bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PHYSICAL REHABILITATION OF LOW BACK PAIN BASED ON A CONCEPTUAL SYSTEM APPROACHES
Authors: LAZARIEVA Olena , CIEŚLICKA Mirosława , STANKIEWICZ Błażej , MUSZKIETA Radosław , Prusik Krzysztof
Published: August 2014

In Europe, back pain is a common disease, this is according to European statistics. In accordance with the new case, the pain each year occurs in 5% of the population. The aim of this work is to develop a conceptual approaches to the physical rehabilitation process at the surgical treatment of patients with back pain. Materials and methods . There was researched an experience of the domestic and foreign researches in physical rehabilitation area. Methods of the research were the analysis of the references and theoretical research methods (as an analysis, interpretation and synthesis of scientific and educational literature on the study problem. Abstraction (or idealization and schematization) is the allocation of the essential foundations. Also we used experimenting with schemes (as a development of their content, sophistication and usability testing) at development of concepts, practical models and physical rehabilitation programs. Results. The physical rehabilitation concept at the surgical treatment of patients with back pain was developed, given by the modern science in the diagnostics field, performing difficult complex spinal surgery with the using of new tools and the knowledge from the physical rehabilitation improvement. Conclusion. The using of a systematic methodology for physical rehabilitation in the surgical treatment of patients with vertebral pathology, helps to optimize research, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative and preventive measures, providing them with the required comprehensiveness, consistency, orderliness.
Flexible Thermoelectric Devices Based on Indium Phosphide Nanowire Networks on Copper
Authors: Norris Kate J. , Tuan Brian , Coleman Elane , Fryauf David M. , Zhang Junce , Tompa Gary S. , Kobayashi Nobuhiko P.
Published: August 2014

More than 50% of total input energy is wasted as heat in various industrial processes. If we could harness a small fraction of the waste heat while satisfying the economic demands of cost versus performance, then thermoelectric (TE) power generation could bring substantial positive impacts. To meet these demands single-crystal semiconductor nanowire networks have been investigated as a method to achieve advanced TE devices because of their predicted large reduction in thermal conductivity and increase in power factor.

To further our goal of developing practical and economical TE devices, we designed and developed a material platform that combined a semiconductor nanowire network and a semiconductor thin film integrated directly on a mechanically flexible metallic substrate. We assessed the potential of this platform by using indium phosphide (InP) nanowire networks and a doped poly-silicon (poly-Si) thin film combined on copper sheets. InP nanowires were grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). In the nanowire network, InP nanowires were grown in three-dimensional networks in which electrical charges and heat travel under the influence of their characteristic scattering mechanisms over a distance much longer than the mean length of the constituent nanowires. Subsequently, plasma-assisted CVD was utilized to form a poly-Si thin film to prevent electrical shorting when an ohmic copper top contact was made. An additional facet to this design is the utilization of multiple materials to address the various temperature ranges at which each material is most efficient at heat-to-energy conversion. The utilization of multiple materials could enable the enhancement of total power generation for a given temperature gradient. We investigated the use of poly-Si thin films combined with InP nanowires to enhance TE properties. TE power production and challenges of a large area nanowire device on a flexible metallic substrate were presented.
Spectroscopic Characterization of Nanodiamond Solutions using Photothermal and Fluorescence Measurements
Authors: Pati Gour , Warren Z. , Williams M. J. , Marcano A. , Tripathi Renu
Published: August 2014

Absorption, scattering and fluorescent properties of several different types of nanodiamond samples are measured to characterize them for various applications. Two different methods, spectrophotometry and photothermal spectroscopy were used to measure absorption properties of nanodiamonds suspended in aqueous solutions. Photothermal spectroscopy provides the advantage of measuring absorption of photoactive nanodiamonds with high-sensitivity. Spectral fluorescence properties of nanodiamond samples were studied using a commercial spectrofluorometer and a home-built inverted microscope integrated with a light-sensitive imaging spectrograph. Characteristic fluorescence spectrum of nitrogen-vacancy defects in single diamond nanocrystals was obtained using the light-sensitive instrument.
Lichenoid Mucosal Reaction to Rituximab
Authors: Kuten-Shorrer Michal , Hochberg Ephraim P. , Woo Sook-Bin
Published: August 2014

A case of rituximab-induced oral lichenoid drug reaction in a patient with follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma is presented. In light of the wide use of rituximab for the treatment of lymphoma and the increasing use for autoimmune diseases, awareness and recognition of this unusual side effect of treatment with rituximab is critical to allow for prompt management to reduce morbidity.
A Phase I/II Study Combining Erlotinib and Dasatinib for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Gold Kathryn A. , Lee J. Jack , Harun Nusrat , Tang Ximing , Price Justina , Kawedia Jitesh D. , Tran Hai T. , Erasmus Jeremy J. , Blumenschein George R. , William William N. , Wistuba Ignacio I. , Johnson Faye M.
Published: August 2014

Background.

EGFR and Src are frequently activated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In preclinical models, combining EGFR and Src inhibition has additive synergistic effects. We conducted a phase I/II trial of the combination of Src inhibitor dasatinib with EGFR inhibitor erlotinib to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), pharmacokinetic drug interactions, biomarkers, and efficacy in NSCLC.

Methods.

The phase I 3+3 dose-escalation study enrolled patients with solid tumors to determine the MTD. The phase II trial enrolled patients with advanced NSCLC who had undergone no previous treatments to determine progression-free survival (PFS) and response. Pharmacokinetic and tissue biomarker analyses were performed.

Results.

MTD was 150 mg of erlotinib and 70 mg of dasatinib daily based on 12 patients treated in the phase I portion. No responses were observed in phase I. The 35 NSCLC patients treated in phase II had an overall disease control rate of 59% at 6 weeks. Five patients (15%) had partial responses; all had activating EGFR mutations. Median PFS was 3.3 months. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers did not correlate with outcomes.

Conclusion.

The combination of erlotinib and dasatinib is safe and feasible in NSCLC. The results of this study do not support use of this combination in molecularly unselected NSCLC.
Comparison of remote sensing and plant trait‐based modelling to predict ecosystem services in subalpine grasslands
Authors: Homolová L. , Schaepman M. E. , Lamarque P. , Clevers J. G. P. W. , de Bello F. , Thuiller W. , Lavorel S.
Published: August 2014

There is a growing demand for spatially explicit assessment of multiple ecosystem services (ES) and remote sensing (RS) can provide valuable data to meet this challenge. In this study, located in the Central French Alps, we used high spatial and spectral resolution RS images to assess multiple ES based on underpinning ecosystem properties (EP) of subalpine grasslands. We estimated five EP (green biomass, litter mass, crude protein content, species diversity and soil carbon content) from RS data using empirical RS methods and maps of ES were calculated as simple linear combinations of EP. Additionally, the RS‐based results were compared with results of a plant trait‐based statistical modelling approach that predicted EP and ES from land use, abiotic and plant trait data (modelling approach). The comparison between the RS and the modelling approaches showed that RS‐based results provided better insight into the fine‐grained spatial distribution of EP and thereby ES, whereas the modelling approach reflected the land use signal that underpinned trait‐based models of EP. The spatial agreement between the two approaches at a 20‐m resolution varied between 16 and 22% for individual EP, but for the total ecosystem service supply it was only 7%. Furthermore, the modelling approach identified the alpine grazed meadows land use class as areas with high values of multiple ES (hot spots) and mown‐grazed permanent meadows as areas with low values and only few ES (cold spots). Whereas the RS‐based hot spots were a small subset of those predicted by the modelling approach, cold spots were rather scattered, small patches with limited overlap with the modelling results. Despite limitations associated with timing of assessment campaigns and field data requirements, RS offers valuable data for spatially continuous mapping of EP and can thus supply RS‐based proxies of ES. Although the RS approach was applied to a limited area and for one type of ecosystem, we believe that the broader availability of high fidelity airborne and satellite RS data will promote RS‐based assessment of ES to larger areas and other ecosystems.
Early warnings of regime shifts: evaluation of spatial indicators from a whole‐ecosystem experiment
Authors: Cline Timothy J. , Seekell David A. , Carpenter Stephen R. , Pace Michael L. , Hodgson James R. , Kitchell James F. , Weidel Brian C.
Published: August 2014

Critical transitions between alternate ecosystem states are often preceded by increased variance and autocorrelation in time series of ecosystem properties. Analogous changes may occur in spatial statistics as ecosystems approach thresholds for critical transitions. Changes in spatial statistics near thresholds have been described using models, laboratory experiments, and remotely sensed data, but there have been no tests using deliberate manipulations of whole ecosystems in the field. We previously documented a whole‐lake manipulation resulting in a transition to predator dominance, a type of critical transition. The food web of an experimental lake was forced via cascading trophic interactions from a stable state characterized by abundant prey fish, small zooplankton, and high chlorophyll concentrations to an alternative state dominated by predatory fish, large zooplankton and low chlorophyll concentrations. Time series of zooplankton and chlorophyll concentrations provided early warning of the regime shift. Here we test if similar early warning signals were present in space by applying spatial variance and the discrete Fourier transform to spatially distributed prey fish catch data from this regime shift. Prey fish spatial distributions were monitored daily using minnow traps deployed around the lake perimeter. Added predators reduced prey fish populations and altered their spatial distributions. Increases in spatial variance and shifts to low frequency spatial variance were observed up to a year in advance of the shift. There was no response in an adjacent reference lake. Our results demonstrate that spatial signals of approaching thresholds can be detected at the ecosystem scale.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing as an Adjunctive Treatment of Unipolar Depression: A Controlled Study
Authors: Hofmann Arne , Hilgers Angelika , Lehnung Maria , Liebermann Peter , Ostacoli Luca , Schneider Wolfgang , Hase Michael
Published: August 2014

Depression is a severe mental disorder that challenges mental health systems worldwide. About 30% of treated patients do not experience a full remission after treatment, and more than 75% of patients suffer from recurrent depressive episodes. Although psychotherapy and medication can improve remission rates, the success rates of current treatments are limited. In this nonrandomized controlled exploratory study, 21 patients with unipolar primary depression were treated with a mean of 44.5 sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) including an average 6.9 adjunctive sessions of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). A control group (n= 21) was treated with an average of 47.1 sessions of CBT sessions alone. The main outcome measure was the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). The treatment groups did not differ in their BDI-II scores before treatment, and both treatments resulted in significant improvement. There was an additional benefit for patients treated with adjunctive EMDR (p= .029). Also the number of remissions at posttreatment, as measured by a symptom level below a BDI-II score of 12, was significantly better in the adjunctive EMDR group, the group showing more remissions (n= 18) than the control group (n= 8;p< .001). This potential effect of EMDR in patients with primary depression should be examined further in larger randomized controlled studies.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Treatment of Nightmares: A Case Report
Authors: Woo Matthew
Published: August 2014

A single client with depression and chronic nightmares was treated with 4 sessions of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and showed a decrease in nightmares and improvement in general well-being. The client’s 2 nightmare images were resolved following Luber’s (2010) protocol for nightmare processing. Treatment effects were measured with the Outcome Rating Scale and showed a shift from the clinical range at pretreatment to the nonclinical range at the third session. The ready improvement and gains of this patient have served to highlight various aspects of the EMDR procedures which have worked well for the client, which included targeting the negative cognitions surrounding the theme of helplessness as well as adapting the positive cognition with a collectivistic orientation.
Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Combined With Flap Surgery for Treatment of External Root Resorption. A Long‐Term Clinical Case Report
Authors: Carnio João , Geraldeli Saulo , White Cecil
Published: August 2014

Introduction: Defects caused by root resorption are often associated with a variety of idiopathic, external resorptions or perforations located at the mid‐third of the root surface. These defects can lead to gingival inflammation, breakdown of periodontal fibers, bone resorption, and damage to the periodontal apparatus. Treatment protocols that preclude tooth extraction are important adjuncts toward an ultimate goal of tooth/root preservation. Although a number of materials have been proposed to repair root resorption defects, only a few have been effective in the long‐term management of subgingival defects.

Case Presentation: This case report presents long‐term follow‐up of a subgingival, external root resorption lesion that was successfully treated with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and a coronally advanced flap. At 30 months, the results revealed gain in clinical attachment, reduction in probing depth, additional bone formation, and, ultimately, preservation of the gingival margin and esthetic appearance of the tooth.

Conclusion: The use of MTA appears to be a viable and effective material to treat subgingival root resorption defects while also preserving the function and esthetics of the natural dentition.
Crop Establishment and Nutrient Management for Dry Season (Boro) Rice in Coastal Areas
Authors: Sarangi Sukanta K. , Maji Buddheswar , Singh Sudhanshu , Sharma Dinesh K. , Burman Dhiman , Mandal Subhasis , Ismail Abdelbagi M. , Haefele Stephan M.
Published: August 2014

Dry season (boro) rice (Oryza sativaL.) is an important crop in coastal areas of India, but little attention has been devoted to optimize crop and resource management for this important ecosystem. Four methods of crop establishment were tested on puddled soil: direct sowing of pre‐germinated seeds with drum seeder, transplanting 12‐ and 18‐d‐old seedlings and conventional transplanting of 25‐d‐old seedlings (farmers’ practice). Three nutrient treatments were also evaluated: recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF; 120–20–0 kg N–P2O5–K2O ha−1), RDF +Azolla(2 t ha−1) and RDF + 5 t ha−1of farmyard manure (FYM).Azollais a N‐rich freshwater fern that can be produced in ponds and ditches. Drum‐seeding increased plant height, tiller number, leaf area index, and net photosynthetic rate. Grain and straw yields (4.85 and 8.13 t ha−1, respectively) were significantly higher with drum seeding than with transplanting. Grain yield was 34, 37, and 38% higher compared with 12‐, 18‐, and 25‐d‐old transplanted seedlings, respectively. Seedling age at transplanting did not affect grain yield, but the benefit/cost ratio (BCR) (1.94) was higher with drum seeding than with transplanting. Grain and straw yields under RDF + FYM were, respectively, 24 and 21% higher than RDF, but were only 11 and 12% higher compared with RDF +Azollatreatment. Integrated management practices combining a salt‐tolerant variety (Canning 7) with drum seeding and nutrient management that include chemical and organic fertilizers could enhance the productivity of boro rice in saline coastal soils.
Nitrogen‐Fertilizer Equivalence of Poultry Litter for Winter Wheat Production
Authors: Gordon Brett L. , Slaton Nathan A. , Norman Richard J. , Roberts Trenton L.
Published: August 2014

The N availability of manure applied to summer‐grown crops has been frequently researched, but information regarding the N‐fertilizer equivalence of manure for winter‐grown crops is lacking. Our objectives were to determine the inorganic N‐fertilizer value of poultry litter (PL) compared with applying urea‐N fertilizer to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in late winter and examine the inorganic‐N content in PL‐amended soils at 5, 15, and 25°C. Six field experiments compared PL applied preplant or at planting at 84 and 168 kg N ha−1 to wheat fertilized with urea–ammonium sulfate blend (UASB) rates of 0 to 191 kg N ha−1. The apparent N uptake efficiency of PL‐N ranged from 0 to 63 and 8 to 56% for wheat receiving 84 and 168 kg PL‐N ha−1, respectively. The time of PL application had no effect on wheat N uptake and yield at four of five sites. The mean potentially available N (PAN) values for N uptake at Feekes stage 10.5 and grain yield were 0.31 and 0.39 kg UASB‐N kg−1 PL‐N, respectively. Soil amended with PL incubated at 15 and 25°C showed that 19 to 31% of the added PL‐N was mineralized and recovered as NO3–N in 28 to 44 d. When the incubation temperature was reduced to 5°C, 17 to 19% of the PL‐N was recovered as NO3–N or NH4–N with <3% recovered as NO3–N. The results suggest winter wheat growers that apply PL in the fall can subtract 30 to 40% of the PL‐N from the late‐winter N fertilizer rate.
Inception and Magnitude of Subsurface Evaporation for a Bare Soil with Natural Surface Boundary Conditions
Authors: Deol Pukhraj K. , Heitman Joshua L. , Amoozegar Aziz , Ren Tusheng , Horton Robert
Published: August 2014

A dry surface layer (DSL) forms when wet soil is exposed to the sun; development of a DSL coincides with a shift between surface and subsurface evaporation. There remains debate as to when this shift from surface to subsurface evaporation occurs relative to the timing of the shift between potential and falling‐rate evaporation. We performed a field experiment to investigate the onset of subsurface evaporation, development of the DSL, and the extent of the evaporation zone. Our objective was to determine the timing of the onset of subsurface evaporation with respect to decline in evaporation rates. We estimated total (surface plus subsurface) and subsurface soil evaporation rates using microlysimeter (water mass balance) and sensible heat balance (SHB) approaches, respectively, for a bare loamy sand soil under natural wetting and drying cycles. Results showed that the onset of subsurface evaporation coincided with the beginning of falling‐rate evaporation. The evaporation zone extended into the subsurface when evaporation rates fell below the potential rate but were still as high as 50% of potential evaporation. Over a 5‐d drying event, estimated evaporation zones were as deep as 4 to 9 mm, and the estimated DSL had a maximum depth of approximately 6 mm. A low soil water content‐dependent albedo was observed when evaporation occurred at potential rates, but albedo increased as evaporation rates declined. Data from the intensive observation period suggest that this increase in albedo corresponded to formation of a DSL and onset of subsurface evaporation. Overall, surface drying and formation of a DSL appeared to be a dominant process for this coarse‐texture soil exposed to ambient boundary conditions, even as evaporation rates remained relatively high (0.3 mm h−1).
Measuring Near‐Surface Soil Thermal Properties with the Heat‐Pulse Method: Correction of Ambient Temperature and Soil–Air Interface Effects
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Heitman Joshua , Horton Robert , Ren Tusheng
Published: August 2014

Large temperature gradients and proximity to the soil–air interface affect the measurement accuracy of thermal properties with the heat‐pulse probe (HPP). The objective of this study is to improve the HPP methodology for measuring soil heat capacity (C) and thermal conductivity (λ) in the surface soil layer by reducing the effects of ambient temperature variation and the soil–air interface. Thermal properties of eight soil layers (0–6, 2–6, 6–12, 12–18, 18–24, 24–30, 30–36, and 36–42 mm) were measured with the HPP in a loamy sand soil in two experiments with varying moisture conditions. Results were compared with values estimated with the de Vries models. Temperature drift caused by natural warming and cooling was removed from the observed trend of ambient temperature change with time. The influence of the soil–air interface was taken into account with a new solution using pulsed infinite line source theory with adiabatic boundary conditions. When ambient temperature change was considered, the HPP were capable of providing reasonable thermal property results at soil depths greater than 6 mm. For the 0‐ to 6‐mm depth layer, the HPP signals were affected simultaneously by ambient temperature drift and the soil‐air interface, and mixed scenarios were produced. Around midday, the HPP temperature by time curves were distorted so seriously that the effect of ambient temperature drift could not be removed. At other times, large errors were observed in the estimated C and λ data, even when ambient temperature drift was removed. When the effect of the soil–air interface was accounted for, however, C and λ measurement accuracies in the 0‐ to 6‐mm layer were improved significantly. The RMSE of C was reduced from 0.43 MJ m−3 °C−1 to 0.29 MJ m−3 °C−1 in Exp. 1, and from 0.52 MJ m−3 °C−1 to 0.34 MJ m−3 °C−1 in Exp. 2. Significant error reduction was also observed in λ measurements. Thus, to obtain accurate field measurements of shallow soil thermal properties, the ambient temperature drift and the impact of the soil–air interface must be properly taken into account.
Soil Testing to Predict Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus Loss in Surface Runoff from Organic Soils
Authors: Zheng Z.M. , Zhang T.Q. , Wen G. , Kessel C. , Tan C.S. , O'Halloran I.P. , Reid D. K. , Nemeth D. , Speranzini D.
Published: August 2014

Phosphorus loss from surface runoff contributes to eutrophication of surface water, a problem that is often severe from polders with organic soils where agricultural production is intensive. A soil P test is essential to predict the potential for P losses to precisely conduct environmental risk assessment and to efficiently develop and evaluate beneficial management practices. This study evaluated the possibility of using the environmental and agronomic soil P tests, soil P sorption index (PSI), and degree of soil P saturation (DPS), which are used for mineral soils, to predict surface runoff dissolved reactive P (DRP) from organic soils. Forty‐four soils from eight subgroups representative of organic lands across Ontario were selected to provide a wide range of soil test P (STP) within each category. A surface runoff study was conducted following the U.S. National Phosphorus Research Project protocol. Flow‐weighted mean runoff DRP concentration (DRP30) was linearly related to soil water‐ and CaCl2–extractable P concentrations but with data distribution patterns that inefficiently represented the soil variability in P release potentials. The runoff DRP30 was significantly related to Bray‐1 P and FeO‐extractable P concentrations in split‐line models, each with a change point, but not to Mehlich‐3 P and Olsen P. All DPS values calculated based on STP and their derived PSIs were closely related to runoff DRP30 in either a linear or a split‐line model. The DPS values expressed as Bray‐1 P/(PSI + Bray‐1 P) and FeO P/(PSI + FeO P) showed the highest correlation with runoff DRP30 and thus can be recommended as environmental risk indicators of surface runoff DRP from organic soils.
Hydraulic Conductivity Dynamics during Salt Leaching of a Sodic, Structured Subsoil
Authors: Callaghan Michael V. , Cey Edwin E. , Bentley Laurence R.
Published: August 2014

Leaching of salts in the presence of elevated soil sodicity can result in reduced hydraulic conductivity due to clay swelling or dispersion. This study examines the dynamics and mechanisms of hydraulic conductivity decrease induced during salt leaching of a structured, smectite‐bearing subsoil. Intact soil cores were initially equilibrated with aqueous solutions of elevated salinity and sodicity. Results of leaching with a solution of fixed sodicity demonstrated that, in this structured soil, salinity levels were successfully leached before reaching a stable hydraulic conductivity. This disequilibrium between decreases in hydraulic conductivity and permeameter effluent salinity appear to be the result of diffusion‐controlled swelling. Diffusion of salts out of low permeability soil aggregates may be slowed by diffuse double layer swelling trapping salts within the smallest pores. A higher degree of sensitivity to saline–sodic swelling effects was observed for the structured soil in this study compared to repacked soils of higher swelling clay content from other studies. Higher sensitivity of structured subsoils to saline–sodic swelling effects may be attributed to aggregate breakdown and plugging of macropores, heterogeneity in swelling‐clay distribution resulting in a locally higher degree of swelling, and/or increased internal swelling due to physical restriction caused by overburden loading. Potential irreversibility of pore network damage caused by soil structure breakdown motivates mitigating saline–sodic disruption of field hydraulic conductivity before it occurs.
Estimating Input Parameters for Four Infiltration Models from Basic Soil, Vegetation, and Rainfall Properties
Authors: Shao Qi , Baumgartl Thomas
Published: August 2014

Quantifying infiltration is a challenging and time‐consuming process because the parameters are very difficult to measure directly. Estimating them from dependent and readily measurable parameters is a more efficient alternative. Many existing studies have focused on deriving the parameters in the Green–Ampt model from basic soil properties, with few related to other infiltration models or factors. In this study, infiltration experiments were conducted on 28 small plots using a field rainfall simulator, with the purposes to: (i) investigate the effect of various factors on the parameters in four popular infiltration models; and (ii) develop predictive equations for each parameter from its identified major controlling factors. To achieve the best outcome, four factor sets including different numbers of factors were applied in a regression analysis. Results showed that each infiltration parameter was controlled by not only soil factors but also vegetation and rainfall. Soil properties alone were not sufficient to predict these infiltration parameters, while the regression equations developed from the full set of factors showed much higher accuracy. In addition, a simpler factor set including only the four most readily obtainable factors was evaluated, but the expected success was not achieved. However, the inclusion of the saturated hydraulic conductivity greatly improved the results to an acceptable level. The results of this study demonstrate the contribution of the effects of vegetation and rainfall on various infiltration parameters. The simplified predictive equations are also expected to improve the outcome with regard to effort, time, and cost in determining these parameters.
Dependency Measures for Assessing the Covariation of Spectrally Active and Inactive Soil Properties in Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy
Authors: Sarathjith M.C. , Das B.S. , Wani S.P. , Sahrawat K. L.
Published: August 2014

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) is a rapid and noninvasive assessment technique for several spectrally active soil properties (chromophores) such as sand, clay, organic C, and Fe contents. The approach is also used for estimating many spectrally inactive constituents (non‐chromophores) based on the assumption of covariation between non‐chromophores and chromophores. The linkage between covariation and the ability of DRS to estimate a non‐chromophore has not been reported in the literature. In this study, we evaluated the covariation assumption using three dependency measures (Pearson correlation coefficient, r; biweight midcorrelation, bicor; and mutual information based adjacency, AMI), five chromophores (organic C, Fe, clay, and sand contents, and geometric mean diameter), and seven non‐chromophores (pH, electrical conductivity, P, K, B, Zn, and Al contents) measured in 247 Alfisol and 249 Vertisol samples. An average dependency index (ADI) was developed for each of the three measures (ADIr, ADIbicor, and ADIAMI). The first derivative of the reflectance in conjunction with partial least squares regression was used for data modeling. Model accuracy was evaluated using residual prediction deviation (RPD). The relationships between RPD values of non‐chromophores and the ADI values were examined for different chromophore groups (physical, chemical, and combined). The performance of ADIAMI was found to be superior to ADIr and ADIbicor. The ADIAMI computed using chemical chromophores gave strong linear relationships (R2 = 0.93) between ADIAMI and the RPD of chemical non‐chromophores, suggesting that the AMI may be used as a robust dependency measure to assess the covariation of non‐chromophores with chromophores in DRS.
Bee Colony Optimization - part II: The application survey
Authors: Teodorovic Dusan , Selmic Milica , Davidovic Tatjana
Published: August 2014

Bee Colony Optimization (BCO) is a meta-heuristic method based on foraging
habits of honeybees. This technique was motivated by the analogy found
between the natural behavior of bees searching for food and the behavior of
optimization algorithms searching for an optimum in combinatorial
optimization problems. BCO has been successfully applied to various hard
combinatorial optimization problems, mostly in transportation, location and
scheduling fields. There are some applications in the continuous
optimization field that have appeared recently. The main purpose of this
paper is to introduce the scientific community more closely with BCO by
summarizing its existing successful applications.
The Liquidity Trap, Democracy and Central Bank Independence
Authors: Croitoru Lucian
Published: August 2014

In the wake of the financial crisis, central banks in developed countries performed unconventional operations that are fiscal in nature. On one hand, we support the view that such operations, which are not fully democratic, might lead to loss of central bank operational independence and discuss some difficulties that central banks might face when reversing quantitative easing. On the other hand, we show that, in the middle of a financial crisis, such operations are best performed by central banks. To avoid this potential conflict, the society needs to identify the best means by which the responsibility for quasi-fiscal operations implemented by the central bank is transferred to a democratic structure
The effect of resveratrol and its methylthio-derivatives on the Nrf2-ARE pathway in mouse epidermis and HaCaT keratinocytes
Authors: Krajka-Kuźniak Violetta , Szaefer Hanna , Stefański Tomasz , Sobiak Stanisław , Cichocki Michał , Baer-Dubowska Wanda
Published: August 2014

Resveratrol is the most extensively studied stilbene derivative. We previously showed that methylthiostilbenes were more effective inhibitors of CYP1A1 and 1B1 activity than resveratrol. In this study, we investigated whether resveratrol and its methylthio-substituted derivatives, i.e. 3-M-4′-MTS (S2), 3,5-DM-4′-MTS (S5) and 3,4,5-TM-4′-MTS (S7) could activate Nrf2 signaling in the mouse epidermis and in human keratinocytes. Western blot analysis showed translocation of Nrf2 from the cytosol to the nucleus in both models. All of the tested stilbenes increased GST activity, but resveratrol was the most effective inducer. Moreover, only resveratrol increased the protein level of GSTP in the mouse epidermis. GSTM was enhanced in HaCaT cells after the treatment with derivatives S2 and S5. The same effect was observed for GSTP in the case of compound S2. Resveratrol and its derivatives reduced the NQO2 protein level in HaCaT cells. Thus, it is possible that increased expression of GSTP or GSTM and GST activity was linked with NQO2 inhibition in these cells. The results of this study indicate that resveratrol and its methylthioderivatives activate Nrf2 not only in the mouse epidermis, but also in human keratinocytes. Upregulating GST isozymes might be particularly important for deactivating chemical carcinogens, such as PAH.
Independent assessment of a new pedicle probe and its ability to detect pedicle breach: a cadaveric study
Authors: Guillen Phillip T. , Knopper Ryan G. , Kroger Jared , Wycliffe Nathaniel D. , Danisa Olumide A. , Cheng Wayne K.
Published: August 2014

Object

The authors undertook an independent, non–industry funded cadaveric study to evaluate the efficacy of a pedicle-probing device, which uses impedance measurement to warn of impending and actual pedicle screw breach.

Methods

A previously validated fresh-frozen cadaver model (saline-soaked spine) was used. Individuals at 3 levels of training (attending spine surgeon, orthopedic surgery resident, and medical student) used a cannulated pedicle-probing device to cannulate each of the levels between T-2 and S-1. Each pedicle was cannulated freehand using 2 approaches: 1) a standard trajectory through the middle of the pedicle, and 2) a medial trajectory aimed to breach the medial wall of the pedicle. A 16-slice helical CT scanner was used. The images were interpreted and analyzed by 2 orthopedic spine surgeons and a neuroradiologist.

Results

The sensitivity of the pedicle probe to detect impending breach or breach of 4 mm or less was 90.06%. The sensitivity in detecting medial wall breach was 95.8%. The positive predictive value was 87.1%. The device detected medial breach more often than lateral breach.

Conclusions

This study showed that this pedicle-probing device could reasonably be used to detect impending breach and actual breach of 4 mm or less. Medial breach was detected better than lateral breach. Use of the pedicle probe may improve patient safety.
Predictive value of C-reactive protein for the outcome after primary intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Löppönen Pekka , Qian Cheng , Tetri Sami , Juvela Seppo , Huhtakangas Juha , Bode Michaela K. , Hillbom Matti
Published: August 2014

Object

Primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) carries high morbidity and mortality rates. Several factors have been suggested as predicting the outcome. The value of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in predicting a poor outcome is unclear, and findings have been contradictory. In their population-based cohort, the authors tested whether, independent of confounding factors, elevated CRP levels on admission (< 24 hours after ictus) are associated with an unfavorable outcome.

Methods

The authors identified all patients who suffered primary ICH between 1993 and 2008 among the population of Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland, and from the laboratory records they extracted the CRP values at admission. Independent predictors of an unfavorable outcome (moderate disability or worse according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale at 3 months) were tested by unconditional logistic regression in a model including all the well-established confounding factors and CRP on admission.

Results

Of 961 patients, 807 (84%) had CRP values available within 24 hours of admission, and multivariable analysis showed elevated CRP at that point to be associated with an unfavorable outcome (OR 1.41 per 10 mg/L [95% CI 1.09–1.81], p < 0.01), together with diabetes mellitus (OR 1.99 [95% CI 1.09–3.64], p < 0.05), age (1.06 per year [95% CI 1.04–1.08], p < 0.001), low Glasgow Coma Scale score (0.75 per unit [95% CI 0.67–0.84], p < 0.001), hematoma size (1.05 per ml [95% CI 1.03–1.07], p < 0.001), and the presence of an intraventricular hemorrhage (2.70 [95% CI 1.66–4.38], p < 0.001). Subcortical location predicted a favorable outcome (0.33 [95% CI 0.20–0.54], p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Elevated CRP on admission is an independent predictor of an unfavorable outcome and is only slightly associated with the clinical and radiological severity of the bleeding.
Anticonvulsant prophylaxis for brain tumor surgery: determining the current best available evidence
Authors: Sayegh Eli T. , Fakurnejad Shayan , Oh Taemin , Bloch Orin , Parsa Andrew T.
Published: August 2014

Patients who undergo craniotomy for brain tumor resection are prone to experiencing seizures, which can have debilitating medical, neurological, and psychosocial effects. A controversial issue in neurosurgery is the common practice of administering perioperative anticonvulsant prophylaxis to these patients despite a paucity of supporting data in the literature. The foreseeable benefits of this strategy must be balanced against potential adverse effects and interactions with critical medications such as chemotherapeutic agents and corticosteroids. Multiple disparate metaanalyses have been published on this topic but have not been applied into clinical practice, and, instead, personal preference frequently determines practice patterns in this area of management. Therefore, to select the current best available evidence to guide clinical decision making, the literature was evaluated to identify meta-analyses that investigated the efficacy and/or safety of anticonvulsant prophylaxis in this patient population. Six meta-analyses published between 1996 and 2011 were included in the present study. The Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses and Oxman-Guyatt methodological quality assessment tools were used to score these meta-analyses, and the Jadad decision algorithm was applied to determine the highest-quality meta-analysis. According to this analysis, 2 metaanalyses were deemed to be the current best available evidence, both of which conclude that prophylactic treatment does not improve seizure control in these patients. Therefore, this management strategy should not be routinely used.
Reducing costs while maintaining quality in endovascular neurosurgical procedures
Authors: Kashlan Osama N. , Wilson Thomas J. , Chaudhary Neeraj , Gemmete Joseph J. , Stetler William R. , Dunnick N. Reed , Thompson B. Gregory , Pandey Aditya S.
Published: August 2014

Object

As medical costs continue to rise during a time of increasing medical resource utilization, both hospitals and physicians must attempt to limit superfluous health care expenses. Neurointerventional treatment has been shown to be costly, but it is often the best treatment available for certain neuropathologies. The authors studied the effects of 3 policy changes designed to limit the costs of performing neurointerventional procedures at the University of Michigan.

Methods

The authors retrospectively analyzed the costs of performing neurointerventional procedures during the 6-month periods before and after the implementation of 3 cost-saving policies: 1) the use of an alternative, more economical contrast agent, 2) standardization of coil prices through negotiation with industry representatives to receive economies of scale, and 3) institution of a feedback method to show practitioners the costs of unused products per patient procedure. The costs during the 6-month time intervals before and after implementation were also compared with costs during the most recent 6-month time period.

Results

The policy requiring use of a more economical contrast agent led to a decrease in the cost of contrast usage of $42.79 per procedure for the first 6 months after implementation, and $137.09 per procedure for the most current 6-month period, resulting in an estimated total savings of $62,924.31 for the most recent 6-month period. The standardized coil pricing system led to savings of $159.21 per coil after the policy change, and $188.07 per coil in the most recent 6-month period. This yielded total estimated savings of $76,732.56 during the most recent 6-month period. The feedback system for unused items decreased the cost of wasted products by approximately $44.36 per procedure in the 6 months directly after the policy change and by $48.20 per procedure in the most recent 6-month period, leading to total estimated savings of $22,123.80 during the most recent 6-month period. According to extrapolation over a 1-year period, the 3 policy changes decreased costs by an estimated $323,561.34.

Conclusions

Simple cost-saving policies can lead to substantial reductions in costs of neurointerventional procedures while maintaining high levels of quality and growth of services.
Combined endoscopic third ventriculostomy and choroid plexus cauterization as primary treatment for infant hydrocephalus: a prospective North American series
Authors: Stone Scellig S. D. , Warf Benjamin C.
Published: August 2014

Object

Combined endoscopic third ventriculostomy with choroid plexus cauterization (ETV/CPC) enhances the likelihood of shunt freedom over ETV alone, and thus avoidance of shunt-related morbidity, in hydrocephalic infants. To date, virtually all published reports describe experiences in Africa, thus hampering generalization to other parts of the world. Here, the authors report the first North American prospective series of this combined approach to treat hydrocephalus of various etiologies in infants.

Methods

A prospective series of 50 boys and 41 girls (mean and median ages 4.7 and 3.2 months, respectively) with hydrocephalus underwent ETV/CPC performed by the senior author at Boston Children's Hospital from August 2009 through March 2014. Success data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

The 91 patients treated included those with aqueductal stenosis (23), myelomeningocele (23), posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (25), Dandy-Walker complex (6), post-infectious hydrocephalus (6), and other conditions (8). Using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, 57% of patients required no further hydrocephalus treatment at 1 year. Moreover, 65% remained shunt free to the limit of available follow-up (maximum roughly 4 years). A Cox proportional hazards model identified the following independent predictors of ETV/CPC failure: post-infectious etiology, age at treatment younger than 6 months, prepontine cistern scarring, and prior CSF diversion. Of patients with at least 6 months of follow-up, the overall ETV/CPC success at 6 months (59%) exceeded that predicted by the ETV Success Score (45%). Complications included 1 CSF leak and 1 transient syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, and there were no deaths.

Conclusions

ETV/CPC is an effective, safe, and durable treatment for infant hydrocephalus in a North American population, with 1-year success rates similar to those reported in Africa and equivalent to those for primary shunt placement in North America. These findings underscore the need for prospective multicenter studies of the outcomes, quality of life, and economic impact of the procedure compared with primary shunt insertion.
Autologous clavicle bone graft for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with titanium interbody cage
Authors: Iwasaki Koichi , Ikedo Taichi , Hashikata Hirokuni , Toda Hiroki
Published: August 2014

A variety of donor-site complications have been reported for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using autologous iliac bone graft. To minimize such morbidities and to obtain optimal bony fusion at the ACDF surgery, a novel technique was used to harvest cancellous bone from the autologous clavicle instead of the popular iliac crest graft. After a routine cervical discectomy of the affected level, a 1.5-cm linear skin incision was made over the clavicle within 2.5 cm of the sternoclavicular joint on the medial one-third portion. This portion is known as an anatomically safe zone, with no subcutaneous distribution of the supraclavicular nerve. Then, cancellous bone was harvested through a small cortical window developed on the clavicle. Care was taken not to injure the subclavian major vessels and the lung below the clavicle. A box-type titanium cage was packed with the harvested cancellous bone and then inserted into the discectomy-treated space for cervical interbody fusion. From 2009 to 2013, 16 patients with cervical radiculopathy and/or myelopathy underwent single-level ACDF with this method. All but 1 patient experienced significant improvement of clinical symptoms after the surgery and showed radiographic evidence of solid bony fusion and spinal stabilization within 6 months. Further, no peri- and postoperative complications at the clavicular donor site were noted. The mean visual analog scale pain score (range 0 [no pain to 10 [maximum pain]) at 1 year after the surgery was 0.1, and 13 of 14 patients with data at 1-year follow-up were highly satisfied with their donor-site cosmetic outcome. The clavicle is a safe, reliable, and technically easy source of autologous bone graft that yields optimal fusion rates and patient satisfaction with ACDF surgery.