bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Room Temperature Synthesis and Performance Study of Cationic Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer
Authors: Liang Xiao Tong , Zhang Wei , Li Jin Xia , Lin Zhen
Published: January 2017

In this paper, cationic polycarboxylate superplasticizer has been synthesized by using room temperature process with HPEG, AA, DAC and 3-S as the main raw materials. We investigated the effect of the dosage of different raw materials on the dispersing property of polycarboxylate superplasticizer, and we knew that AA: DAC: HPEG: 3-S = 4.5: 0.05: 1: 0.12 was the best molar ratio, the synthesized cationic polycarboxylate superplasticizer had excellent dispersity and mud resistance, and it was superior to commercially available ordinary polycarboxylate superplasticizer.
Experimental Study and Numerical Analysis on Chloride Diffusion Coefficient of Concrete with Various Water-Cement Ratios
Authors: Ren Zheng , Xiao Lian Zhen , Shi Wen Chong
Published: January 2017

A rapid chloride ion diffusion coefficient measurement (RCM) was used in this study. The influence of water-cement ratios of 0.30, 0.35 and 0.40 at various ages (3, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days) on chloride ion diffusion coefficient of the concretes and pastes was studied and analyzed. The results show that, with the increase of curing ages, the chloride ion diffusion coefficient of different water-cement ratio of each specimen is decreased. In the early age, the chloride ion diffusion coefficient of the paste with the water-cement ratio of 0.40 is 2~3 times of the paste with water-cement ratio of 0.30 and 0.35, and with the increase of curing age, this difference is gradually decreased. Additionally, the chloride ion diffusion coefficient of the cement paste is 1~2 times of the concrete with same water-cement ratio at different ages. Based on the actual experiment boundary conditions, the process of chloride ions diffusion and permeability was simulated by COMSOL software, and the simulation result was analyzed to predict the permeability of concrete.
Fracture Properties of Ultra-High Strength Cement-Based Materials
Authors: Bi Qing , Yao Wu
Published: January 2017

By combining the three-point bending beam test with theoretical derivation, the elastic modulus, fracture toughness, surface energy and the maximum defect size permissible under certain working stress of ultra-high strength cement-based materials were obtained. The fracture properties were studied with the water to binder ratios (W/B) from 0.18 to 0.14. Test results showed that the ultra-high strength cement-based materials are quasi-brittle and the net bending strength of specimen decreased substantially when there was a notch. The elastic modulus of ultra-high strength cement-based materials can be up to 74.0 GPa, obviously higher than that of ordinary cement-based materials, showing greater elastic deformation resistance. Moreover, with decrease of W/B ratio, the compressive strength, fracture toughness, critical strain energy release rate as well as the maximum defect size permissible under certain working stress of ultra-high strength cement-based materials increased significantly, indicating that the anti-cracking ability increased with the decrease of W/B ratio.
A PCB Environmental Sensor for Use in Monitoring Drought Conditions in Estuaries
Authors: Dean Robert N. , Werner Frank T.
Published: January 2017

Estuaries occur in coastal regions worldwide and are important habitats for humans and other life forms. These fragile ecosystems are susceptible to the effects of prolonged drought conditions, resulting in changes in the salinity gradient across the estuary, which can adversely affect life forms living in and around the estuary. Electrical conductivity sensors are used to determine salinity of aqueous solutions, including water samples from estuaries. Conventional electrical conductivity sensors, consisting of orthogonally mounted thin parallel plate electrodes, are fragile and difficult to clean. Low-cost commercial printed circuit board technology is presented here as a vehicle to realize a robust planar sensor for determining salinity. This sensor's planar electrode configuration is inherently simpler and less fragile than a sensor with two orthogonally mounted thin parallel plate electrodes. Prototype planar sensors were designed, fabricated, and successfully tested in a freshwater-seawater solution ranging from 100% freshwater to 100% seawater, emulating the salinity levels encountered across many estuaries. The sensor test data demonstrated a linear characteristic with both conductance (R2 = 0.9995) and salinity (R2 = 0.9969) as a function of seawater concentration.
Mobious syndrome: MR findings
Authors: Srinivas Maskal Revanna , Vaishali Dhulappa Mudabasappagol , Vedaraju Kadaba Shamachar , Nagaraj Bangalore Rangaswamy
Published: January 2017

Möbius syndrome is an extremely rare congenital disorder. We report a case of Möbius syndrome in a 2-year-old girl with bilateral convergent squint and left-sided facial weakness. The characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of Möbius syndrome, which include absent bilateral abducens nerves and absent left facial nerve, were noted. In addition, there was absence of left anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) and absence of bilateral facial colliculi. Clinical features, etiology, and imaging findings are discussed.
Investigating the quality of modeled aerosol profiles based on
combined lidar and sunphotometer data
Authors: Siomos Nikolaos , Balis Dimitrios S. , Poupkou Anastasia , Liora Natalia , Dimopoulos Spyridon , Melas Dimitrios , Giannakaki Eleni , Filioglou Maria , Basart Sara , Chaikovsky Anatoly
Published: January 2017

Abstract. In this study we present an evaluation of the Comprehensive Air quality Model with extensions CAMx for Thessaloniki using radiometric and lidar data. The aerosol mass concentration profiles of CAMx are compared against the fine and coarse mode aerosol concentration profiles retrieved by the Lidar-Radiometer Inversion Code LIRIC. The CAMx model and the LIRIC algorithm results were compared in terms of mean mass concentration profiles, center of mass and integrated mass concentration in the boundary layer and the free troposphere The mean mass concentration comparison resulted in profiles within the same order of magnitude and similar vertical structure for the fine particles. The mean center of mass values are also close with a fractional bias of 24.8 %. On the opposite side, the coarse mode appears to be underestimated by the model below 4 km and overestimated above. In order to grasp the reasons behind the discrepancies, we investigate the effect of aerosol components that are not properly included in the model's emission inventory and boundary conditions such as the wildfires and the desert dust component. The identification of the cases that are affected by wildfires is performed using wind backward trajectories from the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model HYSPLIT in conjunction with satellite fire pixel data from the MODIS Terra and Aqua Global Monthly Fire Location Product MCD14ML. By removing those cases the correlation coefficient improves from 0.44 to 0.86 for the fine mode integrated mass in the boundary layer. The fine mode center of mass fractional bias also decreases to 16.9 %. Concerning the analysis on the desert dust component, the simulations from the updated version of the former Dust Regional Atmospheric Model called BSC-DREAM8b were deployed. When only the desert dust cases are taken into account, BSC-DREAM8b generally outperforms CAMx when compared with LIRIC, achieving a correlation of 0.91 and a fractional bias of −18.9 % for the integrated mass in the free troposphere and a correlation of 0.44 for the center of mass. CAMx, on the other hand, both underestimates and anti-correlates the integrated mass in the free troposphere. Consequently, the accuracy of CAMx is limited concerning the transported dust cases. We conclude that the performance of CAMx appears to be best for the fine particles, especially in the boundary layer. At the same time it systematically fails to successfully predict the coarse mode. Sources of particles not properly taken into account by the model are confirmed to negatively affect its performance.
Vertical wavenumber spectra of three-dimensional winds revealed by radiosonde observations at midlatitude
Authors: Zhang Shao Dong , Huang Chun Ming , Huang Kai Ming , Zhang Ye Hui , Gong Yun , Gan Quan
Published: January 2017

Abstract. By applying 12-year (1998–2009) radiosonde data over a midlatitude station, we studied the vertical wavenumber spectra of three-dimensional wind fluctuations. The horizontal wind spectra in the lower stratosphere coincide well with the well-known universal spectra, with mean spectral slopes of −2.91 ± 0.09 and −2.99 ± 0.09 for the zonal and meridional wind spectra, respectively, while the mean slopes in the troposphere are −2.64 ± 0.07 and −2.70  ±  0.06, respectively, which are systematically less negative than the canonical slope of −3. In both the troposphere and lower stratosphere, the spectral amplitudes (slopes) of the horizontal wind spectra are larger (less negative) in winter, and they are larger (less negative) in the troposphere than in the lower stratosphere. Moreover, we present the first statistical results of vertical wind fluctuation spectra, which revealed a very shallow spectral structure, with mean slopes of −0.58 ± 0.06 and −0.23 ± 0.05 in the troposphere and lower stratosphere, respectively. Such a shallow vertical wind fluctuation spectrum is considerably robust. Different from the horizontal wind spectrum, the slopes of the vertical wind spectra in both the troposphere and lower stratosphere are less negative in summer. The height variation of vertical wind spectrum amplitude is also different from that of the horizontal wind spectrum, with a larger amplitude in the lower stratosphere. These evident differences between the horizontal and vertical wind spectra strongly suggest they should obey different spectral laws. Quantitative comparisons with various theoretical models show that no existing spectral theories can comprehensively explain the observed three-dimensional wind spectra, indicating that the spectral features of atmospheric fluctuations are far from fully understood.
Scintillation measurements at Bahir Dar during the high solar activity phase of solar cycle 24
Authors: Kriegel Martin , Jakowski Norbert , Berdermann Jens , Sato Hiroatsu , Mersha Mogese Wassaie
Published: January 2017

Abstract. Small-scale ionospheric disturbances may cause severe radio scintillations of signals transmitted from global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs). Consequently, small-scale plasma irregularities may heavily degrade the performance of current GNSSs such as GPS, GLONASS or Galileo. This paper presents analysis results obtained primarily from two high-rate GNSS receiver stations designed and operated by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in cooperation with Bahir Dar University (BDU) at 11.6° N, 37.4° E. Both receivers collect raw data sampled at up to 50 Hz, from which characteristic scintillation parameters such as the S4 index are deduced. This paper gives a first overview of the measurement set-up and the observed scintillation events over Bahir Dar in 2015. Both stations are located close to one another and aligned in an east–west, direction which allows us to estimate the zonal drift velocity and spatial dimension of equatorial ionospheric plasma irregularities. Therefore, the lag times of moving electron density irregularities and scintillation patterns are derived by applying cross-correlation analysis to high-rate measurements of the slant total electron content (sTEC) along radio links between a GPS satellite and both receivers and to the associated signal power, respectively. Finally, the drift velocity is derived from the estimated lag time, taking into account the geometric constellation of both receiving antennas and the observed GPS satellites.
Scaling, Similarity, and the Fourth Paradigm for Hydrology
Authors: Peters-Lidard Christa D. , Clark Martyn , Samaniego Luis , Verhoest Niko E. C. , van Emmerik Tim , Uijlenhoet Remko , Achieng Kevin , Franz Trenton E. , Woods Ross
Published: January 2017

Abstract. In this review of hydrologic scaling and similarity, we posit that roadblocks in the search for universal laws of hydrology are hindered by our focus on computational simulation (the third-paradigm), and assert that it is time for hydrology to embrace a fourth paradigm of data-intensive science. Advances in information-based hydrologic science, coupled with an explosion of hydrologic data and advances in parameter estimation and modelling, have laid the foundation for a data-driven framework for scrutinizing hydrological scaling and similarity hypotheses. We summarize important scaling and similarity concepts (hypotheses) that require testing, describe a mutual information framework for testing these hypotheses, describe boundary condition, state/flux, and parameter data requirements across scales to support testing these hypotheses, and discuss some challenges to overcome while pursuing the fourth hydrological paradigm. We call upon the hydrologic sciences community to develop a focused effort towards adopting the fourth paradigm and apply this to outstanding challenges in scaling and similarity.
Tratamiento farmacológico de la depresión en cáncer
Authors: Bernal García Patricia , Muñoz Algar María José
Published: January 2017

Objetivo: La depresión mayor es uno de los trastornos psiquiátricos más ampliamente reconocidos en los enfermos de cáncer. En España alrededor de un 16,49% de los pacientes oncológicos desarrollan un Trastorno Depresivo Mayor. Cuando la sintomatología depresiva interfiere en el adecuado funcionamiento del paciente oncológico, los antidepresivos son el tratamiento de primera línea. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la eficacia de las distintas opciones farmacológicas utilizadas para la depresión en pacientes oncológicos.Método: Se realiza una búsqueda bibliográfica en la base de datos PubMed mediante los términos:cancer AND depression treatment AND antidepressant . Se analizaron un total de 36 artículos con un diseño tipo ensayo clínico. Resultados: Se ha encontrado que los fármacos inhibidores de la recaptación de serotonina (ISRS) son eficaces para el tratamiento de la depresión en pacientes con cáncer. La paroxetina es una de las más eficaces. Los antidepresivos de perfil dual también han demostrado eficacia por su rapidez de acción y su utilidad en síntomas colaterales como los síntomas vasomotores y los dolores. La mirtazapina es de gran utilidad en síntomas como el dolor, náuseas, insomnio y ansiedad.Conclusiones: La elección de la medicación debe estar basada en el perfil de síntomas del paciente, el potencial beneficio, la tolerabilidad y el riesgo/beneficio con el propósito de diseñar una estrategia para cada paciente. Los fármacos que han demostrado mayor eficacia y tolerabilidad en nuestro estudio han sido los ISRS, la mirtazapina y los antidepresivos de acción dual.
El acompañamiento espiritual en cuidados paliativos
Authors: Benito Enric , Dones Mónica , Babero Javier
Published: January 2017

Los profesionales sanitarios y especialmente los que trabajamos en oncología y cuidados paliativos somos frecuentemente interpelados por el sufrimiento de nuestros pacientes. El modelo biomédico, es insuficiente para entenderlo y atenderlo. Para ello se requiere ampliar la perspectiva, hacia una visión más abierta que incluya nuestra dimensión espiritual.La espiritualidad es un universal humano, y se expresa como el dinamismo que impulsa nuestro anhelo inagotable de plenitud y felicidad, que caracteriza la condición humana y que se expresa en la red de relaciones que cada persona establece.La enfermedad grave y la proximidad de la muerte son oportunidades de apertura a esta dimensión y de sanación. El profesional que conoce este proceso puede acercarse desde la hospitalidad, presencia y compasión y acompañar este itinerario.En este articulo intentamos explorar de forma resumida qué entendemos por espiritualidad, espiritualidad en clínica, necesidades y recursos espirituales, el itinerario de la persona que atraviesa un proceso de sufrimiento, perdida y/o muerte y las actitudes y herramientas de los profesionales para explorar, atender y acompañar en este espacio difícil y hasta ahora poco transitado.
Duelo prolongado y factores asociados
Authors: Estevan Burdeus Patricia , De Miguel Sánchez Cristina , Álvarez Álvarez Roberto , Martín Molpeceres Esther , Múgica Aguirre Borja , Riestra Fernández Ana , Gutiérrez Ruiz Aránzazu , Sanz Venturerira Lara , Vicente Sánchez Fernando , García Jiménez Gema , García Oliva Francisco Javier , Cristóbal Saenz de Manjares Rhut , Corral Rubio Amparo , Bonivento Martínez Vanesa , Guechoum González José Antonio , Carrera Lavín María , López Rodríguez María Jesús , Morán Tiesta Cristina , Del Cura González Isabel
Published: January 2017

Objetivo: Describir factores asociados a la presencia de Duelo Prolongado (DP) medido con el cuestionario Prolonged Grief Disorder-13 (PG-13) en pacientes que han perdido a un ser querido entre 6 y 18 meses.Método: Estudio transversal. Dolientes mayores de edad procedentes de atención primaria, hospitales de cuidados paliativos y un equipo de soporte a la atención domiciliaria paliativa en Madrid. Se recogieron variables del fallecido y del doliente: sociodemográficas, socioeconómicas, antecedentes psiquiátricos, utilización de recursos sanitarios, Trastorno por Ansiedad Generalizada (TAG), apoyo social, percibido y duelo prolongado con PG-13 y el Inventario Texas Revisado de Duelo (ITRD). Se calcularon medidas de tendencia central y distribución de frecuencias, se calculo asociación entre variables con c2 y t-student, se ajustó modelo multivariante.Resultados: La prevalencia de DP fue de 7,023%. La presencia de DP se asoció significativamente con ser mujer, no tener trabajo, ingresos familiares bajos, fallecido más joven, enfermedad no susceptible de recibir cuidados paliativos, historia de ansiedad y/o depresión antes y después de la pérdida, haber consultado a un psiquiatra, haber tomado psicofármacos, una mayor frecuentación de los servicios de urgencias, medicina y enfermería de atención primaria, con TAG, EDM, apoyo social percibido bajo y DP según los criterios del ITRD. En el análisis multivariante se asoció con haber visitado al psiquiatra, EDM y con ingresos mensuales inferiores a 2.000 euros.Conclusiones: Podemos modificar pocos de estos factores, pero conocerlos e identificar con prontitud a estos pacientes nos permitirá derivarlos a tratamientos apropiados como terapia específica de duelo.
Eficacia de la actuación de los payasos sobre el miedo a procedimientos dolorosos en oncohematología pediátrica
Authors: Ortigosa Quiles Juan Manuel , Riquelme Marín Antonio , Álvarez Soto Henar , Astillero Fuentes María José , Sánchez Piñera Inés
Published: January 2017

Objetivos: Evaluar la eficacia de la actuación de una pareja de Payasos de hospital sobre la respuesta de miedo en pacientes de la Unidad de Oncohematología antes de la aplicación de un procedimiento médico doloroso (punción lumbar o el aspirado medular).Pacientes y método: 30 niños de 3 a 11 años de edad (M=6,93, DT=2,78) sometidos a punción lumbar o aspirado de médula ósea en el hospital “Virgen de la Arrixaca”. La evaluación consistió en la administración de: Escala facial de 5 caras, escala de observación “modified-Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale” (m-YPAS) y medidas fisiológicas de pulso y tensión arterial media.Resultados: En el análisis intersujetos, se obtuvo diferencias estadísticamente significativas en todas las medidas, a excepción de la escala de caras, tras la actuación de los payasos de hospital. Tras la marcha de los payasos de hospital los grupos se igualaron en las puntaciones. En el análisis intrasujetos se alcanzaron diferencias significativas entre el pretest y el postest para el grupo control en todas las medidas.El análisis del tamaño del efecto indica valores en la escala de caras se obtiene un valor d= 0,22 (magnitud pequeña), y magnitudes altas para el pulso (d=1,02), la tensión arterial media (d= 1,20), y la escala m-YPAS (d=0,99), antes de la administración del procedimiento doloroso.Conclusiones: La presencia de los payasos favorece la disminución del miedo a la aplicación de los procedimientos dolorosos. Este efecto es de corto plazo, pues tras su marcha desaparecen las diferencias entre los grupos.
Black Feminist Reflections on Charles Mills's “Intersecting Contracts”
Authors: Gines Kathryn T.
Published: January 2017

This critical commentary is presented in two parts. The first section, “Intersecting Contracts: Conceptual Interventions and Aims,” provides an overview of Mills's analysis of the racia-sexual contract and the divergent positions of white men (full contractors and persons), white women (subcontractors with real, though inferior power), nonwhite men (subcontractors, though not on equal standing with white women because “race trumps gender”), and nonwhite women (nonpersons and noncontractors at the bottom of the structure and dominated by all three of the aforementioned groups). The second section, “Privilege and Patriarchy: Does ‘Race Generally Trump Gender’?,” shows how Mills offers an uneven representation of critiques presented by women of color theorists. For example, he focuses on the critiques of white women (and white feminism), emphasizing the asymmetry between white women and nonwhite men as well as the tensions between white women and nonwhite women. This article also problematizes Mills's claim that “race generally trumps gender” and argues for a more nuanced analysis of nonwhite men's participation in patriarchy and privilege.
The Pragmatics of Resistance: Framing Anti-Blackness and the Limits of Political Ontology
Authors: Kline David
Published: January 2017

This article argues that Frank B. Wilderson's political ontology can be read as both a critique and a radicalization of Giorgio Agamben's formal political-ontological framework constructed around the two extreme poles of sovereignty and bare life. Wilderson critiques and expands Agamben's framework by locating the zero point of political abjection not within bare life, which is still implicated within the ontological zone of Human being by way of an included exclusion, but within Black social death, which is cut off absolutely from Human being. While such a political ontological framework provides an extremely powerful optic for the absolute ontological abjection of Black existence in relation to all other racial positions in the modern West, its absolute prioritization limits the scope of an analysis of power relations that might offer an account of racial positioning that is both broader than and resistant to the political ontology of Western race relations. In conclusion, turning to Fred Moten's Black optimism and Deleuze's and Guattari's account of micropolitics and lines of flight, the article argues for a pragmatics of resistance that finds its practical condition of possibility within the micropolitical field of power relations that marks an excess to the anti-Black macropolitics of political ontology.
Disruptive Silences: The AME Church and Dominican-Haitian Relations
Authors: Davidson Christina Cecelia
Published: January 2017

Often recognized for its advocacy on behalf of African descendants, the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church has been silent on issues regarding anti-Haitian sentiment in the Dominican Republic. By tracing the historical connection between Black America and Haiti in the nineteenth century and recounting the twentieth-century history of the AME Church in the Dominican Republic, this article explains how an institution created in defense of racial equality could inadvertently facilitate its own silencing. Using archival research, ethnography, and interviews, this article critically analyzes narratives that distance Dominican African Methodists from African Americans and Haitians. It argues that such silences in the AME Church are the result of the church's social marginalization in the Dominican Republic, African American leaders' habitual neglect of the AME Church's Dominican branches, and the assimilation of Black Anglophone migrants into Dominican culture.
The Acquisition of the Third Person Singular [-s]: A Case Study of Language-minority Children Attending an Irish Primary School
Authors: Kelly Niamh
Published: January 2017

This study investigates the development of the third-person singular (3SG)[-s] morpheme in the spontaneous speech of five language minority children attending an Irish primary school, where the language of instruction is the second language (L2) of the subjects. Evidence from the study is discussed in the context of a number of theories which have been put forward in the literature to account for the development of the 3SG. Results support some of the predictions of the Optional Infinitive Theory, and would argue in favour of the Missing Surface Inflection Hypothesis. The parallel use of both finite and non-finite verbs in obligatory finite contexts is explored, and while the sporadic omission of the 3SG morpheme is similar to the sporadic omission of the genitive [-s] morpheme, the use of objective case marking ceasing in verbal projections yet continuing in nominal projections, questions the extent to which a parallel occurs between possessive and 3SG inflections.
Versterking alternatieve geschilbeslechting in consumentenzaken door richtlijn ADR en verordening ODR
Authors: Nijgh Koos
Published: January 2017

Strengthening alternative dispute resolution in consumer affairs by directive ADR and ODR regulation

In his column ‘Versterking alternatieve geschilbeslechting in consumentenzaken door richtlijn ADR en verordening ODR’ Koos Nijgh, head of the legal department of the ‘Stichting Geschillencommissies voor Consumentenzaken (SGC)’ gives an overview of how the SGC should anticipate the recent European legislative developments regarding ADR. After a brief summary on how the SGC functions, he analyses the European legislative demands and the policy the SGC has adopted. The author concludes that the impact of the new legislation is overseeable and that the SGC will do even better in the future.
Pain assessment using a Polish version of the Behavioral
Pain Assessment Scale in sedated and mechanically ventilated
patients
Authors: Gutysz-Wojnicka Aleksandra , Ozga Dorota , Mayzner-Zawadzka Ewa
Published: January 2017

“Gold standard” in the assessment of pain is patient’s subjective assessment by means of standardized
numerical, analog-visual or verbal scales. Unconscious, sedated, mechanically ventilated patients are able to
subjectively assess pain in this way. Clinical practice guidelines for the management of pain, agitation and delirium
in adult patients in the intensive care unit developed by a working group of the American College of Critical Care
Medicine (ACCCM) state that adult patients treated in the ICU routinely experience pain at rest and during routine
care. The guidelines recommend routine monitoring of pain in all adult patients in the ICU using the Behavioral
Pain Scale (BPS) or Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT). Cultural adaptation was conducted in Poland,
psychometric properties of Polish version of Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) were evaluated. Internal consistency
determined by Cronbach’s alpha amounted to 0.6883. The correlation coefficients between items of the scale and the
sum score in the pain phase were in the range 0.27-0.28. The analysis of principal components confirmed that all the
components of the scale respectively, the face, the upper limbs, synchronization with the respirator are one factor and
explain 63.9% of the rating variation, while discriminatory accuracy of the scale was unconfirmed. The value of pain
assessment using the Polish version of BPS increased significantly, also in the case of routine painless procedures,
most likely due to other factors. That prevented the unambiguous interpretation of the results of the pain assessment
and enforced additional data from other sources in the assessment of pain. The reason for the lack of discriminant
accuracy can be vague operationalization of the scale indicators especially in the category: Face and Synchronization
with the ventilator and the lack of adequate training for personnel in scale application. The aim of the study was to
prepare the Polish version of Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) with more favorable psychometric properties. Based on the
analysis of the literature individual scale indicators included in the categories of Face and Synchronization with the
ventilator and the scheme of their scoring were re-defined. The result of the study is modified Polish version of BPS.
Conclusions: The validation process of the research tool is not a one-time process. The implementation of the scale
into clinical practice is required as well as further monitoring of its reliability and validity indicators. It is necessary to
implement the system of personnel training in BPS application
The role of transdermal buprenorphine in the treatment of
chronic pain in elderly patients
Authors: Widenka Marek , Leppert Wojciech
Published: January 2017

Buprenorphine is a synthetic opioid with partially agonist effects on μ (MOR) receptors and
slightly less internal activity compared to morphine. Buprenorphine binds with κ1 (KOR 1), κ2 (KOR 2), δ
(DOR) receptors and with ORL–1 (orphan–related ligand–1, NOR) receptors. The drug is absorbed after
transmucosal (approximately 30–50%) and transdermal (biological bioavailability equals approximately 50%)
route of administration due to significant lipophilicity. Buprenorphine concentration in plasma slowly increases
after transdermal patch application reaching minimal effective concentrations after approximately 12–24 h
and maximal concentrations of the drug in the serum after approximately 60–80 h. The drug is metabolized
in the liver, mainly through CYP3A4 to an active metabolite – norbuprenorphine. Both buprenorphine and
norbuprenorphine undergo subsequently glucuronidation through conjugates and in this forms are excreted with the bile. The majority of the drug is excreted with the stool in the form of unbound buprenorphine or
norbuprenorphine with 10–30% of the drug excreted with the urine. Buprenorphine metabolism causes
that the risk of pharmacokinetic drug interactions is low. Moreover, buprenorphine is safe drug in patients
with renal impairment. Mild and moderate hepatic impairment do not significantly influence buprenorphine
pharmacokinetics. In this paper a review of buprenorphine clinical studies (with randomization and nonrandomized)
conducted in elderly patients was undertaken. Buprenorphine administered in patches by the
transdermal is frequently used in the treatment of chronic pain in cancer patients and in the course of other
diseases. Buprenorphine may be used successfully in the treatment of neuropathic pain. Buprenorphine
administered by transdermal route is preferred opioid analgesic in elderly patients with moderate to severe
chronic pain due to beneficial pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
A Case of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis in a Patient with Graves' Disease
Authors: Kim Bo Ra , Jung Jung Hwa , Hahm Jong Ryeal , Jung Jaehoon , Park Hee Jung , Kim Soo Kyoung
Published: January 2017

Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis is an uncommon disease, and 25% of cases are considered to be idiopathic. Hypercoagulability, local bloodstream stasis, and vessel wall abnormalities may contribute to the development of this condition. The thyrotoxic phase of Graves' disease is associated with venous thrombosis caused by hypercoagulability, which is in turn induced by increased levels of homocysteine and factor VIII and decreased fibrinolytic activity. Here, we report the case of a 39-year-old male who presented with superior sagittal sinus thrombosis and concomitant hyperthyroidism.
Geology of groundwater occurrences of the Lower Cretaceus sandstone aquifer in East Central Sinai, Egypt
Authors: Ghoubachi Saad Younes
Published: January 2017

The present study focused on investigating the impact of geological setting on the groundwater occurrences of the Lower Cretaceous sandstone aquifer (Malha). The Lower Cretaceous sandstone aquifer is subdivided into 3 units according to their lithological characters for the first time in this present work. The study area is dissected by normal faults with their downthrown sides due north direction. The groundwater flows from southeast recharge area (outcrop) to the northwest direction with an average hydraulic gradient of 0.0035. The hydraulic parameters of the Lower Cretaceous sandstone aquifer were determined and evaluated through 7 pumping tests carried out on productive wells. The Lower Cretaceous aquifer in the study area is characterized by moderate to high potential. The calculated groundwater volume of the Lower Cretaceous aquifer (6300 km2) in the study area attains about 300 bcm, while the estimated recharge to the same aquifer reaches about 44,500 m3/day with an annual recharge of 16 mcm/year. Expended Durov diagram plot revealed that the groundwater has been evolved from Mg-SO4 and Mg-Cl dissolution area types that eventually reached a final stage of evolution represented by a Na-Cl water type. This diagram helps also in identifying groundwater flow direction. The groundwater salinity ranges from 1082 ppm (Shaira) to 1719 ppm (Nakhl), in the direction of groundwater movement towards north.
Hunger Games: Interactive Ultrasound Imaging for Learning Gastrointestinal Physiology
Authors: Kafer Ilana , Rennie William , Noor Ali , Pellerito John S.
Published: January 2017

Ultrasound is playing an increasingly important role in medical student education. Although most uses of ultrasound have focused on learning purely anatomic relationships or augmentation of the physical examination, there is little documentation of the value of ultrasound as a learning tool regarding physiology alone or in association with anatomy. We devised an interactive learning session for first‐year medical students using ultrasound to combine both anatomic and physiologic principles as an integration of gastrointestinal and vascular function. The incorporation of our activity, The Hunger Games, provides the foundation for a powerful integration tool for medical student education.
Noninvasive Assessment of Liver Fibrosis Stage Using Ultrasound‐Based Shear Wave Velocity Measurements and Serum Algorithms in Patients With Viral Hepatitis B: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Liu Jianxue , Zhao Junzhi , Zhang Yaoren , Ji Yonghao , Lin Shumei , Dun Guoliang , Guo Sujuan
Published: January 2017

Objectives

Liver biopsy remains the reference standard for the assessment of liver fibrosis, but this procedure is invasive and can lead to complications. Thus, studies to determine the optimal noninvasive test are warranted. This study compared several noninvasive tests and their combinations for evaluating liver fibrosis stages in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Methods

The shear wave velocity (SWV) and laboratory indicators were collected from 174 patients with chronic hepatitis B. Formulas were applied to calculate the serum fibrosis model, including the aspartate aminotransaminase‐to‐platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis‐4 index (FIB‐4) and aspartate aminotransferase‐to‐alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR). The diagnostic performance of all noninvasive tests was assessed in comparison with percutaneous liver biopsy, based on a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

Results

The SWV (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC], 0.82) and APRI (AUC = 0.77) performed better than the FIB‐4 (AUC = 0.62), and the AAR (AUC = 0.47) was not suitable for evaluating substantial liver fibrosis (stage ≥F2). The SWV (AUC = 0.96) was the best indicator, being superior to the APRI (AUC = 0.75) and FIB‐4 (AUC = 0.74), and the AAR (AUC = 0.45) was not suitable for assessing cirrhosis (F4). Combining the SWV and APRI, the AUC improved to 0.85 for substantial liver fibrosis, and the sensitivity increased to 100% for cirrhosis.

Conclusions

The SWV, APRI, and FIB‐4 were valid tests for evaluating substantial liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. The combination of these tests with several noninvasive indicators is expected to enhance the assessment of liver fibrosis stages.
Cryotherapy of Renal Lesions: Enhancement on Contrast‐Enhanced Sonography on Postoperative Day 1 Does Not Imply Viable Tissue Persistence
Authors: Bertolotto Michele , Siracusano Salvatore , Cicero Calogero , Iannelli Mariano , Silvestri Tommaso , Celia Antonio , Guarise Alessandro , Stacul Fulvio
Published: January 2017

Objectives

To investigate whether persistent enhancement detected on contrast‐enhanced sonography at postoperative day 1 (early contrast‐enhanced sonography) after cryoablation of renal tumors implies the presence of residual viable tumor tissue, defined as residual enhancing tissue on reference imaging (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging) performed 6 months after the procedure.

Methods

Seventy‐four patients with percutaneous cryoablation of renal tumors had early contrast‐enhanced sonography from November 2011 to August 2015. Two independent readers evaluated early contrast‐enhanced sonographic findings and contrast‐enhanced sonographic investigations performed 1 month after cryoablation of lesions that displayed enhancement on early contrast‐enhanced sonography. They scored intralesional enhancement in 4 groups: no enhancement, few intralesional vessels, focal enhancing areas, and diffuse enhancement. Inter‐reader agreement in evaluating lesion vascularity on early contrast‐enhanced sonography was assessed with weighted κ statistics. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging performed 6 months after the treatment was the reference procedure for assessing the absence or presence of residual disease.

Results

Inter‐reader agreement in assessing intratumoral vascularization on early contrast‐enhanced sonography was very good (κ = 0.90). Enhancement was absent for both readers in 33 of 74 cases; only a few intralesional vessels were visible in 21; whereas diffuse or focal enhancement was present in 13. In the remaining 7 patients, there were differences. Four lesions with focal enhancement on early contrast‐enhanced sonography and 1 that was considered avascular had residual tumors on reference imaging. Ablation was successful in the remaining 69 of 74 patients (93%).

Conclusions

After cryoablation, intratumoral enhancement on early contrast‐enhanced sonography does not imply tumor cell viability.
Transperineal Sonography and Urodynamic Findings in Women With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms After Sling Placement
Authors: Takacs Peter , Larson Kindra , Scott Lauren , Cunningham Tina D. , DeShields Sarah C. , Abuhamad Alfred
Published: January 2017

Objectives

To evaluate dynamic 2‐dimensional (2D) transperineal pelvic sonographic findings and urodynamic studies in women with lower urinary tract symptoms after midurethral sling placement.

Methods

Transperineal pelvic sonography and urodynamic studies were reviewed from women with a midurethral sling and lower urinary tract symptoms. The shape and sonographic dynamic change of the sling from the rest position to the maximum Valsalva maneuver and back to rest were recorded. Patients were categorized into 3 groups: group I, at rest, the sling lies parallel to the urethral lumen, and during Valsalva, the sling becomes C shaped; group 2, both at rest and during Valsalva, the sling runs parallel to the urethral lumen; and group 3, at rest, the sling is C shaped, and during Valsalva, this curved shape is maintained. For analytical purposes group 3 was compared with groups 1 and 2. Multiple logistic regressions were used to evaluate the association between transperineal pelvic sonography and urodynamic studies.

Results

Seventy‐seven women were enrolled. The detrusor pressure at the maximum flow rate was significantly higher in group 3 than groups 1 and 2 (mean ± SD, 36 ± 16 versus 19 ± 11 mm H2O; P < .001). The odds of high detrusor pressure (>20 mm H2O) in group 3 was approximately 12 times the odds of those in groups 1 and 2. After adjusting for other variables using a multiple logistic regression analysis, a statistically significant association between group 3 and high detrusor pressure persisted (odds ratio, 29.7; 95% confidence interval, 2.949–299.6; P = .0040) persisted.

Conclusions

Transperineal dynamic 2D sonography can help predict women with high‐pressure voiding after midurethral sling placement and aid in the diagnosis of bladder outlet obstruction.
Sonography of the Coracoid Process Region
Authors: Bianchi Stefano , Jacob Denis , Lambert Aurélien , Draghi Ferdinando
Published: January 2017

Sonography is widely known as an accurate imaging tool for assessment of the rotator cuff of the shoulder, the long head of the biceps tendon, and joint disorders, but it is rarely performed to evaluate the coracoid process and the adjacent soft tissues. Nevertheless, sonography can show anatomic details of this region and be used to assess several pathologic conditions. The aims of this pictorial essay are to briefly review the anatomy of the coracoid process region, describe examination technique and normal sonographic appearances, and present the sonographic findings of the main disorders affecting this region.
Moonlighting at replication forks – a new life for homologous recombination proteins BRCA1, BRCA2 and RAD51
Authors: Kolinjivadi Arun Mouli , Sannino Vincenzo , de Antoni Anna , Técher Hervé , Baldi Giorgio , Costanzo Vincenzo
Published: January 2017

Coordination between DNA replication and DNA repair ensures maintenance of genome integrity, which is lost in cancer cells. Emerging evidence has linked homologous recombination (HR) proteins RAD51, BRCA1 and BRCA2 to the stability of nascent DNA. This function appears to be distinct from double‐strand break (DSB) repair and is in part due to the prevention of MRE11‐mediated degradation of nascent DNA at stalled forks. The role of RAD51 in fork protection resembles the activity described for its prokaryotic orthologue RecA, which prevents nuclease‐mediated degradation of DNA and promotes replication fork restart in cells challenged by DNA‐damaging agents. Here, we examine the mechanistic aspects of HR‐mediated fork protection, addressing the crosstalk between HR and replication proteins.
Crystal structure of a family 80 chitosanase from Mitsuaria chitosanitabida
Authors: Yorinaga Yutaka , Kumasaka Takashi , Yamamoto Masaki , Hamada Kensaku , Kawamukai Makoto
Published: January 2017

Chitosanases belong to glycoside hydrolase families 5, 7, 8, 46, 75 and 80 and hydrolyse glucosamine polymers produced by partial or full deacetylation of chitin. Herein, we determined the crystal structure of chitosanase from the β‐proteobacterium, Mitsuaria chitosanitabida, (McChoA) at 1.75 Å resolution; the first structure of a family 80 chitosanase. McChoA is a 34 kDa extracellular protein of 301 amino acids that fold into two (upper and lower) globular domains with an active site cleft between them. Key substrate‐binding features are conserved with family 24 lysozymes and family 46 chitosanases. The distance between catalytic residues E41 and E61 (10.8 Å) indicates an inverting type mechanism. Uniquely, three disulphide bridges and the C terminus might contribute to enzyme activity.
Epithelial–mesenchymal transition in tumor metastasis
Authors: Yeung Kay T. , Yang Jing
Published: January 2017

The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a developmental program that enables stationary epithelial cells to gain the ability to migrate and invade as single cells. Tumor cells reactivate EMT to acquire molecular alterations that enable the partial loss of epithelial features and partial gain of a mesenchymal phenotype. Our understanding of the contribution of EMT to tumor invasion, migration, and metastatic outgrowth has evolved over the past decade. In this review, we provide a summary of both historic and recent studies on the role of EMT in the metastatic cascade from various experimental systems, including cancer cell lines, genetic mouse tumor models, and clinical human breast cancer tissues.
A regulatory BMI1/let‐7i/ERK3 pathway controls the motility of head and neck cancer cells
Authors: Elkhadragy Lobna , Chen Minyi , Miller Kennon , Yang Muh‐Hwa , Long Weiwen
Published: January 2017

Extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 3 (ERK3) is an atypical mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), whose biological activity is tightly regulated by its cellular abundance. Recent studies have revealed that ERK3 is upregulated in multiple cancers and promotes cancer cell migration/invasion and drug resistance. Little is known, however, about how ERK3 expression level is upregulated in cancers. Here, we have identified the oncogenic polycomb group protein BMI1 as a positive regulator of ERK3 level in head and neck cancer cells. Mechanistically, BMI1 upregulates ERK3 expression by suppressing the tumor suppressive microRNA (miRNA) let‐7i, which directly targets ERK3 mRNA. ERK3 then acts as an important downstream mediator of BMI1 in promoting cancer cell migration. Importantly, ERK3 protein level is positively correlated with BMI1 level in head and neck tumor specimens of human patients. Taken together, our study revealed a molecular pathway consisting of BMI1, miRNA let‐7i, and ERK3, which controls the migration of head and neck cancer cells, and suggests that ERK3 kinase is a potential new therapeutic target in head and neck cancers, particularly those with BMI1 overexpression.
Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Fercher Adolf F. , Andersen Peter E.
Published: January 2017

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a technique with which to peer inside a body noninvasively. Tissue structure defined by tissue absorption and scattering coefficients, and the speed of blood flow, is derived from the characteristics of light remitted by the body. Backscattered light detected by partial coherence interferometry (PCI) is used to synthesize the tomographic image coded in false colors. A prerequisite of this technique is a low time‐coherent but high space‐coherent light source, e.g. a superluminescent diode. Alternatively, the imaging technique can be realized using ultrafast wavelength scanning light sources, the so‐called swept sources. For tissue imaging, the light source wavelengths are restricted to the red and near‐infrared (NIR) region from about 600 to 1300 nm, the so‐called therapeutic window, where absorption (μa≈ 0.01 mm−1) is sufficiently small. Transverse resolution in OCT is diffraction limited, as in conventional imaging; depth resolution is limited by the coherence length of the light. Both figures are of the order of micrometers. Velocity resolution is of the order of 0.1 mm s−1. Several instruments are commercially available. At present, OCT is mainly used in the medical field, particularly in ophthalmology, cardiology, and dermatology. Owing to the high transmissivity of ocular media, the depth penetration is considerable. Corresponding applications in dermatology are somewhat hindered by the strong scattering of epidermic tissue (μs≈ 102mm−1). As OCT provides images with a resolution comparable to conventional histology, but in real time, it can be used as a biopsy technique in a wide range of biological systems to detect diseases. These include the tomographic imaging of the internal microstructure of in vitro atherosclerotic plaques, the tomographic real‐time diagnostics for intraoperative monitoring, and in microsurgical intervention. Optical biopsy based on OCT also provides diagnostic information by differentiating the architectural morphology of urological tissue, gastrointestinal tissue, and respiratory tissue.