Qualitative research and its role in play therapy research.

The role and value of qualitative research for play therapy is the focus of this article. The premise is that qualitative research is a natural extension of the therapeutic process and thus can make a contribution to play therapy in the development of models and theories that will lead to future research and development. Qualitative research is placed within the context of current issues related to research in play therapy. The characteristics of qualitative research are presented and linked to the therapeutic process. Suggested research questions appropriate for qualitative inquiry are suggested. We can use qualitative research to build our understanding of the therapeutic process and the relationships in therapy helping to construct a model of change and a theory of growth change within play therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ultra-high pressure homogenisation of milk: technological aspects of cheese-making and microbial shelf life of a starter-free fresh cheese

Fresh cheeses from pasteurised (80 °C for 15 s), homogenised-pasteurised (15 + 3 MPa at 60 °C; 80 °C for 15 s) or ultra-high pressure homogenised milks (300 MPa and inlet temperature of 30 °C) were produced in order to evaluate different technological aspects during cheese-making and to study their microbial shelf life. Although the coagulation properties of milk were enhanced by ultra-high pressure homogenisation (UHPH), the cheese-making properties were somewhat altered; both conventional homogenisation and UHPH of milk provoked some difficulties at cutting the curd due to crumbling and improper curd matting due to poor cohesion of the grains. Cheese-milk obtained by UHPH showed a higher microbiological quality than milk obtained by conventional treatments. Starter-free fresh cheeses made from UHPH-treated milk showed less syneresis during storage and longer microbiological shelf-life than those from conventionally treated milk samples.     

Sealing and Storage Position Effects on Wine Evolution

Sealing system and bottle storage position effects on the evolution of white and red wines were analyzed. The sealing systems were natural‐cork stopper, colmated‐cork stopper, agglomerated‐cork stopper, polyurethane‐powdered‐cork (PPC) stopper, plastic stopper, and metal screw‐top. Chemical analysis and sensory analysis showed that wine is better preserved when the bottles are kept horizontally. The sealing systems that allowed the most suitable evolution were the natural‐cork stopper, the colmated‐cork stopper, and the PPC stopper. The agglomerated cork produced faster wine oxidation when the bottles were kept vertically. The plastic cork and the screw‐top allowed oxidation in the wine more quickly than the other systems.     

Leveraging agriculture to improve nutrition in the Philippines

The typical Filipino diet mainly consists of rice, fish and vegetables, with rice being the greatest source of calories. The consumption of a maize, starchy roots and tubers as rice substitutes or supplements, and vegetables and fruits has generally declined, while the consumption of fats, oils and meats has increased. Stunting is the most prevalent form of malnutrition among Filipinos. Vitamin A Deficiency, Iodine Deficiency Disorder, and Iron Deficiency Anemia remain public health problems for children and pregnant and lactating women. The link between nutrition and agriculture in the Philippines has focused on leveraging agriculture to improve nutrition. The programs that had been initiated by the government, NGO/CSO or private sector were conceptualized and implemented before the elements of a nutrition-sensitive agriculture framework were identified. These programs were implemented to address food production and the nutritional needs of individuals, families, and communities only with reference to nutrition security. Many of these programs have been successful as they implemented best practices that could be applied to forge a superior approach that optimizes the agriculture-nutrition nexus. This study identified these best practices or elements of success. The elements that have been noted as reasons for the success of some of these programs are: presence of strong political will and enabling policy environment; forging of new forms of partnerships, strategic collaboration, sound coordination and structures; exploiting the best that science and technology could offer; democratizing community participation; strong capacity building component and access to reliable technical expertise; knowledge and sensitivity to local cultures, beliefs and practices; professionalized promotion and ‘messaging’; use of catchy terms for easy recall; availability of sustainable funding; use of the life cycle approach in nutrition; holistic community nutrition perspective; practice and promotion of biodiversity-based agricultural production system; and control of the means of production.     

Effect of amino acids on the formation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in creatinine/phenylalanine and creatinine/phenylalanine/4-oxo-2-nonenal reaction mixtures

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) formation in mixtures of creatinine, phenylalanine, amino acids and 4-oxo-2-nonenal was studied, to analyse the role of amino acids on the generation of this heterocyclic aromatic amine. When oxidised lipid was absent, cysteine, serine, aspartic acid, threonine, asparagine, tryptophan, tyrosine, proline, and methionine increased significantly (p < 0.05) the amount of PhIP formed in comparison to the control. When lipid was present, only the addition of methionine, glycine, and serine increased significantly (p < 0.05) the amount of PhIP produced, while histidine, cysteine, lysine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and alanine reduced significantly (p < 0.05) PhIP. These results may be a consequence of the different competitive reactions that occur. Thus, in the absence of lipids, thermal decomposition of the amino acids produced reactive carbonyls that converted phenylalanine into phenylacetaldehyde as a key step in the formation of PhIP. When oxidised lipid was present, amino acids competed with phenylalanine for the lipid, and amino acid degradation products were formed, among which alpha-keto acids seemed to play a role in these reactions. These results suggest that PhIP can be produced by several alternative reaction pathways from all major food components, including amino acids and lipids, in addition to carbohydrates.     

Controls for microgrids with storage: Review,challenges, and research needs

The interest on microgrid has increased significantly triggered by the increasing demand of reliable, secure, efficient, clean, and sustainable electricity. More research and implementation of microgrid will be conducted in order to improve the maturity of microgrid technology. Among different aspects of microgrid, this paper focuses on controls of microgrid with energy storage. A comprehensive review on current control technology is given with a discussion on challenges of microgrid controls. Basic simulation results are also presented to enhance and support the analysis. Finally, research needs and roadmap for microgrid control are also described.     

Photoelectrochemical degradation of lignin

We have evaluated the efficient of degradation of lignin by an photoelectrochemical process. Using a Ti/Ru_0.1Sn_0.6Ti_0.3O₂ electrode, a quartz reaction device and an artificial ultraviolet light, decoloration ratios higher than 70%, and reductions of 51% and 83% in TOC and total phenol products, respectively, were observed for a reaction time of 6 h. Comparing these values with the sum of the decoloration ratios (or TOC and total phenol reductions) obtained by separate measuring of electrochemical and photochemical procedures, a significant synergetic effect between these two processes was observed. Furthermore, the degradation capacity of the photoelectrochemical process increases as the SnO₂ content is increased.     

miR-218-5p/RUNX2 Axis Positively Regulates Proliferation and Is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Cervical Cancer

The overexpression of miR-218-5p in cervical cancer (CC) cell lines decreases migration, invasion and proliferation. The objective was to identify target genes of miR-218-5p and the signaling pathways and cellular processes that they regulate. The relationship between the expression of miR-218-5p and RUNX2 and overall survival in CC as well as the effect of the exogenous overexpression of miR-218-5p on the level of RUNX2 were analyzed. The target gene prediction of miR-218-5p was performed in TargetScan, miRTarBase and miRDB. Predicted target genes were subjected to gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis using the Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The miR-218-5p mimetic was transfected into C-33A and CaSki cells, and the miR-218-5p and RUNX2 levels were determined by RT–qPCR. Of the 118 predicted targets for miR-218-5p, 86 are involved in protein binding, and 10, including RUNX2, are involved in the upregulation of proliferation. Low miR-218-5p expression and a high level of RUNX2 are related to poor prognosis in CC. miR-218-5p overexpression is related to decreased RUNX2 expression in C-33A and CaSki cells. miR-218-5p may regulate RUNX2, and both molecules may be prognostic markers in CC.     

Therapeutic Efficacy and Outcomes of Remdesivir versus Remdesivir with Tocilizumab in Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection

The infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) generated many challenges to find an effective drug combination for hospitalized patients with severe forms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. We conducted a retrospective cohort study, including 182 patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia hospitalized between March and October 2021 in a Pneumology Hospital from Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Among patients treated with standard of care, 100 patients received remdesivir (R group) and 82 patients received the combination of remdesivir plus tocilizumab (RT group). We compared the clinical outcomes, the inflammatory markers, superinfections, oxygen requirement, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality rate before drug administration and 7 days after in R group and RT group. Borg score and oxygen support showed an improvement in the R group (p < 0.005). Neutrophiles, C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum ferritin levels decreased significantly in RT group but with a higher rate of superinfection in this group. ICU admission and death did not differ significantly between groups. The combination of remdesivir plus tocilizumab led to a significantly improvement in the inflammatory markers and a decrease in the oxygen requirement. Although the superinfection rate was higher in RT group than in R group, no significant difference was found in the ICU admission and mortality rate between the groups.