bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vingt-cinq ans d’expériences pratiques en atelier d’expression créative : un bilan
Authors: Cartereau J.-M. , Van der Werf C.
Published: November 2013

En 1987, l’Association « Le Centenaire et Après » composée de personnel du centre hospitalier Henri-Guérin de Pierrefeu-du-Var est chargée d’organiser la commémoration du centenaire de l’établissement. À cette occasion, un atelier d’arts plastiques est créé. Il a la particularité d’être animé par des artistes professionnels et non des soignants. L’aventure débute le 4 juin 1987. Au fil des ans, les ateliers se développent ; de nouveaux plasticiens et art-thérapeutes viennent compléter l’équipe et d’autres activités créatives voient le jour. D’autres formes d’inscription et de nouvelles prises en charge se mettent en place avec en particulier l’accueil de personnes en CATTP. Le but de ces ateliers n’est pas de former des artistes « indiscutables », mais plutôt d’offrir à la personne « créateur » une possible rencontre, de l’accompagner vers la découverte de sa propre expression, de sa créativité et peut-être favoriser la reconnaissance d’une part d’elle-même jusque-là inconnue. L’atelier de graphisme et peinture propose aux participants des techniques variées ; la peinture principalement acrylique, l’aquarelle, le dessin. L’atelier sculpture permet aux participants d’aborder le modelage, le moulage, la taille directe sur béton cellulaire ou la pierre. L’atelier sérigraphie-gravure offre aux participants une approche et une expérimentation de différentes techniques d’impressions et de leurs dérivés (linogravure, sérigraphie, monotypes…). L’atelier terre donne aux patients une approche variée de l’argile. Si initialement l’Atelier d’Art est un lieu d’expression ouvert à l’ensemble des patients de l’établissement ainsi qu’à d’autres structures hospitalières grâce à des conventions, au fil du temps il est devenu aussi un lieu de formation en Art-Thérapie reconnu sur le plan national et international.
AVEC : évaluation d’une Nouvelle Intervention Découlant de la TCC Destinée Aux Proches Des Individus vivant un premier épisode de psychose
Authors: Leclerc C.
Published: November 2013

L’efficacité des interventions destinées aux proches des individus vivant une psychose a été soulignée par de nombreuses études dont des méta analyses [5,6] et elles sont recommandées dans les Guides de meilleures pratiques en raison de leurs effets reconnus, soit la diminution des rechutes des personnes souffrant de psychose et une augmentation de leur soutien social [1,3,4].

Objectif

Cette étude a évalué les retombées d’une nouvelle intervention (AVEC) élaborée par l’auteur et son associée, conçue selon les principes de la thérapie cognitive comportementale pour la psychose, manualisée et administrée par des infirmières spécialisées en santé mentale à des groupes de proches.

Méthode

les proches (n = 40) furent évalués avant et après l’intervention et des tests T pairés furent effectués.

Résultats

78,6 % présentent des améliorations significatives de leur soutien social (The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, [6]) et une diminution significative de leur détresse (Brief Symptom Inventory, [2]). Ils témoignent aussi de leur satisfaction à l’égard de l’intervention de groupe. Des résultats qualitatifs de même que le contenu du manuel d’intervention seront présentés et les implications cliniques discutées.
Michael's Game, un jeu d’entraînement au raisonnement par hypothèse : étude randomisée contrôlée de son impact auprès de patients avec un trouble psychotique
Authors: Khazaal Y.
Published: November 2013

Introduction

Plus de la moitié des patients traités par des médicaments pour des troubles psychotiques ont des symptômes résiduels. les psychothérapies cognitives des symptômes psychotiques (TCC) ont été développées afin de diminuer la détresse associée aux idées délirantes et aux hallucinations et d’améliorer la manière de faire face à ces symptômes. les TCC aident en particulier les patients à développer des explications alternatives à leur vécu. Ces approches restent insuffisamment disséminées et parfois difficiles à initier avec une partie des patients. Le jeu « Michael's Game » a été développé pour favoriser le pouvoir des patients vis-à-vis de leurs interprétations en facilitant leur appropriation du raisonnement par hypothèses (une des approches clés permettant de générer et tester des explications alternatives).

Objectif

Évaluer l’impact du jeu sur les symptômes psychotiques, le vécu des symptômes psychotiques (degrés de préoccupation, d’anxiété et de conviction associés aux idées délirantes) et la flexibilité cognitive.

Méthode

Étude multicentrique randomisée contrôlée (Michael's Game plus traitement usuel versus traitement usuel) avec évaluation en simple aveugle et suivi de six mois post-traitement.

Résultats

L’étude a inclus 172 patients avec des troubles psychotiques recrutés en Suisse, en France, à Monaco et en Italie. les résultats montrent un effet du jeu sur la réduction des degrés de préoccupation, conviction et anxiété associés aux idées délirantes (mesurés avec Peters Delusions Inventory), une amélioration de la flexibilité cognitive (ouverture à des explications alternatives, mesurée avec certains items du Maudsley Assessement of Delusions Schedule) ainsi qu’une diminution des symptômes mesurés avec la Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale.

Conclusion

Le jeu apparaît comme une option acceptable par les patients et les équipes de soins avec un bénéfice potentiel pour certains patients en complément du traitement usuel.
Arrêts de travail et statut fonctionnel dans le trouble dépressif majeur
Authors: Corruble E. , Younes N. , Liard F. , Nuss P. , Granghaud A.
Published: November 2013

La prescription d’Arrêts de Travail (AT) en début de traitement des épisodes dépressifs majeurs (EDM) est souvent discutée en pratique clinique mais peu étudiée. L’objectif principal de cette étude était d’étudier les facteurs associés à la prescription d’AT en début de traitement. Dans une cohorte nationale prospective et observationnelle d’une durée de 12 semaines, réalisée en médecine générale, ont été inclus 5365 patients présentant un diagnostic d’EDM, nécessitant l’instauration d’un traitement antidépresseur, âgés de 18–65 ans, occupant un emploi ou en recherche active (âge moyen : 45,2 ± 10,4 ans ; 65,6 % de femmes ; ancienneté moyenne de la maladie : 6,5 ± 7,9 ans ; EDM sévère : 45,8 %). L’existence d’un AT et la réhabilitation fonctionnelle (Functional Status Questionnaire [FSQ]) ont été évaluées après six et 12 semaines après le début du traitement. Deux mille neuf cent dix-sept (54,4 %) patients ont un AT prescrit à l’initiation du traitement pour leur EDM. La prescription d’un AT à l’inclusion est associée aux facteurs indépendants suivants : sévérité de l’EDM, comorbidité psychiatrique. La poursuite de l’activité professionnelle à l’inclusion est associée aux facteurs indépendants suivants : ancienneté de l’EDM et origine perçue de l’EDM conjoncturelle/économique ou familiale. 5,6 % des patients après six semaines de traitement et 21,9 % après 12 semaines ont obtenu une rémission fonctionnelle globale (FSQ). Même si la fréquence de la rémission fonctionnelle après 12 semaines de traitement est plus fréquente chez les patients ayant bénéficié d’un AT en début de traitement que chez les autres (20,2 % versus 24,3 %, p < 0,001), l’analyse multivariée ne met pas en évidence d’impact positif de la prescription d’un AT en début de traitement sur la réhabilitation fonctionnelle ultérieure (p = 0,055), hormis pour la dimension des activités basiques de la vie quotidienne (p = 0,02). De nouvelles études seront nécessaires pour mieux cibler les patients bénéficiant d’un arrêt de travail en début de traitement de l’épisode dépressif majeur.
FACING INCONSISTENCY: THEORIES AND OUR RELATIONS TO THEM
Authors: Michael Michaelis
Published: November 2013

Classical logic is explosive in the face of contradiction, yet we find ourselves using inconsistent theories. Mark Colyvan, one of the prominent advocates of the indispensability argument for realism about mathematical objects, suggests that such use can be garnered to develop an argument for commitment to inconsistent objects and, because of that, a paraconsistent underlying logic. I argue to the contrary that it is open to a classical logician to make distinctions, also needed by the paraconsistent logician, which allow a more nuanced ranking of theories in which inconsistent theories can have different degrees of usefulness and productivity. Facing inconsistency does not force us to adopt an underlying paraconsistent logic. Moreover we will see that the argument to best explanation deployed by Colyvan in this context is unsuccessful. I suggest that Quinean approach which Colyvan champions will not lead to the revolutionary doctrines Colyvan endorses.
Difference sets and frequently hypercyclic weighted shifts
Authors: BAYART FRÉDÉRIC , RUZSA IMRE Z.
Published: November 2013

We solve several problems on frequently hypercyclic operators. Firstly, we characterize frequently hypercyclic weighted shifts on${\ell }^{p} ( \mathbb{Z} )$,$p\geq 1$. Our method uses properties of the difference set of a set with positive upper density. Secondly, we show that there exists an operator which is$ \mathcal{U} $-frequently hypercyclic but not frequently hypercyclic, and that there exists an operator which is frequently hypercyclic but not distributionally chaotic. These (surprising) counterexamples are given by weighted shifts on${c}_{0} $. The construction of these shifts lies on the construction of sets of positive integers whose difference sets have very specific properties.
Ants affect the infestation levels but not the parasitism of honeydew and non-honeydew producing pests in citrus
Authors: Calabuig A. , Garcia-Marí F. , Pekas A.
Published: November 2013

Ants act simultaneously as predators and as hemipteran mutualists, and thereby may affect the composition and population dynamics of a wide arthropod community. We conducted ant-exclusion experiments in order to determine the impact of ants on the infestation levels and parasitism of three of the most important citrus pests of western Mediterranean citrus: the honeydew producer Aleurothrixus floccosus Maskell (woolly whitefly) and the non-honeydew producers Aonidiella aurantii Maskell (California red scale; CRS) and Phyllocnistis citrella (Staiton) (citrus leafminer). The study was conducted in three commercial citrus orchards, each one dominated by one ant species (Pheidole pallidula, Lasius grandis or Linepithema humile) during two consecutive growing seasons (2011 and 2012). We registered a significant reduction of the CRS densities on fruits in the ant-excluded treatment in the three orchards and in the two seasons, ranging from as high as 41% to as low as 21%. Similarly, the percentage of shoots occupied by A. floccosus was significantly lower in the ant-excluded plots in the orchards dominated by P. pallidula and L. humile. No significant differences were registered in the percentage of leaf surface loss caused by P. citrella between ant-allowed and ant-excluded treatments in any case. We found no significant differences in the percent parasitism between ant-allowed and ant-excluded treatments for honeydew and non-honeydew producing herbivores. These results suggest that: (i) ant management should be considered in order to reduce herbivore populations in citrus and (ii) mechanisms other than parasitism (e.g., predation) might explain the differences in herbivore infestation levels between treatments.
The Consecration of Political Suffering: Martyrs, Heroes and Victims in Argentine Political Culture
Authors: CATOGGIO MARIA SOLEDAD
Published: November 2013

This article addresses the various mechanisms by which the religious figure of the Christian martyr became a useful notion in Argentine political discourse. It argues that the process by which the idea of the ‘martyr’ was secularised and politicised was actually initiated by religious agents themselves. The analysis considers how commemoration initiatives devised by religious agents, social movements and political actors have brought ‘Catholic martyrs’ into the pantheon of national symbols. It also deals with the various semantic shifts seen in the public discourses of religious agents themselves, shifts that extend the boundaries of an eminently religious category by associating it with other figures in a more specifically political imaginary, such as that of the hero and the victim. The article shows how the political power of the religious figure of the martyr lay in the way various actors could use it to invoke the image of a legitimate and heroic victim of political violence. It thus allowed those actors to sidestep the vexed public question of whether those being commemorated had had any involvement in armed struggle.
Mandatory aged care insurance: a case for Australia
Authors: PAOLUCCI FRANCESCO , SOWA PRZEMYSLAW M. , GARCÍA-GOÑI MANUEL , ERGAS HENRY
Published: November 2013

This paper assesses the feasibility and welfare-improving potential of an insurance market for aged care expenses in Australia. As in many other countries, demographic dynamics coupled with an upward trend in costs of personal care result in consumer co-contributions imposing a risk of expenses that could constitute a significant proportion of lifetime savings, in spite of the presence of a government-run aged care scheme. We explore issues around the development of an insurance market in this particular setting, considering adverse selection, moral hazard, timing of purchase, transaction costs and correlation of risks, as well as such contextual factors as longevity and aged care cost determinants. The analysis indicates aged care insurance is both feasible and welfare-enhancing, thus providing a gainful alternative to the aged care reform proposed by the Productivity Commission in 2011. However, while the insurance market would benefit the ageing Australian population, it is unlikely to emerge spontaneously because of the problem of myopic individual perceptions of long-term goals. Consequently, we recommend regulatory action to trigger the market development.
New tenements and the image of the past: the Crown Street development in Glasgow's New Gorbals
Authors: Urban Florian
Published: November 2013

In 2000, the Crown Street redevelopment in Glasgow's New Gorbals area was completed following a masterplan by Piers Gough and building designs by Page and Park, Elder and Cannon, Hypostyle Architects and others. Built on symbolically contested ground previously occupied by the Gorbals tenements (1870s–1960s) and the high-rise Hutchesontown flats (1960s–1990s), the new development is a textbook example of neotraditional design. The project features ornamented facades, bay windows, courtyards and corridor streets along with local references to the heyday of Glasgow tenements during the late nineteenth century.

This paper shows that the new tenements on Crown Street contributed to Glasgow's economic revival strategies by reconfiguring the site and supporting a positive view of Glasgow's Victorian era. In this sense, the architects adapted design preferences – which at the time were evident all over Europe and North America – to a local agenda.

The new tenements reconcile conflicting perspectives: on the one hand a break almost as comprehensive as the urban renewal of the 1960s, and on the other hand an idea of historical continuity and long-lasting community life, which rested on a revised conception of the city's industrial past. Conveying a historical image cleared of imperfections they communicate a message of permanence that stands in stark contrast to the area's historic upheavals, but nonetheless contributed to the viability of the new neighbourhood.
Limits on methane release and generation via hypervelocity impact of Martian analogue materials
Authors: Price M. C. , Ramkissoon N. K. , McMahon S. , Miljković K. , Parnell J. , Wozniakiewicz P. J. , Kearsley A. T. , Blamey N. J. F. , Cole M. J. , Burchell M. J.
Published: November 2013

The quantity of methane in Mars' atmosphere, and the potential mechanism(s) responsible for its production, are still unknown. In order to test viable, abiotic, methangenic processes, we experimentally investigated two possible impact mechanisms for generating methane. In the first suite of experiments, basaltic rocks were impacted at 5 km s−1 and the quantity of gases (CH4, H2, He, N2, O2, Ar and CO2) released by the impacts was measured. In the second suite of experiments, a mixture of water ice, CO2 ice and anhydrous olivine grains was impacted to see if the shock induced rapid serpentinization of the olivine, and thus production of methane. The results of both suites of experiments demonstrate that impacts (at scales achievable in the laboratory) do not give rise to detectably enhanced quantities of methane release above background levels. Supporting hydrocode modelling was also performed to gain insight into the pressures and temperatures occurring during the impact events.
Restenosis after infrapopliteal angioplasty - clinical importance, study update and further directions
Authors: Baumann Frederic , Diehm Nicolas
Published: November 2013

Patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) represent the most severe form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and exhibit high mortality rates. Frequently, PAD in CLI patients involves the infrapopliteal arterial segment challenging endovascular revascularization strategies. Restenosis remains the major drawback of tibial angioplasty encountered in more than two thirds of CLI patients undergoing tibial revascularization. In contrast to earlier observations, tibial patency was recently shown to be essential to attain an optimal clinical outcome in CLI patients subsequent to tibial angioplasty. The exact pathopyhsiological mechanisms of tibial restenosis remains unclear. To date, most of our knowledge on tibial restenosis and its pathophysiology is derived from coronary arteries, based on the similarity of coronary arteries to tibial artery morphology. Nervetheless, multiple antirestenosis concepts are investigated within clinical trials to reduce tibial restenosis.Purpose of the present manuscript is to provide a current update on the pathophysiology of tibial restenosis and potential antirestenosis strategies.
Gewaltbedingte Verletzungen in einem städtischen Umfeld aus Sicht einer unfallchirurgischen Notfallaufnahme
Authors: Scheyerer Max J. , Spühler Dominik , Zimmermann Stefan , Guenkel Sebastian , Werner Clement L.M. , Wanner Guido A. , Killias Martin , Simmen Hans-Peter
Published: November 2013

Gewalt ist ein weltweit zunehmendes Problem. Auch in der Schweiz scheint zwischenmenschliche Gewalt zusehends an Bedeutung zu gewinnen. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, ein umfassendes Bild von Gewalt in einer Grossstadt mit Hinblick auf medizinische und soziale Aspekte zu erarbeiten. Hierfür wurde ein Kollektiv von 1740 Patienten, die im Rahmen einer Gewalttat zwischen April 2004 und Januar 2011 vorstellig wurden, analysiert. Es konnten keine relevanten Veränderungen der Patientenzahlen über die Jahre beobachtet werden. Das männliche Geschlecht überwog, gleichwohl über den Zeitraum eine Zunahme des weiblichen Geschlechtes beobachtet werden konnte. Tages- und wochentagsspezifische Untersuchungen belegten den dringenden Bedarf an präventiven Massnahmen – insbesondere an den Wochenenden – zur Reduktion der gewaltassoziierten Opferzahlen.
Evolving attitudes
Authors: Brown Robin S.
Published: November 2013

The significance of Jung's notion of synchronicity and its place in the wider scheme of his psychology is readily underestimated. In this paper, the author suggests that the shift heralded by the emergence of the synchronistic paradigm can be understood as a response to theoretical tensions that can be traced throughout Jung's career. These tensions are reflective of the Cartesian assumptions upon which Jung grounded his ideas about typology. By examining the theoretical development of the attitudes of consciousness, the author argues for the necessity of the synchronistic paradigm in establishing coherence in Jung's psychology.
Sensitivity to Flg22 Is Modulated by Ligand-Induced Degradation and de Novo Synthesis of the Endogenous Flagellin-Receptor FLAGELLIN-SENSING2
Authors: Smith John M. , Salamango Daniel J. , Leslie Michelle E. , Collins Carina A. , Heese Antje
Published: November 2013

FLAGELLIN-SENSING2 (FLS2) is the plant cell surface receptor that perceives bacterial flagellin or flg22 peptide, initiates flg22-signaling responses, and contributes to bacterial growth restriction. Flg22 elicitation also leads to ligand-induced endocytosis and degradation of FLS2 within 1 h. Why plant cells remove this receptor precisely at the time during which its function is required remains mainly unknown. Here, we assessed in planta flg22-signaling competency in the context of ligand-induced degradation of endogenous FLS2 and chemical interference known to impede flg22-dependent internalization of FLS2 into endocytic vesicles. Within 1 h after an initial flg22 treatment, Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaf tissue was unable to reelicit flg22 signaling in a ligand-, time-, and dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that flg22-induced degradation of endogenous FLS2 may serve to desensitize cells to the same stimulus (homologous desensitization), likely to prevent continuous signal output upon repetitive flg22 stimulation. In addition to impeding ligand-induced FLS2 degradation, pretreatment with the vesicular trafficking inhibitors Wortmannin or Tyrphostin A23 impaired flg22-elicited reactive oxygen species production that was partially independent of BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1-ASSOCIATED KINASE1. Interestingly, these inhibitors did not affect flg22-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation, indicating the ability to utilize vesicular trafficking inhibitors to target different flg22-signaling responses. For Tyrphostin A23, reduced flg22-induced reactive oxygen species could be separated from the defect in FLS2 degradation. At later times (>2 h) after the initial flg22 elicitation, recovery of FLS2 protein levels positively correlated with resensitization to flg22, indicating that flg22-induced new synthesis of FLS2 may prepare cells for a new round of monitoring the environment for flg22.
The association between serum vitamin D Level and disease activity in Thai rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Pakchotanon Rattapol , Chaiamnuay Sumapa , Narongroeknawin Pongthorn , Asavatanabodee Paijit
Published: November 2013

Background

Serum vitamin D level was inversely associated with the risk of developing new onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and disease activity, but some conflicting results have been reported.

Objective

To examine the serum vitamin D status in Thai RA patients and possible independent factors affecting serum 25 hydroxyvitamin vitamin D (25(OH)D) and the associations of serum 25(OH)D level and the disease activity and functional status in Thai RA patients.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was performed in 239 Thai RA patients. The blood levels of 25(OH)D2 and D3 were measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay. Disease activity was assessed according to tender and swollen joint counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), visual analog scale for global patient assessment, Disease Activity Score‐28 (DAS‐28) and Thai Health Assessment Questionnaire (Thai HAQ).

Result

The mean vitamin D level was 28.79 ng/mL. There were no associations between 25(OH)D levels and number of tender and swollen joint counts, DAS‐28 score, HAQ score or rheumatoid factor (RF) and/or anti‐cyclic citrulinated peptide (CCP) positivity. After multivariated analysis, Bangkok residents, non‐farmer, obesity and non‐vitamin D supplementation were the predictors for vitamin D insufficiency in Thai patients with RA.

Conclusion

There are no associations of serum 25(OH)D levels with disease activity or functional status in Thai RA patients. The factors associated with vitamin D insufficiency are Bangkok resident, non‐farmer, obesity and not taking vitamin D supplementation.
The Resveratrol Attenuates Ethanol‐Induced Hepatocyte Apoptosis Via Inhibiting ER‐Related Caspase‐12 Activation and PDE Activity In Vitro
Authors: Liu LQ , Fan ZQ , Tang YF , Ke ZJ
Published: November 2013

Background

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a key role in cell apoptosis pathways. Caspase‐12, a proapoptotic gene induced by ER stress, is also the key molecule in ER‐related apoptosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the protective activity and possible mechanism of resveratrol (ResV) against ethanol (EtOH)‐induced apoptosis in human hepatocyte Chang cell line.

Methods

The human hepatocyte Chang cell line was used to test the hypothesis that ResV may alleviate the liver cell apoptosis induced by EtOH. ER stress‐inducible proteins and silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) were assayed by Western blot. Cell viability was studied by MTT assay and apoptosis was measured by Annexin‐V and propidium iodide assay. Caspase‐12 activation was examined by immunofluorescence staining. Alcohol dehydrogenase‐2 (ADH‐2) and aldehyde dehydrogenase‐2 (ALDH‐2) were measured by polymerase chain reaction amplified product length polymorphism. Phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity was assayed in cell lysates using a cyclic nucleotide PDE assay.

Results

EtOH exposure significantly increased the expression of ER stress markers and activated signaling pathways associated with ER stress. These include GRP78, p‐IRE1α, p‐eIF2α, p‐PERK, ATF4 as well as cleaved caspase‐3/12, CHOP/GADD153, and Bax in human hepatocyte Chang cell line. The expression of these proteins were significantly down‐regulated by ResV (10 μM) in a SIRT1‐dependent manner. ResV can inhibit EtOH‐, tunicamycin‐, thapsigargin‐induced caspase‐12 activation. ADH‐2 and ALDH‐2 activities are lower in this cell line. PDE activity increased by EtOH was inhibited by ResV (10 μM).

Conclusions

The results indicate that (i) EtOH‐induced activation of caspase‐12 could be one of the underlying mechanisms of hepatocyte apoptosis; (ii) EtOH‐induced cell apoptosis was alleviated via ResV (10 μM) by inhibiting ER stress and caspase‐12 activation in a SIRT1‐dependent manner; and (iii) SIRT1 activated indirectly by ResV (10 μM) attenuates EtOH‐induced hepatocyte apoptosis partly through inhibiting PDE activity.
Guideline: the laboratory diagnosis of malaria
Authors: Bailey J. Wendi , Williams John , Bain Barbara J. , Parker‐Williams John , Chiodini Peter L. ,   The General Haematology Task Force of the British Committee for Standards in Haematology
Published: November 2013

UK National External Quality Assessment Service surveys indicate continuing problems in malaria diagnosis: inaccurate calculation of parasitaemia or failure to estimate it altogether, difficulty distinguishing Plasmodium vivax from P. ovale, reporting malaria parasites when none were present and misidentification of P. falciparum as another species still occur. Therefore, the British Committee for Standards in Haematology Guidelines for the Laboratory Diagnosis of Malaria have been revised. They are intended for use in the UK but may also prove useful in other non‐endemic areas. Routine use of thick and thin films is advised for malaria diagnosis. Thick films should be stained using Giemsa or Field stain. Thin films should be stained with Giemsa stain or Leishman stain. Thick films should be examined by two observers, each viewing a minimum of 200 high power fields. If thick films are positive, the species should be determined by examination of a thin film. In the case of P. falciparum or P. knowlesi infection, the percentage of parasitized cells or the number of parasites per microlitre (/μl) should be estimated and reported. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malarial antigen cannot replace microscopy but are indicated as a supplementary test when malaria diagnosis is performed by relatively inexperienced staff. Malaria RDTs are negative in babesiosis.
Genetic epileptic encephalopathies: Is all written into the DNA?
Authors: Striano Pasquale , de Jonghe Peter , Zara Federico
Published: November 2013

Epileptic encephalopathy is a condition in which epileptic activity, clinical or subclinical, is thought to be responsible for any disturbance of cognition, behavior, or motor control. However, experimental evidence supporting this clinical observation are still poor and the causal relationship between pharmacoresistant seizures and cognitive outcome is controversial. In the past two decades, genetic studies shed new light onto complex mechanisms underlying different severe epileptic conditions associated with intellectual disability and behavioral abnormalities, thereby providing important clues on the relationship between seizures and cognitive outcome. Dravet syndrome is a childhood disorder associated with loss‐of‐function mutations in SCN1A and is characterized by frequent seizures and severe cognitive impairment, thus well illustrating the concept of epileptic encephalopathy. However, it is difficult to determine the causative role of the underlying sodium channel dysfunction and that of the consequent seizures in influencing cognitive outcome in these children. It is also difficult to demonstrate whether a recognizable profile of cognitive impairment or a definite behavioral phenotype exists. Data from the laboratory and the clinics may provide greater insight into the degree to which epileptic activity may contribute to cognitive impairment in individual syndromes.
Person‐centred care in the Indonesian health‐care system
Authors: Dewi Wan Nishfa , Evans David , Bradley Helen , Ullrich Sandra
Published: November 2013

Person‐centred care (PCC) is defined as the health‐care providers selecting and delivering interventions or treatments that are respectful of and responsive to the characteristics, needs, preferences and values of the individual person. This model of care puts the person at the centre of care delivery. The World Health Organization suggests that PCC is one of the essential dimensions of health care and as such is an important indicator of health‐care quality. However, how PCC is implemented differs between countries in response to local cultures, resources and consumer expectations of health care. This article discusses person‐centred care in the Indonesian health‐care system.
Development and testing of a patient‐centred care competency scale for hospital nurses
Authors: Hwang Jee‐In
Published: November 2013

This study aimed to develop and test the psychometric soundness of a patient‐centred care competency (PCC) scale for hospital nurses. A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 594 nurses in two teaching hospitals (response rate 99.5%). Reliability and validity analyses were performed. The PCC scale consisted of 17 items divided into four subscales: respecting patients' perspectives (6 items), promoting patient involvement in care processes (5 items), providing for patient comfort (3 items) and advocating for patients (3 items). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the entire scale was 0.92, and those for the subscales were 0.85, 0.81, 0.84 and 0.80, respectively. Multitrait scaling analysis indicated that the four subscales had satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity. Significant correlations were found between total PCC scores and overall self‐ratings of patient‐centred care performance (r = 0.60, P < 0.001). The PCC scale was therefore determined to be a highly valid and reliable tool.
Assessing the challenges of multi‐scope clinical research sites: an example from NIH HIV/AIDS clinical trials networks
Authors: Rosas Scott R. , Cope Marie T. , Villa Christie , Motevalli Mahnaz , Utech Jill , Schouten Jeffrey T.
Published: November 2013

Rationale, aims, and objectives

Large‐scale, multi‐network clinical trials are seen as a means for efficient and effective utilization of resources with greater responsiveness to new discoveries. Formal structures instituted within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials facilitate collaboration and coordination across networks and emphasize an integrated approach to HIV/AIDS vaccine, prevention and therapeutics clinical trials. This study examines the joint usage of clinical research sites as means of gaining efficiency, extending capacity, and adding scientific value to the networks.

Methods

A semi‐structured questionnaire covering eight clinical management domains was administered to 74 (62% of sites) clinical site coordinators at single‐ and multi‐network sites to identify challenges and efficiencies related to clinical trials management activities and coordination with multi‐network units.

Results

Overall, respondents at multi‐network sites did not report more challenges than single‐network sites, but did report unique challenges to overcome including in the areas of study prioritization, community engagement, staff education and training, and policies and procedures. The majority of multi‐network sites reported that such affiliations do allow for the consolidation and cost‐sharing of research functions. Suggestions for increasing the efficiency or performance of multi‐network sites included streamlining standards and requirements, consolidating protocol activation methods, using a single cross‐network coordinating centre, and creating common budget and payment mechanisms.

Conclusions

The results of this assessment provide important information to consider in the design and management of multi‐network configurations for the NIH HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Networks, as well as others contemplating and promoting the concept of multi‐network settings.
Apolipoprotein A‐I and adenosine triphosphate‐binding cassette transporter A1 expression alleviates lipid accumulation in hepatocytes
Authors: Liu Wei , Qin Ling , Yu Hao , Lv Fangqiao , Wang Yutong
Published: November 2013

Background and Aim

Abnormal lipid metabolism may contribute to the pathogenesis of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis. ATP‐binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) mediates the transport of cholesterol and phospholipids from cells to high density lipoprotein apolipoproteins. The lipidation of apolipoprotein A‐I (apoA‐I) by ABCA1 is the rate‐limiting step in reverse cholesterol transport and the generation of plasma high density lipoprotein. Here, we examined the effect of apoA‐I or ABCA1 overexpression on hepatic lipid levels in BEL‐7402 cells.

Methods

Human ABCA1 or apoA‐I was overexpressed in BEL‐7402 hepatocytes by transfection and human apoA‐I was overexpressed via adenoviral vector in C57BL/6J mice with MCD diet.

Results

Overexpression of either apoA‐I or ABCA1 resulted in an increase in cholesterol efflux and a decrease in cellular fatty acids and triglycerides. However, after repression of ABCA1 by its siRNA, overexpression of apoA‐I failed to decrease both cellular fatty acids and triglycerides. ApoA‐I or ABCA1 overexpression also resulted in a decrease in the expression of the endoplasmic reticulum stress‐related proteins GRP78 and SREBP‐1. Overexpression of apoA‐I in mice also reduced hepatic lipid levels.

Conclusions

Expression of apoA‐I or ABCA1 can reduce steatosis by decreasing lipid storage in hepatocytes through lipid transport and may also reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress, further lessening hepatic steatosis.
Quality Testing and Product Rationing by Input Suppliers
Authors: Arya Anil , Gong Ning , Ramanan Ram N.V.
Published: November 2013

Quality testing by suppliers has significant ramifications for downstream supply chain participants and retail consumers. This article focuses on such implications accounting for the fact that suppliers often enjoy discretion in quality testing and reporting. Under a discretionary testing and reporting environment, we show that a supplier can improve the market's perception of product quality by engaging in self‐imposed production cuts. Production cuts dampen supplier incentives to engage in excessive quality testing, putting the supplier and the market on a more equal information footing. This reduces the market's need to skeptically discount product quality to protect itself. The improved market perception, then, reduces quality testing demand, introducing cost savings. The result that costly production cuts can improve quality perceptions indicates that the groundwork for influencing market perceptions may have to be laid upfront, even prior to acquiring private information, providing a contrast to routine signaling models.
CFD Analyses of a Single Stage Turbine With Inlet Hot-Streak at Different Circumferential Locations
Authors: Murari Sridhar , Sathish Sunnam , Bommisetty Ramakumar , Liu Jong S.
Published: November 2013

This paper presents a detailed flow and heat transfer characteristic analysis on a gas turbine first stage under hot-streak inlet conditions. Simulations were performed for two locations of hot-streak at turbine inlet with respect to the first stage vane, i.e. i) passage center and ii) blade center. The two kinds of inlet conditions have the same mass-averaged total temperature and total pressure. The passage center hot-streak total pressure and total temperature contours are obtained from the rig data published by Butler. Linear interpolation technique is used to move the hot-streak location from passage center to blade center. The ratio of highest temperature in hot-streak to free stream temperature is 2.0. Mixing plane (MP) and Non-linear harmonic (NLH) approaches are used to address the data transport across the rotor-stator station interface. The numerical solution is validated with the test data obtained from the published rig tests. NLH approach predicted the rotor blade surface temperature distributions close to rig data with a percentage deviation of 3%. The change in hot-streak circumferential position from blade center to passage center lead to decreased attenuation of hot-streak due to pronounced cross momentum transport of fluid across the viscous layers. Turbine flow with blade center hot-streak experiences transient periodic fluctuation of heat load on rotor surface. High temperature gradients are observed at turbine exit station with passage center hot-streak.
Application of Smith Chart for Non-Repeating Stages in Axial Compressors
Authors: Hernández Daniel , Antoranz Antonio , Vázquez Raúl
Published: November 2013

The configuration of an axial compressor, including the mean radius, the annulus lines, stage loading or number of stages, flow parameter, work split and stage reactions, are all of them selected in the preliminary design phase. For the success of the final design, to attain the proper selection is mandatory.

A representative geometry of the airfoils is not available at this early stage of the design process. Therefore the former parameters use to be selected based only on the designer prior experience and/or empirical correlations. Under these circumstances, the so called Smith Chart is a valuable tool that can provide simple guidelines to the designer and a preliminary assessment of the compressor efficiency. The use of this chart can be also extended to get the main features of the airfoils, like flow angles, turning, Mach and Reynolds number, diffusion factor, aspect ratio, etc. as well as to compare different design candidates.

Several authors have produced their own diagrams by analytical or semi-empirical approach. The repeating stage hypothesis, which has been usually assumed, implies no change in inlet and outlet absolute flow angles and constant axial velocity throughout the stage. The density rise through the stage is compensated by reducing the annulus height and so the annulus wall slope along the compressor is directly obtained from the continuity equation, being in most of the cases not representative of real compressors.

In order to have a more representative annulus, in the present work, the repeating stage hypothesis has not been assumed. The annulus shape (height and slope wall angle) is therefore defined by the designer and in order to close the equations of the problem, the absolute exit flow angle of every stage is required.

The optimization of the compressor by the novel proposed method is more complicate because of the higher number of variables. However the method has the advantage to reduce the design iterations due to its more reliable results.

The aim of this paper is to introduce the novel method of non-repeating stages and to show how this approach can be used in the preliminary design of an axial compressor.
Comparison of Temperature Profile and Heat Transfer Predictions With Statistically-Modeled Data From a Cooled 1-1/2 Stage High-Pressure Transonic Turbine
Authors: Kahveci Harika S. , Kirtley Kevin R.
Published: November 2013

This paper compares predictions from a 3-D Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes code and a statistical representation of measurements from a cooled 1-1/2 stage high-pressure transonic turbine to quantify predictive process sensitivity. A multivariable regression technique was applied to both the inlet temperature measurements obtained at the inlet rake, and the wall temperature and heat transfer measurements obtained via heat-flux gauges on the blade airfoil surfaces. By using the statistically-modeled temperature profiles to generate the inlet boundary conditions for the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis, the sensitivity of blade heat transfer predictions due to the variation in the inlet temperature profile and uncertainty in wall temperature measurements and surface roughness is calculated. All predictions are performed with and without cooling. Heat transfer predictions match reasonably well with the statistical representation of the data, both with and without cooling. Predictive precision for this study is driven primarily by inlet profile uncertainty followed by surface roughness and gauge position uncertainty.
On the Failure of a Gas Foil Bearing: High Temperature Operation Without Cooling Flow
Authors: Ryu Keun , San Andrés Luis
Published: November 2013

Implementing gas foil bearings (GFBs) in micro gas turbine engines is a proven approach to improve system efficiency and reliability. Adequate thermal management for operation at high temperatures, such as in a gas turbine or a turbocharger, is important to control thermal growth of components and to remove efficiently mechanical energy from the rotor mainly. The paper presents a test rotor supported on GFBs operating with a heated shaft and reports components temperatures and shaft motions at an operating speed of 37 krpm. An electric cartridge heater loosely inserted in the hollow rotor warms the test system. Thermocouples and non-contact infrared thermometers record temperatures on the bearing sleeve and rotor OD, respectively. No forced cooling air flow streams were supplied to the bearings and rotor, in spite of the high temperature induced by the heater on the shaft outer surface.

With the rotor spinning, the tests consisted in heating the rotor to a set temperature, recording the system component temperatures until reaching thermal equilibrium in ∼60 minutes, and stepping the heater set temperature by 200 °C. The experiments proceeded without incident, the heater set temperature equaled 600 °C and 10 minutes into the test, noise became apparent and the rotor stopped abruptly. The unusual operating condition, without cooling flow and a too large increment in rotor temperature, reaching 250 °C, led to the incident which destroyed one of the foil bearings. Post-test inspection evidenced seizure of the hottest bearing (closest to the heater) with melting of the top foil at the locations where it rests on the underspring crests (bumps). Analysis reveals a notable reduction in bearing clearance as the rotor temperature increases until seizure occurs. Upon contact between the rotor and top foil, dry-friction quickly generated vast amounts of energy that melted the protective coating and metal top foil.

Rather than a reliability issue with the foil bearings the experimental results show poor operating procedure and ignorance on the system behavior (predictions). A cautionary tale and a lesson in humility follow.
Time-Resolved Measurements of the Unsteady Flow Field in a Single Stage Low Pressure Axial Compressor
Authors: Sans J. , Dell’Era G. , Desset J. , Brouckaert J.-F. , Hiernaux S.
Published: November 2013

The experimental investigation of the unsteady flow field in a highly loaded single stage low pressure axial compressor, also called a booster, is presented in this paper. The compressor design is representative of an advanced direct drive turbofan booster. Tests were performed on different speed lines at choke, design, and near stall, in the VKI-R4 closed loop compressor test rig. The rotor casing was instrumented with fast response pressure transducers to perform a detailed survey of the tip flow features. Simultaneous time-resolved measurements with fast response aerodynamic pressure probes were performed by radial and circumferential traverses to map the unsteady flow field at rotor and stator exit. The originality of this paper also resides in the fact that unsteady flow angle data are presented as the probe was used in a virtual 3-hole mode. The casing measurements allow to map the direction and extension of the tip leakage vortex. The flow path measurements show its extension at the exit of the rotor blade passage and its evolution as throttling is increased towards the compressor stability limit. The results are presented in terms of periodic and random fluctuations. These experimental results are combined to provide a three-dimensional view of the experimental flow field. They are discussed and compared to CFD simulations, showing that, in some regions, important features are not captured by the numerical model. In particular, the presence of a second wake has been observed in the unsteady yaw angle map at rotor exit. This uncommon feature is currently under further investigation.
Lateral Rotordynamics Response of Low Pressure Gas Turbines Rotors
Authors: Bielecki Marcin , Costagliola Salvatore
Published: November 2013

Low pressure gas turbine rotors (LPT) designed to meet American Petroleum Institute 616 prescriptions should target specific rotordynamics criteria and supposedly past prototype testing. General modeling guidelines are reported by the API specification. Because of its generality, it does not mention some typical phenomena specific to overhung rotor with flexible supports subject to considerable thermal load. This can lead to skipping important design considerations. The aim of this paper is to deliberate key areas of design, manufacturing, testing and diagnostics of overhung rotors for oil and gas applications (gas turbines and expanders). These topics address vital factors affecting lateral vibrations over the entire rotor life. Considerations are made on bearings design and their condition monitoring, basic vibration modes and possible interactions with casing and supporting structure. It reports experiences on potential sources of unbalance, interactions between turbine rotor and other rotors of the shaft-line, rotor stability and specific cross-coupling effects. Most of these items are discussed through the outcome of the several sensitivity studies and experimental results. One of the main outcomes is a confirmation on the modeling criteria selected for LPT rotor. The bending mode frequency predictions can be considered satisfactory with prediction error up to 7%. One of the main results coming from the sensitivity studies reveal that variations of static load and hydrodynamic characteristics are most significant for coupling end bearings dynamic behavior. These values could be significantly different from design conditions when thermal conditions are not well predicted or due to poor quality of the shaft line alignment. The paper, at its conclusion reports a statistic on the root cause of high vibrations in such rotors: despite of the type (synchronous, sub-synchronous, etc), in 65% of all the considered population, it is the residual or developed unbalance — most probably at coupling side.