bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Greek Economic Crisis and Health Care Reforms: Correcting the Wrong Prescription
Authors: Niakas Dimitris
Published: October 2013

In an era of economic crisis in Greece and with many uninsured citizens, the Troika (lenders of Greece) suggests reforms and promotes the internal market, resulting in a public-private system becoming more privatized. This article contradicts these proposals and attempts to suggest the necessary reforms to achieve equity of access for all and to promote efficiency, taking into account the existing needs of the population and the recession of the Greek economy.
Introduction: ‘Dying for Gold’: The Effects of Mineral Miningon HIV, Tuberculosis, Silicosis, and Occupational Diseases in Southern Africa
Authors: Stuckler David , Steele Sarah , Lurie Mark , Basu Sanjay
Published: October 2013

This article begins a special series, a roundtable discussion on mining activity and health, edited by David Stuckler, Sarah Steele, Mark Lurie, and Sanjay Basu.

Mineral mining is among the world's most hazardous occupations. It is especially dangerous in southern Africa, where mining activity is a leading cause of HIV and tuberculosis epidemics. Inside mines, silica dust exposure causes long-term pulmonary damage. Living conditions are often substandard; poorly ventilated living quarters facilitate tuberculosis and airborne disease spread, and high rates of alcohol and tobacco use compromise immune responses. Family segregation, a legacy of apartheid's migrational labor system, increases the likelihood of risky sexual activity. Sex trafficking in women increases risks of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, and labor trafficking in men through poorly regulated labor brokering impedes access to health care. Labor migration spreads mining hazards to rural, labor-supplying communities. Cross-border care is often inadequate or nonexistent, contributing to significantly greater rates of extensive and multi-drug resistance in miners, ex-miners, their families, and communities. Miners in high-income countries, working for the same transnational companies, do not experience elevated rates of death and disability. Cost-effective interventions can reduce HIV incidence through social housing, curb trafficking of high-risk groups, stop tuberculosis spread through screening and detection, and reduce drug resistance by standardizing cross-border care. Urgent action is needed to respond to mining's staggering, yet avoidable disease toll in sub-Saharan Africa.
Oil, Migration, and the Political Economy of HIV/AIDS Prevention in Nigeria's Niger Delta
Authors: Udoh Isidore A.
Published: October 2013

In most of sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS is driven by endemic structural problems such as unemployment, poverty, forced migration, sexual exploitation, and concurrent sexual partnerships. In the Niger Delta of Nigeria, the epidemic is exacerbated by recurring regional conflict and negative environmental externalities resulting from 50 years of oil exploration. This article seeks to identify and analyze potential barriers to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment from oil pollution and other environmental stressors in Nigeria's Niger Delta. We develop a conceptual framework to understand how oil politics and economic systems affect HIV risks in Nigeria. We then evaluate evidence of how environmental exposures can amplify risks. Using 10 semi-structured interviews, with 85 focus group participants, we test the argument that HIV transmission in the Niger Delta is related to a manipulative “divide and rule” power dynamic that characterizes multinational oil companies' role in shaping conflict contours in oil communities. Oil exploration destroys livelihoods, institutions, and values and forces impoverished and illiterate girls and women to migrate or be trafficked to urban centers as child laborers and sex workers. The elevated HIV/AIDS risk in the Niger Delta brings into focus the political economy of resource extraction, globalization, and indigenous, minority rights and struggles.
Intensifying Action to Address HIV and Tuberculosis in Mozambique's Cross-Border Mining Sector
Authors: Barwise Katy , Lind Andrew , Bennett Rod , Martins Emilia
Published: October 2013

The southern provinces of Mozambique have some of the world's highest recorded levels of HIV and tuberculosis (TB). They are also characterized by high levels of cross-border migration, particularly to mines in South Africa. Through the Declaration on Tuberculosis in the Mining Sector in August 2012, heads of state of the Southern African Development Community showed an increased commitment to addressing TB and HIV among migrant mine workers, but there is much left to do. This article analyzes the importance of recent policy developments, both regional and national. We report new research from 2011–2012 on health-related attitudes and behaviors of Mozambican mine workers and their families and present an estimate of the financial burden of disease related to migrant mine work for Mozambique's public services and migrant-sending communities. We recommend that the Declaration be operationalized and enforced. Practical measures should include training of health workers in migrants' right to health; user-friendly health information in Portuguese and local languages; building the advocacy capacity of mine workers' representatives; and more attention to social, cultural, and economic factors that affect migrant mine workers' health, including better access to health information and services and livelihoods for wives, widows, and orphans in communities of origin.
Acceptability of Quality Reporting and Pay for Performance among Primary Health Centers in Lebanon
Authors: Saleh Shadi S. , Alameddine Mohamad S. , Natafgi Nabil M.
Published: October 2013

Primary health care (PHC) is emphasized as the cornerstone of any health care system. Enhancing PHC performance is considered a strategy to enhance effective and equitable access to care. This study assesses the acceptability of and factors associated with quality reporting among PHC centers (PHCCs) in Lebanon. The managers of 132 Lebanese Ministry of Health PHCCs were surveyed using a cross-sectional design. Managers' willingness to report quality, participate in comparative quality assessments, and endorse pay-for-performance schemes was evaluated. Collected data were matched to the infrastructural characteristics and services database. Seventy-six percent of managers responded to the questionnaire, 93 percent of whom were willing to report clinical performance. Most expressed strong support for peer-performance comparison and pay-for-performance schemes. Willingness to report was negatively associated with the religious affiliation of centers and presence of health care facilities in the catchment area and favorably associated with use of information systems and the size of population served. The great willingness of PHCC managers to employ quality-enhancing initiatives flags a policy priority for PHC stakeholders to strengthen PHCC infrastructure and to enable reporting in an easy, standardized, and systematic way. Enhancing equity necessitates education and empowerment of managers in remote areas and those managing religiously affiliated centers.
Liquid mixture viscosities correlation with rational models
Authors: Knezevic-Stevanovic Andjela , Babic Goran , Kijevcanin Mirjana , Serbanovic Slobodan , Grozdanic Dusan
Published: October 2013

In this paper twenty two selected rational correlation models for liquid
mixture viscosities of organic compounds were tested on 219 binary sets of
experimental data taken from literature. The binary sets contained 3675
experimental data points for 70 different compounds. The Dimitrov-Kamenski X,
Dimitrov-Kamenski XII, and Dimitrov-Kamenski XIII models demonstrated the
best correlative characteristics for binary mixtures with overall absolute
average deviation less then 2%.
3-methylaminopropylamine as a templating agent in the synthesis of phosphate-based inorganic polymers
Authors: Jevtic Sanja , Rajic Nevenka , Kaucic Venceslav
Published: October 2013

3-methylaminopropylamine (MPA) has been studied as a structure-directing
agent (template) in the synthesis of open-framework phosphate-based
materials. The influence of temperature, molar ratio of reactants,
crystallization time and presence of fluoride ions on the crystallization of
aluminophosphate, transition metal-substituted aluminophosphate [transition
metal - Mn(II), Cr(III) and Co(II)] and zincophosphate has also been
investigated. MPA exhibits the templating role and in all as-synthesized
crystalline products and it is entrapped in an inorganic lattice interacting
with the framework via hydrogen or/and electrostatic interactions. According
to detailed thermal analysis the type of interactions seems to be crucial for
thermal behaviour of MPA and also for the thermal stability of the
organic-inorganic crystal system. Structural analysis suggested that the
formed crystalline structures have no mutual structural analogy. This
indicates that precise role of the organic (guest) component in nucleation
process for the open-framework phosphates (host) is very complex as well as
the nucleation process itself.
Myocardial Loss of IRS1 and IRS2 Causes Heart Failure and Is Controlled by p38α MAPK During Insulin Resistance
Authors: Qi Yajuan , Xu Zihui , Zhu Qinglei , Thomas Candice , Kumar Rajesh , Feng Hao , Dostal David E. , White Morris F. , Baker Kenneth M. , Guo Shaodong
Published: October 2013

Cardiac failure is a major cause of death in patients with type 2 diabetes, but the molecular mechanism that links diabetes to heart failure remains unclear. Insulin resistance is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes, and insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2 (IRS1 and IRS2) are the major insulin-signaling components regulating cellular metabolism and survival. To determine the role of IRS1 and IRS2 in the heart and examine whether hyperinsulinemia causes myocardial insulin resistance and cellular dysfunction via IRS1 and IRS2, we generated heart-specific IRS1 and IRS2 gene double-knockout (H-DKO) mice and liver-specific IRS1 and IRS2 double-knockout (L-DKO) mice. H-DKO mice had reduced ventricular mass; developed cardiac apoptosis, fibrosis, and failure; and showed diminished Akt→forkhead box class O-1 signaling that was accompanied by impaired cardiac metabolic gene expression and reduced ATP content. L-DKO mice had decreased cardiac IRS1 and IRS2 proteins and exhibited features of heart failure, with impaired cardiac energy metabolism gene expression and activation of p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38). Using neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes, we further found that chronic insulin exposure reduced IRS1 and IRS2 proteins and prevented insulin action through activation of p38, revealing a fundamental mechanism of cardiac dysfunction during insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Epigenetic Mechanisms Linking Diabetes and Synaptic Impairments
Authors: Wang Jun , Gong Bing , Zhao Wei , Tang Cheuk , Varghese Merina , Nguyen Tuyen , Bi Weina , Bilski Amanda , Begum Shimul , Vempati Prashant , Knable Lindsay , Ho Lap , Pasinetti Giulio M.
Published: October 2013

Diabetes is one of the major risk factors for dementia. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the risk of diabetes for dementia is largely unknown. Recent studies revealed that epigenetic modifications may play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetes. We hypothesized that diabetes may cause epigenetic changes in the brain that may adversely affect synaptic function. We found significant elevation in the expression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) class IIa in the brains of diabetic subjects compared with control subjects, and these changes coincide with altered expression of synaptic proteins. In a mouse model of diet-induced type 2 diabetes (T2D), we found that, similar to humans, T2D mice also showed increased expression of HDAC IIa in the brain, and these alterations were associated with increased susceptibility to oligomeric Aβ-induced synaptic impairments in the hippocampal formation and eventually led to synaptic dysfunction. Pharmacological inhibition of HDAC IIa restored synaptic plasticity. Our study demonstrates that diabetes may induce epigenetic modifications affecting neuropathological mechanisms in the brain leading to increased susceptibility to insults associated with neurodegenerative or vascular impairments. Our study provides, for the first time, an epigenetic explanation for the increased risk of diabetic patients developing dementia.
Compact planar lenses based on a pinhole and an array of single mode metallic slits
Authors: Lévesque Q. , Bouchon P. , Pardo F. , Pelouard J.-L. , Haïdar R.
Published: October 2013

Plasmonic lenses are based on complex combinations of nanoscale high aspect ratio slits. We show that their design can be greatly simplified, keeping similar performance while releasing technological constraints. The simplified system, called Huygens lens, consists in a central aperture surrounded by several identical single mode slits in a thin gold layer that does not rely anymore on surface plasmons. The focusing behaviour with respect to the position and number of slits is investigated, and we demonstrate the interest of this design to get compact array of lenses.
Accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology in diagnosis of thyroid swelling
Authors: Hirachand S , Maharjan M , Lakhey M , Thapa R , Kafle S
Published: October 2013

Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology has been shown to be simple, safe, cost effective and quick to perform procedure with excellent patient compliance. It is a well established technique for preoperative investigation of thyroid gland swellings with high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology of thyroid swellings performed at our institution. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out at Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching hospital, department of Pathology over a period of 3 years (January 2010 to December 2012). Two hundred and seventy three patients of all age groups and both sexes who underwent fine needle aspiration cytology for thyroid swelling were evaluated. Out of 273 patients, histopathological diagnosis was available in 45 patients. Results: Fine needle aspiration cytology result revealed 245 cases (89.7%) as non-neoplastic, 21 cases (7.7%) as neoplastic and 7 cases (2.6%) inadequate due to lack of cellularity. The commonest lesion in the thyroid gland was colloid goiter. Among the malignant neoplasms the commonest was papillary carcinoma. Out of 273 patients, histopathological diagnosis was available in 45 patients. Statistical analysis of our data shows the diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology to be 95.7%. Fine needle aspiration cytology showed a sensitivity of 96.4% and a specificity of 94.4%. Conclusion: Fine needle aspiration cytology is a well established technique for pre operative investigation of thyroid gland swellings with high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.8988Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 433-436
Analysis of sickle hemoglobin
Authors: Shrestha A , Karki S
Published: October 2013

Background: Sickle Hemoglobin is the most common pathological hemoglobin mutation worldwide which forms sickle shape or elongated forms on deoxygenation. According to malaria hypothesis, there is resistance against malaria by the heterozygous carrier state. There is spread of Hb S allele from the highly malarial regions to most other regions worldwide. The study was conducted as Sickle Hemoglobin has been frequently seen in our institute. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the department of pathology, Maharajgunj medical campus, Tribhuwan University Teaching hospital, from January 2011 to January 2013. All the relevant data were obtained from the archives of the department. Hemoglobin electrophoresis was performed by Cellulose Acetate Electrophoresis at alkaline pH Method. Sickling test was done using sodium dithionite. Results: A total of 35 cases were diagnosed as sickle cell disorder. The male: female ratio was 2.5:1with the commonest age group 11-20 years (42.8%). Sixty percent showed hemoglobin between 6-8 gm/ dl. Tharu, Chaudhary and Tharu, Rana (91.3%) were the commonest ethnic group with both sickle cell anemia and trait. Lama, Neupane and Baral suffered only from trait. Mean corpuscular volume ranged from 82 to 94 fL. On peripheral blood smear reversible and irreversible sickle cells were present in 88.56 % of cases and 11.42% were devoid of sickle cells. Sickling test was positive in all cases. On cellulose acetate electrophoresis 22 (62.85%) cases had Hb S, Hb F and Hb A2 or HbS and Hb A2 where as 13(37.1%) showed Hb S, Hb A and Hb A2 variants. Conclusion: The commonest ethnic group of Tharus(91.3%), Chaudhary and Rana are from Terai region of Nepal which is a malarial zone. However 8.4% of cases were seen in other ethnic group who are from non-endemic region. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.8989   Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 437-440
Donor Hemovigilance Programme in managing Blood Transfusion Needs: Complications of Whole Blood Donation
Authors: Mangwana S
Published: October 2013

Background: Hemovigilance like quality systems and audits have become an integral part of Blood Transfusion Services in the developed countries and has contributed greatly to its development. Hemovigilance begins with donors and must enable the collection of information on reactions occurring during the donation of blood, selections of donors and to prevent such incidents. The aim of study was to help identify the trends of adverse events , occurring in blood donors at a tertiary-care hospital, to recommend best practices to improve donor care and safety Materials and Methods: This record-based study was conducted on all adverse events related to allogenic whole blood donations performed over 24 months. All whole blood donations were analyzed. All adverse events occurring during or at the end of the donation were noted using a standardized format and analyzed determining significance at p<0.05. Results: Overall rate was 0.3% with vasovagal reactions constituting 82%, and 18% mild syncopal reactions (p<0.001). Immediate vasovagal reaction with injury was very rare (0.007%). Vasovagal reactions showed a significant association with young age, female gender, first time donation status. Mean age of persons recording adverse effects was 30.23 ± 7.49 years as compared to those without adverse effects, 31.14 ± 8.56 years. Conclusion: Donor safety is an essential perquisite to increase voluntary blood donation. AE analysis helps in identifying the blood donors at risk of AE, applying appropriate motivational strategies, predonation counseling, care during and after donation, developing guidelines and hemovigilance programme in countries with limited resources. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.8993   Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 459-463
Pathological diagnosis of peritoneal loose body: a case report
Authors: Rajbhandari M , Karmacharya A , Shrestha S
Published: October 2013

Peritoneal loose bodies are usually incidental findings at laparotomy. Their sizes range from that of a pea to giant loose bodies. We report a case of giant loose peritoneal body measuring 5x 4 cm found incidentally in a 67 year old man. Mobile pelvic masses are extremely rare findings. They are usually located in the pelvic cavity due to the fact that they gravitate to the most dependent part of the pelvic cavity. Usually these peritoneal loose bodies are left untreated until complications arise. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.9005   Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 512-514
Correlation of Pre-Veterinary Admissions Criteria, Intra-Professional Curriculum Measures, AVMA-COE Professional Competency Scores, and the NAVLE
Authors: Roush James K. , Rush Bonnie R. , White Brad J. , Wilkerson Melinda J.
Published: October 2013

Data consisting of preadmission criteria scores, annual and final cumulative grade point averages (GPAs), grades from individual professional courses, American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA-COE) Competency scores, annual class rank, and North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) scores were collected on all graduating DVM students at Kansas State University in 2009 and 2010. Associations among the collected data were compared by Pearson correlation. Pre-veterinary admissions criteria infrequently correlated with annual GPAs of Years 1–3, rarely correlated with the AVMA-COE Competencies, and never correlated with the annual GPA of Year 4. Low positive correlations occurred between the NAVLE and the Verbal Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (r=.214), Total GRE (r=.171), and the mean GPA of pre-professional science courses (SGPA) (r=.236). Annual GPAs strongly correlated with didactic course scores. Annual GPAs and final class rank strongly correlated (mean r=−.849), and both strongly correlated with the NAVLE score (NAVLE: GPAs mean r=.628, NAVLE: final class rank r=−.714). Annual GPAs at the end of Years 1–4 weakly correlated or did not correlate with the AVMA-COE Competencies. The AVMA-COE Competencies weakly correlated with scores earned in didactic courses of Years 1–3. AVMA-COE Competencies were internally consistent (mean r=.796) but only moderately correlated with performance on the NAVLE (mean r=.319). Low correlations between admissions criteria and outcomes indicate a need to reevaluate admission criteria as predictors of school success. If the NAVLE remains the primary discriminator for veterinary licensure (and the gateway to professional activity), then the AVMA-COE Competencies should be refined to better improve and reflect the NAVLE, or the NAVLE examination should change to reflect AVMA-COE Competencies.
Stakeholder Perceptions of Threatened Species and Their Management on Urban Beaches
Authors: Maguire Grainne , Rimmer James , Weston Michael
Published: October 2013

We surveyed 579 recreationists regarding management of the threatened, beach-dwelling Hooded Plover Thinornis rubricollis. We postulated that: (1) lower awareness of the species and higher ‘inconvenience’ of management would engender less favourable perceptions of conservation and management; and (2) that frequency of beach use and dog ownership may mediate perceptions and levels of awareness and inconvenience. Overall, inconvenience was low while awareness and support for plover conservation were high. Education and awareness strategies were considered less effective than regulations; exclusion and regulations were considered less desirable than on-ground protective measures. Awareness, frequency of beach use and dog walking did not influence the perceived effectiveness of different managements. More frequent beach users had greater awareness of the species and their plight but reported greater inconvenience associated with management. Respondents with high awareness rated the severity of human-related threats higher; low awareness was associated with more inconvenience associated with on-ground protection, and exclusion and regulations. Dog walkers reported more inconvenience associated with exclusions and regulations than non-dog walkers. Dog walkers who used the beach infrequently rated threats significantly higher than frequent beach users. Conservation and education strategies could usefully be tailored to beach users’ level of use and pet ownership.
Evidence for the Effectiveness of Jungian Psychotherapy: A Review of Empirical Studies
Authors: Roesler Christian
Published: October 2013

Since the 1990s several research projects and empirical studies (process and outcome) on Jungian Psychotherapy have been conducted mainly in Germany and Switzerland. Prospective, naturalistic outcome studies and retrospective studies using standardized instruments and health insurance data as well as several qualitative studies of aspects of the psychotherapeutic process will be summarized. The studies are diligently designed and the results are well applicable to the conditions of outpatient practice. All the studies show significant improvements not only on the level of symptoms and interpersonal problems, but also on the level of personality structure and in every day life conduct. These improvements remain stable after completion of therapy over a period of up to six years. Several studies show further improvements after the end of therapy, an effect which psychoanalysis has always claimed. Health insurance data show that, after Jungian therapy, patients reduce health care utilization to a level even below the average of the total population. Results of several studies show that Jungian treatment moves patients from a level of severe symptoms to a level where one can speak of psychological health. These significant changes are reached by Jungian therapy with an average of 90 sessions, which makes Jungian psychotherapy an effective and cost-effective method. Process studies support Jungian theories on psychodynamics and elements of change in the therapeutic process. So finally, Jungian psychotherapy has reached the point where it can be called an empirically proven, effective method.
Estimation of the Relationship between Urban Park Characteristics and Park Cool Island Intensity by Remote Sensing Data and Field Measurement
Authors: Ren Zhibin , He Xingyuan , Zheng Haifeng , Zhang Dan , Yu Xingyang , Shen Guoqiang , Guo Ruichao
Published: October 2013

The cooling effects of urban parks, which form “Park Cool Island” (PCI), can help decrease land surface temperature (LST) and mitigate urban heat island (UHI) effects. PCI intensity largely depends on the characteristics of urban parks. The relationship between PCI intensity and urban park characteristics such as urban park size has been well documented. However, it is still unclear how urban forest structures in parks affect PCI intensity and particularly whether the relationship changes across seasons. In this study, PCI intensity for 33 parks in Changchun, China was obtained from Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) data and then correlated with urban park characteristics such as the size derived from “Systeme Probatoire d’Observation dela Tarre” (SPOT) satellite data and the forest structures of parks derived from the field-based survey to uncover the relationship between urban park characteristics and PCI intensity. Our results suggested that (1) The PCI intensity varied across seasons and the cooling effect of parks in summer was higher than that in autumn. (2) The increase of urban park size was still an effective measure to mitigate UHI. However, urban park size was non-linearly correlated to PCI intensity. (3) Not only by increasing urban park size, but also by optimizing urban park shape and forest structures in parks can increase PCI intensity. (4) The relationship between PCI intensity and urban park characteristics changed across seasons and seasons should be considered when exploring the relationship between them. These findings can deepen the understanding of PCI formation and provide useful information for urban planners about how to design urban parks to maximize their PCI intensity and mitigate UHI effects.
Development and Validation of a Stability-Indicating High Performance Liquid Chromatographic (HPLC) Method for the Determination of Related Substances of Micafungin Sodium in Drug Substances
Authors: Zhu Shengsheng , Meng Xiang , Su Xin , Luo Yongwei , Sun Zuyue
Published: October 2013

An isocratic, sensitive and stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for separation and determination of the related substances of micafungin sodium was developed. The chromatographic separation was achieved on Agilent Zorbax SB-C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm). Forced degradation study conﬁrmed that the newly developed method was speciﬁc and selective to the degradation products. The performance of the method was validated according to the present ICH guidelines for speciﬁcity, linearity, accuracy, precision and robustness. Regression analysis showed correlation coefficient value greater than 0.999 for micafungin sodium and its six impurities. Limit of detection of impurities was in the range of 0.006%–0.013% indicating the high sensitivity of the newly developed method. Accuracy of the method was established based on the recovery obtained between 98.2% and 102.0% for all impurities. RSD obtained for the repeatability and intermediate precision experiments, was less than 1.0%. The method was successfully applied to quantify related substances of micafungin sodium in bulk drugs.
Lessons from Mouse Models of High-Fat Diet-Induced NAFLD
Authors: Nakamura Akinobu , Terauchi Yasuo
Published: October 2013

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a clinicopathologic spectrum of diseases ranging from isolated hepatic steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the more aggressive form of fatty liver disease that may progress to cirrhosis and cirrhosis-related complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma. The prevalence of NAFLD, including NASH, is also increasing in parallel with the growing epidemics of obesity and diabetes. However, the causal relationships between obesity and/or diabetes and NASH or liver tumorigenesis have not yet been clearly elucidated. Animal models of NAFLD/NASH provide crucial information, not only for elucidating the pathogenesis of NAFLD/NASH, but also for examining therapeutic effects of various agents. A high-fat diet is widely used to produce hepatic steatosis and NASH in experimental animals. Several studies, including our own, have shown that long-term high-fat diet loading, which can induce obesity and insulin resistance, can also induce NASH and liver tumorigenesis in C57BL/6J mice. In this article, we discuss the pathophysiology of and treatment strategies for NAFLD and subsequent NAFLD-related complications such as NASH and liver tumorigenesis, mainly based on lessons learned from mouse models of high-fat diet-induced NAFLD/NASH.
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG-400): An Efficient and Recyclable Reaction Medium for the Synthesis of Pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-6(7H)-one Derivatives
Authors: Zhong Xiaoxing , Dou Guolan , Wang Deming
Published: October 2013

A mild and efficient synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-6(7H)-one derivatives via a three-component reaction of an aldehyde, Meldrum’s acid and 3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine using recyclable polyethylene glycol (PEG)-400 as a reaction medium is described. This method has the advantages of accessible starting materials, good yields, mild reaction conditions and begin environmentally friendly.
Following the Mechanisms of Bacteriostatic versus Bactericidal Action Using Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Bernatová Silvie , Samek Ota , Pilát Zdeněk , Šerý Mojmír , Ježek Jan , Jákl Petr , Šiler Martin , Krzyžánek Vladislav , Zemánek Pavel , Holá Veronika , Dvořáčková Milada , Růžička Filip
Published: October 2013

Antibiotics cure infections by influencing bacterial growth or viability. Antibiotics can be divided to two groups on the basis of their effect on microbial cells through two main mechanisms, which are either bactericidal or bacteriostatic. Bactericidal antibiotics kill the bacteria and bacteriostatic antibiotics suppress the growth of bacteria (keep them in the stationary phase of growth). One of many factors to predict a favorable clinical outcome of the potential action of antimicrobial chemicals may be provided using in vitro bactericidal/bacteriostatic data (e.g., minimum inhibitory concentrations—MICs). Consequently, MICs are used in clinical situations mainly to confirm resistance, and to determine the in vitro activities of new antimicrobials. We report on the combination of data obtained from MICs with information on microorganisms’ “fingerprint” (e.g., DNA/RNA, and proteins) provided by Raman spectroscopy. Thus, we could follow mechanisms of the bacteriostatic versus bactericidal action simply by detecting the Raman bands corresponding to DNA. The Raman spectra of Staphylococcus epidermidis treated with clindamycin (a bacteriostatic agent) indeed show little effect on DNA which is in contrast with the action of ciprofloxacin (a bactericidal agent), where the Raman spectra show a decrease in strength of the signal assigned to DNA, suggesting DNA fragmentation.
A Merging Algorithm for Regional Snow Mapping over Eastern Canada from AVHRR and SSM/I Data
Authors: Chokmani Karem , Bernier Monique , Royer Alain
Published: October 2013

We present an algorithm for regional snow mapping that combines snow maps derived from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) data. This merging algorithm combines AVHRR’s moderate spatial resolution with SSM/I’s ability to penetrate clouds and, thus, benefits from the advantages of the two sensors while minimizing their limitations. First, each of the two detection algorithms were upgraded before developing the methodology to merge the snow mapping results obtained using both algorithms. The merging methodology is based on a membership function calculated over a temporal running window of ±4 days from the actual date. The studied algorithms were developed and tested over Eastern Canada for the period from 1988 to 1999. The snow mapping algorithm focused on the spring melt season (1 April to 31 May). The snow maps were validated using snow depth observations from meteorological stations. The overall accuracy of the merging algorithm is about 86%, which is between that of the new versions of the two individual algorithms: AVHRR (90%) and SSM/I (83%). Furthermore, the algorithm was able to locate the end date of the snowmelt season with reasonable accuracy (bias = 0 days; SD = 11 days). Comparison of mapping results with high spatial resolution snow cover from Landsat imagery demonstrates the feasibility of clear-sky snow mapping with relatively good accuracy despite some underestimation of snow extent inherited from the AVHRR algorithm. It was found that the detection limit of the algorithm is 80% snow cover within a 1 × 1 km pixel.
Offset Printing Plate Quality Sensor on a Low-Cost Processor
Authors: Poljak Jelena , Botella Guillermo , García Carlos , Poljaček Sanja , Matías Manuel , Tirado Francisco
Published: October 2013

The aim of this work is to develop a microprocessor-based sensor that measures the quality of the offset printing plate through the introduction of different image analysis applications. The main features of the presented system are the low cost, the low amount of power consumption, its modularity and easy integration with other industrial modules for printing plates, and its robustness against noise environments. For the sake of clarity, a viability analysis of previous software is presented through different strategies, based on dynamic histogram and Hough transform. This paper provides performance and scalability data compared with existing costly commercial devices. Furthermore, a general overview of quality control possibilities for printing plates is presented and could be useful to a system where such controls are regularly conducted.
Field Monitoring of Column Shortenings in a High-Rise Building during Construction
Authors: Choi Se , Kim Yousok , Kim Jong , Park Hyo
Published: October 2013

The automatic monitoring of shortenings of vertical members in high-rise buildings under construction is a challenging issue in the high-rise building construction field. In this study, a practical system for monitoring column shortening in a high-rise building under construction is presented. The proposed monitoring system comprises the following components: (1) a wireless sensing system and (2) the corresponding monitoring software. The wireless sensing system comprises the sensors and energy-efficient wireless sensing units (sensor nodes, master nodes, and repeater nodes), which automate the processes for measuring the strains of vertical members and transmitting the measured data to the remote server. The monitoring software enables construction administrators to monitor real-time data collected by the server via an Internet connection. The proposed monitoring system is applied to actual 66-floor and 72-floor high-rise buildings under construction. The system enables automatic and real-time measurements of the shortening of vertical members, which can result in more precise construction.
Robust Finger Vein ROI Localization Based on Flexible Segmentation
Authors: Lu Yu , Xie Shan , Yoon Sook , Yang Jucheng , Park Dong
Published: October 2013

Finger veins have been proved to be an effective biometric for personal identification in the recent years. However, finger vein images are easily affected by influences such as image translation, orientation, scale, scattering, finger structure, complicated background, uneven illumination, and collection posture. All these factors may contribute to inaccurate region of interest (ROI) definition, and so degrade the performance of finger vein identification system. To improve this problem, in this paper, we propose a finger vein ROI localization method that has high effectiveness and robustness against the above factors. The proposed method consists of a set of steps to localize ROIs accurately, namely segmentation, orientation correction, and ROI detection. Accurate finger region segmentation and correct calculated orientation can support each other to produce higher accuracy in localizing ROIs. Extensive experiments have been performed on the finger vein image database, MMCBNU_6000, to verify the robustness of the proposed method. The proposed method shows the segmentation accuracy of 100%. Furthermore, the average processing time of the proposed method is 22 ms for an acquired image, which satisfies the criterion of a real-time finger vein identification system.
Alignment of the Measurement Scale Mark during Immersion Hydrometer Calibration Using an Image Processing System
Authors: Peña-Perez Luis , Pedraza-Ortega Jesus , Ramos-Arreguin Juan , Tovar-Arriaga Saul , Aceves-Fernandez Marco , Becerra Luis , Gorrostieta-Hurtado Efren , Vargas-Soto Jose
Published: October 2013

The present work presents an improved method to align the measurement scale mark in an immersion hydrometer calibration system of CENAM, the National Metrology Institute (NMI) of Mexico, The proposed method uses a vision system to align the scale mark of the hydrometer to the surface of the liquid where it is immersed by implementing image processing algorithms. This approach reduces the variability in the apparent mass determination during the hydrostatic weighing in the calibration process, therefore decreasing the relative uncertainty of calibration.
Aristote, Poétique 1457 b 13-14 : la métaphore d'espèce à espèce
Authors: Picot Jean-Claude
Published: October 2013

In order to illustrate a metaphor of species to species, Aristotle, in the Poetics (1457 b 13-14), quotes two fragments of a poet, without specifying the poet's name. The edition generally accepted of the second fragment, the one of R. Kassel (1965), is re-examined in the light of new data given by Marc. gr. 307 of Theo of Smyrna. One should not read τεμὼν ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷ (Kassel's edition) but τεμὼν ἀτειρέι χαλκῷ.

The two quotes found in the Poetics are not understood in an empedo- clean context, as H. Diels believes. There is no purification by water drawn in a container of bronze, after a murder by a bronze. It is to be understood differently, thanks to the Homeric background constituted by Iliad XIV 517-519 and Iliad III 292-295. Bronze draws blood and draws the forces of life until death.
METHODOLOGY OF NONDESTRUCTIVE IDENTIFICATION OF DEFECTIVE CONCRETE ZONES IN UNILATERALLY ACCESSIBLE MASSIVE MEMBERS
Authors: Gorzelańczyk Tomasz , Hoła Jerzy , Sadowski Łukasz , Schabowicz Krzysztof
Published: October 2013

The paper deals with the nondestructive identification of defective concrete zones in unilaterally accessible massive members, for example, access galleries in hydroelectric power plants. The concrete in such zones is, for various reasons, excessively porous. The authors propose to use state-of-the-art acoustic testing techniques, including ultrasonic tomography, integratively to detect and identify defective zones. An original methodology for such tests has been developed. The methodology is illustrated with an example of its practical application to a real civil engineering structure.
UNIFORMLY-CONVERGENT NUMERICAL METHODS FOR A SYSTEM OF COUPLED SINGULARLY PERTURBED CONVECTION–DIFFUSION EQUATIONS WITH MIXED TYPE BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
Authors: Priyadharshini Rajarammohanroy Mythili , Ramanujam Narashimhan
Published: October 2013

In this paper, two hybrid difference schemes on the Shishkin mesh are constructed for solving a weakly coupled system of two singularly perturbed convection - diffusion second order ordinary differential equations subject to the mixed type boundary conditions. We prove that the method has almost second order convergence in the supremum norm independent of the diffusion parameter. Error bounds for the numerical solution and also the numerical derivative are established. Numerical results are provided to illustrate the theoretical results.
Les débuts de la Révolution d’Espagne de 1808 vus de Londres par le rédacteur de L’Ambigu..., Jean-Gabriel Peltier
Authors: Dufour Gérard
Published: October 2013

L’Ambigu ou Variétés politiques et littéraires, publié à Londres par l’émigré royaliste français Jean-Gabriel Peltier fut, pendant la Guerre d’Indépendance, de Cadix à Saint-Pétersbourg, une source d’informations privilégiée pour tous les rédacteurs de périodiques qui voulurent réfuter la propagande propagée par Le Moniteur et le Journal de l’Empire. Mais avant d’être l’un des « plus illustres et intrépides défenseurs du trône et de l’autel », et d’encourager les Espagnols à défendre par l’insurrection les droits de Ferdinand VII, Peltier eut quelque mal à réagir face aux événements d’Aranjuez et de Bayonne qui marquèrent le début de la Révolution d’Espagne de 1808. Rédigeant, au fur et à mesure, sa chronique politique d’après les seules informations fournies par la presse impériale, accumulant un retard important dans la publication des numéros de L’Ambigu, Peltier se montra évidemment extrêmement critique envers Napoléon, l’accusant même de lâcheté. Il se montra en revanche moins sévère à l’égard du Prince de la Paix. Mais il ne ménagea ni Charles IV, ni surtout Ferdinand (« le Niais »), et ses conseillers (des « enfants » et des « ânes ») et condamna sans appel une insurrection populaire qui ne pouvait qu’aggraver le sort des Espagnols. Ce n’est qu’après le discours de Georges III à l’occasion de la clôture de la session parlementaire, le 4 juillet 1808, que, cessant de n’utiliser que les informations fournies par le Moniteur et publiant force documents diffusés à Londres dès le 10 juin par les députés de la Junte Générale des Asturies auprès du gouvernement britannique, il devint le chantre de la « sainte insurrection d’Espagne » et l’enthousiaste défenseur de Ferdinand Le Désiré. Au-delà des vacillations d’un journaliste pris au dépourvu par des événements imprévus, l’attitude de Peltier nous renseigne également sur celui de son maître, Louis XVIII, qui se considérait comme le « chef de la maison de Bourbon » et n’apprécia pas davantage que lui l’attitude du Prince des Asturies à Aranjuez et à Bayonne.
La sociologie, discipline experte des controverses environnementales ?
Authors: Grisoni Anahita , Némoz Sophie
Published: October 2013

En engageant une discussion entre la littérature et des cas concrets, cet article a pour objet de s’interroger sur la manière dont la sociologie s’approprie la problématique de l’environnement dans une période où les demandes sociales en matière d’expertise, de formulation de normes et d’interdisciplinarité n’ont jamais été aussi fortes. De telles attentes se précisent dans le contexte des controverses environnementales. En prenant ainsi part à la constitution des « sciences de l’environnement », la sociologie est prise dans un spectre entre expertise et engagement. Les différentes expériences professionnelles des deux auteurs sont au cœur de cette réflexion. Tant dans l’enseignement de la sociologie que dans la participation à des projets de recherche impliquant d’autres disciplines scientifiques, l’accès aux connaissances peut être limité par l’impossibilité partielle de mener un protocole scientifique. Faut-il pour autant renoncer au projet de l’interdisciplinarité entre les différents champs scientifiques ? Faut-il mettre de côté l’implication du sociologue dans le projet de la cité, à partir d’une expertise reposant sur la recherche fondamentale ? Dans la troisième partie de cet article, la posture du sociologue engagé – scholarship with commitment (Bourdieu, 2002) sera revisitée à partir de plusieurs terrains de recherche, mais aussi sur la base d’expériences dans des structures professionnelles où le sociologue était invité à proposer des mesures servant de base pour l’action.
Attitudes, knowledge and treatment of low back pain amongst nurses in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Authors: Cilliers Liezel , Maart Soraya
Published: October 2013

Background: One of the high-risk professions for the development of musculoskeletal problems is nursing. Studies have reported that there is a high prevalence of low back pain (LBP) amongst South African nurses, but very little is known regarding the prevention and self-treatment principles for LBP in this group.Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about the prevention and self-treatment principles for LBP amongst nursing staff in Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, Eastern Cape.Methods: The study population consisted of all qualified nurses employed at the hospital. A cross-sectional survey with a purposive convenience sampling method was used. A questionnaire was designed using literature from established sources. The questionnaire was distributed manually and data obtained were analysed using EPI-INFO4.Results: The study found that the majority of the participants experienced LBP on a regular basis. The participants could identify the most important physical risk factors associated with the development of LBP, but neglected the psychological risk factors. Action taken after the development of LBP included professional consultations as well as medication and bed rest.The participants identified the different components of a preventative exercise programme but only focused on the physical and not psychological components associated with LBP.Conclusions: LBP is a serious problem amongst the nurses at the hospital, but no proactiveapproach is taken in order to address this problem. Policy guidelines and a comprehensive prevention and treatment programme need to be designed and implemented to address this issue.