bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcome of anesthetic management for children with craniofacial deformities
Authors: Sinkueakunkit Akkharawat , Chowchuen Bowornsilp , Kantanabat Chonrat , Sriraj Wimonrat , Wongswadiwat Malinee , Bunsangjaroen Piyaporn , Chantawong Sarinya , Wittayapairoj Aumjit
Published: March 2013

Background

The challenge for anesthetic management for children with craniofacial deformities is to develop comprehensive anesthetic care. The purposes of this study were to review the authors’ experience with airway management and ventilator support and evaluate outcome during the perioperative period among these patients at the Tawanchai Center, Srinagarind Hospital.

Methods

A retrospective (2005–2009), descriptive study was conducted to analyze the anesthetic management and perioperative outcomes among children with craniofacial deformities at the Tawanchai Center. Techniques for airway management included direct laryngoscope (DL), DL with stylet, fiber‐optic bronchoscope (FOB), laryngeal mask airway, retrograde intubation, a combination of these techniques and more than one anesthesiologist.

Results

Forty‐five children with craniofacial deformities were classified as having the following: craniosynostosis; craniofacial microsomia; Treacher–Collins syndrome (TCS); coloboma of the eye, heart defects, atresia choanae, retarded growth and/or development, genital and/or urinary abnormalities, ear abnormalities and deafness (CHARGE) syndrome; frontoethmoidal encephalomeningocele; Pierre Robin sequence; and craniofacial cleft. Most of the patients underwent induction of anesthesia by inhalation of an anesthetic agent. The children with TCS were the most difficult group with regard to airway management with DL view (13%), and multiple airway accessories and intubation techniques were needed. The two most common methods for management of difficult airway obstructions were the use of stylet and FOB. No complications occurred during intubation and minor complications were observed during the perioperative period.

Conclusion

A successful outcome depended on the provision of interdisciplinary craniofacial team management, comprehensive anesthetic evaluation and management, well‐informed and cooperative children and supportive family members.
Testing of midwife neonatal resuscitation skills with a simulator manikin in a low‐risk delivery unit
Authors: Rovamo Liisa M. , Mattila Minna‐Maria , Andersson Sture , Rosenberg Per H.
Published: March 2013

Background

Expertise in neonatal resuscitation is essential for personnel involved in the care of newborns. In this observational cohort study the skills of 52 midwives in a simulated scenario were assessed.

Methods

A total of 52 midwives in a low‐risk unit and five specialist nurses in a high‐risk unit were tested to establish their competence in newborn resuscitation. The 52 midwives were divided into groups 1 (n = 39; no pretest training) and 2 (n = 13; 1 day training prior to study). The video‐recorded test scenario was a newborn with asphyxia. Thirty items were graded by a neonatologist and nursing team in real time. Using the Angoff method, a pass score was 18.71 for skills that were graded 0 or 1.

Results

The average score of specialist nurses was 26 (range, 23–29). A total of 49% of midwives in group 1 and 92% in group 2 passed the test. The average score was 17.7 (range, 9–25) in group 1 and 21.9 (range, 17–27) in group 2. A total of 27% and 77% of midwives in groups 1 and 2, respectively, carried out ventilation at a frequency as per the algorithm. Mask leakage was higher in group 1 (44%) versus group 2 (23%). Five and three midwives in groups 1 and 2, respectively, overexpanded the lungs.

Conclusion

Many midwives had imperfect resuscitation skills. A 1 day course improved such skills. The standard scenario is an objective and useful performance marker in assessing and documenting improvements in competence in delivery room resuscitation.
Reno‐portal anastomosis as an approach to pediatric kidney transplantation in the setting of inferior vena cava thrombosis
Authors: Cauley R. P. , Potanos K. , Fullington N. , Lillehei C. , Vakili K. , Kim H. B.
Published: March 2013

In pediatric renal transplantation in the setting of IVC thrombosis, the retrohepatic IVC or gonadal veins are often used for outflow. However, if use of systemic venous outflow is unsuccessful, options become limited. We report the use of the portal vein for venous outflow in kidney retransplantation in the setting of IVC thrombosis. The patient is a 19‐month‐old male who developed end‐stage renal failure at seven months of age secondary to hypotension after spontaneous rupture of an accessory renal vein. The IVC was occluded during emergent laparotomy, and the patient developed extensive IVC thrombosis. The first two transplant attempts used the retrohepatic IVC for venous outflow. Despite good initial flow, in both instances the renal vein thrombosed on post‐operative day 1. In an unsuccessful salvage attempt of the second transplant, a reno‐portal anastomosis was performed. With few options for vascular access, a third transplant was attempted. The reno‐portal stump from the second transplant was used for outflow. The patient recovered well from his third transplant (creatinine 0.6 mg/dL 35 months post‐surgery), demonstrating that the portal vein can be used for outflow in cases of extensive IVC thrombosis.
Severe lung injury and lung biopsy in children post‐hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: The differences between allogeneic and autologous transplantation
Authors: Gassas Adam , Craig‐Barnes Hayley , Dell Sharon D , Cox Peter , Schechter Tal , Doyle John , Sung Lillian , Egeler Maarten , Palaniyar Nades
Published: March 2013

To review outcome of children post‐allogeneic (allo) and autologous (auto) SCT with severe lung injury who had lung biopsy and to determine whether the diagnoses provided by lung biopsy had an impact on outcome. Retrospective study was carried out from January 2000 to June 2010. Nine hundred and eighteen children (0–18 yr) received SCT (allo 476, auto 442), and 59 biopsies were performed in 48 patients. Most common result of lung biopsy was non‐infectious inflammation and recurrent disease in allo‐ and autorecipients, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, survival of allorecipients who had management change was inferior (p = 0.002; HR: 3.12). These patients were extremely sick, and management change was the last attempt to stabilize their respiratory status. There was a trend toward superior survival for children who had biopsy after 100 days following SCT (p = 0.09; HR: 0.55) and a trend toward inferior survival for those with proven infections within two wk of biopsy (p = 0.07; HR: 2.14). Only 31% of allorecipients and 25% of autorecipients survived. There were no biopsy‐related complications. Lung biopsy itself appears to be well tolerated, although requiring a biopsy seems to carry a poor prognosis; this seems to be due to different causes, auto (relapse), allo (non‐infectious inflammation).
Changing strategies for organ transplantation in atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome: A tertiary case series
Authors: Forbes Thomas A. , Bradbury Mark G. , Goodship Tim H. J. , McKiernan Patrick J. , Milford David V.
Published: March 2013

We present three cases of organ transplantation for atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome secondary to complement factor H mutation: one isolated renal transplant; one previously reported isolated liver transplant; and one combined liver and kidney transplant. All three patients were treated prior to the licensing of eculizumab for this condition, and all have had favourable outcomes with maintenance of graft function for years following transplantation. We discuss the evolution of transplantation therapy for aHUS over the last two decades. Transplantation decision‐making in aHUS has evolved over this time with expanding knowledge of pathophysiology and genetics, alongside refined plasma exchange and anticoagulation protocols and improved centre experience. Our cases demonstrate how individual patient factors within this heterogeneous condition also underlie transplantation decisions and outcomes. Whilst our cases demonstrate that transplantation in aHUS can be a successful long‐term treatment providing good quality of life, worldwide experience has proven that most curative treatment for aHUS strategies represents significant risks. Whether new pharmacotherapies such as eculizumab will alter this risk is yet to be determined.
How to Be a Humean Interventionist
Authors: Kuorikoski Jaakko
Published: March 2013

This paper aims to provide Humean metaphysics for the interventionist theory of causation. This is done by appealing to the hierarchical picture of causal relations as being realized by mechanisms, which in turn are identified with lower‐level causal structures. The modal content of invariances at the lowest level of this hierarchy, at which mechanisms are reduced to strict natural laws, is then explained in terms of projectivism based on the best‐system view of laws.
A New Perspective on Temperamental Shyness: Differential Susceptibility to Endoenvironmental Influences
Authors: Schmidt Louis A. , Miskovic Vladimir
Published: March 2013

In this review, we adapt and extend a model recently used to account for differences in risk and resiliency outcomes to explain individual differences in temperamental shyness. The differential susceptibility to environmental influences model posits that heightened biological sensitivity and reactivity in the individual can predict different outcomes for better or for worse, depending on environmental influences outside (i.e., exogenous) of the individual. In this article, we extend this existing model and argue that the environment can also be conceptualized as a unique set of dynamic conditions and influences operating within (i.e., endogenous) the individual that are orthogonal to some biological sensitivity factors. In this new model, continuous brain electrical activity at rest constitutes one endogenous environmental condition that can vary (leftward to rightward) and influence gene expression to confer different outcomes, for better (sociability) or for worse (shyness). We then discuss how this model can be tested, as well as its potential implications for theory, development, and practice.
Motivation and Personality: A Neuropsychological Perspective
Authors: Corr Philip J. , DeYoung Colin G. , McNaughton Neil
Published: March 2013

Personality is strongly influenced by motivation systems that organise responses to rewards and punishments and that drive approach and avoidance behavior. Neuropsychological research has identified: (a) two avoidance systems, one related to pure active avoidance and escape, and one to passive avoidance and behavioral inhibition produced by goal‐conflict; and (b) two approach systems, one related to the actions of reward seeking and one to experience and behavior related to pleasure on receiving reward. These systems mediate fluid moment‐by‐moment reactions to changing stimuli, with relatively stable person‐specific sensitivities to these stimuli manifested in personality traits. We review what is known about these motivational traits, integrating the theory‐driven approach based on animal learning paradigms with the empirical tradition of the Big Five personality model.
Experimental and Numerical Crashworthiness Investigation of the Empty and Foam‐Filled Conical Tube with Shallow Spherical Caps
Authors: Ghamarian A. , Zarei H. R. , Farsi M. A. , Ariaeifar N.
Published: March 2013

This paper experimentally investigates the crash responses of the empty and polyurethane foam‐filled conical tubes with shallow spherical caps under quasi‐static axial loading. To find more details about the energy absorption mechanism, finite element methods is used to simulate the crush process. In terms of finding more efficient and lighter crash absorbers particularly, the energy absorption and specific energy absorption and load ratio have been considered. The influences of the tube geometrical and material parameters such as radius of spherical region, wall thickness, length, semi‐apical angle and foam density on the energy absorption mechanism have been investigated. This study provides practical information for the use of thin‐walled tubes with shallow spherical caps as energy absorbers in aerospace applications to design reentry of sounding rocket based on foam‐filled conical tube with shallow spherical caps.
Environmental prevention of infection in stem cell transplant recipients: a survey of the Infectious Diseases Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Authors: Hicheri Y. , Einsele H. , Martino R. , Cesaro S. , Ljungman P. , Cordonnier C.
Published: March 2013

Background

The developments of peripheral blood stem cells in autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto‐HCT), and of reduced‐intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens in allogeneic HCT (allo‐HCT), have considerably changed the transplant approach. Prolonged neutropenia combined with severe mucosal damage and organ dysfunction is no longer the rule in the early post‐HCT pancytopenic phase. Although strict isolation during pancytopenia was followed by most HCT units in the past, this may not be the current practice.

Methods

In 2008, a questionnaire was sent out to the 463 European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation centers, enquiring about their current environmental protection procedures; 89 (20%) returned the questionnaire.

Results

Most centers housed auto‐HCT recipients in high‐efficiency particulate air (HEPA)‐filtered rooms without (52%) or with laminar air flow (LAF) (29%) after total body irradiation (TBI), whereas HEPA‐filtered rooms were used in 53% of auto‐HCT conditioned without TBI. During the initial pancytopenic phase after allo‐HCT, patients were housed in HEPA/LAF rooms in 50% and 42% of the centers, if a high‐dose myeloablative conditioning regimen or a RIC regimen was used, respectively. Surprisingly, 8–24% of the centers reported that no isolation procedures were used in patients colonized or infected with highly transmissible pathogens (i.e., Clostridium difficile, respiratory viruses, and varicella zoster virus).

Conclusion

In conclusion, universal recommendations for infected or colonized patients may be poorly known or applied in many HCT units.
Incremental costs of treating tetanus with intrathecal antitetanus immunoglobulin
Authors: Miranda‐Filho Demócrito B. , Ximenes Ricardo A. A. , Siqueira‐Filha Noêmia T. , Santos Andreia C.
Published: March 2013

Objective

To estimate the incremental cost of delivering intrathecal tetanus immunoglobulin compared to an intramuscular option.

Methods

To compare the two interventions, costs were estimated using standard cost methodology. Cost categories were personnel, overhead, consumables, antibiotics to treat infection, gases for respiratory assistance and immunoglobulin. Tetanus patients, aged 12 years or older, who were part of a randomised controlled clinical trial conducted in a referral hospital inRecife,Brazil, were allocated to two groups: a control group (58) and a study group (62). Patients allocated to the control group received 3000 international units (IU) of human immunoglobulin, with preservative, intramuscularly. The study group received the same quantity of immunoglobulin also intramuscularlyplusan intrathecal dose of 1000IUof a human immunoglobulin, free of preservatives, to prevent irritation of the meninges and avoid the need for corticosteroids. Thus, the difference between the two groups was the exclusive use of intrathecal immunoglobulin. The outcome measurements were clinical progression, hospital stay, respiratory assistance and respiratory infection.

Results

Delivering intrathecal immunoglobulin to patients saved a total ofUS$ 60 389, in a 10‐day intensive care treatment, by preventing a worsening of their tetanus severity (e.g. fromGrade I toGradesII,III,IV). Substantial cost saving was also observed in terms of hospital stay (US$ 173 104).

Conclusions

Intrathecal treatment of tetanus is cost saving. This intervention deserves consideration by doctors and decision‐makers as a mean of saving resources while maintaining high‐quality health outcomes.
Long‐term return behavior of Chinese whole blood donors
Authors: Guo Nan , Wang Jingxing , Yu Qilu , Yang Tonghan , Dong Xiangdong , Wen Guoxin , Tiemuer Mei‐hei‐li , Li Julin , He Weilan , Lv Yunlai , Ma Hongli , Wen Xiuqiong , Huang Mei , Ness Paul , Liu Jing , Wright David J. , Nelson Kenrad , Shan Hua ,   NHLBI Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study‐II (REDS‐II), International Component
Published: March 2013

Background

It is important to understand donor return behavior to maintain sufficient numbers of blood donors in developing countries where blood supplies are often inadequate.

Study Design and Methods

A total of 54,267 whole blood (WB) donors who donated between January 1 and March 31, 2008, at the five blood centers in China were followed for 2.5 years. Logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with their return behavior. A recurrent‐event Cox proportional‐hazard model was used to evaluate the overall effect of demographic variables and return behavior among first‐time donors.

Results

Donors with previous donation history were more likely to return and the number of previous returns was positively associated with future return (odds ratios, 3.31, 4.82, and 8.16 for one, two to three, and more than three times compared to none). Thirty‐four percent of donors (first‐time donor, 21%; repeat donor, 54%) made at least one return donation, with 14% returning in the first 9 months. The multivariable logistic regression model for all WB donors and the Cox proportional hazard model for first‐time donors showed consistent predictors for return: female sex, older age (≥25 years), larger volume (300 or 400 mL), and donating in satellite collection site.

Conclusion

Encouraging first‐time donors to make multiple donations is important for keeping adequate blood supply. The finding that first‐time and repeat donors shared the same predictors for return indicates that retention strategies on repeat donors may be effective on first‐time donors. Studies on motivators and barriers to return are needed, so that successful retention strategies can be tailored.
The effects of red blood cell preparation method on in vitro markers of red blood cell aging and inflammatory response
Authors: Radwanski Katherine , Garraud Olivier , Cognasse Fabrice , Hamzeh‐Cognasse Hind , Payrat Jean‐Marc , Min Kyungyoon
Published: March 2013

Background

Studies are currently under way examining whether the age of stored red blood cells (RBCs) affects clinical outcome in transfusion recipients. The effects of storage duration on the RBC storage lesion are well documented, while fewer studies are available regarding the effect of RBC production method. In this study, we compared in vitro RBC quality variables and markers of inflammatory response in apheresis and whole blood (WB)‐derived RBCs, specifically those prepared after an overnight room temperature hold (RTH) of WB.

Study Design and Methods

SAGM RBCs, prepared from WB after overnight RTH (n = 10), were compared to SAGM RBCs prepared using an apheresis device (Alyx, n = 10). As a control, SAGM RBCs were also prepared within 2 hours of WB collection (2‐hr WB, n = 10). All RBCs were stored at 4°C for 42 days with weekly assay of in vitro variables, cytokines and/or chemokines, and neutrophil activation after incubation with RBC supernatant.

Results

RTH WB RBCs exhibited decreased levels of 2,3‐diphosphoglycerate acid (2.3 μmol/g hemoglobin [Hb] ± 2.1 vs. 13.7 ± 1.3 μmol/g Hb) and morphology (160 ± 10 vs. 192 ± 5) on Day 1 and increased hemolysis (0.45 ± 0.21% vs. 0.31 ± 0.09%) and microparticles (6.1 ± 2.8/103 RBCs vs. 3.9 ± 1.1/103 RBCs) on Day 42 compared to apheresis RBCs. Gro‐α and ENA‐78 cytokine levels were significantly higher in RTH WB than Alyx RBCs during storage. CD11b expression was highest in neutrophils exposed to supernatant from RTH WB RBCs (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

RBC preparation method has a meaningful effect on the RBC storage lesion, which should be taken into account in addition to length of storage.
Inhibition of lysophosphatidic acid increase by prestorage whole blood leukoreduction in autologous CPDA‐1 whole blood
Authors: Nagura Yutaka , Tsuno Nelson H. , Ohkawa Ryunosuke , Nojiri Takahiro , Tokuhara Yasunori , Matsuhashi Mika , Yatomi Yutaka , Takahashi Koki
Published: March 2013

Background

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) has been implicated in the onset of transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI). In plasma, LPC is converted to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) by autotaxin (ATX). The effect of leukoreduction in the accumulation of these bioactive lipids and ATX in human autologous blood has not been fully investigated.

Study Design and Methods

The accumulation of choline‐containing phospholipids (LPC, sphingomyelin [SM], and phosphatidylcholine [PC]), LPA, and ATX during the storage of autologous blood and the changes caused by leukoreduction were investigated. A total of 26 orthopedic patients were enrolled. Autologous blood was collected as whole blood and, after leukoreduction, preserved refrigerated until use. Prestorage leukoreduced (LR) and non‐LR autologous blood samples were analyzed. The time‐dependent changes and the effect of the filtration were compared.

Results

A time‐dependent and significant increase in the levels of LPA was observed in both non‐LR and LR samples. The concentration of LPA was significantly reduced in LR compared to non‐LR samples. The concentration of LPC was higher in LR compared to non‐LR samples. The levels of PC, SM, and ATX were not affected by either the storage period or the leukoreduction.

Conclusions

Leukoreduction of autologous whole blood effectively reduced the accumulation of LPA. On the other hand, prestorage leukoreduction resulted in an increased concentration of LPC, without significantly affecting ATX. Further studies are necessary to confirm the role of LPA in the pathogenesis of adverse effects of blood transfusion, especially TRALI.
Some Surprising Facts About the Concentration of Trade Across Commodities and Trading Partners
Authors: Panagariya Arvind , Bagaria Nitika
Published: March 2013

The present paper documents unexplained concentration in trade. Bernard et al. (Producer Dynamics: New Evidence from Micro Data, 2009, University of Chicago Press) have documented concentration at the level of the firm and in exports. Taking a step forward, we document trade volume concentration at the level of nations and in both exports and imports. Firm level concentration has been relatively easy to explain in terms of models of heterogeneous‐firm models with entry costs in both the domestic and foreign markets. But as we shall see, the concentration at the level of the nation, especially in imports if not exports, turns out to be far more difficult to explain.
Renal pathophysiology: lessons learned from the canine remnant kidney model
Authors: Brown Scott A.
Published: March 2013

Objective

To review the pathophysiology of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in dogs and the contributions of the canine remnant kidney model to our understanding of this disease.

Data Sources

Original studies in the human and veterinary medical fields.

Data Synthesis

Three of the fundamental principles of modern nephrology—the intact nephron hypothesis, the trade‐off hypothesis, and the hyperfiltration theory were developed directly as a result of studies of the remnant kidney model. Most of the pivotal early studies were conducted in dogs. As a result, our understanding ofCKD, and of the renal and systemic adaptations toCKD, is largely based on studies of this model.

Conclusions

Studies of the remnant kidney model have advanced our understanding of the pathophysiology ofCKD. Nearly every therapeutic intervention used inCKD, by veterinarians and physicians alike, has its basis in studies of the remnant kidney model or in knowledge that was derived from studies of this model. A great debt is owed to the canine participants in these studies and to a small number of key scientists who conducted this important and insightful research.
Phenylbutyrate Therapy for Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex Deficiency and Lactic Acidosis
Authors: Ferriero Rosa , Manco Giuseppe , Lamantea Eleonora , Nusco Edoardo , Ferrante Maria I. , Sordino Paolo , Stacpoole Peter W. , Lee Brendan , Zeviani Massimo , Brunetti-Pierri Nicola
Published: March 2013

Phenylbutyrate enhances pyruvate dehydrogenase enzyme complex (PDHC) activity through inhibition of PDHC kinase, rescues the severe phenotype of a zebrafish model of PDHC deficiency, and prevents systemic lactic acidosis.
Long-Term Remissions of Severe Pemphigus After Rituximab Therapy Are Associated with Prolonged Failure of Desmoglein B Cell Response
Authors: Colliou Natacha , Picard Damien , Caillot Frédérique , Calbo Sébastien , Le Corre Stéphanie , Lim Annick , Lemercier Brigitte , Le Mauff Brigitte , Maho-Vaillant Maud , Jacquot Serge , Bedane Christophe , Bernard Philippe , Caux Frédéric , Prost Catherine , Delaporte Emmanuel , Doutre Marie-Sylvie , Dreno Brigitte , Franck Nathalie , Ingen-Housz-Oro Saskia , Chosidow Olivier , Pauwels Christine , Picard Catherine , Roujeau Jean-Claude , Sigal Michèle , Tancrede-Bohin Emmanuelle , Templier Isabelle , Eming Rüdiger , Hertl Michael , D’Incan Michel , Joly Pascal , Musette Philippe
Published: March 2013

Changes in the B cell repertoire mediate long-lasting therapeutic effects of rituximab in pemphigus patients.
Seeing the Light
Authors: Wojno Adam P. , Pierce Eric A. , Bennett Jean
Published: March 2013

One-time gene therapy resulted in multiyear visual improvement, and new approaches were used to evaluate effects on retinal structure.
Energy Hunting(tin)
Authors: Schaefer Anne
Published: March 2013

Vesicles move down neuronal axons powered by local glycolysis, a process that requires huntingtin, the protein defective in Huntington’s disease.
Dead or Alive? Nanopatrols Report
Authors: Artzi Natalie
Published: March 2013

New nanosensor-based imaging platform reports on transplanted cell viability.
Building capacity and capability for patient safety education: a train-the-trainers programme for senior doctors
Authors: Ahmed Maria , Arora Sonal , Baker Paul , Hayden Jacky , Vincent Charles , Sevdalis Nick
Published: March 2013

Objectives

To develop, implement and evaluate a training programme for senior doctors to become faculty leaders for patient safety training.

Methods

Senior doctors were recruited from across 20 hospitals in the North Western Deanery, England, UK. The intervention comprised a half-day course in patient safety theory, root cause analysis and small-group facilitation, following which participants were invited to sign up as faculty for a region-wide patient safety training programme for trainees ‘Lessons Learnt’. Course evaluation comprised a prospective longitudinal study conducted in 2010–2012. Patient safety knowledge, attitudes and skills were evaluated pre and post course and retention further evaluated 8 months post course.

Results

216 senior doctors volunteered as faculty of whom 122 were appointed. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the course. Objective scores of patient safety knowledge significantly improved immediately post course (MedianPre course=70%, MedianPost course=80%, p<0.001) and were sustained at 8 months (Median8 month post course=90%). Similarly, measures of attitudes and self-reported safety skills also significantly improved post course and were sustained. Upon completion of the course, 88/122 (72%) participants facilitated 213 ‘Lessons Learnt’ sessions from January 2011 to July 2012 (mean 2, range 1–8 sessions per faculty member). Trainee satisfaction with faculty was high.

Conclusions

There is considerable appetite for senior doctors to engage with training in patient safety as teachers and learners. Training senior doctors in patient safety is feasible, acceptable and effective as a means of building capacity and capability for delivering training in this rapidly emerging field.
Delayed cardioprotective effects of WY-14643 are associated with inhibition of MMP-2 and modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins through PPAR-α activation in rat hearts subjected to global ischaemia–reperfusion
Authors: Barlaka Eleftheria , Ledvényiová Veronika , Galatou Eleftheria , Ferko Miroslav , Čarnická Slávka , Ravingerová Táňa , Lazou Antigone
Published: March 2013

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-activated transcription factors regulating cardiac lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis. Although the activation of PPARs has been implicated in cardioprotection, the molecular mechanisms are largely unexplored. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of the PPAR-α agonist WY-14643 (WY), mimicking a delayed effect of preconditioning in rat hearts exposed to acute ischaemia–reperfusion (I/R) 24 h later, and to define whether antioxidative and antiapoptotic mechanisms are involved. Treatment with WY markedly attenuated post-ischaemic contractile dysfunction (as evidenced by the reduced infarct size), the higher left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) recovery, and the decreased occurrence of arrhythmias. These effects were abolished in the presence of the PPAR-α antagonist MK886. Heme oxygenase-1, a key antioxidative enzyme implicated in cytoprotection, was upregulated in response to WY at baseline, but was markedly reduced after I/R, indicating reduced oxidative stress. WY treatment was also associated with decreased mRNA levels and enzymatic activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2, and increased ratios of Bcl-2:Bax proteins. These results indicate that PPAR-α activation by its selective ligand WY may confer delayed preconditioning-like protection in rat hearts subjected to I/R by modulating oxidative stress, activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2, and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.
UNIFIED DARK MATTER AND DARK ENERGY DESCRIPTION IN A CHIRAL COSMOLOGICAL MODEL
Authors: ABBYAZOV RENAT R. , CHERVON SERGEY V.
Published: March 2013

We show the way of dark matter and dark energy presentation via ansatzs on the kinetic energies of the fields in the two-component chiral cosmological model (CCM). To connect a kinetic interaction of dark matter and dark energy with observational data the reconstruction procedure for the chiral metric component h22 and the potential of (self-)interaction V has been developed. The reconstruction of h22 and V for the early and later inflation have been performed. The proposed model is confronted to ΛCDM model as well.
SUPERSYMMETRIC QUANTUM MECHANICS AND EUCLIDEAN–DIRAC OPERATOR WITH COMPLEXIFIED QUATERNIONS
Authors: TANIŞLI MURAT , KANSU MUSTAFA EMRE , DEMİR SÜLEYMAN
Published: March 2013

We propose an alternative formulation of the supersymmetric quantum mechanics and Euclidean Dirac and Dirac–Yang–Mills (DYM) operators in terms of complexified quaternions. 4×4 matrix representations of the complexified quaternions are used to express the Euclidean–Dirac operator and Yang–Mills gauge field.
HIDDEN ATTRACTORS IN DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS. FROM HIDDEN OSCILLATIONS IN HILBERT–KOLMOGOROV, AIZERMAN, AND KALMAN PROBLEMS TO HIDDEN CHAOTIC ATTRACTOR IN CHUA CIRCUITS
Authors: LEONOV G. A. , KUZNETSOV N. V.
Published: March 2013

From a computational point of view, in nonlinear dynamical systems, attractors can be regarded as self-excited and hidden attractors. Self-excited attractors can be localized numerically by a standard computational procedure, in which after a transient process a trajectory, starting from a point of unstable manifold in a neighborhood of equilibrium, reaches a state of oscillation, therefore one can easily identify it. In contrast, for a hidden attractor, a basin of attraction does not intersect with small neighborhoods of equilibria. While classical attractors are self-excited, attractors can therefore be obtained numerically by the standard computational procedure. For localization of hidden attractors it is necessary to develop special procedures, since there are no similar transient processes leading to such attractors.

At first, the problem of investigating hidden oscillations arose in the second part of Hilbert's 16th problem (1900). The first nontrivial results were obtained in Bautin's works, which were devoted to constructing nested limit cycles in quadratic systems, that showed the necessity of studying hidden oscillations for solving this problem. Later, the problem of analyzing hidden oscillations arose from engineering problems in automatic control. In the 50–60s of the last century, the investigations of widely known Markus–Yamabe's, Aizerman's, and Kalman's conjectures on absolute stability have led to the finding of hidden oscillations in automatic control systems with a unique stable stationary point. In 1961, Gubar revealed a gap in Kapranov's work on phase locked-loops (PLL) and showed the possibility of the existence of hidden oscillations in PLL. At the end of the last century, the difficulties in analyzing hidden oscillations arose in simulations of drilling systems and aircraft's control systems (anti-windup) which caused crashes.

Further investigations on hidden oscillations were greatly encouraged by the present authors' discovery, in 2010 (for the first time), of chaotic hidden attractor in Chua's circuit.

This survey is dedicated to efficient analytical–numerical methods for the study of hidden oscillations. Here, an attempt is made to reflect the current trends in the synthesis of analytical and numerical methods.
MULTI-PULSE HETEROCLINIC ORBITS AND CHAOTIC MOTIONS IN A PARAMETRICALLY EXCITED VISCOELASTIC MOVING BELT
Authors: YAO MINGHUI , ZHANG WEI , ZU JEAN W.
Published: March 2013

This paper investigates the multi-pulse global heteroclinic bifurcations and chaotic dynamics for nonlinear, nonplanar oscillations of the parametrically excited viscoelastic moving belts by using an extended Melnikov method in the resonant case. Applying the method of multiple scales, the Galerkin's approach and the theory of normal form, the explicit normal form is obtained for the case of 1:1 internal resonance and primary parametric resonance. Studies are performed for the heteroclinic bifurcations of the unperturbed system and for the characteristics of the hyperbolic dynamics of the dissipative system, respectively. The extended Melnikov method is used to investigate the Shilnikov type multi-pulse bifurcations and chaotic dynamics of the viscoelastic moving belt. Based on the investigation, the geometric structure of the multi-pulse orbits is described in the four-dimensional phase space. Numerical simulations show that the Shilnikov type multi-pulse chaotic motions can occur. Furthermore, numerical simulations lead to the discovery of the new shapes of chaotic motion. Overall, both theoretical and numerical studies suggest that chaos for the Smale horseshoe sense in motion exists.
GLOBALLY EXPONENTIALLY ATTRACTIVE SETS AND POSITIVE INVARIANT SETS OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS WITH ONLY CROSS-PRODUCT NONLINEARITIES
Authors: ZHAO XINQUAN , JIANG FENG , HU JUNHAO
Published: March 2013

In this paper, the existence of globally exponentially attractive sets and positive invariant sets of three-dimensional autonomous systems with only cross-product nonlinearities are considered. Sufficient conditions, which guarantee the existence of globally exponentially attractive set and positive invariant set of the system, are obtained. The results of this paper comprise some existing relative results as in special cases. The approach presented in this paper can be applied to study other chaotic systems.
BIFURCATIONS OF TRAVELING WAVE SOLUTIONS IN A MICROSTRUCTURED SOLID MODEL
Authors: LI JIBIN , CHEN GUANRONG
Published: March 2013

The traveling wave system of a microstructured solid model belongs to the second class of singular traveling wave equations studied in [Li et al., 2009]. In this paper, by using methods from dynamical systems theory, bifurcations of phase portraits of such a traveling wave system are analyzed in its corresponding parameter space. The existence of kink wave solutions and uncountably infinitely many bounded solutions is proved. Moreover, the exact parametric representations of periodic solutions and homoclinic orbits are obtained.
HOPF BIFURCATION IN A CALCIUM OSCILLATION MODEL AND ITS CONTROL: FREQUENCY DOMAIN APPROACH
Authors: CHANG YU , ZHOU LILI , WANG JINLIANG
Published: March 2013

The Hopf bifurcation in a calcium oscillation model is theoretically analyzed by Hopf bifurcation theory in frequency domain. Approximation expressions for frequencies and amplitudes of periodic orbits arising from Hopf bifurcation are provided by using second-order harmonic balance method. In addition, a new method is proposed to control the amplitudes of the periodic orbits. Numerical simulations show the effectiveness of the method for suppressing periodic oscillations.
QUADRATIC VECTOR FIELDS EQUIVARIANT UNDER THE D2 SYMMETRY GROUP
Authors: ANASTASSIOU STAVROS , PNEVMATIKOS SPYROS , BOUNTIS TASSOS
Published: March 2013

Symmetry often plays an important role in the formation of complicated structures in the dynamics of vector fields. Here, we study a specific family of systems defined on ℝ3, which are invariant under the D2 symmetry group. Under the assumption that they are polynomial of degree at most two, they belong to a two-parameter family of vector fields, called the D2 model. We describe the global behavior of the system, for most parameter values, and locate a region of parameter space where complicated structures occur. The existence of heteroclinic and homoclinic orbits is shown, as well as of heteroclinic cycles (for other parameter values), implying the presence of (different types of) Shil'nikov type of chaos in the D2 systems. We then employ Poincaré maps to illustrate the bifurcations leading to this behavior. The global bifurcations exhibited by its strange attractors are explained as an effect of symmetry. We conclude by describing the behavior of the system at infinity.
FEATURE-BASED RATIONALE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE ADAPTATION
Authors: TEKINERDOGAN BEDIR , SOZER HASAN , AKSIT MEHMET
Published: March 2013

Each software architecture design is the result of a broad set of design decisions and their justifications, that is, the design rationale. Capturing the design rationale is important for a variety of reasons such as enhancing communication, reuse and maintenance. Unfortunately, it appears that there is still a lack of appropriate methods and tools for effectively capturing and managing the architecture design rationale. In this paper we present a feature-based rationale management approach and the corresponding tool environment ArchiRationale for supporting software architecture adaptation. The approach takes as input an existing architecture and captures the design rationale for adapting the architecture for a given quality concern. For this we define a feature model that includes the possible set of architectural tactics to realize the quality concern. The presented approach captures the rationale for deciding on feature selections and for selecting the corresponding architecture design alternatives. ArchiRationale customizes and integrates the Eclipse plugin tools XFeature, ArchStudio and XQuery to provide tool support for capturing, storing and accessing the design rationale. We illustrate the approach for adapting a software architecture for fault tolerance.
COMMUTATOR IDENTITIES ON SYMMETRIC ELEMENTS OF GROUP ALGEBRAS
Authors: JUHÁSZ TIBOR , TÓTH ENIKŐ
Published: March 2013

Let K be a field of odd characteristic p, and let G be the direct product of a finite p-group P ≠ 1 and a Hamiltonian 2-group. We show that the set of symmetric elements (KG)* of the group algebra KG with respect to the involution of KG which inverts all elements of G, satisfies all Lie commutator identities of degree t(P) or more, where t(P) denotes the nilpotency index of the augmentation ideal of the group algebra KP. In addition, if P is powerful, then (KG)* satisfies no Lie commutator identity of degree less than t(P). Applying this result we get that (KG)* is Lie nilpotent and Lie solvable, and its Lie nilpotency index and Lie derived length are not greater than t(P) and ⌈ log 2 t(P)⌉, respectively, and these bounds are attained whenever P is a powerful group. The corresponding result on the set of symmetric units of KG is also obtained.
INTUITIONISTIC FUZZY CLUSTERING ALGORITHM BASED ON BOOLE MATRIX AND ASSOCIATION MEASURE
Authors: ZHAO HUA , XU ZESHUI , WANG ZHONG
Published: March 2013

In this paper we develop a measure for calculating the association coefficient between Atanassov's intuitionistic fuzzy sets (A-IFSs), and show its desirable axiomatic properties. Then we present an algorithm for clustering A-IFSs. The algorithm first utilizes the association coefficient of A-IFSs to construct an association matrix, and then calculates the λ-cutting matrix of the association matrix no matter whether it is an equivalent matrix or not. After that, the λ-cutting matrix is used to cluster A-IFSs (if the λ-cutting matrix is just only a similarity matrix, then we can easily transform it into an equivalent matrix). Three examples are used to show the effectiveness of the association coefficient and the algorithm for clustering A-IFSs. Furthermore, we extend the algorithm to cluster interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs), and finally, we use another numerical example to illustrate the latter algorithm.
A SURVEY OF CONTEXT-AWARE MOBILE RECOMMENDATIONS
Authors: LIU QI , MA HAIPING , CHEN ENHONG , XIONG HUI
Published: March 2013

Mobile recommender systems target on recommending the right product or information to the right mobile users at anytime and anywhere. It is well known that the contextual information is often the key for the performances of mobile recommendations. Therefore, in this paper, we provide a focused survey of the recent development of context-aware mobile recommendations. After briefly reviewing the state-of-the-art of recommender systems, we first discuss the general notion of mobile context and how the contextual information is collected. Then, we introduce the existing approaches to exploit contextual information for modeling mobile recommendations. Furthermore, we summarize several existing recommendation tasks in the mobile scenarios, such as the recommendations in the tourism domain. Finally, we discuss some key issues that are still critical in the field of context-aware mobile recommendations, including the privacy problem, the energy efficiency issues, and the design of user interfaces.
Mandibular Ameloblastoma in an Elderly Patient: A Case Report
Authors: Nagata Kokoro , Shimizu Kasumi , Sato Chu , Morita Hiroshi , Watanabe Yoshihiro , Tagawa Toshiro
Published: March 2013

Ameloblastomas frequently occur in relatively young people, but are rarely seen in people aged 80 years or older. We report a case of mandibular ameloblastoma in an elderly patient with a review of the literature. The patient was a 82-year-old man who noticed swelling of the gingiva approximately 2 weeks prior to his initial visit. Computed tomography showed a radiolucent area with little radiopacity. Internal uniformity was observed at the site, with thinning of cortical bone which lacked continuity in some areas. The excision and curettage were performed under general anaesthesia. No recurrence has been observed 14 months after surgery.
Sterile Neutrino Fits to Short-Baseline Neutrino Oscillation Measurements
Authors: Conrad J. M. , Ignarra C. M. , Karagiorgi G. , Shaevitz M. H. , Spitz J.
Published: March 2013

This paper reviews short-baseline oscillation experiments as interpreted within the context of one, two, and three sterile neutrino models associated with additional neutrino mass states in the~1 eV range. Appearance and disappearance signals and limits are considered. We show that fitting short-baseline datasets to a 3 + 3 (3 + 2) model, defined by three active and three (two) sterile neutrinos, results in an overall goodness of fit of 67% (69%) and good compatibility between data sets—to be compared to a 3 + 1 model with a 55% goodness of fit. While the (3 + 3) fit yields the highest quality overall, it still finds inconsistencies with the MiniBooNE appearance datasets; in particular, the global fit fails to account for the observed MiniBooNE low-energy excess. Given the overall improvement, we recommend using the results of (3 + 2) and (3 + 3) fits, rather than (3 + 1) fits, for future neutrino oscillation phenomenology. These results motivate the pursuit of further short-baseline experiments, such as those reviewed in this paper.
Precise Analytical Computation of Frozen-Eccentricity, Low Earth Orbits in a Tesseral Potential
Authors: Lara Martin , San-Juan Juan F. , López-Ochoa Luis M.
Published: March 2013

Classical procedures for designing Earth’s mapping missions rely on a preliminary frozen-eccentricity orbit analysis. This initial exploration is based on the use of zonal gravitational models, which are frequently reduced to a simpleJ2-J3analysis. However, theJ2-J3model may not be accurate enough for some applications. Furthermore, lower order truncations of the geopotential are known to fail in describing the behavior of elliptic frozen orbits properly. Inclusion of a higher degree geopotential, which also takes into account the short-period effects of tesseral harmonics, allows for the precise computation of frozen-eccentricity, low Earth orbits that show smaller long-period effects in long-term propagations than those obtained when using the zonal model design.
Comparative Effect of Crude and Commercial Enzyme on the Juice Recovery from Bael Fruit (Aegle marmelosCorrea) Using Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Singh Anurag , Sharma H. K. , Kumar Sanjay , Upadhyay Ashutosh , Mishra K. P.
Published: March 2013

The effect of incubation time, incubation temperature, and crude enzyme concentration was observed on the yield, viscosity, and clarity of the juice obtained from bael fruit pulp. The recommended enzymatic treatment conditions from the study were incubation time 475 min, incubation temperature 45°C, and crude enzyme concentration 0.20 mL/25 g bael fruit pulp. The recovery, viscosity, and clarity of the juice under these conditions were 82.9%, 1.41 cps, and 21.32%T, respectively. The variables, clarity, and yield were found as principal components for comparing different samples of the juice treated with enzyme.
MicroRNAs in Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Wang Yang , Wang Yongting , Yang Guo-Yuan
Published: March 2013

The risk of ischemic stroke increases substantially with age, making it the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of long-term disability in the world. Numerous studies demonstrated that genes, RNAs, and proteins are involved in the occurrence and development of stroke. Current studies found that microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are also closely related to the pathological process of stroke. miRNAs are a group of short, noncoding RNA molecules playing important role in posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression and they have emerged as regulators of ischemic preconditioning and ischemic postconditioning. Here we give an overview of the expression and function of miRNAs in the brain, miRNAs as biomarkers during cerebral ischemia, and clinical applications and limitations of miRNAs. Future prospects of miRNAs are also discussed.