Scientific Research Publishing

Bicycling is becoming more and more used as a way of commuting in a person’s average day. It is also a popular way for college students and faculty to get around on their campus, but it varies by the type and size of the community. With a rise in bicycling on campuses there comes a rise in bicycle collisions with vehicles, pedestrians, and other bicycles. There has been extensive research studying bicycle and pedestrian crashes. However, most of this research involves crashes with vehicles which are more common. While some aspects of this research can be applied to non-motorized paths, there is a lack of research strictly focusing on only bicycles and pedestrians. This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by developing a model to identify locations on roads and paths (hotspots) on college campuses that are likely to have a bicycle collision and predict the likelihood of a serious bicycle crash on a non-motorized path based on the characteristics of the path. This study ide...

Accurate prediction of outcomes after stroke is important, particularly if the predictive model can be applied to patient care and to relaying information to patients and families. Prediction of functional outcomes after ischemic stroke is challenging. There are a plethora of stroke-related clinical and imaging data to consider. The authors previously derived predictive models for 3-month mortality and 3-month modified Rankin Score (mRS) score after acute ischemic stroke utilizing a cohort of patients from 1999. The purpose of the current study was to test the validity of those models. And two independent data sets from 2005 and 2010 that include comprehensive outcome measurements in a well-characterized cohort of ischemic strokes were used to assess external validity by utilizing measures of agreement between predicted and observed values, calibration, and discrimination using Transparent Reporting of a multivariable prediction model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis. Th...

Nowadays, many parents frequently use the Internet to obtain information about their child’s conditions, but at the same time they are unaware of the potential pitfalls that Internet information can present. Parents’ quests for health-related online information comprise an effort to manage symptoms of illness or address questions about child development which may be an expression of self-management or self-care. This study aimed to describe health and child development related Internet search patterns used by parents of children ages zero to six, and further, how the obtained information was used in contacts with Child Health Care. A two-step mixed-method approach is used in this study, comprising both a quantitative and a qualitative approach. First, a questionnaire was distributed to parents (n = 800) at 13 health centers in a medium sized county in Sweden. Second, one narrative interview with two parents total was conducted. Descriptive and non-parametric statistics were ca...

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body's immune system. It is one of the most distressing cancer diagnoses being associated with high levels of depression, anxiety and poor quality of life (QOL). Mindfulness is the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. It is also an increasingly popular therapeutic approach. The construct of mindfulness has been examined in cancer patients, as has the efficacy of mindfulness-based treatments. In this study, the authors evaluated the experience of depression, anxiety, stress and QOL in people with NHL and the relationship of these states to a trait-based measure of mindfulness. Participants were 125 patients and survivors of NHL who had been diagnosed at least 2years ago. They completed an online questionnaire asking about their recent experiences of depression,...

Hemp sesbania ( Sesbania exaltata ) is an erect, annual plant noted for prolific branching, large, yellow flowers, and distinctive curved seed pods and has high reproductive capacity. It is a vigorous, nodulating, epigeal, leguminous weed in soybean, cotton and rice and can attain a height of 3 m. It is also deemed one of the 10 most troublesome weeds in the southern U.S. and can reduce crop yield through shading and competition. Until now, no pre- or post-emergent herbicide can provide season-long control of hemp sesbania. In fact, biological weed control using plant pathogens (bioherbicides) has received attention by academic and industrial researchers for quite some time and combinations of bioherbicides and herbicides have been examined to discover possible synergistic interactions to improve weed control efficacy. However, many herbicides exhibit toxicity towards bioherbicides, caused by either the active ingredient and/or the various adjuvants, surfactants, etc. (in...

Fertigation is the injection of fertilizers, soil amendments, water amendments and other water-soluble products into an irrigation system. The common method of fertigation is using a pumping apparatus that injects the nutrients from a tank filled with nutrients at the base of the irrigation system into the main irrigation water line. This method applies fertilizer uniformly across the entire field. However, this method does not account for variation in soil texture and water holding capacity, all which could subsequently have a major impact on crop fertilizer management strategies. Yield response to N fertilizer also varies significantly among different sections of a production field due to the variation in soil even in small fields (less than 4 hectares in size) in the Southeast region of the USA. The spatial soil variability adds to the difficulty in N application, use, and proper timing for a cropping season. However, there is no variable-rate fertigation system available t...

Osteoporosis and the subsequent risk of bone fracture are characterized by enhanced bone fragility, resulting in an increased risk of fracture, and it is usually defined as a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD). These disorders account for a significant burden of morbidity and mortality worldwide and have become a major public health problem. In women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, estrogen deficiency enhances the sensitivity to parathyroid hormone (PTH), leading to an increase in bone resorption. This results in elevated concentrations of calcium (Ca) in the blood. High blood Ca levels then prevent the release of parathyroid hormone (PTH), and, this, in turn, suppresses the production of 1,25-(OH)2 D3, which can promote Ca absorption in the intestine. Ultimately, the reduced absorption of Ca causes a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD). So it is critical to maintain blood Ca levels in the normal range. Citric acid is mainly responsible for the acidic flavor of lem...

An aortic aneurysm is an enlargement (dilation) of the aorta to greater than 1.5 times normal size. Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) involve both the thoracic and abdominal aorta. Open surgery remains the standard treatment for TAAAs. However, surgical TAAA repair continues to pose a substantial risk of severe treatment-related complications such as spinal cord injury (SCI), renal failure, gastrointestinal problems, and stroke. Furthermore, the rate of improvement in surgical equipment for TAAA repair may be delayed because the incidence of TAAAs is much lower than that of other aneurysms. Therefore, it is desirable to develop a dedicated TAAA repair technique that takes advantage of current technologies and yet provides acceptable outcomes. In this paper, the authors aimed to summarize the experience with a novel surgical strategy involving maintenance of high blood pressure and early establishment of pulsatile blood flow to the spinal cord.  Between Augus...

Evidence is emerging that obesity and type 2 diabetes are often associated with cognitive impairment. Fructose, or fruit sugar, is a simple ketonic monosaccharide found in many plants. Recent studies have reported a role of excessive fructose intake in the onset of type 2 diabetes in rodents and humans. To determine if fructose intake might affect memory function independently of diabetes development, the authors in this paper investigated the effects of monosaccharides on memory in prediabetic state. They examined whether 2.5% apple juice solution could influence cognitive function in salt-sensitive Dahl rats using passive avoidance methods. Furthermore, the authors examined the role of monosaccharides intake in cognitive function and oxidative stress in the brain. Four-week consumption of either apple juice or 2.5% fructose did not affect the blood glucose concentrations; however, apple juice, but not fructose, significantly decreased cognitive function compared with that o...

In recent Japan, as there has been an increase of dual-income households and the demand for childcare facilities has especially increased especially in urban areas, childcare facilities and workers are lacking and it leads to the serious issue of children on waiting lists. Though subsidy is granted for the construction of childcare facilities, childcare facilities cannot be greatly increased as there is a limit to the amount of subsidy. Therefore, when constructing new childcare facilities, it is essential to place priority on districts lacking such facilities. In order to do so, it is necessary to evaluate current locations to extract districts lacking facilities. And for childcare facilities, the distribution of facilities should not be concentrated in specific districts but rather arranged in locations where all who need to use them can fairly do so. Based on the background mentioned above, using statistical method, geographical information system (GIS) and public open data, sc...

Dependence is associated with advanced age, is a consequence of fragility, and entails some degree of support from others (caregivers) to carry out, supplement and assist in activities of daily living. However, caregiver burden can have negative effects on health, especially on mental health (mainly anxiety and depression), although it is also associated with physical complaints (back pain, headache and muscle pain). Moreover, the convergence of social isolation, lack of free time, family strife and a deteriorating economic situation have given rise to what some authors call “caregiver syndrome”. This condition has a negative impact on caregivers’ quality of life, necessitating a comprehensive approach that encompasses care for both patients and the people who look after them. In this paper, an observational, retrospective e, single-center study was carried out to assess the impact of improved management in diabetes on caregiver burden. The authors assessed patients’ performanc...

Adolescent sexual behavior, in comparison to adults, is known to become high risk in future health issues such as infertility as consequence of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. In this study, the authors aimed to clarify the relationship between cognitive social capital and sexual awareness in high school students in Tokyo, Japan. The authors administered our survey to 1073 high school junior students in six high schools in the Tokyo metropolitan area using the Japanese language version of the self-administered questionnaire (collection rate 94.5%). Excluding invalid responses without age and gender specified, analysis subjects were 518 boys, 493 girls, total 1011 students (94.2%). True/false questions on timing to wear condom for sex knowledge, acceptability to sexual behavior of high school students for sexual awareness, sense of community belonging for social capital, existence of sexually experienced peers, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale score (binarized...