bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling tool path in wire electric discharge machining using Denavit–Hartenberg notation
Authors: Hsieh J-F
Published: June 2011

This paper presents a systematic methodology for producing the numerical control (NC) data required to fabricate complex three-dimensional (3D) ruled surfaces using five-axis computer numerical control (CNC) wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM). The proposed approach commences by using the Denavit–Hartenberg (D–H) notation to establish the ability matrix of the WEDM machine. The Plucker coordinate representation is then applied to design the desired ruled surface in terms of a set of control lines. In addition, an offset ruled surface is derived in accordance with the principles of differential geometry in order to account for the wire radius and spark gap. Finally, the required NC data equations are obtained by equating the corresponding elements of the ability matrix and the configuration matrices of the upper and lower wire guide heads respectively. The validity of the proposed methodology is confirmed by machining a workpiece with a cubic Bezier ruled surface on a commercial five-axis CNC WEDM machine.
A study of the effect of strain rate and temperature on the characteristics of quasi-unidirectional natural fibre-reinforced composites
Authors: David-West O S , Banks W M , Pethrick R A
Published: June 2011

The responses of quasi-unidirectional vegetable fibres (sisal and flax) – styrene polyester matrix composites under 6-J nominal strike energy at different sample temperatures and at higher impact energies of 9 and 12 J for samples at room temperature have been studied and indentation properties realized from static loading at different cross-head displacement speeds. The findings are explained in terms of the impact characteristics. At temperatures above ambient, there were changes in the impact characteristics. The drop impact tests were carried out on samples (70 × 70 × 5 mm3) at an ambient temperature of 18 °C and elevated temperatures of 40 °C, 60 °C, 80 °C, and 100 °C using an instrumented drop tester with a 12.1-mm diameter hemispheric tup and the load history and energy profile were obtained. The actual damage response depends on many intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including the thickness of the laminate, the exact stacking sequence, the shape and kinetic energy of the impactor, and the degree to which the laminate is supported against bending. The examination of the impact and post-impact characteristics at elevated temperatures revealed a plastic mode of failure and the performance was assessed in terms of contact time, post-impact displacement, and total energy. Composites are generally brittle in nature and respond elastically with little or no plastic deformation, but this is not the case for natural fibre – styrene polyester matrix composites, especially at high temperatures, as there exists some degree of plasticity seen in the after-impact state of the samples. Low energy impact (6 J) results in cracking of the matrix leading to reduction in the strength of the composite. However, higher energy impact strikes produce cracking of the matrix and splintering of the fibres. From the load–indentation curves, average power coefficients of 3.6 and 15.4 were obtained for sisal and flax composites, respectively, as against 1.5 for the special Hertz contact of two elastic bodies.
What if the Kabubble bursts?
Authors: Kingstone Heidi
Published: June 2011

Self-censorship and political pressures make Afghanistan journalism hazardous. And peace may not improve matters, say the pundits
Bias, Bunkum and Capital-itis
Authors: Luckhurst Tim
Published: June 2011

The BBC is determined to migrate to the north, yet there is no evidence that the much-discussed London-centricity really exists
News-bites can satisfy all appetites
Authors: Barron Peter
Published: June 2011

An ex-journalist now working at Google believes technological innovation and new skills assure a bright future for journalism
News and comment: separate stables?
Authors: Harding Phil
Published: June 2011

The debate about biased or unbiased news reporting continues to rage. But could the argument be settled by having a two-tier system ?
I’ve seen tomorrow -and its female
Authors: Janes Hilly
Published: June 2011

The glass ceiling has never been properly shattered in newspapers but it will be easier for us in the new media world, suggests a woman
Content must always be king
Authors: Waugh Paul
Published: June 2011

Blogging is only the beginning as exciting new ventures explode into the internet age, writes this converted print journalist
Experimental investigation of a post-buckled piezoelectric beam with an attached central mass used to harvest energy
Authors: Sneller A J , Cette P , Mann B P
Published: June 2011

Recent advances in wireless electronics have outpaced concurrent advances in battery technology, and this has led to the emergence of vibrational energy harvesting as an alternative source of energy for low-power wireless devices. In particular, piezoelectric materials have been widely studied as an energy conversion mechanism due to their ability to generate electric potential in response to applied mechanical strain. This paper investigates the response of a buckled piezoelectric beam to harmonic base excitation.

Forced buckled structures may exhibit snap-through behaviour, in which the structure rapidly deforms from one stable configuration to another. Of particular interest to this study is the effect of an attached mass on persistent snap-through behaviour, which has clear applications to energy harvesting due to its relatively large amplitude motion. It is shown experimentally that the addition of a small mass to the centre of the beam significantly broadens the frequency range over which snap-through is observed, which leads to increased power output over those frequencies. Additionally, it is shown that adding a centre mass can lower the threshold forcing amplitude above which persistent snap-through can occur. Finally, it is shown that for a particular forcing condition, there exists a nearly linear relationship between the applied mass and the power output by the snap-through response. A theoretical model was developed to describe the system’s behaviour, which agreed with experimental findings that an attached mass leads to broadened frequency response and a lower threshold for large amplitude response.
Modelling and experimental characterization of an energy harvester with bi-stable compliance characteristics
Authors: Cammarano A , Burrow S G , Barton D A W
Published: June 2011

This paper presents a novel design for a vibrational energy harvester. The design uses high permeability magnetic materials which brings about two key advantages. First, it gives strong coupling between the mechanical and electrical domains, thus enabling effective energy conversion. Second, it gives the device a bi-stable compliance characteristic, which gives the harvester a broad-band frequency response. An explicit analytical model is developed using a combination of experimental data and finite element modelling in order to accurately incorporate the magnetic forces. The model is then validated using dynamic tests of the experimental rig. The main features of the dynamic response of the bi-stable oscillator are highlighted and benefits discussed in the context of energy harvesting. Finally, comments are made on the relationship between the complicated behaviour resulting from the bi-stable compliance characteristic and the benefits of increased electrical coupling.
Study on the effect of different oxygen therapies on rats with acute carbon dioxide poisoning
Authors: Niu Y-M , Hao F-T , Xue C-J , Xia Y-J , Zhou S , Lu Q-S , Liu J-Z , Zhang P
Published: June 2011

Objective: To study the effect of different oxygen therapies on the rats with carbon dioxide poisoning for screening out the best on-the-spot oxygen-therapy technology for treating acute carbon dioxide poisoning. Methods: The 60 healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group (A group), carbon dioxide poisoning group (B group), low-concentration oxygen inhalation treatment group (C group), high-concentration oxygen inhalation treatment group (D group) and hyperbaric oxygen-therapy group (E group). Various kinds of oxygen therapies were given after the contamination. The pH, partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) of arterial blood, serum troponin I (CTNI), creatine kinase (CK), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (AST), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), potassium (K), sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) for the rats of each group were inspected. The lung and the brain tissues were taken for observing the pathological changes.Results: There is no significant difference in pH, PO2 and PCO2 among all oxygen-therapy groups ( p > 0.05). The levels of CTNI, CK and AST in E group are obviously lower than that in B, C and D groups ( p < 0.05). The level of serum K in E group is obviously lower than that in B, C and D groups ( p < 0.05). The levels of serum Na and Cl in E group are obviously higher than that in B, C and D groups ( p < 0.05). The pathological change of lungs in E group is significantly better than that in C and D groups. Conclusions: We recommend that the medical units with related conditions can give the hyperbaric oxygen therapy to patients as soon as possible
Glucocorticoid-induced diabetes mellitus in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with high-dose glucocorticoid therapy
Authors: Ha YJ , Lee K-H , Jung SJ , Lee S-W , Lee S-K , Park Y-B
Published: June 2011

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of glucocorticoid-induced diabetes mellitus (GDM) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) receiving high-dose glucocorticoid therapy. Patients with SLE who had received high-dose glucocorticoid therapy (prednisolone ≥1 mg/kg/day) at Yonsei University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, were recruited between January 1999 and June 2009. In total 127 patients with SLE were evaluated. Sixteen (12.6%) of them developed GDM after high-dose glucocorticoid therapy (95% confidence interval, 6.8–18.4%). Univariate analysis showed that old age, family history of diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, higher body mass index, higher mean dose of prednisolone before high-dose glucocorticoid therapy, and concurrent use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were factors that would increase the likelihood of GDM. Multivariate analysis determined that age, family history of DM, mean dose of prednisolone before high-dose glucocorticoid therapy and concurrent use of MMF were independent associated factors for GDM. In summary, GDM was developed among 12.6% of patients with SLE after high-dose glucocorticoid therapy. Old age, family history of DM, higher mean dose of prednisolone before high-dose glucocorticoid therapy and concurrent use of MMF were determined to be factors responsible for increasing the risk of developing GDM.
Epidemiology and clinical outcomes of bloodstream infections among lupus patients
Authors: Marcos M , Fernández C , Soriano À , Marco F , Martínez JA , Almela M , Cervera R , Mensa J , Espinosa G
Published: June 2011

Infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study was aimed at characterizing bloodstream infections in these patients and analysing factors associated with long term outcome. For this purpose, episodes of significant bacteraemia diagnosed from January 1991 to December 2006 among patients with SLE at a single centre were identified through a central database and clinical and analytical variables were recorded regarding short- and long-term follow-up. Univariate and multivariable analysis were performed to identify factors associated with long-term outcome. Thirty-eight SLE patients had 48 episodes of significant bacteraemia, with a 30-day mortality rate of 6.25%. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the leading Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens, respectively. After a median follow-up of 25 months, eight of these 38 patients (21.1%) had a further episode of bacteraemia and 13 of them (34.21%) died. Community-acquired bacteraemia and C reactive protein levels lower than 8 mg/dl during episodes were factors associated with lower long-term mortality. These results reinforce previous findings suggesting that lupus patients with bacteraemia episodes have poor long-term outcomes
Engaging with children in research
Authors: Lambert Veronica , Glacken Michele
Published: June 2011

At the outset of an ethnographic inquiry, we navigated national and international resources to search for theoretical and practical guidance on obtaining parents and children’s informed consent/assent. While much theoretical guidance debating ethical issues to children’s participation in research was found, a paucity of published papers offering practical guidance on assent processes and/or visual representations of child assent forms and information sheets was discovered. The purpose of this article is to describe our experiences, both theoretically and practically, of negotiating the process of obtaining informed consent and assent with parents and children for a non-therapeutic qualitative research study. We hope this article instigates a platform for others to explicate their experience and contributes to the construction of a coherent body of knowledge which will clearly delineate important elements that must be considered when negotiating children’s agreement to participate in research.
Academic dishonesty among nursing students: A descriptive study
Authors: Keçeci Ayla , Bulduk Serap , Oruç Deniz , Çelik Serpil
Published: June 2011

This descriptive and cross-sectional study aims to evaluate academic dishonesty among university nursing students in Turkey. The study’s sample included 196 students. Two instruments were used for gathering data. The first instrument, a questionnaire, which included some socio-demographic variables (age, class, gender, education, family structure, parents’ attitude and educators’ attitude) formed the first part. The second part included the Academic Dishonesty Tendency Scale developed by Eminoğlu and Nartgün. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Kruskall Wallis, One-way Anova, t- test and Mann-Whitney U test. It was found that academic dishonesty was at medium-level (2.60—3.39) in nursing students.
Factors influencing preferences of Korean people toward advance directives
Authors: Su Hyun Kim
Published: June 2011

Although Korean society has begun to seek a way of utilizing advance directives, there is not much known about the factors influencing the average Korean person’s preference toward advance directives. The purpose of this study was to examine factors, in addition to demographic variables, influencing preferences regarding advance directives. These include: to what extent people’s awareness of advance directives, preferences of extending their life at the end of life, experience of illness and medical care, and family functioning independently influence the preferences toward advance directives. The participants were 382 community-dwelling Korean people. The data analysis was performed using hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis. The findings showed that a majority of Korean people had a positive preference on advance directives and the factors influencing their preferences for advance directives were the preferences against the use of life-sustaining treatment at the end of life, a good self-rated heath status, and an unsatisfactory family functioning.
The Mechanical Property of Magnetorheological Fluid Under Compression, Elongation, and Shearing
Authors: Hongyun Wang  , Cheng Bi  , Junwu Kan  , Chunfu Gao  , Wang Xiao
Published: June 2011

The mechanical properties of a MR fluid in compression, elongation, and shearing have been studied in the magnetic field which is generated by a coil carrying different magnitudes of DC electrical current. Test equipment is designed to perform this operation. The compressing tests showed that the MR fluid is quite stiff at small compressive strains being lower than 0.13. The compressive stress and modulus increase quickly when the compressive strain is higher than 0.2. The tensile yield stress of MR fluids represents the effect of the interaction force between the polarized particles and the direction of the applied magnetic field. The shear yield stress represents the effect of the interaction force with the shear direction (perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field). The relationship between tensile yield stress and shear yield stress verifies the credibility of the calculation model employing a yield angle shaped between particles. A shear yield angle is found to be between about 13.8° and 16.9°, which agrees with the shear yield angle tested well by other researchers. The tensile yield stress is about four times of shear yield stress.
Life Span as the Measure of Performance and Learning in a Business Gaming Simulation
Authors: Thavikulwat Precha
Published: June 2011

This study applies the learning curve method of measuring learning to participants of a computer-assisted business gaming simulation that includes a multiple-life-cycle feature. The study involved 249 participants. It verified the workability of the feature and estimated the participants’ rate of learning at 17.4% for every doubling of experience. This method of measuring learning may be useful for the comparative assessment of different kinds of computer-mediated simulations and of their features and ancillary activities.
Self-Management of Hypertension in Hispanic Adults
Authors: Perez Amelia
Published: June 2011

Almost one third of the U.S. population has hypertension. Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanic individuals have significantly lower levels of hypertension awareness, treatment, and control. This article provides an integrative review of factors that may influence self-management of hypertension among Hispanic adults. A detailed literature search of articles published between 1985 and 2010 was performed. Twelve articles based on quantitative studies ( n = 9) and qualitative studies ( n = 3) were reviewed. Barriers and facilitators to self-management of hypertension were identified. The findings in this review may help health care professionals in recognizing factors that need to be considered in the development of self-management interventions for Hispanic patients with hypertension. Future research is needed to further explore facilitators to self-management, and to implement and evaluate intervention studies aimed at blood pressure management in Hispanics with hypertension.
Benign Salivary Gland Tissue Inclusion in a Pulmonary Hilar Lymph Node From a Patient With Invasive Well-Differentiated Adenocarcinoma of the Lung: A Potential Misinterpretation for the Staging of Carcinoma
Authors: Lewis Annisa L. , Truong Luan D. , Cagle Philip , Qihui Zhai
Published: June 2011

Benign epithelial and nonepithelial inclusions have been found in lymph nodes in multiple body sites. These inclusions have been seen in cervical, axillary, mediastinal, abdominal, and pelvic lymph nodes. They appear as benign epithelial, parathyroid, decidual, mesothelial, angiolipomatous, nevus cells, or Tamm—Horsfall protein. Although heterotopic salivary gland tissue is not infrequent in paraparotid lymph nodes, it has only been described in lymph nodes of the pulmonary hilum once. A 68-year-old woman with gastric lymphoma now in remission presented for routine follow-up and was found to have a lung mass. After a fine needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, lobectomy and lymph node dissection were performed. Histological sections of lung demonstrated a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma and one lymph node, which displayed a subcapsular nest of well-formed salivary glands occupying approximately one third of the nodal tissue. The inclusion was composed of acinar cells of both serous and mucinous types, but ductal type of cells were not seen. Identification of heterotopic tissue in lymph nodes is of great importance for patient management. Misdiagnosing benign glandular inclusions for metastasis could potentially lead to incorrect tumor staging. Benign salivary gland tissue inclusions should be considered in the differential diagnosis when evaluating for metastatic adenocarcinoma. The salivary gland inclusion in pulmonary hilar lymph node may be histogenetically related to the minor salivary glands, which are located within the bronchial submucosa.
Free vibration of tapered isotropic rectangular plates
Authors: Manna Mihir Chandra
Published: June 2011

In this paper, free vibration analysis of isotropic rectangular plates with linearly varying thickness in one direction has been investigated using a high-order triangular element. The first order shear deformation theory is used to include the effect of transverse shear deformation. The element has 18 nodes on the sides and six internal nodes. The geometry of element is expressed by three linear shape functions of area coordinates. The formulation is displacement-based. The element has 51 degrees-of-freedom, which can be reduced to 39 degrees-of-freedom by Guyan reduction, mass condensation, or eigenvalue economization scheme for the degrees-of-freedom associated with the internal nodes. Rotary inertia has been included in the consistent mass matrix. Numerical examples are presented to show the accuracy and convergence characteristics of the element. Isotropic plates with different thickness ratios (varies from 0.01 to 0.2), tapered ratios, aspect ratios and boundary conditions are analyzed. The results obtained by present element show a close agreement with the available published results. Some numerical results have been given as new results.
Comparing the condition of strong ellipticity and the solvability for a purely elastic problem and the corresponding dislocated problem
Authors: Sfyris Dimitris
Published: June 2011

The aim of this paper is a comparison of a purely elastic problem and the corresponding dislocated one at two levels: (a) strong ellipticity; and (b) solvability. The corresponding dislocated problem is defined through Noll’s theory of materially uniform but inhomogeneous bodies, which is a theory of frozen dislocations. The framework for strong ellipticity is general enough; no specific assumption is made for the elastic field, the field of the defects and the elastic energy. Solvability (existence and uniqueness) in suitable spaces is examined only for a specific distribution of edge dislocations with a particular expression for the energy (neo-Hookean like) and the elastic field (anti-plane shear). The outcome is that strong ellipticity is not affected by the field of the defects. Namely, if one starts from a strongly elliptic elastic material, he will arrive at a dislocated one with the same property. For the dislocated problem we find bounds that the field of the defects has to satisfy in order for solvability to be retained when solvability of the corresponding elastic problem is known. The whole framework is designed for the finite hyperelastostatic case.
The asymmetrical structure of left/right disagreement
Authors: Cochrane Christopher
Published: June 2011

The left/right semantic is used widely to describe the patterns of party competition in democratic countries. This article examines the patterns of party policy in Anglo-American and Western European countries on three dimensions of left/right disagreement: wealth redistribution, social morality and immigration. The central questions are whether, and why, parties with left-wing or right-wing positions on the economy systematically adopt left-wing or right-wing positions on immigration and social morality. The central argument is that left/right disagreement is asymmetrical: leftists and rightists derive from different sources, and thus structure in different ways, their opinions about policy. Drawing on evidence from Benoit and Laver’s (2006) survey of experts about the policy positions of political parties, the results of the empirical analysis indicate that party policy on the economic, social and immigration dimensions are bound together by parties on the left, but not by parties on the right. The article concludes with an outline of the potential implications of left/right asymmetry for unified theories of party competition.
Stop playing up!: Physical education, racialization and resistance
Authors: Fitzpatrick Katie
Published: June 2011

Situated in the southern suburbs of New Zealand’s largest city, South Auckland is known for poverty, crime and cultural diversity. It is home to large numbers of indigenous Maori and migrant Pasifika (Pacific Island) youth. Based on a year-long critical ethnography of a multiethnic high school, this article explores the place of physical education in the lives of young people in one school. Both a source of concern and a space of hope for diverse youth, physical education holds a unique place in their lives. On the one hand, physical education is implicated with narrow body norms while on the other hand it provides a space for relationship building, play and critical resistance. This article explores the complex potential for physical education as both a key site of learning for Pasifika and Maori youth, and one also politically fraught, given its close association with racialized and gendered body discourses.
Merging the social and the material: Life histories of ancient mementos from Central Mexico
Authors: Overholtzer Lisa , Stoner Wesley D.
Published: June 2011

This article proposes a way to bridge the chasm dividing archaeological studies of material properties and materials analyses from those of materiality, i.e. the mutually constitutive relationships between people and objects. This approach is demonstrated through the reconstruction of the life histories of curated figurines from Xaltocan, Mexico. Critical to this inquiry is an understanding of the material properties of the figurines — including form, style, and fragmentation — as well as materials analysis, specifically neutron activation analysis, which offers evidence of their places of origin. Using a life history approach provides insight into the production of Xaltocan as a place and its residents as people enchained or linked to ancient Teotihuacan, through the movement of these figurines through space and time. Furthermore, it demonstrates that these figurines, often ignored as accidents of site formation processes, were actually a crucial form of material culture through which residents constructed relationships with the past.
Animating rituals at Sámi sacred sites in northern Finland
Authors: Salmi Anna-Kaisa , Äikäs Tiina , Lipkin Sanna
Published: June 2011

This article concentrates on the performative nature of rituals at Sámi sacred sites called sieidi in northern Finland. These sites are usually natural objects, such as stones, unshaped by humans. Offerings, such as reindeer antlers, crania, meat, metal, and alcohol, were made to the sieidi in order to ensure future hunting success. In this article, the concept of ritual as performative action is used as a tool to emphasize how practices, senses, and emotions comprised different parts of the rituals that took place at sieidi sites. Understanding ritual as performative action helps us to animate the rituals at sieidi sites with other people, animals, sounds, smells, movements, and feelings. We also seek to re-evaluate the context-related nature of the rituals. Finally, we discuss the implications for the interpretation of such sites where there are no material traces of offerings.
Strategy of Career Interventions for Battered Women
Authors: Collins Joshua C.
Published: June 2011

Female victims of domestic violence—also referred to as “battered women”—face serious career development challenges that necessitate the intervention and aid of human resource development (HRD) practice.The purpose of this article is to identify critical factors having an impact on the career development (CD) of battered women and to offer suggestions for how HRD practitioners may begin work to aid battered women in the development of their careers. This article is primarily concerned with career development interventions with battered women who also experience additional economic, educational, or networking hardships. Therefore, the findings of this article should not be considered inclusive of all female victims of domestic violence, but rather the start of an important conversation. The considerations in this article and the interventions suggested herein need testing and development, as do other methods of CD interventions with battered women. The expansion of HRD to include programs for those who have historically been minimized by systems of oppression should be considered a primary concern of current researchers and practitioners.
Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism Using Ultrasound-Accelerated Thrombolysis Directly Into Pulmonary Arteries
Authors: Shah Kaushal J. , Scileppi Robert M. , Franz Randall W.
Published: June 2011

Traditional therapy for pulmonary embolism includes systemic anticoagulation, systemic thrombolysis, catheter-directed thrombolysis / suction catheter thrombectomy, and surgical thromboembolectomy. Currently, the standard treatment for submassive and massive pulmonary embolism involves the use of systemic anticoagulation. However, unlike systemic anticoagulation there is no standard treatment algorithm for the use of thrombolytics to aggressively treat pulmonary embolism and its sequelae. This case report discusses the successful use of thrombolytics using the EKOS EkoSonic Ultrasound-Accelerated Thrombolysis System in the treatment of bilateral submassive pulmonary emboli along with a saddle pulmonary embolus. The EKOS ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis procedure resulted in rapid substantial clinical improvement, resolution of bilateral pulmonary emboli along with resolution of the saddle pulmonary embolus, restoration of pulmonary blood flow with resolution of pulmonary hypertension, and normalization of pulmonary embolism-related cardiac dysfunction. This novel application of ultrasound-accelerated thrombolytic infusion directly into the pulmonary arteries for pulmonary embolism provides a potential new treatment option and a valuable addition to the treatment algorithm for the management of both submassive and massive pulmonary embolism.
Alternative Technique for Endovascular Treatment of an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm With a Severely Angulated Neck
Authors: Caputo Francis J. , Jim Jeffrey , Sanchez Luis A.
Published: June 2011

An 86-year-old female was incidentally discovered with an asymptomatic 5.3 cm infrarenal aortic aneurysm. Preoperative imaging demonstrated the aortic neck to have severe suprarenal and infrarenal angulation. The patient was deemed unfit for open aortic repair due to multiple medical comorbidities. Endovascular treatment was performed with a modified Zenith bifurcated graft using a Zenith TX2 endograft as a proximal aortic cuff. There were no perioperative complications, and postoperative imaging demonstrated aneurysm exclusion with no migration or major endoleaks. The patient died of unrelated causes at 21 months. The use of a thoracic endograft as a proximal cuff is an alternative technique in the endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms with a severely angulated neck.
Greater Sparing of Visual Search Abilities in Children After Congenital Rather Than Acquired Focal Brain Damage
Authors: Tinelli Francesca , Guzzetta Andrea , Bertini Caterina , Ricci Daniela , Mercuri Eugenio , Ladavas Elisabetta , Cioni Giovanni
Published: June 2011

Background. Visual search refers to the capacity of an individual to find a target among simultaneously presented distracters and is based on visual abilities such as a fast visual processing and an accurate control of ballistic eye movements (saccades) that guide the fovea to the target location. Objective. In adults, visual field defects caused by brain damage are often associated with visual search disorders; in children, little is known about the effects of early brain lesions on visual search abilities. Methods. To test the presence of visual search defects and to investigate the role of cortical plasticity after early brain lesions, 29 children with congenital or acquired cerebral lesions, with and without visual field defects, underwent a visual search test battery. Results. The children with acquired lesions and visual field defects had longer reaction times (RTs) in the contralesional visual field compared with the ipsilesional, whereas those with congenital lesions and visual field defects did not have differences in RTs between the contralateral and ipsilateral visual fields and had a visual search pattern similar to children without a visual field defect. Conclusions. These findings support the hypothesis of more effective mechanisms of functional compensation and reorganization of the visual system in children with very early brain lesions, as opposed to those with later damage.
The Association Between Giant Hydrocele and Depression in a Rural Clinic in Nigeria
Authors: Dienye Paul O. , Gbeneol Precious K. , Akani Alexander B.
Published: June 2011

One of the dreaded disfiguring disease conditions among the Andoni tribesmen in the Nigerian Niger delta region is hydrocele, especially when its size is large (giant hydrocele) and it cannot be concealed. This case–control study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of depression among patients with giant hydrocele presenting to Bethesda Clinic Ngo, Andoni, Nigeria. A total of 52 patients were recruited into this study: 26 in the giant hydrocele group and 26 in the control group. Their age range was 23 to 78 years, with a mean age of 53.4 ± 15.5 years for the giant hydrocele group and 53.6 ± 14.2 years for the control group. The difference between the prevalence of depression among patients that presented with giant hydrocele (61.54%) and the controls (15.38%) was statistically significant ( p = .0015). The authors conclude that depression is common among patients with giant hydrocele when compared with patients with other disease conditions.
Beyond Ballistics
Authors: Wenger Lisa M.
Published: June 2011

Although the literature on men’s help seeking offers important insights into health service engagement patterns within this population, there remain gaps in our understanding. In addition to insufficient attention to a range of male experiences and a restricted focus on sex-specific or associated diseases, much of the extant work is limited by insufficient attention to how men navigate needs and supports across illness and a narrow conceptualization of the core concept of help seeking. Specifically, as research focuses on masculinity as a determinant of the decision to seek medical help (emphasis on prediction), less is known about how men, as gendered beings, are experiencing help seeking over the course of illness (emphasis on understanding). In this article, it is argued that research on men’s help seeking can benefit from the integration of a dynamic conceptualization of help seeking that is considerate of shifting needs and a diversity of supports and which emphasizes the subjective, interactive, and ongoing patterns in how men are perceiving, interpreting, and responding to the challenges of illness.
Influence of carbon content on densification behaviour in forming of sintered plain carbon steel preforms
Authors: Narayan S , Rajeshkannan A
Published: June 2011

Complete experimental investigation on the deformation and densification behaviour of sintered plain carbon steel cylindrical preforms with carbon contents of 0, 0.35, 0.75 and 1.1 per cent, under cold upsetting, have been studied in order to understand the influence of various forming parameters such as true axial strain, flow stress, Poisson's ratio, forming limits and formability stress index on the densification process. The above-mentioned powder metallurgy sintered preforms with constant initial theoretical density of 84 per cent and aspect ratio of 0.4 were prepared using a suitable die-set assembly on a 1 MN capacity hydraulic press and sintered for 90 min at 1200 °C. Each sintered preform was cold upset under two different frictional constraints, namely, nil/no and graphite lubricant conditions. Densification–true strain and fracture strain–carbon content relationship was established and presented in this work. Further, attained density is considered to establish flow stress and formability stress index behaviour. The present work provides a guideline for producing P/M components free from open surface pore.
The Importance of Primary Care Psychiatry
Authors: Pai Brahmavar Nagesh , Vella Shae-Leigh Cynthia
Published: June 2011

This paper provides a review of the importance of primary care psychiatry within an Australian context. The aims of this review are: (1) to emphasize the integral role of mental health in overall health and well-being, (2) to elucidate the factors that make the provision of primary care psychiatry essential, and (3) to review the impact of the Australian government’s mental health policy initiatives on the mental health of the Australian population as well as on the practice of primary care psychiatry. From this review, it is evident that the discipline of psychiatry is integral to the overall health of the community. Furthermore, it is apparent that primary care psychiatry has a large and pivotal role to play in the prevention, treatment, and early detection of mental disorders in Australia and worldwide. The article concludes with some simple, actionable recommendations for the practice of primary care psychiatry.
CXCL13/CXCR5 signaling enhances BCR-triggered B-cell activation by shaping cell dynamics
Authors: Sáez de Guinoa Julia , Barrio Laura , Mellado Mario , Carrasco Yolanda R.
Published: June 2011

Continuous migration of B cells at the follicle contrasts with their stable arrest after encounter with antigen. Two main ligand/receptor pairs are involved in these cell behaviors: the chemokine CXCL13/chemokine receptor CXCR5 and antigen/BCR. Little is known regarding the interplay between CXCR5 and BCR signaling in the modulation of B-cell dynamics and its effect on B-cell activation. We used a 2-dimensional model to study B-cell migration and antigen recognition in real time, and found that BCR signaling strength alters CXCL13-mediated migration, leading to a heterogeneous B-cell behavior pattern. In addition, we demonstrate that CXCL13/CXCR5 signaling does not impair BCR-triggered immune synapse formation and that CXCR5 is excluded from the central antigen cluster. CXCL13/CXCR5 signaling enhances BCR-mediated B-cell activation in at least 2 ways: (1) it assists antigen gathering at the synapse by promoting membrane ruffling and lymphocyte function–associated antigen 1 (LFA-1)–supported adhesion, and (2) it allows BCR signaling integration in motile B cells through establishment of LFA-1–supported migratory junctions. Both processes require functional actin cytoskeleton and non-muscle myosin II motor protein. Therefore, the CXCL13/CXCR5 signaling effect on shaping B-cell dynamics is an effective mechanism that enhances antigen encounter and BCR-triggered B-cell activation.
Endoscopic resection of duodenal bulb neuroendocrine tumor larger than 10 mm in diameter
Authors: Yokoyama Shozo , Takifuji Katsunari , Tani Masaji , Kawai Manabu , Naka Teiji , Uchiyama Kazuhisa , Yamaue Hiroki
Published: June 2011

Background

Endoscopic treatment for duodenal bulb neuroendocrine tumor larger than 10 mm is still controversial. This report presents four cases successfully treated with endosonography (EUS)-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) procedure for duodenal bulb neuroendocrine tumor larger than 10 mm in diameter.

Methods

The case series of four patients diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumor from 2003 to 2008 were reviewed. EUS demonstrated well-defined hypoechoic tumors confined to the submucosal hyperechoic layer and the underlying hypoechoic muscularis propria was intact in all four patients. EMR were planned and performed for the duodenal bulb neuroendocrine tumors larger than 10 mm.

Results

En bloc resections with tumor free lateral and basal margins were accomplished using an endoscopic diathermic snare with forward-viewing instruments without any complications. Neither residual duodenal neuroendocrine tumors nor metastatic lesions were detected during the observation period ranging 19 to 78 months

Conclusion

Duodenal bulb neuroendocrine, larger than 10 mm in diameter, can be treated by endoscopic procedure, after confirming that the tumor confined to the submucosal layer in EUS examination, and no lymph node involvement by abdominal CT and US.
Synergistic antimicrobial activity between pentacyclic triterpenoids and antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus strains
Authors: Chung Pooi Yin , Navaratnam Parasakthi , Chung Lip Yong
Published: June 2011

Background

There has been considerable effort to discover plant-derived antibacterials against methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which have developed resistance to most existing antibiotics, including the last line of defence, vancomycin. Pentacyclic triterpenoid, a biologically diverse plant-derived natural product, has been reported to show anti-staphylococcal activities. The objective of this study is to evaluate the interaction between three pentacyclic triterpenoid and standard antibiotics (methicillin and vancomycin) against reference strains of Staphylococcus aureus.

Methods and Results

The activity of the standard antibiotics and compounds on reference methicillin-sensitive and resistant strains of S. aureus were determined using the macrodilution broth method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the compounds was compared with that of the standard antibiotics. The interaction between any two antimicrobial agents was estimated by calculating the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC index) of the combination. The various combinations of antibiotics and compounds reduced the MIC to a range of 0.05 to 50%.

Conclusion

Pentacyclic triterpenoids have shown anti-staphylococcal activities and although individually weaker than common antibiotics produced from bacteria and fungi, synergistically these compounds may use different mechanism of action or pathways to exert their antimicrobial effects, as implicated in the lowered MICs. Therefore, the use of current antibiotics could be maintained in their combination with plant-derived antibacterial agents as a therapeutic option in the treatment of S. aureus infections.
Improved infrared photoluminescence characteristics from circularly ordered self-assembled Ge islands
Authors: Das Samaresh , Das Kaustuv , Singha Raj Kumar , Manna Santanu , Dhar Achintya , Ray Samit Kumar , Raychaudhuri Arup Kumar
Published: June 2011

The formation of circularly ordered Ge-islands on Si(001) has been achieved because of nonuniform strain field around the periphery of the holes patterned by focused ion beam in combination with a self-assembled growth using molecular beam epitaxy. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra obtained from patterned areas (i.e., ordered islands) show a significant signal enhancement, which sustained till 200 K, without any vertical stacking of islands. The origin of two activation energies in temperature-dependent PL spectra of the ordered islands has been explained in detail.
Prevalence of HBV and HBV vaccination coverage in health care workers of tertiary hospitals of Peshawar, Pakistan
Authors: Attaullah Sobia , Khan Sanaullah , Naseemullah  , Ayaz Sultan , Khan Shahid Niaz , Ali Ijaz , Hoti Naseruddin , Siraj Sami
Published: June 2011

Background

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) may progress to serious consequences and increase dramatically beyond endemic dimensions that transmits to or from health care workers (HCWs) during routine investigation in their work places. Basic aim of this study was to canvass the safety of HCWs and determine the prevalence of HBV and its possible association with occupational and non-occupational risk factors. Hepatitis B vaccination coverage level and main barriers to vaccination were also taken in account.

Results

A total of 824 health care workers were randomly selected from three major hospitals of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Blood samples were analyzed in Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology Kohat, and relevant information was obtained by means of preset questionnaire. HCWs in the studied hospitals showed 2.18% prevalence of positive HBV. Nurses and technicians were more prone to occupational exposure and to HBV infection. There was significant difference between vaccinated and non-vaccinated HCWs as well as between the doctors and all other categories. Barriers to complete vaccination, in spite of good knowledge of subjects in this regard were work pressure (39.8%), negligence (38.8%) un-affordability (20.9%), and unavailability (0.5%).

Conclusions

Special preventive measures (universal precaution and vaccination), which are fundamental way to protect HCW against HBV infection should be adopted.
Characterization of herpes simplex virus clinical isolate Y3369 as a glycoprotein G variant and its bearing on virus typing
Authors: Clark Daniel N , Poole Brian D , Hammond Daniel V , Hedman Tyler J , Catts Danny S , Stewart Amanda , Johnson F Brent
Published: June 2011

Background

Herpes simplex viruses exist as two major serotypes, type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Determination of type, either HSV-1 or HSV-2, is important in accurate diagnosis and clinical control of transmission. Several tests are available for typing HSV, including a monoclonal antibody specific for glycoprotein G and several PCR assays.

Findings

A clinical isolate was identified as herpes simplex virus, but tested negative for both HSV-1 and HSV-2 antigens using type-specific monoclonal antibody assays. The isolate was determined to be HSV-1 by PCR analysis. A mutation which likely caused the monoclonal antibody non-reactivity was found in glycoprotein G. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two groups of HSV, one with the mutation and one without. Three population studies examining mutations in HSV-1 glycoprotein G were analyzed by chi-squared test. To this point, the epitope which the monoclonal antibody recognizes was only found in HSV-1 isolates from human European populations (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the PCR-based methods for HSV typing may be more useful than the standard monoclonal antibody test in areas of the world where the variant in glycoprotein G is more prevalent.
Disruption of the NF-κB/IκBα Autoinhibitory Loop Improves Cognitive Performance and Promotes Hyperexcitability of Hippocampal Neurons
Authors: Shim David J , Yang Li , Reed J Graham , Noebels Jeffrey L , Chiao Paul J , Zheng Hui
Published: June 2011

Background

Though originally discovered in the immune system as an important mediator of inflammation, NF-κB has recently been shown to play key roles in the central nervous system, such as synaptogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and cognition. NF-κB activity is normally tightly regulated by its primary inhibitor, IκBα, through a unique autoinhibitory loop. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the IκBα autoinhibitory loop ensures optimal levels of NF-κB activity to promote proper brain development and function. To do so, we utilized knock-in mice which possess mutations in the IκBα promoter to disrupt the autoinhibitory loop (IκBαM/MKI mice).

Results

Here, we show that these mutations delay IκBα resynthesis and enhance NF-κB activation in neurons following acute activating stimuli. This leads to improved cognitive ability on tests of hippocampal-dependent learning and memory but no change in hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Instead, hippocampal neurons from IκBαM/MKI mice form more excitatory and less inhibitory synapses in dissociated cultures and are hyperexcitable. This leads to increased burst firing of action potentials and the development of abnormal hypersynchronous dischargesin vivo.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that the IκBα autoinhibitory loop is critical for titrating appropriate levels of endogenous NF-κB activity to maintain proper neuronal function.