 H2 gas flow at 450 °C for 2 h with the weight ratio of catalyst:feed was 1:60. The liquid products were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC–MS). The acidity of mordenites decreased along with the increase of Si/Al rasio, except for the AM0.1 mordenite. The average pore diameter of BHM, BAM0.1 and BAM0.5 was 2.96; 3.34 and 4.53 nm, respectively. The BAM0.1 showed the highest catalytic activity in producing liquid fraction (64.04 wt%). The BAM0.5 showed the highest catalytic selectivity towards biofuels, i.e. 1-pentene 0.44 (wt%); 2-heptyne 2.75 (wt%) and 1-propanol 3.05 (wt%) from the hydrotreating process of pyrolyzed α-cellulose.
Bone Quality of the Dento-Maxillofacial Complex and Osteoporosis. Opportunistic Radiographic Interpretation
Authors: Christopher Aranha Watanabe Plauto , Antonio Rodrigues Giovani , Rodrigues Azenha Marcelo , Campos Ribeiro Michel , de Almeida Souza Filho Enéas , Angelo Soares Vieira Rafael , Santos Bottacin Fabio
Published: March 2021

Research suggests the use of different indexes on panoramic radiography as a way to assess BMD and to be able to detect changes in bone metabolism before fractures occur. Therefore, the objective of this chapter is to describe the use of these parameters as an auxiliary mechanism in the detection of low bone mineral density, as well as to characterize the radiographic findings of patients with osteoporosis.
Multifocality, Multicentricity, and Bilaterality of Breast Cancer
Authors: Ilić Ivan
Published: March 2021

Multifocal, multicentric, and bilateral breast tumours are either benign, precursor lesions or malignant neoplasms.A multidisciplinary review of these entities can offer clinicians a practical guidance for diagnostic and treatment procedures. Multiple synchronous (multifocal or multicentric) ipsilateral breast cancers (MSIBC) with heterogeneous histopathology require particular attention, since MSIBC tends toward more aggressive biology and higher rates of nodal positivity. Being independent of laterality, domination of the invasive carcinoma was observed in the bilateral and multifocal disease type. The TNM staging system for breast cancer does not include multifocality and multiplicity. Only the tumour with the largest diameter is considered for the pT category, neglecting the secondary foci which can make the treatment decision more difficult. MSIBC has a similar prognosis to unifocal cancers, but sometimes they might be negative prognostic parameters. Likewise, in comparison with unifocal breast cancer, MSIBC presents a different genetic pathway.
More Urbanization, Fewer Bats: The Importance of Forest Conservation in Honduras
Authors: A. Turcios-Casco Manfredo , K. LaVal Richard , Martínez Marcio , D. Ávila-Palma Hefer
Published: March 2021

Urbanization is a phenomenon that results in fragmentation and eventual destruction of forests. Suburbanization is a subset of that same phenomenon in which fragmentation has resulted in the retention of small patches of the original forest and surviving old growth trees. Alternatively, the area surrounding the central city had been cleared for agricultural use and the suburban residents have planted many trees in parks and private property. This fragmentation will of course affect many species of bats, including species of the family Phyllostomidae. In this work, we estimate and compare the diversity of phyllostomid bats in three landscapes in Honduras: forests, suburban, and urban areas, from 2015 to 2018. Concurrently, we compared bat activity patterns based on the hour and percentage of moonlight at the time they were captured, and we compared external measurements, forearm and ear length. Urban areas are the least diverse and exhibited the lowest abundance. The forearm and ear length were significantly different only between forests and urban areas. The degree of lunar phobia also differed among those landscapes, but the time of capture did not differ. This is the first attempt to describe the activity patterns of phyllostomids in these studied areas and the effect of urbanization on Honduran bats. As expected, we found that from forests to cities, the diversity and abundance of phyllostomids decreased. However, there are many gaps in our knowledge of how totally or partially urbanized areas are affecting phyllostomid bats in Honduras.
Analysis of the Performance of Drilling Operations for Improving Productivity
Authors: Tolouei-Rad Majid , Aamir Muhammad
Published: March 2021

Drilling is a vital machining process for many industries. Automotive and aerospace industries are among those industries which produce millions of holes where productivity, quality, and precision of drilled holes plays a vital role in their success. Therefore, a proper selection of machine tools and equipment, cutting tools and parameters is detrimental in achieving the required dimensional accuracy and surface roughness. This subsequently helps industries achieving success and improving the service life of their products. This chapter provides an introduction to the drilling process in manufacturing industries which helps improve the quality and productivity of drilling operations on metallic materials. It explains the advantages of using multi-spindle heads to improve the productivity and quality of drilled holes. An analysis of the holes produced by a multi-spindle head on aluminum alloys Al2024, Al6061, and Al5083 is presented in comparison to traditional single shot drilling. Also the effects of using uncoated carbide and high speed steel tools for producing high-quality holes in the formation of built-up edges and burrs are investigated and discussed.
Annexin A1-Binding Carbohydrate Mimetic Peptide Targets Drugs to Brain Tumors
Authors: N. Fukuda Michiko , Suzuki-Anekoji Misa , Nonaka Motohiro
Published: March 2021

Annexin A1 (Anxa1) is expressed specifically on the surface of the tumor vasculature. Previously, we demonstrated that a carbohydrate-mimetic peptide, designated IF7, bound to the Anxa1 N-terminal domain. Moreover, intravenously injected IF7 targeted the tumor vasculature in mouse and crossed tumor endothelia cells to stroma via transcytosis. Thus, we hypothesized that IF7 could overcome the blood–brain barrier to reach brain tumors. Our studies in brain tumor model mice showed that IF7 conjugated with the anti-cancer drug SN38 suppressed brain tumor growth with high efficiency. Furthermore IF7-SN38-treated mice mounted an immune response to brain tumors established by injected tumor cells and shrank those tumors in part by recruiting cytotoxic T-cells to the injection site. These results suggest that Anxa1-binding peptide IF7 represents a drug delivery vehicle useful to treat malignant brain tumors. This chapter describes the unique development of IF7-SN38 as a potential breakthrough cancer chemotherapeutic.
Utterance Emotion Estimation by Using Feature of Syntactic Pattern
Authors: Matsumoto Kazuyuki
Published: March 2021

Emotion has been defined as basic emotions by various researchers, however, there are not many studies describing the relation between emotion and language patterns in detail based on statistical information. There are various languages all over the world, and even a language of the same country has different writing styles/expressions depending on which language media is used or who is a writer/speaker, which is thought to make it difficult to analyze the relation of emotion and language patterns. The author has been engaged in constructing and analyzing emotion corpora in some domains based on different sources. From the analysis results, emotion expressions started to become more understood that they have differences and tendencies according to the attributes of the writers and the speakers. In this chapter, I focused on the differences detected in the attributes of the writer/speaker with respect to language patterns; in usage tendencies or combinations of words, unknown expressions (slangs), sentence patterns, non-verbal expressions (emoji, emoticon, etc.) with relevant emotions, then introduce the outcome of the analytical survey on a large scale corpus obtained from a social networking service.
Building Stress Resilience of Cereals under Future Climatic Scenarios: ‘The Case of Maize, Wheat, Rice and Sorghum’
Authors: Muitire Clemence , Kamutando Casper , Moyo Martin
Published: March 2021

World population is projected to reach 10 billion by 2050 and the phenomenon is expected to cause a surge in demand for food, feed and industrial raw materials. Cereals (i.e., carbohydrate-rich grain crops) are the most widely grown and consumed crops worldwide. All cereals combined provide approximately 56% and 50% of global energy and protein needs, respectively. Maize, wheat, rice, barley and sorghum are the most produced and consumed cereals, globally. These are widely grown across the world from the tropics to the temperate regions. Although efforts are being done by governments, research organizations and academic institutions to increase productivity of these important crops, huge yield deficits still exist. Climate induced biotic (e.g., pests and diseases) as well as abiotic stresses (especially; heat and drought) are widely regarded as the key yield-constraining factors of most cereal crops. Given the contribution of cereals in global food and nutrition security, improvements in productivity of cereal production systems is mandatory if livelihoods are to be guaranteed. This chapter discusses the global production and utilization of four of the major global cereals, limiting factors to their productivity and possible solutions to the production constraints.
The Future of HR
Authors: M. Schultz Cecile
Published: March 2021

The HR function is currently dealing with a range of questions: How can HR prepare for the future? Which HR competencies will be needed? Which aspects should be focused upon? The way forward may start with capacitating HR managers to obtain the necessary competencies and be enlightened about which aspects should get specific attention in order to prepare for the future world of work. In order to progress towards a new understanding of workforce management within organisations, it is essential to shed light on HR competencies, future workspace, engagement, employment relations and resilience. Although engagement and employment relations are dated, it will still be relevant in the future, especially due to the man–machine connection, remote working and other future world of work challenges. The rebalancing of priorities and rethinking HR, so that resilience become just as important to strategic thinking as cost and efficiency, are important. It is essential that HR must go beyond the here and now in order to properly prepare for the future world of work.
Robotic-Assisted Minimally Invasive Surgery in Children
Authors: Navarrete-Arellano Mario
Published: March 2021

Currently, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) includes conventional laparo-thoracoscopic surgery and robot-assisted surgery (RAS) or robotic surgery. Robotic surgery is performed with robotic devices, for example the Da Vinci system from Intuitive Surgical, which has a miniaturized camera capable of image magnification, a three-dimensional image of the surgical field, and the instruments are articulated with 7 degrees of freedom of movement, and the surgeon operates in a sitting position at a surgical console near the patient. Robotic surgery has gained an enormous surge in use on adults, but it has been slowly accepted for children, although it offers important advantages in complex surgeries. The areas of application of robotic surgery in the pediatric population include urological, general surgery, thoracic, oncological, and otorhinolaryngology, the largest application has been in urological surgery. There is evidence that robotic surgery in children is safe and it is important to offer its benefits. Intraoperative complications are rare, and the frequency of postoperative complications ranges from 0–15%. Recommendations for the implementation of a pediatric robotic surgery program are included. The future will be fascinating with upcoming advancements in robotic surgical systems, the use of artificial intelligence, and digital surgery.