bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Moral Imperative: The Case of the English Education System
Authors: Spangenberg Sabine , McIntosh Bryan
Published: August 2014

In England, social choice in education faces trade-offs between equity and efficiency. The scope of these trade-offs ranges from the introduction of choice to correcting ‘market failures' to reduce inequalities and restrict social injustices. The article analyses the English school education system and its relationship with social preferences. The authors argue that the moral and legal need for non-discriminatory education supersedes perceptions of cost-effectiveness and utilitarianism. They consider that the current system has failed owing to inappropriate processes within social and public choice and that a reformed system based on a social democratic imperative will allow closer social integration on the basis of ability rather than privilege.
What Makes a Student Non-traditional? A Comparison of Students Over and Under Age 25 in Online, Accelerated Psychology Courses
Authors: Tilley Brian P.
Published: August 2014

The growing proportion of non-traditional students, very commonly defined as students over the age of 25 (though other features vary from study to study) necessitates more studies with this increasingly relevant group participating. Recently, the growth of non-traditional universities such as those offering predominantly online, accelerated courses raises the question: Do the student differences attributed to age apply within the student population at a non-traditional university? The following study included 151 Bachelor's-level students, 128 over the age of 25, enrolled in online courses at a non-traditional university. Results indicated no significant differences between the two groups on stress level, type of stressor, appraisal of stressors, or academic self-concept. However, students over 25 had a significantly higher level of intrinsic academic motivation. The similarities despite age differences indicate either that all students taking classes online or at a non-traditional university should be considered non-traditional, or that the age criterion is not enough to differentiate non-traditional students.
Are CEOs and CFOs Rewarded for Disclosure Quality?
Authors: Hui Kai Wai , Matsunaga Steven R.
Published: August 2014

This study provides evidence regarding the importance that boards of directors place on effective communication with the investor community by examining whether CEO and CFO compensation are related to the quality of the firm's financial disclosures. Using an index derived from analyst forecast characteristics and management forecast accuracy to measure disclosure quality, we find changes in the annual bonus for both the CEO and CFO to be positively associated with changes in disclosure quality. We also find that the relation is stronger for high-growth firms, firms that have stronger governance structures, and for executives with lower equity incentives. Overall, our findings provide insight into the importance that boards place on effective communication with investors as a responsibility of the CEO and CFO and, therefore, provide them with contractual incentives to address the moral hazard problem associated with voluntary disclosures.

JEL Classifications: M41.
Admitting Mistakes: Home Country Effect on the Reliability of Restatement Reporting
Authors: Srinivasan Suraj , Wahid Aida Sijamic , Yu Gwen
Published: August 2014

We study the frequency of restatements by foreign firms listed on U.S. exchanges. We find that the restatement rate of U.S.-listed foreign firms is significantly lower than that of comparable U.S. firms and that the difference depends on the firm's home country characteristics. Foreign firms from countries with a weak rule of law are less likely to restate than are firms from strong rule of law countries. While the lower rate of restatements can represent an absence of errors, it can also indicate a lack of detection and disclosure of errors and irregularities. We infer the effect of detection and disclosure by associating the frequency of restatements with the quality of the firm's internal control system. We find that only U.S. firms and foreign firms from strong rule of law countries show a positive association between restatement frequency and internal control weaknesses. Firms from weak rule of law countries show no significant association. We interpret these findings as home country enforcement affecting firms' likelihood of detecting and reporting existing accounting misstatements. This suggests that for U.S.-listed foreign firms, less frequent restatements can be a signal of opportunistic reporting rather than a lack of accounting errors and irregularities.
The role of veterinary team effectiveness in job satisfaction and burnout in companion animal veterinary clinics
Authors: Moore Irene C. , Coe Jason B. , Adams Cindy L. , Conlon Peter D. , Sargeant Jan M.
Published: August 2014

Objective—To determine the role of veterinary team effectiveness regarding job satisfaction and burnout in companion animal veterinary practice.

Design—Cross-sectional observational study.

Sample—48 companion animal veterinary health-care teams.

Procedures—274 team members participated in an online survey. Overall job satisfaction was evaluated with a 1-item measure, and the 3 dimensions of burnout (exhaustion, cynicism, and professional efficacy) were measured with the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey. Team effectiveness was assessed with a survey developed for this study. Demographic and team effectiveness factors (coordinated team environment, toxic team environment, team engagement, and individual engagement) associated with job satisfaction and burnout were evaluated.

Results—Overall mean job satisfaction score was 5.46 of 7 (median, 6.00); veterinary technicians and kennel attendants had the lowest scores. According to the Maslach survey results, 22.4% of participants were in the high-risk category for exhaustion, 23.2% were in the high-risk category for cynicism, and 9.3% were in the high-risk category for professional efficacy. A coordinated team environment was associated with increased professional efficacy and decreased cynicism. A toxic team environment was negatively associated with job satisfaction and positively associated with exhaustion and cynicism. Individual engagement was positively associated with job satisfaction and professional efficacy and negatively associated with exhaustion and cynicism.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested the effectiveness of a veterinary team can significantly influence individual team members’ job satisfaction and burnout. Practices should pay specific attention to the effectiveness with which their veterinary team operates.
In vitro holding security of six friction knots used as a first throw in the creation of a vascular ligation
Authors: Hazenfield Kurtis M. , Smeak Daniel D.
Published: August 2014

Objective—To compare in vitro security of 6 friction knots used as a first throw in the creation of a vascular ligation.

Design—Experimental study.

Sample—20 constructs of 6 friction knots created with 2–0 polyglyconate suture.

Procedures—Security of the surgeon's throw, Miller's knot, Ashley modification of the Miller's knot, modified Miller's hand-tie, constrictor knot, and strangle knot was evaluated. Each knot configuration was constructed around each of 2 balloon dilation catheters used as small- and large-diameter vascular pedicle models and pressure tested to failure (leakage) 10 times. Results were compared by means of ANOVA and Student t tests.

Results—Mean leakage pressure for the surgeon's throw was significantly lower than that of all other knots tested in both pedicle models. The Miller's knot, constrictor knot, and strangle knot had mean leakage pressures > 360 mm Hg regardless of model diameter, whereas the surgeon's throw, Ashley modification of the Miller's knot, and modified Miller's hand tie consistently leaked at pressures at or below those found in arteries under normal physiologic conditions (pressures of 90 to 140 mm Hg).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Security of the Miller's knot, constrictor knot, and strangle knot was considered excellent. In vitro results suggested that, when constructed correctly, these friction knots may be preferable first-throw constructs during vascular pedicle ligation and should be further evaluated for clinical use. The surgeon's throw was less reliable as a first throw for vascular pedicle ligation in the model tested.
Changes to the Bakomi Reservoir
Authors: Kubinský Daniel , Weis Karol , Lehotský Milan , Fuska Jakub
Published: August 2014

This article is focused on the analysis and evaluation of the changes of the bottom of the Bakomi reservoir, the total volume of the reservoir, ecosystems, as well as changes in the riparian zone of the Bakomi reservoir (situated in the central Slovakia). Changes of the water component of the reservoir were subject to the deposition by erosion-sedimentation processes, and were identifed on the basis of a comparison of the present relief of the bottom of reservoir obtained from feld measurements (in 2011) with the relief measurements of the bottom obtained from the 1971 historical maps, (i.e. over a period of 40 years). Changes of landscape structures of the riparian zone have been mapped for the time period of 1949–2013; these changes have been identifed with the analysis of ortophotomaps and the feld survey. There has been a signifcant rise of disturbed shores with low herb grassland. Over a period of 40 years, there has been a deposition of 667 m3 of sediments. The results showed that there were no signifcant changes in the local ecosystems of the Bakomi reservoir in comparison to the other reservoirs in the vicinity of Banská Štiavnica.
Contribution of Garden Architecture to the Regional Development
Authors: Petrášová Viera , Beresecká Janka , Jarábková Jana , Melichová Katarína , Valach Maroš
Published: August 2014

Creative garden architecture currently afects regional development in two ways. Firstly, it results in landscape architecture outputs, horticulture arrangements, and garden projects. Secondly, it constitutes an environment for the development of certain business activities, namely tourism and horticulture. Garden architecture is able to secure the development of land-based economy, replacing the decreased production of agricultural commodities, and thus contributing to regional development. Garden architecture businesses in the Nitra region are currently limited by the lack of their potential clients’ fnancial resources as well as the barriers to entrepreneurship created in the Slovak Republic. The number of the businesses in the region enables them to develop mutual cooperation without the need for strong competition. on the contrary, it encourages the diversifcation of business activities, various levels of their specialization and potential development of partnerships in a region.
Criminality in the Rural Areas
Authors: Ďurkovičová Jana , Lazíková Jarmila , Takáč Ivan , Rumanovská L'ubica
Published: August 2014

Criminality is not a problem in the urban areas only; it has become one of the main problems in the rural areas as well. The countryside is not considered as a crime free area anymore. The rural criminality research helps to fnd and adopt the right preventive measures. Cooperation of all the sectors, state, businessmen, self-government and non-governmental organisations is important. In order to look for some suitable preventive measures, it is necessary to fnd the causes of the rural criminality. There are many criminality factors. However, we can expect that in dependence on the character and activities of a region, these causes will be specifc for each rural area. The aim of this paper is frstly to notice that the rural criminality is a blind place in the research activities in Slovakia and secondly to try to identify some factors which are impulses to commit crimes in the rural areas.
Methods of Public Communication and Related Perception of Transparency from the Slovak Municipalities' Point of View
Authors: Fil'a Milan , Schwarczová Loreta
Published: August 2014

The significance of the communication of the public sector at the level of the local government has recently increased essentially. Today‘s information society brings an advanced and fast communication which must be adapted by the representatives of the municipalities. This fact is related not only to ensuring greater objective transparency but also in ensuring the possibility for citizens to actively participate in public affairs in the environment where they live, as well as to evaluate the events and actions of local governments. The paper evaluates the current utilization of direct and indirect methods of communication and also points out the statistically significant preference evaluation of selected changes of the Act on free access to information by the representatives of municipalities in terms of increased use of information and transparency towards the citizens (towards the general public).
The Problems of Knowledge Economy and Innovation Processes in Agriculture Case Study of the Nitra Region
Authors: Fáziková Mária , Melichová Katarína
Published: August 2014

Agriculture is an important element of rural economy development, currently facing many problems. The unfinished process of economic transformation, division of land use and land ownership, disintegrated social networks, under-developed institutions – these are the problems hindering the knowledge economy enforcement. Among the agricultural enterprises there is a high level of distrust resulting into low cooperation, reluctance against partnerships and networks which represent the main instrument for knowledge economy enforcement. Moreover, the current EU agricultural policy which is adjusted for agricultural conditions in the old member states hampers innovation activities of agricultural enterprises and conserves inefficient structures in them.
Micromechanical Properties and Stress Measurements with Diffraction Methods
Authors: Gadaliňska Elžbieta , Baczmaňski Andrzej
Published: August 2014

Diffraction methods are commonly used for the determination of the elastic lattice deformation and distortion from the displacement and broadening of the diffraction peak. These methods enable researchers to measure stresses and elastic properties of polycrystalline materials. The main advantages of diffraction methods are their non-destructive character and the possibility of macrostress and microstress analysis for multiphase and anisotropic materials. Measurements are performed selectively only for crystallites contributing to the measured diffraction peak, i.e. for the grains having lattice orientations for which the Bragg condition is satisfied. When several phases are present in the sample, measurements of separate diffraction peaks allow for the behaviour of each phase to be investigated independently. This method can be applied without any limitations to flat specimens.

Numerical calculations of residual stresses around the rivets imply a very high stress gradientin the case of tangential stresses as well in the case of radial stresses. Attempting to verify these predictions, the residual stress measurements with an X-ray diffractometer were performed on riveted samples after the riveting process. In addition, complementary measurements of strain values with strain gauges during the riveting process were performed as well as the finite elements modelling. The aim of these measurements was to determine the stress values around the rivets and to compare results obtained with different techniques.

On the other hand, the multi-scale crystallographic model of elastoplastic deformation is very convenient for the study of elastoplastic properties in microscopic and macroscopic scales. Comparison of experimental data with model predictions allows us to understand the physical phenomena that occur during a sample’s deformation at the level of polycrystalline grains. Moreover, the micro and macro parameters of elastoplastic deformation can be experimentally established. It should be stated that the characterisation of the residual stress field and elastic properties is important in the study of the mechanical behaviour of polycrystalline materials, including plasticity and damage phenomena.

In this work, a new analysis method of neutron diffraction results obtained during in-situ tensile load is proposed and tested. The methodology is based on the measurements of lattice strains during in-situ tensile testing for several hkl reflections and for different orientations of the sample with respect to the scattering vector. As the result, the full stress tensor for preferred texture orientations in function of the applied stress can be determined using the crystallite group method. The experimental data are presented and compared with the self-consistent model calculations performed for groups of grains selected by different hkl reflections.
Mainstreaming Climate Change. Adaptation into Regional Planning of Least Developed Countries: Strategy Implications for Regions in Bangladesh
Authors: Rakibul Alam , Khalid Md. Bahauddin
Published: August 2014

The purpose of the study is to assess the search for mainstreaming climate change adaptation into regional planning of least developed countries (LDCs) and draw strategy implications for regions in Bangladesh. The findings of the study revealed that national adaptation programme of action (NAPAs) in least developed countries were being gender-blind and failed to be properly implemented. Least developed countries should therefore do more to prepare for ongoing and future climate changes focusing on actions that are no-regrets, multi-sectoral and multi-level, and that improve the management of current climate variability. Strengthening capacities to use climate information, enabling locally appropriate responses, screening climate risks, assessing risks and adaptation options, starting with existing policies and plans, broadening constituencies beyond environment agencies, managing strategy conflicts, learning from projects and recognizing their limitations, monitoring and learning are the foreseen strategic actions by regions in Bangladesh for effective mainstreaming of climate change adaptation into regional development planning in the years to come.
Energy and the Economics of Sustainability. The Entropy Paradox
Authors: Mircea Sˇveanu
Published: August 2014

This paper analyzes the concept of entropy, as understood by both the weak sustainability and strong sustainability scholars. In seeking an answer to why such an apparently rigid concept cannot be used to falsify either paradigm, we make use of recent developments in Physics, in order to further substantiate the statistical nature of both the concept of entropy, and of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. We conclude that the probabilistic nature of the concept of entropy forbids the theoretical falsification of either paradigm, and designate this situation as the ‘entropy paradox’.
The Swot Model and the Role of These Activities to the Training of the Future Specialists in Expertise and Quality Control of Milk and Dairy Products
Authors: Mihaela Tiţa , Letitia Oprean , Ecaterina Lengyel , Ovidiu Tita
Published: August 2014

The present drafts regarding the quality of milk and dairy products, define it as a controlled act of creation with known accuracy that can be reached by applying constitutive control systems of the processing technologies that are present in all proceeding phases of the product. In order to achieve the purpose and to apply it in the production process by students – future specialist, we use as a teaching-learning technique the SWOT Analyze. The SWOT analysis is an efficient method that is used in the teaching technique, especially when planning the strategy in order to identify the potentials and the priorities.
Governance and Adaptation to Innovative Modes of Higher Education Provision
Authors: Silvia Florea , Cecile Hoareau Mcgrath
Published: August 2014

In the context of the ever growing use of technology through e-learning and open-courseware, our paper describes a project that is being carried out by a consortium of twelve university partners and is coordinated by the University of Maastricht and RAND Europe (Cambridge). This project sets out to examine the evolution and sustainability of the innovative modes of higher education provision in teaching and learning across Europe, the motivations for their emergence as well as the ways in which higher education management and governance have responded and adapted to such new modes of provision. In the highly competitive sector of higher education (HE), while attempting to enhance the quality of teaching and learning, the increasing range of teaching and learning providers (encouraging both new delivery models and the ‘unbundling of delivery’ through partnerships, spin-out organisations, franchising, etc.), has challenged the ‘traditional’ model of university and stimulated changes in the provision and management of higher education.

Our paper describes the general framework of the project, foregrounding the first preliminary results of the first European-wide analysis of such innovative modes of provision in teaching and learning in Europe.
Reproducibility and Validity of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) Questionnaire in Patients After Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Casartelli Nicola C. , Bolszak Sylvain , Impellizzeri Franco M. , Maffiuletti Nicola A.
Published: August 2014

Background

The assessment of physical activity is of concern in patients after total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, so far, no questionnaire has demonstrated adequate reproducibility and validity for assessing physical activity in these patients.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) questionnaire in patients after THA.

Design

This was a measurement study.

Methods

Fifty patients who had undergone THA (25 women, 25 men), with an average age of 68 years, were evaluated. Of these patients, 25 were assessed between 2 and 7 months after surgery (THAearly), and another 25 were assessed between 7 and 12 months after surgery (THAlate). Reproducibility of the PASE questionnaire was evaluated by administering the questionnaire on 2 different occasions. Construct validity of the PASE questionnaire was assessed by comparing the physical activity level reported by patients with that objectively recorded by a body-mounted accelerometer. Reproducibility was investigated with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC [2,1]) for reliability and standard errors of measurement (SEM) for agreement. Validity was investigated with Pearson correlation coefficients (r).

Results

The ICC (2,1) for the PASE total score was .77 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]=.63, .86); the SEM was 23.0% (95% CI=19.2, 28.7). Validity correlation for the PASE total score was .38 (95% CI=.12, .60). No significant differences were found between THAearly and THAlate groups for reliability, agreement, and validity outcomes.

Limitations

Reproducibility of the PASE questionnaire may have been underestimated because the physical activity of patients was compared between 2 consecutive but different weeks. Reliability and validity analyses were underpowered.

Conclusions

Further study with a larger sample size is necessary to obtain precise reliability and validity estimates. Nevertheless, inadequate agreement calls into question the PASE questionnaire's ability to assess the physical activity level of patients after THA surgery.
Nosocomial outbreak of staphyloccocal scalded skin syndrome in neonates in England, December 2012 to March 2013
Authors: Paranthaman K , Bentley A , Milne L M , Kearns A , Loader S , Thomas A , Thompson F , Logan M , Newitt S , Puleston R
Published: August 2014

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) is a blistering skin condition caused by exfoliative toxin-producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Outbreaks of SSSS in maternity settings are rarely reported. We describe an outbreak of SSSS that occurred among neonates born at a maternity unit in England during December 2012 to March 2013. Detailed epidemiological and microbiological investigations were undertaken. Eight neonates were found to be infected with the outbreak strain of S. aureus, of spa type t346, representing a single pulsotype. All eight isolates contained genes encoding exfoliative toxin A (eta) and six of them contained genes encoding toxin B (etb). Nasal swabs taken during targeted staff screening yielded a staphylococcal carriage rate of 21% (17/80), but none contained the outbreak strain. Mass screening involving multi-site swabbing and pooled, enrichment culture identified a healthcare worker (HCW) with the outbreak strain. This HCW was known to have a chronic skin condition and their initial nasal screen was negative. The outbreak ended when they were excluded from work. This outbreak highlights the need for implementing robust swabbing and culture methods when conventional techniques are unsuccessful in identifying staff carrier(s). This study adds to the growing body of evidence on the role of HCWs in nosocomial transmission of S. aureus.
Investigations into the emergence of pertactin-deficient Bordetella pertussis isolates in six European countries, 1996 to 2012
Authors: Zeddeman A , van Gent M , Heuvelman C J , van der Heide H G , Bart M J , Advani A , Hallander H O , Wirsing von König C H , Riffelman Marion , Storsaeter J , Vestrheim D F , Dalby T , Krogfelt K A , Fry N K , Barkoff A M , Mertsola J , He Q , Mooi F
Published: August 2014

Binary file ES_Abstracts_Final_ECDC.txt matches
Engineering factors of the macrocode MOBY-DICK
Authors: Švarný J. , Šašek M. , Štech S.
Published: August 2014

In this paper a process of determination of methodological component of power distribution engineering factors of the macrocode MOBY-DICK (MD) is presented. This process is based on a direct comparison of measured and calculated data. The directly measured data analyzed in this article are thermocouple (TC) and Rhodium self-powered neutron detector (SPND) readings. Also the normality of deviations between measured and calculated TC temperature rises is discussed and methodological uncertainties of the macrocode MD are then checked by 97.5th percentile. Absolute and relative uncertainties of volumetric (KV) and radial (Kq) power distributions are determined by the comparisons of power distributions calculated by MD code with either power distributions provided by the Dukovany NPP core monitoring system (SCORPIO) or with power distributions obtained from direct TC and SPND readings. Final determination of engineering factors supposes hyperbolic dependence of MD methodological uncertainties on power peaking.
Development and verification of new nodal methods in the KIKO3DMG code
Authors: Pataki I. , Keresztúri A.
Published: August 2014

The paper reports about the development and verification of the new nodal methods to be used in the KIKO3DMG code. Two classes of the new methods are presented. The first class makes the treatment of the heterogeneities possible inside the assemblies while the extent of the crucial approximations applied on the node boundaries is more considerable in comparison to those in case of the second type. The nodal methods were validated by two VVER reference problems found in the AER benchmark book (aerbench.kfki.hu/aerbench). The AER-2 and FCM-101 benchmarks correspond to the VVER-440 and VVER-1000 geometry, respectively. It was found that the differences between the converged and the reference solutions are negligible from the practical point of view. The performance characteristics concerning the accuracy and the necessary CPU time – both depending on the mesh refinement – were also compared.
Fuel assembly burnup calculations for VVER fuel assemblies with the MONTE CARLO code SERPENT
Authors: Lötsch T.
Published: August 2014

The Monte Carlo code SERPENT (http://montecarlo.vtt.fi) is tested and validated for different fuel configurations but not for VVER fuel assemblies with Gd fuel pins and enrichment profiling. The presentation outlines the results obtained during fuel assembly burnup calculations for VVER-440 and VVER-1000 reactor types with Gd fuel pins. The calculations follow the proposal of the benchmark for VVER-440 fuel assemblies specified by Mikolas at the 14th Symposium of AER in 2004. For fuel assemblies of VVER-1000 reactor types with Gd fuel pins a benchmark by the OECD/NEA was specified in 2002. A set of data for the further verification of the few group data preparation in the framework of the VVER-1000 reactor core burnup benchmark proposed at the 19th AER Symposium in 2009 is received and analysed. The results presented show sufficient agreement with the reference values.
HPLWR fine mesh core analysis
Authors: Temesvári E. , Maráczy Cs. , Hegyi Gy. , Hordósy G. , Molnár A.
Published: August 2014

The European version of Supercritical Water Reactors (SCWR), the High Performance Light Water Reactor (HPLWR) operates in the thermodynamically supercritical region of water. Our basic objective was to elaborate a stationary coupled neutronic-thermohydraulic code capable for the calculation of the actual 3-pass core design with fuel assembly clusters. The calculations covered the neutronic transport calculations of HPLWR fuel assemblies, the coupled neutronic-thermohydraulic global calculations and the pin-wise analysis. Applying conservative assumptions, the relation to the linear heat rate and maximum cladding temperature limits was checked for the equilibrium cycle of HPLWR with this new code system.
Single-center experience with a dual microcatheter technique for the endovascular treatment of wide-necked aneurysms
Authors: Durst Christopher R. , Starke Robert M. , Gaughen John R. , Geraghty Scott , Kreitel K. Derek , Medel Ricky , Demartini Nicholas , Liu Kenneth C. , Jensen Mary E. , Evans Avery J.
Published: August 2014

Object

The endovascular treatment of wide-necked aneurysms can be technically challenging due to distal coil migration or impingement of the parent vessel. In this paper, the authors illustrate an alternative method for the treatment of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms using a dual microcatheter technique.

Methods

The authors' first 100 consecutive patients who underwent coil embolization of a wide-necked aneurysm using a dual microcatheter technique are reported. With this technique, 2 microcatheters are used to introduce coils into the aneurysm. The coils are deployed either sequentially or concurrently to form a stable construct and prevent coil herniation or migration. Angiographic and clinical outcomes are reported.

Results

The technical success rate of the dual microcatheter technique is 91% with a morbidity and mortality of 1% and 2%, respectively. Clinical outcomes are excellent with 93% of patients demonstrating a modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2 at long-term follow-up regardless of their score at presentation. Retreatment rates are 18%.

Conclusions

The dual microcatheter technique may be a safe and efficacious first line of treatment for widenecked aneurysms.
Controlled transient hypercapnia: a novel approach for the treatment of delayed cerebral ischemia after subarachnoid hemorrhage?
Authors: Westermaier Thomas , Stetter Christian , Kunze Ekkehard , Willner Nadine , Holzmeier Judith , Kilgenstein Christian , Lee Jin-Yul , Ernestus Ralf-Ingo , Roewer Norbert , Muellenbach Ralf Michael
Published: August 2014

Object

The authors undertook this study to investigate whether the physiological mechanism of cerebral blood flow (CBF) regulation by alteration of the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) can be used to increase CBF after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

Methods

In 6 mechanically ventilated patients with poor-grade aSAH, the PaCO2 was first decreased to 30 mm Hg by modification of the respiratory rate, then gradually increased to 40, 50 and 60 mm Hg for 15 minutes each setting. Thereafter, the respirator settings were returned to baseline parameters. Intracerebral CBF measurement and brain tissue oxygen saturation (StiO2), measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), were the primary and secondary end points. Intracranial pressure (ICP) was controlled by external ventricular drainage.

Results

A total of 60 interventions were performed in 6 patients. CBF decreased to 77% of baseline at a PaCO2 of 30 mm Hg and increased to 98%, 124%, and 143% at PaCO2 values of 40, 50, and 60 mm Hg, respectively. Simultaneously, StiO2 decreased to 94%, then increased to 99%, 105%, and 111% of baseline. A slightly elevated delivery rate of cerebrospinal fluid was noticed under continuous drainage. ICP remained constant. After returning to baseline respirator settings, both CBF and StiO2 remained elevated and only gradually returned to pre-hypercapnia values without a rebound effect. None of the patients developed secondary cerebral infarction.

Conclusions

Gradual hypercapnia was well tolerated by poor-grade SAH patients. Both CBF and StiO2 reacted with a sustained elevation upon hypercapnia; this elevation outlasted the period of hypercapnia and only slowly returned to normal without a rebound effect. Elevations of ICP were well compensated by continuous CSF drainage. Hypercapnia may yield a therapeutic potential in this state of critical brain perfusion. Clinical trial registration no.: NCT01799525 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
Results of immunohistochemical staining for cell cycle regulators predict the recurrence of atypical meningiomas
Authors: Kim Min Soo , Kim Kyu Hong , Lee Eun Hee , Lee Young Min , Lee Sung-Hun , Kim Hyung Dong , Kim Young Zoon
Published: August 2014

Object

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of certain cell-cycle regulatory proteins in the recurrence of atypical meningiomas. These proteins were analyzed with immunohistochemical staining to identify predisposing factors for the recurrence of atypical meningiomas.

Methods

The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with atypical meningiomas diagnosed in the period from January 2000 to June 2012 at the Department of Neurosurgery at Samsung Changwon Hospital and Dong-A University Medical Center. Clinical data included patient sex and age at the time of surgery, presenting symptoms at diagnosis, location and size of tumor, extent of surgery, use of postoperative radiotherapy, duration of follow-up, and recurrence. Immunohistochemical staining for cell-cycle regulatory proteins (p16, p15, p21, p27, cyclin-dependent kinase [CDK] 4 and 6, phosphorylated retinoblastoma [pRB] protein, and cyclin D1) and proliferative markers (MIB-1 antigen, mitosis, and p53) was performed on archived paraffin-embedded tissues obtained during resection. The recurrence rate and time to recurrence were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results

Of the 67 atypical meningiomas eligible for analysis, 26 (38.8%) recurred during the follow-up period (mean duration 47.7 months, range 8.4–132.1 months). Immunohistochemically, there was overstaining for p16 in 44 samples (65.7%), for p15 in 21 samples (31.3%), for p21 in 25 samples (37.3%), for p27 in 32 samples (47.8%), for CDK4 in 38 samples (56.7%), for CDK6 in 26 samples (38.8%), for pRB protein in 42 samples (62.7%), and for cyclin D1 in 49 samples (73.1%). Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional-hazards regression model showed that incomplete resection (HR 4.513, p < 0.001); immunohistochemical understaining for p16 (HR 3.214, p < 0.001); immunohistochemical overstaining for CDK6 (HR 3.427, p < 0.001), pRB protein (HR 2.854, p = 0.008), and p53 (HR 2.296, p = 0.040); and increased MIB-1 labeling index (HR 2.665, p = 0.013) and mitotic index (HR 2.438, p = 0.024) predicted the recurrence of atypical meningiomas after resection.

Conclusions

Findings in this study indicated that p16, CDK6, and pRB protein were associated with the recurrence of atypical meningiomas.
Neurosurgical management of a giant colloid cyst with atypical clinical and radiological presentation
Authors: Woodley-Cook Joel , Martinez Jaime L. , Kapadia Anish , Munoz David G. , Bharatha Aditya , Spears Julian
Published: August 2014

The finding of a colloid cyst on neuroimaging is often incidental. These lesions are usually located at the foramen of Monro, are hyperdense on CT scans, and generally demonstrate signal intensity of water on MR images, although this depends on their content. When symptomatic, they frequently present with headaches and nausea due to an obstructive hydrocephalus. The authors describe a case of a giant colloid cyst in a patient presenting with complete left-sided vision loss and progressive memory loss, two very atypical findings in colloid cyst presentation. Imaging findings were also atypical, and this case proved to be a diagnostic dilemma because of its clinical and radiological presentation. Histopathological investigation was of utmost importance in the final diagnosis of a colloid cyst. To the authors' knowledge this colloid cyst is larger than any other described in the literature.
The Role of Policy Champions and Learning in Implementing Horizontal Environmental Policy Integration: Comparative Insights from European Structural Fund Programmes in the U.K.
Authors: Gore Tony
Published: August 2014

This paper examines attempts to integrate environmental sustainability goals into the design and implementation of projects funded by the EU Structural Funds programmes in the U.K. between 2000 and 2006. It does so by comparing how the two “horizontal priorities” (environmental sustainability and gender equality) fared in terms of understanding and acceptance by project applicants. It places this material within the wider context of literature on environmental policy integration and inter-agency cooperation. A “policy coordination” framework is used as a heuristic device to construct an account of the ways in which the two themes were handled through the interplay of the myriad of actors and organisations involved in the process. A key part in this involved the deployment of “policy champions” to work with external organisations bidding for funding to support projects that formed the core of programme implementation. The paper also examines the variable reactions on the part of project designers to the requirement to incorporate environmental and gender goals and the greater inter-professional networking that these implied. The comparison between the two priorities clearly demonstrates the difficulties inherent in the breadth and complexity of environmental issues and the need in the first instance to link them to relatively simple actions directly associated with economic development activity. The study concludes that this is essentially the first step in a more protracted “policy learning” process.
Integration of Adaptation and Mitigation in Climate Change and Forest Policies in Indonesia and Vietnam
Authors: Thuy Pham , Moeliono Moira , Locatelli Bruno , Brockhaus Maria , Gregorio Monica , Mardiah Sofi
Published: August 2014

Forests play a major role in both climate change mitigation and adaptation, but few policies, if any, integrate these two aspects. Using Indonesia and Vietnam as case studies, we identify challenges at the national level but opportunities at the local level. Although both countries demonstrate political commitment to integrating adaptation and mitigation in their development plans, guidelines for policy and planning treat the two approaches separately. The main challenges identified are lack of knowledge, lack of political will, lack of financial incentives, and fragmentation of mandates and tasks of different government agencies. In contrast, at the local level, integration of mitigation and adaptation is facilitated by subnational autonomy, where mitigation projects might have adaptation co-benefits, and vice versa. Our results also show that many actors have a dual mandate that could bridge adaptation and mitigation if appropriate political and financial incentives are put in place. Successful integration of mitigation and adaptation policies would not only remove contradictions between policies, but also encourage governments that are designing domestic policies to exploit the potential for positive spillovers and realize the benefits of both approaches.
Total Stem and Merchantable Volume Equations of Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) Growing on Former Farmland in Sweden
Authors: Johansson Tord
Published: August 2014

An equation was constructed to estimate the stem volume of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) in 145 stands growing on former farmland in Sweden (Latitude 56–63° N). The mean total age was 40 ± 13 (range 17–91) years, the mean diameter at breast height (ob) was 15 ± 4 (range 5–27) cm and the mean density was 1621 ± 902 (range 100–7600) stems ha−1. The equation which fits the data best used the diameter at breast height and total stem height as predictive variables. Merchantable volume equations for the estimation of commercial volume for any top diameter and bole length were developed. Soil types in the stands were sediments (coarse sand, fine sand and silt and heavy, medium and light clay), tills (sandy, fine sandy and silty) and peat. The standing volume was calculated; the mean was 253 ± 103 (range 26–507) m3 ha−1 with a MAI (mean annual increment) of 6.9±3.5 (range 1.3–16.7) m3 ha−1 year−1. There were statistically significant differences between MAI and coarse sand, sand and silt, light clay, peat and silty till soils. Spruce stands growing on silty tills had the lowest MAI (4.94 ± 2.27 m3 ha−1 year−1) and light clay, fine sand and silt and peat the highest (7.62 ± 4.24, 7.46 ± 3.33 and 8.67 ± 2.83 m3 ha−1 year−1).
Bioceramic Nanofibres by Electrospinning
Authors: Balu Rajkamal , Singaravelu Sivakumar , Nagiah Naveen
Published: August 2014

Nanoscale three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds offer great promise for improved tissue integration and regeneration by their physical and chemical property enhancements. Electrospinning is a versatile bottom-up technique for producing porous 3D nanofibrous scaffolds that could closely mimic the structure of extracellular matrix. Much work has been committed to the development of this process through the years, and the resultant nanostructures have been subjugated to a wide range of applications in the field of bioengineering. In particular, the application of ceramic nanofibres in hard tissue engineering, such as dental and bone regeneration, is of increased research interest. This mini-review provides a brief overview of the bioceramic nanofibre scaffolds fabricated by electrospinning and highlights some of the significant process developments over recent years with their probable future trends and potential applications as biomedical implants.
Enhancement of Chlorogenic Acid Production in Hairy Roots of Platycodon grandiflorum by Over-Expression of An Arabidopsis thaliana Transcription Factor AtPAP1
Authors: Tuan Pham , Kwon Do , Lee Sanghyun , Arasu Mariadhas , Al-Dhabi Naif , Park Nam , Park Sang
Published: August 2014

To improve the production of chlorogenic acid (CGA) in hairy roots of Platycodon grandiflorum, we induced over-expression of Arabidopsis thaliana transcription factor production of anthocyanin pigment (AtPAP1) using an Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation system. Twelve hairy root lines showing over-expression of AtPAP1 were generated. In order to investigate the regulation of AtPAP1 on the activities of CGA biosynthetic genes, the expression levels of seven P. grandiflorum CGA biosynthetic genes were analyzed in the hairy root line that had the greatest accumulation of AtPAP1 transcript, OxPAP1-1. The introduction of AtPAP1 increased the mRNA levels of all examined CGA biosynthetic genes and resulted in a 900% up-regulation of CGA accumulation in OxPAP1-1 hairy roots relative to controls. This suggests that P. grandiflorum hairy roots that over-express the AtPAP1 gene are a potential alternative source of roots for the production of CGA.
ZmCIPK21, A Maize CBL-Interacting Kinase, Enhances Salt Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Chen Xunji , Huang Quansheng , Zhang Fan , Wang Bo , Wang Jianhua , Zheng Jun
Published: August 2014

Salt stress represents an increasing threat to crop growth and yield in saline soil. In this study, we identified a maize calcineurin B-like protein-interacting protein kinase (CIPK), ZmCIPK21, which was primarily localized in the cytoplasm and the nucleus of cells and displayed enhanced expression under salt stress. Over-expression of ZmCIPK21 in wild-type Arabidopsis plants increased their tolerance to salt, as supported by the longer root lengths and improved growth. The downstream stress-response genes, including dehydration-responsive element-binding (DREB) genes were also activated in transgenic plants over-expressing ZmCIPK21. In addition, introduction of the transgenic ZmCIPK21 gene into the Arabidopsis mutant cipk1-2 rescued the salt-sensitive phenotype under high salt stress. Measurement of Na+ and K+ content in transgenic plants showed that over-expression of ZmCIPK21 decreased accumulation of Na+ and allowed retention of relatively high levels of K+, thereby enhancing plant tolerance to salt conditions.
Influence of Gradual Elongation to the Patella Tendon Insertion in Rabbits
Authors: Mutsuzaki Hirotaka , Nakajima Hiromi , Wadano Yasuyoshi , Watanabe Shintarou , Sakane Masataka
Published: August 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the histological changes at the patella tendon (PT) insertion site under gradual elongation in rabbits. Gradual elongation of the PT was performed using external fixation for 4 weeks, with a lengthening speed of 0.5 mm/day (elongation group; n = 24). Rabbits in the sham group underwent the same surgical procedure without gradual elongation (sham group; n = 24). Eight animals were sacrificed 1, 2 and 4 weeks after surgery in each group, respectively. Average thicknesses of stained glycosaminoglycan (GAGs) areas by Safranin-O staining in the total cartilage layer and the uncalcified fibrocartilage layer in the elongation group were significantly higher than that in the sham group at 4 weeks (p < 0.05) and that in the intact PT group (n = 6, p < 0.05). In the elongation group, the peak in the average thicknesses of the stained GAGs areas in the total cartilage layer and the uncalcified fibrocartilage layer were observed at 4 weeks. Gradual elongation of PT insertion significantly affected the increase in the average thicknesses of the stained GAGs areas in the cartilage layer especially in the uncalcified fibrocartilage layer at 4 weeks in rabbits. Clinically, insertions of tendon and ligament can extend during gradual elongation using external fixation more than 4 weeks after the operation.