bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leadership competencies in the context of health services
Authors: Jahrami Haitham , Marnoch Gordon , Gray Ann Marie
Published: May 2013

Objectives

In a rapidly changing health-care environment, clinicians are increasingly called upon to assume complex leadership responsibilities. The research was undertaken to develop an understanding of the limits to the conceptual and methodological basis of leadership competency modelling in health services context.

Methods

Data were collected from all of the clinicians in a Psychiatric Hospital, Bahrain using a researcher-developed questionnaire. Data were gathered to critically assess the validity of the competency-based approach to leadership on the basis of subjects' capacity to discriminate in terms of importance and accomplishment between the items featured in a research tool containing a comprehensive list of 124 leadership competencies.

Results

The results of the analyses indicate a weak identification with the competencies in the sense of revealing low levels of discriminatory sophistication on the part of subjects.

Conclusion

The study design was limited to participants working in single hospital; therefore, the conclusions made cannot yet be regarded categorically as generalizable. Leadership selection, development and education activities may not achieve their ultimate outcomes due to the subject identification problem associated with the competence approach. It might be necessary to reconsider the efficiency of human resource activities that rely solely on the competency approach. The conceptual basis of leadership competence in health services has been previously neglected. This research casts doubt on competency approaches to leadership if based on subject identification with pre-defined items.
Getting health reforms right: what lessons from an Italian case?
Authors: Villa Stefano , Alesani Daniele , Borgonovi Elio
Published: May 2013

Over the past few years (2001–2007), the Italian National Health Service has been undergoing an important process of decentralization with a significant transfer of powers and responsibilities from the central government to the Regions. In this context, a particularly innovative example is represented by the case of Marche Region that extensively reformed its health-care system. For the analysis of this case, we used a theoretical framework that describes a health-care system in terms of components and goals. Policy-makers can act on the structural components of the system influencing the behaviour of individuals and organizations in order to lead the system towards the achievement of key performance goals. Marche regional Government was able to improve the system in crucial areas (clinical appropriateness and economic equilibrium) by intervening on institutional arrangements (particularly on the number and dimension of health-care delivery organizations) and on key control knobs (particularly planning and control mechanisms and the information system). Some conditions have allowed Marche policy-maker to successfully carry out this extensive process of reforms, particularly: (1) a shared sense of urgency; (2) agreement on the identification of problems and on the relative reform strategies to adopt; (3) coordination of all change strategies through a precise and clear long-term plan aimed at developing an integrated health-care delivery network.
Preface
Authors: Karjus Andres
Published: May 2013

Preface to the special issue.
Syntactic change in an immigrant language: from non-finite to finite subordinate clauses in Turkish
Authors: Valk Pelin Onar , Backus Ad
Published: May 2013

While Turkish immigrants in Western Europe orient themselves to the norms of Standard Turkish, their Turkish is constantly being influenced by the European language they also speak. As a result of language contact, slowly but surely, new varieties of Turkish seem to be evolving, exhibiting loss of certain features and/or borrowing of words and structures taken from European languages. In this article, the focus is on Immigrant Turkish in the Netherlands, particularly on how it forms subordinate clauses. We compare data from the Netherlands and Turkey, with the data coming from two sources: spontaneous conversation and a sentence recall task. The main finding that both data sources converge on is that Dutch Turkish speakers clearly prefer to use finite subordinate clauses, especially in reported speech structures, and that this is a clear influence from Dutch. In Turkey, subordination is predominantly non-finite. The findings are interpreted in a usage-based perspective on contact-induced change.
Contact-induced sound change: analysis of the alveolar lateral fricative in Yami
Authors: Lai Li-Fang , Hsu Huiju
Published: May 2013

Language change manifests itself in various ways. The majority of studies on language change in Yami, an endangered Austronesian language spoken on Orchid Island, Taiwan, have centered on the rapid language shift from Yami to Mandarin within the speech community (Chen 1998, Li and Ho 1988, Lin 2007, Rau 1995). The present study, however, aims to explore whether the sound change of [ɮ] to [l] in Yami (e.g., soli [ʂuɮi] > [ʂuli] 'taro') is triggered by language contact between Mandarin and Yami. Three variables were considered: Mandarin competence, Mandarinspeaking frequency, and social network integration. The results showed that the three variables were strongly correlated with sound change. Participants possessing advanced Mandarin competence, higher Mandarin-speaking frequency, and/or weaker social network integration into the Yami community (i.e., greater exposure to Mandarin) tended to exhibit the highest rate of sound change, which might be attributed to a cross-linguistic influence from Mandarin to Yami through extensive language contact.
Alignment in lingua receptiva: from automaticity towards monitored code-switching
Authors: Daria Bahtina-Jantsikene Daria
Published: May 2013

Psycholinguistic alignment is a process in which interlocutors automatically adapt their lexical, structural and conceptual representations, enhancing both comprehension and production. Multilingual constellations also demonstrate alignment patterns, but rely on more monitoring than automatic alignment. This paper focuses on lingua receptiva – a multilingual communicative mode in which speakers use their own language and have enough proficiency to understand each other. Whenever L2 proficiency does not guarantee mutual understanding, compensatory strategies such as code-switching (CS) can be applied. In actual mono- and multilingual constellations, it is more common to use one language at a time, yet in this experiment the participants were invited to communicate in the mode of lingua receptiva. Nonetheless, CS occurred in the data and was analysed in the framework of language contact. Alternations and insertions were the main forms, and their distribution depended on L2 proficiency, attitudes and exposure. It is concluded that CS can function as an alignment strategy.
From code-switching to a mixed code: the role of parenthetical verbs in the emerging Polish-Russian mixed code in Lithuania
Authors: Séguis Brigita
Published: May 2013

This paper investigates the role of parenthetical verbs in the emerging Polish-Russian mixed code in Lithuania. Parenthetical verbs share many similarities with discourse markers, since both are regarded as having little or no meaning and occurring outside the syntax of the utterance. The data analysis, based on recordings of spontaneous conversations in the Polish community in Lithuania, aims to test two hypotheses with regard to Russian parenthetical verbs in order to establish whether they should be treated as lexical elements that have been “fused” into the Polish-Russian mixed code, or as instances of ad-hoc switches triggered by identifiable factors. The data reveals that both options are permitted, which in turn suggests that fusion around parenthetical verbs has been “synchronically licensed” (Matras 2000: 525), in the sense that speakers have abolished the requirement to maintain a consistent separation between the Polish and Russian systems. However, the wholesale replacement of one system by another has not taken place.
Nanai argument structure: Russian influence
Authors: Shagal Ksenia
Published: May 2013

The paper investigates two classes of verbs in the Naikhin dialect of Nanai (Tungusic; spoken mostly in the Russian Far East) that demonstrate a certain instability with respect to their argument structure in a situation where there is contact with Russian, the dominating language of the region. The avalent verbs tend to acquire a subject, thus turning into intransitives, while ditransitive verbs reduce the original number of possible argument encoding strategies and preserve the dative-accusative pattern only. The general claim of this article is that although there might be some other reasons (structural, typological, etc.) for the argument structure change in an endangered language, language contact also contributes to the process.
The adoption of Russian conjunctions in Udmurt
Authors: Kaysina Inna
Published: May 2013

Conjunctions in Udmurt belong to grammatical function words of secondary origin. Indigenous Udmurt linking devices have developed from other parts of speech e.g. postpositions and particles. Besides, a group of Russian and Tatar conjunctions has been taken over as a result of intensive contact with the two neighbouring languages. This paper will be dealing with the adoption of Russian coordinators and subordinators in Modern Udmurt. Russian linking elements are analysed within the code-copying framework (Johanson 2002) and are considered to be copied function units, accordingly. The role of Russian in the development of coordinate and subordinate structures in Udmurt is discussed to account for the on-going changes in the language structure of the colloquial variety.
Loanwords and stylistics: on the gallicisms in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Authors: Volkonskaya Maria
Published: May 2013

This article explores the way in which loanwords become incorporated into a recipient language. It concentrates on the interim period, the time between the borrowing of a new word from a donor language and its incorporation into a recipient language. During this period the new word still retains some of its “foreignness”, its associations with another language and culture, therefore its stylistic potential is enhanced. The material is taken from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, an English poem written in the latter half of the 14th century, at the time of the greatest influx of French words into English. This article shows that the Gawain-poet uses gallicisms as an expressive part of his poetic technique due to their stylistic potential as what were at the time recent borrowings.
Syntactic strategies of exclamatives
Authors: Zevakhina Natalia
Published: May 2013

The study presented in this paper has two aims. First, it establishes pragmasemantic features of exclamations and exclamatives relying on three formulated approaches – a constructional approach, a presupposition approach, and a scalarity approach, and suggests distinguishing proper exclamatives, the syntactic structures of which are conventionally associated with an illocutionary force of expressivity, from improper ones that do not have such an association. Second, involving the data of 45 languages, the paper reveals and describes 5 syntactic strategies of exclamatives, which are as follows: subject-verb inversion, subordinate clauses, noun phrases, anaphoric adverbs and adjectives, and wh-phrases. The latter three are further divided into several sub-strategies.
Finno-Ugric substrate appellatives in Russian dialects of the Upper Kama
Authors: Gaidamaško Roman
Published: May 2013

The current article is a brief review of the Finno-Ugric substrate appellatives in the Russian dialects of the Upper Kama. Special attention is paid to the identification and differentiation of the substrate types (viz. living or extinct Finno-Ugric dialects) along with its relative chronology. A new tentative etymology is proposed for some Russian dialectal words.
Coding and behaviour of Estonian subjects
Authors: Metslang Helena
Published: May 2013

This study is a construction-specific approach to subjecthood in Estonian. It has grown out of Croft’s (2001) view that due to the diversity of the syntactic roles’ distribution across constructions, there is a need for a shift in grammars to construction- specific syntactic roles. However, in order to compare different arguments, it is also necessary to employ a global cross-constructional subject category. This study treats subjecthood as a set of properties that is represented on arguments to a different degree. The study provides a comprehensive analysis of Estonian prototypical subjects and subject-like arguments (10 in total) from the viewpoint of a large number of morphosyntactic criteria (16). The study is an attempt to apply multivariate analysis on the arguments’ syntactic behaviour research. The paper claims that most Estonian subject-like arguments only show subjecthood properties to a limited degree. Supportive data is provided for the Hierarchy of Grammatical Relations Constructions.
Modern treatment methods of sialolithiasis
Authors: Rahnama Mansur , Jastrzębska-Jamrogiewicz Izabela , Jamrogiewicz Rafał , Krochmalska Ewa
Published: May 2013

Salivary stones (sialolithiasis) are diagnosed in 0.007% of the population and are the most common cause of submandibular and parotid salivary glands obstruction. In the past, sialolithiasis was the leading cause of submandibular gland resection. The dynamic development of medical technology has greatly expanded the range of therapeutic options used in the treatment of salivary stones. The introduction of ultrasound and endoscopic techniques to the process of salivary stones diagnosis has greatly facilitated the identification of salivary stones. Endoscopic methods have made it possible to perform surgeries on the salivary glands in an almost atraumatic way. The use of laser devices, piezoelectric or magnetostrictive effect have enabled the efficient crushing of large salivary calculus deposits (sialolithotrypsis) and removal of stones fragments through the lumen of salivary duct. Modern therapeutic methods have reduced the number of sialoadenectomies to a minimum. In addition, these methods are characterized by a small number of serious complications and a very high success ratio, reaching up to 97%.
Gamma-glutamyl transferaze (GGT) activity and lipid concentration in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD)
Authors: Zięba Bartosz , Kimak Elżbieta
Published: May 2013

A serum lipid profiles are established risk factors for atherosclerosis. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level, are a powerful predictor of future myocardial infarction and cardiac death among apparently healthy individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate serum GGT activity and hsCRP level and others atherosclerosis biochemistry markers in patients with stable coronary artery disease. We studied 94 (women, n=45 and men, n=49), mean age was 64.8±9.7 years, consecutive patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD), hospitalized in the Department of Cardiology Cardinal Wyszyński Hospital in Lublin. Patients with acute coronary syndroms (ACS) in history where 53% (n=51) of studied population (unstable angina n=3; no ST elevation myocardial infarction n=17, ST elevation myocardial infarction n=31). The patients with acute and chronic kidney disease, liver diseases, active autoimmune disease, malignancy, thyroids diseases, alcohol disease were excluded from the analysis. The patients had worse laboratory parameters than the reference group. They had increased concentration of TG, hsCRP and GGT activity, and decreased concentration of HDL-C as compared to the reference group. However, ALT activity and creatinine concentration were non-significantly increased vs. the controls. We concluded that dyslipidemia together with GGT activity and hsCRP concentration may be good markers to predict cardio-vascular events and vessels lesions in asymptomatic patients with CAD. However, these results require further studies.
Serum adiponectin concentration in patients with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Malecha-Jędraszek Arleta , Burska Agata , Donica Helena , Matuszek Beata , Nowakowski Andrzej
Published: May 2013

Adiponectin (AdipoQ) is known as one of the major mediators of adipose tissue metabolism with beneficial effects on carbohydrates and lipids. The effect of low concentrations of adiponectin on the development of obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease is quite well understood. However, there is still little research available defining the role of adiponectin in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (DM1) and its’ complications. Therefore, it seems appropriate to undertake research aiming to evaluate serum levels of adiponectin in the blood of patients with DM1 and to evaluate the correlations between this adipocytokine concentration and selected clinical data as well as biochemical parameters evaluated in routine diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes. The study included 40 patients aged 41.9±12.7 years, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and group of healthy controls (n=26) with mean age of 41.2±15.3 years. In serum samples of all patients single-time determination of adiponectin, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, creatinine, glycated hemoglobin levels and alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activity were performed. The mean AdipoQ concentration was significantly higher in the study group than in healthy subjects (16.2±11.7 ug/ml vs. 7.3±2.0 ug/ml; p<0.001). Significantly higher levels of AdipoQ in women than in men with DM1 (23.1±14.0 ug/ml vs. 11.0±5.8 ug/ml; p<0.001) were found. AdipoQ was directly correlated with disease duration (r=0.539, p=0.003) as well as inversely with patients’ body mass (r=-0.423, p=0.025). Observed increased levels of AdipoQ in patients with DM1 with concomitant vascular complications as compared to patients without the complications, however not statistically significant, suggests that this protein may play important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic angiopathy.
Role of chlorhexidine in adhesion to dentin
Authors: Chałas Renata , Rudzka Olga , Wójcik-Chęcińska Ilona , Zubrzycka-Wróbel Joanna
Published: May 2013

The authors, basing on literature discuss the role of chlorhexidine (CHX) in adhesion to dentine in restorative dentistry. Many studies have shown that the chlorhexidine has an inhibitory effect on metalloproteinases (MMPs), by preventing the degradation of the connection between bonding system and a dentin. Despite the introduction of additional procedure in the form of disinfection of the cavity using chlorhexidine and thus the extension of the valuable chair-time, the fact of preventing microleakage and secondary caries seems to be convincing but further detailed studies must be carried out in this area.
Comparison of the physical properties of ointments, creams and gels with ibuprofen obtained with two different methods according to the own compositions
Authors: Zuń Maria , Dwornicka Dorota , Świąder Katarzyna , Wojciechowska Katarzyna , Zimmer Łukasz , Dziekańska Agata , Poleszak Ewa
Published: May 2013

The aim of the study was preparing the skin formulations with ibuprofen as ointments, creams and gels. They have been prepared by two methods; melting the components and then mixing (method 1) and in the unqutor (method 2). The preparations have been tested rheologically and determined for the consistency, pH and spreadability ex tempore and after 3 months of storage at 4° C. The studies showed that the consistency is stable during all the time of storage. The pH values were within the tolerance of the skin. The formulations prepared in the unquator have better consistency, spreadability and lower viscosity.
Intrapancreatic accessory spleen in newborn with multiple congenital malformations
Authors: Szumiło Justyna , Stasiewicz Dominika , Fronczek Agnieszka , Podlodowski Wiktor , Burdan Franciszek
Published: May 2013

A new case of intrapancreatic accessory spleen located in the tail of the pancreas in a premature male newborn is reported. The anomaly was unexpectedly found at the autopsy together with many other malformations including heart defects, polycystic kidneys, oxycephaly, facial dysmorphy, low set ears, webbing of neck and accessory fingers of right hand and foot. Microscopic examination of the pancreas revealed accessory spleen composed of red and white pulp. The spleen was partly well-demarcated but partly intermingled with pancreatic lobules. Many goblet cell-containing intralobular pancreatic ducts, some of them entrapped within spleen were noted. Splenopancreatic field abnormalities are known to be highly specific for trisomy 13 syndrome. Although karyotyping was not performed, on the basis of reveled malformations the syndrome can be suspected in the presented case.
Blood lipids and the risk of myocardial infarction
Authors: Pietryka-Michałowska Elżbieta , Walewska Anna , Szymańska Jolanta
Published: May 2013

The most important risk factors for myocardial infarction include among other things, cholesterol (including LDL and HDL) and neutral fats - triglycerides. The aim of the research was the analysis of the levels of biochemical parameters in patients after myocardial infarction and without it on the risk of myocardial infarction. The study was conducted among patients suffering from ischemic heart disease, treated in five randomly selected primary healthcare facilities in Lublin. The study revealed that among patients with high levels of lipids (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides) the myocardial infarction is significantly more often observed, although there is a weak but statistically significant correlation between the level of triglycerides and HDL cholesterol concentration. Higher levels of triglycerides are accompanied by lower levels of HDL cholesterol. The variables having a statistically significant impact on the risk of heart attack are elevated levels of total cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol levels. High total cholesterol on average increases the risk of heart attack 3-fold compared to patients whose cholesterol level is normal. Patients with low levels of HDL cholesterol on average have a 2-fold higher risk of myocardial infarction as compared to patients whose concentration is higher than 35 mg%.
Applications of Thin Layer Chromatography in the analysis and isolation of coumarins derived from medicinal plants
Authors: Wojtanowski Krzysztof Kamil , Skalicka-Woźniak Krystyna , Głowniak Kazimierz
Published: May 2013

Because of the common occurrence in plants and broad spectrum of their activity, coumarins are one of the most promising groups of natural compounds to investigate. TLC is very quick and simple method to analyze the composition of secondary metabolites in plants. It can be successfully applied as a screening procedure to verify a presence of coumarin compounds in a sample. In simple way it can be also used for evaluation of some biological activity of this compounds. Current knowledge of application of TLC to analytical separation of coumarin compounds is presented in this review.
Blood serum free light chain concentration vs. immunofixation results in patients with monoclonal gammopathy
Authors: Korpysz Maciej , Malecha-Jędraszek Arleta , Donica Helena
Published: May 2013

Monoclonal gammapathies are a group of diseases characterized by proliferation of plasma clone cells that produce a certain type of homogenic immunoglobulin containing heavy chains of a, g, m, d, e class aside a type of light k or l chains. Standard methods applied to detect and identify the type of monoclonal protein in patients suspected of monoclonal gammapathy include serum electrophoresis and immunofixation. Quantitative analysis of free light chains (FLCs) by nephelometry has become more popular recently. The purpose of the study was to compare the results and assess the compatibility of free light chains measurements obtained by nephelometry and standard immunofixation. In addition to that, we tried to evaluate the usefulness of serum FLC analysis in the detection of monoclonal protein. The investigation was carried out in the group of 92 patients with suspected monoclonal gammapathy. In most cases concentrations of FLCs are increased depending on the type of light chain determined by immunofixation, however normal values of FLCs and normal kappa/lambda ratio do not exclude the presence of monoclonal protein. The analysis of FLC is most useful to identify patients suspected of light chain disease. Immunofixation is more sensitive method to detect gammapathies with complete monoclonal protein in comparison to quantitative FLC analysis.
The changes of NO-synthases activity, nitrogen oxide content and lipoperoxidation processes in stomach and colon under conditions of streptozocin-induced hyperglycaemia
Authors: Detsyk Ostap , Fomenko Iryna , Sklyarov Olexandr
Published: May 2013

In rats with streptozocin-induced hyperglycaemia the changes of nos activity, nitrite anion content and lipoperoxidation processes in mucous and muscular layers of the stomach and large intestine were studied. It has been showed that hyperglycaemia induces the decrease of cnos activity in mucous layer, while its activity in muscular layer of the stomach and large intestine did not change significantly and іnos activity increased in muscular layer of the stomach and large intestine. Nitrite anion content did not change significantly. Hyperglycaemia caused an increase of the lipoperoxidation processes in mucous and muscular layers of the large intestine; simultaneously sod activity in mucous and muscular layer increased.
Synthesis of new derivatives of 1-[1-(2-pyridyl)-imidazolidine-2-ylidene]-3-aryl(arylakyl)ureas
Authors: Szacoń Elżbieta , Rządkowska Marzena , Matosiuk Dariusz
Published: May 2013

The synthesis and physicochemical properties of new 1-[1-(2-pirydyl)imidazoline-2-ylidene]-3-aryl(arylalkyl)ureas [I-VIII]. The title compounds were obtained by condensation of 1-(2-pirydyl)-2-aminoimidazoline-2 with aryl isocyanate or arylalkyl isocyanate in dichloromethane under the atmosphere of dry nitrogen. The reaction was conducted in the room temperature for 24 h. Considering the structure of obtained compounds it can be expected that these compounds can reveal pharmacological activity.
2,6-Dinitrobenzoic acid and its 2 : 1 salts formed with isomeric n-({[(pyridin-1-ium-n-ylmethyl)carbamoyl]formamido}methyl) pyridin-1-ium, n = 2, 3 and 4
Authors: Arman Hadi D. , Miller Tyler , Poplaukhin Pavel , Tiekink Edward R. T.
Published: May 2013

The co-crystallisation of two equivalents of 2,6-dinitrobenzoic acid (1) with one equivalent of a member of the isomeric N,N′-bis(pyridin-n-ylmethyl)ethanediamides, n = 2, 3 and 4, resulted in the anticipated 2 : 1 salts, 2–4. The central core, i.e. CH2N(H)C(=O)C(=O)N(H)CH2, of the isomeric di-cations are superimposable and chemically equivalent pairs of carbonyl, amide and pyridinium groups have an anti conformation. By contrast, the relative orientations of the terminal pyridinium rings from the central core vary significantly across the series as do the relative disposition of the acidic-H atoms. This feature of the structure influences the nature of N—H…O hydrogen bonding and, therefore, the observed supramolecular aggregation patterns. Thus, in 2, the syn-disposition of the nitrogen-bound hydrogen atoms enables the benzoate residue to interact via the two oxygen atoms with both pyridinium- and amine-H atoms to yield a zero-dimensional aggregate. By contrast, in each of 3 and 4, having further distance between the acidic-H atoms, the benzoate residues still interact (either through one both or both oxygen atoms) with pyridinium- and amine-H atoms but those derived from symmetry related molecules to generate one-dimensional aggregates. The three-dimensional architectures of 1–3 are consolidated, in the main, by C—H…O interactions. The structure of 1 revealed the benzoic acid residue to be perpendicular in contrast to the co-planar conforämations of the nitro groups. In the crystal packing, O–H…O hydrogen bonding lead to a helical supramolecular chain.
Health and Mental Health Needs of Children in US Military Families
Authors: Siegel Benjamin S. , Davis Beth Ellen ,   THE COMMITTEE ON PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH AND SECTION ON UNIFORMED SERVICES
Published: May 2013

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have been challenging for US uniformed service families and their children. Almost 60% of US service members have family responsibilities. Approximately 2.3 million active duty, National Guard, and Reserve service members have been deployed since the beginning of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (2001 and 2003, respectively), and almost half have deployed more than once, some for up to 18 months’ duration. Up to 2 million US children have been exposed to a wartime deployment of a loved one in the past 10 years. Many service members have returned from combat deployments with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and traumatic brain injury. The mental health and well-being of spouses, significant others, children (and their friends), and extended family members of deployed service members continues to be significantly challenged by the experiences of wartime deployment as well as by combat mortality and morbidity. The medical system of the Department of Defense provides health and mental health services for active duty service members and their families as well as activated National Guard and Reserve service members and their families. In addition to military pediatricians and civilian pediatricians employed by military treatment facilities, nonmilitary general pediatricians care for >50% of children and family members before, during, and after wartime deployments. This clinical report is for all pediatricians, both active duty and civilian, to aid in caring for children whose loved ones have been, are, or will be deployed.
Milestone in Hungarian organ transplantation: joining Eurotransplant
Authors: Langer Róbert
Published: May 2013

Hungarian organ transplantation reached a new milestone after half-a-century history, when becoming a full member of the 135-million Eurotransplant community this year. The transplantation of the five organs: kidney, liver, pancreas, heart and lung became a routine procedure. A handful of specialists performed nearly 7000 transplantations and doing so supported the evolution of a special branch of the Hungarian health care system. The author reports the latest results of the preliminary membership year, looking forward with great optimism by seeing new horizons with the advantages of the full membership. Orv. Hetil., 2013, 154, 844–845.
Lung transplantation program for Hungarian patients
Authors: Lang György , Czebe Krisztina , Gieszer Balázs , Rényi-Vámos Ferenc
Published: May 2013

When conservative treatment fails, lung transplantation often remains the only therapeutic option for patients with end stage parenchymal or vascular lung diseases. According to the statistics of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, in 2010 more than 3500 lung transplantations have been performed worldwide. The Department of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Vienna is considered to be one of the world’s leading lung transplantation centres; in the last year 115, since 1989 more than 1500 lung transplantation procedures under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Walter Klepetko. Similar to other Central-European countries, lung transplantation procedures of Hungarian patients have also been performed in Vienna whithin the framework of a twinning aggreement. However, many crucial tasks in the process, such indication and patient selection preoperative rehabilitation organ procurement and long term follow-up care have been stepwise taken over by the Hungarian team. Although the surgery itself is still preformed in Vienna, professional experience is already available in Hungary, since the majority of Hungarian recipients have been transplanted by hungarian surgeons who are authors of this article the professional and personal requirements of performing lung transplantations are already available in Hungary. The demand of performing lung transplantation in Hungary has been raising since 1999 and it soon reaches the extent which justifies launching of an individual national program. Providing the technical requirements is a financial an organisational issue. In order to proceed, a health policy decision has to be made. Orv. Hetil., 2013, 154, 868–871.
An Efficient Transformation Technique for the Direct Recovering of the Antenna Far-Field Pattern from Near-Field Measurements Collected along
a Helix
Authors: D'Agostino F. , Ferrara F. , Gennarelli C. , Guerriero R. , Migliozzi M.
Published: May 2013

A near-field to far-field transformation technique with helicoidal scanning for elongated antennas, which allows
the evaluation of the antenna far-field pattern in any cut plane directly from a nonredundant number of near-field data
without interpolating them, is developed in this paper. It is based on the nonredundant sampling representations of
electromagnetic fields and employs a flexible source modelling suitable for long antennas to determine the number of
helix turns. The number of near-field measurements on each turn is on the contrary dictated by the minimum cylinder rule,
as in the classical cylindrical scanning, in order to reduce the computational burden and to simplify the scanning from the
mechanical viewpoint. Some numerical and experimental results assessing the effectiveness of the proposed technique are
reported.
Width of 3. Ventricle: Reference Values and Clinical Relevance in a
Cohort of Patients with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Müller Martin , Esser Regina , Kötter Katarina , Voss Jan , Müller Achim , Stellmes Petra
Published: May 2013

Objectives:

To estimate the quantity of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with brain atrophy as indicated by third ventricular enlargement using transcranial colourcoded ultrasound (TCCS).

Methods:

The width of the 3. ventricle was assessed by TCCS in 70 healthy controls (male 31, female 39, mean age 41 ± 15 years, age range 18 – 79 years), and in a cohort of 54 patients with relapsing remitting MS (male 16, female 38, mean age 40 ± 10 years, median EDSS 2 [1-3]).

Results:

In the controls, the width of the 3. ventricle increased with age (without any sex differences) from 3.0 ± 0.76 mm in the age group < 40 years to 4.0 ± 0.74 mm in the age group of 60 years or more (ANOVA p=0.0001). Derived from regression analysis, the upper limit of the 95% Confidence Interval for each year provided cutoff points according to which 14 of 54 patients (25%) exhibited an enlarged 3. ventricle. In a multivariate regression analysis, the width of the 3. ventricle over all MS patients was significantly related to EDSS (Spearman rho , r=0.446, p<0.005) and to MS duration (r=0.319, p<0.005).

Conclusions:

Even in MS patients in good clinical conditions the rate of patients with brain atrophy determined by TCCS is high.
Effects of Orography on the Tail-End Effects of Typhoon Ketsana
Authors: Tan F. , Lim H.S. , Abdullah K.
Published: May 2013

The study of tail-end effects of typhoon on orography is new to Malaysia. The current study used FY-2D
satellite data to investigate the variation of selected parameters of the Typhoon Ketsana system. In situ data, obtained via
the radiosonde technique, were used to verify the atmospheric conditions, whereas the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal
Emission and Reflection Radiometer Global Digital Elevation Model was applied to determine the structure of the
mountains in East Malaysia (EM). This study aimed to identify typhoon-terrain effects, in terms of wind, cloud, and rain
of the tail-end effects of typhoon in a regional environment. The tail-end effects of Typhoon Ketsana were altered by the
orography in EM such that a slow movement with higher rate of rainfall was distributed along the mountainous western
region, and cloud classification distribution patterns were different before, during, and after the tail-end effects of the
typhoon. The wind intensity increased with altitude and affected the larger atmosphere region over EM. Additionally, the
location of the Sabah region puts it at a higher risk to the impact of the tail-end effect of typhoons compared with the
Sarawak region due to its distance from the typhoon. This study concluded that the impacts of the tail-end effects of a
typhoon can also be varied and enhanced by the orography.
A Comparison of Equatorial Electrojet in Peru and East Brazil
Authors: Rastogi R.G. , Chandra H. , Shah Rahul , Trivedi N.B. , Fontes S.L.
Published: May 2013

The paper describes the characteristics of the equatorial electrojet at Huancayo (HUA, 12.1oS, 75.3oW,
inclination 1.5oN, declination 1.0oE) in western side of South America, where the geomagnetic field is aligned almost
along the geographic meridian, and at Itinga (ITI, 4.3oS, 47.oW, inclination 1.4oN, declination 19.3oW) in eastern part of
South America, where the geomagnetic field is aligned about 19o west of the geographic meridian; although the mean
intensity of the magnetic field in the two regions are almost of the same order. Further comparisons are made of the
current at Itinga and at Tatuoca (TTB, 1.2oS, 48.5oW, inclination 7.8o N, declination 18.7oW), a low latitude station in the
same longitude sector. The daily range of horizontal component of the geomagnetic field, H, is shown to be almost 16%
higher at HUA compared to that at ITI. The daily variation of the eastward field, Y, showed a strong minimum of -40 nT
around 13-14 hr LT at ITI whereas very low values were observed at HUA with a positive peak of about 4 nT around 11-
12 hr LT. The vertical field, Z, showed abnormally large negative values of -70 nT at TTB around 13 hr LT. The day-today
fluctuations of midday and midnight values of X field were positively correlated between HUA and ITI with a high
correlation coefficient of 0.78 and 0.88 respectively. Values of Y field were also significantly positively correlated
between HUA and ITI for midnight hours (0.72), while no correlation was observed for the midday hours. The midnight
values of X field at HUA, ITI and TTB showed significant (0.90 or greater) correlation with Dst index. Correlation values
of about 0.7 were observed between Dst and midday values of X at ITI and TTB and to a lesser degree (0.4) at HUA.
Geoduck Clam (Panopea Abrupta) Demographics and Mortality Rates in
the Presence of Sea Otters (Enhydra Lutris) and Commercial Harvesting
Authors: Reidy Rhonda D. , Cox Sean P.
Published: May 2013

In British Columbia, expanding sea otter (Enhydra lutris) populations are creating concerns among commercial
harvesters about the potential predation impacts on exploitable geoduck clam (Panopea abrupta) stocks. We analysed
fishery-independent surveys of exploited geoduck clam populations along a gradient of sea otter occupancy on the west
coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada to assess relationships between otter presence, commercial fishery
removals of geoduck, and geoduck population demographics. Geoduck mean density, age composition, and estimated total
mortality were influenced by a combination of variables, and therefore, we could not differentiate among geoduck
populations according to sea otter presence or absence alone. As expected, we found a strong association between commercial
fishery removals and geoduck clam total mortality rates. In contrast, the local numbers of sea otters were not an
important factor affecting geoduck total mortality. A more balanced study design and greater sampling intensity would increase
the power to detect whether sea otter predation affects harvestable geoduck stocks. Also, knowledge of the consumption
rate by sea otters of geoduck throughout the year, in combination with survey data of unfished geoduck populations,
would facilitate better prediction of how geoduck clam mortality rates might change as sea otters re-colonise new
areas.
The IBAI Instrument to Assess Brand Awareness Toward Food in
Children: the Chile Adaptation
Authors: Vecchio Maria Gabriella , Berchialla Paola , Didier Nicolas , Cayul Oscar , Valdenegro Daniel , Ghidina Marco , Gregori Dario
Published: May 2013

The prevalence of obesity and overweight in children and adolescents during the last decades has reached
the epidemic level in both developed and in developing countries. Besides the genetic aspects, which represent one of the
motivating factors in the progress of obesity, the shift in the energetic balance also plays a significant role in the
development of obesity. TV viewing and the high-calorie snack foods consumption have come under more scrutiny as
potential causes of increased obesity in children and adolescents. The aim of the present work was to develop an
instrument that allows to estimate the Chilean children’s brand awareness. We developed the IBAI (International Brand
Awareness Instrument), an age-appropriate instrument that uses twelve sheets with pictures of food logos to test children's
recall and recognition. The IBAI was presented to a sample of 80 children aged from 3 to 10 years, enrolled in the city of
Santiago de Chile. The instrument allowed distinguishing different kinds of children's brand awareness. Considering the
total score reached by each child, the majority of the children for both genders showed a medium-low brand awareness
(32.5%) followed by medium-high brand awareness (31.3%), high brand awareness (23.8%) and low brand awareness
(12.5%). Although the study confirmed the moderate brand logo recognition in the children tested, it did not demonstrate
a close relationship between this and the children's reported eating behaviors, food knowledge and preferences.
The Contribution of Confectionery to the Global Obesity Epidemic: a Review
Authors: Ballali Simonetta , Vecchio Maria Gabriella , Chiffi Daniele , Gafare Claudia Elena , Gregori Dario
Published: May 2013

Obesity has become, nowadays, a global concern affecting both developed and developing countries. Nutrition and physical activity represent the major factors influencing energy balance and subsequently weight status. Deciding toward an appropriate intake of all nutrients is seen as necessary to maintain a wholesome lifestyle: among nutrients, sugar plays a major role and its consumption has long been seen as an issue in public health, due to its possible role in displacing or diluting nutrients in the diet and contributing to the epidemic of obesity.

A research on Pubmed was assessed to evaluate the impact of confectionery consumption, as sugar source, on the daily energy intake. The studies considered in the current paper generally failed to show that confectionery consumption leads necessarily to a shift of energy intake. Anyway, considering that till now, very few works on this topic were conducted, more researches are necessary to demonstrate the effective influence of confectionery on daily energy intake.
Reduced Postoperative Pain and Complications after a Modified Multidisciplinary Approach for Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Karlnoski Rachel A. , B.S Collin Sprenker , Puri Suvikram , Chen Ren , Mangar Devanand , Murr Michel M. , Camporesi Enrico M.
Published: May 2013

Background:

There are considerable implications for pain management in morbidly obese patients undergoing
weight loss operations. The purpose of this study was to determine if a modified postoperative analgesic regimen and a
dedicated postoperative bariatric team reduced pain scores, length of stay and postoperative complications.

Materials and Methods:

We performed a retrospective analysis of morbidly obese patients admitted to our medical center
for laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). Our previous
postoperative pain regimen was ketorolac (30 mg IV plus 15 mg q6h) and patient controlled analgesia (PCA) morphine
and was converted to ketorolac (30 mg IV and 30 mg i.m, plus 15 mg q6h), and IV PCA hydromorphone. Visual analog
scale (VAS) pain scores from the post-operative care unit were collected retrospectively. The bariatric team was led by a
nurse practitioner consisted of a psychologist, exercise physiologist, and nutritionist.

Results:

Eighty-five patients underwent bariatric operations in the year prior to implementation of the revised
postoperative pain management regimen and 372 patients underwent bariatric surgery in the 2 years following
implementation. Patient age, gender and BMI were evenly distributed for both groups. Mean VAS scores on postoperative
days 1 through 5 were significantly lower after implanting our modified pain regimen (p<0.0001). Pain scores were
significantly higher for patients that underwent LRYGB compared to LAGB (p<0.0001). Overall, length of hospital stay
was unaffected by the new pain regimen, however a significant reduction was found in patients that underwent LAGB
(0.8 days less; p=0.0001).

Conclusion:

Use of our modified pain regimen resulted in a more effective analgesic protocol and a reduction of hospital
stay, without added complications or side effects.
Occurrence of aflatoxins in peanuts and peanut products determined by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection
Authors: Stojanovska-Dimzoska Biljana , Hajrulai-Musliu Zehra , Dimitrieska-Stojkovic Elizabeta , Uzunov Risto , Sekulovski Pavle
Published: May 2013

Liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection using immunoaffinity
column clean-up was a method described for determination of aflatoxins (AFB1,
AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2) in peanuts and peanut based products. The validation of
the procedure was performed. Good coefficient of correlation was found for
all aflatoxins in the range of 0.9993-0.9999. Limit of detection (LOD) and
limit of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.003-0.005 mg/kg and 0.009-0.023
mg/kg, respectively, which was acceptable. The mean recovery for total
aflatoxins was 88.21%. The method also showed acceptable precision values in
the range of 0.171-2.626% at proposed concentration levels for all four
aflatoxins. RSDR values (within laboratory reproducibility) calculated from
the results showed good correlation between two analysts for all aflatoxins
and they ranged from 4.93-11.87%. The developed method was applied for the
determination of aflatoxins in 27 samples of peanuts and peanut based
products. The results showed that 21 peanut samples (77.7%) were below LOD of
the method. Three samples had positive results over the MRL. There was one
extreme value recorded for the total aflatoxins in peanut (289.2 mg/kg) and
two peanut based products, peanut snack and peanut, with total content of
aflatoxins being 16.3 mg/kg and 8.0 mg/kg, respectively. The obtained results
demonstrated that the procedure was suitable for the de?termination of
aflatoxins in peanuts and peanut based products and it could be implemented
for the routine analysis.
Analysis of aflatoxins B1 and G1 in maize by quechers
Authors: Bursic Vojislava , Vukovic Gorica , Jajic Igor , Lazic Sanja , Kara Magdalena , Colovic Radmilo , Vukmirovic Djuro
Published: May 2013

A reliable and easy method has been developed for the determination of
aflatoxins B1 and G2 in maize samples. High performance liquid chromatography
coupled with FLD (HPLC-FLD) with photochemical derivatization was used.
Mycotoxins were extracted from maize using a QuEChERS-based extraction
procedure. The optimized analytical conditions were evaluated in terms of
recoveries, reproducibility, LOD, LOQ and linearity for aflatoxin B1 and
aflatoxin G1 in maize. Extraction, chromatographic and detection conditions
were optimized in order to increase sample sensitivity. The linearity was
analyzed in the range of 0.4-20 ?g/kg and the correlation coefficients (R2)
were higher than 0.99 for aflatoxins B1 and G1. Blank samples were spiked at
1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 ?g/kg, and the average recovery for aflatoxin G1 was
96.96?1.72% and for aflatoxin B1 it was 86.80?1.24%. RSDs were lower than 25%
for both mycotoxins. LOD for both aflatoxins was 0.5 ?g/kg and LOQ was 1.0
?g/kg, respectively.