bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
p27 Is a Critical Prognostic Biomarker in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Matsuda Yasunobu , Wakai Toshifumi , Hirose Yuki , Osawa Mami , Fujimaki Shun , Kubota Masayuki
Published: December 2013

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a recently identified chronic liver disease, which progresses to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As the number of patients studied to date has been limited, clinically useful prognostic biomarkers of NASH-related HCC have not been available. In this study, we investigated the status of a cell-cycle regulator, p27, in NASH-related HCC. p27 has been regarded as a prognostic factor in various types of cancer patients. A total of 22 cases with NASH-related HCC were analyzed for p27 protein expression, and phosphorylation at threonine 157 (T157) and serine 10 (S10) by immunohistochemical analysis. The correlation of p27 with tumor characteristics, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival was analyzed. p27 expression was decreased in 13 HCCs (59%), and was significantly correlated with enlarged tumor size (p = 0.01) and increased cell proliferation (p < 0.01). Phospho-p27 at T157 and S10 was detected in four (18%) and seven (32%) cases, respectively, and patients positive for phospho-p27 (S10) showed reduced DFS (hazard ratio 7.623, p = 0.016) by univariate analysis. Further studies with more patients are required to verify the usefulness of p27 as a biomarker for predicting tumor recurrence in NASH patients.
Renewable Energy Initiatives at Canadian Sport Stadiums: A Content Analysis of Web-Site Communications
Authors: Chard Chris , Mallen Cheryl
Published: December 2013

Researchers have positioned renewable energy as sustainable and able to mitigate environmental issues associated with fossil fuels. Further, sustainable initiatives have been offered as a point of differentiation for brands. In order to reap the benefits of such differentiation, managers must communicate the initiatives to relevant stakeholders. The research question guiding the current investigation thus was: What is the communication by Canadian sport stadium operators to calls for sustainable initiatives, specifically in the area of renewable energy? The examination included the 15 sport stadiums that hosted a professional team in Canada and their web-based stadium communications on renewable energy (SCORE). Understandings and competencies in renewable energy are proposed as a new function of sport stadium management; communication of these competencies is seen as a key point of differentiation and best practice.
An Extract of Rhodobacter sphaeroides Reduces Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Mice
Authors: Chang Wen-Wei , Liu Jau-Jin , Liu Chi-Fan , Liu Wen-Sheng , Lim Yun-Ping , Cheng Yu-Jung , Lee Che-Hsin
Published: December 2013

Cisplatin is used as a treatment for various types of solid tumors. Renal injury severely limits the use of cisplatin. Renal cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation contribute to cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Previously, we found that an extract of Rhodobacter sphaeroides (Lycogen™) inhibited proinflammatory cytokines and the production of nitric oxide in activated macrophages in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis model. Here, we evaluated the effect of Lycogen™, a potent anti-inflammatory agent, in mice with cisplatin-induced renal injury. We found that attenuated renal injury correlated with decreased apoptosis due to a reduction in caspase-3 expression in renal cells. Oral administration of Lycogen™ significantly reduced the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β in mice with renal injury. Lycogen™ reduces renal dysfunction in mice with cisplatin-induced renal injury. The protective effects of the treatment included blockage of the cisplatin-induced elevation in serum urea nitrogen and creatinine. Meanwhile, Lycogen™ attenuated body weight loss and significantly prolonged the survival of mice with renal injury. We propose that Lycogen™ exerts anti-inflammatory activities that represent a promising strategy for the treatment of cisplatin-induced renal injury.
Peritoneal Dialysis–Related Peritonitis with Acinetobacter Baumannii: A Review of Seven Cases
Authors: Zhang Wei , Wu Yong-Gui , Qi Xiang-Ming , Dai Hong , Lu Wen , Zhao Min
Published: December 2013

Peritonitis is still known as an important complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Multi-drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii is an increasing problem worldwide. Moreover, the increasing reports of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii strains is common. Although peritoneal dialysis–related peritonitis with MDR A. baumannii is rarely reported, infection with this organism always results in serious peritonitis and increases the possibility of dropout or mortality. Here, we present 7 cases of peritonitis caused by A. baumannii species. Among those 7 cases, 2 involved MDR A. baumannii, and 1 involved a carbapenem-resistant strain. All the MDR bacterial infections failed treatment. We also review the literature about Acinetobacter peritonitis and current treatment protocols.
Clinical Outcome in Elderly Patients on Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis: A Retrospective Study from a Single Center in China
Authors: Joshi Upendra , Guo Qunying , Yi Chunyan , Huang Rong , Li Zhijian , Yu Xueqing , Yang Xiao
Published: December 2013

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes and identify the predictors of mortality in elderly patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included all incident CAPD patients treated at our center from 2006 to 2009. Demographic and clinical data on initiation of CAPD and clinical events during the study period were collected. Survival probabilities were generated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and risk factors for mortality were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

Of 805 patients on CAPD, the elderly group (≥65 years; mean age: 71.3 ± 4.3 years) consisted of 148 patients, and the younger group (<65 years; mean age: 43.1 ± 12.2years) consisted of 657 patients. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year patient survival rates were 97%, 92%, 88%, and 73% for the younger group, and 79%, 67%, 56%, and 30% for elderly group. The patient survival rates were significantly lower for the elderly group than for the younger group ( p = 0.000). However, technique survival did not significantly differ between the groups ( p = 0.559). In the patients overall, the independent predictors of death were old age ( p = 0.003), diabetes ( p = 0.000), cardiovascular disease ( p = 0.006), lower hemoglobin ( p = 0.010), and lower serum albumin ( p = 0.024). Mortality in the elderly patients was associated with advanced age [relative risk (RR): 1.088; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.027 to 1.153; p = 0.004], diabetes (RR: 2.064; 95% CI: 1.236 to 3.445; p = 0.006), and lower serum albumin (RR: 0.940; 95% CI: 0.897 to 0.985; p = 0.010).

Conclusions

The elderly patients on CAPD experienced technique survival comparable with that of younger patients, but their patient survival was lower. In elderly patients, mortality was determined predominantly by greater age, diabetes, and lower serum albumin. Our results indicate that chronic peritoneal dialysis is a viable dialysis option for elderly patients with end-stage renal disease. Better management of hypoalbuminemia and comorbid conditions might improve survival in elderly PD patients.
The Impact of Transfer from Hemodialysis on Peritoneal Dialysis Technique Survival
Authors: Nessim Sharon J. , Bargman Joanne M. , Jassal S. Vanita , Oliver Matthew J. , Na Yingbo , Perl Jeffrey
Published: December 2013

Background

A significant proportion of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients receive an initial period of hemodialysis (HD) before transitioning to PD (“PD-switch”). We sought to better understand the risks of PD technique failure (TF) and mortality for those patients compared with patients starting with PD as their first dialysis modality (“PD-first”).

Methods

Using Canadian Organ Replacement Register data, we compared the risk of PD TF between PD-first and PD-switch patients within the first year after HD initiation. In a secondary analysis, the PD-switch patients were stratified into three groups based on timing of the switch from initial HD to PD as follows: 0 – 90 days, 91 – 180 days, and 181 – 365 days. Each group was compared with PD-first patients for risk of PD TF and death.

Results

Between 2001 and 2010, 9404 patients initiated PD as their first renal replacement therapy, and 3757 switched from HD to PD. After multivariable adjustment, the risk of PD TF was higher among PD-switch patients than among PD-first patients [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR): 1.37; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26 to 1.49], particularly within the first year after the switch from HD to PD (AHR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.36 to 1.68). There was no association between time on HD within the first year and subsequent risk of PD TF. For all the stratified PD-switch groups, death rates were higher than those for PD-first patients.

Conclusions

Compared with patients who start renal replacement therapy with PD, those who transfer from HD to PD within the first year on dialysis experience higher rates of PD TF and death, with the highest risk being observed in the initial year after the switch to PD.
Probing the plasmonic near-field by one- and two-photon excited surface enhanced Raman scattering
Authors: Kneipp Katrin , Kneipp Harald
Published: December 2013

Strongly enhanced and spatially confined near-fields in the vicinity of plasmonic nanostructures open up exciting new capabilities for photon-driven processes and particularly also for optical spectroscopy. Surface enhanced Raman signatures of single molecules can provide us with important information about the optical near-field. We discuss one- and two-photon excited surface enhanced Raman scattering at the level of single molecules as a tool for probing the plasmonic near-field of silver nanoaggregates. The experiments reveal enhancement factors of local fields in the hottest hot spots of the near-field and their dependence on the photon energy. Also, the number of the hottest spots and their approximate geometrical size are found. Near-field amplitudes in the hottest spots can be enhanced by three orders of magnitudes. Nanoaggregates of 100 nm dimensions provide one hot spot on this highest enhancement level where the enhancement is confined within less than 1nm dimension. The near-field enhancement in the hottest spots increases with decreasing photon energy.
Advancements in the mechanistic understanding of the copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition
Authors: Berg Regina , Straub Bernd F
Published: December 2013

The copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) is one of the most broadly applicable and easy-to-handle reactions in the arsenal of organic chemistry. However, the mechanistic understanding of this reaction has lagged behind the plethora of its applications for a long time. As reagent mixtures of copper salts and additives are commonly used in CuAAC reactions, the structure of the catalytically active species itself has remained subject to speculation, which can be attributed to the multifaceted aggregation chemistry of copper(I) alkyne and acetylide complexes. Following an introductory section on common catalyst systems in CuAAC reactions, this review will highlight experimental and computational studies from early proposals to very recent and more sophisticated investigations, which deliver more detailed insights into the CuAAC’s catalytic cycle and the species involved. As diverging mechanistic views are presented in articles, books and online resources, we intend to present the research efforts in this field during the past decade and finally give an up-to-date picture of the currently accepted dinuclear mechanism of CuAAC. Additionally, we hope to inspire research efforts on the development of molecularly defined copper(I) catalysts with defined structural characteristics, whose main advantage in contrast to the regularly used precatalyst reagent mixtures is twofold: on the one hand, the characteristics of molecularly defined, well soluble catalysts can be tuned according to the particular requirements of the experiment; on the other hand, the understanding of the CuAAC reaction mechanism can be further advanced by kinetic studies and the isolation and characterization of key intermediates.
Effect of Low-dose Oral Prednisolone on Symptoms and Systemic Inflammation in Older Adults with Moderate to Severe Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial
Authors: Abou-Raya Anna , Abou-Raya Suzan , Khadrawi Tarek , Helmii Madihah
Published: December 2013

Objective.

To investigate the efficacy of 6 weeks of daily low-dose oral prednisolone in improving pain, mobility, and systemic low-grade inflammation in the short term and whether the effect would be sustained at 12 weeks in older adults with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods.

A total of 125 patients with primary knee OA were randomized 1:1; 63 received 7.5 mg/day of prednisolone and 62 received placebo for 6 weeks. Outcome measures included pain reduction and improvement in function scores and systemic inflammation markers. Pain was assessed using the visual analog pain scale (0–100 mm). Secondary outcome measures included the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores, patient global assessment (PGA) of the severity of knee OA, and 6-min walk distance (6MWD). Serum levels of interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured.

Results.

There was a clinically relevant reduction in the intervention group compared to the placebo group for knee pain, physical function, PGA, and 6MWD at 6 weeks. The mean difference between treatment arms (95% CI) was 10.9 (4.8–18.0), p < 0.001; 9.5 (3.7–15.4), p < 0.05; 15.7 (5.3–26.1), p < 0.001; and 86.9 (29.8–144.1), p < 0.05, respectively. Further, there was a clinically relevant reduction in the serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and hsCRP at 6 weeks in the intervention group when compared to the placebo group. These differences remained significant at 12 weeks. The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials-Osteoarthritis Research Society International responder rate was 65% in the intervention group and 34% in the placebo group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion.

Low-dose oral prednisolone had both a short-term and a longer sustained effect resulting in less knee pain, better physical function, and attenuation of systemic inflammation in older patients with knee OA (ClinicalTrials.govidentifierNCT01619163).
Prevalence, Correlates and Outcomes of Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia in Systemic Sclerosis: A EUSTAR Case-control Study
Authors: Ghrénassia Etienne , Avouac Jérome , Khanna Dinesh , Derk Chris T. , Distler Oliver , Suliman Yossra Atef , Airo Paolo , Carreira Patricia E. , Foti Rosario , Granel Brigitte , Berezne Alice , Cabane Jean , Ingegnoli Francesca , Rosato Edoardo , Caramaschi Paola , Hesselstrand Roger , Walker Ulrich A. , Alegre-Sancho Juan Jose , Zarrouk Virginie , Agard Christian , Riccieri Valeria , Schiopu Elena , Gladue Heather , Steen Virginia D. , Allanore Yannick
Published: December 2013

Objective.

To estimate the prevalence, determine the subgroups at risk, and the outcomes of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE).

Methods.

We queried the European League Against Rheumatism Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) network for the recruitment of patients with SSc-GAVE. Each case was matched for cutaneous subset and disease duration with 2 controls with SSc recruited from the same center, evaluated at the time the index case made the diagnosis of GAVE. SSc characteristics were recorded at the time GAVE occurred and the last observation was collected to define the outcomes.

Results.

Forty-nine patients with SSc and GAVE were included (24 with diffuse cutaneous SSc) and compared to 93 controls with SSc. The prevalence of GAVE was estimated at about 1% of patients with SSc. By multivariate analysis, patients with SSc-GAVE more frequently exhibited a diminished (< 75%) DLCO value (OR 12.8; 95% CI 1.9–82.8) despite less frequent pulmonary fibrosis (OR 0.2; 95% CI 0.1–0.6). GAVE was also associated with the presence of anti-RNA-polymerase III antibodies (OR 4.6; 95% CI 1.2–21.1). SSc-GAVE was associated with anemia (82%) requiring blood transfusion (45%). Therapeutic endoscopic procedures were performed in 45% of patients with GAVE. After a median followup of 30 months (range 1–113 months), survival was similar in patients with SSc-GAVE compared to controls, but a higher number of scleroderma renal crisis cases occurred (12% vs 2%; p = 0.01).

Conclusion.

GAVE is rare and associated with a vascular phenotype, including anti-RNA-polymerase III antibodies, and a high risk of renal crisis. Anemia, usually requiring blood transfusions, is a common complication.
The OMERACT-RAMRIS Rheumatoid Arthritis Magnetic Resonance Imaging Joint Space Narrowing Score: Intrareader and Interreader Reliability and Agreement with Computed Tomography and Conventional Radiography
Authors: Døhn Uffe Møller , Conaghan Philip G. , Eshed Iris , Boonen Annelies , Boyesen Pernille , Peterfy Charles G. , Lillegraven Siri , Ejbjerg Bo , Gandjbakhch Frederique , Bird Paul , Foltz Violaine , Genant Harry K. , Haavardsholm Espen , McQueen Fiona M. , Østergaard Mikkel
Published: December 2013

Objective.

To test the intrareader and interreader reliability of assessment of joint space narrowing (JSN) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) wrist and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) using the newly proposed OMERACT-RAMRIS JSN scoring method, and to compare JSN assessment on MRI, CT, and radiography.

Methods.

After calibration of readers, MRI and CT images of the wrist and second to fifth MCP joints from 14 patients with RA and 1 healthy control were assessed twice for JSN by 3 readers, blinded to clinical and imaging data. Radiographs were scored by the Sharp/van der Heijde method. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and smallest detectable differences (SDD) were calculated, and the performance of various simplified scores was investigated.

Results.

Both MRI and CT showed high intrareader (ICC ≥ 0.95) and interreader (ICC ≥ 0.94) reliability for total (wrist + MCP) assessment of JSN. Agreement was generally lower for MCP joints than for wrist joints, particularly for CT. Intrareader SDD for MCP/wrist/MCP + wrist were 1.2/6.1/6.4 JSN units for MRI, while 2.7/8.3/9.9 JSN units for CT. JSN on MRI and CT correlated moderately well with corresponding radiographic JSN scores (MCP 2–5: 0.49 and 0.56; wrist areas assessed by Sharp/van der Heijde: 0.80 and 0.95), and high ICC between scores on MRI and CT were demonstrated (MCP: 0.94; wrist: 0.92; MCP + wrist: 0.92).

Conclusion.

The OMERACT-RAMRIS MRI JSN scoring system showed high intrareader and interreader reliability, and high correlation with CT scores of JSN. The suggested JSN score may, after further validation in longitudinal studies, become a useful tool in RA clinical trials.
Place des troubles de la motricité dans les troubles spécifiques du langage oral
Authors: Albaret Jean-Michel , de Castelnau Pascale
Published: December 2013

Résumé Les troubles spécifiques du langage oral (TSLO) se caractérisent par une apparition retardée ou un développement ralenti du langage. Ces troubles s’accompagnent de façon fréquente d’atteintes de la motricité, voire de Trouble de l’Acquisition de la Coordination (TAC). Différents modèles cherchent à rendre compte d’une telle association de troubles avec des répercussions en termes d’évaluation et de prise en charge des sujets porteurs de TSLO. Après une revue de question rapide, nous illustrerons par un cas clinique l’intérêt et les limites d’une rééducation psychomotrice.
Modèles neuropsychologiques dans l'autisme et les troubles envahissants du développement
Authors: Valeri Giovanni , Speranza Mario
Published: December 2013

Résumé La recherche récente a apporté des nombreux arguments en faveur de l’existence de dysfonctionnements neuropsychologiques spécifiques impliqués dans l’étiopathogénèse des troubles du spectre de l’autisme. Cependant, un modèle conceptuel cohérent en mesure d’intégrer ces différents déficits avec les manifestations cliniques des troubles n’a pas a encore clairement émergé. Certains auteurs privilégient l’existance d’un déficit cognitif primaire responsable de l’ensemble des anomalies, cognitives et cliniques, observées ; d’autres favorisent l’hypothèse de déficits cognitifs multiples et indépendants. L’objectif de cet article est de présenter les trois principaux modèles neuropsychologiques validés à l’heure actuelle : le déficit de mentalisation (ou déficit en Théorie de l’Esprit), le déficit des Fonctions Exécutives (FE) et la Faible Cohérence Centrale (FCC), et de discuter de leurs implications cliniques dans la compréhension de l’autisme et des troubles envahissants du développement.
Développement de la dominance cérébrale : revue des données disponibles et proposition d'une hypothèse originale
Authors: Habib Michel
Published: December 2013

Résumé Le terme de dominance hémisphérique (ou dominance cérébrale) est traditionnellement utilisé en neurologie pour faire référence aux processus présumés à l’origine de latéralisation hémisphérique du cerveau. La plupart des travaux menés dans ce domaine sont basés sur la constatation que, d’un point de vue strictement morphologique, les deux hémisphères diffèrent significativement, tant pour leur anatomie corticale que pour certaines régions sous-corticales. La question de la signification fonctionnelle de ces asymétries occupe le centre des débats, en particulier en ce qui concerne les deux fonctions les mieux connues comme latéralisées : la préférence manuelle (‘manualité’) et le langage. Sur ces deux points, les travaux les plus récents n’ont pas encore démontré de façon convaincante un lien univoque entre asymétries et latéralité. Concernant l’origine même des asymétries, il est probable que, bien que déjà présentes sur les cerveaux de nouveau-nés (et aussi de primates non humains), leurs mécanismes intimes ne soient qu’incomplètement déterminés par des facteurs génétiques ou prénatals. Au contraire, tout laisse penser que des facteurs liés au milieu, en particulier durant l’enfance, soient capables de moduler les caractéristiques ultérieures d’asymétrie cérébrale, et que l’asymétrie même des fonctions puisse induire une asymétrie des structures qui les contrôlent.
Le programme Makaton auprès d'un enfant porteur d'autisme : le cas de Julien
Authors: Montoya Delphine , Bodart Sandrine
Published: December 2013

Résumé Dans cet article nous présentons le programme Makaton qui est un programme d’éducation au langage. C’est une approche multimodale qui superpose plusieurs canaux de communication. Le cas d’un enfant porteur d’autisme ainsi que les différentes étapes détaillées de cette rééducation qui se déroule sur plusieurs années seront exposés. Nous évoquerons aussi la scolarité de cet enfant et les difficultés rencontrées lors de ce type de prise en charge.
Test de rétention visuelle de Benton : étalonnage français auprès d'enfants âgés de 8 à 11 ans
Authors: Vallas Emmanelle , Bénesteau Jacques , Albaret Jean-Michel
Published: December 2013

Résumé Le Test de Rétention Visuelle de Benton (BVRT) a été conçu pour évaluer les fonctions visuospatiales et la mémoire visuelle. Il comprend deux séries de procédures : reproduction graphique de figures géométriques et reconnaissance avec choix multiple. L’étalonnage présenté porte sur 281 enfants (152 filles et 129 garçons) âgés de 8 à 11 ans 11 mois et concerne les administrations A (exposition 10 secondes, puis reproduction immédiate de mémoire) et M (exposition 10 secondes, puis choix de mémoire parmi quatre possibilités). Aucune différence entre les sexes n’est retrouvée. Il y a par contre un effet de l’âge sur le nombre de dessins et le nombre de choix corrects qui augmentent et le nombre d’erreurs en administration A qui diminue. La fidélité test-retest est faible pour l’administration A, ce qui interdit toute utilisation trop rapprochée. Des études de validation pathologique restent à faire.
Lec et LO : lecture et langage oral. Une épreuve de lecture de texte en appui sur la psycholinguistique
Authors: Piérart Bernadette , Estienne Françoise
Published: December 2013

Résumé L’épreuve de lecture orale d’un texte « Lec et LO » constitue le complément la Batterie de langage oral Isadyle . Les deux outils sont étalonnés sur le même échantillon de référence. Ce dispositif constitue un atout pour l’évaluation complémentaire des connaissances lexicales à l’oral et leur évocation rapide, de la compréhension orale des structures syntaxiques, de la phonologie, des capacités métaphonologiques et métasyntaxiques et de la mémoire verbale.
Batterie d'évaluation des troubles du langage écrit adaptée aux lycéens et adultes dyslexiques
Authors: Pech-Georgel Catherine , George Florence
Published: December 2013

Résumé Dans le domaine de l’évaluation du langage écrit peu d’outils sont adaptés aux lycéens. La batterie que nous avons élaborée permet d’analyser les compétences en lecture, orthographe mais également en mémoire, attention, dénomination rapide et conscience phonologique dans le but d’objectiver les déficits persistants chez les adolescents ou adultes dyslexiques/dysorthographiques. Suite à la validation statistique, cette batterie représente un outil sensible, fiable et valide, pouvant justifier les demandes d’aménagements pédagogiques en cours de scolarité ou pour les examens.
Prise en charge des troubles attentionnels et exécutifs chez l'enfant. La remédiation cognitive : pratiques et perspectives
Authors: Deforge Hélène
Published: December 2013

Résumé En dépit de leur prévalence élevée et en particulier du nombre d’enfants concernés, les mesures de prise en charge des troubles attentionnels et exécutifs restent largement insuffisantes. Compte tenu des difficultés que ces troubles peuvent générer au plan scolaire et social et donc de leur incidence en termes de qualité de vie, le développement de dispositifs adaptés et efficaces est essentiel. Les techniques de remédiation cognitive constituent une approche de choix dans cette perspective. L’article présente différents programmes développés dans ce champ et expose certains principes gouvernant leur mise en place. D’autres axes thérapeutiques sont abordés, leur combinaison au sein d’une prise en charge globale et concertée constituant l’approche la plus opérante.
Les troubles de l'attention en neuropsychologie : des modèles aux implications rééducatives
Authors: Azouvi Philippe
Published: December 2013

Résumé Les nouvelles approches rééducatives des troubles attentionnels s’orientent sur une approche spécifique, visant à adapter les tâches de réentraînement aux déficits spécifiques des patients. Nous présentons ici une revue des principales études récentes sur la rééducation de l’attention.
Le dessin de l'enfant et son usage dans la pratique psychologique
Authors: Picard Delphine , Baldy René
Published: December 2013

Résumé Dans cet article, nous faisons le point sur le dessin de l’enfant tel qu’il peut être utilisé raisonnablement dans le cadre de la pratique psychologique. Dans un premier temps, nous proposons une classification des différents types de dessins utilisés couramment dans la pratique psychologique. Nous proposons ensuite une « mise en garde » contre certaines idées reçues (1- le dessin est le reflet direct d’un modèle interne, 2- le dessin du bonhomme témoigne de l’élaboration du schéma corporel, 3- le dessin, de par sa taille et ses couleurs, est une projection de l’état émotionnel du dessinateur, et 4- le dessin est universel et peu sensible aux variantes culturelles et historiques). Nous abordons finalement quelques perspectives contemporaines d’usage du dessin, notamment le dessin comme outil d’évaluation de la flexibilité cognitive, de la pensée divergente, et de la compréhension des émotions chez l’enfant.
La PMCC-CDG : Nouveau protocole de rééducation psychomotrice des Coordinations Dynamiques Générales basé sur la Pratique de Mouvements Continus et Cycliques appliqué au TAC
Authors: Aubert Éric , Pezet Émilie
Published: December 2013

Le Trouble d’Acquisition de la Coordination (TAC) est un trouble moteur fréquent qui a des répercussions sur différents plans : scolaire, familial, de la vie quotidienne... En séances, le psychomotricien se retrouve très régulièrement face à des enfants porteurs d’un TAC. L’intérêt de ce protocole psychomoteur, nommé PMCC-CDG, est d’apprendre, à ces enfants incoordonnés, trois coordinations dynamiques générales saturées en paramètres existant dans la plupart des coordinations dynamiques générales. Ainsi, une généralisation sur d’autres coordinations dynamiques générales est attendue. Pour cela, cette rééducation se base sur la théorie dynamique du mouvement expliquant que les mouvements continus et cycliques sont plus stables que les mouvements sériels. Ainsi, l’apprentissage moteur de ces coordinations s’effectue de manière cyclique, c’est-à-dire que les coordinations ne sont pas apprises isolément, mais dans un enchaînement d’une même action motrice répétée régulièrement.
Beneficial E-Personalization and Related Technological Innovations Applied to E-Tailing
Authors: Smith Alan D.
Published: December 2013

The numerous advancements in electronic-personalization communication have generated both benefits and challenges as online retailers try to regain competitive advantages in the current global recession. A literature review of personalization strategies was used to generate a survey instrument to examine the important characteristics of such programs from business professionals. Through appropriate multivariate analyses and data-reduction techniques, the basic elements e-personalization, namely online purchasing behaviors, personalized communications, information retrieval services, degree of personal Web presence, quality assurance of customer service, and the promotion of customization services, were found to be conceptually and statistically related to retailer benefits of e-personalization (increased buying and creates customer loyalty) from the viewpoint of managers for a large goods and services chain store headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
An Exploratory Study of Customer Satisfaction in a Community Bank
Authors: Barat Somjit , Spillan John E.
Published: December 2013

In a competitive business environment, delivering high level of customer service is critical. Investigating this aspect further, the current chapter focuses on the physical and service attributes of consumer satisfaction in the banking business, and takes a fresh look at how community banks can compete with larger banks in niche service areas. The goal of the research is to find out whether the customers: 1) were satisfied with every visit to the branch; 2) felt welcome when they came to the branch; 3) considered the bank’s products substantial for their needs; 4) were satisfied with the image of the bank; and 5) had any concerns about their bank deposits and about the bank’s (financial) position during difficult economic times. The findings indicate that customer responses are mixed on these issues. Interesting implications and ideas for further research also emanate from the current study.
Collaborative Business Service Modelling and Improving
Authors: Le Dinh Thang , Thi Thanh Thoa Pham
Published: December 2013

In the context of globalization, the competitive advantage of each service enterprise depends greatly on the ability to use network architectures to collaborate efficiently in business services. The chapter aims at introducing an information-driven approach that provides a conceptual foundation for modelling effectively and improving incrementally collaborative business services. The chapter begins by presenting the necessity for and principles of the information-driven approach. Then it presents the business service foundation for the proposed approach that consists of three different dimensions: 1) service proposal, corresponding to the service value creation network level, 2) service creation, corresponding to the service system level, and 3) service operation, corresponding to the service level. The chapter continues with a discussion and review of the relevant literature, followed by the conclusion and suggestions for further research.
An Update on the Use of Facebook as a Marketing Tool by Private Educational Institutions in Singapore
Authors: Leng H. K.
Published: December 2013

With social network sites growing in popularity, many organisations have started to use this new platform to market themselves. However, marketing on social network sites is different from traditional marketing. Its value lies in engaging members of the social network and generating shared cultural meaning of the advertised brand rather than promoting awareness of the brand to a large number of people. This is not apparent to marketers and as such, many organizations are not leveraging on this new media tool effectively. This chapter is an update on an earlier paper which examined the use of Facebook as a marketing tool by private educational institutions offering degree programmes in Singapore. The findings in the earlier paper have suggested that marketing on social network sites remained in its infancy. In this update, it was found that three years later, there has been an increase in the use of social network sites by educational institutes in Singapore. There is also evidence that there is greater engagement and the building of a virtual community on the social network sites. This suggests that the use of social network sites as a marketing tool by educational institutes in Singapore is maturing as the organisations are beginning to understand how to leverage on social network sites to market themselves more effectively.
Risk Due to Pipe Sticking
Authors: Gaurina-Medjimurec Nediljka , Pasic Borivoje
Published: December 2013

A stuck pipe is a common worldwide drilling problem in terms of time and financial cost. It causes significant increases in non-productive time and losses of millions of dollars each year in the petroleum industry. There are many factors affecting stuck pipe occurrence such as improper mud design, poor hole cleaning, differential pressure, key seating, balling up of bit, accumulation of cuttings, poor bottom hole assembly configuration, etc. The causes of a stuck pipe can be divided into two categories: (a) differential sticking and (b) mechanical sticking. Differential-pressure pipe sticking occurs when a portion of the drill string becomes embedded in a filter cake that forms on the wall of a permeable formation during drilling. Mechanical sticking is connected with key seating, formation-related wellbore instability, wellbore geometry (deviation and ledges), inadequate hole cleaning, junk in hole, collapsed casing, and cement related problems. Stuck pipe risk could be minimized by using available methodologies for stuck pipe prediction and avoiding based on available drilling parameters.
Lost Circulation
Authors: Gaurina-Medjimurec Nediljka , Pasic Borivoje
Published: December 2013

Lost circulation is defined as the uncontrolled flow of mud into a thief zone and presents one of the major risks associated with drilling. The complete prevention of lost circulation is impossible, but limiting circulation loss is possible if certain precautions are taken. Failure to minimize lost circulation can greatly increase the cost of drilling, as well as the risk of well loss. The risk of drilling a well in areas known to contain potential zones of lost circulation such as fractured, cavernous, or high permeability formations is a key factor in making a decision to approve or cancel a drilling project. The successful management of lost circulation should include identification of potential loss zones, optimization of drilling hydraulics, and remedial measures when lost circulation occures.
Simultaneous Operations
Authors: Kristafor Zdenko
Published: December 2013

Simultaneous operations can be defined as conducting independent operations in which the course of any operation may impact the safety of personnel, equipment, and environment of another operation. Operations are meant in terms of performing drilling, completion, workover, and construction or production activities simultaneously, mainly at offshore facilities. In general, they have an impact on the installation safety procedures and contingency planning program. Thus, for the purpose of performing simultaneous operations, they must comply with organizational safety and technological requirements. They are to be coordinated through joint planning efforts by supervisors who plan and direct activities. Typical chain-of-command as well as simultaneous operations decision making process flow diagrams are presented in this chapter. Basic steps to be regarded are performing risk assessment, assess and control risks, monitor the simultaneous tasks and communicate the control measures. Communication is the key to performing these tasks safely.
Risk and Remediation of Irreducible Casing Pressure at Petroleum Wells
Authors: Wojtanowicz Andrew K.
Published: December 2013

Oil well cement problems such as small cracks or channels may result in gas migration and lead to irreducible pressure at the casing head. Irreducible casing pressure also termed, Sustained Casing Pressure (SCP) is hazardous for a safe operation and the affected wells cannot be terminated without remedial operations. It is believed that even very small leaks might lead to continuous emissions of gas to the atmosphere. In the chapter, the author describes physical mechanisms of irreducible casing pressure and qualifies the associated risk by showing statistical data from the Gulf of Mexico and discussing the regulatory approach. This chapter also introduces a new approach to evaluate risk of casing pressure by computing a probable rate of atmospheric emissions from wells with failed casing heads resulting from excessive pressure. Also presented is a new method for assessing potential for self-plugging of such wells flowing wet gas as the gas migration channels could be plugged off by the condensate.
Workover Impact on Accidental Risk
Authors: Moslavac Bojan
Published: December 2013

Certain risks are very common to any application of a downhole control system during workover while others will be field-specific or at least increased or decreased by the given well conditions. Workover anomalies may be caused by erosion, corrosion, mechanical errors, temperature effects on electronics, wear and tear on the dynamic seals, or seizure of moving components. Obviously, the simpler the system and the fewer moving parts, the fewer components are available to fail. Procedures and supporting control software must be developed to ensure optimum system use. Blowouts are not very common today as most blowout preventing systems serve the purpose. However, occasionally, these systems may fail due to either technical problems on the wellbore equipment or human error. Both reasons can cause enormous damage on wellbore equipment, reservoir, surface facilities, or even human loss. The right accidental risk assessment approach can reduce the chances of repeating bad scenarios that happened in the past.
Activities in Oil and Gas Processing for Avoiding or Minimizing Environmental Impacts
Authors: Dubovski Svijetlana
Published: December 2013

Formal risk assessments are necessary at various phases of the asset life cycle as they help personnel identify, evaluate, and control hazards that could result in loss of life, injury, pollution, property damage, or business disruption. Hazard evaluations of production development concepts or facility design are well-defined processes, for which much literature is available as guidance. Such evaluations are mandated in some jurisdictions for project regulatory approval. This chapter provides guidance on activities implementation from designing phase, construction phase, operational phase, and decommissioning phase of gathering and processing systems. For each phase, activities that can be implemented to avoid or minimize environmental impact are described, emphasizing the implementation purpose.
Transportation Risk Analysis
Authors: Crnčević Dragan
Published: December 2013

Petroleum is transported across the water in barges and tankers, and on land, using pipelines, trucks, and trains. Natural gas is moved, mainly, by pipelines. The most common causes of tanker accidents are: fire/explosions, loading/offloading, structural damage, collision, and grounding. Pipeline accidents are due to: corrosion, third parties activities, mechanical damage, natural events, and operational error. Some of the most commonly applied preventive activities that reduce spills in waterborne transportation are: double-hulled tanker, navigation safety and radio communications equipment, tanker exclusion zone, etc. The pipeline condition can be recorded by using various nondestructive measurement techniques or by chemical analysis of fluid flows. Different types of sensors can be used to locate and determine the size of an anomaly in the pipeline geometry. Mayor methods for detecting leaks are measuring the hydrodynamic parameters or registering abnormal conditions in the fluid flow and detecting phenomena in the immediate vicinity of the pipeline.
The Effects of High and Low Technologies on Emotional Support for Caregivers
Authors: Zheng Robert Z. , Daniel Candice M. , Hill Robert D. , Luptak Marilyn , Hicken Bret L. , Grant Marren , Rupper Randall
Published: December 2013

Understanding the role of modern technology in providing adjunctive emotional support to caregivers has been a focus in contemporary caregiving research. However, it remains largely unknown (1) whether there are differences regarding the technologies used in caregiving support to achieve this objective and (2) which factors influence the outcome of emotional support. The current research describes a framework to address this issue and examines the role of different technologies in supporting caregiver emotional needs. Sixty older caregivers were recruited in the current study and randomly assigned to high and low technology guided caregiver support conditions. The findings revealed a significant impact in the high technology guided intervention for emotional support as measured by burden reduction. The discussion on the use of high technology guided support strategies for older caregiver training is offered with implications for future research and practice.
Optimal Green Virtual Machine Migration Model
Authors: Sabry Noah , Krause Paul
Published: December 2013

Cloud computing provides the opportunity to migrate virtual machines to “follow-the-green” data centres. That is, to migrate virtual machines between green data centres on the basis of clean energy availability, to mitigate the environmental impact of carbon footprint emissions and energy consumption. The virtual machine migration problem can be modelled to maximize the utility of computing resources or minimizing the cost of using computing resources. However, this would ignore the network energy consumption and its impact on the overall CO2 emissions. Unless this is taken into account the extra data traffic due to migration of data could then cause an increase in brown energy consumption and eventually lead to an unintended increase in carbon footprint emissions. Energy consumption is a key aspect in deploying distributed service in cloud networks within decentralized service delivery architectures. In this paper, the authors address an optimization view of the problem of locating a set of cloud services on a set of sites green data centres managed by a service provider or hybrid cloud computing brokerage. The authors’ goal is to minimize the overall network energy consumption and carbon footprint emissions for accessing the cloud services for any pair of data centres i and j. The authors propose an optimization migration model based on the development of integer linear programming (ILP) models, to identify the leverage of green energy sources with data centres and the energy consumption of migrating VMs.
Renewable Energy Sources for Power Supply of Base Station Sites
Authors: Lorincz Josip , Bule Ivana
Published: December 2013

An overview of research activity in the area of powering base station sites by means of renewable energy sources is given. It is shown that mobile network operators express significant interest for powering remote base stations using renewable energy sources. This is because a significant percentage of remote base station sites on the global level are still diesel powered due to lack of connections to the electricity grid. Besides huge expenses that mobile operators pay for diesel fuel and its transport to base station sites, it is pointed out that such base station sites represent major pollutants due to enormous green-house gas emissions. Since base stations are major consumers of cellular networks energy with significant contribution to operational expenditures, powering base stations sites using the energy of wind, sun, fuel cells or a combination gain mobile operators’ attention. It is shown that powering base station sites with such renewable energy sources can significantly reduce energy costs and improve the energy efficiency of the base station sites in rural areas. In addition, technical descriptions of the different power supply systems based on renewable sources with corresponding energy controllers for scheduling the flow of energy to power base station sites are discussed. According to the presented, hybrid systems which combine different renewable energy sources outperform those with only one energy source, and depend on the configuration of base stations installed on a particular site, such systems can offer autonomous functionality throughout the year.
’n Vergelyking tussen die kardiostres-indekse van ’n aktiewe en ’n sedentêre populasie
Authors: Du Toit Peet , Wood Paola , Grant Catherina C. , Nortje Evangeline , Kleynhans Michael , Fletcher Lizelle , Krüger Pieter E. , Joubert Annie M. , Kennedy Justin J. , Ferreira Ronél , Van Schoor Abert , Joubert Fourie , Gericke Gerda
Published: December 2013

Our modern lifestyle often results in the importance of physical exercise being overlooked. The increasingly passive way of life has resulted in a notable increase in the prevalence of lifestyle disorders, such as hypertension and some forms of vascular pathology. This study compares the cardio-stress indices (CSIs) of active and sedentary individuals to provide insight into the impact of the significant changes that have taken place in the modernised society. The active population consisted of 217 military recruits who had completed 20 weeks of basic military training. The sedentary population (n = 126) was sourced from a traditional tertiary institution where the focus is on attending lectures. Participants from both populations were required to attend three testing sessions, which were held during Week 1, Week 12 and Week 20. Subjects underwent a non-invasive ViportTM test to measure their CSI, heart rate and QRS duration. The results showed that although baseline readings for CSI, blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were initially higher among the active population, the commencement of the physical training programme resulted in a steady decline in respect of these three factors to approach healthier margins. However, the CSI for neither population reached the normal range, indicating that although physical activity reduces physiological stress levels, other key factors, namely lifestyle stress levels, must also be taken into account. The study supports the notion that increased physical activity has the potential to reduce the predisposition of an individual to cardiovascular disorders and contributes towards establishing the effect of training on heart health by using CSI as a means of measurement.