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Modular infusion (MI) is utilized to eliminate dry spot defects within complex multi-architecture composites by segregating and controlling flow fronts in-process. Compaction, employed to arrest in-plane flow, results in a crimp witness, which can be eliminated through MI fiber bed normalization. However, the MI normalization techniques generate voids within the cured components. To study the mechanisms that control the MI fiber bed normalization process, an in-process X-ray computed tomography (XCT) approach is developed to provide a visualization of fiber bed thickness and void distribution. Inner bag regulation during normalization is identified as the primary cause of the void generation. C-scans on a cured panel corroborate XCT findings, as well as validating the quality of the panel produced for subsequent mechanical test samples. Hence, it is demonstrated that the approach enables the optimization of a MI manufacturing process, which is supported by the findings of the mechanical characterization campaign. Flexural tests were carried out in three and four-point bend testing using samples cut from the panel, with Digital Image Correlation (DIC) providing comparative measurements for a baseline and MI case. Flexural testing of MI samples showed that a comparable mean strength and stiffness to that of the baseline material was achieved, demonstrating complete restoration of material thickness and mechanical properties during the optimised MI process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disabled persons face an array of barriers to quality physical activity programming. Nonetheless, kinesiology undergraduate programs have historically neglected to focus on disability. Hence, it is unsurprising that ableist norms permeate throughout many kinesiology professions. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the RE-AIM approach as conceptual framework for the implementation of introductory adapted physical activity college courses within kinesiology undergraduate programs. Such an approach could shift the attitudes and knowledge of kinesiology undergraduates such that they are better prepared to support disabled persons in quality physical activity. Each dimension of the RE-AIM approach is examined and discussed in relation to the potential impact and sustainability of integrating adapted physical activity courses into a core curriculum for kinesiology undergraduate programs. We argue this development and expansion of adapted physical activity courses can serve as an important component to begin to address pervasive health disparities and ableist norms that permeate physical activity spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragaria vesca L. (wild strawberry) is traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory activity and for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and urinary disorders. A previous study with the rat aorta showed that its leaves extract elicits endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. Our aim was to investigate the clinical application of Fragaria vesca in vascular disease, by assessing the vascular effects of an infusion and hydroalcoholic extract in internal thoracic arteries from patients with coronary artery disease. The extracts elicited no effects on basal vascular tone and did not induce any vasorelaxation. At low concentration (0.02 mg/mL), the infusion potentiated the noradrenaline-induced contraction, while the other concentrations did not elicit significant changes in efficacy or potency. Differences between our findings and the previous report on rat aorta may result from methodological differences, e.g. vascular bed, method of extraction and extract composition. The clinical applicability of extracts of Fragaria vesca in patients with cardiovascular disease remains to be fully validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new solid phase extraction procedure, known as in situ surfactant-based solid phase extraction, has been proposed to detect the presence of CrIII in infusions of medicinal plants. In this work, a small amount of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide was injected into a sample containing CrIII, which was complexed by 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol. After shaking, a small volume of NaClO4 was added to the solution as an ion-pairing agent. After preconcentration, the settled phase was dissolved in a specific volume of HCl and then analyzed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. A Doehlert matrix was used to optimize the CrIII complex formation conditions, such as the chelating agent concentration (0.18 mmol L-1) and pH of 9.5 in the reaction medium. A 2³ factorial design was used to screen the variables that influence the extraction of the complex. The concentration of ionic-pairing agent (0.26 mol L-1) and the vortex mixer agitation time (7.51 minutes) were significant and optimized using response surface methodology. The limit of detection, limit of quantification, and preconcentration factor were 1.66 μg L-1, 5.5 μg L-1 and 12, respectively. The linear range was 5.5-5000 μg L-1. The method proved accuracy by the comparison with certified reference material APS-1071 (p>0.05), and the optimized conditions were successfully applied for the determination of CrIII in samples of medicinal plant infusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urethral amyloidosis (UA) is a very rare condition. We here report the case of a 63-year-old male patient who was admitted to our outpatient department due to aggravating dysuria, frequent urination, pain during intercourse, and a gradually enlarging mass at the ostium of his urethra, which he first notice one year earlier. Pathological tissue biopsy of urethral ostium mass confirmed UA. Intermittent urethra infusion of dimethyl sulfoxide was performed and the treatment effect is satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of these studies was to determine the pharmacokinetics of levonorgestrel and etonogestrel in Sprague-Dawley rat or Göttingen minipig following various administration routes. Four sequential crossover studies were conducted: Study 1 administered levonorgestrel 30 µg intravenously and intradermally in four minipigs; Study 2 administered levonorgestrel 30 µg intravenously in 12 rats; Study 3 administered levonorgestrel 60 µg intravenously and subcutaneously in 12 rats; and Study 4 administered etonogestrel 30 µg intravenously in 12 rats. Samples were quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated via noncompartmental analysis. Cmax and AUCinf for etonogestrel and levonorgestrel were similar following 30 µg intravenous bolus in rats, suggesting comparable pharmacokinetics. Levonorgestrel exposure was dose-proportional in rats, based on two-fold higher AUCinf following levonorgestrel 60 versus 30 µg. The bioavailability of intradermal and subcutaneous levonorgestrel was 97.7% (Study 1) and 90.3% (Study 3), respectively. The minipig levonorgestrel clearance was 21.5 L/hr, which was about 20-fold higher than both the rat levonorgestrel (range: 0.985–1.45 L/hr) and etonogestrel clearance (range: 0.803–0.968 L/hr). These studies contribute to the gap in knowledge of nonclinical levonorgestrel and etonogestrel pharmacokinetics, which is necessary for the ongoing development of long-acting reversible contraceptives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genus Mentha is represented in Morocco by 10 species including hybrids. The species of this genus are used as herbal teas and condiments, due to their distinct aroma. In this study, infusions of the fresh aerial parts of three Mentha spp., commonly cultivated and used in Morocco, were evaluated for phenolic contents and antioxidant activity. Antioxidant capacity was assessed by three tests: scavenger activity by DPPH, FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), and β-carotene bleaching methods. Infusions of M. piperita possess the best ability to reduce DPPH and chelate iron (IC50 = 7.50 ± 0.19 and 5.84 ± 0.36 μg/mL, respectively), while M. spicata shows great efficiency on inhibiting β-carotene (IC50 = 62.67 ± 0.01 μg/mL). The antioxidant capacity was significantly correlated with the total phenolic content and HPLC chromatographic analyses showed the predominance of phenolic acids, especially rosmarinic acid. Furthermore, by GC-MS analysis of Mentha spp. essential oils, eucalyptol, limonene, carvone, and pulegone were identified as predominant components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an exploratory study aimed to document co-taught education courses across the general-special education curriculum and to determine perceived change in students' disability knowledge as a result of taking the courses. Collaborative teaching taught by a general and special education university faculty was examined over a 10-week quarter at a large public university. The infusion approach of teaching disability utilized in the study shows great promise for providing disability knowledge to general education pre-service students who may otherwise receive minimal disability-related coursework. Recommendations for future research and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the evidence for the safety of intravenous iron infusions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in June 2019 on PubMed and Cochrane databases for eligible studies. Results: There is significant evidence of safety and efficacy of intravenous iron in patients with rheumatoid arthritis using newer, less immunogenic iron preparations, such as iron sucrose and low molecular weight iron dextran preparations. Discussion: Iron deficiency anaemia has a significant impact on the quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but the use of intravenous iron is generally avoided due to concerns raisedin older studies using high molecular weight iron dextran of exacerbating the disease. However, such concerns have not been confirmed in more recent studies using newer preparations. Conclusion: We find significant evidence of safety and efficacy in more recent studies of larger cohorts of patients using newer, less immunogenic iron preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Tunisia, Pelargonium graveolens is widely consumed as a food aromatizing hydrosol. Recent studies have shown the potential of plant solvent-free extracts as food and pharmaceutical natural additives. Accordingly, in this study, we investigate the phenolic content, the volatile fractions of green P. graveolens extracts such as infusion and decoction, and we evaluate their biological activities. The total phenolic content of the infusion (27.05 mg GAE/gDM) is significantly different from that of decoction (31.2 mg GAE/gDM). The GC-MS analysis identified about twenty volatile components in both extracts. The DPPH inhibition and the β-carotene bleaching tests of the infusion and the decoction had considerable results. Besides, infusion and decoction exhibited a relatively high anti-acetyl-cholinesterase activity and a considerable antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, among three tested pathogenic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a part of a quality improvement program, maternal postoperative opioid use and pain scores were compared between those receiving continuous infusion of bupivacaine for local incisional pain control with multimodal pain management and neuraxial morphine versus multimodal pain management with neuraxial morphine alone. Objective: We compared postoperative opioid use and pain scores between the multimodal pain management group with neuraxial morphine and the group receiving multimodal pain management, neuraxial morphine, and continuous infusion of bupivacaine for local incisional pain control. Study design: A retrospective cohort analysis of cesarean deliveries from January of 2015 through March of 2016 was undertaken. Deliveries were grouped by utilization of continuous infusion of bupivacaine for local incisional pain control. For each postoperative day, the average daily opioid use, antiemetic use and pain scores were determined. Patients received 1-2 tablets oxycodone-acetaminophen (5-325 mg) every 4 h as needed with oxycodone 5-10 mg immediate release tablets every 4 h as needed for breakthrough pain in addition to acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Total dose of narcotic, antiemetic use, and pain scores was compared between groups utilizing t-test for continuous variables and chi square for categorical data. A linear mixed model with unstructured covariance was utilized to analyze the daily dose of narcotic and pain scores from postoperative day 1 through day 4. Results: Patients in the standard multimodal group with neuraxial morphine used more opioids versus those receiving continuous wound infusion of bupivacaine in total postoperative dosing (122.79 ± 61.92 mg versus 89.88 ± 51.38 mg, p = .0063). There was a statistically significant difference between the standard group and local infusion of bupivacaine group on postoperative days 1 and 2 (32.79 ± 15.56 mg versus 22.13 ± 15.73 mg, p = .0011 and 40.25 ± 19.84 mg versus 29.13 ± 14.58 mg, p = .0018, respectively). There was no difference in narcotic use for postoperative days 3 and 4. There was a higher mean number of antiemetic doses in the standard group (0.31 ± 0.70 versus 0.10 ± 0.30, p = .0396). Pain scores did not differ between groups, although there was a correlation between opioid dosing and pain scores. The standard group received more IV ketorolac (87.72 ± 42.01 mg versus 64.50 ± 53.3 mg, p = .0165) and more IV acetaminophen (634.89 ± 706.42 mg versus 375.0 ± 490.29 mg, p = .0315) within the first 24 h postoperatively. In addition, the standard group received more oral acetaminophen (6969.67 ± 3230.14 mg versus 5248.75 ± 2711.71 mg, p = .0064). No difference was seen in regard to ibuprofen between groups. These results remained constant when adjusted for differences in gestational age, variation in intraoperative opioid dosing, as well as differences in uterine incision type. Conclusion: We found a significant reduction in postoperative opioid use when continuous infusion of bupivacaine for local incisional pain control was added to our standard pain management with neuraxial morphine after cesarean delivery. As a result of this quality improvement initiative, we have implemented this intervention universally as a part of our multimodal postoperative pain management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study determined the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities of common teas in response to our tea drinking habits. Selected green and black tea (Chinese black and green tea, Lipton black and green tea, Twining black and green tea) were infused with water for 3, 5, 7, and 10 min, and the teabags were rebrewed for two cycles (an hour interval each). Results showed that the TPC and antioxidant activities increased throughout the infusion time, suggesting that the longer the infusion time, the higher the concentrations of antioxidants. On the contrary, the TPC and antioxidants activities decreased throughout the three brewing cycles, suggesting that the teabags are most suitably used only once. This study therefore revealed that 10 min is recommended for the infusion of green and black tea to derive optimum benefits, and rebrewing of teabags is not recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aim towards establishing an animal model of total parenteral nutrition (TPN), 12 piglets aged 9 weeks (mean body weight 21 kg) were surgically provided with central venous catheters. Six piglets were nourished parenterally with the objective to reach a 14-d period of TPN; the other six piglets served as control and were fed normally. Only one animal from each group could be monitored over the whole period. Nine piglets were euthanised on d 13 and one on d 12. No animal showed fever or signs of septicaemia during the study. The levels of Ca, Mg, Na and P in the blood were within the normal range as were those for blood glucose and plasma creatinine. Symptoms of the TPN included: transient diarrhoea, occasional appearance of faecal blood and occasional absence of defecation. A reduced small intestine length and altered mucosal morphology and function were observed. One animal showed bile stasis at the end of the study. All TPN animals showed a remarkably high level of blood urea early in the morning. The intestinal symptoms observed may resemble the human situation during TPN. However, due to the fast growth rate, pigs aged 9 weeks have higher nutrient requirements per kg body weight. Consequently, the osmolality of the nutrient solution was necessarily high. Whether the significantly higher blood urea observed in the TPN group reflected a catabolic metabolism during the starving period at night-time could not be conclusively shown. Alternatively, it could reflect a slower growth rate and a resulting quantitative excess of amino acids (AA), or could have been the consequence of a suboptimal AA composition. A permanent infusion would be favourable in order not to overcharge the capacity for glucose uptake and amino acid metabolism during the infusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salvia officinalis L. is a popular herb widely used in culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal preparations, and also as an ornamental plant. Sage crops are threatened by many diseases, such as gray mold, powdery mildew, and leaf spot, by weeds, and by pests, such as aphids. Use of crop protection products may lead to presence of pesticide residues in this herb. The aim of this work was to study presence of pesticide residues in the herb, S. officinalis L., available on the retail market in Poland, to verify their compliance with the maximum residue levels (MRLs) and to assess the chronic and acute risks associated with consumption of this herb and infusions prepared from contaminated sage plants. Ninety active substances of pesticides were analyzed, including all active substances registered in Poland for protection of the sage. Five active substances were found, one fungicide – boscalid and four insecticides: chlorpyrifos, pp′-DDT, dimethoate (residue levels above MRL) and indoxacarb. The chronic and acute exposure to pesticide residues consumed with sage did not exceed 0.02% of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) and 0.1% of the acute reference dose (ARfD), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of gases (air, carbon dioxide and nitrogen) has been practiced in the manufacture of dairy products (i.e., ice cream, whipped cream and butter) to improve their texture, mouthfeel and shelf-life extension. Many attempts have also been made to incorporate other gases such as hydrogen, nitrous oxide, argon, xenon, and helium into the dairy systems for various product functionalities such as whipping, foaming, texture, aroma enhancement, and therapeutic properties. The gases can be dissolved in aqueous and fat phases or remain in the form of bubbles stabilized by protein or fat particles. The gas addition or infusion processes are typically simple and have been used commercially. This review focuses on the use of various gases in relation to their individually physical properties along with their specific roles in manufacturing and controlling quality of dairy products. It also recaps on how gases are included in the dairy systems. The information is important in understanding of addition of specific gas(es) into food systems, particularly dairy products, that potentially provide intervention opportunities for modifying and/or creating innovative food structures and functionalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizations have invested in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems expecting to obtain benefits of the system and realize a healthy return on investment. Nonetheless, research indicates that employees rarely use ERP to its full potential. To tackle the challenge of underutilization, this article studies the longitudinal impact of control and empowerment on usage behaviors at the individual level. Results indicate that users engage in different but coexisting usage behaviors: routinization and infusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four healthy Holstein heifers (235 ± 12 kg) fitted with duodenal and pancreatic cannulas were used to investigate infusion of isoleucine (Ile) on the pancreatic exocrine function in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Three doses of Ile, 10, 20 and 30 g in 2500 ml water, respectively, were infused into the duodenum over a period of 12 h in Experiment (Exp) 1 and over 10 d in Exp 2. Hourly pancreatic juice and jugular blood were taken during the infusion period in Exp 1, and the blood samples were taken in 2-h intervals over the last 2 d in Exp 2. Compared with no Ile infusion, the Ile infusions in both experiments increased the concentration and secretion rate of the protein, activity of ɑ-amylase and trypsin and plasma cholecystokinin. The secretion rate of ɑ-amylase and the activity of trypsin linearly increased with the Ile doses. The pancreatic juice secretion linearly increased with Ile in Exp 2 but not in Exp 1. Isoleucine linearly increased plasma insulin in Exp 1, but not in Exp 2. No effects of Ile on pH of pancreatic juice, the activity of chymotrypsin and lipase and plasma glucose were found. In conclusion, duodenal Ile infusion could increase the pancreatic exocrine function of Holstein heifers, especially ɑ-amylase, and the increment appeared to be dose and time dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Limited data exist describing the outcomes of patients receiving continuous lidocaine infusions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of use of continuous lidocaine infusions for pain management at a community teaching hospital. A retrospective chart review was performed that included adult patients receiving continuous systemic lidocaine infusions for the treatment of pain. Twenty-one patients were included in the analysis. Dosing ranged from 0.25 to 2.8 mg/kg/h, with a median infusion time of 64 hours. Eight patients (38%) experienced a response (≥20% reduction in pain score during the infusion compared with prior to the infusion). Among responding patients, there was a decrease in pain scores at rest after starting lidocaine (compared with prior to lidocaine) (6.5 vs. 3.7,P= .001) that was maintained 24 hours after lidocaine discontinuation. There were no differences in pain scores before, during, or after lidocaine in the entire study sample. A difference in oral morphine equivalent intake was present comparing usage during the infusion vs. day +1 (P= .006) and day +2 (P< .001). Similarly, a difference was present comparing morphine equivalent usage on day −2 with day +2 (P= .008) and day −1 with day +1 (P= .006). Continuous infusions of systemic lidocaine appear to be beneficial in some patients experiencing uncontrolled pain and may improve pain scores while decreasing opioid requirements. Overall beneficial effects of systemic lidocaine may last longer than the infusion itself. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Infusion of antioxidants into vegetables is a new food strategy managed by matrix processing. Raw and blanched apple were air- or freeze-dried. In the case of freeze-dried samples, different freezing methods were previously applied: conventional (−28°C), blast freezing (−30°C), and liquid N2(−196°C). Afterwards, air- and freeze-dried samples at different conditions were impregnated with a concentrated (40°Brix) tea extract and finally, air-dried for their stabilization. Total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (AC), enzymatic activity, and microstructure were analyzed. Regardless of pretreatments, the impregnation and the further drying improved the antioxidant potential. Samples with the most porous microstructure free of degradative enzymes provided high AC (78.5 ± 0.9 mg Trolox/g dried matter) and TPC (16.7 ± 0.2 mg GAE/g dried matter). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Intravenous fluid therapy is an invasive procedure which may increase the risk of patient complications. One of the most common of these is phlebitis, which may cause discomfort and tissue damage. Therefore, a nursing intervention is needed to effectively treat phlebitis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of applying a warm compression intervention to reduce the degree of phlebitis. A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design was used, with a non-equivalent control group. The total sample size was 32 patients with degrees of phlebitis ranging from 1 to 4. The total sample was divided into 2 interventional groups: those patients that were given 0.9% NaCl compresses and those given warm water compresses. The results showed that both compresses were effective in reducing the degree of phlebitis, with similar p values (p = .000). However, there was no difference in the average reduction score between the two groups (p = .18). Therefore, a warm water compress is valuable in the treatment of phlebitis, and could decrease the degree of phlebitis both effectively and inexpensively. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this article is to examine the integration of environmental education (EE) in the secondary school curriculum of Botswana. In order to achieve effective environmental literacy, EE needs to be integrated into all aspects of students’ learning experience. The article draws on a variety of qualitative meta-analyses of Botswana government documents and journal articles, published between 2002 and 2012. Although EE is integrated primarily in social studies and science subjects, the findings suggested that it is in a state of confusion due to ineffective professional development of teachers and neglect of educational authorities. Teachers at the secondary level rarely include EE because students are not tested on it. The study suggested that teachers’ values towards EE, subject flexibility, integration and child-centred learning should be enhanced as strategies for halting the confusion of its infusion into the curriculum [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study was designed to describe the efficacy and toxicity of subcutaneous ketamine infusions and sublingual ketamine lozenges for the treatment of chronic nonmalignant pain. Data were collected prospectively on 70 subjects managed in an academic, tertiary care hospital between 2007 and 2012 who received between 3 and 7 days of subanesthetic, subcutaneous ketamine infusion. Data were analyzed for efficacy, adverse effects, and reduction in use of opioid medication. We also analyzed whether subsequent treatment with sublingual ketamine lozenges resulted in longer-term efficacy of the beneficial effects of the initial ketamine infusion. There was a significant reduction in pain intensity measured by numerical rating scale (NRS) from mean of 6.38 before ketamine to 4.60 after ketamine (P< .005) that was sustained for between 3 months and 6 years. In subjects on opioids, there was a significant reduction in opioid use at the end of the ketamine infusion from a mean morphine equivalent dose (MMED) of 216 mg/day before ketamine to 89 mg/day after ketamine (P< .005). The overall reduction in opioid use after ketamine infusion was 59%. No subjects increased their use of opioids during their hospitalization for the ketamine infusion. A small proportion of subjects who responded to the infusion were continued on ketamine lozenges. This group was followed for between 3 months and 2 years. The use of ketamine lozenges after the infusion resulted in 31% of these subjects being able to cease their use of opioids compared with only 6% who did not receive ketamine lozenges. Eleven percent of subjects who received lozenges subsequently increased their opioid usage. Adverse effects were fairly common, but only mild, with 46% of patients experiencing light-headedness and dizziness, 25% tiredness and sedation, 12% headaches, 12% hallucinations, and 8% vivid dreams. Adverse effects were easily managed by reducing the rate of the ketamine infusion. The administration of subanesthetic, subcutaneous ketamine infusion was well tolerated, with mostly mild adverse effects and no serious adverse effects. The infusion provided significant pain relief in subjects who had failed a wide range of pharmacological and cognitive behavioral therapies. In addition, the results indicate that sublingual ketamine lozenges offer a promising therapeutic option for longer-term relief of chronic nonmalignant pain. The ketamine lozenges have been shown to have acceptable storage stability, and the sublingual bioavailability is sufficiently high and reproducible to support its use in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mindfulness-based practices have been a focus of research for over 30 years. Particular strategies involving mindfulness have been incorporated into training programs within various health professions. In addition, mindfulness has been suggested as a training technique within counselor education as the benefits of mindfulness cohere with counselor values of wellness, development, and prevention. This article examines the extant mindfulness literature relevant to these values endorsed by counselor education. Next, a case is presented for mindfulness infusion throughout the first semester of counselors-in-training studies. Finally, implications of mindfulness infusion and further research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetable infusions (VI) are one of the main phenolic sources for humans. They may act as antioxidants in the central nervous system, but data about their effect are insufficient. The main objective of the study was to determinate the effects of oral VI of Argentinean plants on phenolic concentration and redox homeostasis in different murine encephalic regions. Redox changes (peroxides -HP-, anion superoxide -SO- and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase activity) and tissue phenolics were assessed in Balb/c mice of both sexes treated with the following VI extracts: Lantana grisebachii Seckt. var. grisebachii (Verbenaceae) (LG), Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco Schltdl. (Apocynaceae) (AQB), and Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil. (Aquifoliaceae) (IP). Brain (telencephalon and diencephalon), midbrain, brainstem, and cerebellum were studied (analysis of variance, P < 0.05). A redox homeostasis depending on an appropriate phenolic balance was detected after marker analysis. Under situations without exogenous challenges, the excessive or deficient levels were deleterious on each region. This finding was confirmed independently of the utilized phytoextracts. LG and AQB caused such phenolic imbalance and triggered oxidative stress. IP group showed region-specific differential redox effects. Overall, the last extract exhibited the best redox profile when the complete encephalon was analyzed. Since this plant has sanitary impact due to its high human intake, new studies about it are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infusion of phenolic extracts in dried fruits constitutes an interesting means of improving their nutritional content. However, drying can affect the further process of impregnation. In this work, different drying treatments (air temperature and ultrasound application) were applied to apple samples and impregnated with olive leaf extract. The application of ultrasound during drying did not significantly (p < 0.05) affect the infusion capacity of samples, but the ultrasonically assisted dried samples showed a greater antioxidant capacity than those conventionally dried. The highest content of oleuropein and verbascoside was found in samples dried at low temperature using ultrasound. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose: This study evaluated the clinical outcomes of a hospital-wide initiative of a 4-h prolonged infusion piperacillin-tazobactam (pip-tz) vs. a 30-min and a 4-h prolonged infusion. Methods: This retrospective study included patients who received pip-tz by two different infusion models with a documented or suspected Gram-negative infection. Patients can receive a 30-min infusion then a 4-h infusion or a 4-h infusion of pip-tz. The study's primary outcomes were length of stay (LOS) and 30-day mortality. Findings: Seventy-four patients received both types of infusion (SP) and 275 patients received only the prolonged infusion (PI). Using univariate analysis, the PI group had a higher mortality rate (13%) vs. SP group (4%) (p = 0.033). The PI group had a higher mean LOS (12.6 ± 9.5 days) vs. the SP group (10.3 ± 8.2 days) (p = 0.04). The type of infusion was not a significant predictor of LOS or mortality in multiple regression analysis (p > 0.05). Implications: This preliminary study showed that the PI group had a higher mortality rate and LOS compared to the SP group. However, this finding was not replicated using multiple regression analysis probably due to small sample sizes. Further studies using larger samples are warranted to clarify the clinical effectiveness of the different practices of prolonged infusion piperacillin-tazobactam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers are very aware of contaminants that could pose potential health hazards. Most people drink tea as an infusion (adding hot water); however, in some countries, including India, China and Egypt, tea is drunk as a decoction (tea and water are boiled together). An infusion usually brings the soluble ingredients into solution, whereas a decoction brings all soluble and non-soluble constituents together. Therefore, a cup of tea may contain various kinds of contaminants. This review focuses on green and black tea because they are most commonly consumed. The target was to examine the transfer rate of contaminants – pesticides, environmental pollutants, mycotoxins, microorganisms, toxic heavy metals, radioactive isotopes (radionuclides) and plant growth regulators – from tea to infusion/brewing, factors contributing to the transfer potential and contaminants degradation, and residues in or on the spent leaves. It is concluded that most contaminants leaching into tea infusion are not detected or are detected at a level lower than the regulatory limits. However, the traditional practice of over-boiling tea leaves should be discouraged as there may be a chance for more transfer of contaminants from the tea to the brew. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Despite the intersection of social work and criminal justice, criminal justice content is only marginally present in social work education. Given that most social work students will at some point in their career work with clients who are directly or collaterally affected by the criminal justice system, this marginal presence is problematic and needs reversing. This article makes the case for graduate social work education programs to consider infusing criminal justice content into their social work curriculum. Supporting this case is a description of an infusion approach and pedagogical strategies for delivering criminal justice content to students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that in the higher education sector, information and communication technology (ICT) provides the impetus for change from the traditional concepts of teaching and learning, as well as prime motivation behind the change in scholarly and professional activities. This underscores the importance of ICT in higher education in achieving the goal of providing flexible teaching and learning environments. Consequently, the aim of this study was to answer the empirical question as to what environmental, technological, organizational and individual factors are most likely to influence choice behaviour to use ICT in student learning in Kenyan higher education. Path analysis statistical techniques in structural equation modelling were used. The findings show that environmental, technological, organizational and individual factors play a significant role in ICT diffusion and infusion. It was further observed that the effects of some factors including availability of ICT, access to ICT, and the characteristics of the institution's chief executive officer play a pivotal role in ICT diffusion in a developing country context. This study produced useful insights into the factors that influence technology acceptance decisions by students, and provided new ideas for the management of ICT diffusion and infusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations of the transfer of pesticide residues from tea to its infusion can be important in the assessment of the possible health benefits of tea consumption. In this work the transfer of difenoconazole and azoxystrobin residues from chrysanthemum tea to its infusion was investigated at different water temperatures, infusion intervals and times. The transfer percentages were in the range of 18.7–51.6% for difenoconazole and of 38.1–71.2% for azoxystrobin, and increased considerably with longer infusion intervals. The results indicated that azoxystrobin with a lower octanol–water partition coefficient of 2.5, showed a higher transfer than that of difenoconazole with a relatively high octanol–water partition coefficient of 4.4. Water temperature had no significant effect on the transfer of the two residues, and no obvious loss of difenoconazole and azoxystrobin occurred during the infusion process. The concentrations in the infusions decreased gradually from 0.67 to 0.30 μg kg−1for difenoconazole and from 2.3 to 0.46 μg kg−1for azoxystrobin after five infusions. To assess the potential health risk, the values of estimate expose risk were calculated to be 0.016 for difenoconazole and 0.0022 for azoxystrobin, meaning the daily residue intake of the two analytes from chrysanthemum tea was safe. This research may help assure food safety and identify the potential exposure risks from pesticides in chrysanthemum that may be health concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) can damage hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) at room temperature. To minimize the time of contact between DMSO and the thawed umbilical cord blood (UCB), there is an incentive to infuse the UCB as quickly as possible. However, the infusion of cryopreserved UCB also results in side effects. Currently, it is difficult to determine the optimal length of time for cryopreserved UCB infusion, not only to ensure the maximum effect of engraftment but also to reduce the toxicity of the cord blood infusion. Methods: Ten units of cord blood were thawed to assess viability, apoptotic events of CD34+ cells and CD45+ cells, and the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) at four time points: 0, 10, 20, and 30 minutes post-thaw (PT). The infusion time, side effects, and the speed of platelet and neutrophil engraftment of the 10 patients were monitored. Results: Within 30 minutes, the viability decreased (P < 0.01), the percentage of early apoptotic CD34+ cells and CD45+ cells was unchanged. At time point PT30, the number of CFUs was decreased compared to PT0 (P < 0.05), but it was unchanged within 20 minutes. All the 10 UCB cells engrafted well in patients. Conclusion: This study indicates that post-thawed UCB HPCs are preserved for less than 30 minutes at room temperature; thus, the optimal length of time of cryopreserved cord blood infusion should be no more than 20 minutes after thawing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wearable ambulatory intravenous infusion device (AIVD) has been developed to facilitate the ambulation of patients. To enhance ambulation, a wearable AIVD was designed and a prototype was developed that consists of an air bag, a reciprocating air pump, a drip rate sensor, and a microprocessor-based controller. Using air pressure as a source for actuation greatly contributes to decreasing the weight of the proposed device and the power consumption. Experimental results show that the proposed infusion device can provide a variety of flow rates ranging from 36-90 mL h−1 with less than a 10% error. A series of experiments were performed with the prototype of the proposed device at a wide range of flow rates and the results verify that the accuracy and controllability of the prototype is comparable with those of the current intravenous infusion devices available. It is expected that the AIVD significantly contributes to the early recovery of patients by offering a convenient and cost-effective means of ambulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of an infusion pain pump with local wound catheters has increased among different surgical specialities. Autologous breast reconstruction with deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) and transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flaps may cause severe abdominal donor site morbidity, and infusion devices delivering local anaesthetic are suggested to improve postoperative analgesia. This study performed a meta-analysis comparing pain pump use vs control to evaluate this issue. A systematic literature search was performed. Primary outcome was the amount of opioid use. Secondary outcomes were the amount of antiemetic drugs and the length of hospital stay. Five studies involving 248 patients were retrieved and included in the present analysis. A significantly decreased use of opioids was observed after using pain pump vs control (MD = −15.13, 95% CI = −24.20, −6.06, p = 0.001). Although not statistically significant, the pooled results showed a trend toward reduction of antiemetic medicament use (MD = −0.71, 95% CI = −2.14, 0.72, p = 0.33) and hospital stay time (MD = −0.53, 95% CI = −1.18, 0.11, p = 0.10). The use of local anaesthetic pain catheters for abdominal donor sites in microsurgical breast reconstruction might be associated with a decreased use of narcotics and antiemetic medicaments and shorter hospital stay. Further studies are needed to validate this promising treatment modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The intraosseous route provides access to the systemic circulation in an emergency situation when other forms of vascular access are unavailable and there is an urgent need for fluid or drug therapy. The intraosseous access has also been used for collecting samples for laboratory testing. A question that may arise in an unconscious or severely exhausted patient is whether this condition is caused by an unknown drug. We aimed to evaluate whether intraosseous samples could be used to measure opioids and to study the accuracy and precision of such measurements. Methods. Five healthy, anaesthetized pigs were treated with a continuous morphine infusion as part of the anaesthesia procedure. Samples for morphine testing were collected hourly for 6 h from two tibial intraosseous cannulae and a central venous catheter. Results. The differences in morphine concentrations between the two tibial intraosseous cannulae were less than 10% in 32/33 times. The values were also relatively stable over time. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that intraosseous samples can be used for the analysis of opioids if an IV route is not available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study material consisted of five herbs: chamomile (flowers), mint (leaves), St John's wort (flowers and leaves), sage (leaves) and nettle (leaves), sourced from three producers. The calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper contents were determined for both dried herb samples and prepared infusions, and the extraction rates were calculated. Mineral components were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. Analysis showed that the contents of individual elements in herbs and infusions depended on the type of raw material, as well as on its origin. Moreover, it was found that iron penetrated the herbal infusions to the lowest degree (4.4-12.4%), while copper did so to the highest (26.7-50.7%). It is felt that in average consumption the herbal infusions are not important as calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper sources in human nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The feasibility and outcome of large volume injection of gene solution in a segment of a liver lobe, without backflow, were studied in a porcine model, using a custom-designed balloon catheter. Method: Eight anesthetized pigs underwent successful injection of 200 ml of gene solution at a rate of 20 ml/s via a minimally invasive technique without backflow. A custom-made balloon catheter was introduced under fluoroscopy guidance into the right lateral liver lobe via the right external jugular vein. The vein of the liver lobe was occluded with the balloon catheter and contrast material was injected to check if total occlusion was achieved. Since there was no backflow an angiographic pump injected the solution. The catheter was left in place for 10 min. Then contrast material was injected to check whether the vein remained occluded. Results: All animals tolerated the procedure without obvious adverse effects. Ultrasound scan showed no gross changes within liver three days following the infusion. A transient rise in platelet count was observed which returned to normal after 13 days and remained stable; all other biochemistry values were normal. Conclusions: Injecting large volume of gene solution in a liver lobe segment using this minimally invasive technique in a porcine model is possible, making the development of a successful gene transfer protocol in humans feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-inflammatory drugs possess many serious side effects at doses commonly prescribed. It is really important to discover novel regulators of inflammation from natural sources with minimal adverse effects. Schinus areira L. is a plant native from South America and is used in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory herb. For this study, the activity of aqueous extracts on inflammation and the effect on superoxide anion production in mice macrophages were assayed. Aqueous extracts were prepared by soaking herbs in cold water (cold extract), boiling water (infusion), and simmering water (decoction). Cold extract possess an anti-inflammatory activity. Decoction and infusion showed pro-inflammatory activity. Cold extract increased the production of superoxide anion. It has been proposed to use diverse methods to obtain extracts of S. areira L. with different effects. Cold extract, decoction, and infusion could be utilized as extracts or as pharmacological preparations for topical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of a duodenal infusion of a C18:3 free fatty acid on the immune function of lactating dairy cows. Four primiparous Chinese Holstein cows fitted with duodenal cannulas received 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 g/d of α-linolenic acid (LNA) in a two-treatment crossover design. Blood was collected and serum IgA, IgG, IgM, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and Th1/Th2 cytokines were determined. Results showed that increasing the supply of LNA to the small intestine of dairy cows linearly increased serum IgG and quadratically enhanced interferon-γ (p < 0.05), whereas the concentrations of PGE2 declined linearly (p < 0.05) and those of interleukin (IL)-4 tended to decrease (p = 0.08). No difference was observed in serum IgA, IgM or other cytokines, such as IL-2, IL-6 and IL-10. This study demonstrated that in dairy cows, a post-ruminal infusion of high doses of LNA has immunomodulatory effects, possibly associated with a predisposition to a Th1-type response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorphous paclitaxel dissolves rapidly (1 mg mL−1) in an isotonic aqueous dispersion of egg lecithin (5% w/w), a new biocompatible submicron drug carrier consisting of structured aggregates with average size 0.5 µm. The solution is physically stable for at least 24 h and can be administered as an intravenous infusion. After a 5 h infusion in rabbits (0.66 mg kg−1 h−1), changes in blood morphology were comparable to those observed in rabbits that received the commercial product Taxol®. No changes in the enzyme profiles (alanine/aspartate aminotransferase or alkaline phosphatase) were observed. However, during infusion of the new formulation plasma concentration of paclitaxel (292 ± 182 ng mL−1) was lower than observed after Cremophor-containing Taxol® (540 ± 262 ng mL−1). This result may indicate that the tissue distribution is different for the two drug formulations. Daily intraperitoneal administrations (3 doses/day) in mice demonstrated that the new carrier solution was non-toxic and, relative to Taxol, the new formulation exhibited similar or less toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Geriatric Enrichment in Social Work Education (GeroRich) initiative was a critical step in addressing the national shortage of social workers interested in gerontological practice. Sixty-seven social work programs participated in the 3-year GeroRich project designed to infuse gerontological content into the BSW and MSW curriculum. This study analyzed the lessons learned by participating institutions about the curriculum enrichment effort. Five themes emerged from the qualitative analysis of GeroRich final reports: (a) obtaining faculty buy-in and faculty development, (b) increasing student interest and engagement, (c) developing community partners, (d) developing interdisciplinary linkages, and (e) facilitating institutional commitment and sustainability. The findings from this study provide valuable information on the implementation of curricular enrichment efforts in gerontology that can benefit social work and other health care disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to investigate the loss/stability of neonicotinoids (imidacloprid and acetamiprid) residues during the manufacture of black tea and to study the transfer of these pesticides from made tea to its infusion. For orthodox black tea, the manufacturing process involves leaf harvesting (plucking two leaves and a bud), withering, rolling, fermentation (oxidation), and drying. Initial withering and final drying resulted in the loss of pesticide residues, but no significant reduction in residue levels resulted from the rolling and fermentation steps. The drying process resulted in a residue transfer of 64-70% and 69-74% of the initial level, whereas the brewing process resulted in a residue transfer of 37-39% and 45-49% of imidacloprid and acetamiprid, respectively, from dried tea into the infusion. The decrease in acetamiprid levels during drying was also significant (8-13%), whereas the total loss during the manufacturing process ranged from 26 to 31%. Further, brewing for longer periods (an extended brewing time) resulted in higher transfer (up to 44% for imidacloprid and 53% for acetamiprid) of pesticides to tea infusion. Further, the extent of pesticide leaching depends on its water solubility, partition coefficient, and the brewing time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of new treatment strategies and agents is a difficult and costly matter in oncology. Routinely drugs are tested in vitro on tumor cells which, however, may have limited predictive value for their activity in patients. Also, the pharmacokinetic behavior, intratumoral distribution, as well as toxic side effects, binding to other compounds and stability of an agent are very important in determining activity in the patient. More so, development and evaluation of surgical delivery methods, i.e. regional treatment strategies, cannot be tested in cell systems. Therefore animal models are crucial for the development of regional chemotherapy methodologies. To allow translation of the animal data to patients it is important that the animal model closely mimics the clinical setting as for instance is achieved with isolated limb perfusion. However, animal models remain limited in their use, as eventually the efficacy of the approach may be different in animals compared to patients. Here we describe the use of animal models for regional treatment of solid tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined two matters pertinent to social work practice: professional ethics and age bias among practicing social workers. Because social work ethics demand competent practice within one's area of proficiency, and because bias toward any segment of social work clientele impedes competent practice, prejudicial attitudes toward older people are problematic. This study found that age bias exists among practicing social workers (N = 367), with no discernible association between knowledge of professional ethical standards and age bias. The findings suggest a subtle and pervasive bias associated with work with older people. Positive bias was more prevalent than negative bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fenvalerate is a non-systemic insecticide/acaricide used in controlling a wide range of pests, including those resistant to organochlorine, organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides. The study investigated the dissipation behaviour (residue level) of fenvalerate in tea and its transfer during infusion. Fenvalerate was applied on tea crop at two dosages, 100 and 200 g a.i. ha-1 (recommended and double the recommended) in the dry and wet seasons under field conditions. Samples (green tea shoots, made tea, its infusion and spent leaves) were analysed for fenvalerate by high-performance liquid chromatography using diode array detection. The residue dissipated faster in the wet season than in the dry season. Seven days after the treatment (normal round of plucking) the residues observed in the green shoots at the two dosages were 0.5 ± 0.01, 1.1 ± 0.01 and 0.4 ± 0.02, 0.9 ± 0.01 mg kg-1 in the dry and wet seasons, respectively. During processing of green tea shoots to made tea a 30-40% loss of residue was observed. The transfer of residue from made tea to infusion was in the range 10-30% for both seasons, whereas 50-70% of the residues remained in the spent leaves. However, the degradation rate in both seasons followed first-order kinetics. The half-lives were in the range of 2-3 days for green shoots and made tea in both seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total aluminum, arsenic, calcium, cadmium, iron, lead, potassium, magnesium, nickel and zinc were determined in black tea by electro thermal atomic absorption spectrometry after ultrasonic assisted pseudo-digestion with mixture of acid and oxidant. All the metals were also determined in the tea infusions in order to know the percentage of each element leached into the liquor. A conventional acid digestion on electric hot plate was used to obtain total metals under study for comparative purpose. Analytical results for (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Fe, K, Mg, Ni, Pb and Zn) obtained by ultrasound assisted pseudo-digestion, and conventional wet digestion methods showed a good agreement, thus indicating the possibility of using ultrasonic assisted digestion sample preparation instead of intensive treatments inherent with the acid digestion methods on electric hot plate. The validity and accuracy of both procedures were checked by using certified sample of NIES No. 7 (Tea Leaves). Non significant differences were observed for P>0.05 when comparing the values obtained by both methods (paired t-test). Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied in order to determine the different amount of metals as main sources of variability in the data sets and to establish the relation between samples (branded and nonbranded tea samples) and micronutrient, trace and toxic metals (variables). Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was used to explore the different branded and nonbranded tea samples grouping according to the essential and toxic metals as additional information to the out put obtained by PCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous insolubility is recognized throughout the pharmaceutical industry as a major hurdle for pre-clinical and clinical drug delivery. Pre-clinical, early efficacy, and proof of concept studies oftentimes rely on model compounds that have less than ideal physiochemical properties, and the in vivo results from these studies often have critical impact on the future of the project. As such, effective delivery of prototype compounds with sub-optimal properties is important in target validation. 1,3-Dicyclohexyl urea (DCU), a potent inhibitor of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) has been shown to lower systemic blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. This compound has limited aqueous solubility that makes in vivo delivery difficult. In such situations, co-solvents, complexation reagents, and emulsions are commonly used to increase the bioavailability of a prototype compound. However, these approaches are often limited by their capacity to get and keep a compound in solution and can have unwanted placebo effects, which can confound the interpretation of animal efficacy results. Nanosuspension formulations of DCU have been utilized for both intravenous injection and infusion to reach steady-state (Css) plasma concentrations in rat enabling the investigation of the target, chemistry space, and PK/PD in a timely manner without encountering confounding efficacy results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on the extended use of information systems (IS) by employees of an organization. It reports that organizations invested $26.7 billion, in complex information systems during the year 2004. It mentions that the extended use of IS refers to the use of more features of the system for supporting one's task. It discusses the underutilization of IS by organizations and mentions the examinations of extended IS' use, employing Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the IS Continuance (ISC) model. It mentions the field survey conducted in a manufacturing firm, to compare the ISC and TAM models with a synthesized model. It also discusses the Perceived Ease of use (PEOU) and the Perceived Usefulness (PU) of the information systems.

This mixed methodology study examines the perceptions of key constituents regarding methods for effectively integrating aging content into the foundation curriculum of the BSW and MSW program at the University of Georgia School of Social Work. Students were asked to complete a survey to determine their perception of geriatric content that existed within the foundation coursework. Following an analysis of the survey results, eight semi-structured focus group discussions were conducted with a purposeful sample of students, faculty, field instructors, social work alumni, older adults from the community, and representatives from aging agencies. The intention of these focus groups was to find out what aging content should be infused within the curriculum. The focus group meetings were held in various locations throughout Northeast Georgia and in one remote location in South Georgia. Participants were interviewed about the necessary skills and knowledge for social workers practicing with an aging population in the areas of: essential intervention skills, program policies and regulations, critical information needed to develop client service plans, strategies for addressing service delivery fragmentation, and community collaboration to support intergenerational family needs. The results of this study will be discussed to provide suggestions on how existing foundation courses can integrate aging content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CSWE Geriatric Enrichment in Social Work Education Project, funded by the John A. Hartford foundation, aimed to change curricula and organizational structure in 67 GeroRich projects so that all students would graduate with foundation knowledge and skills to work effectively with older adults and their families. The emphasis was on change processes to infuse and sustain gerontological competencies and curricular resources in foundation courses. This article presents lessons learned and strategies for engaging faculty, practitioners and students in the curriculum and organizational change process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]