bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Virtual worlds as digital workplaces
Authors: Koles Bernadett , Nagy Peter
Published: October 2013

The primary aim of the current paper is to explore ways in which organizations can benefit from virtual environments to expand their social and professional spheres. Applying the theory of third places to virtual worlds, our conceptual model incorporates practical organizational affordances within three composite dimensions. First, we propose that through their unique, supportive and neutral environments, virtual worlds may reduce the prevalence of social hierarchies, via decreasing the emphasis on predetermined ranks, stereotypes, and cultural or geographic variation. Second, we posit that via encouraging open communication within the form of synchronous and real-time interactions, virtual worlds enable efficient teamwork and collaborative learning. Finally, we emphasize that these friendly, secure, and supportive environments may contribute to the reduction of certain work-related stressors, and in turn promote professional development activities. We conclude by discussing practical implications and future research directions.
Ayahuasca and cancer treatment
Authors: Schenberg Eduardo E
Published: October 2013

Objectives:

Comprehensively review the evidence regarding the use of ayahuasca, an Amerindian medicine traditionally used to treat many different illnesses and diseases, to treat some types of cancer.

Methods:

An in-depth review of the literature was conducted using PubMed, books, institutional magazines, conferences and online texts in nonprofessional sources regarding the biomedical knowledge about ayahuasca in general with a specific focus in its possible relations to the treatment of cancer.

Results:

At least nine case reports regarding the use of ayahuasca in the treatment of prostate, brain, ovarian, uterine, stomach, breast, and colon cancers were found. Several of these were considered improvements, one case was considered worse, and one case was rated as difficult to evaluate. A theoretical model is presented which explains these effects at the cellular, molecular, and psychosocial levels. Particular attention is given to ayahuasca’s pharmacological effects through the activity of N,N-dimethyltryptamine at intracellular sigma-1 receptors. The effects of other components of ayahuasca, such as harmine, tetrahydroharmine, and harmaline, are also considered.

Conclusion:

The proposed model, based on the molecular and cellular biology of ayahuasca’s known active components and the available clinical reports, suggests that these accounts may have consistent biological underpinnings. Further study of ayahuasca’s possible antitumor effects is important because cancer patients continue to seek out this traditional medicine. Consequently, based on the social and anthropological observations of the use of this brew, suggestions are provided for further research into the safety and efficacy of ayahuasca as a possible medicinal aid in the treatment of cancer.
The effects of vitamin D2 or D3supplementation on glycaemic control and related metabolic parameters in people at risk of type 2 diabetes: protocol of a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Menon Ravi K , Rickard Anna P , Mannan Nasima , Timms Peter M , Sharp Stephen J , Martineau Adrian , Boucher Barbara J , Chowdhury Tahseen A , Griffiths Christopher J , Griffin Simon J , Hitman Graham A , Forouhi Nita G
Published: October 2013

Background

The global prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing. Effective strategies to address this public health challenge are currently lacking. A number of epidemiological studies have reported associations between low concentrations of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and the incidence of diabetes, but a causal link has not been established. We investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the metabolic status of individuals at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Methods/design

In a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial individuals identified as having a high risk of type 2 diabetes (non-diabetic hyperglycaemia or positive diabetes risk score) are randomised into one of three groups and given 4 doses of either placebo, or 100,000 IU Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) or 100,000 IU Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) at monthly intervals. The primary outcome measure is the change in glycated haemoglobin level between baseline and 4 months. Secondary outcome measures include blood pressure, lipid levels, apolipoproteins, highly sensitive C-reactive protein, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and safety of supplementation. and C-reactive protein. The trial is being conducted at two sites (London and Cambridge, U.K.) and a total of 342 participants are being recruited.

Discussion

Trial data examining whether supplementation of vitamin D improves glycaemic status and other metabolic parameters in people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes are sparse. This trial will evaluate the causal role of vitamin D in hyperglycaemia and risk of type 2 diabetes. Specific features of this trial include recruitment of participants from different ethnic groups, investigation of the relative effectiveness and safety of vitamin D2 and D3 and an evidence based approach to determination of the dose of supplementation.

Trial registration

EudraCT2009-011264-11; ISRCTN86515510
R-RAS2 overexpression in tumors of the human central nervous system
Authors: Gutierrez-Erlandsson Sylvia , Herrero-Vidal Pedro , Fernandez-Alfara Marcos , Hernandez-Garcia Susana , Gonzalo-Flores Sandra , Mudarra-Rubio Alberto , Fresno Manuel , Cubelos Beatriz
Published: October 2013

Malignant tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) are the 10thmost frequent cause of cancer mortality. Despite the strong malignancy of some such tumors, oncogenic mutations are rarely found in classic members of theRASfamily of small GTPases. This raises the question as to whether otherRASfamily members may be affected in CNS tumors, excessively activatingRASpathways. TheRAS-related subfamily of GTPases is that which is most closely related to classical Ras and it currently contains 3 members:RRAS,RRAS2andRRAS3. While R-RAS and R-RAS2 are expressed ubiquitously, R-RAS3 expression is restricted to the CNS. Significantly, both wild type and mutatedRRAS2(also known as TC21) are overexpressed in human carcinomas of the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, skin and breast, as well as in lymphomas. Hence, we analyzed the expression of R-RAS2 mRNA and protein in a wide variety of human CNS tumors and we found the R-RAS2 protein to be overexpressed in all of the 90 CNS cancer samples studied, including glioblastomas, astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. However, R-Ras2 was more strongly expressed in low grade (World Health Organization grades I-II) rather than high grade (grades III-IV) tumors, suggesting that R-RAS2 is overexpressed in the early stages of malignancy. Indeed, R-RAS2 overexpression was evident in pre-malignant hyperplasias, both at the mRNA and protein levels. Nevertheless, such dramatic changes in expression were not evident for the other two subfamily members, which implies that RRAS2 is the main factor triggering neural transformation.
Chemically linked phage idiotype vaccination in the murine B cell lymphoma 1 model
Authors: Roehnisch Tim , Then Cornelia , Nagel Wolfgang , Blumenthal Christina , Braciak Todd , Donzeau Mariel , Böhm Thomas , Bourquin Carole , Oduncu Fuat
Published: October 2013

Background

B cell malignancies are characterized by clonal expansion of B cells expressing tumor-specific idiotypes on their surface. These idiotypes are ideal target antigens for an individualized immunotherapy. However, previous idiotype vaccines mostly lacked efficiency due to a low immunogenicity of the idiotype. The objective of the present study was the determination of the feasibility, safety and immunogenicity of a novel chemically linked phage idiotype vaccine.

Methods

In the murine B cell lymphoma 1 model, tumor idiotypes were chemically linked to phage particles used as immunological carriers. For comparison, the idiotype was genetically expressed on the major phage coat protein g8 or linked to keyhole limpet hemocynanin. After intradermal immunizations with idiotype vaccines, tolerability and humoral immune responses were assessed.

Results

Feasibility and tolerability of the chemically linked phage idiotype vaccine was demonstrated. Vaccination with B cell lymphoma 1 idiotype expressing phage resulted in a significant survival benefit in the murine B cell lymphoma 1 protection model (60.2 ± 23.8 days vs. 41.8 ± 1.6 days and 39.8 ± 3.8 days after vaccination with wild type phage or phosphate buffered saline, respectively). Superior immunogenicity of the chemically linked phage idiotype vaccine compared to the genetically engineered phage idiotype and keyhole limpet hemocynanin-coupled idiotype vaccine was demonstrated by significantly higher B cell lymphoma 1 idiotype-specific IgG levels after vaccination with chemically linked phage idiotype.

Conclusion

We present a novel, simple, time- and cost-efficient phage idiotype vaccination strategy, which represents a safe and feasible therapy and may produce a superior immune response compared to previously employed idiotype vaccination strategies.
Knowledge Brokering and Organizational Innovation: Founder Imprinting Effects
Authors: Hsu David H. , Lim Kwanghui
Published: October 2013

We empirically examine the innovation consequences of organizational knowledge brokering, the ability to effectively apply knowledge from one technical domain to innovate in another. We investigate how organizational innovation outcomes vary by founders’ initial mode of venture ideation. We then compare how firms established with knowledge-brokering-based ideation differ in their methods of sustaining ongoing knowledge-brokering capacity compared with firms not established in such a manner. We do so by tracking all the start-up biotechnology firms founded to commercialize the then-emergent recombinant DNA technology (the sample of initial knowledge brokers) together with a contemporaneously founded sample of biotechnology firms that did not license the DNA technology (the sample of initial nonbrokers). Our results suggest that (a) ongoing knowledge brokering has an inverted U-shaped relationship with innovative performance in general; (b) initial knowledge brokers have a positive imprinting effect on their organizations’ search patterns over time, resulting in superior performance relative to nonbrokers; and (c) initial nonbrokers rely more on external channels of sourcing knowledge, such as hiring technical staff, relative to initial brokers, reinforcing the imprinting interpretation. The described imprinting mechanism differs from extant mechanisms such as partner affiliation- and trigger-based mechanisms in explaining entrepreneurial performance differentials.
La imagen científica: tecnología y artefacto
Authors: López-Cantos Francisco
Published: October 2013

El artículo revisa las características y evolución de los distintos sistemas de reproducción de imágenes científicas y el impacto que históricamente han tenido en el desarrollo de la investigación y el conocimiento. Para ello realiza un acercamiento crítico a las tecnologías que subyacen en los sistemas e instrumentación científica destinados a la elaboración de imágenes con el fin de explicitar sus mecanismos y limitaciones contingentes para la elaboración de imágenes concluyendo, de este modo, que dichas imágenes sólo se pueden definir, históricamente y en la actualidad, en tanto que artefactos discursivos irremediablemente ligados a las instrumentos con que se han generado.
Bediuzzaman Said Nursi and The Sufi Tradition
Authors: Machasin M.
Published: October 2013

Berbicara tentang pribadi dan pemikiran Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, artikel ini dimaksudkan untuk mengungkap jati diri tokoh sufi modern dari Turki ini. Analisis diawali dengan melihat ajaran dasar sang tokoh bahwa sufisme di satu sisi masih merupakan sesuatu yang penting bagi seorang muslim, tetapi di sisi lain juga sangat mudah menjadikan keimanan seseorang mengarah pada titik yang salah. Meskipun tidak semuanya, ada beberapa praktek dan tradisi sufisme yang tidak benar dan tidak lagi cocok untuk diamalkan pada masa Said Nursi hidup, bahkan mungkin juga pada masa sekarang. Terkait dengan hal ini, Nursi menawarkan satu alternatif yang menurutnya didasarkan pada al-Quran dalam meniti jalan sufisme, tanpa menafikan adanya cara-cara yang lainnya. Alternatif yang disebutnya sebagai Haqiqa, cara a la Risalat al-Nur, ini terdiri dari empat langkah, bukan tujuh atau pun sepuluh langkah sebagaimana umumnya dalam ajaran sufisme: al-` ajz, al-faqr, al-shafaqa, dan al-tafakkur. Di samping itu bagi Nursi, Sufisme harus dipraktekkan dalam bingkai dan tanpa meninggalkan shari`a karena shar`a bukanlah sisi luar dari Islam, tetapi merupakan satu sistem utuh yang mencakup inner dan sekaligus outer aspect dari Islam. Artikel ini juga melihat jejak-jejak pengaruh pemikiran tokoh-tokoh besar sufi dalam pemikiran Nursi, seperti Abu Hamidal-Ghazali, Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, dan Ahmad Rabbani al-Sirhindi.
Book Review: Syi‘ah dan Wacana Perubahan Mushaf al-Quran, Tahrif al-Qur’an
Authors: Setiawan M. Nur Kholis
Published: October 2013

Dalam tradisi Sunni, perbincangan tentang sejarah teks al-Quran nyaris tidak menimbulkan gejolak yang berarti, mengingat historiografi dan tradisi periwayatan dalam sekte ini tidak menimbulkan persoalan serius, alias telah diresepsi sebagai sesuatu yang taken for granted. Sementara, hal yang sama tidak terjadi dalam sekte lain, khususnya Syi‘ah, bahkan keberadaan mushaf ‘Uthmānī masih tidak lepas dari kritik otentisitas serta banyak kecurigaan terhadap peran khalifah ‘Uthma>n dalam penyeragaman mushaf, meskipun sampai sekarang ini masih berlaku di mayoritas dunia muslim.
The Policies of Young Muslim Association in Europe for Its Indonesian Muslims in Dutch Society: A Re-examination
Authors: Sujadi S.
Published: October 2013

Di tengah langkanya organisasi-organisasi Muslim baik yang bersifat nasional maupun internasional di Belanda, Persatuan Pemuda Muslim se-Eropa (PPME) merupakan pengecualian. PPME muncul dengan identitas unik, yakni mencoba berkiprah sebagai organisasi payung bagi semua etnis muslim yang ada di Belanda, walaupun mayoritas anggotanya adalah Muslim Indonesia. PPME menegaskan dirinya sebagai organisasi yang tidak terlibat dalam urusan politik, baik gagasan maupun praktis. Identitas unik itu menempatkan PPME pada posisi yang tidak powerfull karena tidak ada dukungan dari satu negara Muslim. Pemerintah Belanda pun ragu memberikan subsidi karena eksistensinya tidak jelas. Selain itu, ia tidak akan punya satu wajah jelas yang harus ditampilkan sebagai identitas dari para pengurus dan anggotanya. Untuk itu, pengujian kembali (Re-examination) terhadap kebijakan-kebijakannya merupakan satu langkah yang penting untuk ditempuh, agar dapat di-review dan diperbaharui bila perlu. Melalui pengujian kembali tersebut, PPME diharapkan dapat meningkatkan dan memperjelas kiprah-kiprahnya dalam membangun kesadaran dan menjaga solidaritas para pengurus dan anggotanya sebagai Muslim minoritas.
Gender Issues in Application of Islamic Law in Nigeria
Authors: Umar Muhammad S.
Published: October 2013

This essay explores gender issues in the contemporary application of Islamic law in the Muslim majority-states of northern Nigeria. Brief political background helps to explain the shari‘a codes enacted by the legislatures of the states, drawing largely from the classical formulations of Maliki school of Islamic law. Women were among the first to be prosecuted and sentenced to death by stoning for the offence of zinā. To provide effective legal defense for the accused women, their lawyers and activists for women human rights had to argue in Islamic law before they could convince Shari‘a Courts of Appeal to overturn the sentences of death by stoning and set the women free. In the process, women activists learned a lot about the classical formulations of Maliki school of Islamic law, where they discovered the rich flexibility of Islamic thought, and that has empowered them to articulate Islamic criticisms against gender bias in the recently enacted shari‘a codes.
The Roles of Mosque Libraries through History
Authors: Laugu Nurdin
Published: October 2013

Since the formation of the Islamic society by Prophet Muhammad, mosque libraries fulfilled several important roles that deserve scholarly attention. Therefore, this article elicits the significance of these various roles within Muslim societies through Islamic history. Until present day, almost all mosque libraries provide a variety of collections, concerning both religious and non-religious issues, such as social science and education. In line with these roles, this paper presents different examples of mosque libraries that, through history, contributed significantly to the development of Islamic civilization, like the library of the al-Azhar mosque in Egypt, the Grand Mosque Library in Cordova, etc. In addition, several aspects determining the (in)significance of mosque libraries through history, such as library management and factors contributing to the stagnation of mosque libraries, are investigated.
The Ash’arite Dogma: the Root of the Arab/Muslim Absolutism
Authors: Mabrook Ali
Published: October 2013

There are three major categories upon which all of the world’s civilizations are established, namely, God, Man and World. The differentiation of worldly civilizations and the diversity of systems of knowledge are due to the way of drawing up the relation thereby the three categories are arranged. Some scholars assumed that these categories are communicated and totally correlated each other, in a way that each cannot be realized except in its connectivity to the others. While some others thought that the three categories should be separated and disconnected, in a way that each of the three is realized as an absolute and dominant one while the two others are marginal and dependent ones. Needless to say, while the first perception provokes the values of tolerance and the acceptance of the other, the second one motivates absolutism and the negation of the other. Unfortunately the Ash’arism, not only a dogma but —and more importantly— a stable and dominant way of thinking, is stimulated by the second perception based on an absolutism and the negation of the other. It departs from that historical fact that this paper argues that absolutism, manifested in political, religious and cultural aspects of nowadays Muslims life, can be related to the dominance ofAsh’arism all over the Muslim world.
Pesantren and the Freedom of Thinking: Study of Ma‘had Aly Pesantren Sukorejo Situbondo, East Java, Indonesia
Authors: Gazali Hatim , Malik Abd.
Published: October 2013

Various studies on Pesantren have been conducted through various lenses and perspectives; however, its attractiveness is still there. In some points, the pesantren is well known as a conservative institution in which freedom of thinking is limited. This article is willing to show that not all pesantrens limit their students' freedom of thinking. One of them is Ma'had Aly (higher education), one of the education institution in Pesantren Salafiyah Syafi'iyah Sukorejo Situbondo which focuses its teaching on fiqh. Fiqh, or Islamic jurisprudence, is one of the branches of Islamic science. In some pesantrens, the teaching of fiqh is limited to one school or madhhab, particularly school of Shafi'i. However, in Ma'had Aly, not only one school of thought is taught, but fiqh of four schools of thought. It shows a high tolerance and respect for differences. In order to seek a new ingredient in formulating Islamic law, the teaching of fiqh is combined with other sciences such as philosophy, sociology, and anthropology. This new ingredient produces a rich discourse of fiqh and widens its scope of discussion to include to religious relationships, gender, human rights, ecology, and other contemporary issues such as interfaith marriage, the possibility of a non-Muslim being president, and the role of women in the public sphere. Looking from the curriculum, the method of teaching, and the publication of bulletin of Tanwirul Afkar, this article proves that freedom of thinking is well-maintained at Ma'had Aly.
What Went Wrong with the Veil? A Comparative Analysis of the Discourse of the Veil in France, Iran, and Indonesia
Authors: Safitri Dian Maya
Published: October 2013

This paper attempts to discuss several current issues about the veil. Three  countries are selected, namely France, Iran, and Indonesia, due to their different policies and perspectives concerning the veil. Using discourse analysis, this paper examines the violation of human rights, particularly those of Muslim women, by the ban of the veil in France and the obligation to wear it in Iran. Finally, inspired by the theoretical work of Gramsci, this paper analyzes how the  terms “secular” and “religious“ are used by the state to justify their hegemony over certain minority groups. Moreover, this paper offers the “correct concept of  secularism” as that entails civic reason, constitutionalism, and human-rights based citizenship, and proposed by An-Na’im as the best avenue to safeguard the problem of human rights in France and Iran. The remainder of this paper discusses Indonesia, the largest Moslem country in the world, that is, in fact, “a secular country” based on Pancasila, which respects religious freedom, including  for women to wear the veil or not. It also opens full, equal, and fair access for all Indonesian women, regardless of their ethnicity and religious affiliation,  to compete in the workforce and to pursue education. The author’s intention is to clarify false stereotypes about the veil, to enlighten readers about abuse of power by both French and Iranian governments in violating the rights of women on the issue of veil, and to inform readers --using the case of Indonesia  as an example-- about the importance of state neutrality in supporting the rights of freedom of and from religion.
Maqasid and the Challenges of Modernity
Authors: Hallaq Wael B.
Published: October 2013

A central feature of public Muslim discourse over the past three decades has been the call to restore the Shari‘a in one form or another. Some reformers have proposed a new theoretical underpinning for this restoration, arguing for the adoption of foundational concepts that bear little, if any, resemblance to  their pre-modern counterparts. A central question that ineluctably emerges in this aporia is: What narrative must be adopted as the representation of the historical Shari‘a, the Shari‘a that prevailed until the early portion of the nineteenth century? If the colonial narrative is ipso facto programmatic and teleological, and if it served and still serves the purposes of all but those of the subaltern majority, then what other narrative must be adopted in the project of creating the new symbiosis? And if the jural voices of the subaltern are to come in for serious consideration, then how are we to represent them, if we can at all? And if we cannot, then into what espistemic predicament, if not a perennial aporia, does this throw both the privileged scholar and the reformer/intellectual? This article does not provide answers to these questions but rather addresses the problematics that these and related questions raise in dealing with the challenge of introducing into the modern Muslim condition one form of Islamic law or another.
Activity limitation and participation restriction to among the elderly in North India: determinants and related management practices
Authors: Malhotra Geetu , Sharma Manoj Kumar , Singh Amarjeet , Dudeja Puja
Published: October 2013

Background: Eight percent of India’s population is aged over 60 years. This study was done among the elderly in a city in North India to (i) ascertain the level of Activity Limitation (AL) and Participation Restriction (PR), (ii) determine the factors affecting AL and PR, and (iii) ascertain their management practices.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Chandigarh, India during January–May 2012 among 100 elderly each from rural (villages), urban (sectors), and slum (colonies) areas. AL and PR were assessed according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) Questionnaire.

Results: Severe AL was reported by 32%, 2% had no AL, 18% had PR, and 8% had severe PR. AL increased with age (p=0.002); AL was more prevalent in rural areas (p=0.015). PR was higher in the elderly living with their families (p=0.003). Assistive and Enabling Devices (AEDs) included spectacles and hearing aids. A walking stick was the most common AED used.

Conclusions: AL was significantly more prevalent in the elderly aged above 70 years. PR was significantly more prevalent in the elderly staying with families. Spectacle use was very low in slum areas.
Reversal of alcohol induced testicular hyperlipidemia by supplementation of ascorbic acid and its comparison with abstention in male guinea pigs
Authors: Radhakrishnakartha Harikrishnan , Appu Abhilash Puthuvelvippel , Madambath Indira
Published: October 2013

Background: Chronic ethanol exposure causes hyperlipidemia. The present study was designed to investigate the impact of ascorbic acid supplementation on ethanol induced hyperlipidemia in testis and to compare it with that of abstinence from taking alcohol.

Methods: Thirty-six male guinea pigs were divided into two groups and were maintained for 90 days as follows (1) control (C) (2) ethanol treated group (E) (4 g/kg body wt/day). Ethanol was administered for 90 days and on 90th day, alanine amino transaminase (ALT), aspartate amino transaminase (AST) and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) in serum was assayed. The animals in the ethanol group were further divided into an ascorbic acid supplemented group (25 mg/100 g body wt/day) (E+AA) and an ethanol abstention group (EAG) and those in the control group were divided into a control group and a control+ascorbic acid group (C+AA).

Results: There was significant increase in levels of testicular cholesterol, free fatty acid, phospholipids and triglycerides in the ethanol group. There was also a significant increase in the activity of HMG CoA reductase and decrease in activity of testicular glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and malic enzyme in ethanol-ingested animals that further led to decreased levels of serum testosterone. Alcohol administration also enhanced the activity of testicular alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). Ascorbic acid supplementation and abstention altered all these parameters induced by chronic alcohol administration. Histological studies were also in line with the above results.

Conclusions: Ascorbic acid was able to reinstate the cholesterol homeostasis in testis which could have further restored the testicular steroidogenesis. The present study demonstrated that ascorbic acid is effective in reducing the hyperlipidemia induced by chronic alcohol administration and produced a better recovery than abstention.
Strabismus Disrupts Binocular Synaptic Integration in Primary Visual Cortex
Authors: Scholl Benjamin , Tan Andrew Y. Y. , Priebe Nicholas J.
Published: October 2013

Visual disruption early in development dramatically changes how primary visual cortex neurons integrate binocular inputs. The disruption is paradigmatic for investigating the synaptic basis of long-term changes in cortical function, because the primary visual cortex is the site of binocular convergence. The underlying alterations in circuitry by visual disruption remain poorly understood. Here we compare membrane potential responses, observed via whole-cell recordingsin vivo, of primary visual cortex neurons in normal adult cats with those of cats in which strabismus was induced before the developmental critical period. In strabismic cats, we observed a dramatic shift in the ocular dominance distribution of simple cells, the first stage of visual cortical processing, toward responding to one eye instead of both, but not in complex cells, which receive inputs from simple cells. Both simple and complex cells no longer conveyed the binocular information needed for depth perception based on binocular cues. There was concomitant binocular suppression such that responses were weaker with binocular than with monocular stimulation. Our estimates of the excitatory and inhibitory input to single neurons indicate binocular suppression that was not evident in synaptic excitation, but arosede novobecause of synaptic inhibition. Further constraints on circuit models of plasticity result from indications that the ratio of excitation to inhibition evoked by monocular stimulation decreased mainly for nonpreferred eye stimulation. Although we documented changes in synaptic input throughout primary visual cortex, a circuit model with plasticity at only thalamocortical synapses is sufficient to account for our observations.
Partial Restoration of Cardiovascular Function by Embryonic Neural Stem Cell Grafts after Complete Spinal Cord Transection
Authors: Hou Shaoping , Tom Veronica J. , Graham Lori , Lu Paul , Blesch Armin
Published: October 2013

High-level spinal cord injury can lead to cardiovascular dysfunction, including disordered hemodynamics at rest and autonomic dysreflexia during noxious stimulation. To restore supraspinal control of sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPNs), we grafted embryonic brainstem-derived neural stem cells (BS-NSCs) or spinal cord-derived neural stem cells (SC-NSCs) expressing green fluorescent protein into the T4 complete transection site of adult rats. Animals with injury alone served as controls. Implanting of BS-NSCs but not SC-NSCs resulted in recovery of basal cardiovascular parameters, whereas both cell grafts alleviated autonomic dysreflexia. Subsequent spinal cord retransection above the graft abolished the recovery of basal hemodynamics and reflexic response. BS-NSC graft-derived catecholaminergic and serotonergic neurons showed remarkable long-distance axon growth and topographical innervation of caudal SPNs. Anterograde tracing indicated growth of medullar axons into stem cell grafts and formation of synapses. Thus, grafted embryonic brainstem-derived neurons can act as functional relays to restore supraspinal regulation of denervated SPNs, thereby contributing to cardiovascular functional improvement.
Thailand: steps towards integrated solid waste management
Authors: Grimes Sue M. , Tanpoonkiat Woraponte
Published: October 2013

The current waste management practices in Thailand have been analysed to identify changes that would be beneficial in achieving the criteria set by authorities for improvements in recycling and diversion from landfill to 2030. The numbers and combinations of selected treatment plants that would have to be introduced into Thailand to meet targets for diversion of biological waste from landfill and the production of energy over the planning period have been calculated for a number of scenarios. Sensitivity analyses are performed on the results obtained to account for changes in future assumptions on the amount of waste generated and the organic content of the residual waste. The methodology adopted in this work, to aid planning decisions on technology requirements into the future, was previously used to predict the treatment options for handling the organic fraction of waste generated in London. As a generic methodology, applied in this work to illustrate the types of results obtained from the analyses using specific sets of assumptions relevant to Thailand, it offers the capability and flexibility to take account of the effects on the outcome of any relevant scenarios that planners might wish to consider and any assumptions that they might wish to make.
Can Offering a Signing Bonus Motivate Effort? Experimental Evidence of the Moderating Effects of Labor Market Competition
Authors: Choi Jongwoon (Willie)
Published: October 2013

Employers often rely on informal controls such as trust to motivate organizationally desirable behaviors from their workers by appealing to the latter's reciprocity. Notably, trust and reciprocity can promote a “gift exchange” between employers and workers. Using an experiment, I investigate whether labor market competition moderates the emergence of a gift exchange in labor markets in which signing bonus offers serve as a potential signal of trust and the duration of the employment relationship is endogenously determined. I find that offering a signing bonus more positively affects both workers' beliefs about the employer's trust in them and their effort when there is an excess supply of workers than when there is an excess demand for workers. I also find that the initial effects of signing bonuses may not persist over time. Additional analyses suggest that both employers' and workers' expectations may affect whether and how trust and reciprocity develop over time.
Down Syndrome and Congenital Heart Disease: Single centre, Prospective Study
Authors: Shrestha Maniah , Shrestha U
Published: October 2013

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the children with down syndrome regarding the frequency and types of congenital heart disease and associated pulmonary hypertension. Method: A prospective study was carried out to all the children with down syndrome visited in pediatric outpatient department over the period of one year. Necessary data were recorded in preformed format. Results: Fifty children with down syndrome were evaluated. Forty (80%) had an associated congenital heart disease. The median age at diagnosis was 2 years (range = 4 days to 12 years). In 26 patients (65%), the cardiac lesion was isolated, while 14 patients (35%) had multiple defects. The most common single defect was ventricular septal defect (VSD), found in 9 of the 40 patients (22.5%), followed by atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) in 15%, atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) each in 10%. The most frequent concomitant malformation found co-existing with other congenital cardiac lesions was PDA (15%). Pulmonary hypertension was found in 21 of 40 patients (52.5%) and AVSD was most frequently associated with pulmonary hypertension. Conclusion: Congenital heart disease is very common in patient with down syndrome. VSD is the most common cardiac defect and AVSD is second to VSD. Patient with down syndrome with CHD frequently develop pulmonary hypertension at younger age hence early cardiac screening by echocardiography in these patients is crucial. Early diagnosis and management is the key to avoid irreversible hemodynamic consequences of the defect. Nepal Journal of Medical Sciences | Volume 02 | Number 02 | July-December 2013 | Page 96-101 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njms.v2i2.8944
Endoscopic versus conventional method for partial inferior turbinectomy in chronic hypertrophic rhinitis
Authors: Rai Shiwani , Sharma V , Koirala K , Sharma AC
Published: October 2013

Background: The main goal of inferior turbinate surgery is to relieve obstruction while preserving the function of the turbinates as much as possible. Partial inferior turbinectomy (PIT) is an accepted and effective treatment in relieving the nasal obstruction while preserving the turbinate function. The use of endoscope provides complete visualization of the operating field and thus decreases the risk of excessive or inadequate resection. Methods: A prospective single blinded randomized controlled trial was carried out in Department of ENT, Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal from September 2008 to March 2010 with an objective to compare between the conventional and endoscopic method of PIT in terms of outcome and post-operative morbidity in chronic hypertrophic rhinitis. Hundred cases were taken and assigned randomly into two groups; i.e. endoscopic PIT and conventional PIT. The post-operative findings were compared between the two groups using Fischer Exact test for proportion and t test for mean. Results: There was 94% improvement in nasal obstruction in conventional group and 100% in endoscopic group at 1 month whereas improvement was 100% in both the groups at 3 months. Though no significant difference was seen statistically yet improvement was more in endoscopic group. There was significant difference in the SNOT 22 change score between endoscopic and conventional method at 1 month and 3 months. Significantly higher rates of post- operative morbidities were seen in case of conventional PIT at 1 month. Conclusion: Endoscopic PIT is better than conventional in terms of improvement in nasal obstruction and decreased postoperative morbidity. Nepal Journal of Medical Sciences | Volume 02 | Number 02 | July-December 2013 | Page 102-107 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njms.v2i2.8945
Role of single dose antibiotic prophylaxis in prevention of wound infection following lichtenstein inguinal hernioplasty: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: KC Bidur , Regmi R , Agrawal CS , Pathania OP
Published: October 2013

Background: Inguinal hernia is one of commonest condition encountered in clinical practice. Mesh repair is becoming the most popular technique for repair of inguinal hernia. The use of antibiotic prophylaxis for clean surgical procedure such as inguinal hernia surgery is controversial. Methods: All patients above 18 years of age with primary unilateral inguinal hernia over 14 months period were enrolled. Patients were randomized into 2 groups. Patients with antibiotic prophylaxis group were administered intravenous antibiotic at the induction of anesthesia or just before the incision if operated under local anesthesia (group 1); patients with no antibiotic prophylaxis group were administered sterile normal saline intravenously at the same time (group 2). After Lichtenstein inguinal hernioplasty, patients were followed up twice at 7-9 days and 28-42 days to assess surgical site infection, persistent pain, chronic sinus, testicular atrophy and recurrence if any as final outcome of treatment. Results: Total of sixty patients (59 male and 1 female), thirty in each group were enrolled. During the first follow up, 1 patient (3.3%) developed wound infection from group 2 where as none of the patients developed wound infection (0%) from group 1. During the second follow up, none of the patients from both the groups had any complication. Conclusion: Inguinal hernia surgery is a clean operation. There is no benefit of intravenous single dose antibiotic prophylaxis in the prevention of wound infection following Lichtenstein inguinal hernioplasty in patients with no other co-morbid conditions. Nepal Journal of Medical Sciences | Volume 02 | Number 02 | July-December 2013 | Page 108-113 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njms.v2i2.8952
Thoracoscopic management of symptomatic esophageal mucocoele after esophageal exclusion
Authors: Thapa B , Sapkota R , Sayami P
Published: October 2013

Surgical exclusion of the thoracic esophagus is done to avoid mediastinal soiling in esophageal tears when patients present late. Esophageal exclusion can result in the accumulation of secretions and dilatation of the esophageal remnant leading to an esophageal mucocele. Although it is usually asymptomatic, if it increases in size it can produce a variety of compressive symptoms such as coughing, chest pain and respiratory distress. We present a case of symptomatic mucocele after esophageal exclusion treated successfully with thoracoscopic resection. Surgical resection should be considered for symptomatic patients, and thoracoscopy offers minimally invasive and less painful alternative to thoracotomy in these patients. Nepal Journal of Medical Sciences | Volume 02 | Number 02 | July-December 2013 | Page 181-183 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njms.v2i2.8972
Unusual presentation of breast lump-diagnosed on FNAC as tubercular lesion
Authors: Sengupta S , Mondal RK , Ray R , Bose K , Ghosh TK
Published: October 2013

Tuberculosis of breast is a rare disease even in endemic areas accounting for 0.1%- 0.5% of all infections. Multiparous young females are commonly affected particularly during pregnancy and lactation. In the present study, we are reporting a case of tuberculosis of breast with ipsilateral axillary involvement in a multiparous young non lactating female. Diagnosis was confirmed after cytological evaluation. Clinical or radiological distinction of mammary tuberculosis from breast carcinoma or abscess is often difficult to achieve. Cytology is an effective method for confirmation of these uncommon disorder an also can reduce unnecessary surgery which should be restricted for complicated cases. Nepal Journal of Medical Sciences | Volume 02 | Number 02 | July-December 2013 | Page 187-189 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njms.v2i2.8974
Large Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor of Lumbar spine: A Case Report
Authors: Lamichhane B , Yogi N , Paudel GR , Panth R , Devkota UP , Gongal DN
Published: October 2013

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) is a rare condition that arises from the peripheral nerves and is characterized histologically by cellular atypia, hyperchromasia and spindle shaped tumor cells intersecting in stroiform pattern. While neurofibromas are common in spinal canal, malignant transformation into MPNST is rarely seen except in cases with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1). Nepal Journal of Medical Sciences | Volume 02 | Number 02 | July-December 2013 | Page 190-193 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njms.v2i2.8976
Working with People to Make Changes: A Behavioural Change Approach Used in Chronic Low Back Pain Rehabilitation
Authors: Harman Katherine , MacRae Marsha , Vallis Michael , Bassett Raewyn
Published: October 2013

Purpose: To describe the approach used by a physiotherapist who led a rehabilitation programme for injured members of the military with chronic low back pain designed to enhance self-efficacy and self-management skills. Method: This in-depth qualitative study used audio- and video-recorded data from interviews and field observations. Using an inductive analysis process, discussion of emerging themes led to a description of the physiotherapist's approach. Results: The approach has three elements: developing a trusting relationship through building rapport, establishing a need in patients' minds to be actively engaged in their rehabilitation, and finding workable rehabilitation solutions that are most likely to be adopted by individual patients. This approach fits into current theories about health behaviour change (e.g., Transtheoretical Model of Change, Motivational Interviewing, Motivational Model of Patient Self-Management and Patient Self-Management) and elements of the therapeutic alliance. Using the therapeutic alliance (rapport) and behaviour change techniques, the physiotherapist focused on the perceived importance of a behaviour change (need) and then shifted to the patient's self-efficacy in the solutions phase. Conclusions: If we recognize that rehabilitation requires patients to adopt new behaviours, becoming aware of psychological techniques that enhance behaviour change could improve treatment outcomes.
Project Delivery Selection Matrix for Highway Design and Construction
Authors: Tran Dai Q. , Harper Christofer M. , Molenaar Keith R. , Haddad Nabil F. , Scholfield Mark M.
Published: October 2013

Determining an appropriate delivery method for highway projects is a complex process. This paper presents a decision support approach to assist highway agencies in evaluating and selecting the most suitable delivery method for their projects. The approach uses a matrix to consider three fundamental delivery methods currently in use by the highway industry: design–bid–build, design–build, and construction manager–general contractor. The approach, which is in use by the Colorado Department of Transportation (DOT), includes four primary selection factors (delivery schedule, complexity and innovation, level of design, and initial project risk assessment) and four secondary selection factors (cost, staff experience and availability, level of oversight and control, and competition and contractor experience) in the delivery decision. These eight selection factors, along with opportunities and challenges for each delivery method, were identified through a literature search and were tested by discussions and workshops with innovative contracting leaders from the Colorado DOT, FHWA, the American Council of Engineering Companies, Associated General Contractors of America, and the University of Colorado. The approach enables an initial risk assessment to occur early in the project development process and before the project delivery decision. The project delivery selection matrix promotes a better understanding of project goals, risks, and opportunities and enhances alignment among project participants. The approach has been successfully tested and implemented through eight projects of varying scope throughout Colorado. This paper presents the project delivery selection matrix along with an illustrative case study to demonstrate the results. The research provides a defensible and repeatable process for highway agencies to select an appropriate delivery method for their projects.
Early Contractor Design Involvement to Expedite Delivery of Emergency Highway Projects
Authors: Gransberg Douglas D.
Published: October 2013

Events such as Hurricanes Katrina and Irene and the sudden collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minnesota forced state departments of transportation (DOTs) to step into the public spotlight and implement expedited procurement procedures to restore vital links in the transportation network as the media scrutinized their work every night on the evening news. This paper presents the results of case studies from Florida, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, and Utah where the DOT brought the construction contractor into the design process as the primary means to expedite the delivery of emergency projects. The case studies include the use of design–bid–build, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity (IDIQ), construction manager–general contractor (CMGC), and design–build (DB) contracts as mechanisms to gain substantive contractor input on materials, means, and methods during design. The paper concludes that completing the design is the first obstacle to surmount in emergency procurements and that the surest tool to expedite emergency project delivery is to design around immediately available materials, equipment, and proven accelerated construction methods—information that is best developed by the contractor that will eventually complete the construction. The paper recommends that agencies develop expedited procurement procedures for IDIQ, CMGC, and DB contracts before emergencies occur and furnishes case study information for specific methods used to streamline routine procurement procedures.
Lake Champlain Bridge Emergency Replacement Project
Authors: Zoli Ted , Bridges James , Boni James , Grady John
Published: October 2013

The Lake Champlain Bridge, also known as the Crown Point Bridge, was a historic steel truss bridge stretching 2,187 ft across Lake Champlain and connecting the rural communities of Crown Point, New York, and Chimney Point, Vermont. It opened in 1929 with then New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Since then, the bridge has served as a vital economic link between communities, which share hospitals and fire departments, as well as a link to the past. But by 2009, the bridge had reached 80 years of service life, and a study was conducted to determine the need for possible major rehabilitation or replacement. Together with the Vermont Agency of Transportation, FHWA, and the HNTB Corporation design team, the New York State Department of Transportation used emergency standby contracts and an accelerated design–bid–build process to develop a plan to demolish the original truss bridge in little more than 2 months, construct a temporary ferry service, and design and erect a new signature crossing in little more than 2 years. The new Lake Champlain Bridge opened November 7, 2011, by using a dynamic design–bid–build process that could become a model for the nation.