bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Experience With Prophylactic Fondaparinux in Critically Ill Patients With Moderate to Severe Renal Impairment or Renal Failure Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy
Authors: Cope Jessica , Bushwitz Jennifer , An Guohua , Antigua Abigail , Patel Anjan , Zumberg Marc
Published: December 2014

Background: Fondaparinux has an increased bleeding risk in patients with a CrCl ≤ 50 mL/min and is contraindicated if CrCl < 30 mL/min. Data regarding dosing and anti-Xa monitoring are lacking in this population. Objective: To describe dosing, monitoring, and safety outcomes of prophylactic fondaparinux in critically ill patients with moderate to severe renal impairment, including renal replacement therapy (RRT). Methods: Retrospective analysis from October 2006 to November 2012 of patients ≥ 18 years old who received fondaparinux for ≥ 72 hours with ≥ 1 dose in an intensive care unit and a CrCl ≤ 50 mL/min or RRT during therapy. Participants were divided into 4 cohorts: moderate impairment (CrCl = 30-50 mL/min), severe impairment (CrCl < 30 mL/min), hemodialysis (HD), or continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH). Outcomes included the incidence of clinically significant bleeding and thromboembolic events. Fondaparinux dose, dosing frequency, and anti-Xa level monitoring are described. Pharmacokinetic modeling was performed to assess drug accumulation. Results: In all, 95 patients met inclusion criteria: 64 (67.4%) with moderate impairment, 10 (10.5%) with severe impairment, 5 (5.3%) with HD, and 16 (16.8%) with CVVH. The median defined daily doses in the moderate, severe, HD, and CVVH cohorts were 2.5, 2.5, 0.9, and 1.9 mg. Anti-Xa monitoring occurred in 19 (20%) patients, although few concentrations were peaks. Clinically significant bleeding occurred in 4 (4.2%) patients. A pharmacokinetic model demonstrated drug accumulation. Conclusions: Empirical dose adjustments may be prudent in critically ill patients with renal dysfunction; however, the optimal fondaparinux dosage in this population remains unknown. Peak anti-Xa concentrations may help guide therapy.
What Do Science Communicators Talk About When They Talk About Science Communications? Engaging With the Engagers
Authors: Cormick Craig , Nielssen Oona , Ashworth Peta , La Salle John , Saab Carol
Published: December 2014

A series of workshops on impediments and solutions to best practice in science communication in Australia not only provided insights into the diversity of the community of practice but also reflected discords between best practice and popular ideas among practitioners.
Navigating Care Transitions
Authors: Hilligoss Brian , Vogus Timothy J.
Published: December 2014

As reforms push for improved integration across the care continuum, managers and policy makers are increasingly concerned about care transitions, such as during shift changes or when moving patients between units or institutions. The authors examined transitions from an emergency department to inpatient units through a 2-year ethnographic study of an academic medical center. Data include 48 semistructured interviews with doctors and administrators and 349 hr of observations of doctors. The authors show that organizational design poses challenges to doctors attempting between-unit care transitions, including heavy reliance on technology, separation of responsibility and control, and misalignment of routines and temporal rhythms. Each challenge threatened doctors’ awareness of the current state of other units and processes. To recover awareness, doctors engaged in time-consuming workarounds. Improved awareness will likely require a mix of interventions, including standardized protocols, work redesign, advanced information technologies specifically designed to enhance awareness, and high-reliability practices, such as safety organizing.
Properties of reformulated hot dog sausage without added nitrites during chilled storage
Authors: Ruiz-Capillas C , Herrero AM , Tahmouzi S , Razavi SH , Triki M , Rodríguez-Salas L , Samcová K , Jiménez-Colmenero F
Published: December 2014

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a complete nitrite replacement strategy using celery, carmine, sodium lactate and orange dietary fibre combined with vitamins C and E, on the quality characteristics (technological, sensorial and safety properties) of hot dog sausages (five samples) during chilled storage (2 ± 1℃ 60 days). Nitrite replacers (combined with vitamins C and E) presented antioxidant activity, reducing lipid oxidation in reformulated samples. At the end of storage redness ( a*) was similar in the control sample (with added nitrite) and in the sample without added nitrite. Sensory evaluation detected no significant difference between samples with and without added nitrite. All the reformulated samples were judged acceptable by the panellists. At the end of storage, the control sample contained more than four times as much residual nitrite as the reformulated samples. Growth of presumptive Clostridium perfringens was not observed in any of the samples. Samples without added nitrite had longer shelf-lives than control sausage. Samples containing 0.1% vitamin C registered the lowest microbiological levels. This strategy could be a good alternative to reduce and/or eliminate added nitrite in hot dog sausages.
Interlingual translation and the transfer of value-infused practices: An in-depth qualitative exploration
Authors: Ciuk Sylwia , James Philip
Published: December 2014

Against the background of a marked lack of studies exploring the role of language and more particularly interlingual translation in the travel of ideas and practices across organisational contexts, this article provides an analysis of an attempt by a group of managers to translate a set of corporate values into Polish from English. The findings reported serve to demonstrate the relevance of such translation processes to the transfer of knowledge and practices within multinationals. By prompting sensemaking around a value-laden text, the studied translation exercise is shown to have encouraged discussions around understandings of local needs and preferred meanings which served to trigger debates and reflections around local identity and affinities with the parent company. In doing so, it provided a ‘situated platform’ through which participants exercised a collective agency aimed at establishing what were perceived to constitute appropriate and productive accommodations between local and extra-local pressures. At the same time, the translation is shown to have been very much shaped by material interests and priorities, notably the performance expectations embedded in the subsidiary’s relationship with its parent. As a result, care needs to be taken not to overstate the role of such translations in facilitating locally driven cultural adaptations.
Younger women’s experiences of deciding against delayed breast reconstruction post-mastectomy following breast cancer: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
Authors: Holland Fiona , Archer Stephanie , Montague Jane
Published: December 2014

Most women do not reconstruct their breast(s) post-mastectomy. The experiences of younger women who maintain this decision, although important to understand, are largely absent in the research literature. This interview-based study uses interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore the experiences of six women, diagnosed with primary breast cancer in their 30s/40s, who decided against delayed reconstruction. Findings reported here focus on one superordinate theme (decision-making) from a larger analysis, illustrating that the women’s drive to survive clearly influenced their initial decision-making process. Their tenacity in maintaining their decision is highlighted, despite non-reconstruction sometimes being presented negatively by medical teams. Patient-centred support recommendations are made.
Airborne bacteria levels in indoor urban environments: The influence of season and prevalence of sick building syndrome (SBS)
Authors: Mentese Sibel , Tasdibi Deniz
Published: December 2014

This study investigated levels of airborne bacteria in 90 indoor sampling sites with no known complaints such as kindergartens, schools, homes and dorms over three seasons. Airborne bacteria samples were collected before and during the heating season in Çanakkale, Turkey. Also, a detailed occupant questionnaire was completed by one of the occupants ( n = 90) in each sampling site. Total bacteria counts (TBCs) were found to be higher in the sampling sites where coal was used as a heating source and in kindergartens where the occupancy rate was highest ( p < 0.05). Meteorological parameters were associated with outdoor TBC levels ( p < 0.001). Associations were found ( p = 0.05) for indoor TBC and other building factors (last floor covering/wall painting/renovation times, heating/cooking fuels and the age of the building). Indoor TBC levels together with the building-related factors (environmental tobacco smoke exposure, occupancy rate, distance to traffic, heating fuel, amount of carpet covering, and last wall painting time) and personal factors (gender and daily time spent indoors) were found to be associated with at least one group of the sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms ( p < 0.05). In particular, general SBS symptoms (headache, fatigue and dizziness) were observed more often in female participants ( p < 0.05). In conclusion, there is a need to conduct more studies in larger populations to find the links between air pollutants and SBS symptoms.
Computational fluid dynamics modeling of combustion in heavy-duty diesel engines
Authors: D’Errico Gianluca , Lucchini Tommaso , Onorati Angelo , Hardy Gilles
Published: December 2014

The design and optimization stages of combustion systems for modern heavy-duty diesel engines must be supported by reliable computational fluid dynamics tools for the definition of the chamber geometry and injection strategy. To be fully predictive in terms of in-cylinder thermodynamics and flame structure, the employed combustion models must account for complex chemistry and turbulence–kinetics interactions. Within this context, the authors have implemented into an open-source code a model based on the multiple representative interactive flamelets approach and applied it to diesel combustion simulations. New numerical techniques were integrated in the proposed multiple representative interactive flamelets model in order to speed up the central processing unit time in integrating chemistry and the β-probability density function of the chemical species to compute composition in the computational fluid dynamics domain. A parallel validation was performed both with constant-volume and heavy-duty diesel engine experiments, selecting similar operating conditions. In such way, both flame structure and heat release rate predictions are analyzed and the model capabilities with respect to its setup and mesh structure are assessed.
The emotional labour of gaining and maintaining access to the field
Authors: Bergman Blix Stina , Wettergren Åsa
Published: December 2014

The role of emotions in qualitative research receives increasing attention. We argue for an active rather than a reactive approach towards emotions to improve the quality of research; emotions are a vital source of information and researchers use emotions strategically. Analysing the emotion work of researchers in the process of gaining, securing and maintaining access to the Swedish judiciary, we propose that the emotion work involved is a type of emotional labour, required by the researcher in order to successfully collect data. The particular case of researching elites is highlighted. Emotional labour is analysed along three dimensions: 1. Strategic emotion work – building trust outwards and self-confidence inwards; 2. Emotional reflexivity – attentiveness to emotional signals monitoring one’s position and actions in the field; and 3. Emotion work to cope with emotive dissonance – inward-directed emotion work to deal with the potentially alienating effects of strategic emotion work.
Introducing a learner response system to pre-service education students: Increasing student engagement
Authors: Campbell Chris , Monk Sue
Published: December 2014

Described in this study is a learner response system (clickers) used with first-year undergraduate students in a small group setting. The aim of the project was to address issues faced by us all as we seek to improve class participation, as well as engage students in lectures and tutorials throughout the course. Data collection for this case study incorporated diary entries by the lecturer and student responses to the use of clickers and reflects both the course coordinator’s journey through the process of introducing this new technology and changing students’ responses as they engage with this technology. The article reports on the positive results particularly in relation to increased potential for clickers to be used as a teaching and learning tool. The significance of this study, however, lies in the recognition that pedagogical approaches need to be taken into consideration when planning for effective use of clickers as a tool for engaging students.
Indigenous identity and environmental governance in Guyana, South America
Authors: Mistry Jayalaxshmi , Berardi Andrea , Tschirhart Céline , Bignante Elisa , Haynes Lakeram , Benjamin Ryan , Albert Grace , Xavier Rebecca , Jafferally Deirdre , de Ville Géraud
Published: December 2014

In an era of increasing access to digital technologies, Indigenous communities are progressively more able to present sophisticated and differentiated narratives in order to maximise their long-term survival. In this article, we explore how Indigenous communities use participatory video and participatory photography as tools of Indigenous media to enhance, adapt and/or reinforce their collective social memory. This social memory is key for identity formation and self-representation, and the ways in which Indigenous representations are performed promote particular interests and worldviews to the local, national and global scales. Working with the Makushi and Wapishana communities of the North Rupununi, Guyana, the current social memory ‘in use’ was surfaced through the participatory video and photography process led by the Indigenous community. Through an iterative process of analysing images (photos and video clips) and text (written material, narration and spoken word), we identified key narratives of the communities’ social memory. We show how communities provide different messages to different actors through the way they use participatory video and participatory photography, revealing how self-conscious multiple identities shape differing purposes. We suggest that our ability, as non-Indigenous stakeholders, to perceive, appreciate and act upon these more complex and nuanced narratives is critical to help address environmental governance in a rapidly changing social–ecological context.
Influence of oxidation on steel fiber yarn and knitted fabric properties
Authors: Barburski Marcin , Lomov Stepan V
Published: December 2014

Fine steel fibers are spun into yarns and then knitted into fabric, which is used, among other applications, as a high resistance separation material in forming of automotive glass. In press bending, the glass sheet is first heated to temperature of about 650℃ and subsequently vacuum pressed on a mold covered by steel fiber knitted fabric. This high temperature changes the surface of fibers by oxidation, which influences mechanical properties of yarn and fabrics. The paper investigates interrelation between change of yarn and fabric properties caused by oxidation. Higher tensile resistance of the oxidized fabric corresponds to higher bending stiffness and higher friction of the oxidized yarn. The change of the fabric biaxial tension behavior influences the optical quality of the formed glass.
Who Am I? Who Are They? The “I” in Italian American
Authors: Reale Michelle
Published: December 2014

This piece troubles my position as an Italian American who does frequent research in Sicily among recently arrived African refugees and the racism and resistance they often meet upon arrival, causing me to constantly negotiating my identity/belonging within a social, political, and cultural context.
Broadcast coverage of Gaddafi's final hours in images and headlines: A brutal lynch or the desired death of a terrorist?
Authors: Karniel Yuval , Lavie-Dinur Amit , Azran Tal
Published: December 2014

Gruesome images of Muammar Gaddafi's assassination were broadcast on international news networks. The display of such images raises significant questions about the way the media cover an individual's death; in this case, an individual who was the leader of a United Nations member country and, at the same time, considered by many to be an enemy and a terrorist. The study examined 1,380 images of Gaddafi's last days, from five international news networks, and found that the Israeli channel displayed the highest number of gruesome images. The article argues that when news networks have a clear political agenda, political considerations may trump adherence to professional ethics.
An arthroscopic-assisted minimal invasive method for the reconstruction of the scapho-lunate ligament using a bone–ligament–bone graft
Authors: Dellarosa N. , Ozben H. , Abate M. , Russomando A. , Petrella G. , Landi A.
Published: December 2014

We report the outcomes of an arthroscopic-assisted minimally invasive technique to reconstruct the scapho-lunate ligament using a bone–ligament–bone graft in 11 patients (11 wrists). The mean follow-up time was 29 months (range 20 to 38). The preoperative mean wrist flexion, extension, grip strength and patient-rated wrist evaluation score values were 61°, 54°, 115 N and 54, respectively. The postoperative mean values were 64°, 58°, 142 N and 15, respectively. There were no statistical differences between the pre- and postoperative wrist flexion and extension, whereas changes in grip strength and patient-rated wrist evaluation score were significant. Scapho-lunate angles decreased significantly from 69° to 60°. Based on our clinical outcomes, this method provides a reliable alterative for the reconstruction of the scapho-lunate ligament in patients with persistent Geissler type 3 and 4 lesions in the short-term.

Level of evidence: IV
Management of invasive candidiasis in nonneutropenic ICU patients
Authors: Weiss Emmanuel , Timsit Jean-François
Published: December 2014

Invasive candidiasis (IC) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among nonneutropenic ICU patients and these life-threatening nosocomial infections require early diagnosis and prompt treatment. However, none of the predictive tools are sufficiently accurate to identify high-risk patients and the potential interest of IC prophylactic, empirical and preemptive treatment in the nonneutropenic ICU population has not yet been demonstrated. In the case of nosocomial severe sepsis after necrotizing pancreatitis or upper digestive anastomotic leakage, early probabilistic antifungals are probably indicated. In the remaining ICU surgical and medical patients, prophylactic and empirical strategies are highly debated because they may promote antifungal selective pressure through an overuse of these molecules. In this context, non-culture-based methods such as mannan or β-D glucan or polymerase chain reaction tests are promising. However, none of these tests used alone in ICU patients is sufficiently accurate to avoid overuse of empirical/preemptive treatment. The interest of strategies associating predictive clinical scores and non-culture-based methods still needs to be demonstrated by well-conducted randomized, controlled trials. While awaiting these studies, we consider that probabilist treatment should be stopped earlier if IC is not proven.
Care coordination for people with complex care needs in the U.S.: A policy analysis
Authors: Martyn Harriet , Davis Karen
Published: December 2014

The U.S. boomer population reaching the age of Medicare eligibility and the rising cost of healthcare are putting pressure on the sustainability of the federal Medicare fund. As a result people over 65 with complex care needs risk spending more out of pocket on their healthcare or becoming eligible for Medicaid as their personal resources are depleted. A number of recent initiatives have been developed to improve coordination of care for Medicare beneficiaries with complex care needs and to address the disjointed provision of care for patients who are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. In order to improve care and reduce the financial burden on patients with complex care needs in the U.S., policy makers must take a system-wide approach, strengthening primary care systems, tackling those at highest risk, increasing care at home and in the community instead of institutions, ensuring better financial protection for patients, and offering healthcare providers financial incentives.
Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Managed Heart Failure Education Project
Authors: Shepherd Megan Riddle , Thomas Dustin , Herald Michael , Adane Eyob D.
Published: December 2014

Background: Recent reimbursement cuts for hospitals with higher 30-day heart failure (HF)-related readmission rates call for means of reducing those readmissions. Objective: To determine if pharmacist-initiated education increases HF knowledge and assess if an increase in HF knowledge decreases HF readmission. Methods: This was a prospective interventional study. Participants were ≥18 years old admitted through the emergency department of a 322-bed community hospital with a diagnosis and/or past medical history of HF. Terminal/palliative care patients, patients residing in an assisted-living environment, or patients with a mental illness that deemed them incapable of participating were excluded. Forty-eight patients received pharmacist-initiated HF education on HF pathophysiology and its pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment. Medication assistance and ancillary services were consulted when necessary. Patients’ knowledge of HF was assessed using the same questionnaire prior to education and through a follow-up phone call within 7 days postdischarge. Results: Posteducation HF knowledge scores were 13.7 points higher than preeducation scores ( P < .05). Twenty-five patients (52%) had HF as a primary discharge diagnosis. Of those patients, 9 (36%) were readmitted within 30 days for any cause. Only 3 patients (12%) had a HF-related diagnosis at readmission. There was a statistical difference in the level of knowledge but that was not translated into a statistical difference in readmission rates. Conclusion: Patients’ HF knowledge scores increased after pharmacist education. Improvements in HF knowledge could not be correlated with readmission rates. However, the majority of HF patients in this study did not have a HF-related diagnosis at the time of readmission.
Influence of uniaxial cold stretching followed by uniaxial hot stretching conditions on crystal transformation and microstructure in extrusion cast and annealed polyvinylidene fluoride porous membranes
Authors: Hu Bing , Cai Qi , Xu Ruijie , Mo Haibin , Chen Changbin , Zhang Feng , Lei Caihong
Published: December 2014

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film samples were prepared by extrusion casting followed by annealing. Then, the samples were uniaxially cold stretched at room temperature, followed by uniaxial hot stretching. The total uniaxial stretching ratio of the samples after cold and hot stretching steps was kept constant at 100%. The influence of hot-stretching temperatures and cold and hot stretching ratios on the crystal transformation and pore structure was investigated using wide-angle X-ray diffraction(WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the stretching-induced β-phase content did not depend on hot stretching temperature and cold and hot stretching ratios. Apparent connecting bridge structure between the separated lamellae was observed at 130℃ stretching temperature and 40% to 60% or 50% to 50% cold and hot stretching ratio. Compared with that induced by cold stretching alone, more connecting bridges were formed and higher β-phase concentration was created by cold stretching followed by hot stretching. During hot stretching, some imperfect chains from main lamellae were stretched and converted to part connecting bridges, and some other imperfect chains were transformed to the β-phase. But, the β-phase content during hot stretching was not related to the extent of connecting structure.
Critical role for thymic CD19+CD5+CD1dhiIL-10+ regulatory B cells in immune homeostasis
Authors: Xing Chen , Ma Ning , Xiao He , Wang Xiaoqian , Zheng Mingke , Han Gencheng , Chen Guojiang , Hou Chunmei , Shen Beifen , Li Yan , Wang Renxi
Published: December 2014

This study tested the hypothesis that besides the spleen, LNs, peripheral blood, and thymus contain a regulatory IL-10-producing CD19+CD5+CD1dhigh B cell subset that may play a critical role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis. Indeed, this population was identified in the murine thymus, and furthermore, when cocultured with CD4+ T cells, this population of B cells supported the maintenance of CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs in vitro, in part, via the CD5–CD72 interaction. Mice homozygous for Cd19Cre (CD19−/−) express B cells with impaired signaling and humoral responses. Strikingly, CD19−/− mice produce fewer CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs and a greater percentage of CD4+CD8− and CD4−CD8+ T cells. Consistent with these results, transfer of thymic CD19+CD5+CD1dhi B cells into CD19−/− mice resulted in significantly up-regulated numbers of CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs with a concomitant reduction in CD4+CD8− and CD4−CD8+ T cell populations in the thymus, spleen, and LNs but not in the BM of recipient mice. In addition, thymic CD19+CD5+CD1dhi B cells significantly suppressed autoimmune responses in lupus-like mice via up-regulation of CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs and IL-10-producing Bregs. This study suggests that thymic CD19+CD5+CD1dhiIL-10+ Bregs play a critical role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis.
Resistance and Change: A Multiple Streams Approach to Understanding Health Policy Making in Ghana
Authors: Kusi-Ampofo Owuraku , Church John , Conteh Charles , Heinmiller B. Timothy
Published: December 2014

Although much has been written on health policy making in developed countries, the same cannot be said of less developed countries, especially in Africa. Drawing largely on available historical and government records, newspaper publications, parliamentary Hansards, and published books and articles, this article uses John W. Kingdon's multiple streams framework to explain how the problem, politics, and policy streams converged for Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to be passed into law in 2003. The article contends that a change in government in the 2000 general election opened a “policy window” for eventual policy change from “cash-and-carry” to the NHIS.
From Coverage to Care: Addressing the Issue of Churn
Authors: Milligan Charles
Published: December 2014

In any given year, a significant number of individuals will move between Medicaid and qualified health plans (QHP). Known as “churn,” this movement could disrupt continuity of health care services, even when no gap in insurance coverage exists. The number of people who churn in any given year is significant, and they often are significant utilizers of health care services. They could experience disruption in care in several ways: (1) changing carrier; (2) changing provider because of network differences; (3) a disruption in ongoing services, even when the benefit is covered in both programs (e.g., surgery that has been authorized but not yet performed; ongoing prescription medications for chronic illness; or some but not all therapy or counseling sessions have been completed); and (4) the loss of coverage for a service that is not a covered benefit in the new program. Many strategies are available to states to reduce the disruption caused by churn. The specific option, intervention, and set of policies in a given state will depend on its context. Policy makers would benefit from an examination and discussion of these issues.
Addressing Medicaid/Marketplace Churn Through Multimarket Plans: Assessing the Current State of Play
Authors: Rosenbaum Sara
Published: December 2014

Both before and after the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the US health insurance system is characterized by fragmentation. Pre-ACA, this fragmentation included major coverage gaps, causing significant periods of coverage interruption, especially for lower-income people. The ACA does not end the problem of churning among sources of public financing, but it does hold the potential for enabling people to move among sources of coverage rather than go without insurance. Several strategies for reducing coverage churn exist, but none is foolproof and all are in their early stages. Thus the ability of issuers to participate across multiple public financing arrangements and to offer stable provider networks becomes crucial to achieving continuity of care. Interviews with nine companies involved in developing or operating multimarket strategies confirm the feasibility of this approach while revealing major challenges, especially the challenge of finding providers willing to treat members regardless of the source of coverage. Strategies for increasing multimarket plans and networks represent one of the great areas of future policy and operational focus.
Thalamic afferents influence cortical progenitors via ephrin A5-EphA4 interactions
Authors: Gerstmann Katrin , Pensold Daniel , Symmank Judit , Khundadze Mukhran , Hübner Christian A. , Bolz Jürgen , Zimmer Geraldine
Published: December 2014

The phenotype of excitatory cerebral cortex neurons is specified at the progenitor level, orchestrated by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Here, we provide evidence for a subcortical contribution to cortical progenitor regulation by thalamic axons via ephrin A5-EphA4 interactions. Ephrin A5 is expressed by thalamic axons and represents a high-affinity ligand for EphA4 receptors detected in cortical precursors. Recombinant ephrin A5-Fc protein, as well as ephrin A ligand-expressing, thalamic axons affect the output of cortical progenitor division in vitro. Ephrin A5-deficient mice show an altered division mode of radial glial cells (RGCs) accompanied by increased numbers of intermediate progenitor cells (IPCs) and an elevated neuronal production for the deep cortical layers at E13.5. In turn, at E16.5 the pool of IPCs is diminished, accompanied by reduced rates of generated neurons destined for the upper cortical layers. This correlates with extended infragranular layers at the expense of superficial cortical layers in adult ephrin A5-deficient and EphA4-deficient mice. We suggest that ephrin A5 ligands imported by invading thalamic axons interact with EphA4-expressing RGCs, thereby contributing to the fine-tuning of IPC generation and thus the proper neuronal output for cortical layers.
Chondroitin/dermatan 2-O sulfotransferase potentiates Fgf2 induced cell migration
Authors: Nikolovska Katerina , Spillmann Dorothe , Seidler Daniela G.
Published: December 2014

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (Ffg2) is involved in several biological functions. Fgf2 requires glycosaminoglycans, like chondroitin/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS) as co-receptors. CS/DS are linear polysaccharides composed of repeating disaccharide units [-4GlcUAβ1-3-GalNAc-β1-] and [-4IdoUAα1-3-GalNAc-β1-], which can be sulfated. Uronyl 2-O-sulfotransferase (Ust) introduces sulfation at the C2 of IdoUA and GlcUA resulting in over-sulfated units. CHO-K1 cells over-expressing Ust contain significantly more CS/DS 2-O sulfated units, while Ust knock-down abolished CS/DS 2-O sulfation. Structural difference of CS/DS resulted in altered Fgf2 binding and increased p-ERK1/2. As functional consequence of CS/DS 2-O sulfation and altered Fgf2 binding, cell migration and paxillin activation was increased. Inhibition of sulfation, knock-down of Ust and inhibition of FgfR resulted in reduced migration. Similarly, Fgf2 treatment increased migration, which was abolished by Ust knock-down in 3T3 cells. The proteoglycan controlling the CHO migration was syndecan1. Knock-down of Sdc1 in CHO-K1/Ust abolished cell migration. We conclude that the presence of distinctly sulfated CS/DS can tune the Fgf2 effect on cell migration.
Influence of Transient Thermal Response of Solid Wall on Bubble Dynamics in Pool Boiling
Authors: Zhang Liang , Li Zhen-Dong , Li Kai , Li Hui-Xiong , Zhao Jian-Fu
Published: December 2014

Numerical simulation of single bubble pool boiling process including transient thermal response of solid wall is performed using the ghost fluid method and the level set method for the sharp interface representation. The results show that non-physical initial condition in the numerical simulation deeply affects the process of bubble growth, and then multicycle simulation is necessary to eliminate its influence. It is shown by the present results that two nucleate criteria, i.e. constant waiting time and constant nucleate superheat, for determining the appearance time for the subsequent bubble lead to the same quasi-steady process of bubble growth if they are matched with each other. A periodically expanding and receding thermal “hollow” can be observed inside solid wall underneath the growing bubble. The recovery of the temperature on the nucleate site and the thermal boundary layer near the heating surface is influenced by transient heat conduction inside solid wall, which can affect evidently bubble thermal dynamics and heat transfer.
Simulation of an Avalanche in a Fluid with a Soft-Sphere/Immersed Boundary Method Including a Lubrication Force
Authors: Izard Edouard , Bonometti Thomas , Lacaze Laurent
Published: December 2014

The present work aims at reproducing the local dynamics of a dense granular media evolving in a viscous fluid from the grain scale to that of thousands of grains, encountered in environmental multiphase flows. To this end a soft-sphere collision/immersed-boundary method is developed. The methods are validated alone through various standard configurations including static and dynamical situations. Then, simulations of binary wall-particle collisions in a fluid are performed for a wide range of Stokes number ranging in [10−1, 104]. Good agreement with available experimental data is found provided that a local lubrication model is used. Finally, three- dimensional simulations of gravity/shear-driven dense granular flows in a viscous fluid are presented. The results open the way for a parametric study in the parameter space initial aspect ratio-initial packing.
Numerical Study on Bubble Behaviour and Heat Transfer Characteristics of Subcooled Pool Boiling Based on Non-Empirical Boiling and Condensation Model
Authors: Ose Y. , Kunugi T.
Published: December 2014

In this study, the transient three-dimensional numerical simulations based on the MARS (Multi-interface Advection and Reconstruction Solver) with the non-empirical boiling and condensation model have been conducted for isolated boiling bubble behaviour in a subcooled pool. The effects of the wettability on the heating surface for the subcooled bubble departure behaviour were investigated. The numerical results showed in very good agreement with the experimental results. Furthermore, resulting from the wall heat flux evaluation, it was found that the wall heat flux near the contact line at the bottom of the bubble just before the bubble departing from the heating surface increases with increases of the degree of subcooling.
Model for Terrain-Induced Slug Flow for High Viscous Liquids
Authors: Shmueli Andrea , González Diana C. , Parra Abraham A. , Asuaje Miguel A.
Published: December 2014

This paper presents the development and results of a simplified multiphase model for terrain-induced slugging analysis considering the viscosity effect of the liquid phase in the conservation equations. The phenomenon has been successfully modelled with numerical models (Fabre et al. 1990, Sarica et al 1991) that neglect the liquid viscosity effect. The objective of the present study is to clarify its importance in the numerical prediction of the characteristics of severe slugging. The results of the model where compared with experimental data reported in the literature showing a maximum percentage difference of 6% which represents a 7% improvement with respect to the prediction of existing models. The liquid viscosity has an effect on the duration of the severe slugging cycle. The cycle will reduce while the viscosity increases. Additionally, the effect of the riser inclination angle is analyzed showing a mitigation of the severe slugging phenomenon while decreasing the angle
Characterization of Oscillatory Boundary Layer over a Closely Packed Bed of Sediment Particles
Authors: Ghodke Chaitanya D. , Skitka Joseph , Apte Sourabh V.
Published: December 2014

Lack of accurate criteria for onset of incipient motion and sediment pickup function remain two of the biggest hurdles in developing better predictive models for sediment transport. To study pickup and transport of sediment, it is necessary to have a detailed knowledge of the small amplitude oscillatory flow over the sediment layer near the sea bed. Fully resolved direct numerical simulations are performed using fictitious domain approach (Apte & Finn, 2012) to investigate the effect of a sinusoidally oscillating flow field over a rough wall made of regular hexagonal pack of spherical particles. The flow arrangement is similar to the experimental data of Keiller & Sleath (1976). Transitional and turbulent flows at Reδ = 95, 150, 200 (based on the Stokes layer thickness, [Formula: see text] are studied. Turbulent flow is characterized in terms of coherent vortex structures, Reynolds stress variation and PDF distributions. The nature of unsteady hydrodynamic lift forces on sediment grains and their correlation to sweep and burst events is also reported. The dynamics of the oscillatory flow over the sediment bed is used to understand the mechanism of sediment pick-up.
A Quadrature Method of Moments for Polydisperse Flow in Bubble Columns Including Poly-Celerity, Breakup and Coalescence
Authors: Acher Thomas , Dems Patrick , Lenz Stefan , Gobert Christian , Polifke Wolfgang
Published: December 2014

A simulation model for 3D polydisperse bubble column flows in an Eulerian/Eulerian framework is presented. A computationally efficient and numerically stable algorithm is created by making use of quadrature method of moments (QMOM) functionalities, in conjunction with appropriate breakup and coalescence models. To account for size dependent bubble motion, the constituent moments of the bubble size distribution function are transported with individual velocities. Validation of the simulation results against experimental and numerical data of Hansen [1] show the capability of the present model to accurately predict complex gas-liquid flows.
Automatic Sleep Staging using Multi‐dimensional Feature Extraction and Multi‐kernel Fuzzy Support Vector Machine
Authors: Zhang Yanjun , Zhang Xiangmin , Liu Wenhui , Luo Yuxi , Yu Enjia , Zou Keju , Liu Xiaoliang
Published: December 2014

This paper employed the clinical Polysomnographic (PSG) data, mainly including all‐night Electroencephalogram (EEG), Electrooculogram (EOG) and Electromyogram (EMG) signals of subjects, and adopted the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) clinical staging manual as standards to realize automatic sleep staging. Authors extracted eighteen different features of EEG, EOG and EMG in time domains and frequency domains to construct the vectors according to the existing literatures as well as clinical experience. By adopting sleep samples self‐learning, the linear combination of weights and parameters of multiple kernels of the fuzzy support vector machine (FSVM) were learned and the multi‐kernel FSVM (MK‐FSVM) was constructed. The overall agreement between the experts′ scores and the results presented was 82.53%. Compared with previous results, the accuracy of N1 was improved to some extent while the accuracies of other stages were approximate, which well reflected the sleep structure. The staging algorithm proposed in this paper is transparent, and worth further investigation.
Near-Field Explosion Effects on the Behaviour of Reinforced Concrete Columns: A Numerical Investigation
Authors: Abladey Lawrence , Braimah Abass
Published: December 2014

The high incidence of global terrorism and accidental explosions have highlighted the vulnerability of built infrastructure to blast loading. Thus, owners of iconic structures are looking for ways to protect their critical assets from the effects of explosions. Many of the research efforts, in this light, have been devoted to the effects of far-field explosions on structural elements. The effects of near-field explosions on structural elements, especially columns, have not been as widely investigated.

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive research program designed to investigate the effects of near-field explosions on the behaviour of reinforced concrete columns designed and detailed for regions of different levels of seismicity. The numerical study shows that reinforced concrete columns subjected to blast loading from higher explosive charge masses have higher deflections than those subjected to blast loading from lower charge masses, but at the same scaled distance. Also, the effect of closely spaced transverse reinforcement is significant at smaller scaled distances. Thus, reinforced concrete columns designed and detailed for areas of high seismicity have an inherently high blast resistance.
Primeira Ocorrência de Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) no Estado de Sergipe
Authors: Santana Antônio César da Silva , Dantas de Araujo Catarina Zita , Novaes José Rocha Prudente de , Santos Maria da Glória Mendes dos , Santana Waltemir Souza
Published: December 2014

O mosquito Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse), vetor de várias arboviroses, foi registrado pela primeira vez no estado de Sergipe, Brasil, no município de Areia Branca, localizado no centro-leste, nas coordenadas 10°45'29”S e 37°18'45”W e a 36 km da capital Aracaju. A primeira larva de Ae. albopictus foi coletada na 32ª semana epidemiológica de 2011, no Povoado Terra Preta de Cima durante as atividades de Controle de Qualidade do Programa de Controle da Febre Amarela e da Dengue (PCFAD). Mais tarde, na 50ª semana epidemiológica de 2012, foi encontrada mais uma larva de Ae. albopictus, desta vez no Povoado Manilha de Baixo. Em seguida, no Povoado Garangau (10º44'55”S e 37º29'40”W) a 28 km da sede do município de Campo do Brito foram capturadas três larvas e duas pupas de Ae. albopictus durante revisão semanal de amostras do PCFAD, ou seja, na 47ª semana epidemiológica de 2012. Dessa forma, procuramos mostrar a importância do Controle de Qualidade para os Programas de Controle de Endemias nos estados e no Brasil, visando à efetivação de providências rápidas e eficientes para a prevenção e o controle de doenças veiculadas por mosquitos.

First Occurrence of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus in the State of Sergipe, Brazil

Abstract. The mosquito Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse), a vector for several arboviral diseases, was recorded for the first time in the state of Sergipe, Brazil, in the municipality of Areia Branca, located in the central-eastern part of the state at the coordinates 10°45'29"S and 37°18'45"W and 36 km from the state capital, Aracaju. The first larva of Ae. albopictus was collected in the 32nd epidemiological week of 2011, in the settlement of Terra Preta de Cima and was identified systematically in the Central Public Health Laboratory (LACEN-SE) during quality control activities within the yellow fever and dengue control program (PCFAD). In the 50th epidemiological week of 2012, another larva of Ae. albopictus was found, this time in the settlement of Manilha de Baixo. In the neighboring municipality of Campo do Brito, three larvae and two pupae of Ae. Albopictus were found in the settlement of Garangau (10º44'55"S and 37º29'40"W), 28 km from the main center of the municipality. As in the abovementioned records, systematic identification was only made at a late stage, given that the samples from the 47th epidemiological week of 2012 arrived at LACEN/SE in January, 2013. This technical note serves alert public health managers to the importance of quality control for endemic disease control programs, with the aim of effecting rapid and efficient control and prevention measures for mosquito-borne diseases.
CRIAÇÃO DE PODCASTS NO JARDIM DE INFÂNCIA E NO 1.º CICLO DO ENSINO BÁSICO
Authors: Marques Cidália , Reis Pedro
Published: December 2014

O Podcast é uma ferramenta da Web 2.0 que permite a criação de programas de áudio e a sua partilha através da Internet. Quando publicados em blogs ou sítios de comunidades educativas, permite a criação de redes de comunicação e interacção entre criadores e ouvintes. O presente artigo reflecte sobre as potencialidades e as limitações da utilização do podcast no Pré-escolari e no 1.º Cicloii do Ensino Básico a partir da análise de uma experiência realizada com educadores, professores e crianças do Agrupamento Fernando Casimiro Pereira da Silva em Rio Maior, Portugal. A experiência realizada, integrada num processo de investigação acção, envolveu uma fase inicial de formação de professores e educadores, seguida de uma fase intermédia de criação e publicação de podcasts e de uma fase final de avaliação do processo. Como principais resultados destacam-se os impactos da criação de podcasts no reforço da motivação para a leitura e a escrita nos alunos do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico e na melhoria da expressão oral nas crianças do Pré-Escolar.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v18i19.348
A APRENDIZAGEM DO SABER ENSINAR POR ASSISTENTES SOCIAIS NO EXERCÍCIO DA DOCÊNCIA
Authors: Gonçalves Yara Pires
Published: December 2014

O presente artigo trata da aprendizagem do saber ensinar por assistentes sociais, no exercício da docência, no ensino superior, no âmbito curricular e em sua relação com a prática de ensino. Considera o saber ensinar em sua multidimensionalidade (dimensões contextual, humana, lógica, ideológica, ética e pedagógica). Utilizou-se de metodologia de base filosófica dialética, com pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa analítico-descritiva e procedimentos realizados por meio de análise documental, ficha sócio-demográfica, entrevista semi-estruturada e grupo focal. Os resultados apontam que o saber ensinar supõe o saber da profissão e fundamenta-se no saber de experiência. Os assistentes sociais aprendem a ensinar, ensinando. É um processo contínuo, realizado individualmente e na troca de experiências, por meio da interação e da reflexão sobre a ação.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v18i19.352
CIENCIA, IDEOLOGÍA Y REFLEXIÓN: UNA VISIÓN DEL DESARROLLO PROFESIONAL. ESTUDIO DE UN CASO
Authors: Jiménez Vicente Mellado , Vázquez-Bernal Bartolomé , Jiménez-Pérez Roque , Aguado Ana Wamba
Published: December 2014

El presente trabajo se centra en el análisis de las ideologías en el medio educativo y su relación con las concepciones acerca de la construcción de la ciencia. Se incardina en un marco de estudio más amplio al que subyace la noción de complejidad. El trabajo se implementa desde un programa de investigación-acción en el que participan diversos profesores, mostrando en el caso aquí analizado sus reflexiones y enmarcándolo en su desarrollo profesional, así como en la búsqueda de los obstáculos para tal desarrollo. Sólo describimos el caso de una profesora y los resultados muestran, por un lado, la idoneidad de los procesos de innovación curricular en equipo para hacer emerger los condicionantes ideológicos en el medio educativo y, de esa forma, asumirlos y volverlos más complejos y, por otro, la interrelación entre las concepciones iniciales de la profesora sobre la ciencia y tales condicionantes ideológicos.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v19i20.979