bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metaplastic conus meningioma and its applied aspects
Authors: Reddy Srikanth , Pulligopu Aneel , Kumar Ashish , Sahu Barada
Published: March 2015

Cranial meningiomas may present with or without major deficits depending on their location and morphology. Spinal meningiomas account for 25% of all the spinal tumors. Most commonly encountered in the dorsal spine in middle-aged females, these intradural-extramedullary tumors can usually be excised without difficulty. Rarely, they can be encountered in the lumbar spine and may create many tactical problems for the surgical team especially if it is calcified and contains metaplastic bone. We report a 55-year-old patient who presented with backache and investigations revealed a calcified lesion at L1 level that was thought of as an ependymoma initially. Intraoperatively, the lesion was calcified in parts, and the histopathology revealed it to be a metaplastic meningioma with calcification. The patient had a transient hip weakness, which recovered completely later on. Calcification in meningiomas is common. However, frank bony metaplasia is extremely rare. More importantly, the applied aspect of their presence in the region of conus lies in the careful dissection to prevent damage to the surrounding neural structures. Awareness regarding the same may help us preventing complications in the future.
Choroid plexus papilloma
Authors: Sethi Divya , Arora Rashmi , Garg Ketan , Tanwar Parul
Published: March 2015

Choroid plexus tumors are rare intracranial tumors which account for only 0.4-0.6% of all brain tumors. These are intraventricular papillary neoplasms derived from choroid plexus epithelium and range from choroid plexus papillomas (World Health Organisation (WHO) grade I) to choroid plexus carcinomas (WHO grade III). It is an important albeit rare cause of hydrocephalous. We present to you the case of a 1-year-old child who presented with the signs and symptoms of hydrocephalous and was diagnosed as choroid plexus papilloma on histopathology.
Implementation of an Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview (ACASI) System in a General Medicine Clinic
Authors: Deamant C. , Smith J. , Garcia D. , Angulo F. , Trick W.E.
Published: March 2015

Background: Routine implementation of instruments to capture patient-reported outcomes could guide clinical practice and facilitate health services research. Audio interviews facilitate self-interviews across literacy levels.

Objectives: To evaluate time burden for patients, and factors associated with response times for an audio computer-assisted self interview (ACASI) system integrated into the clinical workflow.

Methods: We developed an ACASI system, integrated with a research data warehouse. Instruments for symptom burden, self-reported health, depression screening, tobacco use, and patient satisfaction were administered through touch-screen monitors in the general medicine clinic at the Cook County Health & Hospitals System during April 8, 2011-July 27, 2012. We performed a cross-sectional study to evaluate the mean time burden per item and for each module of instruments; we evaluated factors associated with longer response latency.

Results: Among 1,670 interviews, the mean per-question response time was 18.4 [SD, 6.1] seconds. By multivariable analysis, age was most strongly associated with prolonged response time and increased per decade compared to < 50 years as follows (additional seconds per question; 95% CI): 50–59 years (1.4; 0.7 to 2.1 seconds); 60–69 (3.4; 2.6 to 4.1); 70–79 (5.1; 4.0 to 6.1); and 80–89 (5.5; 4.1 to 7.0). Response times also were longer for Spanish language (3.9; 2.9 to 4.9); no home computer use (3.3; 2.8 to 3.9); and, low mental self-reported health (0.6; 0.0 to 1.1). However, most interviews were completed within 10 minutes.

Conclusions: An ACASI software system can be included in a patient visit and adds minimal time burden. The burden was greatest for older patients, interviews in Spanish, and for those with less computer exposure. A patient’s self-reported health had minimal impact on response times.

Citation: Trick WE, Deamant C, Smith J, Garcia D, Angulo F. Implementation of an audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) system in a general medicine clinic – patient response burden. Appl Clin Inf 2015; 6: 148–162

http://dx.doi.org/10.4338/ACI-2014-09-RA-0073
Convergent evolution of health information management and health informatics
Authors: Gibson C. J. , Abrams K. , Dixon B.E.
Published: March 2015

Clearly defined boundaries are disappearing among the activities, sources, and uses of health care data and information managed by health information management (HIM) and health informatics (HI) professionals. Definitions of the professional domains and scopes of practice for HIM and HI are converging with the proliferation of information and communication technologies in health care settings. Convergence is changing both the roles that HIM and HI professionals serve in their organizations as well as the competencies necessary for training future professionals. Many of these changes suggest a blurring of roles and responsibilities with increasingly overlapping curricula, job descriptions, and research agendas. Blurred lines in a highly competitive market create confusion for students and employers.

In this essay, we provide some perspective on the changing landscape and suggest a course for the future. First we review the evolving definitions of HIM and HI. We next compare the current domains and competencies, review the characteristics as well as the education and credentialing of both disciplines, and examine areas of convergence. Given the current state, we suggest a path forward to strengthen the contributions HIM and HI professionals and educators make to the evolving health care environment.

Citation: Gibson CJ, Dixon BE, Abrams K. Convergent evolution of health information management and health informatics – a perspective on the future of information professionals in health care. Appl Clin Inf 2015; 6: 163–184

http://dx.doi.org/10.4338/ACI-2014-09-RA-0077
Sea buckthorn pomace supplementation in the finishing diets of pigs – are there effects on meat quality and muscle fatty acids?
Authors: Nuernberg K. , Nuernberg G. , Priepke A. , Dannenberger D.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. In the present study, the effect of sea buckthorn pomace (SBP) supplementation (concentrations of 0, 4, 8 and 12%; intervention duration of 4 or 8 weeks) on finishing performance, meat quality parameters, and fatty acid and vitamin C contents in muscle of German Landrace pigs was assessed. Supplementation with SBP did not negatively affect growth performance and slaughter quality traits of pigs. The overall meat quality including nutrient composition (protein, fat, water), meat colour and pH value was not changed. Surprisingly, the fatty acid profile of longissimus muscle was only slightly affected by different SBP concentrations and intervention durations. Highest amounts of n-3 fatty acids (28 mg/100 g muscle) were measured in pig muscle which had received a 12% SBP-supplemented ratio with over an intervention period of 8 weeks. The contents for vitamin C of longissimus muscle of pigs of the control group and SBP supplementation groups varied between 24.0 and 28.7 μg g−1 fresh muscle, and were not diet affected. Other diet compositions and possibly changes in SBP during the manufacturing process of diet pellets should be included in investigations to develop an application-oriented concept of SBP as a supplement for pig feeding.
Chemical and stable carbon isotopic composition of PM2.5 from on-road vehicle emissions in the PRD region and implications for vehicle emission control policy
Authors: Dai S. , Bi X. , Chan L. Y. , He J. , Wang B. , Wang X. , Peng P. , Sheng G. , Fu J.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. Vehicle emissions are a major source of urban air pollution. In recent decade, the Chinese government has introduced a range of policies to reduce vehicle emissions. In order to understand the chemical characteristics of PM2.5 from on-road vehicle emissions in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region and to evaluate the effectiveness of control policies on vehicle emissions, the emission factors of PM2.5 mass, elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), water-soluble inorganic ions (WSII), metal elements, organic compounds and stable carbon isotopic composition were measured in the Zhujiang tunnel of Guangzhou, in the PRD region of China in 2013. Emission factors of PM2.5 mass, OC, EC and WSOC were 92.4, 16.7, 16.4 and 1.31 mg vehicle−1 km−1 respectively. Emission factors of WSII were 0.016 (F-) ~ 4.17 (Cl−) mg vehicle−1 km−1, contributing about 9.8% to the PM2.5 emissions. The sum of 27 measured metal elements accounted for 15.2% of PM2.5 emissions. Fe was the most abundant metal element, with an emission factor of 3.91 mg vehicle−1 km−1. Emission factors of organic compounds including n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, hopanes and steranes were 91.9, 5.02, 32.0 and 7.59 μg vehicle−1 km−1, respectively. Stable carbon isotopic composition δ13C value was −25.0‰ on average. An isotopic fractionation of 3.2‰ was found during fuel combustion. Compared to a previous study in Zhujiang tunnel in 2004, emission factors of PM2.5mass, EC, OC, WSII except Cl- and organic compounds decreased by 16.0 ~ 93.4%, which could be attributed to emission control policy from 2004 to 2013. However, emission factors of most of the metal elements increased significantly, which could be partially attributed to the changes in motor oil additives and vehicle conditions. There are no mandatory national standards to limit metal content from vehicle emissions, which should be a concern of the government. A snapshot of the 2013 characteristic emissions of PM2.5 and its constituents from the on-road vehicular fleet in the PRD region retrieved from our study would be helpful for the assessment of past and future implementations of vehicle emission control policy.
Airborne measurements of new particle formation in the free troposphere above the Mediterranean Sea during the HYMEX campaign
Authors: Rose C. , Sellegri K. , Freney E. , Dupuy R. , Colomb A. , Pichon J.-M. , Ribeiro M. , Bourianne T. , Burnet F. , Schwarzenboeck A.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. While atmospheric new particle formation (NPF) has been observed in various environments and was found to contribute significantly to the total aerosol particle concentration, the production of new particles over open seas is poorly documented in the literature. Nucleation events were detected and analysed over the Mediterranean Sea using two condensation particle counters and a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer on-board the ATR-42 research aircraft during flights conducted between the 11 September and the 4 November 2012 in the framework of the HYMEX (HYdrological cycle in Mediterranean EXperiment) project. The main purpose of the present work was to characterize the spatial extent of the NPF process. Our findings show that nucleation is occurring over large areas above the Mediterranean Sea in all air mass types. Maximum concentrations of particles in the size range 5–10 nm (N5–10) do not systematically coincide with lower fetches (time spent by the air mass over the sea before sampling), and significant N5–10 values are found for fetches between 0 and 60 h depending on the air mass type. These observations suggest that nucleation events could be more influenced by processes occurring above the sea, rather than linked to synoptic history. The analysis of the vertical extent of nucleation demonstrates that the process is favoured at high altitude, above 1000 m, i.e. frequently in the free troposphere, and more especially between 2000 and 3000 m, where the nucleation frequency is close to 50%. This vertical distribution of nucleation is favoured by the gradients of several parameters, such as the condensation sink, the temperature and the relative humidity. The mixing of two air parcels could also explain the occurrence of nucleation at preferential altitudes. After they formed, particles slowly grow at high altitude to diameters of at least 30 nm while being poorly depleted by coagulation processes. Our analysis of the particle size distributions suggests that particle growth could decrease with increasing altitudes.
Source contributions to 2012 summertime aerosols in the Euro-Mediterranean region
Authors: Rea G. , Turquety S. , Menut L. , Briant R. , Mailler S. , Siour G.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. In the Mediterranean area, aerosols may originate from anthropogenic or natural emissions (biogenic, mineral dust, fire and sea salt) before undergoing complex chemistry. In case of a huge pollution event, it is important to know if european pollution limits are exceeded and, if yes, if the pollution is due to anthropogenic or natural sources. In this study, the relative contribution of emissions to surface PM10, surface PM2.5 and total aerosol optical depth (AOD) is quantified. For Europe and the Mediterranean regions and during the summer of 2012, the WRF and CHIMERE models are used to perform a sensitivity analysis: one simulation with all sources (reference) and all others with one source removed. The reference simulation is compared to data from the AirBase and AERONET networks and the MODIS satellite instrument to quantify the ability of the model to reproduce the observations. It is shown that the correlation ranges from 0.38 to 0.49 for surface particulate matter and from 0.35 to 0.75 for AOD. The sensitivity simulations are analysed to quantify the impact of each source. For the summer of 2012, the model shows that the region (from −10° W to 40° E and from 30 to 55° N) is mainly influenced by aerosols due to mineral dust and anthropogenic emissions (62 and 19% respectively of total surface PM10 and 17 and 52% of total surface PM2.5). The western part of the Mediterranean is strongly influenced by mineral dust emissions (86% for surface PM10 and 44% for PM2.5), while anthropogenic emissions dominate in the northern Mediterranean basin (up to 75% for PM2.5). Fire emissions are more sporadic but may represent 20% of surface PM2.5 near local sources. Sea salt mainly contribute for coastal sites (up to 29%) and biogenic emissions mainly in Central Europe (up to 20%). The same analysis was undertaken for the number of stations in daily exceedances of the European Union limit of 50 μg m−3 for PM10 (over the AirBase stations). This number is generally overestimated by the model, particularly in the northern part of the domain, but exceedances are captured at the right time. The discrepancies are most probably due to an overestimation of dust at the surface, and particularly when diverse sources are mixed. If natural sources as mineral dust events are particularly difficult to estimate, their contribution to the exceedances of the limitation is preponderant during the summer of 2012 (from 35% in the northern part of the Mediterranean basin to 92.5% in the western part).
Boron incorporation in the foraminifer Amphistegina lessonii under a decoupled carbonate chemistry
Authors: Kaczmarek K. , Langer G. , Nehrke G. , Horn I. , Misra S. , Janse M. , Bijma J.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. A number of studies have shown that the boron isotopic composition (δ11B) and the B / Ca ratio of biogenic carbonates (mostly foraminifers) can serve as proxies for two parameters of the ocean's carbonate chemistry, rendering it possible to calculate the entire carbonate system. However, the B incorporation mechanism into marine carbonates is still not fully understood and analyses of field samples show species-specific and hydrographic effects on the B proxies complicating their application. Identifying the carbonate system parameter influencing boron incorporation is difficult due to the co-variation of pH, CO32- and B(OH)4-. To shed light on the question which parameter of the carbonate system is related to the boron incorporation, we performed culture experiments with the benthic symbiont-bearing foraminifer Amphistegina lessonii using a decoupled pH–CO32- chemistry. The determination of the δ11B and B / Ca ratios was performed simultaneously by means of a new in situ technique combining optical emission spectroscopy and laser ablation MC-ICP-MS. The boron isotopic composition in the tests gets heavier with increasing pH and B / Ca increases with increasing B(OH)4- / HCO3- of the culture media. The latter indicates that boron uptake of A. lessonii features a competition between B(OH)4- and HCO3-. Furthermore, the simultaneous determination of B / Ca and δ11B on single specimens allows for assessing the relative variability of these parameters. Among different treatments the B / Ca shows an increasing variability with increasing boron concentration in the test whereas the variability in the isotope distribution is constant.
The trophic and metabolic pathways of foraminifera in the Arabian Sea: evidence from cellular stable isotopes
Authors: Jeffreys R. M. , Fisher E. H. , Gooday A. J. , Larkin K. E. , Billett D. S. M. , Wolff G. A.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. The Arabian Sea is a region of elevated productivity with the highest globally recorded fluxes of particulate organic matter (POM) to the deep ocean, providing an abundant food source for fauna at the seafloor. However, benthic communities are also strongly influenced by an intense oxygen minimum zone (OMZ), which impinges on the continental slope from 100 to 1000 m water depth. We compared the trophic ecology of foraminifera on the Oman and Pakistan margins of the Arabian Sea (140–3185 m water depth). These two margins are contrasting both in terms of the abundance of sedimentary organic matter and the intensity of the OMZ. Organic carbon concentrations of surficial sediments were higher on the Oman margin (3.32 ± 1.4%) compared to the Pakistan margin (2.45 ± 1.1%) and sedimentary organic matter (SOM) quality estimated from the Hydrogen Index was also higher on the Oman margin (300–400 mg HC mg TOC−1) compared to the Pakistan margin (< 250 mg HC mg TOC−1). The δ13C and δ15N values of sediments were similar on both margins (−20 and 8‰, respectively). Stable isotope analysis (SIA) showed that foraminiferal cells had a wide range of δ13C values (−25.5 to −11.5‰), implying that they utilise multiple food sources; indeed δ13C values varied between depths, foraminiferal types and between the two margins. Foraminifera had broad ranges in δ15N values (−7.8 to 27.3‰). The enriched values suggest that some species may store nitrate to utilise in respiration; this was most notable on the Pakistan margin. Depleted foraminiferal δ15N values, particularly at the Oman margin, may reflect feeding on chemosynthetic bacteria. We suggest that differences in productivity regimes may be responsible for the differences observed in foraminiferal isotopic composition. In addition, at the time of sampling, whole jellyfish carcasses (Crambionella orsini) and a carpet of jelly detritus were observed across the Oman margin transect. Associated chemosynthetic bacteria may have provided an organic-rich food source for foraminifera at these sites. Our data suggest that foraminifera in OMZ settings can utilise a variety of food sources and metabolic pathways to meet their energetic demands.
Identifying areas susceptible to desertification in the Brazilian northeast
Authors: Vieira R. M. S. P. , Tomasella J. , Alvalá R. C. S. , Sestini M. F. , Affonso A. G. , Rodriguez D. A. , Barbosa A. A. , Cunha A. P. M. A. , Valles G. F. , Crepani E. , de Oliveira S. B. P. , de Souza M. S. B. , Calil P. M. , de Carvalho M. A. , Valeriano D. M. , Campello F. C. B. , Santana M. O.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. Approximately 57% of the Brazilian northeast region is recognized as semi-arid land and has been undergoing intense land use processes in the last decades, which have resulted in severe degradation of its natural assets. Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify the areas that are susceptible to desertification in this region based on the 11 influencing factors of desertification (pedology, geology, geomorphology, topography data, land use and land cover change, aridity index, livestock density, rural population density, fire hot spot density, human development index, conservation units) which were simulated for two different periods: 2000 and 2010. Each indicator were assigned weights ranging from 1 to 2 (representing the best and the worst conditions), representing classes indicating low, moderate and high susceptibility to desertification. The results indicate that 94% of the Brazilian northeast region is under moderate to high susceptibility to desertification. The areas that were susceptible to soil desertification increased by approximately 4.6% (83.4 km2) from 2000 to 2010. The implementation of the methodology provides the technical basis for decision-making that involves mitigating actions and the first comprehensive national assessment within the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification framework.
An overview of the recent approaches to terroir functional modelling, footprinting and zoning
Authors: Vaudour E. , Costantini E. , Jones G. V. , Mocali S.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. Notions of terroir and their conceptualization through agro-environmental sciences have become popular in many parts of world. Originally developed for wine, terroir now encompasses many other crops including fruits, vegetables, cheese, olive oil, coffee, cacao and other crops, linking the uniqueness and quality of both beverages and foods to the environment where they are produced, giving the consumer a sense of place. Climate, geology, geomorphology and soil are the main environmental factors which make up the terroir effect on different scales. Often considered immutable culturally, the natural components of terroir are actually a set of processes, which together create a delicate equilibrium and regulation of its effect on products in both space and time. Due to both a greater need to better understand regional-to-site variations in crop production and the growth in spatial analytic technologies, the study of terroir has shifted from a largely descriptive regional science to a more applied, technical research field. Furthermore, the explosion of spatial data availability and sensing technologies has made the within-field scale of study more valuable to the individual grower. The result has been greater adoption of these technologies but also issues associated with both the spatial and temporal scales required for practical applications, as well as the relevant approaches for data synthesis. Moreover, as soil microbial communities are known to be of vital importance for terrestrial processes by driving the major soil geochemical cycles and supporting healthy plant growth, an intensive investigation of the microbial organization and their function is also required. Our objective is to present an overview of existing data and modelling approaches for terroir functional modelling, footprinting and zoning on local and regional scales. This review will focus on two main areas of recent terroir research: (1) using new tools to unravel the biogeochemical cycles of both macro- and micronutrients, the biological and chemical signatures of terroirs (i.e. the metagenomic approach and regional fingerprinting); (2) terroir zoning on different scales: mapping terroirs and using remote- and proxy-sensing technologies to monitor soil quality and manage the crop system for better food quality. Both implementations of terroir chemical and biological footprinting and geospatial technologies are promising for the management of terroir units, particularly the remote and proxy data in conjunction with spatial statistics. Indeed, the managed zones will be updatable and the effects of viticultural and/or soil management practices might be easier to control. The prospect of facilitated terroir spatial monitoring makes it possible to address another great challenge in the years to come: the issue of terroir sustainability and the construction of efficient soil/viticultural management strategies that can be assessed and applied across numerous scales.
The Drop of Blood:
Authors: Lutz Gerhard
Published: March 2015

The twelfth-century Visio monachi de Eynsham describes pious exercises and resultant mystical visions of the monk Edmund, who saw in his monastery a crucifix bleed profusely, and so regularly sought to touch it in order to come into close contact with the streaming blood. The article explores twelfth- and thirteenth-century reports on visions of bleeding crucifixes, and considers what they tell us about approaching and handling medieval sculptures before the 1300s, and so before what art historical scholarship commonly considers the beginning of affective piety. Using as an example the small crucifix from the parish church of Klein Escherde near Hildesheim in Lower Saxony, Germany (ca. 1230–40), I will suggest that sculptors and painters adapted their design to meet the expectation of viewers' interactions with the sculpture, and that, in turn, this design may have influenced reception of these images and stimulated their enlivening effect. The Klein Escherde crucifix is characterized by a precise observation of the body, and made to be closely seen and explored from several different angles. For instance, the sculpted streams and individual drops of blood flowing from the side wound—which became popular in the early thirteenth century—as well as the textual evidence for their handling, suggest that the beholder was encouraged to augment the act of looking from a distance by touching the refined surface of Christ's body. The close analysis of the Klein Escherde crucifix explores the way that earlier medieval wooden sculpture was made for and received by its monastic beholders, thus illuminating the mechanism of visionary animation experienced by Edmund and his contemporaries.
Of Wood and Bone:
Authors: Mittman Asa Simon
Published: March 2015

This conclusion attempts to reconsider the notion of animation, raised throughout the special issue of Preternature. It uses a remarkable sixteenth-century clockwork automaton friar to test the limits of mechanical animation in the medieval and premodern periods. This figure, traditionally ascribed to Juanelo Turriano, mechanician to Emperor Charles V, walks independently, moves its arms and head, rolls its eyes about, and mouths silent words. It beats itself with a stone and raises a cross. The work is compared to those discussed in the collection, to additional automata, and to other conceptual “creatures”—that is, beings created by humans. The conclusion considers the crafting of lifelike corpses, animatable bodies, robots, and the notions of sound and breath. These premodern works are put in dialog with Mary Shelley's modern Frankenstein (1831) and Michael Landy's postmodern “Saints Alive” exhibition of kinetic sculptures, based on works in the collection of the National Gallery, London (2013). The essay concludes with a brief discussion of the role of thing theory and object-oriented ontology in current discourse, and the implications these works have for the deployment of these theories in premodern studies.
To Organize Beauty:
Authors: Finkin Jordan
Published: March 2015

Toward the end of his life, the American Yiddish poet Mani Leyb turned to composing a series of intensely personal lyrics in the form of loosely connected sonnets. These he conceived as his summum opus, combining his ideas of simplicity and plainspokenness with a lifelong achievement in impressionist poetics, all within the framework of the sonnet, the token of the pinnacle of high-art achievement in Western poetry. In some of the inherent tensions between these elements we see Mani Leyb staking a claim on what it means to write poetry that was both authentically Yiddish and American.
Hebrew on a Desert Island:
Authors: Jacobs Adriana X.
Published: March 2015

The poetic output of the American-born poet and playwright Annabelle “Chana” Farmelant consists entirely of two books of Hebrew poetry, Iyyim bodedim (Desert Islands) and Pirchei zehut (Flowers of Identity), published in Israel in the early 1960s. In this article, I offer an overview of Farmelant's oeuvre through my own English translations of her poems and in the context of American Hebrew literary history and scholarship, which has long neglected women writers. Farmelant's short career as a poet notwithstanding, her work engaged directly—and thereby offers crucial attestation of—the gender politics and U.S.-Israel literary relations that contributed to the decline of American Hebrew literature in the mid-twentieth century and to Farmelant's early departure from the field of modern Hebrew poetry.
Governing Liberia’s Electricity Sector Reforms: Challenges and
Recommendations
Authors: Kiazolu Molley Okomfo
Published: March 2015

Access to electricity remains a major challenge for Liberia’s economic recovery
despite recent efforts by the government to reform the sector. This paper assesses the
post-war reforms of the electricity sector relative to their outcomes – accessibility,
affordability and the quality of electric power. The paper also evaluates Liberia’s
electricity sector reform by comparing it to reform in Cote d’Ivoire. The paper argues
that existing reforms do not adequately address the underlying challenges facing the
electricity sector. Both productive and allocative efficiencies remain low amidst
excessive government influence, and investment in infrastructure is grossly inadequate
compared to regional benchmarks. Presently, electricity is one of the major, if not the
single largest, cost for businesses in Liberia, and less than one per cent of households
are connected to the public grid. This paper offers some policy recommendations to
improve efficiencies in the sector. First, that the electricity sector be restructured;
the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) should be reorganised as an independent
economic regulator, while the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (MLME) should perform
the legal and social regulatory function. Second, the sector should be unbundled into
power generation, transmission and distribution, and each component privatised through
competition for the market. Third, that as an independent economic regulator, the LEC
should adopt cost-of-service regulation to encourage long-term and sustained investment
in power generation and transmission, thereby improving access to electricity.
Anticipating the Effects of Green Buildings on Water Quality and Infrastructure
Authors: Rhoads William J. , Pearce Annie , Pruden Amy , Edwards Marc A.
Published: March 2015

Increased water age (i.e., water residence time) in distribution and premise‐plumbing systems resulting from the current green building revolution can compromise water quality and lead to numerous plumbing‐related issues, requiring a shared and proactive response from all stakeholders.
Comparison of the Viability of Cryopreserved Fat Tissue in Accordance with the Thawing Temperature
Authors: Hwang So-Min , Lee Jong-Seo , Kim Hyung-Do , Jung Yong-Hui , Kim Hong-Il
Published: March 2015

Background Adipose tissue damage of cryopreserved fat after autologous fat transfer is inevitable in several processes of re-transplantation. This study aims to compare and analyze the survivability of adipocytes after thawing fat cryopreserved at -20℃ by using thawing methods used in clinics.

Methods The survival rates of adipocytes in the following thawing groups were measured: natural thawing at 25℃ for 15 minutes; natural thawing at 25℃ for 5 minutes, followed by rapid thawing at 37℃ in a water bath for 5 minutes; and rapid thawing at 37℃ for 10 minutes in a water bath. The survival rates of adipocytes were assessed by measuring the volume of the fat layer in the top layers separated after centrifugation, counting the number of live adipocytes after staining with trypan blue, and measuring the activity of mitochondria in the adipocytes.

Results In the group with rapid thawing for 10 minutes in a water bath, it was observed that the cell count of live adipocytes and the activity of the adipocyte mitochondria were significantly higher than in the other two groups (P<0.05). The volume of the fat layer separated by centrifugation was also measured to be higher, which was, however, not statistically significant.

Conclusions It was shown that the survival rate of adipocytes was higher when the frozen fat tissue was thawed rapidly at 37℃. It can thus be concluded that if fats thawed with this method are re-transplanted, the survival rate of cryopreserved fats in transplantation will be improved, and thus, the effect of autologous fat transfer will increase.
Polyurethane-Coated Breast Implants Revisited: A 30-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Castel Nikki , Soon-Sutton Taylor , Deptula Peter , Flaherty Anna , Parsa Fereydoun Don
Published: March 2015

Background Polyurethane coating of breast implants has been shown to reduce capsular contracture in short-term follow-up studies. This 30-year study is the longest examination of the use of polyurethane-coated implants and their correlation with capsular contracture.

Methods This study evaluates the senior surgeon's (F.D.P.) experience with the use of polyurethane-coated implants in aesthetic breast augmentation in 382 patients over 30 years. Follow-up evaluations were conducted for six months after surgery. After the six-month follow-up period, 76 patients returned for reoperation. The gross findings, histology, and associated capsular contracture were noted at the time of explantation.

Results No patient during the six-month follow-up period demonstrated capsular contracture. For those who underwent reoperation for capsular contracture, Baker II/III contractures were noted nine to 10 years after surgery and Baker IV contractures were noted 12 to 21 years after surgery. None of the explanted implants had macroscopic evidence of polyurethane, which was only found during the first five years after surgery. The microscopic presence of polyurethane was noted in all capsules up to 30 years after the original operation.

Conclusions An inverse correlation was found between the amount of polyurethane coating on the implant and the occurrence of capsular contracture. Increasingly severe capsular contracture was associated with a decreased amount of polyurethane coating on the surface of the implants. No contracture occurred in patients whose implants showed incomplete biodegradation of polyurethane, as indicated by the visible presence of polyurethane coating. We recommend research to find a non-toxic, non-biodegradable synthetic material as an alternative to polyurethane.
Early Surgical Site Infection Following Tissue Expander Breast Reconstruction with or without Acellular Dermal Matrix: National Benchmarking Using National Surgical Quality Improvement Program
Authors: Winocour Sebastian , Martinez-Jorge Jorys , Habermann Elizabeth , Thomsen Kristine , Lemaine Valerie
Published: March 2015

Background Surgical site infections (SSIs) result in significant patient morbidity following immediate tissue expander breast reconstruction (ITEBR). This study determined a single institution's 30-day SSI rate and benchmarked it against that among national institutions participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP).

Methods Women who underwent ITEBR with/without acellular dermal matrix (ADM) were identified using the ACS-NSQIP database between 2005 and 2011. Patient characteristics associated with the 30-day SSI rate were determined, and differences in rates between our institution and the national database were assessed.

Results 12,163 patients underwent ITEBR, including 263 at our institution. SSIs occurred in 416 (3.4%) patients nationwide excluding our institution, with lower rates observed at our institution (1.9%). Nationwide, SSIs were significantly more common in ITEBR patients with ADM (4.5%) compared to non-ADM patients (3.2%, P=0.005), and this trend was observed at our institution (2.1% vs. 1.6%, P=1.00). A multivariable analysis of all institutions identified age ≥50 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.4; confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.7), body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 vs. <25 kg/m2 (OR, 3.4; CI, 2.6-4.5), and operative time >4.25 hours (OR, 1.9; CI, 1.5-2.4) as risk factors for SSIs. Our institutional SSI rate was lower than the nationwide rate (OR, 0.4; CI, 0.2-1.1), although this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.07).

Conclusions The 30-day SSI rate at our institution in patients who underwent ITEBR was lower than the nation. SSIs occurred more frequently in procedures involving ADM both nationally and at our institution.
Anatomical Characteristics and Surgical Treatments of Pincer Nail Deformity
Authors: Jung Dong Ju , Kim Jae Hee , Lee Hee Young , Kim Dong Chul , Lee Se Il , Kim Tae Yeon
Published: March 2015

Background Pincer nail deformity is a transverse overcurvature of the nail. This study aimed to define the anatomical characteristics of pincer nail deformity and to evaluate the surgical outcomes.

Methods A retrospective review was conducted on 20 cases of pincer nail deformity of the great toe. Thirty subjects without pincer nail deformity or history of trauma of the feet were selected as the control group. Width and height indices were calculated, and interphalangeal angles and base widths of the distal phalanx were measured with radiography. We chose the surgical treatment methods considering perfusion-related factors such as age, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, and peripheral vascular disease. The zigzag nail bed flap method (n=9) and the inverted T incision method (n=11) were used to repair deformities. The outcomes were evaluated 6 months after surgery.

Results The interphalangeal angle was significantly greater in the preoperative patient group (14.0°±3.6°) than in the control group (7.9°±3.0°) (P<0.05). The postoperative width and height indices were very close to the measurements in the control group, and most patients were satisfied with the outcomes.

Conclusions We believe that the width and height indices are useful for evaluating the deformity and outcomes of surgical treatments. We used two different surgical methods for the two patient groups with respect to the perfusion-related factors and found that the outcomes were all satisfactory. Consequently, we recommend taking into consideration the circulatory condition of the foot when deciding upon the surgical method for pincer nail deformity.
A Consideration of Breast Imagery in Art as Depicted through Western Painting
Authors: Hwang Kun , Park Ju Yong , Hwang Se Won
Published: March 2015

The aim of this study is to consider breast imagery in art as depicted through western painting. Twenty western art paintings were collated. Most of the sample paintings were created from the mid-nineteenth century to the late twentieth century and some are from the Renaissance period. Ten anthropometric items were used to measure 15 distances between two landmarks and 3 angles between three points. The distance from the nipple to the sternal notch and to the midclavicular point was the same and they were 0.46 of the distance from the sternal notch to the umbilicus. The shape of the projection of the breast was almost an isosceles triangle and the altitude of the triangle was at a proportion of 0.45 of the bottom length and 0.16 of the distance from the sternal notch to the umbilicus. The distance between the lateral ends of the breasts was 2.14 times the facial width and the distance between nipples was 1.36 times the facial width. Proportions from works of art are more ideal and attractive than clinically measured proportions. The desirable ratios measured from historical paintings might be useful in planning breast surgeries.
Accompagner l’entrepreneur dirigeant de PME
Authors: Gallais Marie , Boutary Martine
Published: March 2015

Les actions de soutien vers les PME se sont renforcées ces dernières années, mais nous constatons que ces efforts n’ont pas toujours un écho favorable. Une hypothèse tient au manque d’adaptation des programmes d’accompagnement, en termes de savoirs et de construction de relations.

Dans cet article, nous proposons une réflexion complémentaire sur les voies que l’accompagnement entrepreneurial doit poursuivre pour être plus efficace. Nous mobilisons le concept de rapport de prescription d’Hatchuel (2001). Ce cadre théorique permet de représenter les continuums ouverts de l’accompagnement sur lesquels se construisent les savoirs et les relations, en considérant d’une part la singularité des situations de changement auxquelles est confronté l’entrepreneur dirigeant de PME et d’autre part les besoins de ce dernier (adaptation, projection, résolution de problèmes, problématisation…).

Dans ce cadre, nous étudions un cas particulier de programme d’accompagnement : « France Investissement. LeClub » à destination de PME à fort potentiel.

L’étude montre que l’accompagnant peut sortir de cette relation unilatérale d’expert pour aller vers une relation d’animateur, traducteur et de catalyseur des apprentissages, dans le cadre de réseaux par exemple. L’article propose un regard novateur sur le métier de l’accompagnement et incite les intervenants à adopter une vision élargie de leur mission.
Proximité territoriale et dynamique des AOC françaises
Authors: Ditter Jean-Guillaume , Brouard Joëlle
Published: March 2015

Le modèle des appellations d’origine contrôlée (AOC), qui a assuré le succès des producteurs français pendant des décennies, est une forme exemplaire de stratégie collective territorialisée, fondée sur une combinaison de relations de coopération et concurrence entre acteurs locaux. Nous nous proposons d’analyser ce modèle en mobilisant les concepts de l’économie de la proximité, au croisement entre économie industrielle et économie spatiale ; notre objectif est d’appréhender le rôle de la proximité organisée sur la performance économique d’un vignoble. Dans une première partie, nous montrons comment l’approche par la proximité permet d’analyser les stratégies collectives territorialisées dans la filière vin, en détaillant plus précisément la stratégie dite « de terroir », dans laquelle s’inscrivent les AOC françaises. Dans une seconde partie, nous appliquons notre grille de lecture au cas particulier de deux vignobles – Cahors et Chablis. Nous suggérons que des degrés de proximité organisés différemment induisent des dynamiques de coopération-concurrence et des trajectoires économiques distinctes.
Les stratégies de coopération des galeries d’art contemporain
Authors: Moureau Nathalie , Sagot-Duvauroux Dominique , de Vrièse Muriel
Published: March 2015

Cet article a pour objectif d’étudier dans quelles conditions la proximité spatiale entre galeries d’art est susceptible de déboucher sur des coopérations. L’hypothèse que nous cherchons à tester est que les proximités spatiale et cognitive doivent s’accompagner d’une proximité de valeurs pour que naissent des stratégies collaboratives. L’économie des proximités constitue le corpus théorique principal sur lequel nous nous appuyons. Une double enquête, quantitative, à partir des données de la Maison des artistes, et qualitative, à partir d’entretiens semi-directifs réalisés auprès des acteurs de l’art actuel dans cinq métropoles françaises, nous permet de constater que les galeries d’art sont extrêmement concentrées sur le territoire français sans que cette proximité spatiale ne se traduise nécessairement par des stratégies coopératives, alors même qu’elles partagent le même métier et savoir-faire (proximité cognitive). Nous mettons en évidence l’existence de différents réseaux de l’art actuel au sein d’un même espace géographique. Nous montrons que ces réseaux se différencient principalement par le fait qu’ils ne partagent pas les mêmes critères d’appréciation de la qualité des oeuvres (conventions de qualité artistique).
La performance des incubateurs
Authors: Bakkali Chaffik , Messeghem Karim , Sammut Sylvie
Published: March 2015

Dans le champ entrepreneurial, la recherche sur les incubateurs prend un poids sans cesse grandissant. Le rôle que ces structures sont censées jouer dans la réussite des entrepreneurs explique cet intérêt croissant du monde académique. Ce dernier s’intéresse tout particulièrement à la question de la performance des incubateurs. Ce questionnement est d’autant plus prégnant aujourd’hui que le contexte actuel est marqué par une limitation de la ressource publique qui amène à s’interroger avec davantage d’insistance sur l’efficacité de structures financées le plus souvent par des collectivités locales. Néanmoins, la recherche sur la performance des incubateurs n’a pour l’heure pas encore été en mesure de faire émerger un modèle de mesure pleinement satisfaisant. En effet, les premiers travaux ont eu trop tendance à appréhender la performance des incubateurs sous l’angle d’une seule perspective. Des travaux plus récents ont cependant montré que le balanced scorecard peut constituer un moyen de pallier ces limites grâce à une mesure équilibrée de la performance. C’est pourquoi cette contribution se propose d’identifier des dimensions et indicateurs permettant de mesurer la performance des incubateurs par le biais du balanced scorecard. À partir d’une étude quantitative, fondée sur un questionnaire en ligne auquel 109 responsables d’incubateur français ont répondu, ce sont 12 dimensions et 35 indicateurs de performance qui ont été validés. D’un point de vue théorique, cette validation empirique montre l’intérêt d’agréger les multiples dimensions de la performance des incubateurs au sein d’un même modèle de mesure. D’un point de vue managérial, les financeurs et les responsables d’incubateur se voient offrir un nouvel outil de mesure et de pilotage de la performance qui tient compte de toute la complexité de l’incubation.
Entrepreneuriat coopétitif : comment intégrer la concurrence dans un contexte coopératif ?
Authors: Dana Léo-Paul , Guieu Gilles
Published: March 2015

La quasi-totalité des travaux sur la coopétition porte sur l’émergence de la coopération dans un milieu concurrentiel. La compétition peut-elle émerger d’un substrat relationnel coopératif ? Une partie de la littérature en entrepreneuriat s’intéresse à l’entrepreneuriat indigène. C’est dans ce contexte particulier que nous abordons les relations coopétitives, plus précisément dans le contexte du peuple same. Les Sames sont le peuple indigène du Nord de la Scandinavie, vivant en Norvège, en Suède, en Finlande et dans la péninsule russe de Kola. L’élevage de rennes, activité exercée dans un cadre familial, reste un mode de vie à forte valeur sociale. Une étude ethnographique réalisée auprès des entrepreneurs sames révèle que la raison de l’élevage est le maintien de la tradition, et pas nécessairement la maximisation des profits. L’élevage de rennes n’étant plus que d’un intérêt économique limité, nombre d’entrepreneurs sames ont développé des activités complémentaires pour compenser la baisse de revenu de l’élevage, tout en préservant la valeur sociale d’une forme d’entrepreneuriat culturellement valorisé. Pour gérer ces relations coopétitives, les entrepreneurs cloisonnent leurs relations coopératives, aux enjeux culturels et territoriaux, de leurs relations concurrentielles, dont les enjeux sont économiques. Des implications en matière de coopétition et d’entrepreneuriat en sont tirées.