bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the effect of microfracture surgery and angle of incidence on the structural properties of femoral bone
Authors: Liang Li Danny , Wagner Alexis , Steeds Justin , Hurtig Mark , Gordon Karen
Published: September 2019

Microfracture surgery is one of the most common treatment options for knee osteoarthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the knee joint. However, a recent study by Theodoropoulos et al. (2012) has shown that there are significant variations in the angle of surgical awl used by surgeons in microfracture surgery as well as in the rehabiliation regimen prescribed following surgery. The purpose of this experiment was to characterize the structural properties of femoral bone before and after microfracture, with varying awl angles of impact. Microfracture at three different awl angles of impact, each between 0 and 30 degrees, was conducted on bone cubes cut from femoral condyles. Uniaxial compressive testing was conducted pre- and post- microfracture to determine changes in the stiffness of the bone. The results from this study show that there are significant decreases in the stiffness of femoral bone following microfracture surgery. However, different awl angles do not seem to result in significant decreases in bone stiffness. In addition, these results suggest that at the relatively low awl angles that were tested, differences in the angle of surgical awl used do not significantly affect the structural integrity of knee bone. Uniaxial testing appears a useful tool for characterizing the structural properties of bone, and further animal studies on the stiffness of bone at different timepoints following microfracture surgery could assist physicians in prescribing more suitable rehabilitation regimens.

Keywords: knee osteoarthritis; microfracture; biomechanical testing; femoral condyle; awl angle; bone stiffness
The happiness and income correlation in Canada
Authors: Jehn Anthony
Published: September 2019

Does having more income make you happier? Current literature shows varied results regarding the correlation between perceived happiness and income. This article uses data from Statistics Canada's General Social Survey (GSS) in order to examine the relationship between income and perceived happiness in a Canadian context. Findings indicate that annual income does not seem to be correlated with perceived happiness in Canada, thus challenging the age-old adage that money can buy happiness.

Keywords: happiness; income; correlation; Statistics Canada General Social Survey (GSS)
Acute exercise effects on balance outcome measures in healthy older adults: Preliminary results
Authors: Merrill Casandra
Published: September 2019

Approximately one third of Canadian seniors experience a fall each year and one quarter suffer serious injuries as a result. Preventative exercise programs are commonly recommended; however, the current methods used to assess the risk associated with these programs do not include the effects of exercise on fall risk. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of acute exercise on balance in elderly individuals. We hypothesized that acute exercise in healthy seniors would negatively affect balance outcome measures in those seniors who had a prior history of at least one fall in the past year. During the study participants were separated into two groups: those who had experienced a fall in the last year (fallers) and those who had not (non-fallers). All participants underwent static and dynamic tests to determine balance outcome measures under fatigued and control (non-fatigued) conditions. To represent the fatigued condition, the Naughton treadmill protocol was used to safely increase heart rate to 60-69% HRmax. Although it was expected that performance in the balance outcome measures would be adversely affected by the acute exercise bout in patients at a high risk of falling, conclusive results could not be drawn as the data collected were all from participants who had not experienced a fall within the past year. However, preliminary results are presented for data collected from six participants classified as non-fallers.

Keywords: acute exercise; balance; fall risk; older adults
The Importance of a Feminist Analysis within Globalization: a closer look at the global apparel industry.
Authors: Homer Elizabeth
Published: September 2019

Within academic literature on globalization, economic frameworks are often the dominant paradigm. Consequently, the phenomenon has been often been exclusively understood from a monetary perspective, rather than exploring it’s relationship with culture and geography. This paper presents an argument for the inclusion of critical feminist frameworks when studying globalization, by exposing what has been left out and encouraging what needs to be explored. As a entry point for discussing such a broad global contingency, the global apparel industry is primarily focused on; both for it’s rapid expansion as a result of globalization and it’s obvious gendered nature, as more women than men are employed globally along the chain, and are targeted as consumers. The result, is a closer look at the complex relationship between globalization, gender, race and culture. This paper is meant as a taking off point for further research within these parameters and to reinforce the importance of gender studies and critical feminist frameworks.
Income inequality and support for redistributive policies in Ontario: Who gets what, where, how, and who cares?
Authors: Sutton Tara
Published: September 2019

Income inequality has risen steadily in Canada over the last three decades, and particularly in Ontario, where it has grown at a faster rate. While the public response to this growth remains unclear, policy responses to address the issue have largely failed. To date, the literature remains divided as to the nature of the relationship between income inequality and support for redistributive policies such as welfare spending. This article argues, however, that where a relationship exists between income inequality and public support for welfare spending, it is a negative one. This negative relationship is in part due to perceptions of deservingness and factors explained by institutionalism. Even if support for governmental action to address income inequality is considerable both in Ontario and in the rest of Canada, support for governmental welfare spending is low. These findings point toward a public that is largely unresponsive to the problem of growing income inequality in Ontario. The results have implications for the development of policies to address inequality effectively, both in Ontario and in the rest of Canada.
Lateral groundwater flow and pond interactions during dry and wet years
Authors: Wicke Andrew , Patros Thair , Parkin Gary
Published: September 2019

Groundwater and surface water are tightly coupled elements of the hydrologic cycle that have often been treated as separate entities. Future climate change modelling has predicted that hydrologic cycle changes, namely increasing drought frequency and flood-type events, are likely to occur. These events may directly impact the quality and quantity of both groundwater and surface water. Future water management policies must therefore be based on an understanding of how interactions between groundwater and surface water will change with a warming climate. The aim of this study was to model and analyze the lateral flow of groundwater and its interactions with a nearby pond in a shallow, unconsolidated, unconfined aquifer. Data were collected as part of a larger and ongoing study during the year 2012, a comparatively dry year, and 2013, a comparatively wet year. We first used ArcGIS and Visual MODFLOW Flex to create a conceptual model of the system, its soil layers, monitoring wells, and potential flow patterns. We then analyzed hydraulic head data, and calculated groundwater flow volumes using the Dupuit equation. We found that the groundwater flow direction reversed in the summer of 2012 and continued until the spring of 2013. Additonally, flow rate was greater in 2013 than 2012. The flow reversal was likely caused by higher evaporative demand during the summer months of 2012, drawing substantially more water from the pond than from the soil. The two-year timeframe was not long enough to determine whether this was a typical, yearly pattern, or was primarily due to the fact that 2012 was a particularly dry year.
Bottled water and groundwater in Ontario: Can free market environmentalism resolve the emerging conflicts?
Authors: Chemeris Anna , Bruce Kai , Kapitan Krista , Sirrs Lauren
Published: September 2019

Nestlé Waters’s recent purchase of a well and water-taking rights in the Township of Centre Wellington, Ontario, has garnered national and international attention, raising concerns about how groundwater resources should be managed. In this paper, we explore free market environmentalism as a way to resolve groundwater management and water-takings issues in Ontario. Controversy over groundwater resources and their use, as illustrated by the recent case in Ontario, has become more prevalent globally as concerns about groundwater quality and scarcity develop. Our results suggest that, in theory, the incorporation of private property rights and the common law principle of riparian rights into provincial groundwater allocation mechanisms has the potential to resolve the emerging conflicts in Ontario. However, our analysis reveals that the current level of politicization in Ontario’s water allocation and pricing systems, combined with the current lack of adequate monitoring and documentation of groundwater use, are significant barriers to implementing a resource allocation mechanism for groundwater based on the principles of private ownership and riparian rights. We address these limitations to gain a deeper understanding the implications of the current water-takings system in Ontario, and conclude that these limitations deserve greater social and political attention if these controversies are to be resolved. While free market environmentalism has solutions to offer to Ontario’s groundwater management issue, the current political and institutional approaches to groundwater allocation and pricing in Ontario do not allow for them to be fully applied.
Five selected abstracts from ASCI*4010: Arts and Sciences Honours Research Seminar
Authors: Canes Lori , De Rose Zachary , Doherty Meghan , Liquornik Shane , Ramsoomair Nailah
Published: September 2019

This series features a selection of five abstracts from projects completed as part of the Winter 2017 iteration of ASCI*4010: Arts and Sciences Honours Research Seminar, a capstone course for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences (BAS) program. The course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to integrate their research interests in the arts and sciences and to produce an extended, interdisciplinary term paper under faculty supervision. Students enrolled in the course are also given the chance to share their investigations with classmates and with the University of Guelph’s larger research community through a day of poster presentations. The abstracts collected here attest both to the interdisciplinary spirit of the BAS program and the varied research interests of its students.
“Dominator Project” Raises Key Questions About Future of Cube Drilling
Authors: Jacobs Trent
Published: September 2019

In Lea County, New Mexico, shale producers drill an average of 10 wells per 640-acre section.

But last year, Concho Resources, the third-largest producer of oil and gas in the Permian Basin, decided to push the envelope. The company assembled seven drilling rigs owned by six different contractors and five fracturing fleets on a mile-long tract of land to build the “Dominator Project.”

The effort took the better part of a year and, in the end, it delivered 23 wells targeting five individual target horizons in the Wolfcamp Shale formation. The location, in the northern Delaware Basin, was carefully selected for sit-ting atop some of highest-quality geology within one of the highest-producing unconventional plays on the planet.

But when executives revealed the first oil production results in July, new doubts were raised about the success of the experiment. They said the well spacing, which averaged a horizontal distance of 230 ft compared with the area average of 600 ft, was “too tight” and that future projects would execute wider intervals.

Independently developed type curves show that the Dominator wells are now on pace to fall short of initial estimates, maybe by as much as 45%. The news triggered one of the sharpest selloffs ever seen in the shale business, sending Concho’s share price down 22% for a single-day market value loss of close to $4.4 billion.

The sector is now studying the implications that this project will have on the cube developments that are believed to require at least $150–$200 million to execute for the largest such projects. Only the largest operators can afford to take this route and among those are Concho, Encana, Devon Energy, and QEP. Several others, including Callon Petroleum, Pioneer Natural Resources, and Chevron are in transition, according to various reports.

As the trend moves forward, questions are being raised about the business model that the cube represents, and how big these developments can be before diminishing returns kick in.

Analytics and industry consulting firm Enverus, which just this week changed its name from DrillingInfo, is using a new platform it built for analyzing well spacing scenarios to piece together the lessons learned from the Dominator case study. One obvious takeaway for the firm is that constructing 23 wells in a drilling section is probably too many, at least in the oil window of the northern Delaware.

“You now have the upper range,” said Tyler Krolczyk, a petroleum engineer and analyst at Enverus. He noted that Concho’s program mostly involved eight well pads in this area of the Wolfcamp before it jumped to the 23-well Dominator pad. Other operators have averaged just a couple of more wells per pad.

“There is a big question mark in between the 10 and 23 wells,” said Krolczyk, citing specifically a dearth of pads in the area drilled out to 16 wells. “I think it would be interesting to get into that middle ground and see what the production number is.”
Integrated Deepwater MPD Control System Increases Accuracy, Ease of Use
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: September 2019

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 194543, “Lessons Learned With Real Integration of a Deepwater Managed-Pressure-Drilling Control System,” by Svein Hovland, SPE, NOV; Robert van Kuilenburg, SPE, Noble Drilling; and Trym Eide, Christian Stridsklev, and Colin Munro, NOV, prepared for the 2019 IADC/SPE Managed Pressure Drilling and Underbalanced Operations Conference and Exhibition, Amsterdam, 9–10 April. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

This paper presents lessons learned regarding design, testing, and installation of a completely integrated managed-pressure-drilling (MPD) control system on a deepwater drilling rig. For the installation described, all MPD control functions were installed permanently on the main drilling-control network of the drilling unit, providing direct access to high-speed data from other drilling machines that influence wellbore pressure. Moreover, the MPD control system has the ability to actively control these•drilling•machines.

Introduction

The authors have discussed in previous work that seamless integration with existing rig infrastructure will be instrumental in using MPD as standard operating procedure during drilling. Installing the MPD control system as an equal peer in the drilling-control network is key to this strategy. This allows for using existing high-speed, robust data networks, and optimization of the overall drilling process by including topdrive, mud pumps, drawworks, and MPD equipment in the management of pressure.

Other authors have discussed strategies for integration and economic deployment of MPD on a contractor’s fleet of vessels. This strategy includes integration of MPD hardware and control systems with existing rig systems in close collaboration with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers. In this strategy, the drilling contractor will be responsible ultimately for delivering MPD functionality as an integral part of its drilling service.

System Design

A key part of the drilling contractor’s strategy is to use the same user interfaces, topologies, and infrastructure on all their drilling vessels. To accomplish this, the MPD control system must be integrated into the overall OEM drilling control system. These integrated drilling control systems are built for seamless integration of machine control, process management, and information sharing. The system networks, forming the backbone of the system architecture, are secured and prepared for any machine integration with redundant setups for a high level of system and operational availability. The segregated networks offer increased security and reliability.

For the MPD-specific control tasks, the OEM maintains a code base of core MPD functionality that can be deployed quickly for standard deliveries. For integrated systems, the OEM and drilling contractor work together to review the existing drilling control system versions to ensure that the MPD installation is performed on the correct version of the drilling control system.
Technology Focus: Sand Management
Authors: Wang Xiuli
Published: September 2019

Technology Focus

According to the US Energy Information Administration, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) annual average oil prices have fluctuated between $93.2 and $43.3/bbl between 2014 and 2019. The price was $76.4/bbl (WTI spot price) at the beginning of October 2018, dropping approximately 41% to $45.4/bbl on 1 January 2019, reached a peak of $66.3/bbl on 23• April 2019, and then depressed to today’s (15 August 2019) $55.1/bbl.

The lower and unstable oil prices since 2015 have continuously pushed operators and service companies to reduce costs and improve capital efficiency in all aspects of business, including sand management. This is reflective of the industry’s attention on fundamental and proven sand-control practices. This year, many published works have focused on standalone screens as the most cost-effective solution when compared with other more-expensive approaches such as gravel packing or frac packing. Screens are reliable for sand control when properly designed and used in suitable sand-prone environments. The latest technologies in this area have featured developments focusing on mitigating plugging and erosional damage.

While sand control in production wells catches much attention, water-injection wells also are subject to sand-control problems triggered by water hammer, crossflow, and backflow. Newly developed screens for water-injection wells have been demonstrated with promising results in the latest field trials in preventing formation sand from flowing back and, therefore, maximizing injectivity.

In this issue, I have selected a variety of papers with more emphasis on cost-effective sand-management practices and operations. Please read the following three paper synopses with the recommended additional readings for more information, and do not forget to attend the upcoming SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition scheduled for 30 September through 2 October in Calgary.

Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org.

SPE 192090 Sand Prediction for a Cost-Effective Marginal Greenfield Development by Siti Aishah Mohd Hatta, Petronas, et al.

SPE 193697 Risk Assessment in Sand-Control Selection: Introducing a Traffic Light System in Standalone-Screen Selection by Mahdi Mahmoudi, RGL Reservoir Management, et al.

SPE 193698 Successful Installation of Standalone Screen in Challenging Environment in Umm Niqa Field by Amr Zeidan, Kuwait Oil Company, et al.
Ultrasound-guided single erector spinae plane block versus thoracic paravertebral block for patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Ma Danxu , Ren Huilong , Li Xueyang , Li Huili , Jiang Jia , Wu Anshi , Wang Yun
Published: September 2019

Background: Whether erector spinae plane (ESP) block can replace thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided ESP block compared with TPVB for postoperative analgesia after video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy under general anesthesia. Methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial divided patients into a control group, a TPVB group (0.3 mL/kg, 0.5% ropivacaine), and an ESP group (0.5 mL/kg, 0.5% ropivacaine). Dermatomes with loss of pinprick sensation, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure were recorded during 30 min after block administration. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores, total analgesic dose, and complications after surgery were recorded. Results: No obvious hemodynamic fluctuations occurred in the TPVB and ESP groups within 30 min after block administration. The segmental dermatomes with loss of pinprick sensation 30 min after regional block were 4.5 (1.1) dermatomes (T3–T7) in the TPVB group and 5.4 (1.2) dermatomes (T2–T8) in the ESP group. At 1 and 6 h after operation, VAS scores were lower in the TPVB group than in the control group (rest: 1h, P<0.001, 6h, P=0.004; cough: 1h, P<0.001, 6h, P<0.001), but at 18, 24, and 48 h, there was no significant difference (rest: 18h, P=0.18, 24h, P>0.99, 48h, P> 0.99; cough: 8h, P>0.99, 24h, P>0.99, 48h, P>0.99). VAS scores were similar in the TPVB and ESP groups at 1 h postoperatively (rest: P>0.99, cough: P>0.99), but were lower in the ESP group at 6, 18, 24, and 48 h (rest: 6h, P=0.018, 18h, P<0.001, 24h, P< 0.001, 48h, P<0.001; cough: 6h, P=0.004, 18h, P<0.001, 24h, P=0.004, 48h, P= 0.003). The doses of postoperative patient-controlled analgesia and rescue analgesia were lower in the TPVB and ESP groups than in the control group and were lower in the ESP group than in the TPVB group No block-related complications occurred. Conclusions: Single ESP block provided superior postoperative analgesia than TPVB, without causing any adverse effect.Trial registration: The study was approved by the ethics committee of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital (2017-ke-81). The trial was registered retrospectively at the Clinical Trial Registry of China (ChiCTR-INR-17011499) on May 26, 2017.
Micropulse transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation a safe treatment for recalcitrant glaucoma with good visual potential using different laser source on MicroPulse MP3 probe.
Authors: Hamzeh Ammar , Annayef Azhar
Published: September 2019

Glaucoma is a challenging ocular disease with different but limited treatment approaches. Diode laser through sclera is a traditional way to decrease IOP in advanced glaucomatous eyes, but with micropulse (microsecond pulsing) delivery system it became safer and more effective. In this study we retrospectively summarized IOP changes in eyes that had been treated by micropulse transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation. we focused on glaucomatous eyes that had relatively good visual acuity and we used a new combination of two devices from two different companies which were infrared 810 nm laser source from (LIGHTMED CORPORATION, Tuscan, TAIWAN) with different delivery system the MicroPulse MP3 handpiece probe from (Iridex, Mountain View, CA, USA) in this way we decrease cost and showed a comparable effectivity .
Measures of obesity and accepted cardio-metabolic disease risk factors from a peri-urban female farm working population in South Africa
Authors: Randeria Shehan , Joseph Danzil , Mentoor Ilze Lauren , Nell Theo
Published: September 2019

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remains a primary cause of (central) obesity-associated mortality among African populations. Measures of adiposity are reported as prevalence’s in a South African (SA) female farm working population at risk for cardio-and metabolic disease related to body mass index, (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (W:H), waist circumference (WC) and visceral adiposity index (VAI), biochemical and metabolic blood parameters.Methods: A cross-section of female farm workers (n=120) from the Boland region in SA between the ages 20-60 years were recruited and classified according to different anthropometric indices including BMI, W:H, WC and the VAI, and subsequently divided into normal- and at risk groups for each index. Blood samples were analysed for inflammatory markers, serum insulin, glucose and a full lipid profile.Results: Prevalence’s and significant differences for the different adiposity measures between normal and overweight groups were: (BMI: 25.8% - 74.2%; p<0.0001); (W:H: 57.5% - 42.5%; p<0.0001); (WC: 42.0% vs 58.3%; p<0.0001); and (VAI: 48.3% vs 51.7%; p<0.0001). Systolic blood pressure (p<0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (p=0.03) were different within the BMI grouping, as well as VAT% (p<0.001) and SAT% (p<0.01). Differences were reported for body mass, BMI, WC and VAI within the W:H and WC groupings. Systolic (p=0.04) and diastolic blood pressure (p=0.0009) were different in the WC grouping. Metabolic healthy and unhealthy women showed differences in BMI (p<0.05); W:H (p<0.0001); WC (p<0.0001). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were different between metabolic healthy (p<0.05) and unhealthy women (p=0.0005). The inflammatory cytokines were similarly elevated in the normal and obese groups TNFα; (p<0.0001); IL-6; (p<0.01), MCP-1; (p=0.0001), and resistin; (p<0.0001). For the W:H, IL-6 (p<0.01) and blood glucose (p=0.006) were different. The WC grouping showed differences in resistin (p<0.0001), MCP-1 (p<0.0001, blood glucose (p<0.01, and insulin (p=0.0002). For metabolic healthy vs unhealthy women, resistin (p<0.0001); MCP-1 (p=0.0007); blood glucose (p<0.01) and insulin (p<0.05) were different.Conclusion: Women suffering from obesity showed a higher pro-inflammatory profile and higher risk for cardio-metabolic disease using the BMI as a measure of adiposity compared to WC, W:H and VAI.
Malaria-attributable fraction of fever episodes among HIV-seropositive patients in the Western highland area of Cameroon
Authors: TCHUINKAM Timoléon , Fopa François , Doro-Altan Anna Maria , Djikolbe-Gondje Innocent , Mendaza Maria Angeles , Djamouko-Djonkam Landre , Taafo Francis , Bamou Roland , Defo-Talom Armand , Poumachu Yacouba , Buonomo Ersilia , Mpoame Mbida
Published: September 2019

Background: Fever is the most frequent symptom for Malaria and HIV/AIDS, but it is non-specific; therefore it can’t be used efficiently in clinical diagnosis of malaria in hyperendemic zones. In hypoendemic areas of malaria, this assertion is not obvious, since people lack naturally acquired immunity. The present study aims at determining the Malaria-attributable fraction of fever episodes (MAFE) among HIV-positive patients in a hypoendemic highland area. Methods: During two-years prospective cross-sectional study, blood samples were collected from outpatients of an HIV/AIDS clinic and examined for the presence and density of malaria parasites. In addition to malaria related symptoms, some other patients’ data were recorded: sexe, age, body mass index (BMI), T-lymphocyte CD4 counts, viral loads, haemograms and transaminases measurements. Results: A total of 729 HIV-seropositive patients were enrolled into the study. Their mean Plasmodial infection rate and parasitaemia were: 0.823% and 1.050 parasites/µl of blood respectively; and were both significantly lower, compared to the control seronegative group, in contrast to our hypothesis. No significant difference was observed when the mean values of transaminases were compared between those with and without plasmodial infection. For the 119 (16.32%) febrile individuals found, the calculated MAFE was almost null (0.15%). Their mean CD4 count, red blood cells (RBC) count and haemoglobin rate were: 226 cell/µl, 3.83x10 6 RBC/µl and 10.4 g/dl respectively; and were all significantly lower than in the non-febrile group. However, malaria parasite infection rates and mean densities were similar in both groups. Likewise, there was no difference between: sex ratios, mean ages, BMI, total white blood cells counts and viral loads between the two groups. Conclusion: HIV infection in spite of the immunodeficiency induced does not enhance the risk of Plasmodium infection in hypoendemic highland settings. Even in the scarce cases of co-infection occurring here, malaria is rarely responsible for fever episodes. These fevers are indeed associated with higher anaemia and immunodeficiency, and likely due instead to opportunistic infectious diseases.
Sprayed cultured autologous keratinocytes in the treatment of severe burns: a retrospective matched cohort study
Authors: Karlsson Matilda , Steinvall Ingrid , Olofsson Pia , Thorfinn Johan , Sjöberg Folke , Åstrand Liselott , Fayez Safa , Khalaf Ahmed , P Divyasree , Elserafy Ahmed , Elmasry Moustafa
Published: September 2019

Objective: Cultured autologous keratinocytes were used to treat burns since 1981 with many challenges and variable clinical outcome. Our aim was to compare the duration of hospital stay between burned patients received skin grafts with and without cultured autologous keratinocytes, in a retrospective cohort study. Multivariable regression was used to analyse associations between duration of hospital stay and treatment adjusted for age, mortality, size, and depth of the burn. Then, we investigated the differentiation of human stem cell line to keratinocyte-like cells as a future perspective. Results : The median hospital stay in the group given cultured autologous keratinocytes (n=12) was 70 days (10 th – 90 th centile 50-141) and in the matched group 62 days (2 -196) (n=43), p=0.25. The multivariable regression analysis showed a coefficient of 17.36 (95 % CI -17.69 to 52.40), p= 0.32, for hospital stay in the treatment group, compared with the matched group. Our results showed no difference in the duration of hospital stay between the two groups. Therefore, further evaluation for this treatment is needed. Stem cells showed enhanced proliferation and differentiation when cultured on glass surface rather than the classical tissue culture plastic and should be considered for burn management research.
Developing a Vignette based Questionnaire to Assess Help Seeking Intention, Stigma and Perception regarding Peripartum Depression
Authors: Amarassinghe Gayani , Agampodi Suneth
Published: September 2019

Objectives
Depression is the commonest mental health problem in pregnancy. Health seeking for peripartum depression is heavily influenced by stigma and disease perceptions which need to be studied in order to design interventions to improve health seeking. Since quantitative studies on this are scares we decided to study stigma and perception regarding peripartum depression and its association with help seeking intention among pregnant women in Sri Lanka. This paper reports how a tool was designed and validated for this study.
Results
A self-completed questionnaire was developed based on a vignette of a postpartum mother with symptoms of peripartum depression. Vignette was used as people are not familiar with western disease descriptions. It also provided opportunity to study how participants construct meaning to typical symptoms of peripartum depression.
Stigma and perception regarding peripartum depression were presented as statements. Agreement to these statements after reading the vignette was to be marked in a likert scale.
The vignette and statements were constructed following discussions with local stakeholders, assessment of diagnostic criteria, global literature and survival stories. Expert validation by a multidisciplinary team and cognitive validation by pregnant women were conducted and pretested. It was developed in Sinhalese and translated to Tamil and English.
Divergent gas-exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence in F1 hybrids driving habitat differentiation compared to their parents in Buddleja
Authors: Gong Weichang , Chen Yaqing , Wang Jian , Yuan Han
Published: September 2019

Background Inter-specific hybridizations were common and can easily take place in Buddleja , and it was an important way for evolution and rapid speciation. The F1 hybrid in this study was a newly identified inter-specific hybridization between B. crispa and B. offic inalis in Sino-Himalayan region. In the natural hybrid zones, F1 hybrids always occupy different habitats from their parents. The objective of this study was to explore environmental acclimatization of F1 hybrids and their parents at physiological and biochemical levels.Results The results showed that F1 hybrids performed as an intermediate in adaptation to their parents, with divergent gas-exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence features. F1 hybrids showed the parallel light compensation point and light saturation point with their parents, but low utilization efficiency to low-light density. They synthesized the greatest total chlorophyll content (10.41 ± 0.56 mg•g -1 ) in leaves than their parents. During the diurnal variation of photosynthesis, F1 hybrids markedly decreased and preserved the stomatal conductance and leaf transpiration rate at a low level. However, they kept high carbon assimilation rate and water-use efficiency with markedly increased vapor pressure deficit. In F1 hybrids, the maximum net photosynthetic rate, maximum water-use efficiency and maximum vapor pressure deficit were 10.48 ± 0.50 mmol CO 2 •mmol -1 photo, 21.52 ± 2.20 µmol•mmol -1 and 4.18 ± 0.55 kPa, respectively. In addition, all Buddleja species performed well and grow healthy with high level of the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII and low non-photochemical quenching, 0.83 ± 0.004 - 0.85 ± 0.004, and 1.22 ± 0.15 - 1.97 ± 0.08, respectively. In F1 hybrids, they showed great photochemical activity compared to their parental species with high photochemical quenching. Furthermore, the effective quantum yield and electron transport rate presented a similar behavior.Conclusions The results indicated that F1 hybrids have great photochemical activities and growth acclimatization compared to their parents. Associated with the growth performance of F1 hybrids in the homogenous garden, our results suggested that the divergent gas-exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence patterns may facilitate F1 hybrids to respond to different habitats, and to improve growth performance.
Feasibility of using MgSO4 and a self-designed inspiratory impedance threshold device in cardiac arrest-cardiopulmonary resuscitation study on porcine model
Authors: Li Chao , Gu Hai-Fei , He Xiao-Li , Zhang Yu , Min Jie-Qing , Zhou Yuan-Tao , Huang Lei , Zhang Ming , Cheng Li-Ming , Wu Ji-Lin , Du Wen-Kang , Li Li
Published: September 2019

Cardiac arrest (CA) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have always been two research hotpots in emergency medicine. Problems such as optimizing animal CA models and promoting CPR efficiency are to be explored. Establishing animal CA models is the precondition of CPR study. Previous studies usually use electric shock or intravenous drug administration to induce CA in animals. Nevertheless, as electric shock is complicated to operate and the dosage for drug administration is difficult to control, many published animal CA models are not ideally stable and operable. In order to establish a stable and operable CA model for cardiac arrest- cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CA-CPR) research, this study established different pig CA models via intravenous administration of KCI, MgSO 4 and ketamine respectively, and subsequently performed CRP with a self-designed inspiratory impedance threshold device (SIITD). The success rate of CRP in different CA models was evaluated according to hemodynamic and biochemical parameters of pigs. Results demonstrated that in the CA model established by intravenous administration of MgSO 4 , cardiac output of pigs were significantly elevated and reached the normal range at 10-min after CPR, and other vital signs and biochemical parameters in this model exhibited recovery trends throughout CPR. This study provides a more effective CA model and new ideas in methodology of future CA-CPR research.
Land Use and Environmental Variables Influence Tetracycline‐Resistant Bacteria Occurrence in Southeastern Coastal Plain Streams
Authors: Duff Jason A. , Aslan Asli , Cohen Risa A.
Published: September 2019

The global presence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquatic systems has the potential to influence public health by reducing antibiotic efficacy, and the environment by altering the structure and activity of microbial communities. Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharge, agricultural runoff, and variables such as precipitation, warm temperatures, and nutrient availability are thought to increase AMR occurrence in the environment. In this study, we examined relationships between tetracycline‐resistant Escherichia coli counts and land use, precipitation, temperature, and nutrient availability within the Ogeechee River basin in Georgia. Due to its widespread use in agriculture and medicine, tetracycline was selected as a pathway for AMR occurrence in the study area. Tetracycline‐resistant E. coli levels were compared across WWTP effluent, agricultural runoff, and reference sites over 13 wk. Discharge from WWTPs had tetracycline‐resistant E. coli counts 2 to 50 times greater than reference sites. Tetracycline‐resistant E. coli counts were positively correlated with temperature and precipitation, indicating that environmental factors and runoff were significant contributors to the presence of AMR in this study. Furthermore, increased precipitation appeared to enhance the spatial scale of AMR in the Ogeechee River system; elevated levels of tetracycline‐resistant E. coli occurred at reference sites after a major precipitation event, but not during drier months. Results from this study suggest that considering both environmental conditions and land use could be useful for managing AMR in surface waters.

Core Ideas

Agricultural runoff and wastewater effluent increased fecal bacteria in the river.

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharge increased tetracycline‐resistant bacteria levels.

Bacteria with antimicrobial resistance were transported farther after heavy precipitation.

Temperature and nutrients positively correlated with tetracycline‐resistant bacteria.

WWTP inputs to surface waters should be monitored for antimicrobial resistance.
Fazer o fogo fazer:
Authors: Fagundes Guilherme Moura
Published: September 2019

O artigo consiste em um exercício de tecnologia comparada sobre seis tipos de manipulações do fogo no contexto conservacionista. Parto de pesquisa etnográfica junto a brigadistas e gestores ambientais da Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins, uma unidade de conservação localizada na região do Jalapão (Tocantins, Brasil). Baseio-me no tratamento tecnosemiótico das ações manipulatórias, recorrendo à antropologia da ação de André-Georges Haudricourt e dialogando com a filosofia biológica das técnicas de matriz francesa. O objetivo é inserir o tema da tecnicidade do fogo numa abordagem genética, mais interessada nos agenciamentos técnicos que na mera classificação funcional. O texto finaliza qualificando e expandindo os modos de existência do fogo sob manejo para além da predicação ferramental em seu senso utilitário, mas também se esquivando de exaltá-lo como sendo uma ruptura ou inovação tecnocientífica desatrelada de toda uma linhagem técnica da qual ele é parte.
Tecnologias assistivas são uma redundância? O processo de projeto de uma adaptação como uma proposta de design menor
Authors: Malhão Rafael da Silva
Published: September 2019

O presente artigo busca pensar a condição do conhecimento técnico a partir de uma pesquisa de campo em uma disciplina de projeto de tecnologias assistivas de um curso de graduação em design. Partindo desta pesquisa etnográfica direcionamos a discussão para as condições de um pensamento técnico que não esteja submetido as normatividades econômicas, para tanto segue-se as orientações do pensamento técnico de Gilbert Simondon, principalmente a sua ideia de uma nova cultura técnica, associando-a ao conceito de desobediência tecnológica formulado pelo designer cubano Ernesto Oroza.
Türkiye’de Ekolojik Ayak İzi ve Biyokapasite Arasındaki İlişki: Bootstrap Rolling Window Nedensellik Testi
Authors: Şimşek Türker , Bursal Mücella
Published: September 2019

Çevresel
bozulmanın bir göstergesi olan ekolojik ayak izi son yıllarda literatürde yer
almaya başlamıştır. Bununla birlikte ekonomik gelişme, biyolojik çeşitlilik,
ekosistem hizmetleri ve insan refahı arasındaki ilişkilerin karmaşık hale
gelmesinden dolayı bu kavramın önemi siyasi mekanizmalar tarafından ihmal
edilmiş durumdadır. Bu çalışmada 1961-2016 yılları arasında ekolojik ayak izi
ve biyokapasite arasındaki ilişki nedensellik analiz yöntemi ile incelenmiştir.
Analiz sonuçlarına göre ilgili yıllarda hem ekolojik kapasiteden biyokapasiteye
hem de biyokapasiteden ekolojik kapasiteye nedensellik bulgusuna rastlanmış,  bu iki değişkenin uzun dönem de birlikte
hareket ettiği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.
One-Pot Green Synthesis of Some Novel N-Substituted 5-Amino-1,3,4- Thiadiazole Derivatives
Authors: Habibi Azizollah , Khosravi Sahar , Shahcheragh Seyyed M. , Abdul Rahman Mohd B.
Published: September 2019

In the current study, a green, one-pot, three-component reaction was performed to prepare
novel N-substituted 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives. The thiadiazoles were obtained from the reaction
of a ketene S,S-acetal of Meldrum’s acid or barbituric acid (as key intermediates), hydrazine,
and isothiocyanate. The key advantages of this manner include environmentally safe reactions, high
yield, appropriate reaction time, simple reaction conditions, and use of a green reaction solvent. The
structure of thiadiazoles was determined based on the spectroscopic data.
Abstracts 20th International Science of Aphasia Conference, Rome, September 2019
Authors: SSTP Redactie
Published: September 2019

Abstracts and programme of 20th International Science of Aphasia Conference, Rome, September 23-26, 2019
Calidad de planta de Pinus greggii producida en sustratos a base de aserrín
Authors: Vicente-Arbona Julio César , Carrasco-Hernández Violeta , Rodríguez-Trejo Dante Arturo , Villanueva-Morales Antonio
Published: September 2019

En México la superficie deforestada es elevada y los porcentajes de supervivencia de planta en programas de reforestación son bajos. Uno de los factores claves para aumentar la supervivencia es tener una planta de buena calidad. En la producción de planta en viveros de México se utilizan básicamente dos tipos de sustratos: uno dominado por suelo de monte (en viveros tradicionales) y otro con una proporción importante de turba de musgo (viveros tecnificados). El primero altera las áreas naturales, ya de por sí perturbadas y el segundo es costoso. Debido a lo anterior, el presente trabajo tiene por objeto evaluar la calidad de planta de Pinus greggii Engelm. ex Parl. producidas en diferentes sustratos a base de aserrín, con fertilización e inoculación con un hongo ectomicorrícico. Las plantas permanecieron en invernadero y se evaluaron a los 10 meses. La calidad de planta se evaluó mediante indicadores e índices morfológicos y fisiológicos. También se analizaron las propiedades físicas y químicas de los sustratos utilizados en el presente estudio. En términos generales, las plantas calificaron con una calidad media a alta. Los tratamientos que obtuvieron mayor número de buenas calificaciones en los indicadores de calidad correspondieron principalmente a los inoculados. El mejor tratamiento correspondió a un sustrato con 80% de aserrín y 20% de corteza de pino, 8 g de fertilizante de liberación controlada y 75 ppm de nitrógeno. Es posible producir plantas de P. greggii de calidad con sustratos a base de aserrín, fertilizados y micorrizados.
Evaluación de modelos aplicados a la producción de materia seca de Brachiaria brizantha en el periodo lluvioso
Authors: Villegas R. Danny A. , Valbuena Nora , Milla P. Manuel E.
Published: September 2019

En éste trabajo se compararon modelos no lineales para describir la dinámica de crecimiento de plantas con base en la producción de materia seca en Brachiaria brizantha CV. Toledo a diferentes edades de corte y bajo fertilización nitrogenada en época de lluvias, la cual permitió establecer puntos de equilibrio, estudio de la monotonía y concavidad. Los resultados mostraron que cuatro modelos están relacionados con la constante A concerniente al rendimiento máximo de materia seca. Los puntos de equilibrio se ven afectados por factores vinculados al desarrollo del cultivo. En condiciones de sequía el modelo Gompertz muestra una debilidad frente al resto, por lo que su uso estaría restringido en tales condiciones climatológicas. Los modelos Von Bertalanffy y Brody carecen de un punto de inflexión, por lo que en ensayos donde se presume la presencia de inflexiones en la producción de materia seca, su implementación no es conveniente. Se puede sugerir el uso del modelo logístico en condiciones de sequía, mientras que en períodos lluviosos, el uso de un modelo logístico o Gompertz está sujeto a la realización previa del Análisis de Covarianza. La fertilización nitrogenada, la edad de corte, la tasa intrínseca de crecimiento del pasto B. brizantha, así como los demás factores que afectan el desarrollo de ésta especie determinan la sustentabilidad en la producción de materia seca.
Multimedia-Assisted Learning among Lebanese Teachers
Authors: Jabbour Khayrazad Kari
Published: September 2019

Multimedia learning consists of graphics and texts. Learning occurs when the learners create mental representations from combining the text and relevant graphics in the lessons. Incorporation of multimedia learning in teaching can lead education to a higher level than traditional teaching techniques. The aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which multimedia is incorporated in classroom teaching among Lebanese educators. A small scale survey from 50 middle school teachers of 10 different schools selected from various areas in Lebanon was undertaken. The survey results were compared and tested in order to evaluate whether or not the teachers integrate multimedia in classroom teaching. If they do, this study aims to identify the multimedia elements they frequently use. However, if not, this study aims to find out the causes for not adopting multimedia in their classroom teaching.
The Influence of Social Networking on Lifestyle: A Higher Education Perspective
Authors: Veerasamy D
Published: September 2019

Social networks have become a way of life for many people who use them to connect and communicate with the world at large. Social media is defined as any tool or service that uses the Internet to facilitate conversations. Facebook is one of the most popular social networking sites (SNSs) and has a total of 55 million active users worldwide with an average of 250000 new registrations per day. After Yahoo, MySpace and Google, Facebook is also the fourth most popular SNS in South Africa. The purpose of the paper was to determine whether social networks have an influence on higher education studentsâ€™ lifestyles and behaviour. This research was descriptive and quantitative in nature. The sample comprised 386 students studying at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). The results indicated that the majority of the respondents preferred Facebook as their social network of choice. More than half of the respondents indicated that they access their preferred social network five times or more per day. The majority of the respondents agreed that social networks allow for global interaction and that maintaining relationships has become easier with social networking,