bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Baló Concentric Sclerosis in Children
Authors: Linnoila Jenny , Chitnis Tanuja
Published: January 2014

Baló concentric sclerosis is a unique and rare phenomenon in demyelinating disease. Typically thought of as a subtype of multiple sclerosis, Baló concentric sclerosis is characterized pathologically by striking rings of demyelination alternating with areas of preserved myelination. Its exact prevalence in adult and especially pediatric populations is unknown. Although traditionally considered to be an acute and fatal disease of adults, there are a handful of reports of Baló concentric sclerosis cases in pediatric patients. Here we report Baló concentric sclerosis–like demyelinating disease in 3 female pediatric patients, representing 2.2% of a cohort of 134 pediatric patients with demyelinating diseases who have been seen in our center since 2005. The relatively high prevalence of Baló concentric sclerosis–like cases in our pediatric demyelinating diseases center, none of which have been fatal, supports the premise that the developing immune and central nervous systems may manifest and respond to demyelinating disease differently from adults.
High-Risk Pursuit Classification
Authors: Wade Lee M.
Published: January 2014

This research project examined the potential variables associated with high-risk police pursuits in the state of Georgia. The Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP) initiated data collection of pursuits among accredited agencies as a result of the decision in Scott v. Harris. A sample of 2,155 pursuit reports from 2007 to 2009 was analyzed using chi-square analysis. Variables associated with negative pursuit outcomes revealed a classification of variables for high-risk pursuits. The findings indicated a classification of high-risk pursuit variables, which originated from approximately 100 GACP accredited police agencies per year during the 3-year collection of data. Discussion includes implications related to policy evaluation and training as well as suggestions for future research.
Going beyond procedure
Authors: Rowley Harriet
Published: January 2014

This article is a reflection upon the ethical dimension of my work and practice as an embedded researcher during my doctorate. To begin with, I describe my experiences of gaining ethical approval from The University of Manchester while also highlighting some of the concerns that were raised by the ethics board. This leads me to recognise how the inflexibility of such procedures are problematic for more unusual doctoral arrangements, such as embedded research. I then go on to engage with some of the real ethical complexities that I was forced to deal with as an embedded researcher. Here, I am mostly concerned with issues of positionality. From this, I identify the importance of developing ethical procedures to enable researchers to more fully engage with the ethics of their practice. Thus, I argue that in order to go beyond ethical approval functioning as a mere procedure or formality, the process needs to be developed so that doctoral students may be fully prepared to deal with the ethical issues they may face in the field. Finally, in light of the potential for embedded research to be an increasingly popular way to fund doctoral research, I recognise that such changes are particularly crucial as such students (due to their inexperience) may be unequipped to deal with the challenges that their position may bring.
The State of Knowledge of Outdoor Orientation Programs
Authors: Bell Brent J. , Gass Michael A. , Nafziger Christopher S. , Starbuck J. David
Published: January 2014

Outdoor orientation programs represent a prominent area of experiential education with over 25,000 participants annually. More than 191 outdoor orientation programs currently operate in the United States and Canada. The research examining outdoor orientation programs consists of 25 peer-reviewed published studies and 11 dissertations. A new theory explaining the success of these programs has emerged based on research and the belief that students experience a special sense of belongingness promoted by social dynamics found in these programs.
Family Affairs
Authors: Bullinger Bernadette
Published: January 2014

French Pragmatist sociology (FPS) and—more recently—the institutional logics (IL) perspective share an interest in micro-level actions, in particular, how individuals construct their identity and engage in material practices facing pluralist institutional contexts. IL researchers perceive the micro-level categories as directly determined by one or few dominant IL. In other words, the characteristics of society-level IL pervade all types of situations and are perceived as coordinating every kind of coordination between individuals. FPS, however, discusses pluralism with regard to different forms of grasping reality (regimes of engagement), which range from highly standardized situations to informal situations with little institutionalization. Only in standardized, public situations, individuals are likely to refer to higher common principles. I draw on an example that brings together family logic and the familiar regime of engagement to outline the differences between the IL and the French Pragmatist approach to individuals. Main points of departure are whether higher order common principles or logics dominate every kind of situation, what the appropriate level of analysis of micro-actions is, and how to empirically access them. I discuss the conceptual and epistemological implications for future studies.
Fractional dissipation generated by hidden wave-fields
Authors: Carcaterra A , Roveri N , Pepe G
Published: January 2014

This paper considers the damping induced on a single degree-of-freedom system when it is coupled at one end of a waveguide in which waves are radiated producing an energy loss in the oscillator motion that appears as a damping effect. In general, the whole system is described by the equation of the motion of the harmonic oscillator coupled with the wave equation of the propagation field. Hiding the variable that describes the wave motion and expressing it in terms of the oscillator vibration, a new equation for the oscillator is determined. In general, a nonconventional damping effect is born from the coupling terms. This paper examines cases in which the induced damping effect is of fractional-derivative type. This point of view produces physical examples of the way that simple mechanical structural systems, familiar to engineers, can exhibit fractional damping, a concept that does not always have a clear physical interpretation.
Illness representation on H1N1 influenza and preventive behaviors in the Hong Kong general population
Authors: Mo Phoenix KH , Lau Joseph TF
Published: January 2014

This study examined illness representations of new influenza Human Swine Influenza A (H1N1) and association with H1N1 preventive behaviors among 300 Chinese adults using a population-based randomized telephone survey. Results showed that relatively few participants thought H1N1 would have serious consequences (12%–15.7%) and few showed negative emotional responses toward H1N1 (9%–24.7%). The majority of the participants thought H1N1 could be controlled by treatment (70.4%–72.7%). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that treatment control (odds ratio = 1.78) and psychological attribution (odds ratio = .75) were associated with intention to take up influenza vaccination. Emotional representations were associated with lower likelihood of wearing face mask (odds ratio = .77) and hand washing (odds ratio = .67). Results confirm that illness representation variables are associated with H1N1 preventive behaviors.
Referential context effects in non-native relative clause ambiguity resolution
Authors: Pan Hui-Yu , Schimke Sarah , Felser Claudia
Published: January 2014

We report the results from two experiments investigating how referential context information affects native and non-native readers’ interpretation of ambiguous relative clauses in sentences such as The journalist interviewed the assistant of the inspector who was looking very serious. The preceding discourse context was manipulated such that it provided two potential referents for either the first ( the assistant) or the second ( the inspector) of the two noun phrases that could potentially host the relative clause, thus biasing towards either an NP1 or an NP2 modification reading. The results from an offline comprehension task indicate that both native English speakers’ and German and Chinese-speaking ESL learners’ ultimate interpretation preferences were reliably influenced by the type of referential context. In contrast, in a corresponding self-paced-reading task we found that referential context information modulated only the non-native participants’ disambiguation preferences but not the native speakers’. Our results corroborate and extend previous findings suggesting that non-native comprehenders’ initial analysis of structurally ambiguous input is strongly influenced by biasing discourse information.
Lone English-origin nouns in Spanish: The precedence of community norms
Authors: Aaron Jessi Elana
Published: January 2014

This paper offers an examination of morphosyntactic factors that are generally understood to measure grammatical integration—and therefore used to help determine the status of other-language-origin nouns as borrowings or code-switches—through the lens of discourse, semantics, and lexical patterns. A total of 820 lone English-origin nouns surrounded by otherwise Spanish discourse are compared to Spanish and English nouns from the recorded speech of the same bilingual speakers in New Mexico. The semantic domains most open to English-origin nouns include both those traditionally expected, such as technology, and those generally thought to be unborrowable, such as kinship terms. In the case of determiner patterning, lone English-origin nouns’ propensity to occur with indefinite articles or as bare is linked to use in a nonreferential predicating function. Regarding gender, the preference for masculine assignment for lone English-origin nouns is tied to both nonreferentiality and the general patterns found in Spanish. The impact is felt here not from English, but from the conventions of the local community. Among their many functions, these nouns are best suited in this community for naming kin, classifying individuals as belonging to a certain occupation, and creating verbal compounds. It is argued that the morphosyntactic patterns found reflect the community norms, in which English-origin nouns tend to perform certain discourse functions. Systematic quantitative analysis thus reveals the powerful role of discourse referentiality of nominal forms, in tandem with local practices.
Spanish-English bilingual voice onset time in spontaneous code-switching
Authors: Balukas Colleen , Koops Christian
Published: January 2014

In this study, we test the hypothesis that code-switching leads to phonological convergence by examining voice onset time (VOT) realization in the spontaneous code-switched speech of New Mexican Spanish-English bilinguals. We find that average VOT duration values in New Mexican Spanish fall within the range typical of non-contact varieties of the language, while New Mexican English displays VOT values in the low range of typical non-contact English. When we examine the VOT values of Spanish- and English-language words at varying degrees of proximity to code-switch points, we find a similar asymmetry. In Spanish, no effect of recent code-switching is evident. In English, conversely, close proximity to code-switch points results in a significant reduction in VOT values, i.e. in the direction of Spanish. We argue that while the data studied here do not directly demonstrate a causal connection between code-switching and long-term phonological convergence, they would not be inconsistent with such a view. We discuss a number of possible causes for the observed asymmetry between Spanish and English.
The role of discourse context frequency in phonological variation: A usage-based approach to bilingual speech production
Authors: Brown Esther L.
Published: January 2014

Missing from the body of literature on contact-induced phonological influence are studies that examine language variation as it occurs in speech production among members of a speech community. This study uses a corpus of naturally occurring Spanish/English code-switched discourse to determine whether cross-language phonological effects are evident in the data. Specifically, 2629 tokens of word-initial /d/ were analyzed in spontaneous interactions to identify the linguistic factors that condition the variable reduction (unreduced [d], reduced [ð]/Ø) of /d-/ in Spanish words. Cognate words ( doctor) were found to reduce significantly less often than non-cognate words ( después ‘after’). However, a significant effect is found for a novel, contextually informed measure that estimates words’ proportion of use in online contexts promoting reduction (Frequency in a Favorable Context). The greater a word’s prior exposure to online contexts promoting reduction, the greater the likelihood of reduced articulations. Indeed, this work argues that the distinction between cognates and non-cognates in fact emerges through this cumulative effect of significantly different patterns of use in discourse. Cognate /d/ words are used overall (considering speakers’ use of both English and Spanish) less often in contexts that promote reduction than non-cognate words. As a result of the diminished net exposure to reducing environments, per usage-based grammar, the lexical representations of cognate words have strengthened non-reduced exemplars ([d]). The distinct rates of variation for cognate words thus emerge from distinct usage patterns. This paper proposes such a focus on usage patterns within naturally occurring speech for phonological analyses within contact linguistics.
‘I really don’t like them!’ – Exploring citizens’ media criticism
Authors: Kaun Anne
Published: January 2014

In information and media affluent societies, the critical ability of citizens is increasingly important. This is reflected in a number of political initiatives that aim at engaging citizens in questions of media content and production, often labelled as media literacy. In this context, skills related to media technologies that are often accentuated in media literacy education are a necessary but not sufficient condition for media literacy. Critical reflexivity and critical practices are crucial for media literacy and therefore in the centre of this article. This article proposes an analysis of media criticism from a citizens’ perspective. Drawing on solicited, open-ended online diaries as well as in-depth interviews with young Estonian citizens, the article applies an inductive approach to media criticism while paying attention to the specific context in which the media criticism arises.
Discipline-based philosophy of education and classroom teaching
Authors: Matthews Michael R.
Published: January 2014

This article concentrates on the necessity for teachers in just one discipline area, namely, science, having philosophical competence and using it to inform their professional life – in their classroom teaching, assessing and institutional engagements – in other words, having a philosophy of science teaching. This group of questions and issues might be labelled discipline-based philosophy of education. It is comparable to the position argued 40 years ago by Israel Scheffler. Professional educators need to have some appreciation of the body of knowledge, the history and the methods of investigation into which they are inducting students. This appreciation can only be acquired by history and philosophy of science studies. But further, as professionals, science teachers are constantly engaged with questions that assume certain positions in history and philosophy of science. Recognition of the conjunction of history and philosophy of science and science teaching is not optional for science teachers; the diverse questions and fields that constitute history and philosophy of science and science teaching are simply parts of contemporary national and provincial curriculum; they cannot be avoided by science teachers. So if the in-principle arguments for history and philosophy of science and science teaching fail to convince, the in-practice arguments (teaching the curriculum) cannot be avoided. Teachers of other subjects can see how much of the arguments laid out here are applicable to their circumstances.
Building Robust Psychotherapies for Children and Adolescents
Authors: Weisz John R.
Published: January 2014

Psychotherapies for children and adolescents have been tested in hundreds of randomized controlled trials across five decades, and many of these youth therapies have now been classified as empirically supported treatments (ESTs). A burgeoning movement is underway to implement these ESTs in clinical practice settings, but questions arise as to whether the treatments are ready for practice and whether they will improve outcomes for clinically referred youths. Our data show ESTs to be more effective than usual care, on average, but only modestly so, and there are troubling exceptions. One reason may be that the design of most ESTs (e.g., single-disorder focus, linear session sequence) does not fit the characteristics of referred youths or clinical practice very well. Indeed, youth psychotherapy research has not focused much on the clients or contexts of actual clinical care. An alternative empirical approach, the deployment-focused model, proposes developing and testing interventions with the clients, clinicians, and contexts for which they are ultimately intended. Recent application of the model highlights its potential for stimulating robust treatments that are effective in clinical practice.
The Value of Direct Replication
Authors: Simons Daniel J.
Published: January 2014

Reproducibility is the cornerstone of science. If an effect is reliable, any competent researcher should be able to obtain it when using the same procedures with adequate statistical power. Two of the articles in this special section question the value of direct replication by other laboratories. In this commentary, I discuss the problematic implications of some of their assumptions and argue that direct replication by multiple laboratories is the only way to verify the reliability of an effect.
Developing prevention reliability in hub location models
Authors: Hamidi Mohammadreza , Gholamian Mohammadreza , Shahanaghi Kamran
Published: January 2014

Hub location problem has been one of the most interesting areas of location problems in recent decades. Hubs are critical centers that have a significant role in networks such as logistic, distribution and transportation networks. Therefore, it is necessary to design reliable hub networks to overcome different interruptions. In this article, we have proposed a new concept in hub location problems called preventive reliable hub location problem which is based on passive defense definitions. When valuable objects are transported via networks, many intentional crimes such as attack or robbery may occur. To make transportation faster and cheaper, it is desired to use hub and spoke networks. In addition, preventive reliable hub location problem is designed to secure the network and prevent loss of values. To make the network more reliable and save all common properties, three new objects have been added to the usual hub networks: fake hub, fake allocation and fake flow. A mixed integer linear programming is used to model preventive reliable hub location problem and solved using literature data. Finally, the results are represented.
A Historical Review of Common Bone Graft Materials in Foot and Ankle Surgery
Authors: Arner Justin W. , Santrock Robert D.
Published: January 2014

Foot and ankle fusion is an important treatment for arthritis and deformities of the ankle and hindfoot. The literature has shown that there are improvements in fusion rates with the addition of bone graft and bone graft substitutes. Today autografts, specifically the iliac crest bone graft (ICBG), continue to be the gold standard despite significant donor site morbidity and nonunion rates, persisting around 10%. To address these drawbacks, bone graft substitutes have been developed. This article includes a historical review of the use, outcomes, and safety of autografts, allografts, and bone graft substitutes, such as ceramics, demineralized bone matrix, and platelet-derived growth factor.
IL-4 contributes to failure, and colludes with IL-10 to exacerbate Leishmania donovani infection following administration of a subcutaneous leishmanial antigen vaccine
Authors: Bhowmick Sudipta , Ravindran Rajesh , Ali Nahid
Published: January 2014

Background

Visceral leishmaniasis caused by the protozoan parasiteLeishmania donovanicomplex is a potentially fatal disease if left untreated. Few treatment options exist and are toxic, costly and ineffective against resistant strains. Thus a safe and efficacious vaccine to combat this disease is needed. Previously, we reported that intraperitoneal administration of leishmanial antigens (LAg) entrapped in liposomes conferred protection to BALB/c mice againstL. donovanichallenge infection. However, this vaccine failed to protect mice when administered subcutaneously. We therefore evaluated whether formulation of LAg in combination with two commonly used human-compatible adjuvants, alum and saponin, could improve the protective efficacy of subcutaneously administered LAg, to a level comparable to that of the intraperitoneal liposomal vaccination.

Results

Vaccine formulations of LAg with alum or saponin failed to reduce parasite burden in the liver, and alum + LAg immunized mice also failed to reduce parasite burden in the spleen. Interestingly, saponin + LAg vaccination actually resulted in an increasedL. donovaniparasitic load in the spleen followingL. donovanichallenge, suggesting this regimen exacerbates the infection. In contrast, mice immunized intraperitoneally with Lip + LAg demonstrated significant protection in both liver and spleen, as expected. Mechanistically, we found that failure of alum + LAg to protect mice was associated with elevated levels of IL-4, whereas both IL-4 and IL-10 levels were increased in saponin + LAg immunized mice. This outcome served to exacerbateL. donovaniinfection in the saponin + LAg group, despite a concurrent increase in proinflammatory IFN-γ production. On the contrary, protection againstL. donovanichallenge in Lip + LAg immunized mice was associated with elevated levels of IFN-γ in conjunction with low levels of IL-4 and IL-10 production.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that elevated levels of IL-4 may contribute to LAg vaccine failure, whereas combined elevation of IL-4 together with IL-10 exacerbated the disease as observed in saponin + LAg immunized mice. In contrast, a robust IFN-γ response, in the absence of IL-4 and IL-10 production, was associated with protective immunity following administration of the Lip + LAg vaccine. Together these findings suggest that optimization of antigen/adjuvant formulations to minimize IL-4 and IL-10 induction may be helpful in the development of high efficacy vaccines targetingLeishmania.
Quantifying the clinical virulence of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing carbapenemase Klebsiella pneumoniae with a Galleria mellonellamodel and a pilot study to translate to patient outcomes
Authors: McLaughlin Milena M , Advincula M Renee , Malczynski Michael , Barajas Grace , Qi Chao , Scheetz Marc H
Published: January 2014

Background

Previous studies may have overestimated morbidity and mortality due to Klebsiella pneumoniae producing carbapenemase (KPC) Klebsiella pneumoniae infections because of difficulties in modeling patient comorbidities. This pilot study sought to evaluate KPC virulence by combining clinical and Galleria mellonella models in patients with K. pneumoniae blood stream infections (BSIs).

Methods

G. mellonella were inoculated using KPC(+) and KPC(−) isolates from these patients. Extent and rapidity of insect mortality was analyzed. Patients were stratified by KPC BSI status. Clinical outcomes of mortality and length of stay post-infection for survivors (LOS) were analyzed. Median virulence scores calculated from the insect studies were imputed in the clinical model.

Results

The in-vivo model revealed greater mortality in KPC(−) isolates (p < 0.001). Fifteen patients with KPC(+) BSI were matched with 60 patients with KPC(−) BSI. Hospital mortality was greater in the KPC(+) group versus the KPC(−) group (OR 3.79, 95% CI 1.00 - 14.34). LOS was longer in the KPC(+) group (p < 0.01). Conversely the virulence score attenuated the association between KPC(+) status and mortality and LOS in the final translational models.

Conclusions

KPC(+) status was associated with decreased virulence in GM. Opposite findings were observed in patients. This pilot study demonstrates that measured virulence from GM may differ from human estimates of virulence.
Dimeric structure of p300/CBP associated factor
Authors: Shi Shasha , Lin Juanyu , Cai Yongfei , Yu Jiao , Hong Haiyan , Ji Kunmei , Downey Jennifer S , Lu Xiaodong , Chen Ruichuan , Han Jiahuai , Han Aidong
Published: January 2014

Background

p300/CBP associating factor (PCAF, also known as KAT2B for lysine acetyltransferase 2B) is a catalytic subunit of megadalton metazoan complex ATAC (Ada-Two-A containing complex) for acetylation of histones. However, relatively little is known about the regulation of the enzymatic activity of PCAF.

Results

Here we present two dimeric structures of the PCAF acetyltransferase (HAT) domain. These dimerizations are mediated by either four-helical hydrophobic interactions or a ß-sheet extension. Our chemical cross-linking experiments in combined with site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that the PCAF HAT domain mainly forms a dimer in solution through one of the observed interfaces. The results of maltose binding protein (MBP)-pulldown, co-immunoprecipitation and multiangle static light scattering experiments further indicated that PCAF dimeric state is detectable and may possibly exist in vivo.

Conclusions

Taken together, our structural and biochemical studies indicate that PCAF appears to be a dimer in its functional ATAC complex.
Why medical students choose psychiatry - a 20 country cross-sectional survey
Authors: Farooq Kitty , Lydall Gregory J , Malik Amit , Ndetei David M ,   ISOSCCIP Group, Bhugra Dinesh
Published: January 2014

Background

Recruitment to psychiatry is insufficient to meet projected mental health service needs world-wide. We report on the career plans of final year medical students from 20 countries, investigating factors identified from the literature which influence psychiatric career choice.

Methods

Cross sectional electronic or paper survey. Subjects were final year medical students at 46 medical schools in participating countries. We assessed students’ career intentions, motivations, medical school teaching and exposure to psychiatry. We assessed students’ attitudes and personality factors. The main outcome measure was likelihood of specializing in psychiatry. Multilevel logistic regression was used to examine the joint effect of factors upon the main outcome.

Results

2198 of 9135 (24%) of students responded (range 4 to 91%) across the countries. Internationally 4.5% of students definitely considered psychiatry as a career (range 1 to 12%). 19% of students (range 0 to 33%) were “quite likely”, and 25% were “definitely not” considering psychiatry. Female gender, experience of mental/physical illness, media portrayal of doctors, and positive attitudes to psychiatry, but not personality factors, were associated with choosing psychiatry. Quality of psychiatric placement (correlation coefficient = 0.22, p < 0.001) and number of placements (correlation coefficient =0.21, p < 0.001) were associated with higher ATP scores. During medical school, experience of psychiatric enrichment activities (special studies modules and university psychiatry clubs), experience of acutely unwell patients and perceived clinical responsibility were all associated with choice of psychiatry.

Multilevel logistic regression revealed six factors associated with students choosing psychiatry: importance of own vocation, odds ratio (OR) 3.01, 95% CI 1.61 to 5.91, p < 0.001); interest in psychiatry before medical school, OR 10.8 (5.38 to 21.8, p < 0.001); undertaking a psychiatry special study module, OR 1.45 (1.05 to 2.01, p = 0.03) or elective OR 4.28 (2.87- 6.38, p < 0.001); membership of a university psychiatry club, OR 3.25 (2.87 to 6.38, p < 0.001); and exposure to didactic teaching, OR 0.54 (0.40 to 0.72, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

We report factors relevant to medical student selection and psychiatry teaching which affect career choice. Addressing these factors may improve recruitment to psychiatry internationally.
Analytical modeling of glucose biosensors based on carbon nanotubes
Authors: Pourasl Ali H , Ahmadi Mohammad Taghi , Rahmani Meisam , Chin Huei Chaeng , Lim Cheng Siong , Ismail Razali , Tan Michael Loong Peng
Published: January 2014

In recent years, carbon nanotubes have received widespread attention as promising carbon-based nanoelectronic devices. Due to their exceptional physical, chemical, and electrical properties, namely a high surface-to-volume ratio, their enhanced electron transfer properties, and their high thermal conductivity, carbon nanotubes can be used effectively as electrochemical sensors. The integration of carbon nanotubes with a functional group provides a good and solid support for the immobilization of enzymes. The determination of glucose levels using biosensors, particularly in the medical diagnostics and food industries, is gaining mass appeal. Glucose biosensors detect the glucose molecule by catalyzing glucose to gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of oxygen. This action provides high accuracy and a quick detection rate. In this paper, a single-wall carbon nanotube field-effect transistor biosensor for glucose detection is analytically modeled. In the proposed model, the glucose concentration is presented as a function of gate voltage. Subsequently, the proposed model is compared with existing experimental data. A good consensus between the model and the experimental data is reported. The simulated data demonstrate that the analytical model can be employed with an electrochemical glucose sensor to predict the behavior of the sensing mechanism in biosensors.
Single-incision laparoscopic total extraperitoneal repair for a Grynfeltt hernia: a case report
Authors: Wei Ching-Ting , Chen Yaw-Sen , Sun Cheuk-Kwan , Hsieh Kun-Chou
Published: January 2014

Introduction

A superior lumbar hernia, which is also known as a Grynfeltt hernia, is a rare abdominal wall defect that can be primary or secondary to trauma or orthopedic surgery. The anatomic location of a lumbar hernia makes diagnosis and repair challenging. We successfully repaired a lumbar hernia using a single-incision laparoscopic total extraperitoneal approach. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of this surgical technique in the treatment of a primary Grynfeltt hernia.

Case presentation

A 76-year-old Taiwanese man presented to our hospital with a left lower bulging mass noted for over three months. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a left Grynfeltt hernia. We performed a single-incision laparoscopic total extraperitoneal repair. Our patient was discharged uneventfully on the fourth day after the operation. There was no evidence of recurrence after six months of follow-up.

Conclusion

A laparoscopic total extraperitoneal repair for a lumbar hernia provides an excellent operative view and minimal invasiveness. The single-incision technique also provides better cosmetic outcomes. Our experience suggests that the single-incision laparoscopic total extraperitoneal approach may be a feasible and safe alterative to conventional approaches in lumbar hernia repair.
The provision of chiropractic, physiotherapy and osteopathic services within the Australian private health-care system: a report of recent trends
Authors: Engel Roger M , Brown Benjamin T , Swain Michael S , Lystad Reidar P
Published: January 2014

Background

Chiropractors, physiotherapists, and osteopaths receive training in the diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal conditions. As a result there is considerable overlap in the types of conditions that are encountered clinically by these practitioners. In Australia, the majority of benefits paid for these services come from the private sector. The purpose of this article is to quantify and describe the development in service utilization and the cost of benefits paid to users of these healthcare services by private health insurers. An exploration of the factors that may have influenced the observed trends is also presented.

Methods

A review of data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, and the Australian Government Private Health Insurance Administration Council was conducted. An analysis of chiropractic, physiotherapy and osteopathic service utilisation and cost of service utilisation trend was performed along with the level of benefits and services over time.

Results

In 2012, the number of physiotherapists working in the private sector was 2.9 times larger than that of chiropractic, and 7.8 times that of the osteopathic profession. The total number of services provided by chiropractors, physiotherapists, and osteopaths increased steadily over the past 15 years. For the majority of this period, chiropractors provided more services than the other two professions. The average number of services provided by chiropractors was approximately two and a half times that of physiotherapists and four and a half times that of osteopaths.

Conclusions

This study highlights a clear disparity in the average number of services provided by chiropractors, physiotherapists, and osteopaths in the private sector in Australia over the last 15 years. Further research is required to explain these observed differences and to determine whether a similar trend exists in patients who do not have private health insurance cover.
Disrupting the Indian hedgehog signaling pathway in vivo attenuates surgically induced osteoarthritis progression in Col2a1-CreER

T2
; Ihhfl/fl mice
Authors: Zhou Jingming , Chen Qian , Lanske Beate , Fleming Braden C , Terek Richard , Wei Xiaochun , Zhang Ge , Wang Shaowei , Li Kai , Wei Lei
Published: January 2014

Introduction

Previous observations implicate Indian hedgehog (Ihh) signaling in osteoarthritis (OA) development because it regulates chondrocyte hypertrophy and matrix metallopeptidase 13 (MMP-13) expression. However, there is no direct genetic evidence for the role of Ihh in OA, because mice with cartilage or other tissue-specific deletion of the Ihh gene die shortly after birth. We evaluated the role of Ihh in vivo via a Cre-loxP-mediated approach to circumvent the early death caused by Ihh deficiency.

Methods

To evaluate the role of Ihh in OA development, Ihh was specifically deleted in murine cartilage using an Ihh conditional deletion construct (Col2a1-CreER
T2
; Ihhfl/fl). The extent of cartilage degradation and OA progression after Ihh deletion was assessed by histological analysis, immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR and in vivo fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) 2 months after OA was induced by partial medial meniscectomy. The effect of Ihh signaling on cartilage was compared between Ihh-deleted mice and their control littermates.

Results

Only mild OA changes were observed in Ihh-deleted mice, while control mice displayed significantly more cartilage damage. Typical OA markers such as type X collagen and MMP-13 were decreased in Ihh-deleted mice. In vivo FMT demonstrated decreased cathepsins and MMP activity in knee joints of animals with deletion of Ihh.

Conclusions

These findings support the protective role of Ihh deletion in surgically induced OA. Thus, our findings suggest the potential to develop new therapeutic strategies that can prevent and treat OA by inhibiting Ihh signaling in chondrocytes.
Essentiality of Portal Vein Receptors in Hypoglycemic Counterregulation: Direct Proof Via Denervation in Male Canines
Authors: Ionut Viorica , Castro Ana Valeria B. , Woolcott Orison O. , Stefanovski Darko , Iyer Malini S. , Broussard Josiane L. , Mkrtchyan Hasmik , Burch Miguel , Elazary Ram , Kirkman Erlinda , Bergman Richard N.
Published: January 2014

A major issue of in the treatment of diabetes is the risk of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is detected both centrally and peripherally in the porto-hepatic area. The portal locus for hypoglycemic detection was originally described using the “local irrigation of the liver” approach in a canine model. Further work using portal vein denervation (DEN) in a rodent model characterized portal hypoglycemic sensing in detail. However, recent controversy about the relevance of rodent findings to large animals and humans prompted us to investigate the effect of portal DEN on the hypoglycemic response in the canine, a species with multiple similarities to human glucose homeostasis. Hypoglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps were performed in male canines, before (PRE) and after (POST) portal vein DEN or sham surgery (CON, control). Insulin (30 pmol/kg·min) and glucose (variable) were infused to slowly decrease systemic glycemia to 50 mg/dL over 160 minutes. The average plasma glucose during clamp steady state was: 2.9 ± 0.1 mmol DEN-PRE, 2.9 ± 0.2 mmol DEN-POST, 2.9 ± 0.1 mmol CON-PRE, and 2.8 ± 0.0 mmol CON-POST. There were no significant differences in plasma insulin between DEN and CON, PRE and POST experiments. The epinephrine response to hypoglycemia was reduced by 62% in DEN but not in CON. Steady-state cortisol was 46% lower after DEN but not after CON. Our study shows, in a large animal model, that surgical disconnection of the portal vein from the afferent pathway of the hypoglycemic counterregulatory circuitry results in a substantial suppression of the epinephrine response and a significant impact on cortisol response. These findings directly demonstrate an essential role for the portal vein in sensing hypoglycemia and relating glycemic information to the central nervous system.
Torin1 mediated TOR kinase inhibition reduces Wee1 levels and advances mitotic commitment in fission yeast and HeLa cells
Authors: Atkin Jane , Halova Lenka , Ferguson Jennifer , Hitchin James R. , Lichawska-Cieslar Agata , Jordan Allan M. , Pines Jonathon , Wellbrock Claudia , Petersen Janni
Published: January 2014

The Target Of Rapamycin TOR kinase regulates cell growth and division. Rapamycin only inhibits a subset of TOR activities. Here we show that in contrast to the mild impact of rapamycin on cell division, blocking the catalytic site of TOR with the Torin1 inhibitor completely arrests growth without cell death in S.pombe. A mutation of the Tor2 TORC1 glycine residue (G2040D) that lies adjacent to the key Torin interacting tryptophan provides Torin1 resistance, confirming Torin1's specificity for TOR. Using this mutation we show that Torin1 advanced mitotic onset before inducing growth arrest. In contrast to TOR inhibition with Rapamycin, regulation by either Wee1 or Cdc25 was sufficient for this Torin1 induced advanced mitosis. Torin1 promoted a Polo and Cdr2 kinase controlled drop in Wee1 levels. Experiments in human cell lines re-capitulated these yeast observations; mTOR was inhibited by Torin1, Wee1 levels declined and mitotic commitment was advanced in HeLa cells. Thus, the regulation of the mitotic inhibitor Wee1 by TOR signalling is a conserved mechanism that helps to couple cell cycle and growth controls.
Insight from Molecular-scale Electron Transfer to Small-scale Electronics
Authors: Satoh Norifusa
Published: January 2014

Downscaling to atomic or molecular scale at room-temperature operation of single-electron electronics has been believed to accelerate the operation speed due to the decrease in capacitance. However, the insight based on molecular chemistry indicates a completely opposite direction for atomic- and molecular-scale electronics and gives a description of resistance; thermal fluctuation of the surrounding media induces electron transfer and dielectric surroundings stabilize the charge-separated states. To achieve a smooth electron transfer with atomic precise device structures resistive to the thermal fluctuation, the paper suggests molecular oxide electronics.
Another Role of Copper in the Simmons–Smith Reaction: Copper-catalyzed Nucleophilic Michael-type Cyclopropanation of α,β-Unsaturated Ketones
Authors: Fujii Kanami , Misaki Tomonori , Sugimura Takashi
Published: January 2014

Cyclopropanation was performed using the Furukawa procedure with CH2I2/Et2Zn and α,β-unsaturated ketones. The reaction was performed in the presence of a copper salt. The reactivity was highly dependent on the substrate structure, and cyclopropanated products were obtained in better yields than those achieved using the original Simmons–Smith conditions with a Zn–Cu couple in some cases. Stereospecificity was observed in a certain case; however, the synthesis of an asymmetric version with a chiral ligand was not successful.
Linear Aerodynamic Model Identification of a Flapping Wing MAV Based on Flight Test Data
Authors: Caetano J.V. , de Visser C.C. , de Croon G.C.H.E. , Remes B. , de Wagter C. , Verboom J. , Mulder M.
Published: January 2014

This paper presents an approach to the system identification of the Delfly II Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicle (FWMAV) using flight test data. It aims at providing simple FWMAV aerodynamic models that can be used in simulations as well as in nonlinear flight control systems. The undertaken methodology builds on normal aircraft system identification methods and extends these with techniques that are specific to FWMAV model identification. The entire aircraft model identification cycle is discussed covering the set-up and automatic execution of the flight test experiments, the aircraft states, the aerodynamic forces and moments' reconstruction, the aerodynamic model structure selection, the parameter estimation and finally, the model validation. In particular, a motion capturing facility was used to record the flapper's position in time and from there compute the states and aerodynamic forces and moments that acted on it, assuming flap-averaged dynamics and linear aerodynamic model structures. It is shown that the approach leads to aerodynamic models that can predict the aerodynamic forces with high accuracy. Despite less accurate, the predictions of the aerodynamic moments still follow the general trend of the measured moments. Dynamic simulations based on the identified aerodynamic models show flight trajectories that closely match the ground truth spanning a number of flapping cycles. Finally, the dimensional aerodynamic forces and moments' coefficients of two of the identified aerodynamic models are presented.
Innovation Management: A Breakthrough Approach to Organizational Excellence - Part 1
Authors: Harrington H. , Voehl Frank
Published: January 2014

There is an ongoing need to explore opportunities and build a healthy and prosperous future, create new revenue streams and wealth, discover new solutions, and transform our organizations, industries, and societies. This need leads us to focus on innovation management. Through innovation management, order can be found in chaos, while nations, industries and economies can be pulled out of crisis. This will lead to a new foundation for growth and prosperity, which may be realized sooner rather than later.

Despite the growing awareness that innovation is the only sustainable source of growth, competitive advantage, and new wealth, the Council on Competitive Report (2008[1]) and a recent Arthur D. Little survey of 700 global companies and their executives, found fewer than 25 percent of the companies believe innovation performance is where it needs to be if they are to be successful in the competitive global marketplace. Having tried endless alternatives, company leaders are now ready to accept innovation management as a key operational discipline, just as in the past they adopted the disciplines of quality, strategic planning, and performance management systems.

Innovation management is not a new concept in most organizations. However, the old tried and true ways, even those that may have worked in the past, are no longer adequate for the organizations of tomorrow. Across the board, organizations are engaged in new and exciting experiments to reinvent the way they conceptualize and create the future, because the old business-as-usual approaches have not produced the desired results.
Lean production and TQM: Complementary or Contradictory Driving Forces of Innovation Performance?
Authors: Aoun Malak , Hasnan Norlena
Published: January 2014

As a set of tools and standards, Total Quality Management (TQM) tends to focus on individual processes to improve the productivity and efficiency of organizations. For the same objective, many organizations adapt the Lean production system in their strategies to eliminate waste and reduce the non-value-adding activities. Thus, organizations are looking for innovative ways to achieve more with fewer resources. Yet, innovations are restricted because the process of generating new ideas and making effective decisions is limited to just a few people, and no broad employee participation is achieved, resulting in the waste of intellectual talent. This paper aims to discuss the impact of both Lean production and TQM on innovation performance. In addition, it presents a conceptual model to understand this relationship, supported by literature review from recent studies. This discussion provides insights into more specific features related to Human Relations Management and Improvement Strategies that can be utilized to advance the intellectual capabilities at any organization, thereby providing chances of successful innovation performance.
Η ΣΥΜΒΟΛΗ ΤΡΙΩΝ ΑΝΟΣΟΛΟΓΙΚΩΝ ΔΕΙΚΤΩΝ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΚΤΙΜΗΣΗ ΚΑΙ ΠΑΡΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΗΣΗ ΑΣΘΕΝΩΝ ΜΕ ΚΑΡΚΙΝΟ ΠΛΑΚΩΔΟΥΣ ΕΠΙΘΗΛΙΟΥ ΤΗΣ ΠΕΡΙΟΧΗ ΚΕΦΑΛΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΑΧΗΛΟΥ
Authors: Μακραντωνάκης Παρίσης
Published: January 2014

ΣΕ 117 ΑΣΘΕΝΕΙΣ ΜΕ ΚΑΡΚΙΝΟ ΠΛΑΚΩΔΟΥΣ ΕΠΙΘΗΛΙΟΥ ΤΗΣ ΚΕΦΑΛΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΑΧΗΛΟΥ ΕΚΤΙΜΗΘΗΚΑΝ ΟΙ ΑΝΟΣΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟΙ ΚΑΡΚΙΝΙΚΟΙ ΔΕΙΚΤΕΣ 1)SCCAG,2)CIC KAI 3)ΑΝΟΣΟΣΦΑΙΡΙΝΕΣ(1GA,1GG,1GM) ΩΣ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΗΝ ΑΝΤΑΠΟΚΡΙΣΗ ΣΤΗ ΘΕΡΑΠΕΙΑ,ΤΟΝ ΚΙΝΔΥΝΟ ΥΠΟΤΡΟΠΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΟ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟ ΝΟΣΟΥ ΔΙΑΣΤΗΜΑ.ΜΕΤΑ ΑΠΟ ΕΝΑ ΔΙΑΜΕΣΟ ΧΡΟΝΟ ΠΑΡΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΗΣΗΣ 38 ΜΗΝΩΝ ΜΕ ΠΟΛΥΠΑΡΑΓΟΝΤΙΚΗ ΑΝΑΛΥΣΗ ΒΡΕΘΗΚΑΝ ΣΤΑΤΙΣΤΙΚΑ ΣΗΜΑΝΤΙΚΟΙ,ΩΣ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΗΝ ΑΝΤΑΠΟΚΡΙΣΗ ΣΤΗ ΘΕΡΑΠΕΙΑ,Ο 1GA(P:0,0106) KAI O 1GG(P :0,0222),ΩΣ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΟΝ ΚΙΝΔΥΝΟ ΥΠΟΤΡΟΠΗΣ,Ο SCCAG(P:0,0035) KAI O 1GG (P :0,0535).ΓΙΑ ΤΙΣ ΤΙΜΕΣ ΤΩΝ ΑΝΩΤΕΡΩΔΕΙΚΤΩΝ ΠΡΙΝ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΤΑ ΤΗ ΘΕΡΑΠΕΙΑ ΣΗΜΑΝΤΙΚΗ ΔΙΑΦΟΡΑ ΒΡΕΘΗΚΕ ΜΟΝΟ ΣΤΟ CIC(Ρ<0,0001).ΕΠΟΜΕΝΩΣ Ο ΥΠΟΛΟΓΙΣΜΟΣ ΤΩΝ ΔΕΙΚΤΩΝ SCCAG,1GA KAI 1GG EXEI ΠΡΟΓΝΩΣΤΙΚΗ ΑΞΙΑ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΑΞΕΛΙΞΗ ΤΗΣ ΝΟΣΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΣΥΜΒΑΛΟΥΝ ΣΤΗΝ ΑΝΕΥΡΕΣΗ ΟΜΑΔΩΝ ΑΣΘΕΝΩΝ ΥΨΗΛΟΥ ΚΙΝΔΥΝΟΥ.
Μελέτη της επιδράσεως διαφόρων παραγόντων στη διαταραγμένη ALA-δευδρατάση των ουραιμικών.
Authors: Μυλωνάκη Θεοχαρούλα
Published: January 2014

ΣΚΟΠΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΡΓΑΣΙΑΣ ΑΥΤΗΣ ΗΤΑΝ Η ΚΑΛΥΤΕΡΗ ΔΙΕΡΕΥΝΗΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΜΗΧΑΝΙΣΜΟΥ ΜΕ ΤΟΝ ΟΠΟΙΟ ΠΡΟΚΑΛΕΙΤΑΙ ΜΕΙΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΔΡΑΣΗΣ ΤΗΣ ALA-D ΣΕ ΑΣΘΕΝΕΙΣ ΜΕ Χ.Ν.Α.Η ΕΡΓΑΣΙΑ ΜΑΣ ΠΕΡΙΕΛΑΜΒΑΝΕ ΔΥΟ ΦΑΣΕΙΣ.ΣΤΗΝ ΠΡΩΤΗ ΦΑΣΗ ΜΕΛΕΤΗΘΗΚΑΝ 17 ΑΣΘΕΝΕΙΣ ΜΕ Χ.Ν.Α. ΚΑΙ 17 ΣΥΓΚΡΙΣΙΜΟΙ ΥΓΙΕΙΣ ΜΑΡΤΥΡΕΣ.ΣΕ ΚΑΘΕ ΖΕΥΓΟΣ ΑΣΘΕΝΩΝ-ΜΑΡΤΥΡΩΝ ΓΙΝΟΤΑΝ ΑΜΟΙΒΑΙΑ ΥΠΟΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΣΗ ΠΛΑΣΜΑΤΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΟΥΣΕ ΠΡΟΣΔΙΟΡΙΣΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΔΡΑΣΤΗΡΙΟΤΗΤΑΣ ΤΗΣ ALA-D.ΣΤΗΝ ΔΕΥΤΕΡΗ ΦΑΣΗ ΣΥΓΚΡΙΘΗΚΕ Η ΑΝΤΑΠΟΚΡΙΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΕΡΥΘΡΟΚΥΤΤΑΡΙΚΗΣ ALA-D ΣΕ ΔΙΑΦΟΡΟΥΣ ΓΝΩΣΤΟΥΣ ΕΞΩΓΕΝΕΙΣ ΠΑΡΑΓΟΝΤΕΣ ΣΕ 17 ΑΣΘΕΝΕΙΣ ΜΕ Χ.Ν.Α. ΚΑΙ 17 ΜΑΡΤΥΡΕΣ.ΔΙΑΠΙΣΤΩΘΗΚΕ ΟΤΙ Η ΠΟΣΟΣΤΙΑΙΑ ΑΝΤΑΠΟΚΡΙΣΗ ΔΕΝ ΔΙΕΦΕΡΕ ΑΞΙΟΛΟΓΑ ΣΤΟΥΣ ΠΑΡΑΓΟΝΤΕΣ:ΘΕΡΜΑΝΣΗ ΣΤΟΥΣ 60οC ΚΑΙ ΑΠΟΤΟΜΗ ΨΥΞΗ,ΠΡΟΣΘΗΚΗ ΟΞΕΙΚΟΥ PB,ΠΡΟΣΘΗΚΗ ΑΝΑΧΘΕΙΣΗΣ GSH.ΣΤΗΝ ΠΡΟΣΘΗΚΗ ΟΜΩΣ ΤΟΥ ΘΕΙΙΚΟΥ CU,Η ΜΕΙΩΣΗ ΗΤΑΝ ΣΑΦΩΣ( P<001) ΕΝΤΟΝΩΤΕΡΗ ΣΤΟ ΑΙΜΑ ΤΩΝ ΟΥΡΑΙΜΙΚΩΝ ΑΣΘΕΝΩΝ.ΣΥΜΠΕΡΑΣΜΑ:Η ΜΕΙΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΔΡΑΣΤΗΡΙΟΤΗΤΑΣ ΤΗΣ ΑLA-D ΣΤΗΝ Χ.Ν.Α. ΟΦΕΙΛΕΤΑΙ ΤΟΥΛΑΧΙΣΤΟΝ ΕΝ ΜΕΡΕΙ ΣΕ ΑΜΕΣΗ ΑΝΑΣΤΑΛΤΙΚΗ ΔΡΑΣΗ ΚΑΤΑΚΡΑΤΟΥΜΕΝΩΝ ΤΟΞΙΚΩΝ ΟΥΣΙΩΝ.ΟΙ ΟΥΣΙΕΣ ΑΥΤΕΣ ΕΝΔΕΧΟΜΕΝΩΣ ΑΣΚΟΥΝ ΤΗΝ ΔΡΑΣΗ ΤΟΥΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΚΑΤΑΛΥΤΙΚΗ ΘΕΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΕΝΖΥΜΟΥ.