bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-destructive in situ spectroscopic analysis of greenstone objects from royal burial offerings of the Mayan site of Palenque, Mexico
Authors: Delgado Robles Alma A. , Ruvalcaba Sil Jose Luis , Claes Pieterjan , Manrique Ortega Mayra D. , Casanova González Edgar , Maynez Rojas Miguel Ángel , Cuevas García Martha , García Castillo Sabrina
Published: June 2015

One of the most important Mayan cities of the Classic period (A.D. 200–900) of Mesoamerica is Palenque, in Chiapas. The Mayan civilization attributed great importance to greenstone minerals, in particular jadeite. This study covers the analysis of greenstones found in royal tombs of several temples corresponding to the Classic period: the Temple of the Skull, Temple of the Cross and Temples XVIII and XVIII-A. The aim of this research is to determine the use of greenstone minerals and the raw materials’ sources as a first step in understanding the development of Palenque and its relationships to other sites in the Maya region. Here, we present a non-destructive in situ study of lithic objects carried out by means of a several spectroscopic techniques, such as Raman, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and color measurements, at the Palenque site museum. FTIR and Raman allowed for the identification of minerals including jadeite, omphacite, amazonite, albite, muscovite and green quartz. Moreover, XRF was effective for in situ analysis of the elemental composition of the artifacts. This information was essential for sourcing the raw materials, in particular, jadeite. It was possible to infer the exploitation of an unknown source of jadeite for the earlier burial (A.D. 250–450). During this period the exploitation of the Verapaz and Motagua jadeite deposits also began. These sources were the primary deposits used for the manufacture of the artifacts studied from the period of A.D. 600–850. Also, a greater diversity of minerals is observed during the zenith of Palenque during this period, corresponding to the reign of Pakal. Although, between burials, the color of the artifacts is diverse, the color measurements indicated similarity in color among artifacts within individual burials.
Phase II Trial Assessing the Ability of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy With or Without Second-Look Surgery to Eliminate Measurable Disease for Nongerminomatous Germ Cell Tumors: A Children's Oncology Group Study
Authors: Goldman Stewart , Bouffet Eric , Fisher Paul G. , Allen Jeffrey C. , Robertson Patricia L. , Chuba Paul J. , Donahue Bernadine , Kretschmar Cynthia S. , Zhou Tianni , Buxton Allen B. , Pollack Ian F.
Published: June 2015

Purpose

This phase II trial evaluated the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with or without second-look surgery before craniospinal irradiation on response rates and survival outcomes in children with newly diagnosed nongerminomatous germ cell tumors.

Patients and Methods

Induction chemotherapy consisted of six cycles of carboplatin/etoposide alternating with ifosfamide/etoposide. Patients demonstrating less than complete response after induction chemotherapy were encouraged to undergo second-look surgery. Patients who did not achieve complete response or partial response after chemotherapy with or without second-look surgery proceeded to high-dose chemotherapy with thiotepa and etoposide and autologous peripheral blood stem-cell rescue before craniospinal irradiation.

Results

The study included 102 patients treated between January 2004 and July 2008. Median age was 12 years, and 76% were male; 53.9% had pineal region masses, and 23.5% had suprasellar lesions. Sixty-nine percent of patients achieved complete response or partial response with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. At 5 years, event-free survival was 84% ± 4% (SE) and overall survival was 93% ± 3%. During the median follow-up of 5.1 years, 16 patients recurred or progressed, with seven deaths after relapse. No deaths were attributed to therapy-related toxicity. Relapse occurred at the site of primary disease in 10 patients, at a distant site in three patients, or both in one patient. In two patients, progression was detected by marker increase alone. Increased serum α-fetoprotein was a negative prognostic variable. Histologic subtype and increase of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin were not significantly correlated with worse outcomes.

Conclusion

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with or without second-look surgery achieved high response rates contributing to excellent survival outcomes in children with newly diagnosed nongerminomatous germ cell tumors. This regimen should be included as a backbone for further studies.
Efficacy of Adjuvant Trastuzumab for Patients With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Positive Early Breast Cancer and Tumors ≤ 2 cm: A Meta-Analysis of the Randomized Trastuzumab Trials
Authors: O'Sullivan Ciara C. , Bradbury Ian , Campbell Christine , Spielmann Marc , Perez Edith A. , Joensuu Heikki , Costantino Joseph P. , Delaloge Suzette , Rastogi Priya , Zardavas Dimitrios , Ballman Karla V. , Holmes Eileen , de Azambuja Evandro , Piccart-Gebhart Martine , Zujewski Jo Anne , Gelber Richard D.
Published: June 2015

Purpose

We compared efficacy of trastuzumab versus no trastuzumab in patients with small (≤ 2 cm) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) –positive breast cancer treated in randomized trials.

Methods

A meta-analysis was conducted using data from five of the six adjuvant trastuzumab trials. Efficacy end points were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Separate analyses were prospectively planned for hormone receptor (HR) –positive and HR-negative cohorts. Random effect models and Yusuf-Peto fixed effects models assessed the impact of heterogeneity on baseline hazards and treatment effects across studies. Peto-Pike cumulative incidence estimates were stratified by study and nodal status.

Results

Median follow-up time was 8 years. For 2,263 patients with HR-positive disease, 8-year cumulative incidence rates comparing trastuzumab versus no trastuzumab were 17.3% versus 24.3% (P < .001) for DFS and 7.8% versus 11.6% (P = .005) for OS, respectively; for 1,092 HR-positive patients with zero or one positive lymph nodes, results were 12.7% versus 19.4% (P = .005) for DFS and 5.3% versus 7.4% (P = .12) for OS, respectively. For 1,957 patients with HR-negative disease, 8-year cumulative incidence rates were 24.0% versus 33.4% (P < .001) for DFS and 12.4% versus 21.2% (P < .001) for OS, respectively; for 1,040 HR-negative patients with zero or one positive lymph nodes, results were 20.4% versus 26.3% (P = .05) for DFS and 8.2% versus 12.2% (P = .084) for OS, respectively.

Conclusion

Women with HER2-positive tumors ≤ 2 cm in the randomized trastuzumab trials derived substantial DFS and OS benefit from adjuvant trastuzumab. Trastuzumab-treated patients with HR-positive disease and ≤ one positive lymph node may be candidates for trials assessing less aggressive treatment approaches.
Postoperative Radiation Therapy Is Associated With Improved Overall Survival in Incompletely Resected Stage II and III Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Wang Elyn H. , Corso Christopher D. , Rutter Charles E. , Park Henry S. , Chen Aileen B. , Kim Anthony W. , Wilson Lynn D. , Decker Roy H. , Yu James Byunghoon
Published: June 2015

Purpose

To review trends in the use of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) for stage II and III incompletely resected non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and evaluate the association between PORT and survival in such patients.

Patients and Methods

We identified patients with pathologic stage N0-2, overall American Joint Committee on Cancer stage II or III NSCLC within the National Cancer Data Base who had undergone a lobectomy or pneumonectomy with positive surgical margins. Only patients coded as receiving external-beam PORT at 50 to 74 Gy or observation were included. To account for perioperative mortality, we excluded patients who survived less than 4 months after diagnosis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with PORT receipt. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed for multivariable analyses of overall survival.

Results

Among 3,395 included patients, 1,207 (35.6%) received PORT. Predictors for the use of PORT among this patient population included age less than 60 years, treatment in a nonacademic facility, earlier year of diagnosis, decreased travel distance, lower nodal stage, and chemotherapy receipt. On multivariable analysis adjusting for demographic and clinicopathologic covariates, PORT (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70 to 092) was associated with improved survival. Subset analysis by nodal stage showed that PORT improved survival across all nodal stages.

Conclusion

PORT is associated with improved overall survival in patients with incompletely resected stage II or III N0-2 NSCLC. The use of PORT for this population in more recent years has been declining. In the absence of randomized trials evaluating PORT utilization for this patient population, our findings strongly support the delivery of PORT in patients with incompletely resected NSCLC.
Kinesin-1 promotes post-Golgi trafficking of NCAM140 and NCAM180 to the cell surface
Authors: Wobst Hilke , Schmitz Brigitte , Schachner Melitta , Diestel Simone , Leshchyns'ka Iryna , Sytnyk Vladimir
Published: June 2015

The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is important during neural development, because it contributes to neurite outgrowth in response to its ligands at the cell surface. In the adult brain NCAM is involved in regulating synaptic plasticity. The molecular mechanisms underlying delivery of NCAM to the neuronal cell surface remain poorly understood. We used a protein macroarray and identified the kinesin light chain 1 (KLC1), a component of the kinesin-1 motor protein, as a binding partner of the intracellular domains of the two transmembrane isoforms of NCAM, NCAM140 and NCAM180. KLC1 binds to amino acids CGKAGPGA within the intracellular domain of NCAM and co-localizes with kinesin-1 in the Golgi compartment. Delivery of NCAM180 to the cell surface is increased in CHO cells and neurons co-transfected with kinesin-1. We further demonstrate that the p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) competes with KLC1 for binding to the intracellular domain of NCAM and contributes to the regulation of the membrane insertion of NCAM. Our results indicate that NCAM is delivered to the cell surface via a kinesin-1 mediated transport mechanism in a PAK1-dependent manner.
Proximal Femur Size and Geometry in Cementless Total Hip Arthroplasty Patients
Authors: Moulton Darrell L. , Lindsey Ronald W. , Gugala Zbigniew
Published: June 2015

Introduction:Accurate femoral prosthesis press-fit is essential for successful cementless total hip arthroplasty (cTHA) and dependent upon proximal femur size and geometry. Study objectives were to determine the variability of proximal femur size and geometry in primary cTHA patients and correlate them with patient demographics and body mass index (BMI).

Methods:Medical records of 127 consecutive primary cTHA patients were reviewed retrospectively. The demographic (ethnicity, sex, age) and BMI data were collected. Intertrochanteric (IT) distance, inner/outer proximal femur diameters and cortical thickness for the subtrochanteric (ST) and cortical diaphyseal (DP) regions were measured from anteroposterior radiographs. Descriptive statistics were used to correlate patient demographics and BMI with radiographic measurements.

Results:The study included 96 cTHA patients (mean age 60 years, range 22-91 years; 34 females; 72 Caucasian, 18 Black, and six Hispanic) with four underweight; 13 normal; 34 overweight, and 45 obese BMI. No correlation existed for patient age or race with radiographic measurements. Males had significantly larger proximal femur dimensions and cortical thickness than females. No BMI correlations existed for IT distance; BMI was directly proportional to outer diameter and cortical thickness in ST and DP regions, and inversely proportional to inner diameter in these regions.

Discussion:Greater proximal femur size appears to correlate with gender, but not with age or race. Larger subtrochanteric and diaphyseal outer diameters are significantly associated with higher BMI. A trend exists for larger subtrochanteric and diaphyseal inner diameters to be associated with lower BMI. These findings may have implications for optimal cTHA femoral component design.
The Fiqh Paradigm for the Pancasila State: Abdurrahman Wahid’s Thoughts on Islam and the Republic of Indonesia
Authors: Rochmat Saefur
Published: June 2015

The Republic of Indonesia was not established as a purely secular state as muslims constitute the majority of Indonesians. Indeed, they were divided into three main paradigms: secular, theocratic, and fiqh. The Pancasila state was the result of a gentlemen’s agreement amongst different muslim groups with different paradigms. The regimes of Soekarno and Soeharto considered that the Pancasila state was unique to the Indonesian character and accordingly these leaders tried to unify these different paradigms following Prof Soepomo’s idea of an integralistic state in which the state gives more power to the executive. This idea of an integralistic state is, however, alien to the secular, theocratic, and fiqh paradigms so that this failed to resolve the conflict. In this regard, Abdurrahman Wahid tries to resolve the ideological conflict by incorporating modern sciences into the fiqh paradigm. This fiqh paradigm has supported the establishment of the Republic of Indonesia, but also, according to Wahid, is able to harmonize secular and Islamic aspirations in the national political system.

[Republik Indonesia tidak didirikan berdasarkan konsep murni sebuah negara sekuler karena muslim merupakan mayoritas rakyat Indonesia. Muslim Indonesia terbagi dalam tiga paradigma utama: sekular, teokratik, dan fikih. Bentuk negara Pancasila merupakan hasil kesepakatan ketiga kelompok paradigma tersebut. Regime Soekarno dan Soeharto memahami Negara Pancasila sebagai budaya asli bangsa Indonesia dan mereka berusaha menyatukan pendukung ketiga paradigma itu berdasarkan konsep negara integralistic yang diperkenalkan oleh Prof. Soepomo. Namun konsep negara integralistik ini tidak dikenal dalam ketiga paradigm itu, sehingga gagal menyelesaikan konflik. Dalam hal ini Abdurrahman Wahid berusaha menyelesaikan konflik ideologis dengan cara mengadaptasi pengetahuan modern ke dalam paradigma fikih. Paradigma fikih tidak hanya mendukung berdirinya Republik Indonesia, tetapi juga mampu mengharmoniskan aspirasi sekular dan religius dalam sistem politik nasional.]
Isolation and quantification of N-glycans from immunoglobulin G antibodies for quantitative glycosylation analysis
Authors: S. Tayi Venkata , Butler Michael
Published: June 2015

N-glycosylation is one of the critical quality attributes for the therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. Characterization of N-glycans of monoclonal antibodies provides valuable information about its therapeutic efficacy. We present a non-invasive method of isolating N-glycans from Immunoglobulin G based antibodies for glycosylation analysis. The method consists of purification of antibodies from biological solution and release of N-glycans with peptide-N-glycosidase F in a single consolidated process using a mini affinity ligand column (e.g. protein-A column). The method is highly reproducible with average coefficient of variation of 0.012 in the glycoform percentage distributions between the replicates. The method provides quantification of the molar yield of glycans as a function of molar concentration of antibody in a single analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first time this approach was used to detect and quantify any macro-heterogeneity of N-glycosylation in monoclonal antibody samples. This fairly rapid and very cost-efficient method would be of great interest for academic labs and biopharmaceutical industries.
Resumos do VII Simpósio Iberoamericano de Plantas Medicinais (VII SIPM) e do II Simpósio Iberoamericano de Investigação em Câncer (II SIIC)
Authors: GUALBERTO Simone Andrade , OLIVEIRA Rosilene Aparecida de , SILVA Andrea Gomes , CECHINEL FILHO Valdir
Published: June 2015

Intercambiar experiências acadêmico-científicas que possibilitarão solidificar estratégias de pesquisa e desenvolvimento, além de estabelecer formas de cooperação interinstitucionais envolvidas com programas e/ou projetos com a biodiversidade, valorizando-se a multidisciplinaridade, aintegração com o sistema produtivo e com as políticas públicas de saúde.
Molecular structure of novel heterobimetallic thiolate [Cu(PPh3)]4(ZnCl)2(SEt)6.6THF
Authors: Kociok-Köhn Gabriele , Molloy Kieran C. , Sudlow Anna L.
Published: June 2015

Heterobimetallic thiolate [Cu(PPh3)]4(ZnCl)2 (SEt)6 has been synthesised and characterised by X-ray crystallography as a THF solvate. It contains the first structurally characterised example of a CuI-S(R)-ZnII linkage and only the second species type to embody the CuI-S-ZnII triad.
Design and synthesis of quinazolinyl acetamides for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities
Authors: Alagarsamy Veerachamy , Solomon Viswas Raja , Sulthana Mohaideen Thasthagir , Vijay Meduri Satyasai , Narendhar Bandi
Published: June 2015

A variety of novel 2-(substituted)-N-(4-oxo-2-phenylquinazolin-3(3H)-yl)acetamides were synthesized by the reaction of 2-chloro-N-(4-oxo-2-phenylquinazolin-3(3H)-yl)acetamide with various amines. The starting material, 2-chloro-N-(4-oxo-2-phenylquinazolin-3(3H)-yl)acetamide, was synthesized from anthranilic acid by the multistep process. The title compounds were investigated for analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and ulcerogenic index activities. Among those, the compound 2-(ethylamino)-N-(4-oxo-2-phenylquinazolin-3(3H)-yl)acetamide (V9) showed most potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the series and it is moderately more potent compared to the reference standard diclofenac sodium. Interestingly, the test compounds showed only mild ulcerogenic potential compared to aspirin.
Is surgery necessary for ‘mild’ or ‘asymptomatic’ hyperparathyroidism?
Authors: Niederle Bruno , Wémeau Jean-Louis
Published: June 2015

A large majority of the currently diagnosed patients with hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) are mild or asymptomatic, mainly women after menopause. Following the debate held at the 16th European Congress of Endocrinology in Wroclaw (Poland) from May 3–7, 2014, arguments are here presented by a surgeon and a medical practitioner considering these situations rather have to profit from surgery, or simply from survey. For the trained endocrine surgeon, it is evident that parathyroidectomy confirms the diagnosis and undoubtedly reduces the discomfort felt by certain patients, prevents all risks of complications, removes patients and medical teams from the monitoring and represents a real individual financial benefit. On the other hand, the medical practitioner considers that mild or asymptomatic PHPT is commonly stable, and very rare are the subjects at risk of complications, particularly of fractures; prevention of vascular and metabolic disorders, nephrolithiasis and bone rarefaction justify regular physical exercise, a safe alimentation, a sufficient calcium and high water intake, the correction of the frequent deficit in vitamin D; finally has also to be considered the impossibility to refer to specialized (endocrine) surgeons, the enormous cohort of subjects more than 50 years with ‘mild’ or ‘asymptomatic’ PHPT. The surgeon and the medical practitioner agree to consider that in patients with ‘mild’ or ‘asymptomatic’ disease, there is no place for medical treatments, in particular calcimimetics and bisphophonates. Both agree that further studies are needed to clarify the long-term prognosis of operated and non-operated PHPT in term of fractures, cardiovascular risk and mortality. Individual and collective cost/benefit ratios of surgery or survey are also still imperfectly evaluated.
Early detection of cardiotoxicity by 2D and 3D deformation imaging in patients receiving chemotherapy
Authors: Tarr Adrienn , Stoebe Stephan , Tuennemann Jan , Baka Zsuzsanna , Pfeiffer Dietrich , Varga Albert , Hagendorff Andreas
Published: June 2015

The aim of the present study was to find out whether early cardiac changes in patients receiving chemotherapy can be detected by the conventional and deformation parameters of 2D and 3D echocardiography. Twenty-five healthy subjects with normal regional left ventricular function (group 1) and 25 patients receiving chemotherapy (group 2) underwent 2D and 3D transthoracic echocardiography (Toshiba Artida Medical System). All patients (group 2) were examined before and during cardiotoxic chemotherapy at a 3-month follow-up. Left ventricular volumes, ejection fraction, muscle mass, global longitudinal, global radial, global circumferential strain, and rotation were analyzed with 2D and 3D echocardiography, while twist and time-to-peak-intervals were analyzed with 3D echocardiography. For left ventricular volumes and muscle mass, no significant differences were seen between the two study groups (P<0.05). According to our results, myocardial dysfunction induced by cardiotoxic chemotherapy can be detected by 2D global radial strain. Detecting myocardial dysfunction by global longitudinal and circumferential strain requires more than 3 months follow-up. Changes in rotation, twist or time-to-peak intervals could not be verified at the 3-month follow-up in the present study. 2D global radial strain seems to be the most sensitive and robust parameter to detect early myocardial damage during chemotherapy. 3D echocardiography is not yet an established method to detect myocardial damage in clinical practice due to lower spatial and temporal resolution.
Increasing serotonin concentrations alter calcium and energy metabolism in dairy cows
Authors: Laporta Jimena , Moore Spencer A E , Weaver Samantha R , Cronick Callyssa M , Olsen Megan , Prichard Austin P , Schnell Brian P , Crenshaw Thomas D , Peñagaricano Francisco , Bruckmaier Rupert M , Hernandez Laura L
Published: June 2015

A 4×4 Latin square design in which varied doses (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg) of 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan (5-HTP, a serotonin precursor) were intravenously infused into late-lactation, non-pregnant Holstein dairy cows was used to determine the effects of serotonin on calcium and energy metabolism. Infusion periods lasted 4 days, with a 5-day washout between periods. Cows were infused at a constant rate for 1 h each day. Blood was collected pre- and 5, 10, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min post-infusion, urine was collected pre- and post-infusion, and milk was collected daily. All of the 5-HTP doses increased systemic serotonin as compared to the 0 mg/kg dose, and the 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg doses increased circulating glucose and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and decreased beta-hydroxybutyrate (βHBA) concentrations. Treatment of cows with either 1.0 or 1.5 mg/kg 5-HTP doses decreased urine calcium elimination, and the 1.5 mg/kg dose increased milk calcium concentrations. No differences were detected in the heart rates, respiration rates, or body temperatures of the cows; however, manure scores and defecation frequency were affected. Indeed, cows that received 5-HTP defecated more, and the consistency of their manure was softer. Treatment of late-lactation dairy cows with 5-HTP improved energy metabolism, decreased loss of calcium into urine, and increased calcium secretion into milk. Further research should target the effects of increasing serotonin during the transition period to determine any benefits for post-parturient calcium and glucose metabolism.
60 YEARS OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY: Regulation of mammalian neuroendocrine physiology and rhythms by melatonin
Authors: Johnston Jonathan D , Skene Debra J
Published: June 2015

The isolation of melatonin was first reported in 1958. Since the demonstration that pineal melatonin synthesis reflects both daily and seasonal time, melatonin has become a key element of chronobiology research. In mammals, pineal melatonin is essential for transducing day-length information into seasonal physiological responses. Due to its lipophilic nature, melatonin is able to cross the placenta and is believed to regulate multiple aspects of perinatal physiology. The endogenous daily melatonin rhythm is also likely to play a role in the maintenance of synchrony between circadian clocks throughout the adult body. Pharmacological doses of melatonin are effective in resetting circadian rhythms if taken at an appropriate time of day, and can acutely regulate factors such as body temperature and alertness, especially when taken during the day. Despite the extensive literature on melatonin physiology, some key questions remain unanswered. In particular, the amplitude of melatonin rhythms has been recently associated with diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus but understanding of the physiological significance of melatonin rhythm amplitude remains poorly understood.
60 YEARS OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY: The hypothalamo-prolactin axis
Authors: Grattan David R
Published: June 2015

The hypothalamic control of prolactin secretion is different from other anterior pituitary hormones, in that it is predominantly inhibitory, by means of dopamine from the tuberoinfundibular dopamine neurons. In addition, prolactin does not have an endocrine target tissue, and therefore lacks the classical feedback pathway to regulate its secretion. Instead, it is regulated by short loop feedback, whereby prolactin itself acts in the brain to stimulate production of dopamine and thereby inhibit its own secretion. Finally, despite its relatively simple name, prolactin has a broad range of functions in the body, in addition to its defining role in promoting lactation. As such, the hypothalamo-prolactin axis has many characteristics that are quite distinct from other hypothalamo-pituitary systems. This review will provide a brief overview of our current understanding of the neuroendocrine control of prolactin secretion, in particular focusing on the plasticity evident in this system, which keeps prolactin secretion at low levels most of the time, but enables extended periods of hyperprolactinemia when necessary for lactation. Key prolactin functions beyond milk production will be discussed, particularly focusing on the role of prolactin in inducing adaptive responses in multiple different systems to facilitate lactation, and the consequences if prolactin action is impaired. A feature of this pleiotropic activity is that functions that may be adaptive in the lactating state might be maladaptive if prolactin levels are elevated inappropriately. Overall, my goal is to give a flavour of both the history and current state of the field of prolactin neuroendocrinology, and identify some exciting new areas of research development.
Association of National Guidelines With Tonsillectomy Perioperative Care and Outcomes
Authors: Mahant Sanjay , Hall Matt , Ishman Stacey L. , Morse Rustin , Mittal Vineeta , Mussman Grant M. , Gold Jessica , Montalbano Amanda , Srivastava Rajendu , Wilson Karen M. , Shah Samir S.
Published: June 2015

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the association of the 2011 American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery guidelines with perioperative care processes and outcomes in children undergoing tonsillectomy.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of otherwise healthy children undergoing tonsillectomy between January 2009 and January 2013 at 29 US children’s hospitals participating in the Pediatric Health Information System. We measured evidence-based processes suggested by the guidelines (perioperative dexamethasone and no antibiotic use) and outcomes (30-day tonsillectomy complication-related revisits). We analyzed rates aggregated over the preguideline and postguideline periods and then by month over time by using interrupted time series.

RESULTS:

Of 111 813 children who underwent tonsillectomy, 54 043 and 57 770 did so in the preguideline and postguideline periods, respectively. Dexamethasone use increased from 74.6% to 77.4% (P < .001) in the preguideline to postguideline period, as did its rate of change in use (percentage change per month, −0.02% to 0.29%; P < .001). Antibiotic use decreased from 34.7% to 21.8% (P < .001), as did its rate of change in use (percentage change per month, −0.17% to −0.56%; P < .001). Revisits for bleeding remained stable; however, total revisits to the hospital for tonsillectomy complications increased from 8.2% to 9.0% (P < .001) because of an increase in revisits for pain. Hospital-level results were similar.

CONCLUSIONS:

The guidelines were associated with some improvement in evidence-based perioperative care processes but no improvement in outcomes. Dexamethasone use increased slightly, and antibiotic use decreased substantially. Revisits for tonsillectomy-related complications increased modestly over time because of revisits for pain.
R&D best practices, absorptive capacity and project success
Authors: Vicente Oliva Silvia , Martínez Sánchez Ángel , Berges Muro Luis
Published: June 2015

Research and Development (R&D) project management style in companies can be different according with their size and technological intensity. R&D Projects are characterized by high technical and economic uncertainty. And their execution carried out a learning process, although its aims were achieve the results planned. Results from a sample of 71 Spanish firms evidence that best practice in R&D project management promote the innovation in two ways. The purpose of practices is positively related to absorptive capacity of knowledge (CAC) in the organisation, and in turn, CAC affects the success of R&D projects.
CrN coatings deposited by magnetron sputtering: mechanical and tribological properties
Authors: Ruden-Muñoz Alexander , Restrepo-Para Elisabeth , Sequeda Federico
Published: June 2015

Mechanical and tribological properties of CrN coatings grown on steel substrates AISI 304 and AISI 4140 using the magnetron sputtering technique were analyzed. Coatings were grown at two pressures of work, 0.4 and 4.0 Pa. The films grown on AISI 304 at a pressure of work of 0.4 showed the highest hardness because it presented a larger grain size and lower roughness. For CrN synthesized at 0.4 Pa, the surface damage was lower during the tribological test. Adherence studies were also carried out, obtaining Lc1 and Lc2 for coatings produced at both pressures and on both substrates. Better adherence behavior was observed for films grown at a low pressure because these films were thicker (~890 nm).
Contribution of the analysis of technical efficiency to the improvement of the management of services
Authors: López-Berzosa David , De Pablos-Heredero Carmen , Fernandez-Renedo Carlos
Published: June 2015

The technical efficiency measures the ability that a system offers at maximizing the result restricted to budgetary restrictions. This article offers formal methods to quantify the technical efficiency in health systems and the influences of organizational structures and internal processes in the observed technical efficiency are also analyzed. The empirical analysis is focused on the quality of donation and transplant services. The results show a positive relationship between the levels related to quality indicators and the observed technical efficiency in the donation and transplant units of the 11 analyzed hospitals. This way it is possible to conclude that high levels in the quality indexes are a necessary condition to reach an increased level of the service offered.
Tribological properties of BixTiyOz films grown via RF sputtering on 316L steel substrates
Authors: Parra Johanna , Piamba Oscar , Olaya Jhon , Alfonso José Edgar
Published: June 2015

In this paper, we present the results obtained in surface chemical analysis, morphological characterization and evaluation of tribological properties of coatings of amorphous bismuth titanate (BixTiyOz) deposited on substrates made of 316L stainless steel using rf sputtering technique. The chemical elemental analysis was performed using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), the morphology of the coatings was determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Measures of friction coefficient and wear rate were obtained by ball on disc test. EEA analyses allowed to establish that the first 10 nm of the coatings are comprised probably of Bi4Ti3O12 and Ti2O3, AFM measurements indicate that the coatings have an average roughness of 22.28nm and grain size of 50nm. Finally, the tribological tests established that the coefficient of friction and wear rate of the coated steel has similar values to the bare steel.
Análisis de ahorro energético en iluminación LED industrial: Un estudio de caso
Authors: Serrano-Tierz Ana , Martínez Iturbe Abelardo , Guarddon Muñoz Óscar , Santolaya Sáenz José Luis
Published: June 2015

El presente estudio muestra el ahorro económico y las ventajas medioambientales que supone la iluminación industrial con tecnología LED. Se ha planteado un estudio de caso en el que luminarias de halogenuros metálicos han sido sustituidas por luminarias LED. Para validar la sustitución de luminarias con halogenuros metálicos de 400W por LED de 200W, se han efectuado las simulaciones luminotécnicas y mediciones de campo mediante luxómetro. Los resultados obtenidos indican que ambas luminarias son equiparables obteniendo un importante ahorro energético cercano al 50%. Esta investigación demuestra que la tecnología LED ofrece soluciones de iluminación de alto rendimiento que optimizan el ahorro energético reduciendo a su vez costes de mantenimiento con un coste total de propiedad significativamente menor, incrementando la esperanza de vida útil de las luminarias. Desde el punto de vista medioambiental supone una importante reducción en emisiones de CO2 y eliminación de residuos tóxicos como el mercurio.
A new synthesis procedure for TOPSIS based on AHP
Authors: Aguarón-Joven Juan , Escobar-Urmeneta María Teresa , García-Alcaraz Jorge Luis , Moreno-Jiménez José María , Vega-Bonilla Alberto
Published: June 2015

Vega et al. [1] analyzed the influence of the attributes’ dependence when ranking a set of alternatives in a multicriteria decision making problem with TOPSIS. They also proposed the use of the Mahalanobis distance to incorporate the correlations among the attributes in TOPSIS. Even in those situations for which dependence among attributes is very slight, the results obtained for the Mahalanobis distance are significantly different from those obtained with the Euclidean distance, traditionally used in TOPSIS, and also from results obtained using any other distance of the Minkowsky family. This raises serious doubts regarding the selection of the distance that should be employed in each case. To deal with the problem of the attributes’ dependence and the question of the selection of the most appropriate distance measure, this paper proposes to use a new method for synthesizing the distances to the ideal and the anti-ideal in TOPSIS. The new procedure is based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process and is able to capture the relative importance of both distances in the context given by the measure that is considered; it also provides rankings, which are closer to the distances employed in TOPSIS, regardless of the dependence among the attributes. The new technique has been applied to the illustrative example employed in Vega et al. [1].
A relax and cut approach using the multi-commodity flow formulation for the traveling salesman problem
Authors: Kawashima Makswell Seyiti , Rangel Socorro , Litvinchev Igor , Infante Luis
Published: June 2015

In this paper we explore the multi-commodity flow formulation for the Asymmetric Traveling Salesman Problem (ATSP) to obtain dual bounds. The procedure employed is a variant of a relax and cut procedure proposed in the literature that computes the Lagrangean multipliers associated to the subtour elimination constraints preserving the optimality of the multipliers associated to the assignment constraints. The results obtained by the computational study are encouraging and show that the proposed algorithm generated good dual bounds for the ATSP with a low execution time.
A foszfordinamika jellemzői trágyázási tartamkísérletek talajaiban
Authors: Sárdi Katalin
Published: June 2015

Közismert, hogy a tápanyag-gazdálkodásban a foszfor problematikája kiemelt szerepet játszik, mivel a foszfor tápanyagellátás nem csupán a talaj növények szá-mára felvehető P-tartalmát növelheti, hanem egy kritikus koncentráció fölött környezeti kockázattal járhat. A hatékonyságot a környezetkímélő tápanyag-gazdálkodásban növelni kell, a műtrágya hatóanyag érvényesülés javításán és a környezet terhelését okozó veszteségek csökkentésén keresztül. A talajok foszfordinamikájának számszerűsítése ebben kulcsszerepet tölt be.

Kísérletsorozatunkban tenyészedény- és inkubációs kísérleteket végeztünk tartamkísérletek talajaival, tanulmányoztuk a különböző talajtípusok foszfordinamikájának mennyiségi viszonyait, az egyes talajtípusok foszfor retencióját és szolgáltató képességét. Célunk volt a műtrágyával kijuttatott foszfor utóhatásának, valamint az oldhatósági viszonyok megváltozásának tanulmányozása is. Dolgozatunkban kísér-letsorozatunk azon részének eredményeiről számolunk be, amelyet Keszthelyen, Ramannféle barna erdőtalajon (homokos vályog) és Szentgyörgyvölgyön, pszeudogleyes barna erdőtalajon (agyagos vályog) folytatott foszfortrágyázási tartamkísérletek talajaival végeztünk. A 10 évig (1963–73 között) intenzív, növekvő adagú feltöltő foszfortrágyázás eredményeként a talajokban három növekvő foszfor ellátottsági szint alakult ki. A talajmintavétel a 10 évig folytatott trágyázás beszüntetése után 30 év elteltével történt.

Megállapítottuk, hogy a foszfor utóhatása még 30 év elteltével is érvényesült, amely a vízoldható-, AL- és Olsen-P tartalomban is megmutatkozott. Inkubációs kísérleteink eredményei alapján kimutattuk, hogy a kedvező nedvességállapot a talajban alacsony hőmérsékleten elősegíti a kivonható P-tartalom rövid távú mobilizácóját, míg a magasabb hőmérséklet e formák immobilizációját fokozta.
Szerves- és műtrágyázás tartamhatása a talajaggregátumok stabilitására agyagbemosódásos barna erdőtalajon
Authors: Dunai Attila , Tóth Zoltán
Published: June 2015

A talajok aggregátum-stabilitásának ismerete kulcsfontosságú a talajtermékenység fenntartásának és növelésének hatékony kivitelezése, valamint a talajok védelme szempontjából.

A talajaggregátumok kialakulása és végső soron a stabilitása is jórészt a szerves anyagok mennyiségének és minőségének függvénye. Találunk közöttük állandó, cementáló jellegű anyagokat, ill. átmeneti jellegű kötőanyagokat is. Mivel a talajok különböző mértékben tartalmazzák ezen anyagokat, és azok különböző ideig hatnak az aggregátumok szerkezetének stabilitására, indokolt lehet különböző szervesanyag-kiegészítésű hosszú távú tartamkísérletek mintázása az aggregátum-stabilitás értékek meghatározására.A tartamkísérletek bázisán már korábban is végeztünk a talaj agronómiai szerkezetére és szerkezeti stabilitásra irányuló vizsgálatokat. Ezekre alapozottan új tartamkísérleti parcellák vizsgálatával folytattuk aggregátum stabilitás vizsgálatainkat a növekvő adagú műtrágyázás és a különböző formájú szerves anyag visszapótlású kezelésekben.

Vizsgálatainkban a vízálló aggregátumok százalékos arányát határoztuk meg (Water-stable aggregates, WSA) egy Eijkelkamp (Hollandia) nedves szita segítségével. Vizsgálatainkhoz az 1–2 mm közötti talajfrakciót használtuk. A méréseket 250 mikronos szitákon végeztük.

A mintavétel után két héttel végzett vizsgálatok eredményeiből megállapítottuk, hogy a szervestrágya-kiegészítések közül a szár+zöldtrágya leszántás adta a legnagyobb stabilitás értéket. A N-adagok közül pedig a 140 kg·ha−1 kezelésben mértük a legnagyobb értéket. Utóbbi szignifikánsan nagyobbnak bizonyult minden más N-kezelésénél. A kombinációs hatások vizsgálatánál a szárleszántásos változat 140 kg·ha−1-os nitrogénadag melletti stabilitás értéke több mint kétszerese volt a nem szervestrágya-kiegészítésű kontroll N-parcellákénak.

A mintavétel után három hónappal végzett stabilitásvizsgálat eredményei alap-ján a trágyázási változatok makroaggregátum-stabilitás értékei kiegyenlítődtek. Az N-adagok hatását vizsgálva azonban a korábban legnagyobb stabilitású 140 kg·ha−1-os N-kezelés adta a legkisebb értéket. A két időpont eredményeit összehasonlítva megállapítható, hogy a stabilitás értékek minden trágyázási változatban és a 140·kg ha−1-os N-adag kivételével minden N-kezelésben jelentősen növekedtek.
Kationos felületaktív anyag (hexadecilpiridinium-klorid monohidrát) adszorpciója talajokon
Authors: Barna Gyöngyi , Földényi Rita , Tóth Zoltán , Balázs Réka , Makó András
Published: June 2015

Kationos felületaktív anyag, a hexadecilpiridinium-klorid (CPC) adszorpcióját vizsgáltuk különböző talajokon, üledékeken és ásványi őrleményeken. Valódi talajokon történő adszorbeálódásáról kevés irodalmi adat található. Célunk volt megha-tározni, hogy mely talajtulajdonságok befolyásolják leginkább a tenzid megkötődé-sét.

A minták ásványos összetételének meghatározása röntgen-pordiffrakcióval (XRD) történt. Ez alapján hat csoportra tudtuk elkülöníteni: 1. Szmektites (kis rétegtöltésű montmorillonitos) talajok; 2. Vermikulitos talajok; 3. Szmektitet is tartalmazó illites minták; 4. Klorit/vermikulit tartalmú talajok; 5. Illit és klorit tartalmú talajok; 6. Nagy kvarctartalmú minták.

A minták felületaktív anyaggal történő kezelése az ún. „elárasztásos módszerrel” (static equilibrium experiments) valósult meg.

A CPC oldat koncentrációjának függvényében ábrázoltuk a minták által adszor-beált tenzidmennyiségét, majd a mérési pontokra Langmuir-típusú izotermát illesz-tettünk. Az adszorpciós izotermák segítségével meghatároztuk a vizsgált adszorbensek hidrofóbizálásához szükséges fajlagos tenzidmennyiségeket, amely mellett feltételeztük, hogy a talajszemcsék felületén monomolekuláris tenzidborítottság alakul ki. Az illesztett görbe telítődő jelleget mutat és első szakasza nagy affinitású H-típusra utal. Logaritmikus skálán ábrázoltuk a tenzidadszorpciós értékeket és megállapítottuk, hogy az egyes minták monomolekuláris rétegborítottságához szükséges tenzidmennyiségek mintánként általában szignifikánsan eltérőek. A fajlagos CPC mennyiségét a nagy agyagtartalmú, szmektites minták esetében találtuk a legnagyobbnak, a kvarchomok mintáét pedig a legkisebbnek.

Vizsgáltuk, hogy a minták mely tulajdonságai állnak kapcsolatban a monomolekuláris telítettségnél adszorbeált fajlagos tenzid mennyiségekkel. Számítottuk továbbá a Pearson-féle korrelációs együtthatókat.

A fajlagos tenzid mennyiségével szoros összefüggést mutatott a higroszkóposság (hy1), az agyagtartalom, a fajlagos felület (BET-felület) és a kationcserélő képesség (T-érték). A CPC adszorpcióját leíró regressziós egyenletek szerint öt paraméter határozza meg a fajlagos tenzid mennyiségét: agyag-, humusz-, mésztartalom, pH(H2O) és a BET-felület.
Nehézfémek eredetének elkülönítése városi kerti talajokban, Szeged példáján
Authors: Szolnoki Zsuzsanna , Farsang Andrea
Published: June 2015

A városi kertek talajai, a tipikus városi szennyező forrásokon (légköri ülepedés, közlekedés fémterhelő hatása, háztartások fűtése stb.) túl, művelésükből kifolyólag is szennyeződhetnek a toxikus és potenciálisan toxikus nehézfémekkel, így nagy kihívást jelent az ezekben a talajokban mérhető fémtartalom eredetének (litogén, pedogén, antropogén) meghatározása, egyrészt a lehetséges szennyező-források sokfélesége, másrészt az e talajokat érő antropogén hatások miatt.

Kutatásunk során a városi környezetterhelés és a kertművelés kumulatív nehézfém-szennyező hatását vizsgáltuk Szeged példáján. A külvárosi kerti talajok nehézfém-terheltségének felmérése mellett fő célunk volt, hogy különböző módszereket együttesen alkalmazva elkülönítsük a kerti talajokban antropogén forrásból feldúsuló fémek körét. Jelen tanulmányban azt mutatjuk be, hogy az általunk alkalmazott feldúsulási faktorok, a fémkoncentrációk vertikális eloszlásának vizsgálatával kiegészítve miként segítik az egyes elemek eredetének (litogén, pedogén, antropogén) meghatározását.

A kertekben feltárt talajszelvényekben mért nehézfém-koncentrációk vertikális eloszlása alapján elmondható, hogy a vizsgált elemek egyike sem tekinthető kizárólag litogén eredetűnek a kerti talajokban, ezek eloszlásának kialakításában ugyanis bizonyos talajtulajdonságok jelentős szerepet játszanak.

Az Pb-, Zn-, Cu- és Cd-koncentrációk vertikális eloszlását a talaj szervesanyag-tartalma, míg a Ni-, Cr- és Co-koncentrációkét a talaj ásványi kolloid-tartalma módosította. A referencia szint, valamint a referencia elem (Ti) segítségével számolt feldúsulási faktorok (EF) alapján az As, a Ni, a Co és a Cr a kertek feltalajában nem dúsultak (EF ∼ 1), ezen elemek feltalajban mérhető koncentrációjának kialakításában csak a litogén háttér és a pedogén folyamatok játszanak szerepet. A Cu (EF ∼ 4,2), a Zn (EF ∼ 2,7) és a Pb (EF ∼ 2,5) viszont a kertek feltalajában jelentős mértékben dúsul, mely feldúsulásért a természetes, pedogenetikus folyamatok mel-lett csaknem minden kertben már az antropogén hozzájárulás is felelőssé tehető, míg a Cd antropogén dúsulása csupán néhány kertre korlátozódik.
Reporting of Randomized Controlled Trials in Cleft Lip and Palate: A 10-Year Review
Authors: Hardwicke Joseph , Nassimizadeh Mohammad , Richard Bruce
Published: June 2015

Objectives

Reviews of the quality of reporting of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have recently been conducted in different surgical specialties. In this review of RCTs relating to cleft lip, cleft palate, and cleft lip and palate (CL/P), we investigate the quality of reporting against the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) checklist.

Design

A systematic review of CL/P RCTs published from 2004 to 2013, with the included articles scored against the CONSORT checklist.

Patients, Participants

The literature search identified 174 articles. Studies were selected for participants with CL/P who were involved in an RCT with prospective data collection and reported in a full journal article. A total of 6352 participants were included from 65 CUP RCTs during the study period.

Main Outcome Measures

The methodological quality of RCTs was assessed using the CONSORT checklist and Jadad scale.

Results

The mean CONSORT score was 15.8, and the mean Jadad score was 3.3. There was a significant positive correlation between the CONSORT and Jadad score ( P < .0001, ρ = .47). The only significant correlation showed that with an increasing number of authors, both the CONSORT and the Jadad score increased.

Conclusion

This analysis has shown that that there are deficiencies in the transparent reporting of factors such as randomization implementation, blinding, and participant flow. Interventions, outcomes, and the interpretation of results are well presented. We would recommend that RCTs are conceived and undertaken using the CONSORT checklist and reported in a clear and reproducible manner.