bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Image guidance and improved accuracy of external ventricular drain tip position particularly in patients with small ventricles
Authors: Shtaya Anan , Roach Joy , Sadek Ahmed-Ramadan , Gaastra Benjamin , Hempenstall Jonathan , Bulters Diederik
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVE

External ventricular drain (EVD) insertion is one of the most common emergency neurosurgical procedures. EVDs are traditionally inserted freehand (FH) in an emergency setting, but often result in suboptimal positioning. Image-guided surgery (IGS) is selectively used to assist placement. However, the accuracy and practicality of IGS use is yet to be reported. In this study, the authors set out to assess if IGS is practical and improves the accuracy of EVD placement.

METHODS

Case notes and images obtained in patients who underwent frontal EVD placement were retrospectively reviewed. Ventriculomegaly was determined by the measurement of the Evans index. EVD location was classified as optimal (ipsilateral frontal horn) or suboptimal (any other location). Propensity score matching of the two groups (IGS vs FH) for the Evans index was performed. Data were analyzed for patient age, diagnosis, number of EVDs, and complications. Those without postoperative CT scans were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 607 patients with 760 EVDs placed were identified; 331 met inclusion criteria. Of these, 287 were inserted FH, and 44 were placed with IGS; 60.6% of all unmatched FH EVDs were optimal compared with 75% of the IGS group (p = 0.067). The IGS group had a significantly smaller Evans index (p < 0.0001). Propensity score matching demonstrated improved optimal position in the IGS group when compared with the matched FH group (75% vs 43.2%, OR 4.6 [1.5–14.6]; p = 0.002). Patients with an Evans index of ≥ 0.36 derived less benefit (75% in IGS vs 66% in FH, p = 0.5), and those with an Evans index < 0.36 derived more benefit (75% in IGS vs 53% in FH, p = 0.024). The overall EVD complication rate was 36% in the FH group versus 18% in the IGS group (p = 0.056). Revision rates were higher in the FH group (p = 0.035), and the operative times were similar (p = 0.69). Long intracranial EVD catheters were associated with tip malposition irrespective of the group.

CONCLUSIONS

Image guidance is practical and improves the accuracy of EVD placement in patients with small ventricles; thus, it should be considered for these patients.
Comparative durability and costs analysis of ventricular shunts
Authors: Agarwal Nitin , Kashkoush Ahmed , McDowell Michael M. , Lariviere William R. , Ismail Naveed , Friedlander Robert M.
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVE

Ventricular shunt (VS) durability has been well studied in the pediatric population and in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus; however, further evaluation in a more heterogeneous adult population is needed. This study aims to evaluate the effect of diagnosis and valve type—fixed versus programmable—on shunt durability and cost for placement of shunts in adult patients.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent implantation of a VS for hydrocephalus at their institution over a 3-year period between August 2013 and October 2016 with a minimum postoperative follow-up of 6 months. The primary outcome was shunt revision, which was defined as reoperation for any indication after the initial procedure. Supply costs, shunt durability, and hydrocephalus etiologies were compared between fixed and programmable valves.

RESULTS

A total of 417 patients underwent shunt placement during the index time frame, consisting of 62 fixed shunts (15%) and 355 programmable shunts (85%). The mean follow-up was 30 ± 12 (SD) months. The shunt revision rate was 22% for programmable pressure valves and 21% for fixed pressure valves (HR 1.1 [95% CI 0.6–1.8]). Shunt complications, such as valve failure, infection, and overdrainage, occurred with similar frequency across valve types. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed no difference in durability between fixed (mean 39 months) and programmable (mean 40 months) shunts (p = 0.980, log-rank test). The median shunt supply cost per index case and accounting for subsequent revisions was $3438 (interquartile range $2938–$3876) and $1504 (interquartile range $753–$1584) for programmable and fixed shunts, respectively (p < 0.001, Wilcoxon rank-sum test). Of all hydrocephalus etiologies, pseudotumor cerebri (HR 1.9 [95% CI 1.2–3.1]) and previous shunt malfunction (HR 1.8 [95% CI 1.2–2.7]) were found to significantly increase the risk of shunt revision. Within each diagnosis, there were no significant differences in revision rates between shunts with a fixed valve and shunts with a programmable valve.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term shunt revision rates are similar for fixed and programmable shunt pressure valves in adult patients. Hydrocephalus etiology may play a significant role in predicting shunt revision, although programmable valves incur higher supply costs regardless of initial diagnosis. Utilization of fixed pressure valves versus programmable pressure valves may reduce supply costs while maintaining similar revision rates. Given the importance of developing cost-effective management protocols, this study highlights the critical need for large-scale prospective observational studies and randomized clinical trials of ventricular shunt valve revisions and additional patient-centered outcomes.
A novel, low-cost, reusable, high-fidelity neurosurgical training simulator for cerebrovascular bypass surgery
Authors: Cikla Ulas , Sahin Balkan , Hanalioglu Sahin , Ahmed Azam S. , Niemann David , Baskaya Mustafa K.
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVE

Cerebrovascular bypass surgery is a challenging yet important neurosurgical procedure that is performed to restore circulation in the treatment of carotid occlusive diseases, giant/complex aneurysms, and skull base tumors. It requires advanced microsurgical skills and dedicated training in microsurgical techniques. Most available training tools, however, either lack the realism of the actual bypass surgery (e.g., artificial vessel, chicken wing models) or require special facilities and regulations (e.g., cadaver, live animal, placenta models). The aim of the present study was to design a readily accessible, realistic, easy-to-build, reusable, and high-fidelity simulator to train neurosurgeons or trainees on vascular anastomosis techniques even in the operating room.

METHODS

The authors used an anatomical skull and brain model, artificial vessels, and a water pump to simulate both extracranial and intracranial circulations. They demonstrated the step-by-step preparation of the bypass simulator using readily available and affordable equipment and consumables.

RESULTS

All necessary steps of a superficial temporal artery–middle cerebral artery bypass surgery (from skin opening to skin closure) were performed on the simulator under a surgical microscope. The simulator was used by both experienced neurosurgeons and trainees. Feedback survey results from the participants of the microsurgery course suggested that the model is superior to existing microanastomosis training kits in simulating real surgery conditions (e.g., depth, blood flow, anatomical constraints) and holds promise for widespread use in neurosurgical training.

CONCLUSIONS

With no requirement for specialized laboratory facilities and regulations, this novel, low-cost, reusable, high-fidelity simulator can be readily constructed and used for neurosurgical training with various scenarios and modifications.
Rapid-sequence brain magnetic resonance imaging for Chiari I abnormality
Authors: Pan James , Quon Jennifer L. , Johnson Eli , Lanzman Bryan , Chukus Anjeza , Ho Allen L. , Edwards Michael S. B. , Grant Gerald A. , Yeom Kristen W.
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVE

Fast magnetic resonance imaging (fsMRI) sequences are single-shot spin echo images with fast acquisition times that have replaced CT scans for many conditions. Introduced as a means of evaluating children with hydrocephalus and macrocephaly, these sequences reduce the need for anesthesia and can be more cost-effective, especially for children who require multiple surveillance scans. However, the role of fsMRI has yet to be investigated in evaluating the posterior fossa in patients with Chiari I abnormality (CM-I). The goal of this study was to examine the diagnostic performance of fsMRI in evaluating the cerebellar tonsils in comparison to conventional MRI.

METHODS

The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 18 pediatric patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CM-I based on gold-standard conventional brain MRI and 30 controls without CM-I who had presented with various neurosurgical conditions. The CM-I patients were included if fsMRI studies had been obtained within 1 year of conventional MRI with no surgical intervention between the studies. Two neuroradiologists reviewed the studies in a blinded fashion to determine the diagnostic performance of fsMRI in detecting CM-I. For the CM-I cohort, the fsMRI and T2-weighted MRI exams were randomized, and the blinded reviewers performed tonsillar measurements on both scans.

RESULTS

The mean age of the CM-I cohort was 7.39 years, and 50% of these subjects were male. The mean time interval between fsMRI and conventional T2-weighted MRI was 97.8 days. Forty-four percent of the subjects had undergone imaging after posterior fossa decompression. The sensitivity and specificity of fsMRI in detecting CM-I was 100% (95% CI 71.51%–100%) and 92.11% (95% CI 78.62%–98.34%), respectively. If only preoperative patients are considered, both sensitivity and specificity increase to 100%. The authors also performed a cost analysis and determined that fsMRI was significantly cost-effective compared to T2-weighted MRI or CT.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite known limitations, fsMRI may serve as a useful diagnostic and surveillance tool for CM-I. It is more cost-effective than full conventional brain MRI and decreases the need for sedation in young children.
Reversible ventriculoperitoneal shunt dysfunction and chronic constipation: case report
Authors: Morais Barbara A. , Cardeal Daniel D. , Andrade Fernanda G. , Paiva Wellingson S. , Matushita Hamilton , Teixeira Manoel J.
Published: May 2018

Constipation can cause transient malfunction of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). Patients with myelomeningocele or cerebral palsy are often diagnosed with hydrocephalus and constipation due to neurogenic bowel. These patients are more prone to VPS dysfunction, often requiring surgical revision. The authors report the case of a 6-year-old girl with a VPS that had been implanted due to hydrocephalus secondary to myelomeningocele. The patient was brought to the emergency department with intermittent headache, vomiting, constipation, and abdominal distension and pain. A CT scan revealed ventricular dilatation and radiography of the abdomen showed bowel loop distension. After a Fleet enema and digital maneuvers, her abdominal distension and symptoms improved. A CT scan obtained 24 hours later showed a reduction in ventricular size. The mechanism by which constipation can lead to VPS malfunction can be traced to indirect increases of intraabdominal pressure and direct obstruction of the catheter by distended intestinal loops. Treating constipation can restore the free circulation of the CSF and avoid surgical intervention. Careful neurological monitoring of these patients is essential, because some measures used to treat constipation can increase intracranial pressure. The objective of this report was to highlight constipation as a possible cause of transient VPS malfunction, thereby avoiding unnecessary surgical revisions, to which children with hydrocephalus are frequently submitted.
Assessing calvarial vault constriction associated with helmet therapy in deformational plagiocephaly
Authors: Peterson Erin C. , Patel Kamlesh B. , Skolnick Gary B. , Pfeifauf Kristin D. , Davidson Katelyn N. , Smyth Matthew D. , Naidoo Sybill D.
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVE

Deformational plagiocephaly and/or brachycephaly (DPB) is a cranial flattening frequently treated in pediatric craniofacial centers. The standard of care for DPB involves patient positioning or helmet therapy. Orthotic therapy successfully reduces cranial asymmetry, but there is concern over whether the orthotics have the potential to restrict cranial growth. Previous research addressing helmet safety was limited by lack of volume measurements and serial data. The purpose of this study was to directly compare head growth data in patients with DPB between those who underwent helmet therapy and those who received repositioning therapy.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study analyzed pre- and posttherapy 3D photographs of 57 patients with DPB who had helmet therapy and a control group of 57 patients with DPB who underwent repositioning therapy. The authors determined the change in cranial vault volume and cranial circumference between each patient’s photographs using 3D photogrammetry. They also computed a cubic volume calculated by multiplying anterior-posterior diameter, biparietal diameter, and height. Linear regressions were used to quantify effects of age and therapy type on these quantities.

RESULTS

A comparison of the following variables between the two groups yielded nonsignificant results: age at the beginning (p = 0.861) and end (p = 0.539) of therapy, therapy duration (p = 0.161), and the ratio of males to females (p = 0.689). There was no significant difference between patients who underwent helmeting versus positioning therapy with respect to change in either volume calculation or head circumference z-score (p ≥ 0.545). Pretherapy photograph age was a significant predictor of cranial growth (p ≤ 0.001), but therapy type was not predictive of the change in the study measurements (p ≤ 0.210).

CONCLUSIONS

The authors found no evidence that helmet therapy was associated with cranial constriction in the study population of patients with DPB. These results strengthen previous research supporting helmet safety and should allow health care providers and families to choose the appropriate therapy without concern for potential negative effects on cranial growth.
Low-cost endoscopic third ventriculostomy simulator with mimetic endoscope
Authors: Garling Richard Justin , Jin Xin , Yang Jianzhong , Khasawneh Ahmad H. , Harris Carolyn Anne
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVE

Hydrocephalus affects approximately 1 in 500 people in the US, yet ventricular shunting, the gold standard of treatment, has a nearly 85% failure rate. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is an alternative surgical approach for a specific subset of hydrocephalic patients, but can be limited by the inability of neurosurgical residents to practice prior to patient contact. The goal of this study was to create an affordable ETV model and endoscope for resident training.

METHODS

Open-source software was used to isolate the skull and brain from the CT and MR images of a 2-year-old boy with hydrocephalus. A 3D printer created the skull and a 3D mold of the brain. A mixture of silicone and silicone tactile mutator was used to cast the brain mold prior to subsequent compression and shearing modulus testing. A mimetic endoscope was then created from basic supplies and a 3D printed frame. A small cohort of neurosurgical residents and attending physicians evaluated the ETV simulator with mimetic endoscope.

RESULTS

The authors successfully created a mimetic endoscope and ETV simulator. After compression and shearing modulus testing, a silicone/Slacker ratio between 10:6 and 10:7 was found to be similar to that of human brain parenchyma. Eighty-seven percent of participants strongly agreed that the simulator was useful for resident training, and 93% strongly agreed that the simulator helped them understand how to orient themselves with the endoscope.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors created an affordable (US$123, excluding 3D printer), easy-to-use ETV simulator with endoscope. Previous models have required expensive software and costly operative endoscopes that may not be available to most residents. Instead, this attempt takes advantage of open-source software for the manipulation and fabrication of a patient-specific mold. This model can assist with resident development, allowing them to safely practice use of the endoscope in ETV.
Cognitive Functioning Differences Between Physically Active and Sedentary Older Adults
Authors: Younan Ben
Published: May 2018

Older adults engaging in regular physical activity can help create a buffer toward cognitive decline. The main aim of this study was to assess the effects of physical activity and cognitive functioning on a sample of young-old and old-old physically active adults and young-old and old-old sedentary adults. Cognitive functioning was examined using the digit span test, Wisconsin card sorting task. The National Task Group-Early Detection Screen for Dementia measure was used explore the relationship between scores and physical activity and sedentary adults. Findings from the study showed partial support for physical activity has a positive relationship with cognitive functioning. The results found Young-old adults did better on the DST than all other groups regardless of being sedentary or physically active. Young-old physically active adults, however, did better on the DST latency measure than sedentary adults while old-old physically active adults did worse on the DST latency measure compared with old-old sedentary adults. The results also found that Physically active adults had a better score on the NTG-EDSD measure compared to the sedentary adults. Findings showed no significant differences for the WCST. Future research exploring the relationship between physical activity and cognitive functioning should do so by having more control over the extraneous variables.
An edge-based finite element method for 3D marine controlled-source electromagnetic forward modeling with a new type of second-order tetrahedral edge element
Authors: Chen Hanbo , Li Tonglin , Shi Huiyan , Wang Heng , Li Shaopeng
Published: May 2018

This paper presents a second order edge-based finite element method based on a new type of second order edge element for numerical modeling of 3D controlled source electromagnetic data in an anisotropic conductive medium. We adopt the anomalous potential field formulation to avoid the effect of source’s singularity. The computational domain was subdivided into unstructured tetrahedral elements. The sparse linear system was solved using the Induced dimensional reduction (IDR(s)) method with an incomplete LU preconditioner. We have applied the developed algorithm to compute a typical MCSEM response over several 3D models, we compare the numerical results from our method and FEM solution based on conventional first and second order element. The results of comparison shown that our algorithm can significantly reduce the computation cost without loss to much accuracy.
The annual survey of entrepreneurs
Authors: Foster Lucia , Norman Patrice
Published: May 2018

We describe a new firm-level survey, the Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs (ASE), conducted by the Census Bureau in partnership with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Minority Business Development Agency. We provide the motivation for this new survey, context in terms of related surveys and products, and details about its sampling methodology and content. The paper is intended to inform potential users of publicly-available information from the ASE as well as researchers interested in using micro-level data through the Federal Statistical Research Data Center network. We close with a brief description of the ASE’s successor, the Annual Business Survey.
Using the Annual Social and Economic Supplement as part of a Current Population Survey panel
Authors: Flood Sarah M. , Pacas José D.
Published: May 2018

The Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) is the most widely used type of Current Population Survey (CPS) data, but it is cumbersome to use the ASEC as part of a longitudinal CPS panel, especially linking to non-March months. In this paper, we detail the challenges associated with linking the ASEC to monthly CPS data, outline the creation of an identifier that links the ASEC and the March Basic Monthly data from 1989 through 2017, and provide substantive examples that illustrate the value of combining the ASEC with monthly data. The variable, MARBASECID, which we created to link ASEC and March monthly CPS data, represents a significant contribution to social and economic data infrastructure, saving individual researchers from having to duplicate the effort required to create linkages between ASEC and monthly CPS data.
New pressure cells for membrane layers and systems in solutions up to 100°C
Authors: Peters Judith , Golub Maksym , Demé Bruno , Gonthier Julien , Maurice James , Payre Claude , Sadykov Ravil , Lelièvre-Berna Eddy
Published: May 2018

In reply to the increasing request of structural and molecular dynamics data taken on biological samples at both high temperature and high pressure by neutron scattering techniques, we have developed a new generation of high pressure cells with the following characteristics: (1) a flat geometry to better exploit the neutron beam’s cross section, (2) utilisable in the pressure range between 0 and 600 MPa and up to 100°C, (3) adapted for studies by coherent and incoherent neutron scattering, and (4) compatible with all types of neutron diffractometers and spectrometers at the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, France.

Such high pressure cells permit to explore domains of pressure [Formula: see text] and temperature [Formula: see text] inaccessible so far, to establish [Formula: see text] diagrams and determine phase transitions. They are particularly adapted to the investigation of biological systems living under extreme conditions, as for instance extremophiles living near hot vents in the deep sea, or the response of biomolecules to extreme loads.
Simulated medication errors: A means of evaluating healthcare professionals’ knowledge and understanding of medication safety
Authors: Ramadaniati Hesty Utami , Hughes Jeffery David , Lee Ya Ping , Emmerton Lynne Maree
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVE:

To determine multi-disciplinary perceptions of the clinical significance of medication errors (MEs), the responsible health professional(s), the contributing factors and potential preventive strategies.

METHODS:

The five simulated ME cases represented errors from five wards at a children’s hospital in Australia. Pre-determined answers for each case were developed through consensus among the researchers. The root cause analysis (RCA) was undertaken via a questionnaire disseminated to physicians, nurses and pharmacists at the study hospital to seek their opinions on the ME cases. Agreement model between the participants and pre-determined responses regarding the contributing factors was conducted using general estimating equation (GEE) analysis.

RESULTS:

Of the 111 RCA questionnaires distributed, 25 were returned. The majority (93%) of respondents rated the significance of the MEs as either ‘moderate’ or ‘life-threatening’. Furthermore, they correctly identified two contributing factors relevant to all cases: dismissal of policies/procedures or guidelines (90%) and human resources issues (87%). GEE analysis revealed varied agreement patterns across the contributing factors. Suggested prevention strategies focused on policy and procedures, staffing and supervision, and communication.

CONCLUSION:

Simulated case studies had potential use to seek front-line healthcare professionals’ understanding of the clinical significance and contributing factors to MEs, along with preventive measures.
SSRI and SNRI withdrawal symptoms reported on an internet forum
Authors: Stockmann Tom , Odegbaro Dolapo , Timimi Sami , Moncrieff Joanna
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND:

Antidepressant withdrawal symptoms are well-recognised, but their potential duration remains uncertain.

OBJECTIVE:

We aimed to describe the characteristics of withdrawal associated with two popular classes of antidepressants, including duration.

METHODS:

We analysed the content of a sample of posts on an antidepressant withdrawal website. We compared the characteristics of withdrawal associated with SSRIs and SNRIs, including time of onset, duration and nature of symptoms.

RESULTS:

110 posts about SSRI withdrawal, and 63 concerning SNRI withdrawal, were analysed. The mean duration of withdrawal symptoms was significantly longer with SSRIs than SNRIs: 90.5 weeks (standard deviation, SD, 150.0) and 50.8 weeks (SD 76.0) respectively; p = 0.043). Neurological symptoms, such as ‘brain zaps,’ were more common among SNRI users ( p = 0.023). Psychosexual/genitourinary symptoms may be more common among SSRI users ( p = 0.054).

LIMITATIONS:

The website aims to help people with antidepressant withdrawal, and is therefore likely to attract people who have difficulties. Length of prior use of antidepressants was long, with a mean of 252.2 weeks (SD 250.8).

CONCLUSIONS:

People accessing antidepressant withdrawal websites report experiencing protracted withdrawal symptoms. There are some differences in the characteristics of withdrawal associated with different classes of antidepressants.
Mediterranean diet and SPA treatment: A healthy association?
Authors: Fornasini Francesca
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND: In 2014, around 1.9 billion adults over the age of 18 were overweight. In the United States and Europe obesity has become a primary public health problem. Many people who go often to SPAs to perform mud therapy are overweight. The possibility of a dietetic evaluation to follow a dietetic program could be an occasion for both slimming and food education. OBJECTIVES: We have look for a possible cooperation between Mediterranean diet and mudpack treatment in losing weight. METHODS: A 1 week/2 week follow up intervention with a low calories Mediterranean diet combined or not with mudpack treatment. The main outcome measures are weight, BIA (Body Impedence Assessment), waist-hip ratio, abdominal circumference. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The thermal spas are an opportunity to regain a good state of health, undergoing to traditional mudpack treatments, a balanced and low calories diet, physical activity under strict control of a personal Trainer, and relaxing and draining treatments. Most overweight and obese patients have lost weight and fat, and this seems to be due not only to low caloric regimen, but also to the mudpack therapy itself. It will be very important to carry out studies with larger statistical relevance in the future.
The yo-yo effect of Ramadan fasting on overweight/obese individuals in Indonesian: A prospective study
Authors: Muhammad Harry Freitag Luglio , Latifah Fatikhat Nur , Susilowati Rina
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND: Ramadan fasting has been associated with a significant body weight, fat mass and waist-hip circumference reduction. However, this is mostly followed by weight regain in 2 weeks after the fasting is stopped. Currently there is no explanation on how this rebound phenomena occurred. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the role of lifestyle and hormonal background on weight regain after Ramadan fasting in overweight individuals. METHODS: This was an observational study with prospective cohort design. Subjects were overweight/obese men and women adults with age between 21 and 56 years old. Body weight, percent fat, fat free mass and hip-waist circumference were measured before (week 0), 28 days after Ramadan fasting (week 4) and 2 weeks after the end of Ramadan (week 6). In addition, data on lifestyle factors such as dietary intake and physical activity were collected in those time points. Leptin was measured before and at the end of Ramadan fasting period. RESULTS: Body weight was significantly reduced at the end of Ramadan (week 4, p < 0,0001) and increased after Ramadan (week 6, p < 0,0001). Leptin was significantly reduced after Ramadan (p = 0,018) and we found that leptin level at the end of Ramadan was associated with percent body weight reduction (p = 0,011). CONCLUSION: We conducted a study to understand Ramadan fasting yo-yo effect in overweight and obese individuals and this study showed that dietary factor prior to the fasting has a significant impact on overweight/obese individual.
Antioxidant capacity and total phenol and flavonoid contents of Teucrium polium L. grown in Algeria
Authors: Ait Chaouche Feriel Sabrine , Mouhouche Fazia , Hazzit Mohamed
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND: Teucrium polium L. aerial parts are traditionally used in Algerian folk medicine due to its therapeutic properties. OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of different extracting solvents (methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, hexane and water) on antioxidant capacity and total phenol and flavonoid contents of Algerian Teucrium polium aerial parts. METHODS: The antioxidant capacity of Teucrium polium extracts was assessed by DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2, 2’-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) free radicals scavenging and reducing power assays. For each extract, the total phenol and flavonoid contents were investigated by the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium trichloride methods, respectively. RESULTS: All the tested extracts showed an appreciable total phenolic and total flavonoid contents and strong antioxidant capacity. Among the different extracts, the methanolic extract was found to be containing the highest amount of total phenols (206.95±1.82 mg of gallic acid equivalent per gram of extract) and flavonoids (42.16±0.61 mg of quercetin equivalent per gram of extract). The same extract also exhibited a much better reducing power and scavenging capacity against DPPH (IC50 = 6.77±0.15 mg/l) and ABTS (IC50 = 2.79±0.07 mg/l). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that aerial parts of Teucrium polium methanolic extract could be used as natural source of antioxidants in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.
Characterization and screening of the potential probiotic lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacterium strains isolated of different biotopes
Authors: Imane Hamouda Ali , Amel Doumandji
Published: May 2018

The use of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria species as probiotics may help to reduce antibiotic use for therapeutic, prophylactic and growth promotion in animal husbandry. The choice of the starter cultures has a critical impact on the palatability, processability and nutritional attributes of fermented products. In our research, the aim of this study was to screen and select potent probiotic LAB and Bifidobacterium strains isolated from different niches and to evaluate their characteristic features. A total of fourteen LAB and fifty-four Bifidobacterium were isolated from four fresh cows and camel’s milk, and twenty stool samples of healthy new born infants were identified and characterized by morphology and biochemical tests in order to select most suitable strains according to their technological characteristics including probiotic proprieties, antibiotics resistance and in vitro antagonism against food-poisoning bacteria. When the results of tolerance to both gastric and bile juices are taken together it appears that between fourteen LAB and forty-five, the strain B. longum BHI 07 has significantly the highest ability to survive during gastrointestinal transit (P < 0.05). Therefore, the mixed cultures of Bf. longum strains with LAB strains were more active against pathogenic bacteria than the pure one. These results show that bifidobacteria isolated from infants may be useful for improving probiotic formulae with respect to protection against pathogenic bacteria responsible of infection.
Lipid profile improvement of food products containing bioactive compounds from unsaponifiable matters of palm fatty acid distillate in hypercholesterolemia rats
Authors: Ahmadi Kgs , Wulansari Angela , Subroto Yunianta , Estiasih Teti
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND: Unsaponifiable matters (USM) from palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) contains vitamin E (mainly tocotrienols), phytosterols, and squalene that have ability to reduce blood cholesterol. Fortification of USM into food products is a way for hypercholesterolemia management. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated effects of fortification of USM from PFAD into instant noodle, bread, and biscuit on lipid profile improvement of hypercholesterolemia rats. It was also aimed to compare the effects of different type of foods as USM carrier that represented different processing steps and nutritional composition. METHODS: Rats were divided into control-standard diet and atherogenic diet fed groups, and 6 hypercholesterolemia groups fed by instant noodle, plain bread, and biscuit with 1% USM fortification and without fortification for 8 weeks. Lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol) was analysed at week 0, 4, and 8. Hepatic and fecal cholesterol and bile acid were also examined at the end of experiment to elucidate some mechanism of cholesterol lowering due to USM fortified foods administration. RESULTS: Some bioactive compounds lost during USM fortified food preparation and the highest retention was found in biscuit. Lipid profile improvement was indicated by reduction of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL cholesterol, meanwhile HDL cholesterol increased. Type of fortified foods affected the level of alteration of lipid profile. Degree of lipid profile improvement was affected by nutritional composition of fortified foods, food intake of the rats, and level of bioactive content. Bioactive compounds in USM fortified foods inhibited cholesterol absorption that indicated by higher fecal cholesterol and bile acid compared to atherogenic diet fed group. Modulation of cholesterol synthesis was likely to occur that indicated by lower hepatic cholesterol and higher bile acids. CONCLUSIONS: Feeding of USM fortified food products improved lipid profile of hypercholesterolemia rats.
Nutritional quality and safety of algerian margarines: Fatty acid composition, oxidative stability and physicochemical properties
Authors: Bentayeb Ait Lounis Saida , Mekimène Lakhdar , Mazi Damia , Hamidchi Thinhinane , Hadjal Samir , Boualit Samia , Benalia Mohamed
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND: Margarine is a widely consumed product in Algeria. Few or no studies have been conducted to estimate its safety and nutritional quality. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate some algerian margarines. Particular interest is given to their oxidative stability and fatty acid composition. METHODS: Twelve margarines are selected, including tub and stick margarines, puff pastry margarines and vegetable smen. We evaluate physicochemical parameters (water content, pH, salt content, melting point and solids content with RMN), oxydative stability with Rancimat and fatty acid composition with GLC. RESULTS: The analyzed products are mostly in conformity with standards. The estimation of the oxidative stability revealed that tub margarines are the least stable. Fatty acid composition showed that practically all the analyzed products are rich in SFA. CONCLUSION: Large amounts of highly saturated oils such as palm oil, coconut and palm kernel are used. The fact that the trans fatty acids content is not very high in Algerian margarines and vegetable smen is not due to the legislation applied but to the awareness of few industries and especially to the import price exerted on different types of fat. So it is in view of profitability that industries choose raw material and not in a health concern.
The effect of sitting posture on the loads at cervico-thoracic and lumbosacral joints
Authors: Kwon Yuri , Kim Ji-Won , Heo Jae-Hoon , Jeon Hyeong-Min , Choi Eui-Bum , Eom Gwang-Moon
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND:

The sitting in an awkward posture for a prolonged time may lead to spinal or musculoskeletal disease. It is important to investigate the joint loads at spine while sitting.

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the joint moment and antero-posterior (AP) reaction force at cervico-thoracic and lumbosacral joint for various sitting postures.

METHODS:

Twenty healthy males participated in this study. Six sitting postures were defined from three spinal curvatures (slump, flat, and lordosis) and two arm postures (arms-on-chest and arms-forward). Kinematic and kinetic data were measured in six sitting postures from which joint moment and AP reaction force were calculated by inverse dynamics.

RESULTS:

In the cervico-thoracic joint, joint moment and AP reaction force were greater in slump than the flat and lordosis postures ([Formula: see text] 0.001) and also in arms-forward posture compared to arms-on-chest posture. In the lumbosacral joint, joint moment and AP reaction force were greater in slump than flat and lordotic posture ([Formula: see text] 0.001) but there was no difference between different arm postures. The joint loads (moment and AP reaction force) at the cervico-thoriacic joint were closely related to the head flexion angle ([Formula: see text] 0.86) while those at the lumbosacral joint were correlated to the trunk flexion angle ([Formula: see text] 0.77). In slump posture, the joint moments were close to or over the extreme of the daily life such as sit-to-stand and walking. Consequently, if the slump is continued for a long time, it may cause pain and diseases at the cervico-thoracic and lumbosacral joints.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results of the study indicated that the lordosis or flat would be better spinal postures. Also, keeping arms close to body would be desirable to reduce joint loads.
Comparison of gait patterns in elderly fallers and non-fallers
Authors: Kwon Moon-Seok , Kwon Yu-Ri , Park Yang-Sun , Kim Ji-Won
Published: May 2018

Gait is associated with an important risk factor of falls in the elderly. It is important to find differences of quantitative gait variables between fallers and non-fallers. The aim of this study was to investigate gait patterns in elderly fallers and non-fallers. Thirty-eight fallers and 38 non-fallers of similar age and height participated in this study. Subjects walked across the GaitRite walkway at self-selected comfortable speeds. Spatio-temporal gait variables were measured to characterize gait patterns. Kinetic variables were derived from normalized vertical ground reaction force (GRF). Independent t-tests were performed to compare the fallers with the non-fallers. The fallers walked more slowly with shorter steps and more variable step times than the non-fallers ([Formula: see text] 0.05). The fallers showed a longer stance phase with increased double-limb support than the non-fallers ([Formula: see text] 0.05). The times to reach maximal weight acceptance and mid-stance of the fallers were significantly longer than those of the non-fallers ([Formula: see text] 0.05). These results suggest that spatio-temporal variables and GRF variables would be useful for distinguishing prospective fallers from non-fallers among the elderly.
Manga Shakespeare and Cervantes: Trash or Reclamation?
Authors: Brown Penny
Published: May 2018

This paper considers the merit of manga versions of Shakespeare's Hamlet and Cervantes' Don Quijote de la Mancha which employ the impressionistic techniques of the Japanese comic format to create new, dynamic texts. Such multimodal texts demand different verbal and visual skills to decode the synergy between word and image and elements like the page layout, the size and shape of images and speech balloons and the style of lettering. Far from debasing the cultural authority of the originals by blurring the boundaries between high and popular culture, these versions can be seen as an act of salvage of the original texts from the perceived difficulties of challenging language and content, reinvigorating them with a vibrant immediacy. By making demands on the imagination and intellect in exciting ways, they may also salvage the act of reading itself by encouraging a young or reluctant readership, as well as the already enthusiastic, to explore new ways of engaging with a text.
Salvaging the Mother Tongue in Exile
Authors: Barrera Tomás Espino
Published: May 2018

The dramatic increase in the number of exiles and refugees in the past 100 years has generated a substantial amount of literature written in a second language as well as a heightened sensibility towards the progressive loss of fluency in the mother tongue. Confronted by what modern linguistics has termed ‘first-language attrition’, the writings of numerous exilic translingual authors exhibit a deep sense of trauma which is often expressed through metaphors of illness and death. At the same time, most of these writers make a deliberate effort to preserve what is left from the mother tongue by attempting to increase their exposure to poems, dictionaries or native speakers of the ‘dying’ language.

The present paper examines a range of attitudes towards translingualism and first language attrition through the testimonies of several exilic authors and thinkers from different countries (Vladimir Nabokov's Speak, Memory, Hannah Arendt's interviews, Jorge Semprún's Quel beau dimanche! and Autobiografía de Federico Sánchez, and Eva Hoffman's Lost in Translation, among others). Special attention will be paid to the historical frameworks that encourage most of their salvaging operations by infusing the mother tongue with categories of affect and kinship.
Salvaging the Symbol in Muriel Rukeyser's The Book of the Dead
Authors: Tales Bryn
Published: May 2018

The essay seeks to set the framework by which we may appraise the efficacy of the salvaging strategies employed by Muriel Rukeyser's poetic response to the Hawk's Nest Tunnel Disaster in West Virginia in her collection, The Book of the Dead (1938). In seeking to reclaim the lost experiences and objects of exploited miners, Rukeyser's project to salvage their anonymous suffering at the hands of capitalist greed places her as an artist within the historical materialist tradition outlined in Walter Benjamin's Theses on the Philosophy of History (1942). The Book of the Dead explores the legacy of European capitalism's displacement of the Native-American ‘Asiatic’ society as delineated by Marx in the Grundrisse (1939). It is argued that Rukeyser aims to salvage the signs and materials of industrial conflict, such as the insurrectionary figure of John Brown, in order to begin to create the ‘always-unfinished symbol’ against the misappropriating machinations of capitalism, continuing the work of poets such as Herman Melville. The essay argues that Rukeyser's symbolic framework which aims to spur the subjective worker to action through imagination invokes a ‘Hydraulic state’, as in ancient Egypt, inspiring a quasi-religious submission to the higher unity of the hydroelectric dam and those who died creating it. Finally, we explore the implications where this spur to collective working-class action depends upon the consciousness of the human conduit: the irony at the heart of Marxist autonomy.
Peace, Isolation, Purity. Salvation and its Antithesis in Katherine Dunn's Geek Love
Authors: Weber Stephanie
Published: May 2018

This paper investigates how salvage and its antithesis are linked to the promise of salvation in Katherine Dunn's novel Geek Love by looking at the dynamics of social interaction forming normative as well as non-normative identities in the sideshow setting of the novel. The consent to give up and eradicate the Self when faced with internal dilemma and the promise of salvation, as it is depicted in Geek Love, rewrites Freudian and Jungian notions of group psychology, theology, and cult experiences. The processes which lead to the freak being treated as the ‘holy grotesque’ and the ‘Secret Self’ are analysed to show how the character Arty's motto ‘Peace, Isolation, Purity’ promises a kind of salvation from the Self and the burden of normalcy, which nonetheless ultimately leads to non-salvation.
Bifurcation and Stability Analyses on Stick-Slip Vibrations of Deep Hole Drilling with State-Dependent Delay
Authors: Huang Jianwei , Zhang Ao , Sun Hongyuan , Shi Shengwen , Li He , Wen Bangchun
Published: May 2018

To avoid stick-slip vibration, one of the most important forms of self-excited vibrations in deep hole drilling, this paper studies the stability and bifurcation characteristics of a drilling system based on a two-degree-of-freedom discrete model. It is a state-dependent delay model that could describe the non-linear dynamic characteristic of drilling systems more accurately, compared with the traditional constant delay models. In this paper, linear stability analyses of both the state-dependent delay model and the traditional constant delay model are carried out. Hopf bifurcation analyses are then performed by the method of multiple scales. The results show that the state-dependent delay model can provide more precise stability boundaries and more desirable supercritical Hopf bifurcation properties compared to the constant delay model. The control parameters (rotational velocity and feed velocity) will affect these results. It is noted that the method is reliable for deep hole drilling stability prediction and can provide a reference for dynamic optimization design.
High-Performance Thin-Film-Nanocomposite Cation Exchange Membranes Containing Hydrophobic Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework for Monovalent Selectivity
Authors: Li Jian , Zhao Zhijuan , Yuan Shushan , Zhu Junyong , Van der Bruggen Bart
Published: May 2018

Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) offers good hydrothermal, chemical, and thermal stabilities, and is therefore of interest in membrane synthesis. In this work, an interfacial polymerization (IP) method was applied by anchoring ZIF-8 to the skin layer of thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes in order to obtain monovalent selectivity in electrodialysis. Organic trimesoyl chloride (TMC, 0.1 wt %) solutions and aqueous m-phenyl diamine (MPD, 2% w/v) solutions were used during the interfacial polymerization process. A range of polyamine (PA)/ZIF-8 based membranes was fabricated by varying the concentration of ZIF-8 in the organic solution. The properties of the primary and modified membrane were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), water uptake, ion exchange capacity, and contact angle measurements. No significant changes of the surface structure of the PA/ZIF-8 based membranes were observed. Nevertheless, the presence of ZIF-8 under the PA layer plays a key role in the separation process. For single salt solutions that were applied in electrodialysis (ED), faster transport of Na+ and Mg2+ was obtained after introducing the ZIF-8 nanoparticles, however, the desalination efficiency remained constant. When the hybrid membranes were applied to electrodialysis for binary mixtures containing Na+ as well as Mg2+, it was demonstrated that the monovalent selectivity and Na+ flux were enhanced by a higher ZIF-8 loading.