bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology and Antibacterial Treatment of Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis in Patients Hospitalized at Children’s Clinical University Hospital in Riga, Latvia
Authors: Petruhina Jevgenija , Urbane Urzula Nora , Petersons Aigars , Pavare Jana 
Published: September 2018

Abstract
Introduction.Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO) is one of the most serious bacterial infections in children that may result in severe complications, such as sepsis, septic shock, bone and joint destruction, disruption of longitudinal bone growth, and even death. Early recognition and evaluation of severity of AHO, awareness of the local prevalence of different microorganisms, as well as timely initiated adequate treatment are crucial for prevention of serious complications. Aim of the Study. To identify the main causative agents of AHO and their antibacterial susceptibility, and to evaluate the applied treatment strategies of AHO in pediatric patients in Clinical Children’s University Hospital (CCUH) in Riga, Latvia. Material and methods. All patients diagnosed with AHO and treated at CCUH were included in retrospective, descriptive study conducted between 1st of January 2014 and 31st of December 2017. Results. The main causative agent for AHO in the study patients was methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), which was isolated from blood cultures of 40% (n=24) of patients and from 79% (n=57) of intraoperative cultures. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was low (found only in one patient, or 1.4%). Thirteen different antibiotics were applied for treatment of AHO, of which Oxacillin was the most common (received by 89.4% of patients). In 57% of cases (n=54) the patients received monotherapy, and 43% of patients (n=40) received a combination of two or more antimicrobials. The most commonly used combination of antibiotics was Oxacillin plus Clindamycin, which was applied in 25.5% of cases (n=24). In 77% of cases (n=72). a transition from one antibiotic to another was observed. On discharge, oral treatment with Cefuroxime or Clindamycin was most commonly prescribed (in 52.5% and 36% of cases, respectively). The total duration of treatment varied between 5 and 20 days, with a median of 25 days. Conclusions. The main causative agent of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis in children treated at Children’s Clinical University Hospital was Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). The prevalence of MRSA at CCUH was very low, which must be considered when prescribing empirical antibacterial treatment, giving preference to narrow spectrum antibiotics. Establishment of local guidelines for management of AHO in children at CCUH, including necessary investigations, treatment algorithm for inpatient and outpatient use with defined duration of treatment and time of conversion to oral antibiotics, follow-up and clinical endpoint criteria, and information for parents or carers.
Obstacles to Personal Creativity Among Arab Women from the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries
Authors: Abdulla Ahmed M. , Runco Mark A. , Alsuwaidi Hanadi N. , Alhindal Huda S. 
Published: September 2018

Abstract
Personal obstacles to creativity were investigated by sampling 297 Arab women from four Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Obstacles to Personal Creativity Inventory, as self-report, was used. It assesses four types of obstacles (a) inhibition/shyness, (b) lack of time/opportunity, (c) social repression, and (d) lack of motivation. The results showed that the highest mean was reported for the lack of time/opportunities factor, followed in order by the three other factors: lack of motivation, inhibition/shyness, and social repression. (A high mean is indicative of more obstacles.) A multivariate analysis of variance indicated that reported obstacles to creativity significantly differed by field of study. Women in the arts reported experiencing fewer obstacles related to social repression in comparison with women in engineering, who showed the highest mean. No significant effects were observed for level of education, country and income in the GCC countries. The MANOVA also showed significant interactions between (a) education and sector (i.e., government vs private), (b) country and sector, (c) income and field of study, and finally (d) between field of study and sector. Results from this study were compared to two other studies, in Brazil and Mexico, that used the Obstacles to Personal Creativity Inventory. The high mean found for the lack of motivation in GCC countries deserves further investigation, given that motivation is so important for creativity and often is something that can be encouraged.
Potential Mechanisms Underlying the Impact of Imaginative Play on Socio-Emotional Development in Childhood
Authors: Jankowska Dorota M. , Omelańczuk Iwona 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to weigh the empirical and hypothetical evidence to assess the claim that imaginative play supports the acquisition and development of social and emotional competence. We analyse children’s play and social skills using a development-based perspective. On this basis, we describe the developmental trajectories of imaginative play and the components of socio-emotional competence during childhood, especially in the pre-school period. In addition, we review the research literature on the possible link between imaginative play and creativity in children, and on how this type of play is predictive of later life creativity. Finally, we discuss hypothetical mechanisms that may account for the relationship between imaginative play and social competence in the preschool years and beyond.
Effect of experimentally induced hypothyroidism during gestation period on activity dependent neurotrophic factor (ADNF) in newborn rat brain tissue
Authors: Cesur Gökhan , Eren Mehtap Kılıç , Eren Erdal , Ergin Kemal , Ek Rauf Onur , Yıldız Yüksel , Şirinyıldız Ferhat , Gök Balcı Umut , Ongel Kurtulus 
Published: September 2018

Abstract

Purpose
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of prenatal hypothyroidism on neonatal rats by the way of activity-dependent neuroprotective factor (ADNF) expression.

Methods
Twenty-one Wistar albino neonatal rats were divided into two subgroups; a control group and neonatal rats with experimental maternal hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism was induced by using propylthiouracil (PTU). Neonatal rats obtained PTU from breast milk continuously for 1 week after birth. The rats from the control group were fed only normal feed and water. After birth, body weight and blood thyroid hormone levels were tested. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), Slug, Numb, Notch-1 and ADNF antibodies were used for immunohistochemical analysis. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting analyses were used to evaluate ADNF gene expression levels from 1-week-old rat’s brain.

Results
There was no difference between the two groups for birth weights. The thyroxine (T4) level from the experimental group was <0.4 ng/mL, and it was 0.8 ng/mL for the control group. It was shown that, the results from the experimental group samples had significantly lower ADNF mRNA levels than control group (p < 0.05). The increase from GFAP and Numb expression and decrease from Slug expression were shown in the experimental group. Local differences were identified for ADNF and a decrease was shown in both sides of brain. There was no difference for Notch-1 expression for both groups.

Conclusion
In this study, decreasing ADNF expression might contribute to developing neurological problems in congenital hypothyroidism.
The response of meteorin-like hormone and interleukin-4 in overweight women during exercise in temperate, warm and cold water
Authors: Saghebjoo Marziyeh , Einaloo Afsaneh , Mogharnasi Mehdi , Ahmadabadi Fereshteh 
Published: September 2018

Abstract

Background
Meteorin-like hormone (Metrnl) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) are protein molecules that stimulate the production of brown adipose tissue to improve diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of Metrnl protein and IL-4 in overweight women during exercise in temperate, warm and cold water.

Materials and methods
Thirteen overweight young women (mean age 25.21 ± 3.27 years, body mass index 26.43 ± 1.34 kg/m2) were selected randomly and performed three sessions of interval exercise (40 min per session, 65% of maximum oxygen consumption) in non-consecutive days in temperate (24–25 °C), warm (36.5–37.5 °C) and cold (16.5–17.5 °C) water. Blood sampling was done immediately before and after exercise.

Results
The Metrnl level significantly increased after exercise in temperate and warm water (p = 0.0001) and significantly decreased in cold water (p = 0.0001). IL-4 level significantly increased after exercise in warm water (p = 0.003), while there was no significant change after exercise in temperate and cold water.

Conclusions
Exercise in warm water appears to stimulate and accumulate immune cells compared to temperate and cold water. This feature can be used to stimulate the production of hormones such as Metrnl and IL-4 to enhance brown fat, although more studies are needed in this regard.
Effects of Cerium on the Inclusions and Pitting Corrosion Behavior of 434 Ferritic Stainless Steel
Authors: Yu Y. C. , Zhang S. H. , Wang S. B. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe effects of Ce addition on the inclusions and the pitting corrosion behavior of ferritic stainless steel were investigated. The results showed that Ce2O3·SiO2 and Ce2O2S inclusions were mainly found in 434 ferritic stainless steel containing 0.011% or 0.023 wt% Ce, which is the most appropriate addition of Ce that could contribute to produce the dispersive and fine rare earth inclusions. According to the thermodynamic analysis, Ce inclusions could be produced by rare earth elements combining with oxygen, sulfur, or preexisting SiO2. While the kinetic analysis and mechanism for formation of inclusions suggested that the area ratio of the pure SiO2 inclusion decreased with Ce increasing, and the difference of [Ce] concentration between the original inclusion interface and the SiO2 solid unreacted nuclear interface is the main reason to cause the different process of inclusion modification. Meanwhile, when the content of Ce was 0.011% or 0.023%, the resistance to pitting corrosion increased with the interface areas between the inclusions and the steel matrix decreasing. However, the excessive Ce addition resulted in the increase of size and quantity of inclusions, which would reduce the resistance to pitting corrosion.
Usefulness of hematological parameters for differential diagnosis of endometriomas in adolescents/young adults and older women
Authors: Seckin Berna , Ates Mete Can , Kirbas Ayse , Yesilyurt Huseyin 
Published: September 2018

AbstractBackgroundInflammatory processes have been considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. However, the predictive role of inflammatory hematological parameters in endometriosis is not clear. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical value of hematologic markers in the differential diagnosis of endometriomas in younger and older reproductive age women.Materials and methodsA retrospective chart review was done for 502 patients who underwent surgery: 267 with endometriomas (endometrioma group) and 235 with other benign adnexal cysts (control group). Patients were placed into subgroups as younger (adolescents/young adults, aged <25 years) and older (aged ≥25 years) women. Total and differential white blood cell count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet indices and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were evaluated with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for differential diagnosis of endometriomas.ResultsThe mean serum levels of PLR, plateletcrit (PCT), platelet count and CA-125 (reference range below 35 IU/mL) were significantly higher in the endometrioma group (p < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) for CA-125 was 0.85 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.82–0.88] (p < 0.001) for the entire group. However, platelet count, PLR, and PCT showed poor discriminative ability for detecting endometriomas with AUC values of 0.59 (95% CI, 0.55–0.65, p < 0.001), 0.58 (95% CI, 0.53–0.63, p = 0.002) and 0.61 (95% CI, 0.56–0.66, p < 0.001), respectively. In age-stratified analysis, these platelet indices had also low diagnostic performance in both age groups.ConclusionsHematologic markers do not adequately differentiate ovarian endometriomas from other benign cysts in neither adolescents/young adults nor older women.
Cybersecurity at the Grassroots: American Local Governments and the Challenges of Internet Security
Authors: Norris Donald F. , Mateczun Laura , Joshi Anupam , Finin Tim 
Published: September 2018

Abstract
In this paper, we examine cybersecurity challenges faced by America’s local, governments, including: the extent of cyberattacks; problems faced in preventing attacks from being successful; barriers to providing high levels of cybersecurity management; and actions that local governments believe should be taken to improve cybersecurity practice. Our research method consisted of a focus group of information technology (IT) and cybersecurity officials from one American state. Our findings indicate that cyberattacks are constant and can number in the tens of thousands or more per day. While our participants noted that while they were not perfect at it, they felt that they had cybersecurity technology under good control. Their biggest challenge is human – that is, end-users who make mistakes or engage in misconduct. Local governments face several barriers in providing high levels of cybersecurity, including: insufficient funding and staffing; problems of governance; and insufficient or under-enforced cybersecurity policies. Participants suggested several ways to improve local government cybersecurity, including: vulnerability assessment, scanning and testing, cybersecurity insurance, improving end-user authentication and authorization, end-user training and control, control over the use of external devices, and improved governance methods, among others. We conclude by making suggestions for further research into local government cybersecurity.
Amberlite XAD7 resin functionalized with crown ether and Fe(III) used for arsenic removal from water
Authors: Ciopec Mihaela , Davidescu Corneliu Mircea , Negrea Adina , Duţeanu Narcis , Rusu Gerlinde , Grad Oana , Negrea Petru 
Published: September 2018

Abstract
Water represents an essential resource for life and for all natural processes. Our existence and our economic activities are totally dependent on this precious resource. It is well known that into the developing countries the main resource of drinkable water is represented by underground waters, so their contamination with arsenic represents a real problem that needs to be solved. To solve the problem of arsenic water pollution, it was necessary to develop a series of chemical, physicochemical and biological methods to reduce arsenic concentrations from water. From all these methods, adsorption offers many advantages including simple and stable operation, easy handling of waste, absence of added reagents, compact facilities and generally lower operation cost. The goal of this paper is to study the sorption properties of a new adsorbent material prepared by impregnating Amberlite XAD7 resin with crown ether (dibenzo-18-crown-6 ether) and loaded with Fe(III) ions. Solvent impregnated resin (SIR) method was used for functionalization. Amberlite XAD7 resin functionalization was evidenced by energy dispersive X-ray analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis and determination of specific surface by the Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) analysis. Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies were performed in order to determine the removal efficiency of the studied adsorbent for arsenic removal from water. In order to study the As(V) adsorption mechanism the experimental data were modelled using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second order kinetic models. Kinetic of adsorption process was better described by pseudo-second-order model. Experimental data were fitted with three non-linear adsorption isotherm models: Langmuir, Freundlich and Sips. Obtained experimental data were better fitted by Sips adsorption isotherm. The values of thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH°, ΔS°) showed that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. The results proved that Amberlite XAD7 resin with crown ether and loaded with Fe(III) is an efficient adsorbent for the As(V) removal from water. The possibility of reuse the adsorbent material through adsorption and desorption cycles was also studied and it was found that the material can be used in five sorption-desorption cycles. Maximum adsorption capacity obtained experimentally being 18.8 μg As(V)/g material.
The communicative wheel: Symptom, signal, and model in multimodal communication
Authors: Durst-Andersen Per , Cobley Paul 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThis paper addresses the need for a model of communication with a new, holistic conception of language within it. The resultant process model is called theCommunicative Wheel. It consists of three communicative products: the sender’s input corresponding to his/her experience of a situation (symptom), an output corresponding to a piece of information to the receiver (signal), and the receiver’s intake corresponding to a description of the situation referred to (model). What the model of the wheel suggests, is that the understanding of “utterance” assymbolicneeds to be replaced by an understanding of it asindexical.
The Influence of Footwear Tread Groove Orientation on Slip Outcome and Slip Severity
Authors: Blanchette Mark G. , Powers Christopher M. 
Published: September 2018

Abstract
Previous research utilizing mechanical testing has revealed that footwear tread groove orientation has a significant impact on available friction. However, the influence of tread groove orientation on slip potential in human subjects has received little attention. The purpose of this study was to determine if footwear tread groove orientation influences slip outcome and severity. Thirty-six subjects were allocated into two groups matched by sex, age, height, and weight. Subjects in each group wore a shoe with a different tread groove orientation (parallel versus perpendicular). Subjects ambulated across water-contaminated porcelain ceramic tile, and their slip outcome was recorded. Slip severity was assessed by slip distance as quantified using a motion analysis system. Results indicated that the parallel groove group experienced a greater proportion of slip events (15 of 18) compared with the perpendicular groove group (9 of 18). On average, parallel grooves also resulted in significantly greater slip distances compared with perpendicular grooves (34.6 cm versus 5.6 cm). Our findings indicate that tread groove orientation has an impact on slip outcome and slip severity.
The Effectiveness of Technology for Improving the Teaching of Natural Science Subjects
Authors: Nawzad Lezan , Rahim Dana , Said Karzan Wakil 
Published: September 2018

This paper investigates the eﬀectiveness of integrating technology with teaching method for science subjects. For this, the research was conducted in Shahid AbdulRazaq primary school in Sulaimania city-Iraq. Two methods were used for this investigation: A questioner’s form and testing method. The participant students were 50 students from grade 3 and 5. The results showed that student’s preference for using technology in teaching science was 75% and 95% for both third and fifth grade. Also, the passing rate for the students of third and fifth grade using technology teaching method is 57% and 83% compared to 43% and 17% respectively when the traditional method used for teaching science subject. This research confrmed that teaching science subjects with technology increased the student’s interest in the learning process and improved the student’s achievement scores and also helped the students to do their homework more easily compared to the traditional teaching methods.
Abstrak
Artikel ini mengindentifkasi keefektivan integrasi teknologi dalam metode pembelajaran mata pelajaran sains. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di sekolah dasar Shahid Abdul-Razaq, Kota Sulaimania, Iraq menggunakan 2 (dua) instrument, yaitu kuesioner dan tes. Responden penelitian ini melibatkan 50 (limapuluh) siswa kelas 3 (tiga) dan 5 (lima). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa minat siswa dalam menggunakan teknologi dalam pembelajaran sains sebesar 75% dan 95% untuk kelas tiga dan lima. Selain itu angka kelulusan siswa kelas tiga dan lima ketika menggunakan teknologi untuk menunjang pembelajaran sebesar 57% dan 83%, berbeda dibanding ketika menggunakan metode tradisional, yakni sebesar 43% dan 17% juga untuk kelas tiga dan lima pada mata pelajaran sains. Penelitian ini menegaskan bahwa pembelajaran sains yang ditunjang teknologi terbukti dapat meningkatkan minat siswa dalam pembelajaran dan meningkatkan capaian hasil belajar siswa, selain itu juga membantu siswa dalam mengerjakan pekerjaan rumah lebih mudah disbanding ketika sekadar menggunakan metode tradisional.
Keywords: Educational technology; natural science; traditional teaching method