Spin-induced electron transmission through metal-organic chiral crystals.

Metal-organic Co(II)-phenylalanine crystals were studied and were found to possess magnetic properties and long-range spin transport. Magnetic measurements confirmed that in the crystals there are antiferromagnetic interactions between Co(II) and the lattice. The metal-organic crystals (MOCs) also present the chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect at room temperature.

Conceptual foundations of organizational structure: re-structuring of women's health services.

Purpose: Researchers often debate health service structure. Understanding of the practical implications of this debate is often limited by researchers' neglect to integrate participants' views on structural options with discourses those views represent. As a case study, this paper aims to discern the extent to which and how conceptual underpinnings of stakeholder views on women's health contextualize different positions in the debate over the ideal structure of health services.

Short-Term Effect in Soil Microbial Community of Two Strategies of Recovering Degraded Area in Brazilian Savanna: A Pilot Case Study.

The Brazilian Cerrado is a highland tropical savanna considered a biodiversity hotspot with many endemic species of plants and animals. Over the years, most of the native areas of this biome became arable areas, and with inadequate management, some are nowadays at varying levels of degradation stage. Crop-livestock integrated systems (CLIS) are one option for the recovery of areas in degradation, improving the physicochemical and biological characteristics of the soil while increasing income and mitigating risks due to product diversification.

Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a case report.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare hematologic syndrome presenting either as an inherited life-threatening inflammatory disorder in children or as a secondary disease in adults. Inherited HLH involves inborn defects in lymphocytes and includes autosomal recessive and X-linked disorders characterized by uncontrolled activation of T cells and macrophages and overproduction of inflammatory cytokines. Secondary or acquired HLH occurs in the settings of infections, systemic connective tissue disease and lymphoid malignancies, possibly due to underlying genetic predisposition to develop HLH.

Small animal irradiator dose distribution verification using radioluminescence imaging.

The main objective of this work was the development of a novel 2D dosimetry approach for small animal external radiotherapy using radioluminescence imaging (RLI) with a commercial complementary metal oxide semiconductor detector. Measurements of RLI were performed on the small animal image-guided platform SmART, RLI data were corrected for perspective distortion using Matlab. Four irradiation fields were tested and the planar 2D dose distributions and dose profiles were compared against dose calculations performed with a Monte Carlo based treatment planning system and gafchromic film.

Relationship of weight gain with infrared temperatures in Nelore and F1 (Nelore × Angus) heifers reared in two forage production systems1.

Intensive production systems require high-yield genetics as obtained in Bos taurus × Bos indicus crossbreeding. Generally, high-producing taurine cattle are more susceptible to parasites and heat stress. This study evaluated animal performance, heat-stress measurement (infrared temperatures), and internal parasite infection with daily weight gain in heifers from 2 genetic groups (Nelore and F1-Nelore × Angus) reared in 2 forage production systems (with or without crop-livestock system) during 1 yr.

Once in a Blue Moon … Rare Adnexal Tumor: From the Clinical and Videodermoscopical Aspects to the Mohs Surgery and the Histological Diagnosis.

The adnexal tumours are a very heterogeneous group of lesions, more and more studied in the literature. The squamoid eccrine ductal carcinoma (SEDC) is a rare malignant variant that combines ductal structures with squamous differentiation. We report a case of dermoscopic and histological diagnosis of SEDC, treated with Mohs Surgery and with no recurrence of a tumour after 12 months of follow up.

Improving the effectiveness of interpreted consultations: Australian interpreter, general practitioner and patient perspectives.

Healthcare consultations with patients lacking English proficiency are challenging for all parties, even in Australian primary care where the engagement of interpreters is encouraged and fully subsidised. Our objective was to understand these challenges from the perspectives of interpreters, patients and general practitioners in order to improve the effectiveness of interpreted consultations. Our investigator team approached the interpreted consultation as an interprofessional collaboration.

Have policy responses in Nigeria resulted in improvements in infant and young child feeding practices in Nigeria?

Background: Nigeria initiated a range of programs and policies (from 1992 to 2005) to improve infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices. However, the prevalence of children fed in accordance with IYCF recommendations in Nigeria remains low. This paper presents time trends in IYCF practices in Nigeria for the period (1999-2013), and considers trends in the context of key national policy responses and initiatives.

Use of a Collagen Membrane to Enhance the Survival of Primary Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

Intestinal epithelial cell culture is important for biological, functional, and immunological studies. Since enterocytes have a short in vivo life span due to anoikis, we aimed to establish a novel and reproducible method to prolong the survival of mouse and human cells. Cells were isolated following a standard procedure, and cultured on ordered-cow's collagen membranes.

Diarrhoea and Suboptimal Feeding Practices in Nigeria: Evidence from the National Household Surveys.

Background: Globally, Nigeria has the largest burden of infectious diseases (including diarrhoea). Optimal feeding practices have been well-documented to protect against diarrhoea in other contexts; but this benefit has not been broadly studied in Nigeria. The study aimed to examine the association between diarrhoea and childhood feeding practices to provide country-specific evidence.

Trends in complementary feeding indicators in Nigeria, 2003-2013.

Objective: The study aimed to examine secular trends and determinants of changes in complementary feeding indicators in Nigeria.

Design, Setting And Participants: Data on 79 953 children aged 6-23 months were obtained from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) for the period spanning 2003-2013. The surveys used a stratified two-stage cluster sample of eligible mothers aged 15-49 years from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Determinants of trends in breast-feeding indicators in Nigeria, 1999-2013.

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the trends and differentials in key breast-feeding indicators in Nigeria for the period 1999-2013.

Design: Longitudinal study of trends (1999-2013) in optimal feeding practices using a series of population-based Nigerian Demographic and Health Surveys. Trends in socio-economic, health service and individual characteristics associated with key breast-feeding indicators were examined using multilevel regression analyses.

Beyond reintegration: a framework for understanding ex-prisoner health.

Purpose: This paper proposes a framework to better understand ex-prisoner health, and pilot-tests the framework using qualitative interviews with ten people who have been out of prison for two years or more. The proposed framework considers different stages of re-entry (from pre-incarceration through to post-release), individual and structural factors influencing health, and health outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted qualitative, open-ended interviews with ex-prisoners released from prison two or more years ago, who could be considered to have transitioned "successfully" out of prison.

Maintenance venom immunotherapy administered at a 3-month interval preserves safety and efficacy and improves adherence.

Background: Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy (VIT) is a safe and effective approach to insect sting allergy. However, after discontinuation, relapses can occur in some patients, especially those with a high occupational risk, and they may need to prolong VIT indefinitely. In order to improve adherence, we propose extending the interval between injections of maintenance VIT (MVIT).

Early cytokine modulation after the rapid induction phase of sublingual immunotherapy with mite monomeric allergoids.

The influence of different treatment schedules of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in activating IL-10-producing T-cells, crucial in inducing allergen-specific tolerance, is not completely understood. The present work was designed to evaluate allergen driven interleukin release by mononuclear cells in the early phase of SLIT, after application of different induction schemes. Twenty mite-allergic patients were enrolled, 10 (group A) treated with a traditional 98 day induction scheme and 10 (group B) with a 16 day scheme with monomeric allergoid vaccine.

Immunotoxicity and sensitizing capacity of metal compounds depend on speciation.

Immunotoxicity of metal compounds is an issue of great importance due to the recent industrial application of metals with unknown toxicity on the immune system and the discovery of metal intermediary compounds not sufficiently studied yet. In this report we show results of our study on the immunotoxicity of the following metals: the Platinum group elements (Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium), Titanium and Arsenic. We applied functional and non functional assays and investigated both innate and adaptive immune systems, in particular, cell proliferation, cytokine production by PBMCs and O*2 production by neutrophils.

Intraarterial chemotherapy through carotid transposition in advanced head and neck cancer.

We report results of intraarterial chemotherapy (IAC) in patients with advanced unresectable (T4, N0-3, MO) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the oral cavity, oropharynx, or facial skin, given through a subcutaneously transposed external carotid artery by a fine gauge needle. Forty patients entered the study and 39 were evaluable for clinical response and toxicity. The infusion technique was done in two consecutive series of patients with the same characteristics: 17 had treatment with vincristine, bleomycin, and methotrexate (VBM), and 22 received cisplatin and bleomycin (PB) with a median number of six and five cycles, respectively.