bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Curcumin solid dispersion-loaded in situ hydrogels for local treatment of injured vaginal bacterial infection and improvement of vaginal wound healing
Authors: Zhang Mengmeng , Zhuang Bo , Du Gangjun , Han Guang , Jin Yiguang 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Objectives
Injured vaginal infection is detrimental to women. A curcumin hydrogel was studied for local treatment of injured vaginal infection.

Methods
Curcumin solid dispersions (CSDs) were prepared from polyvinyl pyrrolidone and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and an X-ray diffraction method. An in situ hydrogel CSD hydrogel (CSDG) was prepared with CSD/poloxamers and characterized. In vitro curcumin release and antibacterial effects of CSDs, CSDGs and curcumin were compared. The therapeutic effect of the CSDGs and Lincomycin/Lidocaine Gel was explored after intravaginal administration on the injured rat vaginal infection models.

Key findings
Curcumin was amorphous in CSDs where curcumin rapidly released in simulated vaginal fluids. However, CSDGs showed sustained release. CSDGs quickly formed gels in the vagina. CSDGs showed high in vivo anti-Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus effect though weak in vitro effect. The recovery of vaginal microenvironment and improvement of intravaginal Lactobacillus growth may be the major reason. Furthermore, CSDGs remarkably improved vaginal wound healing by alleviating inflammation and restoring vaginal epidermal tissues compared with the Lincomycin/Lidocaine Gel.

Conclusion
CSDGs are a promising topical formulation for local treatment of vaginal bacterial infection and improvement of vaginal wound healing.
Massage intervention for preterm infants by their mothers: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zhang Xiaoning , Wang Jun 
Published: March 2019

AbstractObjectiveStudies of the impact of infant massage intervention on the growth of preterm infants have been conducted in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and have demonstrated positive effects; however, few data exist regarding the effects of massage interventions by mothers on the growth of infants in the NICU. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the effects of a 2‐week massage intervention conducted by mothers on their preterm infants.MethodsOf 112 stable preterm infants born at a gestational age (GA) between 32 and 34 weeks and enrolled from an affiliated hospital, 54 were randomly allocated to an intervention group, and 58 were allocated to a control group. Mothers were trained to conduct a massage intervention in the intervention group, while the control group received standard care. For the infants in both groups, height (Ht), weight (Wt), and head circumference (HC) were measured at the onset of massage intervention, after one week, and after two weeks. Fifteen mothers were interviewed about their preparation for and completion of the massage intervention.ResultsRepeated‐measures analysis of variance showed that weight, height and head circumference significantly increased in the intervention group. Preterm infants who underwent the two‐week massage intervention had higher mean weight, height, and head circumference (F = 41.151, 6.621, 24.158, respectively;
p < .001). This study developed modified massage intervention guidance to provide recommendations for optimal massage intervention by mothers in the NICU: (a) Adapt to the NICU atmosphere; (b) control the mother's strength; (c) slowly perform each period of the massage, that is (i) place in a prone position (5 + 5 min); (ii) place in supine position (5 min); (d) stay relaxed and watch the preterm infant's response.Practice ImplicationsTrained mothers conducted massage interventions, which can improve the growth of preterm infants. We developed massage intervention guidance to provide recommendations for optimal massage intervention by mothers in the NICU. We recommend that mothers apply massage intervention for preterm infants in the NICU.
Qualitative analysis for the “ideational apraxia” score from the Alzheimer's disease assessment scale cognitive subscale
Authors: Ito Sayuri , Sato Shigeru , Saito Naohiro , Ohnuma Ayumu , Tobita Muneshige , Kimpara Teiko , Iseki Chifumi , Suzuki Kyoko 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundVarious types of cognitive dysfunction could make it difficult to use multiple objects properly in Alzheimer's disease (AD).AimTo observe the qualitative feature of action deficits during a widely used praxis task and to clarify cognitive dysfunctions underlying the deficits.MethodsWe examined 80 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 84 patients with AD (69 mild and 15 moderate AD) and 40 healthy controls (HC) using the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale—Japanese version (ADAS‐J cog) and the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE). Errors in the “praxis task” of ADAS‐J cog were classified into 4 types: apraxic, attentional, visuospatial and writing errors based on their qualitative features. The ratio of each error type was calculated and compared with each other.ResultsParticipants with mild and moderate AD made significantly more errors in the praxis task compared with those in the HC and MCI groups. Qualitative analysis revealed that attentional errors occur more frequently in the MCI group than those in the HC group. For apraxic errors, there were significant differences between the MCI group and the mild/moderate AD groups. The more severe their general cognitive dysfunctions, the greater the variety of errors patients exhibit in the praxis task.ConclusionThe results indicate that a main factor affecting the praxis task in MCI patients was attentional deficits, while various cognitive dysfunctions were related to action deficits in patients with AD. Our qualitative analysis for the praxis task revealed difference in action deficits in MCI and AD patients.
The anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects of the Tanacetum Polycephalum hydroalcoholic extract against the experimental pentylenetetrazol‐induced model of the seizures in the male Wistar rats
Authors: Allahyari Farzin , Hosseini Abdolkarim , Azizi Vahid 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe genus Tanacetum is widespread in Europe and Western Asia. It is an important traditional plant which has been used in the treatment of many illnesses.AimIn the present study, the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Tanacetum polycephalum (henceforth TP) on the animal model of seizure was studied.MethodsIn this experimental study, 42 male Wistar rats weighing 220‐250 g were randomly selected and were divided to experimental and control groups (six rats per group). The experimental groups were treated by intraperitoneal (ip) single injection of 150, 300, 450, 600, and 750 mg kg−1 of hydroalcoholic extracts of TP. The control negative group received normal saline (0.9%) and the control positive group received phenobarbital (30 mg kg−1, ip) pretreatment. 30 minutes after the treatments, the seizure behaviors were evaluated by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ; 70 mg kg−1, ip) challenge. In addition, after experiment, the rats were put to death and brain was removed for the histological study.ResultsThe ANOVA test was showed that compared to control group, all the TP doses delayed the initiation and duration of the tonic, clonic, and tonic‐clonic seizures and significantly reduced the tonic and clonic seizures (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the administration of all five doses of the extract significantly prevented the production of the dark neurons (P < 0.001) in different areas of the hippocampus compared to PTZ group.ConclusionsWe can conclude that the TP extract has beneficial effects on the prevention of the PTZ‐induced seizure.
Diamonds are Forever
Authors: Dorr Cian , Goodman Jeremy 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWe defend the thesis that every necessarily true proposition is always true. Since not every proposition that is always true is necessarily true, our thesis is at odds with theories of modality and time, such as those of Kit Fine and David Kaplan, which posit a fundamental symmetry between modal and tense operators. According to such theories, just as it is a contingent matter what is true at a given time, it is likewise a temporary matter what is true at a given possible world; so a proposition that is now true at all worlds, and thus necessarily true, may yet at some past or future time be false in the actual world, and thus not always true. We reconstruct and criticize several lines of argument in favor of this picture, and then argue against the picture on the grounds that it is inconsistent with certain sorts of contingency in the structure of time.
Sun‐induced Chl fluorescence and its importance for biophysical modeling of photosynthesis based on light reactions
Authors: Gu Lianhong , Han Jimei , Wood Jeffrey D. , Chang Christine Y‐Y. , Sun Ying 
Published: March 2019

SummaryRecent progress in observing sun‐induced Chl fluorescence (SIF) provides an unprecedented opportunity to advance photosynthesis research in natural environments. However, we still lack an analytical framework to guide SIF studies and integration with the well‐developed active fluorescence approaches. Here, we derive a set of coupled fundamental equations to describe the dynamics of SIF and its relationship with C3 and C4 photosynthesis. These equations show that, although SIF is dynamically as complex as photosynthesis, the measured SIF simplifies photosynthetic modeling from the perspective of light reactions by integrating over the dynamic complexities of photosynthesis. Specifically, the measured SIF contains direct information about the actual electron transport from photosystem II to photosystem I, giving a quantifiable link between light and dark reactions. With much‐reduced requirements on inputs and parameters, the light‐reactions‐centric, SIF‐based biophysical model complements the traditional, dark‐reactions‐centric biochemical model of photosynthesis. The SIF–photosynthesis relationship, however, is nonlinear. This is because photosynthesis saturates at high light whereas SIF has a stronger tendency to keep increasing, as fluorescence quantum yield has a relatively muted sensitivity to light levels. Successful applications of the SIF‐based model of photosynthesis will depend on a predictive understanding of several previously underexplored physiological and biophysical processes. Advances can be facilitated by coordinated efforts in plant physiology, remote sensing, and eddy covariance flux observations.
Opening the doors for school health—An exploration of public health nurses’ capacities to engage in comprehensive school health programs
Authors: Sanders Tanya , O'Mahony Joyce , Duncan Susan , Mahara Star , Pitman Valerie , Ringstad Kristin , Weatherman Kristine 
Published: March 2019

AbstractObjectivesPublic health nurses (PHNs) have a significant role in engaging the voice and actions of school communities in promoting the health of children and youth. School nursing was one of the early 20th century public health nursing foci and specialties in Canada, however over several decades, there has been a gap in actualizing PHNs’ full potential in schools. At the same time, intersectoral and interdisciplinary comprehensive school health (CSH) models have emerged as exemplars of partnerships between schools and communities to advance health promotion and ultimately chronic disease prevention with school populations (Pan‐Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health, ; World Health Organization, ).Design and MeasurementUsing a participatory action research methodology we explored the role of PHNs in CSH, drawing on the concept of engagement in intersectoral healthy school teams.Results and ConclusionsThe three themes that emerged from the data analysis were: facilitators of public health nursing engagement, barriers to public health nursing engagement, and the influences of community context on engagement. Overall, findings indicate that the PHN role in CSH must be developed and supported so that PHNs remain a vital link between school health communities, programs, and policies in the promotion of health.
Do native and invasive herbivores have an effect on Brassica rapa pollination?
Authors: Scopece G. , Frachon L. , Cozzolino S. 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Mutualistic (e.g. pollination) and antagonistic (e.g. herbivory) plant–insect interactions shape levels of plant fitness and can have interactive effects.

By using experimental plots of Brassica rapa plants infested with generalist (Mamestra brassicae) and specialised (Pieris brassicae) native herbivores and with a generalist invasive (Spodoptera littoralis) herbivore, we estimated both pollen movement among treatments and the visiting behaviour of honeybees versus other wild pollinators.

Overall, we found that herbivory has weak effects on plant pollen export, either in terms of inter‐treatment movements or of dispersion distance. Plants infested with the native specialised herbivore tend to export less pollen to other plants with the same treatment. Other wild pollinators preferentially visit non‐infested plants that differ from those of honeybees, which showed no preferences. Honeybees and other wild pollinators also showed different behaviours on plants infested with different herbivores, with the former tending to avoid revisiting the same treatment and the latter showing no avoidance behaviour. When taking into account the whole pollinator community, i.e. the interactive effects of honeybees and other wild pollinators, we found an increased avoidance of plants infested by the native specialised herbivore and a decreased avoidance of plants infested by the invasive herbivore.

Taken together, our results suggest that herbivory may have an effect on B. rapa pollination, but this effect depends on the relative abundance of honeybees and other wild pollinators.
Applications of CRISPR systems in respiratory health: Entering a new ‘red pen’ era in genome editing
Authors: Moses Colette , Kaur Parwinder 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTRespiratory diseases, such as influenza infection, acute tracheal bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, lung cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, continue to significantly impact human health. Diseases of the lung and respiratory tract are influenced by environmental conditions and socio‐economic factors; however, many of these serious respiratory disorders are also rooted in genetic or epigenetic causes. Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR‐associated (Cas) proteins, isolated from the immune system of prokaryotes, provide a tool to manipulate gene sequences and gene expression with significant implications for respiratory research. CRISPR/Cas systems allow preclinical modelling of causal factors involved in many respiratory diseases, providing new insights into their underlying mechanisms. CRISPR can also be used to screen for genes involved in respiratory processes, development and pathology, identifying novel disease drivers or drug targets. Finally, CRISPR/Cas systems can potentially correct genetic mutations and edit epigenetic marks that contribute to respiratory disorders, providing a form of personalized medicine that could be used in conjunction with other technologies such as stem cell reprogramming and transplantation. CRISPR gene editing is a young field of research, and concerns regarding its specificity, as well as the need for efficient and safe delivery methods, need to be addressed further. However, CRISPR/Cas systems represent a significant step forward for research and therapy in respiratory health, and it is likely we will see the breakthroughs generated from this technology continue.
Pollution State Modelling for Mexico City
Authors: White Philip A. , Gelfand Alan E. , Rodrigues Eliane R. , Tzintzun Guadalupe 
Published: March 2019

SummaryGround level ozone and particulate matter pollutants are associated with a variety of health issues and increased mortality. For this reason, Mexican environmental agencies regulate pollutant levels. In addition, Mexico City defines pollution emergencies by using thresholds that rely on regional maxima for ozone and for particulate matter with diameter less than 10 μm, PM10. To predict local pollution emergencies and to assess compliance to Mexican ambient air quality standards, we analyse hourly ozone and PM10-measurements from 24 stations across Mexico City from 2017 by using a bivariate spatiotemporal model. With this model, we predict future pollutant levels by using current weather conditions and recent pollutant concentrations. Employing hourly pollutant projections, we predict regional maxima needed to estimate the probability of future pollution emergencies. We discuss how predicted compliance to legislated pollution limits varies across regions within Mexico City in 2017. We find that the predicted probability of pollution emergencies is limited to a few time periods. In contrast, we show that predicted exceedance of Mexican ambient air quality standards is a common, nearly daily occurrence.
Computer Model Calibration with Confidence and Consistency
Authors: Plumlee Matthew 
Published: March 2019

SummaryThe paper proposes and examines a calibration method for inexact models. The method produces a confidence set on the parameters that includes the best parameter with a desired probability under any sample size. Additionally, this confidence set is shown to be consistent in that it excludes suboptimal parameters in large sample environments. The method works and the results hold with few assumptions; the ideas are maintained even with discrete input spaces or parameter spaces. Computation of the confidence sets and approximate confidence sets is discussed. The performance is illustrated in a simulation example as well as two real data examples.
Modelling Extreme Rain Accumulation with an Application to the 2011 Lake Champlain Flood
Authors: Jalbert Jonathan , Murphy Orla A. , Genest Christian , Nešlehová Johanna G. 
Published: March 2019

SummaryA simple strategy is proposed to model total accumulation in non-overlapping clusters of extreme values from a stationary series of daily precipitation. Assuming that each cluster contains at least one value above a high threshold, the cluster sum S is expressed as the ratio S = M/P of the cluster maximum M and a random scaling factor P ∈ (0, 1]. The joint distribution for the pair (M, P) is then specified by coupling marginal distributions for M and P with a copula. Although the excess distribution of M is well approximated by a generalized Pareto distribution, it is argued that, conditionally on P &lt; 1, a scaled beta distribution may already be sufficiently rich to capture the behaviour of P. An appropriate copula for the pair (M, P) can also be selected by standard rank-based techniques. This approach is used to analyse rainfall data from Burlington, Vermont, and to estimate the return period of the spring 2011 precipitation accumulation which was a key factor in that year's devastating flood in the Richelieu Valley Basin in Québec, Canada.
Financing of Firms, Labor Reallocation, and the Distributional Role of Monetary Policy*
Authors: Abo‐Zaid Salem , Zervou Anastasia 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWe analyze monetary policy in a model with heterogeneous firms, where constrained firms finance operations through external financing and unconstrained firms use internal funds. We show that expansionary monetary policy increases the relative employment of constrained firms, while positive productivity shocks increase that of unconstrained firms. Our results agree with recent empirical findings, emphasizing the role of the monetary authority in reallocating resources across sectors with different financing capabilities. We also show that if the relative productivity of constrained firms is low, then expansionary monetary policy tilts resources towards less productive firms, which decreases the effectiveness of the policy in stimulating aggregate output.
Surgically induced astigmatism in canines following sutured dorsonasal vs dorsotemporal clear corneal incisions
Authors: Pederson Samantha L. , Cleymaet Allison M. , Hess Ann M. , Wotman Kathryn L. , Freeman Kate S. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate use of the Pentacam® HR for evaluation of surgically induced corneal astigmatism (SIA) in canines undergoing bilateral phacoemulsification and determine differences between dorsonasal and dorsotemporal clear corneal incisions.AnimalsClient‐owned canines undergoing bilateral phacoemulsification.ProceduresPatients received anterior segment imaging pre‐operatively, immediately post‐operatively, and 2‐4 months post‐operatively (follow‐up). Total corneal refractive power was used to determine SIA. Surgically induced astigmatism was compared between right and left eyes, representing dorsotemporal and dorsonasal incisions, respectively. Repeated measures analyses were used between time points and paired t test compared SIA between eyes.ResultsComplete imaging series were obtained for seven patients. Follow‐up imaging occurred at a median of 112 days (range 60‐132 days) post‐operatively. For repeated measures analyses, significant differences were found between pre‐ and immediate post‐operative values (P < 0.01), and between immediate post‐operative and follow‐up values (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between pre‐operative and follow‐up values. Surgically induced astigmatism was significantly different between right and left eyes, with values of 2.01 ± 1.24 D and 3.05 ± 1.58 D at 3 mm radius (P < 0.05), and 2.04 ± 1.18 D and 3.06 ± 1.27 D at 4 mm radius (P < 0.05) for dorsotemporal and dorsonasal incisions, respectively.ConclusionsPreliminary investigation revealed improvement of corneal SIA 2‐4 months post‐operatively, but development of significantly more SIA in dorsonasal vs dorsotemporal incisions. This prompts consideration of patient or microscope rotation to create a more dorsotemporal incision when possible.
Constructibilité et modération uniformes en cohomologie étale
Authors: Orgogozo Fabrice 
Published: March 2019

Soient$S$un schéma nœthérien et$f:X\rightarrow S$un morphisme propre. D’après SGA 4 XIV, pour tout faisceau constructible$\mathscr{F}$de$\mathbb{Z}/n\mathbb{Z}$-modules sur$X$, les faisceaux de$\mathbb{Z}/n\mathbb{Z}$-modules$\mathtt{R}^{i}f_{\star }\mathscr{F}$, obtenus par image directe (pour la topologie étale), sont également constructibles : il existe une stratification$\mathfrak{S}$de$S$telle que ces faisceaux soient localement constants constructibles sur les strates. À la suite de travaux de N. Katz et G. Laumon, ou L. Illusie, dans le cas particulier où$S$est génériquement de caractéristique nulle ou bien les faisceaux$\mathscr{F}$sont constants (de torsion inversible sur$S$), on étudie ici la dépendance de$\mathfrak{S}$en$\mathscr{F}$. On montre qu’une condition naturelle de constructibilité et modération « uniforme » satisfaite par les faisceaux constants, introduite par O. Gabber, est stable par les foncteurs$\mathtt{R}^{i}f_{\star }$. Si$f$n’est pas supposé propre, ce résultat subsiste sous réserve de modération à l’infini, relativement à$S$. On démontre aussi l’existence de bornes uniformes sur les nombres de Betti, qui s’appliquent notamment pour les fibres des faisceaux$\mathtt{R}^{i}f_{\star }\mathbb{F}_{\ell }$, où$\ell$parcourt les nombres premiers inversibles sur$S$.