bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural and impedance characterization of ceramics prepared from NPK fertilizer
Authors: Kobor Diouma , Bodian Ousmane , Bodian Waly , Diallo Abdou , Tine Modou
Published: July 2015

One of the main objectives of this work was to study the possibilities of
valorising the phosphates through the development of a conductive ceramics
using NPK fertilizer as a precursor. Phosphorus based powders were
synthesized using solid state technique from NPK fertilizer, lithium chloride
and iron chloride at different temperatures up to 900?C and ceramic samples
were prepared by the powder pressing and sintering at 1100?C. XRD spectra of
the calcined powders show various sharp peaks indicating a relatively high
degree of crystallinity and presence of different crystalline phases, such
as: phosphorus based crystalline compounds (AlPO4 and LiFePO4), ferrite
(Fe3O4 and DyFeO3), CaSO4 and K3DyCl6. The prepared phosphorus based ceramics
showed very interesting electrical and dielectric properties. Thus, in the
future the obtained ceramics could find application in electronic or energy
storage devices. However, further investigations are necessary to understand
the exact chemical composition and structural characteristics of this
material, to better understand the origin of the obtained electrical and
dielectric behaviour.
Augite-anorthite glass-ceramics from residues of basalt quarry and ceramic wastes
Authors: Khater Gamal , Abu Safiah , Hamzawy Esmat
Published: July 2015

Dark brown glasses were prepared from residues of basalt quarries and wastes
of ceramic factories. Addition of CaF2, Cr2O3 and their mixture CaF2-Cr2O3
were used as nucleation catalysts. Generally, structures with augite and
anorthite as major phases and small amount of magnetite and olivine phases
were developed through the crystallization process. In the samples heat
treated at 900?C the dominant phase is augite, whereas the content of
anorthite usually overcomes the augite at higher temperature (1100?C). Fine
to medium homogenous microstructures were detected in the prepared
glass-ceramic samples. The coefficient of thermal expansion and
microhardnessmeasurements of the glass-ceramic samples were from 6.16?10-6 to
8.96?10-6?C-1 (in the 20-500?C) and 5.58 to 7.16GP, respectively.
Foreword Vol.4
Authors: Dahal Hemanta Raj
Published: July 2015

Journal of NELTA Surkhet Vol.4 2014: v
Unable to Find a Research Title?
Authors: Bhandari Bal Mukunda
Published: July 2015

Most of the Master’s students who opt for thesis writing could not find an appropriate title for them, and they ask their supervisors, professors and seniors for a title. Similarly those who are aspiring for a Ph.D. cannot start the work because they are unable to find a suitable title for them. When I ask my colleagues and students to go for Ph.D., to carry out classroom research and other small scale research, to write research article, they say that they have no idea on what to write, and they ask me to provide them with a topic for the research. This article, based on my experience of supervising and evaluating theses, is an attempt to help Master’s and Ph.D. students in general and M.Ed. English students in particular, find a suitable title for their research. It discusses some sources, from which thesis titles come, viz. problem, curiosity, disagreement, courses of study, and previous works in the related field. Journal of NELTA Surkhet Vol.4 2014: 13-17
Effectiveness of Guided Writing in Teaching Composition
Authors: Khatri Dipendra Kumar
Published: July 2015

This article summarizes the study conducted to find out the effectiveness of guided writing in teaching composition. Fifty-two students of grade nine studying at Khelnechour Secondary School, Surkhet were the sample population of this research. The researcher requested one of the teachers to involve in the practical teaching for carrying out the research. The tests (pre-test and post test) were the major tools for data collection. The students were ranked from the first to the fifty-second position based on the results of the pre-test. They were divided into two groups based on odd-even ranking of the individual scores. Then, experimental group was taught through guided writing activities whereas controlled group was taught without guided writing activities. Each groups attended thirty lessons. Then the post-test was administered. The results of these two tests (Pre and Post) were compared and found that guided writing activities were more effective in teaching composition. Journal of NELTA Surkhet Vol.4 2014: 18-25
Teaching English to Young Children
Authors: Gautam Ganga Ram
Published: July 2015

In the context of Nepal, teachers often prefer to teach at the higher level. In my professional career, I have met very few people who really enjoy teaching at the preprimary or primary level. According to them, teaching young children is very challenging and managing learning at that level is very difficult. My experience is different. I have taught the young children for some time in the past and I enjoyed it very much. Children bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm and if a teacher can make use of that energy in creating learning atmosphere in class, both the children and teacher enjoy being in the pre-primary and primary classes. This article presents some observations and activities to encourage teachers to teach English at the pre/primary level and make English teaching a fun experience. Journal of NELTA Surkhet Vol.4 2014: 26-33
Role of Thinking in Learning
Authors: Kadel Purna Bahadur
Published: July 2015

Thinking is essential for learning. Thinking is inextricably intertwined with learning. Teaching thinking refers to teaching critical and creative thinking skills and problem solving tasks. Critical thinking incorporates reasoning, logical judgment, metacognition, reflection, and mental process in course of learning. It involves evaluation, analyzing, and interpreting the problems to find out the solution. Creative thinking can be enhanced through multiple intelligence, affective factors, and innovative curriculum. Metacognition and thinking are must to solve any task in learning language. Journal of NELTA Surkhet Vol.4 2014: 57-63
Research Tool Design: Constructing Research Tools as Catalyst
Authors: Shahi Sushil Kumar
Published: July 2015

The purpose of this paper is to examine research tool from the analytical exploration of existing literature and views on research tool design. The paper explores and analyzes research tool in relation to research types and philosophical paradigm. Tool is explored from the restricted sense of data collection of any form on the one. On the other, tool is seen in wider range of methods, techniques and strategies of inquiry to move beyond limitation. Study design involves systematic reviews of existing literature on tool design. Secondary data and information are collected from journals, books and publications related to research methodology. Research tool design is identified as both a study design and a procedure of data collections in many forms from diverse fields. Journal of NELTA Surkhet Vol.4 2014: 91-97
Publishing Virtuously: Morals Matter in Building Better Books
Authors: Lipscombe Trevor , Petchik Daniela
Published: July 2015

The publishing industry spends much of its time worrying about books—prices, print runs, discounts, their scholarly arguments, level of publicity, and so forth. With such a range of concerns, it is easy to forget that at the heart of publishing, and every industry, are human beings. In this article, we look at the four cardinal virtues—prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance—and argue that if we bear these in mind when working with our colleagues, the quality and sales of books and journals produced will increase.
Beyond the Monograph: Publishing Research for Multimedia and Multiplatform Delivery
Authors: Mrva-Montoya Agata
Published: July 2015

The output of university presses remains centred on a stand-alone, print-driven book paradigm, despite technological developments that can enable ‘interaction, communication, and interconnection.’ In order to improve the distribution of books, several university presses have invested in the development of online content platforms, but the great majority of digital publishing output is limited to PDF, ePub, and HTML files. Inspired by increasing popularity of mobile technologies and devices, this article investigates opportunities for greater use of digital media in scholarly book publishing. It focuses on the feasibility of producing ebook applications and using social networking platforms as a way to make complex information accessible to wider audiences enabling improved research dissemination and increased engagement with individual works.
Do Editorial Board Members in Library and Information Science Publish Disproportionately in the Journals for Which They Serve as Board Members?
Authors: Walters William H.
Published: July 2015

This article investigates whether the board members of thirty well-known library and information science journals are especially likely to publish in the journals for which they serve as board members. It compares board member authors with all the authors who published in each journal from 2007 through 2012. Overall, only 36 per cent of board member authors published more articles in their own journals than might be expected based on the publication patterns of all the authors who published in each journal. That is, 64 per cent published fewer articles than expected. This may reflect lower submission rates from board members (perhaps to avoid conflicts of interest), differences in the quality of submissions, or systematic bias in the review process.
Institutional, Motivational, and Resource Factors Influencing Health Scientists' Data-Sharing Behaviours
Authors: Kim Youngseek , Kim Sujin
Published: July 2015

This study proposes a composite model of data sharing to examine what determines health scientists' behaviours drawing on institutional, motivational, and resource perspectives. The proposed model was developed considering institutional theory and the theory of planned behaviour. In addition, resource utilization measures were also combined into the research model. Using a national researcher pool, the Community of Scientists' Scholar Database, the analysis included a total of 207 survey responses. Partial least-squares structural equation modelling was performed to evaluate the causal relationship among the data sharing study measures. Findings suggest that regulative pressure by journal publishers and the availability of data repositories was found to be significantly related to data-sharing behaviour. Three motivational factors—perceived career benefit, perceived career risk, and perceived effort—were also found to have a significant influence on attitude toward data sharing, which has a significant relationship with data-sharing behaviour.
Resolution or Revolution?
Authors: Donovan Stephen K.
Published: July 2015

As contributors to academic journals, we expect our submissions to be treated with a certain amount of respect by editors and dealt with expeditiously; we want to see our papers published. An editor who is allowing a submission to ‘gather dust’ is not acting in the best interests of either their authors or their journal. I recommend that authors sometimes review their list of papers ‘in press,’ ‘in review,’ and ‘submitted,’ and those that have stopped moving should be withdrawn and submitted elsewhere. An editor who fails to give their contributors timely support is not deserving of their papers.
Peritumoral cysts associated with pituitary macroadenoma
Authors: Herde Ryan F. , Hoang Nguyen , Tran Diem Kieu , Couldwell Genevieve , Couldwell William T. , Osborn Anne G.
Published: July 2015

OBJECT

Peritumoral cysts are benign nonneoplastic cysts that are found adjacent to extraaxial brain tumors such as meningiomas, schwannomas, craniopharyngiomas, and esthesioneuroblastomas. Peritumoral cysts associated with pituitary macroadenomas have not been previously described in the literature. The authors report 6 cases of giant macroadenoma-associated peritumoral cysts and delineate their imaging spectrum.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of 179 patients diagnosed with pituitary macroadenomas who underwent tumor resection at their institution and had preoperative MRI scans available for review. The patients were evaluated for the presence of associated peritumoral cysts. Clinical presentation, histopathology, follow-up time, tumor and peritumoral cyst dimensions were recorded. Signal intensity on T1-weighted, T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted, and FLAIR sequences, as well as pre- and postcontrast appearance, were determined.

RESULTS

Six patients (3.4%) with associated peritumoral cysts were identified in our cohort of 179 patients with pituitary macroadenoma. Twelve patients in the cohort had giant macroadenomas (≥ 4.0 cm), and 50% of these tumors had associated peritumoral cysts with significant extrasellar extension of the macroadenoma. Only tumors with craniocaudal, transverse, and anteroposterior diameters of 3.6 × 3.4 × 4.2 cm to 7.0 × 7.4 × 6.8 cm (mean 5.3 × 5.1 × 5.6 cm), respectively, had associated peritumoral cysts. The growth pattern in all tumors was suprasellar, with predominant anterior and lateral extension.

Cysts showed T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and FLAIR hyperintensity in 67%, 67%, and 60% of patients, respectively. There was no contrast enhancement of the cyst wall or fluid contents in any patient. Postoperatively, cysts had completely resolved (4 of 5) or significantly decreased in size (1 of 5). One patient was lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Macroadenoma-associated peritumoral cysts are rare, benign, and likely nonneoplastic fluid collections that do not represent neoplasm. These cysts display a predictable pattern of hyperintensity on T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and FLAIR sequences and do not enhance. They most likely represent proteinaceous CSF in a sulcus or cistern that becomes trapped (encysted) by anterolateral extension of unusually large macroadenomas. Peritumoral cysts may facilitate resection of the associated macroadenoma by providing a cleavage plane.
Predictors of response to Gamma Knife radiosurgery for intracranial meningiomas
Authors: Mansouri Alireza , Larjani Soroush , Klironomos George , Laperriere Normand , Cusimano Michael , Gentili Fred , Schwartz Michael , Zadeh Gelareh
Published: July 2015

OBJECT

In this paper, the authors’ aim was to determine short-term volumetric and diametric tumor growth and identify clinical, radiological, and dosimetric predictors of adverse radiation events (AREs) following stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for intracranial WHO Grade I meningiomas.

METHODS

This is a retrospective review of all WHO Grade I meningiomas that were treated with SRS (primary or adjuvant) between December 2005 and June 2012 at the University Health Network. Seventy-five patients had at least 24 months of both clinical and radiological follow-up and were, therefore, included in this study. Tumor growth was defined as any volumetric or diametric change greater than 10% per year. Any variation less than +10% was considered growth stability. Volumetric measurements were made using T1-weighted gadolinium-enhanced 3-T MRI scans and ITK-SNAP software. Tumor growth rates were calculated using the specific growth rate (SGR). Univariate statistics were used to identify predictors of post-SRS AREs. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS.

RESULTS

Women accounted for 69.3% of patients, and the mean treatment age was 58.6 years. Median follow-up was 36.2 months. Twenty-one (28%) patients had undergone prior resection. Two (3%) patients required salvage surgical intervention following SRS. The majority of the lesions (56%) were skull base tumors. Median tumor volume and diameter were 5.2 cm3 and 27.5 mm, respectively. The absence of tumor growth was observed in 39 cases (52%) based on the volumetric measurements, while the absence of tumor growth was observed in 69 cases (92%) based on the diametric measurements. Twenty-six patients (34.6%) experienced new-onset AREs, including headache (17.3%), cranial neuropathy (10.6%), speech impairment (2.7%), tremors (2.7%), and ataxia (1.3%). Fourteen patients (18.7%) experienced new-onset edema, and 4 of these patients were symptomatic. A lower conformity index (1.24 vs 1.4) was significantly associated with the development of edema (p < 0.001 power > 0.8). Patients with meningiomas that had growth rates of more than 10% per year were more likely to experience long-term headaches after SRS (p = 0.022).

CONCLUSIONS

Volume-based reporting of SRS outcomes for meningiomas may be a more accurate method given the complex morphology of some lesions. The conformity index was identified as a predictor of edema following radiosurgery.
Safety and feasibility of the NanoKnife system for irreversible electroporation ablative treatment of canine spontaneous intracranial gliomas
Authors: Rossmeisl John H. , Garcia Paulo A. , Pancotto Theresa E. , Robertson John L. , Henao-Guerrero Natalia , Neal Robert E. , Ellis Thomas L. , Davalos Rafael V.
Published: July 2015

OBJECT

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a novel nonthermal ablation technique that has been used for the treatment of solid cancers. However, it has not been evaluated for use in brain tumors. Here, the authors report on the safety and feasibility of using the NanoKnife IRE system for the treatment of spontaneous intracranial gliomas in dogs.

METHODS

Client-owned dogs with a telencephalic glioma shown on MRI were eligible. Dog-specific treatment plans were generated by using MRI-based tissue segmentation, volumetric meshing, and finite element modeling. After biopsy confirmation of glioma, IRE treatment was delivered stereotactically with the NanoKnife system using pulse parameters and electrode configurations derived from therapeutic plans. The primary end point was an evaluation of safety over the 14 days immediately after treatment. Follow-up was continued for 12 months or until death with serial physical, neurological, laboratory, and MRI examinations.

RESULTS

Seven dogs with glioma were treated. The mean age of the dogs was 9.3 ± 1.6 years, and the mean pretreatment tumor volume was 1.9 ± 1.4 cm3. The median preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale score was 70 (range 30–75). Severe posttreatment toxicity was observed in 2 of the 7 dogs; one developed fatal (Grade 5) aspiration pneumonia, and the other developed treatment-associated cerebral edema, which resulted in transient neurological deterioration. Results of posttreatment diagnostic imaging, tumor biopsies, and neurological examinations indicated that tumor ablation was achieved without significant direct neurotoxicity in 6 of the 7 dogs. The median 14-day post-IRE Karnofsky Performance Scale score of the 6 dogs that survived to discharge was 80 (range 60–90), and this score was improved over the pretreatment value in every case. Objective tumor responses were seen in 4 (80%) of 5 dogs with quantifiable target lesions. The median survival was 119 days (range 1 to > 940 days).

CONCLUSION

With the incorporation of additional therapeutic planning procedures, the NanoKnife system is a novel technology capable of controlled IRE ablation of telencephalic gliomas.
Long-term outcome of patients with WHO Grade III and IV gliomas treated by fractionated intracavitary radioimmunotherapy
Authors: Reulen Hans-Juergen , Poepperl Gabriele , Goetz Claudia , Gildehaus Franz Joseph , Schmidt Michael , Tatsch Klaus , Pietsch Torsten , Kraus Theo , Rachinger Walter
Published: July 2015

OBJECT

The aim in this study was to present long-term results regarding overall survival (OS), adverse effects, and toxicity following fractionated intracavitary radioimmunotherapy (RIT) with iodine-131− or yttrium-90−labeled anti-tenascin monoclonal antibody (131I-mAB or 90Y-mAB) for the treatment of patients with malignant glioma.

METHODS

In 55 patients (15 patients with WHO Grade III anaplastic astrocytoma [AA] and 40 patients with WHO Grade IV glioblastoma multiforme [GBM]) following tumor resection and conventional radiotherapy, radioimmunoconjugate was introduced into the postoperative resection cavity. Patients received 5 cycles of 90Y-mAB (Group A, average dose 18 mCi/cycle), 5 cycles of 131I-mAB (Group B, average dose 30 mCi/cycle), or 3 cycles of 131I-mAB (Group C, 50, 40, and 30 mCi).

RESULTS

Median OS of patients with AA was 77.2 months (95% CI 30.8 to > 120). Five AA patients (33%) are currently alive, with a median observation time of 162.2 months. Median OS of all 40 patients with GBM was 18.9 months (95% CI 15.8–25.3), and median OS was 25.3 months (95% CI18–30) forthose patients treated with the 131I-mAB. Three GBM patients are currently alive. One-, 2-, and 3-year survival probabilities were 100%, 93.3%, and 66.7%, respectively, for AA patients and 82.5%, 42.5%, and 15.9%, respectively, for GBM patients. Restratification of GBM patients by recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) Classes III, IV, and V produced median OSs of 31.1, 18.9, and 14.5 months, respectively (p = 0.004), which was higher than expected. Multivariate analysis confirmed the role of RPA class, age, and treatment in predicting survival. No Grade 3 or 4 hematological, nephrologic, or hepatic toxic effects were observed; 4 patients developed Grade 3 neurological deficits. Radiological signs of radionecrosis were observed in 6 patients, who were all responding well to steroids.

CONCLUSIONS

Median OS of GBM and AA patients treated with 131I-mABs reached 25.3 and 77.2 months, respectively, thus markedly exceeding that of historical controls. Adverse events remained well controllable with the fractionated dosage regimen.
Spontaneous retroclival hematoma in pituitary apoplexy: case series
Authors: Azizyan Avetis , Miller Joseph M. , Azzam Ramzi I. , Maya Marcel M. , Famini Pouyan , Pressman Barry D. , Moser Franklin G.
Published: July 2015

OBJECT

Pituitary apoplexy is a rare and potentially life-threatening disorder that is most commonly characterized by a combination of sudden headache, visual disturbance, and hypothalamic/hormonal dysfunction. In many cases, there is hemorrhagic infarction of an underlying pituitary adenoma. The resulting clinical symptoms are due to compression of the remaining pituitary, cavernous sinuses, or cranial nerves. However, there are only 2 case reports in the literature describing spontaneous retroclival expansion of hemorrhage secondary to pituitary apoplexy. Ten cases of this entity with a review of the literature are presented here.

METHODS

This is a single-institution retrospective review of 2598 patients with sellar and parasellar masses during the 10-year period between 1999 and 2009. The pituitary and brain MRI and MRI studies were reviewed by 2 neuroradiologists for evidence of apoplexy, with particular attention given to retroclival extension.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients (13 men and 5 women; mean age 54 years) were identified with presenting symptoms of sudden onset of headache and ophthalmoplegia, and laboratory findings consistent with pituitary apoplexy. Ten of these patients (8 men and 2 women; mean age 55 years) had imaging findings consistent with retroclival hematoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Retroclival hemorrhage was seen in the majority of cases of pituitary apoplexy (56%), suggesting that it is more common than previously thought.
Clinical and radiological outcomes of modified posterior closing wedge osteotomy for the treatment of posttraumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis
Authors: Jo Dae-Jean , Kim Yong-Sang , Kim Sung-Min , Kim Ki-Tack , Seo Eun-Min
Published: July 2015

OBJECT

Most thoracolumbar fractures have a good healing outcome with adequate treatment. However, posttraumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis can occur in a proportion of thoracolumbar fractures after inappropriate treatment, osteoporosis, or osteonecrosis of the vertebral body. There are several surgical options to correct posttraumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis, including anterior, posterior, and combined approaches, which are associated with varying degrees of success. The aim of this study was to assess the use of a modified closing wedge osteotomy for the treatment of posttraumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis and to evaluate the radiographic findings and clinical outcomes of patients treated using this technique.

METHODS

Thirteen consecutive patients with symptomatic posttraumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis were treated using a modified closing wedge osteotomy. The mean patient age was 62 years. The kyphosis apex ranged from T-10 to L-2. The sagittal alignment, kyphotic angle, neurological function, visual analog scale for back pain, and Oswestry Disability Index were evaluated before surgery and at follow-up.

RESULTS

The mean preoperative regional angle was 27. 4°, and the mean correction angle was 29. 6°. Sagittal alignment improved with a mean correction rate of 58. 3%. The mean surgical time was 275 minutes, and the mean intraoperative blood loss was 1585 ml. The intraoperative complications included 2 dural tears, 1 nerve root injury, and 1 superficial wound infection. The mean visual analog scale score for back pain improved from 6. 6 to 2, and the Oswestry Disability Index score decreased from 55. 4 to 22. 6 at the last follow-up. All patients achieved bony anterior fusion based on the presence of trabecular bone bridging at the osteotomy site.

CONCLUTIONS

The modified posterior closing wedge osteotomy technique achieves satisfactory kyphosis correction with direct visualization of the circumferentially decompressed spinal cord, as well as good fusion with less blood loss and fewer complications. It is an alternative method for treating patients with posttraumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis.
Predictive value of 3-month lumbar discectomy outcomes in the NeuroPoint-SD Registry
Authors: Whitmore Robert G. , Curran Jill N. , Ali Zarina S. , Mummaneni Praveen V. , Shaffrey Christopher I. , Heary Robert F. , Kaiser Michael G. , Asher Anthony L. , Malhotra Neil R. , Cheng Joseph S. , Hurlbert John , Smith Justin S. , Magge Subu N. , Steinmetz Michael P. , Resnick Daniel K. , Ghogawala Zoher
Published: July 2015

OBJECT

The authors have established a multicenter registry to assess the efficacy and costs of common lumbar spinal procedures using prospectively collected outcomes. Collection of these data requires an extensive commitment of resources from each site. The aim of this study was to determine whether outcomes data from shorter-interval follow-up could be used to accurately estimate long-term outcome following lumbar discectomy.

METHODS

An observational prospective cohort study was completed at 13 academic and community sites. Patients undergoing single-level lumbar discectomy for treatment of disc herniation were included. SF-36 and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) data were obtained preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Quality-adjusted life year (QALY) data were calculated using SF-6D utility scores. Correlations among outcomes at each follow-up time point were tested using the Spearman rank correlation test.

RESULTS

One hundred forty-eight patients were enrolled over 1 year. Their mean age was 46 years (49% female). Eleven patients (7.4%) required a reoperation by 1 year postoperatively. The overall 1-year follow-up rate was 80.4%. Lumbar discectomy was associated with significant improvements in ODI and SF-36 scores (p < 0.0001) and with a gain of 0.246 QALYs over the 1-year study period. The greatest gain occurred between baseline and 3-month follow-up and was significantly greater than improvements obtained between 3 and 6 months or 6 months and 1 year(p < 0.001). Correlations between 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year outcomes were similar, suggesting that 3-month data may be used to accurately estimate 1-year outcomes for patients who do not require a reoperation. Patients who underwent reoperation had worse outcomes scores and nonsignificant correlations at all time points.

CONCLUSIONS

This national spine registry demonstrated successful collection of high-quality outcomes data for spinal procedures in actual practice. Three-month outcome data may be used to accurately estimate outcome at future time points and may lower costs associated with registry data collection. This registry effort provides a practical foundation for the acquisition of outcome data following lumbar discectomy.
Clinical analysis of spinal stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of neurogenic tumors
Authors: Shin Dong-Won , Sohn Moon-Jun , Kim Han-Seong , Lee Dong-Joon , Jeon Sang Ryong , Hwang Yoon Joon , Jho Eek-Hoon
Published: July 2015

OBJECT

In this study the authors sought to evaluate clinical outcomes after using stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to treat benign and malignant spinal neurogenic tumors.

METHODS

The authors reviewed a total of 66 procedures of spinal SRS performed between 2001 and 2013 for 110 tumors in 58 patients with spinal neurogenic tumors, which included schwannomas, neurofibromas, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). The clinical and radiological findings were evaluated in patients with benign neurogenic tumors. For the 4 patients with MPNSTs, the authors reported overall survival and results of additional immunohistochemical staining to predict the survival difference among the patients.

RESULTS

Of the 92 benign neurogenic tumors, 65 tumors that were serially followed up using MRI after SRS showed significant change in mean tumor volume, from a mean of 12.0 ± 2.6 cm3 pre-SRS to 10.8 ± 2.5 cm3 post-SRS (p = 0.027), over an average of 44 months. The local control rate of benign neurogenic tumors was 95.4%. The 34 patients who presented with clinical symptoms of pain showed a significant symptomatic improvement. The initial mean visual analog scale (VAS) score was 6.0 and decreased dramatically to 1.0 after SRS during an average follow-up period of 10.9 months (median of 8.1 months). Although the proportions of transient swelling and loss of intramural enhancement were significantly different among the groups, there was no statistically significant correlation between those 2 factors and local tumor control (p = 0.253 and 0.067, respectively; Fisher’s exact text). Cross-table analysis also indicated that there was no statistically significant relationship between groups with loss of intramural enhancement and transient swelling. The median survival of neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1)-related and sporadic MPNSTs was 1.13 and 5.8 years, respectively. Immunohistochemical results showed that S100 was expressed in a sporadic MPNST or neurofibroma, whereas topoisomerase-IIa was expressed in NF1-related MPNSTs.

CONCLUSIONS

SRS is an effective treatment modality for benign neurogenic tumors, while MPNSTs showed heterogeneity in their responses to SRS.
Forced Solidarity: Maintenance of Coastal Defences Along the North Sea Coast in the Early Modern Period
Authors: van Tielhof Milja
Published: July 2015

For people living on soft soils near or below sea level in the pre-modern period, flood protection increasingly became a major challenge. This article analyses the organisation of flood protection along the southern shores of the North Sea, from the late Middle Ages to the eighteenth century. One of the main problems was that usually only those communities directly on the coast were charged with maintaining sea defences, while flooding increasingly affected a much wider hinterland. Attempts to spread the costs to include communities situated further from the shore came up against significant political and economic barriers. Nevertheless, in several places the responsibility for flood protection was successfully and permanently transferred to areas that included the hinterland. Very large water districts sometimes emerged, dramatically increasing the number of land users liable to pay for dike maintenance. The article identifies four conditions that were necessary to achieve these radical institutional changes.
Verifying layered security protocols
Authors: Gibson-Robinson Thomas , Kamil Allaa , Lowe Gavin
Published: July 2015

Abstract

Many security protocols are built as the composition of an application-layer protocol and a secure transport protocol, such as TLS. There are several approaches to proving the correctness of such protocols. One popular approach is verification by abstraction, in which the correctness of the application-layer protocol is proven under the assumption that the transport layer satisfies certain properties, such as confidentiality. Following this approach, we adapt the strand spaces model in order to analyse application-layer protocols that depend on secure transport protocols; we consider both bilaterally and unilaterally authenticating secure transport protocols, such as bilateral and unilateral TLS.

The paper’s main contribution is a proof of the model’s soundness. In particular, we prove that, subject to a suitable independence assumption, if there is an attack against the application-layer protocol when layered on top of a particular secure transport protocol, then there is an attack against the abstracted model of the application-layer protocol. In contrast to existing work in this area, the independence assumption consists of eight statically checkable conditions, meaning that it is not necessary to consider all possible runs of the protocol.
Antimicrobial Use, Human Gut Microbiota and Clostridium difficile Colonization and Infection
Authors: Vincent Caroline , Manges Amee
Published: July 2015

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the most important cause of nosocomial diarrhea. Broad-spectrum antimicrobials have profound detrimental effects on the structure and diversity of the indigenous intestinal microbiota. These alterations often impair colonization resistance, allowing the establishment and proliferation of C. difficile in the gut. Studies involving animal models have begun to decipher the precise mechanisms by which the intestinal microbiota mediates colonization resistance against C. difficile and numerous investigations have described gut microbiota alterations associated with C. difficile colonization or infection in human subjects. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a highly effective approach for the treatment of recurrent CDI that allows the restoration of a healthy intestinal ecosystem via infusion of fecal material from a healthy donor. The recovery of the intestinal microbiota after FMT has been examined in a few reports and work is being done to develop custom bacterial community preparations that could be used as a replacement for fecal material.
Trap Generation Dynamics in Photo-Oxidised DEH Doped Polymers
Authors: Goldie David
Published: July 2015

A series of polyester films doped with a hole transport molecule, p-diethylaminobenzaldehyde-1,1'-diphenylhydrazone (DEH), have been systematically exposed to ultraviolet radiation with a peak wavelength of about 375 nm. The electronic performance of the films, evaluated using time-of-flight and space-charge current injection methods, is observed to continuously degrade with increasing ultraviolet exposure. The degradation is attributed to photo cyclic oxidation of DEH that results in the creation of indazole (IND) molecules which function as bulk hole traps. A proposed model for the generation dynamics of the IND traps is capable of describing both the reduction in current injection and the associated time-of-flight hole mobility provided around 1% of the DEH population produce highly reactive photo-excited states which are completely converted to indazole during the UV exposure period. The rapid reaction of these states is incompatible with bulk oxygen diffusion-reaction kinetics within the films and is attributed to the creation of excited states within the reaction radius of soluble oxygen. It is suggested that encapsulation strategies to preserve the electronic integrity of the films should accordingly focus upon limiting the critical supply of oxygen for photo cyclic reaction.
A Cloud Based Mobile Dispatching System with Built-in Social CRM Component: Design and Implementation
Authors: Ivan Cosmina , Popa Razvan
Published: July 2015

Mobile dispatching applications have become popular for at least two major reasons. The first reason is a more mobile-centric usage pattern, where users relate to apps for fulfilling different needs that they have. In this respect, a vehicle dispatching application for mobile phones is perceived as a modern way of booking a vehicle. The second reason has to do with the advantages that this method has over traditional dispatching systems, such as being able to see the vehicle approaching on a map, being able to rate a driver and the most importantly spurring customer retention. The taxi dispatching business, one of the classes of dispatching businesses, tends to be a medium to lower class fidelity service, where users mostly consider the closest taxi as opposed to quality, which is regarded as being at a relatively consistent level. We propose a new approach for the taxi ordering application , a mobile dispatching system, which allows for a more engaged user base and offers fidelity rewards that are used to enhance the customer retention level based on a built in social customer relationship management (CRM) component. With this approach, we argue that in a business world which is shifting from a consumer-centric marketing to a human-centric model, this apps will allows taxi businesses to better interact with their clients in a more direct and responsible manner. Also this distributed system helps taxi drivers, which can receive orders directly from their clients and will be able to benefit from offering quality services as they can get higher ratings.
Differentiating Interictal and Ictal States in Childhood Absence Epilepsy through Permutation Rényi Entropy
Authors: Mammone Nadia , Duun-Henriksen Jonas , Kjaer Troels , Morabito Francesco
Published: July 2015

Permutation entropy (PE) has been widely exploited to measure the complexity of the electroencephalogram (EEG), especially when complexity is linked to diagnostic information embedded in the EEG. Recently, the authors proposed a spatial-temporal analysis of the EEG recordings of absence epilepsy patients based on PE. The goal here is to improve the ability of PE in discriminating interictal states from ictal states in absence seizure EEG. For this purpose, a parametrical definition of permutation entropy is introduced here in the field of epileptic EEG analysis: the permutation Rényi entropy (PEr). PEr has been extensively tested against PE by tuning the involved parameters (order, delay time and alpha). The achieved results demonstrate that PEr outperforms PE, as there is a statistically-significant, wider gap between the PEr levels during the interictal states and PEr levels observed in the ictal states compared to PE. PEr also outperformed PE as the input to a classifier aimed at discriminating interictal from ictal states.
Continuous Variable Quantum Key Distribution with a Noisy Laser
Authors: Jacobsen Christian , Gehring Tobias , Andersen Ulrik
Published: July 2015

Existing experimental implementations of continuous-variable quantum key distribution require shot-noise limited operation, achieved with shot-noise limited lasers. However, loosening this requirement on the laser source would allow for cheaper, potentially integrated systems. Here, we implement a theoretically proposed prepare-and-measure continuous-variable protocol and experimentally demonstrate the robustness of it against preparation noise stemming for instance from technical laser noise. Provided that direct reconciliation techniques are used in the post-processing we show that for small distances large amounts of preparation noise can be tolerated in contrast to reverse reconciliation where the key rate quickly drops to zero. Our experiment thereby demonstrates that quantum key distribution with non-shot-noise limited laser diodes might be feasible.
Homogeneous Nature of Malaysian Marine Fish Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Perciformes; Serranidae): Evidence Based on Molecular Markers, Morphology and Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis
Authors: Nurdalila A'wani , Bunawan Hamidun , Kumar Subbiah , Rodrigues Kenneth , Baharum Syarul
Published: July 2015

Taxonomic confusion exists within the genus Epinephelus due to the lack of morphological specializations and the overwhelming number of species reported in several studies. The homogenous nature of the morphology has created confusion in the Malaysian Marine fish species Epinephelus fuscoguttatus and Epinephelus hexagonatus. In this study, the partial DNA sequence of the 16S gene and mitochondrial nucleotide sequences of two gene regions, Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I and III were used to investigate the phylogenetic relationship between them. In the phylogenetic trees, E. fuscoguttatus was monophyletic with E. hexagonatus species and morphology examination shows that no significant differences were found in the morphometric features between these two taxa. This suggests that E. fuscoguttatus is not distinguishable from E. hexagonatus species, and that E. fuscoguttatus have been identified to be E. hexagonatus species is likely attributed to differences in environment and ability to camouflage themselves under certain conditions. Interestingly, this finding was also supported by Principal Component Analysis on Attenuated Total Reflectance–Fourier-transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) data analysis. Molecular, morphological and meristic characteristics were combined with ATR-FTIR analysis used in this study offer new perspectives in fish species identification. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an extensive genetic population study of E. fuscoguttatus in Malaysia and this understanding will play an important role in informing genetic stock-specific strategies for the management and conservation of this highly valued fish.
Terminal Mannose Residues in Seminal Plasma Glycoproteins of Infertile Men Compared to Fertile Donors
Authors: Olejnik Beata , Jarząb Anna , Kratz Ewa , Zimmer Mariusz , Gamian Andrzej , Ferens-Sieczkowska Mirosława
Published: July 2015

The impact of seminal plasma components on the fertilization outcomes in humans is still under question. The increasing number of couples facing problems with conception raises the need for predictive biomarkers. Detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms accompanying fertilization remains another challenge. Carbohydrate–protein recognition may be of key importance in this complex field. In this study, we analyzed the unique glycosylation pattern of seminal plasma proteins, the display of high-mannose and hybrid-type oligosaccharides, by means of their reactivity with mannose-specific Galanthus nivalis lectin. Normozoospermic infertile subjects presented decreased amounts of lectin-reactive glycoepitopes compared to fertile donors and infertile patients with abnormal semen parameters. Glycoproteins containing unveiled mannose were isolated in affinity chromatography, and 17 glycoproteins were identified in liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization. The N-glycome of the isolated glycoproteins was examined in matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. Eleven out of 27 identified oligosaccharides expressed terminal mannose residues, responsible for lectin binding. We suggest that lowered content of high-mannose and hybrid type glycans in normozoospermic infertile patients may be associated with impaired sperm protection from preterm capacitation and should be considered in the search for new infertility markers.
Therapeutic Potential of Differentiated Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Treatment of Osteoarthritis
Authors: Ham Onju , Lee Chang , Kim Ran , Lee Jihyun , Oh Sekyung , Lee Min , Kim Jongmin , Hwang Ki-Chul , Maeng Lee-So , Chang Woochul
Published: July 2015

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible degenerative joint disease. Conventional OA treatments often result in complications such as pain and limited activity. However, transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has several beneficial effects such as paracrine effects, anti-inflammatory activity, and immunomodulatory capacity. In addition, MSCs can be differentiated into several cell types, including chondrocytes, osteocytes, endothelia, and adipocytes. Thus, transplantation of MSCs is a suggested therapeutic tool for treatment of OA. However, transplanted naïve MSCs can cause problems such as heterogeneous populations including differentiated MSCs and undifferentiated cells. To overcome this problem, new strategies for inducing differentiation of MSCs are needed. One possibility is the application of microRNA (miRNA) and small molecules, which regulate multiple molecular pathways and cellular processes such as differentiation. Here, we provide insight into possible strategies for cartilage regeneration by transplantation of differentiated MSCs to treat OA patients.
Intracellular Protein Shuttling: A Mechanism Relevant for Myelin Repair in Multiple Sclerosis?
Authors: Göttle Peter , Küry Patrick
Published: July 2015

A prominent feature of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) is the degeneration and loss of previously established functional myelin sheaths, which results in impaired signal propagation and axonal damage. However, at least in early disease stages, partial replacement of lost oligodendrocytes and thus remyelination occur as a result of resident oligodendroglial precursor cell (OPC) activation. These cells represent a widespread cell population within the adult central nervous system (CNS) that can differentiate into functional myelinating glial cells to restore axonal functions. Nevertheless, the spontaneous remyelination capacity in the adult CNS is inefficient because OPCs often fail to generate new oligodendrocytes due to the lack of stimulatory cues and the presence of inhibitory factors. Recent studies have provided evidence that regulated intracellular protein shuttling is functionally involved in oligodendroglial differentiation and remyelination activities. In this review we shed light on the role of the subcellular localization of differentiation-associated factors within oligodendroglial cells and show that regulation of intracellular localization of regulatory factors represents a crucial process to modulate oligodendroglial maturation and myelin repair in the CNS.
Structural and Electronic Properties of Polyoxovanadoborates Containing the [V12B18O60] Core in Different Mixed Valence States
Authors: Hermosilla-Ibáñez Patricio , Muñoz-Becerra Karina , Paredes-García Verónica , Fur Eric , Spodine Evgenia , Venegas-Yazigi Diego
Published: July 2015

This review summarizes all published data until April 2015 related to crystalline lattices formed by the [V12B18O60] core, which generates polyanionic clusters with different degrees of protonation and mixed-valence ratios. The negative charge of this cluster is counterbalanced by different cations such as protonated amines, hydronium, and alkaline, and transition metal ions. The cluster is shown to form extended 1D, 2D, or 3D frameworks by forming covalent bonds or presenting hydrogen bond interactions with the present secondary cations. These cations have little influence on the solid state reflectance UV-visible spectra of the polyanionic cluster, but are shown to modify the FT-IR spectra and the magnetic behavior of the different reported species.