bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge of nursing students about central venous catheters
Authors: Mlinar Suzana , Raskovic-Malnarsic Rosanda
Published: April 2012

Background/Aim. Central venous catheters (CVC) are at the crucial importance,
particulary in the intensive therapy units. In order to handle a CVC safely,
nursing students need to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge during
the course of their studies. The aim of the study was to establish
theoretical knowledge of nursing students about the procedures of nurses in
placing and removing a central venous catheter (CVC), dressing the catheter
entry point, the reasons for measuring central venous pressure (CVP),
possible complications and risk factors for developing infections related to
CVC. Methods. The questionnaire developed specifically for this
cross-sectionl study was handed out to 87 full-time students and 57 part-time
students. Results. The results show that all the surveyed nursing students
know why chest radiography is carried out when inserting a catheter, have
relatively good knowledge of CVC insertion points, procedures carried out in
case of a suspected catheter sepsis and complications and risk factors for
the development of infections related to CVC. However, the study show that
the majority of students have insufficient knowledge of the procedures
accompanying insertion of a catheter, signs that indicate correct functioning
of CVC, frequency of flushing a catheter when it is not in use and the
reasons for introducing an implanted CVC. Conclusion. Based on the results of
the study it can be concluded that the second-year nursing students have
insufficient knowledge of CVC. In order to correctly and safely handle a CVC,
good theoretical knowledge and relevant practical experience are needed. The
authors therefore believe that, in future, the classes should be organized in
smaller groups with step-by-step demonstrations of individual procedures in
handling a CVC, and the students encouraged to learn as actively as possible.
Neonatal screening of hearing function by otoacustic emissions: A single center experience
Authors: Zivic Ljubica , Obradovic Slobodan , Stojanovic Stevan , Zbiljic Ivana , Jakovljevic Vladimir , Zivic Danijela , Stojanovic Jasmina , Laban Olivera
Published: April 2012

Background/Aim. Nowadays development of techniques enables detection of
hearing impairment in a very short time, immediately after birth by using
otoacoustic emissions. They are low-pitched sounds produced in
physiologically clear cochlea and can be recorded in cochlear outer meatus.
By this method, complete data are found on a whole presynaptic auditory
nervous system functioning that has mostly been affected by pathological
changes making it a perfect screening test. Reliability and sensibility of
this method is up to 98%. The aim of this study was to present the first
results of systematic neonatal screening of hearing function by otoacoustic
emissions in the Clinical Center Kragujevac (Kragujevac, Serbia). Methods.
This prospective study of neonatal hearing screening function, initiated
systematically by the 2008 at the Clinical Center Kragujevac, included
full-term newborns and premature born ones, within the first 24 h after
birth, using a DPOAEs interacoustics otoread-screener. Retesting was done
after a month. Results. From January 1st, 2009 to December 1st, 2010, a total
number of examined infants by this method was 1,994 out of which 1,778 were
full-term and 216 were premature born. The test passing was higher in the
group of full-term babies (92.5%) than in the preterm ones (55.1%). No
bilateral answers were recorded in premature born children compared to the
full-term ones, of whom a larger number was with missing lateral responses.
The results of re-examination test in the group of full-term born and
premature newborns were 83.7%, and 61%, respectively. Conclusion.
Deliberately provoked transient otoacoustic emission is an efficient method
in testing hearing function in newborns, since it is non-invasive, rapid and
objective. Its correlation with audibly evoked potentials is very high, which
confirms its reliability.
Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome, type 2 associated with myasthenia gravis
Authors: Pejin Radoslav , Stokic Edita , Novkovic Mile , Banic-Horvat Sofija , Cvijanovic Milan
Published: April 2012

Introduction. Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 2 is defined as adrenal
insufficiency associated with autoimmune primary hypothyroidism and/or with
autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus, but very rare with myasthenia gravis.
Case report. We presented a case of an autoimmune polyglandular syndrome,
type 2 associated with myasthenia gravis. A 49-year-old female with symptoms
of muscle weakness and low serum levels of cortisol and aldosterone was
already diagnosed with primary adrenal insufficiency. Primary hypothyroidism
was identified with low values of free thyroxine 4 (FT4) and raised values of
thyroidstumulating hormone (TSH). The immune system as a cause of
hypothyroidism was confirmed by the presence of thyroid antibodies to
peroxidase and TSH receptors. Myasthenia gravis was diagnosed on the basis of
a typical clinical feature, positive diagnostic tests and an increased titre
of antibodies against the acetylcholine receptors. It was not possible to
confirm the immune nature of adrenal insufficiency by the presence of
antibodies to 21- hydroxylase. The normal morphological finding of the
adrenal glands was an indirect confirmation of the condition as well as the
absence of other diseases that might have led to adrenal insufficiency and
low levels of both serum cortisol and aldosterone. Hormone replacement
therapy, anticholinergic therapy and corticosteroid therapy for myasthenia
gravis improved the patient?s general state of health and muscle weakness.
Conclusion. This case report indicates a need to examine each patient with an
autoimmune disease carefully as this condition may be associated with another
autoimmune diseases.
Unilateral presentation of pseudo-Kaposi’s acroangiodermatitis: A diagnostic and therapeutic challenge
Authors: Tchernev Georgi , Patterson James , Ananiev Julian , Tronnier Michael
Published: April 2012

Introduction. Acroangiodermatitis is a rare skin disease characterized by
hyperplasia of pre-existing vasculature due to venous hypertension from
severe chronic venous stasis. Clinical appearance of this condition is often
similar to Kaposi sarcoma and is creating serious differential diagnostic
difficulties. Case report. A patient with acroangiodermatitis was presented
and the differential diagnosis discussed. Examination of the patella of the
affected area showed grayish-blue to brown infiltrates and reduced
elasticity, located in the supra- and infrapatellar regions. Clinically,
Kaposi?s sarcoma was suspected. Histopathologically there were acanthosis and
compact hyperkeratosis. The underlying papillary dermis showed fibrosis and
edema. A subepidermal lobular vascular proliferation with hemosiderin
deposition was also noted. This consisted of multiple newly formed
capillaries, featuring small blood vessels with dilated, rounded lumina.
Serologies for HIV and Borrelia burgdorferi were negative, as was a HHV-8 PCR
in lesional tissue. Doppler analysis of the vessels of the extremities showed
chronic venous insufficiency, insufficiency of v. perforantes, insufficiency
of the Cockett II-III. No deep thromboses in the area of the shank and thigh
were found. Initially, treatment consisted of clindamycin 600 mg 3 times per
day, intravenously, during a 2-week period. After that the treatment was
continued with prednisolone, 30 mg daily in combination with furosemide 40
mg/day, as well as lymph drainage and adequate compression therapy. The
consequent clinical improvement allowed the patient to be discharged from the
clinic. Conclusion. The most important differential diagnostic marker in
distinguishing between acroangiodermatitis and Kaposi sarcoma seems to be the
confirmation of the presence of genetic material of HHV-8 in the affected
skin areas in patients with Kaposi sarcoma.
A slight modification of the first phase of the simplex algorithm
Authors: Divnic Tomica , Pavlovic Ljiljana
Published: April 2012

In this paper we give a modification of the first phase procedure for
transforming the linear programming problem, given in the standard form
min{cTx Ax=b, x?0}, to the canonical form, i.e., to the form with one
feasible primal basis where standard simplex algorithm can be applied
directly. The main idea of the paper is to avoid adding m artificial
variables in the first phase. Instead, Step 2 of the proposed algorithm
transforms the problem into the form with m?1 basic columns. Step 3 is then
iterated until the m?th basic column is obtained, or it is concluded that
the feasible set of LP problem is empty.
Laser ablation of polyetheretherketone films for reversible wafer bonding
Authors: Rohwer Lauren E. S. , Martin James E. , Friedmann Thomas A. , Heck John
Published: April 2012

A reversible wafer bonding method has been developed that enables high-temperature processing of thinned silicon wafers. The silicon wafers are bonded to Pyrex carriers using a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) film, which melts at 343 °C, and provides a very strong bond. Debonding is accomplished by UV laser ablation through the Pyrex carrier and can be facilitated by coating the Pyrex wafer with Teflon. Most of the PEEK film remains on the silicon wafer after debonding and is removed with solvents. Precoating the silicon with germanium/tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) might enable PEEK removal without solvents. This germanium/TEOS layer lifts off with the PEEK film during laser ablation.
Chondral Lesion of the Patella
Authors: Leahy Ian M. , Powers Christopher M.
Published: April 2012

The patient was a 27-year-old man who was a recreational baseball player. He was referred to a physical therapist for a suspected medial meniscus injury following a right-sided lower extremity twisting injury sustained 3 weeks prior. Despite 4 weeks of physical therapist intervention, the patient was unable to successfully return to athletic activities. The patient was then referred to an orthopaedic surgeon, who ordered magnetic resonance imaging of his right knee, which revealed a focal full-thickness chondral lesion at the median patellar ridge.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(3):291. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.0404
Intramuscular Temperature Changes During and After 2 Different Cryotherapy Interventions in Healthy Individuals
Authors: Rupp Kimberly A. , Herman Daniel C. , Hertel Jay , Saliba Susan A.
Published: April 2012

Study Design

Crossover.

Objectives

To compare the time required to decrease intramuscular temperature 8°C below baseline temperature, and to compare intramuscular temperature 90 minutes posttreatment, between 2 cryotherapy modalities.

Background

Cryotherapy is used to treat pain from muscle injuries. Cooler intramuscular temperatures may reduce cellular metabolism and secondary hypoxic injury to attenuate acute injury response, specifically the rate of chemical mediator activity. Modalities that decrease intramuscular temperature quickly may be beneficial in the treatment of muscle injuries.

Methods

Eighteen healthy subjects received 2 cryotherapy conditions, crushed-ice bag (CIB) and cold-water immersion (CWI), in a randomly allocated order, separated by 72 hours. Each condition was applied until intramuscular temperature decreased 8°C below baseline. Intramuscular temperature was monitored in the gastrocnemius, 1 cm below subcutaneous adipose tissue. The primary outcome was time to decrease intramuscular temperature 8°C below baseline. A secondary outcome was intramuscular temperature at the end of a 90-minute rewarming period. Paired t tests were used to examine outcomes.

Results

Time to reach an 8°C reduction in intramuscular temperature was not significantly different between CIB and CWI (mean difference, 2.6 minutes; 95% confidence interval: −3.10, 8.30). Intramuscular temperature remained significantly colder 90 minutes post-CWI compared to CIB (mean difference, 2.8°C; 95% confidence interval: 2.07°C, 3.52°C).

Conclusion

There was no difference in time required to reduce intramuscular temperature 8°C 1 cm below adipose tissue using CIB and CWI. However, intramuscular temperature remained significantly colder 90 minutes following CWI. These results provide clinicians with information that may guide treatment-modality decisions. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(8):731–737, Epub 23 March 2012. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.4200
Evolution of Stay Cable Monitoring Using Ambient Vibration
Authors: Geier Roman
Published: April 2012

Within the scope of design as well as during the subsequent required maintenance of bridge structures engineers are frequently confronted with stay cables. On the one hand because cable-stayed bridges are increasingly designed and built due to their aesthetic appearance and on the other hand because the most-sensitive load carrying elements of such structures - the ropes and cables - are very difficult to check on their condition and on the current cable force. Moreover undesirable vibration excitation by aerodynamic and resonance effects is a decisive criterion to maintain serviceability and ultimate limit state of the structure. For this reason efficient, non-destructive testing and assessment technologies are required without using complicated lift-off tests. The main subject of this paper is to present recent technologies which determine the cable force and the current condition of stay cables, accurately.
Compassion, Geography and the Question of the Animal
Authors: Matthews Julie
Published: April 2012

Derrida asks us to consider the violence we do in the name ‘animals'. The violence is both material and symbolic and relies on the elision of internal distinctions between animals. This article is concerned with what constitutes a sufficient response to violence. Animal and feminist geographies challenge instrumental abstractions of space to ‘raw materials'; the suppression and/or exclusion of emotional responses to space and place; and document current and alternative engagements with animals and environments. However, to challenge violence they must also address issues of power, ethical dimensions of action, and generate new conceptions of animal-human spatial relations. This article argues for a compassionate geography informed by Derridean philosophy, which reconceptualises and reconstructs animal-human spatial relations and postcolonial ecocriticism, which attends to the colonial politics of images, stories of place, and their imaginative reoccupation.
The Positioned Construction of Water Values: Pluralism, Positionality and Praxis
Authors: Ioris Antonio A.R.
Published: April 2012

Water values serve as an entry point into the intricacies of public policies and management approaches. Values are contingent assessments that emerge out of socio-ecological relations and reflect particular demands, legacies and opportunities. The concept of value positionality is introduced as the synthesis of multiple expressions of worthiness cherished by a social group. Positionality is a metaphor that connects the phenomenological understanding of water value with the politics of everyday life and the broader politico-institutional framework. It entails a cluster of meanings expressed through territorialised interactions across time, locations and scales. Positionalities converge or depart according to value praxis, that is, the clash of competing valuation approaches seeking legitimisation.
Direct product and wreath product of transformation semigroups
Authors: Majumdar Subrata , Dey Kalyan Kumar , Hossain Mohd Altab
Published: April 2012

In this paper direct product and wreath product of transformation semigroups have been defined, and associativity of both the products and distributivity of wreath product over direct product have been established.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ganit.v31i0.10303GANIT J. Bangladesh Math. Soc. (ISSN 1606-3694) 31 (2011) 1-7
Power law inflation with a varying condstant of gravitation and Brans-Dicke cosmology
Authors: Farhad Abu Baker Mohammad , Azad Abul Kalam
Published: April 2012

The homogeneous and isotropic Brans-Dicke cosmological solutions satisfying Whitrow Randalls[18] relation which have been discussed recently by Berman and Som[2] are re-examined. We extend their results and present the most general solution by solving a differential equation completely. We show that Machs assumption leads to power-law solutions in the Euclidean case.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ganit.v31i0.10305GANIT J. Bangladesh Math. Soc. (ISSN 1606-3694) 31 (2011) 23-32
CFD study of mass transfer in spacer filled membrane module
Authors: Hussain Sharmina
Published: April 2012

The present paper is devoted to investigate the mass transfer in two dimensional spacer filled channels. Three different configurations of the cylindrical spacers are considered with different channel Reynolds number and mesh length. Different size and shape of formation of recirculation region, upstream and downstream of the spacers are closely observed. This recirculation regions have an important role in enhancing the mass transfer in the reattachment region. CFD simulations show that the submerged spacers have the highest efficiency with highest wall shear stress and mass transfer enhancement whilst the cavity spacer have the least performance.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ganit.v31i0.10306GANIT J. Bangladesh Math. Soc. (ISSN 1606-3694) 31 (2011) 33-41
A finite difference scheme for a fluid dynamic traffic flow model appended with two-point boundary condition
Authors: Gani MO , Hossain MM , Andallah LS
Published: April 2012

A fluid dynamic traffic flow model with a linear velocity-density closure relation is considered. The model reads as a quasi-linear first order hyperbolic partial differential equation (PDE) and in order to incorporate initial and boundary data the PDE is treated as an initial boundary value problem (IBVP). The derivation of a first order explicit finite difference scheme of the IBVP for two-point boundary condition is presented which is analogous to the well known Lax-Friedrichs scheme. The Lax-Friedrichs scheme for our model is not straight-forward to implement and one needs to employ a simultaneous physical constraint and stability condition. Therefore, a mathematical analysis is presented in order to establish the physical constraint and stability condition of the scheme. The finite difference scheme is implemented and the graphical presentation of numerical features of error estimation and rate of convergence is produced. Numerical simulation results verify some well understood qualitative behavior of traffic flow.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ganit.v31i0.10307GANIT J. Bangladesh Math. Soc. (ISSN 1606-3694) 31 (2011) 43-52
Semi derivations of prime gamma rings
Authors: Dey Kalyan Kumar , Paul Akhil Chandra
Published: April 2012

Let M be a prime ?-ring satisfying a certain assumption (*). An additive mapping f : M ? M is a semi-derivation if f(x?y) = f(x)?g(y) + x?f(y) = f(x)?y + g(x)?f(y) and f(g(x)) = g(f(x)) for all x, y?M and ? ? ?, where g : M?M is an associated function. In this paper, we generalize some properties of prime rings with semi-derivations to the prime &Gamma-rings with semi-derivations. 2000 AMS Subject Classifications: 16A70, 16A72, 16A10.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ganit.v31i0.10309GANIT J. Bangladesh Math. Soc. (ISSN 1606-3694) 31 (2011) 65-70
Around a central element of a nearlattice
Authors: Begum Jahanara , Noor ASA
Published: April 2012

A nearlattice S is a meet semilattice together with the property that any two elements possessing a common upper bound have a supremum. It is well known that if n ? S is a neutral and upper element then its isotope Sn = (S; ?) is again a nearlattice, where x ? y = (x ? y) ? (x ? n) ? (y ? n) for all x, y ? S . In this paper we have discussed the central elements in a nearlattice and also in a lattice. We included several characterizations of these elements. We showed that for a central element n ? S, Pn(S) ? (n]d × [n), where Pn(S) is the set of principal n-ideals of S. Then we proved that for a central element n ? S, an element t ? S is central if and only if it is central in Sn. We also proved that for a lattice L, Ln is again a lattice if and only if n is central. Finally we showed that B is a Boolean algebra if and only if Bn is a Boolean algebra with same complement when n is central. Moreover, B ? Bn.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ganit.v31i0.10312GANIT J. Bangladesh Math. Soc. (ISSN 1606-3694) 31 (2011) 95-104
Roles of climate and functional traits in controlling toothed vs. untoothed leaf margins
Authors: Royer Dana L. , Peppe Daniel J. , Wheeler Elisabeth A. , Niinemets Ülo
Published: April 2012

• Premise of the study: Leaf‐margin state (toothed vs. untoothed) forms the basis of several popular methods for reconstructing temperature. Some potential confounding factors have not been investigated with large data sets, limiting our understanding of the adaptive significance of leaf teeth and their reliability to reconstruct paleoclimate. Here we test the strength of correlations between leaf‐margin state and deciduousness, leaf thickness, wood type (ring‐porous vs. diffuse‐porous), height within community, and several leaf economic variables.

• Methods: We assembled a trait database for 3549 species from six continents based on published and original data. The strength of associations between traits was quantified using correlational and principal axes approaches.

• Key results: Toothed species, independent of temperature, are more likely to be deciduous and to have thin leaves, a high leaf nitrogen concentration, a low leaf mass per area, and ring‐porous wood. Canopy trees display the highest sensitivity between leaf‐margin state and temperature; subcanopy plants, especially herbs, are less sensitive.

• Conclusions: Our data support hypotheses linking the adaptive significance of teeth to leaf thickness and deciduousness (in addition to temperature). Toothed species associate with the “fast‐return” end of the leaf economic spectrum, providing another functional link to thin leaves and the deciduous habit. Accounting for these confounding factors should improve climate estimates from tooth‐based methods.
LITHUANIAN RAILWAYS MARKED ON OLD MAPS / LIETUVOS GELEŽINKELIAI SENUOSIUOSE ŽEMĖLAPIUOSE LITHUANIAN RAILWAYS MARKED ON OLD MAPS
Authors: Lukoševičius Viktoras
Published: April 2012

This paper researches the representation of Lithuanian railways as a geographical object on old maps. It highlights the most significant stages of development of wide and narrow gauge railways and that of cartography in the background of historical events.

The paper presents maps of Lithuanian railways collected from different sources and discusses map characteristics. It also provides links that are helpful to readers interested in more detailed studies of specific maps. The author summarises the research results by making a conclusion that old maps are an excellent source for historic studies of the development of Lithuanian state transport system and its impact on local and foreign economy. The author expects that the material presented in the paper will acquaint its readers with Lithuanian railway maps and become an object of research for those who are interested in the past of the nation and the state. The author stresses the ultimate necessity to reconstruct the map depicting the old internal network of Lithuanian railways in order to conserve these historic documents that are important to the Lithuanian state. This would allow a wider public access to them versus a small group of researchers of history archives.

Santrauka

Tęsiant senosios kartografijos tyrinėjimus (Girkus, Lukoševičius 2011) norima pažvelgti į vieno iš geografinių objektų – Lietuvos geležinkelių vaizdavimą žemėlapiuose istorinių įvykių perspektyvoje, išskirti reikšmingiausius plačiųjų ir siaurųjų geležinkelių raidos etapus ir kartografijos plėtotės momentus. Pristatomi iš įvairių šaltinių surinkti Lietuvos geležinkelių žemėlapiai ir jų charakteristikos. Pateikiamos nuorodos norimam žemėlapiui rasti išsamesnėms studijoms. Apibendrinant tyrimo rezultatus daroma išvada, kad senoviniai žemėlapiai yra puikūs istorijos liudytojai, padedantys suvokti turtingą ir įdomų Lietuvos valstybės transporto sistemos formavimosi procesą ir reikšmę vidaus bei tarptautinei ekonomikai. Pateikiama medžiaga – įdomi bei naudinga pažintis su praeitį liudijančiais Lietuvos geležinkelių žemėlapiais ir kartu tyrimo objektas kiekvienam, besidominčiam savo tautos ir valstybės praeitimi.
Archeologies of Globalization. European Reflections on Two Phases of Accelerated Globalization in Cornelius de Pauw, Georg Forster, Guillaume-Thomas Raynal and Alexander von Humboldt
Authors: Ette Ottmar
Published: April 2012

In our present globalized world, an attempt to reflect on the “Archeology of Globalization” confronts us with a decisive question: Globality seems to be a singular phenomenon, the inevitable outcome of a teleological history which conforms our present. But can we think it as a plurality? Can we retrace this history in other form as a linear progression? By exploring European discussions that took place between the last third of the eighteenth and the mid-nineteenth centuries and which reflected on globalization, I will try to expose another development of this phenomenon. My focus emphasizes the very specific dynamics, modes of representation, and reflections that set up not an archeology but archaeologies of globalization: a world-consciousness that recognizes the patterns of movement and relationality that constitutes it, transforming itself into knowledge about how to live together in difference.
Diferentes técnicas de integración paisajística en carreteras. Análisis de eficacia a través de la percepción de observadores
Authors: Martín B. , Loro M. , Arce R. M. , Otero I.
Published: April 2012

En el trabajo que se expone en este artículo se planteó como objetivo realizar un análisis de las diferentes medidas de integración paisajística que se utilizan en las autopistas y autovías españolas. Para ello, se ha realizado una revisión bibliográfica de la normativa, la documentación científica, las guías y demás recomendaciones en este ámbito, y se ha efectuado un inventario fotográfico que recoge las medidas de restauración observadas en las diferentes vías. Gracias a una encuesta fotográfica y al posterior análisis de la percepción del público de las diferentes medidas de integración, se han identificado las variables medioambientales clave en la integración de las autopistas en el paisaje, los aspectos de diseño más adecuados y las medidas de integración paisajística más efectivas.
THE IN VIVO INVESTIGATION OF Fe3O4-NANOPARTICLES ACUTE TOXICITY IN MICE
Authors: Zhao Shuhua , Lin Xinli , Zhang Long , Sun Lei , Li Jun , Yang Wensheng , Sun Zhiwei
Published: April 2012

To observe acute toxicity of naked Fe3O4 -nanoparticles in mice, ICR mice were selected and exposed once to naked Fe3O4 -nanoparticles by tail intravenous injection with different doses, i.e. 0, 102.4, 128, 160, 200, 250 mg/kg of body weight. 15 days later, Fe3O4 distribution and pathologic changes in main organs were investigated. By tail intravenous injection, LD50 of naked Fe3O4 -nanoparticles in mice was 163.60 mg/kg of body weight (147.58, 181.37 mg/kg of body weight, 95% confidence interval). Deaths of mice mainly caused by decompensation and twitching were observed. Immediately after injection, nanoparticles performed fast distribution in lung, liver, spleen etc, yet little were traced in brain, heart and kidney. 15 days after injection, apparent decline of nanoparticles content in lung and spleen was observed, whereas in liver the content rose. Pathologic detection indicated local particle denaturation and necrosis in the cardiac tissue. Protein cast was seen in several kidney tubules, and extravasated blood in carunculae papillaris, yet no pathologic changes were observed in other organs. LD50 of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (9 nm) by means of tail intravenous injection is 163.60 mg/kg, and they mainly distributed in liver, spleen, lung and caused denaturation and necrosis in the cardiac muscle and malfunction of kidney. Also, the process of excreting the particles takes a long time.
COLOR SPECTROGRAPHIC PHONOCARDIOGRAPHY FOR THE DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PEDIATRIC HEART MURMURS: A CASE SERIES
Authors: SARBANDI REZA RAMEZANI , HASSANI KAMRAN , DOYLE JOHN D. , NAVIDBAKHSH MAHDI
Published: April 2012

Although auscultation of the heart remains central in the detection of abnormal heart sounds and murmurs that are frequently indicative of serious cardiac pathology, the application of electronic methods to this end remains rarely used in daily clinical practice. In this report we provide a series of examples showing how the phonocardiogram can be analyzed quantitatively using color spectrographic techniques and discuss how such methods may be of future value for noninvasive cardiac monitoring. Using a sound recording system, we recorded the heart sounds and data acquisition using the program Gold Wave ( http://www.goldwave.com ) to collect data from a high-speed USB interface. Sample color spectrogram analysis of the obtained signals was performed using custom software written in MATLAB. Data was collected from a number of infants and adults with cardiac structural disease as well as from some normal individuals. Our data is presented as a series of 13 cases. We expect the application of spectrographic techniques to phonocardiography to grow substantially as ongoing research and clinical experience demonstrates its utility in various settings. Our evaluation of a simple, low-cost phonocardiographic recording and analysis system to assist in determining the characteristic features of heart murmurs shows promise in helping distinguish normal heart sounds, innocent systolic murmurs and pathological murmurs in children. It expected to be useful in other clinical settings as well.
MULTI-CLASSIFIER FOR HIGHLY RELIABLE DRIVER DROWSINESS DETECTION IN ANDROID PLATFORM
Authors: Lee Boon-Giin , Chung Wan-Young
Published: April 2012

For the past decade, it is well defined in the literature that fatigue is one of the most prospective factor in affecting the driver behavior. This paper presents a novel evaluation of driver fatigue condition based on multi-classifier technique and fusion of attributes approach. The process involved fusion of attributes including image of eye movement and photoplethysmography (PPG) signals that are given as inputs to multi-classifier. In order to develop the best inference classifiers, artificial neural network (ANN), dynamic bayesian network (DBN), support vector machine (SVM), independent component analysis (ICA) and genetic algorithm (GA) were tested in our study. The output from each inference classifier are scaled and product in an intervention module to indicate driver aptitude in real-time. Implementation of monitoring system is practically designed in Android-based smartphone device where it can received all the sensory information from the dedicated sensors installed at the steering wheel via a small scale wireless sensor network. Device built-in front camera was utilized to capture driver facial image. No supplementary monitor is required to be installed in the vehicle as the all the information is to be displayed on the smartphone device itself. Warning system is triggered to warn driver once fatigue is suspected. System testing statistical results revealed that the manifold used of the proposed system demonstrates the advantages of performing information fusion, particularly with discrete methods, and the multi-classifier enabled a more authentic and ample driver fatigue evaluation.
TEMPERATURE SENSITIVITY OF COMPOSITE HYDROGEL PREPARED BY SURFACE GRAFT POLYMER OF NIPAAm AND BAMBOO CHARCOAL POWDER
Authors: Chen Ko-Shao , Chou Chin-Yen , Liao Shu-Chuan , Wu Hsin-Ming , Tsai Hsin-Ting
Published: April 2012

This study aimed at fabricating a new type temperature sensor device by taking advantages of electrical conductivity of bamboo charcoal powder and temperature sensibility of NIPAAm hydrogel. The resistance of such a composite device will be affected by temperature. Bamboo charcoal powders were first subjected to oxygen plasma treatment. The treated bamboo charcoal powders were then UV graft polymerization with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) monomer solution to be immobilized on the electrode which had previously been modified with plasma of tetramethyltin (TMT) and O2 gas mixture. Using simple environment test to measure resistance, the LCST of bamboo charcoal powders mixed with NIPAAm hydrogel was found to be 31°C. At ambient temperatures higher than LCST, the electrode resistance decreases. The surface morphology of composite hydrogel was observed by SEM.
A NOVEL METHOD TO EVALUATE PLASMA DEPOSITED SILICON OXIDE BARRIER FILMS BY WATER CONTACT ANGLE MEASUREMENT UNDER DC VOLTAGE APPLICATION (FOR CONFERENCE PUBLICATIONS FROM ACCS 2011)
Authors: Chen Ko-Shao , Chou Chin-Yen , Liao Shu-Chuan , Tsao Chia-Hui , Wu Hsin-Ming
Published: April 2012

In this study, organic silicon thin film was deposited on a comb type electrode substrate surface using hexamethyldisilazane (HMDSZ) plasma deposition technique to enhance voltage withstanding capability. The wettability, morphology and capability to withstand voltage were investigated by water contact angle (WCA) measurement, SEM observations, AFM and ampere meter analysis, respectively. The WCA of the substrate is 92.3° after the plasma deposition. As voltage is applied to the electrode, the WCA lowers to 76.4° and the resulting current flow is 0.078 mA. If the voltage is continually applied to the device, the organic silicon film on the substrate starts to peel off, accompanied with a sharp increase in current, which is an irreversible phenomenon. From the SEM and AFM analysis, the voltage withstanding capability of the device can be enhanced by prolonging the plasma processing time in order to obtain thicker thin film.
TRUNK FLEXION STRATEGY AND THE LOADS IN THE LOWER LIMBS WHEN WALKING UP SURFACES OF DIFFERENT SLOPES
Authors: Leu Tsai-Hsueh , Li Jia-Da , Hong Shih-Wun , Wang Ting-Ming , Huang Shier-Chieg , Lu Tung-Wu
Published: April 2012

Walking inclined ground surfaces presents a number of challenges to the human locomotor system, especially for those with neuromusculoskeletal injuries or diseases. The purpose of the current study was to perform a complete 3D kinetics analysis of the locomotor system during uphill walking on surfaces of different inclinations in order to reveal interactions of the joints and the trunk motion, and the related mechanical demands for future clinical applications. Fifteen young adults were asked to walk on inclined sloped walkways with 0, 5, 10, 15 degrees of slopes while kinematic and kinetic data were collected and analyzed. The results showed that the subjects increased the anterior tilt of the pelvis and the flexion of the trunk with increased inclination angles, maintaining more or less constant moments at the ankle, but modulating the moments at the hip and knee during the first half of the stance phase, and the moments at the hip only during the second half of the stance phase. In response to weight acceptance and propulsion of the body's COM, differences in the peak inter-segmental joint resultant force magnitudes at different inclination angles occurred primarily in the anterioposterior direction for all the joints of the lower extremities. The angular extensor impulses at all the joints increased linearly with increased slope, suggesting an overall linear joint angular impulse control during uphill walking. The current data and findings may serve as baseline data for future clinical purposes and may be helpful for other ergonomic applications.
A COMBINED REGULARIZATION ALGORITHM FOR ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY SYSTEM USING RECTANGULAR ELECTRODES ARRAY
Authors: He Wei , Li Bing , Xu Zheng , Luo Haijun , Ran Peng
Published: April 2012

A novel Electrical Impedance Tomography system with rectangular electrodes array and back electrode is proposed. This system could reconstruct a deeper target and is easy to operate. By studying different reconstructed algorithms: Tikhonov regularization and the Newton's One-step Error Reconstructor (NOSER), a combined regularization algorithm is proposed. The L-curve and posteriori method are used to choose Tikhonov and NOSER regularization parameter. Two evaluation parameters of reconstructed algorithm: normalization mean square distance criterion (NMSD), normalized mean absolute distance criterion (NMAD) are used to evaluate the result's precision of inverse problem quantificationally. The comparison among Tikhonov regularization, NOSER and the combined regularization shows that the ill-condition and the error of inverse problem are reduced. This new algorithm can decrease condition number by 70%, NMSD by 51%, and NMAD by 41% at least. Simulate results show that the combined regularization algorithm could reconstructed the target image in the depth from 10–40 mm. The experimental results show that a 15 mm × 9 mm × 9 mm cuboids whose depth is 35 mm could be distinguished. The performance of this system and the combined regularization algorithm demonstrate significantly better spatial resolution and minor reconstructed error.
FERRITIN-RED FLUORESCENT PROTEIN FUSION REPORTER FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE AND OPTICAL IMAGING
Authors: Liu Shan-Wen , Cho Kuan-Hung , Chen Mei-Ru , Yu Hsiao-Chi , Kao Yu-Ying , Tsou Tsui-Chun , Lin Ching-Po , Chen Chin-Tu , Hsu Ching-Han , Lin Kurt Ming-Chao
Published: April 2012

In this report, we generated a ferritin and red fluorescent protein fusion reporter gene that enables the visualization of transgene expression in living animals by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical imaging. Ferritin heavy chain (FTH) or light chain (FTL) was linked to the N terminus of the monomeric DsRed red fluorescent protein to create FTH-DsRed and FTL-DsRed, MRI-fluorescence dual reporters. Transfection of these dual reporters into cells resulted in increased iron loading and strong red fluorescence in cells. Adenoviral vectors to express FTH-DsRed or FTL-DsRed fusion reporter in infected cells were created, but only the adenovirus expressing FTH-DsRed resulted in a high level of red fluorescence in cells. Delivery and expression of FTH-DsRed in the mouse brain using adenovirus was detected by MRI and fluorescence imaging, revealing a T2shortening effect and an increase of contrast in T2-weighted images at the sites co-localized with strong red fluorescence. While the details of the structure of ferritin-DsRed fusion reporter remains to be solved, this dual reporter is useful for visualizing dynamic processes such as the migration of reporter-transfected stem cells or metastasis of tumors using MRI with the added flexibility of combining optical tools such as fluorescence activated cell sorting and fluorescence microscopy.
CLASSIFICATION OF sEMG SIGNALS USING INTEGRATED NEURAL NETWORK WITH SMALL SIZED TRAINING DATA
Authors: Sun Baofeng , Chen Wanzhong
Published: April 2012

The sEMG (Surface electromyography) signals detected from activated muscles can be used as a control source for prosthesis. So an efficient and accurate method for the classification of sEMG signal patterns has become a hot research in recent years. Artificial neural network is a popular used method in this field, however, most neural networks require large numbers of samples in the training stage to obtain the potential relationships between input feature vectors and the outputs.

In this paper, Integrated back propagation neural network (IBPNN) is used to classify sEMG signals acquired during five different hand motions. The correct classification rates of IBPNN for the five hand movements are significantly higher than that of BPNN and Elman neural network. This reveals that IBPNN achieves the best performance with a small sized training data and can be used in control systems on prosthetic hands and other robotic devices based on electromyography pattern recognition.
Ethnographic Approach to User-Centred Evaluation of Telecentres
Authors: Dey Bidit Lal , Newman D. R. , Prendergast Renee
Published: April 2012

Telecentres are considered to be an important means for providing disadvantaged communities with access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) enabled services. However, there is a limited understanding of how targeted beneficiaries perceive the roles of these telecentres. Using an ethnographic approach, this paper examines the services offered by two telecentres in Bangladesh. An intervention was initiated that enabled groups of farmers to use mobile ’phones to access services. Based on farmers’ experiences and opinions the authors develop a framework which explicates the dynamic nature of use and appropriation of ICT services.
Adoption of a Comprehensive Web-Based Wealth Management Service
Authors: Dahlberg Tomi , Öörni Anssi
Published: April 2012

The design of electronic financial services differ crucially from that of conventional services due to their inability to adjust sporadically to the needs and wants of consumers, as adaptability is strongly associated with the human component of services production. In this regard, identification of the motives driving adoption and consumption is the precondition for successful implementation of electronic services. This article reports the results of a survey conducted for an R&D project with the objective to design an innovative and comprehensive wealth management service for consumers, a service that is offered mainly via the internet. In this study, the authors found that the conventional wisdom of mainstream finance and technology adoption theories, return-risk thinking, and cost-benefit analysis of product characteristics were insufficient to predict adoption. Rather, the adoption decision appears to be dominated by the perceived fit between the new service and the consumer’s established consumption patterns.
Understanding Shared Services
Authors: Miskon Suraya , Bandara Wasana , Fielt Erwin , Gable Guy G.
Published: April 2012

In a competitive environment, companies continuously innovate to offer superior services at lower costs. ‘Shared Services’ have been extensively adopted in practice as a means for improving organizational performance. Shared Services are considered most appropriate for support functions and are widely adopted in human resource management, finance and accounting, and more recently employed as an information systems (IS) function. As computer-based corporate information systems have become de facto and the backbone of administrative systems, the technical impediments to sharing have come down dramatically. As this trend continues, CIOs and IT professionals need a deeper understanding of the Shared Services phenomenon. Yet, analysis of IS academic literature reveals that Shared Services, though mentioned in more than 100 articles, has received little in depth attention. This paper investigates the current status of Shared Services in IS literature. The authors present a detailed review of literature from main IS journals and conferences. The paper concludes with a tentative operational definition, a list of perceived main objectives of Shared Services, and an agenda for related future research.
Meeting Correlated Spare Part Demands with Optimal Transshipments
Authors: Çömez Nagihan , Stecke Kathryn E. , Çakanyildirim Metin
Published: April 2012

This paper studies spare part transshipments between two service part facilities whose demands are correlated. Transshipments are used to reduce severity of part stock outs. Facilities are run by an inventory manager (IM) who minimizes replenishment, transshipment, and inventory costs. We show that the optimal transshipment policy is an inventory hold-back type; if the part inventory at a facility is less than or equal to its hold-back level, a transshipment request made for that part by a stocked out retailer is rejected. The hold-back levels increase toward the next replenishment of partsThis implies that transshipment requests are initially accepted until a critical time and afterwards they are rejected. A heuristic is designed using this critical time as the single decision variable. It performs within 0.7-1.8% of the optimal cost. Heuristic policies of no inventory sharing and complete sharing, respectively, perform within 3% and 2% of the optimal cost. Since the computation of hold-back levels and implementation of the optimal transshipments, respectively, require limited resources and little IM oversight, we advocate for the use of the optimal transshipment policy.
Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Control Approach Based on Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: El-Far Gomaa Zaki
Published: April 2012

This paper proposes a modified particle swarm optimization algorithm (MPSO) to design adaptive neuro-fuzzy controller parameters for controlling the behavior of non-linear dynamical systems. The modification of the proposed algorithm includes adding adaptive weights to the swarm optimization algorithm, which introduces a new update. The proposed MPSO algorithm uses a minimum velocity threshold to control the velocity of the particles, avoids clustering of the particles, and maintains the diversity of the population in the search space. The mechanism of MPSO has better potential to explore good solutions in new search spaces. The proposed MPSO algorithm is also used to tune and optimize the controller parameters like the scaling factors, the membership functions, and the rule base. To illustrate the adaptation process, the proposed neuro-fuzzy controller based on MPSO algorithm is applied successfully to control the behavior of both non-linear single machine power systems and non-linear inverted pendulum systems. Simulation results demonstrate that the adaptive neuro-fuzzy logic controller application based on MPSO can effectively and robustly enhance the damping of oscillations.
Object Analysis with Visual Sensors and RFID
Authors: Karmakar Gour , Dooley Laurence S. , Karmakar Nemai Chandra , Kamruzzaman Joarder
Published: April 2012

Object analysis using visual sensors is one of the most important and challenging issues in computer vision research due principally to difficulties in object representation, segmentation, and recognition within a general framework. This has motivated researchers to investigate exploiting the potential identification capability of RFID (radio frequency identification) technology for object analysis. RFID however, has a number of fundamental limitations including a short sensing range, missing tag detection, not working for all objects, and some items being just too small to be tagged. This has meant applying RFID alone has not been entirely effective in computer vision applications. To address these restrictions, object analysis approaches based on a combination of visual sensors and RFID have recently been successfully introduced. This chapter presents a contemporary review on these object analysis techniques for localisation, tracking, and object and activity recognition, together with some future research directions in this burgeoning field.
Online Security and Consumer Protection in Ecommerce An Australian Case
Authors: Ha Huong
Published: April 2012

Given the nature of the e-market, both regulatory and self-regulatory measures have been employed by Australia to protect e-consumers. However, the efficiency and effectiveness of the current framework of e-consumer protection have not been sufficiently evaluated. This chapter aims to (i) discuss the current approaches to protect e-consumers in terms of security in Australia, (ii) find out the level of awareness, the view and attitudes of e-consumers regarding online security and institutes involved in e-consumer protection, (iii) investigate how e-consumers protect themselves from online incidents, and (v) discuss policy implications for protection of e-consumers in terms of security. Overall, this chapter provides a better insight of how e-consumers are protected regarding security in Australia. It will help relevant stakeholders in developing and fine tuning policies to ensure a secure e-market for all. Finally, it will elicit further research on how to better protect e-consumers in the e-market.