bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Providing informal home care for pressure ulcer patients: how it affects carers' quality of life and burden
Authors: Rodrigues Alexandre M. , Ferreira Pedro L. , Ferré‐Grau Carmen
Published: August 2016

Aims and objectives

To evaluate the quality of life of informal caregivers of patients with pressure ulcer; to assess their levels of burden; to analyse the variables influencing both their quality of life and burden.

Background

Informal caregivers of pressure ulcer patients, besides coping with the natural dependency of these patients, deal with the specificity of caring these types of wounds. This situation has an impact on not only the quality of life and burden felt by informal caregivers but also on individual and familiar dynamics.

Design

Descriptive and correlational study.

Methods

This study focused on 145 informal caregivers providing home care. Measurement instruments were: SF‐36v2 and the Burden Interview Scale. Descriptive analysis of the quantitative variables was carried out according to measures of central tendency, and the qualitative variables were described using absolute and relative frequencies. The relationships or associations between variables were explored through correlational analysis and, whenever the data allowed, multivariate techniques were used.

Results and discussion

Informal caregivers showed low levels of quality of life and, most of them, significant burden. Quality of life decreased with overload, with the increasing number of pressure ulcer and with less experience of informal caregivers, with lack of financial remuneration, with unemployment, with patient positioning and with the direct care of the wound. The burden increased with the number of pressure ulcer in each patient and with the lack of financial remuneration.

Conclusion

These informal caregivers have low quality of life and are overburdened. Both situations are positively and negatively influenced by factors related to the pressure ulcer and to the patients' sociodemographic data.

Relevance to clinical practice

The results of this study allow more effective monitoring by health professionals of levels of burden and quality of life encountered in pressure ulcer informal caregivers, as well as direct interventions to inhibit the factors inducing burden and enhance those that improve quality of life.
Own‐Choice Marriage and Fertility in Turkey
Authors: Manglos‐Weber Nicolette D. , Weinreb Alexander A.
Published: August 2016

Goode's foundational work on the fertility transition identified own‐choice marriage as a factor driving fertility decline, part of a widening repertoire of choice pertaining to marriage and childbearing. Yet research supporting this connection in today's transitional societies is scarce and somewhat contradictory, and it is unclear how other marital traditions, such as consanguineous marriage, shape this relationship. This study evaluates Goode's theorized connection using pooled Demographic and Health Survey data from Turkey, comparing children ever born, use of contraception, and parity progression across four types of marriage: own‐choice and arranged marriage and marriage to a cousin versus an unrelated spouse. Results are largely consistent with the idea that a move toward own‐choice marriage reflects a widening repertoire of choice that also leads to fertility decline. However, they also show that hybrid models like own‐choice marriage to a cousin tempers these effects.
From the “Technician Thing” to the “Mental Game”: Masculinity and U.S. Homebirth
Authors: Driesslein April
Published: August 2016

Previous research on pregnancy and birth from the perspective of men has found that men approach them from the perspective of hegemonic masculinity, though many find that hospital birth is a time of potential failure at masculinity. In this qualitative study of 11 men who had children born at home, I find that, like their hospital‐birth counterparts, they find roles in their partners’ pregnancies and early labors that are congruent with hegemonic masculinity. In ways that converge and diverge with the experience of hospital‐birth fathers, they find their masculinity disrupted as the birth approaches, becoming nurturers and servers rather than technicians and protectors. These acts shift them from the masculinity of a young man to that of a father. This is consonant with Connell's (1995) theory that masculinity is not singular, but shifts situationally and across the life course, and Butler's (2003) theory that gender is constructed through acts.
Propofol inhibits carbachol‐induced chloride secretion by directly targeting the basolateral K+ channel in rat ileum epithelium
Authors: Tang S.‐H. , Wang H.‐Y. , Sun H. , An N. , Xiao L. , Sun Q. , Zhao D.‐B.
Published: August 2016

Background

Propofol is a widely used intravenous general anesthetic. Acetylcholine (ACh) is critical in controlling epithelial ion transport. This study was to investigate the effects of propofol on ACh‐evoked secretion in rat ileum epithelium.

Methods

The Ussing chamber technique was used to investigate the effects of propofol on carbachol (CCh)‐evoked short‐circuit currents (Isc).

Key Results

Propofol (10−2–10−6 mol/L) attenuated CCh‐evoked Isc of rat ileum mucosa in a dose‐dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of propofol was only evident after application to the serosal side. Pretreatment with tetrodotoxin (TTX, 0.3 μmol/L, n=5) had no effect on propofol‐induced inhibitory effect, whereas serosal application of K+ channel inhibitor, glibenclamide, but not, an ATP‐sensitive K+ channel inhibitor, largely reduced the inhibitory effect of propofol. In addition, pretreatment with either hexamethonium bromide (HB, nicotinic nACh receptor antagonist) or Cl− channel blockers niflumic acid and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (inh)‐172 did not produce any effect on the propofol‐induced inhibitory effect.

Conclusions & Inferences

Propofol inhibits CCh‐induced intestinal secretion by directly targeting basolateral K+ channels.
Alternative oxidase respiration maintains both mitochondrial and chloroplast function during drought
Authors: Dahal Keshav , Vanlerberghe Greg C.
Published: August 2016

The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) terminates at cytochrome (cyt) oxidase or alternative oxidase (AOX).

In Nicotiana tabacum leaves, mitochondrial respiration in the light (RL) declined with increasing drought severity but then increased under extreme drought, despite a steep decline in maximal cyt oxidase activity. This increased RL was absent in AOX knockdown lines, while AOX overexpression lines showed enhanced RL relative to the wild‐type (WT). Cyt oxidase activity under extreme drought was higher in overexpressors and lower in knockdowns, compared with the WT, providing evidence that AOX acted to maintain cyt pathway function.

The rate of RL was a strong determinant of the reduction state of the photosynthetic ETC during drought. As such, the maximal quantum yield of photosystem II was compromised in knockdowns, compared with the WT, during extreme drought. By contrast, overexpressors maintained their instantaneous leaf water‐use efficiency equally as high during extreme drought as when they were well watered.

In both mitochondria and chloroplasts, protein carbonyl accumulation during extreme drought was strongly increased in knockdowns, and decreased in overexpressors, relative to WT. Hence the ability of AOX to maintain critical mitochondrial and chloroplast functions during extreme drought is likely due, at least in part, to its ability to reduce oxidative damage.
Nitrogen fertilization and δ18O of CO2 have no effect on 18O‐enrichment of leaf water and cellulose in Cleistogenes squarrosa (C4) – is VPD the sole control?
Authors: Liu Hai Tao , Gong Xiao Ying , Schäufele Rudi , Yang Fang , Hirl Regina Theresia , Schmidt Anja , Schnyder Hans
Published: August 2016

The oxygen isotope composition of cellulose (δ18OCel) archives hydrological and physiological information. Here, we assess previously unexplored direct and interactive effects of the δ18O of CO2 (δ18OCO2), nitrogen (N) fertilizer supply and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) on δ18OCel, 18O‐enrichment of leaf water (Δ18OLW) and cellulose (Δ18OCel) relative to source water, and pexpx, the proportion of oxygen in cellulose that exchanged with unenriched water at the site of cellulose synthesis, in a C4 grass (Cleistogenes squarrosa). δ18OCO2 and N supply, and their interactions with VPD, had no effect on δ18OCel, Δ18OLW, Δ18OCel and pexpx. Δ18OCel and Δ18OLW increased with VPD, while pexpx decreased. That VPD‐effect on pexpx was supported by sensitivity tests to variation of Δ18OLW and the equilibrium fractionation factor between carbonyl oxygen and water. N supply altered growth and morphological features, but not 18O relations; conversely, VPD had no effect on growth or morphology, but controlled 18O relations. The work implies that reconstructions of VPD from Δ18OCel would overestimate amplitudes of VPD variation, at least in this species, if the VPD‐effect on pexpx is ignored. Progress in understanding the relationship between Δ18OLW and Δ18OCel will require separate investigations of pex and px and of their responses to environmental conditions.
Evans syndrome after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Kato Ikuko , Okada Hitoshi , Nishida Tomoko , Konishi Yukihiko , Kondo Sonoko , Nishisho Sae , Iwase Takashi , Itoh Susumu , Kusaka Takashi
Published: August 2016

There have been a number of recent reports on the occurrence of autoimmune conditions after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We describe a rare case of Evans syndrome (ES) that developed in a 16‐year‐old patient >1 year after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma. ES is a rare and frequently refractory condition. No therapy for the condition has been established, and it can often be fatal. In the present case, i.v. cyclosporine A injection was significantly effective against the ES, which has not recurred.
Successful acute lymphoblastic leukemia‐type therapy in two children with mixed‐phenotype acute leukemia
Authors: Otsubo Keisuke , Yabe Miharu , Yabe Hiromasa , Fukumura Akiko , Morimoto Tsuyoshi , Kato Masahiko , Mochizuki Hiroyuki
Published: August 2016

Mixed‐phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) is a rare type of leukemia expressing both myeloid and lymphoid markers. There is limited information, especially on pediatric cases. Therefore, the optimal therapeutic approach to pediatric MPAL has not been defined. Here, we report two pediatric cases of MPAL. According to the 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) classification and European Group for the Immunological Characterization of Leukemias (EGIL) criteria, patient 1 was diagnosed with overt MPAL positive for the myeloid marker myeloperoxidase (MPO), and B‐lymphoid markers. Patient 2 was diagnosed with T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL) using EGIL criteria. According to the 2008 WHO classification, however, patient 2 was diagnosed with overt MPAL positive for CD3, T‐lymphoid markers and MPO. We chose an ALL‐type therapy consisting of both lymphoid‐ and myeloid‐directed agents; these patients have maintained complete remission following treatment. Further information on pediatric MPAL is needed to establish an appropriate therapeutic strategy including stem cell transplantation for this rare condition.
Ex‐Post Funding: How Should a Resource‐Constrained Non‐Profit Organization Allocate Its Funds?
Authors: Devalkar Sripad K. , Sohoni Milind G. , Arora Priyank
Published: August 2016

We study the funds allocation problem for a resource‐constrained non‐profit organization (NPO) that implements social development projects for public good. In addition to raising funds from donors who contribute prior to project implementation (“traditional donors”), the NPO uses a novel approach, which we term as the “ex‐post funding” approach, to also raise funds from donors who contribute based on the results delivered by the NPO (“ex‐post donors”). In this approach, the NPO uses its initial funds to implement early phases of the project, creates “results‐certificates” from the completed phases, and invites ex‐post donors to purchase these certificates. The donations raised from selling the results‐certificates are used to recover the NPO's own funds used in the project implementation. Operationalizing this approach is complicated when the project must incur a large fixed cost before any benefits are delivered by the project and the total benefit delivered is time sensitive. We show that for a given amount of initial funds available, there exists a threshold amount of funds that the NPO should raise from traditional donors before implementing the project phases so as to maximize the total expected benefit delivered. Through numerical studies, we analyze how the threshold of funds raised from traditional donors and the total benefit delivered vary with donor characteristics such as donor willingness to give and the proportion of donors who contribute prior to project implementation. Our numerical studies suggest that even with relatively small amount of initial funds, the NPO can deliver substantially higher benefit by using the ex‐post funding approach when compared to using a traditional approach that requires the NPO to raise all the funds required upfront.
Validating Resilience and Vulnerability Indices in the Context of Natural Disasters
Authors: Bakkensen Laura A. , Fox‐Lent Cate , Read Laura K. , Linkov Igor
Published: August 2016

Due to persistent and serious threats from natural disasters around the globe, many have turned to resilience and vulnerability research to guide disaster preparation, recovery, and adaptation decisions. In response, scholars and practitioners have put forth a variety of disaster indices, based on quantifiable metrics, to gauge levels of resilience and vulnerability. However, few indices are empirically validated using observed disaster impacts and, as a result, it is often unclear which index should be preferred for each decision at hand. Thus, we compare and empirically validate five of the top U.S. disaster indices, including three resilience indices and two vulnerability indices. We use observed disaster losses, fatalities, and disaster declarations from the southeastern United States to empirically validate each index. We find that disaster indices, though thoughtfully substantiated by literature and theoretically persuasive, are not all created equal. While four of the five indices perform as predicted in explaining damages, only three explain fatalities and only two explain disaster declarations as expected by theory. These results highlight the need for disaster indices to clearly state index objectives and structure underlying metrics to support validation of the results based on these goals. Further, policymakers should use index results carefully when developing regional policy or investing in resilience and vulnerability improvement projects.
Empirical Processes in Survey Sampling with (Conditional) Poisson Designs
Authors: Bertail Patrice , Chautru Emilie , Clémençon Stephan
Published: August 2016

It is the main purpose of this paper to study the asymptotics of certain variants of the empirical process in the context of survey data. Precisely, Functional Central Limit Theorems are established under usual conditions when the sample is drawn from a Poisson or a rejective sampling design. The framework we develop encompasses sampling designs with non‐uniform first order inclusion probabilities, which can be chosen so as to optimize estimation accuracy. Applications to Hadamard differentiable functionals are considered.
Catabolic response and phospholipid fatty acid profiles as microbial tools to assess soil functioning
Authors: Romaniuk R. , Costantini A. , Giuffré L. , Nannipieri P.
Published: August 2016

Microbial properties may help to provide an integrated view of changes in soil functioning associated with soil management or soil status. The fatty acid profiles of membrane phospholipids (PLFA) can give the composition of ecophysiological groups of soil microbial communities, while catabolic response profiles (CRP) estimate the heterotrophic functional diversity in soils, both relevant to the understanding of the role of micro‐organisms in the functioning of the soil. The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate the CRP and PLFA as microbial tools to characterize changes in soil functioning and (ii) clarify the relation among these microbial measurements, with other physical, chemical and biochemical soil properties. We compare the same soil subjected to different managements and degrees of erosion. An undisturbed soil (UN), an old pasture soil (OP) and soils under continuous cultivation (NT) with four different depth of A horizon: 25 cm (NT 25), 23 cm (NT 23), 19 cm (NT 19) and 14 cm (NT 14) were tested. Substrate‐induced respiration of most substrates diminished when cropping pressure increased (UN > OP > NT), and soil catabolic evenness, as a diversity index, decreased by increasing production pressure and soil erosion. The correlation found among most of the measured physical, chemical and biochemical soil properties with the catabolic evenness showed the potential of this measurement to provide an integrated view of soil functioning. The PLFA analysis showed that the composition of microbial community denoting a partial recovery after 10 yr under grazed grassland. The stress indicators showed that farming practices increased microbial stress with the highest values found in the most eroded soils.
HLA‐B*15:04:04, a novel HLA allele identified during proficiency testing in Brazil
Authors: Rampim G. F. , Araújo A. S. , Mourão T. B. , Furuyama T. N. , Gerbase‐DeLima M.
Published: August 2016

HLA‐B*15:04:04 differs from HLA‐B*15:04:01 by one nucleotide at codon 238 (gat > gac).
Retrospective evaluation ofCOX‐2 expression, histological and clinical factors as prognostic indicators in dogs with renal cell carcinomas undergoing nephrectomy
Authors: Carvalho S. , Stoll A. L. , Priestnall S. L. , Suarez‐Bonnet A. , Rassnick K. , Lynch S. , Schoepper I. , Romanelli G. , Buracco P. , Atherton M. , de Merlo E. M. , Lara‐Garcia A.
Published: August 2016

Limited veterinary literature is available regarding prognostic markers for canine renal cell carcinoma (CRCC). We retrospectively evaluatedCOX‐2 expression, histological and clinical features associated with prognosis ofCRCC. Sixty‐four cases post‐nephrectomy were included, 54 had histopathological assessment and 30 hadCOX‐2 immunostaining performed. Eight dogs (13%) had metastatic disease at initial diagnosis. Twenty‐seven dogs (42%) received adjuvant therapy after nephrectomy. On univariate analysis,COX‐2 expression, mitotic index (MI), histologic type, vascular invasion, neoplastic invasiveness and metastasis at diagnosis were significantly associated with overall median survival time (MST).COX‐2 score (COX‐2 score > 3MST420 days versus 1176 days ifCOX‐2 score <3;P = 0.011) andMI(MI> 30MST120 days versus 540 days forMI < 30;P = 0.003) were the only variables associated withCRCCoutcome on multivariate analysis. The addition ofMIandCOX‐2 immunostaining to standard histopathological evaluation would help predicting outcome inCRCCpatients.
The Effect of Changes in GDP and Interest Rate on Savings: Panel Data Evidence on 6 ASEAN Countries
Authors: Lairi Nurhikmah Ola , Lee Cheng-Wen
Published: August 2016

The objecive of this study is to examine the relationship between GDP, Interest rate and saving across the ASEAN-6 countries namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand using Panel Data Econometrics. This paper uses Hausman Test to come up with fixed effect model as the best model. The study found the positive relation between GDP and Interest rate with saving.
Contractile function recovery in severely injured gastrocnemius muscle of rats treated with either oleic or linoleic acid
Authors: Abreu Phablo , Pinheiro Carlos H. J. , Vitzel Kaio F. , Vasconcelos Diogo A. A. , Torres Rosângela P. , Fortes Marco S. , Marzuca‐Nassr Gabriel N. , Mancini‐Filho Jorge , Hirabara Sandro M. , Curi Rui
Published: August 2016

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Oleic and linoleic acids modulate fibroblast proliferation and myogenic differentiation in vitro. However, their in vivo effects on muscle regeneration have not yet been examined. We investigated the effects of either oleic or linoleic acid on a well‐established model of muscle regeneration after severe laceration.

What is the main finding and its importance?

We found that linoleic acid increases fibrous tissue deposition and impairs muscle regeneration and recovery of contractile function, whereas oleic acid has the opposite effects in severely injured gastrocnemius muscle, suggesting that linoleic acid has a harmful effect and oleic acid a potential therapeutic effect on muscle regeneration.

Oleic and linoleic acids control fibroblast proliferation and myogenic differentiation in vitro; however, there was no study in skeletal muscle in vivo. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of either oleic or linoleic acid on the fibrous tissue content (collagen deposition) of muscle and recovery of contractile function in rat gastrocnemius muscle after being severely injured by laceration. Rats were supplemented with either oleic or linoleic acid for 4 weeks after laceration [0.44 g (kg body weight)−1 day−1]. Muscle injury led to an increase in oleic‐to‐stearic acid and palmitoleic‐to‐palmitic acid ratios, suggesting an increase in Δ9 desaturase activity. Increased fibrous tissue deposition and reduced isotonic and tetanic specific forces and resistance to fatigue were observed in the injured muscle. Supplementation with linoleic acid increased the content of eicosadienoic (20:2, n−6) and arachidonic (20:4, n−6) acids, reduced muscle mass and fibre cross‐sectional areas, increased fibrous tissue deposition and further reduced the isotonic and tetanic specific forces and resistance to fatigue induced by laceration. Supplementation with oleic acid increased the content of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6, n−3) and abolished the increase in fibrous tissue area and the decrease in isotonic and tetanic specific forces and resistance to fatigue induced by muscle injury. We concluded that supplementation with linoleic acid impairs muscle regeneration and increases fibrous tissue deposition, resulting in impaired recovery of contractile function. Oleic acid supplementation reduced fibrous tissue deposition and improved recovery of contractile function, attenuating the tissue damage caused by muscle injury.
Effects of Heat Transfer During Peristaltic Transport in Nonuniform Channel With Permeable Walls
Authors: Shankar Bhatt Siddharth , Medhavi Amit , Gupta R. S. , Singh U. P.
Published: August 2016

In the present investigation, problem of heat transfer has been studied during peristaltic motion of a viscous incompressible fluid for two-dimensional nonuniform channel with permeable walls under long wavelength and low Reynolds number approximation. Expressions for pressure, friction force, and temperature are obtained. The effects of different parameters on pressure, friction force, and temperature have been discussed through graphs.
Shell-Side Flow Condensation of R410A on Horizontal Tubes at Low-Mass Fluxes
Authors: Li Wei , Chen Xu , Chen Jing-Xiang , Sun Zhi-Chuan , Simon Terrence W.
Published: August 2016

An investigation of refrigerant R410A condensation on a shell and tube heat exchanger simulation is conducted. Tests are on the outside of a horizontal smooth tube, a herringbone tube, and a newly developed three-dimensional-enhanced tube, called the enhanced tube (EHT) tube, all of the same outer diameter. Experiments were conducted at a constant saturation temperature of 45 °C, a constant inlet vapor quality of 0.8, a constant outlet vapor quality of 0.1, and mass fluxes ranging from 5 kg/(m2 s) to 50 kg/(m2 s). At low-mass velocities, the smooth tube shows superior performance over the herringbone tube and the EHT tube. The cause might lie in surface tension effects that result in liquid inundation at the lower portion of the tube, thickening the film on the tube and deteriorating the heat transfer performance. Analyses were conducted to find a suitable correlation of the experimental data.
Scaling Roughness Effects on Pressure Loss and Heat Transfer of Additively Manufactured Channels
Authors: Stimpson Curtis K. , Snyder Jacob C. , Thole Karen A. , Mongillo Dominic
Published: August 2016

Additive manufacturing (AM) with metal powder has made possible the fabrication of gas turbine components with small and complex flow paths that cannot be achieved with any other manufacturing technology presently available. The increased design space of AM allows turbine designers to develop advanced cooling schemes in high-temperature components to increase cooling efficiency. Inherent in AM with metals is the large surface roughness that cannot be removed from small internal geometries. Such roughness has been shown in previous studies to significantly augment pressure loss and heat transfer of small channels. However, the roughness on these channels or other surfaces made from AM with metal powder has not been thoroughly characterized for scaling pressure loss and heat transfer data. This study examines the roughness of the surfaces of channels of various hydraulic length scales made with direct metal laser sintering (DMLS). Statistical roughness parameters are presented along with other parameters that others have found to correlate with flow and heat transfer. The pressure loss and heat transfer previously reported for the DMLS channels studied in this work are compared to the physical roughness measurements. Results show that the relative arithmetic mean roughness correlates well with the relative equivalent sand grain roughness. A correlation is presented to predict the Nusselt number of flow through AM channels, which gives better predictions of heat transfer than correlations currently available.
Uncertainty Analysis and Data-Driven Model Advances for a Jet-in-Crossflow
Authors: Ling Julia , Ruiz Anthony , Lacaze Guilhem , Oefelein Joseph
Published: August 2016

For film cooling of combustor linings and turbine blades, it is critical to be able to accurately model jets-in-crossflow. Current Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) models often give unsatisfactory predictions in these flows, due in large part to model form error, which cannot be resolved through calibration or tuning of model coefficients. The Boussinesq hypothesis, upon which most two-equation RANS models rely, posits the existence of a non-negative scalar eddy viscosity, which gives a linear relation between the Reynolds stresses and the mean strain rate. This model is rigorously analyzed in the context of a jet-in-crossflow using the high-fidelity large eddy simulation data of Ruiz et al. (2015, “Flow Topologies and Turbulence Scales in a Jet-in-Cross-Flow,” Phys. Fluids, 27(4), p. 045101), as well as RANS k–ϵ results for the same flow. It is shown that the RANS models fail to accurately represent the Reynolds stress anisotropy in the injection hole, along the wall, and on the lee side of the jet. Machine learning methods are developed to provide improved predictions of the Reynolds stress anisotropy in this flow.
Real-time sonoelastography of the patellar and quadriceps tendons: pattern description in profesional athletes and healthy volunteers.
Authors: Ozcan Ayse Nur Sirin , Tan Sinan , Tangal Nuray Gulden , Cıracı Saliha , Kudas Savas , Bektaser Suleyman Bulent , Arslan Halil
Published: August 2016

Aims: The comparison of elastographic features of quadriceps and patellar tendons in a group of professional athletes and healthy volunteers and the description of elasticity characteristics of these tendons. Material and methods: Thirtynine professional athletes (22 male, 17 female; mean age 18.5 years) and 35 healthy volunteers (21 male, 14 female; mean age 19 years) were included. They were divided into two groups by gender. Quadriceps tendon, patellar side of the patellar tendon, and tibial side of the patellar tendon elasticity patterns and strain ratios were investigated with real-time ultrasound elastography. The elasticity features of the dominant leg and non-dominant leg of athletes and volunteers legs were compared. In addition quadriceps and patellar tendons were compared separately for three distinct tendon locations. Results: There was no difference between the athletes and the healthy volunteers and also between the dominant leg and non-dominant leg of athletes. At tendon comparison, the quadriceps tendon was harder than the patellar tendon at both side and patellar side of patellar tendon was found to be stiffer than the tibial side of patellar tendon. Conclusions: Although biomechanical studies showed that tendon stiffness increased after long exercise, no significant difference was found between athletes’ and healthy volunteers’ tendon elasticity. These three tendon locations exhibit different elasticity features and the knowledge of the elasticity feature will be useful in assessing tendon pathologies.
High-frequency sonography in the evaluation of nail psoriasis.
Authors: Marina Mihaela Elena , Botar Jid Carolina , Bolboaca Sorana Daniela , Bocsa Corina , Mihu Carmen Mihaela , Tătaru Alexandru Dumitru
Published: August 2016

Aim: To evaluate the morphostructural aspects and nail vascularity in the nail unit of patients with psoriasis, and to evaluate whether there are differences among psoriatic patients with and without nail involvement. Material and methods: Nail plates and nail bed changes, nailfold vessel resistance index (NVRI), power and color Doppler blood flow appearances were investigated in 23 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, with and without nail involvement, and compared to those of 11 healthy participants. Results: Ventral nail plate deposits were present only in psoriasis patients. Irregular or totally fused nail plates and increased nail plate thickness was frequently observed in psoriasis patients compared to controls. NVRI was increased in psoriatic patients’ nails compared to controls (0.62 vs. 0.57, p<0.0001). In the psoriasis patient group there was significant statistical difference in NVRI in patients with nail involvement compared to those without (0.66 vs. 0.55, p<0.0001). Conclusions: High-frequency gray scale sonography provides valuable information regarding morphostructural changes in nail unit structure in patients with psoriasis. Power Doppler imaging enables blood flow assessment in psoriasis nail induced changes.
Pelvic cystic mass and ipsilateral renal agenesis detected by ultrasound in a young girl: early onset of Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich Syndrome.
Authors: Fernández-Ibieta María , Hernández-Anselmi Esperanza , Fernández-Córdoba María Soledad
Published: August 2016

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A web-based modern ultrasound diagnostic scanner simulation (SimulUS) for undergraduate medical e-learning education
Authors: Kollmann Christian , Flor Marko , Bader Robert
Published: August 2016

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Pain in bilateral knee osteoarthritis – correlations between clinical examination, radiological, and ultrasonographical findings.
Authors: Serban Oana , Porojan Mihai , Deac Maria , Cozma Flavia , Solomon Carolina , Lehghel Manuela , Micu Mihaela , Fodor Daniela
Published: August 2016

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlations between clinical symptoms (pain), physical examination, ultrasound (US), and radiological findings in patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis (OA). Material and methods: Knee pain was appreciated during medial and lateral palpation of each knee joint and using visual analogue scale (VAS) and The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC). US evaluation (osteophytes, meniscal protrusion, synovial fluid, femoral hyaline cartilage thickness) and radiological assessment (osteophytes, femoral-tibial space, Kellgren–Lawrence [K-L] score, enthesopathies) were performed by two examiners blinded to the clinical results and to each other. All these findings were scored with a five-point scale. Results: A total of 52 consecutive patients aged 63.44±9.49 were examined, 33 (80.5%) being females. In patients with bilateral knee OA the pain, evaluated by WOMAC score and VAS, was correlated with the presence of osteophytes and cartilage thickness but no association with medial meniscal protrusion and effusion was demonstrated. Pain produced by palpation of the knee was strongly associated with the presence of medial osteophytes. VAS and WOMAC scores increased with the severity of radiological and US findings. The presence of osteophytes and articular cartilage damage at US examination were strongly and positively correlated with radiological K-L score. US examiners agreement was good for osteophytes and moderate for meniscal protrusion, cartilage damage, and synovial fluid. The cartilage damage score was the only independent predictor for VAS scale;for WOMAC score thesex, cartilage damage, the presence of medial osteophytes and lateral meniscal protrusion were the independent predictors. Conclusion: Pain intensity was correlated with the severity of USfindings, cartilage damage score being an independent predictor for both VAS and WOMAC scores. Medial osteophytes and lateral meniscal protrusion and are independent predictors for WOMAC score.
Reproducibility in pelvic floor biometric parameters of nulliparous women assessed by translabial three-dimensional ultrasound using Omniview reformatting technique.
Authors: Jármy-Di Bella Zsuzsanna Ilona Katalin , Araujo Júnior Edward , Rodrigues Claudinei Alves , Torelli Luiza , Martins Wellington P. , Moron Antonio Fernandes , Girão Manoel João Batista Castello
Published: August 2016

Aim: To assess the reproducibility of pelvic floor biometric parameters by translabial three-dimensional ultrasound compared with the OmniView® reformatting technique. Material and methods: We performed a cross-sectional study involving 47 nulliparous women without symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. The hiatal area and right pubovisceral muscle width measurements were performed in the axial plane using both 3D ultrasound in the rendering mode and OmniView® techniques. To determine the occurrence of standardized error between examiners and the two sonographic methods, the paired t-test was used. The intra- and inter-observer reliability and agreement were estimated by concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and limits of agreement, respectively. Results: We did not observe significant statistical differences among both measurements performed by the first examiner, both examiners and both methods in the assessment of the hiatal area; however, the measurements of the right pubovisceral muscle were significantly lower using OmniView®. The intra-observer reliability was good in the evaluation of all pelvic floor parameters; however, the inter-observer reliability was good only to the 3D rendering mode (CCC=0.87). The intra-observer agreement was good in the assessment of all pelvic floor parameters; however, the inter-observer agreement was found to be good only when 3DUS in the rendering mode was used (<±15%). Conclusion: Both 3D ultrasound in the rendering mode and OmniView® reformatting techniques were concordant in the assessment of pelvic floor parameters; however, the 3D ultrasound rendering in the mode demonstrated better inter-observer reliability and agreement.
Growth and characterization of epitaxial Zr(0001) thin films on Al2O3(0001)
Authors: Fankhauser Joshua , Sato Masaki , Yu Dian , Ebnonnasir Abbas , Kobashi Makoto , Goorsky Mark S. , Kodambaka Suneel
Published: August 2016

The authors report the growth of epitaxial Zr(0 0 0 1) thin films on Al2O3(0 0 0 1) substrates at a temperature of 700 °C via dc magnetron sputtering in an ultrahigh vacuum deposition system equipped with facilities for chemical vapor deposition, low-energy electron diffraction, and Auger electron spectroscopy. Zr layers with a nominal thickness of ∼220 nm are deposited at a rate of ∼0.06 nm/s in 10 mTorr Ar atmosphere. In situ Auger electron spectra of the as-deposited film surface reveal the presence of a Zr peak at 145 eV and Hf peak at 172 eV, the latter due to the presence of Hf impurities in the Zr sputter target. In situ low-energy electron diffraction patterns acquired from the Zr sample show sixfold symmetric spots with an in-plane lattice spacing of 0.31 ± 0.02 nm, characteristic of Zr(0 0 0 1)–(1 × 1) surface. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy images reveal columnar growth and the formation of a crystalline, 22 ± 8 nm thick, interfacial layer. Energy dispersive x-ray spectra obtained from this region reveal the presence of both Zr and Al. The authors attribute the formation of this interfacial layer to plasma-induced substrate decomposition during sputtering followed by interdiffusion of Al and Zr at the film–substrate interface. ω-2θ x-ray diffraction data show that the Zr layers are single-phase with hexagonal close-packed structure. Using high-resolution symmetric as well as asymmetric reciprocal space maps, the authors determined that the film is fully relaxed with in-plane and out-of-plane orientation lattice parameters of 0.324 and 0.516 nm, respectively, and identified epitaxial orientation relationships as Zr(0 0 0 4) ‖ Al2O3(0 0 0 12) and Zr(101¯0) ‖ Al2O3(112¯0).
Chemical downstream etching of Ge, Si, and SiNx films
Authors: Henry M. David , Douglas E. A.
Published: August 2016

This work reports on selective isotropic dry etching of chemically vapor deposited Ge thin film, release layers using a Shibaura chemical downstream etcher with NF3 and Ar based plasma chemistry. Relative etch rates between Ge, Si, and SiNx are described with etch rate reductions achieved by adjusting plasma chemistry with O2. Formation of oxides reducing etch rates was measured for both Ge and Si, but nitrides or oxy-nitrides created using direct injection of NO into the process chamber were measured to increase Si and SiNx etch rates while retarding Ge etching. Observation of preferential etching of Ge in the presence of Si and SiNx is also observed with lateral etch rates reaching 19.2 μm/min for the Ge layers. Results presented here demonstrate the use of Ge as a microelectromechanical systems device dry release layer in the presence of Si and SiNx making it a highly advantageous technology, especially for optical devices.
Mouse embryonic fibroblasts accumulate differentially on titanium surfaces treated with nanosecond laser pulses
Authors: Radmanesh Mitra , Ektesabi Amin M. , Wyatt Rachael A. , Crawford Bryan D. , Kiani Amirkianoosh
Published: August 2016

Biomaterial engineering, specifically in bone implant and osseointegration, is currently facing a critical challenge regarding the response of cells to foreign objects and general biocompatibility of the materials used in the production of these implants. Using the developing technology of the laser surface treatment, this study investigates the effects of the laser repetition rate (frequency) on cell distribution across the surface of the titanium substrates. The main objective of this research is building a fundamental understanding of how cells interact with treated titanium and how different treatments affect cell accumulation. Cells respond differently to surfaces treated with different frequency lasers. The results of this research identify the influence of frequency on surface topography properties and oxidation of titanium, and their subsequent effects on the pattern of cell accumulation on its surface. Despite increased oxidation in laser-treated regions, the authors observe that fibroblast cells prefer untreated titanium to laser-treated regions, except the regions treated with 25 kHz pulses, which become preferentially colonized after 72 h.
Preliminary results on the feasibility of using ultrasound to monitor intrafractional motion during radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer
Authors: Omari Eenas A. , Erickson Beth , Ehlers Christopher , Quiroz Francisco , Noid George , Cooper David T. , Lachaine Martin , Li X. Allen
Published: August 2016

Purpose:

Substantial intrafraction organ motion during radiation therapy (RT) for pancreatic cancer is well recognized as a major limiting factor for accurate delivery of RT. The aim of this work is to determine the feasibility of monitoring the intrafractional motion of the pancreas or surrounding structures using ultrasound for RT delivery.

Methods:

Transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) and 4DCT data were acquired on ten pancreatic cancer patients during radiation therapy process in a prospective study. In addition, TAUS and MRI were collected for five healthy volunteers. The portal vein (PV) and the head of the pancreas (HP) along with other structures were contoured on these images. Volume changes, distance between the HP and PV, and motion difference between the HP and PV were measured to examine whether PV can be used as a motion surrogate for HP. TAUS images were acquired and processed using a research version of the Clarity autoscan ultrasound system (CAUS). Motion monitoring was performed with the ultrasound probe mounted on an arm fixed to the couch. Video segments of the monitoring sessions were captured.

Results:

On TAUS, PV is better visualized than HP. The measured mean volume deviation for all patients for the HP and PV was 1.4 and 0.6 ml, respectively. The distance between the HP and PV was close to a constant with 0.22 mm mean deviation throughout the ten breathing phases. The mean of the absolute motion difference for all patients was 1.7 ± 0.8 mm in LR, 1.5 ± 0.5 mm in AP, and 2.3 ± 0.7 mm in SI, suggesting that the PV is a good surrogate for HP motion estimation. By using this surrogate, the HP motion tracking using TAUS was demonstrated.

Conclusions:

Large intrafractional organ motion due to respiratory and/or bowel motion is a limiting factor in administering curative radiation doses to pancreatic tumors. The authors investigate the use of real‐time ultrasound to track pancreas motion. Due to the poor visibility of the pancreas head on an ultrasound image, the portal vein is identified as a surrogate. The authors have demonstrated the feasibility of tracking HP motion through the localization of the PV using TAUS. This will potentially allow real‐time tracking of intrafractional motion to justify small PTV‐margins and to account for unusual motions, thus, improving normal tissue sparing.
Characterization of space dust using acoustic impact detection
Authors: Corsaro Robert D. , Giovane Frank , Liou Jer-Chyi , Burchell Mark J. , Cole Michael J. , Williams Earl G. , Lagakos Nicholas , Sadilek Albert , Anderson Christopher R.
Published: August 2016

This paper describes studies leading to the development of an acoustic instrument for measuring properties of micrometeoroids and other dust particles in space. The instrument uses a pair of easily penetrated membranes separated by a known distance. Sensors located on these films detect the transient acoustic signals produced by particle impacts. The arrival times of these signals at the sensor locations are used in a simple multilateration calculation to measure the impact coordinates on each film. Particle direction and speed are found using these impact coordinates and the known membrane separations. This ability to determine particle speed, direction, and time of impact provides the information needed to assign the particle's orbit and identify its likely origin. In many cases additional particle properties can be estimated from the signal amplitudes, including approximate diameter and (for small particles) some indication of composition/morphology. Two versions of this instrument were evaluated in this study. Fiber optic displacement sensors are found advantageous when very thin membranes can be maintained in tension (solar sails, lunar surface). Piezoelectric strain sensors are preferred for thicker films without tension (long duration free flyers). The latter was selected for an upcoming installation on the International Space Station.
Acoustic properties in the low and middle atmospheres of Mars and Venus
Authors: Petculescu Andi
Published: August 2016

Generic predictions for acoustic dispersion and absorption in the atmospheres of Mars and Venus are presented. For Mars, Pathfinder and Mars Express ambient data and averaged thermophysical parameters are used as inputs to a preliminary model based on the continuum approximation for Mars' thin atmosphere—the need for Boltzmann-based treatment is discussed in the context of Knudsen numbers. Strong absorption constrains acoustic sensing within the Martian planetary boundary layer. For the dense atmosphere of Venus, the van der Waals equation of state is used. The thermophysical and transport parameters were interpolated at the ambient conditions. Acoustic sensing is discussed at 50 km above Venus' surface, a level where aerostats (e.g., European Space Agency's EVE) and manned airships (e.g., NASA's HAVOC) may be deployed in the future. The salient atmospheric characteristics are described in terms of temperature, pressure, and convective stability profiles, followed by wavenumber predictions, and discussions of low- and high-frequency sensing applications. At low frequencies, emphasis is placed on infrasound. A simple generation mechanism by Martian dust devils is presented, yielding fundamental frequencies between 0.1 and 10 Hz. High-frequency sensing is exemplified by ultrasonic anemometry. Of the two environments, Venus is notably more dispersive in the ultrasonic range.
Modeling of atmospheric-coupled Rayleigh waves on planets with atmosphere: From Earth observation to Mars and Venus perspectives
Authors: Lognonné Philippe , Karakostas Foivos , Rolland Lucie , Nishikawa Yasuhiro
Published: August 2016

Acoustic coupling between solid Earth and atmosphere has been observed since the 1960s, first from ground-based seismic, pressure, and ionospheric sensors and since 20 years with various satellite measurements, including with global positioning system (GPS) satellites. This coupling leads to the excitation of the Rayleigh surface waves by local atmospheric sources such as large natural explosions from volcanoes, meteor atmospheric air-bursts, or artificial explosions. It contributes also in the continuous excitation of Rayleigh waves and associated normal modes by atmospheric winds and pressure fluctuations. The same coupling allows the observation of Rayleigh waves in the thermosphere most of the time through ionospheric monitoring with Doppler sounders or GPS. The authors review briefly in this paper observations made on Earth and describe the general frame of the theory enabling the computation of Rayleigh waves for models of telluric planets with atmosphere. The authors then focus on Mars and Venus and give in both cases the atmospheric properties of the Rayleigh normal modes and associated surface waves compared to Earth. The authors then conclude on the observation perspectives especially for Rayleigh waves excited by atmospheric sources on Mars and for remote ionospheric observations of Rayleigh waves excited by quakes on Venus.