bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of oral transmucosal and intravenous administration of buprenorphine before surgery for postoperative analgesia in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy
Authors: Ko Jeff C. , Freeman Lynetta J. , Barletta Michele , Weil Ann B. , Payton Mark E. , Johnson Brenda M. , Inoue Tomohito
Published: February 2011

Objective—To compare the efficacy of preoperative administration of buprenorphine (via oral transmucosal [OTM] and IV routes) for postoperative analgesia in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

Design—Prospective, randomized, blinded study.

Animals—18 dogs undergoing routine ovariohysterectomy.

Procedures—Dogs were allocated to 3 groups (6 dogs/group) and were assigned to receive buprenorphine (20 μg/kg [9.09 μg/lb], IV; a low dose [20 μg/kg] via OTM administration [LOTM]; or a high dose [120 μg/kg [54.54 μg/lb] via OTM administration [HOTM]) immediately before anesthetic induction with propofol and maintenance with isoflurane for ovariohysterectomy. Postoperative pain was assessed by use of a dynamic interactive pain scale. Dogs were provided rescue analgesia when postoperative pain exceeded a predetermined threshold. Blood samples were collected, and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry was used to determine plasma concentrations of buprenorphine and its metabolites. Data were analyzed with an ANOVA.

Results—Body weight, surgical duration, propofol dose, isoflurane concentration, and cardiorespiratory variables did not differ significantly among treatment groups. Number of dogs requiring rescue analgesia did not differ significantly for the HOTM (1/6), IV (3/6), and LOTM (5/6) treatments. Similarly, mean ± SEM duration of analgesia did not differ significantly for the HOTM (20.3 ± 3.7 hours), IV (16.0 ± 3.8 hours), and LOTM (7.3 ± 3.3 hours) treatments. Plasma buprenorphine concentration was ≤ 0.60 ng/mL in 7 of 9 dogs requiring rescue analgesia.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Buprenorphine (HOTM) given immediately before anesthetic induction can be an alternative for postoperative pain management in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.
Treatment and predictors of outcome in dogs with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia
Authors: O'Marra Shana K. , Delaforcade Armelle M. , Shaw Scott P.
Published: February 2011

Objective—To characterize the clinical course of disease and identify prognostic indicators for immune-mediated thrombocytopenia in dogs.

Design—Retrospective cohort study.

Animals—73 dogs treated for immune-mediated thrombocytopenia at the Foster Hospital for Small Animals at the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and the Tufts Veterinary Emergency Treatment and Specialties Hospital.

Procedures—Medical records from the period of January 2002 through June 2008 were reviewed to identify dogs with a diagnosis of immune-mediated thrombocytopenia. Data collected included signalment, clinical signs, results of initial diagnostic tests, treatment, complications, and survival duration.

Results—Dog ages ranged from 5 months to 15 years (median, 8.1 years). Cocker Spaniels were overrepresented, compared with their distribution in the entire hospital population during the same period. Sixty-one of the 73 (84%) dogs survived to discharge. Seven (11 %) of those dogs were lost to follow-up. Five of the remaining 54 (9%) dogs had a relapse of the disease. The presence of melena or high BUN concentration at admission to the hospital was significantly correlated with a decreased probability of survival.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia is a serious yet treatable disease, which may have a lower rate of recurrence than previously reported. The presence of melena or high BUN concentration in the study suggested a poor prognosis for affected dogs.
Evaluation of population health among bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at the United States Navy Marine Mammal Program
Authors: Venn-Watson Stephanie K. , Jensen Eric D. , Ridgway Sam H.
Published: February 2011

Objective—To evaluate health indicators for a population of bottlenose dolphins in the US Navy Marine Mammal Program (MMP) by use of data acquired from 1988 through 2007.

Design—Retrospective cohort study.

Animals—167 bottlenose dolphins.

Procedures—The following indicators were used to evaluate the health of dolphins during the 20-year period: 5-year age structure, median survival age, annual survival rates, mortality rates, and neonatal and calf survival and mortality rates. Limitations of these population measurements as health indicators for dolphins were assessed.

Results—Crude mortality rates of dolphins for 1988 through 1992, 1993 through 1997, 1998 through 2002, and 2003 through 2007 were 3.1%, 4.7%, 3.6%, and 2.4%, respectively; during these same 4 study periods, median survival ages were 14.3, 14.4, 17.7, and 26.1 years, respectively, and mean survival rates were 0.98, 0.97, 0.97, and 0.99, respectively. From 1988 through 1997, 1998 through 2002, and 2003 through 2007, neonatal mortality rates were 4 of 16, 5 of 20, and 2 of 14 neonates, respectively. During these 3 study periods, mean annual survival rates for calves < 3 years old (excluding neonates that died at < 30 days old) were 0.97, 0.92, and 0.99, respectively.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Although there were limitations to the measurement of some health indicators, use of multiple methods indicated that the health of dolphins in the MMP population was comparable to, if not better than, that published for other dolphin populations. The MMP population of dolphins may provide useful reference values of health indicators for use in assessment of other managed dolphin populations.
Small mammal mycophagy in hemiboreal forest communities of Lithuania
Authors: Kataržytė Marija , Kutorga Ernestas
Published: February 2011

The diets of small mammals in different hemiboreal spruce-dominated, oak-dominated and mixed forests in western part of Lithuania were studied by examination of fungal spores in fresh fecal pellets of caught animals. In the diets of mice (Apodemus spp.), bank voles (Myodes glareolus), and common and pygmy shrews (Sorex araneus and S. minutus), 22 different fungal taxa were identified, 15 of which were hypogeous fungi. The sporocarp abundance and the spores in fecal samples of Elaphomyces fungi prevailed in study area during this investigation. Although most of the captured individuals consumed fungi, the consumption varied among small mammal species. The data show that the fungi were more frequent and taxonomically diverse in Myodes glareolus than in Apodemus spp. diets. The study provided evidence that the fungal component in the diets of insectivorous Sorex species is more diverse than previously known. The availability of sporocarps and the fungal component in the diets of small mammals showed seasonal effects. Annual hypogeous and epigeous sporocarp abundances did not vary significantly across forest types. The significant difference in mycophagy was observed across all forest cover types, with the greatest fungal diversity in fecal samples collected in mixed coniferous-deciduous tree stands.
Strength and permeability properties of concrete containing rice husk ash with different grinding time
Authors: Jaya Ramadhansyah , Bakar Badorul , Johari Megat , Ibrahim Mohd
Published: February 2011

The compressive concrete strength and the gas permeability properties over varying fineness of the rice husk ash were experimentally investigated. The relationships among them were analyzed. In this study eight samples made from the rice husk ashes with a different grain size were used, i.e. coarse original rice husk ash 17.96 μm (RHA0), 10.93 μm (RHA1) 9.74 μm (RHA2), 9.52 μm (RHA3), 9.34 μm (RHA4), 8.70 μm (RHA5), 6.85 μm (RHA6) and 6.65 μm (RHA7). The ordinary Portland cement was partially replaced with the rice husk ash (15 wt%). The test results showed that the RHA3 produced the concrete with good strength and low porosity. Additionally the strength of the concrete was improved due to the partial replacement of RHA3 material in comparison with normal coarse rice husk ash RHA0. On the other hand the influence of OPC and RHA materials on the concrete permeability was affected by the grinding time and age (i.e., curing time). The permeability coefficient decreased with the increasing of curing time. The relationships between compressive strength and permeability coefficient are greatly affected by curing times and are sensitive to the grinding cementitious systems.
Québécois et Canadiens face au passé : similitudes et dissemblances
Authors: Létourneau Jocelyn , Northrup David
Published: February 2011

Abstract:

Based upon a large survey about the historical consciousness of Canadians, this paper explores the similarities and differences in the way Québécois and other Canadians engage the past in their everyday life. The difference between these two groups is not the one that might be expected. We find that Québécois, mostly francophone Québécois, are more likely than other Canadians to report indifference about the past. Why is this so?
The Alberta Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Ambassador Program: The Development of a Contextually Relevant, Multidisciplinary Clinical Practice Guideline for Non-specific Low Back Pain: A Review
Authors: Cutforth Greg , Peter Aaron , Taenzer Paul
Published: February 2011

Purpose: To describe the development of a contextually relevant multidisciplinary clinical practice guideline (CPG) for non-specific low back pain (LBP) and to discuss its value to the management of LBP and the practice of physiotherapy.

Method: To mitigate an identified knowledge gap for Alberta primary-care practitioners in the management of non-specific LBP, a collaborative process was developed to engage multidisciplinary health care providers in designing a primary-care CPG for non-specific LBP. A comprehensive review of published LBP guidelines identified the seven highest-quality CPGs; these were used to inform a multidisciplinary guideline development group (GDG) as they developed the CPG.

Results: The GDG constructed a CPG for non-specific LBP along with point-of-care decision-support and patient-education tools.

Conclusions: The Ambassador Program on Low Back Pain worked with front-line clinicians from across Alberta to review the best available evidence in developing a CPG responsive to the Alberta context. This CPG is intervention specific and provides a wide range of primary-care practitioners with the best available evidence to inform their clinical decisions in managing non-specific LBP.
Risky Driving or Risky Drivers?
Authors: Leal Nerida , Watson Barry , Armstrong Kerry
Published: February 2011

Illegal street racing has received increased attention in recent years from road safety professionals and the media as jurisdictions in Australia, Canada, and the United States have implemented laws to address the problem, which primarily involves young male drivers. Although some evidence suggests that the prevalence of illegal street racing is increasing, obtaining accurate estimates of the crash risk of this behavior is difficult because of limitations in official data sources. Although crash risk can be explored by examining the proportion of incidents of street racing that result in crashes, or the proportion of all crashes that involve street racing, this paper reports on the findings of a study that explored the riskiness of involved drivers. The driving histories of 183 male drivers with an illegal street racing conviction in Queensland, Australia, were compared with a random sample of 183 male Queensland drivers with the same age distribution. The offender group was found to have significantly more traffic infringements, license sanctions, and crashes than the comparison group. Drivers in the offender group were more likely than the comparison group to have committed infringements related to street racing, such as speeding, “hooning,” and offenses related to vehicle defects or illegal modifications. Insufficient statistical capacity prevented full exploration of group differences in the type and nature of earlier crashes. It was concluded, however, that street racing offenders generally can be considered risky drivers who warrant attention and whose risky behavior cannot be explained by their youth alone.
Red Light Running in Iowa
Authors: Hallmark Shauna , Orellana Massiel , McDonald Thomas , Fitzsimmons Eric , Matulac David
Published: February 2011

Red light running (RLR) is a serious safety issue that results in more than 100,000 crashes and 1,000 fatalities annually. In Iowa, RLR accounts for 21% of total crashes at signalized intersections and 35% of fatal and major-injury crashes at signalized intersections, according to data analyzed from 2001 to 2006. As transportation agencies struggle to address RLR, they turn increasingly to the use of red light camera enforcement. In Iowa, three communities currently use RLR camera enforcement. One of the communities, Davenport, installed cameras in 2004; 2 years of crash data after installation were available for analysis. A Bayesian statistical before-and-after analysis was used to evaluate the effectiveness of Davenport's RLR cameras. The analysis included control intersections. The results of the analysis indicated that the cameras were effective in reducing total crashes and RLR crashes. Results also indicated that rear-end crashes related to RLR did not increase at camera-enforced intersections.
Road Safety Audit
Authors: Kar Kohinoor , Blankenship Michael R.
Published: February 2011

Fatalities and injuries from traffic crashes are one of the most critical concerns among transportation professionals in the United States and in the rest of the world. Certain preventive measures can help to significantly reduce crashes. One such tool, the road safety audit (RSA), is proactive and effective when used to address traffic safety issues. FHWA of the U.S. Department of Transportation has been aggressive in educating roadway agencies and promoting RSAs as a proven safety tool. Arizona formally adopted the use of RSAs in 2006 under its Highway Safety Improvement Program funded by FHWA. The authors were involved in several RSAs conducted throughout Arizona. This paper discusses the Arizona RSA program, including issues and recommendations identified through two dozen audits conducted to date, success rates of RSAs conducted in various jurisdictions, and lessons learned from them.
Mixed-Priority Pedestrian Delay Models at Single-Lane Roundabouts
Authors: Schroeder Bastian J. , Rouphail Nagui M.
Published: February 2011

This paper presents an approach to the development of mixed-priority pedestrian delay models at single-lane roundabouts by using behavioral crossing data. “Mixed priority” refers to crosswalk operations in which drivers at times yield to create crossing opportunities but pedestrians may need to rely on their judgment of gaps in traffic to cross the street. The models use probabilistic behavioral parameters measured in controlled pedestrian crossings by blind pedestrians as part of NCHRP Project 3–78a. Although blind pedestrians clearly represent a special population of pedestrians, the developed delay model is structured to apply to any pedestrian population. Delay is predicted as (a) a function of the probability of encountering a crossing opportunity in the form of a yield or crossable gap and (b) the probability of taking that opportunity, and these factors are combined to produce an overall probability of crossing. The paper presents the theoretical approach to estimating the probability parameters and uses a multilinear, log-transformed regression approach to predict the average pedestrian delay. The final delay model explains 64% of the variability in the observed data and therefore represents a reasonable model for predicting pedestrian delay at single-lane roundabouts. The paper concludes with a discussion of how agencies can estimate the underlying probability parameters for existing or proposed roundabouts by using empirical and theoretical approaches and how pedestrian crossing treatments can be used in the context of the model to reduce average pedestrian delay. The research is important in light of the ongoing debate on the accessibility of modern roundabouts to blind pedestrians.
Methodology of Impact Fees Emphasizing Vehicle Miles Traveled
Authors: Seggerman Karen E. , Williams Kristine M. , Lin Pei-Sung , Fabregas Aldo , Nelson Arthur C. , Nicholas James C.
Published: February 2011

This paper provides a working concept and methodology for application of a mobility fee in Florida. The mobility fee has many characteristics of an impact fee modified for sensitivity to vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Policy and practical implications of implementing such a fee are addressed, along with the fee methodology and illustration of the approach through hypothetical testing in Alachua County, Florida. The primary concept for the mobility fee is a modified impact fee assessed on new development. The approach presented anticipates regional cooperation in the development and adoption of a mobility plan that includes all transportation modes. Through sensitivity to VMT, the modified impact fee may help to discourage urban sprawl and reward mixed-use development and other development near or within existing activity centers. The hypothetical test results reveal that the two approaches—the average rate and the location-based rate—produce very different fees for new development. The paper reports on research performed for the Florida Department of Community Affairs.
Influence of Parking Policy on Built Environment and Travel Behavior in Two New England Cities, 1960 to 2007
Authors: McCahill Christopher T. , Garrick Norman W.
Published: February 2011

Over the past 40 to 50 years, most American cities have experienced significant increases in automobile use. Now, to offset increasing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, many are contemplating measures to reduce automobile use. This study examined Hartford, Connecticut, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, which exhibited an increase and a decrease in automobile use, respectively, between 1960 and 2007. It is hoped that these cities provide lessons in how to successfully reduce automobile travel. The study focused on the cumulative effects of historical policy decisions over decades on parking provisions and changes in travel behavior. The results of this analysis suggest that parking policy affects incremental changes in parking provision that may greatly influence gradual changes in automobile use over time.
Effects of Merging and Diverging on Freeway Traffic Oscillations
Authors: Ahn Soyoung , Laval Jorge , Cassidy Michael J.
Published: February 2011

Continuum theory is used to explain why stop-and-go oscillations in congested freeway traffic change their amplitudes when they encounter the vehicular merging and diverging maneuvers that take place near ramps. The theory describes how oscillations diminish in amplitude when they propagate past a queued (and unmetered) on-ramp and how they grow when they propagate past an off-ramp. The premise is that merging (diverging) flows change in response to freeway oscillations and that these changes in flow dampen (amplify) oscillations. The theory's descriptions are simple and rational; all its inputs and outputs are directly observable; and its predictions are shown to match real data. The theory is tested against real data collected over multiple days from congested merge and diverge sites with videos and inductive loop detectors. For merges, predictions are found to agree with observation to within 10%, and for diverges, to within 12%. The paper thus resolves in a simple way a puzzling traffic feature reported in previous studies.
Likelihood and Duration of Flow Breakdown
Authors: Kim Jiwon , Mahmassani Hani S. , Dong Jing
Published: February 2011

The effect of rain on freeway flow breakdown behavior is investigated. Three aspects of flow breakdown are analyzed for rain versus no rain (clear) weather conditions. First, the probability of breakdown occurrence is examined by analyzing the distribution of prebreakdown flow rates observed immediately before the onset of traffic breakdown by using a survival analysis approach. At all study sections, a reduction with pre-breakdown flow rates is observed under rain conditions compared with distributions under no rain and confirms higher breakdown likelihoods at lower flows. Log likelihood ratio tests confirm the statistical significance of differences in the prebreakdown flow rate distribution parameters under rain compared with clear conditions. Second, breakdown duration is examined by estimating a semiparametric Cox proportional hazard model. With a rain event indicator set as an independent variable, the effect of rain on breakdown duration is observed. Rain during a breakdown episode is found to increase its duration, whereas rain before breakdown does not appear to affect duration. Finally, prebreakdown and postbreakdown flow rates are compared. Overall, while a reduction in prebreakdown flow rates is observed because of rain, the flow drop between prebreakdown and postbreakdown is not much different between rain (3.9% to 12.0%) and no rain (7.8% to 12.7%) conditions.
Identification and Calibration of Site-Specific Stochastic Freeway Breakdown and Queue Discharge
Authors: Jia Anxi , Williams Billy M. , Rouphail Nagui M.
Published: February 2011

The stochastic nature of freeway bottleneck breakdown and queue discharge is investigated through a comprehensive analysis of sensor data collected at bottleneck sites in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, and San Antonio, Texas. A new procedure was proposed to define the stochastic variation of the onset of freeway breakdown and of queue discharge capacity on the basis of time-indexed field data of speed–flow profiles. The former was developed as a function of average vehicle time headways preceding observed conditions when both speed was below and density was above locally defined congested flow thresholds. A full-year 15-min data series was used in the demonstration and testing of the procedure and yielded a high degree of statistical confidence in the resulting estimates of headway distribution parameters. The statistical analysis indicated that the probability function of freeway bottleneck prebreakdown headways followed a shifted lognormal distribution. In addition, a recursive queue discharge model was proposed for bottleneck flows under congested (queued) conditions. The proposed queue discharge model was a simple autocorrelated time series recursion that was seeded with the corresponding prebreakdown flow and dampens to the mean queue discharge rate. The proposed stochastic models are robust and accurate and represent a significant improvement in the understanding and modeling of freeway bottleneck flow. The models were implemented in the mesoscopic network model DYNASMART-P to test the effects of stochastic freeway capacity on sustained service rates and network performance.
Capability-Enhanced Probe Vehicle Surveillance System with Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications
Authors: Oh Cheol , Kim Taehyung , Kim Wonkyu , Hong Seungpyo , Park Junhyeong
Published: February 2011

A variety of robust advanced traffic management and information systems (ATMIS) are in development. ATMIS applications include real-time traveler information, route guidance, traffic control, congestion monitoring, incident detection and management, and evaluation. Point- and section-based traffic measurements are available through existing surveillance technologies such as loops and automatic vehicle identification systems. However, seamless and more reliable traffic data are required for more effective traffic information provision and operations. With the advancement of sensor and communication technologies, such as the Global Positioning System, individual vehicle travel information is readily available. The availability of individual vehicle trajectory data would enable determination of seamless and reliable real-time travel times that could be used by ATMIS. A novel probe vehicle surveillance system that uses vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) wireless communication is introduced. A framework for the proposed system and evaluations, including simulation and field experiments, is presented. Parameters associated with the functional requirements of the proposed system, including the market penetration rate of equipped vehicles, the V2V communication range, and the travel time aggregation interval are investigated in an evaluation framework based on Monte Carlo simulation. Field test results and identified technical issues are discussed. It is expected that the proposed system will serve as an invaluable precursor to the development of a next-generation traffic surveillance system.
Calibrated Labeling Method for Generating Bicyclist Route Choice Sets Incorporating Unbiased Attribute Variation
Authors: Broach Joseph , Gliebe John , Dill Jennifer
Published: February 2011

Discrete choice model estimation requires specification of the alternatives considered for each observed choice. In route choice problems based on real-world travel observations, generally only the chosen route is observed, and the rest of the choice set remains hidden from the analyst. In dense travel networks, thousands of paths may connect a given origin or destination, necessitating methods for generating a reasonable subset of options. A new method is proposed for generating deterministic route choice sets. The technique modifies the labeled routes method, in which multiple criteria are optimized individually to generate attractive routes. The proposed method offers two potential improvements: (a) multiple routes are generated for each label by allowing a sensitivity parameter to vary and (b) a calibration step fits the alternative shortest path deviation distribution to observed behavior. The resulting process is more flexible than traditional labeled routes, yet it maintains strong links to behavior and reduces potential attribute bias. The proposed calibrated labeling method is applied to bicyclist route choice in a dense urban network. Results suggest that the proposed technique outperforms existing methods on several key criteria. In addition, explicitly linking choice set generation to observed travel patterns creates a more intuitive behavioral link than existing strategies. The proposed method should be immediately useful for route choice modeling in similar contexts. Furthermore, the basic framework could be more broadly applicable for route choice set generation.
Allocating Departure Time Slots to Optimize Dynamic Network Capacity
Authors: Ma Yinyi , Van Zuylen Henk J. , Chen Yusen , Van Dalen Jan
Published: February 2011

The concept of allocation of departure time slots is applied to alleviate and analyze road transport congestion. Demand is redistributed over departure time slots at on-ramps to analyze its relationship with the congestion in the network with minimized system travel time and optimized network utilization. The objective is to minimize the costs of early and late departure associated with any differences between the cumulative desired and optimum demand, with network capacity as a constraint. The genetic algorithm, a global-searching algorithm, is used to calculate the objective function. Then the consequences of the optimum demand for the traffic states are assessed through network simulation. The application of the approach of the A15 motorway in the Netherlands shows that early departure occurs for short journeys with low demand and late departure occurs mostly for long journeys with high demand. Moreover, the traffic state improves greatly with 7.0% reduction in total travel time and 8.9% reduction in congestion of temporal–spatial combinations. Authorities may use these results to take measures or make design policies that promote time-slot allocation, such as providing rewards for late or early departure outside the peak period.
Comparison of MATSim and EMME/2 on Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area Network, Canada
Authors: Gao Wenli , Balmer Michael , Miller Eric J.
Published: February 2011

The agent-based microsimulation modeling technique for transportation planning is rapidly developing, is being applied in practice, and is attracting considerable attention. Along with the conventional four-step modeling technique, MATSim and EMME/2 represent two genres of traffic assignment. They are built on different theoretical bases: dynamic stochastic stationary state assignment and static deterministic user equilibrium assignment, respectively. A study was done of the models' application with data from the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area network in Canada. Given the actual demand data, the models' assignment results are compared and validated on the basis of four indicators of the road network—travel time, travel distance, link volume, and link speed—to reflect both spatial and temporal variation of the traffic flow pattern. The comparison results show that numerical outputs produced by MATSim are not only compatible with those by EMME/2 but are also more realistic from a temporal point of view. The agent-based microsimulation model can be an appropriate alternative to the conventional model for transportation planning. Therefore, agent-based microsimulation models reflect a promising direction of next-generation transportation planning models.
Presentation and progression of a disc cyst in a pediatric patient
Authors: Lin Ning , Schirmer Clemens M. , Proctor Mark R.
Published: February 2011

Disc cysts are rare intraspinal extradural lesions that communicate with the intervertebral disc and can mimic the symptoms of acute lumbar disc herniation. Initially reported in the Japanese-language literature as a new entity (discal cyst), there are few documented cases in North America, and only 1 prior case in the pediatric population. The authors present the case of a 16-year-old girl with an intervertebral disc cyst causing lumbar radiculopathy that progressed despite conservative treatment. All medical records, imaging studies, intraoperative findings, and pertinent literature were reviewed. Serial preoperative MR imaging revealed enlargement of the intraspinal cyst at the L4–5 level, resulting in compression of the right L-5 nerve root. Enlargement of the cyst occurred over a 4-month period despite conservative treatment with physical therapy and corticosteroid injections. Microsurgical discectomy and excision of the cyst resulted in complete resolution of the preoperative radiculopathy. An intervertebral disc cyst is a rare entity in the adult population and exceedingly rare in the pediatric population but should remain in the differential diagnosis of any intraspinal extradural mass. The authors hypothesize that there exists a spectrum of this entity that may not be responsive to conservative therapy. Cyst excision alone or in conjunction with microsurgical discectomy is safe and effective in treating radiculopathy caused by disc cysts.
Extratemporal, nonlesional epilepsy in children: postsurgical clinical and neurocognitive outcomes
Authors: Dorward Ian G. , Titus Jeffrey B. , Limbrick David D. , Johnston James M. , Bertrand Mary E. , Smyth Matthew D.
Published: February 2011

Object

Patients undergoing epilepsy surgery without evidence of a lesion on MR imaging and without a temporal source for seizure onset generally have less favorable outcomes than patients with structural lesions or temporal onset. However, many of these patients are viable candidates for invasive monitoring and subsequent resection or multiple subpial transections (MSTs). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical treatment of pediatric patients with extratemporal, nonlesional epilepsy in order to better understand the clinical and neuropsychological outcomes expected in this patient group.

Methods

Forty-three pediatric patients with negative results on MR imaging and lateralized, extratemporal findings on electroencephalography underwent invasive monitoring with grid and/or strip electrodes. Thirty-three subsequently had resection of an epileptogenic focus and/or MSTs.

Results

Outcome was classified as Engel class I or II in 54.5% of the patients who underwent resection/MSTs and Engel class III or IV in 45.5%. Use of MSTs was associated with poor outcome. Neuropsychological evaluation showed significant improvement in immediate auditory attention following surgery and revealed several significant results on subgroup analysis. Complications occurred in 14% of patients (a 7% rate per procedure). Ten patients (23%) underwent invasive monitoring without proceeding to therapeutic surgery because no epileptogenic region was amenable to resection. Neuropsychological outcomes were generally stable.

Conclusions

Patients with extratemporal, nonlesional seizures are viable candidates for invasive monitoring with grid/strip electrodes, and good outcomes can be obtained with resective surgery. The use of MSTs may correlate with worse outcome. This study also provides additional data to assist in counseling patients on the risks of negative invasive monitoring, deficits resulting from resection/MSTs, and possible operative complications.
Variability among pediatric neurosurgeons in the threshold for ventricular shunting in asymptomatic children with hydrocephalus
Authors: Dias Mark S. , Shaffer Michele L. , Iantosca Mark R. , Hill Kenneth L.
Published: February 2011

Object

The thresholds for shunting CSF in children with asymptomatic hydrocephalus are unclear; there are neither guidelines nor sufficient research to determine what degree of hydrocephalus should be treated. The authors hypothesize that 1) pediatric neurosurgeons currently have high thresholds for recommending treatment for these children, but 2) there is significant variability among these treatment thresholds.

Methods

The authors surveyed attendees of the Joint Pediatric Neurosurgery Section meeting in Spokane, Washington, in December 2008, regarding their treatment thresholds for 22 clinical scenarios. Each participant was provided an illustration of 5 imaging studies (3 slices each) showing progressively larger ventricles. For each scenario, respondents were asked to indicate the minimum ventricular size they would treat, if any. Responses were quantified from 1 to 6 from smaller to larger, with 6 being no treatment, and a mean theoretical treated ventricular size (MTTVS) was calculated for each scenario.

Results

Respondents were relatively conservative in recommending treatment, with MTTVSs of 3.7–6.0; in 13 scenarios, the MTTVS was greater than 5.0 (larger than the largest presented ventricular size). For scenarios in which a mean frontooccipital ratio could be calculated, the value ranged from 0.55 to 0.67 (moderate to severe hydrocephalus). Although there were clear majority responses for each scenario, there was also significant variability. There were no patterns of association with the respondent's age, training, board certification, or type or location of practice.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that pediatric neurosurgeons' thresholds for treating asymptomatic children with hydrocephalus are generally high, but there is also significant variability.
Endoscopy-assisted removal of periorbital inclusion cysts in children
Authors: Chater-Cure George , Hoffman Caitlin , Knopman Jared , Rhee Samuel , Souweidane Mark M.
Published: February 2011

Object

Surgical treatment for periorbital inclusion cysts typically involves a brow, pterional, or partial bicoronal scalp incision for sufficient exposure. The authors have recently employed an endoscopy-assisted technique as an alternative approach intended to minimize the length of the skin incision and avoid scarring in the brow.

Methods

Children having typical clinical findings of a dermoid cyst located on the hairless forehead were selected to undergo endoscopy-assisted cyst removal. For suspected intradiploic lesions, MR imaging was used to assess osseous involvement. After induction of general anesthesia, a 1–2-cm curvilinear incision was made posterior to the hairline. A 30°-angled endoscope (4 mm) was then used for dissection in the subgaleal compartment. Subgaleal dissection was followed by a circumferential periosteal incision in which the authors used an angled needle-tip unipolar cautery. For lesions within the diploe, a high-speed air drill was used to expose the lesion. Complete removal was accomplished with curettage of either the skull or dural surface.

Results

Eight patients (5–33 months of age) underwent outpatient endoscopic resection. Seven cysts were extracranial, and 1 cyst extended through the inner table. In all patients complete excision of the cyst was achieved. There was negligible blood loss, no dural violation, and no postoperative infection. There have been no recurrences at a mean follow-up of 15 months.

Conclusions

Endoscopy-assisted resection of inclusion cysts of the scalp and calvaria is a safe and effective surgical approach. The technique results in negligible incisions with less apparent scarring compared with previously described incisions. This limited-access technique does not appear to be associated with a higher incidence of cyst recurrence.
Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oils from Organically Cultivated Fennel Cultivars
Authors: Shahat Abdelaaty  A. , Ibrahim Abeer  Y. , Hendawy Saber  F. , Omer Elsayed  A. , Hammouda Faiza  M. , Abdel-Rahman Fawzia  H. , Saleh Mahmoud  A.
Published: February 2011

Essential oils of the fruits of three organically grown cultivars of Egyptian fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum, Foeniculum vulgare var. dulce and Foeniculum vulgare var. vulgare) were examined for their chemical constituents, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of the essential oils revealed the presence of 18 major monoterpenoids in all three cultivars but their percentage in each oil were greatly different. trans-Anethole, estragole, fenchone and limonene were highly abundant in all of the examined oils. Antioxidant activities of the essential oils were evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging, lipid peroxidation and metal chelating assays. Essential oils from the azoricum and dulce cultivars were more effective antioxidants than that from the vulgare cultivar. Antimicrobial activities of each oil were measured against two species of fungi, two species of Gram negative and two species of Gram positive bacteria. All three cultivars showed similar antimicrobial activity.
Environmental Drivers of NDVI-Based Vegetation Phenology in Central Asia
Authors: Kariyeva Jahan , Van Leeuwen Willem J. D.
Published: February 2011

Through the application and use of geospatial data, this study aimed to detect and characterize some of the key environmental drivers contributing to landscape-scale vegetation response patterns in Central Asia. The objectives of the study were to identify the variables driving the year-to-year vegetation dynamics in three regional landscapes (desert, steppe, and mountainous); and to determine if the identified environmental drivers can be used to explain the spatial-temporal variability of these spatio-temporal dynamics over time. It was posed that patterns of change in terrestrial phenology, derived from the 8 km bi-weekly time series of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data acquired by the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) satellites (1981–2008), can be explained through a multi-scale analysis of a suite of environmental drivers. Multiple linear stepwise regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses and address the objectives of the study. The annually computed phenological response variables or pheno-metricstime (season start, season length, and an NDVI-based productivity metric) were modeled as a function of ten environmental factors relating to soil, topography, and climate. Each of the three studied regional landscapes was shown to be governed by a distinctive suite of environmental drivers. The phenological responses of the steppe landscapes were affected by the year-to-year variation in temperature regimes. The phenology of the mountainous landscapes was influenced primarily by the elevation gradient. The phenological responses of desert landscapes were demonstrated to have the greatest variability over time and seemed to be affected by soil carbon content and year-to-year variation of both temperature regimes and winter precipitation patterns. Amounts and scales of observed phenological variability over time (measured through coefficient of variation for each pheno-metrictime) in each of the regional landscapes were interpreted in terms of their resistance and resilience capacities under existing and projected environmental settings.
An Energy-Efficient MAC Protocol Using Dynamic Queue Management for Delay-Tolerant Mobile Sensor Networks
Authors: Li Jie , Li Qiyue , Qu Yugui , Zhao Baohua
Published: February 2011

Conventional MAC protocols for wireless sensor network perform poorly when faced with a delay-tolerant mobile network environment. Characterized by a highly dynamic and sparse topology, poor network connectivity as well as data delay-tolerance, delay-tolerant mobile sensor networks exacerbate the severe power constraints and memory limitations of nodes. This paper proposes an energy-efficient MAC protocol using dynamic queue management (EQ-MAC) for power saving and data queue management. Via data transfers initiated by the target sink and the use of a dynamic queue management strategy based on priority, EQ-MAC effectively avoids untargeted transfers, increases the chance of successful data transmission, and makes useful data reach the target terminal in a timely manner. Experimental results show that EQ-MAC has high energy efficiency in comparison with a conventional MAC protocol. It also achieves a 46% decrease in packet drop probability, 79% increase in system throughput, and 25% decrease in mean packet delay.
Sensor Proxy Mobile IPv6 (SPMIPv6)—A Novel Scheme for Mobility Supported IP-WSNs
Authors: Islam Md. Motaharul , Huh Eui-Nam
Published: February 2011

IP based Wireless Sensor Networks (IP-WSNs) are gaining importance for their broad range of applications in health-care, home automation, environmental monitoring, industrial control, vehicle telematics and agricultural monitoring. In all these applications, mobility in the sensor network with special attention to energy efficiency is a major issue to be addressed. Host-based mobility management protocols are not suitable for IP-WSNs because of their energy inefficiency, so network based mobility management protocols can be an alternative for the mobility supported IP-WSNs. In this paper we propose a network based mobility supported IP-WSN protocol called Sensor Proxy Mobile IPv6 (SPMIPv6). We present its architecture, message formats and also evaluate its performance considering signaling cost, mobility cost and energy consumption. Our analysis shows that with respect to the number of IP-WSN nodes, the proposed scheme reduces the signaling cost by 60% and 56%, as well as the mobility cost by 62% and 57%, compared to MIPv6 and PMIPv6, respectively. The simulation results also show that in terms of the number of hops, SPMIPv6 decreases the signaling cost by 56% and 53% as well as mobility cost by 60% and 67% as compared to MIPv6 and PMIPv6 respectively. It also indicates that proposed scheme reduces the level of energy consumption significantly.
Detection of Hydrofluoric Acid by a SiO2 Sol-Gel Coating Fiber-Optic Probe Based on Reflection-Based Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance
Authors: Chen I-Cherng , Lin Shiu-Shiung , Lin Tsao-Jen , Du Je-Kang
Published: February 2011

A novel fiber-optic probe based on reflection-based localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) was developed to quantify the concentration of hydrofluoric acid (HF) in aqueous solutions. The LSPR sensor was constructed with a gold nanoparticle-modified PMMA fiber, integrated with a SiO2 sol-gel coating. This fiber-sensor was utilized to assess the relationship between HF concentration and SiO2 sol-gel layer etching reduction. The results demonstrated the LSPR sensor was capable of detecting HF-related erosion of hydrofluoric acid solutions of concentrations ranging from 1% to 5% using Relative RI Change Rates. The development of the LSPR sensor constitutes the basis of a detector with significant sensitivity for practical use in monitoring HF solution concentrations.
One-to-One Embedding between Honeycomb Mesh and Petersen-Torus Networks
Authors: Seo Jung-Hyun , Sim Hyun , Park Dae-Heon , Park Jang-Woo , Lee Yang-Sun
Published: February 2011

As wireless mobile telecommunication bases organize their structure using a honeycomb-mesh algorithm, there are many studies about parallel processing algorithms like the honeycomb mesh in Wireless Sensor Networks. This paper aims to study the Peterson-Torus graph algorithm in regard to the continuity with honeycomb-mesh algorithm in order to apply the algorithm to sensor networks. Once a new interconnection network is designed, parallel algorithms are developed with huge research costs to use such networks. If the old network is embedded in a newly designed network, a developed algorithm in the old network is reusable in a newly designed network. Petersen-Torus has been designed recently, and the honeycomb mesh has already been designed as a well-known interconnection network. In this paper, we propose a one-to-one embedding algorithm for the honeycomb mesh (HMn) in the Petersen-Torus PT(n,n), and prove that dilation of the algorithm is 5, congestion is 2, and expansion is 5/3. The proposed one-to-one embedding is applied so that processor throughput can be minimized when the honeycomb mesh algorithm runs in the Petersen-Torus.
Une Description de Constantinople dans le Tarragonensis 55
Authors: Ciggaar Krijnie N.
Published: February 2011

REB 53 1995 France p. 117-140

Krijnie N. Ciggaar, Une Description de Constantinople dans le Tarragonensis 55. — Dans un manuscrit de la fin du 12e siècle, originaire du monastère de Santés Creus en Espagne et maintenant dans la Biblioteca Pública de Tarragone, se trouve une Description de Constantinople en latin. L'analyse du texte suggère que l'auteur anonyme, venu pour apprendre le grec dans l'école de Sainte-Sophie, était à Constantinople à la fin du 11e siècle, avant la première croisade. Il s'intéresse surtout à la richesse de la ville et au rôle de la Vierge dans la vie religieuse de la capitale byzantine. Il décrit des processions, des icônes et quelques reliques, et il insère dans son texte quelques miracles opérés par la Vierge. C'est la première description détaillée de la main d'un Occidental qui est publiée ici.
Les Vies d'Auxence et le monachisme «Auxentien»
Authors: Auzépy Marie-France
Published: February 2011

REB 53 1995 France p. 205-235

Marie-France Auzépy, Les Vies d'Auxence et le monachisme « Auxentien». — Sur les six Vies d'Auxence, cinq dépendent de BHG 199, intégrée au corpus métaphrastique, mais écrite à la fin du 5e siècle par ou pour le monastère tou Hypatiou de Rufînianes. L'une d'entre elles, BHG 202, inédite, a été écrite, probablement au 11'' siècle, par une moniale du monastère de femmes des Trichinaréai, fondé par Auxence sur le mont qui porte son nom. Auxence peut être identifié avec l'Auxence dont parle Sozomène, de tradition macédonienne et ami des spoudaioi. Le monachisme qu'il a mis en place sur le mont Skopa (= Auxence) après le concile de Chalcédoine porte la marque de son origine.
Le plus ancien manuscrit grec de l'Institut Français d'Études Byzantines (IFEB 45)
Authors: Géhin Paul
Published: February 2011

REB 53 1995 France p. 289-293

P. Géhin, Le plus ancien manuscrit grec de l'Institut Français d'Études Byzantines (IFEB 45). — L'IFEB possède un fonds de 58 manuscrits grecs, dont le plus ancien, l'IFEB 45, datant de la fin du 13e ou du début du 14e siècle, est décrit et analysé ici. Il se compose de deux parties : dans la première sont copiées une série de pièces de Jean Climaque, accompagnées d'une collection de 124 scholies ; les textes de la seconde partie sont tous mis sous le nom de Nil, mais appartiennent pour la plupart à Évagre le Pontique.