bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The inferior thyroid veins — the ultimate guardians of the trachea
Authors: Krausen Anthony S.
Published: May 2014

The inferior thyroid veins and their multiple tributaries are the ultimate guardians of the cervical trachea. Deeply embedded in the pretracheal fat pad, this plexus of veins is consistently encountered during low tracheostomy that accompanies conservation laryngeal procedures as well as in tracheal reconstruction. In a high tracheotomy, the handling of the thyroid isthmus is simplified by an appreciation of these veins. Even cricothyrotomy is potentially complicated by hemorrhage subsequent to a tear in a tributary of the inferior thyroid venous system.

A cadaver study, employing 10 embalmed head and neck specimens, was performed to elucidate the tributary patterns of these veins. In every dissection there was at least one and as many as five veins overlying the trachea just below the thyroid isthmus. In 7 of 10 dissections a confluence of right and left inferior thyroid veins formed a large thyroid ima vein draining into the left innominate vein, and in 1 of 10 cases the thyroid ima vein drained into the right innominate. This confluence was present at a level which would be encountered in low tracheostomy or tracheal repair procedures. Six of 10 dissections presented large tributaries of the inferior thyroid veins overlying the cricothyroid membrane.

An awareness of such anatomical considerations should result in safer surgical procedure performed in a dry operative field.
Neuro‐otologic manifestations of sarcoidosis
Authors: Hybels Roger L. , Rice Dale H.
Published: May 2014

Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic disease which presents in anatomic areas of concern to otorhinolaryngologists. It can cause dysfunction of both auditory and vestibular systems. In patients known previously to have sarcoidosis, this disease should be seriously considered. In patients presenting with otologic disorders and associated facial nerve paralysis or other neuropathies, uveitis, granulomatous meningitis or diabetes insipidus, sarcoidosis should be suspected. An examination of the eyes as well as a chest X‐ray is imperative. Sudden and fluctuating neurosensory hearing loss has been reported. There is a great need for the study of temporal bones from sarcoidosis patients.
Ultrasound of the cervical roots and brachial plexus in neonates
Authors: Pillen Sigrid , Semmekrot Ben , Meulstee Jan , Verrips Aad , Van Alfen Nens
Published: May 2014

Introduction: In this exploratory study we investigated whether ultrasound can visualize the neonatal cervical roots and brachial plexus. Methods: In 12 healthy neonates <2 days old, the neck region was studied unilaterally with ultrasound using a small‐footprint 15–7‐MHz transducer. Results: The C5–C8 nerve roots and brachial plexus could be imaged with sufficient delineation of the root exits to assess their integrity. The brachial plexus was more difficult to discern from the surrounding area in neonates compared with adults, especially in the interscalene region because of the smaller amount of connective tissue in and surrounding muscles and nerves. In addition, the large deposits of brown fat make for a different ultrasound appearance of the neonatal neck compared with adults. Conclusions: Ultrasound of the neonatal cervical nerve roots is feasible and may be used as a non‐invasive screening technique to assess nerve root integrity in obstetric brachial plexus injury. Muscle Nerve 51: 35–41, 2015
Three‐dimensional simulations of tensile cracks in geomaterials by coupling meshless and finite element method
Authors: Peng Chong , Wu Wei , Zhang Bingyin
Published: May 2014

Failure in geotechnical engineering is often related to tension‐induced cracking in geomaterials. In this paper, a coupled meshless method and FEM is developed to analyze the problem of three‐dimensional cracking. The radial point interpolation method (RPIM) is used to model cracks in the smeared crack framework with an isotropic damage model. The identification of the meshless region is based on the stress state computed by FEM, and the adaptive coupling of RPIM and FEM is achieved by a direct algorithm. Mesh‐bias dependency, which poses difficulties in FEM‐based cracking simulations, is circumvented by a crack tracking algorithm. The performance of our scheme is demonstrated by two numerical examples, that is, the four‐point bending test on concrete beam and the surface cracks caused by tunnel excavation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Three‐dimensional inversion recovery manganese‐enhanced MRI of mouse brain using super‐resolution reconstruction to visualize nuclei involved in higher brain function
Authors: Poole Dana S. , Plenge Esben , Poot Dirk H. J. , Lakke Egbert A. J. F. , Niessen Wiro J. , Meijering Erik , van der Weerd Louise
Published: May 2014

The visualization of activity in mouse brain using inversion recovery spin echo (IR‐SE) manganese‐enhanced MRI (MEMRI) provides unique contrast, but suffers from poor resolution in the slice‐encoding direction. Super‐resolution reconstruction (SRR) is a resolution‐enhancing post‐processing technique in which multiple low‐resolution slice stacks are combined into a single volume of high isotropic resolution using computational methods. In this study, we investigated, first, whether SRR can improve the three‐dimensional resolution of IR‐SE MEMRI in the slice selection direction, whilst maintaining or improving the contrast‐to‐noise ratio of the two‐dimensional slice stacks. Second, the contrast‐to‐noise ratio of SRR IR‐SE MEMRI was compared with a conventional three‐dimensional gradient echo (GE) acquisition. Quantitative experiments were performed on a phantom containing compartments of various manganese concentrations. The results showed that, with comparable scan times, the signal‐to‐noise ratio of three‐dimensional GE acquisition is higher than that of SRR IR‐SE MEMRI. However, the contrast‐to‐noise ratio between different compartments can be superior with SRR IR‐SE MEMRI, depending on the chosen inversion time. In vivo experiments were performed in mice receiving manganese using an implanted osmotic pump. The results showed that SRR works well as a resolution‐enhancing technique in IR‐SE MEMRI experiments. In addition, the SRR image also shows a number of brain structures that are more clearly discernible from the surrounding tissues than in three‐dimensional GE acquisition, including a number of nuclei with specific higher brain functions, such as memory, stress, anxiety and reward behavior. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
First‐trimester hand measurements in euploid and aneuploid human fetuses using virtual reality
Authors: Baken Leonie , Benoit Bernard , Koning Anton H. J. , Willemsen Sten P. , van der Spek Peter J. , Steegers‐Theunissen Régine P. M. , Steegers Eric A. P. , Exalto Niek
Published: May 2014

Objective

Although second‐trimester and third‐trimester reference curves for human fetal hand growth allow for identification of several genetic syndromes, little is known about first‐trimester hand growth. We investigated first‐trimester hand growth in euploid and aneuploid fetuses.

Method

Between 9 and 12 weeks' gestational age (GA), wrist width, hand width, hand length, and hand index were measured in three‐dimensional (3D) ultrasound datasets of 112 euploid and 65 aneuploid pregnancies. We constructed reference curves for these measurements in euploid pregnancies and calculated z‐scores for measurements in aneuploid pregnancies. Reproducibility was established in a subset of 20 datasets.

Results

While wrist width, hand width, and hand length increased with gestational age, hand index decreased. Intraobserver and interobserver intraclass correlation coefficient values were >0.97.

In trisomy 21 cases, wider wrists and hands were observed compared with euploid pregnancies (mean z‐scores 1.06, SD 2.04, p < 0.001 and 1.16, SD 1.30, p < 0.001, respectively). Trisomy 18 cases showed narrower and shorter hands (mean z‐scores −0.74, SD 1.20, p = 0.009 and −0.97, SD 0.86, p = 0.005, respectively). In trisomy 13 cases, no differences were observed.

Conclusion

Reference values are available for first‐trimester studies on human hand development. First‐trimester hand measurements in trisomies 21 and 18 differ significantly from those in euploid pregnancies and may be useful for early identification of abnormal development. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design of a score to identify hospitalized patients at risk of drug‐related problems
Authors: Urbina Olatz , Ferrández Olivia , Grau Santiago , Luque Sonia , Mojal Sergi , Marin‐Casino Monica , Mateu‐de‐Antonio Javier , Carmona Alexia , Conde‐Estévez David , Espona Merce , González Elena , Riu Marta , Salas Esther
Published: May 2014

Purpose

The potential impact of drug‐related problems (DRP) on morbidity and mortality is a serious concern in hospitalized patients. This study aimed to design a risk score to identify patients most at risk of a DRP.

Methods

Data from patients admitted to a tertiary university hospital between January and August 2009 were used to design the risk score (training set). DRP were detected through a pharmacy warning system integrated in the computerized medical history. The variables associated with developing a DRP were identified through a binary multivariate logistic regression analysis and were used to compute the DRP risk score, which was subsequently validated in patients admitted between September and December 2009 (validation set).

Results

Of the 8713 patients included in the training set, at least one DRP was detected in 2425 (27.8%). Prescription of a higher number of drugs, higher comorbidity, advanced age, certain groups of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system, and some major diagnostic categories were associated with risk of DRP. These variables were used to compute the DRP risk score. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.778 (95%CI [0.768, 0.789]). Of the 4058 admissions included in the validation set, at least one DRP was detected in 876 (21.6%). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.776 (95%CI [0.759, 0.792]).

Conclusions

Knowledge of the variables associated with DRP could aid their early detection in at‐risk patients. The use of an application that can be continually updated in daily clinical practice helps to optimize resources. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adverse effects of benfluorex on heart valves and pulmonary circulation
Authors: Szymanski Catherine , Andréjak Michel , Peltier Marcel , Maréchaux Sylvestre , Tribouilloy Christophe
Published: May 2014

Benfluorex is responsible for the development of restrictive valvular regurgitation due to one of its metabolites, norfenfluramine. The 5‐HT2B receptor, expressed on heart valves, acts as culprit receptor for drug‐induced valvular heart disease (VHD). Stimulation of this receptor leads to the upregulation of target genes involved in the proliferation and stimulation of valvular interstitial cells through different intracellular pathways. Valve lesions essentially involve the mitral and/or aortic valves. The randomised prospective REGULATE trial shows a threefold increase in the incidence of valvular regurgitation in patients exposed to benfluorex. A cross‐sectional trial shows that about 7% of patients without a history of VHD previously exposed to benfluorex present echocardiographic features of drug‐induced VHD. The excess risks of hospitalisation for cardiac valvular insufficiency and of valvular replacement surgery were respectively estimated to 0.5 per 1000 and 0.2 per 1000 exposed patients per year. Recent data strongly suggest an aetiological link between benfluorex exposure and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The PAH development may be explained by serotonin, which creates a pulmonary vasoconstriction through potassium‐channel blockade. Further studies should be conducted to determine the subsequent course of benfluorex‐induced VHD and PAH, and to identify genetic, biological and clinical factors that determine individual susceptibility to developing such adverse effects. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fast solvent removal by mechanical twisting for gel spinning of ultrastrong fibers
Authors: Wyatt Tom , Deng Yulin , Yao Donggang
Published: May 2014

A new method for fast solvent removal in gel spinning was investigated. Instead of solvent evaporation or coagulation as conventionally used, the new method involves mechanically twisting the gel‐fiber along the fiber axis. By removing the majority of solvent in the gel‐fiber by mechanical twisting not only the emission of solvent vapor and the production of waste solvent mixture or coagulation byproducts are minimized but also the fiber production rate is significantly increased. The new solvent removal method was demonstrated through gel spinning of high‐strength ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene fibers using both volatile and nonvolatile spin solvents. Approximately 90% of the spin solvent was removed by a single‐step twisting process and the resulting fiber retained the high mechanical properties conventionally obtained. A mechanistic model was developed for estimating the solvent removal as a function of twisting. With respect to the gel spinning industry, the new solvent removal method holds a promise of simplifying the solvent removal and recovery steps and improving the production rate, leading to more efficient and effective gel spinning processes. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:745–752, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Roll‐to‐roll gravure printing of organic photovoltaic modules—insulation of processing defects by an interfacial layer
Authors: Apilo Pälvi , Hiltunen Jussi , Välimäki Marja , Heinilehto Santtu , Sliz Rafal , Hast Jukka
Published: May 2014

Gravure printing as direct patterning roll‐to‐roll (R2R) production technology can revolutionize the design of thin‐film organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices by allowing feasible manufacturing of arbitrary‐shaped modules. This makes a distinction to coating methods, such as slot die coating, in which the pattern is limited to continuous stripes. Here, we analyze the thin‐film formation and its influence on OPV module performance as the gravure printing of hole transport and photoactive layers are transferred from laboratory to R2R pilot production environment. Insertion of a 0.8‐nm layer of lithium fluoride (LiF) as an interfacial layer between the active layer and the electron contact provided insulation against the detrimental pinholes formed in the R2R printing process. Using this device configuration, we produced well‐performing R2R‐printed monolithic modules with a mean efficiency of 1.7%. In comparison, reference modules with an efficiency of 2.2% were fabricated using laboratory‐scale bench top sheet‐level process. Surface energy and tension measurements together with optical microscopy were used to analyze the printability of the materials. The pinhole insulation was investigated in detail by processing R2R‐printed OPV modules with different interfacial layer materials and performing electrical measurements under dark and AM1.5 illumination conditions. Furthermore, we analyzed the LiF distribution using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The insulating nature of the LiF layer to improve module performance was confirmed by manufacturing lithographically artificial pinholes in device structures. The results show the possibility to loosen the production environment constraints and the feasibility of fabricating well‐performing thin‐film devices by R2R gravure printing. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Toward the functional oligomerization state of tryptophan‐rich sensory proteins
Authors: Jaremko Łukasz , Jaremko Mariusz , Becker Stefan , Zweckstetter Markus
Published: May 2014

A conserved family of tryptophan‐rich sensory proteins (TspO) mediates the transport of heme degradation intermediates across membranes. In eukaryotes, the homologous mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO) binds cholesterol and radioligands as monomer. On the basis of the mammalian TSPO structure, bioinformatic analysis, and a 10 Å resolution electron microscopy map of TspO from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, we developed a model of the tertiary and quaternary structure of TspO that is in agreement with available mutagenesis data. Our study provides insight into the conformational basis for the restricted interaction of bacterial TspO with radioligands and the functional oligomerization state of bacterial TspO proteins.
Cationic heterooligopeptides by ficain‐catalyzed co‐oligomerization of lysine and methionine ethylesters
Authors: Andre Markus , Kühl Boris , Brenner‐Weiss Gerald , Syldatk Christoph , Rudat Jens
Published: May 2014

Oligopeptides are of high importance for various industrial applications, e.g. cosmetical or medical. Homooligomerizations and co‐oligomerizations with anionic amino acid esters are well described but a successful synthesis of cationic heterooligopeptides has been missing so far. The present study reports the ficain‐catalyzed heterooligomerizations of LysOEt with MetOEt, leading to cationic heterooligopeptides with a yield up to 49.5% (w/w). MALDI‐ToF/ToF‐MS analyses proved successful syntheses of cationic heterooligopeptides with a DP between 7 and 10 amino acid residues, with the enzyme exhibiting a clear preference for methionine. Copyright © 2014 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tidal effects on stratospheric temperature series derived from successive advanced microwave sounding units
Authors: Keckhut P. , Funatsu B. M. , Claud C. , Hauchecorne A.
Published: May 2014

Stratospheric temperature series derived from the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) on board successive NOAA satellites reveal, during periods of overlap, some bias and drifts. Part of the reason for these discrepancies could be atmospheric tides as the orbits of these satellites drifted, inducing large changes in the actual times of measurement. NOAA 15 and 16, which exhibit a long period of overlap, allow deriving diurnal tides that can correct such temperature drifts. The characteristics of the derived diurnal tides during summer periods is in good agreement with those calculated with the Global Scale Wave Model, indicating that most of the observed drifts are likely due to the atmospheric tides. Cooling can be biased by a factor of 2, if times of measurement are not considered. When diurnal tides are considered, trends derived from temperature lidar series are in good agreement with AMSU series. Future adjustments of temperature time series based on successive AMSU instruments will require considering corrections associated with the local times of measurement.
The shallow‐water equations in non‐spherical geometry with latitudinal variation of gravity
Authors: Staniforth Andrew , White Andy
Published: May 2014

The shallow‐water equations in spherical geometry are well known. They are derived as a constant‐density, constant‐gravity specialization of the hydrostatic primitive equations for a thin layer of fluid, bounded below by topography and above by a free surface. It is shown herein that it is possible to derive an analogous set of shallow‐water equations in non‐spherical (but zonally symmetric) geometry using orthogonal curvilinear coordinates. This equation set is dynamically consistent, possessing conservation principles for mass, axial angular momentum, energy and potential vorticity. Furthermore, gravity is allowed to vary, as it does physically, as a function of latitude. This prepares the way for performing sensitivity tests, in an idealized framework, to assess the possible impact of latitudinal variation of gravity. Illustrative examples of models of gravity and specific non‐spherical coordinate systems are given.
Adsorption equilibrium studies for O‐xylene vapour and modified clays system
Authors: Dammak Nesrine , Ouledltaief Olfa , Fakhfakh Nadim , Benzina Mourad
Published: May 2014

Tunisian bentonites were used to prepare three modified clays: two organoclays by intercalating respectively didodecyldimethylammoniumbromide (DDMAC) and hexadecyltrimethylammoniumbromide (HDTMAC), and synthesis of NaX zeolite. The X‐ray diffraction, infrared and thermogravimetric analyses enabled us to differentiate between the structures obtained. Clay materials systems were used as adsorbent for the investigation of the adsorption isotherms and saturation capacity of O‐xylene, a toxic volatile organic compound, by gravimetric method at three different temperatures 20, 30, and 40 °C. The absolute values of the volatile organic compound adsorbed amounts in the intercalated clays (604 mg g−1) were higher than for the zeolite (296 mg g−1). The adsorption isotherms were analysed by the Freundlich and Langmuir equations. The latter was found to describe better the equilibrium adsorption data. Mass transfer coefficient of O‐xylene is evaluated using uptake curve method, and all values are in the order of 10−2 s−1. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quality metrics for mutation testing with applications to WS‐BPEL compositions
Authors: Estero‐Botaro Antonia , Palomo‐Lozano Francisco , Medina‐Bulo Inmaculada , Domínguez‐Jiménez Juan José , García‐Domínguez Antonio
Published: May 2014

Mutation testing is a successful testing technique based on fault injection. However, it can be very costly, and several cost‐reduction techniques for reducing the number of mutants have been proposed in the literature. Cost reduction can be aided by an analysis of mutation operators, but this requires the definition of specialized metrics. Several metrics have been proposed before, although their effectiveness and relative merits are not easy to assess. A step ahead in the evaluation of mutation‐reduction techniques would be a better metric to determine objectively the quality of a set of mutants with respect to a given test suite. This work introduces such a metric, which is naturally extended to mutation operators and may be used to reduce the number of mutants, particularly of equivalent mutants. Finally, a firm mutation analysis tool for WS‐BPEL service compositions is presented, and experimental results obtained by comparing different metrics on several compositions are presented. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biparietal/transverse abdominal diameter ratio ≤ 1: potential marker for open spina bifida at 11–13‐week scan
Authors: Simon E. G. , Arthuis C. J. , Haddad G. , Bertrand P. , Perrotin F.
Published: May 2014

ABSTRACT

Objective

In the first trimester of pregnancy, a biparietal diameter (BPD) below the 5th percentile is a simple marker that enables the prenatal detection of half of all cases of open spina bifida. We hypothesized that relating the BPD measurement to the transverse abdominal diameter (TAD) might be another simple and effective screening method. In this study we assessed the performance of using the BPD/TAD ratio during the first trimester of pregnancy in screening for open spina bifida.

Methods

A total of 20 551 first‐trimester ultrasound scans (11–13 weeks' gestation), performed between 2000 and 2013, were analyzed retrospectively; there were 26 cases of open spina bifida and 17 665 unaffected pregnancies with a crown–rump length of 45–84 mm and a record of both BPD and TAD measurements.

Results

The mean (± SD) BPD/TAD ratio was 1.00 ± 0.06 for fetuses with spina bifida and 1.13 ± 0.06 for those without (P < 0.0001). A BPD ≤ 5th percentile enabled the prenatal detection of 46.2% of spina bifida cases, while a BPD/TAD ratio of ≤ 1.00 detected 69.2%. If we considered cases in which either BPD was ≤ 5th percentile or BPD/TAD ratio was ≤ 1, we identified 76.9% of cases. In the latter case, the false‐positive rate was 5.1%, while that for using a combination of both BPD ≤ 5th percentile and BPD/TAD ratio ≤ 1 was 0.6%, with a sensitivity of 38.5%. The positive predictive value of using a combination of BPD ≤ 5th percentile and BPD/TAD ratio ≤ 1 for detecting spina bifida was 8.5%.

Conclusions

Between 11 and 13 weeks' gestation, relating BPD to TAD improves considerably the diagnostic performance of using BPD measurement alone in screening for open spina bifida. Screening using this marker is simple and applicable to a large population. Copyright © 2014 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Cervical length in late second and third trimesters: a mixture model for predicting delivery
Authors: Souka A. P. , Papastefanou I. , Papadopoulos G. , Chrelias C. , Kassanos D.
Published: May 2014

Objectives

To examine the distribution of cervical length (CL) in the late second and third trimesters of pregnancy and construct survival models for spontaneous delivery.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study included 647 women with a singleton pregnancy who had routine CL measurements taken by transvaginal ultrasonography between 24 and 40 weeks' gestation. Only one measurement per patient was included in the analysis. Exploratory data analysis revealed that the distribution of CL measurements was a mixture of two Gaussian distributions, and subsequently a mixture model was applied to describe the distribution of CL. Changes in CL in relation to gestational age were examined by regression analysis and measurements were converted to Z‐scores. Survival analysis was applied to the subgroups identified, to describe the probability of delivery throughout gestation.

Results

CL was best described by a mixture model of two subgroups with Gaussian distribution, one including women with a long cervix (73.85% of the study population, mean CL of 28.2 ± 4.45 mm) and the other including women with a short cervix (26.15% of the study population, mean CL of 12.3 ± 5.14 mm). CL was dependent on gestational age (GA), therefore conversion to Z‐scores was employed in the analysis. Women with a short cervix had a higher probability for spontaneous delivery (hazard ratio (HR), 1.807; P < 0.001) than did women with a long cervix, after adjustment for GA at the time of measurement (GA HR, 1.115; P < 0.001). In both subgroups, the probability of spontaneous delivery was predicted by the GA and CL Z‐scores. Survival models for the prediction of spontaneous delivery were constructed separately for the short‐cervix subgroup (GA HR, 1.085; P < 0.001 and CL Z‐score HR, 0.819; P = 0.003) and the long‐cervix subgroup (GA HR, 1.130; P < 0.001 and CL Z‐score HR, 0.864; P = 0.005).

Conclusions

CL follows a mixture of two Gaussian distributions, one for a short and one for a long cervix. Late second‐trimester/third‐trimester CL measurement may be of value in estimating the probability for spontaneous delivery at any given gestational age. Copyright © 2014 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Prenatal echocardiographic diagnosis of double aortic arch
Authors: Hunter L. , Callaghan N. , Patel K. , Rinaldi L. , Bellsham‐Revell H. , Sharland G.
Published: May 2014

A double aortic arch is a congenital anomaly associated with the formation of a vascular ring, which can cause varying degrees of airway compression. This can be subclinical or clinical, manifesting as acute stridor, severe respiratory compromise or symptoms of chronic airway compression. An accurate diagnosis of double aortic arch can be made prenatally by fetal echocardiography. In this report, we describe two infants with normal karyotypes in whom a prenatal diagnosis of double aortic arch was made at our fetal cardiology center, between July 2012 and August 2013. The diagnosis was confirmed postnatally by two‐dimensional echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The presence of a right aortic arch should prompt more careful evaluation to exclude a double aortic arch. Postnatal assessment should comprise echocardiography and cross‐sectional imaging in the form of cardiac MRI/computed tomography. Bronchoscopy may be considered to exclude subclinical airway compression and reduce potential long‐term respiratory sequelae. Copyright © 2014 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Measuring echogenicity and area of the puborectalis muscle: method and reliability
Authors: Grob A. T. M. , Veen A. A. C. , Schweitzer K. J. , Withagen M. I. J. , van Veelen G. A. , van der Vaart C. H.
Published: May 2014

Objectives

To develop a semi‐automated method to assess puborectalis muscle echogenicity on three‐dimensional/four‐dimensional (3D/4D) volume transperineal ultrasound images using 4D View and Matlab® software and evaluate its intra‐ and interobserver reliability.

Method

The data of 23 women in their first trimester were included. 3D/4D volume datasets were obtained at rest. Two inexperienced observers were trained by an experienced observer to construct tomographic ultrasound images (TUI) from the original data and to delineate all structures. Puborectalis muscle area (PMA) and the mean echogenicity of the puborectalis muscle (MEP) were calculated offline. Intra‐ and interobserver reliability were determined by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and their 95% CIs.

Results

The development of a semi‐automated method to calculate puborectalis area and echogenicity is described in detail. PMA and MEP measurements in pregnant women demonstrated almost perfect intraobserver reliability for both inexperienced observers, with ICC values ranging from 0.88 to 0.99. The interobserver reliability showed ICCs of 0.63 for PMA and almost perfect ICC values, of 0.96–0.98, for echogenicity. The majority of intraobserver mismatch between two delineations of PMA occurred near the borders.

Conclusions

Matlab software can be used to provide reliable measurements of the area and echogenicity of the puborectalis muscle. As the latter can be used to assess structural changes in the puborectalis muscle, it appears a promising new tool for studying pelvic floor structural anatomy. Copyright © 2014 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Moderne unikondyläre Kniearthroplastik
Authors: von Knoch F. , Munzinger U.
Published: May 2014

Hintergrund

Die unikondyläre Kniearthroplastik (UKA) ist bei fortgeschrittener medialer oder lateraler Gonarthrose eine etablierte Therapieoption.

Ziel der Arbeit

Die Eckpfeiler einer erfolgreichen UKA – sorgfältige Patientenselektion, präoperative Planung und präzise Operationstechnik – werden in dieser Übersichtsarbeit behandelt.

Stellenwert

Im Unterschied zur Knietotalarthroplastik erlaubt die UKA den Erhalt des kontralateralen und patellofemoralen Kompartiments sowie der Kreuzbänder und ist oft mit einer rascheren postoperativen Erholung, verbesserten Kniekinematik und Kniefunktion verbunden. Allerdings ist die UKA technisch sehr anspruchsvoll. Hohe Revisionsraten wurden v. a. bei breiter Anwendung gemäß nationaler Prothesenregister berichtet.

Schlussfolgerung

Der Erfolg der UKA hängt von einer sorgfältigen Patientenauswahl, detaillierten präoperativen Planung und Operationstechnik ab. Eine Erweiterung der klassischen Indikationskriterien für UKA halten wir für gerechtfertigt. Drei Typen der mechanischen Varus-Valgus-Deformität vor medialer oder lateraler UKA können unterschieden werden: Typ 1 (isolierte intraartikuläre Deformität), Typ 2 (übermäßige Deformität durch extraartikuläre Varusdeformität bei medialer UKA oder Valgusdeformität bei lateraler UKA), Typ 3 (reduzierte Deformität durch extraartikuläre Valgusdeformität bei medialer UKA oder Varusdeformität bei lateraler UKA). Diese Deformitäten sollten bei der Operationstechnik berücksichtigt werden.
Functional outcomes and quality of life following surgical treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts of the pelvis in children
Authors: Novais Eduardo N. , Zimmerman Amy K. , Lewallen Laura W. , Rose Peter S. , Sim Franklin H. , McIntosh Amy L.
Published: May 2014

Background

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are a benign aggressive tumor that occurs rarely in the pelvis in the pediatric population. Pelvic ABCs may involve the triradiate cartilage and/or the acetabulum, which increases the technical difficulty of surgical treatment and has potential implications on the growth and development of the hip joint. This study examines the clinical presentation, rate of surgical complications, and recurrence rate, as well as, long-term clinical and functional outcomes of children with pelvic ABCs treated at a single institution by a single treatment modality.

Methods

Between 1988 and 2008, 142 children with histologically confirmed ABCs were treated at our institution. Seventeen (12 %) tumors were located in the pelvis. A total of 13 pelvic ABCs (5 ilium-periacetabular, 4 pubic, 3 ilium-iliac wing, and 1 ischium) were included in this study. There were eight male and five female patients with a mean age of 12.9 years (range 4.1–17.5 years) at the time of surgery. The Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS), the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society 1993 (MSTS’93) score, and the Short Form Health Survey Sf-36 were obtained at a minimum 5-year follow-up in all patients (mean follow-up 11.5 years, range 5.5–19.8 years). The mean age at follow-up was 24.3 years (range 14.6–32.6 years).

Results

All patients were treated surgically with intralesional curettage extended with a high-speed burr and bone grafting. Eight patients received adjunctive therapy with phenol. Five patients had preoperative selective arterial embolization. Of the 13 patients, 1 had a local recurrence diagnosed at 6 months after surgery. The only complication in the cohort was a superficial wound infection. At the latest follow-up, all patients were free of disease. The mean TESS score was 95 and the mean MSTS’93 score was 93 %. The mean self-rated general health score, according to the SF-36 was 87 % of total points possible.

Conclusions

Extended curettage and bone grafting of pelvic ABCs in the pediatric population can yield high clinical and functional scores at an average of 11 years follow-up with a low rate of complications and recurrence.

Level of evidence

IV, case series.
Social control and strenuous exercise among late adolescent college students: Parents versus peers as influence agents
Authors: Pugliese John A. , Okun Morris A.
Published: May 2014

In the context of a model of health‐related social control, we compared the associations among social control strategies, affective and behavioral reactions, and exercise for parental and peer influence agents. Late adolescent college students (n = 227) completed questionnaires that focused on social control from a parent or a peer who attempted to increase their exercising. Results from this cross‐sectional study revealed that most relationships in the model were similar for parent and peer influence agents, however, (a) negative social control was a stronger predictor of reactance among parents than peers; (b) positive affect was a stronger predictor of attempts to change among peers than parents; and (c) positive affect predicted frequency of strenuous exercise only among parents. Decreasing parents' use of negative social control strategies and increasing adolescents' positive affective reactions to parental social control agents may be keys to promoting positive lifestyle changes in late adolescence.
Early adolescent Body Mass Index and the constructed environment
Authors: Jones Randall M. , Vaterlaus J. Mitchell
Published: May 2014

Previous research has shown that macro‐level environmental features such as access to walking trails and recreational facilities are correlated with adolescent weight. Additionally, a handful of studies have documented relationships between micro‐level environmental features, such as the presence (or absence) of a television in the bedroom, and adolescent weight. In this exploratory study we focus exclusively on features of the micro‐level environment by examining objects that are found within adolescent personal bedrooms in relation to the adolescent occupant's Body Mass Index score (BMI). Participants were 234 early adolescents (eighth graders and ninth graders) who lived with both biological parents and who had their own private bedroom. Discriminant analyses were used to identify the bedrooms belonging to adolescents with below and above average BMI using objects contained within the micro‐level environment as discriminating variables. Bedrooms belonging to adolescents with above average BMI were more likely to contain objects associated with sedentary behavior (e.g., magazines, electronic games, dolls), whereas the bedrooms belonging to the average and below average BMI adolescents were more likely to contain objects that reflect past physical activity (e.g., trophies, souvenirs, pictures of places that they had visited). If causal connections between micro‐environmental variables and adolescent BMI can be established in future longitudinal research, environmental manipulations may affect adolescent BMI.
Abbreviated (12‐hour) versus traditional (24‐hour) postpartum magnesium sulfate therapy in severe pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Maia Sabina B. , Katz Leila , Neto Carlos Noronha , Caiado Bárbara V.R. , Azevedo Ana P.R.L. , Amorim Melania M.R.
Published: May 2014

Objective

To compare the use of magnesium sulfate for 12 hours versus 24 hours in postpartum women with stable severe pre‐eclampsia.

Methods

In 2011, an open randomized clinical trial was conducted with 120 postpartum women with severe pre‐eclampsia who gave birth at a tertiary hospital in Brazil; 60 women received magnesium sulfate for 24 hours and 60 for 12 hours. The analysis was by intention‐to‐treat and the intervention was not masked.

Results

Abbreviated (12‐hour) magnesium sulfate therapy was associated with less exposure to the drug, and clinical outcomes were similar in both groups. No woman developed eclampsia and there was no need to re‐initiate treatment after completing the scheduled magnesium sulfate therapy in either group. Magnesium sulfate therapy was extended in only three women in the 12‐hour group. In addition, in this group, significant reductions were found in the duration of postpartum use of an indwelling bladder catheter, the time to ambulation, and the time to maternal contact with the newborn.

Conclusion

Abbreviated postpartum magnesium sulfate therapy in patients with stable severe pre‐eclampsia was associated with less drug exposure, similar outcomes, and benefits such as a reduction in the time to contact with the newborn.

Clinical trials registration: clinicaltrials.gov NCT1408979
A young patient with atypical type‐B Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome accompanied by left ventricular dysfunction
Authors: Takeuchi Takahiro , Tomita Takeshi , Kasai Hiroki , Kashiwagi Daisuke , Yoshie Koji , Yaguchi Tomonori , Oguchi Yasutaka , Kozuka Ayako , Gautam Milan , Motoki Hirohiko , Okada Ayako , Shiba Yuji , Aizawa Kazunori , Izawa Atsushi , Miyashita Yusuke , Koyama Jun , Hongo Minoru , Ikeda Uichi
Published: May 2014

A 15‐year‐old asymptomatic male patient presented with an electrocardiographic abnormality and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (left ventricle ejection fraction of 40%) in a physical examination performed 2 years previously. LV dysfunction did not improve despite optimal medical therapy for dilated cardiomyopathy. Twelve‐lead electrocardiography revealed a normal PR interval (138 ms) with a small delta‐like wave in V2, but not a typical diagnostic wave that could be diagnosed as Wolff–Parkinson–White (WPW) syndrome by an electrocardiogram auto‐analysis. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a remarkable asynchronous septal motion. An electrophysiological study was performed to exclude WPW syndrome. An accessory pathway (AP) was revealed on the lateral wall of the right ventricle, and radiofrequency catheter ablation was successfully performed to disconnect the AP. Thereafter, the dyssynchrony disappeared, and LV function improved. The intrinsic atrioventricular nodal conduction was very slow (A‐H, 237 ms). The results of electrocardiogram auto‐analysis could not be used to confirm the diagnosis of WPW syndrome because of the atypical delta wave. Conduction via the right lateral AP caused electrical dyssynchrony in the LV. This case suggests that atypical delta waves should be evaluated without depending on electrocardiographic auto‐analyses in patients with LV dysfunction accompanied by dyssynchrony.
OHSAS 18001 certification and operating performance: The role of complexity and coupling⋆
Authors: Lo Chris K.Y. , Pagell Mark , Fan Di , Wiengarten Frank , Yeung Andy C.L.
Published: May 2014

Today, manufacturing firms encounter pressure from multiple stakeholders to manage occupational health and safety issues properly, systematically and transparently. While manufacturing firms commonly use internally developed Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, there is growing pressure to adopt externally certified system such as OHSAS 18001. However, there are conflicting views and little empirical evidence that examines the linkage between OHSAS 18001 certification and operating performance. Hence, this paper examines the impact of OHSAS 18001 on operational performance through three theoretical lenses: Institutional Theory, Normal Accident Theory, and High Reliability Theory. We also investigate how complexity and coupling moderate the relationship between OHSAS 18001 and operational performance. Based on a sample of 211 U.S. listed manufacturing firms with OHSAS 18001 certification, we find that certification leads to significant increases in abnormal performance on safety, sales growth, labor productivity, and profitability and that these benefits increase as complexity and coupling increase.
Economic sanctions and the rhetorical responses of totalitarian regimes: Examining North Korean rhetorical strategies, 1949–2010
Authors: Kim Yeon Joo
Published: May 2014

This study investigates the impact of economic statecraft on the North Korean Government. As a totalitarian regime, which is characterized by a controlled mass media, the North Korean Government tries to contain potential problems caused by sanctions by using three types of political rhetoric: appeasement, backlash, and surveillance. Using timeseries data from 1949 to 2010 derived from a content analysis of the New Year’s Day addresses by Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un, the empirical results suggests that the North Korean Government does alter its rhetorical strategies in response to external economic sanctions. Negative sanctions cause the regime to use appeasement strategies (or calls for reforms and internal changes). It tends to use backlash rhetoric (or blaming the sanctioning powers) in response to, interestingly, positive sanctions. Surveillance rhetoric, or the call for internal vigilance against enemies, on the other hand, does not have any statistical connection with sanctions, rather driven by other factors, such as the Korean War, external instability, and so on.
New approaches to North Korean politics after reunification: The search for a common Korean identity
Authors: Grzelczyk Virginie
Published: May 2014

Whilst most of the literature focusing on the Korean peninsula has concentrated on how to achieve unification through confidence-building measures, dialogues, negotiation and diplomacy, little attention has been paid to how a unified Korean identity, a core component of any potential reunification scheme could develop and be sustained. The paper addresses this gap by: (1) defining what national identity is, and how Korean identities have been formed, (2) outlining how both South and North Korea have understood and used the concept of national identity, (3) suggesting possible grounds on which the two Koreas could build a new, common national identity.
ESR, U-series and paleomagnetic dating ofGigantopithecusfauna from Chuifeng Cave, Guangxi, southern China
Authors: Shao Qingfeng , Wang Wei , Deng Chenglong , Voinchet Pierre , Lin Min , Zazzo Antoine , Douville Eric , Dolo Jean-Michel , Falguères Christophe , Bahain Jean-Jacques
Published: May 2014

SeveralGigantopithecusfaunas associated with taxonomically undetermined hominoid fossils and/or stone artifacts are known from southern China. These faunas are particularly important for the study of the evolution of humans and other mammals in Asia. However, the geochronology of theGigantopithecusfaunas remains uncertain. In order to solve this problem, a program of geochronological studies ofGigantopithecusfaunas in Guangxi Province was recently initiated. Chuifeng Cave is the first studied site, which yielded 92Gigantopithecus blackiteeth associated with numerous other mammalian fossils. We carried out combined ESR/U-series dating of fossil teeth and sediment paleomagnetic studies. Our ESR results suggest that the lower layers at this cave can be dated to 1.92 ± 0.14 Ma and the upper layers can be dated to older than 1.38 ± 0.17 Ma. Correlation of the recognized magnetozones to the geomagnetic polarity timescale was achieved by combining magnetostratigraphic, biostratigraphic and ESR data. The combined chronologies establish an Olduvai subchron (1.945–1.778 Ma) for the lowermost Chuifeng Cave sediments. We also analyzed the enamel δ13C values of theGigantopithecusfaunas. Our results show that southern China was dominated by C3plants during the early Pleistocene and that theGigantopithecusfaunas lived in a woodland-forest ecosystem.
Millennial-scale variations in western Sierra Nevada precipitation during the last glacial cycle MIS 4/3 transition
Authors: Oster Jessica L. , Montañez Isabel P. , Mertz-Kraus Regina , Sharp Warren D. , Stock Greg M. , Spero Howard J. , Tinsley John , Zachos James C.
Published: May 2014

Dansgaard–Oeschger (D–O) cycles had far-reaching effects on Northern Hemisphere and tropical climate systems during the last glacial period, yet the climatic response to D–O cycles in western North America is controversial, especially prior to 55 ka. We document changes in precipitation along the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada during early Marine Oxygen Isotope Stages (MIS) 3 and 4 (55–67 ka) from a U-series dated speleothem record from McLean's Cave. The timing of our multi-proxy geochemical dataset is coeval with D–O interstadials (15–18) and stadials, including Heinrich Event 6. The McLean's Cave stalagmite indicates warmer and drier conditions during Greenland interstadials (GISs 15–18), signified by elevatedδ18O,δ13C, reflectance, and trace element concentrations, and less radiogenic87Sr/86Sr. Our record extends evidence of a strong linkage between high-latitude warming and reduced precipitation in western North America to early MIS 3 and MIS 4. This record shows that the linkage persists in diverse global climate states, and documents the nature of the climatic response in central California to Heinrich Event 6.
ON SOLUBILITY OF GROUPS WITH FEW NORMALISERS
Authors: ZARRIN MOHAMMAD
Published: May 2014

In this paper we prove that every group with at most 26 normalisers is soluble. This gives a positive answer to Conjecture 3.6 in the author’s paper [On groups with a finite number of normalisers’, Bull. Aust. Math. Soc.86 (2012), 416–423].