bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bee (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) diversity within apple orchards and old fields in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada
Authors: Sheffield Cory S. , Kevan Peter G. , Pindar Alana , Packer Laurence
Published: December 2012

Bees are important within terrestrial ecosystems, providing pollination, which facilitates plant reproduction. Agricultural regions are large landscapes containing varying proportions of cropland, natural, and semi-natural habitats. Most bees are not restricted to any of these and move freely throughout, exploiting food and nesting resources in favourable locations. Many factors affect bee diversity, and knowledge of these is crucial for promoting healthy bee communities. The main objectives of this study were to compare diversity and guild structure of bee communities across a range of land disturbance levels within the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada, in habitats ranging from managed apple orchards to old fields. The two habitat extremes differed significantly; intensely managed orchards had significantly lower species richness (∼50%) than observed/estimated in old fields, but orchards with intermediate levels of adjacent natural/semi-natural habitat showed affinities to either extreme depending on the metrics used for estimating species richness. Species assemblages in orchards had lower proportions of several guilds, particularly cavity-nesters, bumble bees, and cleptoparasites, than other habitats. These guilds accounted for over 30% of bees collected in old fields but only 3–10% in orchards, increasing with habitat complexity. The use of guilds for assessing the health of bee communities is discussed.
The Effects of Cinnamomum Cassia on Blood Glucose Values are Greater than those of Dietary Changes Alone
Authors: Hoehn Ashley N. , Stockert Amy L.
Published: December 2012

Eighteen type II diabetics (9 women and 9 men) participated in a 12-week trial that consisted of 2 parts, a 3-week control phase followed by a 9-week experimental phase where half of the subjects received 1000 mg of Cinnamomum cassia while the other half received 1000 mg of a placebo pill. All of the subjects that were in the cinnamon group had a statistically significant decrease in their blood sugar levels with a P-value of 3.915 × 10-10. The subjects in the cinnamon group had an average overall decrease in their blood sugar levels of about 30 mg/dL, which is comparable to oral medications available for diabetes. All subjects were educated on appropriate diabetic diets and maintained that diet for the entire 12 week study. Greater decreases in blood glucose values were observed in patients using the cinnamon compared to those using the dietary changes alone.
Double-diffusive convection of compressible rotating Walters’ (B′) fluid with Hall currents saturating a porous medium
Authors: Aggarwal Parul , Gupta Urvashi
Published: December 2012

Keeping in view the conflicting tendencies of rotation and Hall currents (magnetic field) while acting together; combined effects of Hall currents and rotation are considered on the hydromagnetic stability of a compressible Walters’ (Model B′) elastico-viscous fluid heated and soluted from below saturating a porous medium. Boussinesq approximation is used to simplify the complex hydromagnetic equations and the perturbation equations are analyzed in terms of normal modes. A dispersion relation governing the effects of visco-elasticity, salinity gradient, rotation, Hall currents and medium permeability is derived. It has been found that for stationary convection, Walters’ (Model B′) fluid behaves like an ordinary Newtonian fluid due to the vanishing of the visco-elastic parameter. Compressibility, solute gradient, rotation and magnetic field postpone the onset of instability as such their effect is to stabilize the system. Hall currents and medium permeability are found to hasten the onset of instability for permissible range of values of various parameters. The dispersion relation is analyzed numerically and the effects of various parameters for permissible range of values are depicted graphically. The visco-elasticity, solute gradient and Hall currents (hence magnetic field) introduce oscillatory modes in the system which were non-existent in their absence. Also the case of overstability is discussed and sufficient conditions for the non-existence of overstability are derived.Keywords: Walters’ (Model B′) fluid, rotation, Hall currents, thermosolutal instability, compressibility, porous medium.
Effect of homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions on the solute dispersion in composite porous medium
Authors: Kumar J. Prathap , Umavathi J.C. , Madhavarao Shivakumar
Published: December 2012

The Taylor dispersion of a solute for composite porous medium between two parallel plates with first-order chemical reaction is studied analytically. The fluids in both the regions are incompressible and the transport properties are assumed to be constant. The results are shown graphically for various values of viscosity ratio, pressure gradient and porous parameter on the effective dispersion coefficient and volumetric flow rate. It is found that for both homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions, the effective dispersion coefficient decreases as porous parameter increases. The validity of the results obtained for composite porous media is verified by comparison with the available porous medium results for one fluid model and good agreement is found. Also two fluid model in the absence of porous matrix is compared with the  available one fluid model results and the values tally very well.Keywords: Taylor dispersion, immiscible fluids, horizontal channel, porous medium, chemical reaction.
Comparison of single and modular ANN based fault detector and classifier for double circuit transmission lines
Authors: Yadav Anamika
Published: December 2012

Comparison of single and modular artificial neural network based techniques for shunt faults detection and classification in double end fed double circuit  transmission line is presented in this paper. The proposed method uses the voltages and currents signals available at the local end of line. The model of the power system is developed using MATLAB® software. Effects of variations in pre-fault power flow angle, fault inception angle, source strength, fault resistance, fault type, fault distance and CT saturation have been investigated extensively on the performance of the ANN based protection scheme. Additionally, the effects of network changes: double circuit and single circuit operation with other line switched out and grounded (/ungrounded), intercircuit and cross-country faults have also been investigated. Thus, the present work encompasses practically the entire range of possible operating conditions, which has not been reported earlier. The simulation results are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The main advantage of the proposed technique is that the variation in power system parameters under a variety of operating conditions and single/double circuit  operations does not affect its performance. And this technique correctly detects and classifies the intercircuit and cross-country faults which have not been reported so-far.Keywords: Artificial neural network, cross country fault; transmission line  protection; intercircuit faults and single circuit operation.
Influence of meat maturation to the presence of coliform bacteria
Authors: Kunová Simona , Vavriší­nová Klára , Kačániová Miroslava , Čuboň Juraj , Kozelová Dagmar , Lopašovský Ľubomí­r
Published: December 2012

The aim of our study was detection of coliforms bacteria and pH changes in the process of beef maturation. The number of coliforms bacteria were lower as 1 log cfu.g-1 in four samples and the highest coliforms bacteria count was 3.1 log cfu.g-1 after 1-st week of meat maturation. Average number of coliforms bacteria was lower as 1.43 log cfu.g-1.  The pH values of meat varied from 5.5 to 6.1 after 1-st week. Average value of pH was 5.75.  The number of coliforms bacteria were from 2.61 log cfu.g-1 to 3.35 log cfu.g-1after 2-nd week of meat maturation. Average number of coliforms bacteria was 3.17 log cfu.g-1. The pH values of meat were from 6.0 to 6.2 after 2-nd week of meat maturation. Average value of pH was 6.05.
Microbial status and quality of rabbit meat after rabbits feed supplementation with phyto-additives
Authors: Pogány Simonová Monika , Lauková Andrea , Chrastinová Ľubica , Szabóová Renáta , Strompfová Viola
Published: December 2012

Nowdays, there is an increasing  interest in public health issue due to consumption of healthy and nutritive food, e.i. rich in proteins, low in cholesterol and lipid contents. The aim of this study was to examine if oregano, sage and Eleutherococcus senticosus extracts, commercial Xtract as well can influence microbial status of rabbit meat after their supplementation of rabbit feed. Reduction of enterococci, coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus after feed supplementation by the sage and oregano was more detectable at the end of the experiment (at day 42) than after their application (at day 21). In animals with Xtract addition, antibacterial effect has been noted already at day 21. Our in vivo results confirmed in vitro antibacterial effect of the tested extracts and showed that maintaining of rabbit meat quality by plant extracts is very promising.
Histological changes in Poecilia reticulata after interaction of ionizing radiation and zinc sulfid
Authors: Almasiova Viera , Renčko Andrej , Holovská Katarí­na , Špalková Michaela
Published: December 2012

In our experiment we have studied interaction of ionizing radiation and zinc at Poecilia reticulata. Fish were irradiated with a 20 Gy of gamma-rays. Zinc sulphate in concentration 25 mg.l-1 was added to water in aquarium. Food intake, clinicl symptoms and histological changes were followed after gamma-irradiation and zinc sulfid in guppy Poecilia reticulata. In the first days timidity and lethargy were observed. The most prominent clinical symptoms observed were emaciation, hampered breathing and haemorrhages. Histological findings corresponded with these symptoms.
Developmental Disabilities and Intracranial Abnormalities in Children with Symptomatic Cytomegalovirus and Cochlear Implants
Authors: Hart Catherine K. , Wiley Susan , Choo Daniel I. , Eby Christine , Tucker Laura , Schapiro Mark , Meinzen-Derr Jareen
Published: December 2012

Objective. To examine the association of intracranial radiographic abnormalities and developmental measures with outcomes in children with congenital symptomatic cytomegalovirus (CMV) and cochlear implants (CI).Design/Methods. It was a retrospective review of 15 children implanted from 2004 to 2010. Preimplant nonverbal intelligence quotient/developmental quotient (IQ/DQ) and head circumference (HC) were obtained. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and post-CI audiometry and language assessments were reviewed.Results. Eleven children (73%) had cognitive delay. Most had >1 developmental disability. Median IQ/DQ was 65 (23–90). All had imaging abnormalities. Most imaging abnormalities were in parietal (60%) and temporal (60%) lobes. Children with HC < 5th percentile had poorer median post-CI PTA (38 dB versus 27 dB, ). Periventricular calcifications were associated with lower receptive (, ) and expressive (, ) language. Because IQ/DQ was associated with periventricular calcifications (, ) and small HC (, ), their relationships with language appear partially driven by IQ/DQ.Conclusions. The location of brain abnormalities appears to correlate with worse outcomes after CI. These findings may allow for more accurate counseling of parents regarding anticipated postimplantation performance.
The Functional Ecology and Diversity of Tropical Tree Assemblages through Space and Time: From Local to Regional and from Traits to Transcriptomes
Authors: Swenson Nathan G.
Published: December 2012

Tropical tree biodiversity motivates an extremely large amount of research and some of the most passionate debates in ecology and evolution. Research into tropical tree biodiversity generally has been very biased towards one axis of biodiversity-species diversity. Less work has focused on the functional diversity of tropical trees and I argue that this has greatly limited our ability to not only understand the species diversity in tropical tree assemblages, but their distributions through space and time. Increasingly plant ecologists have turned to measuring plant functional traits to estimate functional diversity and to uncover the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying the distribution and dynamics of tropical trees. Here I review much of the recent work on functional traits in tropical tree community ecology. I will highlight what I believe are the most important findings and which research directions are not likely to progress in the future. I also argue that functionally based investigations of tropical trees are likely to be revolutionized in the coming years through the incorporation of functional genomic approaches. The paper ends with a discussion of three major research areas or areas in need of focus that could lead to rapid advances in functionally based investigations of tropical trees.
The Precise Mechanisms of a High-Speed Ultrasound Gas Sensor and Detecting Human-Specific Lung Gas Exchange
Authors: Toda Hideki
Published: December 2012

In this paper, we propose and develop a new real-time human respiration process analysis method using a high-time-sampling gas concentration sensor based on ultrasound. A unique point about our proposed gas concentration sensor is its 1 kHz gas concentration sampling speed. This figure could not have been attained by previously proposed gas concentration measurement methods such as InfraRed, semiconductor gas sensors, or GC-MS, because the gas analysis speeds were a maximum of a few hundred milliseconds. First, we describe the proposed new ultrasound sound speed measurement method and the signal processing, and present the measurement circuit diagram. Next, we analyse the human respiration gas variation patterns of five healthy subjects using a newly developed gas-mask-type respiration sensor. This reveals that the rapid gas exchange from H2O to CO2 contains air specific to the human being. In addition, we also measured medical symptoms in subjects suffering from asthma, hyperventilation and bronchial asthma. The millisecond level high-speed analysis of the human respiration process will be useful for the next generation of healthcare, rehabilitation and sports science technology.
Local Path Planning for an Unmanned Ground Vehicle Based on SVM
Authors: Qingyang Chen , Zhenping Sun , Daxue Liu , Yuqiang Fang , Xiaohui Li
Published: December 2012

To resolve the local path generating problem for unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) in unstructured environments, a method combining a basic path subdivision method for topological maps of local environments and a Support Vector Machine (SVM) is proposed in this paper. Based on the basic path subdivision method, topological maps of local environments can be extracted with little expanded nodes, without the constraints of obstacle representation, so meeting the need for autonomous navigation in unstructured environments. Next, to optimize the candidate routes in topological maps and generate a smoother path, an SVM is introduced. The candidate routes boundary points are defined as positive and negative samples, and SVMs are employed to train the separating surface. An original SVM is extended to satisfy extra constraints such as vehicle position and heading constraints. Experimental results show the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed method.
Dynamic Performance Evaluation of a 2-DoF Planar Parallel Mechanism
Authors: Qi Hao , Liwen Guan , Jianxin Wang
Published: December 2012

The acceleration performance function and dynamic performance evaluation combining the acceleration, velocity, gravity and external force of a 2-DoF planar parallel mechanism are presented in this paper. By means of the principle of virtual work, the inverse dynamic model and acceleration performance function of the planar parallel mechanism are setup. Based on the factors in the acceleration performance function, the effect on the acceleration performance of parallel mechanisms is investigated. Then a new method considering the acceleration factor, velocity factor, gravity factor and external force factor for dynamic performance evaluation of the parallel mechanism is introduced, which can evaluate the dynamic performance of high-speed parallel mechanisms more exactly. Based on this method, the evaluation indices used in dynamic optimization are introduced. These indices overcome the limitation of commonly used indices, and lay the foundation for dynamic optimization of parallel mechanisms.
Mobility Assistance Design of the Intelligent Robotic Wheelchair
Authors: Hsu Po Er , Hsu Yeh Liang , Chang Kai Wei , Geiser Claudius
Published: December 2012

This paper presents the development of the “intelligent Robotic Wheelchair” ( iRW), emphasizing its mobility assistance design. The vehicle uses four Mecanum wheels to facilitate movement in all directions, including sideways, and zero radius of rotation. The iRW requires much less space than ordinary electric wheelchairs in turning and sideways manoeuvres. Based on this moving vehicle, mobility assistance functions are designed for three different operators: the wheelchair user, caregivers, and the iRW itself in autonomous behaviours. Five operation modes, all mutually exclusive, are developed: obstacle avoidance, joystick mode, handlebar mode, teleoperation, and indoor navigation. Man-machine collaborative control is reflected in the assignment of priorities to the three operators. The functional test performed in this research compared the operational efficiency of the five operation modes.
Mobility at Large
Authors: Edwards Justin D. , Graulund Rune
Published: December 2012

Mobility at Large explores a unique trajectory of travel writing. Instead of focussing on best-selling travel texts by Paul Theroux, Bill Bryson, Michael Palin, Alain de Botton and others, this book examines a strand of innovative contemporary travel writing wherein the authors experiment with form, content and the politics of representation. In this, innovative travel texts by a range of writers  from Michael Ondaatje and Caryl Phillips to Daphne Marlatt and Sam Miller  transform the genre by inscribing travel, migration, mobility and displacement within a variety of experimental textual strategies to work through questions of movement and the politics of personal identity in relation to the complex interlocutions of space, place and subjectivity. As a result, Mobility at Large challenges those critics who dismiss the genre as inherently conservative and inextricably bound up in a colonial, Eurocentric tradition. The book also documents a long and rich tradition of travel writing that existed well beyond the influence of Europe.
Spanish Spaces
Authors: Davies Ann
Published: December 2012

Spanish Spaces is a pioneering study that marries contemporary cultural geography with contemporary Spanish culture. The field of cultural geography has grown both extensively and rapidly, as has the field of cultural analysis and debate on Spanish cultural texts; yet despite a convergence in study between cultural geography (and cultural studies more widely) and cultural texts themselves, this has made little impact to date within the area of contemporary Spanish cultural studies. Yet Spains varied terrain, with complex negotiations between rural, urban and coastal (negotiations that have on occasion spilled over into political and violent conflict), and perhaps its very lack of a contemporary landscape tradition familiar to British and German cultural studies, offer the opportunity for fresh insights into questions of landscape, space and place. Spanish Spaces consists of thematic case studies (memory and forgetting, nationalism and terrorism, crime and detection, gender, tourism and immigration as negotiated through cultural texts), selected for their currency and their links to each other and drawing on the explorations of these themes in contemporary Spanish film and literature. Throughout the chapters the author investigates what it means to think of space and place in specifically Spanish terms.
Synaptic proteins promote calcium-triggered fast transition from point contact to full fusion
Authors: Diao Jiajie , Grob Patricia , Cipriano Daniel J , Kyoung Minjoung , Zhang Yunxiang , Shah Sachi , Nguyen Amie , Padolina Mark , Srivastava Ankita , Vrljic Marija , Shah Ankita , Nogales Eva , Chu Steven , Brunger Axel T
Published: December 2012

The molecular underpinnings of synaptic vesicle fusion for fast neurotransmitter release are still unclear. Here, we used a single vesicle–vesicle system with reconstituted SNARE and synaptotagmin-1 proteoliposomes to decipher the temporal sequence of membrane states upon Ca2+-injection at 250–500 μM on a 100-ms timescale. Furthermore, detailed membrane morphologies were imaged with cryo-electron microscopy before and after Ca2+-injection. We discovered a heterogeneous network of immediate and delayed fusion pathways. Remarkably, all instances of Ca2+-triggered immediate fusion started from a membrane–membrane point-contact and proceeded to complete fusion without discernible hemifusion intermediates. In contrast, pathways that involved a stable hemifusion diaphragm only resulted in fusion after many seconds, if at all. When complexin was included, the Ca2+-triggered fusion network shifted towards the immediate pathway, effectively synchronizing fusion, especially at lower Ca2+-concentration. Synaptic proteins may have evolved to select this immediate pathway out of a heterogeneous network of possible membrane fusion pathways.
A good life
Authors: Marder Eve
Published: December 2012

Following a career in science involves long hours and hard work, but as Eve Marder explains in the first of a series of columns, it can also be extremely rewarding.
Surgical Services and Transformation of Civil Hospital During “August War 2008” in Georgia
Authors: Kiladze M. A. , Lominadze N. G. , Goderdzishvili V. T. , Kcherodinashvili G. I. , Mgeliashvili T. I. , Abuladze V. I.
Published: December 2012

Structural transformation of a civil hospital into a military one during “August War 2008” (August 8–12) in Georgia is presented. Damage-control principles, such as hemorrhage control, liver-packing and abdominal tamponade, gastrointestinal tract resection without formation of anastomoses, and other temporary interventions were prioritized. This provided a chance to empty the hospital in a short period to provide the admission of an increased number of combat casualties. There were soldiers from Georgian troops, civilians, and captives of war. The number of total admitted patients was 739. Fifty-two patients were operated on in the surgery department. The following operations were carried out: removal of foreign bodies from the neck region, 6 cases; isolated thoracotomy, pulmorrhaphy, and drainage, 2 cases; laparotomy, hepatorrhaphy, gastrorrhaphy, splenectomy, resection of small intestine, and colostomy, 18 cases; combined operations (thoracotomy plus laparotomy), 9 cases; extended debridement and dressing of wounds, 11 cases; angiosurgical operations, 4 cases; and coloplasty, 2 cases. There were 2 cases of mortality, 1 case of rethoracotomy, and 3 cases of relaparotomy: 2 because of intracavital bleeding and 1 because of sanation.
Curative Resection of Transverse Colon Cancer via Minilaparotomy
Authors: Ishida Hideyuki , Ishiguro Tohru , Ishibashi Keiichiro , Ohsawa Tomonori , Okada Norimichi , Kumamoto Kensuke , Haga Norihiro
Published: December 2012

Minilaparotomy has been reported to be a minimally invasive alternative to laparoscopically assisted surgery. We retrospectively evaluated the usefulness of minilaparotomy for the resection of transverse colon cancer, which has generally been considered difficult to resect laparoscopically. Patients for whom curative resection was attempted for transverse colon cancer (n  =  21) or sigmoid colon cancer (n  =  81) via minilaparotomy (skin incision, ≤ 7cm) were analyzed. The 2 groups did not significantly differ in terms of success rate of minilaparotomy (90.5% versus 97.5%), age, sex, pathologic stage, body mass index, operative time (mean, 133.5 minutes versus 122.5 minutes), blood loss (119.7 mL versus 92.4 mL), number of lymph nodes harvested, incidence of postoperative complications (9.5% versus 12.3%), postoperative length of stay, and 5-year disease-free survival rate (86.6% versus 79.6%). Minilaparotomy is feasible, safe, and favorable in terms of early oncologic outcome in patients with transverse colon cancer as well as those with sigmoid colon cancer.
Endogenous-Lesioned Cervical Disc Herniation: A Retrospective Review of 9 Cases
Authors: Zhang Zifeng , Bai Yushu , Hou Tiesheng
Published: December 2012

The purpose of this study was to analyze the pathogenic mechanisms, clinical presentation, and surgical treatment of cervical disc herniation without external trauma. Between 2004 and 2008, 9 patients with cervical disc herniation and no antecedent history of trauma were diagnosed with cervical disc herniation and underwent surgical decompression. Pathogenic mechanisms, clinical presentation, surgical treatment, and prognosis were analyzed retrospectively. In 6 patients, herniation resulted from excessive neck motion rather than from external trauma. An injury from this source is termed an endogenous-lesioned injury. Patients exhibited neurologic symptoms of compression of the cervical spinal cord or nerve roots. In the other 3 patients, no clear cause for the herniation was recorded, but all patients had a desk job with long periods of head-down neck flexion posture. After surgery, all patients experienced a reduction in their symptoms and an uneventful recovery. Cervical disc herniation can occur in the absence of trauma. Surgical decompression is effective at reducing symptoms in these patients, similar to other patients with cervical disc herniation. Surgical treatment may be considered for this disorder when the herniation becomes symptomatic.
Survival Predictors of Patients With Primary Duodenal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Kawahira Hiroshi , Miura Fumihiko , Saigo Kenichi , Matsunaga Akinao , Natsume Toshiyuki , Akai Takashi , Horibe Daisuke , Suzuki Kazufumi , Nabeya Yoshihiro , Hayashi Hideki , Miyauchi Hideaki , Shuto Kiyohiko , Asano Takehide , Matsubara Hisahiro
Published: December 2012

This single-institution experience retrospectively reviewed the outcomes in 21 patients with primary duodenal adenocarcinoma. Twelve patients underwent curative surgery, and 9 patients underwent palliative surgery at the Chiba University Hospital. The maximum follow-up period was 8650 days. All pathologic specimens from endoscopic biopsy and surgical specimens were reviewed and categorized. Twelve (57.1%) patients underwent curative surgery (R0): 4 pancreaticoduodenectomies (PD), 4 pylorus-preserving PDs (PpPD), 2 local resections of the duodenum and 2 endoscopic mucosal resections (EMR). Palliative surgery was performed for 9 patients (42.9%) following gastro-intestinal bypass. The median cause-specific survival times were 1784 days (range 160–8650 days) in the curative surgery group and 261 days (range 27–857 days) in the palliative surgery group (P  =  0.0003, log-rank test). The resectability of primary duodenal adenocarcinoma was associated with a smaller tumor size, a lower degree of tumor depth invasiveness, and less spread to the lymph nodes and distant organs.
Simultaneous Laparoscopic Resection of Colorectal Cancer and Synchronous Metastatic Liver Tumor
Authors: Hayashi Michihiro , Komeda Koji , Inoue Yoshihiro , Shimizu Tetsunosuke , Asakuma Mitsuhiro , Hirokawa Fumitoshi , Okuda Junji , Tanaka Keitaro , Kondo Keisaku , Tanigawa Nobuhiko
Published: December 2012

Laparoscopic colorectal resection has been applied to advanced colorectal cancer. Synchronous liver metastasis of colorectal cancer would be treated safely and effectively by simultaneous laparoscopic colorectal and hepatic resection. Seven patients with colorectal cancer and synchronous liver metastasis treated by simultaneous laparoscopic resection were analyzed retrospectively. Three patients received a hybrid operation using a small skin incision, 2 patients underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery using a small incision produced for colonic anastomosis, and 2 patients were treated with pure laparoscopic resection. The mean total operation duration was 407 minutes, and mean blood loss was 207 mL. Negative surgical margins were achieved in all cases. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 16.4 days. No recurrence at the surgical margin was observed in the liver. For selected patients with synchronous liver metastasis of colorectal cancer, simultaneous laparoscopic resection is useful for minimizing operative invasiveness while maintaining safety and curability, with satisfying short- and long-term results.
A Case of Marked Response to Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy for Rectal Cancer With Para-Aortic Lymph Node Metastasis
Authors: Horiuchi Atsushi , Matsuda Keiji , Akahane Takuya , Shimada Ryu , Shibuya Hajime , Hayama Tamuro , Yamada Hideki , Ishihara Souichirou , Nozawa Keijirou , Watanabe Toshiaki
Published: December 2012

A 67-year-old man had rectal cancer with para-aortic lymph node metastasis. Prior to surgical resection, tegafur-uracil and leucovorin had been administered orally as chemotherapy, and radiotherapy (50.4 Gy) was applied for the rectum and para-aortic lymph nodes. Low anterior resection was then performed, followed by 45 cycles of chemotherapy in total. Enlargement of the left axillary lymph nodes was noted during treatment, but nodes shrank in response to treatment with bevacizumab + FOLFIRI (i.e., irinotecan + 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin). As of the time of writing, 36 months after diagnosis, no swelling of the para-aortic lymph nodes was evident and chemotherapy was being continued. This patient was alive after achieving response to neoadjuvant therapy comprising chemotherapy and irradiation of the para-aortic lymph nodes, along with postoperative chemotherapy. This therapeutic approach of preoperative chemotherapy plus irradiation of the primary lesion and para-aortic lymph nodes has potential as an effective treatment.
Cyclin E Low-Molecular-Weight Isoform as a Predictor of Breast Cancer in Japanese Women
Authors: Tokai Yukiko , Maeda Shigeto , Yamaguchi Junzo , Uga Tatsuya , Hayashida Naomi , Taniguchi Ken , Eguchi Susumu , Kanematsu Takashi
Published: December 2012

Overexpression of low-molecular-weight isoforms (LMWI) of cyclin E in breast cancer cells is associated with poor prognosis and could serve a novel role in breast cancer progression. LMWI originate from proteolytic processing of cyclin E, which is deregulated and hyperactive. In this study, levels of full-form/LMWI cyclin E were determined with the use of Western blot analysis in 69 Japanese breast cancer patients. LMWI cyclin E levels were significantly correlated with known parameters such as tumor grade and estrogen/progesterone receptor expression. In multivariate analysis, patient survival was significantly correlated with tumor grade but not with either form of cyclin E. LMWI was not as strong a predictor as tumor grade in this study, whereas some cases of early relapse with LMWI overexpression and lower tumor grade were reported. Thus, LMWI might be a good complementary factor to other predictors for early relapse of breast cancer.
Minilaparotomy for Perforated Duodenal Ulcer
Authors: Ishida Hideyuki , Ishiguro Toru , Kumamoto Kensuke , Ohsawa Tomonori , Sobajima Jun , Ishibashi Keiichiro , Haga Norihiro
Published: December 2012

The usefulness of the minilaparotomy approach for perforated duodenal ulcer repair was retrospectively evaluated in 37 patients (26 men; mean age, 56.5 years). Simple closure with an omental patch by minilaparotomy (skin incision, ≤7 cm) was successful in 86.5% of the cases, with an operative mortality of 2.7%. Compared with the results in historic control patients who underwent conventional open surgery (n  =  27), a shorter operative time (P < 0.01), lower frequency of analgesic use (P  =  0.03), earlier passage of flatus (P < 0.01), and shorter hospital stay (P  =  0.04) were obtained in the patients undergoing minilapartomoy. The postoperative morbidity was identical between the two groups (16.2% versus 33.3%, P  =  0.40). On multivariate analysis, a large amount of intra-abdominal fluid was the only significant risk factor for extension of the minilaparotomy wound (P  =  0.012). The minilaparotomy approach appears to be a feasible, safe, and less invasive approach compared with the conventional open approach and could be a useful alternative to the laparoscopic approach in selected patients with perforated duodenal ulcer.
Incarcerated Diaphragmatic Hernia With Intrathoracic Bowel Obstruction After Right Liver Donation
Authors: Dieter Raymond A. , Spitz Jonathon , Kuzycz George
Published: December 2012

Liver transplantation has become an acceptable surgical procedure with the advancement of the technical and rejection considerations involved. Initially nonliving donors were used for transplantation procedures. However, with improved techniques, living donor procedures have become much more frequent. With this, complications involving the transplant organ donor may occur. We present 2 patients with intrathoracic bowel obstruction due to herniation of the small intestine and colon through a defect in the dome of the diaphragm with development of chest pain and gastrointestinal symptoms. Both patients were diagnosed by computerized tomography scan and had a right thoracotomy with lysis of the adhesions, reduction of the hernia, repair of the diaphragm, and mesh reinforcement of the diaphragm. Neither patient had a prior diaphragm defect. These patients, on review of the literature, represent the first 2 such reported cases and suggest the need to be aware of any potential diaphragm defects before closure of the abdomen after resection of the donor liver or if they develop appropriate symptomatology.
Popliteoperoneal In Situ Bypass Using the Small Saphenous Vein Enables Revascularization With Low Trauma
Authors: Lesser Thomas G. , Frisch Hans-Joachim , Freitag Siegfried , Venth Sabine
Published: December 2012

In patients with diabetes, a popliteocrural vein bypass frequently must be linked to the distal peroneal artery. To reduce trauma to the ischemically damaged tissue, we used a dorsal approach to the peroneal artery. With the patient prone, a incision parallel to the posterolateral margin of the Achilles tendon is made. After the deep crural fascia and flexor hallucis longus are split, access to the peroneal artery is easily obtained. The second segment of the popliteal artery is exposed in the popliteal cavity. The small saphenous vein is left in situ and anastomosed with the arteries after proximal and distal preparation and valvulotomy.
Planning for Baseline Medical Care Needs of a Displaced Population After a Disaster
Authors: Shrestha Sundar S. , Sosin Daniel M. , Meltzer Martin I.
Published: December 2012

Objective: To build a tool to assist disaster response planning and estimate the numbers of displaced persons that will require special medical care during a disaster.

Methods: We developed a tool, titled MedCon:PreEvent, which incorporates data from the 2006 National Health Interview Survey, 2005 National Hospital Discharge Survey, and 2004 National Nursing Home Survey to calculate numbers of emergency room/emergency department (ER/ED) visits, surgeries, health care home visits, overnight hospital stays, office visits, and self-rated health status. We then used thresholds of more than 12 office visits or 6 or more ER/ED visits or 6 or more surgeries or more than 4 home visits or more than 6 overnight hospital stays within the past 12 months to calculate rates per million evacuees requiring special medical care, including daily bed hospital and nursing home bed occupancy.

Results: We calculated that 79 428 (95% CI = 76 940-81 770) per million evacuees would need special medical care. The daily occupation of hospital beds would be 1710 beds (95% CI = 1328-2160) per million. The occupation of nursing home beds would be 5094 beds (95% CI = 5040-5148) per million. Changing the threshold to just those who self-rated health as “poor,” the demand for special medical care would be 24 348 (95% CI = 23 087-25 535) per million. Using threshold utilization values at half the original level would increase the estimate to 226 988 (95% CI = 224 444-229 384) per million.

Conclusions: A substantial number of persons with preexisting conditions will need suitable medical care following a disaster. The MedCon:PreEvent tool can assist disaster planners to prepare for medical care needs of large numbers of evacuees and consider re-evaluating the approach to utilizing and augmenting medical care services.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:335–341)
Critical Challenges and Impediments Affecting Rural Physicians During a Public Health Emergency
Authors: Putzer Gavin J. , Koro-Ljungberg Mirka , Duncan R. Paul
Published: December 2012

Objective: Disaster preparedness has become a health policy priority for the United States in the aftermath of the anthrax attacks, 9/11, and other calamities. It is important for rural health care professionals to be prepared for a bioterrorist attack or other public health emergency. We sought to determine the barriers impeding rural physicians from being prepared for a human-induced disaster such as a bioterrorist attack.

Methods: This study employed a qualitative methodology using key informant interviews followed by grounded theory methods for data analysis. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 6 physicians in the state of Florida from federally designated rural areas.

Results: The interview participants articulated primary barriers and the associated factors contributing to these barriers that may affect rural physician preparedness for human-induced emergencies. Rural physicians identified 3 primary barriers: accessibility to health care, communication between physicians and patients, and rural infrastructure and resources. Each of these barriers included associated factors and influences. For instance, according to our participants, access to care was affected by a lack of health insurance, a lack of finances for health services, and transportation difficulties.

Conclusions: Existing rural organizational infrastructure and resources are insufficient to meet current health needs owing to a number of factors including the paucity of health care providers, particularly medical specialists, and the associated patient-level barriers. These barriers presumably would be exacerbated in the advent of a human-induced public health emergency. Thus, strategically implemented health policies are needed to mitigate the barriers identified in this study.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:342–348)
An Immunization Information System to Meet Evolving Needs During the 2009-2010 Influenza A (H1N1) Vaccination Campaign
Authors: Schauer Stephanie L. , Hopfensperger Daniel J. , Verdon Matthew J. , Maerz Thomas R. , Gabor Gerald W. , Davis Jeffrey P.
Published: December 2012

In 2009, a monovalent H1N1 influenza (H1N1) vaccine was manufactured in response to the pandemic of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection that emerged earlier in the year. The overall allocation of the H1N1 vaccine to the states was the purview of the federal government; thereafter, the states were accountable for distributing and reporting the number of doses of H1N1 vaccine administered weekly. This report describes how the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) was updated and used during the H1N1 immunization campaign and its role in meeting the federal H1N1 immunization reporting requirements. Activities to enhance the registry's functionality included the creation of a rapid data entry screen for providers to facilitate the entry of data into the WIR, and enhancing the reporting capabilities of the WIR to generate H1N1-related reports at the local level. Results of these activities included an increase in the number of WIR users, higher reported numbers of seasonal influenza doses administered, and the establishment of data streams from new users. Data completeness, the ability to accurately forecast doses needed, and validating administered doses were challenges in the changing environment.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:402-407)
Incidences, Types, and Influencing Factors of Snow Disaster–Associated Injuries in Ningbo, China, 2008
Authors: Xu Guozhang , Ying Yanyan , Liu Yan , Chang Wenjun , Ni Hongxia , Zhu Yinchao , Xu Rong , Dong Hongjun , Shi Nanfeng , Ma Xu , Xu Lairong , Cai Yibiao , Ping Jianming , Han Yifang , Cao Guangwen
Published: December 2012

Objective:The incidence, types, and influencing factors of injuries due to snow-ice disasters are essential for public health preparedness. This study was designed to assess such factors of injuries during the 22-day snowstorm in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China, in 2008.

Methods:A multistage cluster probability sampling method was applied to select the study population in urban, rural, and mountainous areas. Data including sociodemographic characteristics, frequency, and types of injuries during the snowstorm between January 20 and February 10, 2008, were obtained by face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire and by checking the participants' medical records. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to determine the factors significantly associated with the risk of injuries.

Results:A total of 3169 residents of 1416 families took part in this survey. In 581 residents, 602 injuries were identified. Incidences of frostbite, falling injury, and traffic accident–related injury were 12.78%, 5.30%, and 0.50%, respectively. Injury occurred more frequently in women than in men (odds ratio [OR], 1.42; 95% CI, 1.19-1.70). Frostbite occurred more frequently in women than in men (adjusted OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.43-2.41) and more frequently in urban areas than in other areas (adjusted OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.24-2.20). Travel by bus or car, wearing a scarf, wearing gloves, wearing a raincoat, reducing outdoor activity, and performing regular physical exercise were independent protective factors of frostbite, with an adjusted OR (95% CI) of 0.35 (0.20-0.61), 0.45 (0.33-0.62), 0.35 (0.26-0.48), 0.45 (0.33-0.61), 0.36 (0.27-0.48), and 0.18 (0.13-0.24), respectively. Falling injury occurred more often in mountainous areas than in other areas (adjusted OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.27-2.42). Age 45 years or older, working outside more than 15 days, and wearing a raincoat were independent risk factors of falling injury, with an adjusted OR (95% CI) of 2.30 (1.60-3.32), 1.92 (1.36-2.72), and 2.21 (1.56-3.11), respectively. Falling and traffic accident–related injuries were mainly due to slippery roads.

Conclusions:Frostbite and falling injury were the major injuries caused by an unprecedented snow-ice disaster. Keeping warm and maintaining regular physical exercise appeared to reduce frostbite risk. Public health intervention also reduced the risk of falling and traffic accident–related injuries.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:363-369)
Beyond von‐Neumann Computing with Nanoscale Phase‐Change Memory Devices
Authors: Wright C. David , Hosseini Peiman , Diosdado Jorge A. Vazquez
Published: December 2012

Historically, the application of phase‐change materials and devices has been limited to the provision of non‐volatile memories. Recently, however, the potential has been demonstrated for using phase‐change devices as the basis for new forms of brain‐like computing, by exploiting their multilevel resistance capability to provide electronic mimics of biological synapses. Here, a different and previously under‐explored property that is also intrinsic to phase‐change materials and devices, namely accumulation, is exploited to demonstrate that nanometer‐scale electronic phase‐change devices can also provide a powerful form of arithmetic computing. Complicated arithmetic operations are carried out, including parallel factorization and fractional division, using simple nanoscale phase‐change cells that process and store data simultaneously and at the same physical location, promising a most efficient and effective means for implementing beyond von‐Neumann computing. This same accumulation property can be used to provide a particularly simple form phase‐change integrate‐and‐fire “neuron”, which, by combining both phase‐change synapse and neuron electronic mimics, potentially opens up a route to the realization of all‐phase‐change neuromorphic processing.
In Situ Generated Gas Bubble‐Directed Self‐Assembly: Synthesis, and Peculiar Magnetic and Electrochemical Properties of Vertically Aligned Arrays of High‐Density Co3O4 Nanotubes
Authors: Tong Guoxiu , Guan Jianguo , Zhang Qingjie
Published: December 2012

A novel and versatile gas bubble induced self‐assembly technique is developed for the one‐step fabrication of vertically aligned polycrystalline Co3O4 nanotube arrays (NTAs) by the rapid thermal decomposition of Co(NO3)2·6H2O on a flat substrate. In this protocol, the in situ generation and release of gas bubbles, which can be regulated by elaborately adjusting the kinetic factors such as reaction time, decomposition temperature and pressure as well as the content of the chemically adsorbed water, play a vital role in the formation of the Co3O4 NTAs. Due to the shape anisotropy, ordered hierarchically porous structure and high surface area, the as‐obtained Co3O4 NTAs show unique magnetic properties of a low Néel temperature and a large exchange bias field, as well as an initial discharge capacity up to 1293 mAh·g−1 at 35 mA·g−1 and the retention of a charge capacity as high as 895.4 mAh·g−1 after 10 cycles. This endows them with important potential use in magnetic shielding, magnetic recording media, and lithium ion batteries, etc. Due to the simplicity of the self‐assembly method, this process is applicable to the large‐scale production of the Co3O4 NTAs, and may be extended to other materials.
Super‐Flexible Nanogenerator for Energy Harvesting from Gentle Wind and as an Active Deformation Sensor
Authors: Lee Sangmin , Bae Sung‐Hwan , Lin Long , Yang Ya , Park Chan , Kim Sang‐Woo , Cha Seung Nam , Kim Hyunjin , Park Young Jun , Wang Zhong Lin
Published: December 2012

Using an Al‐foil of thickness ≈18 μm as a substrate and electrode, a piezoelectric nanogenerator (NG) that is super‐flexible in responding to the wavy motion of a very light wind is fabricated using ZnO nanowire arrays. The NG is used to harvest the energy from a waving flag, demonstrating its high flexibility and excellent conformability to be integrated into fabric. The NG is applied to detect the wrinkling of a human face, showing its capability to serve as an active deformation sensor that needs no extra power supply. This strategy may provide a highly promising platform as energy harvesting devices and self‐powered sensors for practical use wherever movement is available.
Powering up the Future: Radical Polymers for Battery Applications
Authors: Janoschka Tobias , Hager Martin D. , Schubert Ulrich S.
Published: December 2012

Our society's dependency on portable electric energy, i.e., rechargeable batteries, which permit power consumption at any place and in any time, will eventually culminate in resource wars on limited commodities like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth metals. The substitution of conventional metals as means of electric charge storage by organic and polymeric materials, which may ultimately be derived from renewable resources, appears to be the only feasible way out.

In this context, the novel class of organic radical batteries (ORBs) excelling in rate capability (i.e., charging speed) and cycling stability (>1000 cycles) sets new standards in battery research. This review examines stable nitroxide radical bearing polymers, their processing to battery systems, and their promising performance.