bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nutritional Knowledge and Practice among Patients with Non-communicable Diseases Attending Mbale Regional Referral Hospital in Eastern Uganda: A Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Nambala Esther , Byakika-Tusiime Jayne , Gavamukulya Yahaya 
Published: July 2019

Aim: To determine nutritional knowledge and practices among patients with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) attending Mbale Regional Referral hospital, in Eastern Uganda.
Study Design: A mixed methods cross sectional study design was used.
Place and Duration of Study: Mbale Regional Referral Hospital among patients attending the NCD clinic from May to July 2017.
Methodology: Two hundred sixty clients were recruited for the study. Quantitative data was collected through structured administered questionnaires. Quantitative data was analyzed at univariate, bivariate and multivariate levels. Chi square test and logistic regression were used to determine the association between nutrition knowledge and utilization. Qualitative data was coded first and summarized according to the themes.
Results: The mean age of the respondents was 55 years (SD= 14) and hospital was the main source of nutrition information (n=156, 60%). Most respondents (n=156, 60%) had a high level of nutrition knowledge, however only 48.8% (n=127) were utilizing the knowledge. Those who had attained secondary level of education were 2.308 more likely to utilize the nutrition knowledge than those who had never studied P value of .028, 95CI (1.093-4.874). Those with tertiary education were even 9.261 times more likely to utilize the knowledge P value <.001 95CI (2.721-31.522). Those with adequate knowledge were about 1.6 times most likely to utilize the nutrition knowledge compared to those with inadequate knowledge level, however, with the adjusted odd ratio of 1.573 at 95% CI (0.923- 2.868) the results were not statistically significant (P value .098).
Conclusion: NCD patients had adequate knowledge, with a few of them utilizing the knowledge. High education level was associated with better nutrition practices.
Isolation, Identification and Antibiogram of Salmonella from Cloacal Swabs of Free Range Poultry in Nsukka, Nigeria
Authors: V. Olovo, Chinasa , E. Reward, Eleazar , N. Obi, Scholastica , C. Ike, Anthony 
Published: July 2019

Aim: Poultry is a common source of antibiotics resistant Salmonella in humans. This study aimed to isolate and identify Salmonella in free range chicken and turkey in Nsukka, Nigeria and to determine the antibiotic resistance profile of the isolates.
Study Design, Area and Duration of Study: The study followed an experimental design. It was carried out in Nsukka metropolis of Enugu state, Nigeria. Samples were collected from 3 communities and 1 market from March to July 2016. A total of 150 cloacal samples comprising of 100 samples from chicken and 50 samples from turkey were used.
Methods: Isolation was carried out according to the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) and World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) recommendations using pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water, enrichment in Tetrathionate broth and primary isolation on Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate (XLD) agar. Identification was carried out according to the recommendations of ISO and OIE using comprehensive biochemical and cultural identification procedure. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was by disc diffusion method, while the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were determined using the broth dilution technique, according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guidelines.
Results: A total of 3 Salmonella spp. were isolated from the 150 samples, giving a prevalence of 2%. The positive samples comprised of 2 (2%) from chicken and 1 (2%) from turkey. All the isolates were 100% susceptible to 3 of the antibiotics tested, but showed differing degrees of resistance to the rest antibiotics. The MIC of 3 antibiotics tested on the isolates ranged from 1 µg/ml to 16 µg/ml, while the MBC ranged from 0.25 µg/ml to 64 µg/ml.
Conclusion: Free range poultry species including chicken and turkey could be important in the transmission and spread of antibiotic resistant Salmonella in the study area.
Herbicide Formulation, Spray Nozzle Design, and Operating Pressure Affects the Droplet Size Spectra of Agricultural Sprays
Authors: McGinty Joshua A. , Morgan Gaylon D. , Dotray Peter A. , Baumann Paul A. 
Published: July 2019

Aims: Determine the droplet size spectra of agricultural sprays as affected by herbicide formulations, spray nozzle designs, and operating pressures.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in April 2014 at the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Aerial Application Technology Research Unit Facility in College Station, Texas.
Methodology: The spray droplet size spectra of six herbicide formulations as well as water alone and water with nonionic surfactant were evaluated in a low-speed wind tunnel. These spray solutions were conducted with five different flat-fan spray nozzle designs, producing a wide range of spray droplet sizes. The wind tunnel was equipped with a laser diffraction sensor to analyze spray droplet size. All combinations of spray solution and nozzle were operated at 207 and 414 kPa and replicated three times.
Results: Many differences in droplet size spectra were detected among the spray solutions, nozzle designs, and pressures tested. Solutions of Liberty 280 SL exhibited the smallest median droplet size and the greatest proportion of spray volume contained in droplets 100 µm or less in size. Solutions of Enlist Duo resulted in smaller median droplet size than many of the solutions tested, but also exhibited some of the smallest production of fine spray droplets. Median droplet size was found to vary greatly among nozzle designs, with the greatest droplet size and smallest drift-prone fine droplet production observed with air-inclusion designs utilizing a pre-orifice. Increasing the operating pressure from 207 to 414 kPa resulted in a decrease in median droplet size and an increase in the production of droplets 100 µm or less in size.
Conclusion: Herbicide formulations and spray nozzle designs tested varied widely in droplet size spectra and thus the potential for spray drift. Increasing operating pressure resulted in decreased droplet size and an increase in the production of drift-prone droplets. Additionally, median droplet size alone should not be used to compare spray drift potential among spray solutions but should include relative span and V100 values to better predict the potential for spray drift due to drift-prone spray droplets.
Mechanism of Spasmogenic Activity Stimulated by Aqueous Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Mucuna pruriens on Isolated Uterine Muscle of Albino Rats
Authors: Francis B. , Uchendu C. N. , Obidike R. I. 
Published: July 2019

Aims: To investigate the effect of aqueous ethanolic leaf extract of this medicinal plant on isolated uterine smooth muscle strips of the rat and to determine its mechanism of action.
Study Design: Laboratory-experimental design was used in this study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria between June and October 2014.
Methodology: Fresh leaves of Mucuna pruriens were identified and collected by a taxonomist from Nsukka, Nigeria. The leaves were then air dried and pulverized into powder. This was then subjected to cold extraction using petroleum ether (70-90) and 70% aqueous ethanol, after which the extract was left to dry at room temperature. Estrogenised uterine strips (12mm) were harvested from non-pregnant, sexually matured albino rats (180 g -250 g) and suspended in a 35ml organ bath containing Krebs’ physiological salt solution. The organ bath was connected to an isometric electronic force displacement transducer and a physiograph. Drugs such as Salbutamol, Isoprenaline, Adrenaline, Propranolol, Atipamezole and Prazosin were used as either agonists or antagonists to determine the mechanism of action of the extract. Atropine sulphate and Cyproheptadine were also used as test drugs. Concentrations of these drugs presented in the body of this work represent the final nutrient bath concentrations.
Results: M. pruriens caused a dose -dependent increase in uterine muscle contraction with an EC50 of 0.88 mg/ml, n=4. The contraction was unaffected by atropine sulphate (0.042 µmol), but abolished by salbutamol (0.012-0.4 µmol), isoprenaline (0.06-0.23 µmol), and adrenaline (16 nmol). The uterine muscle contractions were enhanced by propranolol (1 µmol) in a dose- dependent manner. Prazosin (0.069-0.14 µmol) and atipamezole (3.3-13.7 nmol) were unable to abolish contractions stimulated by the extract. However, 0.2 µmol of cyproheptadine caused 80% suppression of the extract –induced uterine contraction
Conclusion: It is concluded that aqueous ethanolic leaf extract of M. pruriens, has ability to cause uterine smooth muscle contraction hence, justifies its reported use traditionally as a uterine stimulant. This contraction is most likely exerted via the 5-HT receptor activation (activated by low concentrations of serotonin).
Dor em neonatos: avaliações e intervenções farmacológicas e não-farmacológicas
Authors: Soares Roberta Xavier , Sousa Milena Nunes Alves de , Araújo Filho Jorge Luiz Silva , Mariano Nicoly Negreiros de Siqueira , Egypto Ilana Andrade Santos 
Published: July 2019

<p><strong>RESUMO</strong></p><p><strong>Introdução:</strong> a dor associada à neonatologia vem evoluindo nos últimos tempos, mostrando sua importância na prática clínica. A dor sentida pelo neonato manifesta-se por desconfortos e sofrimento que são incapazes de serem relatados verbalmente. Os cuidados com o manejo da dor devem incluir uma avaliação da dor e intervenções farmacológicas e não-farmacológicas. <strong>Objetivos: </strong>analisar as avaliações e as intervenções farmacológicas e não-farmacológicas para a prevenção e o alívio da dor em neonatos. <strong>Metodologia:</strong> foi realizada uma Revisão Integrativa da Literatura (RIL), em que foram selecionados artigos utilizando os seguintes Descritores em Ciência da Saúde (DeCS): dor, recém-nascido, analgesia e manejo da dor. A seleção dos artigos foi feita nas bases de dados Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO) e Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), onde foram encontrados 345 artigos, aos quais 13 artigos foram incluídos na análise. <strong>Resultados:</strong> foram encontradas escalas de dor que utilizam parâmetros fisiológicos e comportamentais para a avaliação da mesma em neonatos, assim como intervenções farmacológicas e não farmacológicas que ajudam na prevenção e alívio da dor<strong>. Conclusão:</strong> estratégias como a criação de ambientes calmos para o manejo da dor, utilização de medidas simples e não invasivas, fármacos e medidas não farmacológicas são importantes para minimizar ao máximo os efeitos negativos decorrentes da patologia. O desenvolvimento de programas populacionais ajuda os profissionais de saúde a conhecer sobre os métodos de avaliação da dor em neonatos e possibilitam habilidades no manejo da dor em sua prática clínica, atendendo as demandas dos recém-nascidos.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
One‐Step Covalent Immobilization of β‐Cyclodextrin on sp2 Carbon Surfaces for Selective Trace Amount Probing of Guests
Authors: Li Zhi , Van Guyse Joachim F. R. , de la Rosa Victor R. , Van Gorp Hans , Walke Peter , Rodríguez González Miriam C. , Uji‐i Hiroshi , Hoogenboom Richard , De Feyter Steven , Mertens Stijn F. L. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe modification of solid surfaces with supramolecular hosts is a powerful method to tailor interfacial properties and confer chemical selectivity, but often involves multistep protocols that hinder facile upscaling. Here, the one‐step covalent modification of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) with a β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) derivative, which efficiently forms inclusion complexes with hydrophobic guests of suitable size, is demonstrated. The grafted β‐CD‐HOPG surface is investigated toward electrochemical detection of ferrocene and dopamine. The enrichment of the analytes at the electrode surface, through inclusion in β‐CD, leads to an enhanced electrochemical response and an improved detection limit. Furthermore, the modified β‐CD‐HOPG electrode discriminates analytes that form host–guest complexes with β‐CD against a 100‐fold higher background of electroactive substances that do not. Atomic force microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy confirm the covalent nature of the modification and reveal high stability toward solvent rinsing, ultrasonication, and temperatures up to 140 °C. The one‐step covalent modification therefore holds substantial promise for the routine production of inexpensive, yet robust and highly performant electrochemical sensors. Beyond electrochemical sensor development, our strategy is valuable to prepare materials where accurate spatial positioning of functional units and efficient current collection are crucial, e.g. in photoelectrodes or electrocatalysts.
Motion of Drops with Different Viscosities on Micro‐Nanotextured Surfaces of Varying Topography and Wetting Properties
Authors: Sarkiris Panagiotis , Ellinas Kosmas , Gkiolas Dimitris , Mathioulakis Dimitrios , Gogolides Evangelos 
Published: July 2019

AbstractSuperhydrophobic surfaces are extensively investigated in the literature, yet the phenomenon of drop motion on such surfaces and the corresponding friction properties of surfaces with different topography are not sufficiently analyzed. Here, drop motion on hydrophobic and superhydrophobic surfaces with different size topography is investigated for drops of largely varying viscosity (i.e., water and glycerol). The threshold force required to initiate drop movement is probed, the drop motion (velocity and acceleration) is analyzed, and the friction force on each surface is calculated. It is evident that as roughness increases, the threshold force to initiate 20 µL drop motion decreases; the lowest value for water is 17.9 ± 4.0 µN. For glycerol, the lowest threshold force value is 22.3 ± 5.9 µN. The results also indicate that this threshold force required for the initiation of the drop motion seems to be higher than that when the drop starts moving. Finally, this force (being proportional to the contact line) is expected to be about half smaller for 5 µL droplets. Water drops obtain higher velocities and accelerations by an order of magnitude compared to glycerol drops, which is attributed to the combinational effect of the higher hysteresis and the larger contact line of glycerol drops.
Micro/Nanomaterials‐Augmented Hydrogen Therapy
Authors: Zhou Gaoxin , Goshi Ekta , He Qianjun 
Published: July 2019

AbstractHydrogen therapy is an emerging and promising therapy strategy of using molecular hydrogen as a new type of safe and effective therapeutic agent, exhibiting remarkable therapeutic effects on many oxidative stress‐/inflammation‐related diseases owing to its bio‐reductivity and homeostatic regulation ability. Different from other gaseous transmitters such as NO, CO, and H2S, hydrogen gas has no blood poisoning risk at high concentration because it does not affect the oxygen‐carrying behavior of blood red cells. Hydrogen molecules also have low aqueous solubility and high but aimless diffusibility, causing limited therapy efficacy in many diseases. To realize the site‐specific hydrogen delivery, controlled hydrogen release and combined therapy is significant but still challenging. Here, a concept of hydrogen nanomedicine to address the issues of hydrogen medicine by using functional micro/nanomaterials for augmented hydrogen therapy is proposed. In this review, various strategies of micro/nanomaterials‐augmented hydrogen therapy, including micro/nanomaterials‐mediated targeted hydrogen delivery, controlled hydrogen release, and nanocatalytic and multimodel enhancement of hydrogen therapy efficacy, are summarized, which can open a new window for treatment of inflammation‐related diseases.
Natural Carbon By‐Products for Transparent Heaters: The Case of Steam‐Cracker Tar
Authors: Morris Owen P. , Zang Xining , Gregg Aoife , Keller Brent , Getachew Bezawit , Ingersoll Samuel , Elsen Heather A. , Disko Mark M. , Ferralis Nicola , Grossman Jeffrey C. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractSteam‐cracker tar (SCT) is a by‐product of ethylene production that is in massive quantities globally (>150 × 106 tons per year). With few useful applications, the production of unwanted SCT leads to the need for its costly disposal or burning at the boiler plant. The discovery of new uses for SCT would therefore bring both economic and environmental benefits, although, to date, efforts toward employing SCT in diverse applications have been limited, and progress is further hampered by a lack of understanding of the material itself. Although complex and highly heterogeneous in nature, the molecular composition of SCT has the potential to serve as a diverse and tunable feedstock for wide‐ranging applications. Here, a simple solution‐processing method for SCT that allows its conductivity and optical properties to be controlled over orders of magnitude is reported. Here, by way of example, the focus is on the production of transparent conductive thin films, which exhibit a wide range of transparencies (23–93%) and sheet resistances (2.5 Ω □–1 to 1.2 kΩ □–1) that are tuned by a combination of solution concentration and thermal annealing. As transparent Joule heaters, even without optimization, these SCT devices show competitive performance compared to established technologies such as those based on reduced graphene oxide, and surpass the temperature stability limit of other materials. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that laser annealing can be used to process the SCT films and directly pattern transparent heaters on an arbitrary substrate. These results highlight the potential of SCT as a feedstock material for electronic applications and suggest that broader classes of either naturally occurring carbon or produced carbonaceous by‐products could prove useful in a range of applications.
A “Phase Separation” Molecular Design Strategy Towards Large‐Area 2D Molecular Crystals
Authors: Fu Beibei , Wang Cong , Sun Yantao , Yao Jiarong , Wang Yu , Ge Fayuan , Yang Fangxu , Liu Zheyuan , Dang Yanfeng , Zhang Xiaotao , Shao Xiangfeng , Li Rongjin , Hu Wenping 
Published: July 2019

Abstract2D molecular crystals (2DMCs) have attracted considerable attention because of their unique optoelectronic properties and potential applications. Taking advantage of the solution processability of organic semiconductors, solution self‐assembly is considered an effective way to grow large‐area 2DMCs. However, this route is largely blocked because a precise molecular design towards 2DMCs is missing and little is known about the relationship between 2D solution self‐assembly and molecular structure. A “phase separation” molecular design strategy towards 2DMCs is proposed and layer‐by‐layer growth of millimeter‐sized monolayer or few‐layer 2DMCs is realized. High‐performance organic phototransistors are constructed based on the 2DMCs with unprecedented photosensitivity (2.58 × 107), high responsivity (1.91 × 104A W−1), and high detectivity (4.93 × 1015Jones). This “phase separation” molecular design strategy provides a guide for the design and synthesis of novel organic semiconductors that self‐assemble into large‐area 2DMCs for advanced organic (opto)electronics.
Multiscale Toughening Mechanisms in Biological Materials and Bioinspired Designs
Authors: Huang Wei , Restrepo David , Jung Jae‐Young , Su Frances Y. , Liu Zengqian , Ritchie Robert O. , McKittrick Joanna , Zavattieri Pablo , Kisailus David 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBiological materials found in Nature such as nacre and bone are well recognized as light‐weight, strong, and tough structural materials. The remarkable toughness and damage tolerance of such biological materials are conferred through hierarchical assembly of their multiscale (i.e., atomic‐ to macroscale) architectures and components. Herein, the toughening mechanisms of different organisms at multilength scales are identified and summarized: macromolecular deformation, chemical bond breakage, and biomineral crystal imperfections at the atomic scale; biopolymer fibril reconfiguration/deformation and biomineral nanoparticle/nanoplatelet/nanorod translation, and crack reorientation at the nanoscale; crack deflection and twisting by characteristic features such as tubules and lamellae at the microscale; and structure and morphology optimization at the macroscale. In addition, the actual loading conditions of the natural organisms are different, leading to energy dissipation occurring at different time scales. These toughening mechanisms are further illustrated by comparing the experimental results with computational modeling. Modeling methods at different length and time scales are reviewed. Examples of biomimetic designs that realize the multiscale toughening mechanisms in engineering materials are introduced. Indeed, there is still plenty of room mimicking the strong and tough biological designs at the multilength and time scale in Nature.
3D Printing of Ultralight Biomimetic Hierarchical Graphene Materials with Exceptional Stiffness and Resilience
Authors: Peng Meiwen , Wen Zhen , Xie Lingjie , Cheng Jian , Jia Zheng , Shi Danli , Zeng Huajie , Zhao Bo , Liang Zhiqiang , Li Teng , Jiang Lin 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBiological materials with hierarchical architectures (e.g., a macroscopic hollow structure and a microscopic cellular structure) offer unique inspiration for designing and manufacturing advanced biomimetic materials with outstanding mechanical performance and low density. Most conventional biomimetic materials only benefit from bioinspired architecture at a single length scale (e.g., microscopic material structure), which largely limits the mechanical performance of the resulting materials. There exists great potential to maxime the mechanical performance of biomimetic materials by leveraging a bioinspired hierarchical structure. An ink‐based three‐dimensional (3D) printing strategy to manufacture an ultralight biomimetic hierarchical graphene material (BHGMs) with exceptionally high stiffness and resilience is demonstrated. By simultaneously engineering 3D‐printed macroscopic hollow structures and constructing an ice‐crystal‐induced cellular microstructure, BHGMs can achieve ultrahigh elasticity and stability at compressive strains up to 95%. Multiscale finite element analyses indicate that the hierarchical structures of BHGMs effectively reduce the macroscopic strain and transform the microscopic compressive deformation into the rotation and bending of the interconnected graphene flakes. This 3D printing strategy demonstrates the great potential that exists for the assembly of other functional materials into hierarchical cellular structures for various applications where high stiffness and resilience at low density are simultaneously required.