bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Rumen Fluid pH by Continuous Telemetry System and Bench pH Meter in Sheep with Different Ranges of Ruminal pH
Authors: Reis Leonardo F. , Minervino Antonio H. H. , Araújo Carolina A. S. C. , Sousa Rejane S. , Oliveira Francisco L. C. , Rodrigues Frederico A. M. L. , Meira-Júnior Enoch B. S. , Barrêto-Júnior Raimundo A. , Mori Clara S. , Ortolani Enrico L.
Published: May 2014

We aimed to compare the measurements of sheep ruminal pH using a continuous telemetry system or a bench pH meter using sheep with different degrees of ruminal pH. Ruminal lactic acidosis was induced in nine adult crossbred Santa Ines sheep by the administration of 15 g of sucrose per kg/BW. Samples of rumen fluid were collected at the baseline, before the induction of acidosis (T0) and at six, 12, 18, 24, 48, and 72 hours after the induction for pH measurement using a bench pH meter. During this 72-hour period, all animals had electrodes for the continuous measurement of pH. The results were compared using the Bland-Altman analysis of agreement, Pearson coefficients of correlation and determination, and paired analysis of variance with Student’st-test. The measurement methods presented a strong correlation (r=0.94,P<0.05) but the rumen pH that was measured continuously using a telemetry system resulted in lower values than the bench pH meter (overall mean of 5.38 and 5.48, resp.,P=0.0001). The telemetry system was able to detect smaller changes in rumen fluid pH and was more accurate in diagnosing both subacute ruminal lactic acidosis and acute ruminal lactic acidosis in sheep.
Discoscopic Findings of High Signal Intensity Zones on Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Lumbar Intervertebral Discs
Authors: Sugiura Kosuke , Tonogai Ichiro , Matsuura Tetsuya , Higashino Kosaku , Sakai Toshinori , Suzue Naoto , Hamada Daisuke , Goto Tomohiro , Takata Yoichiro , Nishisho Toshihiko , Goda Yuichiro , Sato Ryosuke , Kondo Kenji , Tezuka Fumitake , Mineta Kazuaki , Takeuchi Makoto , Takahashi Mitsuhiko , Egawa Hiroshi , Sairyo Koichi
Published: May 2014

A 32-year-old man underwent radiofrequency thermal annuloplasty (TA) with percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PED) under local anesthesia for chronic low back pain. His diagnosis was discogenic pain with a high signal intensity zone (HIZ) in the posterior corner of the L4-5 disc. Flexion pain was sporadic, and steroid injection was given twice for severe pain. After the third episode of strong pain, PED and TA were conducted. The discoscope was inserted into the posterior annulus and revealed a migrated white nucleus pulposus which was stained blue. Then, after moving the discoscope to the site of the HIZ, a migrated slightly red nucleus pulposus was found, suggesting inflammation and/or new vessels penetrating the mass. After removing the fragment, the HIZ site was ablated by TA. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the discoscopic findings of HIZ of the lumbar intervertebral disc.
A New Coupled CFD/Neutron Kinetics System for High Fidelity Simulations of LWR Core Phenomena: Proof of Concept
Authors: Pérez Mañes Jorge , Sánchez Espinoza Victor Hugo , Chiva Sergio , Stieglitz Robert
Published: May 2014

The Institute for Neutron Physics and Reactor Technology (INR) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is investigating the application of the meso- and microscale analysis for the prediction of local safety parameters for light water reactors (LWR). By applying codes like CFD (computational fluid dynamics) and SP3 (simplified transport) reactor dynamics it is possible to describe the underlying phenomena in a more accurate manner than by the nodal/coarse 1D thermal hydraulic coupled codes. By coupling the transport (SP3) based neutron kinetics (NK) code DYN3D with NEPTUNE-CFD, within a parallel MPI-environment, the NHESDYN platform is created. The newly developed system will allow high fidelity simulations of LWR fuel assemblies and cores. In NHESDYN, a heat conduction solver, SYRTHES, is coupled to NEPTUNE-CFD. The driver module of NHESDYN controls the sequence of execution of the solvers as well as the communication between the solvers based on MPI. In this paper, the main features of NHESDYN are discussed and the proof of the concept is done by solving a single pin problem. The prediction capability of NHESDYN is demonstrated by a code-to-code comparison with the DYNSUB code. Finally, the future developments and validation efforts are highlighted.
The Impact of Urbanization on the Annual Average Temperature of the Past 60 Years in Beijing
Authors: Wang Yong , Ji Wei , Yu Xinfang , Xu Xinliang , Jiang Dong , Wang Zhangang , Zhuang Dafang
Published: May 2014

Global warming, which is representatively caused by CO2-based greenhouse gases, has caused widespread concern in the global scientific community and gets the high attention of each government in the world. Human activities impact climate change through greenhouse gas emissions and land use changes. The current study on the impact of urbanization on the annual average temperature of the recent 60 years in Beijing was conducted using 1951–2012 temperature data. Anomaly analysis, quadratic polynomial trend method, and moving average method were employed to indicate the temporal variation of temperature. The results showed that average temperature increased both in urban and rural areas. The temperature of urban Beijing increased during the period from 1951 to 2012, especially from 1971 to 1994. The temperature of rural Beijing showed a faster increase than that of the urban area from 1989 to 1998. However, the rate of temperature increase slowed down in recent years. This type of change was temporally consistent with the process of land use change and urbanization in Beijing. Economic restructuring and improvement of urban planning may have been one of the reasons that the regional warming has been slowed down in the rural area.
Estimation of Tadalafil Using Derivative Spectrophotometry in Bulk Material and in Pharmaceutical Formulation
Authors: Khan Zamir G. , Patil Amod S. , Shirkhedkar Atul A.
Published: May 2014

Four simple, rapid, accurate, precise, reliable, and economical UV-spectrophotometric methods have been proposed for the determination of tadalafil in bulk and in pharmaceutical formulation. “Method A” is first order derivative UV spectrophotometry using amplitude, “method B” is first order derivative UV spectrophotometry using area under curve technique, “method C” is second order derivative UV spectrophotometry using amplitude, and “method D” is second order derivative UV spectrophotometry using area under curve technique. The developed methods have shown best results in terms of linearity, accuracy, precision, and LOD and LOQ for bulk drug and marketed formulation as well. In N,N-dimethylformamide, tadalafil showed maximum absorbance at 284 nm. For “method A” amplitude was recorded at 297 nm while for “method B” area under curve was integrated in the wavelength range of 290.60–304.40 nm. For “method C” amplitude was measured at 284 nm while for “method D” area under curve was selected in the wavelength range of 280.80–286.20 nm. For methods A and B, tadalafil obeyed Lambert-Beer’s law in the range of 05–50 μg/mL while for “methods C and D”, tadalafil obeyed Lambert-Beer’s law in the range of 20–70 μg/mL, and-for “methods A, B, C, and D” the correlation coefficients were found to be > than 0.999.
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Induces IL-1βProduction Depending on TLR4/MyD88 Pathway and NLRP3 Inflammasome in Primary Porcine Alveolar Macrophages
Authors: Bi Jing , Song Shuang , Fang Liurong , Wang Dang , Jing Huiyuan , Gao Li , Cai Yidong , Luo Rui , Chen Huanchun , Xiao Shaobo
Published: May 2014

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is anArterivirusthat has been devastating the swine industry worldwide since the late 1980s. Previous studies have reported that PRRSV infection induced the production of IL-1β. However, the cellular sensors and signaling pathways involved in this process have not been elucidated yet. Here, we studied the mechanisms responsible for the production of IL-1βin response to highly pathogenic PRRSV. Upon PRRSV infection of primary porcine alveolar macrophages, both mRNA expression and secretion of IL-1βwere significantly increased in a time- and dose-dependent manner. We also investigated the role of several pattern-recognition receptors and adaptor molecules in this response and showed that the TLR4/MyD88 pathway and its downstream signaling molecules, NF-κB, ERK1/2, and p38 MAPKs, were involved in IL-1βproduction during PRRSV infection. Treatment with specific inhibitors or siRNA knockdown assays demonstrated that components of the NLRP3 inflammasome were crucial for IL-1βsecretion but not for IL-1βmRNA expression. Furthermore, TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway was involved in PRRSV-induced expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components. Together, our results deciphered the pathways leading from recognition of PRRSV to the production and release of IL-1β, providing a deeper knowledge of the mechanisms of PRRSV-induced inflammation responses.
Paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Mechanistic Approach to Investigate Exclusive Enteral Nutrition Treatment
Authors: Nahidi Lily , Day Andrew S. , Lemberg Daniel A. , Leach Steven T.
Published: May 2014

The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) include Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis. The disease may present at any age although the peak of presentation is the second and third decades of life. The incidences of these diseases are increasing around the world with the age of presentation getting younger. At present CD is incurable with colectomy being the treatment for severe UC. Although several pharmacological approaches are used to modulate the inflammatory response in IBD, few lead to histological healing and most have side effects. An alternative approach is to use enteral formulae given exclusively (EEN) to treat IBD. EEN requires the consumption of an elemental or polymeric formula, with the exclusion of all other nutrients, for a period of up to 12 weeks. The introduction of EEN as a therapeutic option for IBD was through prudent observation; however, EEN has become an established and reliable option for the treatment of paediatric IBD. Despite this, the mechanisms through which EEN induces disease remission are unknown and remain hypothetical. This review will discuss recent research into EEN both describing clinical features of EEN therapy and discussing the most up-to-date understanding of the mechanisms through which EEN may be reducing intestinal inflammation and inducing disease remission.
Analytical Investigation of Laminar Viscoelastic Fluid Flow over a Wedge in the Presence of Buoyancy Force Effects
Authors: Rostami B. , Rashidi M. M. , Rostami P. , Momoniat E. , Freidoonimehr N.
Published: May 2014

An analytical strong method, the homotopy analysis method (HAM), is employed to study the mixed convective heat transfer in an incompressible steady two-dimensional viscoelastic fluid flow over a wedge in the presence of buoyancy effects. The two-dimensional boundary-layer governing partial differential equations (PDEs) are derived by the consideration of Boussinesq approximation. By the use of similarity transformation, we have obtained the ordinary differential nonlinear (ODE) forms of momentum and energy equations. The highly nonlinear forms of momentum and energy equations are solved analytically. The effects of different involved parameters such as viscoelastic parameter, Prandtl number, buoyancy parameter, and the wedge angle parameter, which is related to the exponentmof the external velocity, on velocity and temperature distributions are plotted and discussed. An excellent agreement can be seen between the results and the previously published papers forf′′(0)andθ′(0)in some of the tables and figures of the paper for velocity and temperature profiles for various values of viscoelastic parameter and Prandtl number. The effects of buoyancy parameter on the velocity and temperature distributions are completely illustrated in detail.
Cardioprotective Effect of Betulinic Acid on Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Rats
Authors: Xia Anzhou , Xue Zhi , Li Yong , Wang Wei , Xia Jieyun , Wei Tiantian , Cao Jing , Zhou Weidong
Published: May 2014

Objectives. This study aims to investigate the effect of betulinic acid (BA) on myocardial ischemia reperfusion/injury in an open‐chest anesthetized rat model. Methods. The model was induced by 30 minutes left anterior descending occlusion followed by 2 hours reperfusion. There are six groups in our present study: sham operation group, ischemia/reperfusion group, low‐dosage BA group, medium‐dosage BA group, high‐dosage BA group, and fosinopril sodium group. Rats in the latter four groups were administrated with BA (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, i.g.) or fosinopril sodium (10 mg/kg, i.g.) once a day for 7 days before operation, respectively. Rats in the former two groups were given the same volume of vehicle (0.5% CMC‐Na, i.g.). During the operation, cardiac function was continuously monitored. Serum LDH and CK were measured with colorimetric assays. The expression of Bcl‐2 and Bax and the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes were investigated with western blot and TUNEL assay, respectively. Results. Pretreatment with BA improved cardiac function and attenuated LDH and CK activities compared with IR group. Further investigation demonstrated that the expression of Bcl‐2 and Bax and TUNEL assay was in line with the above results. Conclusion. BA may reduce the release of LDH and CK, prevent cardiomyocytes apoptosis, and eventually alleviate the extent of the myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Inlay-Retained Fixed Dental Prosthesis: A Clinical Option Using Monolithic Zirconia
Authors: Augusti Davide , Augusti Gabriele , Borgonovo Andrea , Amato Massimo , Re Dino
Published: May 2014

Different indirect restorations to replace a single missing tooth in the posterior region are available in dentistry: traditional full-coverage fixed dental prostheses (FDPs), implant-supported crowns (ISC), and inlay-retained FDPs (IRFDP). Resin bonded FDPs represent a minimally invasive procedure; preexisting fillings can minimize tooth structure removal and give retention to the IRFDP, transforming it into an ultraconservative option. New high strength zirconia ceramics, with their stiffness and high mechanical properties, could be considered a right choice for an IRFDP rehabilitation. The case report presented describes an IRFDP treatment using a CAD/CAM monolithic zirconia IRFDP; clinical and laboratory steps are illustrated, according to the most recent scientific protocols. Adhesive procedures are focused on the Y-TZP and tooth substrate conditioning methods. Nice esthetic and functional integration of indirect restoration at two-year follow-up confirmed the success of this conservative approach.
Metabolic Demand and Muscle Activation during Different Forms of Bodyweight Supported Locomotion in Men with Incomplete SCI
Authors: Fenuta Alyssa M. , Hicks Audrey L.
Published: May 2014

Body weight supported locomotor training uses neuroplasticity principles to improve recovery following a spinal cord injury (SCI). Steady state locomotion using the same body weight support (BWS) percent was compared in 7 males (42.6±4.29 years) with incomplete SCI and matched (gender, age) noninjured controls (42.7±5.4 years) using the Lokomat, Manual Treadmill, and ZeroG. The VO2000, Polar Heart Rate (HR) Monitor, and lower limb electromyography (EMG) electrodes were worn during the 2-minute sessions. Oxygen uptake (VO2) and HR were expressed as percentage of peak values obtained using progressive arm ergometry; VO2was also expressed relative to resting metabolic equivalents (METS). Filtered EMG signals from tibialis anterior (TA), rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), and medial gastrocnemius (MG) were normalized to ZeroG stepping. The Lokomat required 30% of VO2peak (2METS) compared to ~54% (3METS) for Manual Treadmill and ZeroG sessions. HR was 67% of peak during Lokomat sessions compared to ~83% for Manual Treadmill and ZeroG. Muscle activation was higher in treadmill conditions compared to the ZeroG primarily due to increased BF activity. At the same level of BWS, locomotion using the Manual Treadmill or the ZeroG is more aerobically demanding than the Lokomat. Treadmill modalities encourage greater hip extensor activation compared to overground locomotion.
A Novel Resource-Leveling Approach for Construction Project Based on Differential Evolution
Authors: Tran Hong-Hai , Hoang Nhat-Duc
Published: May 2014

In construction engineering, project schedules are commonly established by the critical path method. Nevertheless, these schedules often lead to substantial fluctuations in the resource profile that are not only impractical but also costly for the contractors to execute. Therefore, in order to smooth out the resource profile, construction managers need to perform resource-leveling procedures. This paper proposes a novel approach for resource leveling, named as resource leveling based on differential evolution (RLDE). The performance of the RLDE is compared to that of Microsoft Project software, the genetic algorithm, and the particle swarm optimization algorithm. Experiments have proved that the newly developed method can deliver the most desirable resource-leveling result. Thus, the RLDE is an effective method and it can be a useful tool for assisting managers/planners in the field of project management.
Molecular Dynamics and Metadynamics Simulations of the Cellulase Cel48F
Authors: Vital de Oliveira Osmair
Published: May 2014

Molecular dynamics (MD) and metadynamics techniques were used to study the cellulase Cel48F-sugar. Cellulase is enzyme that breaks cellulose fibers into small sugar units and is potentially useful in second generation alcohol production. In MD simulations, the overall structure of equilibrated Cel48F did not significantly change along the trajectory, retaining root mean square deviation below 0.15 nm. A set of 15 residues interacting with the sugar chains via hydrogen bonding throughout the simulation was observed. The free energy of dissociation (ΔGdiss.) of the chains in the catalytic tunnel of Cel48F was determined by metadynamics. The
ΔGdiss. values of the chains entering and leaving the wild-type Cel48F cavity were 13.9 and 62.1 kcal/mol, respectively. We also mutated the E542 and Q543 to alanine residue and obtained ΔGdiss. of 41.8 and 45.9 kcal/mol, respectively. These mutations were found to facilitate smooth dissociation of the sugar chain across the Cel48F tunnel. At the entry of the Cel48F tunnel, three residues were mutated to alanine: T110, T213, and L274. Contrary to the T110A-Cel48F, the mutants T213-Cel48F and L274-Cel48F prevented the sugar chain from passing across the leaving site. The present results can be a guideline in mutagenesis studies to improve processing by Cel48F.
Consensus for Multiagent Systems with Nonlinear Dynamics and Time Delays Using a Two-Hop Relay Adaptive Method
Authors: Cao Qian , Song Y. D. , Wang Lei , Yang Feng
Published: May 2014

This paper investigates the consensus problem for multiagent systems with nonlinear dynamics and time delays. A distributed adaptive consensus protocol is proposed in which the time delays are explicitly included in the adaptive algorithm. It is shown that the resultant closed loop system involves doubly larger time delays, making the stability analysis nontrivial. Stability condition on maximum tolerable time delay is established and controlled by the proposed two-hop adaptive algorithm. The explicit expression of the delay margin is derived and analyzed in the frequency domain. Both the agent state errors and the estimation parameter errors converge to zero. A simulation example is illustrated to verify the theory results.
Highly Directional Small-Size Antenna Designed with Homogeneous Transformation Optics
Authors: Wang Zuojia , Shen Lian , Chen Jun , Wang Huaping , Yu Faxin , Chen Hongsheng
Published: May 2014

Achieving high directivity antenna usually requires a large size antenna aperture in traditional antenna design. Previous work shows that, with the help of metamaterials and transformation optics, a small size antenna can perform as high directivity as a large size antenna, but the material parameters are inhomogeneous and difficult to realize. In this paper, we propose a linear homogeneous coordinate transformation to design the small size antenna. Distinguishing from inhomogeneous transformation, we construct a regular polygon in virtual space and then divide it into several triangle segments. By applying linear homogeneous coordinate transformation, the antenna devices can be greatly compressed without disturbing the radiation patterns by using homogeneous metamaterial substrates. The material parameters of the antenna designed from this method are homogeneous and easy to fabricate. Square and hexagonal antenna structures are numerically demonstrated to illustrate the validity of our methodology.
Computational Algorithm-Driven Evaluation of Monocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Frequency for Prediction of Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Kitano Shigehisa , Postow Michael A. , Ziegler Carly G.K. , Kuk Deborah , Panageas Katherine S. , Cortez Czrina , Rasalan Teresa , Adamow Mathew , Yuan Jianda , Wong Philip , Altan-Bonnet Gregoire , Wolchok Jedd D. , Lesokhin Alexander M.
Published: May 2014

Evaluation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), a cell type implicated in T-cell suppression, may inform immune status. However, a uniform methodology is necessary for prospective testing as a biomarker. We report the use of a computational algorithm-driven analysis of whole blood and cryopreserved samples for monocytic MDSC (m-MDSC) quantity that removes variables related to blood processing and user definitions. Applying these methods to samples from patients with melanoma identifies differing frequency distribution of m-MDSC relative to that in healthy donors. Patients with a pretreatment m-MDSC frequency outside a preliminary definition of healthy donor range (<14.9%) were significantly more likely to achieve prolonged overall survival following treatment with ipilimumab, an antibody that promotes T-cell activation and proliferation. m-MDSC frequencies were inversely correlated with peripheral CD8+ T-cell expansion following ipilimumab. Algorithm-driven analysis may enable not only development of a novel pretreatment biomarker for ipilimumab therapy, but also prospective validation of peripheral blood m-MDSCs as a biomarker in multiple disease settings. Cancer Immunol Res; 2(8); 812–21. ©2014 AACR.
A case of the higher-level classification of praying mantises (Mantodea) obscuring the synonymy of Majangella Giglio-Tos, 1915 (Liturgusidae, Liturgusinae) and Ephippiomantis Werner, 1922 (Hymenopodidae, Acromantinae)
Authors: SVENSON GAVIN J. , VOLLMER WILLIAM
Published: May 2014

The praying mantis genus Majangella Giglio-Tos, 1915 is taxonomically treated with a re-description of the genus and the two included species, M. moultoni Giglio-Tos, 1915 and M. carli Giglio-Tos, 1915. The genus Ephippiomantis Werner, 1922 is newly determined to be the junior synonym of Majangella Giglio-Tos, 1915 based on morphology. The species for which the genus name Ephippiomantis was erected, E. ophirensis Werner, 1922, is re-described and now included within Majangella. This synonymy was determined herein as the direct result of erroneous higher-level placement of Majangella within the Majanginae by Giglio-Tos and was not recognized even after the genus was moved to within Liturgusidae. Action is now taken to move Majangella from within Liturgusidae to within the Hymenopodidae subfamily of Acromantinae, which is supported by morphological and molecular data. A key to the three species is provided along with habitus images, images of the head, pronotum, and foreleg, and illustrations of the male genitalia. Species distributions are presented and locality coordinates are provided in print as well as being available for download as a KML file viewable in Google Earth.
A revision of Rhodomantis Giglio-Tos, 1917 (Mantodea: Mantidae: Mantinae)
Authors: MILLEDGE GRAHAM A.
Published: May 2014

The genus Rhodomantis Giglio-Tos is revised. A total of nine species are recognised. Seven new species, R. helenae, R. kimberley, R. macula, R. microptera, R. mitchell, R. napier, and R. rentzi are described. Rhodomantis carinicollis Werner and R. gracilis Tindale are new synonyms of R. queenslandica Sjöstedt.
A revision of Apteromantis (Mantodea: Mantidae, Amelinae): A comprehensive approach to manage old taxonomic and conservation problems
Authors: BATTISTON ROBERTO , ORTEGO JOAQUÍN , CORREAS JOSÉ R. , CORDERO PEDRO J.
Published: May 2014

The genus Apteromantis Werner, 1931 comprises two species of wingless mantids, the Iberian A. aptera (Fuente, 1894) and the North African A. bolivari (Werner, 1929). Although A. aptera and A. bolivari have been traditionally considered as separate and valid species, their external appearance is quite similar and no comprehensive taxonomic study has analyzed their morphological and genetic characteristics. This taxonomic uncertainty has important implications for conservation because A. aptera is considered an Iberian endemic and the only praying mantis protected by international laws. In this study, we apply a comprehensive approach, including quantitative morphological and molecular analyses, to shed new light on the taxonomic and conservation status of the genus Apteromantis and the putative species. We have found that the Iberian and North African specimens analyzed herein significantly differ in female head shape, male genitalia morphology and several other traits related to body size. Molecular data suggest the presence of two main lineages, with sequence divergence rates of approximately 4 %, which are within the range reported for other well defined insect species. Overall, this study supports that A. aptera and A. bolivari are valid species despite their ecological and morphological similarity and highlights the importance of comprehensive approaches to resolve old taxonomic and conservation problems.
Predicting Hurricane Intensity and Associated Hazards: A Five-Year Real-Time Forecast Experiment with Assimilation of Airborne Doppler Radar Observations
Authors: Zhang Fuqing , Weng Yonghui
Published: May 2014

Performance in the prediction of hurricane intensity and associated hazards has been evaluated for a newly developed convection-permitting forecast system that uses ensemble data assimilation techniques to ingest high-resolution airborne radar observations from the inner core. This system performed well for three of the ten costliest Atlantic hurricanes: Ike (2008), Irene (2011), and Sandy (2012). Four to five days before these storms made landfall, the system produced good deterministic and probabilistic forecasts of not only track and intensity, but also of the spatial distributions of surface wind and rainfall. Averaged over all 102 applicable cases that have inner-core airborne Doppler radar observations during 2008–2012, the system reduced the day-2-to-day-4 intensity forecast errors by 25%–28% compared to the corresponding National Hurricane Center’s official forecasts (which have seen little or no decrease in intensity forecast errors over the past two decades). Empowered by sufficient computing resources, advances in both deterministic and probabilistic hurricane prediction will enable emergency management officials, the private sector, and the general public to make more informed decisions that minimize the losses of life and property.
Cerebrospinal fluid total protein cannot reliably distinguish true subarachnoid haemorrhage from other causes of raised cerebrospinal fluid net bilirubin and net oxyhaemoglobin absorbances
Authors: Birch Katherine , Burrows Gillian , Cruickshank Anne , Egner William , Holbrook Ian , Lewis Emma , McNeilly Jane , Patel Dina , Worthington Viki
Published: May 2014

Background

In cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spectrophotometry, if the net bilirubin absorbance (NBA) and net oxyhaemoglobin absorbance (NOA) are both raised with a visible oxyhaemoglobin peak, the revised national guidelines for analysis of CSF bilirubin advise interpreting the results as ‘Consistent with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH)’ regardless of the CSF total protein concentration of the specimen. We wanted to study the range of CSF total protein concentrations found in confirmed SAH to establish if the CSF total protein value can give further guidance on the likelihood of SAH.

Methods

Consecutive cases from five different hospital sites were included if the CSF NBA was greater than 0.007 AU and the NOA was greater than 0.02 AU with a visible oxyhaemoglobin peak. For the cases identified, the laboratory information management system and patient records were interrogated to identify the total protein concentration of the CSF specimen and whether SAH had ultimately been confirmed or excluded by other methods and supporting evidence.

Results

Results from 132 patients were included. The CSF total protein range in confirmed SAH was 0.23–3.08 g/L with a median concentration of 0.7 g/L (n = 51). In the SAH excluded group, the CSF total protein range was 0.43–29 g/L with a median concentration of 1.9 g/L (n = 81).

Conclusions

Although confirmed SAH was not associated with the very highest concentrations of CSF total protein, a definite CSF protein cut-off concentration above which SAH could reliably be excluded cannot be recommended.
Differential Public Service Motivation Among Hong Kong Public Officials
Authors: Yung Betty
Published: May 2014

This article adopts a qualitative approach to investigate public service motivation (PSM) among the government employees in Hong Kong. The government employees are not a homogeneous whole but a nuanced combination of rational self-interested motives, and PSM may help to explain the entry reason as well as work efforts of government officials of various ranks and employment terms, different nature of work, postings as well as time periods. Various obstacles to the development of PSM among the different groups are found, and the means of encouraging PSM are discussed. However, it should be pointed out that the primary requirements for a government employee should be competence and a “sense of responsibility” in carrying out the duties of the post concerned, while PSM serves only as an additional merit, indeed of secondary importance.
Being a Mother, Practicing Motherhood, Mothering Someone
Authors: Valencia Lorena
Published: May 2014

This article draws on 18 months of residential fieldwork in South Manchester, England. It looks at mothers as targets of state intervention, how they deal with expertise and psy-knowledge. It shows the politics of mothering as everyday resistance and as a genealogy of subjectification. Specifically, it analyses how mothers negotiate “psy-knowledge” and anxieties coming from disciplines and professionals, with their own mundane everyday practices and expertise. It looks at anxieties over parenting styles and childrearing as source of social problems. It shows how meanings about mothering are socially negotiated, reproduced, and sometimes resisted. It explores some ways in which mothering practices resist and overlap with discourses and practices derived from established and legitimized “psy-knowledge,” highlighting what may be considered indigenous knowledge.
Rapid Systematic Review of the Epley Maneuver versus Vestibular Rehabilitation for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Authors: Wegner Inge , Niesten Marlien E. F. , van Werkhoven Cornelis H. , Grolman Wilko
Published: May 2014

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of the Epley maneuver compared with vestibular rehabilitation on patient‐reported symptom relief and conversion of the Dix‐Hallpike from positive to negative in patients with posterior benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (p‐BPPV).

Data Sources

PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library.

Review Methods

A systematic search was conducted. Studies reporting original study data were included. Relevance and risk of bias (RoB) of the selected articles were assessed. Studies with low relevance, high RoB, or both were excluded. For outcomes of interest, absolute risk differences and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted.

Results

A total of 373 unique studies were retrieved. Five of these satisfied the eligibility criteria. One study with low RoB and 3 studies with moderate RoB showed that the Epley maneuver is more effective than vestibular rehabilitation at 1‐week follow‐up with regard to patient‐reported symptom relief and conversion of the Dix‐Hallpike maneuver from positive to negative (risk differences range from 10% [95% CI, 30‐47] to 55% [95% CI, 35‐71]). There is inconsistent evidence for the effectiveness of the Epley maneuver compared with vestibular rehabilitation at 1‐month follow‐up. Most studies suggest that the Epley maneuver and vestibular rehabilitation are equally effective at 1‐month follow‐up.

Conclusion

The Epley maneuver is more effective in treating p‐BPPV than vestibular rehabilitation at 1‐week follow‐up. There is inconsistent evidence for the effectiveness of the Epley maneuver compared with vestibular rehabilitation at 1‐month follow‐up.
Management, clinical outcomes, and complications of acute cannula-related peripheral vein phlebitis of the upper extremity: A retrospective study
Authors: Dunda SE , Demir E , Mefful OJ , Grieb G , Bozkurt A , Pallua N
Published: May 2014

Objective

Acute phlebitis due to peripheral vein catheter use is frequently observed in clinical practice, and requires surgical therapy in severe cases. In this retrospective study, we aimed to increase awareness, evaluate current treatment options, and develop recommendations to optimize treatment outcomes.

Methods

A total of 240 hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of upper extremity phlebitis from 2006 to 2011 were evaluated in terms of initial clinical features, parameters, co-morbidities and treatment regimes. Severity of phlebitis was graded according to the Baxter scale by assessing clinical symptoms such as pain, erythema, induration, swelling, or palpable venous cord (grade 0–5). Patients were divided in two subgroups: conservative ( n = 132) and operative ( n = 108) treatment.

Results

Surgical intervention rates and severity were higher for cannula insertion in the cubital fossa region than for cannula insertion in the forearm and hand region ( p < 0.05). Baxter scale grades were higher in the surgical treatment group than in the conservative treatment group (4.47 vs. 2.67, respectively).

Conclusions

The cubital fossa region is vulnerable to severe phlebitis and is not recommended as the first site of choice for cannulation. Phlebitis of Baxter scale grade 4 or 5 should be considered for early surgical intervention.
Towards place-based regional and local development strategies in Central and Eastern Europe? EU cohesion policy and strategic planning capacity at the sub-national level
Authors: Dąbrowski Marcin
Published: May 2014

The EU accession of the Central and Eastern European countries required adjustment to EU cohesion policy and its framework, based on multi-level governance and territorially targeted financial support for regional development. This involved reforms of territorial administration, the developing of regional policies and the building of the capacity for administering structural funds. This article investigates the mechanisms of adjustment to the programming principle of EU cohesion policy which requires that the structural funds are used according to multi-annual strategies and place-tailored operational programmes. Drawing on qualitative data from interviews with regional actors in Polish, Czech and Hungarian regions, the article focuses on the impacts of this EU-imposed approach to the practices of the regional and local actors. It finds that EU cohesion policy overall promoted strategic and place-based development planning in the Central and Eastern European countries. However, its impacts remain differentiated and often limited to ‘superficial’ changes. The article argues that there are factors hampering the institutionalisation of multi-annual strategic development planning. These include the overemphasis on the ‘absorption’ of EU funds, patronage networks affecting decision making, and the reluctance of the central governments to let regional authorities set their own investment priorities, thus denying the very purpose of strategic planning tailored to regional specificities.
Increased VIP levels in peripheral blood outside migraine attacks as a potential biomarker of cranial parasympathetic activation in chronic migraine
Authors: Cernuda-Morollón Eva , Martínez-Camblor Pablo , Alvarez Rocío , Larrosa Davinia , Ramón César , Pascual J
Published: May 2014

Aim

The aim of this article is to determine vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels outside migraine attacks in peripheral blood as a potential biomarker for chronic migraine (CM).

Methods

Women older than 17 and diagnosed as CM were recruited. Matched healthy women with no headache history and women with episodic migraine (EM) served as control groups, together with a series of patients with episodic cluster headache in a pain-free period. VIP levels were determined in blood samples obtained from the right antecubital vein by ELISA outside a migraine attack, the patients having taken no symptomatic medication the day before. For ethical reasons, preventives were not stopped.

Results

We assessed plasma samples from 119 women with CM, 33 healthy women, 51 matched women with EM and 18 patients (16 males) with cluster headache matched for age. VIP levels were significantly increased in CM (165.1 pg/ml) as compared to control healthy women (88.5 pg/ml) and episodic cluster headache patients (101.1 pg/ml). VIP levels in EM (134.9 pg/ml) were significantly higher compared to controls and numerically lower than those of CM. Thresholds of 71.8 and 164.5 pg/ml optimized the sensitivity and specificity to differentiate CM from healthy controls and EM, respectively. Variables such as age, CM duration, the presence of aura, analgesic overuse, depression, fibromyalgia, vascular risk factors, history of triptan consumption or kind of preventive treatment did not significantly influence VIP levels.

Conclusion

Increased interictal VIP level measured in peripheral blood could be a biomarker helping in CM diagnosis, though it does not clearly differentiate between EM and CM.
Migraine and Cranial Autonomic Symptoms in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Raieli V. , Giordano G. , Spitaleri C. , Consolo F. , Buffa D. , Santangelo G. , Savettieri G. , Vanadia F. , D’Amelio M.
Published: May 2014

The frequency of cranial autonomic symptoms in children affected by primary headaches is uncertain. The aim of our study was to estimate the frequency of symptoms in pediatric headaches and correlate it with main migraine characteristics. A questionnaire investigating the presence of cranial autonomic symptoms was administered to all children with primary headache for 2 years. A total of 230 children with primary headache (105 males, 125 females) were included. Two hundred two children were affected by migraine and 28 (12.2%) by other primary headaches. Cranial autonomic symptoms were significantly complained by migraineurs (55% vs 17.8%) ( P < .001) and by children with higher frequency of migraine attacks (odds ratio = 2.6, confidence interval = 1.4-4.7, P = .001). Our findings show that cranial autonomic symptoms are rather common during pediatric migraine attacks. The association between cranial autonomic symptoms and higher frequency of attacks might suggest the role of the trigeminal-autonomic reflex in migraine pathophysiology.
Family Binds and Glass Ceilings: Women Managers’ Promotion Limits in a ‘Knowledge Economy’
Authors: Livingstone D.W. , Pollock Katina , Raykov Milosh
Published: May 2014

This article documents macro-level trends regarding gender equity for women managers in paid workplaces and examines the importance of factors related to equitable promotion. Primary evidence is drawn from 1982, 2004 and 2010 surveys of work and learning activities of the employed Canadian labor force. These surveys provide unique national-level data on the managerial levels, qualifications, sex of supervisor and divisions of paid and unpaid labor among male and female managers which could provide benchmarks for further international surveys. Women’s representation in top-level jobs remains very restricted, and most women still manage only women. Greater employment experience and higher educational qualifications are now generally significant factors for promotion of women as well as men. But glass ceilings maintained by men and women’s own primary responsibility for household work remain the major obstacles to equitable promotion. Women managers’ increasing economic power remains contingent on facing up to these interrelated barriers.
Design of a corrosion-resistant hydroprocessing reactor effluent air cooler with SS316L lined tubes
Authors: Ou Guofu , Gong Baolong , Li Hongjun , Li Weizheng , Xiao Dinghao
Published: May 2014

In this article, stainless steel 316L lined carbon steel tubes are used to prevent flow-induced erosion corrosion in the reactor effluent air cooler during the process of refining. Finite element analysis was carried out to investigate the characteristics of stress, drawing force, and interfacial contact pressure during the cold drawing process. Process parameters such as drawing head size and liner diameter were optimized to produce maximum residual contact pressure at the interface of base tube and liner. The effect of working conditions on tube bonding strength was also studied. It was found that the lined tubes can function well in reactor effluent air cooler under combined loading of internal pressure and elevated temperature, i.e. the normal working condition. Finally examinations and testing were performed to meet the requirement of standards and codes.
Pathogenetic role of an autoimmune susceptibility locus derived from MRL/MpJ strain chromosome 1 in chronic pancreas inflammation
Authors: Okada Y , Nakamura T , Ichii O , Otsuka S , Kon Y
Published: May 2014

We examined the role of Mag, an autoimmune susceptibility locus encoded by the telomeric region of MRL/MpJ mouse chromosome 1, in the pathogenesis of autoimmune exocrinopathy. At nine to 12 months of age, strain-specific differences were observed in the pancreas of the animals. B- and T-cell-containing periductal/perivascular cell infiltrations in the pancreases of MRL/MpJ and B6.MRLc1 congenic C57BL/6-background Mag-carrying strains were more severe than were those of C57BL/6. Pancreatic periductal/perivascular cell infiltration was observed frequently in A/J, AKR/N, B6.MRLc1, C57BL/6, and MRL/MpJ, moderately in DBA/1 and DBA/2, and rarely in BALB/c and C3H/He strains. Females tended to have greater pancreatic periductal/perivascular cell infiltration than males. C57BL/6 mice possessed defined borders between cell infiltrations and acini, but borders were indistinct in MRL/MpJ and B6.MRLc1 mice. We attributed this to the invasion of inflammatory cells between each acinus and the disruption of acinar cells around cell infiltrations in the latter strains. No strain-specific differences were observed in the appearance of fibrotic lesions and high endothelial venules in the cell infiltrates. The levels of serum anti-dsDNA antibodies and amylase, and mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and Fc gamma receptor III (encoded on Mag) in the pancreases, were elevated in MRL/MpJ- and B6.MRLc1-strain mice relative to C57BL/6. These results emphasized the crucial roles of Mag in the molecular and genetic pathogenesis of autoimmune-mediated pancreatitis.
On borrowed size, flawed urbanisation and emerging enclave spaces: The exceptional urbanism of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Authors: Hesse Markus
Published: May 2014

This paper investigates the development trajectory and spatial governance practices in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, a small but affluent, rapidly developing member state of the European Union. Against the background of globalisation and its urban impact (particularly concerning smaller or emerging metropolitan areas), the paper aims at reconstructing the Luxembourgian urban development trajectory, which is characterised by continuous population growth and successful attraction of global services and financial industries in a rather unique context of the niche sovereignty politics of the small state/small city. The paper also presents a carefully balanced critique of governance practices that seeks to implement integrative strategies in a rather fragmented setting of development, policy and regulation. In so doing, the paper situates this specific case of urbanisation in the context of current paths and narratives of development, particularly with respect to the emergence of global ‘enclave spaces’ and the way these are becoming nested into broader network constellations. The paper also discusses possible consequences for both governance practices and comparative urban studies.
Necrotizing Esophagitis and Bleeding Associated With Cefazolin
Authors: Barnes Tyler , Yan Shiqing , Kaakeh Yaman
Published: May 2014

Objective: To report the case of a patient who presented with rare necrotizing esophagitis related to cefazolin-associated coagulopathy. A review of the literature is also provided. Case Summary: A 53-year-old male patient was admitted for management of septicemia and femur osteomyelitis. Long-term cefazolin treatment was initiated after cultures and sensitivity revealed methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. The patient was given intravenous cefazolin 2 g every 24 hours. On day 15 of cefazolin treatment, the patient presented to the emergency department complaining of black coffee ground emesis. On upper-gastrointestinal endoscopy, the patient was determined to have necrotizing esophagitis. He was found to have an international normalized ratio (INR) of 8.11 and prothrombin time (PT) of 89.2 s. Intravenous vitamin K, fresh frozen plasma, and packed red blood cells were administered. The INR was rechecked 4 hours later and found to have decreased to 1.55 with a PT of 17 s. The patient did not have medical conditions or take medications that could have caused bleeding. Discussion: Based on the Naranjo algorithm, it was determined that cefazolin had a “probable” relationship. Increased bleeding risk has been associated with other cephalosporins, although much less commonly with cefazolin. Possible mechanisms and implications are discussed. Conclusions: High-risk patients being treated with cefazolin therapy should be monitored for potentially severe adverse events, including bleeding and necrotizing esophagitis.
Saturated robust control with regional pole placement and application to car active suspension
Authors: Soliman Hisham M , Benzaouia Abdellah , Yousef Hassan
Published: May 2014

In this paper a new saturated control design for uncertain systems is proposed. The developed saturated control scheme is based on linear matrix inequality (LMI) optimization to achieve prescribed dynamic performance measures e.g., settling time and damping ratio. In this design, the closed-loop poles are forced to lie within a desired region. The proposed design provides robustness against system uncertainties. The existence of the saturated robust control with regional pole placement is shown using LMI and Lyapunov function analysis. Simulation results of two illustrative examples are given to validate the effectiveness of the proposed controllers. Application to car active suspension to achieve comfortable dynamic performance by pole placement and avoiding actuator saturation is also considered.
On the notion of embedded homogeneity of thin structures
Authors: Epstein Marcelo , Roychowdhury Ayan
Published: May 2014

A thin-walled structure is homogeneously embeddable if it can be obtained by carving it out of a homogeneous material block or, in other words, if it is materially defect-free. Explicit analytic and geometric conditions for the embedded homogeneity of plane linearly elastic beams are derived and discussed. In the geometric setting, a prominent role is played by the properties of the hodograph of uniaxial material tensor fields defined on the beam axis.