bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optical Trapping of Nanoparticles by Ultrashort Laser Pulses
Authors: Usman Anwar , Chiang Wei-Yi , Masuhara Hiroshi
Published: March 2013

Optical trapping with continuous-wave lasers has been a fascinating field in the optical manipulation. It has become a powerful tool for manipulating micrometer-sized objects, and has been widely applied in physics, chemistry, biology, material, and colloidal science. Replacing the continuous-wave- with pulsed-mode laser in optical trapping has already revealed some novel phenomena, including the stable trap, modifiable trapping positions, and controllable directional ejections of particles in nanometer scales. Due to two distinctive features; impulsive peak powers and relaxation time between consecutive pulses, the optical trapping with the laser pulses has been demonstrated to have some advantages over conventional continuous-wave lasers, particularly when the particles are within Rayleigh approximation. This would open unprecedented opportunities in both fundamental science and application. This Review summarizes recent advances in the optical trapping with laser pulses and discusses the electromagnetic formulations and physical interpretations of the new phenomena. Its aim is rather to show how beautiful and promising this field will be, and to encourage the in-depth study of this field.
Prediction of Protein Contacts from Correlated Sequence Substitutions
Authors: Sadowski Michael I. , Taylor William R.
Published: March 2013

Recent work has led to a substantial improvement in the accuracy of predictions of contacts between amino acids using evolutionary information derived from multiple sequence alignments. Where large numbers of diverse sequence relatives are available and can be aligned to the sequence of a protein of unknown structure, it is now possible to generate high-resolution models without recourse to the structure of a template. In this review, we describe these exciting new techniques and critically assess the state of the art in contact prediction in light of them. We discuss areas for immediate research and development as well as potential future developments.
Storminess in the Low Countries, 1390-1725
Authors: de Kraker Adriaan
Published: March 2013

This paper looks into the historic storms of coastal Flanders and the south-western part of the Netherlands between 1390 and 1725. High quality information about these weather extremes has been retrieved from administrative documents concerning the annual maintenance of sea walls. Because the period under study deals with non-instrumental storm data, a method has been applied to assess this information, from which a picture emerges of annual storminess and of changing storminess throughout this long time period. Thus, periods of increasing and declining storm frequency can be distinguished. These fluctuations are compared with the storminess of the present period and some consideration is also given to possible links between historic storm frequency and temperature. Finally, attention is paid to the second decade of the eighteenth century, with its unusually high number of gales, and options for further research are explored.
Il ruolo del supporto sociale, del genere e della scolarità nel benessere sociale in età anziana
Authors: Zambianchi Manuela , Ricci Bitti Pio Enrico
Published: April 2013

Lo studio ha valutato l'influenza del supporto sociale percepito proveniente da una persona speciale, dalla famiglia e dagli amici, della salute fisica e psicologica, del genere e del livello di scolarità sul benessere sociale in un gruppo di 69 anziani, con un'età media di 73 anni, ai quali sono stati sottoposti il questionario sul benessere sociale, il questionario sul supporto sociale percepito e due single item relativi alla salute fisica e psicologica percepite. Essi sono stati reclutati all'interno di centri sociali per anziani. Gli anziani presentano un livello medio di benessere sociale globale. Il sostegno più elevato giunge loro dalla famiglia e dal partner. Il benessere sociale è positivamente predetto dal supporto sociale, dal genere e dal livello di scolarità. Le donne percepiscono un minor livello di benessere sociale rispetto agli uomini; inoltre la presenza di maggiori risorse culturali incide positivamente sul livello di benessere sociale. I risultati emersi indicano la necessità di approfondire, nelle ricerche future, i fattori in grado di promuovere il benessere sociale in questa fase della vita.
A Comparison of Severity Systems APACHE II and SAPS II in Critically ill Patients
Authors: Faruq Mohammad Omar , Mahmud Mohammad Rashed , Begum Tanjima , Ahsan ASM Areef , Fatema Kaniz , Ahmed Fatema , Karim Md Rezaul
Published: March 2013

Objective: To assess the performance of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) in Bangladeshi critically ill patients. Material and Method: Prospective observational cohort study conducted between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of BIRDEM Hospital, an 600-beds tertiary referral Postgraduate hospital and October to December 2008 in ICU, Ibn Sina Hospital Dhaka. Results: One hundred ninety four patients were enrolled. There were 58 deaths (42.65%) at ICU discharge. APACHE II and SAPS II predicted hospital mortality 35.32 ± 21.81and 37.11 ± 27.34 respectively. Both models showed excellent discrimination. The overall discriminatory capability, as measured by the aROC, was generally good for two models and ranged from 0.78 to 0.89. APACHE II is slightly better compared to SAPS II score but not significantly better than SAPS II. Both systems exhibited good calibration ( = 8.304, p = 0.40 for APACHE II, = 9.040, p = 0.34 for SAPS II). Hosmer- Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test revealed a good performance for APACHE II scores. Conclusion: APACHE II provided better performance than SAPS II in predicting mortality in our ICU patients but SAPS II also performed well. Our observed mortality was similar with the predicted mortality from APACHE II and SAPS II scores, which suggests that the result of this study reveals good intensive care quality. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bccj.v1i1.14362 Bangladesh Crit Care J March 2013; 1: 27-32
Bacterial status and pollution level in the water of Gulshan Lake, Dhaka
Authors: Karim Md Abdul , Akhter Nazneen , Hoque Sirajul
Published: March 2013

Water samples were collected from four selected sites of the Gulshan lake during four different seasons. Four different media were used to study the aerobic heterotrophic, enteric and related bacterial abundance. Aerobic heterotrophic bacterial abundance ranged between 1×106 and 9×106 cfu/100 ml, while enteric and related bacterial abundance in SS agar, MacConkey agar and Cetrimide agar media ranged between 1×103 and 3×105 cfu/100 ml, between 1×104 and 1×107, and between 1×100 and 1.4×103 cfu/100 ml, respectively. Among 40 bacterial isolates 14 were selected out of which seven were Gram-positive and seven were Gramnegative. Among Gram-positive isolates, six were rod-shaped spore former belonging to Bacillus and Lactobacillus, while another one was coccoid in shape and under the genus Planococcus. Out of seven Gram-negative isolates, two were the members of Pseudomonas, remaining five were Morganella, Neisseria, Escherichia, Aeromonas and Enterobacter. Inorganic nutrients like NH4+-N, NO3+-N, NO2+-N and PO4+ values were found to be satisfactory from pollution point of view. The presence of different bacterial isolates indicate that the Gulshan lake water was polluted with chemical and bacterial pollutants. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjz.v40i2.14309 Bangladesh J. Zool. 40(2): 165-173, 2012
Pediculosis among the children of different social status in Dhaka
Authors: Karim Mt Tahmina , Musa Sharmin , Khanum Hamida
Published: March 2013

The prevalence of head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) infestation was studied among the children (1 to 7 years) in the area of Mirpur Bihari Camp, Mirpur-11, Dhaka. A total of 300 children was examined from February 2011 to January 2012 and 59.67% prevalence of head lice infestation was observed. The prevalence of pediculosis was significantly higher (p<0.05) in seven years aged children and the prevalence was significantly (p<0.05) higher in girls (72.62%) than boys (43.18%). School going children had higher (p<0.05) prevalence compared to preschool group. According to socioeconomic status, head lice infestation occurred almost equally in all social classes. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjz.v40i2.14310 Bangladesh J. Zool. 40(2): 175-181, 2012
The biology of flesh fly, Boettcherisca peregrina (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)
Authors: Majumder MZR , Dash Mohan Kumar , Khan Rafia Akhtar , Khan Humayun Reza
Published: March 2013

The biology of Boettcherisca peregrina (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) was studied in the laboratory (25 ± 5ºC, R.H. 70 ± 10% and 12 h light: 12 h dark cycle ). There were four definite life stages, such as egg, larva, pupa and adult, in its life cycle. The mean duration of the life cycle was 13.19 ± 1.32 days. The egg was creamy white color, cylindrical, rounded at both ends. The egg shell was comparatively thick and hard. There were three larval instars. The larvae of B. peregrina were acephalous and apodus type. The transparent 12 segmented larva possessed a pair of mouth hook, bands of small backwardly directed black micro spines, a pair of prothorasic spiracle and a pair of posterior spiracle. The 1st larvae were relatively more transparent at the time of hatching. The second instar larvae were voracious feeder. The body size increased largely during the third instar. They were deep creamy to pale brownish in color. The pupae of B. peregrina were coarctate adecticous type. The posterior end of the puparium was rounded and the anterior end was slightly pointed. The adults were metallic brown in color. The males were smaller in size than the females. The mean incubation period was 11.6 ± 2.70 hours, and the larval, post-feeding and pupal periods were 102.22 ± 7.85 hours, 75.4 ± 3.57 hours, and 5.81 ± 1.30 days, respectively. The longevity of the mated male and female adults (36.9 ± 2.46 days and 27.2 ± 2.25 days, respectively) were more than that of the unmated ones (23.6 ± 2.25 days and 18.3 ± 1.5 days, respectively). The protein fed adults lived longer than the protein unfed ones.The male always lived longer than the female. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjz.v40i2.14312 Bangladesh J. Zool. 40(2): 189-196, 2012
Availability of vulnerable elasmobranches in the marine water of Bangladesh
Authors: Jit Roy Bikram , Singha Nripendra Kumar , Ali SM Hasan , Rhaman Md Gaziur
Published: March 2013

A study was conducted about vulnerable shark and ray species availability and their percentage composition in two fish landing centers at Fishery ghat, Chittagong and BFDC fish harbor, Coxs Bazar district during April 2006 through March 2012. A total of 35 species (11 shark and 24 ray species) was identified within these six years. Out of 35 species, only one vulnerable shark species, the silky shark Carcharhinus falciformis (Muller and Henle, 1839), was not abundant all the year round and three were vulnerable ray species, Javanese cow ray Rhinoptera javanica (Muller and Henle, 1841), banded eagle ray Aetomylaeus nichofii (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) and white spotted shovelnose ray Rhynchobatus laevis (Bloch and Schneider 1801) were found throughout the year during the study period. The average percentage composition by weight of C. falciformis was 1.38 and the availability of average number was 3202. The average percentage contribution and the landed average number of vulnerable R. javanica, A. nichofii and R. laevis species were 1.46% (948 numbers), 0.61% (554 numbers) and 0.54% (298 numbers), respectively of the total catch. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjz.v40i2.14316 Bangladesh J. Zool. 40(2): 221-229, 2012
Intraoperative serum parathyroid hormone level is an indicator of hypocalcaemia in total thyroidectomy patients
Authors: Islam MS , Sultana T , Paul D , Huq AHMZ , Chowdhury AA , Ferdous C , Ahmed ANN
Published: March 2013

Postoperative hypocalcaemia is the most frequent and common complication after total thyroidectomy. It is necessary to diagnose or to predict hypocalcaemia immediately after total thyroidectomy for minimizing complications. A prospective observational study was carried out in the Department of Clinical Pathology in collaboration with Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Department of Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and Department of Otolaryngology, Dhaka Medical College & Hospital (DMC&H), Dhaka, during the period of September 2010 to August 2011 to evaluate intraoperative (20 minutes after total thyroidectomy) parathyroid hormone (PTH) measurement as a predictor of post thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia. Total 65 patients were enrolled in this study those came for total thyroidectomy. Postoperative hypocalcaemia developed in 25 cases. Intraoperative PTH was assessed and significant correlation was found between intraoperative PTH level and development of hypocalcaemia. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of intraoperative serum PTH for prediction of post total thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia were 84.0%, 85.0%, 84.6%, 77.8%, and 89.5% respectively. Because of the high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of intraoperative serum PTH of this study, the early prediction of hypocalcaemia could be made by single assay of intraoperative serum PTH level at 20 minutes after total thyroidectomy. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v38i3.14331 Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2012; 38(3): 84-89 (December)
Efficacy of lower cut off value of serum prostate specific antigen in diagnosis of prostate cancer
Authors: Rashid MM , Alam AKMK , Habib AKMK , Rahman H , Hossain AKMS , Salam MA , Rahman S
Published: March 2013

Indications of prostate biopsy are high serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) value and or abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) findings. Although serum PSA value of 4 ng/ml is the most commonly used threshold for recommending prostate biopsy, significant proportion of men harbor prostate cancer even when their serum PSA values are less than 4.0 ng/ml. Therefore present study was designed to determine the performance status of serum PSA in lower cut-off values. This hospital based prospective study was conducted in the Department of Urology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and Comfort Nursing Home Pvt. Ltd, Dhaka from July 2009 to October 2010. Two hundred six male patients aged over 50 years having lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and serum PSA more than 2.5 ng/ml were prepared for prostate biopsy. Trans rectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsy was done. The test statistics used to analyze the data were descriptive statistics, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, ROC curve. For all analytical tests, the level of significance was set at 0.05 and p<0.05 was considered significant. In 2.5-4 serum PSA range, 28.26% (13 out of 46) of all malignancy were found, which would be missed if we take cut off value 4. At 2.5 PSA cut-off, Sensitivity 91.3%, Specificity 14.37%, PPV 23.46%, NPV 85.18%, Efficacy 31.55%. At 4 PSA cut-off value, Sensitivity 71.73%, Specificity 46.25%, PPV 27.73%, NPV 85.05%, Efficacy 51.94%. So it can be concluded that, for early diagnosis of prostate cancer cut-off value of serum PSA of 2.5 ng/ml can be recommended as an indication for prostate biopsy. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v38i3.14333 Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2012; 38(3): 90-93 (December)
Serotype and serovar distribution of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from high-risk populations in Bangladesh
Authors: Alam MA , Chowdhury MZ , Ahmed F , Alam A , Hossain MA
Published: March 2013

Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of gonococcal infection, is known to frequently change their characteristics to evade host immune mechanism. Characterization of the clinical isolates of the organism can lead to identification of the circulating strains and often a sexual network in a community to help in designing the control strategy. Keeping in mind the above consideration, a total of 239 N. gonorrhoeae, isolated from high-risk populations, were characterized for serotypes and serovars by monoclonal antibodies against protein I of the organism. Majority of the serotypes were serotype B (142, 59.4%). Majority of the isolates showing resistance to at least one of the antibiotics tested were also serotype B (139, 59.2%), whereas, majority of the isolates showing resistance to any three of the antibiotics (multidrug resistant, MDR) (63%) was serotype A. A total of 41 different serovars were also identified and five of which (Arst, Bropt, Bopt, Arost, and Brop) included the highest percent (49.3%) of the isolates. Many serovars (23/41, 56.1%) were new emergent and included 58 (24.3%) of the isolates investigated. All of the new serovars were resistant to at least one of the antibiotics tested and the highest rate (40/102, 39.2%) was MDR. Serotyping and serovar determination was found contributory to understand the microepidemics of the N. gonorrhoeae isolates. Further studies including antibiogram and contact tracing can efficiently help in control of the disease. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v38i3.14339 Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2012; 38(3): 114-118 (December)
Patency of Multiple stents/Overlapping Stents in Single Artery Territory in Bangladeshi Patient: An Updated Single Center Experiences
Authors: Munwar S , Islam AHMW , Talukder S , Reza AQM , Ahmed T , Bhuiyan AH , Masud R , Siddique AB , Shohel SR , Alam S , Miah A , Karim A
Published: March 2013

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) in Bangladeshi population is diffuse in nature with small caliber arteries. Now a day, these are treated, by PCI with stent deployment, often multiple in a single coronary artery. However, long term data on In-stent re-stenosis (ISR) in multiple or overlapping stent in single coronary artery in these patients is not yet available. Therefore, the aim of our present study was to assess long-term outcome of stent patency or the development of ISR of varieties stent in single vessel territory. Methods: Patients were prospectively selected from, who underwent coronary angiogram at our hospital for further evaluation of their previous PTCA in the 3-36 months preceding the study for the quantifying period of 2007-2011. Total 51 patients (male: 42, Female: 9) who had multiple stents in one coronary artery were included in this study. Average age was Male: 57; Female:61. Average study period was 3.1 ± 2.4yrs. Results: Our results show that, among the total studied population 82.4% (42) were male and 17.6% (9) were female. Total 114 stent were deployed in 54 vessels of 51 patients. Territory wise distribution of deployed stent was LAD 52(45.6%), RCA 42 (36.8%) and LCX 20(17.5%). Stent used were BMS 45(39.5%), DES 69(60.5%). Re-look Coronary Angiogram (CAG) revealed that Significant ISR (ISR>60%) developed in BMS 8(17.8%) and DES 8(11.5%). Among the different DES the development of significant ISR were in Sirolimus 1(3.2%), Paclitaxel 4(16%), Everolimus 3 (30%). Conclusion: Our study has shown that deployment of multiple stents in a single artery territory (either separately or as overlapping) is safe and has reasonably lower degree of ISR, even when BMS was used. As a whole BMS shows higher degree of ISR than to DES for an average period of follow up of 3.1 yrs. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cardio.v5i2.14319 Cardiovasc. j. 2013; 5(2): 154-159
Correlation of Coronary Angiographic Severity with Carotid intima Media Thickness and Flow mediated dilatation of brachial Artery in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease
Authors: Mahabub SME , Islam AEMM , Sabah KMN , Chowdhury AW , Ghiasuddin M , Khan HILR , Ali MS
Published: March 2013

Background: Ischemic Heart Disease which encompasses Acute Coronary Syndrome and Chronic Stable Angina is the most common cause of worldwide mortality and morbidity. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) is a non-invasive ultrasonographic technique to image the carotid arteries which measures the thickness of the intima and media of these vessels. It is a marker of atherosclerotic process. Flow mediated dilatation (FMD) is a marker of endothelial function of arteries. Ischemic heart disease can be predicted long before its actual occurrence by observing these two phenomenons. Methods: This cross sectional study done in the Department of Cardiology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital during the period of Oct 2010- Sept 2011.We enrolled 102 patients admitted with IHD by purposive sampling. We assessed FMD of brachial artery, CIMT by vascular duplex. Coronary artery disease severity was assessed by vessel score, stenosis score and extent score from angiography. Results:The mean (±SD) age of the patients was 50.9(±11.3) years. The male- female ratio was 5:1. CIMT has significant negative correlation with FMD (r=-.407, p=<.001). Flow mediated dilatation of brachial artery has weak but significant negative co-relation with vessel score(r=-.609, p=<.001), stenosis score(r=- .493, p=<.001) and extent score (r=-.477, p=<.001). However, carotid intima media thickness has weak but positive correlation with vessel score (r=.447, p=<.001), stenosis score (r=.417, p=<.001) and extent score(r=.412, p=<.001). Conclusion: The present study concludes CIMT has significant negative correlation with flow mediated dilatation of brachial artery. FMD has weak but significant negative co-relation and CIMT has weak but positive correlation with vessel score, stenosis score and extent score of coronary arteries. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cardio.v5i2.14321 Cardiovasc. j. 2013; 5(2): 165-172
Analysis of Intraprostatic Therapeutic Effects in Prostate Cancer Patients Using [11C]-Choline pet/ct after External-Beam Radiation Therapy
Authors: Amanie J. , Jans H.S. , Wuest M. , Pervez N. , Murtha A. , Usmani N. , Yee D. , Pearcey R. , Danielson B. , Patel S. , Macewan R. , Field C. , Robinson D. , Wilson J. , Lewis D. , Parliament M. , McEwan A.J.B.
Published: April 2013

Purpose: The objective of the present study was to analyze, with relatively high sensitivity and specificity, uptake properties of [11C]-choline in prostate cancer patients by means of positron-emission tomography (pet)/computed tomography (ct) imaging using objectively defined pet parameters to test for statistically significant changes before, during, and after external-beam radiation therapy (ebrt) and to identify the time points at which the changes occur. Methods: The study enrolled 11 patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer treated with ebrt, who were followed for up to 12 months after ebrt. The [11C]-choline pet scans were performed before treatment (baseline); at weeks 4 and 8 of ebrt; and at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after ebrt. Results: Analysis of [11C]-choline uptake in prostate tissue before treatment resulted in a maximum standardized uptake value (suvmax) of 4.0 ± 0.4 (n = 11) at 40 minutes after injection. During week 8 of ebrt, the suvmax declined to 2.9 ± 0.1 (n = 10, p < 0.05). At 2 and 12 months after ebrt, suvmax values were 2.3 ± 0.3 (n = 10, p < 0.01) and 2.2 ± 0.2 (n = 11, p < 0.001) respectively, indicating that, after ebrt, maximum radiotracer uptake in the prostate was significantly reduced. Similar effects were observed when analyzing the tumour:muscle ratio (tmr). The tmr declined from 7.4 ± 0.6 (n = 11) before ebrtto 6.1 ± 0.4 (n = 11, nonsignificant) during week 8 of ebrt, to 5.6 ± 0.03 (n = 11, p < 0.05) at 2 months after ebrt, and to 4.4 ± 0.4 (n = 11, p < 0.001) at 12 months after ebrt. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that intraprostatic [11C]-choline uptake in the 11 analyzed prostate cancer patients significantly declined during and after ebrt. The pet parameters SUVmax and tmr also declined significantly. These effects can be detected during radiation therapy and up to 1 year after therapy. The prognostic value of these early and statistically significant changes in intraprostatic [11C]-choline pet avidity during and after ebrt are not yet established. Future studies are indicated to correlate changes in [11C]-choline uptake parameters with long-term biochemical recurrence to further evaluate [11C]-choline pet changes as a possible, but currently unproven, biomarker of response.
Genetically Modified Foods, Cancer, and Diet: Myths and Reality
Authors: Touyz L.Z.G.
Published: April 2013

This commentary deconstructs, discredits, and demystifies the paradigm that eating genetically modified foods causes cancer, and appraises the research protocols needed to substantiate claims for cancer therapy. [...]
La banque de crédit et de dépôt des Pays-Bas (Nederlandsche Credit en Deposito Bank) : aux origines de la Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas, 1863-1872
Authors: van Marken Bernard , Geljon Piet A.
Published: April 2013

La création de la Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas (Paribas) en 1872 fut le résultat d’une fusion entre la Banque de Paris et la Nederlandsche Credit en Deposito Bank (NCDB) à Amsterdam, en français « Banque de Crédit et de Dépôt des Pays-Bas ». Elle s’insère dans le vaste mouvement de fondations bancaires du milieu du XIX e siècle qui mobilisa des partenaires issus de toute l’Europe du Nord-Ouest. La naissance de Paribas est en effet liée à l’apport considérable d’un réseau de banques privées européen d’abord centré sur les Pays-Bas puis déplacé sur Paris, alors place financière dominante en Europe continentale. Cette contribution, fondée sur une exploitation des sources et des travaux néerlandais récents, précise les conditions de cette naissance.
A Review of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
Authors: Squires Janet E. , Squires Robert H.
Published: April 2013

CME Educational Objectives

1.

Define Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSP) and provide a more specific classification scheme that accurately reflects the spectrum of this disorder.

2.

Determine the clinical characteristics of the specific subtypes of MSP.

3.

Clarify the role played by the medical provider in MSP and challenges posed by our modern health care delivery system.

Munchausen syndrome by proxy was described 35 years ago,
1
and yet it remains a complicated, controversial, and confusing condition. The term was initially limited to circumstances in which a caregiver surreptitiously injured the child or the child’s symptoms were fabricated, both leading to unnecessary or potentially harmful medical care.
Comparison of Four Different VisuMax Circle Patterns for Flap Creation After Small Incision Lenticule Extraction
Authors: Riau Andri K. , Ang Heng P. , Lwin Nyein C. , Chaurasia Shyam S. , Tan Donald T. , Mehta Jodhbir S.
Published: April 2013

PURPOSE:

To compare four different Circle patterns for flap creation after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).

METHODS:

SMILE was performed on six rabbits. Twenty-eight days after the initial procedure, corneal flaps were created using Circle patterns. Rabbits were divided into four groups (patterns A, B, C, and D). Pattern A creates a circular side cut to meet the cap cut within the clearance zone (outside of the optical zone). Patterns B, C, and D create a lamellar ring posterior, anterior, and at the same depth, respectively, to the cap to meet the cap cut in the clearance zone with the help of a junction cut. Difficulty of flap lift was graded from 1 (easiest) to 5 (most difficult). The bed quality was assessed by scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTS:

Flaps created by patterns A and D were the easiest to lift (grade 2). The resulting flap bed was smooth and undisrupted. However, pattern A resulted in a reduced re-treatment area. Flaps created by pattern B were the most difficult to lift (grade 4). The stromal dissection was difficult in an attempt to ascertain the original optical zone from the lamellar ring, placed posterior. Flaps produced by pattern C were easy to lift, with minor intrastromal resistance experienced during the lifting process (grade 3). The transition between the lamellar ring and cap cut was hardly discernible in pattern C-treated corneas.

CONCLUSIONS:

Pattern D, a lamellar ring adjacent to the cap cut, was the most optimal to be used for flap creation in cases of SMILE re-treatment.

[
J Refract Surg.
2013;29(4):236–244.]
Academic Patenting in Europe
Authors: Lissoni Francesco
Published: April 2013

This chapter summarizes the results of the project titled Academic Patenting in Europe (APE-INV). The key aims of the project are the creation and diffusion of a harmonized database on academic patenting in Europe. The database allows for the investigation of the economic returns of academic patenting at the scientist, university, and industry level. It also helps to investigate the extent of synergies and trade-offs between patenting and other technology transfer means such as consultancy, mobility of personnel, as well as teaching, conferencing, and publishing. Finally, it provides the basis for the creation of a larger database on inventors in Europe, to be used in studies on knowledge diffusion and labour mobility. The basic evidence from the database is opposed to the view that the European universities are lagging behind the US in terms of universities’ contribution to patenting. The bulk of academic patents remained in the hands of the companies having strong ties with academic scientists. The European policies mainly addressed the narrow issue of technology transfer and patent ownership, and were not strong enough to change the fundamentals of the research systems.
User Acceptance of eGovernment Services
Authors: Yarlikas Serdar , Arpaci Ibrahim , Afacan Gülgün
Published: April 2013

This chapter identifies user satisfaction levels of eGovernment services. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) deals with the prediction of the acceptability of an information system. TAM posits that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use determine an individual’s adoption of a system with intention to use serving as a mediator of actual system usage. In this chapter, a modified version of the TAM is proposed to predict the acceptability of eGovernment services and to identify the modifications, which must be brought to the system in order to make it acceptable to users. In the chapter, one of the most used eGovernment projects, e-school, is investigated according to TAM. An Internet-based survey questionnaire was applied to identify factors that influence users’ satisfaction from one of the eGovernment services in Turkey. The sample was 30 teachers, who are working in public and private schools. A factor analysis was conducted on the questionnaire items, and a regression analysis, dependent on the factor analysis, was performed to determine and evaluate the effects of the factors on user satisfaction. The authors found that five main factors have significant affect on the satisfaction of users related to the e-School system. These factors are utilitarian ease of use, system usefulness, system content, system usability, and ease of use. The authors contributed to existing literature by adding a new construct, which refers to utilitarian ease of use.
Virtual Worlds for Children with Medical Conditions
Authors: Bers Marina U. , Cantrell Kathryn A.
Published: April 2013

This chapter describes an innovative, technology-based intervention for children with critical medical conditions that utilizes the Zora virtual world. Most specifically, the chapter describes two experiences, one with post-transplant pediatric patients and the other with pediatric cancer patients who participated in Zora. The virtual experience was designed to address issues of school transition and medical adherence, while offering psychosocial support in the context of a virtual community of peers. The design of the Zora virtual world is informed by the Positive Technological Development (PTD) framework which was inspired by Positive Youth Development (PYD). In Zora, users can communicate with each other via real-time chat and participate in open-ended guided activities to create a social network of peers. They can also build the personal and public spaces in the virtual city, create interactive characters and write stories for three-dimensional objects.
Living a Healthier Life Online
Authors: Stokken Roar , Eikli Gjermund
Published: April 2013

The chapter explores how organizations can facilitate online self-help initiatives in a manner that allows mutual aid to flourish between the participants. It takes a theoretical approach on the basis of pedagogy and self-help/mutual-aid research. It first develops an educational model, and then turns to practical aspects and investigates the Norwegian course “Living a healthier life – online.” The initiative is transformed from face-to-face to online as a design-based research project. The two most important elements to pay attention to in the facilitation of online self-help initiatives are found to be socialization and overall assignments: the former to prepare for mutual exchange of knowledge, and the latter to make content relevant to daily life.
Identifying the Essential Design Requirements for Usable E-Health Communities in Mobile Devices
Authors: Mendoza-González Ricardo , Martin Miguel Vargas , Rodríguez-Martínez Laura C.
Published: April 2013

We believe that well-designed and usable user interface is critical, as the adequate use and the effectiveness of any application usually depend on it, especially when a specific system is oriented to play a key role into the process of patients’ care (healthcare applications). Very good examples of healthcare applications are E-Health Communities, which are generally oriented to contribute in the process for improving the quality of life for members of a community suffering from chronic diseases. In order to contribute to previous efforts, we propose a set of 15 basic usability requirements specifically oriented to mobile interfaces for blog-based instant messaging e-health communities. We structured our set of usability requirements on two sources: Firstly we consider the survey-obtained feedback from 72 participants who regularly access social networks from mobile devices. Then we complemented this information with some ideas presented in previous research. We show the effectiveness of the proposal by using an illustrative example (designing an interface-prototype for a mobile e-health community) as a proof-of-concept together with a preliminary usability study. The prototype was entirely created by observing our usability requirements. The results of the study are encouraging and reflect a good correlation between the requirements proposed and the users’ perception. This seems to indicate that although this research-work is focused on providing a starting point to developers with guidance in designing usable interfaces for e-health communities accessed by mobile devices, our findings could be easily adapted and applied to other mobile scenarios for blog-based instant messaging applications.
Service-Oriented Computing
Authors: Chollet Stéphanie , Lalanda Philippe , Bardin Jonathan
Published: April 2013

The visionary promise of Service-Oriented Computing (SOC) is a world-scale network of loosely coupled services that can be assembled with little effort in agile applications that may span organizations and computing platforms. In practice, services are assembled in a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) that provides mechanisms and rules to specify, publish, discover and compose available services. The aim of this chapter is to present the different technologies implementing the new paradigm of SOA: Web Services, UPnP, DPWS, and service-oriented component OSGi and iPOJO. These technologies have been developed and adapted to multiple domains: application integration, pervasive computing and dynamic application integration.
The Foundations of Service Eco-Systems
Authors: Ghose Aditya K.
Published: April 2013

The literature on services is replete with references to service eco-systems, yet no attempt has been made to develop a set of principled conceptual underpinnings for these. This chapter aims to address this gap. This chapter also seeks to design the formal basis for practical tools to support the design and maintenance of service eco-systems. It describes a high-level Business Service Modeling Language (BSRL) that is general enough to support the modeling the full spectrum of services, spanning from web services on the one extreme to abstractly defined business services on the other. Based on this language, it describes a taxonomy of relationships that might hold between services in an eco-system. These relationships are then leveraged to formally define a notion of equilibrium in a service eco-system. The chapter then extends the analysis to a deeper level of detail, by considering inter-operation relationships between the process designs that realize services. The chapter briefly considers the challenge of service-oriented analysis and design, and in particular, addresses the question of which combination of functionalities might be packaged as a service, thus leading to the set of inter-related components constituting a service eco-system.
Abstract Service for Cyber Physical Service Composition
Authors: Zhao Yajing , Dong Jing , Huang Jian , Zhang Yansheng , Yen I-Ling , Bastani Farokh
Published: April 2013

The collaboration of cyber physical systems poses many real-world challenges, such as knowledge restriction, resource contention, and communication limitation. Service oriented architecture has been proven effective in solving interoperability issues in the software engineering field. The semantic web service helps to automate service discovery and integration with semantic information. This chapter models cyber physical system functionalities as services to solve the collaboration problem using semantic web services. We extend the existing OWL-S framework to address the natures of the cyber physical systems and their functionalities, which are different from software systems and their functionalities. We also present a case study to illustrate our approach.
Product-Service Systems as Enabler for Sustainability-Oriented Innovation
Authors: Grosse-Dunker Friedrich , Hansen Erik G.
Published: April 2013

Corporations increasingly subscribe to the principles of corporate sustainability, which is generally described as the integration of economic, environmental, and social dimensions. As sustainability presents a new source of ideas and visions leading to new business opportunities and competitive advantage, the role of Sustainability-Oriented Innovation (SOI) is ever more emphasized. However, developing products under the paradigm of SOI is risky: both the product’s market success and (non-economic) sustainability effects are uncertain. Product-Service System (PSS) – i.e. a combination of products and services –constitutes a significant approach to overcome some of the limitations of SOI and, additionally, can spur the diffusion of SOI. In this chapter, we use an exploratory research strategy to further investigate the links between SOI and PSS. We present a case study on off-grid lighting in Kenya and analyze the sustainability effects on the product and PSS level. The complexity of SOI and the sustainability potentials of PSS are illustrated. Moreover, we also emphasize the role of a joint achievement of sustainability-oriented product innovations and PSS innovations.
Firm-Specific Factors and the Degree of Innovation Openness
Authors: Lazzarotti Valentina , Manzini Raffaella , Pellegrini Luisa
Published: April 2013

This chapter investigates the topic of how open innovation is actually implemented by companies, according to a conceptual approach in which open and closed models of innovation represent the two extremes of a continuum of different openness degrees; though, these are not the only two possible models. By means of a survey conducted among Italian manufacturing companies, this chapter sheds light on the many different ways in which companies open their innovation processes. Four main models emerge from the empirical study, which are investigated in depth in order to understand the relationship between a set of firm-specific factors (such as size, R&D intensity, sector of activity, company organization) and the specific open innovation model adopted by a company.
Science Parks and Their Role in the Innovation Process
Authors: La Rovere Renata Lèbre , Melo Leonardo de Jesus
Published: April 2013

This chapter investigates the contributions of Science Parks (SPs) to innovation. In particular, we discuss whether the literature on innovation and SPs consider the fact that SPs can be catalysts of Organizational Networks (ONs). We consider that ONs are elements of knowledge production and can contribute to the development of core competencies to pursue dynamic innovation and sustainable competitive advantage. This chapter is based on a literature review of scientific papers and theses which are included in indexed databases related to SPs and their contributions to innovation. Preliminary analysis of the literature shows that SPs have been mostly studied as part of innovation systems, and that less attention has been given to the role of ONs and SPs in the processes of technological learning and innovation.
Knowledge and the Politics of Innovation
Authors: Asimakou Theodora
Published: April 2013

The chapter discusses the relationship between knowledge management and innovation; specifically, it examines how knowledge in organizations affects the creation of new knowledge and what the implications are for innovation management. The core argument is that in a knowledge-based company, where competition is assessed at the edge of rare expertise and the development of innovations (Boisot, 1998; Drucker, 1993; Sveiby 1997), knowledge, which is always interwoven with power, becomes a precious resource, on the grounds of which struggles are inevitably enacted over its control (Foucault, 1980; Clegg, 1989). To argue this, the chapter brings together two related fields, knowledge management and innovation, which even though in principle they examine similar phenomena, i.e. the creation and sharing of new knowledge, in practice they appear disconnected (Asimakou, 2009b). To support the arguments, two innovation mechanisms in two business groups of a major oil company are discussed. The study used a set of qualitative techniques for data collection (in-depth interview, participant observation, documentary analysis) and a sample of 41 employees, which represented the groups participating in the innovation game (manager, scientists, assistant scientists, administration staff and students). I argue that two mainstream innovation management approaches (the rational planning and the cultural approach) have shaped the understanding and actions of the Business Groups in setting up the innovation mechanisms; however, power struggles at the individual, group and organizational level impacted upon the innovation processes to the extent that the latter became passive ‘technical solutions’.
Research Profiles
Authors: Jordan Gretchen , Mote Jonathon , Hage Jerald
Published: April 2013

Despite the increasing importance of the management of research for innovation, the range of differences among types of research, as well as projects and programs, is not adequately captured in current theories of either project or organizational innovation. This chapter offers preliminary discussions for a new perspective about alternative styles of management for different types of research, whether basic, applied, product development, manufacturing, quality control or marketing. Based on these discussions, the chapter proposes a framework for a new perspective of innovation management, called Research Profiles, which is derived from a literature review and extensive field research. This new perspective delineates four research profiles on the basis of two dimensions of research objectives and two dimensions of research tasks. In matching the research objectives and tasks, we identify inherent dilemmas that managers must address and this developing perspective suggests some appropriate research management approaches.
Self Regulation on Innovative Products Choice
Authors: Prado Paulo Henrique Muller , Lucena da Silva Danielle Mantovani , Korelo Jose Carlos
Published: April 2013

This chapter explores how choice goals influence consumers’ innovativeness in a product category domain. The intentions to adopt new products are guided by promotion and prevention self-regulation systems. Thus, two of the choice goals were classified as promotion goals—justifiability and choice confidence—and two were classified as prevention goals – anticipated regret and evaluation costs. Two groups emerged from the analysis: one named “most innovative” and another called “less innovative.” When comparing the groups, the results show that the “most innovative” cluster demonstrated higher choice confidence, higher justifiability and was more capable of avoiding a possible choice regret. The differences found in the group analysis highlight the need of understanding in further detail how consumers behave during the choice process of innovative products. Therefore, the Regulatory Focus Theory has been shown to be very important for understanding the choice process, especially for the innovation adoption.
The Roles of Cognitive Machines in Customer-Centric Organizations
Authors: Nobre Farley Simon
Published: April 2013

This chapter proposes innovative features of future industrial organizations in order to provide them with the capabilities to manage high levels of environmental complexity in the 21st century. For such a purpose the author introduces the concept of Computational Organization Management Networks (COMN), which represents new organizations whose principles of operation are based on the concepts of Hierarchic Cognitive Systems (HCS) along with those of Telecommunications Management Networks (TMN). Structured with functional layers and cognitive roles that range from technical and managerial to institutional levels of analysis, and also equipped with operational, managerial and strategic processes, the concept of Computational Organization Management Networks (COMN) plays an important part in the developments of future organizations where cognitive machines and Cognitive Information Systems (CIS) are prominent actors of governance, automation and control of the whole enterprise. It is in such a context that the new organization COMN will provide customers and the whole environment with innovations such as immersiveness for the production of services and goods that are most customer-centric.
Connexin43 Is Dispensable for Phagocytosis
Authors: Glass Aaron M. , Wolf Benjamin J. , Schneider Karin M. , Princiotta Michael F. , Taffet Steven M.
Published: April 2013

Macrophages that lack connexin43 (Cx43), a gap junction protein, have been reported to exhibit dramatic deficiencies in phagocytosis. In this study, we revisit these findings using well-characterized macrophage populations. Cx43 knockout (Cx43−/−) mice die soon after birth, making the harvest of macrophages from adult Cx43−/− mice problematic. To overcome this obstacle, we used several strategies: mice heterozygous for the deletion of Cx43 were crossed to produce Cx43+/+ (wild type [WT]) and Cx43−/− fetuses. Cells isolated from 12- to 14-d fetal livers were used to reconstitute irradiated recipient animals. After reconstitution, thioglycollate-elicited macrophages were collected by peritoneal lavage and bone marrow was harvested. Bone marrow cells and, alternatively, fetal liver cells were cultured in media containing M-CSF for 7–10 d, resulting in populations of cells that were >95% macrophages based on flow cytometry. Phagocytic uptake was detected using flow cytometric and microscopic techniques. Quantification of phagocytic uptake of IgG-opsonized sheep erythrocytes, zymosan particles, and Listeria monocytogenes failed to show any significant difference between WT and Cx43−/− macrophages. Furthermore, the use of particles labeled with pH-sensitive dyes showed equivalent acidification of phagosomes in both WT and Cx43−/− macrophages. Our findings suggest that modulation of Cx43 levels in cultured macrophages does not have a significant impact on phagocytosis.