bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retroperitoneal Castleman’s disease: advocating a multidisciplinary approach for a rare clinical entity
Authors: Williams Austin D , Sanchez Adriana , Hou Jun Steve , Rubin Rene Rothstein , Hysell Mark E , Babcock Blake D , Shaikh Mohammad F , Weingarten Michael S , Bowne Wilbur B
Published: February 2014

Background

Castleman’s disease is a rare and poorly understood disease entity that may resemble more common conditions and represents a clinical challenge to the treating surgeon.

Case presentation

In this report, we describe a case of a 61-year-old Caucasian woman with a symptomatic retroperitoneal mass. The specimen obtained from her resection contained a protuberant encapsulated mass, exhibiting microscopic features consistent with localized, unicentric Castleman’s disease. These characteristics included architectural features and immunohistochemical findings consistent with the hyaline vascular variant of Castleman’s disease.

Conclusion

We report a very rare case of a retroperitoneal hyaline vascular type of Castleman’s disease. We discuss the diagnostic dilemma Castleman’s disease may present to the surgeon, with an emphasis on multidisciplinary management of these patients. We also review current data on pathogenesis, treatment and outcomes.
Single-stage surgical repair of airway gastric fistula after esophagectomy
Authors: Shi Hui , Wang Wen-Ping , Gao Qiang , Chen Long-Qi
Published: February 2014

Airway gastric fistula (AGF) is a rare but catastrophic complication after esophagectomy. Surgical repair with viable tissue interposed between the airway and alimentary tracts remains the definitive treatment. However, it is challenging for surgeons, and only anecdotally described in sporadic case reports due to the complexity of the techniques necessary for successful surgical intervention. Here, we report two cases successfully managed via single-stage surgical re-exploration. On outpatient follow-up, the two Chinese patients were progressing satisfactorily without complaint of any dyspnea or dysphagia.
Computerized tongue image segmentation via the double geo-vector flow
Authors: Shi Miao-Jing , Li Guo-Zheng , Li Fu-Feng , Xu Chao
Published: February 2014

Background

Visual inspection for tongue analysis is a diagnostic method in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Owing to the variations in tongue features, such as color, texture, coating, and shape, it is difficult to precisely extract the tongue region in images. This study aims to quantitatively evaluate tongue diagnosis via automatic tongue segmentation.

Methods

Experiments were conducted using a clinical image dataset provided by the Laboratory of Traditional Medical Syndromes, Shanghai University of TCM. First, a clinical tongue image was refined by a saliency window. Second, we initialized the tongue area as the upper binary part and lower level set matrix. Third, a double geo-vector flow (DGF) was proposed to detect the tongue edge and segment the tongue region in the image, such that the geodesic flow was evaluated in the lower part, and the geo-gradient vector flow was evaluated in the upper part.

Results

The performance of the DGF was evaluated using 100 images. The DGF exhibited better results compared with other representative studies, with its true-positive volume fraction reaching 98.5%, its false-positive volume fraction being 1.51%, and its false-negative volume fraction being 1.42%. The errors between the proposed automatic segmentation results and manual contours were 0.29 and 1.43% in terms of the standard boundary error metrics of Hausdorff distance and mean distance, respectively.

Conclusions

By analyzing the time complexity of the DGF and evaluating its performance via standard boundary and area error metrics, we have shown both efficiency and effectiveness of the DGF for automatic tongue image segmentation.
Electromyography and sonomyography analysis of the tibialis anterior: a cross sectional study
Authors: Ruiz‐Muñoz Maria , Cuesta‐Vargas Antonio I
Published: February 2014

Background

Foot dorsiflexion plays an essential role in both controlling balance and human gait. Electromyography (EMG) and sonomyography (SMG) can provide information on several aspects of muscle function. The aim was to establish the relationship between the EMG and SMG variables during isotonic contractions of foot dorsiflexors.

Methods

Twenty‐seven healthy young adults performed the foot dorsiflexion test on a device designed ad hoc. EMG variables were maximum peak and area under the curve. Muscular architecture variables were muscle thickness and pennation angle. Descriptive statistical analysis, inferential analysis and a multivariate linear regression model were carried out. The confidence level was established with a statistically significant p‐value of less than 0.05.

Results

The correlation between EMG variables and SMG variables was r = 0.462 (p < 0.05). The linear regression model to the dependent variable “peak normalized tibialis anterior (TA)” from the independent variables “pennation angle and thickness”, was significant (p = 0.002) with an explained variance of R2 = 0.693 and SEE = 0.16.

Conclusions

There is a significant relationship and degree of contribution between EMG and SMG variables during isotonic contractions of the TA muscle. Our results suggest that EMG and SMG can be feasible tools for monitoring and assessment of foot dorsiflexors. TA muscle parameterization and assessment is relevant in order to know that increased strength accelerates the recovery of lower limb injuries.
Volume-rendered hemorrhage-responsible arteriogram created by 64 multidetector-row CT during aortography: utility for catheterization in transcatheter arterial embolization for acute arterial bleeding
Authors: Minamiguchi Hiroki , Kawai Nobuyuki , Sato Morio , Ikoma Akira , Sanda Hiroki , Nakata Kouhei , Tanaka Fumihiro , Nakai Motoki , Sonomura Tetsuo , Murotani Kazuhiro , Hosokawa Seiki , Nishioku Tadayoshi
Published: February 2014

Aortography for detecting hemorrhage is limited when determining the catheter treatment strategy because the artery responsible for hemorrhage commonly overlaps organs and non-responsible arteries. Selective catheterization of untargeted arteries would result in repeated arteriography, large volumes of contrast medium, and extended time. A volume-rendered hemorrhage-responsible arteriogram created with 64 multidetector-row CT (64MDCT) during aortography (MDCTAo) can be used both for hemorrhage mapping and catheter navigation. The MDCTAo depicted hemorrhage in 61 of 71 cases of suspected acute arterial bleeding treated at our institute in the last 3 years. Complete hemostasis by embolization was achieved in all cases. The hemorrhage-responsible arteriogram was used for navigation during catheterization, thus assisting successful embolization. Hemorrhage was not visualized in the remaining 10 patients, of whom 6 had a pseudoaneurysm in a visceral artery; 1 with urinary bladder bleeding and 1 with chest wall hemorrhage had gaze tamponade; and 1 with urinary bladder hemorrhage and 1 with uterine hemorrhage had spastic arteries. Six patients with pseudoaneurysm underwent preventive embolization and the other 4 patients were managed by watchful observation. MDCTAo has the advantage of depicting the arteries responsible for hemoptysis, whether from the bronchial arteries or other systemic arteries, in a single scan. MDCTAo is particularly useful for identifying the source of acute arterial bleeding in the pancreatic arcade area, which is supplied by both the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries. In a case of pelvic hemorrhage, MDCTAo identified the responsible artery from among numerous overlapping visceral arteries that branched from the internal iliac arteries. In conclusion, a hemorrhage-responsible arteriogram created by 64MDCT immediately before catheterization is useful for deciding the catheter treatment strategy for acute arterial bleeding.
Comparison of three different kits for extraction of high-quality RNA from frozen blood
Authors: Kim Jin-Hee , Jin Hyeon-Ok , Park Jin-Ah , Chang Yoon Hwan , Hong Young Jun , Lee Jin Kyung
Published: February 2014

Extraction of high-quality RNA is a crucial step in gene expression profiling. To achieve optimal RNA extraction from frozen blood, the performance of three RNA extraction kits- TRI reagent, PAXgene blood RNA system (PAXgene) and NucleoSpin RNA blood kit (NucleoSpin)- was evaluated. Fifteen blood specimens collected in tubes containing potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and stored at −80°C for approximately 5 years were randomly selected. The yield and purity of RNA, RIN (RNA integrity number) values and cycle threshold (Ct) values were assessed. Mean RNA yields with TRI reagent, PAXgene and NucleoSpin were 15.6 ± 8.7 μg/ml, 3.1 ± 1.7 μg/ml and 9.0 ± 5.5 μg/ml, respectively. Mean A260/280 ratios of RNA for the three kits were 1.7 ± 0.1, 2.0 ± 0.1, and 2.0 ± 0.0, and mean RIN values recorded as 3.2 ± 0.8, 6.0 ± 1.1, and 6.4 ± 0.9, respectively. The Ct values of housekeeping genes, 18S rRNA, β-actin, RPLP0 and HPRT1, were as follows: TRI reagent (19.2 ± 1.6, 30.6 ± 1.8, 29.9 ± 1.4 and 36.3 ± 1.3), PAXgene 16.6 ± 1.4, 26.4 ± 1.3, 28.2 ± 1.8 and 33.8 ± 1.1), and NucleoSpin (16.3 ± 1.5, 27.2 ± 1.3, 27.0 ± 1.6 and 32.9 ± 1.6). RNA yield using TRI reagent was 1.7 times higher than that with NucleoSpin and 5 times higher than that with PAXgene. However, the purity and integrity of TRI-extracted RNA was lower than that extracted with PAXgene and NucleoSpin. Moreover, the Ct values of housekeeping genes after extraction with TRI reagent were approximately 1.7-3.8 times higher than those obtained with PAXgene and NucleoSpin. The PAXgene and NucleoSpin kits produced similar results in terms of RNA purity and integrity and subsequent gene amplification. However, RNA yields from NucleoSpin were 2.9-fold higher, compared to PAXgene. Based on these findings, we conclude that NucleoSpin is the most effective kit for extraction of abundant and high-quality RNA from frozen blood.
Smoothing surfaces and attributes
Authors: Hall Matt
Published: February 2014

Welcome to this new column. Every two months, a geoscientist will present a brief exploration of a geophysical topic. The idea is to take a tour bus around a subject and point out some of the sights, perhaps stopping briefly at an exemplary problem or instructive viewpoint. So far it's useful, but maybe not remarkable.

The remarkable thing, I hope, is that the tour will be open access. The tutors will use only open data sets that anyone can download. There will be no proprietary software. I will strongly encourage the use of Octave, R, or Python, all high-level (that is, easy-to-learn) programming languages for scientists, and the important parts of the code will be shared. I've tried to give a flavor of all this in today's tutorial, using Python. If you are new to Python, IPython is a great place to start—visit ipython.org/install .
Patient-Reported Quality of Supportive Care Among Patients With Colorectal Cancer in the Veterans Affairs Health Care System
Authors: van Ryn Michelle , Phelan Sean M. , Arora Neeraj K. , Haggstrom David A. , Jackson George L. , Zafar S. Yousuf , Griffin Joan M. , Zullig Leah L. , Provenzale Dawn , Yeazel Mark W. , Jindal Rahul M. , Clauser Steven B.
Published: February 2014

Purpose

High-quality supportive care is an essential component of comprehensive cancer care. We implemented a patient-centered quality of cancer care survey to examine and identify predictors of quality of supportive care for bowel problems, pain, fatigue, depression, and other symptoms among 1,109 patients with colorectal cancer.

Patients and Methods

Patients with new diagnosis of colorectal cancer at any Veterans Health Administration medical center nationwide in 2008 were ascertained through the Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry and sent questionnaires assessing a variety of aspects of patient-centered cancer care. We received questionnaires from 63% of eligible patients (N = 1,109). Descriptive analyses characterizing patient experiences with supportive care and binary logistic regression models were used to examine predictors of receipt of help wanted for each of the five symptom categories.

Results

There were significant gaps in patient-centered quality of supportive care, beginning with symptom assessment. In multivariable modeling, the impact of clinical factors and patient race on odds of receiving wanted help varied by symptom. Coordination of care quality predicted receipt of wanted help for all symptoms, independent of patient demographic or clinical characteristics.

Conclusion

This study revealed substantial gaps in patient-centered quality of care, difficult to characterize through quality measurement relying on medical record review alone. It established the feasibility of collecting patient-reported quality measures. Improving quality measurement of supportive care and implementing patient-reported outcomes in quality-measurement systems are high priorities for improving the processes and outcomes of care for patients with cancer.
Open-Label, Exploratory Phase II Trial of Oral Itraconazole for the Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Kim Daniel J. , Kim James , Spaunhurst Katrina , Montoya Javier , Khodosh Rita , Chandra Kalyani , Fu Teresa , Gilliam Anita , Molgo Monserrat , Beachy Philip A. , Tang Jean Y.
Published: February 2014

Purpose

Itraconazole, a US Food and Drug Administration–approved antifungal drug, inhibits the Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway, a crucial driver of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) tumorigenesis, and reduces BCC growth in mice. We assessed the effect of itraconazole on the HH pathway and on tumor size in human BCC tumors.

Patients and Methods

Patients with ≥ one BCC tumor > 4 mm in diameter were enrolled onto two cohorts to receive oral itraconazole 200 mg twice per day for 1 month (cohort A) or 100 mg twice per day for an average of 2.3 months (cohort B). The primary end point was change in biomarkers: Ki67 tumor proliferation and HH activity (GLI1 mRNA). Secondary end points included change in tumor size in a subset of patients with multiple tumors.

Results

A total of 29 patients were enrolled, of whom 19 were treated with itraconazole. Itraconazole treatment was associated with two adverse events (grade 2 fatigue and grade 4 congestive heart failure). Itraconazole reduced cell proliferation by 45% (P = .04), HH pathway activity by 65% (P = .03), and reduced tumor area by 24% (95% CI, 18.2% to 30.0%). Of eight patients with multiple nonbiopsied tumors, four achieved partial response, and four had stable disease. Tumors from untreated control patients and from those previously treated with vismodegib showed no significant changes in proliferation or tumor size.

Conclusion

Itraconazole has anti-BCC activity in humans. These results provide the basis for larger trials of longer duration to measure the clinical efficacy of itraconazole, especially relative to other HH pathway inhibitors.
The expression of Y-linked Zfy2 in XY mouse oocytes leads to frequent meiosis 2 defects, a high incidence of subsequent early cleavage stage arrest and infertility
Authors: Vernet Nadège , Szot Maria , Mahadevaiah Shantha K. , Ellis Peter J. I. , Decarpentrie Fanny , Ojarikre Obah A. , Rattigan Áine , Taketo Teruko , Burgoyne Paul S.
Published: February 2014

Outbred XYSry- female mice that lack Sry due to the 11 kb deletion Srydl1Rlb have very limited fertility. However, five lines of outbred XYd females with Y chromosome deletions YDel(Y)1Ct-YDel(Y)5Ct that deplete the Rbmy gene cluster and repress Sry transcription were found to be of good fertility. Here we tested our expectation that the difference in fertility between XO, XYd-1 and XYSry- females would be reflected in different degrees of oocyte depletion, but this was not the case. Transgenic addition of Yp genes to XO females implicated Zfy2 as being responsible for the deleterious Y chromosomal effect on fertility. Zfy2 transcript levels were reduced in ovaries of XYd-1 compared with XYSry- females in keeping with their differing fertility. In seeking the biological basis of the impaired fertility we found that XYSry-, XYd-1 and XO,Zfy2 females produce equivalent numbers of 2-cell embryos. However, in XYSry- and XO,Zfy2 females the majority of embryos arrested with 2-4 cells and almost no blastocysts were produced; by contrast, XYd-1 females produced substantially more blastocysts but fewer than XO controls. As previously documented for C57BL/6 inbred XY females, outbred XYSry- and XO,Zfy2 females showed frequent failure of the second meiotic division, although this did not prevent the first cleavage. Oocyte transcriptome analysis revealed major transcriptional changes resulting from the Zfy2 transgene addition. We conclude that Zfy2-induced transcriptional changes in oocytes are sufficient to explain the more severe fertility impairment of XY as compared with XO females.
The transmembrane protein Macroglobulin complement-related is essential for septate junction formation and epithelial barrier function inDrosophila
Authors: Bätz Tilmann , Förster Dominique , Luschnig Stefan
Published: February 2014

Occluding cell-cell junctions in epithelia form physical barriers that separate different membrane domains, restrict paracellular diffusion and prevent pathogens from spreading across tissues. In invertebrates, these functions are provided by septate junctions (SJs), the functional equivalent of vertebrate tight junctions. How the diverse functions of SJs are integrated and modulated in a multiprotein complex is not clear, and many SJ components are still unknown. Here we report the identification of Macroglobulin complement-related (Mcr), a member of the conserved α-2-macroglobulin (α2M) complement protein family, as a novel SJ-associated protein in Drosophila. Whereas α2M complement proteins are generally known as secreted factors that bind to surfaces of pathogens and target them for phagocytic uptake, Mcr represents an unusual α2M protein with a predicted transmembrane domain. We show that Mcr protein localizes to lateral membranes of epithelial cells, where its distribution overlaps with SJs. Several SJ components are required for the correct localization of Mcr. Conversely, Mcr is required in a cell-autonomous fashion for the correct membrane localization of SJ components, indicating that membrane-bound rather than secreted Mcr isoforms are involved in SJ formation. Finally, we show that loss of Mcr function leads to morphological, ultrastructural and epithelial barrier defects resembling mutants lacking SJ components. Our results, along with previous findings on the role of Mcr in phagocytosis, suggest that Mcr plays dual roles in epithelial barrier formation and innate immunity. Thus, Mcr represents a novel paradigm for investigating functional links between occluding junction formation and pathogen defense mechanisms.
Homothorax and Extradenticle alter the transcription factor network in Drosophila ommatidia at the dorsal rim of the retina
Authors: Wernet Mathias F. , Desplan Claude
Published: February 2014

A narrow band of ommatidia in the dorsal periphery of the Drosophila retina called the dorsal rim area (DRA) act as detectors for polarized light. The transcription factor Homothorax (Hth) is expressed in DRA inner photoreceptors R7 and R8 and is both necessary and sufficient to induce the DRA fate, including specialized morphology and unique Rhodopsin expression. Hth expression is the result of Wingless (Wg) pathway activity at the eye margins and restriction to the dorsal eye by the selector genes of the Iroquois complex (Iro-C). However, how the DRA is limited to exactly one or two ommatidial rows is not known. Although several factors regulating the Drosophila retinal mosaic are expressed in DRA ommatidia, the role of Hth in this transcriptional network is uncharacterized. Here we show that Hth functions together with its co-factor Extradenticle (Exd) to repress the R8-specific factor Senseless (Sens) in DRA R8 cells, allowing expression of an ultraviolet-sensitive R7 Rhodopsin (Rh3). Furthermore, Hth/Exd act in concert with the transcriptional activators Orthodenticle (Otd) and Spalt (Sal), to activate expression of Rh3 in the DRA. The resulting monochromatic coupling of Rh3 between R7 and R8 in DRA ommatidia is important for comparing celestial e-vector orientation rather than wavelengths. Finally, we show that Hth expression expands to many ommatidial rows in regulatory mutants of optomotorblind (omb), a transcription factor transducing Wg signaling at the dorsal and ventral eye poles. Therefore, locally restricted recruitment of the DRA-specific factor Hth alters the transcriptional network that regulates Rhodopsin expression across ommatidia.
Economically Efficient Standards to Protect the Netherlands Against Flooding
Authors: Eijgenraam Carel , Kind Jarl , Bak Carlijn , Brekelmans Ruud , den Hertog Dick , Duits Matthijs , Roos Kees , Vermeer Pieter , Kuijken Wim
Published: February 2014

In the Netherlands, flood protection is a matter of national survival. In 2008, the Second Delta Committee recommended increasing legal flood protection standards at least tenfold to compensate for population and economic growth since 1953; this recommendation would have required dike improvement investments estimated at 11.5 billion euro. Our research group was charged with developing efficient flood protection standards in a more objective way. We used cost-benefit analysis and mixed-integer nonlinear programming to demonstrate the efficiency of increasing the legal standards in three critical regions only. Monte Carlo analysis confirms the robustness of this recommendation. In 2012, the state secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment accepted our results as a basis for legislation. Compared to the earlier recommendation, this successful application of operations research yields both a highly significant increase in protection for these regions (in which two-thirds of the benefits of the proposed improvements accrue) and approximately 7.8 billion euro in cost savings. Our methods can also be used in decision making for other flood-prone areas worldwide.
Book Reviews
Authors: Rand Graham K.
Published: February 2014

In Book Reviews, we review an extensive and diverse range of books. They cover theory and applications in operations research, statistics, management science, econometrics, mathematics, computers, and information systems. In addition, we include books in other fields that emphasize technical applications. The editor will be pleased to receive an e-mail from those willing to review a book, with an indication of specific areas of interest. If you are aware of a specific book that you would like to review, or that you think should be reviewed, please contact the editor.

The following books are reviewed in this issue of Interfaces, 44(1), January–February 2014: Blackett’s War: The Men Who Defeated the Nazi U-Boats and Brought Science to the Art of Warfare, Stephen Budiansky; Handbook of Newsvendor Problems: Models, Extensions and Applications, Tsan-Ming Choi; Measuring the Performance of Public Services: Principles and Practice, Michael Pidd; Portfolio Decision Analysis: Improved Methods for Resource Allocation, Ahti Salo, Jeffrey Keisler, and Alec Morton; Managing Supply Chain Risk, ManMohan Sodhi and Christopher S. Tang; Public Policy Analysis: New Developments, Wil A. H. Thissen and Warren E. Walker; and Global Optimization: A Stochastic Approach, Stefan Schäffler.
Supply Chain Scenario Modeler: A Holistic Executive Decision Support Solution
Authors: Katircioglu Kaan , Gooby Robert , Helander Mary , Drissi Youssef , Chowdhary Pawan , Johnson Matt , Yonezawa Takashi
Published: February 2014

McKesson is America’s oldest and largest healthcare services company. IBM Research developed an innovative scenario modeling and analysis tool, supply chain scenario modeler (SCSM), for McKesson to optimize its end-to-end pharmaceutical supply chain policies. Through integrated operations research (OR) models, SCSM optimizes the distribution network, supply flow, inventory, and transportation policies, and quantifies the impacts of changes on financial, operational, and environmental metrics. The modeling work spawned a roadmap of projects with quantified opportunities, including a new air freight supply chain path, and provided new insights that have been critical to improving McKesson’s performance as a pharmaceutical industry leader. A structured data model supporting the OR models has provided a basis for additional improvement projects. The model directly links OR modeling results to a detailed profit-and-loss statement by product category for the different supply chain paths that McKesson uses. Since this effort began in 2009, McKesson Pharmaceutical division has reduced its committed capital by more than $1 billion.
Introduction: 2013 Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Operations Research and the Management Sciences
Authors: Bell Peter , Milne R. John
Published: February 2014

This special issue of Interfaces is devoted to the finalists of the 42nd annual competition for the Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Operations Research and the Management Sciences, the profession’s prestigious award for the practice of operations research and business analytics. As in previous years, the six finalists this year cover a wide range of industries, functions, and countries around the globe.
2013 M&SOM Best Paper Award
Authors: Gilbert Stephen M.
Published: February 2014

It is a pleasure to announce that the 2013 Manufacturing & Service Operations Management Best Paper Award goes to Omar Besbes, Robert Phillips, and Assaf Zeevi for “Testing the Validity of a Demand Model: An Operations Perspective” for its contribution to theory and practice of operations management. The three authors will share a $2,000 prize, contributed by the MSOM Society of INFORMS.
The tenth year of the “Universal Protocol”: are our patients safer today?
Authors: Stahel P. F.
Published: February 2014

The “Universal Protocol” (UP) was launched as a regulatory compliance standard by the Joint Commission on 1st July 1 2004, with the primary intent of reducing the occurrence of wrong-site and wrong-patient surgery. As we’re heading into the tenth year of the UP implementation in the United States, it is time for critical assessment of the protocol’s impact on patient safety related to the incidence of preventable never-events. This article opens the debate on the potential shortcomings and pitfalls of the UP, and provides recommendations on how to circumvent specific inherent vulnerabilities of this widely established patient safety protocol.
Abortion Incidence and Service Availability In the United States, 2011
Authors: Jones Rachel K. , Jerman Jenna
Published: February 2014

CONTEXT

Following a long‐term decline, abortion incidence stabilized between 2005 and 2008. Given the proliferation of state‐level abortion restrictions, it is critical to assess abortion incidence and access to services since that time.

METHODS

In 2012–2013, all facilities known or expected to have provided abortion services in 2010 and 2011 were surveyed. Data on the number of abortions were combined with population data to estimate national and state‐level abortion rates. Incidence of abortions was assessed by provider type and caseload. Information on state abortion regulations implemented between 2008 and 2011 was collected, and possible relationships with abortion rates and provider numbers were considered.

RESULTS

In 2011, an estimated 1.1 million abortions were performed in the United States; the abortion rate was 16.9 per 1,000 women aged 15–44, representing a drop of 13% since 2008. The number of abortion providers declined 4%; the number of clinics dropped 1%. In 2011, 89% of counties had no clinics, and 38% of women of reproductive age lived in those counties. Early medication abortions accounted for a greater proportion of nonhospital abortions in 2011 (23%) than in 2008 (17%). Of the 106 new abortion restrictions implemented during the study period, few or none appeared to be related to state‐level patterns in abortion rates or number of providers.

CONCLUSIONS

The national abortion rate has resumed its decline, and no evidence was found that the overall drop in abortion incidence was related to the decrease in providers or to restrictions implemented between 2008 and 2011.
Citizenship teachers – Different types, different needs
Authors: Leighton Ralph
Published: February 2014

This article outlines the diverse nature of Citizenship Education provision in England and identifies some problems arising from such diversity in relation to the initial and continued professional development of pre-service and in-service teachers. It goes on to outline some of the variety of academic background among teachers of Citizenship Education and some of the challenges that arise for both specialist and non-specialist citizenship teachers in addressing divergent and complex modes of subject provision. Differences in school provision, teacher background and attitude(s) to the subject require sensitivity in the construction and delivery of programmes intended to enhance teacher confidence and competence in Citizenship Education. A typology of the ‘8 Cs’ of citizenship teachers is identified and discussed, outlining the range of needs and attitudes among specialist and non-specialist teachers of Citizenship Education, and some recommendations are offered regarding how these can be approached.
Reviews
Authors: Davies Ian , Stahl Garth
Published: February 2014

The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Volume 4. The Passage of Power, Robert A. Caro (2012) London: The Bodley Head, 736pp., ISBN: 9781847922175, h/bk, £35

The Teacher and the World: A Study of Cosmopolitanism as Education, David T. Hansen (2011) New York: Routledge, 176 pp., ISBN: 9780415783323, p/bk, £16.99
Francisco Menéndez frente a Alejo Carpentier, o sobre la vigencia de los mitos de la Conquista
Authors: Fernández Teodosio
Published: February 2014

Con objeto de valorar la opinión de Alejo Carpentier sobre los mitos de la conquista, tan relevantes para interpretar la historia de América como una crónica de lo real maravilloso, se analizan los testimonios del siglo XVIII relacionados con la leyenda de la ciudad de los Césares, con especial atención para los diarios en los que Francisco Menéndez dejó constancia de sus viajes a la laguna Nahuel Huapi, los últimos impulsados por esa persistente fantasía patagónica.
La Carta a los españoles americanos, de Juan Pablo Viscardo. Aportes para el estudio del siglo XVIII hispanoamericano
Authors: Scarano Mónica Elsa
Published: February 2014

La Carta a los españoles americanos del ex jesuita expulso peruano, Juan Pablo Viscardo y Guzmán es un texto de alta significación para estudiar el proceso emancipatorio de la América Hispana. Olvidada durante más de un siglo y poco estudiada antes del siglo XX, la epístola nos permite problematizar el ya complejo siglo XVIII hispanoamericano. En nuestro trabajo nos detendremos en algunas cuestiones que atraviesan el texto y que nos permiten repensar ese período: la tradición epistolar colonial, el ideario ilustrado y su peculiar cruce con el patriotismo criollo, la literatura de los jesuitas en América y las proyecciones hacia la Emancipación americana.
El Gran Ruido de 1687. Paradojas aparentes de la crítica ilustrada neogranadina
Authors: Silva Renán
Published: February 2014

El Papel Periódico de Santafé de Bogotá (1791-1797), el primer periódico impreso estable del Nuevo Reino de Granada, fue el escenario de una interesante polémica sobre un las explicaciones de fenómeno físico ocurrido más de un siglo antes (un «ruido y un olor» difíciles de explicar, que recorrieron la ciudad una noche de 1687) y que en su época conmovió a los habitantes, hasta el éxtasis religioso. Contrastar dos «miradas» ilustradas sobre el fenómeno puede ser importante, para conocer algunas de las relaciones entre afán de ciencia y creencias religiosas entre los ilustrados de finales del siglo XVIII.
Las Memorias de Florian Paucke: una crónica singular de las misiones jesuitas del Gran Chaco argentino
Authors: Zanetti Susana
Published: February 2014

El misionero jesuita Florian Paucke (1719-1780) escribió en alemán su extensa crónica sobre los dieciocho años de labor en la reducción de San Javier a su cargo, en el Gran Chaco argentino (al norte de la actual provincia de Santa Fe), interrumpida por la expulsión de la Orden en 1767. Sólo ha sido editada completa traducida al español con el título Hacia allá y para acá. Una estada entre los indios mocobíes (1749-1767). De innegable importancia es esta crónica por sus aportes al conocimiento de la cultura mocoví, enriquecida además por las 104 magnificas acuarelas que ilustran la fauna, la flora, la vestimenta, los tatuajes, las comidas, la caza y la pesca, las fiestas religiosas, de la vida cotidiana de los mocoví en la misión.
A stepwise procedure for isolation of murine bone marrow and generation of dendritic cells
Authors: Madaan Alka , Verma Ritu , T Singh Anu , Jain Swatantra Kumar , Jaggi Manu
Published: February 2014

Bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) are routinely employed in cell based assays to evaluate im-munomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities. Hence, simplified, stepwise, defined and standardized methods are required for isolation of bone marrow cells from mice, propagating them in presence of growth factors and obtaining high and reproducible yields of BMDCs. Here, we describe a detailed, stepwise protocol with pictorial representation to isolate bone marrow from mouse femur and development of dendritic cells. Mouse bone marrow cells are cultured in presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for 6 days to generate BMDCs. 
Towards an investigation on the determinants for effectiveness and efficiency of reverse logistics systems (RLS)
Authors: Freires Francisco Gaudêncio Mendonça
Published: February 2014

This article deals with the influence of economies of scale and postponement on the efficiency and effectiveness of reverse logistics systems (RLSs). In a global way, it aims to provide an understanding of RLSs to generate knowledge of practical and theoretical character. Starting from a generic model of circular flow of materials, the system studied is positioned between the final consumer and the traditional or direct supply chain. It is a qualitative approach over two case studies carried out in Portugal and Brazil dealing with scraptires. One deals with management system while the other deals with the reverse logistics system. As conclusions, the efficiency of RLSs is aided by economies of scale. Postponement has positive effects on efficiency by increasing the system capacity reducing logistics costs which indirectly leads to economies of scale, having a positive influence on the effectiveness of RLSs. According to what has been stated in this paper, the coordination between the direct and reverse flow is a typical case of a closed circuit.
Economic trade-offs amongst production diversification strategies in Brazilian coffee cooperatives
Authors: Martins Fellipe Silva , Lucato Wagner Cezar
Published: February 2014

Brazilian agricultural cooperatives have seen an unprecedented growth in production in the last decade which has led to several different product diversification strategies. Almost all studies in Brazil focus on the financial outcome of these strategies but few empirical studies have addressed them properly. Even fewer researches have dealt with the causes and possible strategies for the diversification of such cooperatives and their impact on their strategic planning. Hence, this paper aims at comprehending the different strategies in operations management for production diversification in coffee-producing cooperatives in south-eastern Brazil. This was done through a multi-case analysis comprising 6 coffee-producing cooperatives. The research analysed both verbal (through interviews) and non-verbal (multi-criteria decision analysis) responses to the causes of their diversification behaviours. It was possible to find out that most of the cooperatives’ rationale for diversifying is their pre-emptive response to financial crisis followed by increasing the number of associates as a strategy to overcome this economic struggle.
Is the brazilian real a commodity currency? Large sample empirical evidence
Authors: Albert Filipe Monteiro de Castro , Coti-Zelati Paolo Edoardo , Araújo Davi Lucas Arruda de
Published: February 2014

Brazil is one of the world’s largest base materials exporters, and this paper examines through large time series samples whether the Brazilian Real can be characterized as a commodity currency. The Real/US dollar real exchange rate and a real commodity prices index are found to be non-stationary and not cointegrated, while a risk premium appeared to have a large and statistically significant long term relationship with exchange rate movements. Combined first difference models showed that real exchange rate elasticity to risk premium is twice as large as to commodity prices, although both variables have considerable influence. Some specifications outperformed a random walk model with respect to root mean square forecast errors for many horizons, but the latter still better determined the exchange rate in longer terms.
The combined use of business management with facility management as an option for intelligent building
Authors: Weise Andreas Dittmar , Schultz Charles Albino , Trierweiller Andréa Cristina , Rocha Rudimar Antunes da , Peixe Blênio Cesar Severo
Published: February 2014

Words like Business Management (BM) and Facility Management (FM) are well known as separate management methods. FM offers transparency about their property costs and exploitation, starting from the planning phase until its demolition. The investor sees this in the property invested capital and its recoverable yield. This means they also want a profit with their real estates. Besides this, changes in the social and environmental requirements become necessary to adapt the properties. The solution is called Intelligent Building. Its primary aim is to collect and select previous knowledge and information about Facility Management and Business Management. It is an application, mainly with sight to characterize and describe the possibilities of use of intelligent buildings as a combination of Facility and Business Management. This paper is an indirect survey carried out through a documental procedure in the form of a bibliographic research and theoretician study. Intelligent Building as combination of FM and BM is new, but in our times necessary to satisfy the needs of the demand. This type of building needs to be flexible in its structure and services, open for changes in environmental requirements, e.g. saving energy, and needs a lot of technology to realize their functions. Consequently, it will be sustainable for a value enhancement. With a Computer Aided Facilities Management system this is possible and the company will be more flexible in relation to the competitors and future changes.
Paradigm: a bibliometric analysis of papers presented at the conferences of the POMS from 2000 to 2010
Authors: Santos João Almeida , Massaroppe José Antonio , Claro Jose Alberto Carvalho dos Santos
Published: February 2014

This study presents bibliometrics on Paradigm in papers presented at the Production and Operation Management Society (POMS) from 2000 to 2010, and establishes the profile of the authors and the theoretical relationships present in those papers’ content. The portal of the Production and Operation Management Society and the abstracts contained in each of the events of the period were used, seeking to highlight the concept of Paradigm and its approaches. As a result, the articles presented at the POMS from 2000 to 2010, at least three out of the four hundred papers had the concept in its title or abstract, besides being within the central arguments of these same items analyzed by this study.
A Dynamic Spreadsheet Model for Determining the Portfolio Frontier for BSE30 Stocks
Authors: Mitra Dr. Anupam , Khanna Mr. Punneet
Published: February 2014

Introductory investments courses revolve around Harry Markowitz’s modern portfolio theory and William Sharpe’s Index for the performance measurement of those portfolios. This paper presents a simplified perspective of Markowitz’s contributions to Modern Portfolio Theory. It is to see the effect of duration of historical data on the risk and return of the portfolio and to see the applicability of risk-reward logic. The empirical results also show that short selling may increase the risk of the portfolio when the investor is instability preferred.
The importance of the relationship between company and incubator for biotechnology development
Authors: Alves Ana Paula Ferreira , Volkmer Gabriele , Silva Tania Nunes da
Published: February 2014

The biotechnology activities development demands an intense academic and scientific basis, a productive sector capable of transforming academic research in scientific products and services, and the creation of an institutional environment to promote the sector’s development. Moreover, many biotechnology companies establish formal partnerships with Universities (by technological incubator) to expand innovative capacity coming into the market. The importance of biotechnology for developing countries is perceived by its ability to promote national development based on knowledge and innovation. In Brazil, the government establishes technological incubators to accelerate the company consolidation. In this way, it is important to study the relationship between the actors involved. In this context, this article aims to analyze the relationship between a technological incubator and a biotech company. To do so, the qualitative approach was adopted to reach the objective. Interviews with incubator’s employees of a Brazilian University and biotechnology company’s managers were conducted. The results show that the company-incubator interaction promoted projects approval which were able to support new researches development and to purchase production equipment. Incubated companies have higher chances of survival in the market from the interaction with University, through the technological incubator. The relationship between the incubator and the biotech company is considered a fundamental condition for biotechnology activities development.
Identification of adulterant and alcohol route in biodiesel using mid-infrared absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Ventura da Silva Maryleide , Lima Sandro Marcio , Da Cunha Andrade Luis Humberto , Simionatto Euclésio , Da Silva Figueiredo Márcio
Published: February 2014

Mid-infrared absorption spectroscopy was used to analyze soybean oil, ethylic and methylic soybean biodiesel, and blends prepared with soybean oil mixed with biodiesel, in order to evaluate this method as an alternative to assess oil as impurities or adulterant in biodiesel. We also aimed to determine whether the biodiesel was prepared by the ethyl or methyl routes, by inspecting the infrared spectra. The C-O functional groups between 1100 and 1200 cm-1 are different for oil and biodiesel, which allows them to be used to distinguish impurities (residual oil) in biofuel. The peak C-O-C at 1017 cm-1 is characteristic for methylic biodiesel, and the peak O-C-C at 1035 cm-1 for ethylic biodiesel. These vibrational modes can therefore be used to indicate the route used to prepare the biofuel. Results indicated that infrared spectroscopy is appropriate for monitoring the quality of biofuel for commercial sale.
Identification of external critical success factors in biotechnology firms
Authors: Gholamali Abdolreza , Abbasi Dariush , Zanjani Sima Sarafi
Published: February 2014

Biotechnology is expected to change production methods, the products themselves and the structure of the industries in the new economies. Hopefully, countries in the Middle-East, Latin America, Asia and Africa have already recognized the importance of  biotechnology's promise. In this sense, the importance of externalities which might affect the success or failure of these companies becomes an issue of paramount importance. In the present study, we will try to identify the main external factors which could lead in the success of  biotechnology firms in Iran. To do so, the research follows a qualitative research design to answer this main question. Based on our findings, critical success factors are categorized in the following categories: General Environment (GE), Political Position (PP), Economic Position (EP), and Market Position (MP).
Editorial: Volume 5, Number 1
Authors: Rodrigues Paulo Cesar Chagas
Published: February 2014

This issue of the Independent Journal of Management & production (IJM&P) features a selection of articles submitted and revised until October 2013. Observed that works are the fruit of research and publications of undergraduate, postgraduate and entrepreneurs.The publication also counts on the work of researchers from various parts of the world, which have undergone a process of peer review.As chief editor of IJM&P, I am indebted to all members of the editorial board and reviewers, which contributed to achieving a very decent job during the evaluation and revision. And that has contributed to the Journal in recognition of the international scientific community.And with all the authors, who trusted the results of their research and publications to the scrutiny of editors and reviewers who are part of our Journal.
Development of Methodology for Implementation of Strategic Planning - MISP
Authors: Santos João Alberto Neves dos , Soares Carlos Alberto Pereira , Santos João Thiago Machado dos , Dunga Christian da Silva
Published: February 2014

The development of this methodology was started in 1995, aimed at the implementation of strategic planning in an organization, using principles of strategy formulation school "Design School" at Harvard University. The methodology is presented structured steps that facilitate its implementation by an organization. Has already been tested in various public organizations, but is being proposal regarding any type of organization. To do this, you can make use of undergraduate students to assist in investigation methods and techniques can be applied in the various stages of the methodology, could then define the most appropriate methods and techniques in each step. Noteworthy that the methodology also provides for a performance measurement system that supports the actions of strategic planning.
ZnO:Al films prepared by inline DC magnetron sputtering
Authors: Bingel Astrid , Füchsel Kevin , Kaiser Norbert , Tünnermann Andreas
Published: February 2014

Aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) is one of the most promising transparent conductive oxide (TCO) materials that can substitute the high-quality but costly indium tin oxide (ITO). To ensure high-quality films as well as moderate production costs, inline DC magnetron sputtering was chosen to deposit thin AZO films. The influence of sputter gas pressure, substrate temperature, and film thickness on the electrical, optical, and structural properties was analyzed. The resistivity reaches a minimum of 1.3×10-5 Ωm at around 1 Pa for a substrate temperature of 90°C. A maximum conductivity was obtained by increasing the substrate temperature to 160°C. An annealing step after deposition led to a further decrease in resistivity to a value of 5.3×10-6 Ωm in a 200 nm thin film. At the same time, the optical performance could be improved. Additionally, simulations of the transmittance and reflectance spectra were carried out to compare carrier concentration and mobility determined by optical techniques with those from Hall measurements.