bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The evaluation of anaemia in an older primary care population: retrospective population-based study
Authors: McCartney David , Shine Brian , Hay Deborah , Lasserson Daniel S
Published: October 2017

Background

Anaemia is common in older people and the identification of potentially reversible haematinic deficiencies relies on appropriate investigation, often undertaken in primary care.

Aim

To determine the laboratory prevalence of anaemia, the types of anaemia observed, and the biochemical and haematological investigations undertaken to characterise any associated haematinic abnormality in older primary care patients.

Design & setting

A retrospective primary care based study of patients aged >65 years undergoing a full blood count in Oxfordshire, UK between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2013.

Method

Consecutive patients aged >65 years with a full blood count were identified retrospectively from a laboratory database. Patient demographics, number of blood tests and additional laboratory investigations requested were recorded. World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria were used to define anaemia.

Results

In total 151 473 full blood counts from 53 890 participants were included: 29.6% of patients were anaemic. The majority had a normocytic anaemia (82.4%) and 46.0% of participants with anaemia had no additional investigations performed. The mean haemoglobin was lower in the anaemic group that underwent further investigation than those who did not (Hb 10.68 g/dl versus 11.24 g/dl, P<0.05): 33.2 % of patients with a microcytic anaemia (mean cell volume <80) did not have any markers of iron status measured.

Conclusion

A large proportion of older adults in primary care with a recent blood test are anaemic, the majority with a normocytic anaemia, with evidence of inadequate investigation. Those with lower haemoglobin are more likely to be further investigated. Further work is needed to understand the approach to anaemia in older adults in primary care.
Design and development of an on-board autonomous visual tracking system for unmanned aerial vehicles
Authors: KEMSARAM Narsimlu , THATIPARTI Venkata Rajini Kanth , GUNTUPALLI Devendra Rao , KUVVARAPU Anil
Published: October 2017

This paper proposes the design and development of an on-board autonomous visual tracking system (AVTS) for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). A prototype of the proposed system has been implemented in MATLAB/ Simulink for simulation purposes. The proposed system contains GPS/INS sensors, a gimbaled camera, a multi-level autonomous visual tracking algorithm, a ground stationary target (GST) or ground moving target (GMT) state estimator, a camera control algorithm, a UAV guidance algorithm, and an autopilot. The on-board multi-level autonomous visual tracking algorithm acquires the video frames from the on-board camera and calculates the GMT pixel position in the video frame. The on-board GMT state estimator receives the GMT pixel position from the multi-level autonomous visual tracking algorithm and estimates the current position and velocity of the GMT with respect to the UAV. The on-board non-linear UAV guidance law computes the UAV heading velocity rates and sends them to the autopilot to steer the UAV in the desired path. The on-board camera control law computes the control command and sends it to the camera's gimbal controller to keep the GMT in the camera's field of view. The UAV guidance law and camera control law have been integrated for continuous tracking of the GMT. The on-board autopilot is used for controlling the UAV trajectory. The simulation of the proposed system was tested with a flight simulator and the UAV's reaction to the GMT was observed. The simulated results prove that the proposed system tracks a GST or GMT effectively.
COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES FOR CONCRETE AIRFIELD PAVEMENT DESIGN
Authors: RODCHENKO Oleksandr
Published: October 2017

The purpose of the research is to develop formulas, expressions and a computer program for concrete airfield pavement design under the impact of all Airbus 380 main landing gears taking into consideration the design factor of tensile stresses at the top and bottom of a concrete slab. The top-down cracking in concrete slabs has not been directly simulated in structural analysis models used for one- and two-layer concrete airfield pavement design by the Ukrainian Standard. Empirical formulas for the calculation of top tensile stress and the coverages to failure using the criterion of top tensile stress are obtained. Computer program “Aerodrom 380” has been developed for the design of concrete airfield pavement thickness. It provides the required thickness of a concrete slab needed to support an Airbus 380 over a particular subgrade and uses the bottom and top tensile stresses as design factors. “Aerodrom 380” contains a fatigue function for determining the number of coverages to failure permissible for a concrete slab before it has top-bottom and bottom-up cracks. The results obtained with this program are compared to other solutions using the Ukrainian Standard SNiP 2.05.08–85, “LIRA-SAPR”, software and the FAARFIELD computer program. The anticipated life of a concrete airfield pavement calculated using computer program “Aerodrom 380” is about 70% of the FAARFIELD pavement life.
High-cadence, High-resolution Spectroscopic Observations of Herbig Stars HD 98922 and V1295 Aquila
Authors: Aarnio Alicia N. , Monnier John D. , Harries Tim J. , Kraus Stefan , Calvet Nuria , Acreman David , Che Xiao
Published: October 2017

Recent observational work has indicated that mechanisms for accretion and outflow in Herbig Ae/Be star–disk systems may differ from magnetospheric accretion (MA) as it is thought to occur in T Tauri star–disk systems. In this work, we assess the temporal evolution of spectral lines probing accretion and mass loss in Herbig Ae/Be systems and test for consistency with the MA paradigm. For two Herbig Ae/Be stars, HD 98922 (B9e) and V1295 Aql (A2e), we have gathered multi-epoch (∼years) and high-cadence (∼minutes) high-resolution optical spectra to probe a wide range of kinematic processes. Employing a line equivalent width evolution correlation metric introduced here, we identify species co-evolving (indicative of common line origin) via novel visualization. We interferometrically constrain often problematically degenerate parameters, inclination and inner-disk radius, allowing us to focus on the structure of the wind, magnetosphere, and inner gaseous disk in radiative transfer models. Over all timescales sampled, the strongest variability occurs within the blueshifted absorption components of the Balmer series lines; the strength of variability increases with the cadence of the observations. Finally, high-resolution spectra allow us to probe substructure within the Balmer series’ blueshifted absorption components: we observe static, low-velocity features and time-evolving features at higher velocities. Overall, we find the observed line morphologies and variability are inconsistent with a scaled-up T Tauri MA scenario. We suggest that as magnetic field structure and strength change dramatically with increasing stellar mass from T Tauri to Herbig Ae/Be stars, so too may accretion and outflow processes.
Stellar Winds and Dust Avalanches in the AU Mic Debris Disk
Authors: Chiang Eugene , Fung Jeffrey
Published: October 2017

We explain the fast-moving, ripple-like features in the edge-on debris disk orbiting the young M dwarf AU Mic. The bright features are clouds of submicron dust repelled by the host star’s wind. The clouds are produced by avalanches: radial outflows of dust that gain exponentially more mass as they shatter background disk particles in collisional chain reactions. The avalanches are triggered from a region a few au across—the “avalanche zone”—located on AU Mic’s primary “birth” ring at a true distance of ∼35 au from the star but at a projected distance more than a factor of 10 smaller: the avalanche zone sits directly along the line of sight to the star, on the side of the ring nearest Earth, launching clouds that disk rotation sends wholly to the southeast, as observed. The avalanche zone marks where the primary ring intersects a secondary ring of debris left by the catastrophic disruption of a progenitor up to Varuna in size, less than tens of thousands of years ago. Only where the rings intersect are particle collisions sufficiently violent to spawn the submicron dust needed to seed the avalanches. We show that this picture works quantitatively, reproducing the masses, sizes, and velocities of the observed escaping clouds. The Lorentz force exerted by the wind’s magnetic field, whose polarity reverses periodically according to the stellar magnetic cycle, promises to explain the observed vertical undulations. The timescale between avalanches, about 10 yr, might be set by time variability of the wind mass loss rate or, more speculatively, by some self-regulating limit cycle.
Theoretical Description of GRB 160625B with Wind-to-ISM Transition and Implications for a Magnetized Outflow
Authors: Fraija N. , Veres P. , Zhang B. B. , Duran R. Barniol , Becerra R. L. , Zhang B. , Lee W. H. , Watson A. M. , Ordaz-Salazar C. , Galvan-Gamez A.
Published: October 2017

GRB 160625B, one of the brightest bursts in recent years, was simultaneously observed by Fermi and Swift satellites, and ground-based optical telescopes in three different events separated by long periods of time. In this paper, the non-thermal multiwavelength observations of GRB 160625B are described and a transition phase from wind-type-like medium to interstellar medium (ISM) between the early (event II) and the late (event III) afterglow is found. The multiwavelength observations of the early afterglow are consistent with the afterglow evolution starting at ∼150 s in a stellar wind medium, whereas the observations of the late afterglow are consistent with the afterglow evolution in ISM. The wind-to-ISM transition is calculated to be at

s when the jet has decelerated, at a distance of ∼1 pc from the progenitor. Using the standard external shock model, the synchrotron and synchrotron self-Compton emission from reverse shock is required to model the GeV γ-ray and optical observations in the early afterglow, and synchrotron radiation from the adiabatic forward shock to describe the X-ray and optical observations in the late afterglow. The derived values of the magnetization parameter, the slope of the fast decay of the optical flash, and the inferred magnetic fields suggest that Poynting flux-dominated jet models with arbitrary magnetization could account for the spectral properties exhibited by GRB 160625B.
Haro 11: Where is the Lyman Continuum Source?
Authors: Keenan Ryan P. , Oey M. S. , Jaskot Anne E. , James Bethan L.
Published: October 2017

Identifying the mechanism by which high-energy Lyman continuum (LyC) photons escaped from early galaxies is one of the most pressing questions in cosmic evolution. Haro 11 is the best known local LyC-leaking galaxy, providing an important opportunity to test our understanding of LyC escape. The observed LyC emission in this galaxy presumably originates from one of the three bright, photoionizing knots known as A, B, and C. It is known that Knot C has strong Lyα emission, and Knot B hosts an unusually bright ultraluminous X-ray source, which may be a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus. To clarify the LyC source, we carry out ionization-parameter mapping (IPM) by obtaining narrow-band imaging from the Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 and ACS cameras to construct spatially resolved ratio maps of [O iii]/[O ii] emission from the galaxy. IPM traces the ionization structure of the interstellar medium and allows us to identify optically thin regions. To optimize the continuum subtraction, we introduce a new method for determining the best continuum scale factor derived from the mode of the continuum-subtracted, image flux distribution. We find no conclusive evidence of LyC escape from Knots B or C, but instead we identify a high-ionization region extending over at least 1 kpc from Knot A. This knot shows evidence of an extremely young age (≲1 Myr), perhaps containing very massive stars (>100 M
⊙). It is weak in Lyα, so if it is confirmed as the LyC source, our results imply that LyC emission may be independent of Lyα emission.
Ulcerated Metatypical Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Forehead
Authors: Cardoso Jose , Wollina Uwe , Tchernev Georgi
Published: October 2017

An 81-year-old male presented with an ulcerated lesion on the frontal area. The lesion had started three years before with a small ulceration and was initially treated with a cream of betamethasone and fusidic acid twice daily for several months. The clinical impression was ulcerated basal cell carcinoma (BCC).The histopathological findings after surgical excision were consistent with metatypical or basosquamous carcinoma.  The importance of metatypical and basosquamous carcinomas is their potential for a more aggressive behaviour than conventional BCC, both regarding local recurrences and metastatic disease. Clinicians should be aware of the more aggressive behaviour of metatypical BCC since it may influence the protocols of follow-up of these patients to timely detect local recurrences and/or metastatic disease.
Hypothèses pour s’y retrouver
Authors: Rey Jean-Michel
Published: October 2017

Il faut des détours philosophiques et littéraires pour aborder un propos aussi consistant que « transmission et identité » : un paradoxe grec sur l’identité dans le temps ; l ’Éloge de la folie d’Érasme ; le « membre fantôme » chez J. Michelet ; une remarque d’H. Bergson sur les manières de dire ; un propos de C. Péguy sur l’éducation ; « La lettre au père » de F. Kafka et quelques autres références actuelles ou inactuelles.
Discussion à propos de l’exposé d’Alain Braconnier
Authors: Delorme Marc
Published: October 2017

L’auteur cherche à mettre en évidence que transmission, identifications, subjectivation, sentiment d’identité, souffrance identitaire et manifestations pathologiques sont autant de registres qui semblent liés par des rapports complexes et parfois paradoxaux. Les diverses formes de la construction identitaire à l’adolescence, ne doivent-elle pas se concevoir avec « l’actuel malaise dans la culture » ?
Les inséparables
Authors: Bensidoun Bernard
Published: October 2017

L’auteur examine les conditions de la transmission, en explorant à travers une histoire clinique les prérequis de celle-ci : l’écart entre les générations, la capacité de faire face à la perte et à l’altérité, la mise en route d’un processus exogame, l’organisation d’une tiercéité.
Commencer l’histoire
Authors: Costantino Charlotte
Published: October 2017

L’auteure interroge les potentialités thérapeutiques offertes par la médiation conte, partant de l’expérience d’un dispositif groupal proposé à des adolescents hospitalisés. Comment cette médiation facilite-t-elle la rencontre avec un analyste et l’initiation d’un processus thérapeutique ? Au regard des potentialités symbolisantes que revêt le conte, comment son utilisation dans un cadre thérapeutique facilite l’organisation des vécus traumatiques liés à la puberté, en écho au travail de rêve ?
Djihad au féminin : promesse d’une solution aux éprouvés pubertaires
Authors: Duhamel Cindy , Ledrait Alexandre
Published: October 2017

À partir d’une pratique auprès d’adolescentes radicalisées, l’analyse clinique de l’une d’entre elles permet aux auteurs de questionner les enjeux intra et interpsychiques de l’engagement djihadiste. Ceci offre les premiers jalons d’une réflexion psychanalytique autour de la résonance entre les discours de propagande et l’épreuve du pubertaire. La radicalisation y est envisagée comme un symptôme, offrant potentiellement au sujet une nouvelle forme de protestation, adolescente et féminine.
Mind–Body Therapies in Individuals With Dementia: An Integrative Review
Authors: Anderson Joel G. , Rogers Carol E. , Bossen Ann , Testad Ingelin , Rose Karen M.
Published: October 2017

Mind–body therapies frequently derive from Eastern philosophies and are becoming increasingly popular. These therapies, such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, qigong, biofield therapies, and guided imagery, have many reported benefits for improving symptoms and physiological measures associated with various chronic diseases. However, clinical research data concerning the effectiveness of these practices in individuals with dementia have not been evaluated using a synthesis approach. Thus, an integrative review was conducted to evaluate studies examining the efficacy of mind–body therapies as supportive care modalities for management of symptoms experienced by individuals with dementia. Findings from the studies reviewed support the clinical efficacy of mind–body practices in improving behavioral and psychological symptoms exhibited by individuals with dementia.

[Res Gerontol Nurs. 2017; 10(6):288–296.]
Comparison of strength and durability characteristics of a geopolymer produced from fly ash, ground glass fiber and glass powder
Authors: Rashidian-Dezfouli H. , Rangaraju P. R.
Published: October 2017

Strength and durability characteristics of geopolymers produced using three precursors, consisting of fly ash, Ground Glass Fiber (GGF), and glass-powder were studied. Combinations of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate were used as the activator solutions, and the effect of different sodium and silica content of the activators on the workability and compressive strength of geopolymers was investigated. The parameters used in this study were the mass ratio of Na2O-to-binder (for sodium content), and SiO2-to-Na2O of the activator (for silica content). Geopolymer mixtures that achieved the highest compressive strength from each precursor were assessed for their resistance to alkali-silica reaction and compared against the performance of portland cement mixtures. Test results revealed that GGF and fly ash-based geopolymers performed better than glass-powder-based geopolymer mixtures. The resistance of GGF-based and fly ash-based geopolymers to alkali-silica reaction was superior to that of portland cement mixtures, while glass-powder-based geopolymer showed inferior performance.
The ERM Protein Moesin Regulates CD8+ Regulatory T Cell Homeostasis and Self-Tolerance
Authors: Satooka Hiroki , Nagakubo Daisuke , Sato Tomomi , Hirata Takako
Published: October 2017

The ezrin–radixin–moesin (ERM) proteins are a family of membrane-associated proteins that link membrane proteins with actin filaments in the cell cortex and regulate many cellular processes, including cell shape determination, membrane transport, and signal transduction. Lymphocytes predominantly express two ERM members, ezrin and moesin. Mutations in the moesin gene in humans are associated with primary immunodeficiency with profound lymphopenia, and moesin-deficient mice exhibit a similar lymphopenia phenotype. In this study, we show that aging moesin-deficient mice develop a systemic lupus erythematosus–like autoimmune phenotype, which is characterized by elevated serum autoantibody levels and glomerulonephritis. Younger moesin-deficient mice exhibited elevated basal levels of several Ig isotypes and enhanced Ab affinity maturation upon immunization. Germinal center B cells and follicular helper T cells spontaneously accumulated in unimmunized mice, and CD8+CD44+CD122+Ly49+ regulatory T (CD8+ Tregs) cells, which inhibit the expansion of follicular helper T cells, were severely reduced in these mice. Isolated CD8+ Treg cells from moesin-deficient mice showed impaired proliferation in response to IL-15, which was accompanied by defects in STAT5 activation and IL-15Rα internalization, suggesting that moesin plays a key role in IL-15–mediated signaling. These findings underscore the importance of moesin in IL-15–dependent CD8+ Treg cell homeostasis and, thus, the control of self-tolerance.
Identification of IL-40, a Novel B Cell–Associated Cytokine
Authors: Catalan-Dibene Jovani , Vazquez Monica I. , Luu Van Phi , Nuccio Sean-Paul , Karimzadeh Alborz , Kastenschmidt Jenna M. , Villalta S. Armando , Ushach Irina , Pone Egest J. , Casali Paolo , Raffatellu Manuela , Burkhardt Amanda M. , Hernandez-Ruiz Marcela , Heller Gina , Hevezi Peter A. , Zlotnik Albert
Published: October 2017

We describe a novel B cell–associated cytokine, encoded by an uncharacterized gene (C17orf99; chromosome 17 open reading frame 99), that is expressed in bone marrow and fetal liver and whose expression is also induced in peripheral B cells upon activation. C17orf99 is only present in mammalian genomes, and it encodes a small (∼27-kDa) secreted protein unrelated to other cytokine families, suggesting a function in mammalian immune responses. Accordingly, C17orf99 expression is induced in the mammary gland upon the onset of lactation, and a C17orf99−/− mouse exhibits reduced levels of IgA in the serum, gut, feces, and lactating mammary gland. C17orf99−/− mice have smaller and fewer Peyer’s patches and lower numbers of IgA-secreting cells. The microbiome of C17orf99−/− mice exhibits altered composition, likely a consequence of the reduced levels of IgA in the gut. Although naive B cells can express C17orf99 upon activation, their production increases following culture with various cytokines, including IL-4 and TGF-β1, suggesting that differentiation can result in the expansion of C17orf99-producing B cells during some immune responses. Taken together, these observations indicate that C17orf99 encodes a novel B cell–associated cytokine, which we have called IL-40, that plays an important role in humoral immune responses and may also play a role in B cell development. Importantly, IL-40 is also expressed by human activated B cells and by several human B cell lymphomas. The latter observations suggest that it may play a role in the pathogenesis of certain human diseases.
The role of content marketing in social media content communities
Authors: Du Plessis Charmaine
Published: October 2017

Background: Content marketing has become a leading marketing technique in digital marketing communication and uses the point of view of consumers to build relationships by creating and sharing engaging content in social media that enhance their daily lives. Existing research on social media communities has focused mainly on social media marketing and virtual brand community perspectives while content marketing’s valuable and unobtrusive role in social media content communities has largely been overlooked.Objective: The purpose of this article was to investigate content marketing’s role in social media content communities to engage with the target audience in an innate manner.Method: This study made use of a directed, inductive content analysis of 51 practitioner documents relating to business-to-consumer content marketing practices to add another perspective to existing research on communities in social media. The content analysis was facilitated by using QDA Miner, a widely adopted and reliable qualitative data analysis software programme.Results: Three categories emerged from the data namely building content communities, platform-specific content and understanding channels. These categories provide sufficient evidence of how brands make use of social media content communities to connect with the target audience in an unobtrusive manner, in addition to being present in virtual brand communities.Conclusion: The findings make several contributions to the existing literature. Firstly, it provides a clearer distinction between brand and social media content communities. Secondly, it extends conceptions about social media communities to include content communities and, thirdly, it provides sufficient evidence of how content marketing could benefit a brand by naturally becoming part of social media conversations.
The leadership challenges of Paul’s collection for the saints in Jerusalem: Part II: Overcoming the obstacles on the side of the recipients and of Paul
Authors: Stenschke Christoph W.
Published: October 2017

Paul tried to convince the predominantly Gentile Christian churches to contribute to a collection for the impoverished Jewish Christians of Jerusalem. While Paul is best known as a theologian, missionary and pastor, his collection project also shows his skills as an early Christian leader. Part II of this article describes what obstacles Paul had to overcome on the side of the Jewish Christian recipients of the collection, how he did so and how he proceeded in preparing and organising the actual collection, the transport and presentation of the funds in Jerusalem. It also discusses what obstacles were involved for Paul personally in this project and how he dealt with them. In closing, the article relates the portrait of Paul the leader as it emerges in this enterprise to modern leadership theory. Paul’s leadership evinces elements of servant leadership, authentic leadership and adaptive leadership.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The article indicates to what extent early Christianity was affected by and had to interact with the political situation of its day. It also shows the complexities of Paul‘s life and ministry and his relations to the church in Jerusalem. It also provides an example of how Paul can be related to current leadership theory and suggests that awareness of this discourse sheds fresh light on Paul.
Пучки согласованных метрик и интегрируемые системы
Authors: Mokhov Oleg Ivanovich
Published: October 2017

Обзор посвящен теории пучков согласованных римановых и псевдоримановых метрик и связанным с ними интегрируемым нелинейным системам и приложениям.
Библиография: 82 названия.
Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy: Spontaneous vs in vitro Fertilization
Authors: Bolukbas Filiz F , Bolukbas Cengiz , Balaban Hatice Y , Aygun Cem , Ignak Seyda , Ergul Emine , Yazicioglu Mehtap , Ersahin Suat S
Published: October 2017

Aim

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common liver disease in pregnancy. Although it was shown that multiple pregnancy and hormone therapies increase the risk of ICP, there is limited information that compared spontaneous fertilization and in vitro fertilization (IVF) from the aspect of developing ICP. In our study, we investigated the potential relationship between ICP and IVF/spontaneous pregnancy.

Materials and methods

We reviewed the records (between June 2007 and December 2014) of pregnancies with ICP who were referred to gastroenterology clinics in three different hospitals. Fifty-nine pregnancies (43 spontaneous fertilization, 16 IVF) with ICP were analyzed from the aspect of age, fertilization type, multiple/singleton pregnancy, delivery week, and biochemical results.

Results

We found that serum bile acid levels were higher in the IVF group than the spontaneous fertilization group (32.8 ± 20 vs 19.6 ± 19 μmol/L; p < 0.05). There was a significant inverse correlation between serum bile acid levels and gestational age (r = −0.42, p < 0.01) in the whole group. There was no difference between IVF and spontaneous fertilization groups in term of age, onset time of symptoms, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total and direct bilirubin levels, prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), and platelet count.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the serum bile acid levels are higher in IVF than in spontaneous pregnancies with ICP, but its clinical implications are not clear. Further prospective studies with large number of ICP cases are needed to clarify the effect of IVF on ICP.

How to cite this article

Bolukbas FF, Bolukbas C, Balaban HY, Aygun C, Ignak S, Ergul E, Yazicioglu M, Ersahin SS. Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy: Spontaneous vs in vitro Fertilization. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2017;7(2):126-129.
Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient Measurement in Bangladeshi Cirrhotic Patients: A Correlation with Child's Status, Variceal Size, and Bleeding
Authors: Moben Ahmed L , Alam Mohammad A , Noor E Alam Sheikh M , Khondaker Faiz A , Mohsena Masuda
Published: October 2017

Background

Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) reflects the portal pressure in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension. The aim of the study was to assess the relation of HVPG to variceal size, Child—Pugh status, and variceal bleeding.

Materials and methods

A total of 96 patients with cirrhosis of liver were enrolled prospectively and each patient's HVPG level was measured via the transfemoral route. Clinical and biochemical evaluation and upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy were done in each subject. Severity of cirrhosis was assessed by Child's status.

Results

The mean HVPG was higher in patients with Child's B and C (14.10 ± 7.56 and 13.64 ± 7.17 mm Hg respectively) compared with those of Child's A (10.15 ± 5.63 mm Hg). The levels of HVPG differed significantly between Child's classes A and B (p = 0.011) and Child's A and C (p = 0.041). The mean HVPG was also higher in bleeders compared with nonbleeders with large varices (17.7 ± 5.5vs14.9 ± 4.7 mmHg respectively; p = 0.006).

Conclusion

Hepatic venous pressure gradient seems to be important to assess the severity of liver cirrhosis.

How to cite this article

Al Mahtab M, Noor E Alam SM, Rahim MA, Alam MA, Khondaker FA, Moben AL, Mohsena M, Akbar SMF. Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient Measurement in Bangladeshi Cirrhotic Patients: A Correlation with Child's Status, Variceal Size, and Bleeding. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2017;7(2):142-145.
Effectiveness of Sedoanalgesia in Percutaneous Liver Biopsy Premedication
Authors: Sezgin Orhan , Yaras Serkan , Ates Fehmi , Altintas Engin , Saritas Bunyamin
Published: October 2017

Aim

Percutaneous needle liver biopsy (PLB) is frequently associated with pain and anxiety. This may discourage the patients for biopsy, and rebiopsies, if needed. We planned a study to investigate the efficacy of additional analgesia or sedation for PLB.

Materials and methods

The study has been designed as a single-center, prospective study. The PLB was planned for 18- to 65-year-old consecutive patients who were included in the study. The patients were divided into three premedication groups as control, Meperidine, and Midazolam. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to measure each subject's anxiety level. Fifteen minutes before the biopsy, 1 mL 0.9% NaCl subcutaneously (sc), 1 mg/kg (max 100 mg) Meperidine sc, or 0.1 mg/kg (max 5 mg) Midazolam intravenously was administered to patients respectively. Then PLB was done with 16 G Menghini needle. The day after, the patients were asked about feelings regarding biopsy.

Results

Groups were similar by gender and age. The HADS scores prior to PLB and on visual analog scale (VAS, 1—10 points) score during PLB were similar. In the three groups, 7, 12, and 7 patients, respectively, experienced no pain. Other patients explained pain as mild or moderate or severe. The number of patients who agreed for possible rebiopsy was higher in Meperidine and Midazolam groups than in the control group.

Conclusion

Premedication with Meperidine or Midazolam in PLB would improve patients' tolerance, comfort, and attitude against a possible repeat PLB.

How to cite this article

Sezgin O, Yaras S, Ates F, Altintas E, Saritas B. Effectiveness of Sedoanalgesia in Percutaneous Liver Biopsy Premedication. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2017;7(2):146-149.
Hemochromatosis Gene Polymorphism as a Predictor of Sustained Virological Response to Antiviral Treatment in Egyptian Chronic Hepatitis C Patients
Authors: Mehrez Mai I , Fattah Dina SA , Azeem Naglaa AA , Saleh Mohamed A , Mostafa Khadiga M
Published: October 2017

Aim

The aim of this article is to assess HFE C282Y gene mutations as a predictor of sustained virological response (SVR) to anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in Egyptian patients.

Materials and methods

One hundred and forty chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients were divided into two groups: 70 patients achieved SVR and 70 patients were nonresponders (NRs). All patients were subjected to quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks after therapy commencement. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing for HFE (C282Y) was done by restriction fragment length polymorphism PCR.

Results

Sixty five patients did not have mutation and 5 patients had C282Y mutation (GA) with SVR. While 45 NRs had heterozygous C282Y mutation (GA), 4 patients (5.7%) had homozygous mutation (AA) and 21 patients (30%) had no mutation (GG). The parameters of elevated iron [transferrin saturation (TS; p < 0.001), S iron (p < 0.02), total iron binding capacity (TIBC; p < 0.001), transferrin (p < 0.016), and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR; p-value, 0.001)] were significantly associated with C282Y mutation. However, there was no significant difference regarding ferritin values and C282Y mutation in NR patients.

Conclusion

Iron overload was frequently detected in CHC patients and associated with C282Y mutation, while biochemical markers of iron overload and C282Y HFE mutation were negative prognostic factor.

How to cite this article

Mehrez MI, Fattah DSA, Azeem NAA, Saleh MA, Mostafa KM. Hemochromatosis Gene Polymorphism as a Predictor of Sustained Virological Response to Antiviral Treatment in Egyptian Chronic Hepatitis C Patients. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2017;7(2):154-157.
Management of Traumatic Liver and Bile Duct Laceration
Authors: Dwivedi Pankaj , Waghmare Mukta , Shah Hemanshi , Tiwari Charu , Khedkar Kiran
Published: October 2017

Posttraumatic major bile leak in children is uncommon, with few cases reported in the literature. These injuries are seen in high-grade liver trauma and are difficult to diagnose and manage. We describe a 7-year-old boy with grade IV hepatic trauma and bile leak following blunt abdominal trauma. The leak was successfully managed by percutaneous drainage and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) stenting of the injured hepatic duct.

How to cite this article

Tiwari C, Shah H, Waghmare M, Khedkar K, Dwivedi P. Management of Traumatic Liver and Bile Duct Laceration. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2017;7(2):188-190.
Effects of CO2 and H2S on Corrosion of Martensitic Steels in Brines at Low Temperature
Authors: Feng Ruishu , Beck Justin R. , Hall Derek M. , Buyuksagis Aysel , Ziomek-Moroz Margaret , Lvov Serguei N.
Published: October 2017

Corrosion studies were conducted for martensitic carbon steels in 5 wt% NaCl brine solutions at 4°C and 10 MPa (1,450 psi). These studies simulated different subsurface environments relevant to Arctic drilling. Here, two high-strength martensitic carbon steels, S-135 and UD-165, were studied in three different environments: (1) a CO2-NaCl-H2O solution with a CO2:H2O molar ratio of 0.312 in the whole system, (2) an H2S-NaCl-H2O solution with an H2S:H2O molar ratio of 3.12 × 10−4, and (3) a CO2-H2S-NaCl-H2O solution with the same acid gas to water ratios as environments 1 and 2. Results from the CO2+H2S mixed environment indicated that sour corrosion mechanism was dominant when the CO2:H2S molar ratio was 1,000. This impact of a small amount of H2S on the corrosion mechanism could be attributed to the specific adsorption of H2S on the steel surface. Electrochemical and mass loss measurements showed a distinct drop in the corrosion rate (CR) by more than one order of magnitude when transitioning from sweet to sour corrosion. This inhibiting effect on CR was attributed to the formation of a protective sulfide thin film. Tafel analyses of the anodic reaction showed that the Bockris mechanism was unlikely in the conditions tested. When comparisons were made between modeled and experimental CRs, good agreement was found in the CO2-only and H2S-only environments, but not in the CO2+H2S environment.
High-Accuracy Ultrasonic Corrosion Rate Monitoring
Authors: Zou Fangxin , Cegla Frederic B.
Published: October 2017

Ultrasonic testing with permanently installed transducers is widely used for online corrosion monitoring in the field. In this paper, a carefully optimized ultrasonic corrosion monitoring technique for performing measurements in the laboratory is presented. It is shown that for thickness measurements of a 10 mm steel component, a repeatability of ∼40 nm can be maintained over the period of a day. The technique has been applied to monitoring the wall losses of a steel sample during driven and free corrosion experiments. All ultrasonic wall loss measurements reported have been validated by optical surface profile scans and, where possible, by analytical predictions based on Faraday’s law. Further analysis of the results shows that wall loss rates of the order of 0.1 mm/y to 0.2 mm/y can be detected within 1 h to 2 h. This state-of-the-art laboratory technique is highly accurate and responsive, and possesses the potential for becoming a powerful alternative corrosion assessment tool that is convenient to use.
Internationalization in an Occupational Therapy Curriculum: A Philippine–American Pilot Collaboration
Authors: Cabatan Maria Concepcion C. , Grajo Lenin C.
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVE. This study is a pilot implementation of an Internationalization at Home (IaH) teaching and learning collaboration to enhance intercultural learning and understanding of concepts of occupation in two cohorts of occupational science and occupational therapy students from the Philippines and the United States.

METHOD. In this collective case study, 149 students (Cohort 1, n = 65; Cohort 2, n = 84) participated. The collaboration included virtual conversations among students, faculty presentations, reflective assignments, and completion of an anonymous online survey.

RESULTS. Analysis yielded three essential themes: (1) perception of increased knowledge about human occupation and the influence of culture, (2) identification of teaching–learning aspects that facilitated intercultural learning outcomes, and (3) identification of factors that were enablers of and barriers to learning.

CONCLUSION. This study provides insights on how intercultural learning experiences can be integrated into occupational science and occupational therapy curricula and can increase understanding of concepts related to human occupation.
Effect of Bathroom Aids and Age on Balance Control During Bathing Transfers
Authors: King Emily C. , Novak Alison C.
Published: October 2017

Bathroom assistive devices are used to improve safety during bathing transfers, but biomechanical evidence to support clinical recommendations is lacking. This study evaluated the effectiveness of common bathroom aids in promoting balance control during bathing transfers. Twenty-six healthy adults (12 young, 14 older) stepped into and out of a slippery bathtub while using a vertical grab bar on the side wall, a horizontal grab bar on the back wall, a bath mat, a side wall touch, or no assistance. Balance control was characterized using center of pressure measures and showed greater instability for older adults. The vertical grab bar and wall touch resulted in the safest (best controlled) transfers. The bath mat provided improved balance control in the axis parallel to the bathtub rim but was equivalent to no assistance perpendicular to the rim, in the direction of obstacle crossing. These results can support clinical recommendations for safe bathing transfers.
French, English or Kanak Languages? Can Traditional Languages and Cultures Be Sustained in New Caledonia?
Authors: Bissoonauth Anu , Parish Nina
Published: October 2017

New Caledonia has an unusual linguistic dynamic in comparison to other French overseas territories. While New Caledonia was established as a penal colony in 1853, the other French islands were settled as plantation colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries. In these areas, French Creole is usually the lingua franca and has lower status than French. In New Caledonia, although French has official status and dominates in state institutions, it is the native language of only half of the population. There are 28 indigenous languages and a French Creole, Tayo, spoken mostly in the rural areas. The 2014 census population revealed a multicultural New Caledonian population, it did not however record the rate of multilingualism in speakers. The present study conducted in two stages addresses a gap in the research by focussing on patterns of language use and social attitudes of New Caledonians towards their own multilingualism. The same methodology was used to collect data in both stages of the research so that a comparative analysis could be carried out between urban and rural New Caledonia. This paper focuses on social perceptions of ancestral languages and cultures as well as challenges to their preservation in multilingual spaces, as New Caledonia transitions towards the thorny question of independence in a referendum, expected to be held between 2016 and 2018.Preliminary results from the study show a difference in the language habits between older and younger generations on New Caledonians of Melanesian descent. Although French is perceived as the lingua franca by all, English is more valued than ancestral Melanesian languages by the younger generations. In terms of cultural representations and links with family history, there seems to be a discrepancy between the younger and the older generations. Whilst the older generations perceive the Centre Culturel Tjibaou as a traditional space for Melanesian art and culture their younger counterparts on the contrary view it as a place associated with contemporary art and music performances.
Introduction: Communities Acting for Sustainability in the Pacific
Authors: Bissoonauth Anu , Ward Rowena
Published: October 2017

This special issue of PORTAL Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies emerged from discussions about the need to focus research on the diversity of the Pacific and the sustainability of Pacific peoples and communities for future generations. The issue brings together articles by researchers from Australia and New Caledonia with interests in sustainability from the disciplines of linguistics, cultural studies, social science and history in and across the Pacific region. The papers are drawn primarily from presentations at a symposium on ‘Pacific communities acting for sustainability,’ held at the University of Wollongong in July 2016, which involved academics from Australia and New Caledonia.
Biomass burning at Cape Grim: exploring photochemistry using multi-scale modelling
Authors: Lawson Sarah J. , Cope Martin , Lee Sunhee , Galbally Ian E. , Ristovski Zoran , Keywood Melita D.
Published: October 2017

Abstract. We have tested the ability of a high-resolution chemical transport model (CTM) to reproduce biomass burning (BB) plume strikes and ozone (O3) enhancements observed at Cape Grim in Tasmania, Australia, from the Robbins Island fire. The CTM has also been used to explore the contribution of near-field BB emissions and background sources to O3 observations under conditions of complex meteorology. Using atmospheric observations, we have tested model sensitivity to meteorology, BB emission factors (EFs) corresponding to low, medium, and high modified combustion efficiency (MCE), and spatial variability. The use of two different meteorological models (TAPM–CTM and CCAM–CTM) varied the first (BB1) plume strike time by up to 15 h and the duration of impact between 12 and 36 h, and it varied the second (BB2) plume duration between 50 and 57 h. Meteorology also had a large impact on simulated O3, with one model (TAPM–CTM) simulating four periods of O3 enhancement, while the other model (CCAM) simulating only one period. Varying the BB EFs, which in turn varied the non-methane organic compound (NMOC) ∕ oxides of nitrogen (NOx) ratio, had a strongly non-linear impact on simulated O3 concentration, with either destruction or production of O3 predicted in different simulations. As shown in previous work (Lawson et al., 2015), minor rainfall events have the potential to significantly alter EF due to changes in combustion processes. Models that assume fixed EF for O3 precursor species in an environment with temporally or spatially variable EF may be unable to simulate the behaviour of important species such as O3. TAPM–CTM is used to further explore the contribution of the Robbins Island fire to the observed O3 enhancements during BB1 and BB2. Overall, TAPM–CTM suggests that the dominant source of O3 observed at Cape Grim was aged urban air (age  = 2 days), with a contribution of O3 formed from local BB emissions. This work shows the importance of assessing model sensitivity to meteorology and EF and the large impact these variables can have in particular on simulated destruction or production of O3 in regional atmospheric chemistry simulations. This work also shows the importance of using models to elucidate the contribution from different sources to atmospheric composition, where this is difficult using observations alone.
Heterogeneous reactions of mineral dust aerosol: implications for tropospheric oxidation capacity
Authors: Tang Mingjin , Huang Xin , Lu Keding , Ge Maofa , Li Yongjie , Cheng Peng , Zhu Tong , Ding Aijun , Zhang Yuanhang , Gligorovski Sasho , Song Wei , Ding Xiang , Bi Xinhui , Wang Xinming
Published: October 2017

Abstract. Heterogeneous reactions of mineral dust aerosol with trace gases in the atmosphere could directly and indirectly affect tropospheric oxidation capacity, in addition to aerosol composition and physicochemical properties. In this article we provide a comprehensive and critical review of laboratory studies of heterogeneous uptake of OH, NO3, O3, and their directly related species as well (including HO2, H2O2, HCHO, HONO, and N2O5) by mineral dust particles. The atmospheric importance of heterogeneous uptake as sinks for these species is assessed (i) by comparing their lifetimes with respect to heterogeneous reactions with mineral dust to lifetimes with respect to other major loss processes and (ii) by discussing relevant field and modeling studies. We have also outlined major open questions and challenges in laboratory studies of heterogeneous uptake by mineral dust and discussed research strategies to address them in order to better understand the effects of heterogeneous reactions with mineral dust on tropospheric oxidation capacity.
The Effects of Sea Spray and Atmosphere–Wave Coupling on Air–Sea Exchange during Tropical Cyclone
Authors: Garg Nikhil , Ng Yin Kwee Eddie , Narasimalu Srikanth
Published: October 2017

Abstract. The study investigates the role of air–sea interface using numerical simulations of an Atlantic Hurricane Arthur (2014). More specifically, present study aims to discern the role ocean surface waves and sea spray play in modulating the intensity and structure of a tropical cyclone (TC). To investigate the effects of ocean surface waves and sea spray, numerical simulations were carried out using a coupled atmosphere–wave model where a sea spray microphysical model was incorporated within the coupled model. Furthermore, this study also explores how sea spray generation can be modelled using wave energy dissipation due to whitecaps, where whitecaps are considered as the primary mode of spray droplets generation at hurricane intensity wind speeds. Three different numerical simulations including sea state dependent momentum flux, sea spray mediated heat flux and combination of former two processes with sea spray mediated momentum flux were conducted. The foregoing numerical simulations were evaluated against the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) buoy and satellite altimeter measurements as well as a control simulation using an uncoupled atmosphere model. The results indicate that the model simulations were able to capture the storm track and intensity, where the surface wave coupling results in a stronger TC. Moreover, it is also noted that when only spray mediated heat fluxes are applied in conjunction with sea state dependent momentum flux, they result in a slightly weaker TC, albeit stronger compared to the control simulation. However, when spray mediated momentum flux is applied together with spray heat fluxes, it results in a comparably stronger TC. The results presented here alludes to the role surface friction plays in intensification of a TC.