bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Iron Deficiency, An Independent Risk Factor for Isolated Hypothyroxinemia in Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women of Childbearing Age in China
Authors: Yu Xiaohui , Shan Zhongyan , Li Chenyan , Mao Jinyuan , Wang Weiwei , Xie Xiaochen , Liu Aihua , Teng Xiaochun , Zhou Weiwei , Li Chenyang , Xu Bin , Bi Lihua , Meng Tao , Du Jianling , Zhang Shaowei , Gao Zhengnan , Zhang Xiaomei , Yang Liu , Fan Chenling , Teng Weiping
Published: January 2015

Context:

Isolated hypothyroxinemia during early pregnancy may irreversibly damage the neurodevelopment of offspring. However, the causes are not well clarified.

Objective:

To explore the association of iron deficiency (ID) with hypothyroid function of women in early pregnancy and nonpregnant women.

Design:

A total of 7953 pregnant women of ≤ 12 weeks gestation and 2000 childbearing-aged women were recruited. A subpopulation including 3340 pregnant women and 1052 nonpregnant women with sufficient iodine intake and negative thyroid peroxidase antibody were studied. Mild and severe cases of hypothyroxinemia were defined as free T4 levels below the 10th percentile and the 5th percentile, respectively, with normal TSH. Total body iron, serum ferritin, and serum transferrin receptor were used as indicators for iron nutrition.

Results:

Serum free T4 levels were significantly lower in both pregnant and nonpregnant women with ID compared with the corresponding groups without ID (both P < .05). The prevalence of mild and severe hypothyroxinemia was markedly higher in women with ID than those without, in both pregnant and nonpregnant women (all P < .01). Logistic regression indicated that ID was an independent risk factor for both mild and severe hypothyroxinemia in pregnancy (odds ratio [OR] = 2.440, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.324–4.496, P = .004; and OR = 3.278, 95% CI: 1.443–7.446, P = .005, respectively) and nonpregnancy (OR = 2.662, 95% CI: 1.330–5.329, P = .006; and OR = 3.254, 95% CI: 1.375–7.700, P = .007, respectively).

Conclusions:

An association between ID and isolated hypothyroxinemia was found in both pregnant and nonpregnant childbearing-aged women, independent of the effects of iodine and thyroid autoimmunity. We speculate that ID may be a pathogenic factor for hypothyroxinemia, even in pregnant women during the first trimester.
Photochemical Chlorination and Oxygenation Reaction of Cyclohexene Sensitized by Ga(III) Porphyrin–Clay Minerals System with High Durability and Usability
Authors: Tsukamoto Takamasa , Shimada Tetsuya , Shiragami Tsutomu , Takagi Shinsuke
Published: January 2015

Photochemical chlorination and oxygenation reaction of cyclohexene sensitized by gallium(III) porphyrin–clay hybrid compound was investigated. Gallium(III) porphyrin did not aggregate on the clay surface, and thus, maintained photoactivity for the photochemical reaction. Gallium(III) porphyrin without clay decomposed immediately in the photochemical reaction. On the other hand, gallium(III) porphyrin adsorbed on clay was more stable than that without clay during the photochemical reaction and the altered porphyrin on clay still had photocatalytic ability along with original porphyrin. It was suggested that gallium(III) porphyrin was protected by clay surface during the photochemical reaction. In addition, the efficiency for the photochemical chlorination and oxygenation reaction was kept even at high porphyrin adsorption densities on clay. These findings are beneficial to construct efficient and durable photochemical reaction systems.
Synthesis of Pyrroles from β-Enamines and Nitroolefins Catalyzed by I2 under High-speed Vibration Milling (HSVM)
Authors: Xu Hui , Li Yujin , Xing Mengming , Jia Jianhong , Han Liang , Ye Qing , Gao Jianrong
Published: January 2015

A solvent-free reaction, using a high-speed vibration milling (HSVM) technique, has been developed for the synthesis of polysubstituted pyrroles from β-enamines and nitroolefins as the raw materials, by using iodine as the catalyst. The influences of the vibration frequency and the reaction time were investigated and a series of 2,3,4-polysubstituted pyrroles were obtained in good yields at short reaction times (20 min) under the HSVM condition. It is an efficient, simple, and moderate approach for synthesizing polysubstituted pyrroles under the HSVM conditions.
Development of a Simultaneous SANS/FTIR Measuring System
Authors: Kaneko Fumitoshi , Seto Naoki , Sato Shuma , Radulescu Aurel , Schiavone Maria Maddalena , Allgaier Jürgen , Ute Koichi
Published: January 2015

A novel method for the simultaneous measurement of small-angle neutron scattering and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (SANS/FTIR) has been developed. The method was realized by building a device consisting of a portable FTIR spectrometer and an optical system that allows both a neutron beam and an infrared beam to pass through a sample coaxially. The device was installed on a small-angle neutron diffractometer, KWS2 of the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) outstation at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Center (MLZ) in Garching, Germany. In order to check the performance of this measuring system, the structural changes in a cocrystal of syndiotactic polystyrene with triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, were followed during the course of heating.
Radical Addition to Corannulene Mediated by Visible-light-photoredox Catalysts
Authors: Nakajima Kazunari , Ashida Yuya , Nojima Sunao , Nishibayashi Yoshiaki
Published: January 2015

Functionalization of corannulene has been extensively studied, however, radical addition reactions toward corannulene have been unexplored to date. Herein, we report the photochemical addition reaction of amines to corannulene via radical intermediates using photoredox catalysts.
A comparison of a single genetic factor, two stress factors, and one psychosocial coping factor as predictors of depression in an Australian community sample.
Authors: Sharpley Christopher , Palanisamy Suresh , Metcalf Kate , Jones Kim , Kelly Brian , McFarlane James
Published: January 2015

Aim of the study

Although both have shown significant effects upon depression in clinical samples, no direct comparison has been reported of the relative power of psychological resilience and the short form of the serotonin transporter gene 5-HTTLPR as predictors of depression in a community sample.

Subject or material and methods

In a sample set by a priori power analysis, 67 adult females and 59 adult males provided buccal cell samples nand responses to psychological questionaires to enable a comparison between a single genetic factor, childhood stressors, recent stressors, psychological resilience and depression.

Results

None of genotype, childhood or recent stressors was significantly associated with depression scores, but resilience was a significant inverse predictor of depression scores and also of the presence of clinically significant depression.

Discussion

Although power was not a limiting factor, these data are congruent with some previously reported in a major meta-analysis of the association between the 5-HTTLPR and depression.

Conclusions

These data suggest that measures of an individual’s ability to resist or recover from stress may be useful in assessing vulnerability to depression when used with ‘at risk’ individuals in everyday practice.
A Strong Preemptive Relaxation for Weighted Tardiness and Earliness/Tardiness Problems on Unrelated Parallel Machines
Authors: Şen Halil , Bülbül Kerem
Published: January 2015

Research on due date-oriented objectives in the parallel machine environment is at best scarce compared to objectives such as minimizing the makespan or the completion time-related performance measures. Moreover, almost all existing work in this area is focused on the identical parallel machine environment. In this study, we leverage on our previous work on the single machine total weighted tardiness (TWT) and total weighted earliness/tardiness (TWET) problems and develop a new preemptive relaxation for both problems on a bank of unrelated parallel machines. The key contribution of this paper is devising a computationally effective Benders decomposition algorithm to solve the preemptive relaxation formulated as a mixed-integer linear program. The optimal solution of the preemptive relaxation provides a tight lower bound. Moreover, it offers a near-optimal partition of the jobs to the machines. We then exploit recent advances in solving the nonpreemptive single-machine TWT and TWET problems for constructing nonpreemptive solutions of high quality to the original problem. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach with instances of up to five machines and 200 jobs.
Signaling New Product Reliability with After-Sales Service Contracts
Authors: Bakshi Nitin , Kim Sang-Hyun , Savva Nicos
Published: January 2015

Prior studies on performance-based contracting (PBC) for after-sales services have highlighted its advantages over traditional resource-based contracting (RBC), when products are established and their reliability is known to all parties. We develop a game theoretic model to investigate how these insights are affected when the vendor is privately informed about the reliability of a newly developed product. A novel feature of our model is the interaction between reliability signaling (private information) and the vendor’s discretionary investment in spares inventory (private action), which arises naturally in the setting we consider. We find that this interaction leads to contrasting equilibrium outcomes under the two contracts: RBC induces the vendor to focus on inventory savings, leading to underinvestment in spares, whereas PBC induces the vendor to focus on reliability signaling, achieved through overinvestment in inventory. As a result, neither contract is efficient. We investigate two means to mitigate this inefficiency, but either approach has caveats: (a) making inventory verifiable removes the trade-off between reliability signaling and inventory investment, but results in diverging contract preferences between the vendor and the buyer; (b) pooling inventories across multiple buyers saves inventory costs but it also hinders reliability signaling, potentially exacerbating inefficiency.

This paper was accepted by Yossi Aviv, operations management.
On the (Surprising) Sufficiency of Linear Models for Dynamic Pricing with Demand Learning
Authors: Besbes Omar , Zeevi Assaf
Published: January 2015

We consider a multiperiod single product pricing problem with an unknown demand curve. The seller’s objective is to adjust prices in each period so as to maximize cumulative expected revenues over a given finite time horizon; in doing so, the seller needs to resolve the tension between learning the unknown demand curve and maximizing earned revenues. The main question that we investigate is the following: How large of a revenue loss is incurred if the seller uses a simple parametric model that differs significantly (i.e., is misspecified) relative to the underlying demand curve? We measure performance by analyzing the price trajectory induced by this misspecified model and quantifying the magnitude of revenue losses (as a function of the time horizon) relative to an oracle that knows the true underlying demand curve. The “price of misspecification” is expected to be significant if the parametric model is overly restrictive. Somewhat surprisingly, we show (under reasonably general conditions) that this need not be the case.

This paper was accepted by Gérard Cachon, stochastic models and simulation.
Auction Design for the Efficient Allocation of Service Capacity Under Congestion
Authors: Barrera Jorge , Garcia Alfredo
Published: January 2015

We consider the problem of efficiently allocating the capacity of a number of service facilities (prone to congestion) to a set of users with private information regarding their willingness to pay for different combinations of throughput versus latency. Auction mechanisms can be used to schedule the service capacity of available facilities. However, the interdependency of users’ valuations implies that simple uniform price adjustment processes (e.g., tatonnement) either fail to effectively clear or are subject to strategic manipulation. In this paper, we propose an iterative auction design and show that (i) it is efficient (i.e., the auction closes with the allocation of service that maximizes the social welfare) and (ii) it is strategy-proof, that is, it is a dominant strategy for users to truthfully reveal their demand for service capacity throughout the auction.
Keeping up with the changing face of individualised dementia care
Authors: Mendes Aysha
Published: January 2015

In this new column, Aysha Mendes delves into the changing face of dementia care, with a shifting focus from memory retrieval to living in the present. She will explore changes in policy, research and care and discuss how to support people to live well with dementia
How to…implement the Cavendish Review recommendations
Authors: Ashurst Adrian
Published: January 2015

In this instructional article Adrian Ashurst offers tips to best implement the Cavendish Review recommendations and ensure the delivery of exemplary care in residential homes
First care home to be rated ‘Outstanding’
Authors: Learner Sue
Published: January 2015

Following CQC's creation of a new ratings system last year, we are finally hearing news of the results. Setting a high standard, Prince of Wales House has been commended for its ‘whole team approach’
Managing non-complex chronic oedema and lymphoedema
Authors: Jones Joanne
Published: January 2015

In the third part of a series on lymphoedema, Joanne Jones discusses the four main cornerstones of care—skin care; exercise and movement; compression; and lympathic drainage—and how these can enhance care givers’ skills
Pharmacist-led review of diabetes in care homes: a feasibility study
Authors: Smith Gemma , Hayes Louise , Candlish Carol , Hawthorne Gillian , Hawthorne Terry
Published: January 2015

It is important that care home staff understand the best ways to care for residents with diabetes. In this article, the authors describe a paper-based toolkit developed to review the standards of diabetes care in residential homes
Compassion starts from within: beyond the checklist
Authors: McConnell Elizabeth
Published: January 2015

Compassion is a central component to providing excellent care. In this article, Elizabeth McConnell explores self-compassion and the potential beneficial effects on the delivery of compassionate care to others
Tips for middle leaders
Authors: Byrne Chris
Published: January 2015

Middle leader Chris Byrne discusses the five strategies he employed to raise attainment within his department
Demonstrating Pupil Premium impact
Authors: Sobel Daniel
Published: January 2015

Inclusion and Pupil Premium expert Daniel Sobel offers some incredibly simple – yet effective – steps to help you think about and demonstrate the impact that your Pupil Premium spending is having
Avaliação da expansão recente da Universidade Federal de Goiás segundo a ótica do mercado de trabalho
Authors: Casari Priscila
Published: January 2015

O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar a evolução recente da oferta de cursos pela Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG) segundo a ótica do mercado de trabalho. Para tanto, são utilizados dados Ministério da Educação (MEC) sobre o crescimento da UFG e do Censo Demográfico de 2010 do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), para o estado de Goiás. De acordo com os resultados observou-se que em Goiás, áreas de formação que possuem excesso de oferta de profissionais estão associadas a rendimentos abaixo da média, baixa taxa de ocupação superior e desemprego. Em relação à expansão da UFG, verificou-se que o crescimento recente se deu tanto em cursos em que hoje há excesso de oferta de profissionais, como em cursos em que há falta de mão de obra no mercado de trabalho, portanto, sem uma relação clara com a dinâmica do mercado de trabalho.
Eficiência produtiva das empresas prestadoras de serviços de abastecimento de água e coleta de esgoto nos municípios mineiros
Authors: Procópio Diego Pierotti , Maia Maikon Santiago , Toyoshima Silvia Harumi , Gomes Adriano Provezano
Published: January 2015

Objetivou-se neste estudo avaliar a eficiência produtiva das empresas prestadoras de serviços de abastecimento de água e coleta de esgoto nos municípios mineiros, selecionados pelo escopo da pesquisa e pela disponibilidade de dados. Para a realização do estudo foi utilizada a metodologia do DEA, com modelo de retornos variáveis à escala e orientação produto, além da estimação da função discriminante. Os resultados encontrados apontaram para um melhor desempenho produtivo das empresas que são geridas diretamente pelo setor público quando comparado ao das autarquias e empresas privadas. No entanto, apontou-se uma necessidade de investimento tanto em infraestrutura urbana para a expansão dos serviços à população das cidades analisadas quanto na modernização das empresas prestadoras de serviços para a capacitação da mão de obra e aquisição de máquinas e equipamentos para a melhora de seu desempenho produtivo.
The human urothelial tight junction: claudin 3 and the ZO-1α+ switch
Authors: J Smith Nicholas , Hinley Jennifer , L Varley Claire , Eardley Ian , K Trejdosiewicz Ludwik , Southgate Jennifer
Published: January 2015

Objective: Tight junctions are multicomponent structures, with claudin proteins defining paracellular permeability. Claudin 3 is a candidate for the exceptional “tightness” of human urothelium, being localised to the terminal tight junction (TJ) of superficial cells.  Our aim was to determine whether claudin 3 plays an instigating and/or a functional role in the urothelial TJ.
Materials and Methods: Normal human urothelial (NHU) cells maintained as non-immortalised cell lines were retrovirally-transduced to over-express or silence claudin 3 expression.  Stable sublines induced to stratify or differentiate were assessed for TJ formation by immunocytochemistry and transepithelial electrical resistance (TER).  Expression of claudin 3, ZO-1 and ZO-1α+ was examined in native urothelium by immunohistochemistry.
Results: Claudin 3 expression was associated with differentiation and development of a tight barrier and along with ZO-1 and ZO-1α+ was localised to the apical tight junction in native urothelium.  Knockdown of claudin 3 inhibited formation of a tight barrier in three independent cell lines, however, overexpression of claudin 3 was not sufficient to induce tight barrier development in the absence of differentiation.  A differentiation-dependent induction of the ZO-1α+ isoform was found to coincide with barrier formation.  Whereas claudin 3 overexpression did not induce the switch to co-expression of ZO-1α-/ZO-1α+, claudin 3 knockdown decreased localisation of ZO-1 to the TJ and resulted in compromised barrier function.
Conclusions: Urothelial cytodifferentiation is accompanied by induction of claudin 3 which is essential for the development of a terminal TJ.  A coordinated switch to the ZO-1α+
The selection process of teacher candidate in Austria and Turkey
Authors: Canbulat Mehmet , Kutluca Canbulat Ayşe Nur
Published: January 2015

The aim of this study is to analyze the selection process of teacher candidates in Turkey and Austria education systems. In the study, the Upper Austria Higher Education documents on the selection processes were examined and the teacher candidates' selection processes were observed. For the Turkish side, the higher education selection handbooks by Student Selection and Placement Center (OSYM) were examined and 96 teacher candidates were interviewed. According to the findings, in Austria's teacher education system, the students should volunteer to be a teacher and also must fulfill compliance of the profession. In Turkey, on the other hand, the teacher candidates were selected according to the central examination results conducted by ÖSYM. While scores are taken into account in the areas such as mathematics, social sciences, science, geometry, etc., the evaluation related to the individual reasons for seeking this profession, individuals' eligibility of the teaching profession and personal characteristics are not considered in this selection process. The interview results revealed that while some of the candidates were willing to become a teacher, others reported obligation to do so and some stated that they accidently selected to be a teacher.
Development of the first urinary reproductive hormone ranges referenced to independently determined ovulation day
Authors: Johnson Sarah , Weddell Sarah , Godbert Sonya , Freundl Guenter , Roos Judith , Gnoth Christian
Published: January 2015

Urinary hormone level analysis provides valuable fertility status information; however, previous studies have not referenced levels to the ovulation day, or have used outdated methods. This study aimed to produce reproductive hormone ranges referenced to ovulation day determined by ultrasound.

Women aged 18–40 years (no reported infertility) collected daily urine samples for one complete menstrual cycle. Urinary luteinising hormone (LH), estrone-3-glucuronide (E3G, an estradiol metabolite), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (P3G, a progesterone metabolite) were measured using previously validated assays. Volunteers underwent trans-vaginal ultrasound every 2 days until the dominant ovarian follicle size reached 16 mm, when daily scans were performed until ovulation was observed. Data were analysed to create hormone ranges referenced to the day of objective ovulation as determined by ultrasound.

In 40 volunteers, mean age 28.9 years, urinary LH surge always preceded ovulation with a mean of 0.81 days; thus LH is an excellent assay-independent predictor of ovulation. The timing of peak LH was assay-dependent and could be post-ovulatory; therefore should no longer be used to predict/determine ovulation. Urinary P3G rose from baseline after ovulation in all volunteers, peaking a median of 7.5 days following ovulation. Median urinary peak E3G and FSH levels occurred 0.5 days prior to ovulation. A persistent rise in urinary E3G was observed from approximately 3 days pre- until 5 days post-ovulation.

This study provides reproductive hormone ranges referenced to the actual day of ovulation as determined by ultrasound, to facilitate examination of menstrual cycle endocrinology.
Urban Planning for Change: Data and Projections in City of Flint Master Plans (1920, 1960 & 2013)
Authors: Walling Dayne
Published: January 2015

The City of Flint, Michigan, USA has experienced extreme population and economic variability in the past one hundred and fifty years. The City of Flint developed three comprehensive or master plans in order to assess available data, make projections and propose recommendations. The ways in which each plan proved to contain accuracies and failures is instructive for the practices of historical statistical methods and urban planning, particularly as it relates to spatial data. The three plans will be considered in three main sections: planning for population growth (1920), planning for regional rationalization (1960), and planning for a flexible future (2013). Population projections, residential density patterns, and economic and employment data will be reviewed and compared against the planning recommendations and realities. The relationship between statistics and spatial analysis is examined. Discussion is included on ways data and statistical analysis can be utilized for public decision-making and assist with governing.
How We Can Evaluate the Inequality in Flint
Authors: Porro Francesco
Published: January 2015

The inequality analysis plays an important role since the beginning of the last century, in the economic, social and political debate. From the first pioneering paper of Gini, this subject has become more and more fascinating. The several tools proposed in the literature for evaluating the inequality belong basically to two families: on the one hand there are inequality curves which represent (also graphically) the local pattern of inequality in all segments of the considered population; on the other hand, inequality indexes (that often can be derived from a particular inequality curve) which summarize its measure in one number. Different indexes are needed to reveal different viewpoints toward inequality.
In this paper, the features of the relatively new inequality I(p) curve are described. Beyond many theoretical results, also an empirical analysis based on real income data of Flint is performed.
Purification of a Bacteriocin from Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ217 Active Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Zhu Xuan , Shen Lei , Liu Jiao , Zhang Chen , Gu Qing
Published: January 2015

Plantaricin ZJ217 was continually purified by XAD 1180, cation exchange chromatography, gel chromatography, and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. The peptide functioned as bactericidal, but did not lead to lysis of cells. Considering the potassium efflux experiment, pores may be formed in the surface of cell membrane. Fifteen of twenty amino acids identified by Edman degradation indicated that it may be a novel bacteriocin as no bacteriocin shared similar sequences. This bacteriocin exhibited strong heat stability (121°C, 30 min) and pH stability (pH 2.0–6.0). It was sensitive to proteinase K, trypsin, papain, and pepsin. This bacteriocin inhibited growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other bacteria.
Fluorescence-optical handheld non-contact sensor for rapid cleaning validation of surfaces
Authors: Cappius Hans-Joachim , Börner Joachim , Südmeyer Heinrich , Schmitt Franz-Josef
Published: January 2015

Background and objective:

Thin films of bacteria, proteins and other biochemical substances are always found on surfaces exposed to the environment. Optical methods enable innovative tools for the detection of such films, as residua of proteins and other substances that exhibit fluorescence when excited with UV light.

Sensor design:

This paper presents and evaluates a specially designed handheld measuring device for this purpose.

Results:

The sensor is able to detect low concentrations of organic contamination with measurement times shorter than a second. The results presented in this paper show that detection of contamination levels of bovine serum albumin down to 200 ng/cm

Conclusion:

Future development of handheld optical devices suitable for the detection or analysis of various compounds could be based on these results.
Suspension of basal insulin to avoid hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes treated with insulin pump
Authors: Boronat Mauro , Sánchez-Hernández Rosa M , Rodríguez-Cordero Julia , Jiménez-Ortega Angelines , Nóvoa Francisco J
Published: January 2015

Treatment with continuous s.c. insulin infusion (CSII) provides better glycemic control and lower risk of hypoglycemia than conventional therapy with multiple daily insulin injections. These benefits have been related to a more reliable absorption and an improved pharmacokinetic profile of insulin delivered through CSII therapy. However, even for patients treated with CSII, exaggerated postmeal hyperglycemic excursions and late postabsorptive hypoglycemia can still constitute a therapeutic challenge. Two female patients with type 1 diabetes who began treatment with CSII required to increase their previous breakfast insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio in order to achieve postprandial glycemic goals. However, they simultaneously presented recurrent episodes of late hypoglycemia several hours after breakfast bolus. Advancing the timing of the bolus was ineffective and bothersome for patients. In both cases, the best therapeutic option was to set a basal insulin rate of zero units per hour during 6 h after breakfast. Even so, they need to routinely take a midmorning snack with 10–20 g of carbohydrates to avoid late postabsorptive hypoglycemia. They have been using this insulin schedule for about 3 years without complications. The action of prandial insulin delivered through insulin pumps can be inappropriately delayed for the requirements of some patients. Although suspension of basal rate can be an acceptable therapeutic alternative for them, these cases demonstrate that new strategies to improve the bioavailability of prandial insulin infused through CSII are still needed.

Learning points

CSII remains the most physiologically suitable system of insulin delivery available today.

Additionally, the duration of action of prandial insulin delivered through insulin pumps can be excessively prolonged in some patients with type 1 diabetes.

These patients can present recurrent late episodes of hypoglycemia several hours after the administration of insulin boluses.

The routine suspension of basal insulin for several hours, leaving meal bolus to cover both prandial and basal insulin requirements, can be a therapeutic option for these subjects.
Long-term low-dose ketoconazole treatment in bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia
Authors: Comte-Perret Sophie , Zanchi Anne , Gomez Fulgencio
Published: January 2015

Medical therapy for Cushing's syndrome due to bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (BMAH) is generally administered for a limited time before surgery. Aberrant receptors antagonists show inconsistent efficacy in the long run to prevent adrenalectomy. We present a patient with BMAH, treated for 10 years with low doses of ketoconazole to control cortisol secretion. A 48-year-old woman presented with headaches and hypertension. Investigations showed the following: no clinical signs of Cushing's syndrome; enlarged lobulated adrenals; normal creatinine, potassium, and aldosterone; normal urinary aldosterone and metanephrines; elevated urinary free cortisol and steroid metabolites; and suppressed plasma renin activity and ACTH. A screening protocol for aberrant adrenal receptors failed to show any illegitimate hormone dependence. Ketoconazole caused rapid normalisation of cortisol and ACTH that persists over 10 years on treatment, while adrenals show no change in shape or size. Ketoconazole decreases cortisol in patients with Cushing's syndrome, and may prevent adrenal overgrowth. Steroid secretion in BMAH is inefficient as compared with normal adrenals or secreting tumours and can be controlled with low, well-tolerated doses of ketoconazole, as an alternative to surgery.

Learning points

Enlarged, macronodular adrenals are often incidentally found during the investigation of hypertension in patients harboring BMAH. Although laboratory findings include low ACTH and elevated cortisol, the majority of patients do not display cushingoid features.

Bilateral adrenalectomy, followed by life-long steroid replacement, is the usual treatment of this benign condition, and alternative medical therapy is sought. Therapy based on aberrant adrenal receptors gives disappointing results, and inhibitors of steroidogenesis are not always well tolerated.

However, ketoconazole at low, well-tolerated doses appeared appropriate to control adrenal steroid secretion indefinitely, while preventing adrenal overgrowth. This treatment probably constitutes the most convenient long-term alternative to surgery.
Tuberculosis in the pituitary fossa: a common pathology in an uncommon site
Authors: Majumdar K , Barnard M , Ramachandra S , Berovic M , Powell M
Published: January 2015

Tuberculosis (TB) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity across the world. In 2–5% of all cases of systemic TB, the C is affected, with lesions reported in the meninges, cortex and ventricles. Intrasellar tuberculomas, however, are extremely rare. We report the interesting case of a young female patient who presented with secondary hypothyroidism and hyperprolactinaemia. She was treated successfully for pituitary TB. We also highlight and discuss some interesting (and hitherto unreported) endocrine issues. Radiological and histological features and treatment of pituitary TB are discussed using this case as an example.

Learning points

Intrasellar TB continues to be a rare presentation, but incidence and prevalence are expected to grow with increasing numbers of multidrug-resistant TB and shrinking geographical boundaries across the world.

Pituitary TB can present with features of a typical adenoma, but has certain radiological and histological features that help to differentiate from an adenoma.

Patients can present with a variety of endocrine abnormalities at different times.

The presence of an intrasellar mass in individuals at a high risk of developing TB, or with a previous history of systemic TB, should prompt the diagnosis of pituitary TB. In such individuals, it may be worth considering a trial of anti-tuberculous therapy, before considering surgery.
Ipilimumab-induced autoimmune hypophysitis: a differential for sellar mass lesions
Authors: Rodrigues Beverly T , Otty Zulfiquer , Sangla Kunwarjit , Shenoy Vasant V
Published: January 2015

Autoimmune hypophysitis (AH) has been previously described in a typical demographic population, primarily women in the reproductive age group and perinatal period. The era of immune modulation using anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 biological therapy (ipilimumab) against advanced cancers like metastatic melanomas has now resulted in a new form of hypophysitis being increasingly recognised under a spectrum of immune-related adverse events. Drug-related AH often presents with subtle symptoms and a pituitary mass, with the potential for fatality necessitating wide awareness and a high index of clinical suspicion given that it is usually treatable. We describe below two cases of AH within the last three months at our centre, which were treated with different regimens and produced good endocrine outcomes.

Learning points

AH is a new and defined clinical entity occurring as a side effect of ipilimumab, which enhances immune-mediated destruction of metastatic melanoma.

It can present insidiously and have life-threatening complications related to hypocortisolism, hence a high index of clinical suspicion must be exerted by treating physicians, and seems to result in resolution of pituitary masses and variable improvements of pituitary function.

Clinical improvement, radiological resolution of pituitary masses and variable normalisation of pituitary function are possible with early treatment with high-dose oral or i.v. steroids and hormone replacement therapy, although duration and dosing protocols are unclear at this stage.

Ipilimumab should continue to be prescribed as treatment for metastatic melanoma; however, close clinical observation of patient's progress must be maintained while they are on this drug.

Predictive factors for onset of AH remain unclear and it is imperative that AH is distinguished from pituitary metastases.

Further studies are required to determine the safety of continuing therapy with ipilimumab in patients who have developed AH while on treatment.
Effect of Collector Tilt Angle on the Performance of a Residential Solar-Heating-and-Cooling System
Authors: Arsalis Alexandros , Alexandrou Andreas
Published: January 2015

A residential solar-heating-and-cooling (SHC) system is a possible alternative for the reduction of fossil fuel consumption to cover residential energy loads. These systems can cover all thermal loads, i.e. space heating, space cooling and domestic hot water preparation. Space cooling is fulfilled through a heat-activated (hot water), single-effect LiBr-water absorption chiller. Proper operation of such a system requires coupling of the solar collector array to a hot water storage tank with auxiliary heating. Auxiliary heating, in this case in the form of a diesel-fired boiler, is necessary to supplement heating in the storage tank when demand exceeds solar heating availability. In this study emphasis is given on the effect of the collector tilt angle (slope) on the performance of a SHC system. A constant slope throughout the year simplifies system configuration and maintenance, but on the other hand a variable slope improves performance, in terms of energy efficiency, and thereby lowers the operating cost of auxiliary heating. The results of the study show that it is economically beneficial to vary the slope throughout the year (on a monthly basis), since $233/year can be saved when a variable slope is used.
Some Physical, Chemical and Electrical Properties of the Polyphosphate LiMII 2(PO3)5 (M=Cu, Zn, Cd, Ba, Pb) Glasses
Authors: Bih H. , Bih L. , Azrour M. , Manoun B. , Lazor P.
Published: January 2015

The polyphosphate glasses with the general formulae LiMII 2(PO3)5 (M=Cu, Zn, Cd, Ba, Pb) were prepared by using the melt-quench technique. They are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), density measurements and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The results show that the glass transition temperature and molar volume increase nonlinearly with increasing of the bivalent cation atomic weight in the sequence Cu<Zn<Cd<Pb<Ba. Measurements of the ionic conductivity were made in the frequency range of 20 - 106 Hz and the temperature range 25 - 300°C. It is found that the Conductivity of the LiZn2(PO3)5 and LiCu2(PO3)5 glasses are much lower than those of the other samples. The differences in conduction properties are discussed based on the structural and atomic properties of the glass components.
Influence of Two Steps Sintering Parameters on Tribological Behaviour of Hybrid Hydroxyapatite-Based Biocomposites
Authors: Gingu O. , Harabor A. , Rotaru P. , Pascu I. , Ciupitu I. , Benga G. , Sima G. , Olei A.
Published: January 2015

The nanostructured biocomposites with hydroxyapatite (HAP) matrix reinforced by titanium (Ti), processed by two steps sintering (TSS) route in argon atmosphere, provide excellent wear behaviour when they are elaborated in specific sintering parameters. The wear tests, developed in steel ball-on-disc dry conditions, show low wear rates about 2x10-4 [mm3/Nm] when the biocomposites are processed at 750...8000oC for 450...600 min. in comparison with high wear rates 7x10-4 [mm3/Nm] in 700...7500oC for 300 min. as TSS parameters. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis outline the structural features that explain this wear behaviour.
Effects of Pressure Gradients on Energy Dissipation Coefficient
Authors: Soleimani Soheil , Ghasemi E. , Almas M.A.
Published: January 2015

In this study energy dissipation coefficient and entropy generation process in characteristic wall shear flows have been investigated. Effect of pressure gradients on energy dissipation coefficient for flows undergoing “bypass” transition from laminar to turbulent state has been studied. Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) models and Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) are implemented to study the energy dissipation coefficient and local entropy generation in pre-transitional and transitional regions. Three of these RANS models are transitional models such as, traditional SST k-w (2eq), SST k-w (4eq) and k - kl -w and the results are compared with DNS. Four simulations have been performed for (1) zero, (2) favorable, (3) adverse and (4) strong-adverse pressure gradient cases. The numerical results show that the pressure gradient has a significant effect on energy dissipation coefficient and entropy generation.
Techno-Economic and Environmental Assesment of Compressor Retrofitting Procedure
Authors: Orhan Ekren
Published: January 2015

In this study, retrofitting of a fixed speed refrigeration system to a variable speed refrigeration system is investigated. Economical and technical benefits of the retrofitting procedure are also studied. Refrigeration systems are usually designed to overcome maximum load conditions. However, they work under partial load in most of their life cycle. Hence, in this study a variable speed compressor that equalizes the cooling load to the demand that assures significant energy saving is considered. As a result of this study, the retrofitted variable speed compressor performed 17% decreased energy consumption versus the thermostatic controlled fixed speed system. Also, the retrofitting procedure provided considerable payback time. From the result, 10750 kilograms less carbon emission per year as an environmental benefit within retrofitting procedure is obtained.
A Decoupled Motion Estimation for Visual Regulation of Nonholonomic Mobile Robot
Authors: Zhongli Wang  , Y. Liu  , B.G. Cai  , Jie Zhao
Published: January 2015

A visual regulation strategy based on a decoupled ego-motion estimation technique, is presented for a nonholonomic mobile robot. Ego-motion in a static environment can be robustly estimated by planar region alignment, which initially detects the 2D planar motion between two frames, and the 2D motion is used to align corresponding image regions. Such a 2D registration removes all effects of the camera rotation, and the resulting residual displacement between the two aligned images is an epipolar field centered at the FOE (Focus of Expansion). Then 3D camera translation is recovered from the epipolar field. The 3D camera rotation is then derived from the recovered 3D translation and the detected 2D motion. By this way, the ego-motion estimation is decoupled into a 2D parametric motion and residual epipolar parallax displacements, which avoids many of the inherent ambiguities and instabilities associated with decomposing the image motion into its rotational and translational components, and hence makes the computation of ego-motion or 3D structure estimation more robust. Based on the ego-motion estimation, an adaptive control law for visual regulation of nonholonomic mobile robot is presented and the stability of the close loop system is analyzed in the sense of Lyapunov stability theory. Experiments show that the convergence of the proposed visual regulation.
Psychotherapy and efficacy
Authors: Papp Barbara , Péley Bernadette
Published: January 2015

Evaluation of the efficacy in psychotherapy dates back to the beginnings of psychotherapy itself. However, it is not an easy task to undertake efficacy evaluation because it is expensive and several methodological difficulties may be also present. The authors discuss some questions related efficacy evaluation in psychotherapy, including criteria for selecting the cases and the actual target of evaluation. In addition, the authors analyze the narrative psychological content analysis method which includes the analysis of psychological features and their changes of texts written by the patient about him- or herself. They conclude that this method can open novel perspectives in psychotherapy. Orv. Hetil., 2015, 156(4), 135–140.
Editorial
Authors: Forero Diana
Published: January 2015

En Colombia actualmente se discute sobre los temas de transferencia de tecnología, de innovación y  de su relación con la actividad investigativa. Dentro de la agenda de entidades como el Ministerio de Educación, Colciencias, el Departamento Nacional de Planeación y otras entidades del gobierno, se plantea la necesidad de vincular la universidad y sus procesos de investigación aplicada con las necesidades reales del medio empresarial. Estos organismos demuestran la imperativa necesidad de este tipo de alianzas para generar un mayor desarrollo económico y social del país y para empezar a construir esquemas de cooperación que nos permitan aprovechar nuestros recursos de conocimiento.
Herramientas para la planeación estratégica en microempresas
Authors: Vargas Vallecilla Rodolfo
Published: January 2015

El siguiente artículo trata en forma general el proceso para desarrollar una planeación estratégica enfocada a resultados en pequeñas empresas y microempresas. Con ejemplos muestra cómo se debe recoger la información que se necesita para realizar un análisis acertado en la toma de decisiones.
Modelos para el control de inventarios en las pymes
Authors: Osorio Carlos Andrés
Published: January 2015

El propósito fundamental de una cadena de abastecimiento consiste en maximizar el valor de la organización, al tiempo que se satisfacen los requerimientos del cliente. En el cumplimiento de este objetivo deben participar de manera coordinada e integrada todos los actores involucrados en la cadena. Recientemente, las empresas han comprendido que la aplicación de buenas prácticas es sinónimo de integración, la cual empieza por la coordinación operativa de áreas tales como compras, transporte e inventarios, entre otras. La gestión de inventarios es relevante en este proceso de unificación, ya que refleja tanto la inversión realizada por los dueños de la empresa, como la capacidad de generar buenos niveles de servicio al cliente. Sin embargo, la administración de inventarios puede llegar a ser una actividad muy compleja por la incertidumbre que la rodea y la naturaleza misma de los productos que se gestionan. Esa complejidad puede manejarse por medio de los modelos de inventarios integrados en sistemas de información transaccionales, llamados “sistemas de soporte para la toma de decisiones” (SSD). Este documento revisa los modelos teóricos para el control de inventarios que se pueden ajustar a las necesidades reales de la pyme colombiana, así como los elementos por considerar para alcanzar la integración de estos modelos y conformar un sistema para la toma de decisiones.
Desarrollo de la conciliación a partir de la Constitución de 1991
Authors: Silva Mariño Pablo Tomás
Published: January 2015

En este artículo se busca dar una mirada a los métodos alternativos de solución de conflictos (MASC ), entre los cuales se destaca la conciliación, que por su utilidad, historia legislativa y eficacia en el esquema de sociedad y economía del Estado colombiano constituye una materia interesante y amena de estudiar.La evolución e historia legislativa de figuras como la conciliación son tan antiguas como nuestra historia de nación independiente, si bien los masc solo han logrado obtener su reconocimiento y espacio a partir de la expedición de la Constitución Política de 1991, con su polémico artículo 116 que permite a los particulares, de manera transitoria, administrar justicia, y sobre el cual se ha presentado todo un desarrollo legislativo en el que se destacan las leyes 446 de 1998, 640 de 2001 y la reciente 1285 de 2009.Por su parte, el Ministerio del Interior y de Justicia es el vigilante y supervisor de las distintas figuras que componen los masc , además de articular todo el engranaje que implica la figura de la conciliación, tal y como fue concebida por las normas antes señaladas. Asimismo, esa cartera se ha encargado de recolectar y tabular todas las cifras arrojadas por la aplicación de la conciliación, las cuales sin duda alguna permiten la evaluación de la efectividad y utilidad de la misma.Con base en las cifras estudiadas y puestas en el contexto histórico –y nutridas con la experiencia del autor– se procura llegar a una serie de conclusiones y elaborar algunas recomendaciones con miras a fortalecer y afianzar tanto la conciliación como las otras figuras afines que constituyen los MASC.
Metacognición y comunidades virtuales de soporte: implicaciones en el campo de la salud electrónica
Authors: Riaño Pineda Rodrigo Lupercio
Published: January 2015

La internet ha permitido que las personas accedan a una mayor cantidad de información relacionada con la salud. El número de sitios web referidos al cuidado de la salud está creciendo diariamente. Sin embargo, gran cantidad de información no conduce necesariamente a un mejor cuidado de la salud. El objetivo de este artículo es formular el marco teórico que sustenta la inclusión del componente metacognitivo en la creación de las comunidades virtuales de salud. Asimismo, se muestra una experiencia exitosa en el campo de la educación y se proponen algunos lineamientos para el establecimiento de comunidades virtuales de soporte metacognitivo (cvsm) en el ámbito de la e-salud. De la misma forma, también se señalan los beneficios que pueden tener los usuarios frente al empoderamiento sobre su condición de salud.