bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring the nursing work environment: translation and psychometric evaluation of the Essentials of Magnetism
Authors: de Brouwer B.J.M. , Kaljouw M.J. , Kramer M. , Schmalenberg C. , van Achterberg T.
Published: November 2013

Aim

Translate the Essentials of Magnetism II© (EOMII; Dutch Nurses' Association, Utrecht, The Netherlands) and assess its psychometric properties in a culture different from its origin.

Background

The EOMII, developed in the USA, measures the extent to which organizations/units provide healthy, productive and satisfying work environments. As many healthcare organizations are facing difficulties in attracting and retaining staff nurses, the EOMII provides the opportunity to assess the health and effectiveness of work environments.

Methods

A three‐phased (respectively N = 13, N = 74 and N = 2542) combined descriptive and correlational design was undertaken for translation and evaluation validity and psychometric qualities of the EOMII for Dutch hospitals (December 2009–January 2010). We performed forward‐backward translation, face and content validation via cross‐sectional survey research, and semi‐structured interviews on relevance, clarity, and recognizability of instruments' items. Psychometric testing included principal component analysis using varimax rotation, item‐total statistics, and reliability in terms of internal consistency (Cronbach's α) for the total scale and its subscales.

Results

Face validity was confirmed. Items were recognizable, relevant and clear. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that five of eight subscales formed clear factors. Three original subscales contained two factors. Item‐total correlations ranged from 0.43 to 0.83. One item correlated weakly (0.24) with its subscale. Cronbach's α for the entire scale was 0.92 and ranged from 0.58 to 0.92 for eight subscales.

Conclusions

Dutch‐translated EOMII (D‐EOMII) demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity for assessing hospital staff nurses' work environment.

Implications for Nursing and Health Policy

The D‐EOMII can be useful and effective in identifying areas in which change is needed for a hospital to pursue an excellent work environment that attracts and retains well‐qualified nurses.
Centotheca ganeshaiahiana sp. nov. (Poaceae) from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
Authors: Venkat Ramana M. , Chorghe Alok , Prasanna P. V. , Sanjappa M.
Published: November 2013

Centotheca ganeshaiahiana M. V. Ramana, Alok Chorghe, Prasanna & Sanjappa, a new species from Saddle Peak National Park, north Andaman, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India is described and illustrated. It is closely allied to C. uniflora Swallen, a Vietnamese species, but differs mainly in shorter culms, leaf blades and inflorescences, longer pedicels, spikelets with 2 fertile florets and lemmas with bulbous based hairs.
Drivers of tree diversity in tropical rain forests: new insights from a comparison between littoral and hilly landscapes of Central Africa
Authors: Dauby Gilles , Hardy Olivier J. , Leal Miguel , Breteler Frans , Stévart Tariq
Published: November 2013

Aim

Our aim was to document African rain forest tree diversity patterns to test whether they support one of the following hypotheses: the structure of tree species diversity is at equilibrium and mostly driven by neutral processes (H0); the structure of tree species diversity results from Pleistocene forest cover dynamics (H1); or the structure of tree species diversity results from ecological sorting along environmental gradients (H2).

Location

West Central Africa: the hilly region of Gabon, a putative Pleistocene forest refuge, and the adjacent flat littoral region, putatively colonized by forests from the hilly region after the last glaciation.

Methods

We used 103 standardized 0.1‐ha tree plots distributed among five landscapes in the two regions. We partitioned the tree diversity within and among plots at a local and regional scale using the Hurlbert effective number of species framework. The explanatory power of geographical and elevational distances on species turnover was tested. At the landscape scale, we partitioned the beta diversity into nestedness and turnover components.

Results

Mean alpha and gamma diversities were much higher in the hilly region, where differences in elevation explained a significant part of species turnover. Substantial species turnover correlated with geographical distance also occurred in the littoral region despite its low elevational heterogeneity. Floristic turnover between plots from different regions remained stable whatever the elevational/geographical distances. At the regional scale, species replacement remained the main contributor to beta diversity (low nestedness values).

Main conclusions

The heterogeneous distribution of alpha and gamma diversity, similar levels of species turnover among plots and the low contribution of the nestedness component to beta diversity between hilly and littoral landscapes do not support hypotheses H0 and H1. The combined impacts of limited dispersal and ecological sorting along environmental gradients (H2) can explain patterns within regions. The marked floristic discontinuity between regions could reflect contrasting histories (two distinct refugia) although the role of contrasting environments cannot be discounted.
The association of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with socioeconomic disadvantage: alternative explanations and evidence
Authors: Russell Ginny , Ford Tamsin , Rosenberg Rachel , Kelly Susan
Published: November 2013

Background

Studies throughout Northern Europe, theUnited Statesand Australia have found an association between childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and family socioeconomic disadvantage. We report further evidence for the association and review potential causal pathways that might explain the link.

Method

Secondary analysis of aUKbirth cohort (the Millennium Cohort Study,N = 19,519) was used to model the association ofADHDwith socioeconomic disadvantage and assess evidence for several potential explanatory pathways. The case definition ofADHDwas a parent‐report of whetherADHDhad been identified by a medical doctor or health professional when children were 7 years old.

Results

ADHDwas associated with a range of indicators of social and economic disadvantage including poverty, housing tenure, maternal education, income, lone parenthood and younger motherhood. There was no evidence to suggest childhoodADHDwas a causal factor of socioeconomic disadvantage: income did not decrease for parents of children withADHDcompared to controls over the 7‐year study period. No clinical bias towards labellingADHDin lowSESgroups was detected. There was evidence to suggest that parent attachment/family conflict mediated the relationship betweenADHDandSES.

Conclusion

Although genetic and neurological determinants may be the primary predictors of difficulties with activity level and attention, aetiology appears to be influenced by socioeconomic situation.
Visceral granulomas in farmed large yellow croaker, Larimichthys crocea (Richardson), caused by a bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas plecoglossicida
Authors: Zhang J T , Zhou S M , An S W , Chen L , Wang G L
Published: November 2013

An enzootic disease characterized by granulomas in internal organs occurred in cage‐farmed large yellow croaker, Larimichthys crocea (Richardson), in April and November 2010, in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. One bacterial strain, named XSDHY‐P, was isolated from the diseased fish and identified by biochemical characterization, fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA). According to the results obtained from the biochemical tests, FAME analysis and phylogenetic analysis derived from 16S ribosomal RNA, gyrB, oprF, oprI, oprL and rpoD gene sequencing, the bacterial isolate, XSDHY‐P, was identified as Pseudomonas plecoglossicida. Moreover, lethal dose, 50% trials were carried out to demonstrate the virulence of XSDHY‐P in large yellow croaker when administered at 2.13 × 105 colony‐forming units per fish. Visceral granulomas were found in the experimentally infected fish as well as in the naturally infected fish, indicating that P. plecoglossicida is another bacterial pathogen that causes granulomatosis in L. crocea.
Immunohistochemical diagnosis of tenacibaculosis in paraffin‐embedded tissues of Senegalese sole Solea senegalensis Kaup, 1858
Authors: Faílde L D , Bermúdez R , Losada A P , Riaza A , Santos Y , Quiroga M I
Published: November 2013

A sensitive and specific immunohistochemical technique was developed to improve the diagnosis of tenacibaculosis and to better understand its pathogenesis. Senegalese sole Solea senegalensis Kaup, 1858 were inoculated subcutaneously with a bacterial suspension of Tenacibaculum maritimum, and samples were taken at different hours post‐inoculation. Sections from different organs were used as positive controls. In addition, a total of 128 field samples from different organs collected from tenacibaculosis outbreaks were used. Tenacibaculum maritimum antigens were detected in several organs of experimentally infected Senegalese sole and in at least one of the tissues from fish suffering from natural tenacibaculosis previously confirmed by culture and PCR‐based methods. In fish collected during outbreaks, a strong positive reaction was detected in ulcerative skin areas. Moreover, bacterial antigen was identified inside scale pockets and in sites of the skin with mild lesion. In kidney and spleen, evident immunostaining of bacterial antigen was detected in both naturally and experimentally infected fish. Besides, the presence of T. maritimum in the intestinal tract without associated histological changes suggests that this organ may act as a reservoir for T. maritimum. The results of this study confirm the usefulness of IHC for the diagnosis of tenacibaculosis in paraffin‐embedded tissues.
Embolization for pelvic arterial bleeding following a transobturator tape procedure
Authors: Ko Ji Kyung , Ku Chun Hoe
Published: November 2013

The transobturator tape (TOT) procedure was devised to reduce morbidity, but nevertheless, it may cause significant complications. We treated a patient by pelvic arterial embolization due to severe arterial bleeding following the TOT procedure. The patient presented with vaginal bleeding and hematoma after the TOT procedure. She demonstrated bleeding from the left internal pudendal artery and was treated successfully by selective embolization. Although the risk of arterial injury during the TOT procedure is rare, pelvic surgeons should consider the possibility. Angiography with embolization should be considered for treatment of pelvic arterial bleeding following the TOT procedure.
Demonstration of the route of embryo migration in retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy using contrast‐enhanced computed tomography
Authors: Liang Changhu , Li Xueli , Zhao Bin , Du Yinglin , Xu Shifeng
Published: November 2013

Retroperitoneal abdominal pregnancy is exceptionally rare. An unusual retroperitoneal pregnancy has a high risk of severe bleeding. Abdominal ultrasonography and whole abdominal computerized tomography scanning should be performed for the early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. A case of retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy located very close to large retroperitoneal blood vessels and treated with resection is presented. Many unusual features of retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy were highlighted as providing further evidence in support of the main proposed embryo migration mechanism via lymphatic vessels.
Cystatin C identifies cardiovascular risk better than creatinine‐based estimates of glomerular filtration in middle‐aged individuals without a history of cardiovascular disease
Authors: Svensson‐Färbom P. , Ohlson Andersson M. , Almgren P. , Hedblad B. , Engström G. , Persson M. , Christensson A. , Melander O.
Published: November 2013

Objectives

Creatinine‐ and cystatin C‐based estimates of renal function are considered to be cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, but the clinical utility in middle‐aged subjects without a history of CVD is controversial.

Design

We related plasma cystatin C and creatinine‐based glomerular filtration rate (GFR) [MDRD, CKD‐EPI‐2009, and CKD‐EPI‐comb (a combination of creatinine and cystatin C)] to incident CVD, CVD mortality, all‐cause mortality, and heart failure in 4650 middle‐aged subjects without CVD.

Results

The hazard ratio (HR) per standard deviation increment (95% CI) of cystatin C predicted incident CVD (1.22, 1.11–1.33; P < 0.0001), CVD mortality (1.44, 1.24–1.66; P < 0.0001), all‐cause mortality (1.15, 1.05–1.26; P = 0.002), and heart failure (1.27, 1.05–1.55; P = 0.02), whereas MDRD and CKD‐EPI‐2009 only predicted CVD mortality (0.79, 0.66–0.93; P = 0.006 and 0.78, 0.66–0.92; P = 0.003, respectively). Cystatin C led to a significant increase in the net reclassification improvement for all endpoints, except heart failure. Only within the quartile with the worst renal function were all measures related to all‐cause and CVD mortality. The top 25% of cystatin C in the population significantly predicted risk of incident CVD and CVD mortality, whereas MDRD and CKD‐EPI‐2009 were predictors of CVD mortality only at a GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (11–13% of the population) and of incident CVD only at a GFR < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 (<1% of the population).

Conclusion

Cystatin C is a better risk marker for CVD morbidity and mortality than creatinine‐based GFR. Whether this is explained by cystatin C being a better marker for true GFR or through other effects of cystatin C remains to be shown.
Consensus Guidelines for Immunosuppressive Treatment of Dogs with Glomerular Disease Absent a Pathologic Diagnosis
Authors:   IRIS Canine GN Study Subgroup on Immunosuppressive Therapy Absent a Pathologic Diagnosis, Pressler B. , Vaden S. , Gerber B. , Langston C. , Polzin D.
Published: November 2013

Background

In certain situations, veterinarians must decide whether or not to recommend immunosuppressive therapy for dogs with suspect glomerular disease in the absence of renal biopsy‐derived evidence that active immune mechanisms are contributing to glomerular injury. The purpose of this report is to provide guidelines for the use of immunosuppressive drugs under these conditions.

Animals

Animals were not used in this study.

Methods

Recommendations were developed by a formal consensus method.

Results

Four recommendations were developed and accepted at a high level of consensus (median 92.5% agreement). Renal biopsy should not be performed when contraindications are present or when results will not alter treatment or outcome. Immunosuppressive drugs should not be given when the source of proteinuria is unknown, they are otherwise contraindicated, or a familial nephropathy or amyloidosis is likely. However, they should be considered when dogs are already being given standard therapy and the serum creatinine is >3.0 mg/dL, azotemia is progressive, or hypoalbuminemia is severe. Thorough client communication regarding pros and cons of such treatment as well as close and careful patient monitoring is required.

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

These recommendations can help guide the decision about renal biopsy in patients with proteinuria as well as the use of immunosuppressive drugs in those patients where the decision was made not to perform renal biopsy.
Pathologic Evaluation of Canine Renal Biopsies: Methods for Identifying Features that Differentiate Immune‐Mediated Glomerulonephritides from Other Categories of Glomerular Diseases
Authors: Cianciolo R.E. , Brown C.A. , Mohr F.C. , Spangler W.L. , Aresu L. , van der Lugt J.J. , Jansen J.H. , James C. , Clubb F.J. , Lees G.E.
Published: November 2013

Background

Human renal biopsies are routinely evaluated with light microscopy (LM) using a panel of histologic stains, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy to obtain a diagnosis. In contrast, the pathologic evaluation of glomerular disease in veterinary medicine has relied mostly on LM and was of limited utility. To address this problem, recently established veterinary renal diagnostic centers have adopted methods used in human nephropathology for evaluation of renal biopsies. Three broad categories of disease, which have the greatest implications for clinical management of proteinuric dogs, have been established and include amyloidosis, immune complex‐mediated glomerulonephritis (ICGN), and non‐ICGN.

Objective

To demonstrate histopathologic, ultrastructural, and IF findings in renal biopsy specimens that experienced veterinary nephropathologists utilize to make accurate and clinically useful diagnoses in dogs with proteinuric glomerular disease and to provide guidelines for the proper evaluation of renal biopsies.

Methods

Renal biopsy specimens were routinely examined by LM, IF, and TEM. Samples were reviewed by members of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Renal Standardization Study Group to identify lesions that were diagnostic for, or suggestive of, the presence of immune complexes (IC) or amyloidosis in all modalities. Ten guidelines for renal biopsy evaluation were formulated.

Results

Each method of investigation contributed important findings that were integrated to make an accurate final morphological diagnosis. The guidelines were validated by an independent group of veterinary pathologists.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Routine evaluation of renal biopsies with LM, TEM, and IF is feasible and necessary for making accurate, morphologic diagnoses that can be used to guide clinical management of dogs with glomerular disease.
Prevalence of Immune‐Complex Glomerulonephritides in Dogs Biopsied for Suspected Glomerular Disease: 501 Cases (2007–2012)
Authors: Schneider S.M. , Cianciolo R.E. , Nabity M.B. , Clubb F.J. , Brown C.A. , Lees G.E.
Published: November 2013

Background

Glomerulonephropathies are common causes of kidney disease in dogs.

Objective

To determine the prevalence of immune‐complex glomerulonephritis (ICGN) in North American dogs biopsied for suspected glomerular disease.

Animals

Renal biopsies (n = 733) submitted to the Texas Veterinary Renal Pathology Service between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2012 were reviewed. Dogs were included if the biopsy was performed for suspected glomerular disease.

Methods

Specimens were evaluated by light microscopy (LM), immunofluorescence (IF), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Findings were retrospectively evaluated to categorize the diagnosis for each case. For the diagnosis of ICGN, TEM findings were considered conclusive when LM and IF were equivocal.

Results

Of the 501 dogs included in the study, 241 (48.1%) had ICGN; 103 (20.6%) had primary glomerulosclerosis; 76 (15.2%) had amyloidosis; 45 (9.0%) had nonimmune complex (IC) glomerulopathy; 24 (4.8%) had non‐IC nephropathy; and, 12 (2.4%) had primary tubulointerstitial disease. Many (66/241; 27.4%) ICGN cases required TEM for definitive diagnosis, including 14 cases (5.8%) that were not suspected on LM. Of cases not diagnosed as ICGN, a substantial proportion (60/260; 23.1%) required TEM to rule out immune complex deposits, including 14 of 189 cases (7.4%) presumptively diagnosed as ICGN on LM.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Approximately half of all dogs biopsied for suspected glomerular disease had conditions other than ICGN. Renal biopsy is needed to accurately categorize the underlying disease and direct appropriate treatment. Additionally, TEM and IF evaluations by experienced nephropathologists are necessary to obtain an accurate diagnosis in many cases.
The diet of Myotis lucifugus across Canada: assessing foraging quality and diet variability
Authors: Clare Elizabeth L. , Symondson William O. C. , Broders Hugh , Fabianek François , Fraser Erin E. , MacKenzie Alistair , Boughen Andrew , Hamilton Rachel , Willis Craig K. R. , Martinez‐Nuñez Felix , Menzies Allyson K. , Norquay Kaleigh J. O. , Brigham Mark , Poissant Joseph , Rintoul Jody , Barclay Robert M. R. , Reimer Jesika P.
Published: November 2013

Variation in prey resources influences the diet and behaviour of predators. When prey become limiting, predators may travel farther to find preferred food or adjust to existing local resources. When predators are habitat limited, local resource abundance impacts foraging success. We analysed the diet of Myotis lucifugus (little brown bats) from Nova Scotia (eastern Canada) to the Northwest Territories (north‐western Canada). This distribution includes extremes of season length and temperature and encompasses colonies on rural monoculture farms, and in urban and unmodified areas. We recognized nearly 600 distinct species of prey, of which ≈30% could be identified using reference sequence libraries. We found a higher than expected use of lepidopterans, which comprised a range of dietary richness from ≈35% early in the summer to ≈55% by late summer. Diptera were the second largest prey group consumed, representing ≈45% of dietary diversity early in the summer. We observed extreme local dietary variability and variation among seasons and years. Based on the species of insects that were consumed, we observed that two locations support prey species with extremely low pollution and acidification tolerances, suggesting that these are areas without environmental contamination. We conclude that there is significant local population variability in little brown bat diet that is likely driven by seasonal and geographical changes in insect diversity, and that this prey may be a good indicator of environment quality.
Wine economy as open assemblage: Thinking beyond sector and region
Authors: Le Heron Erena , Le Heron Richard , Lewis Nick
Published: November 2013

This paper explores value making practices by asking how we know and make new relations of economy. The paper seeks to understand the connectivities that constitute the Hawkes Bay wine economy in a way not confined by sector or regional matrices. We explore the making of relations of (wine) economy, studying relationships among actors in Hawke's Bay wine economy, including cross‐sectional exchanges, investment patterns and value chain linkages. This enables a more practice‐centred and relational understanding of wine economies as constituted by assemblying practices. Thinking about wine economies as assemblages facilitates an enactive engagement in economic practices by geographers.
Assembling biological economies: Region‐shaping initiatives in making and retaining value
Authors: Lewis Nick , Le Heron Richard , Campbell Hugh , Henry Matthew , Le Heron Erena , Pawson Eric , Perkins Harvey , Roche Michael , Rosin Christopher
Published: November 2013

The Biological Economies research project has involved a five‐year exploration of new rural value relations in two New Zealand regions. In this paper, we explore what the project has taught us about the need to deploy new conceptual and methodological tools to perform regional development differently. We draw on examples of experimentation in value creation, our own methodological experimentation, and ideas of assemblage to argue that new knowledge categories of capability, platforms, land resourcefulness, experimentation and economic rent open up the potential for a new methodology for stimulating regional economic change that we label ‘enactive research’.
Prolonged Ablation on Critical Segments of Pulmonary Vein Ostia in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: KRIATSELIS CHARALAMPOS , KAUFMANN JAN , NEDIOS SOTIRIOS , TANG MIN , GERDS‐LI JIN‐HONG , FLECK ECKART
Published: November 2013

Introduction

Electrical reconnection of the pulmonary veins (PVs) plays a key role in the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after ablative treatment. This randomized controlled study tested the hypothesis that prolonged ablations, on areas that may be critical for left atrial (LA)‐PV conduction, can significantly reduce the rate of acute PV reconnection and AF recurrence.

Methods

Patients with paroxysmal AF were randomly assigned to either a control or an add‐on group. Ostial PV isolation (PVI) was performed by point‐to‐point RF ablation (irrigated tip, 30 Watts, 30 seconds). An ostial segment was assumed to be critical for LA‐PV connection if any of the following reactions occurred during RF application: (1) sudden delay of LA‐PV conduction, (2) change of activation sequence, and (3) PVI. In this case, RF application was prolonged from 30 seconds to 90 seconds in the add‐on group only.

Results

A total of 131 patients (58 ± 11 years, 47 female) were assigned to a control (n = 64) and an add‐on (n = 67) group. Ablation time was longer in the add‐on (48 ± 16 minutes vs 37 ± 15 minutes, P = 0.03). Acute PV reconnection was observed in 20 of 64 controls and in eight of 66 add‐on patients (31% vs 12%, P < 0.001). During a follow‐up of 26 months, AF recurred in 33 of 64 controls and in 16 of 66 add‐on patients (52% vs 24%, P = 0.001) after a single ablation procedure.

Conclusions

Prolonged radiofrequency application on critical segments of LA‐PV connection is a safe and effective ablative strategy that significantly reduces acute PV reconnection and AF recurrence rates after a single ablation procedure for paroxysmal AF.
A Case of Phrynoderma in a Patient with Crohn's Disease
Authors: Cobos Gabriela , Cornejo Christine , McMahon Patrick
Published: November 2013

Phrynoderma is a type of follicular hyperkeratosis associated with nutritional deficiencies. It is rarely seen in developed countries, although cases have been reported in patients with severe malnutrition or malabsorption secondary to various causes. This report describes a 19‐year‐old patient with poorly controlled Crohn's disease and malnutrition who developed the characteristic hyperkeratotic papules and plaques on his trunk and extremities in the setting of low serum vitamin A levels. To our knowledge, there are no reports of phrynoderma associated with Crohn's disease. It is likely that our patient's low vitamin A level and subsequent phrynoderma was the result of increased Crohn's disease activity and malnutrition.
Factors influencing timing of neonatal discharge in Japan: Retrospective study
Authors: Ishida Yasushi , Nagaoki Yuko , Nakagawa Machiko , Hirata Michio , Shimabukuro Rinshu , Kusakawa Isao , Hosoya Ryota , Fukui Tsuguya
Published: November 2013

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the birth and discharge dates of neonates and analyze their distribution over days of the week and the old lunar calendar.

Methods

A retrospective study of the neonates discharged in the years 1990, 2000, 2005, and 2010 was conducted in a general hospital in Tokyo, Japan. Data are represented as odds ratios (OR) of the total number of discharges per day divided by the expected number of days per year, for each day of the week as well as each 6 day cycle of the lunar calendar.

Results

The timing of discharge has an uneven distribution across the days of the week, with weekday discharge rates significantly lower than weekend discharge rates. This uneven distribution is particularly significant in the preterm subgroup. In contrast, there is a minor uneven distribution of births across the days of the week and that of discharges across the 6 day cycle of the lunar calendar. Logistic regression analysis for 2005 and 2010 identified admission fee paid by insurance and prematurity as significant factors associated with weekend/holiday discharge (OR, 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23–2.75; OR, 1.71; 95%CI: 1.15–2.55, respectively). The average length of stay of neonates discharged on the weekend was longer than that for those discharged on a weekday, in both term and preterm infants.

Conclusions

Japanese parents prefer the convenience of weekends over old superstitions about using the lunar calendar to determine the discharge date.
Is it a primary or metastatic melanocytic neoplasm of the central nervous system?: A molecular based approach
Authors: Cornejo Kristine M. , Hutchinson Lloyd , Cosar Ediz F. , Smith Thomas , Tomaszewicz Keith , Dresser Karen , Deng April
Published: November 2013

Primary melanocytic neoplasms of the central nervous system (CNS) are uncommon and must be distinguished from metastatic lesions as patients with metastatic disease carry a worse prognosis. Therefore, tools to aid in the diagnosis of a primary CNS melanocytic neoplasm would be of clinical utility. Primary CNS melanocytic neoplasms, including uveal melanomas have frequent mutations in GNAQ and GNA11, but are rare in cutaneous and mucosal melanomas. Additionally, primary uveal melanomas often exhibit monosomy 3 conferring an elevated risk of metastasis. We present a 63 year‐old male with a melanocytic neoplasm in the thoracic spinal cord. Molecular studies revealed the tumor contained a GNAQ mutation and four‐color fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) composed of chromosome enumeration probes for 3, 7, 17 and a locus specific probe for 9p21/CDKN2A yielded a normal result (i.e. two copies per cell), favoring a primary versus metastatic melanocytic neoplasm of the CNS. We report a case in which the combination of mutational analysis and FISH aided in identifying the origin of the neoplasm.
Elevated Ki‐67 labeling index in ‘synchronous liver metastases’ of well differentiated enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
Authors: Zen Yoh , Heaton Nigel
Published: November 2013

There is no consensus as to whether or not metastatic nodules in the liver should be biopsied for tumor grading in cases of neuroendocrine tumors with ‘synchronous liver metastasis’. In this study, we compared the Ki‐67 labeling index between the primary tumor and synchronous liver metastasis in 30 patients, who had received simultaneous resections. Examined tumors were of the small bowel (n = 18) or pancreas (n = 12), and G1 or G2 in primary histologic grade. In 20 patients (67%), the Ki‐67 index was similar between the primary tumor and liver metastasis, but 10 (33%) showed an elevation of 3.4–14.4% in the liver, which increased the tumor grade in 4 cases. The Ki‐67 elevation in the liver was more common in G2 than G1 neoplasms (P = 0.002). The size, but not number, of liver metastases was significantly larger in patients with an elevated Ki‐67 index (P = 0.006). Using 40 mm as a provisional cutoff for the greatest diameter of liver metastases, the positive predictive value of this discriminator for elevated Ki‐67 was 56%, and the negative predictive value was 93%. In conclusion, synchronous liver metastases can yield a higher Ki‐67 labeling index than primary neuroendocrine tumours, particularly when the secondary is greater than 40 mm.
Fatty acid binding protein 7 as a marker of glioma stem cells
Authors: Morihiro Yusuke , Yasumoto Yuki , Vaidyan Linda Koshy , Sadahiro Hirokazu , Uchida Tomoyuki , Inamura Akinori , Sharifi Kazem , Ideguchi Makoto , Nomura Sadahiro , Tokuda Nobuko , Kashiwabara Shoji , Ishii Aya , Ikeda Eiji , Owada Yuji , Suzuki Michiyasu
Published: November 2013

Glioblastomas are the most aggressive brain tumors. Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) are thought to be responsible for the recurrence, chemoresistance, and poor prognosis of glioblastoma. Fatty acid binding protein 7 (FABP7), which is a cellular chaperone for a variety of omega‐3 fatty acids, is a known marker for neural stem cells. In this study, using a newly developed anti‐FABP7 antibody and patient‐derived GSC lines, we evaluated the expression of FABP7 in GSCs. Using immunocytochemistry, Western blotting, and qPCR analyses, FABP7 was found to be highly enriched in GSCs and its localization was found in cytosol and nuclei. FABP7 expression was significantly downregulated in differentiated GSCs induced by the addition of serum. In the glioma surgical specimens, FABP7 was highly expressed in the majority of glioblastoma. Double immunostaining for FABP7 and Sox2 showed that FABP7+Sox2+ tumor cells were significantly increased in glioblastoma (grade IV) compared with diffuse astrocytoma (grade II) and anaplastic astrocytoma (grade III). Our data introduces FABP7 as a marker for GSCs and further highlights its possible significance for glioma diagnosis and treatment.
Cultivating Public Service Motivation throughAmeriCorpsService: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Ward Kevin D.
Published: November 2013

The public service motivation literature has helped scholars and practitioners better understand who is attracted to public service and why. However, little is understood about how public service motivation in individuals may be cultivated or how it changes over time. This article uses panel data collected by the Corporation for National and Community Service to track the longitudinal effects of participation in the AmeriCorps national service program on participants’ public service motivation. Findings reveal that participation in AmeriCorps programs had positive effects on participants’ levels of commitment to the public interest and civic awareness immediately after the program; many of these program effects were sustained seven years later. However, when observed in isolation, the comparison group showed significant declines in levels of commitment to public interest and civic awareness over an eight‐year period, suggesting that public service motivation may initially decline upon entry into a public service career.
Effects of Surface Material, Ventilation, and Human Behavior on Indirect Contact Transmission Risk of Respiratory Infection
Authors: Sze‐To Gin Nam , Yang Yang , Kwan Joseph K. C. , Yu Samuel C. T. , Chao Christopher Y. H.
Published: November 2013

Infectious particles can be deposited on surfaces. Susceptible persons who contacted these contaminated surfaces may transfer the pathogens to their mucous membranes via hands, leading to a risk of respiratory infection. The exposure and infection risk contributed by this transmission route depend on indoor surface material, ventilation, and human behavior. In this study, quantitative infection risk assessments were used to compare the significances of these factors. The risks of three pathogens, influenza A virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and rhinovirus, in an aircraft cabin and in a hospital ward were assessed. Results showed that reducing the contact rate is relatively more effective than increasing the ventilation rate to lower the infection risk. Nonfabric surface materials were found to be much more favorable in the indirect contact transmission for RSV and rhinovirus than fabric surface materials. In the cases considered in this study, halving the ventilation rate and doubling the hand contact rate to surfaces and the hand contact rate to mucous membranes would increase the risk by 3.7–16.2%, 34.4–94.2%, and 24.1–117.7%, respectively. Contacting contaminated nonfabric surfaces may pose an indirect contact risk up to three orders of magnitude higher than that of contacting contaminated fabric surfaces. These findings provide more consideration for infection control and building environmental design.
Analysis of 66 patients definitive with transfusion‐associated graft‐versus‐host disease and the effect of universal irradiation of blood
Authors: Uchida S. , Tadokoro K. , Takahashi M. , Yahagi H. , Satake M. , Juji T.
Published: November 2013

Background

Transfusion‐associated graft‐versus‐host disease (TA‐GVHD) is a potentially fatal adverse reaction to blood transfusion. Although TA‐GVHD was formerly considered to be rare and to occur only in immunocompromised patients, it was confirmed to occur even in immunocompetent patients in Japan, based on a definitive diagnostic test for TA‐GVHD using highly polymorphic microsatellite repeat sequences. We clarify the clinical picture of TA‐GVHD via definitive diagnosed cases and argue the validity of blood irradiation for TA‐GVHD prevention.

Patients and methods

Two‐hundred and ninety patients who were suspected of having TA‐GVHD and referred to us for diagnostic testing from October 1992 to August 1999 were analysed for the associated clinical characteristics and risk factors. Effects of universal irradiation were followed up until 2010.

Results

Sixty‐six of the 290 study patients were diagnosed as having definite TA‐GVHD by microsatellite DNA analysis. Regarding the symptoms of patients with definite TA‐GVHD, a fever of over 38 °C, erythema and leucocytopenia were found in virtually all of these patients. Among patients in whom human leucocyte antigen (HLA) typing was carried out, TA‐GVHD almost always developed in HLA heterozygous patients following the transfusion of HLA homozygous blood. TA‐GVHD was reported significantly more frequently in older patients. In this study, TA‐GVHD was caused by the transfusion of HLA one‐way match blood stored for 14 days.

Conclusion

No cases of TA‐GVHD development have been confirmed since 2000, when the supply of irradiated blood products became widespread. No major problems have been encountered since the start of universal irradiation, more than 10 years ago.
A Modular Design Approach to Improve Product Life Cycle Performance Based on the Optimization of a Closed-Loop Supply Chain
Authors: Chung Wu-Hsun , Okudan Kremer Gül E. , Wysk Richard A.
Published: November 2013

As environmental concerns have grown in recent years, the interest in product design for the life cycle (DFLC) has exhibited a parallel surge. Modular design has the potential to bring life cycle considerations into the product architecture decision-making process, yet most current modular design methods lack the capability for assessing module life cycle consequences in a supply chain. This paper proposes a method for product designers, called the architecture and supply chain evaluation method (ASCEM), to find a product modular architecture with both low life cycle costs and low energy consumption at the early design stages. ASCEM expands the assessment scope from the product's architecture to its supply chain network. This work analyzes the life cycle costs (LCCs) and energy consumption (LCEC) of two products designated within the European Union's directive on waste of electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) within a closed-loop supply chain to identify the most beneficial modular structure. In addition, data on 27 theoretical cases representing various products are analyzed to show the broader applicability of the proposed methodology. Our analysis shows that ASCEM can efficiently identify a good-quality modular structure having low LCC and LCEC in a closed-loop supply chain for both the two tested products and the hypothetical cases.
Development of a Multi-Arm Bioprinter for Hybrid Tissue Engineering
Authors: Chen Howard , Ozbolat Ibrahim T.
Published: November 2013

This paper highlights the development of a multi-arm bioprinter (MABP) capable of concurrent deposition of multiple materials with independent dispensing parameters including deposition speed, material dispensing rate and frequency for functional zonal-stratified articular cartilage tissue fabrication. The MABP consists of two Cartesian robots mounted in parallel on the same mechanical frame. This platform is used for concurrent filament fabrication and cell spheroid deposition. A single-layer structure is fabricated and concurrently deposited with spheroids to validate this system. Preliminary results showed that the MABP was able to produce filaments and spheroids with well-defined geometry and high cell viability. The resulting filament width has a variation of +/-170 μm and the center-to-center filament distance was within 100 μm of the specified distance. This fabrication system is aimed to be further refined for printing structures with varying porosities to mimic the natural cartilage structure in order to produce functional tissue-engineered articular cartilage using cell spheroids containing cartilage progenitor cells (CPCs).
Fabrication and Characterization of Photonic Crystals by Two-Photon Polymerization Using a Femtosecond Laser
Authors: Tian Yinan , Shin Yung C. , King Galen B.
Published: November 2013

Two-photon polymerization is a powerful technique in fabricating three dimensional sub-diffraction-limited structures. Recently, new sol-gel material, SZ2080, was introduced into two-photon polymerization and was proved to be better than the conventional materials for its negligible shrinkage. In this paper, two-photon polymerization was applied to generate woodpile structures, one kind of photonic crystal, using SZ2080. First, the relationship between scanning speed, laser power and resolution was determined through fabricating free-hanging lines. Based on this relationship, woodpile structures with different period distances were fabricated with high uniformity as shown by SEM images. Then optical properties of woodpile structures were investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and a quantitative relationship between band gap and period distance was established.
Polycrystalline Diamond Turning of Rock
Authors: Che Demeng , Ehmann Kornel F.
Published: November 2013

Polycrystalline Diamond Compact (PDC) cutters, as the most commonly used inserts for rock cutting/drilling processes, are drawing increased attentions in manufacturing and petroleum engineering driven by the necessity to elevate cutter and process performance. The knowledge of the force response of single PDC cutters under various cutting conditions is an essential prerequisite for achieving this goal. In this paper, an analytical model is derived by extending Nishimatsu’s two-dimensional orthogonal cutting theory for rock cutting to the three-dimensional quasi-orthogonal case. A rock turning testbed that uses single PDC cutters is developed on a CNC turning center for measuring both thermal and mechanical responses at the rock-cutter interface in real-time. The developed testbed is used to perform the experimental validation of a newly proposed force prediction model.
Remaining Useful Tool Life Predictions Using Bayesian Inference
Authors: Karandikar Jaydeep , McLeay Tom , Turner Sam , Schmitz Tony
Published: November 2013

Tool wear is an important limitation to machining productivity. In this paper, remaining useful tool life predictions using the random walk method of Bayesian inference is demonstrated. End milling tests were performed on a titanium workpiece and spindle power was recorded. The power root mean square value in the time domain was found to be sensitive to tool wear and was used for tool life predictions. Sample power root mean square growth curves were generated and the probability of each curve being the true growth curve was updated using Bayes’ rule. The updated probabilities were used to determine the remaining useful tool life. Results show good agreement between the predicted tool life and the true remaining life. The proposed method takes into account the uncertainty in tool life and the percentage of nominal power root mean square value at the end of tool life.
Microcellular Injection Molding of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) Scaffolds Using Carbon Dioxide and Water as Co-Blowing Agents
Authors: Mi Hao-Yang , Jing Xin , Turng Lih-Sheng , Peng Xiang-Fang
Published: November 2013

In this study, a novel microcellular injection foaming method employing supercritical CO2 (scCO2) and water as co-blowing agents was developed to produce thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) tissue engineering scaffolds with a uniform porous structure and no solid skin layer. Various characterization techniques were applied to investigate the cell morphology, crystallization behavior, and static and dynamic mechanical properties of solid molded samples, foamed samples using CO2 or water as a single blowing agent, and foamed samples using both CO2 and water as co-blowing agents. Compared with CO2 foamed scaffolds, scaffolds produced by the co-blowing method exhibit much more uniform cell morphologies without a noticeable reduction in mechanical properties. Moreover, these TPU scaffolds have almost no skin layer, which permits free transport of nutrients and waste throughout the samples, which is highly desirable in tissue engineering. The effect of these blowing agents on the shear viscosity of various samples is also reported.
Study on the Multi-Granularity Virtualization of Manufacturing Resources
Authors: Hu Chunsheng , Xu Chengdong , Cao Xiaobo , Zhang Pengfei
Published: November 2013

As a new kind of networked manufacturing mode, Cloud Manufacturing needs to construct a large-scale virtual manufacturing resources pool firstly. For a reasonable and effective construction of the virtual manufacturing resources pool, the point of multi-granularity virtualization is proposed. Firstly, by analyzing the process of resources virtualization, the meanings of manufacturing resources, virtualization modeling and virtualization accessing are stated, and the relationships between them are illustrated; secondly, by analyzing the compositionality of resources, two resources categories are deduced; thirdly, the granularity factor, which have serious impacts on the resources-virtualization, resources-matching and resources-scheduling, are discussed; finally, a multi-granularity virtualization method of manufacturing resources is proposed.
Mixed-Model Assembly Line Sequencing Optimization Based on Workstation Overload Analysis
Authors: Jiang Zhaoliang , Li Zhi
Published: November 2013

Reasonable task sequencing will be benefit for both productivity and industry energy saving. Mixed-model products assembly sequencing of mass customization manufacturing systems significantly affects material requirements, order delivery time, and manufacturing cost. A new approach for products sequencing of mixed model assembly line (MMAL) according to workstations overload analysis based on historical production data is proposed to obtain the optimized assembly sequence with the objectives of minimizing consumption waviness of each material, assembly line setup cost, and order delivery time. It will be efficient to cut down the assembly line blockage time, improve the assembly productivity, and save industry energy. A multi-objective optimization algorithm based on particle swarm is developed. An industrial case study has been performed in order to demonstrate the practicality and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Feasibility of Laser Surface Texturing for Friction Reduction in Surgical Blades
Authors: Velasquez Tim , Han Peidong , Cao Jian , Ehmann Kornel F.
Published: November 2013

Trauma resulting from surgical blade friction can cause several complications and delay the recovery time of a patient. In order to attain optimal tribological properties, an 8 ps pulsed 532 nm Nd:YVO4 laser was used to ablate the cutting edge surface of surgical blades to create micro dimples of ∼110 μm in diameter and ∼30 μm in depth. Additionally, certain arrays of dimples endured an extra laser ablation operation to add a fillet to the dimple rims with the hope of reducing stress concentrations during tissue cutting and reducing friction even further. These surface textures were experimentally investigated through cutting experiments on phantom tissue material. Ultimately, the blades with the cutting surface texture that employed blended dimple rims showed a substantial reduction in friction forces when cutting phantom tissue samples.
Micro-Laser Assisted Feasibility Test on Soda-Lime-Glass
Authors: Ravindra Deepak , Ponthapalli Surya Chaitanya , Patten John
Published: November 2013

Soda lime glassis the most prevalent type of glass, used for glass containers and windowpanes. It is difficult to machine in traditional manufacturing processes due to its extreme hardness and brittleness. Good optical quality surfaces can be achieved by removing the material in a ductile manner. The strength, hardness and fracture toughness of the workpiece material are the governing factors that control the extent of brittleness. The main goal of the subject research is todetermine the effect of laser heating (using the μ-LAM process) on the material removal of sodalime glass using a single point diamond tool. The results show that the micro-laser assisted scratch tests were successful in demonstrating the enhanced laser heating and thermal softening in glass resulting in greater depths of cuts when compared to similar applied loads for cuts with no laser.