bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the Dyeability of Polypropylene Fibers by Melt Blending with Polyethylene Terephthalate
Authors: Mirjalili Fereshteh , Moradian Siamak , Ameri Farhad
Published: October 2013

Attempts were made to modify polypropylene fibers by melt blending with polyethylene terephthalate in order to enhance the dyeability of the resultant fiber. Five blends of polypropylene/polyethylene terephthalate/compatibilizer were prepared and subsequently spun into fibers. Three disperse dyes were used to dye such modified fibers at boiling and 130°C. The dyeing performance of the blend fibers, as well as the morphological, chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties, of the corresponding blends was characterized by means of spectrophotometry, polarized optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FT‐IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile testing.
MIMO Geometry and Antenna Design for High Capacity and Improved Coverage in mm-Wave Systems
Authors: Cella Tommaso , Orten Pål , Hjelmstad Jens
Published: October 2013

We show a way to optimize the capacity and at the same time achieve high coverage in LOS for a mm-wave system indoor. We optimize MIMO with regard to maximum Shannon capacity for a pure LOS channel. We describe the general procedure in order to maximize the capacity for our considered geometry, which consists of a circular arc array at the transmitter and a uniform linear array (ULA) at the receiver. The method is based on the optimization of the interelement distances at the transmitter and the receiver. High coverage is obtained with the use of the circular geometry and beamforming. We propose an example mm-wave system in the 70 GHz portion of the E-band (71–76) GHz. The results show that the proposed system is able to achieve full coverage in LOS as well as high capacity, with practical dimensions.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Qigong for the Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Authors: Lauche Romy , Cramer Holger , Häuser Winfried , Dobos Gustav , Langhorst Jost
Published: October 2013

Objectives. The fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic condition with only few evidence-based complementary and alternative therapies available. This paper presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of Qigong for fibromyalgia syndrome.Methods. The PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cambase databases were screened in December 2012 to identify randomized controlled trials comparing Qigong to control interventions. Major outcome measures were pain and quality of life; and secondary outcomes included sleep quality, fatigue, depression, and safety. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.Results. Seven trials were located with a total of 395 FMS patients. Analyses revealed low quality evidence for short-term improvement of pain, quality of life, and sleep quality and very low quality evidence for improvement of fatigue after Qigong for FMS, when compared to usual care. No evidence was found for superiority of Qigong compared to active treatments. No serious adverse events were reported.Discussion. This systematic review found that Qigong may be a useful approach for FMS patients. According to the quality of evidence, only a weak recommendation for Qigong can be made at this point. Further high quality RCTs are required for the conclusive judgment of its long-term effects.
Rehabilitation of Degraded Tropical Rainforest Using Dipterocarp Trees in Sarawak, Malaysia
Authors: Daisuke Hattori , Tanaka Kenzo , Joseph Jawa Kendawang , Ikuo Ninomiya , Katsutoshi Sakurai
Published: October 2013

To develop rehabilitation planting techniques in tropical degraded forests, we investigated (1) basic soil characteristics and light conditions; (2) growth and survival of seven dipterocarp seedlings over 81 months; and (3) the effect of environmental factors on the survival of seedlings grown in three degraded vegetations (grassland, secondary forest, and logged forest) in Sarawak, Malaysia. The soil was weakly acidic, and kaolin minerals dominated. The amount of exchangeable bases in surface soils, soil temperature (>35°C), and relative light intensity were all highest in the grassland. Seedling growth was also highest in the grassland, whereas many seedlings died there over 81 months. Growth and survivability were very similar in secondary and logged forests. The death of the seedlings in the grassland was attributable to an extremely high light intensity for all species. In contrast, the seedling growth rate in all species was also enhanced by light intensity. In conclusion, dipterocarp seedlings can be planted on highly degraded land such as grassland, although high light intensity limits their survival. Planting under nurse trees such as regenerated pioneer trees may be an effective method to enhance seedling survival under open conditions such as grassland.
Association of FunctionalVKORC1Promoter Polymorphism with Occurrence and Clinical Aspects of Ischemic Stroke in a Greek Population
Authors: Ragia Georgia , Marousi Stella , Ellul John , Manolopoulos Vangelis G. , Tavridou Anna
Published: October 2013

Genetic factors are considered to play an important role in determining the susceptibility to the occurrence, clinical course, and functional outcome of an acute ischemic stroke (IS). Undercarboxylation of specific vitamin K-dependent proteins, due to genetic polymorphisms ofVKORC1, can affect both vascular calcification and thrombogenicity. We sought to determine the association ofVKORC1−1639G>Apolymorphism with IS incidence, age of onset, severity of disease, and functional outcome after an acute IS.VKORC1−1639G>Apolymorphism was determined in 145 consecutive patients with first ever IS and 145 age- and sex-matched control subjects of Greek Caucasian origin using PCR-RFLP. Stroke severity and functional outcome were assessed on admission and at one month after stroke, respectively. Frequency ofVKORC1−1639G>Agenotypes did not differ between IS patients and controls (, ). Moreover, carriage of theAallele was not associated with age of stroke onset, severity of disease (Scandinavian stroke scale score 32.2 versus 32.9, resp., ), or poor outcome at 1 month post-stroke (52.9 versus 64.4%, resp., ). In conclusion,VKORC1−1639G>Apolymorphism is not a genetic determinant of IS occurrence, age of onset, severity, or functional outcome of disease in a Greek population.
Common and Specific Associations of Anti‐SSA/Ro60 and Anti‐Ro52/TRIM21 Antibodies in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Menéndez Aurora , Gómez Jesús , Caminal-Montero Luis , Díaz-López José Bernardino , Cabezas-Rodríguez Iván , Mozo Lourdes
Published: October 2013

Little information exists about the association of anti‐SSA/Ro60 and anti‐Ro52/TRIM21 with systemic lupus erytematosus (SLE) features. In this work, we analysed the associations of both anti‐Ro reactivities with clinical and immunological manifestations in 141 SLE patients. Photosensitivity and xerophtalmia/xerostomia were found to be positively associated with both anti‐SSA/Ro60 (P = 0.024 and P = 0.019, resp.) and anti‐Ro52/TRIM21 (P = 0.026 and P = 0.022, resp.). In contrast, a negative association was detected regarding anti‐phospholipid antibodies, anti‐SSA/Ro60 having a stronger effect (P = 0.014) than anti‐Ro52/TRIM21. Anti‐SSA/Ro60 showed a specific positive association with hypocomplementemia (P = 0.041), mainly with low C4 levels (P = 0.008), whereas anti‐Ro52/TRIM21 was found to be positively associated with Raynaud’s phenomenon (P = 0.026) and cytopenia (P = 0.048) and negatively associated with anti‐dsDNA (P = 0.013). Lymphocytes are involved in the relationship between anti‐Ro52/TRIM21 and cytopenia since positive patients showed lower cell levels than negative patients (P = 0.036). In conclusion, anti‐SSA/Ro60 and anti‐Ro52/TRIM21 showed both common and specific associations in SLE. These data thus increase evidence of the different associations of the two anti‐Ro specificities even in a particular disease.
Microfluidics for Synthesis of Peptide-Based PET Tracers
Authors: Liu Yang , Tian Mei , Zhang Hong
Published: October 2013

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a powerful noninvasive tool for acquisition of the physiological parameters in human and animals with the help of PET tracers. Among all the PET tracers, radiolabeled peptides have been widely explored for cancer-related receptor imaging due to their high affinity and specificity to receptors. But radiochemistry procedures for production of peptide-based PET tracers are usually complex, which makes large-scale clinical studies relatively challenging. New radiolabeling technologies which could simplify synthesis and purification procedures, are extremely needed. Over the last decade, microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip (LOC) technology have boomed as powerful tools in the field of organic chemistry, which potentially provide significant help to the PET chemistry. In this minireview, microfluidic radiolabeling technology is described and its application for synthesis of peptide-based PET tracers is summarized and discussed.
Serum Levels of Selected Th17 and Th22 Cytokines in Psoriatic Patients
Authors: Michalak-Stoma Anna , Bartosińska Joanna , Kowal Małgorzata , Juszkiewicz-Borowiec Maria , Gerkowicz Agnieszka , Chodorowska Grażyna
Published: October 2013

Introduction. Psoriasis is a T cell-mediated inflammatory disease in which pathogenesis T helper (Th) lymphocytes (Th1, Th17, and Th22) play an important role. The aim of the study was to assess the serum levels of some cytokines involved in the Th17 and Th22 responses in psoriatic patients.Material and Methods. The study comprised 60 psoriatic patients and 30 healthy controls. In the serum collected from psoriatic patients and healthy controls, the concentrations of IL-6, IL-12, IL-17, IL-20, IL-22, and IL-23 were examined with ELISA kits. Severity of psoriatic skin lesions was assessed by means of PASI, BSA, and PGA scores.Results. IL-6, IL-20, and IL-22 concentrations were significantly higher in psoriatic patients in comparison with the control group. The positive correlations between the concentrations of IL-22 and IL-20 and severity of psoriasis assessed with PASI and BSA scores as well as IL-17 and PASI score were found. There was also a positive correlation between IL-23 and IL-17 concentrations.Conclusions. Results of the conducted studies suggest that Th22 response may contribute to the skin and systemic inflammatory disease in psoriasis. It seems that early identification of soluble biomarkers and initiation of well-matched treatment may prevent exacerbation and progression of psoriasis.
Effect of Smoking Status on Healthcare Costs and Resource Utilization in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Routine Clinical Practice: A Retrospective Nested Case-Control Economic Study
Authors: Sicras-Mainar Antoni , Rejas-Gutiérrez Javier , Navarro-Artieda Ruth , Ibánez-Nolla Jordi
Published: October 2013

Aim: To compare healthcare resource utilization and costs according to smoking status in patients with type 2 diabetes in clinical practice. Methods: A retrospective cohort nested case-control study was designed. Cases were current smokers, while 2 types of controls (former smokers and never smokers) were matched (2 controls per case) for age, sex, duration of diabetes and burden of comorbidity using data from medical records. Noninstitutionalized diabetics of both genders, aged >18 years and seen consecutively over a 5-year period before the index date, were enrolled. Analysis compared healthcare resource utilization, loss of productivity due to sick leave and corresponding costs. Results: In total, 2,490 medical records were analyzed, i.e. 498 cases, 996 former smokers and 996 never smokers. Mean age was 63.4 years (64.9% male). Smokers had higher glycosylated hemoglobin levels (7.4 vs. 7.2 and 7.2%, respectively; p = 0.013) and a lower degree of metabolic control (49.2 vs. 54.7 and 55.8%; p = 0.036). Smokers had higher average annual costs (EUR 3,583) than former smokers (EUR 2,885; p < 0.001) and never smokers (EUR 2,183; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Diabetic smoker patients had lower metabolic control, higher health resource utilization and more sick leave, resulting in higher healthcare costs and lost productivity compared with both former and never smoker diabetics.
Network Oncology (NO) - a Clinical Cancer Register for Health Services Research and the Evaluation of Integrative Therapeutic Interventions in Anthroposophic Medicine
Authors: Schad Friedemann , Axtner Jan , Happe Antje , Breitkreuz Thomas , Paxino Constantin , Gutsch Johannes , Matthes Burkhard , Debus Marion , Kröz Matthias , Spahn Günther , Riess Hartmut , von Laue Hans-Broder , Matthes Harald
Published: October 2013

Background: Concepts of integrative oncology (IO), as have been offered by anthroposophic medicine (AM) for decades, are gaining increasing interest and acceptance. Central aspects are multimodal therapeutic interventions, health-related quality of live, and patients' preference as well as therapeutic relationship and clinical outcome. Despite its broad application, IO lacks evaluation in clinical practice and complementary therapies are not monitored by any cancer registries. Methods: To close this gap we established ‘Network Oncology' (NO), a conjoint registry of German outpatient AM practitioners and AM hospitals. In this paper we present the project and a first data overview and compare it to epidemiological registers and current literature. Results: NO has collected 10,405 cancer patients' records in 6 years. Compared to epidemiological registers our data show minor differences in disease entity distribution, age, and gender. There is an overproportional amount of young breast cancer patients in NO institutions indicating a demand for integrative therapies in this group. There is no difference between the UICC (Union for International Cancer Control) stages at first diagnosis and at admission to a NO facility. According to our data conventional therapies were less frequently administered after admission to a NO facility. Nevertheless, one third of the patients received their first conventional therapy in a NO facility. 80% of the patients received mistletoe preparations and 63% had nonpharmacotherapeutic, complementary interventions. Conclusion: Integrative oncological approaches attract a great number of patients visiting AM institutions. The NO provides an infrastructure to evaluate integrative interventions in AM, allows comparison to other clinical registers, and thus can contribute to health service research in this field.
Anfibatide, a novel GPIb complex antagonist, inhibits platelet adhesion and thrombus formation in vitro and in vivo in murine models of thrombosis
Authors: Lei Xi , Reheman Adili , Hou Yan , Zhou Hui , Wang Yiming , Marshall Alexandra H. , Liang Chaofan , Dai Xiangrong , Li Benjamin Xiaoyi , Vanhoorelbeke Karen , Ni Heyu
Published: October 2013

Platelet adhesion and aggregation at the sites of vascular injury are key events for thrombosis and haemostasis. It has been well demonstrated that interaction between glycoprotein (GP) Ib and von Willebrand factor (VWF) initiates platelet adhesion and contributes to platelet aggregation, particularly at high shear. GPIb has long been suggested as a desirable antithrombotic target, but anti-GPIb therapy has never been successfully developed. Here, we evaluated the antithrombotic potential of Anfibatide, a novel snake venom-derived GPIb antagonist. We found Anfibatide inhibited washed murine platelet aggregation induced by ristocetin and recombinant murine VWF. It also blocked botrocetin-induced binding of murine plasma VWF to recombinant human GPIb . Interestingly, Anfibatide did not inhibit botrocetin- induced aggregation of platelet-rich plasma, indicating that its binding site may differ from other snake venom-derived GPIb antagonists. Anfibatide strongly inhibited platelet adhesion, aggregation, and thrombus formation in perfusion chambers at high shear conditions and efficiently dissolved preformed thrombi. Anfibatide also inhibited thrombus growth at low shear conditions, though less than at high shear. Using intravital microscopy, we found that Anfibatide markedly inhibited thrombosis in laser-injured cremaster vessels and prevented vessel occlusion in FeCl3-injured mesenteric vessels. Importantly, Anfibatide further inhibited residual thrombosis in VWF-deficient mice, suggesting that Anfibatide has additional antithrombotic effect beyond its inhibitory role in GPIb-VWF interaction. Anfibatide did not significantly cause platelet activation, prolong tail bleeding time, or cause bleeding diathesis in mice. Thus, consistent with the data from an ongoing clinical trial, the data from this study suggests that Anfibatide is a potent and safe antithrombotic agent.
Red blood cell distribution width and the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality
Authors: Weitzman Dahlia , Raz Raanan , Steinvil Arie , Zeltser David , Berliner Shlomo , Chodick Gabriel , Shalev Varda , Arbel Yaron
Published: October 2013

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been shown to predict cardiovascular mortality in various populations, but studies were less conclusive regarding cardiovascular morbidity. We aimed at evaluating the prognostic effect of RDW on cardiovascular morbidity and allcause mortality in the largest community cohort to date. We utilised the computerised database of a large community based healthcare maintenance organization (HMO) in Israel to identify a cohort of 225,006 eligible patients aged 40 or above who performed a blood count during 2006. We evaluated the relationship between 1% increments of RDW values and major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality over a period of five years. A total of 21,939 incident cases of a major cardiovascular event and 4,287 deaths were documented during a total of six years of follow up, respectively. In comparison with patients with RDW level <13%, the hazard ratio for total mortality gradually increased to 4.57 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.35–6.24, p<0.001) among male patients and to 3.26 (95% CI: 2.49–4.28, p<0.001) among female patients with a RDW of 17% or above. Similar results were evident in anaemic and non-anaemic populations. RDW above 17% was also associated with a modest increased risk of major cardiovascular events in females 1.26 (95% CI: 1.03–1.52, p=0.021), while in men it was not significant, 1.08 (95% CI: 0.82–1.41, p=NS). In conclusion, increasing RDW levels significantly increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality. Our observation is evident in both anaemic and non-anaemic patients.
Left Ventricular Diastolic Function Is Associated With Symptom Status in Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis
Authors: Dahl Jordi S. , Christensen Nicolaj L. , Videbæk Lars , Poulsen Mikael K. , Carter-Storch Rasmus , Hey Thomas M. , Pellikka Patricia A. , Steffensen Flemming H. , Møller Jacob E.
Published: October 2013

Background—

In aortic valve stenosis (AS), the occurrence of heart failure symptoms does not always correlate with severity of valve stenosis and left ventricular (LV) function. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that symptomatic patients with AS have impaired diastolic, longitudinal systolic function, and left atrial dilatation compared with asymptomatic patients.

Methods and Results—

In a retrospective descriptive study, we compared clinical characteristics and echocardiographic parameters in 99 symptomatic and 139 asymptomatic patients with severe AS and LV ejection fraction ≥50%. Independent predictors of symptomatic state were identified using logistic regression analysis. Symptomatic patients were younger (72±10 versus 76±12 years of age;
P
=0.002), presented less often with atrial fibrillation (13% versus 24%;
P
=0.05) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2% versus 19%;
P
<0.001), and had a lower prevalence of hypertension (73% versus 40%;
P
<0.001). Despite similar AS severity, symptomatic patients had higher LV mass index (120±39 versus 95±25 g/m
2
;
P
<0.0001), increased relative wall thickness (0.61±0.15 versus 0.50±0.11;
P
<0.0001), shorter mitral deceleration time (199±58 versus 268±62 ms;
P
<0.0001), and increased left atrial volume index (49±18 versus 42±15 mL/m
2
;
P
=0.02). When adjusting for age, history of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a multivariable logistic regression analysis, LV mass index, relative wall thickness, left atrial volume index, and deceleration time were still associated with the presence of symptoms.

Conclusions—

The present study demonstrates that symptomatic status in severe AS is associated with impaired diastolic function, LV hypertrophy, concentric remodeling, and left atrial dilatation when corrected for indices of AS severity.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00294775.
Deferoxamine Attenuates White Matter Injury in a Piglet Intracerebral Hemorrhage Model
Authors: Xie Qing , Gu Yuxiang , Hua Ya , Liu Wenquan , Keep Richard F. , Xi Guohua
Published: October 2013

Background and Purpose—

Deferoxamine reduces neuronal death in a piglet model of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study examined the effect of deferoxamine on perihematomal white matter edema in piglets.

Methods—

ICH was induced by an injection of autologous blood into the right frontal lobe of piglets. In the first part of study, the time course of edema formation was determined. In the second part, the effects of deferoxamine on ICH-induced white matter edema, tumor necrosis factor α, and receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 were examined.

Results—

ICH resulted in marked brain edema and increased tumor necrosis factor α and receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 levels in white matter. Systemic treatment with deferoxamine markedly reduced white matter tumor necrosis factor α and receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 levels and attenuated white matter edema after ICH.

Conclusions—

Deferoxamine reduces white matter edema, tumor necrosis factor α, and receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 levels after ICH in piglets, suggesting deferoxamine is a potential effective therapeutic agent for patients with ICH.
Amphipoda (Crustacea) from Palau, Micronesia: Families Dexaminidae, Eusiridae, Hyalidae, Ischyroceridae, Leucothoidae and Lysianassidae
Authors: MYERS A. A.
Published: October 2013

Thirteen species of amphipod in the families Dexaminidae (1), Eusiridae (1), Hyalidae (1), Ischyroceridae (1), Leucothoidae (8) and Lysianassidae (1) are recorded from Palau in Micronesia. Of these, Ventojassa palauensis sp. nov., Leucothoe beobeldabensis sp.nov., L. pseudepidemos sp. nov., L. serratissima sp. nov., L. tumida sp. nov., L. whiteae sp. nov and Paranamixis dentidactylus sp. nov. are new to science and are described and figured.
Validation of certain family, generic and species names in Krapp-Schickel & Müller, 2011 and Lowry & Myers, 2013
Authors: LOWRY J. K. , MYERS A. A.
Published: October 2013

Krapp-Schickel & Müller (2011) published one new genus Kairos and two new species, Kairos segregans and Elasmopus polynesus in Marine Biodiversity Records.  Because Marine Biodiversity Records is an entirely electronic journal which does not produce hard copies, it is not eligible to publish new taxonomic names unless the names are registered in Zoobank and cited in the paper at the time of publication. Consequently, the genus Kairos and the species Kairos segregans and Elasmopus polynesus are currently considered to be nomina nuda. Unaware of this, Lowry & Myers (2013) established the family Kairosidae based on the genus Kairos. Because the family is based on an unavailable name, it also becomes a nomen nudum.
Enacting Resilience: A Performative Account of Governing for Urban Resilience
Authors: Wagenaar Hendrik , Wilkinson Cathy
Published: October 2013

Resilience is an increasingly important urban policy discourse that has been taken up at a rapid pace. Yet there is an apparent gap between the advocacy of social-ecological resilience in scientific literature and its take-up in policy discourse on the one hand, and the demonstrated capacity to govern for resilience in practice on the other. This paper explores this gap by developing a performative account of how social-ecological resilience is dealt with in practice through case study analysis of how protection of biodiversity was negotiated in response to Melbourne’s recent metropolitan planning initiative. It is suggested that a performative account expands the possible opportunities for governing for social-ecological resilience beyond the concept’s use as a metaphor, measurement, cognitive frame or programmatic statement of adaptive management/co-management and has the potential to emerge through what has been called the everyday ‘mangle of practice’ in response to social-ecological feedback inherent to policy processes.
Drug Trafficking and Literature
Authors: López Badano Cecilia
Published: October 2013

An exploration of the relationship between ethics and literary aesthetics based on an Argentine intergenre text built on modern narrative techniques and realist police journalism—Cristian Alarcón’s Si me querés, quereme transa—unravels the networks of South American migration that sustain urban drug dealing and alter the profile of the city. Recent narratives of drug trafficking such as this one represent a contemporary international and globalized literary genre that dilutes concepts such as nation, literary aesthetics, and fiction.

Una exploración de la relación entre ética y estética literaria basado en un texto intergenérica argentina construido sobre técnicas modernas de narrativa y reportaje policial realista– Si me querés, quereme transa, de Cristián Alarcón–revela las redes de migración sudamericana que sustentan el tráfico de drogas urbano y alteran el perfil de la ciudad. Al igual que otras narrativas recientes sobre el narcotráfico, el libro presenta un género literario contemporáneo globalizado que diluye conceptos como nación, estética literaria y ficción.
Disputed territory, defensive alliances and conflict initiation
Authors: Wright Thorin M. , Rider Toby J.
Published: October 2013

In this study, we evaluate the effects of alliance behavior on the probability of militarized conflict initiation with specific emphasis placed on the issues at stake in the conflict. After much debate over the relationship between alliances and conflict, recent research suggests that specific types of alliances, namely defensive pacts for target states, decrease the likelihood that potential challengers will initiate militarized disputes. Revisiting the alliance–conflict relationship, we allow the type of issue at stake to vary in order to determine whether this deterrent effect holds even when the most salient of issues are under contention. Specifically, we introduce indicators for whether the two states are competing over territorial issues, a high-salience stake that is particularly conflict-prone. Using a number of different indicators for territorial competition and examining several different time periods, analyses suggest that targeted defensive alliances do indeed have a deterrent effect against named adversaries, even when the most salient of issues are at stake.
Mid-Holocene sea-level and coral reef demise: U-Th dating of subfossil corals in Moreton Bay, Australia
Authors: Leonard Nicole D , Welsh Kevin J , Zhao Jian-xin , Nothdurft Luke D , Webb Gregory E , Major Josef , Feng Yuexing , Price Gilbert J
Published: October 2013

It is increasingly apparent that sea-level data (e.g. microfossil transfer functions, dated coral microatolls and direct observations from satellite and tidal gauges) vary temporally and spatially at regional to local scales, thus limiting our ability to model future sea-level rise for many regions. Understanding sea-level response at ‘far-field’ locations at regional scales is fundamental for formulating more relevant sea-level rise susceptibility models within these regions under future global change projections. Fossil corals and reefs in particular are valuable tools for reconstructing past sea levels and possible environmental phase shifts beyond the temporal constraints of instrumental records. This study used abundant surface geochronological data based on in situ subfossil corals and precise elevation surveys to determine previous sea level in Moreton Bay, eastern Australia, a far-field site. A total of 64 U-Th dates show that relative sea level was at least 1.1 m above modern lowest astronomical tide (LAT) from at least ~6600 cal. yr BP. Furthermore, a rapid synchronous demise in coral reef growth occurred in Moreton Bay ~5800 cal. yr BP, coinciding with reported reef hiatus periods in other areas around the Indo-Pacific region. Evaluating past reef growth patterns and phases allows for a better interpretation of anthropogenic forcing versus natural environmental/climatic cycles that effect reef formation and demise at all scales and may allow better prediction of reef response to future global change.
Pre-polysomnographic assessment using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire is not useful in identifying people at higher risk for obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Scarlata Simone , Pedone Claudio , Curcio Giuseppe , Cortese Livio , Chiurco Domenica , Fontana Davide , Calabrese Mariangela , Fusiello Riccardina , Abbruzzese Gloria , Santangelo Simona , Zito Anna , Incalzi Raffaele Antonelli
Published: October 2013

Background

Polysomnography remains the diagnostic gold standard for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), but it is time consuming and requires dedicated personnel and setting. It may be more useful to plan a polysomnogram based on a preliminary screening.

Objective

To verify whether a questionnaire of general quality of sleep, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), could outperform a dedicated questionnaire (Epworth Sleep Scale: ESS) in targeting OSAS patients in an at risk population.

Methods

254 consecutive subjects attending the outpatient clinic for respiratory diseases were clinically evaluated for sleep apnea and referred to a 12 channel night-time polysomnography. All patients were administered the ESS and the PSQI before the procedure. The correlation between the Apnoea/Hypopnoea Index (AHI) and the global score of the PSQI was calculated; Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV, respectively), Diagnostic accuracy and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated. ESS performance was used as a control reference.

Results

The mean age was 65.8 (standard deviation: 12.1) and the study group was 68.4% male. The mean BMI was 38.5; SD 7.7. Prevalence of OSAS in the study population was 55.5%; OSAS was severe in 60.5% of OSAS patients. ESS was significantly, but weakly, correlated with the AHI (AHI vs ESS: R = 0.308; p < 0.001), whereas PSQI was not (R = 0.037; p = 0.581). Both PSQI and ESS, however, performed unsatisfactorily: sensitivity 37.8% and 69.7%; Specificity 76.1% and 31.0%; Diagnostic Accuracy 57.5% and 49.8%; PPV 60% and 48.7%; NPV 56.3% and 52.2%; AUC 0.589 and 0.509, respectively.

Conclusions

The PSQI score is not helpful in the pre-polysomnographic assessment of people with suspected OSAS. Further studies are required to provide reliable pre-clinical instruments targeting patients amenable to polysomnography.
Effectiveness of Community Participation in a Surveillance System Initiative to Prevent Drowning in Thailand
Authors: Sansiritaweesook Getsara , Muangsom Niramon , Kanato Manop , Ratanasiri Amornrat
Published: October 2013

This study had a 2-group pre-post quasiexperimental design and was conducted in 2 selected areas of Ubon Ratchathani province, Thailand. The objective was to evaluate the extent to which the surveillance system that was developed helped in drowning prevention. The development process involved extensive participation from the community. System efficiency was evaluated, and the drowning rates were compared. The system demonstrated 82.8% system sensitivity and 87% positive-predictive value. There were 90.0% rescues with no injury during the study period. The relative risk of drowning injury suggests that the control area was at 5.6 times more at risk for drowning injury than the intervention area (95% CI = 1.58, 20.12). Local knowledge and participation from the community were found to be key issues in the success of the surveillance system, and such systems can be applied to other areas with similar problems.
Workplace Stress, Job Satisfaction, Job Performance, and Turnover Intention of Health Care Workers in Rural Taiwan
Authors: Chao Ming-Che , Jou Rong-Chang , Liao Cing-Chu , Kuo Chung-Wei
Published: October 2013

Workplace stress (WS) has been found to affect job satisfaction (JS), performance, and turnover intentions (TIs) in developed countries, but there is little evidence from other countries and especially rural areas. In rural Taiwan, especially, there is an insufficient health care workforce, and the situation is getting worse. To demonstrate the relationship, we used a cross-sectional structured questionnaire, and data from 344 licensed professionals in 1 rural regional hospital were analyzed using the structural equation model. The results showed that WS had a positive effect on both TI and job performance (JP) but a negative effect on satisfaction. JS did improve performance. For the staff with an external locus of control, stress affected JP and satisfaction significantly. For the staff with lower perceived job characteristics, JS affected performance significantly. The strategies to decrease stress relating to work load, role conflict, family factors, and working environment should be focused and implemented urgently to lower the turnover rate of health care workers in rural Taiwan.
Macroscopic response of Ni–Mn–Ga single crystals considering the effects of residual reorientation strain and temperature
Authors: Lei Hongshuai , Tong Liyong , Wang Zhenqing
Published: October 2013

The magnetic field–induced and stress-induced response of magnetic shape memory alloy was investigated in the present study. Based on thermodynamic approach, a one-dimensional constitutive model was derived containing demagnetization energy and chemical energy. A cosine function was constructed to predict the variant volume fraction during reorientation process, considering the presence of residual reorientation strain. The effects of temperature on the magnetization behaviour, domain fraction and magnetization angle were discussed. Owing to the presence of residual reorientation strain, the critical threshold fields in hysteresis loop were decreased as a linear function of residual variant volume fraction. With increasing temperature, critical fields for domain and magnetic rotation to saturation were decreased, and critical threshold fields would increase for the stress-induced reorientation. The comparisons between numerical results and experimental results showed that the present model can effectively predict the macroscopic response of magnetic shape memory alloy, considering the effects of temperature and residual reorientation strain.
Arthroscopic Treatment of Ankle Anterior Bony Impingement
Authors: Parma Alessandro , Buda Roberto , Vannini Francesca , Ruffilli Alberto , Cavallo Marco , Ferruzzi Alberto , Giannini Sandro
Published: October 2013

Background:

Arthroscopic treatment of anterior ankle bony impingement provides good results, with a tendency to decrease over time. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting long-term results.

Methods:

Eighty consecutive patients with a mean age of 37.3 years were treated between 2000 and 2004. Impingement lesions were identified according to Scranton-McDermott classification. Preoperative ankle osteoarthritis was documented by van Dijk scale upon the x-rays. Bone spurs were analyzed and classified according to location and size. The associated chondral lesions were classified following the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) criteria. Patient data, foot morphology, and previous traumas were recorded. Patients were evaluated after a mean of 104.6 months follow-up with the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale. The influence of different factors on outcomes was statistically analyzed.

Results:

The mean preoperative AOFAS score was 50.9, while at follow-up it was 70.7 ( P < .05). The different grades of Scranton-McDermott impingement classification did not affect the results, but the different grades of van Dijk scale significantly affected the result but not the preoperative stage. Tibial localized spurs had better outcome at follow-up. The grade of the chondral lesions significantly affected the outcome. Other factors negatively affecting the results were age, cavus foot morphology, and history of previous ankle fracture.

Conclusion:

Arthroscopic treatment provides overall good results, but the long-term presence of associated conditions such as chondral lesions, advanced age, and previous trauma are relevant as prognostic factors. Based on these results, a new classification for bony impingement syndrome system is proposed.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, case series.
Ultrasonographic measurement of the relative thickness of intestinal wall layers in clinically healthy cats
Authors: Di Donato Pamela , Penninck Dominique , Pietra Marco , Cipone Mario , Diana Alessia
Published: October 2013

The normal sonographic thickness of the individual layers (ie, mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and subserosa-serosa) of the intestinal wall was evaluated in 20 clinically healthy cats. The mean thickness of the wall was 2.20, 2.22, 3.00 and 2.04 mm for duodenum, jejunum, ileum (fold) and ileum (between folds), respectively. The mean thickness of the mucosal layer was 1.27, 1.20, 0.46 and 0.49 mm for duodenum, jejunum, ileum (fold) and ileum (between folds), respectively, and its contribution to wall thickness was significantly greater than that of the other layers in the duodenum (57.7%) and jejunum (55.2%). The mean thickness of the submucosal layer was 0.36, 0.36, 1.49 and 0.53 mm for duodenum, jejunum, ileum (fold) and ileum (between folds), respectively, and its contribution to wall thickness was greater than that of the muscularis in the duodenum (16.3%), jejunum (16%) and ileum (fold) (49.8 %). The mean thickness of muscularis was 0.28, 0.35, 0.66 and 0.65 mm for duodenum, jejunum, ileum (fold) and ileum (between folds), respectively, with a corresponding contribution to wall thickness of 12.7 %, 14.4%, 22% and 31.6%. Finally, the mean thickness of serosa was 0.29, 0.31, 0.38 and 0.38 mm for duodenum, jejunum, ileum (fold) and ileum (between folds), respectively, with a corresponding contribution to wall thickness of 13.3%, 14.4%, 12.7 % and 18.7%. These values can provide baseline information that might be useful in evaluating intestinal disorders affecting preferentially some of the intestinal layers.
Transdermal application of methimazole in hyperthyroid cats: a long-term follow-up study
Authors: Boretti Felicitas S , Sieber-Ruckstuhl Nadja S , Schäfer Sandra , Gerber Bernhard , Baumgartner Claudia , Riond Barbara , Hofmann-Lehmann Regina , Reusch Claudia E
Published: October 2013

Transdermal methimazole is suggested as an alternative to oral therapy for hyperthyroid cats that are difficult to pill. However, no information on long-term management with this treatment is available. Our objective was therefore to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of long-term transdermal methimazole treatment in hyperthyroid cats. Sixty cats with newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism and available long-term follow-up information were included. Methimazole was formulated in a pluronic lecithin organogel-based vehicle and was applied to the pinna of the inner ear. Cats were re-evaluated at regular intervals. Median (range) follow-up was 22.6 months (3.6–88.4 months). Clinical improvement was observed in all cats and side effects were rare (mild transient gastrointestinal signs: n = 3; erythema of the pinna: n = 2, necessitating a switch to oral medication). Despite a significant decrease, with median T4 concentrations within the reference interval during the follow-up period, several cats repeatedly had T4 concentrations in the thyrotoxic and hypothyroid range. Maximal and minimal daily doses during the follow-up period were 15.0 and 1.0 mg, respectively; they were significantly higher than the starting dose after 24–36 months of therapy. Although the majority of owners were highly satisfied with the treatment, several admitted not treating their cat regularly. Transdermal methimazole is a safe option for the long-term management of feline hyperthyroidism. However, it seems difficult to keep the T4 concentrations constantly within the reference interval. Higher doses can be expected after prolonged treatment and, despite the convenience of transdermal application, owner compliance should be assessed regularly.
Applications of stalling mechanisms in Chinese-English bilinguals’ L1 and L2 spoken discourse
Authors: Tang Chihsia
Published: October 2013

This article reports an empirical research into the correlation between adult speakers’ communication strategic competence and their language proficiency by comparing Chinese-English bilinguals’ application of stalling devices in their L1 and L2 spoken discourse. Dörnyei and Kormos’ ((1998). Problem-solving mechanisms in L2 communication. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 20, 349–385) taxonomy of communicative strategies is employed as the analytical framework for the present investigation. The qualitative observations reveal that the general categorical variations of stalling strategy in our participants’ L1 and L2 discourse are indistinguishable, manifesting the universality of linguistic communicative strategies. Yet, participants are found to be less proficient at utilizing L2 fillers than the L1 equivalents with respect to variation. Such phenomenon should be greatly attributed to language specificity of the lexicalized stalling devices and the paucity of authentic L2 stimuli the participants received. The quantitative results indicate that the frequency of stalling devices increases along with the decrease of the speakers’ automaticity of language processing. Specifically, the frequency of L2 stalling strategies is about two times higher than that of its L1 equivalents. The quantitative results further reinforce that L2 processing is less automatic than L1 processing. In brief, both the qualitative and quantitative findings evidence a tight correlation between the speakers’ communication strategic competence and their linguistic proficiency. Finally, some insights into the teaching of non-native stalling strategies for language learners are provided.
Investigation of building integrated photovoltaics potential in achieving the zero energy building target
Authors: Kylili Angeliki , Fokaides Paris A.
Published: October 2013

Since the photovoltaic (PV) scientific community started exploring innovative ways of incorporating solar electricity into buildings, a whole new vernacular of solar electric architecture emerged. Currently, there is a growing consensus that building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) systems will be the backbone of the zero energy building (ZEB) European target by 2020, through their widespread commercialization. BIPV systems often produce however less energy than conventional PV systems due to architectural constraints in the design of BIPV arrays. This paper presents a conceptual study regarding the energy yield and feasibility of BIPVs in several locations in Europe. Specific conclusions on the energy yield and economic feasibility of BIPVs with regard to the implemented PV module technology, the climatic zone, the orientation of the building and the mounting disposition are drawn. The findings of this work that were also validated using hourly time step computational analysis, reveal the necessary conditions under which BIPVs could have a major contribution to fulfilling the European 2020 targets by enabling the achievement of the ZEB goal.
A gateway to the global city: Mobile place-making practices by expats
Authors: Polson Erika
Published: October 2013

Drawing from ethnographic research of expatriates who use meetup.com and similar digitally based social organizing platforms to access events in Paris, this paper explores how on- and offline meet-up rhetoric and routines contribute to the production of a mobile “sense of place” for people who have relocated or traveled alone. By highlighting how participants may use digital media to create a sense of belonging to an “international community” extendable across a series of local places, this research diverges from earlier studies that have focused on how migrants use media to maintain connections to a “homeland” or to reconstitute the home abroad. Although the paper celebrates new agencies afforded by mobile place-making, particularly for women, I suggest that as professional labor trends increasingly assert the value of placeless-ness, tools that combine communication with location-based digital organizing will only grow in importance and the “support” provided by them should be continually interrogated.
The benefits of family literacy provision for parents in England
Authors: Swain Jon , Brooks Greg , Bosley Sara
Published: October 2013

This article is concerned with parents’ experiences and perceptions of being involved in a family literacy programme. The research, which was conducted from November 2007 to July 2009, involved interviewing 101 parents from 74 family literacy programmes in England around 12 weeks after they had completed their courses. The aim of these qualitative interviews was to identify any short- and medium-term benefits, and to assess the impact on their lives. Previous evaluations of FL have mainly focused on children’s literacy outcomes, and the article argues that as insiders and consumers of family literacy programmes, parents have the potential to make vital contributions to policy and practice, including the design of future successful programmes. The article shows that there is a whole series of benefits for parents, their children, family and schools. Among these, parents learn to support their children’s learning; they place greater value on education and learning and gain a deeper understanding of school systems; they become more interested in developing their own literacy skills; they form social and supportive networks, which are maintained as their children move through the school; and the programmes give parents opportunities for progression to further education and training.
Impact of physiotherapy on patients with advanced lung cancer
Authors: Ozalevli Sevgi
Published: October 2013

Patients with lung cancer have high mortality and high morbidity. Lung cancer-related symptoms and problems such as dyspnea, fatigue, pain, and cachexia that begin in the early phase later result in poor physical functioning, psychosocial, and quality of life status. In addition, advancing age is associated with significant comorbidity. These patients may benefit from multidisciplinary therapy to reduce the perceived severity of dyspnea and fatigue and increase physical functioning and quality of life. Based on management of symptoms and problems such as dyspnea, physical inactivity, cancer-related fatigue, respiratory secretions, pain, and anxiety–depression of these patients, it is thought that physiotherapy techniques can be used on advanced lung cancer patients following a comprehensive evaluation. However, well-designed, prospective, and randomized-controlled trials are needed to prove the efficacy of physiotherapy and pulmonary rehabilitation in general for patients with advanced lung cancer.