bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Interactive Educational Diabetes Simulations Using the World Wide Web: An Experience of More Than 15 Years with AIDA Online
Authors: Lehmann Eldon D. , DeWolf Dennis K. , Novotny Christopher A. , Reed Karen , Gotwals Robert R.
Published: January 2014

Background. AIDA is a widely available downloadable educational simulator of glucose-insulin interaction in diabetes.Methods. A web-based version of AIDA was developed that utilises a server-based architecture with HTML FORM commands to submit numerical data from a web-browser client to a remote web server. AIDA online, located on a remote server, passes the received data through Perl scripts which interactively produce 24 hr insulin and glucose simulations.Results. AIDA online allows users to modify the insulin regimen and diet of 40 different prestored “virtual diabetic patients” on the internet or create new “patients” with user-generated regimens. Multiple simulations can be run, with graphical results viewed via a standard web-browser window. To date, over 637,500 diabetes simulations have been run at AIDA online, from all over the world.Conclusions. AIDA online’s functionality is similar to the downloadable AIDA program, but the mode of implementation and usage is different. An advantage to utilising a server-based application is the flexibility that can be offered. New modules can be added quickly to the online simulator. This has facilitated the development of refinements to AIDA online, which have instantaneously become available around the world, with no further local downloads or installations being required.
Architecting Service Based Sensor Networks for the Intelligent Assimilation
Authors: Ponmagal R. S.
Published: January 2014

The aim of this paper is to propose an architectural model for assimilating distributed sensor networks through cloud paradigm. This strategy can be applied to monitor and control the physical parameters such as temperature, pressure, and level. It is proposed to consider the use of service oriented architecture to program and deploy the sensed parameters. The service oriented architecture for sensor network has been implemented in such a way that, for every specific requirement of the monitor center, the assimilation agent invokes the services of the sensors through a registry and the specific changes in the sensed parameters are also notified as auditable event using push interaction pattern of SOA. The assimilation agent serves as an intelligent component by providing authentication services. This SOA is extended to integrate different types of sensor networks through cloud environment. Hence several sensors can be networked together to monitor different process parameters and they have been assimilated with Internet by registering them as services, hence a complete distributed assimilation environment is exploited.
Complexity Analysis of Vision Functions for Comparison of Wireless Smart Cameras
Authors: Imran Muhammad , Khursheed Khursheed , Ahmad Naeem , O'Nils Mattias , Lawal Najeem , Waheed Malik A.
Published: January 2014

There are a number of challenges caused by the large amount of data and limited resources such as memory, processing capability, energy consumption, and bandwidth, when implementing vision systems on wireless smart cameras using embedded platforms. It is usual for research in this field to focus on the development of a specific solution for a particular problem. There is a requirement for a tool which facilitates the complexity estimation and comparison of wireless smart camera systems in order to develop efficient generic solutions. To develop such a tool, we have presented, in this paper, a complexity model by using a system taxonomy. In this model, we have investigated the arithmetic complexity and memory requirements of vision functions with the help of system taxonomy. To demonstrate the use of the proposed model, a number of actual systems are analyzed in a case study. The complexity model, together with system taxonomy, is used for the complexity estimation of vision functions and for a comparison of vision systems. After comparison, the systems are evaluated for implementation on a single generic architecture. The proposed approach will assist researchers in benchmarking and will assist in proposing efficient generic solutions for the same class of problems with reduced design and development costs.
Music Therapy for Patients Who Have Undergone Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant
Authors: Ratcliff Chelsea G. , Prinsloo Sarah , Richardson Michael , Baynham-Fletcher Laura , Lee Richard , Chaoul Alejandro , Cohen Marlene Z. , de Lima Marcos , Cohen Lorenzo
Published: January 2014

Objectives. This study examines the short‐ and long‐term QOL benefits of a music therapy
intervention for patients recovering from hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Methods. Ninety allogeneic HSCT patients, after transplant, were randomized to receive ISO‐principle (i.e., mood matching) based music therapy (MT; n = 29), unstructured music (UM; n = 30), or usual care (UC; n = 31) for four weeks. The ISO principle posits that patients may shift their mood from one state to another by listening to music that is “equal to” the individual’s initial mood state and subsequently listening to music selections that gradually shift in tempo and mood to match the patient’s desired disposition. Participants in MT and UM groups developed two audio CDs to help them feel more relaxed and energized and were instructed to use the CDs to improve their mood as needed. Short‐term effects on mood and long‐term effects on QOL were examined. Results. MT and UM participants reported improved mood immediately after listening to CDs; the within‐group effect was greater for UM participants compared to MT participants. Participant group was not associated with long‐term QOL outcomes. Conclusions. Music listening improves mood acutely but was not associated with long‐term benefits in this study.
Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in a Patient with Ataxia-Telangiectasia
Authors: Caballero Trinidad , Caba-Molina Mercedes , Salmerón Javier , Gómez-Morales Mercedes
Published: January 2014

Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a rare disease characterized by neurodegenerative alterations, telangiectasia, primary immunodeficiency, extreme sensitivity to radiation, and susceptibility to neoplasms. A-T patients have inactivation of ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) protein, which controls DNA double-strand break repair and is involved in oxidative stress response, among other functions; dysfunctional control of reactive oxygen species may be responsible for many of the clinical manifestations of this disease. To the best of our knowledge, hepatic lesions of steatohepatitis have not previously been reported in A-T patients. The present study reports the case of a 22-year-old man diagnosed with A-T at the age of 6 years who was referred to our Digestive Disease Unit with a three-year history of hyperlipidemia and liver test alterations. Core liver biopsy showed similar lesions to those observed in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Immunohistochemical staining disclosed the absence of ATM protein in hepatocyte nuclei. We suggest that the liver injury may be mainly attributable to the oxidative stress associated with ATM protein deficiency, although other factors may have made a contribution. We propose the inclusion of A-T among the causes of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which may respond to antioxidant therapy.
In-Flight Alignment UsingH∞Filter for Strapdown INS on Aircraft
Authors: Pei Fu-Jun , Liu Xuan , Zhu Li
Published: January 2014

In-flight alignment is an effective way to improve the accuracy and speed of initial alignment for strapdown inertial navigation system (INS). During the aircraft flight, strapdown INS alignment was disturbed by lineal and angular movements of the aircraft. To deal with the disturbances in dynamic initial alignment, a novel alignment method for SINS is investigated in this paper. In this method, an initial alignment error model of SINS in the inertial frame is established. The observability of the system is discussed by piece-wise constant system (PWCS) theory and observable degree is computed by the singular value decomposition (SVD) theory. It is demonstrated that the system is completely observable, and all the system state parameters can be estimated by optimal filter. Then aH∞filter was designed to resolve the uncertainty of measurement noise. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can reach a better accuracy under the dynamic disturbance condition.
Assessment of the Body Composition and the Loss of Fat-Free Mass through Bioelectric Impedance Analysis in Patients Who Underwent Open Gastric Bypass
Authors: de Freitas Junior Wilson Rodrigues , Ilias Elias Jirjoss , Kassab Paulo , Cordts Roberto , Porto Paulo Gustavo , Martins Rodrigues Francisco Cesar , Ali Taha Mohamed Ibrahim , Carrara Paulo , de Carvalho Aguiar Isabella , Oliveira Luis Vicente Franco de , Castro Osvaldo , Malheiros Carlos Alberto
Published: January 2014

Background. Bariatric surgery is considered an effective option for the management of morbid obesity. The incidence of obesity has been gradually increasing all over the world reaching epidemic proportions in some regions of the world. Obesity can cause a reduction of up to 22% in the life expectancy of morbidly obese patients.Objective. The objective of this paper is to assess the weight loss associated with the first 6 months after bariatric surgery using bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) for the evaluation of fat mass and fat-free mass.Method. A total of 36 morbidly obese patients were subjected to open gastric bypass surgery. The patients weight was monitored before and after the procedure using the bioelectric impedance analysis.Results. Bariatric surgery resulted in an average percentage of weight loss of 28.6% (40 kg) as determined 6 months after the procedure was performed. Analysis of the different components of body weight indicated an undesirable loss of fat-free mass along with the reduction of total body weight.Conclusion. Open gastric bypass induced a significant loss of total weight and loss of fat-free mass in patients six months after the surgery. The use of bioelectric impedance analysis resulted in an appropriate estimation of the total weight components in individuals subjected to bariatric surgery allowing a more real analysis of the variation of weight after the surgery.
Beam Structure Damage Identification Based on BP Neural Network and Support Vector Machine
Authors: Yan Bo , Cui Yao , Zhang Lin , Zhang Chao , Yang Yongzhi , Bao Zhenming , Ning Guobao
Published: January 2014

It is not easy to find marine cracks of structures by directly manual testing. When the cracks of important components are extended under extreme offshore environment, the whole structure would lose efficacy, endanger the staff’s safety, and course a significant economic loss and marine environment pollution. Thus, early discovery of structure cracks is very important. In this paper, a beam structure damage identification model based on intelligent algorithm is firstly proposed to identify partial cracks in supported beams on ocean platform. In order to obtain the replacement mode and strain mode of the beams, the paper takes simple supported beam with single crack and double cracks as an example. The results show that the difference curves of strain mode change drastically only on the injured part and different degrees of injury would result in different mutation degrees of difference curve more or less. While the model based on support vector machine (SVM) and BP neural network can identify cracks of supported beam intelligently, the methods can discern injured degrees of sound condition, single crack, and double cracks. Furthermore, the two methods are compared. The results show that the two methods presented in the paper have a preferable identification precision and adaptation. And damage identification based on support vector machine (SVM) has smaller error results.
Prediction of B-Cell Epitopes in Listeriolysin O, a Cholesterol Dependent Cytolysin Secreted by Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Jones Morris S. , Carter J. Mark
Published: January 2014

Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive, foodborne bacterium responsible for disease in humans and animals. Listeriolysin O (LLO) is a required virulence factor for the pathogenic effects of L. monocytogenes. Bioinformatics revealed conserved putative epitopes of LLO that could be used to develop monoclonal antibodies against LLO. Continuous and discontinuous epitopes were located by using four different B-cell prediction algorithms. Three-dimensional molecular models were generated to more precisely characterize the predicted antigenicity of LLO. Domain 4 was predicted to contain five of eleven continuous epitopes. A large portion of domain 4 was also predicted to comprise discontinuous immunogenic epitopes. Domain 4 of LLO may serve as an immunogen for eliciting monoclonal antibodies that can be used to study the pathogenesis of L. monocytogenes as well as develop an inexpensive assay.
Data Reduction with Quantization Constraints for Decentralized Estimation in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Weng Yang
Published: January 2014

The unknown vector estimation problem with bandwidth constrained wireless sensor network is considered. In such networks, sensor nodes make distributed observations on the unknown vector and collaborate with a fusion center to generate a final estimate. Due to power and communication bandwidth limitations, each sensor node must compress its data and transmit to the fusion center. In this paper, both centralized and decentralized estimation frameworks are developed. The closed‐form solution for the centralized estimation framework is proposed. The computational complexity of decentralized estimation problem is proven to be NP‐hard and a Gauss‐Seidel algorithm to search for an optimal solution is also proposed. Simulation results show the good performance of the proposed algorithms.
Global Exponential Stability for DCNNs with Impulses on Time Scales
Authors: Li Yongkun , Zhi Yuanhong
Published: January 2014

A class of delayed cellular neural networks (DCNNs) with impulses on time scales is considered. By using the topological degree theory, and the time scale calculus theory some sufficient conditions are derived to ensure the existence, uniqueness, and global exponential stability of equilibria for this class of neural networks. Finally, a numerical example illustrates the feasibility of our results and also shows that the continuous‐time neural network and the discrete‐time analogue have the same dynamical behaviors. The results of this paper are completely new and complementary to the previously known results.
The Effects of Platycodin D, a Saponin Purified from Platycodi Radix, on Collagen‐Induced DBA/1J Mouse Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Kwon O. Gon , Ku Sae Kwang , An Hee Duk , Lee Young Joon
Published: January 2014

The object of this study is to observe the effects of platycodin D, a saponin purified from Platycodi Radix, on mice collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA). A daily dose of 200, 100, and 50 mg/kg platycodin D was administered orally to male DBA/1J mice for 40 days after initial collagen immunization. To ascertain the effects administering the collagen booster, CIA‐related features (including body weight, poly‐arthritis, knee and paw thickness, and paw weight increase) was measured from histopathological changes in the spleen, left popliteal lymph node, third digit, and the knee joint regions. CIA‐related bone and cartilage damage improved significantly in the platycodin D‐administered CIA mice. Additionally, myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in the paw were reduced in platycodin D‐treated CIA mice compared to CIA control groups. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of oxidative stress, decreased in a dose‐dependent manner in the platycodin D group. Finally, the production of IL‐6 and TNF‐α, involved in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis, was suppressed by treatment with platycodin D. Taken together, these results suggest that platycodin D is a promising new effective antirheumatoid arthritis agent, exerting anti‐inflammatory, antioxidative and immunomodulatory effects in CIA mice.
Unique Coincidence and Fixed Point Theorem forg-Weakly C-Contractive Mappings in Partial Metric Spaces
Authors: Alsulami Saud M.
Published: January 2014

We prove that every map satisfying theg-weakly C-contractive inequality in partial metric space has a unique coincidence point. Our results generalize several well-known existing results in the literature.
Superior Canal Dehiscence Length and Location Influences Clinical Presentation and Audiometric and Cervical Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potential Testing
Authors: Niesten Marlien E.F. , Hamberg Leena M. , Silverman Joshua B. , Lou Kristina V. , McCall Andrew A. , Windsor Alanna , Curtin Hugh D. , Herrmann Barbara S. , Grolman Wilko , Nakajima Hideko H. , Lee Daniel J.
Published: January 2014

Superior canal dehiscence (SCD) is caused by an absence of bony covering of the arcuate eminence or posteromedial aspect of the superior semicircular canal. However, the clinical presentation of SCD syndrome varies considerably, as some SCD patients are asymptomatic and others have auditory and/or vestibular complaints. In order to determine the basis for these observations, we examined the association between SCD length and location with: (1) auditory and vestibular signs and symptoms; (2) air conduction (AC) loss and air-bone gap (ABG) measured by pure-tone audiometric testing, and (3) cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) thresholds. 104 patients (147 ears) underwent SCD length and location measurements using a novel method of measuring bone density along 0.2-mm radial CT sections. We found that patients with auditory symptoms have a larger dehiscence (median length: 4.5 vs. 2.7 mm) with a beginning closer to the ampulla (median location: 4.8 vs. 6.4 mm from ampulla) than patients with no auditory symptoms (only vestibular symptoms). An increase in AC threshold was found as the SCD length increased at 250 Hz (95% CI: 1.7-4.7), 500 Hz (95% CI: 0.7-3.5) and 1,000 Hz (95% CI: 0.0-2.5), and an increase in ABG as the SCD length increased at 250 Hz (95% CI: 2.0-5.3), 500 Hz (95% CI: 1.6-4.6) and 1,000 Hz (95% CI: 1.3-3.3) was also seen. Finally, a larger dehiscence was associated with lowered cVEMP thresholds at 250 Hz (95% CI: -4.4 to -0.3), 500 Hz (95% CI: -4.1 to -1.0), 750 Hz (95% CI: -4.2 to -0.7) and 1,000 Hz (95% CI: -3.6 to -0.5) and a starting location closer to the ampulla at 250 Hz (95% CI: 1.3-5.1), 750 Hz (95% CI: 0.2-3.3) and 1,000 Hz (95% CI: 0.6-3.5). These findings may help to explain the variation of signs and symptoms seen in patients with SCD syndrome.
Is Lack of Sleep Capable of Inducing DNA Damage in Aged Skin?
Authors: Kahan V. , Ribeiro D.A. , Egydio F. , Barros L.A. , Tomimori J. , Tufik S. , Andersen M.L.
Published: January 2014

Skin naturally changes with age, becoming more fragile. Various stimuli can alter skin integrity. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether sleep deprivation affects the integrity of DNA in skin and exacerbates the effects of aging. Fifteen-month old female Hairless mice underwent 72 h of paradoxical sleep deprivation or 15 days of chronic sleep restriction. Punch biopsies of the skin were taken to evaluate DNA damage by single cell gel (comet) assay. Neither paradoxical sleep deprivation nor sleep restriction increased genetic damage, measured by tail movement and tail intensity values. Taken together, the findings are consistent with the notion that aging overrides the effect of sleep loss on the genetic damage in elderly mice.
Therapeutic Efficacy of Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors in Plasma Cell Balanitis: Case Series and Review of the Literature
Authors: Kyriakou A. , Patsatsi A. , Patsialas C. , Sotiriadis D.
Published: January 2014

Plasma cell balanitis of Zoon (PCBZ) and plasma cell vulvitis (PCV) are characterized as idiopathic, benign, chronic irritant mucositis. The clinical symptoms and signs usually persist or reappear after treatment withdrawal. Therefore, many therapies have been tried and are available. Recently, several reports of PCBZ and PCV treated with calcineurin inhibitors, tacrolimus and pimecrolimus, have been reported in the literature. We present 9 cases of PCBZ treated with tacrolimus 0.1% ointment (Protopic, Toyama, Japan) that showed good therapeutic results within 4 weeks of treatment, and we review the literature of PCBZ and PCV and their response to these topical immunomodulators. Based on the current literature and on the anecdotal experience, we believe that topical calcineurin inhibitors may serve as a therapeutic option in recalcitrant plasma cell balanitis and vulvitis.
Determinants and Outcomes of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Infections in Enugu, Nigeria
Authors: Uche E.O. , Onyia E. , Mezue U.C. , Okorie E. , Ozor I.I. , Chikani M.C.
Published: January 2014

Background: To evaluate the determinants and outcomes of shunt infection (SI). Methods: One hundred ninety-eight pediatric hydrocephalic patients treated with a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt between January 2008 and August 2012 were retrospectively studied. Patients with SI were compared to those without SI in terms of the occurrence of risk factors and outcomes. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (version 15). Results: The age range was 2 weeks to 13 years, with a mean age of 3.1 ± 0.19 years for the SI group versus 2.7 ± 0.2 years for those without SI. One hundred and twelve patients were female and 86 were male. SI was recorded in 17 (8.6%) patients. Postinfective hydrocephalus (n = 6) was the most common cause of hydrocephalus in the SI group. Individuals in the SI group, compared to those without infection, were more likely to be underweight (χ2 = 23.4, p < 0.01). The mean interval between VP shunt placement and SI was 1.83 ± 1.25 months. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (29.4%) was the most common pathogen. The mortality rate in our series was 21.4% in patients with SI compared to 2.7% in those without SI. Conclusion: Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus is currently the most common cause of SI and underweight children appear have a higher risk.
Intestinal Neuronal Dysplasia Type B in Adults: A Controversial Entity
Authors: Vougas Vasillis , Vardas Konstantinos , Christou Christos , Papadimitriou Georgios , Florou Evangelia , Magkou Christina , Karamanolis Dimitrios , Manganas Dimitrios , Drakopoulos Spiros
Published: January 2014

Intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) is a well-defined entity which raises controversy among authors, described as a congenital malformation of gastrointestinal innervation and caused by dysplastic embryonal development of the enteric nervous system. It is potentially associated with mild and chronic gastrointestinal motility disturbances. IND is rarely reported in adults and especially elderly patients. The present study reports on the case of a 71-year-old man suffering from longstanding idiopathic constipation and who was misdiagnosed for more than 60 years, despite several hospital admissions and a sigmoidectomy in the meantime. On the last admission, the patient presented with megacolon, abdominal pain and X-ray finding of bowel obstruction. Due to massive large bowel dilatation, an exploratory laparotomy failed to reveal any obvious mechanical cause, and a subtotal colectomy and Hartmann's procedure was performed. Bowel continuity was performed 3 months later. Analysis of full-thickness biopsies revealed enlarged myenteric and submucosal neurons as well as an increased number of giant cells and increased acetylcholinesterase activity in the mucosa. The diagnosis of IND was established. The main diagnostic criteria, the underlining pathophysiology and the recommended therapeutic approach of this rare entity are extensively reviewed.
Performance of coagulation tests in patients on therapeutic doses of rivaroxaban
Authors: Hawes Emily M. , Deal Allison M. , Adcock Dorothy M. , Gosselin Robert , Jeanneret Cheryl , Friedman Kenneth D. , Moll Stephan , Francart Suzanne J.
Published: January 2014

Knowledge of anticoagulation status during rivaroxaban therapy is desirable in certain clinical situations. It was the study objective to determine coagulation tests most useful for assessing rivaroxaban’s anticoagulant effect. Peak and trough blood samples from 29 patients taking rivaroxaban 20 mg daily were collected. Mass spectrometry and various coagulation assays were performed. “On-therapy range” was defined as the rivaroxaban concentrations determined by LC-MS/ MS. A “misprediction percentage” was calculated based on how often results of each coagulation assay were in the normal reference range, while the rivaroxaban concentration was in the “on-therapy” range. The on-therapy range was 8.9 – 660 ng/ml. The misprediction percentages for prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), using multiple reagents and coagulometers, ranged from 10% – 52% and 31% – 59%, respectively. PT, aPTT and activated clotting time (ACT) were insensitive to trough rivaroxaban: 59%, 62%, and 80% of samples had a normal result, respectively. Over 95% of PT and ACT values were elevated at peak. Four different rivaroxaban calibrated anti-Xa assays had R2 values >0.98, demonstrating strong correlations with rivaroxaban drug levels. In conclusion, PT, aPTT and ACT are often normal in patients on therapeutic doses of rivaroxaban. However, PT and ACT may have clinical utility at higher drug plasma levels. Rivaroxaban calibrated anti-factor Xa assays can accurately identify low and high on-therapy rivaroxaban drug levels and, therefore, have superior utility in all clinical situations where assessment of anticoagulation status may be beneficial.

This trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (#NCT01743898).
A Comparison of Four Item-Selection Methods for Severely Constrained CATs
Authors: He Wei , Diao Qi , Hauser Carl
Published: January 2014

This study compared four item-selection procedures developed for use with severely constrained computerized adaptive tests (CATs). Severely constrained CATs refer to those adaptive tests that seek to meet a complex set of constraints that are often not conclusive to each other (i.e., an item may contribute to the satisfaction of several constraints at the same time). The procedures examined in the study included the weighted deviation model (WDM), the weighted penalty model (WPM), the maximum priority index (MPI), and the shadow test approach (STA). In addition, two modified versions of the MPI procedure were introduced to deal with an edge case condition that results in the item selection procedure becoming dysfunctional during a test. The results suggest that the STA worked best among all candidate methods in terms of measurement accuracy and constraint management. For the other three heuristic approaches, they did not differ significantly in measurement accuracy and constraint management at the lower bound level. However, the WPM method appears to perform considerably better in overall constraint management than either the WDM or MPI method. Limitations and future research directions were also discussed.
Conditionality, Path Dependence and Veto Points: The Politics of Hospital Autonomy Reforms in Malawi
Authors: Tambulasi Richard IC
Published: January 2014

This paper argues that policy space ownership dynamics, political and historical institutional variables determine the implementation of reforms advocated within the context of the international transfer of public sector reform models to Africa. Through the case of the Malawi Hospital Autonomy reforms, this paper demonstrates that although policies transferred by international donor organisations to African countries through aid conditionality may be initially adopted so as to secure the much-needed developmental aid, the actual implementation of such reforms is not an automatic process. This is due to contextual factors, which in part include the neo-colonial struggle for policy ownership in the face of conditionality, path dependency tendencies and veto players that are constrained by deeply entrenched political and historical institutional proclivity that lead to policy stability even in the context of coercive policy transfer pressures. Taking a qualitative approach, the analysis combines the use of primary and secondary data. The study findings show that while other African countries successfully implemented such reforms, Malawi has not, due to specific implementation, historical, political and institutional factors.
State-led gentrification in Hong Kong
Authors: La Grange Adrienne , Pretorius Frederik
Published: January 2014

The specificity of Hong Kong’s gentrification trajectory reflects its urban morphology, political institutions, and social and economic structure. While continuously renewing itself economically, much of the city’s inner urban area building stock is old and functionally obsolete, whilst nevertheless providing affordable, well-located housing for lower-income and disadvantaged groups and small-scale commercial clusters. Constrained redevelopment is not the result of economic decline but rather of formidable frictions that make land assembly and vacant possession of buildings difficult. Hong Kong’s executive-led, quasi democratic government articulates with the public ownership of land and its management through the leasehold system, and leads inner-city redevelopment through the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) supported by various institutional and statutory arrangements. (Re)development is favoured because it generates significant state revenue from physical and economic intensification of sites. Although gentrification is not an agenda of the URA, it is a significant outcome of its redevelopment activities.
Entanglements of faith: Discourses, practices of care and homeless people in an Italian City of Saints
Authors: Lancione Michele
Published: January 2014

This paper investigates how Catholic-inspired services for homeless people are delivered in Turin, Italy. The purpose is to critically interrogate particular faith-based organisations’ moral discourses on homelessness, and to show how they are enacted through practices of care directed at the homeless subject. The paper contributes to the geographical literature on faith-based organisations addressing its shortcomings – namely the lack of critical and contextual focus on faith-based organisations’ ‘love for the poor’. To address this point, the paper takes a vitalist perspective on the urban and introduces the notion of the ‘entanglements of faith’, which allows an integrated and grounded perspective on faith-based organisations’ interventions. The outcomes of the work suggest that these faith-based organisations propose standardised services that, producing particular assemblages and affective atmospheres, have deep emotional and relational effects on their recipients. Further lines of research are sketched in the conclusions.
Hybrid gentrification in South Africa: Theorising across southern and northern cities
Authors: Lemanski Charlotte
Published: January 2014

This paper reveals how urban theories traditionally rooted in northern cities and academies are challenged and redeveloped by southern perspectives. Critiques of urban theory as narrowly northern (or Anglo-American) have recently emerged, spawning the comparative urbanism movement that calls for urban theories to be open to the experiences of all cities. Using the example of the sale of state-subsidised houses in South Africa, this research uses two parallel concepts, gentrification and downward raiding, to challenge the northern empirical focus of urban theory. Despite describing similar processes of urban class-based change, the concepts are rarely considered analogous, entrenched in divergent empirical contexts and academic literatures. While gentrification debates largely reference the northern central city, downward raiding is reserved for the southern ‘slum’. In contrast, this research develops ‘hybrid gentrification’ as a concept and methodological approach that demonstrates how non-northern urban experiences can and should create and refine urban theory.
Trajectories of middle-class belonging: The dynamics of place attachment and classed identities
Authors: Benson Michaela
Published: January 2014

This paper examines the processes by which middle-class belonging is generated, through the exploration of social and spatial trajectories in narratives of residential choice and mobility. It is based on an understanding of residential choice as indicative and constitutive of social mobilities. In particular the paper builds on the discussion of the match between habitus and field that lies at the root of the notions of middle-class belonging and place attachments to draw attention not only to the conditions under which ‘fit’ is possible, but also acknowledge that belonging is a dynamic process, generated and maintained through residence that feeds back into understandings of classed identities. This paper argues that residential space is not just appropriated to reflect pre-existing tastes and lifestyles, but may also contribute in the transformation of habitus to fit to particular neighbourhoods and ways of living.
Regional cultures attracting interregional migrants
Authors: Hirschle Jochen , Kleiner Tuuli-Marja
Published: January 2014

This study develops a theoretical concept of how regional cultural values develop, manifest, and become visible in regional images. Moreover, it tests the impact of regional images on attracting interregional migrants. Specifically, we test whether the values held by inhabitants of particular regions can explain variances in intra-country migration. Analyses are conducted on data collected from official statistics and from the European Social Survey on the level of European NUTS 2 regions. Cultural values are measured using a selection of items from the Human Value Scale developed by Shalom Schwartz. Analyses show that independent from unemployment rates, economic prosperity, and the degree of urbanization, net migration rates are dependent upon the cultural values held by the inhabitants of a region. Individuals are more likely to migrate to regions where inhabitants adopt hedonistic values and a certain degree of ‘social indifference’.
Broncho-hepatico-cutaneous fistula in a case of amoebic liver abscess
Authors: Kaur Navneet , Maheshwari Kavish , Gupta Arun
Published: January 2014

Pulmonary complications occur in 7–20% of patients with amoebic liver abscess(ALA) and may present as pleural effusion, empyema, lung abscess or a bronchohepatic fistula. Rupture into a bronchus presents as sudden coughing with expectoration of chocolate-coloured sputum and is usually managed by postural drainage, bronchodilators and anti-amoebic drugs. A young boy presented with a large amoebic liver abscess of about 1 L volume which ruptured into the lung. He required surgical drainage of the liver abscess as even after intubation he was not able to maintain adequate ventilation. Following this he developed a broncho-hepatico-cutaneous fistula with drainage of 400–500 mL bile per day and bubbling of air in the abdominal drain. He underwent selective right hepatic duct cannulation with endo-papillotomy, following which the fistula closed gradually.
Prevalence and characteristics of patients with advanced chronic conditions in need of palliative care in the general population: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Gómez-Batiste Xavier , Martínez-Muñoz Marisa , Blay Carles , Amblàs Jordi , Vila Laura , Costa Xavier , Espaulella Joan , Espinosa Jose , Constante Carles , Mitchell Geoffrey K
Published: January 2014

Background:

Of deaths in high-income countries, 75% are caused by progressive advanced chronic conditions. Palliative care needs to be extended from terminal cancer to these patients. However, direct measurement of the prevalence of people in need of palliative care in the population has not been attempted.

Aim:

Determine, by direct measurement, the prevalence of people in need of palliative care among advanced chronically ill patients in a whole geographic population.

Design:

Cross-sectional, population-based study. Main outcome measure: prevalence of advanced chronically ill patients in need of palliative care according to the NECPAL CCOMS-ICO© tool. NECPAL+ patients were considered as in need of palliative care.

Setting/participants:

County of Osona, Catalonia, Spain (156,807 inhabitants, 21.4% > 65 years). Three randomly selected primary care centres (51,595 inhabitants, 32.9% of County’s population) and one district general hospital, one social-health centre and four nursing homes serving the patients. Subjects were all patients attending participating settings between November 2010 and October 2011.

Results:

A total of 785 patients (1.5% of study population) were NECPAL+: mean age = 81.4 years; 61.4% female. Main disease/condition: 31.3% advanced frailty, 23.4% dementia, 12.9% cancer (ratio of cancer/non-cancer = 1/7), 66.8% living at home and 19.7% in nursing home; only 15.5% previously identified as requiring palliative care; general clinical indicators of severity and progression present in 94% of cases.

Conclusions:

Direct measurement of prevalence of palliative care needs on a population basis is feasible. Early identification and prevalence determination of these patients is likely to be the cornerstone of palliative care public health policies.
Biomechanical Evaluation of the Quadriceps Tendon Autograft for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Sasaki Norihiro , Farraro Kathryn F. , Kim Kwang E. , Woo Savio L-Y.
Published: January 2014

Background:

Recently, many surgeons have chosen the quadriceps tendon (QT) as an autograft for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. However, there have not been biomechanical studies that quantitatively evaluated knee function after reconstruction using a QT autograft.

Purpose:

To measure the 6 degrees of freedom knee kinematics and in situ graft forces after reconstruction with a QT autograft compared with a quadrupled semitendinosus and gracilis (QSTG) tendon autograft.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Ten human cadaveric knees (age, 54-64 years) were tested in 3 conditions: (1) intact, (2) ACL deficient, and (3) after ACL reconstruction using a QT or QSTG autograft. With use of a robotic/universal force-moment sensor testing system, knee kinematics and in situ forces in the ACL and autografts were obtained at 5 knee flexion angles under externally applied loads: (1) 134-N anterior tibial load, (2) 134-N anterior tibial load with 200-N axial compression, and (3) 10-N·m valgus and 5-N·m internal tibial torque.

Results:

Under the anterior tibial load, both autografts restored anterior tibial translation to within 2.5 mm of the intact knee and in situ forces to within 20 N of the intact ACL at 15°, 30°, and 60°. Adding compression did not change these findings. With the combined rotatory load, the anterior tibial translation and graft in situ forces were again not significantly different from the intact ACL. There were no significant differences between the grafts under any experimental condition.

Conclusion:

Reconstruction of the ACL with a QT autograft restored knee function to similar levels as that reconstructed with a QSTG autograft under loads simulating clinical examinations.

Clinical Relevance:

The positive biomechanical results of this cadaveric study lend support to the use of a QT autograft for ACL reconstruction, as it could restore knee function immediately after surgery under applied loads that mimic clinical examinations.
Biomechanical Comparison of an All-Soft Suture Anchor With a Modified Broström-Gould Suture Repair for Lateral Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Brown Christopher A. , Hurwit Daniel , Behn Anthony , Hunt Kenneth J.
Published: January 2014

Background:

Anatomic repair is indicated for patients who have recurrent lateral ankle instability despite nonoperative measures.

Hypothesis:

There is no difference in repair stiffness, failure torque, or failure angle between specimens repaired with all-soft suture anchors versus the modified Broström-Gould technique with sutures only.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

In 10 matched pairs of human cadaveric ankles, the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) was incised from its origin on the fibula. After randomization, 1 ankle was repaired to its anatomic insertion using two 1.4-mm JuggerKnot all-soft suture anchors; the other ankle was repaired with a modified Broström-Gould technique using 2-0 FiberWire. All were augmented using the inferior extensor retinaculum. All ankles were mounted to the testing machine in 20° of plantar flexion and 15° of internal rotation and loaded to failure after the repair. Stiffness, failure torque, and failure angle were recorded and compared using a paired Student t test with a significance level set at P < .05.

Results:

There was no significant difference in failure torque, failure angle, or stiffness. No anchors pulled out of bone. The primary mode of failure was pulling through the ATFL tissue.

Conclusion:

There was no statistical difference in strength or stiffness between a 1.4-mm all-soft suture anchor and a modified Broström-Gould repair with 2-0 FiberWire. The primary mode of failure was at the tissue level rather than knot failure or anchor pullout.

Clinical Relevance:

The particular implant choice (suture only, tunnel, anchor) in repairing the lateral ligament complex may not be as important as the time to biological healing. The suture-only construct as described in the Broström-Gould repair was as strong as all-soft suture anchors, and the majority of the ankles failed at the tissue level. For those surgeons whose preference is to use anchor repair, this novel all-soft suture anchor may be an alternative to other larger anchors, as none failed by pullout.
The Voting Rights Act and Latino Voter Registration
Authors: Parkin Michael , Zlotnick Frances
Published: January 2014

This study explores how the language minority provisions in the Voting Rights Act (VRA) affect Latino voter registration. We are particularly interested in how these provisions affect Latino citizens with varying levels of English language proficiency. Using data from the 2006 National Latino Survey, we find that Latino citizens with limited English skills register to vote at about the same rate whether or not they live in a county mandated by the VRA to provide registration and voting materials in Spanish. However, for Latinos who speak English “very well,” we find that access to these materials is associated with increased registration rates, all else equal. We interpret these findings to suggest that the positive effects of VRA coverage on Latino registration are due to a symbolic “welcoming” effect, rather than substantial reductions in administrative barriers to registration.
Neuroimaging Findings in Late-Onset Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Hahn Changtae , Lim Hyun Kook , Lee Chang Uk
Published: January 2014

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in late-onset mental disorders. Among them, geriatric schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are significant health care risks and major causes of disability. We discussed whether late-onset schizophrenia (LOS) and late-onset bipolar (LOB) disorder can be a separate entity from early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) and early-onset bipolar (EOB) disorder in a subset of late-life schizophrenia or late-life bipolar disorder through neuroimaging studies. A literature search for imaging studies of LOS or LOB was performed in the PubMed database. Search terms used were “(imaging OR MRI OR CT OR SPECT OR DTI OR PET OR fMRI) AND (schizophrenia or bipolar disorder) AND late onset.” Articles that were published in English before October 2013 were included. There were a few neuroimaging studies assessing whether LOS and LOB had different disease-specific neural substrates compared with EOS and EOB. These researches mainly observed volumetric differences in specific brain regions, white matter hyperintensities, diffusion tensor imaging, or functional neuroimaging to explore the differences between LOS and LOB and EOS and EOB. The aim of this review was to highlight the neural substrates involved in LOS and LOB through neuroimaging studies. The exploration of neuroanatomical markers may be the key to the understanding of underlying neurobiology in LOS and LOB.
Study on the preparation of maleated thermoplastic starch by reactive extrusion
Authors: Zuo Yingfeng , Gu Jiyou , Yang Long , Qiao Zhibang , Zhang Yanhua
Published: January 2014

Maleated thermoplastic starches (MTPS) were prepared by reactive extrusion, with corn starch as raw material, glycerol as the plasticizer, and maleic anhydride (MAH) as esterification agent. The influence of the amount of MAH on MTPS properties was studied. With thermoplastic starch (TPS) as contrasting sample, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results displayed that esterification reaction successfully occurs between corn starch and MAH. The degree of substitution (DS) results showed that the DS of MTPS increased along with the increasing amount of MAH. X-Ray diffractometry results showed that esterification reaction resulted in the decrease of crystallinity of TPS, indicating that the thermoplastic property of starch was improved. The greater the proportion of MAH, the more decreased is the degree of crystallinity of MTPS. Differential scanning calorimetric results showed that the melting temperature and enthalpy of melting decreased with increasing the amount of MAH. The thermal weight loss initial temperature of MTPS was below TPS, and thermal weight loss rate was greater than TPS. The contact angle of MTPS was greater than TPS, while the water absorption of MTPS was less than TPS. Further, with increasing of MAH content, the contact angle increased, while water absorption decreased, which indicated that the hydrophobic was gradually improved.
Effect of various knitting techniques on mechanical properties of biaxial weft-knitted thermoplastic composites
Authors: Demircan Özgür , Ashibe Shinsuke , Kosui Tatsuya , Nakai Asami
Published: January 2014

Within the scope of experiments, five kinds of biaxial weft-knitted (BWK) fabrics with various knitting techniques (plain, interlock, tuck, tuck-miss, and interlock2) were used as reinforcement systems to fabricate thermoplastic composites with polypropylene (PP) resin yarn. Then, the final composite became BWK composites with various knitting types. The mechanical properties of composites were investigated by conducting tensile, three-point bending, and three-point bending impact tests on specimens. In all specimens, PP was commingled with glass yarn. Glass was used as reinforcement. Fiber volume fraction ( Vf) of weft fibers of the interlock2 was the highest, and the length of straight part of loop shape was the longest in the interlock2 compared with the other four types of specimens. Because of the higher Vf of the BWK composites with the interlock2, tensile, three-point bending, and three-point bending impact properties of the interlock2 was higher than the other four types (plain, interlock, tuck, and tuck-miss) of composite structures.
Effect of forming conditions on mechanical properties of rheoformed thin plates with microchannels using electromagnetic stirring
Authors: Jang Chang Hyun , Jin Chul Kyu , Bolouri Amir , Kang Chung Gil
Published: January 2014

Rheoforming is a near net-shape manufacturing technology for fabricating components from light alloys in their semisolid states with improved mechanical properties. In this work, a feasibility study on the fabrication of Silafont 36 aluminum thin plates via rheoforming was conducted. The thin plates were fabricated under different experimental conditions, such as different solid fractions and punch pressures. Electromagnetic stirring was used to prepare a semisolid slurry of Silafont 36 aluminum alloy. Subsequently, the slurry was transferred to die sleeve and injected into the die cavity of the thin plate. The thin plates were successfully fabricated under the optimal conditions of 50% solid fraction and a rheoforming pressure of 130 MPa.