bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Landscape of GIScience Publications 1997–2007: An Empirical Investigation with Latent Semantic Analysis
Authors: Parr David A. , Lu Yongmei
Published: November 2010

This article reports on an empirical study of the trends and patterns of research activities in Geographic Information Science (GIScience) during the years 1997–2007. The GIScience research priorities identified by the University Consortium of Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) were used as guidelines to examine the 985 research articles published in six well‐recognized academic journals. Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) was employed to investigate the association among the different GIScience research themes. The spatial and temporal patterns of the association between the publications and the different GIScience themes were examined to show the development of GIScience research during the study period. Furthermore, correlation analyses between the publications were conducted following the LSA results to reveal GIScience research networks, including the networks of the published articles and those formed by the research places. In this article, we applied an approach that was developed within information science to depictwhatGIS research activities were conductedwhenandwhereandhowthey connect to each other through sharing common research themes. The related findings pave the way for future efforts to describe the paradigm of GIScience as well as the pattern of GIScience research.
Wages, unions, and labour productivity: evidence from Indian cotton mills
Authors: GUPTA BISHNUPRIYA
Published: November 2010

Clark and Wolcott attribute the low productivity of Indian cotton textile workers to their preference for low work effort, and suggest that unions resisted an increase in work intensity. This article argues that low wages were due to surplus labour in agriculture. Low wages allowed the persistence of managerial inefficiencies and resulted in low productivity and work effort. It uses firm‐level data from all the textile producing regions in India to examine the relationship between unions and labour productivity. The findings show that fewer workers were employed per machine in the unionized mills in Bombay and Ahmedabad, compared to the mills in less unionized regions. These findings suggest that unionization increased wages and compelled managers to raise productivity
Ottoman de‐industrialization, 1800–1913: assessing the magnitude, impact, and response
Authors: PAMUK ŞEVKET , WILLIAMSON JEFFREY G.
Published: November 2010

India and Britain were much bigger players in the eighteenth‐century world market for manufactures than were Egypt, the Levant, and the core of the Ottoman Empire, but these eastern Mediterranean regions did export carpets, silks, and other textiles to Europe and the east. By the middle of the nineteenth century, they had lost most of their export market and much of their domestic market to globalization forces and rapid productivity growth in European manufacturing. How different was the Ottoman experience from the rest of the poor periphery? Was de‐industrialization more or less pronounced? Was the terms of trade effect bigger or smaller? How much of Ottoman de‐industrialization was due to falling world trade barriers such as ocean transport revolutions and European liberal trade policy, how much due to factory‐based productivity advance in Europe, how much to declining Ottoman competitiveness in manufacturing, how much to Ottoman railroads penetrating the interior, and how much to Ottoman policy? This article uses a price‐dual approach to seek the answers.
“Economically Speaking, I am the Breadwinner”: Chinese Immigrant Narratives of Work and Family in Hong Kong
Authors: Newendorp Nicole
Published: November 2010

In this paper, I use a narrative approach to explore in detail three Chinese women’s views about their working lives in Hong Kong following their migration to Hong Kong for the purpose of family reunion. These women, like other would‐be migrants from mainland China to Hong Kong, were subjected to the strict system of immigration quotas enforced by the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong governments, which require mainlanders to wait for up to ten years before they can join their husbands and other family members in Hong Kong. In contrast to Hong Kong stereotypes that portray mainland immigrant wives as lazy, irresponsible, and opportunistic “gold‐diggers,” many of these immigrant wives, despite their low‐levels of education, their relative lack of local networks to provide childcare, and their initial reluctance to work in Hong Kong, do work outside the home. My analysis traces the shifts in these women’s views of their roles as wives, workers, and citizens during the first five years immediately following their migration to Hong Kong. These shifts result both from the tensions in family life created through their migration process, as well as from seemingly contradictory Hong Kong discourses of belonging that centre on the importance of work but also privilege the importance of family life. Overall, I argue that these women’s stories are united through the shared experience of trying to re‐negotiate their ruptured expectations of idealized family life into new forms of social engagement as productive workers and “entrepreneurial” Hong Kong citizens, even as these same idealized familial expectations remain strongly influential on migrant women’s personal goals and value systems. Throughout, I underscore the complex negotiation of norms and desires that frame and inform potential subjective transformations of women immigrants more generally.
Comparison of the epidemiology of acne vulgaris among Caucasian, Asian, Continental Indian and African American women
Authors: Perkins A.C. , Cheng C.E. , Hillebrand G.G. , Miyamoto K. , Kimball A.B.
Published: November 2010

Background  Acne vulgaris is a common skin disease with a large quality of life impact, characterized by comedones, inflammatory lesions, secondary dyspigmentation and scarring. There are few large objective studies comparing acne epidemiology between racial and ethnic groups.

Objective  This study aimed to define the prevalence and subtypes of acne in women of different racial groups from four ethnicities.

Methods  The sample consisted of 2895 (384 African American, 520 Asian, 1295 Caucasian, 258 Hispanic and 438 Continental Indian) women ranging in age from 10 to 70 years. Photographs of subjects were graded for acne lesions, scars, dyspigmentation, and measurements taken of sebum excretion and pore size.

Results  Clinical acne was more prevalent in African American and Hispanic women (37%, 32% respectively) than in Continental Indian, Caucasian and Asian (23%, 24%, 30% respectively) women. All racial groups displayed equal prevalence of both subtypes of acne with the exception of Asians, for whom inflammatory acne was more prevalent than comedonal (20% vs. 10%) acne, and in Caucasians, for whom comedonal acne was more prevalent than inflammatory (14% vs. 10%) acne. Hyperpigmentation was more prevalent in African American and Hispanic (65%, 48% respectively) than in Asian, Continental Indian and Caucasian (18%, 10%, 25% respectively) women. Dyspigmentation and atrophic scarring were more common in African American and Hispanic women than in all other ethnicities. There was a negative correlation between pore size and skin lightness for all ethnicities. Sebum production was positively correlated with acne severity in African American, Asian and Hispanic women, and pore size was positively correlated with acne in African American, Asian and Continental Indian women, (for all above results, P < 0.05).

Limitations  Only female participants were recruited. Data collection was restricted to four cities, with some ethnicities from single cities. Acne was evaluated only on the left side of the face and the two‐dimensional nature of photography may not capture all skin surface changes.

Conclusion  Acne prevalence and sequelae were more common in those with darker skin types, suggesting that acne is a more heterogeneous condition than previously described and highlight the importance of skin‐colour tailored treatment.
Climbing fiber‐evoked Purkinje cell discharge reduces expression of GABAa receptor‐associated protein and decreases its interaction with GABAa receptors
Authors: Qian Zuyuan , Yakhnitsa Vadim , Barmack Neal H.
Published: November 2010

J. Neurochem. (2011) 117, 197–208.

Sustained neuronal activity induces synaptic remodeling, in part, by altering gene expression. We have used a major climbing fiber pathway onto cerebellar Purkinje cells to investigate the effects of sustained climbing fiber‐evoked glutamatergic synaptic transmission on transcription, expression and phosphorylation of proteins related to the regulation of inhibitory GABAa receptor function. Binocular horizontal optokinetic stimulation was used to modulate climbing fiber signals to Purkinje cells in the flocculus and nodulus of rabbits and mice. Purkinje cells in the flocculus and nodulus ipsilateral to the eye stimulated in the Posterior→Anterior direction received increased climbing fiber activity. Purkinje cells in flocculus and nodulus ipsilateral to the eye stimulated in the Anterior→Posterior direction received decreased climbing fiber activity. We identified changes in levels of gene transcripts in floccular and nodular Purkinje cells with the technique of differential display RT‐PCR. Increased climbing fiber input reduced transcript levels and expression of GABA receptor‐associated protein (GABARAP). Using a protein ‘pull down’ technique, we showed that GABARAP interacts with serine phosphorylated GABAaγ2, gephyrin and β‐tubulin. Serine de‐phosphorylation of GABAaγ2 reduced association of GABARAP with GABAaγ2. Climbing fiber activity did not influence the expression of GABAaγ2. Rather, it decreased its serine phosphorylation. Climbing fiber discharge decreased both expression of GABARAP and serine phosphorylation of GABAaγ2. Consequently, climbing fiber activity may reduce the surface expression of GABAa receptors in Purkinje cells rendering Purkinje cells less susceptible to interneuronal GABAergic inhibition.
Winter tourism increases stress hormone levels in the Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus
Authors: THIEL DOMINIK , JENNI‐EIERMANN SUSANNE , PALME RUPERT , JENNI LUKAS
Published: November 2010

Montane and alpine habitats in Europe remained relatively undisturbed until the beginning of the last century. Today, outdoor recreation activities are a major economic factor in alpine regions. Many tourism areas coincide with winter habitats of shy and endangered species. The Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus has suffered from rapid population declines during recent decades over much of its range. In central Europe, many Capercaillie are exposed to intensive human recreation activities in their habitats, which may contribute to this decline. However, little is known about their susceptibility to human recreation activities. This study assessed whether human recreation in winter evokes physiological stress responses in several populations of Capercaillie. During two winters, we sampled 1130 Capercaillie droppings in Germany and Switzerland of populations at various distances from winter recreation activities and measured concentrations of faecal corticosterone metabolites. Capercaillie in relatively dense and homogeneous mountain forests dominated by Norway Spruce Picea abies showed markedly increased stress hormone levels closer to locations with winter recreation activity. However, this physiological response to human recreation was not detectable in forests dominated by various pine species and a heterogeneous structure. Capercaillie may be particularly sensitive to recreation because any factor affecting their fine‐tuned physiological and behavioural adaptations to survive under harsh winter conditions may lead to harmful fitness costs.
The association of childhood trauma with perceptions of self and the partner in adult romantic relationships
Authors: BUSBY DEAN M. , WALKER ERIC C. , HOLMAN THOMAS B.
Published: November 2010

In this study, the association of childhood trauma with perceptions of self and the partner was explored. Using a large sample of more than 5,400 couples who completed the RELATE inventory, couples in which neither partner experienced childhood physical abuse were compared on personality and communication scales with couples where only the female experienced abuse, only the male experienced abuse, and both partners experienced abuse. The primary question of interest was to evaluate whether childhood trauma was associated with selection effects of romantic partners, perceptual effects of partners, or reciprocal negativity with partners. The evidence from the analysis of variance and path analysis indicates that trauma is more likely to be associated with perceptual effects than selection effects. Individuals who were traumatized rated both themselves and their partners as more neurotic and conflictual, even when controlling for overall levels of relationship satisfaction. However, the partners of traumatized persons do not consider themselves more neurotic or conflictual than partners in relationships where neither partner was abused.
Ink‐jet printing process for lyocell and cotton fibres. Part 2: The relationship of colour strength and dye fixation to ink penetration
Authors: Kaimouz A W , Wardman R H , Christie R M
Published: November 2010

The colour appearance on ink‐jet printed textiles is influenced by a range of factors, including the chemical and physical nature of the fibre, dye–fibre affinity, pretreatment and fabric structure. Regression analyses were conducted to study the correlation between colour strength, fixation and ink penetration obtained by ink‐jet printing lyocell fibres (standard Tencel and Tencel A100) and cotton with an ink based on a monofunctional reactive red dye. The fixation was highest on Tencel A100, followed by standard Tencel and then cotton, while colour strength was highest on standard Tencel followed by cotton and Tencel A100. A linear relationship between colour strength and ink penetration was found with cotton, indicating greater dependence of depth of shade on ink penetration than on standard Tencel and Tencel A100 fabrics, where the interrelationships were more complex, but of low statistical significance. A schematic representation is proposed illustrating the mechanism of ink penetration into pretreated fibres, which provides a reasonable interpretation of the events occurring as dye penetrates into and fixes onto the fibres.
Evaluation of Capiox FX05 Oxygenator With an Integrated Arterial Filter on Trapping Gaseous Microemboli and Pressure Drop With Open and Closed Purge Line
Authors: Qiu Feng , Peng Sophia , Kunselman Allen , Ündar Akif
Published: November 2010

Gaseous microemboli (GME) remain a challenge for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) because there is a positive correlation between microemboli exposure during CPB and postoperative neurological injury. Thus, minimizing the number of GME delivered to pediatric patients undergoing CPB procedures would lead to better clinical outcomes. In this study, we used a simulated CPB model to evaluate the effectiveness of capturing GME and the degree of membrane pressure drop for a new membrane oxygenator, Capiox Baby FX05 (Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), which has an integrated arterial filter with open and closed purge line. We used identical components in this study as our clinical CPB circuit. Three emboli detection and classification quantifier transducers were placed at prepump, preoxygenator, and postoxygenator sites in the circuit. Two flow probes as well as three pressure transducers were placed upstream and downstream of the oxygenator. The system was primed with human blood titrated to 30% hematocrit with Lactated Ringer's solution. A bolus of air (1 mL) was injected in the prepump site under nonpulsatile perfusion mode at three flow rates (500, 750, and 1000 mL/min) and with the purge line either open or closed. Six trials were performed for each unique set‐up for a total of 36 trials. All trials were conducted at 35°C. The circuit pressure was kept constant at 100 mm Hg. Both the size and quantity of microemboli detected at postoxygenator site were recorded for 5 min postair injection. It was found that total counts of GME were significantly reduced with the purge line open when compared to keeping the purge line closed (P < 0.0001 at 1000 mL/min). At all flow rates, most of the GME were under 20 microns in size. In terms of microemboli greater than 40 microns, the counts were significantly higher with the purge line closed compared to keeping the purge line open at flow rates of 750 mL/min and 1000 mL/min (P < 0.01). At all flow rates, there is a tiny difference of less than 1 mm Hg in membrane pressure drop between keeping the purge line open and closed, which is due to the small arteriovenous (A‐V) shunt (P < 0.001). These results suggest that the integrated arterial filter of the Capiox FX05 oxygenator significantly improves the capturing of GME but has little impact on membrane pressure drop.
Ventricular Assist Device in Patients With Prosthetic Heart Valves
Authors: Mokashi Suyog A. , Schmitto Jan D. , Lee Lawrence S. , Rawn James D. , Bolman III R. Morton , Shekar Prem S. , Couper Gregory S. , Chen Frederick Y.
Published: November 2010

Ventricular assist device (VAD) support in patients with a prosthetic heart valve had previously been considered a relative contraindication due to an increased risk of thromboembolic complications. We report our clinical experience of VAD implantation in patients with prosthetic heart valves, including both mechanical and bioprosthetic valves. The clinical records of 133 consecutive patients who underwent VAD implantation at a single institution from January 2002 through June 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Six of these patients had a prosthetic valve in place at the time of device implantation. Patient demographics, operative characteristics, and postoperative complications were reviewed. Of the six patients, four were male. The mean age was 57.8 years (range 35–66 years). The various prosthetic cardiac valves included a mechanical aortic valve (n = 2), a bioprosthetic aortic valve (n = 3), and a mechanical mitral valve (n = 1). The indications for VAD support included bridge to transplantation (n = 2), bridge to recovery (n = 1), and postcardiotomy ventricular failure (n = 3). Three patients underwent left ventricular assist device placement and three received a right ventricular assist device. Postoperatively, standard anticoagulation management began with a heparin infusion (if possible) followed by oral anticoagulation. The 30‐day mortality was 50% (3/6). The mean duration of support among survivors was 194.3 days (range 7–369 days) compared with 16.0 days (range 4–29 days) for nonsurvivors. Of the three survivors, two were successfully bridged to heart transplantation and one recovered native ventricular function. Among the three nonsurvivors, acute renal failure developed in each case, and two developed heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia. This study suggests that VAD placement in patients with a prosthethic heart valve, either mechanical or bioprosthetic, appears to be a reasonable option.
In Vitro Evaluation of Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Reconstruction With Bicuspid Valved Polytetrafluoroethylene Conduit
Authors: Dur Onur , Yoshida Masahiro , Manor Philip , Mayfield Alice , Wearden Peter D. , Morell Victor O. , Pekkan Kerem
Published: November 2010

Conduits available for right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction eventually become stenotic and/or insufficient due to calcification. In order to reduce the incidence of reoperations we have developed and used a bicuspid valved polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) conduit for the RVOT reconstruction. The purpose of this study is to investigate the hemodynamic performance of the new design using a pediatric in vitro right heart mock loop. PTFE conduit has been used for the complete biventricular repair of 20 patients (age 1.7 ± 6 years) with cyanotic congenital defects. To account for the large variability of conduit sizes, 14, 16, 22, and 24‐mm conduit sizes were evaluated using an in vitro flow loop comprised of a pulsatile pump with cardiac output (CO) of 1.2–3.2 L/min, bicuspid valved RVOT conduit, pulmonary artery, venous compartments, and the flow visualization setup. We recorded the diastolic valve leakage and pre‐ and post‐conduit pressures in static and pulsatile settings. In vitro valve function and overall hemodynamic performance was evaluated using high‐speed cameras and ultrasonic flow probes. Three‐dimensional flow fields for different in vivo conduit curvatures and inflow regimes were calculated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to further aid the conduit design process. The average pressure drop over the valved conduits was 0.8 ± 1.7 mm Hg for the CO range tested. Typical values for regurgitant fraction, peak‐to‐peak pressure gradient, and effective office area were 23 ± 2.1%, 13 ± 2.4 mm Hg, and 1.56 ± 0.2 cm2, respectively. High‐speed videos captured the intact valve motion with asymmetrical valve opening during the systole. CFD simulations demonstrated the flow skewness toward the major curvature of the conduit based on the pulmonic curvature. In vitro evaluation of the bicuspid valved PTFE conduit coincides well with acceptable early clinical performance (mild insufficiency), with relatively low pressure drop, and intact valve motion independent from the conduit curvature, orientation or valve location, but at the expense of increased diastolic flow regurgitation. These findings benchmark the baseline performance of the bicuspid valved conduit and will be used for future designs to improve valve competency.
Filament Support Spindle for an Intravascular Cavopulmonary Assist Device
Authors: Throckmorton Amy L. , Kapadia Jugal Y. , Wittenschlaeger Thomas M. , Medina Tanisha J. , Hoang Hien Q. , Bhavsar Sonya S.
Published: November 2010

We are developing an intravascular axial flow blood pump to support adolescent and adult Fontan patients. To protect the blood vessel, this pump has an outer cage with radially arranged filaments and a newly designed spindle at the pump outlet. The outlet spindle is included to limit the axial movement of the rotor and to house bearings that support the rotor. This study evaluates the impact of the outlet spindle on pump performance using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental testing of a prototype configuration. We measured the pressure–flow performance of the prototype with a protective cage using a blood analog fluid. The pump with the cage filaments and spindle generated 1 to 16 mm Hg of pressure rise for flow rates of 1 to 4 L/min at 4000 to 7000 rpm. The difference between the CFD predictions and experimental results was found to be approximately 9.8%. Scalar stress levels remained below 570 Pa with exposure times on the order of 1.5 s. These results are acceptable and support the continued development of this cavopulmonary assist device with an outlet spindle to reinforce the protective cage filament design.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Following Norwood Stage 1 Procedures at a Single Institution
Authors: Ugaki Shinya , Kasahara Shingo , Kotani Yasuhiro , Nakakura Mahito , Douguchi Takuma , Itoh Hideshi , Arai Sadahiko , Sano Shunji
Published: November 2010

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an important circulatory assist for children with refractory cardiopulmonary dysfunction, but its role and indications after a stage 1 Norwood procedure are controversial. We assessed outcomes and risk factors in patients who underwent a Norwood palliation and ECMO at our institution. We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent a Norwood procedure and were supported with ECMO between January 1998 and January 2010. Of the 91 children who underwent a Norwood procedure during the study period, there were 15 postoperative runs of ECMO in 12 patients. The diagnoses of the patients included five with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, five with a hypoplastic left heart syndrome variant, and two with critical aortic stenosis. A total of four patients underwent bilateral pulmonary artery banding, and two patients underwent aortic valvuloplasty before the stage 1 Norwood procedure. The mean age of the patients was 28 ± 30 days, and mean body weight was 2.6 ± 0.5 kg at the induction of ECMO. The indications for ECMO were low cardiac output in six children, circulatory collapse needing cardiopulmonary resuscitation in six children, and hypoxemia in three children. Five of the 12 patients were successfully weaned from ECMO. The significant risk factors for the inability to be weaned from ECMO were a history of circulatory collapse requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the induction of ECMO in the intensive care unit. Induction of ECMO may be considered earlier when hemodynamics are unstable in impaired patients following a stage 1 Norwood procedure to avoid circulatory collapse.
Pneumatic Pulsatile Ventricular Assist Device as a Bridge to Heart Transplantation in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Amodeo Antonio , Brancaccio Gianluca , Michielon Guido , Filippelli Sergio , Ricci Zaccaria , Morelli Stefano , Gagliardi Maria Giulia , Iacobelli Roberta , Pongiglione Giacomo , Di Donato Roberto M.
Published: November 2010

Despite the remarkable advances with the use of ventricular assist devices (VAD) in adults, pneumatic pulsatile support in children is still limited. We report on our experience in the pediatric population. A retrospective review of 17 consecutive children offered mechanical support with Berlin Heart as a bridge to heart transplant from February 2002 to April 2010 was conducted. The median patient age was 3.9 years (75 days to 13.3 years). The median patient weight was 14.1 kg (2.9–43 kg). Before VAD implantation, all children were managed by multiple intravenous inotropes and mechanical ventilation (14) or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (3). All patients had right ventricular dysfunction. Nine patients required biventricular mechanical support (BVAD), but in all other cases a single left ventricular assist device proved sufficient (47%). The median duration of VAD support was 47 days (1–168 days). The median pre‐VAD pulmonary vascular resistance index (Rpi) was 5.7 WU/m2 (3.5 to 14.4 WU/m2). Eleven patients (65%) were successfully bridged to heart transplantation after a median duration of mechanical support of 68 days (6–168 days). Six deaths occurred (35%), three for neurological complications, one for sepsis, and two others for device malfunctioning. Since 2007, the survival rate of our patients has increased from 43% to 80%, and the need for BVAD has decreased from 86% to 30%. In two patients with Rpi >10 WU/m2, unresponsive to pulmonary vasodilatator therapy, Rpi dropped to 2.2 and 2 WU/m2 after 40 and 23 days of BVAD support, respectively. Seven patients (41%) required at least one pump change. Of 11 patients undergoing heart transplant, four developed an extremely elevated (>60%) panel reactive antibody by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, confirmed by Luminex. All of them experienced at least one acute episode of rejection in the first month after heart transplant, needing plasmapheresis. The survival rate after heart transplantation was 100% with a median follow‐up of 25.4 months (6 days to 7.7 years). Mechanical support in children with end‐stage heart failure is an effective strategy as a bridge to heart transplantation with a reasonable morbidity and mortality. BVAD support may offer an additional means to reverse extremely elevated pulmonary vascular resistance.
A Newly Developed Miniaturized Heart‐Lung Machine—Expression of Inflammation in a Small Animal Model
Authors: Schnoering Heike , Arens Jutta , Terrada Estella , Sachweh Joerg S. , Runge Maximilian , Schmitz‐Rode Thomas , Steinseifer Ulrich , Vazquez‐Jimenez Jaime F.
Published: November 2010

Cardiopulmonary bypass may cause severe inflammatory reactions and multiorgan failure, especially in premature and low‐weight infants. This is due in part to the large area of contact with extrinsic surfaces and the essential addition of foreign blood. Thus, we developed a new miniaturized heart‐lung machine (MiniHLM) with a total static priming volume of 102 mL (including arterial and venous lines) and tested it in a small animal model. Seven Chinchilla Bastard rabbits were perfused with the MiniHLM (dynamic priming volume 127 mL). Seven animals serving as a control were perfused using Dideco Kids and a Stöckert roller pump (modified dynamic priming volume 149 mL). The rabbits were anesthetized and sternotomized, followed by cannulation of the aorta and the right atrium. The aorta was clamped for 1 h. Blood for examination of inflammation (TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, and IL‐10) and blood gas analysis were taken before skin incision, 5 min before opening of the aorta, 15 min after opening of the aorta, and 4 h after the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass. The parameters of inflammation were expressed by means of the comparative CT method (ΔΔCT method). After gradual reduction of perfusion with the HLM, the heart was decannulated, and the sternum was closed. All rabbits were successfully weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass. Blood gas analysis was unremarkable in all cases. Foreign blood was not administered. Although statistical significance was not achieved, there was a reduced expression of inflammatory markers in the MiniHLM group. The newly developed MiniHLM prototype was tested successfully in a small animal model in terms of technical function and expression of inflammation. Upcoming tests with the industrially manufactured MiniHLM may reveal the advantages of the MiniHLM in comparison with the conventional HLM.
Extracorporeal Circulation for Rewarming in Drowning and Near‐Drowning Pediatric Patients
Authors: Coskun Kasim Oguz , Popov Aron Frederik , Schmitto Jan Dieter , Hinz José , Kriebel Thomas , Schoendube Friedrich Albert , Ruschewski Wolfgang , Tirilomis Theodor
Published: November 2010

Drowning and near‐drowning is often associated with severe hypothermia requiring active core rewarming. We performed rewarming by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Between 1987 and 2007, 13 children (9 boys and 4 girls) with accidental hypothermia were rewarmed by extracorporeal circulation (ECC) in our institution. The average age of the patients was 3.2 years. Resuscitation was started immediately upon the arrival of the rescue team and was continuously performed during the transportation. All patients were intubated and ventilated. Core temperature at admission ranged from 20 to 29°C (mean 25.3°C). Connection to the CPB was performed by thoracic (9 patients) or femoral/iliac means (4 patients). Restoration of circulation was achieved in 11 patients (84.6%). After CPB termination two patients needed an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system due to severe pulmonary edema. Five patients were discharged from hospital after prolonged hospital stay. During follow‐up, two patients died (10 and 15 months, respectively) of pulmonary complications and one patient was lost to follow‐up. The two remaining survivors were without neurological deficit. Modes of rewarming, age, sex, rectal temperature, and serum electrolytes did not influence mortality. In conclusion, drowning and near‐drowning with severe hypothermia remains a challenging emergency. Rewarming by ECC provides efficient rewarming and full circulatory support. Although nearly half of the children may survive after rewarming by ECC, long‐term outcome is limited by pulmonary and neurological complications.
Improving Oxygenator Performance Using Computational Simulation and Flow Field‐Based Parameters
Authors: Graefe Roland , Borchardt Ralf , Arens Jutta , Schlanstein Peter , Schmitz‐Rode Thomas , Steinseifer Ulrich
Published: November 2010

Current goals in the development of oxygenators are to reduce extrinsic surface contact area, thrombus formation, hemolysis, and priming volume. To achieve these goals and provide a favorable concentration gradient for the gas exchange throughout the fiber bundle, this study attempts to find an optimized inlet and outlet port geometry to guide the flow of a hexagonal‐shaped oxygenator currently under development. Parameters derived from numerical flow simulations allowed an automated quantitative evaluation of geometry changes of flow distribution plates. This led to a practical assessment of the quality of the flow. The results were validated qualitatively by comparison to flow visualization results. Two parameters were investigated, the first based on the velocity distribution and the second calculated from the residence time of massless particles representing erythrocytes. Both approaches showed significant potential to improve the flow pattern in the fiber bundle, based on one of the parameters of up to 66%. Computational fluid dynamics combined with a parameterization proved to be a powerful tool to quickly improve oxygenator designs.
Evaluation of Perfusion Modes on Vital Organ Recovery and Thyroid Hormone Homeostasis in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Authors: Akçevin Atif , Alkan‐Bozkaya Tijen , Qiu Feng , Ündar Akif
Published: November 2010

The objectives of this study were: (i) to evaluate the effects of perfusion modes (pulsatile vs. nonpulsatile) on vital organs recovery and (ii) to investigate the influences of two different perfusion modes on the homeostasis of thyroid hormones in pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedures. Two hundred and eighty‐nine consecutive pediatric patients undergoing open heart surgery for repair of congenital heart disease were prospectively entered into the study and were randomly assigned to two groups: the pulsatile perfusion group (Group P, n = 208) and the nonpulsatile perfusion group (Group NP, n = 81). All patients received identical surgical, perfusional, and postoperative care. Study parameters included total drainage, mean urine output in the intensive care unit (ICU), intubation time, duration of ICU and hospital stay, the need for inotropic support, pre‐ and postoperative enzyme levels (ALT [alanine aminotransaminase] and AST [aspartate aminotransaminase]), c‐reactive protein, lactate, albumin, blood count (leukocytes, hematocrit, platelets), creatinine levels, and thyroid hormones (thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH], FT3[free triiodothyronine], FT4[free thyroxine]). All patients survived the perioperative and postoperative periods. There were no statistically significant differences in either preoperative or operative parameters between the two groups. Group P, compared to Group NP, required significantly less inotropic support, had a shorter intubation period, higher urine output in ICU, and shorter duration of ICU and hospital stay. Lower lactate levels and higher albumin levels were observed in Group P and there were no significant differences in creatinine, enzyme levels, blood counts, or drainage amounts between two groups. TSH, Total T3, Total T4, and FT3, FT4 levels were markedly reduced versus their preoperative values in both groups. FT3 and FT4 levels were reduced significantly further in the nonpulsatile group both during CPB and at 72 h postoperation. The results of this study confirm our opinion that pulsatile perfusion leads to better vital organ recovery and clinical outcomes in the early postoperative period as compared to nonpulsatile perfusion in pediatric patients undergoing CPB cardiac surgery. The plasma concentrations of thyroid hormones are dramatically reduced during and after CPB, but pulsatile perfusion seems to have a protective effect of thyroid hormone homeostasis compared to nonpulsatile perfusion.
Cardiac Surgery of Premature and Low Birthweight Newborns: Is a Change of Fate Possible?
Authors: Alkan‐Bozkaya Tijen , Türkoğlu Halil , Akçevin Atif , Paker Tufan , Özkan‐Çerçi Hilda , Dindar Aygün , Ersoy Cihangir , Bayer Vedat , Aşkın Demet , Ündar Akif
Published: November 2010

Low birthweight (LBW) continues to be a high‐risk factor in surgery for congenital heart disease. This risk is particularly very high in very low birthweight infants under 1500 g and extremely LBW infants under 1000 g. From January 2005 to December 2008, 33 consecutive LBW neonates underwent cardiac surgery in our clinic in keeping with the criteria for choice of surgery. Their weight range was between 800 and 1900 g. Nine of them were under 1000 g. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was used in 17 patients (39.5%) and pulsatile perfusion mode was applied to patients in the CPB group. The same surgical team operated to achieve palliation (8 patients, 24.2%) or full repair (25 patients, 75.8%). Median gestational age was 36 weeks with 12 (36.4%) premature babies (≤37 weeks). Median age at operation was 5 days. Pathologies were single ventricle (n = 3), pulmonary atresia–ventricular septal defect (n = 3), aortic coarctation (n = 10), aorticopulmonary window and interrupted aortic arch combination (n = 6), patent arterial duct (n = 11), critical aortic stenosis (n = 8), and tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia (n = 2). One infant had VATER syndrome. Selective cerebral perfusion technique was used in complex arch pathologies for cerebral protection. Median follow‐up was 14 months. There were four early postoperative deaths. None of the cases showed a need for early reoperation. The acceptable early‐ and midterm mortality rates in this group suggest that these operations can be successfully performed. There is a need for further multicenter studies to evaluate these high‐risk groups.
Inflation Targeting Does Not Matter: Another Look at OECD Sacrifice Ratios
Authors: BRITO RICARDO D.
Published: November 2010

Recently in this journal, Gonçalves and Carvalho (2009) concluded that inflation targeters were able to bring inflation down at less cost than nontargeters (p. 242). This comment shows that their conclusion is not robust but instead is the result of comparing a particular subset of inflation targeting (IT) disinflations with nonsimultaneous disinflations that occurred under very different macroeconomic conditions. In their sample, simple extensions such as justifiably varying the treatment group of IT disinflations, to control for common time‐varying effects or to control for the Maastricht Treaty effects, suggest that IT does not matter.
The Role of Emotions in Risk Communication
Authors: Xie Xiao‐Fei , Wang Mei , Zhang Ruo‐Gu , Li Jie , Yu Qing‐Yuan
Published: November 2010

We present two experiments investigating the role of emotions concerning technological and natural hazards. In the first experiment, technological hazards aroused stronger emotions, and were considered to be riskier than natural hazards. No differences were found between the texts versus audio presentations. However, the presence of pictures aroused stronger emotions and increased the perceived risk. Emotions play a mediating role between hazard types and perceived risk, as well as between pictures and perceived risk. The second experiment adopted real‐world materials from webpages and TV. Emotions again play a mediating role between pictorial information and risk perception. Moreover, specific emotions were found to be associated with different types of action tendencies. For example, loss‐based emotions (e.g., fear, regret) tend to lead to prevention strategies, whereas ethical emotions (e.g., anger) lead to aggressive behavior. We also find that loss‐based emotions in the technical hazard scenario trigger more coping strategies (from prevention to retaliation) than in the natural hazard scenario.
Modeling Arbitrary Layers of Continuous‐Level Defenses in Facing with Strategic Attackers
Authors: Golalikhani Mohsen , Zhuang Jun
Published: November 2010

We propose a novel class of game‐theoretic models for the optimal assignment of defensive resources in a game between a defender and an attacker. Compared to the other game‐theoretic models in the literature of defense allocation problems, the novelty of our model is that we allow the defender to assign her continuous‐level defensive resources to any subset (or arbitrary layers) of targets due to functional similarity or geographical proximity. We develop methods to solve for equilibrium, and illustrate our model using numerical examples. Compared to traditional models that only allow for individual target hardening, our results show that our model could significantly increase the defender's payoff, especially when the unit cost of defense is high.
Media Effects on Group Collaboration: An Empirical Examination in an Ethical Decision‐Making Context
Authors: Sarker Saonee , Sarker Suprateek , Chatterjee Sutirtha , Valacich Joseph S.
Published: November 2010

Even though it is widely acknowledged that collaboration underlies much of the decision‐making efforts in contemporary organizations, and that organizational groups are increasingly making decisions that have ethical implications, few studies have examined group ethical decision‐making processes and outcomes. In addition, while there is increasing evidence that groups often collaborate/communicate using different mediating technologies, few studies have examined the effect of the characteristics of the media in group ethical decision‐making contexts. Finally, there is a clear paucity of studies that have investigated group decision making pertaining to information technology (IT)‐related ethical dilemmas, an area of rising importance for information systems (IS) and decision science researchers. This article seeks to address the gaps described above through an experimental study where groups collaborating either in a face‐to‐face context or in a computer‐mediated context (using NetMeeting or Wiki) were required to make a decision with respect to a scenario with an IT‐related ethical dilemma. Results indicate that media characteristics (e.g., anonymity, immediacy of feedback, parallelism) do not have an effect on whether groups make ethical (or unethical) decisions. However, several media characteristics were found to play a significant role on downstream variables, such as the quality of a follow‐up task (i.e., creation of a decision justification document), and overall process satisfaction of the group members.
Team Decision Making in Computer‐Supported Cooperative Work: How Initial Computer‐Mediated or Face‐to‐Face Meetings Set the Stage for Later Outcomes*
Authors: Kennedy Deanna M. , Vozdolska Ralitza R. , McComb Sara A.
Published: November 2010

The success of teams working together over multiple meetings may depend on how processes develop at initial meetings. Computer‐mediated tools, in particular, may hinder team process development which may set the stage for shortcomings later. One recommendation is to hold the initial team meeting face to face. Herein, we examine social processes over time and whether computer‐mediated teams completing their first session face to face can offset the shortcomings in process development and outcomes in their second session. Using longitudinal data we test the differences in, and relationships among, processes and outputs across teams that met twice as computer mediated, twice as face to face, or as mixed media (first as face to face and second as computer mediated). Results indicate computer‐mediated teams reported lower participative decision making than face‐to‐face teams after the first session and the disparity continued at the second session. Mixed‐media teams, however, had improved participative decision making over pure computer‐mediated teams in the long run. Further, mixed‐media teams reported team satisfaction similar to pure face‐to‐face teams and delivered a task performance between that of pure computer‐mediated and pure face‐to‐face teams. Interestingly, mixed‐media teams experienced increased conflict over time, while conflict in pure media teams decreased. Our results suggest that practitioners may want to require an initial face‐to‐face session (i.e., more than just a meet and greet) to prepare members to work together in the future.
Operational Capabilities: The Secret Ingredient
Authors: Wu Sarah Jinhui , Melnyk Steven A. , Flynn Barbara B.
Published: November 2010

We develop a theoretical definition of operational capabilities, based on the strategic management and operations management literature, and differentiate this construct from the related constructs of resources and operational practices, drawing upon the resource‐based view of the firm as our foundation. We illustrate the key features of operational capabilities using the illustration of a restaurant kitchen. Because the traits of operational capabilities are distinct, they create a barrier to imitation, making them a potential source of competitive advantage. However, operational capabilities are particularly challenging to measure, because they emerge gradually and are tacit, embedded, and manifested differently across firms. In solving this measurement conundrum, we draw upon similar situations experienced by Schein (2004) and Eisenhardt and Martin (2000) in operationalizing organizational culture and dynamic capabilities. A taxonomy of six emergent operational capabilities is developed: operational improvement, operational innovation, operational customization, operational cooperation, operational responsiveness, and operational reconfiguration. A set of measurement scales is developed, in order to measure each of the operational capabilities, and validated using two different datasets. This allows replication of the psychometric properties of the multi‐item scales and helps to ensure the validity of the resulting measures.
Clinical Indications for Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging
Authors: Bourantas Christos V. , Naka Katerina K. , Garg Scot , Thackray Simon , Papadopoulos Dimitris , Alamgir Farqad M. , Hoye Angela , Michalis Lampros K.
Published: November 2010

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a catheter‐based imaging modality, which provides high resolution cross‐sectional images of the coronary arteries. Unlike angiography, which displays only the opacified luminal silhouette, IVUS permits imaging of both the lumen and vessel wall and allows characterization of the type of the plaque. Although IVUS provides accurate quantitative and qualitative information regarding the lumen and outer vessel wall, it is not routinely used during coronary angiography or in angioplasty procedures because the risk to benefit ratio (additional expense, procedural time, certain degree of risk, and complication versus improvement in the outcome) does not justify routine utilization. Nevertheless, there are situations where IVUS is extremely useful tool both for diagnosis and management so the aim of this review is to summarize the indications for IVUS imaging in the contemporary clinical practice. (Echocardiography 2010;27:1282‐1290)