bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coronary Angiographic Finding of Thrombus in the Left Atrial Appendage
Authors: Sakamoto I. , Hayashi K. , Matsunaga N. , Ogawa Y. , Matsuoka Y. , Okimoto T. , Takagi M. , Yano K. , Toda G. , Miyahara Y.
Published: June 2015

Purpose:

The value of coronary angiography in the diagnosis of thrombus in the left atrial appendage (LAA) was retrospectively analyzed.

Material and Methods:

The study covers 34 patients in whom coronary angiography showed coronary neovascularity in LAA with coronary artery-left atrial fistula indicating LAA thrombus. All 34 patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography within one week of coronary angiography. Open-heart surgery was undertaken 2–31 months after angiography in 28 patients.

Results:

Coronary neovascularity and coronary artery-left atrial fistula arose from the left circumflex artery in 28 patients, and from the left circumflex artery and the right coronary artery in the remaining 6 patients. By echocardiography, LAA thrombus was detected in only one of the 34 patients. In 18 of the 28 patients who underwent open-heart surgery, LAA thrombus was found at surgery to have resolved.

Conclusion:

Coronary angiography is useful in the diagnosis of LAA thrombus, and coronary neovascularity and fistula formation may indicate that the thrombus can spontaneously resolve.
Normal Nonuniformity of Left Ventricular Contraction
Authors: Naito H. , Arisawa J. , Harada K. , Yamagami H. , Kozuka T. , Tamura S.
Published: June 2015

Purpose:

To identify the normal performance of left ventricular (LV) regional contraction using cine MR imaging with presaturation myocardial tagging.

Material and Methods:

Sixteen normal volunteers were examined on a 1.5 T MR system with tagging cine sequences. Tags were applied at end-diastole as 2 parallel black lines on short-axis and 4-chamber sections, and the fractional shortenings were calculated at 7 LV locations.

Results:

The following results were obtained with significance: a transmural gradient of contractility in the short-axis section; prolonged late-systolic endocardial shortening and epicardial early termination in the free wall; initial delay of shortening in the anterior wall; apical predominance of contractility; predominance of circumferential shortening in the free wall and of meridional shortening in the septum. These findings could be associated with myocardial fiber architecture, presumed wall stress and temporal asynergy of excitation.

Conclusion:

Cine MR imaging with myocardial tagging proved to be useful in assessing the nonuniformity of LV contraction.
Activity in the Gastrointestinal Tract after Administration of Bone-Seeking Radiopharmaceuticals
Authors: Cronhjort M. , Jonsson C. , Nilsson S.-O. , Garmelius B. , Jacobsson H.
Published: June 2015

Purpose:

To test the possibility that (radio)activity of non-pertechnetate nature is excreted into the gastrointestinal tract at bone scintigraphy.

Material and Methods:

The distribution of a bone-seeking radiopharmaceutical (99mTc-HDP) was studied in an experimental mouse system by dissecting different organs and assessing their activity with a gamma-counter.

Results:

A comparison of the activity of the submandibular glands, which are assumed to accumulate only pertechnetate, and the gastrointestinal tract showed that a significant fraction of the activity excreted into the gastrointestinal tract did not consist of pertechnetate. Part of the excretion took place in the stomach. It was not connected to a specific bone-seeking agent or 99Mo/99mTc generator. Nor did it increase with time between make-up and injection. The excretion of the non-pertechnetate acitvity was reduced by cimetidine and omeprazole. These gastric-secretion blocking drugs did not reduce excretion of pertechnetate or significantly affect the general distribution of the radiopharmaceutical.

Conclusion:

There is a significant excretion of non-pertechnetate activity in the gastrointestinal tract. Part of this may be caused by excretion of the undegraded radiopharmaceutical by the stomach mucosa.
Preoperative Staging of Rectal Carcinoma Using Double-Contrast MR Imaging
Authors: Wallengren N.-O. , Holtås S. , Andrén-Sandberg Å.
Published: June 2015

Purpose:

To improve preoperative staging of rectal carcinoma with MR imaging, using a double-contrast technique.

Material and Methods:

Imaging was performed in 12 patients before and after i.v. injection of Gd-DTPA and rectal administration of a superparamagnetic contrast medium, mainly containing magnetite. The diagnostic information was evaluated and compared with findings at surgery and histopathological analysis.

Results:

The superparamagnetic contrast medium enema caused a distension of the rectum and intraluminal signal void, whereas Gd-DTPA enhanced the mucosa in T1-weighted images. This allowed an evaluation of the normal rectal wall and separation of the mucosa, tunica muscularis and perirectal space in all cases, which was not possible in T1- or T2-weighted precontrast images. The rectal carcinoma could be delineated and tumor invasion to the rectal wall determined in all cases. The findings in postcontrast MR corresponded with the findings at histopathological examination in 11 of 12 patients. The histopathological examination in one patient revealed metastases (<1 cm) in regional lymph nodes, too small to be identified in pre- or postcontrast MR images.

Conclusion:

Double-contrast-enhanced MR imaging allows evaluation of the normal rectal wall and preoperative staging of rectal carcinoma.
Gadolinium-Dtpa-Enhanced MR Imaging in Asymptomatic Knees
Authors: Boegård T. , Johansson Å. , Rudling O. , Petersson I. , Forslind K. , Jonsson K.
Published: June 2015

Purpose:

To evaluate the occurrence and extent of Gd-DTPA-enhanced synovial structures in asymptomatic knee joints of middle-aged healthy individuals.

Material and Methods:

MR imaging of the knee joint was performed in 10 healthy subjects aged 40–61 years. The study included a sagittal T1-weighted SE sequence before and after i.v. injection of 0.1 mmol Gd-DTPA/kg b.w.

Results:

Contrast-enhanced synovial structures were found in all knees. The extent of the synovial structures was usually not uniform within the examined joint. In the intercondylar fossa, the thickness of synovial structures was more often pronounced. In the suprapatellar recess, synovial thickness was constant and minimal.

Conclusion:

The presence and the varying extent and thickness of synovial structures in asymptomatic knees in middle-aged individuals must be considered in the evaluation of early and mild synovitis of the knee joint with Gd-enhanced MR imaging in this age group.
Spindle Cell Lipoma of the Breast
Authors: Smith D. N. , Denison C. M. , Lester S. C.
Published: June 2015

A case of spindle cell lipoma of the breast found on mammography in a 53-year-old woman is presented. This rare type of tumor has been previously reported on only after its presentation as a palpable mass. Radiographically it appears as a well-circumscribed mass. Ultrasonographically it appears as a homogeneously hyperechoic nodule. Histologically these lesions are composed of spindle cells intermingled with adipocytes.
Microcatheter Embolization of Arteriovenous Fistulas in the Subclavian Region
Authors: Leppänen M. J. , Seppänen S. K.
Published: June 2015

Purpose:

The retrospective evaluation is presented of 3 patients treated with endovascular embolization of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) in the subclavian region.

Material and Methods:

Three patients, 2 women and one man, were treated endovascularly in local anesthesia using microcatheters and fibered platinum microcoils. Two patients were asymptomatic and one had unexplained chest pain.

Results:

All 3 AVFs were successfully occluded. One coil slipped through the fistula into the pulmonary circulation but caused no clinical sequelae.

Conclusion:

AVFs in the subclavian region can be treated by using microcatheters and fibered platinum microcoils.
Radiological Findings in Biliary Fistula and Gallstone Ileus
Authors: Oikarinen H. , Päivänsalo M. , Tikkakoski T. , Saarela A.
Published: June 2015

Purpose:

Biliary fistula and gallstone ileus are rarely found. The diagnosis is difficult and may be delayed until operation. We reviewed the radiological findings in a retrospective material.

Material and Methods:

The cases of 16 patients treated for biliary fistula were analyzed with respect to findings at imaging. Ten patients had a spontaneous fistula. Nine of them had an internal bilioduodenal fistula and one had an external fistula with stones passing through a subcutaneous abscess. Five patients also had gallstone ileus and one patient a rare gastric outlet obstruction caused by a gallstone (Bouveret's syndrome). Six patients had an iatrogenic fistula. One of them had internal bile ascites and 5 an external fistula, one of which was a biliocystic fistula resulting from attempted hepatic cyst sclerotherapy.

Results:

Various imaging modalities were used and there was often a delay in the diagnosis. Imaging did not show the fistula itself in any of the spontaneous cases. However, a nonvisualized or shrunken gallbladder seen at US often coexisted in these cases. CT yielded the diagnosis in one case of gallstone ileus, and a Gastrografin meal yielded it in the case of Bouveret's syndrome. Fistulography and cholangiography provided a correct diagnosis of fistula in all cases of iatrogenic biliocutaneous fistulas.

Conclusion:

Patients with biliary fistula usually undergo examinations with nonspecific results. The imaging findings could be more specific if the possibility of this diagnosis were remembered.
Toxicity of Ethanol in Low Concentrations
Authors: Tapani E. , Taavitsainen M. , Lindros K. , Vehmas T. , Lehtonen E.
Published: June 2015

Purpose:

To define the threshold ethanol concentration that is toxic to cultured cells.

Methods:

Three malignant cell lines and freshly isolated normal rat hepatocytes were exposed to 0–50% (vol.) ethanol (concentrations used were 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50%) on tissue culture plates for 0.25–60 min (exposure times used were 0.25, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min). Cytotoxicity was estimated by trypan blue exclusion test and from 3H-thymidine incorporation.

Results:

All cells were killed by a 15-s exposure to 30–40% ethanol while a concentration as low as 15–20% gave a total response after 5–10-min exposures. After a one-hour exposure of F9 carcinoma cells and hepatocytes, a total or nearly total response was achieved with 10% ethanol. The cytotoxic effect was thus dependent both on the exposure time and on the concentration of ethanol. There were no significant differences in ethanol tolerance among the cell types.

Conclusion:

Ethanol seemed to kill cells in the cell culture effectively in much lower concentrations than those currently used in tumour ablation.
Friendship Group Composition and Juvenile Institutional Misconduct
Authors: Reid Shannon E.
Published: June 2015

The present study examines both the patterns of friendship networks and how these network characteristics relate to the risk factors of institutional misconduct for incarcerated youth. Using friendship networks collected from males incarcerated with California’s Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), latent profile analysis was utilized to create homogeneous groups of friendship patterns based on alter attributes and network structure. The incarcerated youth provided 144 egocentric networks reporting 558 social network relationships. Latent profile analysis identified three network profiles: expected group (67%), new breed group (20%), and model citizen group (13%). The three network profiles were integrated into a multiple group analysis framework to examine the relative influence of individual-level risk factors on their rate of institutional misconduct. The analysis finds variation in predictors of institutional misconduct across profile types. These findings suggest that the close friendships of incarcerated youth are patterned across the individual characteristics of the youth’s friends and that the friendship network can act as a moderator for individual risk factors for institutional misconduct.
Species Commodification
Authors: Austen Giles , Jennings Sarah M. , Dambacher Jeffrey M.
Published: June 2015

A theoretically promised confluence of favorable biological, economic, and social outcomes in neoliberal solutions for fisheries is illusory. The required commodification of the fish, including the species and accompanying oceanic commons enclosures, result in contradictions that cannot be understood within the neoclassical economic paradigm. A process of dialectical abstraction and qualitative modeling exposes the source and mechanism of the contradictions providing an alternative basis for discourse on the fishery and the commons.
Rethinking the Factors of Production for a World of Common Ownership and Sustainability
Authors: Cato Molly Scott , North Peter
Published: June 2015

The classical economists bequeathed us an understanding of the nature of economies in terms of three factors of production: land, labor, and capital. If we are to transcend the unsustainable and inequitable economy we live with today, an intellectual reinterpretation of these three factors is a vital first step. In this paper we provide such a liberating reinterpretation with examples from European and Latin American praxis.
Does Polyvictimization Affect Incarcerated and Non-Incarcerated Adult Women Differently? An Exploration Into Internalizing Problems
Authors: Radatz Dana L. , Wright Emily M.
Published: June 2015

In this study, we used data from life histories of 424 non-incarcerated ( n = 266) and incarcerated ( n = 158) women to examine the extent to which women are exposed to multiple forms of victimization, including child abuse, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and traumatic life events. We assessed the effects of polyvictimization (e.g., multiple victimizations) on women’s health-related outcomes (e.g., attempted suicide, drug and alcohol problems) as well as whether the prevalence rates and effects of victimization were significantly different between the subsamples of women. Results indicate that incarcerated women experience significantly more victimization than non-incarcerated women, and while polyvictimization was associated with a higher likelihood of alcohol problems, drug problems, and attempted suicide among non-incarcerated women, it was only marginally associated with an increased likelihood of alcohol problems among incarcerated women. Finally, low levels of polyvictimization affected alcohol and drug problems among incarcerated and non-incarcerated women differently.
Increasing rents and incumbency disadvantage
Authors: Klašnja Marko
Published: June 2015

Recent empirical studies have found a incumbency disadvantage in many developing democracies, in marked contrast with the well-known incumbency advantage in the US and other developed democracies. We know considerably less about incumbency disadvantage than incumbency advantage. In a simple principal-agent framework, I explore the role of a prominent feature of developing democracies – corruption. When rents are constant in incumbents’ tenure – a standard assumption – the conditions for incumbency disadvantage are existent but limited; however, increasing rents, possibly due to learning, a gradual build-up of rent-extraction networks or fiscal windfalls, considerably increase the possibility of incumbency disadvantage, because voters may prefer inexperienced and unconnected challengers, even if they are of lower quality. Incumbency disadvantage becomes more likely as the pace of rent increase grows, politician quality decreases, with noise in the policy outcome, and potentially even when the pool of politicians improves. It is strictly more costly than any electoral outcome with high but constant-rents. The results highlight a novel reason for control of corruption and sensitivity to its dynamics.
Prenatal Programming of Postnatal Susceptibility to Memory Impairments
Authors: Grant Kerry-Ann , Sandman Curt A. , Wing Deborah A. , Dmitrieva Julia , Davis Elysia Poggi
Published: June 2015

In the study reported here, we examined the effects of fetal exposure to a synthetic stress hormone (synthetic glucocorticoids) on children’s susceptibility to postnatal sociodemographic adversity. We recruited children who were born healthy and at term. Twenty-six had been treated with steroid hormones (glucocorticoids) during the prenatal period, and 85 had not. Only children exposed to both prenatal stress hormones and postnatal sociodemographic adversity showed impaired performance on standardized tests of memory function. The association was specific to long-term memory. General intellectual functioning and expressive language were not affected by fetal glucocorticoid exposure. Results were independent of maternal intelligence and maternal depression at the time of the study. These findings are consistent with a vulnerability-stress model: Prenatal exposure to synthetic stress hormones is associated with increased susceptibility to subsequent adversity, with consequences for cognitive functioning that persist 6 to 10 years after birth.
What Is Quantum Cognition, and How Is It Applied to Psychology?
Authors: Busemeyer Jerome R. , Wang Zheng
Published: June 2015

Quantum cognition is a new research program that uses mathematical principles from quantum theory as a framework to explain human cognition, including judgment and decision making, concepts, reasoning, memory, and perception. This research is not concerned with whether the brain is a quantum computer. Instead, it uses quantum theory as a fresh conceptual framework and a coherent set of formal tools for explaining puzzling empirical findings in psychology. In this introduction, we focus on two quantum principles as examples to show why quantum cognition is an appealing new theoretical direction for psychology: complementarity, which suggests that some psychological measures have to be made sequentially and that the context generated by the first measure can influence responses to the next one, producing measurement order effects, and superposition, which suggests that some psychological states cannot be defined with respect to definite values but, instead, that all possible values within the superposition have some potential for being expressed. We present evidence showing how these two principles work together to provide a coherent explanation for many divergent and puzzling phenomena in psychology.
In Academe, What Is Learned, and How Is It Learned?
Authors: Sweller John
Published: June 2015

Academic learning is different from much of the learning engaged in by humans functioning in the natural world. It differs in terms of the cognitive systems that have evolved to assimilate new information. Academic learning requires specific teaching and learning procedures that occur only occasionally outside of academic contexts. The manner in which humans process the categories of information used in academic learning mirrors the processes by which biological evolution processes genetic information. Based on knowledge of human cognition, cognitive load theory was devised to facilitate academic learning by developing appropriate instructional procedures.
Dominance of Jats is unabated
Authors: Sahay Gaurang R.
Published: June 2015

This article is an engagement with the issues of caste and dominance in the light of field data collected from five villages of western Uttar Pradesh. Against the background of some empirical and conceptual studies, the article presents an analysis, in terms of caste, of the ownership of land and agricultural assets, occupational and educational achievement and khap-based solidarity. The analysis shows that the resources available in the villages are highly concentrated in the hands of the Jats. Being the most powerful or dominant caste, the Jats control the village level affairs and use various means such as labour hiring and wage payment arrangement, the provision of natural fodder and lavatory facilities, informal credit arrangement and the institution of panchayat, to control the life of the villagers. The article narrates various acts of dominance of the Jats over the Scheduled Castes or marginalised castes. It ends with the observation that regardless of aggressive political mobilisation among the Scheduled Castes or marginalised castes in the recent years, no caste or community has developed the capacity to object to the dominance of the Jats in the villages.
Frequency-tunable electromagnetic energy harvester using magneto-rheological elastomer
Authors: Sun Wan , Jung Jeehyun , Seok Jongwon
Published: June 2015

This article proposes an idea for the development of a novel frequency-tunable electromagnetic energy harvester, which mainly consists of a frequency-tuning system component and an electromagnetic energy-harvesting component. A magneto-rheological elastomer, a kind of smart material, was utilized in the design of the frequency-tuning part using its unique rheological characteristic that its shear modulus can be altered by changing the strength of an external magnetic field. When external excitation is provided to the system, the tip magnet oscillates relative to the coil to produce electricity. The stiffness of the system’s equivalent torsional spring composed of magneto-rheological elastomer blocks can be altered by changing the gap distance between two tuning magnets, which results in a shift in the primary natural frequency of the system and significant improvement of energy-harvesting efficiency. This article presents the detailed process for the design, simulation, experiment, and fabrication of the proposed energy harvester. Experiments and numerical simulations were also conducted under band-limited random excitation to support the validity of the present system.
Methodological and Epistemological Considerations in Utilizing Qualitative Inquiry to Develop Interventions
Authors: Duggleby Wendy , Williams Allison
Published: June 2015

The purpose of this article is to discuss methodological and epistemological considerations involved in using qualitative inquiry to develop interventions. These considerations included (a) using diverse methodological approaches and (b) epistemological considerations such as generalization, de-contextualization, and subjective reality. Diverse methodological approaches have the potential to inform different stages of intervention development. Using the development of a psychosocial hope intervention for advanced cancer patients as an example, the authors utilized a thematic study to assess current theories/frameworks and interventions. However, to understand the processes that the intervention needed to target to affect change, grounded theory was used. Epistemological considerations provided a framework to understand and, further, critique the intervention. Using diverse qualitative methodological approaches and examining epistemological considerations were useful in developing an intervention that appears to foster hope in patients with advanced cancer.
Beware of Data Gaps in Home Care Research
Authors: Newquist Deborah D. , DeLiema Marguerite , Wilber Kathleen H.
Published: June 2015

Policy initiatives increasingly seek greater use of home- and community-based services for older persons and those with chronic care needs, yet large gaps persist in our knowledge of home care, an indispensable component of long-term services and supports. Unrecognized data gaps, including the scope of home care provided by private hire and nonmedical providers, can distort knowledge and poorly inform long-term services and supports policy. The purpose of this article is to examine these gaps by describing the universe of formal home care services and provider types in relationship to major national sources. Findings reveal four distinct home care sectors and that the majority of formal home care is provided in the sectors that are understudied. We discuss the policy implications of data gaps and conclude with recommendations on where to expand and refine home care research.
Traditional healing practices originating in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao: A review of the literature on psychiatry and Brua
Authors: Blom Jan Dirk , Poulina Igmar T. , van Gellecum Trevor L. , Hoek Hans W.
Published: June 2015

Brua is an Afro-Caribbean religion and healing tradition from the southern part of the former Netherlands Antilles. Like other Caribbean healing traditions, it plays a significant role in shaping how individuals experience and express disorders which Western health professionals consider to require psychiatric care. Because little has been published on Brua, and because patients from Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao are often reluctant to discuss their commitment to this tradition, they are often misdiagnosed and either over- or undertreated by biomedically trained health professionals. The present paper provides a review of the literature on Brua and its relation to psychiatry. A systematic search was carried out in PubMed, the Ovid database, Google Scholar, and the historical literature. Our search yielded 35 texts on Brua, including three peer-reviewed scientific papers and eight academic theses. From those texts Brua emerges as a holistic patchwork of creolized beliefs and practices which are considered to be both cause and remedy for a wide variety of ailments. Despite the fact that tension between the Brua discourse and Western-oriented psychiatric practice is significant, adherence to Brua does not seem to cause much patient delay in help-seeking. However, belief in Brua as a possible source of mental and physical complaints, as well as patients’ frequent recourse to Brua practices, including the use of hallucinogens, may affect the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
Subsidizing early childhood education and care for parents on low income: Moving beyond the individualized economic rationale of neoliberalism
Authors: Simpson Donald , Envy Rose
Published: June 2015

Neoliberalism and an associated ‘new politics of parenting’ adopts a predominantly economic rationale which discursively positions early childhood education and care (ECEC) as essential to tackling several social ills by allowing individual parents (particularly young mothers) to improve their labour force participation, thus boosting family income. This paper considers this discourse and its uptake locally in the context of England. Drawing on qualitative case study research, the paper focuses upon a small number of young mothers who were recipients of nationally and locally subsidized ECEC from 2009 onwards. Although keen to boost individual and family income via paid work through accessing subsidized ECEC, these mothers provide evidence questioning the assumption it can be a panacea helping to reduce susceptibility to low income. Subsidized ECEC’s viability in economic terms is critically scrutinized. However, the mothers’ narratives support the idea of ‘a rationality mistake’ inflicting ECEC policy. Despite on-going economically bounded conditions of choice, they felt subsidized ECEC’s viability was undiminished as it also lay for them in the highly valued access to ordinary patterns, customs and activities in society beyond paid work. This raises important issues in a context where the ‘value for money’ of subsidized ECEC is being questioned.
Neurointerventional participation in craniopagus separation
Authors: Alokaili Riyadh Nasser , Ahmed Muhammad Ejaz , Al Feryan Ahmed , Goodrich James T , Aloraidi Ahmed
Published: June 2015

Craniopagus-type conjoined twins (joined at the head) are exceedingly rare. Separation of craniopagus conjoined twins is a challenging task mainly owing to complex vascular anatomy and limited experience with this disorder. Modern neuroimaging techniques including digital subtraction angiography can be used to preoperatively assess the cerebral vascular system. These techniques can also provide the raw data to fabricate three-dimensional true-scale models. We report a case in which endovascular techniques have been used in the separation of craniopagus conjoined twins. To our knowledge there are no reports of successful incorporation of neurointerventional methods in the disconnection of shared venous channels.
Design and analysis of automotive carbon fiber composite bumper beam based on finite element analysis
Authors: Wang Tie , Li Yonggang
Published: June 2015

In this article, the most important part of the automotive front bumper system, namely, the bumper beam, is studied by changing the material and thickness to improve the crashworthiness performance in low-velocity impact. According to the low-speed standard of automotives stated in E.C.E. United Nations Agreement, Regulation no. 42, the low-velocity impact simulation based on finite element analysis is carried out. Lightweight is the main purpose of this article. First, the bumper beam analysis is accomplished for carbon fiber composite and steel material to analyze their deformation, weight, impact force, energy absorption, and the acceleration of the impactor. As a consequence, the bumper beam made by carbon fiber composite achieves better impact behavior. Second, on the purpose of lightweight, the bumper beams of different thickness including 5.4, 6, 6.6, and 7.2 mm are investigated. The results show that the 5.4 mm bumper beam is the best selection without sacrificing the impact performance. Third, according to the stress distribution, the thickness distribution of the bumper beam is changed to get better lightweight results. It is indicated that the weight of the improved bumper beam is further reduced and the impact performance is not weakened.
Comparing Self-Reported Infant Safe Sleep From Community- and Health Care–Based Settings
Authors: Keene Woods Nikki , Ahlers-Schmidt Carolyn R. , Wipperman Jennifer , Williams Tracy
Published: June 2015

Objective: To compare self-reported safe sleep data from a community social service agency and primary care centers. Design, Settings, and Participants: Cross-sectional Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)–based survey data from a community social service agency and survey data from primary care centers were compared using descriptive statistics. There were 166 community survey respondents, average age of 25 years (SD = 5.4 years), and 79 primary care center respondents, average age of 24 years (SD = 5.4 years). Two binary logistic regressions were performed to examine the association between demographic differences and safe sleep position/bed sharing. Results: Safe sleep position responses did not differ significantly between the community-based (n = 126, 85%) and primary care center–based (n = 62, 79%) samples, χ2(1) = 0.79, P = .372. Reported bed sharing was significantly higher in the community sample (n = 54, 36%) than the health care center sample (n = 4, 5%), Fisher’s exact test, P< .001. Black race was determined to be significantly associated with increased unsafe sleep positioning (OR = 2.86, P = .022). The community center cohort was the only significant predictor of bed sharing (OR = 25.40, P = .002). Conclusion:Differences in reported safe sleep environments may be due to knowledge variances of safe sleep guidelines, or clinic-based respondents may have been more likely to provide socially desirable responses. The comparison data further highlight the need for continued targeted effort to improve safe sleep behaviors to improve infant health outcomes.
Augmentation of Rotator Cuff Repair With Soft Tissue Scaffolds
Authors: Thangarajah Tanujan , Pendegrass Catherine J. , Shahbazi Shirin , Lambert Simon , Alexander Susan , Blunn Gordon W.
Published: June 2015

Background

Tears of the rotator cuff are one of the most common tendon disorders. Treatment often includes surgical repair, but the rate of failure to gain or maintain healing has been reported to be as high as 94%. This has been substantially attributed to the inadequate capacity of tendon to heal once damaged, particularly to bone at the enthesis. A number of strategies have been developed to improve tendon-bone healing, tendon-tendon healing, and tendon regeneration. Scaffolds have received considerable attention for replacement, reconstruction, or reinforcement of tendon defects but may not possess situation-specific or durable mechanical and biological characteristics.

Purpose

To provide an overview of the biology of tendon-bone healing and the current scaffolds used to augment rotator cuff repairs.

Study Design

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods

A preliminary literature search of MEDLINE and Embase databases was performed using the terms rotator cuff scaffolds, rotator cuff augmentation, allografts for rotator cuff repair, xenografts for rotator cuff repair, and synthetic grafts for rotator cuff repair.

Results

The search identified 438 unique articles. Of these, 214 articles were irrelevant to the topic and were therefore excluded. This left a total of 224 studies that were suitable for analysis.

Conclusion

A number of novel biomaterials have been developed into biologically and mechanically favorable scaffolds. Few clinical trials have examined their effect on tendon-bone healing in well-designed, long-term follow-up studies with appropriate control groups. While there is still considerable work to be done before scaffolds are introduced into routine clinical practice, there does appear to be a clear indication for their use as an interpositional graft for large and massive retracted rotator cuff tears and when repairing a poor-quality degenerative tendon.
Hydration and strength evolution of air-cured zeolite-rich tuffs and siltstone blended cement pastes at low water-to-binder ratio
Authors: Cornejo M.H. , Elsen J. , Paredes C. , Baykara H.
Published: June 2015

This contribution is the second part of an in-depth study on the hydration and strength evolution of blended cement pastes at a water to binder (W/B) ratio of 0.3, cured by two different methods. The blended cement pastes showed significant hydration up to 7 days, when almost all of the hydration products had already formed; thereafter, carbonation played an important role up to, and possibly beyond, 91 days. Likewise, the hydration of alite (tricalcium silicate, Ca3SiO5, C3S) proceeded up to 14 days and then started to slow down. However, the hydration of belite (dicalcium silicate, Ca2SiO4, C2S) was affected most strongly, as it nearly ceased, under the air-curing conditions. During hydration, some of the blended cement pastes had a larger calcium hydroxide (CH) content than the unblended (plain) ones. The accelerating effects of the addition of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), the air-curing conditions and the low W/B ratio may explain these unusual results. Under these experimental conditions, the water incorporated into hydrates was about 50% of the total amount of water used during full hydration of the cement pastes. The pozzolanic reaction predominated during the early ages, but disappeared as time passed. In contrast, the carbonation reaction increased by consuming ∼45% of the total amount of CH produced after aging for 91 days. Only one blended cement paste reached the compressive strength of the plain cements. The blended cement pastes containing 5% of the zeolitic tuffs, Zeo1 or Zeo2, or 10% of the calcareous siltstone, Limo, developed the greatest compressive strength under the experimental conditions used in this study.
A nerve guidance conduit with topographical and biochemical cues: potential application using human neural stem cells
Authors: Jenkins Phillip M , Laughter Melissa R , Lee David J , Lee Young M , Freed Curt R , Park Daewon
Published: June 2015

Despite major advances in the pathophysiological understanding of peripheral nerve damage, the treatment of nerve injuries still remains an unmet medical need. Nerve guidance conduits present a promising treatment option by providing a growth-permissive environment that 1) promotes neuronal cell survival and axon growth and 2) directs axonal extension. To this end, we designed an electrospun nerve guidance conduit using a blend of polyurea and poly-caprolactone with both biochemical and topographical cues. Biochemical cues were integrated into the conduit by functionalizing the polyurea with RGD to improve cell attachment. Topographical cues that resemble natural nerve tissue were incorporated by introducing intraluminal microchannels aligned with nanofibers. We determined that electrospinning the polymer solution across a two electrode system with dissolvable sucrose fibers produced a polymer conduit with the appropriate biomimetic properties. Human neural stem cells were cultured on the conduit to evaluate its ability to promote neuronal growth and axonal extension. The nerve guidance conduit was shown to enhance cell survival, migration, and guide neurite extension.
Target coverage through distributed clustering in directional sensor networks
Authors: Islam Md. Mofijul , Ahasanuzzaman Md. , Razzaque Md. Abdur , Hassan Mohammad Mehedi , Alelaiwi Abdulhameed , Xiang Yang
Published: June 2015

Maximum target coverage with minimum number of sensor nodes, known as an MCMS problem, is an important problem in directional sensor networks (DSNs). For guaranteed coverage and event reporting, the underlying mechanism must ensure that all targets are covered by the sensors and the resulting network is connected. Existing solutions allow individual sensor nodes to determine the sensing direction for maximum target coverage which produces sensing coverage redundancy and much overhead. Gathering nodes into clusters might provide a better solution to this problem. In this paper, we have designed distributed clustering and target coverage algorithms to address the problem in an energy-efficient way. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that exploits cluster heads to determine the active sensing nodes and their directions for solving target coverage problems in DSNs. Our extensive simulation study shows that our system outperforms a number of state-of-the-art approaches.
Eicosapentaenoic Acid as long‐term secondary prevention after ischemic stroke
Authors: Nakase Taizen , Sasaki Masahiro , Suzuki Akifumi
Published: June 2015

Background

It is sometimes difficult to choose anti‐thrombotic agents for secondary prevention in stroke patients at high bleeding risk. Recently, Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) was reported to reduce the recurrence of stroke in hypercholesterolemic patients without increasing hemorrhagic risk. In this study, we investigated the features of recurrent stroke patients during EPA medication as secondary stroke prevention.

Methods

Following the approval of the ethical committee, stroke patients in the outpatient clinic were consecutively screened and patients who continuously take EPA were enrolled in this study (n = 71, average age 69.7 yo). Blood sample data was adopted from the latest visit or the admission at the stroke recurrence. According to the previous stroke history, all patients were classified into the hemorrhagic stroke (HS) group (n = 10) and the ischemic stroke, including asymptomatic infarction, (IS) group (n = 61).

Result

Any stroke recurrence was not observed in the HS group. Whereas, ischemic stroke recurrence was observed in 6 patients in the IS group, although there was no hemorrhagic stroke recurrence. Recurrent stroke patients showed the higher serum level of cholesterol or the renal dysfunction. The stroke subtype of patients were 2 embolic strokes, 3 atherothrombotic infarctions (two were compromised with renal failure and one had insufficient amount of EPA) and one lacunar infarction (who showed high triglyceride level).

Conclusion

Hemorrhagic stroke was not occurred in our observation of EPA prescribed patients. The clinical features of recurrent stroke patients were the existing complications of dyslipidemia and renal dysfunction.
Severe burn injury in late pregnancy: a case report and literature review
Authors: Shi Yan , Zhang Xiong , Huang Bo-Gao , Wang Wen-Kui , Liu Yan
Published: June 2015

The management of serious burn injuries during pregnancy is an unsolved clinical problem because of the low incidence of this disease. Although it has been documented that the effect of burns on fetal and maternal survival is detrimental, there have been conflicting reports among the different burn centers regarding the mortality of burned pregnant women and the management of burn patients during pregnancy. We report a case of severe burn in late pregnancy treated at our burn center. Additionally, we searched and summarized the literature concerning the management of pregnant patients to provide useful information for their treatment.
MicroRNAs of the RPE are essential for RPE differentiation and photoreceptor maturation
Authors: Ohana Reut , Weiman-Kelman Benjamin , Raviv Shaul , Tamm Ernst , Pasmanik-Chor Metsada , Rinon Ariel , Netanely Dvir , Shamir Ron , Salomon Arie S , Ashery-Padan Ruth
Published: June 2015

Dysfunction of the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) results in degeneration of photoreceptors and vision loss and is correlated with common blinding disorders in humans. Although many protein-coding genes are known to be expressed in RPEs and important for their development and maintenance, virtually nothing is known about the in vivo roles of non-protein coding transcripts in RPEs. The expression patterns of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been analyzed in a variety of ocular tissues, and few were implicated to play role in RPE based on studies in cell lines. Herein, through RPE specific conditional mutagenesis of Dicer1 or DGCR8, the importance of miRNA for RPE differentiation was uncovered. Interestingly, miRNAs were found to be dispensable for maintaining the RPE fate and survival, and yet they are essential for acquisition of important RPE properties such as the expression of genes involved in the visual cycle pathway, pigmentation and cell adhesion. Importantly miRNAs of the RPE were found to be required for maturation of the adjacent photoreceptors, specifically for the morphogenesis of the outer segments. The profiles of miRNA and mRNA altered in the Dicer1 deficient RPE point to a key role of miR-204 in regulation of RPE differentiation program in vivo and uncovers the importance of additional novel RPE miRNAs. The study exposes the combined regulatory activity of miRNAs of the RPE, which is required for RPE differentiation and for the development of the adjacent neuroretina.
Relationships between activation level, knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-management behavior in heart failure patients discharged from rural hospitals
Authors: Do Van , Young Lufei , Barnason Sue , Tran Hoang
Published: June 2015

Non-adherence to self-management guidelines accounted for 50% of hospital readmissions in heart failure patients. Evidence showed that patient activation affects self-management behaviors in populations living with chronic conditions. The purpose of this study was to describe patient activation level and its relationship with knowledge, self-efficacy and self-management behaviors in heart failure patients discharged from rural hospitals. Our study populations were recruited from two hospitals in rural areas of Nebraska. We found that two-thirds of the participants reported low activation levels (e.g., taking no action to manage their heart failure condition). In addition, low patient activation levels were associated with inadequate heart failure knowledge (p=.005), low self-efficacy (p<.001) and low engagement in heart failure self-management behaviors (p<.001) after discharge from hospital.
Ordenación sanitaria en el medio rural de la provincia de Alicante
Authors: Bonmatí Antón José Fermín
Published: June 2015

En el plano sanitario, la población alicantina residente en los espacios más ruralizados se encuentra en desventaja respecto a los demás habitantes de la provincia. Por un lado, suele coincidir este censo con el de los pacientes con menor accesibilidad a los respectivos centros hospitalarios, hecho que se subsana con la presencia de Consultorios de Asistencia Primaria y Centros de Salud más próximos a las áreas rurales. Por otra parte, se trata de un contingente muy envejecido, con porcentajes muy elevados de población con 60 o más años de edad, circunstancia a tener en cuenta en la planificación y ordenación territorial de los recursos sanitarios.
El trabajo a domicilio en la Vega Baja del Segura (Alicante): origen y desarrollo en un municipio agrícola
Authors: Melis Maynar Ana , Canales Martínez Gregorio
Published: June 2015

El trabajo industrial a domicilio ha cobrado una importancia considerable a raíz de la crisis industrial de la década de los setenta y del proceso de descentralización productiva derivada de la misma. Esta nueva forma de actividad que afectó en un primer momento a las periferias urbanas, se ha expandido en el medio rural. El artículo analiza el grado de implantación entre las familias de un municipio de la Vega Baja del Segura en la provincia de Alicante. La localidad, que surgió dependiendo de los núcleos industriales tradicionales del corredor del Vinalopó, se ha convertido en la actualidad en un centro difusor de este tipo de trabajo.
La geografía hoy: reflexiones sobre el pensamiento geográfico, la región y la docencia de la geografía
Authors: Olcina Cantos Jorge
Published: June 2015

Resulta esencial, en cualquier disciplina, el conocimiento de las bases de pensamiento sobre las que se debe asentar cualquier reflexión futura de teoría y método de la misma. Cuestión distinta es aceptar, sin más, las ideas expresadas en su día por los maestros de la disciplina y, aún peor, no aventurarse a llevar a cabo propuestas de mejora de la ciencia por la que se ha apostado como futuro profesional. Se presentan aquí unas reflexiones personales sobre el pensamiento geográfico, sobre la región y las nuevas corrientes que para ella se presumen y sobre la docencia de la geografía con especial referencia al actual proceso de renovación de las enseñanzas geográficas.
Die verkannte Integration
Authors: Mannitz Sabine
Published: June 2015

Selbst- und Lebensentwürfe von Heranwachsenden aus Migrantenkreisen werden bislang kaum im Licht der allgemeinen Spannung von spätmoderner Vergesellschaftung und Individualisierung diskutiert. Eher werden sie speziellen Kollektiven oder Problemen zugeordnet, die mit nationalen Herkunftsgruppen in Verbindung gebracht oder auf so genannte Kulturkonflikte zurückgeführt werden. Das Buch bricht mit dieser Perspektive und zeichnet in sechs Fallstudien individuelle Sozialisationsverläufe nach, die zwar der herrschenden Klassifikationsordnung unterliegen, diese in der sozialen Praxis aber zugleich für den biographischen Selbstentwurf transformieren. In diesen Prozessen lassen sich neuartige Formen der Integration komplexer Gesellschaften erkennen.
Paracardiac Gossypiboma (Textiloma) in 2 Patients
Authors: Mavioglu Levent , Ertan Cagatay , Mungan Ufuk , Ozatik Mehmet Ali
Published: June 2015

Gossypiboma, also called textiloma, results when a cotton matrix such as a gauze pad or surgical sponge is left in a body cavity after surgery. The diagnosis of gossypiboma can be challenging. In symptomatic patients, operative removal of the pad or sponge is recommended; however, the decision to operate might be less immediately clear in asymptomatic patients. We report the cases of 2 patients in whom we diagnosed paracardiac gossypiboma. In addition, we briefly review other cases and discuss the treatment of asymptomatic patients.
Adult-Onset Still's Disease and Cardiac Tamponade: A Rare Association
Authors: Carrilho-Ferreira Pedro , Silva Doroteia , de Jesus Silva Maria , André Rui , Varela Manuel Gato , Diogo António Nunes
Published: June 2015

Adult-onset Still's disease is a rare disorder with potentially severe clinical features, including cardiac involvement. This systemic inflammatory disease of unknown origin should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pericarditis, with or without pericardial effusion. Cardiac tamponade is a very rare sequela that requires an invasive approach, such as percutaneous or surgical pericardial drainage, in addition to the usual conservative therapy.

The authors describe a case of adult-onset Still's disease rendered more difficult by pericarditis and cardiac tamponade, and they briefly review the literature on this entity.