bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health Care Seeking Behavior among Caregivers of Sick Children Who Had Severe Malarial Anaemia
Authors: Gondi Stacey M. O. , Ouma Collins , Atieli Harrysone , Otieno Walter 
Published: April 2019

Aims: The western region in Kenya is holoendemic to malaria and experience stable P. falciparum malaria transmission. The use of health care options has a direct influence on the outcome of severe malaria. As such, the current study will assess the health care seeking behavior among caregivers of sick children who had severe malarial anaemia (SMA) in western Kenya.
Study Design: Cross section study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Jaramogi Odinga Oginga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) between September 2014 to July 2015.
Methodology: It was open to all children ≤10 years (n=271) admitted and diagnosed with SMA (hemoglobin <5.0 g/dl and any density of P. falciparum. Caregivers were interviewed on the health care options before seeking care at a heath facility, when the child started to get sick, if they took child to another health centre/dispensary/private hospital before coming to JOOTRH
Results: Majority of the caregivers interviewed, 80.07% (217) had attained Primary education. Majority of the caregivers were in the age category of 19-24 75(27.67%) years and 25-29 years 75 (27.67%). 74.90% (203) of their children were below five years and 25.09% (68) were above 5 years. 61.62% (167. Majority of the caregivers gave some remainder drugs before presenting to a heath facility 32.5% (88). A good number bought drugs at drug stores/pharmacies 27.7% (75). None visited a traditional healer. A minority used herbs 10% (27). There were no statistically significant differences between most of the pre-hospitalization measures taken s with regard to patient’s gender and age, and caretaker’s level of education. Caregivers who chose to give herbs to their sick children took longer in deciding to take their children to hospital. This was however statistically significant between those who used herbs and those who bought drugs only (median 4 days vs. 3 days, respectively, p = 0.0063). There was no significant difference in the delay of child admission at JOOTRH between caregivers who had had primary education only and those with a minimum of secondary education (p = 0.9842).
Conclusion: Self-medication is a common practice before seeking care at a heath facility. There is need for community awareness for correct and comprehensive information about drawbacks associated with self-medication practices. Since safety continues to be a major issue with the use of herbal remedies, it becomes imperative, therefore, that relevant regulatory authorities put in place to ensure that all herbal medicines are safe and of suitable quality.
Examining Employees’ Attitudes towards Performance Appraisal and Its Impact on Performance and Motivation in a UK Information Technology (IT) Firm
Authors: Idowu Ayomikun Oluwafemi 
Published: April 2019

Employee performance has traditionally been accorded prime focus by human resource managers. As a result, a number of performance appraisal techniques have over time been devised to help establish employee’s performance. In the contemporary times, the use of performance appraisals has been extended beyond rating of the employee’s performance to aspects such as motivation.
The study’s main objectives pertained to establishing the moderating role of employees’ attitude towards performance appraisal as a motivation and performance tool.
The study was based on Shine Communications London, as the case study organization. Primary data was collected from the organisation’s employees and HR manager. Notably, a survey questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from the employees while an interview was conducted with the HR manager. Data from the sample of 45 randomly selected employees was statistically analysed using the help of SPSS 2.0. Content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative responses from the HR manager.
The study finds that a Performance Appraisal System can fail to achieve its motivational effect when it is used to threaten job security, is marked by inaccuracy and conducted by improperly trained reviewers. Among the study’s main recommendations include designing of a Performance Appraisal System that enhances perceptions of fairness and use of a personal approach in linking Performance Appraisal results to rewards.
Morphometric Analysis of River Donga Watershed in Taraba State Using Remeote Sensing and Gis Techniques
Authors: Gabriel Adelalu, Temitope , Bakoji Yusuf, Mohammed , Abdullahi Ibrahim , Iko-Ojo Idakwo Victor 
Published: April 2019

As climate change infiltrate and influence every sphere of the globe, the continuous study of the drainage features and assessment of the drainage basin as a fundamental geomorphic unit in water resources development and management cannot be relegated. This work has considered the analytical description of the physical division of RDCA. The three domains of the morphometric parameters (linear, areal, and relief aspects of the basin) were considered for the analysis. Remote sensing and GIS techniques were adopted in the analysis of the data using hydrological and surface tool in ArcGIS 10.2. The acquired SRTM DEM was used to delineate the catchment area and major morphometric parameters were estimated. The results show that the basin is elongated with low leminiscate ratio. RDCA is a 7th order drainage basin, with an area of 11,355 km2, having a length of about 164 km2. Value of drainage density indicates moderate runoff potentials. Stream frequency, bifurcation ratio and constant channel maintenance indicate medium permeability and that the basin produces a flatter peak of direct runoff for a longer duration. Channel encroachment, land use and land cover change seems the cause of perennial flooding in the region than change in drainage features. This study provides scientific database for further comprehensive hydrological investigation of RDCA around which Kashimbilla dam is located.
In Vitro Contribution of Herbal Products on the Activity of Antifungal Drugs against Clinical Candida Isolates
Authors: Oz Yasemin , Gundogdu Nuray , Aslan Muge 
Published: April 2019

Aims: The contribution of natural compounds may provide significant progress in the discovery of new antifungal drugs. We aimed to investigate the contribution of carvacrol, farnesol, epigallocatechin gallate, ginger, naringenin and curcumin on the activity of antifungals, voriconazole, caspofungin and amphotericin B against clinical Candida isolates.
Methodology: Eight clinical Candida isolates were included in this study. The MIC values of each herbal compound and each antifungal were determined using the reference broth microdilution method. The interactions of herbal compounds and antifungal drugs were assessed by checkerboard microdilution method.
Results: The MIC values ranged from 60 to 160 μg/mL for carvacrol, from 16 to 64 μg/mL for epigallocatechin gallate, from 80 to 320 μg/mL for ginger and 800 μg/mL for curcumin. Any MIC value was not detected for farnesol and naringenin in concentrations tested. Although the most common interaction type was indifference, farnesol, carvacrol and ginger reduced the MICs of all three antifungals against most isolates. Voriconazole and amphotericin B MICs decreased in combinations with epigallocatechin gallate, whereas naringenin and curcumin did not show any conspicuous effect on antifungal drug activities.
Conclusion: We showed that carvacrol, epigallocatechin gallate, curcumin and ginger enhanced the activity of voriconazole, caspofungin and amphotericin B against Candida isolates in vitro. These compounds may represent novel agents to be used in combination with available antifungal drugs to lower the doses of antifungals, thus toxic side effects and treatment costs may decrease.
In Situ Self‐Assembly of Ultrastable Crosslinked Luminescent Gold Nanoparticle and Organic Dye Nanohybrids toward Ultrasensitive and Reversible Ratiometric Thermal Imaging
Authors: Ma Huali , Zhou Tingyao , Dai Zhiyi , Hu Jianqiang , Liu Jinbin 
Published: April 2019

AbstractExploring hybrid nanomaterials with sensitive and reversible ratiometric temperature sensing is highly desirable but still challenging. Herein, using thermosensitive Pluronic F127 as a template, a facile and straightforward approach is presented for one‐pot synthesis of dual‐emitting nanohybrids of crosslinked gold nanoparticle (AuNP) and organic dye with unique core–shell structure and excellent stability, which can be utilized as an ultrasensitive and reversible ratiometric temperature sensor. The dual‐emitting nanohybrids are achieved through in situ self‐assembly of red‐emitting AuNPs in the hydrophobic core, along with doping blue‐emitting and polarity‐responsive hydrophobic dye 4,4′‐bis(2‐benzoxazolyl) stilbene (BBS). The AuNP and BBS nanohybrids (AuNP–BBS nanohybrids) consist of about ten crosslinked ultrasmall AuNPs in the hydrophobic core. The crosslinking interaction between multidentate thiol ligand and ultrasmall AuNPs offers remarkable stability without dye leakage, while the thermosensitive Pluronic F127 endows the nanohybrids with two reverse signal responses toward temperature. By virtue of the excellent features, the dual‐emitting AuNP–BBS nanohybrids can be capable of ratiometric sensing of temperature with remarkable reversibility and high sensitivity (0.3396 °C−1), and enable visual temperature measurements by the naked eye and pseudocolor imaging. These findings provide a useful guidance for preparing uniform hybrid nanomaterials with remarkable stability and desired functions.
Application of heat pump in combined heat and power central heating system and exergy analysis
Authors: Jiang Zhouming , Li Yajun 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAiming to relieve the heating supply gap in winter, this paper focuses on how to enhance the heating capacity of the existing central heating system and increase the heating efficiency. Therefore, two revamping schemes of adding new heat source and using heat pump are designed based on the existing central heating system of combined heat and power. Besides, the schemes are evaluated in terms of the coefficient of performance, exergy efficiency, dynamic payback period, and electricity consumption to transfer heat quantity. In an actual case, the results reveal that the coefficient of performance of using heat pump scheme is 1.31, 32% higher than that of the existing central heating system, and the energy efficiency is 60.96%, increased by 33% while the scheme also shows good adaptability of economy and heating range. This research can provide a significant theoretical basis and engineering guidance to choose the revamping scheme of central heating system.
Preparation and polymerization of isopimaric acid derivatives
Authors: Lu Yanju , Zhao Zhendong , Bi Liangwu , Chen Yuxiang , Gu Yan , Wang Jing 
Published: April 2019

ABSTRACTIsopimaric acid is a typical rosin compound and can account for 30% of the total mass of slash pine rosin. The molecular structure of isopimaric acid derivatives features an unsaturated double bond at the C13 position, opening up the possibility of their industrial polymerization. In this study, isopimaric acid (95.4%), methyl isopimarate (99.5%), and allyl isopimarate (95.1%) were prepared as highly pure monomers. New experimental results are presented and mechanisms based on the investigation of free‐radical polymerization under UV irradiation are proposed. New rosin monomers for potential value‐added utilization of woody biomass are also identified. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47817.
Evaluation of the Pharmacokinetics of Metformin Following Coadministration With Doravirine in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Sanchez Rosa I. , Yee Ka Lai , Fan Li , Cislak Dawn , Martell Maureen , Jordan Heather R. , Iwamoto Marian , Khalilieh Sauzanne 
Published: April 2019

AbstractDoravirine is a novel nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type‐1 (HIV‐1) infection. In vitro and clinical data suggest that doravirine is unlikely to cause significant drug–drug interactions via major drug‐metabolizing enzymes or transporters. As a common HIV‐1 infection comorbidity, type 2 diabetes mellitus is often treated with metformin. Perturbations of metformin absorption or elimination may affect its safety and efficacy profile; therefore, understanding potential drug–drug interactions between doravirine and metformin is important. An open‐label, fixed‐sequence, 2‐period trial in healthy adults was conducted. Single‐dose metformin 1000 mg was administered in period 1; in period 2, doravirine 100 mg was administered once daily on days 1 to 7, and single‐dose metformin 1000 mg was administered on day 5. Plasma pharmacokinetics for metformin alone and coadministered with doravirine were assessed. Fourteen participants enrolled and completed the trial. Least‐squares geometric mean ratios and 90% confidence intervals of metformin AUC0‐∞, and Cmax following coadministration of metformin and doravirine compared with metformin alone were 0.94 (0.88‐1.00) and 0.94 (0.86‐1.03), respectively; metformin Tmax and half‐life were also minimally impacted. These data indicate that doravirine did not have a clinically relevant effect on the pharmacokinetics of metformin. Metformin alone and coadministered with doravirine was generally well tolerated. These data support coadministration of doravirine 100 mg and metformin 1000 mg without dose adjustment.
Analysis of serum interleukin(IL)‐1α, IL‐1β and IL‐18 in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Lin Emily , Vincent Fabien B , Sahhar Joanne , Ngian Gene‐Siew , Kandane‐Rathnayake Rangi , Mende Rachel , Morand Eric F , Lang Tali , Harris James 
Published: April 2019

AbstractObjectivesSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterised by fibrosis, vascular dysfunction and immune dysregulation. The pathogenesis of SSc remains poorly understood, although studies have indicated a role for the innate immune response.MethodsHere, we measured serum interleukin (IL)‐1α, IL‐1β and IL‐18 levels in 105 SSc patients and 47 healthy controls (HC) and analysed them with respect to multiple clinical parameters.ResultsSerum IL‐18 concentrations were significantly higher in SSc patients than in HC, while no significant differences in concentrations of IL‐1α and IL‐1β were observed between SSc and HC. In both SSc and HC serum, IL‐1α and IL‐1β were positively correlated, while in SSc, both cytokines negatively correlated with IL‐18. Serum IL‐18 was significantly negatively correlated with both carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (KCO) and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO). Serum IL‐1β was positively correlated with the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS), particularly in patients with limited subtype. DLCO, KCO and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) velocity were significantly higher in patients with high serum IL‐1β. Serum IL‐1α was significantly lower in SSc patients with low KCO and positively correlated with KCO. SSc patients with high serum IL‐1α concentrations were more likely to have digital ulcers.ConclusionsOur data suggest that these IL‐1 family cytokines may have different roles in the pathogenesis of SSc fibrotic complications.
Gyratory seizures as a presentation of temporal encephalocele
Authors: Jagtap Sujit A. , Kurwale Nilesh , Patil Sandeep , Joshi Aniruddha , Nilegaonkar Sujit 
Published: April 2019

AbstractGyratory seizures (GS) are rare and have been reported in focal (frontal and temporal) as well as generalized epilepsies. The exact neuroanatomical substrate of gyration during a seizure is not clearly understood, but is thought to be due to the involvement of the basal ganglia. The direction of gyration occurring without head version is thought to have ipsilateral cerebral origins, while gyrational seizures preceded by forced head version are suggestive of seizure onset contralateral to the direction of gyration or the presence or absence of forced head version is thought to have important implications for lateralization of seizure origins from the direction of gyration. This case describes gyratory seizures in a young boy with a temporal encephalocele. Report ofMRIbrain initially indicated no abnormalities, but careful review revealed a left temporal encephalocele.PETscan showed left temporal hypometabolism. The patient underwent a left anterior temporal resection with amygdalohippocampectomy (ATL + AH) and is seizure‐free for 18 months. Temporal encephalocele is the most commonly iatrogenic but may also be spontaneous, post‐traumatic, or in relation to chronic otitis media. This case suggests that gyratory seizures may be a unique presentation of temporal encephalocele and this possibility warrants investigation in patients with medically refractory epilepsy.
Efficient impulse noise removal using hybrid neuro‐fuzzy filter with optimized intelligent water drop technique
Authors: Sindhana Devi M. , Soranamageswari M. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractImpulse noise (IN) affects the digital image, during transmission, digital storage, and image acquisition. IN removal from an image is necessary as it retains the quality of the image. This work concentrates on the IN. A neuro‐fuzzy (NF) system based on a fuzzy technique which is trained by a learning algorithm derived from neural network theory was implemented for the removal of noise. A NF network for noise filtering in grayscale images that combines two NF filters with a postprocessor to produce the output was presented. However, Sugeno‐type is not intuitive technique and it also less accurate. To overcome these problems, a hybrid NF filter with optimized intelligent water drop (IWD) technique is introduced, where hybridized Sugeno–Mamdani‐based fuzzy interference system is implemented in both the NF filters to obtain more efficient noise removal system. To improve the accuracy of the assignment of membership values to each input pixels, the optimized IWD technique is utilized, as the choice of membership function decides the efficiency of the noise removal in the images. Here, Fuzzy rules have been used to obtain the filtered output. The Hybrid method maintains the accuracy of the Sugeno model and also the interpretable capability of the Mamdani model. This method is robust against the IN and it is flexible, efficient, and accurate than existing filtering method in both noise attenuation and detail preservation and it has a great scope for better real‐time applications.
Correlation between of small dense low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol with acute cerebral infarction and carotid atherosclerotic plaque stability
Authors: QiaoZhen Xue , AiGuo Meng , Tong Wang , JingJing Li , HaiYing Liu 
Published: April 2019

BackgroundAcute cerebral infarction (ACI) is seriously harmful to human health worldwide. However, at present, the risk of disease onset is still not accurately predicted for some people.MethodsFive hundred and nineteen patients with ACI and 300 healthy controls were included in this study. We divided the patients into three groups according to the results of cervical artery contrast‐enhanced ultrasound. Ninety‐five patients were in the CAS without plaque group, 108 patients were in the stable plaque group, and 316 patients were in the unstable plaque group. TC, TG, HDL‐C, LDL‐C, and sdLDL‐C were measured in all subjects.ResultsThe level of small dense low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL‐C) in the ACI group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that sdLDL‐C was an independent risk factor for ACI (OR = 1.067, 95% CI: 1.041‐1.093, P < 0.001); serum sdLDL‐C was significantly higher in the unstable plaque group than in the stable plaque group and plaque‐free group (P < 0.05, P < 0.001); serum sdLDL‐C was also higher in the stable plaque group than the plaque‐free group (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that sdLDL‐C was an independent risk factor for unstable carotid plaques (OR = 1.053, 95% CI: 1.038‐1.068, P < 0.001); Spearman correlation analysis showed that sdLDL‐C test results were positively correlated with carotid plaque stability (r = 0.363, P < 0.001).ConclusionSmall dense low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol is an independent risk factor for the onset of ACI and may be an early serum marker for this disease.
Zooplankton Selectivity by Black Buffalo in Fertilized Ponds
Authors: Guy Emmet L , Mischke Charles C , Colvin Michael E , Allen Peter J 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Populations of the Black Buffalo Ictiobus niger, a catostomid species, are in decline. Recovery plans for catostomids frequently include artificial propagation and rearing in ponds until fish grow beyond sizes that are considered vulnerable to predation. Managing ponds for specific zooplankton taxa should increase survival and growth of larval fish; however, zooplankton selectivity experiments conducted for catostomids in aquaculture are rare. We conducted two experiments to evaluate zooplankton selectivity by larval and juvenile Black Buffalo in aquaculture ponds. Fry were stocked into tanks or ponds and were allowed to forage on natural zooplankton populations. Fish and zooplankton were sampled after 3 h in tanks and weekly for 4 weeks in ponds. Proportions of zooplankton taxa consumed were compared to the proportions of taxa available in tanks or ponds. Results indicate that Black Buffalo fry do not readily consume zooplankton at first feeding. However, Black Buffalo at 11 d posthatch (1 week poststocking) selected for cladocerans, and they continued selecting for cladocerans through the first 32 d posthatch (4 weeks poststocking). Therefore, rearing ponds for larval and juvenile Black Buffalo should be managed to promote cladoceran populations where possible.
Speckle‐type POZ protein suppresses lipid accumulation and prostate cancer growth by stabilizing fatty acid synthase
Authors: Gang Xiaokun , Xuan Lili , Zhao Xue , Lv You , Li Fei , Wang Yao , Wang Guixia 
Published: April 2019

AbstractFatty acid synthase (FASN) is vital for maintaining lipid homeostasis in prostate cancer (PCa) cells, which have an increased rate of de novo fatty acid (FA) synthesis. Mutations in the gene encoding the tumor suppressor speckle‐type POZ protein (SPOP), which is a E3 ubiquitin ligase, are a critical feature of PCa. Here, we provide evidence that FASN is a substrate of SPOP and that interaction of these proteins induces FASN ubiquitination and proteasome‐dependent degradation. We showed that SPOP mutants commonly found in PCa cannot bind to FASN. Moreover, a decrease in SPOP levels upregulated FASN expression and triggered lipid accumulation in PCa cells. These results demonstrate that FASN is a crucial mediator of SPOP‐induced inhibition of PCa cell growth. Our data provide evidence that SPOP regulates lipid metabolism by decreasing FASN expression and FA synthesis, resulting in tumor suppression. Taken together, our study indicates that this pathway may be a new therapeutic target for treating PCa.