bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Helicobacter Pylori Eradication Therapy in both Erosive and Non-erosive Gastritis  A Prospective Study
Authors: Hasan Mohammad Quamrul , Shahin-ul-Islam MM , Mollick Shahidul Hasan , Perveen Irin , Raihan ASMA
Published: February 2014

Background: Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a recognized cause of peptic ulcer and gastritis. Persistence of infection is a definite risk factor for gastric malignancy. Healing of gastritis after eradication of H. pylori reduces the risks of peptic ulcer disease and gastric malignancy. Objectives: To find out the relationship of H. pylori with erosive and nonerosive gastritis, the effect of anti-H. pylori therapy and to compare the effects of anti-H. pylori therapy between two types of gastritis. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was done in the Gastroenterology department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka from June 2008 to May 2009. One hundred eighty dyspeptic patients were enrolled for the study. Patients with gastritis diagnosed by endoscopy underwent rapid urease test (RUT). RUT positive patients were considered to have H. pylori infection and were treated with triple therapy (omeprazole, amoxycillin and metronidiazole) for 14 days. Treatment responses were assessed by clinical history and also by endoscopic biopsy and RUT. Results of endoscopic findings and RUT after treatment were compared with pretreatment status. Results: Seventy patients completed the treatment and finally could be assessed. Endoscopic findings of 70 patients revealed that 56 (80%) patients had erosive gastritis and 14 (20%) patients had nonerosive gastritis. After treatment, 47 (67.1%) lesions became normal, 16 (22.9%) remained erosive and 7 (10%) non-erosive as before. Out of 14 non-erosive diseases, 7 became normal, while out of 56 erosive diseases 40 became normal. The erosive group responded significantly better than the non-erosive group (c2=32.766, p<0.001). Fifty nine (84.3%) patients with gastritis showed negative urease test after treatment. Conclusion: Strong relation between H. pylori infection and gastritis was found. Majority were antral erosive gastritis. Erosive group responded better than non-erosive group. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jemc.v4i1.18063 J Enam Med Col 2014; 4(1): 15-20
Urinary Tract Infection and Drug Susceptibility Pattern in Patients of a Medical College Hospital in Bangladesh
Authors: Khan Rafiul Alam , Karim Md Fazhul
Published: February 2014

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common and frequently encountered serious morbidity that afflicts the tool not only to all segments of human population but also results in increasing antibiotic resistance due to persistence and mismanagement of the ailment. The present study aimed to ascertain the current situation of antimicrobial resistance of urinary tract infection. Objectives: To find out pyuria by direct microscopy, isolation and identification of the organisms by culture and to know the susceptibility pattern of organisms causing urinary tract infection. Materials and Methods: A total of 180 midstream urine samples were subjected to aerobic bacteriologic culture in the department of Microbiology, Coxs Bazar Medical College and 250-bedded Sadar Hospital, Coxs Bazar during the period of March to October 2012. Specimens were collected from hospitalized and outdoor patients of different age and sex groups. All specimens were examined by routine microscopy to find out significant pyuria (>5 pus cells/HPF). Strict aseptic precautions were taken all through the culture system. Results: Out of 180 specimens, 101 (56.11%) culture yielded significant growth of single organism and 79 (43.89%) yielded no growth. The isolated organisms were E. coli 74.26%, Klebsiella species 12.87%, Enterococci 4.95%, Staphylococcus saprophyticus 3.96%, Pseudomonas species 1.98% and Proteus species 1.98%. The highest sensitivity was shown by imipenem (100%) followed by ceftriaxone (65%), azithromycin (65%), ciprofloxacin (60%) and less sensitive to amoxycillin, cotrimoxazole, cephradine and nalidixic acid ranging 1530%. Conclusion: The findings of the present study recommends that UTI should be treated by selective antibiotics obtained from culture and sensitivity test to minimize increasing trend of drug resistance. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jemc.v4i1.18064 J Enam Med Col 2014; 4(1): 21-25
Histological Evidence of Nephroprotective Effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract against Gentamicin Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats
Authors: Shimmi Sadia Choudhury , Jahan Nasim , Baqi Nazmul , Rahman Zaida
Published: February 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jemc.v4i1.18065 J Enam Med Col 2014; 4(1): 26-30
Tragedy in Savar: Management of Victims in Enam Medical College Hospital
Authors: Alamgir Mithun , Parvin Rukhsana , Khan Md Aminul Haque
Published: February 2014

Background: Rana Plaza collapse is the worst and deadliest man-made industrial disaster in the history of garment sector in the world. Around 1200 people died and thousands more were injured. Most of the victims of the disaster were treated in Enam Medical College Hospital (EMCH). We conducted this study to give an overview on the disaster victims and services provided by EMCH. Objective: The study was done to observe the length of time between accident and admission in EMCH, length of time between admission and discharge, to observe the numbers, types and sites of injuries to the victims, medical measures given to the victims and finally to observe the status of the victims at the time of discharge. Materials and Methods: This descriptive type of observational study was carried out among the victims of Rana Plaza tragedy during the period of May to October 2013. All admitted patients in EMCH were included in the study. Purposive nonprobability sampling technique was applied in this research work. Data were collected from the hospital record. After collection, data were manually compiled, edited and analyzed. Results: Among 621 victims treated in different wards, 276 (44.45%) were admitted to the hospital on the day of accident. Among the admitted patients, 255 (41.06%) stayed in the hospital for 1--3 days,133 (21.42%) for 4--7 days and 88 (14.17%) for more than 10 days. Fracture and dislocation were present in 32.70% patients, lacerated injury in 18.20%, abrasion in 15.78%, bruise in 13.53%, incised wound in 15.45% and punctured wound in 4.34% patients. Single injury was present in 56.68% and rest had multiple injuries. Lower limbs were the most (33.01%) affected part of the body followed by head and neck (22.06%), upper limbs (18.52%), thorax (17.55%) and abdomen (8.86%). Two hundred seventy two patients (43.80%) were improved after treatment and 56 (9.02%) were fully cured; 23.83% of the victims were referred to higher medical centers for special measures. Conclusion: The collapse of Rana Plaza has fueled a greater call for reform and safety in garment industry. At the same time, all health care centers should adopt a broad-based approach to disaster-preparedness by providing a framework to ensure a well-coordinated response to mass casualty event. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jemc.v4i1.18066 J Enam Med Col 2014; 4(1): 31-35
Diameter of Renal Corpuscles of Bangladeshi People in Different Age Groups
Authors: Banik Shibani , Aktar Fahima
Published: February 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jemc.v4i1.18067 J Enam Med Col 2014; 4(1): 36-38
Role of Visual Inspection of Cervix with Acetic Acid (VIA) in Detecting Precancerous Lesions of Cervix
Authors: Nessa Kamrun , Nazneen Khadija , Munni Najmin , Laila Runa , Islam Farhana , Akhter Sheikh Rabeya
Published: February 2014

Background: Carcinoma of cervix is the most common malignancy in female and a major public health problem worldwide. It is the leading cause of death from cancer among women in low resource settings. In Bangladesh, mortality rate is high as most of the cases with cervical cancer are diagnosed in advanced stage. World Health Organization considers cervical cancer as a preventable disease as it can be identified in preinvasive stage. Considerable efforts have been given in detection and treatment of the condition all over the world. A number of cervical cancer screening tests are available. Among them, visual inspection of cervix with acetic acid is rational and can be competently performed by physicians with proper training. Objective: To find out the feasibility of the visual inspection of cervix with acetic acid for the detection of the precancerous lesions of the cervix in our country. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional, analytical study was carried out among the patients attending the outpatient department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) who were VIA positive and sent for colposcopy in the colposcopy clinic in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in BSMMU from June to December 2004. Two hundred samples were considered for this study. Results: Out of 200 cases, colposcopically 85% had CIN and invasive lesions, 4% had inflammatory lesions while 11% had normal findings. Colposcopy directed punch biopsy revealed positive lesions in 81%, 4% had inflammatory lesions while 15% had normal findings. Conclusion: The study concluded that VIA and colposcopy are the important methods in the evaluation of cervical premalignancy. VIA may be an important tool for screening of cervical cancer in low resource settings as it is simple, easy to perform and cost-effective. After screening, VIA positive cases must be referred for colposcopic evaluation. We can screen cervical cancer by VIA all over the country and thus reduce morbidity and mortality rate. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jemc.v4i1.18068 J Enam Med Col 2014; 4(1): 39-44
Primary Nongestational Choriocarcinoma of the Ovary
Authors: Alam AMM Shariful , Bhuiyan Syeda Nurjahan , Nabi Md Rashid Un
Published: February 2014

Pure primary ovarian choriocarcinoma is an extremely rare and aggressive tumor. It can be of gestational or nongestational in origin. The gestational type can arise from an ovarian pregnancy or can be of metastatic origin from uterine choriocarcinoma. The nongestational type is a very rare germ cell neoplasm. It is important to distinguish between two types of choriocarcinomas as nongestational origin is highly malignant and has worse prognosis than gestational type. But it is very difficult to differentiate by routine histological examination. Nongestational choriocarcinoma has been found to be resistant to single agent chemotherapy. It occurs usually around 13 years of age and is mainly confined to females under 20. Here we report a case of primary pure nongestational choriocarcinoma of the ovary in an unmarried girl of 14 years, diagnosed in 2001 and treated successfully with surgery and combination chemotherapy and remained disease-free till last reporting in September 2013. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jemc.v4i1.18070 J Enam Med Col 2014; 4(1): 56-59
Congentital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation in a Two-Month-Old Infant
Authors: Jahan Ishrat
Published: February 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jemc.v4i1.18072 J Enam Med Col 2014; 4(1): 65-66
College News Vol.4(1)
Authors: Khan Md Aminul Haque , Parvin Rukhsana
Published: February 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jemc.v4i1.18073 J Enam Med Col 2014; 4(1): 67
Orhan Pamuk and the Limits of Translation: Foreignizing The Black Book for World Literature
Authors: Mattar Karim
Published: February 2014

This article questions the often all-too-readily adduced arguments and methodologies of translation theory with reference to the English translations of Orhan Pamuk's novel The Black Book as exemplary case studies. It argues that domestication and foreignization are problematic as linguistic categories. It then seeks to rework such intuitively forceful terms for a sociology of translation, suggesting that they regain their coherence when directed towards questions of reception. The reception of The Black Book in English translation has been dominated by domesticating readings that minimize or neglect Pamuk's engagement with local history in favour of stock categorizations of the novel in terms of postmodernism. Against such readings, a ‘foreignizing reading strategy’ is proposed, one that seeks to restore to interpretation something of Pamuk's engagement with the local, especially his treatment of Sufism and Hurufism. Translation theory, it is urged, can be more effectively and universally applied in literary studies when directed towards literary sociology rather than linguistic comparison.
Development and Improvement of an Intelligent Cable Monitoring System for Underground Distribution Networks Using Distributed Temperature Sensing
Authors: Cho Jintae , Kim Jae-Han , Lee Hak-Ju , Kim Ju-Yong , Song Il-Keun , Choi Joon-Ho
Published: February 2014

With power systems switching to smart grids, real-time and on-line monitoring technologies for underground distribution power cables have become a priority. Most distribution components have been developed with self-diagnostic sensors to realize self-healing, one of the smart grid functions in a distribution network. Nonetheless, implementing a real-time and on-line monitoring system for underground distribution cables has been difficult because of high cost and low sensitivity. Nowadays, optical fiber composite power cables (OFCPCs) are being considered for communication and power delivery to cope with the increasing communication load in a distribution network. Therefore, the application of distributed temperature sensing (DTS) technology on OFCPCs used as underground distribution lines is studied for the real-time and on-line monitoring of the underground distribution power cables. Faults can be reduced and operating ampacity of the underground distribution system can be increased. This paper presents the development and improvement of an intelligent cable monitoring system for the underground distribution power system, using DTS technology and OFCPCs as the underground distribution lines in the field.
Mapping Fusiform Rust Resistance Genes within a Complex Mating Design of Loblolly Pine
Authors: Quesada Tania , Resende Jr. Marcio , Muñoz Patricio , Wegrzyn Jill , Neale David , Kirst Matias , Peter Gary , Gezan Salvador , Nelson C. , Davis John
Published: February 2014

Fusiform rust resistance can involve gene-for-gene interactions where resistance (Fr) genes in the host interact with corresponding avirulence genes in the pathogen, Cronartium quercuum f.sp. fusiforme (Cqf). Here, we identify trees with Fr genes in a loblolly pine population derived from a complex mating design challenged with two Cqf inocula (one gall and 10 gall mixtures). We used single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes at sufficient density to ensure linkage between segregating markers and Fr genes identifying SNPs that explained high proportions of variance in disease incidence using BayesCp, that also were significant using Bayesian Association with Missing Data (BAMD) software. Two SNPs mapped near Fr1 and generated significant LOD scores in single marker regression analyses for Fr1/fr1 parent 17 as well as four other parents. One SNP mapped near Fr8 and was significant for parent 28. Two SNPs mapped to linkage groups not previously shown to contain Fr genes and were significant for three parents. Parent 2 showed evidence of Fr gene stacking. Our results suggest that it is feasible to identify trees segregating for Fr genes, and to map Fr genes, based on parental analysis of SNPs that cosegregate with disease incidence in designed resistance screening trials.
Assessing the Feasibility of Low-Density LiDAR for Stand Inventory Attribute Predictions in Complex and Managed Forests of Northern Maine, USA
Authors: Hayashi Rei , Weiskittel Aaron , Sader Steven
Published: February 2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability of using a low-density (1–3 points m−2) discrete-return LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) for predicting maximum tree height, stem density, basal area, quadratic mean diameter and total volume. The research was conducted at the Penobscot Experimental Forest in central Maine, where a range of stand structures and species composition is present and generally representative of northern Maine’s forests. Prediction models were developed utilizing the random forest algorithm that was calibrated using reference data collected in fixed radius circular plots. For comparison, the volume model used two sets of reference data, with one being fixed radius circular plots and the other variable radius plots. Prediction biases were evaluated with respect to five silvicultural treatments and softwood species composition based on the coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error and mean bias, as well as residual scatter plots. Overall, this study found that LiDAR tended to underestimate maximum tree height and volume. The maximum tree height and volume models had R2 values of 86.9% and 72.1%, respectively. The accuracy of volume prediction was also sensitive to the plot type used. While it was difficult to develop models with a high R2, due to the complexities of Maine’s forest structures and species composition, the results suggest that low density LiDAR can be used as a supporting tool in forest management for this region.
Multi-Functional Magnetic Photoluminescent Photocatalytic Polystyrene-Based Micro- and Nano-Fibers Obtained by Electrospinning
Authors: Schaer Michel , Crittin Mireille , Kasmi Lamia , Pierzchala Katarzyna , Calderone Caroline , Digigow Reinaldo , Fink Alke , Forró László , Sienkiewicz Andrzej
Published: February 2014

This work reports on the implementation of electrospinning (ES) as a facile route to encapsulate nano-engineered materials in a polystyrene (PS) matrix. We applied ES to co-encapsulate two kinds of nanoparticles, i.e., upconversion nanophosphors (UCNPs) and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), in polystyrene (PS)-based micro- and nano-fibers (PSFs). This approach made it possible to integrate near-infrared (NIR) light-sensitive 500-nm β-NaYF4:Yb, Er UCNPs with 10-nm γ-Fe2O3 SPIONs in PS fibers. During the ES process, PSFs were additionally loaded with a well-established singlet oxygen (1∆g) photosensitizer, rose bengal (RB). The thus obtained PSFs revealed the promising features of prospective multi-functional magnetic photoluminescent photocatalytic nano-constructs.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of the Journal of Clinical Medicine in 2013
Authors: Journal of Clinical Medicine Editorial Office
Published: February 2014

The editors of the Journal of Clinical Medicine would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2013. [...]
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of the Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks in 2013
Authors: Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks Editorial Office
Published: February 2014

The editors of the Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2013. [...]
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Marine Drugs in 2013
Authors: Marine Drugs Editorial Office
Published: February 2014

The editors of Marine Drugs would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2013 [...]
Nanocomposites for Improved Physical Durability of Porous PVDF Membranes
Authors: Lai Chi , Groth Andrew , Gray Stephen , Duke Mikel
Published: February 2014

Current commercial polymer membranes have shown high performance and durability in water treatment, converting poor quality waters to higher quality suitable for drinking, agriculture and recycling. However, to extend the treatment into more challenging water sources containing abrasive particles, micro and ultrafiltration membranes with enhanced physical durability are highly desirable. This review summarises the current limits of the existing polymeric membranes to treat harsh water sources, followed by the development of nanocomposite poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes for improved physical durability. Various types of nanofillers including nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes (CNT) and nanoclays were evaluated for their effect on flux, fouling resistance, mechanical strength and abrasion resistance on PVDF membranes. The mechanisms of abrasive wear and how the more durable materials provide resistance was also explored.
Inhibition of Human Cytochrome P450 Enzymes by Bacopa monnieri Standardized Extract and Constituents
Authors: Ramasamy Seetha , Kiew Lik , Chung Lip
Published: February 2014

Bacopa monnieri and the constituents of this plant, especially bacosides, possess various neuropharmacological properties. Like drugs, some herbal extracts and the constituents of their extracts alter cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, causing potential herb-drug interactions. The effects of Bacopa monnieri standardized extract and the bacosides from the extract on five major CYP isoforms in vitro were analyzed using a luminescent CYP recombinant human enzyme assay. B. monnieri extract exhibited non-competitive inhibition of CYP2C19 (IC50/Ki = 23.67/9.5 µg/mL), CYP2C9 (36.49/12.5 µg/mL), CYP1A2 (52.20/25.1 µg/mL); competitive inhibition of CYP3A4 (83.95/14.5 µg/mL) and weak inhibition of CYP2D6 (IC50 = 2061.50 µg/mL). However, the bacosides showed negligible inhibition of the same isoforms. B. monnieri, which is orally administered, has a higher concentration in the gut than the liver; therefore, this herb could exhibit stronger inhibition of intestinal CYPs than hepatic CYPs. At an estimated gut concentration of 600 µg/mL (based on a daily dosage of 300 mg/day), B. monnieri reduced the catalytic activities of CYP3A4, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 to less than 10% compared to the total activity (without inhibitor = 100%). These findings suggest that B. monnieri extract could contribute to herb-drug interactions when orally co-administered with drugs metabolized by CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19.
Three New Tetranorditerpenes from Aerial Parts of Acerola Cherry (Malpighia emarginata)
Authors: Liu Jie-Qing , Deng Yuan-Yuan , Li Ting-Zhao , Han Qiang , Li Yan , Qiu Ming-Hua
Published: February 2014

Acerola cherry is a world famous fruit which contains abundant antioxidants such as vitamin C, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolics. However, studies concerning bioactivity components from aerial parts of acerola (Malpighia emarginata) are scarce. In view of this, we have examined the constituents of aerial parts of acerola, and three new tetranorditerpenes acerolanins A–C (1–3) with a rare 2H-benz[e]inden-2-one substructure were isolated. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral studies and acerolanin C was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Furthermore, three new compounds have been studied for their cytotoxic activity.
GIS-Based Roughness Derivation for Flood Simulations: A Comparison of Orthophotos, LiDAR and Crowdsourced Geodata
Authors: Dorn Helen , Vetter Michael , Höfle Bernhard
Published: February 2014

Natural disasters like floods are a worldwide phenomenon and a serious threat to mankind. Flood simulations are applications of disaster control, which are used for the development of appropriate flood protection. Adequate simulations require not only the geometry but also the roughness of the Earth’s surface, as well as the roughness of the objects hereon. Usually, the floodplain roughness is based on land use/land cover maps derived from orthophotos. This study analyses the applicability of roughness map derivation approaches for flood simulations based on different datasets: orthophotos, LiDAR data, official land use data, OpenStreetMap data and CORINE Land Cover data. Object-based image analysis is applied to orthophotos and LiDAR raster data in order to generate land cover maps, which enable a roughness parameterization. The vertical vegetation structure within the LiDAR point cloud is used to derive an additional floodplain roughness map. Further roughness maps are derived from official land use data, OpenStreetMap and CORINE Land Cover datasets. Six different flood simulations are applied based on one elevation data but with the different roughness maps. The results of the hydrodynamic–numerical models include information on flow velocity and water depth from which the additional attribute flood intensity is calculated of. The results based on roughness maps derived from LiDAR data and OpenStreetMap data are comparable, whereas the results of the other datasets differ significantly.
Pathlength Determination for Gas in Scattering Media Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Mei Liang , Somesfalean Gabriel , Svanberg Sune
Published: February 2014

Gas in scattering media absorption spectroscopy (GASMAS) has been extensively studied and applied during recent years in, e.g., food packaging, human sinus monitoring, gas diffusion studies, and pharmaceutical tablet characterization. The focus has been on the evaluation of the gas absorption pathlength in porous media, which a priori is unknown due to heavy light scattering. In this paper, three different approaches are summarized. One possibility is to simultaneously monitor another gas with known concentration (e.g., water vapor), the pathlength of which can then be obtained and used for the target gas (e.g., oxygen) to retrieve its concentration. The second approach is to measure the mean optical pathlength or physical pathlength with other methods, including time-of-flight spectroscopy, frequency-modulated light scattering interferometry and the frequency domain photon migration method. By utilizing these methods, an average concentration can be obtained and the porosities of the material are studied. The last method retrieves the gas concentration without knowing its pathlength by analyzing the gas absorption line shape, which depends upon the concentration of buffer gases due to intermolecular collisions. The pathlength enhancement effect due to multiple scattering enables also the use of porous media as multipass gas cells for trace gas monitoring. All these efforts open up a multitude of different applications for the GASMAS technique.
Organizational Learning in Health Care Organizations
Authors: Ratnapalan Savithiri , Uleryk Elizabeth
Published: February 2014

The process of collective education in an organization that has the capacity to impact an organization’s operations, performance and outcomes is called organizational learning. In health care organizations, patient care is provided through one or more visible and invisible teams. These teams are composed of experts and novices from diverse backgrounds working together to provide coordinated care. The number of teams involved in providing care and the possibility of breakdowns in communication and coordinated care increases in direct proportion to sophisticated technology and treatment strategies of complex disease processes. Safe patient care is facilitated by individual professional learning; inter-professional team learning and system based organizational learning, which encompass modified context specific learning by multiple teams and team members in a health care organization. Organizational learning in health care systems is central to managing the learning requirements in complex interconnected dynamic systems where all have to know common background knowledge along with shared meta-knowledge of roles and responsibilities to execute their assigned functions, communicate and transfer the flow of pertinent information and collectively provide safe patient care. Organizational learning in health care is not a onetime intervention, but a continuing organizational phenomenon that occurs through formal and informal learning which has reciprocal association with organizational change. As such, organizational changes elicit organizational learning and organizational learning implements new knowledge and practices to create organizational changes.
Evaluating Water Management Practice for Sustainable Mining
Authors: Zhang Xiangfeng , Gao Lei , Barrett Damian , Chen Yun
Published: February 2014

To move towards sustainable development, the mining industry needs to identify better mine water management practices for reducing raw water use, increasing water use efficiency, and eliminating environmental impacts in a precondition of securing mining production. However, the selection of optimal mine water management practices is technically challenging due to the lack of scientific tools to comprehensively evaluate management options against a set of conflicting criteria. This work has provided a solution to aid the identification of more sustainable mine water management practices. The solution includes a conceptual framework for forming a decision hierarchy; an evaluation method for assessing mine water management practices; and a sensitivity analysis in view of different preferences of stakeholders or managers. The solution is applied to a case study of the evaluation of sustainable water management practices in 16 mines located in the Bowen Basin in Queensland, Australia. The evaluation results illustrate the usefulness of the proposed solution. A sensitivity analysis is performed according to preference weights of stakeholders or managers. Some measures are provided for assessing sensitivity of strategy ranking outcomes if the weight of an indicator changes. Finally, some advice is given to improve the mine water management in some mines.
An examination of transaction interdependency: a perspective in the animal health and nutrition industrial system
Authors: Harris K.D. , James Jr. H.S.
Published: February 2014

The research examining bioscience networks has been studied from two perspectives. One view comes from economics and the other sociology. We examine the technical (material flows) and people aspects (information sharing) of interdependency in the context of economic exchanges in a bioscience network. The empirical contributions are the techniques used to explain the network structure of a burgeoning animal health and nutrition bioscience network and the portability of network analysis concepts that provides the potential to manage diverse business networks. The results suggest the economic exchanges can be traced back to the underlying interactions that safeguard transactions and influence the flow of resources and information.
Portable Subcutaneous Vein Imaging System
Authors: Sravani S. N. , Naqvi Sumbul Zahra , Sriraam N. , Mansoor Manam , Badshah Imran , Saleem Mohammed , Kumaravelu G.
Published: February 2014

In medical domain, the identification and detection of veins is necessary for certain clinical procedures such as venipuncture and intra-venous applications. Vein imaging is also essential for diagnosis of vascular diseases. The current existing modalities for Vein Imaging are highly expensive and bulky. Thus a portable, cost-efficient Vein imaging system is proposed in this paper to view and locate subcutaneous veins. The system comprises of an IR Camera which has been fabricated with NIR LED’s of 880nm wavelength. The NIR LED’s are used as they provide better contrast and visibility of veins in the images at 880nm wavelength compared to other IR LED’s. Real time imaging of veins is acquired, processed using a program written in computer vision and displayed on the Laptop. Screenshot of vein images obtained are assessed through a pilot study for 96 subjects based on age, gender and complexion using the Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software. The vein images obtained are clinically validated by doctors. It can be concluded that the proposed system found to be useful for real-time clinical procedures.
A Lifetime Forecast Scheme for a Distributed Low Duty Cycle Multi-Hop Routing in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Stecklina Oliver , Langendörfer Peter , Goltz Christian
Published: February 2014

Wireless sensor nodes become more and more attractive for a broad variety of application scenarios. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) can be easily deployed and they require by design low maintenance effort. But running installations are still rare, because real world requirements and environmental conditions are even today a big challenge. Especially in multi-hop networks a minimum lifetime of several years cannot be achieved globally. In this paper, the authors present a Distributed Low Duty Cycle (DLDC) based Multi-Hop Routing (MHR) protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks guaranteeing a minimum network lifetime. The authors introduce a forecast scheme to calculate the expected life of a node with a minimal effort. The authors are convinced that by using a forecast scheme the network topology and the used protocols can be easily optimized before deploying the network. The authors evaluated their forecast scheme by measuring real sensor node parameters and simulating an example network in the Castalia simulation framework. The authors demonstrated that by using the proposed scheme an energy consumption forecast with a deviation of less than three per cent can be achieved.
An Adaptive Magnetic Field Source for Magnetic Drug Fixation
Authors: Morega Alexandru Mihail , Savastru Cristina , Morega Mihaela
Published: February 2014

Magnetic drug targeting (MDT) therapy is usually controlled through the magnetic field produced by a permanent magnet; the solution proposed and assessed here considers a planar spiral coil (PSC) or a system of such coils, as an equally effective magnetic field source. The PSC may be designed to provide proper configurations of the magnetic field gradients, required for the generation of high magnetic body forces and to limit, in the same time, unwanted side effects affecting adjacent tissue (heating, excitable tissue stimulation). Simplified numerical models (2D projections) and more realistic structures (3D representations) are shown and analyzed in the paper; the electromagnetic and heat transfer problems are solved for different powering schemes applied to the coils.
Trust Based Interdependency Weighting for On-Line Risk Monitoring in Interdependent Critical Infrastructures
Authors: Caldeira Filipe , Schaberreiter Thomas , Varrette Sébastien , Monteiro Edmundo , Simões Paulo , Bouvry Pascal , Khadraoui Djamel
Published: February 2014

Critical infrastructure (CI) services are constantly consumed by the society and are not expected to fail. A common definition states that CIs are so vital to our society that a disruption would have a severe impact on both the society and the economy. CI sectors include, amongst others, electricity, telecommunication and transport. CIs can be mutually dependent on each others services and a failure in one of these elements can cascade to another (inter)dependent CI. CI security modelling was introduced in previous work to enable on-line risk monitoring in CIs that depend on each other by exchanging risk alerts expressed in terms of a breach of Confidentiality, a breach of Integrity and degrading Availability (C,I,A). While generally providing a solid basis for risk monitoring, there is no way of evaluating if a risk alert received from an external CI is accurate. In this paper the authors propose a solution to this problem by adding a trust based component to the CI security model in order to improve its accuracy and resilience to inconsistent or inaccurate risk alerts provided by (inter)dependent CIs, allowing to evaluate the correctness of the received alerts. The proposed approach is validated on a realistic scenario by evaluating a dependency between the computing and the telecommunication sectors in the context of the Grid'5000 platform.
The Relationship Among Foot Posture, Core and Lower Extremity Muscle Function, and Postural Stability
Authors: Cobb Stephen C. , Bazett-Jones David M. , Joshi Mukta N. , Earl-Boehm Jennifer E. , James C. Roger
Published: February 2014

Context:

Identification of impaired balance as a risk factor for lower extremity injury regardless of injury history has led to subsequent investigation of variables that may adversely affect balance in healthy individuals.

Objectives:

To investigate the relationship among core and lower extremity muscle function, foot posture, and balance.

Design:

Descriptive laboratory study.

Setting:

Musculoskeletal injury biomechanics laboratory.

Patients or Other Participants:

A total of 108 individuals (40 men, 68 women; age = 22.8 ± 4.7 years, height = 168.5 ± 10.4 cm, mass = 69.9 ± 13.3 kg) participated in the study.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Core endurance was assessed during 1 time-to-failure trial, and isometric hip and ankle strength were assessed using a handheld dynamometer and isokinetic dynamometer, respectively. Foot structure was quantified using the digital photographic measurement method. Single-limb–stance time to boundary was assessed using a force plate during an eyes-closed condition. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to predict balance using lower extremity strength, foot posture, and core endurance.

Results:

Foot posture (β = −0.22, P = .03) and ankle-inversion strength (β = −0.29, P = .006) predicted mediolateral balance. Increasing arch posture and ankle-inversion strength were associated with decreased mediolateral single-limb–stance balance.

Conclusions:

Increasing arch height was associated with decreased mediolateral control of single-limb stance. The relationship between time to boundary and injury risk, however, has not been explored. Therefore, the relationship between increasing arch height and injury due to postural instability cannot be determined from this study. If authors of future prospective studies identify a relationship between decreased time to boundary and increased injury risk, foot structure may be an important variable to assess during preparticipation physical examinations. The relationship between increasing ankle-inversion strength and decreased balance may require additional study to further elucidate the relationship between ankle strength and balance.
Bilateral Improvements in Lower Extremity Function After Unilateral Balance Training in Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability
Authors: Hale Sheri A. , Fergus Andrea , Axmacher Rachel , Kiser Kimberly
Published: February 2014

Context:

Bilateral improvements in postural control have been reported among individuals with acute lateral ankle sprains and individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) when only the unstable ankle is rehabilitated. We do not know if training the stable ankle will improve function on the unstable side.

Objective:

To explore the effects of a unilateral balance-training program on bilateral lower extremity balance and function in individuals with CAI when only the stable limb is trained.

Design:

Cohort study.

Setting:

University clinical research laboratory.

Patients or Other Participants:

A total of 34 volunteers (8 men, 26 women; age = 24.32 ± 4.95 years, height = 167.01 ± 9.45 cm, mass = 77.54 ± 23.76 kg) with CAI were assigned to the rehabilitation (n = 17) or control (n = 17) group. Of those, 27 (13 rehabilitation group, 14 control group) completed the study.

Intervention(s):

Balance training twice weekly for 4 weeks.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI), FADI Sport (FADI-S), Star Excursion Balance Test, and Balance Error Scoring System.

Results:

The rehabilitation and control groups differed in changes in FADI-S and Star Excursion Balance Test scores over time. Only the rehabilitation group improved in the FADI-S and in the posteromedial and anterior reaches of the Star Excursion Balance Test. Both groups demonstrated improvements in posterolateral reach; however, the rehabilitation group demonstrated greater improvement than the control group. When the groups were combined, participants reported improvements in FADI and FADI-S scores for the unstable ankle but not the stable ankle.

Conclusions:

Our data suggest training the stable ankle may result in improvements in balance and lower extremity function in the unstable ankle. This further supports the existence of a centrally mediated mechanism in the development of postural-control deficits after injury, as well as improved postural control after rehabilitation.
Fatigue-Induced Balance Impairment in Young Soccer Players
Authors: Pau Massimiliano , Ibba Gianfranco , Attene Giuseppe
Published: February 2014

Context:

Although balance is generally recognized to be an important feature in ensuring good performance in soccer, its link with functional performance remains mostly unexplored, especially in young athletes.

Objective:

To investigate changes in balance induced by fatigue for unipedal and bipedal static stances in young soccer players.

Design:

Crossover study.

Setting:

Biomechanics laboratory and outdoor soccer field.

Patients or Other Participants:

Twenty-one male soccer players (age = 14.5 ± 0.2 years, height = 164.5 ± 5.6 cm, mass = 56.8 ± 6.8 kg).

Intervention(s):

Static balance was assessed with postural-sway analysis in unipedal and bipedal upright stance before and after a fatigue protocol consisting of a repeated sprint ability (RSA) test (2 × 15-m shuttle sprint interspersed with 20 seconds of passive recovery, repeated 6 times).

Main Outcome Measure(s):

On the basis of the center-of-pressure (COP) time series acquired during the experimental tests, we measured sway area, COP path length, and COP maximum displacement and velocity in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions.

Results:

Fatigue increased all sway values in bipedal stance and all values except COP velocity in the mediolateral direction in unipedal stance. Fatigue index (calculated on the basis of RSA performance) was positively correlated with fatigue/rest sway ratio for COP path length and COP velocity in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions for nondominant single-legged stance.

Conclusions:

Fatigued players exhibited reduced performance of the postural-control system. Participants with better performance in the RSA test appeared less affected by balance impairment, especially in single-legged stance.
African primary care research: Reviewing the literature
Authors: Ross Andrew , Mash Bob
Published: February 2014

This is the second article in the series on African primary care research. The article focuses on how to search for relevant evidence in the published literature that can be used in the development of a research proposal. The article addresses the style of writing required and the nature of the arguments for the social and scientific value of the proposed study, as well as the use of literature in conceptual frameworks and in the methods. Finally, the article looks athow to keep track of the literature used and to reference it appropriately.
A Proposal to Unify the Classification of Breast and Prostate Cancers Based on the Anatomic Site of Cancer Origin and on Long-term Patient Outcome
Authors: Tabár László , Dean Peter B. , Yen Amy M.-F. , Tarján Miklós , Chiu Sherry Y.-H. , Chen Sam L.-S. , Fann Jean C.-Y. , Chen Tony H.-H.
Published: February 2014

The similarity between the structure and function of the breast and prostate has been known for a long time, but there are serious discrepancies in the terminology describing breast and prostate cancers. The use of the large, thick-section (3D) histology technique for both organs exposes the irrationality of the breast cancer terminology. Pathologists with expertise in diagnosing prostate cancer take the anatomic site of cancer origin into account when using the terms AAP (acinar adenocarcinoma of the prostate) and DAP (ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate) to distinguish between the prostate cancers originating primarily from the fluid-producing acinar portion of the organ (AAP) and the tumors originating either purely from the larger ducts (DAP) or from both the acini and the main ducts combined (DAP and AAP). Long-term patient outcome is closely correlated with the terminology, because patients with DAP have a significantly poorer prognosis than patients with AAP.

The current breast cancer terminology could be improved by modeling it after the method of classifying prostate cancer to reflect the anatomic site of breast cancer origin and the patient outcome. The long-term survival curves of our consecutive breast cancer cases collected since 1977 clearly show that the non-palpable, screen-detected breast cancers originating from the milk-producing acini have excellent prognosis, irrespective of their histologic malignancy grade or biomarkers. Correspondingly, the breast cancer subtypes of truly ductal origin have a significantly poorer outcome, despite recent improvements in diagnosis and therapy. The mammographic appearance of breast cancers reflects the underlying tissue structure. Addition of these “mammographic tumor features” to the currently used histologic phenotypes makes it possible to distinguish the breast cancer cases of ductal origin with a poor outcome, termed DAB (ductal adenocarcinoma of the breast), from the more easily managed breast cancers of acinar origin, termed AAB (acinar adenocarcinoma of the breast), which have a significantly better outcome. This simple and easily communicable terminology could lead to better communication between the diagnostic and therapeutic team members and result in more rational treatment planning for the benefit of their patients.
Phylogenetic Relationships of Some Filamentous Cyanoprokaryotic Species
Authors: Stoyanov Plamen , Moten Dzhemal , Mladenov Rumen , Dzhambazov Balik , Teneva Ivanka
Published: February 2014

The polyphasic approach is the most progressive system that has been suggested for distinguishing and phylogenetically classifying Cyanoprokaryota (Cyanobacteria/Cyanophyta). Several oscillatorialean genera ( Lyngbya, Phormidium, Plectonema, and Leptolyngbya) have problematic phylogenetic position and taxonomic state because of their heterogeneity and polyphyletic nature. To accurately resolve the phylogenetic relationship of some filamentous species ( Nodosilinea bijugata, Phormidium molle, Phormidium papyraceum), we have performed phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene and the phycocyanin Operon (PC-IGS) by using maximum-likelihood (ML) tree inference methods. These analyses were combined with morphological re-evaluation. Our phylogenetic analyses support the taxonomic separation of genus Nodosilinea from the polyphyletic genus Leptolyngbya. Investigated Nodosilinea strains always formed a coherent genetic cluster supported with a high bootstrap value. The molecular phylogeny confirmed also the monophyly of the Wilmottia group. In addition, data reveal that although P. papyraceum is morphologically similar to Wilmottia murrayi, this species is genetically distinct. Strains from the newly formed genus Phormidesmis and some Phormidium priestleyi strains were clustered in a separate clade different from the typical Phormidium species, but without strong bootstrap support.
Impact of Rainfall on Diarrheal Disease Risk Associated with Unimproved Water and Sanitation
Authors: Bhavnani Darlene , Goldstick Jason E. , Cevallos William , Trueba Gabriel , Eisenberg Joseph N. S.
Published: February 2014

Diarrheal disease remains a leading cause of morbidity in areas with limited access to safe water and sanitation. As water and sanitation interventions continue to be implemented, it will be important to understand the ecological context in which they can prevent diarrhea. We conducted six serial case control studies in Ecuador to estimate the risk of diarrhea from unimproved water and sanitation and the potential for effect modification by rainfall. Unimproved water source and unimproved sanitation increased the adjusted odds of diarrhea (odds ratio [OR] = 3.6, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.7–7.8 and OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.2–2.5, respectively). The OR associated with an unimproved water source was highest after maximum rainfall (OR = 6.8, 95% CI = 1.9–24.5), whereas the OR associated with unimproved sanitation was highest after minimal rainfall (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.3–6.6). Our finding that use of safe water sources and improved sanitation facilities are most protective under opposing rainfall conditions highlights the need for integrated interventions to reduce the burden of diarrheal disease.