bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ionically Crosslinked Chitosan Hydrogels for the Controlled Release of Antimicrobial Essential Oils and Metal Ions for Wound Management Applications
Authors: Low Wan , Kenward M.A. , Amin Mohd , Martin Claire
Published: March 2016

The emerging problems posed by antibiotic resistance complicate the treatment regime required for wound infections and are driving the need to develop more effective methods of wound management. There is growing interest in the use of alternative, broad spectrum, pre-antibiotic antimicrobial agents such as essential oils (e.g., tea tree oil, TTO) and metal ions (e.g., silver, Ag+). Both TTO and Ag+ have broad spectrum antimicrobial activity and act on multiple target sites, hence reducing the likelihood of developing resistance. Combining such agents with responsive, controlled release delivery systems such as hydrogels may enhance microbiocidal activity and promote wound healing. The advantages of using chitosan to formulate the hydrogels include its biocompatible, mucoadhesive and controlled release properties. In this study, hydrogels loaded with TTO and Ag+ exhibited antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and C. albicans. Combining TTO and Ag+ into the hydrogel further improved antimicrobial activity by lowering the effective concentrations required, respectively. This has obvious advantages for reducing the potential toxic effects on the healthy tissues surrounding the wound. These studies highlight the feasibility of delivering lower effective concentrations of antimicrobial agents such as TTO and Ag+ in ionically crosslinked chitosan hydrogels to treat common wound-infecting pathogens.
Hybrid Processes Combining Photocatalysis and Ceramic Membrane Filtration for Degradation of Humic Acids in Saline Water
Authors: Song Lili , Zhu Bo , Gray Stephen , Duke Mikel , Muthukumaran Shobha
Published: March 2016

This study explored the combined effects of photocatalysis with ceramic membrane filtration for the removal of humic acid in the presence of salt; to simulate saline wastewater conditions. The effects of operating parameters, such as salinity and TiO2 concentration on permeate fluxes, total organic carbon (TOC), and UV absorbance removal, were investigated. The interaction between the humic acids and TiO2 photocatalyst played an important role in the observed flux change during ceramic membrane filtration. The results for this hybrid system showed that the TOC removal was more than 70% for both without NaCl and with the 500 ppm NaCl concentration, and 62% and 66% for 1000 and 2000 ppm NaCl concentrations. The reduction in UV absorbance was more complete in the absence of NaCl compared to the presence of NaCl. The operation of the integrated photoreactor-ceramic membrane filter over five repeat cycles is described. It can be concluded that the overall removal performance of the hybrid system was influenced by the presence of salts, as salt leads to agglomeration of TiO2 particles by suppressing the stabilising effects of electrostatic repulsion and thereby reduces the effective surface contact between the pollutant and the photocatalyst.
Onset Frequency of Fatigue Effects in Pure Aluminum and 7075 (AlZnMg) and 2024 (AlCuMg) Alloys
Authors: Rojas Jose , Crespo Daniel
Published: March 2016

The viscoelastic response of pure Al and 7075 (AlZnMg) and 2024 (AlCuMg) alloys, obtained with a dynamic-mechanical analyzer (DMA), is studied. The purpose is to identify relationships between the viscoelasticity and fatigue response of these materials, of great interest for structural applications, in view of their mutual dependence on intrinsic microstructural effects associated with internal friction. The objective is to investigate the influence of dynamic loading frequency and temperature on fatigue, based on their effect on the viscoelastic behavior. This research suggests that the decrease of yield and fatigue behavior reported for Al alloys as temperature increases may be associated with the increase of internal friction. Furthermore, materials subjected to dynamic loading below a given threshold frequency exhibit a static-like response, such that creep mechanisms dominate and fatigue effects are negligible. In this work, an alternative procedure to the time-consuming fatigue tests is proposed to estimate this threshold frequency, based on the frequency dependence of the initial decrease of the storage modulus with temperature, obtained from the relatively short DMA tests. This allows for a fast estimation of the threshold frequency. The frequencies obtained for pure Al and 2024 and 7075 alloys are 0.001–0.005, 0.006 and 0.075–0.350 Hz, respectively.
Balloon Pump with Floating Valves for Portable Liquid Delivery
Authors: Morimoto Yuya , Mukouyama Yumi , Habasaki Shohei , Takeuchi Shoji
Published: March 2016

In this paper, we propose a balloon pump with floating valves to control the discharge flow rates of sample solutions. Because the floating valves were made from a photoreactive resin, the shapes of the floating valves could be controlled by employing different exposure patterns without any change in the pump configurations. Owing to the simple preparation process of the pump, we succeeded in changing the discharge flow rates in accordance with the number and length of the floating valves. Because our methods could be used to easily prepare balloon pumps with arbitrary discharge properties, we achieved several microfluidic operations by the integration of the balloon pumps with microfluidic devices. Therefore, we believe that the balloon pump with floating valves will be a useful driving component for portable microfluidic systems.
Novel Gold Nanoparticles Reduced by Sargassum glaucescens: Preparation, Characterization and Anticancer Activity
Authors: Ajdari Zahra , Rahman Heshu , Shameli Kamyar , Abdullah Rasedee , Abd Ghani Maaruf , Yeap Swee , Abbasiliasi Sahar , Ajdari Daniel , Ariff Arbakariya
Published: March 2016

The current study investigated the anticancer properties of gold nanoparticles (SG-stabilized AuNPs) synthesized using water extracts of the brown seaweed Sargassum glaucescens (SG). SG-stabilized AuNPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The SG-stabilized AuNPs were stable and small at 3.65 ± 1.69 nm in size. The in vitro anticancer effect of SG-stabilized AuNPs was determined on cervical (HeLa), liver (HepG2), breast (MDA-MB-231) and leukemia (CEM-ss) cell lines using fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, caspase activity determination, and MTT assays. After 72 h treatment, SG-stabilized AuNPs was shown to be significant (p < 0.05) cytotoxic to the cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The IC50 values of SG-stabilized AuNPs on the HeLa, HepG2, CEM-ss, MDA-MB-231 cell lines were 4.75 ± 1.23, 7.14 ± 1.45, 10.32 ± 1.5, and 11.82 ± 0.9 μg/mL, respectively. On the other hand, SG-stabilized AuNPs showed no cytotoxic effect towards the normal human mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A). SG-stabilized AuNPs significantly (p < 0.05) arrest HeLa cell cycle at G2/M phase and significantly (p < 0.05) activated caspases-3 and -9 activities. The anticancer effect of SG-stabilized AuNPs is via the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. The study showed that SG-stabilized AuNPs is a good candidate to be developed into a chemotherapeutic compound for the treatment of cancers especially cervical cancer.
Methanolic Extract of Pien Tze Huang Induces Apoptosis Signaling in Human Osteosarcoma MG63 Cells via Multiple Pathways
Authors: Fu Yong , Zhang Li , Hong Zhenqiang , Zheng Haiyin , Li Nan , Gao Hongjian , Chen Boyi , Zhao Yi
Published: March 2016

Pien Tze Huang (PZH) is a well-known traditional Chinese formulation and has long been used as an alternative remedy for cancers in China and Southeast Asia. Recently, antitumor activity of PZH on several tumors have been increasingly reported, but its antitumor activity and the possible action mechanism on osteosarcoma remains unclear. After treatment with PZH, cell viability of MG-63 cells was dose-dependently inhibited compared to control cells. Moreover, a DNA ladder characteristic of apoptosis was observed in the cells treated with PZH, especially 500 μg/mL, 750 μg/mL. Further investigation showed that PZH treatments led to activation of caspase cascades and changes of apoptotic mediators Bcl2, Bax, and Bcl-xL expression. In addition, our results suggested that PZH activated PI3K/Akt signal pathway, and the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2 were associated with the induction of apoptotic signaling. These results revealed that PZH possesses antitumoral activity on human osteosarcoma MG63 cells by manipulating apoptotic signaling and multiple pathways. It is suggested that PZH alone or combined with regular antitumor drugs may be beneficial as osteosarcoma treatments.
Dendrobium moniliforme Exerts Inhibitory Effects on Both Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa-B Ligand-Mediated Osteoclast Differentiation in Vitro and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Bone Erosion in Vivo
Authors: Baek Jong , Kim Ju-Young , Ahn Sung-Jun , Cheon Yoon-Hee , Yang Miyoung , Oh Jaemin , Choi Min
Published: March 2016

Dendrobium moniliforme (DM) is a well-known plant-derived extract that is widely used in Oriental medicine. DM and its chemical constituents have been reported to have a variety of pharmacological effects, including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor activities; however, no reports discuss the beneficial effects of DM on bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Thus, we investigated the relationship between DM and osteoclasts, cells that function in bone resorption. We found that DM significantly reduced receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL)-induced tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive osteoclast formation; DM directly induced the down-regulation of c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1) without affecting other RANKL-dependent transduction pathways. In the later stages of osteoclast maturation, DM negatively regulated the organization of filamentous actin (F-actin), resulting in impaired bone-resorbing activity by the mature osteoclasts. In addition, micro-computed tomography (μ-CT) analysis of the murine model revealed that DM had a beneficial effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated bone erosion. Histological analysis showed that DM attenuated the degradation of trabecular bone matrix and formation of TRAP-positive osteoclasts in bone tissues. These results suggest that DM is a potential candidate for the treatment of metabolic bone disorders such as osteoporosis.
Structural and Spectroscopic Characterization of A Nanosized Sulfated TiO2 Filler and of Nanocomposite Nafion Membranes
Authors: Allodi Valentina , Brutti Sergio , Giarola Marco , Sgambetterra Mirko , Navarra Maria , Panero Stefania , Mariotto Gino
Published: March 2016

A large number of nano-sized oxides have been studied in the literature as fillers for polymeric membranes, such as Nafion®. Superacidic sulfated oxides have been proposed and characterized. Once incorporated into polymer matrices, their beneficial effect on peculiar membrane properties has been demonstrated. The alteration of physical-chemical properties of composite membranes has roots in the intermolecular interaction between the inorganic filler surface groups and the polymer chains. In the attempt to tackle this fundamental issue, here we discuss, by a multi-technique approach, the properties of a nanosized sulfated titania material as a candidate filler for Nafion membranes. The results of a systematic study carried out by synchrotron X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, Raman and infrared spectroscopies are presented and discussed to get novel insights about the structural features, molecular properties, and morphological characteristics of sulphated TiO2 nanopowders and composite Nafion membranes containing different amount of sulfated TiO2 nanoparticles (2%, 5%, 7% w/w).
Identification of Factors Influencing Locations of Tree Cover Loss and Gain and Their Spatio-Temporally-Variant Importance in the Li River Basin, China
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Li Jun , Qin Qiming
Published: March 2016

Intensive tree cover loss and gain have been significantly influencing the environment and society. It is essential to identify the potential factors and to evaluate their importance. A large body of literature has investigated the factors influencing tree cover loss, usually at the global or regional scale and focusing on the quantity issue: how are the rate and extent of tree cover loss influenced by different factors? This paper has two objectives. The first is to pinpoint factors influencing the locations of tree cover loss and gain (the location issue) at the pixel level. The second is to evaluate the heterogeneous importance of factors in two periods of 1991 through 2002 and 2002 through 2013 and in four counties within the Li River Basin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. The random forests technique was adopted to model the responses of tree cover loss and gain probabilities of sampled pixels to initial landscape pattern factors, biophysical factors and proximity factors. A ranking of factor importance and a set of important factors were derived for each county and time period. The partial dependence plots were generated for the most important factors to reveal how exactly tree cover loss and gain probabilities change as influenced by these factors. The results confirmed that factor importance varied across time and space, and the variability of proximity factors and initial landscape pattern factors were more pronounced. The furthered understanding of the heterogeneous importance of different factors on the locations of tree cover loss and gain can support more sustainable forest management practices and the development of more effective policies regarding ecosystem conservation and economic development.
Preliminary Inter-Comparison between AHI, VIIRS and MODIS Clear-Sky Ocean Radiances for Accurate SST Retrievals
Authors: Liang Xingming , Ignatov Alexander , Kramar Maxim , Yu Fangfang
Published: March 2016

Clear-sky brightness temperatures (BT) in five bands of the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI; flown onboard Himawari-8 satellite) centered at 3.9, 8.6, 10.4, 11.2, and 12.3 µm (denoted by IR37, IR86, IR10, IR11, and IR12, respectively) are used in the NOAA Advanced Clear-Sky Processor for Oceans (ACSPO) sea surface temperature (SST) retrieval system. Here, AHI BTs are preliminarily evaluated for stability and consistency with the corresponding VIIRS and MODIS BTs, using the sensor observation minus model simulation (O-M) biases and corresponding double differences. The objective is to ensure accurate and consistent SST products from the polar and geo sensors, and to prepare for the launch of the GOES-R satellite in 2016. All five AHI SST bands are found to be largely in-family with their polar counterparts, but biased low relative to the VIIRS and MODIS (which, in turn, were found to be stable and consistent, except for Terra IR86, which is biased high by 1.5 K). The negative biases are larger in IR37 and IR12 (up to ~−0.5 K), followed by the three remaining longwave IR bands IR86, IR10, and IR11 (from −0.3 to −0.4 K). These negative biases may be in part due to the uncertainties in AHI calibration and characterization, although uncertainties in the coefficients of the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM, used to generate the “M” term) may also contribute. Work is underway to add AHI analyses in the NOAA Monitoring of IR Clear-Sky Radiances over Oceans for SST (MICROS) system and improve AHI BTs by collaborating with the sensor calibration and CRTM teams. The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) analyses will be also added in MICROS when GOES-R is launched in late 2016 and the ABI IR data become available.
A Monocular Vision Sensor-Based Obstacle Detection Algorithm for Autonomous Robots
Authors: Lee Tae-Jae , Yi Dong-Hoon , Cho Dong-Il
Published: March 2016

This paper presents a monocular vision sensor-based obstacle detection algorithm for autonomous robots. Each individual image pixel at the bottom region of interest is labeled as belonging either to an obstacle or the floor. While conventional methods depend on point tracking for geometric cues for obstacle detection, the proposed algorithm uses the inverse perspective mapping (IPM) method. This method is much more advantageous when the camera is not high off the floor, which makes point tracking near the floor difficult. Markov random field-based obstacle segmentation is then performed using the IPM results and a floor appearance model. Next, the shortest distance between the robot and the obstacle is calculated. The algorithm is tested by applying it to 70 datasets, 20 of which include nonobstacle images where considerable changes in floor appearance occur. The obstacle segmentation accuracies and the distance estimation error are quantitatively analyzed. For obstacle datasets, the segmentation precision and the average distance estimation error of the proposed method are 81.4% and 1.6 cm, respectively, whereas those for a conventional method are 57.5% and 9.9 cm, respectively. For nonobstacle datasets, the proposed method gives 0.0% false positive rates, while the conventional method gives 17.6%.
Underwater Imaging Using a 1 × 16 CMUT Linear Array
Authors: Zhang Rui , Zhang Wendong , He Changde , Zhang Yongmei , Song Jinlong , Xue Chenyang
Published: March 2016

A 1 × 16 capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducer linear array was designed, fabricated, and tested for underwater imaging in the low frequency range. The linear array was fabricated using Si-SOI bonding techniques. Underwater transmission performance was tested in a water tank, and the array has a resonant frequency of 700 kHz, with pressure amplitude 182 dB (μPa·m/V) at 1 m. The −3 dB main beam width of the designed dense linear array is approximately 5 degrees. Synthetic aperture focusing technique was applied to improve the resolution of reconstructed images, with promising results. Thus, the proposed array was shown to be suitable for underwater imaging applications.
Laser Spot Detection Based on Reaction Diffusion
Authors: Vázquez-Otero Alejandro , Khikhlukha Danila , Solano-Altamirano J. , Dormido Raquel , Duro Natividad
Published: March 2016

Center-location of a laser spot is a problem of interest when the laser is used for processing and performing measurements. Measurement quality depends on correctly determining the location of the laser spot. Hence, improving and proposing algorithms for the correct location of the spots are fundamental issues in laser-based measurements. In this paper we introduce a Reaction Diffusion (RD) system as the main computational framework for robustly finding laser spot centers. The method presented is compared with a conventional approach for locating laser spots, and the experimental results indicate that RD-based computation generates reliable and precise solutions. These results confirm the flexibility of the new computational paradigm based on RD systems for addressing problems that can be reduced to a set of geometric operations.
Gender, Fitness Doping and the Genetic Max. The Ambivalent Construction of Muscular Masculinities in an Online Community
Authors: Andreasson Jesper , Johansson Thomas
Published: March 2016

This article is based on written accounts posted on an online forum called Flashback. The purpose of the study was to explore how participants in this community negotiated the meanings of fitness doping and how such negotiations could be understood in terms of masculinity. The findings indicate that the Internet community studied in this article can be read as an example of a transformational process in which ordinary rules are questioned and partly put out of play. In the world of the bodybuilder, the marginal masculinity is, in certain senses, dominant. On the one hand, achieving a muscular and well-trained body is regarded as a core aspect of manhood within the community. Marginal masculinity is thus momentarily transformed into dominant and hegemonic masculinity. On the other hand, however, the findings also indicate that a drug-using, muscular masculinity is constructed in negotiation with other central masculine ideals, such as the employable man and the responsible father. Found within the community is a complex and dynamic interplay between intersecting discourses of manhood.
Advancing City Sustainability via Its Systems of Flows: The Urban Metabolism of Birmingham and Its Hinterland
Authors: Lee Susan , Quinn Andrew , Rogers Chris
Published: March 2016

Cities are dependent on their hinterlands for their function and survival. They provide resources such as people, materials, water, food and energy, as well as areas for waste disposal. Over the last 50 years, commerce and trade has become increasingly global with resources sourced from further afield often due to cheap labour costs, better transportation and a plentiful supply of energy and raw materials. However, the use and transportation of resources is becoming increasingly unsustainable as the global population increases, raw materials become increasing scarce, and energy costs rise. This paper builds on research undertaken in the Liveable Cities Programme on the resource flows of Birmingham, UK. It investigates how people, material, and food flows interact within regional, national, and international hinterlands through road and rail transportation and assesses their sustainability across all three pillars (economic, social, and environmental). The type and weight of goods is highlighted together with their costs and energy used. For a city to move with greatest effect towards sustainability it needs to: (i) source as much as it can locally, to minimise transportation and energy costs; (ii) adopt such principles as the “circular economy”; and (iii) provide clean and efficient means to move people, especially public transportation.
Environment, Development, and Ecologically Unequal Exchange
Authors: Jorgenson Andrew
Published: March 2016

I begin this paper with summaries of environment and development perspectives foundational to contemporary environmental sociology: ecological modernization theory and treadmill of production theory. Descriptions of the perspectives are provided as well as an overview of recent quantitative cross-national analyses that evaluate the propositions of both theories. Next, I provide a summary of ecologically unequal exchange theory. I argue that ecologically unequal exchange theory helps to address key limitations of both the treadmill of production and ecological modernization approaches, most notably their lack of attention paid to how structural and unequal relationships between nations influence environment and development associations. Next, I summarize bodies of empirical work within sociology that employ quantitative measurements and statistical modelling techniques to test the propositions of ecologically unequal exchange theory. I conclude by emphasizing the need for greater integration between ecologically unequal exchange theory, the two environment and development perspectives, and other political economy traditions. I also briefly discuss fruitful avenues for future research.
Linking Virus Genomes with Host Taxonomy
Authors: Mihara Tomoko , Nishimura Yosuke , Shimizu Yugo , Nishiyama Hiroki , Yoshikawa Genki , Uehara Hideya , Hingamp Pascal , Goto Susumu , Ogata Hiroyuki
Published: March 2016

Environmental genomics can describe all forms of organisms—cellular and viral—present in a community. The analysis of such eco-systems biology data relies heavily on reference databases, e.g., taxonomy or gene function databases. Reference databases of symbiosis sensu lato, although essential for the analysis of organism interaction networks, are lacking. By mining existing databases and literature, we here provide a comprehensive and manually curated database of taxonomic links between viruses and their cellular hosts.
Prediction of Non-invasive Mechanical Ventilation Response. Moving from Art to Science?
Authors: Fletcher S. , Esquinas A. , Glover G.
Published: March 2016

Predicting the outcome from NIV is important and the study by Martin-Gonzalez and colleagues applies data mining techniques to improve our understanding of the field. Nevertheless, the predictor variables must be robust and reliably available before NIV is applied. A predictive model must be generalisable in other clinical settings. Until models such as this are extremely robust in their predictive ability and have been shown to positively influence patient centered outcomes, they may be able to assist decision making but cannot replace clinical judgement by an experienced bedside clinician.
Estimation of Drug Cost Avoidance and Pathology Cost Avoidance through Participation in NCIC Clinical Trials Group Phase III Clinical Trials in Canada
Authors: Tang P.A. , Hay A.E. , O’Callaghan C.J. , Mittmann N. , Chambers C.R. , Pater J.L. , Leighl N.B.
Published: March 2016

Background: Cost avoidance occurs when, because of provision of a drug therapy [drug cost avoidance (DCA)] or a pathology test [pathology cost avoidance (PCA)] during trial participation, health care payers need not pay for standard treatments or testing. The aim of our study was to estimate the total DCA and PCA for Canadian patients enrolled in relevant phase III trials conducted by the NCIC Clinical Trials Group. Methods: Phase III trials that had completed accrual and resulted in DCA or PCA were identified. The PCA was calculated based on the number of patients screened and the test cost. The DCA was estimated based on patients randomized, the protocol dosing regimen, drug cost, median dose intensity, and median duration of therapy. Costs are presented in Canadian dollars. No adjustment was made for inflation. Results: From 1999 to 2011, 4 trials (1479 patients) resulted in PCA and 17 trials (3195 patients) resulted in DCA. The total PCA was estimated at $4,194,849, which included testing for KRAS ($141,058), microsatellite instability ($18,600), and 21-gene recurrence score ($4,035,191). The total DCA was estimated at $27,952,512, of which targeted therapy constituted 43% (five trials). The combined PCA and DCA was $32,147,361. Conclusions: Over the study period, trials conducted by the NCIC Clinical Trials Group resulted in total cost avoidance (PCA and DCA) of approximately $7518 per patient. Although not all trials lead to cost avoidance, such savings should be taken account when the financial impact of conducting clinical research is being considered.
Cost and Resource Utilization in Cervical Cancer Management: A Real-World Retrospective Cost Analysis
Authors: Cromwell I. , Ferreira Z. , Smith L. , van der Hoek K. , Ogilvie G. , Coldman A. , Peacock S.J.
Published: March 2016

Objectives: We set out to assess the health care resource utilization and cost of cervical cancer from the perspective of a single-payer health care system. Methods: Retrospective observational data for women diagnosed with cervical cancer in British Columbia between 2004 and 2009 were analyzed to calculate patient-level resource utilization patterns from diagnosis to death or 5-year discharge. Domains of resource use within the scope of this cost analysis were chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and brachytherapy administered by the BC Cancer Agency; resource utilization related to hospitalization and outpatient visits as recorded by the B.C. Ministry of Health; medically required services billed under the B.C. Medical Services Plan; and prescriptions dispensed under British Columbia’s health insurance programs. Unit costs were applied to radiotherapy and brachytherapy, producing per-patient costs. Results: The mean cost per case of treating cervical cancer in British Columbia was $19,153 (standard error: $3,484). Inpatient hospitalizations, at 35%, represented the largest proportion of the total cost (95% confidence interval: 32.9% to 36.9%). Costs were compared for subgroups of the total cohort. Conclusions: As health care systems change the way they manage, screen for, and prevent cervical cancer, cost-effectiveness evaluations of the overall approach will require up-to-date data for resource utilization and costs. We provide information suitable for such a purpose and also identify factors that influence costs.
Cost Implications of Unwarranted Imaging for Distant Metastasis in Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer in Ontario
Authors: Thavorn K. , Wang Z. , Fergusson D. , van Katwyk S. , Arnaout A. , Clemons M.
Published: March 2016

Introduction: Despite the publication of multiple evidence-based guidelines recommending against routine imaging for distant metastasis in patients with early-stage (I/II) breast cancer, such imaging is frequently performed. The present retrospective cohort study was conducted to estimate the cost of unnecessary imaging tests in women with stage I and II breast cancer diagnosed between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2012 in Ontario. Methods: We obtained patient-level demographic and tumour data from a large provincial dataset. The total cost of unwarranted imaging tests (in 2015 Canadian dollars) was considered to be equal to the sum of imaging costs incurred between 2007 and 2012 and was stratified by disease stage, imaging modality, and body site. Results: Of the 26,547 identified patients with early-stage breast cancer, 22,811 (85.9%) underwent at least 1 imaging test, with an average of 3.7 tests per patient (3.2 for stage I patients and 4.0 for stage II patients) over 5 years. At least 1 imaging test was performed in 79.6% of stage I and 92.7% of stage II patients. During a 5-year period, the cost of unwarranted imaging in patients with early-stage breast cancer ranged from CA$4,418,139 to CA$6,865,856, depending on guideline recommendations. Conclusions: Our study highlights the substantial cost of excess imaging that could be saved and re-allocated to patient care if evidence-based guidelines are followed. Future studies should assess strategies to ensure that evidence-based guidelines are followed and to increase awareness of the cost implications of nonadherence to guidelines.
Using the Cancer Risk Management Model to Evaluate the Health and Economic Impacts of Cytology Compared with Human Papillomavirus DNA Testing for Primary Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada
Authors: Popadiuk C. , Gauvreau C.L. , Bhavsar M. , Nadeau C. , Asakawa K. , Flanagan W.M. , Wolfson M.C. , Coldman A.J. , Memon S. , Fitzgerald N. , Lacombe J. , Miller A.B.
Published: March 2016

Background: In Canada, discussion about changing from cytology to human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing for primary screening in cervical cancer is ongoing. However, the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care has not yet made a recommendation, concluding that the evidence is insufficient. Methods: We used the cervical cancer and HPV transmission models of the Cancer Risk Management Model to study the health and economic outcomes of primary cytology compared with HPV DNA testing in 14 screening scenarios with varying screening modalities and intervals. Projected cervical cancer cases, deaths, colposcopies, screens, costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness were evaluated. We performed sensitivity analyses for HPV DNA test costs. Results: Compared with triennial cytology from age 25, 5-yearly HPV DNA screening alone from age 30 resulted in equivalent incident cases and deaths, but 55% (82,000) fewer colposcopies and 43% (1,195,000) fewer screens. At HPV DNA screening intervals of 3 years, whether alone or in an age-based sequence with cytology, screening costs are greater, but at intervals of more than 5 years, they are lower. Scenarios on the cost-effectiveness frontier were HPV DNA testing alone every 10, 7.5, 5, or 3 years, and triennial cytology starting at age 21 or 25 when combined with HPV DNA testing every 3 years. Conclusions: Changing from cytology to HPV DNA testing as the primary screening test for cervical cancer would be an acceptable strategy in Canada with respect to incidence, mortality, screening and diagnostic test volumes.
Cost Trajectories for Cancer Patients
Authors: Wodchis W.P. , Arthurs E. , Khan A.I. , Gandhi S. , MacKinnon M. , Sussman J.
Published: March 2016

Background: Health care spending is known to be highly skewed, with a small subset of the population consuming a disproportionate amount of health care resources. Patients with cancer are high-cost users because of high incremental health care costs for treatment and the growing prevalence of cancer. The objectives of the present study included characterizing cancer-patient trajectories by cost, and identifying the patient and health system characteristics associated with high health system costs after cancer treatment. Methods: This retrospective cohort study identified Ontario adults newly diagnosed with cancer between 1 April 2009 and 30 September 2010. Costs of health care use before, during, and after cancer episodes were used to develop trajectories of care. Descriptive analyses examined differences between the trajectories in terms of clinical and health system characteristics, and a logistic regression approach identified predictors of being a high-cost user after a cancer episode. Results: Ten trajectories were developed based on whether patients were high- or low-cost users before and after their cancer episode. The most common trajectory represented patients who were low-cost in the year before cancer, survived treatment, and continued to be low-cost in the year after cancer (31.4%); stage ii cancer of the male genital system was the most common diagnosis within that trajectory. Regression analyses identified increases in age and in multimorbidity and low continuity of care as the strongest predictors of high-cost status after cancer. Conclusions: Findings highlight an opportunity to proactively identify patients who might transition to high-cost status after cancer treatment and to remediate that transition.
Importance of Cost Estimates and Cost Studies
Authors: Mittmann N. , de Oliveira C.
Published: March 2016

Canada has a distinctive health care system, [...]
Relationships between the motorcyclists’ behavioural perception and their actual behaviour
Authors: Topolšek Darja , Dragan Dejan
Published: March 2016

The paper deals with studying the relationships between the motorcyclists’ thinking about proper behaviour and their actual behaviour in the traffic. The impact of some control variables, such as riders’ age, experience, driving history, and engine cubature, on actual behaviour, is also addressed here. For the purpose of research, two additional questionnaires were applied besides the well-known Motorcycle Rider Behaviour Questionnaire (MRBQ). To examine the causal relations between all-important latent factors present in this study, the structural equation model was designed. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were also engaged in the analysis and the statistical modelling process. The results show that the higher awareness about alcohol danger and benefits of protective equipment and helmet can noticeably contribute to the bigger traffic safety. Besides, from the results is evident that the control variables are in most cases also significantly interrelated with the actual behaviour factors. The findings of this research could be important for the planning of better traffic safety strategies for the motorcyclists to decrease the fatalities and related costs and traumas.
Monitoring of current collectors on the railway line
Authors: Karwowski Krzysztof , Mizan Mirosław , Karkosiński Dariusz
Published: March 2016

Proper cooperation the current collectors and the overhead line is a pre-requisite for reliable and safe operation of railway transport. Instances of maladjustment and, in some cases, damage to the current collectors, occur between periodic inspections of the rolling stock. In order to detect such anomalies quickly, the test stand was developed, with the aim of monitoring the technical state of the current collectors under operating conditions. The detection procedure is based on the monitoring and analysis of contact wire uplift caused by the pressure of the current collector, as the train passes through the measuring point located on the railway line and is designed with the aim of detecting collectors with incorrect values of a contact force.
AN EXPERIMENTAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION INDEX TO EVALUATE THE PERFORMANCE OF CITY LOGISTICS SERVICES
Authors: Paddeu Daniela , Fancello Gianfranco , Fadda Paolo
Published: March 2016

Freight transport in urban areas entails benefits (i.e. free access to goods when needed), but also negative externalities (environmental, social and transportation impacts). In response to these problems, the concept of city logistics emerged, for the purpose of planning, organizing, coordinating and controlling physical and information flows in order to find a compromise between efficient freight distribution in urban areas and protection of the environment. A typical city logistics initiative is the Urban Freight Consolidation Centre (UFCC), the benefits of which are significant. Its financial issues though represent a huge problem for public administrations. However, a large customer network, comprising retailers participating in the initiative, could make the UFCC a self-financing scheme. The key to expanding the scheme is closely linked with marketing campaigns and customer care. Therefore, customer care analysis represents an important tool in developing UFCC schemes. In this paper, a new Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) is proposed for evaluating UFCC service quality. The new index, named CSImod, is a modified version of the traditional CSI, but places greater emphasis on customer dissatisfaction, so as to analyse the most critical areas of the service with a view to improving them. The index has been tested using experimental data collected within the CIVITAS RENAISSANCE Project, in which the Bristol and Bath Freight Consolidation Centre (BBFCC) scheme was evaluated. The evaluation was done from a user perspective, i.e. the participating retailers. The CSImod places more importance on the most dissatisfied customers making it possible to understand why they are dissatisfied and with what. Thus, it is possible to intervene with the aim of improving those areas of the service that are perceived as the worst. In spite of the high level of satisfaction with the overall service provided by the BBFCC, thanks to the CSImod the analysis pointed out that some retailers are dissatisfied with the delivery time arrangements and also with deliveries that were getting wet, issues about which the BBFCC manager was totally unaware. The CSImod could be used by UFCC operators to extend the network of the retailers involved and could therefore provide an implicit solution for making the scheme self-financing.
Elizabeth Wager. GETTING RESEARCH PUBLISHED â€“ An A to Z of Publication Strategy, Third Edition. Boca Raton, New York, London: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC, 2015. 188 pages; ISBN-13:978-1-78523-138-4 (Paperback) - CAT# K28669
Authors: Donev Doncho
Published: March 2016

PURPOSE: This book provides step-by-step guidance on developing a sound publication strategy for how to prepare and get research papers published. The book is a user-friendly guide, a route map for publishing that covers many topics, ranging from abstracts and blogs, tables and trial registration to ethical principles and conventions for writing scientific papers. Publishing the results of scientific research in the form of a scientific paper is the ultimate goal and the final stage of the research of each scientist. To write and publish papers is never going to be an easy task. With this book as their guide, researchers will be better informed and therefore should have an easier and altogether more pleasant path to publication with clear direction on how to choose the right journal, avoid publication delays, and resolve authorship disputes and many other problems associated with scientific publishing.CONTENTS: The 188 pages of the book are distributed in 5 chapters in Part I and 249 entries ordered by the letters of Alphabet in Part II creating an A to Z of publication strategy. In the Appendices there are four sections covering further reading, organizations, guidelines and principles of good publication practice for company-sponsored medical research. The book also contains key references and useful websites within many entries where it seemed helpful. The last ten pages of the book present an index to help users to find the information of interest in the book.CONCLUSION: The book is intended to help all authors, young and old, novice and experienced, to plan their research and publications effectively and prepare manuscripts for journals and other publications, increasing the likelihood that their work will be published. Providing essential information on publishing strategy and process, the book should be extremely useful to everyone who wants to publish research results.
Splenectomy in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in Tabuk
Authors: Ghmaird Asmaa , Alnoaiji Mohammad Mohammad , Al-Blewi Sawsan , Zaki Shaimaa , El-lewi Ahmad , Ahmad Nehal
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease is a common genetic disease in Saudi Arabia; it is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by production of abnormal hemoglobin S and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Acute splenic sequestration is a life-threatening complication for this disease. Prophylactic splenectomy is the only effective strategy for preventing future life-threatening episodes.AIM: The aim of this study was to study hospital records for all children aged 2 to 12 year old with Sickle cell disease who underwent splenectomy in Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.METHODS: Records of 24 children (13 males, 11 females) who underwent splenectomy in surgery department of King Salman North West Armed Hospital, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia between 2008 and 2015 were reviewed retrospectively and analyzed for age, sex, indications for splenectomy, surgical technique, preoperative and postoperative length of stay, operative and postoperative complications, acute chest syndrome, painful crises, blood transfusion and fever (preoperative and postoperative).RESULTS: We stressed on the information about the details of operation, the frequency of blood transfusion, fever, acute chest syndrome and painful crisis before and after operation.CONCLUSION: Here we found that blood transfusion frequency decreased after splenectomy.
Un examen critique des liens entre le Traité des probabilités et la Théorie générale de Keynes
Authors: Piluso Nicolas
Published: March 2016

À partir des années 1980, certains économistes voient dans le Traité des probabilités de Keynes un élément incontournable de son approche « fondamentaliste » fondée sur l’incertitude. D’après ces derniers, il existe des liens de complémentarité forts entre le Traité des probabilités et la Théorie générale . Pourtant, un tel projet de développement du Traité des probabilités n’a pas abouti, bien qu’on en retrouve des éléments dans le chapitre 12 de la Théorie générale . Nous tentons donc de comprendre d’une part ce qui a motivé la naissance d’un tel point de vue et, d’autre part, pourquoi ce projet n’a pas été développé comme l’avaient annoncé certains économistes français. Nous montrons que l’objet d’analyse du Traité porte sur un type d’incertitude différent de celui de la Théorie générale .
Anti-obesity effect of milk fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum NCDC 625 alone and in combination with herbs on high fat diet fed C57BL/6J mice
Authors: Pothuraju R. , Sharma R.K. , Kavadi P.K. , Chagalamarri J. , Jangra S. , Bhakri G. , De S.
Published: March 2016

The effect of dietary supplementation of milk fermented with indigenous probioticLactobacillus plantarum(LP625) alone and in combination with herbs (Aloe veraandGymnema sylvestre) was investigated on high fat diet (HFD, 60 kcal% fat) fed mice for 12 weeks. Administration of LP625 alone or in combination with both herbs lowered the final body weight, however, a significant difference was observed with LP625 supplementedGymnema sylvestreonly as compared to the HFD fed group (25.06±0.18 vs 27.29±0.72 g,P<0.05). Similarly, the epididymal fat mass, fasting blood glucose and serum insulin levels were significantly (P<0.05) decreased by all treatment groups. In addition, a protective effect against the rise in serum and liver triglycerides, and in liver total cholesterol levels was found with the consumption of LP625 alone or in combination with herbs. Furthermore, the HFD fed mice showed a remarkable increase in the epididymal fat cell size, whereas administration of LP625 alone or in combination with herbs exhibited a significant decrease in the size. Finally, a significant increase in the relative mRNA expression of thermogenic proteins, i.e. uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2, 1.16±0.25 fold change,P<0.05) and a decrease in pro-inflammatory markers, such as tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 (1.55±0.18 and 3.10±0.58 fold change, respectively,P<0.05) were due to LP625 supplementation in the HFD fed group. This shows that LP625 alone or supplemented with herbs seems to protect against diet induced obesity by decreasing the body and epididymal fat weight through upregulation of UCP-2 expression and reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Milk and blood biomarkers associated to the clinical efficacy of a probiotic for the treatment of infectious mastitis
Authors: Espinosa-Martos I. , Jiménez E. , de Andrés J. , Rodríguez-Alcalá L.M. , Tavárez S. , Manzano S. , Fernández L. , Alonso E. , Fontecha J. , Rodríguez J.M.
Published: March 2016

Previous studies have shown the efficacy of oral administration of selected lactobacilli strains to treat mastitis. The objective of this study was to find microbiological, biochemical and/or immunological biomarkers of the probiotic effect. Women with (n=23) and without (n=8) symptoms of mastitis received three daily doses (109 cfu) of Lactobacillus salivarius PS2 for 21 days. Samples of milk, blood and urine were collected before and after the probiotic intervention, and screened for a wide spectrum of microbiological, biochemical and immunological parameters. In the mastitis group, L. salivarius PS2 intake led to a reduction in milk bacterial counts, milk and blood leukocyte counts and interleukin (IL)-8 level in milk, an increase in those of immunoglobulin (Ig)E, IgG3, epidermal growth factor and IL-7, a modification of the milk electrolyte profile, and a reduction of some oxidative stress biomarkers. Such biomarkers will be useful in future clinical studies involving a larger cohort.