bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Successful treatment of pemphigus foliaceus in a Berrichon du Cher ram with methylprednisolone acetate
Authors: Lambacher Bianca , Schoiswohl Julia , Brunthaler Rene , Wittek Thomas , Krametter‐Frötscher Reinhild 
Published: April 2017

BackgroundPemphigus foliaceus is a severe, autoimmune blistering skin disease, which is described in humans and some animal species. In small ruminants pemphigus foliaceus has rarely been described and, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, little information is available about successful treatment in sheep.AimThis case report describes a Berrichon du Cher ram with the presumed diagnosis of pemphigus foliaceus.MethodsThe ram was treated with methylprednisolone acetate 40 mg at a dosage of 2.5 mg/kg in one subcuticular injection at four week intervals over a one year period, with regular observation of clinical parameters. Four months after treatment was initiated the haematological parameters showed lymphopenia and leukopenia; some enzyme activities were substantially increased.ResultsThe ram's dermatological condition improved to the point of complete healing of the affected skin. The ram was discharged in good condition. No adverse effects, except an elevation of some enzymes associated with liver function, were observed. At postmortem examination moderate fatty liver syndrome was the only abnormality found.Conclusions and clinical importanceThis case report demonstrated that long term therapy with methylprednisolone acetate in a sheep with pemphigus foliaceus did not have a negative effect on clinical parameters. Nevertheless, due to the extended statutory withdrawal period resulting from the regular administration of glucocorticoids, such a therapeutic option must be critically assessed in food producing animals.
Efficiency of riboflavin and ultraviolet light treatment against high levels of biofilm‐derived Staphylococcus epidermidis in buffy coat platelet concentrates
Authors: Taha M. , Culibrk B. , Kalab M. , Schubert P. , Yi Q.‐L. , Goodrich R. , Ramirez‐Arcos S. 
Published: April 2017

Background and ObjectivesStaphylococcus epidermidis forms surface‐attached aggregates (biofilms) in platelet concentrates (PCs), which are linked to missed detection during PC screening. This study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of riboflavin‐UV treatment to inactivate S. epidermidis biofilms in buffy coat (BC) PCs.Materials and MethodsBiofilm and non‐biofilm cells from S. epidermidis ST‐10002 and S. epidermidis AZ‐66 were individually inoculated into whole blood (WB) units (~106 colony‐forming units (CFU)/ml) (N = 4–5). One spiked and three unspiked WB units were processed to produce a BC‐PC pool. Riboflavin was added to the pool which was then split into two bags: one for UV treatment and the second was untreated. Bacterial counts were determined before and after treatment. In vitro PC quality was assessed by flow cytometry and dynamic light scattering.ResultsBacterial counts were reduced during BC‐PC production from ~106 CFU/ml in WB to 103–104 CFU/ml in PCs (P < 0·0001). Riboflavin‐UV treatment resulted in significantly higher reduction of S. epidermidis AZ‐66 than strain ST‐10002 (≥3·5 log reduction and 2·6–2·8 log reduction, respectively, P < 0·0001). Remaining bacteria post‐treatment were able to proliferate in PCs. No differences in S. epidermidis inactivation were observed in PCs produced from WB inoculated with biofilm or non‐biofilm cells (P > 0·05). Platelet activation was enhanced in PCs produced with WB inoculated with biofilms compared to non‐biofilm cells (P < 0·05).ConclusionRiboflavin‐UV treatment was similarly efficacious in PCs produced from WB inoculated with S. epidermidis biofilm or non‐biofilm cells. Levels of biofilm‐derived S. epidermidis ≥103 CFU/ml were not completely inactivated; however, further testing is necessary with lower (real‐life) bacterial levels.
Impaired collagen synthesis in the rectum may be a molecular target in anastomotic leakage prophylaxis
Authors: Buch Anastasia S. , Schjerling Peter , Kjaer Marie , Jorgensen Lars Nannestad , Krarup Peter‐Martin , Ågren Magnus S. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe underlying molecular mechanisms for anastomotic leakage (AL) after colorectal surgery are unknown and there are no therapeutics for AL prevention. Our aim was to correlate endogenous matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, collagen concentration, and collagen/MMP/cytokine mRNA levels with anatomic location in human colorectal tissue. We enrolled 22 patients in this prospective study: 7 underwent elective laparoscopic sigmoid resection and 15 underwent low anterior resection for colorectal cancer. Full‐thickness intestinal tissue rings from anastomoses constructed with a circular stapler were used for the determination of the MMP activity, tissue collagen concentration and mRNA levels. COL1A1 (p = 0.017) and COL3A1 (p = 0.0013) mRNA levels were lower in rectal tissue than in colonic samples. Neither MMP activities nor collagen concentrations differed significantly between the two anatomic locations. By elucidating the factors responsible for the decreased collagen production we may identify specific molecular targets in AL prophylaxis.
Calcium‐activated BKCa channels govern dynamic membrane depolarizations of horizontal cells in rodent retina
Authors: Sun Xiaoping , Hirano Arlene A. , Brecha Nicholas C. , Barnes Steven 
Published: April 2017

Key points
Large conductance, Ca2+‐activated K+ (BKCa) channels play important roles in mammalian retinal neurons, including photoreceptors, bipolar cells, amacrine cells and ganglion cells, but they have not been identified in horizontal cells.
BKCa channel blockers paxilline and iberiotoxin, as well as Ca2+ free solutions and divalent cation Cav channel blockers, eliminate the outwardly rectifying current, while NS1619 enhances it. In symmetrical 150 mm K+, single channels had a conductance close to 250 pS, within the range of all known BKCa channels.
In current clamped horizontal cells, BKCa channels subdue depolarizing membrane potential excursions, reduce the average resting potential and decrease oscillations. The results show that BKCa channel activation puts a ceiling on horizontal cell depolarization and regulates the temporal responsivity of the cells.
AbstractLarge conductance, calcium‐activated potassium (BKCa) channels have numerous roles in neurons including the regulation of membrane excitability, intracellular [Ca2+] regulation, and neurotransmitter release. In the retina, they have been identified in photoreceptors, bipolar cells, amacrine cells and ganglion cells, but have not been conclusively identified in mammalian horizontal cells. We found that outward current recorded between −30 and +60 mV is carried primarily in BKCa channels in isolated horizontal cells of rats and mice. Whole‐cell outward currents were maximal at +50 mV and declined at membrane potentials positive to this value. This current was eliminated by the selective BKCa channel blocker paxilline (100 nm), iberiotoxin (10 μm), Ca2+ free solutions and divalent cation Cav channel blockers. It was activated by the BKCa channel activator NS1619 (30 μm). Single channel recordings revealed the conductance of the channels to be 244 ± 11 pS (n = 17; symmetrical 150 mm K+) with open probability being both voltage‐ and Ca2+‐dependent. The channels showed fast activation kinetics in response to Ca2+ influx and inactivation gating that could be modified by intracellular protease treatment, which suggests β subunit involvement. Under current clamp, block of BKCa current increased depolarizing membrane potential excursions, raising the average resting potential and producing oscillations. BKCa current activation with NS1619 inhibited oscillations and hyperpolarized the resting potential. These effects underscore the functional role of BKCa current in limiting depolarization of the horizontal cell membrane potential and suggest actions of these channels in regulating the temporal responsivity of the cells.
How do horizontal cells ‘talk’ to cone photoreceptors? Different levels of complexity at the cone–horizontal cell synapse
Authors: Chapot Camille A. , Euler Thomas , Schubert Timm 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe first synapse of the retina plays a fundamental role in the visual system. Due to its importance, it is critical that it encodes information from the outside world with the greatest accuracy and precision possible. Cone photoreceptor axon terminals contain many individual synaptic sites, each represented by a presynaptic structure called a ‘ribbon’. These synapses are both highly sophisticated and conserved. Each ribbon relays the light signal to one ON cone bipolar cell and several OFF cone bipolar cells, while two dendritic processes from a GABAergic interneuron, the horizontal cell, modulate the cone output via parallel feedback mechanisms. The presence of these three partners within a single synapse has raised numerous questions, and its anatomical and functional complexity is still only partially understood. However, the understanding of this synapse has recently evolved, as a consequence of progress in understanding dendritic signal processing and its role in facilitating global versus local signalling. Indeed, for the downstream retinal network, dendritic processing in horizontal cells may be essential, as they must support important functional operations such as contrast enhancement, which requires spatial averaging of the photoreceptor array, while at the same time preserving accurate spatial information. Here, we review recent progress made towards a better understanding of the cone synapse, with an emphasis on horizontal cell function, and discuss why such complexity might be necessary for early visual processing.
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Sensitivity to ischaemia of single sympathetic nerve fibres innervating the dorsum of the human foot
Authors: Z'Graggen W. J. , Solà R. , Graf N. E. , Serra J. , Bostock H. 
Published: April 2017

Key points
Changes in nerve conduction velocity following an impulse (i.e. velocity recovery cycles) reflect after‐potentials, and can provide an indication of altered nerve membrane properties.
This study used microneurography to assess the effects of ischaemia on single human sympathetic fibres innervating the dorsum of the foot.
It was found that velocity recovery cycles can distinguish whether a sympathetic nerve fibre is depolarized or not.
The method may be used to detect membrane depolarization of sympathetic nerve fibres in human patients when autonomic neuropathy is suspected.
AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine whether velocity recovery cycles (VRCs) could detect the effects of ischaemia on sympathetic nerve fibres. VRCs of human sympathetic nerve fibres of the superficial peroneal nerve innervating the dorsum of the foot were recorded by microneurography in seven healthy volunteers. Sympathetic nerve fibres were identified by studying their response to manoeuvres increasing sympathetic outflow and by measuring activity‐dependent slowing at 2 Hz stimulation. VRCs were assessed at rest, during 30 min of induced limb ischaemia and during 20 min of recovery after ischaemia. From each VRC was measured the relative refractory period (RRP), the supernormality and the time to peak supernormality (SN@). During ischaemia, RRP increased from the baseline value of 37.4 ± 8.7 ms (mean ± SEM) to 67.1 ± 12.1 ms (P < 0.01) and SN@ increased from 68.6 ± 9.8 ms to 133.8 ± 11.0 ms (P < 0.005). The difference between SN@ and RRP separated ischaemic from non‐ischaemic sympathetic nerve fibres. It is concluded that these sympathetic nerve fibres are sensitive to ischaemia, and that VRCs provide a method to study changes of axonal membrane potential of human sympathetic nerve fibres in vivo.
Global Research Collaboration and International Education: Laser Metal Deposition of Varying Percent of Ti-6Al-4V + Molybdenum on Ti64 Substrate for Biomedical/Aerospace Applications
Authors: Kumpaty Subha , Akinlabi Esther , Reynolds Christopher , Mueller Robert , Pityana Sisa 
Published: April 2017

This paper presents the characterization studies conducted by Milwaukee School of Engineering senior undergraduate students in South Africa under the Research Experiences for Undergraduates grant EEC-1460183 sponsored by the National Science Foundation (Principal Investigator Dr. Kumpaty). Robert Mueller and Christopher Reynolds conducted research in summer of 2015 under advisement of Dr. Kumpaty and his South African collaborators, Dr. Esther Akinlabi and Dr. Sisa Pityana. The foreign collaborators’ excellent support was pivotal to the success of our U.S. students.
Ti-6 Al-4 V is a titanium alloy that accounts for about 80% of the titanium market. The Ti-64 alloy contains 6 wt% Aluminum and 4 wt% Vanadium, an almost equal ratio of α + β phases. Through the laser surface modification process known as Laser Meal Deposition, this alloy offers the optimum combination of enhanced properties. This research focuses on the application of adding a combination of molybdenum (Mo) and Ti-64 powders to a Ti-64 substrate surface in order to improve the durability for various biomedical/aerospace applications. Deposition of the powders was completed at the CSIR - National Laser Center, in Pretoria, South Africa. The characterization studies were carried out at the University of Johannesburg. The results of the hardness tests showed that the addition of molybdenum to Ti-64 increased the hardness of the deposited material compared to that of the substrate. This verifies that the addition of Mo to metals can affect the mechanical properties to better suit various applications.
While Robert Mueller studied the effect of laser power on the properties of laser metal deposited Ti-6Al-4V + Mo for wear resistance enhancement, Christopher Reynolds investigated scanning velocity influence on the evolving properties of laser metal deposited Ti-6Al-4V + Mo. The results of this promising research and various options for further investigation are presented. The beneficial value of such a global research enterprise on the budding engineers will be apparent and the paper details the process of the international component of the Research Experiences for Undergraduates.
Design and Fabrication of a Self-Cleaning Toilet: Developing a Student Invention
Authors: Maric Stephan , Phelps Joey , Bzymek Zbigniew M. , Moreno Vito 
Published: April 2017

The University of Connecticut Senior Design Capstone course developed by the Department of Mechanical Engineering is widely recognized by the Connecticut industry. The course provides fourth year students the opportunity for a major design experience in which they apply principles of engineering staring with the conceptual design through the basic science and mathematics, up to model, analysis, design of physical systems its components or processes as well as prepares students to work professionally [9]. This paper will discuss the issues and challenges associated with one of the Senior Design (SD) projects that was based on student generated inventive concept and sponsored by the student-inventor. The project demonstrated the design and prototyping problems on the example so called “Self-Cleaning Toilet”. The project addresses “self-cleaning” of facilities where infectious bacteria and viruses are prevalent in frequently used installations such as public restrooms. These areas tend to be difficult to keep clean often, without obstructing the functionality of the facility. The solution being proposed in this project is an intelligently designed, self-regulating, cleaning system that is able to be retroactively fitted onto a variety of toilet seats.
UV germicidal irradiation was chosen as the primary method to eliminate germs for this device for several reasons. Using a UV light allows for more efficient, effortless elimination of germs as compared to conventional cleaning methods. The light encourages hands off operation, meaning that the user will not have to physically touch the toilet seat to clean it. Additionally, it allows the toilet seat surface to be cleaned continually throughout the day and in between uses, which is an unrealistic task to replicate with methods currently being employed.
Multiple experiments were conducted that tested the ability of the UV light to reach all surfaces on a toilet seat. The germicidal effectiveness experiment tested the sanitation capability of the light under its intended operating conditions. Finally, the durability test indicated that the device would be able to withstand the conditions of the working environments commonly associated with bathrooms. Designs, building and testing of the prototype of such a toilet seat are described in the paper. Results from each of the testing experiments and experience gained in the creation of the Clean Light toilet design are described in the paper.
A Flipped Classroom Approach to Conveying the Basics of Systems Thinking to Engineering Undergraduates
Authors: Weaver Jonathan M. , Kleinke Darrell K. 
Published: April 2017

Engineering students spend the majority of their academic careers learning tools to enable tasks related to detailed design. For example, a mechanical engineer may learn to size a heat exchanger so that an engine would not overheat, an electrical engineer may learn to specify gains in a control system to provide desired performance, and a civil engineer may learn to size columns to avoid buckling. While these analytical capabilities are essential to the execution of engineered systems, there are tools and perspectives related to systems and their design that are historically absent in an undergraduate engineering education. Through the Kern Entrepreneurship Education Network (KEEN) and the University of New Haven, the authors have developed a flipped classroom module that provides a basis in systems thinking as related to the conception and execution of complex engineered systems. The module could be useful in several areas of the curriculum, but is primarily intended to develop perspectives and skills necessary to ensure a successful capstone design experience.
The module is broken into five lessons: (1) Foundational Concepts, (2) Key Systems Principles, (3) Architecture Development, (4) Multiple Views of a System, and (5) System Verification and Validation. Lesson 1 begins with the importance of the problem statement, and then proceeds to introduce form and function, function mapping, and many key definitions (system, interface, architecture, systems engineering, and complexity). Lesson 2 introduces key systems principles, including systems thinking, systems of systems, and system decomposition. Lesson 3 overviews the systems architecting process and summarizes the four most typical methods used to develop a system architecture. Lesson 4 discusses viewing a system from six different perspectives. Lesson 5 presents the systems engineering V model, requirements cascading, and verification and validation.
The module includes several interactive activities and built in knowledge checkpoints. There is also a final challenge wherein the students must apply what they’ve learned about systems thinking and systems engineering to a hypothetical problem.
This paper will further describe the module content and format. The paper will also make the case that the content included in the module is essential to an efficient, effective, and rewarding capstone design experience. This is achieved by summarizing common pitfalls that occur in a capstone design project and how good systems thinking can avert them. The pitfalls covered include failure to fully understand all key stakeholders’ most important needs, failure to understand desired system function in a solution-neutral way and failure to follow a robust process to map function to form, poor choice of how to decompose the system into subsystems, errors/inefficiencies in interface definition and management, and poor (if any) planning for design verification and validation.
Increasing Student Awareness of Non-Traditional Career Paths in Mechanical Engineering
Authors: Huang Shaobo , Degen Cassandra M. , Muci-Kuchler Karim H. , Ellingsen Marius D. 
Published: April 2017

This paper reports the effect of the curriculum changes in the Mechanical Engineering (ME) department at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T) in two freshman courses. Besides introducing fundamental concepts and principles for mechanical engineering, these courses utilize guest speaker sections to introduce career opportunities, and integrate marketing and corporate policy into engineering design projects.
An engineering motivation survey and a career awareness questionnaire were developed and employed to better understand the impact of the new curriculum on students’ attitudes toward and desire to persist in Mechanical Engineering. Freshmen students’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivations and career awareness were assessed in pre- and post-tests at the beginning and the end of a semester.
The results obtained showed that the introduction of the non-traditional career paths into the two courses students’ perceptions of the career options that ME graduates can pursue and showcased alternatives that proved to be more attractive to under-represented (female) students. Although the students spent less time in traditional engineering topics, their engineering self-efficacy was not diminished, and in fact, the students’ intrinsic motivation was significantly improved. Additionally, students perceived stronger inclusion in the ME program.
Self-Efficacy Analysis of Student Learning in Systems Engineering
Authors: Khan Rabia , Whitcomb Cliff , White Corina 
Published: April 2017

Systems engineering (SE) competencies are defined based on the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) necessary for a systems engineer to perform tasks related to the discipline. Proficient systems engineers are expected to be able to integrate, apply, and be assessed on these KSAs as they develop competencies through their education and training, professional development, and on-the-job experience. The research conducted by the Naval Postgraduate School assessed where SE graduate students stood as far as developing the necessary competency levels they need to be successful systems engineers. A survey methodology was used to achieve this objective. Systems engineering students enrolled in SE courses at the Naval Postgraduate School represented the population surveyed.
Survey items were written with the intent to capture self-efficacy for knowledge and skill sets as a subset of the overall set of competencies required for systems engineering, namely within the SE competencies of Critical Thinking, Systems Engineering, Teamwork and Project Management. A total of four surveys were administered to two SE cohorts. Results show that self-efficacy in systems engineering can be reasonably assumed to be positively affected by a graduate level educational program. The implications of the research can be used to develop structured curriculum content, assessment, and continuous process improvement techniques related to the development of SE learning, and to develop more valid and reliable instruments for assessing what systems engineers need to learn, need to know, and need to do.