Lingue slave e balcaniche fra Sprachbund e contatti linguistici: aspetti metodologici

The paper is a state-of-the-art presentation of Balkan linguistics and offers a discussion of some potential directions for its future development, such as the need for a careful investigation of the micro-parametric variation with respect to those particular phenomena that characterize best the dialectal continuum represented by the Balkan languages and dialects

Physical properties and biocompatibility of Chitosan/soy blended membranes

Blends of polysaccharides and proteins are a source for the development of novel materials with interesting and tailorable properties, with potential to be used in a range of biomedical applications. in this work a series of blended membranes composed by chitosan and soy protein isolate was prepared by solvent casting methodology. in addition, cross-linking was performed in situ with glutaraldehyde solutions in the range 5 × 10–3 – 0.1 M. Furthermore, the influence of the composition and cross-linking on the degradation behaviour, water uptake and cell adhesion was investigated. The obtained results showed that the incorporation of chitosan, associated to network formation by cross linking, promoted a slight decrease of water absorption and a slower degradability of the membranes. Moreover, direct contact biocompatibility studies, with L929 cells, indicate that the cross-linking enhances the capability of the material to support cell growth.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Study of the influence of Beta-radiation on the properties and mineralization of different starch-based biomaterials

In this work, the effects of beta-radiation are assessed, for the first time, on starch-based biodegradable polymers, with the aim of using it as an alternative sterilization process to the previously studied sterilization methods. Different doses of radiation were used in order to investigate the possibility of using this sterilization technique as a treatment to tailor the surface and bulk properties (namely mechanical) of these polymers. The as-treated substrates were characterized by water-uptake measurements and contact angle (theta) measurements. The mechanical properties of the materials were characterized by tensile tests by means of ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and strain at break (epsilon). The fracture of the surfaces was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was also used to characterize the viscolelastic behavior of the irradiated materials. The main effect of sterilization with beta-radiation over the starch-based polymers seems to be a surface modification by an increase of the hydrophilicity. Nevertheless, because beta-radiation did not significantly affect the mechanical properties, it can be regarded as an effective way of modifying the surface for applications were more hydrophilic surfaces are desirable

Entrapment ability and release profile of corticosteroids from starch-based microparticles

We previously described the synthesis of starchbased microparticles that were shown to be bioactive (when combined with Bioactive Glass 45S5) and noncytotoxic. To further assess their potential for biomedical applications such as controlled release, three corticosteroids with a similar basic structure—dexamethasone (DEX), 16-methylprednisonole (MP), and 16-methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) - were used as models for the entrapment and release of bioactive agents. DEX, MP, and MPA were entrapped into starch-based microparticles at 10% wt/wt of the starch-based polymer and the loading efficiencies, as well as the release profiles, were evaluated. Differences were found for the loading efficiencies of the three corticosteroids, with DEX and MPA being the most successfully loaded (82 and 84%, respectively), followed by MP (51%). These differences might be explained based on the differential distribution of the molecules within the matrix of the microparticles. Furthermore, a differential burst release was observed in the first 24 h for all corticosteroids with DEX and MP being more pronounced (around 25%), whereas only 12% of MPA was released during the same time period. Whereas the water uptake profile can account for this first stage burst release, the subsequent slower release stage was mainly attributed to degradation of the microparticle network. Differences in the release profiles can be explained based on the structure of the molecule, because MPA, a more bulky and hydrophobic molecule, is released at a slower rate compared with DEX and MP. In this work, it is shown that these carriers were able to sustain a controlled release of the entrapped corticosteroids over 30 days, which confirms the potential of these systems to be used as carriers for the delivery of bioactive agents

Alkaline treatments to render starch-based biodegradable polymers self-mineralizable

The present research aims to develop a new route for surface functionalization of biodegradable polymers. The method is based on a wet chemistry modification, resulting in etching and/or hydrolysis in order to increase the amount of polar groups, such as hydroxyl (--OH) and carboxylic (--COOH) groups on the surface of the polymer. The polymer used as substrate was a corn starch-ethylene vinyl alcohol biodegradable blend (SEVA-C). For that purpose it was used in two different types of activation: (a) calcium hydroxide solution [Ca(OH)(2)] and (b) sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH). These treatments lead to the formation carboxylic acid-rich SEVA-C surfaces. Then, the samples were soaked in simulated body fluid (SBF) for different time periods of time until 7 days. After 1 day in SBF, the surface of SEVA-C was fully covered with spherulite particles. As the soaking time increased, the particles increased and coalesced, leading to the formation of a dense and uniform layer. Furthermore, thin-film X-ray diffraction confirms that the layer formed on the surface of the polymer was an apatite-like layer. These results suggest that this rather simple treatment is a good method for surface functionalization and subsequent mineral nucleation and growth on biodegradable polymeric surfaces to be used for bone-related applications

Adolescent Pregnancy: Review

WOS: 000262383600023Adolescence means transfer to adulthood from childhood. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that adolescence occurs between 10-19 years of age. Adolescents account for 20% of the world population and 85% live in developing countries. Adolescent pregnancies cause major health problems in both developing and developed countries. The rate of birth among 15-19 year olds is approximately 54 parts per thousand throughout the world and 46 parts per thousand in Turkey. Pregnant adolescents generate more than half of the world population. Studies suggest that menarche age, coitus frequency, race, ethnic group, marital status, family structure, communication with parents, parents' education and employment status, adolescents socioeconomic status, social insurance, social support source are correlated with adolescence pregnancy. The risk factors of adolescent pregnancy are multiple and complex. They are abortion, preterm labor, hypertension in pregnancy, anemia, low birth weight, risk of congenital anomaly, interference delivery, increasing HIV risk, smoking and substance use, malaria, inadequate antenatal care and contraception. Socioeconomic status is of major importance in adolescence pregnancy. Improvement of socioeconomic status of countries, increase in annual income per capita and adequate counseling services are key factors for the solution of this problem. Effective counseling services may prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unintentional pregnancies. Counseling services should be made available to adolescents during their entire education period within the concept of a national education campaign using mass media tools

The usage and discontinuation of contraceptive methods

This study aims to determine the rates of contraceptive discontinuation and usage failure and to examine their relation with termination of pregnancy

Evaluation of Sexual Function in Patients with Gynecologic Cancer and Evidence-Based Nursing Interventions

Sexual health is the integrity of somatic, intellectual, mental, emotional and social aspects of any individual. The cancer causes higher rates of sexuality related problems than other chronic diseases. Both the cancer diagnosis and the methods of treatment such as organ excision, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, the usage of hormones and cytostatic negatively affect the women's sexuality. Some models are used for diagnosing sexual dysfunction. These models are ALARM model, Kaplan model, Triphasic model, PLISSIT model, IMB model and BETTER model. It is important to evaluate the cancer patient's sexual function and utilize evidence-based nursing intervention. The aim of present review is to examine the models which were used to determine the effect of gynaecologic cancers on sexual life. Moreover, it is aimed to evaluate the evidence-based nursing interventions to identify problems