bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tear ferning test in horses and its correlation with ocular surface evaluation
Authors: Silva Laura R. , Gouveia Anderson F. , de Fátima Cleyber J. T. , Oliveira Letícia B. , Reis Janildo L. , Ferreira Renato F. , Pimentel Concepta M. , Galera Paula D.
Published: March 2015

Objective

To describe the tear ferning test (TFT) in healthy horses and its correlation with other parameters for evaluating the ocular surface.

Animals studied

Thirty male and female adult healthy horses (60 eyes), of no defined breed.

Procedures

Tear sample was collected with a microcapillary tube, placed on the surface of a glass slide, and allowed to dry at room temperature. The crystallization pattern was classified according to Rolando (Chibret International Journal Ophthamology, 1984; 2, 32). The program STEPanizer© stereology tool, version 1.0, was utilized for counting points on the digitally captured crystallization image. A conjunctival biopsy was performed.

Results

Tear ferning test was classified as Type I in 18 eyes (30%), Type II in 31 eyes (51.7%), and Type III in 11 eyes (18.3%), at a mean temperature of 27.3 ± 1.5 °C and relative humidity of 61.5 ± 5.7%. In the Type I crystallization, the count varied between 27 and 36 points (mean: 33.27 ± 2.40), in Type II between 22 and 31 points (25.42 ± 1.95), and in Type III between 13 and 25 points (16.82 ± 3.76). There was no statistical difference or correlation between the right and left eyes, nor was there a statistically significant influence (P < 0.05) on TFT by the factors evaluated. The mean goblet cells values were 50 ± 11.4 cells/field. All samples showed the presence of lymphocytes, plasmocytes, and eosinophils.

Conclusion

Tear ferning test is easy to perform, without risks to the patient. Once standardized for horses, associated or not with the program STEPanizer© stereology tool, it is an additional method for evaluating the ocular surface.
Conjunctival habronemiasis in a square‐lipped rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)
Authors: Horowitz Igal H. , Dubielzig Richard R. , Botero‐Anug Ana‐Maria , Lucio‐Forster Araceli , Bowman Dwight D. , Rosenzweig Ariella B. , Frenkel Shahar , Ofri Ron
Published: March 2015

A captive female square‐lipped rhinoceros born in 1993 had been showing intermittent signs of bilateral conjunctivitis and conjunctival proliferation since 1998. Periodic improvement was noted, especially in winter, but overall the condition had deteriorated over the years. Treatment with various topical, intralesional, and systemic antibiotics and glucocorticosteroids was largely ineffective, as were repeated dewormings. No primary cause for these lesions was found in biopsies taken in 2000 and 2006, although a severe infiltrate of numerous eosinophils was observed in the latter. As the condition worsened, secondary corneal changes were noted, and eventually vision was lost due to proliferative conjunctival tissue. Aggressive resection of the proliferating tissue in 2013 restored vision and submitted biopsies yielded a diagnosis of severe allergic conjunctivitis, eosinophilic granuloma, and habronematid (Habronema or Draschia) larval infection. As no other rhinoceros in the herd was affected, including two calves born to the patient who were in close contact with their mother, it was concluded the presentation was most likely due to a hypersensitivity reaction to the dead or dying larvae. Fly repellent is now regularly applied around the eye of this rhinoceros, and a protective face mask has been fitted. Ongoing periodic relapses are treated with oral ivermectin, topical antibiotics, and steroids.
Improving Chronic Diseases Management Through the Development of an Evidence‐Based Resource
Authors: Khalil Hanan , Chambers Helen , Munn Zachary , Porritt Kylie
Published: March 2015

Objective

There is a large gap between evidence and practice within health care, particularly within the field of chronic disease. To reduce this gap and improve the management of chronic disease, a collaborative partnership between two schools within a large university and two industry partners (a large regional rural hospital and a rural community health center) in rural Victoria, Australia, was developed. The aim of the collaboration was to promote the development of translation science and the implementation of evidence‐based health care in chronic disease with a specific focus on developing evidence‐based resources that are easily accessed by clinicians.

Methods

A working group consisting of members of the collaborating organizations and an internationally renowned expert reference group was formed. The group acted as a steering committee and was tasked with developing a taxonomy of the resources. In addition, a peer review process of all resources was established. A corresponding reference group consisting of researchers and clinicians who are clinical experts in various fields was involved in the review process. The resources developed by the group include evidence summaries and recommended practices made available on a web‐based database, which can be accessed via subscription by clinicians and researchers worldwide.

Results

As of mid‐2014, there were 109 new evidence summaries and 25 recommended practices detailing the best available evidence on topics related to chronic disease management including asthma, diabetes, heart failure, dementia, and others. Training sessions and a newsletter were developed for clinicians within the node to enable them to use the content effectively.

Linking Evidence to Action

This paper describes the processes involved in the successful development of the collaborative partnership and its evolution into producing a valuable resource for the translation of evidence into practice in the areas of chronic disease management. The resource developed is being used by clinicians to inform practice and support their clinical decision making.
Single mineral particle makes an electron point source
Authors: Salançon Evelyne , Daineche Rachid , Grauby Olivier , Morin Roger
Published: March 2015

A mineral (celadonite, kaolinite) nanometer-thick particle deposited on a flat carbon film or at the apex of a carbon fiber provides electron emission at low applied fields. Voltage and time dependences of the emission intensity are studied, and a model of the underlying mechanism is proposed. An electron point source providing emission from a single particle is built and characterized.
The difficulty of professional continuation among female doctors in Japan: a qualitative study of alumnae of 13 medical schools in Japan
Authors: Nomura Kyoko , Yamazaki Yuka , Gruppen Larry D , Horie Saki , Takeuchi Masumi , Illing Jan
Published: March 2015

Objectives

To investigate the difficulties Japanese female doctors face in continuing professional practice.

Design

A qualitative study using the Kawakita Jiro method.

Setting

A survey conducted in 2011 of 13 private Japanese medical school alumni associations.

Participants

359 female doctors.

Primary outcome measures

Barriers of balancing work and gender role.

Results

The female doctors reported that professional practice was a struggle with long working hours due to a current shortage of doctors in Japan. There was also a severe shortage of childcare facilities in the workplace. Some women appeared to have low confidence in balancing the physician's job and personal life, resulting in low levels of professional pursuit. There appeared to be two types of stereotypical gender roles, including one expected from society, stating that “child rearing is a woman's job”, and the other perceived by the women themselves, that some women had a very strong desire to raise their own children. Male doctors and some female doctors who were single or older were perceived to be less enthusiastic about supporting women who worked while raising children because these coworkers feared that they would have to perform additional work as a result of the women taking long periods of leave.

Conclusions

Important factors identified for promoting the continuation of professional practice among female doctors in Japan were the need to improve working conditions, including cutting back on long working hours, a solution to the shortage of nurseries, a need for the introduction of educational interventions to clarify professional responsibilities, and redefinition of the gender division of labour for male and female doctors. In addition, we identified a need to modernise current employment practices by introducing temporary posts to cover maternity leave and introducing flexible working hours during specialist training, thus supporting and encouraging more women to continue their medical careers.
Neuropsychiatric and cardiometabolic comorbidities in patients with previously diagnosed Cushing's disease: a longitudinal observational study
Authors: Dimopoulou C , Geraedts V , Stalla G K , Sievers C
Published: March 2015

Introduction

Only few studies have systematically investigated neuropsychiatric aspects in patients with Cushing's disease (CD). Pain syndromes have been described in patients with pituitary adenomas, but so far no systematical investigation has been conducted in patients with CD. Additionally, CD has an association with cardiometabolic comorbidities which ultimately leads to increased morbidity and mortality. Long-term treatment of the hypercortisolic state cannot prevent the persistence of an unfavourable cardiometabolic risk profile. Finally, chronic hypercortisolism is known to impact the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We aim to systematically investigate the neuropsychiatric and cardiometabolic comorbidities, as well as assess the HRQoL, in patients with previously diagnosed CD in a longitudinal fashion.

Methods and analysis

In this longitudinal study, we will assess 20 patients with CD displaying biochemical control 24 months after recruitment in the initial cross-sectional study (n=80). This will be a mixed cohort including patients after surgical, after radiation therapy and/or under current medical treatment for CD. Primary outcomes include changes in mean urinary free cortisol and changes in specific pain patterns. Secondary/exploratory neuropsychiatric domains include depression, anxiety, personality, sleep, body image and quality of life. Secondary/exploratory cardiometabolic domains include anthropometric parameters, cardiometabolic risk biomarkers and insulin resistance. Additional domains will be investigated if warranted by clinical indication. Safety assessment under medical therapy will include liver enzymes, ECG abnormalities and hyperglycaemia.

Ethics and dissemination

Risk of damage from study-conditioned measures is very small and considered ethically justified. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry may call for detailed fracture risk assessment. However, the radiation dose is very small and only administered on clinical indication; therefore, it is considered ethically justified. This protocol has been approved by the local medical ethics committee.
The AIDS epidemic and economic input impact factors in Chongqing, China, from 2006 to 2012: a spatial-temporal analysis
Authors: Zhang Yanqi , Xiao Qin , Zhou Liang , Ma Dihui , Liu Ling , Lu Rongrong , Yi Dali , Yi Dong
Published: March 2015

Objective

To analyse the spatial-temporal clustering of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Chongqing and to explore its association with the economic indices of AIDS prevention and treatment.

Methods

Data on the HIV/AIDS epidemic and economic indices of AIDS prevention and treatment were obtained from the annual reports of the Chongqing Municipal Center for Disease Control for 2006–2012. Spatial clustering analysis, temporal-spatial clustering analysis, and spatial regression were used to conduct statistical analysis.

Results

The annual average new HIV infection rate, incidence rate for new AIDS cases, and rate of people living with HIV in Chongqing were 5.97, 2.42 and 28.12 per 100 000, respectively, for 2006–2012. The HIV/AIDS epidemic showed a non-random spatial distribution (Moran’s I≥0.310; p<0.05). The epidemic hotspots were distributed in the 15 mid-western counties. The most likely clusters were primarily located in the central region and southwest of Chongqing and occurred in 2010–2012. The regression coefficients of the total amount of special funds allocated to AIDS and to the public awareness unit for the numbers of new HIV cases, new AIDS cases, and people living with HIV were 0.775, 0.976 and 0.816, and −0.188, −0.259 and −0.215 (p<0.002), respectively.

Conclusions

The Chongqing HIV/AIDS epidemic showed temporal-spatial clustering and was mainly clustered in the mid-western and south-western counties, showing an upward trend over time. The amount of special funds dedicated to AIDS and to the public awareness unit showed positive and negative relationships with HIV/AIDS spatial clustering, respectively.
Risk factors for postneonatal, infant, child and under-5 mortality in Nigeria: a pooled cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Ezeh Osita Kingsley , Agho Kingsley Emwinyore , Dibley Michael John , Hall John Joseph , Page Andrew Nicolas
Published: March 2015

Objectives

To identify common factors associated with post-neonatal, infant, child and under-5 mortality in Nigeria.

Design, setting and participants

A cross-sectional data of three Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) for the years 2003, 2008 and 2013 were used. A multistage, stratified, cluster random sampling method was used to gather information on 63 844 singleton live-born infants of the most recent birth of a mother within a 5-year period before each survey was examined using cox regression models.

Main outcome measures

Postneonatal mortality (death between 1 and 11 months), infant mortality (death between birth and 11 months), child mortality (death between 12 and 59 months) and under-5 mortality (death between birth and 59 months).

Results

Multivariable analyses indicated that children born to mothers with no formal education was significantly associated with mortality across all four age ranges (adjusted HR=1.30, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.66 for postneonatal; HR=1.38, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.84 for infant; HR=2.13, 95% CI 1.56 to 2.89 for child; HR=1.19, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.41 for under-5). Other significant factors included living in rural areas (HR=1.48, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.89 for postneonatal; HR=1.23, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.47 for infant; HR=1.52, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.99 for child; HR=1.29, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.50 for under-5), and poor households (HR=2.47, 95% CI 1.76 to 3.47 for postneonatal; HR=1.40, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.78 for infant; HR=1.72, 95% CI 1.19 to 2.49 for child; HR=1.43, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.76 for under-5).

Conclusions

This study found that no formal education, poor households and living in rural areas increased the risk of postneonatal, infant, child and under-5 mortality among Nigerian children. Community-based interventions for reducing under-5 deaths are needed and should target children born to mothers of low socioeconomic status.
Assessment of PaO2/FiO2for stratification of patients with moderate and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Villar Jesús , Blanco Jesús , del Campo Rafael , Andaluz-Ojeda David , Díaz-Domínguez Francisco J , Muriel Arturo , Córcoles Virgilio , Suárez-Sipmann Fernando , Tarancón Concepción , González-Higueras Elena , López Julia , Blanch Lluis , Pérez-Méndez Lina , Fernández Rosa Lidia , Kacmarek Robert M
Published: March 2015

Objectives

A recent update of the definition of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) proposed an empirical classification based on ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) at ARDS onset. Since the proposal did not mandate PaO2/FiO2calculation under standardised ventilator settings (SVS), we hypothesised that a stratification based on baseline PaO2/FiO2would not provide accurate assessment of lung injury severity.

Design

A prospective, multicentre, observational study.

Setting

A network of teaching hospitals.

Participants

478 patients with eligible criteria for moderate (100<PaO2/FiO2≤200) and severe (PaO2/FiO2≤100) ARDS and followed until hospital discharge.

Interventions

We examined physiological and ventilator parameters in association with the PaO2/FiO2at ARDS onset, after 24 h of usual care and at 24 h under a SVS. At 24 h, patients were reclassified as severe, moderate, mild (200300).

Primary and secondary outcomes

Group severity and hospital mortality.

Results

At ARDS onset, 173 patients had a PaO2/FiO2≤100 but only 38.7% met criteria for severe ARDS at 24 h under SVS. When assessed under SVS, 61.3% of patients with severe ARDS were reclassified as moderate, mild and non-ARDS, while lung severity and hospital mortality changed markedly with every PaO2/FiO2category (p<0.000001). Our model of risk stratification outperformed the stratification using baseline PaO2/FiO2and non-standardised PaO2/FiO2at 24 h, when analysed by the predictive receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve: area under the ROC curve for stratification at baseline was 0.583 (95% CI 0.525 to 0.636), 0.605 (95% CI 0.552 to 0.658) at 24 h without SVS and 0.693 (95% CI 0.645 to 0.742) at 24 h under SVS (p<0.000001).

Conclusions

Our findings support the need for patient assessment under SVS at 24 h after ARDS onset to assess disease severity, and have implications for the diagnosis and management of ARDS patients.

Trial registration numbers

NCT00435110 andNCT00736892.
Body mass, cardiovascular risk and metabolic characteristics of young persons presenting for mental healthcare in Sydney, Australia
Authors: Scott Elizabeth M , Hermens Daniel F , White Django , Naismith Sharon L , GeHue Jeanne , Whitwell Bradley G , Glozier Nick , Hickie Ian B
Published: March 2015

Objectives

To determine the body mass, cardiovascular and metabolic characteristics of young people presenting for mental healthcare.

Design

Cross-sectional assessments of body mass, cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors.

Setting

Two primary-care based sites in Sydney, Australia for young people in the early stages of mental disorders.

Participants

A clinical sample of young people (12–30 years) with mental health problems.

Outcome measures

Daily smoking rates, body mass index (BMI), blood glucose and lipids, blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate.

Results

Of 1005 young people who had their BMI determined (62% female; 19.0±3.5 years), three quarters (739/1005) also had BP recordings and one-third (298/1005) had blood sampling. Clinically, 775 were assigned to one of three diagnostic categories (anxious-depression: n=541; mania-fatigue, n=104; developmental-psychotic n=130). The profile of BMI categories approximated that of the comparable segments of the Australian population. Older age, lower levels of social functioning and higher systolic BP were all associated with high BMI. In a subset (n=129), current use of any psychotropic medication was associated (p<0.05) with increased BMI. Almost one-third of cases were current daily smokers (compared to population rate of 11%). Males had a higher proportion of raised glucose and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) compared to females (9.3% and 34.1% vs 2.1% and 5.9%, respectively). Overall, there was no relationship between BMI and fasting glucose but significant relationships with triglycerides and HDL were noted. Furthermore, there were no significant relationships between diagnostic subgroup and metabolic profiles.

Conclusions

Daily smoking rates are increased among young people presenting for mental healthcare. However, these young people do not demonstrate adverse cardiometabolic profiles. The high levels of smoking, and association of BMI with adverse social circumstances, suggest that risk factors for chronic disease are already present and likely to be compounded by medication and social disadvantage.
Changes in HIV and syphilis prevalence among female sex workers from three serial cross-sectional surveys in Karnataka state, South India
Authors: Isac Shajy , Ramesh B M , Rajaram S , Washington Reynold , Bradley Janet E , Reza-Paul Sushena , Beattie Tara S , Alary Michel , Blanchard James F , Moses Stephen
Published: March 2015

Objectives

This paper examined trends over time in condom use, and the prevalences of HIV and syphilis, among female sex workers (FSWs) in South India.

Design

Data from three rounds of cross-sectional surveys were analysed, with HIV and high-titre syphilis prevalence as outcome variables. Multivariable analysis was applied to examine changes in prevalence over time.

Setting

Five districts in Karnataka state, India.

Participants

7015 FSWs were interviewed over three rounds of surveys (round 1=2277; round 2=2387 and round 3=2351). Women who reported selling sex in exchange for money or gifts in the past month, and aged between 18 and 49 years, were included.

Interventions

The surveys were conducted to monitor a targeted HIV prevention programme during 2004–2012. The main interventions included peer-led community outreach, services for the treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted infections, and empowering FSWs through community mobilisation.

Results

HIV prevalence declined significantly from rounds 1 to 3, from 19.6% to 10.8% (adjusted OR (AOR)=0.48, p<0.001); high-titre syphilis prevalence declined from 5.9% to 2.4% (AOR=0.50, p<0.001). Reductions were observed in most substrata of FSWs, although reductions among new sex workers, and those soliciting clients using mobile phones or from home, were not statistically significant. Condom use ‘always’ with occasional clients increased from 73% to 91% (AOR=1.9, p<0.001), with repeat clients from 52% to 86% (AOR=5.0, p<0.001) and with regular partners from 12% to 30% (AOR=4.2, p<0.001). Increased condom use was associated with exposure to the programme. However, condom use with regular partners remained low.

Conclusions

The prevalences of HIV infection and high-titre syphilis among FSWs have steadily declined with increased condom use. Further reductions in prevalence will require intensification of prevention efforts for new FSWs and those soliciting clients using mobile phones or from home, as well as increasing condom use in the context of regular partnerships.
The Australian primary healthcare experiment: a national survey of Medicare Locals
Authors: Robinson Suzanne , Varhol Richard , Ramamurthy Vijaya , Denehy Melissa , Hendrie Delia , O'Leary Peter , Selvey Linda
Published: March 2015

Objective

The objectives of this study are to evaluate the development and implementation of Medicare Locals as new primary care organisations and consider the implications of these findings for the wider challenge of strengthening primary healthcare in Australia and internationally.

Design

National survey of Medicare Locals which involved the use of content analysis and a descriptive survey tool.

Setting

61 Medicare Locals in Australia.

Participants

The survey was distributed electronically to all 61 Medicare Local Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) between October and December 2013.

Main outcome measures

The research was interested in exploring the following areas; the form and function of Medicare Locals; the confidence and capacity of Medicare Locals to perform against their objectives around population planning and system integration; their ability to engage relevant stakeholder groups; and the barriers and facilitators to reform.

Results

A total of 43 (70%) of Medicare Locals completed the survey with representation from six of the eight Australian states and Territories. Results suggest differences in the form and function of the Medicare Local organisations and considerable diversity in the implementation of Medicare Local organisations across Australia. This diversity and lack of guidance from government impacted on the overall success of the reform. Other barriers to reform included difficulties in stakeholder relationships and limited incentives (financial and other) to drive and influence change.

Conclusions

Findings from this study produce important insights for primary care reform in Australia; and internationally it adds to the growing body of knowledge around primary care reform.
Predicting risk of COPD in primary care: development and validation of a clinical risk score
Authors: Haroon Shamil , Adab Peymane , Riley Richard D , Marshall Tom , Lancashire Robert , Jordan Rachel E
Published: March 2015

Objectives

To develop and validate a clinical risk score to identify patients at risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using clinical factors routinely recorded in primary care.

Design

Case–control study of patients containing one incident COPD case to two controls matched on age, sex and general practice. Candidate risk factors were included in a conditional logistic regression model to produce a clinical score. Accuracy of the score was estimated on a separate external validation sample derived from 20 purposively selected practices.

Setting

UK general practices enrolled in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (1 January 2000 to 31 March 2006).

Participants

Development sample included 340 practices containing 15 159 newly diagnosed COPD cases and 28 296 controls (mean age 70 years, 52% male). Validation sample included 2259 cases and 4196 controls (mean age 70 years, 50% male).

Main outcome measures

Area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (c statistic), sensitivity and specificity in the validation practices.

Results

The model included four variables including smoking status, history of asthma, and lower respiratory tract infections and prescription of salbutamol in the previous 3 years. It had a high average c statistic of 0.85 (95% CI 0.83 to 0.86) and yielded a sensitivity of 63.2% (95% CI 63.1 to 63.3) and specificity 87.4% (95% CI 87.3 to 87.5).

Conclusions

Risk factors associated with COPD and routinely recorded in primary care have been used to develop and externally validate a new COPD risk score. This could be used to target patients for case finding.
Guideline for the prevention of oral and oropharyngeal mucositis in children receiving treatment for cancer or undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Sung Lillian , Robinson Paula , Treister Nathaniel , Baggott Tina , Gibson Paul , Tissing Wim , Wiernikowski John , Brinklow Jennifer , Dupuis L Lee
Published: March 2015

Purpose

To develop an evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the prevention of oral mucositis in children (0–18 years) receiving treatment for cancer or undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Methods

The Mucositis Prevention Guideline Development Group was interdisciplinary and included internationally recognised experts in paediatric mucositis. For the evidence review, we included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in either children or adults evaluating the following interventions selected according to prespecified criteria: cryotherapy, low level light therapy (LLLT) and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF). We also examined RCTs of any intervention conducted in children. For all systematic reviews, we synthesised the occurrence of severe oral mucositis. The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach was used to describe quality of evidence and strength of recommendations.

Results

We suggest cryotherapy or LLLT may be offered to cooperative children receiving chemotherapy or HSCT conditioning with regimens associated with a high rate of mucositis. We also suggest KGF may be offered to children receiving HSCT conditioning with regimens associated with a high rate of severe mucositis. However, KGF use merits caution as there is a lack of efficacy and toxicity data in children, and a lack of long-term follow-up data in paediatric cancers. No other interventions were recommended for oral mucositis prevention in children.

Conclusions

All three specific interventions evaluated in this clinical practice guideline were associated with a weak recommendation for use. There may be important organisational and cost barriers to the adoption of LLLT and KGF. Considerations for implementation and key research gaps are highlighted.
Incidence and risk factors for backpack palsy in young Korean soldiers
Authors: Kim Kyoung-Eun , Kim E-J
Published: March 2015

Objectives

Backpack palsy (BPP) is a common aetiology of brachial plexopathy in military hospitals. We aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors of BPP in young Korean soldiers.

Methods

We identified enlisted patients who were diagnosed with BPP from a review of the medical records of all the Korean military hospitals in 2011 and 2012 and investigated their clinical findings and medical study results. To identify risk factors of BPP, we also surveyed, by questionnaire, healthy recruits of a company in a training centre who had just finished night marches. We divided them according to whether they had paresthaesia and/or weakness in their arm(s) during marching and compared their characteristics.

Results

The incidence of BPP in Korean soldiers was 29.7 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI 17.2 to 24.3). Body mass index (BMI) was significantly lower in patients with BPP than it was in healthy recruits. Among healthy recruits, those who had experienced paresthaesia and/or weakness during marching had a significantly lower BMI than did those who had not.

Conclusions

We report the incidence of BPP in young Korean soldiers. A low BMI was a risk factor for BPP. These results may be helpful in establishing a strategy for the prevention of BPP in the setting of military training.
Republished: Conservative management of a post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the artery of cervical enlargement–anterior spinal artery junction
Authors: Boeris Davide , Mortimer Alex , Sakthithasan Mathuri , Evins Alexander Ian , Sandeman David , Renowden Shelly
Published: March 2015

A 22-year-old man suffered severe sudden onset head and neck pain after being pushed from behind during an assault. Physical examination was normal. Cervical MRI demonstrated an intradural hematoma, anterior to the cord, between C2–4. Subsequent contrast enhanced MR angiography and digital subtraction vertebral angiography confirmed that the cause of the hemorrhage was a fusiform (presumed dissecting) pseudoaneurysm of the artery of the cervical enlargement at its junction with the anterior spinal artery. The aneurysm was managed conservatively. Follow-up angiography demonstrated that the aneurysm had spontaneously thrombosed within 10 days and remained occluded at 2 months. The patient remained occluded at 6 months following the initial injury. Anterior spinal aneurysms represent a management dilemma and options are discussed.
User Profile Visualization to Facilitate MSLIM-Model-Based Social Influence Analysis Based on Slow Intelligence Approach
Authors: Wang Yingze , Chang Shi-Kuo
Published: March 2015

Identifying the hub nodes (the most influential users) in an information diffusion network is a central research topic in social influence analysis. In [2], we developed the Multi-task Sparse Linear Influence Model (MSLIM) to automatically select topic-sensitive influential nodes in an implicit network. Our method firstly needs to determine the active node set to model the global volume of the contagions of the entire network nodes. The active node set is chosen by a simple rule in [2]. However, different set leads to different model performance. Reference [4] proposed a new framework called Slow Intelligence System, which can continuously learn, search the appropriate method and propagate information according to the environment to improve the performance over time. In this paper, we develop a slow intelligence based active user definition system by utilizing user profile visualization to help interactively determine active node sets in MSLIM model. We apply our system on a set of 2.6 million tweets of 1000 users on twitter. We show that our system can efficiently utilize user's profile visualization techniques to facilitate determining the appropriate active node sets.
ENHANCED FORMATION OF Si NANOCRYSTALS IN SiO2 BY LIGHT-FILTERING RAPID THERMAL ANNEALING
Authors: CHEN XIAOBO , CHEN GUANGPING
Published: March 2015

In this work, silicon-rich oxide (SRO) films with designed thickness of ~100 nm were deposited by a bipolar pulse and radio frequency magnetron co-sputtering. For comparison, the samples were then treated in a nitrogen atmosphere by conventional rapid thermal annealing (CRTA) or light-filtering rapid thermal annealing (LRTA) at 900–1100°C for 2 min. Raman spectra, grazing incident X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Hall measurements, and current density–voltage measurements were carried out to analyze the microstructural and electrical properties of samples. Compared with the control sample using CRTA method, the crystalline volume fraction and number density of Si nanocrystals ( Si NCs ) in silicon oxide prepared by LRTA were greatly increased. The quantum effects of the short wave-length light (less than 800 nm) of these tungsten halogen lamps during the rapid thermal annealing process have negative effects on the formation of Si NCs in SiO 2 films. Si NCs with crystal volume fraction of 73%, average size of 2.53 nm, and number density of ~1.1 × 1012 cm-2 embedded in the amorphous SiO 2 matrix can be formed by LRTA at 1100°C. Enhancement of more than one order of magnitude in conductivity and higher current density were obtained from the LRTA annealed sample compared to the CRTA annealed sample. The improvements in conductivity and current density were attributed to the high density Si NCs . Our results show that the LRTA method is a suitable annealing tool for the formation of Si NC in thin SiO x films.
Slicing black hole spacetimes
Authors: Bini Donato , Bittencourt Eduardo , Geralico Andrea , Jantzen Robert T.
Published: March 2015

A general framework is developed to investigate the properties of useful choices of stationary spacelike slicings of stationary spacetimes whose congruences of timelike orthogonal trajectories are interpreted as the world lines of an associated family of observers, the kinematical properties of which in turn may be used to geometrically characterize the original slicings. On the other hand, properties of the slicings themselves can directly characterize their utility motivated instead by other considerations like the initial value and evolution problems in the 3-plus-1 approach to general relativity. An attempt is made to categorize the various slicing conditions or "time gauges" used in the literature for the most familiar stationary spacetimes: black holes and their flat spacetime limit.
Debris flow activity and gully propagation: Glen Docherty, Wester Ross
Authors: Strachan George J.
Published: March 2015

Investigation into debris flow activity was undertaken in Glen Docherty. Both the historical and recent records of debris flow activity in the glen are outlined. While the glen’s psammites have a low debris flow spatial density relative to that recorded in areas underlain by other rock types, the volumes involved are high. Debris flow gully propagation, as it occurs on both vegetated and non-vegetated talus, is examined. Evidence from recent events calls into question whether debris flows are effective agents of flow channel scour. Progressive slope failure is proposed as a possible mechanism in gully propagation. Fluvial activity was also found to play an important role in debris flow processes including gully development.
Loss of HER2 Positivity after Trastuzumab in HER2-Positive Gastric Cancer: Is Change in HER2 Status Significantly Frequent?
Authors: Ishimine Yu , Goto Akira , Watanabe Yoshito , Yajima Hidetaka , Nakagaki Suguru , Yabana Takashi , Adachi Takeya , Kondo Yoshihiro , Kasai Kiyoshi
Published: March 2015

Trastuzumab has recently been introduced as a treatment for HER2-positive metastatic and/or unresectable gastric cancer (MUGC); however, compared with breast cancer, some issues concerning HER2 and trastuzumab therapy for gastric cancer remain unclear. A 74-year-old woman received trastuzumab-containing chemotherapy for HER2-positive MUGC. She had a marked response to 8 months of chemotherapy, and gastrectomy and hepatic metastasectomy with curative intent were performed. The resected specimen showed complete loss of HER2 positivity in the residual tumor. For MUGC, a change in HER2 status during the course of the disease with or without chemotherapy has rarely been reported. However, in breast cancer, a significant frequency of change in HER2 status during the course of disease has been reported, and reevaluation of HER2 positivity in metastatic/recurrent sites is recommended. The choice of trastuzumab for MUGC is currently based on the HER2 status of the primary tumor at the time of initial diagnosis, without reassessment of HER2 status during the course of disease and/or in metastatic/recurrent sites, on the assumption that HER2 status is stable. However, our case casts doubt on the stability of HER2 in gastric cancer.
Case of 7p22.1 Microduplication Detected by Whole Genome Microarray (REVEAL) in Workup of Child Diagnosed with Autism
Authors: Goitia Veronica , Oquendo Marcial , Stratton Robert
Published: March 2015

Introduction. More than 60 cases of 7p22 duplications and deletions have been reported with over 16 of them occurring without concomitant chromosomal abnormalities.Patient and Methods. We report a 29-month-old male diagnosed with autism. Whole genome chromosome SNP microarray (REVEAL) demonstrated a 1.3 Mb interstitial duplication of 7p22.1 ->p22.1 arr 7p22.1 (5,436,367–6,762,394), the second smallest interstitial 7p duplication reported to date. This interval included 14 OMIM annotated genes (FBXL18, ACTB, FSCN1, RNF216, OCM, EIF2AK1, AIMP2, PMS2, CYTH3, RAC1, DAGLB, KDELR2, GRID2IP,and ZNF12).Results. Our patient presented features similar to previously reported cases with 7p22 duplication, including brachycephaly, prominent ears, cryptorchidism, speech delay, poor eye contact, and outburst of aggressive behavior with autism-like features. Among the genes located in the duplicated segment,ACTBgene has been proposed as a candidate gene for the alteration of craniofacial development. Overexpression ofRNF216Lhas been linked to autism. FSCN1 may play a role in neurodevelopmental disease.Conclusion. Characterization of a possible 7p22.1 Duplication Syndrome has yet to be made. Recognition of the clinical spectrum in patients with a smaller duplication of 7p should prove valuable for determining the minimal critical region, helping delineate a better prediction of outcome and genetic counseling
Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Copolymeric Resveratrol Conjugates
Authors: Ng Yan-Jing , Benson Heather A. E. , Brown David H. , Chen Yan
Published: March 2015

Resveratrol (RSV), naturally found in plants, is known to have health benefits and has been proposed as a potential anticancer and cardioprotective drug. However, due to its molecular structure, it undergoes rapid metabolism in the body resulting in low bioavailability. Novel polymeric methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (mPEG-PCL) RSV conjugates with varying PCL chain lengths have been synthesised and formulated into micelles and/or nanoparticles for preliminaryin vitrostability studies. RSV conjugated with mPEG2000-PCL9500 was found to have improved solubility and stability of RSV as compared to RSV alone. The length of the PCL chain was found to affect the micelle formation, hence the stability in physiological buffers and rat plasma.
Analysis of the Expression and Polymorphism ofAPOE, HSP, BDNF,andGRIN2BGenes Associated with the Neurodegeneration Process in the Pathogenesis of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
Authors: Nowak Alicja , Majsterek Ireneusz , Przybyłowska-Sygut Karolina , Pytel Dariusz , Szymanek Katarzyna , Szaflik Jerzy , Szaflik Jacek P.
Published: March 2015

Glaucoma is characterized by optic neuropathy of the RGC or retinal nerve fiber. The aim of this study was to evaluate a relationship between the neurodegenerative genes’ polymorphisms of theAPOE(rs449647),BDNF(rs2030324),GRIN2B(rs3764028), andHSP70-1(rs1043618) and the occurrence risk of POAG and to investigate its effect on allele-specific gene expression. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood. Analysis of the genes’ polymorphisms was performed using PCR-RFLP. The level of mRNA expression was determined by QRT-PCR. We showed a statistically significant association ofBDNFandAPOEgenes’ polymorphisms with a risk of POAG occurrence. There was a statistically significant association of the rs2030324 polymorphism with progression of POAG based on cup disc ratio value and rs1043618 polymorphism based on nerve fiber index and rim area. Furthermore, we found that meanHSP70-1mRNA expression was significantly lower in the case of individuals with the G/G genotype than in the case of minor allele carriers, that is, G/C and C/C. We also found thatBDNFandHSP70-1expression level are associated with the progression of POAG based on rim area value. In conclusion, our results suggest thatBDNF,APOE, andHSP70-1genes might be associated with a risk of POAG occurrence in the Polish population.
Multiple Abdominal Cocoons: An Unusual Presentation of Intestinal Obstruction and a Diagnostic Dilemma
Authors: Sohail Mohammad Zain , Hasan Shumaila , Dala-Ali Benan , Ali Shahanoor , Hashmi M. A.
Published: March 2015

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) or abdominal cocoon is a rare acquired condition with an unknown aetiology. It is characterized by encapsulation of the small bowel by a fibrous membrane and can lead to intestinal obstruction. We present the case of a 42-year-old gentleman with a history of hepatitis C, tuberculosis, and previous abdominal surgery, who presented with subacute intestinal obstruction. Surgical exploration of the abdomen revealed that the entire contents were enclosed into three distinct sacs by a dense fibrous membrane. Excision of the sacs was performed followed by adhesiolysis. This is believed to be the first reported case of multiple cocoons within the abdominal cavity. The case is discussed with reference to the literature.
Effect of Semiarid Environment on Some Nutritional and Antinutritional Attributes of Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad , Hussain Iqbal , Habib Asma , Ashraf Muhammad Arslan , Rasheed Rizwan
Published: March 2015

Stressful environments have been shown to affect the metabolism in some plants. In the present study, we assessed whether semiarid environment (saline and saline alkaline soil) could affect the nutritional (total proteins, phenolics and riboflavin contents, and catalase activity) and antinutritional (hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde contents) properties differently in different plant parts (leaves, flowers, and roots) of calendula. Although salinity decreased plant biomass, it did not affect total protein and phenolics contents in the calendula. All plant parts were rich in riboflavin contents. However, plants grown under saline-alkali soil had relatively more riboflavin contents in the flowers. Salinity increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration in the flowers and roots, whereas saline-alkali soil did not affect it. Plants exposed to both saline and saline-alkali soil had greater catalase activity in the flowers and leaves. Plants exposed to salinity had higher malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the flowers compared with nonsaline and saline-alkali conditions. Nonetheless, the possibility of safely using different parts of calendula as nutraceutical was in the order flower > root > leaf. Overall, the results suggested that plant can be grown in mild saline-alkali (EC ≤ 7; pH = 8.5) soils without affecting its nutraceutical properties.
Developing R&D Portfolio Business Validity Simulation Model and System
Authors: Yeo Hyun Jin , Im Kwang Hyuk
Published: March 2015

The R&D has been recognized as critical method to take competitiveness by not only companies but also nations with its value creation such as patent value and new product. Therefore, R&D has been a decision maker’s burden in that it is hard to decide how much money to invest, how long time one should spend, and what technology to develop which means it accompanies resources such as budget, time, and manpower. Although there are diverse researches about R&D evaluation, business factors are not concerned enough because almost all previous studies are technology oriented evaluation with one R&D technology based. In that, we early proposed R&D business aspect evaluation model which consists of nine business model components. In this research, we develop a simulation model and system evaluating a company or industry’s R&D portfolio with business model point of view and clarify default and control parameters to facilitate evaluator’s business validity work in each evaluation module by integrate to one screen.
Fast Image Search with Locality‐Sensitive Hashing and Homogeneous Kernels Map
Authors: Li Jun-yi , Li Jian-hua
Published: March 2015

Fast image search with efficient additive kernels and kernel locality‐sensitive hashing has been proposed. As to hold the kernel functions, recent work has probed methods to create locality‐sensitive hashing, which guarantee our approach’s linear time; however existing methods still do not solve the problem of locality‐sensitive hashing (LSH) algorithm and indirectly sacrifice the loss in accuracy of search results in order to allow fast queries. To improve the search accuracy, we show how to apply explicit feature maps into the homogeneous kernels, which help in feature transformation and combine it with kernel locality‐sensitive hashing. We prove our method on several large datasets and illustrate that it improves the accuracy relative to commonly used methods and make the task of object classification and, content‐based retrieval more fast and accurate.
Nitrate Adsorption on Clay Kaolin: Batch Tests
Authors: Mohsenipour Morteza , Shahid Shamsuddin , Ebrahimi Kumars
Published: March 2015

Soils possessing kaolin, gibbsite, goethite, and hematite particles have been found to have a natural capacity to attenuate pollution in aqueous phase. On the other hand, the hydroxyl group in soil increases anion exchange capacity under a low pH condition. The main objective of this paper was to evaluate effects of kaolin on nitrate reduction under acidic condition. In order to analyze the kaolin adsorption behaviour under various conditions, four different concentrations of nitrate, 45, 112.5, 225, and 450 mgNO3-/L, with a constant pH equal to 2, constant temperature equal to 25°C, and exposure period varying from 0 to 150 minutes were considered. The capacity of nitrate adsorption on kaolin has also been studied involving two well-known adsorption isotherm models, namely, Freundlich and Longmuir. The results revealed that approximately 25% of the nitrate present in the solution was adsorbed on clay kaolin. The laboratory experimental data revealed that Freundlich adsorption isotherm model was more accurate than Longmuir adsorption model in predicting of nitrate adsorption. Furthermore, the retardation factor of nitrate pollution in saturated zone has been found to be approximately 4 in presence of kaolin, which indicated that kaolin can be used for natural scavenger of pollution in the environment.
Aggressive Behaviour of Metastatic Melanoma in a Patient with Neurofibromatosis Type 1
Authors: Foley Robert W. , Maweni Robert M. , Fabre Aurelie , Healy David G.
Published: March 2015

Malignant melanoma is a common skin neoplasm bearing poor prognosis when presenting with metastases. Rarely melanoma metastases present without an identifiable primary cutaneous lesion despite exhaustive workup. We describe the case of a solitary lung metastasis in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 without an identifiable primary tumour. The rapid progression of this malignant neoplasm that led to the patient’s death within 1 year is described.