bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Important Poisonous Plants in Tibetan Ethnomedicine
Authors: Ma Lijuan , Gu Ronghui , Tang Li , Chen Ze-E , Di Rong , Long Chunlin
Published: January 2015

Tibetan ethnomedicine is famous worldwide, both for its high effectiveness and unique cultural background. Many poisonous plants have been widely used to treat disorders in the Tibetan medicinal system. In the present review article, some representative poisonous plant species are introduced in terms of their significance in traditional Tibetan medicinal practices. They are Aconitum pendulum, Strychnos nux-vomica, Datura stramonium and Anisodus tanguticus, for which the toxic chemical constituents, bioactivities and pharmacological functions are reviewed herein. The most important toxins include aconitine, strychnine, scopolamine, and anisodamine. These toxic plants are still currently in use for pain-reduction and other purposes by Tibetan healers after processing.
Molecular Biology of KSHV Lytic Reactivation
Authors: Purushothaman Pravinkumar , Uppal Timsy , Verma Subhash
Published: January 2015

Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) primarily persists as a latent episome in infected cells. During latent infection, only a limited number of viral genes are expressed that help to maintain the viral episome and prevent lytic reactivation. The latent KSHV genome persists as a highly ordered chromatin structure with bivalent chromatin marks at the promoter-regulatory region of the major immediate-early gene promoter. Various stimuli can induce chromatin modifications to an active euchromatic epigenetic mark, leading to the expression of genes required for the transition from the latent to the lytic phase of KSHV life cycle. Enhanced replication and transcription activator (RTA) gene expression triggers a cascade of events, resulting in the modulation of various cellular pathways to support viral DNA synthesis. RTA also binds to the origin of lytic DNA replication to recruit viral, as well as cellular, proteins for the initiation of the lytic DNA replication of KSHV. In this review we will discuss some of the pivotal genetic and epigenetic factors that control KSHV reactivation from the transcriptionally restricted latent program.
Les verbes περιπατει̃ν et φέρειν dans le Livre VII des Lois de Platon : la promenade et le portage dans la formation du jeune enfant
Authors: Agne Djibril
Published: January 2015

The verbs περιπατει̃ν and φέρειν in book VII of Plato's Laws: walk and carriage in the development of the young child.

In the 789th passage of his Laws Plato uses the verbs peripatein and ferein when referring to the respective activities of pregnant women and nurses. The study of these two verbs is centered on the positive effects of walk and carrying on embryos and newborns. Pregnant women are required to walk because this helps to ‘ mould’ the soft body of the future baby. Such movements should control the moods and frights of the fetus. Plato seems to be repeating Hippocrates’ theses on the contribution of walking to the physical and sanitary formation of the human body. However, what makes this philosopher’s approach a peculiar one lies in his advocating pregnant women’s walking with a view to having the children in the womb benefit from it. Child-carrying which is imposed upon the sturdy nurses of the ideal city in Plato’s Laws is a physical ordeal that protects from deformity the young and soft limbs of children under three. Finally, in both prenatal and postnatal periods, Plato has strongly advocated pregnant women’s walking and child-carrying because of the physical and psychological advantages infants derive from them. As a matter of fact, the eugenics that is extolled by Plato in the ideal city of his Laws is the main prop of the pedagogical orientation he is advocating.
Caveolin-1 and CDC42 mediated endocytosis of silica-coated iron oxide nanoparticles in HeLa cells
Authors: Bohmer Nils , Jordan Andreas
Published: January 2015

Nanomedicine is a rapidly growing field in nanotechnology, which has great potential in the development of new therapies for numerous diseases. For example iron oxide nanoparticles are in clinical use already in the thermotherapy of brain cancer. Although it has been shown, that tumor cells take up these particles in vitro, little is known about the internalization routes. Understanding of the underlying uptake mechanisms would be very useful for faster and precise development of nanoparticles for clinical applications. This study aims at the identification of key proteins, which are crucial for the active uptake of iron oxide nanoparticles by HeLa cells (human cervical cancer) as a model cell line. Cells were transfected with specific siRNAs against Caveolin-1, Dynamin 2, Flotillin-1, Clathrin, PIP5Kα and CDC42. Knockdown of Caveolin-1 reduces endocytosis of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and silica-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (SCIONs) between 23 and 41%, depending on the surface characteristics of the nanoparticles and the experimental design. Knockdown of CDC42 showed a 46% decrease of the internalization of PEGylated SPIONs within 24 h incubation time. Knockdown of Dynamin 2, Flotillin-1, Clathrin and PIP5Kα caused no or only minor effects. Hence endocytosis in HeLa cells of iron oxide nanoparticles, used in this study, is mainly mediated by Caveolin-1 and CDC42. It is shown here for the first time, which proteins of the endocytotic pathway mediate the endocytosis of silica-coated iron oxide nanoparticles in HeLa cells in vitro. In future studies more experiments should be carried out with different cell lines and other well-defined nanoparticle species to elucidate possible general principles.
L'Iran peut-elle devenir une « surperpuissance » énergétique ?
Authors: Chaudet Didier
Published: January 2015

L’Iran est un des plus gros exportateurs de pétrole au monde, et aussi l’un des plus gros producteurs. Il possède les deuxièmes réserves de gaz, et, avec un accès à une technologie moderne adéquate, Téhéran pourrait devenir un très sérieux compétiteur pour la Russie. De là, une question peut légitimement se poser : l’Iran pourra-t-il devenir une « superpuissance » énergétique ? Pour répondre à cette question, l’analyse ne pourra pas porter que sur les questions énergétiques en elles-mêmes, il faudra les associer à la situation géopolitique, et aux orientations diplomatiques de la République islamique, pour savoir si cette dernière saura mener une politique lui permettant d’atteindre cet objectif. Ou si au contraire, ses choix, sur les dossiers énergétiques mais aussi économiques au sens large, de politique étrangère, de sécurité, ces dernières années et jusqu’à aujourd’hui, rendrait le dit objectif inaccessible. Une évolution vers un statut de « superpuissance » énergétique aurait-elle un impact sur le marché méditerranéen et européen ?
La Turquie au coeur des enjeux géopolitiques et énergétiques régionaux
Authors: Jabbour Jana , Rebière Noémie
Published: January 2015

La position géographique de la Turquie au carrefour de l’Asie, du Moyen-Orient et de l’Europe, entre les pays producteurs d’hydrocarbures à l’Est et les pays consommateurs à l’Ouest lui confère un rôle géostratégique majeur. Frontalière des pays qui détiennent plus de 70 % des ressources mondiales d’hydrocarbures, elle est devenue l’un des principaux territoires de transit pour alimenter l’Union européenne. Ainsi, au regard des changements géopolitiques actuels, en Europe de l’Est avec la crise ukrainienne, et au Moyen-Orient avec les crises en Irak et en Syrie, ainsi qu’en Méditerranée Orientale avec la découverte de gisements d’hydrocarbures au large de l’île de Chypre, on constate que les enjeux énergétiques occupent plus que jamais une place capitale dans la définition de politique intérieure et extérieure de la Turquie.
Au delà du « hub » géopolitique, la régulation contestée du secteur énergétique en Turquie
Authors: Arik Elvan , Mustafayev Elshan
Published: January 2015

Dans l’optique de devenir un hub gazier, depuis le début des années 2000, la Turquie a engagé d’importantes réformes structurelles de ses marchés énergétiques internes. Traditionnellement, seules des analyses géopolitiques servent à décrire le hub gazier turc. Après un rappel des principaux enjeux énergétiques régionaux, cet article propose une analyse de la situation interne à la Turquie puis met en perspective les contradictions et les potentiels impacts d’une régulation économique et politique ambivalente du secteur gaz naturel de la part du parti au pouvoir. Ce décentrement scalaire et thématique permet au final de compléter et de réévaluer la pertinence de cette notion de hub appliquée au cas turc.
Le secteur électrique palestinien, un enjeu géopolitique
Authors: Amsellem David
Published: January 2015

Le secteur électrique est rarement étudié lorsqu’on aborde l’histoire politique des Palestiniens. Pourtant, l’électricité est un secteur stratégique fondamentalement lié à leur volonté d’indépendance politique. Plus que cela, la situation électrique des Palestiniens révèle les difficultés auxquelles est confrontée la société palestinienne dans son projet d’indépendance nationale.
La variable énergétique dans la crise syrienne
Authors: Rigoulet-Roze David
Published: January 2015

La variable énergétique – tout particulièrement gazière – est souvent présentée comme le facteur déterminant, sinon exclusif, qui serait à même de rendre compte du conflit en Syrie lequel a dégénéré en véritable guerre civile, depuis la seconde moitié de l’année 2011, et dont les différents acteurs – qu’il s’agisse des insurgés sunnites ou du régime alaouite de Bachar al-Assad – bénéficient tous, à des degrés divers, de soutiens extérieurs. Au demeurant, s’il convient de ne pas sous-estimer cette variable gazière avec la question stratégique s’il en est du contrôle d’un éventuel gazoduc, il faut dans le même temps se garder de la surestimer dès lors que d’autres variables non moins importantes comme la dimension confessionnelle, induite par la polarisation sunnite versus chiite, intervient également très largement, voire s’y superpose.
Le mythe de l'indépendance du Kurdistan irakien
Authors: Bakawan Adel
Published: January 2015

Le Gouvernement Régional du Kurdistan (GRK) dispose d’institutions étatiques : pouvoir exécutif, pouvoir législatif, pouvoir judicaire, armée, appareils de sécurité. Il dispose également d’une forte sympathie internationale (44 pays soutiennent les peshmergas contre l’organisation de l’État Islamique) et d’un territoire reconnu dans la Constitution irakienne. Toutefois, une triple fragilité politique, économique et militaire éloigne le GRK de son rêve d’indépendance.
Le groupement automobile siamois en France, 1918-1919. Enjeux militaires et politiques sur fond de choc culturel
Authors: Grandhomme Jean-Noël
Published: January 2015

L’emploi du groupement automobile siamois en France en 1918-1919 est fondé sur un malentendu du côté français. Les militaires entendent l’utiliser comme un contingent analogue aux autres, appelé à un certain rendement, tandis que les hommes politiques veulent avant tout flatter l’honneur national du royaume. Du côté siamois, ce contingent est au service d’une farouche volonté de reconnaissance internationale ; il doit contribuer à renforcer la place du Siam dans le concert des nations indépendantes.
Les Indes orientales néerlandaises et la Première Guerre mondiale
Authors: Van Dijk Kees
Published: January 2015

Bien qu’elles soient à la fois colonies d’un pays resté neutre et situées dans une région du monde éloignée du théâtre européen des opérations, les Indes néerlandaises n’en ont pas moins ressenti l’influence de la Grande Guerre. Tout d’abord dans la mesure où la colonie vivait essentiellement grâce à l’import-export qui s’est vu limité pendant le conflit, mais surtout parce que parallèlement à la montée des tensions à l’échelle internationale, un certain nombre de revendications nationalistes ont commencé à voir le jour au sein de la population indonésienne. L’objet de cet article est d’exposer les différentes phases par lesquelles passent les colonies néerlandaises, depuis leur loyauté initiale au gouvernement, jusqu’au relâchement des tensions après l’importante montée des revendications.
Le XXI e : un siècle immunisé contre la psychanalyse ?
Authors: Michel Luc
Published: January 2015

La psychanalyse est une invention freudienne qui s’inscrit dans le contexte historique et social du XIX e siècle. De ce paradigme sont issus non seulement tout un développement théorique fécond, mais aussi une réponse sociale. Nous en retracerons quelques lignes d’un point de vue avant tout groupal. Nous partons de la phrase prétendument attribuée à Freud alors qu’il arrive aux Etats-Unis : « Ils ne se doutent pas que nous leur apportons la peste » pour nous interroger sur les conséquences de cette épidémie. La psychanalyse a diffusé largement dans le socius et en a modifié les représentations. Après cette phase d’engouement, elle a quitté sa situation de paradigme hégémonique. Pour rester vivante elle doit donc évoluer et trouver de nouvelles pistes.
France : croissance hors taxes
Authors: Heyer Éric , Ducoudré Bruno , Péléraux Hervé , Plane Mathieu
Published: January 2015

Début 2011, la France est l’un des rares pays développés à avoir retrouvé son niveau de PIB d’avant-crise. La croissance économique dépassait les 2 %, atteignant même les 3 % en glissement annuel au premier trimestre 2011. Depuis, la donne a changé : la dynamique de reprise s’est interrompue et l’activité connaît une croissance, certes positive, mais proche de zéro. Quatre freins conjoncturels expliquent l’extinction en 2011 de la phase de reprise post-récession : déjà malmenée par une consolidation budgétaire rapide et la dégradation des conditions de crédit, la croissance a aussi été diminuée par les fluctuations du prix du pétrole et de la compétitivité-prix, en 2012 sous l’effet de la déflation salariale des pays concurrents de la France, et en 2013, sous l’effet de l’appréciation de l’euro. En 2014, l’amélioration attendue sur le front de l’activité ne se produira pas : le stimulus lié au relâchement progressif de la réduction des déficits sera compensé par l’appréciation de l’euro observée jusqu’au milieu de l’année 2013 ainsi que par la baisse de l’investissement en logement des ménages. La croissance devrait ainsi s’établir à 0,4 %, ne permettant ni au chômage d’inverser sa tendance haussière ni au déficit public de se résorber significativement. De plus, contrairement aux années antérieures et après une baisse régulière de plus de 3 points de PIB depuis 2009, le déficit public devrait à nouveau se creuser légèrement et atteindre 4,5 % du PIB. En 2015, la croissance retrouverait un peu de vigueur, +1,1 % par an, grâce à l’atténuation de deux des facteurs négatifs qui ont étouffé la croissance depuis 2010 : les conditions de crédit et la réduction des déficits. Par ailleurs, l’effet de la compétitivité-prix, un facteur qui aura joué très négativement en 2014, devrait s’inverser. En premier lieu, cela sera lié à la dépréciation de l’euro, mais aussi à la montée en puissance du CICE.
Comment lutter contre la fragmentation du système bancaire de la zone euro ?
Authors: Antonin Céline , Blot Christophe , Creel Jérôme , Hubert Paul , Labondance Fabien , Touzé Vincent
Published: January 2015

Le système bancaire de la zone euro a été fortement touché par deux crises : celle des subprime puis celle des dettes souveraines. Il s’en est suivi un processus de fragmentation du système bancaire qui s’est traduit par des difficultés de financement pour les banques des pays en crise et par une hétérogénéité des conditions de financement – taux des prêts aux ménages et aux entreprises de la zone euro. Si la BCE est parvenue à éviter une crise systémique majeure, cette situation a perturbé la transmission de la politique monétaire au sein de la zone euro. Les mesures mises en œuvre par la BCE au cours de la crise visent donc à la fois à contrer les risques déflationnistes mais également à restaurer les canaux de transmission de la politique monétaire dans les pays en crise. Bien que la menace déflationniste soit encore prégnante, il semble que les politiques non-conventionnelles ont eu les effets indirects escomptés sur l’efficacité de l’instrument conventionnel de la politique monétaire. Il reste qu’à plus long terme, des mécanismes doivent être envisagés pour renforcer l’intégration financière et rompre le lien entre crise de dette souveraine et crise bancaire. C’est précisément l’objet de l’Union bancaire européenne qui attribue à la BCE de nouveaux pouvoirs en matière de supervision bancaire. Si beaucoup d’experts s’accordent à dire que l’Union bancaire est une grande avancée dans l’approfondissement de l’Europe, il n’en demeure pas moins que plusieurs zones d’ombre subsistent. Les progrès ainsi accomplis ne doivent pas faire oublier que la stabilité bancaire et financière n’est pas complètement assurée et qu’elle ne le sera pas tant que la fragmentation bancaire subsistera entre les pays du cœur et ceux de la périphérie de la zone euro.
Editorial Letter from the Director
Authors: Altarriba Josep Maria
Published: January 2015

Es todo un honor para mí, como nuevo director editorial de Harvard Deusto Business Research, presentar este nuevo número que cierra el año 2014 y que reúne investigaciones y estudios sobre el análisis longitudinal de las consejerías cruzadas y su papel en la organización económica española, las raíces del liderazgo, el criterio de valoración de coste amortizado: análisis y aplicación a través de un préstamo concertado por el sistema de amortización francés con tipo de interés indiciado y, por último, la gestión del talento en la empresa y lecciones desde el ámbito deportivo: modelos Fútbol Club Barcelona versus Real Madrid Club de Fútbol.
Detecting and Quantifying Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity Using Air Indexing Combined with the T-Scan System
Authors: Coleman, DDS Thomas A.
Published: January 2015

This chapter introduces the Air Indexing method for detecting and quantifying cervical dentin hypersensitivity as a companion to the T-Scan Occlusal Analysis System, which evaluates occlusal force and timing values of contacting teeth. The chapter discusses detection, diagnosis, and treatment of clinical signs and/or symptoms of Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity (CDH). A 17-year-long retrospective study conducted between 1979 and 1996 is presented that illustrates the correlation between Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity and its resolution following occlusal adjustment. Resulting stress from occlusal contact force is etiologic for non-carious cervical lesion formation and root degradation. This chapter details how biocorrosion and lost protective glycoproteins hasten the effects of applied force, creating CDH symptoms and cervical abfractions. Lastly, the Air Indexing method of CDH diagnosis is melded with T-Scan occlusal analysis to diagnose and treat CDH symptoms. Together, these two methods yield more CDH/occlusal insight than either method can alone.
Factors Enabling Communication-Based Collaboration in Interprofessional Healthcare Practice
Authors: Palanisamy Ramaraj , Verville Jacques
Published: January 2015

The healthcare system has moved from autonomous practice to a cross-disciplinary interprofessional team-based approach in which communication for collaborative care is vital. Ineffective communication contributes to the team's inability to work collaboratively and significantly increases the possibilities of mistakes occurring in the delivery of patient care. So, effective communication for collaborative care becomes necessary for ensuring patient safety. This paper aims to advance our understandings of current communication-based collaborative healthcare practices. Specifically, it explores the factors enabling communication-based inter-professional practice. A qualitative study was selected for obtaining real life experiences of healthcare professionals. Twenty-five participants participated in the study, and the descriptive interview method was used to obtain qualitative data. The enabling factors were grouped into five main themes: communication, coordination, cooperation, trust, and collaboration. Quotes from the participants are presented to augment the interpretation and enhanced description of the enabling factors. Managerial implications, areas for future research, and limitations are given besides the conclusions of the study.
The breadth of attention in old age
Authors: Hüttermann Stefanie , Bock Otmar , Memmert Daniel
Published: January 2015

Older adults typically have more difficulties than younger ones in situations that require attention in the visual periphery, such as driving a car or riding a bicycle. Previous studies accordingly found that the breadth of attention decreases in old age when one attention-demanding task is presented at fixation and simultaneously another one in the visual periphery. The present work evaluates the role of eye position for the observed deficit by presenting both tasks in the visual periphery (condition peripheral-peripheral) or by leaving it up to the subjects where in the visual field the tasks appear (condition free-gaze). Our data indicate that attention breadth decreases by 27% from the age of early 20 to the age of late 60 in both conditions. This outcome generalizes previous findings about age-related attention deficits to scenarios that were not explored in previous studies, yet are relevant for everyday behavior.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment in Three Cases of Necrotizing Infection of the Neck
Authors: Nedrebø Torbjørn , Bruun Trond , Skjåstad Rune , Holmaas Gunhild , Skrede Steinar
Published: January 2015

Necrotizing infections of the head and neck are rare conditions in our hospital. Clinical and microbiological characteristics of three consecutive cases treated in Haukeland University Hospital in western Norway in the year 2010 are described. Two cases of Lemierre’s syndrome and one case with a descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) were diagnosed. All three cases were treated with broad spectrum antibiotics and in two cases surgery was possible. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) with intensive care facilities became recently available at our hospital, and this treatment was used in all these patients regardless of surgery. In one case we describe the use of HBOT on the basis of strong clinical suspicion of anaerobic infection only. Bacterial identification by partial sequencing of the 16SrDNA gene proved to be a useful supplement to conventional culture techniques. All the cases all demonstrated a significant clinical improvement after introduction of HBOT. When HBOT is available, it should be considered as adjunctive treatment in extensive infections with anaerobes.
Interdisciplinary Approaches to Zoonotic Disease
Authors: Goodwin Robin , Schley David , Lai Ka-Man , Ceddia Graziano M. , Barnett Julie , Cook NIgel
Published: January 2015

Zoonotic infections are on the increase worldwide, but most research into the biological, environmental and life science aspects of these infections has been conducted in separation. In this review we bring together contemporary research in these areas to suggest a new, symbiotic framework which recognises the interaction of biological, economic, psychological, and natural and built environmental drivers in zoonotic infection and transmission. In doing so, we propose that some contemporary debates in zoonotic research could be resolved using an expanded framework which explicitly takes into account the combination of motivated and habitual human behaviour, environmental and biological constraints, and their interactions.
Stigmatising attitudes towards persons with mental illness: a survey of medical students and interns from Southern Nigeria
Authors: James Bawo Onesirosan , Omoaregba Joyce Ohiole , Okogbenin Esther Osemudiamen
Published: January 2015

Stigmatising attitudes towards persons with mental illness are commonly reported among health professionals. Familiarity with mental illness has been reported to improve these attitudes. Very few studies have compared future medical doctors' attitudes toward types of mental illness, substance use disorders and physical illness. A cross-sectional survey of 5th and 6th year medical students as well as recently graduated medical doctors was conducted in April 2011. The 12-item level of contact report and the Attitude towards Mental Illness Questionnaire were administered. Partici -pants endorsed stigmatising attitudes towards mental illness; with attitudes more adverse for schizophrenia compared to depression. Stigmatising attitudes were similarly endorsed for substance use disorders. Paradoxically, attitudes towards HIV/AIDS were positive and similar to diabetes mellitus. Increasing familiarity with mental illness was weakly associated with better attitudes towards depression and schizophrenia. Stigmatising attitudes towards depression and schizophrenia are common among future doctors. Efforts to combat stigma are urgently needed and should be promoted among medical students and recent medical graduates.
A self administered executive functions ecological questionnaire (the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function - Adult Version) shows impaired scores in a sample of patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Bulzacka Ewa , Vilain Jeanne , Schürhoff Franck , Méary Alexandre , Leboyer Marion , Szöke Andrei
Published: January 2015

Subjective measurements of cognition have seldom been used in schizophrenia. This is mainly due to the assumption that such measurements lack sensitivity in a disorder characterized by poor insight. We investigated the capacity of BRIEF-A (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function - Adult Version: a self-administered, ecological questionnaire) to identify executive deficits in adults with schizophrenia. The global score and each domain-specific score was significantly lower in patients than in healthy controls. BRIEF-A could be a useful complement to objective measurements, providing a subjective assessment of everyday consequences of executive dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia.
Status epilepticus in the elderly: epidemiology, clinical aspects and treatment
Authors: De Assis Telma M.R. , Costa Gersonita , Bacellar Aroldo , Orsini Marco , Nascimento Osvaldo J.M.
Published: January 2015

The aim of the study was to review the epidemiology, clinical profile and discuss the etiology, prognosis and treatment options in patients aged 60 years or older presenting with status epilepticus. We performed a systematic review involving studies published from 1996 to 2010, in Medline/PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library on line (Scielo), Latin-American and Caribbean Center of Health Sciences Information (Lilacs) databases and textbooks. Related articles published before 1996, when relevant for discussing epilepsy in older people, were also included. Several population studies had shown an increased incidence of status epilepticus after the age of 60 years. Status epilepticus is a medical and neurological emergency that is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and is a major concern in the elderly compared to the general population. Prompt diagnosis and effective treatment of convulsive status epilepticus are crucial to avoid brain injury and reduce the fatality rate in this age group.
A Gap between Need and Reality: Neonatal Nursing Staff Requirements on a German Iintensive Care Unit
Authors: Patry Christian , Schindler Monika , Reinhard Julia , Hien Steffen , Demirakca Süha , Böhler Thomas , Schaible Thomas
Published: January 2015

Recently, new staffing rules for neonatal nurses in intensive care units (ICU) were issued in Germany, using categories of care of the British Association of Perinatal Medicine as blueprint. Neonates on intensive care require a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:1, on intensive surveillance (high dependency care) of 1:2. No requirements exist for special care, transitional care, and pediatric ICU patients. Using these rules, nursing staff requirement was calculated over a period of 31 consecutive days once a day in a combined pediatric and neonatal ICU of a metropolitan academic medical center in south-west Germany. Each day, 18.9±0.98 patients (mean±standard deviation) were assessed (14.26±1.21 neonatal, 4.65±0.98 pediatric). Among neonates, 9.94±2.56 received intensive therapy, 3.77±1.85 intensive surveillance, and 0.65±0.71 special care. Average nursing staff requirement was 12.10±1.81 full time equivalents (FTE) per shift. Considering additional pediatric patients in the ICU and actual nursing staff availability (8.97±0.87 FTE per shift), this ICU seems understaffed.
Clear-cell variant urothelial carcinoma of the bladder: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Kramer Mario W. , Abbas Mahmoud , Pertschy Stefanie , Becker Jan Ulrich , Kreipe Hans-Heinrich , Kuczyk Markus A. , Merseburger Axel S. , Tezval Hossein
Published: January 2015

Clear cell variants of transitional cell carcinomas (TCC) of the bladder are extremely rare tumors. Only 6 cases have been reported until now. We report of a 67 year old man who presented with fast growing tumor disease. While initial diagnosis showed localized bladder tumor, final histopathology revealed pT4, G3, L1 urothelial carcinoma with clear cell differentiation. No more than 14 weeks after initial diagnosis the patient died from multi-organ failure after unsuccessful salvage laparotomy which showed massive tumor burden within the pelvis and peritoneal carcinosis. This case demonstrated an extremely fast tumor growth. Therefore, patients with clear cell urothelial carcinoma should be treated vigorously and without time delay. We present a case of clear cell variant of TCC which exhibited an extremely aggressive behavior. To our knowledge this is the fifth report of this rare disease.
Expert Services for Rare Anaemias across Europe
Authors: Gulbis Beatrice
Published: January 2015

New challenges and priorities are given in the EU Health programme 2007–2013 [...]
Current Diagnostic Approach and Screening Methods for Hereditary Spherocytosis
Authors: Bianchi Paola
Published: January 2015

The plasma membrane of the erythrocyte accounts for all of its antigenic, transport, and mechanical characteristics, particularly its ability to undergo large passive deformations during repeated passage through the narrow capillaries of the microvasculature, throughout its 120-day life span [...]
A Case of Hydrometrocolpos and Polydactyly
Authors: Sharma Deepak , Murki Srinivas , Pratap Oleti Tejo , Irfan G.M. , Kolar Geeta
Published: January 2015

Neonatal hydrometrocolpos (HMC) is a rare Mullerian duct anomaly with an incidence of 0.006%. It occurs due to blockage of the vagina with accumulation of mucus secretions proximal to the obstacle. These secretions are secondary to intrauterine and postnatal stimulation of uterine and cervical glands by maternal estrogens. A triad of congenital HMC, Polydactyly, and cardiac anomalies are the cardinal features of McKusick-Kaufman syndrome, which is also known as hydrometrocolpos-polydactyly syndrome. Bardet-Biedl syndrome is a well-known combination of hypogonadism, obesity, postaxial polydactyly, renal dysplasia, retinal degeneration, and mental impairment. In this case report, we describe a neonate with HMC, Polydactyly, and hydronephrosis.
Sensitivity Analysis and Computations of the Time Relaxation Model
Authors: Neda Monika , Pahlevani Fran , Waters Jiajia
Published: January 2015

This paper presents a numerical study of the sensitivity of a fluid model known as time relaxation model with respect to variations of the time relaxation coefficientχ. The sensitivity analysis of this model is utilized by the sensitivity equation method and uses the finite element method along with Crank Nicolson method in the fully discretization of the partial differential equations. We present a test case in support of the sensitivity convergence and also provide a numerical comparison between two different strategies of computing the sensitivity, sensitivity equation method and forward finite differences.
Legal and Regulatory Considerations Associated with Use of Patient-Generated Health Data from Social Media and Mobile Health (mHealth) Devices
Authors: DeMuro P. , Petersen C.
Published: January 2015

Patient-generated health data are coming into broader use across the health care spectrum and hold great promise as a means to improve care and health outcomes. At the same time, rapid evolution in the social media and mobile health (mHealth) market has promoted an environment in which creation and transmission of personal health information is easy, quick, and appealing to patients. However, adoption of social media and mHealth by providers is hampered by legal and regulatory concerns with regard to data ownership and data use. This article defines common forms of patient-generated health data (PGHD) and describes how PGHD is used in clinical settings. It explores issues related to protection of personal health information, including that of children and adolescents, data security, and other potential barriers such as physician licensure. It also discusses regulatory and legal considerations providers and patients should consider before using social media and mobile health apps.

Citation: Petersen C, DeMuro P. Legal and regulatory considerations associated with use of patient-generated health data from social media and mobile health (mHealth) devices. Appl Clin Inf 2015; 6: 16–26

http://dx.doi.org/10.4338/ACI-2014-09-R-0082
Global and regional modeling of clouds and aerosols in the marine boundary layer during VOCALS: the VOCA intercomparison
Authors: Wyant M. C. , Bretherton C. S. , Wood R. , Carmichael G. R. , Clarke A. , Fast J. , George R. , Gustafson Jr. W. I. , Hannay C. , Lauer A. , Lin Y. , Morcrette J.-J. , Mulcahy J. , Saide P. E. , Spak S. N. , Yang Q.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. A diverse collection of models are used to simulate the marine boundary layer in the southeast Pacific region during the period of the October–November 2008 VOCALS REx (VAMOS Ocean Cloud Atmosphere Land Study Regional Experiment) field campaign. Regional models simulate the period continuously in boundary-forced free-running mode, while global forecast models and GCMs (general circulation models) are run in forecast mode. The models are compared to extensive observations along a line at 20° S extending westward from the South American coast. Most of the models simulate cloud and aerosol characteristics and gradients across the region that are recognizably similar to observations, despite the complex interaction of processes involved in the problem, many of which are parameterized or poorly resolved. Some models simulate the regional low cloud cover well, though many models underestimate MBL (marine boundary layer) depth near the coast. Most models qualitatively simulate the observed offshore gradients of SO2, sulfate aerosol, CCN (cloud condensation nuclei) concentration in the MBL as well as differences in concentration between the MBL and the free troposphere. Most models also qualitatively capture the decrease in cloud droplet number away from the coast. However, there are large quantitative intermodel differences in both means and gradients of these quantities. Many models are able to represent episodic offshore increases in cloud droplet number and aerosol concentrations associated with periods of offshore flow. Most models underestimate CCN (at 0.1% supersaturation) in the MBL and free troposphere. The GCMs also have difficulty simulating coastal gradients in CCN and cloud droplet number concentration near the coast. The overall performance of the models demonstrates their potential utility in simulating aerosol–cloud interactions in the MBL, though quantitative estimation of aerosol–cloud interactions and aerosol indirect effects of MBL clouds with these models remains uncertain.
The impact of overshooting deep convection on local transport and mixing in the tropical upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UTLS)
Authors: Frey W. , Schofield R. , Hoor P. , Kunkel D. , Ravegnani F. , Ulanovsky A. , Viciani S. , D'Amato F. , Lane T. P.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. In this study we examine the simulated downward transport and mixing of stratospheric air into the upper tropical troposphere as observed on a research flight during the SCOUT-O3 campaign in connection to a deep convective system. We use the Advanced Research Weather and Research Forecasting (WRF-ARW) model with a horizontal resolution of 333 m to examine this downward transport. The simulation reproduces the deep convective system, its timing and overshooting altitudes reasonably well compared to radar and aircraft observations. Passive tracers initialised at pre-storm times indicate the downward transport of air from the stratosphere to the upper troposphere as well as upward transport from the boundary layer into the cloud anvils and overshooting tops. For example, a passive ozone tracer (i.e. a tracer not undergoing chemical processing) shows an enhancement in the upper troposphere of up to about 30 ppbv locally in the cloud, while the in situ measurements show an increase of 50 ppbv. However, the passive carbon monoxide tracer exhibits an increase, while the observations show a decrease of about 10 ppbv, indicative of an erroneous model representation of the transport processes in the tropical tropopause layer. Furthermore, it could point to insufficient entrainment and detrainment in the model. The simulation shows a general moistening of air in the lower stratosphere but it also exhibits local dehydration features. Here we use the model to explain the processes causing the transport and also expose areas of inconsistencies between the model and observations.
Relative humidity-dependent viscosities of isoprene-derived secondary organic material and atmospheric implications for isoprene-dominant forests
Authors: Song M. , Liu P. F. , Hanna S. J. , Martin S. T. , Bertram A. K.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Oxidation of isoprene is an important source of secondary organic material (SOM) in atmospheric particles, especially in areas such as the Amazon Basin. Information on the viscosities, diffusion rates, and mixing times within isoprene-derived SOM is needed for accurate predictions of air quality, visibility, and climate. Currently, however, this information is not available. Using a bead-mobility technique and a poke-flow technique combined with fluid simulations, the relative humidity (RH)-dependent viscosities of SOM produced from isoprene photo-oxidation were quantified for 20–60 μm particles at 295 ± 1 K. From 84.5 to 0% RH, the viscosities for isoprene-derived SOM varied from ~2 × 10−1 to ~3 × 105 Pa s, implying that isoprene-derived SOM ranges from a liquid to a semisolid over this RH range. These viscosities correspond to diffusion coefficients of ~2 × 10−8 to ~2 × 10−14 cm2 s−1 for large organic molecules that follow the Stokes–Einstein relation. Based on the diffusion coefficients, the mixing time of large organic molecules within 200 nm isoprene-derived SOM particles ranges from approximately 0.1 h to less than 1 s. To illustrate the atmospheric implications of this study's results, the Amazon Basin is used as a case study for an isoprene-dominant forest. Considering the RH range observed and with some assumptions about the dominant chemical compositions of SOM particles in the Amazon Basin, it is likely that SOM particles in this region are liquid and reach equilibrium with large gas-phase organic molecules on short time scales, less than or equal to approximately 0.1 h.
The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO-2): spectrometer performance evaluation using pre-launch direct sun measurements
Authors: Frankenberg C. , Pollock R. , Lee R. A. M. , Rosenberg R. , Blavier J.-F. , Crisp D. , O'Dell C. W. , Osterman G. B. , Roehl C. , Wennberg P. O. , Wunch D.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. The Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2), launched on 2 July 2014, is a NASA mission designed to measure the column-averaged CO2 dry air mole fraction, XCO2. Towards that goal, it will collect spectra of reflected sunlight in narrow spectral ranges centered at 0.76, 1.6 and 2.0 μm with a resolving power (λ/Δ λ) of 20 000. These spectra will be used in an optimal estimation framework to retrieve XCO2. About 100 000 cloud free soundings of XCO2 each day will allow estimates of net CO2 fluxes on regional to continental scales to be determined. Here, we evaluate the OCO-2 spectrometer performance using pre-launch data acquired during instrument thermal vacuum tests in April 2012. A heliostat and a diffuser plate were used to feed direct sunlight into the OCO-2 instrument and spectra were recorded. These spectra were compared to those collected concurrently from a nearby high-resolution Fourier Transform Spectrometer that was part of the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). Using the launch-ready OCO-2 calibration and spectroscopic parameters, we performed total column scaling fits to all spectral bands and compared these to TCCON results. On 20 April, we detected a CO2 plume from the Los Angeles basin at the JPL site with strongly enhanced short-term variability on the order of 1% (3–4 ppm). We also found good (< 0.5 ppm) inter-footprint consistency in retrieved XCO2. The variations in spectral fitting residuals are consistent with signal-to-noise estimates from instrument calibration, while average residuals are systematic and mostly attributable to remaining errors in our knowledge of the CO2 and O2 spectroscopic parameters. A few remaining inconsistencies observed during the tests may be attributable to the specific instrument setup on the ground and will be re-evaluated with in-orbit data.
High-resolution air quality simulation over Europe with the chemistry transport model CHIMERE
Authors: Terrenoire E. , Bessagnet B. , Rouïl L. , Tognet F. , Pirovano G. , Létinois L. , Beauchamp M. , Colette A. , Thunis P. , Amann M. , Menut L.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. A modified version of CHIMERE 2009, including new methodologies in emissions modelling and an urban correction, is used to perform a simulation at high resolution (0.125° × 0.0625°) over Europe for the year 2009. The model reproduces the temporal variability of NO2, O3, PM10, PM2.5 better at rural (RB) than urban (UB) background stations, with yearly correlation values for the different pollutants ranging between 0.62 and 0.77 at RB sites and between 0.52 and 0.73 at UB sites. Also, the fractional biases (FBs) show that the model performs slightly better at RB sites than at UB sites for NO2 (RB = −33.9%, UB = −53.6%), O3 (RB = 20.1%, UB = 25.2%) and PM10 (RB = −5.50%, UB = −20.1%). The difficulties for the model in reproducing NO2 concentrations can be attributed to the general underestimation of NOx emissions as well as to the adopted horizontal resolution, which represents only partially the spatial gradient of the emissions over medium-size and small cities. The overestimation of O3 by the model is related to the NO2 underestimation and the overestimated O3 concentrations of the lateral boundary conditions. At UB sites, CHIMERE reproduces PM2.5 better than PM10. This is primarily the result of an underestimation of coarse particulate matter (PM) associated with uncertainties in secondary organic aerosol (SOA) chemistry and its precursor emissions (Po valley and Mediterranean basin), dust (south of Spain) and sea salt (western Europe). The results suggest that future work should focus on the development of national bottom-up emission inventories including a better account for semi-volatile organic compounds and their conversion to SOA, the improvement of the CHIMERE urban parameterization, the introduction into CHIMERE of the coarse nitrate chemistry and an advanced parameterization accounting for windblown dust emissions.
Development of a large-sample watershed-scale hydrometeorological data set for the contiguous USA: data set characteristics and assessment of regional variability in hydrologic model performance
Authors: Newman A. J. , Clark M. P. , Sampson K. , Wood A. , Hay L. E. , Bock A. , Viger R. J. , Blodgett D. , Brekke L. , Arnold J. R. , Hopson T. , Duan Q.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. We present a community data set of daily forcing and hydrologic response data for 671 small- to medium-sized basins across the contiguous United States (median basin size of 336 km2) that spans a very wide range of hydroclimatic conditions. Area-averaged forcing data for the period 1980–2010 was generated for three basin spatial configurations – basin mean, hydrologic response units (HRUs) and elevation bands – by mapping daily, gridded meteorological data sets to the subbasin (Daymet) and basin polygons (Daymet, Maurer and NLDAS). Daily streamflow data was compiled from the United States Geological Survey National Water Information System. The focus of this paper is to (1) present the data set for community use and (2) provide a model performance benchmark using the coupled Snow-17 snow model and the Sacramento Soil Moisture Accounting Model, calibrated using the shuffled complex evolution global optimization routine. After optimization minimizing daily root mean squared error, 90% of the basins have Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency scores ≥0.55 for the calibration period and 34% ≥ 0.8. This benchmark provides a reference level of hydrologic model performance for a commonly used model and calibration system, and highlights some regional variations in model performance. For example, basins with a more pronounced seasonal cycle generally have a negative low flow bias, while basins with a smaller seasonal cycle have a positive low flow bias. Finally, we find that data points with extreme error (defined as individual days with a high fraction of total error) are more common in arid basins with limited snow and, for a given aridity, fewer extreme error days are present as the basin snow water equivalent increases.
High-resolution estimation of the water balance components from high-precision lysimeters
Authors: Hannes M. , Wollschläger U. , Schrader F. , Durner W. , Gebler S. , Pütz T. , Fank J. , von Unold G. , Vogel H.-J.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Lysimeters offer the opportunity to determine precipitation, evapotranspiration and groundwater-recharge with high accuracy. In contrast to other techniques, like Eddy-flux systems or evaporation pans, lysimeters provide a direct measurement of evapotranspiration from a clearly defined surface area at the scale of a soil profile via the built-in weighing system. In particular the estimation of precipitation can benefit from the much higher surface area compared to typical raingauge systems. Nevertheless, lysimeters are exposed to several external influences that could falsify the calculated fluxes. Therefore, the estimation of the relevant fluxes requires an appropriate data processing with respect to various error sources. Most lysimeter studies account for noise in the data by averaging. However, the effects of smoothing by averaging on the accuracy of the estimated water balance is rarely investigated. In this study, we present a filtering scheme, which is designed to deal with the various kinds of possible errors. We analyze the influence of averaging times and thresholds on the calculated water balance. We further investigate the ability of two adaptive filtering methods (the Adaptive Window and Adaptive Threshold filter (AWAT-filter) (Peters et al., 2014) and the consecutively described synchro-filter) in further reducing the filtering error. On the basis of the data sets of 18 simultanously running lysimeters of the TERENO SoilCan research site in Bad Lauchstädt, we show that the estimation of the water balance with high temporal resolution and good accuracy is possible.