bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of 5-Alkoxythieno[2,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-c]pyrimidine Derivatives and Evaluation of Their Anticonvulsant Activities
Authors: Wang Shi-Ben , Piao Guang-Chun , Zhang Hong-Jian , Quan Zhe-Shan
Published: April 2015

This work concerns the design and synthesis of novel, substituted 5-alkoxythieno[2,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-c]pyrimidine derivatives 5a–p prepared from 3-amino-2-thiophenecarboxylic acid methyl ester. The final compounds were screened for their in vivo anticonvulsant activity using maximal electroshock (MES) and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ) tests. Neurotoxicity (NT) was tested using a rotarod test. The structure-anticonvulsant activity relationship analysis revealed that the most effective structural motif involves a substituted phenol, especially when substituted with a single chlorine, fluorine or trifluoromethyl group (at the meta-position), or two chlorine atoms. These molecules possessed high activity according to the MES and scPTZ models. Quantitative assessment of the compounds after intraperitoneal administration in mice showed that the most active compound was 5-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]thieno[2,3-e] [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-c]pyrimidine (5o) with ED50 values of 11.5 mg/kg (MES) and 58.9 mg/kg (scPTZ). Furthermore, compound 5o was more effective in the MES and scPTZ tests than the well-known anticonvulsant drugs carbamazepine and ethosuximide.
Gaetano Vinaccia’s (1881–1971) Theoretical Work on the Relationship between Microclimate and Urban Design
Authors: Chiri Giovanni , Giovagnorio Ilaria
Published: April 2015

Because of his classification as a minor architect, Gaetano Vinaccia’s (1881–1971) role in the history of architecture has not been studied in depth. Despite the fact that his impact on the debate about rational architecture was limited, the depth and scientific accuracy of his theoretical contribution to the field of microclimatology in relation to urban design issues deserve to be highlighted, especially today when environmental and bioclimatic questions arise strongly in architecture and planning. Thus, this work aims to reconsider this figure by describing the—unfavorable—context in which his work evolved, by bringing to light his most brilliant statements, by reading his scientific productions, and by starting to consider the validity of some of Vinaccia’s intuitions and their actual correspondence with contemporary research. The question of whether Vinaccia can be considered as an innovator (or not) largely derives from the point of view of architectural criticism and the fact that he did not have a well-defined discipline in which to be classified. Despite the fact that his The City of Tomorrow (1943–1952), which is the first complete treatise on the subject, reveals that he was an absolute pioneer, he has had no chance to influence architecture and urbanism until today.
Unusual clinical case: extraluminal manifestation of a tapeworm from the eviscerated midline incision in a post-surgery patient
Authors: Dural Ahmet Cem , Celik Muhammet Ferhat , Temizgonul Baha , Unsal Mustafa Gokhan , Akarsu Cevher , Gonenc Murat , Kalayci Mustafa Uygar , Alis Halil
Published: April 2015

Taenia saginata infestation is one of the most common cestode infestations in humans, that may cause gastrointestinal tract related complications as a result of obstruction, perforation or anastomotic leakage. A 55-year-old male patient who was receiving palliative chemotherapy for stage IV gastric cancer was admitted to the emergency department for abdominal pain. A hollow viscus organ perforation was diagnosed and an emergency surgery was performed. On postoperative day 5, the patient’s midline incision eviscerated and a moving taenia emerged, with abundant particulated fluid from the incision line. The patient was admitted for abdominal surgery due to suspected bowel perforation. During the abdominal exploration, a relaxed purse stitch of the feeding tube was observed and no other bowel perforations were seen. The patient underwent two planned surgery for abdominal cavity lavage after the removal of cestode. Unfortunately, the patient  died sixteen days after his admission to the intensive care unit. This is the first case describing an extraluminal manifestation of a tapeworm in a midline incision from evisceration without intestinal perforation.
Prescribing trend of antimalarial drugs at the Ghana Police Hospital
Authors: Afriyie Daniel Kwame , Amponsah Seth Kwabena , Antwi Robert , Nyoagbe Stephen Yayra , Bugyei Kwasi Agyei
Published: April 2015

Introduction: Malaria ranks among the top three leading causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Appropriate use of recommended antimalarial drugs is vital in the effective management of malaria. Methodology: This study sought to assess the prescribing trend of antimalarial drugs at the Ghana Police Hospital. Antimalarial drug prescribing trends from 3,127 patient cards were assessed at the pharmacy unit of the hospital between December 2012 and May 2013 using modified World Health Organization rational drug prescribing indicators. Results: Of the 6,697 drugs assessed from the patient cards, antimalarial drugs prescribed included artemether-lumefantrine, 4,226 (63.1%), artemether injection with artemether-lumefantrine tablets, 1,741 (26%), artesunate injection, 241 (3.6%), artemether injection, 194 (2.9%), and artesunate-amodiaquine tablets, 188 (2.8%). The average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 2.1. A total of 4,052 (60.5%) drugs were prescribed by their generic names, and 2,645 (39.5%) were prescribed by their brand names. There were 2,250 (33.6%) encounters with injection (33.6%), and 6,001 (89.6%) of the prescribed drugs were from the essential drugs list. Prescriptions conforming to recommended dosage regimen totaled 6,328 (94.5%). Conclusion: The antimalarial prescribing pattern at the hospital was generally satisfactory. However, the use of injectable antimalarials appeared to be high.
Ongoing outbreak of Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A infections, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Authors: Kuijpers Laura Maria Francisca , Veng Chhun Heng , Sar Dara , Chung Panha , Phe Thong , Kham Chun , Vlieghe Erika , Jacobs Jan
Published: April 2015

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Promoting Active Learning through a Flipped Course Design
Authors: Hussey Heather D. , Fleck Bethany K. B. , Richmond Aaron S.
Published: April 2015

There are numerous ways in which faculty can deliver information in a blended course; however, the question remains as to which information is best suited to online delivery versus face-to-face. The focus of this chapter is on the flipped classroom, including a study in which a psychology statistics class was flipped and students' statistical knowledge, attitudes toward statistics, and intercultural sensitivity were assessed. In order to understand the theoretical underpinnings of the classroom, the authors examine the flipped structure through Blended Learning Theory, Problem-or-Project-Based Learning Theory, and Cognitive Taxonomy Theory. Advantages and disadvantages to transitioning to such a format as well as applications to other courses and some of the best practices in a flipped course are discussed.
A Quest about eQuest and Blended Learning in Teacher Education
Authors: Sivasankar A. , Mohanasundaram K.
Published: April 2015

While alternate modes of delivery in education are assuming importance, it is imperative to train the pre service teachers to use the web resources to maximise learning experience. This paper attempts to study the inquisitive nature of student teachers of south India to use the e resources named as e quest. This experimental study uses blended learning strategy as a treatment for experimental group and conventional method of teaching for control group with respect to some personal variables. The findings prove that blended learning strategy increases the e quest score of pre service teachers irrespective of their prior exposure.
A Blended Course to Teach Graphical Programming Using LabVIEW
Authors: Uğurlu Yücel
Published: April 2015

In this chapter, the authors introduce a blended learning approach where LabVIEW, an e-learning environment, was integrated into a traditional graphical programming course for engineering students to teach advanced topics and to increase the programming skills of the students. In this course, the students were required to design projects using technology. The students designed small projects and frequently accessed the e-learning system to build real-world applications. The projects that students designed stimulated them to use the e-learning system. The impact of blended learning was evaluated on the basis of student surveys and certification test results. Experimental studies show that blended learning produced higher results in the students' self-assessment and certification test.
Blogs in Teacher Education
Authors: Semingson Peggy
Published: April 2015

This chapter examines the content of written blog postings of students enrolled in a face-to-face course focusing on literacy assessment methods and practice for Pre-Service Teachers (PST) seeking elementary teaching certification. The purpose of the study was to examine the transcription of the students' postings and Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) to look for the three types of elements that comprise the Community of Inquiry according to as well as the examination of broader themes and trends across the data (Corbin & Strauss, 1990). Data included blog posts from a 15-week semester with a total of 702 combined posts and comments from a total of 40 undergraduate students. Data were analyzed using the constant-comparative method () and the framework of the Community of Inquiry Model (). Students engaged in various levels of cognitive stages of inquiry while also building on and developing social presence throughout the course. Teacher presence also guided the social construction of knowledge throughout the course. Examination of the teacher presence suggests that the instructor needed to provide more scaffolding in modeling evidence-based practice and problem-solving on the blog as students did not always connect their practice to evidence-based or text-based support.
Soft and Hard Technologies in Technology Education
Authors: Siu Kin Wai Michael , Wong Yi Lin
Published: April 2015

There is a common misconception that technology is limited to physical devices (i.e., hard technology). However, technology also includes soft technology, which is concerned with human and social factors. The emphasis on hard technology has prevented technology education from widening its scope and thus catering to the needs of a changing society. This chapter first briefly identifies the common definitions of soft and hard technologies. It then argues that technology education should emphasize both hard and soft technologies. Through a case study of Hong Kong, the chapter identifies the issues surrounding the inclusion of soft technology in the technology curriculum. The issues comprise the outdated perceptions of the government and schools with respect to technology, teachers' backgrounds, and students' abilities. The chapter then proposes recommendations and suggestions for resolving these issues. The future trend of an all-round and balanced approach toward hard and soft technology in technology education is discussed.
Assistive Technology and Distance Learning
Authors: Bastedo Kathleen , Vargas Jessica
Published: April 2015

For those with disabilities, distance-learning courses can provide access to a world that was once inaccessible. Online learning becomes a possibility and for many a gateway to contributing to the world around them. However, there are many points to consider when ensuring accessibility in distance-learning courses. By exploring the current research and trends, this chapter reviews learning management systems, learner interaction styles and tools, and methods to design accessible course materials. It provides the educator with not only a working vocabulary but also with strategies and implementation methods for ensuring accessible content in online learning.
A Teaching Model for the College Algebra Flipped Classroom
Authors: Ogden Lori , Pyzdrowski Laura J. , Shambaugh Neal
Published: April 2015

A flipped classroom teaching approach has been used in the teaching of college algebra within a broader initiative for mathematics learning. The flipped classroom approach documented in this chapter utilizes multiple teaching strategies to enhance student learning. From the pilot teaching of two semesters of college algebra, a teaching model was developed using the Joyce, Weil, and Calhoun (2009) framework. The purpose of this study and chapter is to describe the design and development of the flipped classroom teaching model in terms of the design decisions, model implementation, and model evaluation over the two semesters. Student survey responses and interview results suggest that this teaching model improved student perceptions of learning college algebra. Findings reported in this study document the use of the model, while future iterations of the design and development cycle (Richey & Klein, 2007) are necessary to understand the impact of the flipped classroom model on student learning.
Blended Learning Support for Undergraduate Students' Research and Writing Skills Development
Authors: Yoshida Asako
Published: April 2015

In this exploratory study, a subject librarian and a writing instructor investigated the potential of designing blended learning around research paper assignments in the context of two foundational courses in the Faculty of Human Ecology at the University of Manitoba, Canada. The objective was to explore alternative, more embedded learning support for undergraduate students. The significance of blended learning support was situated in the broader literature of the teaching and learning practices in higher education. In this case study, descriptions of blended learning support for facilitating student learning, and of the main barrier to its implementation are provided. Based on what was learned in the exploratory study, the chapter provides working guidelines for designing and developing blended learning support, mainly drawing from Butler and Cartier's (2004) research on academic engagement.
Designing Sustainability Curricula
Authors: Sheehan Madoc
Published: April 2015

Developing an engineering student's awareness of sustainability through the embedding of sustainability curricula is widely considered to be essential to modernising chemical engineering degree programs. In this chapter, the chemical engineering program at James Cook University is used as a case study to illustrate the design and sequencing of embedded curricula associated with developing a students' awareness of sustainability. There are a wide range of examples of skills, techniques, and characteristics associated with developing this awareness. In this chapter, an approach is described whereby a set of generic and interdisciplinary capabilities are developed to provide a degree of flexibility in how sustainability is interpreted and taught. A cognitive learning matrix is utilised as a design tool that facilitates determination of new subject learning outcomes aligned with the sustainability capabilities. A variety of curriculum examples are introduced and described.
Adoption of Blended Learning Technologies in Selected Secondary Schools in Cameroon and Nigeria
Authors: Nganji Julius T. , Nggada Shawulu H.
Published: April 2015

Blended learning could be seen as the solution to learning resource accessibility, especially when the indicators of measure are limited to distance and time. Distance and time could be said to be the generic indicators for the measure of blended learning. However, these do not solve the problem for everyone in society. For Inclusive Blended Learning (IBL), different types of users in society should be considered in its design. This is exactly what has provoked the focus of this chapter, to investigate the position of blended learning with respect to people with disabilities. The chapter's investigation is centered on selected secondary schools in Cameroon and Nigeria.
Blended Learning Experience of Graduate Students
Authors: Hozien Wafa
Published: April 2015

Blended learning has been in existence for over a decade, and more research needs to be done to determine its efficacy and desirability for colleges and universities. The goal of this chapter is to document the ways in which blended learning has changed the university learning experience for graduate students. End-of-semester student questionnaires were analyzed, and it was found that even in the early years of blended learning, students were generally satisfied and appreciated the convenience of the blended modality. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected through the questionnaires, a student focus group, and faculty interviews. The goal of this chapter is to answer the questions: How do graduate students perceive the BL experience? What are the faculty's perspectives about changes in the delivery of instruction? How has the university learning experience been changed as a consequence of BL? Student priorities were teacher presence, faculty skill at teaching blended classes, and the support that was available to them from the faculty and administration. Faculty voiced concerns with transitioning from teaching face-to-face or online to teaching blended.
Co-Constructed Curricula
Authors: Mott Vivian W. , Lohr Kathy D.
Published: April 2015

This chapter describes an adult learning perspective toward effective co-constructed curriculum, beginning with an overview of three distinct models, theories, or concepts felt to be seminal in the field of adult and continuing education. Following the presentation of these constructs, the chapter continues with a discussion of implications for learning involvement and then moves to an explanation of how curricula can be co-constructed. Detailed in this application section are the involvement of learners in the process of co-construction, the ways in which content and design are derived with learners' involvement, and the various roles of co-constructed assessment. The chapter concludes with three case studies as practical examples of co-constructed curriculum initiatives and a closing summary.
Successful Cases in Technology-Enabled Active Teaching and Metacognitive Learning Strategies in Blended Learning for Globalization
Authors: Gurubatham Mohan
Published: April 2015

This chapter draws from actual accredited graduate programs. It is essentially a reflection piece drawn from actual experience of successful teaching and blended action learning practices and principles that utilized online discussion forums. The classes were in Malaysia, the USA, and South Africa. The experience of teaching and learning involving metacognition and active online discussion internationally is described in terms of the cognitive literacy value chain developed by the author. Active discussion was seen as part and parcel of the process to nudge insights, critical thinking, and other expressions of higher order thinking that also facilitated peer bonding in very short, six-week semesters. The critical role of fluid intelligence in higher order thinking in a globalized knowledge economy is discussed in terms of the development of wisdom through the experience of transcending conventional thinking while sustaining refined thought processes and cultural values through metacognition. Sample comments and reflection journals are presented.
Using Blended Principles to Bridge the Gap between Online and On-Campus Courses
Authors: Gounari Panagiota , Koutropoulos Apostolos
Published: April 2015

Blended learning, and its relative HyFlex (Hybrid Flexible), are garnering up a lot of attention these days from both academics and administrators on college campuses. Organizations like the Sloan Consortium offer training in Blended Course Design; free Massive Online Open Courses (MOOC) such as BlendKit provide ways for educators to start thinking about and begin implementation of blended course design. Despite the pedagogical benefits, not all institutions are equipped to handle blended courses, instructors are not ready to jump on the blended bandwagon if there is no institutional support, and on-campus students are not very comfortable with it yet. One proposed way to ease the transition into blended learning is to combine two sections of the same course, one running online, and one running on-campus. In this chapter, the authors describe a pedagogical trial in which they adopted this proposal as a way, based on HyFlex principles, to get students thinking about the benefits of blending two sections, thus bringing in some benefits of blended learning, while retaining the “safety net” that some students feel they need when they sign up for on-campus courses.
Intercultural Communication and Sustainable Leadership
Authors: Kostoulas-Makrakis Nelly
Published: April 2015

The environmental, economic, and social crises we are increasingly confronted with locally and globally, including climate change, ozone depletion, biodiversity loss, and also economic and social issues, such as poverty, social inequalities, violation of human rights, gender inequalities, loss of indigenous knowledge, etc. call for changes in the ways we think, work, and act. In this context, a course dealing with intercultural communication and sustainable leadership that is part of a M.Sc. programme on ICT in Education for Sustainable Development has been developed and is studied in this chapter. The course puts emphasis on the most urgent and critical social, environmental, and economic challenges facing the world and explores how leaders from education, business, government and civil society are responding to global/local sustainability challenges. In particular, it elaborates on the nature of sustainability leadership and how it can contribute to transformational change. It does this by locating sustainability within the leadership literature and presenting a model of sustainability leadership that integrates three complementary types of leadership, namely: distributed; entrepreneurial and transformational. The course also examines the importance of sustainable leadership practices within organisations (e.g. schools, business, NGOs, public) and assess the potential benefits if institutions are more actively engaged in sustainable leadership practices. It explores how intercultural communication can contribute to positive change for sustainability and discusses that new theoretical frameworks are needed to better understand effective transformational leadership. It also elaborates how cultural orientations and intercultural communication competence affect the full range leadership framework and transformational leadership dimensions. This course is delivered through a Virtual Learning Management System (VLMS) based on Moodle open LMS.
Improve Collaboration Skills Using Cyber-Enabled Learning Environment
Authors: Fu Yujian
Published: April 2015

Collaborative learning methods have been widely applied in online learning environments to increase the effectiveness of the STEM programs. However, simply grouping students and assigning them projects and homework does not guarantee that they will get effective learning outcomes and improve their collaboration skills. This chapter shows that students can improve their learning outcomes and non-technical skills (e.g. collaboration and communication skills) through the cyber-enabled learning environment. The data was collected mainly from software engineering and object-oriented design classes of both graduates and undergraduates. The authors apply a blended version of education techniques by taking advantage of online environment and classroom teaching. Based on the study, the authors show that students can improve their collaboration and communication skills as well as other learning outcomes through the blended version of learning environment.
Preparing to Teach with Flipped Classroom in Teacher Preparation Programs
Authors: Ray Beverly B. , Powell Angiline
Published: April 2015

The chapter outlines best practices in the use of Flipped Classroom to promote active and meaningful learning in higher education, specifically preservice teacher preparation courses. The theoretical foundation supporting the use of Flipped Classroom is reviewed as well as issues related to its use. Recommendations as to how to integrate Flipped Classroom are examined as well. Linkage to the goals of teacher preparation programs are made to assure the reader's understanding of the recommendations that follow.
Innovations in Blended-Learning
Authors: Gotesman Edith , Krisi Miri
Published: April 2015

This research was born out of a necessity to accommodate students with learning disabilities who study English for Academic Purposes (EAP) at the Ashkelon Academic College in Israel. It was aimed at examining whether a convergence of traditional teaching and computer technology complemented by e-learning could assist students with Learning Disabilities (LD) to bypass their initial disadvantages when it came to studying English. Groups of LD students selected for study were given five regular and two guided reading tests to explore whether the use of blended learning improved the reading comprehension abilities of students in the sample group.
Challenges and Opportunities in the First Year of a 1:1 iPad Initiative in a High-Poverty, Highly Diverse Urban High School
Authors: Thieman Gayle Y.
Published: April 2015

The digital divide between technology-mediated instruction for students in low versus high socio-economic schools is a serious equity issue with repercussions for student learning. While there is a growing body of research on blended learning and 1:1 mobile devices, there seems to be little research on the potential of iPads to reduce disparity of access and impact student learning in high poverty schools. This chapter reports first year results of a 1:1 iPad project on teachers' attitudes and experiences and on high school students' technology access and use. Using iPads resulted in blended learning opportunities for some but not all students. Those who had an individually assigned iPad to use at school and home reported significantly higher satisfaction and proficiency with technology. These students also reported significantly greater use of online iPad applications and technology activities for instruction both during class and outside of school.
To Flip Or Not To Flip? That's Not The Question
Authors: Egbert Joy , Herman David , Chang Aichia
Published: April 2015

Although the literature on flipped instruction to date appears to be relatively atheoretical, the benefits listed in the flipped literature fit well with theories of optimal learning environments (e.g., Egbert, Hanson-Smith, & Chao, 2007) and student engagement (Lin, 2012, and others). This conceptual paper links flipped instruction to these two models and then briefly describes an ESL teacher education course that involves U.S. pre-service teachers learning Chinese online as part of a flipped classroom. The paper concludes by suggesting how flipped instruction might work in other CALL contexts and related issues.
Trends of Blended Learning in K-12 Schools
Authors: Kumi-Yeboah Alex , Smith Patriann
Published: April 2015

Blended learning is a well-known and successful instructional model used in higher education and K-12 schools (International Association for K-12 Online Learning, 2012; Watson, 2012). It is estimated that about 37 percent of school districts in the United States had students enrolled in technology-supported distance education courses during the 2004/2005 school year (Zandberg & Lewis, 2008). An increased student population, coupled with the need to reduce educational costs, has led to a high demand for virtual instruction (Watson, 2010). Blended learning is a hybrid of traditional face-to-face and online learning in which instruction occurs through both classroom and online formats, with the online component being a natural extension of traditional classroom learning (Colis & Moonen, 2001). As such, the process may involve a combination of instructional technology formats (e.g., videotape, CD-ROM, Web-based training, film) and face-to-face instructor-led instruction (Driscoll, 2002). Despite its hybrid nature and the potential it holds for transforming classroom instruction, to date, little research exists that examines trends in blended learning and the challenges and possibilities of utilizing this method of instructional delivery at the K-12 level. Further, even less is known about best practices in K-12 blended learning and instruction (Ferdig et al., 2009). Given these considerations, in this chapter, the authors first explore trends in blended learning in K-12 schools. Subsequently, they examine the benefits and challenges of K-12 blended learning. In the final phases of the chapter, the authors highlight possible solutions to the challenges, discuss recommendation, and identify directions for future research.
A new genus Mesophlaeoba (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Acridinae) from India
Authors: Kumar H. , Usmani M.K.
Published: April 2015

A new genus of Acridinae, Mesophlaeoba Kumar and Usmani gen. n. based on type species Mesophlaeoba usmanii Kumar and Usmani sp. n., is described and illustrated from India. The description was based on both conventional morphological and genital characters. The new genus is closely related to Phlaeoba Stal, 1861 but differs from it in presence of filiform antennae, absence of median carinula of fastigium of vertex and rounded posterior margin of pronotum.
The Performance of U.S. Wind and Solar Generators
Authors: Schmalensee Richard
Published: April 2015

Using data on hourly outputs and spot prices for a sample 25 wind and nine solar generating plants covering all seven U.S. ISOs for 2011 and up to 12 adjacent months, this study examines capacity factors, average output values, and several aspects of intermittency. Most performance measures studied vary substantially within and between ISOs, and some vary substantially over time. Implications for research, market design, and policies to support renewable generation are briefly discussed.
Convergence of Health Expenditure in OECD Countries: Evidence from a Nonlinear Asymmetric Heterogeneous Panel Unit Root Test
Authors: Pekkurnaz Didem
Published: April 2015

This paper examines the convergence in health expenditure across 22 OECD countries between 1980 and 2012 by implementing panel unit root tests. Contribution of application of the nonlinear asymmetric heterogeneous panel unit root test is twofold. Firstly, it relaxes the assumption of cross-sectional dependency in panel data. Secondly, it incorporates the asymmetric nonlinear mean reversion in a panel setting. Results show that while the conventional panel unit root test cannot reject the null hypothesis of a unit root in relative per capita health expenditures for the whole set of countries, both the symmetric and the asymmetric nonlinear panel unit root tests indicate the stationarity of the panel. Specifically, almost 23 percent of the countries are found to be converging by employing the nonlinear asymmetric panel unit root test. In addition, introducing asymmetric structure helps to uncover additional converging countries which cannot be detected using linear and nonlinear symmetric panel unit root tests.
Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy-Assisted Endotracheal Intubation in a Patient With a Large Tracheal Tumor
Authors: Pang Lei , Feng Yan-Hua , Ma Hai-Chun , Dong Su
Published: April 2015

In the event of a high degree of airway obstruction, endotracheal intubation can be impossible and even dangerous, because it can cause complete airway obstruction, especially in patients with high tracheal lesions. However, a smaller endotracheal tube under the guidance of a bronchoscope can be insinuated past obstructive tumor in most noncircumferential cases. Here we report a case of successful fiberoptic bronchoscopy-assisted endotracheal intubation in a patient undergoing surgical resection of a large, high tracheal tumor causing severe tracheal stenosis. A 42-year-old Chinese man presented with dyspnea, intermittent irritable cough, and sleep deprivation for one and a half years. X-rays and computed tomography scan of the chest revealed an irregular pedunculated soft tissue mass within the tracheal lumen. The mass occupied over 90% of the lumen and caused severe tracheal stenosis. Endotracheal intubation was done to perform tracheal tumor resection under general anesthesia. After several failed conventional endotracheal intubation attempts, fiberoptic bronchoscopy-assisted intubation was successful. The patient received mechanical ventilation and then underwent tumor resection and a permanent tracheostomy. This case provides evidence of the usefulness of the fiberoptic bronchoscopy-assisted intubation technique in management of an anticipated difficult airway and suggests that tracheal intubation can be performed directly in patients with a tracheal tumor who can sleep in the supine position, even if they have occasional sleep deprivation and severe tracheal obstruction as revealed by imaging techniques.
New Telemetry Device for the Measurement of Gastrointestinal Motility in Rats and Comparison With Standard Equipment
Authors: Meile Tobias , Zieker Derek , Königsrainer Alfred , Glatzle Jörg
Published: April 2015

To perform stress-free recording of gastrointestinal motility in rats with strain gauge transducers, telemetry equipment had to be developed. We developed, programmed, and tested a new telemetry device that records gastrointestinal motility in freely moving rats using strain gauge transducers. The device can collect and transmit data in freely moving rats. Data are received and stored for later analysis with a regular PC. Linear calibration curves were obtained for the strain gauge transducers used. We compared data obtained with the new telemetry device with data gathered with standard equipment and could not find any statistically significant difference. Wired gastric and colonic contraction frequencies were 4.6 ± 0.3 per minute and 1.5 ± 0.3 per minute, whereas telemetric contraction frequencies were 4.4 ± 0.1 per minute and 1.25 ± 0.1 per minute. The new telemetry device is a very useful tool for the measurement of gastrointestinal motility in rats.
Changes in T-Lymphocytes' Viability After Laparoscopic Versus Open Cholecystectomy
Authors: Gomatos Ilias P. , Alevizos Leonidas , Kalathaki Olga , Kantsos Harilaos , Kataki Agapi , Leandros Emmanuel , Zografos George , Konstantoulakis Manousos
Published: April 2015

Laparoscopic surgery results in decreased immune and metabolic stress response compared to open surgery. Our aim was to evaluate the suspension of host immune defense in terms of apoptosis, necrosis, and survival of peripheral T-lymphocytes in patients undergoing laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy. Apoptosis, necrosis and viability of peripheral T-lymphocytes were measured preoperatively and postoperatively by means of flow cytometry in 27 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 25 undergoing open cholecystectomy. White cell count, CRP, and serum glucose levels were also measured. Viable peripheral T-lymphocytes were significantly decreased in open cholecystectomy (P = 0.02), while their late apoptotic as well as the overall necrotic rate were significantly increased (P = 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively). Open cholecystectomy was also associated with lower levels of surviving circulating T-lymphocytes (P = 0.01) and higher percentage of necrotic T lymphocytes (P = 0.03) 24 hours postoperatively compared to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Serum CRP was increased 24 hours after open cholecystectomy (P = 0.04). All differences failed to sustain more than 48 hours postoperatively. Increased viability and decreased necrosis of circulating T-lymphocytes were observed in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Necrosis (and not apoptosis) seems to be the predominant pathway of T-lymphocyte death in open cholecystectomy, in a process reaching its peak at 24 hours and further attenuating 48 hours postoperatively.
Suture Granuloma With False-Positive Findings on FDG-PET/CT Resected via Laparoscopic Surgery
Authors: Takeshita Nobuyoshi , Tohma Takayuki , Miyauchi Hideaki , Suzuki Kazufumi , Nishimori Takanori , Ohira Gaku , Narushima Kazuo , Imanishi Shunsuke , Toyozumi Takeshi , Matsubara Hisahiro
Published: April 2015

A 61-year-old woman who had undergone total hysterectomy 16 years previously exhibited a pelvic tumor on computed tomography (CT). F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) combined positron emission tomography (PET)/CT imaging revealed a solitary small focus of increased FDG activity in the pelvis. A gastrointestinal stromal tumor originating in the small intestine or another type of tumor originating in the mesentery (desmoid, schwannoma, or foreign body granuloma) was suspected; therefore, laparoscopic resection was conducted. A white, hard tumor was found to originate from the mesentery of the sigmoid colon and adhered slightly to the small intestine. The tumor was resected with a negative margin, and the pathologic diagnosis was suture granuloma. The possibility of suture granuloma should be kept in mind in cases of tumors with positive PET findings and a history of surgery close to the lesion. However, it is difficult to preoperatively diagnose pelvic tumors using a biopsy. Therefore, considering the possibility of malignancy, it is necessary to achieve complete resection without exposing the tumor.
Success of Serial Transverse Enteroplasty in an Adult With Extreme Short Bowel Syndrome: A Case Report
Authors: Fan Shengxian , Li Yousheng , Zhang Shaoyi , Wang Jian , Li Jieshou
Published: April 2015

Since its introduction as an alternative intestinal lengthening technique, serial transverse enteroplasty has been increasingly used as the surgical treatment of choice for children with refractory short bowel syndrome, but there have been few reports about the adult patients. This report describes the case of a 71-year-old man with a short bowel after distal gastrectomy with Billroth II reconstruction for gastric cancer, followed by extensive intestinal resection. The serial transverse enteroplasty operation was performed and lengthened the small intestine from 49 to 67 cm. The patient tolerated the procedure well and weaned off total parenteral nutrition. Liver function also improved. This case shows that the serial transverse enteroplasty procedure increases intestinal length. This procedure should be considered a surgical option for adult patients with extreme short bowel syndrome.
Five Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial on Warming and Humidification of Insufflation Gas in Laparoscopic Colonic Surgery—Impact on Small Bowel Obstruction and Oncologic Outcomes
Authors: Sammour Tarik , Hill Andrew G.
Published: April 2015

Warming and humidification of insufflation gas has been shown to reduce adhesion formation and tumor implantation in the laboratory setting, but clinical evidence is lacking. We aimed to test the hypothesis that warming and humidification of insufflation CO2 would lead to reduced adhesion formation, and improve oncologic outcomes in laparoscopic colonic surgery. This was a 5-year follow-up of a multicenter, double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial investigating warming and humidification of insufflation gas. The study group received warmed (37°C), humidified (98%) insufflation carbon dioxide, and the control group received standard gas (19°C, 0%). All other aspects of patient care were standardized. Admissions for small bowel obstruction were recorded, as well as whether management was operative or nonoperative. Local and systemic cancer recurrence, 5-year overall survival, and cancer specific survival rates were also recorded. Eighty two patients were randomized, with 41 in each arm. Groups were well matched at baseline. There was no difference between the study and control groups in the rate of clinical small bowel obstruction (5.7% versus 0%, P 0.226); local recurrence (6.5% versus 6.1%, P 1.000); overall survival (85.7% versus 82.1%, P 0.759); or cancer-specific survival (90.3% versus 87.9%, P 1.000). Warming and humidification of insufflation CO2 in laparoscopic colonic surgery does not appear to confer a clinically significant long term benefit in terms of adhesion reduction or oncological outcomes, although a much larger randomized controlled trial (RCT) would be required to confirm this. ClinicalTrials.gov Trial identifier: NCT00642005; US National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA.
Surface mass balance contributions to acceleration of Antarctic ice mass loss during 2003–2013
Authors: Seo Ki‐Weon , Wilson Clark R. , Scambos Ted , Kim Baek‐Min , Waliser Duane E. , Tian Baijun , Kim Byeong‐Hoon , Eom Jooyoung
Published: April 2015

Recent observations from satellite gravimetry (the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission) suggest an acceleration of ice mass loss from the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS). The contribution of surface mass balance changes (due to variable precipitation) is compared with GRACE‐derived mass loss acceleration by assessing the estimated contribution of snow mass from meteorological reanalysis data. We find that over much of the continent, the acceleration can be explained by precipitation anomalies. However, on the Antarctic Peninsula and other parts of West Antarctica, mass changes are not explained by precipitation and are likely associated with ice discharge rate increases. The total apparent GRACE acceleration over all of the AIS between 2003 and 2013 is −13.6 ± 7.2 Gt/yr2. Of this total, we find that the surface mass balance component is −8.2 ± 2.0 Gt/yr2. However, the GRACE estimate appears to contain errors arising from the atmospheric pressure fields used to remove air mass effects. The estimated acceleration error from this effect is about 9.8 ± 5.8 Gt/yr2. Correcting for this yields an ice discharge acceleration of −15.1 ± 6.5 Gt/yr2.
A multiobjective short‐term optimal operation model for a cascade system of reservoirs considering the impact on long‐term energy production
Authors: Xu Bin , Zhong Ping‐An , Stanko Zachary , Zhao Yunfa , Yeh William W.‐G.
Published: April 2015

This paper examines the impact of short‐term operation on long‐term energy production. We propose a multiobjective optimization model for the short‐term, daily operation of a system of cascade reservoirs. The two objectives considered in the daily model are: (1) minimizing the total amount of water released and (2) maximizing the stored energy in the system. Optimizing short‐term operation without considering its impact on long‐term energy production does not guarantee maximum energy production in the system. Therefore, a major goal of this paper is to identify desirable short‐term operation strategies that, at the same time, optimize long‐term energy production. First, we solve the daily model for 1 month (30 days) using a nondominated genetic algorithm (NSGAII). We then use the nondominated solutions obtained by NSGAII to assess the impact on long‐term energy production using a monthly model. We use historical monthly inflows to characterize the inflow variability. We apply the proposed methodology to the Qingjiang cascade system of reservoirs in China. The results show: (1) in average hydrology scenarios, the solution maximizing stored energy produces the most overall long‐term energy production; (2) in moderately wet hydrology scenarios, the solution minimizing water released outperforms the maximizing stored energy solution; and (3) when extremely wet hydrology scenarios are expected, a compromise solution is the best strategy.
Protein Folding in Vivo
Authors: Georgescauld Florian , Hartl Franz‐Ulrich
Published: April 2015

Proteins are composed of linear chains of amino acids. Upon synthesis in the cell, most proteins must rapidly acquire a specific three‐dimensional structure, a process known as folding, before they can perform their various biological functions. Productive folding is often competed by aggregation, owing to the high macromolecular crowding of the cellular environment. Moreover, the process of translation increases the danger of misfolding, as incomplete nascent polypeptides are not yet able to fold into stable structures in many cases. To avoid these off‐pathway reactions, a class of proteins called molecular chaperones has evolved in all organisms. They interact with nascent or stress‐denatured polypeptides, prevent their aggregation and assist in folding and assembly processes, often in an ATP‐regulated manner. These functions are especially important in conditions of cell stress, and their failure is linked with the manifestation of numerous age‐dependent degenerative diseases.

Key Concepts

Molecular chaperones are proteins that mediate folding and assembly of other proteins, without being components of the final folded or assembled structures.

Molecular chaperones prevent the potentially toxic aggregation of newly synthesised polypeptides during translation and when mature proteins unfold during stress conditions or ageing.

Hsp70 chaperones act as a hub in the proteostasis network by assisting protein folding and conformational maintenance and by distributing client proteins to other chaperones for correct folding.

The chaperonins mediate the folding of proteins with complex topologies and kinetically frustrated folding pathways.
Mammalian Embryo:HoxGenes
Authors: Nolte Christof , Alexander Tara B , Krumlauf Robb
Published: April 2015

Hoxgenes are evolutionarily conserved transcription factors that play important roles in establishing the basic body plan of animals. Mammals have 39Hoxgenes clustered into four chromosomal complexes. This gene family regulates the regional character and patterning of diverse structures along the anterior–posterior (A/P) axis of the embryo. Nested patterns ofHoxgene expression generate a Hox combinatorial protein code that orchestrates the morphogenesis of structures in the nervous system, axial skeleton, limbs, intestine and many other tissues. In light of their key role in regulating morphogenesis across animal species, modulation ofHoxexpression or function over the course of evolution is believed to have been important in generating diversity.

Key Concepts

Axial patterning is the process that generates different regional characteristics during the development of a tissue, such as the nervous system or skeleton.

Hoxgenes encode a family of transcription factors that regulate the identity of structures along the anterior–posterior (A/P) axis of embryos.

Co‐linearity is the correlation between the order ofHoxgenes along a chromosome and their expression along the axis of an embryo.

The collection of Hox proteins expressed in a region provides a combinatorial code for specifying diversity.

Posterior prevalence is a model for explaining why some Hox proteins dominate over others when they are co‐expressed.

Selector genes control the identity of a tissue.

Homeotic transformation is the conversion of one structure into another due to loss or gain of selector gene activity.

Segmentation subdivides a developing tissue, such as the hindbrain or skeleton, into repeating units that ultimately generate different structures along an axis.

Subfunctionalisation is the partitioning of function and regulation between duplicated genes compared with the ancestral gene.

Changes inHoxexpression or function may be important for generating differences in structures during evolution of vertebrates.

Cooption refers to the redeployment or coupling of a common molecular pathway to multiple patterning processes.