bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A critique of the “administrative reform industry”: reform is important, but so is stability
Authors: Wettenhall Roger
Published: May 2013

A big challenge to wise administrative reform is to ensure that reform does not threaten the organizational stability needed to ensure effective policy implementation and service delivery. There are of course many challenges, but this a vitally important one, and it is a main aim of this article to emphasize it. The article first presents a brief survey of the rise over the past 40 years of what is here called the “administrative reform industry”. It then looks at several recent contributions to the discourse about administrative reform, and in that connection notes some worthwhile suggestions about reform strategies, and some warnings about things to avoid. While the treatment is primarily reflective, a few practical illustrations are included.
It Had to Be You (Not Me)!
Authors: Haynes Michelle C. , Heilman Madeline E.
Published: May 2013

We investigated the tendency of women to undervalue their contributions in collaborative contexts. Participants, who believed they were working with another study participant on a male sex-typed task, received positive feedback about the team’s performance. Results indicated that women and men allocated credit for the joint success very differently. Women gave more credit to their male teammates and took less credit themselves unless their role in bringing about the performance outcome was irrefutably clear (Studies 1 and 2) or they were given explicit information about their likely task competence (Study 4). However, women did not credit themselves less when their teammate was female (Study 3). Together these studies demonstrate that women devalue their contributions to collaborative work, and that they do so by engaging in attributional rationalization, a process sparked by women’s negative performance expectations and facilitated by source ambiguity and a satisfactory “other” to whom to allocate credit.
Impact of a Dedicated Enteral Feeding System in an Italian NICU
Authors: Bozzetti Valentina , Barzaghi Mariarosa , Ventura Maria Luisa , Tagliabue Paolo E.
Published: May 2013

The inadvertent connection between an enteral feeding system and a nonenteral system such as a vascular line may occur. Intravenous administration of an enteral admixture may lead to severe, sometimes lethal, complications. We report our experience with a new set of enteral devices that may prevent any risk of misconnection.
Marital Paradigms
Authors: Willoughby Brian J. , Hall Scott S. , Luczak Heather P.
Published: May 2013

This article outlines a conceptual framework for summarizing the marital beliefs and values of individuals regardless of marital status. Drawing on concepts from symbolic interactionism and recent midrange theories of marital attitudes, we propose that marital beliefs can be conceptualized as an individual marital paradigm, which comprises both beliefs about getting married and beliefs about being married. Six interconnected dimensions of marital paradigms are proposed: marital salience, marital timing, martial context, marital processes, marital permanence, and marital centrality. We proceed to make connections between the proposed model and relevant recent research on marital attitudes.
Recommendations for managing missing data, attrition and response shift in palliative and end-of-life care research: Part of the MORECare research method guidance on statistical issues
Authors: Preston Nancy J , Fayers Peter , Walters Stephen J , Pilling Mark , Grande Gunn E , Short Vicky , Owen-Jones Eleanor , Evans Catherine J , Benalia Hamid , Higginson Irene J , Todd Chris J ,   on behalf of MORECare
Published: May 2013

Background:

Statistical analysis in palliative and end-of-life care research can be problematic due to high levels of missing data, attrition and response shift as disease progresses.

Aim:

To develop recommendations about managing missing data, attrition and response shift in palliative and end-of-life care research data.

Design:

We used the MORECare Transparent Expert Consultation approach to conduct a consultation workshop with experts in statistical methods in palliative and end-of-life care research. Following presentations and discussion, nominal group techniques were used to produce recommendations about attrition, missing data and response shift. These were rated online by experts and analysed using descriptive statistics for consensus and importance.

Results:

In total, 20 participants attended the workshop and 19 recommendations were subsequently ranked. There was broad agreement across recommendations. The top five recommendations were as follows: A taxonomy should be devised to define types of attrition. Types and amount of missing data should be reported with details of imputation methods. The pattern of missing data should be investigated to inform the imputation approach. A statistical analysis plan should be pre-specified in the protocol. High rates of attrition should be assumed when planning studies and specifying analyses. The leading recommendation for response shift was for more research.

Conclusions:

When designing studies in palliative and end-of-life care, it is recommended that high rates of attrition should not be seen as indicative of poor design and that a clear statistical analysis plan is in place to account for missing data and attrition.
The hidden injury of class in Korean-American language brokers’ lives
Authors: Kwon Hyeyoung
Published: May 2013

Moving beyond the cultural clash model that treats intergenerational relationships as unidirectional, this study, based on in-depth interviews with working-class bilingual Korean children from Los Angeles, finds that they actively assume class-specific language brokering work to ensure family survival. However, because class remains as the invisible social force in America, children who learned about parental financial and legal problems through language brokering work maintained the hidden injury of class. The findings indicate that normative notions of carefree childhood, racialized class, and essentialized Korean culture, which uniformly uphold quintessential middle-class values, can impart a buried sense of inadequacy and desire among socially excluded working-class children.
Making sense of financial incentive as a policy tool for the independent arts sector
Authors: Lindqvist Katja
Published: May 2013

The local government of Stockholm in 2008 introduced a growth scheme including a financial incentive for the independent arts sector. As financial incentives are virtually non-existent in the cultural sphere, this must be seen as a rather extreme development in cultural policy. The article explores both the rationale behind the new growth scheme as policy tool as well as its reception by the sector through three complementary perspectives: historical institutionalism, ideology analysis and policy values analysis. Contributing to the empirically under-researched area of cultural policy, the combined approach offers a broader understanding of policy development and implementation than would a single perspective interpretation, and acknowledges the complexities of policy making and policy change. The institutional perspective shows that marketisation policy is layered on a previous Folkhem policy with an extended budget facilitating its introduction. An ideology perspective shows how the new growth scheme follows neoliberal ideas of the role of the state as facilitator of market growth in the arts. A values perspective, finally, shows that the economic values of the new cultural policy are not shared by the independent arts sector, but new policy instruments are accepted as they expand resources available for the sector.
Development of a failure assessment diagram based method for engineering criticality assessment of CO2 transportation pipelines
Authors: Zargarzadeh Payam , Chahardehi Amir , Brennan Feargal
Published: May 2013

In this article, a generic engineering critically assessment is discussed and the specific requirements for CO2 pipelines, transporting captured impure CO2 are highlighted. The failure assessment diagram methodology is proposed in the engineering critically assessment in order to incorporate the dominant failure modes, i.e. brittle and ductile failure, and assess the safety and acceptability of the assets. In this article, the likely damage mechanisms are identified, among which are corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, cleavage, ductile failure and the effect of general ageing. All of these mechanisms and contributing factors to the damage of CO2 pipelines are integrated through a novel engineering critically assessment. Areas where these mechanisms for captured CO2 pipelines differ from natural gas pipelines are elucidated and relevant recommendations as to the safe application of these models are made.
Dispersion of carbon dioxide from vertical vent and horizontal releases—A numerical study
Authors: Wen Jennifer , Heidari Ali , Xu Baopeng , Jie Hongen
Published: May 2013

Numerical simulations of far-field carbon dioxide dispersion were conducted for a vertical vent release and a horizontal release from a shock tube. These scenarios had also been studied experimentally at field scale commissioned by National Grid. This work and the experiments both form part of the National Grid dense phase CO2 pipeLine TRANSportation (COOLTRANS) research programme. All tests involved releases of dense phase CO2 into an atmospheric flow. The dispersing plumes were subjected to transient wind conditions where both the direction and magnitude of the wind fluctuated with time. As part of the COOLTRANS research programme, the far-field dispersion simulations started from source terms derived from the near-field simulations conducted by the University of Leeds and outflow simulations conducted by University College London. The numerical model used for the far-field simulations is based on OPENFOAM, which is an object-oriented open source computational fluid dynamics toolbox. A dedicated solver CO2FOAM has been developed within the framework of OPENFOAM for simulating dispersion from dense phase CO2 releases. This has included the implementation of the homogeneous equilibrium method for fully compressible two-phase flow, treatment of the transient atmospheric boundary conditions and the time-varying inlet boundary conditions. The experimental measurements were supplied to the authors after the predictions were completed and submitted to National Grid. Hence, the validation reported here is indeed “blind.” While further fine tuning of the model and validation is still underway, the relatively good agreement between the predictions and measurements in the present study has demonstrated the potential of CO2FOAM as an effective predictive tool for far-field CO2 dispersion in the context of pipeline transportation for carbon capture and storage.
Systemic lupus erythematosus due to C1q deficiency with progressive encephalopathy, intracranial calcification and acquired moyamoya cerebral vasculopathy
Authors: Troedson C , Wong M , Dalby-Payne J , Wilson M , Dexter M , Rice GI , Crow YJ , Dale RC
Published: May 2013

We report a female with infantile onset of systemic lupus erythematosus secondary to C1q deficiency, in whom we identified a novel homozygous mutation in C1qB. The patient developed a progressive encephalopathy associated with spasticity, and suffered several arterial ischaemic strokes. Cerebral imaging demonstrated acquired intracranial calcification and a cerebral vasculopathy reminiscent of moyamoya. This case demonstrates overlap with some features of Aicardi-Goutières syndrome which, like C1q deficiency, is a monogenic cause of inflammation involving dysregulation of the innate immune system and stimulation of a type I interferon response.
Development of a torsional dynamic absorber using a magnetorheological elastomer for vibration reduction of a powertrain test rig
Authors: Hoang N , Zhang N , Li W H , Du H
Published: May 2013

This article presents the development of a torsional adaptive tunable vibration absorber using a magnetorheological elastomer for vibration reduction of a powertrain test rig. The magnetorheological elastomer used to develop the adaptive tunable vibration absorber consists of silicone polymer, silicone oil and magnetic particles with the weight percentages of 60%, 20% and 20%, respectively. Experimental testing is conducted to obtain the magnetorheological elastomer’s properties, such as Young’s modulus and the damping ratio, and effective formulas are derived to facilitate the design of the adaptive tunable vibration absorber. With the derived formulas, a magnetorheological elastomer–based adaptive tunable vibration absorber is designed and manufactured, and experimental testing is also conducted to validate the design. The results of experiments show that the magnetorheological elastomer–based adaptive tunable vibration absorber can work in a frequency range from 10.75 to 16.5 Hz (53% relative change). Both the designed and experimental results of the adaptive tunable vibration absorber’s frequencies are in good agreement. A powertrain model is used to validate the magnetorheological elastomer–based adaptive tunable vibration absorber’s effectiveness, and the numerical simulations show that the powertrain frequencies are shifted away from the resonant frequency; thus, the powertrain’s steady-state vibration can be significantly reduced. This magnetorheological elastomer–based adaptive tunable vibration absorber will be a promising new device for vibration reduction of vehicle powertrains.
Relationship Between Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Saphenous Vein Graft Disease in Patients With Coronary Bypass
Authors: Doğan Mehmet , Akyel Ahmet , Çimen Tolga , Öksüz Fatih , Çelik İbrahim Etem , Aytürk Mehmet , Murat Sani Namık , Yeter Ekrem
Published: May 2013

Purpose:

In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between saphenous vein graft disease (SVGD) and neutrophil-to-lympocyte ratio (NLR) with other possible confounding factors.

Methods:

A total of 120 patients were enrolled into the present study. Of all participants, 40 patients were with SVGD and 80 of them were with patent SVG.

Results:

The NLR, white blood cell (WBC) count, age of SVG, red cell distribution width (RDW), and mean platelet volume were significantly higher in the SVGD group. In regression analysis, NLR, WBC, RDW, and age of SVG remained as independent predictors of SVGD.

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, we showed for the first time that NLR is independently associated with SVGD. It can be easily used in this era, because it is easily available, widely used, and relatively cheap. Besides NLR, WBC count, SVG age, and RDW can also be used to predict SVGD.
Environmental Fiscal Reform and Fiscal Consolidation
Authors: Pereira Alfredo M. , Pereira Rui M.
Published: May 2013

This article explores the capacity for environmental fiscal reform to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, stimulate economic performance, and promote fiscal sustainability. Simulation results suggest that reforms based on CO2 taxation stimulate gross domestic product (GDP) when tax revenues are used to promote private or public investment and stimulate employment when used to finance reductions in personal income taxation or firms’ social security contributions. More generally, reforms allow for reductions in the costs of climate policy, a weaker realization of the second dividend. In addition, several reforms lead to reductions in public debt, the realization of a third dividend. When political constraints on reducing public spending are considered, however, this third dividend only materializes when revenues finance public investment or reductions in the firms’ social security contributions. Overall, our results suggest that low growth and high public debt need not be regarded as hindrances for environmental fiscal reform but can actually be seen as catalysts.
Demographic and clinical factors associated with changes in employment in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Moore Phil , Harding Katharine E , Clarkson Hannah , Pickersgill Trevor P , Wardle Mark , Robertson Neil P
Published: May 2013

Objective:

The objective of this paper is to investigate demographic and disease factors associated with changes in employment role and status in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods:

Questionnaires on current symptoms, employment status and factors associated with changes in employment were sent to a community sample of 566 MS patients.

Results:

A total of 221 completed questionnaires were analysed. Of 169 employed at diagnosis, 43.3% had left employment at a mean of 11.9 years after disease onset. Of those still employed, 55% had changed their role or working hours to accommodate symptoms relating to their disease. These patients reported greater fatigue ( p = 0.001), pain ( p = 0.033) and memory problems ( p = 0.038) than those whose employment had remained unaffected. Multinomial logistic regression revealed the factors most strongly predictive of employment status were disability level, years of education, disease duration and fatigue ( p = 0.032).

Conclusions:

Despite changes to public perceptions and legislative protection over the last 20 years, high rates of MS patients still leave the workforce prematurely, reduce working hours or change employment roles. These data have significant implications when considering social and economic impacts of MS, support the value of employment metrics as long-term outcome measures, and demonstrate the need to improve employment requirements and flexibility of working practices in individuals with MS.
The effects of long-term interferon-beta-1b treatment on cognitive functioning in multiple sclerosis: a 16-year longitudinal study
Authors: Lacy Maureen , Hauser Meagan , Pliskin Neil , Assuras Stephanie , Valentine Mildred O , Reder Anthony
Published: May 2013

Background:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive disease of the central nervous system that affects cognition. Short-term treatment with interferon-beta-1b (IFN-b-1b) has been shown to have beneficial effects on cognition.

Objective:

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effects of IFN-b-1b on cognitive functioning in patients with MS over the course of 16 years.

Methods:

Sixteen subjects with relapsing–remitting MS participated in the study. Nine of these subjects received IFN-b-1b, while seven received placebo treatment in the pivotal MS trial. After five years, all subjects were switched to IFN-b-1b treatment. At two and four years into the study, all subjects underwent a brief neuropsychological test battery, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and neurologic ratings; measures were repeated at 16 years.

Results:

Across the total cohort, cognitive functioning remained relatively stable over the course of 16 years. The placebo/IFN-b-b group exhibited increased visual memory performance relative to the IFN-b-1b treatment group, but had a greater decline in verbal memory. Initial MRI lesion load demonstrated a significant, negative correlation with overall cognitive performance at 16 years ( p = 0.00).

Conclusion:

We conclude that IFN-b-1b has beneficial effects on long-term cognition outcomes in MS.
India–Sri Lanka Connectivity through a Ferry Service between Colombo and Tuticorin: An Assessment of Operational Viability, Risks and Prospective Strategies
Authors: Gunaruwan T. Lalithasiri , Dineka S.K. Imashi
Published: May 2013

Sri Lanka’s geographic positioning has been long recognized as an opportunity that requires strategic exploitation in pursuance of the development objectives of the country. Improving connectivity between India and Sri Lanka is perceived as a main avenue for exploiting this advantage. The re-establishment of the Indo-Lanka ferry operations, which discontinued 25 years ago owing to security concerns, is a step in this direction. This article presents the findings of a research to examine the viability of this ferry operation venture from a Sri Lankan viewpoint. It appraises comparative economics involved in long-distance ferry transportation of passengers between India and Sri Lanka. Possible demand scenarios are appraised based on the preference to shift modes expressed by aviation passengers. Viability is assessed according to selected service supply capacity options, fare levels and associated risks. Policies and strategies to improve the operational viability of the venture for a Sri Lankan investor are also discussed.
Characterization and Outcomes of Iliac Vessel Injury in the 21st Century
Authors: Lauerman Margaret H. , Rybin Denis , Doros Gheorghe , Kalish Jeffrey , Hamburg Naomi , Eberhardt Robert T. , Farber Alik
Published: May 2013

Introduction:

Iliac vessel trauma (IVT) is traditionally associated with high mortality. We evaluated a modern series of patients with IVT to assess current outcomes and endovascular therapy use.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective review of the National Trauma Data Bank. Patients with IVT were stratified by blunt and penetrating mechanism and arterial and venous injury.

Results:

In blunt IVT, there was no significant difference in mortality between those with and without pelvic fractures (odds ratio [OR] 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36-1.06). In penetrating IVT, combined arterial and venous IVT was associated with higher mortality (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.06-2.70) compared to isolated arterial IVT. Isolated venous IVT was associated with lower mortality (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.35-0.85) compared to isolated arterial IVT. Endovascular stenting was utilized in 11.3% of blunt IVT with pelvic fractures, 6.3% of blunt IVT without pelvic fractures, and 1.8% of penetrating IVT.

Conclusion:

Iliac Vessel Trauma has significant mortality. Endovascular intervention for IVT is applied sparingly.
An air-to-ground combat survivability model
Authors: Erlandsson Tina , Niklasson Lars
Published: May 2013

A survivability model can be a useful component of a tactical support system able to aid fighter pilots to assess the risk of getting hit by enemy fire from ground-based threats. This work identifies three desirable properties of such a model: it should allow for evaluating actions; it should enable domain experts to incorporate their knowledge; and it should represent uncertainties both regarding the locations of the threats as well as their future actions. A survivability model is suggested, which calculates the probability that the aircraft can fly a route unharmed and allows for routes of different lengths to be compared. A domain expert can describe the threats by specifying the risk of getting hit at a position of the route without having to consider the earlier actions of the aircraft and the threats. Three different threat models are suggested and compared. The influence of uncertainties regarding the positions of the threats is studied by calculating the probability density function for the survivability. Different representations that take into account both the uncertainty regarding the present and future situation are discussed. The results indicate that the suggested survivability model could be a useful component of a future tactical support system, even though some further development is needed.
What global citizens and whose global moral order? Defining the global at BBC World News
Authors: Dencik Lina
Published: May 2013

This article provides a critical assessment of the popular notion that we are moving towards an increasingly global understanding of political community and citizenship. At the centre of this debate is a specific, although often implicit, account of media developments. Drawing on original research done on the global news network, BBC World News, this article makes the case that news practices are developing in a far more complex and contradictory way than is often implied in discourses on the global ‘turn’ in politics. Globality as understood and represented at BBC World News is a question of not only certain culturally and institutionally informed assumptions about what constitutes public interest, but also, increasingly, a question of resources and dominant political rhetoric from a few institutions of power. What is more, developments in news practices do not necessarily lead to new and challenging communicative contexts in our understanding of the world, but rather may entrench and reinforce existing power relations. These empirically informed assessments of media developments need to form a much bigger part of discussions on the ‘global shift’.
An identification and brief advice programme for low-risk alcohol consumption in an acute medical setting: an implementation study
Authors: Woodrow Susannah R , Green Stuart A , Phekoo Karen J , Grover Vijay PB , Lovendoski James , Anderson Mike , Bowden-Jones Owen , Foxton Matthew R
Published: May 2013

Objectives

To implement an identification and brief advice (IBA) intervention to detect low-risk/hazardous alcohol consumption.

Design

Implementation was guided through the use of quality improvement tools and training.

Setting

This study was conducted over an 18-month period from April 2010 to September 2011 on a 42-bed acute medical unit at a central London acute hospital.

Participants

All medical patients over the age of 18 admitted to the acute assessment unit were eligible; any patient unable to provide a medical history either through language barriers or due to illness was excluded.

Main outcome measures

Percentage of medical patients admitted each week to the acute assessment unit who were screened for low-risk/hazardous alcohol consumption.

Results

Weekly data were analysed in time series run charts and cross-referenced to the date of educational sessions and their effect on the uptake of screening monitored. A demonstrable change in the mean percentage number of patients screened was observed in different time periods, 67.3–80.1%, following targeted teaching on the AAU.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates the successful use of quality improvement methodology to guide the implementation of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C), an IBA intervention, in the acute medical setting. The incorporation of the AUDIT-C into an admission document has been well accepted by the junior doctors, attaining an average (mean) of 80% of patients being screened using the tool. Targeted teaching of clinical staff involved in admitting patients appears to be the most effective method in improving uptake of IBA by junior doctors.
Effect of nanoscale precipitation on strengthening of ferritic ODS Fe–Cr–Al alloy
Authors: Capdevila C. , Chao J. , Jimenez J. A. , Miller M. K.
Published: May 2013

The kinetics of Fe rich α and Cr rich α′ phase separation during aging of Fe–Cr–Al oxide dispersion strengthened alloys have been analysed with a combination of atom probe tomography and thermoelectric power measurements. The slight lattice parameter decrease measured by X-ray diffraction after thermal aging was associated with a lattice misfit between the emerging α and α′ domains. The elastic strain associated with this misfit and the different elastic moduli for the α and α′ phases would produce an increase in internal stresses that would retard the motion of dislocations and thus would be the main cause for the strengthening.
Modelling coarsening behaviour of TiC precipitates in high strength, low alloy steels
Authors: Jang J H , Lee C-H , Han H N , Bhadeshia H K D H , Suh D-W
Published: May 2013

Some of the most modern automotive sheet steels rely on a dispersion of fine precipitates based on TiC, generated during the major phase changes that occur as the rolled material is cooled to the coiling temperature. The coils themselves cool extremely slowly, thus leading to the coarsening of the precipitates and a loss of strength. Beginning with a calculation of the interfacial energy, the precipitate coarsening kinetics are modelled as a function of the stoichiometry of titanium and carbon. The purpose was to assess the influences of interface energy and Ti/C stoichiometry which limit the rate at which the dispersion coarsens by the diffusion of solute from the small to the larger particles. It is found that Ti/C ratio plays a critical role; a titanium concentration which is slightly less than required to combine with carbon leads to a dramatic reduction in the coarsening rate.
Activated platelets can deliver mRNA regulatory Ago2•microRNA complexes to endothelial cells via microparticles
Authors: Laffont Benoit , Corduan Aurélie , Plé Hélène , Duchez Anne-Claire , Cloutier Nathalie , Boilard Eric , Provost Patrick
Published: May 2013

Key Points

Activated platelets release microRNA miR-223 preferentially through MPs that can be internalized by endothelial cells. Platelet MP-derived Ago2•microRNA complexes are functional and can regulate endogenous gene expression in recipient endothelial cells.
Acceleration of sequence clustering using longest common subsequence filtering
Authors: Namiki Youhei , Ishida Takashi , Akiyama Yutaka
Published: May 2013

Background

Huge numbers of genomes can now be sequenced rapidly with recent improvements in sequencing throughput. However, data analysis methods have not kept up, making it difficult to process the vast amounts of available sequence data. This increased processing time is especially critical in DNA sequence clustering because of the intrinsic difficulty in parallelization. Thus, there is a strong demand for a faster clustering algorithm.

Results

We developed a new fast DNA sequence clustering method called LCS-HIT, based on the popular CD-HIT program. The proposed method uses a novel filtering technique based on the longest common subsequence to identify similar sequence pairs. This filtering technique makes the LCS-HIT considerably faster than CD-HIT, without loss of sensitivity. For a dataset of two million DNA sequences, our method was approximately 7.1, 4.4, and 2.2 times faster than CD-HIT for 100, 150, and 400 bases, respectively.

Conclusions

The LCS-HIT clustering program, using a novel filtering technique based on the longest common subsequence, is significantly faster than CD-HIT without compromising clustering accuracy. Moreover, the filtering technique itself is independent from the CD-HIT algorithm. Thus, this technique can be applied to similar clustering algorithms.
The microbiome of chronic rhinosinusitis: culture, molecular diagnostics and biofilm detection
Authors: Boase Sam , Foreman Andrew , Cleland Edward , Tan Lorwai , Melton-Kreft Rachel , Pant Harshita , Hu Fen Z , Ehrlich Garth D , Wormald Peter-John
Published: May 2013

Background

Bacteria and fungi are believed to influence mucosal inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However their presence and relationship to disease is debated. This study used multiple detection methods to compare microbial diversity and microbial abundance in healthy and diseased sinonasal mucosa. The utility of contemporary detection methods is also examined.

Methods

Sinonasal mucosa was analyzed from 38 CRS and 6 controls. Bacterial and fungal analysis was performed using conventional culture, molecular diagnostics (polymerase chain reaction coupled with electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry) and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Results

Microbes were detected in all samples, including controls, and were often polymicrobial. 33 different bacterial species were detected in CRS, 5 in control patients, with frequent recovery of anaerobes. Staphylococcus aureus and Propionibacterium acnes were the most common organisms in CRS and controls, respectively. Using a model organism, FISH had a sensitivity of 78%, and a specificity of 93%. Many species were detected in both CRS and controls however, microbial abundance was associated with disease manifestation.

Conclusions

This study highlights some cornerstones of microbial variations in healthy and diseased paranasal sinuses. Whilst the healthy sinus is clearly not sterile, it appears prevalence and abundance of organisms is critical in determining disease. Evidence from high-sensitivity techniques, limits the role of fungi in CRS to a small group of patients. Comparison with molecular analysis suggests that the detection threshold of FISH and culture is related to organism abundance and, furthermore, culture tends to select for rapidly growing organisms.
Solvent-free enzymatic synthesis of 1, 3-Diacylglycerols by direct esterification of glycerol with saturated fatty acids
Authors: Zhong Nanjing , Gui Zhongyu , Xu Li , Huang Jianrong , Hu Kun , Gao Yongqing , Zhang Xia , Xu Zhenbo , Su Jianyu , Li Bing
Published: May 2013

Background

Pure 1, 3-diacylglycerols (1, 3-DAG) have been considered to be significant surfactants in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, as well as the effect on obesity prevention.

Methods

In this study, a vacuum-driven air bubbling operation mode was developed and evaluated for the enzymatic synthesis of 1, 3-DAG of saturated fatty acids, by direct esterification of glycerol with fatty acids in a solvent-free system. The employed vacuum-driven air bubbling operation mode was comparable to vacuum-driven N2 bubbling protocol, in terms of lauric acid conversion and 1, 3-dilaurin content.

Results

Some operation parameters were optimized, and 95.3% of lauric acid conversion and 80.3% of 1, 3-dilaurin content was obtained after 3-h reaction at 50°C, with 5 wt% of Lipozyme RM IM (based on reactants) amount. Of the lipases studied, both Lipozyme RM IM and Novozym 435 exhibited good performance in terms of lauric acid conversion. Lipozyme TL IM, however, showed low activity. Lipozyme RM IM showed good operational stability in this operation protocol, 80.2% of the original catalytic activity remained after 10 consecutive batch applications. Some other 1, 3-DAG were prepared and high content was obtained after purification: 98.5% for 1, 3-dicaprylin, 99.2% for 1, 3-dicaprin, 99.1% for 1, 3-dilaurin, 99.5 for 1, 3-dipalmitin and 99.4% for 1, 3-disterin.

Conclusion

The established vacuum-driven air bubbling operation protocol had been demonstrated to be a simple-operating, cost-effective, application practical and efficient methodology for 1, 3-DAG preparation.
GaAs-based resonant tunneling diode (RTD) epitaxy on Si for highly sensitive strain gauge applications
Authors: Li Jie , Guo Hao , Liu Jun , Tang Jun , Ni Haiqiao , Shi Yunbo , Xue Chenyang , Niu Zhichuan , Zhang Wendong , Li Mifeng , Yu Ying
Published: May 2013

As a highly sensitive strain gauge element, GaAs-based resonant tunneling diode (RTD) has already been applied in microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors. Due to poor mechanical properties and high cost, GaAs-based material has been limited in applications as the substrate for MEMS. In this work, we present a method to fabricate the GaAs-based RTD on Si substrate. From the experimental results, it can be concluded that the piezoresistive coefficient achieved with this method reached 3.42 × 10−9 m2/N, which is about an order of magnitude higher than the Si-based semiconductor piezoresistors.
Aquaporin-4 expression in the cerebrospinal fluid in congenital human hydrocephalus
Authors: Castañeyra-Ruiz Leandro , González-Marrero Ibrahim , González-Toledo Juan M , Castañeyra-Ruiz Agustin , de Paz-Carmona Héctor , Castañeyra-Perdomo Agustín , Carmona-Calero Emilia M
Published: May 2013

Background

Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is a water channel mainly located in the ventricular ependymal cells (brain-CSF barrier), the sub-ependymal glia, glia limitans and in end-feet of astrocytes in at the blood–brain barrier (BBB).

Methods

In the present work, the expression of AQP4 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in control and congenital human hydrocephalus infants (obstructive and communicating), was analysed by Western-blot and enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).

Results

AQP4 was found to be high compared to the control in the CSF in congenital hydrocephalus patients. Western-blot showed higher values for AQP4 than controls in communicating hydrocephalus (communicating: 38.3%, control: 6.9% p < 0.05) although the increase was not significant in obstructive hydrocephalus (obstructive: 14.7%). The AQP4 quantification by ELISA also showed that, the mean concentration of AQP4 in CSF was significantly higher in communicating hydrocephalus (communicating: 11.32 ± 0.69 ng/ml, control: 8.61 ± 0.31 ng/ml; p < 0.05). However, there was no increase over control in obstructive hydrocephalus (obstructive: 8.65 ± 0.80 ng/ml).

Conclusions

AQP4 has a modulatory effect on ependyma stability and acts in CSF production and reabsorption. Therefore, the increase of AQP4 in the CSF in congenital hydrocephalus could be due to the fact that AQP4 passes from the parenchyma to the CSF and this AQP4 movement may be a consequence of ependyma denudation.
Derived Patterns in Binocular Rivalry Networks
Authors: Diekman Casey O , Golubitsky Martin , Wang Yunjiao
Published: May 2013

Binocular rivalry is the alternation in visual perception that can occur when the two eyes are presented with different images. Wilson proposed a class of neuronal network models that generalize rivalry to multiple competing patterns. The networks are assumed to have learned several patterns, and rivalry is identified with time periodic states that have periods of dominance of different patterns. Here, we show that these networks can also support patterns that were not learned, which we call derived. This is important because there is evidence for perception of derived patterns in the binocular rivalry experiments of Kovács, Papathomas, Yang, and Fehér. We construct modified Wilson networks for these experiments and use symmetry breaking to make predictions regarding states that a subject might perceive. Specifically, we modify the networks to include lateral coupling, which is inspired by the known structure of the primary visual cortex. The modified network models make expected the surprising outcomes observed in these experiments.
A possible approach for gel-based proteomic studies in recalcitrant woody plants
Authors: Sebastiana Mónica , Figueiredo Andreia , Monteiro Filipa , Martins Joana , Franco Catarina , Coelho Ana Varela , Vaz Fátima , Simões Tânia , Penque Deborah , Pais Maria Salomé , Ferreira Sílvia
Published: May 2013

Woody plants are particularly difficult to investigate due to high phenolic, resin, and tannin contents and laborious sample preparation. In particular, protein isolation from woody plants for two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) is challenging as secondary metabolites negatively interfere with protein extraction and separation. In this study, three protein extraction protocols, using TCA, phenol and ethanol as precipitation or extraction agents, were tested in order to select the more efficient for woody recalcitrant plant gel-based proteomics. Grapevine leaves, pine needles and cork oak ectomycorrhizal roots were used to represent woody plant species and tissues. The phenol protocol produced higher quality 2-DE gels, with increased number of resolved spots, better spot focusing and representation of all molecular mass and isoelectric point ranges tested. In order to test the compatibility of the phenol extracted proteomes with protein identification several spots were excised from the phenol gels and analyzed by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF). Regardless the incomplete genome/protein databases for the plant species under analysis, 49 proteins were identified by Peptide Mass Fingerprint (PMF). Proteomic data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD000224. Our results demonstrate the complexity of protein extraction from woody plant tissues and the suitability of the phenol protocol for obtaining high quality protein extracts for efficient 2-DE separation and downstream applications such as protein identification by mass spectrometry.
Sorption of aspartic and glutamic aminoacids on calcined hydrotalcite
Authors: Silvério Fabiano , dos Reis Márcio José , Tronto Jairo , Valim João Barros
Published: May 2013

Sorption of aspartic and glutamic aminoacids by regeneration of calcined hydrotalcite is reported. Hydrotalcite was synthesized by coprecipitation and calcined at 773 K. Sorption experiments were performed at 298 K and 310 K, and the results reveal that at low aminoacids equilibrium concentrations, intercalation of hydroxyl anions takes place while at high equilibrium concentrations, the sorption process occur by means re-hydration and aminoacids intercalation of hydrotalcite. The results also suggested that Asp and Glu sorption is a temperature dependent process. The amount of sorbed amino acid decreases as the temperature increase. The effect is more pronounced for Glu sorption probably due to its higher hydrophobic character, which makes the sorption more difficult in comparison with sorption of Asp at higher temperature.
Case report: Intradiscal oxygen ozone therapy in uncontained lumbar disc herniation
Authors: Doss Arockia
Published: May 2013

Percutaneous intradiscal oxygen ozone (O2O3) for contained lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is used as a minimally invasive alternative to surgery. This article reports excellent benefit in two patients with uncontained LDH following treatment with minimally invasive percutaneous intradiscal injection of O2O3. There is an urgent need for more research and awareness into this less expensive non-surgical out-patient treatment.
Systemic lupus erythematosus and Hodgkin disease
Authors: Dhaou Besma Ben , Boussema Fatma , Aydi Zohra , Baili Lilia , Rokbani Lilia
Published: May 2013

We report on the rare association of Hodgkin’s disease with systemic lupus erythematosus. Four years after the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus, the patient developed cervical mass and weight loss. Histological and subsequent clonality studies confirmed classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The awareness of the association of Hodgkin’s disease with systemic lupus erythematosus and its modes of presentation will help in the early diagnosis and management of such patients.
Ankylosis of the hips and knees due to sickle cell disease
Authors: Al Elayan Saad Saleh Abdullah , Al Hamdan Abdullah
Published: May 2013

This is a case report of a 29-year-old Saudi male with sickle cell disease (SCD) with severe stiffness of his joints, mainly both knees and hips, secondary to complications of SCD. He was severely crippled: unable to sit, stand or walk, and was bedridden for 8 years when he was presented to us. Radiographs showed fusion of both knees and hips. There was no evidence of active osteomyelitis by Gallium scan. The patient’s hemoglobin S decreased to levels below 30% by exchange transfusion. Bilateral total hip replacement, as well as unilateral total knee replacement, was carried out to improve his level of function. There is only one reported case of such severe and multiple joint complications in a single patient suffering from SCD.

The increased life expectancy that medical advances have offered to the sickle-cell patients has led to the appearance of sickle-cell-related complications, which were previously only seen rarely. These complications were successfully managed and the patient was able to move and transfer using a wheel chair.
Effect of storage levels of nitric oxide derivatives in blood components
Authors: Qazi Melissa A , Rizzatti Fabiola , Piknova Barbora , Sibmooh Nathawut , Stroncek David F , Schechter Alan N
Published: May 2013

Background: Potential deleterious effects of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, especially from blood kept at length, have been ascribed to biochemical changes during storage, including those of nitric oxide (NO) metabolism.

Study methods and design: In this study, NO metabolites, nitrite and nitrate, were quantified in RBCs and whole blood with time of storage. Whole blood (WB), leukoreduced (LR), and non-leukoreduced (NLR) components were obtained from healthy volunteer donors and stored in polyvinyl chloride bags for 42 days. Nitrite and nitrate were measured using reductive gas-phase chemiluminescence.

Results: Nitrite concentrations initially decreased rapidly from about 150nmol/L, but stabilized at about 44nmol/L in room air for up to 42 days. Nitrate concentrations remained stable during storage at about 35µmol/L. Cells from bags maintained in an argon chamber showed decreased nitrite levels compared to those maintained in room air. Inhibition of enzymes implicated in the NO cycle did not alter nitrite levels.

Conclusion: As erythrocytes may contribute to the control of blood flow and oxygen delivery through reduction of nitrite to NO under hypoxic conditions, the present findings provide insight into possible effects of blood transfusion. These measurements may explain some adverse effects of RBC transfusion and suggest ways of optimizing the preservation of stored blood.
Case Report: Case report: a rare salivary gland tumor
Authors: Sareen Rateesh , Pandey Chandra L
Published: May 2013

Salivary duct carcinoma is a distinctive primary neoplasm of the major salivary gland characterized by aggressive behavior with early metastasis, local recurrence and significant mortality. We report a 40 year old male with parotid swelling diagnosed as pleomorphic adenoma, who underwent parotidectomy with modified radical neck dissection and later, on routine histopathology, the swelling was reported as a salivary duct carcinoma, confirmed via immunohistochemistery. Given the relative low occurrence and known difficulty in making an accurate diagnosis using fine needle aspiration cytology, the possibility of salivary duct carcinoma in the appropriate clinical setting of elderly patients with parotid mass and facial palsy should be seriously considered.
F1FoATP synthase a-subunit of Stenotrophomonas sp. DL18 from Indian Soda Lake, Lonar: a brief report
Authors: Lingojwar Devendra , Jadhav Ravikant , Gawai Kachru
Published: May 2013

Lonar Lake, an Indian Soda Lake, is well known for its biodiversity of extremophiles including alkaliphiles. Most of the molecular studies on Lonar Lake alkaliphiles are based on molecular identification by 16S ribosomal RNA along with numerous applications in the biotechnology industry. However, molecular basis of adaptation of these alkaliphiles to high alkaline conditions is incompletely understood. Attempts were made to isolate and identify alkaliphiles from their naturally occurring original habitat, i.e. Lonar Lake, India with high alkaline conditions of pH 10.5. One facultative alkaliphile,Stenotrophomonasspecies DL18, was studied for F1FoATP synthase a-subunit with reference to alkaliphile-specific domains. Although the a-subunit ofStenotrophomonasDL18 showed significant similarity with neutrophiles, the isolated bacterium is an alkaliphile and optimally grows at pH 10.5.
A brief grief over bowel relief
Authors: Parmar Kamalpreet S , Parmar Malvinder S
Published: May 2013

Oral sodium phosphate (OSP) solution is commonly used as bowel purgative before colonoscopy. Its safety has recently been questioned with several reports of acute renal failure and chronic kidney disease following its use. All of the cases reported are following bowel preparation for colonoscopy. I present a case of acute renal failure following OSP solution given to relieve constipation. This report further highlights the dangers of OSP and the importance of caution and careful monitoring when OSP solution is used as a cathartic, or for bowel preparation before colonoscopy.