bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
REORIENTASI MANAJEMEN PEMBELAJARAN PENDIDIKAN AGAMA ISLAM (PAI) DAN DERADIKALISASI AGAMA
Authors: Syukur Fatah
Published: June 2016

Islamic religious education in schools substantively had a very important role. In accordance with the mandate of the Law on National Education System, religious education should be provided to learners at all levels of education. Religious education was expected not only to provide knowledge of religion, but also build the personality character of the students using religious values taught. Through quantitative research, this study examined the implementation of Islamic religious education in schools with the research problems: is there any correlation with religious observance, and any other factors that affect the behavior of religion? How does the orientation of Islamic religious educationin schools? The results showed that Islamic education is not positively correlated to the level of religious observance. Similarly, differences in men and women are not correlated to the level of religious observance. Therefore, there will be necessary reorientation of religious education in schools.

***
Pendidikan agama Islam di sekolah secara substantif memiliki peran yang sangat penting. Sesuai dengan amanat Undang-undang Sistem Pendidikan Nasional, bahwa Pendidikan Agama harus diberikan kepada peserta didik di semua jenjang pendidikan. Diharapkan Pendidikan Agama bukan hanya memberikan penge­tahu­an agama saja, akan tetapi juga membentuk karakter kepribadian anak didik dengan nilai-nilai yang diajarkan oleh agama. Melalui penelitian kuantitatif, tulisan ini mengkaji pelaksanaan Pendidikan Agama Islam di sekolah, apakah ada korelasi­­­nya dengan ketaatan beragama, adakah faktor-faktor lain yang ber­pengaruh terhadap perilaku beragama? Serta bagaimana orientasi Pendidikan Agama Islam di sekolah? Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa Pendidikan Agama Islam tidak berkorelasi positif terhadap tingkat ketaatan beragama. Demikian pula perbedaan laki-laki dan perempuan tidak berkorelasi terhadap tingkat ketaatan beragama. Oleh karena itu, maka perlu ada reorientasi Pen­didikan Agama di sekolah.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE FOR HUMANITY IN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Zaprulkhan Zaprulkhan
Published: June 2016

In Islamic perspective, researching universe is not only investigate the universe materially but also what is behind the universe itself. So, the universe was not viewed autonomously. This paper tried to elaborate significance of philosophy of science for humanity in Islamic perspective by using three fundamental structures of knowledge, namely ontology, epistemology, and axiology. Both Islam and science have to put humanity as center for research. The paradigm of Islamic science opens up an integral-holistic thought, and can not be separated from axiological meaning, that the purposes toward the enlightenment, progress, welfare, safety, and happiness for the whole human being in this world. So, Islam and science could give the most important roles to human’s welfare and safety.

***
Dalam perspektif Islam, meneliti alam semesta tidaklah hanya mengkaji alam dari aspek materialnya, melainkan juga aspek spiritual di balik yang nyata sehingga alam semesta tidak dikaji secara berdiri sendiri. Tulisan ini mencoba meng­elaborasi tentang signifikansi filsafat sains untuk kemanusiaan dari perspektif Islam dengan menggunakan tiga unsur pokok pengetahuan: ontologi, episte­mo­logi dan aksiologi. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahwa Islam dan sains sama-sama menjadikan nilai kemanusiaan sebagai objek penelitian. Paradigma ilmu penge­tahuan Islam itu membuka cakrawala berpikir yang menyeluruh dan terintegrasi, dan tidak dapat dipisahkan dari makna aksiologinya yang bertujuan untuk pencerahan, perkembangan, kesejahteraan, keselamatan, dan kebahagiaan bagi seluruh umat manusia di dunia. Oleh karena itu, Islam dan ilmu pengetahuan memberikan peran yang sangat penting bagi kesejahteraan dan keselamatan manusia.
INDONESIAN ISLAMIC EDUCATION: TOWARDS SCIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Ja'far Handoko
Published: June 2016

Education as the root of civilization has an important role in preparing human resources toward the effort of developing sciences. Nowadays, Moslem in the world are are divided into two attitudes: resisting and refusing the development of sciences. Both of the attitutes are needed to bridge wisely. It meant no one is burdened in facing modern sciences by the ways of appreciating the modern sciences, applying them appropriately and learning from the history of the development of knowledge in the glory age of Islam. This article tried to confirm that science as a result of education, is not only the representation of civilization but also the demonstration of the high value of civilization. In Indonesia, the idea to reconstruct the model of Islamic education is getting stronger in accordance with the development of modern education. In this context, the clasical knowledge as heritance needed to be transformed into the modern one. Transformation is something unavoidable by the institutions of Islamic education.

***
Pendidikan -sebagai akar peradaban- memiliki peran penting dalam menyiapkan sumber daya manusia menghadapi perkembangan ilmu. Saat ini, sikap umat Islam terbelah menjadi dua: menolak dan menerima perkembangan ilmu. Kedua sikap ini perlu ditengahi secara bijaksana. Caranya, merasa tidak terbebani dalam menghadapi sains modern dengan memberikan apresiasi dan menerapkannya secara benar. Di samping itu, dengan cara belajar dari sejarah perkembangan ilmu di masa kejayaan Islam. Artikel ini berusaha menegaskan bahwa ilmu penge­tahu­an sebagai buah dari pendidikan, tidak hanya menjadi representasi peradaban tetapi juga mampu menunjukkan tingginya nilai peradaban. Di Indonesia, gagasan untuk merekonstruksi model pendidikan Islam menguat seiring dengan per­kembangan pendidikan modern. Dengan demikian, meskipun pengetahuan klasik merupakan warisan, namun perlu dilakukan transformasi ilmu yang selaras dengan dunia modern. Perubahan merupakan hal yang tidak dapat dihindari oleh lembaga pendidikan Islam.
Bacteriological water quality changes in parallel pilot distribution systems
Authors: Fabris R. , Braun K. , Ho L. , Verberk J. Q. J. C. , Drikas M.
Published: June 2016

In a component of an extensive pilot distribution system (PDS) study, the effects of four different water qualities on biological stability in distributed water were investigated through identical (parallel) single-pass pipe arrangements. Through 24 months of monitoring, a number of key observations were made. Incorporation of a biological treatment step reduced the overall dissolved organic carbon (DOC) loss through the PDS by reducing biodegradable DOC (BDOC) within the water prior to distribution. In the absence of chlorine residuals, the proliferation of culturable organisms was favoured with considerably higher heterotrophic plate counts in samples at the outlet of the PDS. Despite different bacterial cell counts (measured by flow cytometry) entering each PDS from the four treatment streams, equivalent outlet cell numbers were achieved in all systems after 8 months' operation; however multi-step treatment streams took longer to reach equilibrium.
Pyrolysis of Energetic Ionic Salts Based on Nitrogen-rich Heterocycles
Authors: Kumbhakarna Neeraj , Chowdhury Arindrajit
Published: June 2016

Energetic ionic salts based on nitrogen-rich heterocycles are expected to usher in
a new era in the fields of propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics owing to their excellent
combustion characteristics, green nature, and the ability to tailor them based on requirements.
The review focuses on an important aspect of these compounds, other than the synthesis
procedure and physico-chemical characterisation, that is frequently overlooked, i.e. the
decomposition pathways and the associated chemical kinetic parameters, which are essential
to elucidate and simulate their combustion characteristics. The reaction mechanisms of four
major families of energetic ionic salts, explored by various experimental and numerical
techniques, are reported in detail.
Clinical and Spectrophotometric Evaluation of LED and Laser Activated Teeth Bleaching
Authors: Lo Giudice R. , Pantaleo G. , Lizio A. , Romeo U. , Castiello G. , Spagnuolo G. , Giudice G. Lo
Published: June 2016

Background:

Auxiliary power sources (LED and laser) are used in in-office teeth bleaching techniques to accelerate the redox reaction of the whitening gel to increase ease of use, to improve comfort and safety, and to decrease the procedure time.

Objective:

The aim this study is to evaluate the efficiency of the teeth whitening procedures performed with hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, LED or Laser activated.

Method:

18 patients, affected by exogenous dyschromia, were treated with a bleaching agent composed by 35% hydrogen peroxide and 10% carbamide peroxide. They were divided into two groups: in the first group the bleaching agent was activated by a LED lamp; in the second group it was activated by a Laser diode lamp. Both groups were subjected to 3 bleaching cycle of 15’ each. The chromatic evaluations were performed before and after one week from the treatment, using a chromatic scale and a spectrophotometer. The mean value of pre, post bleaching and follow-up were analyzed using a T-test, with results statistically significant for P<0,05.

Results:

Results showed that the variations in brightness, chroma and hue are significantly influenced by the interaction between the whitening agent and the original colour of the teeth. Laser-activation has marginally improved the bleaching effectiveness. All patients treated with laser activation complained an increase in dental sensitivity.

Conclusion:

The use of laser-activating systems did not improve the efficacy of bleaching.
Fast Pyrolysis of Lignocellulosic Biomass for the Production of Energy and Chemicals: A Critical Review
Authors: Attia Mai , Farag Sherif , Habibzadeh Sajjad , Hamzehlouia Sepehr , Chaouki Jamal
Published: June 2016

As a consequence of the shortage of traditional resources and escalating environmental
constraints, the feedstocks for the production of energy and chemicals are swiftly
changing. Biomass has received remarkable attention from both academia and industries as it
is the most promising feedstock for these applications. Understanding the conversion mechanisms
of such renewable low-value material to value-added products would lead to providing
insights to enhance the product yield and/or quality and, in turn, help the new products compete
with the traditional ones. In this regard, this paper provides an updated review on the
processing of biomass for the production of valuable-products that could replace a part of the
fossil fuel-based energy and chemicals. The common technologies that are performed in the
conversion processes are demonstrated, and the thermochemical technique is emphasized.
Several chemical reactors and their processes for fast pyrolysis applications are presented. The organic chemistry
of pyrolysis of a biomass plant and its three constituents (i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) is debated. The
effect of the heating mechanism, process parameters, loading of catalyst and other aspects are discussed. Eventually,
the economics aspect of fast pyrolysis of biomass is evaluated.
Physical and sensory properties of corn flakes with added dry residue of wild oregano distillation
Authors: Kosutic Milenko , Filipovic Jelena , Pezo Lato , Plavsic Dragana , Ivkov Milan
Published: June 2016

According to the modern nutritionist opinions, cereal products such as flakes
and snacks are the most common foods in the daily diet. Extrusion technology
makes it possible to apply different sources of ingredients for the
enrichment of cereal-based flakes or snack products. Substances with strong
antioxidant properties such as wild oregano have a positive impact on human
health. Therefore, they attract the attention of scientists, consumers and
food industry experts. This paper investigates the effects of the
simultaneous addition of dry residue from wild oregano distillation (0.5 g /
100g of sample and 1 g / 100g of sample), on the physical-textural and color
properties of corn flakes in order to create a new product with improved
nutritional properties. The addition of dry residue of wild oregano
positively influenced physical characteristics (decreased bulk density 30.2
%, increased expansion rate 44.9 %), as well as texture hardness and the work
of compression, 38.1 % and 40.3 %, respectively. Also, oregano significantly
changed the color of flakes. Tukey?s HSD test showed statistically
significant differences between most of the mean values of physical-textural,
color and sensory attributes in the oregano-added corn flakes compared to the
control sample. Principal component analysis has been applied to classify the
samples according to differences in the studied parameters. The data pointed
out that investigated corn flakes with the addition of wild oregano are new
food products with good physical-textural and sensory properties due to a
higher level of antioxidant activity. Moreover, it may contribute to the
valorization of edible industrial waste in food production.
The white matter tracts of the cerebrum in ventricular surgery and hydrocephalus
Authors: Güngör Abuzer , Baydin Serhat , Middlebrooks Erik H. , Tanriover Necmettin , Isler Cihan , Rhoton Albert L.
Published: June 2016

OBJECTIVE

The relationship of the white matter tracts to the lateral ventricles is important when planning surgical approaches to the ventricles and in understanding the symptoms of hydrocephalus. The authors' aim was to explore the relationship of the white matter tracts of the cerebrum to the lateral ventricles using fiber dissection technique and MR tractography and to discuss these findings in relation to approaches to ventricular lesions.

METHODS

Forty adult human formalin-fixed cadaveric hemispheres (20 brains) and 3 whole heads were examined using fiber dissection technique. The dissections were performed from lateral to medial, medial to lateral, superior to inferior, and inferior to superior. MR tractography showing the lateral ventricles aided in the understanding of the 3D relationships of the white matter tracts with the lateral ventricles.

RESULTS

The relationship between the lateral ventricles and the superior longitudinal I, II, and III, arcuate, vertical occipital, middle longitudinal, inferior longitudinal, inferior frontooccipital, uncinate, sledge runner, and lingular amygdaloidal fasciculi; and the anterior commissure fibers, optic radiations, internal capsule, corona radiata, thalamic radiations, cingulum, corpus callosum, fornix, caudate nucleus, thalamus, stria terminalis, and stria medullaris thalami were defined anatomically and radiologically. These fibers and structures have a consistent relationship to the lateral ventricles.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge of the relationship of the white matter tracts of the cerebrum to the lateral ventricles should aid in planning more accurate surgery for lesions within the lateral ventricles.
Surgery for meningioma in the elderly and long-term survival: comparison with an age- and sex-matched general population and with younger patients
Authors: Brokinkel Benjamin , Holling Markus , Spille Dorothee Cäcilia , Heß Katharina , Sauerland Cristina , Bleimüller Caroline , Paulus Werner , Wölfer Johannes , Stummer Walter
Published: June 2016

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare long-term prognosis after meningioma surgery in elderly and younger patients as well as to compare survival of elderly patients with surgically treated meningioma to survival rates for the general population.

METHODS

Five hundred meningioma patients (median follow-up 90 months) who underwent surgery between 1994 and 2009 were subdivided into “elderly” (age ≥ 65 years, n = 162) and “younger” (age < 65 years, n = 338) groups for uni- and multivariate analyses. Mortality was compared with rates for the age- and sex-matched general population.

RESULTS

The median age at diagnosis was 71 in the elderly group and 51 years in the younger group. Sex, intracranial tumor location, grade of resection, radiotherapy, and histopathological subtypes were similar in the 2 groups. High-grade (WHO Grades II and III) and spinal tumors were more common in older patients than in younger patients (15% vs 8%, p = 0.017, and 12% vs 4%, p = 0.001, respectively). The progression-free interval (PFI) was similar in the 2 groups, whereas mortality at 3 months after surgery was higher and median overall survival (OS) was shorter in older patients (7%, 191 months) than in younger patients (1%, median not reached; HR 4.9, 95% CI 2.75–8.74; p < 0.001). Otherwise, the median OS in elderly patients did not differ from the anticipated general life expectancy (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.70–1.50; p = 0.886). Within the older patient group, PFI was lower in patients with high-grade meningiomas (HR 24.74, 95% CI 4.23–144.66; p < 0.001) and after subtotal resection (HR 10.57, 95% CI 2.23–50.05; p = 0.003). Although extent of resection was independent of perioperative mortality, the median OS was longer after gross-total resection than after subtotal resection (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.09–6.69; p = 0.032).

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly patients with surgically treated meningioma do not suffer from impaired survival compared with the age-matched general population, and their PFI is similar to that of younger meningioma patients. These data help mitigate fears concerning surgical treatment of elderly patients in an aging society.
Low flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery predicting infarction after bypass surgery in adult moyamoya disease
Authors: Cho Hoyeon , Jo Kyung Il , Yu Jua , Yeon Je Young , Hong Seung-Chyul , Kim Jong Soo
Published: June 2016

OBJECTIVE

Direct and indirect bypass surgeries are recognized as the most effective treatments for preventing further stroke in adults with moyamoya disease (MMD). However, the risk factors for postoperative infarction after bypass surgery for MMD are not well established. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the risk factors for postoperative infarction. In particular, the authors sought to determine whether transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography measurements of mean flow velocity (MFV) in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) could predict postrevascularization infarction.

METHODS

The medical records of patients with MMD who underwent direct bypass surgery at the authors' institution between July 2012 and April 2015 were reviewed. The MFV in the MCA was measured with TCD ultrasonography and categorized as high (> 80 cm/sec), medium (40–80 cm/sec), and low (< 40 cm/sec). Postoperative MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging, was performed for all patients within a week of their surgery. Angiographic findings were classified according to the Suzuki scale. Postrevascularization infarction was defined as any diffusion restriction on postoperative MRI scans. Postoperative neurological status was assessed through a clinical chart review, and the modified Rankin Scale was used to evaluate clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

Of 43 hemispheres in which bypass surgery for MMD was performed, 11 showed postrevascularization infarction. Ten of these hemispheres had low MFV and 1 had medium MFV in the ipsilateral MCA. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, a low MFV was associated with postrevascularization infarction (adjusted OR 109.2, 95% CI 1.9–6245.3). A low MFV was also statistically significantly associated with more advanced MMD stage (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

A low MFV in the ipsilateral MCA may predict postrevascularization infarction. Bypass surgery for MMD appears to be safe in early-stage MMD. Results of TCD ultrasonography provide clinical data on the hemodynamics in MMD patients before and after revascularization.
Massive sialadenitis resulting in critical airway after elective craniotomy: case report
Authors: Vedantam Aditya , Hansen Daniel , Daniels Bradley , Lam Sandi
Published: June 2016

The authors report an unusual case of acute, rapidly progressive, unilateral neck swelling following extubation after elective left anterior temporal lobectomy with amygdalohippocampectomy. Due to severe neck swelling, the patient developed critical airway compromise, brachial plexopathy, and Horner's syndrome. After critical airway management and appropriate rehabilitation, the patient recovered completely and remains seizure free at 1.5 years of follow-up.

This case highlights the importance of early recognition of acute postoperative sialadenitis and the steps needed to prevent serious morbidity and possible mortality from this rare complication.
The effect of vancomycin powder on human dural fibroblast culture and its implications for dural repair during spine surgery
Authors: Goldschmidt Ezequiel , Rasmussen Jorge , Chabot Joseph D. , Gandhoke Gurpreet , Luzzi Emilia , Merlotti Lina , Proni Romina , Loresi Mónica , Hamilton D. Kojo , Okonkwo David O. , Kanter Adam S. , Gerszten Peter C.
Published: June 2016

OBJECTIVE

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a major source of morbidity after spinal surgery. Several recent studies have described the finding that applying vancomycin powder to the surgical bed may reduce the incidence of SSI. However, applying vancomycin in high concentrations has been shown in vitro to inhibit osteoblast proliferation and to induce cell death. Vancomycin may have a deleterious effect on dural healing after repair of an intentional or unintentional durotomy. This study was therefore undertaken to assess the effect of different concentrations of vancomycin on a human dura mater cell culture.

METHODS

Human dura intended for disposal after decompressive craniectomy was harvested. Explant primary cultures and subcultures were subsequently performed. Cells were characterized through common staining and immunohistochemistry. A growth curve was performed to assess the effect of different concentrations of vancomycin (40, 400, and 4000 μg/ml) on cell count. The effect of vancomycin on cellular shape, intercellular arrangement, and viability was also evaluated.

RESULTS

All dural tissue samples successfully developed into fusiform cells, demonstrating pseudopod projections and spindle formation. The cells demonstrated vimentin positivity and also had typical features of fibroblasts. When applied to the cultures, the highest dose of vancomycin induced generalized cell death within 24 hours. The mean (± SD) cell counts for control, 40, 400, and 4000 μg/ml were 38.72 ± 15.93, 36.28 ± 22.87, 19.48 ± 6.53, and 4.07 ± 9.66, respectively (p < 0.0001, ANOVA). Compared with controls, vancomycin-exposed cells histologically demonstrated a smaller cytoplasm and decreased pseudopodia formation resulting in the inhibition of normal spindle intercellular arrangement.

CONCLUSIONS

When vancomycin powder is applied locally, dural cells are exposed to a concentration several times greater than when delivered systemically. In this in vitro model, vancomycin induced dural cell death, inhibited growth, and altered cellular morphology in a concentration-dependent fashion. Defining a safe vancomycin concentration that is both bactericidal and also does not inhibit normal dural healing is necessary.
Four-year results of a prospective single-arm study on 200 semi-constrained total cervical disc prostheses: clinical and radiographic outcome
Authors: Meisel Hans-Jörg , Jurák Lubomír , Antinheimo Jussi , Arregui Ricardo , Bruchmann Bernhard , Čabraja Mario , Caroli Fabrizio , Kroppenstedt Stefan , Kryl Jan , Pohjola Juha , Shackleford Ian , Sola Steffen , Stosberg Peter , Stulik Jan , Woiciechowsky Christian , Suchomel Petr
Published: June 2016

OBJECTIVE

Recent studies have described encouraging outcomes after cervical total disc replacement (cTDR), but there are also critical debates regarding the long-term effects of heterotopic ossification (HO) and the prevalence of adjacent-level degeneration. The aim in this paper was to provide 4-year clinical and radiographic outcome results on the activ C disc prosthesis.

METHODS

A total of 200 subjects underwent single-level activ C (Aesculap AG) implantation between C-3 and C-7 for the treatment of symptomatic degenerative disc disease. Clinical and radiographic assessments were performed preoperatively, intraoperatively, at discharge, and again at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 4 years. Radiographic evaluations were done by an independent core laboratory using a specific software for quantitative motion analysis.

RESULTS

Neck Disability Index (NDI) and visual analog scale (VAS) score for neck and arm pain decreased significantly from baseline to the 4-year follow-up. The mean improvement for NDI was 20, for VAS severity and frequency of neck pain 26.4 and 28, and for VAS severity and frequency of arm pain 30.7 and 35.1, respectively. The neurological situation improved for the majority of patients (86.4%); 76.1% of cases were asymptomatic. Subsequent surgical interventions were reported in 7% of the cases, including device removals in 3%. In 2.5% a subsidence greater than 3 mm was recorded; 1 of these cases also had a migration greater than 3 mm. No device displacement, expulsion, disassembly, loose or fractured device, osteolysis, or facet joint degeneration at the index level was observed. Segmental lordotic alignment changed from −2.4° preoperatively to −6.2° at 4 years, and postoperative height was maintained during the follow-up. Advanced HO (Grade III and IV) was present in 27.1% of the cases; 82.4% showed segmental mobility. A progression of radiographic adjacent-segment degeneration occurred in 28.2%, but only 4.5% required surgical treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The activ C is a safe and effective device for cervical disc replacement confirming the encouraging results after cTDR.

Clinical trial registration no.: NCT02492724 (clinicaltrials.gov)
Risk stratification in motor area–related glioma surgery based on navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation data
Authors: Rosenstock Tizian , Grittner Ulrike , Acker Güliz , Schwarzer Vera , Kulchytska Nataliia , Vajkoczy Peter , Picht Thomas
Published: June 2016

OBJECTIVE

Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) is a noninvasive method for preoperatively localizing functional areas in patients with tumors in presumed motor eloquent areas. The aim of this study was to establish an nTMS-based risk stratification model by examining whether the results of nTMS mapping and its neurophysiological data predict postoperative motor outcome in glioma surgery.

METHODS

Included in this study were prospectively collected data for 113 patients undergoing bihemispheric nTMS examination prior to surgery for gliomas in presumed motor eloquent locations. Multiple ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed to test for any association between preoperative nTMS-related variables and postoperative motor outcome.

RESULTS

A new motor deficit or deterioration due to a preexisting deficit was observed in 20% of cases after 7 days and in 22% after 3 months. In terms of tumor location, no new permanent deficit was observed when the distance between tumor and corticospinal tract was greater than 8 mm and the precentral gyrus was not infiltrated (p = 0.014). New postoperative deficits on Day 7 were associated with a pathological excitability of the motor cortices (interhemispheric resting motor threshold [RMT] ratio < 90% or > 110%, p = 0.031). Interestingly, motor function never improved when the RMT was significantly higher in the tumorous hemisphere than in the healthy hemisphere (RMT ratio > 110%).

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed risk stratification model, based on objective functional-anatomical and neurophysiological measures, enables one to counsel patients about the risk of functional deterioration or the potential for recovery.
Antibiotic prophylaxis for subdural and subgaleal drains
Authors: Lewis Ariane , Sen Rajeev , Hill Travis C. , James Herbert , Lin Jessica , Bhamra Harpaul , Martirosyan Nina , Pacione Donato
Published: June 2016

OBJECTIVE

The authors sought to determine the effects of eliminating the use of prolonged prophylactic systemic antibiotics (PPSAs) in patients with subdural and subgaleal drains.

METHODS

Using a retrospective database, the authors collected data for patients over the age of 17 years who had undergone cranial surgery at their institution between December 2013 and July 2014 (PPSAs period) or between December 2014 and July 2015 (non-PPSAs period) and had subdural or subgaleal drains left in place postoperatively.

RESULTS

One hundred five patients in the PPSAs period and 80 in the non-PPSAs period were identified. The discontinuation of PPSAs did not result in an increase in the frequency of surgical site infection (SSI). The frequency of Clostridium difficile (CDI) and the growth of resistant bacteria were reduced in the non-PPSAs period in comparison with the PPSAs period. In the 8 months after the drain prophylaxis protocol was changed, $93,194.63 were saved in the costs of antibiotics and complications related to antibiotics.

CONCLUSIONS

After discontinuing PPSAs for patients with subdural or subgaleal drains at their institution, the authors did not observe an increase in the frequency of SSI. They did, however, note a decrease in the frequency of CDI and the growth of resistant organisms. It appears that not only can patients in this population do without PPSAs, but also that complications are avoided when antibiotic use is limited to 24 hours after surgery.
Long-tunnelled external ventricular drain as a long-term treatment option for hydrocephalus in a child with an unresectable low-grade supratentorial tumor: case report
Authors: Emelifeonwu John A. , Sokol Drahoslav , Gallo Pasquale , Kandasamy Jothy , Kaliaperumal Chandrasekaran
Published: June 2016

The authors report a case of a child with hypothalamic-origin pilocytic astrocytoma and hydrocephalus, which was refractory to treatment with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt due to high CSF protein content. With parental education, the child's hydrocephalus was managed long-term in the community with a long-tunnelled external ventricular drain, which was maintained by his parents. To the authors' knowledge this is the first report of this management option as a long-term measure. No harm has come to the patient. The authors propose long-term, long-tunnelled external ventricular drain as a viable treatment option for such patients.
Efficient integrity checks for join queries in the cloud
Authors: De Capitani di Vimercati Sabrina , Foresti Sara , Jajodia Sushil , Paraboschi Stefano , Samarati Pierangela
Published: June 2016

Cloud computing is receiving massive interest from users and companies for its convenient support of scalable access to data and services. The variety and diversification of offers by cloud providers allow users to selectively adopt storage and computational services as they best suit their needs, including cost saving considerations. In such an open context, security remains a major concern, as confidentiality and integrity of data and queries over them can be at risk. In this paper, we present efficient techniques to verify the integrity of join queries computed by potentially untrusted cloud providers, while also protecting data and computation confidentiality. Our techniques support joins among multiple data sources and introduce a limited overhead in query computation, enabling also economical savings, as the ability to assess integrity increases the spectrum of offers that can be considered for performing the computation. Formal analysis and experimental evaluations confirm the effectiveness and efficiency of our solutions.
Chloramphenicol Derivatives as Antibacterial and Anticancer Agents: Historic Problems and Current Solutions
Authors: Dinos George , Athanassopoulos Constantinos , Missiri Dionissia , Giannopoulou Panagiota , Vlachogiannis Ioannis , Papadopoulos Georgios , Papaioannou Dionissios , Kalpaxis Dimitrios
Published: June 2016

Chloramphenicol (CAM) is the D-threo isomer of a small molecule, consisting of a p-nitrobenzene ring connected to a dichloroacetyl tail through a 2-amino-1,3-propanediol moiety. CAM displays a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic activity by specifically inhibiting the bacterial protein synthesis. In certain but important cases, it also exhibits bactericidal activity, namely against the three most common causes of meningitis, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis. Resistance to CAM has been frequently reported and ascribed to a variety of mechanisms. However, the most important concerns that limit its clinical utility relate to side effects such as neurotoxicity and hematologic disorders. In this review, we present previous and current efforts to synthesize CAM derivatives with improved pharmacological properties. In addition, we highlight potentially broader roles of these derivatives in investigating the plasticity of the ribosomal catalytic center, the main target of CAM.
Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Transform and Twin Support Vector Machine for Pathological Brain Detection
Authors: Wang Shuihua , Lu Siyuan , Dong Zhengchao , Yang Jiquan , Yang Ming , Zhang Yudong
Published: June 2016

(Aim) Classification of brain images as pathological or healthy case is a key pre-clinical step for potential patients. Manual classification is irreproducible and unreliable. In this study, we aim to develop an automatic classification system of brain images in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). (Method) Three datasets were downloaded from the Internet. Those images are of T2-weighted along axial plane with size of 256 × 256. We utilized an s-level decomposition on the basis of dual-tree complex wavelet transform (DTCWT), in order to obtain 12s “variance and entropy (VE)” features from each subband. Afterwards, we used support vector machine (SVM) and its two variants: the generalized eigenvalue proximal SVM (GEPSVM) and the twin SVM (TSVM), as the classifiers. In all, we proposed three novel approaches: DTCWT + VE + SVM, DTCWT + VE + GEPSVM, and DTCWT + VE + TSVM. (Results) The results showed that our “DTCWT + VE + TSVM” obtained an average accuracy of 99.57%, which was not only better than the two other proposed methods, but also superior to 12 state-of-the-art approaches. In addition, parameter estimation showed the classification accuracy achieved the largest when the decomposition level s was assigned with a value of 1. Further, we used 100 slices from real subjects, and we found our proposed method was superior to human reports from neuroradiologists. (Conclusions) This proposed system is effective and feasible.
The Spatial Variation of Dust Particulate Matter Concentrations during Two Icelandic Dust Storms in 2015
Authors: Dagsson-Waldhauserova Pavla , Magnusdottir Agnes , Olafsson Haraldur , Arnalds Olafur
Published: June 2016

Particulate matter mass concentrations and size fractions of PM1, PM2.5, PM4, PM10, and PM15 measured in transversal horizontal profile of two dust storms in southwestern Iceland are presented. Images from a camera network were used to estimate the visibility and spatial extent of measured dust events. Numerical simulations were used to calculate the total dust flux from the sources as 180,000 and 280,000 tons for each storm. The mean PM15 concentrations inside of the dust plumes varied from 10 to 1600 µg·m−3 (PM10 = 7 to 583 µg·m−3). The mean PM1 concentrations were 97–241 µg·m−3 with a maximum of 261 µg·m−3 for the first storm. The PM1/PM2.5 ratios of >0.9 and PM1/PM10 ratios of 0.34–0.63 show that suspension of volcanic materials in Iceland causes air pollution with extremely high PM1 concentrations, similar to polluted urban areas in Europe or Asia. Icelandic volcanic dust consists of a higher proportion of submicron particles compared to crustal dust. Both dust storms occurred in relatively densely inhabited areas of Iceland. First results on size partitioning of Icelandic dust presented here should challenge health authorities to enhance research in relation to dust and shows the need for public dust warning systems.
Application of Novel Processing Methods for Greater Retention of Functional Compounds in Fruit-Based Beverages
Authors: Morales-de la Peña Mariana , Welti-Chanes Jorge , Martín-Belloso Olga
Published: June 2016

Eating habits of western populations are changing due to modern lifestyles. As a result, people are becoming more susceptible to chronic and degenerative diseases. This fact has motivated the food industry to develop functional products that could decrease the incidence of those disorders. It is well known that fruit juices, milk and soymilk possess high concentrations of antioxidant and bioactive substances. Hence, the development of these functional beverages is a potential way to take advantage of their nutritional properties and exotic flavors that could attract the interest of consumers. At the same time, application of the right preservation treatment is of high relevance in order to obtain safe products with convenient shelf life and high concentration of health-related compounds. This fact represents a great challenge that scientists and technologists are currently facing. Today, novel preservation processes such as high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), high intensity pulsed electric fields (HIPEF) and ultrasound (US), among others, are being evaluated as an alternative to heat pasteurization, obtaining promising results. Hence, this review gathers the most relevant information about the development of mixed beverages containing fruit juices and milk or soymilk. Furthermore, the advantages and drawbacks of the application of non-thermal treatments for functional beverages’ preservation with high content of bioactive compounds are also mentioned.
Application of a New Dynamic Heating System Model Using a Range of Common Control Strategies
Authors: Fong Joshua , Edge Jerry , Underwood Chris , Tindale Andy , Potter Steve , Du Hu
Published: June 2016

This research investigates the overall heating energy consumptions using various control strategies, secondary heat emitters, and primary plant for a building. Previous research has successfully demonstrated that a dynamic distributed heat emitter model embedded within a simplified third-order lumped parameter building model is capable of achieving improved results when compared to other commercially available modelling tools. With the enhanced ability to capture transient effects of emitter thermal capacity, this research studies the influence of control strategies and primary plant configurations on the rate of energy consumption of a heating system. Four alternative control strategies are investigated: zone feedback; weather-compensated; a combination of both of these methods; and thermostatic control. The plant alternative configurations consist of conventional boilers, biomass boilers, and heat pumps supporting radiator heating and underfloor heating. The performance of the model is tested on a primary school building and can be applied to any residential or commercial building with a heating system. Results show that the new methods reported offer greater detail and rigor in the conduct of building energy modelling.
Single Neuron Stochastic Predictive PID Control Algorithm for Nonlinear and Non-Gaussian Systems Using the Survival Information Potential Criterion
Authors: Ren Mifeng , Cheng Ting , Chen Junghui , Xu Xinying , Cheng Lan
Published: June 2016

This paper presents a novel stochastic predictive tracking control strategy for nonlinear and non-Gaussian stochastic systems based on the single neuron controller structure in the framework of information theory. Firstly, in order to characterize the randomness of the control system, survival information potential (SIP), instead of entropy, is adopted to formulate the performance index, which is not shift-invariant, i.e., its value varies with the change of the distribution location. Then, the optimal weights of the single neuron controller can be obtained by minimizing the presented SIP based predictive control criterion. Furthermore, mean-square convergence of the proposed control algorithm is also analyzed from the energy conservation perspective. Finally, a numerical example is given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Application of Entropy-Based Metrics to Identify Emotional Distress from Electroencephalographic Recordings
Authors: García-Martínez Beatriz , Martínez-Rodrigo Arturo , Zangróniz Cantabrana Roberto , Pastor García Jose , Alcaraz Raúl
Published: June 2016

Recognition of emotions is still an unresolved challenge, which could be helpful to improve current human-machine interfaces. Recently, nonlinear analysis of some physiological signals has shown to play a more relevant role in this context than their traditional linear exploration. Thus, the present work introduces for the first time the application of three recent entropy-based metrics: sample entropy (SE), quadratic SE (QSE) and distribution entropy (DE) to discern between emotional states of calm and negative stress (also called distress). In the last few years, distress has received growing attention because it is a common negative factor in the modern lifestyle of people from developed countries and, moreover, it may lead to serious mental and physical health problems. Precisely, 279 segments of 32-channel electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings from 32 subjects elicited to be calm or negatively stressed have been analyzed. Results provide that QSE is the first single metric presented to date with the ability to identify negative stress. Indeed, this metric has reported a discriminant ability of around 70%, which is only slightly lower than the one obtained by some previous works. Nonetheless, discriminant models from dozens or even hundreds of features have been previously obtained by using advanced classifiers to yield diagnostic accuracies about 80%. Moreover, in agreement with previous neuroanatomy findings, QSE has also revealed notable differences for all the brain regions in the neural activation triggered by the two considered emotions. Consequently, given these results, as well as easy interpretation of QSE, this work opens a new standpoint in the detection of emotional distress, which may gain new insights about the brain’s behavior under this negative emotion.
Design and Optimization of the Slide Guide System of Hydraulic Press Based on Energy Loss Analysis
Authors: Gao Mengdi , Huang Haihong , Liu Zhifeng , Li Xinyu , Sutherland John
Published: June 2016

The clearances in the slide guide system of a hydraulic press are one of the significant factors affecting its accuracy. These clearances also affect the energy consumption of the press. An energy loss model that considers the oil leaks and friction associated with these clearances was proposed, and the size of clearances was optimized based on the model. The maximum allowable eccentric load and the energy loss on the wedge clearance condition were calculated to ensure the slide and guide pillars function properly. The stiffness of pillars and wear of guide rails were checked under an eccentric load condition. A case for rapid sheet metal forming with a 20 MN hydraulic press was examined. For this case, the optimum fit clearances were found to be approximately 0.4 mm. The energy loss under an eccentric load condition was increased by approximately 83% compared to a non-eccentric load condition. The pillars were optimized by reducing excessive stiffness, which served to decrease the pillar weight by nearly 20%.
Hydrothermal Conversion of Neutral Sulfite Semi-Chemical Red Liquor into Hydrochar
Authors: Gamgoum Ramy , Dutta Animesh , Santos Rafael , Chiang Yi
Published: June 2016

Hydrochar was produced from neutral sulfite semi-chemical (NSSC) red liquor as a possible bio-based solid fuel for use in power generation facilities. Hydrothermal conversion (HTC) experiments were conducted using a fixed liquor-to-water volume ratio of 1:8 and reaction time of 3 h. Solutions were processed using different chemical additives, pH and temperature conditions to determine the optimum conditions required for producing a high energy content solid fuel. The hydrochar samples produced were analyzed by ultimate, thermogravimetric (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses to determine physicochemical properties that are important for utilization as a fuel. The residual process liquids were also analyzed to better understand the effect of HTC process conditions on their properties. It was determined that the optimum conditions for producing a solid fuel was at a reaction temperature of 250 °C, in the presence of acetic acid at pH 3. The maximum energy content (HHV) of the hydrochar produced from red liquor at this condition was 29.87 MJ/kg, and its ash content was 1.12 wt.%. This result reflects the effect of increasing reaction temperature on the physicochemical characteristics of the hydrochar. The increase of HTC temperature significantly reduces the ash content of the hydrochar, leads to a significant increase in the carbon content of the hydrochar, and a reduction in both the oxygen and hydrogen content. These effects suggests an increase in the degree of condensation of the hydrochar products, and consequently the formation of a high energy content material. Based on TGA and FTIR analyses, hydrochars prepared at high HTC temperature showed lower adsorbed moisture, hemicellulose and cellulose contents, with enrichment in content of higher temperature volatiles, such as lignin.
Greening the Screen: An Environmental Challenge
Authors: Gündüz Özdemirci Ekin
Published: June 2016

Environmental themes and representations on screen are examined as a part of environmental social studies and can be considered a way of creating awareness of environmental issues. However, how often do we consider the environmental impact of a film or television shoot as an industrial process? In this article, I examine the sustainability practices in the motion picture industry and challenges to that by focusing on the British film and television industry as a case study. Using the interviews with industry representatives and some case studies, I discuss the possibilities of creating a change in behavior in the film industry, not only in terms of embedding green measures but also reconstituting industrial mechanisms on behalf of environmental sustainability.
Identifying Hot-Spots of Metal Contamination in Campus Dust of Xi’an, China
Authors: Chen Hao , Lu Xinwei , Gao Tianning , Chang Yuyu
Published: June 2016

The concentrations of heavy metals (As, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn) in campus dust from kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, and universities in the city of Xi’an, China, were determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The pollution levels and hotspots of metals were analyzed using a geoaccumulation index and Local Moran’s I, an indicator of spatial association, respectively. The dust samples from the campuses had metal concentrations higher than background levels, especially for Pb, Zn, Co, Cu, Cr, and Ba. The pollution assessment indicated that the campus dusts were not contaminated with As, Mn, Ni, or V, were moderately or not contaminated with Ba and Cr and were moderately to strongly contaminated with Co, Cu, Pb, and Zn. Local Moran’s I analysis detected the locations of spatial clusters and outliers and indicated that the pollution with these 10 metals occurred in significant high-high spatial clusters, low-high, or even high-low spatial outliers. As, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn had important high-high patterns in the center of Xi’an. The western and southwestern regions of the study area, i.e., areas of old and high-tech industries, have strongly contributed to the Co content in the campus dust.
Individual Monitoring and Occupational Dose Record Management in China: History, Current Status and Perspectives
Authors: Wang Hong-Bo , Yu Hai-Tao , Sun Quan-Fu
Published: June 2016

This review paper presents an overview of individual monitoring, as well as the national dose register and dose record management of radiation workers in China. Progress has recently been made on the individual monitoring of radiation workers. A critical analysis of current status and problems in individual monitoring is also presented and necessary future research on individual monitoring, such as the monitoring technology in the form of the ring dosimeters and eye lens dosimeters, is suggested.