bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Governança de Pequenas Empresas Familiares Brasileiras: Aspectos a Considerar no Modelo Adotado
Authors: Grzybovski Denize , Machado Rodrigo Teixeira , Teixeira Enise Barth , Silva Margarete David da
Published: December 2013

O objetivo deste trabalho é discutir o conceito, o modelo e a estrutura de governança, apropriados à gestão de pequenas empresas familiares brasileiras, pois essa governança pode minimizar problemas de agência relativos à família proprietária. Governança é um instrumento de controle e de gestão que coloca em sintonia as empresas e o mercado, o qual contempla a relação da empresa com os stakeholders. Este estudo é uma pesquisa exploratória e descritiva, do tipo estudo de caso, com abordagem qualitativa dos dados. Os resultados indicam que a estrutura de governança adotada na empresa familiar analisada não é condizente com nenhum modelo presente na literatura, a qual enfatiza a grande empresa e a governança corporativa. O caso estudado apresenta particularidades e dinâmica coerentes com as características da família proprietária, com sistemas fracamente estruturados e processo decisório pautado na dinâmica do mercado.
Geração de Renda e Educação na Base da Pirâmide Populacional: um estudo no município de São Paulo
Authors: Spers Renata Giovinazzo , Nakandakare Luciana Tiemi
Published: December 2013

Este estudo tem como objetivo principal verificar se a educação está diretamenterelacionada ao aumento da renda, tendo como foco a população da base dapirâmide. E se é percebido por esta população a relevância da educação paraaumento de sua renda e se este seria um fator motivador para os estudos. Foirealizada uma pesquisa com base em dados secundários e por meio de uma survey com 120 respondentes da base dapirâmide. Os resultados mostram que a população da base da pirâmide entende arelevância da educação e seus impactos na renda atual e futura.
Suitability of the Miller Function and Participation Scales (M–FUN) for Use With Israeli Children
Authors: Rihtman Tanya , Parush Shula
Published: December 2013

OBJECTIVE. Our aim was to generate a Hebrew translation of the Miller Function and Participation Scales (M–FUN) and assess the validity of U.S. norms for Israeli children.

METHOD. All components of the M–FUN were translated, and a pilot study revealed a need for further investigation. The Hebrew M–FUN’s fine, gross, and visual–motor (VM) components and M–FUN participation questionnaires were administered to 267 Israeli children (128 boys, 139 girls; mean age = 59.21 mo, standard deviation = 17.84).

RESULTS. Significant correlations supported construct validity between age and all motor and participation scores as well as age-group differences. Significant differences between the U.S. and Israeli samples were found only for the VM score. Participation and motor scores were significantly correlated.

CONCLUSION. Although VM score results should be interpreted with caution, we provide evidence for use of the fine and gross motor norms and the U.S. criterion-referenced participation scores of the M–FUN with Israeli children.
Systematic Review of Occupational Therapy–Related Interventions for People With Multiple Sclerosis: Part 2. Impairment
Authors: Yu Chih-Huang , Mathiowetz Virgil
Published: December 2013

This article is the second part of a systematic review of studies on occupational therapy–related intervention for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of this systematic review was to critically appraise and synthesize the applicable findings to address the following focused question: What is the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice for people with multiple sclerosis? Part 1 (Yu & Mathiowetz, 2014) reviewed evidence for the effectiveness of activity- and participation-based interventions for people with MS. In contrast to the top-down approach, enabling occupational performance can be achieved through remediating impaired personal abilities. Therefore, Part 2 focuses on occupational therapy interventions targeting impairment. Studies included in this review focused on improving client factors and performance skills in people with MS, including cognition, emotional regulation, and motor and praxis skills.
Factors Associated With Comfort Level of Occupational Therapy Practitioners in Providing Low Vision Services
Authors: Winner Sandra , Yuen Hon K. , Vogtle Laura K. , Warren Mary
Published: December 2013

OBJECTIVE. We describe the perceived adequacy of educational preparation for and comfort level of occupational therapy practitioners in providing services to clients with low vision and identify factors associated with the practitioners’ comfort level.

METHOD. One hundred occupational therapists who were not specialists in low vision rehabilitation completed a survey.

RESULTS. Fifty-two percent of the respondents perceived that they had received adequate preparation in occupational therapy school to address low vision. Between 54% and 63% of respondents were comfortable performing visual screening and providing interventions for clients with low vision. Multivariable analyses indicated that having received adequate preparation in occupational therapy school, having a partnership with an eye-care professional, and having provided services to a larger percentage of clients with low vision were significantly associated with perceived comfort in providing services to this population.

CONCLUSION. Findings provide an initial direction to improve low vision content in occupational therapy education curricula.
Themes From the Special Issue on Neurodegenerative Diseases: What Have We Learned, and Where Can We Go From Here?
Authors: Foster Erin R.
Published: December 2013

This issue of AJOT adds to the growing and evolving understanding of the effectiveness of occupational therapy—related interventions to meet the needs of people living with neurodegenerative diseases.
Direct medical costs of COPD diagnosis and treatment, Eastern vs Western European country – examples of Serbia and Belgium
Authors: Jakovljevic Mihajlo B , Lazic Zorica , Verhaeghe Nick , Jankovic Slobodan , Gajovic Olgica , Annemans Lieven
Published: December 2013

OBJECTIVE: Comparison of COPD financial burden and underlying factors, between Eastern upper middle income and a Western European high income, healthcare settings.METHODS: The patient sample was 433 in Belgium and 322 in Serbia, age ≥ 40, with spirometry and clinically confirmed COPD diagnosis. Belgian trial followed patients prospectively during 2006, using structured survey of clinicians in charge. Serbian trial conducted in 2008, retrieved data from clinical invoice database. Time horizon was one year and perspective of third party payers was taken into account for both studies. Clinical outcomes of interest were disease exacerbation, hospital admission and death. Economic inputs referred to COPD-attributable medical services consumption value during observed period of time.RESULTS: Average annual cost was 1,812.84 € for the Serbian patients and 1,738.13 €/year for the Belgian patients (not including the value of laboratory diagnostics or imaging techniques). Severity grade and duration of hospital admissions significantly directly correlated with overall cost in both populations. Pattern of diagnostic procedures requested and ATC classes of drug consumed to treat COPD remains similar and comparable in both countries. GDP per capita ratio in respective years (10.4: 37.4), exhibits the paradox of patient being much less affordable to treat in a less developed society.CONCLUSIONS: Burden of COPD in Europe is huge and, due to contemporary life style expected to grow further. We compared cost of illness structures between two societies with different macroeconomic past in healthcare financing and management. According to our findings, direct medical costs were driven by exacerbations and hospital admissions. Significantly cheaper human labor caused higher relative relevance of drug acquisition expenses in the East and higher portion of hospital admission costs in the West. More in-depth research of indirect COPD attributable costs (e.g. lost productivity, absenteeism, premature death etc) will be needed in future. It implies serious health policy necessities to provide accessibility of care.
Nondiseased Liver Stiffness Measured by Shear Wave Elastography
Authors: Cha Seung Woo , Jeong Woo Kyoung , Kim Yongsoo , Kim Min Yeong , Kim Jinoo , Kim Soo Yeon , Ryu Jeong Ah , Kim Tae Yeob , Sohn Joo Hyun , Kim Young Hwan
Published: December 2013

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of liver stiffness in patients without liver disease using shear wave elastography and to determine the liver stiffness threshold value for identifying patients with chronic liver diseases.

Methods

A total of 150 patients who underwent liver sonography coupled with shear wave elastography were enrolled. On the basis of clinical and pathologic criteria, they were assigned to 1 of 2 groups: nondiseased liver (n = 97) and noncirrhotic chronic liver disease (n = 53). Liver stiffness was measured in the right liver, and the median value of 10 measurements was calculated. Both mean and median values in the nondiseased liver group were compared with those in the noncirrhotic chronic liver disease group. To validate this comparison, liver stiffness of the patients who underwent liver biopsy revealing either no fibrosis (fibrosis score F0; n = 5) or substantial fibrosis (F2; n = 14) was also investigated and compared. To determine the optimal threshold value for determining chronic liver disease, a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed.

Results

The mean liver stiffness value in the nondiseased liver group was 5.4 kPa. In the noncirrhotic chronic liver disease group, the mean value was 8.1 kPa. Differences between the nondiseased liver and both noncirrhotic chronic liver disease groups were statistically significant (P < .001). The optimal liver stiffness threshold value for discriminating nondiseased liver from noncirrhotic chronic liver disease was 6.9 kPa. The sensitivity using this threshold was 94%. In the biopsy‐proven patients, the mean liver stiffness values were 6.0 kPa in the F0 group and 9.9 kPa in the F2 group.

Conclusions

The range of liver stiffness in patients with nondiseased liver and the optimal threshold value for discriminating these patients from those with chronic liver disease were identified.
Relationship Between the Liver Tissue Shear Modulus and Histopathologic Findings Analyzed by Intraoperative Shear Wave Elastography and Digital Microscopically Assisted Morphometry in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Honjo Mitsuyoshi , Moriyasu Fuminori , Sugimoto Katsutoshi , Oshiro Hisashi , Sakamaki Kentaro , Kasuya Kazuhiko , Nagai Takeshi , Tsuchida Akihiko , Imai Yasuharu
Published: December 2013

Objectives

Shear wave elastography is a novel noninvasive method for assessing liver fibrosis by measuring liver stiffness. This study was conducted to evaluate how pathologic changes could have an impact on measured elasticity values in both resected hepatocellular carcinomas and adjacent liver tissue.

Methods

Intraoperative shear wave elastography was performed in 7 patients who underwent liver resection at our institution; 7 hepatocellular carcinomas and adjacent liver tissue were subjected to elastographic measurements. A total of 48 circular regions of interest (ROIs; 3–8 mm in diameter) were located in the hepatocellular carcinomas (n = 37) and adjacent liver tissue (n = 11), and mean stiffness values were obtained from each ROI. All of the histologic images corresponding to the 48 ROIs after surgery were transformed into digital microscopic images by a scanning system, and histologic parameters, such as the proportions of nuclear areas, fatty areas, fibrous areas, and vessel areas, were quantitatively assessed. Relationships between the mean stiffness and the histologic parameters were investigated by the mixed effects model.

Results

By univariate analysis, the proportions of collagen fiber areas (P = .039), fibrous areas (P = .045), hepatocellular nuclear areas (P = .045), and nuclear areas other than hepatocellular and lymphoplasmacytic areas (P = .039) showed statistically positive associations with mean stiffness values. Multivariate analysis indicated that the proportion of collagen fiber areas was the strongest pathologic determinant of mean stiffness (P = .008), with hepatocellular nuclear areas also having a significant effect (P = .010).

Conclusions

Fibrosis predictably affects elastographic estimation, but hepatocellular density (ie, hepatocellular nuclear areas) also alters elastographic assessment.
Sonography of Acne Vulgaris
Authors: Wortsman Ximena , Claveria Pedro , Valenzuela Fernando , Molina Maria Teresa , Wortsman Jacobo
Published: December 2013

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to assess the sonographic morphology of the clinical and subclinical pathology of facial acne vulgaris.

Methods

We studied patients with facial acne vulgaris diagnosed by certified dermatologists, and using a standardized protocol for sonographic examinations, we sequentially described the sonographic pathomorphologic characteristics. Lesions of particular interest to the referring clinician were also analyzed separately. Additionally, acne involvement was staged clinically and sonographically (SOS‐Acne) using morphologic definitions of the relevant lesions and predefined scoring systems for gradation of the severity of acne lesions.

Results

A total of 245 acne lesions in 20 consecutive patients were studied. Sonographic abnormalities consisted of pseudocysts, folliculitis, fistulas, and calcinosis. Most conditions were subclinical and mostly due to lesion extensions deep into the dermis and hypodermis (52% of pseudocysts and 68% of fistulas). The statistical concordance between acne severity scores assigned by two separate clinicians was strong (κ = 0.8020), but the corresponding sonographic scores generally showed more severe and clinically occult involvement.

Conclusions

Facial acne vulgaris often involves deeper tissues, beyond the reach of the spatially restricted clinical examination; these subclinical conditions can be detected and defined with sonography. Additionally, acne vulgaris is amenable to sonographic scoring.
Mechanisms for the emergence of ocean striations in the North Pacific
Authors: Davis A. , Di Lorenzo E. , Luo H. , Belmadani A. , Maximenko N. , Melnichenko O. , Schneider N.
Published: December 2013

Recent observations suggest that the mean mesoscale oceanic zonal velocity field is dominated by alternating jet‐like features often referred to as striations. Here the generating dynamics of Northeast Pacific striations are explored with a set of 120 year eddy‐permitting model simulations. Simulations are conducted with decreasing complexity toward idealized configurations retaining the essential dynamics and forcing necessary for striation development. For each simulation, we diagnose the spin‐up of the ocean model and the sensitivity of striation generation to topography, coastal geometry, and wind stress, which modulates the gyre circulation and the nonlinearity of the flow field. Results indicate that Northeast Pacific striations develop predominantly at the eastern boundary and migrate westward in congruence with beta‐plumes in both the nonlinear and quasi‐linear regimes. Mean striations are governed by coastline geometry, which provides quasi‐steady vorticity sources energized by eastern boundary current instabilities.
Future climate warming increases Greenland ice sheet surface mass balance variability
Authors: Fyke Jeremy G. , Vizcaíno Miren , Lipscomb William , Price Stephen
Published: December 2013

The integrated surface mass balance (SMB) of the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) has large interannual variability. Long‐term future changes to this variability will affect GrIS dynamics, freshwater fluxes, regional oceanography, and detection of changes in ice volume trends. Here we analyze a simulated 1850–2100 GrIS SMB time series from the Community Earth System Model, currently the only global climate model that realistically simulates GrIS SMB. We find a significant increase in interannual integrated SMB variability over time, which we attribute primarily to a shift to a high‐variability melt‐dominated SMB regime due to GrIS ablation area growth. We find temporal increases to characteristic ablation and accumulation area‐specific SMB variabilities to be of secondary importance. Since ablation area SMB variability is driven largely by variability in summer surface melt, variability in the climate processes regulating the energy fluxes that control melting will likely increasingly determine future GrIS SMB variability.
An empirical investigation of nonlinear energy transfer from the M2 internal tide to diurnal wave motions in the Kauai Channel, Hawaii
Authors: Chou Sherry H. , Luther Douglas S. , Guiles Martin D. , Carter Glenn S. , Decloedt Thomas
Published: December 2013

Current profiles are examined for evidence of nonlinear energy transfers from the M2 internal tide to diurnal waves. The 6 month records, unlike shorter records, produce well‐resolved velocity and shear spectra that consistently exhibit maxima at the diurnal tides O1 and K1, with a minimum at the intermediate M2 subharmonic, M2/2. The ratio of velocity spectral energy at M2/2 and M2 is quantified, providing a needed modeling benchmark. Bispectra and bicoherences imply a negligible [−M2/2, −M2/2, −M2] triad interaction, but possibly a significant interaction for the [−O1, −K1, −M2] triad. Numerical simulations, however, indicate that O1 and K1 signals are from internal tides. Tests with synthetic data, linear tides plus random noise, reveal that bispectrum and bicoherence estimators can yield significant values, thus misleading results. Therefore, resolving the diurnal tides from M2/2 is essential to meaningfully assess nonlinear transfer of energy from M2 to diurnal waves.
Unexpected variability of Martian hydrogen escape
Authors: Chaffin Michael S. , Chaufray Jean‐Yves , Stewart Ian , Montmessin Franck , Schneider Nicholas M. , Bertaux Jean‐Loup
Published: December 2013

Mars today is much drier than the Earth, though they likely began with similar relative amounts of water. One potential cause for this discrepancy is hydrogen loss to space, which may have removed a large fraction of Mars' initial water. Here we demonstrate an order‐of‐magnitude change in the Martian hydrogen escape rate in 2007, inconsistent with established models for the source of escaping hydrogen. We analyze 121.6 nm (hydrogen Lyman‐α) airglow observations made by the ultraviolet spectrometer on the Mars Express spacecraft over the second half of 2007. The enhanced escape rates we observe may be due to lower atmospheric heating and overturn during the 2007 (Mars Year 28) global dust storm, suggesting that hydrogen escape from Mars during dust storms may dominate loss of the planet's water inventory. This scenario has major implications for reconstructing the total amount of water lost to space over Martian history.
Ion energization by ELF wave packets formed of lightning‐induced emission in the low‐altitude magnetosphere
Authors: Shklyar D. R. , Kuzichev I. V.
Published: December 2013

We investigate a new type of resonant interaction between suprathermal ions and specific wave packets of ion cyclotron waves in which a spatially dependent wave frequency is close to the local ion cyclotron frequency, while the magnitude of the wave vector at a local point increases linearly with time. We argue that such wave packets are naturally formed of lightning‐induced emission. This type of resonant wave‐particle interaction, which has not been considered so far, appears to be very efficient and to result in essential consequences for both particles and waves, namely, a strong nondiffusive particle energization and simultaneous wave absorption. Since lightning strokes happen persistently over the terrestrial globe, the mechanism suggested in this paper constitutes a continual means of ion energization in the near‐Earth space.
Integrated processing of muon radiography and gravity anomaly data toward the realization of high‐resolution 3‐D density structural analysis of volcanoes: Case study of Showa‐Shinzan lava dome, Usu, Japan
Authors: Nishiyama R. , Tanaka Y. , Okubo S. , Oshima H. , Tanaka H. K. M. , Maekawa T.
Published: December 2013

We have developed an integrated processing method for muon radiography and gravity anomaly data for determining the 3‐D density structures of volcanoes with a higher spatial resolution than is possible by conventional gravity inversion. In the present paper, we demonstrate the performance of the proposed method by performing numerical tests using synthesized data, and we present the results obtained by applying the proposed method to a volcano, Showa‐Shinzan lava dome, Hokkaido, Japan. We obtained the detailed shape of a vent beneath the dome and detected the presence of solidified dense lava near the top of the dome. The results demonstrate the advantage of a hybrid measurement based on both gravity and muon radiography for imaging small structures with sizes of a few hundreds of meters near the surface of a volcano.
Soil gas distribution in the main coseismic surface rupture zone of the 1980,Ms = 6.9, Irpinia earthquake (southern Italy)
Authors: Ciotoli Giancarlo , Bigi Sabina , Tartarello Chiara , Sacco Pietro , Lombardi Salvatore , Ascione Alessandra , Mazzoli Stefano
Published: December 2013

Soil gas measurements of different gas species with different geochemical behaviors were performed in the area of the Pecore Plain, a 200 m × 300 m sized, fault‐bounded extensional basin located in the northern Mount Marzano massif, in the axial belt of the southern Apennine chain. The Pecore Plain area was affected by coseismic surface faulting during theMs = 6.9, 1980 Irpinia earthquake, the strongest and most destructive seismic event of the last 30 years in southern Italy. The collected data and their geostatistical analysis provide new insights into the control exerted by active fault segments on deep‐seated gas migration toward the surface. The results define anomalies that are aligned with the NW‐SE trending coseismic rupture of the 1980 earthquake along the western border of the plain, as well as along the southern border of the plain where a hidden, E‐W striking fault is inferred. Geospatial analysis highlights an anisotropic spatial behavior of222Rn along the main NW‐SE trend and of CO2along the E‐W trend. This feature suggests a correlation between the shape and orientation of the anomalies and the barrier/conduit behavior of fault zones in the area. Furthermore, our results show that gas migration through brittle deformation zones occurs by advective processes, as suggested by the relatively high migration rate needed to obtain anomalies of short‐lived222Rn in the soil pores.
Simulations of the winter stratopause and summer mesopause at varying spatial resolutions
Authors: Siskind David E.
Published: December 2013

The high‐altitude analysis from the Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System‐Advanced Level Physics High Altitude (NOGAPS‐ALPHA) forecast/assimilation system is used to initialize a series of 10 day forecasts at different spatial resolutions without any assumed gravity wave drag parameterization. As the spatial resolution is increased from 2.25° (spectral truncation at 79 total wave numbers, T79) to 0.75° (T239) and finally, to 0.375°(T479), the model simulation progressively improves compared with the analysis. The model vertical momentum fluxes are significantly greater at T479 relative to T239, consistent with resolving a greater fraction of the gravity wave spectrum. However, even at 0.375° resolution, a residual cold bias at the winter stratopause and warm bias at the summer mesopause remain, suggesting a continuing need for parameterized gravity wave drag. In addition, the zonal mean temperature solution is sensitive to the assumed value of spectral hyperdiffusion, thus highlighting an additional parameter that must be properly tuned in high‐resolution middle atmosphere models.
Hierarchical fusion robust Kalman filter for clustering sensor network time‐varying systems with uncertain noise variances
Authors: Zhang Peng , Qi Wenjuan , Deng Zili
Published: December 2013

For the clustering time‐varying sensor network systems with uncertain noise variances, according to the minimax robust estimation principle, based on the worst‐case conservative system with conservative upper bounds of noise variances, applying the optimal Kalman filtering, the two‐level hierarchical fusion time‐varying robust Kalman filter is presented, where the first‐level fusers consist of the local decentralized robust fusers for the clusters, and the second‐level fuser is a global decentralized robust fuser for the cluster heads. It can reduce the communication load and save energy resources of sensors. Its robustness is proved by the proposed Lyapunov equation method. The concept of robust accuracy is presented, and the robust accuracy relations of the local, decentralized, and centralized fused robust Kalman filters are proved. Specially, the corresponding steady‐state robust local and fused Kalman filters are also presented, and the convergence in a realization between the time‐varying and steady‐state robust Kalman filters is proved by the dynamic error system analysis method. A simulation example shows correctness and effectiveness. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The viscous drag on solids moving through solids
Authors: Goddard Joe D.
Published: December 2013

An extension of the theory of Ornstein (1906) and Nye (1967) for the drag force on circular wires and other solid bodies creeping through ice by means of pressure‐melting and regelation is provided. Nye's theory leads to a form of Stokes law, with rates controlled by heat conduction and lubrication flow in a thin water layer between ice and solid body. New analytical solutions are given for the corresponding drag force and torque on elliptical cylinders and spheroids for the special case of thermally thin water layers and for certain special forms of uncoupled translation and rotation that allow for single‐harmonic temperature fields. The present results differ from those proposed by Nye for general body shapes in the limit of negligible thermal resistance of the water layer. Also, the present results for the drag force on elliptic cylinders do not agree with the formulae derived by Tyvand and Bejan (1992) for small ellipticity. A brief review is given for various effects that might account for certain departures of the Nye theory from experiment on circular wires, in the hope that the present results may suggest simpler experiments aimed at systematic modification of the theory to account for such anomalies. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 1488–1498, 2014
Association between insulin‐like growth factor‐1, measures of overnutrition and undernutrition and insulin resistance in black adolescents living in the north‐west province, South Africa
Authors: Mamabolo Ramoteme L. , Berti Cristiana , Monyeki Makama A. , Salome Kruger H.
Published: December 2013

Objective

To determine if insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) is a significant predictor of body fat percentage (%BF), lean body mass, and insulin resistance (IR) in black adolescents presenting with overnutrition and undernutrition.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was undertaken in 181 adolescents (111 girls, 70 boys, 13–20 years old) from a low socio‐economic population in the North‐West Province, South Africa. Anthropometric measurements were performed, and %BF and lean mass were assessed by air displacement plethysmography. Serum glucose, leptin, insulin, IGF‐1 and IGF‐binding protein‐3 (IGFBP‐3) were measured and homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA‐IR) was calculated. Predictors of body composition and HOMA‐IR were determined in multivariate linear regressions.

Results

Of the boys, 31% had a %BF >20%, whereas 42% of girls had a %BF >30%. Furthermore, 17.1% male and 18.9% female adolescents were stunted, indicating overnutrition and undernutrition in the same group. IGF‐1 showed a negative association with %BF in both sexes, and a positive correlation with height‐for‐age z‐score (HAZ) and lean mass, respectively, in the boys. IGF‐1 correlated positively and physical activity correlated negatively with fasting insulin and HOMA‐IR in the girls. In both sexes, leptin had the strongest association with %BF in multiple regressions. Leptin and Tanner stage were significant predictors of HOMA‐IR in girls, but not in boys.

Conclusions

IGF‐1 was positively associated with lean mass and HAZ in boys, indicating a beneficial relationship with linear growth, but with IR in the girls, indicating possible adverse metabolic effects in the presence of high %BF and physical inactivity. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:189–197, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Early life stress and later health outcomes—findings from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study
Authors: Eriksson Mia , Räikkönen Katri , Eriksson Johan G.
Published: December 2013

Objectives

Severe early life stress (ELS) is a well‐known risk factor for mental health disorders later in life. Not only mental health disorders are affected by ELS but early life stressors can also induce physical and biological changes increasing the risk for several noncommunicable diseases including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Methods

This review focuses on the cohesive studies of individuals from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study born 1934–1944 who were sent abroad from Finland during World War II as “war children.”

Results

The review encompasses both epidemiological and clinical studies ranging from mental health disorders to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease as well as potential underlying mechanisms explaining the association between ELS and later health.

Conclusions

ELS is capable of causing changes that alter the normal physiological responses and thereby increase later disease risk, including cardiometabolic disorders. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:111–116, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Olprinone, phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, is useful for patients with severe acute heart failure due to takotsubo cardiomyopathy accompanied by subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Okajima Masaki , Koshida Yoshinao , Noda Toru , Taniguchi Takumi
Published: December 2013

Case

A 53‐year‐old woman with coma was diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage and ruptured aneurysm at the right internal carotid–posterior communicating artery.

Outcome

The aneurysm was successfully clipped. Severe hypoxia and shock with abnormal left ventricular contraction were observed. We diagnosed severe acute heart failure with cardiogenic shock due to takotsubo cardiomyopathy complicated by subarachnoid hemorrhage. Neither catecholamine nor intra‐aortic balloon pumping was selected to treat severe acute heart failure with cardiogenic shock because catecholamine generally worsens takotsubo cardiomyopathy and hematoma after surgery. Therefore, we gave olprinone and improved hypoxia and hemodynamics immediately without any arrhythmia.

Conclusion

Olprinone was effective for severe acute heart failure with cardiogenic shock due to takotsubo cardiomyopathy accompanied by subarachnoid hemorrhage. Catecholamine agents should be avoided if possible in patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy. A phosphodiesterase III inhibitor may be useful for cardiogenic shock caused by takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
Relationship between the 4Ts scoring system and the antiplatelet factor 4/heparin antibodies test in critically ill patients
Authors: Matsumura Yosuke , Nakada Taka‐aki , Oda Shigeto
Published: December 2013

Aim

Heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an adverse drug reaction and potentially progresses to fatal thrombosis. The 4Ts scoring system has been reported as a clinical pretest for HIT. However, its usefulness in critically ill patients has not yet been thoroughly examined. Thus, we evaluated the clinical usefulness of the 4Ts score in the diagnosis of HIT in critically ill patients.

Methods

One hundred and four critically ill patients who were admitted to our intensive care unit and who underwent the antiplatelet factor 4/heparin complex antibodies (PF4/heparin Ab) test with suspected HIT were enrolled in the study. The primary endpoint variable was the 4Ts score. The secondary endpoint variables were laboratory data, length of stay, and mortality, compared between thePF4/heparin Ab positive and negative groups.

Results

There was no significant difference in the 4Ts scores between the PF4/heparin Ab positive and negative groups. The positive predictive value (HIT patients/4T high score patients) was 15.4% (2/13), the negative predictive value (non‐HIT patients/4T low score patients) was 87.5% (42/48), and the false‐negative rate for the 4Ts score (4T low score patients/HIT patients) was as high as 54.5% (6/11). The PF4/heparin Ab positive patients had longer stay in intensive care compared to the PF4/heparin Ab negative patients (P = 0.035).

Conclusions

The present study showed the discrepancy between the 4Ts score and PF4/heparin Ab. When HIT is suspected in critically ill patients, an immediate HIT antibody test and initiation of therapeutic management of HIT are required regardless of the 4Ts score.
Round pneumonia in an elderly woman
Authors: Mahmood Tashfeen , Jou‐Tindou Adeline J. , Khasawneh Faisal A.
Published: December 2013

Key Clinical Message

We describe a case of pneumococcal round pneumonia in an elderly smoker and it demonstrates the role of inflammatory biomarkers and follow‐up imaging in ruling out more ominous diagnoses.
Considerations for the clinical use of contrast agents for cellular MRI in regenerative medicine
Authors: Modo Michel , Kolosnjaj‐Tabi Jelena , Nicholls Francesca , Ling Wen , Wilhelm Claire , Debarge Olivier , Gazeau Florence , Clement Olivier
Published: December 2013

Advances in regenerative medicine are rapidly transforming healthcare. A cornerstone of regenerative medicine is the introduction of cells that were grown or manipulated in vitro. Key questions that arise after these cells are re‐introduced are: whether these cells are localized in the appropriate site; whether cells survive; and whether these cells migrate. These questions predominantly relate to the safety of the therapeutic approach (i.e. tumorigenesis), but certain aspects can also influence the efficacy of the therapeutic approach (e.g. site of injection). The European Medicines Agency has indicated that suitable methods for stem cell tracking should be applied where these methods are available. We here discuss the European regulatory framework, as well as the scientific evidence, that should be considered to facilitate the potential clinical implementation of magnetic resonance imaging contrast media to track implanted/injected cells in human studies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluating reporter genes of different luciferases for optimized in vivo bioluminescence imaging of transplanted neural stem cells in the brain
Authors: Mezzanotte Laura , Aswendt Markus , Tennstaedt Annette , Hoeben Rob , Hoehn Mathias , Löwik Clemens
Published: December 2013

Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) has become the method of choice for optical tracking of cells in small laboratory animals. However, the use of luciferases from different species, depending on different substrates and emitting at distinct wavelengths, has not been optimized for sensitive neuroimaging. In order to identify the most suitable luciferase, this quantitative study compared the luciferases Luc2, CBG99, PpyRE9 and hRluc. Human embryonic kidney (HEK‐293) cells and mouse neural stem cells were transduced by lentiviral vector‐mediated transfer to express one of the four luciferases, together with copGFP. A T2A peptide linker promoted stoichiometric expression between both imaging reporters and the comparison of cell populations upon flow cytometry. Cell dilution series were used to determine highest BLI sensitivity in vitro for Luc2. However, Coelenterazine h‐dependent hRluc signals clearly exceeded d‐luciferin‐dependent BLI in vitro. For the quantitative in vivo analysis, cells were transplanted into mouse brain and BLI was performed including the recording of emission kinetics and spectral characteristics. Differences in light kinetics were observed for d‐luciferin vs Coelenterazine h. The emission spectra of Luc2 and PpyRE9 remained almost unchanged, while the emission spectrum of CBG99 became biphasic. Most importantly, photon emission decreased in the order of Luc2, CBG99, PpyRE9 to hRluc. The feasibility of combining different luciferases for dual color and dual substrate neuroimaging was tested and discussed. This investigation provides the first complete quantitative comparison of different luciferases expressed by neural stem cells. It results in a clear recommendation of Luc2 as the best luciferase selection for in vivo neuroimaging. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New carboxysilane‐coated iron oxide nanoparticles for nonspecific cell labelling
Authors: Bridot Jean‐Luc , Stanicki Dimitri , Laurent Sophie , Boutry Sébastien , Gossuin Yves , Leclère Philippe , Lazzaroni Roberto , Vander Elst Luce , Muller Robert N.
Published: December 2013

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers the possibility of tracking cells labelled with a contrast agent and evaluating the progress of cell therapies. This requires efficient cell labelling with contrast agents. A basic incubation of cells with iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) is a common method. This study reports the synthesis at the gram scale of iron oxide nanoparticles as MRI T2 contrast agents for cell labelling. These NPs are based on small iron oxide cores coated with a thin polysiloxane shell presenting carboxylic acid functions. The iron oxide cores produced have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, ζ‐potential, infrared, photon correlation spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, magnetometry and relaxometric measurements. These measurements confirmed the expected surface modification by carboxysilane. Carboxylic groups created electrostatic repulsion between NPs when they are deprotonated. Therefore, highly concentrated aqueous solutions of carboxysilane coated iron oxide NPs can be obtained, up to 70% (w/w). These NPs could be used for cell labelling owing to their aggregation and re‐dispersion properties. NPs precipitated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium induced a rapid association with 3 T6 fibroblast cells and could easily be re‐dispersed in phosphate buffer saline solution to obtain properly labelled cells. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cell tracking using multimodal imaging
Authors: Srinivas Mangala , Melero Ignacio , Kaempgen Eckhart , Figdor Carl G. , de Vries I. Jolanda M.
Published: December 2013

In vivo imaging plays a key role in cell tracking, particularly for the optimization of cellular therapeutics. A recent trend is to use more than one imaging modality (multimodality imaging) for this purpose. There are several advantages to multimodal cell tracking, particularly the corroboration of data obtained using a new imaging agent or technique with an established one, and the ability to glean complementary information from a single experiment. In this review, we examine the different types of labels and imaging strategies used in the literature for multimodal cell tracking, and discuss the pros and cons of these approaches, with a focus on MRI. Despite many efforts and novel technologies, we still have to face situations where current imaging methods are simply not sensitive enough and new labeling strategies are hampered by the lack of approved reagents. Finally, we examine new in vitro and preclinical developments, which have the potential to tackle unresolved challenges in in vivo multimodal imaging. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of r1 and r2 relaxivity of gadolinium‐based contrast agents on the T1‐weighted MR signal at increasing magnetic field strengths
Authors: Hagberg Gisela E. , Scheffler Klaus
Published: December 2013

Most contrast agents for magnetic respnance imaging (MRI) are gadolinium‐based T1 shortening agents. At increasing magnetic field strengths their r1 relaxivity tends to decrease while the r2 relaxivity increases. In parallel, at high fields the tissue T1 times increase and may mitigate the loss in contrast enhancement in T1‐weighted images owing to improved background suppression. In the present work we explored the MR signal for T1‐weighted spoiled gradient echo MRI sequences by simulations at three magnetic field strengths: 3, 7 and 9.4 T. The maximal available contrast enhancement (maxCE) was evaluated in absolute terms with the purpose of assessing how much of the full, underlying magnetization can be exploited, for a wide range of compound properties (r1, 2–45 mm−1 s−1; r2/r1, 1.2–30). Despite the theoretically predicted loss in r1 relaxivity at high fields, the same maxCE can be obtained as at low fields if the r2/r1 ratio remains unchanged, albeit at the cost of a longer sequence repetition time and 1.5–2 times higher administered doses. For a fixed maximum tissue concentration, there is an optimum field‐dependent value for the r1 relaxivity that yields the greatest maxCE. If the upper bound for the gadolinium concentration is 2 mm, the greatest maxCE is found for compounds with a r2/r1 ratio of 1.2 and an r1 relaxivity of 20.5 mm−1 s−1 at 3 T, 18 mm−1 s−1 at 7 T and 16.5 mm−1 s−1 at 9.4 T. For compounds that do not change their r1 relaxivity or r2/r1 ratios, the necessary dose can be reduced by 10–15% owing to the improved background suppression at higher fields. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vivo visualization of single native pancreatic islets in the mouse
Authors: Balla Dávid Z. , Gottschalk Sven , Shajan G. , Ueberberg Sandra , Schneider Stephan , Hardtke‐Wolenski Matthias , Jaeckel Elmar , Hoerr Verena , Faber Cornelius , Scheffler Klaus , Pohmann Rolf , Engelmann Jörn
Published: December 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of a novel targeted contrast agent (CA) for the in vivo visualization of single native pancreatic islets, the sites of insulin production, in the pancreas of mice using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The CA for intravenous administration was composed of the β‐cell‐specific single‐chain antibody fragment, SCA B1, and ferromagnetic carbon‐coated cobalt nanoparticles. MRI experiments were performed at 7, 9.4 and 16.4 T in excised organs (pancreas, liver, kidney, spleen), at 7 T in mice fixed in formalin and at 9.4 and 16.4 T in living mice. Image contrast in untreated control animals was compared with images from mice treated with unspecific and specific CA. For the validation of MRI results, selected pancreases were subjected to immunohistochemical staining and numerical contrast simulations were performed. Ex vivo results and the outcome of immunohistochemistry suggest that islets are marked only by the CA containing SCA B1. Strong accumulation of particles was found also in other investigated organs owing to the uptake by the reticuloendothelial system, but the contrast in the MR images is clearly distinguishable from the islet specific contrast in pancreases and numerical predictions. In vivo experiments based on averaged dynamic sampling with 66 × 66 × 100 µm3 and triggered acquisition with 90 × 90 × 200 µm3 nominal resolution resulted in similar particle contrast to in in vitro measurements. The newly developed CA and MRI strategies have the potential to be used for studying mouse diabetes models by visualizing single native pancreatic islets. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vivo MRI mapping of iron oxide‐labeled stem cells transplanted in the heart
Authors: Ruggiero A. , Guenoun J. , Smit H. , Doeswijk G. N. , Klein S. , Krestin G. P. , Kotek G. , Bernsen M. R.
Published: December 2013

In various stem cell therapy approaches poor cell survival has been recognized as an important factor limiting therapeutic efficacy. Therefore noninvasive monitoring of cell fate is warranted for developing clinically effective stem cell therapy. In this study we investigated the use of voxel‐based R2 mapping as a tool to monitor the fate of iron oxide‐labeled cells in the myocardium. Mesenchymal stem cells were transduced with the luciferase gene, labeled with ferumoxide particles and injected in the myocardium of healthy rats. Cell fate was monitored over a period of 8 weeks by bioluminescence and quantitative magnetic resonance imaging. Bioluminescence signal increased during the first week followed by a steep decrease to undetectable levels during the second week. MR imaging showed a sharp increase in R2 values shortly after injection at the injection site, followed by a very gradual decrease of R2 over a period of 8 weeks. No difference in the appearances on R2‐weighted images was observed between living and dead cells over the entire time period studied. No significant correlation between the bioluminescence optical data and R2 values was observed and quantitative R2 mapping appeared not suitable for the in vivo assessment of stem cell. These results do not follow previous in vitro reports where it was proposed that living cells may be distinguished from dead cells on the basis of the R2 relaxivities (intracellular and extracellular iron oxides). Cell proliferation, cell migration, cell death, extracellular superparamagnetic iron oxide dispersion and aggregation exhibit different relaxivities. In vivo these processes happen simultaneously, making quantification very complex, if not impossible. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Histopathological image analysis for centroblasts classification through dimensionality reduction approaches
Authors: Kornaropoulos Evgenios N. , Niazi M. Khalid Khan , Lozanski Gerard , Gurcan Metin N.
Published: December 2013

We present two novel automated image analysis methods to differentiate centroblast (CB) cells from noncentroblast (non‐CB) cells in digital images of H&E‐stained tissues of follicular lymphoma. CB cells are often confused by similar looking cells within the tissue, therefore a system to help their classification is necessary. Our methods extract the discriminatory features of cells by approximating the intrinsic dimensionality from the subspace spanned by CB and non‐CB cells. In the first method, discriminatory features are approximated with the help of singular value decomposition (SVD), whereas in the second method they are extracted using Laplacian Eigenmaps. Five hundred high‐power field images were extracted from 17 slides, which are then used to compose a database of 213 CB and 234 non‐CB region of interest images. The recall, precision, and overall accuracy rates of the developed methods were measured and compared with existing classification methods. Moreover, the reproducibility of both classification methods was also examined. The average values of the overall accuracy were 99.22% ± 0.75% and 99.07% ± 1.53% for COB and CLEM, respectively. The experimental results demonstrate that both proposed methods provide better classification accuracy of CB/non‐CB in comparison with the state of the art methods. © 2013 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry